The Press 08.16.2024 by Brentwood Press & Publishing

Creekside Park maintenance sparks debate at Oakley council

By Connor Robles Correspondent

The Aug. 13 session of the Oakley City Council ended acrimoniously as Mayor Anissa Williams and Councilmember Dr. George Fuller repeatedly clashed over the condition of Creekside Park’s amenities.

The debate began during a work session discussion about the park, in which Public Works Director and City Engineer Kevin Rohani gave a presentation to the City Council about the history and ongoing maintenance of Creekside Park.

The large park has sports fields, a picnic area, a children’s splash pad, and a community garden, among other amenities. According to Rohani, the park’s skate park and some other areas

are due for resurfacing this fall.

After Rohani gave his presentation, Fuller said he had visited Creekside Park, which is near where he lives, and had taken photos of what he believed to be failures of maintenance. Notably, the skate park was littered with cracks and lacked proper safety signs; the

bocce ball court was unshaded and had, to him, an unusual paving material that “looked like cat litter;” the picnic tables seemed to be bowed down at the ends; and the covering of the children’s splash pad was peeling.

Fuller acknowledged that some parts of the park were im-

Amenities in Oakley’s Creekside Park led to a disagreement between members of the Oakley City Council on Aug. 13

Press file photo

pressive, but concluded that “we need to put money into [the park].”

Other councilmembers disagreed with Fuller’s assessment.

Vice Mayor Shannon Shaw argued that “We have parks in this town that can’t be used at all” in compar-

Brentwood City Council pledges

veterans events

By Jake Menez Staff Writer

The Brentwood City Council voted 5-0 during their Aug. 13 meeting to earmark $32,000 to support veteran-related events such as a parade this fiscal year ending June 30, while also pledging $40,000 to carry out similar plans in the fiscal years to come.

and this is just us giving back to you.”

City wants to sell vacant properties

By Dale Satre Correspondent

The City of Brentwood is planning to sell 14 vacant land plots and structures to the general public, with individual auctions starting in about two months.

Notable properties that will be for sale include a 2.9-acre land parcel at the northwest corner of Harvest Park and Guthrie Lane., a 3.6-acre land parcel at 1000 Central Blvd, and a 15,000-square-foot building at 400 Guthrie Lane that is behind the police department building, according to city staff.

Councilmember Tony Oerlemans

The city had previously expressed interest in doing more to honor veterans, with the council directing staff in May of 2023 to look into hosting Veterans Day events in 2024 and beyond, according to the agenda packet for the Aug. 13 meeting. At the August meeting, staff presented the council with three different options for veteran-related events. The prices ranged from $6,850 to $31,550, with the council settling on the $31,550 option and rounding up to $32,000. The money is expected to come out of the General Fund, according to city staff.

“I don’t look at it as a price tag,” Councilmember Tony Oerlemans said of the expense. “I look at it as you paid the price

The first option, estimated to cost $6,850, would have enabled the city to continue its military veteran banner program — banners displaying the official military photo of the service member or veteran, as well as their name, rank, and branch of the United States Armed Forces — as part of the Veterans Day celebrations while also enabling the city to partner with existing Veterans Day events by providing fee

The city is selling assets following a 2021 strategic initiative to make unused and vacant properties available to the public. The initiative started shortly after COVID, according to Assistant City Manager Darin Gale. “For the City of Brentwood, the only reason we’d hold land is for a specific future use,” Gale said.

City staff were directed to identify surplus properties, such as parks and roads, owned by the city that were unlikely to meet future needs. The identified surplus buildings include both empty land parcels and vacant structures. A full list of the properties can be found at https://bit. ly/46PWMGA

see Creekside page 18

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Vote for a minimum of 10 categories. • Include your name, email and phone number for verification.

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DEADLINE TO SUBMIT YOUR BALLOT IS MONDAY, AUGUST 26TH AT 5 P.M.

All suspected "ballot stuffers" will be disqualified. No ballots can be accepted in stacks of more than 15. One ballot per person or email, multiple entries online will be deleted.

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Liberty High alum awarded STAR scholarship

By Sean Tongson Correspondent

The application deadline for a scholarship aimed at helping women pursue their educational goals is Aug. 31. Rachael Green, a recent Liberty High alum, is the latest recipient of that scholarship.

Green, who graduated from Liberty this past spring, was selected to receive a $2,500 STAR Scholarship from the Philanthropic Educational Organization (P.E.O.) Sisterhood, a nonprofit organization that has helped more than 125,000 women by providing nearly $432 million in grants, scholarships, awards and loans since its inception in 1869, according to its website. The scholarship, established in 2009, is awarded to exceptional women attending their senior year of high school to attend an accredited postsecondary educational institution in the United States or Canada in the next academic year. Green’s recommendation was by P.E.O. Chapter XQ, in Brentwood since 2005.

“This scholarship had given me confidence to know that I am capable of achieving something great,” Green said. “It gives me great pride to know that I am representing an organization that values women and their education goals.”

While attending Liberty, Green was involved with the band, choir, Health Careers Academy, and the Climate Culture Committee. Green’s ultimate goal is to become a nurse, and is enrolled at the University of Nevada, Reno.

“Rachael is the legacy daughter of my P.E.O. sister Carol,” said Philanthropies Committee Chairwoman Kathy Nelson. “I’ve watched Rachael grow and blossom into the beautiful, talented young woman she is since Carol moved with her family to Brentwood and joined Chapter XQ.”

During the application process, members of a local P.E.O. chapter will interview a student before making the decision for recommendation. Upon recommendation, the

Rachael Green, a recent Liberty High alum, is the latest recipient of a $2,500 scholarship that is awarded to “exceptional women.”

applicant will receive an email from the P.E.O. Executive Office with instructions for logging into an online account to complete her portion of the application. That includes information about the student and her activities, a one-page essay, two references and an unofficial high school transcript through 11th grade, which then must be submitted no more than 30 days after receiving the email. Awards are announced annually by April 30, with notification sent to all applicants and recommending chapters.

Eligibility requirements for consideration for a STAR Scholarship include:

• Recommendation by a local chapter of the P.E.O. Sisterhood.

• Is a citizen or legal permanent resident of the United States or Canada.

• Has a minimum cumulative unweighted GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.

• Exhibits excellence in leadership, academics, extracur-

ricular activities, community service and potential for future success.

• Plans to attend an accredited postsecondary education institution in the United States or Canada full-time or part-time in the fall of the academic year following her high school graduation.

According to their website, applications of individuals who satisfy these eligibility criteria will be evaluated on a nondiscriminatory basis without consideration of race, age, national origin, religious affiliation, disability or P.E.O. connection. Nelson said that while there is no legacy candidate yet for the 2024-2025 process of the P.E.O. STAR Scholarship, they are currently soliciting three local high schools; Heritage, Liberty and Freedom high schools for candidates for the upcoming school year.

“We have two local chapters of P.E.O. in Brentwood; Chapter XQ and Chapter YA,” Nelson said. “We will interview then select one candidate for each of our two Brentwood chapters to recommend. Each of the senior ladies, who qualify per the attached specifications, email me their resume by Aug. 31. We will conduct interviews between Sept. 1 and Sept. 15.”

In the meantime, Green said she plans to pursue a Bachelor of Science degree in the fall, with hopes of working in the Emergency Department and eventually on cruise ships. “My parents are the biggest source of my inspiration,” Green said. “They continue to show me what it means to work hard to achieve your goals and to persevere through the rough times.”

More information on P.E.O., including stories of women who have benefited from the programs are at peointernational.org. Details on eligibility and the application process are at https://www.peointernational.org/educational-support/star-scholarship/eligibility-and-application-process/ To view a video, visit www.thepress.net/multimedia

Photo by Andrew Rulloda

REGIONAL & LOCAL

News iN Brief

Contra Costa Senior Legal Services presents symposium on aging on Aug. 22 in Pleasant Hill

Contra Costa Senior Legal Services’ Summer Soirée fundraiser is on Thursday, Aug. 22 from 7–8:30 p.m. at the Pleasant Hill Senior Center at 223 Gregory Lane. Tickets are $25.

The symposium will feature a panel discussion on the implications of an aging society, according to a press release..

For details and to register, visit secure. qgiv.com/for/summersoireeandsymposium2024/event/summersoiree2024/ Delta Harvest

Run on Sept. 8 in Brentwood

The 13th annual Delta Harvest Run and Family Fun Run is scheduled for Sept. 8 at City Park in Brentwood.

The race day schedule is:

• 6 a.m. – Race-day registration and packet pick-up opens;

• 7:15 a.m. – Pre-race warmup

• 7:30 a.m. – half marathon start

• 7:45 a.m. – 10K start

• 8 a.m. – 5K start

• 9 a.m. – 1-mile Family Fun Run start

• 10 a.m. – awards ceremony.

All events and ceremonies start and end at the Community Center at 35 Oak

St., Brentwood. Registration $25 for the fun run, $50 for the 5K, $50 for the 10K and $80 for the half marathon.

Included in your registration: custom T-shirt, runner goodie bag, token for cold beer or ice cream, and finisher medal. There also will be a gear check station. For details and to register, visit DeltaHarvestRun/com.

California touts one of its best fiscal quarters for new zero-emission vehicle sales

California saw an increase in zeroemission vehicles sold last quarter as 1 in 4 new car buyers chose alternatives to gasoline-powered cars and trucks, according to state figures.

In the second quarter of 2024, Californians purchased 118,181 zero-emission vehicles representing 25.7% of all new vehicle sales in the state. That’s nearly 10,000 more than the first three months of the year and the second highest ever market share.

As electric vehicles go mainstream, the state is focused on rapidly deploying funds to meet the surge in demand and ensure an accessible, reliable, and convenient charging network.

Sales have risen dramatically. To wit:

To submit a news item for this page, send it to editor@brentwoodpress.com

• 25.7% of all new cars sold in California last quarter were zero-emission vehicles, according to the California Energy Commission

• 118,181 zero-emission vehicles new car sales in the second quarter of 2024, an average of 1,300 sold each day

• 1,996,931 total new zero-emission vehicles sales to date

• 34% of new zero-emission vehicles sold in the U.S. are sold in California, according to the California Air Resources Board

• 60 zero-emission vehicles and related manufacturers are operating in California — leading the nation in zeroemission vehicles manufacturing jobs. Thousands of dollars in grants and rebates available for low-income Californians. Learn more at ClimateAction. ca.gov or ElectricForAll.org

About 105,000 public or shared private electric vehicle chargers have been installed throughout California, plus more than 500,000 at-home chargers, according to the press release.

Measure B School Bond Citizens’ Oversight Panel seeks members

The Brentwood Union School District is seeking three members to serve a two-year term on the Measure B Over-

sight Committee.

One of the applicants needs to be eligible for any of the following categories:

• Active member of a local business organization

• Active member of senior citizens group

• Parent with student(s) in the district

• Active in Parent-Teacher Organization

• Member at large

• Active farming/agricultural representative

The committee will meet at least quarterly and is responsible:

• To actively monitor all projects and expenditures approved by the voters.

• To report to residents on the progress of Measure B projects.

Applications are available via this link: brentwoodusdca.sites.thrillshare. com/o/busd/page/measure-b-citizen-oversight-committee

A paper form can also be obtained at the district office:

Brentwood Union School District 255 Guthrie Lane

Brentwood, CA 94513

Completed applications must be received at, Superintendent, Brentwood Union School District, 255 Guthrie Lane, Brentwood, CA 94513, or emailed to nkleven@brentwood.k12.ca.us, by Sept. 6, 2024 by 4 p.m.

A Love Supreme: The spiritual side of John Coltrane

Welcome back. The album I’m going to review in this article is the one that introduced a spiritual awakening in jazz. John Coltrane recorded A Love Supreme in December of 1964 and released it the following year. He wanted this, in my opinion, to represent his devotion to God musically. He wanted to express the gratitude he had for God in helping him kick his habit of heroin (which cost him a very lucrative job as saxophonist for the great Miles Davis in 1957) his behavior and playing became so erratic that Davis fired him after a live show in April of 1957.

After losing this job, Trane cleaned up, and would later write, in the 1964 liner notes to this album “In the year of 1957, I experienced, by the grace of God, a spiritual awakening, which was to lead me to a richer , fuller, more productive life”.

This album, I feel, was his reaffirmation of faith. And the suite lays out what you might call its four phases: “Acknowledgement, “Resolution,” Pursuance” and ‘Psalms.”

Here in the Bay Area, this album has brought about a church led by the Rev. Fanzo Wayne King called the Saint John Coltrane African Orthodox Church in San Francisco.

When you look at the compositions of titles on this album, the sequence in which Trane has them laid out suggests a formula. Acknowledgements, Resolution, and

Pursuance is like saying Father, Son, and Holy Ghost as indicated in the Bible. If you were to look at it in a musical sense, it would be Melody, Harmony, and Rhythm. In other words, you have to acknowledge and then you resolve and then you pursue, and the manifestation of it is A Love Supreme.

It is clear in every way as you listen to this album that Trane took control of every detail of this recording. But what’s interesting is that as important as this album was to the jazz world, there are no interviews in which he talks about the album’s importance.

So sit back and listen to the opening gong and tenor saxophone flutter, a fournote bass line builds under the sound. This simple riff becomes the musical framework for the rich improvisations that compose Trane’s 33-minute journey.

So, until next time, remember:

“My music is the spiritual expression of what I am: my faith, my knowledge, my being.”

–

John Coltrane

Explorations in Jazz

tEd turnEr

This Week’s Events

Friday, August 16

“Let’s Build a New Oakley Library and Community Center” Fundraising Dinner

Tickets are $50 for the Hawai’an-inspired event from 6-9 p.m. at the Oakley Recreation Center, 1250 O’Hara Ave, in Oakley. Guest speakers include Jeff Palmquist, Superintendent of Schools for the Oakley Union Elementary School District. Kristin Connelly, Contra Costa County Clerk-Recorder, former president and CEO of the East Bay Leadership Council and Executive Director of the Contra Costa Economic Council.Susan Hildreth, Former California State Librarian and Director of the National Institute of Museum and Library Services.For details and tickets, visit https://www.oakleylibrary.org/ new_fundraising_event.

Saturday August 17

Cruise Out Car Show

Liberty High School Auto Shop presents their car show at the Independence High parking lot at First and Pine streets (929 Second St.) in Brentwood from noon- 4 p.m. (cars start lining up at 11 a.m.). Entry fee is $30. For details, visit https://linktr.ee/libertyautoclub?utm_ source=linktree_profile_share<sid=eab5fe9061d4-445a-8d23-cac0c29fc4aa

Hot August Cruise Night

From 5-9 p.m., downtown Antioch restaurants and stores will be open. Classic cars, music and food are part of the Celebrate Antioch Foundation and Rivertown Merchants Event. For details, visit www.celebrateantioch.org.

Saturday, August 17

Sunday, August 18

Bethel Island Boats & Berries Music Festival

kids zone, bathtub races, and the car, bike, and boat show. The festival will take place from 10 a.m.- 5 p.m. each day at Bethel Island Community Park, 6190 Bethel Island Road.

Tuesday, August 20

Oakley Senior Center Bus Trip to Hard Rock Casino

The bus will leave the senior center at 215 Second St. at 8 a.m. and return by 5 p.m. to allow for five hours of gambling and lunch. Tickets are $47. RSVP by calling Joyce or Allan at 925-626-7223.

On the Horizon

Saturday, Aug. 24

County Waste Tire Drop-off

The county is hosting a waste tire drop-off on Aug. 24 from 8 a.m.-noon at 2030 Knightsen Ave. in Knightsen. Per a county news release, here is what’s eligible: for county residents only, nine or fewer tires without hauling exemption letter, 10-20 tires with waste exemption letter; limit of 40 tires per resident and a maximum of 20 tires per trip. This is for dropping off tires only; no other trash will be accepted. For more details, call 925-608-5500 or visit tinyurl.com/cchealth-tire

Saturday, September 7

La Gran Fiesta Hispanic Heritage Event

Presented by the Brentwood Chamber of Commerce, celebrate La Gran Fiesta from 2-8 p.m. at Brentwood City Park with live musical performances, a car show, a free kids zone and Hispanic food. For details, call 925-634-3344.

Rivertown Peddlers Faire

Sunday, September 8

ECHS community barbecue

The East Contra Costa Historical Society hosts its 36th annual community barbecue at the museum from 1-4 p.m.. The menu includes tri tip, corn, tomato salad, beans and dessert. Tickets are $35 for adults, $15 for children ages 6-12. Tickets go on sale Aug. 10. For details, visit www.eastcontracostahistory.org or call 925-634-4049.

13th annual Delta Harvest Run

The 13th annual Delta Harvest Run is scheduled for Sept. 8 at City Park in Brentwood. The race day schedule is:

6 a.m. – Race-day registration and packet pickup opens; 7:15 a.m. – Pre-race warmup; 7:30 a.m. – half marathon start; 7:45 a.m. – 10K start; 8 a.m. – 5K start; 9 a.m. – 1-mile family fun run start; 10 a.m. – awards ceremony – all at the Community Center at 35 Oak St., Brentwood. For details and to register, visit DeltaHarvestRun/com.

Saturday, September 14

Banner Up! Live Auction

Art Guild of the Delta’s Banner Up! 2024 Live Auction is from 6-9 p.m. at the Brentwood Senior Center, 193 Griffith Lane, Brentwood. Proceeds support local artists and Adventure Therapy Foundation. Pick up your free banner guide at the community center. For more information, visit ArtGuildoftheDelta.org or call Rosie Grejsen at 925-698-2077.

Saturday, September 21

2024 PJTF 11th Annual Benefit Gala

The Patriots Jet Team Foundation’s 11th annual benefit gala from 5–10 p.m. at the Patriots Jet Team Center Byron Airport at 760 Osprey Court, Byron, features Champagne reception, dinner and live music. The cost is $225 per person until Aug. 15. For details, call 925-338-7583 or visit https://www.pjtf.org/.

pups, and games. They train assistance dogs and provide support to adults, children and veterans with disabilities free of charge. Enjoy some Ike’s and Four Legs beer to help support canine companions at Four Legs Brewery at 2010 Elkins Way, Suite 120, in Brentwood. The brewery is donating $1 for every beer sold during the event, and Ikes Grill is donating 10% of their sales during the event. For details, contact Sarah Pompa at (909) 556-5784 or sphilpta@gmail.com.

Thursday, September. 26

Evening on the Lawn for Education

The annual TEACH fundraiser that features food,cash bar, silent auction and a raffle is for the Los Medanos College Foundation is from 5-8 p.m. at the Trilogy Event Center and Lawn. Presale tickets are $65. Checks payable to Trilogy Teach Club can be dropped off at the mailroom or mailed to Trilogy TEACH club at 1700 Trilogy Parkway, Brentwood, CA 94513.

Saturday, September 28

Brentwood Rotary Club

Craft Brew Festival

The Brentwood Rotary Club’s third annual Brewfest brings the community together to enjoy a diverse selection of craft beers, live music, and local food vendors. The festival at City Park from 1-5 p.m. is a fundraiser for the club, supporting its various charitable projects and initiatives. Attendees can sample beers from breweries, participate in fun activities, and enjoy a lively atmosphere. Ticket information will be announced shortly.

Saturday, October 5

Pawstoberfest presented by Ruff Day Rescue

Ruff Day Rescue presents Pawstoberfest from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. at Veterans Park at 3841 Balfour Road in Brentwood. There will be a beer garden, artisan and pet booths, food trucks, onsite adoptions and microchipping/vaccination, kids area, canine demonstrations, dog parade and costume contest (small dogs at 1:30; large dogs at 2:30) and live music by Dawglips from 1-5 p.m.. For details, visit ruffdayrescue.org. For print, email your events to calendar@brentwoodpress.com one week prior to publication. For online, post your events for free on The Press Community Calendar www.thepress.net/calendar.

Bethel Island’s Boats and Berries Music Festival is back, along with the “Car and Bike Show.” Join in on the free family fun and festivities, including town opening parade, live music, talent show, catfish races, vendors, food trucks, duckie races,

The faire, which runs from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. at G and 2nd streets in Antioch’s Historic Rivertown Business District, features more than 70 vendors offer vintage goods, antiques, furniture, home decor, repurposed and upcycled items, home & garden, handmade items, arts and crafts, jewelry and gifts, live music, food , beer and wine, and shopping. Admission and parking are free. For details, visit: https://www. rivertownpeddlersfaire.com.

Pints for Pups fundraiser for Canine Companions

Canine Companions of Brentwood presents the fundraiser from noon-4 p.m. with food, beer,

There were an estimated 107,543 drug overdose deaths in the United States during 2023 — a decrease from 111,029 in 2022.

This has been the first national annual decrease since 2018.

Drug overdose is preventable with effective campaigns

International Overdose Awareness Day 2024 on Aug. 31 is the most extensive annual campaign to end overdose. The campaign raises awareness of overdose, which has impacted every community. Too many families have lost loved ones, but this campaign and others like it can save lives.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there were an estimated 107,543 drug overdose deaths in the United States during 2023 — fortunately, a decrease from 111,029 in 2022. This has been the first national annual decrease since 2018. However, synthetic opioids continue

to be involved in three-quarters of all overdose deaths across the nation. Overdose prevention campaign staffers work tirelessly to prevent these deaths among people of all ages. There are practical resources, tools, and information that individuals, families and communities can use to increase awareness, prevent overdoses and save lives.

In California, according to the Overdose Surveillance Dashboard, there were more than 6,400 deaths related to fentanyl overdose in 2022, and more than 21,000 people visited an emergency department because of

MIKE’S ESTATE PLANNING MINUTE

By Michael J. Amthor, Esq.

HAVE YOU TALKED WITH YOUR FAMILY ABOUT MONEY? YOU SHOULD. HERE’S WHY.

I have discussed the importance of estate planning many times in these articles. Saving money, peace of mind and making things easier for those you leave behind are just a few of the benefits. However, with estate planning typically comes difficult conversations with family members that does not come natural. Subjects such as who you want to be in charge of your estate after death, who should receive your assets and end of life issues are just the beginning. Nine out of 10 Americans consider it important to have a financial plan but almost half have difficulty discussing finances with loved ones. There are three reasons for this: It can be overwhelming, it can be awkward and talking about a future plan is difficult when you don’t have one in place. The statistics tell an interesting story. 38% of people do not even talk to their spouse or partner about the other’s financial situation before getting married. 55% of those without a financial plan say they are not confident in their retirement and a full 86% of us do not feel they have saved enough for retirement. It starts with a conversation and

sometimes we just need a little help to take that first step. When I talk to clients about estate planning, I do so without making them feel guilty or being ashamed. The most important step you take is talking with someone. I reassure my clients that it is never too late nor too early to start talking about finances after death. Most of my clients have a very real sense of accomplishment and relief because many have been putting it off for years. I cannot emphasize enough the peace of mind my clients walk away with when we complete their estate plan and they know this important issue has been handled. Make a commitment to yourself and talk to your family today about these issues. Keep it light and do not take it too seriously. Your next call should be to my office and we will put your plans into action.

If you have questions on this or any other estate planning topic, call me at (925) 516-4888. East County Family Law Group, 1181 Central Blvd. Ste. A, Brentwood www.eastcountyfamilylaw.com – Advertisement

Photo courtesy of Metro Creative

EDITORIALS, LETTERS & COMMENTARY

O pini O n

Why you should join Scouts BSA

Editor:

Hi. I’m a junior at Heritage High School and I wanted to write this letter to promote this amazing extracurricular that I’m in: Troop 22, which is a part of Scouts BSA.

Troop 22 is an all-girls troop in Brentwood and is open to girls ages 10-17.

(If you are a boy aged 10-17, you can check out other troops around, including Troop 21 who meet at the same time and place that we do.)

Have something to say? Post a comment or submit a letter to the editor at www.thepress.net/site/forms.

Letters to the editor

We meet at the Brentwood Veterans Memorial Building at 757 First St. every Wednesday (besides the second Wednesday of the month, where we meet at Veterans Park instead) from 7-8:30 p.m. Anyone is welcome to drop by and come check us out if they’re interested.

But first, let me tell you why you should consider joining Troop 22 in the first place.

We have a lot of outdoor activities that are really fun and introduce you to a lot of new experiences. We do camping, hiking, service projects and more!

Social Talk about town...

Scouts BSA teaches you a LOT of life skills. There are merit badges and rank requirements that teach you how to cook, administer first aid, develop leadership qualities, etc. There is leadership training, which develops your leadership skills and leadership positions that allow scouts that kind of experience.

There are a variety of different, interesting merit badges that you can do based on your interests. There’s kayaking, art, cooking, archery, and more.

The people in our troop are very

friendly. We have multiple troop bonding activities and outings, so if you join the troop, you’ll be joining a community and you’ll make a lot of new friends. Personally, I’ve been in this troop for five years, and even now, I still look forward to the meetings and outings we have because they’re all really fun to go to.

Even if you’re not 100% convinced, please do consider checking out our meetings to get a better sense of what our troop is like.

The following comments were made on Facebook and Instagram in response to the story ‘A new Popeyes fast-food restaurant will be coming to Brentwood Boulevard...’ first published in the August 9 issue of The Press.

“What were the other options? Seems there are already plenty of places in and around Brentwood where fried chicken can be purchased.”

– James Thomas via Facebook

“I hope this means the city will clean up that shopping center and make it look nicer. Also add a signal light?? Do we really need another fast food restaurant?”

– Sherry Picou Simonsen via Facebook

“If we -had- to have another chain, why not a drive thru Panera, like in Pittsburg. At least they have healthy options.”

– Naomi Schey via Facebook

LETTERS POLICY

The Press invites your comments. Letters must be no longer than 325 words and include name, address and phone number for confirmation.

The Press reserves the right to edit submissions for length, clarity, potential libel and taste, or to not print letters we feel violate our standards of acceptance.

Opinions expressed in letters are not necessarily the opinions of The Press, whose opinions are contained in clearly marked editorials. Send correspondence to The Press, 248 Oak St., Brentwood, California, 94513; or email editor@ brentwoodpress.com.

“I feel like I am missing something. Both Antioch and Pittsburg have Popeyes and neither one are crowded! What a waste.”

– Jennifer Barnes Ulrich via Facebook

“Folks don’t understand that the Planning Commission had their hands tied. The previous meeting, everyone agreed it was a great design and a good fit. Tuesday, they wanted to cause issues for no reason. and of course we want a real restaurant in Brentwood, but no one is applying to open their business in the city because of stuff like this. It’s so hard to get your business approved here.”

– Brayden Haena via Facebook

“Ridiculous!!! Stop taking money over quality of Life!! We don’t need anymore fast food chains!!”

– @reenieb5 via Instagram …

“Not needed at all. Get some good food places in Brentwood.”

– @briggs1572 via Instagram …

“I agree with a different restaurant being a better option but there’s also nobody else bidding for the space. This will at least bring jobs for people in the community.”

– @joanellyy_bellyy via Instagram

“How many chicken spots do we need in Brentwood ?”

– @suturedup2 via Instagram

Fiore Bin Brentwood

Overdose from page 7

and

One of the most recognized national awareness and prevention resources is the International Overdose Awareness Day website, at which provides extensive resources and ways to get involved. The National Harm Reduction Coalition offers evidencebased strategies that reduce the risk of overdose. Finally, the National Safety Council provides resources for the workplace.

It’s important to remember that over-

dose is preventable. Any one individual or local community can increase awareness through practical approaches and effective campaigns. Begin by keeping in mind that stigma or the fear of stigma stops someone struggling with addiction from sharing their problems with friends or family. Stigma, for example, can come from individuals, family members, clinicians, or the community. Begin by removing the stigma.

Moreover, you should become familiar with the facts about fentanyl and fentanyl analogs. Fentanyl is 50 times more potent than heroin and 100 times more potent than morphine. Fentanyl is commonly mixed into fake prescription drugs and illicit street drugs.

Additionally, most overdose deaths occur because of polysubstance use, which

occurs when two or more drugs are taken together, whether intentionally or unintentionally. The primary risk factors associated with overdose include mixing drugs, tolerance, quality of the drug, using alone, age and physical health, mode of administration, and previous non-fatal overdoses.

Also, familiarize yourself with life-saving Naloxone. In California, the law allows licensed healthcare providers to make naloxone available to anyone. Community organizations are permitted to dispense naloxone to a person at risk or in a position to assist a person at risk without a prescription.

Most importantly, remember those who have died from overdose and acknowledge the grief of the family left behind. Overdose affects everyone, and this should also fuel

our commitment to end overdose and all of its related harms.

International Overdose Awareness Day 2024 focuses on how every individual action matters and how coming together as a community creates a decisive collective action. Overdose awareness is for everyone, for people who use drugs and those who don’t, for families who have lost loved ones, for healthcare workers, advocates, and activists. These are necessary steps everyone can take to save lives, protect communities, and safeguard families.

Michael Leach has spent most of his career as a healthcare professional specializing in substance use & addiction recovery. He is a Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) and the Public Relations Officer at DRS.

Heritage has ‘sense of urgency’ as Patriots seek return to playoffs in 2024

By Jeff Weisinger Staff Writer

The Heritage High School football team has an opportunity to do something that the program hasn’t done in several years — reach the playoffs in consecutive seasons.

As the pads come on this week throughout the Bay Valley Athletic League schools, Heritage knows that there’s a potential for a playoff return. They also realize that if they’re going to go on another run for an North Coast Section title, that the time is now, and they’re excited for it.

”There’s a sense of urgency,” head coach Dave Fogelstrom said. “But I don’t think that’s a bad thing. When you have a group of guys who are coming back after being in a playoff game last year, they realize the level at which they aspire to play.”

“It’s nothing but a positive for us.”

Heritage’s last pair of back-to-back playoff seasons came in 2016-17, with the Patriots losing to eventual NCS champion Monte Vista in the 2016 semifinals, and then to cross-town rival Liberty in the 2017 quarterfinals. Liberty went on to win the Division I title that year.

Heritage lost in the NCS Division II semifinals last year at eventual NCS Division II champion El Cerrito, ending the program’s five-year playoff drought. They defeated Redwood in Larkspur, 35-8, in the quarterfinals the week before for the program’s first playoff win since 2017.

”(When) we see an opportunity, we’re going to take it,” senior quarterback Phillip Babbitt said. “We’re going to do our best. We’re gonna go one game at a time, work hard through every game, and once we get to the playoffs we’ll

kick butt there too.”

Heritage senior quarterback Phillip Babbitt throws a pass in drills during the team’s training camp practice Tuesday in Brentwood.

Seniors Elijah Ruffin and JJ Kinnaird are two of those guys. Both are the team’s top defensive players and returning leading tacklers from last year. Kinnaird led the defense in interceptions last year with three and was the leading junior tackler last year, according to MaxPreps. Heritage’s top three overall tacklers last year were all seniors (Gabe Gonzales-Kidd, Jesse Briggs, Niko Zovich). Ruffin led the team in average tackles per game with 6.9.

Offensively, Heritage’s offensive triplets of Kinnaird, Babbitt, and Mekhi Adanandus return for their senior seasons. According to MaxPreps, Kinnaird led the team in receiving yards per game with 32.7 yards, Babbitt threw for 1,248 yards with 12 touchdowns, and Adanandus ran for 1,012 yards with 10 rushing scores.

”JJ and Phillip were both unanimous team captains,” Fogelstrom said. “Phillip now realizes that he’s the guy, he’s the quarterback. JJ is all over the place and kids look at him as a leader as well.”

”(Returning to the playoffs) would be huge for us,” Fogelstrom said. “They’ve had a little bit of a taste and now we want to get a home playoff game. That’s our goal. If we do what we need to do, we give maximum effort every week, and play to our potential, I think we’ll be there.”

The Patriots enter 2024 with more experience compared to last year. This year’s team has 25 seniors, nearly half of the roster, adding to the team’s sense of urgency.

The defensive returning in 2024 is more experienced. Heritage fielded a whole new starting defense in 2023 after the starters in 2022 graduated.

”We’re starting to figure out who our guys are (defensively),” Fogelstrom said.

Heritage opens the season hosting Foothill in a rematch of last year’s overtime classic in Pleasanton (Aug. 30 at 7 p.m.). Fogelstrom and Babbitt are hoping to win in regulation this time.

”We played for three quarters last year making every mistake in the book,” Fogelstrom explained. “And that was part of being young, then in that fourth quarter we started making the plays that we weren’t. Our kids left that game with a lot of confidence.”

”Foothill was a tough team for us,” Babbitt said. “It was a tough battle.”

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

Liberty opens camp with ‘chip on our shoulder’

By Juan Cebreiros Correspondent

The Liberty Lions will enter this football campaign with a chip on their shoulder after their season ended short of the playoffs last year.

Liberty finished the 2023 season with a 7-3 record, but failed to qualify for the North Coast Section playoffs. Head coach Mike Cable said the news was difficult, but it has added fuel to the fire as the Lions get ready to open their season at home Aug. 30 against Frontier High School who went undefeated last year in the regular season.

“It was extremely difficult to end the year like we did last year,” Cable said. “When it was decided that we couldn’t continue, it was frustrating to say the least. So we took it as a chip on our shoulder.”

Cable added the way last season ended played a role in the Lions’ schedule this season. The Lions five preseason games are all against teams that made the playoffs last season, including Division 2-A state runner-up Los Gatos High.

“We decided to go out and schedule some tough opponents in the preseason and just get after people,” Cable said. “Coaching staff and players alike, we’re hungry.

We got a chip on our shoulder. We feel like we’ve got something to prove this year.”

While the Lions’ preseason schedule is difficult, the Bay Valley Athletic League will always be a challenge with Pittsburg having won six of the last seven league titles. The Pirates have not lost a league game since 2018 when Liberty defeated Pittsburg 24-21 and went on to win state.

However, during Cable’s first year, the Lions almost defeated the Pirates, but fell 31-29 on a late field goal.

“It’s always tough,” Cable said on going

Liberty players run through team drills as the Lions put on the pads for the first time with training camp intensifying.

we know our offensive line is going to be very strong and tough again this year, and we fully expect to dominate the ground game,” Cable said. “If we can help him out with the passing game, which I anticipate we will this year, it’s going to open things up for him and for our offense.”

Liberty participated in a 7-on-7 tournament over the summer, which Cable said he believes helped senior quarterback Sage Robertson develop his progressions in different concepts. The belief entering this season is that the offense will be able to throw the ball around more to different receivers.

“Last year, we had Ryan McKendry who is a great receiver. He was pretty much our number one and only option,” Cable said.

against Pittsburg. “They’re a great program that’s been doing this for years. I feel very strongly that we have everything we need to get the job done. But it’s going to take a championship effort and I feel like that game is going to be a championship-like game.”

Despite the tough schedule, Cable said he believes his team is up for the challenge. He added that he feels his goal of incorporating the passing game more into the team’s offense would help their potent run game led by Jaxon Bell.

“We know what we have in Jaxon Bell,

While Cable won’t see the full potential of his team until Week 1, he said he does see the talent and the development as the team inches closer and closer to their Aug. 30 kickoff.

“I see the flashes of greatness and I know we have a lot of great talent on this team,” Cable said. “It’s going to be a process for us to work through adversity and continue to develop as a team. If we do that, the sky’s the limit for us.”

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

Photo by Jeff Weisinger

Photo by Juan Cebreiros

West Coast Soccer 09 Wolfpack Girls start the season with a tournament championship

West Coast Soccer, in preparation for their upcoming league play, entered into the U16 age group of the Solano Surf Girls Tournament on Aug. 9-11 in Solano.

West Coast finished first out of the five-team bracket, defeating San Juan Spirits 3-0 with goals by Maddie Hernandez, Brodie Hamilton and Shanaya Chatterjee with assists from McKenna Loder, Maddie Hernandez and Juliette Bellamy.

In Game 2, The Wolfpack defeated the home teamn Solano Surf 4-1 with 2 goals by Saniyah Lee and a goal each by Noni Nijjar and Shanaya Chatterjee.

West Coast earned a shutout versus Rocklin FC, ending the game at 0-0 to set up a fourth and final

game.

Wolfpack closed out the tournament with a 1-0 win against Alameda SC, clinching the top spot. The

final goal was scored by Ava Aguirre assisted by Brodie Hamilton. Solid midfield and defense by Izabella Arellano, Taylor Caoili, Kamaile Dillon, Ally Markowicz, Larissa Saucedo, Ashley Browning, Sierra Rinne, Savannah Spencer, Mya Mendiola, Isabella Humphrey and GK Megan Silva.

West Coast Wolfpack 09 Girls scored 8 goals and allowed 1 with three shutouts and 10 points to finish tournament champions. Wolfpack start their fall League next weekend.

Brentwood players include Kamaile Dillon, Brodie Hamilton, Ally Markowicz, Sierra Rinne, Larissa Saucedo and Savannah Spencer.

For more information regarding West Coast Wolfpack, go to http://www.westcoastsoccerclub.com.

Local mountain bike team recruiting riders

East County Shred Composite Mountain Bike Team is recruiting riders for the 2024-2025 mountain bike season. The team is open to high school and middle school boys and girls in Antioch, Brentwood, Discovery Bay and Oakley. They accept riders of all levels, no previous mountain bike experience necessary. If interested in learning more, email eastcountyshred@gmail.com.

Photo courtesy of West Coast Soccer

Photo courtesy of East County Shred

Diane Alexander

Patricia Blumen*

Jamie Bolt*

Mark Branson

Marsha Brown

Vince Buchanan

Bethi Carver Gibb*

Gary Chambers

Janet Clarke*

John Cooper

Donna Corrigan

Denise Cosgrove* DF

Rosa Daley

Albert Del Grande

Debra Doherty*

John Dodson

Michael Echeverria*

Larry Fancey

Irene San Filippo

Timothy Finnigan

Gloria Foster*

Jack Gaughn*

David Goodwin

Carol Grossman

Deena Gruver*

Carol Guadagni

Rinaldo Hamade*

Bill Harms

Udo Jaquet

Nigel Jesson*

David Kerley

Jess Kerlin*

Lauren Kovaleff

Erin Lamb*

Pat & Mary Lamb

Cathy Little*

Carlee Lopez

Karen Mann

Janet McCarthy

Jay McLaughlin

Kryssie Mingst*

Lawrence Moglia*

Shani Moore*

Rick Nelson

Brian Oftedal

Ken Olson

Gary Pollock

Sue Pretzer

Leonard Price

Gloria Rodda

Annette Rodrigues

Lourdes Rosado-Ford

Kitten Russell

Gary Sands

Gwendolyn Schmid

Craig Schoenthaler

Donald Smith*

Wayne Steffen

Birgit Stephens*

Mike Suboez

Sue Swackhamer

Kiran Taunk

Zack Taylor

Linda Thuman*

Amy Tilley*

David Wahl

Julia Wantuck

David Wyatt

Carl Yost

Joseph Young

Larry Young

Mary Young

Byron Delta Lions Club donates school supplies

The Byron Delta Lions Club led by Lion Debbie Auer continued its tradition of giving back to the community by donating and delivering school supplies to three local schools: Excelsior Middle School, Discovery Bay Elementary School, and Timber Point Elementary School. On July 19, each of these schools received about $175 worth of binders, notebooks, pencils, paper, art supplies, and more. This year, the donation extended even farther with a special contribution from the Hayward Silicon Valley Lions, who donated backpacks to each school. These backpacks, along with the school supplies, will ensure that many students in need have the tools necessary to start the new school year on the right foot. The schools expressed gratitude for the donations, highlighting how impactful these supplies will be for their students. “The support from the Byron Delta Lions Club and the Hayward Silicon Valley Lions makes a significant difference in the lives of our students,” a school representative said. “These supplies will help so many students who might otherwise go without.”

Find the Patriots Jet Team logo

Looking for something fun to do on Sept. 21? The Press is giving away one FREE ticket to be a part of the Patriots Jet Team’s annual gala! Join the team at their hangar in Byron for a night of food and drinks, private air show and a keynote speech by retired Air Force Lt. General Stayce D. Harris. Did we mention live music and auctions?

Here’s how to win: Every week between now and Sept 6, there will be a Patriot Jet Team logo hidden somewhere in our weekly newspaper. Find the logo for a chance to win! Winner will be announced on Sept. 11

Submit your answer at https://bit.ly/4dpozzT.

Photo courtesy of Elizabeth Clarke

C lassifieds & l egals

PUBLIC NOTICE

1, Tabitha-Allene, of the family Jones, a living-breathing woman, Declare I am alive, and over the age of 18 years old, fully competent to handle my own Trust Estate without the United States. I am a U.S. National (California Republic), not a 14th Amendment Citizen of the United States. I DO NOT WISH TO CONTRACT WITH ANY LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES OR GOVERNMENT AGENCIES. This is the collateral by Trustee/Secured Party on behalf of the Trust/Estate; TABITHA ALLENE JONES TRUST in the Commercial Chamber under the necessity to secure the rights, title(S), interest and value therefrom, in and of the Root of Title from inception, as well as property held in trust including but limiting to DNA, CDNA, cell lines, retina scans, fingerprints and all Debentures, Indentures, Accounts, Writ of Possessions, Warrants, Complaints, Citations, Bonds, Applications, Notes, Chattel Paper, and all the pledges represented by the same included but not limited to the pignus, hypotheca, hereditaments, res, the energy and all products derived therefrom nunc pro tunc, contracts, agreements, and signatures and/or endorsements, facsimiles, printed, typed or photocopied, of the owners name predicated on the ‘Straw-man, Ens Legis/Trust Estate described as the debtor and all property is accepted for value and is Exempt from levy. Lien placed on debtor entities is for all outstanding property still owed but not yet returned to trust from entities such as municipalities, governments, and the like, not on trust entity itself. Trustee is not surety to any account by elicit reservation/ indemnification. The following property is hereby registered and liened in the same: All bonds attached to passport #A35282*** and passport card #C3280**** and California Driver license # ****9580 , and Name change Case #***-CV-***-***313800 and Notice of estoppel case number 04041994-TAJ. All certificates of Birth Document (Naturalization) #AA398850 United States of America Born Abroad - State of California, SSN/ UCC Contract Trust Account-Prepaid Account Number: XXX-XX-1082; Exemption Identification Number: XXXXX1082, is herein liened and claimed at a sum certain $100,000,000.00, also registered: Full Faith & Credit Bond/ Account Number #23028202-1, Copyright Number 0085428-1 Private Trust Fund of Tabitha Allene Jones, the following Bond/Account Number series: TAJIB0001 to TAJIB9999 inclusive; TAJOB0001 to TAJOB9999 inclusive; TAJBPN001 to TAJBPN999 the value of the Secured Party’s claim is One Million and 00/100 United States Dollars ($1,000,000.00). Bond/Account Tumorri Series:: RF 325 294 445 US, RF 325 294 428 US, RF 325 294 480 US, RF 325 294 462 US, RF 325 294 480

($5,000,000.00), all collateral described in State of Colorado Secretary of State UCC-1 filing #20232067910, The following described real estate, situated in the City of Stockton, in the County of San Joaquin, State of California AND IS DESCRIBED AS FOLLOWS: LOT FIFTY-SIX (56) AS SHOWN UPON MAP ENTITLED TRACT NO. 3154 WESTON RANCH UNIT NO. 75, ACCORDING TO THE OFFICIAL MAP THEREOF FILED FOR RECORD DECEMBER 20, 2002 IN BOOK OF MAPS AND PLATS, VOLUME 37, PAGE 81, SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY RECORDS.. Legal Address: 4864 Bijou Court, Stockton, California 95206, Parcel APN#: 166-480-300 (coordinates: 37.898753058564104, -121.31532459020518). Security Agreement No. 06081971-TAJ-SA, Hold Harmless & Indemnity Agreement No. 06081971-TAJ-HHIA, Copyright under item no: 06081971-TAJ-CLC Adjustment of the filing is in accord with both public policy and the national Uniform Commercial Code. Trustee/Secured Party, Tabitha-Allene: Jones, is living flesh and blood sojourning upon the soil of the land known as California, and not within Fictional boundaries, territories nor jurisdiction of any fictional entity including fictional Federal geometric plane(s). Trespass by any agent(s) foreign or domestic, by such in any scheme or artifice to defraud. Full reverence by ALL AGENTS and CORPORATIONS is ambiguously demanded and required. Culpa est immiscere se rel ad se non pertienti. All property currently held or outstanding belongs to the Trust administered by Trust/Secured Party, Title 46 USC 31343 and Article 1 and 5 of the International Convention on Maritime Liens and Mortgages 1993, Held at the Palis Des Nations, Geneva, From April 19 to May 5, 1992, United Nations UN. This Maritime Lien is under safe harbor and sinking funds pro- visions through the prescription of Law necessity with Applicable Law, Cardinal Orders, Ordinal Orders, and Commercial Standards. All Consumer Credit Transactions will be done on the private side with satisfaction of payment in the form of my Signature, Private Registered Promissory Note, Certified Funds in form of Money Order/International Bill Exchange drawn off Account Number XXXXX1082 made payable through U.S. Treasury, or GSA Payment Bond. Refusal of Legal Tender will result in automatic Default, and fee schedule from Legal Notice and Demand dated 07-13-2023 State of Colorado UCC-1 file #20232067910 will be in full effect for all violations. I am legally alive and recognized as an adult, fully competent to manage my estate independently of the United States of America. My Full Faith & Credit number is 23028202-2, licensed through the U.S. State Department on April 25, 2023. I am not a minor, and any accounts belonging to the Estate of TabithaAllene: Jones currently under the control or management of any government agency, municipalities, law enforcement, or corporation must be returned to the Estate of Tabitha-Allene: Jones, the living, breathing, sentient woman. I am domiciled in the Republic State of California (California). I declare I am a

US National, not a 14th Amendment US Citizen. do not wish to contract with any Law Enforcement, or Government Agencies. Any and all outstanding debt owed is conditionally accepted for value and honor exempt from levy. I demand the immediate release of the proceeds, products, accounts, and fixtures in accordance with Public Policy, HJR-192, UCC 10-104, and UCC 1-104. I accept the recent U.S. Supreme Court rulings in SEC v. Jarkesy and Chevron v. Natural Resources Defense Council as factual and applicable to my standing and declarations. am the Equity Title Holder in Due Course/Beneficiary who is civilly alive, and claim my birthright/ inheritance that was given to me by my creator “Yaweh”. Direct any rebuttal to: Tabitha Allene Jones Trust, c/o P.O. Box 24802 (c., Oakland, California, WithoutU.S. [94623-1802] All Rights Retained and Reserved Without Recourse. Brentwood Press No. 02-1273

Publish Dates: August 2, 9, 16, 2024

SUMMONS (CITACION JUDICIAL)

C24-00487

NOTICE TO DEFENDANT: (Aviso al Demandado): CHEYO APPEL; GAVIN EUGENE APPEL; and DOES 1 through 50, inclusive YOU ARE BEING SUED BY PLAINTIFF: (lo esta demandando el demandante)

DOMA TITLE COMPANY OF CALIFORNIA, INC.

NOTICE! You have been sued. The court may decide against you without your being heard unless you respond within 30 days. Read the information below. You have 30 CALENDAR DAYS after this summons and legal papers are served on you to file a written response at this court and have a copy served on the plaintiff. A letter or phone call will not protect you. Your written response must be in proper legal form if you want the court to hear your case. There may be a court form that you can use for your response. You can find these court forms and more information at the California Courts Online Self-Help Center (www. courtinfo.ca.gov/selfhelp), your county law library, or the courthouse nearest you. If you cannot pay the filing fee, ask the court clerk for a fee waiver form. If you do not file your response on time, you may lose the case by default, and your wages, money, and property may be taken without further warning from the court.

There are other legal requirements. You may want to call an attorney right away.

If you do not know an attorney, you may want to call an attorney referral service.

If you cannot afford an attorney, you may be eligible for free legal services from a nonprofit legal service program. You can locate these nonprofit groups at the California Legal Services Web Site (www.lawhelpcalifornia.org) the California Courts Online Self Help Center (www.courtinfo.ca.gov/selfhelp), or by contacting your local court or county bar association. NOTE: The court has a statutory lien for waived fees and costs on any settlement or arbitration award of $10,000 or more in a civil case. The

court’s lien must be paid before the court will dismiss the case. ¡AVISO! Lo han demandado. Si no responde dentro de 30 días, la corte puede decidir en su contra sin escuchar su versión. Lea la información a continuación

Tiene 30 DÍAS DE CALENDARIO después de que le entreguen esta citación y papeles legales para presentar una respuesta por escrito en esta corte y hacer que se entregue una copia al demandante. Una carta o una llamada telefónica no lo protegen. Su respuesta por escrito tiene que estar en formato legal correcto si desea que procesen su caso en la corte. Es posible que haya un formulario que usted pueda usar para su respuesta. Puede encontrar estos formularios de la corte y mas información en el Centro de Ayuda de las Cortes de California (www. sucorte.ca.gov), en la biblioteca de leyes de su condado o en la corte que le quede mas cerca. Si no puede pagar la cuota de presentación, pida al secretario de la corte que le de un formulario de exención de pago de cuotas. Si no presenta su respuesta a tiempo, puede perder el caso por incumplimiento y la corte le podrá quitar su sueldo, dinero y bienes sin mas advertencia. Hay otros requisitos legales. Es recomendable que llame a un abogado inmediatamente. Si no conoce a un abogado, puede llamar a un servicio de remisión a abogados. Si no puede pagar a un abogado, es posible que cumpla con los requisitos para obtener servicios legales gratuitos de un programa de servicios legales sin fines de lucro. Puede encontrar estos grupos sin fines de lucro en el sitio web de California Legal Services, (www.lawhelpcalifornia.org), en el Centro de Ayuda de las Cortes de California, (www.sucorte.ca.gov) o poniéndose en contacto con la corte o el colegio de abogados locales. AVISO: Por ley, la corte tiene derecho a reclamar las cuotas y los costas y los costos exentos por imponer un gravamen sobre cualquier recuperación de $10,000 o mas de valor recibida mediante un acuerdo o una concesión de arbitraje en un caso de derecho civil. Tiene que pagar el gravamen de la corte antes de que la corte pueda desechar el caso.

The name and address of the court is: (El nombre y direccion de la corte es):

CONTRA COSTA SUPERIOR COURT 725 COURT STREET, MARTINEZ, CA 94553

The name, address, and telephone number of plaintiff’s attorney, or plaintiff without an attorney is: (El nombre, la direccion y el numero de telefono del abogado del demandante, o del demandante que no tiene abogado, es): Jeffrey H. Lowenthal; Jill K. Cohoe

Steyer Lowenthal, et al., 235 Pine Street, 15th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94104 415-421-3400

DATE: 02/26/2024

Deputy (Adjunto): N. McCallister-Vila

Notice to the person being served: You are served.

Brentwood Press No. 02-1273

Publish Dates: August 16, 23, 30, September 6, 2024

ison to the problematic but still functional Creekside, and that the city needed to keep to their set maintenance schedule.

Rohani also countered Fuller’s arguments. He said:

• the bocce ball court was not abnormal, and that it was paved with standard oyster shell concrete;

• the cracks in the skate park will be filled in this fall during regular maintenance, which will also help deal with frequent vandalism there;

• he would inspect the picnic benches, which were the same concrete objects as are used at other Oakley parks

• the splash pad will be resurfaced in due time like other features of the park.

“We pay attention to all of our parks,” Rohani said. “If someone says ‘You pay more attention to this park, or this park,’ that is not true.”

Fuller said he was not satisfied with Rohani’s explanation, and that he would seek to acquire records of all the funds

Sell from page 1

Bidders for the properties will submit proposals to the city for how they would use the assets. “For city owned properties, the City Council will take into consideration the proposed usage of the property” in relation to General Plan, Gale said.

Bidders would be responsible for adhering to the applicable zoning and planning regulations. For example, the building at 400 Guthrie Way is attached to 15 public parking stalls. A bidder would be required to show how one would create more parking stalls because public parking cannot be used to satisfy a private property’s parking requirements. The City Council had considered using the property as a youth center in 2022 pending the release of Measure X funding.

Two surplus land parcels that are set

waivers and staff, according to Recreation Manager Thien Nguyen.

• According to Nguyen, the $32,000 option includes those amenities as well as:

• A city-supported barbecue lunch for veterans and their families

• Post-Veterans Day entertainment and vendor booths focusing on veterans’ health and welfare services and veteran-owned businesses.

• Annual downtown parade the weekend before Veterans Day. The parade would start on First Street near Garin Elementary and end at the Brentwood Veterans Memorial Building.

• The city annually sponsoring the military veteran banner program. Veterans and their families would be able to register for the program at no fee. “I have had the pleasure of being a part of every single one of these events,” Mayor Joel Bryant said about veteran events the city has hosted. “It’s the very most important thing our city does, as far as our family is concerned. We’re there because we would not be here if it weren’t for what you were willing to do. There’s no

spent on the maintenance of all Oakley parks in the past decade, and personally document each park’s condition to see if Rohani was accurate.

Fuller said that he wished to “do something nice for the east side,” which he saw as neglected compared to the wealthier west side. Councilmember Aaron Meadows disagreed, arguing that the west side has fewer parks than the east side. Fuller clarified that he was talking about parks west of Main Street.

After Williams asked Rohani about playground and splash pad lifespans, and whether anyone complained about the skate park being in disrepair, Fuller again stated his dissatisfaction with the constant vandalism at the skate park. That prompted the mayor to call a five-minute break because she said Fuller broke decorum.

After the break, Shaw moved to end the discussion, commenting that the city and its staff were “doing a great job,” and that she trusted their judgment when it came to park maintenance. Fuller was

displeased with Shaw’s statement and the Council’s perceived disregard for his concerns about park maintenance, accusing the Council of attempting to silence him and drifting from the agenda.

When other Councilmembers said he was changing the direction of the meeting, Fuller replied that “The direction is that you go over there and fix Creekside.” He added that he was concerned not only with what he called maintenance failure, but also with frequent vandalism at the park, as he drives past it up to six times per day, and claimed that the wealthier west side of Oakley believed that the less wealthy east side did not properly maintain its parks.

Williams subsequently requested staff reports on any upcoming maintenance at Creekside Park and adjourned the meeting; Fuller attempted to speak up for a final time, but was cut off by the adjournment.

In other Council actions:

• it upheld the decision of a hearing officer in the case of the owner of 404 Malicoat Avenue, whose prop-

for sale are owned by the State in title and name, with the city administering the maintenance and sale of the properties. These specific properties were absorbed by the California Department Hous-

way to put into words the debt that our nation and our community owe you.”

Residents who spoke during the public comment portion of the evening also expressed their support of more veteranrelated events in the city while veterans who spoke expressed their gratitude to the council for considering the agenda item.

According to city staff, the city has a number of ways in which it already honors veterans, in addition to the newly-proposed events. The military veteran banner program has been implemented since 2016, with 32 poles in Veterans Park available for

erty had been used as a marijuana grow house growing more than 1,000 plants, in violation of city law, which limits private marijuana cultivation to six plants per person. The property owner received a fine of $106,700, to be paid off over three years.

• it also received a report on the improved conditions at The Oaks apartments. According to WinnResidential Vice President Oke Johnson, whose company owns the complex, The Oaks has made considerable progress in addressing tenants’ concerns. Security has been improved, waste disposal areas have been cleaned up, and the management has assisted tenants in forming a union to help communicate future concerns. However, some residents, such as Velma Wilson, still have complaints about accessibility for people with disabilities at The Oaks, a lack of which has effectively rendered one tenant homeless.

One of the surplus properties up for sale, located on the corner of Walnut and Central boulevards.

ing and Community Development following the mandated dissolution of the Brentwood Redevelopment Agency in 2012. The properties are the previously mentioned 3.6-acre parcel at 1000 Central

the banners to be hung on. A staff report by the Parks and Recreation department notes that participation in the program has “dwindled” since the pandemic, with only two banners purchased for 2024. The council’s approval and sponsorship of the program is expected to revitalize it, according to the report.

In addition to the banner program, Brentwood has annually hosted the 4th of July Parade in downtown Brentwood since 2017, with the parade led by veterans service organizations, according to the report.

Also according to the staff report, the city has approved proclamations throughout the year for the following:

• Vietnam Veterans Memorial Day on March 29

• Memorial Day/Armed Forces Week in May

• Veterans Day in November

Separate from city programs to honor veterans are two other annual local events by local organizations with the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) annually hosting a Memorial Day event at the cemetery, and the American Legion hosting a Veterans Day event at Veterans Park, according to the Parks and Recreation report.

Ave. and a vacant lot of land on the 1900 block of Jane Way that is divided into two parcels. Both properties have had interest from community-focused nonprofits, according to city staff.

When selling these specific properties, the city must first consider bids and proposals from nonprofits organizations that would use these properties for community service and development. State-owned properties with no credible proposals from nonprofit organizations will be auctioned off to the highest bidder. The buyers of state-owned properties would not be required to get approval from the Brentwood Planning Commission or other city approval bodies at the time of purchase, but may require city approval for value-adding improvements, according to city staff.

“It’s a long time coming,” Councilmember Jovita Mendoza said of the newly-approved veteran events. “Thank you for everything you do.”

Other topics discussed at the meeting include:

• During the public comment period, residents from the Deer Ridge neighborhood discussed their frustrations over cows that had been brought into the old golf course by the property’s new owner to eat the weeds. Residents said that the cows are a safety problem because of their odor and more flies in the area. According to Bryant, the council is aware of the concerns and is “working on it.”

• Members of city staff also expressed their frustrations during public comment with ongoing contract negotiations. According to one city employee, contract negotiations have been going on since at least January with no resolution. The current contract period ended on July 1. The members of the council did not offer comment in response to these speakers.

The full meeting can be watched online at https://bit.ly/4crc6ul

Press file Andrew Rulloda

Veterans from page 1

Photo courtesy of City of Brentwood

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