Friends of the Oakley Library reach $10 million in funding
By Connor Robles Correspondent
The Friends of the Oakley Library announced at the Oct. 9 meeting of the Oakley City Council that they had raised $550,000 for the planned Oakley Library and Community Center.
When that figure is combined with the existing $9.5 million in city funds for the building, this money brings their funding total to just over $10 million. The ultimate goal is to raise $28 million to build a 28,000-square-foot library and community center, but Friends treasurer Liz Fuller admitted that reaching this amount was unlikely in the time allotted to fundraising.
“A fundraising campaign would be five years,” she said. “We’re doing everything in this mad year.”
The current fundraising effort was first
discussed in the City Council last November and began last February, lasting until the end of 2024, according to Fuller. During this time, the Friends of the Oakley Library have hosted numerous events, such as fundraising dinners, and of donation incentives, including a donation brochure and the chance to buy an individual brick used to construct the library.
library.
At the meeting, Fuller thanked the Oakley Rotary Club for their extensive fundraising assistance throughout the year, helping to put on events that the smaller Friends of the Oakley Library would not otherwise have been able to host. Friends president Lorena Campos additionally thanked the City
see Library page 22
Discovery Bay Community Services District (CSD) candidates’ statements
This year’s election for the Discovery Bay Community Services District will see three candidates running for two open seats on the Discovery Bay Community Services District (CSD) Board of Directors. The Town of Discovery Bay is a California Independent CSD governed by a five-member board. Directors are publicly elected and serve staggered four-year terms.
The town is responsible for water, sewer, landscaping and parks and recreation. The district and its directors have no
authority over land use, zoning, law enforcement or fire protection services, though it does ad-
vise the county on decisions affecting the town.
Carolyn Graham is running
for re-election. Originally elected in 2020, Graham said she has enjoyed helping the town, listening to the community the past four years and hopes for the opportunity to continue.
“It’s such a close-knit community here,” Graham said of the town. “People go out of their way to help each other.”
Graham said one challenge has been maintaining patience with the “excruciatingly slow” pace of government. Despite some frustration, Graham said
see Candidates page 22
‘We need to continue moving forward’
By Jake Menez Staff Writer
The Brentwood City Council voted 3-1 in their Oct. 8 meeting to allow the use of padmounted transformers through 2025 in new developments due to a supply chain issue that has made underground transformers unavailable. Councilmember Tony Oerlemans was the dissenting vote and Councilmember Pa’tanisha Pierson was absent. City staff had initially brought to council an amendment to the municipal code that would allow pad-mounted transformers to be installed “within development projects in certain circumstances, while the City monitors the nationwide supply chain issues related to underground transformers,” according to the staff report. Director of Engineering Allen Baquilar said during the meeting that there is a shortage of underground transformers and that one ordered today may not become available until 2028. The initial amendment would have allowed the pad-mounted option to be
see Council page 22
Concept art of the proposed
C ommunity
PG&E, ConFire join forces to fight wildfires
Contra Costa Fire and PG&E are joining forces to elevate Contra Costa Fire’s efforts to battle wildfires.
At a press conference on Tuesday, officials from ConFire, PG&E and county Supervisor Diane Burgis detailed who this partnership will help control wildfires in the county.
“PG&E is supporting a large portion of the daily cost of staffing and operating this critical recourse for our county. Contra Costa County Fire now has the ability to deliver a rapid response of a highly capable aerial fire fighting platform to all of Contra Costa County from here, our Byron Wildfire Center,” ConFire Chief Lewis Broschard said.
The helicopter will provide fast response of water drops up to 300 gallons, and it is outfitted with a hose that can fill it’s tank in less than four minutes, officials said. The helicopter will be housed permanently at the Byron Wildfire Center (formerly the Byron Boys Ranch).
“The helicopter will increase the fire district’s ability to quickly contain and suppress vegetation fires across the county,’ said Capt. Chris Toler in a press release.
“PGE is excited and honored to be working with Contra Costa Fire Protection District to provide
“The helicopter will increase the fire district’s ability to quickly contain and suppress vegetation fires across the county,” Capt. Chris Toler said.
and enhance their response to deal with catastrophic wildfire with this type-2 helicopter. At PG&E, we are dedicated to the safety of our customers. This is an -
other example of PG&E delivery to our customers,” said Les Putnam, PG&E’s Senior Safety Specialist.
To view a video, visit www.thepress.net / multimedia
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Photo by Andrew Rulloda
Brentwood Rotary Club, LMC will host Digs-&-Rigs family event Oct. 19
By Nicole Becchina Staff Writer
Digs n’ Rigs, a hands-on family event, will be Saturday, Oct. 19 from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. at the Brentwood campus of Los Medanos College at 1351 Pioneer Square.
Children of all ages will have the opportunity to explore all types of vehicles, such as a fire truck, a garbage truck and construction vehicles.
“I think the fun thing about the event for the kids is to get in the vehicles, touch the seats and get a chance to get up close and personal with the vehicles,” said Julie Deck, past president of the Brentwood Rotary Club and a co-chairperson of the event.
Kids will get to see the nearly-30 vehicles, and there will be demonstrations to show how they work.
Older children can learn about educational opportunities offered by LMC including public service, emergency, utility, construction, landscaping, transportation, and delivery industries. One of the main goals of the event is to promote education.
Half of the proceeds will go to LMC college foundation for scholarships. The other half will go to the Brentwood Rotary Club to assist with various programs, organizers said.
The Rotary Club gives scholarships to local high school students. It has a literacy program in which members read to kids. It also honors the High School Students of the Quarter and has a new program called “Good Citizenship” where they will recognize the kids for doing something good. “Proceeds will help out these programs,” Deck said.
Jayne Oertwig, Community Service chairperson for the Brentwood Rotary Club and Co-chair of the event, is looking forward to hosting an event for families.
“We want to provide a fun, family experience that educates,” Oertwig said. “We want people to know what Rotary is. We just want to give back to our community, and this is a fun way to do it. We do a lot of events for adults, and we really want to include families. I think it’s going to be an incredible day.”
Hotline Construction is one of the local companies that will be assisting with the logistics and equipment for the event, as are the City of Brentwood, Contra Costa Fire, the California Highway Patrol, Brentwood police, PG&E, and the Brentwood Historical Society.
“The response we’ve been given has just been exceptional,” Oertwig said. “I think it’s just a great opportunity for
“ I think the fun thing about the event for the kids is to get in the vehicles, touch the seats and get a chance to get up close and personal with the vehicles. ”
Julie Deck, past president of the Brentwood Rotary Club, a co-sponsor of the event
families to go out and have a few hours of fun. We’re just thrilled to be doing this. The support we’re getting from our local agencies is just amazing.”
Deck and Oertwig said they hope the event will also give the community a chance to get to know the Brentwood Rotary Club better and encourage them to get involved. They do more community-service work behind the scenes than people may realize, according to Oertwig.
Deck and Oertwig also are looking forward to seeing the joy this event will bring to kids.
”I’m really excited to be around the
BRENTWOOD CITY COUNCIL
little ones and watching the joy and experiencing that and knowing that Rotary is bringing this to them and to our community,” Deck said.
The event also will give children the opportunity to speak to individuals whom they look up to.
“When you’re a child these people are their heroes,” Oertwig said. “It’s a chance for kids to talk to them and they can show them they’re their friend. It humanizes them. There is nothing like seeing a smile on a child’s face.”
There will be food trucks, a photo booth, and a kids zone. Tickets are $5 per person. Kids younger than 1 year old are admitted free.
For more information or to purchase tickets, visit https://brentwoodrotaryclub. com/digs-and-rigs-family-event/. To comment, visit www.thepress.net
The Press and the Brentwood Chamber of Commerce are hosting a live forum for Mayoral and City Council candidates
p.m.
Venue sponsored by B.U.S.D
Mayoral candidates
Gerald Johnson
Susannah Meyer
District 1 candidates
Faye Maloney
Anita Roberts
District 3 candidates
Jovita Mendoza
Brian Oftedal
REGIONAL & LOCAL
News iN Brief
Construction on Bixler Road and Regatta Drive intersection in Discovery Bay starts next week
Contra Costa County Public Works will begin construction of the Bixler Road and Regatta Drive Intersection Improvement Project. Construction began on Thursday, Oct. 10 and last until late November, barring unforeseen circumstances.
Work will take place between 7 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday-Friday, weather permitting. Drivers should expect delays of about 5 minutes during construction, the county said in a press release.
The work includes installing a concrete pedestrian path, curb ramps, a rectangular rapid flashing beacon system, striping and pavement markings at the Bixler Road and Regatta Drive intersection in Discovery Bay.
Funding for this project is provided by gas tax money and the Transportation Development Act. For details on this project, visit www.cccounty.us/pwdmap.
Community
college students without a high school diploma now eligible for federal
financial aid
Four million Californians without a high school diploma will be able to access
federal financial aid to attend college classes thanks to the Ability to Benefit program –increasing opportunity and access to higher education, training, and jobs.
Gov. Newsom said in a press release that California community colleges were successfully approved by the U.S. Department of Education to enable students without a high school diploma – or the equivalent – to access Title IV financial aid. Successful application to participate in the Ability to Benefit (ATB) program means that the four million Californians without a high school diploma will now qualify to access federal financial aid to attend college classes – increasing opportunity and access to higher education, training, and jobs across the state.
Students participating in the ATB process will also have support for their education goals, and access to counseling and academic support, including math and writing workshops, tutoring services, accessibility services, and more.
Why does this matter? In California, 19 percent of adults over 25 do not have a high school degree, as compared to 14 percent for the rest of the country. Education is statistically tied to earning potential, and this program will help ensure that more Californians are able to access higher-paying jobs by taking community college classes without massive debt. Previously, students without a high
school diploma seeking to qualify for an ATB exception had to complete six credits of college classes or pass a qualifying exam to access federal financial aid. The new state process allows these students to meet a streamlined set of criteria instead, simplifying the process to get more aid to more students.
In August 2023, Newsom signed the Freedom to Succeed executive order to improve access to high-paying and fulfilling careers for students and workers. The governor’s executive order launched the development of a new Master Plan for Career Education that will help prepare students for the workforce of tomorrow, including high-paying and fulfilling career paths that don’t require college degrees. Additionally, the executive order directed the state to take further steps to reduce barriers to state employment — including eliminating requirements for college degrees unnecessary to job duties. Leaders from California’s education and workforce systems and the California Department of Rehabilitation met last week to discuss the Master Plan framework and are on track to deliver the Master Plan by the end of the year.
significant benefits for workers, without the negative consequences that critics predicted. The study found that while wages have risen substantially, there has been no reduction in employment in the fast-food sector. Below are some key takeaways from the research:
• Wages increased by 18%: For 90 percent of non-managerial workers, wages increased by 18 percent, representing a meaningful bump for workers who have historically been underpaid despite many being the primary breadwinners in their families.
• No job cuts: The wage increase did not lead to job cuts, despite what critics had said would be a doomsday for the industry.
• Profit margins were already high – The industry had been benefiting from “monopsonistic (higher than competitive) profit margins” which have “absorbed a substantial share of the cost increase.”
• 15 cents: The cost of menu options rose by only 3.7 percent, which is roughly just 15 cents for a typical $4 hamburger.
$20 fast-food minimum wage a
‘win-win-win,’
research says
A new study published by UC Berkeley’s Institute for Research and Labor Employment says that California’s $20 minimum wage for fast-food workers has led to
“This study reaffirms that our commitment to fair wages for fast-food workers is not only lifting up working families but also strengthening our economy,” Newsom said in a press release. “The data shows that investing in workers benefits everyone — workers, businesses, and our state as a whole.”
Pawstoberfest called a success despite the heat
By Nicole Becchina Staff Writer
Ruff Day Rescue’s second annual Pawstoberfest took place last Saturday at Veterans Park in Brentwood. Despite 100-degree heat, the fundraiser was called a success with an estimated 2,000 people in attendance. Ruff Day Rescue is a nonprofit organization whose focus is to save last-call dogs from being euthanized in shelters.
One of the main goals of Pawstoberfest was to raise money to help the rescue provide care for the dogs in their program and to save more dogs in the future. Another goal was to bring community awareness to Ruff Day Rescue and all the work they do to improve the animal crisis that exists today by providing resources.
“We raised a good amount of money to help save dogs, and it will allow us to pull more dogs out of the shelter system, which we’ve already started to do,” said Christina Johnson, founder and CEO of Ruff Day Rescue.
There was a variety of vendors who Johnson said all share the same primary objective when it comes to rescuing animals. The festivities included a small dog costume parade, a large dog costume parade, food trucks, raffles, and a silent auction.
“I love the costumes and how creative people are and how excited they get to create costumes for the dogs,” Johnson said. “I think the silent auction was a really nice addition.”
Several puppies were available for adoption, and six of them found “forever homes,” organizers said. The rescue also gained new volunteers and new foster families to help foster dogs who come into the rescue, they said.
Ruff Day Rescue will be doing a foster class that will cover topics such as what goes into being a foster parent and what it means to be a foster parent. Participants will have the opportunity to see if being a foster is the right fit for them. “We really want to empower the community,” Johnson said.
The class will be Sunday, Oct.13 at 7 p.m. via Zoom, and will occur every three weeks. Those who are interested should text the word FOSTER to 408-828-6939 to receive a link with more information.
Ruff Day Rescue also is starting training classes for dogs with Optima Canine. The first class will be Oct. 21 at 7 p.m. Those who are interested should email ruffdayrescue@gmail.com.
by Jeff Weisinger
One of the main goals of Pawstoberfest was to raise money to help the rescue provide care
Ruff Day Rescue is appreciative of all of the sponsors, vendors, volunteers, patrons and everyone who participated.
“We want to thank our sponsors and all the community members for coming out and braving the heat,” Johnson said. “We want to thank our volunteers. We couldn’t do it without them.”
She encourages everyone to follow them on social media, primarily on Facebook. Johnson said they are happy to offer information and resources regarding fostering, adopting, and general questions to care for pets. They can help match adopters with the right dog for them.
Ruff Day Rescue holds adoption events on the first Saturday and last Sunday of each month at Pet Food Express at 5825 Lone Tree Way, and the second and third Saturday and Sunday of each month at Tractor Supply at 8800 Brentwood Blvd. in Brentwood.
The group will host Santa Paws on Dec.15 from noon-4 p.m. at Four Legs Brewing, located at 2010 Elkins Way in Brentwood. There will be photo opportunities for dogs with Santa and the Grinch, vendors, and food.
For more information go to www.ruffdayrescue.org
To view a video and a slideshow, visit www.thepress. net/multimedia
Another event for dog lovers
The Discovery Bay Lions Club will host its Paws on Parade event on Oct. 26. There will be vendors, adoptions, canine demonstrations, photo opportunities for kids, face painting and a dog parade. Prizes awarded for best costume. Admission is free. See page 7 for more details.
Photo
Brentwood pumpkin patch to raise funds for ice rink
By Dawnmarie Fehr Correspondent
A pumpkin patch has sprouted in downtown Brentwood to help raise funds to operate the holiday ice rink.
The patch is sponsored by Got-aParty, a local party rental business. Owner Tom Gregory has built a temporary ice rink in Brentwood every holiday season since 2017, but rising costs had him looking at ways to raise extra money.
“We used to do a pumpkin patch way back when we had the Corn Fest, but that went away and so did the patch,” said Gregory, a Brentwood native and fourthgeneration Liberty High School graduate. “I was trying to bring something back to Brentwood. And since the city no longer leases this lot during the off-season for parking, we decided to give it a go with the pumpkin patch to raise funds for the ice rink.”
The pumpkin patch includes pumpkins, a 70-foot slide, corn pit, pedal gocarts, jumpy houses, rubber ducky race course, petting zoo and snack bar. A $15 wristband grants access to all activities except the petting zoo, which is an additional $5 per person. Rubber ducks for the race course are sold for $5 each.
Gregory said he and his team brought in 22,000 pounds of dried corn for the corn pit, one of the most popular attractions at the patch. He said adults and children alike love to visit just for the corn pit.
Got-a-Party owner Tom Gregory has built a temporary ice rink in Brentwood every holiday season since 2017, but rising costs had him looking at ways to raise extra money. One way is the pumpkin patch.
The petting zoo is another popular attraction, featuring chickens, turkeys, bunnies, mini goats, mini pigs and a mini highland cow. Sponsored by local Realtor Katy Kerling and her team at Relentless Real Estate, staff hope to give families the gift of memories as they visit with the animals.
“My real estate team is supporting the parents by taking pictures for them
and emailing the photos,” Kerling said. “I want parents to be able to put the phones away and enjoy the moment.”
Kerling said the idea was inspired by her own experience. Her parents’ house in Houston was wiped out by Hurricane Harvey in 2017, along with all their photos. She said she knows how precious family memories are and hopes to gift some to visitors.
“This is all new for us; it’s the first time we’ve done anything like this with our animals,” she said. “It brings a lot of joy, and it’s nice to see the families come together, and see the kids learn about the animals.”
Gregory said the patch is staying busy since it opened just last Friday, so he
Photo by Nicole Becchina
see Pumpkin Patch page 15
LOCAL EVENTS & SERVICE CLUBS
Calendar
This Week’s Events
Friday, October 11
Texas Hold ‘Em
Inaugural Poker Tournament
The Rotary Club of Oakley will hold its Inaugural Texas Hold ‘Em Poker Tournament from 6-10 p.m. at the Oakley Recreation Center, 1250 O’Hara Ave. Tickets are $75 and include a buffet dinner, one drink ticket and tournament play. The event includes a no-host bar and raffle. Participants must be at least 21 to play. Doors open at 6 p.m. for dinner. Tournament starts at 7 p.m. All proceeds will benefit the new Oakley Library and Community Center project. For tickets and sponsorships, contact Mike Hale at 213-359-9799 or Michael.Hale@scouting.org. For more information visit www.eventbrite. com/e/oakley-rotary-inaugural-texas-holdem-poker-tournament-fundraiser-tickets971173816027?aff=ebdssbdestsearch.
Ronstadt Revolution-Umbrella of Hope Fundraiser
Ronstadt Revolution, a Bay Area tribute band to Linda Ronstadt, will be playing at El Campanil theatre, 602 West 2nd St., in Antioch at 7 p.m. This event is also a fundraiser for Umbrella of Hope Animal Rescue. Umbrella of Hope is based in Pittsburg and specializes in saving senior and special-needs animals from local shelters. They also have programs like $5 senior adoptions and free adoptions for veterans. Tickets are $35 per person, and $3 of every ticket sold will go to the rescue center. Tickets can be purchased at https:// us.patronbase.com/_ElCampanilTheatre/ Productions/R098/Performances.
Saturday October 12
Brentwood Oktoberfest
The Downtown Brentwood Coalition’s annual Oktoberfest is from 1-7 p.m. General admission is free. VIP passes will also be available. This year’s event will feature The Sierra Nevada Biergarten with special guest Four Legs Brewing, the bands Alpine Sound and Adam Aldama and the Aces, Fun Zone including games, a train, Lockeford Sausage, plus food from local vendors and downtown restaurants, beer stein games, a weiner dog costume parade, local wine from Contra Costa Wine Growers, and an Oktoberfest Market.
Trunk or Treat Open House
The event will be at the Farmer’s Daughter, 23151 Marsh Creek Road in Brentwood, from 4-6:30 p.m. There will be free candy, a raffle, a cake walk, and a food truck. All proceeds will go to the Bay Area Crisis Nursery. Entry is free.
Hula Away the Cancer
This recital is a fundraiser to not only help one family, but many families with children struggling with cancer. It will be from 7:309:30 p.m. at the El Campanil Theatre, 602 West 2nd street, in Antioch. Tickets are $25. For more information visit https://us.patronbase. com/_ElCampanilTheatre/Productions/R097/ Performances.
Movie at the Oakley Rec Center
Featuring Toy Story 4
The Oakley Recreation Division is showing Toy Story 4. Before the movie, there will be giant Jenga, corn hole, free glitter tattoos, music and more. The games and fun will begin at 4 p.m. at the Oakley Recreation Center, 3231 Main Street, and the movie will begin at 5:30 p.m. Oakley Recreation will be selling popcorn, candy and soda in the snack shack behind the stage. For more information on this free event, visit http://www.OakleyInfo.com
Wednesday, October 16
Liberty Adult Education Fall Job/ Resource Fair
The event at 929 Second St., in Brentwood is from 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. The fair aims to
To have your event appear in the newspaper, email your events to calendar@brentwoodpress.com one week prior to publication. To have your event online, post your event for free on The Press Community Calendar www.thepress.net/calendar.
showcase a wide range of local professional opportunities, spanning industries from manufacturing, healthcare, IT, finance and beyond. A dedicated space will be made available to conduct interviews upon request. For more information, contact decesaren@luhsd.net. Space is limited. RSVP by Sept. 16 here: https:// forms.office.com/r/8G12SthRd1.
On the Horizon
Friday, October 18
Tree Trunk or Treat
Moon Valley Nurseries, 7021 Lone Tree Way in Brentwood, is hosting a free Halloween Trunk or Treat event from 4-5 p.m. Kids in costume can trick-or-treating around the nurseries. Attendees are encouraged to dress up and have a spook-tacular time. For more information about Moon Valley Nurseries, visit https://www.moonvalleynurseries.com/events/halloween-trunk-or-treat Empowering Families Together Dinner Fundraiser
The fundraiser will be from 6:30-10 p.m. at Cap’s Oak Street Bar and Grill at 144 Oak St. in Brentwood. Families Empowered and Transformed (F.E.A.T.) is a nonprofit organization serving families with Positive Parenting classes, supporting father involvement, domestic violence and anger management classes. Participation will directly support their scholarship fund, providing resources for families in need. General admission is $120 per guest and includes a dinner choice of Chicken Chardonnay or Tri-Tip. There will be a live auction, keynote speakers and more. For tickets or for more information, visit www.featcoco.org or call 925-234-4415.
Saturday, October 19
Digs ‘n’ Rigs
From 9 a.m.-2 p.m., children of all ages can explore vehicles of all types in this handson event sponsored by The Rotary Club of Brentwood and Los Medanos College. LMC will offer older children exposure to educational opportunities including public service, emergency services, utility, construction, landscaping, transportation and delivery industries at the Los Medanos College campus, 1351 Pioneer Square in Brentwood. Marsh Creek State Park Hike, Lunch and Film Screening
This event will take place from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. at Marsh Creek State Park. Lunch will be provided by Taquiza Limon, and there will be a short film on the life and times of John Marsh. Participants will learn about the upcoming plans for the interpretive center and house restoration. Space is limited to 60 people. Tickets are $50. Register at, https://www.eventbrite.com/e/an-event-celebrating-john-marsh-and-the-surrounding-marshcreek-state-park-tickets-1012420716617?aff=od dtdtcreator.
Wine in The Bay
The 20th anniversary of this event is from 1-5 p.m. at Community Life Center, 2800 Camino Diablo Road in Byron. There will be local wine samples, local artisans, hors d’oeuvres, live and silent auction, cork draw and wine cooler draw. Tickets are $60. Proceeds will benefit various non-profits, including the Food Pantry, John Muir Mobile, youth, and senior citizens. This event is for those age 21 and older. For more information, visit www.anne.church or call Peggy 925-890-5255 for tickets.
VFW Casino Night
The event, hosted by American Legion Auxiliary, is from 6-10 p.m. at the Brentwood Veterans Memorial Building at 757 First St. There will be casino games, appetizers, beer, wine, music, dancing and more. Tickets are $125. For tickets or for more information, contact Dolores Long at (925) 584-6712.
Thursday, October 24
Soroptimist of the Delta Halloween Bingo
This Soroptimist International of the Delta fundraiser for educational scholarships given to local women and girls, will be at De Luna Ranch, 7540 Balfour Road in Brentwood from 5-9 p.m.. Dinner and bingo games with cash prizes are included. Costumes are encouraged. Attendees must be 21 or over. Tickets are $50 each and are available at Gursky Ranch. For more information call 925-634-4913 or visit http:// SIofthedelta.com
Friday, October 25
Oakley Senior Citizens Casino Day Bus Trip
Round-trip motorcoach transportation to Redhawk Casino is provided. Participants will meet at the Senior Center at 215 Second St. in Oakley and the bus will leave at 8 a.m. Reservations are $47 per person and must be paid by Monday, Oct. 21. To reserve a spot, call Joyce at 925- 626-7223 or Allan at 925-265-3417.
The Streets of Brentwood-Treats at Streets
This free trick-or-treat event will be from 5-7 p.m. at 2455 Sand Creek Road in Brentwood. Trick or treat at the stores while supplies last. A free pumpkin with a $10 receipt from any The Streets of Brentwood retailer. One pumpkin per person per receipt while supplies last. One free treat per child while supplies last. For more information, visit https:// shopstreetsofbrentwood.com/events.
Trunk or Treat at Delta Valley Health Club
Delta Valley Health Club’s annual Trunk or Treat event will be from 5-8 p.m. at 120 Guthrie Lane in Brentwood. There will be more than 20 vendors, a jumpy house, candy, face painting, food trucks and more for all ages. This is a free event. For more information visit https://deltavac.com/ Saturday, October 26
Hometown Halloween: Monster Mash Bash
The event will be from 4-8 p.m. in downtown Brentwood on Oak Street, First Street, and Brentwood Boulevard, from Third Street to Diablo Way and Chestnut to Maple. Trickor-treating is free, and there will be booths from local merchants. For more information, visit http://brentwoodchamber.com.
Paws on Parade
The Discovery Bay Lions Club presents Paws on Parade at the community center at 1601 Discovery Bay Blvd. from 9 a.m.-noon. There will be vendors, adoptions, canine demonstrations, photo opportunities kids face painting and a dog parade. Prizes awarded for best costume. Admission is free. For details, contact Rita Caruso at 925-640-5746 or rcaruso@homeownersfg.com, or visit discoverybaylions.com.
Halloween Party at Brentwood ACE Hardware
There will be a barbecue demonstration outdoors – rain or shine – hosted by ACE Hardware. Inside, there will be free pumpkin decorating for kids, Halloween treats and local favorite Face Painting by Wandie. The event is from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. at 8900 Brentwood Blvd. in Brentwood.
Sunday, October 27
Halloween Hoopla
The event will take place from 3-5 p.m. at Resurrection Ministries, 1275 Fairview Ave. in Brentwood. There will be trick or treating, candy, games, and piñatas. Guests are encouraged to come in costume. To help with the event or for more information, contact Kristenakocsis@gmail.com.
AFTER HOURS BUSINESS MIXER
Mega Business Mixer at Sabbatical
Wednesday, October 16th 5:30pm - 7:30pm
Sabbatical Distillery 16021 West Highway 4, Holt, CA 95234
COMING EVENTS
DB Lions
Paws on Parade
Saturday, October 26th 9:00am - 12:00pm
Halloween Parade
Thursday, October 31st 10:00am
Cookies & Cocoa with Santa Saturday, December 7th 9:15am
Hosted by: Discovery Bay and Bethel Island Chambers
MUST Register for all events at: www.discoverybaychamber.org (925) 240-4114 1355 Riverlake Rd Discovery Bay, CA 94505
Thursday, October 31
Halloween Parade
The Discovery Bay Chamber of Commerce will put on its Halloween parade at 10 a.m. Students from Discovery Bay Elementary School will parade to the Riverlake Shopping Center. Treat bags will be provided to children to collect candy from businesses. To set up a table and provide candy for children, contact Cindy at (925) 513-4175.
Saturday, November 2
Holiday Boutique Charity Fundraiser
The event will take place from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. at the Discovery Bay Yacht Club, 5871 Marina Blvd. There will be holiday gifts, decor, artisan vendors and treats. Lunch will be available for purchase from the Bay Grill. All proceeds will benefit Coyote Crossing and the Delta Food Bank. For more information, contact Cheryl Cados at 408-768-7209.
Saturday, November 9
Holiday Pop Up Book Sale at Friends of the Brentwood Library
Find some bargains on a variety of books from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. on the second floor of the Brentwood Library, 104 Oak St. The sale will feature holiday books and puzzles, holiday classics, fiction, children’s books, and many of today’s bestsellers. For more information, visit https://www.friendsofthebrentwoodlibrary.org/
Pasta Feed Fundraiser for Heritage Track and Field and Cross Country
The Heritage High School track and field and cross country teams host a pasta dinner at the Antioch Community Center Ballroom, 4703 Lone Tree Way in Antioch, from 5-8 p.m. Tickets are $25 for adults and $10 for children ages 10 and younger. A transaction fee of $2 will be applied to each ticket. There will be a photo booth, a DJ and a silent auction. To purchase tickets, visit https://www.successfund.com/ HHSpasta. Donations are always welcome.
CALLING CARD CORNER
For second-generation framer Chris Ramos, it’s all in the family. CR Framing serves local artists and residents at wholesale prices, with excellent quality and quick turnaround. They offer an array of services, including custom framing, shipping, shrink wrapping, matting, and framing. The business is located at 700 Harvest Park Drive, Unit I, in Brentwood, and hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday, and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturdays. For more information, call 925-634-7742 email crframing@aol.com or visit crframing.webs.com.
I recently led a wine class in which we paired various snack foods with different wines. Initially, I thought this might not be a popular pairing, but to my surprise, the participants loved many of the combinations. Most of our favorite snacks are known for their exaggerated flavor profiles, including sweet, sour, salty, and spicy. Our pairings aimed to match these flavor profiles with select wines.
If you’re planning a Halloween party, consider trying a few of these pairings. At the very least, they’ll spark some great conversation. Let’s start with my favorite pairing: gummy bears with Sauvignon Blanc. I can see your eyes rolling – mine did too at first. But the sweetness of the gummy bears paired surprisingly well with the zesty citrus and acidity of the Sauvignon Blanc, especially the lemon-flavored ones.
Next, we paired a German Riesling with spicy snacks like Chex Mix or a version of your choice. Rieslings are white wines often known for their sweetness, so we chose an off-dry version that
wasn’t overwhelmingly sweet. The pairing was a great match, as the sweetness of the wine helped to balance the spicy heat of the snacks.
Our next pairing was interesting, to say the least. We wanted to pair a snack with a wine that had a similar flavor or texture. So, we chose a buttery Chardonnay and – what else? -- buttered popcorn. Popcorn is a savory snack trifecta – crunchy, salty, and buttery. The butter on the popcorn helped to draw out the creamy flavors of the oaked Chardonnay.
Moving over to red wines, we paired barbecue potato chips, which were sweet, salty, and spicy, with Pinot Noir. Pinots are generally light- to medium-bodied, lower in tannins, and have flavors of sour cherry and strawberry. Many enjoyed this pairing as the hickory smoked flavor of the chips paired nicely with the earthy flavors and aromas of the wine.
Our last pairing was a bit unexpected: Cabernet Sauvignon with cheese puffs. The snack coated your tongue with cheese, and the bold dark fruit flavors and chewy tannins of the Cabernet Sauvignon complemented the cheesy goodness. These are just a few suggestions. Don’t be afraid to experiment and find your own favorite Halloween pairings. Happy haunting!
Uncorked: History by tHe Glass
Frank MaiUri
The following is a selection of recent law enforcement activity:
BRENTWOOD
September 27, 12:03 a.m. A suspicious circumstance was reported at Lone Tree Way and Fairview Avenue.
September 27, 2:21 p.m. A case of vandalism was reported on City Park Way. Three teenagers were writing on the wall with a marker.
September 27, 7:07 p.m. An accident was reported at Second Street and Chestnut Street. A major injury was reported. Fire and medical responded.
September 27, 11:14 p.m. A case of petty theft was reported on Armstrong Way. A male suspect stole a package from the reporting party’s porch.
September 27, 11:23 p.m. A case of dis-
turbing the peace was reported on Village Drive. It was a domestic dispute.
September 28, 1:46 a.m. A case of vehicle theft was reported on Anjou Parkway. The reporting party’s vehicle was taken from in front of the house. There was broken glass on the ground. The time frame was unknown.
September 28, 2:15 a.m. A case of vehicle burglary was reported on Canyonwood Drive.
September 28, 5:40 a.m. A verbal dispute was reported on Brentwood Boulevard.
September 28, 8:18 a.m. A case of vehicle theft was reported on Mandevilla Drive.
September 28, 9:26 a.m. A case of commercial burglary was reported on Brentwood Boulevard. The burglary occurred overnight.
September 28, 10:32 a.m. A hit and run
was reported at Highland Way and Meadowgate way. No injuries were reported.
September 28, 11:45 a.m. An accident was reported on Norwood Court. No injuries were reported.
September 28, 12:42 p.m. A case of petty theft was reported on Lone Tree Way.
September 28, 1:08 p.m. A suspicious person was reported on Lone Tree Way. An adult was arrested.
September 28, 5:04 p.m. A case of petty theft was reported on Lone Tree Way.
September 28, 5:21 p.m. A suspicious person was reported on Lone Tree Way. Items were returned and the suspect was cooperative.
September 28, 5:23 p.m. A hit and run was reported on Second Street. No injuries were reported.
September 28, 7:25 p.m. Lost property was reported on Lone Tree Way.
September 28, 7:29 p.m. A suspicious person was reported on Lone Tree Way.
had video surveillance.
September 30, 6:39 a.m. A case of vandalism was reported on Third Street. There was damage to the reporting party’s vehicle. The taillight and bumper were damaged. The back left tire was deflated and there was a dent near the gas tank. The neighbor had surveillance cameras. The reporting party advised that there have been similar incidents in the past that have not been reported.
September 30, 10:20 a.m. A case of petty theft was reported on Sand Creek Road. Money was stolen from the reporting party’s room after a maintenance person came in.
September 30, 1:16 p.m. A case of forgery/ fraud was reported on Upton Pyne Drive. The reporting party was scammed and lost over $4,000.
September 29, 12:44 a.m. A suspicious person was reported on Windy Springs Lane. The driver was in the vehicle and a male was looking in windows of parked vehicles.
September 29, 8:01 a.m. A case of disturbing the peace was reported on Sand Creek Road.
September 29, 1:19 p.m. Property was found at John Muir Parkway and Thomas Road.
September 29, 5:27 p.m. A case of vehicle theft was reported on Lone Tree Way.
September 29, 7:10 p.m. A case of petty theft was reported on Lone Tree Way. Six children’s costumes were stolen.
September 29, 7:52 p.m. A suspicious person was reported on Lone Tree Way. The person is known to steal.
September 29, 8:34 p.m. A case of vandalism was reported on Sand Creek Road. A vehicle window was broken, but nothing was taken. The vehicle was a gray 2019 Hyundai Sonata.
September 30, 1:15 a.m. A case of petty theft was reported on Glenwillow Drive. The reporting party’s Phantom brand electric scooter was taken. The reporting party
September 30, 3:19 p.m. A harassment complaint was reported on Brentwood Boulevard. The reporting party received text messages from an unknown person talking negatively about his daughters.
September 30, 10:07 p.m. A suspicious vehicle was reported at Minnesota Avenue and Country Glen Lane. Two to three transients were living in the vehicle. The vehicle was a gold or tan Toyota and had been there for the past few days.
October 1, 12:44 a.m. A suspicious circumstance was reported on Elm Street.
October 1, 10:53 a.m. A case of grand theft was reported on Sand Creek Road during which $3,000-$4,000 was taken.
October 1, 11:13 a.m. A case of vehicle theft was reported on Trilogy Parkway. A golf cart was taken. The reporting party has surveillance.
October 1, 11:48 a.m. A case of grand theft was reported on Katy Way. Jewelry was taken by a cleaning service. The reporting party was calling on behalf of their mother. The loss was more than $950.
October 1, 1:16 p.m. A restraining/court order violation was reported on Second Street. A threatening message was posted on Facebook soliciting someone to kill the reporting party.
BIRTHS, ACHIEVEMENTS AND
Milestones
Former Brentwood woman killed in crash along Highway 152
Marcy Robison (Strle), who grew up in Brentwood, was one of two people who died instantly at the scene of a traffic accident last Friday.
Charred grass and a cross mark where a fiery crash killed two people along Highway 152, according to a report on ABC30-TV in Fresno.
The California Highway Patrol says a 64-year-old man in a Ford F150 was driving east in the westbound lanes for five to six miles before crashing into another vehicle.
“It initially impacted another vehicle,” said Shannon Stiers, the public information officer for the CHP in Los Banos. “Side-swiped a vehicle near box car road, and several miles down the road, it went head-on with a 2016 Honda Pilot.”
Investigators say the truck went up in flames on impact. Both drivers died at the scene.
Robison was a member of the Liberty High water polo team and a graduate of the class of 2005. She leaves behind a husband and two young children.
To contribute to her gofundmepage, visit https://www.gofundme. com/f/in-loving-memory-of-marcy-robison.
Impact100 East Bay awards $100,000 grant to county collaborative
In a major step toward helping families have enough food to eat in Contra Costa County, the newly formed Food Security Collaborative of Contra Costa County has been awarded the Impact Grant of $100,000 by Impact100 East Bay.
This collaborative, composed the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano, Loaves and Fishes of Contra Costa, Meals on Wheels Diablo Region, St. Vincent de Paul of Contra Costa County, and White Pony Express, was honored on Sept. 29 for its work aimed at creating long-term food security in the region.
The Food Security Collaborative of Contra Costa County is a coalition of five community organizations whose goal is to make sure everyone has enough food to eat. By pooling resources and expertise, the Collaborative aims to address the root causes of hunger and ensure equitable access to nutritious food for all residents.
The funds will be used to develop a comprehensive Food Security Equity Map, which will identify places within the county where people need a sufficient supply of food the most, help understand the barriers to obtaining food and assist in coordinating resources to ensure no one in the county goes hungry.
Claudia Ramirez, Executive Director of St. Vincent de Paul of Contra Costa County, emphasized the significance of the collaboration: “The Food Security Collaborative leverages the expertise of five organizations, each of which has a long history of fighting food insecurity. Our collective impact is a huge step toward creating long-term food security in our communities. We deeply appreciate the support of Impact100 East Bay in our ongoing fight against hunger.”
Impact100 East Bay is a women-led organization dedicated to empowering women to see themselves as philanthropists and providing an opportunity to fund impactful initiatives that transform lives in their communities. Since its founding, Impact100 East Bay has awarded more than $1 million to nonprofits focused on significant social change.
Photo by Photo courtesy of Kathy Bushman
Photo courtesy of Skylar Schaefer
Heinz to step down as Liberty’s coach
By Juan Cebreiros Correspondent
After winning just 21 games in his first three seasons, Liberty head boys basketball coach Jon Heinz questioned if he could ever lead Liberty to become a respectable program that could win league championships. Almost two decades and 258 wins later, he’s led the program to become the class of the Bay Valley Athletic League and one of the best in the Bay Area.
“Year 3 for me here, I didn’t see a light at the end of the tunnel,” Heinz said. “It was like ‘this school’s never gonna get over the hump.’ I was very close to stepping down and it’s really my wife that talked me off the ledge. The chance of us ever winning a BVAL title, I didn’t know if that could ever happen.”
After 18 years as head coach of the Liberty boys basketball team, Heinz said that this season will be his last as he will step down from coaching at the end of the season.
“To be honest, I have a lot of hobbies and I’m still at an age where I’m young enough where I can go out and do things,” Heinz said of him stepping away from coaching. “There’s just so many more like camping trips and backpacking trips that I want to do. I would love to do the Pacific Crest Trail for instance, but there’s just so many things I still want to see and do still.”
Heinz initially planned to step down after last season as his son Josh, who he coached at Liberty from 2020-2024, was set to graduate. However, a statistic found by Mike Miller, son of the late Liberty Union High School District Hall of Fame coach Jerry Miller, motivated Heinz to return to the
sideline for one more year.
“I got to talk to his son a little bit and what leaned me to stay a little bit longer was Mike fully endorsed that his dad finished up with 260 wins and that I was at 258 and he wanted to see me break that record,” Heinz said. “I put in all this time, it’d be nice to break the record before I walk away.”
Heinz spent seven years at his alma mater, Humboldt State, before starting what would be an 18-year journey at Liberty High.
When Heinz initially took the job as Liberty’s head boys basketball coach to start the 2007-08 campaign, the program was in a dire position. Liberty was coming off a rough season the year before where they won just two games and ended the season on a 20-game losing streak.
Liberty had growing pains under Heinz and, while the records were better, they finished under .500 from 2007 through the 2009-10 season. The lowest point in Heinz’s early tenure was the 2009-10 season when
In Liberty’s BVALclinching win over Heritage in 2023, coach Jon Heinz talks to his team during a timeout.
they won just four games and went winless in league, leading Heinz to believe that he may not be able to lead the team to success.
“When I came in at the 2007-2008 season we weren’t really invited to do anything. You had to beg teams to play you,” Heinz said. “We had kids starting on our freshman team that didn’t make their eighth-grade team. I had a lot of seniors that were playing JV as juniors. It was just a tough situation to come into. That was the state of the program.”
Heinz’s first game as Liberty’s head coach was against Granada. The Lions led 31-27 at halftime but then surrendered 51 second-half points and lost by 10. While Heinz was frustrated with the loss, he recalled several players being excited just to almost win the game. This, along with the Edna Hill and Excelsior Middle School basketball coaches at the time telling Heinz that their players who wanted to keep playing basketball chose Heritage over Liberty, made it clear to Heinz that a new culture and system had to be es-
tablished from the ground up.
Heinz began running basketball camps at Liberty and built a relationship with the middle schools to get kids going to Liberty.
“It was literally just getting kids that lived in your school boundaries to just come to your school,” Heinz said of the difficulty it was to get kids to go to Liberty for basketball. “The next year, my freshman class with all the kids that live in our boundaries that were supposed to go here, when they were seniors, we won 22 games.”
Liberty has not lost a league game since May 27, 2021 when they lost 47-27 at Heritage during the shortened 2020-21 COVID season. They’ve won 27 straight league games and have qualified for North Coast Section playoffs every year dating back to the 2013-14 season.
Heinz led his team to more success in section playoffs than in the Bay Valley Athletic League for most of the 2010s. Liberty made the playoffs in eight of those 10 years, including being a shot away from upsetting fourth-seeded De La Salle in the 2014 playoffs as the 13th seed, and grabbed a firstround victory over fifth-seeded Dublin in the 2016 playoffs as the 12th seed.
He won his once-elusive first league title in the 2018-19 season when Liberty went 10-0 in the BVAL. Before that, the Lions finished above .500 in league only one other time with Heinz as head coach.
“The thing was we weren’t picked; Heritage was picked to win that title,” Heinz said. “To finish off that league title going 10-0, it was amazing.”
see Heinz page 13
Fresh off the bye week, Heritage ready for league play
By Jeff Weisinger Staff Writer
Heritage football is ready for the BVAL.
Coming off of their bye week following their 42-28 win at Livermore two weeks ago, the Patriots have recovered, are healthy, and even got to catch up on a few other things with the recent heat wave throughout the Bay Area.
“The break came at a good time for us,” head coach Dave Fogelstrom said. “We needed to get some people healthy. And with the extreme heat we moved inside, lifted weights, and conditioned in the gym, plus got some extra film time in.”
The recovery time was beneficial, especially for junior running back Ilias Muhammad, who missed the win at Livermore with an arm injury. He is expected to play Friday night when the Patriots (4-1) host Deer Valley (2-3) in the Bay Valley Athletic League opener at 7 p.m.
Muhammad rejoins a now crowded backfield led by senior Mekhi Adanandus, who leads the team in rushing with 500 yards and in total touchdowns with 10 (nine rushing, and one receiving). Sophomore Jace Torrez is a physical option, as described by Fogelstrom, who has shown his potential more so in the last two games with Muhammad out. Fogelstrom also added that the team called up Jayden Moore from the junior varsity team, stating that he is “one
of the fastest backs that we have.”
“Each back that we have has special talents and we want to utilize those talents,” Fogelstrom said. “We are adding some things to our scheme and it is a luxury to have all of these running backs healthy right now.”
While Heritage’s offense has benefitted from a healthy, and deep, rushing attack, the offense as a whole has also benefited from a defense that has created turnovers at a high rate. Entering league play, the Patriots lead BVAL teams in interceptions with 11 and are the only BVAL program in double digits in turnovers created.
Liberty and Deer Valley are tied for second in that statistic with five inter ceptions this season.
Heritage’s defense also leads all BVAL schools in sacks with 15. Free dom is second in that category with 14, according to MaxPreps.
Deer Valley and the overconfidence I heard on campus all week before that game,” Fogelstrom explained. “I believe there was a running clock on Heritage that night and Deer Valley put up 50 points. I also talked to the players about my last year at Freedom where we made the NCS championship, but struggled against Deer Valley because of turnovers.”
“We will not be taking this team lightly in any sense.”
However, despite how well the Patriots have played through their non-conference schedule, Fogelstrom is also doing what he and the coaching staff can to prevent the team from being complacent against a Wolverines team that hasn’t defeated the Patriots since 2018.
“I talked to the players about that last Heritage loss to
Deer Valley has had an up-and-down start to the season. They followed their opening week loss against Mt. Diablo with a blowout win over Mt. Eden, then lost their next two games before defeating Dougherty Valley at home on Sept. 27 to finish non-league play at 2-3.
While inconsistent through non-league games, Deer Valley has shown glimpses of their speed and athleticism, something Fogelstrom credited the team with, and something that the Patriots themselves slightly struggled against in their win at Livermore.
“We have been focusing all week on playing disciplined football and playing together as a team.” Fogelstrom said. “We are trying to clean up what we noticed against Livermore; attention to detail and doing\ things right have been at the forefront of our teaching these last two weeks.”
Photo courtesy Jennifer Heinz
Freedom flag football not worried about losing skid as league play
By Jeff Weisinger Staff Writer
After a 7-0 start to the season during which the Freedom girls flag football team averaged over 24 points per game while allowing an average of just over six points per game, including a pair of shutouts, according to MaxPreps, the Falcons are in uncharted territory – a losing skid.
Freedom lost their second game in a row Monday night, 14-6 to Pittsburg in the opening game of league play, just days after losing their first game of the season to Amador Valley in a tournament, 24-6, last weekend.
However, head coach Kevin Hartwig and the Falcons are not worried at all about the pair of losses.
“Teams are better. We’re playing good teams now,” Hartwig said. “It’s harder to move the ball a little bit because everybody knows everybody. Pittsburg is a great team. Amador is a good team. We played them a
Heinz from page 12
week ago, beat them (before the Saturday tournament 26-13). We made adjustments, and their adjustments worked better than ours on Saturday. But I think we’re right where we need to be.”
“We’re a good team, (Pittsburg) is a
Despite the league championships, playoff success and numerous wins, the most special part of the coaching journey for Heinz has been being able to have his family by his side throughout all of it. His oldest and middle children,
Freedom’s Delaney Zimmer looks to pass in the Falcons’ girls flag football game against Pittsburg Monday night in Oakley.
Photo by Jeff Weisinger
good team.”
The 7-0 start this season by the Falcons eclipses their 3-4 start in the same number of games last season.
Regardless, they are confident in how they are currently playing and plan on turn-
Kayla and Josh, both graduated from Liberty, his youngest, Hannah, is a freshman and his wife, Jennifer, is a teacher and athletic trainer at the high school.
“The process of winning three straight league titles, but being able to do that with your son as well as your wife right
ing things around quickly.
“It’s good,” Hartwig said. “(After the game) we came up (together) and everyone’s like ‘I got nothing to say. We’re good, we just got to execute.’”
He added that the school’s and the district’s fall break has affected the team’s preparation heading into games.
“The only thing that’s crazy to me is that we’re on break the last two weeks,” Hartwig explained. “I think that affected us a little but on Saturday because we took a couple of days off, we’re practicing in the mornings and then they got all day to get here.
“It’s break, but playing games and league for break is not fun. It never has been in any sport because you’re changing the routine.” The Falcons travel to Antioch to start their two-game, home-and-home series against the Panthers on Monday night. They’ll host Antioch in Oakley on Wednesday night.
To view a slideshow, visit www.thepress.net/ multimedia/slideshows
there, it’s been pretty amazing,” Heinz said.
For his final season, Heinz will be a co-head coach alongside Rich Morton, who is expected to take over head coaching duties following this season when Heinz officially steps down. To listen to podcast, visit www.thepress.net/podcast/
New brand and a new direction for Brentwood Golf Club wedding venue
By Dale S Satre Correspondent
The Brentwood Golf Club’s wedding venue, one of Brentwood’s longtime event facilities, has a new name and will be heading in a new direction next year.
The golf club’s wedding venue, which has been leased to Wedgewood Weddings for the past 10 years, will be renamed Palm Tree Wedding & Events starting on Jan. 1, 2025. Brentwood Golf Club owner Rex Choe is planning to bring the wedding venue and its accompanying restaurant space under his management pending the conclusion of Wedgewood Wedding’s lease, which operates under Brentwood Rise. The Nines restaurant space will also be renamed Palm Tree Restaurant and Sushi Bar, according to a statement.
“The move is about bringing all the experiences under one roof,” Choe
said. The integrated golf club, wedding venue, and restaurant spaces will enable the golf course and event space to provide better experiences for golfers, wedding goers, and diners alike, according to Choe, as well as streamline operations. For the rebranded event space, he wanted to focus on creating an idyllic and romantic setting.
The Palm Tree Weddings & Events
Publication Date: Nov. 1, 2024
Deadline for space reservation: Oct. 23, 2024
facility at 100 Summerset Drive, can comfortably accommodate 200 attendees, according to Event Manager Sherry Khaleghi. The venue will be able to host corporate events as well as weddings, and can accommodate any theme with which event holders may want to decorate their event. “We are committed to creating unforgettable experiences for our clients and their guests,” she said.
Palm Tree Weddings & Events will have four all-inclusive packages for eventholders that can be customized, according to Khaleghi. According to the website, the packages include Classic, Premier, and Elite tiers, and a build-your-own selection. These packages will include options such as bar service, a disc jockey, floral designs, and a professional lighting system. For clients’ convenience in planning, the facility can also host several other events prior to a wedding day, such as a wedding shower, engagement party, and rehearsal dinner.
Choe said he acquired the 18-hole golf course and event spaces in 2020 to embark on a vision of being Brentwood’s premier recreation destination. The golf course was built in 1999 and designed by famed architect Ted Robinson, according to the website. Choe said that the increasing population in Brentwood make him confident in executing on the rebranding and integration of his facilities’ services.
Khaleghi is also optimistic about the rebranding. “Palm Trees Weddings & Events aims to continue the legacy of excellence established by Brentwood Rise, while bringing fresh, innovative touches to our services.”
They are now offering tours and taking booking for 2025 at their website www.palmtreeweddings.com or call Sherry at 925-550-1590.
has no dollar amount raised yet to operate the ice rink.
His prime location downtown puts him in proximity to downtown events like farmers market, the makers fair and Oktoberfest. Plus, the tent he built for the patch is the same one he uses for the ice rink.
“So now the tent for the rink is already up and that’s 40% of my infrastructure,” he said of the patch and rink at 739 Second St. in Brentwood.
This means he won’t be rushing to build the entire ice rink from the ground
up starting Nov. 1, but will have more time to complete everything. He and his team will easily pivot from the pumpkin patch in October to the ice rink in November. The rink is schedule to open Nov. 22.
“Brentwood is a great place to be and we are happy to do this for the community,” Gregory said.
The pumpkin patch is open Monday – Thursday, 3-9 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.; and Sundays 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. through Oct. 31. For more information on the pumpkin patch, call 925516-7664. For more information on the ice rink, visit www.brentwoodonice.com.
CREATING A STRONG ESTATE PLAN
By Todd W. Moeller, Moeller Estate Law
Each component of an estate plan serves a specific purpose. An effective estate plan allows you to set forth treatment preferences in the case of serious illness and provide a means to protect assets for your intended beneficiaries and family members.
A Last Will and Testament (“Will”) may be useful for modest estates where, for example, there is no real property at issue and the financial assets are minimal. A Will also allows you to specify your wishes regarding asset division and guardianship of your minor children.
In many cases, a Living Trust can be and should be used in lieu of a Will. A Living Trust can provide additional protection for assets and avoid the necessity of probate at your death. Furthermore, Living Trusts can be used to aid a child with special needs throughout their lifetime.
Who will manage your financial affairs if you become incapacitated? By setting up a Durable Power of Attorney, you choose that person.
Ideally, you will select someone whom you trust to protect your best interests at a time when you cannot speak for yourself. That individual, referred to as an attorney-in-fact in California, will be authorized to carry on your financial activities such as paying bills, selling property and taking care of tax responsibilities. Similarly, if you create an Advance Health Care Directive, you decide who will be your agent when it comes to making important decisions about your health care treatment in the event you are unable to make your own decisions.
If you have questions concerning your existing estate plan or setting up an estate plan, please contact Todd W. Moeller at (925) 3018840 or Todd@MoellerEstateLaw.com.
Disclaimer: The information presented in this advertisement is provided for general information only. Todd W. Moeller is licensed to practice law in the State of California only, and any information contained in this advertisement is based on
Delta Dog Camp
2400 Devpar Court, Antioch 925-757-2600 www.deltadogcamp.com
Whether your dog is staying the day or the week, everyone becomes part of the pack at Delta Dog Camp in Antioch. The camp prides itself on one-on-one attention, helping your dog become confident with other dogs (big and small) and humans. Camp Staff keeps the dogs on a daily routine, and these pooches never get bored – just tired. Rain or shine, the pups play all day!
Pumpkin Patch from page 6
New nonprofit to host fundraising dinner
FEAT’s goal is to help low-income families
By Jake Menez Staff Writer
Families Empowered and Transformed (FEAT), a new nonprofit, is hosting a fundraising dinner on Oct. 18 at Cap’s Oak Street Bar and Grill at 144 Oak St. in downtown Brentwood. The event will help the organization in its stated mission to strengthen families and communities through vital programs focused on parent education, anger management, and domestic violence prevention.
“Join us for an evening of dining and community spirit to support FEAT,” the organizers said of the event. “Your participation will help us continue to offer vital services for underserved families. Together, we can empower families and
build a stronger, more resilient community. Your support is key to making a difference!”
Tickets are $120 per person, which includes a meal choice of chicken chardonnay or tri-tip, according to the event
FEAT was founded with the collective belief that “every family deserves the resources and support to thrive,” according to its founders. Pictured from left to right: Nain Villanueva de Lopez, Cesar Macias and Pamela Ortiz.
Concordia Wellness Center
• Cesar Macias, Program Director/ Co-Founder of FEAT
FEAT, a 501 (c) 3, was founded and incorporated in February 2024 by the “collective vision” of its three founders, Nain Villanueva de Lopez, Cesar Macias and Pamela Ortiz, according to the organization’s website. The guiding tenet is the belief that “every family deserves the resources and support to thrive.”
“Our goal is to provide vital services to underserved communities and empower them through support and education so at the end, their lives are transformed,” Macias said.
For details about the organization, visit www.featcoco.org or call 925-234-4415.
organizers. The event runs from 6:30-10 p.m. and will feature a live auction and keynote speakers. The list of speakers is:
• Dr. Ruth Fernandez, Executive Director of First 5 Contra Costa
• Dr. Manuel Fernandez, CEO of La
Tickets for the fundraiser can be purchased online by scanning the QR code or by visiting https://bit. ly/3BzEGga.
Photo courtesy of FEAT
EDITORIALS, LETTERS & COMMENTARY
O pini O n
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Editor’s note: As The Press receives political candidates’ press releases, we will run ONE per candidate as space permits leading up to Election Day, Nov. 6. The Press invites all candidates to submit a press release if they choose to editor@brentwoodpress.com. Running these releases is not an endorsement of any candidate.
Lowrey seeks re-election to Ironhouse Board of Directors
My name is Angela Lowrey, and I am running for re-election to Ironhouse’s Board of Directors. I’m excited to have the opportunity to continue serving our community.
Ensuring Ironhouse Sanitary District’s wastewater resources are properly administered, maintained and used has proven to be more than a campaign promise, but the foundation of every decision I’ve made on behalf of ratepayers since being elected four years ago.
With my award-winning professional wastewater career, I know first-hand the social, environmental and economic value wastewater public health services provide. I want to continue helping Bethel Island and Oakley thrive.
After obtaining my masters degree at the London School of Economics, I moved to Oakley in 2009 when I secured
a job at one of California’s large industrial recycled water facilities. Since then, I have been active in our community through service clubs, committees, fundraisers, and helping neighbors. I am a past-president of the Kiwanis Club of Oakley and a graduate of the Oakley Leadership Academy.
A collaborator and problem solver, I am a trusted steward of public funds, passionate about good governance, dedicated to clean water stewardship. Currently, I’m working at a Bay Area public agency that provides drinking water, green energy and wastewater management services.
I was proud to spearhead the reduction of sewer rates in 2021, I enjoy working collaboratively with my Board colleagues to introduce a Biosolids Master Plan and the agency’s five-year Strategic
Social Talk about town...
The following comments were made on Facebook in response to the story ‘Teen driver involved in Main Street crash in Oakley may face charges’ posted on Sept. 26.
“Hopefully they take his license. Make him take classes for reckless driving and make him spend some time behind bars to make sure the consequences are fully understood!”
– Liz Moy
“Sick of these kids doing side shows and donuts in our intersections, endangering others and evading the police. Hope he suffers consequences for these actions and learns from it. Could have all been avoided if he just stopped when pulled over by police.”
– Holleigh Norwood
“I’m shocked they didn’t just ticket him and release him to his parent. Isn’t that the Ca
standard for kiddie criminals”
– Bianca Phoenix
“Good. Charge him. Absolutely no excuse for any of that 16 year olds actions. They think they are above everything and rules don’t apply.”
– Heather Greenwell
“There should be no “may...” He needs to face charges, and as an adult. The coddling of these young idiots needs to stop. He knew what he was doing was wrong but chose to do it anyway. There are consequences to every decision made whether it be a good one or a bad one!”
– Linda A Pardini
“Absolutely charge him.”
– Patsy Boyle
Plan, I am committed to supporting the new Wastewater Treatment Master Plan, comprehensive Cost-of-Service Study and a Strategic Staffing Plan.
My priorities are:
• continued fiscal excellence
• championing a fair and equitable rate study
• maintaining and upgrading wastewater infrastructure assets to meet the needs of our growing community
• a transparent and inclusive land use initiative for Jersey Island
• supporting drought resilient “One Water” partnerships to maximize use of Ironhouse’s recycled water
• supporting legislation for clean water funding.
Good governance is not just a slogan to me. I hope to earn your vote and continue serving as your wastewater representative addressing challenges and securing opportunities over the next four years.
For more information about my campaign, please visit www.angelalowrey.com.
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of Oakley for allowing them to host a book sale in the City Council chambers.
The two officials then turned to the large thermometer chart tracking how much money was available for the project, going up to $28 million, and placed a new red bar on it, bringing the shaded area to slightly over the $10 million mark.
The increase includes both the $300,000 raised directly by the Friends of the Oakley Library’s fundraising efforts and $250,000 from the Contra Costa County Livable Communities Trust that was pledged to the project by county Supervisor Diane Burgis, as she told the Council.
There are two upcoming fundrais-
from page 1
okayed through 2028, as a result.
ing events for the Friends of the Oakley library. The first is the inaugural Rotary Club Texas Hold ‘Em Poker Tournament and dinner at 1250 O’Hara Ave. in Oakley on Oct. 11 from 6-10 p.m. The entry fee is $75 per player, according to the event website. Tickets are sold at https://bit ly/480dBil
The second is Burgis’s birthday party on Oct. 26 from 6-8:30 p.m. at 2525 Sunset Road in Brentwood. Tickets range from $100 for a regular ticket to $10,000 for a platinum leaf ticket, according to the event page. Tickets are available at: https://bit ly/3XWcVpP
In other Council news:
Members of the Oakley 4-H Club led the Pledge of Allegiance and club presi-
“I don’t think any of us think that the above-ground transformer is going to be as aesthetically pleasing as the underground one, but creating the issue of not being able to finish projects over a long period of time does concern me,” Oerlemans said during the discussion. “I think we need to continue moving forward with the development.”
Although other members of the council supported an amendment to keep development from being delayed, they did not agree with the proposed 2028 cutoff, suggesting one at the end of 2025 instead with the option to reassess annually, in case the supply chain problems are resolved sooner than expected.
“Part of the benefit would be that if we extended it only through 2025, there would be another public hearing,” Vice Mayor Susannah Meyer explained to Oerlemans after his comment. “So residents are understanding that we’re still keeping an eye on this; that it’s not just kind of kept in the background.”
Only one resident, Danny Dohrmann, spoke on the topic during the public hearing. Dohrmann took issue with the idea of the above ground transformers not just for aesthetic reasons but for safety reasons as well. Baquilar told the council that PG&E guidelines require “screen-
Candidates from page 1
she doesn’t give up, but continues to work on her goals and solve problems for Discovery Bay residents.
If reelected, Graham’s goals include maintaining or replacing existing infrastructure, and continuing to update and replace existing landscaping in town. One major project the town will tackle in the next four years is replacing approximately 18 miles of water pipeline. Graham said it is a large, necessary project that can’t be delayed.
“Our infrastructure is 50 years old in places and we are starting to have issues and can see where we probably will have issues,” she said. “Some might say that it’s not having problems yet, but should we wait until blocks of people don’t have water for days?”
Graham said improving the town’s landscaping is also important to her.
dent Heather Dutra gave a presentation to the City Council about their club and the 4-H organization as a whole in observance of National 4-H Week.
The 16th annual Oaktober Fest will be held at Oakley’s Civic Center Plaza from noon to 4 p.m. on Oct. 26, according to City Manager Joshua McMurray. The festival will feature vendors, food trucks, entertainment, and various fall-themed activities, such as a costume parade and pumpkin decorating contest.
Vice Mayor Shannon Shaw has been voted in as an at-large board member for the League of California Cities East Bay Division Board. This is the first time that any East Contra Costa city has been represented on this board. Shaw will be
ing” around transformers, such as a wall or vegetation, but that the screening was “not meant for safety.” However, he added that the transformers are set back from the road and that he was unaware of any situations where a car had hit one in Brentwood.
“I feel like we really have to get this in place to get us on as sound a legal footing as possible,” Mayor Joel Bryant said. He added that he did not anticipate the transformers to be available sooner in light of the hurricanes on the East Coast and what impact that could have on supply chains but also acknowledged that with Pierson absent,
She said the town is working on creating a master plan for landscaping and she wants to continue to be a part of the improvements, especially the projects on Discovery Bay Boulevard.
She said she also makes it a point to be accessible to residents.
“I get calls from residents about a variety of issues, and if I can’t help, I work with them to try to find out who they need to talk to and what the contact info they need is,” she said.
Graham moved to Discovery Bay in 2011. “I feel so blessed and lucky to live here, on the water, in such a beautiful place,” she said.
Lesley Belcher is seeking her first term on the Discovery Bay CSD. A resident since 1996, Belcher has lived on both the west and east sides of town. While living in the Timber Point area on the west
sworn in at the League’s Annual Conference in Long Beach on Oct. 16.
At a recent Tri Delta Transit meeting, the Metropolitan Transportation Commission expressed interest in bringing back a half-cent sales tax for Contra Costa, Alameda, San Francisco, and San Mateo, Mayor Anissa Williams said. Alternatively, they also discussed a parcel tax on all nine Bay Area counties, as well as a payroll plus sales tax. There is also the possibility for separate tax measures for BART, AC Transit, and Caltrans, among other transportation providers. Tri Delta Transit also discussed, and ultimately decided against entering into any project labor agreements for the time being, instead focusing on hiring local workers.
casting his vote against the December 2025 cutoff would leave the council deadlocked rather than on the sound legal footing he had mentioned.
Ultimately the council opted for the amendment to be in effect through the end of 2025 rather than 2028, which was the cause for Oerlemans’ dissent. Councilmember Jovita Mendoza pointed out the amendment had the option to extend if, in a year, it was clear that the underground transformers still were not available.
“[Baquilar] can come back at any time and get the extension,” she said. “I don’t shy away from work.”
Other topics discussed included:
A future discussion on the list of surplus properties the city has up for sale. Mendoza expressed an interest in pulling one of the surplus properties off the list because the council had previously discussed making it a park. The site is a one-acre parcel in front of Pioneer Elementary School.
The 4-0 approval of an amendment to the municipal code that would increase the notification radius for public hearings from 300 feet to 1,000 feet.
The full meeting can be watched at https://bit. ly/4eFesYy
side of Discovery Bay, she served on the town’s P6 committee, which submits reports and recommendations to the county for police services, based on residents’ needs and suggestions.
Now she would like to do more.
“I’ve always been interested in the community and its general health and condition, and I want it to thrive,” Belcher said. “I recently became an empty nester and would like to give back to the community and I have some goals.”
Belcher has laid out six goals she would focus on if elected.
1. Ensuring that there is safe and reliable drinking water and sewer services
2. Asking board members to do their “due diligence and discuss issues at meetings” rather than “coming in with a rubber stamp to approve suggestions from staff members.”
3. Increasing transparency with longterm planning for the town.
4. Focusing on fiscal responsibility. “There’s been a lot of decisions that have been made that haven’t sat well with the community,” Belcher said.
5. Working to understand what the community wants, so residents feel their voice is heard.
6. Controlling strategic growth and making residents’ needs felt at the county level.
Belcher and her husband own several small commercial businesses. Belcher worked in the technology industry for 25 years before retiring and attending law school. Now, she manages human resources, legal issues and compliance for their businesses.
Leonard Woren did not respond to requests for comment before this week’s print deadline.
Council
An example of a residential transformer
Press photo
