Tuesdays-Thursdays, 1:30-6:30pm, Village Community Resource Center, 633 Village Drive, Brentwood or Byron Community Library Club, 3926 Main St., Byron. Literacy and homework support for K-5th Grade. Info 925-626-7892 or jose@vcrcbrentwoodca.org.
AL-ANON MEETING - BRENTWOOD
Friday, 8pm, Brentwood United Methodist Church, 809 2nd Street, Brentwood. Support Group for families and friends of Alcoholics. No need to register, info call Trisha 510 910-1389
AL-ANON MEETING - DISCOVERY BAY
Monday, 12:15pm, Delta Community Presbyterian Church, 1900 Willow Lake Rd., Discovery Bay. Support Group for families and friends of Alcoholics. No need to register, info call Charlie (925) 858-5382.
AMERICAN LEGION AUXILIARY
1st Tuesday, 5pm, Legion Hall, Basement, 757 First St., Brentwood. Info Dolly 925-890-7357.
AMERICAN LEGION POST 202 MEETING
2nd Wednesday, 6:30pm, Veterans Hall, 757 First St., Brentwood. Info AML202.org or 925-516-2141.
ANIMAL RESCUE RECON DOG ADOPTIONS
Saturdays, 10am-1pm, Pet Food Express, 5829 Lone Tree Way, Antioch. Info 925-392-7654 or animalrescuerecon.com.
BETHEL ISLAND LIONS CLUB
1st and 3rd Wednesday, 7pm, Scout Hall, 3090 Ranch Ln., Bethel Island. Info Dave 925-595-1451.
BRENTWOOD ALZHEIMER’S CAREGIVER SUPPORT GROUP
2nd Thursday, 7-8:30pm, Brentwood. Please call 800.272.3900 to register for the meeting.
BRENTWOOD LIONS CLUB
1st Wednesday, 6:30pm, BW Community Center., 35 Oak St., Brentwood. Call for more info 925-587-3783. www.lcobw.com
BYRON DELTA LIONS CLUB
1st Friday, 10am, St. Anne’s Catholic Church, 2800 Camino Diablo Rd., Byron. Info Kathy 925-980-6696.
CANCER SUPPORT COMMUNITY
Tuesdays, 1-3pm, 3505 Lone Tree Way., Suite 3, Antioch.
DASH ADOPTIONS
Fridays, 5-8pm at Petsmart, 5879 Lone Tree Way, Antioch. 1st & 3rd Sunday, 12-3pm, Petco, 5481 Lone Tree Way, Brentwood. Info 925-219-0151 or deltaanimalssafehaven.org.
DELTA SHADOW BOXERS PARKINSON’S SUPPORT GROUP
1st Wednesday, 2-5pm. Merrill Gardens., 2600 Balfour Rd., Brentwood. Info Sue 925-550-2756
DISCOVERY BAY CORVETTE CLUB
1st Thursday, 7:30pm. Discovery Bay Yacht Club, Bilge Room Info Tim Denham 408-210-3814.
DISCOVERY BAY LIONS CLUB
1st Tuesday, 6:30pm, Discovery Bay Yacht Club. Info Rita Caruso 925-640-5746, www.discoverybaylions.com.
DISCOVERY BAY PICKLEBALL CLUB FREE TRAINING
1st Saturday, 11:00am, (weather permitting) Discovery Bay Community Center 1601 Discovery Bay Blvd, Discovery Bay.
DELTA GROUP SIERRA CLUB
2nd Friday, 5pm, Oakley Tavern, 3685 Main St., Oakley. Covers Antioch, Pittsburgh, Bay Point, Oakley, Brentwood, Bethel Island, Discovery Bay, and unincorporated areas of ECCC. Info Joeandlu@comcast.net.
DELTA WOMEN’S SOCIAL CLUB
2nd Thursday, 11:30am. Info Gloria 925-513-8731.
DIG - DELTA INFORMAL GARDNERS
4th Monday, 7:30pm, Brentwood Methodist Church, 809 Second St., Brentwood. Info Bob 925-642-0080 or deltainformalgardners.org.
DELTA QUILTERS GUILD
For information REGARDING meetings & events, go to deltaquilters.org
DOFBWOW (Daughter’s of Faith Becoming Women of Wisdom)
2nd & 4th Thursday, 6:45pm, via Zoom. Contact True Free Love Ministry via email truefreeloveministries@gmail.com.
GFWC - BRENTWOOD WOMENS CLUB
3rd Wednesday, 11:30am,Contact Sedar for more Info 925-550-4486.
GRIEF SUPPORT GROUP
Thursday, 5pm, Immaculate Heart of Mary Library, 500 Fairview Avenue, Brentwood. Info Mary Ann Smith 925-240-1706 or Linda Quilici 925-308-7799.
HELPING ONE WOMAN
3rd Tuesday’s, 6-8pm, Brentwood Community Center 35 Oak St., Brentwood. Email: howdiscoverybay@gmail.com
HALO ADOPTIONS
Saturdays & Sundays, 12-3pm (cats), Petsmart , 5879 Lone Tree Way, Antioch. Saturdays and 4th Sunday (dogs), 12-3pm, Petco, 5481 Lone Tree Way, Brentwood. Saturdays and Sundays (cats), 2nd Sunday (dogs) 12-3pm, Pet Food Express, 5829 Lone Tree Way, Antioch.
HOSPICE OF THE EAST BAY
Informational Session and Training. Info 925-887-5678 or volunteers@hospiceeastbay.org.
HOW OVER-EATERS ANONYMOUS MEETING
Thursdays, 10-11am, Brentwood Professional Plaza, Fellowship Hall, 8385 Brentwood Blvd., Suite B, Brentwood. AA Big Book Discussion. Info Peggy 925-200-2281.
MINISTRY OF CARING ( Summer Schedule 6/4-8/27) Wednesday, 10:30-11:30am, will be changing meeting location during summer, Veterans Park, Balfour Rd., Brentwood. Widow/widower Grief Support Group.
Info Mary Ann Smith 925-240-1706 or Connie Conover 925-392-8037
Ongoing Events - Cont’
MOMS IN PRAYER
Moms in Prayer is an international organization that equips women to pray for kids and schools at weekly prayer meetings. Find a local group: Crystal - momsinprayer58@gmail.com or momsinprayer.org.
MOBILE HOME OWNERS ADVOCACY GROUP
1st Saturday, 1-2:30pm, Oakley. Teach mobile home owners their legal rights and how to defend themselves. Mobile home owners in Oakley, Bethel Island, Knightsen, Byron, Brentwood, Antioch and Pittsburg welcome. Info/register 925-625-6251.
PET LOSS SUPPORT GROUP
2nd Tuesday, 5:30-7pm, Tony LaRussa’s Pet Foundation, 2890 Mitchell Drive, Walnut Creek. Info 925-887-5678 or hospiceeastbay.org.
P.E.O. CHAPTER OF BRENTWOOD (EVENINGS)
3rd Thursday, 6:45pm, Women’s philanthropy group supporting women’s education. More info contact President Cassidy Nelson at cassidynelson713@gmail.com.
P.E.O. CHAPTER OF BRENTWOOD (MORNINGS)
1st Thursday, 9:30am, Women’s philanthropy group supporting women’s education. More info contact Sally at Slbain2@att.net.
POLKA DOT POWERHOUSE
2nd Tuesday, 6:45pm, Changing The World By Connecting The Dots. More info contact Gloria Guzman 415-760-8202.
SEAMS TO HELP
1st Sat & Tues, Volunteers use sewing and other skills to create needed items for our community and beyond. Volunteer information www.seamstohelp.org.
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
After School Academy to work with students on their reading/ literacy and homework. Our students are K-5th grade. Two locations in Brentwood and in Byron. Info Village Community Resource Center 925-626-7892 or vcrcbrentwoodca.org.
VFW AUXILLARY POST 10789
2nd Tuesday, 8:00pm. 757 1st Street, Brentwood. For more info contact Bill Weber Commander 925 584-1452.
WI CHA KA COUNCIL
1st and 3rd Thursday, 7:30pm, Red Men Pocahontas Hall, 1403 Main St., Oakley. Info 925-759-2998.
Business Meetings
AKTION CLUB OF EAST CONTRA COSTA
2nd Tuesday, 5:30-7pm, Mountain Mike’s Pizza, 1185 2nd Street, Station M, Brentwood. Adults with Special Needs sponsored by Kiwanis Int’l. Info 925-890-2563.
BRENTWOOD CHAMBER MIXER
3rd Thursday, 5:30-7:30pm. Info 925-634-3344.
BRENTWOOD ROTARY CLUB
Mondays, 12-1:30pm, Trilogy Event center, 1700 Trilogy Parkway., Brentwood. Info 888-556-0083.
BNI REFERRAL FACTORY
Thursdays, 11:30am-1pm, Brentwood Community Center, 35 Oak St., Brentwood. Info Liz 925-206-9314 or liz.litaea@lhfs.com.
BNI - GIVING TO GAIN Tuesdays, 7am, Via Zoom. Info Maria 925-323-6313.
BUSINESS ON THE BAY
2nd Thursday, 3:00pm. Discovery Bay. Info Elizabeth 925-351-4444.
CREATIVE COMMUNICATORS TOASTMASTERS MEETING
Tuesdays, 7:10-8:15pm, Kaiser Hospital, 4501 Sand Creek Rd., Conference Room IC, Antioch. Info Joe Amaro 510 812-2282 or ccclub.toastmastersclub.org.
DELTA NETWORKING PARTNERS
Tuesdays, 8:30-9:45am, Brentwood Craft Beer and Cider, 234 Oak Street, Brentwood, Gabriela Manciulea, 408 750 7436 or email dnp.brentwood@gmail.com.
DELTA TOASTMASTERS MEETING
Tuesdays, 7:10-8:10am, MiMi’s Café, 5705 Lone Tree Way, Antioch. Info Greg Hullen, President 707-373-6890.
DISCOVERY BAY CHAMBER MIXER
4th Tuesday, 5:30pm. Info Cindy 925-513-4175.
DISCOVERY BAY LIONS CLUB
1st Tuesday, 6:30pm. Discovery Bay Yacht Club, 5781 Marina Blvd., Discovery Bay. Info 925-240-3486.
POLKA DOT POWERHOUSE
2nd Tuesday, 11:30am, Zephyr Bar & Grill, 613 1st St., Brentwood. Info Gloria Guzman guzmang2020@gmail.com.
SONS IN RETIREMENT-DISCOVERY BAY BRANCH
1st Tuesday, 11:30am, Club Los Meganos-Trilogy, Brentwood. Info Luis Figueroa 415-997-5172.
SOROPTIMIST INTERNATIONAL OF THE DELTA 1st Tuesday, 6pm, Brentwood Community Center, 35 Oak Street, Conf Room B Brentwood. Info Sue Pretzer 760-583-3058.
SOROPTIMIST INTERNATIONAL OF ANTIOCH
1st & 3rd Wednesday, 6pm, Lone Tree Golf & Event Center,, 4800 Golf Course Rd. Antioch. Info Mary Ann Redden 925-586-3161
Major Route & Schedule Change
NEW ROUTES with NEW NUMBERS
Nuevas rutas con nuevos números
NEW TIMETABLES - FASTER SERVICE
Los horarios han cambiado
TRI MYRIDE ZONE IN BRENTWOOD
El servicio Tri MyRide expande sus servicios en las zona Brentwood.
Basics Facts Of Living Trusts: How Do I Avoid Probate?
I recently met with a client that did not have a living trust and even though you may have plenty of time you never know what life has planned. I strongly believe in have a living trust to save money and ease the burden on your heirs. Many people mistakenly believe that if they have a Will the estate will not go through probate, this is patently wrong. Your heirs will go through probate and pay the state a hefty sum to make a difficult period in your family lives more difficult.
The probate process in California can be expensive. The fees for Probate are based on the gross value of the assets and are a tiered rate according to the value of the estate, so if you have a house worth $500,000 but there is a $480,000 loan on the property you would potentially owe the state $13,000 for the probate tax leaving the heirs with $7000. In addition there are attorney fees, Executor fees, filling fees, and miscellaneous court fees!
The process for a probate is not quick and
can easily take a year or more. If there are disputes, problems or a backed up court system, it can take much longer delaying closure for the family and draining money from the estate for expense such as a mortgage, other loans and credit cards.
Most of the deceased person’s propertyhas to go through probate in an estate currently over $150,000, whether there is a will or not (intestate). However, there are several instances where property and assets would avoid the process, such as assets that are held in joint tenancy or with a designated beneficiary.
You may be asking by now, “How do I avoid this?” I would not recommend transferring title to your heirs prior to death because this also will transfer the cost basis the profit of the item and create a tax burden for the heirs. A second option that helps avoid this is a deed on death which activates, on passing and can avoid the step up tax basis. The third option is a living trust, the cost basis is the value at time of death and therefore the heirs may have limited or no tax liability.
Real estate, bank accounts, and vehicles can be held in a living trust. A typical trust is the Family Trust and can be an individual or a couple who are the Trustees and, with their children or heirs, the Beneficiaries. Those who establish the trust and transfer their property into it are known as Trustors or Settlors. A successor
trustee designated by the trust creator will execute the wishes of the Trustees via a will contained in the trust. No contest clauses are placed in trusts as a caution to potential challengers. Beneficiaries under the will or trust who challenge the document lose or forfeit their inheritance under the document, this discourages would-be challengers from contesting the document.
A Living Trust provides you with peace of mind now by setting a clear plan and knowing that your estate will be handled exactly as you wish later. It will also provide comfort to your loved ones during an already stressful time because you’ve laid everything out for them and eliminated stressful guesswork and government bureaucracy.
The purpose of this article is to help get you thinking and start a conversation with your family and appropriate legal counsel. I am not an estate planner nor an attorney. This article is not meant as tax or legal advice. The examples I have given are merely illustrative and should not be relied upon. You should always consult with a tax consultant and/or lawyer for your specific circumstances.
Patrick McCarran is a local Realtor and Broker. Call/text 925-899-5536 • pmccarran@yahoo.com • CallPatrick.com Independently owned and operated. Equal Housing Opportunity. In association with Realty One Group Elite DRE#0193160.
The City of Brentwood joyfully celebrated its 2nd Annual Juneteenth Festival this past Thursday with a powerful showcase of culture, unity, and artistic expression. Opening the event with a moving performance was Virtuous Voices Music Academy, whose singers delivered a heartfelt tribute to freedom through song. As the first act of the day, Virtuous Voices set an inspiring tone for the festival, reminding attendees of the power of music to uplift, connect, and reflect on our shared history. Their performance underscored the importance of celebrating freedom— especially in today’s world where unity and expression remain essential. The Virtuous Voices Singers performing at the event were (from left to right): Ivan Stewart, Lydia Stewart, Elise Culberson, Roma Dasilva, and Mya King.
Virtuous Voices Music Academy, known for cultivating confidence and creativity through vocal performance and music theory, was honored to be part of this meaningful community event.
VIRTUOUS VOICES
The perfect place for homeschool and remote learners to grow in music.
Virtuous Voices Music Academy Opens Brentwood’s 2nd Annual Juneteenth Festival with Uplifting Performance
“We are so proud of our young singers,” said Tiffany Stewart, founder of Virtuous Voices Music Academy.
“To open a celebration as important as Juneteenth is a true honor. Our students sang not only with skill, but with heart.”
The Juneteenth Festival in Brentwood continues to grow as a cherished local tradition, commemorating the emancipation of enslaved African Americans and celebrating Black culture, resilience, and excellence. For more information about Virtuous
