YOUR HOMETOWN WEEKLY NEWSPAPER
Vol. 18, No. 30
READ NEWS YOU CAN TRUST AT WWW.THEPRESS.NET
Public may look at fire tax
Candidate Season Is Here
Nature’s pinwheel
by Kyle Szymanski
November elections are around the corner, and the race for local seats has begun. Page 7
Staff Writer
East County residents disapprove of current fire service levels and may be willing to open their wallets to fund a solution, according to the results of a district strategic planning survey. Only 18 percent of 643 respondents approved of existing fire service levels, and 69 percent said they’d support a voter-approved tax to fund three additional stations. Fifty-five percent are in favor of a tax initiative to fund six additional stations. The district’s current three stations cover 249 square miles and 114,000 residents. see Fire page 30
July 27, 2018
A Seussical Performance Photo by Tony Kukulich
T
his wild sunflower, backlit by the sun, was captured by Press photographer Tony Kukulich on the corner of Balfour Road and Byron Highway in Brentwood. Sunflowers can be spotted along East County roads during the area’s hot summer months.
Changing lives, one student at a time by Aly Brown Staff Writer
Photo courtesy of Gina Minder-Maldonado
Gina Minder-Maldonado, an Oakley teacher, was nominated for National Life Group’s LifeChanger of the Year award. She is seen here with her husband, Juan Maldonado, and 7-year-old son, Aiden.
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One of Oakley’s own has made it onto a prestigious list. Gina Minder-Maldonado, also known as Mrs. M&M – a second-grade teacher at Oakley Elementary School – was nominated for National Life Group’s LifeChanger of the Year award among teachers across the nation. The award recognizes individuals in education who go above and beyond the call of duty to make a positive impact in students’ lives. “For me (being nominated) is very surprising. I am not one to toot my own horn,” she said of the nomination by Trish Giraldo. “I am very much the opposite. I can be very critical of myself, and I always see areas where I need to improve. I work with amazing
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teachers at my district, and I have had wonderful master teachers. I only strive to be like them someday.” With 28 years of teaching under her belt, the onset of Minder-Maldonado’s career in education began when she was only 15, when she worked with preschool children while earning her Early Childhood Education units. She then moved into the private kindergarten scene as she finished college and the credential program before the Oakley Union Elementary School District (OUESD) scooped her up in 1999. “One of the highlights of being a superintendent is having the opportunity to work with amazing people,” said OUESD Supersee Student page 30
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Ghostlight Theatre Ensemble Performing Arts Youth Academy debuts this weekend. Page 10
Martial Arts Master
A fourth-grader at Orchard Park School wins state tae kwon do championship. Page 21 Calendar................................31 Classifieds.............................26 Cop Logs................................29 Entertainment.....................11 Food........................................10 Health & Beauty..................13 Milestones............................15 Opinion..................................20 Pets.........................................24 Sports.....................................21
Insurance Scam
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Several county restaurants cited for failing to provide employee compensation.