YOUR HOMETOWN WEEKLY NEWSPAPER
MONDAY
Vol. 19, No. 35
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State unveils plans for Delta levees
Living the dream
by Tony Kukulich
see Levees page 18A
Living The Good Life
Check out this week’s ideas on getting the most out of Living 50 Plus. Page 1B
Staff Writer
Last week, the Delta Stewardship Council (DSC) held a public hearing to review proposed changes to how spending decisions on the maintenance of Delta levees are made, and the plan — known as the Delta Levee Investment Strategy (DLIS) — has drawn criticism from several sources. Among the criticisms leveled at the DLIS is a concern that Delta towns, including Discovery Bay and Rio Vista, were ranked second among the three risk classifications, and heritage towns like Courtland, Hood, Walnut Grove and Locke received the lowest risk classification. Meanwhile, it’s asserted by critics like Deirdre Des Jardins, principal with California Water Research, that islands and tracts related to the export of Delta water via the State Water Project received the highest prioritization. “Shifting state taxpayer funds to pay for improvements to Sherman Island and Twitchell Island from Rio Vista, Discovery Bay and North Delta legacy towns may not increase water supply reliability and may have significant impacts on small businesses, life and property in the Delta,” wrote Des Jardins in a letter to the DSC. Urban levees in West Sacramento and Stockton did receive top-tier prioritization, as did Bethel Island — a fact Des Jardins noted in a blog post where she called invest-
August 30, 2019
Skating To Pittsburg
Photo by Tony Kukulich
C
olby Babcock participates in the California Football Academy’s second annual free flag football Dreamers Camp for special needs children in Oakley, Saturday, Aug. 24. Organized by Mark Valencia and Judi Westerberg, the event paired campers with buddies – volunteer CFA athletes – and included drills, running for To view a video and a slideshow touchdowns and other exercises. of the event, visit www.thepress.net/multimedia
Big Chill ice rink is moving to Pittsburg after The Streets of Brentwood says “No thanks.” Page 7A
AJAX Teams Clean Up
Farmers market springing back to life by Kyle Szymanski Staff Writer
An attempt to plant a farmers’ market on Saturdays in Oakley last year shriveled up a few months after sprouting, due to a lack of demand. But now, two local farmers are hoping to bring the idea back to life. Beekeepers Marcin Wójcikowski and Elzbieta Nowak — both city residents
— will launch their own weekly version of the farmers market in Oakley’s Civic Center Plaza on Sundays, beginning Sept. 1. “I think it will be the first farmers market in Contra Costa County run by farmers, not by an association,” Nowak said. The duo is hoping the Sunday events will avoid direct competition with the well-established Brentwood Farmers Market on Saturdays, and give customers an opportunity to at-
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tend a farmers’ market on a day when they’re not tied up with recreational sporting and school events. The pair said they conducted an informal poll on the social networking site Nextdoor, seeking input on the idea’s relaunch, with about 75% of the more than 400 respondents supporting the idea. “I was surprised,” Nowak said. “Marcin said if 200 people voted, that would be great, but I
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had 403 votes and 300-plus said ‘yes.’ I hope Sunday will be a good day.” The plaza features room for up to 25 canopies, with vendors already lined up to sell fruits, vegetables, cut flowers, honey, kettle corn, tea and soap. The weekly event is also expected to feature live bands and raffles, with winners walking away with produce baskets.
AJAX East Bay soccer club teams pick up two notable wins in one weekend. Page 12A
see Market page 18A
Calendar............................. 19A Classifieds.......................... 15A Entertainment....................7A Legals .................................16A Milestones........................... 4A Opinion............................... 10A Pet of the Week.................. 6A Sports.................................. 12A
Harvest Run
BART Shutdown
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Runners, volunteers needed for the 8th Annual Delta Harvest Run.
www.thepress.net/news/press_releases
Track shutdowns planned this weekend at Walnut Creek, Orinda stations.