www.thepress.net | Mobile-friendly news!
YOUR HOMETOWN WEEKLY NEWSPAPER
Vol. 16, No. 50
Concert to welcome Christmas It’s that time of year again! While some may acknowledge this news with a smile and a Christmas song on their lips, scores of others will groan about the stress, the cold, the money and the commercialization that the Christmas season brings. Whether you’re the person who strings Christmas lights in August or the one who’s been dreading it since New Years, there is something for you to enjoy – a free Christmas concert performed live by the Fountainview Academy Orchestra and Singers. Sweeping down all the way down from British Columbia, Canada, this group of smiling young people is eager to help Antioch welcome the season with a dazzling Christmas repertoire of old classics and new, soon-to-be
Bring On The Holidays
Look no further for a complete list of local holiday concerts, festivals and fun. Page 10
Awarded For Excellence Photo courtesy of Beverly Knight
A DeLite-ful parade Antioch recently ushered in the holidays with its annual Holiday DeLites parade. Santa and Mrs. Claus brought their favorite elves this year, spreading holiday cheer for the whole town.
see Concert page 30
Fire expert offers option to district’s crisis “
by Kyle Szymanski Staff Writer
As East County officials continue to seek ways to strengthen the struggling East Contra Costa Fire Protection District (ECCFPD), one retired fire chief believes he has a solution. Pat Coughlin, a retired Kansas and Minnesota fire chief and international speaker on community fire risk, thinks the district could benefit from hiring college-student firefighters at a savings of between 20 and 50 percent. “They are full-time firefighters, work nine shifts or ten shifts a month, have the same training and meet the same physical conditions,” said Coughlin, who served as executive director of the
December 9, 2016
Using student firefighters is a solution that will work.
”
Pat Coughlin nonprofit Residential Fire Safety Institute, a public interest group created in 1982 to promote firesafe homes. “The only difference is they are full-time, temporary firefighters.” Coughlin’s idea follows voters’ rejection of Brentwood’s Measure Z and Oakley’s Measure E last month. If additional funding isn’t found by June, one of four district stations will close, leaving only nine firefighters on duty at a time
to serve the needs of 110,000 residents spanning 249 square miles. “(Using student firefighters) is a solution that will work,” said Coughlin. Compensation for student firefighters varies among the roughly 250 agencies that use them nationwide, including 11 in California, but typically include free or subsidized college education, free housing at fire stations or both. Examples of successful programs include the 57-yearold UC Davis Fire Department, which employs 15 student firefighters selected from a large applicant pool every two years, after undergoing rigorous physical abilities testing, an intensive interview process and a firefighting academy program. One of the biggest
departments is the 30-yearold Auburn Fire Division, in Alabama, which serves 50,000 residents with five stations using 100 firefighters, including 60 students. “It is a great opportunity for the students, and it provides us a hiring pool when there are career openings,” said Bill James, director of Auburn’s Public Safety Department. “Even after 27 years, we continue to evaluate the program to make it work the best for the City of Auburn.” Hugh Henderson, fire chief of the East Contra Costa Fire Protection District, doesn’t discount these types of programs, but believes they are used to improve service over basic levels, as opposed to providing the basic service. see Fire page 30
Brentwood resident Rachael Ortiz receives Technician Achievement Award for 2016. Page 8
Tough Loss For Freedom
Freedom football team falls to De La Salle in NCS championship game. Page 21 Calendar................................31 Classifieds.............................26 Cop Logs................................29 Entertainment.....................11 Food........................................10 Health & Beauty..................14 Milestones............................15 Opinion..................................20 Pets.........................................19 Sports.....................................21
Energy Choices go to news/WebExtras!
✔Plan your weekend. ✔Join a class. ✔Register for sports.
Connect with The Press!
Scan QR code with your mobile device.
Find & Post Events for FREE! thepress.net/calendar
Contra Costa explores possible community choice energy (CCE) programs.
CONNECTING PARKS TO PEOPLE www.ebparks.org/features/rin
LOOK INSIDE FOR THE NEW
Activity Guide