Wishing you and your family a happy Easter! Goo
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Vol. 19, No. 15
YOUR HOMETOWN WEEKLY NEWSPAPER
Bristow educator honored by Aly Brown Staff Writer
Recently honored with Teacher of the Year, Bristow Middle School’s Shawna Borba said her decision to become an educator was due largely in part to those who came before her. Borba lends credit to many of her middle and high school teachers, but she specifically noted those who taught English and journalism – Mr. Lucero, Mr. Smith, Mr. Selna and Mrs. Gabow – who were responsible for inspiring her to obtain a degree in English and pursue a career in teaching. One of Mr. Smith’s classroom projects is one she carries on to this day. “A month before graduation, (Mr. Smith) had us all write a let-
ter to our future selves,” Borba recalled. “We had to tell ourselves where we hoped to be and what goals we hoped to have achieved. We then sealed up the letter and addressed it to ourselves. He ended up mailing those letters to all his students five years to the day we wrote them.” Remembering the day she and her brother received those letters left a mark in her heart, and Borba decided to implement the idea in her own classroom. She added, “It is so fun, because each year a few students reach out to tell me how excited they were to get their letter. The kids have actually made the project bigger and have added pictures, ticket stubs and other mesee Educator page 30A
Improve Your Home, Garden
Photo courtesy of Shawna Borba
Bristow Middle School teacher Shawna Borba was recently recognized as Teacher of the Year.
Photo courtesy of the Contra Costa Transportation Authority
tate, regional and local officials attended the groundbreaking ceremony this week for the Highway 4 and Balfour Road interchange project. The Contra Costa Transportation Authority, the Contra Costa Water District (CCWD), Contra Costa Regional Fee and Financing Authority, California Department of Transportation and the City of Brentwood marked the start of the $42 million endeavor, which will replace the existing signalized intersection at Balfour Road and Highway 4 with a full, access-controlled, grade-separated interchange and corresponding on- and off-ramps. Highway 4 will be raised to cross over Balfour Road, creating a new, safer undercrossing.
County close to energy decision by Kyle Szymanski The Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors is expected to choose a community choice aggregation (CCA) program to offer county residents at its meeting in early May. Under CCA programs, local governments join together to provide energy to their residents. The energy is generated primarily from renewable sources, such as solar, wind, geothermal, hydroelectric and bioenergy. The Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) would continue to deliver power, billing customers as normal, with only the energy source varying. Under state law, customers are automatically enrolled in CCAs, but can opt out and stay with their original energy provider. The county is expected to join one of two existing local CCA programs – either Marin Clean Energy (MCE) or East Bay Community Energy (EBCE), based in Alameda County. A county consultant recently gave presentations on each agency, but the board opted to wait until May 2 to finalize
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April 14, 2017
“Alice In Wonderland”
Staff Writer
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The Press
From solar power to patio furniture, East County meets all your home, garden needs. Page 1B
Breaking ground on interchange project
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ews
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see Energy page 30A
Earth Day
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Assembly District 11 marks 47th anniversary of Earth Day with area clean-up efforts.
The Ballet Company of East County performs annual “Alice in Wonderland” ballet. Page 10A
Cheering For Competition
Liberty, Freedom and Heritage cheer squads and dance team excel at nationals. Page 21A Calendar.............................31A Classifieds..........................25A Cop Logs.............................29A Entertainment..................11A Food.....................................10A Health & Beauty...............19A Milestones.........................12A Opinion...............................20A Pets........................................ 9A Sports..................................21A
Fishery Closed
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Council announces third year of continued closure for sardine fishery.