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YOUR HOMETOWN WEEKLY NEWSPAPER
Vol. 17, No. 4
Police upgrade security
see Security page 22A
Make Your Money Matter
After the storm
In a move to further safeguard the general public as well as city employees, officials have installed protective barriers and video cameras around city hall and the adjacent police department. The city’s safety committee and Police Chief Chris Thorsen recently assessed the security in and around city hall and the police department to determine if more could be done to protect employees and citizens. “In today’s environment, we felt it was important to attempt to lower the security risks and ensure our employees are kept as safe as possible around city hall and at the police department building,” said Thorsen. To eliminate some risk and help protect employees and citizens, protective barriers have been installed around the exterior of the buildings and video-surveillance cameras
Pick up tips of the trade for money management in this week’s special section. Page 1B
Check Out At Little Library Photo by Tony Kukulich
T
he recent string of storms has brought out the color in this vineyard on Brownstone Road across from Price Lane in Oakley. The break in the weather and a hint of sun has nurtured the growth of greenery in much of East County this week. Could spring be on the way?
Great Wolf Resort still a possiblity “ This is just about us doing our due diligence
by Kyle Szymanski Staff Writer
A Great Wolf indoor water park resort is on the edge of arriving in Brentwood, but before the city dives into the plan, local leaders want to make sure it’s a good fit. This week, the council agreed to spend $275,000 to have an outside agency conduct an economic and feasibility analysis to confirm the resort plan is in the city’s best interest, as well as legal fees. The third-party analysis is in part slated to verify Great Wolf’s claims that the resort would be a boon for the city, but an unexpected increase in property tax will pay for the analysis, according to a city staff report. “This is just about us doing
to not only see if it’s a good fit for the Great Wolf Resorts, but also for Brentwood.
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Councilmember Karen Rarey our due diligence to not only see if it’s a good fit for the Great Wolf Resorts, but also for Brentwood itself,” said Councilmember Karen Rarey. Great Wolf officials have not confirmed if they plan to bring an indoor water park resort to the city, but Bryson Heezen, director of development for Great Wolf Resorts, replied with an emphatic yes this week, when asked by the council if the company was interested in Brentwood.
“When we develop a property in Northern California, it’s probably going to be the only property (we develop in the region),” Heezen said. “We are going to find a community that we can be friends with and partners with and develop the best lodge possible for families.” It’s believed Brentwood is competing with Gilroy, in Santa Clara County, for the Northern California location. If Brentwood is chosen, the 50-acre, 500- to 800-
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room resort will likely be located along Lone Tree Way and Sand Creek Road, right off Highway 4. The organization operates 14 parks around the nation and one in Canada, with locations featuring an indoor water park, hotel, family entertainment centers, restaurants, retail stores and meeting rooms fit for conferences and seminars. The only other California location is Garden Grove, which opened in March last year, complete with a 105,000-square-foot, indoor water park, 603 hotel suites, interactive games, a buffet restaurant, Lodge Wood Fired Grill eatery, Dunkin Donuts shop and 20,000 square feet of flexible meeting space. see Great Wolf page 22A
A Little Free Library pops up in Brentwood with books to share, borrow and replace. Page 4A
Heritage Takes Down Liberty
Patriots take a 71–70 victory in front of standing-room-only crowd. Page 15A Calendar.............................23A Classifieds..........................19A Entertainment.................... 9A Food....................................... 8A Milestones.........................11A Pets......................................10A Sports..................................15A
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Mock Trials
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511 Contra Costa offers free, online tools to streamline your commute and plan trips.
Office of Education seeks legal professionals to volunteer for mock trials.