YOUR HOMETOWN WEEKLY NEWSPAPER
Vol. 18, No. 15
READ BREAKING NEWS AT WWW.THEPRESS.NET!
Science Week offers host of activities by Aly Brown Staff Writer
The City of Oakley’s popular Science Week kicked off this week, and residents of the city and surrounding areas have already flocked to scheduled events. In its 15th year, Science Week originally began as a oneday science fair directed by Nancy Kaiser, who now manages the City of Antioch Recreation Department. Due to its popularity, the program expanded to a full week of activities about 10 years ago, when Cindy Coelho, Oakley recreation and event coordinator, took over. “We’re lucky to have partnered with other organizations that have the expertise to facilitate some of the programs,” said Coelho, noting key contributors to be East Bay Regional Park District, Ironhouse Sanitary District and Freedom STEM. Science Week launched this year on April 7 and will run until April 14. Activities included a course in kite-making, during which time children learned
about gravity and lift. Other scheduled events included activities centered around science, technology, engineering and math (STEM); plant life; dinosaurs; wildlife; and more. The closing event is set for April 14, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Ironhouse Sanitary District, and the participants will learn about water recycling, tech-driven biological processes, microfiltration and how ultraviolet light is used to clean dirty water. There will also be a hayride tour of the facility located at 450 Walnut Meadows Drive, in Oakley. Coelho enjoys seeing new and familiar faces join the fun. Many families have made it a tradition. Oakley resident Evelina Reyes visited Science Week with her 3-year-old twin boys and 6-year-old daughter this week to make kites at Gehringer Elementary School, and the family has participated for the last two years. “She gets to have fun outside with her brothers, and (Science Week) impacts her interest
Ideas For The Home, Garden
Check out this week’s tips and trends in The Press’ Home & Garden section. Page 1B
Giving Up The Grapes
Two Oakley brothers are selling their generations-old vineyard and saying goodbye to a way of life. Page 5A Photo by Tony Kukulich
Newly made kites get a test run during a Science Week event at Gehringer Elementary School in Oakley, Monday, April 9.
see Science page 26A
April 13, 2018
Off To A Good Start
ECCFPD outlines plan for elected board “ We are going to be moving toward the
by Kyle Szymanski Staff Writer
Over 90 percent of voters approved the measure to reduce the East Contra Costa Fire Protection District Board from nine to five, according to a postelection report released by the agency this week. Just over 18 percent of registered voters went to the polls on March 6, with 90.5 percent of them voting to reduce the number of board members. A total of 11,772 ballots were cast. “We are going to be moving toward the elected
elected board at a Nov. 6 election. We will find out those results near Nov. 8 and the new elected board will be taking their seats on Dec. 7.
”
Fire Chief Brian Helmick board at a Nov. 6 election,” said Fire Chief Brian Helmick. “We will find out those results near Nov. 8, and the new elected board will be taking their seats on Dec. 7.” Board members have historically been assigned: four selected by the Brentwood City
00’S ET 10
G Connect with The Press!
Scan QR code with your mobile device.
S
IEW OF V
ON POST
CLASSIFIED ADS RULE!
Council; three by the Oakley City Council; and two by the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors. Now, however, the board will be reduced to five members, with the seats filled using an at-large format. Prospective candidates
! LINE UCKS B 5 $ JUST
www.thepress.net/classified
for the new board may reside anywhere in the 249-squaremile district, which covers the cities of Brentwood and Oakley along with the unincorporated areas of Discovery Bay, Bethel Island, Knightsen, Byron, Marsh Creek and Morgan Territory. Official candidate forms will be available at the county elections office on July 16 and must be returned no later than Aug. 10. The current board is expected to decide in May, when election costs will see ECCFPD page 26A
Musical Lineup www.thepress.net/news/webextras
Star-studded concerts on the way for Alameda County Fair.
The Heritage girls’ softball family has won the last seven out of nine games. Page 18A Calendar.............................27A Classifieds..........................21A Cop Logs.............................25A Entertainment..................12A Food.....................................13A Health & Beauty...............17A Milestones.........................11A Opinion...............................16A Pets........................................ 9A Sports..................................18A
4-H Fun
www.thepress.net/news/press_releases
Tractor Supply in Brentwood kicks off semi-annual 4-H fundraiser.