YOUR HOMETOWN WEEKLY NEWSPAPER
Vol. 19, No. 21
READ NEWS YOU CAN TRUST AT WWW.THEPRESS.NET
Late-season rains threaten bumper crop of cherries
May 24, 2019
All About Your Pets
by Tony Kukulich Staff Writer
In late winter and early spring, expectations for an outstanding cherry season were high as the crop began to take shape, but recent cool, wet weather has local farmers scrambling to preserve the promise of high crop yields. The late-season rains present two problems: rain sitting on growing cherries can cause the skin to split, ruining the fruit, and it can cut short the already brief cherry season by dissuading customers from coming out. Muddy parking lots and orchards are less than ideal on U-pick farms, and many farms closed this past weekend or have delayed their opening until the fields begin to dry out. But despite the challenges and some crop loss, farmers remain optimistic about the remainder of the season. “I don’t think we’ve had a total left turn,” said Jessica Enos, marketing director for 5 Star Cherries. “Clearly there’s been rain. Clearly the farmers see Cherries page 22A
This week’s edition features tips and tricks for caring for our fabulous fur babies. Page 1B
Raising Up The Bus Barn
Photo by Tony Kukulich
Glenn Stonebarger, A business partner in G&S Farms, checks on the efforts to pick cherries in a 13-acre orchard in Brentwood, on Saturday, May 18. Late-season rains prompted farmers to pick their cherry crops earlier than planned to minimize damage to the fruit.
City garbage rates going up by Chris Campos Correspondent
Garbage and recycling bills are going up after the city council approved a rate increase for Mt. Diablo Resource and Recovery. The new rates will rise 9.8 percent on the bills going out June 1. The total hike includes a 2.4 percent raise based on the consumer price Index approved in January, but not implemented until now. According to the contract with the city, the firm was allowed to seek a rate increase if the company’s costs went up due to market pressures out of their control, an industry measure called a refuse rate index. The new rates for monthly collection will be raised from $29.55 to $32.45 for a 32-gallon container (senior); from $34.80 to
“ The driving force behind this recycling
market downturn can be traced back to new highly restrictive policies and regulations enacted by China (sometimes referred to as the China National Sword), which greatly restrict the amount, types, and purity requirements of recyclable material that China will now accept from foreign consumers …
”
Bryan Montgomery, Oakley city manager $38.24 for a 32-gallon container, from $48.65 to $53.47 for a 64-gallon container; from $55.20 to $60.66 for a 96-gallon container; and from $10.95 to $12.01 for an extra recycling container.
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The bulk of the increase is a result of a collapse in the global recycling market, according to Kish Rajan, the chief administrative officer of Mt. Diablo, who addressed the city council before the
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rate increase was passed. During a workshop with the council in February, the company informed the city that the company was suffering significant ongoing financial losses due to a sharp decrease in revenue from the sale of recyclable materials in the global marketplace, according to a report by the city manager. In a report to the council, City Manager Bryan Montgomery stated “The driving force behind this recycling market downturn can be traced back to new highly restrictive policies and regulations enacted by China (sometimes referred to as the China National Sword), which greatly restrict the amount, types, and purity requirements of recyclable material that China will see Garbage page 22A
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The Liberty Union High School District’s new bus barn is taking shape. Page 4A
PBA50 Rolls Into Town
Senior bowlers gather for tournament this weekend at Harvest Park Bowl. Page 15A Calendar.............................23A Classifieds..........................18A Education.............................4A Entertainment....................9A Food.......................................8A Milestones.........................11A Opinion...............................12A Sports..................................14A
Marsh Creek Upgrades www.thepress.net/news/press_releases
County Works Department working on Marsh Creek Road improvements.