YOUR HOMETOWN WEEKLY NEWSPAPER
Vol. 19, No. 26
READ THE DAILY NEWS AT WWW.THEPRESS.NET
East County Real Estate
Freedom students step up to help fire victims by Kyle Szymanski Staff Writer
As the state’s fire season begins to heat up, many communities north of East County are still suffering in the wake of last year’s devastating incidents. However, a host of dedicated students from Oakley’s Freedom High School are doing their part to support the recovery efforts. Over the past seven months, students collected close to $3,000 for the Brentwood- and Knightsen-based Hold Your Horses Livestock Emergency Evacuation Response Team, which is still assisting Paradisearea residents and animals in the aftermath of November’s 153,336-acre Camp Fire that
killed 85 and destroyed 18,793 homes and buildings. “The stories that were coming out of there then were horrible,” said Freedom health education teacher Kim Vardanega-Kent, who spearheaded the effort shortly after the fire. “I just wanted to do something. I threw them the idea and they were like, ‘Yeah, let’s do it.’” Fundraising events included selling hot chocolate, cotton candy and root beer floats. They also gathered separate donations from parents, students and teachers. The funds, donated through Freedom’s Athletic Boosters Club to comply with fundraising regulations, went directly to the nonprofit response team
The Press’ special edition has tips, information on East County real estate market. Page 1B
Photo courtesy of Freedom High School
Staff Writer
The Brentwood City Council delayed its decision to send to voters a proposed urban limit line (ULL) expansion initiative so they can further study the measure’s potential effects. The proposed initiative — spearheaded by a group of local developers, including longtime Brentwood farmer and developer Ron Nunn — would move the border at which urban development must stop. The change would clear the way for a proposed 815-acre development, including up to 2,400 residential units, along with other elements, and would be situated north of Balfour Road, east of Deer Val-
ley Road and west of the Shadow Lakes and Brentwood Hills neighborhoods. The initiative will now go on the ballot in either September or October of this year, or November 2020, with a firm date to be determined after the council receives an independent report on the measure’s impacts, the latter to be completed in the next 30 days. The council is required to put the question to voters because the development group collected more than the required 3,500 verified resident signatures in support of the measure to qualify for the ballot. “Every one of us live here, every one of us will be affected by this — some more than oth-
SAVE NOW
that jumped into action during the third day of the over twoweek-long fire, and has continued providing aid to people and animals in need, said Chantel Tieman, one of the organization’s founders.
The all-volunteer group initially assisted with animal evacuations before continuing to donate food, water, animal feed, medical supplies, trucks see Students page 26A
Brentwood residents turned out in en masse before the city council this week to urge the governing body to hold off on sending a proposed urban limit line extension proposal to the ballot.
ers,” said Vice Mayor Joel Bryant. “I want to see the (independent report) done. That is the only step to consider right now.”
10% OFF Any Service
Scan QR code with your mobile device.
Service • Repair • Installation
Contractor’s Lic. #533790 C-20
925-625-4963 • www.fairviewair.com
Adams Middle School teacher Katie Humann wins NBC Sports All-Star Teacher Award. Page 6A
On The Pitch In The Rockies
Impact Soccer Club 14U traveling to Colorado to play a national championship. Page 18A
see ULL page 26A
Calendar.............................27A Classifieds..........................22A Cop Logs.............................25A Education.............................6A Entertainment.................... 9A Food....................................... 8A Milestones.........................10A Opinion...............................16A Pets......................................12A Sports..................................18A
BART Leadership
A Safe Fourth
Photo by Kyle Szymanski
FAIRVIEW HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING, INC. Connect with The Press!
Adams’ AllStar Teacher
A host of Freedom students, including Kylene Lainez, Kayle Emmons, Zaylea Cervantes Carranco and Kendall Gillette (seen above) helped raise close to $3,000 for human and animal victims of last year’s Camp Fire.
City council delays ULL proposal initiative by Kyle Szymanski
June 28, 2019
The council’s decision pleased a group of opponents
www.thepress.net/news/webextras
Harriet Richardson named as first BART inspector general.
www.thepress.net/news/press_releases
The American Red Cross offers some safety tips for a safe Fourth of July holiday.