YOUR HOMETOWN WEEKLY NEWSPAPER
Vol. 18, No. 30
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Changing lives, one student at a time by Aly Brown
July 27, 2018
Candidate Season Is Here
Staff Writer
One of Oakley’s own has made it onto a prestigious list. Gina Minder-Maldonado, also known as Mrs. M&M – a second-grade teacher at Oakley Elementary School – was nominated for National Life Group’s LifeChanger of the Year award among teachers across the nation. The award recognizes individuals in education who go above and beyond the call of duty to make a positive impact in students’ lives. “For me (being nominated) is very surprising. I am not one to toot my own horn,” she said of the nomination by Trish Giraldo. “I am very much the opposite. I can be very critical of myself, and I always see areas where I need to improve. I work with amazing teachers at my district, and I have had wonderful master teachers. I only strive to be like them someday.” With 28 years of teaching under her belt, the onset of Minder-Maldonado’s career in education began when she was only 15, when she worked with preschool children while earning her Early Childhood Education units. She then moved into the private kindergarten scene as she finished college and the credential prosee Student page 30
November elections are around the corner, and the race for local seats has begun. Page 7
A Seussical Performance
Photo courtesy of Gina Minder-Maldonado
Gina Minder-Maldonado, an Oakley teacher, was nominated for National Life Group’s LifeChanger of the Year award. She is seen here with her husband, Juan Maldonado, and 7-year-old son, Aiden.
Public may be ready to help with fire tax by Kyle Szymanski Staff Writer
East County residents disapprove of current fire service levels and may be willing to open their wallets to fund a solution, according to the results of a district strategic planning survey. Only 18 percent of 643 respondents approved of existing fire service levels, and 69 percent said they’d support a voter-approved tax to fund three additional stations. Fifty-five percent are in favor of a tax initiative to fund six additional stations. The district’s current three stations cover 249 square miles and 114,000 residents. “At least this segment of the population that voluntarily went on the survey to respond to it showed they may be willing to look at tax
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... it showed they may be willing to look at tax increases to increase response-time standards, at least for this current population.
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Greg Larson, Management Partners increases to increase response-time standards, at least for this current population, if not for the future as well,” said Greg Larson, a partner of the management consulting firm Management Partners, which is helping the district create a strategic plan. The survey results released last week during a district strategic planning meeting in Knightsen also revealed that about 35 percent of respondents support reallocating property taxes from schools and education or city and county services
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to the fire district. Additionally, 79 percent approve stopping all new or increased development until the district can meet fire service standards. “The biggest challenge the district has is financial equity,” said Hal Bray, co-chair of the grassroots East County Voters for Equal Protection, which supports property tax reallocation. “The district gets 7.5 percent of the property taxes distributed in this area. The average for the county is 14 to 15 percent. You can’t do it any better unless you
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get some funding.” The district’s property tax allocation was cemented after State Proposition 13 was approved in 1978 during a time when volunteer departments were sufficient to cover far East County. That move eventually wreaked havoc on the agency, forcing it in part to diminish from eight stations in 2008 to three today. In turn, about 90 percent of the time, it takes district firefighters about 10 minutes to respond to urban areas of the district (Brentwood and Oakley), which is about 2 minutes, 30 seconds slower than is recommended. In suburban areas, like Discovery Bay, the 90 percent response time (13:28) is two minutes slower than standards. In rural areas, the see Fire page 30
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Ghostlight Theatre Ensemble Performing Arts Youth Academy debuts this weekend. Page 10
Martial Arts Master
A fourth-grader at Orchard Park School wins state tae kwon do championship. Page 21 Calendar................................31 Classifieds.............................26 Cop Logs................................29 Entertainment.....................11 Food........................................10 Health & Beauty..................13 Milestones............................15 Opinion..................................20 Pets.........................................24 Sports.....................................21
Insurance Scam
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Several county restaurants cited for failing to provide employee compensation.