YOUR HOMETOWN WEEKLY NEWSPAPER
HAPPY September 3
Vol. 18, No. 35
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Longtime volunteer remembered by Aly Brown Staff Writer
Photo courtesy of Kathy Reinders
Fred Lambert, a volunteer in the Oakley Union Elementary School District, recently passed away at the age of 93. His dedication to the school, its staff and children touched many people in the community. Seen here is Lambert with his friend Kathy Reinders.
The Oakley Union Elementary School District (OUESD) recently lost a beloved 93-year-old volunteer, but for those who knew him, he was so much more – a funny, hard-working colleague, a grandfather figure to the students and a cherished best friend. Kathy Reinders, a teacher at Vintage Parkway Elementary School, clutched a pile of photographs as she began to tell the story of how she met Fred Lambert 13 years ago and how they soon became inseparable. A WWII veteran, a widower and a man who devoted the last 25 years of his life to OUESD – working and volunteering as a yard duty and a teacher’s aide – Lambert was someone who loved sharing stories and jokes. He shared a fence with his daughter and son-in-law as their nextdoor neighbor and first became involved at Laurel Elementary School, volunteering in his granddaughter’s class. Reinders met him when he was working as a yard duty at Laurel and her kids were enrolled there. Soon after, she too became a yard duty.
“He told me he thought I was going to be stuck up when he first saw me,” she said, laughing, further noting that the two quickly established a friendship that revolved around a solid sense of sarcasm, deep conversations and the routine argument. “He was my work husband. We would get to school every morning at 5:30 and sit and prep from 5:30 to 8 and talk and laugh. We got into heated arguments about religion almost three times a week because we had differences – it was fun.” She noted that he attended church every day when she first met him and then on Wednesdays and Sundays in more recent years. “Mostly to say a little prayer for me,” she added. “Probably because he thought I needed all the help I could get!” When Reinders was offered a teaching position at Vintage Parkway, the two stuck together and he became her aide in the classroom. Their days started with Lambert calling her at 5 a.m. “He was my alarm clock,” she said. “I always slept in, so he would call and call until I picked it up and I’d yell, ‘Alsee Volunteer page 18A
August 31, 2018
Living Life To The Fullest
This week’s special edition offers tips, tricks and great ways to enjoy Living 50 Plus. Page 1B
Meet The City Manager
Gus Vina, Brentwood’s city manager, shares the inside scoop on working at city hall. Page 7A
The ECCFPD may charge for certain services Hitting Gridiron by Kyle Szymanski Staff Writer
The East Contra Costa Fire Protection District may begin charging to provide on-scene help during water rescues, vehicle incidents, hazardous material releases and illegal fires. The proposal, which could be adopted at the agency’s Sept. 10 board meeting, calls for the district to levy fees against individuals or their insurance companies based on working time and complexity. The suggested costs range from $448 an hour (per engine) for folks responsible for starting illegal fires, up to $2,240 an hour for other complex incidents. The prices rise as additional services are provided,
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“ This is right in the thread of trying to kick
over every rock to ensure we explore every opportunity to bring revenue into the district.
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Fire Chief Brian Helmick and additional fees could be tacked on if supplemental crews, equipment or an air ambulance are needed. The fees would likely be waived for individuals who have died or demonstrate financial hardship. “This is right in the thread of trying to kick over every rock to ensure we explore every opportunity to bring revenue into the district,” said Fire Chief Brian Helmick.
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The fees are allowed under the Fire Protection District Law of 1987, which allows districts to charge for services they are empowered to perform if they have inadequate revenue to render assistance. The district, which covers 249 square miles and over 114,000 residents, has diminished from eight stations in 2008 to three today. The agency already charges a separate set of fees to pro-
Last chance! Cast your votes for Brentwood’s 2018 Best! See page 11A. www.thepress.net/bob_ballot
vide medical aid. An estimated 20 percent of the district’s over 7,500 yearly calls would fall into the new fee category, garnering the agency less than $100,000 a year. “The chief has talked about turning over every rock (to find additional funds),” said Fire Board President Brian Oftedal. “I think that is what the community has been asking for over and over.” If approved, it’s expected the district would likely enter into an agreement with Fire Recovery USA, regarded as the nation’s leading provider of incident cost recovery. The company serves 971 departments in 42 states. see ECCFPD page 18A
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It was a mixed bag of wins and losses this week for local high school football. Page 13A Breaking News.................10A Calendar............................. 15B Classifieds..........................16A Entertainment.................... 9A Food....................................... 8A Kid Scoop ............................2A Legals..................................17A Milestones.........................12A Sports..................................13A
AUSD Honors www.thepress.net/news/press_releases
Antioch Union School District set to honor 16 of its exceptional teachers.