BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH
Vol. 18, No. 40
YOUR HOMETOWN WEEKLY NEWSPAPER
Recreation center will feature new fitness court
A hard-fought loss
Staff Writer
The much-anticipated arrival of Oakley’s new recreation center is now expected to feature a fitness element that should work out well for visitors. City officials recently agreed to include a National Fitness Campaign Fitness Court at the facility, as long as donors live up to their promise to contribute about 70 percent of the $140,000 cost. “We have an opportunity to bring a new, unique and different type of physical fitness to our community,” said Oakley City Councilmember Kevin Romick. The National Fitness Campaign adult bodyweight circuit training system includes 30 pieces of equipment, allowing users of all skill levels to leverage their bodyweight at
Wishes Can Come True Photo by Tony Kukulich
F
reedom running back Roy Lee moves upfield during the Falcons’ disappointing 55-21 loss to Liberty in the Bell Game last week. The Falcons played a stellar first half, putting up 21 points, before struggling in the second half. Freedom is in third place in the Bay Valley Athletic League standings with a record of 5-2 and To view a video and a slideshow of 1-1 against league opponents. the event, visit www.thepress.net/multimedia
Fire prevention services up to ECCFPD by Kyle Szymanski Staff Writer
The Contra Costa County Fire Protection District (ConFire) will soon stop providing fire prevention services to the local East Contra Costa Fire Prevention District (ECCFPD). But the ECCFPD has a plan. The contract between ECCFPD and ConFire – in place since the ECCFPD’s 2002 inception and expiring Nov. 1 – provides development plan review, inspection and investigation services. “Contra Costa County Fire Protection District has provided outstanding services to us for years,” said ECCFPD Fire Chief Brian Helmick. “Recently, they
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“ Contra Costa County Fire Protection District has provided outstanding services to us for years … they just don’t have the capability to continue to provide us services.
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Brian Helmick, ECCFPD fire chief have been inundated with internal workings of their own, to where they have identified that in the prevention division they cannot provide any external support. They pulled all their inspectors, all their investigators, everybody back into their district, because they have a lot of mandated and other inspections they need to work on and they just don’t have the capability to continue to pro-
vide us services.” The ECCFPD will press forward with a four-phase approach to create its own fire prevention bureau by the end of 2019, but it will have contract services in place by November to bridge the gap, Helmick said. “The discontinuation from ConFire was really a surprise to all of us, and it was an additional significant burden on the district,
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with all the other burdens we have, but I think staff has done a really good job to fill that void in a time frame that avoids having any discontinuation of service,” said ECCFPD fire board member Joe Young. The bureau’s start-up costs are expected to be around $2.1 million, but the division will become cost-neutral with funds recouped for services provided, said Helmick. The district has allocated $600,000 in its 2018/2019 fiscalyear budget and $1.5 million in its 2019/2020 budget toward the startup effort. Early estimates suggest the bureau will generate about $1.2 million yearly – just enough to cover its costs. see Fire page 30A
Bringing Up Baby
10% OFF Any Service
Service • Repair • Installation
Driving Into Autumn
Check out this week’s special edition for everything on cars, boats and RVs. Page 1B
by Kyle Szymanski
see Fitness page 30A
October 5, 2018
www.thepress.net/news/webextras www.ebparks.org/activities/rin/default.htm
Activity Guide INSIDE
Science shows that a baby’s interaction with adults has lifelong impact.
Local couple realizes the dream of a lifetime, thanks to An Elderly Wish Foundation. Page 5A
Liberty High Rings The Bell
Liberty defeats Freedom 55-21 in triumphant second half Bell Game. Page 21A Calendar.............................31A Classifieds..........................25A Cop Logs.............................29A Entertainment..................13A Food.....................................12A Health & Beauty...............14A Kid Scoop...........................10A Opinion...............................20A Pets......................................11A Sports..................................21A
LMC Planning
www.thepress.net/news/press_releases
The public is invited to participate in a countywide strategic planning process.