The Press 06.02.2023

Dutch Slough restoration project sees progress

By Jeff Weisinger Staff Writer

OAKLEY John Cain got into his car, drove all the way up Sellers Avenue, crossed through E. Cypress Road, and arrived at a locked fence. Behind that fence was a land-use project that he has been working on since 1998.

Now, 25 years later, with some digging, patience, and with a little bit of help from some friends, that project is starting to show progress.

The restoration project includes creating public access to the Delta shoreline – general public access for hiking, biking, and recreational and educational opportunities – along with restoration for fish and wildlife, and improving the science of ecosystem restoration.

The project’s highlight is the

planned community park just west of the slough, sitting atop the Contra Costa Canal. The plan for the community park includes multi-use turf fields that can fit up to three baseball fields along with several spaces for soccer tournaments, a park-

ing lot, a circular open meadow area, a picnic-area right next to the multi-use trails, an event lawn, a beach riverfront, a kayak launch, playgrounds, and more.

“We’ve always understood that the community park is an important part of the restora-

Trailer fire forces evacua-

tion near senior facility

By Jeff Weisinger Staff Writer

BRENTWOOD Atrailer behind a local senior facility was destroyed in a fire Tuesday, May 30.

tion of the overall project,” Cain said. “This is a great opportunity to showcase the promise of the restoration. If we can bring kids out here to play in tournaments, in between their games, they can

see Slough page 22A

‘Hijacked’ projector prompts investigation

to the district, the student allegedly took over the projectors in three teachers’ classrooms to show the racist images. Teachers were able to act immedi ately and stopped the display.

By Rene De Amaral Staff Writer

BRENTWOOD The Brentwood Union School District will employ stricter security measures with their school technology in light of a recent incident in which a student “hijacked” their teacher’s projector, and displayed racist images during class at Edna Hill Middle School.

The incident last week is under investigation by the school district. According

The district’s technol ogy department was im mediately notified of the incident once Edna Hill’s principal became aware, and began their investigation, along with working on eliminating access so that incidents like this could not occur again.

The district’s investigation is expected to finish soon and racist behavior will not be tolerated, according to Super-

intendent Dana Eaton, Ph.D. “Our district is a place where everyone belongs and we want all to feel welcome,” he said in a statement. “We are continuing our investigation and expect to conclude it soon. We will not tolerate any type of racist or hateful behavior and the consequences will be severe for any student involved.”

Edna Hill Middle School parents told ABC7 that the students were learning about Jim Crow laws. The parents also said this was not the first time an incident like this

see Hijacked page 22A

ConFire responded to reports of a fire at Joy Senior Center at 6400 Brentwood Blvd. at 2:51 p.m. When the firefighters arrived, they began to work on a trailer on fire behind the senior center as smoke and flames filled the trailer and its backyard. The trailer was home to the senior caretakers who live on site.

“We smelled something,” Jovita Bansil, one of the caretakers at the senior facility, said. “We were on duty (in the care home). When I entered the trailer, I smelled something. When I looked, we had the air conditioning on, the television on there, and it looked good. When I got outside again, I saw smoke over there by the heavy duty outlets. When the smoke came in, the fire started at the bottom of the floor, then it started to explode underneath the floor.”

All of the seniors and the caretakers were evacuated from the main house in front initially as the fire started, but were able see Fire page 22A

The land around the Dutch Slough may be getting an even bigger facelift as its restoration project starts to pick up steam.

Photo by Christian Raitt

OFFICIAL BALLOT “BEST OF OAKLEY & BETHEL ISLAND”

Make sure your ballot counts! Please follow these guidelines:

• Vote for a minimum of 10 categories.

• Vote for Oakley and Bethel Island-based businesses only.

• Provide your name, email and phone number on this ballot.

• 11x17 photocopied ballots are OK, but must be filled in by hand in ink.

• When voting for a company, enter the company's complete name.

• When voting for a person, enter the person's FULL name AND their COMPANY'S name.

DEADLINE TO SUBMIT YOUR BALLOT IS MONDAY, JUNE 12, 2023, 5:00pm.

All suspected "ballot stuffers" will be disqualified. No ballots can be accepted in stacks of more than 15. Sorry, no exceptions.

BEST SHOPS & RETAIL SERVICES

Place to Walk a Dog

155. Best View in Town

156. Most Community-minded Company

BEST EATS, DRINKS & FUN

Brentwood residents celebrate Indian heritage at festival

By Hemananthani Sivanandam Correspondent

A non-profit organization in Brentwood ushered summer in early with a multicultural and multilingual festival showcasing the various cultures of India.

The “Summerfest 2023” on May 21 at the Brentwood City Park aimed to bring together people from the different communities in Brentwood and celebrate the Indian heritage and culture.

Despite being a hot day, the event attracted an estimated 100 people throughout the day who came to enjoy the cultural medley performed by various groups and artists and filled their tummies with delectable cuisine and shopped at the stalls that sold jewelry and apparel.

Muktangan, the non-profit that organized the festival, hopes to bring together the community through such social and cultural events to put Brentwood on the map of the Bay Area.

Muktangan means ‘courtyard’ in Bengali.

“We are very inclusive and we represent the different states and cultures of India and we welcome everybody with open arms,” said Muktangan secretary Priyanka Ghosh Bagchi. “We want to showcase South Asian local talents and introduce the Indian culture to residents in Brentwood and the world.”

Bagchi said the idea for the Summerfest was to celebrate the Poila Baishakh or Bengali New Year.

“It marks the beginning of the new year but we wanted to bring it together

with a twist, hence we organized the Summerfest,” said Bagchi.

The Brentwood Police Department also had a booth during the festival to help raise awareness and strengthen their relationship with the community.

Kaushik Lankoji, 15, said events like these provide a great learning experience for everyone.

“It is a great experience for us to learn about Indian culture and heritage, especially for the younger generation,” said Lankoji.

Another person who wanted to be known only as Geetha said she was there to support the community.

“We moved to Brentwood in 2019 and we have a group of family friends that catch up often.

“Today, we decided to catch up with

of the WEEK

each other by attending this Summerfest and also support the community,” she said.

Muktangan, formed by eight families a year ago, has grown to having almost 100 people who support them now. It hopes to continue to grow and organize more fundraising initiatives for charitable purposes and host cultural events.

Muktangan’s president Priyanka Mukherjee said the organization supports female empowerment by working together with other charity organizations and helping underprivileged women in society as well.

“We hope to grow more and do more philanthropic work to help society,” said Mukherjee.

To view a video, visit www.thepress. net/multimedia

Various cultural performances showcased local talents during Summerfest on May 21.

Photos courtesy of Muktangan

Brentwood remembers Memorial Day

The Brentwood VFW Post 10789 remembered Memorial Day on Monday with a ceremony. Guest speakers included Patricia Bristow of the Union Cemetery, Brentwood Mayor Joel Bryant and Brentwood City councilmember Jovita Mendoza. Kiya Cintron of the Heritage High JROTC received the VFW award, and Eagle Scout Audry Kamena received the VFW District 10 Scout of the Year honor.

To view a video and a slideshow, visit www.thepress.net/multimedia

Top, right: The Marine Corps League Detachment #1155 and its rifle team attended the Memorial Day services in Brentwood. Bottom right: Dennis Sikorski played the bugle. Left: The Heritage High Air Force ROTC color guard displayed the colors.

Submitted photos

DBC Honors Veterans

Downtown Brentwood Coalition honored veterans on Sunday at the third annual cornhole competition.

COPIERS AND MULTIFUNCTION PRINTERS NEED PASSWORDS CHANGED, TOO

By Seana Fippin, Red Box Business Solutions

Modern business equipment has radically changed how we conduct everyday business. Do you realize that copiers and multifunction printers are also one of the leading causes of data breaches?

They are the one device on the network that commonly does not ever have the default password changed. After all, who would want to get in and copy your settings? There might be a different answer if you realize that those copiers often keep images of all pages scanned on an internal hard drive -- perfect for someone to anonymously access and steal Social Security records and sensitive business data.

Take steps to secure your MFP copier today. Change – or ask us to change – default passwords on all

network-connected devices. Don’t forget this rule when the copier lease is up and a new one is installed. A few quick steps can save a lot of personal data breaches and a lot of security headaches down the road.

Have questions about cybersecurity or technology at your company? The experts at Red Box are here to help.

Visit www.GetRedBox.com or call (925) 513-0000. Our team is available 24 hours per day,7 days a week to answer all your technology and cybersecurity questions.

For more information join us for our free webinar on June 8. Hosted by Red Box, the nation’s leader in IT and cybersecurity. Register today at ITandCYBER.Eventbrite.com

Attendees of the third annual Bags & Brews cornhole tournament put on by the Downtown Brentwood Coalition on May 28 took some time away from the sport to honor veterans ahead of the holiday. Kevin Graves with somegaveall.us was a guest speaker. To view a video of the event, visit www.thepress.net/multimedia

Photos courtesy of Our Town Brentwood

HOW TO END A BYPASS TRUST

by Martin C. Johnson, Attorney at Law, MBA,RMA®, EA

We frequently receive this question, and it’s an excellent one. The answer is yes, and there are methods available to end bypass trusts that have become unnecessary and burdensome to administer.

Question (1): What exactly is a bypass trust?

A bypass trust is a tool used in estate planning that involves the creation of a separate irrevocable trust after the death of the first spouse. In certain trusts, the surviving spouse is entitled to unlimited income from the bypass trust assets, but there are limitations and restrictions placed on the surviving spouse concerning the bypass trust principal. In the past, bypass trusts were commonly employed to help families minimize estate taxes. However, since Congress significantly increased the federal estate tax exemption, most families find that a bypass trust is no longer essential for their circumstances.

Question (2): I believe my family doesn’t need a bypass trust. How can I eliminate it?

The simplest way to remove the bypass trust provision is to amend or restate the estate plan while both spouses are alive. If both spouses are living and have the capacity, this provision can be easily eliminated.

However, if one spouse has already passed away or if the bypass trust was established following the death of the first spouse, ending the bypass trust requires a few additional steps, including obtaining court approval. To gain approval for the termination, the court requires unanimous consent from the surviving spouse

and all bypass trust beneficiaries.

Although ending the bypass trust requires more effort after the death of the first spouse, it can often be advantageous for families where the surviving spouse desires unrestricted access to the bypass trust funds. Additionally, terminating the mandatory bypass trust can help reduce administrative costs associated with the trust and eliminate capital gain taxes that would be due after the death of the surviving spouse.

Please note that some families may still choose to establish a bypass trust after the death of the first spouse due to their unique family structure. For example, bypass trusts are sometimes implemented in blended family situations where each spouse has children from a prior marriage. There are also other reasons why families may decide to retain their mandatory bypass trust, which should be discussed with an attorney.

If you have a bypass trust and would like to explore the possibility of terminating it, or if you believe a bypass trust could be beneficial for your family, feel free to schedule a complimentary 30-minute consultation at our office. We would be glad to review your trust and bypass trust as well as assist with establishing estate plans that include mandatory bypass trusts if needed.

This article provides only general legal information, and not specific legal advice.  The information contained is not a substitute for a personal consultation with an attorney.  360 ESTATE PLANNING INC. Phone (925) 289-8837 1600 S. Main Street, Suite 100, Walnut Creek, CA  94596     © 2023 Martin Johnson

Brentwood approves economic development grants for local events

The Brentwood City Council approved $176,744 in economic development grants at its May 23 meeting that will pay for local events throughout the year.

They include:

• Banner Up!, Art Guild of the Delta, Inc., $10,000

• Car Show in the Park, Community Initiatives/ODAT, $3,000

• Brentwood Diwali Mela 2023, United Indian Association, $7,000

• Brentwood History Through Time Banners and Downtown Brentwood Walking Tour, East Contra Costa Historical Society, $2,500

• Brentwood On Ice, Got A Party, $22,000

• Brentwood Turkey Trot for Schools, $22,000

• Celebrating Brentwood, Brentwood Chamber of Commerce, $1,500

• Children’s Wellness Fair, East County Performing Arts Center, $4,000

• Delta Quilter’s Guild 2023 Quilt Show; Delta, Quilters Guild, $3,000

• Dia De Los Muertos, Azucar Candies and More, $21,000

• Festival 10 – A Treasury of 10-Minute Plays, Ghostlight Theatre Ensemble, $8,000

• La Gran Fiesta, Brentwood Chamber of Commerce, $8,744

• Oktoberfest, Downtown Brentwood Coalition, $34,000

• Ready Set Pick, Chaman Kabob, $3,000

• We Love Local, Downtown Brentwood Coalition, $7,000

• 2024 East Bay Business Expo & Job Fair, Brentwood Chamber of Commerce, $9,000

• Light up the Night – 4th of July Drone Show, Downtown Brentwood Coalition, $11,000. In addition to that amount, the 75th Anniversary Fund is providing an additional $5,000.

Youth opioid addiction bill advances to state Senate

For the Press

Assemblymember Matt Haney’s (D-San Francisco) legislation (AB16) that allows physicians to enroll youth older than 16 in buprenorphine treatment without prior parental consent has passed the Assembly Floor with bipartisan support and now heads into the state Senate.

Buprenorphine is the only FDA approved treatment for youths and is the safest and most effective treatment available. Due to buprenorphine’s natural chemical ceiling it makes it difficult to abuse the drug and impossible to overdose on. The most common brand of buprenorphine, called Suboxone, includes the well known opioid antagonist naloxone (same as in Narcan) as an ingredient–this has the dual effect of treating withdrawal symptoms as well as blocking further opioid use.

“Most young people will thankfully have support from their parents when seeking this treatment,” said

Haney. “But some teenagers tragically will have no choice but to look for help on their own. Often because they’re homeless, have parents who themselves are addicted or absent, or have legitimate fears that telling their parents will lead to violence or being kicked out of their home. Turning away these youth seeking recovery is reckless, wrong and potentially deadly.”

Photo courtesy of Metro Creative

You are bright, caring & dedicated. We are proud of your accomplishments at home, in the classroom & on the court. We look forward to your amazing future at UCLA & beyond.

Congratulations! So very proud of you and all your hard work and dedication. In addition, you never let your obstacles get in the way of achieving your dreams and independence. Love, Mom.

Alicia, congratulations on your high school graduation. You have made us so proud. Next stop, CSC Chico. Go Wildcats!

The best is yet to come! High School will be such an amazing experience for you and I’m proud to know that I’ll be there to help you all the way! We are so proud of you! Make this next journey an exciting and fun time. Te queremos muchísimo y siempre ten a la familia en tú corazón.

You did it! Mom and Dad are so proud of you. We can’t wait to see what comes next! Love you to the moon and back. ILYWAMHAS

Congratulations on making it to the end and accomplishing your goals!

I am proud of you!

Te Amo mucho! ‘23

Rodrigo Gael Subia Ibarra Bristow Middle School

Amanda Muse Heritage High School

Love - Grandma & Papa

Brayden Streete The Helix School

Emily Bush Freedom High School

Marianna Angel Penaflor-Gutierrez Los Medanos College

OBITUARY

William “Skip” Alfred Ramos

William Alfred Ramos, 68, of Rio Vista, passed during the late-evening hours on the 23rd of May in the company of his loving wife and prayers from many surrounding him.

Bill dedicated his life to being in service to those in need and touched the lives of others; highlighting a career as a transportation driver for handicapped individuals with Fremont Unified School District, a member of the Freemason Fraternity for almost 50 years, and similar endeavors all driven by a love for his fellow man with the purpose of making the world a better place.

His memory lives on as he is survived by his wife of 18 years, Kim, and son Ryan, as well as his Masonic brethren, extended family, and friends.

A Masonic service will be held on a day and time to be determined at the Martinez Masonic Lodge at 700 Masonic St. in Martinez to honor his memory and celebrate his life.

Bob-O had a birthday

Robert “Bob-O” Phillips celebrated his 75th birthday with family and friends at Cap’s last weekend. They were also entertained by some local comedians, including Kabir Singh, Jeremy Curry and Bob Johnston. Bob-O wants to invite everyone to the next comedy show at Cap’s starring Michael Mancini, “The World’s Funniest Cop,” on June 23-24. Call Cap’s Oak Street Bar & Grill to order your tickets at 925-6341025. To view more photos of the event, visit www.thepress. net/multimedia/slideshows

Submitted photo

85

Milestones Milestones

Big Jim celebrated his 85th birthday with some of his best longtime buds, family and grandkids at Sweeney’s last Friday night. Here he is with his great granddaughter, Alexis. Happy birthday, Jim! Thank you for all you have done for Brentwood over the years. To view more photos of the event, visit www.thepress.net/multimedia/slideshows

Jim Wangeman turns

Photo courtesy of Colleen Knight

EDITORIALS, LETTERS & COMMENTARY

Opini O n

Have something to say? Post a comment or submit a letter to the editor at www.thepress.net/site/forms

Meyer and Mendoza should be recognized for their decorum

Editor: As if Brentwood City Councilman

Oerlemans’ demonstration of an elected official unwilling to follow the Council’s established rules of order and then throwing a temper tantrum wasn’t enough, Mayor Joel Bryant then refused to explicitly condemn Oerlemans’ behavior through a vote for his censure.

Lacking the leadership courage to call out bad behavior, he allowed himself

to be manipulated by Councilmembers Oerlemans and Pa’tanisha Pierson into approving a useless self-admonishment motion.

Based on my observations, Vice Mayor Susannah Meyer and Councilmember Jovita Mendoza have never embarrassed themselves in their elected duties and should not be included in this so-called self-discipline. These two individuals should instead be acknowledged for upholding the best ideals of an elected official.

Gary Chamber Brentwood

THANK YOU to our Donors

Brent Aasen

Don Aguillard

Jennifer Aldo

Diane Alexander

Laura Allison

Pauline Allred

Karen Baldwin

Soheila Bana

Ken Bame

Patricia Barron

Darien Beebee

Debbie Bell

HuLynne Besharatpour

Kate Bjordahl

Bruce Blardony

Patricia Blumen*

Jamie Bolt

Delta Breeze Lacrosse

Boone

Michael Botelho

Julie Bretz

Marsha Brown

Rochelle Brucker

Deborah Buchta

Bob Butler

Aleta Cain

Sharon Campagna

Lily Campanile

Ginger Campbell

Karen Capra

Ana Carone

Kitty Carton

Bethi Carver Gibb*

Debbie Gibbs

Mel Chaplin

Robin Choate

Janet Clarke

Colin Coffey

City of Brentwood City Manager and City Council City Hall

150 City Park Way Brentwood, CA 94513

Phone: 925-516-5440

www.brentwoodca.gov

City of Antioch City Manager and City Council City Hall

3rd and H streets

GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS

Antioch, CA 94509 Phone: 925-779-7000

www.ci.antioch.ca.us

City of Oakley City Manager and City Council City Hall

3231 Main St. Oakley, CA 94561

Phone: 925-625-7000

www.ci.oakley.ca.us

Town of Discovery Bay

Publisher Greg Robinson Controller Sandie McNulty

Production Manager Eric Kinnaird

Ad Services Manager Connie O’Neill

Associate Editor Jake Menez

Founder & Publisher Emeritus Jimmy Chamoures

Advertising 925-634-1441, ext. 115

Classifieds 925-634-1441, ext. 142

Editorial 925-634-1441, ext. 138

Delivery Questions 925-584-7773

Subscription Questions 925-634-1441

Editorial email editor@brentwoodpress.com

Town Manager and Community Services District

1800 Willow Lake Road Discovery Bay, CA 94505

Phone: 925-634-1131

www.todb.ca.gov

County Supervisor, Dist. III

Diane Burgis 3361 Walnut Blvd., Suite 140

Brentwood, CA 94513

Phone: 925-252-4500

Fax: 925-240-7261

dist3@bos.cccounty.us

County Supervisor, Dist. V Federal D. Glover 190 E 4th St. Pittsburg, CA 94565

Phone: 925-608-4200

Fax: 925-427-8142

district5@bos.cccounty.us

LETTERS POLICY

The Press invites your comments. Letters must be no longer than 325 words and include name, address and phone number for confirmation.

The Press reserves the right to edit submissions for length, clarity, potential libel and taste, or to not print letters we feel violate our standards of acceptance.

Opinions expressed in letters are not necessarily the opinions of The Press, whose opinions are contained in clearly marked editorials.

Send correspondence to The Press, 248 Oak St., Brentwood, California, 94513; or email editor@ brentwoodpress.com.

Michael Echeverria

Jon & Julie Elam

Jim Elizondo

Audrey Ellis

Silvia Espinoza

Claudia Evers

D F

Donna Fentanes

Cheryl Ferguson

Annette Fields

Timothy Finnigan

Todd Fisher

Rose-Marie Fiske

Edward Fitzpatrick

Sarah Foster

Gloria Foster*

Barbara Freitas

Jeffrey Gann

Terri Gascie

Jack Gaughn

Monte George*

Monique Gibbs

James Gleeson

Barbara Gonzales

Judi Graves

Kelly Green

Julie Griffin

Rebecca Griffin

Jeni Groseclose

Rinaldo Hamade*

Allen Hammond

William & Myra

Harms

Gladiola Harrelson

Hugh Henderson

Joanne Hodge

Rob Hogue

Lynn Holland

Tammy Homan

Ron Lee

Madonna Leeper

Mark Lemyre

George Liao

Nancy Libby

Roger Lindsay

Connie Linscheid

Sam Lipetri

Cathy Little*

Nancy Long

Carol Luke

Patricia Lyday

Cynthia MacDermott

James Martin

Michele McCaffrey

Lynne McCall

Janet McCarthy

Shannon McClelland

Jay McLaughlin

Mike McLaughlin*

Chris McLeod

Jamie McManus

Michalene McPharlin

Peter Mendoza

Beth Miller-Rowe

Kryssie Mingst

Lawrence Moglia*

Michelle Monsef

Alan Moore

Gina Moore

Patricia Moore*

Shani Moore*

Michael Moran

Tammie Mosley

Lyn Murphy

Melba Murray

Gayle L Nammany

Julie Natali

Judy Ryan

Theresa Samuel-Boko

Irene San Filipo

Larry Schaffer

Janet Scheuerman

Robin Schmitt

Carol Scotton

Catherine Senior

Shirley Sexton

Maria Shields

Vicky Shoopman

Susan Silsdorf

Doug Smart

Donald Smith*

Dennis Sowels

Birgit Stephens*

Michael Stoiber

Matt Stone

Tim Stroshane

John Sutton

John & Judith Sutton

Sue Swackhamer

Mary Tappel

Zack Taylor

Lana Terry

Dinah Thompson

Tracie Thompson

Kathren Thomson

Linda Thuman*

Lynn Tiemeyer

Amy Tilley

Hector Torres

Jon Ulricksen

Michael Urback

Jim Valentine

Fred Valverde

Christopher Vetterli

Betty Cole

Sondra Collier

Mina Combs*

Kimberly Cope

Janet Costa

Kevin Crachian Sr.

Paula Craig

Mike Crosby

Kandace Curl

Craig Daley

Rose Daley

Cathy Daniel

Virginia Davi

Dominic DeBellis

Albert Del Grande

Ofelia Del Real

Estrella DeLaTorre

Heather DePiero

Maureen Dirk

Debra Doherty*

Alice Dolan

Monica Doran

Robert & Marianne

Hughlett

Maria Hull

Lora Jachimowicz

Lauren & Chad Janusch

Udo Jaquet

Pamela Jarvie

Nigel Jesson*

Norman Johns

Stacy Jordan

Cindy Kennon

David Kerley

Elaine Kilpatrick

Jess Kerlin*

Catherine Krakower

Shirley Krouse

Rose Marie Laguna

Erin Lamb*

Ken Landoline

Larry Langbehn

David Lanier

Kathleen LeDonne

Kris Newton

Nancy Nguyen

Kelli Nunn

Jayne Oertwig

Peggy O’Hair

Elise ONeil

Holly Ongman

Margot Parenti

Robert Parkinson

Jeanne Pavao

Nick Pearson

Chloe Peterson

Gary Pollock

Jean Pridgen

Mardell Rangel

Mark Reitz

Gary Reynolds

Roy Richards

Carol Rioux

Linda Morse Robertson*

Norman & Rhoda Rossman

Scott Vickers

Jim Wadnizak

Steve Walker

Michele Walls

Julia Wantuck

Jay Warwood

Marilyn Watts

Laura West

Theresa Wessler

Keith Wheeler

Brian Winters

Scott Woodard

Marie Woods

Cody, Chloe & Cali Wong

Laura Wong

Leslie Wyatt

Guy Yocom

Carolyn Young

Joseph Young

Larry Young

Mary Young

*Monthly

For print, email your events to calendar@brentwoodpress.com one week prior to publication. For online, post your events for free on The Press Community Calendar www.thepress.net/calendar.

This Week’s Events

Saturday, June 3

Luncheon and Fashion Show Fundraiser

The Catholic Daughters of the Americas Immaculate Heart of Mary Court # 2714 is hosting a luncheon and fashion show fundraiser at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish Hall at 500 Fairview Ave. at noon. Raffle baskets and hat prizes will be available. The cost is $35 for adults, and $15 for kids 12 and younger. For tickets, contact Marina at 925-997-5927.

Oakley Senior Center Flea Market

The Oakley Senior Center, located at 215 2nd Street, is hosting their monthly flea market from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Vendor table is provided. For more information call 925-626-7223.

Sunday, June 4

Brentwood Community Chorus Spring Concert

The Brentwood Community Chorus is hosting their annual spring concert at the Brentwood Community Center at 35 Oak St. at 2 p.m. Tickets are $10, and the concert will feature special guests Replay Barbershop Quartet. To purchase tickets, visit https://bit.ly/3oi9n3t.

Saturday, June 17

Oakley Juneteenth Celebration

The city of Oakley is hosting a Juneteenth celebration at Civic Center Plaza at 3231 Main St. from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. The event will feature music, food, craft and food vendors and stage

performances. For more information, contact Alicia at oleary@ci.oakley.ca.us.

Sunday, June 18

Antioch Father’s Day Car Show

The Celebrate Antioch Foundation is hosting a car show on 2nd and G streets in downtown Antioch from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Awards will be given for Best in Show, Hot Rod, Classic Low rider, Sport, Truck and People’s Choice. The event will also feature music, street vendors, food, beer and wine and family activities. Car entry is $25. For more information and to register, visit https://bit.ly/3VIxxAa.

Saturday, June 24

Self and Restoration Site Care Workshop

The Friends of Marsh Creek Watershed is hosting a workshop promoting caring for plants and nature journaling along Marsh Creek Trail, located at 566 Sungold Court. The event will begin at 9 a.m with restoration and maintenance done on Chan’s Strawberry Stand. A short nature walk will take place at 11 a.m. The event will conclude with guest speaker Michelle Fullner from Golden State Naturalist. For more information and to register, visit https://bit.ly/43d6NLf.

Swing Fore a Cause Golf Tournament

Soroptimist International of Antioch is having their 8th annual golf tournament. The tournament is a shotgun start at 8 a.m. The cost is $175 pers person and includes registration fees, cart, green fees, range balls, breakfast, lunch and contest entries. Proceeds go to programs and scholarships for women and girls in the community. For more information

and to register contact Gina Moore at ginamoore1964@gmail.com or (510) 719-0071.

Market in the Park Car Show & Crafts

Market in the Park and Midnighters Nor Cal are hosting a car show and crafters event in Brentwood City Park from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. The event will feature a car show with awards, games, a DJ, food and character photos. For more information and to reserve a spot, visit https://bit.ly/43iLXtR.

Sunday, June 25 (rescheduled date)

Miles for Mayo 5K

The second annual Miles for Mayo 5K will be at Veterans Park at 3841 Balfour Road. The race starts at 9 a.m. and benefits the Delta Limitless youth running program. This event has been rescheduled from its previously listed date. For more information and to register, visit https:// bit.ly/3VL8bBZ

Saturday, July 1

Summer Fest in Oakley

The city of Oakley is hosting their annual Summer Fest at Civic Center Plaza at 3231 Main St. from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. The festival will include a 5K in the morning at the Ironhouse Sanitary District with live music, a kids area, local artisans and food vendors. To register for the 5K visit https://bit.ly/43kbTFG.

Ongoing Events

East County Lions Club Meetings

Brentwood: The Brentwood Lions Club meets the first Wednesday of the month at 6:30 p.m. at Straw Hat Pizza on Lone Tree Way. For more information, visit: https://e-clubhouse.org/ sites/brentwoodca/ Oakley: The Oakley Lions Club meets the fourth Wednesdays of every month at 7 p.m. at the Oakley Senior Center, for more information, visit https://e-clubhouse. org/sites/brentwoodca/ Antioch: The Antioch Lions Club meets every second and fourth Wednesday at 7 p.m. at the Denny’s on Delta Fair Blvd. Discovery Bay: The Discovery Bay Lions Club meets the first Tuesday of each month at 6:30 p.m. at the Discovery Bay Yacht Club. For more information, visit:https:// discoverybaylions.com/who-we-are/meetings/ Byron: The Byron Delta Lions Club meets every first Friday of each month at 10 a.m. at St. Anne’s Church for more information https://e-clubhouse.org/sites/byron_delta/ East County 4-H Club Meetings

Oakley: The Oakley 4-H Club has monthly meetings the second Wednesday of each month at 7 p.m. For more information, email Amanda at oakley@contracosta.org. The DeltaDiablo 4-H Club has monthly meetings the second Thursday at 6:30 p.m at 3840 Brown Road in Oakley. For more information contact Megan and Tiffany at deltadiablo@contracosta4h.org, Brentwood: The Brentwood 4-H Club has monthly meetings the second Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m at the Knightsen Farm Center located on 3020 2nd Street. For more information, contact Angela at brentwood@contracosta4h.org. Knightsen: The Knightsen 4-H Club has monthly meetings on the first Wednesday of every month at 7 p.m at Knightsen Elementary School located at 1923 Delta Road. 4-H members are girls and boys ages 5–19 years old.

Delta Informal Gardeners Monthly Meetings

Delta Informal Gardeners encourages local residents to join them at their local meeting at the Brentwood Community United Methodist Church at 809 Second St. on the fourth Monday of each month at 7:30 p.m.

Hope

Hospice Support Group Meetings

Hope Hospice is hosting virtual support groups

every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday through July 5. The support groups include the General Grief and Loss of a Child support groups are from 6-7:30 p.m. on Mondays until June 26 and Spousal/ Partner Loss groups on Tuesday from 6-7:30 p.m. until June 27 and Wednesdays from 1:30-3 p.m. until July 5. Call 925-829-8770 to register and learn more about teen support group information.

Oakley Senior Center Food Distribution

The Oakley Senior Center at 215 2nd St. gives out free food every Thursday from 1-2:30 p.m. Residents are asked to bring their own grocery bags.

East County Veteran Meetings

Brentwood: The American Legion Post 202 monthly meeting (on the second Wednesday of the month) is at 6:30 p.m. at the Brentwood Veterans Memorial Building at 757 First St. in Brentwood. The meeting is open to all U.S. Armed Services veterans. The organization encourages all veterans in East County to come and see what is available to them. For more information, visit https://www.aml202. org. Oakley: The Veterans of Oakley monthly meeting (on the first Wednesday of each month) is held at 5:30 p.m. at the Oakley Senior Center on 215 2nd St.. For more information, call 925-783-0818 or visit http://bit. ly/3mugBjv.

East Contra Costa Historical Museum

Season Open

The East Contra Costa Historical Museum at 3890 Sellers Ave, season is open till Oct. 28 from 2-4 p.m. The museum features displays of early pioneer life in the Byer/Nail House built in 1878, lessons in the Eden Plains schoolhouse and a variety of outdoor activities. For more information visit https://eastcontracostahistory.org/.East County Rotary Club

Meetings

Brentwood: The Brentwood Rotary Club meets weekly on Monday at noon at the Wedgewood Banquet Center at 100 Summerset Drive in Brentwood. For more information, visit https://www.brentwoodrotary94513.com. Oakley: The Oakley Rotary Club meets weekly on Thursday at 7:30 a.m. at Black Bear Diner, 3201 Main St. in Oakley. For more information, visit http://rotaryclubofoakley.com. Antioch: The Antioch Rotary Club meets weekly on Thursday at noon at Lone Tree Golf Course & Event Center, 4800 Golf Course Road in Antioch. For more information, visit http://www.antiochrotaryclub.com/. The Rotary Club of the Delta meets weekly on Wednesday at 7 a.m. at Denny’s, 4823 Lone Tree Way in Antioch. For more information, visit https://www.rotaryclubofthedelta.org/.

Coffee with Carolyn

Kaleidoscope Cancer Connection’s Coffee with Carolyn is a cancer support group for women, hosted by Carolyn George and financially supported by The Kaleidoscope Cancer Connection of Byron. The group meets on the fourth Tuesday of every month from noon to 1 p.m. The location is at the Kaleidoscope Sacred Garden behind the Byron United Methodist Church (14671 Byron Highway in Byron). For more information, contact Carolyn George at 925-577-3325.

Widow

and Widower Grief Support Group

A widow and widower grief support group from Immaculate Heart of Mary Church meets every Thursday from 5 to 6:15 p.m. at the church library at 500 Fairview Ave. in Brentwood. The group focuses on finding a new normal as attendees walk the grief trail with others experiencing the same loss. For more information, contact Mary Ann Smith at 925-240-1706 or Sandy Heinisch at 925-513-3412.

Second Miles for Mayo 5K fundraiser set for June 25

By Rene De Amaral Staff Writer

Registration is open for the second annual Miles for Mayo 5K, a fundraiser dedicated to Matías “Mayo” Rogers, who died June 16, 2021. The fundraiser benefits local schools and the Delta Limitless Youth Running Program.

This year’s Miles for Mayo 5K will be at Veterans Park at 3841 Balfour Road in Brentwood, Sunday, June 25 at 9 a.m. The race connects to the Marsh Creek Trail, going left under Balfour Road. Runners will continue on the trail alongside Creekside Park and over the canal. Runners will turn around at the halfway point near the

Summerset retirement community and head back down the trail to Veterans Park for the finish, according to the website.

Matias was raised in Brentwood and was a long-distance runner on Liberty High School’s track and field and cross country teams, earning the fastest distance running times for both a freshman and sophomore in the school’s history, along with recording one of the fastest 3-mile times in the nation for a sophomore in 2021, according to the Miles for Mayo website.

He died in a traffic collision on Sellers Avenue when he was 16. His life and running accomplishments were first celebrated in a vigil attended by his family, friends,

team and many other residents of East County. The first Miles for Mayo 5K took place almost a year later, on April 16, 2022 in Veterans Park on Matías’ 17th birthday.

According to the Miles for Mayo website, Ron Rogers, Matías’ dad and the Miles for Mayo race director, the 3.1-mile race was created as a way to celebrate Matía’s life and his birthday.

“What better way to celebrate his life and his birthday, then getting out and running in the community,” he stated in the website video. “Doing something Matías loved and was very passionate about. I think with this race we want to make sure everyone feels that sense of support that

Matías would provide them.”

The first Miles for Mayo 5K raised $36,000 with 550 people running, according to the Miles for Mayo website. The money raised supported the Liberty and Heritage High School’s track and field and cross country teams, Camp Mayo and Brentwood Elementary School.

Participants have the option to run or walk the 3.1-mile distance either in person or virtually. Registration is $15 for ages 4-9, $20 for ages 10-18, and $35 for 19 and older. The in-person run registration fee includes a T-shirt and medal.

For more information and to register, visit https://bit.ly/3VL8bBZ

Delta Ranches – a leader in local real estate

Delta Ranches and Homes opened their doors in Brentwood 10 years ago. There is only one way to remain at the top in real estate, and that is to treat every customer with integrity and honesty.

Lori Abreu and the staff at Delta Ranches and Homes respects their relationships,

whether you are selling a single-family home, multi-family unit or a $10 million winery, you will always remain the priority as they guide you through the listing and selling process.

Delta Ranches and Homes strives to educate clients and be true consultants to offer solution-based services; listing

specialists, buyers agents, first-time buyer’s programs and property management. Se habla Español.

Conveniently located in downtown Brentwood, you can reach Delta Ranches and Homes at 925-216-6317, 925-516-3240 or www.DeltaRanches.com.

DUKELLIS’ SUMMERSET REAL ESTATE

CONGRATULATIONS

Class of 2023

Isaac Alvarez Ruth Asfaw

Tamba Baakoi

Michelle Bazinet Santino Castellanoz

Brenden Cotton

Jeanna Dantes-Enriquez

Natalia Goldston

Esmeralda Guerra Cerna Kennedy Guillory-Thorpe

Kaiden Halberg

Kathryn Hernandez Benjamin Hoady

Giuseppe Lavalle

Jonathan Leese

Adrienne Millena

Edwin Proctor Samuel Salazar

Maryse Nnanna

Emma Rodriguez

Leila Salomero

Isaiah Serrano Alex Vazquez

Ethan Viernes Isabella Xavier-Young

Miranda Zuniga

Cole Statler Gianmarco Tellez

Elizabeth Wellington

Mohammad Ali

Thomas Burr

Alexander Corwin

Madeline Cosper

Alexia Del Pino

Taylor Gutierrez Aliyana Joy Guting

Carter Halberg

Ethan Joshi

Sean Kim

Rebecca Kimball

Connor Lewis Natalia Lopez

As faith-filled students, committed academic learners, and active responsible citizens, “be the change you wish to see in the world.”

Holy Rosary’s class of 2023 shows its generosity to the community and beyond

Holy Rosary School’s Class of 2023 was a class of service to the community.  They led and participated in multiple service learning projects, including The Ride for Marc Lucio Tuition Scholarship, Adopt a Family at Christmas, Get Outside Fun Run, Antioch Arbor Day Tree Planting Project and Kids Against Hunger.

The most impactful service learning project was the Kids Against Hunger project in which the students managed the project for the student body.  They created food packets for children affected by the Russian-Ukraine war.  This experience was highlighted in the Class of 2023’s ROPES reflections and was a response to the school’s mission statement that the students understand who they are and an appreciation for what they can contribute to the world.

“We are very proud of the Holy Rosary Class of 2023,” Principal Fajardo said.  “They experienced a historic pandemic during their formative middle school years.  This class has learned to persevere and be resilient to change.   We challenge our students to live the Student Learning Expectations daily.  We call on them to be faith-filled students, committed, academic learners and active responsible citizens.”

Holy Rosary offers a special ‘thank you’ to the parents, benefactors and the community for the continuous support of the students.

Top left: Tamba Baakoi, Elizabeth Wellington, Jonathan Leese, Aliyana Guting, Taylor Gutierrez and Mr. Vince Hippe, Grand Knight, Knights of Columbus #3265

Holy Rosary School awarded $9,300 in scholarships to the following students:

• Rebecca Kimball - Catholic Daughters of America and the  Dennis Hooke Memorial Scholarship

• Jonathan Leese - Young Ladies Institute #101, Knights of Columbus #3265 and the Leading with Faith Student Leadership Award

• Kennedy Guillory Thorpe - Young Ladies Institute #101

• Taylor Gutierrez - Knights of Columbus #3265 and Proteus Academic Achievement

• Aliyana Guting - Knights of Columbus #3265

• Elizabeth Wellington - Knights of Columbus #3265

• Tamba Baakoi - Knights of Columbus #3265

• Santino Castellanoz - Proteus Academic Achievement and Lynne Fitzgibbon Memorial Scholarship

• Madeline Cosper - The Alice Danilovich Memorial Scholarship

• Cole Statler - The Scott Chapman Memorial Scholarship

• Isabella Xavier Young - The Angela and James Geronimo Achievement Scholarship

Happy Retirement

Chris

Proteus Academic Achievement

– Advertisement

Paulette Santa Maria has over 27 years of experience in the classroom and Vice Principal of Curriculum and Instruction at Holy Rosary School, Antioch. She is fueled by the success of her students and is passionate about growing each student to achieve their full potential. Paulette Santa Maria maintains a connection with all her students. She knows each student to the core including how they learn and what they need to achieve. She meets students before and after school, offers tutoring sessions and is available for the long run. It gives her joy to see her students succeed in life. Alumni return to Holy Rosary to share their good news with her and she is always proud of them. She lives the true passion of a teacher by loving her students, creating memories that are life lasting, and encouraging students to achieve. Paulette believes in each of her students.

Paulette Santa Maria gives time and passion to education. After raising her own children, she returned to school to earn her Multiple Subject teaching credential and a Masters in Curriculum and Instruction. During her tenure at Holy Rosary School, she has become a Master teacher, mentoring new teachers and guiding veteran teachers that need to get excited again. As Vice Principal of Curriculum and Instruction, she knows how to create an environment for her peers that encourages best practices in education. Paulette is a leader and an inspiration to all she encounters.

Paulette Santa Maria will embark on a new chapter in life as she retires at the end of this school year. She will be joining her husband, Ron and her family on travel adventures.

Top right: Cole Statler, Edwin Proctor, Santino Castellanoz, Peppe Lavelle, Ethan Joshi, Connor Lewis, Tamba Baakoi, Maryse Nnanna, Aliyana Guting and Madeline Cosper of the Kids Against Hunger Project 2023.

Martinez (State Farm Walnut Creek), Taylor Gutierrez, Santino Castellanoz, and Camilo Jimenez (Majimetals Inc.) Students receive the

Award for their research project. The scholarship is sponsored by State Farm Walnut Creek and Majimetals Inc.

Photos courtesy of Holy Rosary School

Hometown SportS

Water polo event highlights sport, Brentwood

Junior Olympics qualifier June 3-4

By Sean Tongson Correspondent

The Lamorinda Brentwood Water Polo team is hosting the Pacific Junior Olympic Qualifiers at Liberty High School on Saturday, June 3, and Sunday, June 4. The event is being hosted in Brentwood for the second time because this is the only pool in the East Bay east of Mount Diablo to host this tournament and it is the first year in which the 12 and under coed (12U) team is participating in the tournament.

“Earning an entry to (Junior Olympics) is a big deal,” said Lamorinda Water Polo Director Jack Doria. “It is the culminating event in age group water polo each year. It means you’re competing against the best clubs in the nation. We’re really proud of the fact that we have had athletes compete at (Junior Olympics) since 2016.”

The USA Water Polo National Junior Olympics is the largest club water polo tournament in the nation. Each July, teams from all over the country come to California to compete over a four-day period. USA Water Polo divides the country into 11 zones: Pacific Northwest and Hawaii, Midwest, Northeast, Southeast, Southwest, Mountain, Pacific, Central California, Coastal California, Southern Pacific, and Pacific Southwest. Brentwood is in the Pacific zone, one of the largest zones in the country. Each zone then receives a certain amount of allocations by USA Water Polo. From there, teams then play each of their Junior Olympics qualifier zone tournaments in June to qualify for the Junior Olympics, which alternates locations each year between Northern California (Bay Area) and Southern Cali-

fornia (Orange County). The top teams in the country get a chance to compete, and it is the biggest tournament USA water polo hosts.

The Lamorinda Brentwood Water Polo team is sending three teams to qualifiers this year: 12U Coed, 16U Girls, and 16U Boys, Doria said. “For the first time, we are sending a 12 Coed team. We have been asked to be a host location for the (Junior Olympics) qualifying tournaments for a few years now, and were asked to be a host location for (Junior Olympics) last summer as well. The Pacific Zone has once again asked that we host again this year at Liberty High School with games in the 12U Coed and 14U Boys divisions. This gets our kids home games, a very rare circumstance in these kinds of tournaments.”

Every fall, all athletes begin what is a

year-long training effort, with an ultimate goal of qualifying to compete at Junior Olympics. Athletes 8th grade and under begin training in the fall, while high school athletes play for their respective schools in the fall, then begin training for winter Junior Olympics.

This weekend will feature the qualifying tournament for 10U, 12U, and 14U age groups. The 12U team will play at 12:10 p.m. and 2:40 p.m. at Liberty on Saturday and then a third game Saturday at either 5:10 p.m. or 6 p.m. depending on results of the previous games. Junior Olympics qualifiers for the older kids (16 and under girls and 16 and under boys) will be held on the weekend of June 16-18. Lamorinda Brentwood will enter the tournament this weekend as the fourth seed. The top eight teams will qualify for Junior Olympics. The free event is open

to the public.

“The field has some very good teams, and competition level will be high,” said Doria. “That said, our 12U coach, Rosina Ayers, has done an exemplary job developing the athletes, creating a positive culture with the team, and preparing them to meet the challenge of this tournament. I believe they will rise to the occasion and successfully qualify for (Junior Olympics). It is our hope that all three teams we entered into the (Junior Olympics) qualifiers successfully earn the right to represent our community and our club at (Junior Olympics) in Orange County in July.”

Ayers, who has coached the Lamorinda 12U coed team for the past three years, says they will be without one of their starters for the first two games. But Ayers says the team has been working hard and still hopes to make it into the Junior Olympics tournament.

“We expect to qualify, and to have home games at Liberty High is a plus,” said Ayers. “Many will be very nervous, but also very excited. If this group of kids qualifies, it would be the very first 12U group from Brentwood area to make it in.”

Ayers’ daughter Erin, 11, has been playing water polo since she was 8, starting with the City of Brentwood’s Splashball program along with teammates Charlie Campbell and Hailey Siino. Due to not having enough kids for the 10 and under Brentwood team, Erin and Charlie were forced to compete with the Orinda Lamorinda Team. This year however, there are enough members for a whole team, which means Erin Ayers will compete this weekend with the 12U coed Lamorinda Brentwood Team. Ayers says it is exciting to be able to not only practice in Brentwood, but also compete here as well.

see Water polo page 15

West Coast Soccer Club team advances to State Cup final

By Jeff Weisinger Staff Writer

West Coast Soccer Club’s Under-19s girls team has advanced to the June 4 Final against the Diablo Wolves at Cosumnes River College in Sacramento after it beat the Sierra Surf 3-0 on May 13 in the semifinal of the NorCal State Cup championship.

“I could not be more proud and happy for our players,” said head coach Troy Dayak said of the Brentwood team. “They have dedicated so many hours to training, learning, practicing and playing the game that they love. To be able to play in the State Final and reach that pinnacle is something very special for them all to share.”

UC Riverside-bound Miette Sessoms scored a pair of goals, the second goal assisted by Quincy University-bound Taryn

West Coast Soccer Club’s Under-19s girls team of Brentwood has advanced to the June 4 Final of the NorCal State Cup championship.

soccer next semester. Along with Sessoms, Richey, and Korsak, the list includes:

Kamaria Hughes (Fresno State), Niella Sessoms (UC Riverside), Jadynn King (UC Monterey), Carly Singleton (UC Monterey), Jordan Sawyer (UC Monterey), Harlye Holliday (Cal State East Bay), Renee Davis (San Francisco State), Elizabeth Loforte (George Washington University), Madison Reid (Willamette University), Abby Tucker (Fresno Pacific University), Gabi Rodriguez (Sierra College), Mia Degrazio (Delta College), MaryJane Anzo (Delta College).

West Coast Soccer Club’s U19s feature

“These unbelievable players will go on and be impactful scholar athletes in college,” Dayak said. “I would also like to acknowledge all the wonderful West Coast coaches that have helped groom these fine young ladies.”

Richey, while Jackie Bellamy put the match away with the third goal of the match, capitalizing off of a corner kick by Las Positas-

bound Kira Korsak.

16 players who are going on to play college

Submitted photo

The Lamorinda Brentwood Water Polo team will be hosting the Pacific Junior Olympics qualifier.

Photo courtesy of Rosy Ayers

Pony 8U softball team second at Classic

Team almost wins with just 3 practices

By Jeff Weisinger Staff Writer

After just getting the team together and with just three days of practice, the Brentwood Pony 8U softball team was one game away from winning the weekend-long Memorial Day Classic.

“The umpire was referring to them as a Cinderella story,” said Jonathan Levers, the father of Brentwood 8U outfielder Lexi Levers.

Brentwood lost to Salinas 8-0 in the championship game Sunday in Danville. But considering that the team was just put together, didn’t have a lot of practice time, and played in the equivalent of a recreational league in comparison to Salinas’ travel

Water

polo from page 14

team, the coaches and families said they are amazed with the weekend’s results.

“(Salinas) was a travel team, like that’s all they do is travel softball,” Levers said. “(The tournament) definitely speaks to their drive

“I’m super excited to compete at (Junior Olympics qualifiers), and I love that we are doing it at our home pool,” Erin said. “I love water polo, and I can’t wait for Saturday’s games.”

Doria and Ayers highlight the importance of hosting a home tournament not just to the team, but also to the community, helping to expand water polo in the area, bringing jobs to local kids, helping local businesses, and being a fundraiser for local high schools, officials said.

“This event is very important to the aquatic community,” said Ayers. “We have also never had a local team have a home tournament. This helps the local team not have to

The Brentwood 8U softball team took second place in the Memorial Day tournament last weekend.

and talent, and also speaks to the program.

“We had three practices going up to this tournament, so there’s very quick turnaround time to get together, and there’s new rules they have to learn on the fly like stealing bases,

travel over an hour to a tournament, and be able to have a tournament at a pool we are familiar with. It’s definitely an advantage particularly since we will have late games on Saturday and early games on Sunday. The 12U kids, most with their very first (Junior Olympics qualifiers) ever would love the support of the community.”

Doria added that the opportunity to host a tournament locally results in getting visibility from other water polo clubs, as well as the USA Water Polo Pacific Zone and USA Water Polo themselves.

“They have consistently complimented the community, the facilities, and the professionalism of our crews when

playing with a larger and harder softball.”

Brentwood played six games in the twoday tournament, losing two and tying the last game of the first day to reach the final on Sunday as the fifth-seed.

“They were very competitive and were in the games,” Levers said. “You could see the team getting progressively better with each game. Then they just came together on Sunday – good pitching, good offense, and good defense.”

The softball side of Brentwood Pony League started in 2021, originally delayed a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In the last two years, the program has grown to now include its own travel all-star team.

“It speaks not only to the development of the girls within a recreational program, but it speaks to the development of our coaches and the Brentwood Pony program as a whole,” Levers said.

hosting these events,” said Doria. Such events “bring in many teams from all around the Bay Area to compete for a spot at Junior Olympics. Families and athletes have enjoyed our farmers market, the small-town feel here, and have frequented many downtown businesses. The public is absolutely invited to attend. It is a community event, and we’d love to see the stands packed to support these kids.”

For details, visit https://usawaterpolo.org/ sports/2018/12/19/junior-olympics.aspx. For details about the Brentwood team, visit Junior Olympics (JOs)Brentwood SeaWolves

To view a video, visit www.thepress.net/multimedia

Photo courtesy Jonathan Levers

N ews i N B rief

Oakley schools free lunch program runs from June 12 - July 7

The Oakley Union Elementary School District’s free summer lunch program run Monday, June 12 through Friday, July 7. Free meals will be provided at one location: Oakley Elementary School, 501 Norcross Lane in Oakley as part of a The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s federally funded food program.

The USDA provides this free, healthful meal program for children during the summer months while regular school is not in session. There is no enrollment, paperwork, or income qualifications required to participate. Meals are free to all children and teens, ages 2 to 18, this summer, and will be served Monday through Friday from 11-11:30 a.m.

Children not yet in kindergarten should be accompanied by an adult.

Meals will not be served on Monday, June 19 and Tuesday, July 4.

Meals must be eaten in the Oakley Elementary Cafeteria/Multi-Purpose Room. Lunches cannot be taken off the premises.

For more information, contact Nutrition Services, 925-625-6852.

Antioch man a co-defendant in Pleasant Hill shooting

The Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office has filed a two-count felony complaint against a Hercules man in the murder of Oscar Arellano Laredo, 37, in Pleasant Hill on April 3.

Co-defendant Angelo Martinez Delacruz, 32, of Antioch was arraigned on assault with a firearm and had a preliminary hearing on June 1 in Martinez, the DA’s office said in a press release.

At 1:15 a.m., on April 3 Pleasant Hill Police received reports of shots fired on the 1900 block of Contra Costa Boulevard. When officers arrived on the scene, they found Laredo lying on the ground in a parking lot with a gunshot wound to his head. Emergency medical personnel arrived shortly after, but Laredo died at the scene, officials said.

An investigation into the incident revealed that a dispute in a nearby bar involving friends of the shooter and victim preceded the shooting. Witnesses also reported to police that the suspect fled in a vehicle shortly after the murder, the release stated.

Police identified the vehicle and its owner – who matched witness descriptions

of the shooter – as Andre Aaron Barocio, 34. Law enforcement officials in Mexico arrested Barocio on May 21 and he was transported back to the Bay Area where he was booked into the Martinez Detention Facility on May 25.

His arraignment was May 26 in Martinez. In addition to the murder charge, Barocio faces a second felony for suspected possessing a firearm by a felon and a special allegation for the personal and intentional discharge of a firearm.

PG&E: Keep balloons secure during graduation celebrations

Through mid June, California’s graduation season is in full swing and Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) is warning customers about the public safety risks associated with helium-filled metallic balloons. If your graduation celebration involves balloons, make sure they are secured with a weight. Otherwise, they can float away and come into contact with overhead power lines, causing a public safety risk.

In the first four months of 2023, metallic balloons striking electric lines have caused 91 power outages in PG&E’s service area, disrupting service to more than 35,000 customers. These power outages can interrupt electric service to critical facilities such as hospitals, schools and traffic lights, the utility said in a press release.

Metallic balloons have a silvery coating, which is a conductor for electric-

ity. If the balloons float away and make contact with power lines, they can short transformers, cause power outages and melt electrical wires, causing public safety risks. A few years ago, more than 6,000 San Francisco customers were without power after metallic balloons released during a graduation ceremony came into contact with overhead power lines. PG&E tends to see an increase in balloon-caused outages during graduation season.

PG&E offers these safety tips:

• Use caution and avoid celebrating with metallic balloons near overhead electric lines.

• Make sure helium-filled metallic balloons are securely tied to a weight that is heavy enough to prevent them from floating away. Never remove the weight.

• When possible, keep metallic balloons indoors. Never permit metallic balloons to be released outside, for everyone’s safety.

• Do not bundle metallic balloons.

• Never attempt to retrieve any type of balloon, kite or toy that becomes caught in a power line. Leave it alone, and immediately call PG&E at 1-800743-5000 to report the problem.

• Never go near a power line that has fallen to the ground or is dangling in the air. Always assume downed electric lines are energized and extremely dangerous. Stay far away, keep others away and immediately call 911 to alert the police and fire departments. Other tips can be found at pge.com/beprepared

Cop logs

A hit and run with no injuries was reported on Balfour Road/Eagle Rock Way. The reporting party was hit by a white SUV, and then the SUV left. BRENTWOOD – May 14, 3:38 p.m.

The following is a selection of recent law enforecement activity:

OAKLEY

May 12, 4:37 a.m. A suspicious vehicle was reported at the 1200 block on Sierra Trail Road.

May 12, 8:51 a.m. A case of identity theft was reported at the 1300 block on Portsmouth Street.

May 12, 10:27 a.m. A case of identity theft was reported at the 700 block on Westmoor Circle.

May 12, 11:04 a.m. An unwanted guest was reported at the Taco Bell in Oakley.

May 12, 11:59 a.m. A suspicious person was reported at the 400 block on Susie Street.

May 12, noon. An abandoned vehicle was reported at the 300 block on Hazelnut Lane.

May 12, 2:37 p.m. An arrest warrant was served at the Raleys in Oakley.

May 12, 2:41 p.m. A case of disturbing the peace was reported on Laurel Road/ Empire Avenue.

May 12, 4:18 p.m. A traffic hazard was reported at Freedom High School.

May 12, 6:02 p.m. A misdemeanor DUI was reported on Main Street/Cypress Road.

May 12, 7:02 p.m. Suspicious circumstances were reported at the Jack in the Box in Oakley.

May 12, 8:27 p.m. A misdemeanor DUI was reported on Laurel Road/MainStreet.

May 12, 9:53 p.m. Suspicious circumstances were reported at the Skipolini’s Pizza in Oakley.

May 12, 10:16 a.m. A petty theft was reported at the Raleys in Oakley.

May 13, 3:00 a.m. A suspicious person was reported at the 3800 block on Harvest Circle.

May 13, 5:39 a.m. Suspicious circumstances were reported on O’Hara Avenue/ Brownstone Road.

May 13, 7:48 a.m. A suspicious person was reported on Live Oak Avenue/Neroly Road.

May 13, 8:38 a.m. A petty theft was reported at the Raleys in Oakley.

May 13, 9:44 a.m. An unwanted guest was reported at the 200 block on Merganser Drive.

May 13, 10:44 a.m. A case of disturbing the peace was reported at the 3800 block on Harvest Circle.

May 13, 11:00 a.m. A civil disturbance was reported at the 4000 block on Sequoia Drive.

May 13, 12:44 p.m. A hit and run misdemeanor was reported on W. Cypress Road/Empire Avenue.

May 13, 12:59 p.m. A suspicious vehicle was stopped on W. Cypress Road/Empire Avenue.

May 13, 1:37 p.m. A civil disturbance was reported at the 1900 block on Sauterne Way.

May 13, 2:48 p.m. A suspicious vehicle was stopped at the Laurel Ridge Church Plot.

May 13, 5:45 p.m. A suspicious person was reported at the 500 block on Vanek Avenue.

May 13, 9:12 p.m. A threats complaint was reported at the 4600 block on Alder Drive.

May 13, 9:20 p.m. An accident with unknown injuries was reported at the Taco Bell in Oakley.

May 13, 10:24 p.m. A possible shooting was reported at the 2600 block on Main Street.

May 13, 10:41 p.m. A misdemeanor DUI was reported on Main Street/Rose Avenue.

BRENTWOOD

May 13, 5:03 a.m. A vehicle theft was reported on Chatsworth Court. A white 2016 Dodge Charger Hellcat was taken.

May 13, 2:34 p.m. An accident with unknown injuries was reported on Balfour Road/Guise Way.

May 13, 6:10 p.m. A grand theft was reported on Sand Creek Road. The amount stolen was reported to be about $3,000, and the people reported to be associated with a white Nissan Maxima.

May 13, 7:42 p.m. A grand theft was reported on Sand Creek Road. About $3,200 worth of makeup products were taken.

May 13, 7:52 p.m. A grand theft was reported on Sand Creek Road. The amount stolen was $1,300.

May 14, 3:02 a.m. A case of vandalism was reported on Brentwood Boulevard.

May 14, 9:35 a.m. A missing adult was reported on Brentwood Boulevard. The reporting party hasn’t spoken to their mom in a few years, and wanted to report her missing. She is a transient.

May 14, 3:38 p.m. A hit and run with no injuries was reported on Balfour Road/ Eagle Rock Way. The reporting party was hit by a white SUV, and then the SUV left the scene.

May 14, 7:05 p.m. A fight was reported on Brentwood Boulevard.

May 14, 8:15 p.m. A reckless driver was reported on Sand Creek Road/Brentwood

Boulevard.

May 15, 9:16 a.m. An accident with no injuries was reported on Lexington Court/ Rockwell Place.

May 15, 12:34 p.m. A case of disturbing the peace was reported on Shady Willow Lane.

May 15, 1:37 p.m. An accident with minor injuries was reported on Lone Tree Way.

May 15, 3:35 p.m. Suspicious circumstances were reported on Wintergreen Drive. The reporting party got notifications of her alarm going off. When she got home, she discovered that the screen on the upstairs window was broken and believed someone tried to get in.

May 15, 3:39 p.m. A fight was reported on Sand Creek Road/Minnesota Avenue.

May 15, 5:08 p.m. A residential burglary was reported on Balfour Road.

May 15, 6:36 p.m. A petty theft was reported on Brentwood Boulevard.

May 15, 9:28 p.m. A noise complaint was reported on Lone Tree Way.

May 15, 9:31 p.m. A reckless driver was reported on City Park Way. Vehicle was doing doughnuts.

ANTIOCH

May 14, 1:25 a.m. A case of battery was reported at the 2700 block on Contra Loma Boulevard.

May 14, 6:33 a.m. A fight was reported at the 3000 block on Van Buren Court.

May 14, 8:12 a.m. A vehicle theft was reported at the 2000 block on D Street.

May 14, 8:29 a.m. A vehicle theft was reported at the 400 block on Shaddicl Drive.

May 14, 8:41 a.m. A collision with unknown injuries was reported at the 2400 block on G Street.

May 14, 10:07 a.m. A vehicle theft was reported at the 2400 block on L Street.

May 14, 10:43 a.m. An assault with a deadly weapon was reported at the 2800 block on Stamm Drive.

May 14, 11:21 a.m. An assault with a deadly weapon was reported at the 2100 block on Manzanita Way.

May 14, 1:01 p.m. A vehicle theft was re-

ported at the 2400 block on L Street.

May 14, 1:05 p.m. An unwanted guest was reported at the 800 block on W. 7th Street.

May 14, 2:52 p.m. A case of vandalism was reported at the 1300 block on Jasmine Court.

May 14, 3:54 p.m. A vehicle burglary was reported at the 2400 block on Kendree Street.

May 14, 4:34 p.m. A hit and run misdemeanor was reported at the 3100 block on G Street.

May 14, 10:37 p.m. A hit and run with no injuries was reported on Gatter Drive/ Pierce Court.

May 14, 10:56 p.m. A carjacking was reported at the 1900 block on Auto Center Drive.

May 14, 11:07 p.m. An aggravated assault was reported at the 2700 block on Iris Court.

May 15, 1:14 a.m. A simple assault was reported at the 0 block on Marina Plaza.

May 15, 5:29 a.m. A simple assault was reported at the 0 block on Madrid Lane.

May 15, 6:20 a.m. A vehicle burglary was reported at the 100 block on Campbell Avenue.

May 15, 7:37 a.m. A man with a gun was reported at the 100 block on W. 5th Street.

May 15, 9:08 a.m. A vehicle theft was reported at the 2400 block on Sycamore Drive.

May 15, 9:34 a.m. A verbal dispute was reported at the 2300 block on Buchanan Road.

May 15, 11:01 a.m. A strong-arm robbery was reported at the 5700 block on Lone Tree Way.

May 15, 11:46 a.m. A fight was reported at the 3300 block on Delta Fair Boulevard.

May 15, 2:22 p.m. A petty theft was reported at the 3100 block on Contra Loma Boulevard.

May 15, 4:01 p.m. A vehicle theft was reported at the 2900 block on Winding Lane.

May 15, 4:46 p.m. A hit and run with no injuries was reported at the 2200 block on D Street.

May 15, 5:12 p.m. A vehicle theft was reported at the 1200 block on A Street.

May 15, 5:43 p.m. A robbery was reported at the 2700 block on Lone Tree Way.

May 15, 5:49 p.m. A reckless driver was reported on Yosemite Drive/Hillcrest Avenue.

May 15, 6:18 p.m. A case of identity theft was reported at the 4600 block on Fawn Hill Way.

May 15, 8:15 p.m. An unwanted guest was reported at the 600 block on W. 7th Street.

May 15, 10:23 p.m. A collision with unknown injuries was reported at the 4100 block on Lone Tree Way.

May 15, 10:37 p.m. A fight was reported at the 3400 block on Bluejay Drive.

May 15, 11:18 p.m. A physical dispute was reported at the 3100 block on Rio Grande Drive.

C lassifieds & l egals

ANNOUNCEMENT

Eliminate gutter cleaning forever! LeafFilter, the most advanced debris-blocking gutter protection. Schedule a FREE LeafFilter estimate today. 15% off Entire Purchase. 10% Senior & Military Discounts. Call 1-855-424-7581

Prepare for power outages today with a GENERAC home standby generator.

$0 Money Down + Low Monthly Payment Options. Request a FREE Quote -Call now before the next power outage: 1-844-439-5645

Become a Published Author. We want to Read Your Book! Dorrance Publishing-Trusted by Authors Since 1920. Book manuscript submissions currently being reviewed. Comprehensive Services: Consultation, Production, Promotion and Distribution. Call for Your Free Author`s Guide 1-877-538-9554 or visit http://dorranceinfo.com/ Cali

NEW AUTHORS WANTED! Page Publishing will help you self-publish your own book. FREE author submission kit! Limited offer! Why wait? Call now: 1-855-667-0380

Switch and save up to $250/year on your talk, text and data. No contract and no hidden fees. Unlimited talk and text with flexible data plans. Premium nationwide coverage. 100% U.S. based customer service. Limited time offer get $50 off on any new account. Use code GIFT50. For more information, call 1-844908-0605

AUTOS WANTED WANTED

OLD PORSCHE/ MERCEDES Sportscars! Any Porsche 356, 911. Any Mercedes 190, 250, 280SL. ANY condition!

Call/ Text Mike: 520977-1110. I bring trailer & cash!

Cash4R.Vs. Top price paid for Motorhomes, 5th wheels, travel trailers, and camper vans. Sell your R.V today. 1-916844-cash (2274).

Donating your vehicle? Get more! Free Towing. Tax Deductible. Plus a $200 restaurant voucher and a 2 night/3 day hotel stay at one of 50 locations. Call Heritage for the Blind to donate your vehicle today. CALL

1-844-491-2884

DONATE YOUR CAR TO KIDS Fast Free Pickup –Running or Not - 24 Hour

Response - Maximum

Tax Donation – Help Find Missing Kids! Call 1-888491-1453.

GOT AN UNWANTED CAR??? Your car donation to Patriotic Hearts helps veterans find work or start their own business. Fast free pick. Running or not! Call 24/7: 1-877-5290495.

Tiene un vehiculo no deseado? Donelo a Patriotic Hearts! Recogida rápida y gratuita en los 50 estados. Patriotic Hearts ofrece programas para ayudar a los veteranos a encontrar trabajo o iniciar su propio negocio. Llama ahora: 1-844-244-5441 (24/7)

CABLE / INTERNET/ SATELLITE TV

FREE high speed internet for those that qualify. Government program for recipients of select programs incl. Medicaid, SNAP, Housing Assistance, WIC, Veterans Pension, Survivor Benefits, Lifeline, Tribal. 15 GB internet service. Bonus offer: Android tablet FREE with one-time $20 copay. Free shipping & handling. Call Maxsip Telecom today! 1-855480-0769

Get DIRECTV for $64.99/ mo for 12 months with CHOICE Package. Save an additional $120 over 1st year. First 3 months of HBO Max, Cinemax, Showtime, Starz and Epix included! Directv is #1 in Customer Satisfaction (JD Power & Assoc.) Some restrictions apply. Call 1-888-6415762

FINANCIAL SERVICES

Over $10K in Debt? Be debt free in 24 to 48 months. No upfront fees to enroll. A+ BBB rated. Call National Debt Relief 1-888-231-4274.

INSURANCE SAVE BIG on HOME INSURANCE! Compare 20 A-rated insurances companies. Get a quote within minutes. Average savings of $444/year! Call 1-844-410-9609! (M-F 8am-8pm Central)

REAL ESTATE/ LOANS RETIRED COUPLE $1 MIL for business purpose Real Estate loans. Credit unimportant. V.I.P. Trust Deed Company

www.viploan.com Call 1-818-248-0000 Brokerprincipal DRE 01041073. No Consumer Loans.

THIS SPACE CAN BE YOURS!

CALL 1-916-288-6011 or email cecelia@cnpa.com

DID YOU KNOW

The difference in winning and losing market share is how businesses use their advertising dollars. CNPA’s Advertising Services’ power to connect to nearly 13 million of the state’s readers who are an engaged audience, makes our services an indispensable marketing solution. For more info call Cecelia @ (916) 288-6011 or cecelia@ cnpa.com

Newspaper-generated content is so valuable it’s taken and repeated, condensed, broadcast, tweeted, discussed, posted, copied, edited, and emailed countless times throughout the day by others? Discover the Power of Newspaper Advertising. For a free brochure call 916-2886011 or email cecelia@ cnpa.com

THIS SPACE CAN BE YOURS!

CALL 1-916-288-6011 or email cecelia@cnpa.com

DID YOU KNOW

The difference in winning and losing an election is how campaign dollars are spent. Get the best ROI by using our deep relationships in every community in California. Our on-theground knowledge is indispensable to campaigns that want results. For more info on multi-market ethnic and non-ethnic solutions call Cecelia @ (916) 2886011 or cecelia@cnpa. com

Newspaper Advertising. For a free brochure call 916-288-6011 or email cecelia@cnpa.com

Sportscardliquidator@ yahoo.com

THIS SPACE CAN BE YOURS!

CALL 1-916-288-6011 or email cecelia@cnpa.com

Sportscardliquidator@ yahoo.com

FREON WANTED: We buy old refrigerants: R11, R12, R113 & more! Quick, local pickup & dropoff available. Call 1-312-827-6204, RefrigerantFinders.

com ¡Te pagamos por tu refrigerante!

THIS SPACE CAN BE YOURS!

CALL 1-916-288-6011 or email cecelia@cnpa.com

The difference in winning and losing market share is how businesses use their advertising dollars.

CNPA’s Advertising Services’ power to connect to nearly 13 million of the state’s readers who are an engaged audience, makes our services an indispensable marketing solution. For more info call Cecelia @ (916) 288-6011 or cecelia@ cnpa.com

THIS SPACE CAN BE YOURS!

CALL 1-916-288-6011 or email cecelia@cnpa.com

WANT TO BUY

FREON WANTED: We pay $$$ for cylinders and cans. R12 R500 R11 R113 R114. Convenient. Certified Professionals. Call 312-291-9169 or visit RefrigerantFinders.com

THIS SPACE CAN BE YOURS!

CALL 1-916-288-6011 or email cecelia@cnpa.com

DID YOU KNOW

Newspaper-generated content is so valuable it’s taken and repeated, condensed, broadcast, tweeted, discussed, posted, copied, edited, and emailed countless times throughout the day by others? Discover the Power of Newspaper Advertising. For a free brochure call 916-288-6011 or email cecelia@cnpa.com

DID YOU KNOW

Newspaper-generated content is so valuable it’s taken and repeated, condensed, broadcast, tweeted, discussed, posted, copied, edited, and emailed countless times throughout the day by others? Discover the Power of Newspaper Advertising. For a free brochure call 916-288-6011 or email cecelia@cnpa.com

DID YOU KNOW 7 IN 10 Americans or 158 million U.S. Adults read content from newspaper media each week? Discover the Power of Newspaper Advertising. For a free brochure call 916-288-6011 or email cecelia@cnpa.com

CreeksideatCampVerde. com

OVER

Stay

Jobs Jobs

GAMES

5-26-2023

Here’s How It Works:

Sudoku puzzles are formatted as a 9x9 grid, broken down into nine 3x3 boxes. To solve a sudoku, the numbers 1 through 9 must fill each row, column and box. Each number can appear only once in each row, column and box. You can figure out the order in which the numbers will appear by using the numeric clues already provided in the boxes. The more numbers you name, the easier it gets to solve the puzzle!

Please recycle this paper

Slough from page 1A

explore the marsh. Some of them could grow up to be biologists and figure out how to do more on this kind of environmental stewardship.”

“Early in my career, I came out here and got this project started and met so many people along the way who helped make it a reality,” Cain said. “It’s just really gratifying to think about all of those people that have some ownership over making this project work.”

Cain is the senior conservation director at River Partners, a nonprofit conservation organization that revitalizes river landscapes. According to their website, their goal is to “bring life back to rivers by creating wildlife habitat for the benefit of the people and the environment.” River Partners projects include the San Joaquin River Wildlife Refuge, the Bear River Setback Levee, and the Otay Delta Preserve, to name a few.

However, this project at the Dutch Slough in Oakley may be one of his biggest yet.

It’s a freshwater tidal marsh restoration project and the largest implemented

Hijacked from page 1A

has taken place at the school.

on the West Coast, according to Cain, the largest of its kind in the Delta, according to the Department of Water Resources. It’s a 1,200-acre project with two of the three parcels restored into habitat for fish and other wildlife.

“The Department of Water Resources, who owns the land, has done a great job on the project and have hit the ball out of the park,” Cain said.

According to the DWR’s website, the Dutch Slough site also “provides flood protection to the surrounding neighborhoods, acting as a buffer against rising sea levels triggered by climate change.”

It’s funded by the California Coastal Conservancy with River Partners teaming up with the Department of Water Services on the project.

“The State and the Federal government have spent tens of millions of dollars on this project, probably,” Cain said. “I don’t remember the exact figure, but certainly more than $60 million on this project for the ecosystem restoration benefits.”

Cain and River Partners are focused on the nature side of the project, but also know that both the natural habitat and

Eaton also said that going forward, there will be stricter security protocols put in place.

Fire from page 1A

to go back inside with no concerns shortly after. Nobody was hurt from the smoke nor the fire, fire officials and the senior caretakers said.

“We thought something else could explode,” Bansil said. “So we pulled all the residents outside. Everyone was accounted for.”

According to ConFire’s investigation, the fire started in the backyard on the deck and spread underneath the trailer before going up the walls of the trailer and inside. Investigators found smoking materials at the source of the fire, but could not confirm that to be the exact cause of

the flames.

the community park need to, and can, work hand in hand with one another to succeed at each side’s respective goals.

While Cain acknowledges the work that the others have done on this project, this project still has a ways to go.

“We haven’t made enough progress to create trails here and a community park site,” he said.

Cain adds that while the project is starting to pick up steam, that the public still needs to get involved, especially when it comes to the

“We strive to have dynamic, interactive classrooms where students have the ability to share and interact with each other’s digital work,” he said. “Due to the seriousness of this incident, we will be having stricter

Firefighters had a tough time battling the fire, mainly due to the insulation of the trailer and the trees and brushes all around it. They were able to contain the fire in the backyard before it could become much worse.

“We had problems with the burning underneath the mobile home and further inside the residence,” ConFire Battalion Chief Gil Guerrero said. “(The insulation) makes it a hot box. That’s why it takes forever to get these things out.”

To view a video and a slideshow, visit www.thepress.net/multimedia

Corrections/Clarifications

A May 5 story indicated that Heritage boys tennis had won their ninth consecutive BVAL League title needs further clarification.

Heritage has been the BVAL League Champion for nine seasons in a row, according to coach Beth Hill. With tennis, there is also a League Championship that is a single-elimination tournament and one “player” will win the singles

title and one “pair” will win the doubles title. At the 2023 BVAL league tournament, Deer Valley’s player, Axel Scott, won the singles title, and Antioch’s pair of Josh Waldstriecher and Ruben Sandoval won the doubles title.

Axel won the singles title in 2022 as well, giving Deer Valley its second consecutive BVAL title as well.

natural habitat side of the project.

That progress has been halted by a few things: finances and figuring out how to police an area as big as the Dutch Slough project, which goes beyond just a community park at the forefront.

In the Dutch Slough area, just past the locked fence toward the right sits the Burrough’s house (also called the Gilbert house depending on whom you ask) that has had problems with trespassers.

“There is a big trespass problem out here,” Cain said. “River Partners and other contractors have gotten a lot of equipment stolen out here. It’s a big problem. If it’s not trespassing, it’s vandalism, stealing, and dumping, and that’s one of the big challenges. With new technology, we can figure it out.”

“I think if the public really engaged in this, we could probably get the trail open within a couple of years, or maybe even quicker if there was demand for it,” he said. “We could get the trail opening and we could have something at the community park side happening relatively soon.”

To view a video, visit www.thepr ess. net/multimedia

security protocols, which will lessen the likelihood of this happening again, but also create more obstacles for students to use the technology in a constructive way.” To comment, visit www.thepress.net

A May 26 story about STUNT cheerleading indicated that Zoe Dix received a full scholarship. She received a partial scholarship.

A May 19 story on the Soroptimists of the Delta identified one of the Violet Richardson award recipients as Kaley Wieland rather than Haley Wieland.

CAIN

ConFire prepares to put out this trailer fire behind a senior care facility Tuesday afternoon.

Photo by Jeff Weisinger

Boarding pets for vacation

Places with amenities to make their stay feel like they are on vacation

Dog-friendly spots in town

Fun spots to take your four-legged friend

The basics of bird care

Everything you’ve ever wanted to know about pet birds

Going on vacation? Where to board your Pet

With summer vacation fast approaching, many families may be looking ahead to vacations out of town or out of state. While many pet lovers certainly may wish they could take their pets with them, many times it is not possible. Consequently, those family vacations may or may not include furry loved ones at home.

When it is not possible or practical to include their pets in their out-of-town plans, a range of local places can provide boarding services for pets if individuals or families plan to get away this summer, be it for a weekend, few days, or a couple of weeks.

The City of Brentwood offers several places for pet boarding.

Camp Bow Wow

Camp Bow Wow at 103 Technology Court, Suite F, has been open since 2000, and offers spacious indoor and outdoor play yards along with luxury suites that also include 24/7 web cameras with their own separate ventilation systems.

Overnight boarding is $62 per night, while the luxury suites are $95. A 50 percent

deposit will be collected at the time of making the reservation. Boarding during major holidays and peak times are also subject to an additional $5 per night per dog, and require a three-night minimum stay. There are no additional charges for medication administration or other special requests.

“Pet owners usually board their pups for a weekend or a week-long vacation or trip,” said Bruna Weber, owner of Camp Bow Wow. “They love to access our webcams from anywhere on their phone or computer and watch their campers have fun in the play yards. We also offer discounts for households with two or more dogs.”

Camp Bow Wow also has a few requirements for pet parents wanting to board their dogs. Dogs must be spayed or neutered if they are over seven months old. Vaccinations for rabies, distemper, borde tella, and canine influenza must be up to date, and prospective campers must participate in the “pass the interview” day. Camp Bow Wow provides all-day play with other dogs, allowing dogs to have fun and get plenty of exercise during the day. It was designed by dog behavior experts to ensure

Serving Brentwood for 47

rentwood Veterinary Hospital is an AAHA accredited facility that has been a part of the Brentwood community for forty seven years! We offer state-of-the art diagnostic and therapeutic services to care for your pet’s complete health care needs. We balance this with a staff that cares about you and your pets like you are family. We offer modern diagnostics in the form of in-house laboratory testing, ultrasound, and digital radiography. Once diagnosed, we are able to treat your fur-babies with progressive treatments options and medications.

dogs can play safely in a group setting.

Pet owners can expect hands-on meetand-greet to evaluate a dog’s response to physical touch, one-on-one introduction with other regular campers, and slow introduction into an open-play environment. Campers are expected to stay for a minimum of three hours as part of the interview, but can let pets play all day for free. For details, call (925) 666-9663 or visit https://www.campbowwow.com/brentwood.

“As a helpful tip, we always recommend that pet parents bring their campers for day care a couple of times prior to overnight boarding,” added Weber. “That way, your pup will have plenty of time to get used to the environment and most importantly, understand that mom and dad are always coming back! That usually solves any regular issues with separation anxiety. After the second or third Camp Bow Wow visit, their pup is usually pulling their leash all the way through the parking lot in anticipation and excitement for another visit!”

Pets Frolic Inn

Pets Frolic Inn at 4071 Orwood Road, offers farmstyle kennels as well as a bed and breakfast, a state of the

art doggie daycare, as well as bath and spa services. Their services include a large outdoor play area with artificial grass, with space for dogs to run and play, along with an indoor, climate-controlled for rest time, snack time, and play time in the event of inclement weather. Vaccination requirements for dogs are for rabies every three years, distemper, hepatitis, leptospirosis, parvovirus, parainfluenza (DHLPP) and canine influenza every year, and Bortadella every six months.

Cats are required to be vaccinated for rabies every three years and feline viral rhinotracheitis, calicivirus, panleukopenia every year. Beginning June 1, the cost for dogs is $50 a day, while cats and birds are $30 a day, with a 10 percent discount for additional animals to be cared for. Checkout time is noon, and a two-night minimum is required over Fridays, Saturdays, and holidays. The Doggie Day Camp is $35 a day, with 10- and 20-day punch card services at $300 and $500, respectively. For details, call 925-634-4431 or visit http://www.petsfrolicinn.com.

Brentwood Pet Resort

The Brentwood Pet Resort has been serving the Brentwood area since 1997. Located at 600 Concord Ave., the Brentwood Pet Resort offers doggie “condos” for dogs of every size with playing of soft music, along with a senior area for elderly and timid dogs. Bedding, blankets, toys, and food are also

see Vacation page 3B

Having a pet benefits seniors

Pets bring much joy to the lives they touch. So it should come as no surprise that the 2019-2020 National Pet Owners Survey conducted by the American Pet Products Association found that about 85 million families in the United States own a pet. In Canada, 7.5 million households are home to companion animals, according to the PetBacker blog.

Pets offer companionship and unconditional love. While they are fitting for any family, seniors may find that having a pet is especially beneficial. The organization A Place for Mom, which helps match families with senior living residences, says pets provide a comfort system that produces measurable health results. Caring for pets and being around them can produce

Vacation from page 2B

provided, along with activities such as play time, pool time, and nature walks.

All pets must be clean and free from fleas upon arrival. The price includes $65 per pet per day for a doggie condo, and $75 for a doggie penthouse suite, which includes specialty plush beds with flat-screen TVs that show DOGTV during the day.

Vaccination requirements are DHLPP and rabies every 12 months or three years, Canine Influenza every year, and Bortadella every six months. For more information, call 925-6347378 or visit https://www.brentwoodpetresort.com/

a chemical chain reaction in the brain that may help to lower stress hormones while also increasing production of the feelgood hormone serotonin.

This is not the only health benefit pets may provide. A recent study from the Mayo Clinic, which looked at 1,800 people aged 25 to 64 who had healthy hearts, found that almost half owned a dog. Having a dog was likely to spur hearthealthy behaviors, like exercising with the pet, eating well and having ideal blood sugar levels.

Pets also provide emotional support and companionship that can help seniors – including those who may be divorced or widowed – feel more secure and happy. The National Poll on Healthy Aging found that, among respondents who had pets, 88 percent said their pets helped them enjoy life, and 86 percent said their pets made them feel loved.

Seniors considering getting a pet can explore the many benefits to doing so.

Prissy’s Pampered Pets

“We keep it simple,” Mike Nilo of Prissy Pampered Pets says about his business.

NIlo and his wife, Sheila, have run their business out of their home since 2017, offering dog boarding, pet-sitting and dog walking services to local pet owners. While they take dogs into their home for boarding, one thing that sets them apart from other pet-care services on the list is their pet-sitting service in which they check on and care for pets without having to take them from the comfort of their own homes. The couple also create custom dog collars and leashes as well as tags that can be engraved.

♦ Reduce pain: A 2012 study published in Pain Magazine found therapy dogs provided significant reduction in pain and emotional distress for chronic pain patients.

♦ Feeling of purpose: Caring for an animal not only stimulates physical activity, but it also can give seniors a reason to get up and go, which equates to a feeling of purpose.

♦ Shifted focus: Having a pet can help seniors focus on something other than physical or mental health problems and preoccupations about loss or aging, according to New Yorkbased psychologist Penny B. Donnenfeld.

♦ Increased physical activity: Pets require care, and that interaction can get seniors moving more than if they didn’t have a pet.

♦ Improved health: Ongoing research from Harvard Medical School has found dog owners have lower blood pressure, healthier cholesterol levels and lower risk of heart disease than those who don’t own a dog.

♦ Stick to routine: Caring for pets helps seniors maintain a routine. Having structure after retirement can be important to ward off risk of depression. Staying on top of feeding, grooming and other pet needs also can help prevent cognitive decline.

For more information email prissyspamperedpets@outlook.com or call 925-586-8335.

Antioch Veterinary Hospital

In Antioch, the Antioch Veterinary Hospital provides boarding services for dogs and cats. The hospital has two locations: 5151 Deer Valley Road and 1432 West 10th Street. The hospital offers separate boarding areas for both dogs and cats, veterinary supervision for pets with ongoing health issues, along with an outdoor play area for dogs, a cat room with a large kitty condo allowing cats to play, climb, and stretch, pheromone diffusers to help animals relax, as well as animal-friendly

music playing at a low volume. For details, call 925-757-2800 or visit https://antiochvet.com/. The pet boarding market was valued at $19.5 billion in 2021, with dogs accounting for $11.1 billion, and is projected to reach $35.8 billion in 2031 with a compound annual growth rate of 6.4 percent, according to Allied Market Research. It said the growth can be attributed to growing trends in pet ownership as well as in pet humanization and the need and importance of play sessions and exercise, while also reducing behavioral problems such as excessive licking, barking, chewing, digging, and other anxiety-related behaviors.

Hairy Hounds

What every

owner should know

More people in the U.S. apparently want to have birds as pets.

In a National Pet Owners Survey conducted by the American Pet Products Association (APPA) in 2022, eight percent of all households now have pet birds, with half of new bird owners saying that their decision to have a pet bird was influenced by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dr. Brian Speer, a doctor of Veterinary Medicine of the Medical Center for Birds in Oakley, says that there are over 9,100 species of birds, and that care of a pet bird depends on the type of species.

“There are some species-specific details that of course vary amongst species and individuals, and there are basic principles that are more universal for helping to secure their optimal welfare,” said Speer. “As an example, backyard chickens require less time investment as compared to a medium to large parrot species that is being kept as a pet or companion. A welltrained and cared-for dog can also take considerable time investment, just as that large parrot can.”

According to statistics gleaned by Forbes.com, roughly 6.1 million U.S. households own birds, and amount of money spent on pets. In addition to being beautiful and attractive animals, birds are intelligent, trainable, live a long life, don’t require a large space, and are considered less expensive than other pets. According

to Speer, the most common pet bird nationally is the cockatiel, followed by the gray parrot.

The third-most common bird they see in their office is a backyard chicken, followed by the Budgerigar (the parakeet), he said.

“We typically see 150 to 200 different species here each year,” said Speer. “Of the companion birds that we most often work with, good effective enrichment, proper nutrition and other key aspects of husbandry are significantly important. Again, these basics are important for many of the animals we keep and care for; there are just different details. As an example, parrot species really do require healthy social interactions, foraging skills that are continually reinforced and augmented, as well as healthy species-specific nutrition.”

Linda Lasky, a registered veterinary technician for 30 years, says that caring for a bird is different than caring for a dog or a cat.

“As for popular birds, smaller birds are parakeets, lovebirds, cockatiels, and finches,” said Lasky. “African gray parrots are popular. And then you get into the larger birds like cockatoos. As one gets into the larger birds, you definitely need to realize that they can live quite a while – some of them up to 100 years – so it’s a huge commitment if you choose to get one of those. The larger birds are quite a handful to take care of, and I wouldn’t

SEAN TONGSON

Photo courtesy of Metro Creative

recommend that as a first bird. And if you choose to get one of the large birds, you have to pretty much put them in your will or have somebody committed to taking over the care if anything happens to you.”

Lasky further discussed some of the mistakes she has seen with pet bird owners, as well as advice for bird owners. “Probably the biggest mistake I see people make is they will just give a bag of seeds to them and not really look into what the bird would eat if they were in the wild in their natural diet,” said Lasky. “Often the seeds are very high in fat, and the birds get problems from eating high fat, which, as you can imagine, is not good for them.”

Bird owners also should avoid poor-quality nutrition, such as seed-only diets for parrot species and cracked corn for chickens, as well as not feeding birds human food unless an owner has checked with the veterinarian to see if it’s something that birds can eat. For example, avocados, chocolate, fruit seeds, onions, garlic, and salt are poisonous to birds. Additionally, fumes emitted from pans made from Teflon can be toxic for birds if they are left on the stove to burn.

Another important aspect is their environment as well as its maintenance. Cages should be big enough so that birds can get enough exercise, as well as to periodically let them out of their cage to allow them to socialize and interact with people, while also being cautious to not have a window or door open.

“It’s good to get a couple birds together so they have company,” Lasky advised. “Sometimes, people will put mirrors on the edge of the cage so they will feel like there’s another bird by them, but obviously getting a second bird is probably the best idea. If you already have one bird and you want to get another bird to keep it company, keep them in separate cages for a while just in case the new bird has some type of an infectious disease in a different room away from the first bird in quarantine.

Before you introduce them, put the cages closer together, and after probably a couple weeks to a month, check with a veterinarian that works with birds as to how long they should be quarantined.”

Experts said bird owners or those interested in owning a bird should be advised that although the large corporate stores such as Petsmart and PetCo may have a number of products available, bird owners are encouraged to consider seeking out a bird-specific retailer that is more focused on this taxonomic group. Also according to Speer, a good resource of information for bird owners is to read the second edition of Birds for Dummies in January 2021.

“I would trust the information from a veterinary hospital that specializes in birds before I would trust a person,” said Lasky. “People that work at pet stores obviously care for animals, but they may not be educated as

well as a veterinarian or veterinary staff about healthcare and ways to avoid problems in the future with birds. They obviously mean well, but you don’t really know the background that each individual person has in all the different species of animals at a pet store.”

Overall, in addition to a bird’s diet and environment, experts want you to help augment the health, happiness and welfare of birds. For supplies and care for birds, owners are recommended to establish a relationship with a veterinarian who specializes in birds who often have care sheets on proper care for birds.

Owners are also advised to avoid or carefully critique easily available misinformation on the internet, which Speer warns is not only medically and biologically incorrect, but some recommendations are unethical and can actually cause significant health problems.

“The more focused your source of information you choose comes from, the greater the depth and breadth of what you should expect to hear can be,” said Speer.

Here is a link to the Medical Center for Birds: https:// www.medicalcenterforbirds.com/

Additional information is here:. https://www.thehappychickencoop.com/the-ultimate-guide-for-beginner-petbird-owners/ and https://www.myrightbird.com

From left: Dr. Kristi Lee, Dr. Riley Blount, Dr. Kylee Ferro, Dr. Lindsay Heath, and Dr. Eric Johnson. Together, the team at Brentwood Family Pet Care works to provide the best service for pets and their human parents.

SPEER

“I would trust the information from a veterinary hospital that specializes in birds before I would trust a person”

– Linda Lasky, registered veterinary technician

How to recognize vision loss in dogs

Sometimes it is challenging to realize a pet dog is losing its vision. That’s because, unlike humans, dogs do not rely on sight as readily as other senses, like hearing and smell. A pup who is slowly going blind might be able to navigate quite well, as the other senses enable the dog to adapt to changes in eyesight, advises the American Kennel Club.

Pet parents who are concerned their dogs may be losing their vision can learn the risk factors for vision loss and keep an eye out for potential signs that such loss is present.

Breed risk

Certain breeds are at higher risk for health issues that can lead to vision loss. For example, cataracts are the leading cause of blindness in Cocker Spaniels, says HandicappedPets.com. Both Golden Retrievers and Labrador Retrievers are genetically predisposed to progressive retinal atrophy (PRA), which can cause blindness. Due to recessive genes, Siberian huskies can be susceptible to eye issues, including corneal dystrophy. Boston terriers may develop cherry eye, a condition caused by a prolapsed eyelid.

Pet owners should speak with their veterinarians to learn if their dogs have a genetic predisposition to eye diseases and conditions that may lead to blindness.

Conditions that cause blindness

Dogs who have had a cataract, which is a clouding of the eye that stops light from reaching the retina, may slowly lose their vision. Diabetes also can cause full

or partial blindness. Glaucoma, PRA and sudden acquired retinal degeneration syndrome (SARDS) all can lead to blindness in one or both eyes. If dogs have been diagnosed with these issues, it’s best to work with a vet to carefully monitor and/or treat them, if possible.

Signs of diminished eyesight

Vision deterioration can produce certain signs, including:

♦ Cloudy appearance of the eye or eyes.

♦ Improper pupil response to light and darkness.

♦ Difficulty focusing on items or people’s faces. Some dogs may have to come much closer to recognize a person’s features.

♦ The dog seems dazed and confused, or gets surprised by someone suddenly when entering a room.

♦ Hesitancy running or moving around, or changes in mobility. The dog may no longer want to go up and down stairs.

♦ Difficulty finding the food bowl, as well as weight loss from not eating.

♦ Behavioral changes, such as acting more anxious, sullen or even scared.

Vision loss can occur in dogs, particularly aging canines. Pet owners can be attuned to signs of diminishing vision and take steps to help their furry friends.

One such step is considering a visit to Lone Tree Animal Care at 600 Concord Ave., Brentwood, for an evaluation. Their phone number is 925-450-3800. Or Brentwood Family Pet Care at 4421-A Balfour Road in, Brentwood. Their phone number is 925-240-7387, or Brentwood Veterinary Hospital at 4519 O’Hara Ave. in Brentwood. Their phone number is 925-634-1177.

For Oakley residents, the Oakley Veterinary Medical Center is at 4526 Main St., Oakley. Their phone number is 925- 625-3722.

– Courtesy of Metro Creative

Where to take your dogs around town

East County residents love their pets, and there are plenty of local places to go with your four-legged friends. From dog parks to breweries to outdoor dining, here is a list of some of the most pet-friendly spots in the Delta.

Brentwood

King Park, at 1379 Bauer Way in Brentwood, features two dog play areas, one for small dogs and one for large. Both areas feature play apparatus made specifically for canine companions and feature benches for humans to relax and watch their pets. Water fountains for pets and owners are available, as are “Mutt Mitts” to assist in keeping the facility free of pet waste.

Dakota Park at 480 Ridgewood Court in Brentwood, is a 4.7-acre park with a half-mile walking trail connecting to other trail systems in Brentwood. This park also has two dog park areas divided for “smaller” and “larger” dogs, with benches and shade structures for pet owners. Outside of the dog play areas, the park features a turf area with picnic tables and barbecues.

Four Legs Brewing, a craft beer spot

located at 2010 Elkins Way, Suite 120, in Brentwood, calls itself both “dog friendly” and “family friendly.”

Opened in 2021 by Michelle and Erik Bacher, it’s meant to be a “home away from home” for those who love beer and dogs. Four Legs Brewing regularly features food trucks and offers a range of brews from IPAs to Pilsners. For more information, visit www. fourlegsbrewing.com.

Diablo Cherries, a small cherry orchard at 3150 Sellers Ave. in Brentwood, allows visitors to bring their dogs while their owners

pick cherries. Co-owner Emily Benz said one of the advantages of being a small farm is flexibility in the rule book.

“We are 100% u-pick, so we don’t have to follow some of the same practices that the commercial orchards do,” said Benz. “As long as the dogs are leashed and well behaved, they can come in the orchard. We have observed that people want to bring their pets with them more and more, and we are happy to welcome them.”

Benz noted thus far, all guests have been respectful and conscientious, clean-

Pets Frolic Inn

4071 Orwood Road 634-4431 • www.petsfrolicinn.com

Pets Frolic Inn... A Place for Pets! All kinds of pets - dogs, cats, birds, and more! We hope you will take a good look around and discover that we are so much more than a boarding kennel. Our farm-style kennel offers a wide range of services. Our bed & breakfast has spacious accommodations for your pets. We also have a state-of-the-art doggie daycare, and bath and spa services to pamper your pets. Don’t forget our Hitch-a-Ride Pet Pickup Service!

ing up after their pets and creating a fun, welcoming atmosphere with their dogs. For more information, visit www.diablocherries. com.

Discovery Bay

The Discovery Bay Community Center, 1601 Discovery Bay Blvd., features a recently renovated dog park with areas for both small and large dogs.

“Our dog park is extremely popular with our residents and used every day we are open,” said the town’s assistant general manager Allan Cantando. “The town regularly maintains the park, so our residents can have a nice and aesthetically pleasing place to enjoy their time with their pets. I can see the park from my office, and it is obvious the owners are having a great time playing fetch with their dogs or simply letting them run free in a secure environment.”

Oakley

Koda Dog Park at 100 Oxford Drive in Oakley, opened in 2018, and is named for the Oakley Police Department’s first canine officer. The park was a goal of the city for many years before coming to fruition and features separate play areas for big and small dogs. There is also a special agility training area for dogs at the northeast quadrant of the park, and a shade structure over the adjacent picnic benches and barbecue pits.

For more information, email contacthalo@ yahoo.com or visit www.eccchalo.org

Meet Duke

Duke is a male Terrier/Chihuahua mix, born July 8, 2012. This big love bug is starving for love and attention, and he really deserves it because he is a great dog.

ADOPT A PET ADOPT A PET

Duke will tolerate other dogs, but he really wants you all to himself. If you have children, he would like them to be 10 years of age or older so that they will not be too rough with him. Duke is ready to go to his new home and get lots of love from you, and in return you will get more love then you ever would want. For more information about Duke, email: starshalodogs@yahoo.com

DAWNMARIE FEHR

Photo by Jeff Weisinger

King Park in Brentwood is just one of many local spots that residents can take their fourlegged friends.

Business Profile

Established in 2013, Handydads handyman services specializes in small household repairs and improvements, including TV mounts, ceiling fans, faucets, toilets, drywall repair, painting, hauling and more. The experts treat their customers’ homes as if they were their own and are professional, respectful, courteous, honest, and always punctual. A portion of all sales are donated to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

For more information, call 925-587-3237 www.handydads.net