The Press 06.16.2023

By Jake Menez Staff Writer

All animals at Contra Costa Animal Services can be adopted at nocharge in June in an effort to clear kennel space as the shelter reaches capacity.

“Like most shelters, we’re experiencing a noticeable increase of animals coming into our facility, and we’re close to reaching our capacity,” Chief of Shelter Medicine Dr. Katherine Mills said in a June 5 press release. “With an already crowded shelter and an average daily intake of nearly 20 animals each day, we’re asking for the community’s help in getting as many pets out of the shelter as we possibly can through adoption and foster.”

The shelter averages 17 per day coming in and 11 going

out, according to Public Information Officer Steve Burdo.

Although the press release states that pet adoptions will be free in June, Burdo said the shelter has not charged for adoptions in over a year as part of their larger initiative to reduce overcrowding. Making adoptions less expensive is intended to make adoption easier for more county residents.

“This situation isn’t unique to Contra Costa County,” Burdo said of overcrowding. Overcrowding at shelters, according to Burdo, is a national trend and has increased in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic for a number of reasons, such as pet owners who were laid off and cannot afford to keep their pets or owners who adopted pets while working remotely who are now working back in the office and no longer have time for their animals.

Other shelters, such as the Animal Rescue Foundation in Walnut Creek, that are not similarly crowded benefit from being nonprofits rather than municipal services agencies, Burdo said.

“As a municipal animal services agency, CCAS is man-

dated to take in stray dogs, sick/injured/in danger cats, etc,” he said via email. “When we are at or above our kennel capacity; we cannot turn away those mandated animals.”

Although critics of the shelter, such as advocates who spoke out during the May 16 Board of Supervisors meeting, have complained to CCAS for euthanizing too many animals, Burdo said that the shelter has a 94% save rate for animals – meaning 94% of those coming into the shelter are rehomed permanently. Of the 6% that are euthanized, Burdo said that many are cases such as dogs who have been critically injured and cannot be saved or animals that would pose a threat to public safety due to dangerous temperaments.

Although the shelter does not claim to be a “no-kill” shelter – a title Burdo said can be misleading – its 94% save rate is greater than the 90% threshold needed for a shelter to qualify as no-kill.

“We are just as passionate about saving animal lives as

Photos by Jeff Weisinger, Christian Raitt and Juan Cebreiros

N ews i N B rief

DA: Use of force in Discovery Bay man’s death ‘lawful’

The Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office released a report on the useof-force death of Discovery Bay resident Robert Steven Jones, 51, saying that no further action will be taken.

District Attorney Diana Becton said: “Since 2018, Law Enforcement Involved Fatal Incident reports have been an integral part of my administration being more transparent with the public. Part of that policy means the public should know the details of our independent investigations and how my team and I reach our legal decisions.”

Each fatal incident report summarizes the results of the District Attorney’s independent criminal investigation, includes a summary of an autopsy, the outcome of a coroner’s inquest, a legal analysis of the facts, and a determination of criminal liability.

In Jones’s case, the District Attorney’s legal analysis determined that the officers’ use of deadly force on March 22, 2022, was necessary and lawful to defend themselves against an imminent threat of death -- and to defend others against death or bodily harm.

East Bay Regional Parks Foundation announces new executive director

After a nationwide search, the Regional Parks Foundation announces the appointment of a new Executive Director, Lauren Bernstein has been chosen to lead the nonprofit East Bay Regional Parks Foundation, now in its 54th year.

The foundation’s mission is to support the East Bay Regional Park District, the largest regional park district in the country, through fundraising to provide universal access, environmental stewardship, educational and recreational programs and the acquisition of parklands. Bernstein started on June 14.

Bernstein brings a strong philanthropic background to the Foundation with experience in nonprofit management, strategy, and fundraising. Over the past decade, she has raised millions of dollars across an array of public sector areas. As executive director and an East Bay resident who loves parks, she will oversee and administer the operations of the Foundation, and lead, develop and implement program initiatives of the

Fixed. Fast.

5.287%

Foundation as well as oversee philan thropic opportunities.

Previously, Bernstein was prin cipal of a nonprofit consulting firm and director of Development at Glide Foundation in San Francisco where she led a team and raised millions of dollars to support programs for homeless people. She has a Master of Public Administration from New York University, Wagner School of Public Service, and a Bachelor of Science from University of Southern California, Marshall School of Business.

Publication Date: June 30, 2023

Deadline for space reservation: June 20, 2023

Discovery Bay office building plan delayed

By Dawnmarie Fehr Correspondent

More than 100 residents showed up to voice their displeasure on June 7 with the Discovery Bay Community Services District Board’s vote last month to pay architecture firm AETypic $884,000 for biddable plans of a new office building and board chambers.

If built, the new building would go in next to the existing community center and could cost as much as $13 million.

During the meeting, CSD President Ashley Porter said the contracts with AETypic had not been signed, no money had been spent, and she asked staff to pause that process while finding out how long the firm’s price would be good for. Pausing the process does not rescind the vote to obtain biddable plans, but it does mean the town may decide not to move forward with that option.

The crowd filling the room spilled out the front and back doors, yelling comments at the board. People outside the building watched the meeting on their smartphones.

Resident Don Flint said the board really knew how to bring people together. “I’m here because I wanted to make sure there were enough people to make the point that this is a really bad idea,” Flint said.

Flint referred to the plans presented to the board on May 17 by AETypic, which included three different building designs as well as plans to renovate the parking lot at the community center. While no vote had been made to spend money other than the

$884,000 on plans, residents were incensed the board would move forward with such a plan when there is about $3 million set aside in the town budget for a new office, far short of the $13 million mentioned in AETypic’s estimate.

More than 20 residents stood up during the public comment period of the meeting to vent their frustrations, asking the board to consider other options and rescind their May 17 vote. Longtime resident Frank Morgan said he sent 1,500 emails to residents to make them aware of the issue.

“I would defy anyone to try and get 20 people to show up for a regular meeting,” Morgan said. “So when 100 people show up, the board should take a step back and look at how they conduct business month after month. No one shows up, because people trust them to do the business of the town. When you get standing room only, and they’re packed in there and backed up down the halls, people start to lose trust in how this board is representing them.”

Morgan said he thought the board was out of touch with their constituents and

hoped they would backpedal.

Town staff was initially asked to begin the process of getting quotes for a new building to be built next to the community center last June because of staff and equipment safety concerns. The town’s water engineering consultant, Luhdorff & Scalmanini, completed a Risk and Resilience Assessment Report, noting the district office’s location adjacent to one of the town’s water treatment facilities. The report found allowing public access to the town’s process facilities increased the risk of accidental or malevolent acts and posed a relatively high vulnerability to the water system and liability for the town.

Because the public legally must have access to the office, the report recommended options be considered to move it to a different site to reduce the possibility of accidental or intentional harm to the water treatment facility.

But building a new office is not a recent board project. The idea has been considered and delayed for more than a dozen years

as the town completed one after another expensive, state-mandated project. Former CSD Director Jim Mattison said the site of the community center was always meant to include a future office building.

“That was always the premise of buying the community center,” he said. “I think what should happen now is the board should squash the current plan, and if I were them, I would rent offices across the street at the shopping center until they figure out what makes sense. I believe there needs to be some fresh eyes looking into alternatives.”

Once the public comment period concluded, Porter read a statement acknowledging residents’ concerns while clarifying the board’s position.

“We are at a crossroads,” Porter said. “We need to address the potential risk of the location of our office buildings, and we need to address the concerns that were brought forward this evening … rather than taking another rash action, I would like to put a pin on the decision that we made at our meeting on the 17th. I think we need time as a board to digest everything we heard this evening. We also need to make informed decisions and need to hear back from AET on how long they will hold their pricing.”

The next CSD meeting will be held on Wednesday, June 21, at 7 p.m. at the Community Center at 1601 Discovery Bay Blvd., in Discovery Bay. For agendas or more information, visit www.todb.ca.gov

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

5.25 3-month

6-month 5.25 1-year 5.25

Residents gathered at the Discovery Bay Community Center for a town meeting June 7 to express their opinions about the controversial proposed new town office buildings.

Photo by Greg Robinson

Hindu group honors teachers for their work

By Hemamananthani Sivanandam  Correspondent

A group of school teachers were celebrated recently for their efforts in shaping the minds and hearts of the future generation in Brentwood.

The function organized by the Hindu Swayam Sevak Sangha (HSS) Brentwood chapter held the appreciation function called “Guruvandana” last month attended by more than 100 guests to honor 14 teachers.

In the Hindu culture, teachers or gurus are revered and seen as the guiding light in one’s educational and spiritual journey.

“The ‘Guruvandana’ event aimed to pay homage to these exceptional individuals who selflessly contribute to the growth and development of their students,” HSS said in a press release.

The event was also a platform to acknowledge the efforts of teachers and their contribution to society.

“It reminded everyone present of the vital role teachers play in nurturing young minds and shaping the leaders of tomorrow,” said HSS.

The event kicked off with a traditional lamp-lighting ceremony, symbolizing the triumph over darkness and acquiring knowledge. This was accompanied by chants of mantras (words or sound that is believed to have a special spiritual power) and hymns dedicated to the teachers.

There was also a poster exhibition called ‘Darshana’, giving a glimpse into Indian civilization, presented to teachers and guests. Darshana means the beholding of a deity (especially in image form), revered person, or sacred object..

The evening was also filled with cultural performance by the students, showcasing their talents and appreciation for their teachers.

Guests were also treated to Indian delicacies and meals

prepared by HSS volunteers.

A fifth-grade teacher who was present said they felt warm and welcomed at the event. “I am moved by the warm welcome and love showered by students and their parents. We learned a lot about Indian culture through the presentation and guest speaker. “I am blessed and honored to be here today,” said the teacher.

Another teacher said events like this remind them of the impact teachers have on the lives of students.

“It is heartwarming to see our efforts being recognized and celebrated,” said the teacher.

HSS is a nonprofit socio-cultural Hindu organization with 235 branches in 164 cities and 34 states. The HSS Brentwood chapter fosters a sense of civic duty, care for the community, responsibility, volunteerism, and an understanding of selfless service through service activities and

outreach projects such as a food donation drive during the festival of Diwali, a “Health for Humanity” yogathon, and a backpack drive for local students, organizers said.

HSS said its Brentwood chapter is also dedicated to fostering education and cultural values within the community.

Through events like “Guruvandana”, it strives to create a platform for “dialogue, appreciation, and celebration of the invaluable work undertaken by teachers.”

“The success of the event demonstrated the strong bond between the HSS and the local community, emphasizing the importance of collaboration in fostering education and cultural enrichment.

“The Brentwood chapter of HSS extends its heartfelt gratitude to all the teachers for their dedication and passion,” said HSS, adding that it will continue to organize such events.

Brentwood VFW Post 10789 installs new commander

The Brentwood Veterans of Foreign Wars has a new commander. On Tuesday evening, Bill Weber was installed as the new leader of the Brentwood post. Weber was installed by District commander Mark Steinberg as he was surrounded by friends and family. Two of Weber’s goals for 2023/24 are to increase membership of veterans and to create a “Welcome Home” event for Vietnam veterans. For more information on joining the Brentwood VFW or the American Legion, contact Weber at VFW11B@gmail.com. To view a video and a slideshow of the event, visit www.thepress.net/multimedia

Where East County will celebrate Juneteenth

By Rene De Amaral Staff Writer

This year marks 160 years since President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863, declaring “that all persons held as slaves within ‘rebellious states’ are, and henceforward shall be free,” according to the National Archives.

But it wouldn’t be until 1865 when enslaved Black people would find freedom. Union troops arrived in the Confederatecontrolled Galveston Bay, Texas, June 19, 1865, and announced that the 250,000 enslaved Black people in the state were free by “executive decree.” This day would later be known as Juneteenth.

Juneteenth has become a federal holiday, with President Joe Biden having signed legislation in June 2021. Below is a list of Juneteenth events in East County that will celebrate the day.

City-sponsored Juneteenth events

Oakley: The city of Oakley is hosting its first Juneteenth event June 17 from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. in Civic Center Plaza at 3231 Main St.

According to City Manager Josh McMurray, Councilmember George Fuller asked the city to plan a celebration for 2023. “I am so happy we could bring our inaugural Juneteenth Celebration to the Oakley community,” he said. The event will include more than 20 craft and non-profit vendors, food trucks, a craft section for kids run by the Oakley Recreation Dept. staff and music and dance performances. The Celebration Stage Schedule is Norman and the Boyz from 10 a.m.-1 p.m., a reading from the Oakley Library at 10:50 a.m. and a performance from Stepz Dance Fitness Studio at 11:50 a.m. For more information, contact Alicia at oleary@ci.oakley.ca.us.

Antioch: Antioch is supporting a

weekend-long celebration June 17-18. The Saturday event is hosted by Grace Arms of Antioch in collaboration with the city of Antioch from 11:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. at the Grace Bible Fellowship at 3415 Oakley Road. The event will include live entertainment, kid- friendly areas and food vendors. Performances include live music from Niecy LivingSingle, CJ Emulous, Alfreda LyonsCampbell, and headlined by the vocal trio Surface. There will also be poetry readings from Antioch’s Poet Laureate Jose Cordon.

The Sunday event is hosted by the city of Antioch in collaboration with Making Moved, an Oakland-based nonprofit, from noon-5 p.m. at Williamson Ranch Park, on Williamson Ranch Drive at the corner of Lone Tree Way and Hillcrest Avenue. The event will include rides, games, live entertainment and free food and drinks. For more information about both events, visit https://bit.ly/3N8CTB2.

Non-city-sponsored Juneteenth events

The Let Freedom Ring Juneteenth Celebration will be held June 17-19 at the Contra Costa Event Park at 1201 W. 10th St. in Antioch from noon-6 p.m. each day.

The event will have carnival rides, food, arts and crafts, a job fair, community resources and live performances from Foreverland, Project 4 Band, Venus Fulani, the AUSD Young Queens, a gospel music showcase with Alfreda Lyons-Campbell and Lawrence Mathews.

For more information, contact eastcountyjuneteenth@gmail.com.

Park District

The park district is celebrating Juneteenth with several naturalist-led programs, one being at Big Break Regional Shoreline in Oakley on Monday, June 19, at 8 a.m, according to a press release.

For more information visit https:// bit.ly/3CoT08u.

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.

TikTok and mental health: exploring the U.S. Surgeon General’s warning

In this digital age, social media platforms have become a significant part of our lives, shaping the way we communicate, share information and entertain ourselves. TikTok, a popular video-sharing application, and other social media platforms, have garnered attention not only for their viral dance challenges and comedic sketches but also for concerns about their impact on mental health.

Recently, U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy issued a warning about the potential dangers of excessive TikTok use and the reasons behind this warning.

This social media platform allows users to create, share and discover short videos, typically ranging from 15 to 60 seconds, and has gained immense popularity, especially among younger people. Unlike Instagram, which primarily focuses on sharing photos and curated content, TikTok is centered on user-generated videos that cover a wide range of topics, including dance, comedy, education and activism.

Holding great significance among young people, TikTok provides an outlet for self-expression, creativity and

connection. Through its intuitive and user-friendly interface, this platform enables individuals to showcase their talents, build communities and engage with content that resonates with them. Its algorithmic recommendation system tailors the content to the user’s interests, making it an engaging and personalized experience.

However, from an outside perspective, the impacts are not as positive as they may seem. The allure of TikTok lies in its ability to captivate users with bitesized, entertaining content that can be consumed in quick bursts.

This format, coupled with the addictive nature of the platform, leads to prolonged usage. Addictive qualities arise from its endless scroll feature, where users can easily get lost in endless videos. This uncontrollable behavior can potentially harm mental health, leading to decreased productivity, disrupted sleep patterns and increased feelings of anxiety and self-comparison.

As an avid user, I find myself spending a considerable amount of time on the platform each day. Its seamless integration of humor, creativity and informative content keeps me engaged for hours on end, even though I recognize this

excessive usage as detrimental because it leads to a loss of focus and neglect of other aspects of life. With similar platforms common among generations, it is essential to maintain a healthy balance between online and offline activities.

TikTok is free, allowing anyone to download the app and create an account without financial barriers. This accessibility has contributed to its widespread popularity, making it available to individuals from various backgrounds and age groups.

The U.S. Surgeon General’s warning about TikTok’s impact on mental health is not an overreaction. It serves as a reminder to users, particularly young people, to be mindful of their screen time and prioritize their well-being. While TikTok itself may not be inherently harmful, excessive use and reliance on the platform can harm mental health. The Surgeon General’s warning aims to raise awareness and encourage responsible digital habits.

Considering the Surgeon General’s warning, participants must evaluate their usage patterns and make necessary adjustments. By setting boundaries, diversifying activities and finding alternative outlets for self-expression, users can strike a balance between

enjoying TikTok and maintaining mental well-being.

TikTok has undoubtedly revolutionized how we consume and engage with content, especially among younger people. However, it is essential to approach its usage with caution, as excessive screen time can harm mental health. The Surgeon General’s warning serves as a wake-up call, urging users to be mindful of their digital habits and cultivate a balanced approach to technology.

Here is a link to the Surgeon General’s advisory.

https://www.hhs.gov/surgeongeneral/ priorities/youth-mental-health/socialmedia/index.html

–By

Muskaan

Adeel

The author is a member of the Brentwood Youth Press

This Weeks Events

Saturday, June 17 through Monday, June 19

Let Freedom Ring Juneteenth Celebration

The East County Juneteenth Committee is hosting a Juneteenth Celebration at the Contra Costa Event Park at 1201 W. 10th St. from noon-6 p.m., and will have carnival rides, food, arts and crafts, a job fair, live entertainment and community resources. For more information, email eastcountyjuneteenth@gmail.com.

Saturday, June 17 through Sunday, June 18

Juneteenth: A Freedom Celebration

Making Moves and the city of Antioch are hosting a Juneteenth celebration at Grace Bible Fellowship Church at 657 McClarren Road, from 11a.m.-4:30 p.m. on June 17 and at Williamson Ranch Park from noon-5 p.m. Both events will feature food, drinks, vendors, and live entertainment. For more information, visit https://bit.ly/3CdZWFt.

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

Discovery Bay Big Bass Fishing Tournament

The Discovery Bay Community Foundation is hosting a fishing tournament at the Discovery Bay Marina at 5901 Marina Road #1, from 6 a.m.noon. All boats will be allowed to fish in Discovery Bay’s 32 bays and all waters only in Contra Costa County. Payouts and raffles will be held in front of the Marina Bar & Grill following the tournament at 1:30 p.m. The total purse is $10,000. The entry fee is $100 per boat. For more information and to register, visit https://bit.ly/3Nbs0j8

On the Horizon

Friday, June 23 through Saturday, June 24

Aspire Youth Programs presents: Annie Jr.

The city of Antioch and Aspire Youth Engagement Programs is putting on a free production of Annie Jr. The performances will be held at the Nick Rodriguez Community Theatre at 213 F Street. Friday will have one show at 7 p.m. with doors opening at 6:30 p.m. Saturday will have two shows, one at 2 p.m. with doors opening at 1:30 p.m. and one at 7 p.m. with doors opening at 6:30 p.m. For more information, call (925) 267-9885 or (925) 779-8082. To reserve a spot visit https://bit.ly/3Nbrpgd

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 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.

To have your event appear in the newspaper, email your events to calendar@brentwoodpress.com one week prior to publication. To have your event online, post your event for free on The Press Community Calendar www.thepress.net/calendar.

Swing Fore a Cause Golf Tournament

Soroptimist International of Antioch is having their eighth annual golf tournament, 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. 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.

Soroptimist Uncorked

Dine and dance with Soroptimist of the Delta at DeLuna Ranch at 7540 Balfour Road from 5-9 p.m. Tickets are $75 and include six-ounce wine tasting from Ruby Hills, Steven Kent, Mitchel Katz, Fields Winery, Michael David, Tanner and more, wine pairing appetizer bars, Sweeney’s buffet dinner and dessert auction – all accompanied by live music from Joey Torres. Dinner also will include raffle prizes and a silent and live auction. For details and how to buy tickets, visit https://gurskyranch.com/.

Brentwood Lions Club Pancake

Breakfast

The Brentwood Lions Club is hosting a pancake breakfast fundraiser at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church at 500 Fairview Avenue, from 8-11:30 a.m. The cost is $15 and it benefits St. Vincent de Paul. For more information and to purchase tickets in advance, visit https://bit. ly/3qk5z22.

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 road race 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.

Tuesday, July 4

4th of July Carnique

The city of Brentwood is celebrating its 75th anniversary with the return of the Carnique in City Park at 710 Second St. from 4-10 p.m. The event

will feature food, carnival games, contests, swimming and live performances. Proceeds from the carnival games and food vendors will benefit local nonprofits. The event will also feature the July Drone Sky Show, presented by the Downtown Brentwood Coalition, which will begin at 9:05 p.m. and launch from Liberty High School. For more information visit https://bit.ly/3NmZtqK.

Saturday, July 15

Pop-Up Book Sale at the Library

The Friends of the Brentwood Library is hosting a pop up book sale at the Brentwood Library at 104 Oak St. from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. The book sale will be on the second floor of the library. For more information, contact William Harms at wharms11@gmail.com or (925) 390-2700.

Tuesday, July 25

Seniors Bus Trip to Red Hawk Casino

The Oakley Senior Center is hosting a bus trip Red Hawk Casino in Placerville. Participants will leave from the Oakley Senior Center at 215 Second St., at 8 a.m. and arrive back in Oakley at 6 p.m. Cost is $42.

Ongoing Events

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.

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.

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.

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It’s never too late to come out

During the 1979 San Francisco Gay Freedom Day Parade, a group of women marched with a sign declaring “A day without Lesbians is like a day without sunshine.” And I couldn’t agree more.

News anchors on my parents’ TV and on Rush Limbaugh’s horrific radio show. May he rest in Hell. But I had no real concept of what it was, except that it was a bad thing.

Guest comment

I am a lesbian, and I’m proud to say that. But it hasn’t always been that way. I’m what you might call a “late-blooming” lesbian, as I officially came out when I was 26, previously being a closeted bisexual. I was always so scared of coming out, because I didn’t know how people would take it. Would my family still love me? Would I be a pariah? Will I be considered a creep just like conservative news outlets push? And while those were/are valid concerns, the thing really holding me back was myself.

I was scared it would be too late to come out fully, fearful of all that I had missed, the culture I had lost, the history I felt detached from, and the scary anti-LGBTQ+ laws that are constantly being passed in this country.

I realized that despite all those things, I would come out over and over again. Because being my authentic self is more important. And truthfully, I feel like the most “myself” I’ve ever been. The pressure to be something I’m not is gone.

I had heard the word ‘gay’ in passing from the Fox

And I didn’t know gay people even existed until I was 11 – until my peers thought I was one. A few of my middle school bullies tied a rainbow bandana to my backpack with words like “f****t” and “d**e” written in sharpie. They had followed me to my after school pick-up spot, calling me a “d**e” and a ugly, fat lesbian, and would push me into some bushes. They quickly got away on their skateboards when they saw my dad pull up in his car. It felt like the lamest and most homophobic coming-of-age scenario.

I told my parents what happened and begged them not to call the school. I was scared the bullying would get worse. I also asked them what a lesbian was, and they didn’t really give me an answer. They just told me not to worry about it, because there’s no way I would be one. So I did what any child of the internet would. I Googled the word “lesbian” on the family computer.

I don’t remember much of what I read, except for some crude definition along the lines of “the sexual orientation of a female liking another female.”

I do remember my ears ringing and a tightness in my chest. The child I was before that day was gone, and this new terrified person had taken her place. I suddenly felt too

Is Costco coming to Brentwood?

You may have heard the rumor that Costco would like to come to our wonderful city of Brentwood. It is true. But like any project, there’s always the negative Nellies. And in today’s world of social media, the vocal minority can sometimes overshadow the will of most of the people.

On Tuesday, June 20, the Costco project will once again come before the city Planning Commission.

If you have something to say, we would encourage you to join the Planning Commission meeting at 7 p.m. in the Brentwood City Council chambers and let them know your thoughts. This would be the first

development in the new Innovation Center area that’s been in the works for years. That would be the start of developing the new employment district and expansion of the shopping next to the Home Depot Plaza.

The Costco store is estimated to generate about $1 million in tax revenue that goes right into the General Fund of the city’s budget to help fund our parks, police services, roads and keeping Brentwood the great city we are! If you can’t attend the meeting in person, you can send in your thoughts and comments to planning@ brentwoodca.gov by 5 p.m. on Tuesday. Let your voice be heard.

Greg Robinson Publisher, Chamber of Commerce Board member, and 29-year-resident

adult and grown-up. And all these feelings were too much for an 11-year-old to cope with, but something told me I would have to. And so much of my youth and early adulthood would be spent locking these feelings away, sanitizing myself and conforming.

During the height of the quarantine portion of the COVID-19 pandemic, I had a lot of time to reflect and confront all of these feelings. I realized that no amount of hiding or running from myself would change who I am. I no longer wanted to live a life for others and wanted to live for myself. I wanted to be free.

In October of 2020, I looked in the mirror and said, “I am a lesbian.” I think I cried more that day than I ever had in my entire life.

But after the tears, I suddenly felt lighter. Nearly 15 years of anxiety and the need to be “normal” had worn me down in ways I hadn’t realized. It was scary, and I didn’t tell anyone for a long time. But I would do it again and again.

It’s never too late to come out, and you should do it in your own time as long as it’s safe. It’s worth it. Even in adversity and uncertainty, being proud of who you are is priceless.

Rene De Amaral Social media manager and a staff writer at The Press

Letters to the editor

Edna Hill students should be punished in projector incident

Editor:

In response to the Edna Hill issue and article titled, “‘Hijacked’ projector prompts investigation”... The channel 7 (ABC7) report was misleading by including the San Jose State professor’s comment about the “fix” to the issue being ‘simple’. Many of our homes have these devices, and the change would be simple on a home network.

But the fix to the school network is not so simple. These devices count on your home having a direct connection to the device and, thus, at home we have our own passwords.

In the school environment, students need to log on to the same network as the teachers and staff. By stating that the solution is simple, the professor and ABC7 imply that the school district technology department was not doing their job.

Nothing could be further from the truth. The district needs to provide as much technology as budgets allow, to provide the best environment for the students to succeed.

The offending students should be held accountable, rather than focusing on the “security” issue. They are middle schoolers. And if they choose to interrupt lessons at this level, the focus should be on their actions.

Believe it or not, we still have too much racism in our society, and the students are learning from our society.

I hope all students have learned a valuable lesson from their actions.

Juergen Siemers Brentwood

Number of mass school shootings depends on how you vote

Editor:

Another mass shooting at a school. And more school children’s lives’ ended in an endless cycle that will continue as long as people keep voting for Republicans.

On one side: The Democratic Party wants gun safety that reduces school shootings- like red flag laws and banning/buyback of assault weapons. The Democratic Party is the one that wants fewer children murdered in mass shootings.

On the other side: The Republican Party is against those gun safety laws that have been proven to reduce school shootings. The Republican Party’s gun policy guarantees that MORE children will be murdered in mass shootings.

If you want fewer school children murdered in mass shootings, the choice is clear: Vote Democratic, because if the Democrats get what they want, fewer school children will be murdered in mass shootings.

But if the Republicans get what they want, MORE school children will be murdered in mass shootings because that’s exactly what they’ve given us for the past 19 years since the assault weapons ban expired in 2004.

Kevin Cunningham Brentwood

Cop logs

A hit and run with no injuries was reported on City Park Way/Second Street. The reporting party says someone on an electric bike hit her 14-year-old daughter. Brentwood – May 24, 10:53 a.m.

The following is a selection of recent law enforecement activity:

OAKLEY

June 2, 9:00 a.m. An abandoned vehicle was reported at the 2100 block on Verona Avenue.

June 2, 9:36 a.m. A civil disturbance was reported at Diamond Hill Sports Club in Oakley.

June 2, 10:09 a.m. A case of disturbing the peace was reported at Delta Vista Middle School.

June 2, 11:56 a.m. A civil disturbance was reported at the 1400 block on Yosemite Circle.

June 2, 12:53 p.m. An abandoned vehicle was reported at the 600 block on Bynum Court.

June 2, 5:11 p.m. Suspicious circumstances were reported at the 5200 block on Stratford Drive.

June 2, 6:20 p.m. A suspicious person was reported at the Raley’s in Oakley.

June 2, 8:56 p.m. A reckless driver was reported on W. Cypress Place/Empire Avenue.

June 2, 9:36 p.m. A civil disturbance was reported at the 20 block on Korbel Court.

June 2, 9:51 p.m. A reckless driver was reported at Laurel Road/Empire Avenue.

June 3, 12:58 a.m. A domestic distur-

bance was reported at the 50 block on Escher Circle.

June 3, 3:13 a.m. A suspicious vehicle was stopped on Main Street/Empire Avenue.

June 3, 8:20 a.m. A petty theft was reported on Main Street/Davis Lane.

June 3, 9:01 a.m. A reckless driver was reported at Vintage Park Elementary School.

June 3, 10:24 a.m. An auto burglary was reported at the 300 block on Holstein Drive.

June 3, 11:15 a.m. A domestic disturbance was reported at the 100 block on Las Dunas Avenue.

June 3, 11:30 a.m. A civil disturbance was reported at the 4000 block on Live Oak Avenue.

June 3, 11:37 a.m. A case of vandalism was reported at the 5400 block on Neroly Road.

June 3, 1:05 p.m. A welfare check was conducted on Main Street/Live Oak Avenue.

June 3, 1:10 p.m. A welfare check was conducted at the 1800 block on Hemlock Drive.

June 3, 2:41 p.m. A suspicious person was reported at the 700 block on Walnut Drive.

June 3, 2:51 p.m. A juvenile disturbance was reported on Chianti Way/Bordeaux Drive.

June 3, 3:04 p.m. Suspicious circumstances were reported on Daffodil Drive/Geranium Drive.

June 3, 3:43 p.m. A suspicious person

was reported on Arrowhead Way/Mammouth Lane.

June 3, 7:40 p.m. A verbal dispute was reported at the 700 block on Dimock Street.

June 3, 9:19 p.m. A shooting at an occupied dwelling was reported at the 900 block on Stonegate Circle.

June 3, 9:30 p.m. A welfare check was conducted on Main Street/Bernard Road.

June 3, 9:43 p.m. A welfare check was conducted at the Oakley Police Department.

June 3, 10:12 p.m. A suspicious person was reported on Solitude Drive/Acorn Drive.

June 3, 10:19 p.m. A possible shooting was reported on W. Cypress Road.

June 3, 10:25 p.m. A welfare check was conducted at the 4900 block on Montague Avenue.

June 3, 10:45 p.m. A case of vandalism was reported on Sierra Trail Road/Minaret Road.

June 3, 10:53 p.m. A domestic disturbance was reported at the 4500 block on Hagar Lane.

June 3, 11:29 p.m. A possible shooting was reported at the 300 block on Brookview Drive.

June 3, 11:54 p.m. A verbal dispute was reported on Tuolumne Way/Kings Can-

yon Way.

BRENTWOOD

May 24, 7:47 a.m. A case of forgery/fraud was reported on Cortona Way. Unauthorized use of a credit card.

May 24, 8:11 a.m. A suspicious person was reported on Breakwater Way/Sea Island Court. A male was asleep in a Chevy pickup truck with no plates.

May 24, 8:17 a.m. A case of vandalism was reported on Lone Tree Way. A woman tore open the electrical box to the building and damaged it.

May 24, 10:53 a.m. A hit and run with no injuries was reported on City Park Way/Second Street. The reporting party says someone on an electric bike hit her 14-year-old daughter.

May 24, 11:31 a.m. A petty theft was reported on Business Center Drive.

May 24, 1:03 p.m. A petty theft was reported on Sand Creek Road. A purse and backpack with medical insurance, tax documents and personal ID numbers were stolen from the vehicle.

May 24, 1:36 p.m. An accident with minor injuries was reported on Marina Way/Celeste Way.

We’re outta here

Students from East County high schools tossed their caps and celebrated as they became the class of 2023. Red: Liberty, Green: Independence, Teal: Deer Valley, Light Blue: Heritage, Blue: La Paloma, Purple: Freedom and Yellow: Antioch. To view a slideshow of each school, visit www.thepress.net/multimedia/slideshows

Photos by Jeff Weisinger, Christian Raitt and Juan Cebreiros

Hometown SportS

Moghalu leaves legacy of leadership at Freedom

By Jeff Weisinger Staff Writer

Senior Uche Moghalu is proud of her accomplishments in discus at Freedom High, but her coach is even more proud of something more intangible.

“The mark she’s put on other athletes, she’s helped other athletes and other throwers become leaders,” track and field head coach Glenn Briggs said. “She’s left the throws team with a couple of good team captains for next year. I think the legacy is the leadership she’s left behind with the other students.”

Days before Moghalu walked the stage during last Saturday’s graduation ceremony, she reflected on her career that was at Freedom High School.

She remembers how she and the rest of the team wrote down their goals for the season at the start of the year. Some of her goals in her senior season were to break the school record in the discus throw, and make it to State.

Not that she would brag or even tell you about any of that.

“She’s very humble,” Briggs said. “In fact, she’s very coachable and humble. Uche is that quiet, humble, confident person. A good, great person.”

She went 2-for-2 with her goals while also earning the CIF Spirit of Sport Section award for good measure.

“Luckily I was able to achieve them,” Moghalu said. “I wrote down my goals, what I was striving to achieve throughout the whole season and you can see it achieved near the end.”

Moghalu, heading to USC on academic scholarships, saw the culmination of her high school career come at the Veterans Memorial Stadium in Buchanan at the 103rd CIF State Track and Field Champs Prelims back on May 26. Although she finished 19th out of 22 competitors in the discus with a throw of 114 feet 11 inches, she says that the experi-

ence of being and competing at State was the main goal.

“When I made it to State, I was really happy to be able to be there,” Moghalu said. “It was kind of like a regular track meet, I wasn’t nervous at all just because I knew I came to do my best. I knew how far I could throw in the range of things.”

Moghalu’s senior season was one that also caught Briggs sort of off guard.

“I knew she was a good thrower,” Briggs said. “But to be honest with you, I didn’t have it on my radar that she was going to State.”

Moghalu’s senior season leading up to it wasn’t surprising, at least to her. It was a showcase of all of the hard work and perseverance from the years leading up to it, she said. She won five of her discus events in 2023 and five of her shot put events as well, including notching a new personal-record toss of 33 feet, 11 inches at the Sacramento Meet of Champions on April 22.

The journey to her State-bound senior season was one filled with challenges.

Moghalu had her freshman season cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic, then it was followed by a modified sophomore season with no postseason tournament. Her first major postseason tournament meet didn’t come until her junior year, where, then, she didn’t qualify for the CIF State tournament.

“Everything that I was able to do from the beginning until now really makes me happy,” she said. “It makes up a big part of my high school career.”

The shotput and discus thrower set a new school record in the discus, notching a 126-foot toss back on March 18 at the 10th Annual Eddie Hart Invitational, easily eclipsing Hina Kaleialii’s 115-foot, 6-inch record set in 2008.

She also came close to topping her own record during the NCS Tri-Valley championship with a 122-foot, 10inch toss. That throw was just shy of Pittburg’s Lauren Lemire’s 127-foot, 2-inch winning throw.

“I was kind of reaching this level where I was kind of having difficulty (achieving a personal record) and going farther than I usually did,” Moghalu said. “So when I went to NCS and was able to finally throw over 120, which is what I was trying to reach, I was really happy because I was finally able to break that barrier that was standing in my way.”

For all of the accolades and accomplishments, it’s her leadership qualities that left a lasting impression not just on her younger teammates and the program, but also on Griggs.

“The mark she’s put on other athletes, she’s helped other athletes and other throwers become leaders,” Griggs said. “She’s left the throws team with a couple of good team captains for next year. I think the legacy is the leadership she’s left behind with the other students.”

Moghalu is heading to USC to study business with hopes of working in a fashion company one day and, eventually, becoming the CEO.

“I’m just really excited to start my own life,” she said. “And to have my own perspective on things and just live a life that’s bigger than myself here.”

Brentwood water polo headed to Junior Nationals

By Sean Tongson Correspondent

The Lamorinda Brentwood Water Polo 12 and under coed (12U) team qualified last weekend for the annual Junior Olympics next month in Southern California. The qualifying victory on June 3-4 at Liberty High School in Brentwood marks the first year in which a 12-and-under coed team not only participated in the tournament, but also to qualify for the Junior Olympics.

“The community has been incredibly supportive this past weekend at the qualification tournament,” said 12U coach Rosina Ayers. “Teachers like the Kempers from Edna Hill, and Mrs. Volta from Ron Nunn came out to support these kids. The stands were filled with yellow shirts, and the kids heard the loud cheers. People asked about the town and were impressed with our facilities.”

In spite of a warm weekend and Lamorinda Brentwood missing some key players due to illness and other obligations, fans said

the atmosphere was ‘incredible’, with many tight games. Despite an 18-4 loss to thirdseeded Marin, a previous 12-5 win in their first game against the Southern Alameda County Water Polo Club on Saturday, June 3 prevented Lamorinda from getting bumped to the lower seventh to ninth seed bracket.

“It was going to be tough for us with so many newcomers on the bench,” said Ayers. “Even though we had to play a ton of new players, they had some really great playing time because some were sick and out.

Brother and sister duo, Sienna and Gino Rigoni, really stepped up being new on defense and even got their very first goals.

Zack Madden also stepped up and was able to execute a play we call ‘fat rat’; a driving play that gives us three different options to score based on driving the offense in order to confuse the defense. Based on how the defense reacts, we pass the ball to the open player in order to score.”

On Sunday, June 4, the Lamorinda–Brentwood team faced the San Francisco

Water Polo Club in a tight back-and-forth contest. Tired but focused, the 12U Lamorinda team came back to tie it after trailing by two at halftime. With the contest tight and heading into the last quarter, with 1:20 left in the game and only three possessions left, Lamorinda had the ball, as Erin Ayers was able to get open for the assist to Mate Maloschik for the score. With less than a minute and two possessions remaining, Lamorinda played press defense, enabling them to get the ball back. After burning some time off the clock, Gino Rigoni scored his first goal with one second left. Ayers blocked the last shot, which clinched an 11-9 victory and guaranteed Lamorinda no less than sixth place in tournament and enabled them to punch their ticket to the Junior Olympics, with players celebrating with repeated cheers of ‘JOs, JOs, JOs’.

“There are very few teams that can run plays at the 12U level and I was really proud of them since they had just practiced it a few times,” said Ayers. “It was definitely

a team effort, but the standout player on offense was Mate. Mate has become an incredible asset to our team. He is our main hole set and has really stepped up in that role. On defense, Erin (Ayers) and Evan Zichil coming back from injury were key. Evan blocked some key attempts and Erin with multiple steals sealed the deal.”

Other results from last weekend also include a 15-6 loss to the Alameda Water Polo Club in which similar to their win against Marin, Lamorinda was down two starters. The local team concluded the weekend with a 5-0 win against the San Francisco club in a rematch that clinched fifth place. In spite of the jovial atmosphere and celebratory mood amongst excited players, Ayers stressed the importance of maintaining good sportsmanship and respect.

“Lamorinda coaches teach players to have good sportsmanship,” he said. “Wwe congratulated the other team on a good

see Water Polo page 13

Freedom’s Uche Moghalu winds up for one of her discus throws.

Photo courtesy Glenn Briggs

Cal NCAA champion swimmers host clinic in Brentwood

By Dawnmarie Fehr Correspondent

Swimmers from the University of California Berkeley’s 2023 NCAA national championship swimming and diving team conducted a clinic for some local kids to encourage them to dream big.

The team of five swimmers – four current students and one graduated –hosted the session on June 10 at Liberty High School’s Jack Ferrell Aquatic Center for the River Otters Swim Team, a local recreational swim team.

“This was an amazing, unique op-

Water Polo from page 12

game and then we went to have a team meeting where we celebrated. The team joined together and did a cheer knowing that all the hard work paid off, and we were on our way to Newport Beach to play teams around the country.”

Looking ahead to the Junior Olympics on July 20-23, Ayers says they are looking forward to getting some key players back, as their skill and experience will be counted on to lead the team. To assist with the cost of the trip to Southern California, Lamorinda Brentwood will be doing a fundraiser. Additionally, Ayers also emphasized the overall importance and significance of qualifying for the Junior Olympics, and what it means to the kids and their families.

portunity for our team,” said Otters president and founder Rick Pierce of his 250 swimmers. “The Cal swimmers teamed up with our coaching staff to give the kids an experience they will never forget.”

Cal-Berkeley graduate Will Roberts, 23, brought four other current Cal-Berkeley swimmers – Rachel Klinker, Dave Roberts, Jason Louser and Colby Mefford – to Brentwood for the clinic.

“This is a big initiative to have Cal integrated more with the community and pioneer how swim teams should be interacting with the community,” said Roberts. “We, as swimmers and students, are given

so much and we want to give back. Our swimmers learn so much working with the kids” who range in age from 4-18.

Besides giving back and chasing personal growth, the program is designed to increase water safety and awareness in the Bay Area, Roberts said.

Roberts said the clinic with the River Otters was the Cal team’s second overall and first with the River Otters, but they hope to expand the experience to other teams. This is the first year the program has run and the Cal swimmers look forward to collaborating with more teams and benefiting the community in

some way.

All Cal team members will be eligible to offer their expertise in various strokes, and Will Roberts said you couldn’t go wrong with any of them.

“Something underrated about athletes is their ability to commit to something and persevere and believe in themselves,” he said. “I think that belief will take them through life and they can apply that to life and whatever they do.”

Teams are welcome to contact CalBerkeley to set up their own event. For more information, email willroberts@ berkeley.edu.

going into JOs, we will continue to improve and be able to compete with teams around the country. We expect to see teams from Southern California, Florida, and even Hawaii at JOs, and the kids are definitely looking forward to playing a new group of teams with a new challenge for us!”

“This opportunity could be once in a lifetime for some kids,” said Ayers. “It takes commitment from parents, coaches, and our Lamorinda Brentwood team.

Many hours of volunteer work take place for this to happen, and we couldn’t do it without our Coordinator Kellie DiPietro!

We expect that with a month of practice

Summer TIRE

More information on the Lamorinda Brentwood Water Polo team and upcoming Junior Olympics can be found at https://www.brentwoodseawolves.com/ contact-us-2 and Junior Olympics - Home Page- FINAL. All results from the Water Polo Junior Qualifying Tournament are at https://www.swimmarin.com/12umresults. Those interested in helping the Junior Olympics fundraiser can Venmo @ Seawolves and comment 12U JOs.

Photo courtesy of Rosy Ayers

A skateboard event for kids in need

Boards ‘N More to host demonstration, giveaways

By Jeff Weisinger Staff Writer

Brentwood skateboard shop Boards ‘N More will host an event on Saturday, June 24, where they’ll give away complete skateboards to underprivileged children and have a demonstration by pro skater ‘Crusty.’

The free event will take place from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Brentwood Skate Park at 195 Griffith Lane.

Boards ‘N More is teaming up with Save Souls

Skate Bowls, a nonprofit that tries to prevent destructive behaviors and find healthier alternatives for youth, to give away complete skateboards to the identified underprivileged youth, with other skate brands also donating to the event.

“We’ve been working with each other for a year or two now,” said Genevieve DiBartolo, the owner of Boards ‘N More at 320 Oak St. “I knew that in Los Angeles, they started some programs where they had skateboarding after school and the kids really benefited from it, and the crime rate went down.”

Along with the giveaway event, ATM Click team pro skater ‘Crusty’ will put on a demonstration, including a thrasher-style competition and a product toss to the crowd, including free stickers and other products.

ATM Click team pro skater Chris ‘Crusty’ Weissmann, above, will perform on Saturday June 24, at the Brentwood Skate Park.

Photo courtesy of Boards ‘N More

Brentwood author’s new book selected by the Junior Library Guild

to submit copies to its librarian members.

Brentwood author Aly Brown’s upcoming book release has been named a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard.

Since 1929, the Guild has curated books for libraries. According to its website, about 95% of those selected go on to win awards and industry accolades. Brown’s nonfiction middle-grade book, “The Last Unexplored Place on Earth: Investigating the Ocean Floor with Alvin the Submersible,” will be released in fall 2023 from Feiwel and Friends, a Macmillan imprint. Having selected it as a Gold Standard, the Guild will then distribute copies to its library members.

Brown said via e-mail that the recognition “is not quite an award but rather the book was designated as a Gold Standard selection for libraries that subscribe to the Junior Library Guild. Founded in 1929, the Junior Library Guild is a highly respected commercial book service that curates books for subscribing librarians. A Guild editorial team reviews submissions from publishers and then selects books that the team knows its subscribers would enjoy based on their customized wishlists. In my case, the Guild reviewed “The Last Unexplored Place on Earth” and decided to purchase the book in bulk

Brown said her publisher submitted the book for consideration unbeknownst to her, and that she was “pleasantly surprised! I poured a tremendous amount of research, time and dedication into this project, and I’m beyond excited that my work is being recognized in this way,” said Brown, who, after signing the contract for publication in 2020, began interviewing scientists and pilots who had been to the ocean floor inside the tiny sub.

The story follows the creation and scientific discoveries made using a human-operated submersible named Alvin, which can carry three people to the bottom of the ocean, according to press release. It has been involved with many missions for science, including the discovery of hydrothermal vents and the remains of the Titanic shipwreck. Written for middle-grade readers, the book includes photos, fun facts, and

directions for experiments kids can do at home.

She said ‘middle-grade’ readers are middle schoolers, but not exclusively. “In the world of book publishing, terms like “children’s,” “middle grade,” and “young adult” indicate a target audience, a reading level, and oftentimes book length and content. So that middlegrade category can be as broad as 8 to 12 or even a little older, depending on the reader. On the other hand, many middle-school students might be reading young adult fiction already.”

“The Last Unexplored Place on Earth” is now available for preorder: https://amzn. to/43qJIoB.

For more information about the Junior Library Guild, visit https://www.juniorlibraryguild.com. To learn more about the author, visit https:// alybrownbooks.com or connect with her on Facebook at https://www.facebook. com/alybrownbooks.

Brentwood utility rates to increase July 1

Brentwood sports complex design also changed

By Jake Menez Staff Writer

Your utility rates are going up.

The Brentwood City Council moved ahead with a number of projects, including approving an increase in what residents pay for utilities, as part of their June 13 meeting at Council chambers.

The 4-0 approval – Mayor Joel Bryant was absent – came after roughly two hours of deliberation and public comment. Residents were given the opportunity to send in protest ballots ahead of the public hearing to voice their opposition to the proposed increases. The city received 192 protest ballots, City Manager Tim Ogden said during the meeting, but that was not enough to be considered

a “majority protest.” City staff said that number is 11,165.

The monthly increase for residents would be based on their usage, but the average is expected to be $8.05, according to the presentation, and it would take effect on July 1. The estimated average utility bill would still be lower than those in neighboring cities, such as Antioch, Oakley and Discovery Bay, according to

the staff report.

Other topics discussed at the meeting included:

• Approval for the city to raise two

Pride flags at two different locations “as soon as possible” to be displayed until July 15.

• Approved changes to the design for the Sand Creek Sports Complex. The new design would change the pro-

Group of blind seniors picks cherries in

For the Press

A group of 45 people from the Lions Center for the Visually Impaired in Pittsburg gathered at Nunn Better Farms in Brentwood for a U-Pick Cherry Farm Excursion.

With support from staff and volunteers, the center’s clients were able to walk out to the cherry orchard on June 6 and find trees loaded with juicy cherries, and fill their buckets with the best fruit, said Richard Grange, Activities and Marketing coordinator.

The Lions Club then purchased the cherries for the clients and guests, allowing them to take home at no cost to them, a special treat full of healthy antioxidants.

In total, the group picked over 181 pounds of the cherries, with many sharing plans to bake their favorite recipes

Animal from page 1

any advocate out there,” he said,

According to Burdo, adoption is just one of three elements of the shelter’s duty. In addition to adopting out animals to new owners, the shelter also focuses on reuniting lost pets with their owner and partnering with foster and rescue organizations that can take dogs and cats from CCAS and search for new prospective adopters through their own organizations.

To this end, CCAS is looking to improve operations through reform, such as hiring a foster coordinator to work with foster organizations to get dogs out of the shelter and into nonprofit fosters that can rehome the animals, Burdo said. The shelter is also interested in finding people to give them attention so that they don’t stay in their kennels and regress socially.

after getting home, Grange said.

“This trip allowed me to do something I thought I couldn’t do anymore. It felt so different to be outdoors in the light and feel the sunshine. I want to know, when is the next trip?“ commented LCVI client Joan.

LCVI volunteer and board member, Duke D. added, “Volunteering at LCVI is its own reward. Sharing experiences with the clients and talking with them is truly eye opening. It’s good to hear how much they value the staff at LCVI and how much they enjoy the activities that we provide for them.”

LCVI provides free supportive services for blind and visually impaired seniors in Solano, Contra Costa, and Alameda counties, including group activities, events and excursions.

For more information, call 925-4323013 or visit www.LCVI.org.

Those interested in adopting or fostering animals through CCAS can use these resources.

CCAS Adoption Center

4800 Imhoff Place, Martinez, CA 94553

Hours: Tues -Sat 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Wednesday 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.

View animals available for adoption: https:// www.contracosta.ca.gov/2424/Available-

Animals

Foster information: https://www.contracosta. ca.gov/6730/Animal-Foster-Programs

For more information, contact Contra Costa County Animal Services’ Public Information Officer, Steve Burdo at 925-393-6836, or by email at steve.burdo@asd.cccounty.us.

To comment, visit www.thepress.net

posed concession area to include a concrete pad for food trucks. Other changes to the design included the expansion of one of the three soccer fields to a larger 120-yard size as compared to the initially proposed 100 yards and the inclusion of bleachers. The full meeting can be watched at https://bit.ly/3N7rlhl.

To comment, visit www.thepress.net

PIERSON

OERLEMANS

MENDOZA MEYER

Paul Turner, local owner of Handyman Paul, has been a handyman since 2001 and has owned Handyman Paul since 2009. Turner and his small but dedicated and talented staff serve all of Contra Costa County. They specialize in windows, siding, decks, acoustical ceiling removal, all flooring and tile, concrete and landscaping. Turner thrives on working with his hands, and says that he enjoys working with the public, completing challenging projects and earning the homeowner’s appreciation for a job well done.

TINCTURE

Putting the “big” in big day

Creating an intimate experience

The perfect wedding dress can be yours

Planning a wedding requires making many different decisions. The choice of wedding attire is among the most crucial decisions that couples must make. Whether the wedding is traditional or customized to suit couples’ personalities, brides and grooms want to look their best when they say, “I do.”

Many brides-to-be spend lots of time looking for their ideal wedding dresses. What defines the right gown depends on personal preference and is unique to the person doing the search. For example, a dress that sets a fairy tale scene for one bride may not necessarily align with the tastes of another. According to Bridal Atelier, the average bride-to-be tries on three to seven dresses before finding the right one. The following tips can help those shopping for dresses find a look that makes their big day even more special.

1. Don’t get hung up on perfection

Many brides get caught up as they search for the one dress they consider perfect. No dress is likely to check every box. Getting hung up on a desire to find a dress that has it all may make it hard to see the beauty in other dresses. With the talents of an experienced tailor or seamstress, most dresses can be tweaked to suit your vision of the ideal gown.

2. Consider the season

Getting married during the hazy and humid days of summer is an entirely different experience than tying the knot during the heart of winter. The fabric of the wedding dress should take into account the season, whether it’s lightweight and breezy for a warm day, or more substantial and cozy when darting to the ceremony in snowfall.

3. Flatter your figure

Chances are brides-to-be know which cuts and styles are most flattering. Mimic those style choices in the wedding dress. If you want to take focus off of full hips, choose a basque or asymmetrical waistline. Gowns with substantial straps or higher necklines may be better if you have a larger chest. Sheath- and mermaid-style gowns are options if you are confident with your figure and want to show off your curves.

4. Try a bit of this and that

Don’t go into a wedding dress appointment with firm parameters. Although you may have a ball gown style in mind, after trying on other options something with a less voluminous silhouette may actually catch your eye. Many brides also automati-

Courtesy of Metro Creative Browsing through magazines and looking online can provide wedding dress inspiration. Also, when in doubt, defer to the experts at bridal shops who have experience choosing dresses that brides are inclined to love.

cally defer to strapless gowns, when various straps and sleeves can be very appealing.

5. Arrive with a firm budget Weddings can be costly. It’s important to set a budget for the wedding dress just as you will with other expenses. There are plenty of dress designers across a wide spectrum of price points. A willingness to consider and ultimately purchase a less costly dress can help you stay on budget.

One place to buy a wedding dress in the Brentwood

area is at Jenny’s Bridal at 13 W. 18th St., Antioch. For details, call 925-435-4416

Another is Brentwood Rise by Wedgewood Weddings at 100 Summerset Drive, Brentwood. For details, call (925) 856-5898 or visit https://www.wedgewoodweddings.com/.

Also, Bel’s Bridal in Antioch. For details, call 925-565-0323

– Courtesy of Metro Creative

Tips for writing vows

The exchange of wedding vows is a key component of a wedding ceremony and sometimes helps to ensure the marriage is binding in accordance with the faith of the participants. Vows also may be exchanged in service of tradition. According to the wedding resource Zola, vows are not a legal necessity for marriage and some cultures do not use them. Still, many couples like to recite vows during their weddings.

Couples have various options pertaining to the vows they share. In religious ceremonies, vows may be predetermined as part of the requirements and rituals of that faith and religious texts. Individuals also may choose to read romantic verses from poetry. Another option is to write one’s own vows. When drafting vows, here are some guidelines to follow:

♦ Use a template. Scour the internet for resources on writing vows. You’ll likely find sample vows or even templates where you can fill in information if you do not know where to begin.

♦ Use memories of when you met. Your vows can include special anecdotes or stories of time spent in the early days when

you first knew this was the person with whom you would spend your life.

♦ Explain who this person is to you. Tell the audience what it is about this person that has you smitten. Is he or she your partner in crime? Confidante? Best friend? Or all of the above?

♦ Share what you are pledging. Write out exactly what you are vowing to your special someone. Be definitive and draw from your personal experiences. For example, “I vow to support you each time you adopt another shelter dog.” “I promise to not hog the covers.” “ I vow to warm your toes on cold evenings.” Make it personal, heartfelt and humorous.

♦ Say you’ll be there. At the heart of vows is a promise that you’ll be around no matter what life throws at you. This is a safe sentiment to include in your vows, and likely one your future spouse and other guests will come to expect.

♦ Keep things brief. There is no need to write a novel for your vows, which may reassure you if you’re nervous about the right wording and speaking in front of an audience. Outline the most important points you want to share and build on those sentiments.

♦ Reflect on the future. Wrap up your vows by noting your excitement about what the future may bring, whether that is a family, travel or another adventure.

Courtesy of Metro Creative

Photo credit: Ron Essex

Photo credit: Rick Felix Photography

How to plan for your big summer wedding

the big day,” Keith said.

With summer right around the corner, wedding season is not far behind.

With many couples either preparing for or starting to plan for their best day ever, staff at the Lone Tree Golf and Events Center at 4800 Golf Course Road in Antioch, along with the staff at Wedgewood Weddings offered their best advice for those looking to have the perfect big summer wedding.

♦ Secure the hotel room block as soon as your venue and date are confirmed.

According to Wedgewood Weddings

Marketing Manager Alyssa Keith, if you have a larger guest count, and especially if many of your guests are traveling, you can book the hotel room block now so your guests can lock in a lower rate during what’s usually a busy travel season. Bigger weddings generally consist of 75 or more guests, they said.

♦ Find a venue, know your venue. “Keep your options open,” said Ariana Catanjal-Cueva, the day-of coordinator at

Lone Tree Golf and Events Center. “A lot of brides will jump on the first place they find and not necessarily have a great understanding of what each venue offers.”

Part of finding that right venue is the parking, especially for weddings with a higher guest count.

“Consider the parking situation at your venue and recommend guests take Uber or Lyft if there is little parking there,” Keith adds.” “You can include parking or

ride-share suggestions on your wedding invitation or your wedding website.”

♦ Hire a day-of coordinator. This is general advice for all weddings, but helps especially for bigger weddings where there are more guests. Normally, this would come with the venue package. But if it’s not, hire one to help execute the ceremony and set up the decorations.

“This will take a lot of stress off your plate and help everything run smoothly on

Catanjal-Cueva adds that “You don’t want to bother (the bride) so you’d rather have someone else involved for them.”

♦ Consider the weather. If you’re planning for a summer wedding, consider the weather where you’re planning to have the wedding and how hot it could get. Check that the venue team has water stations at the ceremony and you could also provide small fans for guests, which, in-turn, make for nice wedding keepsakes.

Also take the weather into consideration when it comes to the dress code.

“Cocktail dress codes may be a better option for hotter temperatures compared to black-tie dress codes, which require your guests to wear more layers,” Keith said. ♦ Plan early, RSVP early. Summer is the peak season. The Wedgewood staff recommended starting to look for venues early if you’re planning for a summer wedding and be flexible on the dates. Once the venue and date are locked in, send out ‘save the date’ notices to give your guests more than enough time to plan for the summer ahead. Along with that, make sure that the guests RSVP no later than a month before the scheduled wedding date. Most venues and caterers require final headcounts at least two weeks before the big day. Also, planned out RSVP’s eliminate last-minute guests.

JEFF WEISINGER

Photo courtesy of Metro Creative

Tips for planning a small summer wedding

JEFF WEISINGER

Not everybody wants or needs a big wedding. Not everyone wants more than 100 people on their big day, or many couples would rather spend the money on the honeymoon or elsewhere. For those looking to either save a few dollars or simply keep their wedding small and simple, the staffs at the Lone Tree Golf and Events Center in Antioch and Wedgewood Weddings offered their best advice for the big day in the small package.

1. A small wedding is fewer than 75 people, so know your guest list

Once you decide you want to have a small wedding, know the number of people you’re considering inviting. Smaller weddings are a lot more intimate, so invite those who are most meaningful to you. That means writing out the guest list immediately.

“Small weddings mean different things to different people,” said Alyssa Keith, the marketing manager at Wedgewood Weddings. “You’ll want to make sure you can keep it intimate while still being able to have all of your VIPs attend.”

2. Consider the wedding parties

As small weddings contain fewer people, part of that

is considering the size of each side’s wedding party.

“I’ve seen more recently that nobody has a bridal party anymore,” said Ariana Catanjal-Cueva, the day-of coordinator at Lone Tree Golf and Events Center. “We’ve heard from brides that it’s a lot less stressful for them to have nobody standing next to them. More commonly, I’ve seen one maid of honor and one best man.”

3. Fewer people, more amenities

Fewer guests at the wedding could mean more money towards other amenities, like an open bar, a live band, or even late-night, after-wedding snacks.

4. Consider weekdays, and be mindful of holidays

While you can choose whichever day you want, remember that summer includes holidays like July 4th, Labor

Day, and even Memorial Day, the unofficial start of summer, meaning that some of your guests may be traveling. Send a ‘save the date’ note at least a year in advance so your guests can plan accordingly, the staff at Wedgewood said.

Just as well, consider a weekday wedding. Weekdays allow for cheaper flights and hotel rooms for guests, making it easier for them to travel to your wedding. Again, just plan well ahead of time.

5. Plan it as a three-day event, and eat often Expect to be around a lot of food during the wedding, so it helps to spread things out, especially with people traveling in for the big day, said the staff at. Lone Tree. People tend not to eat much, the staff added.

“People do wedding weekends now,” Catanjal-Cueva said. “They do a welcome party on Friday, the wedding on a Saturday, and a farewell brunch on Sunday.”

Keith added that the day-after brunch “doesn’t have to be anything lavish. But take advantage of the slower summer pace and throw a morning-after brunch or lunch.”

The most important thing here, especially for the bride and groom on the day of the wedding, is to eat.

“I’m constantly shoving food down my brides’ and grooms’ mouths,” Catanjal-Cueva said.

For more information, contact Lone Tree Golf and Events Center, 4800 Golf Course Road, at https://www. lonetreegolfcourse.com/ or call 925-706-4220.

You can also contact the Shadow Lakes Event Center, 401 W. Country Club Drive, at https://shadowlakesclub.com or call 925-516-2837.

Engaged couples can also call the McCauley Estate Vineyards, 2525 Sunset Road, at https://mccauleyestatevineyards.com or at 925-156-3300.

Photo courtesy of Metro Creative

How to plan a successful interfaith wedding

Love knows no boundaries. Couples about to tie the knot are drawn to each other regardless of cultural differences, geographic proximity, age, or religious beliefs.

Wedding planning can be both exciting and overwhelming. There are many decisions to be made and a vast amount of coordination required when planning a wedding, and couples from different religious backgrounds may find they have some additional responsibilities.

The good news is that interfaith couples are not alone nor treading new waters. In a comprehensive study released in 2015, the Pew Research Center found interfaith marriages have increased in recent decades. Couples married before 1960 were predominantly (81 percent) from the same religious group. However, that has been in steady decline. Thirty-nine percent of couples who tied the knot after 2010 did so in interfaith marriages. Furthermore, nearly half of unmarried couples living with someone else are interfaith couples.

When navigating an interfaith wedding, these suggestions can make the planning go more smoothly.

♦ Commit to inclusivity. Some mem-

bers of your families may feel that an interfaith wedding could dilute some of the traditions and beliefs they hold dear. These fears can be quelled by being more

inclusive of feedback from parents, grandparents and other close relatives. Couples also can reassure others by mentioning the traditions they will be incorporating into

the day’s events.

♦ Delegate tasks to loved ones. Show family they are loved by delegating tasks that help them feel important rather than isolated. Explain certain customs of the other faith and involve them in the incorporation of these traditions, whether it is through creating favors or helping to pick out reception decor.

♦ Pick key rituals. In some instances, marrying someone from another faith means that the marriage will not officially be recognized by the religious institutions of that faith. A Roman Catholic who is marrying a Hindu may not be able to have the ceremony in a Roman Catholic church, for example. However, there are ways to impart elements of rituals that would take place during religious ceremonies, such as reading specific Biblical passages or participating in the Haldi ceremony prior to the wedding day.

♦ Ask for translations. When interfaith weddings include different languages, it can be helpful to ask the officiant or officiants to translate for guests who may be unfamiliar. Also, think about including a list of which rituals may be included during the ceremony and their meanings in a printed program, so all guests can grasp their significance.

– Courtesy of Metro Creative

Photo courtesy of Metro Creative

Interfaith weddings require negotiation, patience and a little extra planning. But the end result is a beautiful ceremony and a happy couple.

Jack Sharkey, PA-C Lam Le, PA-C Jay Zimmerman, MD

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