The Press 02.10.2023

Florists gear up for Valentine’s rush

By Dane Dickerson Correspondent

BRENTWOOD Florists call it “hell week” because Valentine’s Day demands early preparation and organization for small flower shops.

According to a National Retail Federation survey, 2023 is projected to have one of the highest-grossing Valentine’s Days on record. This year, the NRF projects that romantics will spend $25.9 billion, a jump from the $23.9 billion spent in 2022 including $23 billion on flowers alone, says the society of American Florists. That’s about $192.80 per consumer on average, the NRF says, making Feb. 14 the most hectic holiday in the flower industry.

Consequently, florists encourage customers to submit their Valentine’s Day orders as early as possible, be specific

and phone hands are essential to shop owners to handle the surge of orders. Small-town florists like Diane O’Brien of Ribbons & Roses in downtown Brentwood must hire five to 10 seasonal workers to keep up. They must also place wholesale rose orders 4-6 weeks in advance.

Valentine’s Day strains the global flower market, and florists say rose prices soar as much as 100%-150%. For O’Brien, it is impractical to raise her costs accordingly. Due to seasonal increases in labor costs and market prices, florists can hope to only break even when the dust has settled. O’Brien explains the holiday is more about love for her customer base than profit.

about their orders, ensure their florist has an actual address, and expect to pay extra for delivery at a particular time.

Extra drivers, designers,

Oakley planners approve Machado Lane subdivision

By Chris Campos Staff Writer

“We literally will do two months’ worth of work in one week, so it’s relentless, it’s very difficult. We’re scrambling as hard as we can, we’re peeling

see Florists page 22A

City Council explores how to work better

By Jake Menez Staff Writer

BRENTWOOD The Brentwood City Council devoted its Feb. 7 special meeting to lessons on how to be more effective at their jobs and why that is important for their constituents.

Melissa Kuehne and Hanna Stelmakhovych, program managers with the Institute for Local Government, led the council through a three-and-a-half hour workshop designed to help the council members reflect on their roles and what each brings to the table on a personal level. Council member Jovita Mendoza was the only member of the group not in attendance. She had said

during the Dec. 13 meeting, when the good governance training was announced, that scheduling conflicts would prevent her from attending.

‘It’s important for us to be what the community deserves,” Mayor Joel Bryant said at the start of the Feb. 7 meeting. “There are examples throughout history of concerning behavior in leadership roles of govern-

ment and I really want us to be the example of what to be.” Kuehne and Stelmakhovych encouraged the council members to begin the meeting by saying what they love most about Brentwood and their initial reactions to the idea of a good governance workshop. While all council members found things to love about Brentwood, their first impressions of the meeting were

more varied.

A recurring theme in the early discussions was the lack of trust among the council members and how they could work to improve that.

‘I did struggle with feeling that this was actually worth the time and effort,” Vice Mayor Susannah Meyer admitted. “I don’t feel like we need to be a team of friends.”

Council member Pa’tanisha Pierson alluded to some of the conflicts the council experiences.

“There’s a lot of issues that I think haven’t been brought to the surface that have gotten in the way with the effectiveness,”

see Council page 22A

OAKLEY The city Planning Commission on Tuesday night unanimously approved the Machado Lane Subdivision with 76 single-family homes south of East Cypress Road.

Originally pitched to the City Council in 2021 with 106 homes proposed for the 20acre site by the developer, MLC Holdings, which has an office in Irvine, the proposal underwent considerable paring in negotiations with the city planning department. Kevin Fryer, representing the developer, said the council told them then that the numbers just weren’t acceptable and rejected it outright.

No public comment was made on the project Tuesday night and the commission’s hearing was conducted in a brisk 30-minute meeting.

Besides the 76 lots the proposal includes street right of ways, a pocket park with playground, a stormwater detention treatment area, and emergency vehicle access. The applicant has proposed a Homeowners Association to maintain the detention basin, park area, and emergency vehicle access.

The project is west of Machsee Planning page 22A

There’s a lot of issues that I think haven’t been brought to the surface that have gotten in the way with the effectiveness.

Eduardo Plascencia, co-owner of Brentwood Florist, prepares his growing stock in advance of the Valentine’s Day holiday.

Photo by Chris Campos

Brentwood officials trying to solve ongoing parking garage problem

By Jake Menez Staff Writer

BRENTWOOD The Brentwood Community Center parking garage located on City Park Way downtown continues to be a problem for city staff, requiring intervention from both Public Works and the police department.

“Between police and Public Works, we’ve been taking a lot of steps to try and resolve various issues in the parking garage,” Public Works director Miki Tsubota said during the Jan. 24 City Council meeting. “There’s a lot of challenges with the parking garage related to garbage, graffiti, cars spinning donuts and people throwing stuff off the parking garage.”

Among them:

• Officers on patrol downtown stop in regularly;

• School resource officer posted at Liberty and community service officers also drop by the garage in person;

• City Council suggesting the idea of a youth center as a potential way to provide the students with an alternative outlet.

According to Sgt. Christopher Peart, most of the issues in the garage stem from students at Liberty High School next door loitering, holding sideshows as well as emptying the facility’s fire extinguishers and throwing the empty canisters from the top floor to the street below.

“It’s always a few kids who ruin it for the ones who are behaving,” he said.

Peart said the security cameras in the garage have a live feed directly to the police dispatch center, allowing officers to see problems and respond to them in real time while the school resource officer posted at Liberty and

Bike & Car

community service officers also drop by the garage.

The “needed and necessary” enforcement action has resulted in a decrease in the number of calls the department gets, according to Peart.

From a Public Works standpoint, according to Tsubota, one of the biggest concerns is cleanliness. As a result, the streets crews are in the garage every day cleaning up trash.

“However bad the parking garage looks, trust me it’s actually a whole lot worse,” he said. “It’s a whole lot worse than what the public sees.”

In addition to the daily sweeps for trash, dust and debris are blown out of the garage monthly and there is a top-to-bottom deep cleaning every few months, Tsubota told the council. A contractor is also retained by the Public Works Department who power washes away “biohazards” as needed.

Controlling activity in the parking garage is a part of the city’s strategic plan – the list of city projects that are deemed high priority, city officials said. To comment, visit www.thepress.net

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The city of Brentwood is trying new ways to combat the ongoing problems of loitering, sideshows and trash in the Brentwood Community Center parking garage.

Press file photo

Couple thankful for a second happy romance

By Dawnmarie Fehr Correspondent

Second chances at love are rare. One Discovery Bay couple is grateful this Valentine’s Day for the chance to rekindle a long-dormant romance.

Ed Coats and Carol Joyner were high school sweethearts in 1950s Oakland, but ended up leading separate lives after high school. Then, two years ago, they reconnected and are now enjoying a second chance at happiness together.

The pair originally met at a Job’s Daughters Masonic Installation event in 1957. Joyner, who wore a long white robe for the ceremony, recalled Coats’ opening line to her.

“We were at this installation, and it was a big deal. There were four or five hundred people there,” Joyner said. “As I walked by, he said, ‘Your slip is showing.’”

Coats, who smiles at the memory, still won’t admit to the line.

The couple “went steady” for more than a year, attending Coats’ senior ball together later that year. But as often happens with teenage romance, the relationship fizzled, and Coats and Joyner separated. Coats attended San Jose State University, while Joyner headed east to the University of the Pacific in Stockton. They lived separate lives, and didn’t keep in touch.

Coats married Suzanne Bartlett in 1962, and began raising a family in the East Bay. Joyner, who had moved to Southern California, married Bill Joyner in 1969 and raised her family in Claremont.

Both Coats and Joyner said they enjoyed happy, full lives with their spouses and children. They didn’t keep in touch beyond the occasional Christ -

mas card, but did have mutual friends who drew them together again after 40 years in 2000.

“A couple we had introduced on a blind date back when we knew each other, they had married and their children gave them a 40th anniversary party,” Joyner said. “It was 23 years ago, and my husband and I came up for the party and Ed and his wife, Sue, were

there. The four of us seemed to migrate to the same table. That’s where Ed had a chance to meet my husband and I met Sue and we rekindled a friendship and got caught up on each other’s lives.”

Coats noted they stayed up to date on each other a little more after that. In 2011, Joyner’s husband passed away. Then Coats lost his wife in 2019. They said they both cherish the memory of meeting Sue and Bill.

“We both feel that was an important thing, us getting to meet each other’s spouses, and that we were blessed to be able to do that,” Coats said. “We are both of us widowed and had wonderful marriages to wonderful people, and we respect that of each other.”

Now in their early 80s, Coats and Joyner have rebuilt their friendship and are enjoying their rekindled romance. They split their time between Coats’ home in Discovery Bay and Joyner’s in Claremont. They enjoy going out with friends and family, and both appreciate how their respective circles have accepted their new partner.

“The two years we’ve been together, we haven’t had an argument or a disagreement of any kind,” Coats said. “We both had a lot of fun and wonderful lives and wonderful marriages, and I’m the luckiest man alive. I’ve had a wonderful life, and I am with someone I love, and I am so fortunate.”

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Left: Ed Coats and Carol Joyner attend Coats’ Senior Ball in 1957 at Oakland High School. Right: Coats and Joyner at Coats’ 65th high school reunion in 2022

Photos courtesy of Carol Joyner

New Bristow principal brings mantra to her job

Wood High School in Vacaville and taught at Heritage High School for 10 years. With her husband Carly and daughter, Ava, they have lived in Oakley for 16 years.

By Chris Campos Staff Writer

EDITOR’S NOTE: An incorrect version of this story ran in the February 10 edition of the Press due to an editorial error. We regret the error.

BRENTWOOD Principal Anna Perales brings one main matra to her job at the Bristow Middle School: Be kind.

Appointed to her new position just after the start of the year, she faced one of her biggest challenges—’raging hormones” that came along with her teenaged students.

“We learn a lot about ourselves at that stage of growth,” Perales said recently.”There are a lot of teachable moments.”

One of her priorities is promoting a program brought to Bristow by leadership teacher Randa Hagan called “I Can Help.” Perales said that social media pressure on teens can be “intense.”

According to their website, “When campus threats, cyberbullying, or other dangerous online behaviors arise, school leaders need a plan to take action and keep students and staff safe. #ICANHELP has developed a Social Media Emergency

Plan to equip schools with the tools and resources to handle social media incidents quickly, safely, and efficiently.”

As Perales noted, “It’s part of making good humans.” She said that it was important to make clear to young students that “they won’t be cancelled” for making mistakes in school.

Another tool she is promoting is the “Say Something” Anonymous Reporting System that enables students to anonymously report an issue at any time through

an app, hotline, or website when they see a classmate who is at risk of harming themselves or others. This district-wide program has been installed in 120 schools across the nation and is developed by the Sandy Hook Promise nonprofit.

At the time of her appointment, Perales had been an assistant principal at Liberty High School. Perales earned her B.A. at University of California-San Diego and her masters in education at St. Mary’s College in Moraga. Perales graduated from Will C.

Being introduced to the staff and students at Bristow made her “feel like a rock star” while welcomed with open arms. “I was very lucky,” she said.

Dana Eaton, superintendent of the Brentwood Union School District, said of her, “Everyone that we talked to about Mrs. Perales raved about her strong work ethic and focus on improving systems for students.”

“One of the things that impressed me most about Mrs. Perales was her commitment to being in classrooms and all around the school site during the day.” Eaton added. “The job of a school principal is incredibly complex and I know she will be out each day experiencing firsthand what is going well and what could be improved.”

Perales also noted the importance of opening lines of communication with parents and families. To address the need, she has reintroduced a weekly email newsletter that has begun delivery.

For more information, visit

https://www.sandyhookpromise.org/ our-programs/say-something-anonymous-reporting-system/ https://www.icanhelp.net/

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

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New Bristow Middle School principal Anna Perales brings mantra to her community – be kind.

Photo by Chris Campos

Perales wants everyone to ‘be kind’

Short-term rentals breed long-term resentment

By Dawnmarie Fehr Correspondent

DISCOVERY BAY Frustration over shortterm rentals and their sometimes rowdy occupants reached peak levels last summer in Discovery Bay. Residents of the town are already bracing for another round of temporary neighbors this summer.

Residents have appeared at the town’s Community Services District (CSD) Board meetings to address their grievances to the town and its directors, but Discovery Bay General Manager Dina Breitstein stated the town has no authority over whether homeowners can list their homes on popular short-term rental websites like Airbnb or VRBO (Vacation Rentals By Owner).

“The town has received complaints,” Breitstein said. “The topic has been brought to the attention of the board of directors at multiple meetings … staff and the board have contacted the supervisor’s office for further assistance and wrote a letter to Contra Costa County Code Enforcement.”

The letter was sent in July of last year

and addressed to Joe Losado, principal building inspector and code enforcement manager for the county. It detailed the problems associated with short-term rentals, calling them “out of control and serious,” and cited the use of illegal fireworks, traffic congestion, litter, unsafe boating, vandalism, rude and vulgar behavior and trespass. Town representatives also met with Assemblymember Lori Wilson’s office to make her aware of ongoing issues with short-term rentals.

Discovery Bay CSD Director Carolyn Graham was elected to the board in 2020 and has looked into the issues associated with short-term rentals. She said she received so many calls and texts last summer

from residents frustrated with short-term renters next to or near them, she went to social media to see if the problem permeated the town.

“I posted something as a private citizen on NextDoor, asking if it was a few houses having issues or if it was a lot and I got an overwhelming response that these are problems,” Graham said. “There are parties, loud music, litter on the street, tons of cars, vandalism, people can’t get their boats out of their docks because people renting next door have their boats in front of the wrong docks, lighting off fireworks, it goes on. And, because we are a waterfront community, and a lot of people who come don’t know how to boat on the Delta, we see a lot of near misses, and let’s hope it stays as near misses and nothing serious happens.”

Even though Discovery Bay cannot require permits or place limits on short-term rentals, the county can and does. All homeowners operating a short-term rental are required to file a permit with an application fee of $380. The permit must be renewed yearly.

“The permit does get reviewed each year,” Losado said. “When we look at the review, we look to see if they received any complaints on that permit for the short-term rental. It’s generally from the neighbors that we receive complaints.”

Once a complaint is received, the county will investigate. If the property is a shortterm rental, and does not have a permit to operate as one, a notice to comply is issued within 10 days to apply for a permit. Losado said late filing fees can apply and range from $150 to $250. Failure to comply with county regulations can result in administrative fines up to $14,300. Homes that receive repeated complaints from neighbors risk not having their permits renewed. As of printing, there were 36 permitted short-term rentals in Discovery Bay, and one pending permit. Losado estimated the town has at least 200 homes operating as short-term rentals.

Last year, Supervisors voted to increase fines for infractions by property owners to the highest level allowed by the state. Fines can be issued for violations of building, electrical, plumbing or other structural codes, or for infractions of the county’s short-term rentals ordinance.

Supervisor Diane Burgis said she recognizes a person’s right to rent their homes short-term, but they need to ensure it is done safely and with respect for their neighbors.

“Our regulations place common-sense caps on the number of days a rental can be rented and the number of guests allowed,” Burgis said. “We welcome short-term rentals that are properly registered and provide a wonderful vacation home for people to visit our region. But if anyone wants to use a short-term rental as a party house or disturb the neighbors, that’s where we draw the line.”

Burgis noted problems with short-term rentals are not unique to the Delta, but are being reported nationwide. She expressed the hope that repeated fines ranging in the thousands of dollars will encourage homeowners to vet their renters carefully.

Not all short-term rentals are fueling frustration, though. Many property owners –or ‘hosts’ – screen their renters carefully and explain local rules and regulations to prevent issues. Juliette Miller Bradley owns Cheeky Miller Services in Discovery Bay, a property management company she founded in 2018. Bradley added hosting short-term rentals for her clients to her list of services during the COVID-19 pandemic and said it just takes a little processing to ensure respectful renters are occupying her clients’ homes. She works to find out what her guests’ needs are and even their reason for renting the home. She said this can help ensure guests have everything they need and are in compliance with local rules and regulations.

“If there is a complaint, it’s me coming and knocking at the door, not the sheriff,” Bradley said. “I give my business cards out to the neighbors, and they can call me any time night or day. We don’t need a police officer coming up to quiet down an Airbnb, that’s a waste of resources. Let the host and co-host do their job.”

Bradley explained the ‘host’ owns the property and can choose to manage reservations and guest experiences or hire a ‘cohost’ to be the public face of the property. That’s where Miller comes in. She screens renters, keeps the listing up to date and handles any and all issues that arise.

“We do want to make money, but not at our neighbor’s expense,” she said. “Some are doing a really bad job of managing their properties and make the other 90% of us look bad. I know that every home I’m in, even from a property management perspective, cares deeply about Discovery Bay and their neighbors.”

The Press reached out to Airbnb and VRBO to find out how many homes are registered in Discovery Bay and what is done to ensure permits are obtained, but did not receive an answer. Airbnb Public Affairs noted the company encourages hosts to review local laws before listing their properties, enables hosts to cancel visits they feel may result in a party, and takes reports of issues seriously. Recurring issues can result in suspension or removal from the website.

“I want to bring these issues to light, and encourage someone who is being disturbed to call the sheriff’s department and let code enforcement know,” Graham said. “Name the address and let them know the house is operating as a short-term rental and doing so illegally.”

For more information on Contra Costa County rules and regulations, to apply for a permit to operate a short-term rental, or make a complaint about one, call 1-877-646-8314 or visit www.cccounty.us/codecomplaint

To see the letter sent by the Discovery Bay CSD to Losado, visit www.bit.ly/ press_STR

For more information on Cheeky Miller Services, call 925-813-4051 or email Cheekymillerservices@gmail.com.

To comment, visit www.thepress.net

Contra Costa Animal Services Shelter reaches its capacity

Staff Reports

Contra Costa Animal Services (CCAS) is offering free adoptions of all animals during February to alleviate its crowded shelter.

CCAS is also seeking qualified foster homes – specifically those that can accommodate large dog breeds – to reduce the number of animals in the shelter, now numbering more than 100.

“We’ve reached a fever pitch,” says Dr. Katherine Mills, Chief of Shelter Medicine. “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.”

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Interested adopters and fosters can view CCAS’s available pets at www.ccasd. org, or come to meet them at the CCAS adoption center in Martinez. A $25 licensing fee may apply for pet adoptions.

Center hours at 4800 Imhoff Place are Tuesday-Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Wednesdays until 7 p.m.

For more information, contact Contra Costa County Animal Services’ Public Information Officer Steve Burdo at 925393-6836, or by email at steve.burdo@ asd.cccounty.us.

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Two suspects in Brentwood Christmas Eve shooting arrested

By Chris Campos Staff Writer

BRENTWOOD Two suspects linked to a shooting that occurred in the area of Havenwood Court and Brentwood Boulevard. in Brentwood on Christmas Eve have been arrested, Brentwood police said.

A Feb. 2 press release on social media stated, “A combination of two different calibers of casings were initially located by responding officers leading us to believe there were two shooters. Several uninvolved vehicles and residences were hit with stray bullets as a result of the shooting. Thankfully no one was injured.”

Morgan Scales, 31, and Herbert Williams, 37, both of Pittsburg, were arrested on Jan. 30 by the department’s Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team after search warrants were executed at each of their residences.

Four firearms – a semi-automatic rifle and three semi-automatic pistols –were seized. Scales and Williams are prohibited from possessing any firearms due to their criminal history. Detectives now believe they have both firearms used in the shooting on Christmas Eve.

A total of four people, including both shooting suspects, were arrested and booked into the Martinez Detention Facility.

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POWER OF ATTORNEY :

Once you are 18 years of age, it is very important that you have a Power of Attorney (POA). A POA is a legal document in which you, “the principal” give authority to your “agent” to act on your behalf. There are many different types of POAs. There is a General Financial Power of Attorney, which allows your agent to transact any and all business, other than health care. There is a Durable Power of Attorney also referred to as a Uniform Statutory Power of Attorney (SPOA), which remains effective even if you become incapacitated. There is a Power of Attorney for Health Care which is also called at Advanced Health Care Directive. There is also a Limited Power of Attorney, which is sometimes required by banks and other institutions such as CalPERS, IRS, FTB, California Department of Motor Vehicles and Social Security Administration to allow someone to act on your behalf with that specific institution. Each of these institutions has their own required form.

At the minimum, everyone needs to have an SPOA and an Advanced Health Care Directive. You do not need to have an attorney prepare them for you. You just need to follow the directions with the forms. Both of these forms are available for free on my website at www.360epi.com under ‹Resources.›

An SPOA is important to have in place if you are hurt in an accident or become ill and someone needs to handle your finances. If you do not have a Power of Attorney and you become ill or are in an accident, your relative or friend or hospital would need to obtain a conservatorship through the court system. Not only is this expensive, but it is also not necessary if someone has been granted authority to act on your behalf with a Power of Attorney.

Once you have the SPOA completed and notarized, keep it in a secure place. Do not distribute. Let your agent know where your important documents are located, but do not give it out. You do not want anyone acting on your behalf unless it is necessary.

It is also important that everyone has a Health Care Directive. If you do not have a Healthcare Directive, you will still receive medical care. However, if you have a Healthcare Directive, your wishes will be known and there will be a greater chance for you to receive the care and treatment that you wanted. There are many options in completing the Healthcare Directive. and you should spend some time thinking about them. I also have an article about Healthcare Directives on my website.

In conclusion, having a Statutory Power of Attorney and Healthcare Directive are important and easy to do. If you already have any estate plan, you should have done both of these documents as part of the plan. If you do not have these documents, I strongly encourage you to either use the forms on my website or contact an attorney to help you complete them. It is much better for you to decide who will make Healthcare and Financial decisions versus someone else deciding for you.

If you have questions about estate planning, I see people for a free 30-minute consultation in Walnut Creek. This article provides only general legal information, and not specific legal advice. 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

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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.

Events

Saturday, Feb. 11

1st annual Sweetheart 5K Run/Walk

The Rotary Club of Brentwood is hosting their first annual Sweetheart 5K (3.1 miles) Run/Walk from 9-11 a.m. at Veterans Park at 3841 Balfour Road. This race replaces their previous New Year’s Day 5K. The race registration fee is $35 and the sign-up fee is $4. For more information and to register, visit https://www.runbrentwood.com.

Saturday, Feb. 18

American Legion Annual Crab Feed

Brentwood’s American Legion Post 202 is hosting their annual crab feed from 5-10 p.m. at the Brentwood Veterans Memorial Building at 757 First St. The event will also include a raffle. Tickets are $55, and can be purchased by contacting Phil at 925-516-2141.

Saturday, Feb. 25

Lions Club of Brentwood Crab Feed

The Lions Club of Brentwood is hosting an all-you-can-eat crab feed from 6-10 p.m. at the Brentwood Veterans Memorial Building at 757 First St. The event will benefit the Lions Center for the Visually Impaired, and features a raffle and table decorating contest. Tickets are $80, and can be purchased at https://e-clubhouse. org/sites/brentwoodca/\

Liberty Lions 10th Annual Crab Feed

The Liberty Lions Band Boosters is hosting their 10th annual crab feed at the Brentwood Community Center on 35 Oak St., from 5:30-9:30 p.m. The event will also include auctions, prizes and cocktails. Tickets are $85, or $800 for a table of 10. For more information, and to purchase tickets, visit http://bit.ly/3XyoTVa.

Saturday, March 11

Oakley Youth Employment Workshop and Job Fair

The Oakley Recreation Department is hosting an employment workshop and job fair geared towards local youth at the Oakley Recreation Center, located at 1250 O’Hara Ave. from 10 a.m.noon. The goal of the event is to provide local youth the opportunity to learn job-seeking skills and connect with employers. For more information, visit https://bit.ly/3YrG22L

Thursday, March 16

Lions of the North: A Pre-St. Patrick’s Day Celebration

The El Campanil Theatre at 602 W. 2nd St. in Antioch is hosting a Pre-St. Patrick’s Day Celebration at 2 p.m. It features the Irish band Lions of the North. The event is $32 for adults, $29 for seniors, and $15 for youths. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit https:// bit.ly/3Y57rrw.

Saturday, March 25 and Sunday, March 26

Spring Craft Show & Yard Sale

The Brentwood Veterans Memorial Building at 757 First St. is hosting a craft show and yard sale from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Craft vendors will be located indoors and yard sale participants will be in the courtyard. For more information and to become a vendor, email sandmcraftemporium@gmail. com.

Ongoing Events

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/.

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/

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.

Brentwood Community Chorus Rehearsals

The Brentwood Community Chorus meets on Tuesdays from 7- 9 p.m. at Brentwood Community United Methodist Church on 809 Second St. It is open to all ages and abilities as they prepare for their spring season.

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 2nd St. on the 4th Monday of each month at 7:30 p.m.

ACA Women’s Group

The ACA (Adult Children of Alcoholics) Women’s Group meets every Wednesday at 5 p.m. at 809 Second St. in Brentwood. For more information, contact Cici at 530-306-7034.

Nonprofit offers Health Care Career Courses

The nonprofit Opportunity Junction is accepting applications for its Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) program at two locations including the Opportunity Junction Antioch office at 3102 Delta Fair Blvd. Classes began in September. The CNA program includes 12 weeks of training, life skills training, hands-on clinical experience, and job placement assistance. The first step in taking the course is to complete an application form online by visiting https://opportunityjunction. secure.force.com/apply/HCP.

Discovery Bay Corvette Club Meetings

The nonprofit Discovery Bay Corvette Club meets on the first Thursday of each month at 7:30 p.m. at the Discovery Bay Yacht Club, 5871 Marina Road, Bilge Room. The club is dedicated to the enjoyment of owning and driving America’s sports car. For more information, drop by a meeting or contact the membership vice president at 925-341-9433. For more information on the club, visit www.discoverybaycorvetteclub.com.

California Striped Bass Association

West Delta Chapter Meeting

The California Striped Bass Association meets on the second Thursday of each month at 6 p.m. at Sportsmen Yacht Club, 3301 Wilbur Ave., Antioch. For more information, call Moe Adams five days before meeting at 916-529-1192. For more information, visit www.csbadeltachapter.org.

Marine Corps League, Delta Diablo Detachment 1155, monthly meeting

The Marine Corps League, Delta Diablo Detachment 1155, hosts its monthly meeting on the third Thursday of each month at 6:30 p.m. at the Brentwood Veterans Memorial Building, 757 First St., in Brentwood. The group is open to all active or retired U.S. Marines. Attendees are encouraged to bring a veteran friend, and spouses are always welcome. The meetings feature camaraderie, food, drink, conversation and updates on upcoming events. For more information, call 925-338-1775, email MCL1155@outlook.com or visit https://www. mcl1155.org/.

Applications accepted for Administrative Careers Training

The nonprofit Opportunity Junction is accepting applications for its administrative careers training program. Classes are taught via Zoom. The intensive training is 12 weeks, followed by up to four months of paid internship. Participants will learn life and business skills, and can earn their Microsoft Office Skills certificate. For more information, visit https://www.opportunityjunction.org/program-application.

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.

Friday Night Al-Anon Meeting

Al-Anon meetings, which offer a supportive place for friends and families of alcoholics, are held every Friday from 8 to 9:15 p.m. at the Brentwood United Methodist Church at 809 Second St. in Brentwood. There is no need to register. For details, call Trisha at 510-910-1389.

Coffee with Carolyn

Kaleidoscope Cancer Connection’s Coffee with Carolyn is a cancer support group for women, hosted by Carolyn George and financially sup-

ported 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.

Community Resource Classes

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is hosting non-denominational community resource classes at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at 2350 Jeffery Way in Brentwood. The free, 10-week courses will touch on personal finance, starting and growing your own business, emotional resilience, English as a second language, finding a better job and life skills. These are 10-week courses that meet once per week. To register or for more information, visit https://linktr.ee/antiochSR.

Oakley 4-H Club

The Oakley 4-H Club has monthly meetings the second Wednesday of each month at 7 p.m. The club is open to boys and girls ages 5-19. For location information, email Amanda at oakley@ contracosta.org.

Splashball classes

The nonprofit Brentwood Seawolves are accepting registrants for its splashball program. Splashball is an official program of USA Water Polo designed to introduce the sport of water polo to children. “Noodles” are provided to assist with flotation while working on skills and drills, but children must be able to swim to participate. To sign up, or for more information, visit www.brentwoodseawolves.com/ registration-information.

Free ESL Classes

The nonprofit organization Opportunity Junction hosts free online English as a Second Language courses online through Zoom on Mondays and Thursdays from 6-7:30 p.m. or 7:30-9 p.m. The classes are intended to help attendees learn to speak, write and read in English or improve their English. For more information, call 925-776-1133. To apply, visit https:// sforce.co/3KdEfac.

American Legion Post 202 Monthly Meeting

The American Legion Post 202 monthly meeting (on the second Wednesday of the month) is held at 6:30 p.m. 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.

Lunar New Year festival celebrates Chinese culture

To ring in the Lunar New Year, the Heritage High School Chinese Culture Club hosted a festival in downtown Brentwood on Saturday, Feb. 4, as a fundraiser for the club and the others there. The festival took place between Oak Street, along Second and Third streets and acted as a festival and street market. The main feature of the festival was a Lion Dance performed by professional dancers from Hung Sing Martial Arts. To view more photos of the event, visit www. thepress.net/multimedia/slideshows

For classic food, it’s HD Burger and More

For one-of-a-kind unique burgers, Antioch’s HD Burger and More is the place to go. Owned and operated by Haroon and Dina Popal, HD’s menu boasts everything from classic to gourmet burgers, grilled portabella mushrooms, roasted vegetables, myriad salads and more. The family-style restaurant offers a kids menu and is available for eat-in and take-out dining.

HD Burgers and More is located at 5019 Lone Tree Way in Antioch. It is open Monday through Saturday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

For more information, call 925-978-9398.

Grow

Feature

Photos by Greg Robinson and Christian Raitt

INTESTATE SUCCESSION (PART 1)

By Todd W. Moeller, Moeller Estate Law

Under California law, what happens to your property if you are married and one of you passes away without a Will or Living Trust? The property a surviving spouse receives depends on how the married couple owned property (i.e., as separate property or community property). As a general rule, community property is property you acquire while you are married, and separate property is property you acquire before you are married. Please note that there are a couple of exceptions. For example, gifts and inheritances given to one spouse are separate property, even if acquired during marriage.

The surviving spouse inherits the deceased spouse’s half of the community property. If the deceased spouse owned separate property the surviving spouse will inherit all or a portion of it. The size of the surviving spouse’s share of the deceased spouse’s separate property depends on whether or not the deceased

spouse has living parents, children, or siblings. If the deceased spouse does have surviving parents, children or siblings, they and the surviving spouse will share the deceased spouse’s separate property.

In order to maintain control of who receives your property, you should consider setting up a Living Trust to ensure that your assets reach your loved ones. If you have questions concerning the above, your existing estate plan or setting up an estate plan, please contact Todd W. Moeller at (925) 301-8840 or www.Todd@ MoellerEstateLaw.com.

Disclaimer: The information presented in this advertorial is provided for general information only. Todd W. Moeller is licensed to practice law in the State of California only, and any information contained in this advertisement is based on general principles of California law. The information presented should not be construed to be formal legal advice nor the formation of an attorney-client relationship.

925-634-2811

Together through our 12th Annual Give Back Program, we're making our largest donation! Thank you to all our customers who signed up for autopay and EFT in 2022. With your help, and the Food Bank of Contra Costa & Solano, we'll provide more than 20,000 meals throughout the community.

The county is billing the owner of his fire-damaged house $41,174 to clean up this mess.

County bills Oakley man $41,174 for cleanup

by Chris Campos Staff Writer

OAKLEY A property owner is going to get a stiff bill from Contra Costa County for cleaning up his Memory Lane lot in unincorporated Oakley.

The Board of Supervisors on Tuesday approved an abatement cost of $41,174 to be placed against owner Charles W. Surges for all the costs, including removing a firedamaged home and other hazardous material cleanup, incurred by the county at 460 Memory Lane.

The bill will be applied to the owner’s property tax bill. Surges did not appear for the public hearing.

The county ordinance authorizes the recovery of abatement costs in public nuisance cases, the recording of a Notice of Abatement Lien, and inclusion of abatement costs on the tax roll as a special assessment, upon approval of the Board of Supervisors.

The Notice and Order to abate was posted on the above-referenced property for a substandard, fire-damaged, vacant building, accumulated garbage and overgrown vegetation and asbestos remediation and was served on the property owner and all persons known possess the property by certified mail on Feb. 19, 2020. The property owner did not file an appeal of the Notice and Order.

To comment, visit www.thepress.net

$2.8 million in state grants to protect, restore wildlife habitats

East Bay park district gets $300,000

Staff Reports

SACRAMENTO The East Bay Regional Park District in Contra Costa County is among 10 counties statewide to receive $2.8 million from the California Habitat Conservation Fund Grant Program.

This competitive program, funded by the California Wildlife Protection Act of 1990 (Proposition 117), aids local agencies for the protection, restoration and enhancement of wildlife habitat to maintain California’s quality of life.

Riggs Canyon Gateway-Finley Road Ranch Acquisition in the park district will receive $300,000 to acquire 767 acres within the Finley Road Ranch property in East Bay Regional Park District north of the unincorporated community of Tassajara.

“About 40 percent of the estimated

5,500 plant species found in California are found nowhere else on Earth,” said State Parks Director Armando Quintero. “With funding from the California Habitat Conservation Fund, local, state and nonprofit organizations can work toward California’s 30X30 initiative that seeks to protect and restore biodiversity, expand public access to nature, and mitigate and build resilience to climate change.”

In October 2020, Newsom made advancing biodiversity conservation a state priority, elevating the role of nature in the fight against climate change. As part of this executive order, California committed to the goal of conserving 30 percent of lands and coastal waters by 2030 (30X30). To comment, visit www.thepress.net

Photo by Contra Costa County

BIRTHS, ACHIEVEMENTS AND OBITUARIES

Lynette Pitau Hanberg

April 1, 1960-Jan. 27, 2023

Lynette Pitau Hanberg, 62, was born on April 1, 1960, in Antioch to Donald Pitau and Sheilia (Foust) Pitau. She grew up in Byron with her brother John Pitau. She graduated from Liberty High School class of 1978. In 1989, Lynette moved to Brentwood with her husband, Brett Hanberg, her daughter Christina, and her stepson Christopher.

Lynette retired from the Contra Costa County Office of Education as a school secretary in 2015, where she had worked for 32 years. She adored her co-

workers and students.

Lynette enjoyed traveling, including many trips to Disneyland, Alaska, Yellowstone, and Disney World. But, no matter where she went, she always had to take a break on Sunday to watch NASCAR. Some of her favorite trips were to watch NASCAR races all over the US.

Lynette will be remembered for her infectious laugh and loving heart. Her grandchildren – Andrew, Miles, and Brielle – were the joy of her life. She was the most incredible daughter, mom and grandmother.

Lynette is survived by her husband, Brett Hanberg; her daughter Christina Valenzuela, son-in-law Joe Valenzuela; her grandchildren, Andrew, Miles, and Brielle; her stepson Christopher Hanberg; her parents, Don and Sheilia Pitau; and her brother, John Pitau.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in her honor to the Yellowstone Forever Wolf Project. Donations are accepted online or by mail to 222 East Main St., Suite 301, Bozeman, MT 59715.

Lynette passed away on Jan. 27 in Brentwood.

Oakley native selected as USS Iwo Jima Warrior

Machinery Repairman 2nd Class Benjamin Martin, a native of Oakley, was recognized as Warrior of the Week aboard the Wasp-class amphibious assault ship, USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7), on Jan. 18. Warrior of the Week recipients are selected for their hard work, dedication and outstanding character. “One thing that has really helped me succeed in the Navy, that I learned back home, is being around all kinds of people,” said Martin. “Growing up in Northern California, it’s very diverse, and there are a lot of people who think very differently than you — the same goes for the Navy.” For the full story, visit: https://navyoutreach.blogspot.com/2023/01/ oakley-native-selected-as-uss-iwo-jima.html

Milestones Milestones

Have you or someone you know recently reached a “milestone”?

If so, we’d like to know about it!

Mail or Fax info to: The Press 248 Oak St., Brentwood, CA 94513 or email to: editor@brentwoodpress.com

925-634-1441 Fax: 925-634-1975 | Please note: Photos cannot be returned.

Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3nd Class Caitlin E. Mazzola, USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7) Public Affairs

SportS

Senior night a success as Lions stomp Panthers

By Juan Cebreiros Correspondent

It was senior night for the Liberty Lions as they dominated the Antioch Panthers 84-54 in the Lions’ Den on Feb. 2.

Going into the game, the Lions were without starting point guard Quinton Bundage, who had injured his knee in their game against Pittsburg on Jan. 26. Head coach Jon Heinz said he does not want to rush his point guard back and said it was possible he rests for the remainder of the season until playoffs start.

With it being senior night, Heinz changed his lineup to start five seniors. His first players to come off the bench in the game were also seniors as he tried to give his seniors as much playing time as possible.

“We didn’t stick to the game plan at first; we didn’t really do our jobs,” Heinz said on the team’s performance in the opening quarter

The Lions started slowly but managed to lead 26-19 after the first quarter. Forward Ethan Wasem and guard Julian Costa both had big opening quarters as they each hit multiple three pointers to lead the Lions.

However, the Lions started to pull away in the second quarter, outscoring the Panthers 25-9. This continued in the third quarter as the Lions led 71-39 after three quarters.

The Panthers struggled against Liberty’s trap scheme all night, which resulted in Antioch forcing bad shots and turning the ball over several times. The Panthers scored just 20 combined points in the second and third quarters,

“I thought the second and third quarters, we were outstanding,” Heinz said on his team’s performance.

The large lead allowed for some of the Lions’ younger players to get more playing time than usual. Sopho-

more Alex Zenn Dash played the majority of the third and fourth quarters.

“It felt good,” Dash said, “I finally got to get in the game and show off what I can do.”

In the fourth quarter, the Lions ended the game sloppily, turning the ball over several times against Antioch’s full-court press and trap defense.

“There’s guys in there that don’t get a lot of playing time, so it’s different playing in front of a crowd. Some of

Despite a sloppy end to the game on Feb. 2, the Liberty Lions still managed to blow out the Antioch Panthers by 30 points. With the win, the Lions improve to 8-0 in the Bay Valley Athletic League. The Panthers drop to 2-6.

these young guys, it’s good for them getting experience, and you have to learn from your mistakes sometimes,” Heinz said.

Despite a sloppy end to the game, the Lions still managed to blow out the Panthers by 30 points. With the win, the Lions improve to 8-0 in the Bay Valley Athletic League and are guaranteed to at least share the league title. The Panthers drop to 2-6 in league and are guaranteed to finish below .500 in league play.

Friends, family support coach in breast cancer fight

By Rene De Amaral Staff Writer

Cecy Martinez has been a Brentwood educator and soccer coach for years. But during her second fight with breast cancer, which has metastasized, Brentwood has shown her love and support.

Martinez has seen support through the Liberty High School varsity boys soccer team, who are 5-3 and in third place in the Bay Valley Athletic League, having beat Antioch High School on Friday, Feb. 3. The team has had extra motivation to work hard, as they dedicated their season to Cecy.

Not only do they dedicate their games to their coach, they wear pink socks during all their games, write messages on their undershirts and create posters full of encouragement. The 2023 winter soccer season is Martinez’s fourth year coaching the varsity boys soccer team, alongside her fiance, Jesus Gomez, and her 10th year as a coach for the East County Revolution Soccer Club.

According to her sister, Yessenia Martinez, she is not as involved physi-

cally because of her fight. But she is often tagged and sent photos from students and parents, which always bring her a smile.

Support for Cecy not only comes from the varsity boys team, but from her students, parents, and her family, who co-

ordinated a fundraiser to assist her during treatment. Yessenia, along with her cousin, Natalie Pantoja, sold 1,000 multicolored bracelets with colors that refer to Metastatic Breast Cancer, reading “God of Miracles. #Team Cecy.”

Cecy is also a first-grade teacher at Mary Casey Black Elementary School, where they have implemented “Martinez Mondays.” Feb. 6 marked the first Martinez Monday, and Mary Casey Black Elementary was decked out in pink decorations for Cecy. The school also had #TEAMCECY on their school sign, a large poster for students to sign and took a schoolwide commemorative photo with pompons to cheer on Cecy.

Yessenia appreciates the community support for her sister and asks that people continue offering their prayers and support for Cecy and her family,

“Cecy is many things. She’s strong, beautiful, intelligent, resilient, hardworking, creative, passionate, athletic, loving, and she’s a fighter. She’s a mother, daughter, sister, fiance, cousin, niece, granddaughter, godmother, teacher, coach and so much more. She has had quite the impact on this community, on the field and in the classroom, and she is so loved by many, which has been so heartwarming to see.”

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

Family, friends, students colleagues and players have shown their support for Cecy Martinez during her fight against breast cancer.

Press photo

Photo by Juan Cebreiros

Panthers’ blunders costly in loss to Patriots

By Juan Cebreiros Correspondent

With less than a minute to play in the Jan. 31 Heritage Patriots-Antioch Panthers boys basketball game, the Panthers trailed by 4 points coming out of a timeout with an inbound play designed to get a three-point shot.

The play started, but the referees blew it dead mid-play because the scoreboard operators did not cut off the music in time from during the timeout.

“We ran it to perfection and we were going to get a three-point opportunity off of it,” Panthers head coach Bob Cleveland Jr. said about his play getting stopped by the referees on the Patriots’ home court. “We had the perfect play set up for the defense they were running. It was frustrating,”

This sealed the Panthers’ fate as the second time around, the play didn’t work. That left them forced to foul to stop the clock and hope for missed free throws. Ratchford was sent to the free throw line and made one to put the game away. Antioch managed to hit a buzzer-beater three pointer but it didn’t matter as they still lost 59-57.

The Panthers’ inconsistencies throughout the game cost them a possible road victory against a league opponent.

Cleveland said the team missed too many layups in their recent game against the Patriots, which resulted in the team’s

loss.

“We had so many breakaway layups that we just missed, one-on-zero’s and one-on-one’s, we missed about seven of those. So that was the difference of the game.”

After one quarter, the Patriots led 169, but this lead would quickly fade away in the second quarter with Antioch going

on a 16-4 run led by senior forward Ty Bristol who made multiple three-pointers during the run.

“We left a kid loose and he hit three threes. We have to do a better job of matching up and not letting a kid get hot,” Patriots head coach Carly Perales said on the big second-quarter run.

The Panthers, lead was 25-20 going

into the final minutes of the first half. The teams traded scores and by halftime, Antioch’s lead was just 29-28.

In the second half, both teams’ defenses were playing efficiently, forcing the opposing offenses to turn the ball over several times in the third quarter

Antioch scored just eight points in the entire third quarter as their offense coming off a 20-point second quarter was knocked off balance. Cleveland gave credit to the Patriots defense by making it difficult for his team to determine which defense they were playing.

“They were switching their defenses up. We struggled on recognizing whether it was a one-guard or two-guard front to make sure we ran the right zone plays.”

Patriots senior forward Jordan Ratchford, who dislocated his knee cap during basketball tryouts and missed the first six weeks of the season, scored a game-high 22 points and went on a 8-0 by himself during the final quarter. He was a big reason why the Patriots edged out the Panthers, his coach said.

“It’s taken him now until league where I feel he’s 100%, and you can see the results now. Tonight, he was important for us,” Perales said.

Heritage improves to 6-2 in league play, 12-12 overall, as they continue to try to catch the undefeated first place Liberty Lions. Antioch drops to 2-5 in league play, 9-15 overall, leaving them to finish at best with a .500 record.

Devon Rivers of Heritage High drives to the basket as Heritage beat Antioch, 59-57, on Jan. 31.

Photo by Juan Cebreiros

Liberty percussion group tops Corn Country Classic

By Frankie Brown Correspondent

The school air was tense with anticipation this Saturday as the announcer’s voice boomed from the gymnasium speakers: “… and in first place, the Liberty Union Winter Percussion with a score of 67.85.”

The Liberty Union Winter team has students from Liberty, Heritage, and Freedom high schools. On Saturday, Liberty hosted a winter color guard, percussion, and drum major competition. Seventeen schools from the Bay Area, including Freedom High School in Oakley, competed in the “Corn Country Classic.” Of the four categories Liberty competed in, they placed first in three of them.

Just two years ago, hearing about the achievements of Liberty High School’s band may have taken most Brentwood residents by surprise. However, Liberty’s band program has excelled under the direction of Lindsay Kellogg.

Despite being under Kellogg’s direction for five years, Liberty Marching Band has competed for only two years. Even so, they’ve won almost a dozen awards, taking first overall at the Rodriguez Tournament of Champions in 2022. It had been only Liberty’s second year of competing in more than 20 years.

“It was an honor and privilege to host the first NCBA winter competition of the season last weekend,” Kellogg said. “Seeing over 180 parents and students come together to put on this event was amazing. Everyone worked together to put on a wonderful competition that represented Liberty and the town of Brentwood in the highest manner. I am so proud of our group’s performance earning 1st place in multiple divisions and am looking forward to next year’s competition, Saturday February 3, 2024.”

The winter programs at Liberty High

School have been building over the past six years. The winter color guard program began six years ago and has continued to grow. The winter percussion program is in its second year of the competitive season featuring students from all three high schools. It was an honor for them to be able to compete and perform at home this past weekend.

Ben Bettis, a senior at Liberty High School, placed first in the solo drum major Military category. “It’s good to make Liberty known to other schools in the Bay Area. After not marching for three years, I was so impressed with how we took home the gold and how we were able to host a competition with zero hosting experience. I’m happy I was able to be here for it.”

Student volunteers swarmed the school in a sea of cardinal colors, with an almost

contagious excitement. Some students worked more than 10 hours, taking time off from work and other extracurricular pursuits to cheer on their school and make a name for themselves in the Northern California Band Association.

Sofia Cummings, a competitor in the drum major military category, claimed that the volunteer time was worth it, commenting that, “I feel like it was a good use of a Saturday. Liberty’s band is really like a family. We work together, and we win.”

Results of the competition included these winners:

Color Guard

Middle School

1st: Wells Winter Guard

2nd: Park Middle School Winter Guard Regional AAA

1st: Linden High School Winter Guard

2nd: Freedom High School Winter Guard

Regional AA

1st: Deer Valley Winter Guard

2nd: Amijo Royal Regiment Guard

Regional A

1st: Liberty Varsity Guard

2nd: City of Livermore Guard

Percussion Concert

1st: Amijo Royal Regiment Mallet Ensemble

2nd: Linden High School Winter Percussion

Regional A

1st: Deer Valley High School Winter Percussion

2nd: LCHS Black Line

Regional AA

1st: Liberty Union Winter Percussion

2nd: Lincoln High School Winter Percussion

Open

1st: Foothill High School Winter Percussion

Solo Drum Major

Mace Novice

1st: Jose Cordova, Antioch High School

2nd: James Brockman, Rodriguez High School

Mace Scholastic

1st: Maya Jackson, Rodriguez High School

2nd: Princessa Silva, Armijo High School

Mace Open

1st: Rainier Lugue, Vallejo High School

2nd: Zac Shi, Lincoln High School

Military Novice

1st: Ben Bettis, Liberty High School

2nd: Anne Dumas, Liberty High School

Military Scholastic

1st: Lindsey Goetowski, Del Mar High School

Military Open

1st: Jesse Rae Paule, Jesse M. Bethel High School

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

Submitted photo

The Liberty High School Drumline/Percussion Team took first place in three categories of the “Corn Country Classic.”

O pini O n

Letters to the editor

Center thanks Brentwood Rotary for furniture donation

Editor:

The Board of Directors and the staff members of Village Community Resource Center (VCRC) would like to thank the Rotary Club of Brentwood for their recent generous donation of large storage cabinets and special, student-friendly tables for VCRC’s After School Academy programs.

The Rotary Club secured a grant from the Rotary Foundation to fund the installations, and our students are finding them very useful.

We also very much appreciate the time several Rotarians took from their busy schedules to assemble these tables and cabinets.

These cabinets provide ample storage for the needs of our growing student population. The tables, which can easily be moved and rearranged, facilitate small group and individual instruction.

The students, volunteers, and teachers also enjoy using them.

Since its founding, VCRC has depended upon the strong support from

POLITICAL ENDORSEMENT LETTER TO THE

EDITOR

POLICY

The Press invites your political endorsement letter to the editor advocating for or against a candidate, ballot measure or political party. Letters placed in print and online are $30 for up to 200 words or $50 for up to 325 words. Please 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.

BrentwOOd

many individual donors, charitable foundations, organizations, and companies. We are very grateful for this kind donation as we continue to serve families in East Contra Costa County.

Board of Directors and staff members of VCRC

Paper helps BUSD students learn in many ways

Editor:

The Brentwood Union School District has partnered with a company called

Paper to provide unlimited, 24/7 tutoring and academic support tools to its middle school students.

Michael Bowen, the district’s director of curriculum and instruction, believes that the 24/7 support provided by Paper will be a big benefit for students.

“We are very excited in BUSD to be able to offer live tutoring sessions to all of our students at Edna Hill Middle School. This opportunity will allow the EHMS students to receive outside of school support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week,” Bowen said.

On the Paper platform, students can receive one-on-one tutoring, coaching on writing skills, college and career support, gamified learning, and after-school enrichment. The company employs highly qualified tutors who offer multilingual support in English, French, Spanish, and Mandarin.

The company is partnered with more than 400 school districts across the nation.

Ava Paydar Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Editor’s note: The author is the corporate communications manager for Paper.

Publisher Greg Robinson Controller Sandie McNulty

Editor Chris Campos

Interim Production Manager Eric Kinnaird

Ad Services Manager Connie O’Neill

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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

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

Town Manager and Community Services District

1800 Willow Lake Road

Discovery Bay, CA 94505

Phone: 925-634-1131

GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS

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

State Sen. Steve Glazer

Seventh Senate District

Capitol Office:

State Capitol, Room 4082

Sacramento, CA 95814

Phone: 916-651-4007

District Office:

420 West Third St.

Antioch, CA 94509

Phone: 925-258-1176

Fax: 925-258-9982

Cell: 925-963-1611

http://sd07.senate.ca.gov

Assemblymember Jim Frazier

11th Assembly District Capitol Office: P.O. Box 942849

Sacramento, CA 94249

Phone: 916-319-2011

District Office:

150 City Park Way

Brentwood, CA 94513

Phone: 925-513-0411

Fax: 925-513-3511

www.asmdc.org/members/a11

Gov. Gavin Newsom

State Capitol, Suite 1173

Sacramento, CA 95814

Phone: 916-445-2841

Fax: 916-558-3160

www.gov.ca.gov

U.S. Rep. Jerry McNerney

9th Congressional District

Washington, DC Office:

2265 Rayburn HOB

Washington, DC 20515

Phone: 202-225-1947

Fax: 202-225-4060

Antioch Office:

4703 Lone Tree Way

Antioch, CA 94531

Phone: 925-754-0716

Fax: 925-754-0728

www.mcnerney.house.gov

U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla

Washington, DC Office: 408 Dirksen SOB

Washington, DC 20510

Phone: 202-224-3553

Fax: 202-224-2200

www.padilla.senate.gov

U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein

Washington, DC Office: 331 Hart SOB

Washington, DC 20510

Phone: 202-224-3841

Fax: 202-228-3954

San Francisco Office:

One Post St., Room 2450

San Francisco, CA 94104

Phone: 415-393-0707

Fax: 415-393-0710

www.feinstein.senate.gov

President Joe Biden

The White House

1600 Pennsylvania Ave., NW

Washington, DC 20500

Phone: 202-456-1111

Fax: 202-456-2461

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right. The property offered for sale excludes all funds held on account by the property receiver, if applicable. If the Trustee is unable to convey title for any reason, the successful bidder’s sole and exclusive remedy shall be the return of monies paid to the Trustee and the successful bidder shall have no further recourse. Notice to Potential Bidders

If you are considering bidding on this property lien, you should understand that there are risks involved in bidding at a Trustee auction. You will be bidding on a lien, not on the property itself. Placing the highest bid at a Trustee auction does not automatically entitle you to free and clear ownership of the property. You should also be aware that the lien being auctioned off may be a junior lien. If you are the highest bidder at the auction, you are or may be responsible for paying off all liens senior to the lien being auctioned off, before you can receive clear title to the property. You are encouraged to investigate the existence, priority, and size of outstanding liens that may exist on this property by contacting the county recorder’s office or a title insurance company, either of which may charge you a fee for this information. If you consult either of these resources, you should be aware that the same Lender may hold more than one mortgage or Deed of Trust on the property. Notice to Property Owner

The sale date shown on this Notice of Sale may be postponed one or more times by the Mortgagee, Beneficiary, Trustee, or a court, pursuant to Section 2924g of the California Civil Code. The law requires that information about Trustee Sale postponements be made available to you and to the public, as a courtesy to those not present at the sale. If you wish to learn whether your sale date has been postponed, and, if applicable, the rescheduled time and date for the sale of this property, you may call Auction.com at 800.280.2832 for information regarding the Trustee’s Sale or visit the Internet Website address www.Auction.com for information regarding the sale of this property, using the file number assigned to this case, CA08001094-22-1. Information about postponements that are very short in duration or that occur close in time to the scheduled sale may not immediately be reflected in the telephone information or on the Internet Website. The best way to verify postponement information is to attend the scheduled sale. Notice to Tenant

NOTICE TO TENANT FOR FORECLOSURES

AFTER JANUARY 1, 2021 You may have a right to purchase this property after the trustee auction pursuant to Section 2924m of the California Civil Code. If you are an “eligible tenant buyer,” you can purchase the property if you match the last and highest bid placed at the trustee auction. If you are an “eligible bidder,” you may be able to purchase the property if you exceed the last and highest bid placed at the trustee auction. There are three steps to exercising this right of purchase. First, 48 hours after the date of the trustee sale, you can call 800.280.2832, or visit this internet website www.Auction. com, using the file number assigned to this case CA08001094-22-1 to find the date on which the trustee’s sale was held, the amount of the last and highest bid, and the address of the trustee. Second, you must send a written notice of intent to place a bid so that the trustee receives it no more than 15 days after the trustee’s sale. Third, you must submit a bid so that the trustee receives it no more than 45 days after the trustee’s sale. If you think you may qualify as an “eligible tenant buyer” or “eligible bidder,” you should consider contacting an attorney or appropriate real estate professional immediately for advice regarding this potential right to purchase.

Date: January 20, 2023 MTC Financial Inc. dba Trustee Corps TS No. CA08001094-22-1 17100 Gillette Ave Irvine, CA 92614 Phone: 949-252-8300 TDD: 866-660-4288

By: Loan Quema, Authorized Signatory SALE INFORMATION CAN BE OBTAINED ONLINE AT www.Auction.com FOR AUTOMATED SALES INFORMATION PLEASE CALL: Auction.com at 800.280.2832

NPP0420561 To: OAKLEY PRESS 02/03/2023, 02/10/2023, 02/17/2023

Oakley Press No. 03-0477 89870 Pub-

lish Dates: February 3, 10, 17, 2023.

NOTICE OF TRUSTEE’S SALE

T.S. No. 105866-CA APN: 035-133009-7 IMPORTANT NOTICE TO PROPERTY OWNER: YOU ARE IN DEFAULT UNDER A DEED OF TRUST, DATED

4/17/2018. UNLESS YOU TAKE ACTION TO PROTECT YOUR PROPERTY, IT MAY BE SOLD AT A PUBLIC SALE. IF YOU NEED AN EXPLANATION OF THE NATURE OF THE PROCEEDING AGAINST YOU, YOU SHOULD CONTACT A LAWYER On

3/14/2023 at 9:00 AM, CLEAR RECON CORP, as duly appointed trustee under and pursuant to Deed of Trust recorded

4/24/2018 as Instrument No. 20180063569-00 of Official Records in the office of the County Recorder of Contra Costa County, State of CALIFORNIA executed by: STEPHANIE BILLETT, A SINGLE WOMAN WILL SELL AT PUBLIC AUCTION TO HIGHEST BIDDER FOR CASH, CASHIER’S CHECK DRAWN ON A STATE OR NATIONAL BANK, A CHECK DRAWN BY A STATE OR FEDERAL CREDIT UNION, OR A CHECK DRAWN BY A STATE OR FEDERAL SAVINGS AND LOAN ASSOCIATION, SAVINGS ASSOCIATION, OR SAVINGS BANK SPECIFIED IN SECTION 5102 OF THE FINANCIAL CODE AND AUTHORIZED TO DO BUSINESS IN THIS STATE; At the Auction.com Room, Pleasant Hill Community Center, 320 Civic Drive, Pleasant Hill, CA 94523 all right, title and interest conveyed to and now held by it under said Deed of Trust in the property situated in said County and State described as: LOTS 7 AND 8, IN BLOCK 3, MAP OF TOWN OF OAKLEY, FILED MARCH 21, 1901, IN BOOK C OF MAPS, AT PAGE 51, CONTRA COSTA COUNTY RECORDS. EXCEPTING THEREFROM: THE NORTH 50 FEET OF LOTS 7 AND 8, GRANTED IN THE DEED TO TONY H. GONSALVES, RECORDED MARCH 23, 1964, BOOK 4579, PAGE 339, CONTRA COSTA COUNTY RECORDS.

“ALL OIL, GAS, CASINGHEAD GASOLINE, AND OTHER HYDROCARBON AND MINERAL SUBSTANCES BELOW A POINT 500 FEET BELOW A POINT 500 FEET BELOW THE SURFACE OF SAID LAND. HEREINABOVE DESCRIBED TOGETHER WITH THE RIGHT TO TAKE, REMOVE, MINE, PASS THROUGH AND DISPOSE OF ALL OIL, GAS, CASINGHEAD GASOLINE AND OTHER HYDROCARBON AND MINERAL SUBSTANCES BUT WITHOUT ANY RIGHT WHATSOEVER TO ENTER UPON THE SURFACE OF SAID LAND. The street address and other common designation, if any, of the real property described above is purported to be: 319 2ND ST, OAKLEY, CA 94561 The undersigned Trustee disclaims any liability for any incorrectness of the street address and other common designation, if any, shown herein. Said sale will be held, but without covenant or warranty, express or implied, regarding title, possession, condition, or encumbrances, including fees, charges and expenses of the Trustee and of the trusts created by said Deed of Trust, to pay the remaining principal sums of the note(s) secured by said Deed of Trust. The total amount of the unpaid balance of the obligation secured by the property to be sold and reasonable estimated costs, expenses and advances at the time of the initial publication of the Notice of Sale is: $351,798.69 If the Trustee is unable to convey title for any reason, the successful bidder’s sole and exclusive remedy shall be the return of monies paid to the Trustee, and the successful bidder shall have no further recourse. The beneficiary under said Deed of Trust heretofore executed and delivered to the undersigned a written Declaration of Default and Demand for Sale, and a written Notice of Default and Election to Sell. The undersigned or its predecessor caused said Notice of Default and Election to Sell to be recorded in the county where the real property is located. NOTICE TO POTENTIAL BIDDERS: If you are considering bidding on this property lien, you should understand that there are risks involved in bidding at a trustee auction. You will be bidding on a lien, not on the property itself. Placing the highest bid at a trustee auction does not automatically entitle you to free and clear ownership of the property. You should also be aware that the lien being auctioned off may be a junior

lien. If you are the highest bidder at the auction, you are or may be responsible for paying off all liens senior to the lien being auctioned off, before you can receive clear title to the property. You are encouraged to investigate the existence, priority, and size of outstanding liens that may exist on this property by contacting the county recorder’s office or a title insurance company, either of which may charge you a fee for this information. If you consult either of these resources, you should be aware that the same lender may hold more than one mortgage or deed of trust on the property. NOTICE TO PROPERTY OWNER: The sale date shown on this notice of sale may be postponed one or more times by the mortgagee, beneficiary, trustee, or a court, pursuant to Section 2924g of the California Civil Code. The law requires that information about trustee sale postponements be made available to you and to the public, as a courtesy to those not present at the sale. If you wish to learn whether your sale date has been postponed, and, if applicable, the rescheduled time and date for the sale of this property, you may call (800) 280-2832 or visit this Internet Web site WWW.AUCTION.COM, using the file number assigned to this case 105866CA. Information about postponements that are very short in duration or that occur close in time to the scheduled sale may not immediately be reflected in the telephone information or on the Internet Web site. The best way to verify postponement information is to attend the scheduled sale. NOTICE

TO TENANT: Effective January 1, 2021, you may have a right to purchase this property after the trustee auction pursuant to Section 2924m of the California Civil Code. If you are an “eligible tenant buyer,” you can purchase the property if you match the last and highest bid placed at the trustee auction. If you are an “eligible bidder,” you may be able to purchase the property if you exceed the last and highest bid placed at the trustee auction. There are three steps to exercising this right of purchase. First, 48 hours after the date of the trustee sale, you can call (855) 313-3319, or visit this internet website www.clearreconcorp.com, using the file number assigned to this case 105866-CA to find the date on which the trustee’s sale was held, the amount of the last and highest bid, and the address of the trustee. Second, you must send a written notice of intent to place a bid so that the trustee receives it no more than 15 days after the trustee’s sale. Third, you must submit a bid so that the trustee receives it no more than 45 days after the trustee’s sale. If you think you may qualify as an “eligible tenant buyer” or “eligible bidder,” you should consider contacting an attorney or appropriate real estate professional immediately for advice regarding this potential right to purchase. FOR SALES INFORMATION: (800) 280-2832 CLEAR RECON CORP 8880 Rio San Diego Drive, Suite 725 San Diego, California 92108 Oakley Press No. 030477 89909 Publish Dates: February 10, 17, 24, 2023.

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME

PETITIONER OR ATTORNEY: Josiah Jones SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF CONTRA COSTA, 725 Court Street Martinez, CA 94553 PETITION OF: Josiah Taylor Jones CASE NUMBER: N28-0178 TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS: 1. Petitioner Josiah Taylor Jones filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: Present Name: a. Josiah Taylor Jones to Proposed Name: Paul Joshua Beasley. 2. THE COURT ORDERS that all persons interested in this matter shall appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the

court may grant the petition without a hearing. NOTICE OF HEARING a.

Date: 4/21/2023 Time: 9:00 a.m.

Dept.: 30 b. The address of the court is same as noted above. 3. a. A copy of this Order to Show Cause shall be published at least once each week for four successive weeks prior to the date set for hearing on the petition in the following newspaper of general circulation, printed in this county: Brentwood Press

b.Bring proof of residency to hearing.

Date: 01/26/2023 Judge of the Superior Court Brentwood Press No. 021273 89882 Publish Dates: February 3,10,17, 24, 2023.

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME

PETITIONER OR ATTORNEY: Martina Marcelino SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF CONTRA COSTA, 725 Court Street Martinez, CA 94553 PETITION OF: Martina Marcelino CASE NUMBER: N230192 TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS:

1. Petitioner Martina Marcelino filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: Present Name: a. Martina Marcelino to Proposed Name: Martina Garcia.

2. THE COURT ORDERS that all persons interested in this matter shall appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing. NOTICE OF HEARING a.

Date: 04/03/2023 Time: 9:00 a.m.

Dept.: 30 b. The address of the court is same as noted above. 3. a. A copy of this Order to Show Cause shall be published at least once each week for four successive weeks prior to the date set for hearing on the petition in the following newspaper of general circulation, printed in this county: Brentwood Press Date: 01/31/2023 Judge of the Superior Court Brentwood Press No. 02-1273 89918 Publish Dates: February 10,17, 24, March 3, 2023.

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME STATEMENT

File No. F-2023-0000377 The name of the business: Boni Live Located at: 5612 Plumbridge Way In: Antioch, CA 94531, is hereby registered by the following owner(s): Boni Ian Encinares Avila. This business is conducted by: An Individual. The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on N/A. Signature of registrant: Boni Ian Avila, Individual. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Contra Costa County on: January 23, 2023 by Deputy Clerk Expires 1/22/2028 Antioch Press No. 06-1617 Publish Dates: February 10, 17, 24, March 3, 2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT

File No. F-2023-0000009 The name of the business(es): YSELA’S ESTHETICS Located at: 3720 SUNSET LN, SUITE A In: ANTIOCH, CA 94509, is hereby registered by the following owner(s): YSELA ORALIA HOWLAND. This business is conducted by: an Individual.

The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on N/A.

Signature of registrant: Ysela Oralia Howland, Individual. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Contra Costa County on: 01/03/2023 by Deputy Clerk Expires 01/02/2028 Brentwood Press No. 02-1273

Publish Dates: January 27, February 3, 10, 17, 2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT File No. F-2023-0000030 The name of the business(es): Cozy Little Cub Located at: 1315 WW 7th St In: Antioch, CA 94509, is hereby registered by the following owner(s): Limny Castro).

This business is conducted by: An Individual. The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on 2/25/2022. Signature of registrant: Limny Castro, Owner. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Contra Costa County on: January 4, 2023 by Deputy Clerk Expires 1/3/2028 Antioch Press No.06-1617 Publish dates: January 27, February 3, 10, 17, 24, 2023.

Publish Dates: January 27, February 3, 10, 17, 2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME STATEMENT File No. F-2023-0000164 The name of the business(es): Transpacific America Located at: 1015 Chamomile Lane In: Brentwood, CA 94513, is hereby registered by the following owner(s): Bruce Anderson Smith. This business is conducted by: An Individual. The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on 11/01/1994.

Signature of registrant: Bruce A Smith, CEO. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Contra Costa County on: 01/10/2023 by Deputy Clerk Expires 01/10/2028 Brentwood Press No. 02-1273

Publish Dates: January 20, 27, February 3, 10, 2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME STATEMENT File No. F-2023-0000519 The name of the business(es): Bella Bakes Located at: 43 Oakwood Rd. In: Orinda, CA 94563, is hereby registered by the following owner(s): Bella Bakes LLC. This business is conducted by: a Limited Liability Company, State of Organizati on: CA. The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on N/A. Signature of registrant: Shana Soltani, Managing Member. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Contra Costa County on: 01/27/2023 by Deputy Clerk Expires 01/26/2028 Brentwood Press No. 02-1273

Publish Dates: February 3, 10, 17, 24, 2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME STATEMENT File No. F-2022-0007141 The name of the business(es): HSH Development & Properties INC Located at: 4100 Alhambra Ave In: Martinez, CA 94553, is hereby registered by the following owner(s): HSH Development & Properties. This business is conducted by: A Corporation, State of Incorporat ion: CA. The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on N/A. Signature of registrant: Cristina Sandoval, President. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Contra Costa County on: December 30, 2022 by Deputy Clerk Expires December 29, 2027 Brentwood Press No. 02-1273

Publish Dates: February 10, 17, 24, March 3, 2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME STATEMENT File No. F-2022-0006972 The name of the business(es): Tracerco US LLC Located at: 5750 Imhoff, Suite F In: Concord, CA 94520, is hereby registered by the following owner: Paul Hewitt. This business is conducted by: A Limited Partnership: DE. The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on N/A. Signature of registrant: Paul Hewitt, President. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Contra Costa County on: 12/21/2022 by Deputy Clerk Expires 12/22/2027 Brentwood Press No. 02-1273

Publish Dates: January 27, February 3, 10, 17, 2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME STATEMENT File No. F-2023-0000316 The name of the business(es):

1. True Rent Property Management

2. TRPM Located at: 1298 Blossom Cir In: Livermore, CA 94550, is hereby registered

by the following owner(s): Truitt Enterprises. This business is conducted by: A Corporation, State of Incorporat ion: CA. The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on N/A. Signature of registrant: Aaron A Truitt, President. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Contra Costa County on: January 19, 2023 by Deputy Clerk Expires 01/18/2028

Brentwood Press No. 02-1273

Publish Dates: February 3, 10, 17, 24, 2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT

File No. F-2022-000 7097

The name of the business(e s): 1. Legacy Coffee Roasters 2. OR Pro Audio Located at: 207 Manuel Ct In: Bay Point CA., is hereby registered by the following owner(s): Oscar Rojas. This business is conducted by: a Limited Liability Company, State of Organizati on: CA. The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on NA. Signature of registrant: Oscar Rojas, CEO/Manager. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Contra Costa County on: 12/29/2022 by Deputy Clerk Expires 12/28/2027 Brentwood Press No. 02-1273

Publish Dates: January 27, February 3, 10, 17, 2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME STATEMENT

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME STATEMENT

File No. F-2023-0000357 The name of the business(es): Reef Villa Located at: 2234 Reef Ct In: Discovery Bay, CA 94505, is hereby registered by the following owner(s): Quoc Hung Pham. This business is conducted by: An Individual. The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on 01/20/2023. Signature of registrant: Quoc Pham, Owner. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Contra Costa County on: January 20, 2023 by Deputy Clerk Expires 01/19/2028 Brentwood Press No. 02-1273

Publish Dates: February 3, 10, 17, 24, 2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME STATEMENT File No. F-2023-000 0338

The name of the business: Paragon Real Estate Services Located at: 1501 N. Broadway Ste. 401 In: Walnut Creek, is hereby registered by the following owner: Timothy K. Powers. This business is conducted by: An Individual. The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on 05/06/2015. Signature of registrant: Timothy K. Powers, Owner. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Contra Costa County on: January 20, 2023 by Deputy Clerk Expires 01/19/2028 Brentwood Press No. 02-1273

File No. F-2023-000 0458

The name of the business(e s): Re/Max Crossroads Located at: 9000 Brentwood Blvd. Ste. B In: Brentwood, CA 94513, is hereby registered by the following owner(s): Compass Land and Homes Inc. This business is conducted by: A Corporation, State of Incorporat ion: CA. The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on N/A. Signature of registrant: Ellen Albright, CFO. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Contra Costa County on: January 25, 2023 by Deputy Clerk Expires 01/24/2028

Brentwood Press No. 02-1273

Publish Dates: February 3, 10, 17, 24, 2023

STATEMENT OF WITHDRAWAL FROM PARTNERSHIP OPERATING UNDER FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME

The following person(s) Leo Robles has withdrawn as a general partner(s) from the partnership operating under the fictitious business name of Power Real Estate Group at 2603 Camino Ramon, Suite 200, San Ramon, CA 94583.

The fictitious business name statement for the partnership was filed on 10/26/2021in the County of Contra Costa under the File Number F-2021-0006308. The full name and residence of the person or persons withdrawing as partner(s): Leo Robles 2390 E. Orangewood Ave. Suite 400, Anaheim, CA 92806

Signature: Leo Robles.

This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Contra Costa County on: January 18, 2023 Brentwood Press No. 02-1273 Publish Dates: February 3, 10, 17, 24, 2023.

Publish Dates: February 3, 10, 17, 24, 2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME STATEMENT

File No. F- 2022-0007057

The name of the business(es): Richmond Pallet Company Located at: 146 South 1st Street In: Richmond , CA 94804, is hereby registered by the following owner(s): Florencio Perez Jr. This business is conducted by: An Individual. The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on 07/02/2010.

Signature of registrant: Florencio Perez Jr, Owner. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Contra Costa County on: December 27, 2022 by Deputy Clerk Expires 12/26/2027 Brentwood Press No. 02-1273

Publish Dates: February 3, 10, 17, 24, 2023

Publish Dates: February 3, 10, 17, 24, 2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME STATEMENT

File No. F-2023-000 0037

The name of the business(e s): Opulent Spiritual Behavior Located at: 780 Oak Grove Rd. Apt. D211 In: Concord, CA 94518, is hereby registered by the following owner(s): Tasha Fawn Roe. This business is conducted by: An Individual. The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on N/A. Signature of registrant: Tasha Roe, Individual. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Contra Costa County on: 01/04/2023 by Deputy Clerk Expires 01/03/2028 Brentwood Press No. 02-1273

Publish Dates: January 20, 27, February 3, 10, 2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME STATEMENT File No. F-2023-000 0006 The name of the business(e s): Rebecca Asch Consulting Located at: 3437 Citrus Avenue In: Walnut Creek, CA 94598, is hereby registered by the following owner(s): Capstone Government Affairs, LLC. This business is conducted by: A Limited Liability Company, State of Organizati on: CA. The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on 1/1/2023. Signature of registrant: Jared Asch, President. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Contra Costa County on: 01/03/2023 by Deputy Clerk Expires 01/02/2028 Brentwood Press No. 02-1273

Publish Dates: January 20, 27, February 3, 10, 2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME STATEMENT

File No. F-2023-000 0069

The name of the business(e s): Heaven’s Best Carpet Cleaning Located at: 9724 Monticello Way In: Discovery Bay, CA 94505, is hereby registered by the following owner(s): J.B. Walton LLC. This business is conducted by: An Individual. The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on 09/16/2022. Signature of registrant: Jonathan Walton, CEO. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Contra Costa County on: 01/05/2023 by Deputy Clerk Expires 01/04/2028 Brentwood Press No. 02-1273

Publish Dates: January 20, 27, February 3, 10, 2023

Cop logs

The following is a selection of recent law enforcement activity:

OAKLEY

Jan. 20, 3:59 a.m. A traffic stop was conducted on Main Street and Vintage Parkway.

Jan. 20, 4:03 a.m. A vehicle theft was reported on the 10 block on Rustic Court.

Jan. 20, 4:23 a.m. A suspicious person was reported at the 1900 block on Rustic Court.

Jan. 20, 4:38 a.m. A traffic stop was conducted at O’Hara Avenue/W. Ruby Street.

Jan. 20, 4:53 a.m. A traffic stop was conducted at Laurel Road/Highway 4.

Jan. 20, 7:17 a.m. A case of felony vandalism was reported on the 500 block on Norcross Lane.

Jan. 20, 7:41 a.m. A public nuisance was reported at the Subway in Oakley.

Jan. 20, 8:16 a.m. A case of disturbing the peace was reported at the 300 block on Stony Hill Circle.

Jan. 20, 8:48 a.m. A case of vandalism was reported at the 10 block on Amador Avenue.

Jan. 20, 9:07 a.m. A suspicious person was reported on Main Street/Bridgehead Road.

Jan. 20, 11:14 a.m. Suspicious circumstances were reported at the 30 block on Malicoat Avenue.

Jan. 20, 11:21 a.m. A burglary was reported at the 10 block on Amador Avenue.

Jan. 20, 11:58 a.m. A suspicious person was reported on the 5000 block on Martin Street.

Jan. 20, 2:44 p.m. A reckless driver was reported on the 1400 block on Walnut Meadows Drive.

Jan. 20, 2:45 p.m. A petty theft was reported on the 500 block of Brownstone Road.

Jan. 20, 3:06 p.m. A traffic hazard was reported on the 1700 block on Gateway Drive.

Jan. 20, 3:21 p.m. A civil disturbance was reported on the 3600 block on Frank Hengel Way.

Jan. 20, 4:19 p.m. An auto burglary was reported on the 50 block Carol Lane.

Jan. 20, 4:41 p.m. A case of vandalism was reported on the 100 block on Monet Drive

Jan. 20, 4:58 p.m. A reckless driver was reported at Main Street/Carol Lane.

Jan. 20, 6:16 p.m. A case of 911 abuse was reported on the 1800 block on Locke Court.

Jan. 20, 6:43 p.m. A misdemeanor DUI was reported at the E. Cypress Road/Sellers Avenue.

Jan. 20, 6:44 p.m. An occupied stalled vehicle was reported at Wilbur Avenue/Bridgehead Road.

Jan. 20, 6:52 p.m. Suspicious circumstances

LEGAL NOTICES LEGAL NOTICES LEGAL NOTICES

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME

PETITIONER OR ATTORNEY: Phillip Daniel Morillas SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF CONTRA COSTA, 725 Court Street Martinez, CA 94553 PETITION OF: Phillip Daniel Morillas, Phillip Daniel Morillas CASE

NUMBER: N23-0131 TO ALL INTER-

ESTED PERSONS: 1. Petitioner Phillip Daniel Morillas, Phillip Daniel Morillas filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows:

Present Name: a. Phillip Daniel Morillas to Proposed Name: a. Ryan Daniel Hurtado. 2. THE COURT

ORDERS that all persons interested in this matter shall appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing. NOTICE OF HEARING a.

Date: 04/17/2023 Time: 9:00 a.m.

Dept.: 30 b. The address of the court is same as noted above. 3. a. A copy of this Order to Show Cause shall be published at least once each week for four successive weeks prior to the date set for hearing on the petition in the following newspaper of general circulation, printed in this county: Brentwood Press

Date: January 23 2023 Judge of the Superior Court Brentwood Press Brentwood Press 02-1273

Publish Dates: February 10, 17, 24, March 3, 2023

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME

PETITIONER OR ATTORNEY: Susan Cho SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF CONTRA COSTA, 725 Court Street Martinez, CA 94553 PETITION

OF: Susan Cho, Susan Seogene Cho

CASE NUMBER: N23-0087 TO ALL

INTERESTED PERSONS: 1. Petitioner Susan Cho, Susan Seogene Cho filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: Present

Name: a. Susan Seogene Cho to

Proposed Name: a. Susan Minhee Joo. 2. THE COURT ORDERS that all persons interested in this matter shall appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing. NOTICE OF HEARING a. Date: 04/10/2023

Time: 9:00 am Dept.: 30 b. The address of the court is same as noted above. 3. a. A copy of this Order to Show Cause shall be published at least once each week for four successive weeks prior to the date set for hearing on the petition in the following newspaper of general circulation, printed in this county: Brentwood Press

Date: January 18 2023 Judge of the Superior Court Brentwood Press Brentwood Press 02-1273 Publish

Dates: January 27, February 3, 10, 17, 2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT

File No. 2023-0000128 The name of the business(es): KT Crystals And More Located at: 5685 Main St In: Oakley, CA 94561, is hereby registered by the following owner(s): 1. Tamera D Reed 2. Katie Hoellwarth. This business is conducted by: Co-Partners. The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on 01/09/2023. Signature of registrant: Tamera Reed, Partner. This

were reported on the 400 block of Larchwood Place.

Jan. 20, 7:39 p.m. A restraining order violation was reported on the 1300 block on Rutherford Lane.

Jan. 20, 10:18 p.m. A suspicious vehicle was stopped at the Shell station in Oakley.

Jan. 20, 10:48 p.m. Suspicious circumstances were reported at Main Street/Empire Avenue.

Jan. 21, 1:12 a.m. A burglary was reported at the Rite Aid in Oakley.

Jan. 21, 8:52 a.m. A public nuisance was reported at the Best Western in Oakley.

Jan. 21, 8:55 a.m. A traffic hazard was reported at Empire Avenue/Main Street.

Jan. 21, 9:03 a.m. A case of petty theft was reported on the 3900 block on Harvest Circle.

Jan. 21, 9:44 a.m. A case of grand theft was reported on the 4000 block on Wilbur Avenue.

Jan. 21, 9:46 a.m. A civil disturbance was reported on the 900 block on Stonegate Circle.

Jan. 21, 10:05 a.m. A civil disturbance was reported on the 200 block Hearthstone Circle.

Jan. 21, 11:57 a.m. A case of petty theft was reported on the 10 block on Arminio Lane.

Jan. 21, 12:18 p.m. A patrol request was made at Main Street/Empire Avenue.

Jan. 21, 2:00 p.m. A suspicious vehicle was

LEGAL NOTICES LEGAL NOTICES

stopped at the Lucky in Oakley.

Jan. 21, 2:15 p.m. A trespasser with a vehicle was reported on the 4000 block on Wilbur Avenue.

Jan. 21, 3:19 p.m. A case of disturbing the peace was reported on the 100 block on Monet Drive.

Jan. 21, 4:15 p.m. A domestic disturbance was reported at Old Oak Court/Meadows Lane.

Jan. 21, 5:32 p.m. Suspicious circumstances were reported on the 2000 block on Rubens Way.

Jan. 21, 7:02 p.m. A reckless driver was reported at Sherman Lane/O’Hara Avenue.

Jan. 21, 7:27 p.m. A case of vandalism was reported on the 20 block on Mori Court.

Jan. 21, 7:44 p.m. A suspicious person was reported on the 3800 block on Mission Court.

Jan. 21, 7:58 p.m. A welfare check was conducted at Main Street/Delta Road.

Jan. 21, 9:12 p.m. A suspicious vehicle was reported on the 100 block on Amberwind Circle.

Jan. 21, 9:21 p.m. A traffic hazard was reported on the 4600 block on Mammouth Lane.

Jan. 21, 11:44 p.m. A reckless driver was reported at Live Oak Avenue/Placer Drive.

LEGAL NOTICES LEGAL NOTICES

statement was filed with the County Clerk of Contra Costa County on: 01/09/2023 by Deputy Clerk Expires 01/08/2028 Oakley Press No. 03-0477

Publish Dates: January 20, 27, February 3, 10, 2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME STATEMENT File No. 2022-0006851 The name of the business(es):

1. Cypress Self Storage

2. Cypress Road Self Storage Located at: 207 East Cypress Road In: Oakley, CA 94561, is hereby registered by the following owner(s): Cypress Road Self Storage LLC. This business is conducted by: A Limited Liability Company, State of Organization: CA. The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on 08/31/2017.

Signature of registrant: John Lopuch, Manager. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Contra Costa County on: 12/14/2022 by Deputy Clerk Expires 12/13/2027 Oakley Press No. 03-0477

Publish Dates: January 20, 27, February 3, 10, 2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME STATEMENT File No. F-2023-0000651 The name of the business: IPMS Mount Diablo Located at: 1393 Bynum Way In: Oakley, CA 94561, is hereby registered by the following owner: Stewart, Aaron. This business is conducted by: an Unincorporated Association Other Than a Partnership. The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on N/A. Signature of registrant: Aaron Stewart, Treasurer. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Contra Costa County on: February 3, 2023 by Deputy Clerk Expires 02/02/2028 Oakley Press No. 03-0477

Publish Dates: February 10, 17, 24, March 3, 2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME STATEMENT

File No. F-2023-0000075 The name of

the business(es): Deborah Anne Inc Located at: 3025 Torre Ramel Lane In: Oakley, CA 94561, is hereby registered by the following owner(s): Deborah Anne Inc. This business is conducted by: a Corporation, State of Incorporat ion. The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on Signature of registrant: Deborah Maisterrena, President. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Contra Costa County on: 01/06/2023 by Deputy Clerk Expires 01/05/2028 Oakley Press No. 03-0477

Publish Dates: January 27, February 3, 10, 17, 2023

NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF: ROBERT EDWARD LIPTACK, deceased CASE NUMBER P22-01907

To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the will or estate, or both, of: ROBERT EDWARD LIPTACK, deceased. A Petition for Probate has been filed by: DENNIS MCLAUGHLIN in the Superior Court of California, County of: CONTRA COSTA

The Petition for Probate requests that: DENNIS MCLAUGHLIN be appointed as personal representative to administer the estate of the decedent.

The petition requests the decedent’s will and codicils, if any, be admitted to probate. The will and any codicils are available for examination in the file kept by the court. The petition requests authority to administer the estate under the Independent Administration of Estates Act. (This authority will allow the personal representative to take many actions without obtaining court approval. Before taking certain very important actions, however, the personal representative will be required to give notice to interested persons unless they have waived notice or consented to the proposed action.) The independent administration authority will be granted unless an interested person files an objection to the petition and shows good cause why the

court should not grant the authority. A hearing on the petition will be held in this court as follows: a.

Time: 9:00

Date: MARCH 30 2023

contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the will or estate, or both, of: KATHLEEN

AM Dept: DEPT 15.

b. Address of court: 725 COURT STREET, MARTINEZ CA 94553. If you object to the granting of the petition, you should appear at the hearing and state your objections or file written objections with the court before the hearing. Your appearance may be in person or by your attorney. If you are a creditor or a contingent creditor of the decedent, you must file your claim with the court and mail a copy to the personal representative appointed by the court within the later of either

(1) four months from the date of first issuance of letters a general personal representative as defined in section 58(b) of the California Probate Code, or

(2) 60 days from the date of mailing or personal delivery to you of a notice under section 9052 of the California Probate Code. Other California statutes and legal authority may affect your rights as a creditor.

You may want to consult with an attorney knowledgeable in California law. You may examine the file kept by the court. If you are a person interested in the estate, you may file with the court a Request for Special Notice (form DE-154) of the filing of an inventory and appraisal of estate assets or of any petition or account as provided in Probate Code section 1250. A Request for Special Notice form is available from the court clerk.

Attorney for Petitioner: Diana Lopez 1990 N. California Blvd. Suite 1020 Walnut Creek, CA 94596 925-644-7905

*ANTIOCH PRESS* 06-1617

Publish Dates: February 3, 10, 17, 24,

To

MARIE KELLEY, deceased. A Petition for Probate has been filed by: MAT-

THEW KELLEY in the Superior Court of California, County of: CONTRA

COSTA The Petition for Probate requests that: MATTHEW KELLEY be appointed as personal representa tive to administer the estate of the decedent. The petition requests the decedent’s will and codicils, if any, be admitted to probate. The will and any codicils are available for examination in the file kept by the court. The petition requests authority to administer the estate under the Independent Administration of Estates Act. (This authority will allow the personal representative to take many actions without obtaining court approval. Before taking certain very important actions, however, the personal representative will be required to give notice to interested persons unless they have waived notice or consented to the proposed action.) The independent administra tion authority will be granted unless an interested person files an objection to the petition and shows good cause why the court should not grant the authority. A hearing on the petition will be held in this court as follows: a. Date: APRIL 27, 2023

Time: 9:00 AM Dept: 30. b. Address of court: 725 COURT STREET, ROOM 103, MARTINEZ, CALIFORNIA 94553. If you object to the granting of the petition, you should appear at the hearing and state your objections or file written objections with the court before the hearing. Your appearance may be in person or by your attorney.

If you are a creditor or a contingent creditor of the decedent, you must file your claim with the court and mail a copy to the personal representa tive appointed by the court within the later of either (1) four months from the date of first issuance of letters a general personal representa tive as defined in section 58(b) of the California Probate Code, or (2) 60 days

from the date of mailing or personal delivery to you of a notice under section 9052 of the California Probate Code. Other California statutes and legal authority may affect your rights as a creditor. You may want to consult with an attorney knowledgeable in California law. You may examine the file kept by the court. If you are a person interested in the estate, you may file with the court a Request for Special Notice (form DE-154) of the filing of an inventory and appraisal of estate assets or of any petition or account as provided in Probate Code section 1250. A Request for Special Notice form is available from the court clerk. Attorney for Petitioner: Aaron B. Smith

*BRENTWOOD PRESS* 02-1273

Publish Dates: February 10, 17, 24, 2023

A case of felony vandalism was reported on the 500 block on Norcross Lane.

OAKLEY – Jan. 20, 7:17 a.m.

Lions Club supports elders group

Florists from page 1A

through product,” O’Brien said. “Valentine’s Day for our small retail people is more a labor of love because you still have to service your clientele, but if you try and charge them what you should be charging them in order to cover your normal mark, you would lose those customers…There’s not this big juicy profit margin that everyone thinks we’re making.”

Eduardo Plascencia, co-owner of Flower’s By Gerry and Brentwood Florist, sources roses from South America. The majority of his product is flown into Miami and driven across the country to wholesalers in California. Through 40 years of experience in the industry, Plascencia has learned to prepare for problems in transit.

“The biggest challenge is there’s always a risk when you order your product, that it’s not going to deliver. The other issue that we have right now is the storms in Texas. Issues with weather can affect transportation, the product, and the price,” Plascencia said “The challenge is I want my product to be 100% fresh so I can deliver that to my customers.”

Despite risks, Plascencia expects a busy Valentine’s Day. Based on last year’s sales, his businesses plan to deliver roughly 5,000 roses to East County residents. To complete 300-420 deliveries in one day, Plascencia said he will hire six to eight seasonal employees.

quets will arrive with doctored photos.

Steve Harland, owner of Good Scents Florist in Oakley, says shops like his offer better value than order-gathering companies, and better quality than grocery stores.

“Online all they do is take your money,” Harland said. “You’re not getting your value, you’re not getting your money’s worth, you’re getting a part of it…you can’t get any fresher than our stuff. In a grocery store that stuff might be in there for three weeks because they’re not going to throw it away, it’s going to be there till it rots. That’s why they can sell their stuff for $12.99, you’re getting stuff that florists don’t want.”

Submitted photo

Phil Avila, president of the Brentwood Lions, presented a $1,000 check to Nora von Ubin from An Elderly Wish Foundation at their Feb. 1 meeting. The foundation is grateful for such a generous donation because it will provide funds needed to make senior wishes come true in Contra Costa County. Any person 50 or older, who has a chronic or serious illness is eligible for a wish. For more information, visit www. elderlywish.org or call 925-978-1883 and speak to Mary or Nora.

Council from page 1A

she said. Pierson is in her first term as a council member, making this her third meeting in the role. “The meetings I’ve participated in have been highly effective but I think they could be better,” she added.

The council was then guided through discussion topics such as what makes an effective leader and the role of an individual council member versus the role of the council as a whole and the importance of city staff before taking time at the end to reflect on what they learned.

“I think looking into the past can help us maybe not repeat the problems that have started,” council member Tony Oerlemans reflected. “I’ve done a horrible job tonight of recognizing what a great job our staff does.”

Planning from page 1A

ado Lane and south of East Cypress Road and consists of two parcels of approximately 10 acres each. The northern parcel includes a 50-foot dedication for East Cypress Road and both parcels include a 30foot dedication for Machado Lane.

Planning Director Ken Strelo told the commissioners that there is adequate right of way at the frontage of the vacant property immediately west of the site, and these travel lane improvements will close the gap of improvements continuing along East Cypress Road.

When customers are trying to find a local florist, and they Google ‘florists near me’, they discover what the industry calls ‘order gatherers’ in e-commerce..

Order gatherers collect orders through prioritized advertising on search engines, and funnel them through shops nearby. They are known for charging inordinate fees, misrepresenting how bou-

Oerlemans also praised the city’s various departments and said he would make it a priority of his to work more closely with them, as well as his fellow council members, for the betterment of the city.

“What will I start doing? Recognizing our accomplishments more often in public settings,” Pierson said during the reflection period at the end. “I will continue to not let the comments that are unproductive, fake news, false buffoonery by people who are poor losers and unprofessional bullies bother me or take me out of my character.” It was not made clear who she was referring to.

Ultimately, the council came together at the end of the meeting in agreement that a better understanding of their individual roles and a better understanding of how the council

The planned improvements to Cypress Road envision full frontage improvements from the existing right of way line to the private property lines with the new lot. The road median, two vehicle travel lanes and one bike lane, and landscaping and a sidewalk will all be included.

For Machado Lane, the applicant will be making improvements that will include enough space for a travel lane each way as well as landscaping and a sidewalk, according to the staff report on the project.

The project application includes a request for approval of a rezone consist-

Harland also notes that real florists provide a more personal experience.

“We know our customers’ names, they know our names, we know what they like, I love it. Small towns are the best… unlike Amazon or any of these online orderers where you don’t know who they are,” Harland said.

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

should function would not only make their jobs easier, but benefit the community and help them better serve residents.

“I think I share, without any doubt, all of our staff here are equally committed to doing your vision, your goals, your priorities as best we can,” City Manager Tim Ogden told the council as the meeting ended. “We hear requests that are sometimes in a circle and we have to fit things in a square and it’s that disconnect that we have to continue to build on to work through.”

“We are better in Brentwood,” Ogden said. “We’re all in it together.”

The full meeting can be viewed at https://bit. ly/3RQMdLS

To comment, visit www.thepress.net

ing of an amendment from an existing P-1 District approved for a now-expired tentative map.

As proposed, the gross density (includes all area before right-of-way dedication, parks, landscaping, etc.) would be 3.78 dwelling units per acre with residential lot sizes ranging between 5,939 and 13,089 square feet.

Fryer also stated that his firm would commit to starting construction within two years following approval, with project final completion planned for 2026.

For the homes, there are four differ-

ent floor plans ranging from 1,743 square feet to 3,247 square feet of livable area consisting of two one-story and three two-story plans. All plans include a frontfacing two-car garage doors, with two plans including tandem three-car interior garage space.

Strelo ended the meeting by telling the commissioners that nine persons have filed applications for the current two open planning commission seats. He said that the City Council will interview the applicants at their Feb. 14 meeting.

To comment, visit www.thepress.net

Eduardo Plascencia puts together a vase arrangement recently at his shop on Brentwood Boulevard.

Photo by Chris Campos

Two charity watchdogs honor White Pony Express

By Sean Tongson Correspondent

An area nonprofit fighting hunger and poverty in East Contra Costa County has been awarded high ratings from a national charity monitoring group.

White Pony Express (WPE) recently received a 100 percent rating and a fourstar rating – both the highest ratings possible, from Charity Navigator, a premier rating group based in New Jersey and accredited by the Better Business Bureau. Their rating is based on four criteria: impact and results, accountability and finance, culture and community, leadership and adaptability.

White Pony Express services sites throughout Brentwood, Oakley, Bethel Island and Antioch.

Headquartered in Pleasant Hill and serving all of Contra Costa County, their mission, according to their website, is to “eliminate hunger and poverty by delivering the abundance all around us to those in need” by reducing food waste. Partnering with organizations such as community centers, foster youth programs, low-income schools, senior living facilities, and shelters to serve and deliver to those in need, WPE secures a daily average of more than 10,000 pounds of highquality surplus food from more than 50 local food outlets, operating seven days a week and 364 days a year and serving more than 120,000 people each year. The rescued food is then redistributed within 24 hours to 90 nonprofits who feed those in need in the county.

“To us, this Charity Navigator award is a real feather in our hat,” said Steve Spraitzar, a spokesman for White Pony Express. “Less than one-tenth of one percent of nonprofits earn a perfect score from Charity Navigator. It is a reflection of the heartfelt dedication of our founder, volunteers, and staff team. Together we have built a gold standard, replicable food rescue organization that will eliminate hunger when taken to scale. Our endeavors, we believe, are reflected in the ratings that we received from Charity Navigator.”

In addition to this honor, WPE has also been recognized by Candid, a recognized national organization formed in February 2019 that evaluates the financial health, accountability and transparency of nonprofits in the United States by awarding WPE its platinum seal of transparency, which is their highest accolade.

“Being awarded the platinum seal of transparency is a great distinction,” Spraitzar stated. “The award from Candid shows that WPE is fiscally responsible and totally transparent, and its work is deeply impactful. The importance of this award is reflected by who Candid is and what Candid does. Working to provide transparency in the social sector, Candid maintains voluminous databases on grant makers and their grants, issues a wide variety of print, electronic, and online information resources, and conducts and publishes research on trends in foundation growth, giving, and practice.”

The following is a list of White Pony

Express’s recipient agencies in Antioch, Bethel Island, Brentwood, and Oakley: Brentwood

• The Dwelling Place

• Brentwood Community United Methodist Church—H.O.P.E. House

• Power for Living Ministries

• Village Community Resource Center

• Golden Gate Community Schools

• My Angels Inc.

Oakley

• EAH Housing—Golden Oak Manor

• EAH Housing—Silver Oaks Apartments

• Oakley Senior Center

• Word of Life Christian Fellowship Church

• Camp P22:6 (Occasional)

Bethel Island

• Pentecostal Church of God-New Covenant Church Food Pantry

Antioch

• Agape International Ministries Foundation

• Antioch Middle School

• The Landing Place (Acts Full Gospel East County)

• The Light Ministries

• Loaves and Fishes of Contra Costa-Antioch

• RR Ministries

• Showers of Blessings Prayer & Outreach Ministry

• Team Jesus Outreach Ministries (Redistribution Partner who Provide food for about 15 non-profits who offer food pantries to community)

• Eden Housing - West Rivertown Apartments

• Don Brown Shelter -Bay Area Community Services

• En Su Habitacion Ministries (occasional)

• Fellowship Church Greater East Bay (occasional)

“We would like the public to know that these awards are a validation of the premiere food rescue that White Pony Express has sought to become,” Spraitzar stated.

“We also wish the public to be aware of the fact that WPE’s Food Rescue model is scalable, sustainable, and easy to replicate.

While sometimes compared to the food bank, our model differs in that we provide almost 100 percent perishable food, including important nutritional choices like organic produce, dairy, eggs, cheese, meat, and fresh bakery goods. Additionally, we are able to deliver prepared meals, which are needed by many of our neighbors —

The Brentwood Community United Methodist Church on Second Street works with White Pony Express to distribute free food to the needy.

housed and unhoused — who do not have access to kitchens or appliances. “

White Pony Express was founded in 2013 by East Bay community leader Dr. Carol Weyland Conner. She was bothered by thousands of people going hungry despite living in a county full of abundance and many grocers, food manufacturers, restaurants, and retailers discarding thousands of pounds of high-quality food on a daily basis, Conner began with a food rescue program delivering food to those in need, which include homeless, veterans, children, and low-income people. Formed with a budget of $800 and zero assets, WPE originally operated as part of a program of local faith-based group Sufism Reoriented, and began to expand rapidly through the generosity from volunteers

donating time and equipment, a local faith group providing space and utilities, the raising of money by local service organizations, as well as countless people and their donations, according to their website.

In March 2014, WPE incorporated as an independent nonprofit public benefit 501 (c) (3) corporation and added the White Pony General Store Program, partnering with clothing retailers, boutiques, and individual donors to receive, sort, organize, and distribute new and like-new clothing, educational toys, hygiene kits, and emergency supplies to those in need free of charge. According to their website, since its inception, WPE has rescued and delivered more than 20 million pounds of nutritious food in Contra Costa County, equivalent to 17 million meals. Further data from Guidestar.com shows that WPE picked up 4,175,448 pounds of fresh food before it could be tossed in 2021, a near 77% increase from the 2,357,459 pounds collected in 2019.

Additionally, WPE has also distributed 920,000 toys, books, and clothing items. Over the last nine years, WPE has grown to become one of the largest food and goods rescue programs in Northern California.

More information, including where people can volunteer and donate, can be found at the following link at https:// www.whiteponyexpress.org/

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

Photo by Chris Campos

The

Florist

How to go about picking the right flowers

The Planning

A checklist to plan your wedding

The Ring

How to find the right ring

Tips to help master your wedding guest list

Weddings are such momentous occasions that it’s no wonder couples want to share their big days with as many people as possible. Though a wedding where all friends, family members and acquaintances are in attendance may be a dream scenario, reality often calls for a more carefully curated guest list.

Data from The Wedding Report indicates that the average cost of a wedding is slightly more than $20,000, though that figure could be substantially higher, or even lower, depending on where couples tie the knot. Both The Wedding Report and The Knot report that a wedding venue and catering make up a significant percentage of the overall cost of a wedding, with some figures indicating that these expenses account for around 65 percent of the final price tag. The number of guests couples will host on their wedding day will affect which venue they book and how much food and beverages they’ll need to satisfy guests.

Creating a wedding day guest list is

no small task. However, couples can try various approaches to keep a guest list more manageable and less expensive.

♦ Accept input. Parents may no longer foot the entire bill for their children’s weddings, but couples who are accepting some financial help from parents must also accept Mom’s and Dad’s input regarding the guest list. Even if parents’ desired guests do not ultimately make the cut, it’s best to

respect their wishes and consider who they want to invite. Couples who are financing their own weddings without outside help need not feel beholden to invite anyone who does not meet their invitation criteria.

♦ Make a preliminary list without regard to budget. Couples can have fun making preliminary guest lists without considering their budgets. A preliminary list can serve as a solid starting point, and

couples may even realize that their list is within budget. Once the preliminary lists have been created, couples can categorize guests (e.g. distant cousins, coworkers, etc.) and then work together to determine if any categories can be eliminated from the invitation list. For example, couples who may be going over budget with their guest lists can each agree to remove distant cousins from their prospective invitees.

♦ Seek advice. Many couples face difficult decisions regarding their wedding day guest lists, so it can be helpful to speak to a recently married friend or relative to see how they handled paring down their guest lists. Some might have done it by category, while others might have limited guest lists to local friends and family. When taking this approach, couples can speak to friends about how they approached handling people who were surprised that they were not on the final list of invitees.

♦ Throw a less formal party down the road. A less expensive backyard barbecue within weeks of tying the knot can serve as a less costly alternative to a large wedding reception. Couples who take this approach can keep their wedding day guest lists to a minimum, but invite everyone they hope to see to a post-wedding day backyard barbecue or potluck picnic so they can celebrate with everyone they love.

– Courtesy of Metro Creative

Photo credit: Ron Essex

Photo credit: Rick Felix Photography

Photo courtesy of Metro Creative Couples who hope to stay within budget can consider these tips as they try to build a guest list that won’t break the bank.

Planning your Valentine’s Day proposal

Feb. 14 is a day dedicated to love. And for couples who are pondering their futures together, Valentine’s Day may seem tailormade for wedding proposals.

According to a survey of 1,000 married adults by James Allen, an online diamond and bridal jewelry retailer, people really love getting engaged on Valentine’s Day. Forty-three percent of millennials report favoring Valentine’s Day for proposals - whether they’re doing the asking or being asked.

There are a few things to keep in mind when considering whether or not to pop the question on Valentine’s Day. Here are some ideas for planning the proposal.

Make it your own

Even if the proposal is taking place on one of the most popular days of the year to get engaged, interject some personality into the occasion. Include important elements that are dear to the person to whom you are proposing, such as favorite flowers or a preferred restaurant. Restaurant reservations may be hard to come by on Valentine’s Day, so you may want to select a more private meal at

Have the ring at the ready

Valentine’s Day is a popular time for wedding proposals. With a little planning, the occasion can be even more special.

Jewelry shops are in demand around Valentine’s Day, so be sure to choose and have the ring sized well in advance of the proposal. This ensures the ring will be ready in time. If the ring will be a surprise, get hints beforehand to understand your loved one’s design tastes. Consider bringing a friend along when shopping to offer support and advice.

Use chocolate to your advantage

Boxes of chocolate are ubiquitous on Valentine’s Day. Nestle the ring inside of a box of truffles or another favorite confection and have the question “Will you marry me?” attached to the inside of the box.

Hire a photographer

home or something catered unless you want to share your proposal with a crowd.

Visit possible locations in advance

Think about where you would like to

Discovery Bay Golf & Country

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propose and visit those areas at different times of the day. Timing a proposal during sunset with the rays creating a warm glow on a park bench or on the incoming tide can make it more magical. Adjust proposal area plans for bigger crowds expected on Valentine’s Day.

Work with a photographer to capture the moment, whether it’s a professional photographer or a friend enlisted for the task. This way you can be fully immersed in the moment as it unfolds, and then look back on the experience from a different perspective when the photos are printed. – Courtesy of Metro Creative

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Photos courtesy of Kelly Boitano Photography

Photo courtesy of Metro Creative

Brides magazine says the perfect engagement period is 12 to 14 months, which affords ample time to get organized and work with vendors.

With that in mind, here’s a 12-month timeline for couples getting ready to say “I do.” See checklist below.

How to find your local wedding florist

Weddings join the lives of two loving individuals so they can share their future with one another. Various elements help make weddings both momentous and magical.

Some weddings adhere to themes that are designed to make an impression and showcase couples’ personalities. Floral arrangements are key components of wedding themes, as they help to establish ambiance at both the ceremony and reception.

Flowers can easily help couples achieve a desired vibe, whether that’s rustic, romantic, modern, or even whimsical. Skilled florists may use a variety of flowers and foliage, as well as dramatic displays to help create the couple’s wedding day vision. According to an internal study from the wedding advice and planning resource The Knot, which surveyed more than 27,000 couples who got married in 2019, the average cost of wedding flowers was $2,000 in 2019. However, the cost of floral arrangements can vary depending on the scope of the arrangements and choice of flowers, including whether they’re in season or not.

Couples should spend time vetting potential florists to find one who will

produce their desired vision at a price that fits their budget. These guidelines can make the process go more smoothly.

♦ Establish your theme early on. Floral arrangements will complement and enhance other elements of the wedding, including color scheme and the wedding theme. If your wedding theme ties into a specific season, you will work with the florist to find blooms and other pieces that coordinate. For example, winter weddings with white, ice blue and silver color schemes may coordinate with white ranunculus flowers, dahlias, dusty

miller foliage, and viburnum berries.

♦ Bring swatches and photographs to consultations. It is easier to explain color palettes to a florist with examples in hand. Show the florist the types of arrangements you prefer and have actual fabric swatches from bridesmaid gowns or groomsmen vests so that colors can be complemented.

♦ Create a list of desired items. Florists may sell items a la carte or have packages of common floral pieces for wedding celebrations. Types of floral arrangements include bridal bouquet, bridesmaids’ bouquets, maid

of honor bouquet, corsages for mothers/ grandmothers, boutonnieres for groomsmen and fathers/grandfathers, flower girl headpiece, petals to sprinkle, table centerpieces, altar arrangements, pew or chair decorations, and cake decorations.

♦ Go easy on aroma. Tread lightly when selecting blooms that have strong aromas. They may be beautiful, but many people are sensitive to smells. Allergies also may be worsened by flowers with strong aromas. Discuss options with the florist before proceeding.

♦ Explain your budget. Research the average cost of floral arrangements and let the florist know what you can afford. This can help the florist narrow down options or make substitutions that fit your theme and your budget.

Couples can take certain steps as they choose floral arrangements for their weddings. Cost should not be the only factor in the decision, even though it is an important one.

Area florists that can help with your special day include:

Brentwood Florist

925-634-4313 or 925-634-1593

8335 Brentwood Blvd.

www.brentwood-florist.com

Paula’s Family Florist

925-756-6000

1412 A Street, Antioch

www.paulasfamilyflorist.com

– Courtesy of Metro Creative

Photo courtesy of Metro Creative Couples should spend time vetting potential florists to find one who will produce their desired vision at a price that fits their budget.

Area venues ready to handle your wedding

After saying, “yes” to a marriage proposal, the next hardest decision is saying ‘yes’ to the venue.

While some couples choose to have different locations for each, many appreciate the ease and convenience of an all-inclusive venue, where guests can stroll from the ceremony to dinner. East County is home to several such sites that offer attractive backdrops, various options and a financial range of packages.

In the middle of Brentwood’s agricultural setting lies McCauley Estate Vineyards, an all-inclusive event venue. Co-owner Marissa McCauley said she and her team handle everything for a couple’s big day.

“We take care of all the big things like venue, DJ, catering and the bar,” McCauley said. “We have two different event spaces with two different styles.”

Couples can choose from the vineyard’s Barrel Room, with an intimate, rustic feel, or the pavilion, which McCauley said has a classic “wedding” look. She said many of her couples choose her winery because it combines the best of modern and rustic aesthetics.

She also said their packages are priced competitively, often saving couples money without sacrificing the beauty of their big day.

Her advice to couples? “Have an idea of what you want when you come in,” McCauley said. “That is helpful to us, and having a specific date, or at least a month, can help, too.”

A few miles east of McCauley Estate is the Discovery Bay Country Club, an event venue and golf course in Discovery Bay. Jenelle Josephsen, the club’s wedding and event director, said the Country Club’s policy of hosting only one wedding per weekend offers guests privacy and venue access.

“There’s no rush and lots of privacy, with unlimited access to the venue on their wedding day,” Josephsen said. “They can be here hours prior to the ceremony to take pictures, set up, decorate, whatever they need. We

like to make it a stress-free experience for them.”

As an all-inclusive venue, the Country Club offers the setting, as well as food, beverage, staff and planning services to their couples. Josephsen said their kitchen makes food at the same level offered to club members and has a 37-year history to back up its offerings.

“This is a private facility, not public, and it’s in a gated community on top of that,” she said. “Our members are very respectful of the weddings, so couples get a sense of privacy and security. We are also steps away from the Discovery Bay Marina, and we’ve had brides and grooms take pictures on the water.”

The Country Club offers two different ceremony site

options with views of Mt. Diablo or the club’s grounds. Josephsen noted prices don’t change all year, so no one feels pushed to choose a date based on cost. So she suggests that engaged couples is to pick a date and book a venue.

“We are here, and they would be in good hands here,” she said. “Couples that want to have a beautiful wedding should come take a look.”

McCauley Estate Vineyards is at 2525 Sunset Road, in Brentwood. For more information, call 925-516-3300 or visit www.mccauleyestatevineyards.com

The Discovery Bay Country Club is at 1475 Club House Drive in Discovery Bay. For more information, call 925-634-0700 or visit www.dbgcc.com

DAWNMARIE FEHR

Photo courtesy of Metro Creative

Mike’s Pastry Shop

FRESH baked cakes, pastries & cookies made daily! Serving the community for over 45 years. All inquiries and orders must be made via bakery. 1872 A Street • Antioch (925) 757-3333 Like us on Facebook

Buying gems in person is safer than online

Mark Broder of Broder

Jewelry Design brings a personal approach to jewelry, especially for couples who come in for advice when planning their wedding.

He tells them to search around online to get some idea of what styles and gems they are partial to. For example, “what size of diamond they are considering,” is a good starting point.

“But the financial budget is a big decider,” Broder said recently. “It’s not the romantic part of the process,” he admits.

Broder says he tries to steer his customers to a reliable diamond source, the Gemological Institute of America. The GIA website describes itself, established in 1931, as “the world’s foremost authority on diamonds, colored stones, and pearls.”

“Start with their website and start educating yourself on gem quality standards, sizes, cuts, colors and more,” Broder said.

He also cautions his customers to be wary of purchasing gems, particularly

diamonds, online. “This is one exercise that requires you to actually see the gem with your own naked eyes,” he said recently. “Otherwise, all you’ve got to inspect is a piece of paper.”

He also noted that a lot of ring designs were not put together by jewelers. “A computer design doesn’t mean it can be built by an artist,” he said.

The jeweler admitted that his business suffered through the COVID-19 pandemic but survived by switching to a by-appointment sales approach at his shop at 640 Harvest Park Drive in Brentwood. “But jewelry repairs and rebuilds kept us afloat,” he said.

“In fact, last year was one of our busiest years ever,” he added. “We specialize in unique designs.”

Broder has been hand-crafting fine jewelry for 32 years. He is a second-generation jeweler, apprenticing for his father in a small shop in San Francisco in 1983. He later worked for a custom jeweler in Walnut Creek for 17 years where he became a master stone setter and hand engraver.

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

The Ryde Hotel features full-service, affordable packages that take the stress out of your wedding day. From our dramatic indoor and lush outdoor facilities, flexible menu selection and full bar service, to our 225’ private boat dock along the Sacramento River, swimming pool and overnight accommodations, our professional staff can provide you and your guests with the experience of a lifetime.

CHRIS CAMPOS

Photo by Chris Campos

Mark Broder of Broder Jewelry Design examines some rings at his shop on Harvest Park Drive in Brentwood.