The Press 04.14.2023

Brentwood’s diversity on display

By Jeff Weisinger Staff Writer

BRENTWOOD The city’s diversity was on display last weekend as the city’s Youth Commission put on the first Multicultural Fair at City Park featuring cultural clubs from the local high schools.

“To do this today was a major feat and a major accomplishment not just from our city, but from our youth commission,” Heritage junior and youth commission chairperson Ian Cohen said. “We wanted to showcase every beautiful culture in this city. Everything in Brentwood is just so diverse and unique, and we wanted to capture a snapshot

of it.”

The fair, produced by the members of the city’s youth commission composed of local middle and high schoolers, featured cultural dance and musical performances from the clubs that participated, along with a fashion show highlighting each culture’s traditional clothing.

Each club had its own booth set up on the grass, and food trucks catered to the hungry crowd.

“(The fair) is very important,” said Liberty junior Mia Rodriguez of Antioch’s Asi se Siente Mexico. “New people are living here, and I like to show off what we’re about and that we’re diverse. Very diverse.”

Antioch’s Asi se Siente Mexico performs at Brentwood’s inaugural Multicultural Fair last Saturday, April 8.

Oakley approves 2 drivethroughs

By Chris Campos Staff Writer

OAKLEY Caught between the threat of a developer’s lawsuit and intense resident opposition, the City Council approved two controversial drive-through businesses on Tuesday night on 3-2 votes.

According to the 2022 U.S. Census, Brentwood is 57 percent white, 24 percent Hispanic/Latino, 12 percent Asian, 9 percent Black, 11 percent identify as ‘two or more races,’ and fewer than 1 percent identify as Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander or

see Fair page 18

Brentwood City Council touts area youth

By Jake Menez Staff Writer

BRENTWOOD The Brentwood City Council put the city’s next generation front and center at their April 11 meeting. Council members were joined on the dais by local youth in government and the panel approved a new mural designed by students at Liberty High School’s Public Art and Design Academy.

“If there are any issues in the community, you need to have the answers,” Mayor Joel Bryant jokingly told the three student representatives. “We are in good hands. We got to spend some time with them today and our future is secure.”

April 11 was declared Youth in Government Day in Brentwood. Ian Cohen, chairperson of the Brentwood Youth Commission, noted that applications to fill the open seats on the panel close on April 20.

Regarding funding for the mural, Recreation Manager Thien Nguyen turned the pre-

see Mural page 18

The proposed McDonald’s restaurant and Quick Quack Car Wash at the Laurel Plaza Shopping Center had both been denied conditional use approval by a previous City Council in May 2022.

Following the denials, the property owner, O’Hara Properties, sued the city in county Superior Court.

After subsequent negotiations with the developers, the two proposals were brought back with further modifications before the Council with City Attorney Derek Cole urging passage citing the financial risk to the city.

“Win or lose in court, it could be very costly,” Cole said Tuesday night.

Several residents appeared to oppose the projects, fueled by a neighborhood petition to the Council opposing the proposals signed by 900 residents, according to Tosha Gray and Shelly Fitzgerald of Oakley Residents United. Opponents were concerned over traffic safety, sound and environmental impacts of the two drive-through see Approves page 18

Photo by Jeff Weisinger

A new mural by Liberty High School’s Public Art and Design Academy will be added to City Park to celebrate Brentwood’s 75 anniversary.

Photo courtesy of Liberty High School Public Art and Design Academy

ESTATE PLANNING STRATEGIES

By Todd W. Moeller, Moeller Estate Law

It may be difficult to think about today, but there will come a time when you or a loved one will not be able to make decisions for themselves. Physical or mental challenges may inhibit your ability to manage your own finances or healthcare decisions. Therefore, we strongly recommend that anybody over the age of 18 set up a Power of Attorney. Once you become an adult, nobody else is legally allowed to make decisions on your behalf or talk to doctors about your medical condition.

To cover important issues, you will need two separate Power of Attorney documents. One to address healthcare matters and another to cover financial matters. This article addresses financial powers of attorney.

Everyone with financial assets should consider setting up a financial Power of Attorney. Even if you are single and are not a homeowner, having a Power of Attorney in place enables someone you trust to control the use of your financial assets to manage your care if something happened to you.

If you’re married and share joint financial

Webinar to explain Universal Healthcare

accounts with your spouse, you still need to set up a Power of Attorney. It can be even more crucial. Generally, financial institutions will not allow one of the owners to simply withdraw all the money or close an account. They want both people or someone who has Power of Attorney.

Also, when dealing with real estate, you always have to have both people involved. Even if they have no bank account and their only asset is the house, you need a financial Power of Attorney.

If you have questions concerning 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 advertisement 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.

Are you curious about the ins and outs of Universal Healthcare? Did you know that the U.S. currently spends much more on healthcare than other developed countries with worse health outcomes?

The U.S. system has inequities and inefficiencies, and is unaffordable for many people. Learn more about our complex healthcare system, and what California can do to provide high-quality healthcare for everyone.

Join us on April 20 from 4-5:30 p.m., for a Zoom webinar “Understanding Universal Healthcare Part II”, with panelists:

• Laurel Lucia, Health Care Program Director, U.C. Berkeley Labor Center, Consultant to the Healthy California for All Commission.

• Dr. Jim Kahn, Professor, Institute for Health Policy Studies, UCSF Medical School, healthcare economist.

• California District 40 Assemblywoman Pilar Schiavo, Assembly Majority Whip, activist and organizer in healthcare reform efforts.

The program will open with a brief overview of the Part I program aired on March 9, 2023, followed by the Healthy California for All Commission Report, and will then explore current initiatives in California to increase equity, affordability, and access to healthcare.

A demonstration of the Medicare for All Savings Calculator will also be offered. The panel will answer your questions and offer opportunities for residents to advocate for less expensive and better health care.

This webinar will have simultaneous Spanish translation. Register at https:// bit.ly/3KW8OF1

From Staff Reports

Zoom meeting will be held on April 20 from 4-5:30 p.m.

Oakley boy receives letter from White House

Student asks President to end homelessness

By Rene De Amaral Staff Writer

When Amadeus Castillo was assigned to write a letter to a politician in his eighth-grade Social Studies class, he chose to write to President Joe Biden. He and his family never expected him to receive a reply.

The first one to see the letter was Amadeus’ mom, Martha Castillo, who was surprised to see a letter from The White House in her mailbox. “I went to the mailbox and I see this letter, and it said ‘The White House.’ she said. “It’s addressed to my son so I don’t open it. And when he opened it he goes, ‘It’s from President Biden.’”

Castillo is a student at Delta Vista

Middle School in Oakley. When he was prompted to write a letter to a politician on how to end homelessness, he chose to go straight to the top. “He wanted to

Oakley resident Amadeus Castillo received a reply to his letter he wrote to President Joe Biden about how to end the homeless crisis in

for sharing his thoughts, saying he and Vice President Kamala Harris were proud and admired Amadeus’ compassion for others. They were excited to see where the future takes him.

According to Martha Castillo, Amadeus had forgotten all about the letter until it arrived. “He wrote the letter like six months ago, and he wasn’t expecting to get a response from him. So he was super excited,” she said. “He said ‘Mom let’s frame it,’ he told his teacher and made a big fuss about it.”

make a big impact, so that’s why he chose to write to the President,” Castillo said. Amadeus received the reply March 10 and was thanked by President Biden

Along with being on the Principal’s Honor Roll and a student athlete, Amadeus has always taken an interest in social issues and hopes to be a civil engineer one day. In his letter, he offered his own ideas on how to end the homelessness crisis to the Biden administration, such as building more shelters and creating more resources, “He is into a little bit of everything and he wants to make a difference in the world,” she said.

To read the letter in full, visit www.thepress.net.

America.

Photo by Martha Castillo

DBC looks to boost small businesses

Downtown Challenge mobile pass will be free

From Staff Reports

BRENTWOOD The Downtown Brentwood Coalition is launching a new, gamified mobile savings and experience pass that will be free for residents and visitors.

The We Love Local, Downtown Challenge officially went live this week. The goal of the pass is to help locals find their way to new experiences and offerings from small businesses in and around downtown Brentwood.

The initiative is gamified in that it’s game playing as a web-based marketing tool to promote a product or service.

The Downtown Challenge inception goes back to January of 2022 when the Coalition was searching for new ways to engage the community as the world braced for “the new normal” post-COVID-19 pandemic life. “Communities like Brentwood saw how beneficial locals supporting local can be, and they also saw how challenging it had become to run a mom-and-pop business when residents had been cooped up and ordering online for nearly two years because of the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Executive Director Amy Tilley. “Downtown has seen an influx of new businesses signing leases and purchasing buildings downtown over the past year.”

The beauty of the mobile passport is its simplicity, she said. The pass works on virtually every type of smartphone, and it

does not require an app or a subscription of any kind, Tilley said. The pass can be easily added to the passholder’s home screen to be used again and again with a simple tap. Passholders can easily find participating shop hours, websites, and even get directions to their desired stop as the pass is connected to Google Maps.

The pass rewards visitors who “check-in” at participating shops and stops and gives users a chance to earn prizes like sweepstakes entries, gift cards, and Oktoberfest tickets, among other events. Many of the businesses will offer special discounts and deals to passholders, and passholders will gain bonus points for redeeming those special offers as well. The Free Pass can be found on the Downtown Brentwood Coalition’s website at https://www.brentwooddowntown.com/ under the We Love Local tab.

“We want the ‘We Love Local’ pass to be a fun and interactive way for locals to explore and enjoy Downtown and nearby,” Tilley said. “It’s called the Downtown Challenge because we are challenging visitors to check-in at as many places as possible and earn rewards for doing so. The challenge begins this spring and will end on Nov. 1.”

Press file photo

N ews i N B rief

Pittsburg man charged in murder of convenience store clerk

A Pittsburg man faces a four-count felony complaint related to the murder of a convenience store clerk on March 22.

Gregory Rossignon, 37, of Pittsburg has been charged by the Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office with the murder of Abdul Raouf, 44. Rossignon also faces a charge of discharging a firearm with gross negligence, dissuading a witness by force or threats, and possession of a firearm with prior felony convictions.

The murder charge comes with an enhancement for the intentional discharge of a weapon that killed Raouf and special allegations related to Rossignon’s prior felony offenses.

The incident occurred at 9:40 p.m. at the E-Z Stop Convenience Food shop on Power Avenue in Pittsburg. An argument between Rossignon’s girlfriend and another employee at the shop occurred. A short time later, Rossignon entered the store and shot Raouf – who was not involved in the argument, police said.

He died at the scene. Police arrested Rossignon in Modesto on April 5 and booked him into the Martinez Detention Facility. His arraignment was set for April 10.

Maximum for late property taxes help raised to $80,000

The Tax Collector’s Office is notifying homeowners that the California Mortgage Relief Program has raised the limit for assistance with delinquent property taxes from $20,000 to a maximum of $80,000 per household.

This update comes as homeowners face upcoming property tax deadlines. To prevent delinquent property taxes and reduce additional penalties, homeowners must pay the second installment of their secured property tax by April 10, 2023 After this date, late payments will be penalized 10 percent.

Many Californians may still be feeling the impact of the financial hardships as a results of the COVID-19 pandemic. By increasing the cap on property tax assistance, the program is continuing to act as a safety net for homeowners. If you are eligible, you are urged to re-apply, the Tax Collector’s Office said.

Homeowners who previously applied for property tax assistance have been notified that they may be eligible for additional funding. To receive additional assistance for property tax payments, homeowners must meet all other program requirements at the time of reapplication.

In February 2023, the program expanded eligibility by allowing previously awarded homeowners who are still eligible to return for additional funds; includ-

ing grants to reduce or eliminate partial claims or loan deferrals received during or after January 2020; resetting the delinquency date for past due mortgage and property tax payments to March 1, 2023; and expanding assistance to homeowners whose property has up to four units.

The assistance provided through the California Mortgage Relief Program is in the form of grants to eligible households, which do not need to be paid back. While there is no strict deadline for applications, homeowners in need should apply as soon as possible at CaMortgageRelief.org

Homeowners with questions are encouraged to call the Contact Center at 1-888-840-2594 between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. They can also visit CaMortgageRelief.org/help to learn more about resources and assistance available to them.

The CalHFA Homeowner Relief Corporation (CalHRC) is a special-purpose affiliate of the California Housing Finance Agency (CalHFA).

Applicants sought for county’s employees retirement board

The Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors is seeking individuals with a sound business background, experience in pension fund investment or administration, or in equity investments or banking to serve on the Contra Costa County Employees’ Retirement Association Board of Trustees.

To be considered, candidates must be County residents, must not be Retirement System members or retirees, and may not market any investment, consulting, or related service to the Contra Costa County Retirement Board or any other 1937 Act Retirement Board.

Regular meetings of the board are on the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month at 9 a.m. and sometimes extend into the afternoon. There may also be additional meetings on special topics that arise from time to time.

Board members receive $100 per meeting up to a monthly maximum of $500, plus reimbursement for actual and necessary expenses. The appointment will be for a full three-year term beginning July 1, 2023, and ending June 30, 2026.

Application forms can be obtained from the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors by calling (925) 655-2000 or by visiting the County webpage. Applications should be returned to the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors, County Administration Building, 1025 Escobar St., Martinez, CA 94553, no later than 5 p.m. on Friday, April 21. Applicants should plan to be available for public interviews in Martinez on Monday, May 9.

For more information, call Gail Strohl at 925-521-3960 or by visit www. cccera.org

LMC Associates math degrees ranked 12th best among U.S. community colleges

Los Medanos College (LMC) ranked No. 12 among the Best Accredited Colleges for Associate Degrees in Mathematics in the U.S., according to BestAccreditedColleges.

org

The online publication annually releases rankings and information about highquality schools with the aim of helping students make the best college decisions for their personal goals. Its ranking for associate degrees in mathematics ranks the top 50 among accredited colleges in the country. According to the U.S. Department of Education, there are 1,462 community colleges across the country. Of these, 1,047 are public institutions and 415 are private.

“Strong math skills are essential for success in today’s ever-changing and increasingly technical careers in just about every field,” Interim President Pamela Ralston said. “We are proud of our expert faculty, academic counselors and student services staff who are dedicated to seeing our students achieve their goals.”

Students at LMC can choose from a variety of associate degrees in mathematics depending on their intended major, including a liberal arts and math degree, and an associates in math for science and technology.

Nicole Trager, interim dean of math and sciences, said LMC faculty prioritizes one-on-one support for students and provides opportunities for them to access math labs for in-person and online help.

“The state of California has been implementing changes for how math is accessed and taught to improve outcomes,”

she said. “And our faculty have been at the forefront of development of the curriculum to bring about these major changes.”

LMC is one of two Contra Costa Community College District schools to make the ranking. Diablo Valley College ranked No. 2 on the list.

BestAccreditedColleges.org uses methodology that considers accessibility, affordability, quality of education, and return on investment to ensure an accurate ranking that reflects well-rounded schools, according to the website. The rankings include only accredited schools.

The publication’s approach to judging schools uses a proprietary ranking system, which combines data points from the U.S. Department of Education with schoolspecific details, including education support and resources, non-traditional credit programs, retention and graduation rates, and student-faculty ratio.

County court in-person family law services to resume May 1

Effective May 1, the Family Law division of the Contra Costa Superior Court will return to in-person child custody recommending counseling appointments and in-person self-help workshops and clinics.

For child custody appointments, remote access may be available in special and limited circumstances. For more information on child custody appointments, please visit the Family Court Services website: https://www.cc-courts.org/family/fcs.aspx

For more information on self-help events, workshops, and clinics, visit the selfhelp Services website https://www.cc-courts. org/self-help/welcome.aspx

Tax & Financial Specialist Meet Your Local

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

This Week’s Events

Saturday, April 15

Art in the Park

The Oakley Recreation Department is hosting their annual Art in the Park in Civic Center Plaza at 3231 Main St. from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. The event will feature original work from artists from Oakley, along with music and family-friendly activities.

The Makers Boulevard

The Makers Boulevard features local artisans, makers and small businesses. The event takes place on Oak Street, between Second and Third streets from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. The event also features family-friendly activities, live music and themed photo opportunities. For more information, visit https://bit.ly/3K2Xghd.

Rummage Fundraiser Sale

The Little Angels Country School at 1816 Hillcrest Ave. is hosting a rummage sale from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. The sale will feature preschool educational items, children’s outdoor equipment, furniture, office supplies, baked goods and plants.

Sunday, April 16

Antioch Model Train Show and Swap Meet

The Black Diamond Lines Model Railroad Club is hosting a free train show and swap meet at their club building at 425 Fulton Shipyard Road from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. For more information, visit http:// bit.ly/3UorrnQ

On the Horizon

Saturday, April 22

Friends of the Brentwood Library used book sale

The Friends of the Brentwood Library is hosting their bi-annual used book sale from 10 a.m.-2 p.m in the Community Room of the Brentwood Public Library at 104 Oak St. From 2-3 p.m. Friends of the Brentwood Library members will provide bags customers can fill for $7.

Liberty Auto Club Sunrise Car Show

The Liberty High School Auto Club is hosting a car show at Independence High School at 929 Second St. The car gate opens at 7 a.m. and the show starts at 10 a.m. Registration is $30 in advance and at the gate, and all vehicles are welcome. For more information and to register visit http://bit.ly/3ZW58XY

National Take Back Day

The Brentwood Police Department at 9100 Brentwood Blvd., is participating in National Take Back Day from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. National Take

Back Day aims to provide safe, convenient, and responsible means of disposing of prescription drugs, while also educating the public about the potential for abuse of medications. The event is a free drive-through in front of the police department. For more information, contact Lindzie E. Laughridge at llaughridge@brentwoodca.gov or (925) 809-7778.

Saturday, May 6

Concours D’Elegance

The Oakley Senior Center is hosting their annual Concours D’Elegance at the at 215 Second St. from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. The event showcases antique and collector cars, trucks and motorcycles. Ribbons and awards will be given for Best of Show. The deadline to register is April 25. For more information and to register, call 925-626-7223.

Sunday, May 7

Brentwood Literary Stroll

The Friends of the Brentwood Library is hosting a literary stroll from 1-4 p.m. in downtown Brentwood. The event features 10 authors – Rosie Bank, Michael Barrington, T.L. Bequette , Mark Clifford, Jim Hamilton, Carol Jensen, Josephine Mele, Dana Mentink, Gail Tsukiyama and Dallas Woodburn – from different restaurants and businesses throughout downtown. Check-in tables will be at the corner of First and Chestnut streets and on the corner of Second and Oak streets. Tickets are $5 and can be purchased at http://bit. ly/42Lo1zp

Wednesday, May 10

Senior Health and Wellness Expo

Cogir of Brentwood at 150 Cortona Way and the Laura Nelson Real Estate Team is hosting a health and wellness expo for seniors from 10 a.m.-noon. The expo will include informational resources from Suncrest Hospice, who will provide blood pressure checks, Med Solutions, who will provide walker and wheelchair checks, the Brentwood Police Department, Bass Medical, The Contra Costa Hearing Aid Center, The Key Hom Care, Kaleidoscope, Family Matters and Accent Care Home Health. The event will feature giveaways and snacks. For more information, contact Edrienne Baebler at ebaebler@cogirusa.com or (619) 339-3474.

Saturday, May 13

Rotary Club of Oakley Foundation Gala 2023

The Oakley Club of Rotary is hosting their 4th annual gala at La Grande Estates at 1799 Carpenter Road, from 5:30-10 p.m. The theme for this year’s gala is “An Evening Under the Stars.” The event will feature entertainment by DJ Brandon,

raffles, a silent, live, and dessert, auction, along with a door prize. Tickets are $65 and includes dinner and dancing. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit http://bit.ly/3KrKsmc

Saturday, May 20

Los Vaqueros Reservoir

25th Anniversary Open House

The Contra Costa Water District is hosting a free open house for the Los Vaquero Reservoir’s 25th anniversary from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at the Los Vaqueros Interpretive Center at 19 Walnut Blvd. The event will feature information on how Los Vaqueros operates, a shuttle trip to the top of the Los Vaqueros Dam, a nature hike, an augmented reality sandbox along with other family-friendly activities. For more information and to reserve a spot, visit http://bit.ly/3JYSp0E

Annual Kustoms and Klassics Car Show

The Discovery Bay Community Foundations is hosting their annual Kustoms and Klassics car show at the Marina Bar & Grill at 5879 Marina Road from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Special guest will be Erik Estrada, best known from the TV series CHIPs. Car show entry is $35. For more information and to register for the event, visit http://bit. ly/3zNcClt

Ongoing Events

East County Lions Club Meetings

Brentwood: The Brentwood Lions Club meets the first Wednesday of the month at 6:30 p.m. at Straw Hat Pizza on Lone Tree Way. For more information, visit: https://e-clubhouse.org/sites/brentwoodca/ Oakley: The Oakley Lions Club meets the fourth Wednesdays of every month at 7 p.m. at the Oakley Senior Center, for more information, visit https://e-clubhouse.org/sites/brentwoodca/

Antioch: The Antioch Lions Club meets every second and fourth Wednesday at 7 p.m. at the Denny’s on Delta Fair Blvd. Discovery Bay: The Discovery Bay Lions Club meets the first Tuesday of each month at 6:30 p.m. at the Discovery Bay Yacht Club. For more information, visit:https:// discoverybaylions.com/who-we-are/meetings/

Byron: The Byron Delta Lions Club meets every first Friday of each month at 10 a.m. at St. Anne’s Church for more information https://e-clubhouse. org/sites/byron_delta/

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. For more information visit http://bit.ly/3lsKIHP8

pm

Looking for more things to do?

Liberty shows off its wheels at fundraiser

By Rene De Amaral Staff Writer

The Liberty High School Auto Club is gearing up for their upcoming fundraiser Sunrise Car Show on Saturday, April 22. Cars, trucks, bikes – anything with wheels –are welcome to participate.

“The money raised from the show is going to benefit the auto shop program to buy parts for the projects we do in the shop,” said Liberty High School’s automotive instructor and Auto Club adviser Jon Dorr.

“Every year, I let the students pick a project and the advanced students in the class plan, organize and build some type of project vehicle. We did a dune buggy in the past. Right now, we’re working on a ‘61 American LaFrance fire truck.”

Participants can register their vehicle for $30 in advance online and the morning of the show in person. Registration allows participants to be up for specialized awards,

including Best in Show, Best Paint and Best Interior, along with others. The awards for these categories are made by students, who take found auto parts from scrapped vehicles and from Liberty’s auto shop and weld them into trophies. Those whose vehicles win an award will also receive a gift certificate from a local business.

The show will take place in the parking lot at Independence High School, at 929 Second St. The car gate opens at 7 a.m. and the show begins at 10 a.m. Cars will line up on First Street going north towards Pine Street. The event will also feature food trucks from Boondoggies, Villas Tacos and Ike’s Grill and a live DJ from Evil Bunny Productions.

Dorr said local residents can also support the program by buying its merchandise. Local businesses and residents can also donate to the show by contacting the Liberty Auto Club on their Instagram page @libertyautoclub or https://bit.ly/41kht9r.

For more information and to register a vehicle, visit https://bit.ly/3UrKSfA

Opini O n

Letters to the editor

Use native plants on public landscapes

Editor, Recently, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors passed legislation to replace high water-need, nonfunctional grasses and non-native ornamental plants with plants and trees native to California, with the goal of achieving at least 75 percent California native plants and trees in all countyowned landscaping.

Brentwood’s Garin Parkway is a prime example of non-native plants that waste water.

At the intersection of Sunset Road, there begins a line of unattractive, brownleafed pin oak trees. Next to them is an expanse of thick, green, non-native grass with over-watered dying oak trees. In contrast, nearby Mary Casey Black Elementary School has native grass growing next to the street.

I’m writing to encourage City Planners, the Contra Costa County

Board of Supervisors and the Brentwood Department Parks and Recreation to consider using plants native to California. These plants make beautiful landscapes, and would be lovely to see growing in our city.

I learned about native California plants in our landscapes by participating in the Bringing Back the Natives Garden Tours in Contra Costa and Alameda counties. People from both counties open up their yards to a yearly tour available to everyone free of charge.

After a short initial period of irrigation during our dry summer months, plants showcased are adapted to living, thriving, without supplemental irrigation.

I urge our County Board of Supervisors, City Planners, Department of Parks and Recreation to consider using native California plants in all our public landscapes. For more information, please look into Bringing Back the Natives.net.

Debbie Holeman Knightsen

LETTERS POLICY

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

OBITUARIES

Alan Keith DeClue

Jan. 25, 1963 – March 24, 2023

The checkered flag was waved for the last time for Alan Keith DeClue when he unexpectedly passed away on March 24, 2023.

Alan was born and raised in Livermore and spent much of his life working, living, and driving his hot rod cars around the town. If you drove a fast muscle car and remember cruising up and down first street Livermore in the 1980s, then chances are good you lost a race or two to Alan. With a wrench in his hand, he passed away in his automotive repair shop in Oakley, Calif. at the age of 60 in the company of his beloved customers and lifelong shop buddies.

Alan had a passion for fixing things, and realized early on that he wanted to spend his life around cars. While he never graduated from Granada High School, he nevertheless successfully found his way in life.

With an intense enthusiasm for figuring things out on his own, he became a self-taught master mechanic who was able to repair anything on wheels, or anything else he set his mind to fixing. Starting his career before finishing high school, Alan spent nearly his entire life living his dream in automotive repair and classic car restoration.

At a very young age, Alan fell in love with 1960s muscle cars and became especially fond of a 1967 Ford Mustang fastback that he converted into a Shelby replica. After acquiring the Mustang in his teenage years, the car became his lifelong passion that he hot-rodded all over town and in the backroad hills around Livermore.

He loved everything Carroll Shelby created and eventually owned every major car produced by the man, including a GT-40 and an AC Cobra.

Later in life, he moved the race off the streets and opened up the throttle at vintage racing events at the likes of Thunderhill, Laguna Seca and Sears Point. He showed off his entire car collection, which also included a Ferrari 308 and an early ‘70s Corvette, at numerous car shows all around Northern California.

Alan lived a very full life, engaging himself in many other passions in addition to exotic cars. As a child he was a

very competitive kid playing all kinds of sports like soccer, tennis, and baseball. He raced BMX bicycles, scaled the Livermore hills on dirt bikes up around Carnegie, and skied the world over from the slopes of the Sierra Nevada to the Delta River waterways.

He loved flying and racing remote controlled airplanes, especially fast and acrobatic slope gliders above Lake Del Valle, and he attended numerous Reno Air Race Shows throughout his life.

He loved loud rock and roll music, and wore his brilliant blond hair long like a ‘70s rock star never really updating his cut after coming of age in his teenage years. In fact, to his last day he looked a lot like his earlier self only with more wrinkles.

Alan also cared deeply about his personal relationships and family. He departs leaving countless indelible memories of his eccentric lifestyle and unconventional behavior on his customers, newfound friends, and lifelong buddies. He leaves behind his cherished and loved daughter Danica DeClue, long-term girlfriend Amy Ferguson, mother Merry DeClue, father Jerry (Amy) DeClue, brother Mike (Denise) DeClue, Aunt Donna DeClue (Thea Moore), nieces and nephews Christopher (Sara) Kurtzer, Laura (Bryan) Wilkins, Julian DeClue, and Sophia DeClue. Sadly, Alan was preceded in death by his dear sister Nancy Melanson. Visitation will be at Callaghan Mortuary in Livermore April 14, 2023 from 5:30-8:30 p.m. and funeral services will be held at Callaghan Mortuary on April 15, 2023 at 1:30 p.m.

Dorothy Helsel Howes

June 30, 1929 – April 5, 2023

Dorothy Helsel Howes entered Heaven on April 5, 2023.

She was born on June 30, 1929 in Buffalo, New York to John Earl Helsel and Ruth Ann Crompton.

After high school, she married Harold Howes on Aug. 23, 1947. When she retired from her accounting job in Buffalo, they moved to California in 1985 to be near their children an grandchildren.

In California, she worked at Guardian Security Agency as their comptroller until her second retirement in 2012.

She was a member of the Gideon Auxiliary in both New York and California. After her husband passed away, Dorothy lived at the Commons at Dallas Ranch for many years. She is survived by her daughter, Judith Travers (David) of Oakley, grandchildren, Harold Steven Howes (Rebekah Lovelady) of Antioch, Heather Perry (Aunjel) of Oakley and Christopher Howes (Kristen Zamora) of

Brentwood; great grandchildren Kamrynn, Halie, Jason, Faith, Makayla, Savannah, Nehemiah, Reed and Jude Howes and AmberLynne Perry. Dorothy was predeceased by her husband of 67 years, Harold Elwin Howes, and her son Harold Elwin Howes, Jr.

Her burial will be at Sacramento Valley National Cemetery in Dixon, Calif.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Gideons International. Celebration of Life for Dorothy on Saturday, May 13, 2023 at 2pm at Cimarron Farms, Brown Road, Oakley.

Hometown SportS

Cricket league launched in Brentwood

By Hemananthani Sivanandam Correspondent

On a sunny Saturday morning in early April, a group of men in their 30s and 40s were playing a sport at the Country Manor Park in Antioch that brought back childhood memories — cricket.

The men were part of the Brentwood Cricket Association (BCA), participating in the Association’s 2023 inaugural Spring League, which began in early March and will end in May.

There are 56 players from four teams participating in the League– the Brentwood Blasters, Brentwood Grenades, Brentwood Badshahs, and All Stars.

Manish Jain, 40, the BCA’s president, said the idea to have Brentwood’s league came after the teams won in the division C Mountain House Cricket League in the spring of last year. “It was a great moment, our family members attending a reception to celebrate our win there.

They would also accompany us almost every weekend to play in Mountain House.

“We traveled there every week, all 60 players and our family members, spending time and money in Tracy,” Jain said. “We wanted to bring all that to Brentwood and Antioch.”.

Cricket is “practically like a religion” in India, Jain said, and he wants the younger generation here to continue to play and watch the sport.

The popular sport originated in England and is now played in many countries, particularly in the British Commonwealth. It is a team sport played with a bat and a

ball, with two teams of 11 players each.

Cricket has various formats, including Test cricket, One Day International (ODI) cricket, and Twenty20 (T20) cricket. Each format has its rules and strategies, and different skills and techniques are required to succeed.

Janardhan Shetty, 36, noted there were fewer than 10 people when he joined BCA last year. But very soon, the Association grew fourfold over the past six months.

There are almost 130 people in BCA, who meet every weekend to play, organizers said.

“I used to play competitive cricket in my younger days in India. So when I came

to Brentwood, I was a little rusty, but I picked it up quickly,” Shetty said. “It just brings back all my childhood memories.”

Apart from reminiscing about the old days, cricket also helps him unwind from his daily routine and keeps him mentally engaged.

But apart from reliving childhood memories, and keeping mentally and physically fit, cricket also bonds the community together, Jain said.

“When we won the league in Mountain House, we saw the smiles of our family members. I would do anything to see that,” Jain said.

Brentwood Blasters team captain

Srinivasa Rao Mopuri, 45, said he was happy to see a league started in Brentwood.

“The excitement and interest people are showing here is good, plus the game itself is competitive in nature,” said Srinivasa, who has been playing cricket since he was 10 years old.

Mopuri’s teammate, Sanaullah Ansari, 35, started playing cricket in Pakistan in his childhood.

“I moved to the United States about 11 years ago and this is my first time playing since (my younger days),” Ansari said. “I never miss practice days because it’s very exciting to me, and it brings old memories.”

Jain and Shetty hope to organize more leagues with more teams in the future and attract players not just from Brentwood but also from the younger generation and other communities.

“We are trying to create educational videos to be uploaded on our website, so people, especially the young ones can understand the basics of cricket, and can reach out to come and train with us,” Jain said.

Reuters recently reported that the United States secured their place in the final qualifying tournament for this year’s 50-overs World Cup in India.

The United Arab Emirates, which finished runner-up to the U.S., will join former world champions West Indies and Sri Lanka as among the 10 teams in Zimbabwe competing for the last two places at the October-November World Cup.

For more information: www.brentwoodcricket.com

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

Heritage volleyball sweeps Pittsburg, 3-0

By Juan Cebreiros Correspondent

Going into the Heritage-Pittsburg match, Heritage Patriots head coach Janet Hannigan put a big emphasis on the mental aspect of the game after the team dropped a three-set match to the Freedom Falcons.

“It was hard, we were in our own heads a lot. We’ve been working a lot on the mental part of the game like how to move past errors,” Hannigan said.

Junior Luke Simone added to the struggles the team has had in the mental aspect of the game the team faced earlier in the season.

“At the beginning of the season we would put each other down and recently we have brought it together,” Simone said.

This shift in focus seemed to pay off as the Patriots defeated the Pirates in the opening set 25-14 enroute to a 25-14, 25-13, 25-19 victory.

“Pittsburg is always really super athletic and scrappy to get the ball so we were preparing for that as well as working on ourselves and in our own head,” Hannigan said. Heritage blockers be-

gan to take control of the game in the second set. Simone and Luke Roriguez blocked three straight attacks that resulted in Patriot scores. This allowed Heritage to jump out to a 10-3 lead and ultimately take Set 2 by a score of 25-13.

“I think everybody out there is capable and they just kinda lose their heads,” Hannigan said with the third and final set was a back and forth affair between the two teams.

With Heritage leading 15-12, Pittsburg looked to respond with a scoring attack, but the line judge ruled the ball out and Heritage was awarded the point. The Patriots used this momentum to improve their lead to 23-13. Pittsburg then went on a 6-0 run, but it was not enough as the comeback fell short and they dropped the third set, 25-19.

“We can be in the top three in league. I don’t think this team has yet peaked. It’s just a matter of finding more of an offense,” Hannigan said.

The Patriots improve to 13-6 on the season and 3-1 in league play while Pittsburg drops to 9-11 on the season and remain winless in league play with an 0-4 record.

Photo by Juan Cebreiros

The Patriots beat the Pirates in three consecutive sets.

Members of the Brentwood Cricket Association take a team photo after winning the Mountain House Cricket League last spring.

Photo Courtesy of the Brentwood Cricket Association

Liberty volleyball sweeps, dominates Antioch

By Juan Cebreiros Correspondent

The Liberty Lions volleyball team dominated the Antioch Panthers sweeping them 3-0 - 25-8, 25-13, 25-10 - on Tuesday, April 4.

Liberty took control in the match early and never allowed the Panthers to score more than 13 points in any of the three sets.

“Being able to rely on each other and trust our teammates led us to this dominant victory,” Liberty’s captain Cooper Siemers said.

This teamwork enabled the Lions to cruise to a 25-8 opening-set victory. The Panthers did not have a response for Liberty’s offense, but also made several mistakes themselves that put them in a deficit that was too much to overcome.

The second set started similarly to the first when Liberty jumped out to a 10-3 lead. The Lions ultimately took the set 25-13. However, the Panthers took some of Liberty’s momentum by ending the set on a 7-2 run.

The third and final set started as a back-and-forth affair with neither team able to extend their lead past two points. The Lions started this set much differently, and began to make several mistakes that kept the set close.

“We missed a few more serves that kept us a little bit closer to start off,” said Lions head coach Haylie Bustamante. However, the Lions were able to clean up their play and ended the set on a 17-2 run to sweep the Panthers.

“Being able to get ahold of that momentum and being able to keep pushing and fighting can really fire up a team,” said Siemers.

“We tightened our belts back up and found our teamwork again,” said Bustamante.

With the victory, the Lions improve to 11-8 overall, 3-0 record in league play. The Panthers remain winless on the season as they fall to 0-12, and 0-3 in league play.

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Photo by Juan Cebreiros

The Liberty Lions volleyball team took a decisive victory against the Panthers in a lopsided match on April 4.

Photo by Christian Raitt/Evan Estrada

Superior Court chooses Verriere as commissioner

Andrew R. Verriere has been appointed as the newest Contra Costa Superior Court commissioner.

Verriere will assume his role on May 1, 2023, and will preside in Department 50, handling traffic, unlawful detainer, small claims, and domestic violence and civil harassment restraining order matters at the Walnut Creek and Richmond courthouses.

Verriere comes to the Court following many years of experience as a trial and appellate litigator in civil and probate matters.

Immediately prior to his appointment, Verriere was a principal at Hartog, Baer, Zabronsky & Verriere APC, focusing on trust and estate litigation, conservatorship litigation, financial elder abuse, related litigation, and appeals.

He has presented to numerous trade

organizations on topics of fiduciary duty, financial elder abuse, and discovery dispute resolution.

Verriere also volunteered as a past member of the Board of Directors of the Contra Costa County Bar Association and as a member of the Court’s Temporary Judge program.

He previously worked as an extern to Judge Richard Clifton of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit in Honolulu.

Verriere replaces Judge Palvir Shoker following her appointment to the bench. Beginning April 24, Shoker will preside in Department 35 at the Richmond courthouse. Commissioner Jill Lifter (Department 54), currently presiding in the Walnut Creek and Richmond courthouses, will move to the Pittsburg courthouse effective May 8.

Meals on Wheels gala on June 10 to support seniors

Meals on Wheels Diablo Region invites guests to join them for a night of dining, dancing, and fun at the Dining to Deliver Gala on Saturday, June 10 at the Blackhawk Museum at 3700 Blackhawk Plaza Circle, Danville to help support vulnerable seniors.

The gala begins at 6 p.m., and dinner starts at about 7.

Meals on Wheels Diablo Region has been delivering meals and life-saving services to seniors since 1968. In the past year alone, they delivered over 600,000 meals. The need for its support services has grown, the group’s statistics show. Fall prevention has increased by 150%, more seniors are receiving friendly visits and calls to prevent social isolation, and

MIKE’S ESTATE PLANNING MINUTE

By Michael J. Amthor, Esq.

HAVE YOU TALKED WITH YOUR FAMILY ABOUT MONEY? YOU SHOULD. HERE’S WHY.

I have discussed the importance of estate planning many times in these articles. Saving money, peace of mind and making things easier for those you leave behind are just a few of the benefits. However, with estate planning typically comes difficult conversations with family members that does not come natural. Subjects such as who you want to be in charge of your estate after death, who should receive your assets and end of life issues are just the beginning. Nine out of 10 Americans consider it important to have a financial plan but almost half have difficulty discussing finances with loved ones. There are three reasons for this: It can be overwhelming, it can be awkward and talking about a future plan is difficult when you don’t have one in place. The statistics tell an interesting story. 38% of people do not even talk to their spouse or partner about the other’s financial situation before getting married. 55% of those without a financial plan say they are not confident in their retirement and a full 86% of us do not feel they have saved enough for retirement. It starts with a conversation and

sometimes we just need a little help to take that first step. When I talk to clients about estate planning, I do so without making them feel guilty or being ashamed. The most important step you take is talking with someone. I reassure my clients that it is never too late nor too early to start talking about finances after death. Most of my clients have a very real sense of accomplishment and relief because many have been putting it off for years. I cannot emphasize enough the peace of mind my clients walk away with when we complete their estate plan and they know this important issue has been handled. Make a commitment to yourself and talk to your family today about these issues. Keep it light and do not take it too seriously. Your next call should be to my office and we will put your plans into action.

If you have questions on this or any other estate planning topic, call me at (925) 5164888. East County Family Law Group, 1181 Central Blvd. Ste. A, Brentwood www.eastcountyfamilylaw.com – Advertisement

care management helps seniors struggling with depression, evictions, and elder abuse. With senior needs increasing, this event is crucial to continue providing these services.

For more information about becoming a sponsor, contact Sherry Nadworny at snadworny@mowdr.org. Tickets for the Dining to Deliver Gala are available for purchase, with all proceeds going to support older adults.

Meals on Wheels also ask all guests to test for COVID-19 the day of the event. Attendees with questions about the test should contact Nadworny as well.

To buy tickets and for more information, visit: https://www.mowdiabloregion. org/upcoming-events

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Cop logs

Suspicious circumstances were reported on Lone Tree Way. The reporting party found two skimmers in the indoor ATMs. BRENTWOOD – March 22, 3:29 p.m..

The following is a selection of recent law enforcement activity:

OAKLEY

March 26, 5:19 a.m. A prowler was reported at the 20 block on Red Barn Court.

March 26, 8:00 a.m. A reckless driver was reported on Brentwood Boulevard/Main Street.

March 26, 10:07 a.m. A reckless driver was reported on Live Oak Avenue/Neroly Road.

March 26, 11:17 a.m. A public nuisance was reported on Laurel Road/O’Hara Avenue.

March 26, 11:21 a.m. A civil disturbance was reported to the Oakley Police Department.

March 26, 11:22 a.m. A reckless driver was reported on Empire Avenue/Neroly Road.

March 26, 11:34 a.m. A civil disturbance was reported at the 800 block on Riverrock Drive.

March 26, 12:26 p.m. A civil disturbance was reported at the 1300 block on Portsmouth Street.

March 26, 12:50 p.m. A civil disturbance was reported at the 800 block on Riverrock Drive.

March 26, 1:03 p.m. A civil disturbance was reported at the 1300 block on Portsmouth Street.

March 26, 1:03 p.m. A civil disturbance was reported at the 90 block on Bergamot Court.

March 26, 2:47 p.m. A reckless driver was reported on Laurel Road/O’Hara Avenue.

March 26, 4:43 p.m. A traffic hazard was reported on O’Hara Avenue/Neroly Road.

March 26, 7:04 p.m. An arrest warrant was served on Main Street/Live Oak Avenue.

March 26, 7:37 p.m. A reckless driver was reported on Laurel Road/O’Hara Avenue. March 26, 11:38 p.m. A restraining order violation was reported at the 800 block on Dunmore Street.

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March 27, 12:02 a.m. An unwanted guest was reported at the 10 block on Eleven Oak.

March 27, 2:10 p.m. A petty theft was reported at the 3300 block on Main Street.

March 27, 2:23 p.m. A case of fraud under false pretenses was reported at the 20 block on Da Vinci Court.

March 27, 2:51 p.m. An exhibition of speed was reported on Malicoat Avenue/ Salvador Lane.

March 27, 3:10 p.m. A case of fraud under false pretenses was reported at the 20 block on Da Vinci Court.

March 27, 4:03 p.m. An abandoned vehicle was reported at the 10 block on Da Vinci Court.

March 27, 4:26 p.m. An ordinance violation was reported on Golden State Parkway/McClelland Way.

March 27, 4:18 p.m. An assault with a deadly weapon was reported at the 200 block on Hearthstone Circle.

March 27, 8:14 p.m. A civil problem was reported at the 800 block on Dunmore Street.

March 27, 8:23 p.m. A trespasser was reported at the 300 block on Stony Hill Circle.

March 27, 8:32 p.m. A suspicious vehicle was reported at the 4500 block on Lariat Lane.

March 27, 10:33 p.m. A suspicious vehicle was reported on Cloverbrook Avenue/ Frazier Drive.

March 27, 10:45 p.m. A case of disturbing the peace was reported at the 10 block on W. Bolton Road.

March 27, 11:42 p.m. A suspicious person was reported on Oak Grove Drive/Hacienda Drive.

March 28, 6:03 a.m. A vehicle theft was reported at the 400 block on Landis Avenue.

March 28, 7:45 a.m. A traffic hazard was reported on Laurel Road/O’Hara Avenue.

March 28, 9:32 a.m. A case of vandalism was reported at the 3000 block on Main Street.

March 28, 11:00 a.m. A public nuisance was reported at the 3600 block on Main Street.

March 28, 11:05 a.m. A case of harassment was reported at the 2900 block on Terra Verde Lane.

March 28, 11:33 a.m. A domestic disturbance was reported at the 900 block on Stonegate Circle.

March 28, 11:38 a.m. A verbal dispute was reported at the 200 block on Yellow Rose Circle.

March 28, 3:01 p.m. A case of vandalism was reported on O’Hara Avenue/Laurel Road.

BRENTWOOD

March 21, 7:03 a.m. A vehicle theft was reported on Hawthorne Court.

March 21, 9:54 a.m. A case of disturbing the peace was reported on Portofino Drive.

March 21, 1:02 p.m. A case of suspicious circumstances was reported on Emerald Bay. Someone attempted to rob a house on the street. The reporting party’s wife saw a car chase and said that a crashed vehicle was outside the residence.

March 21, 2:07 p.m. A vehicle theft was reported on Brentwood Boulevard. Two plates were on the vehicle, possible vehicle embezzlement.

March 21, 2:10 p.m. A case of forgery/ fraud was reported on Oakville Court. The reporting party was scammed by a female they met on LinkedIn. She convinced him to invest in cryptocurrency/ bitcoin. The reporting party maxed out all credit cards, took out a second mortgage and cashed out their IRAs, resulting in a loss of $800,000.

March 21, 3:43 p.m. A petty theft was reported on Scenic Court.

March 21, 4:32 p.m. An accident with no injuries was reported on Brentwood Boulevard/Sand Creek Road.

March 21, 4:47 p.m. An accident with minor injuries was reported on Balfour Road/Fairview Avenue.

March 21, 8:32 p.m. A case of identity theft was reported on Christenson Court. The reporting party’s identity and possible Social Security Number is being used.

March 22, 9:06 a.m. A case of grand theft was reported on Blue Bird Lane.

March 22, 10:09 a.m. A case of grand theft was reported on Gann Street. A catalytic converter was taken.

March 22, 10:41 a.m. A case of forgery/ fraud was reported on Burgundy Lane. The reporting party was scammed out of $10,000 from their bank account, as the caller pretended to be a fraud investigator from their bank.

March 22, 12:27 p.m. A case of identity theft was reported on Burgundy Lane. The reporting party’s credit card was used to purchase some items. They received a notification and the charges were stopped.

March 22, 12:59 p.m. Suspicious circumstances were reported on Balfour Road.

March 22, 2:30 p.m. A case of indecent exposure was reported on Sand Creek Road. Male inside the store exposing himself. He was pulling down his pants and rubbing himself.

March 22, 2:31 p.m. A case of forgery/ fraud was reported on Monarch Terrace. The reporting party has paperwork showing their credit card was used at a Home Depot in the San Jose area.

March 22, 3:25 p.m. A case of forgery/ fraud was reported on Blumen Avenue. The reporting party’s 84-year-old uncle was scammed when he clicked on a fake PayPal link.

March 22, 3:29 p.m. Suspicious circumstances were reported on Lone Tree Way. The reporting party found two skimmers in the indoor ATMs.

March 22, 5:53 p.m. A juvenile complaint was reported on Old Sand Creek Road. Two people on dirt bikes were on the reporting party’s property. The reporting party said they tore it up and are now stuck in the mud.

March 22, 7:37 p.m. A petty theft was reported on Lone Tree Way.

C lassifieds & l egals

administrators using a streamlined financing process; addition of seismic safety improvements and wildfire safety improvements to the types of authorized public facilities or services which may be financed by the District; and various administrative changes and updates.

written protest may be withdrawn in writing at any time before the conclusion of the public hearing.

1. Petitioner Jason + Rowena Cohen filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: Present Name: a. Naya Cohen to Proposed Name: a. Naya Gisele Cohen. 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: 06/02/2023 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: March 30 2023 Judge of the Superior Court Brentwood Press Brentwood Press 02-1273

Publish Dates: April 7, 14, 21, 28, 2023

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

Regarding Alterations to Golden State Finance Authority (formerly California Home Finance Authority)

Community Facilities District No. 2014-1 (Clean Energy) WEDNESDAY, APRIL 26, 2023

9:00 a.m.

1215 K Street, Suite 1650 Sacramento, CA 95814

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that on March 8, 2023, the Board of Directors of the Golden State Finance Authority (“ GSFA ”) adopted Resolution No. 23-05, (the “ Resolution ”) scheduling a public hearing to consider altering its Community Facilities District No. 2014-1 (Clean Energy) (the “ District ”) to revise the proposed financing arrangements, authorize the financing of seismic safety improvements and wildfire safety improvements, and make various administrative changes, and all other matters set forth in that resolution.

The District was established in 2014 in accordance with section 53328.1 of the Mello-Roos Community Facilities Act of 1982 (Government Code section 53311 et seq.), as amended (the “ Act ”). The purpose of the District is to levy a special tax to finance the acquisition, installation, and improvement of certain improvements permanently affixed to or on real property and in buildings, with the unanimous approval of the property owner or owners. The territory of the District, to wit, the territory proposed for annexation to the District in accordance with Section 53328.1, includes (1) any unincorporated land within those counties that are now or in the future either full members or associate members of GSFA and consent to the annexation of properties within their jurisdiction to the District and (2) any incorporated land within those cities that are now or in the future either full members or associate members of GSFA and consent to the annexation of properties within their jurisdictions to the District.

By adopting the Resolution, the Board of Directors has determined that the public convenience and necessity require alterations to the District, including revisions to the arrangements for financing the District to allow for the participation of multiple program

A public hearing to consider these proposed changes will be held by the Board at 9:00 a.m. on Wednesday, April 26, 2023, in the regular meeting place of the Board of GSFA, 1215 K Street, Suite 1650, Sacramento, California 95814, or as soon thereafter as the Board may reach the matter. In addition, it is expected that the public hearing will be continued to 8:30 a.m. on Friday, May 12, 2023, at 999 Yosemite Drive, Chico, California 95928. Members of the public can watch, listen or participate remotely using the methods prescribed in an agenda to be made available in advance of each public hearing described immediately above at https:// ww w.gsfahome.org/about /publicrecords.shtml.

This Notice briefly summarizes the Resolution. You should read the Resolution itself for the definitive description of the District’s financing program, including a description of the costs and the improvements that are authorized for this method of financing. The Resolution can be found at https://legistarweb-production .s3.amazonaws.com/ up loads/attachment/pdf /1822117/ SB_555_PACE_Program_Revisions_A

TTACH_1.pdf. A copy of Resolution No. 23-05 also may be reviewed or obtained at the office of the Secretary of GSFA, 1215 K Street, Suite 1650, Sacramento, California.

As provided in the Act, the Board must hold a public hearing before the Board may make these proposed alterations to the District. This is the notice of the public hearing.

At the public hearing, any persons interested, including all taxpayers, property owners, and registered voters, may appear and be heard, and the oral or written testimony of all interested persons or taxpayers for or against the proposed alterations or any other matters contained in the Resolution will be heard and considered. Any protests to the proposal may be made orally or in writing by any interested persons, except that any protests pertaining to the regularity or sufficiency of the proceedings must be in writing and must clearly set forth the irregularities and defects to which objection is made. The Board may waive any irregularities in the form or content of any written protest and, at the public hearing, may correct minor defects in the proceedings. All written protests not presented in person at the public hearing must be filed with the Secretary of the Board at or before the time fixed for the public hearing in order to be received and considered. Any

After the conclusion of the public hearing, if written protests against one or more of the proposed changes have been filed and not withdrawn by 50% or more of the registered voters residing and registered within the territory of the District, or if written protests against one or more of the proposed changes have been filed and not withdrawn by the owners of one-half or more of the land area that is within the territory of the District and not exempt from the special tax, then such change or changes shall be eliminated from the resolution ordering changes and such change or changes shall not be included in a resolution for a period of one year from the date of the Board of Directors’ determination that a majority protest exists.

At the conclusion of the public hearing, the Board of Directors may abandon these proceedings or may, after passing upon all protests, determine to proceed with the changes set forth in this resolution. If the Board determines to proceed with the changes, then the election procedure shall be combined with any other elections required by law, and will consist of the execution of Unanimous Approval Agreements as provided in Sections 53328.1, 53329.6 and 53355.5 of the Government Code.

The GSFA Executive Director or such officer’s designee (the “ Executive Director ”) has studied the proposed changes and will provide, at or before the time of the public hearing, a report describing the following: A list of Authorized Improvements; a representative listing of incidental expenses; a recommended form of Unanimous Approval Agreement; recommendations for appropriate procedures and criteria for processing and evaluating applications for participation and annexation to the CFD from the owners of property within the territory of the CFD; recommended forms for properties to annex to the CFD; and an estimate of the related incidental expenses – all in accordance with the Resolution. The report will be available for inspection by the public and will become a part of the record of the public hearing. Questions should be directed to Craig Ferguson, Deputy Director, GSFA, whose telephone number is (916) 447-4806.

DATED: April 14, 2023

/s/ Craig Ferguson Secretary Golden State Finance Authority Publish Date: April 14, 2023

NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE

OF: CATHERINE BENTON, deceased

CASE NUMBER P22-01597 To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may other-

wise be interested in the will or estate, or both, of: CATHERINE BENTON, deceased. A Petition for Probate has been filed by: DORNESSIEA VOLRIE in the Superior Court of California, County of: CONTRA COSTA The Petition for Probate requests that: DORNESSIEA VOLRIE 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 Administra tion 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. Date:

MAY 04, 2023 Time: 9:00 AM Dept: WAKEFIELD TAYLOR COURTHOUSE.

b. Address of court: 725 COURT ST, 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 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. Petitioner: DORNESSIEA VOLRIE *ANTIOCH PRESS* 06-1617

Publish Dates: April 14, 21, 28, 2023

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GAMES & PUZZLES

SAT 4/15

9:00am - 2:00pm Preschool Fundraiser & Rummage Sale. Ed.

4-7-2023

Here’s How It Works:

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

Native American.

Each club started rehearsing for their performance at the event during the winter, while also putting on similar performances at their respective school’s multicultural days.

“It’s pretty special because we get to showcase our culture to other people,” said Darren Garcia, a sophomore and a member of the Filipino-American club at Heritage High School.

Garcia, along with fellow members Isabella Ofalla and Colin Santos, performed the Philippines national “tinikling” dance, a traditional dance where the dancer steps in between two or even four long pieces of bamboo that are clapped together by the two people on each side who are on their knees holding them. The dancer then takes their steps in between the bamboo poles, hopping out as the poles clap together, in rhythm without getting their feet caught.

It’s the same performance that they put on at a recent multicultural rally at Heritage.

“It was amazing, for sure,” Ofalla said. “Here in Brentwood, there’s multiple races, and there’s so much culture around us. It’s really good to keep our culture alive for many different generations.”

Along with Heritage’s FilipinoAmerican club, the school’s Ethiopian Eritrean Student Association (EESA) also performed their traditional dance in front of the crowd.

“We know that it took us a really long time to choreograph this,” said Baza Dawite of the EESA and a senior at Heritage. “Our main goal was also just to get the crowd involved and to get them to understand what it’s like to be Ethiopian

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Eritrean and to represent culture in a way that other people can understand and interpret as well.”

Even those who performed on Saturday learned more about their own culture than they knew before.

“I learned a lot more about my culture by doing this,” said Emmanuel Yilma, of the EESA and a senior at Heritage. “This is my first year dancing, and we became kind of a family in a way because we all learned about our culture.”

Along with Heritage’s FilipinoAmerican and EESA, and Antioch’s Asi se Siente Mexico, Liberty’s Polynesian

sentation over to members of the Public Art and Design Academy.

The purpose of the mural project is to create a visual representation of the past and present celebrating the 75th anniversary of Brentwood, according to the slideshow presented by the academy members. It will be located in City Park on the water equipment shed across from Brentwood’s community center.

“We selected the water equipment shed for this year’s project because it is visible to those entering and exiting the community center or roaming the park,” one of the students explained. “Those coming to music in the park nights, attending to city business or just playing with their children on the playground can see the design and be reminded of Brentwood’s history.”

The unanimously approved tile mural will measure 54 inches by 72 inches. It features art of First Street in

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operations that will be placed adjacent to residential neighborhoods and Laurel Elementary School.

Emotions ran high at the Council chambers with opponents accusing some Council members of being “bought out” by rich developers with campaign donations. Shannon Shaw noted “I have been accused of a lot of things online and the stress… it’s made me sick.” Shaw said she had spent hours studying the proposals and residents’ arguments, ‘“But the question is do we risk the city’s bankruptcy” in

club “Culture Shock” rounded out the clubs that took part.

The multicultural showcase is a testament to the growth of the city of Brentwood and its diversity, students said.

“This is awesome,” said Owen Spishock, an eighth-grader from Adams Middle School and one of the other Brentwood youth commissioners who’s part of the special events committee. “There’s so many people out here, so many diverse people. It’s a great thing to see, and I’m super happy that so many people showed up since this is our first time doing this. We didn’t know what to

Brentwood that includes the Delta Theater and the surrounding buildings, with a sepia tone representing the past in contrast with vivid colors to reflect the present. The $3,513 cost of the mural will be funded through an amendment to the 2022/23 operating budget by increasing the Public Art Acquisition Fund by the same amount.

“I can’t wait to see the finished result,” Bryant said following the vote.

Other topics discussed by the council as part of the meeting included:

• A discussion on expected decorum at City Council meetings

• The approval of an agreement for environmental services associated with the Sand Creek Sports Complex. The agreement would see the city partnering with Ramey Planning and Management, a Sacramentobased company, for a maximum amount of $97,826.

a court fight, she asked. Even the sound levels inside the Council chambers hit a near-painful level during an audio clip played by Fitzgeralds ,which recorded the sound of a typical car wash process. The nearly five hour meeting also featured some heated outbursts from the audience.

Neighbors on the north side of the shopping center were particularly alarmed by the potential sound pollution from the car wash. The city’s acoustic consultant was peppered with questions about the sound levels generated by the car wash’s dryers and vacuums. The ap-

expect. It’s just amazing support.”

With the success of the first Multicultural Fair, the youth commission said it looks to make this an annual event and are hoping to have it grow over the years with more of the school’s cultural clubs taking part.

“It’s a good feeling to have,” said Aly Weavil, a senior with Liberty’s Culture Shock. “To have been given this opportunity to share with the community is great. The next generation is what our world is in the hands of now.”

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

The cost is already factored into the city’s budget as part of the Capital Improvement Program.

• The unanimous approval of a resolution authorizing staff to sign a contract with PG&E in the amount of $89,932.29, plus a contingency of $13,489.84 for unanticipated additional services, for a total not to exceed amount of $103,422.13 as part of the Deer Ridge Frontage Landscaping Project

• Unanimous approval of a resolution approving and authorizing staff to execute a contract with National Aquatic Services, Inc. in the amount of $110,774, plus a contingency of $11,077.40 for a total not to exceed amount of $121,851.40 for retrofit of the fountains also associated with the Deer Ridge Frontage Landscaping Project

The full meeting can be watched online at https://bit. ly/3UvZ7QE

To comment, visit www.thepress.net

plicant has offered to plant a buffer line of high trees along the north border of Laurel Plaza with 18-feet tall, 60-inch box trees weighing up to 8,000 lbs.

One opponent quipped, “Come to Oakley, a great place to wash your car.”

Opposition to the McDonald’s restaurant focused on its drive-through service and the sound and traffic safety issues.

In the end, the Council voted to approve both projects with Mayor Aaron Meadows, Council members Hugh Henderson and Shaw voting to approve with Vice Mayor Anissa Williams and George

Fuller voting ‘no.’

Williams defended her vote while saying she was “pro-business” but had to side with the Laurel Road residents. Meanwhile, Fuller said that “the community is suffering” and accused his Council colleagues of being “a toothless tiger.”

In a rambling speech at the end of the meeting, Fuller said his rationale for his vote was his experience in special education led him to defend the city’s children while also citing Poland’s attempts to appease Hitler in World War II.

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The boys of Heritage High’s Ethiopian Eritrean Student Association (left) club perform their dance at the Brentwood Multicultural Fair last Saturday, April 8. At right, Liberty’s “Culture Shock” showcases their culture on the runway.

Photos by Jeff Weisinger

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