The Press 09.08.2023

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2023

Ex-teacher ‘in desperate need of support’ before his arrest

Jeff Weisinger Staff Writer

An ex-Heritage High School history teacher and soccer coach was pleading for help online before he was arrested by Brentwood police during Heritage football’s home opening game last Friday night.

Carlos Hurtado, 27, was arrested by Brentwood police during the second quarter of the Patriots game against Granada last Friday. He showed up on campus after already receiving a trespass admonishment to stay away after being forced to resign earlier in the week.

On his Facebook page on Saturday, he posted a iPetition link to bring him back, which as of Tuesday afternoon has had 119 signatures with some leaving comments like “Bring back Mr. Hurtado,” and “Free the goat.”

Hurtado described his situation in the post.

“My name is Carlos Adrian Hurta-

do and I have been in the Liberty Union High School District for 6 full years,” he said on his most recent Facebook post. “However, my seventh year has been quite a nightmare. I am in desperate need of

Former Heritage teacher Carlos Hurtado was arrested after trying to evade police during Heritage football’s home opening game against Granada Friday night.

Plans for new downtown fire station advance

By Sean Tongson Correspondent

your support in order for me to continue getting back to my community.”

He also posted a video on his business’s

see Ex-teacher page 18A

Brentwood residents reject Bridle Gate

thing that ever happened to Brentwood.”

“We’re going through this over and over and over again,” the speaker added.

A plan to proceed with construction of a new fire station in downtown Brentwood appears to be one step closer to a reality.

A new downtown fire station at 739 First St. is slated to replace the former Fire Station 54, which was demolished last October after permanently closing in 2014 after 57 years of service. According to a report released in 2021 by the Contra Costa Board of Supervisors, Station 54 was deemed functionally obsolete and unsafe for occupancy, which necessitated the need for a replacement.

The city of Brentwood formally adopted a resolution that denied the Bridle Gate development that was proposed to build just under 300 new homes west of Sand Creek Road and the Highway 4 interchange.

However, even with the city’s planning commission considering a revised environmental impact report on the project

Tuesday night during the planning commission meeting, the people of Brentwood made it clear once again – they don’t want Bridle Gate.

“Please don’t accept the developer telling you what he is willing to do,” said Sandra Meyers during public comments. “Tell him what you want him to do and stick up for the citizens of Brentwood.”

“I’m not sure if it’s an al-

batross or a white whale,” said Danny Dorman, another public speaker. “When an (environmental report) is submitted, and submitted, and submitted, and nothing has changed with respect to the environment, why do we have to keep going through the process? The movie ‘Titanic, part 2’ has a better chance of succeeding.”

Another speaker called the project “a travesty and the worst

Raney Planning and Management, the company designing and developing Bridle Gate, spent nearly four hours Tuesday night once again pitching the housing project – from detailing their revised environmental report, to their vesting tentative subdivision map, and their housing designs to the city’s planning commission.

The proposed project, according to the California Environmental Quality Act, requires

see Reject page 18A

The new fire station, estimated to cost $10 million, is planned to accommodate larger fire engines while also improving fire and medical response times in Brentwood and across East County to meet the needs of a growing community as a result of Measure X.

In spite of plans for the County and Con Fire to move forward with the project, according to VFW Post 10789 Commander Bill Weber said both parties still have problems to solve.

see Plans page 18A

Photo by Jeff Weisinger

By Jeff Weisinger Staff Writer

“ I can’t see how this plan does anything but make it worse.

Commissioner Rod Flohr

Planning commission hears reasons why at meeting

LUHSD seeks new board member after resignation last month

The Liberty Union High School District is looking for a new board member after Trustee Sandra McCaslin resigned on Aug. 9, effective Oct. 6.

McCaslin’s resignation is a result of her preparing to move out of the area, according to Superintendent Eric Volta.

The trustee area comprises Discovery Bay, Knightsen, Bethel Island, and a portion of the Cypress Road corridor in Oakley. A map of trustee area 4 can be found at https:// ca01001129.schoolwires.net/Domain/2255 .

The Liberty Union High School District Board of Trustees is seeking applications from individuals living in Trustee Area 4 interested in serving on the Board. The person selected will hold office until the next scheduled general election is certified or December 2024.

Application packets are available at the school district at 20 Oak St. in Brentwood or by emailing Executive Secretary Vanessa Domenici at domeniciv@luhsd.net.

The deadline for submitting an application is Friday, Sept. 29, at 4 p.m. Completed application packets should be submitted to the attention of: Vanessa Domenici, Liberty Union High School District, 20 Oak St., Brentwood, CA 94513 or by email to domeniciv@luhsd.net.

A workshop for prospective candidates will be held at the District Office, on Wednesday Sept. 27, at 6 p.m. The Board will conduct candidate interviews and make its appointment in mid-October. The new Board member will be sworn into office at the regularly scheduled Board of Trustees meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 25.

Oriental fruit flies detected near Brentwood, Oakley; quarantine forthcoming

The Contra Costa County Agricultural Commissioner, in cooperation with the California Department of Food and Agriculture and the United States Department of Agriculture, has initiated an extensive survey and eradication plan in response to the detection of seven male oriental fruit flies, Bactrocera dorsalis, near Brentwood and Oakley.

The initial detection was confirmed on Aug. 25. As part of the department’s coordinated pest prevention system that protects the County’s agriculture and natural resources from invasive species. Early detection as a key component to successfully eradicating an infestation before it can become established.

The extensive survey, also known as a delimitation survey, consists of multiple oriental fruit fly traps at prescribed densities placed in concentric circles going out 4.5 miles in each direction from the oriental fruit fly detection sites.

Seven oriental fruit flies will trigger a quarantine that will be announced shortly by the California Department of Food and Agriculture.

Following the principles of Integrated Pest Management, agricultural officials use “male attractant” technique to eradicate the species. This approach has eliminated dozens of fruit fly infestations in California. Trained workers squirt a small patch of fruit fly attractant mixed with a tiny dose of Spinosad, a natural pesticide made by soil bacterium and is approved for use on organic crops, 8-10 feet off the ground on street trees and similar surfaces; male fruit flies are attracted to the mixture and perish after consuming it.

The most common pathway for these pests to enter the state is by “hitchhiking” in fruits and vegetables brought back illegally by travelers as they return from infested regions of the world or from packages of home grown produce sent to California. Help protect California’s agricultural and natural resources; please Don’t Pack a Pest (www. dontpackapest.com) when traveling or mailing packages.

The oriental fruit fly is known to target 230 different fruit, vegetable, and plant commodities. Important California crops at risk include grapes, pome, stone fruits, citrus, dates, avocados, and many vegetables, particularly tomatoes and peppers. Damage occurs when the female fruit fly lays her eggs inside the fruit. The eggs hatch into maggots, which

tunnel through the flesh of the fruit, making it unfit for humans to eat.

Residents with questions about the project may call the Contra Costa County Agricultural Commissioner’s office at 925-608-6600 or the California Department of Food and Agriculture’s Pest Hotline at 1-800-491-1899.

Assembly declares nation’s first transgender history month

Assemblymember Matt Haney (D–San Francisco) has announced that every August will be known in California as Transgender History Month.

California has long been at the forefront of the transgender liberation movement, he said. But transgender and gender-nonconforming Americans are being politicized and dehumanized in recent culture wars and their contributions to the history of the United States are being erased, he added.

Conservative politicians are portraying transgender people as a recent cultural development, despite them having existed throughout all known human history. Transgender History Month provides an opportunity to further educate and raise awareness of the many contributions of the transgender community throughout the state and country and recognizing a history that back as far as the Spanish colonial era, he said.

Heritage High senior can fly before he can vote or drink

Patriots’ JROTC, PJTF

help student earn pilot’s license

By Jeff Weisinger Staff Writer

High school students normally get their learner’s permit, or even their driver’s license, when they reach age 16-18. It’s seen as the next big step to adulthood, a right of passage, so to speak.

And then there’s 17-year-old Heritage senior Logan Yeom, who went several knots further and not only got his driver’s license, but took to the skies to get his pilot’s license. It’s a goal he’s worked at since he was 15, the seed of which was placed in his mind when he was 16.

“I’ve always been fascinated by airplanes like when I was younger,” Yeom said. “The fact that we are not able to fly naturally, but we can just go up in the sky… it’s that curiosity. Then through the Patriot Jet Team Foundation (PJTF), that introduction to aviation corps kind of sparked that back up again.”

Yeom found his way into aviation as a career through his Spanish teacher, whose son was in JROTC and affiliated with the foundation.

“Through JROTC, they introduced me to the Patriot Jet Team Foundation

and their introduction to the aviation program.,” Yeom explained.

Yeom’s path to getting his license involved him taking classes at Byron airport once a week, which he says continued to build his interest in aviation. After the class ended, he was offered scholarships for ground school – the first step in flight training where aspiring pilots study aviation-related topics such as aerodynamics, airport rules, aircraft instruments, and other theoretical flight topics.

After completing ground school, he earned another scholarship to get in the sky and take his first solo lesson. All of the opportunities were given to Yeom by the Patriot Team foundation.

“They reignited that spark in aviation,” he said. “Really, through their introduction course, they really introduced me to all the options I had no idea about and any of the possibilities of flying at all and then going through their instruction aviation course that really opened my eyes to

the whole world of aviation.”

Logan’s father, James, added that while the PJTF opened all of these doors and opportunities for him, Logan was the one who sought them out.

“He just was a complete self-starter in that regard, and really showed us that he was very determined and passionate about pursuing this,” James Yeom said. “He went and got the initial scholarship to do the ground school. Then we just assumed we’re going have to start paying for the rest of the lessons to get his license, and he dug a little deeper and found another scholarship that had to come through the entire program to get his license all on his own.”

With the license in hand, Yeom said his overall goal is to be a captain for either United or Delta Airlines.

“I think they’re more fitting toward my goals of being able to travel the world and really just see what’s out there and experience different cultures,” Yeom said. “That would be a big part of my dream.”

The Patriots Jet Team Foundation is hosting their 10th annual benefit gala on Sept. 23 from 5:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. at the Byron Airport at 760 Osprey Court. The proceeds from the gala sponsor programs like the paper rockets program the foundation puts on with the high schools. For more information on the gala and the Patriots Jet Team Foundation, visit https:// www.pjtf.org.

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

Logan Yeom stands amongst his Air Force JROTC classmates after earning his pilot’s license earlier this year.

Photo by Jeff Weisinger

Middle and high school students can compete for VFW college scholarships

By Sean Tongson Correspondent

Middle and high school students can now compete for two Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Scholarships to help them pay for college.

“Voice of Democracy”, a scholarship program established in 1947 and sponsored nationally by the VFW, provides high school students the opportunity to express themselves in regard to democratic ideas and principles. This year’s theme is “What Are The Greatest Attributes Of Our Democracy?” The top scholarship prize this year is $35,000, with the money coming from the VFW and partner organizations and paid directly to the recipient’s American university, college, or vocational/technical school. Students must write and record an essay of three to five minutes on the selected theme using an audio CD or flash drive, and submit their recording, typed essay, and completed entry form to VFW Post 10789 by Tuesday, Oct. 31, at midnight.

VFW Post 10789 Commander Bill Weber said that they have had supportive responses from Heritage High School and Freedom High School, and are excited for both scholarship programs this year, including “Patriots Pen”, a scholarship program for students in grades 6-8 with a top national prize of $5,000. A written essay competition, Patriot’s Pen, requires a 300 to 400-word essay with the theme “How Are You Inspired by America?”

“The audio entry is key so that the judges can listen to the intent and meaning, and really hear the passion and emphasis of

the speaker for each entry,” said Weber. “The written part is just for the judges to follow along with the audio. Best of luck to all!”

VFW Post 10789 has participated in the scholarship contest since 1990. According to vfwca.org, about 57,000 students participate in the Voice of Democracy competition annually, with VFW awarding more than $2 million in educational scholarships and incentives every year. After first competing at the local Post level, winners then advance to the district and state levels. All state first-place winners receive a four-day trip to Washington, D.C. along with the chance to compete for their share of more than $171,000 in national college scholarships, with first place being awarded $35,000.

Those interested or who have questions may contact Weber at 925-5841452, or via email at VFW11B@gmail. com. For details on Voice of Democracy and Patriot’s Pen, including entry forms, visit www.vfw.org/VOD.

WEBER

Brentwood Rotary Club to host second annual craft brew festival on Sept. 23

By Jake Menez Staff Writer

Local residents can help eradicate polio one pint at a time at Brentwood Rotary’s second annual beerfest on Saturday, Sept. 23.

The annual Brentwood Craft Brew Festival runs from 1-5 p.m. at City Park in downtown Brentwood. It’s expected to be “even bigger” than last year’s inaugural event, according to organizer Ron Wolf. There will be more than 60 beverages from about 40 breweries and cideries to try compared to just over 30 participating breweries in 2022, Wolf said.

Attendance to the 21-and-over event is also expected to be higher this year, with ticket sales anticipated to be about 1,250 compared to last year’s 750. The

2022 event raised more than $2,500 for Rotary’s Polio Plus program, “which supports global efforts to eradicate polio” as well as supporting local scholarship funds, according to a flier for the festival. In addition to the variety of beers and ciders, the event will also feature five local food trucks: Oysters Oh’ LA LA, Villa Tacos, B-Boy’s Family Barbecue, Hella Mas and Street Steam Bunz. There will also be two bands performing to liven up the atmosphere. Dawglips starts performing at 1 p.m. followed by the 925 Band at 3 p.m. Tickets are $50 in advance and $60 at the door, and include unlimited samples and a tasting glass. They can be purchased in person at Brentwood Craft Beer & Cider or Four Legs Brewing or online at https:// bit.ly/3OZxQna

To comment, visit www.thepress.net

WHY ESTATE PLANNING MATTERS

By Todd W. Moeller, Moeller Estate Law

Many people believe that estate planning is simply preparing a will to make sure that assets are passed to the people that we want to receive those assets when they die. While that is part of estate planning, estate planning involves more than just taking steps to pass property from one generation to another.

A common question is, “Why do I need to do any planning?” There are countless reasons why people need a comprehensive estate plan to deal with the situations that all families must someday face. The reasons to plan vary from person to person and family to family, but a few reasons to have a comprehensive plan are:

Establish a method for managing your assets in an efficient manner and avoid probate.

Designate who will manage your affairs when you pass away.

Protect your children’s inheritance if you pass away and your spouse re-marries after your death.

As an estate planning attorney, I have seen what happens when people do not look at estate

1 dead, 1 hospitalized after shooting in Oakley

planning as an overall process. My goal is to ensure that you remain in control of your affairs and that the people you choose handle your family and estate requirements.

My wife Julie and I are the proud parents of three terrific adult children, all of whom reside in Brentwood. My practice focuses entirely on estate planning, which includes will and trust preparation, powers of attorney preparation, and trust and probate administration. I am passionate about helping my Clients achieve their estate planning goals.

If you have questions concerning your existing estate plan or setting up an estate plan, please contact Todd W. Moeller at (925) 3018840 or Todd@MoellerEstateLaw.com. Please visit my website at www.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.

By Melissa van Ruiten Staff Writer

One person was found dead and another one was hospitalized after being shot Tuesday night in the 1700 block of Pecan Court in Oakley.

Shortly before 5 p.m., Oakley police responded to a request for a welfare check in Oakley, Tuesday, Sept. 5, according to a press release from Oakley Police.

When officers arrived, they knocked on doors, looked around the property, spoke with neighbors, and called phone numbers, but received no response and saw nothing out of the ordinary at that time, according to the press release.

Less than an hour later, a neighbor and acquaintance of the residents spotted two people in the home and alerted the police. When officers arrived back on scene, they found a wounded female.

The Contra Costa Fire Protection Dis-

trict airlifted the female victim to a local hospital in critical condition. The male victim was pronounced dead at the scene. Both victims had suffered gunshot wounds.

Due to the ongoing investigation and pending next-of-kin notifications, police are not releasing the victims’ names and ages.

Oakley police ask anyone with information regarding this case to call 925-625-8855.

“Preliminarily, this tragic case appears to be rooted in domestic violence,” Oakley Police Chief Paul Beard stated in a press release. “If you need help, or know somebody who does, please reach out for help.”

These are some resources available to people who are experiencing domestic violence:

• Oakley Police: non-emergency number925-625-8060, emergency- 911 (or your local police department)

• STAND! For Families Free of Violence: 888-215-5555

• Family Justice Center: 925-281-0970

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Cop logs

A case of petty theft was reported on Fresco Court. The suspect stole a temporary plate from the reporting party’s white Jaguar XJ. Brentwood – August 20, 10:20 a.m.

The following is a selection of recent law enforcement activity:

OAKLEY

August 20, 12:53 a.m. A suspicious circumstance was reported at Freedom High School.

August 20, 8:56 a.m. A case of petty theft was reported at Starbucks in Oakley.

August 20, 10:52 a.m. A case of fraud under false pretenses was reported at Laurel Elementary.

August 20, 10:08 p.m. A misdemeanor DUI was reported on Neroly Road and Placer Drive.

August 20, 10:30 p.m. Theft of a vehicle was reported on the 4500 block of Wilbur Avenue.

August 21, 9:55 a.m. A case of grand theft was reported on the 4800 block of Carrington Drive.

August 21, 10:00 a.m. A case of commercial burglary was reported on the 2800 block of Main Street.

August 21, 10:32 a.m. A misdemeanor hit and run was reported on the 6300 block of Bridgehead Road.

August 21, 11:20 a.m. A case of defrauding an innkeeper was reported at the Best Western on the 5500 block of Bridgehead Road.

August 21, 5:20 p.m. A case of burglary was reported at Ace Hardware on Main Street.

August 21, 11:13 p.m. A case of credit card fraud was reported on the 1500 block of Sycamore Drive.

August 22, 1:10 a.m. A vehicle theft was reported on the 900 block of Almaden Circle.

August 22, 1:24 a.m. A case of a person drunk in public was reported on the 50 block of Carol Lane.

August 22, 9:15 a.m. A case of vandalism was reported at Laurel Elementary School.

August 22, 3:22 p.m. A fight was reported at Delta Vista Middle School.

August 22, 7:16 p.m. A case of grand larceny theft from a vehicle was reported on

the 1500 block of Neroly Road.

August 23, 4:36 a.m. A case of auto burglary was reported on the 5200 block of Elm Lane.

August 23, 7:52 a.m. A case of computer fraud was reported on the 1300 block of Yosemite Circle.

August 23, 12:36 p.m. A case of possession of stolen property was reported on Main Street and Delta Road in Brentwood.

August 24, 1:45 a.m. A case of grand theft was reported on the 900 block of Stonegate Circle.

August 24, 5:36 a.m. A case of found property was reported on Vintage Parkway and Rutherford Lane.

August 24, 7:52 a.m. A case of grand theft was reported on the 300 block of Coolcrest Drive.

August 24, 10:00 a.m. A case of grand theft of vehicle parts was reported on the 900 block of Stonegate Circle.

August 24, 10:46 a.m. An accident with injury was reported on Laurel Road and O’Hara Avenue.

August 24, 11:40 a.m. A case of grand theft of vehicle parts was reported on the 1900 block of Beringer Way.

August 24, 3:20 p.m. A suspicious circumstance was reported at Orchard Park Elementary School.

August 25, 12:04 p.m. A suspicious circumstance was reported at O’Hara Park Middle School.

August 25, 1:49 p.m. A case of vandalism was reported at Laurel Elementary School.

August 25, 3:53 p.m. A case of petty theft was reported on the 3000 block of Main Street.

August 25, 4:55 p.m. A case of credit card fraud was reported on the 2700 block of Stirrup Lane.

August 25, 5:18 p.m. A case of vandalism was reported on the 100 block of Loren Lane.

August 25, 5:53 p.m. A case of petty theft was reported on the 4700 block of Hagar Court.

August 26, 1:54 a.m. An accident with property damage was reported on East Cypress and Bethel Island roads.

August 26, 1:49 p.m. A misdemeanor hit and run was reported on the 400 block of Silverspur Lane.

August 26, 2:52 p.m. A case of petty theft was reported on the 30 block of Cayuga Street.

August 26, 11:25 p.m. A misdemeanor DUI was reported on Main Street and Picasso Drive.

BRENTWOOD

August 20, 10:20 a.m. A case of petty theft was reported on Fresco Court. The suspect stole a temporary plate from the reporting party’s white Jaguar XJ.

August 20, 12:27 p.m. A case of grand theft was reported on Sand Creek Road. The reporting party said the grab and run incident involved three prior suspects.

August 20, 1:08 p.m. A case of disturbing the peace was reported on Lakeview Drive and East Country Club Drive. The reporting party said a female in a light blue vehicle was yelling and said she hates Americans.

August 21, 12:35 a.m. A case of petty theft was reported on Second Street. Suspects stole chocolate candy.

August 21, 7:13 a.m. A case of grand theft was reported on Fairview Avenue. A breaker hammer for an excavator and possibly a tractor were taken.

August 21, 8:59 a.m. A non-injury vehicle accident was reported at Sand Creek Road and Sand Creek Crossing. A white Toyota Sequoia and two additional vehicles were involved.

August 21, 9:07 a.m. A non-injury accident was reported on Brentwood Boulevard.

August 21, 1:31 p.m. A case of forgery/ fraud was reported on Elk Creek Drive. The reporting parties’ EBT benefits were hacked.

August 21, 3:02 p.m. An accident with unknown injuries was reported on O’Hara Avenue and Lone Tree Way. An 8-year-old

boy was hit by a car.

August 21, 4:23 p.m. A case of petty theft was reported on Lone Tree Way. The suspect took a pop-up canopy and 2 other unnamed items.

August 22, 8:00 a.m. A case of vandalism was reported on Birch Street. The reporting party said his former roommate keyed his truck because he didn’t get his deposit back.

August 22, 12:31 p.m. A case of vehicle theft was reported on Lone Tree Way. A rented tractor trailer had not been returned and notices were given.

August 22, 1:22 p.m. A case of petty theft was reported on Lone Tree Way. The reporting party said their bag, which included their wallet and keys, was stolen from a locked locker.

August 22, 1:41 p.m. A case of forgery/ fraud was reported on Canmore Court. An unknown person in New Jersey rented a UHaul in the reporting party’s name.

August 22, 4:04 p.m. A case of vandalism was reported on Scott Creek Way. Reporting party said that for the last 8 months, the same group of gang members has been tagging the park, drinking, and smashing bottles.

August 22, 4:43 p.m. A case of petty theft was reported on Villa Terrace. The suspect entered the reporting party’s house while he was sleeping, woke him up to ask for cigarettes, and stole $600 from his wallet when leaving.

August 22, 6:34 p.m. A case of vandalism was reported on Kayla Place. The reporting party witnessed a skinny person in a hoodie puncture one of his tires

August 23, 12:02 p.m. A verbal dispute was reported on Sand Creek Road. The reporting party said they asked a male individual to leave several times, but that person refused.

August 23, 2:07 p.m. A suspicious circumstance was reported on Tamalpais Court. The reporting party said that someone was in her house, but the person was gone when police arrived.

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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.

This Week’s Events

Saturday, September 9

Summer Jam Concert

The Discovery Bay Lions Club is hosting their annual free Summer Jam Concert Series at the Discovery Bay Community Center on 1601 Discovery Bay Blvd. The featured band is Gunpowder and Lace, and gates open at 5 p.m. Food, beer, wine and margaritas will be available for purchase. For more information, visit https:// bit.ly/3DAfKmy

2nd Annual La Gran Fiesta!

The Brentwood Chamber of Commerce is hosting La Gran Fiesta! in downtown Brentwood from 1-6 p.m. The event that includes 10 food vendors serving international and local barbecue and more than 30 local artisans, will also feature performances from Grupo L and Grupo Maya. For more information, visit https://bit.ly/44VQTWk or call Melisa Hanson at (925) 634-3344.

Rivertown Peddlers Faire

From 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. at Willow Park Mercantile at G Street and 2nd Street in Antioch. At this familyfriendly event, more than 75 vendors will offer vintage goods, antiques, furniture, home decor, repurposed and upcycled items, home and garden, handmade items, arts and crafts, jewelry and gifts. Live music, food , beer and wine! Admission and parking are free. For details, visit http://www. rivertownpeddlersfaire.com

Saturday, Sept. 9- Sunday, Sept. 10

39th Pittsburg Seafood and Music Festival

The Pittsburg Seafood & Music Festival at John Buckley Square in Old Town Pittsburg provides a safe and enjoyable environment for the whole family with a wide variety of activities that include: arts and crafts on display, activities for the kids including face painting, magic shows, cooking demonstrations, three live entertainment stages, craft beer, a wine pavilion, Latin flare entertainment and more. Hours are 10 a.m. - 7 p.m. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit https://bit.ly/3YzGqO9.

Sunday, September 10

The 35th Annual Community Bar-b-que in Brentwood

From 2–4 p.m. at the East Contra Costa Historical Museum at 3890 Sellers Ave. in Brentwood/ Knightsen. Tickets are $35 for adults, $15 for kids 6-12, and kids younger than 6 are admitted free. To buy tickets, call 925-634-4049 or visit http:// eastcontracostahistoricalsociety.org.

Delta Harvest Run

The 12th annual Delta Harvest Run offers a half marathon, 10K, 5K and a 1-Mile Family Fun Run. The run begins and ends at City Park in downtown Brentwood at the corner of Oak and Second streets. The half marathon starts at 7:30 a.m., 10K at 7:45, 5K at 8 a.m. and the 1-mile family fun run at 9 a.m. Net proceeds go to the Delta Realtors Community Service Foundation. For more information about the run or to register as a runner or a volunteer, visit http://www.deltaharvestrun.com/, or call race director Patti Shaner at 925-584-1614.

Thursday, September 14

Evening on the Lawn for Education

A fundraiser for Los Medanos College students at Club Los Meganos, Trilogy at the Vineyards at 1700 Trilogy Parkway in Brentwood from 4:30-7:30 p.m. Activities include a carving station, appetizer and dessert stations, cash bar, live music and a silent auction. Tickets are $65. For more information, call (925) 809-7180 or visit https://www.mytrilogylife.com/vineyards/

On the Horizon

Friday, September 15

Cache Creek Casino Bus Trip

The Oakley Senior Center at 215 Second St., is hosting a fundraising casino bus trip to Cache Creek Casino in Brooks. The cost is $42, and includes bingo, snacks, water and a 50/50 raffle.

The bus will leave the Oakley Senior Center at 8 a.m. and return at 5 p.m. For more information on the trip, call the senior center at 925-626-7223.

Rosh Hashanah Community Dinner

Traditional Rosh Hashanah foods (Round Challahs, Brisket, Matzah Ball Soup, Apples & Honey) will be served as Chabad of the Delta welcomes in the New Year, and celebrate the special moment of Rosh Hashanah at Chabad of the Delta at 7 p.m. at 400 Guthrie Lane in Brentwood. Tickets are $12$180. For details, visit jewishdelta.com/RHDinner

Saturday, Sept. 23

Second Annual

Brentwood Craft Brew Fest

The second annual Brentwood Craft Brew Fest is at City Park at 790 2nd St. from 1–5 p.m.

Tickets are $50 in advance, $60 at the gate. More than 40 brews will be available to taste and five food trucks will be on hand with live music from Dawglips and the 925 band. The fundraiser is hosted by The Rotary Club of Brentwood. For ticket information, visit bit.ly/3sqfHrh.

Heart of Oakley

From 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. at Civic Center Plaza at 3231 Main St. from Vintage Parkway and Norcross This 11th annual free event is an open air market that brings local makers, families, and local residents. For details, visit http://www.HeartofOakleyFestival. com.

Stroll for Gold Fun Run and Walk –

Dillon’s Dream

The second annual 5K and 10K Stroll for Gold Fun Run and Walk is to raise awareness of childhood cancer. Starts at 9 a.m. at Contra Loma Regional Park in Antioch. Registration is $40. For details, visit http://dillonsdreams.simpletix.com.

1966

Liberty High School Class Reunion

The Class of 1966, although it’s not a milestone year (55+2), decided that its wants to reconnect every year. This reunion, an informal gathering at the Wild Idol at 3918 Main St. in Byron at 5 p.m., is open to ALL Liberty classes. There are no official invitations, and no money will be collected. For more information, email Libertybrentwood66@gmail.com.

Friday, Sept. 29

Pillars of Hope

2nd Annual Golf Tournament

A day of golf, fun, and food at Lone Tree Golf and Event Center at 4800 Golf Course Road in Antioch to help end human trafficking. Registration is $150 per golfer. Registration and putting competition start at 10:30 a.m. A shotgun start is at 1 p.m. with a buffet dinner at 6 p.m. Deadline to register is Sept. 15. For details, call Cathy Seleska at 925-628-1226 or visit https://pillarsofhope.us/pillars-of-hope-events/

Saturday, October 7

Walk to help prevent suicide

Volunteers from Contra Costa County are joining the thousands of people who are gathering in cities and towns across the United States to promote suicide prevention awareness and resources. The Oakley Out of the Darkness Community Walk, hosted by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) Greater San Francisco Bay Area Chapter will be at 8 a.m. at Civic Center Park in Oakley. This gathering will support AFSP’s education, research, and survivor support programs. In addition to raising awareness and funds to fight suicide. More information can be found at afsp.org/oakley.

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/.

Liberty hopes to reduce missed scoring chances

By Juan Cebreiros Staff Writer

Missed scoring opportunities came back to haunt Liberty High in their home opener last Friday night.

The Lions led 28-14 going into halftime and scored a touchdown early in the third quarter to lead 35-14, but despite excellent field position the offense failed to score one last time to put the game out of reach.

The Lions had one final chance to win the game with any score, but on their final drive quarterback Sage Robertson overthrew a pass that was intercepted. That turnover killed any last-second momentum the Lions tried to rally with.

“We felt good in the first half. When we had those chances to put the ball in the end zone, we let the energy just leave us,” said Robertson.

Liberty’s defense forced turnovers on three straight Los Gatos drives late in the first half, but the offense failed to capitalize.

Despite the tough loss, Lions head coach Mike Cable continues to be very confident in his team and is high on their potential they haven’t yet reached.

“We know we can beat anybody with the emotion, intensity and attitude we came out with in the first half,” said Cable.

Cable said this is still a learning period for the team, and he remains confident that his team will live up to the high potential he believes this team has.

“We still feel very strongly that we have what we need to compete with everybody and I think the first half proved that,” Cable said. “We had every reason to put that game away and we didn’t.”

Despite the sluggish second-half offensive performance, Robertson said he remains confident in his and the rest of the offense’s ability to score.

“I’m going into this game as confident as I can be, and playing for the guys next to me,” Robertson said.

Robertson injured his left hand in the second half of last Friday’s matchup, but neither he nor Cable said the injury will affect Sage’s play in this Friday’s game against the

Wood Wildcats.

“We have full confidence in his ability,” said Cable.

The Lions’ special teams have been shaky through the early parts of the season. They’ve given up two kick return touchdowns in two games, numerous other long kickoff returns as well as a blocked punt that was a catalyst for the Wildcats in their comeback win over the Lions.

“Those types of things can’t happen. That can swing a whole game momentum-wise,” said Cable.

The Lions play undefeated Wood at home this Friday night. Last season, the Lions blew out Wood, 48-7, at home but Cable isn’t taking the game lightly.

“Wood’s a good program, they’re undefeated this year. We gotta get ready to play as if this is a league game or a playoff game,” said Cable.

Heritage aims for faster start at Whitney

By Jeff Weisinger Staff Writer

Heritage High football may have a flair for the dramatic comeback. Two weeks ago, they rallied down from 22-7 to defeat Foothill in overtime 28-25, then last week they saw their rally against Granada fall short after they pulled to within a touchdown twice after trailing by as much as 21-0 in the 35-21 loss against the Matadors in the home opener.

However, head coach Dave Fogelstrom is hoping to avoid the slow starts and rallies when the Patriots head to Rocklin on Friday to take on Whitney.

“We as a coaching staff met today for a few hours and we’re going to try to basically give them as simple a start as humanly possible with assignments that everybody should know,” he said after practice Monday.

The Patriots struggled to get anything going offensive Friday night against Granada until midway through the second quarter when quarterback Austin Peters hit receiver JJ Kinnaird for a 58-

“We want to learn from our mistakes,” head coach David Fogelstrom said. “But we also point out when they’re successful and say ‘Look, this is something you have in you. Now we need to attempt to bring it out of you.’”

yard gain to set up an eventual four-yard touchdown by Emanuel Rankins. They followed that up with another touchdown on the following drive, a 25-yard touchdown pass from Peters to Brooks Davis to pull within a score just before halftime. Heritage scored one more on a 76-yard touchdown from Peters to Davis to open the fourth quarter.

The few glimpses into what the Patriots’ offense has been capable of are what Fogelstrom and the rest of the coaching staff plan to build upon going into Fri-

day’s matchup at Whitney and through the season.

“We want to learn from our mistakes,” Fogelstrom explained. “But we also point out when they’re successful and say ‘look, this is something you have in you. Now we need to attempt to bring it out of you.’ That’s what we’re doing as coaches. That’s our job to try to bring that out on a consistent basis.”

One player Heritage would like to get more out of, especially Friday night, Fogelstrom said is Peters, a junior quar-

terback. Through two games, Peters has completed 14 of 40 passes for 268 yards with three touchdowns and one interception on the season. Where he’s struggled stats-wise, he’s made big throws – the clutch fourth-down throw to tight end Charlie Blaise in the overtime win at Foothill, the slant to Kinnaird to set up the first touchdown last Friday against Granada, and both touchdown passes to Davis last Friday night as well.

“Right now, he’s symbolic of everyone on this team,” Fogelstrom said. “Sometimes they’re hot, and sometimes they’re not, so we’re trying to kind of figure it out.”

The Patriots start a tough two-game road trip in Rocklin against a Wildcats team coming off back-to-back losses. Whitney is coming off of a 41-28 loss against Clovis last week, and were shut out by Woodcreek the week prior. Quarterback Logan Sindelar threw for 161 yards with a pair of touchdowns in the loss last week, but went 11 for 15 passing with an extra 17 yards rushing. His 11 completions went to six different receivers.

“I know (Whitney head coach) Zac McNally. I’ve known him for 20 years, and he’s going to have his players ready to go,” Fogelstrom said. “I don’t think they’re going to surprise anybody with anything. Right now, we’re focused on ourselves and doing things right on our end.”

Photo by Jeff Weisinger

Following a tough loss last week, Liberty Lions head coach Mike Cable continues to be confident in his team and is high on their potential.

Photos by Juan Cebreiros

Lions not taking next opponent Wood lightly

Patriots have fallen behind two weeks in a row

Freedom High girls flag football kicks season off with an original Falcon

By Jeff Weisinger Staff Writer

It’s been a long time since Jenn Garcia set foot on campus at Freedom High School or any of its sports fields.

“It’s been really special coming back,” she said. “I still feel about this place like I did when I was here. It’s really a special place. It’s still kind of home.”

Garcia, a first for Freedom in her own right as part of the first four-year senior class in 2000, is now adding another first on her belt – one of the first coaches for the school’s new varsity girls flag football team that debuts Monday night at Heritage.

“It’s awesome being part of something that is like the inaugural season of something that is probably going to be huge,” said Garcia, who was also on the first NCS championship team in 2000 for Freedom softball. “It’s exciting to be able to give that to another group of athletes. Not just girls, athletes here, to give them an opportunity to feel what that’s like.”

Girls flag football kicks off in the Bay Valley Athletic League Monday night at Heritage starting at 6 p.m. with three games – Antioch vs. Pittsburg at 6 p.m., followed by Freedom taking on Deer Valley at 7 p.m., then the girls edition of the Brentwood Bowl when host Heritage takes on Liberty at 8 p.m.

The season runs weekly starting Monday, Sept. 11 through Nov. 4 . Each team will play 10 games, sometimes playing two games in one day with bye weeks following those games. Each school in the BVAL except for Deer Valley, whose field will be renovated this fall, will host two game days during the season.

According to the California Interscholastic Federation, the game will be 7-versus-7 on an 80-by-40 yard field including 10-yard end zones with the center deemed an eligible receiver. Teams will play two 20-minute halves with a running clock until the last two minutes of each half, when the clock will start on the snap, with a fiveminute halftime.

There are two no-run zones five yards short of the goal line and five yards from each line-to-gain. The quarterback can run once per series of downs unless the opposing team blitzes, and blitzing teams can rush from any

position as long as they start at least seven yards from the line of scrimmage.

There is also no blocking nor excessive contact allowed.

Hartwig says that coaching the team has given him a renewed sense of excitement for the game, even with the last two weeks of the team’s training camp ending.

“It’s been fun,” Hartwig added. “The game needed a spark and I think this is just what it needed. The girls are excited and are working hard and doing great, and we have fun. It kind of gives me a little pep in my step about football again.

“It’s a lot different. The field’s different, the markings are different, so we got a lot to learn in that first game.”

Freedom is carrying 30 girls on the roster, about half of whom originally signed up and tried out. Twenty of the girls are on the varsity roster, while 10 others are on the silver, or Freedom’s junior varsity group of sorts.

“We wanted to build a program,” Hartwig said. “We didn’t want to cut 10 more girls, and unfortunately we had to cut a few. We have five or six games where the younger girls are playing other schools.”

Alexis Rhodes, a junior on the team, is excited to get on the field and get the season going. But she also knows what it means to be the first girls flag football team in the school’s history and one of the first to compete in the BVAL.

“We’ve been working really hard,” she said. “It’s special to know that we’re the first and can say that we’re the first girls to make the flag football team. We’re excited for the years to come.”

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

Freedom girls flag football prepares for their firstever game Monday night at Heritage.

Photo by Jeff Weisinger

Local students share their perspectives on local and national issues. To submit, send to editor@brentwoodpress.com

Florida law restricts College Board’s AP Psychology/LGBTQ curriculum

The College Board’s Advanced Placement (AP) courses are a series of classes that can qualify students for college credit in the case that students pass an end-of-the-year exam. For many, Advanced Placement classes help students save money by completing credits in high school rather than in college and excel academically in a “college class” taught at high school.

In the AP Psychology curriculum, the College Board sets one of the learning targets to ask students to “describe how sex and gender influence socialization and other aspects of development.” However, the standard di-

rectly conflicts with a new Florida law that states teaching “instruction on gender identity and sexual orientation is now restricted through 12th grade,” according to a New York Times article on Aug. 4, 2023.

Thus, when Florida passed the law, it essentially banned AP Psychology from being taught in its classrooms, despite Collegeboard’s refusal to change its learning standards. However, the College Board stated in response, “Any course that censors required course content cannot be labeled “AP” or “Advanced Placement,” and the “AP Psychology” designation cannot be utilized on student transcripts.”

Florida’s sudden new law shortly before the beginning of school has “sent some

schools scrambling to find replacements last week while others were left weighing their options with mere days before classes start” out of fear of running into potential legal issues.

As a high school student who has taken AP Psychology, I can verify that although there is content about gender identity and sexual orientation in the course, it is very sparse – just barely a few pages in the textbook – and not on the exam last year.

On the other hand, the curriculum emphasizes many different perspectives that are essential in understanding different scientific approaches to human psychology. Including multiple discussions on gender identity and sexual orientation in the AP Psychology curriculum aims to emphasize ongoing developments within the psychological field.

Tamara Afonso, a high school senior who has also taken AP Psychology, underscores the censorship of the curriculum as “an attack on not only for the LGBTQ community but for anyone that believes in science and perspective.”

Additionally, the regulation of LGBTQ content in AP Psychology is very similar to other initiatives in Florida, such as the so-

called “Don’t Say Gay” bill, which aims to remove information on LGBTQ communities and perspectives in schools altogether.

Likewise, Afonso highlights, “censoring data and information about how trans and gay people feel is just stunting the development of children because if they can’t show empathy or understanding for another’s situation, how can they function as an adult?”

Not only has the new Florida law caused significant fear and frantic change among districts statewide due to the potential legal issues with the course, but have significantly restricted the reach of AP Psychology in Florida. Eliminating the LGBTQ community from the curriculum ultimately defeats the core idea that psychology is a multi-perspective field and diminishes the lasting scientific and educational purposes of AP Psychology.

Sources cited for this story include Politico, College Board Statement, Washington Post, New York Times, NPR Times, College Board Explanation of AP Benefits, NPR (Don’t Say Gay).

Chiu

Marsha Louise Carlson

Feb. 18, 1955 - Aug. 9, 2023

With heavy hearts, her family would like to announce Marsha Louise Carlson passed away peacefully on Aug. 9, 2023.

Marsha was born on February 18, 1955 in Pittsburg, Calif. As a young girl she enjoyed the smalltown life with her parents and siblings. She played the clarinet in the band and was active at Liberty Union High School.

As Marsha grew to be an adult, she met her lifelong group of friends, known as “The Committee” while working at Longs Drug store.

When she was asked to go to a holiday party in 1982, she reluctantly agreed to go even though she didn’t feel like it. Little did she know that would turn out to be a life-transitioning moment as she met the love of her life, Harlan. They were married May 19, 1984.

They started their family within a couple of years. Together, they had a daughter Tiffany and a son Ryan, and created a wonderful childhood and family life for everyone around them.

Marsha found great pride and enjoyment in witnessing the path of success of her children while instilling morals, ethics and humbleness to all who knew her.

She was truly a selfless person who found happiness in giving. Surviving

breast cancer from 1992-1993 would prove to be a substantial challenge and accomplishment. With support of friends and family, she made it through that very difficult time.

However, the complications created from the treatments available at the time, would ultimately cause permanent damage to her heart and lungs. In 2007, she was diagnosed with cardiomyopathy causing congestive heart failure as a result. Marsha would go on to be a successful business owner and operator with her husband. They both retired in December, 2022; all while fighting through her health struggles with a warm, positive attitude. Her health took a turn for the worst in the summer of 2023 and she passed away surrounded by her closest family.

She was a fighter until the very end and stayed strong. She is survived by her husband, Harlan, daughter Tiffany (Aaron), son Ryan (Karen), granddaughters, Makenzie, McKayla and Karlee, her mother, Joyce, brother Gerald (Ruth), sister Judy (Lee), several nieces and nephews and her precious dog Kady. She is pre-deceased by her father Myron and grandparents.

There will be a Celebration of Life Luncheon for Marsha on Oct. 7, 2023 at the Brentwood Veterans Memorial Building, 757 1st St., in Brentwood from 1-4 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Marsha’s honor to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Local family given a ‘cool’ new gift

As part of Lennox’s social responsibility program, Feel The Love, Perfect Star Heating and Air Conditioning donated a full heating, ventilation and air conditioning system (furnace and air conditioner), as well as installation, to Nicole Johnson of Brentwood. Johnson, a Heritage High School employee, was selected from dozens of local deserving nominees by Perfect Star, who for the last 5 years have provided local families with new complimentary HVAC systems. “Getting this unit means a lot to our family,“ Johnson said. “Because of the chemo, and radiation, and treatments that I’ve been through I’ve been put into chemo-induced menopause, so I am hot all of the time. This means I can get off of the couch, and go upstairs to sleep in my own bed!” Johnson was nominated by many of her friends, who said that she is always giving to someone even when she can’t afford to.

Photo by Melissa van Ruiten

GAMES & PUZZLES

Value Inspired Pest Management Located at: 112 Daphne Ct In: Antioch, CA 94509, is hereby registered by the following owner(s): Value Inspired Pest Management. This business is conducted by: A Corporation, State of Incorporation: CA. The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on N/A. Signature of registrant: Nyziq Smith, CEO. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Contra Costa County on: July 25, 2023 by Deputy Clerk Expires 07/24/2028 Antioch

Press No. 06-1617

Publish Dates: September 8, 15, 22, 29, 2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME STATEMENT

File No. F-2023-0004316 The name of the business(es): ARALIN Located at: 5425 MAZANT LOOP In: ANTIOCH, CA 94531, is hereby registered by the following owner(s): MARIA NICOLA ROCES MAGAT. 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: MARIA NICOLA MAGAT, INDIVIDUAL. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Contra Costa County on: 08/17/2023 by Deputy Clerk

Expires 08/16/2028 Antioch Press No. 06-1617

Publish Dates: September 8, 15, 22, 29, 2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME STATEMENT

File No. F-2023-0004276 The name of the business(es): LCG Memories Located at: 211 Shoreline Ct In: Richmond, CA 94804, is hereby registered by the following owner(s): Lata Colborn Gleich. This business is conducted by: an Individual. The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on Signature of registrant: Lata Colborn Gleich, individual - sole proprietor. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Contra Costa County on: 08/15/2023 by Deputy Clerk Expires 08/14/2028 Antioch Press No. 06-1617

Publish Dates: September 1, 8, 15, 22, 2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME STATEMENT

File No. F-2023-0003750 The name of the business(es): Cosmetica Dental Laboratory Located at: 2033 Tioga Pass Way In: Antioch, CA 94531, is hereby registered by the following owner(s): Luis Alfonso Reategui. This business is conducted by: an Individual. The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on 08/01/2023. Signature of registrant: Kristin B. Connelly, Deputy Clerk. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Contra Costa County on: 07/17/2023 by Deputy Clerk Expires 07/16/2028 Antioch Press No. 06-1617

Publish Dates: August 18, 25, September 1, 8, 2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME STATEMENT

owner(s): Eric Karwowski. This business is conducted by: a Corporation, State of Incorporation. The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on 08/01/2023. Signature of registrant: Yes, Yes. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Contra Costa County on: 08/11/2023 by Deputy Clerk Expires 08/10/2028 Brentwood Press No. 02-1273

Publish Dates: September 8, 15, 22, 29, 2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME STATEMENT File No. F-2023-0004218 The name of the business(es): True Investments Located at: 1673 Harmony st In: Brentwood, CA 94513, is hereby registered by the following owner(s): Kevin. This business is conducted by: an Individual. The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on . Signature of registrant: Kevin Jerome Parker Jr, President. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Contra Costa County on: 08/10/2023 by Deputy Clerk Expires 08/09/2028 Brentwood Press No. 02-1273

Publish Dates: September 1, 8, 15, 22, 2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME STATEMENT

File No. F-2023-0004220 The name of the business(es): Center Line Equestrian Center, LLC Located at: 2300 Cummings Rd. In: Brentwood, CA 94513, is hereby registered by the following owner(s): Center Line Equestrian Center, 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 06/04/2012. Signature of registrant: Christopher E. Manuel, Manager. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Contra Costa County on: 08/10/2023 by Deputy Clerk Expires 08/09/2028 Brentwood Press No. 02-1273

Publish Dates: August 18, 25, September 1, 8, 2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME STATEMENT File No. F-2023-0004299 The name of the business(es): COAT LAUNDRY Located at: 6660 Lone Tree Way, Suite 4-409 In: Brentwood, CA 94513, is hereby registered by the following owner(s): EJIKEME UCHE. 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: EJIKEME UCHE, INDIVIDUAL. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Contra Costa County on: August 16, 2023 by Deputy Clerk Expires 8/15/2028 Brentwood Press No. 02-1273

Publish dates: August 25, September 1, 8, 15, 2023. Publish Dates: August 25, September 1, 8, 15, 2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

fictitious business name or names listed above on 9/6/1994. Signature of registrant: Nanette Johnston, Party of Marriage. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Contra Costa County on: August 1, 2023 by Deputy Clerk Expires 7/31/2028 Antioch Press No. 06-1617

Publish Dates: August 18, 25, September

1, 8, 2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT File No. F-2023-0003915 The name of the business(es): FAM Realty Group Located at: 2112 Bunker View Way In: Oceanside CA 92057, is hereby registered by the following owner(s): Frances Mouser. This business is conducted by: an Individual. The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on 12/20/2017.

Signature of registrant: Frances Mouser, Owner. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Contra Costa County on: 07/26/2023 by Deputy Clerk Expires 07/25/2028 Brentwood Press No. 02-1273

Publish Dates: August 18, 25, September 1, 8, 2023

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME

PETITIONER OR ATTORNEY: Kathleen Diane Ponsiglione SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF CONTRA COSTA, 725 Court Street Martinez, CA 94553 PETITION OF: Kathleen Diane Ponsiglione, Cathlena Kay Dominguez CASE

NUMBER: N23-1639 TO ALL INTERESTED

PERSONS: 1. Petitioner Kathleen Diane Ponsiglione, Cathlena Kay Dominguez filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: Present

Name: a. Cathlena Kay Dominguez to Proposed Name: a. Kathleen Diane Ponsiglione. 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: 11/15/2023 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: August 28 2023 Judge of the Superior Court Brentwood Press Brentwood Press 02-1273

Publish Dates: September 8, 15, 22, 29, 2023

ING a. Date: 10/02/2023 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: July 27 2023 Judge of the Superior Court Brentwood Press Brentwood Press 02-1273

Publish Dates: August 18, 25, September 1, 8, 2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME STATEMENT File No. F-2023-0004056

The name of the business(es): Shelton’s Evolution Located at: 4512 Waterford Way In: Oakley, CA 94561, is hereby registered by the following owner(s): Maria Chung. 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: Maria Chung, Individual. deputy clerk. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Contra Costa County on: 08/03/2023 by Deputy Clerk Expires 08/02/2028 Oakley Press No. 03-0477

Publish Dates: September 1, 8, 15, 22, 2023

NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF: OFELIA CONTRERAS, deceased CASE NUMBER P23-01446

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

The Petition for Probate requests that: ROBERT CONTRERAS 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:

Date: DECEMBER 21 2023

a.

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!

File No. F-2023-0004295 The name of the business(es): Alamo Lighting Located at: 3240 Monument Way Ste A In: Concord CA 94518, is hereby registered by the following owner(s): Alamo Lighting & Electric Corporation. This business is conducted by: A Corporation, State of Incorporation: CA. The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on N/A. Signature of registrant: Kelly Houck, President. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Contra Costa County on: 08/16/2023 by Deputy Clerk Expires 08/15/2028 Brentwood Press No. 02-1273

Publish Dates: August 25, September 1, 8, 15, 2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT File No. F-2023-0004236 The name of the business(es): id8 Real Estate Located at: 2511 Troon Dr In: Brentwood, Ca 94513, is hereby registered by the following

NAME STATEMENT File No. F-2023-0004119 The name of the business(es): ATI Traffic Control, LLC Located at: 144 Continente Ave Ste 280 In: Brentwood, CA 94513, is hereby registered by the following owner(s): ATI Traffic Control, 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 N/A.

Signature of registrant: Marco Rodriguez, Managing Member. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Contra Costa County on: August 7, 2023 by Deputy Clerk Expires 08/06/2028 Brentwood Press No. 02-1273

Publish Dates: August 18, 25, September 1, 8,

FICTITIOUS

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME

PETITIONER OR ATTORNEY: Ashley Neeson and Ryan Neeson SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF CONTRA COSTA, 725 Court Street Martinez, CA 94553 PETITION OF: Ashley Neeson and Ryan Neeson, Kaleb Michael Farias Neeson CASE NUMBER: N23-1397 TO ALL

INTERESTED PERSONS:

1. Petitioner Ashley Neeson and Ryan Neeson, Kaleb Michael Farias Neeson filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: Present Name: a. Kaleb Michael Farias Neeson to Proposed Name: a. Kaleb Michael Neeson. 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 HEAR-

Time:

9:00AM Dept: 30. 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 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

A student’s viewpoint on race-based college admissions

The United States Supreme Court recently announced that colleges may no longer consider race and ethnicity in granting students admission. Well, what does this specifically mean for lowerincome ethnicities and minority groups? How about students of races who believe that they have been targeted by colleges? Colleges will begin to accept either the rich or the smartest people who can succeed, who are from the higher-income class. As shown in an article from The New York Times, “The median family income of a student from Harvard is $168,800, and 67% come from the top 20 percent. About 1.8% of students at Harvard came from a poor family but became a rich adult” (TheUpshot, 2023). This poses numerous threats if only around 1.8% of lower-income folks had the opportunity to attend Harvard. Although this is only one prestigious college, an assumption can be made because colleges are alike. Colleges look to provide students with education, but to get what is best for them whether obtaining money or the best students. Even without the exact demographics of the stu-

dents’ incomes, minority groups will be singled out because of not only race but income.

Referring to of the Latin American and African American minorities who have had an increased percentage since the decision of race was admitted into college admission. The article The Magnitude of Affirmative Action talks about the number of people who get accepted with and without affirmative action.

“Without affirmative action, the enrollment of new Black students would have fallen for the Classes of 2014 to 2019 from 1,163 to 324. Among new University of North Carolina students from North Carolina in the Classes of 2016 to 2021, African American and Latinx admissions would fall by 864 and 273, respectively” (Jaschik, 2022). The decision to remove race-based admission in college admission has targeted Latin American and African American minority groups. This reduces their acceptance into prestigious institutions of higher education if they will not be given equal chances considering individual circumstances.

What does this mean for Asian/ Asian Americans?

Throughout the years, Asian/Asian Americans shown in the demographics of colleges such as Harvard, that they have had the highest student population. Allegations against Harvard admissions from numerous students who were denied admission have speculated that was because of one reason – their race.

“SFFA

(Students for Fair Admission)

also argued in court that Harvard’s admissions office scored Asian Americans lower in terms of “personality” than other races, an assertion the school denies” (Iqbal, 2023). The trend that Asian Americans are denied due to “personality” makes applicants furious, believing that the real reason was due to their race. Disagreeing with the statement, they said it was merely their personality. Is the Supreme Court allowing colleges, specifically prestigious colleges, to single out people because of race or ethnicity, social class, or even money? Are they allowing the sacrifice of diversity and the chance of minority acceptance into prestigious colleges?

Yes, they are. It is unfair to judge everybody the same when everybody has different circumstances. As the upperclass individuals with more opportunities are given things to help them succeed, lower-class individuals are left to fend for themselves and try to stick out. Whether it is because of bias or racism it is unjust that an admission trend is apparent with Asian/Asian Americans. They technically benefit from not considering race in admission, which proves the flaw in race-based admission.

College admissions are becoming increasingly competitive. The minority groups are at a disadvantage compared to those given the opportunities to succeed. Removing an essential part of one’s identity and who they are from admission, you are taking away from the minority group’s identity. Race-based admission should only be beneficial in college admissions. It should not only benefit one group and decrease chances for others, but colleges should see race in people as a part of who they are.

Rojan Mikael Habon Sophomore, Heritage High School

LETTERS POLICY

Publisher & Editor Greg Robinson

Controller Sandie McNulty

Production Manager Eric Kinnaird

Ad Services Manager Connie O’Neill

Associate Editor Jake Menez

Founder & Publisher Emeritus Jimmy Chamoures

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

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

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

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

the approval of a Vesting Tentative Subdivision Map to develop up to 272 singlefamily residences, as well as improvements within the site such as parks, open space, stormwater detention and treatment areas and more.

According to Cindy Gnos, the senior vice president of Raney Planning & Management who presented the project to the planning committee Tuesday night, the project includes 135.31 acres, including the 33.9 acres to the north of the future Sand Creek Road extension.

The city of Brentwood reviewed and approved the project originally back in 2006. But the original map was never recorded, and it expired along with the development agreement.

The same applicant submitted a revised plan in 2020 that was eventually denied in October, 2021. Back then, Mayor Joel Bryant and the City Council hinted that the project could host plenty of potential problems that outweigh the project’s benefits.

“This brings a lot to the table, but there is a balancing act that we have to do to make sure our community is benefited by it more than it is impacted by it,” Bryant said then.

One of the biggest issues that concerned the public speakers was traffic and how the project will add immense traffic to that area of Shadow Lakes. The concern for the impact of traffic was one of seven major concerns the city had with the project when it was denied in 2021.

“The problem is that right now, if you look at what happens starting maybe 45

Plans from page 1A

According to Weber, to that end, registered letters to the county Supervisors, the county Administrator, and the General Counsel were delivered last Thursday, Aug. 31.

“We have not received a reply yet. We will check again on Tuesday (Sept. 4),” said Weber. “I wish that we had more news, because Con Fire is planning to go to bid with the project at the beginning of the year, and every day there is no response, or communication is one day close to veterans losing land that was dedicated to them in 1922.”

Weber said they had not heard back as of press time on Wednesday, Sept. 6.

According to Weber, the veterans have not had any lawyer come forward to assist them to get the County and Contra Costa Fire to work together on this issue. Meanwhile, the Brentwood Veterans Memorial Building will decide on the next response to the County and Contra Costa Fire at a Thursday meeting, with a vote to hold a community meeting in October at the veterans building. Meanwhile, County Supervisor Diane Burgis remains optimistic that an agreement can be reached so that both parties are satisfied.

“I’ve been meeting with the Veterans Memorial Building board, Con Fire leadership, the County Administrator’s Office and County Legal Counsel to ensure the space continues serving both purposes, and my office will continue to be involved in the discussion,” said Burgis. “It’s the perfect location for the new station be

minutes before the first bell at the schools on a typical school day is that traffic is backed up at intersections all over Shadow Lakes,” said Jonathan Simpson during public comments. “I would respectfully suggest that you give a hard look to the consequence of adding that much more traffic on roads that are already basically gridlocked on a daily basis when you look at kids trying to get to school.”

Commissioner Rod Flohr agreed with the public on the traffic problem.

“The worst issue for me, the most concerning, is the Shadow Lake and Brentwood Hills traffic issue,” Flohr explained. “I understand what my neighbors are going through and I believe that having the entrance at St. Regis and San Jose is going to create additional problems in Shadow Lakes and create additional need for enforcement. I can’t see how this plan does anything but make it worse.”

Vice Chairman David Sparling agreed. “That San Jose, St. Regis interchange is a problem already,” he said. “I don’t know whether this is approved or denied if this problem is going to end.”

Another big topic that came up was that of affordable housing, including a small back-and-forth between Flohr and Assistant City Attorney Katherine Wisinski about when the application was deemed completed to satisfy the requirements of Senate Bill 330 and that it wasn’t shown in the packet that the committee received.

Wisinski said that the application was subject to ordinance 1014, which was in place at the time the preliminary application was submitted under SB 330.

Flohr challenged whether the date was when it came in or was deemed complete.

Wisinski didn’t have the date it was deemed complete, but instead vouched for when the application was submitted as being in compliance.

Ex-teacher from page 1A

Instagram account, @catch_flights_ not_feelings_96, where it shows students in a class without a teacher and one student stealing snacks from the desk with a caption saying “My classroom after being FORCED to resign.”

The post also includes that he was the head coach for the junior varsity boys soccer program at Heritage, that he donated $5,000 to boys soccer at the high school, and that he is “now the biggest donor to athletics at Heritage.”

He also included in the Instagram post that he was “wrongfully denied the opportunity to continue teaching.”

According to Brentwood police, officers attempted to contact Hurtado at the game, but he fled on foot to try to escape the officers. He ran through the home stands and hopped over the fence onto the track, stopping twice during the chase in an attempt to stop the officers from chasing him.

An assistant coach from Granada, who was working the first-down marker during the game, assisted the police in taking down Hurtado. Hurtado was arrested on suspicion of disrupting a

An exerpt from Weber’s letter

Here is what we are asking for:

• Immediately cease and desist all development plans, recording of deeds, and property lines as it references the former fire station in Brentwood, the proposed new fire station in Brentwood on 1st street, and any development that impacts the Brentwood Veterans Memorial Building. No land can be taken from Veterans.

• Next, we ask that any former sublease of property to the Fire Station be reviewed and voided. That sublease was likely illegal because it never was brought before voters for approval as it was required to be. The veterans did not have any authority to sublease that property to the fire station as it was already dedicated to the use of veterans and paid for by a public sales tax.

cause it allows fast response times to all of Brentwood and because it’s already publicly owned land. That means Con Fire can build a station there next year and start saving lives.”

She added: “Historically, this block has had two crucial public uses: as a fire station and as a site provided for our veterans. Everyone in this situation wants to

“That’s not what the law says,” Flohr responded. “The law says ‘complete.’”

“I think I would take issue with that,” Wisinski said back.

“I think I read the law,” Flohr said.

“I’ll have to agree to disagree, thank you,” Wisinski said.

• The property lines should be restored to their original dedication to veterans.

• Then we ask that any site selected for a fire station in Brentwood be subject to a needs analysis - where is the greatest need for emergency response, and an impact assessment. These have not been done. Future expansion should be something that should be considered.

• In addition to that, we ask that some alternative sites be proposed when selecting from a list of sites that are suitable.

• Finally, we ask that the Brentwood Veterans Memorial Building and all 3 Veterans Service Organizations be included in all communication going forward.

preserve space for our veterans and improve firefighting capabilities with a modernized fire station. Thanks to Measure X funds and the merger of ECCFPD (East Contra Costa Fire Protection District) into Con Fire, we’re able to build a new station to replace the old one that no longer met modern firefighting needs.”

Measure X is a countywide 20-year,

school activity, trespassing, and obstruction. He was later booked in the Martinez Detention Facility on $3,000 bail.

Neither Heritage High School nor the Liberty Union High School District have responded to requests for a comment.

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

half-cent sales tax approved by the county voters in 2020 and began on April 1, 2021 that enabled the county to fund community health centers, emergency response, support crucial safety-net services; invest in early childhood services; protect vulnerable populations; and for other essential county services.

Plans for the new fire station have not been well-received by the adjacent Brentwood Veterans Memorial Building because the project would require 6.8 percent of the veterans’ space to accommodate the project, which includes about 12 feet of gravel.

According to Con Fire Deputy Chief Aaron McAlister, however, the proposed lot line adjustment also accommodates the veterans as well, including not disturbing their access ramp and potential plans for street parking immediately adjacent to the veterans building, depending on what the city says.

“We evaluated alternatives and we need the additional space to make the station work,” said McAlister. “A modern station requires an emergency generator. The former fire station had four trucks wide. The new fire station has just two bays. We don’t need as much ramp space. The fire district is excited about restoring fire service to downtown Brentwood.”

For more information on the Brentwood Veterans Memorial Building, visit https://www.mcl1155.org/single-post/ what-is-the-bvmb. For Con Fire, visit https://www.cccfpd.org/cccfpd-news/

HURTADO

50Club

Your Guide to Living Well

Brentwood teacher extols yoga’s healing power

Maintaining an active lifestyle becomes more difficult – but no less important – as we age. One East County resident turned to yoga to regain her health after a series of heart attacks, and says she has never felt better.

Lori Lopez, 65, took up yoga on her

doctor’s recommendation and loved the practice enough to become an instructor. Now, with seven years of experience, Lopez is helping others find healing through their yoga practice at YogaSix, a yoga studio in Brentwood.

“It’s hard being human, and yoga helps everything we have to heal,” Lopez said. “It’s a tool that’s been around for thousands and thousands of years … I’d say eight out of 10 of my students have some type of disability happening within their body, and that’s why we do yoga.”

Lopez already worked as a hairdresser when she decided to add yoga instruction to her skills. She also studied anatomy for

four years, and said that knowledge has only supported her ability to teach her students the importance of yoga positions and how each can help different parts of the body.

“I like that she explains everything we are doing, and then she will help us get into the poses correctly,” said Charlotte Kent, 65, one of Lopez’s regular students at YogaSix. “She shows us what we are doing, talks about why we are doing it and how it will help us, and then she shares her experience with yoga. It’s all very helpful.”

For Lopez, sharing her knowledge of yoga is an integral part of teaching classes. In addition to heart attacks, Lopez has lost 150 lbs, had a knee replacement and lives with osteoporosis and arthritis. She said practicing yoga and inspiring her students keeps her body healthy and her mind inspired.

“I do yoga and I teach yoga because it makes me feel good,” she said. “It’s made me into a better person. Yoga taught me to have confidence in myself, and with that, I can help

others so when they look in the mirror, they say to themselves, ‘you’re beautiful, smart and happy,’ instead of all the negative things we like to say.”

Lopez said both the physical and mental benefits of yoga are especially helpful to adults over the age of 50. The movements and poses of yoga help maintain a strong body while helping to heal aches and pains.

“At this age, we start wondering how long we will live, and if we are going to have a bad back forever,” Lopez said. “I started my journey when I had my heart attack. My doctor said I needed to do yoga because it calms the heart and nervous system, and clears the mind and brings focus.”

Lopez noted neither age nor ability should act as hurdles to taking up yoga. She said everyone starts where they are and should take their journey without comparing themselves to others. She offers a beginner’s workshop where she covers the basics of yoga, from how to start with simple poses to what equipment to purchase and why.

“I hear people say they can’t do yoga because they aren’t flexible, or have a bad lower back,” she said. “We will teach you how to take care of your body and your mind, and clear your soul of any old stories.”

Lopez teaches at YogaSix East Contra Costa at 5471 Lone Tree Way, Suite 110, in Brentwood. For more information or a schedule of classes, call 925-262-9521 or visit www. yogasix.com/location/east-contra-costa

DAWNMARIE FEHR

LOPEZ

Great gifts for retirees who can’t wait to travel

Retirement provides a chance for adults who have worked throughout their lives to take a step back, relax and enjoy the fruits of their labors. Though the most indelible image associated with retirement might once have been a rocking chair, modern retirees like to get up and go, and holiday shoppers can take that joie de vivre into consideration as they look for the perfect gift for retirees who can’t wait to fly the friendly skies or hit the open road.

♦ Maps: It might seem simple, but roadmaps can be an ideal gift for retirees. A recent poll from RBC Wealth Management found that 63 percent of Americans age 50 and older say travel is an important retirement goal. Roadmaps of their own country or a foreign country can help seniors plan their dream vacations. Seniors can study maps and create their own routes as they visit popular tourist attractions and find lesser known locales along the way.

♦ Vouchers/gift cards: Airline vouchers can inspire retirees to take to the skies and visit

locales that have long taken up real estate on their bucket lists. If seniors prefer to take to the open road, hotel vouchers or Visa gift cards that can be spent anywhere that accepts credit cards can help pay for gas, meals or entry to popular parks and tourist attractions.

♦ Projector and portable screen: A projector and portable screen can let on-the-go seniors enjoy movie night under the stars or watch their favorite teams even when they’re far from home.

♦ Lifetime pass to world-renowned parks: All United States citizens or permanent residents are eligible for the National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Senior Pass, which provides access to more than 2,000 recreation sites across the country. A similar system is in place in Canada, where adults age 65 and up can gain unlimited admission for a full year to more than 80 Parks Canada locations across the country.

♦ Tablet: Of course, retirees may still want to enjoy some of the comforts of home while they’re off in parts unknown. A new tablet can help traveling retirees read the latest bestsellers and stay in touch with family and friends via video conferencing apps like Zoom. Many campgrounds and hotels now provide free WiFi to guests, so a tablet can be just what on-the-go retirees need to stay connected to life back home.

– Courtesy of Metro Creative

learn self defense – using their canes

JEFF WEISINGER

Rose Marie Roza remembers the moment vividly, even though it was a long time ago.

“They stole my purse twice,” she said. “All my belongings, all my life.”

In the years since then, she not only got past that, but also found something that changed her life for the better: cane self-defense.

“It’s changed my whole life,” Roza, 88, said. “I’m more aware now of my surroundings, and now I feel more confident because I feel like I can swing this cane and hit them.”

Cane Self Defense is as self-explanatory as it sounds. It’s learning selfdefense with a wooden cane, using the cane as a tool, not as a weapon, something Master John C. Dexheimer emphasizes in every lesson.

“I never want to refer to it as a weapon because as a weapon that’s a whole different situation,” he said. “This is a tool for self defense. This is a cane, it’s a medical device. That’s what it is, even though it can be used as a tool for self-defense.”

The group meets at the Oakley Senior Center (215 2nd St.) every

Monday at 11:30 a.m. Group members learn when and how to strike with a cane, certain body parts to aim for, along with different combination techniques that they can do with the cane to defend themselves, practicing on a striking dummy as they go.

The group gets a light workout through the self-defense lesson as well. Each lesson costs $15 and goes for about an hour.

“Prior to coming here, I always

walked in malls and places like that, and I was totally aware of everyone who was around,” said Claudia Correia, an 87-year-old student of the program. “I always knew that if somebody attacked me I would freeze and do nothing or wouldn’t scream or anything. When I came here, the first time I learned to yell ‘Stop, leave me alone.’ When I walked out of my first class, I felt empowered and now I feel like if you mess with me, I’m going to disable you.”

Even with the Master title he carries, Dexheimer was once in the same shoes of those he teaches. The master was once a student nearly 20 years ago in this very class at the Veterans Memorial Building of San Ramon Valley.

“I saw an ad years ago that a martial artist was teaching self-defense to seniors using the cane,” he explained. “I was walking with a cane so I went to check this guy out.”

The classes in Oakley started in late 2018 and grew slowly until the COVID19 pandemic in 2020 shut it down. Even with fewer people now compared to before, Dexheimer, a sixth-dan black belt cane master, said he enjoys the teaching process just as much as before.

“What I enjoy about teaching is watching (the other seniors) grow and get empowered and feel much safer in the environment,” he said. “Seniors, especially seniors who walk with canes, move much higher up on the potential victim list. Now, if you’ve taken this class, they know now that they may be high on the victim’s list but they’re not going to be a victim easily.”

Those interested in the cane selfdefense classes can contact Dexheimer at 925-998-7720.

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

Photo by Jeff Weisinger

Mike, 65 years old, has been doing cane-do for one year. Here, he shows off his confidence and newfound abilities in self-defense.

5 ways to show seniors they’re appreciated

Senior citizens account for a significant percentage of the overall population. E stimates from the U.S. Census Bureau released in 2020 indicate the nation’s 65-andolder population had grown by more than one-third over the preceding decade. By 2050, the number of senior citizens is expected to be close to 90 million.

People are living longer than ever, and as individuals age, the demand for senior services continues to grow - as does the need to be patient and respect the elderly. There are many ways to show seniors just how much they’re appreciated.

♦ Help with chores. Lend a hand with chores around the house that may have grown difficult for seniors. This can include mowing the lawn, weeding garden beds, shoveling snow, raking leaves, or even taking the garbage pails in and out on collection days.

♦ Visit more often. Frequent visits are one of the simplest ways to show seniors you care. Whether seniors live in a private home or managed care facility, visitors brighten their days, especially if they no longer get out and about as frequently as they once did. Spending time together and sharing stories can make older adults smile.

♦ Plan activities with seniors in mind When organizing parties and special events, consider the needs of seniors on the guest list. Add music from their era to playlists or DJ requests. Seat seniors with mobility issues near exits and restrooms. Make sure to arrange for photos with the guest of honor to keep family history alive.

♦ Thank seniors. Find a reason to thank a senior. Perhaps someone served in the military or volunteered their time with children. Celebrate accomplishments big and small with a “thank you.”

♦ Prepare a meal. Invite a special senior over for a home-cooked meal with the family. Make it a regular occurrence on the calendar. If he or she cannot get out easily, bring a hot meal over to his or her place, instead.

- Courtesy of Metro Creative

How to find someone special later in life

People are living longer, a reality that can be traced to a number of factors, including advancements in medicine and greater dissemination of information regarding preventive health care. According to data from the United Nations Population Division, the average life expectancy in the United States is 81.65 for women and 76.61 for men. Canada has even higher life expectancies, at 84.74 for women and 81.15 for men.

As people live longer, some may outlive their significant others and ultimately find themselves once again interested in sharing experiences with a special someone. Seniors ready to re-enter the dating pool may find that things are different from what they experienced as naïve teenagers or young adults. Dating used to be about hanging out with friends and meeting people at shared events, such as school dances or work parties, or even while enjoying a night out with friends. Nowadays, dating often begins in cyberspace. This can be confusing and anxietyinducing for adults who didn’t grow up with technology guiding their every move.

According to a report in The Atlantic, more than one-third of Baby Boomers are not married, and this generation has had higher rates of separation and divorce and lower rates of marriage than the generations that preceded them. Many Boomers have years ahead of them to devote to new relationships. Here’s what they may want to know before navigating twentyfirst century dating waters.

♦ You’re not in this alone. While online dating may be portrayed as a young person’s game, plenty of older adults are now finding connections online. In fact, many different dating apps are geared toward the senior set, including SeniorMatch, eHarmony, Singles50, OKCupid, and Silver Singles, among others.

♦ You have more time for fun. As a senior, you may have more time to devote to recreation and leisure. This can be a great opportunity to get out and meet someone who shares your passions and interests.

♦ Online dating has its advantages. While online dating apps and websites may have certain things working against them, particularly if their algorithms for pairing people are not fine-tuned, they also can be helpful. Online dating can expand social circles beyond local neighborhoods or even states, provinces or countries. You’re casting your net over a much larger body of water.

– Courtesy of Metro Creative

Photo courtesy of Metro Creative

Seniors may have to navigate new waters in modern dating. But with a good mindset and a little persistence, it is possible for seniors to find a special someone in cyberspace.

How and why to start a seniors social club

The Foundation for Senior Care says socializing can give seniors a sense of purpose, stimulate the mind, relieve boredom, potentially prevent feelings of depression, and give individuals something to look forward to.

The senior living center Aston Gardens says socialization provides a significant boost to the cognitive health of older adults, helping to prevent or delay conditions that can affect memory.

Individuals looking to cultivate healthy social interactions may turn to clubs and other groups. If there’s a dearth of opportunities, individuals can start and promote their own social club using this helpful guideline.

Decide on the purpose of the group

Social clubs can meet and be organized around any number of themes or interests. Social clubs may meet to discuss gardening, crocheting, reading, or other shared hobbies. Friends also may be interested in doing food and beverage sampling. In such instances, a luncheon social club makes perfect sense.

Turn to social media

Meeting details can be posted in a

community bulletin or on a message board at a local house of worship. However, the internet can be a speedy messenger and help like-minded people figure out how to connect. Facebook groups are one way to organize social clubs, as is the website Meetup.com. The latter is a large online network of offline groups that meet all over the country and the world. The website makes it a snap to organize a local group or to find an existing club.

Check for competition

Conduct a search of groups already meeting within a 50-mile radius to see if an existing group already meets your criteria. If not, proceed full speed ahead as you establish your own club.

Establish consistent meeting times

Most people prefer a schedule so they can plan their days accordingly. Choose a regular meeting time and place to hold the social club; otherwise, it can be confusing to accommodate everyone. Inconsistency also can make it hard to get the club off the ground.

To learn more about local senior clubs, contact the Brentwood Senior Citizens Club located at 193 Griffith Lane or call 925-516-5380 or visit www.brentwood. ca.gov/seniorcenter

In Oakley, contact the Senior Center at 215 2nd St. or by calling 925-626-7223. – Courtesy of Metro Creative

POUR OVER WILLS CAN SAVE THE DAY by Martin C. Johnson, Attorney at Law, MBA,RMA®

If you are like most folks, you’ve worked hard for the wealth you’ve earned. You probably don’t want to see it squandered. But how do you retain a level of control after you are gone? Do you desire influence over your property’s fate after you pass away? To address this, a living trust is a great method to maintain a level of control over what you have built.  Trust-based estate plans avoid probate. Yet, even with the best of planning, some assets may get overlooked and not end up in the living trust. That is where the Pour-Over Will comes into play to save the day. What’s a Pour-Over Will?

To value a Pour-Over Will, understanding revocable living trusts is key. These trusts hold the assets of the trustor, overseen by a trustee who manages them for the beneficiaries. While revocable, these trusts must be funded with actual assets. If some assets remain outside the trust upon the trustor’s death, the Pour-Over Will comes into play.

A Pour-Over Will direct assets owned by the trustor at their death to “pour over” into the trust. This automatic transfer occurs since both the living trust and Pour-Over Will were established prior to the trustor’s passing. Who needs it?

A Pour-Over Will is for those wanting all assets to enter a living trust upon their death. Unexpected life events might prevent some assets from being transferred while alive. This Will acts as a safety net, capturing untransferred assets and directing them into the Trust posthumously.

Certain assets, like motor vehicles, are better excluded from the Trust due to potential legal complications. Also, assets acquired shortly before death might be overlooked. A Pour-Over Will ensures all such assets find their place in the Trust.

How is it different from a regular Will?

A typical Will outlines asset distribution after death, provides for guardianship of children, and other instructions, while a Pour-Over Will focuses on transferring assets to the living trust. While all Wills, including Pour-Over Wills, face probate, Trusts generally evade this process. Still, having a Pour-Over Will in tandem with a Trust is wise as a precaution.

Seek legal expertise

Pour-Over Wills are usually established alongside other estate planning documents, often involving living Trusts. To ensure legal compliance and proper execution, consulting an estate planning attorney is advisable. Their expertise can guide tailored strategies, ensuring seamless asset transitions, and proper legal adherence.

This article provides only general legal information, and not specific legal advice. The information contained is not a substitute for a personal consultation with an attorney. We offer free consultations in our Walnut Creek office. 360 ESTATE PLANNING INC, PHONE (925) 289-8837 1600 S. Main Street, Suite 100, Walnut Creek, CA 94596

© 2023 Martin Johnson

New Age remedies for old age ailments

There are many ways to treat the aches and pains of old age, but most East County residents may not know that crystals, halotherapy and Japanese reiki are among their local options.

Certified reiki master and crystal energy healer Lisa Pacheco opened her business, Crystal Salt Cave, last spring and wants to help her community achieve balanced health. Her official title of certified Usui/Holy Fire III Karuna Sekhem-Seichim Reiki Master may seem intimidating, but she says what she does is simple: help people feel better through reiki and halotherapy. Seniors especially can benefit from her services as she was trained by a woman in Danville, who was trained at the International Center for Reiki in Arizona by her “yoda.”

“Seniors are the ones that have the most skin and lung issues,” said Pacheco, noting both can be improved, or eliminated with regular halotherapy. “Your body is older, it starts breaking down, and that’s just part of nature. So halotherapy helps with a variety of differ-

ent things like eczema, psoriasis, dry and itchy skin, on to asthma, bronchitis, COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), seasonal allergies and anything to do with the ear, nose and throat area. This helps.”

According to WebMD.com, halo therapy began in Poland in the 1800s when people realized salt miners had excellent respiratory health and almost no skin problems. That realization evolved into today’s salt caves, where visitors experience halotherapy by sitting in a relaxing, spa-like room – or cave – breathing in tiny particles of salt. Pacheco said she has experienced the benefits first-hand.

“I personally have eczema on my hand,” she said. “I’ve had it for 20 years in two spots on my hand and they won’t go away, and just drive me nuts … I’m in the cave all the time now and my hand hasn’t flared up in a year and a half since I opened.”

In addition to the salt cave, Pacheco offers reiki, a practice she admits is “a

little out there.” The name comes from the Japanese words for “universal” and “life energy.” She defines it as an ancient holistic form of healing in which energy is administered through light touch on a fully clothed person.

“The premise is that you have hurts in your life, big emotions from when a kid called you a name when you were 4 up to someone who was in a car accident and is now too traumatized to get in a car,” said Pacheco. “These experiences can build up in your system and create a blockage, which in turn creates physical pain – foot pain, back pain, stomach aches –all stemming from these blockages. As a reiki master, I go in and remove those blockages and the pain goes away instantly” because she aligns the chakras, she said.

Pacheco said she has had clients come in with joints swollen from arthritis, chronic back pain and a variety of other complaints. After a reiki session, many leave pain-free.

Tricia Piquero, a Brentwood resident

who is older than 50, is a regular visitor to Crystal Salt Cave. She said she initially went because she knew of the benefits salt caves offered, and she stayed because she feels Pacheco’s reiki experience is exceptional.

“Reiki has been around a long time and is becoming more and more mainstream,” Piquero said. “Lisa is high quality, and highly certified from one of the best schools of reiki, and she brings her own unique personality with it. You won’t know what to expect unless you experience it yourself. And when you leave, you feel so relaxed, like you’re on a cloud.”

Pacheco said she hopes people will come in and try her services to experience the benefits for themselves.

“If you think about the horrible things in the air, even if you don’t have lung conditions or skin conditions, you breathe in pollen, toxins, carcinogens, every single day,” she said. “So even if you don’t have major issues, you are cleaning that stuff out of your lungs. This is energy I have been given in my body, and I want to give this to other people.”

Crystal Salt Cave is at 8065 Brentwood Blvd., Suite 2, in Brentwood. For more information, call 925-392-7258 or visit www.crystalsaltcave.com

DAWNMARIE FEHR

Seniors have many different options if they decide they want to return to the workforce in a parttime capacity.

Retirees can consider these part-time jobs

Many adults nearing retirement age count down the days until they can bid adieu to the daily tasks of commuting and working so they can enjoy much more time for recreation, travel or whatever is they aspire to do.

As enticing as unending free time may seem, some retirees find it is not ideal to be entirely free from the responsibility of working. As current seniors can attest, inflation can drive up the costs of living, meaning that seniors who were once able to afford a certain retirement lifestyle may no longer enjoy that hardearned luxury. Others may miss the daily

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We understand that making end-of-life decisions can be difficult. Our caring staff is here to help you every step of the way.

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opportunities to socialize that working provides, or the way problem-solving on the job stimulates the brain. But even retirees who miss working may not be ready to return to the workforce fulltime. That can make part-time employment an ideal fit for mature workers.

Here’s a look at some part-time positions that could be a good fit for older adults reentering the workforce.

Retail sales associate

Working in retail opens seniors up to a wide array of responsibilities and scenarios. Jobs may include greeting customers, making sales, putting out inventory, and helping customers select merchandise. Being personable and having good customer service skills are necessary traits to have when working in retail. Many stores offer part-time employees flexible hours so schedules can be customized.

Consultant

Retirees who loved their job but wanted to spend less time doing it can return as consultants. According to The Balance: Money, individuals often find they earn more per hour working as consultants than they did as full-time staff members. Consulting is a way to share expertise and experience without making a full-time commitment.

Customer service representative

A customer service representative is tasked with helping customers solve problems and ensuring customer satisfaction. He or she may work ain a traditional office or store location, or answer calls and resolve issues from home.

School positions

Retirees may want to consider jobs working in schools or in related capacities. Driving a school bus is an option if people are willing to undergo the proper training and licensing to operate this type of vehicle. Seniors also may consider working as lunchroom aides or lunch service providers, crossing guards, substitute teachers, and paraprofessionals. School employees will work only a few hours during the day. They’ll also enjoy many holidays off as well as summer vacations.

Receptionist

Receptionists greet patients or customers in office settings. According to AARP, they are the welcoming faces of organizations. Answering phones and light clerical work also may be required of receptionists. Those who want to work off-peak hours can think about working nights and weekends in hospitals or skilled nursing facilities.

– Courtesy of Metro Creative

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

Why it pays for seniors to maintain good credit

The benefits of maintaining good credit include looking more reliable in the eyes of prospective employers and securing lower mortgage interest rates when buying a home.

Those rewards can benefit anyone, but they’re especially enticing to young people. But what about seniors? Do individuals stand to benefit significantly from maintaining good credit into their golden years?

According to the credit reporting agency Experian, senior citizens tend to have the best credit scores of any consumer demographic. That could be a byproduct of years of financial discipline, and there are many benefits to maintaining that discipline into retirement.

♦ Home buying and borrowing: Buying a home is often considered a big financial step forward for young people, but that doesn’t mean aging men and women are completely out of the real estate market. In its 2020 “State of the Nation’s Housing” report, the Joint Center for Housing Studies (JCHS) of Harvard University reported that the share of homeowners age 65 and over with housing debt doubled to 42 percent between 1989 and 2019. In addition, 27 percent of homeowners age 80 and over were carrying mortgage debt in 2019.

Maintaining strong credit after retirement can help homeowners who still have mortgage debt get better terms if they choose to refinance their mortgages. Even seniors who have paid off their mortgages can benefit from maintaining good credit if they decide to move into a smaller home but cannot afford to simply buy the new home outright.

♦ Rewards: Retirement is often associated with travel, recreation and leisure. Such pursuits can be more affordable when seniors use rewards-based credit cards that help them finance vacations, weekend getaways and other expenses associated with traveling. Seniors who maintain strong credit ratings into their golden years may have more access to the best travel-based rewards cards than those whose credit scores dip in retirement.

♦ Unforeseen expenses: No one knows what’s around the corner, but savvy seniors recognize the importance of planning for the unknown. The COVID-19 pandemic seemingly came out of nowhere, and among its many ripple effects was the sudden job loss experienced by seniors. The JCHS report found that 21 percent of homeowners age 65 and over had reported loss of employment income related to the pandemic. Unforeseen medical expenses also can compromise seniors’ financial freedom. Maintaining a strong credit rating into older adulthood can help with this.

– Courtesy of Metro Creative

I am never bored or lonely. Coming here was the best thing that has happened to me.”

Gloria R, TreVista Resident

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Financial strategies that can help seniors make more money

Investing is often portrayed as something people need not worry about after retirement. The theory that people should avoid risk as they approach and reach retirement age makes sense, as the unknown of investing can expose aging individuals to losses that compromise their ability to live comfortably on fixed incomes.

Though conventional wisdom regarding financial risk and aging still makes sense, the effects of inflation over the last year-plus have highlighted how important it can be for seniors to keep growing their money even after they retire. Fortunately, various strategies can help seniors grow their money without exposing them to considerable risk.

♦ Look into high-yield savings accounts. Interest on savings accounts was once a great way for individuals to grow their money. But interest rates on standard, no-minimum-balance accounts are now so low that the growth in interest is negligible. However, individuals with sizable savings, such as seniors, can explore high-yield savings accounts. High-yield savings accounts offer much higher interest rates than standard accounts. The rules governing eligibility to open such accounts differ between financial institutions, but many mandate that account holders have high minimum balances, typically in

the neighborhood of $250,000. So long as account holders maintain that minimum balance, they can accrue penalty-free interest without exposing their money to the risks of the market.

♦ Consider other exclusive bank accounts. High-yield savings accounts are not the only way seniors’ banks may be able to help grow their money without necessarily taking on market-related risk. Products such as Chase Private Client CheckingSM offer exclusive perks, including a dedicated client advisor who can work with seniors as they navigate life changes, including retirement.

♦ Consider low-risk investments. Risk aversion is not the same thing as risk avoidance. It’s wise for seniors to be averse to risk, but they can still consider low-risk investments like short-term bonds as a means to growing their money in retirement. Low-risk investments can be vulnerable to inflation, not unlike money sitting in a savings account. However, certain short-term bonds, such as Treasury InflationProtected Securities (TIPS), are designed to mirror inflation, which makes them an option worthy of consideration for seniors who have been concerned by the ways inflation has affected their financial status in recent years. According to the Department of the Treasury, the principal of a TIPS can go up or down over its term. When the bond reaches maturity, if the principal is higher than the original amount, bond holders get the increased amount. If the principal is lower at maturity, bond holders still get the original amount.

– Courtesy of Metro Creative

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Seniors looking to make more money after retirement can consider a host of options that can make them less vulnerable to inflation.

Programs & Services

P Hospice care

P Palliative care

P Dementia education

P Senior-care classes

P Caregiver resources

P Grief support

P Volunteering

Signs it could be time to move to an assisted living facility

The decision to move oneself or an aging relative into an assisted living facility is complicated.

Though such facilities typically offer an excellent standard of care, it can still be bittersweet for an individual to leave his or her home. Though each individual case is unique, the following are some indicators that the time might be right to move oneself or an aging loved one into an assisted living facility.

♦ Emotional challenges: The National Council on Aging (NCOA) notes that certain emotional challenges may indicate the time is right for an individual to move into an assisted living facility. The NCOA encourages individuals making such a decision independent of others to ask themselves if they are experiencing feelings of loneliness or depression. Assisted living facilities can provide much-needed social interaction that seniors may not be getting at home. If feelings of loneliness or depression are present, then the time might be right to make the move to an assisted living facility.

♦ Physical challenges: Many individuals move into assisted living facilities because the physical challenges of daily life have become too significant to handle alone. The NCOA notes that individuals who are feeling overwhelmed by tasks such as buying groceries, cooking and cleaning may benefit from moving into assisted

living facilities that handle such tasks for them.

♦ Issues with hygiene: The presence of additional challenges related to hygiene also may suggest a move to an assisted living facility may be beneficial. Staff at assisted living facilities can help adults who are struggling to bathe, dress themselves or use a restroom on their own. Family members can look for signs that a loved one’s personal hygiene has taken a turn for the worse. Issues with hygiene can be a byproduct of depression, and poor hygiene also can increase risk for infection and illness.

Our caregiver classes, dementia consultations, and grief support are free of charge to our community, even for those whose loved ones are not on our hospice service. Visit us online to learn more.

♦ Injuries: The NCOA notes that falls or nearfalls are another potential sign that a person can benefit from moving to an assisted living facility. Falls can hurt anyone, but they can be especially damaging to aging adults. For example, the National Institutes of Health report that falls may result in loss of independence, chronic pain and reduced quality of life. Assisted living facilities are often equipped with features to reduce risk of falls, such as grab bars in showers and bathrooms and even along corridor walls. In addition, assisted living facilities may be housed in single-story buildings or equipped with elevators, which means residents won’t be forced to navigate potentially dangerous staircases at any point during the day. Staff also can respond quickly if residents experience a fall, providing much-needed assistance that seniors living alone or with an aging spouse may not get at home.

– Courtesy of Metro Creative

When your loved one is faced with a life-limiting illness, you want a care team that treats them with compassion, dignity, and respect. Hope Hospice has been that trusted resource for families in the East Bay Area since 1980.

Signs of unsafe driving in older drivers

Alicense to drive has long been symbolic of independence. Teenage drivers long for the day they earn their licenses and can take to the road without mom or dad riding shotgun, while aging drivers want to keep driving as long as possible so they can come and go as they please in their golden years.

There’s no formula drivers and their families can employ to determine when it’s time to take the car keys away from senior citizens. Thankfully, fatal collisions involving older drivers have declined considerably in recent decades. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, collision-related fatalities among drivers ages 70 and older declined by 15 percent between 1997 and 2018. A host of factors have no doubt contributed to that decline, including lane-assist technology and forward collision warning systems that have become standard offerings on many modern vehicles.

As much as technology has helped make driving safer for everyone, aging drivers should still keep an eye out for certain signs that may indicate their skills behind the wheel

are diminishing and potentially compromising their ability to drive safely. According to AARP, the following are warning signs of unsafe driving.

Delayed response to unexpected situations:

Frequent close calls and narrowly avoiding collisions when other drivers stop suddenly indicate reduced response time that can put aging drivers at an elevated risk of being involved in an accident.

Becoming easily distracted while driving:

Distracted driving has become a significant concern in recent decades, but it’s often associated with young drivers. However, aging drivers who are easily distracted also pose a safety risk to themselves and other motorists.

Decrease in confidence while driving:

Only drivers will know if they feel confident enough to drive safely, and it’s vital that

aging drivers be honest with themselves when assessing how they feel when driving.

Having difficulty moving into or maintaining the correct lane of traffic:

Lane-assist technology can help drivers recognize how often they’re staying in the correct lane of traffic. When the warning bell goes off frequently, it might be time for older drivers to reconsider if it’s safe for them to be behind the wheel.

Hitting curbs when making right turns or backing up:

Hitting curbs when turning or backing up indicates drivers may be having difficulty controlling their vehicles and/or seeing the road, both of which indicate it’s no longer safe for drivers to get behind the wheel.

Getting scrapes or dents on car, garage or mailbox:

These signs also indicate drivers are having trouble controlling their vehicles.

Driving too fast or too slow for road conditions:

This indicates drivers are not as alert to their surroundings as they need to be to stay safe on the road.

Courtesy of Metro Creative Learning to recognize potential warning signs of unsafe driving can help aging drivers make the safest decisions for themselves, their passengers and their fellow motorists.

– Courtesy of Metro Creative