The Press 10.07.2022

Supervisors approve new boat works at Discovery Bay

by Chris Campos Staff Writer

DISCOVERY BAY The county Board of Supervisors gave ap proval Tuesday, Oct. 4, for a new boat repair facility at a retired fire station in Discovery Bay.

Kenneth Luke, own er of Classic Boat Works in Brentwood, purchased the re tired Fire Station #58 at a March 2021 surplus property auction for $561,000. He then applied for a county permit to allow the con version of the existing firehouse building to a boat service and repair facility. The facility op erations are expected to include boat repair, boat servicing, the sale and storage of retail parts and accessories, and associated activities. To accommodate the operations, the 27,748-squarefoot building would require in

terior improvements and a new 8-foot fence for screening. An accessory building at the rear of the 0.64-acre project site would be demolished.

According to the county

staff report, the building’s cur rent configuration includes large fire engine bays, which would allow for easy ingress/egress of boats and provide ample work ing space. The screened parking

The county Board of Supervisors approved a permit allowing the retired Discovery Bay Boulevard fire station to be converted to a new boat service and repair facility. This will be the second location for Classic Boat Works owner Kenneth Luke.

Interim city leader is offered the job

by Rene De Amaral Staff Writer

ANTIOCH The Antioch City Council has agreed to write a con tract that would offer Interim City Manager Cornelius Johnson the position permanently.

areas would be used for storing boats awaiting service.

The fire station was closed in July 2010 by the East Contra

New law to protect farmworkers’ rights

SACRAMENTO Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed legislation expanding union rights for farm workers and protecting their right to vote safely in union elections.

“California’s farmworkers are the lifeblood of our state, and they have the fundamental right to union ize and advocate for themselves in the workplace,” Newsom said.

AB 2183 by Assemblymem ber Mark Stone (D-Monterey Bay) creates new ways for farmworkers to vote in a union election, includ ing options for mail-in ballots, and authorization cards submitted to the California Agricultural Labor Relations Board (ALRB), in addi tion to the existing in-person vot ing process.

The supplemental agreement between the Newsom administra tion, UFW, and the California La bor Federation includes a cap on the number of card-check petitions over the next five years, and will allow the ALRB to adequately protect worker confidentiality and safety.

This additional agreement would be codified into law with a bill next year that would be sup ported by both the administration and the union. The agreement will be codified with additional legisla tion next year backed by the union and the administration.

This legislation also builds on the state’s action to support workers

The decision at its last meet ing Tuesday, Sept. 27, came from a 3-2 vote during closed session to draft a contract, with Mayor Lamar Thorpe, Tamisha TorresWalker and Monica Wilson in favor. Mayor Pro Tem Mike Bar banica and Councilmember Lori Ogorchock voted against hiring Johnson.

This closed session was the third time the City Council had dis cussed hiring Johnson. No action was taken during the Aug. 26 special meeting called by Thorpe during a press conference, nor in another council meeting on Sept. 13.

Thorpe has been proactive in the hiring of Johnson as a perma nent police chief could be named once Johnson is appointed, which could provide stability to the Antioch Police Department.

This push for stability is in response to eight Antioch police officers being placed under in vestigation for “crimes of moral turpitude” by the FBI and the Contra Costa County District At torney’s Office. “Once officially in place, we will move to appoint Dr. Steve Ford as chief of police per manently,” Thorpe said in a press conference.

resident to speak

Photo by Melissa van Ruiten

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A life of service is about to change

by Melissa van Ruiten Staff Writer

‘Only a life lived for others is a life worthwhile.’

Albert Einstein’s quote sums up how Tim Lear has lived his life.

For the last six years, Lear has been a familiar and welcome face to the senior citizens of East County. But that is about to change because he’s headed to Florida.

After his retirement from the steel industry, Lear, 69, joined forces with the Oakley Senior Center in 2016. After his first year at the center, he became vice president, then stepped up as president. Through his work and dedication over the last 6 years, he was eventually named executive director.

“Even though I’m moving to Flor ida, I’ll still be in close connection with everyone here,” Lear said.. “It’s only a phone call away for me.”

Lear was instrumental in applying for various grants to be able to remodel the senior center, including one from the City of Oakley for more than $100,000. The center had previously been a fire sta tion, so renovations ranged from minor – painting and interior modifications – to major projects, such as removing some of the firehouse doors and replacing them with walls.

“Then we had to scrap all the rails,” Lear said, while gesturing at the ceiling. “In fact, I worked hard on that myself.”

Tim Lear, a driving force behind providing resources for seniors and others in need in East County, is leaving to begin a new chapter of his life in Florida. His dedication will be missed by those he worked with and served.

Most recently, and with another grant, the center’s floor was replaced with a commercial-grade floor, ensuring that it will last well into the future. And it doesn’t end there. From new computer systems to new appliances to new cabinetry, Lear has dedicated himself to building a legacy that will serve well into the future.

“Going forward, this place is really,

really doing good,” Lear said with pride.

Lear’s largest project at the senior center has been working with the Food Bank of Contra Costa County. When the Antioch food line ended, he made sure that Oakley picked up where they left off.

During the worst of the COVID-19 pan demic, instead of closing their doors, Lear and his team of volunteers doubled their

efforts. In a time of historic need, they were able to feed more people than ever before, he said. Now that the virus has started to subside, they continue to feed more than 100 people weekly, he said.

When he wasn’t devoting time to the senior center, Lear worked alongside other service organizations, such as the Oakley Rotary and Delta Lions clubs, lo cal veterans, and the Oakley library.

Even prior to retirement, Lear was committed to helping others. He’s been a member of the District 14 - Napa In dependent Order of the Oddfellows for more than 40 years, including serving as the district’s Deputy Grand Master. The Oddfellows aim to improve and elevate every person to a higher, nobler plane; to extend sympathy and aid to those in need, making their burdens lighter, relieving the darkness of despair; to war against vice in every form, and to be a great moral power and influence for the good of humanity, according to their website.

Lear said he is looking forward to joining his family and starting a new chapter of his life. He said he is mostly excited for the beaches and the fishing in Florida, but he admitted that he’s already looked up food banks and senior centers near his new home.

“I’ve been donating my time and helping people almost my whole life,” Lear said. “I’m good at what I do, so I just do it. I just help people.” To comment, visit www.thepress.net

DJ

Melissa van Ruiten/The Press

Search for Alexis Gabe to employ use of cadaver dogs in Sierra foothills

Bones recently found in Pioneer not those of missing Oakley woman

by Jake Menez Staff Writer

Antioch police and Oakley police plan to use ca daver dogs in the Sierra foothills in the coming weeks as part of a continued effort to find Alexis Gabe, the Oakley woman missing since January.

Gwyn Gabe, Alexis’ father, had originally an nounced the police’s plans to use the dogs in a Sept. 28 Facebook post requesting members of the Bring Alexis Gabe Home group stay away from Old Defender Grade Road in Pioneer. However, on Oct. 3, Gwyn told the group that they were now free to search the area, as the police search was delayed because the detective in charge tested positive for COVID-19.

The search for Gabe first shifted focus to the Pioneer area following a letter Gwyn received from Antioch po lice on July 7 that included a timeline of events between Alexis’s Jan. 26 disappearance and the June 1 death of her ex-boyfriend, Marshall Curtis Jones, who police suspect killed her. Jones was killed in Kent, Wash. in a confrontation with law enforcement. Alongside the po lice timeline, Gwyn posted handwritten directions to an area in the Sierra foothills, allegedly written by Jones, to

Facebook on July 8. The note was discovered during the execution of a search warrant, according to Oakley po lice Detective Tyler Horn and is believed to potentially lead to the location of Gabe’s body.

Since then, the search has turned up false leads.

Bones found on Sept. 28 in the Pioneer area that were believed to potentially belong to Gabe were con firmed on Oct. 3 by the Amador County Sheriff’s Office

as animal bones.

“We responded to a call for service involving a re porting party finding a couple of small bones in the Pio neer area (of the Sierra foothills),” the agency wrote in a statement posted to social media by Gwyn. “There was animal hair around one of the bones, but out of an abun dance of caution a forensic anthropologist was contact ed. The forensic anthropologist was able to quickly de termine that the bones did not come from a human. We do not have any bones in our possession believed to be human and we have not sent any out for DNA analysis.”

This marked the third time in recent days that re mains have been found and determined to not belong to Gabe.

On Oct. 1, bones were found off of East Cypress Road in Oakley. Later that day, Gwyn reported that those were also animal bones. On Sept. 26, a woman’s body was found at a recycling center in Davis, but was determined to be that of a woman from Seattle, accord ing to Gwyn.

The family is still offering a $100,000 reward for any information leading to the discovery of Gabe’s where abouts or remains. Oakley City Council initially con tributed $10,000 for information about Gabe’s disap pearance, in April. The reward was increased when an anonymous donor pledged $50,000, with Oakley City Council increasing its contribution shortly after, putting the reward fund at $100,000 as of May 24.

Information about Alexis Gabe’s case can be reported to (925) 625-7009 or emailed to AlexisTips@ci.oakley.ca.us. To comment, visit www.thepress.net

Press file photo

Alexis Gabe has been missing since January.

State awards $50 million for flood risk protection

SACRAMENTO

The California Depart ment of Water Resources (DWR) is award ing $50.4 million for 18 flood management and protection projects across the state, including the Sacramento River West Side Levee District. It will receive $9.3 million to improve riverside floodplain and reduce levee seepage while supporting migratory salmonids, improve aquatic habitat, and re duce local erosion.

This money will support local agency efforts to prepare for floods by planning and implementing risk reduction projects related to stormwater, flooding, mudslides, and flash floods. Although California is entering a fourth year of severe drought, climate extremes require preparing for the increased risk of flooding even during a drought, according to a press release from the state.

“This funding will help vulnerable communities across California protect their citizens, property, and infrastructure from increasing flood risks and help prepare for the new climate extremes we are facing,” said Gary Lippner, DWR Deputy Director of Flood Management and Dam Safety. “As we have seen from recent flooding events across the country, floods can strike communities at any time. DWR is proud to work with our community partners to in crease their flood and climate resilience at the local level.”

Projects funded include 13 implemen tation projects and five planning and moni

The California Department of Water Resources is taking steps toward flood management by awarding over $50 million to flood management and protec tion projects across the state.

toring projects. The money was awarded through the Floodplain Management, Pro tection, and Risk Awareness grant program

and prioritized economically disadvantaged community assistance, multi-benefit project features, and flood risk reduction projects in

a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) special flood hazard area.

Funding recipients include:

Three Rivers Levee Improvement Au thority: $9.7 million to improve flood pro tection on the Yuba River for up to a 200year flood, which will reduce the risks of flooding to a broad area, improve habitat, and protect downstream levees.

Merced County Department of Public Works: $5 million to provide flood protec tion for up to a 200-year flood within the lower Black Rascal Creek watershed and will consist of a detention basin, spillways, channel modifications to Black Rascal Creek, habitat enhancements, and drainage facilities.

City of Santa Ana: $5.6 million to im prove flood protection and treat stormwater and urban runoff with biotreatment sys tems as part of the Warner Avenue Flood Protection Project and the Rousselle Street Flood Protection Project.

Alameda County Flood Control and Water Conservation District, Zone 7: $4.6 million to reinforce the bank of Alamo Creek as part of the Alamo Creek Bank Stabilization Pilot Project, which will re duce flood risks, address future inland cli mate change impacts, improve water qual ity, and enhance fish and wildlife habitat.

City of El Monte: $4 million to relieve persistent flooding at Garvey Avenue, a major transportation artery and improve stormwater quality and water supply.

Photo courtesy of Metro Creative

Recent legislation signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom is meant to encourage students to take a more active role in both their education and their community.

Newsom signs bills that empower students

SACRAMENTO Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed legislation that empowers students to be more active in their education and com munity. Newsom also signed legislation increasing services and advancing equity throughout California’s public schools.

Senate Bills 997, 955, and 291 empow ering students by:

• Providing a seat at the table in local accountability plan processes.

• Allowing an excused absence from school to participate in local community events.

• Adding two pupils with exceptional needs to the Advisory Commission on Special Education.

“California is putting our values into action by providing meaningful avenues

for students to participate in local deci sion-making,” Newsom said. “Thanks to these new laws, students across California will now be more empowered to actively participate in decisions that impact their educational outcomes and communities.”

Newsom also signed Assembly Bill 2806, which ensures equitable treatment of children in state preschool and child care programs by prohibiting suspensions and expulsions except as a last resort. When a child is suspended or expelled, they do not receive the benefits that early learning and education provides and this disproportion ately impacts toddlers and preschoolers of color, the governor said. The bill aims to change this and support California’s youngest learners.

Photo courtesy of Metro Creative

Brentwood Police Chief Tim Herbert was sworn in during a special ceremony at City Hall, Wednesday, September 28, 2022. Herbert is Brentwood’s 12th police chief.

Photo by Melissa van Ruiten

Brentwood police welcome new chief

by Melissa van Ruiten Staff Writer

The Brentwood Police Department bid farewell to Chief Tom Hansen and welcomed incoming Chief Tim Herbert during their ‘Fi nal Log-off and Swearing-In Ceremony’ at the Brentwood Community Center, Wednes day, Sept. 28.

Herbert, a Brentwood resident, will be the city’s 12th chief. He has 31 years of law enforcement experience, with 20 of those in the Brentwood police force. Since 2010, he has been a lieutenant and sergeant oversee ing budgeting, training, recruiting, internal affairs, and the patrol division. Most recently in 2019, he was Support Services Captain, ac cording to a press release.

Herbert holds a Master of Science degree in Criminal Justice, and a Bachelor of Sci

ence degree in Organizational Behavior from the University of San Francisco. He is also a member of the California Police Chief Associ ation and completed Peace Officers Standards and Training (POST) management and devel opment courses, according to the press release.

“One of the best attributes about Tim is that he cares sincerely about people and what’s going on in their lives, and is commit ted to doing the right thing,” said Brentwood City Manager Tim Ogden.

“We’ll face the future of the department and the city together as one, and we’ll contin ue to provide the citizens of Brentwood with the highest level of service possible,“ Herbert added.

In his retirement, Hansen will be moving to Arizona, where he plans to spend more qual ity time with his family and enjoy some of his favorite hobbies – golf and mountain biking.

for more things to do?

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Events

Saturday, Oct. 8

OktoberFest in Downtown Brentwood

OktoberFest is a free community event that runs from 2-7 p.m. in downtown Brentwood. The annual festival will feature traditional German fare, food and beers. Guests can enter their dachshunds into the Wiener Dog Races, and enjoy a variety of other contests and games.

Oakley Youth Advisory Council

Trash Pick-Up Day

The Oakley Youth Advisory Council invites the community to assist in cleaning up Laurel Road in Oakley. The event is limited to 45 participants to provide everyone a safety vest. Participants will meet at Nunn Wilson Park by 8:30 a.m. and meet back at the same location at 10:30 a.m.

Kids Fishing Derby

Antioch’s annual Free Kids Fishing Derby runs 9 a.m.-noon at the Waldie Plaza & Public Fishing Pier. For more information, contact Roger Lund at 925-754-3938 or visit antiochca.gov/recreation

Thursday, Oct. 13

Big Truck Day

Antioch’s Recreation Department is hosting the family-friendly event, Big Truck Day, where kids can learn about the different vehicles that clean, repair, and keep the city safe. Police cars, trash trucks, street sweepers and other vehicles will be on display. This free event will be at the Antioch Community Center from 5 to 8 p.m.

Saturday, Oct. 15

Health and Resource Fair

A free health and resource fair will be from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. at St. Anthony’s Church, 971 O’Hara Avenue, in Oakley. Organizations expected to attend include BART, City of Oakley, Oakley Police Dept., Oakley Recreation, Oakley Seniors, Oakley Veterans, Rotary of Oakley, East Bay Park District, CAL Fresh, Columbiettes of St. Anthony’s, Liberty Adult Education, Oakley Library, Oakley Delta Lions, ConFire, Tri Delta Transit, Contra Costa County Health, Diablo Water District, Iron House Sanitary District, Delta Veterans Group, California Department of Insurance and more. A blood drive and vaccine clinic are also planned. For more information, call 925-813-9069 or email rsnmhig@yahoo.com.

Sunday, Oct. 16

Brentwood Diwali Mela

The United Indian Association is hosting Brentwood Diwali Mela in Brentwood City Park from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Celebrated on the autumnal new moon, usually in October or early

November, Diwali is a traditional Indian festival of thanksgiving that celebrates the victory of light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance, hope over despair, and good over evil. Diwali is a homecoming, with family and friends gather ing to light lamps, exchange gifts, and share meals. The event will include cultural music and dance performances, raffles, food vendors, and a traditional Rangoli display, art and craft booths. The Diwali festivities include a wonderful feast of food, music, and dance, including a traditional Rangoli display, art and craft booths. Early bird tickets are $3. For more information, visit https:// united-indian.org/event/diwali-event/ Tuesday, Oct. 18

The Squeeze on Citrus

Molly Wendt and Sierra Higgins, UC Master Gardeners, are hosting a class on how to choose and buy citrus trees for climate as well as the best way to water, feed and prune your tree for years of great citrus crops. The class is at the Contra Costa County fairgrounds from 7-8 p.m.

Saturday, Oct. 22

Oaktober Harvest Festival

The 14th Oaktober Harvest Festival is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 22, from noon-4 p.m. in Civic Center Plaza in Oakley. This year’s Oaktober has been revamped to include beer and wine, a familyfriendly costume parade, the return of the canine parade, a pumpkin decorating contest, and more.

Thursday, Oct. 27

Trunk or Treat Tailgate

Delta Valley Health Club is hosting a free Trunk or Treat Tailgate from 4-8 p.m. The community event will include face painting, food trucks, cornhole, jump houses, and more. Attendees do not need to be members of Delta Valley Health Club. For more information, visit https://www.facebook. com/deltavalleyhc.

Saturday, Oct. 29

Hometown Halloween

Brentwood Chamber of Commerce is hosting a Hometown Halloween, free trick-or-treating from 5-8 p.m. in downtown Brentwood. There will also be a free showing of the film Hotel Transylvania in the park afterwards.

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://rotary clubofoakley.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/ Discovery Bay: The Discovery Bay Rotary club meets the first and third Tuesday of each month at Peony Restaurant. For more information, visit: https:// rotaryclubdiscoverybay.org/

East County Lions Club Meetings

Brentwood: The Brentwood Lions Club meets the first Wednesday of the month at 6:30 p.m.

For more information, visit: https://e-clubhouse. org/sites/brentwoodca/ Oakley: The Oakley Lions Club meets the fourth Wednesdays of every month at 7 p.m. at the Oakley Senior Center, for more information, visit https://e-clubhouse. org/sites/brentwoodca/ Antioch: The Antioch Lions Club meets every second and fourth Wednesday at 7 p.m. at the Denny’s on Delta Fair Blvd. Discovery Bay: The Discovery Bay Lions Club meets the first Tuesday of each month at 6:30 p.m. at the Discovery Bay Yacht Club. For more information, visit: https://discoverybaylions. com/who-we-are/meetings/ Byron: The Byron Delta Lions Club meets every first Friday of each month at 10:00 a.m. at St. Anne’s Church for more information https://e-clubhouse.org/sites/ byron_delta/

Brentwood Community Chorus

The Brentwood Community Chorus meets every Tuesday from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Brentwood Community United Methodist Church (809 Second St.) in Brentwood to rehearse for their holiday concerts. All are welcome.

Delta Gallery Art Show

Delta Gallery Community Art Center in Brentwood is hosting two art shows. These include the Art Guild of the Delta Third Quarter Art Show with original artwork by local artists and a special show by the P.A.I.N.T. Group (Promoting Arts, Individuals and Natural Talents) program. The second quarter show from the Art Guild of the Delta includes painting, pho

tography, sculpture, ceramics and jewelry. The P.A.I.N.T. Group art show is a collection of artwork showcasing local talent from participants of the P.A.I.N.T. Group program, a Brentwood-based creative arts day program for adults with intellec tual challenges. The gallery is at 2485 Sand Creek Road, Suite 128. The gallery is open ThursdaySunday from 1-5 p.m. For more information, visit https://www.deltagallery.com/

Life and Times of John Marsh Art Show Opens at the Delta Gallery

The Delta Gallery in association with the John Marsh Historic Trust, is hosting The Life and Times of John Marsh an art show consisting of artwork featuring the John Marsh property, Rancho Los Meganos or pastoral views of Contra Costa County as it would have been in the 1850s. The free show is being displayed at the Delta Gallery at 2485 Sand Creek Road, Suite 128, in Brentwood. The gallery is open Thursday-Sunday from 1-5 p.m. For more information, visit https:// www.deltagallery.com/

Nonprofit offers Health Care Career Courses

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

Discovery Bay Corvette Club Meetings

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

West Delta Chapter ’s

CHILDREN

EDITORIALS, LETTERS & COMMENTARY

O pini O n

A plea to vote ‘no’ on Measure R

Editor:

Coming up soon, Knightsen residents will be asked to vote on a ballot Measure “R”. This measure has to do with the Knightsen Community Services District (CSD). It is important for you to be aware of what your elected officials are trying to do with Knightsen’s future. The Board of the Knightsen Town CSD wants to dissolve itself completely. The ballot measure has many inconsistencies, such as stating it does nothing. That is a lie.

The Knightsen Town CSD has provided many positive things such as pumping for water runoff, provided proposed plans for drainage, and worked with other agencies on solutions for drainage.

Most importantly, the Knightsen Town CSD could take on future public works responsibilities such as parks, lighting, etc. By rescinding its tax (there is no tax today), it eliminates Knightsen’s future options. Don’t be fooled. Please vote ‘no’ on Measure R and keep Knightsen’s options open for the future.

John A. Gonzales Knightsen

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

Letters to the editor

Democrats’ ‘everything goes’ mentality is wrong for November

Editor:

Thank you to California for trying to provide cleaner water to its residents. Maybe that might help their residents to be able to think more clearly about everything in their lives!

Now onto more serious things about the Democrats. What is it going to take for all the Democrats in the Blue states?

They have governed for many years now to know and realize that their corrupt, economic, fraud, insane, radical, spend-and-tax policies don’t work anymore for everybody in those states. If anything, there should be more better policies that would be more fair for everybody in those states.

Having the “everything goes” mentality for everybody is the absolute wrong thing to do, as they do. It’s total chaos for everybody in those states! If that’s what they really want, then continue voting the Democrats into power until they’ve finally had enough of how badly the Democrats govern their states — especially the big cities!

Wake up, everybody. It doesn’t have to be that way forever! November, 2022 is the time to make the changes that need to be made for the future years to come! The solution to the “problem” is to vote for the Republicans! Ha! Ha!

Seriously, think about that until then! That should give the Democrats something to be very worried about from now to then!

John Hollenback Greenfield Township, Penn.

Milestones

OBITUARIES

Edward Aloysius Fischer April 11, 1943—Sept. 6, 2022

Edward Aloysius Fischer, 79, peacefully passed away on Sept. 6, 2022, at a Concord, California, hospital, surrounded by family and friends.

Born on April 11, 1943, in Long Beach, California, Mr. Fischer was the youngest of three children born to Aloysius Martin Fischer and Mildred Maxine (neé Dragoo). His siblings, Ronald (JoAnn), and Suleeta (Bill) Smith, survived him.

His wife, Patricia (Patti) Ann (neé Wilk erson) predeceased him in 2016.

Ed and Patti grew up in Southern California and were married in Long Beach on April 23, 1966. He is survived by three adult children: Edward Fischer, Jr. (Kim berly Bielejeski) of Bakersfield, Rebecca Fischer O’Neill (Michael aka “Stretch”) of Tyler, TX, Denise Fischer Holton (Jeff) of Brentwood; three grandchildren, Lily Grace Holton, Tyler Fischer Holton, and Ian O’Neill. He was also a favorite uncle to many nieces and nephews.

Mr. Fischer is also survived by his dear friend, Lucy Meis of Brentwood, California.

Ed and Patti spent their early life to gether in Southern California. He was a graduate of Saint Anthony’s High School (1961) and Long Beach State College (1965) as a business major. He worked in retail mer chandising and they moved to the Bay Area in 1975, and finally relocating to Northern California in 1980, where Ed began a very successful career of more than 20 years in county government, most of the time in social services, retiring as Manager, Sutter

County Welfare Social Services in 2005.

Mr. Fischer’s common business sense, coupled with an ever-calm demeanor and an extraordinary sense of humor, were the combination of traits that contributed to his success as a professional and as a husband, father, grandfather, sibling, and friend in his personal life. He had a way of preserv ing “order” in stressful times and instilling confidence and reassurance in those around him. His sense of humor and personal charm always played well whether at work or at leisure. His Christian faith, and that of Patti’s, was as unassuming as it was modest, yet its depth and genuineness were instantly felt by all who knew him/them.

Music was a big part of his life and many of his relationships at home and com munity. He played professionally in the “surfing” age in Southern California, but mostly his skills at bass guitar greatly en hanced the community, church, and social groups of which he was always a part. His most recent involvement was with the East Bay group, The Delta Strummers, a ukulele group for those 50 and older, not the nor mal milieu for electric bass, but then, Ed’s love for music went far beyond early rock ’n’ roll, church music, campfires, backyard hoe downs, and spontaneous jam sessions.

He loved many outdoor activities, but spent most of his outdoor “free” time on the golf course and over the years had a number of life-long golfing partners.

Ed and Patti spent much of their retired lives in family affairs, leisure (never finding an “unfriendly” casino), and traveling. They visited Hawai’i, the Netherlands, France, It aly, Austria, Germany, Hong Kong, and the Philippines, in addition to their many trips around mainland United States. Tragically,

in 2011 Patti was diagnosed with Amyo trophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). But even the ruinous nature of this disease couldn’t match the power and faith of this amaz ing couple, and that became dramatically evident as they managed her remaining time with grace, serenity, and humor. Patti passed away in the summer of 2016.

Ed’s strength, humor, and faith under went further challenges when he suffered a stroke in 2018. Later that year, the deadliest and most destructive wildfire in California history (the Camp Fire) claimed their home in Paradise, California. Everything was lost ex cept for his bass guitar, which was in the car at the time he fled the rapidly advancing flames.

He relocated to the East Bay Area, where he began to “re-group” with Denise’s family, and started the last leg of what he considered a wonderful, blessed, fun-filled life. As his health declined, he and his friend Lucy took time to travel, play music, and see as many friends and family as possible, until

GRATITUDE

To Nokomis Gonzalez, Monique Gonzalez

Since babyhood, childhood, you have spent much time with my little Brother.

He always spoke of you as his granddaughters.

He knew he could call you at any time by telephone. That pleased him.

I appreciate and my little brother was so grateful for the surprise gath ering you gave him in April 2021.

With Much LOVE

To the two beautiful young ladies

shortly before his death.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on October 7 at 9 a.m. at All Souls Cem etery, 4400 Cherry Avenue in Long Beach, California, with The Most Reverend Gerald E. Wilkerson (brother-in-law) presiding. A celebration of Ed’s life will follow at Lake wood Country Club, 3101 E. Carson St., Lakewood, California.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Ed’s memory to Liberty High School Playmakers, Attn: Kyle Roman, 850 Second Street, Brentwood, California 94523, or First Tee Los Angeles, 1050 Lakes Drive #225, West Covina, California 91790 (or through firstteelosangeles.org via Pay Pal). Make sure contributions are noted for Ed Fischer. These organizations represent his love and admiration for youth leadership development in the arts and sports.

Jack Richard Nebergall

Jack Richard Nebergall passed away peacefully at home, at the age of 84, on Sept. 26, 2022 surrounded by family.

He was proud to have served in the United States Coast Guard, and was honorably discharged after 20 years of service that included one voluntary tour in Vietnam.

He is survived by his loving wife Marion whom he was married to for 63 years, his four children, grandchil dren and great grandchildren, all of whom will miss him dearly, especially his dog Angel.

A service will be held on Wednes day, Oct. 12, at 12:30 p.m. at Higgins Chapel, 1310 A St. in Antioch.

Hometown SportS

Heritage holds off Freedom in BVAL opener

by Michael Dixon Correspondent

‘Bend, but don’t break’ is a phrase often heard during football games, particularly when talking about a team’s de fense. That was the style that Heritage’s football team had against Freedom in the Bay Valley Athletic League opener on Friday, Sept. 30.

The Patriots scored a touchdown on the game’s opening possession to take a 7-0 lead.

That lead was challenged throughout the rest of the game but was never surrendered. The Falcons hung with Heritage throughout the first half but in the second half, the Patriots got some separation on the scoreboard and came away with a 41-18 win.

“I think we had six turnovers on defense,” Heritage coach Dave Fogelstrom said. “The kids were flying around. And that’s a very athletic team over there. We knew going into this game that we had to give our maximum effort. And the kids played with everything they had. We had kids who couldn’t even walk, that we were dragging off the field. But they were still running out to play in the end.”

The game can be defined by the sequences that opened each half. Heritage started the game with a 67-yard touch down drive that was capped off by a one-yard touchdown run from senior Devon Rivers, who scored five touchdowns on the night.

It initially appeared as though Freedom would get the points back quickly. On the first play of the ensuing posses sion, the Falcons ran a double-reverse. By the time the ball got back to sophomore quarterback Jacob Wasso, sopho more Austin Callen was wide open down the field. Wasso and Callen connected but Callen lost his footing and strug gled to regain it.

Callen eventually did and had nobody between himself and the end zone. But while Callen was regaining his balance, Heritage senior Jeremiah Ruffin sprinted down the field in pursuit.

Ruffin eventually caught up to Callen and knocked the ball out from behind. The ball hit off Callen’s knee and went through the end zone for a touchback.

“That was 100% Jeremiah Ruffin hustling, giving the effort that we need to give as a team to be successful,” Fogel strom said.

Despite the shaky start, Freedom stayed with Heritage in the first half. Wasso and senior receiver Tai Reed connect ed on a 38-yard touchdown pass late in the second quarter. And while the two-point conversion was unsuccessful, the Falcons went into the locker room with momentum, trailing only 14-12 and were set to receive the second-half kickoff.

On that first possession of the second half, it looked as though Freedom would take the lead.

Junior running back Herschel Turner Jr. broke a 44yard run on the second play of the third quarter, giving the Falcons the ball inside of the Heritage 30. But the Patriots held strong, surrendering only a one-yard run from senior running back Dominick Tomlin before forcing three consec utive incomplete passes for a turnover on downs. That gave Heritage the momentum back and one play later, the Patriots were back in the end zone.

Heritage’s sophomore quarterback, Austin Peters, com pleted only four passes for 85 yards on the night. Most of that damage came on the first play after the turnover on downs. The Patriots tried to quickly cash in on the first play after the change of possession and succeeded. Peters and se nior tight end Brooks Davis connected on a deep post route. Davis hauled the ball in and sprinted to the end zone, putting Heritage up 21-12.

“We had a post (pattern) and saw that the whole game, they were coming down,” Peters said. “We saw it, saw it open, called it and went for it. I was able to throw one of the best balls I’ve thrown yet to Brooks.”

From there, the Patriots continued to put the game away. Freedom did cut the lead to 28-18 early in the fourth quarter on a 66-yard touchdown pass from Wasso to Tomlin. But Heritage responded with two touchdowns from Rivers to put the game on ice.

The Patriots finished their pre-BVAL season at 4-1 while the Falcons were 2-2. Despite that, the momentum was on the side of the Freedom, who notched a pair of lopsided vic tories in its final two non-league games. Heritage, meanwhile, lost 17-7 to James Logan in their final pre-league tune-up. But while the Patriots did not say the loss was good, they did acknowledge that it helped them re-focus.

“Coming into the game 4-0 and knowing James Logan was a 2-2 team, I feel like the team got a little big-headed,” Rivers said. “I don’t want to say it helped that we lost. But it was definitely good experience. It’s better to lose that game than this one.”

“We kept working in practice, working hard,” Peters added. “Even in the locker room, we weren’t messing around. We were staying focused all the time. Everyone was watching film. We were giving it our all. That I think helped us reset in a way. We found what we were supposed to do and showed it tonight.”

Both Heritage and Freedom are off this week. They will resume their BVAL play on Friday, Oct. 14. The Patriots (51, 1-0) will play at Antioch (2-4, 1-0) while the Falcons (2-3,01) will be at Liberty (3-2, 0-0). Those games will both start at 7 p.m.

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

Heritage beats Freedom on Dig Pink night

by Rene De Amaral Staff Writer

The Heritage High School girls volley ball hosted Freedom High School for their annual “Dig Pink” night in support of the fight against breast cancer, Thursday, Sept. 29, and stayed undefeated in league play.

Before the varsity match, local breast cancer survivor Lori Hayley encouraged the crowd to get checked regularly and offered encouragement that there is hope after get ting a diagnosis.

“I had my meeting with my surgeon and they said ‘you are going to have a hard year, and then you are gonna have a really great life,’” Hayley said. “And that’s exactly what happened. I ended up having to have chemo and radiation and I did lose all of my hair, and it’s in the process of growing back. I went through chemo and radiation five days a week and had three surgeries. It was not fun, but it was all doable, and it’s been a year

and a half and I just had my last mammo gram in September and I’m still cancer free.”

After Hayley’s story, Heritage’s varsity team held a ceremony of survivors, where people who were currently fighting breast cancer, had beaten breast cancer or those who had lost someone to breast cancer were

Heritage girls varsity volleyball won 3 of their 5 sets against Freedom during their Dig Pink night.

sale, including T-shirts, cookies and acces sories. All proceeds go to the Dig Pink fund. Heritage raised $3,055 towards metastatic breast cancer research, organizers said. Ev ery $2,000 raised through Dig Pink allows the Side-Out Foundation to provide analysis to metastatic breast cancer patients and their oncologists, according to their website.

The event began with Heritage’s fresh man team handily defeating Freedom 25-15 in their first set and 25-13 in their second. The junior varsity lost in a close first set at 25-22, and were unable to close the gap dur ing their second, ending the match with a 2514 loss.

offered support and encouragement from the crowd. The Heritage Dance Team also held a tribute performance for the survivors.

The goal of “Dig Pink” events is to raise money to fund metastatic breast cancer re search and treatment through the Side-Out Foundation through a variety of items for

Heritage’s varsity team would go point for point with Freedom, but was able to pull ahead during each set, finishing their first at 25-21, their second at 25-17 and their third at 25-23. Heritage’s varsity team is undefeated in the Bay Valley Athletic League at 6-0.

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

The Patriots’ Devon Rivers scored five touchdowns as his team handily defeated the Falcons 41-18.

Photo by Michael Dixon

Photo by Rene De Amaral

Local bodybuilders thrive at national competition

One wins pro card, and two almost win theirs

by Michael Dixon Correspondent

Brentwood doesn’t boast many body builders, but three of them realized a dream when they competed in a recent national competition.

“People who don’t know, it’s almost a dream come true,” said Santi Lopez, trainer for one of the bodybuilders, Marshal Harris, 39. “To at least earn a card, you’ve reached your pinnacle. A lot of amateurs have been competing for 25-30 years and never earned their pro card. I think it’s very interesting. There are not many pros in Brentwood.”

From Tuesday, Aug. 30 through Friday, Sept. 2, three Brentwood residents were in Pittsburgh, Pa., competing in the NPC (Na tional Physique Committee) North Ameri can Championships.

They were trying to earn their IFBB (International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness) card. One did just that, while the other two narrowly missed.

Harris finished fifth overall in the mid dleweight class, which is under 212 pounds. He also won the Masters over 35 Middle weight division, earning his card in the pro cess.

Harris and Lopez have been train ing together since 2019. Harris noted that bodybuilding essentially fell into his lap. He played college football but after a knee injury, his football career ended. While his physical activity diminished, his eating hab its remained the same and Harris noted that he was getting unhealthy. He moved to Brentwood and started working out more.

A friend, Brent Smith, asked Harris

if he’d be interested in doing bodybuilding shows. He initially declined, but around the time of his 30th birthday, Harris decided to try it.

“It’s definitely a lifestyle change,” Har ris said. “Everything, for the most part, needs to be watched. You don’t put on too much body fat. Watching health markers and levels. Making sure you train intensely but, of course, try not to be injured. And you need good people around you. That goes a long way.”

Harris credited his friends for their sup port as well as his fiancé, Becca Ramos, for being at all of his shows and helping him improve. He also credited Lopez, who he says he feels talking to in multiple different roles, whether it’s as friends or as a coach to a client.

Lopez also trains the two other Brentwood residents who were in Pittsburgh

– Tina and Angel Barros – who are married.

Angel placed sixth in the Men’s Mas ters over-50 Class B Division and fourth in the Masters over-55 Class A Division. He did this despite overcoming some significant health challenges. In March, competing was ruled out. But as time passed, his health situ ation eventually improved to a point where he could compete. So, when the opportunity came, he took it.

“We had some obstacles to overcome,” Tina said of Angel’s road. “We trained re ally hard. He didn’t do Tahoe (a show before Pittsburgh) but jumped into Pennsylvania when he got the chance. He ended up taking fourth, which was really good.”

Tina also had a pair of strong show ings. She finished seventh Master Class Over-45 B Division and second in the Mas ter Over-50 Class A, narrowly missing out on her card.

“It was kind of crazy,” Barros remem bered. “The ladies I competed against said, ‘You got this, you won it.’ I even had a judge say you look really good and kind of winked and walked away.

But I knew in the back of my head that you don’t think you’ve got it until you got it. Making the top 5 was nice. Sitting back and reflecting, second was bittersweet. Bitter because I almost won but it’s still second out of 15-20 competitors.”

Now that Harris has his pro card, he’s going to take the next year to get his body into optimal shape before competing in his first pro event in 2024.

Barros, meanwhile, has said that she is planning on returning to Pittsburgh next year with hopes of getting her card. At 41, she was diagnosed with Hashimoto’s Dis ease, where her immune system attacked her thyroid cells like it would a virus. At that time, she remembered being “borderline dia betic and anemic.” There, she got back into working out more at the gym and for the last six years, has been competing in shows.

“Working with Santi, I love being with him,” she said. “It’s like a team atmosphere. The bad health news led to me cleaning up my eating and fitness. Being on a regimen, helped me be stronger and tackle my per sonal issues. I got back into my faith in God and in the gym.”

For Lopez, the feeling is mutual.

“The people like Marshal, Tina, An gel, work really hard like everybody else,” he said. “They need to apply so much dis cipline. Sometimes you don’t want to eat chicken and rice every damn day. There are no breaks.”

“Imagine how I feel -- I was coaching at 18,” Lopez added. And 37-38 years later. I’m still learning and still have a passion when people see what they do and change their lives. I tell them what to do, how to do it and how to get there. I can’t even explain how it feels.”

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Local bodybuilders Marshal Harris, Tina Barros and Angel Barros showed off their hard work on the national stage in Pennsylvania.

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Foulger double winner in Bill Bowers Memorial race at Antioch Speedway

Hogge, Mallet, Diaz Open Bowers Memorial weekend with victories on Friday

ANTIOCH Troy Folger won the 49-lap IMCA Modified Main Event Saturday night at Antioch Speedway. The race was the Bill Bowers Memorial West Coast Nationals, honoring Foulger’s car owner’s father, and the win was worth $3,000 to the team. Ear lier in the evening, Troy also won the $1,200 prize in the IMCA Stock Car race.

Foulger had a front-row start for the race and took the early lead. Brian Cass moved into second on Lap 2 and held the spot until Austin Burke gained the position on Lap 7. Through several yellow flags, Foulger continued to lead Burke, but Burke surrendered second to Nebraska’s Jacob Hobsheidt on Lap 35.

After a yellow flag on Lap 40, Foulger led Hobsheidt, but Hobsheidt went low in Turn 4 on Lap 44 to take the lead. However, Foulger came back strong in the same turn a lap later to regain command. Foulger held off the tenacious Hobsheidt over the remaining circuits to score the emotional victory. Burke settled for third ahead of Bobby Hogge IV and Nick DeCarlo.

IMCA Sport Modified Main Event

Kenny Shrader picked up the win in the 25-lap IMCA Sport Modified Main Event. This was his second win in this race, and he collected $1,500 for the effort as season championship runner-up Andrew Pearce was a $750 second.

Mark Garner led a lap before spin ning. Shrader led Brent Curran on the re start, and soon Curran and Shrader were

enjoying a side-by-side battle. Curran went low in Turn 4 on Lap 9 to take the lead, and he held the position until Lap 20. At that point, Joe Salvi spun exiting Turn 2. Cur ran hit the stalled Robert Warf car and had damage that caused him to head for the pits. Shrader gained the lead over Pearce, and he led the remaining five circuits for the victory. Tyler Browne was a season best third ahead of Jacob Mallet Jr and Curran.

IMCA Stock Car Main Event

Troy Foulger won the 25-lap IMCA Stock Car Main Event. The win paid him $1,200 and was his second win in this event. Anthony Giuliani set the early pace before being passed in Turn 2 by Jason Robles on Lap 3. Foulger settled into second on a Lap 5 restart and began pressuring Robles be fore too long. The battle was close up front until Foulger made a low pass in Turn 4 on Lap 15 to grab the lead. Merced Speedway star Garrett Corn slipped underneath Ro bles in Turn 2 on Lap 17 for second. Over the final few laps, Corn gave Foulger all the pressure he can handle, but Foulger pre vailed in the end. Giuliani settled for third ahead of Robles and Kellen Chadwick.

Next Saturday night is Soares Me morial Hall of Fame night, featuring the Hunt Wingless Spec Sprints, Delta Dwarf Cars, Xtreme Limited Late Models, BCRA Lightening Sprints and Super Stocks. They will be inducting 11 people into the Antioch Speedway Hall of Fame during in termission. For further information, go to www.antiochspeedway.com.

Friday night’s races and results

Bobby Hogge IV opened the Bill Bow ers Memorial West Coast Nationals week end with an IMCA Modified victory Friday

Contra Costa Mosquito & Vector Control District Protecting

IMCA racer Jacob Mallet Jr. (#127), won big at Antioch Speedway.

Photo by Katrina Kniss

night at Antioch Speedway. The multi-time champion collected his 77th career Antioch win for the $1,000 payday about the Paul Guglielmoni owned entry.

Brian Cass led a lap before surrender ing the point to Kellen Chadwick in Turn 4. However, Cass came roaring back with an inside pass in Turn 2 to reclaim the lead. Hogge followed into second before a yel low flag waved on Lap 6. Cass held com mand on the restart ahead of Hogge and Randy Brown. Hogge made a low pass in Turn 2 on Lap 12 to take the lead. The final yellow flag waved on Lap 14. Hogge continued to lead the restart with Brown moving into second. Cass brushed the wall on Lap 18 to surrender third to Troy Foulger, but Jacob Hobsheidt used an in side pass in Turn 2 on Lap 20 to grab third. However, nobody was stopping Hogge as he led the rest of the way for the win ahead of Brown, Hobsheidt, Foulger and Nick DeCarlo.

IMCA Sport Modified Main Event

Jacob Mallet Jr. scored the $500 vic tory in the 25-lap IMCA Sport Modified Main Event. The new IMCA California

State champion trailed Antioch point runner-up Andrew Pearce in the early go ing, but a low move in Turn 4 of the eighth circuit put Mallet into the lead. Following the lone yellow flag of the race on Lap 10, Mallet continued to lead Pearce and Troy Foulger on the restart. Foulger made an inside pass on the backstretch on Lap 12 to gain second. However, Mallet ran a flaw less race during the second half to keep Foulger at bay. Pearce settled for third ahead of Bobby Hogge IV and Tommy Fraser.

IMCA Stock Car Main Event

Rick Diaz won the 20-lap IMCA Stock Car Main Event for the $500 pay day. The multi-time Merced Speedway IMCA Sport Modified champion took the lead from the start ahead of Troy Foulger. Following a Lap 6 yellow flag, Nick DeCarlo slipped past Foulger for second on the restart. However, Diaz con tinued to lead the way and would drive a flawless race for the victory. DeCarlo set tled for second ahead of Foulger, Kellen Chadwick and Dan Gonderman.

For further information, go to www. antiochspeedway.com or check out the track’s Facebook page.

Saturday results

Antioch Speedway Unofficial Race Re sults IMCA Modifieds

Heat Winners Round 1 (8 laps)--Troy Foulger, Bobby Motts Jr, Cody Burke. Round 2 (8 laps)- Ryan McDaniel, Nick De Carlo, Randy Brown. Main Event (49 laps)-Troy Foulger, Jacob Hobsheidt, Cody Burke, Bobby Hogge IV, Nick DeCarlo, Aaron Crowell, Randy Brown, Kellen Chadwick, Andrew Pearce, Terry DeCarlo Jr.

IMCA Sport Modifieds

Heat Winners Round 1 (8 laps) - Ken ny Shrader, Brent Curran, Tommy Fraser. Round 2 (8 laps)--Andrew Pearce, Andrew Peckham, Mark Garner. Main Event (25 laps)--Kenny Shrader, Andrew Pearce, Ty ler Browne, Jacob Mallet Jr, Brent Curran, Haley Gomez, Matt Pitts, Joseph Pato, Kelly Campanile, Jason Ryan Jr.

IMCA Stock Cars

Heat Winners Round 1 (8 laps)Bobby Hogge IV, Jason Robles. Round 2 (8 laps)-Troy Foulger, Kellen Chadwick. Main Event (25 laps)--Troy Foulger, Gar rett Corn, Anthony Giuliani, Jason Ro bles, Kellen Chadwick, Jason Jennings, Joe Gallaher, Scott Foster, Bobby Hogge IV, Dan Gonderman.

Friday results

Antioch Speedway Unofficial Race Re sults

IMCA Modifieds

Heat Winners Round 1 (8 laps)--Ray mond Lindeman, Troy Foulger, Kellen Chadwick. Round 2 (8 laps)--Nick DeCarlo, Bobby Hogge IV, Randy Brown. Main Event (25 laps)-Bobby Hogge IV, Randy Brown, Jacob Hobsheidt, Troy Foulger, Nick De Carlo, Buddy Kniss, Cody Burke, Brian Cass, Anthony Slaney, Terry DeCarlo Jr .

IMCA Sport Modifieds

Heat Winners Round 1 (8 laps)--Troy Foulger, Jason Ryan Jr. Round 2 (8 laps)-Troy Foulger, Jason Ryan Jr. Main Event (25 laps)--Jacob Mallet Jr, Troy Foulger, Andrew Pearce, Bobby Hogge IV, Tommy Fraser, Mark Garner, Jason Ryan Jr, Nick Caugh man Jr, Kelly Campanile, Matt Pitts.

IMCA Stock Cars

Heat Winners Round 1 (8 laps)--Nick DeCarlo, Troy Foulger. Round 2 (8 laps)Rick Diaz, Troy Foulger. Main Event (20 laps)--Rick Diaz, Nick DeCarlo, Troy Foulger, Kellen Chadwick, Dan Gonder man, Joe Gallaher, Scott Foster, Rob Galla her, Anthony Giuliani, Jason Jennings. To view a slideshow, visit www.thepress.net/ multimedia/slideshows

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Cop

A case of vandalism occurred on Mills Dr. An unknown person attempted to take a catalytic converter from the reporting party’s vehicle.

BRENTWOOD – Sept. 9, 9:15

The following is a selection of recent law enforcement activity.

OAKLEY

Sept. 8, 1:17 a.m. A suspicious vehicle was reported on Minaret Rd./Tuolumne Way.

Sept. 8, 1:45 a.m. A case of disturbing the peace was reported at the 1400 block on Kale Court.

Sept. 8, 2:22 a.m. An unwanted guest was reported at the Best Western in Oakley. Sept. 8, 8:09 a.m. A trespasser was report ed at the 200 block on W. Ruby St. Sept. 8, 8:46 a.m. An ordinance violation was reported on Bridgehead Road/Wilbur Ave. Sept. 8, 11:07 a.m. A case of credit card fraud was reported at the Autozone in Oakley.

Sept. 8, 11:50 a.m. A hit-and-run misde meanor was reported at the 100 block on E. Cypress Rd.

Sept. 8, 12:15 p.m. A DUI misdemeanor was reported on Laurel Road/Rose Ave. Sept. 8, 1:16 p.m. A suspicious vehicle was reported at the 300 block on Star St. Sept. 8, 2:53 p.m. A welfare check was conducted at the 5300 block on Neroly Road.

Sept. 8, 5:35 p.m. A case of battery was re ported at Gehringer Elementary School. Sept. 8, 6:31 p.m. A hit-and-run misde meanor was reported at the 400 block on O’Hara Ave.

Sept. 8, 6:51 p.m. A welfare check was conducted at the 30 block on Raye Ave. Sept. 8, 11:03 p.m. A suspicious vehicle was reported at Laurel Ridge Church. Sept. 9, 2:26 a.m. A suspicious person was reported at the Starbucks in Oakley. Sept. 9, 7:18 a.m. A suspicious person was reported on Main St./Live Oak Ave. Sept. 9, 9:31 a.m. A civil disturbance was reported at the 1400 block on Yosemite Circle.

Sept. 9, 10:10 a.m. A case of fraud was reported at the 5600 block on Main St. Sept. 9, 11:08 a.m. A case of vandalism occurred at the 100 block on Hill Ave. Sept. 9, 4:09 p.m. A case of fraud was reported at the 4700 block on Lucchesi Court.

Sept. 9, 9:45 p.m. A civil disturbance was reported at the 100 block on Copper Knoll Way.

Sept. 9, 11:46 p.m. A civil disturbance was reported at the 100 block on Copper Knoll Way.

Sept. 10, 12:52 a.m. Terrorist threats were made at the 300 blovk on Shady Oak Road. Sept. 10, 6:50 a.m. An arrest warrant was served at the 2100 block on Meadowlark Lane.

Sept. 10, 12:26 p.m. A reckless driver was reported on Duarte Ave./Bear River Court.

Sept. 10, 2:22 p.m. A civil disturbance was reported at the 800 block on Dunmore St. Sept. 10, 3:12 p.m. A civil disturbance was reported at the 4600 block on Teakwood Court.

Sept. 10, 3:23 p.m. A case of disturbing the peace was reported at the 10 block on Narducci Court.

Sept. 10, 4:01 p.m. A suspicious vehicle was stopped at the 2800 block on Main St. Sept. 10, 5:05 p.m. A reckless driver was reported at the 1200 block on Walnut Meadows Drive. Sept. 10, 6:33 p.m. A case of harassment was reported at the 1800 block on Locke Court.

Sept. 10, 7:04 p.m. A reckless driver was reported on Live Oak Ave./Nut Tree Lane. Sept. 10, 7:39 p.m. An unwanted guest was reported at the McDonalds in Oakley. Sept. 10, 9:36 p.m. A case of disturbing the peace was reported at the 60 block on Carol Lane.

Sept. 10, 11:17 p.m. A reckless driver was reported on Summer Lake Dr./E. Cypress Road.

BRENTWOOD

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Sept. 9, 4:41 p.m. A case of fraud was report ed on Balfour Road. Two females tried to re load a gift card with $450 worth of fake bills. Sept. 9, 4:52 p.m. A hit-and-run misde meanor occurred on Sand Creek Road/ O’Hara Ave.

Sept. 9, 5:12 p.m. A case of petty theft was reported on Sand Creek Road. Sept. 9, 6:27 p.m. An accident with no inju ries occurred on Fairview Ave./Central Blvd. Sept. 9, 7:54 p.m. A case of petty theft oc curred on Brentwood Blvd. Sept. 9, 8:20 p.m. A restraining order vio lation occurred on San Juan Oaks Road. Sept. 9, 8:46 p.m. A hit-and-run misde meanor occurred on First St./Oak St. Sept. 9, 11:56 p.m. A hit-and-run mis demeanor occurred on Balfour Road/ Griffith Lane. A white work truck was swerving in-between lanes before running into a fire hydrant.

Sept. 8, 1:04 a.m. A warrant was served on Almond St. Sept. 8, 1:19 a.m. A suspicious vehicle was reported on Almond St. Sept. 8, 7:24 a.m. A verbal dispute was re ported on Nicholas Court. Sept. 8, 7:53 a.m. A fire occurred on Car rol Court. A generator fire was reported. Sept. 8, 8:35 a.m. A burglary from a ve hicle occurred on Lone Tree Way. Gas cap was broken and the gas was siphoned. Sept. 8, 5:36 p.m. A restraining order vio lation was reported on La Sata Drive. Sept. 8, 5:43 p.m. A case of grand theft occurred on Lone Tree Way. Sept. 9, 1:18 a.m. A case of vandalism oc curred on American Ave. Sept. 9, 6:46 a.m. A burglary from a ve hicle occurred on Corte Vista St. Sept. 9, 9:15 a.m. A case of vandalism oc curred on Mills Dr. An unknown person attempted to take a catalytic converter from the reporting party’s vehicle. Sept. 9, 12:15 p.m. A case of grand theft was reported on Sand Creek Road.Two females left on foot and an arrest was made.

Sept. 9, 12:47 p.m. A hit-and-run mis demeanor occurred on Balfour Road/ Cortona Way.

Sept. 9, 4:30 p.m. A case of grand theft was reported on Laurien Court. A cata lytic converter was taken.

Sept. 10, 7:00 a.m. A burglary from a ve hicle occurred on Oakville Court. Sept. 10, 7:15 a.m. A suspicious vehicle was reported on Roundhill Drive. Sept. 10, 10:22 a.m. A case of petty theft was reported on Oak St. Sept. 10, 10:50 a.m. A hit-and-run misde meanor was reported on Central Blvd./ Peachwillow Dr. Sept. 10, 2:38 p.m. A case of petty theft was reported on First St. Sept. 10, 3:06 p.m. A case of grand theft was reported on Brentwood Blvd. Cata lytic converters were stolen. Sept. 10, 4:18 p.m. A case of petty theft was reported on Lone Tree Way. Sept. 10, 4:53 p.m. An accident occurred on Lone Tree Way/O’Hara Ave.

ANTIOCH

Sept. 13, 7:17 a.m. A burglary from a ve hicle was reported at the 400 block on W. 12th St. Sept. 13, 7:21 a.m. A case of vandalism was reported at the 3300 block on Deer Valley Road.

Sept. 13, 7:50 a.m. A vehicle theft was re ported at the 800 block on F St. Sept. 13, 8:08 a.m. A shooting at an occu pied residence/vehicle was reported at the 300 block on L St. Sept. 13, 10:14 a.m. A commercial bur glary occurred at the 3100 block on Lone Tree Way.

Sept. 13, 12:33 p.m. A vehicle theft oc curred at the 1300 block on W. 4th St. Sept. 13, 12:53 p.m. An aggravated assault occurred at the 3200 block on Gentry town Dr.

Sept. 13, 1:13 p.m. A traffic accident with injuries at the 2700 block on Contra Loma Blvd.

Sept. 13, 4:33 p.m. A case of identity theft was reported at the 5000 block on Vestany Court.

Sept. 14, 12:59 a.m. A simple assault was reported at the 3900 block on Lone Tree Way.

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Costa Fire District. The county took over the property through the merger of the ECCFD and the Contra Costa Consoli dated Fire District. The county declared the site as surplus after the merger.

Luke said Tuesday he “took a leap of faith” in pursuing the property. Luke will use the purchase as an expansion to “service our faithful customers in Dis covery Bay,” he added. Luke’s Brentwood operation will continue as is. Luke said he is planning an unofficial opening of the Discovery Bay site in early November. He also plans on honoring the history of the local fire district by displaying firefighting memorabilia within the shop.

The Board of Supervisors passed the permit application in a 5-0 vote. Supervi sor Diane Burgis, who represents the area for the county, said after the vote, “I am happy to see this project approved after a collaborative effort between the county, the Town of Discovery Bay, and the ap plicant. It’s exciting to see this former fire station get a new lease on life and house a much-needed small business, which we know are the economic engines of our un incorporated communities.”

Fire Station #59, located at 1685 Bix ler Road, services Discovery Bay.

Other local actions taken Tuesday by the Board of Supervisors include:

• Reappointing Patanisha Davis Pierson to the District 3 seat on the Fam ily and Children’s Trust Committee for a term ending Sept. 30, 2024, as recom mended by Burgis.

• Accepted the resignation of An drew Steudle, and declared a vacancy in the Appointee 2 Seat on the Knightsen Town Advisory Council for a term ending Dec. 31, 2024, and directed the Clerk of the Board to post the vacancy.

• Approved a contract with Bay Area Community Services in an amount not to exceed $3,443,765 to operate the Delta Landing Interim Housing Program for homeless individuals in East County for the period July 1, 2022 through June 30, 2023.

New law from page 1A

• Approved a novation contract with the Center for Psychotherapy, in an amount not to exceed $1.1 million to pro vide mental health services to seriously emotionally disturbed adolescents and children in East Contra Costa County for the period July 1, 2022 through June 30, 2023, including a six-month automatic extension through Dec. 31, 2023 in an amount not to exceed $550,000.

• Approved a contract amendment with the city of Antioch to allow the Health Services Department to continue

use of the Nick Rodriguez Community Center for COVID-19 testing and immu nizations through Jan. 14, 2023.

• Approved a contract amendment with the city of Antioch to allow the Health Services Department and the state Department of Public Health and its con tractors to continue using the Antioch Community Center parking lot for CO VID-19 testing and vaccinations through Dec. 31, 2022.

To comment, visit www.thepress.net

A story in The Press on Thursday, Sept. 29, incorrectly reported the location of a joint special meeting of the Oakley City Council, the Iron house Sanitary District and Diablo Water District. The Sept. 28 meeting was held at the Big Break Regional Shoreline Visitor Center in Oakley. Patrick Soluri, a partner in SoluriMeserve, did not attend the meet ing but did contribute to the report presented by his colleague Osha Meserve. The county Board of Super visors had voted in a past meeting to oppose the Delta Tunnel proposal.

and advance workplace safety. Earlier this year, Newsom signed leg islation that enacted wage and workplace protections to support their health, safety and welfare.

Last year, the governor signed legislation to protect warehouse workers from unsafe production quotas and nation-leading legisla tion to end exploitative piece-rate compensation for garment in

City

during public comment was Ralph Hernan dez, who had previously spoken during the initial Aug. 26 special City Council meeting in favor of hiring Johnson.

“He is probably one of the best city managers that we have had,” he said. “I find that there’s really no need to go and look for somebody else. Mr. Johnson has done a very

dustry workers. The Governor also signed a measure directing Cal/ OSHA to create an advisory committee to recommend state policies to protect domestic workers and a bill to ensure that workers with disabilities are paid a fair wage. In 2019, the Governor signed legisla tion giving child care workers the right to join a union and collectively bargain with the state.

To comment, visit www.thepress.net

good job of putting the city through a diffi cult period of time as he has been the interim city manager. We can consider other people, but I don’t think that with Mr. Johnson’s ten ure here so far, you’re going to replace him with somebody that’s going to do as well.”

Johnson was initially brought on as in terim City Manager after former City Man ager Ron Bernal left his position during the

end of 2021. Johnson earned a bachelor’s degree in public administration and a mas ter’s degree in public administration from the University of San Francisco. He previ ously worked as a deputy police captain for the San Francisco Police Department before retiring in 2016. Johnson’s interim contract ends Dec. 21, 2022.

comment, visit www.thepress.net

This map locates the retired fire station #58 at 1535 Discovery Bay Boulevard which will be developed for a boat repair facil ity following approval by the county Board of Supervisors.

Photo courtesy of Contra Costa County

Inaugural Diwali Mela to celebrate Indian culture

by Jake Menez Staff Writer

For the first time, Brentwood will play host to an event celebrating the Indian Fes tival of Lights, Diwali, as part of a fund raiser for the United Indian Association.

Diwali Mela, put on by the United In dian Association, runs from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 16 in City Park. It will fea ture a variety of food from India, Sri Lanka

and Mexico, as well as vendor booths and a “Kid Zone” with activities for younger event goers, according to event organizer Manish Jain. Tickets are $6, but children 5 and under attend for free.

“We’re excited to be putting on this get together for the community,” Jain said. “Not just the Indian community but the whole local community. India has a rich cultural history that we want to share with people.”

Diwali is the Indian Festival of Lights, falling on Oct. 24 this year, and is both a major religious and cultural holiday that spans five days, with celebrations peak

ing on the third day, according to the Old Farmer’s Almanac. The holiday celebrates the triumph of light over dark and good over evil, and the blessings of victory, free dom, and enlightenment. ‘Mela’ is the In dian word for a festival or fair.

In addition to the food and vendor booths, the Diwali Mela celebration will also feature traditional Indian cultural ex periences such as Bollywood performances, dancing and a traditional Rangoli display, according to the event website. Rangoli is a traditional Indian art form involving bright colors and intricate patterns.

The United Indian Association is a

nonprofit organization that “strives to build bridges among the people, strengthen the foundation of the community, and foster a greater understanding among the Indian American community,” according to their website. The organization was founded in 2022 and strives toward its goal through a combination of educational events, com munity service and social events.

Jain says he hopes the event is a big success that brings the community together. If so, he intends to turn the Diwali Mela into an annual event for residents to enjoy.

Tickets for the Diwali Mela can be pur chased online at https://bit.ly/3yf3C8o

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Bill Brandt Ford continues a legacy – 50 years later

Brentwood’s Bill Brandt Ford is Contra Costa County’s oldest continuously owned dealership. Founded by Bill Brandt in 1972, the business celebrates 50 years of selling Ford vehicles this month.

The dealership is now run by three of Bill’s four children: Rob Brandt, Jim Brandt and Dianna Griffin, and a third generation has started learning the ropes of the business. Rob Brandt and Jim Brandt share dealer principal duties, while Griffin is chief financial officer.

“Bill Brandt Ford is built to last,” Rob Brandt said. “Brentwood has had a Ford dealer since the 1940s. My dad purchased the Ford dealership from Earline Chapman, who is still alive. He did that in the summer of 1972 and had the grand opening in October of 1972.”

Bill moved his family from Concord to East County two years later because Ford Motor Co. wanted their dealership owners to be part of the communities. Rob Brandt and Griffin graduated from Liberty High School in the early 1980s, and the family has been part of the local community ever since.

“We are very involved in our commu nity,” Rob Brandt said. “We are Chamber members, I’m a Brentwood Rotarian, we give

back to our community and the community has been very good to the Brandt family and Bill Brandt Ford, and we support in every which way we can.”

Jim attributes much of the company’s success over the past 50 years to the team’s hard work.

“It’s not a job; it’s a way of life,” he explains. He recalls being in high school when his father opened the dealership in a Brentwood so small it had no stoplights. Though Brentwood has grown and Brandt is now the father showing his own sons the tricks of the trade, one thing remains constant. “You only get out of it what you put into it.”

Growing up in small-town Brentwood and the automotive industry shaping the lives of the Brandt children, and the family has expanded the business to fit the growing

needs of East County. When Bill purchased the Ford franchise in Brentwood, it was called Brentwood Motors and sat where the Quick Lane sits now on Brentwood Boulevard. The family expanded their footprint, moving into a new building across the street in September of 1989, weeks before the Loma Prieta earth quake struck, cracking the new stucco.

“We didn’t realize things were going to grow the way they did in the community, but they have and we welcome it. And we have been able to keep up with the larger population,” said Rob Brandt. “We have more facilities now and are spread across about five acres … this is our home.”

The Brandt family takes on the chal lenges of running a family-owned business together, overcoming supply chain hurdles, recessions and the COVID-19 pandemic

together with their community. “When Dad was still alive, nearly every family dinner ended up feeling like a board meeting because we’d always wind up talking about the business,” Dianna says with a laugh. Like Jim, she emphasizes that it’s more than just a job, and that doing what one loves is an important part of success. Her other maxim is to treat everyone like family. This attitude, she says, has helped them see many return customers while also ensuring their employees enjoy working for the company.

Their method of doing business has evolved over the past five decades. There is a larger emphasis on digital marketing that has led to regular out-of-state sales, though the family continues to focus on their primary market in East County.

“If you don’t change with the times, you’ll get run over,” Dianna says.

The dealership now offers a range of electric vehicles. Rob Brandt said things are likely moving more and more in that direc tion, though the business still offers its lineup of gas, diesel and hybrid products. As for the state’s ban on new gas vehicles sales in 2035, Rob Brandt said he hopes he’s around to see if it sticks.

“Ford Motor Company is gearing that way,” he noted. “They are talking about building a couple million vehicles by 2030 that will be electric. They have a long way to go. It’s definitely a part of the business plan for Ford Motor Company in the future.”

DAWNMARIE FEHR

Photo by Melissa van Ruiten

Bill Brandt Ford has served Brentwood for 50 years. The owners attribute its success to a combination of hard work and treating everyone who comes through their doors like family.

vehicles

drivers

safe as possible behind the wheel.

also can alert drivers when their cars are in need of examination,

such is the case when the often

“check engine” light comes on.

While a ‘check engine’ indicator is seldom good news, it may not mean that expensive repairs are right around the corner. The following are six reasons why ‘check engine’ lights come on and how to remedy these situations.

1. Faulty/loose gas cap: A faulty gas cap is one of the reasons a ‘check engine’ light might turn on. A cap that is not tightly closed or one that is poorly sealed enables vapors to escape, which

can trigger the light. Opening the gas cap and then resealing it tightly may help; otherwise, a replacement cap may be necessary.

2. Faulty sensor: Sometimes there is nothing wrong with the engine or other components, but the light sensor itself. The ‘check engine’ light might come on because its sensor is corroded or not work ing properly.

3. Oxygen sensor failure: The oxygen sensor sends data to the vehicle’s computer, which it uses to create the right mix of air and fuel to enter the engine’s cylinders. The ‘check engine’ light may come on when the sensor fails or registers a problem with the fuel/air mix.

4. Ignition coils/spark plugs: A ‘check engine’ light may come on to warn drivers it is time to replace spark plugs and/or ignition coils. According to DigitalTrends, ignition coils generate the electricity needed for spark plugs to ignite the fuel and air mix in the cylinders. Worn coils or fouled plugs can cause any number of issues, including engine misfire.

5. Catalytic converter issues: The catalytic converter heats up hydrocarbons and other emissions so that they turn into carbon dioxide and water vapor to help protect the environment, offers AutoZone. The converter usually does not fail on its own, but a mechanic can help diagnose what might cause the failure.

6. Electronic powertrain controls: Vehicles are large computerized devices with an array of sensors and modules that run powertrains. Any issues with these sensors, networks or modules can trigger the ‘check engine’ light.

Depending on the make and model of a vehicle, a check engine light may require less urgency than a flashing light. It always helps to consult with the owner’s manual to help determine issues. Automotive retail stores and mechanics can connect the car’s computer to diagnostic equipment that will issue a diagnos tic trouble code that can serve as a starting point to address check engine light issues.

– Courtesy of Metro Creative

Photo courtesy of Metro Creative A ‘check engine’ light does not necessarily mean costly repairs for drivers.

How to save gas (without giving up driving)

Gas prices have been historically high in 2022.

to the fuel price comparison website GasBuddy.com,

as of June 2022, the least expensive state for regular gas was Georgia, at $4.43 a gallon. The most expensive was California at $6.34 per gallon. During June, which marks the beginning of the summer travel season in many areas, fuel costs in most parts of the United States averaged around $5 per gallon.

Even with the start of October, prices in California are still near $6 per gallon, at $5.88, according to AAA. That’s up 43 cents from a week ago, up 61 cents compared to a month ago, and $1.49 higher than a year ago.

With prices so high, many drivers have been looking for any way to save money at the pump. Some may have cut back on driving habits while others might have organized community carpools. Others may have taken to other modes of trans portation. For those who have no option but to drive their vehicles, there are ways

There are several obvious and not so obvious ways to save gas.

to reduce fuel consumption without resort ing to walking or cycling.

♦ Lighten your load

How much weight is being carted around in a vehicle can directly affect the amount of gas it consumes. Remove any unnecessary items from the trunk or cargo area of a truck or SUV. Consider removing extra accessories, like roof racks or hitches.

♦ Slowly accelerate

Resist the urge to “gun it” when coming off a stoplight or stop sign, as rapid acceleration wastes gas. Press

the accelerator pedal gently to increase speeds gradually and conserve fuel. Similarly, coast to a stop, rather than slamming on the brakes.

♦ Don’t idle

Turn off the engine if you will be idling for more than a minute. Idling for longer than that is merely wasting fuel. Modern engines do not need to be warmed up for more than 30 to 60 seconds, even when the weather is cold. Driving will warm up the car faster than idling while parked, provided you drive moderately until the

temperature gauge shows the car has reached the right temperature.

♦ A/C or windows open?

While it’s true that the air condition ing will drain fuel when in use, driv ing with the windows open makes the vehicle less aerodynamic by causing drag. Some experts recommended leaving the windows down during slower, city driving and using the AC for higher speeds on the highway.

♦ Keep tires properly inflated

Poorly inflated tires can make a vehicle less efficient by causing more friction between tire and roadway. Check the PSI rating for the tires and inflate accordingly. Many modern vehicles automatically alert drivers when tires are low on air.

♦ Drive a consistent speed

When driving on the highway, switch to cruise control to maintain a consistent speed. Driving steady reduces drag, which, in turn, reduces fuel consumption.

♦ Stick to a maintenance schedule

Maintaining your vehicle by getting routine oil changes, fluid checks and other simple maintenance helps a car or truck run properly, and that can help conserve fuel.

These are just a few strategies drivers can employ to conserve fuel in the face of historically high gas prices.

– Courtesy of Metro Creative

VEHICLES

Photo courtesy of Metro Creative

There

How to drive defensively

Defensive driving can

prevent accidents and save lives. Defensive driving also could save drivers money on car insurance. With so much to gain from driving defensively, a refresher on the principles of defensive driving could benefit drivers of all ages.

What is defensive driving?

Drivers undoubtedly have heard the term “defensive driving,” but may not fully under stand what it means. In the simplest sense, defensive driving focuses on anticipating and reacting to potential hazards when behind the wheel. Defensive drivers apply various skills and techniques to in an attempt to prevent poten tial accidents caused by reckless drivers. Who can benefit from defensive driving?

Anyone can benefit from a defensive driving course. New drivers may benefit the most because it gives them a strong founda tion for safe driving. A defensive driving course also may help drivers remove tickets from their driving record or remove points from a license for first-time offenders, according to DefensiveDriving.org. Defensive driving courses also may help prevent high insurance premi ums or rate hikes following a ticket or accident. The principles of defensive driving Defensive driving courses differ, but the following are some of the basic principles of driving defensively.

♦ Be alert to surroundings. This is one of the most important aspects of de fensive driving – paying attention to the road and avoiding distractions prevents accidents. The National Highway Traffic

Safety Administration says not looking at the road for five seconds while driving 55 miles per hour is like driving the length of a football field with your eyes closed. Driv ers should scan the horizon, check blind spots and know what’s going on around their vehicles.

♦ Employ the three-second rule. Leave sufficient distance between your vehicle and the one in front of you. A driver should pass a stationary object on the side of the road no earlier than three seconds after the vehicle driving ahead of them has passed it.

♦ Don’t drive impaired. Drugs, alcohol and fatigue can harm performance behind the wheel. Precise movements, fast-think ing and focus are adversely affected when driving tired or under the influence.

♦ Leave yourself an out. Figure out a way to avoid collisions at all times while driving. This includes not being boxed in by other drivers or barriers. This can be achieved by leaving significant distance between your vehicle and the one in front of you, by obeying the speed limit and ensuring there’s a lane to move into that’s free and clear.

♦ Avoid bad drivers. Steer clear of driv ers who are acting recklessly, and give them a wide berth. Move over, slow down and keep an eye on these drivers to avoid a collision. Similarly, move over for tail gaters and avoid succumbing to road rage.

♦ Be courteous and follow the rules.

Respect the rules of the road that you learned in drivers’ education classes. This includes wearing a seat belt, obeying the speed limit, slowing down for bad weather, and giving over the right of way to a reckless driver if it means staying safe.

Celebrating 48 Years Serving East County

Photo courtesy of Metro Creative

Tips for first-time electric car buyers

vehicles are widely touted as the vehicles of the future. Despite the growing availability of such cars in the present day, for many drivers, electric vehicles remain a novelty. That means buying an electric vehicle for the first time is a new and unique experience.

Tesla electric vehicles might be the most visible electric cars on the road today, but most

major auto manufacturers, including Nissan and Chevrolet, produce them as well. That means auto buyers have more electric vehicle options now than ever before, which can make the process of buying such a car more exciting, but also more difficult. Narrowing down a growing number of options may not come easy to first-time electric vehicle buyers, who can keep these tips in mind as they begin this exciting journey.

♦ Get an idea of the accessibility of charging stations around your home. The number of public charging stations is on the rise, but there’s still a lot of work to be done

in this area. In fact, research from McKinsey & Company indicates that nearly half of consumers in the United States indicate that battery or charging issues are their foremost concerns about buying electric vehicles. The automotive resource Auto Trader notes that most electric vehicles have enough battery range to cover more than the average daily commute in America. But drivers who hope to use their electric vehicles as their everyday cars that take them to work and help them run errands and get around town should confirm there are enough public charging stations to make that possible.

♦ Look into subsidies. The Office of Energy Ef ficiency & Renewable Energy notes that all-electric and plug-in hybrid cars purchased new in or after 2010 may be eligible for a federal income tax credit that could be as high as $7,500. State and/ or local incentives also may apply. The Canadian Automobile Association reports that the Govern ment of Canada offers point-of-sale incentives of as much as $5,000 for drivers who buy or lease an electric vehicle. These subsidies can help bring the cost of electric vehicle ownership down by a significant amount and are worth exploring as drivers decide which electric car or truck to buy.

– Courtesy of Metro Creative

BUY