YOUR HOMETOWN WEEKLY NEWSPAPER

Vol. 9, No. 42 Including Surrounding Communities www.thepress.net October 16, 2009

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THIS WEEK

FOR MOVIE TIMES SEE PAGE 5A

Falcons douse Patriot fire

Heritage played better in the rematch, but couldnt match Freedoms aquatic athleticism.

Page 1B

Calendar ..........................27BClassifieds ........................16BCop Logs ..........................12AEntertainment ................13BFood .................................14BHealth & Beauty .............11BMilestones .......................10BOpinion ...........................13ASports .................................1BWebExtras! .......................1B

INSIDE

Patriotic processionWorld War II veterans will be front and center at a stirring East County parade on Nov. 11, Veterans Day.

Page 3A

Creep-out calendar

Dust off your coffins and tune up your broomsticks. Youll find our lineup of East County Halloween events a real scream.

Page 4A

A plan to construct more than 12,000 houses, apartments and condos along with more than 6 million square feet of shop-ping centers and business parks on the old Concord Naval Weapons Station property has East County residents and offi cials con-cerned it will signifi cantly worsen traffi c con-gestion on Highway 4.

If East County does not act together and the Naval Weapons Station (develop-ment) comes on line in fi ve years, there is no bond money and there will be no improve-ments on that section of highway, Antioch resident Terry Ramus said to East County of-fi cials at the last Transplan meeting. Right now you back up on Willow Pass every morning even during a down economy. If the economy comes back, we will not be able to get out of East County to get to work. East County needs to take a position on it.

The Antioch City Council on Tuesday agreed to join with other East County cities and the county to write a letter expressing concerns about the planned development and urging that adequate measures be put

in place to lessen the traffi c impacts from the new residents and businesses that might move into the 5,000-acre site on the other side of the hill to Central County.

Antioch Mayor Jim Davis has also spo-ken at one of the Concord planning meet-ings for the project. I stated then that I am concerned about the impacts on Highway 4 with a major subdivision or cluster of homes and villages, he said. If that dumps onto Highway 4 without mitigation, then traffi c in East County (will worsen).

We have been trying to get BART out here and Highway 4 widened for the last 25 years. We are starting to see some light at the end of the tunnel. And here we see possible impacts of gridlock at the top of Willow

Pass for everybody.I think we need to speak up. I think we

can throw our wrench in it and make sure they will mitigate for Antioch, Oakley and Highway 4. I am not opposed to the develop-ment and their being able to plan their own land. But when it impacts Highway 4, it im-pacts us.

The weapons station project is not yet a done deal. Its currently in the draft envi-ronmental impact report (EIR) stage; a fi nal EIR is expected next spring. The draft EIR confi rms that traffi c will worsen on Highway 4 east of the weapons station property if ei-ther of two projects is built out by 2030.

The preferred alternative of clustered villages devotes half of the property to parks, recreation and open space. It would accom-modate up to 12,272 residential units and 6.2 million square feet of commercial and retail space.

The other possible project, known as the Concentration and Conservation Al-ternative, places most of the housing, retail and commercial development north of Wil-low Pass Road. It would accommodate up

Concern over projects impacts on Highway 4by Dave Roberts

Staff Writer

see Impacts page 18A

City council seeks, and delays, input

The Oakley City Council Tues-day said it needed more public input before deciding on one issue before it, but declined hear more testimony on another more contentious item carried over from September.

During a work session for the Oakley Downtown Specifi c Plans draft environmental impact report, only one person spoke up when the public was invited to make com-ments regarding downtown devel-opment. Councilman Bruce Con-nelley said he didnt think that was enough.

We have 33,000 more people, he said. I realize the focus of this meeting is to direct staff to conduct outreach programs to our down-town businesses and other stake-holders regarding the specifi c plans EIR, and were seeing it tonight that its obvious that we need to put forth

a strong effort (to get public input.)The downtown affects every-

body, not just the downtown busi-nesses, and if we have to go knock-ing door to door to let people know and encourage them to show up, then we need to bend over backward to let them know that we need their input. We need your involvement. I dont want to see anyone come back and say, You didnt tell us.

Connelley said he understood time constraints make it diffi cult for business owners to attend council meetings but he advised staff to take whatever steps necessary to make sure everyone in town knows about the project.

Councilman Jim Frazier agreed. He said its important to make sure everyone is aware of the project be-cause those who operate their busi-nesses from home might want to relocate to the downtown area once

by Samie HartleyStaff Writer

see Input page 18A

If the economy comes back, we will not be able to get out of East County to work. East County needs to take a position on it.

Antioch resident Terry Ramus

Local kayaker Jarred Schubert didnt let the rainstorm last Tuesday dampen his spirits. When the Freedom Falcons water polo practice was canceled, Jarred went for a paddle on the schools submerged soccer eld instead. When asked whats his motive was, Jarred re-plied he was just getting in a little extra time in for my White Water Merit Badge!

Rain floats his boat

Photo by Heather Schubert

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East County vets to parade in Antioch

For the most part, Veterans Day doesnt feature the ceremonial pomp and circumstance of its more heralded broth-er, Memorial Day. There wasnt a Veter-ans Day Parade in East County until last year when a patriotic group in Antioch, after spending fi ve years raising funds for and building a war dog memorial near the Antioch Marina, was looking for a new project.

I think it was Mayor (Jim) Davis who said, Lets have a parade, said his wife Susan Davis, who is co-chairing with him the committee organizing the second annual Veterans Day Parade.

She said last years inaugural parade drew about 20,000 people to see veterans, classic cars, motorcycle riders, marching bands, Scout troops and others parade down Second Street in downtown An-tioch. She and fellow committee members are expecting a similar turnout this year. It begins, appropriately, at 11 a.m. on 11/11 near the Antioch Lumber Company and ends up at the marina.

Hoping to make the annual parade an event for all of East County, com-mittee members have been drumming up support by speaking at community events, setting up a table at the mall, placing fl i-ers around town and issuing Chamber of Commerce e-blasts. So far, 20 participants

from last year are on board for this years parade, including the Antioch and Deer Valley high school bands, numerous mili-tary vehicles, veteran motorcycle groups and community organizations. Front and center in the parade will be WWII veter-ans more of whom are still being sought followed by those from other past and current confl icts.

I think its important that we honor

all of the men and women who served in all of the wars and who have given their lives for us to enjoy the freedoms that we do, said Mayor Davis. We are expecting this year to be bigger and better. If its anything like last year, we are expecting a tremendous turnout.

As many as fi ve veterans might serve as co-grand marshals for the parade, which this year honors prisoners of war.

Antioch resident Vincent Silva, 91, was one of those prisoners, one of the for-tunate survivors of the Bataan Death March in the Phillipines in World War II. Despite the hardships, Silva looks back on his service as a great experience but adds I wouldnt go through it again for $1 million.

by Dave RobertsStaff Writer

see Veterans page 10A

The Armys Steve Adams was one of many active service mem-bers taking part in the Veterans Day Parade in Antioch last year.

Photo by Richard Wisdom

4A | THEPRESS.NET COMMUNITY OCTOBER 16, 2009

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Bountiful harvest of Halloween funIts the season of witches, warlocks,

ghosts and goblins, and if youre looking for a frightfully fun time, or a happier harvest festival, theres an abundance of upcoming events and ways to celebrate the season. Here is a sampling. THROUGH NOV. 1, FRIDAY, SATURDAY AND SUNDAYS ONLYSanctuary of Evil Haunted House and maze

Take a tour through a horrifying haunt-ed house, or run screaming through a 7,000 square foot corn maze. Perhaps a trip on the Last Ride, a simulated coffi n, is more to your liking? Its all here for the eighth year, at 936 Carpenter Road in Oakley. Hours are Friday and Saturday 7 to 10 p.m., Sunday 7 to 9 p.m. Admission is $5 for the haunted house, $3 for the simulated coffi n ride, or $8 for both. Check out video footage of the Sanctuary of Evil Haunted House at www.thepress.net.OCT. 16 AND 17Halloween Festival

The Red Men and Pocahontas of Oak-ley are offering spooky delights at their 8th Annual Halloween Festival, located at 1403 Main St. The event features crafts, face paint-ing and a kid-friendly haunted house. A por-tion of the proceeds will go to the Martinez Veterans Hospital. Admission is $1.50. Hours are Friday, 6 to 10 p.m. and Sat. 7 to 10 p.m.OCT. 16Brentwood Elementary Carnival and Pumpkin Patch

Bring the family and enjoy an evening of pumpkins, cakewalks, games, a petting zoo

and more at the Brentwood Elementary fund-raising event. No need to cook dinner either: there will be Sticky Chicken and Ribs, Straw Hat Pizza and Loards Ice Cream on hand, with a portion of their sales going back to the school. The party is at 200 Griffi th Lane and is from 5 to 9 p.m. For additional information, call 925-513-6360.OCT. 23Laurel Elementary Pumpkin Patch Festival

This super-popular annual event comes to Oakleys Laurel Elementary again this year from 4 to 8 p.m. at 1441 Laurel Road. All proceeds from the event will benefi t the new kindergarten playground, so come on down and take a tour through the haunted house and feel free to come in costume. Admission is free.Aquatic Pumpkin Patch

Do pumpkins sink or fl oat? Participants will get the answer to that question at the Brentwood Parks and Recreations fourth an-nual Halloween event. This year the fun runs from 5 to 6:30 p.m. at the Brentwood Family Aquatic Complex, 195 Griffi th Lane. The rec-reation pool will be fi lled with fl oating pump-kins of all sizes and shapes and participants can swim out and pick the pumpkin of their choice. Dont forget to stay for the games and prizes too. Admission is $15 per person. Ages 3 and up are welcome. OCT. 24Hometown Halloween

Brentwoods premiere trick-or-treat event is perfect for all the ghosts and goblins in your

house. Take a stroll through downtown and visit the many merchant booths set up along the street, and dont forget to pop your head into the local businesses that have plenty of treats for this safe and sane Halloween event. Located at First and Oak Streets, the Cham-ber of Commerce hosts this event from 5 to 8 p.m. Black Cat Ball

Who says black cats arent lucky? This spooktacular event raises thousands of dol-lars each year for cats and other animals at the Antioch Animal Shelter. Costumes are optional at this gala dinner, which includes dancing, music and a silent auction, but there will be a costume contest for those who dress up. Located at the Lone Tree Golf Course, 4800 Golf Course Road in Antioch, tickets are $60 for adults and $25 for children (13 and under). For tickets or additional information, call 925-431-8318, or 925-754-2923.Discovery Bay Harvest Festival

There will be plenty of activities and fun for all at the Lakeview Business Plaza, including childrens activities, food and wine samples, artists, vendors and music. Dont for-get to bring your scarecrow-building talents for the contest, which will award prizes for the best-dressed scarecrow. The event is from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Lakeview Business Plaza on Discovery Bay Boulevard. Grace Bible Fellowship Harvest Festival

Bring the family to this free event at the

There are dozens of ways to enjoy Halloween and the fall harvest this year, including the Sanctuary of Evil in Oakley, where this denizen of the dark was spot-ted last year. See the list for details.

Press file photo

see Halloween page 5A

OCTOBER 16, 2009 COMMUNITY THEPRESS.NET | 5A

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Grace Bible Fellowship Church, 657 McClar-ren Road in Brentwood. There will be plenty of food, candy, games and much more! The event is from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Oakley Harvest Festival

Oakleys inaugural event is free to the public and will be held from noon to 4 p.m. at the Civic Center Plaza, 3231 Main St. There will be activities for the entire family includ-ing a petting zoo, giant slide, hay maze, arts and crafts, pie eating and costume contests and a parade. For more information, call 925-625-7041 or email, at Coelho@ci.oakley.ca.us.OCT. 25Tarantula Trek

Theyre big, theyre fuzzy and oftentimes clumsy! These eight-legged residents are prowling the park at Black Diamond Mines Regional Park and the search is on. Enjoy an easy walk through the park as you learn some little-known facts about these funny, misun-derstood friends. The walk is from 3 to 4:30 p.m. Participants meet in the parking lot at the south end of Somersville Road, inside the Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve, at 5175 Somersville Road in Antioch. For more information, call 925-544-2750. OCT. 27 AND 28La Paloma Haunted House

La Paloma High School will be hold-ing its fourth annual haunted house on both days from 5 to 8 p.m. at the high school, 6651 Lone Tree Way, across the street from Winco. There will be games, prizes, and a very scary haunted house. Donations are $2 for kids 12 and under and $4 for adults.

OCT. 28Dramatic Halloween

Adams Middle School in Brentwood is hosting Dramatic Halloween from 12:45 to 3:30 p.m. The event is open to the public, so bring your most dramatic Halloween self and head on over. For more information, call 925-513-6450.OCT. 29Howl La La Boo

Join the Oakley Library Youth Squad for their second annual story time event at the Oakley Library. Join the squad for some Hal-loween stories, games and crafts. Participants are encouraged to come in costume. Free for kids preschool to fi fth grade. The Oakley Li-brary is located at 1050 Neroly Road on the Freedom High School campus. The event is from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Call 925-625-2400 for additional information. OCT. 30Halloween Dance Extravaganza

Come on out for this Halloween bash for individuals with special needs ages 13 and up. Participants are encouraged to come in costume to the event that runs from 7 to 10 p.m. at the Brentwood Senior Activity Cen-ter. The cost is $6.50 and pre-registration is required by Oct. 27. To register call Brent-wood Parks and Rec at 925-516-5444.OCT. 31Halloween Murder Mystery Dinner Cruise

Delta Discovery Cruises presents this nautical adventure. Come dressed as your fa-vorite pirates, sailors, captains and ghosts for the Ghoulish Dinner and Nautical Mystery. The cost is $49 per person, as long as space is available. The party is from 6 to 9:30 p.m. and sails from the Driftwood Yacht Club in

Oakley. For tickets and additional informa-tion, call 925-252-9300.Halloween at Sand Creek Crossing

Trick or Treaters are welcome at the Sand Creek Crossing Shopping Center in Brentwood on Halloween from 2 to 6 p.m. The centers stores, restaurants and retailers will be handing out free Halloween goodies while supplies last.Halloween at the Museum

Come in costume and be transported back in time at the East Contra Costa Histor-ical Societys Halloween party. Tour the 1878 farm house which is fully furnished, and see the assorted antique farm equipment, Model Ts, fi re trucks and more. From 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 3890 Sellers Ave. in Brentwood/Knightsen. Admission is free, donations are appreciated. Call 925-634-8651 or 925-679-1024 for additional information. Halloween on Hollow Hills

Have a frighteningly good time at this festive event. Games, crafts, scavenger hunts and much more will give you a chance to explore the history of the Black Diamond Hills and to meet some of the parks creepi-est critters. Event is from 1 to 4 p.m. and par-ticipants meet in the parking lot of the Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve at the south end of Somersville Road. The address is 5175 Somersville Road in Antioch. Circus Night

Come on out and enjoy a safe and sane alternative to Halloween at the Harvest Time Assembly of God Church from 6 to 9 p.m., 2200 Ventura Dr. in Brentwood. This free event will have candy, games, pony rides and much more. Call 925-516-1908 for more info.

Halloween from page 4A

OCTOBER 16, 2009 COMMUNITY THEPRESS.NET | 7A

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ATTORNEY LOAN MODSMany homeowners in our area would

like their loan modified, so there is a huge opportunity here for loan modification companies, who have sprung up by the thousands across the nation. Unfortunately, their track record overall hasnt been that great, and there are some fast-buck scam artists that you have to watch out for. Ive heard many stories where people send in $500-$3,000, only to never hear from the company again.

Now that there are hundreds (thousands?) of these companies around the country pitching their services, they are all searching for ways to stand out from the crowd. The latest fad is where they claim to be attorney-based and make claims that only attorneys should really be doing loan mods. Or at least they claim that their rate of success will be higher since they have attorneys doing the work.

The problem is that many of these attorney-based firms really just have one or two attorneys on retainer, but its still the same hourly employees doing the actual negotiations for you. Some of these modification firms are taking on hundreds, if not thousands of loan modification clients. It would take an ARMY

of attorneys to really give each file the personal attention it deserves.

The State Bar of California is especially concerned about this situation as they fear that their members are collecting fees while providing no benefit to the client, who is already in a vulnerable and precarious financial position. Earlier this year the Bar created a special task force to deal with a 58% increase in investigations since last year. In my 21 years in attorney discipline, I have not seen a crisis of this magnitude. It is truly unprecedented, said Interim Chief Trial Counsel Russell Weiner recently as the Bar released the names of 16 attorneys who are under investigation for misconduct in relation to loan modifications. This is the first time the Bar has released more than just a couple of attorneys names during an investigation. They just felt their duty to warn the consumer was paramount in this situation.

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Greenbelt Alliance Campaigns Director Melissa Hippard will speak at the East Contra Forum later this month regarding the recent ruling in a case against the city of Oakley.

The Contra Costa County Superior Court ruled that the environmental impact report for the East Cypress Corridor Specifi c Plan is incomplete, halting Oakleys plans to develop thousands of acres of farmland.

In a precedent-setting decision, Superior Court Judge Barry Baskin wrote: Inexplica-bly, the City failed to consider a reasonable range of mitigation measures or potentially feasible alternatives to lessen the impact to important farmland. The judge went on to question why the city didnt ask developers to acquire similar farmland for conservation purposes elsewhere in the county to make up for the lost land in Oakley.

Greenbelt Alliance is a San Francisco-based environmental advocacy group that works with citizens, elected offi cials and diverse groups to protect open space and improve the livability of existing communi-ties through grassroots organizing, coalition building, policy analysis, political strategizing and local advocacy.

Hippard will also discuss the phenom-enon of eating local, a movement that pro-motes urban farming within cities.

The forum, sponsored by Oakley Citi-zens for Responsive Government, will be held on Sunday, Oct. 25 at 1 p.m. in The Red Ca-boose, 210 Fulton Shipyard Road in Antioch. The forum is free and open to the public.

For more information, call Eve Dia-mond at 415-309-0611 or e-mail her at apeaceactivist1@yahoo.com.

Greenbelt Alliance to speak at Forum

The East County Democrats For Ac-tion, the Democratic Party of Contra Costa County, the Antioch Democratic Club, the Tri-Valley Democratic Club, and the Lamor-inda Democratic Club are co-sponsoring an eBART Forum on Thursday, Oct. 22 from 7 to 9 p.m. at Black Diamond Middle School, 4730 Sterling Hill Drive in Antioch.

Topics will include when BART will

come to East County, and whether the ex-tension should feature diesel eBART or stan-dard electric BART trains.

Taking part in the discussion will be State Sen. Mark DeSaulnier, BART Direc-tor Joel Keller and Congressman Jerry Mc-Nerney.

For more information, call George Van Hasslett at 925-754-9514.

Democrats look at BART

8A | THEPRESS.NET COMMUNITY OCTOBER 16, 2009

Trevors Weekly Mortgage MattersBy Trevor Frey

Tax Credit Questions

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With November 30, 2009 creeping up no pun intended for Halloween right around the corner the window of opportunity to take advantage of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, and its $8,000 fi rst time buyer credit, is quickly coming to a close. As most potential fi rst time buyers (even those who have recently become fi rst time buyers) will tell you, our current real estate market is already frustrating without having to worry about the ins and outs of said $8,000 credit. To allow any would be buyers to concentrate on what matters most actually fi nding a home Ive compiled a list of the questions Im most frequently asked that revolve around the tax credit with a Cinderella date of Decem-ber 1, 2009:

What type of homes qualify for the credit Any home that will be used as a primary/principal residence qualifi es for the credit. Th is includes single-family detached homes, attached homes (i.e. townhomes and condominiums), manufactured homes (also known as mobile homes), modular homes and houseboats. If it qualifi es for the capital gains tax on a primary residence, it qualifi es for this credit.

How do I claim the tax credit You claim the tax credit on your federal income tax return. Specifi cally, home buyers should complete IRS form 5405 to determine their tax credit amount, and then claim this amount on Line 69 of their 1040 income tax return. No other applications or forms are required, and no pre-approval is necessary.

How much of the credit will I receive - Th e full tax credit is given to fi rst time buy-ers with a modifi ed adjusted gross income (MAGI) of less than $75,000 for single tax payers and $150,000 for married taxpayers fi ling a joint return. For taxpayers with MAGI of more than $95,000 (single) or $170,000 (married) the credit is reduced to zero. Taxpayers between these fi gures are prorated accordingly.

Is a tax credit the same as a tax deduction No, a tax credit is a dollar-for-dollar reduc-tion in what the taxpayer owes. Th at means that a taxpayer who owes $8,000 in income taxes, and who receives an $8,000 tax credit, would owe nothing to the IRS. A tax deduc-tion is subtracted from the amount of income that is taxed. Assuming the same $8,000 tax liability from above, a taxpayer that is in the 33 percent tax bracket would have their liability reduced from $8,000 to $5,360. ($8,000 multi-plied by 33%).

Th e most important thing to remem-ber about this tax credit is that you should be congratulating yourself. If you intend to claim this credit it means that somewhere within the last eight months (April through November) you became a home ownera huge accomplishment! Should you ever have any other questions regarding the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, or anything else related to real estate fi nancing, please write or call. Im always here to help and Im only a phone call away. 925-726-1444, tfreymortgages@yahoo.com.

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As winter approaches, now is a good time to take care of those essential tasks that help your house keep you warm and dry. Its always cheaper to make repairs ahead of time while the weather is good than to deal with an emer-gency in the middle of a storm.

Dirty furnace fi lters should be cleaned or replaced to ensure that the furnace operates as effi ciently as possible. This will also help combat indoor allergies as well as conserve energy.

If your thermostat and smoke detectors are battery operated, you should test their batteries. According to Oak-ley Building Offi cial Brent Smith, Most people see their smoke detectors as an irritant when it comes to changing the batteries; however, if you ever have a fi re, youll certainly be glad you took the fi ve minutes to change them. Inspecting doors and windows for minor air leaks is also an easy preventive measure. People would also be surprised how much energy is lost by lack of maintenance when their door gaskets wear out and become less effective, Smith said. Weather stripping for doors is an inexpensive investment of time and money that will make your house more energy effi cient and comfortable.

If you have a fi replace, make sure the

chimney is clear of obstructions inside and out and that your damper is in the open posi-tion prior to lighting a fi re. Start by walking around the exterior of your house. Inspect-ing rain gutters and downspouts to make sure theyre clean and unobstructed from debris is important, said Smith, even if you do not have many trees around your house or theyre small, less matured trees. Youll be surprised at how much dust will settle in the gutters.

Inspect the roof for broken shingles or tiles. This is also an ideal time to adjust au-tomatic sprinklers so that youre not overwa-tering in the winter months. Considering we had a drought emergency declared by the g ove r n o r, said Smith, its important to conserve water in the winter

months as well.If this is the year

you upgrade that old, ineffi cient furnace to a

newer, high-effi ciency unit, the City of Oakley

has reduced permit fees by 50 percent for energy-saving devices and ap-

pliances such as skylights, high-effi ciency water heat-ers and furnaces. If you

do fi nd some problems beyond what youre comfortable fi xing, be sure to hire a licensed contractor. I always recommend that people get at least three to fi ve bids and actively check references, Smith said.

For information regarding what repair work needs a permit and what is exempt, call the Oakley Building Division at 925-625-7005 Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. For tips on hiring a licensed contractor, go to the Contractors State License Board homepage, www.cslb.ca.gov.

Get a jump on winter maintenance

OCTOBER 16, 2009 THEPRESS.NET | 9A

Shea Homes makes now the time to buyFor a limited time, the Shea Homes

Stimulus Package is still in effect. With Northern California home prices back on the upswing, the Stimulus Package could mark the best time this year to seal a deal on a quality Shea home. Sheas 2009 Stimulus Package pulls together an impres-sive collection of values on move-in-ready homes: Great nancing with low down payments, closing cost credits and Federal tax credits up to $8,000. Speci c offers vary by property and may include other incen-tives, so be sure to visit a Sales Center soon to choose a favorite home.

Stimulus Package homes are available in one of Sheas most popular Northern California communities: Summer Lake, in Oakley near the Delta watersports getaway region. Centered around a 25-acre lake, its a stellar example of how Shea Homes takes care to build not only new homes, but com-plete neighborhoods. Buyers can choose from a broad range of single-family home sizes and prices, with generous oorplans and premium features. The 2009 Stimulus Plan makes these desirable homes acces-sible to more buyers than ever.Building on a Strong Foundation

During the recent home market slump, many builders have been forced to make drastic cutbacks or even go out of busi-ness. All builders have felt the pinch, but Shea Homes continues to sell homes at an impressive rate, even introducing new products at a time when other builders are burdened with standing inventory. Selling over 1,100 new homes already in 2009, Shea Homes remains strong due to its legendary construction quality, combined with a focus on creating desirable neigh-borhoods to foster a sense of community. The company has been family-owned since 1881, and is Americas largest privately-owned homebuilder, building new homes in seven states.Federal Tax Credit Program Expires Soon

Eligible buyers who act fast can still take advantage of the governments Federal Tax Credit program, offering up to $8,000 in credits for rst-time homebuy-ers (or those who have not owned in the past three years). The credit is given as a reduction on income tax owed. If it reduces taxes to less than zero, it will result in a tax refund. The credit is 10% of the home price up to a maximum of $8,000. It is available to individuals with incomes up to $75,000, or couples with incomes that do not exceed $150,000. Staying in the new home for three years is required, or the credits will have to be repaid. Additional government help is available from the FHA, who has increased loan limits and now only requires a 3.5 percent down payment.

The Federal Tax Credit program is expiring soon. Buyers must close escrow by 11:59PM November 30, 2009 in order to qualify. To help accommodate the program, Shea Homes is prepared to put eligible buyers on a fast track to closing. See a sales representative in the commu-nity of your choice soon to get started.

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10A | THEPRESS.NET COMMUNITY OCTOBER 16, 2009

Silva plans to attend the Antioch pa-rade. I think its a good idea, he said. I think the veterans should be honored in some way after all we went through over there for the protection of our country. We do live in the greatest country in the world. I have been in other countries and I know the difference. We have the best schools, the best teachers, the best of ev-erything.

Another of the grand marshals will be Benicia resident Richard Lundin, 72, a major general in the Northern Califor-nia Army Reserve. Lundin served in three wars Korea, Vietnam and the Gulf and under 11 presidents. He believes its particularly important to honor World War II veterans, who are dying at a rate of one thousand a day, he said. We have to honor them every time we can.

Regardless of the war, Lundin and his fellow vets in the VFW, American Le-gion, the Elks and Lions are always ready to help out a former serviceman in need. Recently they came to the aid of a guy down on his luck without money for food for his family. When there is a need, there is a network, he said. This year his focus is on honoring noncommissioned offi cers, which he summed up by saying, No ser-geants, no soldiers; no soldiers, no army; no army, no nation.

Antioch resident Leo Fontana served in World War II, the highlight of which was a 3-month stretch in England man-ning a .50-caliber anti-aircraft gun when German planes were bombing the coun-

try. I am glad that they recognize the vet-erans, said Fontana, another grand mar-shal. Its nice that they keep the faith and theres people recognizing these things.

At 11 a.m. on Nov. 11, 1918, World War I concluded when Germanys Kaiser Wilhem II agreed to President Woodrow Wilsons conditions for ending the war, and a general armistice was declared.

A year later Wilson proclaimed Nov. 11 as Armistice Day, which Congress later resolved should be commemorated with thanksgiving and prayer and exercises designed to perpetuate peace through good will and mutual understanding be-tween nations. The name would later be changed to Veterans Day to include those who have fought for the United States in the several wars that have followed the war to end all wars.

Veterans Day has never quite gotten the respect of other national holidays, however. Many people not employed by the government will likely be at work on Wednesday, Nov. 11. For seven years in the 1970s, Veterans Day lost its histori-cal connection to the armistice when it was moved to Monday to accommodate three-day weekends before being moved back following protests by veterans.

To let the committee know of veter-ans who would like to participate, or to get more information on the Veterans Day Parade, call Jim and Susan Davis at 757-2020 or e-mail jd4antioch@aol.com. Applications for parade participants may be downloaded from www.art4antioch.org.

Veterans from page 3A

Oakley City Councilman Jim Frazier does some graf ti clean up on a fence along the Contra Costa Canal last month. Resident Anita Baker said she had been unable to get water district personnels as-sistance in cleaning up the fence along her back yard, so she called Frazier to put some heat on. Having no luck with the canal folks, Frazier made a trip to the hardware store, bought some paint, and took care of the prob-lem himself. Baker said she was impressed with his actions, and learned that Frazier is also very involved in the Marsh Creek Clean-up and that he does ride-alongs with the police department to get a better understand-ing of his community and what is going on around here. Frazier watchers around here know theres a lot more he does, as well. This man does not seem to be the type of person that tells these stories just for ego, Anita said. The look in his eyes and the way he truly is involved tells the real story. She thought the councilman should get a pat on the back for his service, and we agree. Way to go, Jim, and thanks.

Councilman cover-up

Photo courtesy of Anita Baker

OCTOBER 16, 2009 COMMUNITY THEPRESS.NET | 11A

When tiles around the outdoor stage at Vintage Parkway Ele-mentary School started to show their age, students stepped up and showed their creativity. Drawing on a theme of school spirit and pride, students, as part of a PTA fundraiser, were invited to purchase a tile for $25 and draw their own colorful masterpieces. So far, 110 tiles have been sold and decorated, and the unveiling took place at the Family Day presentation on Sept. 25.

Whats old is new again

Fraleins Kristy Reno and Alisha Nunes, seen here with Popi, invite locals to enjoy POPs second annual Oktoberfest on Friday, October 23 from 6-11 p.m. at Scouts Hall in Bethel Island. POPs (Parents of Playmak-ers) is the booster club for Liberty High Schools acclaimed drama club. Tickets include a full German dinner, dancing and live entertainment. The evening will feature auctions and raf es. For more information, visit www.lhsplaymakers.com or call John at 925-634-3469.

POPs goes der schnitzel

Liberty High Schools renowned Rent-A-Carolers are now booking ap-pointments for the upcoming holiday season.

For a donation of $100, select members of the LHS choir will sing treasured Christmas carols at any holi-day gathering. Dressed in Victorian

costumes, the Rent-A-Carolers will joyfully spread the spirit of the holiday season via their sensational sound and traditional songs.

To spread the holiday spirit to-gether with these joyous songs, contact Liberty Choral Director Sue Stuart at 925-634-3411 and arrange a date.

Holiday harmony for lease

12A | THEPRESS.NET COMMUNITY OCTOBER 16, 2009

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I felt bad for the little teddy bear hamster. About as big as a golf ball, the tiny creature had once sported a fuzzy coat of butterscotch. She loved her wheel and lived in a little straw Tiki hut inside her pink cage. Her

name was Marley. You can connect the dots on your own about how my 20-year-old daughter came up with that name, but Marley was a well-loved pet, enjoyed by our entire family.

One day we noticed she was scratching quite a

bit. The following week she began los-ing her fur from the bottom up. After a while it looked like she was wearing a furry crop top. Her reddish bare bot-tom became exposed for all to see. The itching persisted. I told my daughter she should take Marley to the vet but the exam cost $45 and she told me she bought the hamster for $12. It just didnt make sense.

My friends and neighbors offered all kinds of morbid ideas as to how I could dispose of the tiny rodent, none of them humane enough for me to consider. One idea involved a ten-nis racket. I just couldnt help feeling sorry for Marley. One mosquito bite

drives me crazy. I couldnt imagine the torture of itching all day and all night. Finally, I broke down and took her to the animal hospital myself. They were happy to examine her for the $45 fee.

The diagnosis was mites: micro-scopic little bugs that burrow under the skin and cause incredible itching and sometimes a secondary infec-tion, which she had developed. Her little eyes were swollen and red. She truly looked like her namesake. The doctor informed me that the cure for mites was the injection of a drug called ivermectin at $40 a pop, and she would need three of them. She would also require antibiotics that wed need to administer into her little hamster mouth with a syringe. The antibiotics would be an additional $15. The dollar signs were whirling around my brain. All this money for a $12 hamster?

Credit cards are great, arent they? It feels like youre not even spending your own money. Simply swipe and sign. I knew in my heart it was the right thing to do; after all, Marley was one of Gods creatures and the good karma would surely come back to me one day.

My daughter and I took turns giv-ing Marley her medicine. Marley actu-ally enjoyed it, sucking on the syringe like a straw and holding it with her

Adventures of Marley

see Marley page 19A

HANGIN INTHERE

VICKI MCKENNA

OCTOBER 16, 2009 THEPRESS.NET | 13A

OPINIONEDITORIALS, LETTERS & COMMENTARY National

AwardWinning NewspapersHave you got something to say? Visit www.thepress.net and let your thoughts be known.

Layoffs unreliable path to deficit reduction

Editor:It seems like saving money is all any-

one can talk or think about these days. Whether thats by shopping at discount stores, restricting on leisure activities or other indulgences. People are becoming growingly more desperate to save money. At what level does our city reach the bare essentials on what we truly need to just make it by or to even save money to lower our defi cit?

The City of Brentwood will face more cutbacks in the near future. After cutting $11 million of the city budget through layoffs, cuts in pay and work hours, it bothers me to think of where the next cuts are going to come from. The city plans on saving money by staff reorganizations, even more layoffs, cut-ting police overtime, and a retirement-and-return-to-work program.

These can be very successful and benefi cial ways to decrease our defi cit. However, laying off more workers and cutting back on police overtime and benefi ts are very unsettling. Layoffs are affecting people around the country and cutting costs purely by layoffs is not always the best solution. Its apparent that laying off workers is an immediately effective way of saving money but its also contributing to the growing rate of people on unemployment and welfare in our country.

The most troubling way our City Council plans to cut another one million dollars in the future is through cutting police overtime and benefi ts. This is the absolute wrong way to go about saving money, considering that safety should be one of our citys main priorities. Why cut there? Is it just the fact that everyone is becoming obsessed with saving money so much to where it jeopardizes the future of our town?

Its obviously nave to assume that

cutbacks in overtime hours and benefi ts will automatically lead to a downward spiral of our community. I wonder, though, after the recent cutbacks go into effect, where will future budget cuts come from and who will they affect next?

Kyle WellsBrentwood

Unprofessional behavior Editor:

In my opinion, the Mayor of Oakley demonstrated unprofessional and rude behavior toward the audience and certain individuals at the Council meeting of Oct. 13. While I recognize that order must be maintained at these meetings, her way of handling things only serves to aggravate people and earns disrespect.

Examples include (1) allowing people with warm and fuzzy things to say to go over the three-minute time limit, while cutting off others at three minutes; (2) a dismissive attitude toward anti-development comments submit-ted by people who were not allowed to speak; (3) outright rudeness toward a lady with a heart-breaking story of her son being beaten up by thugs in Oakley; (4) public criticism of Mr. Nix, which was totally not called-for; (5) a patron-izing attitude toward the audience while explaining that they are only rezon-ing, when in fact everyone knows that once land is rezoned, the developer will always go for the maximum density allowed. The whole scene is reminiscent of an angry schoolteacher lecturing badly behaving little kids in class.

Our citizens are hard-working adults who deserve respect and a city govern-ment that not only listens, but responds to their concerns.

Donald E. ScheerOakley

4-H hangs in, says thanks Editor;

Last week 4-H members across the country celebrated National 4-H week. I am glad to say that 4-H members in Con-tra Costa County were again part of that celebration. Only a few short months ago I did not think we would have the oppor-tunity to be in 4- H this year. But due to the efforts of many we do. Our program is still in a crisis mode. Our funding has been severely cut. We have very limited county resources at this point. But on the positive side we do have the opportunity to be in 4-H and serve our community.

I would like to thank the Oakley City Council for their support of 4-H in East County, especially Councilman Jim Frazier. I would also like to thank County Supervisor Susan Bonilla for helping with funding for our University of California Cooperative Extension

Offi ce, which oversees our 4-H program and many other agricultural programs in our county. Even though she is not my areas county supervisor, I feel she represents myself and other members more so than many local politicians. I would like to give a huge thank you to the editor of the Press for supporting 4-H with numerous articles about the 4-H program.

Marion Smith Delta Diablo 4-H

Community comes through on cueEditor:

East Contra Costa Historical Soci-ety held its annual Community Barbecue on Sept. 13. The barbecue serves as the major fundraiser to help maintain the museum for public and school tours and to preserve historical documents and photos. ECCHS does not receive revenue from any governmental source, so all funds derived for its support come from individual and business donors, membership dues and events such as the barbecue.

At the present time, we are attempt-ing to raise enough revenue to replace the septic system and restore an 1890s-era schoolhouse. As an all-volunteer, non-profi t organization, any contributions and donations that offset the costs of the barbecue are greatly appreciated.

East County has once again shown its giving spirit in contributing to this cause. We owe a huge debt of gratitude to the following organizations, individu-als and businesses for their donations: Rotary Club and Rotary Interact; G&S Farms; Smith Farms; Wild West Bar-B-Q & Catering; Delta Pure Water; Harvest Park Bowl; Sweeneys Grill and Bar; Bloomfi eld Vineyards; Cline Cellars; Viano Winery; Hannah Nicole Vine-yards; Costco; Oakley Disposal; Orin Allen Youth Rehabilitation Facility.

And to the raffl e donors: from Brentwood Shiny Nails; Prevots Oyster Bar & Grill; Crme del Gem Jewelry; Straw Hat Pizza (Lone Tree Way); Bill Brandt Ford; Sticky Chicken & Ribs; Health Hut; Gabbys Grind; CK Piz-zeria; SpeeDee Oil Change & Tune-up; Doggie Depot; from Oakley Yogurt Island; Genes Handiwork; Oakley Super Beauty Salon; from Knightsen Pam-pered Pets; and from Antioch The Red Caboose. Please support these businesses and show them how much their philan-thropic efforts are appreciated.

In addition, ECCHS thanks the American Legion; Samantha, Madelyn, and Olivia Bustos; the Community Band; Byron Station; and Rod Linn and his musical group for their participation in the event.

East Contra Costa County has once again proved why it has the best of the

best! Thank you again for your generous support.

We invite anyone interested in the history of this area to join ECCHS (an-nual dues are $20 for families; $15 for in-dividuals and $50 for business concerns); to become docents for the museum (open on Saturdays from April to October); to tour the Byer/Nail House; and to aid the historians who labor many hours in preserving and cataloging photos and records from yesteryear.

Patrick McHenryChairman

Amazing communityEditor:

The Liberty Class of 2012 would like to thank our Homecoming Pa-rade Float sponsors: Ace Hardware of Brentwood donated all our fl oat build-ing supplies; Hannah Nicole Vineyards donated the use of its truck, and Ralph Birchfi eld drove for us and donated his fl atbed trailer. We could not have done it without all the support.

We live in an amazing community. Thanks so much.

Kellie Callahan and Maria NajeraClass of 2012 Advisors

Fabulous fellowshipEditor:

October 10th was the second annual festival-chili cook off in Byron. The attendance was good and the fellowship great. The chili sampling, tri-tip dinner, silent auction, vendors, live music and childrens area were enjoyed by many. We wish to thank the many individuals and businesses whose generosity made this event a success:

Wild Idol, Dillards, Marin Foods, Drill Tech Drilling and Shoring, Linda Brown, Brentwood Blues Band, Byron Station Band, Johnny Pickels Band, Annie Piazza, Starbucks Discovery Bay, Safeway Discovery Bay, Discovery Bay Chiropractic, Supercuts Discovery Bay, Discovery Nail, Subway Discovery Bay, Straw Hat Pizza Discovery Bay, Vaults Boutique, Silver Skillet, Scrumdillyump-tious Yogurt, Horsetown Tack, Maureen McClathery from Rafter D, Valeros in Byron, Sand Hill Ranch, Kim Rowena, Knightsen Honey, Swan Levine House in Grass Valley, Janessa White, Bon Gustos, Classy Cottage, Carol Jensen, Culinary Center of Monterey, Best Buy, Red Robin, Rubios, Rave Theater, Kinders in Antioch, Trader Joes in An-tioch, Gabbys Grind, Peets in Antioch, Texas Road House in Tracy, Tacqueria Diaz, Griswolds Heating and Air, Byron Inn and Got-A-Party.

Liz Clough,Byron Community Library Club Secretary

The Press Newspapers are adjudicated in the the cities of Antioch, Brentwood, Oakley, and the Delta Judicial District

of Contra Costa County.

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Phone 925-634-1441 Fax 925-634-1975Web site: www.thepress.net

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Editorial 925-634-1441, ext. 111Circulation 925-250-1405

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14A | THEPRESS.NET OCTOBER 16, 2009

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A sampling of recent law enforcement activity reported by East County police departments.

BRENTWOODOct. 2, 12:19 a.m. On Brentwood Boule-vard at Balfour Road, a driver stopped for a vehicle code violation was found to be under the infl uence of a central ner-vous system stimulant. His passenger was found to be in possession of suspect-ed methamphetamine.Oct. 2, 2:48 a.m. A resident of Dawnview Drive reported that a group of juveniles was littering her front yard.Oct. 2, 2:54 p.m. The personal informa-tion of a resident of Monroe Court was stolen and used to open a wireless tele-phone account.Oct. 2, 6:30 p.m. On Fairview Avenue at Lone Tree Way, a subject stopped for ve-hicle code violations was found to be un-der the infl uence of alcohol and on court probation for DUI.Oct. 2, 8:23 p.m. On Balfour Road at Summerset Drive, the vehicle registra-tion of a subject stopped for a vehicle code violation was found to be expired for more than six months. The vehicle was towed.Oct. 2, 10:38 p.m. On OHara Avenue at Grant Street, a subject stopped for vehicle code violations was found to be driving without a license.Oct. 2, 11:04 p.m. On Second Street at Chestnut Street, a subject was found to be under the infl uence of a central ner-vous system stimulant. He was arrested and taken to the Martinez Detention Facility.Oct. 2, 11:59 p.m. On the Highway 4 By-pass at Sand Creek Road, a driver who rear-ended a vehicle stopped for a red light was found to be driving under the infl uence of alcohol. He was arrested and taken to Sutter Delta Medical Center for examination. The victim was taken to Kaiser Hospital for minor injuries.Oct. 3, 12:20 p.m. On Brentwood Bou-levard, a subject found in possession of suspected narcotics was arrested and taken to the Martinez Detention Facility.

Oct. 3, 4:55 p.m. On Lone Tree Way, a driver struck the rear of a parked vehicle and fl ed the scene without leaving con-tact information.Oct. 4, 12:47 a.m. On Sand Creek Road at Brentwood Boulevard, a subject stopped for vehicle code violations was found to be driving on a suspended license.Oct. 4, 5 a.m. A subject contacted in a parking lot on Shady Willow Lane was found to have a citable warrant. He was arrested and released on a Promise To Appear.Oct. 4, 6:47 p.m. On Brentwood Boule-vard, a subject was arrested for public intoxication and taken to the Martinez Detention Facility.Oct. 5, 12:15 p.m. A resident of Cam-brian Place saw a subject run from the front of his house and discovered that the house had been burglarized by means of forced entry.Oct. 5, 4:33 p.m. On OHara Avenue at Central Boulevard, offi cers responded to the report of a fi re and discovered evi-dence of an explosive device.Oct. 5, 7:37 p.m. A resident of Cheshire Drive reported that she believed a sub-ject attempted to gain access to her resi-dence through the rear door while she was away.Oct. 5-6, 8:45 p.m.-midnight On the Highway 4 Bypass from Balfour Road to Sand Creek Road, unidentifi ed persons threw water bottles at passing vehicles, causing damage to vehicles hoods, front grills and windshields.Oct. 6, 10:30 a.m. An unidentifi ed person stole items from a residence on Atherton Boulevard during a party.Oct. 6, 2:03 p.m. Brentwood police re-ceived a forgery report involving the drivers license of a Brentwood resident. It was determined that the license was stolen in Sacramento.Oct. 6, 2:25 p.m. A resident of Prominent Drive lost his wallet and an unidentifi ed person used his credit card to obtain goods.

To view the Brentwood Police Depart-ments public logs on the citys Web site, visit www.ci.brentwood.ca.us/department/pd/reports/index.cfm.

ANTIOCHOct. 7, 3:49 p.m. A vehicle northbound on Somersville Road collided with a vehicle southbound on Somersville Road as both vehicles attempted to turn onto the east-bound Highway 4 on-ramp. Both drivers and three passengers two male Antioch residents, 77 and 29; a female Antioch resident, 76; a male Oakley resident, 20; and a female Oakley resident, 19 were transported to an area hospital suffering from various injuries, none of which ap-pear to be life threatening. Both vehicles were towed from the scene, and the inci-dent remains under investigation.

For information on law enforcement in Antioch, visit www.ci.antioch.ca.us/citygov/police.

OAKLEYSept. 28 A vehicle was stolen from the 100 block of Merlot Court.Sept. 28 On East Cypress Road and Machado Lane, a subject was charged with driving without a license.Sept. 28 On the 3900 block of Creekside Way, a vehicle was burglarizedSept. 28 Shoplifting occurred at a busi-ness on the 2500 block of Main Street.Sept. 28 Parts were stolen from a vehicle on the 100 block of Lozoya Way.Sept. 29 A subject was found in pos-session of dangerous drugs on the 5000 block of Fernwood Court.Sept. 29 Vehicles were towed from the 4700 block of Burgundy Drive at Helena Court, and from Hemlock Drive.Sept. 29 An arrest warrant was issued on the 100 block of Old Oak Court.Sept. 29 Misdemeanor battery was re-ported on the 600 block of Frazier Drive.Sept. 29 Terrorist threats were reported on the 2000 block of Rubens Way.Sept. 29 Grand theft was reported on the 1700 block of Isleton Court.Sept. 30 A stolen vehicle was recovered on Cashew Lane at Macadamia Lane.Sept. 30 On Mellowood Drive at Vine-wood Drive, a subject was charged with driving under the infl uence of alcohol.Sept. 30 A custody order was violated on the 100 block of Carol Lane.Oct. 1 On Live Oak Avenue at Main

Street, a subject was charged with posses-sion of dangerous drugs.Oct. 1 A vehicle was towed from Cor-nish Court and Lois Lane.Oct. 1 Forgery of fraudulent documents was reported on the 2500 block of Main Street.Oct. 2 A vehicle accident with injuries occurred on East Cypress Road at Mach-ado Lane.Oct. 2 A suspicious circumstance was reported on Harvest Drive at Laurel Road.Oct. 2 Hit-and-run incidents occurred on Laurel Road at Main Street, and the 1900 block of Santa Fe Street.Oct. 2 A misdemeanor battery was reported on the 4600 block of Chelsea Drive.Oct. 2 Vandalism was reported on the 100 block of Red Barn Court.Oct. 3 On the 2000 block of Main Street, a subject was found in possession of drug paraphernalia.Oct. 3 At the intersection of Vintage Parkway at Walnut Meadows Drive, a subject was found in possession of an un-lawful weapon.Oct. 3 Incidents of DUI took place on Main Street at Malicoat Avenue, and the 900 block of Main Street.Oct. 3 A parole violation occurred at Live Oak Avenue at Main Street.Oct. 3 Theft of an access card was re-ported from the 5100 block of Winchester Drive.Oct. 3 An act of trespassing occurred on the 4300 block of Beechnut Lane.Oct. 4 On Live Oak Avenue at Walnut Meadows Drive, a subject was charged with possession of an unlawful weapon.Oct. 4 On Hampton Way at Laurel Road, a subject was charged with driving without a license.Oct. 4 Incidents of DUI took place on Laurel Road at Main Street, and West Bolton Road at Main Street.Oct. 4 A parole violation occurred on the 900 block of Rosemary Lane.Oct. 4 Burglaries occurred on the 5600 block of Main Street, the 500 block of Second Street and the 500 block of Wind-sor Court.

COP LOGSFROM EMERGENCY SERVICES DISPATCH LOGS On OHara Avenue at Central Boulevard, offi cers re-sponded to the report of a fi re and discovered evidence of an explosive device. Oct. 5, 4:33 p.m. in Brentwood

In observance of Hispanic Heritage month (Sept. 15 to Oct. 15) the Council on Contemporary Families has released the fol-lowing fact sheet prepared by Ruth E. Zam-brana and Laura A. Logie of the University of Maryland.

Over the last 30 years the Latino/Hispan-ic population in the United States has grown seven times faster than the population of the nation as a whole. Hispanics currently repre-sent almost 15 percent of the U.S. population and within the next two decades are expected to constitute a full quarter of Americans. Seven in 10 Latinos are currently U.S. citizens, either by birth or by naturalization.

Although often treated as a monolithic ethnic group, Latina/os differ in their racial and ethnic identities, religious beliefs, health status, socioeconomic status and language patterns. Lumping all these groups under the rubric of Latino or Hispanic masks im-portant demographic and socioeconomic dif-ferences and perpetuates negative stereotypes.

The Hispanic/Latino montage repre-sents 43 Spanish-speaking countries, includ-ing Mexicans, Puerto Ricans, Hondurans, Cubans, Dominicans, Costa Ricans, Salva-dorans, Colombians, Bolivians, Guatemalans and Peruvians. Latina/os comprise a diverse mixture of European, indigenous, American Indian and African backgrounds.

Contemporary Latino communities are a complex mix of native-born and immigrant families. Approximately 60 percent of all Latinos were born in the United States and are therefore U.S. citizens by birth. Another 10 percent were foreign-born and have since become naturalized citizens. People born in Puerto Rico are considered native born be-cause they are U.S. citizens by birth.

A majority (52 percent) of the nations 16 million Hispanic children are now second generation, meaning they are the U.S.-born sons or daughters of at least one foreign-born parent, typically someone who came to this country in the immigration wave from Mex-ico, Central America and South America that began around 1980. And 37 percent are third generation or higher, meaning they are the U.S.-born children of U.S.-born parents and often U.S.-born grandparents as well.

Latino families do speak English. The majority of U.S. Latinos were born in the continental United States, and their fi rst lan-guage is English. About 31 million United States residents speak Spanish at home, mak-ing Spanish the second-most spoken language in the country. But according to the U.S. Cen-sus Bureau, a majority of those who speak languages other than English at home report themselves already profi cient in English, and young immigrants (ages 5 to 17) almost al-

ways speak English over their native tongues by adulthood.

A commonly-held stereotype is that La-tino parents do not value education. How-ever, one recent study found that 95 percent of Latino parents believe its important for their children to attend college, compared to 78 percent of whites and 94 percent of blacks. And 94 percent of Latino parents report that they have much or some infl uence over their childrens education, compared to 88 percent

of whites and 91 percent of black parents.More than half of Mexican-Americans

own their own home. By 2012, it is estimated that 40 percent of the nations fi rst-time home-buyers in the United States will be Hispanic.

The number of Latino eligible voters in-creased 21.4 percent between 2004 and 2008, the largest percentage increase of any group, and a rate of growth that outstripped the in-crease in the adult Latino population overall, which was only 13.7 percent.

OCTOBER 16, 2009 COMMUNITY THEPRESS.NET | 15A

Alan, Erick, Ryan, Scotty and Stephanie Iannaccone were able to reach out and touch and even climb ancient history when they took the Brentwood Press to Cairo, Egypt on their recent trip to the land of the pharaohs. Thanks, kids, for exposing your Hometown Weekly Newspaper to some authentic Pyramid Power.

Seen in EgyptLatino families changing America

OCTOBER 16, 2009 COMMUNITY THEPRESS.NET | 17A

The Kiwanis Club of Brentwood recently installed new members to its board of directors. From left are incoming Secretary Tom Ontis, Kiwanis Division 26 Lt. Gov. Jim Sullivan (who of ciated at the induction and who is also a member of the Brentwood club), incoming President Val Thompkins and incoming Vice President Jeff Schults. The other members of the board are Treasurer John Jewell (also im-mediate past president), Mervin Rose and Fred Urbin. The Kiwanis Club of Brent-wood meets every Friday at Perkos Cafe, 1135 Second St. in Brentwood. To learn more about Kiwanis, call Rick at 925-634-1441.

New Kiwanis boardPhoto by Richard Wisdom

To celebrate Constitution Day, Sept. 17, members of the Antioch and Delta Rotary clubs distributed free copies of the U.S. Constitu-tion to all the approximately 1,500 eighth-grade students in Antiochs four middle schools.

As part of Rotary Interna-tionals emphasis on literacy, both clubs have for many years given free dictionaries to third-grade students in Antioch, and will do so again this month. This year, how-ever, Antioch Club President Allen Payton chose to include constitu-tions for the older students.

Its a small way we can help our students learn more about our country and government, Payton said. Im hoping this is something well continue each year. Id like to thank each of the principals, as well as the Delta Club members, for their assistance.

The Rotarians spoke to stu-dents in assemblies at both Dallas Ranch and Park middle schools, and in classrooms at Antioch and Black Diamond middle schools. Students read from the preamble and a few of the amendments.

Project Coordinator Devi Lanphere developed fun facts about the Constitution, which she used to question the students knowledge.

The pocket-size copies includ-ed both the U.S. Constitution, the Declaration of Independence and a place for the students to sign their name.

Since 1947 the Antioch Ro-tary Club has served the Antioch community with a variety of ser-vice projects, including curb cuts in downtown Rivertown, building the gazebo and helping fund the Sports Legends wing at the An-tioch Historical Society museum, coats for kids and food for the hungry.

In addition, Antioch Rotar-ians started and support a vision and dental clinic, and a library in Zimba, Zambia. They meet Thurs-days at noon at the Lone Tree Golf & Event Center.

Rotary International is a 1.2 million member service organiza-tion made up of business and com-munity leaders in 33,000 clubs in more than 150 countries through-out the world.

Its efforts have led to the vir-tual eradication of polio, and the promotion of literacy, clean water, health, hunger and disaster relief programs and projects throughout the world.

For more information or to join Rotary, visit www.antiochrotary.com.

Rotary means service

18A | THEPRESS.NET COMMUNITY OCTOBER 16, 2009

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARINGNotice is hereby given that the City Council of the City of Brentwood will, at 7:00 p.m. or as soon thereafter as the normal course of business permits on October 27, 2009, hold a public hearing to consider the following:An application for a rezone (RZ 08-07) to establish a list of allowable uses and development standards for the Brent-wood Business Park project, located on approximately 43 acres within the Planned Development No. 24 Zone, bounded by Sellers Avenue on the east, the ECCID Main Canal on the south and Guthrie Lane on the west (APN 010-160-037, 038, 039, 041, 042 and 043).A mitigated negative declaration has been prepared for this project pursuant to the California Environmental Qual-ity Act (CEQA), to assess potentially adverse environmental impacts. The Planning Commission held a public hearing to consider the project on Oc-tober 6, 2009, and recommended that it be approved by the City Council.Applicant: Equus GroupSaid hearing will be held at the City Council Chambers, 101B Sand Creek Road, Brentwood, California.Further information may be obtained from Principal Planner Erik Nolthe-nius [(925) 516-5137 or enolthenius@ci.brentwood.ca.us] in the Community Development Department of the City of

Brentwood, 118 Oak Street, Brentwood, California 94513.In any court challenge of City Council decisions, you may be limited to raising only those issues you or someone else raised at the public hearing described in this notice, or in written correspon-dence delivered to the Brentwood City Council at, or prior to, the public hear-ing.Brentwood Press No. 02-1273Publish Date: October 16, 2009

NOTICE OF TRUSTEES SALETrustee Sale No. 74-33841-2 Title Order No.090389660 APN 067-284-004 The mortgage loan servicer has obtained a nal order of exemption pursuant to CA CIV. CODE 2923.53 that is current and valid as of the date that the Notice of Trustees Sale was led or given. YOU ARE IN DEFAULT UNDER A DEED OF TRUST DATED 10/25/2007. UNLESS YOU TAKE ACTION TO PROTECT YOUR PROP-ERTY, IT MAY BE SOLD AT A PUBLIC SALE. IF YOU NEED AN EXPLANATION OF THE NATURE OF THE PROCEEDINGS AGAINST YOU, YOU SHOULD CONTACT A LAWYER. On 11/05/2009 at 10:00AM, HOUSEKEY FINANCIAL CORPORATION as the duly appointed Trustee under and pursuant to Deed of Trust Recorded on 10/26/2007, as Instrument 2007-0301178-00 of of cial records in the Of ce of the Recorder of CONTRA COSTA County,

California, executed by: DIANE TIMMS, UNMARRIED WOMAN, as Trustor, HOUSEHOLD FINANCE CORPORATION OF CALIFORNIA as Bene ciary (Original Lender) and HSBC MORTGAGE SER-VICES INC., as current Servicer/Lender, WILL SELL AT PUBLIC AUCTION TO THE HIGHEST BIDDER FOR CASH (payable at time of sale in lawful money of the Unit-ed States, by cash, a cashiers check drawn by a state or national bank, a check drawn by a state or federal credit union, or a check drawn by a state or federal savings and loan association, savings association, or savings bank speci ed in section 5102 of the Finan-cial Code and authorized to do business in this state). At: THE COURT STREET ENTRANCE TO THE COUNTY COURT-HOUSE, 725 COURT STREET (CORNER OF MAIN AND COURT STREET), MAR-TINEZ, CA, all right, title and interest conveyed to and now held by it under said Deed of Trust in the property situat-ed in said County, California describing the land therein: AS MORE FULLY DE-SCRIBED IN THE ABOVE MENTIONED DEED OF TRUST. The property here-tofore described is being sold as is. The street address and other common designation, if any, of the real property described above is purported to be: 231 TEXAS ST, ANTIOCH, CA 94509. The un-dersigned Trustee disclaims any liability for any incorrectness of the street ad-

dress and other common designation, if any, shown herein. Said sale will be made, but without covenant or war-ranty, expressed or implied, regarding title, possession, or encumbrances, to pay the remaining principal sum of the note(s) secured by said Deed of Trust, with interest thereon, as provided in said note(s), advances, if any, under the terms of the Deed of Trust, esti-mated fees, charges and expenses of the Trustee and of the trusts created by said Deed of Trust, to-wit: $400,034.38 (Estimated). Accrued interest and ad-ditional advances, if any, will increase this gure prior to sale. CONDITION OF SALE: The successful bidder will be required to pay county documentary transfer tax, any city tax, and any other applicable taxes or fees (including, but not limited to, the fee for recording Pre-liminary Change of Ownership report) to the auctioneer at the time of sale. If the Trustee is unable to convey title for any reason, the successful bidders sole and exclusive remedy shall be the return of monies paid to the Trustee and the successful bidder shall have no further recourse. The bene ciary under said Deed of Trust heretofore executed and delivered to the undersigned a written Declaration of Default and De-mand for Sale, and a written Notice of Default and Election to Sell. The under-signed caused said Notice of Default

and Election to Sell to be recorded in the county where the real property is located and more than three months have elapsed since such recordation. DATE: 10/12/2009 HOUSEKEY FINAN-CIAL CORPORATION P.O. BOX 60145 CITY OF INDUSTRY, CA 91716 For Sale Information: (714)730-2727, www. del-ityasap.com or www.priorityposting.com TO NOTIFY TRUSTEE OF BANK-RUPTCY FILINGS, PLEASE FAX FACE PAGE OF BANKRUPTCY PETITION TO (909) 397-3914 Betty Schwab, Trustee Sales Of cer HOUSEKEY FINANCIAL CORPORATION MAY BE ACTING AS A DEBT COLLECTOR ATTEMPTING TO COLLECT A DEBT. ANY INFORMATION OBTAINED MAY BE USED FOR THAT PURPOSE. ASAP# 3302641 10/16/2009, 10/23/2009, 10/30/2009 Antioch Press No. 06-1617 Publish Dates: October 16, 23, 30, 2009

NOTICE OF TRUSTEES SALETS No. 08-0091305 Title Order No. 08-8-336127 Investor/Insurer No. 100239117 APN No. 087-064-015-8 YOU ARE IN DEFAULT UNDER A DEED OF TRUST, DATED 06/14/2005. UNLESS YOU TAKE ACTION TO PROTECT YOUR PROP-ERTY, IT MAY BE SOLD AT A PUBLIC SALE. IF YOU NEED AN EXPLANATION OF THE NATURE OF THE PROCEEDING AGAINST YOU, YOU SHOULD CON-TACT A LAWYER. Notice is hereby

given that RECONTRUST COMPANY, as duly appointed trustee pursuant to the Deed of Trust executed by: JAVIER GOMEZ, AN UNMARRIED MAN, dated 06/14/2005 and recorded 06/30/05, as In-strument No. 2005-0240595-00, in Book -, Page -), of Of cial Records in the of- ce of the County Recorder of Contra Costa County, State of California, will sell on 11/05/2009 at 10:00AM, At the Court Street entrance to the County Courthouse (corner of Main and Court Street), 725 Court Street Martinez, CA 94553 at public auction, to the highest bidder for cash or check as described below, payable in full at time of sale, all right, title, and interest conveyed to and now held by it under said Deed of Trust, in the property situated in said County and State and as more fully described in the above referenced Deed of Trust. The street address and other common designation, if any, of the real property described above is purported to be: 40 ALVARADO AVENUE, PITTSBURG, CA, 94565. The undersigned Trustee dis-claims any liability for any incorrect-ness of the street address and other common designation, if any, shown herein. The total amount of the unpaid balance with interest thereon of the obligation secured by the property to be sold plus reasonable estimated costs, expenses and advances at the time of the initial publication of the Notice of

Sale is $326,945.12. It is possible that at the time of sale the opening bid may be less than the total indebtedness due. In addition to cash, the Trustee will ac-cept cashiers checks drawn on a state or national bank, a check drawn by a state or federal credit union, or a check drawn by a state or federal savings and loan association, savings association, or savings bank speci ed in Section 5102 of the Financial Code and autho-rized to do business in this state. Said sale will be made, in an AS IS condi-tion, but without covenant or warranty, express or implied, regarding title, pos-session or encumbrances, to satisfy the indebtedness secured by said Deed of Trust, advances thereunder, with inter-est as provided, and the unpaid princi-pal of the Note secured by said Deed of Trust with interest thereon as provided in said Note, plus fees, charges and ex-penses of the Trustee and of the trusts created by said Deed of Trust. DATED: 11/28/2008 RECONTRUST COMPANY 1800 Tapo Canyon Rd., SV2-202 SIMI VALLEY, CA 93063 Phone: (800) 281 8219, Sale Information (626) 927-4399 By: - Trustees Sale Of cer RECONTRUST COMPANY is a debt collector attempt-ing to collect a debt. Any information obtained will be used for that purpose. ASAP# 3303934 10/16/2009, 10/23/2009, 10/30/2009 Antioch Press No. 06-1617 Publish Dates: October 16, 23, 30, 2009

LEGAL NOTICES LEGAL NOTICESLEGAL NOTICES LEGAL NOTICES LEGAL NOTICESLEGAL NOTICESLEGAL NOTICES

to 10,203 residential units and 4.8 mil-lion square feet of commercial and retail space.

The analysis indicates that traffi c conditions will degrade at many loca-tions in the future, with or without either alternative, the draft EIR states. Both alternatives would result in potentially signifi cant impacts on the transportation network.

The preferred alternative is projected to have potentially signifi cant traffi c im-

pacts on six freeway segments, most of which are on Highway 4 (the other two are on Highway 680 north of southbound highways 4 and 242). The Highway 4 seg-ments that would worsen are: East of westbound Highway 242 in the afternoon commute. East of westbound Willow Pass Road in the morning and afternoon. East of eastbound Willow Pass Road in the afternoon. East of eastbound San Marco Boule-vard in the afternoon.

These six freeway segments operate

at acceptable levels under existing condi-tions, but would exceed the established performance threshold with the traffi c from the preferred (development) alterna-tive, the draft EIR states.

In addition, congestion will increase on 11 highway ramps, including those on Highway 4 at Railroad Avenue in the morning, Bailey Road in the morning and afternoon, San Marco Boulevard in the morning and afternoon and Willow Pass Road and Port Chicago Highway in the morning.

The documents main suggested miti-

gation measure is: Prior to approving a specifi c development, the City of Concord shall require future developers at the site to contribute a fair share of the cost to construct planned improvements on the adjacent freeway system as determined in coordination with Caltrans and the Con-tra Costa Transportation Authority.

But it cautions, Even with the im-plementation of this mitigation measure, this (traffi c) impact will remain signifi cant and unavoidable.

To read the draft EIR, go online to www.concordreuseproject.org.

Impacts from page 1A

the transformation is complete.Oakley has been working on the

Downtown Specifi c Plan since January of 2000. The city plans to revitalize an 80-acre area downtown bordered by Main Street, Gardenia Avenue, Home Street and the railroad tracks. The overall plan is to cre-ate a more pedestrian-friendly downtown featuring specialty shops, restaurants, cafs and civic facilities similar to Walnut Creek or Santa Cruz.

The plan, which is expected to take 10 years to implement, envisions a realignment of Main Street to direct heavy through-traf-fi c away from the social and commercial ar-eas. The project also calls for renovations and faade improvement of existing build-ings and many other changes designed to meet Oakleys 2020 vision.

The EIR spells out how the city will handle the projects potentially signifi cant impacts so as to remain compliant with the California Environmental Quality Act. The EIR cites fi ve areas in need of special attention, including noise, transportation and parking, air quality, cultural resources and global climate change. All impacts dis-cussed in the report have proposed mitiga-tions to reduce the impacts to less-than-sig-nifi cant levels.

The council didnt make many com-ments or ask many questions regarding the project, but Councilwoman Pat Anderson directed that more language be added to the air quality section to address how min-eral emissions, such as asbestos, will be re-duced when older building are renovated or demolished.

Paul Seger, the only resident to speak during the work session, said the renovation

was an opportunity to utilize more green technologies such as solar panels, and to implement water conservation systems.

Oakley Senior Planner Ken Strelo said the public is still encouraged to submit comments via e-mail or to call the city with suggestions. The public comment period ends on Wednesday, Oct. 28, at which time city staff will address concerns presented during the comment period and then sub-mit the fi nal EIR to the City Council for approval. The council will hold a public hearing on the plan later this year.

Copies of the Oakley Downtown Spe-cifi c Plan and the draft EIR are available at City Hall and the Oakley Library. The document may also be viewed at the citys Web site, www.oakleyinfo.com.

Also on Tuesday, Mayor Carol Rios announced that the agenda of the Nov. 10 council meeting would be shortened in order to devote a preponderance of the evening to a special General Plan work ses-sion. During this time, citizens would be able to discuss issues such as zoning and future development in the city.

Were going to look at the entire gen-eral plan for Oakley, Rios told the audi-ence. Youre going to get a chance to see whats planned whats open, what has no maps on it and what has maps on it. Its go-ing to be a time to understand how we got there and where we want to go.

We want to hear from you. We want to know your concerns.

A few minutes later, the council picked up where it left off last month concern-ing an application to rezone 13.9 acres off Laurel Road from a general agriculture dis-trict to a planned development district to accommodate the proposed Rosewood Es-tates housing project. More than 100 com-

ments had been submitted during the Sept. 22 public hearing and testimony lasted for hours. The public hearing had been closed and the issue continued to this week for fi -nal action regarding rezoning.

After pulling the item from the con-sent calendar Tuesday, Rios said comments on speaker cards submitted indicated there was nothing new to enter into the record, and declined to let residents address the council. Most of the cards contained re-marks dealing with design and housing densities, she said, while the issue before the council dealt only with zoning.

Audience members responded by call-ing out their objections, and one woman was granted three minutes to speak. She said that with approval of more housing projects and the addition of more people, the city risks increased crime rates. She shared her personal story about her son, who was beat up in town by some of Oak-leys newer residents. She said she couldnt attend the public hearing last month be-cause she was tending to her son, who had suffered a shattered jaw.

The woman went on to discuss other ramifi cations of the project such as in-creased traffi c, but when her three minutes were up, the mayor asked her to step down. The woman continued to speak and the mayor repeatedly informed the woman that her time was up and asked her to return to her seat. After several warnings, the woman sat down.

Because only a handful of speaker cards were submitted, Connelley made a motion to allow the others to make their comments, but there was no second and the motion failed. Anderson then encour-aged residents to return for the public hear-ing, expected early next year, when design

would be addressed.Resident Donald Scheer believes resi-

dents should have been allowed to speak. In an e-mail sent following the meeting, he said ... everyone knows that once land is rezoned, the developer will always go for the maximum density allowed, and said Rios actions demonstrated unprofession-al and rude behavior.

City Manager Bryan Montgomergy said in an e-mail Wednesday morning that the unfolding of events at the meeting was unfortunate.

The residents were primed to believe the Council didnt want to listen when the reality is that the Council did listen to over 100 comments and speakers when the public hearing was open, Montgom-ery wrote. Technically, with the hearing closed, it shouldnt be reopened because it wasnt noticed to be re-opened pursuant to the Brown Act, as it never is with the sec-ond reading of an ordinance. Mayor Rios comments were that if something new that was not discussed during the public hear-ing time, then it could be entertained, but it appears no one really had anything new except what was a part of the formal public hearing.

One issue from the Rosewood Estate dis-cussion will be carried over to a future meet-ing. A session on the developments tentative map, continued from Sept. 22, would be held at a date uncertain, Montgomery said. He said the public would be able to comment on density and other issues pertaining to the tentative map at that time.

The rezone was approved 4-0. Connel-ley abstained, stating that he didnt agree with the censoring of the public by not allowing the other speakers to have their three minutes.

Input from page 1A

OCTOBER 16, 2009 COMMUNITY THEPRESS.NET | 19A

tiny hamster hands. We brought her back to the vet twice for more shots. She finally stopped itching. She began playing on her wheel again. I could al-most hear Jamaican steel drum music coming from her Tiki hut. Marley was happy, and all for a mere $250.

A day after she finished her antibiotics, she died. We noticed an unpleasant odor coming from the Tiki hut. I was heartbroken and ticked off at the same time. She had another two good years left in her, I had been assured by the doctor! I called the vet and described our grizzly discovery. I also demanded a refund for all the money we had invested in her treat-ment.

The nurse offered her condo-

lences but also refused any refund. She told me that if they gave refunds for treatments that still resulted in a pets death, they would be out of business. Wow, that doesnt sound good. How many patients of theirs have died? Then she had the nerve to offer me a hamster autopsy for $100! I angrily rejected her offer and hung up. We then had to dispose of poor Marley, who lay peacefully decomposing in her Tiki hut. We played Dont Worry, Be Happy while lowering her entire cage into a big, black garbage bag.

Shes in a better place. I imagine shes sporting a thick, healthy coat of butterscotch fur, kicking back and listening to some mellow steel drum music in her Tiki hut in the sky.

R.I.P., Marley.

Marley from page 12A

The Discovery Bay Community Presbyterian Church will hold its 2009 Holiday Home Tour on Sunday, Dec. 6 from 1 to 4 p.m.

Tickets are $20 and may be pur-chased in advance from Alice Cramer at 925-634-8470, Bev Lyman at 925-513-1939 or from the church at 925-634-0184. Tickets will also be available at the door.

The suggested arrival time at the church, located at 1900 Willow Lake Road, is between 12:30 and 12:45 p.m.