YOUR HOMETOWN WEEKLY NEWSPAPER

Vol. 9, No. 23 Including Surrounding Communities www.thepress.net June 5, 2009

Natio

nalAwardWinning Newspapers

THIS WEEK

FOR MOVIE TIMES SEE PAGE 5A

Falcons hoist trophy high

Freedom knocked in runs and knocked De La Salle off its pedestal in a convincing NCS championship victory.

Page 1B

Didnt get a coupon book? Call 634-1441Coupons To Go!oupons To Go!Coupons To Go!oupons To Go!SHOP LOCAL. SAVE MONEY.Find it inside todays paper.Print more on thepress.net.

Minor city budget deficit forecast

Despite numerous cost-cutting measures adopted by city offi cials several months ago, Oakley is projected to run a General Fund defi -cit for the second year in a row in the fi scal year starting in July.

The good news is that the defi cit of $94,000 in a $12.9 million budget is signifi cantly less (0.7 percent) than previously expected, due to savings from closing City Hall on the third Friday of the month and for the last two weeks of the year, not fi lling staff vacancies, replacing the full-time city attorney with a part-time attorney and eliminat-ing the Planning Commission.

There is a defi cit that is proposed. Its very small in comparison to the reserves that are available, City Manager Bryan Montgomery told the City Council at its May 26 meeting. If this is the worst that local government (faces) and we are riding it through with just a $94,000 defi cit, we are doing very well.

Montgomery said it might not even be that bad, noting that he is using a conservative esti-mate that property tax revenue will decrease 10 percent in the coming year due to lower property values. Some governmental agencies are estimat-ing an 8-percent reduction. Since every percent-age drop equals about $50,000, if property taxes drop only 8 percent, Oakley will not run a defi cit in the 2009-10 budget year.

But even if the defi cit is $94,000, Oakleys

fi nances will still be in good shape because the budget ran million-dollar surpluses from 2005 to 2008 that allowed the citys reserve fund to build up. The reserve is expected to drop to 27 percent of expenditures from the 32-percent level two

years ago, but thats still quite healthy consider-ing that the citys policy is to maintain at least a 20-percent reserve.

Oakleys budget is expected to run a de cit of $94,000 in the scal year beginning in July, but to return to surpluses thereafter.

Source: City of Oakley Press Graphic by John Carter

by Dave RobertsStaff Writer

see Budget page 12A

$2.5M

$2M

$1.5M

$1M

$500K

$0

-$500K

Kids have a blast at 2009 County Fair

One of the attractions pack-ing them in at this years County Fair, which ended Sunday in Antioch, was the shark show, featuring a diver who played one shark like a banjo, waved its fi n at the audience and danced with it while another shark swam through a hoop.

The fi rst show on Thursday, the fairs opening day, began with a demonstration of the un-breakability of the shark tank to reassure the audience. David Farrell of Concord, a week short of 5 years old, was chosen from the audience to tap on the glass. The tank, of course, sprung a fake leak, surprising and soak-

ing Farrell as he tried to plug it with his hands, and spraying some in the audience before the water was turned off.

He was certainly surprised. He thought he was doing some-thing wrong for a second, said his father Robert. I really just thought it was adorable; they handled it well. He will never forget it for his entire life.

The Farrells were among hundreds who took advantage of the fairs free admission be-fore 3 p.m. on opening day. They spent a lot of time in the Kids Zone building, which offered youngsters hands-on things to do similar to San Franciscos Exploratorium.

by Dave RobertsStaff Writer

A goatish Mona Lisa smile appears on the goateed face of this County Fair participant.

Photo by Dave Roberts

see Fair page 21A

Calendar ..........................27BClassifieds ........................18BCop Logs ..........................17AEntertainment ................13BHealth & Beauty .............10BMilestones .........................8BOpinion ...........................16ASports .................................1BWebExtras! .......................1B

INSIDE

Changing of the guard Freedom High will welcome a new and home-grown principal, but its former chief is staying in the education fray.

Page 8A

At the head of the class

High school valedictorians and salutatorians tell how they got where they are and where they go from here.

Page 9A

JUNE 5, 2009 COMMUNITY THEPRESS.NET | 3A

1300 Central Blvd. Brentwood

Lori Abreu(925) 216-6317Owner/Broker www.DeltaRanches.com

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4901 Briones Valley Rd., Brentwood

Huge Price Reduction! New Price at $849,000 gets it all! Now includes home on 3.5 acres, barn, plus approved conditional sub-division map by city of Oakley for two 1 acre parcels to be split off. Almost 1200 sf of living space, featuring 3 over sized bdrms. and 2 ba. Priced at $849,000

91 Lozoya Way, Oakley

Huge 5 bedroom home with loft! Tile counters in kitchen with pantry! Wonderful family home with plenty of room to spread out in the 3328 square feet. Must see! Priced at $294,900

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Large two story home with 5 bdrms., 3.5 baths, 2,310 sq.ft, and 4 car garage. Kitchen has breakfast nook area with custom cabinets. Large backyard with pool. Great for entertaining! Priced at $222,750

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Please join us, Saturday, June 20thto attend a fundraiser flea market, 3361 Walnut Blvd.

This fundraiser is to help the Anthony Family in Knightsen. Mr. Anthony is a retired Veteran and has been a General Contractor for 25 years,

but hasnt worked in 9 months recovering from surgery. Mrs. Anthony was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2004, and now diagnosed with inoperable

brain cancer. They are parents of three beautiful daughters.

Visit www.hope4anthonyfamily.com for updates and their story.

Adorable doll house in established area of Antioch. Remodeled and ready for new owner! 3 bedroom, 2 bath 1315 square feet. Really cute!

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Classic cars transformed into Cute CartsYouve probably seen Jack Howell driv-

ing around Brentwood. He zips around town in a blue 32 Ford California Roadster, but thats not why you notice him.

While the classic hot rod design is un-mistakable, featuring shiny rims and plush leather interior, the most eye-catching quality is that it isnt a car at all. Howell gets around town in a golf cart.

It all started last year, when Howell was shopping for a cart and his search led him to a used hot-rod-style golf cart. He enjoyed driving it around so much that he decided he wanted to become a dealer for the cart maker, American Custom Golf Carts, Inc., the only licensed company in the world own-ing the rights to manufacture replica Ford Roadsters as well as Hummer H3 and Cadil-lac Escalade-style golf carts.

The former real estate agent, who sells the carts with his wife Sandra, said the carts are the most exciting product hes ever sold.

When Im at a stop light, people roll down their windows and ask me about it all the time, Jack said. They hold out their camera phones to take pictures. People are just fascinated by these little things, and the best part is these carts are street legal. And since theyre electric-powered, theyre envi-ronmentally friendly.

Sandra said the environment aspect is whats most appealing about the carts: It feels good to be a part of the solution (going

electric). Thats the conscientious thing being pushed right now. All you have to do it plug it in to charge it. You dont have to worry about oil changes or rising gas prices. Its ef-fi cient and they drive like real cars. It doesnt feel like youre driving a big clunky golf cart. Its like a real vehicle.

Sandra said the other appeal is that you dont have to be a good golfer to own one, al-though she insists the cart will help you shave two points off your golf game.

You can take the golf cart around the neighborhood, Sandra said. Its especially great for people who dont travel far and stick

close to home. Its perfect if you need to drop the kids off down the street or run off to the grocery store to grab a few things.

The Howells began selling the carts this year through their Web site, www.cutecarts.com. Sandra, who came up with the name, said the Web name was an obvious choice.

The gentleman see the cars and say that its awesome or cool, but the women always say how cute it is, Sandra said. They always walk up and say, Oh, how cute. Be-sides, the women make the decisions anyway, so we went with cutecarts.com because its easy to remember and it says what were all

about.While the carts are unique by design,

they can also be customized to meet the needs of the customer. Owners get to choose the color scheme and details such as fl ames on the Roadster, and the wheels and interior can be upgraded. Additional features include stereos, televisions, golf bag holders and ball washers.

The prices of the carts vary based on the features. The California Roadster goes for ap-proximately $7,999, the Hummer for $9,999

by Samie HartleyStaff Writer

see Carts page 14A

Photo by Richard Wisdom

Jack and Sandra Howell sell customized golf carts in the style of the Cadillac Escalade, the Hummer H3 and the 32 Ford California Roadster through their Web site, www.cutecarts.com.

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LEGAL NOTICESNOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

Notice is hereby given that the Planning Commission of the City of Brentwood will, at 7:00 p.m. or as soon thereafter as the normal course of business permits on June 16, 2009, hold a public hearing to consider the following: An application for a Goodwill store (CUP 09-07) includ-ing a drop-off and retail location within an existing 7,000 square foot tenant space at Shady Willow Plaza, located at 6271 Lone Tree Way, Suites A-E (019-040-064).Applicant: Goodwill Industries/Ryan RubioSaid hearing will be held at the City Council Chambers, 734 Third Street, Brentwood, California.Further information may be obtained from Assistant Plan-ner Tim Nielsen [(925) 516-5151 or tnielsen@ci.brentwood.ca.us] in the Community Development Department of the City of Brentwood, 118 Oak Street, Brentwood, California 94513.Before any court challenge of Planning Commission deci-sions, you are required to appeal the decision to the City Council no later than the time period provided under the Citys Municipal Code. In addition 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 corre-spondence delivered to the Brentwood Planning Commis-sion at, or prior to, the public hearing.Brentwood Press No. 02-1273Publish Date: June 5, 2009

County 4-H program faces funding crisis

They stand for Head, Heart, Hands and Health. But even though none of the letters that make up the name of the organization that serves 6 million youth nationwide stands for the word heifer, thats often one of the fi rst things people think of when they hear 4-H.

Our kids dont just raise animals, said Carla Moore, president of the Contra Costa County 4-H, as the frenetic activity of the livestock area at last weekends County Fair swirled around her. They learn leadership, record keeping, public speaking, citizen-ship, grant writing, involvement in govern-ment, time management and conservation. Its experiential living; theyre picking up life skills.

More than 500 youth from 5 to 19 years of age participate in 4-H clubs in Contra Cos-ta County alone, but proposed countywide budget cuts threaten the UC Cooperative Extensions Offi ce that oversees the program. The $325,000 also supports the Extensions Master Gardener, nutrition and food safety, urban horticulture, livestock management, commercial fruits and nuts, wine grapes, veg-etable and fi eld crop programs, and triggers an additional $3 million in federal money to support 4-H activities, Moore said.

So while white-clad kids sporting the 4-H clover watered, groomed, cleaned up after and showed their animals last weekend, they

also worked to garner support in the effort to keep their group alive after current funding runs out in September.

4-H creates a sense of belonging, said Amanda Tonkin, 18, president of the Delta-Diablo 4-H. Its a community within itself that blossoms into so much more. Everything in 4-H is for youth, by youth. We run our own programs with adult guidance and it really broadens our horizons. From writ-ing letters to service members overseas, to sending books to the Philippines to learning about the connection between tree growth and forest fi res, the hands-on education 4-

Hers get extends well beyond the barnyard.The denizens of barnyard are still a ma-

jor focus of 4-H, however, literally providing lessons of life-or-death importance.

The consequences of dealing with live animals are that (mistakes) can cripple them, Tonkin said. If you dont feed them, they will die. It teaches you the realities of what life really is in what you do.

And what of the fact that many 4-H animals will be sold at market? Its part of the process, the cycle of life, Tonkin said. Learning to live life also means learning to live with death.

In the musky livestock area last week-end, Robert McLaughlin, 13, and James Wilson, 11, wielding pitchforks and rakes, were dealing with another of the realities of caring for large animals. Dung duty didnt even faze them, though; it was just some-thing that needed to be done and that they were glad to do.

If there was no Knightsen 4-H, Id go somewhere else where there was one, Robert said. Otherwise, Id just be lazy.

If youd like to help save the UC Exten-sion program and, along with it, 4-H, call the county 4-H offi ce at 925-646-6543.

by Rick LemyreStaff Writer

Left, Robert McLaughlin, 13, foreground, and James Wilson, 11, perform clean-up duties in the large animal area at the County Fair on Saturday. The boys are members of the Knightsen 4-H. Above, Knightsen 4-H members Monica Bettencort and Elizabeth Liddington, both 15, water their cows during last weekends County Fair.

Photos by Rick Lemyre

Wine fl owed and tails wagged as hu-mans and their dogs enjoyed an afternoon of luxury at Cortona Park last weekend.

As part of the Wine and Wiggles event, guests sampled wines from Bloomfi eld Vine-yards and devoured Bella Luna chocolates while their four-legged friends buried their snouts into snow cones and patiently waited for a crumb of cheese or cracker to innocent-ly slip from someones plate.

Tiffany Hall came all the way from Rio Vista to spend some quality time with her pooch Sammy, a 3-year old Yorkiepoo.

This is such a fun idea, Tiffany said. The dogs seem to be enjoying the sun and all the sights and smells. Sammy is overpro-tective a little shy so he cant be around other dogs, but he seems to like the snow cone.

Sammy daintily licked the strawberry-fl avored ice shavings as Tiffany chatted with her mom Georgetti.

Were dog people, so when I got the fl i-er, I knew we had to check it out, Georgetti said. The food is delicious, and its such nice way to spend the afternoon with your pets. You dont see events like this very often.

Carolyn Sundberg of Oakley agreed. She came out with her son Sean, 4, and their Australian-shepherd Jack. There arent many opportunities to bring your dog out these days, said Sundberg. Theres some-thing for everyone here. The dogs get the

treats and theres the wine and chocolate for the owners.

A group of approximately 275 guests attended the event, which delighted Event Coordinator and Cortona Park Managing Director Lisa Pinguelo.

I got the idea from an event held in Walnut Creek, said Pinguelo. And I found that there really arent any socials out here where people can come and hang with their dogs and meet other dog owners. Its just fun

to get out, and with the economy, people are having a diffi cult time fi nding things to do, so this was a nice little outing for the owners and their dogs.

Residents of Cortona Park, the new senior living community in Brentwood, watched from their balconies as guests min-gled and dogs tugged at their leashes, anxious to meet as many fellow canines as possible.

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Cortona Park goes to the dogs

see Dogs page 14A

by Samie HartleyStaff Writer

Georgetti Hall feeds bits of cracker to Sammy, a 3-year-old Yorkiepoo who ar-rived at the Wine and Wiggles in style in his very own stroller.

Photo by Samie Hartley

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HOW TO MAKE YOUR OFFER STAND OUTBuyers are confused and frustrated right

now. They find a great home in this buyers market, only to find out there are 15 offers on the property, and most are more than asking price. So how do you make your offer stand out from all the others? The highest offer does usu-ally get it, but not always. Here are some basic guidelines, but keep in mind that each Seller is different, so none of these are guaranteed 100% accurate all the time.

First, for bank-owned and short sale listings, they wont even consider your offer, no matter what the price, if you have to sell your home first, so dont even try. They MAY consider a contingency on a close if you have a solid buyer and are close to closing. Next important would be the net price to the Seller. For the most part, distressed Sellers dont care about what credits/fees you ask for. They run it through a spreadsheet and see how much they are left with, and they will usually (but not always) choose the offer with the highest net to them. So to most Sellers, $200K minus $10K in credits is the same as a $190K offer BUT if you

really dont need the credit, probably better to just write it at $190K so its a cleaner offer and that also reduces the risk of appraisal problems. Next would be the amount of your down pay-ment. If two offers are a similar net to the Seller, they will probably choose the one with the most down payment. Buyers with more down are more likely to be approved for their loan, and it can also make the appraisal process easier. If one buyer is 3.5% down, and another is all cash, but the all cash offer is $10K less than the 3.5% down buyer, Ive often seen the Seller take the all cash as more of a sure-thing even though its a lower net. And then there are your inspec-tion and closing time periods. Most distressed Sellers want the shortest possible time periods for you to inspect the property and then closing escrow. Usually 7-10 days for inspections, and 30-40 days max for closing escrow.

If you have questions on this or any other real estate topic, call me at (925) 240-MOVE (6683). To search the MLS for free and view virtual tours of homes for sale, go to: www.SharpHomesOnline.com. Sharp Realty

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In 1984, after pitching a no-hitter yet still losing the game to rival Liberty High School Alhambra High School Senior Erik Faulkner received an unexpected gift.

I ended up throwing a no-hitter that day, even though we lost the game, recalled Faulkner. But what I remember most about that day was that the coach from Liberty came over, congratulated me and handed me

the game ball. Ill never forget that.The baseball coach was former Liberty

High teacher Jerry Black, and some 20 years later, Faulkner had the opportunity to meet with Black again this time as a member of the team that interviewed and ultimately ap-pointed Faulkner as the new principal of Freedom High School.

Talk about coming full circle, said Faulkner, who will take over when current

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It appears that Sanchez has very lit-tle to worry about. The ebullient group, comprised of matriculating teens and adults, showed off their eclectic selves Tuesday night during a commencement ceremony that literally rocked the house.

Vocal soloist Alivia Logan was re-sponsible for that, belting out a passion-ate and touching rendition of Ushers Because You Love Me, dedicating the song to family and teachers who helped her along the way.

The emotional evening continued as adult school graduates Tina Riso and Eulalio Contreras shared their power-ful stories of success. Riso, a mother of three, said she dropped out of high school just two months into her senior year. But when her children started school, she promised herself she too would return for her degree, and 20 years later she stood before her family and friends in cap and gown.

I will always be proud of what I have achieved here, said Riso. Thank you for giving me this opportunity.

Contreras had an equally mov-ing story of drug abuse, homelessness and feelings of totally worthlessness. Dont ever let anyone tell you cant do something, said Contreras, 37. Im living proof you can accomplish any-thing.

Students Robyn Kernutt, Kiersten Turner, Robbie Bryant, Georgia Teyler and Nikki Harden also expressed appre-ciation for their time at Independence, and were augmented by words of con-gratulations from retiring LUHSD Su-perintendent Dan Smith.

You have made yourselves proud tonight and your families proud and youve made us proud too, said Smith. Whatever direction you take in the fu-ture, be creative and proactive Con-gratulations and best wishes.

Student Speaker Meghan Groshong extended best wishes to her fellow gradu-ates. Good job getting here, guys To-day we are done with high school; today we move on. Congratulations.

Financial scholarships were also be-stowed on students from local organiza-tions, including the LUHSD Education-al Foundation, Brentwood Lions Club, Brentwood Rotary Club and American Legion Post 202.

Graduation from page 7A

New FHS principal comes full circle

Photo by Richard Wisdom

Freedom Highs incoming principal Erik Faulkner will take over the helm from Eric Volta in July.

by Ruth RobertsStaff Writer

see Principal page 10A

JUNE 5, 2009 EDUCATION THEPRESS.NET | 9A

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Valedictorians look to the future

The colors of their caps and gowns will vary, as will the cadence of their speeches and the tenor of their themes, but when East Countys valedictorians gather for their re-spective high school graduations this month, what they will share is a sense of accomplish-ment, gratitude and pride.

When Jacob Peterson, Heritage Highs valedictorian, heard he was the No. 1 student in his graduating class, the athlete and scholar was surprised. When I fi rst found out, Mr. Parsons (Heritage principal) called me into his offi ce and said, Youve probably been ex-pecting this call, said Peterson. And I told him that it depended upon what he was going to tell me.

The news was good, of course, and come September the biology major will be making his way to Brigham Young University, with an eye on becoming a doctor. Peterson credits his parents gentle yet persistent support for keep-ing him focused and on track.

I didnt always see my potential, but my parents did, and they pushed me along and I went for it, said Peterson, who will fi nish his high school career with a 4.28 GPA. This is a great honor. I never really expected that I would achieve this. But I guess all the hard work and sleepless nights paid off.

Muniba Ahmad understands. Becoming valedictorian, said Ahmad, is like running a marathon: Its about setting a goal. When

runners run marathons, its not just about the work; you have to keep going. Its about per-severance.

And Ahmad should know. As Deer Valleys valedictorian of the Class of 2009,

she has spent most of her educational career keeping a careful eye on the fi nal prize, and now with a 4.24 GPA under her belt and UC Berkeley in her future, she can, at last, relax.

Its been a lot of work, a long road, said

Ahmad, who has not yet decided on a major. But ever since I heard what a valedictorian was, I wanted to be one. Now I can spend some time just being.

And for Ahmad, that will that will in-clude a summer fi lled with plenty of R&R. Im going to sleep and read and relax, she laughed. I also want to spend some time with my friends before I go away. Im going to miss all that.

Amber Basore feels the same way. Freedom Highs valedictorian (with a GPA of 4.25) will soon be packing her bags and heading to UCLA in the fall, and despite the excitement of trading small-town life for the big city, she knows shell be leaving something important behind.

I know Im going to miss all of my friends, so I want to spend a lot of time with them this summer, said Basore, who has not yet decided on a major. Im nervous, but also very excited.

A member of the Freedom varsity ten-nis team, Basore also served on a number of school clubs and has been an active commu-nity volunteer. She says being chosen vale-dictorian is an honor beyond measure. Ive worked hard for it (valedictorian) but Im in-credibly proud to have been chosen, she said. Its something Ive hoped for.

Harpreya Chumbar, one of Liberty High Schools two valedictorians, agrees that the honor of being chosen co-valedictorian

The Liberty Union High School Districts (LUHSD) 2009 valedictorians and salu-tatorians recently recognized for their achievements, from left, are Heritage High Valedictorian Jacob Peterson; Heritage High Salutatorian Dominesse Gajudo; Freedom High Valedictorian Amber Basore; Freedom High co-saluta-torians Kayla Suhrie and Eilan Zeng; Liberty High Co-valedictorian Harpreya Chumbar; Liberty High Salutatorian Christopher Leyen; and Liberty High Co-valedictorian Melisa McChesney.

Photo Courtesy of Sarah Singrin

by Ruth RobertsStaff Writer

see Valedictorians page 10A

principal Eric Volta moves to the district offi ce in July. Im absolutely thrilled; I cant think of a better place to be.

The former law school student and married father of three his wife Megan is a teacher in the Brentwood Union School District moved back to the Bay Area in 1997 after attending college in Long Beach and teaching for a few years in Southern California.

Following a teaching stint at Edna Hill Middle School, Faulkner came to Freedom, where he taught and was also the English Department chair. In 2004, he became Freedoms summer school principal, and in 2005 was named as Freedoms assistant principal.

It kind of seems like the natural order of things for me, he said of his new appointment. Ive been preparing myself for many years for a leadership position and Im so grateful for the many mentors whove given me opportunities along the way.

And some of his new opportunities are also likely to be challenges. As education takes some of the toughest hits from the state in decades, Faulkner understands that LUHSD is fac-ing uncertain fi nancial times.

If you look at our district weve hired 12 teachers so far our district is continuing to grow, he said. However, when you look at the state of the economy and look at the challenges facing the electorate and legislators, there are some daunting tasks ahead, no question. But I know our district is a well-run, solvent, prudent district, with a great new superintendent (Jer-ry Glenn) coming in who will help guide our staff.

For my part, Im working on getting the lay of the land, so to speak, and looking at things from a principals perspec-tive. Ive been meeting with Eric and talking about ideas hes had, and hes been great with helping me out with the whole idea of transition. Eric has been a fantastic principal.

For Volta, the well-liked principal wont be venturing far from his old stomping grounds. Starting in July, Volta will be the assistant superintendent for human resources at the Lib-erty Union High School District. And while hell miss the stu-dents, families and staff (Im really bummed about that, he

said), hes ready for a fresh challenge.I seem to do things in sevens, said Volta referring to his

years as principal. So I fi gured this was the time to start look-ing at all of my options and thinking about what I wanted to do next. Ill be doing a lot of the same stuff a principal does, only on a bigger scale. Its more focused.

Voltas new job will include hiring staff, negotiating and managing contracts and handling complaints (hopefully not too much of that, he laughed). He looks forward to working with Glenn, and says hes ready for the obvious fi nancial tests facing the district.

Sure, the money part is challenging, but the good part is that we have good people working here and were in better shape than a lot of other districts.

So whats next for the popular administrator? Im focus-ing on getting this new position going, said Volta. Call me in another seven years and well see where I am then.

10A | THEPRESS.NET EDUCATION JUNE 5, 2009

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Antioch ........................(925) 754-1845Brentwood ...................(925) 634-2161Lonetree Landing .........(925) 755-2327Oakley .........................(925) 625-2211Pittsburg......................(925) 432-2911

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Principal from page 8A

Photo by Richard Wisdom

Outgoing Freedom High Principal Eric Volta, right will be taking aover as the new Liberty Union High School District assistant superintendent of human resources.

is the culmination of years of hard work and resolve: Its a huge honor and for me it validates what Ive been working for during my time here. Honestly, I was surprised when they told me but very proud.

Chumbar will enter UC Davis in the fall as biology ma-jor, taking aim at a medical degree. The 4.07 student hopes to spend her summer working and saving for college next year, as well as hanging out with her friends.

I will defi nitely miss my friends and the fun times we had together, she said. But Im ready to make a fresh start in September; Im very excited.

Libertys other co-valedictorian, Melisa McChesney, was unavailable for comment, but has said she hopes her col-lege studies will involve a combination of biology and art.

Valedictorians from page 9A

Photo courtesy of Muniba Ahmad

Muniba Ahmad is Deer Valley High Schools 2009 valedictorian.

JUNE 5, 2009 THEPRESS.NET | 11A

12A | THEPRESS.NET COMMUNITY JUNE 5, 2009

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The other piece of good budget news is that city offi cials are projecting that the city will begin running surpluses again in the 2010-11 budget year, albeit smaller than the surpluses of prior years.

Council members are pleased that the citys budget appears to be in relatively good shape, especially in comparison with other government budgets in tough economic times.

This is very promising, said Council-man Jim Frazier. When we fi rst heard about the budget (defi cit) possibilities, it was four times this amount. My hats off to staff for really working hard and bringing the (defi cit) numbers down. This makes it somewhat easi-er to swallow a reserve draw. You guys did an exemplary job, and I want to thank you.

Frazier added that hes concerned about the increasing costs to the city for animal control services that are contracted with the county. They have raised our rates 183 per-cent in, I think, the last three years, he said. The amount is ludicrous and we need to put a cap on it.

Frazier suggested looking into forming a partnership with other cities to jointly fund an independent animal control service. In a memo to the council, Montgomery said that Antioch offi cials are looking to do just that as a way of helping fund that citys animal shelter.

In addition to the General Fund defi cit, the other piece of bad budget news is that some of the citys lighting and landscaping maintenance districts continue to run defi cits. Most city residents are paying $14 per year

for this service, while recent residents are pay-ing $40-45, which is more consistent with what it really costs, said Montgomery.

To help make up the funding gap, the city is using $86,000 from the gas tax fund, which is supposed to go for road maintenance.

Due to the citys healthy reserve fund, Montgomery is not concerned about the probability of state government borrowing $400,000-$500,000 of city funds, with the understanding that the funds would be paid back with interest in three years. As a result, city offi cials would consider that state raid just an investment.

In other budget news, Oakley has ap-plied for $750,000 in federal stimulus funding under the COPS program to add two more offi cers to Oakleys police force. The grants would pay for most of the offi cers salaries and benefi ts for three years. After that, the money would need to come from the citys General Fund or the offi cers would be laid off.

Budget from page 1A If this is the worst that local government (faces) and we are riding it through with just a $94,000 deficit, we are doing very well.

City Manager

Bryan Montgomery

JUNE 5, 2009 COMMUNITY THEPRESS.NET | 13A

Trevors Weekly Mortgage MattersBy Trevor Frey

TAX CREDIT SAME AS CASH?

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Although the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 allows fi rst time homeowners who close escrow (on their primary residence) between April 8, 2009 and December 1, 2009 up to $8,000 in the form of a tax credit, Ive recently received many emails asking if said credit can be used as a bridge loan or cash advance. According to the National Association of Homebuyers if this were to happen, it would double the total number of home purchases stimulated by the 2009 tax credit program so it is completely understandable why people want to know sooner than later. And although the idea of morphing the credit into ready-to-use cash is something that is in the air, nothing has yet to be set in stone, and the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) is still hammering out the details.

To put it in perspective, Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Shaun Donovan stated on May 12, 2009 in a speech to the midyear convention of the National Association of Realtors (NAR) that changes were in the works and hopefully sooner than later the credit would be converted to cash. However, an offi cial document released by HUD almost immediately aft er the convention read, Th e statement made by Shaun Donovan, on how the FHA will allow the $8,000 tax credit to be used for down payment at a NAR conference earlier this week was apparently off base. Th e information was removed from the website and the Mortgagee Letter has been pulled for the time being.

In other words, were receiving mixed signals across the board. As it currently sits, under guidelines draft ed by the FHA, all lenders approved to do business with the agency will be authorized to provide bridge loans at closing, secured solely by

the tax credit the borrower expects to use to reduce their taxes when they fi le for 2009. Th e borrower would then pay back the bridge loan when they fi le their taxes for 2009, using the money they didnt have to pay as actual taxes to the IRS because of the application of the tax credit to their 2009 tax bill. Th is in itself causes issues and according to mortgage industry leaders, the federal credit may not be available through private lenders for some time. Among the key questions yet to be answered: Where will non-depository mortgage companies get the $8,000 in advance money? If the FHA Guidelines clearly state the tax credit advances (cash on hand for the buyers) cannot be secured by a lien on the property, but rather only on the tax credit to be received by the purchaser, who will front the upfront bill? And if a borrower ends the tax year without enough taxable income to make use of the entire tax credit, how will they pay off the bridge loan?

Overall the idea of converting a potential $8,000 tax credit into available cash on hand will bring more buyers to the table and truly help the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 live up to its name. However until the red tape can be worked out would-be buyers who believe they are eligible for the federal credit shouldnt sit around. Th ey should actually do the opposite and shift into high gear shopping for a house the Cinderella date of November 30 is looming regardless of whether theyll need a bridge loan to complete the transaction.

If you have any real estate lending related questions or concerns, dont hesitate to write me at tfreymortgages@yahoo.com or call me directly on my new cell phone, (925) 726-1444.

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Oakley offers campsThe City of Oakley Recreation

Division is now accepting registration for its summer camps: Summer Blaze and Youth C.O.R.E. (Committed to Ongoing Revitalization Efforts). The programs offer a variety of games, water activities, arts and crafts and team-building for $7 or less per day.

Summer Blaze Day Camp (ages 6 to 11) will be held Monday through Friday, June 15 to 26 and July 6 to 17, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The cost is $7 per day or purchase a weekly punch card for $30 (a $5 savings).

Youth C.O.R.E., a fun, high-energy program, offers two sessions for youth

entering 6 through 11th grades. CORE takes place Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Session 1 takes place June 15 to 26; Session 2 from July 6 to 17. Participants will learn teamwork and engage in community-service projects throughout the sessions. Qualifying participants are eligible for free admission to the weekly Xtreme Xcursions, which take place on Fridays. Destinations include Santa Cruz and Discovery Kingdom. Xtreme Xcursions tickets may also be purchased by youth not enrolled in the Youth C.O.R.E. program.

For more information, call the Recreation Division at 925-625-7041.

Sanitary District open houseThe Byron Sanitary District, in

celebration of the districts wastewater treatment plant upgrades, invites the public to an open house and barbecue on June 13 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. An 11 a.m. presentation

will be given at the treatment plant followed by a question-and-answer period. The barbecue begins at 11:30 at the park next to the Wild Idol Inn on Main Street in Byron. Call and reserve your free lunch at 925-634-3613.

Anthony family fundraiserA fl ea-market fundraiser to ben-

efi t the Anthony family will be held on June 20 from 8 a.m to 2 p.m in the parking lot at 3361 Walnut Blvd. in Brentwood. All proceeds from the event will go to the Anthonys. An ac-

count has also been established for the family at Wells Fargo Bank in Brentwood. Donations monetary or otherwise are welcome. For more in-formation on how to help, visit www.hope4anthonyfamily.com.

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JUNE 5, 2009 THEPRESS.NET | 15A

16A | THEPRESS.NET JUNE 5, 2009

OPINIONEDITORIALS, LETTERS & COMMENTARY Nat

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

LETTERS TO THE EDITORGo for win-win scenario

Editor:As a resident and taxpayer of

Brentwood, I would like to sincerely thank councilmembers Stonebarger and Brockman for voting against using a union-only Project Labor Agreement (PLA) for the construction of the Brentwood Civic Center.

Thank you for not discriminating against the more than 80 percent of construction workers in the City of Brentwood who have chosen to not belong to a union. Non-union workers should not be required to join a union in order to build the Civic Center.

As the city moves forward with negotiations for a PLA, I want to make sure the following concerns expressed by the council are addressed: the statement made by Mayor Taylor that ABC be represented in the negotiations, equal opportunity and choice in hiring workers and apprentices, the employment of local residents, and the elimination of dual payment of benefi ts (if the contractor can prove that benefi ts are already being paid for their workers).

This will guarantee the increase in competition in bidding and perhaps reduce the cost of the project for taxpayers creating a win-win situation.

Lori OlsenBrentwood

PLAs dont live up to the hypeEditor:

Pacifi c Bay Masonry, Inc. is a non-union contractor with considerable experience on Public Works Projects in the San Francisco Bay Area. Throughout the years we have worked on projects both with and without project labor agreements (PLA).

Although the quality and consistency of our work and business practices are the same, costly problems and issues with the unions and their work force have signifi cantly raised the cost of projects with PLAs. The most recent Pacifi c

Bay Masonry example is Marina Vista Elementary School in Pittsburg. This project constantly had costly confl icts and delays resulting in numerous meetings to try to resolve the issues because of disputes with the local union. The fi rst major issue with the PLA was because we are a non-signatory contractor and forced to pay for our employees to enroll in the union so they could work on this project.

In addition to paying the regular benefi ts our employees are entitled to at Pacifi c Bay Masonry, we also had to pay the prevailing wage fringe benefi ts directly to the union trust funds. Those employees will never receive those benefi ts because they dont work enough union hours.

Without a PLA, Pacifi c Bay Masonry would have deposited that same money into our qualifi ed health and pension plans without making any deductions for dues or fees. Our employees get to keep every penny of the money they earn.

The second major issue involved countless time-consuming meetings with representatives for the owner, general contractor, Union and Pacifi c Bay Masonry to fi nalize the negotiations that determined the ratio of Pacifi c Bay Masonry employees vs. men from the hall. We were forced to hire union employees from the union hall in order to meet that ratio of workers.

We requested workers who were trained on the equipment we needed to use, who were drug and alcohol free and who would show up for work on time and prepared. Many of the men that the union dispatched to the jobsite to work for us were not reliable, qualifi ed, experienced or sober enough to work. As a result, we were forced to hire and fi re new workers daily.

As a licensed contractor in the State of California, we fairly bid and are entitled to work on any project, public or private, which we are awarded, and we should be allowed to choose where we purchase our benefi ts package from. In addition to the above issues and many others Pacifi c Bay Masonry dealt with daily, our employees and foreman were harassed and threatened daily by extremely unprofessional union representatives.

As a result of costs and constant problems with PLA projects, Pacifi c Bay Masonry no longer submits bids for any projects that contain a PLA. Unfortunately for taxpayers and municipalities, PLA agreements reduce competition and infl ate costs.

The following is a breakdown of all monies paid to the union on this project in which the participating Pacifi c Bay Masonry employees will receive no benefi ts:

Initial sign up fees for fi ve men: $1,544Monthly dues: $167 x 22 months =

$3,674Fringe benefi ts: $65,371.99 Total: $70,589.99 for a $450,000

contract of which the men who actually

worked on the job will not see a dime.Project labor agreements do not achieve

the results claimed by union advocates. They are not cost effective, because admin staff for all parties, including the owner, have to spend so much time negotiating details and solving problems. Also, the fringe-benefi t money (which is paid in addition to regular benefi ts) goes into funds that the actual workers have no access to. In addition to an unproductive admin staff, the fi eld is unstable and unproductive because of constant turnover and unqualifi ed labor. PLAs create labor confl icts and do not produce a quality workforce.

Ray WetmorePresident

Peace prevailsEditor:

Last year was an explosive time for concerned citizens in Discovery Bay regarding the politics of our little town. Each week in the Press there were so many letters to the editor complaining about our CSD board members and their abilities. When the election was over and the new board was put in place just like magic, the letters disappeared, the town meetings became civil and all is at peace! Congratulations to the new board. It is nice to see harmony in our lovely town.

Nanci PriceDiscovery Bay

Shame on AMREditor:

After reading the May 22 edition of the Oakley Press, I am disgusted and appalled at the actions of the attorneys representing American Medical Response Ambulance Co. (AMR).

They use repeated delays in their appeal to prolong the lawsuit. Their actions keep 83-year-old Louis Del Barba from going home after spending two years in the hospital. It appears that they hope Del Barba dies before they have to pay the judgment against them.

As a retired fi refi ghter, I look back with pride as being a fi rst responder, giving everything Ive got to comfort or rescue people in need. Fire personnel share these responses with ambulance and police.

AMR should feel shamed by the lack of moral ethics displayed by their attorneys. AMR injured this man and now they punish him (maybe to his death) by not paying his medical bills, nor allowing his home to be handicap-accessible so that he may return home in peace before he dies.

Jack BurgeOakley

Make the Fed accountableEditor:

Although its no more federal than Federal Express nor is it a reserve Americas privately owned third central bank and deceitfully named Federal Reserve has

created new programs to print and distribute trillions of taxpayer dollars without oversight by our elected representatives.

Two bills were introduced in Congress to change that:

The bipartisan HR2424 by Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D) entitled The Federal Reserve Credit Facility Act of 2009 would authorize the Government Accountability Offi ce to audit, review and investigate the activities of the Federal Reserve in response to the economic crisis gripping our nation.

We know the Fed has printed and loaned trillions of dollars, but we dont know where the money went, said Kucinich.

HR1207 by Rep. Ron Paul (R), entitled the Federal Reserve Transparency Act of 2009, now has 179 co-authors from both parties. It directs the Comptroller General to complete, before the end of 2010, an audit of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and of the federal reserve banks, followed by a detailed report to Congress.

Of our local congressmembers, only Pete Stark has co-authored either bill. Tauscher, Miller and McNerney havent. Why not? Im asking them and those campaigning to replace Tauscher to support these bills to protect our tax dollars.

Its time the Fed had some federal oversight.

Allen PaytonAntioch

Blame economics, not politicsEditor:

I am responding to the DB Press letter to the editor Another fun event lost by Teri Sandholdt on May 15. As a member of the separate organizations that put on these two different events, please rest assured that politics had nothing to do with either event being lost.

First, DOktoberfest was an event that was put on by the Discovery Bay Chamber of Commerce. At the time, I was the treasurer and heavily involved with the event over the many years of its existence. During that time, the chamber brought many name performers to Discovery Bay, such as Guess Who, Mickey Thomas and Starship, BeeGees, Elvin Bishop and many others, or former members of these and other groups.

This event wasnt cheap to put on, in either dollars or manpower. In the end, there was a core group of about eight to 12 dedicated individuals, both chamber members and community members, that organized and managed this event. The individual time became too great and people got worn out. No politics involved .

Second is the Boat Show, put on by the Discovery Bay Lions, of which I am a member. This, too, is not a cheap undertaking. Our biggest sponsors have been businesses in the boating industry, many of

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

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see Letters page 18A

JUNE 5, 2009 THEPRESS.NET | 17A

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

BRENTWOODMay 22, 2:45 a.m. A subject was con-tacted at his residence on Susan Street regarding warrants for his arrest. He was arrested and taken to the Martinez De-tention Facility.May 22, 11:39 p.m. On Whispering Oaks Court, a subject was arrested for posses-sion of stolen property.May 23, 12:29 a.m. A business on Village Drive was intentionally set on fi re by an unknown person.May 23, 3:28 a.m. At a business on Lone Tree Way, an unidentifi ed person stole two unattended purses.May 23, 2:37 p.m. On Brentwood Bou-levard at Sand Creek Road, a subject stopped for a vehicle code violation was found to be driving with a suspended li-cense. The vehicle was towed and stored.May 24, 12:14 a.m. A subject contacted at her residence on Orchid Court was found to be unable to care for her safety due to her intoxication level. She was ar-rested and taken to the Martinez Deten-tion Facility.May 25, 12:58 a.m. An unidentifi ed per-son entered a residence on Reagan Way through an unlocked rear door and stole two laptop computers and a PSP game console.May 25, 9 p.m. A driver responsible for a solo vehicle collision on Brentwood Bou-levard at Spruce Street was found to be DUI. He was booked at the Brentwood Police Department, cleared from County Hospital and taken to the Martinez De-tention Facility. The vehicle was stored.May 25, 10:46 p.m. Two subjects were caught taking merchandise from the loading dock of a business on Lone Tree Way. Two of the subjects were released on a Promise To Appear. The third was booked at the Martinez Detention Facil-ity on a no-cite warrant.May 26, 11:52 a.m. On Cortona Way, an unidentifi ed person stole a white Mon-goose Hybrid bicycle, which was locked onto a bike rack.

May 26, 2:38 p.m. Unidentifi ed persons pulled the emergency release on the ga-rage door of a residence on Sycamore Avenue, entered the house and stole a 42-inch plasma TV.May 27, 9:15 a.m. On Lone Tree Way at Jeffery Way, a subject stopped for a me-chanical violation was found to be driving without a license. The vehicle was stored.May 27, 3:50 p.m. A subject made vague text-message threats to a resident of Prominent Drive.May 27, 9:02 p.m. A subject came to a residence on Handel Way in violation of a restraining order and fl ed scene prior to police arrival.May 28, 9:58 a.m. An unidentifi ed per-son used the credit card of a resident of Atherton Boulevard to make purchases in Hayward, San Leandro and Oakland.May 28, 11:30 a.m. On San Jose Avenue at Orchid Drive, abandoned vehicles were removed from the street.May 28, 11:54 a.m. On Brentwood Bou-levard at Oak Street, a subject stopped for a vehicle code violation was found to be driving under the infl uence of alcohol and a central nervous system stimulant. Another subject was also found to be under the infl uence of a CNS stimulant. Both were arrested and taken to the Mar-tinez Detention Facility.

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.

ANTIOCHMay 25, 8:21 a.m. Offi cers of the Antioch Police Department responded to the re-port of grand theft at the First Mission-ary Baptist Church of Antioch at 640 E. Tregallas Road. A shed had been broken into and a trailer had been stolen from the church parking lot. The thieves used tools from a church storage shed to break a lock on a disaster relief trailer and towed the trailer from the church lot. The trailer is a 24-foot, two-axle, white box trailer with the church name on all sides. The trailer is valued at $10,000 and the con-tents are valued at another $20,000. The trailer contained two John Deer 6200-

watt generators valued at $8,000 each, a water pump, cooking stoves, chain saws, an air conditioner and numerous other items used for disaster relief. The churchs surveillance system recorded two males in a newer model Chevy Tahoe, which was discovered to be stolen from the Los An-geles area. The theft occurred around 4 a.m. At around 5:20 p.m., the trailer was found at 3301 Wilbur Avenue, just outside the city limits. The two generators were missing, along with two water pumps and the chain saws. Those with information about this trailer theft should call An-tioch Police Dispatch at 925-778-2441.May 28 Richmond residents Terrell Kilgore, 18, and Detwan Kilgore, 19, were arrested on May 24 for the armed robbery of Pizza Guys on 1100 Syca-more Drive, have been positively iden-tifi ed in fi ve other robberies in Antioch since April 22 : the Chevron station on Delta Fair Boulevard on April 22; the Bizi Mart on Delta Fair Boulevard on April 29 and May 3; the Valero station on Somersville Road on May 3; and the Radio Shack on Somersville Road on May 20. Investigators presented all six cases to the district attorney on May 28, and multiple felony charges were fi led against each of the suspects. De-twan is being held on $3.8 million bail and Terrell on $1.8 million. Detwan is being held on a higher bail because he is a convicted felon, currently on parole for carjacking.

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

OAKLEYMay 18 Arrest warrants were issued on the 200 block of OHara Avenue, the 4800 block of Fuschia Way and the 1700 block of Chianti Way.May 18 An auto burglary occurred on the 5200 block of Neroly Road.May 18 Credit card fraud was reported on the 4600 block of La Vista Drive.May 18 On Orchard Park Drive at Wal-nut Drive, a subject was arrested for pub-lic intoxication.May 19 An armed robbery took place

on Francisco Villa Drive at OHara Av-enue.May 19 On the 1200 block of Chianti Way, a subject was arrested for felony DUI.May 20 On the 1400 block of Ruth-erford Lane, a subject was found to be driving without a license.May 20 An incident of misdemeanor hit-and-run occurred on the 3200 block of Main Street.May 20 On the 6000 block of Bridge-head Road, a boat was burglarized.May 20 Grand theft was reported on the 3300 block of Main Street.May 20 An incident of trespassing took place on the 800 block of Almond Drive.May 20 An illegal entry was made on the 2000 block of Meadowlark Lane.May 21 On the 5200 block of Elm Lane, a subject was found in possession of dangerous drugs.May 21 Suspicious circumstances were reported on the 100 block of Vella Cir-cle.May 22 A vehicle parked on the 1200 block of Fetzer Lane was stolen.May 22 On the 1900 block of Cinna-mon Ridge Drive, a subject was cited for possession of marijuana.May 22 On the 5500 block of Bridge-head Road, a subject was charged with violation of probation.May 22 An object was thrown at a vehicle on East Cypress Road at Sellers Avenue.May 22 Incidents of misdemeanor DUI occurred on the 5500 block of Bridgehead Road and the 300 block of West Cypress Road.May 23 Vehicle accidents with prop-erty damage took place on Bridgehead Road at Main Street, and the 5500 block of Bridgehead Road.May 24 A stolen vehicle was recovered on the 5200 block of Elm Lane.May 24 On the 100 block of Stony Hill Court, a subject was found to be under the infl uence of drugs.May 24 Incidents of misdemeanor DUI occurred on Laurel Road at Main Street, and on Main Street at Teakwood Drive.

COP LOGSFROM EMERGENCY SERVICES DISPATCH LOGS A subject made vague text-message threats to a resident of Prominent Drive. May 27, 3:50 p.m., Brentwood

JUNE 5, 2009 THEPRESS.NET | 19A

20A | THEPRESS.NET JUNE 5, 2009

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JUNE 5, 2009 COMMUNITY THEPRESS.NET | 21A

Another popular hands-on area was the livestock barn, where human kids petted goat kids and other animals. Two of those human kids were Oakleyites Sa-mantha Rogers, 6, and her 4-year-old sis-ter Savannah. Its an annual event for the Rogers family. They just have a blast ev-ery time, said the girls father Steve, who was joined by his wife Raquel.

The animal exhibit was made pos-sible by 4-H members such as Randy Ca-rasis of Knightsen, who was participating in his third County Fair and showing off several sheep for breeding stock and sale. I love it, he said. Its just fun getting together, seeing all of your old friends from other groups and the showmanship and everything. Its just a lot of fun.

While the fair is a one-day event for

fairgoers, for exhibitors like Bob Tan-nenbaum who operated two booths, one selling custom-fi tted toe rings, and the other providing computerized palm readings its a way of life. He describes himself as 64 going on 35 and owns a home in Las Vegas, but most of his life is spent on the road traveling from fair to fair throughout the West.

Theres a world out there, and I

dont want to experience it on a 27-inch screen, he said. I do sightseeing in be-tween shows and I enjoy the people. Peo-ple come to the fair to have fun. I have a wonderful life; I love the travel. Too bad I dont make any money, but its a fun life.

For more photos from this years Fair, visit www.thepress.net/multimedia/slideshows

Fair from page 1A

Left, Oakleyite Savannah Rogers, 4, was one of many kids petting the goat kids and other animals at the County Fair. Above, Astronaut Plasterman breaks out of his stat-ue-like stance to pose for a photo with a fairgoer.

Photos by Dave Roberts

Photos by Dave Roberts

Above, Shylo the clown poses for a photo with toe-ring salesman Bob Tannenbaum. Right, this little girl is as colorful as the merry-go-round shes riding.

Photos by Dave Roberts

Far left, a cou-ple steals a kiss on the midway. Left, kids of all ages enjoyed the County Fair.

22A | THEPRESS.NET JUNE 5, 2009

Its a Matter of LawBy Barbara A. Frantz

A NEW ECONOMY WHAT CHANGES MUST I MAKE IN MY REGULAR ROUTINELast month I covered Points 2 through

4 of the One Coach Program regarding positioning your business for growth in the new economy. Last months article focused on the inside of your company to make sure you are organized and have the proper support. This month I am going to talk about your products and/or services, Points 5 through 7.

For details, write Susie at Susie.carder@onecoach.com.

Point 5: Promotions within your busi-ness. There are many statistics about what it costs to bring in a new client. One common element among the experts is that it is always easier to have an existing client bring in a new client than by any other method. Use your client base to create new client oppor-tunities. Analyze how much it costs you to bring in a new potential client. Look to your staff to help you provide enough value to that new client that it pays the cost of bringing them in and then some. If your services or products are limited, create new products and services that will bring added value to your existing clients. Make a promotional calendar for an entire year. Dont wait to the last minute to offer your clients incentives to use your services.

Point 6: Branding. What does your image say about you? Even with limited funds, you can trade services to improve your marketing and advertising materials, because your website, your business card, even your office is your first impression, and it counts. You and your team must represent your culture, your values, your ethics.

Point 7: Price Structure/Price Increases. Nine out of ten businesses have not raised their prices for a very long time. When they formulated their pricing, they looked in the market place and said, I will start here. Of course, you should keep the market place in mind, but what has changed about your expertise, the additional value that you now bring to your clients that didnt exist when you started, and what has happened to the competition? I wouldnt switch my hair stylist if you paid me. I followed him when he moved. The value he brings to me is a premium for meconsistency. If you provide value to the clients that you serve, and they perceive it, they will pay whatever your price is. The key here is not to do a knee jerk price increase. Create criteria that you will periodi-cally measure to determine if its time. Supply and Demand is only one criteria.

I see businesses starting to have more activity. It seems as though everybody except the banks have gotten past the panic stage. Hang in there, times are changing.

In an upcoming issue four final rules in the new economy

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The information above is not a substitute for seeking legal advice. Barbara Frantz, local resident for 16 years, has 32 years of legal expe-rience, offering proven solutions for business owners to increase revenues and achieve their long range goals. For a free special report on Sources of Business Plans, please call the office at 925-516-1617 or email Barbara at barbara@bfrantz.com. Law Offices of Barbara A. Frantz, All Rights Reserved

24A | THEPRESS.NET JUNE 5, 2009

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Going to state its the magic incan-tation in high school athletics that names an athlete or team among the elite. In the state of California, athletes who qualify for state in an individual sport, such as wres-tling or track, are considered among the nations best.

On May 30, at the North Coast Sec-tion Meet of Champions, East County athletes competed for the right to partici-pate in this weekends track and fi eld state championships, hosted by Buchanan High School in Clovis.

For Freedom High School senior Ai-mee Rodgers, a chance to go to state has been four years in the making. Rodgers had qualifi ed for the Meet of Champions every year of her high school career in both of her events the 100- and 300-meter hurdles but had come up just short in previous seasons.

All of that made last Saturday espe-cially sweet, as Rodgers fi nished second in the 100-meter hurdles and third in the 300-meter hurdles to qualify for both events. She continued a string of consistent runs in the 100 hurdles, clocking a time of 14.86 in the fi nals to follow her heat-winning time

of 14.87 in the trials. She then ran a per-sonal-best time of 44.57 in the 300.

Ive been pretty consistent in the 100s recently, so hopefully it shows Im ready to make a big improvement at state, said Rodgers, referring to her goal of beating her personal-best time of 14.58 in her up-coming fi nal opportunity. In the 300s, I hadnt really been pushed for a long time, so I knew I could run faster than I had been once I got some good competition.

Rodgers was not the only East County athlete to qualify in multiple events, as Deer Valley, Heritage, Liberty and Freedom all boasted other state qualifi ers. Freedom also qualifi ed freshman hurdler Kenny Walker, who advanced to the state meet in his fi rst attempt. Rodgers and Walker are the fourth and fi fth athletes from Freedom to make it to the state meet, and the fi rst since 2006.

Deer Valley displayed its usual prowess in the sprinting and jumping events, win-ning both girls relays at the MOC, includ-ing a stirring come-from-behind victory over St. Marys in the 4x100-meter relay.

The Wolverines enter the state meet ranked in the top 10 in both events. Junior Chizoba Okodogbe will also be entering the state meet with individual goals, hoping to earn a medal in the 400 meters, an event

she dominated in Saturdays fi nal, winning by nearly three seconds.

The Deer Valley boys also qualifi ed for the 4x100-meter relay, running a season-best time of 42.00, featuring East Countys only four-event qualifi er: Sean Combs. Combs fi nished fourth in the long jump, third in the 100-meter dash, and third in the 200-meter dash.

Also advancing for the Wolverines was state leader Hammed Suleman, who easily won the triple jump at Berkeleys Edwards Stadium, and has aspirations of hitting a 52-foot jump in Clovis.

Other advancers from the Bay Valley Athletic League included the 4x400-meter relay team from Heritage which became the second relay squad in as many years to qualify for the Patriots and Wyatt Lan-drum of Liberty, who ran a personal-best time of 9:10.90 to fi nish third in the 3,200 meters. It was Landrums second straight year to qualify in that event.

The trials for the track and fi eld state championships begin today, June 5, and are hosted for the fi rst time by Buchanan High School. They are followed by the fi nals on Saturday.

2B | THEPRESS.NET SPORTS JUNE 5, 2009

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Freedoms Kenny Walker displays the hurdle form that is taking him to the state champi-onships.

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JUNE 5, 2009 SPORTS THEPRESS.NET | 3B

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Heritage senior Jordan Knox signs a Letter of Intent to the Academy of Arts University for a full-ride basketball scholar-ship as Heritage head coach Pat Cruickshank, assistant coach Rich Castellanos and Jordans proud parents, Frank and Lisa, look on.

Opportunity Knox

Photo by Stacey Chance

4B | THEPRESS.NET SPORTS JUNE 5, 2009

Best of Brentwood AttorneyRetired Superior Court Judge

JOHN M. ALLEN

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JOHN M. ALLENATTORNEY AT LAW

Serving East Contra Costa County

Personal Injury Business Litigation Real Estate

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The Heritage JV baseball squad recently accomplished the nearly impossible, going undefeated in a 24-game season.

In a grueling campaign, the Patriots knocked off non-league powerhouses Monte Vista, Amador Valley, Foothill, Alhambra and Arroyo, and BVAL powers Freedom and Deer Valley, plus league opponents Antioch, Liberty and Pittsburg.

Heritage also took the Concord Invitational Tournament Championship during Easter vacation, beating College Park, Concord and Alhambra. The team scored 288 runs during the season, averaging 10 or more runs per game, while the pitching staff of Chad Radelich, Chris Lynch, Brandon

Bascom, Kris Hagar, Hunter Jorgensen, Colton Robinson and Cole Wells gave up