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JUNE 18, 2010 COMMUNITY THEPRESS.NET | 3A

1300 Central Blvd. BrentwoodLori Abreu(925) 216-6317Owner/Broker www.DeltaRanches.com

Cerelle Carstairs(925) 382-4307

Real Estate Agent

Desirable neighborhood, walking distance to elementary school. Nice single story with 4 bdrms and 2 baths and lots of side yard parking. Short Sale. $200,000

Bank Owned 4 bdrm. 2.5 ba. 2,307 sf home near Deer Ridge off Balfour located in cul-de-sac. Kitchen has small breakfast island, counters with white tile and white appliances. Laminate floors downstairs. Soft colors, nice backyard. $341,000

Bank Owned two story condo with 2 bdrms and 2 ba, 1,354 sf. Cute in nice area. Wood deck that overlooks the courtyard. Good commute location. $135,300

Two story condo with 3 bdrm, 1.5 bath and 1,217 sf. Granite counters in kitchen and fireplace in family room. Single car garage. $217,800

2 bdrm 2 ba 833 sf condo priced to sell. Eat in kitchen open to family room. Nice size rooms and covered patio.

$159,500

1 bdrm, 1 ba, 647 sf condo with granite counters and stainless steel appliances. Patio/deck.

$126,500

Beautiful former model with 3 bdrms, 3 baths, 2437 sf. Hardwood floors throughout. Large lot backs to park, no rear/side neighbors on one side. Must see. Not your typical Short Sale. $349,900

2705 Serene Court, Brentwood

1505 Kirker Pass #115, Concord 667 Ashford Place, Brentwood

Good investment or starter home. Needs TLC. Bank owned 3 bdrm 1.5 bath, 1226 sf home has brick fireplace in family room and indoor laundry room. Carport and nice size lot. $114,000

Darling two story home with 3 bdrms. 2.5 ba. 1,845 sf and pool in the back yard. Kitchen has white tile counters, oak cabinets and lots of cabinets. This you must see. $239,000

202 Norcross Lane, Oakley 841 Boone Drive, Brentwood

Location, Location, Location! Minutes to everything: boating, shopping, highway, yet private and secluded w/ views of Mt. Diablo. Custom home w/ barn and your own veggie garden! $729,950

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Cute 2 bedroom. 1 1/2 bath, 1,036 sf condo with private patio. Quiet neighborhood and great views. Park-like setting. $209,000

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Antioch: The Orchard at Slatten Ranch (925) 779-1844

Transplan skittish about car fee hike

Despite a majority of East County residents opposing a $10 permanent in-crease in the vehicle registration fee for transportation projects, East County of-fi cials last month unanimously approved placing the fee hike on the November bal-lot. But last week, after two local offi cials suffered setbacks in Tuesdays election, they were nervous about its passage.

East County residents are the most wary in the county of the fee hike, ac-cording to a poll conducted in April for the Contra Costa Transportation Asso-ciation (CCTA). Only 46 percent of East County residents support it, while 51 are percent opposed despite East County residents expressing the greatest need in the county for road improvements. Sup-port countywide for the fee increase is 54 percent.

At last months Transplan meet-ing, Brentwood Mayor Bob Taylor, who is also the CCTA chairman, said East Countys skepticism of a fee hike is un-derstandable. What we were really dis-covering here is East County has prob-ably suffered with their housing going down, he said. Also the people out here are probably a little agitated, paying for BART for many years and still dont have it. So when you ask them to support a ve-

hicle fee (increase), I can understand they probably are a little bit like a beehive.

Taylor and another Transplan mem-ber, Antioch City Councilman Brian Kalinowski, got stung by those bees on June 8. Measure F, the Brentwood land change measure supported by Taylor, lost by a percentage of 43-57. And Ka-linowski lost the sheriff s race to Bob Livingstone by the same margin. Two days later at the Transplan meeting, they were not sounding confi dent about the car fee hikes chances as they discussed, and joked a bit, about lessons from the election.

Kalinowski, who had not attended the previous Transplan meeting, was ini-tially unclear about whether the fee hike was on the agenda for a vote or discus-sion. After fi nding out it was just for an update, he joked, Its been a long week, for some reason. Then he began a bit of second-guessing about asking taxpay-ers for more money. My only concern about this is that what I hear from folks about fee increases or taxes, or what-

ever term we use, is that when they are enacted, they never end. And this is an example of that argument that we get push-back on.

And furthermore, its $10 now, but $10 45 years from now is going to be a ridiculous funding stream thats going to be a nuisance to maintain. It just doesnt seem, from my perspective, responsible to go that route during a recession. If you said, Over the next 25 years heres $500 million and you can quantify a time line and estimated construction or improve-ment costs, then thats reasonable to me or the voter. But the unknown quantity and sort of infi nite time line is, I think, where we end up with problems.

Because we dont know what the costs will be. We are just going to assume that they are there. If we ran it concur-rent with Measure J (the 25-year half-cent sales tax for road projects), then it would make sense to people. And then when they revisit this issue they can say, Do we want to increase that amount, be-cause 10 is now 20? We can make that ad-

justment. I think there needs to be some sunset, even if its a long way down the road.

An election-chastened Taylor urged a united campaign for marketing the fee hike. Its been quite a week, he said. I guess what we have to be real careful of, and I will approach that with CCTA, is that the public right now is very con-cerned about many, many items and things. For us to sell this we have to have that this is a good thing because it is gon-na come back to source (the cities). This is all for the good and well for all 19 cit-ies (in the county). Basically, they will do within their city what is good for the city. I really feel that we all are going to have to sell the same tune.

Taylor is concerned about the luke-warm support for the fee hike in the county and even less support in East County. We were the lowest of the entire region, he noted. So, you know, for me to stand out in Brentwood and stand on the highest hill and

Thats not in Brentwood, sorry, interrupted Kalinowski in a joking ref-erence to the hilly Measure F area. As many started to laugh, he added, Bad joke.

Bad joke, echoed Taylor with a chuckle and then got serious about the fee hikes chances. I dont mind telling

by Dave RobertsStaff Writer

see Fee hike page 12A

My only concern about this is that what I hear from folks about fee increases or taxes, or whatever term we use, is that when they are enacted, they never end.

Brian Kalinowski, Transplan

4A | THEPRESS.NET COMMUNITY JUNE 18, 2010

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Nutritious treasures sustain the needy

Theyre called Treasure Boxes car-tons of brand-name food items sold at discount prices and for many area resi-dents feeling the pinch during these tough economic times, the name says it all.

These are diffi cult times for a lot of people and for many its hard to survive right now, said Deb Melander, whose Brentwood church, Creekside Christian, became a host site for the Treasure Box program in March. When I fi rst heard about it (Treasure Box) I thought it was a really interesting idea, and as soon as I got to see the food I saw that this was something I needed to be involved in.

Founded 18 months ago as a divi-sion of Good Source Solutions a food packaging company based in Carlsbad Treasure Box was developed as a means to provide families and individuals with fresh, affordable, healthy food at a frac-tion of grocery store prices.

For $30, purchasers receive 20 to 25 pounds of fresh groceries (worth between $65 to $100) including meat, frozen veg-etables and fruit, plus side menu items such as macaroni and cheese or potatoes enough to feed a family of four for a week, or a senior citizen for a month.

Operating much as the discount clothing chains such as Marshalls or Ross, Treasure Box items are purchased

in bulk from name-brand companies, and because much of the complicated distri-bution process is bypassed, the price sav-ings are passed on to the consumer. Trea-sure Box currently offers three varieties of boxes for $30: the Protein Box, which is a meat-only package; the Variety Box, which includes fruits and vegetables as

well as the meat products and side dishes; and the Quick and Healthy box, a sam-pling of 10 prepared healthy meals low in fat and sodium.

In Brentwood, as in other locations throughout the state, Treasure Box part-ners with faith-based and community-focused organizations such as Creekside

Christian to get the word out and the boxes sold. Ordering can be done online or in person with cash.

Right now we are just a bunch of volunteers trying to spread the word for people who want to purchase the boxes for themselves or for someone else in need, said Melander. So far the response has been very nice.

While the primary focus of the Trea-sure Box program is on the low-income, el-derly and homeless, the appeal of the food boxes is universal. There are no qualifi -cations and no restrictions to this, said Melander, who has purchased Treasure Boxes for her own family. A lot of people who are buying these boxes are middle-in-come folks people who have lost their jobs, single moms with kids to feed, and senior citizens on fi xed incomes.

And the program has begun to catch on. In April, when Treasure Box was launched in Brentwood, 75 orders were placed. In May, orders reached 246, and June is on track to surpass those num-bers.

Were just going to keep pounding the pavement to let people know about Treasure Box, said Melander. Its an amazing program and I absolutely believe in it.

For additional information, or to order a Treasure Box online, go to www.thetreasurebox.org or call 925-437-1146.

To comment, visit www.thepress.net.

Treasure Box cartons contain brand-name food items sold at discount prices.

Photo courtesy of Deb Melander

by Ruth RobertsStaff Writer

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Blues blown away by Delta draftsIt was A.D. 2010 on the California

Delta but it could have been A.D. 1010 on the North Atlantic. I closed my eyes and felt the boats prow slam against a roller, felt the headwind rattle my eyelids. Suddenly I was a Viking gripping the

manrail of a long-boat hooking out of Trondheimsfjord on its way down the coast of Norway, my fl axen braids stream-ing fl at in a 30-knot gust.

I opened my eyes and found myself aboard the C.T. Slicker, a 33-foot day cruiser captained by

Tom Moorad of Discovery Bay. Tom had invited me to join him and a handful of crewmates on a journey from Disco Bay to Tule Island, where Stockton Deep Water Channel marker 16 and the Delta Yacht Club make their home.

My adventures on the trail normally take place beneath a blue sky. Today, the blue was below as well. Unaccustomed as I am to aquatic adventure, I expected the days agenda to consist of sedate sight-seeing as the Deltas tule-lined sloughs slipped placidly past.

The reality was better.We were still idling through the

no-wake zone when it became clear that this excursion would be no walk in the park. As we cleared the shelter of the towns residences and headed toward deep water, a 25 mph wind gusting to 40 began raking our faces and tugging at our headgear. Wind direction: from the northeast. Our heading: northeast. I tightened my cap band to the cut-off-cir-culation-to-skull notch, and the bluster intensifi ed to match it. I decided to

remove the cap of my own volition.Make no mistake: it was a spec-

tacular day to be out on the water the kind of spectacular that evidently keeps most folks off the water. As we plowed an 11-knot furrow up Middle River, an occasional fi shing boat could be seen bobbing against the reeds, and the planing hull of a cigarette boat knifi ng through the chop. But not many skiers or wakeboarders were daring the squalls on this sunny Saturday morning. Thats OK I try to avoid the company of the clinically insane.

Our hardy crew of Adriana, Alan, David, Leia, Smyrna and Tommy took the conditions in stride. By the time we swung into Mildred Tract, where whitecaps laced the surface like confetti, extra layers had been donned and noses thumbed at the gods of gales. A couple hundred yards out, a tube built for four careened crazily over the washboard surface like a rodeo bull in the act of unloading its cargo.

Tom, who as a native Chicagoan is no stranger to wind and cold, took note of the 70-degree water temperature.

By mid-June, he said, the mercury is normally up to about 75. Seems like the Sierras winter melt was making its fri-gidity felt a hundred miles west. Toms been navigating the Deltas labyrinthine layout for 18 years, so there isnt much he hasnt seen. We passed a spot called Five Fingers, where boats once dropped anchor but are now barred by weeds. He pointed out eroded slough banks and admitted that boat wakes only speed up the damage. Toms an upbeat guy, quick

Curtains of water criss-cross the Delta as a jet ski daredevil uses C.T. Slickers wake as a jump ramp en route to a spec-tacular wipeout.

Photo by Ger Erickson

see Outside page 7A

TAKE ITOUTSIDE

GERERICKSON

JUNE 18, 2010 OUTDOORS THEPRESS.NET | 7A

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WHAT TO DO ABOUT GREEN POOLSWithin the past few years, it was reported

that West Nile Virus was found in Contra Costa County. It hasnt been in the news much lately, and that might be because of sensible precautions the County has taken to prevent the spread. Just because we havent heard about it doesnt mean we should let up on this issue.

The following is a quote from http://west-nile.ca.gov/ - Most often, West Nile is spread by the bite of an infected mosquito. Mosquitoes are carriers (vectors) that become infected when they feed on infected birds. Infected mosquitoes can then spread West Nile to humans and other animals when they bite. Anything that can hold standing water for a few days can become the source for mosquito production. Eliminate stand-ing water eliminate mosquitos. If you see a dead squirrel or dead bird, visit the website above and report it, or call 877.968.2473.

The biggest culprit would be abandoned swimming pools, but this also means abandoned spas, old tires, flower pots, clogged rain gutters, etc. Do a check around your property for anything that can hold stagnant water and take care of it ASAP.

The best possible option for a green pool is to resume maintaining it, but if that isnt possible, the next best step is to drain it completely. If there is a green pool in your neighborhood, you can report it anonymously to 877.968.2473. You can even call this number for your own pool and ask them to come out and put mosquito fish in your pool until you can get it cleaned up. If you are wor-ried about turning yourself in you shouldnt be. Their goal is to reduce mosquitos, period. They will work with you and provide quite a bit of free resources and help. Its only if the situation gets dire and you ignore their help that they will start to abate the problem for you, and charge you for it. They can even levy fines as high as $1,000 per day if you ignore their offers of help and warnings. And dont think that ignoring the problem will make it go away. One of your neighbors WILL eventually call.

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

to smile and crack a quip, but he views the current state of the Delta as no laughing matter.

A shade short of 18 miles after wed shoved off from Clipper Estates, the palm-embellished outline of Tule Island and the Delta Yacht Club complex came into focus. Tied up at the long stretch of dock was only one boat, testimony to the days rigorous conditions. C.T. Slicker (the initials stand for Cecile and Tom) approached the dock warily as the wind tried to spin it like a compass needle gone haywire. Skipper Tom sidled our boat against the dock and got us tied up. Nifty piloting for a city slicker.

A few hours of good eats, good ban-ter and my dubious bocce ball skills later,

it was time to rejoin so-called civilization. And wouldnt you know it: still only two boats were moored at the dock. It was tempting to consider us a rare crew, and then the thought came: the more I rub shoulders with East County folk, the less their generosity, their grit and their wit seem a rarity.

The wind, now from the northwest, gave us a starboard nudge and C.T. Slickers twin 270 Crusaders churned us away from the white dock and toward the pale peaks of Mt. Diablo jutting low in the haze of distance. Id been ushered from my world of trails into the world of tules, from blue above to blue below. For a glorious day on the Delta, this landlub-bers blues had been obliterated.

To comment, visit www.thepress.net.

Outside from page 6A

Photo by Ger Erickson

Discovery Bay resident and Delta

Yacht Club member Tom Moorad

handles the helm of C.T Slicker as

crew member Leia Hartje enjoys a

splendid view of the Delta.

8A | THEPRESS.NET COMMUNITY JUNE 18, 2010

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City of Brentwood Accepting Waitlist Applications for First Time Homebuyer/A ordable

Housing Program

Th e City of Brentwoods Housing Division is accepting waitlist applications from income quali ed families who are inter-ested in purchasing an a ordable singlefamily home under the Citys First Time Homebuyer/Af-fordable Housing Program.

Applicants must be rst time homebuyers, qualify as low-income and have a good credit score (NO EXCEPTIONS). First 100 low-income waitlist appli-cations will be accepted. Applica-tions are available at the Commu-nity Development Department, 118 Oak Street, Brentwood dur-ing normal business hours or on line at www.ci.brentwood.ca.us.

For more information please contact Sylvia Elias, Housing Division (925) 516-5305.

Not all the lessons taught at American Shaolin Kenpo in Antioch pertain to martial arts. According to Grand Master May Castro-Manner, civic responsibility and patriotism are also part of the curriculum, as is helping other people. The students and their families, above, with members of the Antioch Police De-partment, get high marks for their recent work in that arena. With the help of more than 40 local businesses that supplied raf e prizes, the group raised more than $5,400 for the departments canine unit. We were pleased and proud to do something for our police department because they do so much for all of us, said Castro-Man-ner. It was awesome to see people reach deep into their pockets. Additional efforts are in the works to raise the rest of the approximately $15,000 needed to acquire a new police dog, which will take the place of one of the PDs retiring animals.

Kenpos canine contribution

Photo courtesy of Terry Hempleman

JUNE 18, 2010 EDUCATION THEPRESS.NET | 9A

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Effort escalates to save frosh sports

The Liberty Union High School Dis-trict Educational Foundation has joined in the effort to save ninth-grade sports in the district.

At last months regular board meet-ing, the LUHSD Board of Trustees voted to implement round two of budget cuts in order to balance the $4 million defi -cit the district faces next year. The latest cuts included eliminating all coaching stipends for ninth-grade coaches, which provided a total savings to the district of $48,000.

The principals, athletic directors, coaches and faculty have begun a cam-paign to solicit donations to restore freshmen sports programs by raising money from the community and public at large.

The board has taken a district-wide approach and agreed to restore the pro-grams at Freedom, Heritage and Liberty high schools if $48,000 is raised by Aug. 1. The deadline requirement will allow for timely notifi cations, staffi ng and scheduling to occur in time for the pro-grams to be restored.

The Liberty Educational Founda-tion has agreed to accept donations on behalf of the Save Freshmen Sports Campaign. To make a donation, visit the Liberty Educational Foundation Web site, educationwins.org, or send a check payable to Liberty Educational Founda-

tion (memo: Restoration of ninth-grade sports) to: Liberty Union High School District Offi ce, 20 Oak St., Brentwood, CA 94513.

Those desiring to help organize a fundraising event to restore the freshmen sports programs should call Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources Eric Volta at 925-634-2166, ext. 2045 for more information. Follow LUHSD on Facebook and Twitter by clicking on the link at www.luhsd.net.

Antioch slips in race for $250K grant

There are only 12 days left to vote for Antioch High School in its quest to win a $250,000 grant from PepsiCo, Inc. as part of Pepsis Refresh Project. Only the top two causes will receive a grant, and at press time, Antioch was ranked 52 down 10 spots from last week.

The high school is seeking a half-million-dollar grant to improve its track, which isnt up to California In-terscholastic Federation regulations. Voting is open for the entire month of June. The June winners will be an-nounced July 1.

Voting is free, and those registered at www.refresheverything.com may vote once a day for the cause of their choice. To vote for Antioch High School, visit www.refresheverything.com/antiochhighschooltrack.

Tickets for Dustin Diamonds comedy show at Caps restaurant in Brentwood on June 18 are $25.

Correction

10A | THEPRESS.NET COMMUNITY JUNE 18, 2010

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Eagle candidate to honor veterans

While most high school students are out enjoying the sunshine, reveling in the few precious summer weeks where they leave responsibility by the wayside, David Juarez is spending his summer learning about leadership and the importance of community as he prepares to complete his Eagle Scout project later this month.

Juarez, who will be a senior at Heritage High School in Brentwood in the fall, plans to install a special memorial in Veterans Park on Sunday, June 27, to honor the sacrifi ces of the men and women of the military. The project fulfi lls the community service requirement of Juarezs Eagle Scout candidacy.

When you decide on an Eagle project, you need to fi nd something you are passionate about or else the project becomes a chore, Juarez said. I decided to do something for our veterans because my dad, grandpa, uncles and cous-ins have served in the Marines, and Ive always been taught to respect, remember and appreciate everything that veter-ans have done for us. We wouldnt have what we have today without the many sacrifi ces from our men and women in uniform, and I want to do something to acknowledge local veterans in the community.

Following a brief memorial dedication ceremony at the park, featuring a guest speaker and the unveiling of the plaque, a motorcycle procession will lead guests to Veterans Hall, where Juarez, with the help of his friends, will serve a free dinner to 100 veterans and their guests. Brentwood Caf will cater the invitation-only event, which will include guest speakers and live entertainment. While the plaque will become a permanent fi xture in the community, Juarez said he wanted to host a dinner for the veterans as a token of his gratitude.

While Juarez hasnt ruled out a military career, the Heritage varsity linebacker hopes to attend UCLA to study business. Since his senior schedule will be loaded with extra-curricular activities and several AP classes, Juarez wanted to make sure he completed his Eagle Scout project this sum-mer.

Eagle Scout is a prestigious status, and this project is helping me get out of my comfort zone, Juarez said. Im doing a lot of presentations and organizing this whole thing. Its a lot of work, but the process teaches you a lot of good things about leadership, and that will be a helpful skill to have throughout my life. Ive met a lot of community leaders through this process and Im taking on something that most kids my age will never do in their lifetime.

Juarez, who hatched the idea for his Eagle Scout proj-ect in February, believes the memorial and the plaque are his way of honoring local veterans as well as creating aware-ness about all theyve done by serving and protecting the country over the years.

A lot of people take members of the armed forces for granted, but its not their fault, said Juarez. They just dont realize that someone had to fi ght for the freedoms they enjoy every day. I hope this project will help create more awareness and appreciation for our local veterans. Theyve done so much to protect our freedoms, and its im-portant for them to know that their sacrifi ces will never be forgotten.

To help complete his project, Juarez is asking the com-munity for monetary donations to help pay for the plaque and the dinner. Donations, which are tax deductible (Tax ID 20-1711528), may be sent to BSA Troop 298, c/o David Juarez, 1323 Muscat Court, Brentwood, CA 94513.

The memorial unveiling will take place at Veterans Park near the fl agpoles at 5 p.m. on June 27.

To comment, visit www.thepress.net.

Heritage High student David Juarez will unveil a memorial plaque in Veterans Park later this month as part of this Eagle Scout project to honor local veterans.

Photo by Samie Hartley

by Samie HartleyStaff Writer

JUNE 18, 2010 EDUCATION THEPRESS.NET | 11A

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Deer Valley says goodbye to seniors

When Vitamin Cs song Graduation fi rst hit the airwaves, members of Deer Val-leys Class of 2010 were only 8, but the lyr-ics still provide a sentimental refl ection on the journey that 563 Wolverines started four years ago.

As the Divine Voices Choir swayed as they sang the chorus And as our lives change, come whatever, we will still be friends forever, students in black and teal gowns smiled, waved at family and friends, wiped away tears and sat as patiently as pos-sible, anticipating the elusive moment theyd been dreaming about.

When we fi rst entered the Deer Valley gates, many of us were already anxious to be-come seniors, refl ected Senior Class President Meghan Wristen. We saw all of the activities they got to do and how everything they did seemed so special. Well, those times we looked forward to are now coming to an end.

Wristen identifi ed highlights from the past nine months that led to this moment, in-cluding homecoming, senior ball and count-less sports victories, but she encouraged her peers to cherish the memories before moving on to the future.

Our class was one of a kind, but now its the end of the road, she said. Each and every student in our class has helped to make our high school years memorable. We had many times when we lived, laughed and

loved, fi lling our times with smiles and tears. However our smiles will fade, our tears will dry, but our memories will last forever.

Valedictorian Tyler Hayes kicked off the inspirational quotes portion of the cer-emony, but not everyone in attendance might have recognized Polonius speech from Act I, Scene III of Hamlet, so he encouraged ev-eryone to look it up on SparkNotes after the ceremony.

In summary, Hayes urged the graduates to follow their own paths (to thine own self be true) and achieve the goals they set for themselves. Life has no cookie-cutter plan that must be followed, he said, so if the col-

lege-career-family-white-picket-fence Ameri-can Dream isnt your dream, go do your own thing so that you dont wake up one day and wonder where your life went while you were trying to live up to someone elses expecta-tions.

Principals Scott Bergerhouse and Clar-ence Isadore left the students with more short and sweet pearls of wisdom that were easier to digest. Bergerhouse, quoting Maya Angelou, said: Ive learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel, while Isadore quoted Al-bert Einstein, encouraging students to Try

not to become a person of success but rather try to become a person of value.

Donald Gill, in his fi rst Deer Valley ad-dress as AUSD superintendent, beamed with pride as he addressed the graduates: Today we celebrate you. We do so because you are our hope and our future. At the end of this ceremony, you will have fulfi lled another sig-nifi cant step in your lifes journey. Tomorrow, you will embark on an exciting trek toward adulthood.

Gill asked the students to be open to lifes possibilities and to live life with courage as he passed on the metaphorical leadership baton.

To comment, visit www.thepress.net.

Hundreds of friends and family members gathered at Deer Valley High School last Friday to celebrate the Class of 2010. A Deer Valley graduate, right, enthusiastically displays his excitement moments before receiving his diploma.

Photos by Samie Hartley

by Samie HartleyStaff Writer

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Oakley Kiwanis ready to serve

Kiwanis International has more than 240,000 members, but none are more enthusi-astic about helping others than the 30 who have just recently joined.

With the assistance of Kiwanians from Antioch and Brentwood, those 30 have char-tered their own organization, the Oakley Ki-wanis. Helmed by President Jim Frazier, the group held its fi rst meeting last month and al-ready has a plethora of ideas of how to help the Oakley community.

Were really excited about getting this club off the ground, said Frazier. Weve got a lot of great people in our community who want to help, and now they have another way to get involved. The Delta Kiwanis (of Antioch) ap-proached me at a gathering recently and asked if Oakley would consider beginning its own chapter, and I thought, Wow I like what you do but I dont know if there will be any interest in Oakley. So we started asking people around town, and a lot of people expressed interest in the club and were ready to jump on board.

The club meets every Monday evening at Mikes Beef N Brew to discuss projects and ways to fulfi ll Kiwanis mission to change the world one child and one community at a time. While Kiwanis is a community service or-ganization, the clubs focus is helping children, a cause about which Oakley Kiwanis Charter Member Casey Harvey is passionate.

I really like the idea of Kiwanis because its about helping kids, and it gives you a way to help the kids in your community. Ive been look-ing for a way to get involved and this seems like a perfect fi t, Harvey said. Being a part of this club shows me that I have a voice in the commu-nity and I can make a difference. This is a group of likeminded people with good hearts who just want to help out and make their community a better place to live in, and by helping our chil-dren, we are building a stronger community.

Harvey said she tells people about Oakley Kiwanis every chance she gets, and the Kiwanis buzz is slowly making its way through town. Thats how Ralph Diaz got involved.

I overheard someone talking about Ki-wanis while I was at the hardware store, and I couldnt help but want to join, Diaz said. The more I heard, the more I wanted to get involved. I think this is going to be a great com-munity organization. There are a lot of great people here who want to do great things for the community.

Diaz, who recruited his wife Theresa, said the community should unite to help the chil-dren who live in the city of Oakley, as they are the future of the community. Theresa agreed. We are lucky to have a large healthy family, and now we want to give back, she said. And now is the best time to join the Oakley Kiwanis because there are so many ideas being passed around. People are really excited about work-ing in the community and being on the ground fl oor of a club that will change the community for the better.

While the organization has yet to decide on its fi rst project, Frazier said hed like to raise money to provide instructional materials for teachers in the Oakley Union School Dis-trict, support La Clinica, and partner with the Friends of Oakley, of which he is also a mem-ber, to expand the Christmas Basket Program. He also would like the organization to offer

support and assistance with the creation of an all-abilities playground next to OHara Park Middle School.

Janet Frazier, Jims wife, shares his en-thusiasm for community service. An Oakley Kiwanis secretary, Janet said that for years the Fraziers sent checks to support their favorite charities, but now they prefer to get out in the community and work directly with the people who need help through their own nonprofi t or-ganization, Network of Care, as well as many other locally-based charities.

People think they need to set aside an en-tire day to do volunteer work, Janet said, but it only takes a few hours to show you care. Vol-unteerism is an indescribably rewarding experi-

ence, and I cant wait to get Oakley Kiwanis up and running.

Kiwanis International, established in 1915, sponsors nearly 150,000 service projects annually and raises approximately $107 mil-lion to benefi t communities in more than 80 nations.

Oakley Kiwanis will host its charter dinner in July, when the club will be formally inducted into the Kiwanis International family. Regular club meetings are held every Monday at 6:30 p.m. at Mikes Beef N Brew, 2083 Main St. For more information about Oakley Kiwanis, call Jim Frazier at 925-250-6831 or visit www.kiwanis.org.

To comment, visit www.thepress.net.

by Samie HartleyStaff Writer

JUNE 18, 2010 COMMUNITY THEPRESS.NET | 13A

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New neighborhood holds grand opening

Meritage Homes has announced the grand opening celebration of their highly anticipated Carmel Estates neighborhood in Brentwood. The event takes place June 19.

In addition to offering special pricing from the mid $300s, Saturdays festivities in-clude live gourmet cooking demonstrations by a Bosch appliance representative from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., a live radio broadcast by KKIQ 101.7 from noon to 2 p.m., refresh-ments, prizes and more.

Carmel Estates offers impressive home designs that boast distinctive architectural styling, open layouts and generous included amenities such as green features and luxuri-ous appointments.

According to Carmel Estates Sales Asso-

ciate Katrin Maercz, Since pre-model sales at Carmel Estates have been brisk, this weekend is the absolute best time to purchase a new home while the selection and savings are the most advantageous.

As one of the regions most anticipated new gated communities located in the heart of Brentwood, Carmel Estates features a premi-um selection of large homesites up to a half- acre surrounding the neighborhoods 1.7-acre central park. The community features six all-new single- and two-story home designs rang-ing from 2,232 to 3,475 square feet and up to fi ve bedrooms and 3 bathrooms.

The homes boast estate-style architec-

Carmel Estates in Brentwood, a new neigh-borhood by Meritage Homes, will hold a grand opening event this weekend.

see Neighborhood page 20A

JUNE 18, 2010 COMMUNITY THEPRESS.NET | 15A

ing, Trudy said. I didnt know what it was, but it was serious.

Munions diagnosis was prostate can-cer, and he would soon learn that his Pros-tate-Specifi c Antigen (PSA) level was 9 (1 is the lowest, 10 the highest and worst).

The thoughts that were going through my head were that I was dead, he said. His father-in-law had died of can-cer, wasting away from the disease and the chemo and radiation used to treat it.

I didnt want to go through that, said Bob. There were times when I just wanted to say, Im done. Trudy wor-ried endlessly about him, to the point she counted Bobs pain pills at night to make sure he hadnt intentionally taken too many.

With Trudys help, though, Bob slowly began to understand that he wasnt alone in his struggle. I came to the re-alization that I (((ital I))) didnt have cancer, we (((ital we))) had cancer, Bob said. The whole family had cancer.

If that was true, then his entire church had it, too. A member of Creek-side Church in Brentwood, Bob said a visit from Pastor Scott Kirk on the eve of his surgery let him know there was sup-port even from those he couldnt see.

We prayed together, he said. We felt another presence, and we knew God was with us. All of a sudden I felt at ease.

On July 9, 2009, Bob underwent sur-gery to remove his prostate. I was the most surprised person when I woke up, he said. Although he had yet to undergo 35 grueling days of radiation to eliminate and residual cancer, his PSA is now 0.1, virtually undetectable, and hes able to look back at it with some humor.

I have tattoos now, he joked, refer-ring to the aiming marks put on his body by the radiologist. I cant show them in public, but I can hang out in biker bars if I want.

Bob is still regaining his strength, hence his brief hiatus in his car last week-

end. But the electrifying feeling shared by both him and Trudy as he took his place for the Survivors Lap at last week-ends Relay and the camaraderie of the dozens of other survivors walking with him drove home the need for those with cancer to share their burden, and the re-alization that there are many people who want to help.

I dont think anyone can get through this by yourself, or even with just your family, he said. You need the support of other people, too, even if its someone you dont know.

Bob said celebrating a virtually can-cer-free birthday at the birthday-themed Relay For Life helped solidify his deter-mination to get more involved in the event next year, and Trudy plans to also.

Were not just dabbling our toes in; were going to jump in with both feet, she said.

Bobs already active in his church and other charitable causes, but what hes gone through makes him feel as though a curtain has been pulled aside, and Ive been born again, he said. He hopes to pass along his message of celebration, fi ghting back, and survival on the same track next year.

I know theres a value to life that I didnt respect before, he said. I have a better understanding of the healing pro-cess of those who have had cancer. It goes beyond the physical healing to the under-standing that God has given you life, and you have to go out and do something with it.

The 2010 Brentwood Relay For Life raised $188,000, short of the goal but, given the sad state of the economy, still wonder-ful, said Chairwoman Joy Benson. This town comes through every time. By way of expressing their satisfaction with the results, Chairwoman Joy Benson , Mayor Bob Taylor and Fire Chief Hugh Hender-son followed through on their promises to shave their heads in celebration.

To comment, visit www.thepress.net.

Relay from page 1A

Photo by Tracy Benhamou

Clockwise from top left: Brentwood 2010 Relay For Life Co-chair Wanda Zimmerman dances out in front as the Survivor Lap begins the annual 24-hour fundraiser for the American Cancer Society last weekend. Brentwood Mayor Bob Taylor, Relay Chairwoman Joy Benson and Fire Chief Hugh Henderson got their heads shaved in celebration of the $188,000 raised at the 2010 Brentwood Relay For Life last weekend. Zachary Semick gazes at the memorial luminaria lin-ing the track at the Relay last week-end. Relay volunteers help prepare hot dogs for hungry walkers. Phillip Root sports a tropical theme as part of the Save the Ta Tas team.

Photos by Richard Wisdom

16A | THEPRESS.NET JUNE 18, 2010

OPINIONEDITORIALS, LETTERS & COMMENTARY National

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

Grateful for the fathersEditor:

As a Due Diligence clerk for Contra Costa County, I search for absent parents for Children & Family Services. The cir-cumstances foster children fi nd themselves in are unreal to me. At 52, I need only to walk a block to my parents home and see my mother Maman watering her garden and my father Mamon watching Law & Order or CSI.

My personal interpretation of the law of relativity shaped my childrens steadfast demeanor. Simply translated, wherever my children were during their childhood days, rest assured there was a relative around to nag them. From mother, father, grand-mother, grandfather, aunt, uncle, etc. up to grandaunt-in-law who is the wife of my mothers second cousin, there was never a lack of solicited or unsolicited loving advice/guidance.

My children developed strong person-alities, having been exposed intentionally to frugal habits and the value of hands-on experience and self-reliance. Respect for all of Gods creation made my children unfazed by wealth and position. My daughter, Bianca, is a resourceful, fun-lov-ing and self-assured individual incapable of a negative thought, while my son, Joshua, is responsible, considerate and mature beyond his age with exceptional leadership qualities.

My husband, Walter, deserves a lot of credit for their upbringing, and I take this opportunity, this Fathers Day, to say thank you to all who played this important role.

My own father, who, at almost 90, continues to be a pillar of strength. Vivid in my mind, he is the dashing soldier in crisp khaki uniform walking across a small wooden bridge in a WWII photo.

Horst, the father-in-law I never met, who impressed responsibility in my husband not through words but through deeds. Only a 102 fever and a bus drivers refusal to let him ride the Long Island Transit could make him miss one day of

work in 30-plus years.Most importantly, my husband,

whose determination to spend quality time with his son was immortalized in the 1996 Fathers Day Giants game. An intermis-sion sweep of the bleacher crowd gave glimpse to the world of his Indiana Jones hat and paternal dedication to instill in his son love for the all-American sport.

Thank you and Happy Fathers Day!Cynthia Teves-Ruehlig

Antioch

Boycott bad environmental citizensEditor:

Let me start off by asking a question. What would you do if you witnessed a cor-poration violating California littering law? Call the police? Yeah right, theyd laugh at you and make you feel real stupid for even bothering to call them.

I often walk my dogs along the creek which runs east and west between Vista Grande and Hillcrest Drive in Antioch. Walmart is right across the street from Hill-crest Drive. This area accumulates a huge amount of garbage and trash. And there have been times when Ive actually found huge clear trash bags fi lled with Walmart plastic bags. They appeared to have been from Walmarts recycle-your-shopping-bag bins. How ironic for these to be found lying open in the creek.

This happened twice. Both times I grabbed the bag and crossed Hillcrest Drive and handed them to the fi rst Walmart employee I saw. The trash from Walmart and McDonalds has now come to the point of ridiculous.

Walmart is not a good corporate citizen for our community. Quite the op-posite. I realize this doesnt even come close to compare to the destruction to our Gulf Coast by the hands of the BP Corporation. But my question is: How long are we going to allow corporations to get away with this? We my friend, are the ones with the power. Boycott those businesses that have such little regard for the environment. And vote for those who arent in the back pocket of big corporations. You know who I mean.

Debrah NavaAntioch

Defeat of F a shared successEditor:

We have a phenomenal grassroots movement starting in Brentwood. Its no longer business as usual. Its what weve been saying all along we advocate protecting residents property values and quality of living, managed growth, solving current problems instead of creating new ones, and most importantly: listening to the public.

New development should be com-patible with our citys General Plan and benefi cial to the public; not just developers Brentwood residents recognized that. Thats the message weve sought to convey

since early March. You cant ask to be part of our city by re-writing our General Plan to your specifi cations which is a public process or by threatening us, misleading us or trying to confuse the issues. It was never about the landowners; it was about their embedded development project.

I want to thank Save Mount Diablo for its guidance, the tireless efforts of our local volunteers who put in hundreds of hours getting the word out, and the stanch support of my husband in pursuing my passion. This election was a demonstration that we all have a stake in Brentwoods fu-ture, whether we were born here or moved here last month.

Our group has maintained a positive attitude during this hard-fought campaign to inform Brentwood residents of the dangers of ballot-box planning. We want to thank City Councilmember Brandon Richey for recognizing and supporting his constituents, and in our efforts to rein-force Brentwoods vision of development within current city boundaries and within Brentwoods voter-approved urban limit line, faithful application of our General Plan and our future as one of the best cities in which to live in East Contra Costa County.

As we go forward, we need to con-centrate on incentives to bring business back to our town. We need to make better choices. Saying yes to every project is a recipe for getting whatever benefi ts a few instead of Brentwood as a whole.

When our businesses are thriving again, the housing developments that have been halted or are in the works will be built hopefully with better oversight and property values will begin to see a recovery. We can maintain Brentwoods high quality of life by recovering at a pace consistent with our needs, and with better infrastruc-ture, service levels and other amenities, as required by our Residential Growth Management Program.

Finally, what the developers never got is that we love our city: our downtown, our schools, our Farmers Market, our location here between the Delta waterway and Mt. Diablo, our family-oriented Playful City, our local businesses, our agricultural his-tory and future, and yes, our western hills. We want the amenities of a thriving city, but we dont have to settle for those things at the expense of our spectacular natural heritage.

Kathy Griffi nPrincipal Offi cer

Brentwood Residents Opposed to Developer Measure F

Did they get the message?Editor:

I would fi rst like to thank Council-men Brandon Richey for having the foresight to listen to what the residents of Brentwood have been saying for a long

time, and that is to stop the out-of-control growth.

Mayor Taylor, Vice Mayor Stone-barger and Councilmen Becnel and Brockman all bowed down to special interests and not the will of the people again. I would like to think that every member of the Brentwood City Coun-cil heard the message from the sound defeating of Measure F last Tuesday and this has opened their eyes and ears to the message the people have been attempting to send for years.

Stop the out of control growth and listen to the people, not the special interest groups.

This is the second time in fi ve years the voters have been given the opportu-nity to control what takes place with the urban limit line associated with this area of town and the message was even louder this time: No and stop the out-of-control growth. The hiring of Tom Koch has proven to be a costly experience for the landowners and developers. The mislead-ing tactics that his leadership provided ended up causing more suspicion for the voters as to what was the real truth behind this measure in the fi rst place and that closed the door on their program. It was clear from the start that this measure was being driven for one purpose big money and not to improve or keep our current quality of life within the City of Brent-wood.

The big money ($279,000-plus) spent by the landowners and developers associated with Yes on Measure F has proven once again to be waste of time and money. With big supports like Lee Hancock, Sean McCauley, Brian Swisher, Dafne Swisher, Annette Beckstrand, Rick Lemyre/Brentwood Press, Supervisor Mary Piepho, LAFCO Commissioners Helen Allen and Rob Schroder, Mayor Bob Taylor, Vice Mayor Erick Stonebarg-er, City Councilmember Chris Becnel, City Councilmember Bob Brockman, the Brentwood Chamber of Commerce and many more past politicians that were involved with Brentwood government, has proven to be meaningless to the concerned residents of Brentwood.

The story line read: Is it possible that all of these leaders could be wrong? The answer to this question is very clear now: Yes, they are wrong! The people have spoken again.

Johnny MerrillBrentwood

Brentwood residents know what they want

Editor:Confused, didnt fully understand

these are words that Tom Koch, consul-tant for the Yes on Measure F Campaign

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

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see Letters page 18A

JUNE 18, 2010 THEPRESS.NET | 17A

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A sampling of recent law enforcement activity reported by East County police de-partments.BRENTWOODJune 7, 12:41 a.m. On Hudson Drive, two subjects were involved in an argument re-garding their relationship.June 7, 10:03 a.m. A resident of Wickson Way reported that a subject coerced her into signing over power of attorney to him and subsequently took all of her fi nancial assets.June 7, 11:53 a.m. An unidentifi ed person stole credit cards, currency and a personal check from a resident of Pearl Way, made unauthor-ized purchases and cashed a forged check.June 7, 12:20 p.m. An unidentifi ed person attempted to transfer money from the bank account of a resident of Margil Way.June 7, 12:39 p.m. An unidentifi ed person at-tempted to purchase with a fraudulent check the patio furniture that a resident of Alder-man Lane was selling on Craigslist.June 7, 7:35 and 10:10 p.m. On Montecito Drive and Pearson Drive, unidentifi ed per-sons threw rocks through the windows of parked and unoccupied vehicles.June 8, 1:28 a.m. During investigations of sus-picious circumstances on Susan Street, offi cers found suspected ecstasy and smoking pipes.June 8, 12:11 p.m. On Romulus Place, a vehi-cle was towed for being abandoned for more than 72 hours.June 8, 1:38 p.m. An unidentifi ed person stole the registration tabs off a vehicle parked on Sandyhills Lane at West Country Club Drive.June 8, 3:03 p.m. An unidentifi ed person used the personal information of a resident of Foxtail Court to fi le a fraudulent 2009 fed-eral tax return in Maryland.June 8, 4:30 p.m. On Sand Creek Road at the Highway 4 Bypass, offi cers assisted East Contra Costa Fire with traffi c control in rela-tion to a brush fi re.June 8, 5:42 p.m. An unidentifi ed person kicked in the front door of a residence on Sycamore Avenue. The resident found noth-ing missing or out of place.June 8, 6:50 p.m. A subject contacted dur-ing a family disturbance outside his residence on Havenwood Avenue was found to be in-toxicated. He was arrested and booked at the Martinez Detention Facility.

June 8, 9 p.m. An alarm was activated at a residence on Yates Court. When the resident came home, he discovered that a door was unlocked.June 9, 12:45 a.m. A subject contacted on Oak Street at Third Street was found to have an outstanding warrant for his arrest. He was cited and released on a Promise To Appear.June 9, 1:34 p.m. On Balfour Road at Cla-remont Drive, a driver lost control of his ve-hicle while speeding and making an abrupt lane change. The vehicle rolled over and the driver was transported to Sutter Delta Medi-cal Center for minor injuries.June 9, 4:13 p.m. An unidentifi ed person stole a necklace from a residence on Regent Drive.June 10, 8:24 a.m. An unidentifi ed person entered an unlocked vehicle parked on Al-bertine Way and stole a Coach wallet and Burberry watch.June 10, 3:40 p.m. A vehicle was stolen from a parking lot on Elkins Way.June 10, 6:05 p.m. A subject who pulled a knife during a dispute on Waterville Drive was arrested and released to his parents on a Juvenile Affi davit.June 10, 6:58 p.m. On Sand Creek Road at Business Center Drive, a subject stopped for vehicle code violations was found to be driv-ing without a license. He was cited and re-leased on a Notice To Appear.June 10, 9:12 p.m. An unidentifi ed person entered a residence on Browning Court and battered another subject, who sustained mi-nor injuries.June 10, 11:43 p.m. On Lone Tree Way, a subject who attempted to rob two other sub-jects was apprehended, positively identifi ed, arrested and taken to the Martinez Deten-tion Facility.June 10, 11:25 p.m. On Lone Tree Way at OHara Avenue, a subject stopped for a vehi-cle code violation was found to be transport-ing approximately 4 ounces of marijuana.

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.ANTIOCHJune 10, 4:19 a.m. Offi cers of the Antioch Police Department responded to the report of shots fi red at 1756 Mt. Hamilton Drive, where the male resident had called a friend,

who in turn called the APD. The resident told his friend that he had killed his wife and was now going to kill himself. Neighbors soon called APD on a report of shots fi red at the home. Offi cers learned that the 45-year-old residents, a married couple, had been expe-riencing marital and fi nancial problems and that their children, ages 9 and 13, were stay-ing elsewhere for the night and were safe. The Antioch SWAT Team was activated and contact was attempted in the house. When no contact could be established, the SWAT Team made entry into the home and found the couple dead inside. They were both found in the master bedroom suffering from appar-ent gunshot wounds. Antioch detectives con-tinue to investigate the case.June 13, 4:48 a.m. Con Fire received a phone call from a subject on the ground in the parking lot of an apartment complex at 3915 Delta Fair Blvd. Upon arrival, Con Fire personnel found the subject to be deceased. Antioch police found evidence suggesting that a robbery and assault had occurred. The victim, 38-year-old Leon Marcell Smith, was identifi ed as a resident of the complex. The APD is investigating the homicide, but no suspects are in custody at this time. This is the citys seventh homicide of the year.

For information on law enforcement in Antioch, visit www.ci.antioch.ca.us/city-gov/police.OAKLEYMay 31 A vehicle was stolen from the 400 block of Hazelnut Drive.May 31 A vehicle accident with property damage occurred on Second Street at East Home Street.May 31 On Nutmeg Drive at OHara Av-enue, a subject was arrested for interfering with a public offi cer.May 31 A juvenile was reported as missing from the 1400 block of Mallard Lane.May 31 Residential burglaries occurred on the 100 block of Puffi n Court and the 2100 block of Connie Lane.May 31 Grand theft from a building was reported on the 100 block of Escher Circle.June 1 A vehicle was towed from the 5000 block of Montevino Way.June 1 A suspicious circumstance occurred on the 4600 block of Mammoth Lane.June 1 Misdemeanor battery occurred on

the 4800 block of Snowy Egret Way and on OHara Avenue at Star Street.June 1 An automobile parked on the 100 block of Carol Lane was burglarized.June 1 On Concannon Drive at Vintage Parkway, a subject was arrested for public intoxication.June 2 A vehicle accident with property damage occurred on Filbert Court at Maca-damia Lane.June 2 An arrest warrant was served on Main Street at Vintage Parkway.June 2 Vandalism was reported on the 1400 block of Quail Valley Run.June 3 A stolen vehicle was recovered from Almond Drive.June 3 On the 100 block of Red Barn Court, a subject was found in violation of a court order.June 3 A juvenile was reported as a runaway from the 1000 block of Neroly Road.June 3 Arson occurred on the 1000 block of Neroly Road.June 3 Grand theft was reported on the 100 block of Lozoya Way.June 4 On the 1800 block of Fairhaven Way, a subject was arrested for driving under the infl uence of alcohol.June 4 Vandalism was reported on the 400 block of Clearwood Drive.June 4 On Concannon Drive at Vintage Parkway, a subject was arrested for public intoxication.June 5 A vehicle was stolen from the 2000 block of Beringer Way.June 5 Subjects were arrested for DUI on Harvest Drive at Laurel Road, and on the 1800 block of Teresa Lane.June 5 Battery was reported on the 4800 block of Bayside Way.June 5 On the 100 block of Concannon Court, a subject was found in violation of a custody order.June 5 On Gardenia Avenue at Main Street, a subject was arrested for receipt of stolen property.June 6 A vehicle was stolen from the 6300 block of Bridgehead Road.June 6 A subject was found in possession of narcotics on Delta Road at Main Street.June 6 A subject was found to be under the infl uence of drugs on Gum Tree Road at Live Oak Avenue.

COP LOGSFROM EMERGENCY SERVICES DISPATCH LOGS On Hudson Drive, two subjects were involved in an argument regarding their relationship. June 7, 12:41 a.m. in Brentwood

18A | THEPRESS.NET JUNE 18, 2010

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Trevors Weekly Mortgage MattersBy Trevor Frey

Timing

Advertisement

We didnt lose the game; we just ran out of time. Based on a recent National Association of Realtors (NAR) Pending Sales survey, this famous Vince Lombardi quote can more than sum up the anxious feelings that 55,000 75,000 prospective homebuyers are beginning to have. For both fi rst-time buyers, and move-up buy-ers alike, the June 30th expiration date of their potential federal tax credit is right around the cornerand Congress has taken notice.

An amendment to H.R. 4213, a tax extension bill currently in the Senate, will be discussed next week in hopes of extending the federal tax credit for buyers who are already in contract to purchase their home. Th e extension will not open the federal tax credit to new buyers; it will simply allow buyers with circumstances outside of their control, who will not close escrow before June 30th, an op-portunity to claim their credit. Accord-ing to NAR President, Vicki Cox Golder, Th is amendment does not extend the deadline for home buyers to qualify for the tax credit; it extends the deadline for closing the transaction from June 30th to Sept 30th. Th ese are not buyers who just entered into the market. Th ese are buyers who previously met all the qualifi cations for the tax credit, but fi nd themselves at the mercy of a work-fl ow jam with the lenders or other delays and might not

be able to complete the purchase of their homes.

On top of work-fl ow jam with lenders, many buyers fi nd themselves in contract on a bank owned foreclo-sure property (REO), or even more time consuming, a short-sale. Both types of purchases carry a HUGE unknown in the form of the actual seller. With banks see-ing their inventory as just that and nothing more, the purchasing process can be a frustrating one for buyers across the board. When youre making what many consider to be the largest purchase/investment of their life, and you have someone on the other end that punches in, punches out, and sees you as a number on their desk, the waiting process can be a brutal one.

It would be unfair for you as a buyer to have met the eligibility requirements for the credit, done all within your power to satisfy the timing requirements, but then have to forfeit the credit because of administrative challenges related to the transaction that are outside of your control. I applaud Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, and Senators Johnny Isakson and Chris Dodd for bringing this issue to lighttheir timing couldnt be better!

As always, I welcome all questions and or concerns pertaining to real estate lending on my cell phone, 925-726-1444, or via email, tfreymortgages@yahoo.com.

used in the June 10 issue of another news-paper to describe the voters in Brentwood.

I think not. The voters fully under-stood. Sadly, the Yes on F people underes-timated the intelligence and the will of the residents of Brentwood. Furthermore, it would seem that the City Council is sadly out of step with the residents of Brent-wood, since all but one (Brandon Richey) signed on in favor of Yes on F. Where exactly has the council been? A better question would be, where have they not been that they should have been since they do not know what Brentwood wants?

The residents of Brentwood know exactly what they want. Just keep asking through the ballot box. Theyll keep let-ting you know.

Shirley Mudd WinthropBrentwood

Hail to the handfulEditor:

I would like to publicly thank Coun-cilman Brandon Richey for his thoughtful leadership in the City of Brentwood. He belongs to a small handful of Brentwood leaders, past and present, who recognized Measure F for what it always was an at-tempt to make a few people wealthy at the expense of many.

Even if one were to give the benefi t of the doubt that the numerous promises made by measure proponents were prom-ises to be kept, logic prevails that it was not possible to rain those types of benefi ts upon the city without unintended conse-

quences such as overburdened schools, crowded roadways, lowered property val-ues, empty storefronts or increased taxes somewhere down the line.

The ever-expanding Yes on F cam-paign goodies were so over-the-top that I anticipated receiving any day amongst the glossy, full-color mailers, an engraved in-vitation from Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny.

Fortunately, the oft-cited observa-tion from famed anthropologist Margaret Mead continues to hold true: Never underestimate that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world. Indeed its the only thing that ever has. Brentwood, Thank You for your thoughtful commitment to protect our city from ill-conceived, deceptive plans.

And, as the election season continues this November, please remember the only person on our present City Council who applied critical and independent thinking skills on this important issue and re-elect Brandon Richey to the City Council.

Cassandra YoungbloodBrentwood

Wonderful way to spend an eveningEditor:

One of the joys of small-town living was re-created on June 5, when the East Contra Costa Historical Society put on its fi rst Night Owl Theater production.

The setting was on the lawn of the beautifully restored 1870s farm house

Letters from page 16A

see Letters page 19A

20A | THEPRESS.NET COMMUNITY JUNE 18, 2010

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tural elements throughout such as vaulted ceilings, formal rooms for entertaining, bonus rooms, master retreats and gourmet kitchens that include granite countertops and stainless steel appliances at no additional cost. A vari-ety of customizing and fl exible room options are available that allow homebuyers to person-alize the homes interior and exterior spaces to refl ect their personal style and desires.

Meritage recently toughened its energy-effi ciency standards to become the only large public homebuilder to ensure every home it builds meets the Environmental Protection Agencys stringent ENERGY STAR guide-lines. Meritage Homes energy-effi cient and environmentally friendly standard features include low-E windows, programmable ther-

mostats, Energy Star appliances, low-fl ow showerheads and faucets, and low-VOC carpets, paint and fi nishes, making Meritage homes 20 to 30 percent more energy-effi cient than homes built to the current International Residential Code. In addition to lowering util-ity bills and using less natural resources, these homes provide better indoor air quality for a healthier living environment.

For more information on any Meritage Homes program or neighborhood, call 866-675-9383 or visit www.meritagehomes.com.

Meritage Homes is the nations ninth largest homebuilder and is traded on the New York Stock Exchange (symbol MTH). In its 25-year history, the company has built more than 65,000 homes ranging from entry level to semi-custom luxury.

Neighborhood from page 14A

The Oakland Zoos Annual Fund-raiser, Walk in the Wild, is one of the Bay Areas premier fundraising events. Proceeds go to the Oakland Zoos conservation, edu-cation and animal enrichment programs. This years event will be held Saturday, June 26 at 5 p.m. at the zoo, located at 9777 Golf Links Road.

From 5 to 8 p.m., Wine, Dine, & Stroll allows you to mingle with friends, get ener-gized by the sounds of the Bay Area group Steel Jam, and move to music of the Kora, an authentic African lute instrument. Watch sunset over the bay and sample some of the Bay Areas fi nest epicurean offerings.

Ride on the Outback Express Adven-

ture train and travel through the zoos brand new exhibit, Wild Australia, which features wallaroos and emus. Then experience the views from above by taking a relaxing ride on the Oakland Zoos Skyride.

From 8 to 10:30 p.m., Dancing & Des-sert Under the Stars features live music, dancing and desserts. Masterpiece, a col-lective of Bay Area artists, will perform live with a mix of song favorites including pop, soul, funk, R&B and jazz.

For more information or to make reser-vations, visit www.oaklandzoo.org and click on Walk in the Wild, or call 510-632-9525, ext. 154. Due to the service of alcohol, all guests must be at least 21 years of age.

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22A | THEPRESS.NET COMMUNITY JUNE 18, 2010

Fireworks fizzle, parade marches onAlthough the lack of a suffi cient po-

lice presence put the kibosh on a private effort to save Antiochs Fourth of July fi reworks, another grass-roots effort has made sure there will be an Independence Day celebration.

The City Council unanimously agreed on April 27 to not provide city staff time for this years Fourth of July festivities, saving about $80,000 in the citys over-burdened General Fund. The annual event usually includes a down-town parade, entertainment, food and a 20-minute fi reworks display along the wa-terfront.

A private fundraising effort led by former Councilman Allen Payton was launched in an attempt to save just the fi reworks. All of the things were coming together, said Payton. People were step-ping up and providing all of the aspects of what was needed for July Fourth along with fundraising from some of the large companies in the area. The challenge was: we were not going to be able to get enough police. They told us we need 35 to 40 offi -cers for a four-hour minimum overtime.

The cost for the offi cers would have been about $16,000. In addition, the pri-vate effort would need to pay an addi-tional $40,000 for the other city staff time involved. While it was a tough challenge attempting to raise that amount of money in just a few weeks, the deal killer turned out to be that the city could not spare the police offi cers.

Even if we had raised enough mon-ey, there wasnt enough police offi cers to cover, said Payton. We are down 20 of-fi cers and 10 CSOs (community service offi cers). They are already understaffed, and have guys going on vacation. We cant use private security, because if something

happens, they still have to call the police. The good news is we have all of this lined up for next year and think we can make it happen next year.

The other good news for those who still want to participate in a community event on the Fourth is that there will be a parade beginning at 1 p.m. around Som-ersville Towne Center, followed by a choir singing patriotic songs inside the mall.

We want to celebrate our nations birthday, but realize what dire straits the citys in, said Councilwoman Martha Parson, who is leading the effort along with Susan Davis, wife of Mayor Jim Da-

vis. The fi reworks effort ran into the po-lice were not able to take care of closing streets and things for a parade. Susan and I were brainstorming about not closing any streets. We thought about what the East County Military Families do when they walk with a candlelight vigil around the Somersville Towne Center (on Sept. 11).

Parsons said the scaled-down fes-tivities would be in the community spirit of the recent Keep Antioch Beautiful cleanup day. The more the merrier, she said. The community can still celebrate our nations birth. Everybody can come

participate, whether being in the parade with fl ags and friends or watching and clapping.

For more information, call Parsons or Davis at 925-757-2020. Parade applica-tions can be downloaded at www.art4an-tioch.org/docs/2010parade-application.pdf.

The councils vote was to cancel city support for only this years Fourth of July festivities. But Parson said that will like-ly be the case next year as well. We are probably going to be looking at the same options, but will start now in planning for it, she said. Hopefully, next year we will have fi reworks. I dont think the budget will be good for probably another two years. Things are turning around, but its slow.

At the April 27 meeting, Councilman Brian Kalinowski noted that celebrating the Fourth is not an essential city service at a time that important services are being reduced, staff members laid off and doz-ens of city positions remain unfi lled. The Fourth of July display is nice to have, he said. Not every community has one, or a parade either. Some go camping. This is sort of forcing folks to celebrate among themselves with friends and family, which doesnt make people less patriotic.

Its a reality of where we are at. This is occurring during budget season. We have one person in charge of fi ve (city) depart-ments, and some exist just in name. I am not in support of the Fourth of July event in downtown Antioch unless somebody wants to sponsor the $80,000.

Mayor Davis said, It goes against my total grain and every fi ber of my be-ing to not celebrate the Fourth of July. But with the predicament the city is in, I agree that this is the year we postpone it until we are back on our feet a year or two down the road.

To comment, visit www.thepress.net.

Councilwoman Martha Parsons, seen here at last years Fourth of July celebra-tion, is co-organizing a scaled-down parade and choral concert at Somersville Towne Center this year.

Press file photo

by Dave RobertsStaff Writer

stand much about health and they dont know anything about their bodies and how they work, said Loubieh. Part of my job while there will be to empower them with education; to help teach the youth and the whole community, really to better un-derstand how to take care of themselves.

Although Peace Corps volunteers are trained up front in their host countrys language, culture and health and safety issues, the volunteers living arrangements come later.

What they (Peace Corps) are trying to do is fi nd out a little bit more about you (the volunteer), said Loubieh. What your personality is like, what youre good at things like that. Once the three months of training are done, then they place you with a host family, so until then, we wont know where well end up.

But one thing Loubieh is fairly sure of is that her accommodations will be Spartan most likely a mud hut with a tin roof, no electricity or running water. If shes really lucky, shell have access to an outhouse and not a mere hole in the

ground. She might fi nd herself living with a family of seven or a childless couple. Either way, shell be immersed in the day-to-day lives of people far removed geo-graphically and technologically from her life in Brentwood.

I see this as a great, amazing oppor-tunity to live as a native and help people, said Loubieh. I know it is going to be hard and that I probably cant imagine what it will be like. We have to (as Peace Corps volunteers) immerse ourselves to-tally in culture. We go to church, we do the shopping and we bury their dead. Im a little worried about death; its a daily thing over there and Ive never lost any-one close to me or seen anyone die.

Loubieh hopes that taking along a few creature comforts from home will help ease the transition, and said that she plans to pack a laptop computer and iPod, as well as personal photos and a few special books. But other than that, the next 27 months will be a lesson in living light.

Im defi nitely going to learn a lot about myself while Im gone; like, should I wash my hair or the dishes? she said,

laughing. But thats all part of the ad-venture; I cant wait.

While in the Peace Corps, Loubieh will receive a monthly stipend to help pay for expenses such as clothing and incidentals, and upon her arrival back in the states will receive a $6,000 readjust-ment allowance. Peace Corps volunteers have their medical and dental care paid for, and receive 48 days of paid vacation. Loubieh said she plans to save up most of her vacation time to travel the continent or perhaps venture to Europe.

Families stateside are provided with emergency contact numbers, and if for any reason volunteers want to come home, theyre free to do so.

The minute something isnt right, ei-ther with you or if there is some kind of unrest in your country, the Peace Corps will pull you immediately, said Loubieh. They do an amazing job of taking care of you.

Loubieh admits that the prospect of leaving her family and friends for two years has been daunting (although her mother and stepfather plan to visit her in

Africa), but a part of her is also looking forward to meeting others who are as pas-sionate about the program as she.

Im excited that Im going to be sharing my passion with others who have the same goals, she said. Ive always been the hippy friend, the protester, the one in my group of friends who was a little different. Now Im going to be with others who understand. I will always have my old friends, but I know Im also going to make some new lifelong friends.

And when the adventure is over, Lou-bieh plans to go straight from Tanzania to Columbia unless, of course, she has a change of heart.

As of right now Im totally planning on going to Columbia and Im really look-ing forward to that, said Loubiah. But I also dont know what things will be like for me in two years. I know Im going to change so much from this experience and I may not feel the same way or want the same things. Im sure I will attend Colum-bia, but Im still open to opportunity. My door is still wide open.

To comment, visit www.thepress.net.

Peace from page 1A

JUNE 18, 2010 THEPRESS.NET | 23A

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AD: historic year for Antioch High sports

When it comes to high school sports, all that most people know and care about is football, which packs the stands with cheering fans for 10 weeks every fall. By that measure, it was not a great year athletically at Antioch High. The football team went 2-3 in league and 4-6 overall. But many other Panther teams and players in the non-marquee sports had outstanding years.

It was really, truly a historic year ath-letically, said Antioch Athletic Director Will Whitney. Hats off to our coaches. Its nice having some talent like the Simarro twins and Dallas Butterfi eld and Evan Grimes. We have an incredible talent pool, thats been helpful. Its nice as an athletic director having a com-prehensive athletic program.

One half of the Simarro twins, Kaitlin, was selected as Antioch Highs Female Athlete of the Year. There was a lot of talent with the female athletes in our school, said Whitney. But the fact that Kaitlin was the league MVP (in tennis) pers