Brentwood Press_09.09.11

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Vol. 13, No. 36 YOUR HOMETOWN WEEKLY NEWSPAPER September 9, 2011

FOR MOVIE TIMES

SEE PAGE 5A

Esteemingthe Green

Discover what local individuals, communities and businesses are doing to help leave a smaller carbon footprint. Page 1B

Fateful day not forgottenEast County communities will be holding numerous observances of the events of Sept. 11, 2001. Page 3A

Calendar ............................ 23BClassifieds ......................... 18BCop Logs ............................21AEntertainment ................. 14BFood .................................... 12BHealth & Beauty .............. 10BMilestones ........................ 15BOpinion ..............................20ASports .................................23AThink Green ........................ 1B

Local districts see API gains

When the Academic Perfor-mance Index (API) scores were released earlier this month, local superintendents had reason to smile: four of six districts showed improvement some dramatic while the other two slipped only a single point.

Byron Union School District made the biggest gain from 2010 to 2011, increasing its API score by 30 points, jumping from 797 to 827. Byron Superintendent Ken Jacopetti credited the staff for the tremendous gain.

As a district, that was phe-nomenal, he said. It was a real focused effort through the princi-pals at each of the sites and work-ing with our at-risk population and making sure students were

achieving toward standards.The teachers and adminis-

trators of the 1,268-student dis-trict are being asked to do more with less in these lean economic times, said Jacopetti, and theyve delivered. The superintendent also gave thanks for the board of supervisors support.

We know we have a lot less resources, but still the agenda there is for us to tackle student achievement, Jacopetti said. Bottom line: this staff really worked hard.

Excelsior Middle School experienced the districts biggest gain: 36 points. Timber Point

Elementary improved by 34 API points and Discovery Bay El-ementary by 19.

The Liberty Union High School District API score in-creased to 764, up 19 points from last year. All three comprehensive high schools saw gains, but Super-intendent Eric Volta is particularly proud of Heritage High, which in-creased 24 points to hit the score of 800, the states target score that signifi es academic excellence.

Volta said hes proud of his teachers and staff for working to-gether to improve teaching meth-ods to help students learn, but theres always room for improve-ment, and the district will con-tinue to strive for greater achieve-ment in next years scores.

The districts continuation high school, La Paloma, saw a dip

Graphic by John Carter

by Samie Hartley and Justin Lafferty

Staff Writer

see API page 19A

600

800

650

700

750750

850

Antioch Unified School District

Brentwood Union

School District

Liberty High School

District

Oakley Union

School District

Knightsen School District

Byron Union

School District

732731-1

840843+3

745

764+19

779

790+11

848847-1

797

827+30

API Scores

2010 2011

East County to give peace a chance

The response from last years Interna-tional Day of Peace celebration in Antioch was so great, organizers said, that the event has been expanded into an 11-day period of refl ection and learning throughout East County.

The Interfaith Peace Project, a collabo-ration of people from a variety of religions and beliefs, starts Sept. 11 and runs through the International Day of Peace on Sept. 21. What was once a one-day ceremony grew to a weekend last year. That event has now evolved into a project encompassing 16 sites and about a dozen faith groups includ-ing Buddhism, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, the Episcopalian and Presbyterian churches, and Islam.

This gives an opportunity for different groups to showcase their own sanctuaries and do something for their own populace as well as for the region, said Chairman Walter Ruehlig. (Its) a the product of the times that people seem to respond to this idea some

peaceful dialogue. I think its terrifi c. In some regards, you might expect something like this to happen in San Francisco or one of those great metropolitan areas.

The event begins on the 10th anniver-sary of the tragic events at the World Trade Center in New York City. Various churches in Antioch, Brentwood, Oakley and Pitts-burg will hold services, refl ections and scrip-ture readings.

On Sept. 12, Antiochs City Hall plays host to the Peace Pole dedication program. The pole is slated to be planted in front of a prominent tree by City Hall, one that Rue-hlig said has special meaning. The tree, com-plemented by a commemorative plaque, was planted in honor of 9/11. The wooden Peace Pole that accompanies the plaque translates the phrase May peace prevail on Earth in a cornucopia of languages.

Roughly 600 attended last years event, a weekend highlighted by the planting of the Peace Pole at St. Ignatius of Antioch Church. Ruehlig expects the expanded offerings to at-

by Justin LaffertyStaff Writers

see Peace page 19A

A Peace Pole, similar to the one planted last year during the International Day of Peace at St. Ignatius of Antioch Church, will be placed outside Antioch City Hall on Sept. 12.

Press file photo

Crucible ofcompetition

Our BVAL girls volleyball preview spotlights players and coaches who get their thrills from digs and kills. Page 24A

Operation Homefront marks the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks.

Memorial marchgo to news/WebExtras!

Vasco Road motorists heavy on the pedal will get a lot lighter in the wallet.

Double troublego to news/press releases

Kids got hooked on the pursuit of floppy creatures at the Oakley Fishing Derby.

Reel good timego to multimedia/videos

visit thepress.net like us on facebook follow us on twitterScan QR code with your mobile device to access these websites.

SEPTEMBER 9, 2011 COMMUNITY THEPRESS.NET | 3A

East County residents will soon get to test their feet while lending a hand to those in need.

The fi rst Delta Harvest Run, scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 18 at The Streets of Brentwood, features a 10K run, half marathon and family fun run. Proceeds benefi t a bevy of local food banks: Meals on Wheels by Senior Outreach Services of Pittsburg/Bay Point, the Don Brown Shelter of Antioch, St. Anthonys Catholic Church in Oakley, Brentwood Regional Com-munity Chest and the Delta Christian Commu-nity Food Pantry of Discovery Bay and Byron.

The half marathon kicks off at 7:30 a.m., the 10K at 8 a.m. and the family fun run at 8:30 a.m.

We decided we want to reach out, said AJ Calderon, the events marketing director. This is what a DHR is all about: reaching out to the community.

So far, more than 120 runners have regis-tered to participate in the Delta Harvest Run, an event Calderon said coordinators hope to establish as a yearly tradition in East County. The run has already raised more than $4,500 for local food banks.

Registration fees are $50 for the half mara-thon, $35 for the 10K and $5 for the family fun run. The half marathon and 10K fee includes a T-shirt and fi nishers medal. The top three runners of each gender receive a special medal. For the family fun run, registrants receive one T-shirt per family and a fi nishers ribbon.

Half-marathoners will start by exiting The

Streets of Brentwood through Shady Willow Lane, go down Sand Creek Road, turn left on Garin Parkway, right on Sunset Road and turn around at Byron Highway.

The 10K also proceeds down Sand Creek Road, but runners will turn around at the cor-ner of Garin Parkway and Springfi eld Place. For those who arent much into excursion, the 1-mile fun run loops around The Streets of Brentwood.

Were really excited because most of us on the committee are experienced runners and we know that there are a lot more people who are going to register at the last minute, Calderon said. Were looking to see a lot more regis-trants, but we are very excited.

The event came to fruition when Wendy Shearer, a member of the Delta Association of Realtors, came to work out at Calderons home gym. Shearer and Calderon, a personal trainer, discussed charitable events that tested runners endurance, and brainstormed the Delta Harvest Run. Shearer serves as the event director; the Delta Realtors Community Service Foundation is organizing the days races.

According to Calderon, preparations for the Delta Harvest Run have gone smoothly and organizers are looking forward to a blue-ribbon day. Everything is falling into place, Calderon said. Were very happy and excited about the way things are happening.

For more information or to register to par-ticipate in the Delta Harvest Run, visit www.deltaharvestrun.com. Registration is also pos-sible through active.com.

To comment, visit www.thepress.net.

Run to feed the hungry Events mark 9/11As the nation stops to remember and mourn on the 10th an-

niversary of the 9/11 attacks, events throughout East County will also be taking place. Heres a look at three local commemorations planned for Sept. 11:

Veterans Park 9/11 TributeThe observance be-

gins at 11 a.m. at Veterans Park, 3841 Balfour Road in Brentwood, and fea-tures special remarks by Mayor Bob Taylor. Local veterans, students, police and fi refi ghters will gather to remember and mark the 10th anniversary of the momentous events of Sept. 11, 2001.

Remember 9/11 Memorial WalkThe fi fth annual Remember 9/11 Memorial Walk will be held at 4

p.m. in the Somersville Towne Centers parking lot (near Sears Auto) in Antioch. Attendees will hear from fi rst responders: fi re, police and veterans, and pre- and post-walk music will be provided by the Jessica Caylan Band. The walk is approximately 1 miles in length.

East Contra Costa Historical SocietyThe ECCHS Museums annual barbecue runs from 2 to 6 p.m.

at the Byer-Nail House Museum, 3890 Sellers Ave. (between Sunset and Chestnut streets) in Brentwood. Opening ceremonies begin at 2 p.m.; a barbecue tri-tip dinner is served at 4 p.m.

The event begins with a special commemoration of the terrorist attack in 2001, followed by docent-led museum tours, a photo con-test, horseshoeing and spinning wheel, and special displays, exhibits and live music. Tickets are $20 for adults and $10 for children 6-12. Admission is free for children under 6. Tickets may be purchased by calling Shirley McCall at 925-634-4049.

by Justin LaffertyStaff Writer

Theyre a somber reminder of war, a poignant remembrance of the past and for anyone who has seen them, an unforgettable sight. Last week, 52 9-foot banners displaying the photos of fallen armed forces heroes went up along Discovery Bay Boulevard. The banners will remain on display through Veterans Day.

We feel its important to make sure the memories of those who have paid the ultimate sacrifi ce for our free-doms should never be forgotten, said Leianne Graves, stepmother of U.S. Army Spc. Joseph A. Graves, who was killed in action in Baghdad, Iraq on July 25, 2006. Gold Star Families (families whose loved ones have been killed in action) are the hidden causali-ties of these ongoing confl icts.

Kevin Graves, founder of the Some Gave All nonprofi t organiza-tion sponsoring the banner display, created the organization as a way to honor his son Joey. Our primary mission is to support Gold Star Fami-lies, said Kevin. We do this by work-ing with other Bay Area organizations to provide venues for healing and by providing opportunities for our fallen heroes to be honored.

The Some Gave All foundation fi nances programs such as Gold Star Family License plates as well as local events, and is sustained through donations and fundraising events. The fi fth annual Joey Graves Memorial Golf

Tournament, held this year on Sept. 19 at the Discovery Bay Country Club, is one of the groups largest fundraisers.

For information on golf and/or sponsor opportunities or to make a contribution to the foundation, e-mail Kevin Graves at [email protected] or visit www.somegaveall.us.

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Banners honoring Bay Area members of the military killed since the war on terror-ism began will be displayed in Discovery Bay until Veterans Day.

Water fl ows past to the sea and be-yond, while also providing nourishment for life and crops sustaining our state. Nestled in the outskirts of the Bay Area, this com-munity of Discovery Bay pays tribute to American heroes.

The community holds timeless seren-ity and majestic beauty. A passing family, parents and child enjoy an evening walk. The young child notices memorial banners attached to individual light standards. Each tells the story of an American hero who gave all. Near the entrance to the country club, the young child looks up intently. The green foliage and blue sky surrounding the banner creates such a beautiful tapestry; heaven seems so close; the sky appears in harmony with the earth.

Words surrounding the picture of Army Spc. Joseph A. Graves: American Hero, Age 21, Gave His Life on July 25, 2006.

Why here, mother and father? What is the meaning? My child, it is the legacy of all United States service members. The purpose has remained pure as this land for greater than 200 years, built on ground so strong it will extend into eternity.

Although this soldier never knew you, the message is intended for you specifi cally and all collectively. His job is done, the line has held and he rests in peace. You are his legacy of freedom and all around is his gift.

Everything we have, everything you are, and everything you shall achieve is pos-sible because United States soldiers and others have served and often fought to pro-vide your freedom.

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A legacy of freedom


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CityRead features best-sellerCutting For Stone is currently the fi fth-

ranked paperback novel on the New York Times Bestsellers List, and starting next week, East County residents can enjoy the book for free.

Brentwood Library launches its 2011 CityRead campaign on Monday, Sept. 12, de-positing hundreds of copies of the Abraham Verghese novel throughout town for readers to pick up at their leisure. The novel has been critically hailed since its 2009 debut, and the book has been a favorite in book clubs around the country.

Brentwood Library Manager Liz Fuller said Cutting For Stone is a perfect fi t for the annual CityRead program. The library always tries to feature a Bay Area author, and Verghese is a doctor at Stanford University, where he teaches the theory and practice of medicine.

The CityRead author traditionally makes an appearance near the end of the program, which concludes on Oct. 29, but Verghese is currently in high demand, zigzagging around the globe to discuss his novel, so Fuller has yet to confi rm the authors appearance. If the author is unable to attend the Oct. 22 event, Random House Representative Ron Shoop will lead a book discussion in his place.

Mr. Verghese has a long list of prior commitments and engagements, but we are doing our best to see if we can work some-thing out, Fuller said. His book is extremely

popular right now and many groups are re-questing a visit. Hes a very busy man and we understand if he cant come to our event, but Ron Shoop is very familiar with the book and hell also tell the crowd about other books that residents might want to add to their book list.

Cutting For Stone is the story of twin brothers Marion and Shiva. Their mother dies giving birth to them, and their grief-stricken father vanishes, so the boys are raised

in Ethiopia by two Indian doctors who knew their parents. Spanning fi ve generations, the story reaches beyond Ethiopia to India and the United States, emphasizing the themes of love and betrayal, compassion and redemp-tion, exile and return. The book was recently optioned to become a major motion picture.

The CityRead program, sponsored by the Friends of the Brentwood Library and in partnership with the Lamorinda Reads! pro-gram, has become a Brentwood tradition, en-couraging residents to pick up the novel and share it with others. Its a way to unite the community through the shared experience of reading this book, said Fuller, and it pro-motes literacy throughout our community, which is always important.

As this years selection is longer than previous novels, coming in at 688 pages, Full-er encourages readers to pick up their copy early enough to read in time for the Oct. 22 event. Books are available at the following locations: Peets Coffee and Tea, 5411 Lone Tree Way. Starbucks: 2540 Sand Creek Road, 8610 Brentwood Blvd., 3150 Balfour Road and 14804 Highway 4 (Discovery Bay). Summerset I Library, 1675 Crispin Drive. Willys Bagels & Blends, 1155 Second St. and 390 West Country Club Drive.

To read the fi rst chapter of Cutting For Stone, visit www.abrahamverghese.com/books.asp. For more information about the CityRead program, call 925-516-5290 or visit www.ccclib.org.


by Samie HartleyStaff Writer

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The community is invited to join the fun on Sept. 10 from 4 to 7 p.m., when REI Brent-wood opens its doors to Scouts and American Heritage Girls for an evening designed just for them, featuring loads of door prizes and spe-cial clinics presented by REIs valued outdoor vendors (MSR, Thermarest, Katadyn and of course REI).

For the younger scouts, a Lets Go Chipper special presentation begins at 4

p.m. (the fi rst 20 kids limit one per fam-ily receive a special Lets Go Chipper book). Door prizes galore will be distrib-uted, plus commercial discounts for troop, crew and pack purchases, and a 15-percent discount coupon for every Scout (and fam-ily member) who participates.

REI Brentwood is located in The Streets of Brentwood lifestyle center, 2475 Sand Creek Road. Visit www.rei.com/brentwoodca.

The AARP Tax Aide is calling for volunteers to help provide free tax prep-aration services to seniors and low- to moderate-income taxpayers of all ages at Antioch, Brentwood and Pittsburg Se-nior Centers during the tax season.

Volunteers participate in compre-hensive training that covers tax prepara-tion software and basic tax law. Expe-rienced counselors are always available to assist. An orientation meeting in late November will acquaint volunteers with

the program, scheduled to begin in Janu-ary of 2012.

The time commitment for volunteer is only one day per week during the tax season once training and certifi cation are complete. For more information or to volunteer, call Ginny at 925-634-5037 or e-mail [email protected].

AARP Tax Aide is a program of the AARP Foundation, offered in conjunc-tion with the IRS. AARP membership is not required for participation.

The City of Oakley is accepting vendor applications for the annual Har-vest Festival, scheduled for Oct. 22 from noon to 4 p.m. at Civic Center Plaza, 3231 Main St.

Twenty-fi ve 10x10 spaces are avail-able for arts and crafts, retail and non-profi t vendors. There will be no food

vendors this year. Vendors are required to bring their own tents, tables and chairs. Limited electricity will be available.

In its third year, the festival is pro-jected to draw a crowd of more than 600. For more information or a vendors appli-cation, call Cindy Coelho at 925-625-7044 or e-mail [email protected].

The East Contra Costa Historical Society Museums annual barbecue is set for Sunday, Sept. 11 from 2 to 6 p.m. at the Byer-Nail House Museum, 3890 Sellers Ave. (between Sunset and Chest-nut streets) in Brentwood. Opening cere-monies begin at 2 p.m.; a barbecue tri-tip dinner is served at 4 p.m.

The event begins with a special com-memoration of the Twin Towers attack in 2001, followed by docent-led museum tours, a photo contest, horseshoeing and spinning wheel, and special displays and exhibits. Youngsters can pan for gold, milk a wooden cow and have their pic-ture taken behind the wheel of a vin-tage fi re engine. Music will be provided by The Brentwood Community Band, Rod Linn and the Buzzards, and Chuck

Hunters Barbershop Quartet. Entries and winners of a professional and ama-teur photo contest will be showcased.

Dinner, served at 4 p.m., features barbecue tri-tip provided by the Brent-wood Rotary Club, corn on the cob sup-plied by Ghiggeri and Stonebarger (G&S Farms), salad with tomatoes and onions provided by Smith Family Farms, beans cooked by Dave Perry, rolls and dessert.

The barbecue is the major fund-raiser for the upkeep and availability of the museum. The Society is a completely volunteer organization; it receives no public funding. Tickets are $20 for adults and $10 for children 6-12. Admission is free for children under 6. Tickets may be purchased by calling Shirley McCall at 925-634-4049.

REI hosts Scout Night

Tax Aide volunteers needed

Call for Harvest Festival vendors

Barbecue benefits local history museum

Advertisement

WHY WE DONT SEE MORE REOSIts coming...Its coming... We keep wait-

ing for the next big wave of REOs to come, but it hasnt. (REO stands for real estate owned -- when a bank forecloses on a home and becomes the owner.). When the market first collapsed in 2006-2007, we did see a very large number of REOs hit the market. Then it slowed down quite a bit after that. The explanation given was that the banks were overwhelmed at the first wave and had to staff up and get their processes ready to handle the next wave. They promised that the next wave of REOs would be much larger than the first one. But since then weve seen only a moder-ate amount of REOs on the market.

There are many reasons given for this, all of them have some validity. The most com-mon reason given is that the banks dont want to tank the market even further, which would most certainly happen if they released a flood of REOs on the market. Another reason is that the banks are having to be more cautious now to make sure that their legal processes are done correctly because of all the lawsuits

by individuals and government agencies. The list of problems is long: Robo-signing, cant find the note, cant prove who owns the note, MERS scandal, etc. I know first-hand of one large bank that has completely called off any foreclosures until they have their legal team review every single file to make sure it will stand up in court. Another reason is that the banks are trying to work out loan modifica-tions and/or short sales with homeowners.

I think all of the above are partial explanations for why banks have been slow to foreclose, but there is one more big reason that most people dont talk about. This other reason is, in my opinion, the main reason we arent seeing many REOs right now, and wont for a little while. It takes a bit to explain, so Ill do that next week.

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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Congregation Bnai Torah of Antioch is offering complimentary admission for its High Holy Day services. Services are open to everyone congregation members, prospec-tive members, family and friends. In particu-lar, the congregation encourages those who are unaffi liated or feel disconnected from the Jewish community to attend and re-establish their connection.

Led by Rabbi Ira Book and supported by Cantor Lisa Iskin, High Holy Day services will be held at Congregation Bnai Torahs home at St. Georges Episcopal Church, 301 E. 13th St. in Antioch.

Rosh Hashanah (Jewish New Year) and Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) services will be held according to the following schedule:Erev Rosh Hashanah Wednesday, Sept. 28 at 7:30 p.m.Rosh Hashanah Thursday, Sept. 29 Morning Service at 10 a.m. Childrens Service at approximately 11:30 a.m. Tashlich at approximately 2 p.m.Erev Yom Kippur/Kol Nidre Friday, Oct. 7 at 7:30 p.m.

Yom Kippur Saturday, Oct. 8 Morning Service at 10 a.m. Childrens Service at approximately 11:30 a.m. Yizkor Memorial Service at 1 p.m. Study Session at 3 p.m. Afternoon and Neilah services at 4 p.m. Break-Fast at approximately 6:30 p.m.

While admission is complimentary, the congregation does encourage donations to help offset the expenses related to hosting these services. For more information, visit www.bnaitoraheastbay.org, call Matt Cor-dova at 650-759-6939 or e-mail [email protected].

Congregation Bnai Torah provides a fo-rum for worshiping God in the traditions of Reform Judaism. The congregation seeks to provide an environment that includes spiritu-al, educational, social and celebratory aspects of Jewish life and a strong sense of Jewish community. Individuals and families are in-vited to join in celebrating, studying and wor-shiping as Jews. All are welcome to participate in Shabbat services, holiday celebrations and social events.

High Holy Days coming

Brentwoods fi rst Safety and Awareness Fair will be held Saturday, Sept. 10 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Safeway/Town Centre Shopping Center, 1185 Second St.

The free event includes live entertain-ment, interactive safety demonstrations and kid activities that include a jump house. At-tendees can drop off electronic waste items,

and complimentary paper-shredding and child identifi cation kits will be available.

The event, sponsored by Farmers In-surance Group in Brentwood, will also be honoring those who put themselves in harms way to keep others safe.

For additional information, call 925-516-7302.

Focus on safety, awareness


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Calling all Pied Pipers! Where did all these mice come from? Sure, we live next to a big hill, but come on. Theyre everywhere. We have six cats, for crying out loud. Slackers, all of them.

We started noticing the critters in our dining room, darting back and forth behind our upright piano. I hate to say it, but they are kinda cute. They measure no more than an inch and a half long and have tiny black eyes that blink when they look at you. They have no fear and are not very

smart, which makes you feel sorry for them. My son Ryan loves all creatures, so killing them is out of the question or at least it was at first

The mice soon became more brazen. They migrated to the kitchen. Darting in and out from under the refrigerator, they drove our cats to the brink of insanity. We saw one bold mouse relaxing on our couch in the family room, perched on an Afghan blanket. Was he waiting for me to bring him a soda and some snacks? Hey buddy, hand over that remote. One morning I found what must have been a mouse tri-athlete doing laps in our dogs water dish. They were slowly taking up permanent residence in my house.

We bought a net, and Im proud to tell you Im now highly skilled at the trap-scoop-and-toss-over-the-fence technique of mouse catching. The problem with throwing them over the fence is that Im pretty sure they come back.

The weekend of our neighborhood garage sale, our court became a parking lot of cars. I had trapped a rather large mouse in my net, and needed to hurl it over the fence. Standing in my front yard in my pajamas with my trusty net in hand and a frantic mouse at the bottom of it, I had no choice but to fling the rodent into the air toward the hill in front of a bunch of onlookers. I am sure they thought I was deranged. My neighbors sure thought I was. They kept telling me to call the exterminator.

Curiously, my neighbors hadnt seen any mice at their house. The word must have gotten out in the mouse hood that the McKennas wont kill you; theyll just toss you over the fence.

At least three or four times a day you would hear one of my kids yell, Get the net! Oh sure, on occasion the cats would do their job, but then they would leave the remains proudly

Rodent roundup yields net loss

displayed for us outside the bedroom door. We had to quickly dispose of the evidence before my son saw it. I almost preferred the net.

I began realizing we couldnt go on like this when my older son had a study date and a mouse ran across the girls backpack, sending her flying through our screen door. Not everyone thinks mice are cute.

see Roundup page 12A

HANGIN INTHERE

VICKI MCKENNA

10A | THEPRESS.NET EDUCATION SEPTEMBER 9, 2011

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Excelsior Middle School, in cooperation with the volunteer Parents of the Arts Club, presents the mini-musical Aladdin, Jr. be-ginning Wednesday, Sept. 14.

Directed by Kathy Tickner and Dana Lee, the stage adaptation of the Disney hit Aladdin involves more than 100 partici-pants and features the storys favorite char-acters: Aladdin, Jasmine and, of course, the

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My final straw came the evening I was cooking spaghetti sauce on my gas stove and a mouse popped his head out of the rear burner! I screamed and spilled spaghetti sauce everywhere! We still dont know where that mouse ended up, but he is surely covered with sauce and may have scorched whiskers.

The next day I placed a call to my exterminator, Arturo. He informed me that a lot of people were dealing with field mice this year. It was a population explosion! He placed a bait box in our backyard and explained that the bait would get rid of only the mice, not my dog or cats or kids, for that matter.

Its been two weeks now and the mice are tapering off. The cats look bored and my son keeps asking me where all the mice went. I finally had to tell him the truth. He hung his head and wandered off. Hey, the madness had to end sometime.

The other night I went into our garage. My eyes could barely comprehend what I was seeing: an enormous raccoon was polishing off a dish of cat food. I screamed and ran back into the house.

A huge raccoon is in there!Ryan popped his head out of his

bedroom with a big grin on his face. Ill get the net!


Roundup from page 9A

M arsh Creek Elementary School in Brentwood recently celebrated the achievment of five special students. From left are Leila Razinejad, Seth Abuhamdeh, Di-ego Colmenares, Kassidy Wise and Brittany Carson, who all earned a perfect 600 on their STAR math test. Congratula-tions, Leila, Seth, Diego, Kassidy and Brittany. Keep reaching for the stars.

Stars of STAR

SEPTEMBER 9, 2011 THEPRESS.NET | 13A

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The program will be offered on a first come, first-served basis until funding is expended or the program is terminated, whichever occurs first. Pre and post inspections may be required to qualify for the incentives. Participation is limited to one incentive payment per household. Incentive checks will be mailed six to eight weeks after program completion. This program is funded by California utility ratepayers and administered by investor-owned utilities under the auspices of the California Public Utilities Commission. PG&E refers to Pacific Gas and Electric Company, a subsidiary of PG&E Corporation. 2011 Pacific Gas and Electric Company. All rights reserved.


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CSD director may face charges

Discovery Bay CSD Vice President Brian Dawson said he is considering resigning from the community town board in the wake of his arrest on suspicion of spousal abuse. Daw-son, who is facing possible felony charges, was booked into the Martinez County Jail on Aug. 27 and released on $20,000 bail.

Dawson, 31, was taken into custody at 4:45 p.m. by county sheriffs deputies following a phone call to the Sheriffs Offi ce reporting a do-mestic dispute in the 2000 block of Sand Point Road. According to the Sheriffs Offi ce, deputies arrived on the scene and found that a telephone had been pulled from the wall and that a physi-cal altercation had occurred between Dawson and his wife Jessica. She sustained some bruis-ing but did not require hospitalization.

Dawson, who has a history of bipolar dis-order, didnt deny the charges but said that a perfect storm of factors including being off his medication because he couldnt afford the prescription contributed to the incident.

I in no way want to give the illusion that my bipolar disease is the reason for what hap-pened; I believe people need to be held account-able for their actions, said Dawson. I dont want to talk about it as an excuse, I just want people to understand it.

Bipolar disorder is a chemical brain con-dition that creates elevated mood swings. The illness can be controlled with medication, but according to Dawson, maintaining an even keel

is often a diffi -cult if not im-possible task.

It can be treated only with medica-tion, said Dawson. And without some kind of mood stabilizer, there is no way you can train your brain chemis-try. Ive been through coun-seling, I take a mood stabilizer but its not an exact science.

Dawson was appointed to an open seat on the CSD Board in 2009 and elected to a four-year term in 2010.

CSD President Kevin Graves reacted to the news of Dawsons arrest with sympathy and support. This is a situation that director Dawson needs to take care of personally and privately, said Graves. I dont know all the details of what happened to cause these events, but I hope hes able to work out whatever issues he may have.

As to whether or not he will retain his seat on the CSD Board, General Manager Rick Howard said that at this point, the decision is up to Dawson.

There is no procedure for the board to remove Vice President Dawson, said Howard.

That decision is entirely up to him, pending (possible) conviction of a felony, at which time he would automatically have to forfeit his seat.

Dawson is scheduled to appear in court on Oct. 31, when the district attorney will decide whether or not to press charges.

Dawson said he has suffered from the dis-order all his life, describing the illness as a sound wave of emotions ranging from extreme highs to tremendous lows. For years he said he has struggled to keep his illness private, largely be-cause of the stigma associated with the disorder. But he hopes his going public about his illness might help others.

As a world, we need to think about how we view mental health and the stigmas associat-ed with it, said Dawson. Keeping secrets can cause damage to your physical health, and it is my hope that I can maybe help others with the disorder by speaking publicly about it.

I know that coming out about my illness will put me in the crosshairs of the community and will vindicate those who have been criti-cal of me in the past, but all I can say is Im sorry.

Dawson is currently considering whether he will stay on the CSD Board or resign. I dont honestly know at this time what Im go-ing to do, he said. Im looking at the pros and cons and am working with my family and my psychiatrist. I have made a mistake and I cant even begin to explain how sorry I am. Its my hope that my family and friends will be able to forgive me.


by Ruth RobertsStaff Writer

DAWSON

Donate furniture to Hospice

Those planning to update the look of their home and look-ing for a charitable organization that will accept your old furniture are in luck. Hospice of the East Bay thrift stores need contribu-tions and offer pickup service to make it easy.

Donations to Hospice of the East Bay are tax deductible. Proceeds benefi t the patients and families in the care of Hospice of the East Bay. Those who donate unwanted furniture help their community and the environment by allowing others to put cast-aways to good use.

For store locations and hours, visit www.hospiceeastbay.org. Pickup service for large items is available by calling 925-674-9072.

Established in 1977, Hos-pice of the East Bay is a not-for-profi t agency that helps people cope with end of life by providing medical, emotional, spiritual, and practical support for patients and families, regardless of their abil-ity to pay.

SEPTEMBER 9, 2011 EDUCATION THEPRESS.NET | 15A

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Loma Vista Elementarys recent Back to School Social was enjoyed by all, especially these three friends, from left, Emily Haynes, Gab-by Patino and Emily Ikeoka. The evening was sponsored by the Loma Vista Parents Club and featured a turn on the Tumble Time Bus, bounce houses and plenty of games.

All for one, one for all

Photo courtesy of Kathy Nelson


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Prem and Shobna Maharaj love their yard and it shows. Shobna de-signed the hardscape (sidewalks etc.) and landscaping, while Prem spends a minimum of four days per week taking care of and nurtur-ing his plants. Two elephant statues at the foot of a long slate walkway greet visitors, leading to a porch-patio enclave, also featuring slate. There, an elephant fountain is surrounded by various annuals and walls of cov-ered ivy. The home is spectacular, and for these reasons, the Maharajs home has earned BANCs Home of the Month award for September.

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On a recent trip to Washington, D.C., Philadelphia and New York City, 44 Edna Hill Middle School students and their 10 adult chap-erones chaperoned the Brentwood Press through an array of me-morials, museums and other sites of interest, including the front lawn of George Washingtons Mt. Vernon estate in Virginia. Thanks, folks, for giving your Hometown Weekly Newspaper an up-close and personal view of our nations history.

Seen at Mt. Vernon

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of 45 points, but Volta isnt overly concerned by the decrease. Continuation schools are populated with students who struggle with learning. Many of these students need to grow emotionally before they grow academ-ically and take education seriously. There may have been a dip in the numbers, but we had a low dropout rate last year, which shows more students are staying in school, which is actually a positive thing.

The Oakley Union Elementary School District increased its score by 11 points for a total of 790. Vintage Parkway Elemen-tary made the greatest gain in the district, scoring 825, a 25-point increase from last year. Superintendent Rick Rogers couldnt be prouder of the seven schools in his dis-trict. Under the most diffi cult of times in public education, our students and staff have not only met the states expectations; they have exceed them, Rogers wrote in an e-mail to the Press. All fi ve of our elemen-tary schools have met, exceeded or are very near the state goal of an 800 API score. Our two middle schools are doing some re-

ally great things for their students as well. Based on our ongoing analysis of the data, we know where to target our resources to maximize student outcomes. Im optimis-tic that by providing the necessary infor-mation and resources to our outstanding staff, our students will continue to make remarkable gains at all grade levels.

Led by its middle schools, Brentwood Union Elementary School District enjoyed a modest gain in API points from 840 to 843. But the 6,444-student district laid claim to East Countys highest-achieving school: Krey Elementary. Kreys API score went from 876 in 2010 to 891 this year.

Brentwood Superintendent Merrill Grant feels that the small overall gain sym-bolizes the districts upward trend. We have a very high quality teaching staff that is really taking each student from where they are and helping them accelerate into the next level of performance, Grant said. Were looking at all of our kids, whether theyre highly profi cient or below grade level and raising their bar academically.

Grant was especially proud of his three middle schools Adams, Edna Hill

and Bristow which all posted API gains. Overall, fi ve of the districts 10 schools en-hanced their API scores.

Antioch Unifi ed School District API scores dropped by one point compared to last years, 732 to 731, but offi cials be-lieve the positive trend of the previous two years will continue. In 2009, Antioch saw a three-point gain from 2008 the next year, a 16-point uptick.

Were way ahead of where we were four years ago, Superintendent Donald Gill said. Weve made some dramatic changes.

Gill also noted that Antiochs dropout rate fell by 9.6 percent, the greatest reduc-tion in the county.

This was a down year for the districts high schools. Antioch High fell by one point, Deer Valley High by 12 and Dozier-Libbey Medical High by 25.

Associate Superintendent of Educa-tional Services Stephanie Anello noted that the drop could be attributed to the end of class size reduction, and shifting teachers to grades theyre not accustomed to due to the budget crunch.

The district did see some positive movement in its alternative and continua-tion schools. Prospects High saw a 57-point bump, from 606 to 663. Live Oak Highs scores rose from 482 to 538, and Bidwell Continuation High experienced a 13-point improvement, from 550 to 567.

Of the traditional schools, Antioch Charter Academy II and Marsh Elementa-ry saw the largest gains 14 and 12 points, respectively.

Scores in the Knightsen Elementary School District decreased by one point, dropping to 847, but as the score omits Old River Elementary (which was factored into the 2010 score), the number isnt the most accurate examination of the districts prog-ress. Old River closed its doors at the end of the 2009-10 school year, so only Knightsen Elementary was counted this year. While the school saw an 11-point gain, without Old River School, the districts score saw a slight decrease. Overall, the Knightsen districts 847 score remains the highest-achieving in the district, followed closely by Brentwood Unions 843.


API from page 1A

tract thousands of participants throughout the program.

Ruehlig spoke of how last year, the Interfaith Peace Project opened many East County residents eyes. He was pleased that none of the faith groups involved offered hesitation or resistance. I had people come up to me and say for the fi rst time in their life, they had a very earnest conversation

with a Muslim or someone from the Mor-mon faith, Ruehlig said. That was inspir-ing. It kind of grew by itself.

Throughout the week, congregations of various faiths will hold ceremonies, all of which are open to the public. The indi-vidual events all focus on peace and ways to achieve it. The project offers a variety of ways for residents to become involved and learn more about other faiths and cultures.

On Sept. 14, Dhyanyoga Centers of Antioch host a Sanskrit call-and-response chanting to the Divine, a ceremony culmi-nating in a prayer for world peace. Two days later, Seventh Day Adventist Church of An-tioch has planned a dedication and prayer service for its newly-constructed prayer gar-den.

The Interfaith Peace Project concludes on Sept. 21, the International Day of Peace.

The Interfaith Peace Project Center, 4740 Matterhorn Way, offers space that day for quiet refl ection, prayer, study and gentle conversation as part of the Eleven Hours of Peace.

Its quite a full calendar, Ruehlig said. Ive had a number of people call me saying, Oh my gosh, how am I going to choose? Its a big departure from last year.


Peace from page 1A

20A | THEPRESS.NET SEPTEMBER 9, 2011

OPINIONEDITORIALS, LETTERS & COMMENTARY National

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LETTERS TO THE EDITOREmergency medical services

not dependent on fire taxEditor:

After reading numerous articles and submissions in regard to the proposed fi re tax, I am concerned just how many people dont seem to be aware of what emergency medical services (EMS) they have available to them in East Contra Costa. I would like the readers and public out there to know that if they think this tax is necessary in order for them to receive prompt, professional, well trained, emergency medical service, they are mistaken and uninformed.

There are two parts to a response the way the EMS system is set up in Contra Costa County: the fi rst responders (Ill elaborate more on this in a bit) and the ambulance. With the exception of San Ramon, Moraga and Orinda, ambulance service is contracted by the county to American Medical Response (AMR). Every single ambulance in Contra Costa that responds to an emergency has at least one paramedic (paramedic means they can provide Advanced Life Support, also known as ALS) and one emergency medical technician basic (EMT); sometimes there are two paramedics in lieu of a one paramedic one EMT confi guration.

The AMR ambulances are payed for on a fee-for-use basis only; your tax dollars do not go toward providing ambulance coverage. Simply put, you only pay for the ambulance if you use it, and to elaborate on that, you only pay for its use if you get transported. For the ambulance and its paramedic to show up and evaluate and/or treat you, but not transport, costs nothing and you pay nothing for that service.

Now, the fi rst responder aspect is in addition to the ambulance. Along with the ambulance being dispatched to medical emergencies, fi rst responders are dispatched as well. These fi rst responders typically consist of the fi re department and their personnel. The general belief

is that in a medical emergency you want trained personnel to get to you as fast as possible to begin providing care while the ambulance is still possibly en route. Also, there are some instances where additional hands are needed, such as moving patients to the ambulance cot or in the event of a cardiac arrest, where multiple hands are needed to perform CPR.

With this tax proposal, East Contra Costa Fire says it will use part of the tax fee to provide paramedic service on its fi re engines so the citizens of East County will have fi re department paramedic service (currently they staff EMTs).

What I fail to see mentioned time and time again are two things: 1) East County already has paramedic service on every single ambulance that responds to its emergencies, and: 2) as part of its contract with Contra Costa County, AMR already provides experienced paramedic fi rst responders to East County. These AMR paramedic fi rst responders are actually stationed 24/7 at fi re stations in East County (station 52 Brentwood, station 59 Discovery Bay, station 95 Bethel Island) and respond in conjunction with the fi re department (and the ambulance) to all medical calls.

Additionally, there are two ambulance stations staffed with two paramedics each, 24/7, in the area, one in Brentwood and the other in Antioch just on the Oakley border (there are also many more paramedic ambulances that cover East County in 10-12-hour shift increments, which remain on the road and are not in stations).

East county citizens: these AMR paramedic fi rst responders are provided to you at no cost. They are part of the ambulance contract due to the fact that East Contra Costa Fire does not have paramedics on its fi re engines. First responder paramedics and ambulance paramedics are not dependent on this fi re tax; you already have them!

Finally, an important thing to note is that these AMR fi rst responder paramedics are dedicated for medical calls regardless of the fi re department having to perform fi re suppression duties. If this fi re tax is passed as is, and paramedics are staffed on the fi re engines, two things will happen: 1) the county will no longer require AMR to provide these fi rst responder paramedics and they will be removed, and 2): as a result of the dedicated AMR fi rst responder paramedics being removed, in the event a fi refi ghter/paramedic is performing fi re suppression duties when a medical emergency occurs, they will be unable to respond in contrast to the AMR fi rst responder paramedic, who would have been able to regardless of the existence of a fi re incident.

Please dont be scared into thinking this tax is needed in order to provide

paramedic service to East County, because it simply is not.

Gavin ConsveerOakley

Statess fiscal healthskating on thin ice

Editor:If I told you that in 1999, when the

State of California was fl ush with cash, that we could thank just 12 Californians for our fortune, youd probably think I was a half turn short of a tight lug nut. (You might be partially right, but not for that reason.)

This fact may also explain why Californias fi nances are in such a shambles today and why the states current funding system must be overhauled.

In 1999 the state received $12 billion more in revenue than it anticipated. Life was good, except there was one problem: 8 billion of this extra $12 billion came from just 12 Californians. Yes, two-thirds of the windfall came from just 12 people.

How could that be? Let me start with a quick lesson in California fi nance. The four most signifi cant sources of revenue for the state are corporate tax, sales tax, property tax and personal income tax. A disproportionate amount comes from personal income taxes. In fact, 55 percent of all revenue comes from this one source. And to exacerbate the problem, 50 percent of that amount comes from just 1 percent of our population. Starting to see the problem? Furthermore, these individuals dont bring in this kind of money by cashing a monthly paycheck from their employer.

Now back to 1999. Stocks were at a record high. Also remember the key to doing well in the stock market is to buy low and sell high. So during this period many very wealthy Californians became wealthier by cashing in their companies stock options. Therefore, they paid huge income taxes for that year, whereas they may have paid very little or none for several years before and possibly the years following. And there you have it: 12 people driving the states economy. Personally, do I believe the wealthy should pay more? Yes. But the current system is seriously fl awed.

This dynamic, of course, has a drastic impact on public schools. Approximately 82 percent of an average school districts revenue comes from the state; the balance from the federal government and local sources. Under the provisions of Proposition 98, schools represent about 40 percent of the states budget. So when the stock market soars, state revenues soar and consequently school districts revenues increase as well. Unfortunately, the reverse is also true. The other problem with the dynamic is that when the state is fl ush with cash, it spends it mostly on implementing programs that have ongoing

costs instead of those with just a one-time cost. So when the revenues dip, the state cant afford its commitments. Class size reduction is an example of this.

What is the answer? There is not one simple solution. However, the goal needs to be to provide a more stable revenue stream for the state. Of the four revenue sources cited earlier, the most stable is property taxes. Let me put it this way: if 54 percent of the states budget came from property taxes, the change in property values of the 12 richest Californians wouldnt drive the fi scal health of the state.

Dr. Rick RogersSuperintendent, Oakley Union

School District

Enough is enough: No WalmartEditor:

Please stop Walmart from coming to Brentwood. There is one in Antioch. We want to keep our downtown and the city quiet and quaint. There are enough shops.

Please stop the building it is ruin-ing our town. Crime and corruption are already more than we can handle for our own safety and healthy living that this community used to have.

Please stop the building and stop Walmart from coming to Brentwood.

Lora RainsBrentwood

Time to choose sidesEditor:

The fi rst shots of the Walmart or no Walmart battle have been fi red in Brent-wood. This is going to be a tough one, and it is never too early to pick a side.

No problem for me. Bringing Walmart to Brentwood is almost as stupid as the $16,000 (each!) palm trees or the abomina-tion being built in what used to be a great city park. Our elected leaders need to be put on a very short leash, and right away. Their ability to govern ranks right up there with the Byron school superintendents choice of a principal for one of the elemen-tary schools in that district. Mediocrity strikes again.

Of all the far East County towns, Brentwood is the only one left with any character and small-town feel. Simply put: build a Walmart here and we will become just another retail strip like so many small towns in America.

Even though poorly designed and executed, the re-vamped downtown area of Brentwood at least has some class and cha-racter when compared to most of the towns in the far East County. The downtown will become a blighted ghost town of failed businesses if Walmart is allowed anywhere near our nice little community.

If you have to have their low-priced imported goods, drive to the Walmart on Lone Tree. It is not that far and all those Chinese factory workers will thank you.

Bill SumnerBrentwood

SEPTEMBER 9, 2011 THEPRESS.NET | 21A

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A sampling of recent law enforcement activity reported by East County police de-partments.BRENTWOODAug. 25, 9:05 a.m. A dump truck carrying 26 sheets of plywood and 30 bundles of roof-ing material was stolen from the rear of an apartment complex on First Street. Aug. 25, 10:41 p.m. A subject contacted dur-ing a traffi c stop on Lone Tree Way at Medal-lion Drive was found to be driving without a license. Her vehicle was towed and stored.Aug. 25, 11:05 p.m. An unidentifi ed person forced entry into a residence on West Coun-try Club Drive and stole an iPod, jewelry and a computer.Aug. 26, 11:35 a.m. A subject who found a box of 9mm ammunition on Dunbarton Drive at Grant Street turned it in for destruc-tion at police headquarters.Aug. 26, 2:55 p.m. At a business on Second Street, a subject attempted to purchase a gift card using a stolen credit card. He was ar-rested and booked at the Martinez Deten-tion Facility.Aug. 27, 12:03 a.m. A subject who suffered a stab wound to his left hand during an al-tercation on Walnut Boulevard refused to cooperate and claimed that the incident was gang-related.Aug. 27, 6 a.m. On First Street, two vehicles parked in the Farmers Market no-parking zone were towed.Aug. 27, 11:33 a.m. A resident of Camelback Road discovered possible pry marks on her front door and damage to her door lock.Aug. 27, 1:59 p.m. An unidentifi ed person attempted to open an account at a business on Lone Tree Way with a fi ctitious Social Se-curity Number.Aug. 27, 2:45 p.m. A subject caught shoplift-ing at a business on Lone Tree Way was ar-rested and released on a Notice To Appear.Aug. 27, 6:55 p.m. On Brentwood Boulevard at Sand Creek Road, a subject stopped for a vehicle code violation was found to be driv-ing on a suspended drivers license.Aug. 27, 11:38 p.m. An unidentifi ed person fi red a handgun in a crowded parking lot on Town Centre Terrace and fl ed the area. There were no apparent victims.Aug. 27, 11:40 p.m. A subject contacted on Palmilla Way at Central Boulevard was

found in possession of cocaine for sale. He was arrested and taken to Juvenile Hall.Aug. 28, 1:37 a.m. Offi cers responded to the report of a fi ght at a restaurant on Sand Creek Road. During the investigation, a sub-ject was deemed too intoxicated to care for himself. He was arrested and taken to the Martinez Detention Facility.Aug. 28, 3:33 p.m. Several subjects were ob-served removing tags from merchandise at a business on Lone Tree Way. They were cited and released.Aug. 28, 9:30 p.m. On Sunrise Drive at Brentwood Boulevard, a subject stopped for vehicle code violations and his passenger were found in possession of suspected meth-amphetamine. Both were arrested and taken to the Martinez Detention Facility.Aug. 29, 9 a.m. An unidentifi ed person stole a locked bicycle from a residence on Minne-sota Avenue. Loss: $192.78.Aug. 29, 5:09 p.m. Approximately 12 pieces of 18-foot aluminum were stolen from a site on Heidorn Ranch Road at the Highway 4 Bypass.Aug. 29, 5:43 p.m. An unidentifi ed person discharged a fi rearm into the garage door of an inhabited residence on Berry Lane.Aug. 30, 8:20 a.m. A driver traveling at an unsafe speed on Brentwood Boulevard at Homecoming Way caused multiple-vehicle rear-end collisions.Aug. 30, 8:15 p.m. An unidentifi ed person entered a residence on Lawrence Lane by means of an unlocked side window and stole three laptop computers and currency. Esti-mated Loss: $2,000.Aug. 30, 11:27 p.m. A subject contacted dur-ing a pedestrian stop on Balfour Road was found to be under the infl uence of a central nervous system stimulant and in violation of probation. She was arrested and taken to the Martinez Detention Facility.Aug. 31, 6:42 a.m. On Lone Tree Way at Ar-royo Seco, a driver fell asleep and struck a metal barrier. He was transported to a local hospital.Aug. 31, 7:52 p.m. A subject placed under citizens arrest for shoplifting from a business on Lone Tree Way was released on a Promise To Appear.Sept. 1, 8:03 a.m. Two subjects contacted inside a stolen vehicle on Vintage Circle at

Vineyards Parkway were found to be under the infl uence of a central nervous system stimulant. They were arrested and taken to the Martinez Detention Facility.Sept. 1, 5:49 p.m. A subject unwittingly re-ceived a counterfeit bill from a business on First Street and attempted to use it.Sept. 2, 5:46 p.m. A subject drove by a resi-dence on Browning Court in violation of a court order.Sept. 2, 9:30 p.m. On Brentwood Boulevard at Balfour Road, a subject stopped for a ve-hicle code violation was found to be driving on a license suspended for a DUI.Sept. 3, 1:30 a.m. On Oak Street at First Street, a subject stopped for vehicle code vio-lations was found in possession of tear gas. One passenger was found to be under the infl uence of a central nervous system stimu-lant. Another passenger was found to have multiple outstanding warrants for his arrest. All were arrested and taken to the Martinez Detention Facility.Sept. 3, 6:59 p.m. On Balfour Road at the Highway 4 Bypass, a subject stopped for a vehicle code violation was found to be driv-ing on expired registration. He was arrested and released on a Notice To Appear.

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.OAKLEYAug. 22 Credit card fraud was reported on 1000 block of Main Street.Aug. 22 A vehicle was towed from the 1600 block of Fernwood Drive.Aug. 22 Vandalism was reported on the 100 block of Douglas Road.Aug. 23 A stolen vehicle was recovered from the 4400 block of Hagar Lane.Aug. 23 On Third Street at East Home Street, a subject was arrested for selling nar-cotics.Aug. 23 A disturbance in the form of threats was reported on the 300 block of Shady Oak Drive.Aug. 23 On the 1700 block of Fairhaven Court, a subject was arrested for selling dan-gerous drugs.Aug. 23 On the 2300 block of Megan Drive, a subject was cited for driving without a license.

Aug. 23 Two incidents of shoplifting were reported on the 2500 block of Main Street.Aug. 23 Domestic battery was reported on the 1500 block of Wildcat Way.Aug. 24 On the 2400 block of Main Street, a subject was arrested for child abandonment.Aug. 24 On the 1000 block of Neroly Road, a subject was arrested for possession of drugs.Aug. 24 On the 800 block of Chianti Way, a subject was arrested for possession of drug paraphernalia.Aug. 24 A court order violation was report-ed on the 1400 block of Kay Lane.Aug. 24 A vehicle accident with property damage occurred on East Cypress Road at Main Street.Aug. 24 Arrest warrants were served on Rio Vista Court at Sequoia Drive and on Oakley Road at Trenton Street.Aug. 25 On Main Street at Neroly Road, a subject was arrested for possession of a con-cealed fi rearm.Aug. 25 Illegal fi reworks were reported on the 1100 block of OHara Avenue.Aug. 25 A juvenile runaway was reported on the 1500 block of Ashwood Drive.Aug. 25 A vehicle accident with property damage occurred on the 1100 block of Ner-oly Road.Aug. 25 On the 300 block of Sugar Hill Way, a subject was arrested for battery.Aug. 26 On Live Oak Avenue at Neroly Road and on OHara Avenue at Star Street, subjects were arrested for driving under the infl uence of alcohol.Aug. 26 Grand theft from a vehicle was re-ported on the 4800 block of Fuchsia Way.Aug. 26 On the 400 block of Star Street, a subject was arrested for domestic violence with injury to a spouse.Aug. 26 A custody order violation was re-ported on the 3200 block of Main Street.Aug. 27 On Lorenz Drive at Simons Court, a subject was arrested for possession of a sy-ringe.Aug. 27 On OHara Avenue at Star Street, a subject was arrested for being under the in-fl uence of drugs.Aug. 27 A residence on the 200 block of Douglas Road was burglarized.Aug. 28 Identity theft was reported on the 3800 block of Acorn Drive.

COP LOGSFROM EMERGENCY SERVICES DISPATCH LOGS A dump truck carrying 26 sheets of plywood and 30 bundles of roofi ng material was stolen from the rear of an apartment complex on First Street.Aug. 25, 9:05 a.m. in Brentwood


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Visit Your Hometown Website www.thepress.net THEPRESS.NET | 23A SEPTEMBER 9, 2011

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Wolverines set to defend golf titleAs the Bay Valley Athletic League

girls golf season gets underway, it will al-ready be an unusual year for the Deer Val-ley squad their top player isnt named Edwards.

The graduation of Haley Edwards brought an end to a run of dominance enjoyed by her and her sisters, an era that lasted for the better part of a decade.

While Edwards and Melissa Wilker-son are gone, the Wolverines do return most of their team from last season. One of those players is Taylor Coover, now a junior, who often challenged Edwards for the role of the teams low scorer. As Coover is one of only three juniors on the roster, the Wolverines are a young team.

Deer Valley will also be out for re-venge this year. After winning the regular season title, they lost to Liberty by two shots in the BVAL tournament.Liberty

The Lions are led by seniors Marissa

Apadaca, Morgan Hernandez and Lei Wei. All four are in their fourth year as Liberty golfers. Wei won the individual title at the BVAL meet last year.

These three seniors are great leaders, players that will help our team contend for a league title, head coach Josh Ellces-sor said. The greatest attribute that will help us contend for a title this season is the teams ability to support and help one another through good and bad times.

Liberty opened its season with a 212-239 win over Granada, which won the East Bay Athletic League championship last season.

The Lions goal is to win the fi rst reg-ular season BVAL title in the schools his-tory. And as Kastyn Sugimoto (now play-ing for Fresno City College) is the only departure from the 2010 squad, theyre equipped to do just that.

Im very impressed with how weve started the season, Ellcessor said. Our strengths this season are leadership, expe-rience and a great work ethic.

by Michael DixonCorrespondent

see Defend page 27ADeer Valley junior Taylor Coover watches a shot land near the green during a match last season. The Wolverines have set their eyes on another BVAL golf title.

Press file photo

Final push gives Freedom the win

If Freedom Highs varsity football players fi gure out how to play a full game the way they played the last nine minutes of their opener, theyll be unbeatable.

After trailing by 12 in the fourth quar-ter against Amador Valley, the Falcons

scored 15 points in the fi nal eight minutes to win 22-19.

Freedoms play mirrored that of its quarterback, junior Dante Mayes. Mayes was erratic for most of the night, but settled down in crunch time, hitting senior receiver Stephen Rodriguez for two fourth-quarter touchdown passes plus a two-point conver-sion. The fi nal score was posted with 3:43 on the clock. When junior defensive tackle Bobby Montgomery broke up a fourth-down run on the Dons ensuing possession,

Patriots evade Matadors grasp

As Granada High senior quarter-back Jeremy Mata lined up for a two-minute drill on Friday night, fl ashbacks fl ooded the mind of Heritage head coach Jeff Haagenson.

Throughout the game, Mata had en-

joyed the friendly skies above the Patriots secondary. And leading the Matadors by only a single point in the waning minutes, Haagenson feared that Mata would re-turn to the air for a game-winning score.

Luckily for the Patriots coach, his defense kept Granada grounded.

A key sack by senior linebacker Jacob Catala brought the Matadors fi nal drive to a screeching halt and gave the Patriots a 35-34 season-opening victory.

I was thinking all I had to do was

see Push page 28A see Evade page 29A

by Michael DixonCorrespondent

by Justin LaffertyStaff Writer

Wild opening night for BVAL footballFreedom receiver Stephen Rodriguez is mobbed by his teammates after catch-ing the go-ahead touchdown pass against Amador Valley.

Photo by Angelo Garcia, Jr.

Heritage running back Jorel Avila tries to get away from Granadas Tyler Amick in the Patriots win Friday night.


SEPTEMBER 9, 2011 SPORTS THEPRESS.NET | 25A

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fi eld two juniors who earned fi rst-team all-BVAL honors last season: setter Ki-ana Pinkowski and middle blocker Alexis Dumitrescu. Pinkowski led the team with 363 service aces and 590 assists while Du-mitrescu made a team-high 39 blocks.

Theyre ready to conquer the sea-son, Ghilarducci said. I feel like were really going to hold our own and be more of an experienced team this year.

Other talented returning Liberty ath-letes include junior outside hitter Taylor Scriven, senior outside hitter Ana Silvia-Vega and senior libero Taylor Morgan.

Junior libero Melissa Cobarruzi, who played junior varsity, should be a factor along with sophomore middle blockers Morgan Van Usso and Emily Belt.

AntiochAntioch would like to improve on a

2010 season in which the Panthers fi n-ished 10-17 overall and 6-6 in BVAL play. Antiochs roster was senior-heavy last season, meaning head coach Nicole Whit-man nearly has an entirely new squad on her hands.

One key bright spot for the Panthers is sophomore libero Linsey Baynes, who earned second-team all-league honors as a freshman.

Senior Jacy Colen, a middle blocker, was an honorable mention all-league se-lection as a junior.

Antioch is fairly young this season, led by four seniors, three sophomores and a freshman, outside hitter Emily Po-lanco.

FreedomLast year was a season to forget for

Freedom, but the Falcons are hoping for better results under new leadership. First-year head coach Arvin Cruz looks to bring his club volleyball experience to Oakley, where Freedom tries to rebound from an 0-17 season (0-10 BVAL).

Cruz, an assistant coach for Pleasant Hill-based Pacifi c Rim Volleyball, wants to instill club team spirit. Im feeling pretty good about the team right now, Cruz said. This season, everybodys working hard, getting in shape and learning some stuff they havent learned.

Though Cruz hasnt written in anyones role with a Sharpie, he said a few athletes could come forward to provide key leader-ship. Senior libero Brytnie Winkler and ju-nior outside hitter Dominique Austin will be fundamental to Freedoms success.

Cruz also sees talent in JV players Tay-lor Bolles, Sirena Burgueno and Amanda Linder.

PittsburgPittsburg was the second BVAL team

that couldnt break the win column in 2010. Additionally, of the 12 players on the Pi-rates roster last season, seven were seniors. The team fi nished 0-8 last year, playing no preseason games.

Pittsburg will count on senior leader-ship from athletes such as 5-10 Tiana Lui, who returns from last seasons team. Senior Joelle Williams, who runs hurdles for the Pirates track team, was an all-league hon-orable mention selection last year.


Excited from page 24A

26A | THEPRESS.NET SPORTS SEPTEMBER 9, 2011

Pats team up for winLeaving the comfort of East County,

the Delta Patriots North Division Starts needed a total team effort against the 2-0 Tracy Buccaneers last weekend.

The North Division Starts pulled to-gether for a 7-6 victory.

The Tracy Bucs started the season with a combined 67 points in only their fi rst two games, so the Starts knew it would take a whole team effort for a win.

The defense, led by Bryce Leichty, Nathaniel Carroll, Austin Fox and Al-exander Regelado, set the tone early on, slowing down the Bucs and allowing only three fi rst downs and one score the entire game. The young football stars earned their second win and creating a building block for the rest of the season.

Patriots Varsity West shuts it down for winDelta Patriots Varsi

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