Members of various churches over the years that have been located in the Live Oak Community Christian Church have been looking for the bell that once fit in the bell tower of the church. Many years ago, no one remembers quite when, the bell needed to be taken out of the old building because of structural issues. It was stored somewhere, but no one quite remembered where.
About 10 years ago I received a call from someone who definitely knew where the bell was, but when the members of the church who owned the building at the time checked, they were told that the bell belonged to a church once in Antioch. Not knowing the history of the area, the members of the church didn’t realize that actually at one time the building was located in Antioch. The church members continued looking, but didn’t find out anything further before selling the building.
Now the building belongs to the Live Oak Community Christian Church. Members of this church were delighted when a few months ago a local area resident, who collected bells, Mr. Iconis, was leaving the area and called the Pastor to tell him he had a few bells that the church might be interested in. Iconis wanted to find a home for the bells where they could get some use.
That was good news for the church, according to Pastor Larry Pineda, as the members of the church had been looking for one to fit in their bell tower. “I don’t know if any of these are the exact bells,” Pineda said. “One of them does say Live Oak on it, but it was the larger one, not the one that fit in the tower.”
Pineda said that he wasn’t too worried about whether it was the exact bell only that it fit. A member of the church, who is also a contractor, Lee Harrington, offered his services to put up the bell. First though, the structural damage in the tower needed to be renovated. Harrington has been taking care of that. The church hopes to have the bell up in a couple of weeks.
As for the other bells, Pineda said he was more than happy to accept the donation of all three bells. One of the bells was added to the sign outside the gates of the church. It was the smallest of the three. The third is being displayed outside the Sunday school room.
The Live Oak Church hasn’t always been a church or even in Oakley. Several times throughout the area history the boundaries between Antioch and Oakley have changed and that stretch of highway was in Antioch. In 1885, the property was about a mile and a half outside of Oakley. It belonged to the Ruckstuhl family and then was turned over to the local residents for a school. The school was named Live Oak School because Live Oak trees surrounded it. When the school opened it housed 25 students and one teacher.
In 1903 a new building was put up at the cost of $4,000. It is still the outside building we see today. Inside has changed considerable.
Pineda said he is looking forward to hearing the bell ring before services each Sunday morning. Currently Sunday services are at 10 a.m. There is also a 10 a.m. Sunday school service.
This blog is dedicated to articles that have run in the East Bay Times (East Contra Costa County, California), Brentwood News, Oakley News, Antioch News, Pittsburg News written by community columnist and correspondent, Roni Gehlke.
Friday, January 23, 2009
Oakley's Blind Stitch
East County Times - Brentwood News – Oakley News – Antioch News
Business Spotlight Questions
Name of business: The Blind Stitch
Type of business: Embroidery
Owners: Jackie and Brian Panos, along with employee their daughter-in-law Shannon Knight
Founded: October 2002
Address: 1625 Main Street, Oakley
Phone number: 625-5411
Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday; Saturday by appointment; closed Sunday
Number of employees: 2
Products and services: The Blind Stitch offers a wide variety of embroidery services to individuals, teams, schools, non-profits and businesses. They have access to over 40,000 stock designs and many different apparel companies. The Blind Stitch can also work with custom logos and designs.
“We believe in our slogan ‘We are only limited by Your Imagination’,” Jackie Panos said.
They offer several different levels of embroidery specializing in the one of a kind item that the customer chooses. Customers can also personalize items with their name or a phrase. Panos said that they could put embroidery on many different types of surfaces, including T-shirts, active wear, outerwear, woven, fleece, accessories and knit. Embroidered items can be used for any occasion even gifts.
How did you get into the business? “I’ve been sewing all my life,” Panos said. She started out working on upholstery items with her father when she was in high school. “When the individual machines came out it started out as a hobby that ran a muck,” she said. Friends and family started asking her for some work to be done and then she was doing it as a business out of the house. When her husband, Brian, moved his television repair shop into Oakley, she decided to open the storefront next door to him.
Best part about the business: “Doing a special gift item for someone and anticipating the smile on the recipients face,” she said. “I don’t even need to see it.”
She also said she has made a lot of new friends since she has opened the storefront in Oakley whom she knows she can count on if she needs anything.
Worst part about the business: Panos said there really wasn’t a worst part about the business she loves what she does.
Key to success: “Do what you do and do it well,” Panos said. “It is always our goal to do the best we can do.”
Biggest misperception about the business: Panos said that many times people come in thinking that they can do alterations, which they don’t do. Also, because of the name they think, The Blind Stitch is about making blinds for window coverings, which they don’t do either.
Future plans: Currently Panos is working on putting together a website that will allow her customers easier access to ordering. Her site is at www.theblindstitch.net.
Business Spotlight Questions
Name of business: The Blind Stitch
Type of business: Embroidery
Owners: Jackie and Brian Panos, along with employee their daughter-in-law Shannon Knight
Founded: October 2002
Address: 1625 Main Street, Oakley
Phone number: 625-5411
Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday; Saturday by appointment; closed Sunday
Number of employees: 2
Products and services: The Blind Stitch offers a wide variety of embroidery services to individuals, teams, schools, non-profits and businesses. They have access to over 40,000 stock designs and many different apparel companies. The Blind Stitch can also work with custom logos and designs.
“We believe in our slogan ‘We are only limited by Your Imagination’,” Jackie Panos said.
They offer several different levels of embroidery specializing in the one of a kind item that the customer chooses. Customers can also personalize items with their name or a phrase. Panos said that they could put embroidery on many different types of surfaces, including T-shirts, active wear, outerwear, woven, fleece, accessories and knit. Embroidered items can be used for any occasion even gifts.
How did you get into the business? “I’ve been sewing all my life,” Panos said. She started out working on upholstery items with her father when she was in high school. “When the individual machines came out it started out as a hobby that ran a muck,” she said. Friends and family started asking her for some work to be done and then she was doing it as a business out of the house. When her husband, Brian, moved his television repair shop into Oakley, she decided to open the storefront next door to him.
Best part about the business: “Doing a special gift item for someone and anticipating the smile on the recipients face,” she said. “I don’t even need to see it.”
She also said she has made a lot of new friends since she has opened the storefront in Oakley whom she knows she can count on if she needs anything.
Worst part about the business: Panos said there really wasn’t a worst part about the business she loves what she does.
Key to success: “Do what you do and do it well,” Panos said. “It is always our goal to do the best we can do.”
Biggest misperception about the business: Panos said that many times people come in thinking that they can do alterations, which they don’t do. Also, because of the name they think, The Blind Stitch is about making blinds for window coverings, which they don’t do either.
Future plans: Currently Panos is working on putting together a website that will allow her customers easier access to ordering. Her site is at www.theblindstitch.net.
East County Resident Turns 108
When Opal Thompson was born, William McKinley was president, her home, now known as the state of Oklahoma, was still Indian Territory and the first American built automobile was purchased in Pennsylvania. Last week Thompson celebrated her 108 birthday. Over her lifetime she has watched 20 presidents begin their term in office and had the chance to vote for the first time with other women in 1920.
Thompson’s parents homesteaded on their Oklahoma 160-acre property in 1889 living along side the Indians. “I wished I’d asked more questions of my parents about that time,” Thompson said. She was a middle daughter of 12 children, growing up mostly in the middle of her seven brothers. She still remembers fondly growing up around the boys and helping to carry their lunch pails to school. She remembers being a very studious girl, who worked hard cleaning the desks, board and erasers after school and attending every day without being tardy or absent.
In 1924 she married Richard “Tommy” Thompson, a fireman on the Santa Fe Railroad and professional wrestler. “At the time, Tommy had really bad eyes from something he got during wrestling and he wanted to pass the engineer’s test so I took him to San Francisco to see a special doctor,” Thompson said of what brought her to California.
After moving to California the Thompson’s settled in Long Beach where Opal purchased a restaurant from the owner where she was working as a waitress. Later she gave up the restaurant just around the time her son was born.
In 1930, Thompson’s husband was offered a job by the new warden at Folsom Prison and the couple moved to the Folsom area, living outside the prison for two years and inside for five. During her time living at the prison, prisoners were on hand as cleaning and cooking staff for the guards. Thompson remembers on famous character, Lloyd Sampsell, who the press dubbed as the Black Yacht Bandit. Sampsell was convicted of robbing banks and then fleeing on his yacht. “He came from a very wealthy family, I remember. He used to cook for us on Sunday mornings. He was a very good cook,” Thompson said.
She remembered how one evening Sampsell slipped away from the prison and worried her husband enough to contact the warden. “The warden was all man,” Thompson remembered. “He was six foot six and very tough.”
In 1937, Thompson overheard some of the inmates talking about an escape plan and he informed the warden about the problem. “Warden Larkin told Tommy not to worry about it, he would take care of it and sent Tommy back to the work farm where he was a guard on the weekend,” she explained.
Later that day the attempt was made and Warden Clarence Larkin, perished along with Officer Harry Martin and several inmates. Thompson said that she remembers her husband being asked to lie by officials about the incident. He refused and was fired from his job.
The Thompsons moved back to Long Beach area soon after Tommy’s dismissal and then Opal took a job as a sales clerk in a health food store where she worked for more than 30 years. During that time she learned a lot about vitamins and even tried some of them herself. Some she liked and some she didn’t. “We couldn’t recommend anything to the people when they walked in, but they always wanted us too. I would say I heard it worked or I’ve tried it,” she said.
Thompson remembers the first car she ever drove, before even having her driver’s license was a crank model. The first time she ever tried cranking it to turn it on, she sprained her ankle. She went on to keep her drivers license until she was well over 100, still driving around the area.
During her lifetime Thompson always attended Christian church and taught Sunday school. She loves to make placemats out of greeting cards and contact paper and give it to friends and family. To keep her mind keen she loves to do word searches and reads the newspaper. She raised one son, has one grandchild, and one great grandchild as well as a larger extended family.
When asked why she is still here on earth at 108, Thompson said. “God must have a plan for me.”
Note: After this story ran, Thompson's niece contacted me and said some of the dates were incorrect, which quite possible is so. I tried to look back in history before I published the story and found records on Warden Clarence Larkin and his time at Folsom Prison, which was from 1930 to 1937. The warden was killed in 1937 at the prison break attempt. I worked with the dates that Opal Thompson gave me around that time, but it was so long ago and so many things happen in one lifetime it was hard to keep straight. Thompson's niece asked if Opal was around again next year at her 109th birthday if I would interview her again. Let me just say that it would be an honor. I hope I'm that together if I'm to still here to tell a story at 108.
Thompson’s parents homesteaded on their Oklahoma 160-acre property in 1889 living along side the Indians. “I wished I’d asked more questions of my parents about that time,” Thompson said. She was a middle daughter of 12 children, growing up mostly in the middle of her seven brothers. She still remembers fondly growing up around the boys and helping to carry their lunch pails to school. She remembers being a very studious girl, who worked hard cleaning the desks, board and erasers after school and attending every day without being tardy or absent.
In 1924 she married Richard “Tommy” Thompson, a fireman on the Santa Fe Railroad and professional wrestler. “At the time, Tommy had really bad eyes from something he got during wrestling and he wanted to pass the engineer’s test so I took him to San Francisco to see a special doctor,” Thompson said of what brought her to California.
After moving to California the Thompson’s settled in Long Beach where Opal purchased a restaurant from the owner where she was working as a waitress. Later she gave up the restaurant just around the time her son was born.
In 1930, Thompson’s husband was offered a job by the new warden at Folsom Prison and the couple moved to the Folsom area, living outside the prison for two years and inside for five. During her time living at the prison, prisoners were on hand as cleaning and cooking staff for the guards. Thompson remembers on famous character, Lloyd Sampsell, who the press dubbed as the Black Yacht Bandit. Sampsell was convicted of robbing banks and then fleeing on his yacht. “He came from a very wealthy family, I remember. He used to cook for us on Sunday mornings. He was a very good cook,” Thompson said.
She remembered how one evening Sampsell slipped away from the prison and worried her husband enough to contact the warden. “The warden was all man,” Thompson remembered. “He was six foot six and very tough.”
In 1937, Thompson overheard some of the inmates talking about an escape plan and he informed the warden about the problem. “Warden Larkin told Tommy not to worry about it, he would take care of it and sent Tommy back to the work farm where he was a guard on the weekend,” she explained.
Later that day the attempt was made and Warden Clarence Larkin, perished along with Officer Harry Martin and several inmates. Thompson said that she remembers her husband being asked to lie by officials about the incident. He refused and was fired from his job.
The Thompsons moved back to Long Beach area soon after Tommy’s dismissal and then Opal took a job as a sales clerk in a health food store where she worked for more than 30 years. During that time she learned a lot about vitamins and even tried some of them herself. Some she liked and some she didn’t. “We couldn’t recommend anything to the people when they walked in, but they always wanted us too. I would say I heard it worked or I’ve tried it,” she said.
Thompson remembers the first car she ever drove, before even having her driver’s license was a crank model. The first time she ever tried cranking it to turn it on, she sprained her ankle. She went on to keep her drivers license until she was well over 100, still driving around the area.
During her lifetime Thompson always attended Christian church and taught Sunday school. She loves to make placemats out of greeting cards and contact paper and give it to friends and family. To keep her mind keen she loves to do word searches and reads the newspaper. She raised one son, has one grandchild, and one great grandchild as well as a larger extended family.
When asked why she is still here on earth at 108, Thompson said. “God must have a plan for me.”
Note: After this story ran, Thompson's niece contacted me and said some of the dates were incorrect, which quite possible is so. I tried to look back in history before I published the story and found records on Warden Clarence Larkin and his time at Folsom Prison, which was from 1930 to 1937. The warden was killed in 1937 at the prison break attempt. I worked with the dates that Opal Thompson gave me around that time, but it was so long ago and so many things happen in one lifetime it was hard to keep straight. Thompson's niece asked if Opal was around again next year at her 109th birthday if I would interview her again. Let me just say that it would be an honor. I hope I'm that together if I'm to still here to tell a story at 108.
Brentwood resident takes a chance at Idol
At age three, Brentwood’s Ashley Mendez knew that she wanted to become a singer. She practiced everyday throughout her life and at the young age of 14, Mendez, known by her fans as just Ashley, started singing professionally. After performing at several local and Bay Area and touring Paris and London, Mendez came back to the United States for her chance to audition for the television show the American Idol.
Mendez didn’t get the chance to make it all the way to the television finals, but she did get the chance to compete in both San Francisco and Hollywood.
“We started in San Francisco and auditioned with 5,000 other people and I was so excited to make it to the Hollywood auditions. It was a wonderful experience,” Mendez said.
While Mendez wishes she had done better than being in to top 75 for the West Coast region, she feels the experience was really worth the effort. “While we were auditioning Paula Abdul said you never know who’s going to be watching, so I’m hoping there will be more to come from the experience,” she said.
Mendez said that a lot of film footage was taken at the auditions and that during the first few shows producers of American Idol plan to run some of the clips. “I’m sure I’m going to be on television as well, which would be great because it would give me another chance to be seen,” she said.
Doing the auditions for American Idol was just part of Mendez’s plans to realize her dream of becoming a singer. At 25 years old, Mendez has already accomplished a great deal since she first started playing at fairs and other venues at 14. She has been busy singing at nightclubs throughout San Francisco, the Bay Area and Los Angeles, she even had the opportunity to sing at a few major league baseball games. She also spent some time spanning the globe and singing her R and B and pop songs in Paris and London clubs.
From her time in Paris she was contracted with a record label, called MAJH Productions and offered the chance to work on an album. That deal is currently in progress and should be out soon. Mendez said that she is currently working on writing the music for the upcoming album, as well as the upcoming shows she already has planned for the San Francisco area.
Mendez says she makes singing and songwriting her number one priority and will continue to take every opportunity to go as far as she can in her career. She may even have the chance again to audition for American Idol and do better next time.
Mendez didn’t get the chance to make it all the way to the television finals, but she did get the chance to compete in both San Francisco and Hollywood.
“We started in San Francisco and auditioned with 5,000 other people and I was so excited to make it to the Hollywood auditions. It was a wonderful experience,” Mendez said.
While Mendez wishes she had done better than being in to top 75 for the West Coast region, she feels the experience was really worth the effort. “While we were auditioning Paula Abdul said you never know who’s going to be watching, so I’m hoping there will be more to come from the experience,” she said.
Mendez said that a lot of film footage was taken at the auditions and that during the first few shows producers of American Idol plan to run some of the clips. “I’m sure I’m going to be on television as well, which would be great because it would give me another chance to be seen,” she said.
Doing the auditions for American Idol was just part of Mendez’s plans to realize her dream of becoming a singer. At 25 years old, Mendez has already accomplished a great deal since she first started playing at fairs and other venues at 14. She has been busy singing at nightclubs throughout San Francisco, the Bay Area and Los Angeles, she even had the opportunity to sing at a few major league baseball games. She also spent some time spanning the globe and singing her R and B and pop songs in Paris and London clubs.
From her time in Paris she was contracted with a record label, called MAJH Productions and offered the chance to work on an album. That deal is currently in progress and should be out soon. Mendez said that she is currently working on writing the music for the upcoming album, as well as the upcoming shows she already has planned for the San Francisco area.
Mendez says she makes singing and songwriting her number one priority and will continue to take every opportunity to go as far as she can in her career. She may even have the chance again to audition for American Idol and do better next time.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Wilhelmina Andrade
Former Antioch City Councilwoman Wilhelmina Andrade has long been known for rallying people to community causes. She will draw people together one last time today when she is laid to rest at age 93. Andrade passed away Tuesday. A service will be held this morning at 10 a.m. at the Higgins Chapel in Antioch.
“Before she was even elected to the council, I remember hearing how she had a slough of people marching in the streets for various causes,” said current Antioch councilwoman Mary Rocha. “She was able to mobilize people into fighting for their causes and what they believed was right.”
Andrade sat on Antioch City Council from 1979 to 1982 but remained active in the community well into the 2000s according to her granddaughter, Rennette Costa. Even when her time was finished on the council she still addressed the council on a regular basis. “She worked to expose untruths about the city council and to make sure they kept their word,” Costa said.
Costa said that she recalled many times when people referred to Andrade as the “People’s voice of reason.” For several years she appeared on a local cable television show called “Focus on the truth”.
“I remember the first time I saw that show on television. I didn’t even know she was doing it until I moved to the area and was flipping channels and said ‘Hey that’s my grandmother on T.V.’”
Andrade was not afraid to speak out on tough issues, her granddaughter reported. “She was a very spirited woman,” Costa said.
Rocha described Andrade as very fiscally conservative. At one time she was reported to have asked the council how it could approve more homes when current residents are paying Mello-Roos, lighting and other taxes. “It doesn't make sense,” she had said. “We don't need any more homes. We need jobs.” She also spoke out against the city using tax dollars to build a skate park urging the youth that if they wanted a park then they should find a way to build it themselves.
Andrade was born in Milpitas in 1915. She moved to Byron in 1946 and later moved to Antioch in the 1950s. “My grandmother was really into her Portuguese heritage and was a member of the Sociedade Portuguesa Rainha Santa Isabel,” Costa said.
Aside from her time on the city council and working for various causes over the years, Andrade also served as past president and board member of the Antioch Lapidary Club and was a member of the local Dairy Club. Arcade graduated from nursing school in 1961. She also worked at a cannery for many years.
She and her husband Louis lived on a farm around the Brentwood area before moving into central Antioch. She added items for the time capsule that the County Board of Supervisors organized to commemorate the bicentennial of the US Constitution.
Andrade was a colon cancer survivor, and out lived her husband, Louis, who died October of 1982 and her daughter Gladys Andrade who died November 2005. Her son Stanley lives in Portland, Texas. She also has two sisters who live in the Stockton area as well as three grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Friends and family are invited to a funeral service this morning at 10 a.m. at Higgins Chapel in Antioch. In lieu of flowers, Costa asks to please make donations to the American Cancer Society.
“Before she was even elected to the council, I remember hearing how she had a slough of people marching in the streets for various causes,” said current Antioch councilwoman Mary Rocha. “She was able to mobilize people into fighting for their causes and what they believed was right.”
Andrade sat on Antioch City Council from 1979 to 1982 but remained active in the community well into the 2000s according to her granddaughter, Rennette Costa. Even when her time was finished on the council she still addressed the council on a regular basis. “She worked to expose untruths about the city council and to make sure they kept their word,” Costa said.
Costa said that she recalled many times when people referred to Andrade as the “People’s voice of reason.” For several years she appeared on a local cable television show called “Focus on the truth”.
“I remember the first time I saw that show on television. I didn’t even know she was doing it until I moved to the area and was flipping channels and said ‘Hey that’s my grandmother on T.V.’”
Andrade was not afraid to speak out on tough issues, her granddaughter reported. “She was a very spirited woman,” Costa said.
Rocha described Andrade as very fiscally conservative. At one time she was reported to have asked the council how it could approve more homes when current residents are paying Mello-Roos, lighting and other taxes. “It doesn't make sense,” she had said. “We don't need any more homes. We need jobs.” She also spoke out against the city using tax dollars to build a skate park urging the youth that if they wanted a park then they should find a way to build it themselves.
Andrade was born in Milpitas in 1915. She moved to Byron in 1946 and later moved to Antioch in the 1950s. “My grandmother was really into her Portuguese heritage and was a member of the Sociedade Portuguesa Rainha Santa Isabel,” Costa said.
Aside from her time on the city council and working for various causes over the years, Andrade also served as past president and board member of the Antioch Lapidary Club and was a member of the local Dairy Club. Arcade graduated from nursing school in 1961. She also worked at a cannery for many years.
She and her husband Louis lived on a farm around the Brentwood area before moving into central Antioch. She added items for the time capsule that the County Board of Supervisors organized to commemorate the bicentennial of the US Constitution.
Andrade was a colon cancer survivor, and out lived her husband, Louis, who died October of 1982 and her daughter Gladys Andrade who died November 2005. Her son Stanley lives in Portland, Texas. She also has two sisters who live in the Stockton area as well as three grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Friends and family are invited to a funeral service this morning at 10 a.m. at Higgins Chapel in Antioch. In lieu of flowers, Costa asks to please make donations to the American Cancer Society.
Shepherd's Kitchen
Name of business: The Shepherd's Kitchen
Type of business: Restaurant
Owners: Saed and Linda Awwad
Founded: 2008
Address: 50 Sand Creek Rd., Brentwood
Phone number: 925-308-7000
Hours: Monday through Thursday 11a.m. to 9p.m.; Friday and Saturday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday 12 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Number of employees: 5
Products and services: The Shepard’s Kitchen specializes in Mediterranean food featuring kabob, Shawerma, falafel, hummus, tabbouleh, gyro, plus other Mediterranean specialties.
How did you get into the business? “The joy of feeding people a healthy meal in a welcoming environment has always been a common occurrence at our house,” Saed & Awwad said. “The next obvious step was to do this on a bigger scale that would, not only feed people physically, but also feed them spiritually.”
He went on to quote Matthew 4:4 from the bible saying that a "Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds from the mouth of God".
Best part about the business: “Nothing like it in the East County. The compliments about the food and the atmosphere have been great,” Awwad said.
Worst part about the business: “Honestly, and like most everyone else, it's the uncertainty of not knowing whether we'll make ends meet at the end of the month,” Awwad said.
Key to success: “Faith, a commitment, first of all, to God, who directs our path.
Excellence in quality, service and cleanliness is of supreme importance in this establishment,” Awwad said.
Biggest misperception about the business: “The biggest misperception about this restaurant is that it is for personal financial gain or a "job" of ours. If it blesses us, that's okay, but that's not our focus,” Awwad said. “As we seek to "give" God is faithful to reward accordingly. Motive is key.”
Future plans: “Our focus needs to be on today. If we are found to be faithful in the small things, we'll be entrusted with bigger things in the future,” Awwad said. “Our focus is to serve a healthy, delicious meal to every person who walks through our door.
With that said, our future plans, as finances permit, will include expansion into more square footage and possibly franchising.”
Type of business: Restaurant
Owners: Saed and Linda Awwad
Founded: 2008
Address: 50 Sand Creek Rd., Brentwood
Phone number: 925-308-7000
Hours: Monday through Thursday 11a.m. to 9p.m.; Friday and Saturday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday 12 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Number of employees: 5
Products and services: The Shepard’s Kitchen specializes in Mediterranean food featuring kabob, Shawerma, falafel, hummus, tabbouleh, gyro, plus other Mediterranean specialties.
How did you get into the business? “The joy of feeding people a healthy meal in a welcoming environment has always been a common occurrence at our house,” Saed & Awwad said. “The next obvious step was to do this on a bigger scale that would, not only feed people physically, but also feed them spiritually.”
He went on to quote Matthew 4:4 from the bible saying that a "Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds from the mouth of God".
Best part about the business: “Nothing like it in the East County. The compliments about the food and the atmosphere have been great,” Awwad said.
Worst part about the business: “Honestly, and like most everyone else, it's the uncertainty of not knowing whether we'll make ends meet at the end of the month,” Awwad said.
Key to success: “Faith, a commitment, first of all, to God, who directs our path.
Excellence in quality, service and cleanliness is of supreme importance in this establishment,” Awwad said.
Biggest misperception about the business: “The biggest misperception about this restaurant is that it is for personal financial gain or a "job" of ours. If it blesses us, that's okay, but that's not our focus,” Awwad said. “As we seek to "give" God is faithful to reward accordingly. Motive is key.”
Future plans: “Our focus needs to be on today. If we are found to be faithful in the small things, we'll be entrusted with bigger things in the future,” Awwad said. “Our focus is to serve a healthy, delicious meal to every person who walks through our door.
With that said, our future plans, as finances permit, will include expansion into more square footage and possibly franchising.”
Beavers in oakley
When the East Bay Regional Park District began clearing away non-native plants and adding dirt to raise the soil level at the Delta Science Center facility in Oakley they hadn’t expected on inviting critters to come out of the woodwork, but that was exactly what happened. “Bringing beavers together with the shoreline trees was not really going according as planned,” said Mike Moran East Bay Regional Parks District naturalist.
This weekend Moran and a group of area citizens took a walk around the center’s wetlands and the Big Break Regional Trail off of Big Break Road as part of a regularly scheduled Walking The Wetlands of Big Break. There, Moran showed off trees where the industrious beavers had chewed away along the base and where some trees had to be cleared away because they had toppled from the beavers’ damage.
Moran said that the beavers weren’t new to the area, as a matter of fact, the beavers have been in Oakley so long that in the 1830s and 1840s traps were set in the Big Break area in hopes of catching beavers for their thick pelts. It was referred to as another kind of Gold Rush.
“The problem was that the local Mexican and Indian population didn’t like the fact that companies were making money off the beavers and kept setting off the traps so that the beavers wouldn’t get caught. Finally the enterprise stopped and the beavers were free to roam the area,” he said.
Today the beavers continue to be natural to the habitat, but generally stayed closer to the shoreline. They live off the natural blackberries in the area, as well as the wood along the shore. In this case, they just happen to come upon a new food source and dug right in.
In order to protect the new trees the district placed fencing around the bottom of the trees within the beavers’ path to keep them from causing further damage. Several of the trees needed to be taken down, Moran said, but others were saved even while showing signs of the beavers’ damage. One tree was carved out at the bottom by the beaver and carved above by a person with the inscription “Leave it to beaver”.
Although hard to find, since the animal is nocturnal, the beaver lives in most of the United States, except for southern California, Florida and Nevada. They are part of the rodent family and are considered to be one of the largest weighing in at 45 to 60 pounds. Beavers are considered builders and usually are found by the dams and lodges they build in streams, rivers and other waterways. Their long incisor teeth help them to cut down trees by gnawing their way all the way around the tree trunk.
Trapping the beavers, like other organizations have done in the past is not something that the East Bay Regional Park District would even consider, since the idea of the Delta Science Center is to keep everything in their natural habitat and observe the natural environment. Trapping regulations have been enacted to protect beavers, since they almost became extinct in some areas in the early 1900s. Traders at the time made a great deal of money selling beavers pelts and meat.
The beaver prefers habitats near water. They love aspen, birch, willow, cottonwood, basswood, and poplar trees, all which can be found lining the Delta waterways. The trees are used as building material as well as food. Beavers are vegetarians. They eat cattail shoots, parts of pond lilies and other aquatic vegetation, and trees. They don’t really eat the wood, just the bark. An adult beaver can fell a tree 10 inches in diameter in about six minutes.
This weekend Moran and a group of area citizens took a walk around the center’s wetlands and the Big Break Regional Trail off of Big Break Road as part of a regularly scheduled Walking The Wetlands of Big Break. There, Moran showed off trees where the industrious beavers had chewed away along the base and where some trees had to be cleared away because they had toppled from the beavers’ damage.
Moran said that the beavers weren’t new to the area, as a matter of fact, the beavers have been in Oakley so long that in the 1830s and 1840s traps were set in the Big Break area in hopes of catching beavers for their thick pelts. It was referred to as another kind of Gold Rush.
“The problem was that the local Mexican and Indian population didn’t like the fact that companies were making money off the beavers and kept setting off the traps so that the beavers wouldn’t get caught. Finally the enterprise stopped and the beavers were free to roam the area,” he said.
Today the beavers continue to be natural to the habitat, but generally stayed closer to the shoreline. They live off the natural blackberries in the area, as well as the wood along the shore. In this case, they just happen to come upon a new food source and dug right in.
In order to protect the new trees the district placed fencing around the bottom of the trees within the beavers’ path to keep them from causing further damage. Several of the trees needed to be taken down, Moran said, but others were saved even while showing signs of the beavers’ damage. One tree was carved out at the bottom by the beaver and carved above by a person with the inscription “Leave it to beaver”.
Although hard to find, since the animal is nocturnal, the beaver lives in most of the United States, except for southern California, Florida and Nevada. They are part of the rodent family and are considered to be one of the largest weighing in at 45 to 60 pounds. Beavers are considered builders and usually are found by the dams and lodges they build in streams, rivers and other waterways. Their long incisor teeth help them to cut down trees by gnawing their way all the way around the tree trunk.
Trapping the beavers, like other organizations have done in the past is not something that the East Bay Regional Park District would even consider, since the idea of the Delta Science Center is to keep everything in their natural habitat and observe the natural environment. Trapping regulations have been enacted to protect beavers, since they almost became extinct in some areas in the early 1900s. Traders at the time made a great deal of money selling beavers pelts and meat.
The beaver prefers habitats near water. They love aspen, birch, willow, cottonwood, basswood, and poplar trees, all which can be found lining the Delta waterways. The trees are used as building material as well as food. Beavers are vegetarians. They eat cattail shoots, parts of pond lilies and other aquatic vegetation, and trees. They don’t really eat the wood, just the bark. An adult beaver can fell a tree 10 inches in diameter in about six minutes.
Neighbors Profile on Shirley Darling
Neighbors Profile
Name: Shirley Darling
Occupation: Retired steel fabricator after 18 years in the business.
Marital status/Family: Married to husband Jim after 13 years. She currently lives in Oakley at Eagle City. “There is a good group of people who live here. They gave generously to the Friends of Oakley this year with 48 gifts and 30 $20 gift certificates, as well as lots of food,” she said.
Proudest Civic Achievement: Darling said that she would have to say her proudest civic achievement had to be the time she sat on the state chairs of the Degree of Pocahontas. The organization, which has a chapter in Oakley, is a non-profit that raises money and awareness for several causes.
“I really enjoyed doing it. We accomplished a lot during the time I was there. The group raises money for Alzheimer's and has raised $2 million nationally. Then the state group also picks a different charity depending on the state chair. It is really a good organization,” she said.
Darling also said that she is happy to be a part of the new Friends of Oakley group. “This is something we have really needed in here in Oakley. We needed to get together and work together. We are still a small community and it is going to take us all to make it what we want our city to be,” she said.
Future Achievement: “I would really like to get all the groups together in town and really do something for the kid. Get the kids to do constructive things in the community,” she said.
Groups and organizations involved in: Currently Darling is a member of the Redman-Pocahontas of Oakley. She is also a board member of the Friends of Oakley and she is a member of the Oakley Senior group.
The Oakley Seniors has been in existence since 1946 and meet on the third Sunday of every month on Rosemary Lane County building. “It keeps Oakley seniors out and active,” she said. She encourages all Oakley seniors to get involved in the group.
Hobbies: Darling says she loves to garden and does it every chance she gets. She used to be “crafty” but she has been doing so many other things lately she hasn’t had a chance to do any of it lately.
She says that her volunteering is like a hobby. “I really enjoy doing it. I so enjoy what we are doing at the Pocahontas with the Community Awareness Day and the Halloween Haunted House which just grew dramatically this year,” she said.
What was the last book you read? “Computers for Dummies” was the last book she read. She said that she has been very interested in computers lately. She and her husband took three courses through the Liberty Adult Education program. “The first computer I ever saw took up an entire room. What we deal with now is so phenomenal,” she said.
Favorite movie: She said she would have to say “Dirty Dancing”. “I just loved all the dancing in the movie and Patrick Swayze is the best,” she said.
On one last note: Darling said that she loves everything that has to do with the American flag. She is currently working on putting together a pamphlet on the flag and our country. “There are so many things that new citizens have to answer to become a citizen that most of us who are already citizens can’t answer,” she said.
Name: Shirley Darling
Occupation: Retired steel fabricator after 18 years in the business.
Marital status/Family: Married to husband Jim after 13 years. She currently lives in Oakley at Eagle City. “There is a good group of people who live here. They gave generously to the Friends of Oakley this year with 48 gifts and 30 $20 gift certificates, as well as lots of food,” she said.
Proudest Civic Achievement: Darling said that she would have to say her proudest civic achievement had to be the time she sat on the state chairs of the Degree of Pocahontas. The organization, which has a chapter in Oakley, is a non-profit that raises money and awareness for several causes.
“I really enjoyed doing it. We accomplished a lot during the time I was there. The group raises money for Alzheimer's and has raised $2 million nationally. Then the state group also picks a different charity depending on the state chair. It is really a good organization,” she said.
Darling also said that she is happy to be a part of the new Friends of Oakley group. “This is something we have really needed in here in Oakley. We needed to get together and work together. We are still a small community and it is going to take us all to make it what we want our city to be,” she said.
Future Achievement: “I would really like to get all the groups together in town and really do something for the kid. Get the kids to do constructive things in the community,” she said.
Groups and organizations involved in: Currently Darling is a member of the Redman-Pocahontas of Oakley. She is also a board member of the Friends of Oakley and she is a member of the Oakley Senior group.
The Oakley Seniors has been in existence since 1946 and meet on the third Sunday of every month on Rosemary Lane County building. “It keeps Oakley seniors out and active,” she said. She encourages all Oakley seniors to get involved in the group.
Hobbies: Darling says she loves to garden and does it every chance she gets. She used to be “crafty” but she has been doing so many other things lately she hasn’t had a chance to do any of it lately.
She says that her volunteering is like a hobby. “I really enjoy doing it. I so enjoy what we are doing at the Pocahontas with the Community Awareness Day and the Halloween Haunted House which just grew dramatically this year,” she said.
What was the last book you read? “Computers for Dummies” was the last book she read. She said that she has been very interested in computers lately. She and her husband took three courses through the Liberty Adult Education program. “The first computer I ever saw took up an entire room. What we deal with now is so phenomenal,” she said.
Favorite movie: She said she would have to say “Dirty Dancing”. “I just loved all the dancing in the movie and Patrick Swayze is the best,” she said.
On one last note: Darling said that she loves everything that has to do with the American flag. She is currently working on putting together a pamphlet on the flag and our country. “There are so many things that new citizens have to answer to become a citizen that most of us who are already citizens can’t answer,” she said.
Lumpy's Diner
Name of business: Lumpy’s Diner
Type of business: Restaurant
Owners: Jeremy “Lumpy” and Melissa Sturgill
Founded: November 2008
Address: 5891 Lone Tree Way, Suite A, Antioch
Phone number: 778-5867
Hours: Monday through Saturday 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Sunday 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Number of employees: 30
Products and services: “All American dinner, just like mama’s cooking,” according to owners Lumpy and Melissa Sturgill. The diner specializes in burgers and breakfast meals. Their most popular burger is the Buffalo blue cheese burger, but they dare those with a real appetite to try their “The Dog Pounder”. This features three pounds of hamburger, mayonasie, mustard, lettuce, tomato, pickles, onion, cheese and four slices of bacon. Those who complete the meal are treated to the honor of having their name on the hall of fame wall and a free t-shirt. The Sturgill’s warn though that to be placed on the wall, six condiments must be consumed.
Other favorites include “The Cure” breakfast, which includes hash browns, biscuit, meat, eggs, cheese and gravy piled high, and the breakfast burritos. Aside from dinner and breakfast Lumpy’s also offers sandwiches, salads, hot dogs, chili, chicken dishes, Philly steak sandwiches, and a variety of French fries. Lumpy’s Diner is a family restaurant and offers a kids’ meal. They provide dine-in, take-out, catering and event services.
How did you get into the business? Lumpy’s parents own a popular restaurant in Concord called Diggers Diner. He worked in their diner since he was 13 years old. Over the past few years the young couple has been interested in opening their own place on this side of the hill. Melissa is originally from Antioch and wanted to move back to her hometown. When the former restaurant at their location, NYPD Pizza, closed they found their ideal spot and made preparations to open.
Best part about the business: For Melissa the best part about the business is being around the people. “The size of the restaurant is small and we want to keep it that way. We get our regular customers and they become friends,” she said. “Already we are making a lot of new relationships.”
Worst part about the business: “No sleep,” said Lumpy. “We are here 24/seven. We stay from opening to closing. Really there is no worse part. We picked this as a living because we love the work. We knew exactly what we were getting into and we enjoy doing it.”
Key to success: “Hard work and dedication. We aren’t scared to put in hours needed,” Lumpy said. “It helps that we keep our prices awesome and we’ve been really crowded since we opened. It has been a blessing.”
Biggest misperception about the business: The Sturgill’s said that there really isn’t a misperception about the business, but what people are really surprised about when they walk in the door is that the couple is so young. “They appreciate that we are two young kids trying to make a living and a so dedicated to what we are doing,” Melissa said.
Future plans: Eventually the couple hopes to expand just a bit so they can host a larger space for parties. They also hope to have some car shows in the summer. Presently they are setting up a high school student breakfast special, which includes a breakfast sandwich and an energy drink. High School I.D. will be required for the deal.
Type of business: Restaurant
Owners: Jeremy “Lumpy” and Melissa Sturgill
Founded: November 2008
Address: 5891 Lone Tree Way, Suite A, Antioch
Phone number: 778-5867
Hours: Monday through Saturday 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Sunday 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Number of employees: 30
Products and services: “All American dinner, just like mama’s cooking,” according to owners Lumpy and Melissa Sturgill. The diner specializes in burgers and breakfast meals. Their most popular burger is the Buffalo blue cheese burger, but they dare those with a real appetite to try their “The Dog Pounder”. This features three pounds of hamburger, mayonasie, mustard, lettuce, tomato, pickles, onion, cheese and four slices of bacon. Those who complete the meal are treated to the honor of having their name on the hall of fame wall and a free t-shirt. The Sturgill’s warn though that to be placed on the wall, six condiments must be consumed.
Other favorites include “The Cure” breakfast, which includes hash browns, biscuit, meat, eggs, cheese and gravy piled high, and the breakfast burritos. Aside from dinner and breakfast Lumpy’s also offers sandwiches, salads, hot dogs, chili, chicken dishes, Philly steak sandwiches, and a variety of French fries. Lumpy’s Diner is a family restaurant and offers a kids’ meal. They provide dine-in, take-out, catering and event services.
How did you get into the business? Lumpy’s parents own a popular restaurant in Concord called Diggers Diner. He worked in their diner since he was 13 years old. Over the past few years the young couple has been interested in opening their own place on this side of the hill. Melissa is originally from Antioch and wanted to move back to her hometown. When the former restaurant at their location, NYPD Pizza, closed they found their ideal spot and made preparations to open.
Best part about the business: For Melissa the best part about the business is being around the people. “The size of the restaurant is small and we want to keep it that way. We get our regular customers and they become friends,” she said. “Already we are making a lot of new relationships.”
Worst part about the business: “No sleep,” said Lumpy. “We are here 24/seven. We stay from opening to closing. Really there is no worse part. We picked this as a living because we love the work. We knew exactly what we were getting into and we enjoy doing it.”
Key to success: “Hard work and dedication. We aren’t scared to put in hours needed,” Lumpy said. “It helps that we keep our prices awesome and we’ve been really crowded since we opened. It has been a blessing.”
Biggest misperception about the business: The Sturgill’s said that there really isn’t a misperception about the business, but what people are really surprised about when they walk in the door is that the couple is so young. “They appreciate that we are two young kids trying to make a living and a so dedicated to what we are doing,” Melissa said.
Future plans: Eventually the couple hopes to expand just a bit so they can host a larger space for parties. They also hope to have some car shows in the summer. Presently they are setting up a high school student breakfast special, which includes a breakfast sandwich and an energy drink. High School I.D. will be required for the deal.
Diggers Diner
Name of business: Diggers Diner
Type of business: Restaurant
Owners: DiAnn and Jon Lei
Founded: October 2008
Address: 2261 Balfour Road, Brentwood
Phone number: 240-8958
Hours: Monday through Saturday 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Number of employees: 25
Products and services: Diggers Diner offers American style home cooking featuring hamburgers, shakes, fries and a large assortment of breakfast meals. They also feature a variety of salads, as well as steak sandwiches. The most popular menu dishes include their classic bacon burger, ballpark fries and the breakfast sandwich. They carry a full menu for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
How did you get into the business? The Lei’s never intended on getting into the restaurant business, DiAnn explained. She said that her aunt started Diggers in Concord. When her aunt became ill, DiAnn who helped her aunt during her lunch hours, agreed to purchase the business. That was 10 years ago. Since then the Concord restaurant has been successful. When the couple moved to Knightsen with their young children, they saw a need for their style restaurant in the area and found a great location in Brentwood and decided to open a second restaurant. Now, DiAnn’s aunt manages the Concord diner, while Jon and DiAnn run the new Brentwood location.
Best part about the business: “It really has to be the people and having them leave happy,” Jon said. DiAnn went on to say that they love to make people happy. When coming into the diner they get to have a great meal and nice conversation. “We like it that we can make someone’s day better,” DiAnn said.
Worst part about the business: “There really is no bad thing about the business,” DiAnn said. “It’s no easy work, but nothing worth having is easy.”
Key to success: “We love our customers and make them feel welcome,” DiAnn said. Jon went on to say that their prices are reasonable and they have good quality food.
“The food is terrific and the service is great,” DiAnn said.
Biggest misperception about the business: They said that people are surprised to find that the diner doesn’t serve alcohol. The important thing to the Lei’s is that the restaurant is kept family friendly. “People don’t expect that when they come in the place will seem so welcoming. They expect us to be just another chain type restaurant, but we have a more down home feeling,” DiAnn said.
Future plans: The Lei’s plan to keep going the way they have been. They don’t anticipate opening any new diners in the future. “We have a terrific manager in Concord, my aunt. For now this is enough,” DiAnn said.
Type of business: Restaurant
Owners: DiAnn and Jon Lei
Founded: October 2008
Address: 2261 Balfour Road, Brentwood
Phone number: 240-8958
Hours: Monday through Saturday 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Number of employees: 25
Products and services: Diggers Diner offers American style home cooking featuring hamburgers, shakes, fries and a large assortment of breakfast meals. They also feature a variety of salads, as well as steak sandwiches. The most popular menu dishes include their classic bacon burger, ballpark fries and the breakfast sandwich. They carry a full menu for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
How did you get into the business? The Lei’s never intended on getting into the restaurant business, DiAnn explained. She said that her aunt started Diggers in Concord. When her aunt became ill, DiAnn who helped her aunt during her lunch hours, agreed to purchase the business. That was 10 years ago. Since then the Concord restaurant has been successful. When the couple moved to Knightsen with their young children, they saw a need for their style restaurant in the area and found a great location in Brentwood and decided to open a second restaurant. Now, DiAnn’s aunt manages the Concord diner, while Jon and DiAnn run the new Brentwood location.
Best part about the business: “It really has to be the people and having them leave happy,” Jon said. DiAnn went on to say that they love to make people happy. When coming into the diner they get to have a great meal and nice conversation. “We like it that we can make someone’s day better,” DiAnn said.
Worst part about the business: “There really is no bad thing about the business,” DiAnn said. “It’s no easy work, but nothing worth having is easy.”
Key to success: “We love our customers and make them feel welcome,” DiAnn said. Jon went on to say that their prices are reasonable and they have good quality food.
“The food is terrific and the service is great,” DiAnn said.
Biggest misperception about the business: They said that people are surprised to find that the diner doesn’t serve alcohol. The important thing to the Lei’s is that the restaurant is kept family friendly. “People don’t expect that when they come in the place will seem so welcoming. They expect us to be just another chain type restaurant, but we have a more down home feeling,” DiAnn said.
Future plans: The Lei’s plan to keep going the way they have been. They don’t anticipate opening any new diners in the future. “We have a terrific manager in Concord, my aunt. For now this is enough,” DiAnn said.
Brierly Lindberg goes to Washington, D.C.
ANTIOCH — Millions of Americans will be watching history in the making on television when the first African American president is sworn into office on Jan. 20, but one lucky Deer Valley High School youth will have the chance to be at the ceremony and see it first hand. Brierly Lindberg, 16, says this is an opportunity that he’s very excited about.
“This is something that you only get to do once in a lifetime. I’m really excited about having the opportunity to go,” Lindberg said.
Lindberg was given the chance to attend the Presidential Inaugural Ceremonies and following Ball through his involvement with the Congressional Youth Leadership Council. The organization is a nonpartisan, independent organization that works to foster and inspire young people to achieve their full leadership potential. In support of their mission, members of the U.S. Congress and over 50 embassies representing countries around the world serve on the group’s board.
Every four years students belonging to the organization are nominated by the officials to attend the Presidential Inaugural activities. Lindberg was not only invited to attend the activities in Washington, D.C., but also a special global conference in Prague, Russia.
“We decided to concentrate on the Washington, D.C. trip this time,” Lindberg said. Although students are invited to attend the ceremonies there is still quite a bit of cost involved. Students are expected to pay airfare and other expenses once they arrive on the East Coast.
During his stay in Washington, D.C., Lindberg will be invited to attend private Inaugural Conference events and activities such as meetings with congressional staff, and point/counter point debates with leading political experts, as well as special events with VIP's. He will also take part in the traditional ceremony of the inauguration itself, witnessing the official swearing-in of the President of the United States, and view the inaugural parade as the President, Vice President and their families make their way from the U.S. Capitol to the White House.
This year the group will be chaperoned by former vice-president and Nobel Prize winner Al Gore, which Lindberg said would be an honor. The first evening’s reception will feature General Colin Powell, (Ret.), former Secretary of State and Founder of America’s Promise Alliance. During his stay, Lindberg will also have the opportunity to hear Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Nobel Peace Prize winner and human rights activist, speak.
Lindberg said that he is also looking forward to seeing the museums along the Capitol walk. “I’ve been to Washington, D. C. before with my family but I’m really looking forward to going and having a chance to see all the museum again.”
“This is something that you only get to do once in a lifetime. I’m really excited about having the opportunity to go,” Lindberg said.
Lindberg was given the chance to attend the Presidential Inaugural Ceremonies and following Ball through his involvement with the Congressional Youth Leadership Council. The organization is a nonpartisan, independent organization that works to foster and inspire young people to achieve their full leadership potential. In support of their mission, members of the U.S. Congress and over 50 embassies representing countries around the world serve on the group’s board.
Every four years students belonging to the organization are nominated by the officials to attend the Presidential Inaugural activities. Lindberg was not only invited to attend the activities in Washington, D.C., but also a special global conference in Prague, Russia.
“We decided to concentrate on the Washington, D.C. trip this time,” Lindberg said. Although students are invited to attend the ceremonies there is still quite a bit of cost involved. Students are expected to pay airfare and other expenses once they arrive on the East Coast.
During his stay in Washington, D.C., Lindberg will be invited to attend private Inaugural Conference events and activities such as meetings with congressional staff, and point/counter point debates with leading political experts, as well as special events with VIP's. He will also take part in the traditional ceremony of the inauguration itself, witnessing the official swearing-in of the President of the United States, and view the inaugural parade as the President, Vice President and their families make their way from the U.S. Capitol to the White House.
This year the group will be chaperoned by former vice-president and Nobel Prize winner Al Gore, which Lindberg said would be an honor. The first evening’s reception will feature General Colin Powell, (Ret.), former Secretary of State and Founder of America’s Promise Alliance. During his stay, Lindberg will also have the opportunity to hear Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Nobel Peace Prize winner and human rights activist, speak.
Lindberg said that he is also looking forward to seeing the museums along the Capitol walk. “I’ve been to Washington, D. C. before with my family but I’m really looking forward to going and having a chance to see all the museum again.”
East County Times column Jan. 8, 2009
It has been so long since Oakley residents started hearing about the Delta Environmental Science Center and the opportunities it has to offer out on Big Break Road that anytime something happens in that direction it seems noteworthy. Although the center itself isn’t the topic this week, the news is indirectly related. After months of work, the Big Break Regional Shoreline trail bridge located east of the science center has finally opened.
The bridge has helped to shorten the gap between the Big Break Trail and the Marsh Creek Trail in northeastern Oakley. For those who aren’t familiar with the trails in Oakley, it’s worth taking a walk on the weekend sometime. The Big Break Trail is located off of Big Break Road just past Vintage Parkway at the end of the housing development.
It is kind of confusing. For so long most Oakleyites have incorrectly called the Big Break Trail at its entrance on Jordan and Fetzer lanes the Marsh Creek Trail, because the two trails intersect at Marsh Creek after about a mile and a half out. The East Bay Regional Park District calls that western side of the trail the Big Break Regional Trail. The name really makes sense, since the trail runs along the Delta shoreline and then ends where it crosses over Marsh Creek, at which point it becomes the Marsh Creek Trail and runs along the creek toward Brentwood.
The newest section of the Big Break Trail opened about a year and a half ago with the opening of the new Delta Science Center pier. The trail actually starts at the parking lot of the science center and then extends east toward Marsh Creek. The East Bay Regional Park District paved the walkway to make it easily accessible for those on bicycles, as well as wheelchairs.
Even with the new bridge, the Big Break Trail segments don’t quite touch each other yet. The trail is paved just a little past the eastern end of the bridge and then stops. A short walk through the subdivision will keep hikers going until they hit the paved trail again. Eventually the park district will be paving more of the area so that the whole trail connects.
This weekend I had a chance to take a walk around the science center and along to the new bridge. Even with the crisp winter morning it was a nice walk. Although there isn’t much to the science center yet, it is open for people to walk the area and have a look at the natural surroundings of the Delta. The pier is open for fishing and there are quite a few fishermen who have been taking advantage of the quiet area. Remember, Delta fishing license rules apply.
The paved trail is available, but on our walk last Sunday with naturalist Mike Moran, we found that the real sights are a little off the beaten path. Moran said that it is OK for people to walk closer to the shoreline if they wish, but take care to wear the appropriate clothing and shoes. There is a chance of getting a little wet, especially during the winter months.
If you want to go with a guide, this Sunday naturalist "Outdoor Ed" Willis will host a walk along the shoreline, from 9 to 11:30 a.m. Don’t forget your camera and binoculars. Registration is free, but required. Call 888-327-2757 and refer to program 20157.
The bridge has helped to shorten the gap between the Big Break Trail and the Marsh Creek Trail in northeastern Oakley. For those who aren’t familiar with the trails in Oakley, it’s worth taking a walk on the weekend sometime. The Big Break Trail is located off of Big Break Road just past Vintage Parkway at the end of the housing development.
It is kind of confusing. For so long most Oakleyites have incorrectly called the Big Break Trail at its entrance on Jordan and Fetzer lanes the Marsh Creek Trail, because the two trails intersect at Marsh Creek after about a mile and a half out. The East Bay Regional Park District calls that western side of the trail the Big Break Regional Trail. The name really makes sense, since the trail runs along the Delta shoreline and then ends where it crosses over Marsh Creek, at which point it becomes the Marsh Creek Trail and runs along the creek toward Brentwood.
The newest section of the Big Break Trail opened about a year and a half ago with the opening of the new Delta Science Center pier. The trail actually starts at the parking lot of the science center and then extends east toward Marsh Creek. The East Bay Regional Park District paved the walkway to make it easily accessible for those on bicycles, as well as wheelchairs.
Even with the new bridge, the Big Break Trail segments don’t quite touch each other yet. The trail is paved just a little past the eastern end of the bridge and then stops. A short walk through the subdivision will keep hikers going until they hit the paved trail again. Eventually the park district will be paving more of the area so that the whole trail connects.
This weekend I had a chance to take a walk around the science center and along to the new bridge. Even with the crisp winter morning it was a nice walk. Although there isn’t much to the science center yet, it is open for people to walk the area and have a look at the natural surroundings of the Delta. The pier is open for fishing and there are quite a few fishermen who have been taking advantage of the quiet area. Remember, Delta fishing license rules apply.
The paved trail is available, but on our walk last Sunday with naturalist Mike Moran, we found that the real sights are a little off the beaten path. Moran said that it is OK for people to walk closer to the shoreline if they wish, but take care to wear the appropriate clothing and shoes. There is a chance of getting a little wet, especially during the winter months.
If you want to go with a guide, this Sunday naturalist "Outdoor Ed" Willis will host a walk along the shoreline, from 9 to 11:30 a.m. Don’t forget your camera and binoculars. Registration is free, but required. Call 888-327-2757 and refer to program 20157.
Oakley Groups Help out for the holidays
It has been said that people only remember to give to those less fortunate than them during the holiday season, but Oakley residents have shown their true colors this past several months as they have stood united and helped two families that were in need after the most horrific experience of one lifetime. Even during the hard economic times the families of Oakley came forward and raised money at several different fundraisers for the Nunn-Wilson children. There is a group that is working on another fundraiser in January.
Now that the holidays are here, there are several groups in Oakley who are asking for Oakley to continue that spirit of generosity. In the next couple of weeks groups all around the country will be asking for funds and canned food and toys for the needy. Two groups in particular in Oakley are hoping to collect enough food and toys for 200 families. For several years the Oakley Delta Lions Club have collected food for approximately 75 families. Usually they learn about the needy families through the school district.
Lions Club members work to collect the food at events and activities over a couple of months. Then they work to set up baskets for those who names are on their list. For anyone interested in helping with their cause they will be accepting donations at Gehringer School located at 100 Simoni Ranch Road on Dec. 18 and 19. For more information, Bill and Denise Arnold can be reached at 625-4874.
By the way, while your bringing along some canned food, you might want to check the catch-all draw and see look for old prescription glasses and hearing aids to bring along. The Lions Club works with a program that repairs these items and gets them to people who can’t afford them.
While your shopping around town you may notice some bins out from the Friends of Oakley. This is a new group who are working some community projects. One of those projects is to create a community chest program like Brentwood has. A couple of weekends back they spent their Sunday afternoon signing up 125 Oakley families that needed help getting enough food for the holidays. The group signed up the 125 families in less than two hours.
They are looking for non-perishable products that can go to these families. They are also working in conjunction with the Delta Diablo Detachment 1155 Marine Corps League Toys for Tots program. They’re hope is that every child will receive at least one toy this year. Toys for Tots will also have bins at several locations throughout town, plus for those who like motorcycle shows they will be at Freedom High School this weekend with their third annual Motorcycle Stunt Show Toy Drive.
The event will go on rain or shine on Saturday, Dec. 13, 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. It will offer music, drawings and the stunt show. The stunts will be provided by the Pittsburg Chapter of the Street Bike Freaks. The organizers are asking that everyone bring a new unwrapped toy. There is no admission fee. Information where to donate a toy can be found at www.cctoydrive.org.
There will be lots of groups asking for your money this year. Keep the tradition alive of Oakley residents helping Oakley residents and think about giving to these groups first.
Now that the holidays are here, there are several groups in Oakley who are asking for Oakley to continue that spirit of generosity. In the next couple of weeks groups all around the country will be asking for funds and canned food and toys for the needy. Two groups in particular in Oakley are hoping to collect enough food and toys for 200 families. For several years the Oakley Delta Lions Club have collected food for approximately 75 families. Usually they learn about the needy families through the school district.
Lions Club members work to collect the food at events and activities over a couple of months. Then they work to set up baskets for those who names are on their list. For anyone interested in helping with their cause they will be accepting donations at Gehringer School located at 100 Simoni Ranch Road on Dec. 18 and 19. For more information, Bill and Denise Arnold can be reached at 625-4874.
By the way, while your bringing along some canned food, you might want to check the catch-all draw and see look for old prescription glasses and hearing aids to bring along. The Lions Club works with a program that repairs these items and gets them to people who can’t afford them.
While your shopping around town you may notice some bins out from the Friends of Oakley. This is a new group who are working some community projects. One of those projects is to create a community chest program like Brentwood has. A couple of weekends back they spent their Sunday afternoon signing up 125 Oakley families that needed help getting enough food for the holidays. The group signed up the 125 families in less than two hours.
They are looking for non-perishable products that can go to these families. They are also working in conjunction with the Delta Diablo Detachment 1155 Marine Corps League Toys for Tots program. They’re hope is that every child will receive at least one toy this year. Toys for Tots will also have bins at several locations throughout town, plus for those who like motorcycle shows they will be at Freedom High School this weekend with their third annual Motorcycle Stunt Show Toy Drive.
The event will go on rain or shine on Saturday, Dec. 13, 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. It will offer music, drawings and the stunt show. The stunts will be provided by the Pittsburg Chapter of the Street Bike Freaks. The organizers are asking that everyone bring a new unwrapped toy. There is no admission fee. Information where to donate a toy can be found at www.cctoydrive.org.
There will be lots of groups asking for your money this year. Keep the tradition alive of Oakley residents helping Oakley residents and think about giving to these groups first.
Orchard Creek Ranch
Name of business: Orchard Creek Ranch
Type of business: Horse ranch
Owners: Erin & Andrew Mathias
Founded: 2008
Address: 637 Honey Lane, Oakley
Phone number: 570-3929
Hours: Monday thru Sunday by appointment
Number of employees: 3
Products and services: Horse boarding services, horse training and horseback riding lessons.
How did you get into the business? “I was born into a horse family and started riding at age two and showing IAHA shows at age six,” Erin Mathias said. In 1997 during high school she started buying inexpensive untrained or problem horses, trained or fixed their problems and then sold them to help pay for her horse show bills and expenses.
Erin started working for trainers in 1997. “I worked side-by-side with four well known top trainers over a six year period and studied the art of horse training,” she said. Two years ago she started training on her own at a small local ranch until they closed this year. That is when she decided to open up her own place.
Best part about the business: “Horses and teaching are my passions and I get to do both with this business,” Mathias said. “I love to see the transformation take place in my students riding abilities and the horses training levels as I work with them.” She said it is magical for her to know she is a part of such a positive progression for so many.
Worst part about the business: “I wouldn’t say there is a worst part but there are drawbacks. I work everyday, all day long, all year and for most of the hours I spend working it is pro bono,” Mathias said.
Key to success: Mathias explained that there are many keys to success as she sees it. For one thing extreme day-in day-out dedication to the business and the horses; to continually seek new material, technique and information about her field; paying attention to the customer’s interests and goals, as well as their horse’s needs; making people feel achievement and success in the progression of their riding abilities; and last but certainly not least as far as she is concerned making sure her ranch is a positive uplifting place for people to enjoy spending time at.
Biggest misperception about the business: “That you make a profit off of boarding horses. That is just not the case,” she said. “I remember in 1990 when my family moved onto our old ranch we boarded our horses out for about six months before the ranch was ready for the horses to move in and we paid $300 a month for board per horse back then.” Mathias said that was 18 years ago when hay was $6 a bale, the minimum wage was under $5 per hour, utilities were cheap and liability insurance was affordable. Like everything else in life, Mathias said that everything has gone way up and the cost of doing business is much higher.
“A lot of ranches have not raised board rates to fully compensate their rising feed and overhead costs. It forces other ranches to stay competitive with their rates sometimes with a detrimental effect to the businesses trying to compete,” she said.
Future plans: “It is my desire to give back and support the community. We plan on doing some fundraising to build a classroom at the ranch and open an after school care program for grades K-12,” Mathias said. She would also like to open the ranch in the summer to offer riding lessons to the disabled and underprivileged youths in our area. She is also currently working on a format for both a school assembly and field trip program, as well.
Type of business: Horse ranch
Owners: Erin & Andrew Mathias
Founded: 2008
Address: 637 Honey Lane, Oakley
Phone number: 570-3929
Hours: Monday thru Sunday by appointment
Number of employees: 3
Products and services: Horse boarding services, horse training and horseback riding lessons.
How did you get into the business? “I was born into a horse family and started riding at age two and showing IAHA shows at age six,” Erin Mathias said. In 1997 during high school she started buying inexpensive untrained or problem horses, trained or fixed their problems and then sold them to help pay for her horse show bills and expenses.
Erin started working for trainers in 1997. “I worked side-by-side with four well known top trainers over a six year period and studied the art of horse training,” she said. Two years ago she started training on her own at a small local ranch until they closed this year. That is when she decided to open up her own place.
Best part about the business: “Horses and teaching are my passions and I get to do both with this business,” Mathias said. “I love to see the transformation take place in my students riding abilities and the horses training levels as I work with them.” She said it is magical for her to know she is a part of such a positive progression for so many.
Worst part about the business: “I wouldn’t say there is a worst part but there are drawbacks. I work everyday, all day long, all year and for most of the hours I spend working it is pro bono,” Mathias said.
Key to success: Mathias explained that there are many keys to success as she sees it. For one thing extreme day-in day-out dedication to the business and the horses; to continually seek new material, technique and information about her field; paying attention to the customer’s interests and goals, as well as their horse’s needs; making people feel achievement and success in the progression of their riding abilities; and last but certainly not least as far as she is concerned making sure her ranch is a positive uplifting place for people to enjoy spending time at.
Biggest misperception about the business: “That you make a profit off of boarding horses. That is just not the case,” she said. “I remember in 1990 when my family moved onto our old ranch we boarded our horses out for about six months before the ranch was ready for the horses to move in and we paid $300 a month for board per horse back then.” Mathias said that was 18 years ago when hay was $6 a bale, the minimum wage was under $5 per hour, utilities were cheap and liability insurance was affordable. Like everything else in life, Mathias said that everything has gone way up and the cost of doing business is much higher.
“A lot of ranches have not raised board rates to fully compensate their rising feed and overhead costs. It forces other ranches to stay competitive with their rates sometimes with a detrimental effect to the businesses trying to compete,” she said.
Future plans: “It is my desire to give back and support the community. We plan on doing some fundraising to build a classroom at the ranch and open an after school care program for grades K-12,” Mathias said. She would also like to open the ranch in the summer to offer riding lessons to the disabled and underprivileged youths in our area. She is also currently working on a format for both a school assembly and field trip program, as well.
TasteTeaGelato
Name of business: TasteTeaGelato
Type of business: Gelateria and specialty tea cafe
Owners: Miguel and Arlene Cerda Fabricante, Robert and Abigail Fabricante and Ed and Melissa Lozano
Founded: November 2008
Address: 6560 Lone Tree Way, Suite B, Brentwood
Phone number: 925-626-7644
Hours: Monday through Saturday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Sunday 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Number of employees: 9
Products and services: TasteTeaGelato offers several varieties of Italian style ice cream Gelato and Sorbetto, non-dairy alternative. The gelato and sorbetto are made fresh onsite daily. They also serve a variety of hot loose leaf teas. Both teas types are available in organic and fair trade.
“Dine-in customers ordering hot loose leaf teas will be given a tea experience,” Melissa Lozano said.
Also available are milk teas and Tea smoothies, with added gelato, iced teas and ice-teani’, panini sandwiches and soups.
How did you get into the business? “Our love and passion for food and each other’s company,” Lozano said. “As childhood friends and UC Davis alumni, we all enjoy cooking, entertaining and being amongst friends and family, this was a great way to do it while educating the community and promoting healthy alternatives.”
Lozano said that one of the owners entered the 2006 Brentwood Cornfest Cooking Contest and placed first. Another owner entered the same contest in 2007 with with Sweet Chai Corn gelato and placed second.
“Our passion for gelato and teas continued by training with an established Italian Gelato Artisan from Bologna Italy and becoming certified with the Specialty Tea Institute,” she said.
Best part about the business: “Some folks have never heard of gelato, so in addition to educating them about it as a healthy alternative over ice cream, we ask them to try a sample. The look on their faces says it all and that’s what it’s all about,” Lozano said. In addition to gelato, they are introducing specialty tea to the community. They have over 30 teas, including green, black, white, oolong, herbal and pu-erh on display that Lozano said customers could sample and smell the aroma of the variety of teas.
She went on to say that tea is enjoyed around the world and they want to bring it to Brentwood and have their community enjoy what people in other countries have been enjoying for years. “We want the community to experience something different and escape to the warm and happy atmosphere of TasteTeaGelato where people gather to eat, drink, and chill,” she said.
Worst part about the business: “There is no worst part really. It really is just the adjustment of having a business and all the challenges that come with it but with our teamwork. We will overcome these challenges,” she said.
Key to success: “Having great quality products where our patrons can enjoy themselves in an inviting environment that’s relaxing and comfortable. Listening to our customers and taking into account suggestions for improvement. And as always great customer service,” Lozano said.
Biggest misperception about the business: The biggest misperception about the business is that people think they are just another ice cream shop and tearoom. “We serve not only teas and gelato but have a great inviting atmosphere for lunch or business meetings. We serve a variety of sandwiches and soups, as well,” she said. Lozano went on to say that they work to cater to all parts of the community, from families, to young adults, to teenagers, to retirees.
Future plans: In the future they hope to be offering catering services, parties and sponsoring community events. They would also like to make gelato cakes.
Type of business: Gelateria and specialty tea cafe
Owners: Miguel and Arlene Cerda Fabricante, Robert and Abigail Fabricante and Ed and Melissa Lozano
Founded: November 2008
Address: 6560 Lone Tree Way, Suite B, Brentwood
Phone number: 925-626-7644
Hours: Monday through Saturday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Sunday 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Number of employees: 9
Products and services: TasteTeaGelato offers several varieties of Italian style ice cream Gelato and Sorbetto, non-dairy alternative. The gelato and sorbetto are made fresh onsite daily. They also serve a variety of hot loose leaf teas. Both teas types are available in organic and fair trade.
“Dine-in customers ordering hot loose leaf teas will be given a tea experience,” Melissa Lozano said.
Also available are milk teas and Tea smoothies, with added gelato, iced teas and ice-teani’, panini sandwiches and soups.
How did you get into the business? “Our love and passion for food and each other’s company,” Lozano said. “As childhood friends and UC Davis alumni, we all enjoy cooking, entertaining and being amongst friends and family, this was a great way to do it while educating the community and promoting healthy alternatives.”
Lozano said that one of the owners entered the 2006 Brentwood Cornfest Cooking Contest and placed first. Another owner entered the same contest in 2007 with with Sweet Chai Corn gelato and placed second.
“Our passion for gelato and teas continued by training with an established Italian Gelato Artisan from Bologna Italy and becoming certified with the Specialty Tea Institute,” she said.
Best part about the business: “Some folks have never heard of gelato, so in addition to educating them about it as a healthy alternative over ice cream, we ask them to try a sample. The look on their faces says it all and that’s what it’s all about,” Lozano said. In addition to gelato, they are introducing specialty tea to the community. They have over 30 teas, including green, black, white, oolong, herbal and pu-erh on display that Lozano said customers could sample and smell the aroma of the variety of teas.
She went on to say that tea is enjoyed around the world and they want to bring it to Brentwood and have their community enjoy what people in other countries have been enjoying for years. “We want the community to experience something different and escape to the warm and happy atmosphere of TasteTeaGelato where people gather to eat, drink, and chill,” she said.
Worst part about the business: “There is no worst part really. It really is just the adjustment of having a business and all the challenges that come with it but with our teamwork. We will overcome these challenges,” she said.
Key to success: “Having great quality products where our patrons can enjoy themselves in an inviting environment that’s relaxing and comfortable. Listening to our customers and taking into account suggestions for improvement. And as always great customer service,” Lozano said.
Biggest misperception about the business: The biggest misperception about the business is that people think they are just another ice cream shop and tearoom. “We serve not only teas and gelato but have a great inviting atmosphere for lunch or business meetings. We serve a variety of sandwiches and soups, as well,” she said. Lozano went on to say that they work to cater to all parts of the community, from families, to young adults, to teenagers, to retirees.
Future plans: In the future they hope to be offering catering services, parties and sponsoring community events. They would also like to make gelato cakes.
Jane Dahl's Book
Oakley’s Jane Dahl had always known her mother had lived an interesting life, but it wasn’t until her mother became ill at 98 that her mom, Mabel, began to tell her stories of her childhood. After listening for a while, Dahl decided that the stories her mom shared with just her needed to be shared with others for their inspiration and faith. That was when she picked up pen and paper and started jotting down the memories of long ago.
“My mother retired from work when she was 79. She worked at a rubber plant that had products that went to the moon, so I already knew she had some wonderful stories,” Dahl, 84 said. “After I started writing her experiences down my family encouraged me to get the book published.”
When Dahl told her mother that she planned on writing the book, Mabel’s only concern was that she changed the names of the people in the stories. “You know something like, to protect the innocent. Of course I told her that it was so long ago and most of the people were long gone, but I respected her wishes,” Dahl said.
So much so that Dahl even changed the name of her mother, who is the lead character in the story from Mabel to Gertie. She explained that Gertie, however, is her mother’s middle name so it fit well. “Besides ‘Gertie’s Real Life Adventures’, sounds a whole lot better than Mabel’s,” she joked.
Dahl’s mother passed away 12 years ago and during that time Dahl worked on the book. When she felt she had it just right she began to send it to publishers but for one reason after another she received rejection letters. The reasons never appeared to be that the story wasn’t well written, just that it wasn’t the style of book that was selling at this time. Rather than lose heart about getting the book published, Dahl turned to her friend and editor to advice.
That led her to a print on demand publishing house out of Eugene, Oregon. “There was a little more involved in getting it published. I had to make sure I hired an editor on my own, which I got lucky with the help of a good friend,” she explained. She also had to pay for the book to be typeset, but Wipf and Stock Publishers decided to take on her project and now she is out working on helping to get it out to as many people as possible in hopes of providing some inspiration.
The story revolves around a 10 year-old girl living in the early 1900s in her hometown of Richfield, Utah. “During the book Gertie experiences three true story adventures that teach lessons of faith, love and the family unit,” Dahl said.
While Dahl admits that she took creative license by changing parts of the original stories her mother told the adventures are true to what her mother said. She didn’t feel that by changing some of the details that she changed the meaning of the story. For example, the story includes a young handicapped boy when in actuality the child was a girl. “I just felt like I had too many girls in the story, so I made him a boy,” she said.
The front cover of the book features an old family picture of Dahl’s mother and aunts, who are all featured in the book. She was especially happy to be able to present the book cover with the real people from the story.
Dahl said she didn’t really have a lifelong dream about publishing a book. She found that this book just called out to her to be done. She has in the past helped to write to other books. In the early 1970s she worked with two other authors to write books about working with mentally challenged children.
Dahl’s book is designed for children ages eight to 12, but she said that she has found from the reviews that the whole family has been enjoying it. It can be found online at wipfandstock.com, barnesandnoble.com and amazon.com.
“My mother retired from work when she was 79. She worked at a rubber plant that had products that went to the moon, so I already knew she had some wonderful stories,” Dahl, 84 said. “After I started writing her experiences down my family encouraged me to get the book published.”
When Dahl told her mother that she planned on writing the book, Mabel’s only concern was that she changed the names of the people in the stories. “You know something like, to protect the innocent. Of course I told her that it was so long ago and most of the people were long gone, but I respected her wishes,” Dahl said.
So much so that Dahl even changed the name of her mother, who is the lead character in the story from Mabel to Gertie. She explained that Gertie, however, is her mother’s middle name so it fit well. “Besides ‘Gertie’s Real Life Adventures’, sounds a whole lot better than Mabel’s,” she joked.
Dahl’s mother passed away 12 years ago and during that time Dahl worked on the book. When she felt she had it just right she began to send it to publishers but for one reason after another she received rejection letters. The reasons never appeared to be that the story wasn’t well written, just that it wasn’t the style of book that was selling at this time. Rather than lose heart about getting the book published, Dahl turned to her friend and editor to advice.
That led her to a print on demand publishing house out of Eugene, Oregon. “There was a little more involved in getting it published. I had to make sure I hired an editor on my own, which I got lucky with the help of a good friend,” she explained. She also had to pay for the book to be typeset, but Wipf and Stock Publishers decided to take on her project and now she is out working on helping to get it out to as many people as possible in hopes of providing some inspiration.
The story revolves around a 10 year-old girl living in the early 1900s in her hometown of Richfield, Utah. “During the book Gertie experiences three true story adventures that teach lessons of faith, love and the family unit,” Dahl said.
While Dahl admits that she took creative license by changing parts of the original stories her mother told the adventures are true to what her mother said. She didn’t feel that by changing some of the details that she changed the meaning of the story. For example, the story includes a young handicapped boy when in actuality the child was a girl. “I just felt like I had too many girls in the story, so I made him a boy,” she said.
The front cover of the book features an old family picture of Dahl’s mother and aunts, who are all featured in the book. She was especially happy to be able to present the book cover with the real people from the story.
Dahl said she didn’t really have a lifelong dream about publishing a book. She found that this book just called out to her to be done. She has in the past helped to write to other books. In the early 1970s she worked with two other authors to write books about working with mentally challenged children.
Dahl’s book is designed for children ages eight to 12, but she said that she has found from the reviews that the whole family has been enjoying it. It can be found online at wipfandstock.com, barnesandnoble.com and amazon.com.
The Wounded Heroes Fund
Before he passed away suddenly last July, former Vietnam veteran Wes Tilton worked hard to help wounded veterans lead a more comfortable life. With the help of his friend, Ed Sutton, Wes started a special committee as part of the Delta Diablo Detachment 1155 of the Marine Corps League to help raise money for the special needs of the wounded veterans.
Although the Marine Corps League is set up just for that purpose, Tilton wanted to do something more for the many wounded heroes who just don’t get the help they needed. The Brentwood group has visited several hospitals all over the Bay Area over the years, but according to Sutton, Tilton was affected most after a visit to the Veterans Hospital in Palo Alto, The Palo Alto Polytrauma Rehabilitation Center.
“Two years ago we went to the VA in Palo Alto for the first time and talked to the wounded soldiers there,” Sutton remembers. “Wes was handing out Marine flags to the Marines there and one solider who had just come out of his coma was there.”
Sutton said that after handing the young Marine the flag, he said words that every Marine knows: “Semper Fi,” which means Always Faithful. “The Marine who hadn’t spoken any other words since coming out of his coma returned the greeting, saying Semper Fi as his first words. It was a special moment for Wes. He never forgot that soldier,” Sutton said.
The Marine, a Lieutenant Lui, had sustained massive injuries after his armored vehicle hit a land mine in Iraq. Since then he has been in therapy at the Polytrauma Rehabilitation Center.
The group continued to visit the Palo Alto facility, even providing a picnic for the soldiers and their families later in 2007. Wes stopped to talk to the young lieutenant again. During their visits the Marine Corps League found that the Palo Alto facility was in need of a four-wheel bike for their patients. The cost of the exercise equipment would have cost at the time $2,500. Tilton and Sutton then started the special subcommittee for the local league and started several fundraisers to raise enough money for the bike. They called the fund The Wounded Heroes Fund. They were very close to achieving the goal of $2,500 when Tilton died.
“At first after losing Wes it took the wind out of my sails, but after a couple of months I wanted to make sure it happened,” Sutton said. “Getting the bike was really important to Wes. So much so that his wife even asked for all the money that would have been spent on flowers for his funeral to be given to the Wounded Heroes.”
Sutton decided to dive into the project again and make sure that Tilton’s hard work wasn’t for nothing. The money that would have gone to flowers at Tilton’s funeral was a great help to the cause that Tilton believed in so much, according to Sutton.
When Sutton contacted the Palo Alto Polytrauma Rehabilitation Center after they had raised all the money needed for the bike and then some, he was told by one of the administrators that a three-wheel exercise bike would actually be of better use to them at this time. So Sutton made arrangements to purchase the bike.
While going through the procedures of donating the equipment he was told that a young Captain Lui would be the first one to be able to use the bike instead of having to travel down to Southern California for treatment. At first Sutton couldn’t believe that the same young man that had inspired Tilton to start the fund to begin with would actually be the one to benefit from it. “I found out that the young lieutenant had been promoted to a captain and had been getting better over the past months, but still needed more help,” Sutton said.
“It was like a full circle,” Sutton said. He was thrilled to be able to accomplish Tilton’s goal and help a man that inspired Tilton so much. “This time of year you always hear the bad news. I thought this was just a fantastic story at Christmas time.”
Sutton said that Tilton was a Purple Heart recipient from Vietnam. He described his friend as a straight shooter and that Tilton was always a “step up or step away from the plate” kind of guy. Members of the Marine Corps League presented a special plaque to Tilton’s widow Shirley last week as a way of showing their appreciation for all that Tilton accomplished as a volunteer with the group.
“He would have been so happy we were able to help the captain. The equipment will go to the VA hospital, but that it helps the captain just makes everything come around in a full circle,” Sutton said.
Although the Marine Corps League is set up just for that purpose, Tilton wanted to do something more for the many wounded heroes who just don’t get the help they needed. The Brentwood group has visited several hospitals all over the Bay Area over the years, but according to Sutton, Tilton was affected most after a visit to the Veterans Hospital in Palo Alto, The Palo Alto Polytrauma Rehabilitation Center.
“Two years ago we went to the VA in Palo Alto for the first time and talked to the wounded soldiers there,” Sutton remembers. “Wes was handing out Marine flags to the Marines there and one solider who had just come out of his coma was there.”
Sutton said that after handing the young Marine the flag, he said words that every Marine knows: “Semper Fi,” which means Always Faithful. “The Marine who hadn’t spoken any other words since coming out of his coma returned the greeting, saying Semper Fi as his first words. It was a special moment for Wes. He never forgot that soldier,” Sutton said.
The Marine, a Lieutenant Lui, had sustained massive injuries after his armored vehicle hit a land mine in Iraq. Since then he has been in therapy at the Polytrauma Rehabilitation Center.
The group continued to visit the Palo Alto facility, even providing a picnic for the soldiers and their families later in 2007. Wes stopped to talk to the young lieutenant again. During their visits the Marine Corps League found that the Palo Alto facility was in need of a four-wheel bike for their patients. The cost of the exercise equipment would have cost at the time $2,500. Tilton and Sutton then started the special subcommittee for the local league and started several fundraisers to raise enough money for the bike. They called the fund The Wounded Heroes Fund. They were very close to achieving the goal of $2,500 when Tilton died.
“At first after losing Wes it took the wind out of my sails, but after a couple of months I wanted to make sure it happened,” Sutton said. “Getting the bike was really important to Wes. So much so that his wife even asked for all the money that would have been spent on flowers for his funeral to be given to the Wounded Heroes.”
Sutton decided to dive into the project again and make sure that Tilton’s hard work wasn’t for nothing. The money that would have gone to flowers at Tilton’s funeral was a great help to the cause that Tilton believed in so much, according to Sutton.
When Sutton contacted the Palo Alto Polytrauma Rehabilitation Center after they had raised all the money needed for the bike and then some, he was told by one of the administrators that a three-wheel exercise bike would actually be of better use to them at this time. So Sutton made arrangements to purchase the bike.
While going through the procedures of donating the equipment he was told that a young Captain Lui would be the first one to be able to use the bike instead of having to travel down to Southern California for treatment. At first Sutton couldn’t believe that the same young man that had inspired Tilton to start the fund to begin with would actually be the one to benefit from it. “I found out that the young lieutenant had been promoted to a captain and had been getting better over the past months, but still needed more help,” Sutton said.
“It was like a full circle,” Sutton said. He was thrilled to be able to accomplish Tilton’s goal and help a man that inspired Tilton so much. “This time of year you always hear the bad news. I thought this was just a fantastic story at Christmas time.”
Sutton said that Tilton was a Purple Heart recipient from Vietnam. He described his friend as a straight shooter and that Tilton was always a “step up or step away from the plate” kind of guy. Members of the Marine Corps League presented a special plaque to Tilton’s widow Shirley last week as a way of showing their appreciation for all that Tilton accomplished as a volunteer with the group.
“He would have been so happy we were able to help the captain. The equipment will go to the VA hospital, but that it helps the captain just makes everything come around in a full circle,” Sutton said.
Scoops! Play n Cafe
Name of business: Scoops! Play n Cafe
Type of business: Restaurant
Owners: Al and Rose Necor
Founded: October 2008
Address: 6730 Lone Tree Way, Suite 3 and 4, Brentwood
Phone number: 513-3209
Hours: Monday through Thursday 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Friday and Saturday 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Sunday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Number of employees: 5
Products and services: The premise behind Scoops, was to build a place were children could have a special play area while parents spent time relaxing. Children ages zero to six are invited to utilize the play area for a nominal fee. The area includes train tables, play kitchen/cooking area, play shopping area with cashier, workshop with building blocks, dress up area, puppet theater and arts and crafts including an area where kids can stuff their own stuffed animal.
Scoops offers a wide variety of crepe dishes, including main course and dessert crepes. Their specialties include beef burgundy, vegetable, chicken, ham and turkey as well as apple, pear and strawberry crepes. They also offer 24 flavors of gelato, French onion soup and organic free-trade coffees. They offer eat-in or take-out foods and the restaurant and playroom can be rented for parties.
How did you get into the business? “It all started as the playroom,” Rose Necor said. The idea was to find a place for her younger children to play at when the family moved to the Brentwood area. At the time Rose and Al had just had their fifth child. “The idea just took off from there,” she said.
After planning the children’s play area the couple decided to add food and found that there was no good crepe restaurants in the area. The couple took cooking lessons from a French chef at UC Davis, who later trained their staff.
“Now we have a place for the children to be close by and play while we work,” Necor said.
Best part about the business: “Just feels good coming in here everyday,” Necor said. “I like the idea of starting something from scratch and seeing the final result in satisfied parents and kids who don’t want to leave because they are having so much fun.”
Worst part about the business: “It’s not really worst, but it is a challenge getting people to know we are here,” she said.
Key to success: “Getting our act together and being on top of our food, making sure it is fresh and good,” Necor said. She said that she also thinks that to keep the word of mouth advertising going she has to make sure that the playroom is always in top condition and that all the toys are fun and the children have a great time playing with them.
Biggest misperception about the business: “For one thing people think that crepes are just for dessert. As our menu shows we have a great deal of main course crepes available,” Necor said. “Also there are people who don’t really know what gelato is.”
She explained that gelato is similar to ice cream, but it is much creamer and can come in many different flavors than ice cream.
Future plans: Still to come, Necor said, is the baby disco area in the playroom. She can’t wait to see the children enjoy the stage area with musical fun. She’d also like to add more products to her menu.
Also in the long term there is a possibility that the Necors will open other branches. “We already have people asking to franchise, but I say we’ll have to wait and see how this one goes first.”
Type of business: Restaurant
Owners: Al and Rose Necor
Founded: October 2008
Address: 6730 Lone Tree Way, Suite 3 and 4, Brentwood
Phone number: 513-3209
Hours: Monday through Thursday 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Friday and Saturday 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Sunday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Number of employees: 5
Products and services: The premise behind Scoops, was to build a place were children could have a special play area while parents spent time relaxing. Children ages zero to six are invited to utilize the play area for a nominal fee. The area includes train tables, play kitchen/cooking area, play shopping area with cashier, workshop with building blocks, dress up area, puppet theater and arts and crafts including an area where kids can stuff their own stuffed animal.
Scoops offers a wide variety of crepe dishes, including main course and dessert crepes. Their specialties include beef burgundy, vegetable, chicken, ham and turkey as well as apple, pear and strawberry crepes. They also offer 24 flavors of gelato, French onion soup and organic free-trade coffees. They offer eat-in or take-out foods and the restaurant and playroom can be rented for parties.
How did you get into the business? “It all started as the playroom,” Rose Necor said. The idea was to find a place for her younger children to play at when the family moved to the Brentwood area. At the time Rose and Al had just had their fifth child. “The idea just took off from there,” she said.
After planning the children’s play area the couple decided to add food and found that there was no good crepe restaurants in the area. The couple took cooking lessons from a French chef at UC Davis, who later trained their staff.
“Now we have a place for the children to be close by and play while we work,” Necor said.
Best part about the business: “Just feels good coming in here everyday,” Necor said. “I like the idea of starting something from scratch and seeing the final result in satisfied parents and kids who don’t want to leave because they are having so much fun.”
Worst part about the business: “It’s not really worst, but it is a challenge getting people to know we are here,” she said.
Key to success: “Getting our act together and being on top of our food, making sure it is fresh and good,” Necor said. She said that she also thinks that to keep the word of mouth advertising going she has to make sure that the playroom is always in top condition and that all the toys are fun and the children have a great time playing with them.
Biggest misperception about the business: “For one thing people think that crepes are just for dessert. As our menu shows we have a great deal of main course crepes available,” Necor said. “Also there are people who don’t really know what gelato is.”
She explained that gelato is similar to ice cream, but it is much creamer and can come in many different flavors than ice cream.
Future plans: Still to come, Necor said, is the baby disco area in the playroom. She can’t wait to see the children enjoy the stage area with musical fun. She’d also like to add more products to her menu.
Also in the long term there is a possibility that the Necors will open other branches. “We already have people asking to franchise, but I say we’ll have to wait and see how this one goes first.”
East County Column Dec. 25, 2008
It was 200 years ago that Washington Irving first introduced Santa Claus to America. Just who is this patron saint who started his merry trek through a small parish in New York that somehow became the ultimate urban legend? The children of Oakley have the answers that might help those of us remember what the spirit of Santa and gift giving is all about.
It all started in 1809 when Irving, the author of “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” and “Rip Van Winkle,” told the story of Saint Nicholas, also referred to as Sancte Claus. Using the pseudonym Diedrich Knickerbocker, Irving wrote “The History of New York,” telling how Sancte Claus — pronounced Santa Claus — came riding over the tops of trees in a flying wagon bringing yearly presents to children. Just as popular lore retells, Irving had Santa smoking a pipe and placing gifts in stockings that children have hung on the chimney. And so an urban legend began, because 14 years later an anonymous poem was sent to a Troy, N.Y., newspaper titled “A Visit from St. Nicholas,” or as better known, “’Twas the Night Before Christmas.”
In the great American melting pot of legends, that story has changed over the years, but when it comes right down to it we celebrated every Dec. 25 with gift exchanges and reading the story of Santa Claus as related through the poem sent to that little newspaper.
So who exactly is this immortal man we all call the jolly old elf? How did he become an elf anyway, because really do the Dutch believe in elves? Many questions have been asked over the years about the mysterious old chap who can withstand the cold of even the North Pole with just a silly red suit and felt cap, but the children of Oakley have no problem relaying the information we’ve wondered about for years.
For example, how does a man who is reported to have “a little round belly” and is “chubby and plump” ever make it down a chimney at all? Silly question really, at least according to four-year-old Jake Wilson, who says, “There’s a hole, then he jumps down.”
Six-year-old Elizabeth Kneer also is up on her facts. The poem does seem to say that Santa has some special powers. She says that “he’s magic and he goes down the chimney and he’s in the house.” Which would make some sense since the poem tells us that to get back up the chimney, which should really be the hard part, the jolly old elf just lays his finger aside of his nose, gives a nod, and up the chimney he rises.
Just how exactly does Santa make all those presents he brings kids every year? According to Tara Mainer, 7, “he stuffs the stuffed animals really quick and sews them up really quick.” Really, though, why go through all that trouble, according to four-year-old Michael Banderas? “He does it fast in the mall, wraps them up and delivers them when you asleep.”
What does Santa like to eat? Well duh, “cookies and milk” of course, according to four-year-old Seneca Vargas.
Thanks to the help of the kids of Oakley’s A Child’s Place, the urban legend of Santa continues. Whether you celebrate the legend of Santa or not, have a safe holiday season.
It all started in 1809 when Irving, the author of “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” and “Rip Van Winkle,” told the story of Saint Nicholas, also referred to as Sancte Claus. Using the pseudonym Diedrich Knickerbocker, Irving wrote “The History of New York,” telling how Sancte Claus — pronounced Santa Claus — came riding over the tops of trees in a flying wagon bringing yearly presents to children. Just as popular lore retells, Irving had Santa smoking a pipe and placing gifts in stockings that children have hung on the chimney. And so an urban legend began, because 14 years later an anonymous poem was sent to a Troy, N.Y., newspaper titled “A Visit from St. Nicholas,” or as better known, “’Twas the Night Before Christmas.”
In the great American melting pot of legends, that story has changed over the years, but when it comes right down to it we celebrated every Dec. 25 with gift exchanges and reading the story of Santa Claus as related through the poem sent to that little newspaper.
So who exactly is this immortal man we all call the jolly old elf? How did he become an elf anyway, because really do the Dutch believe in elves? Many questions have been asked over the years about the mysterious old chap who can withstand the cold of even the North Pole with just a silly red suit and felt cap, but the children of Oakley have no problem relaying the information we’ve wondered about for years.
For example, how does a man who is reported to have “a little round belly” and is “chubby and plump” ever make it down a chimney at all? Silly question really, at least according to four-year-old Jake Wilson, who says, “There’s a hole, then he jumps down.”
Six-year-old Elizabeth Kneer also is up on her facts. The poem does seem to say that Santa has some special powers. She says that “he’s magic and he goes down the chimney and he’s in the house.” Which would make some sense since the poem tells us that to get back up the chimney, which should really be the hard part, the jolly old elf just lays his finger aside of his nose, gives a nod, and up the chimney he rises.
Just how exactly does Santa make all those presents he brings kids every year? According to Tara Mainer, 7, “he stuffs the stuffed animals really quick and sews them up really quick.” Really, though, why go through all that trouble, according to four-year-old Michael Banderas? “He does it fast in the mall, wraps them up and delivers them when you asleep.”
What does Santa like to eat? Well duh, “cookies and milk” of course, according to four-year-old Seneca Vargas.
Thanks to the help of the kids of Oakley’s A Child’s Place, the urban legend of Santa continues. Whether you celebrate the legend of Santa or not, have a safe holiday season.
East County Column Dec. 11, 2008
It has been said that people only remember to give to those less fortunate than themselves during the holiday season, but Oakley residents have shown their true colors this past several months as they have stood united and helped two families that were in need after the most horrific experience of one lifetime.
Even during these hard economic times the families of Oakley came forward and raised money at several different fundraisers for the Nunn-Wilson children. There is yet another group working on a fundraiser in January.
Now that the holidays are here, there are several groups in Oakley who are asking for Oakley to continue that spirit of generosity. In the next couple of weeks groups all around the county will be asking for funds and canned food and toys for the needy. Two groups in particular in Oakley are hoping to collect enough food and toys for a collective 200 families. For several years the Oakley Delta Lions Club has collected food for approximately 75 families. Usually they learn about the needy families through the school districts.
Lions Club members work to collect the food at events and activities over a couple of months. Then they work to set up baskets for those whose names are on their list. For anyone interested in helping with their cause, they will be accepting donations at Gehringer School located at 100 Simoni Ranch Road on Dec. 18 and 19. For more information, Bill and Denise Arnold can be reached at 625-4874.
And while you are bringing along some canned food, you might want to look for old prescription eyeglasses and hearing aids to donate. The Lions Club works with a program that repairs these items and gets them to people who can’t afford them.
While you’re shopping around town you may notice some bins out from the Friends of Oakley. This is a new group who are working on some community projects. One of those projects is to create a community chest program like Brentwood has. A couple of weekends back they spent their Sunday afternoon signing up Oakley families that needed help getting enough food for the holidays. The group signed up 125 families in less than two hours.
They are looking for non-perishable products that can go to these families. They are also working in conjunction with the Delta Diablo Detachment 1155 Marine Corps League Toys for Tots program. Their hope is that every child will receive at least one toy this year.
Toys for Tots will also have bins at several locations throughout town, plus for those who like motorcycle shows they will be at Freedom High School this weekend with their third annual Motorcycle Stunt Show Toy Drive.
The event will go on, rain or shine, Saturday, Dec. 13, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. It will offer music, drawings and the stunt show. The Pittsburg Chapter of the Street Bike Freaks will provide the stunts. The organizers are asking that everyone bring a new unwrapped toy. There is no admission fee. Information about where to donate a toy can be found at www.cctoydrive.org.
There will be lots of groups asking for your money this year. Keep the tradition alive of Oakley residents helping Oakley residents and think about giving to these groups first.
Even during these hard economic times the families of Oakley came forward and raised money at several different fundraisers for the Nunn-Wilson children. There is yet another group working on a fundraiser in January.
Now that the holidays are here, there are several groups in Oakley who are asking for Oakley to continue that spirit of generosity. In the next couple of weeks groups all around the county will be asking for funds and canned food and toys for the needy. Two groups in particular in Oakley are hoping to collect enough food and toys for a collective 200 families. For several years the Oakley Delta Lions Club has collected food for approximately 75 families. Usually they learn about the needy families through the school districts.
Lions Club members work to collect the food at events and activities over a couple of months. Then they work to set up baskets for those whose names are on their list. For anyone interested in helping with their cause, they will be accepting donations at Gehringer School located at 100 Simoni Ranch Road on Dec. 18 and 19. For more information, Bill and Denise Arnold can be reached at 625-4874.
And while you are bringing along some canned food, you might want to look for old prescription eyeglasses and hearing aids to donate. The Lions Club works with a program that repairs these items and gets them to people who can’t afford them.
While you’re shopping around town you may notice some bins out from the Friends of Oakley. This is a new group who are working on some community projects. One of those projects is to create a community chest program like Brentwood has. A couple of weekends back they spent their Sunday afternoon signing up Oakley families that needed help getting enough food for the holidays. The group signed up 125 families in less than two hours.
They are looking for non-perishable products that can go to these families. They are also working in conjunction with the Delta Diablo Detachment 1155 Marine Corps League Toys for Tots program. Their hope is that every child will receive at least one toy this year.
Toys for Tots will also have bins at several locations throughout town, plus for those who like motorcycle shows they will be at Freedom High School this weekend with their third annual Motorcycle Stunt Show Toy Drive.
The event will go on, rain or shine, Saturday, Dec. 13, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. It will offer music, drawings and the stunt show. The Pittsburg Chapter of the Street Bike Freaks will provide the stunts. The organizers are asking that everyone bring a new unwrapped toy. There is no admission fee. Information about where to donate a toy can be found at www.cctoydrive.org.
There will be lots of groups asking for your money this year. Keep the tradition alive of Oakley residents helping Oakley residents and think about giving to these groups first.
Neighbor Profile on Patrick Urbanus
Name: Patrick Urbanus
Occupation: Senior at Heritage High School, Brentwood
Marital status/Family: Urbanus lives in Brentwood with his mother Maureen Ennor, father David Urbanus and sister Haley Smethurse.
Proudest Civic Achievement: Urbanus said he would have to say his proudest civic achievement has been the time he has spent working with the Freedom Baseball League which is a baseball group that works with special needs children with down syndrome, autism and cerebral palsy. For two the past two years he has worked as a mentor and coach to the special needs kids. He got started with the program after seeing a show about a child with cerebral palsy who was involved with sports and the differences it made in his life on ESPN. “I told my mom that I wanted to do something like that for kids around here,” Urbanus said.
His mother looked to see if there were any programs in the area and found the Freedom Baseball League. “The first year I worked as a buddy and helped the coach and the second year I was able to be a coach for a team. I plan on going back in the spring as a coach again,” he said.
The kid’s practice once a week and then have one game a week against others in the league. “I love it. It’s the best thing I’ve ever done and it is something I have fun doing,” Urbanus said.
Future Achievement: Urbanus plans to continue volunteering for the baseball league as long as he can. He hopes that one day, after he finishes college, that he might be able to start a similar league of his own.
Groups and organizations involved in: Urbanus is the member of the Heritage High School football team. He is an offensive guard. He has been a member of the team since he was a freshman in high school and really enjoys playing.
Hobbies: For the most part, Urbanus says his hobbies include football, working out and hanging out with his friends.
What was the last book you read? My Life as a Notre Dame Walk On by Timmy O'Neill. “I like pretty much anything that has to do with football,” he said.
Favorite movie: Director Peter Berg’s movie “Friday Night Lights” which stared Billy Bob Thorton and Lucas Black. “Again its all football,” he said.
Occupation: Senior at Heritage High School, Brentwood
Marital status/Family: Urbanus lives in Brentwood with his mother Maureen Ennor, father David Urbanus and sister Haley Smethurse.
Proudest Civic Achievement: Urbanus said he would have to say his proudest civic achievement has been the time he has spent working with the Freedom Baseball League which is a baseball group that works with special needs children with down syndrome, autism and cerebral palsy. For two the past two years he has worked as a mentor and coach to the special needs kids. He got started with the program after seeing a show about a child with cerebral palsy who was involved with sports and the differences it made in his life on ESPN. “I told my mom that I wanted to do something like that for kids around here,” Urbanus said.
His mother looked to see if there were any programs in the area and found the Freedom Baseball League. “The first year I worked as a buddy and helped the coach and the second year I was able to be a coach for a team. I plan on going back in the spring as a coach again,” he said.
The kid’s practice once a week and then have one game a week against others in the league. “I love it. It’s the best thing I’ve ever done and it is something I have fun doing,” Urbanus said.
Future Achievement: Urbanus plans to continue volunteering for the baseball league as long as he can. He hopes that one day, after he finishes college, that he might be able to start a similar league of his own.
Groups and organizations involved in: Urbanus is the member of the Heritage High School football team. He is an offensive guard. He has been a member of the team since he was a freshman in high school and really enjoys playing.
Hobbies: For the most part, Urbanus says his hobbies include football, working out and hanging out with his friends.
What was the last book you read? My Life as a Notre Dame Walk On by Timmy O'Neill. “I like pretty much anything that has to do with football,” he said.
Favorite movie: Director Peter Berg’s movie “Friday Night Lights” which stared Billy Bob Thorton and Lucas Black. “Again its all football,” he said.
Friends of Oakley
The longtime Brentwood Community Chest organization has stepped forward to help a fledging group in Oakley looking to build a similar program and help residents in their own town.
Friends of Oakley board member Jim Frazier, announced that the Brentwood organization donated $5,000 to aide in the new Oakley committee’s goal to help feed 125 families for Christmas dinner.
“I volunteered for the Brentwood Community Chest and they inspired me into doing this here in Oakley,” Frazier said. “I’m really excited to help the families that need this.”
Other organizations have provided similar services throughout East County and in Oakley, but members of the Friends of Oakley committee say that there are still many who need help during these hard economic times. As a matter of fact, a few members of the Friends of Oakley committee are also members of the Oakley-Delta Lions Club who have fed between 50 to 70 local families over the past several years.
The Lions Club even intends to keep their services going this year, according to Lions and Friends of Oakley committee member Kevin Romick. Romick said that the Brentwood Community Chest has helped the Friends foundation to start a new “Christmas tradition” with their donation.
The Friends encouraged Oakley families in need to sign up for the Christmas dinner last Sunday, accepting the first 125 families who needed support.
“Before we even set up there was a long line,” Frazier said. It took about two hours for the group to reach their 125-family goal.
“Next year we are hoping to double the total number of families we help,” Frazier said. “It warms my soul to be able to help so many people.”
Friends of Oakley is a new organization in Oakley, put together by City Councilman-elect Frazier and fellow council members Kevin Romick and Pat Anderson, as well as Dr. Mike Painter of Oakley Chiropractic and Shirley Darling of the Redman-Pocahontas Oakley chapter.
Although members of the City Council are involved in the group, it will be run completely separate from the city. They are currently working on establishing themselves as a nonprofit group and getting their paperwork ready to be registered as a 501.3(c) non-profit, which would make donations to the organization tax deductible.
“The mission of the Friends of Oakley Community Foundation is to improve the quality of life in the city of Oakley now and for the future generations through efforts that inspire donor philanthropy to address community needs. We are fortunate that the Toys for Tots Organization is going to be working with us in Oakley,” Darling said.
The Friends of Oakley will be putting bins in several businesses throughout town to collect dry and canned food for the families. They are counting on the community to continue the past generous support.
“We appreciate the Brentwood Community Chest helping us to get started in this endeavor. As Oakley grows and matures it behooves us to reach out to our residents and help them with the needs within our community,” Darling said. “We have found that we have a very generous community and we hope to help guide and promote volunteerism and provide community leadership in providing flexible and cost effective ways for civic minded individuals, families, and companies to contribute to Oakley, now and for all time.”
Non-perishable food bins will be located at the Oakley Chamber Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony at City Hall on Dec. 6 from 6 to 8 p.m., as well as at City Hall, Raley’s, ECC Bank, Bank of the West, Lucky’s, Round Table Pizza, Diamond Hills Athletic Club, the Oakley Chamber office, Oakley Chiropractic Clinic, Les Schwab and Delta Black Bear Diner.
Also added to the family packages will be toys donated by the Marine Corp Toys for Tots program. For more information on how to donate toys to the Friends of Oakley Christmas Drive, see the Toys for Tots website at www.ccctoydrive.com.
Friends of Oakley board member Jim Frazier, announced that the Brentwood organization donated $5,000 to aide in the new Oakley committee’s goal to help feed 125 families for Christmas dinner.
“I volunteered for the Brentwood Community Chest and they inspired me into doing this here in Oakley,” Frazier said. “I’m really excited to help the families that need this.”
Other organizations have provided similar services throughout East County and in Oakley, but members of the Friends of Oakley committee say that there are still many who need help during these hard economic times. As a matter of fact, a few members of the Friends of Oakley committee are also members of the Oakley-Delta Lions Club who have fed between 50 to 70 local families over the past several years.
The Lions Club even intends to keep their services going this year, according to Lions and Friends of Oakley committee member Kevin Romick. Romick said that the Brentwood Community Chest has helped the Friends foundation to start a new “Christmas tradition” with their donation.
The Friends encouraged Oakley families in need to sign up for the Christmas dinner last Sunday, accepting the first 125 families who needed support.
“Before we even set up there was a long line,” Frazier said. It took about two hours for the group to reach their 125-family goal.
“Next year we are hoping to double the total number of families we help,” Frazier said. “It warms my soul to be able to help so many people.”
Friends of Oakley is a new organization in Oakley, put together by City Councilman-elect Frazier and fellow council members Kevin Romick and Pat Anderson, as well as Dr. Mike Painter of Oakley Chiropractic and Shirley Darling of the Redman-Pocahontas Oakley chapter.
Although members of the City Council are involved in the group, it will be run completely separate from the city. They are currently working on establishing themselves as a nonprofit group and getting their paperwork ready to be registered as a 501.3(c) non-profit, which would make donations to the organization tax deductible.
“The mission of the Friends of Oakley Community Foundation is to improve the quality of life in the city of Oakley now and for the future generations through efforts that inspire donor philanthropy to address community needs. We are fortunate that the Toys for Tots Organization is going to be working with us in Oakley,” Darling said.
The Friends of Oakley will be putting bins in several businesses throughout town to collect dry and canned food for the families. They are counting on the community to continue the past generous support.
“We appreciate the Brentwood Community Chest helping us to get started in this endeavor. As Oakley grows and matures it behooves us to reach out to our residents and help them with the needs within our community,” Darling said. “We have found that we have a very generous community and we hope to help guide and promote volunteerism and provide community leadership in providing flexible and cost effective ways for civic minded individuals, families, and companies to contribute to Oakley, now and for all time.”
Non-perishable food bins will be located at the Oakley Chamber Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony at City Hall on Dec. 6 from 6 to 8 p.m., as well as at City Hall, Raley’s, ECC Bank, Bank of the West, Lucky’s, Round Table Pizza, Diamond Hills Athletic Club, the Oakley Chamber office, Oakley Chiropractic Clinic, Les Schwab and Delta Black Bear Diner.
Also added to the family packages will be toys donated by the Marine Corp Toys for Tots program. For more information on how to donate toys to the Friends of Oakley Christmas Drive, see the Toys for Tots website at www.ccctoydrive.com.
East County Times Column Nov. 28, 2008
Sometimes out of the mouth of babes comes the real story of what we should be thankful for. Little Kelly Reed is seven years old and this Thanksgiving she’s thankful that she and her mom still have their house to live in.
“I hear some people had their house closed,” she said. “Mom and I still live in ours. That’s something.”
With so many houses in the area in foreclosure, keeping their home seems to be the number one thing that Oakley residents are grateful for this Thanksgiving. When I was a kid my mom would say before we could dig into all the good food she had made we had to each tell what we were thankful for that year.
My three sisters and I used to roll our eyes every time we heard the question, because mom was tough. She didn’t want to hear about how we were glad we got a new toy, or that we were even thankful for her and my dad. She wanted us to dig deep and come up with something good. At seven years old, worrying that we would still have our house was the farthest thing from my mind. But times have changed.
When I thought to ask this question for a Thanksgiving Day column, I wanted to follow my mom’s rule and ask people to think outside of the box. Besides your family, what are you most thankful for? The important thing was to remember why the custom of Thanksgiving began in the first place: To remember that we as Americans have a lot to be thankful for even when our luck is down or even when the economy is bad and we are living from paycheck to paycheck.
Second on the list appeared to be good medical care and the fact that medical science has been able to keep someone alive another year. “I’m grateful for our emergency crew and ER workers,” said Mary Ross on line at Raley’s. “In America we may not have the best health plan services, but at least if there is an accident on the freeway the police and ambulance still show up to save our lives.”
Oakley City Councilman and member of the Friends of Oakley Foundation, Kevin Romick, said that he was thankful to be living in a community that gives. “We had a tragedy earlier this year and we thought that we would have to hurry up and get help to this family (Nunn and Wilson children) before everyone forgot about it, but here we are months later and there are people still giving fundraisers to help these kids.”
Like Romick, there are others grateful for Oakley’s small town appeal. “We live in a place where neighbors will help neighbors. I’m thankful for that,” said Lori James. “When my son was sick in Children’s Hospital a few months back, all my neighbors stepped in and helped. Without them my husband and I would have been a wreck.”
This evening when your family sits around the dinner table, take a page from my late mother who wouldn’t let us girls and my dad get away with taking the easy way out. Really think about it and ask each other, “What are you thankful for?” You’ll be happy you spent the time to think up an answer and the holiday will mean that much more.
“I hear some people had their house closed,” she said. “Mom and I still live in ours. That’s something.”
With so many houses in the area in foreclosure, keeping their home seems to be the number one thing that Oakley residents are grateful for this Thanksgiving. When I was a kid my mom would say before we could dig into all the good food she had made we had to each tell what we were thankful for that year.
My three sisters and I used to roll our eyes every time we heard the question, because mom was tough. She didn’t want to hear about how we were glad we got a new toy, or that we were even thankful for her and my dad. She wanted us to dig deep and come up with something good. At seven years old, worrying that we would still have our house was the farthest thing from my mind. But times have changed.
When I thought to ask this question for a Thanksgiving Day column, I wanted to follow my mom’s rule and ask people to think outside of the box. Besides your family, what are you most thankful for? The important thing was to remember why the custom of Thanksgiving began in the first place: To remember that we as Americans have a lot to be thankful for even when our luck is down or even when the economy is bad and we are living from paycheck to paycheck.
Second on the list appeared to be good medical care and the fact that medical science has been able to keep someone alive another year. “I’m grateful for our emergency crew and ER workers,” said Mary Ross on line at Raley’s. “In America we may not have the best health plan services, but at least if there is an accident on the freeway the police and ambulance still show up to save our lives.”
Oakley City Councilman and member of the Friends of Oakley Foundation, Kevin Romick, said that he was thankful to be living in a community that gives. “We had a tragedy earlier this year and we thought that we would have to hurry up and get help to this family (Nunn and Wilson children) before everyone forgot about it, but here we are months later and there are people still giving fundraisers to help these kids.”
Like Romick, there are others grateful for Oakley’s small town appeal. “We live in a place where neighbors will help neighbors. I’m thankful for that,” said Lori James. “When my son was sick in Children’s Hospital a few months back, all my neighbors stepped in and helped. Without them my husband and I would have been a wreck.”
This evening when your family sits around the dinner table, take a page from my late mother who wouldn’t let us girls and my dad get away with taking the easy way out. Really think about it and ask each other, “What are you thankful for?” You’ll be happy you spent the time to think up an answer and the holiday will mean that much more.
East County Times Column Nov. 13, 2008
Even with the weather being unpredictable these past couple of weeks, Cypress Square (Raley’s) Shopping Center is getting a new paint job. It was surprising to see the painters out on such a overcast day on Tuesday when at any moment it seemed like it was going to rain, but the painters said they weren’t worried. The temperature was mild and the paint dries quickly.
One thing that can be said for Oakley shopping centers the landlords have been spending time this past year cleaning up the properties. Cypress Square has always been kept up nice and they even take the time to decorate during the holiday season. The shopping center is going to be 20 years old next year. The one thing about shopping centers is they become dated looking and the help of a good paint job can make all the difference.
Local groups and organizations are getting set to raise money and promote their organizations during the holidays. Keep in mind before running out and getting your Christmas trees this year that the Oakley Boy Scout Troop 152 will be hosting a Christmas tree lot behind Scheer Home Systems in downtown Oakley.
They will be featuring fresh cut Noble and Douglas Fir Trees from Washington, as well as wreaths and garland. Scheer Home Systems is located at 3460 Main Street, across from O’Hara Avenue. The trees will be on sale from Nov. 28 thru Dec. 21. The group is encouraging pre-order of the trees so that everyone gets the kind they want. They are providing local delivery to both homes and businesses. For more information, call 625-5391.
In other holiday news, the Oakley Chamber of Commerce is getting ready for their annual tree lighting ceremony, set for Dec. 6. Last year the Chamber moved their annual event to the city offices from O’Hara Park and will be doing the same this year. Presently they are looking for someone to help them by playing the part of Santa for the festivities. They are hoping to find someone who has a suit and can act as a representative for the jolly old elf. The person will have to be able to delight the children, young and old, by passing out candy canes and listening to the young ones, and probably a few old ones too, wishes for the holiday. Those interested in the job should contact the Chamber’s vice president, Doug Hardcastle of Hardcastle RV at 754-4005.
For those who haven’t heard of the Oakley Chamber, the group has been involved in activities like the tree light ceremony since the mid-1980s. They host a variety of activities including the Oakley Almond Festival and monthly mixers. The Chamber is primarily a business organization, but they do take memberships from individuals as well as local organizations and clubs. Their mission is to promote the businesses of Oakley, as well as take a leadership role in the overall welfare and growth of the community.
The group hosts a monthly mixer the second Thursday of each month. The one this evening will be held at Les Schwab Tires from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. All businesses are invited to attend. Even those who aren’t members of the chamber may want to stop by and check out the organization. For more details on the Chamber, call 625-1035.
One thing that can be said for Oakley shopping centers the landlords have been spending time this past year cleaning up the properties. Cypress Square has always been kept up nice and they even take the time to decorate during the holiday season. The shopping center is going to be 20 years old next year. The one thing about shopping centers is they become dated looking and the help of a good paint job can make all the difference.
Local groups and organizations are getting set to raise money and promote their organizations during the holidays. Keep in mind before running out and getting your Christmas trees this year that the Oakley Boy Scout Troop 152 will be hosting a Christmas tree lot behind Scheer Home Systems in downtown Oakley.
They will be featuring fresh cut Noble and Douglas Fir Trees from Washington, as well as wreaths and garland. Scheer Home Systems is located at 3460 Main Street, across from O’Hara Avenue. The trees will be on sale from Nov. 28 thru Dec. 21. The group is encouraging pre-order of the trees so that everyone gets the kind they want. They are providing local delivery to both homes and businesses. For more information, call 625-5391.
In other holiday news, the Oakley Chamber of Commerce is getting ready for their annual tree lighting ceremony, set for Dec. 6. Last year the Chamber moved their annual event to the city offices from O’Hara Park and will be doing the same this year. Presently they are looking for someone to help them by playing the part of Santa for the festivities. They are hoping to find someone who has a suit and can act as a representative for the jolly old elf. The person will have to be able to delight the children, young and old, by passing out candy canes and listening to the young ones, and probably a few old ones too, wishes for the holiday. Those interested in the job should contact the Chamber’s vice president, Doug Hardcastle of Hardcastle RV at 754-4005.
For those who haven’t heard of the Oakley Chamber, the group has been involved in activities like the tree light ceremony since the mid-1980s. They host a variety of activities including the Oakley Almond Festival and monthly mixers. The Chamber is primarily a business organization, but they do take memberships from individuals as well as local organizations and clubs. Their mission is to promote the businesses of Oakley, as well as take a leadership role in the overall welfare and growth of the community.
The group hosts a monthly mixer the second Thursday of each month. The one this evening will be held at Les Schwab Tires from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. All businesses are invited to attend. Even those who aren’t members of the chamber may want to stop by and check out the organization. For more details on the Chamber, call 625-1035.
East County Times Column Nov. 6, 2008
It has been a long road of getting permits, licenses, and developing a program that adheres to the tenets of its teaching style, but finally Oakley’s first Montessori preschool will see its grand opening Nov. 15. This might sound a little confusing since the preschool, Oakley Montessori, has really been open since June, but owner Sherin Ameerdeen said that there is a lot involved in opening a Montessori preschool and she wanted to do it right.
The Montessori name is not a franchise name or a trademark. It is a style of teaching developed over a century ago that schools such as Oakley Montessori follow, according to Ameerdeen. “We’ve been described as Montessori with a buzz,” she said. “I’ve had extensive training in Montessori training. I was a Montessori teacher for 13 years including working as a head master of a school.”
In addition to her own skills she says that the three teachers that work for her at Oakley Montessori are well trained. They are accredited and have completed early childhood education course work.
Ameerdeen said that the staff at Oakley Montessori Preschool believes that childhood is a journey, not a race. “At Oakley Montessori we provide a dynamic educational program for children that fosters individual growth and creates a sympathetic community that enables children to work out conflicts and to develop loving relations with peers and adults.” This is very much the way that the first Montessori School was put together.
Unlike educational trends that come and go, the popularity of the Montessori method has grown worldwide for over a century, she said. The Montessori curriculum allows children to learn at a more natural pace while providing a solid academic base.
The Montessori School’s culture is devoted to helping each child grow toward independence by building confidence, competence, self-esteem and respect for others. The program at The Montessori School is based on the scientific research work of Dr. Maria Montessori of Italy. Dr. Montessori taught that the school should respect children as self-directed individuals and fosters their growth toward independence and social responsibility, while creating a happy, diverse and family-oriented community.
Ameerdeen said that she has taken the past few months to put extra care in making sure that the classroom designs follow the Montessori curriculum. When they opened in June they moved into rooms that were previously designed as a preschool at the Destiny Church on O’Hara Avenue. The rooms were like a blank canvas that it was up to Ameerdeen and her staff to put together the right combination of equipment and instruction to follow Dr. Montessori’s teachings. That included putting together five different areas that would allow for both individual and social development.
Presently, Oakley Montessori serves children ages newborn through 6 years. “Through individual and small group lessons and the powerful experience of peer teaching, a student’s natural desire to learn is nurtured and cultivated through the most formative years. True to the Montessori method, children are grouped in mixed-age classrooms and learn with an interconnected curriculum,” Ameerdeen said.
Teachers offer a multi-sensory learning environment that promotes respect, cooperation, order and choice within limits.
“By cherishing ethnic differences and supporting economic diversity we create a community that encourages global awareness and social responsibility. As a result, children develop good interpersonal skills,” she said. Ameerdeen asks that those interested please call for an appointment at 625-3921 before stopping by to learn more.
The Montessori name is not a franchise name or a trademark. It is a style of teaching developed over a century ago that schools such as Oakley Montessori follow, according to Ameerdeen. “We’ve been described as Montessori with a buzz,” she said. “I’ve had extensive training in Montessori training. I was a Montessori teacher for 13 years including working as a head master of a school.”
In addition to her own skills she says that the three teachers that work for her at Oakley Montessori are well trained. They are accredited and have completed early childhood education course work.
Ameerdeen said that the staff at Oakley Montessori Preschool believes that childhood is a journey, not a race. “At Oakley Montessori we provide a dynamic educational program for children that fosters individual growth and creates a sympathetic community that enables children to work out conflicts and to develop loving relations with peers and adults.” This is very much the way that the first Montessori School was put together.
Unlike educational trends that come and go, the popularity of the Montessori method has grown worldwide for over a century, she said. The Montessori curriculum allows children to learn at a more natural pace while providing a solid academic base.
The Montessori School’s culture is devoted to helping each child grow toward independence by building confidence, competence, self-esteem and respect for others. The program at The Montessori School is based on the scientific research work of Dr. Maria Montessori of Italy. Dr. Montessori taught that the school should respect children as self-directed individuals and fosters their growth toward independence and social responsibility, while creating a happy, diverse and family-oriented community.
Ameerdeen said that she has taken the past few months to put extra care in making sure that the classroom designs follow the Montessori curriculum. When they opened in June they moved into rooms that were previously designed as a preschool at the Destiny Church on O’Hara Avenue. The rooms were like a blank canvas that it was up to Ameerdeen and her staff to put together the right combination of equipment and instruction to follow Dr. Montessori’s teachings. That included putting together five different areas that would allow for both individual and social development.
Presently, Oakley Montessori serves children ages newborn through 6 years. “Through individual and small group lessons and the powerful experience of peer teaching, a student’s natural desire to learn is nurtured and cultivated through the most formative years. True to the Montessori method, children are grouped in mixed-age classrooms and learn with an interconnected curriculum,” Ameerdeen said.
Teachers offer a multi-sensory learning environment that promotes respect, cooperation, order and choice within limits.
“By cherishing ethnic differences and supporting economic diversity we create a community that encourages global awareness and social responsibility. As a result, children develop good interpersonal skills,” she said. Ameerdeen asks that those interested please call for an appointment at 625-3921 before stopping by to learn more.
East County Times Column Oct. 2, 2008
What perfect timing. Oakley Disposal is having its Fall Clean Up Week, Oct. 6-10, just in time for the kids to be out of school and helping to clean up the mess in the garage. It’s the perfect time to pull up your sleeves and throw out all that garbage that’s made its way in there.
“This is usually the time when people clean up all the junk they’ve accumulated over the summer,” said Oakley Disposal manager David Adler.
Oakley Disposal offers two Clean Up weeks a year; the other is in the spring. It gives customers the chance to throw away a little more than usual. To be precise, Adler says that Oakley residents can throw out an additional two cubic yards or the equivalent of a dozen 32-gallon garbage bags. He said boxes can be used as well, but make sure that neither the boxes nor the bags are bigger than three feet in length or weigh more than 50 pounds.
Any kind of trash, yard cuttings and old junk can be brought down to the curb on cleanup week. For instance, small appliances that are not made with hazardous waste, like an old can opener, can be thrown away. Fall is usually a good time to trim trees and those trimmings can be bundled up with a simple cord. Old boxes can be broken down and tied up to be taken away.
There are, however, some limitations, so you can’t just go hog wild and start filling up garbage bags and boxes. One of the things to keep in mind is that Oakley Disposal cannot dispose of hazardous waste products. That includes items such as leftover paints and thinners, bottles of polishes or cleaners, glues or cements, pool cleaners, grease and rust solvents, used oil and oil filters, and even things like old fluorescent bulbs, batteries and lighter fluids. Some of these things might be in your garage now and unfortunately, this cleaning isn’t going to be the answer to getting rid of them.
Although if you are cleaning out the garage for the cleanup, keep those items aside in a separate box, because Adler says there is a local place where you can bring those to finally dispose of them. That’s the Delta Household Hazardous Waste Collection Facility
at 2550 Pittsburg-Antioch Highway in Antioch. They are open Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. If you are unsure if they will take something, call 756-1990 and ask.
Adler said that while Oakley Disposal won’t take old sofas, furniture and large appliances during Clean Up week, it does have a service available to residents any time during the year. All that is required is that the customer call the company and request a pickup. A nominal fee is charged for the service.
Adler said that the new Mt. Diablo Recycling Center is open in Pittsburg. This is the place to bring aluminum cans and plastic bottles and make a little spare change. They also accept newspapers and cardboard boxes. For more information, call 473-0180.
To participate in Clean Up week, Oakley residents should bring their trash to the curb on your regular garbage pickup day.
“This is usually the time when people clean up all the junk they’ve accumulated over the summer,” said Oakley Disposal manager David Adler.
Oakley Disposal offers two Clean Up weeks a year; the other is in the spring. It gives customers the chance to throw away a little more than usual. To be precise, Adler says that Oakley residents can throw out an additional two cubic yards or the equivalent of a dozen 32-gallon garbage bags. He said boxes can be used as well, but make sure that neither the boxes nor the bags are bigger than three feet in length or weigh more than 50 pounds.
Any kind of trash, yard cuttings and old junk can be brought down to the curb on cleanup week. For instance, small appliances that are not made with hazardous waste, like an old can opener, can be thrown away. Fall is usually a good time to trim trees and those trimmings can be bundled up with a simple cord. Old boxes can be broken down and tied up to be taken away.
There are, however, some limitations, so you can’t just go hog wild and start filling up garbage bags and boxes. One of the things to keep in mind is that Oakley Disposal cannot dispose of hazardous waste products. That includes items such as leftover paints and thinners, bottles of polishes or cleaners, glues or cements, pool cleaners, grease and rust solvents, used oil and oil filters, and even things like old fluorescent bulbs, batteries and lighter fluids. Some of these things might be in your garage now and unfortunately, this cleaning isn’t going to be the answer to getting rid of them.
Although if you are cleaning out the garage for the cleanup, keep those items aside in a separate box, because Adler says there is a local place where you can bring those to finally dispose of them. That’s the Delta Household Hazardous Waste Collection Facility
at 2550 Pittsburg-Antioch Highway in Antioch. They are open Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. If you are unsure if they will take something, call 756-1990 and ask.
Adler said that while Oakley Disposal won’t take old sofas, furniture and large appliances during Clean Up week, it does have a service available to residents any time during the year. All that is required is that the customer call the company and request a pickup. A nominal fee is charged for the service.
Adler said that the new Mt. Diablo Recycling Center is open in Pittsburg. This is the place to bring aluminum cans and plastic bottles and make a little spare change. They also accept newspapers and cardboard boxes. For more information, call 473-0180.
To participate in Clean Up week, Oakley residents should bring their trash to the curb on your regular garbage pickup day.
East County Times Column Oct. 9, 2008
For the first time in a long time, it seems that there is plenty to do and become involved with around Oakley. That couldn’t be said just a few years ago, when residents young and old were looking to the city to develop afterschool activities and community recreation programs. The community was looking for activities similar to the ones found in Antioch and Brentwood at their community centers. Now that those programs are available, it still seems slow going and some programs have even had to be canceled because of lack of participation.
That’s to be expected though, since the programs are new and people haven’t yet had a chance to get used to them being available. It was the same story in other small cities when their programs first started, so organizers aren’t too worried.
There’s always the possibility that these types of programs aren’t just to the people’s liking. Sometimes people don’t want to participate but just go out and watch. Isn’t that why televised sporting events are so popular? That being the case maybe people are just overlooking what is available to do in Oakley. Something that has been available all along, but maybe just not thought of. For example, how about attending a local sporting event.
Many communities host popular sporting events. Even Oakley’s Freedom High School football games are well attended and not just by the parents of those that are participating in the games. There are people who just enjoy sitting in the stands and watching a good game. It doesn’t matter if they know the players or not. Football fans are just there for the experience of the game and if a team is doing well then all the better.
Apparently, the Freedom Falcons seem to be hitting the mark in that respect this year. With five games under their belts, they have been working themselves into a winning streak. Generally, the games are held Friday evenings. Not all the games are held at home however, so don’t expect to see one every week. Both the junior varsity and varsity teams play on the same nights at the same place. The JV games start at 5:15 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. for the varsity.
The Freedom Falcons have three more home games between now and November starting Oct. 17 against Antioch’s Deer Valley High School, Oct. 24 against Antioch High School and Nov. 7 against Brentwood’s Heritage High School. Even on the Fridays when they aren’t playing in Oakley, they still will play locally — once in Pittsburg and another time at Liberty High School in Brentwood.
The Freedom Falcons are part of the six teams that make up the Bay Valley Athletic League, which also includes Antioch, Heritage, Liberty, Deer Valley and Pittsburg, so if this is something you get into you won’t have to travel far to attend a game away from home. Tickets are $5 for Freedom students and $8 for the general public.
Even if football isn’t your thing, there are many other sporting events at Freedom including water polo, golf, volleyball and even track and field. Check out the Freedom High School website at ww.libertyuhsd.k12.ca.us/Freedom/athletics/sportshome.html for times and dates of next events.
That’s to be expected though, since the programs are new and people haven’t yet had a chance to get used to them being available. It was the same story in other small cities when their programs first started, so organizers aren’t too worried.
There’s always the possibility that these types of programs aren’t just to the people’s liking. Sometimes people don’t want to participate but just go out and watch. Isn’t that why televised sporting events are so popular? That being the case maybe people are just overlooking what is available to do in Oakley. Something that has been available all along, but maybe just not thought of. For example, how about attending a local sporting event.
Many communities host popular sporting events. Even Oakley’s Freedom High School football games are well attended and not just by the parents of those that are participating in the games. There are people who just enjoy sitting in the stands and watching a good game. It doesn’t matter if they know the players or not. Football fans are just there for the experience of the game and if a team is doing well then all the better.
Apparently, the Freedom Falcons seem to be hitting the mark in that respect this year. With five games under their belts, they have been working themselves into a winning streak. Generally, the games are held Friday evenings. Not all the games are held at home however, so don’t expect to see one every week. Both the junior varsity and varsity teams play on the same nights at the same place. The JV games start at 5:15 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. for the varsity.
The Freedom Falcons have three more home games between now and November starting Oct. 17 against Antioch’s Deer Valley High School, Oct. 24 against Antioch High School and Nov. 7 against Brentwood’s Heritage High School. Even on the Fridays when they aren’t playing in Oakley, they still will play locally — once in Pittsburg and another time at Liberty High School in Brentwood.
The Freedom Falcons are part of the six teams that make up the Bay Valley Athletic League, which also includes Antioch, Heritage, Liberty, Deer Valley and Pittsburg, so if this is something you get into you won’t have to travel far to attend a game away from home. Tickets are $5 for Freedom students and $8 for the general public.
Even if football isn’t your thing, there are many other sporting events at Freedom including water polo, golf, volleyball and even track and field. Check out the Freedom High School website at ww.libertyuhsd.k12.ca.us/Freedom/athletics/sportshome.html for times and dates of next events.
East County Times Oct. 16, 2008
Witches, goblins and ghouls will be haunting the Redman-Pocahontas Hall near Live Oak Avenue this weekend as the group presents their third annual Halloween Festival. The Saturday night event will feature their popular haunted house with new features to fit this year’s theme of witches and goblins.
“We change it every year so the kids will find something new each time,” said organizer and Pocahontas member Irene Martinez. Martinez said that the group has worked hard to make the haunted house for all age groups using live props to make the display as calm or scary as the kids going through want it to be.
“When the younger ones go through we just let the people volunteering inside know so that they can act accordingly,” she said.
This year the Pocahontas committee were lucky enough to receive a grant from the city of Oakley to help pay for some added attractions to the event. “The grant was for $350 and we were told we were to use $200 for prizes and decorations and $150 for advertising,” Martinez said. She said she didn’t mind the money designation because the group was hoping to do more advertising for the event this year. They also received sponsorships from other sources including Staples of Pittsburg, which donated 3,000 photocopies and a raffle prize from Oakley’s downtown hobby shop, Kit and Caboodle.
The evening’s events will also feature carnival games for kids of all ages including bowling spider, fortune telling and ghost games. They will also feature a movie room where kids can watch a few Halloween favorites like “Hocus Pocus” and “The Witches.” There will also be a raffle drawing every half hour.
The $1 entrance fee will provide for six game tickets, a raffle ticket, entrance to the haunted house, candy and a toy. For every entrance, 50 cents goes to the American Diabetes Association Research Foundation.
“Every year the person crowned Pocahontas picks a cause to donate money to. The year the Pocahontas picked the Diabetes Foundation so we have been raising money for the cause all year. In January a new Pocahontas will pick her favorite cause,” Martinez said.
The group also works to raise funds for other worthy causes throughout the year including the national group’s cause, the Alzheimer's Association, as well as veterans associations. Last week, ladies from the Pocahontas group, including Martinez, attended a special tour of the Veterans Hospital in Martinez and decided that they were interested in adding the facility to their new list of causes.
“It was really much more than I first thought,” Martinez said. She was surprised to see a number of U.S. soldiers from the Iraq and Afghanistan wars in attendance at the hospital. There were also a number of veterans from other conflicts and wars present. She said she found that the hospital was in need of donations that would make the recovery of the soldiers, both young and old, more comfortable. The Pocahontas is working on hosting a New Year’s Eve Casino to raise funds for the group.
The Halloween Festival will take place Saturday evening from 7 to 10 p.m. The Redman-Pocahontas Hall is located at 1405 Main Street near Live Oak Avenue.
“We change it every year so the kids will find something new each time,” said organizer and Pocahontas member Irene Martinez. Martinez said that the group has worked hard to make the haunted house for all age groups using live props to make the display as calm or scary as the kids going through want it to be.
“When the younger ones go through we just let the people volunteering inside know so that they can act accordingly,” she said.
This year the Pocahontas committee were lucky enough to receive a grant from the city of Oakley to help pay for some added attractions to the event. “The grant was for $350 and we were told we were to use $200 for prizes and decorations and $150 for advertising,” Martinez said. She said she didn’t mind the money designation because the group was hoping to do more advertising for the event this year. They also received sponsorships from other sources including Staples of Pittsburg, which donated 3,000 photocopies and a raffle prize from Oakley’s downtown hobby shop, Kit and Caboodle.
The evening’s events will also feature carnival games for kids of all ages including bowling spider, fortune telling and ghost games. They will also feature a movie room where kids can watch a few Halloween favorites like “Hocus Pocus” and “The Witches.” There will also be a raffle drawing every half hour.
The $1 entrance fee will provide for six game tickets, a raffle ticket, entrance to the haunted house, candy and a toy. For every entrance, 50 cents goes to the American Diabetes Association Research Foundation.
“Every year the person crowned Pocahontas picks a cause to donate money to. The year the Pocahontas picked the Diabetes Foundation so we have been raising money for the cause all year. In January a new Pocahontas will pick her favorite cause,” Martinez said.
The group also works to raise funds for other worthy causes throughout the year including the national group’s cause, the Alzheimer's Association, as well as veterans associations. Last week, ladies from the Pocahontas group, including Martinez, attended a special tour of the Veterans Hospital in Martinez and decided that they were interested in adding the facility to their new list of causes.
“It was really much more than I first thought,” Martinez said. She was surprised to see a number of U.S. soldiers from the Iraq and Afghanistan wars in attendance at the hospital. There were also a number of veterans from other conflicts and wars present. She said she found that the hospital was in need of donations that would make the recovery of the soldiers, both young and old, more comfortable. The Pocahontas is working on hosting a New Year’s Eve Casino to raise funds for the group.
The Halloween Festival will take place Saturday evening from 7 to 10 p.m. The Redman-Pocahontas Hall is located at 1405 Main Street near Live Oak Avenue.
East County Times Column Oct. 23, 2008
Interestingly enough there are people out there who believe that Oakley should never have incorporated and stayed under the county’s jurisdiction. For those who are new to the area, Oakley incorporated into a city in 1999. While everyone maybe tired of hearing this, Oakley really still is in its infancy compared to cities like Brentwood and Antioch. Yes, the city may be behind in a lot of things. Yes, some very important things like commerce and such, but try to remember back to when the county ran Oakley and keep in mind progress may be slow, but in the end Oakley is much better off being independent.
The argument that seems to be going around is that there is no big visible difference between Oakley county-run and Oakley city-run, but while we may not see the visible effects of the city’s work on some grand scale, like a Slatten Ranch, some of the smaller things that the city has accomplished so far have been for the good.
Roadwork throughout the city is improving on a daily basis. Over the years roadwork on both Neroly and Cypress roads has been going slow and steady. Clearing the way for the immense morning and afternoon traffic to Freedom High School has been a vast undertaking, but the city has made a concerted effort to build a four-lane road, a much-needed safer way to drive.
The city is presently working on expending O’Hara Avenue from the other direction into the high school and hopes to soon have sidewalks installed. The project has taken a great deal of negotiations and effort on the city’s part, but council members say that the work will be completed soon.
“Last month, staff worked with three property owners on the south side of Main Street from Teakwood to the Albertsons shopping center to donate their land so we could put in a new sidewalk this coming spring. Better than pushing a stroller in the sand, and this kept the project cost down significantly so we can hopefully do a few more areas,” said Barbara Mason, Oakley’s redevelopment manager.
The all-around general appearance of the city looks better as well. “About 2 years ago we instituted an aggressive policy of having graffiti removed in 24 hours after it being reported,” said council member Kevin Romick. “We also informed residents to call in graffiti as soon as they see it and to let us know of any groups willing to volunteer to remove graffiti. We immediately received more reports and City staff and volunteers removed graffiti all over town and were consistent in getting it removed quickly.” Romick said that this has led to a dramatic decrease in graffiti. “A group that called the other day volunteering to remove graffiti was refocused on another project because we couldn’t find any graffiti in the City,” he said.
Last week the city repainted the subdivision sign at the corner of Big Break Road and Vintage Parkway. The sign had been showing quite a bit of wear after 20 years. It would be nice to see that kind of effort throughout the city.
These may not seem like big things compared to the cities around Oakley, but try to remember that those cities had many decades to build, while Oakley was stuck with getting whatever handouts were available through the county. Our day will come with everyone working together.
The argument that seems to be going around is that there is no big visible difference between Oakley county-run and Oakley city-run, but while we may not see the visible effects of the city’s work on some grand scale, like a Slatten Ranch, some of the smaller things that the city has accomplished so far have been for the good.
Roadwork throughout the city is improving on a daily basis. Over the years roadwork on both Neroly and Cypress roads has been going slow and steady. Clearing the way for the immense morning and afternoon traffic to Freedom High School has been a vast undertaking, but the city has made a concerted effort to build a four-lane road, a much-needed safer way to drive.
The city is presently working on expending O’Hara Avenue from the other direction into the high school and hopes to soon have sidewalks installed. The project has taken a great deal of negotiations and effort on the city’s part, but council members say that the work will be completed soon.
“Last month, staff worked with three property owners on the south side of Main Street from Teakwood to the Albertsons shopping center to donate their land so we could put in a new sidewalk this coming spring. Better than pushing a stroller in the sand, and this kept the project cost down significantly so we can hopefully do a few more areas,” said Barbara Mason, Oakley’s redevelopment manager.
The all-around general appearance of the city looks better as well. “About 2 years ago we instituted an aggressive policy of having graffiti removed in 24 hours after it being reported,” said council member Kevin Romick. “We also informed residents to call in graffiti as soon as they see it and to let us know of any groups willing to volunteer to remove graffiti. We immediately received more reports and City staff and volunteers removed graffiti all over town and were consistent in getting it removed quickly.” Romick said that this has led to a dramatic decrease in graffiti. “A group that called the other day volunteering to remove graffiti was refocused on another project because we couldn’t find any graffiti in the City,” he said.
Last week the city repainted the subdivision sign at the corner of Big Break Road and Vintage Parkway. The sign had been showing quite a bit of wear after 20 years. It would be nice to see that kind of effort throughout the city.
These may not seem like big things compared to the cities around Oakley, but try to remember that those cities had many decades to build, while Oakley was stuck with getting whatever handouts were available through the county. Our day will come with everyone working together.
East County Times Column Oct. 30, 2008
Tomorrow is Halloween, time for kids young and old to enjoy a day of trick-or-treating, show off their favorite character costumes, carve jack-o-lanterns, read scary stories, watch horror movies and visit haunted attractions. All of those activities can be found right here in Oakley.
Halloween is actually one of my favorite days of the year. I enjoy having the kids trick-or-treating at my door, especially the little ones who are just learning what it means to dress up and walk the neighborhood. The unfortunate thing this year is over the past few weeks parents have been considering forgoing the evening’s walk because they are concerned that there will be no one around to give out candy.
Although over the past few weeks some of the foreclosed homes on our block are selling, there are still many that worry that too many are vacant, leaving the kids disappointed.
So, what are parents going to do with their kids this year? A few neighborhoods are offering parties for the neighbor children. One neighborhood is planning to gather up a bunch of pumpkins so that the kids in their neighborhood can have a pumpkin-carving contest. Other families have decided to stay in for the day and rent a bunch of horror movies and read scary stories.
The Girl Scout Troop 1437, with the help of a local Boy Scout Venturing Crew, will be hosting a haunted house. The activities will take place at a home at 936 Carpenter Road. The Girl Scouts have had the haunted house open weekends since Oct. 10. They had originally planned for tomorrow to be its final day open, but decided later that there was an interest to let it go on until Saturday night.
The organizers of the activities are Girl Scout parents Andreina Sanve and Yvonne Fee. Sanve says that the girls really get into scaring kids that come though the door, but it’s all in good fun.
Sanve calls herself a “Halloween freak” because she enjoys decorating. She decided why not let the girls have some fun with it, and let it be a fundraiser for their activities. The $2 entrance fees goes to camping trips for the girls and sponsorships for those in the troop who need a little extra help with expenses. Half the proceeds are going to the boys in the Venturing crew.
The activities include an 8-by-22 foot pirate ship manned with a 6-foot animated pirate, a city morgue, grave yard, four rooms completely decorated in scary delight, a mad scientist lab, a 24-by-48 foot chainsaw massacre site, a clown section and even an electric chair display. The backyard is full of activities as well, with inflatable air characters.
“There is something for all ages,” Sanve said. “Usually if the parents ask for us to go easy on the little ones we just send word in ahead to let the girls know. Sometimes though they just tell us to go all out.”
Girl Scout Cathy Fee has been involved in helping out at the haunted house for the past six years and is really enjoying herself. “I really have fun scaring and seeing the reaction of the kids. It’s also really fun being here with the girl scouts,” Fee said. The haunted house will be open from 7 to 10 p.m.
Halloween is actually one of my favorite days of the year. I enjoy having the kids trick-or-treating at my door, especially the little ones who are just learning what it means to dress up and walk the neighborhood. The unfortunate thing this year is over the past few weeks parents have been considering forgoing the evening’s walk because they are concerned that there will be no one around to give out candy.
Although over the past few weeks some of the foreclosed homes on our block are selling, there are still many that worry that too many are vacant, leaving the kids disappointed.
So, what are parents going to do with their kids this year? A few neighborhoods are offering parties for the neighbor children. One neighborhood is planning to gather up a bunch of pumpkins so that the kids in their neighborhood can have a pumpkin-carving contest. Other families have decided to stay in for the day and rent a bunch of horror movies and read scary stories.
The Girl Scout Troop 1437, with the help of a local Boy Scout Venturing Crew, will be hosting a haunted house. The activities will take place at a home at 936 Carpenter Road. The Girl Scouts have had the haunted house open weekends since Oct. 10. They had originally planned for tomorrow to be its final day open, but decided later that there was an interest to let it go on until Saturday night.
The organizers of the activities are Girl Scout parents Andreina Sanve and Yvonne Fee. Sanve says that the girls really get into scaring kids that come though the door, but it’s all in good fun.
Sanve calls herself a “Halloween freak” because she enjoys decorating. She decided why not let the girls have some fun with it, and let it be a fundraiser for their activities. The $2 entrance fees goes to camping trips for the girls and sponsorships for those in the troop who need a little extra help with expenses. Half the proceeds are going to the boys in the Venturing crew.
The activities include an 8-by-22 foot pirate ship manned with a 6-foot animated pirate, a city morgue, grave yard, four rooms completely decorated in scary delight, a mad scientist lab, a 24-by-48 foot chainsaw massacre site, a clown section and even an electric chair display. The backyard is full of activities as well, with inflatable air characters.
“There is something for all ages,” Sanve said. “Usually if the parents ask for us to go easy on the little ones we just send word in ahead to let the girls know. Sometimes though they just tell us to go all out.”
Girl Scout Cathy Fee has been involved in helping out at the haunted house for the past six years and is really enjoying herself. “I really have fun scaring and seeing the reaction of the kids. It’s also really fun being here with the girl scouts,” Fee said. The haunted house will be open from 7 to 10 p.m.
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