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Liberty High senior Cierra Provan was recently named the 2012 Contra Costa County Fair Queen. Provan will serve as an ambassa-dor for the Fair, which runs from May 31 through June 3 in Antioch. Her ongoing commitment to Contra Costa County agricultural programs, her leadership skills and her participation in numerous community ser-vice projects earned her the title. Provan is active in Brentwood FFA, Knightsen 4-H and in her church.

Fairest of them all

Photo courtesy of Contra Costa County Fair

Those looking to play a little poker for a big cause should put April 26 on their cal-endar for the Loaves and Fishes Texas Hold em Tournament at the Veterans of Foreign War Post #6435, 815 Fulton Shipyard Road in Antioch.

The $65 admission includes dinner and $1,000 in chips and provides 15 meals to help feed the hungry in the Antioch com-munity. The event features a no-host bar, and dinner served at 5:30 p.m. by members

of the Antioch Lions Club. Play begins at 6:30 p.m.

Since 1983, Loaves and Fishes has served more than 3,600,000 meals to hungry people throughout Contra Costa County. More than 1,000 volunteers each year help provide 100,000 annual meals to the hungry.

Pre-registration is required. For reser-vations, call 925-687-6760 or send a check to Loaves and Fishes, 1985 Bonifacio St., Suite 100, Concord, CA 94520.

Gambling on Loaves and Fishes

The Oakley City Council has ap-pointed Arthur Mijares as its representa-tive on the Contra Costa County Advi-sory Council on Aging.

The Advisory Council makes recom-mendations to the Contra Costa Board of Supervisors on matters related to the de-velopment and administration of senior programs in accordance with the man-dates of the Older Americans Act.

The Advisory Council meets on a monthly basis, accomplishing much of its work through committees and work

groups on health, housing, legislative advocacy, membership, planning, senior mental health and transportation.

I hope tolearn what is available for the benefi t of those who have no help in the time of greatest need, said Mijares, and to provide adviceon current issues regarding the aging population.

Questions, suggestions or comments regarding senior programs or matters may be made by calling Mijares at 925-679-9901 or e-mailing amijares504@sbcglobal.net.

Mijares named to advisory council

4A | THEPRESS.NET COMMUNITY APRIL 13, 2012

Dr. Dale Giessman studied Sports Medicine at Pepperdine University and has worked with athletes

of every age and every level. From the Olympic pole vaulters to NFL superstars, from high school athletes to senior recreational golfers and tennis players.

(925) 513-8883www.deltaspinecare.com

Without chiropractic care, I wouldnt be able to play consistently

throughout the season.Johnny Damon, MLB star

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Jenna Rose Hartley is making a habit of cutting her hair for Locks For Love. On the left she grins after her second donation three years ago at age 6. This week, now at the ripe old age of 9, she was grinning again after making her third donation.

Lots of love for Locks of Love

Photos courtesy of Lisa Molls

If gas prices alone arent enough to get you commuting by bus, Tri Delta Transit is providing even more incen-tive.

From April 16 through May 11, Tri Delta and 511 Contra Costa will pro-vide free bus passes to commuters who currently dont use the bus. Its the sec-ond annual Tri Delta Transit Challenge, which challenges people to use pub-lic transit once a week for four weeks. Those who accept the challenge will get not only four free days of bus rides, but the chance to win $100.

With gas prices back above $4 per gallon, we know using the bus is some-thing many people are considering, said Director of Marketing Mike Fur-nary. However, it seems some people need that little extra incentive to try it. Were not suggesting that people quit using their cars all at once. We want them to gradually make the move to using public transit. Thats the idea be-hind the challenge: make the bus part of your commute maybe just once a week to start and see for yourself how well it

Tri Deltachallengescommuters

see Challenge page 18A

APRIL 13, 2012 ARTS THEPRESS.NET | 5A

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Gallery on Second opens first show

A work of art can provoke a know-ing smile or inspire deep philosophical thought. It can make us laugh or cry. It can thrill, terrify, amuse and confuse sometimes all at once.

To continue bringing art to the fore-front of local culture, Jack and Betty Gaughan are developing the Gallery on Second as a division of the Brentwood Theater Company. The new gallery, in ad-dition to displaying high-quality art, will serve as a focal point for events through which artists can share their talents and passions with the public.

The gallerys grand opening will be held on Saturday, April 14 at 4 p.m. A complimentary reception will follow the ribbon cutting, giving attendees the op-portunity to view the gallerys fi rst show and enjoy light refreshments. People who come will be able to visit with the art-ists, said Gaughan. A lot of them will be here.

Gaughan chose the gallerys open-ing date to correspond with the timing of the 2012 Artists Open Studio Tour, an annual event at which community mem-bers can watch professional artists work, and ask them questions. This years event, held May 11 through 13, will include 40 artists working at 21 studios. The tour is self-guided, giving attendees the opportu-nity to choose which studios to visit and

when. The Gallerys fi rst show includes one piece from each of the 40 artists. Maps of the tour are available in the gal-lery.

Among the works featured in the show and tour are the glass and jewelry

creations of Bonnie Cichosz and the wa-tercolor paintings of Annalise Hanel, winner of the Best in Show at last years Student Art Show. Other works include

by Amy ClaireCorrespondent

see Gallery page 10A

Jack Gaughan, right, helps Yisehak Fikre-Sellassie hang his oil painting Looking Up at the Gallery on Second.

Photo by Amy Claire

6A | THEPRESS.NET COMMUNITY APRIL 13, 2012

Cant attend? Join the conversation via Twitter @SutterDelta#kidshealth

Your kids enjoy supervised play while you participate in an informative conversation led by pediatricians

Susan Adham, M.D. or Irmeen Ashraf, M.D.

My Child Has Itchy, Dry Skin. . . Could it be Eczema?Learn how to recognize and treat eczema, a common skin condition. Symptoms include dry, red, itchy patches on the skin which break out in rashes when scratched. Dr. Adham, Tuesday, April 17 Dr. Ashraf, Thursday, April 26 12:00 - 1:00 pm 12:30 - 1:30 pm

Easy Lifestyle Changes to Fight Childhood ObesityChildhood obesity is at epidemic levels and putting our childrens health at risk. Learn lifestyle changes you can make to prevent obesity now and as your child grows up. Dr. Ashraf, Tuesday, May 8 Dr. Adham, Thursday, May 17 12:00 - 1:00 pm 12:30 - 1:30 pm

Quench Your Childs Thirst to Prevent DehydrationHow much water should your child drink? What are the early warning signs of dehydration and heat stress? Symptoms can indicate under-lying serious health issues and lead to long-term problems. Learn to recognize the signs. Dr. Adham, Tuesday, June 5 Dr. Ashraf, Thursday, June 28 12:00 - 1:00 pm 12:30 - 1:30 pm

Learn N Play with Sutter Delta and the Little Gym

To reserve your FREE space, please call (925) 634-0034.

Heritage Baptist AcademyGrades K-12

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Our staff will be on hand to answer all of your questions and give you a tour of our campus.

We are currently accepting applications for the fall. However space is limited so contact us ASAP.Whats more important than your

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After 25 years in business, real estate broker Rosa Chang knows real estate. What she didnt know, however, is how the Internet and social media services such as Facebook could help make Legacy Real Estate Associ-ates even more successful. Whats more, she didnt have the time to learn.

I was just swamped, even though Im not that well known in Brentwood yet, said Chang, who recently relocated from the Liver-more area. After attending last Decembers Impact Marketing Summit conducted by The Press, however, that appears to be changing.

Ive already got a couple of leads, said Chang, who got help setting up a website and establishing a presence on Facebook. Her website, part of The Press Business Directory, has been optimized for search engines and is already paying off.

A client said, I just Googled real estate in Brentwood and your name came up, said Chang. She helped the man sell his house and buy a new one from another of Changs cli-ents. It was a trifecta, she said. You cant beat that story. I know (digital marketing) will be very helpful for my business.

Michele Chatburn, Social Media Manag-er at The Press, said Changs story isnt unique. Whats unusual is that Chang caught up on the latest in the digital world without leaving town.

The level of info you get at our seminars is something you usually must travel outside East County to get, said Chatburn. Plus, you

not only learn something, you get fed!Thanks to stories like Changs, The Press

has expanded its Summit series. Two sessions will be offered this month: Wednesday, April 25 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.; and Thursday, April 26 from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Both seminars will be held at Caps Oak Street Bar & Grill, and include dinner (on the 25th) or lunch (on the 26th).

The new Facebook timeline started March 30, and a lot of people have no idea what to do about it or how the new tools it offers can help them, said Chatburn. We can help them use it to tell the story of their business. Topics will also include managing your pages story fl ow, QR codes and how to network with experts in your industry.

Keynote presenter for the seminar will be Jason Smith, digital marketing consul-tant for Radiate Media of Utah. Along with Chatburn, Smith will explain why digital marketing is a critical supplement to tradi-tional print advertising.

Businesses need to be relevant on the World Wide Web, because thats where more and more people are doing their re-search before making a buying decision, said Chatburn.

Tickets for the Spring 2012 Digi-tal Impact Summit are $59 for either session. You can register online at www.thepress.net/registration, or at The Press offi ces, 248 Oak St. in Brentwood.

Summit helps businessmake Digital Impact

APRIL 13, 2012 COMMUNITY THEPRESS.NET | 7A

Advertisement

TENANT WARNINGIf you are looking to rent a home from

someone you dont know, you need to be very careful these days. Potential tenants need to be VERY careful and they need to research their landlord like never before. First, to make sure they wont be foreclosed on during their rental term. Not only do you have to move but you may lose your deposit. Second, that the landlord actually OWNS the property, that they arent some scammer who just took over some vacant property. Here are my tips for how to minimize your risk.

Meet the landlord in person at the property and ask them to bring their mortgage statement. Look at the payment amount. If it is substantially more than you will be paying in rent, thats a red flag. Next see if you can tell if its a fixed-rate loan or an ARM (it wont always tell you on the statement). If you cant tell, ask the landlord. Next, look at the next due and if its MORE than one payment, that means they are behind and thats a MAJOR red flag! Next ask them to pull out their drivers license and make sure it matches the name on the statement. If they cant or wont do any of the

above, think twice about renting it! Now, if you are dealing with a real estate agent or property manager you know and trust, and they tell you theyve verified all the above that will give you a higher level of confidence. But it still wouldnt hurt to have them search the County records for any foreclosure notices, or do it yourself! Leases signed after certain steps in the foreclosure process can be deemed invalid by the foreclosing lender.

Be especially careful of rentals on CraigsList, especially when the landlord says they got transferred out of the country suddenly and are renting the home for less than market rent, but you never meet them in person. Scammers would rather not use a property management company to list their home for lease because its one more person that might discover the fraud.

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

APRIL CHAMBER MIXER

APRIL 19, 2012

TIME: 5:30 TO 7:30 PM.

The Company You Keep

Mixers are a great way to network with your Fellow Chamber Members. Bring A Friend, Raffle Prize, receive a Free Drink Ticket. Dont forget your Business Cards.

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SATURDAY, APRIL 14, 8:30 A.M.-12:30 P.M.Earth Day-California Trails Day atRoundValley

On California Trails Day-April 14-REI is teaming up with East Bay Re-gional Park District (EBRPD) to restore the Hardy Canyon Trail at Round Valley Regional Preserve near Brentwood. Vol-unteer work will include repairing trail tread, con-structing drainage features and clearing overgrowth along the trail. No prior experience is necessary; EBRPD staff will provide tools, gloves and proj-ect supervision. REI will bring breakfast goodies and EBRPD will supply lunch. (Those desiring a vegetarian meal should e-mail krarey@rei.com.) All ages are welcome to participate; those under 18 must be accompanied by a supervising adult.Pre-registration is required. To reg-ister, visitwww.rei.com/brentwoodca.SUNDAY, APRIL 15, 9:30 A.M.-12:30 P.M.Friends of Marsh Creek Watershed Earth Day

Friends of Marsh Creek Watershed supervise a morning of community ser-vice projects in Brentwood or Oakley in honor of Earth Day. Participants are encouraged to bring family and friends to come out and help make the earth a better place. For more information or

to register, visit www.eventbrite.com/event/2447917788?ref=ebtn.SATURDAY, APRIL 21, 8:30 A.M.-11 A.M.Celebrate Earth Day & KeepAntiochBeautiful

Antioch provides an opportunity to join with family, friends and community volunteers to make a difference in your

hometown. Allied Waste has donated dumpsters, which will be located at selected schools through-out the city. Each location will be the distribution point for participants to receive instructions and pick up cleanup supplies. Following the event, vol-unteers will enjoy a free lunch at Contra Loma Reservoir Regional Park.

For more information or to register, vis-itwww.art4antioch.org/KAB-2012.asp.SATURDAY, APRIL 21, 8 A.M.-4 P.M.DiscoveryBayEarth Day 2012

The Town of Discovery Bay holds its inaugural Earth Day event at Slifer Park. The fi rst part of the day involves planting, trimming and cleaning up the community of Discovery Bay at various sites. From noon on, the event features a family festival including eco-friendly vendor booths, entertainment, a kids zone, food and fun for all. For information and to register, call925-634-1733or visitwww.todb.ca.gov.

Earth Day activities

8A | THEPRESS.NET COMMUNITY APRIL 13, 2012

Loan Guy Logic

www.LoanGuyLogic.Com

EVERY HOUSE IS A FIXERIf youre buying a home right now, I encourage you to call me to inquire about fi xing it up fi rst. If youre going to own, you might as well upgrade before moving in. How about new appliances, new doors, new windows, roof, a deck, fencing, new carpets, paints the list goes on. What most people arent aware of (Some Realtors too) is that a loan exists that lets you do all these improvements before you move in and do it with one great low fi xed rate mortgage. Now Thats Logical!

To learn more about this information visit my website, Click CONTACT and

email me a request for more details.

(925) 706-6703

By Paul Kelly The Loan Guy

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Local girls to compete in pageantFour East County residents will

compete at the Miss Teen San Francisco Pageant on April 29. The competition features modeling routines involving casual and formal wear and an onstage interview. Personality is the number-one criterion on which contestants are judged during all phases of competi-tion.

Anna Githua, Courtney Rundles and Jessica Subocz all from Brent-wood will compete for the local Miss Teen title. Githua, 16, is a junior at Her-itage High School. She enjoys reading,

drama, networking and soccer. Subocz, also a student at Heritage, aspires to at-tend the Culinary Institution of Amer-ica in New York and plans to become a pastry chef and eventually open her own bakery.

Ithemba Bell of Antioch will com-pete in the Miss Pre-Teen competition. The 12-year-old student at Orchard Park School is active in sports year-round and plays clarinet in the school band. Her dream is to become a NASA engineer.

The winner will advance to the na-

tional competition, held in Orlando, Fla., where more than $30,000 in prizes and awards will be up for grabs.

Community businesses, organiza-tions and private individuals are in-vited to assist the young ladies in their preparation for the San Francisco com-petition by becoming an offi cial spon-sor. Sponsorship helps them obtain the training, rehearsal and fi nancial sup-port essential to their success. Those in-terested in becoming a sponsor should call the Miss Teen San Francisco pag-eant coordinator at800-279-0976.

BELL GITHUA RUNDLES SUBOCZ

Resource center gives back to kids

Childhood is a critical time for learn-ing, and the Village Community Resource Center in Brentwood helps the community give kids in need an educational boost.

The volunteer organizations primary activity is an after-school tutoring program, through which 50 to 60 children in kinder-garten through eighth grade receive home-work help and learn how to do research on supervised computers. Since many of the students are learning English as a second language but arent completely comfort-able in their home language, either the Centers program emphasizes language skills.

Theyre caught between two worlds, said Board President Chris Calabrese. Its a challenge, but its also an opportunity. Events such as pajama reading nights en-courage not only a capacity for reading, but a love for it. Math nights, at which parents practice alongside their kids, are also popu-lar.

Life skills such as respect, responsibil-ity and leadership form the foundation that help kids fi nd a path to success. Previous students have grown up to become police offi cers, teachers, social workers, health care professionals, NASA employees and those who return to the Center as volunteers.

Anthony Murillo, board member and program director, was one of the fi rst 11 stu-dents to come to the Center when it opened in 1997. I remember walking through the door and being very scared, he said, but realizing I would be in a better position to give back. He sees the same trepidation in the eyes of newcomers today and works to dispel the discomfort and help the kids feel secure.

Thats the key: understanding its a safe haven. The volunteers who worked at the Center helped Murillo succeed, both educationally and personally. All the things we dreamed of as kids the center brought those back to fruition.

The Center is always seeking additional tutoring volunteers folks that are inter-ested in working with kids, said Calabrese. In this economy, a lot of people cant give back fi nancially, but they can defi nitely give back by volunteering. The Center also wel-comes volunteers to help with services such as translation assistance and a weekly food bank.

Another focus of the Center is health care. Medical professionals from John Muir hospital give of their time, providing a free mobile clinic on a weekly basis, and fl u shots once a year. We really appreciate what theyre doing, said Calabrese. Financial support comes through private donors and the East Bay Community Foundation, and the board members are grateful for the con-tinued donations. According to Calabrese, Theyre the reason were still here.

The volunteers who offer their time and resources to help improve the lives of the

families and children at the Center are mak-ing a huge difference. Its the small things people dont realize that often change lives, said Murillo. The biggest thing is having that attention someone who really cares and is willing to reach out.

Village Community Resource Center, lo-cated at 633 Village Drive in Brentwood, can be reached at 925-420-6781. For more infor-mation, visit www.vcrcbrentwoodca.org.

To comment, visit www.thepress.net.

APRIL 13, 2012 COMMUNITY THEPRESS.NET | 9A

Why pay for your checking account if you dont need to?

Free Checking thats still free!

I love Free Checking because I dont have a monthly fee and there are lots of freebies,

like ATMs, debit cards, Online Banking and TCUs Bill Pay service.

Monica, TCU member since 1991

NCUAYour savings are federally insured to at least $250,000 and backed by the full faith and credit of the United States Government. Everyone who lives, works, worships or attends school in Contra Costa or Alameda, part of our 12-county area, is eligible to join. Certain membership requirements may apply.

Just call, click or stop by today:

Call (800) 877-8328

Click www.traviscu.org

Stop by local TCU branches: 2721 Lone Tree Way, or 5819 Lone Tree Way

Students work on art projects at the Village Community Resource Center.

Photo courtesy of Village Community Resource Center

by Amy ClaireCorrespondent

10A | THEPRESS.NET ARTS APRIL 13, 2012

Applying for Social Security Disability Benefi tsNot as easy as it may seemby Joan Grimes, Esq.

Advertisement

In recent articles weve discussed how to determine if you are eligible for Social Security Disability benefi ts and what the SSA considers disabled. Now lets talk about actually applying for benefi ts. You may have heard that it is almost impossible to get a disability award from the Social Security Administration (SSA); it is diffi cult but not impossible. Lets take a look.

Hopefully you have been keeping good records about your condition and symptoms, and how they aff ect your daily life, and why your condition prevents you from working. If you havent been, start keeping track. You need to be specifi c and detailed about the impact on your mental and physical well-being.

You are going to need the support of your doctor. Not all doctors are familiar with what evidence the SSA needs to support a fi nding of being disabled. Many people are confused and think that their doctor can prescribe disability benefi ts. Unfortunately, this is not true. In most cases, the SSA will send your doctor one or more forms to complete on your behalf.

You will need to communicate to SSA how your impairment aff ected you on the job, the type of jobs youve had and specifi cally what your duties were. Your titles when working are not quite as important as the specifi c tasks that you performed.

SSA now allows you to apply for Disability Benefi ts in three ways, 1) In person; 2) by phone; or 3) online. When applying in person you dont need an appointment but it will cut down on the time you sit in the local fi eld

offi ce. You will be interviewed and someone will actually help you fi ll out the application. It will help to have as much documentation and information as possible with you. You dont need to have all possible details in hand; you will be able to submit additional evidence before the case is determined.

Applying by phone is a great option if you live far from a fi eld offi ce or if your condition prevents you from traveling. You will be interviewed and sent forms in the mail to complete and sign. Applying online allows you to complete the application at your own pace and there are phone numbers for SSA given on the website if you need help completing the online application.

I have given you the basics of applying for SSA disability benefi ts. You do not need an attorney to fi le your claim. If you think you have a right to SSDI benefi ts and want an attorney to help you, I do a FREE 30 minute consultation at my offi ces in Walnut Creek and Brentwood.My phone number is (925) 323-7772 Ext. 122. Or www.contracostadisabilitylawyer.com

Scan for information 2011 Joan Grimes

El Campanil Theatre602 W. Second Street Downtown Antioch

(925) 757-9500 www.ElCampanilTheatre.com

Quality EntertainmentClose To Home

3 Blonde Moms Saturday April 28, 2012 8:00 pm

Adults: $ 27 Seniors (62 & Over): $ 24 Child (17 and Under): $ 15

A Night of Soul & Tribute To Barry White

Lawrence BeamenAmerica's Got Talent Finalist

Saturday April 21, 2012 8:00 pm Adults: $ 27 Seniors (62 & Over): $ 24

Child (17 and Under): $ 15

The Byrds CollectiveA Tribute To The Byrds

Sat. April 14, 2012 8:00 pm Adults: $ 27 Seniors (62 & Over): $ 24

Child (17 and Under): $ 15

Happy birthday, J.S.The local organization Friends of

Music recently celebrated the 327th birthday of Johann Sebastian Bach at St. Ignatius of Antioch Church. Don Pear-son, director of music and artist in resi-dence, performed a selection of some of the most thrilling music ever composed for organ on the Rodgerss 958 Trillium Masterpiece three manual and pedal dipe/Digital organ.

A champagne and chocolate recep-tion followed the concert. After all, Jo-hann had a life worth raising a glass to. He was prolifi c beyond imagination, com-

posing more music than nearly any com-poser in history. His complete works oc-cupy 150 volumes each one as thick as your average telephone book.

Although its estimated that about one third of Bachs music is still lost, he is nevertheless the most recorded composer in history. His works have been adapted for everything from jazz choir to synthe-sizer, from banjo to bagpipes. Oddly, he faded into history after his death in 1750 and owes his popularity to Felix Mendels-sohns revival efforts some 100 years later.

Contributed by Walter Ruehlig

photography, sculpture, fabric, oil paints and ceramics. Most of the pieces at the gallery are available for sale.

Another event, Art Walk, is held once a month on the sidewalks surround-ing the Brentwood Farmers Market. Art-ists set up displays of their work for view-ing and purchase, and some work on new pieces on the spot. The events give artists another opportunity to share their cre-ations while adding additional festivity to the downtown area.

For the gallerys next show, Gaughan will feature Bill Weber, a painter nation-ally known for his murals. Gaughan plans to show many well-known artists at the gallery and hold events outdoors, such as painting at the park days for lo-

cal professional artists.Gaughan, himself an artist special-

izing in ceramics, is actively involved in the local community. He was previously president of the Brentwood Arts Society, is the executive producer of the Brent-wood Theater Company, and is also ac-tive in the Rotary Club and the Police Activities League. The creative arts are what keep us above the primitive, he said. The whole point of the gallery is to bring to the community a focal point for an elevated level of art.

The Gallery on Second, located at 741 Second St. in Brentwood, is open Wednesdays through Saturdays from noon to 5 p.m. For more information, call 925-516-2741.

To comment, visit www.thepress.net.

Gallery from page 5A

12A | THEPRESS.NET COMMUNITY APRIL 13, 2012

Summerset residents Denny and Mary Hagberg let their Brentwood Press stow away on a recent trip to Rio de Janeiro, where they visited one of the New 7 Wonders of the World: the statue of Christ the Redeemer. Thanks, Mary and Denny, for giving your Hometown Weekly Newspaper such a scenic benediction.

Seen in Rio

L inda and Becky Stadlbauer took their Hometown Weekly Newspaper on a 10-day jaunt to the city so nice, they named it twice. New York, New York made the optimal venue for the celebration of Beckys 21st birthday on New Years Eve, no less. Among the many sights mother and daughter took in was the Statue of Liberty, where they brandished their Brentwood Press. Even Linda, who works for the Brent-wood Parks and Rec-reation Department, conceded that the Big Apple has a slight edge in iconic nation-al monuments.

Seen in the Big Apple

14A | THEPRESS.NET COMMUNITY APRIL 13, 2012

Contra CostaLibrary Commission mem-bers recently wel-comed their newest mem-ber to the organization: Library Commissioner and Vice Chancellor of Educa-tion and Technology Mo-jdeh Mehdizadeh, third from left in the front row.

Welcome to the commissioner club

A call for cleanup volunteers

The Keep Antioch Beautiful Com-mittee is seeking volunteers for the 2012 Keep Antioch Beautiful volun-teer cleanup event. Last year several hundred volunteers turned out for the second annual event. A large amount of trash was collected and deposited in Allied Waste dumpsters stationed at schools and sites around the city.

The third annual event, chaired by former Antioch Councilmember Mar-tha Parsons, will be held Saturday, April 21 from 8:30-11 a.m. at Contra Loma Regional Park. A complimen-tary thank-you lunch will be served volunteers following the event.

The event is sponsored by the City of Antioch, Antioch Unified School District, Allied Waste,Genon,Honey-well,Walmart, Arts & Cultural Foun-dation of Antioch, East Bay Regional Park District, Rivertown Preservation Society, DIGITAL services, Pleasant Hill and Antioch Coin & Jewelry, Pin-kys Klassy Car Wash, Paradise Skate, Dick Straub (in memoriam), Staples, Fast Signs, Antioch Police Crime Commission, Delta Bowl, Central Self Storage, REI, Target, Jim Lanter State Farm, Kiwanis, and East County Military Families and Friends.

Groups, service clubs and others volunteering at the event include the Antioch and Deer Valley high school Key Club, Antioch Police Crime Pre-vention Commission, Antioch Rotary, Boys Scouts Troops of Antioch, Ki-wanis of the Delta, Operation Home-front, East County Military Families and Friends, Rivertown Preservation Society, Rotary Club of the Delta, Target Employees, and United Citi-zens for Better Neighborhoods.

To register for the event online, visit www.art4antioch.org. For more information, call 925-779-6137, op-tion 1. You can also follow the Keep Antioch Beautiful groups efforts on Facebook.

APRIL 13,2012 THEPRESS.NET | 15A

16A | THEPRESS.NET MILESTONES APRIL 13, 2012

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Come and sell your treasures.Come and sell your treasures.

For information callLion Carolyn Sherfy at 516-7798or email jsherfy@earthlink.net

Parking is available for all participants. The event will be well-publicized. Proceeds from space rental will bene t scholarships for graduating seniors from Brentwood high schools. Spaces will be assigned on a rst-come, rst-served basis.

The Brentwood Lions Club invites you to participate in a Flea Market!

When: Saturday, April 21st, 2012; 8am-1pmWhere: Parking lot in front of Liberty High School

14 x 14 exhibit space $30Spaces still available.

Come and sell your treasures.Come and sell your treasures.

Happy 21st birthday!We love you more than the moon and the stars, Marissa.Love, Dad, Mom, Maleah, Stanley and Little.

Ruth CoombsRuth Esther

Coombs (Brecht) was born in Culb-ertson, Neb. on Dec. 23, 1921 to George and Anna Marie (Walker) Brecht. She passed away on Saturday, March 31 at 4:30 p.m. at Sun-rise Guest Home in Elk Grove, Calif. with family members by her side.

Ruth was the youngest child of a fam-ily of fi ve boys six children total. She graduated from high school at the age of 16 in Herndon, Kan. as salutatorian of her class. She received a scholarship for Business School in Grand Island, Neb., where she met her beloved husband, Al-bert Roland (Rolly) Coombs. They were married in Kansas a year later on Nov. 17, 1939. Ruth and Rolly settled in Scottsbluff, Neb., where they lived for the next 20 years and raised their four children.

In 1959 the family moved to South-ern California, and after the children were on their own, Rolly and Ruth moved to Northern California, where they lived in Antioch and then Oakley.

Ruth will be remembered for her warmth and absolute dedication as a wife, mother, grandmother and dear friend to so many. Ruth is preceded in death by her husband of 63 years and is survived by their four children and spouses: JoDee and Jim Moore, Donald and Paula Coombs, Richard and Barbara Coombs and Mi-chael and Terry Coombs; 10 grandchil-dren and 13 great-grandchildren.

Her family is blessed with the memo-ries of her beauty, spunkiness, strength and the wisdom she bestowed. She will forever be loved and missed by all.

Bonnibel Adair LaneMay 28, 1917-March 16, 2012

Bonnibel Adair Lane passed away on March 16 following a short illness. She was 94.

Bonnie, as her friends knew her, was born in Dayton, Ohio to William and Mae Skinner. She came to California as a teenager with her mother and returned to Ohio, where she married and had her fi rst three children: June, Jack and Billy. She returned with her older children to Cali-fornia, where she went to work as a switch-board operator in Berkeley City Hall.

In 1956, while working there, she

earned her high school diploma and grad-uated alongside her oldest daughter, June. She was a member of the El Sobrante writ-ers club, the El Sobrante Riders and the California State Horsemens Association.

In 1962, she met her soulmate, Frank, on a blind date. They married six months later, moved to Concord and started a family. In 1967, they moved to Brent-wood, where she retired to be a stay-at-home mom. She was active in the Brent-wood Parents Club and was a member of East County Soroptimist. She took class-es at Los Medanos College and became a news correspondent for the Antioch Daily Ledger and the Delta News.

During summers when her children were teenagers, she worked as fi eld man-ager on the tomato fi elds. In later years, she became a member of the Victory Bap-tist Church in Brentwood and was a mem-ber of the VFW.

Bonnie was a wonderful person who made many friends. She loved to crochet lap blankets and give them to everyone. She also pursued her love of reading, which she acquired at an early age, and left a small library of books in her home.

She is survived by her children, Bon-nibel L. Lane and Franklin (Rick) Lane of Brentwood; brother, James Skinner of Sumter, S.C.; stepchildren, Dwight and Claretta Lane; six grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchil-dren; and many nieces and nephews.

She is preceded in death by husband Frank P. Lane; her parents, William and Mae Skinner; stepmother, Leah Skinner; sister, Jennie Margaret (Skinner) Baptiste; brothers, Frank Arnold and Rodger Skin-ner; children, June Greenhill, Jack DeLay and William Baughman; and stepson, Da-vid Lane.

In lieu of fl owers, the family requests that donations be made in Bonnies honor to Sutter Care Hospice, 4071 Port Chica-go Highway in Concord.

George Bell1921-2012

Longtime Dis-covery Bay resident George Bell passed away on March 5. He will be remem-bered by his family and friends for his kindness. A World War II veteran, George was husband to Blanch for 51 years. He was a member of the Discovery Bay Athletic Club for 32 years and owner of Bell Electric Co. in Lafayette for 40 years.

OBITUARIES

APRIL 13, 2012 COMMUNITY THEPRESS.NET | 17A

Niner legend inspires boys at Orin AllenAt age of 53, former San Francisco

49er Keena Turner looks like he can still stuff a running back on third-and-one. Though he spoke in a gentle and positive manner to the audience of 100 boys at the recent Orin Allen Youth Rehabilita-tion Facility event, it was clear that the boys, guards, teachers and administra-tors felt the intensity of the all-pro line-backers convictions.

Life is about chasing goals, and I know many of you have goals right now. Just remember: there will be challenges that act as roadblocks to you achiev-ing your positive goals, but you need to break through them. You are all at the beginning of your life journey, and that journey starts with you right now.

Turner was invited to deliver his in-spirational message by DeltaVistaHigh School teacher Allan Cacciaroni. Delta Vista is a Contra Costa County Offi ce of Education (CCCOE) institution that provides state-accredited education to the youth of the Orin Allen facility.

The boys really love hearing from these speakers, said Cacciaroni. They showed Mr. Turner lots of respect by lis-tening so intently. Other gridiron greats Cacciaroni has brought to Orin Allen in-clude Ronnie Lott, Eason Ramson and Bennie Blades.

Turner, a member of four Super Bowl teams in his 11 seasons with the Niners, brought two of his Super Bowl

rings for the boys to hold, try on and marvel at. Im very happy to have those rings and other accolades that my team and I accomplished, but Im more proud of the college degree I earned, said Turner.

Turner attended Purdue Univer-sity, where he majored in physical edu-cation. After my playing days, I went straight back to college and earned my B.S. degree in organizational behavior at theUniversityofSan Francisco.Let me tell you guys: I keep my Super Bowl rings in my sock drawer, but I have my college diploma hanging up on a wall in my house.

Turner spoke of his current life: father of three, an active volunteer for the Boys & Girls Club, and his job as vice president of football affairs with the49ers. He also described his life lead-ing up to his football career growing up inChicago, playing high school football and attendingPurdue.

Among the questions Turner fi elded from the boys: How much money did he make while playing? Who was the hard-est hitter on the team? Did he get into trouble as a young man? Who was the most diffi cult player to tackle? Did he do drugs? Was he related to Tina Turner?

In his closing remarks, Turner re-minded the boys to set and achieve their goals for a better life, and start their pos-itive journeys immediately.

Orin Allen Youth Rehabilitation teacher Allan Cacciaroni poses with San Francisco 49er great Keena Turner d uring the football stars recent visit to the boys facility.

Photo by Jonthan Lance

18A | THEPRESS.NET APRIL 13, 2012

A sampling of recent law enforcement activity reported by East County police de-partments.BRENTWOODMarch 23, 5:18 p.m. On Brentwood Boule-vard at Lone Tree Way, a subject stopped for vehicle code violations was found to be un-der the infl uence of a central nervous system stimulant. He was arrested and taken to the Martinez Detention Facility.March 23, 7:20 p.m. An unidentifi ed person siphoned gas from a vehicle parked on Lean-ing Oak Road.March 24, 2:19 p.m. An unidentifi ed person used the personal information of a resident of La Pergola Drive to fi le tax return in Florida.March 24, 6:20 p.m. A dog that was stolen on Sycamore Avenue was recovered and re-turned. One of the thieves was arrested and released on a Juvenile Affi davit. The other was arrested and released on a Promise To Appear.March 24, 7:35 p.m. On Brentwood Bou-levard at Delta Road, a subject stopped for a vehicle code violation who was found to have three outstanding warrants for his ar-rest resisted offi cers, was taken into custody and transported to the Martinez Detention Facility.March 24, 9:45 p.m. An unidentifi ed person stole a vehicle parked on Shady Willow Lane.March 25, 1:29 p.m. On Lone Tree Way, an unidentifi ed driver rear-ended another vehicle and fl ed the scene without exchanging infor-mation.March 25, 3:05 p.m. An unidentifi ed person stole the license plate of a vehicle parked on Remington Street.March 25, 6:03 p.m. On Lone Tree Way, an unidentifi ed driver sideswiped another vehicle and fl ed the scene without exchanging infor-mation.March 26, 12:45 a.m. On Sand Creek Road at Sand Drift Drive, a subject stopped for a vehicle code violation was found to be driv-ing under the infl uence of alcohol. He was arrested and taken to the Martinez Detention Facility.March 26, 11:30 a.m. A subject found tres-passing on the roof of a school on Minnesota Avenue was arrested and released on a Notice To Appear.March 26, 2:32 p.m. Two subjects contacted

on San Jose Avenue at Canyonwood Drive were found to be selling marijuana from their vehicle. They were arrested and released to their parents.March 26, 4:30 p.m. On Sand Creek Road, a subject playing with a can of body spray and a lighter accidentally set fi re to another subjects hair. No injuries were sustained.March 26, 5:48 p.m. A subject who exited a business on Brentwood Boulevard without paying for merchandise was apprehended in Byron, booked at the Brentwood Police De-partment and released on a Promise To Ap-pear.March 26, 10:51 p.m. An attempted traf-fi c stop for a mechanical violation on Lone Oak Road at Country Court resulted in a brief pursuit. The driver stopped the vehicle which was discovered to be stolen and fl ed on foot. He was apprehended and arrested, along with a passenger in the vehicle, and tak-en to the Martinez Detention Facility.March 26, 11:42 p.m. An unidentifi ed per-son entered a residence on Empire Avenue at Lone Tree Way through an unlocked rear door and was confronted by the resident. The intruder fl ed through an unlocked interior ga-rage door. An Oakley police K-9 tracked the subject with negative results.March 27, 2 a.m. On Central Boulevard at Second Street, a subject stopped for vehicle code violations was found to be under the in-fl uence of alcohol and drugs. He was arrested and taken to the Martinez Detention Facility.March 27, 2 a.m. A subject contacted on Cen-tral Boulevard at Second Street was found to have an outstanding warrant for his arrest. He was taken into custody and transported to the Martinez Detention Facility.March 27, 2:49 a.m. A resident of Minnesota Avenue heard an unidentifi ed subject cut the lock to a barn door. The subject fl ed the scene on foot.March 27, 1 p.m. A resident turned in ammu-nition for destruction at police headquarters.March 27, 2:59 p.m. An unidentifi ed person used another persons personal information to pass a fraudulent check at a business on Lone Tree Way.March 27, 4:45 p.m. At a business on Sand Creek Road, a subject who fought with loss-prevention personnel attempting to detain him for shoplifting was found to be on parole.

He was arrested and taken to the Martinez Detention Facility.March 27, 6:30 p.m. On Brentwood Bou-levard, a subject made a phone call to an-other subject in violation of a restraining order.March 27, 7:30 p.m. On Chestnut Street, a subject who pushed another subject during an argument was placed under citizens arrest, booked at police headquarters and released on a Promise To Appear.March 27, 8:30 p.m. On Sand Creek Road, an unidentifi ed subject stole another subjects phone and broke it.March 28, 10:37 p.m. An unidentifi ed person entered a residence on Valley Green Drive through unlocked rear slider and stole stereo loudspeakers and a portable video game sys-tem.March 28, 11:48 p.m. On Grant Street at Em-pire Road, a subject stopped for a vehicle code violation was found to be driving on a sus-pended license. He was arrested and released on Promise To Appear.March 29, 3:03 a.m. Subjects contacted after curfew in a park on Vancouver Way at Hol-sapple Way were cited and released to their parents.March 29, 9:30 a.m. A subject contacted on Marsh Creek Trail was found to be a reported runaway and was released to her fathers cus-tody.March 29, 5:15 a.m. A vehicle parked on Mondavi Lane at Campanello Way was towed for being abandoned in excess of 72 hours.March 29, 11:07 p.m. A subject contacted on Walnut Boulevard at Indiana Avenue was found to be under the infl uence of a con-trolled substance. He was arrested and taken to the Martinez Detention Facility.

To view the Brentwood Police Depart-ments public logs on the citys Web site, visit www.ci.brentwood.ca.us/department/pd/reports/index.cfm.ANTIOCHMarch 26, 1:03 a.m. An unidentifi ed person stole a TV from a residence on the 2200 block of Sycamore Drive.March 26, 1:52 a.m. Two unidentifi ed sub-jects stole cell phones and wallets from three subjects on the 100 block of H Street.March 26, 2:32 p.m. A resident of the 4900

block of Timberbrook Way arrived home to fi nd the back and side doors damaged and the residence ransacked.March 26, 3:52 p.m. A resident of the 3200 block of Barmouth Drive arrived home to fi nd the back door open and the TV missing.March 27, 9:19 p.m. An unidentifi ed person stole jewelry from a residence on the 2400 block of Sequoia Drive.March 29, 6:53 p.m. A subject was shot on Deer Valley Road and Lone Tree Way.March 29, 7:35 p.m. A subject was stabbed on the 2400 block of Horizon Lane.March 29, 7:51 p.m. An unidentifi ed person entered a residence on the 200 block of West Third Street through a window and stole a video game system and laptop computer.March 30, 7:17 p.m. An unidentifi ed person broke the back door of a residence on Win-ifred Court and stole fi rearms.March 31, 11:57 p.m. A subject was stabbed on the 400 block of G Street.April 1, 4:19 p.m. A resident of the 1700 block of Periwinkle Way arrived home to fi nd the residence ransacked.April 8, 1:23 a.m. Offi cers of the Antioch Police Department responded to reports of a serious traffi c accident on Deer Valley Road north of Lone Tree Way. Upon arrival, offi cers found the wreckage of a vehicle that had been traveling southbound, apparently at a high rate of speed. The driver, while negotiating a curve, had apparently spun before striking a tree. The vehicle was torn in half on impact; two passengers were ejected while another passenger and the driver were trapped inside. Fire personnel extracted the two trapped oc-cupants. The driver and one of the ejected passengers were transported by helicopters to area hospitals and listed in stable condition, having sustained injuries to the face and legs. The other two victims were transported by ambulance to area hospitals and were treated for minor injuries and complaint of pain. All parties involved are expected to survive. Al-cohol is suspected to have contributed to the collision, which is under investigation. Those with eyewitness or other information regard-ing the incident should call offi cer Martin at 925-779-6900, ext. 83343.

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

COP LOGSFROM EMERGENCY SERVICES DISPATCH LOGS On Sand Creek Road, a subject playing with a can of body spray and a lighter accidentally set fi re to another subjects hair. No injuries were sustained.March 26, 4:30 p.m. in Brentwood

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

of Contra Costa County.

No part of this publication may be reproduced for commerce or trade without written permission from the publisher.

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Main Office / Brentwood248 Oak St. Brentwood, CA 94513

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

Advertising 925-634-1441, ext. 115Classifieds 925-634-1441, ext. 142

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

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works.For those considering making the

move from automobile to bus, Park & Ride lots are the perfect place to start. Park & Ride lots operated by BART and served by Tri Delta Transit provide free parking and connections to several local and express bus routes, including Express Route 300 to BART.

BART remains a major destina-tion for East County commuters, so the challenge is a perfect way for com-muters to be introduced to both Park & Ride lots and our Express service to BART, said Furnary. Express Route 300, designed for busy professionals, provides the quickest path to BART. It

operates 33 trips every weekday starting as early as 4:10 a.m. so that nearly every work schedule can be accommodated.

An additional benefi t of taking the bus to BART is station-front drop off. This is a service that our customers tru-ly appreciate, especially during the cold and rainy season, said Furnary. All Tri Delta Transit buses drop passengers off at the entrance to the BART station, af-ter which they pull to their designated stall to pick up new passengers.

Express Route 300 operates be-tween the Brentwood Park & Ride and Pittsburg Bay Point BART, making only four stops along the way: in Brentwood, Oakley and the Antioch Park & Ride. From the Antioch Park & Ride, its a

non-stop trip to BART.To accept the Tri Delta Transit

Challenge to try the bus, complete a reg-istration form available online at www.trideltatransit.com/challenge or call the administrative offi ce at 925-754-6622 to get one mailed to you. Tickets for the program are limited and will be awarded on a fi rst-come, fi rst-served basis from all qualifi ed registrants. A limit of one participant per household applies and tickets provided are not valid on Dial a Ride or Delta Express. The deadline to register is May 4.

For more information on routes or to apply for a 2 for 1 bus pass, visit www.trideltatransit.com or call 925-754-6622.

Challenge from page 4A

Visit Your Hometown Website www.thepress.net THEPRESS.NET | 19A APRIL 13, 2012

Follow sports on Twitter! Scan QR code with your smart phone.

Lion brings worldly flair to tennis court

At its recent Spring Break Clinic, Black Diamond Kids Center hosted two special visitors: guest clinicians Lu Li, who won a gold medal on the uneven bars for China in the 1992 Barcelona Olympics; and Peter Doyle, mens national team member and former Cal Berkeley Womens assistant coach. The coaches spent several hours training Black Diamonds competitive gymnastics team on new skills. Li and Doyle also worked with Black Diamonds coaches on how to inspire and motivate students through positive reinforcement.

Going for the gold

Photo courtesy of Rachel Frazier

Wolverines start hot on diamond

Thanks to dominant pitching and clutch hitting, Deer Valleys baseball team is blazing out of the gates this season.

Allowing a mere 19 runs in their fi rst 10 games, the Wolverines were 9-1 as they headed into the Righetti Spring Classic in Santa Maria this week. Manager Den-nis Luquet credited the fi ne record to the quality of the Wolverines pitching.

Senior right-hander Ricky Delgado, who will attend Cal State Fullerton next year, has started the season 5-0 with a 0.55 earned run average. Hes also fanned 27 batters, walking 11. Known as a hard thrower, Delgado has been working more on location than velocity. The new ap-proach has worked.

Hes just trying to slow things down and have better control, Luquet said. He was too fast before, trying to throw too hard. Hes calmed down his windup and his mechanics.

Even when the ball isnt in Delgados hand, Deer Valley has earned success on the mound. As a team, the Wolverines boast a 0.74 ERA and a total of 71 strike-outs in their fi rst 10 games.

Senior Jacob Peters has been another pleasant surprise. Through his fi rst 19.1 innings, he hasnt allowed an earned run, and batters are hitting merely .090 against him. In fi ve appearances, hes chalked up one win and two saves. Junior Tyler Vistalli, the Wolverines third starting pitcher, is 3-1 with two saves and a 1.02 ERA.

While the bulk of the Wolverines scoring has come in two games a 20-1 win over Tennyson and a 10-0 victory over Ygnacio Valley in the teams other games, the margin of victory has been slim. We seem to score just enough runs to win, Luquet said. We make some key plays when we need them and we make a clutch hit when we need it, so it guess

by Justin LaffertyStaff Writer

see Wolverines page 20A

When Arne Schmidt quit playing ten-nis at the age of 12 in his home of Bremen, Germany, he thought he had given up the game he started playing at age 6.

Five years and 5,000 miles later, Schmidt is back on the court for the Lib-erty boys tennis team this season following his arrival in the United States in Septem-ber as part of a one-year foreign exchange program from Germany.

When I got here, I thought it is time for a comeback, time to give it another shot, said Schmidt, a junior. In Ger-many, we do not have high school sports teams. We go to school, do our school-work, and that is about it. We cant really develop any high school spirit, which is one of the reasons why I came here.

Schmidt started the season in the No. 4 singles spot for the Lions, but according to Liberty head coach Thurston Brice, he could soon take over the No. 2 slot.

Hes a competitor and doesnt like to lose, Brice said. We had a kid out here beating him half to death because he had something he had never seen before. We got together, learned how to combat it, and he came back to win the match. Im

by Kyle SzymanskiCorrespondent

see Court page 25ALiberty junior Arne Schmidt, a German exchange student, lunges for a ball during a match against Antioch.Photo by Luns Louie

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APRIL 13, 2012 SPORTS THEPRESS.NET | 21A

For more information please visit my website at TeamNelsonFunding.com, or email me at: NANelson@SummitFunding.Net

Nathan NelsonSr. Mortgage ConsultantPhone: 925-623-1019www.ReversePurchase.BIZNMLS/CA-DOC #247654

Your Retirement Simpli ed

YOUR BI-WEEKLY UPDATE FOR RETIREMENT PREPARATION

Nathans Mortgage Update

Equal Housing Opportunity Lender. Rates and programs subject to change. CA Department of Corporations-916-324-6624. Licensed by CA Dept of Corporations #6072526, CA Dept of Real Estate #10220358, NV Mortgage Lending Division #46, HI Dept of Commerce and Consumer Affairs #1369, MI Dept of Energy, Labor & Economic Growth #FL-0016888 /SR-0016896, OR Division of Finance & Corporate Securities #ML-4896, TX Department of Savings & Mortgage Lending #79566, VA Bureau of Financial Institutions # MC-5238 & MLB -1624, WA Department of Financial Institutions #520-CL-51866, NC Commissioner of Banks #L-148970. The MLS search function is a service of a third party vendor, is offered as a convenience service only, and should not be construed an endorsement of any particular Real Estate company. The accuracy of all information, regardless of source, is not guaranteed and should be personally veri ed through personal inspection by and/or with the appropriate professionals. All properties are subject to prior sale, change or withdrawal. Use of the MLS search is not to be construed as a commitment to lend.

Your Reverse Mortgage Reminders:1. The minimum age to apply for a Reverse Mortgage is 61 years 6 months. The transaction cannot fund until the seniors 62nd Birthday.2. Existing Mortgage Loans can be paid off. Owning your HomeFree and Clear is not necessary.3. Credit History, Income, Assets, and Health, are not necessaryin approving a Reverse Mortgage.4. No restrictions on how you use the proceeds of your Reverse Mortgage. 5. Chapter 13s can be paid off, Tax Liens settled, and Judgements can be all paid from the proceeds of a Reverse Mortgage. I do not want any Senior to lose their home and I may be able to help you avoid foreclosure!6. Can I purchase a home using a Reverse? YES!, Seniors, 62 and older, can tap into the equity from the sale of their previous home, or use other resources, to move into a new home with a single downpayment.

F.A.Q.s regarding H.A.R.P. Last article touched on the new enhancements to the Home Affordable Re nance Program, or H.A.R.P. I wanted to answer two of the most frequent questions that I have been getting:Im current on my mortgage. Will a re nance under the Home Affordable Re nance Program (HARP) help me? Eligible homeowners who are current on their mortgages but have been unable to take advantage of todays lower interest rates because their homes have decreased in value, may now have the opportunity to re nance. Through a re nance under HARP, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will allow the re nancing of mortgage loans that they own or that they guaranteed in mortgage backed securities.Why are you encouraging borrowers to shorten the terms of their mortgage?A shorter term mortgage enables such borrowers to pay down the amount they owe much faster than a traditional 30-year mortgage. Furthermore, interest rates on shorter term mortgages usually are less than on thirty-year mortgages. The lower interest rate may provide borrowers the opportunity to shorten the term of their mortgages without much change in their monthly payments, and perhaps even a reduction in that payment.

A Few Prequali ers: You must be current on your existing loan and not have had a late payment in the past 6 months. The existing loan must have been bought by FNMA no later than June 1st, 2009. The loan must be owned by FNMA or Freddie Mac (call me). And its worth mentioning that if its now a rental property, you arent necessarily disquali ed, and as of this month, the amount of equity you have in your home doesnt matter with the HARP Program. The rst step is for the borrower to learn if his or her mortgage is owned or guaranteed by Freddie Mac or Fannie Mae by calling Nathan at: 925-623-1019

141 Sand Creek Road Ste. C, Brentwood, CA 94513Libertys Alissa Hansen, a Discovery Bay resident, signs her letter of intent to Holy Names University in Oakland, with support from parents Elizebeth and Erik Hansen and head coach John Ambrose. Hansen, who earned athletic and academic scholarships, is one of the Bay Valley Athletic Leagues top distance runners. She chose Holy Names for its proximity to home and strong nursing program, which is offered in conjunction with Samuel Merritt College.

Running for Holy Names

Photo by Justin Lafferty

22A | THEPRESS.NET SPORTS APRIL 13, 2012

22 11112011

GOL

D MEDALAWARD

Heritage excels at Livermore Stampede

The fi rst major test for the Heritage High softball team came last weekend at the Livermore Stampede tournament.

While the Patriots didnt ace the exam, they did well enough to show they can be serious contenders in the North Coast Section. Heritage lost the fi rst game 2-0 to Amador Valley, but defeated Johansen, California and Cosumnes Oaks to round out the tournament.

The loss to the Dons was the fi rst of the year for the Patriots, who hold a 9-1 re-cord.

Some teams in our bracket were tough teams ranked teams, Heritage head coach Ron Rivers said. I thought that was going to be the best test for us to get us ready for league. We have a lot to improve on.

The Patriots started out facing defend-ing NCS champion Amador Valley, but the Dons pitching was too strong. Heritage managed two hits in the contest and ab-sorbed a tough 2-0 loss.

The Patriots took out their offen-sive frustrations on the Johansen Vikings. Heritage toppled Johansen 16-2 in a game shortened by the mercy rule. Three Patriots recorded a multi-hit game and junior fi rst baseman Ali Ramirez launched a home run.

Heritage proved it could win close games, taking a 1-0 contest with California in the next round. Senior pitcher Lisa Ro-drigues helped her own cause, driving home Ramirez in the sixth inning for the games lone run.

The Patriots won comfortably in the

tournaments fi nal contest, a 10-2 win over Cosumnes Oaks. Junior catcher Malia Riv-ers rapped out four hits and scored all four times she got on base. Ramirez also went 4-for-4 with 4 RBIs. Sophomore outfi elder Kaylee James batted in three runs.

We really have that jell right now, where the girls are cheering each other on, Rivers said. Its been a total team effort.

Heritage competes in this weekends Antioch HASA Tournament; then starts Bay Valley Athletic League play on April 17 at Pittsburg.

by Justin LaffertyStaff Writer

Nicole Diaz, an eighth-grader wrestler who competes for Del-ta Wrestling Club, brought home a rst-place trophy in the 145-pound bracket at the recent California Girls Middle School Wrestling Championships in Vallejo. Facing competition from Ukiah to Los Angeles, Diaz went 4-0 to nish her season 25-0.

Queen of the mat

Photo courtesy of Carlie Diaz East County Hot Shots 10U Ferreira fastpitch softball players took rstplace in their bracket at the recent Mardi Gras Madness Tourna-ment in Modesto. Overcoming harsh weather throughout the tourna-ment, the girls dominated play on Sunday, winning all three of their games and bringing home the trophy. In the front row, from left, are Arianna Burns-Moore, Ally Gordon, Samantha Ferreira, Tiana Glover, Payton Salter and McK-enna Marshall; back row: Jaylie Louengrath, Anna Ramirez, Erasmia Reynolds, Savanah Whatley and Haley Painter.

Hot Shots heat up ModestoPhoto courtesy of Bryan Ferreira

APRIL 13, 2012 SPORTS THEPRESS.NET | 23A

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2011 College Grads May be Claimed as Dependentswhether or not they want to be!

If your son or daughter graduated from college last year, you may have been wondering whether your child could or should be claimed as a dependent on your 2011 tax return. Although a large refund may be greatly appreciated by a recent grad living on an entry-level salary, you may feel that you need a tax deduction more than your offspring. Dont be surprised, however, if you arent able to benefit.

If your child was under 24 years-of age on December 31 and a student for 5 months, he or she may qualify as your dependent. A person who can be claimed as a dependent on another taxpayers return cant claim his or her own exemption, even if the other taxpayer doesnt claim the exemption.

Canny graduates often look for loopholes in the five-month requirement. Since many colleges host their graduation ceremonies in mid-May, they reason that five full months have not elapsed, so they can still claim their own exemption and get more of a refund.

Not so IRS considers a student who attended col-lege full-time from January 1 May 1 to have been a student for five months. But this doesnt mean Junior wont have to file a return. If his income in 2011 topped $5,800, he must file a tax return. If his unearned income exceeded $950, he will also need to file a return.

Unfortunately, due to the Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT), many parents dont benefit from the deduction even though the child cant take the exemption. While the

majority of Americans dont understand the AMT, the IRS describes it as a tax that attempts to ensure that anyone who benefits from certain tax advantages pays at least a minimum amount of tax. Although it was originally devel-oped to make sure the wealthy were paying their share, at todays income levels the AMT applies to a lot of middle income families. The AMT does not allow the standard deduction, personal exemptions, or certain itemized deduc-tions. President Obama has proposed abolishing the AMT in favor of the Buffett Rule, which would require people making more than $1 million a year to pay at least 30 per-cent in taxes. However, no one thinks the AMT is going away anytime soon.

Should you have questions about this or any other tax matter feel free to contact our office. www.jettax.org, info@www.jettax.org, or call (925)778-0281. One of our enrolled agents will be happy to assist you.

What is an EA? Enrolled agents (EAs) are Americas tax experts. They are the only federally-licensed tax prac-titioners who specialize in taxation and also have unlim-ited rights to represent taxpayers before the IRS. While attorneys and certified public accountants are also licensed, only enrolled agents specialize exclusively in taxes. Enrolled agents are required to complete many hours of continuing education each year to ensure they are up-to-date on the constantly changing tax code and must abide by a code of ethics.

Cherrys Tax Facts... By Cherry Comstock

Titans excel in desertThe NorCal Titans 12U Blue base-

ball team made an impressive run in Arizona, amassing a 5-1 record and cap-turing second place at the Triple Crown Championships. The Titans opened with wins over the AABC Crusaders (10-2), the SoCal Storm (6-5) and the Arizona Grinders (10-6) to go 3-0 in pool play.

Milan Mijanovic was intimidating on the mound, throwing three innings of no-hit ball to set the tone against the Crusad-ers. Walker Brinkman and Conner Capps paced the offense with two hits apiece and combined for fi ve RBIs.

In the Storm game, a 10-inning title fi ght, Trevor Wilsons three hits com-plementing three sterling innings on the mound were a key in this big win. Jim-my Kabrichs four innings of work on the mound and game-winning hit ended the fi rst night of pool play for the Titans at 2-0.

Anthony Beckstead pitched four in-nings to get the win over the Arizona Grinders. Dior Walker and Keith Hale both were spectacular offensively and de-fensively to send the Titans to the No. 3

seed entering championship play.Starting championship play, the Ti-

tans took on the Las Vegas Extreme. Philip Apodacas three hits, including two doubles and one triple, and Trevor Wil-sons three-inning, fi ve-strikeout perfor-mance were enough to send the Titans to the semifi nals against the SoCal SKLZ.

The combined pitching of Walker Brinkman, Milan Mijanovic and Jimmy Kabrich kept the SKLZ offense at bay in the 3-1 victory. Logan Huntzes work be-hind the plate was outstanding as usual. Huntze, who caught fi ve of the Titans six total games, made a huge defensive play in the semifi nal game when he took a ball off the backstop and sprinted to the plate to tag out what would have been the SKLZs lead run.

Jordan Gartner sparked the offense for the Titans in the championship game with two hits and spectacular glove work at fi rst base, but the Dirt Dawgs offense proved too much for the Titans, who surrendered six runs in the second inning and earned a second-place fi nish with a score of 10-6.

Contributed by Scott Kabrich

Photo courtesy of Scott Kabrich

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Buying Show Comes to TownBY DAVID FEHERSTAFF WRITER

Youve probably noticed more and more signs saying, We Buy Gold around town. With the high price of gold at over $1,600 per ounce, a lot of businesses have started buying gold and silver. If you have gold, where do you sell to get the best price? Well, this week you can cut out the middle man and sell your gold where those We Buy Gold businesses sell theirs.

This week, the Ohio Valley Gold & Silver Refinery (yes, I said refinery) will host an event allowing the public to sell di-rectly to them. This is the place all gold and silver ends upat a refinery. The precious metals are then melted and the impuri-ties are removed. Gold and silver bars are formed and then sold to industrial businesses, jewelry

manufacturers, investment hous-es, countries and the like. Dur-ing this event, the general public will be allowed to sell their gold and silver directly to the refin-ery. This means more money in your pocket. The spokesperson for the refinery said that they will be purchasing all types of gold jewelryboth white and yellow. They will also be buying

dental gold, gold bullion, goldcoins and all other items made ofgold. 10k, 12k, 14k, 18k and 22kjewelry is wanted in any condi-tion. Silver jewelry, silver coinsand silver bars, silver rounds andsilver bullion will also be pur-chased during this event. Otheritems they are interested in arethings marked Sterling and .925.

WE WANT TO DO BUSINESS WITH YOU!WE WILL TREAT YOU FAIRLY AND HONESTLY

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Trevors Weekly Mortgage MattersBy Trevor Frey

Annual Percentage Rate

Advertisement

Th e annual percentage rate, or APR, for either a fi rst time home buyer, or an individual looking for their next home, is truly one of the most useful tools setup in their favor its purpose was to allow consumers to shop for credit by comparing the fi ne print, according to an article in United States Banker. Th e annual percentage rate is important as it allows consumers to compare apples to apples, or even apples to oranges if, of course, we consider apples to equal fi xed rate loans, and oranges to represent adjustable rate mortgages, or ARMS. It is essential when comparing loans/interest rates and should not be overlooked.

As part of Th e Federal Truth in Lending Act of 1968, the annual percentage rate is calculated much diff erently than the actual note rate and can always be found on your Truth in Lending disclosure. While the note rate simply represents the yearly rate at which your lender will collect interest for permitting you to borrow money for a specifi c length of time, your APR represents the total cost of credit on a yearly basis aft er all charges points, appraisal, credit report, processing, and document fees etc. are taken into consideration. It is typically higher than your actual interest rate because it includes these additional items and assumes you will keep the loan for the full term.

Lets look at how APRs are calculated. For our illustration we will assume a note rate of 5.50% on a fi xed rate loan. On a 30

year term, and a loan amount of $150,000, the monthly payments would be $851.68. In order to calculate the APR for this loan we would fi rst subtract out the fees: $1500 (one point), $425 for the appraisal, $500 for processing and $16.50 for a credit report.

$150,000 minus $2441.50 equals $147,558.50. Th is new fi gure of $147,558.50 would refl ect on our Truth in Lending disclosure as the amount being fi nanced, when in fact we are borrowing $150,000here is where APR comes into eff ect.

We take the new fi gure of $147,558.50 and use it as our present value/loan amount to determine the true cost of the loan. By working the equation backwards until we receive the same $851.68 monthly payment as if the loan amount were still $150,000, we come up with our annual percentage rate. In this case, our APR is 5.65%, the true cost of borrowing the amount of the loan being applied to the actual purchase, aft er paying all the fees.

Remember, although the note rate is what you calculate your monthly payment off of, and is the fi gure youll compare with your neighbors at the dinner table, the APR is the fi gure you should be most interested in. It is the only way to truly compare the cost of one loan versus another, and was put in place to protect you. As always, I welcome all questions and or concerns pertaining to real estate lending on my cell phone, 925-726-1444, or via email, tfreymortgages@yahoo.com.

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and started some wonderful projects, Marchetti said. I didnt do it alone. Throughout the years, Ive had a lot of help.

Shirley Marchetti, sister-in-law of football star Gino, founded the Reach Project on April 1, 1970 with Antioch Police Sgt. Leon LeRoy. She felt the need to do something in response to the offer of drugs to her son, a junior high student at the time. When the Antioch City Council ap-pointed her to a committee to curb youth drug use, Mar-chetti and LeRoy started Reach.

She fi gured shed just help it get started and work on it for about a month. Forty-two years later, Marchetti is still involved, serving as the programs assistant director. In 2004, she handed over the executive directorship to her son, Mickey.

The Reach Project helps about 2,000 people annu-ally not all of whom are kids. The program augments its youth services by offering classes and help for parents who are struggling to communicate with their children. In Brentwood, Reach also offers support to grandparents raising kids. The program provides services for alcohol and drug abuse treatment, tailored to kids, families and adults.

Oakley Police Offi cer Lance Morrison, who handles juvenile cases, considers Reach a valuable crime-fi ghting asset. If we feel like theyre going to stick to that com-mitment and theyre going to obey the law and abstain from drugs, then well give them a shot, Morrison said.

Its amazing how many kids complete the program. It becomes kind of a safe haven to talk about lifes prob-lems.

One of the major programs offered by Reach is the Juvenile Diversion Program, where Reach partners with local police departments to help young people arrested on drug or alcohol charges. For many, its their last hope before a trip to juvenile hall or the Byron Boys Ranch.

Reach also accepts referrals from parents worried that their child might be heading down the wrong path.

One young man who battled drug problems was ad-mitted to the program for a few months, quit, but then returned earlier this year for a second chance. Since hes returned to Reach, hes doing better in school and hasnt touched drugs. After he fi nishes high school, hes hoping to go to fi lm school.

Since I havent been using, my whole attitude has changed, he said. Ive got faith Im going to complete it. I appreciate (Reach) a lot. Its helping me stay out of trouble.

Marchetti estimated that roughly 90 percent of those who enter the program change for the better. She truly loves the young people who come through Reach and it warms her heart when they fi nally learn how to make bet-ter decisions, even if its a rough process.

I like these kids somebody has to like them, Mar-chetti said. You have to like people enough to hold them accountable. Sometimes thats hard.

To comment, visit www.thepress.net.

Honored from page 1Athe Delta counties which stand to be most affected a seat at the bargaining table.

They want fresh water at the highest source in the Delta and they want it now, said Piepho. There is no protection; it is simply a water grab and we are going to be looked at to pay for it.

The BDCP plan involves the construction of fi ve intake locations, twin water diversion tunnels under the Delta stretching 37 miles from Clarksburg (near Elk Grove) to Clifton Court Forebay, with two large storage water facilities at either end.

These are the risks we are facing, said Piepho. The bucolic, colorful, quiet and serene Delta, again with fi ve (intake pumps) each about the size of an NFL fi eld picture what that is going to look like.

And yet, said Piepho, there is plenty that can be done to halt the process, and much of it begins with the public: Were working hard and your input is very much valued. Our coalition is strong and were working hard but we need it to continue to grow Its an ongoing battle, a decades-old battle.

They say it takes a village. Well, were all part of that village and we need to work on that together.

The public is welcome to attend a strategic plan-ning meeting of the Delta Conservancy on Saturday, April 14 from 10 a.m. to noon at the City Council chambers in Oakley.

To comment, visit www.thepress.net.

Piepho from page 1A

Cops crack down on distracted driversHow often do you see drivers tex-

ting or talking on hand-held cellphones and wish theyd be stopped and cited? April is Californias second annual Dis-tracted Driving Awareness Month, and once again drivers will fi nd law enforce-ment agencies in Contra Costa County joining in a statewide zero-tolerance enforcement effort to curb illegal cell phone use and texting violations. A ticket for violating either the hands-free or no-texting law costs a minimum or $159, and subsequent citations cost $279.

Distracted driving puts everyone on the road at risk. It joins speeding and alcohol as leading factors in fatal and serious-injury crashes. As a result, law enforcement across the state, including the Brentwood Police Department, is in-creasingly cracking down on cell phone use and texting. This month, the Brent-wood PD joins hundreds of police and sheriff departments, plus the California

Highway Patrol, in operations targeting distracted driving.

Our offi cers take distracted driving very seriously, said Brentwood Police Chief Mark Evenson. If you havent heeded all the safety messaging to put down your phone and just drive, be forewarned. Is that text message or cell phone call worth the costly citation?

Drivers who use hand-held de-vices are four times as likely to get into crashes involving serious injury. Drivers under 20 comprise the highest propor-tion of distraction-related fatal crashes. Studies show that texting while driving

can delay a drivers reaction time as se-verely as the blood-alcohol content of a legally drunk driver.

Changing the dangerous, illegal habit of using hand-held cell phones or texting while driving isnt easy, said Christopher J. Murphy, director of the Offi ce of Traffi c Safety. But recent studies show that Californias call and texting laws have made a big difference cutting deaths by nearly half. But half is not enough.

Studies show that there is no differ-ence in the risk quotient between hands-free and hand-held cell phone conver-

sations. Both can result in inattention blindness, which occurs when the brain isnt seeing what is clearly visible due to the drivers focus on the phone conver-sation and not on the road.

The following are simple measures you can take to minimize distraction in the vehicle: Turn your cell phone off or put it out of reach before starting the car. Create a voicemail message alerting callers that youre unable to take calls when driving. Do not call or text anyone who might be driving, such as during the commute to and from work or school. If you need to make an important call or respond to a text message, pull over to a safe place to do so. If going cold turkey is too much of a stretch and you just cant turn your phone off, consider using one of the available mobile phone apps that hold calls and incoming texts.

If you havent heeded all the safety messaging to put down your phone and just drive, be forewarned. Is that text message or cell phone call worth the costly citation?

Brentwood Police Chief Mark Evenson

Contra Costa County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Joseph A. Ovick has named 14 appointees to boards that oversee agen-cies operating the dissolved redevelopment agencies (RDA) in Contra Costa County.

The California Supreme Court issued a ruling last December effectively shutting down redevelopment agencies as of Feb. 1. Starting May 1, each RDA will be oper-ated by a successor agency board to man-age property tax revenues, debt retirement and asset disposal. Each successor agency will be governed by a seven-member over-sight board. The countysuperintendentof schools appoints one member to each over-sight board to represent schools.

Members of the countys 17 redevelop-

ment agency oversight boards serve at the pleasure of the entity that appointed them and receive no compensation or reimburse-ment of expenses. An individual may serve on up to fi ve separate oversight boards at any one time and may hold an offi ce in a school or community college district.

The appointees to the 17 RDA Over-sight Boards inContraCostaCountyare:ANTIOCH: Tim Forrester associate su-perintendent, business services and opera-tions, AntiochUnifi edSchool District.BRENTWOOD, OAKLEY: Eric Volta su-perintendent, Liberty Union High School District.PITTSBURG: Enrique Palacios associate superintendent, business services,Pittsburg

Unifi edSchool District.CLAYTON: Jan Shamieh controller, busi-ness operations,ContraCostaCountyOf-fi ce of Education.CONCORD: Bryan Richards chief fi -nancial offi cer, Mt. Diablo Unifi edSchool District.CONTRA COSTA COUNTY: Bill Clark associate superintendent, business servic-es,ContraCostaCounty Offi ce of Educa-tion.DANVILLE, SAN RAMON: GaryBlack associate superintendent, business, San Ramon Unifi edSchool District.EL CERRITO: Sandi Potter FormerEl CerritoCityCouncil member.PINOLE: NormaMartinez-Rubin own-

er, Evaluation Focused Consulting.LAFAYETTE: Chris Learned, asso-ciate superintendent, business servic-es,AcalanesUnion HighSchool District.RICHMOND, HERCULES: Sheri Gamba associate superintendent, business ser-vices, West Contra Costa Unifi ed School District.PLEASANT HILL: Dr. Joseph A. Ovick ContraCostaCountysuperintendent of schools.SAN PABLO: Bill Fay associate super-intendent, operations, West Contra Costa Unifi ed School District.WALNUT CREEK: Dr. Kevin Collins chief business offi cial,Walnut CreekSchool District.

Board members chosen for RDA successor agencies

APRIL 13, 2012 THEPRESS.NET | 27A

AAMM SSCC PP

THE PRESS APRIL 13, 2012

Photo by Angelo Garcia, Jr.

Building summer memories

In the land of Legos, anything is possible. With the right bricks, a Lego engineer can build a house, a car, the Eiffel Tower, Hogwarts or the Death Star. At Bricks 4 Kidz in Brentwood, there are no limits to the imagination. The only

requirement is that you have fun.

S A M I E H A R T L E Y

see Building page 7B

APRIL 13, 2012 KIDS CAMPS THEPRESS.NET | 3B

Six Great Themes & Endless Summer Fun!Age specifi c, kid-approved camps add up to a summer of discovery and fun for preschool to school-age children.

Wild About Water Might Bodies, Bendy Brain The Wondrous World of Food Featured Creatures Awesome Art Gravity Galore & More!

Mention this ad and ask for our Happy Campers Special.

Visit a location near you!

Antioch 754-3137 4308 Folsom Drive 754-1236 4108 Lone Tree Way 778-8888 2300 Mahogany Way

Brentwood 513-4118 2321 Eagle Ave.

When Schools Out, Were The Best Place To Be!

www.kindercare.com/summer LEARNINGLEARNING CENTERS CENTERS

When asked what she likes most about her job as owner and manager of Orchard Creek Ranch, Erin Mathias doesnt need long to come up with her answer: Everything!

But if Mathias absolutely must choose her favorite part about working at a horse ranch, It would be working with the kids, she said. I love watching them grow as riders as they learn new skills, but I also love watching them grow as individuals as they gain con dence in their abilities. They develop communications skills, and their demonstration of responsibility is phenomenal. Im continually impressed. These kids become like family.

Mathias has been sharing her love of horses with East County residents since she opened her ranch in 2004, marshal-ing years of experience to train riders and horses alike. In her career, she has won more than 35 championships, hi-point and all-aroundtitles.

While Mathias trains with show teams and prepares young riders to present their horses at shows and exhibitions, she also works with novice riders. Orchard Creek Ranch offers beginners lessons year-round for children interested in learning more about horses and horse riding.

Some kids just want to learn for fun to ride recreation-ally, but some kids want to take it to the next level and take a horse to shows, Mathias said. We can customize lessons to

whatever your goals are. A lot of kids start out just wanting to learn how to ride, but after a few lessons, theyve got the bug and they want to join a show team.

Mathias is quick to