YOUR HOMETOWN WEEKLY NEWSPAPER
Vol. 18, No. 49
READ THE DAILY NEWS AT WWW.THEPRESS.NET!
Coves set to open in spring
Lighting up the season
T
he City of Oakley and its residents celebrated the season with its annual tree lighting, Dec. 1. The popular event featured refreshments, music, games and a visit from the jolly old elf himself. “We had another outstanding family-friendly event,” said Oakley Mayor Randy Pope. “People of all ages, including Santa Claus came together to enjoy that cheerful and festive feeling that these events provide.” To view a video of the event, visit www.thepress. net/multimedia
by Aly Brown Staff Writer
A new housing development in Bethel Island is ramping up for a grand opening this spring, and officials boast it as a last-of-its-kind Delta-centric development. Located on Bethel Island, the Delta Coves community will feature 560 waterfront homes – each with its own boat dock – and an Island Camp, a 4,500-squarefoot clubhouse with a fitness center, swimming pool and event center. When it comes to homes surrounded by water, East County locals often think of nearby Discovery Bay, but Nick Taratsas, DMB Development executive vice president
Photo by Greg Robinson
see Coves page 30
Responding to school threats by Tony Kukulich Staff Writer
Early this year, 19-year-old Tristan Amir Curl made a series of threats against students and staff at Freedom High, and while he was arrested without incident, the potential for violence underscored the need for training and preparation to deal with active-shooter or intruder circumstances on school grounds. At the same time, the Brentwood Police Department (BPD) was working with the Liberty Union High School District and the Brentwood Union School District to implement a program called ALICE (Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, Evacuate) intended to teach school personnel the latest strategies for responding to a deadly threat on campus.
SAVE NOW
“ ALICE is option-based. In the past, teachers have been taught basically one thing and that’s lockdown – turn off the lights, shut the door, lock the door and, sometimes, get under a desk. We need to do more things with how we’re training our teachers to react.
”
Brentwood Police Officer Mitch Brouillette “ALICE is option-based,” explained BPD Officer Mitch Brouillette. “In the past, teachers have been taught basically one thing and that’s lockdown – turn off the lights, shut the door, lock the door and, sometimes, get under a desk. We need to do more things with how we’re training our teachers to react.”
Brouillette, a school resource officer (SRO) at Heritage High School, said that on his first day as an SRO he began planning how he would respond to a threat on campus. However, he soon realized that the school staff did not know how to face a threat, and he made it his responsibility to find a way to get
Service • Repair • Installation
Contractor’s Lic. #533790 C-20
925-625-4963 • www.fairviewair.com
see Threats page 30
Season’s Favs
10% OFF Any Service
FAIRVIEW HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING, INC.
the teachers trained. “Statistically they’ll say seven out of 10 people killed in a school shooting die from a head shot,” said Brouillette. “You talk about these people who do these incidents and how they have no formalized training other than online training – they play these video games. But they’re able to go in and kill seven out of 10 people with a head shot on a school campus, and that’s because all we’ve been trained to do is get down behind a desk.” Greg Crane developed the ALICE training program and is the founder of the ALICE Training Institute. A former police officer and SWAT team member, the school shooting at Columbine High School in 1999 convinced him that a
www.thepress.net/news/webextras www.ebparks.org/activities/rin/default.htm
Activity Guide INSIDE
Check out this year’s candy map to see each state’s favorite holiday treat.
December 7, 2018
Heading To Disney World
One local little girl got the gift of a lifetime thanks to the Make-AWish Foundation. Page 5
Documenting City’s Growth
Liberty High art students depict Brentwood’s growth and change with new mural project. Page 4
Taking It To The Finals
Freedom defeats Cal High to advance to third straight NCS championship game. Page 21 Calendar................................31 Classifieds.............................26 Cop Logs................................29 Education ..............................6 Entertainment.....................13 Food........................................12 Health & Beauty..................16 Milestones............................14 Pets...........................................8 Sports.....................................21
Rail Conflict
www.thepress.net/news/press_releases
Assemblymember Jim Frazier releases statement on High Speed Rail Authority.