YOUR HOMETOWN WEEKLY NEWSPAPER ward Winning News al A pa
Vol. 10, No. 52
Including Surrounding Communities
www.brentwoodpress.com
Caring expands as economy shrinks You can’t turn on your radio or TV these days without getting a full dose of bad news: the economy is tanking, and stores and restaurants are virtually empty as people hunker down to endure the tough times. The news, though, ON isn’t all bad, at least EADLINE not in far East County. A pair of community efforts, one old and one new, shone brightly last weekend, penetrating the gloom like the Christmas star two millennia ago. I’ve been fortunate enough to serve on the RICK board of directors for LEMYRE the Brentwood Regional Community Chest for five years now. The BRCC, founded by Rose Pierce, has been distributing food and toys to local families in need at Christmastime for three decades. Although there has always been tremendous public participation in the program that supports 500 families every year, we expected all the hunkering down would mean 2008 would be a lean year. I was even more concerned about a new program, based on the BRCC model and
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December 26, 2008
THIS WEEK
The merging of mascots
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A bagel shop provided the materials and the wall, and students supplied the creativity.
Page 5A Photo by Richard Wisdom
Olivia Scarborough, 4, hands a can of vegetables to Lisa Mitchener as Olivia’s grandmother, Magco Olson, works nearby. The three were among the hundreds of volunteers who helped with the BRCC Christmas Basket program last weekend. launched by Jim Frazier and the Friends of Oakley, who courageously set out to help 125 more local families for the first time. And sure enough, things started off pretty slow. Cash donations dropped significantly, and donation barrels placed in local
businesses filled slowly, now competing with barrels belonging to numerous other groups placed right alongside. I needn’t have worried so much. As last see Caring page 18A
Legendary high-tech wizard logs out by Dave Roberts Staff Writer Dennis Buckley, who worked as a teacher and hightech guru for the Liberty Union High School District long enough to see the children of the students he first taught walking the halls of district high schools, was honored recently upon his retirement. “This is one of those bittersweet moments where we thank and congratulate but also say goodbye to a very valued employee,” said District Superintendent Dan Smith at the Dec. 10 board meeting. “After 38-plus years of service to the Liberty Union High School District, Dennis has decided that it’s time to go on to the next phase in his life.” After earning a bachelor’s degree in physics and teaching credential from Chico State, Buckley was hired in 1970 to teach chemistry and physics at Liberty High. In 1984, he was
Photo by Dave Roberts
Dennis Buckley receives tokens of appreciation from Liberty Union High School District Board President Joanne Byer upon his retirement after 38½ years. honored as teacher of the year both for the district and the county. In addition to teaching for about 21 years, he served as the technical director for the performing arts center for 20 years and director of activities
at Liberty High School. Beginning in the early 1990s, Buckley became the technology expert for the district, launching its network system in 1992. “As a result, Dennis knows not only every piece of technology in the district but where every
technology line and hidden computer is,” said Smith. Buckley joked, “And where the skeletons are buried.” Buckley was also instrumental in designing the technology systems at Freedom and Heritage high schools. “Those two schools are models of technology use,” said Smith. “And the network system we have in the district is one of the best-functioning networks around. And that’s due to Dennis’ great work and continual monitoring and guidance. There are many, many weekends where Dennis has given of his own time working in here and making sure the network is up and running. “We certainly owe him a great debt of gratitude and thanks for the many, many years of service to the students, the staff and the entire district. Dennis is the type of person you never really replace. His personal skills and dedication to see Wizard page 18A
State to raid school coffers Local educators are bracing for tidings of no comfort or joy from Sacramento.
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Martial munificence
In addition to raising opponents off the mat, jiu-jitsu mavens recently raised money to fight pancreatic cancer.
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INSIDE Calendar ..........................19B Classifieds ........................14B Education ..........................8A Entertainment ................10B Health & Beauty ............... 8B Milestones ......................... 7B Opinion ...........................15A Sports ................................. 1B
FOR MOVIE TIMES SEE PAGE 5A