Your Hometown Web Site www.thepress.net
ward Winning News al A pa
YOUR HOMETOWN WEEKLY NEWSPAPER
Vol. 8, No. 11
P-6 committee ready to advise by Ruth Roberts Staff Writer It took nearly a year, a request from the Board of Supervisors (BoS), and County Administrator David Twa to finally make it happen, but Monday night the residents of Discovery Bay convened their first meeting of the P-6 Zone Advisory Committee (DB-PZAC). Held at the town offices and guided by Twa, the committee – comprised of one member from each of the five P-6 districts – elected its officers, discussed staffing and began identifying the committee’s functions as they pertain to enhanced police services and the allocation of P-6 dollars. The formation of the group came at the request of Discovery Bay West P-6 contributors, whose approximately $500,000 in P-6 tax-
es funded the town’s two new resident deputies and crime prevention specialist. Bob Mankin (Lakeshore) was elected chairman, Diane Stevens (The Lakes) vice chair, and Felipe Alfsen (Ravenswood) secretary/ treasurer. Remaining committee members include Richard Kane (Edgewater) and Danica Earl (Centex). “I just want to thank the county for getting us all here and making it all happen,” said Mankin, a longtime proponent and organizer of the P-6 committee. “It’s been a long process.” In attendance at the meeting, which was open to the public, were Supervisor Mary Piepho, Twa, Acting Chief Clerk Julie Enea and local residents. Notably ab-
Two to tango
Spring Forward March 14
Pancakes with the pol Photo by Ger Erickson
ur Moon is more than an object of awe and wonder; she’s an indispensable partner in Earth’s dance through the cosmos. For musings on our lunar consort – facts and fantasies – see page 6A.
O
see Committee page 18A
by Samie Hartley Staff Writer
Online Now!
Photo courtesy of Rick Rogers
Iron House Elementary School teacher and 2009 Oakley Union Elementary School District Teacher of the Year Lisa Brizendine, seen here with board member Gloria Lott and Superintendent Rick Rogers, received a pink slip as part of statewide budget cuts to education. ing $17 million in funding. Now, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has proposed another $2.5 billion in cuts, and public education in K-12 will be hit the hardest. Funding per
www.thepress.net Your Hometown Web Site
March 12, 2010
This Week Daylight Saving Time Begins
Demonstrators send SOS to Sacramento Some held rallies in the morning. Others waited until the afternoon. But the message was still the same: S.O.S. – Save Our Schools. Teachers, parents, students, school board members and administrators and staff throughout the state united in the “save our schools” chant during the Stand Up For Schools demonstration last Thursday. Although national coverage of the event focused on the rallies on college campuses, East County students of all grade levels, from kindergarteners to high school seniors, joined in the action, dressing in pink, waving posters and doing whatever they could to let people know that public education in California is in crisis. In the past two years, California education has taken a hit, los-
rs
Na t
pe
ion
student is expected to drop from the 2007-08 school year mark of $8,364 per pupil to $7,417 for the 2010-11 school year – an 11.3-percent reduction.
Gobbler gaggle go to news/WebExtras! Heads turned as a train of turkeys made tracks across a local park.
“It’s ridiculous,” said Oakley Union School District Superintendent Rick Rogers. “Those bozos in Sacramento have really messed things up, and they need to find a better solution to deal with the statewide budget issues. Education should be priority number one, and they need to look somewhere else to find the money because this burden shouldn’t be on the backs of our children.” Rogers joined Oakley’s Stand Up For Schools demonstration last Thursday, standing alongside teachers and staff who have been pink-slipped. More than 500 people gathered at the corner of Mercedes Lane and Laurel Road near Laurel Elementary School to draw attention to the budget crisis. “Oakley is an amazing place,” Rogers said. “You hear a lot of see SOS page 18A
War heroes
go to news/press releases An upcoming event honors those who served in the jungles of Vietnam.
An assemblywoman met with her constituents over breakfast to discuss issues that some find hard to digest. Page 4A
Season to get seasoned
The Liberty and Heritage tennis teams are full of fresh faces raring to face veteran opponents across the net. Page 1B
Plus: Calendar ............................ 23B Classifieds ......................... 14B Cop Logs ............................14A Entertainment ................. 10B Health & Beauty ................ 8B Opinion ..............................13A Outdoors ............................. 6A Sports ................................... 1B
FOR MOVIE TIMES SEE PAGE 5A
Special gate
go to multimedia/videos An innovative program helps students with special needs find good jobs.