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Vol. 14, No. 10 YOUR HOMETOWN WEEKLY NEWSPAPER March 9, 2012

FOR MOVIE TIMES

SEE PAGE 5A

Guide togreen living

From water purity to auto care to hazmat disposal, our Think Green section helps you limit your carbon footprint. Page 1B

Fine tuning your timepieces this weekend will save you an hour of precious daylight.

Spring forwardSunday, March 11

Know what to do before, during and after an earthquake rocks your world.

Ready to rumblego to news/press releases

Antiochs Neighborhood Cleanup crew gave community pride a boost.

Tidying the towngo to multimedia/videos

Connect with The Press!Scan QR code with your smart phone.

Online now!WebExtras!

press releasesvideos

www. thepress.netYour Hometown Website

Business .............................15ACalendar ............................ 19BClassifieds ......................... 13BEntertainment ................... 9BFood .................................... 10BMilestones ........................ 18BOpinion ..............................18AOutdoors .............................6ASports .................................19AThink Green ........................ 1B

Patriot pasto Grazie! Grille is hosting a fundraising event for members of our armed forces. Page 5A

Fervent farewell

A local soccer star lost his fight against cancer, and his teammates lost a friend and inspiring presence. Page 19A

Workshop aims to prevent exploitationStudents, parents and local of-

fi cials gathered at La Paloma High School Saturday to take part in In-nocence of a Child, a workshop fo-cused on sexual exploitation aware-ness and prevention for girls 11-18. The event was sponsored by the Contra Costa Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

The Innocence of a Child workshop addresses one of the greatest issues facing our commu-nity, said Darrylyn Swift, presi-dent of the Contra Costa Alumnae Chapter. It was important for us to bring the youth, teens, caregiv-ers and community leaders together to open up lines of communica-tion and talk about the prevalence of sexual exploitation in our com-munity, and identify risk factors

and warning signs. The workshop also provided the youth and teens an opportunity to be self-refl ective and focus not only on victimization and their vulnerability, but on their strength.

It is also important for us as a chapter to send a clear message that our children are our most precious resources and we are committed to protecting and guiding them.

According to marriage and

family therapist Nadirah Stills, Social Action chair of the Contra Costa Alumnae Chapter and Far West Regional chair of Physical and Mental Health, A lot of times we think (the sexual predator) looks a certain way, but not always do they look like the person we see on TV. It might be a neighbor, coach, or anyone.

Stills urged the girls to have open disclosure about this sensi-tive matter and be able to talk about it. Learn creative ways to be safe as you move through your teen life. Be able to identify warning signs, and have tools to (deal with) the warning signs and be able to iden-tify predators.

The girls engage in a group activity before breaking into their Innocence of a Child workshop sessions.

see Workshop page 17A

The construction of a new Los Medanos College campus in Brentwood moved another step closer to reality this week when the California Community College Board of Governors ap-proved center status for LMCs Brentwood Center.

This is great news, wrote LMC Interim President Richard Livingston in a letter to district employees Monday. It means additional fi nancial resources for the college/center and is a crucial milestone on the way to develop-ment of a permanent center on our recently purchased property south of Brentwood.

Since 2001, Pittsburg-based LMC has occupied about 20,000 square feet of a former grocery store on Sand Creek Road in Brentwood. With more than 2,500 students now being served

out of the Brentwood location, the district is feeling the squeeze and has been working on build-ing a new, bigger facility for sev-eral years.

In 2010, the district paid $4.8 million for 17 acres of un-developed land near the inter-section of Marsh Creek Road and Highway 4. Offi cials hope to break ground in 2015 on the 42,000-square-foot fi rst phase, and ultimately expand the center to 84,000 square feet.

Mondays announcement means LMC will be eligible for about $1 million more each year in state funding. As community college enrollment soars and four-year college costs skyrock-et, the additional funding will be helpful. Added Livingston, It is heartwarming to know that during tough fi nancial times the future of community college education in far East County is looking up!

New LMC campuspasses milestone

by Rick LemyreStaff Writer

Spring is sprung, the grass is riz, we wonder where the raindrops is. Mother Nature has begun her an-nual show in East County orchards despite the fact that, according to annual averages, were not done with the winter wetness. Far East County has seen a mere .18 inches of rain so far in 2012, whereas we usually get 2.31 inches in January and February. Things are expected to stay dry through next weekend, so get out and enjoy the owers.

Spring is sprung

Photo by Richard Wisdom

2A | THEPRESS.NET MARCH 9, 2012

MARCH 9, 2012 COMMUNITY THEPRESS.NET | 3A

How does the public share, receive and process their news today? Whats the role of the media in the fast-evolving world of jour-nalism? And where is the future of print, pub-lishing and broadcast headed?

On Saturday, March 31, the public can get up-close and personal answers to those questions and others when they Meet the Press at the El Campanil Theatre in Antioch.

Hosted by Charleen Earley, publisher of Bay Areas Inspired Living Magazine, the event features a panel discussion comprised of local media professionals who will share their stories, personal experiences and thoughts on the changing face of the media.

This is a great way for the public to meet the people in the press, said Earley, who has been organizing the event since 2007. Its de-signed to let people know what the media is all about and to ask questions.

This years speakers include radio talk show host, comedian and writer Johnny Steele; local publisher and writer V. Sheree Williams; Rick Lemyre, managing editor of the Brent-wood Press; Contra Costa Times contributing columnist Trine Gallegos; and Allen Payton, publisher of the Antioch Herald.

Lemyre sees the event as an opportunity for the public and the media to come together. I think one of the downsides of the prolif-eration of the media is the increasing lack of

personal contact involved in connecting peo-ple and information, said Lemyre. I know I dont get out from behind my computer screen nearly as often as I should. I think this event addresses that trend a little and at the local level, where it is most important.

A forum such as this one, said Payton, illuminates the communication process and encourages the public to get involved. Whats great is that today there are more choices and ways for the public to get their news and infor-mation, said Payton. And I hope this forum will encourage people to start their own media sources the more the better and the better the experience.

Williams attended one of the early panel events, said Earley, and as a result struck out on her own. Sheree showed up as an attendee years ago, was inspired to start publishing her own magazine, and now shell be one of our speak-ers, said Earley. Its a great full-circle thing.

Earley, who also teaches journalism at Deer Valley High School, believes the event is a good way for students to learn more about the media. Its a good tool for them to come out and meet their local journalists, ask ques-tions and get a better feel for the profession, she said. Some teachers even send their stu-dents for extra credit.

Tickets for Meet the Press ($10) can be purchased at the door or online at www.elcam-paniltheatre.com. The El Campanil Theatre is located at 602 W. Second St.

To comment, visit www.thepress.net.

Meet the Pressby Ruth Roberts

Staff Writer

A group of concerned residents sought guidance from the Oakley City Council at a recent meeting after a sober living establishment was opened in their neighborhood without their knowledge.

Gary and Daniela Martin opened New Beginnings Clean and Sober Home on La Casa Drive last month to provide a safe environment for recovering drug and alcohol addicts in a community set-ting. But the rehab home is facing criti-cism from neighbors.

Gary Martin went door-to-door after the six New Beginnings residents moved in last month to talk with neigh-bors about the living situation and in-form them about the curfews and rules the residents are expected to follow. Neighbors remained skeptical and their concerns were realized on Feb. 14, when a New Beginnings resident was arrested. Martin had been alerted to one of the residents public displays of suspicious behavior and called police. It turns out the resident had an outstanding war-rant for his arrest and was taken into custody.

Neighbor Don Buckley recounted the Feb. 14 incident to the council during

his testimony last Tuesday. This hasnt gotten off to a very good start, Buckley said. Nobody wants this in their neigh-borhood.

Three other neighbors voiced their concerns during the meeting. While the neighbors support rehabilitation pro-grams and people trying to get their lives on track, they dont want it to be in their neighborhood, where young children like to play outside.

Oakley Police Chief Bani Kollo said aside from the Feb. 14 incident, the police department has not seen an in-crease of calls for service to that area in

Neighbors object toOakley group home

see Home page 17A

by Samie HartleyStaff Writer These homes are

everywhere, whether cities want to admit it or not. ... Were going to treat this home like any other residence in town.

Oakley Police Chief Bani Kollo

MARCH 9, 2012 COMMUNITY THEPRESS.NET | 5A

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2525 Sand Creek Rd.Brentwood

925.809.0030 Troop support takes to The Streets

If youre looking for a night of food, fellowship and a wor-thy cause, bring your appetite and your patriotism to Grazie! Grille at The Streets of Brentwood on March 13.

Operation Creekside, the nonprofi t organization dedicated to assisting members of the military, is holding Grazie Op from 5 to 9 p.m. at the restaurant. The event features a DJ, guest speak-ers and free entrees (with proof of service) for military members and veterans.

This is a great spot (in The Streets) with lots of visibility, and we think its going to be a successful event, said Ed McClel-land of Operation Creekside. Were a small group that relies heavily on donations, but helping the troops that are protecting our very freedoms is a big job.

The faith-based organization ships care packages to troops stationed around the world, boxing up such non-perishable items as popcorn, granola bars and almonds. Over the past fi ve years, the group has shipped more than 2,200 boxes abroad, but at $12.95 per box, the project takes money, and it is fundraisers such as Grazie Op that help offset the costs.

Attendees are invited to bring a non-perishable food item the day of the event, or if they cant attend, drop off the food item in a receptacle in front of the restaurant.

According to Grazie! Grille owner Darius Mahallati the idea to host the fundraiser came from one of his employees who is an active-duty member of the military.

We have a gentleman who works on our security team and he asked us if we would be interested in hosting this event, said Mahallati, who is also donating $250 to Operation Creekside. And we said we would absolutely love to do it. But its not about Grazie! Its about the service members, and we are just happy to do our part to make this a successful event for the troops.

Operation Creekside has recently begun to expand its reach in the form of Camp Tuolumne, an outdoor retreat located near

Yosemite Valley. The camp is used primarily as a haven for chil-dren with special medical needs and their families. A few months ago, Operation Creekside hosted its fi rst camp session for eight veterans, their families and service dogs. Fundraisers such as Grazie Op are helping to make the camp a reality.

Its called Tuolumne Trails/Operation Freedom Paws and it is a retreat for veterans and their families to teach them how to train their own service dogs, said McClellan. This (camp) is going to be a model for people everywhere to get these camps going With over 40,000 troops with varying needs, we need to be supporting them in everything they do in every way we can.

For additional information or to make a donation, call Op-eration Creekside at 925-260-5423.

To comment, visit www.thepress.net.

Volunteers prepare some of the thousands of care packag-es sent to troops overseas by Operation Creekside. Grazie! Grille at The Streets of Brentwood is holding a special fundraising dinner for the group on March 13.

Photo courtesy of Operation Creekside

by Ruth RobertsStaff Writer

6A | THEPRESS.NET COMMUNITY MARCH 9, 2012

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Marsh Creek Friends seeking $25K grant

The Friends of Marsh Creek Water-shed (FOMCW) is in the running for a $25,000 grant, and needs a vote from you to help make it happen.

FOMCW was recently named as one of six national fi nalists in MillerCoors Riv-er Network Watershed Protection Grant Competition. MillerCoors, in partnership with River Network, will award nearly $60,000 in grants to nonprofi t organizations that fund projects focused on water con-servation, education and protection. The winning organization will be chosen by the public through an online voting contest.

This is a great opportunity for Friends of Marsh Creek Watershed to highlight our wonderful program and to raise awareness about watershed issues, said FOMCW Ex-ecutive Director Diane Burgis. We hope that people will go online and vote for us and then learn about their own watersheds and go out and get involved. We are grateful to MillerCoors and River Network for this opportunity.

The organization with the most votes will receive a $25,000 grant. The fi ve re-maining projects will also receive funds: the second-place project will receive a $15,000 grant, third place $10,000, and the three re-maining projects $2,000 each.

Established in 2004, FOMCW the

competitions only west coast fi nalist is asking the community to go online to vote for the organization in its quest to protect local water resources.

Despite operating in a less populated area of the Bay Area, FOMCW has accom-plished much since becoming a nonprofi t a little over two years ago. The group has removed more than 40 tons of trash from Marsh Creek, trails and local parks, planted hundreds of plants and trees throughout the community and raised more than $1.25 mil-lion in funding toward restoration projects including the Marsh Creek Fish Ladder and the upcoming Creekside Park Restora-tion Project in Oakley.

Burgis said funding from this grant would underwrite more than a dozen service projects and education events to increase understanding and raise awareness about local water quality issues, while advancing stewardship activities within the Marsh Creek Watershed. These projects would also support Californias efforts to protect the San Joaquin Delta ecosystem.

Online voting for the grant award con-cludes Monday, March 19 at 5 p.m. To vote, visit www.rivernetwork.org/millercoors-riv-er-network-grant-contest-2012. For more information about FOMCW, visit www.fomcw.org.

MARCH 9, 2012 COMMUNITY THEPRESS.NET | 7A

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MORTGAGE FORGIVENESS ACTThe Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief

Act of 2007 is about to expire at the end of this year. Mortgage forgiveness can occur in a short sale, foreclosure, or even a loan mod if they reduce your principal. Most people think that they have to hurry up and make sure their short sale, loan mod or foreclosure occurs by December 31 of this year to quali-fy to make sure they dont have to pay tax on the 1099 theyll receive for any forgiven debt.

The good news is that there is talk in Washington D.C. right now about extend-ing the Mortgage Forgiveness Act through the end of 2014. Its included in President Obamas recent budget proposal, so this is pretty seriously being considered. The bad news is that the Act doesnt do what every-one seems to think it does. It is not a blanket exclusion where any forgiven debt is tax-free. As I read the IRS tax regulations, even when the Act is in place, it still doesnt cover money you took out of the home and spent somewhere else. What it does cover is money used to buy, build or substantially improve a principal residence (which means this is

NOT for investors). As I understand it, the Act was closing a loophole where some people had refinanced their loans, taken NO cash out, but were going to be taxed on the forgiven debt just because they had refi-nanced their loan, which didnt seem fair.

Even if the Act expires, there are still other exemptions in the tax rules that will cover many people, specifically insolvency (when your debts exceed your assets) and if your loan was used to buy, build or improve your residence. For most of my clients who are facing a short sale or foreclosure, they appear to qualify for one of these exclu-sions.

I AM NOT A TAX EXPERT AND THE ABOVE INFO WAS NOT VERIFIED. CONSULT A TAX EXPERT FOR SPECIFICS TO YOUR SITUATION. If you have questions on any other real estate topic, call me at (925) 240-MOVE (6683). To search the MLS for free and view vir-tual tours of homes for sale, go to: www.SharpHomesOnline.com. Sharp Realty

Mad Science of Mount Dia-blo brings its fun and crazy science program to the Brentwood Commu-nity Center, 150 City Park Way, on Wednesday, March 14 at 4 p.m.

Students will be fogged over by dry ice, surprised by bubble showers and might even get a chance to taste a burp potion during this event. This free, 45-minute event is sponsored the Brentwood Library. No admission fee or registration required.

Mad Science of Mount Diablos mission is to spark the imagination and curiosity of children through fun, hands-on science programs that instill a clear understanding of what science is really about and how it af-fects the world around them. All programs are vetted for safety and meet California Science Curriculum Standards.

For more information, call 925-516-5290 or visit www.ccclib.org.

Mad Science at library

St. Anne Catholic Church, 2800 Camino Diablo Road in Byron, invites the community to its fish fry on Fri-day, March 9 from 5 to 7 p.m. A spe-cial performance of St. Pauls Story follows the dinner. The $10 fish dinner includes deep-fried fish, French fries, coleslaw and dessert. Children 5 to 12 eat for $5. There is no admission fee

for the show.Fish fries, hosted by St. Anne

Knights of Columbus, are offered Fri-days through March 30 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. in observance of Lent. The community is invited to dine in or pick up the meals for takeout.

For more information, call 925-634-6625.

Lenten dinner, drama

8A | THEPRESS.NET EDUCATION MARCH 9, 2012

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Tax Trials and Tribulations of the Rich and FamousWhat do Marion Barry, Rob Lowe, Wyclef

Jean, Vera Wang and Lindsay Lohan have in com-mon? IRS trouble! No matter how famous, talented or connected, whether actor, designer, politician or musician, in the eyes of the Internal Revenue Service they are simply taxpayers.

The average taxpayer who chooses a withhold-ing status and then turns tax collection over to the HR department for payroll withdrawal often scratches his or her head at the very wealthy who cant seem to get a handle on paying their taxes. Keep in mind that many of these famous tax delinquents are independent con-tractors or self-employed, making their taxes quite a bit more challenging not to mention the difficulty of correctly reporting income earned in a variety of states. And while many in high income brackets employ a business manager, not all of those managers have tax expertise, especially when they are spouses or other family members.

Planning out estimated tax payments is tricky even for those who do not land a six-figure book advance or sign onto a movie with a seven-figure pay day. To figure your estimated taxes, you must calculate your expected adjusted gross income, tax-able income, taxes, deductions, and credits for the year. And if there are changes, such as unexpected job offers, surprise job losses or other events, you

have to calculate again. Underpayment can result in substantial penalties.

Many celebs that are getting good tax advice form a corporation in order to shield themselves from personal liability (you know, when those pesky paparazzi get under the wheels!), and to protect per-sonal assets from corporate creditors. In addition to lowering risk, there are numerous tax advantages to incorporation. But its probably safe to say that most celebrities prefer not to spend a lot of time thinking about taxes not unlike the majority of the American public.

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.

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Thunderous thanksMembers of the Stockton Thunder

ice hockey team recently visited Pioneer Elementary School in Brentwood to praise the schools top accelerated readers. The team brought several items to be auction off and the school raised more than $600 for its Accelerated Reader Program.

The following students were acknowl-edged at the event:

First grade: Joshua Brower, Isaiah Javier, Madison Nomura, Megan Robles, Abby Salgado, Aubree Schroer, Maxwell Simens and Christian Viveros. Second grade: Angie Tique Astudillo, Amanda Chan, Ellias Rubio Gomez, Benito Gravert, Shane Ingram, Kyle Lineweaver, Rochelle Mosley, Sabrina

Rogers, Nathan Scherer, Savanah Short, Ainsley Waecheter and Adriana Zanotto. Third grade: Felisha Antioquia, Chris Chicka, Noah DeRita, Juan Hernandez, Sydney McIntosh, Luke Rockenbaugh, Aseel Saleh, Madison Sanders, Drew Smith, Paytin Spence, Logan Wolff and Abel Zaid. Fourth grade: Adam Chan, Earvin Cunanan, Ashlyn Drewry, Emily Eaton, Alexandra Emery, Darcy Gilfoy, Tyler Hester, Abraham Ramzy, Neda Saleh and Reed Schmitt. Fifth grade: Shawn Alexander, Issac Buchannan, Brooke Farrar, Karissa Gillio, Sierra Heuer, Trevor Lee, Nicolette Moss, Hailey Pecknold, Bianca Santos, Daniel Simone and Morgan Wakefi eld.

Cameron Abney, Sebastian Owuya and Jody Pederon of the Stockton Thunder recently met with Pioneer Elementary School students who demonstrated ex-ceptional reading comprehension and increased reading competency.

Photo courtesy of Kris Simone

Alyssa Mullins admits she was skep-tical. When the OHara Park Middle School student fi rst heard about the Black Mentor Program (BMP) on cam-pus, her immediate reaction was No, thank you.

At fi rst I didnt want to go; I wasnt interested, said Alyssa, 14. I just want-ed to hang out with my friends.

But once she started attending the semi-monthly breakfast meetings, the Oakley teen was hooked.

Its a very interesting program, said Alyssa. Ive learned a lot of things about what blacks have gone through and Ive made some great new friends. To tell you the truth, I dont want to leave OHara Park next year because this pro-gram means so much to me.

What began as an annual luncheon held during Black History Month in Feb-ruary eventually morphed into a semi-monthly gathering in which students mix and mingle, share experiences and learn about their ethnic and historical heritage. Now in its second year, the group and its message continues to grow.

We consistently have 25 to 30 kids attend, said Sharelle Dalida, a BMP mentor and OHara Park science and PE teacher. And we do everything from checking on their homework to talking about different ways to break stereotypes, how to be successful and how to integrate with other students on campus.

Kids this age can be very self-cen-tered, and I believe this program is crucial because we want them to see and appre-ciate how far we have come as a race; to look at Harriet Tubman, Martin Luther King Jr. and Thurgood Marshall. They need to understand that its not all about them.

Alyssas father Robert feels the BMP has provided a positive reinforcement of the lessons he has been teaching his chil-dren at home. This program has been a

MARCH 9, 2012 EDUCATION THEPRESS.NET | 9A

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10A | THEPRESS.NET EDUCATION MARCH 9, 2012

Trevors Weekly Mortgage MattersBy Trevor Frey

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Since its inception in 1934, the Federal Housing Administration, or FHA, has never had a problem maintaining funds: it is always insured more mortgages or properties than it has actually owned. By the numbers however, according their February 2012 press release, FHAs real estate owned inventory better known as REO homes has almost doubled since 2009. With a 47% increase in properties owned since 2009, and over 60,000 homes on their books, the Federal Hous-ing Administration is offi cially bleeding out. Th ey no longer have reserves required in their Mort-gage Insurance fund (MMI) to continue covering the properties on their balance sheet.

Th is leaves the Federal Housing Adminis-tration with two options: make stricter guidelines to ensure better borrowers and a lower default rate or increase monthly mortgage insurance premiums to increase revenues in case borrowers continue defaulting. In a market where lending guidelines are already considered tight, and with a Mission Statement that begins FHAs mission is to create strong, sustainable inclusive communities and quality aff ordable homes for all, it is safe to say theyre not going with door number one. Leaving of course door number two, or increased monthly premiums. More eloquently put by David Sterns, the Assistant Secretary for the Federal Housing Administration (FHA), aft er careful consideration and analysis, we determined it was necessary to increase the annual mortgage insurance premiumraising the annual premium will enable FHA to increase revenues and have a positive eff ect on the ongo-ing stability of the Mortgage Insurance (MMI) fund.

So, we now know that the Federal Housing Administration is broke, and we know their

gameplan to fi x their problem is to raise their reserves, what we dont know and what is the most important piece of this puzzle is how this will aff ect you, the consumer (better known as the homebuyer).

Aft er April 1st 2012 monthly mortgage insurance premiums will increase from to 1.15 to 1.25% for all loans under $625,000. In other words, for every $100,000 in purchase price youll see an increase of roughly $10 in your monthly payment. At a purchase price of $100,000 this change should not have a large impact on your decision to purchase a home. However, if youre purchasing a $500,000 home and youre very close to your overall purchasing limit, an increase of $50 in your monthly payment might just put you out of range to buy that home. Not to men-tion, an annual increase of $600 isnt something anyone should take lightly.

Th is change is like the price of oil; it should just slightly aff ect you. Gas prices go up and down, but does that really mean you arent going to fi ll up your tank? You might take a shorter route, or travel a little less, but are you really go-ing to remove yourself all together from the high-way? Th e increase may lower the size of mortgage you qualify for, since the higher monthly pay-ment will increase your debt-to-income ratio, but it wont take you out of the housing market all together. As with your cars mechanic, make sure to check the health of your preapproval with your lender (or call me for a second opinion). Th e last thing you want if for your off er to be acceptedonly to fi nd your fi nancing tank is on empty.

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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Discovery Bay Elementarys Odyssey of the Mind team Six Juliets and one Romeo achieved success rivaling The Bards last week-end at the regional competition and have advanced to the state nals, to be held later this month. The Byron Union School District sent six teams, all of which performed well. Congratulations to all!

Star-crossed Odyssey

Spring Gala at Ron NunnRon Nunn Elementary Parents Club

presents the Denim & Diamonds Spring Gala Fundraiser on Friday, May 4 from 6:30-10:30 p.m. in Club Los Meganos at Trilogy at The Vineyards in Brentwood. The event features dinner, dancing, and a live and silent auction.

The $45 fi rst-come, fi rst-served tickets go on sale April 2. A table for eight may be

reserved for $350, which includes dinner and four bottles of wine. Attendees are en-couraged to wear their best denim and dia-monds. Proceeds go toward the purchase of classroom computers, noon supervisors and student fi eld trips for Ron Nunn students.

For more information, call Stacia at 925-640-9296 or e-mail jnsmcconnell@hotmail.com.

MARCH 9, 2012 THEPRESS.NET | 11A

to improve patient access and meet Californias rigorous earthquake safety standards. Just one more measure of our commitment to our patients, employees and communities.

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12A | THEPRESS.NET COMMUNITY MARCH 9, 2012

If you are behind on your mortgage and cant afford your home, eventually you will need to decide whether you should walk away, enter into a short sale or le for bankruptcy. Here are some important general concepts. Mortgage Loan De ciencies

In July of 2011, a new California law went into effect that eliminates an individuals personal liability for mortgage loan de ciencies on a 1-4 unit dwelling, where that property has been short-sold. Before this change, short-sellers were often sued for the unpaid balance on 2nd mortgages and HELOCs. This new law may make short sales a more attractive option. However, this rule does not apply in every short-sale situation and if surrendering a home in bankruptcy, any loan de ciency is usually discharged. Cancelled or Forgiven Debt Taxes

A short-sale or foreclosure may create an income tax liability for cancelled debt. If the lender forgives debt of over $600, it must report that debt to the IRS. Since the IRS sees cancelled debt as a bene t to you, expect to receive a 1099C in the tax year of the event. Note that if you surrender a home in bankruptcy, this bene t is not taxable. Other Personal Debts

Another factor to consider is your overall debt picture. While a short sale may resolve the issue of an unaffordable mortgage, borrowers may also have a mountain of credit card debt or past due income taxes. Bankruptcy allows you to surrender your home and deal with all of your other debts simultaneously. Often all or nearly all credit card and unsecured debts will be eliminated in bankruptcy.

Impact on Credit ScoresMany homeowners short-sell their property

on the advice that they can be eligible for a home loan again in only 2 years (as compared with ling for bankruptcy, which can remain on your credit report for 7-10 years.) While this advice is technically true, Fannie Mae also requires a 20% down payment and a strong credit score. Few people are in this position just two years after a short sale. Note too that the FHA also permits mortgages within 3 years after a short sale and 2 years after a bankruptcy discharge, with 3% down. So, the credit report impact of a bankruptcy may not always be as bad as expected, when considering Fannie Mae or FHA loan eligibility, and when weighed against the dischargeable debt.Making an Educated Decision

While both short sales and bankruptcy are used to dispose of unaffordable homes, bankruptcy can also be used to save homes and remove 2nd mortgages. To make a fully educated decision, seek the advice of a competent bankruptcy attorney, tax professional and real estate agent. I offer free legal consultations at my of ce in Antioch.

WE ARE A DEBT RELIEF AGANCY. WE HELP PEOPLE FILE FOR RELIEF UNDER THE BANKRUPTCY CODE. THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS ARTICLE IS PROVIDED FOR GENERAL INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY, AND IS NOT INTENDED TO BE LEGAL ADVICE ON YOUR PARTICULAR SITUATION. BEFORE MAKING A DECISION TO SHORT-SELL A PROPERTY OR FILE FOR BANKRUPTCY, PLEASE CONSULT WITH AN ATTORNEY.Stan E. Riddle, Attorney (925) 818-2795WWW.SR4LAW.COM

SHORT-SALE VS. BANKRUPTCY

Stans Bankruptcy Forum

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(925) 757-9500 www.ElCampanilTheatre.com

Quality EntertainmentClose To Home

Louis Prima Jr. & TheWitnesses Friday March 23 8:00 pm

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Kids do their part to clean up Antioch

When Antioch child care provider Beverly Knight takes the kids out for a walk in the park, they think theyre get-ting merely valuable outdoor exercise.

But there are other benefi ts: the kids pick up trash and learn lessons about lit-tering.

Knight, who runs All In R Family Child Care out of her home, got the idea about 10 months ago to help the kids gain more exercise by picking up trash around Antioch. Shes hoping the effort will spark a grassroots movement.

The kids are spreading the word. Theyre telling their friends and their family, Knight said. Were starting small, but we can get the word out.

Recently, Knight took the kids to Delta Fair Boulevard, where they picked up buckets of trash near bus stops. The children say that picking up candy wrap-pers and pizza boxes from the ground has changed their view. The kids have been shocked to see people walk or drive by piles of garbage.

A fi fth-grader at my school was drinking a Capri Sun, and then he just threw it on the ground right behind the bench, and I saw him, said Sutter Ele-mentary fourth-grader Harmonee Brum-well. I told him, You shouldnt be litter-ing because its bad, and then I went to go put it in the garbage.

The kids, along with Knight, take gloves and tongs to pick up waste, put-ting it into a cart with a sign that reads Care Dont Litter. She hopes the ex-

perience will increase the kids apprecia-tion for their surroundings. Knight loves seeing the looks on their faces after a job well done. She also believes the excursions have helped the kids get in better shape.

Its wonderful, Knight said. When were done I tell them to step back and look, and they go Wow. And then they get ice cream.

Knight, who has been involved with various cleanup efforts in Antioch over the years, wants to expand her program to high school students. Shes working with Antioch High School to get students out to work community service hours by picking up litter. Antioch seniors need at least 10 hours of community service in order to graduate, and Knight feels that by cleaning up trash, high school stu-dents will become diligent about dispos-ing waste responsibly.

Antioch City Councilwoman Mary Rocha, whose son Louie is the Antioch High principal, appreciates Knights ef-forts and considers them a viable project for high school students seeking commu-nity service hours. Rocha noted that since the young people would hear the message from their friends and classmates not adults it might be an especially effective way of teaching them to stop littering.

We have been asking the commu-nity to step up and help us out, Rocha said. The community belongs to the people that live here. If theyre going to turn their back on the trash thats in the neighborhood, thats their choice. But they could pitch in and pick up that gar-bage.

To comment, visit www.thepress.net.

by Justin LaffertyStaff Writer

Photo by Justin Lafferty

Riley Guinn disposes of a cardboard box during a recent cleanup on Delta Fair Boulevard.

14A | THEPRESS.NET COMMUNITY MARCH 9, 2012

Antioch police are searching for two men suspected of fi ring shots during a February baptism reception, but have al-ready arrested one suspect.

According to a press release, offi cers arrested Oakley and San Jose resident Sha-hin Ahoorai, 20, on suspicion of attempt-ed homicide after discovering that he was the getaway driver during a shooting on Feb. 11 at the Antioch Womens Club, 509 G St. Two people a 49-year-old woman and a 26-year-old man suffered non-life threatening injuries as a result.

Police are now searching for two 19-year-olds: Zachary Cook and Raul Jo Jo Pena both Oakley residents believed to be participants in the crime. Both men are believed to be concealing themselves from police. The press release noted that both have outstanding felony warrants for their arrest and should be considered armed and dangerous.

Ahoorai, Cook and Pena face two charges of attempted homicide, assault with a deadly weapon and enhancements for being street gang members. Ahoorai is being held at Contra Costa County Jail in Martinez on $3,433,000 bail.

Those with information regarding the incident, or the whereabouts of Cook and Pena, should call Detective Mike Mellone at 925-779-6930, or the Antioch Police Department Dispatch Center at 925-778-2441. Anonymous tips can be provided to Bay Area Crime Stoppers via its toll-free tip line, 800-222-TIPS, or website, www.

bayareacrimestopers.org. Anonymous text-tips may be sent to 274637 with the word crimes in the subject line.

On Feb. 11 at about 9:14 p.m., Antioch of-fi cers responded to the report of shots fi red at the Antioch Wom-ens Club during a religious bap-tism reception.

Those pres-ent at the re-ception became engaged in a physical alterca-tion with a lone male victim in the street in what has been deter-mined to be a gang-related as-sault. When the victims tried to separate the sub-jects, at least two of the subjects produced hand-guns and began shooting. Both gunshot victims were hit by errant gunfi re and transported to local hospitals for non life-threatening wounds.

Police seek suspects

AHOORAI

COOK

PENA

Living Well with Diabetesa class for adult diabetics and

their family and friends.Wednesdays 3-5pm FREEREI in the Streets of Brentwood2475 Sand Creek RoadBrentwood, California

ANNOUNCING!REI, Walgreens and Sutter Delta Medical Center have teamed up to encourage adults with diabetes to have fun and stay healthy.

With you. For Life.

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MARCH 9, 2012 THEPRESS.NET | 15A

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SPOTLIGHT N BUSINESS Spotlight on Business, provided each week by The Press, presents news and information about our business community. To contribute to this section, e-mail greg@thepress.net.

Epic Care, Partners in Cancer Care, has been award-ed a full, three-year accreditation in radiation oncology by the American College of Radiology (ACR) and the American Society for Therapeutic Radiation and Oncol-ogy (ASTRO) for all three of its radiation treatment fa-cilities, located in Antioch, Dublin and Pleasant Hill. Epic Care is the fi rst and only practice in the San Fran-cisco Bay Area to earn this distinction an-other step in Epic Cares 20-year history of providing the highest quality care to patients in a safe and supportive environment.

Our fi rst priority has always been to ensure our patients re-ceive superior cancer treatment, said Dr. Nicola Ally, board-cer-tifi ed radiation oncologist and radiation oncology medical di-rector at Epic Care. As one of the East Bays most comprehen-sive cancer centers, this accredita-tion affi rms our core philosophy that maintaining high-quality standards is of utmost importance in improving our patients experience and outcome.

ACR-ASTRO accreditation is widely recognized as the gold standard of quality care in the fi eld of radia-tion oncology. The ACR-ASTRO seal of accreditation is awarded only to facilities meeting specifi c National Practice Guidelines and Technical Standards following a rigorous peer-review evaluation by board-certifi ed radia-tion oncologists and medical physicists who are experts

in the fi eld. The process assesses patient care, safety and outcome, personnel qualifi cations, adequacy of facility equipment, quality-control procedures and quality-assur-ance programs.

The joint ACR-ASTRO Committee on Radiation Oncology Accreditation then reviews the fi ndings and

decides whether to grant accreditation. These ac-credited facilities are expected to continue

to uphold high quality standards to maintain their accreditation.

The radiation oncology ac-creditation enhances Epic Cares active ACR seal of accreditation in PET/CT imaging, also in the Antioch, Dublin and Pleasant Hill locations.

We pride ourselves in providing compassionate can-cer care, using proven state-

of-the-art treatments including intensity-modulated radiation

therapy, image-guided radiation therapy, targeted brachytherapy and

radiosurgery, while also offering access via responsible research and clinical trials to

cutting-edge options for our patients, said Dr. K. Kenneth Chao, board-certifi ed radiation oncologist and task force lead in Epic Cares accreditation process. The ACR-ASTRO accreditation gives our patients the peace of mind that they are receiving the highest level of can-cer care, and recognizes the quality and hard work of our team.

Epic Care earns national distinction

Safeco Insurance agents Dennis Gliedt and Jer-ry Stone have been named to companys H.K. Dent Society, an elite agent recognition program.

The H.K. Dent Society, named for the compa-nys founder, was designed to recognize and reward agents for their partnership, performance and loy-

alty to Safeco. This special group repre-sents Safecos very best agents

and partners. Each year, fewer than 10 percent of Safeco agents will qualify for this distinct honor.

Our agency has worked hard to serve our cus-tomers and community, said Jerry Stone of Gliedt and Jack Stone Insurance, which operates locations in Brentwood and Dublin. Its an honor to be rec-ognized by Safeco as being one of its top agent part-ners.

The H.K. Dent Society provides well-deserved recognition for our best agents, said John Mileski, Safeco senior vice president and manager of distri-bution. But just as important, it also features valu-able tools to help our partners better serve custom-ers.

Hawthorne K. Dent founded the General In-surance Company of America in 1923. Safeco was created from the General in 1953 to provide better solutions for independent agents in an increasingly competitive insurance market.

Top honors for Safeco agents

16A | THEPRESS.NET EDUCATION MARCH 9, 2012

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The Contra Costa Chapter and Bay Section of the California Council for Adult Education (CCAE), comprising 15 Northern California counties, recent-ly honored Liberty Adult Educations Angela Ghiggeri and Hermelinda Meraz for their commitment to education.

Ghiggeri, who was selected as CCAE Contra Costa Chapter and Bay Section Teacher of Excellence, has been teaching for the Adult Education divi-sion of the LUHSD for more than 36 years. Ghiggeri teaches physical and mental fi tness for older adults and is chief GED examiner. She also teaches the popular Premiers exercise class 85

students strong at the Brentwood Se-nior Center. Ghiggeri has changed the lives of many students, demonstrating patience, caring and a strong commit-ment to the success of her students.

Meraz received the CCAE Contra Costa Chapter and the Bay Section Ex-cellence in Support Services Award. She has served the students of Liberty Adult Education for more than six years at the front desk, greeting and enrolling new students, processing fi nancial transac-tions, providing answers to a wide va-riety of questions and translating for non-English speaking parents and stu-dents.

Excellence in education

good way for the kids to embrace their heritage and to learn some things that they might not have known before, said Robert, whose son Andrew, 11, joined the program this year. I think that many of those discussions should begin in the home, but this is a good extension of things. People that dont know their past cant know their future.

Sean Brown, another BMP mentor and special education teacher at OHara Park, believes that while the program fo-cuses on African-Americans, the message is universal. The goal of the program is to give the kids another piece of educa-tion that they might not be getting in essence, to educate them on themselves,

said Brown.But the things we discuss would

benefi t any student of any background. We talk about a multitude of topics that hit across the board. Everyone is welcome here; the response has been great.

For Alyssa, the program has given the teen not only a sense of pride in her heritage, but bolstered her self-confi dence and solidifi ed her beliefs.

Ive always been proud of who I am, but now Im even more proud, said Alyssa. Ive heard people use the N-word a lot, but now Im not afraid to tell them Im uncomfortable with that. I feel empowered. Im not afraid to stick up for what I know is right.

To comment, visit www.thepress.net.

Program from page 9A

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18A | THEPRESS.NET MARCH 9, 2012

OPINIONEDITORIALS, LETTERS & COMMENTARY National

AwardWinning NewspapersHave you got something to say? Visit www.thepress.net and let your thoughts be known.

Dont blame cops, firefightersEditor:

I am writing in response to the previ-ous letters from Debra Marlow and James C. Morris. While I appreciate the heartfelt response from Ms. Marlow regarding her husband having chosen a career as a police offi cer, she should remember it was his choice. Therefore, the situations he will fi nd himself in, dangerous or otherwise, are inherent with the job. He knew this when he took the job.

Regarding the letters from James Morris, his complaints sound more like sour grapes than anything else. He states he paid 9 percent into CALPERS while the city he worked for matched that contribution at the time of his employment. He then retired at 60 percent after working for 30 years.

I worked for a city government as a police and fi re dispatcher for 36 years, paying half of my CALPERS retirement the entire time of my employment. My husband is a retired police offi cer who worked for a city govern-ment for 29 years, also paying half of his CALPERS. The only reason he retired was due to the heart attack he had while working. Certainly not his choice, otherwise he would still be employed as a police offi cer, which he very much enjoyed doing.

Your retirement payments and your end result retirement package, Mr. Morris, are the fault of your bargaining unit. I really doubt that while the economy was at a high you even cared what anyone elses compensation package was. I think now you are realizing that while you were employed, maybe your con-tract wasnt that great. I have no idea how long ago you retired, but from your compensation package, I would say it has been a while.

Your complaint lies with your bargaining unit, your fellow fi refi ghters who negotiated your contract. The fact that you feel the police and fi re are overcompensated at this time is be-cause they have personnel who work with the city to negotiate these contracts. If you have been reading the articles in the paper during the last six months, you would see that police and fi re have both made many concessions in order to come to an agreement on current

contracts within each jurisdiction.If you want to complain about people be-

ing over compensated, try taking a hard look at the salaries and compensation packages of the prison guards in California. They above anyone else are putting a strain on California.

You also state in your letter that there are hundreds of people who would happily apply to become a police offi cer. This may be true as far as applicants go, but for every 200 or 300 applicants that do in fact apply when all of the background and testing is done, the jurisdic-tions are lucky to get 10 candidates who can make it all the way through. Then they have an academy to complete, during which many others wash out.

Homeowners have had their property taxes reduced due to the falling home values. If this is not the case with your home, then pos-sibly you have not requested a re-evaluation of the property. That would be your fault. There is no possible way you can accuse all of these economic problems on contracts negotiated only for police and fi re personnel.

Diane BlairAntioch

Poor maintenance zoneEditor:

Since getting our puppy, I have been walking along the paths on Clipper Drive from Cove to Newport usually twice a day and have had the opportunity to observe the mainte-nance or lack thereof along this route.

Back in December before Christmas, I talked to a couple of people who were trimming plants regarding the failure of the sprinkler system in one place where the pipe is broken and is fl ooding the walk and surround-ing landscape to the point where it is extremely dangerous to pass. I even talked with one of the town managers about this issue a couple of weeks ago. Still nothing has been done.

While walking the day before yesterday, I noticed that the sprinklers were running again and water was blowing out everywhere. I couldnt even get to Cove, as the sprinklers in the lawn on the corner were shooting up like a beautiful fountain. Still nothing has been done.

At various stages along the path there are pet waste containers and convenience bags for people to use; however, two of the three along Clipper are overfl owing and empty of bags, yet the sign says please pick up after your pet. Needless to say, there is pet waste everywhere.

Whoever is in charge of this area of Discovery Bay should be fi red due to the lack of proper maintenance.

Robert SchwenkeDiscovery Bay

Oakley hops to itEditor:

Having spent countless phone calls to another city in our area just trying to get a human to answer the phone, or even return a call, it was with some trepidation that I called the City of Oakley to have an abandoned couch removed from our street.

Imagine my surprise when I dialed zero

and got a real breathing human who, when I asked what department I should contact to have it removed, stated, Not to worry. Ill call him and have it taken care of.

Lo and behold, after lunch I looked out and the couch was gone. Way to go, City of Oakley. Im glad I live here.

Mike StewartOakley

First Tees first-rate friendsEditor:

Many thanks to all for their support of the second annual wine tasting at Lone Tree Event Center. The event was truly enjoyed by all who attended, and a success.

A couple of checks to arrive that are in the mail but we will have netted $3,510 for our Contra Costa Chapter from the night. Many thanks to: John Viano and Contra Costa Winegrow-ers. Your support was huge and the wines poured were fantastic. Without your support, the event would not be possible. Sy Colletto will get with you, John, to discuss some of your labels for Lone Tree stock. Rick and Theresa Kaiser. Thank you for pouring, and its obvious your skills go beyond bottom-line calculations. I know all enjoyed your wine. Thanks to everyone for your ticket pur-chases and your silent auction purchases. Front-of-house manager Sy Colletto and Catering Manager Beth Schmidt. Big kudos to your teams, which worked together in a pinch to pull off the room setup. The event prior threw a curveball by running over an extra hour (until after 3 p.m.), and having unanticipated equipment to manage through. Kim, Rachel, Sammy, Tommy and the rest of the team handled the curveball, made ad-justments, pulled together and got the room set up expeditiously and just right. Thanks. Chef Hork and team, the compliments came from all regarding the food and appetizers. Bacon-wrapped dates, cheese and nut-coated grapes, and Chicken Wellington puff bites were several of the favorites. Great promotion thanks to Gordon Gravelle for bringing your crew, the Lone Tree Golf Shop staff; Rick Marchoke, helping reach fellow Rotarians; and to the other contributing First Tee Board members. Thanks to Tom Worthy, Gordon Gravelle and Mike Riley for coming up and sharing chapter goals, comments and insights with attendees. Angela, thanks for e-mail blast through chap-ter. Larry, thank you for promoting to various coaches and volunteers. Dellila Colorado, your music is always fantastic. Thanks to Allison Anello for auction sheet assistance, and kudos to you and Sam Garcia for helping with the poster showing our kids. Thanks Hazel Sturm for a nice auction pack-age with Concord Hilton and Grassinis. Thanks Boundary Oak (Lance) and Diablo Creek (Joe and Sandy) for your golf donations. Ben and Christine Cabal. Thank you for

your continued therapeutic massage donations and support of First Tee. Thanks to Tommy and Rick Armstrong for helping settle up the silent auction bids, which brought in $1,805. Coach Byron and First Tee kids for working the room and giving the participants the faces and smiles of our First Tee program. Thank you to Randy Standridge with Contra Costa Times, Fred Ginsler with Brentwood/Antioch/Oakley Press, Frank MacCallister with East County Live, for your free pro-motion and publicity through community calendars and listings.

Great event. Thank you to all. Thanks for helping our First Tee kids!

Ron ParishAntioch

Generous contributorsEditor:

The Sutter Delta Medical Center Auxiliary would like to thank the following merchants and individuals for their generous donations to the Crab Feed. Your generosity is very much appreciated:

Atlantis Casino Resort, Reno; BJs Brewery; Barbara Stoiber; Ben Martinez; Black Oak Casino; Blue Rock Salon Marti Delbrook; Brentwood Emporium; Brenden Theaters; Chilis, Brentwood; Classy Cottage Rhonda; Cosmo Gems; Costco, Pittsburg; Curves, Contra Loma Boulevard, Antioch; Dazzle Me Jewelry; Debbies Music Box; Debra Cook Sutter Delta Medical Center; Deer Ridge Golf Club; Diamond Hills Sports Club & Spa; Grand Sierra Resort; Harrahs, Reno; Harvest Park Bowl; In-Shape City, Brentwood and Stockton; Janine Mori-ana Beauti Control; Jim Clark; Joel Harris Law Offi ce; Lone Tree Golf Course; Las Positas Golf Course; Mike Stoiber State Farm; Mimis Cafe; Napa Auto Parts, Brent-wood; Oakley Supper Beauty Nicole; Olive Garden, Pittsburg; Outback Steak House, Pittsburg; Peets Coffee, Brentwood; Premier Designs Jewelry; Rave Movie Theaters; Red Lobster, Pittsburg; Roddy Ranch Golf Course; Sandy Bitters Avon; Sams Club, Concord; Shadow Lakes Golf Club; Speedee Oil Change, Brentwood; Starbucks Coffee, A Street in Antioch; Super Cuts, Lone Tree Way; Tangles Salon, Brentwood; Trader Joes; Uno Chicago Grill; VFW Hall, Antioch; Viano Winery; and Wendy and Mike Kitt.

Thank you to the following people for their monetary donations: David Greenlaw; Dorothy Stacy; East Bay Medical Oncology; Hematology; Associates Inc. Drs. Ravi K. Arora; Bimal J. Patel and John T Ganey; Dr. Clark Williams; Dr. Robert Beer; John and Janine Moriana; Nancy Snow; Sam Mori-ana.

A very special thank-you to Jerry Denali and crew for preparing the food, and to Cyndi Soraoka and the Dozier Libby High School students for all their hard work.

John MorianaChairperson

Sutter Delta Medical Center Auxiliary

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

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

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Visit Your Hometown Website www.thepress.net THEPRESS.NET | 19A MARCH 9, 2012

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Soccer community mourns loss of star

Neto Corona, all of 16 years old, had a decision to make.

In October, doctors told him the can-cer that had wreaked havoc on his body for about a year was terminal.

One of East Countys brightest young soccer stars, Neto could keep go-ing through chemotherapy. He could keep pushing away the inevitable. He could sulk.

But thats not what Neto wanted to do. He knew he didnt belong in a hospi-tal or in a bed. He belonged on the pitch. Neto made the best of his situation and kept playing striker for the East Diablo Impact club soccer team.

I was against it (at fi rst), said his Impact coach, Keoni Clifford. Its not about now, its about him 10, 15, 20 years from now. Thats what was so hard for me. But I knew him when he was on the fi eld, and the time that he did spend in chemo, he was miserable.

He knew what he wanted. Soccer was life.

Jose Neto Corona continued to play indoor soccer for Impact until Janu-ary. He passed away on Feb. 25.

Playing the beautiful game was a ca-

thartic escape for Neto. He was able to gain notice not as a cancer patient, but as an athlete, which is exactly the way he wanted it.

In addition to wearing memorial arm bands, the team will start each game absent one player, in Netos honor. Im always going to feel like someones miss-

ing, said friend and longtime Impact teammate John Gonzalez. Were always going to feel like were a man down.

On Saturday, hundreds of rela-tives, friends and teammates packed Brentwoods Immaculate Heart of Mary church for a memorial mass. Afterward, several Impact players released balloons into the sky. Some held personal messag-es, their fi nal tributes to the player who never wanted to give up.

Neto, even though I didnt really know you, Ill miss you.

Youll always be my favorite play-er.

For Neto, soccer was always Plan A. It was also Plans B through Z. He played the sport all throughout childhood and wore No. 9 in honor of his idol, former Real Madrid striker Ronaldo.

In 2010, Neto made Liberty Highs varsity team as a freshman. But unlike many fi rst-year high school athletes, he didnt just sub in for upperclassmen Neto excelled. He earned the title of Bay Valley Athletic League Offensive Player of the Year. Neto also drew the attention of the professional Mexican First Divi-sion team Monarcas Morelia and spent a year training in its youth academy.

by Justin LaffertyStaff Writer

see Soccer page 22A

Friends and teammates of Jose Neto Corona release balloons following a memorial mass on Saturday. Corona passed away recently after losing his bat-tle against cancer.

Photo courtesy of Kim Vredenburgh

Local basketball teams are angling for a chance to play in the California Interscholastic Federation state title game. The boys and girls teams from Deer Valley High School both quali ed by virtue of their performance at the North Coast Section tournament. Above right, Marcus Lee tries to thwart a De La Salle layup in the NCS nals. Above left, Alejandra Cephas swats away a Berkeley shot. The Deer Valley boys hosted Bethel in Wednesdays rst round while the girls played Armijo. Freedom boys faced Piedmont Hills and the Heritage girls squared off against Oakland Tech. For recaps, visit www.thepress.net.

Sacramento dreamin

Photos by Curtis Evans

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Antiochs Clark earns medal at state meet

The far East Bay Area brought home only one medal from the California In-terscholastic Federation State Wrestling Championships, but it was hardly an un-successful two days of competition for Liberty High at Bakersfi elds Rabobank Arena.

Two of Greg Chappels wrestlers made it to the second day of competition and were one match away from advanc-ing to the Top 8 and earning medals. No shame in that, Chappel said, as Xavier Johnson (138 pounds) and Austin Solari (126) overachieved.

They were better than expected; they really wrestled over where they were ranked, Chappel said. I felt really good about where they ended up.

The main story, though, was Antioch 220-pounder Kyle Clark, who came within 16 seconds of making it to the title match and fi nished third. Clark was leading 4-3 in the fi nal minute against West Valley-Cottonwood competitor Austin Lobsinger (last years second-place winner) but drew stalling warnings against him. He was forced to keep working, instead of com-pletely switching into a defensive mode.

Lobsinger was able to execute a per-fect lateral throw, putting Clark on his back and making up the points he needed to win 8-4 thanks to a takedown and three nearfall points.

I should have won. I had to tie up with him because I didnt want to stall. I knew he had that throw in him, said Clark, who qualifi ed for the state meet last year as well. It was still a major suc-cess for me (taking third). Last year I was nervous but this year it was just like any other tournament. Last year I sat around in between matches; this year I warmed up

a lot more on the practice mats.Clark, a North Coast Section champ

coached by Ben McCorriston and Kurtis Starnes, won the third-place match 13-8 over Wascos Sean Medley. He fi nished

the tournament with a 6-1 record and his Friday results included a pin in 2:46, a 9-8 decision, a pin in 3:35 and a 9-5 victory over Tyler Smith of Marina, who fi nished seventh. Clarks sole effort earned Antioch

a tie for 42nd place in the team standings with 22 points.

Libertys Johnson battled through the

by Leland GordonCorrespondent

see Meet page 21A

Antiochs Kyle Clark, East Countys lone medalist at 220 pounds, works against a competitor during the CIF State Wrestling Championships in Bakers eld. Clark earned his way to the state meet with a victory at the NCS tournament.

Photo by John Sachs

MARCH 9, 2012 SPORTS THEPRESS.NET | 21A

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diffi cult consolation bracket after drop-ping a 9-4 decision to start his Friday. He won his next three: a 5-4 decision, an injury default and an 11-10 decision. But it came to an end Saturday morning, as Jason Ladd of Clovis (who fi nished fi fth) pinned Johnson with a cradle in 2:08.

I wanted to medal but fell short, said Johnson, a senior ranked No. 22 in the state entering the tournament but who fi nished in the Top 12. After I fell into consolation I had a feeling that I needed to pick it up. It pushed me. Im a little dis-appointed in myself but happy because outside people think I did good.

Johnson will try to walk-on at Cal Poly, and Chappel believes Johnson could do it. He has a huge upside in college, he said. I hope he sticks with it and learns more. Hes a kid who down the road could win at the NCAA level.

Solari also came within one win of placing. And like Johnson, he made the Top 12 despite being ranked No. 17. His day began with a huge win against Carter Highs Casper Sherow.

Solari, a junior, won 3-2 against Sherow in overtime a surprise to him and his coach. Austin had a great match. His weakness is on his feet when people come out at him, and he was able to stop that kid; that was big, Chappel said about his junior, who went 0-2 as a freshman at the state meet. He did a great job in the tournament. It was good to get the mon-key off his back to win, and hes set him-self up good for next year.

Solari dropped his next match 10-0 to Gilroys Paul Fox (who fi nished second) before winning 3-0 and 5-0 to make it to Saturdays competition. It all came un-done, though, against Vicente Hernandez of Clovis in an 8-2 loss. Hernandez fi n-ished eighth.

I thought I was good (as a freshman) and then went 0-2. I got to see the level of competition you need to be at in this tournament, said Solari, who went 3-2. I like to think Ill do well next year. If I work hard enough and keep my mind to it, I could maybe win it all.

Libertys Jacob Thompson-Zanarini (132) also qualifi ed and won a match be-fore fi nishing 1-2. He lost by pin in 5:03 but then rifl ed off a quick 32-second pin of James Lick-San Joses Dario Gamino before losing 17-1.

Zack Hanson (170) also won his fi rst match 6-4 over Northern Section champ Tyler Gil of Orland. Clovis state cham-pion Zach Nevills pinned Hanson in 1:21 in the next match, and his day ended in a tight 6-5 loss to Greg Meline of Edison-Huntington Beach.

Teammate Devon Lyle qualifi ed at 106 but did not make the trip. His team earned 18 points to fi nish tied for 55th.

Joey Vigil of Heritage made it to state at 106 but got no help, drawing defending state champion Johnson Mai of North Torrance in his fi rst match, which Vigil lost in a pin at 1:44.Vigil then fell 6-2 to Anthony Soto of Colony-Ontario to end his day.

To comment, visit www.thepress.net.

Meet from page 20A

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He just wanted to play soccer, said Netos aunt, Iliana Gonzalez. Thats his passion. He didnt see anything else.

What Netos teammates remember most vividly about him is that he wasnt content with just showing up. Though Neto wasnt the biggest guy on the fi eld, he wanted to work hard and succeed at anything he did. His closest friends de-scribed him as a pit bull in a Chihuahuas body.

Netos older brother and teammate, Manuel Corona, admired how he never held anything back. Though he wasnt a vocal rah-rah kind of player, he was al-ways one of the teams biggest sources of motivation.

Neto was always a competitive guy, but not to the point of seriousness. His teammates recall the time during a tour-nament in Vegas when Neto walked around The Strip in just a Speedo to get some laughs. He was rarely seen without a smile on his face, especially when he was on the soccer fi eld.

In his fi nal days, Netos teammates returned the love he constantly gave them. Many of them stayed at the Corona home, doing whatever they could to help the family and keep Neto in high spirits. Relatives also came up from Mexico to help Netos parents, Ernesto and Mina Miranda Corona, so they could spend more time with their son.

I used to refer to him as Superman because he was relentless, he was tena-cious, he was passionate, Clifford said.

If anyone out there is looking for heroes, someone to look up to, he was defi nitely one.

MJs Downtown Caf, 655 First St. in Brentwood, will host a taco night fund-raiser on Sunday starting at 5:30 p.m. All proceeds go to the Corona family to help with medical and funeral expenses.

To comment, visit www.thepress.net.

Soccer from page 19A

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Wolverines aim to maintain dominance

Ever since the departure of De La Salle from the Bay Valley Athletic League in 2008, Deer Valley has been the domi-nant force in BVAL boys golf. The Wol-verines have won every league title in that period and dropped only one match.

This year, Brian Koffords team is ready to compete again, not only in the BVAL, but in the North Coast Section. Deer Valley fi elds a top-fi ve group com-prising seniors Jaskaran Sihota and Rob-ert Riel, freshman Michael Uy, sopho-more Zach Dupuis and senior Isaiah Antoine. Kofford identifi ed the top three as players capable of shooting par or bet-ter any day, while the latter two are more than capable of shooting around 40 on any given nine.

I have high expectations and I hope we meet them, Kofford said. I need all fi ve of those guys to be consistent. Some can blow up some days, but as long as fi ve of six are good in tournaments and four of six are playing well in league matches, well be fi ne.

Kofford identifi ed Heritage as the team most likely to give Deer Valley prob-lems. He pinpointed the April 3 match at the Patriots home course of Deer Ridge as the one the Wolverines must win.

Much of Koffords confi dence stems from a tournament held earlier in the

week at Lone Tree Golf Course, attract-ing some of the sections best talent. The Wolverines fi nished in fourth place, trail-ing top teams Foothill, De La Salle and Monte Vista.

HeritageOne reason the Wolverines empha-

size their matches against Heritage is that the Patriots return their entire group that fi nished second in the BVAL Tournament and qualifi ed for NCS.

Juniors Carney Hocking, Chris Max-well, Tyler Brookens, Justin Barnes and senior Ryan Bell comprise the quintet has

shown exceptional promise over the last two years. Their experience puts the Patri-ots in a position to challenge the Wolver-ines reign at the top.

In the league tournament, Hockings 76 was enough to advance him to a play-off for the best individual player, which he lost to Deer Valley senior John Bell.

LibertySecond-year coach Bryan Beaver will

rely on senior Austin Kaiser as well as ju-niors Alex Miller and Garrett Murayama to spearhead the Lions challenge to Deer Valley and Heritage.

Weve been struggling early on in the season with losses against Ama-dor Valley, Granada and Miramonte all formidable opponents, Beaver said. The teams inconsistency off the tee and around the green has really stood out at courses weve played early on this year, which include Poppy Ridge Golf Course and Orinda Country Club.

Beavers hope is that despite the out-come of those early matches, the experi-ence gained will help the Lions on courses such as the Diablo Course at The Golf Club at Brentwood, the Discovery Bay Country Club and other league venues. He also identifi ed the March 19 Aiello Invitational tournament in Discovery Bay as a highly anticipated event.

Beaver will also look to a group of

Deer Valley senior Jaskaran Sihota leads a Wolverines squad hoping to win another BVAL title and make some noise in the North Coast Section.

Press file photo

by Michael DixonCorrespondent

see Dominance page 25A

MARCH 9, 2012 SPORTS THEPRESS.NET | 25A

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FreedomSecond-year coach Ken Sanders con-

siders the Falcons a team in rebuilding mode. They lost reigning league MVP Da-vid White and feature a team whose only experienced players are senior Kyle Timm and junior Mickey Neal.

Sophomore Drake Mather also re-turns from last year, although he didnt log signifi cant playing time last season. Sophomore Anthony Serujo and incom-ing freshmen Tristan Smith and Ray Mann will round out the bottom of the ladder.

Were going to dig in, learn and grow, Sanders said. Unfortunately, we dont like to, but we have to. Were get-ting in, growing together. None of us here are questions. Were all going to stay to-gether.

While Sanders will look for Timm and Neal to carry the load in the early sea-son, he also sees potential in Smith, who shows good form, strong determination, and a willingness to work hard, learn and improve his game.

Sanders does acknowledge that the team is in rebuilding mode but doesnt in-tend to occupy the basement this season.

AntiochJohn Luis is in his second year coach-

ing the boys team, which fi elds fi ve return-ing players, led by junior Josh Mouzakis and sophomore Ryan Chapman. Mouza-kis qualifi ed for NCS last year as an indi-vidual, fi ring an 83 at the league tourna-ment.

Luis is excited about the potential in freshmen Lorenzo Flenoid, Myles Gilory and Mike Drapel. The coach said the youngsters might not see much match time in the early season, but he hopes theyll make progress by the end of the season in time for the league tournament.

This is a really great group of kids that like to get out there and play the game, Luis said. We should have a fun year. I want to make them enjoy the ex-perience.

PittsburgPittsburg head coach Al Bonanno

notes that while the Pirates are young, their youth bodes well for the future of the program.

At the top of Pittsburgs ladder is senior Kevin Labao, who has been with the program for three years. Labao leads a roster that hasnt played as much golf as its BVAL counterparts. Juniors Mike Or-lando and Eric Smith, plus sophomores Austin Simarro and Anthony Abitz, played last year, but it was the fi rst year of competition for some of them.

A couple Pittsburg freshmen are new to the links, but Bonanno believes theyve got potential.

To comment, visit www.thepress.net.

Dominance from page 24A

MARCH 9, 2012 THEPRESS.NET | 27A

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