Brentwood Press - Index

Brentwood Press - BrentwoodPress_08.22.08 - Index

your hometown weeKLy newspaper
Vol. 10, No. 34 Including surrounding Communities www.brentwoodpress.com August 22, 2008
Vandals
wreck Vasco
memorial
by Ruth Roberts
Staff Writer
Cameron Enriquez says that whoever desecrated
the newly painted cross and freshly planted
flowers along the side of Vasco Road last week
might have removed the tangible evidence of his
mother’s shrine, but they’ve done nothing to supplant
her memory. In fact, the 18-year-old vowed
to build a larger, sturdier and more expansive memorial
in its place.
Enriquez’s mother, Patricia Altman, was
killed on Sunday afternoon, Aug. 10, 2003, when
the car she was driving southbound along a narrow
stretch of Vasco Road was struck by a cargo
trailer that had broken off of a truck and crossed
over into her lane. She was one of seven people
killed that year on the perilous roadway.
Altman’s death spurred her husband, Jeff,
and her best friend, Joanne Flynn, to lobby for
improvements along the dangerous commute
see Memorial page 21A
Conservation plan gets underway
Photo by Dave Roberts
A conservation plan is being launched that’s designed to keep
the Delta ecosystem healthy for fish and recreation while also
providing water for people and farms.
by Dave Roberts
Staff Writer
A study to save the Delta’s
ecosystem while still providing
water to 25 million Californians
and 3 million acres of farmland
is about to kick into high gear,
a process that could eventually
lead to construction of a peripheral
canal.
The Bay Delta Conservation
Plan (BDCP) is the latest
attempt to find the best compromise
between thirsty water agencies
seeking an abundant, quality
water supply and environmental
groups and others seeking to ensure
the health of a fragile, troubled
Delta ecosystem.
The plan might call for the
construction of a peripheral canal
that takes fresh water from
the Sacramento River in the
north Delta and conveys it south
along the east side of the Delta.
That possibility worries local officials,
who fear it would lead to
a worsening of water quality, including
an increase in salinity.
The first step in putting to-
Photo by Richard Wisdom
Cameron Enriquez, left, and Jeff Altman survey the vandalized Vasco Road memorial
to their mother and wife, Patricia Altman, whose 2003 death helped
prompt numerous safety improvements on the dangerous commute corridor.
The memorial was wrecked just days after it was refurbished in observance of
the fifth anniversary of her accident.
gether the plan is the preparation
of environmental impact studies
that will identify the most environmentally
friendly option
or options. Officials from the
California Department of Water
Resources (DWR) traveled to
Antioch last week to meet with
Delta landowners to let them
know that they might be seeking
permission to go onto their land
to conduct some of the studies
beginning in early 2009.
DWR Deputy Director
Richard Sanchez kicked off the
Aug. 14 meeting in the flower
hall at the county fairgrounds,
which was as steamy as a greenhouse.
“We are here to work with
you,” he said. “We are very concerned
with the Delta. There’s
various issues: whether it’s water
supply reliability, ecosystem
restoration; fishery counts are
down; flood protection is an issue.
We are here to work with
you on solutions.
“We have a lot of study
see Delta page 21A
National Award Winning Newspapers
This Week
Defying
dilapidation
Liberty High’s Athletic Boosters
are continuing their decadeslong
mission to improve the
school’s sports facilities and
bolster the Lions’ pride.
Page 9A
Grate bashes
of fire!
At two upcoming fundraisers,
folks can dive into barbecued
delights in support of worthy
causes.
Page 4A
hard worker
spreads cheer
One coach is doing double
duty so that two of her colleagues
can take a break without
leaving the program.
Page 1B
insiDe
Calendar ........................19B
Classifieds ......................12B
Community .................... 3A
Education ....................... 6A
Entertainment ................9B
Food ..............................10B
Health & Beauty............. 7B
Opinion ........................16A
Outdoors ......................18A
Public Notices ..................8B
Siren Sounds ................17A
Sports ...............................1B