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Brentwood Press - OakleyPress_05.02.08 - Index

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Vol. 8, No.18 Including Surrounding Communities www.thepress.net May 2, 2008
Youth Day at Freedom a success
by Ruth Roberts
Staff Writer
The Contra Costa County Youth
Summit got a makeover this year: a new
name, a new look and plenty of brand-new
enthusiasm. Just ask Celestina Amigo.
“It’s cool, really cool,” said the 15
year-old Pittsburg resident. “I went to this
last year and it was good, but this was better.
I don’t know – it’s just more fun and
there’s more to choose from.”
Variety was an important component
of the newly christened Youth Day event.
The fourth annual affair hosted at Freedom
High School last weekend drew nearly
300 teens from throughout the county
for a daylong series of workshops aimed at
reaching the county’s youth in a positive,
proactive way.
“This program is just a wonderful opportunity
for the youth of Oakley and the
whole county to come together in a positive
spirit that celebrates youth,” said Oakley
Councilman Kevin Romick, who spoke
at the event. “It also gives them (participants)
some life skills and options for after
high school. I think it’s a great program.”
Participants were offered a variety of
workshops to choose from, encompassing
such topics as small-business management,
video production and CPR classes.
Rotating their way through a handful of
15-to-30-minute mini-classes, the idea was
to offer a representative sampling of op-
tions with both fun and practical applications.
Aja Butler, executive director of
Contra Costa County Girl Power, hosted
City Council OKs Empire Station
by Dave Roberts
Staff Writer
Despite numerous objections
by the Contra Costa Water
District (CCWD), the Oakley
City Council gave the go-ahead
last week on a plan to build 47
townhouses and three offi ce/retail
buildings on 5½ acres on
the southwest corner of Empire
Avenue and the realignment of
Neroly Road.
Construction on Empire
Station, which will be located
across the street from the Spare
Time Fitness Club now under
construction, is expected to begin
about a year from now.
CCWD offi cials operate
the Randall-Bold Water Treatment
Plant on Neroly Road a
few hundred yards away from
the Empire Station site. CCWD
sent a letter to Oakley offi cials
raising several concerns about
locating houses, stores and of-
Photo by Ruth Roberts
Aja Butler, executive director of the Contra Costa County Girl Power organization,
talks with girls about confi dence, self-esteem and body issues during the
Contra Costa County Youth Day event at Freedom High School.
fi ces so close to its industrial
plant.
CCWD’s concerns are of
particular interest to city offi -
cials because the city needs to
acquire right-of-way from the
water district for the realignment
of Neroly Road and the
routing of a pedestrian trail
through the area.
One of CCWD’s concerns
is “land use compatibility with
townhomes and offi ces near
their water treatment plant,”
said Oakley Community Development
Director Rebecca Willis
at the April 22 City Council
meeting.
see Youth Day page 29A
Graphic courtesy of the city of Oakley
A rendering of one of three buildings planned for the Empire Station, possibly containing
medical offi ces. One building might become a coffee shop or restaurant.
In response, she pointed
out that Brentwood is building
its own water treatment plant
next to Randall-Bold, and that
the environmental impact report
for that project “found the
Brentwood plant … would be
see Empire page 29A
National Award Winning Newspapers
THIS WEEK
Stats in
the belfry
Cool facts about a certain
flying mammal gave Oakley
kids a fresh look at a misunderstood
icon.
Page 3A
Tattlin’ on
the rattlin’
With malice toward none,
venom for all, this critter deserves
your undivided attention
out on the trail.
Page 22A
Falcons take
best shot
Four Freedom athletes placed
first in track and field events
at a recent meet, and one of
them set a school record.
Page 3B
INSIDE
Calendar ........................31B
Classifieds ......................21B
Community .................... 3A
Education ....................... 8A
Entertainment ..............17B
Food ..............................16B
Health & Beauty ...........11B
Milestones .....................29B
Opinion ........................20A
Public Notices ................24B
Recreation ....................22A