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Greetings from the East Bay Area! My name is Aly Brown, and I live with my family in a rural town just outside of San Francisco.
As a published and represented author (Macmillan/BookEnds, LLC) and a newspaper editor-in-chief, I see the world as a place full of stories. The best part of being a novelist is creating them, but the best part of being an editor and journalist is sharing the ones that already exist.
I have more than 15 years of editorial experience, including freelance writing and editing; SEO and content marketing; website design, upkeep and troubleshooting; and project coordination.
One of the oldest wineries in the Livermore Valley region will soon undergo a change of hands, though the new owner remains to be seen. Concannon Vineyard was listed for sale late last year by its current owner, The Wine Group - a large wine producer that owns such brands as Franzia and Cupcake.
By Alythia Brown, @alythiabrown.85 Part of The Writer's Life Series JH: Social media is both a blessing and a curse, and no writer should feel pressured to engage if they don't want to. Alythia Brown kicks off the New Year with thoughts and tips on what happens when you don't let social media rule your life.
The May revision of California's education budget has East County school districts tightening their belts by $1.2 million, which has superintendents scrambling to figure out how to maintain both a budget and important programs for children.
A love of Disney and a passion for bringing joy to kids helped one Liberty grad bibbidi-bobbidi-boo an idea into a business. Launched a year ago, 18-year-old Victoria Gregory, co-founder of Princess Parties, plays Anna from "Frozen," bringing magic to birthday parties and community events.
As a 94-year-old World War II veteran, Discovery Bay resident Jim Hillyer is one of the last of his kind. According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, California's population of vets who served in that war is predicted to fall to about 30,000 by next year, down from 100,000 in 2015.
Every week for the last two and a half years, an ancient bean central to most morning rituals has connected the community at Adams Middle School. But this brew isn't percolating in the teachers' lounge - it's wheeled around the school campus by students from the special-needs classroom and their aides as part of a larger life-skills assignment.
Before summer heat waves lure students everywhere to beaches and pools, this year's graduating class will send off its brightest stars with the highest recognitions. For Oakley's Freedom High School, those bright stars for the graduating class of 2019 are Zachary Pakin and Audrey Carandang, who were named valedictorian and salutatorian, respectively.
East County watched the school year come to a close this week, and Sahil Chandra and Lucas Bosman - named valedictorian and salutatorian, respectively, of Brentwood's Heritage High School - made their families, teachers and community proud. Sahil graduated with a cumulative GPA of 4.47, ranking him No.
This week saw the close of classes, the beginning of summer and recognition for some of the highest-achieving students in the county. In Antioch, Dozier-Libbey Medical High School named three students for their academic achievements: Jewelina Culcasi, Seenam Shah and Aliha Mughal.
As graduates across East County turned tassels last week, Liberty High School honored its top students. Before heading off to summer and the college life that awaits them, Hailey Mori and Jonathan Knittel were named the Lions' valedictorian and salutatorian, respectively.
In a yearly tradition highlighting Portuguese culture and heritage, the Holy Ghost Festa swept the streets of Oakley last weekend with a parade followed by a community feast. Put on by Flor Do Oakley, a nonprofit Portuguese organization, this year's event was held Sunday, July 21.
In the first of its kind, the Brentwood Police Department (BPD) was scheduled as of press time to hold an awards ceremony Feb. 7 to celebrate staff and volunteers who support the department.
While its private offices have rapidly filled, the City of Oakley's new entrepreneur center is still accepting tenant applications for select spaces. Situated in downtown Oakley at 3330 Main St., the center has been in the works alongside a handful of other municipal projects since last summer, but with its launch in April this year, space has quickly filled.
Heritage High School Junior Xenobia Weber is sharing her love of math and science while inspiring change in her community through a free program she launched and now teaches at
A nationwide organization helping women recently launched in East County and has more than doubled in attendance in a short amount of time. Local residents Brandy Woolman, Debbie Neely, Jeannette Hemenway, Shelly Williams and Tiffany Violich comprise the newly formed Discovery Bay chapter for Helping One Woman (HOW), a nonprofit dedicated to every month, helping one woman who has suffered an irreplaceable loss.
East County is a place rich with history, but many of the lesser known historic trivia gems are hidden in bygone newspapers and handed down from generation to generation. Kathy Leighton of the Contra Costa County Historical Society, an historian whose own family legacy is deeply rooted in the area, shares some of those lesser-known facts on the area.
In a recent letter sent home to families in the Brentwood Union School District (BUSD), officials called upon parents to take action with words. The message outlined a growing and systemic funding problem for education within California and urged parents to write to legislators, calling on them to meet goals added to the state constitution with the passing of Proposition 98 in 1988.
Residents of East County and the world over celebrated the shift from 2018 to 2019 this week, and with the new year came some new laws. Below is a sampling of changes California citizens can expect. A schedule set into motion the gradual increase of California's minimum wage for employers with 26 or more employees.
This week the cousins made the trip to compete in Georgia for the national BattleArena finals hosted at SS Airsoft on Jan. 12, and if they are successful the duo will represent the U.S. for the International Airsoft Championships in Finland.
As the impact of the longest government shutdown in history continues, residents and agencies here in East County have begun to feel its affects. Deemed essential, those active duty personnel are still reporting for duty, and Lt. Commander Matthew Kroll, public affairs officer for the 11th district, gave an update on the missions and overall morale among his team.
In an effort to save funds and go green, the Brentwood Union School District (BUSD) has contracted with GE Solar for the installation of solar panels at five district sites.
Every time 5-year-old Kayla Verbis passed the Brentwood Library under construction last year, she would admire the progress, eagerly awaiting the day it would open. For the Garin Elementary School kindergartener with a love of reading, the new structure was sure to offer beautiful books, an enchanting children's section and many opportunities to snuggle with her mom and little sister to get lost in a story.
After expanding its services to Byron last school year, one Brentwood-based nonprofit is hoping to spread the word in an effort to help more kids and families in need. Village Community Resource Center (VCRC), a free afterschool program for the children of low- and very low-income families, branched out to Byron last academic year.
It's been a year since Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen announced Temporary Protected Status (TPS) would end for Salvadorans who arrived in the U.S. as refugees nearly 20 years ago, but the fight for change remains heavy on the minds of families racing the clock.
A church in Antioch will become the host of a world-touring singing group and the community far and wide is invited to support the cause. On Sunday, Dec. 30, at 7 p.m., Antioch Church Family will host the African Children's Choir in a performance that will be one of many in a tour along the West Coast - a tour that will guarantee an education to each singer involved.
East County's own Ally Jenkins recently became the 27th person in the world to receive a third lung transplant, and she has big plans for the future.
While it's now a well-known name across the world, 10 years ago Airbnb was nothing more than an idea set into motion by co-founders Joe Gebbia and Brian Chesky, who inflated three airbeds in their San Francisco apartment and set into motion a revolution in global travel.
Ownership of The Streets of Brentwood recently changed, and while the ink is still drying on the contracts, residents and tenants alike hope the shift will breathe new life into the retail hub.
The human resources (HR) department is a critical partner for many businesses, but the best-practice strategies of this industry have shifted over the last five to 10 years. HR has long been painted as the hiring and firing department - the people who surface from the depths of the building when things hit the proverbial fan.
As the spring sun warms the soil, First Generation Farmers (FGF) digs into new and established programs intended to cultivate the next generation of farmers. One back by popular demand is the after-school program, which began this week, for children ages 4 to 14.
A recent merger between two land trusts focused on farmland protection has garnered support and hope from East County farmers. When Kathryn Lyddan, former executive director of Brentwood Agricultural Land Trust (BALT), left her seat to accept a position with the State Department of Conservation, the BALT board decided it was time to merge with Central Valley Farmland Trust (CVFT).
With populations in cities throughout East County on the rise, crime rates are often placed in the spotlight along with the cost to put officer boots on the streets. Brentwood, Oakley and Antioch each saw their share of overtime pay to police departments in 2017.
In an effort to cultivate a sense of community for seniors and caretakers, a group in Brentwood will now host senior coffee hour every Monday. Open to the public, the weekly get-togethers are an extension of Celebration Center Senior Day Program in Brentwood, which kicked off a year and a half ago offering respite care to seniors while featuring an intergenerational program with Celebration Center's existing preschool.
A farm stand along Walnut Boulevard has returned to local hands, and the owners have big plans for creating a truly organic Brentwood offering to health-conscience locals. The Cecchini family of Cecchini & Cecchini Asparagus Farm and First Generation Farmers (FGF) purchased Annie's Happy Farm at 2017 Walnut Boulevard from overseas owners and turned it into The Urban Edge - a collaboration of local organic and sustainable farmers and producers.
Every week for the last two and a half years, an ancient bean central to most morning rituals has connected the community at Adams Middle School. But this brew isn't percolating in the teachers' lounge - it's wheeled around the school campus by students from the special-needs classroom and their aides as part of a larger life-skills assignment.
At a recent meeting, the Byron Union School District (BUSD) board welcomed incoming board members, said goodbye to the outgoing and gave an update on the state of the budget. Joshua McMurray, Eva Pahl and Melissa Ortiz-Gray will replace seats vacated by Tania Salinas, Jill Sprenkel and Diane Stewart for terms that ended Dec.
A new housing development in Bethel Island is ramping up for a grand opening this spring, and officials boast it as a last-of-its-kind Delta-centric development. Located on Bethel Island, the Delta Coves community will feature 560 waterfront homes - each with its own boat dock - and an Island Camp, a 4,500-square-foot clubhouse with a fitness center, swimming pool and event center.
While some women go on to shatter glass ceilings in the corporate world, others are making leaps as entrepreneurs. For Kandyce Jones-Olson that proverbial business leap was also quite literal - as a former dance and fitness instructor, she decided to open Barre Beat, a barre studio in Brentwood, after discovering East County was lacking.
Locals know beauty surrounds them at every turn, but what many don't realize is their home is also a habitat unlike any in the world. Elements present on the East County side of Mount Diablo have created the perfect recipe for nurturing raptors such as the golden eagle, a massive bird with a 7-foot wingspan.
The Brentwood Library Foundation and the City of Brentwood recently hosted tours of the work in progress at the corner of Oak and First streets as part of the library's sneak-a-peek event. On April 28, guests ranging from councilmembers and city officials to donors and The Press slapped on hard hats and walked into the open structure of half-built walls.
By Alythia Brown, @AlyConnerBrown Part of the How They Do It Series Tying up all the loose ends in a plot requires the right balance between too loose (where the ending isn't satisfying) and too pat (where the ending feels too contrived).
Individuals, families and advocacy groups from all over the state gathered at the capitol this week for Immigrant Day 2018, and Contra Costa County was represented among them. Buses lined the streets, and tents and blankets were nestled on the lawn as groups filed in and out of the capitol building for appointments with senators and assemblymembers.
The Oakley Union Elementary School District (OUESD) recently lost a beloved 93-year-old volunteer, but for those who knew him, he was so much more - a funny, hard-working colleague, a grandfather figure to the students and a cherished best friend.
Life for an injured gosling could have ended not long after it had begun if it wasn't for the help of human strangers and a dedicated couple who now serve as Mom and Dad. Discovery Bay residents Carol and Derrick Boler were stopped behind traffic in their small neighborhood last week when they realized the source of the holdup was a family of Canada geese.
By Alythia Brown, @alyconnerbrown Part of the How They Do It Series JH: Something fun and informative today, as Alythia Brown returns to the lecture hall with her Grammar Chicken. Yes, that's right. A chicken that helps writers keep track of commonly misused words.
Mother and daughter Maylon and Karina McCoy were out for a walk in downtown Brentwood with their pet duck, Silly, when we at The Press noticed them on Monday afternoon. Purchased for $6 when he was only a few days old, the bird - a naturally flightless breed called an Indian runner - follows his family members everywhere they go and serves as a therapy pet.
Teachers, parents and community members gathered at Bixler Road and Highway 4, Thursday, May 31, to protest the financial state of the Byron Union School District (BUSD). The district recently announced it will need to cut an additional $500,000 from the budget, which teachers fear will result in slashed hours, benefits, among other concerns.
"Last night, the board made some difficult decisions in an effort to stabilize the district budget. These cuts along with March layoffs will bring the budget to a qualified position and possibly a positive budget. Either way, it will no longer be negative," Gold stated during the meeting, though she declined to comment further.
A series of rather fortunate decisions recently led to the rescue of four individuals who would have drowned had it not been for the efforts of an Oakley Marine and his colleague. Lance Cpl. Andrew Lucas, Freedom High School graduate, spent his 96 hours of base leave at home in Oakley and was making plans to return to Camp Pendleton in Southern California, Tuesday, May 29.
After a long absence, salmon are once again running upstream at Marsh Creek - a sign the efforts of conservationist groups are beginning to pay off. In the 1950s, Brentwood was a robust agricultural hub, filled with acres upon acres of walnuts, cherries, apricots, corn and so much more.
This summer, as record-breaking temperatures and unprecedented wildfires have engulfed parts of the state and Pacific Northwest, East County farmers have been fighting their own battles against the heat here at home.
Many boaters across the Delta recall an island inhabited by pigs, but the ending of that tale has since spiraled into a haze. However, for Roger Stevenson, the animals' owner, the story is still heavy on his mind as he continues to search for an attorney who will represent his case a year after the pigs were taken from him.
Family Guide to Contra Costa County You may have visited Contra Costa County on a quest to find pick-your-own fruit, but there's tons more to offer in this area just east of Oakland. Wineries that welcome kids, a theater with an annual blues festival and parks where the kids can cool off are just a few of the family faves.
Cecily Hayes recently became Independence High School's first student to receive a full-ride scholarship to Fresno State, and, appropriately, she has her horse to thank. With a trainer for a mom, Cecily grew up riding horses and soon became involved in the competitive show circuit.
Students, parents and community members gathered outside the Liberty Union High School District (LUHSD) office last week, protesting the controversial transfer of a Heritage High School history teacher. The May 23 gathering was a direct result of the district's recent decision to move Heritage High School teacher Tyler Rust to Liberty High School next year in what would be an involuntary transfer.
Elementary school students in Discovery Bay are rolling up their sleeves, dipping their toes into the First Amendment and preparing to prove the pen is mightier than the sword. Students from the Academic Talent Program (ATP), which offers challenging and rigorous coursework for advanced children in the Byron Union School District, have set out on a literary mission: to launch a school newspaper.
Sisters Gemma, Starla and Ellihana Allen made headlines after they were born - one minute after another - to an East County family, and now as bouncing 1 year olds, the trio is recognized everywhere around Brentwood. Looking back over the past year, the triplets' parents Amanda and Stephen Allen say it's been a sometimes hectic, yet surprisingly calm, adventure.
Scott Cassell described the moment a drunk driver changed his life as a lightning strike - the words he muttered to first responders, the debris flying as the jaws of life peeled his van open to remove him and his son from the wreckage - all of it was wiped from his mind since that first impact.
The Contra Costa County Office of Education (CCCOE) has warned the Byron Union School District (BUSD) that unless "a heroic effort" is made, the beleaguered district faces state receivership. The news arrived Sept.
While not many would think to pair Hawaiian and French cuisine, for Sydney and Stephane Tonnelier, the combination represents who they are, which is why they plan to open a restaurant showcasing these flavors in downtown Oakley. French native Stephane and his wife, Sydney, from Hawaii, stood before the Oakley City Council at its Oct.
To some, this may appear as a call to ignore the homeless; but what isn't seen at the stoplight is the work behind the scenes to address the issue of rising poverty. The signs stem from a chamber of commerce task-force suggestion, which noted a program on the East Coast that posted similar messages in an effort to curb panhandling and educate the public.
A bitter disappointment for the Bristow Middle School Choir students recently transformed into a once-in-a-lifetime experience, when they were given the chance to meet the Golden State Warriors. Last October, the Bristow choir arrived to sing the national anthem as it had for the past five years in the Oracle Arena, home of the Warriors.
One Brentwood family recently ventured to Washington D.C. to implore members of Congress to support a program - one that will determine if this will be their last Christmas together for the foreseeable future.
A curbside lemonade stand in Discovery Bay recently became the focus of national headlines when the community rallied together to support a child who was bullied by an adult. Due to medical issues that could not be properly tended to in public school, 13-year-old Jasmine LaRoche left Edna Hill Middle School during her sixth-grade year to become a home-school student.
Teacher salary negotiations recently settled in the Brentwood Union School District (BUSD), and while the raises were minimal, an overwhelming amount of educators voted in favor of their students.
Father Quang Minh Dong, a priest at Brentwood Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, was 19 years old when his father woke him in the middle of the night with an urgent message. "Son, it's time to go now," his father whispered, and Quang grabbed the bag he'd packed years ahead of time, in anticipation of the day his family would attempt to escape communist Vietnam, in 1980.
Before appearing on NBC's "The Voice" and landing a mentorship with Miley Cyrus, one contestant walked a different stage for Heritage High School's class of 2017 graduation. With an FBI agent for a father and a mother in the corporate world, Ilianna Viramontes recalled bouncing around before settling in Brentwood in sixth grade.
Previously a third-place winner of the 2011 Delta Harvest Run, Jessica Buscho crossed the finish line this year third from last, but it's an accomplishment that rings with determination, spirit and the hope to bring awareness to her disease.