Hercules Express, February 12, 2013, E-edition

EXPRESSTHE HERCULES

A COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER FOR THE CITY OF HERCULES

FREE

While voters passed Mea-sure O last June, a half cent sales tax to help solve the city’s budget deficit, voters may be asked to return to the polling station to pass a Utility Users Tax (UUT) this June.

“We’re in a position where we still think we’re in a fiscal emergency,” Duran said.

At their regular meeting tonight, February 12, the City Council will vote on whether to declare a fiscal emergency. Once the emergency is de-clared, the Utility Tax could pass on the June ballot by a simple majority. The coun-cil declared a similar state of emergency in early 2012 before placing Measure O on the June

2012 ballot.The proposed tax would

hike up the current UUT by 2%, possibly adding $800,000 per year to the general budget. City staff and the Council will also discuss including a tax on cable as part of the ballot mea-sure, which would likely bring another $300,000 to the city’s budget, possibly eliminating the budget crisis.

City Manager Steve Duran said that the city has cut its budget and staffing to “bare bones,” and without an addi-tional boost in revenue, it could look to sever four more police officer positions, as well as axe $50,000 from the senior center, teen center and other parks and recreation programs.

St. Cornelius Church Choir Director Michelle Jones leads the choir, the Hanna Ranch Children’s Choir and the audience in a rendition of “We Shall Overcome” during the Hercules Democratic Club’s first Martin Luther King Day Celebration, January 21. Story on page 6.

TUESDAYFebruary 12, 2013

Issue 4

Staff photo

Ohlone Construction.......9Community Calendar....10Sports............................11HMHS Construction......12

Inside this Issue

Pet of the Week...............2Letters to the Editor.......2MLK Day...........................6Local Spotlight................7Restaurant Review........8

Happy

Weather for Hercules, CAFeb. 12 Feb. 13 Feb. 14 Feb. 15 Feb. 16

Sunny63°

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0% Chance ofPrecipitation





• see CRISIS page 12

Parking fi nes, taxes, LED sign to solve $1.2 million budget crisis

City Council rescues Victoria Crescent sale

Another tax likely to hit June ballot

By Alyssa Morrisey

• see TAX on page 12

“If you cut anymore from the budget, we’re really going to have a problem.”

Steve Duran

By Alyssa Morrisey

City to declare a state of fi scal emergency on Feb. 12

Much has changed since June 2012, though the City of Hercules’ roughly 1.2 million budget deficit still remains. With the sale of each of the for-mer Redevelopment Agency’s properties taking longer than expected, the city must scram-ble to find ways to fill the bud-get gap by this coming June.

“Everything has to be on the table,” Mayor John Delgado said.

Though ideas currently be-ing explored include raising the City’s Utility Users Tax (UUT), taxing Hercules’ only Marijua-na dispensary, placing an LED freeway sign on Sycamore Av-enue facing the I-80 Hercules off-ramp, possibly imposing a parking fee structure in the City’s Bayside neighborhood,

and increasing the franchise fee on the City’s garbage collection agreement.

The City will hedge its bets on a passing a UUT rate hike Measure, that may go before

votes as early as June. Find this story on page 1.

Proposals before the coun-cil include no cost saving mea-sures, only potential revenue boosters. The city already cut its budget from $23 million to $16 million and reduced its staff from 25 members to only nine during the 2011-12 year.

“It is quite [sparse] in the building, there is no one left to cut from any department,” Del-gado said. “In fact, we’ve had the police cut down below what any of us... had wanted.

“The sad fact about tonight is that we have to raise $1.2 million just to not cut another officer.”

Delgado added that each of the topics discussed would keep the City’s budget afloat, but would not allow them to re-hire staff or increase services.

Many, including Vice Mayor Myrna De Vera, have suggested the city consider slashing its budget further, possibly reduc-ing or outsourcing department head positions.

“We are top heavy because the middle and the bottom [level positions are gone,” City

After letting it die during their January 8 meeting, the City Council passed a resolution to extend the feasibility period for the purchase and sale agreement of the Victoria Crescent lot at a special meeting one week later.

The extention allowed City Ventures LLC to wrap up their deal with the City to turn the vacant lot on San Pablo Avenue into 40-50 single family homes. At the end of their feasibility period, March 31, City Ventures must make a decision whether or not to purchase the land.

The resolution was originally motioned by Council member Dan Romero, but lacked a second vote to go forward.

After their City as Successor Agency meeting on January 15,

council members noted they never meant to jeopardize the agreement. The motion then passed three votes against two, with Vice Mayor Myrna De Vera and Council Member Sherry McCoy providing the only nay votes.

City Ventures Senior Vice President Phil Kerr said the issue with the feasibility study was blown out of proportion. City Ventures originally requested the extention due to extra beauocratic hurdles created by a new state law, and to to hold several community outreach events.

After meeting with the community on February 7, Kerr said the Developer is nearly ready to commit to closing escrow on the property

Council members Bill Kelly (left), Sherry McCoy, John Delgado, Myrna De Vera and Dan Romero.

By Alyssa Morrisey

Rodeo man arrested for burglary inside Hercules Wells Fargo

Hercules Officers were dis-patched to Wells Fargo Bank in the Creekside shopping center for a fraud in progress at about 11:30 a.m. last Tuesday, Feb-ruary 5. The reporting party said an African American male adult was attempting to cash a stolen check.

When the first officer ar-rived he observed a gray Chev-rolet, with three occupants,

parked in front of the bank. A female driver appeared to be acting as a look out and tried to leave the area when officers arrived.

An officer contacted the occupants of the vehicle and learned the driver was waiting for her friend, who was inside the bank cashing a check. Of-ficers contacted the male in question and determined the

check he was trying to cash had been stolen during a commer-cial burglary in San Jose, CA.

24 year old Sedric Mitch-ell, of Rodeo, was arrested for Commercial Burglary, Forgery and Possession of Stolen Prop-erty. Police transported Mitch-ell to the Martinez Detention Facility. The occupants of the vehicle were released pending further investigation.

Happy Chinese New Year

NEWS2 THE HERCULES EXPRESS Tuesday, February 12, 2013

No story is too small for the Hercules Express. We welcome your news and your opinions on any topic.

The Express reserves the right to edit articles and letters submitted. Opinion pieces should not exceed 500 words, and letters should not exceed 250 words.

Do you want to get your news into the Express? Send all text and photos to [email protected]. Emails with no subject line will not be opened. The deadline for submitting news, photos and opinion items is the Thursday before the coming issue.

Send us your news

Editor and PublisherAlyssa Morrisey

[email protected]

ContributorsRenee Hamilton, Pam Jacobs, Timothy Laubach, Joline Ashby Special Thanks

Vigil Beth Rapiz

1511M Sycamore Avenue, #113, Hercules, CA 94547, (510) 992-3171

SportsMike Wade

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Reasons to raise the Utility User Tax

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EXPRESSTHE HERCULES

A COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER FOR THE CITY OF HERCULES

FREE

Hercules residents and the new owner of the Market Hall site, McNellis Partners met for the first time last Saturday for a town hall meeting. By the end of the meeting, both had diminished their expec-tations of what kind of retail may soon appear at the site.

Residents, City staff mem-bers, City Council members and other business owners held fast to the vision outlined in the Central Hercules Plan. The 6.5 acre site, originally called “Market Town,” was slated have 326,000 square feet of multi-story, mixed use space including retail, office and live work units.

CEO John McNellis called the Central Hercules Plan “a

lovely vision,” but Hercules “doesn’t have the kind of den-sity and traffic to make that kind of plan work.”

McNellis noted the many units throughout Hercules that have remained vacant for months, even years. He also said there is not a particularly

high demand for office space in Hercules.

“It’s not in our economic interest or yours to make a site that doesn’t work,” Mc-Nellis said.

McNellis also told resi-dents that multi-story units are difficult to lease out, and

Sala Thai Restaurant closed its doors in December due to financial reasons. The City of Hercules, the owner of the building, says it is already getting proposals from restaurateurs for its replacement.

With a projected $950,000 deficit in the coming fiscal year, the City of Hercules has had to become creative about solving its budget crisis. One of the options on the table is placing a high quality, LED Freeway sign on I-80 in Her-cules.

The idea was solicited to the City by Silicon View, a pro-vider of LED signage technol-

ogy. In their pitch to the City Council last Tuesday, January 8, representatives of Silicon View reckoned the sign could pump between $200 and $300 into the general budget - based on what their similar sign in Silicon Valley brings in.

“It is very rare that a site will meet all Caltrans require-ments and be within the city’s boundaries,” Mike McCoy, a Silicon View representative

said.McCoy noted that most

freeway signs are placed on private land, where as the City of Hercules would reap all the benefits from the sign.

However, Silicon View vowed the freeway sign would not cost the city a cent to in-stall nor to maintain, saying it would instead absorb the cost. The company said that it

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Holiday Tree Lighting.....8Year in Review................12Police Log......................14Sports............................11

Inside this Issue

Opinion...........................2Pet of the Week...............2Crossword.......................4Hercules Transitions......5Arts and Film....................7

Weather for Hercules, CA

By Alyssa Morrisey

• see LED SIGN on page 16

Jan. 15 Jan. 16 Jan. 17 Jan. 18 Jan. 19

Mostly Cloudy63°

Showers61°

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From Market Hall to strip mall

City hears from LED freeway sign developer

• see DENIED on page 5

Deputy City Manager heads to Alameda

Former Deputy City Manager Elizabeth Warmerdam left the City last Friday, January 11.

Former Deputy City Man-ager Elizabeth Warmerdam left the City of Hercules last Friday, January 11 to take on the same role in Alameda. Warmerdam is also a resi-dent of Alameda.

“It has really been an honor to work in the city of Hercules over the past nine years,” Warmerdam said.

Warmerdam joined the City in 2003 as its Assistant City Manager, where she oversaw the Parks and Public Works Departments, as well as the founding of the Her-cules library. Warmerdam left her position to in 2006 to spend more time with her family. However, Warmer-dam stayed with the City as a consultant.

When the city plunged into institutional and finan-cial uncertainty in 2010, Warmerdam remained the longest standing member of the senior staff in the City, with the most years of ex-perience. She served as Her-cules’ Interim City Manager and brief time as its Interim City Finance Director, until

permanent employees were appointed Warmerdam then settled as the city’s Deputy City Manager in early 2012.

During her roughly nine years with the City, Warmer-dam has overseen the sale of the Hercules Municipal Utility (HMU), the Chelsea Wetlands Restoration proj-ect, Environmental Impact Report for the Bayfront proj-ect, the acquisition of Syca-more Crossing, and the Her-cules Library project among countless other efforts.

Mayor John Delgado read a proclamation commending Warmerdam for her service to the City.

Warmerdam called out

By Alyssa Morrisey

By Alyssa Morrisey

Victoria Crescent negotiations extension denied

The Hercules City Coun-cil shot down a resolution to extend the feasibility period of the Victoria Crescent pur-chase agreement by * weeks. The action issues an ultima-tum to City Ventures, the va-cant lot’s potential buyer. The residential developer has un-til only Friday, January 18 to decide whether to go through with the purchase of the prop-erty.

The former council ap-proved the $2.1 million pur-chase and sale agreement with City Ventures LLC on November 13, 2012.

Patrick Hendry, Director of Acquisitions at City Ven-tures, said that the developer did not have enough time to complete its due diligence, partial because of the City’s holiday schedule.

“We want to do a thorough analysis of the site and a big part of that is reaching out to the community, and with the holidays, it proved very diffi-cult to get that in vice***. So, we are asking for a little bit more time,” Hendry said.

Hendry added that City Ventures planned to schedule

• see WARMERDAM on page 4

By Alyssa Morrisey

John McNellis shows sample shopping center layouts for the former Market Hall site to Hercules residents.

Staff photo

Dear Editor,The City of Hercules gen-

eral fund is facing a $1.2 mil-lion structural deficit in the coming FY 2013-14, and there is no more one-time money to plug this gap. This deficit is a long standing problem, and all those paying close attention to city finances over the past two years understand this.

If we don‘t solve our city deficit problem now, then we

will not be able to afford our biggest expense, our Hercules police force. At this time, the only feasible solution is to raise the Hercules City Utility Tax from 6% to 8%. Doing so could bring in $800,000 per year.

Both Pinole and El Cerrito have an 8% Utility tax. For my household - two adults in a 2,000 sq. ft. home -that would mean paying only $78.35 more per year in Utility Tax. That’s

the cost of a new pair of shoes, which I would gladly do with-out in order to save our city and our police force. Moreover, since the Utility tax is paid by homeowners, renters and busi-nesses alike, raising the tax per-centage by 2% would be shared equally by all in Hercules and is the fairest way to get the much needed funds right now.

Chris KelleyHercules by the Bay

LETTERS AND COLUMNS

Each year, millions of us make New Year’s resolutions, but few succeed. Studies show that by the third week of Janu-ary, 90 percent of us slide back into our old habits.

Perhaps, you already feel defeated because you could not hold on to that New Year’s resolution of getting to the gym five days a week. But, give yourself props because you joined the gym. You have made doing Zumba, or Pilates or Yoga a regular part of your lifestyle.

New Years resolutions, on the whole, tend to defeat and discourage, instead, say yes to you and feel fabulous and em-powered to get right back on that horse. In fact, I say, choose a different animal all togeth-er. Consider crafting a vision board instead. A vision board is a collage that helps you clarify your dreams and desires. It also helps to remind you each day to choose the behaviors and ac-tions to reach your goal.

The first time I made a vi-sion board was with a group whom I was studying a with. One evening we sat around a table with tons of magazines,

scissors, glue sticks, colored pens and poster boards. We en-visioned what we wanted to ac-complish in the next year. We had a grand time cutting out images and words and slogans from discarded magazines that represented those goals.

We decided we would keep our boards where we would see them as the last thing at night, and the first thing in the morn-ing, hoping it would remind us to make choices the next day that would bring us closer to success.

You are not always in con-trol throughout the year, but you are not penalized for hav-ing to make adjustments. But, you are not at war with your desires but an accomplice in your success.

Last year I sat with a friend Mexico, creating our vision boards. We promised to hold each other accountable and to be supportive and helpful. This year we looked back and toast-ed to our accomplishments. Success is heady stuff. Once you experience the sweet smell of continued success, you just want more of it.

Pam Jacobs is Herculean and host of Life Changing Ra-dio

How is that New Year’s resolution going?By Pam Jacobs

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Dear Editor,With so much at stake, and

Hercules’ property deals in the dumps, do we really have time to talk about a Marijuana tax?

To my knowledge, there is only one dispensary here in town and no plans for more. A gen-tleman at the last city council meeting characterized it best,

reefer madness.Let’s get back to basics.

Let’s build that Safeway before we open that Pandora’s Box.Hugh Campbell

A marijuana tax? Whoa...

Pet of the weekSweet Cinder is a one year old female medium hair cat whose charcol grey coat is extremely soft. She is cuddly and quiet and loves to sit in a sunny window. Cinder enjoys the company of people and is wonderful with other cats. For more information call Animal Refugee Shelter at (510) 230-3758 or visit their website at www.animalrefugee.org.

NEWS 3THE HERCULES EXPRESSTuesday, February 12, 2013

The Hercules Express reported in the January 15, 2013 issue that volunteer groups “picked up the tab” for the Annual Holiday Tree Lighting, “with sponsorship support from local businesses like Realty World,

Jack’s Candy Bag and Hercules Fitness.”While businesses support ed the Holiday Tree Lighting by pro-viding raffle gifts, entertainment and gifts, like the businesses named, they are not officially “sponsors.” The Express regrets this error.

Hercules and its neighbors could join the likes of San Francisco and Alameda County in banning single use paper and plastic bags. A new ordinance, proposed by the multi-city agency RecycleMore, would prohibit the free distribution of paper and plastic bags by retail establishments in Hercules, Pi-nole, San Pablo, El Cerrito and Richmond.

The public has until March 4 to comment on RecycleMore’s Draft Environmental Impact Report, outlining the proposed ordinance. If the Draft EIR is accepted by RecycleMore, each City would then need to adopt it.

Copies of the report can be found at RecycleMore.com, at the Hercules Planning Depart-ment and at the RecycleMore office in San Pablo.

Under the ordinance, most retail stores in Hercules would no longer be allowed to freely distribute carry-out bags at the point of sale. Though, the ban would not apply to restaurants or nonprofit charitable reuse organizations. No distinction is made between types or plastic, be it a biodegradable polymer or traditional carry-out bag.

Stores are however free to distribute bags that contain meat, produce, and cooked food, as well as bags that are deemed “reusable.” An exception to the rule would apply if 40 percent or more of items bagged in a

paper bag are made from re-cycled material. Though, retail stores would have to charge for these paper bags.

Retail stores would need to charge at least five cents per bag for exempt all bags, and re-tail stores must give customers the opportunity to chose to pay the cost.

RecycleMore speculates that Hercules alone uses roughly 12 million plastic and 1.7 million paper bags per year. If adopted by all five cities , the agency believes the ordinance would prevent 128 million plastic and 16.9 million paper bags from hitting landfill every year.

The report claims the ordi-nance would post no adverse environmental impacts. While the Draft EIR finds no “areas of controversy” regarding the ban, it notes that a suit was brought against Oakland for a similar ban, and that the group Save the Plastic Bag Coalition has raised objections to similar bans in Palo Alto, San Jose, Los Angeles County, Santa Monica, and Manhattan Beach.

The recent attitude toward

the grocery store plastic bags in California is owed partially to a line of laws enacted since 1989 that work to reduce the amount of landfill by 50 percent.

The Hercules City Council will discuss the ordinance in the near future.

Richmond Sanitary to raise rates

Housing developer gives fi rst glimpse at new housing complex

Housing Developer City Ventures held the first of many meet and greets with neighbors of the troubled “Victoria Cres-cent” lot last Thursday, Febru-ary 7 at the Ohlone Community Center. City Ventures has been in the process of buying the parcel since last November.

While the site has been marketed as a large retail site for several years, City Ventures has plans to turn the lot into between 40 to 50 single family homes.

City Ventures Senior Vice President Phil Kerr said the company has no concrete plans yet, though they have prepared a conceptual design of the resi-dential development.

“Our goal is to start gather-ing feedback,” Kerr said, not-ing that he plans to include residents as much as possible throughout the planning pro-cess.

City Ventures’ preliminary plan is similar to neighboring Victoria Crescent East. One main road would lead residents

into the neighborhood from San Pablo Avenue. Like many streets in Victoria, the block

of homes would have only one street that would dead end, leaving only one entry point for vehicles. The plans also include a uniform landscaping theme. The site design was meant to shield the homes from traffic noise on San Pablo Avenue.

Residents who attended were invited to speak directly with Kerr and other City Ven-tures staff, as well as peruse the site plans.

While many seemed pleased with the design, many have been critical about the coun-

cil’s decision to sell the site to a residential developer.

Much of Victoria was once part of the Pacific Refining Company site, that closed in the 1990s. The Victoria Crescent lot was once sought after by Costco, but was ultimately left vacant. The now defunct Her-cules Redevelopment Agency acquired the site in 2009.

Though, when Ambac As-surance Corp. sued the City for its defaulted bond payments last year, proceeds from the sale of Victoria Crescent and others properties were posted to cover the court settlement. City Ven-tures has been the third devel-oper interested in the site since the City began marketing it to real estate developers last year.

Kerr said the meeting would was the first of two or three in-put sessions with the public, before the company comes to the Planning Commission with a Zoning Text Amendment and Environmental Impact Report.

If all goes well, he said, construction could start Sum-mer 2014, possibly finishing six to nine months thereafter.

Single use grocery bags could become thing of the past in West CountyBy Alyssa Morrisey

Garbage collection rates will likely increase next month, though the City is not certain by how much.

Richmond Sanitary District originally proposed an increase in their franchise waste collec-tion rates of 11 percent to go into effect in January 2012. Du-bious about the stellar increase, the City Council allowed rates to rise by just over three per-cent, tabling the next eight for one year. In the meantime, the City hired R3 Consulting Group to investigate the rea-soning behind Richmond San-itary’s request.

After lengthy review, R3 recommended that the Council

raise rates by only 4.62 over-all - which would mean an in-crease is just over one percent, starting this Spring, rather than an eight percent leap.

“We looked at the reason-ableness of the application methods, the allocations and expenses to the city,” R3 Prin-cipal William Schoen said.

The reason for the discrep-ancy - R3 concluded that Rich-mond Sanitary used a large number of “unallowable ex-penses,” namely $300,000 in employee bonus compensation as grounds for the increase. Schoen added that Richmond Sanitary’s bonuses were only $30,000 in 2002. R3 concluded that the bonuses should come from the company’s profit, not

its expenses.Richmond Sanitary Service

General Manager Shawn Mo-berg said the expenses were justified, given that employees are paid incentives to save the company money. He added that similar rate applications with Pinole, San Pablo and other surrounding cities were each accepted. Moberg also said he was not given enough of a chance to negotiate with the City regarding R3’s report.

The City Council felt the two sides needed to continued to negotiate with City Manager Steve Duran. Duran said that R3 will bring a new rate in-crease figure before the council at their meeting tonight, Febru-ary 12.

By Alyssa Morrisey

Lupine Hills Elementary’s wordsmiths showed off their spell-ing skills the Second Annual Spelling Bee on Thursday, January 25. Students were separated by age, and winners from the first through second grade, and third through fifth grade categories are chosen. Volunteers from the local community are selected to judge the competition.

The competition is part of the Scripps National Spelling Bee, and winners of the third through fifth grade category advance to the Northern California Spelling Bee in April. The school would not disclose the names of Lupine Hills’ winners.

Lupine Hills spelling bee is all the buzz

By Alyssa Morrisey

Single family units in the new Victoria Crescent extension will reflect homes already in the are.

City marijuana tax discussed, tabled

The Hercules City Council briefly discussed the possibility of imposing a separate tax for businesses that distribute medicinal cannabis. Though, there is currently only one business in Hercules that distributed marijuana products for medical purposes.

City staff said the tax could help raise funds to help curb the city’s budget deficit. However, the council has never taken up the issue of if, where, or how many dispensaries will be allowed to do business in Hercules.

“A lot of cities have gone through those steps to determine if they are going to have them, and where they are going to

allow them... and many of those cities have tacked on a pretty healthy tax - anywhere in the five to ten percent range,” City Manager Steve Duran explained.

Duran added that while Hercules does not officially allow medical marijuana dispensaries within city limits, its only current dispensary, Hercules Health Center, settled into a building approved for any kind of medical tenant.

With only one dispensary, the city tabled the matter, agreeing to revisit it in the future.

“There will be a time where we will ask for input from the interested parties,” Mayor John Delgado said.

By Alyssa Morrisey

Correction

NEWS4 THE HERCULES EXPRESS Tuesday, February 12, 2013

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By Alyssa Morrisey

New Waterfront project begins with Bay Trail extension

Library invites kids to R.E.A.D. to a Dog

Dogs (R.E.A.D.) program improves children’s reading and communication skills by employing a powerful method: reading to a dog. But not just any dog. R.E.A.D. companions are registered therapy animals who volunteer with their owner/han-dlers as a team, going to schools, libraries and many other settings as reading companions for chil-dren.

On Saturday, March 3, Chil-

dren can join the Hercules Li-brary and read to a registered therapy dog from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Register for this event at the Hercules Library Children’s desk.

Children may bring their own books to read or choose a book from the library. To par-ticipate children should not have allergies to dogs or be fearful of dogs.

There are 70 million stray cats and dogs in the US accord-ing to the Oxford LaFayette Humane Society (Oxfordpets.com). Out of that, six to eight million go into shelters every year, and roughly half of them get euthanized.

However, there are ways to help the situation. First off, when you come across a stray dog, cat or any other animal, and you are worried about its safety, you can call the Con-tra Costa County West Animal Services at (510) 734-3966. They will send out a report and have someone catch the ani-mal. Once it is brought in, they will check for identification, scan for a microchip and give it medical attention.

The bad news is that West County Animal Services may eventually have to euthanize the stray. Their mission is to find a good home and there is no set timeline for this. The length of stay depends on the resources and space available.

There are “no-kill” shel-ters, but they do not catch the animals. These organizations often rescue animals who are

about to be euthanized and hold on to them until they are adopt-ed. However, many do not take owner surrendered pets because of how little space they have.

This is where spaying or neutering your pet comes in. To begin with, the domestic animal population is too high. There are 70,000 cats and dogs born every day, the Oxford La-Fayette Humane Society says. That is 50 born every minute. There are not enough homes for that population.

Also, if your pet has es-caped, it could lead to an end-less cycle particularly if it is a cat - dogs have a harder time surviving without humans. The National Pet Alliance says one cat and her offspring can be re-sponsible for over 3,200 kittens if there is no human interven-tion.

Spaying and neutering pets is integral to ending this over-population and sparing these animals from a potentially cruel fate. If you want to get your pet fixed, one clinic you can call is the Arf clinic, 2890 Mitchell Dr, Walnut Creek, CA, at (925) 296-3125.

How to handle strays, why you should fix petsBy Timothy Laubach

Hercules is one step closer to starting work on the Hercu-les Bayfront Village and Inter-modal Transit Center projects. It is also one step closer to be-ginning work on the Bay Trail, a 500 mile shoreline hiking and biking trail around the San Francisco and San Pablo Bays.

Design of the trail will ex-tend John Muir Parkway to the foot of the Bay. Eventually, a “transit loop” will connect Railroad Avenue with John Muir, proving one of the main arteries to and from the pro-posed Intermodal Transit Cen-ter (ITC). The transit center will build an Amtrak station on the Hercules shoreline, a bus terminal, trails for walking and biking and a ferry station - if all goes according to the City’s plans.

The Bay Trail and extension of John Muir Parkway are the City’s contribution to a multi-million dollar Hercules Water-front District Master Plan and Hercules Bayfront Project - a 40 acre residential and retail neighborhood with a network of transportation connections.

The Bayfront Project is scheduled to break ground later this year, while the Intermodal Transit Center project officially began in September 2011.

In the meantime, the City Council amended its contract with BkF Engineering to begin preparing plans for mass grad-ing of John Muir Parkway and the relocation of underground fuel oil lines near the train tracks. The cost of the contract will be covered by county “Re-turn to source” and Gas Tax

funds.City Consultant and Project

Manager William Silva said the work has been held up since last Fall by a lengthy permit-ting process. The City has had to obtain various clearances from a number of agencies in-cluding the East Bay Regional Parks District and the Army Corps of Engineers.

“What this does is... allow us to make hay while the sun shines. We would advertise this as soon as possible and start working as soon as the dry sea-son begins,” Silva said.

New WaterfrontThe quiet, vacant parking

lot that overlooks the Union Pacific Railroad tracks and the San Pablo Bay on the Hercules Waterfront could look dramati-cally different over the next five to ten years, if plans go ac-cordingly. While the ITC hopes to bring in traffic from across the Bay Area, a nearby Her-cules Bayfront development hopes to develop the rest of the Waterfront area.

Plans are still in the pipe-works, though Developer An-derson Pacific hopes to build over 1,000 residential units, office space and 90,000 square feet of retail space, in addition to parks that provide gathering spaces.

The Bayfront project hopes to reestablish the Waterfront as Hercules’ new downtown. An-derson Pacific hopes to begin work on the development in the Spring, with the first construc-tion crews arriving as early as this Fall.

For more information, visit the Hercules Bayfront website at www.herculesbayfront.com.

The San Francisco Bay Trail project is a 500 mile hiking and biking trail around the Bay.

The Rodeo-Hercules Fire Department responded to a call that a big rig was on fire at 1352 Willow Avenue at the Bayberry Storage Yard. Engine 76 arrived to find the truck ful-ly engulfed in flames, and two adjacent tractor trailers also catching fire. After requesting backup from the Pinole Fire Department, the crews extin-

guished the blaze, preventing it from spreading further. The County Hazardous Materials (Hazmat) unit was called to re-move the rest of the fuel inside the big rig’s tanks and clean the area for gasoline run-off. The cause of the fire is under inves-tigation by the Hercules Police Department.

Big rig fire threatens storage yard

NEWS 5THE HERCULES EXPRESSTuesday, February 12, 2013

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Campus safety questioned, Police granted second campus offi cer

A joint City-School Board meeting on January 15 brought to light some disturbing statis-tics about the safety of Her-cules’ schools. According to Hercules Police Chief Bill Goswick, there have been 166 calls to police at Hercules’ campuses alone between the start of the school year on Au-gust 20 and January 9. Goswick said the majority are at the high school, about 45 of which in-volve violent disturbances and fights, and 12 involve “suspi-cious persons.” However, five were calls regarding weapons, four were “mental health eval-uations,” and two were alco-hol related. There are also two validated gang members on the HMHS campus.

“Some of the issues we’re seeing now have to do with a lack of security, and that is something we have to address as a police department because we’re… short staffed on the street,” Hercules Police Chief Bill Goswick said.

Among the elementary schools Lupine Hills had 22 service calls during this school year, while Hanna Ranch had 17 and Ohlone had 13.

“A majority of these calls require additional back-up, so we have to pull an officer off the street in order to respond,”

Goswick said.Goswick and the City Coun-

cil say the flood of additional service calls has overwhelmed the Hercules campuses’ only School Resource Officer.

The school board honored the Police Department request for a second school resource officer at their meeting on Feb-ruary 6 to help with the influx of calls. The resource officer’s term is likely to begin during the 2013-14 school year.

“When we look at Hercu-les Middle High School, what we see is a dramatic decrease in the number of problems there... over the last seven or

eight years. It’s taken a lot of partnership between the City, the teachers and the staff...” WCCUSD Superintendent Dr. Bruce Harter said “It’s ar-guably the safest campus we have.... That isn’t to say that we don’t have issues there but we’ve been up front about ad-dressing them.”

School Board member Charles Ramsey said it is his hope that adding a second of-ficer will help minimize pres-sure put on the Hercules police department.

“We have two resource of-ficers in Pinole and three of-

By Alyssa Morrisey

Man with bb gun caught at Hercules Middle High campusBy Alyssa Morrisey

A former Hercules Middle High School student was tak-en into custody for bringing an ominous looking bb gun onto campus on Wednesday, January 23. Brandon Edward White, 19, was restrained by the School’s Resource Offi-cer, who is a sworn-in police officer.

The resource officer was contacted by a HMHS student who said she saw a man come onto campus with a gun. The student said a man, who she thought was a former student, was sitting in front of her on a WestCat bus on her way to school. She said that she saw him take a black handgun out if his right front jacket pocket and put it in his right front jeans pocket. The student said she last saw the man on cam-pus near the administration wing. She described him as an African American male, wearing a red hat and a 49ers jacket. She said recognized him as a former Hercules High School student.

When the resource officer made her way to the admin-istration building, she found a man fitting the gunman’s description. She immediately recognized White as a former student and knew he was not

authorized to be on the school campus during school hours.

The resource officer then un-holstered and brandished her Police Department is-sued weapon and ordered the man to lay face-down on the ground. Edwards com-plied and the officer put him in handcuffs. As she checked Edward’s right front pocket, where the student saw him put the gun, Edwards said “It’s a bb gun.”

The officer pulled out the black “Walther CP99 Com-pact Semi-Auto BB-Gun.” The gun’s safety was in “fire mode,” though the gun lacked the CO2 canister and pellets necessary to fire.

Edwards was arrested and booked into the Martinez De-tention Facility for possessing and bringing a weapon onto school grounds, a charge that could carry felony if convict-ed.

Relay for Life season kicks off

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• see SAFETY on page 9

Seniors are being urged to seek treatment for flu-like symptoms as early as pos-sible in a new warning from the Center for Disease Control (CDC). The CDC warns of an uptick in flu cases, and in cases potentially fatal to “high risk groups,” including young chil-dren and those over 65.

“This season is severe for seniors, who are being hit hard-est in terms of serious illnesses and deaths. It’s really important that these people seek care and

get treated promptly,” CDC’s Dr. Lyn Finelli said.

The CDC estimates that seniors account for about 60 percent of flu-related hospital-izations and 90 percent of flu-related deaths.

According to the CDC, the number of H3N2 flu cases has reached “above the epidemic threshold,” reaching the highest levels seen in nearly a decade. Though, Finelli said the recent number of cases is not unprec-edented for a flu season.

“While vaccination offers the best prevention against in-fluenza, we know the flu vac-cine tends to work less well in seniors than in younger people because human immune sys-tems weaken with age,” Finelli said.

“Thus even seniors who got vaccinated may get influenza. And because flu infection can be serious in this group of people, it’s important that they seek medical treatment as soon as symptoms appear.”

Elevated fl u levels prove dangerous for seniors, swift treatment urged

Hercules’ Fourth Annual Relay for Life kicked off with a sign-up even at Jackson Hewitt Tax Service of last Saturday, February 9. The 24 hour cancer walk will take place on June 29 at Refugio Valley Park at 9 a.m.

Coordinators signed visitors onto teams, who can then petition for sponsorship from friends, family or businesses. The Hercules American Cancer Society (ACS) Relay requires no sign-up fee for teams to participate.Each team will then walk around the pathway at Refugio Valley Park.

Last year’s successful Relay for Life fundraiser raised $20,000. Live bands, open air films and other entertainment is provided on the day, as are free pizzas and

mini-fundraising activities. ACS volunteers also “Paint the Town Purple,” by posting purple decorations and health facts across the city.

The Hercules Relay for Life team. Tracy Oliva (left), Sylvia Villa-Serrano, Jennifer Maxwell, Justin Caniezo, Cletia Hart, Michelle Gonzalez, Linda Contos-Caniezo, Aaron Massood.

FEATURES6 THE HERCULES EXPRESS Tuesday, February 12, 2013

Dr. Martin Luther King Day celebration returns to Hercules

With the backdrop of Presi-dent Barack Obama’s second inauguration in the morning, and on the 150th anniversary of the signing of the emancipa-tion proclamation, Herculeans gathered to celebrate the life of Dr. Martin Luther King. On Dr. King’s federal holiday, January 21, The Hercules Democratic Club organized a ceremony re-flecting on his “Life and Leg-acy.”

The event was well attend-ed. Visitors who arrived early enough were able to catch President Obama’s inaugu-ral speech streaming live on a projector screen. Guests were served eggs, bacon, pastries and coffee, provided by La Strada Restaurant in San Pablo, while they watched Dr. King’s “I Have a Dream” Speech.

While the event paid tribute to King’s life, which came to an end in 1968, speakers focused on the relevance of King’s mes-sage on modern America. De-nise Noldon, the ceremony’s keynote speaker spoke about her memory of the day King was assassinated, a day that “changed our lives forever, whether or not we knew it.

“I feel that Dr. King lived his life in a way that teaches us, even today, that being a dreamer is not a passive activ-ity,” Noldon said.

Noldon said that her presi-

dency at Contra Costa College comes at the heels of civil rights leaders who paved the way for her generation.

The event was also full of song and cheer. The Hanna Ranch Children’s Choir sang a Nigerian song about peace, while the St. Cornelius Church Choir in Richmond sang a se-lection of songs in Spanish and English. Hercules High’s sing-ing sensation Kristiana Sunga also opened the ceremony with the national anthem, and ser-enaded the audience with Etta James’ “At Last.”

Many spoke about King’s contribution to the country, in-cluding Filipino Americans of Contra Costa County President Ernesto De Paz - who compared the early 20th century struggles of African Americans those of Filipinos.

Unfortunately, guest of honor Belva Davis, the West Coast’s first African American broadcast journalist was not able to make an appearance at the event.

An interfaith prayer was lead by pastors from local churches and Synagogs. Volunteers from the Hercules Library Founda-tion, Chamber of Commerce, Lions Club, Relay for Life and Friends of the Hercules Library provided support by manning information booths and serving food, among other tasks.

Boy Scout Troop 76 also

presented a flag ceremony to open the event.

“You will be seeing more of this next year,” Hercules Democratic Club Co-organizer, Sarah Creeley said.

The Hanna Ranch Children’s Choir sings “Ide Were Were,” a Nigerian chant.

Kristiana Sunga sings Etta James’ classic “At Last.”

Contra Costa College President and Keynote Speaker Denise Noldon gives a personal account of Dr. King’s life and legacy.

The St. Cornelius Church Choir lead by Michelle Jones sings gospel songs in Spanish and English.

By Alyssa Morrisey

Ernesto De Paz, President of Filipino Americans of Contra Costa County.

Hercules High School student Z’nai Reese reads a poem for the audience.

Staff photos

Teen Library Promoters host Black History Month film series

In honor of Black History Month, the Hercules Teen Li-brary Promoters will present a series of movies celebrating the history and culture of African-Americans.

On February 13, join us for the smash movie based on Kathryn Stockett’s best-seller. Veteran maid Aibileen (Doubt’s Viola Davis in an Oscar-wor-thy performance) provides the heartfelt narration that brackets the story. A widow devastated by the death of her son, she takes pride in the 17 children she has helped to raise. That changes when Skeeter (Easy A’s Emma Stone) returns home after college. When Aibileen’s smart-mouthed friend Minny (breakout star Octavia Spencer) breaches her uptight employ-er’s protocol, Hilly (Bryce Dal-las Howard) gives her the boot, and she ends up in the employ of local outcast Celia (Jessica Chastain).

On February 20, come see Akeela and the Bee. Although reluctant at first (and fearful of being labeled a “brainiac” by classmates at her under-funded middle school in South Central

Los Angeles), Akeelah An-derson (Keke Palmer) grows determined to win the district, regional, and ultimately the Scripps National Spelling Bee, aided by the coaching of an English professor (Laurence Fishburne).

On Thursday, February 21, See the story of how a large African-American population established itself in such un-likely places as the small towns of Weed, McCloud, Mt. Shasta and Dunsmuir, California.

On February 27, the library will show The Color Purple.Based on Alice Walker’s Pu-litzer Prize-winning novel, this powerful film is set in Ameri-ca’s rural south. Whoopi Gold-berg, winner of the Best Ac-tress Golden Globe Award and an Oscar nomination, makes a triumphant screen debut as the radiant, indomitable Celie, the story’s central character. Her impressive portrayal is compli-mented by a distinguished cast that includes Danny Glover, Oprah Winfrey, Margaret Av-ery, Adolph Caesar, Rae Dawn Chong and Akosua Busia.

FEATURES 7THE HERCULES EXPRESSTuesday, February 12, 2013

• see 20 THINGS on page

What do you want yourcity to look like in 2020?

20 Things a burglar won’t tell you

1. Of course I look familiar. I was here just last week clean-ing your carpets, painting your shutters, or delivering your new refrigerator.

2. Hey, thanks for letting me use the bathroom when I was working in your yard last week. While I was in there, I unlatched the back window to make my return a little easier.

3. Love those flowers. That tells me you have taste... and taste means there are nice things inside. Those yard toys your kids leave out always make me wonder what type of gaming system they have.

4. Yes, I really do look for newspapers piled up on the driveway. And I might leave a pizza flyer in your front door to see how long it takes you to remove it.

5. If decorative glass is part of your front entrance, don’t let your alarm company install the control pad where I can see if it’s set. That makes it too easy.

6. A good security company alarms the window over the sink. And the windows on the second floor, which often ac-cess the master bedroom - and your jewelry. It’s not a bad idea to put motion detectors up there too.

7. It’s raining, you’re fum-bling with your umbrella, and you forget to lock your door - understandable. But under-stand this: I don’t take a day off because of bad weather.

8. I always knock first. If

you answer, I’ll ask for direc-tions somewhere or offer to clean your gutters. (Don’t take me up on it.)

9. Do you really think I won’t look in your sock draw-er? I always check dresser drawers, the bedside table, and the medicine cabinet.

10. Here’s a helpful hint: I almost never go into kids’ rooms.

11. You’re right: I won’t have enough time to break into that safe where you keep your valuables. But if it’s not bolted down, I’ll take it with me.

12. A loud TV or radio can be a better deterrent than the best alarm system. If you’re reluctant to leave your TV on while you’re out of town, you can buy a $35 device that works on a timer and simulates the flickering glow of a real television.

13. Sometimes, I carry a clipboard. Sometimes, I dress like a lawn guy and carry a rake. I do my best to never, ever look like a crook.

14. The two things I hate most: loud dogs and nosy neighbors.

15. I’ll break a window to get in, even if it makes a little noise. If your neighbor hears one loud sound, he’ll stop what he’s doing and wait to hear it again. If he doesn’t hear it again, he’ll just go back to what he was doing. It’s human nature.

Hercules hosts one of the only teen pageants in northern California

While there are beauty pag-eants in San Francisco, Oak-land and wider Contra Costa County, the small city of Her-cules has one of the only active curcuits of the Miss America Pageant in northern California. The competition that started in 2011 will hold its second com-petition this April 14.

Herculean Richard White, former BioRad Engineer and now co-owner of Realty World, admits the pageant has been a vision of his for a long time. With the City’s spirits damp-ened by its budget crisis and by the loss of the cultural festival and other community events, White said he wanted to create something for Herculeans to take pride in.

The first ever competition in 2011 brought together twelve high school students from across Hercules. The winner receives a $5,000 scholarship.

After months of what White called “intense” training in eti-quette, elocution, stage projec-tion, and poise, candidates are narrowed down to six girls, representing six of Hercules’ neighborhoods. The girls also underwent countless photo shoots.

On the day, girls are as-signed points in evening gown, swimsuit, on-stage interview, personal interview and talent competitions. Three runners up are selected, and awards for performance in various catego-ries are also handed out.

Hundreds from the small city gathered at the El Cerrito Arts Center for the first ever pageant in 2011. The unique small town competition distin-guished Hercules among the region.

“The competition tends to be in what... you could call ‘more conservative areas,” White said.

“When you watch the Miss California Pageant, almost all the contestants are from South-ern California. You will never

see, for instance, a Miss Berke-ley,” he added.

In fact, pageantry in general has remained a taboo in Bay Area California culture. Critics note its dependence on a wom-an’s outer beauty.

Though, White noted the pageants’ importance as a force that elevates local young wom-en by granting them with op-portunities.

Since winning the pageant in 2011, Jones now attends University of California Mer-ced with the help of her schol-arship, and has a thriving mod-eling career. She currently has plans to compete in the Miss Monterey Bay/Central Coast Pageant and hopes to appear on the television show America’s

By Alyssa Morrisey

Local Spotlight


Miss Hercules 2011, Dominique Jones with runners up in the 2011 competition.

Miss Hercules President, Richard White.

• see PAGEANT on page 10

International scam artists use clever schemes to defraud millions of people across the globe each year, threatening fi-nancial security and generating substantial profits for criminal organizations and common crooks. They use phone, email, postal mail, and the Internet to cross geographic boundaries and trick victims into sending money or giving out personal information. While con art-ists can be clever, many can be foiled by knowledgeable, and equally canny consumers. Here are 10 things you can do to stop a scam.

1. Keep in mind that wir-ing money is like sending cash: once it’s gone, you cannot get

it back. Con artists often insist that people wire money, espe-cially overseas, because it’s nearly impossible to reverse the transaction or trace the money. Don’t wire money to strangers, to sellers who insist on wire transfers for payment, or to someone who claims to be a relative in an emergency (and wants to keep the request a secret).

2. Don’t send money to someone you don’t know. That includes an online merchant you’ve never heard of — or an online love interest who asks for money or favors. It’s best to do business with sites you know and trust. If you buy items through an online auc-

tion, consider a payment option that provides protection, like a credit card. Don’t send cash or use a wire transfer service.

3. Do not respond to mes-sages that ask for your per-sonal or financial information, whether the message comes as an email, a phone call, a text message, or an ad. Don’t click on links in the message, or call phone numbers that are left on your answering machine, ei-ther. The crooks behind these messages are trying to trick you into giving up your personal in-formation. If you get a message and are concerned about your account status, call the number on your credit or debit card —

10 things you can do to avoid fraud

• see FRAUD on page 10

FEATURES8 THE HERCULES EXPRESS Tuesday, February 12, 2013

Get the Hercules Express on your computer, smart

phone, ipad or other device

Sign up for our e-edition atwww.herculesexpress.com

Pinole Community Players present the East Bay Regional Premiere the Tony and Pulizer Prize-winning musical Next to Normal. This contemporary rock musical is an emotional roller-coaster, taking the audi-ence from the brightest hope to the deepest despair, and then

back again. With provocative lyrics written by Brian Yorkey and thrilling score by Tom Kitt, The New York Times calls Next to Normal “a brave, breathtak-ing musical. It is something much more than a feel good musical: it is a feel-everything musical. ”

Performances begin Friday, February 1 at the Pinole Com-munity Playhouse, 601 Tennent Avenue in Pinole, and last until February 16. Tickets go on sale on January 2. Call the Box Of-fice at 724-9844 to order tick-ets.

Pinole Community Players premiere Next to Normal, through Feb. 17

Herculean BitesAbby’s, Gourmet Filipino cuisine

Staff photosPapa D’s Chicken Wings

Abby’s Grill uses two kinds of noodles in their Pansit Bihon.

Hercules artist hosts Black History exhibit

MCAMO Artist b jAXON, remembers former City of Hercules Mayor, Vice Mayor and Councilman, Joe Eddy McDonald with an original pencil and graphite drawing, which is included in his current exhibit for Black History Month 2013. Opening February 1 - 28, the exhibit will be open to the public and on display as the Contra Costa Board of Supervisors conduct its business for the people.

A reception is set for February 13 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Other Original works include portraits of Herculean and Contra Costa County Supervisor, Federal D. Glover,

California Attorney General, Kamala D. Harris, Oakland Congresswoman, Barbara Lee, America’s current First Lady, Michelle Obama, Astronaut Mae Jemison and many more.

“Please except my personal invitation to come out and support the Arts and BHM 2013,” jAXON said.

The artist is currently seeking sponsors for Black History Month projects.

The exhibit is located at the Contra Costa County McBrien Administration Building in the Board of Supervisors Chambers, Room 107, 651 Pine Street in Martinez.


Want guaranteed home delivery of the Hercules Express every month?

Just $25 per year guarantees the paper straight to your door every month. Just call 510-992-3171, email

[email protected].

Abby’s Grill, started by Her-culeans Abby and Dominique Paclibar, hopes to carve a name for itself as West County’s only gourmet Filipino, made-to-or-der establishment. The restau-rant on San Pablo Avenue in Pinole is now in its third year.

“We wanted to introduce Filipino cuisine to the rest of the world,” Abby Odiamar Pa-clibar said.

Unlike Cabalen and Cho-ko’s, local favorites for Filipino food, Abby’s is not grab and go or “turo turo.”

While the California tongue is untrained in Filipino cuisine, Abby’s puts a South Pacific spin on familiar dishes. Intense flavors are forged with fresh ingredients and a distinct lack of sugar, msg and artificial fla-voring.

The Paclibars also wrangled head chef Ed Grayo, an award winning chef and graduate of Napa’s Culinary Institute.

Papa D’s Chicken Wings, Abby’s signature dish named for co-owner Dominique, boasts the perfect amount of spice. Marinaded in Abby’s Se-cret Sauce, the wings also lack the heaviness of traditional bar-becue sauce. Abby’s other fa-vorite, the Adobo Braised Short Ribs, is twice braised beef in red wine and honey, served with grilled potatoes and rice.

Add Pansit Bihon, tradi-tional Filipino noodles that are

similar to those found in other Asian cuisines- made from thin noodles.

Desert is also not lost on the restaurant. The crispy leche flan is custard in a light, and crispy blanket with caramel sauce, served with ice cream. Try mango or a non-traditional flavor of ice cream to add extra punch.

Abby’s also continuously proves to be a quick in and out at lunch time. It is also a good place to bring older children.

“My family owned a restau-rant in the Philippines, so we had this... idea that we wanted to open a sit down, made to or-der, Filipino restaurant. There is nothing really like it from Emeryville to Vallejo or even Fairfield,” Paclibar said.

While copious foot traffic frequents Pinole Valley Road, Abby’s struggles to make a name for itself. Paclibar said the sluggish launch is partially thanks to the lesser Filipino population of Pinole.

The atmosphere is relaxed and quaint, with a television in the background at lunchtime, and napkins and silverware on the tables. Prices fall in line with similar dining experiences in the area like neighboring Ti-na’s Place and the nearby Alley Cafe.

Paclibar said she originally had her sites set on a spot in Hercules’ failed “Sycamore North” retail-residential com-plex. But, with a lack of ven-

ues available - far enough away from Hercules’ existing Filipi-no restaurants - Paclibar ven-tured down San Pablo Avenue.

The Paclibars turned the va-cant ex-jewelry shop into the restaurant in 2011. They had a gran re-opening that July after parting with a business partner.

Aside from a vibrant Fili-pino population - Abby’s hopes to borrow some of Hercules’ foodie crowd. While the restau-rant is tucked away on the San Pablo Avenue Strip, it could easily become a favorite among many in the area.

By Joline Ashby

The Crispy Leche Flan is custard served in a caramel dipped blanket, service with ice cream.

Abby and Dominique Paclibar opened Abby’s Grill in 2011.

Low to moderate income tax filers might be eligible for free tax preparation services as part of Earn It! Keep It! Save It!, a free income tax assistance program. The Earn It! Keep It! Save It! is a community project of the United Way of the Bay Area.

The coalition estimates that it saved $68 million in tax refunds to 64,632 local families and to the local economy. Over the last nine years, the program turned a $1.5 million investment from United Way’s Bay Area Community Fund into a $273 million return for local families, seniors, individuals and our community. For more information, and to

find out what documents to bring, dial 2-1-1 or visit www.earnitkeepitsaveit.org.

The coalition provides free tax assistance to those with household incomes below $51,000 and ensures eligible taxpayers claim the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) that can amount to as much as $5,891 per family with three qualifying children. The EITC is a sliding scale credit available to working taxpayers. Other tax credits families may be eligible for are the Child Tax Credit, Education Credits and Retirement Savings Contribution credits. Providers of this service include:

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CHDC1555 Third St, Richmond

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101 Broadway, Richmond(510) 412-1722

Program offers free tax help for Bay Area families

SCHOOLS 9THE HERCULES EXPRESSTuesday, February 12, 2013

Brand new Ohlone Elementary on track to open August 2014

ficers in El Cerrito, but there wasn’t the political will to get that second resource officer be-fore now,” Ramsey said. “Her-cules is our highest performing academic community, but that doesn’t mean they don’t have challenges.”

Student interventionHMHS’ newest principal,

Jen Bender said more than ad-ditional officers is needed to address the student behavioral problems.

“In order to get to those real root causes, we know we have to think bigger,” she said.

Bender said the school is in the process of implement-ing the new “180 Program” for high school and middle school students alike. Bender said that as part of the program, HMHS added two full time staff mem-bers and one intern to its health center. The center now provides intervention groups to help stu-dents address their off-campus issues - ranging from academ-ic stress and anxiety, to grief counseling, to empowerment and choice making for young girls. A “life skills class” may also be added to the curriculum as early as the next school year to encourage good decision making.

“Intervention really address those issues and attacks the root cause... The more we keep kids engaged in school, the less we have to deal with them dis-rupting the campus. And to in-crease that engagement to see what the future really holds,

especially in times of economic trouble,” Bender said.

Bender added that the col-lege matriculation rate is also up, as is the “college going cul-ture.”

“We know that the numbers [of disturbances] are going to go down... But we need time to get all these programs work-ing,” Bender said.

Bender said that in the com-ing years, the school will also focus on implementing what it calls “restorative justice” in lieu of suspensions. As part of the program, students involved in a fight or other punishable offense would conference with all parties involved in the in-cident, from their teachers, to their parents, to the other teen involved in the confronta-tion. Students would then be prompted to settle their differ-ences and realize the impact the offense had on the community. The mediation session would be overseen by an administra-tor or counselor.

“It really asks the student to... think about how what they do has an effect on the entire community,” Bender said.

The program is very much still in its infancy. Though since its adoption this year at many WCCUSD campuses, the district-wide suspension rate has plummeted.

Bender said that parents and community members would be involved to participate in a conversation about the new program over the course of the next year, though she did give specific information.

SafetyContinued from page 5

Capital projects held up by debt ceiling application

Like Congress, the West Contra County school district will petition to raise its debt limit. Without a debt limit waiver, many of its promised construction projects could stop in their tracks.

At stake are the planned upgrades to the science build-ing at Hercules Middle High School, and a new Child Care facility at Ohlone Elementary. Both projects are years out. The school district claims they must submit an application for a five percent debt limit waiver to State Board of Education - who can accept or reject it.

“There is an old law, I be-lieve it dates back to the 1800s that prohibits schools from is-suing more in bonds if doing so would cause the amount of all of its bonds outstanding to exceed 2 1/2 percent of its en-tire [property] tax base,” said David Leifer of KNN Public Finance, the district’s finance advisor.

“Right now, the district has an amount that exceeds that limit. Without this waiver, the

district cannot proceed with 2012 Measure E,” Leifer add-ed.

Several cities in the district, like Richmond, have seen an unprecedented drop in their property tax base since the real estate market collapse in 2008.

The district has passed six separate bond measures since

1998, totalling $1.63 billion. The district has also been ac-tively issuing bonds at a rate of $50 million and $100 per year ever since.

The school board credited the bond program for vastly improving its inadequate facili-ties since the 1990s. They have asked for three separate debt limit waivers since 2002.

Leifer said the State Board is highly unlikely to reject the school district’s applica-tion. However, just in case, the school district has asked each

of the cities in its jurisdiction to approve a resolution in support of the debt limit waiver.

So far, Hercules is the last city to pledge its support for the school district’s application.

Leifer noted the debt appli-cation has been met with some formal opposition, particularly from the California League of Bond Oversight Committees. Representatives of the com-mittee, and others lambasted the debt application at the dis-trict’s January 9 board meeting - suggesting that the district is taking on too much debt and already has sufficient bonding authorization.

“I think people get spooked when we talk about extending limits,” Leifer said.

School board member Charles Ramsey also sited that the language of Measure E in-cluded information about the application, and that the mea-sure passed by 64 percent.

The Hercules City Council will vote on a resolution in sup-port of the debt limit waiver ap-plication at their regular meet-ing tonight, February 12.

By Alyssa Morrisey

Classrooms inside Building A, the new multi-purpose building, are being insulated and are awaiting sheet rock and plaster.

Crews are gearing up to put the finishing touches on Phase 1 of the brand new Ohlone El-ementary School, likely to fin-ish in Summer 2014. However, completion of the entire project is still a ways away, the district says.

As part of Phase 1 of the $43 million project, crews from general contractor Zovich Construction are building two new structures. The two-story multi-purpose building, known as “Building A” will house the library, administrative office, several multi-purpose spaces and seven classrooms. The site includes an elevator for dis-ability access, as well as two stairwells.

When the building is com-plete it will make-up the cam-pus’ main building with a new transportation drop-off loop, blacktop and landscaping.

To the rear of the new multi-

purpose building is “Building B,” which will house 14 brand new classrooms. New Class-rooms inside both buildings are nearly identical to each other, with large double-pane win-dows and tall ceilings with sev-eral angles. A sea of skylights will also draw light into each building’s the corridor.

The play yard was sacri-ficed to make way for the new building. Students are still have their classes in the old por-table buildings to the rear of the multi-purpose building on Pheasant Avenue. A temporary playground structure has been constructed to the rear of the blacktop and basketball courts.

Once both buildings are complete, students will leave the roughly 34 year old sea of portables for the brand new buildings. The portables will be moved away to make room for a new play yard, common space landscaping. The current

multi-purpose building will then be remodeled to accom-modate more classrooms and other spaces.

Once the new campus is complete, the West Contra Costa County School District hopes to begin Phase 4, which will create a new Ohlone Child Care site and multi-purpose area.

It is difficult to say when the project will be 100 percent complete. Ohlone staff and parents thought they would be moving into the new buildings this Fall. Though, changes in the school district’s technology standards forced the school district to revisit the plans, and follow-up with the Department of the State Architect (DSA) - a process that delayed the project by at least six months.

The change calls for class-rooms to be equipped with “learning walls” an integra-

Staff photos

• see OHLONE on page 12

When finished, the new multi-purpose building will be the school’s main building.

A classroom in Building B.A corridor in Building A.

By Alyssa Morrisey

The district has passed six sepa-

rate bond measures since 1998, totalling

$1.63 billion.

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LOCAL10 THE HERCULES EXPRESS Tuesday, February 12, 2013

Tuesday, Feb. 12, Valentine’s Day Card Crafting with H.T.L.P. - 3:30 p.m.Kids, Valentine’s Day is just around the corner. Who will be your valentine? Mom? Dad? Grandma or Grandma? Your best friend? Or maybe your favorite librarian? Show them your appreciation with an original creation. Hosted by the Hercules Teen Library Promoters, we’ll be making lovely Valentine’s Day cards starting at 3:30 p.m.. You are invited!Tuesday, Feb. 12, Yee’s Martial Arts Presents: New Year Lion Dance - 7 p.m.Enjoy a festive Lunar New Year celebration with Yee’s Martial Arts of Hercules. Lions will be arriving at 7 p.m. at the Hercules Library. Join us for this popular yearly traction for all ages. Sponsored by the Friends of the Hercules Library.Friday, Feb. 15, Hercules and Pinole Historical Societies Joint Program - 6:30 p.m.Pinole and Hercules have a shared history based on geography and a heritage of mutual need and cooperation. The program will focus on the interaction and cultural ties of the communi-ties; the mutual need for water, schools, and jobs will be highlighted, with oral histories and a PowerPoint presentation.

Thursday, February 21, From the Quarters to Lincoln Heights - 1 P.M.See the story of how a large African-American population established itself in such unlikely places as the small towns of Weed, McCloud, Mt. Shasta, & Dunsmuir, California.Saturday, March 2, R.E.A.D. to a Dog - 11:30 a.m.The Reading Education Assistance Dogs (R.E.A.D.) program improves children’s reading and communication skills by employing a powerful method: reading to a dog. But not just any dog. R.E.A.D. companions are registered therapy animals who volunteer with their owner/handlers as a team, going to schools, libraries and many other settings as reading companions for chil-dren. Saturday, March 2 at 11:30 a.m. in the Hercules Public Library.Saturday, March 3, Kids Expo - 1 p.m.Kids activities, raffles and entertainment, 1 p.m. at the Hercules Community Swim Center. Sponsored by the Hercules Chamber of Commerce.Monday, March 4, Daniel DaVinci: The Juggling Genius - 6 p.m.Join the Hercules Library for a fun evening of juggling and comedy with Daniel DaVinci. “If you are ready to see amazing stunts, laugh until your sides hurt, and witness an exhibition of skill and daring that you will remember for the rest of you life … then Daniel DaVinci “The Juggling Genius” is the act for you!” --danieldavinci.comSaturday, March 9, TROMBONGA - 3 p.m.TROMBONGA is a trombone quartet that performs jazz arrangements with a little classical on the side. This unique group has performed for over fifteen years around the East Bay, including their “Cafe Society Tour” (at Caffe Trieste, Westside Bakery Cafe, Chester’s, Peet’s on Fourth Street, The Arlington Café), libraries, bookstores, and outdoors at YOSHIs Oakland. Emphasis is on the mellow, with a repertoire that ranges from Ellington and Oliver Nelson to Mozart and Hindemith, plus original arrangements. Join Curtiss Mays, David Hemphill, Justin Mar and leader Pat Mullan for their show “Swingin’ Into Spring:”. “The trombone is THE instrument of the 21st century.” 3 p.m. at the Hercules Library.Thursday, March 14, Yoga with Janice DeJesus - 2 p.m.Join the Hercules Library for an introductory yoga class with local teacher Janice DeJesus, author of “OmStruck: Healing Heartbreak through Yoga and Meditation.” Leave relaxed and limber instead of wincing and limping back to your car. Bring a mat or towel to lie on and dress in comfortable clothing that allows easy movement.Her gentle approach will leave you relaxed and limber instead of wincing and limping back to your car. Bring a mat or towel to lie on and dress in comfortable clothing that allows easy movement.

or your statement — and check it out.

4. Don’t play a foreign lot-tery. First, it’s easy to be tempt-ed by messages that boast en-ticing odds in a foreign lottery, or messages that claim you’ve already won. Inevitably, you’ll be asked to pay “taxes,” “fees,” or “customs duties” to collect your prize. If you send money, you won’t get it back, regard-less of the promises. Second, it’s illegal to play foreign lot-teries.

5. Don’t agree to deposit a check from someone you don’t know and then wire money back, no matter how convinc-ing the story. By law, banks must make funds from depos-ited checks available within days, but uncovering a fake check can take weeks. You are responsible for the checks you deposit: When a check turns out to be a fake, it’s you who is responsible for paying back the bank.

6. Read your bills and monthly statements regularly — on paper and online. Scam-mers steal account information

and then run up charges or com-mit crimes in your name. Dis-honest merchants sometimes bill you for monthly “member-ship fees” and other goods or services you didn’t authorize. If you see charges you don’t recognize or didn’t okay, con-tact your bank, card issuer, or other creditor immediately.

7. In the wake of a natural disaster or another crisis, give to established charities rather than one that seems to have sprung up overnight. Pop-up charities probably don’t have the infrastructure to get help to the affected areas or people, and they could be collecting the money to finance illegal activ-ity. Check out ftc.gov/charity fraud to learn more.

8. Talk to your doctor be-fore buying health products or signing up for medical treat-ments. Ask about research that supports a product’s claims — and possible risks or side effects. Buy prescription drugs only from licensed U.S. phar-macies. Otherwise, you could end up with products that are fake, expired or mislabeled — in short, products that could be dangerous. Visit ftc.gov/health

for more information.9. Remember there’s no

such thing as a sure thing. If someone contacts you pro-moting low-risk, high-return investment opportunities, stay away. When you hear pitches that insist you act now, guar-antees of big profits, promises of little or no financial risk, or demands that you send cash immediately, report them to the FTC.

10. Know where an offer comes from and who you’re dealing with. Try to find a sell-er’s physical address (not just a P.O. Box) and phone number. With VoIP and other web-based technologies, it’s tough to tell where someone is calling from. Do an internet search for the company name and website and look for negative reviews. Check them out with the Better Business Bureau at bbb.org.

One bonus tip: Visit On-GuardOnline.gov to learn how to avoid internet fraud, secure your computer and protect your personal information

Courtesy of the Federal Trade Commission, Consumer Information Unit

FraudContinued from page 7

Community CalendarFree events open to residents

The Hercules Library Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit cor-poration, is looking for volunteers interested in serving on its Board. The Foundation was established in 2004 to provide for the initial construction of the Library. Today, the mission of our volunteer group is to solicit and manage contributions to supple-ment public funding with the goal of ensuring that the Hercules Public Library continues to provide outstanding free and conve-nient services for our community.

The Foundation meets on the first Thursday of each month at the Hercules Library. As of January 1, 2013, there are two openings which will bring the total number of Board members to ten. If you are interested in supporting your community and the life-long learning mission of the Library, please e-mail us at [email protected] for more information or to download an application.

Duties of a Foundation member include:• Work with Hercules Public Library staff to coordinate the Foundation’s mission and goals with the Library’s purpose, ac-tivities and events• Attend meetings to discuss matters pertaining to Library fund-raising and operations;• Plan and assist with fund-raising activities and events;• Network with businesses, citizens and other potential donors that could support the Library;• Participate in drafting and submitting grants to support the Library;• Interact with other groups that support the Library’s missions, such as the Friends of the Hercules Library, volunteers and the City of Hercules staff; and• Attend conferences as needed related to Library fund-raising and supporting the mission of the Library in general.

You can also visit the Foundation table at the Hercules Library, 109 Civic Drive, to pick up an application.

Library Foundation seeking board members

Next Top Model. Jones has also represented Hercules at a num-ber of city events and fundrais-ers.

Jones was also one of 118 to compete in the 2012 Miss California Pageant, though she did not advance to its second round.

“In Reality the Miss Her-cules Pageant is all about how to be successful,” White said.

“You have to be able to speak properly, you have to dress well, you have to be confident.” White also noted the diversity represented in the Miss Her-cules Pageant. While many in the Miss America Pageant are blonds and brunettes, Hercules’ contestants are a spectrum of ethnicities and nationalities.

Jones will pass on her sash, and turquouise stone laden crown to one of nine vying for the Miss Hercules 2013 title this April 14 at the Hercules Community Swim Center.

PageantContinued from page 7

City to tackle fate of former arts building

Since its closure last De-cember, the former Arts Build-ing, last leased by Sala Thai Restaurant has remained va-cant. The building was owned by the now disbanded Hercules Redevelopment Agency.

With some interest from a number of parties, including restaurateurs and culinary edu-cators, the city looks to lease or sell the building to help plug its

budget deficit. While the build-ing has become tangled in the Redevelopment Agency’s Dis-solution process, City Manager Steve Duran said there is only the possibility that the City will be able to keep the money for its budget.

The City Council will gage interest in the site, and discuss use options at their meeting to-night, February 12 at 7 p.m.

SPORTS 11THE HERCULES EXPRESSTuesday, February 12, 2013

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WINTER SPORTS

Titan boys have record season, 10-0

10-13 Co-ed, January 25Trent’s 59 - Andrews’ 33 Trent’s top scorers: Patrick Udenyi

(21 points) and Shane Bell (14). Andrew’s top scorers: Rocy Boon and John-Phillip Ramos both had 9 points.

Ashleigh’s 36 - Sal’s 29 Ashleigh’s Warriors top scorers: Jhona Jinco (14 points) and Mikeal Thompkins (10 points). Sal’s Warriors: Kobe Sexton 18 points.

Mark’s 43 - Luis’ 37 Mark’s top scorers: Patrick Almarinez (13 points) Mark Maglasang (11 points) Luis’: Joshua Dejesus (15 points) and Christian Hendric (10 Points).

Keandra’s 50 - Mike’s 35 Keandra’s top scorers: Ralph Capitly 15 points and Jeremy Tang (14 points). Mike’s top scorers: Warriors Cole Coverson 21 points.

Bryan’s 34 - Dave’s 26 Bryan’s top scorers Brent David 12 points. Dave’s top scorers: Zamyris Howard 10 points.

The Hercules High Titans Girls Varsity Basketball team topped their stellar season with a win against worthy advisory, Albany High. The win makes them 8-2 in the league and 16-10 overall - a stunning result for a band of girls completely new to the varsity scene. They will host St. Joe’s in the TCAL Playoffs this Thursday, Febru-ary 14.

The Titans were off to a slow start, trailing 12-6. Adjusting quickly, and taking advantage of Albany’s 10 fouls overall, the Titan girls picked up 17 points in the second quarter for Albany’s 9. The Titans widened their lead over the cougars in the third, and finished 51 to 42 overall.

With only one senior on the team, the girls did not hold their

usual senior send-off. “I would say this season has

been a huge success,” Coach Daniel Guy said.

The team started out frag-mented at the beginning of the season, after parting with for-mer coach Willie Lanere. The 2011-12 Girls Basketball sea-son also left no veterans for the 2012-13 season. With 2 fresh-men, 3 sophomores, 3 juniors and only 1 senior, the girls were an unlikely bunch.

Though, Guy said the team quickly managed to turn it around.

“Because this is a really ath-letic community, we wanted to change our style of playing,” Guy said. “The girls responded incredibly well to everything I gave them.”

Guy pointed out that the team beat each of the teams that they lost to during their second

show down. They also beat each team at a higher margin in their second series than in their first. The team also stood up well to the Kennedy High Eagles, who have outranked the team by a wide margin.

While Guy said he could not pick an MVP among his stars, he noted that number 15, Leah Gray has stood out in her abil-ity to roll with the punches, and learn quickly.

“I’m so proud of all of them,” Guys said. “[Leah] has responded so professionally to everything I’ve thrown at her. She is evolving to become one of the best players in the area.”

The girls will be well matched against St. Joes in the playoffs, and with nearly a clean sweep, the girls have positioned themselves well for the 2013-14 season.

Hercules High girls have stellar 8-2 season, face St. Joes on Feb. 14By Mike Wade

Titans freshman Leah Gray wows the crowd with one of two amazing layups.

Titans #24, Etiene Ekanem runs down Albany’s Whitney Tamaki.

Titans Lauryn Ponce makes a successful free throw.

Outgoing Titans senior Carol Oldan.

An exciting season of Titans Boys Basketball culimated in a 41-32 win against the Albany High Cougars last Tuesday, February 5. The season-ending win made them a perfect 10-0 in the league, and 21-6 overall - a Hercules Middle High his-toric result.

The boys were neck in neck with the cougars in the first half of the game. Of note #31 Jovell Vance scored a stunning 17 of the game’s 41 points. Vance also threw an impressive 4 point shot just after the buzzer

for the first quarter sounded, but the shot was not honored.

While momentum was on the Titans’ side, they were no match for Albany’s other team, the St. Mary’s High Panthers in the TCAL Playoffs. The 54-32 game landed the team their first loss in the season.

Despite their perfect score, Hercules was seeded #9 in the Stones division, below Albany at #4, and Richmond at #5.

Three players shown the most in the St. Mary’s game. Ti-tans Senior Jovell Vance scored the highest with 8 points. Se-

nior Archie Ronquillo and Ju-nior Marquis Jones each scored 7 of the game’s 32 total points. Jones also had the highest num-ber of three throws at 3.

The Titans improved dra-matically on last year’s run at 6-6, which brought them all the way to the NCS Champion-ships.

Eight total seniors will leave the team this year. Rising stars include Junior Mitchell Baker, who scored 7 points against Al-bany, Junior Clarence Corbin and Sophomore Dominic Fish-er among others.

By Mike Wade

Titans #45 Rommel Banagan sets up a point against Albany last Tuesday, Feb. 5

Titans Devin Matteson defends against Cougars Kaelin Lawson (left).

Archie Ronquillo, Titans #15, sets up for a two point shot. Titans Soccer

2012-13 Boys Soccer 10-0-11/24 St. Patrick/St. Vincent 6-1, 1/22 De Anza 1-1, 1/17 Pinole Valley 2-0, 1/15 Swett 8-0, 1/10 Kennedy 6-1, 1/8 St. Patrick/St. Vincent 5-0, 12/20 De Anza 2-1, 12/18 Pinole Valley 2-1, 12/13

John Swett 5-0, 12/11 Kennedy 3-0

2012-13 Girls Soccer 6-31/24 St. Patrick/St. Vincent 0-2, 1/22 De Anza 4-1, 1/17 Pinole Valley 2-0, 1/15 John Swett 1-0 (loss by forfeit), 1/10 Kennedy 6-1, 1/8 St. Patrick/St. Vincent 1-4, 12/20 De Anza 2-0, 12/13 John

Swett 5-1, 12/11 Kennedy 5-1

12 THE HERCULES EXPRESS Tuesday, February 12, 2013

“I can’t sit here as a council-man and see the destruction of our town,” Dan Romero said.

Though, City Council mem-bers worried that a new tax would be a harder sell than Measure O was last year. The Council worried that many Her-cules voters may have believed they were solving the debt problem by passing Measure O, and might not be as recep-tive to another tax proposal.

Romero said that the city made a mistake last June by asking voters to approve a half cent sales tax measure that only yielded 500,000 of revenue, as opposed to a full cent. Mayor John Delgado said that last year, the council was concerned about raising the sales tax rate above that of other cities in the West County area. Hercules’ sales tax ties with others in the

county at 8.75 percent.Finance Director Nickie

Mastay said the newest tax hike would distribute equally among each of Hercules’ residents and businesses. It would also bring Hercules’ comparatively low UUT in line with neighboring cities. The City’s current UUT has remained at 6%, while Pi-nole and El Cerrito have an 8% UUT.

Alternatively, Richmond has imposed a separate 9% “tele-communications tax” on cable and other services, in addition to its 9.5% UUT. Council mem-bers expressed interest in im-posing a similar tax structure. Though, City Attorney Patrick Tang said that doing the same as Richmond may require scal-ing boundless legal hurdles.

“It’s been a [misconception] among the community that our cable bills are covered by the UUT,” Council member Dan Romero said.

He added that most cities

do not include cable services as part of their standard UUT. He explained that telecommunica-tions companies have taken ad-vantage of the lack of taxes on cable by using cable to support broadband television, internet and telephone services, rather than using traditional telephone lines.

In order to turn the tax measure around in time for the June ballot, the City will need to finalize ballot measure lan-guage and paperwork by early March. Duran said the city will rehire Lew Edwards Group, an Oakland based political consul-tant firm who helped with the 2012 Measure O and Measure N campaigns.

Staff will return with their recommendations for the spe-cifics of tax the tax measure at the February 12 regular meet-ing. During the same night, the public will also have a chance to respond to the city’s declara-tion of fiscal emergency.

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TaxContinued from page 1

Manager Steve Duran said. “If you cut any more administra-tive positions, the wheels will pretty much come off.”

Duran added that positions would likely be cut from the City’s two largest departments - Parks and Recreation and Po-lice if it fails to come up with the additional revenue.

Revenue generationMost of the Council ap-

peared skeptical about the idea of bringing an LED sign to Hercules, given its proximity to homes in the center of town, and public opposition. Though, they agreed to let the Planning Commission explore alterna-tive sites for the sign, such on I-80 near the border with Pi-nole, far from residences.

The Council will also discuss a blight ordinance that would charge banks for foreclosed properties that remain empty. Though, Romero warned that banks are no longer transfer-ring title on empty houses, us-ing short sales to avoid paying fees on blighted properties.

“If we attempted to fine someone, we would be fining the homeowners that couldn’t afford to make the house pay-ment,” Romero said.

De Vera worried that impos-ing a parking structure in the Bayside neighborhood would require coordination with po-lice, and possibly additional overhead. The Council will

revisit the matter at a meeting later this Spring.

In the long term, the City hopes to finalize the sale of each of the former Redevelop-ment Agency’s (RDA) proper-ties. With three new residen-tial areas and two retail areas planned in the near future, the City hopes to benefit from the additional utility, property and sales taxes and one-time devel-opment fees produced by the new units.

However, the City will no tsee any of the money from the sale of these properties, as the proceeds will go toward pay-ment of the former RDA’s debt obligations.

The City also hopes to lease the former RDA owned prop-erty once occupied by Sala Restaurant, yielding a compar-atively small amount of money. Though, Duran said there is a possibility that the City will not see the money from this devel-opment for the same reason.

“I think we have to face the facts that even with the cuts we’ve made, every year we’re coming up about a million plus short. We’re hearing that... year after year,” Kelly said.

The Council only has until June 30 to come up with a plan to solve the City’s current defi-cit. They are set to declare a “State of Fiscal Emergency” at their regular meeting tonight, February 12, and begin prepar-ing a tax measure for the June 2013 ballot.

New science wing coming to HMHSBy Alyssa Morrisey

tive technology system where teachers can connect white boards with projectors, laptops, tablets and other devices. The systems will allow teachers to infuse multi-media platforms into their lessons and would allow students to connect to teachers and classmates.

“We lost of lot of time and a lot of money, but we think it was worth it for classrooms to be up to date,” WCCUSD Engi-neering Officer Magdy Abdalla said. “The project was pushed back by almost six months, but

at the end of the day, we don’t want to have a school that is any less than any other school in the district.”

At the moment, Building B looks more complete than Building A. Crews finished ap-plying sheet rock to the wood-en walls and several ceilings have already been coated with foam insulation. Electrical wir-ing for the school’s new fire and security alarm systems are still being installed. A network of 39 security cameras, a new intercom system and fire alarm system will help amp up safety in the new campus.

“All the rough work is

done,” Construction Manager Sonya Perkins explained.

Perkins said inspections are likely still taking place in the main building. Once complete, crews will finish all interior walls.

Once the sheet rock, plas-tering and insulation are com-plete in each classroom, fin-ishing touches like flooring, fresh paint and lighting will be installed. Thanks to unseason-ably dry weather, crews have even begun to apply stucco to the exterior of Building B.

Despite the setbacks, the new building will receive its first students in 2014-15.

OhloneContinued from page 9

CrisisContinued from page 1

A routine red light stop turned into a physical fight last Tuesday, February 5. At around 2:45 p.m., a woman reported a physical fight to Hercules Po-lice from the Shell station on San Pablo Avenue at Sycamore Avenue.

The woman said she was stopped for a red light at that

intersection, when a white Mercedes SUV tried to merge into her lane. The Mercedes reportedly blocked traffic and cars began honking at it. The woman said the driver of the Mercedes thought she was the one honking, and approached her driver’s side window on foot.

The Mercedes driver then punched the woman in the face on time. The reporting party said she defended herself by returning the blow to the sus-pect’s face. After the skirmish, the suspect fled the area. A Hercules Police investigation is continuing.

Road rage fuels San Pablo Ave fight

The West Contra Costa County School District has spent $6.8 million of its bond measure funds on improving Hercules Middle High School so far. Now, it plans to allocate $12 million to build a new science wing.

“This is in the works as we speak,” said Magdy Abdalla, the district’s Engineering Officer.

While still in its planning phase, the project will create four new science classrooms for Hercules Middle School, and five new classrooms at the high school.

Though, Abdalla said the plans are still in the master-planning phase, and the project would not likely be completed until the 2019-20 school year,

nearly seven years from now.No concrete plans have been

made, but the school district has also had its sites on a new theater or culinary arts center building for the school. The facilities would be built years into the future, and would help enhance the school’s exising programs.

Projects already completed at the Middle High School so far include the school’s portable and locker room pavaillion, the solar panel project completed last summer, improvements to its technology infrastructure, landscapring and fencing, totalling $6.8 million

WCCUSD recently allocated $12 million to build nine new classrooms at Hercules Middle High School.

16. I’m not complaining, but why would you pay all that money for a fancy alarm sys-tem and leave your house with-out setting it?

17. I love looking in your windows. I’m looking for signs that you’re home, and for flat screen TVs or gaming sys-tems I’d like. I’ll drive or walk through your neighborhood at night, before you close the blinds, just to pick my targets.

18. Avoid announcing your vacation on your Facebook

page. It’s easier than you think to look up your address.

19. To you, leaving that window open just a crack dur-ing the day is a way to let in a little fresh air. To me, it’s an invitation.

20. If you don’t answer when I knock, I try the door. Occasionally, I hit the jackpot and walk right in.

20 ThingsContinued from page 7

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