"Our Back Yard" columns by Roni Gehlke

In addition to her role as part-time caretaker of the Oakley.now Web site, Roni Gehlke also writes a weekly column on Oakley life and current events that appears in the Brentwood News each Friday. Since August 1998, Roni's columns have been enjoyed by thousands of local newspaper readers. Now, thanks to the Internet, we are able to share these columns with visitors from around the world.

Recent columns are added to this archive about once every 8-12 weeks, but the frequency may vary depending on our other activities. We hope you enjoy these columns. If you would like to suggest a future topic, please send an e-mail to Roni.

Archive of recent columns

December 3, 2004 -- Santa visits, tree lightings on tap. Ho, ho, ho.
November 26, 2004 -- Skip the malls and you'll be jolly... Shop in town for your gift-giving needs.
November 19, 2004 -- The holidays are coming — time to remember those in need.
November 12, 2004 -- Next time your car is stranded on Highway 4, here's a service you'll want to remember.
November 5, 2004 -- Redmen-Pocahontas club is up to its good works again.
October 29, 2004 -- Rain takes nothing away from opening of the Ted and Helen Halsey Trail.
October 22, 2004 -- Trails to open, wines to taste, houses to haunt — all in one weekend.
October 15, 2004 -- Oakley's no crime capital, but we can do our part to thwart the bad guys all the same.
October 8, 2004 -- Who has the best Delta in the United States? Maybe we're a little biased, but we think it's us.
October 1, 2004 -- Cable company steps up to help keep school campus beautiful.
September 24, 2004 -- PTAs bridge the budget gap to enrich kids' learning experience.
September 17, 2004 -- Downtown is taking on a new look these days with addition of more retail space.
September 10, 2004 -- Isn't it time we had our own historical society?
September 3, 2004 -- Delta Community Church of God gets a new pastor and new paint.
August 27, 2004 -- Giant scorpion invades columnist's home! (OK, so it was tiny, but it packed a punch.)
August 20, 2004 -- Crow infected with West Nile virus turns up in neighboring Knightsen.
August 13, 2004 -- School's back in session, and so are the traffic hazards on Highway 4.
August 6, 2004 -- It's been 10 years in the making, but YMCA finally preparing for new quarters.
July 30, 2004 -- Development ready to encroach of scenic section of Marsh Creek Trail.
July 23, 2004 -- Antioch and Brentwood have them. When does Oakley get its first "big box"?
July 16, 2004 -- Ghetto culture mingles with our humble burg via graffiti vandals.
July 9, 2004 -- Grocer plays musical shelves with its merchandise. Watch shoppers go crazy.
July 2, 2004 -- Community mourns the passing of 1997 Citizen of the Year Bev Novarina.
June 25, 2004 -- Program more than a way to pass the summer; it teaches kids life skills.
June 18, 2004 -- Composting class shows how to turn trash into potting soil.
June 11, 2004 -- City council folks pound a few nails during construction of self-help homes.
June 4, 2004 -- Oakley's getting serious about its evolving recreation program.
May 28, 2004 -- Big Break Marina owner still has big plans.
May 21, 2004 -- Interim redevelopment director returns to Oakley after Brentwood interlude.
May 14, 2004 -- Girl uses quilting to catch the fabric of her life.
May 7, 2004 -- Longtime proprietors of Oakley Cleaners are moving on.
April 30, 2004 -- Yes, there is crime here, but our police chief offers tips to prevent becoming a victim.
April 23, 2004 -- There's a science to keeping kids entertained. Science Week, that is.
April 16, 2004 -- Oakley City Council has its first new member since cityhood began.
April 9, 2004 -- Suffering from "Brentwood envy"? Shopping locally is the cure.
April 2, 2004 -- Lions Club plays Easter Bunny with 7,000 candy-filled eggs.
March 26, 2004 -- Almond Festival committee makes plans, looks to September.
March 19, 2004 -- Local businesses team up for home and garden expo.
March 12, 2004 -- Delta Family YMCA strives to raise funds for scholarships, new facility.
March 5, 2004 -- The Delta Science Center is still happening. Really.
February 27, 2004 -- Weekend event lets you rid your home of hazardous chemicals.
February 20, 2004 -- Reflections on this year's Citizen of the Year banquet and awards.
February 13, 2004 -- Kids' entrepreneurial spirit may help save lives, too.
February 6, 2004 -- Is democracy for everyone? Lions Club student speakers chime in.
January 30, 2004 -- New librarian writes a new chapter for Oakley Library.
January 23, 2004 -- A preview of the nominees for the Citizen of the Year award.
January 16, 2004 -- Finally, there's a doctor in the house.
January 9, 2004 -- It's a new year, and time for the city to focus on some goals.
January 2, 2004 -- One last look at 2003 — what a busy year it was.
December 26, 2003 -- It's the most garbagey time of the year, but groups help reduce the waste stream.
December 19, 2003 -- The envelope please... Time to recognize some great holiday light displays.
December 12, 2003 -- Demise of firefighters' orange delivery program is the end of an era.
December 5, 2003 -- 'Tis the season for holiday activities.
November 28, 2003 -- Holiday Stroll beckons shoppers to take a look at downtown.
November 21, 2003 -- The prostitutes and opium dens are gone, but their memory lives on.
November 14, 2003 -- Think you know how to run the city? Now's the time to toss your hat in the ring.
November 7, 2003 -- Gehringer School spiffs up its image.
October 31, 2003 -- Ghost stories to put you in the Halloween spirit.
October 24, 2003 -- Could we be the next Wimbledon? Rec department serves up tennis lessons for all.
October 17, 2003 -- Is volunteerism voluntary if it's required? A look at the TLC program for high school students.
October 10, 2003 -- What this town needs is a unique tourist attraction.
October 3, 2003 -- Growth a necessary evil for Oakley's future.
September 26, 2003 -- A final look at this year's Oakley Almond Festival.
September 19, 2003 -- Old Ice House is a work of art and a community icon in one.
September 12, 2003 -- Of road widenings, traffic lights and shopping locally.
September 5, 2003 -- Watching the wheels of local government turn with Councilman Nix.
August 29, 2003 -- Grape harvest gets an early start.
August 22, 2003 -- Girl's dogged determination helps clothe Oakley's canine cop.
August 15, 2003 -- Students find filling volunteer service requirement isn't always easy.
August 8, 2003 -- Freedom pool helps swimmers stay safe.
August 1, 2003 -- You don't have to settle for a brown lawn this summer.
July 25, 2003 -- From the backyard to the barnyard, a suburban animal farm.
July 18, 2003 -- Library's Bev Novarina wins the city's lifetime achievement honor.
July 11, 2003 -- The doctor is IN... almost.
July 4, 2003 -- Graffiti. Urban it is, art it ain't.
June 27, 2003 -- Throw out those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer boredom and join a rec activity.
June 20, 2003 -- Everything you always wanted to know about scooter laws.
June 13, 2003 -- Free fishing day gives novices the chance to get hooked on fun.
June 6, 2003 -- Got fifteen bucks? You too can build a national monument.
May 30, 2003 -- More inspiring essays from Freedom High scholarship applicants.
May 23, 2003 -- Some inspirational essays from the youth of America.
May 16, 2003 -- Rumors fly over community center proposal.
May 9, 2003 -- This town might not have a good amusement park, but it's got room to grow.
May 2, 2003 -- Diablo Trekkers turn hiking into fun group activity.
April 25, 2003 -- Annual science week gives kids peek into a high-tech world.
April 18, 2003 -- Celebrating the "Week of the Young Child."
April 11, 2003 -- Freedom High finally has a pool. So now what do we do with it?
April 4, 2003 -- Signs of war show reflect gamut of local opinion on Iraq conflict.
March 28, 2003 -- The city asks folks what businesses they want to see in town.
March 21, 2003 -- Nursery offers tips for finding your green thumb in our sandy city.
March 14, 2003 -- Guadalupana Society among service clubs working quietly behind the scenes.
March 7, 2003 -- Rico Cinquini honored for a lifetime of achievements.
February 28, 2003 -- High schoolers pool their talents in "The Pirates of Penzance."
February 21, 2003 -- The curse of educating a gifted child.
February 14, 2003 -- A truck accident snarls traffic for hours, prompting questions about local roads.
February 7, 2003 -- State budget woes jeopardize senior meals program.
January 31, 2003 -- Laurel School kids pay it forward for their principal.
January 24, 2003 -- Size isn't all that matters for a successful business community.
January 17, 2003 -- Concluding the ABC's of Oakley: Z is for Zip code.
January 10, 2003 -- It's June in January for Grad Night committee.
January 3, 2003 -- City rolls out events to mark First Week celebration.
December 27, 2002 -- Oakley Library unveils its teen programs for 2003.
December 20, 2002 -- Oakley paints the town red, green and all colors in between for Christmas.
December 13, 2002 -- ABC's of Oakley: Y is for Year in review.
December 6, 2002 -- ABC's of Oakley: X is for Xmas.
November 29, 2002 -- ABC's of Oakley: W is for Web sites.
November 22, 2002 -- ABC's of Oakley: V is for Volunteers.
November 15, 2002 -- ABC's of Oakley: U is for Unity.
November 8, 2002 -- D.A.R.E. program making a difference for school kids.
November 1, 2002 -- A lot riding on this General Election.
October 25, 2002 -- ABC's of Oakley: T is for Transportation.
October 18, 2002 -- Couple's desire to help others keeps a community fed.
October 11, 2002 -- ABC's of Oakley: S is for Seniors.
October 4, 2002 -- ABC's of Oakley: R is for Real Estate.
September 27, 2002 -- ABC's of Oakley: Q is for Quilters.
September 20, 2002 -- ABC's of Oakley: P is for Pool.
September 13, 2002 -- Festival dunk tank raises money for scholarships.
September 6, 2002 -- The Oakley Almond Festival goes to the movies.
August 30, 2002 -- ABC's of Oakley: O is for Oakley.
August 23, 2002 -- ABC's of Oakley: N is for Norcross Lane.
August 16, 2002 -- Reformers tap into Diablo Water District's key controversies.
August 9, 2002 -- Where the wild things are: right on your porch.
August 2, 2002 -- "Our Back Yard" looks back on the first four years.
July 26, 2002 -- ABC's of Oakley: M is for Music.
July 19, 2002 -- It takes a village (or the National Community Empowerment Program) to protect a child.
July 12, 2002 -- ABC's of Oakley: L is for Library.
July 5, 2002 -- ABC's of Oakley: K is for Kids.
June 28, 2002 -- Independence Day festivities kick off summer concert series.
June 21, 2002 -- ABC's of Oakley: J is for Jobs.
June 14, 2002 -- ABC's of Oakley: I is for Ironhouse Sanitary District.
June 7, 2002 -- ABC's of Oakley: H is for Homes.
May 31, 2002 -- Family open their home to 36 prom-bound high-school seniors.
May 24, 2002 -- Grad Night offers teens a safe and sober way to celebrate their freedom.
May 17, 2002 -- Oakley family tackles Russell-Silver Syndrome with courage and humor.
May 10, 2002 -- Girl Scouts prove the guys don't have all the fun.
May 3, 2002 -- Cinco de Mayo: It's not just for Mexico anymore.
April 26, 2002 -- City puts together the first Oakley Science Week.
April 19, 2002 -- Volunteer firefighters have long, proud tradition.
April 12, 2002 -- ABC's of Oakley: G (Part I) is for Grapes.
April 5, 2002 -- ABC's of Oakley: F is for Future of Oakley.
March 29, 2002 -- Forums give residents a chance to say what they like (and dislike) about their city.
March 22, 2002 -- ABC's of Oakley: E is for Eagle City Estates.
March 15, 2002 -- ABC's of Oakley: D is for Du Pont.
March 8, 2002 -- Citizen of the Year event is Oakley's big night.
March 1, 2002 -- Thrift stores try to find their niche in the 'burbs.
February 22, 2002 -- ABC's of Oakley: C is for Chamber of Commerce
February 15, 2002 -- Cigarette taxes help a garden grow.
February 8, 2002 -- ABC's of Oakley: B is for Boy Scouts.
February 1, 2002 -- There's an election coming up; do you know who your candidates are?
January 25, 2002 -- Introducing the ABC's of Oakley: A is for Almonds.
January 18, 2002 -- Are school kids ready for her 15 minutes of FAME?
January 11, 2002 -- First Week festivities prove families that play together stay together.
January 4, 2002 -- A few resolutions for the year ahead.
December 28, 2001 -- First Week 2002 gives you a chance to get to know your neighbors.
December 21, 2001 -- With apologies to Clement Moore, here's a poetic tour of the outdoor Christmas decor.
December 14, 2001 -- Foul weather can't dampen our holiday spirit.
December 7, 2001 -- Lauritzen's Yacht Harbor gets a long-awaited dredging.
November 30, 2001 -- Oakley library prepares to write a new chapter in long history.
November 23, 2001 -- Yes, even in our little community there are folks who are hungry. Donations help.
November 16, 2001 -- It's time to talk turkey about the upcoming City Council elections.
November 9, 2001 -- Terrorists got you down? We'll cross that bridge when we get to it.
November 2, 2001 -- Looking ahead 20 years in this town can give you a case of Futureshock.
October 26, 2001 -- Terrorists' would-be tricks are no treat for Halloween revelers.
October 19, 2001 -- Lots of useful information can be gleaned from city's new Web site.
October 12, 2001 -- You might call them Oakley's "Magnificent Seven." School chums have stuck together since '60s.
October 5, 2001 -- Patriotism goes awry with theft of Old Glory.
September 28, 2001 -- Community garden teaches kids about farming from the ground up.
September 21, 2001 -- Crisis brings out the best in America's citizens.
September 14, 2001 -- There's nothing like a parade to raise a small town's spirit.
September 7, 2001 -- Wouldn't it be great if working parents could find a ride home for their school-age kids?
August 31, 2001 -- Recreation director wants to combat "there's nothing to do" attitude.
August 24, 2001 -- Anti-bird device is music to the grape farmer, but nuisance to the neighbors.
August 17, 2001 -- Who says crime only happens in the big city? Sometimes it hits too close to home.
August 10, 2001 -- Missing landlord holds up beautification efforts on a weed-infested patch of property.
August 3, 2001 -- What this town's library needs is a few good volunteers. Anyone out there?
July 27, 2001 -- How many times do we have to say it: If you love your pet, keep it indoors!
July 20, 2001 -- Apartments offer frail seniors all the comforts of home in Oakley.
July 13, 2001 -- Plans for the long-awaited Delta Science Center are steadily taking shape.
July 6, 2001 -- Enough with the "there's nothing to do" baloney. You don't need a community center to have fun.
June 29, 2001 -- Even if the power goes out this summer, there will still be plenty of water on tap.
June 22, 2001 -- Just because you live in Oakley doesn't mean your kids go to Oakley schools.
June 15, 2001 -- New owner brings new life to old Oakley Hotel.
June 8, 2001 -- A neighborhood fears the worst after a handbill accuses a resident of videotaping children.
June 1, 2001 -- You don't need a license when operating a boat, but you'd better bring your common sense.
May 25, 2001 -- If you want a scholarship, don't just rely on your academics; volunteerism counts for something.
May 18, 2001 -- Groups face tough task determining which students are worthy of their financial support.
May 11, 2001 -- An Oakley senior learns the hard way that not all business transactions are on the up-and-up.
May 4, 2001 -- Spring flea markets, carnivals and craft fairs benefit worthy local organizations.
April 27, 2001 -- Tourney reels 'em in, but few are hooked on this Oakley-as-bass-capital business.
April 20, 2001 -- Keeping the community green sometimes starts with one person -- and her dog.
April 13, 2001 -- Tri Delta Transit gives us a bus route to call our own. We've arrived!
April 6, 2001 -- Oakley, bass fishing capital of the West? Naaaah.
March 30, 2001 -- East County really does have a theatre scene. A phone hotline proves it.
March 23, 2001 -- Construction of the newest Oakley middle school making the grade.
March 16, 2001 -- Volunteerism is such a great thing that now the high school kids have to do it.
March 9, 2001 -- The unexpected loss of an acquaintance provides a lesson in the importance of learning last names.
March 2, 2001 -- Brentwood wants a new high school, but Measure A needs Oakley voters' support to pass.
February 23, 2001 -- Community support helps the Oakley fire district get the "Jaws of Life."
February 16, 2001 -- Du Pont's plans have some folks concerned about the future of the Big Break Marina.
February 9, 2001 -- Retiring Oakley schools superintendent Frank Hengel looks back on a successful career.
February 2, 2001 -- Oakley woman wins a brief appearance on "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire."
January 26, 2001 -- Changes are afoot for the Oakley Almond Festival after its chairwoman departs.
January 19, 2001 -- Roadside businesses set up shop along Main Street, but not everyone is happy about it.
January 12, 2001 -- Everyone gets a little bit crabby this time of year, and with all the seafood feasts it's understandable.
January 5, 2001 -- It's a new year. Time for our town to get down to business and accomplish some goals.
December 29, 2000 -- No Y2K calamities here, but there were plenty of changes for the city by the Delta.
December 22, 2000 -- Holiday home decorators ignore the Grinch-like tendencies of the electric company.
December 15, 2000 -- As the city plans for its future is it forgetting about the businesses on Bridgehead Road?
December 8, 2000 -- The undeveloped Cypress Corridor is like a giant blank canvas, and there are lots of ideas about what to paint on it.
December 1, 2000 -- Events aplenty mark the start of another holiday season.
November 24, 2000 -- If you want to support the youth groups in this town you've gotta eat a lot of pizza!
November 17, 2000 -- Oakley's De Anza Trail earns recognition as part of a route once traveled by Spanish explorers.
November 10, 2000 -- Many are called, but only one of these nominees will be chosen as Oakley's Citizen of the Year.
November 3, 2000 -- Volunteers in the Junior Achievement program teach kids how the business world really works.
October 27, 2000 -- This Halloween, the scariest thing you may see are the campaign signs.
October 20, 2000 -- Masseuse offers soothing fund-raiser for National Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
October 13, 2000 -- Professor's software takes the pain out of chemistry class
October 6, 2000 -- The chamber of commerce says goodbye to one manager and welcomes another.
September 29, 2000 -- What this city needs is a little sisterly companionship.
September 22, 2000 -- Oakley may not be the Napa valley, but its grapes are gaining fame.
September 15, 2000 -- To understand where Oakley's going you've got to know where it's been.
September 8, 2000 -- Pet Rescue Project helps folks fulfill their animal instincts.
September 1, 2000 -- Scouting groups are still alive and well at the dawn of a new century.
August 25, 2000 -- If you live in Oakley, be prepared to shell out more green for your green waste.
August 18, 2000 -- Mark Denning plans to keep the Delta-Family YMCA running full steam ahead.
August 11, 2000 -- ECHO hopes to unite horse lovers throughout East County.
August 4, 2000 -- Looks like the usually dull sewer and water board elections could be interesting this year.
July 28, 2000 -- Friends say goodbye to Barney Haglund , who was one of Oakley's unsung heroes.
July 21, 2000 -- Oakley residents ask: "So, now that we're a city, when do we start fixing all the problems?"
July 14, 2000 -- Marsh Creek and De Anza trails are little-known gems.
July 7, 2000 -- If you are looking for a garden statue, you need look no further than Oakley's statue dealers.
June 30, 2000 -- For nearly two decades, the Devil Mountain Jazz Band has been entertaining local fans.
June 23, 2000 -- A kindergarten class visits the columnist's house to learn about trains and railroad safety.
June 16, 2000 -- Square dancing isn't just for old country folk. Kick up your heels with the Delta Squares.
June 9, 2000 -- When the taxman cometh, read the fine print before you press the panic button.
June 2, 2000 -- Farm groups build fellowship and teach kids the ways of clean country living.
May 26, 2000 -- If you want to know where the wild things are, look no further than your own back yard.
May 19, 2000 -- Think leaving your trash at some store's Dumpster is no big deal? Think again.
May 12, 2000 -- Oakley Almond Festival chairwoman Wendy Robertson talks about plans for this year's event.
May 5, 2000 -- Plenty of businesses in town offer a reason to shop locally.
April 28, 2000 -- Even on a quiet block, Neighborhood Watch can bring neighbors closer together.
April 21, 2000 -- Oakley now has a recreation area it can be proud of in the Antioch-Oakley Regional Shoreline.
April 14, 2000 -- Freedom High School may finally have a way to get the football field it has been waiting for.
April 7, 2000 -- Meet the Magnificent 7 members of Oakley's first Planning Commission.
March 31, 2000 -- Friends and family remember the contributions of the late Abraham Amador.
March 24, 2000 -- New Life Fellowship Church braces for change as its founding pastor departs.
March 17, 2000 -- Unlicensed roadside businesses are sapping the livelihoods of local merchants.
March 10, 2000 -- Oakley schools get into Dr. Seuss spirit for Read Across America Day.
March 3, 2000 -- Measure B would change how we elect our City Council, but where's the information?
February 25, 2000 -- The Delta Family YMCA kicks off its annual fund-raising drive with a $63,000 goal.
February 18, 2000 -- Teens take part in the Lions Club speech contest. The topic: "Community Service: Who's Responsible in the New Millennium?"
February 11, 2000 -- A Freedom High School student creates a prize-winning song about traffic safety.
February 4, 2000 -- Another visit to the City of Oakley's "City Talk" Web page.

This page was last updated Sunday, December 5, 2004