Join the Friends of Music for their next installment on March 31st at 7:30 p.m. as we celebrate the 327th birthday of Johann Sebastian Bach. Don Pearson, Director of Music and Artist-in–Residence at St. Ignatius of Antioch Catholic Church will perform an organ concert of six of the the most exciting Prelude and Fugues ever composed by Bach.

A good will offering will be collected. Plenty of parking is available and a chocolate and champagne reception follows. Of course, Johann will be feted with a cake.

This concert follows on the heels of the successful Valentines Day Concert attended by over a hundred people. That concert featured Dawn Farry; Soprano, Paul Chaek, Baritone; and Don Pearson, Organist. The program featured music from “Phantom of the Opera”, “Rusalka” by Antonin Dvorak, “Tannhauser” by Richard Wagner and “The Kissing Bandit” by Nacio Brown. The evening concluded with the performance of Gian Carlo Menotti’s “The Telephone”, which was staged.

To be put on the mailing list for future events e-mail walter.ruehlig@gmail.com or call 756-7628.

The fish were hoppin’ and so was the crowd as over 400 people came, saw, ate and conquered at the Knights of Columbus inaugural fish fry this past Friday at St. Ignatius Church of Antioch. On top of appetites served, over $2,000 was raised for an educational center.

If you are motivated by Lenten observance, or merely a lover of fish, come this Friday, March 2nd or any Friday before Easter. It’s a meal you can die for. The Norwegian cod cooked in beer batter is heavenly and the golden french fries and sweet cole slaw are divine.

There are also cookies, cupcakes, and soft and adult beverages. You can sit down and enjoy fellowship or drive thru and pick up the cod and trimmings to enjoy at home. It all happens at 3351 Contra Loma between 4:30 and 7 p.m.

For more information contact Walter Ruehlig at 756-8628.

On February 23 at 9 p.m. Antioch Police Dispatch received several calls of an auto versus pedestrian accident at the intersection of Hillcrest Ave and East Tregallas Road. Officers found that a 34-year-old man had been crossing the street and was struck by 2 vehicles.

His injuries appeared to be very severe and he was transported to John Muir Medical Center in Walnut Creek. The cause of the accident is still under investigation at this time. The victim later died from his injuries.

By Barbara Barrigan-Parrilla
Executive Director, Restore the Delta

HR1837, a Federal bill sponsored by Congressman Devin Nunes (CA -21, Tulare County) , is a horrific bill for Delta communities. Tentatively, this pending piece of legislation will be considered for a floor vote in the U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday, February 29, 2012.

In addition to relaxing water pumping restrictions for the Delta, which have been one of the last lines of defense for protecting water quality for Delta farming and urban users, this legislation proposes to strip away 150 years of water rights law and protections in California. Our State water rights laws would be replaced with a new Federal government water rights system, just for California. In other words, passage of HR 1837 would set the stage for big government intrusion into local and state water laws. Enactment of this bill would also undermine our rights as citizens under the California Constitution by stripping away public trust protections of our most valuable shared resource — water.

Even more disturbing, a provision currently exists in HR 1837 that would grant the Westlands Water District the right to receive 100% of their contract water allotment, every year, even in drought years. Remember, Westlands Water District is a junior water rights holder and is only legally entitled to surplus or extra water from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta during wet periods.

Passage of HR 1837 would create a new system that would give Westlands farmers all the water they want at any time at the expense of Delta farmers, Delta urban communities, and Delta fisheries.

This is why we need you to take action today!

We need each and every one of you to send four letters out as soon as possible to show your opposition to HR 1837. A draft model has been provided at the end of this email, as well as mailing addresses.

The first two letters should be sent to Congressman Jeff Denham (CA-19, Modesto) and Congressman Tom McClintock (CA-4, Auburn). Both are strong supporters of this legislation to the detriment of their own constituents and to the greater good of California. Let them know why you oppose HR 1837 and ask them to explain why they are such ardent supporters of a handful of corporate farmers in the Westlands Water District rather than the citizens of California whom they serve.

The third letter should be sent to Speaker of the House of Representatives, John Boehner, and should point out that the bill does not merit a floor vote.

The fourth letter, which will require revision from the template, should be sent to Secretary John Laird, of the California Resources Agency. Restore the Delta has learned that Secretary Laird does not feel that opposition to HR 1837 is an important priority for his office.

Considering that his agency is in charge of crafting the plan for the peripheral canal with the Westlands Water District (via the BDCP), opposing this bill which would put Westlands first in the water rights system ahead of all other Californians is a must do task for his office.

This is difficult but vitally important action request. It’s time for us all to roll up our sleeves, to fire up our computers, and to take a stand for the Delta.

Addresses:
The Honorable John Boehner
Speaker of the House
United States House of Representatives
H-232 The Capitol
Washington, DC 20515

The Honorable Tom McClintock
428 Cannon HOB
Washington, DC 20515

The Honorable Jeff Denham
1605 Longworth HOB
Washington, DC 20515

Secretary
California Natural Resources Agency
1416 Ninth Street, Suite 1311
Sacramento, CA 95814

Template:
RE: OPPOSE H.R. 1837 (Nunes)

Dear Speaker Boehner:
On behalf of the undersigned organizations, we urge you to oppose the “San Joaquin Valley Water Reliability Act,” (H.R. 1837), which was introduced by Representative Nunes. Furthermore, we do not believe that this bill merits a vote by the U.S. House of Representatives.

H.R. 1837 overrides the public trust as defined in the California Constitution and state water laws. It reverses the long-standing Congressional principle that the federal government should follow state water law whenever possible.

H.R. 1837 would reduce water quality and water availability for Delta communities and Delta farmers. It seeks to ensure water flows to corporate agribusiness in the western and southern San Joaquin Valley at the expense of Delta family farmers. The recently-released Economic Sustainability Report authored by the Delta Protection Commission shows that Delta agriculture is worth $4.2 billion annually and provides tens of thousands of jobs. Delta agriculture and jobs should not be sacrificed to benefit water users in other parts of the state, some of whom do not even use that water for agriculture.

H.R. 1837 would hinder efforts to restore fish populations in the Delta. Science-based protections for salmon and other endangered species are required under both California state law and the Endangered Species Act. Since 2009, the State of California has consistently opposed legislation that would weaken the Endangered Species Act in the San Francisco Bay-Delta and Estuary. Title I of H.R. 1837 would substitute measures that were part of a short-term agreement in 1994, when the health of the Delta had not deteriorated so seriously and when recent scientific studies had not yet been done.

H.R. 1837 would reverse San Joaquin River restoration, thereby further impacting water quality and quantity for the south Delta. While the San Joaquin River restoration allows for a limited flow of additional water into the south Delta, breaking the promise of San Joaquin River restoration would signal to Delta communities the federal government’s sacrifice of the Delta for the preference of another region in California.

This deeply-flawed bill joins a long list of water strategies created behind closed doors without input from the Delta communities that rely on a healthy Delta for their livelihoods. It threatens the economic security of families, farmers, and small business owners in the Delta, as well as those in the Delta and Northern California who depend on recreational and commercial fisheries. It also threatens the urban economy surrounding the Delta – an area that is home to four million Californians and that is dependent on the Delta to meet its water user needs.

H.R. 1837 deserves your opposition.

Sunday, Mar 11 3:00p to 10:00p
at Bases Loaded Bar and Restuarant, Antioch, CA
Price: $10.00 Adults – $5.00 children under 18
Phone: (925) 785-8342 – Barbara Gorin with Guitars not Guns
Age Suitability: All Ages

Bands to perform are Blue Moonshine, Square One, The Breedloves, Al Smith, and Haunted by Heroes – 11 year old boys who are nationally known as the youngest rock band in America! Plus special guest appearances!

Food and drink specials and a raffle for a guitar autographed by the bands with proceeds to Guitars Not Guns.

Guitars Not Guns, Inc, a federally exempt 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, provides free guitars and lessons to foster kids, at risk youth and other deserving children.

Sponsored by The Wright Start Wellness Center & Mountain Mike’s Pizza by Raley’s on Lone Tree.

Just a quick reminder to join us for Antioch Chamber Business Mixer and The Wright Start Family Wellness Center’s Ribbon Cutting on Feb. 23 from 5pm – 7pm. Bring plenty of business cards, network, meet new members and reconnect with current participants in the Antioch business community.

Location: The Wright Start Family Wellness Center, 3432 Hillcrest Avenue, Antioch, CA 94531

See you there! Antioch Chamber of Commerce, www.antiochchamber.com.

On Febtuary 22 at 3:30 p.m. officers were dispatched to a report of gun shots being fired near Antioch Middle School. It was later discovered that the gun shots had been fired in the 200 Block of W. 18th Street, closer to A Street.

Witnesses reported hearing multiple gun shots (possibly 3 to 6) and described the suspects as Black or Hispanic males wearing baggy white T-shirts. The suspects fled the area on foot. Officers recovered 3 expended shell casings from the area of the shooting and later learned that a passing vehicle may have been grazed by a bullet while driving through the area.

At this time no shooting victims have been located. There is no indication that any students were involved in this shooting. This case is still being investigated.

The Bay Area’s 511 traveler information system is now offering its first smartphone app for transit users. The free 511 Transit App is a multiple-agency public transit trip planner using GPS-based location tools for smartphones. Ideal for a daily commute, weekend errand or occasional trip, the app serves both residents and visitors who are planning transit trips within the nine-county region.

“We are pleased to offer this unique and powerful tool for transit riders in the Bay Area,” said Adrienne J. Tissier, chair of the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC). “Now you can use one app to plan trips on more than 30 public transit agencies, accessing the most complete coverage for the San Francisco Bay Area.”

The free 511 Transit App can be downloaded through the Android Market (search for: 511 Transit). A version for iPhone 4 will be released soon. The new app provides door-to-door transit trip planning and scheduled departure times for transit routes near your location or from a location you specify. It includes information for 720 routes and more than 23,700 transit stops throughout the region. An interactive, dynamic map shows routes and stops along the way, as well as your current position while on the move. Walking directions to and from stops and fares (including transfers) are also displayed.

“Smartphones and on-the-go trip planning are becoming increasingly common, and 511 is now extending its Bay Area transit planning tools to these faster, more compact platforms,” said Tom Spiekerman, 511 Transit project manager. “Currently, 511 customers plan more than one million transit trips per month using the popular website version of the 511 Trip Planner. The new app brings core features of this tool to customers on the go.”

Additional app features include:
• Recently viewed locations and trips are saved automatically, as well as favorites.
• GPS positioning enables users to set their current location as a starting point for a trip, or to find nearby stops and transit routes with scheduled departure times.
• The app incorporates transit agency announcements that may affect a trip’s itinerary.
511 Transit App customers are able to provide feedback on the new app by clicking on the “Help/Info” button to send an email to the 511 Team.

The new app complements numerous options people already have to access 511 traveler information. Smartphone and other mobile phone users may access many of 511’s most popular features through the mobile 511 site (m.511.org), by calling 511 from any Bay Area phone, or by receiving real-time transit Departure Times texts (SMS). Desktop users can access the information from 511.org.

The 511 Transit App includes data from SF Muni, BART, AC Transit, VTA, SamTrans, Caltrain, Golden Gate Transit, County Connection, Vallejo Transit, LAVTA, Sonoma County Transit, VINE (Napa County) and more than a dozen additional agencies. For a complete list of all transit agencies included in the 511 Transit app, please visit the trip planning page at 511.org.

511 is a one-stop phone and web source for up-to-the-minute Bay Area traffic, transit, rideshare and bicycling information. It’s free of charge and available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week from anywhere in the nine-county Bay Area. Call 511 or visit 511.org. 511 is managed by a partnership of public agencies led by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, the California Highway Patrol, Public Transit Agencies, and the California Department of Transportation.