By Allen Payton

These days it seems as if most of the news coming out of schools is bad. Hardly a day goes by without another report of some tragedy: a bullying incident, a shooting, a teacher acting inappropriately or test scores below state or federal standards. There is one local school, however, where the news is very good. Paideia Academy, a small, Christian school, located in the annex of King’s Chapel in Antioch, has become one of the top schools in the country when it comes to winning nationally recognized essay and speech competitions. What is even more remarkable, is the fact that they have had such tremendous success with such a small student body…less than 30 students.

Last year Vanessa Urbina, a seventh grader, was the California state champion in the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Patriot’s Pen competition, winning over $2,000 for her efforts. She was the third state champion the school has produced since its inception a half dozen years ago.

Each year students at Paideia Academy participate in at least three essay or speech competitions. In addition to the Patriot’s Pen, they also enter the VFW Voice of Democracy, the Fleet Reserve Association Patriotic Essay Contest, and the American Legion Oratorical Competition.

John Crowder, the administrator and lead teacher at the school, was asked about his formula for success.

“Being able to write and speak well is vital to a successful career, in college and beyond,” he stated. “With that in mind, our students begin writing extensively in third grade. Even at that young age we expect them to be able to produce well-written paragraphs, to develop a logical thesis, and to convey that to others using the written word. By the time they reach high school, and take our Research and Writing class, they will have already written many, many essays, all of which will have been revised and corrected.”

Crowder went on to say that he believes that almost anyone can learn to write well.

“Like any valuable skill, it takes work. The students here work hard, and are given feedback on all their writing, over time developing an exceptional degree of expertise.” When asked about the patriotism theme, Crowder commented, “I wanted our students to understand how fortunate they are to live in the United States and under our Constitution. The patriotic organizations that sponsor these contests, VFW, FRA and American Legion, were a great fit for us.”

Vanessa talked about her writing class.

“At first it was really hard,” she said, “especially when I would get a paper back that was marked up with so much red ink. Before I came to Paideia, that hadn’t happened, and I thought my writing was pretty good. Mr. Crowder is much more strict, but it’s really helped me develop into a much better writer.”

Another student, Haley Robles, who entered an international contest, sponsored by the Scottish Reformation Society, and won first place, agreed with that assessment.

“The thing about this class that really helps is that we get feedback on every essay we write, and have to correct them,” Haley said. “I was just thinking yesterday, as I was writing yet another essay, how much more concise my writing is, now.”

A third student, Alec Scher, a winner in the American Legion Oratorical Competition, has already put his skills into practice, participating as an intern in the California State Assembly, last summer.

“Paideia Academy has been great for me,” Alec said. “Last summer I was able to help the Assemblyman draft all kinds of documents. I don’t think this experience would have been possible without learning how to write well.”

The students at Paideia Academy are currently putting the final touches on the Patriot’s Pen and Voice of Democracy essays they have written for the current year. If past performance is any indication, they can once again, expect an abundance of scholarship money pouring into the coffers of these impressive, diligent, Antioch students.

To learn more about Paideia Academy, and their writing program, visit their website www.paideiacademy.com or call the school at (925) 628-4033.

By Allen Payton, Publisher

First, I want to congratulate the council on their vote to move forward on approving Kelly’s new owner, last Tuesday night. While I don’t like gambling of any kind, the fact that the city allows for six, six-table card rooms in town, and there was already one at that location, I didn’t have a real problem with the approval of Kelly’s to reopen as a restaurant, bar and card room.

If it had been a large card room, like the 100-table Kenny Rogers Card Room, that Kelly’s previous owner Al Cianfichi (pronounced shawnfeeky) proposed when I was on the City Council, or the Indian casino proposed for the Hillcrest and freeway area, where the eBART station and development are currently under construction, I would have fought it, like I fought those, too.

But, the main thing the Council’s vote did was send a strong message to both the business community, that they’re willing to work with those trying to improve business in town, like Kelly’s new owner Tony Keslinke (pronounced kesleenky) has done with both the ABC Building on A Street and the Friendship Manor on Cavallo Road, and to staff, that the Council’s in charge in Antioch and that they give direction to staff and staff is to merely give their input and advice to the Council.

I especially want to applaud both Mayor Pro Tem Mary Rocha for her aggressive move and Mayor Wade Harper for his strong, supportive comments, to get to a vote on the matter, that night, instead of delaying it as it appeared city staff preferred to do, and return at a future council meeting for a vote, or worse, delay the reopening of Kelly’s for as much as three more years, until after the state granted Keslinke the needed license, which would have in effect killed his plans. I also applaud Councilman Gary Agopian’s very clear thinking that ensured the council didn’t act rashly on the motion to approve, without including any additional conditions.

We need more aggressive, common-sense actions by this Council like that, specifically in the area of economic development, if we’re ever going to grow our local economy, attract businesses to Antioch which will hire our residents, and put more money in the City’s coffers without having to raise taxes, to pay for needed services and turn things around in town. First, Antioch must reduce crime, second it needs to be business-friendly. With the passage of Measure C, the former can start to be accomplished, and the Council demonstrated the latter, last Tuesday night.

New City Manager Hiring & Process

Second, and on a related matter, as the Council decides on the hiring of a new city manager, I believe they need to hire someone from outside City Hall, with an entrepreneurial, pro-business mindset, who is a possibility thinker, who will change the attitude toward business, especially on the Second Floor in Planning and Community Development, that has persisted for far too long of “no, you can’t do that in Antioch” to “yes, you can do that and we’ll figure out a way to help you do it.” That attitude needs to permeate throughout the city with a message that Antioch is “open for business.”

One of the first things the new city manager needs to do is put all the employees back to work five days a week and make sure City Hall and other facilities are open on Friday. Even though the staff (except the police) took a 10% pay cut, and were then given 10% less time to work, by eliminating Fridays and adding one more hour to each of the other four work days, it effectively reduced the public’s and businesses’ access to our city by 20%. That needs to be corrected, immediately.

It would be great if the Council would allow some of the community leaders the opportunity to meet the finalist(s) for the job of City Manager, before they vote to hire. It is my understanding that the Council’s final vote to hire must be done at a public Council meeting. It would be good for the public to have the finalist’s resume available on the City’s website so the public can provided informed input before the vote.

That’s how we did it in 1998 when the Council I was part of hired Mike Ramsey as City Manager. The final questions to him from the Council were out in the open, not behind closed doors and members of the public had the opportunity to give their input to the Council before we voted. However, in that case, Ramsey had been the Assistant City Manager/Economic Development Director for the two years prior, so people in town already had a good opportunity to get to know him. So, allowing the public some time to find out about the finalist for the job would be a positive thing for the Council to do before they vote, for them, the public and the applicant.

More on Economic Development

A simple, low-cost thing the city could do is provide printed business cards for each of the members of the Planning and Economic Development Commissions. That way when they’re out in our community, and whatever other meetings in the Bay Area, California or elsewhere they might attend, they can help promote our city and make connections benefiting our city. In fact, every member of every commission should have business cards they can use with both the city’s phone number and their own phone numbers, as well as their city email address on them, so We The People can contact our elected and appointed officials, as well.

One last thing, for now. The Mayor needs to bring back the issue he championed, last year, when he was Mayor Pro Tem, and have the city spend a little money, one time, for permanent marketing of downtown and change the names of L Street to Marina Way, plus A and 2^nd Streets to Rivertown Drive, before all the new freeway signs are made and it will cost much more to do later. That way, when people drive through Antioch on Highway 4 in either direction, they will see signs that say “Rivertown Drive” and “Marina Way” and know there’s a river, a waterfront, a marina and another part of town, down there, that they should check out. Unfortunately, the last time the council voted on this, Harper was not in attendance at the meeting (yet, they voted, anyway), and three of those who voted were up for election, later that year and they were afraid to spend the one-time money on that instead of police, and it devolved into a debate over the condition of L Street and the adjacent neighborhood, instead of about what the new name will do to promote the downtown. I believe it will be a positive catalyst for improving the areas north of the freeway. It’s an idea from the 1996 Economic Development Plan that’s long past time to be implemented. Let’s get ‘er done.

By Barbara Zivica

The Antioch City Council is holding closed sessions on November 15^th and November 19^th in regard to “Public Employee Appointment: City Manager”.

Selection of a city manager (and city attorney) are personnel issues and thus permitted by closed session. (It only takes the votes of three council members to make a selection). Unfortunately, there is no requirement for council to announce names of finalists or their qualifications. (Selection of City Manager Jim Jakel was made in closed session and announcement made in open session.)

The job description of a City Manager is: An executive level administrator in municipal affairs, generally filled by appointment as opposed to election. Most municipalities require managers to have a college degree or a certain number of years of experience in council-manager form of government.

City Managers pay a major role in formulating the city budget, forming and implementing city policy and generating ideas for increased efficiency of city services. Hiring and firing of city department heads also falls under the direction of city managers.

NOTE: When City Manager Dave Rowlands left, the council had the Economic Development Steering Committee interview the final three candidates and provide input to the council. That’s how Mike Ramsey was selected. Regrettably, that is not the process the current council is following.

By Allen Payton

Perhaps it was the lucky numbers of the day’s date, 11-12-13, that played in his favor. But, after working with the city and being “bullied through this process by out of town interests” Antioch businessman Tony Keslinke received unanimous City Council approval to reopen Kelly’s restaurant and card room, Tuesday night.

“After a year-long process, we have a staff recommendation for approval,” Keslinke said in his presentation to the council. “Following Planning Commission approval and a 5-0 vote of the California Gambling Control Commission, I am asking for a decision that is conditioned upon state license approval.”

Following public comments of a veritable Who’s Who of Antioch supporting the effort, including two Antioch School Board members, one of whom represented the Rivertown Preservation Society, a former Antioch councilwoman, business leaders, the former Chair of the Antioch Police Crime Prevention Commission, an Economic Development Commissioner, as well as a variety of friends and business owner tenants of Keslinke’s ABC Building on A Street and refurbished Friendship Manor on Cavalo Road, that’s exactly what the council gave him.

“City Hall needs to get rid of the red tape and start rolling out the red carpet for business,” stated Brian Bellante, owner of an auto repair business and Chairman of the Board of the Antioch Chamber of Commerce.

That was followed by a rousing speech by Chamber CEO and local chiropractor Dr. Sean Wright, a former tenant of the ABC Building, which elicited the largest round of applause.

“He’s [Keslinke’s] done more for economic development in the last 10 years in Antioch than anyone else,” Wright said. “It’s a decision over future economic development for the next five years and the investors he’ll bring to our city.”

The “landmark Kelly’s restaurant” as Keslinke referred to it, which included a six-table card room, located on O Street, near the corner of 4^th Street, has been closed for a few years. The building has fallen into disrepair and has attracted homeless people and squatters to the property.

 

One neighbor, Ruth Riley-Evans, who owns Scotto’s Auto Body across the street, said she supported “the 24/7 operation with professional security,” which will benefit the neighborhood.

The council’s unanimous decision to approve the issue included a list of conditions, including recommendations from Chief of Police Allan Cantando, a few of which were met with opposition by both Keslinke and one speaker.

“Metal detectors and full-body scanners is taking things too far,” stated Antioch resident Phil Robinson, who said he wants a place to play cards in town.

But, no one spoke against the matter and many in attendance held signs stating “I Love (heart sign) Kelly’s” and “I Love (heart sign) Jobs.” It is projected that 48 new jobs will be created at the restaurant, bar and card room.

Following the public comments, Mayor Harper said he had worked for 17 years in Emeryville, which had a card room, and wanted to “move forward on the matter tonight.” The council then approved the motion by Mayor Pro Tem Mary Rocha, seconded by Councilman Tony Tiscareno to give a conditional license pending approval by the state within 36 months, but not until after they received input from City Attorney Lynn Tracy Nerland and Councilman Gary Agopian about their concerns with voting on the motion without the additional conditions recommended by city staff, and amended the motion.

The Council then took a break allowing the staff and Keslinke to meet in a conference room at City Hall to hammer out the details of the conditions.

That list of conditions was later brought back to the council for their final decision on the matter, which also passed with a unanimous 5-0 vote.

Earlier this year, on the day of the Planning Commission vote, a full-color, glossy campaign-style mailer appeared in Antioch residents’ mailboxes opposing the reopening of Kelly’s. It was put out by a group that labeled itself ProtectAntioch.org. However, it was later discovered that those behind the fake organization was the California Card Club Association, and funded by the Oaks Card Room in Emeryville, California Grand Casino in Pacheco and the San Pablo Lytton Indian Casino, among others, trying to prevent additional competition. During his presentation, Keslinke referred to their representatives, saying “some of them are in this room, tonight.”

Nerland also mentioned a possible lawsuit and a possible referendum of the council vote, which could be led by the opponents.

Antioch allows for six licenses for six-table card rooms. Currently, only one, The 19^th Hole, is in operation.

By Allen Payton

As they have every year since they’ve lived in the big house overlooking A Street at the end of 10th Street, Ken and Diane Gray put up flags on their property in honor of Veterans Day. Other times througout the year, you might also see pink flamingos there, as well.

By Allen Payton

The Antioch and East County community joined together to honor America’s military veterans, today with a ceremony near the Antioch Veterans Memorial at the marina, followed by the annual parade down 2nd Street in the city’s historic Rivertown.

The ceremony, led by former Antioch Mayor Jim Davis, included comments from Mayor Wade Harper and County Supervisor Mary Piepho, beginning at 9:30 a.m.

Then at 11 a.m., in honor of the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month when the armistice began, officially ending World War I in 1918, and pretty much at the 11th minute, the parade began. This year it was reversed and ran east from L Street to E Street, instead.

Marching bands from four of East County’s high schools, including Antioch, Deer Valley, Liberty and Freedom, participated in the parade, as did various veterans groups, Cub, Boy and Girl Scout troops and other organizations.

Following the parade, veterans and their families gathered at the VFW hall on Wilbur for a barbecue lunch.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By Allen Payton

The long wait for the opening of Tailgaters Sports Bar & Grill’s second location is over. Opening in late September, at the corner of Lone Tree Way and Golf Course Road in Antioch, Tailgaters features an exciting place to watch your favorite sports teams.

They offer something for pretty much everyone with over 40 flat screen TV’s and 49 beers, wines and mixed drinks (including three Margaritas) and even root beer on tap, plus great food including Saturday and Sunday breakfast and brunch buffets, and two full-size pool tables and a hand shuffle board game, as well as power strips to keep your cell phone or laptop plugged in, and finally, two outdoor dining patios, also with TV’s.

After opening their Brentwood location in 2005 and enjoying success, there, they’ve been working all year to open their new, Antioch location.

They’ve built a $200,000 custom-designed tap room, kept at 29 degrees, so the drinks are served nice and cold.

“The self-contained, walk-in, refrigerated tap room runs on a mix of nitrogen and oxygen,” said Norman Poot, the brains behind its construction. “There’s not one piece of refrigeration equipment under the bar.”

It has glass and mug dispensers and operates “like a well-oiled machine,” Poot added.

The bar features 49 taps in just eight feet of space and another set of 38 duplicated taps for the servers who take care of those eating in the restaurant. The tap handles are all three inches long, which offers a better pour, due to more control.

Their menu includes bone-in, boneless and grilled chicken wings with 16 different flavors. They can handle orders of 10 to 1,000 wings. Be sure to get there for Wing Wednesday when they offer an All You Can Eat special.

Plus, they offer a variety of burgers, sandwiches, sliders, soups, salads, wraps, appetizers, fries, onion rings and soft drinks, as well as a kids menu.

As for sports, you can watch all the college football games on Saturdays and NFL games every Sunday, Monday and Thursday with their DirecTV NFL Sunday Ticket, as well as NBA, NHL and Major League Baseball games.

“Every where you look, you can see a TV,” they said.

Plus, any time a Bay Area team scores, they offer a $2 Fan Favorite on drinks.

Their Grand Opening will be tomorrow, Tuesday, November 12 at 11 a.m.. The first 100 guests get free food for a year.

So stop in, today and see what you’ve been waiting for. Tailgaters is located at 4605 Golf Course Road, at the corner of Lone Tree Way in Antioch. Call them for a take-out order at 754-2277 or visit them online at www.TailgatersSportsBars.com. They even offer a Tailgaters app for your Android or Apple iPhone.