Up to 10 Separate Contracts May Be Awarded to Assist with Outreach

The Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC), in partnership with the Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG), invites community-based, not-for-profit, non-governmental or faith-based organizations (“Organizations”) to submit a proposal to assist MTC in inviting members of the community to participate in the development of the 2013 Sustainable Communities Strategy/Regional Transportation Plan (SCS/RTP) for the nine-county San Francisco Bay Area.

Organizations in low-income communities and communities of color with a high probability for housing growth and development that could cause displacement of existing residents are particularly encouraged to submit a proposal. Selected Organizations will hold meetings or utilize other techniques to engage residents in their communities in 2011 and 2012 (subject to available budget in those years). Up to 10 separate contracts may be awarded.

Participants will be consulted on issues such as Bay Area growth, location of housing to accommodate future population growth, and the transportation network necessary to support the needs of all residents.

“These community meetings will provide a forum for new ideas and creative approaches to solutions for the challenges the Bay Area faces in coming years,” said MTC Chair Scott Haggerty. “We need to provide for a healthy and safe environment with equitable opportunities for all Bay Area residents as we accommodate projected population growth.”

To view the Request for Proposal (RFP) with additional background information, minimum qualifications, scope of work and selection timetable, go to http://www.mtc.ca.gov/jobs/contracts/SCS-RTP_CBO_Public_Involvement.pdf. Note that requests for clarification of or exceptions to RFP provisions must be received no later than 4 p.m. on Feb. 4, and all proposals are due on Feb. 16 by no later than 4 p.m. For further information, contact Pam Grove, project manager, at 510.817.5706 or pgrove@mtc.ca.gov.

MTC is the transportation planning, coordinating and financing agency for the nine-county San Francisco Bay Area. ABAG is the regional planning agency for the nine counties and 101 cities and towns of the San Francisco Bay region. For additional information about the region’s SCS/RTP strategy, go to www.onebayarea.org/ivs.htm. Sign up to receive future updates from OneBayArea at www.onebayarea.org/get_involved.htm.

The unnamed pirate, mascot of Pittsburg High School, welcomed guests from the Contra Costa County Office of Education (CCCOE).   Cynthia Ruehlig (R), Trustee for Area 5, and Launi Holland (L), Principal for Student Services, visited the newly renovated campus to observe the Robotics class sponsored by Regional Occupational Program (ROP) of CCCOE.  The Pittsburg Kiwanis Club will serve a $5 pancake breakfast on Saturday, February 26 from 8:00 – 11:00 a.m. to give the public an opportunity to tour the facility and watch robotic demonstrations.

“Anytime we can return money to the residents of District 5, that’s good,” said Supervisor Federal Glover. “Tax refunds can act as our own economic stimulus.”

A report presented Jan. 25 to the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors said that communities like Pittsburg, could get an infusion of about $6 million in refunds.

To help people with their income tax forms, five Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) sites will be available for all East Contra Costa County residents in order to raise awareness for the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). 

Every year, California fails to claim over $1.2 billion EITC dollars which can contribute to increased economic activity and the creation of thousands of jobs.

There is also the I-CAN program which is a do-it-yourself software program that low-income taxpayers can use for free. 

A study titled Left on the Table in Contra Costa County, which was commissioned by the Family Economic Security Partnership and prepared by Dr. Antonio Avalos of the California State University in Fresno, estimated that Contra Costa County residents claimed more than $77 million in EITC payments in 2007.

However, the study also found that approximately 16,000 eligible Contra Costa County residents failed to claim close to $20 million in EITC refunds in 2007.

All of the information about the sites in Contra Costa County can be found at the website www.earnitkeepitsaveit.org.

The VITA locations are listed below:

Antioch

Antioch Senior Center

415 West Second St. (925) 778-1158 Open: 2/3 – 4/14 Thur: 9am-2:30pm By Appt., Walk-In Spanish

AARP

Opportunity Junction

3102 Delta Fair Blvd. (925) 776-1133 Open: 1/21 – 4/20 Jan., Feb. & April hours: Tues, Wed & Fri: 6pm March hours: Sat: 10 a.m. By Appt.

Spanish

East Bay Works Career Center -Antioch 4545 Delta Fair Blvd. (925) 706-4830 Open: 2/5 – 4/9 Sat: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. By Appt., Walk-In Tagalog

Brighter Beginnings Antioch

418 W. Fourth St. (925) 427-8516 Open: 2/5 – 4/9 Sat: 1 p.m.-6  p.m. By Appt., Walk-In Spanish

Bay Point

Bay Point Works

3105 Willow Pass Rd. #3 (925) 252-2332 Open: 2/3 – 4/12 Mon – Fri: 10 a.m.-3 p.m.; Sat: 9 a.m.-12 p.m.

By Appt. Spanish (Not ADA accessible)

Pittsburg

Pittsburg Senior Center 300 Presidio Ave. (925) 252-4890 Open: 2/8- 4/12 Tues: 8:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m. By Appt., Walk-In AARP

By Dr. Brandon Roberts, DC

Chiropractic care has become a part of mainstream NFL culture. Every team, except one, has a chiropractor on staff including this year’s Super Bowl contenders, the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Green Bay Packers. The same can be said about every other professional sports league including major league baseball, basketball, hockey and soccer.

Today’s athletes are learning from some of the greatest of all time who have paved the way for chiropractic and taught today’s modern day players about how to perform at their highest level for a lifetime and take care of their body along the way.

Emmitt Smith, for example, is the leading rusher in NFL history. A perennial Pro Bowler and three time Super Bowl Champion when he retired with over 18,000 yards, Smith said, “I thank God, my family and my chiropractor.” Chiropractic care not only helped him heal quickly from injuries but he also used and continues to use chiropractic care as a part of his lifestyle and training regime to keep him functioning at the top of his game.

Jerry Rice is considered the greatest receiver in NFL history. His durability and work ethic is legendary which helped him to overcome his lack of breakaway speed. He initially sought chiropractic care after being injured on the field. After learning about the benefits of Lifestyle Care from his teammates he made chiropractic care a regular part of his training routine. He is a three time Super Bowl Champion and today he is an official spokesperson of the Foundation for Chiropractic Progress.

Roger Craig is a pioneer in the NFL and soon to be Hall of Famer. He is the only player to ever make the Pro Bowl as a full back and a half back, the first player to rush for 1,000 yards and receive for 1,000 yards in a single season, a feat that took fourteen years to be duplicated. He is the only running back in NFL history to ever lead the league in receptions. He is a three time Super Bowl Champion and is the only NFL player to make the playoffs for eleven straight years.

Roger began receiving chiropractic care when he was in fifth grade and today, like the others, still receives regular chiropractic care. In fact Roger endorsed the #1 bestselling fitness book, The 100 Year Lifestyle Workout, which he recommends for every athlete, young and old, because it stresses the importance of a healthy spine and nervous system with chiropractic care as a core part of the training. This balanced fitness plan teaches athletes to Get their ESS in Shape™, Endurance, Strength and Structure to help maximize performance and prevent injuries.

Like all professional athletes, these three took a tremendous beating over their careers which began in little league and continued into the pros. Chiropractic care as a part of their lifestyle, injury treatment and training has helped show the world that you can play high level sports and retain your health. In fact, Emmitt Smith and Jerry Rice have appeared on Dancing With the Stars and Roger Craig is an avid runner today who has tackled many marathons.

We’ve all seen videos of old time professional athletes who pounded their bodies into submission and became cripples when their career was over. This is not true for these three superstars and it is no longer the norm as many professional and Olympic athletes have chosen to make chiropractic care a core part of their training programs and lifestyle. In fact many of the leaders of the Olympic sports medicine team today are chiropractors.

Youth sports programs are now learning from the pros and young athletes are seeking out chiropractic care as a part of their training in record numbers. Little League football, baseball, basketball, soccer and hockey teams as well as gymnasts, cheerleaders and even members of the marching band are realizing that a healthy spine and nervous system is important for good health and to ensure your highest level of performance.

Don’t wait for an injury. If you’re an athlete or participate in an exercise program, be like these Hall of Fame and Super Bowl Champions. Make chiropractic care a part of your lifestyle. Make your appointment today.

Dr. Brandon Roberts, DC is a 100 Year Lifestyle Affiliate Office. This column is reprinted with permission of The Family Practice, Inc.

Delta Diablo Sanitation District (DDSD) is proud to announce two operations staff have been honored as outstanding wastewater professionals in the San Francisco Bay Area by the California Water Environment Association. DDSD received awards for Operator of the Year, recognizing an individual with outstanding performance in the field of wastewater plant operations, and Supervisor of the Year, recognizing an individual who shows exemplary supervisory skills while performing their daily work.

Juan Arevalo, a member of the DDSD team since 2007, was presented with the 2010 Operator of the Year Award. He was specifically recognized for his role drafting new Standard Operating Procedures for training purposes ensuring consistency in the operation of the wastewater treatment plant; the lead role he took in DDSD’s internship program which provides real world experiences to complement the academic training received in the classroom; and, the complex work he undertook on the computerized Supervisory Control and Data System which had developed flaws leading to several false alarms.

Supervisor of the Year Award winner Joaquin Gonzalez has been with DDSD for 18 years, the last four in the role of Operations Supervisor. Responsible for scheduling and planning all work tasks and coordinating maintenance repairs by DDSD’s 15 Operations staff, Joaquin’s win reflects his collaborative leadership style of promoting team work before personal aspirations. Under his leadership, the Plant has recorded seven years of “zero violations” and has received several local, state and national awards such as “Plant of the Year” and “Safety Plant of the Year”.

Wastewater operators are entrusted with the job of protecting the environment with the upmost integrity, optimizing the treatment process so it runs efficiently, while ensuring discharge permit regulations are met – and formally reporting if they are not. Operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days per year, DDSD is located on the Pittsburg-Antioch border and serves nearly 200,000 residents in the communities of Antioch, Bay Point and Pittsburg. In addition to its 16.5 million gallon a day wastewater treatment plant, DDSD also operates one of the largest industrial recycled water plants in California

Arevalo and Gonzalez now compete against other regional winners for the California Water Environment Association’s State award in April.

 

The 2011 Officers and Directors of The Delta Association of REALTORS®  (DAR) were installed at their 62^nd Annual Inaugural Banquet at the Lone Tree Golf Center.  Leading the Association in 2011 as President  will be Ralph Garrow, Jr., of Ralph Garrow Real Estate.  Don Faught, Treasurer of the California Association of REALTORS® performed the installation ceremonies.

 With 150 persons in attendance, REALTOR® Gary Agopian kept everyone at attention as Master of Ceremonies while he introduced the large number of public officials joining the event from East County.  Gary was recently elected to the Antioch City Council.  REALTOR® Darnella Barnes introduced each of the visiting REALTORS® from other real estate associations in the Bay area.  She eulogized the late Ron Brown, DAR’s 2005 President who passed away in June of 2010, 

 Denise Stewart, DAR’s 2010 President was honored and presented with a parting gift, her gavel, and a beautiful metal wall plaque commemorating her year as President.  REALTOR® Elizabeth Mahoney was awarded the coveted REALTOR® of the Year status. Riz Nauman was the recipient of the Affiliate of the Year award.  Each gave a short “Thank You” before leaving the podium.  Concluding the official festivities, Ralph Garrow delivered his acceptance speech to a very receptive audience, and later remarked that “we finished up the formalities in less time that we had set aside.”   Carte Blanche, a Bay Area Band quickly took to their instruments to start the dancing.

 The Delta Association of REALTORS® is located in the Hillcrest Professional Center, at 3428 Hillcrest Avenue, Suite 200, Antioch, California, 94531.  Contact us at 925-757-8283.  www.deltaaor.com

The Delta Association of REALTORS® was originally chartered by the National Association of Real Estate Boards in 1949.   The Purpose of the Delta Association of REALTORS® is to support and enhance the professionalism and success of our members.

Last week the Antioch Police Officers Association agreed to working under existing contract concessions until March lst, a win-win situation for sworn officers whose jobs were on the line and Antioch residents.

APOA, however, to date has not agreed to pay an employee share toward their 3% at age 50 retirement pension benefit, unlike other city employee groups whose concessions are helping keep our ship afloat.

The downturn in the economy has affected state, county and city coffers. California is especially hard hit, a direct result of punitive tax policies. Compared with the rest of the states, as of December 2010 we have the 2nd highest unemployment rate in the nation, the highest state sales tax in the nation , the highest corporate income tax west of the Mississippi except for Alaska, the 3rd worst state income tax, the 4th highest capital gains tax, the highest gasoline tax and the lowest bond ratings of any state.

APOA should note, however, that as of Monday the California Supreme Count ruled against Local 188 of the International Association of Firefighters who sued after Richmond laid off 18 firefighters during a fiscal crisis in 2003 arguing that the city didn’t bargain the need for the layoff. The ruling allows public entities to lay off workers for economic reasons but must bargain severance terms, order of layoff, effects on workload etc.

Let’s hope this doesn’t happen in Antioch. We have the highest regard for our sworn officers and deplore the fact that as of today’s date, 14 police officers in our country have lost their lives in the line of duty since January 1, 2011.