After publishing five novels over a span of 15 years, local author Alfred J. Garrotto thought he had run out of stories. Not so. On July 26, 2010, he woke up with a new plot and set of characters playing in his head.

“It was all there, beginning, middle and end,” the author said. It took a year for him to write and edit the book, meticulously grinding through nine full revisions. “The book grew in detail and depth, but basically the original story found its way onto the printed page.” On September 1, The Saint of Florenville: A Love Story was released in both print and ebook formats.

Set in modern-day Belgium, this tragic yet uplifting story begins when two good friends, an American priest and a Belgian nun, are sightseeing in picturesque Bruges. They are about to part, when a local man who has befriended them drugs and kidnaps them. What follows is a tale of loss and suffering, faith and the struggle to survive. Thrown together under the worst possible conditions, Fr. Tom Jensen and Sr. Marie-Therese form a bond that transcends the demands of their religious vows. In the end, only one of the pair survives, but this is a plot full of unexpected twists and turns, dark secrets and surprises.

The author has resided in Contra Costa County for 40 years and has lived in the Antioch-Pittsburg area since 2005. In addition to writing fiction, he reviews books for a national periodical and edits manuscripts for other authors. He served two terms as president of the Mt. Diablo Branch of the historic California Writers Club. The statewide organization was founded in 1909 by the great Jack London and a group of his writing buddies.

Additional information about Alfred J. Garrotto and The Saint of Florenville: A Love Story can be found at http://saintofflorenville.wordpress.com.

The largest number of applicants for the Keller Canyon Canyon Landfill Mitigation Fund coupled with a lower amount of garbage made Supervisor Federal
Glover’s frown lines form on his forehead.

“This was the toughest year to decide who should receive grants,” said Glover, who administers the fund based on the amount of tonnage deposited in the Keller landfill.

The Board of Supervisors approved the appropriations of Keller fund this morning, (Tuesday, Oct. 11) during its meeting in Martinez. There were 130 applications this year compared to 100 last year. In previous years, the grants were awarded to about 85 to 90 percent of the applicants. This year only 30 percent of the applicants were given awards.

For the third straight year, tonnage at the Keller landfill was down due to the economic downturn in the economy.

“Perhaps the push for recycling is working,” Glover speculated. “That — plus the building industry has been hit hard — reducing construction debris.”

A new stricter application process that stressed accountability slowed the grant awards as everyone learned to use the new procedures, which were based on the recommendations from the County Auditor’s Office and the Board of Supervisors.

After complying with the new guidelines, there was only $766,796 left to dispense. The total amount was $1.1 million. The highest amount given by the mitigation fund in past years was $1.6 million.

The Keller mitigation fund was created to help the communities most impacted by the Keller landfill site south of Bay Point and Pittsburg. The largest portion of this year’s funds went for additional deputies for Bay Point beyond normal staffing levels.

“Just because some of the projects didn’t receive funding doesn’t mean the projects were not worthwhile,” said Glover. “There are good projects out there that need help that we simply couldn’t fund this year.”

Glover vowed to continue to seek other revenue sources to help the community-based agencies. “These nonprofits form the social safety net and in this economy, their services are needed more than ever,” he said.

California companies now have a new way of doing business, thanks to the Governor’s signature yesterday on Assembly Bill 361, introduced by Assemblymember Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael).

Huffman’s law, which received overwhelming bipartisan support as it worked through both chambers of the California Legislature, creates a new, fully voluntary class of corporation in California called “benefit corporations,” which allows businesses to pursue a material positive impact on the environment and community in addition to maximizing profits. Current law requires corporations to prioritize financial interests and shareholder profits.

“California must be a leader in attracting socially-responsible companies, investors and consumers,” said Assemblymember Huffman. “Thanks to the Governor’s action, we now have a new law that sends a strong message to entrepreneurs that California is open for this emerging form of business.”

Under AB 361, businesses can choose to incorporate as benefit corporations and enjoy these significant advantages:
· Greater access to social impact and venture capital investments;
· Legal protection for directors and officers in their more broadly defined fiduciary roles of maximizing profits as well as ensuring social and environmental considerations; and
· Marketing opportunities that will allow consumers to distinguish, in a very real and ascertainable fashion, between a business that claims to be socially responsible, and one that is responsible.

“Benefit corporations are companies that understand the power of money to help achieve positive changes,” said Jeff Kletter, CEO & Co-founder of KINeSYS Inc., based in San Rafael. “We are happy to be affiliated with a community that knows we need to all work together to help take our country and the economy to the next level.”

“We have to keep California competitive and moving forward in a positive direction in order to ensure the success of our young people,” said Jason Greenwald, a math teacher from Petaluma and supporter of this bill.

“Benefit corporations value profits, people and our planet equally,” said Stuart Rudick, Partner of Mindful Investors LLC, based in Mill Valley. “AB 361 provides a sustainable model for California business to achieve economic success while also creating social good.”

AB 361 was proposed by several of Assemblymember Huffman’s constituents who participated in his annual “There Oughta Be a Law…or Not” contest. The bill is supported by over 200 California-based businesses and associations. California now joins Hawaii, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Vermont and Virginia where benefit corporation legislation already has passed with bipartisan support.

You are invited to a great event. There are several awesome improvements going on in the City of Antioch. The Antioch Chamber of Commerce has invited our city leaders to come and express some of the positive direction that is happening in Antioch, at a very special event appropriately titled – A Celebration of Antioch.

At this event our city leaders will come together to share the good news about Antioch with you. The speakers at the Celebration of Antioch include:
Antioch Mayor James Davis, Antioch Chief of Police Alan Cantando, Superintendent of Antioch Unified School District Dr. Donald Gill and Antioch City Manager Jim Jakel.

Join us for networking, food, conversation and information as our city leaders share the exciting positive things that are happening in Antioch.

Where: Humphrey’s On The Delta, 1 Marina Plaza
When: Monday October 24, 2011 from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM PDT

RSVP for this event is required in order to attend! Your ticket for this event includes A buffet lunch. Space is limited and filling up fast so please RSVP today to reserve your spot. Antioch Chamber of Commerce, 101 H Street Unit #4, Antioch Ca, 94509. 925-757-1800. www.antiochchamber.com

More than 4,000 public servants in Contra Costa County – who have taken pay and benefit cuts the last two years – will hold a series of rallies Tuesday throughout the County, including Martinez, Richmond and Pittsburg.

The five unions – bargaining together as the Contra Costa County Labor Coalition – represent the County’s lowest paid employees, including custodians, clerks, health care workers, social workers, eligibility workers, appraisers, skilled craft workers, engineers, animal services employees, child care workers and Librarians.

Rallies are scheduled at the following times and locations on Tuesday:

9:45 a.m., 10 a.m., and 3 p.m.: Contra Costa County Employment and Human Services Department Antioch Office. 4545 Delta Fair Blvd, Antioch

11 a.m. – 1 p.m.: Contra Costa County Regional Medical Center, 2500 Alhambra Ave. Martinez. In the circle in front of the hospital

11:30 a.m.- 1 p.m.: Pittsburg Health Center, 2311 Loveridge Rd., Pittsburg

11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.: Richmond Health Center, 100 38th St., Richmond

The Unions’ contracts expired June 30, 2011 The recently expired union contracts gave the County labor savings including major changes in health care for both active and retired employees. Since the these 5 unions signed their last contracts in 2009, the County has not obtained the same changes in health care from all County employees. The County is seeking significant wage and benefit cuts in the current negotiations.

“Our members do not want to be treated as second class citizens and want a fair contract,” said Felix Huerta, from AFSCME, the Coalition’s chair this year. “We made sacrifices last contract and are prepared to make more this year. We have proposal on the table to cut our take-home pay and pay more for pensions. But we want to be treated fairly.”

A significant issue in the bargaining is the County’s unwillingness to share in the increase cost of health care. Management has proposed to freeze what it pays at the 2011 level. The Unions are proposing that management increase its contribution when health care rates go up.

“Many of our members are stretched to the brink. They haven’t had a pay raise since 2008, their take-home pay was cut the last two years because of furloughs and they have been paying a bigger share of health care each of the last two years. Asking us to cut our pay even more, pay more for pensions and, on top of that, pay all the increases for health care is not reasonable … that’s why we’re marching Tuesday,” Huerta said.

On October 8, 2011 6:33 p.m., Antioch Police Officers responded to 2327 Dogwood Way in Antioch on a report of man who had been shot. Officers found a 24-year-old Antioch man in front of a home with gunshot wounds. He was transported to the hospital where he was pronounced dead.

The following suspects were seen fleeing the scene: black male, early 20’s, short hair, 6 feet, 170 pounds; and black male 18-22 years old, 5-foot-7 to 5-foot-8, 150 pound.

Anyone with information regarding this murder or these suspects should call Detective Bittner at (925)779-6939.

At approximately 5:55 p.m. on October 7, a resident in the 4900 block of Parkgreen Circle called stating that shots were being fired near his or her home, and that people with guns were in the rear yard.

Upon officers arrival, one 36-year-old male was found at that location, suffering from two gunshot wounds. No other people were present. The victim was a resident of that neighborhood. The victim was transported to an undisclosed hospital where he is in serious condition but is expected to live.

The motive for the shooting was unknown, and Antioch Police are conducting a follow up investigation on this case.