Tickets for the 10th annual major fundraiser for Antioch’s An Elderly Wish Foundation – the Heart to Heart Ball – which will be held on Saturday, February 25, 2012, are now available for $60 per person.

This year’s theme is “Moments to Remember” and will prove to be a memorable evening with an elegant dinner dance, live auction and live band at the Lone Tree Golf Course & Event Center. For information call 978-1883 email info@elderlywish.org or visit www.ElderlyWish.org.

Jiaxing, China delegates meet local cowboy Jack Roddy at the Roddy Ranch Golf Club. From left - Luo Xianzhong, Allen Payton, Yao Yuming, Jiang Suolou, golf club General Manager Kevin Fitzgerald, Jack Roddy, James Shenn, Fu Yiming and Wu Kaiming. photo by Scott Barrow

Another group of officials from Jiaxing, China visited Antioch, this week, to further efforts in establishing a Sister City relationship with Antioch for both business trade and cultural exchange. The first delegation visited Antioch in May of this year.

Jiaxing is a city of approximately three million people near Shanghai, on the Grand Canal of China, on the eastern side of the country.

The delegates met with Mayor Jim Davis, Councilwoman Mary Rocha and local business people James Shenn, Ming Zhou and Antioch Herald Publisher Allen Payton, all members of the Antioch Rotary Club (where the concept for the relationship originated, last year), and exchanged business cards and gifts, took photos and shared ideas of cultural, art and education exchanges between the two cities.

The delegates included Mr.Wu Kaiming, Secretary-General of Jiaxing Municipal Committee of Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), Mr. Luo Xianzhong, Vice Secretary-General of the Standing Committee of Jiaxing Municipal People’s Congress, Mr.Jiang Suolou, Director of Jiaxing Municipal Supervision Bureau, Ms.Wang Mingxia, Director of Jiaxing Administration of Culture Broadcasting Television Press & Publication, Ms. Fu Yiming, Director of Education, Science, Culture, Public Health and Overseas Chinese Affairs Commission, the Standing Committee of Jiaxing Municipal People’s Congress and Mr,Yao Yuming, Director of Jiaxing People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries who is also a police officer.

The group also had the opportunity to meet Antioch City Manager Jim Jakel and Police Chief Allan Cantando.

The group was then given a tour of Antioch, including a stop at Roddy Ranch Golf Club where they met a real American cowboy, Jack Roddy, as well as a stop at the historic El Campanil Theatre, for a tour by Executive Director Rick Carraher.

The day finished with lunch at Humphrey’s on the Delta in the Harbor Room overlooking the river.

Those interested in helping establish the Antioch – Jiaxing Sister City Committee and participating in activities, trips to Jiaxing, and a youth educational exchange next summer, please contact either James Shenn at (925) 628-8308 or by email at james@vikingind.com or Allen Payton at (925) 457-0414 or by email at allenpayton@rocketmail.com.

After watching and listening to some of the more rational people involved in the Occupy movement across the country, it’s obvious they share some common ground with the concerns and complaints expressed by the Tea Party folks, over the past few years.

Both are concerned with the big banks and the taxpayer-funded bailouts to the financial industry, while the average American homeowner lost thousands of dollars in value without receiving any bailout, and the fact that some are still losing their homes, today.

But, the solutions are different. It appears that the Occupy forces look at big business as bad and government as good. They want more government. On the other hand the Tea Party folks want less government and more individual freedom and responsibility.

The problem isn’t capitalism, it’s both immoral and irresponsible individuals who use our free market system to take advantage of others for their own financial gain, and politicians who keep using tax dollars to benefit those who contribute to their campaigns. That’s not capitalism. It’s crony socialism.

John Adams once stated “our Constitution was written for a moral and religious people.”

The same goes for all aspects of our free society – government and the private sector, included.

Government needs to do a better job of regulating the financial industry – especially the largest institutions, and prohibit the creation of esoteric investment vehicles without true value, such as derivatives.

Those in the private sector should not be motivated by greed and should make sure that whatever actions they take and investments they make are responsible and will not hurt another person.

It’s called the Golden Rule.

One thing many in both camps have in common is the desire to rein in the Federal Reserve that controls our interest rates and has been overprinting our currency, devaluing it, causing inflation.

Next year we have an opportunity to find common ground and vote out those in office in Washington, D.C. who have been part of the problem, and forgotten whose hard-earned money they’re spending (ours), whose future they’re putting deeper in debt (our children and grandchildren) and vote in a group of responsible representatives.

Qwivander Smith autographs at a copy of her book at a recent book signing.

By Allen Payton

Through her new book, Pursuing God’s Purpose by Walking in the Now, Antioch author, business woman and pastor’s wife Qwivander Smith “paints a beautiful picture of the power of God’s everlasting love and devotion” according to the book cover.

The book offers “moving, personal testimony, life experiences and strong scriptural reference” and “is a call to all believers to walk in the will of the Lord.”

It’s based on the story of Nehemiah whose job it was to rebuild the walls of the city of Jerusalem.

Not everyone around him supported his efforts. Smith writes of three different groups of people: those who shared Nehemiah’s vision, those who just went along waiting for the time he would give up, and the naysayers and doubters who didn’t believe he could accomplish his mission.

“What has God told you to rebuild?” Smith asks the reader. “As you read this book I am confident something will be said to empower you, encourage you, and motivate you to pursue your purpose in life.”

Her first book was entitled “From My Mother’s Womb, To The Presence of The Father.”

Her books are available at Grace Bible Fellowship, where she and her husband, Pastor Kirkland Smith minister. The church is located at 913 Sunset Drive in Antioch or you can call the church at (925) 522-2017. They’re also available at her hair salon, Heavenly Hair, located at 320 E. 18th Street, Suite B, Antioch or by call the salon at (925) 706-2131.

Paula’s Family Florist offers more than flower arrangements, prom flowers or floral services for weddings and funerals. They offer decades of experience in the floral industry, more than you might expect from a business who’s been open since 2006.

That’s because when “Family” is the middle name of this business, they mean it. Paula’s family just happens to come with a lifetime of experience in the floral industry.

Paula Franchetto-Trotta grew up in the family floral business, one owned for about 15 years by her grandparents, Emilio and Yolanda Franchetto. Her parents, Bob and Mary Franchetto, then purchased the shop from them and ran it for an additional 35 years. Franchetto-Trotta herself spent many of her years as a youngster at the shop, and even took naps as a young child in the back. Now her own children do the same, in the same shop where she creates her special floral design, as her parents did years ago.

The shop, which Franchetto-Trotta refers to as the “Little Yellow House” on the corner of A and 15th streets in Antioch, has been a floral shop for many years. “My grandparents bought Cottage Florist back in the 1940’s,” said Franchetto-Trotta. “My parents bought it in the 1960’s.” After 35 years her parents sold the business, but her time working at the shop left an impression. Franchetto-Trotta and her husband Chris Trotta started Paula’s Family Florist in the same location her parents shop had been. Her dad, Bob Franchetto comes in daily to help out. “I’ve got my own consultant here every morning.” When he is done helping out at the shop he creates woodwork specialties that have their own section in the shop. Franchetto-Trotta’s mom, Mary Franchetto helps out most weekends as well.

“I help her with all the dances and weddings,” said Franchetto. Although Mary Franchetto works outside of the shop during the week, she tries to plan her time off around the busy times at the shop. “All the major holidays, I try to take them off,” said Franchetto. “Then I’m here:” In fact Paula does between 150-200 weddings a year now. “Weddings are a large part of our business now”. Paula offers free consultations but you do have to call ahead and schedule and appointment. “I enjoy sitting down with my brides and talk color and flowers.”

“Its nice having them here,” said Franchetto-Trotta of her parents three and a half decades in the flower industry. “They just know so much about the business.” Franchetto-Trotta’s husband and co-owner of Paula’s Family Florist, Chris Trotta met Franchetto-Trotta in the first grade, at the same school three of their four children now attend.

The fourth is now in high school but did attend the same school as well. Back in the dating days, he occasionally was asked to help out at the shop, too. “I worked here helping out on holidays then,” said Trotta. He is the one who takes the early drive to the flower markets to stock the shop. “I do the flower buying. I leave Antioch at about 1 am, I love it,” said Trotta. “It’s great because I’m a night owl. There’s no traffic.”

Trotta’s mom Dee Trotta also helps out at the shop. She mostly takes care of the kids now. Paula’s Aunt Marianne also helps out along with many other family members.

“It says ‘family’ on the sign,” said Trotta. “If you are family or considered family we will put you to work.”

According to Franchetto-Trotta, if you haven’t started decorating the house for the holidays and want to use some fresh flowers, there is still plenty of time to come in and pick up some holiday cheer.

“Everyone can afford something, I have something for everybody in everybody’s price range,” she said. “Most of us are last minute people anyway.”

Franchetto-Trotta also says one of her most popular items now is her $5.00 Friday Special. It’s a mixed bunch of flowers she carries every Friday. She has quite a following for those, now.

She also has a full selection of arrangements at any time at the shop for those who want to grab and go or you can call or come in to the shop and discuss what your needs are, and Franchetto-Trotta can help. “If you want huge beautiful displays I can do that too,” she added.

Paula’s Family Florist is located at 1412 A Street in Antioch. To place an order or for more information call 925-756-6000 or visit her website at paulasfamilyflorist.com. (Or see their ad on the right side of this page and click on it to visit their site)

This Saturday December 10th from noon to 3 p.m. is the day for the Holiday Bazaar at Dozier Libbey Medical High School (4900 Sand Creek Road off Deer Valley Rd. – across from the Kaiser Emergency driveway). There will be a photo with Santa opportunity for attendees with small children.

The Bazaar committee is still looking for two more vendors. If anyone is interested, e-mail Erin at erin_patton@yahoo.com. The price is $30.

Police should instead contribute more to retirement

Antioch City Manager Jim Jakel said recently that the city’s current 2011-12 budget deficit is projected to increase in the 2012-13 fiscal year, and if the city can’t come to an resolution with the Antioch Police Officers Association (APOA), the city will have to consider changing police staffing hours and reducing services.

Reduce services? Services have already been cut drastically. The police department is understaffed, gone are code enforcement officers and city departments are closed on Fridays.

City officials have been having ongoing discussions with APOA, which agreed earlier in the year to pay 3% of the 9% employee share of their age 50 retirement benefit. This concession expires January lst, although the city‘s contract with APOA doesn‘t end until August 2013. For this small concession, the Council, unbelievably, awarded them two extra holidays a year!

APOA should note that Contra Costa County deputy sheriffs just ratified a two-year contract that not only will cut their pay 2.8% but require them to pay 80% of any increase in their pension premium increases in 2012 and 75% in 2013. Starting in mid 2013, deputies will pay their FULL share of retirement contributions.

In addition, Governor Jerry Brown has come up with a 12-point pension proposal, which he recently presented to his Joint Conference Committee on Public Employee Pensions. One component of his proposal could cost local workers more because of a provision requiring equal sharing of pension costs between employer and employee.

State workers are less likely to be impacted because most state employees are paying more than or close to half the total normal cost. In comparison, most local government employees are paying less than half the normal cost.

As Ed Mendel at Cal Pensions wrote, “A boost in what employees pay for their pensions would allow employers to cut their pension payments by a similar amount. So the governor’s pension plan could provide budget relief for struggling local governments.”

Interesting to Note: CalPERS newsletter (PERSpective Fall 2011) informed retirees that STATE retirees that are enrolled in a CalPERS Medicare health plan may be entitled to a reimbursement of all or part of their Medicare Part B premium provided the Part B reimbursement not exceed the difference between the maximum employee contribution and the premium for the health plan.

Additionally, the state retiree could be eligible for an ADDITIONAL Medicare Part B reimbursement if the retiree has a higher income level and paid a higher premium because they are subject to an Income Related Monthly Adjustment Amount. This provision doesn’t apply to local government workers who are enrolled in a CalPERS Medicare health plan.

Perhaps one of the first budget cuts Governor Brown could start with is abolishing this special perk for state workers. Unfortunately, he too, like some of our local officials, is afraid to buck unions.