The Antioch Historical Society presents Forever Young, a nostalgic look at toys from the past through Wednesday, February 29 at their museum in Antioch. The exhibit is open to the public and free.

The museum is open Wednesdays and Saturdays from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. and is located at 1500 W. Fourth Street, at the corner of Auto Center Drive in Antioch.

For more information call the museum at 757-1326, email antiochhistoricalsociety@comcast.net or visit www.art4antioch.org/AHS-toy-exhibit2012.asp

The Antioch Lapidary Club presents their Jewelry, Gem & Rock Show on  Saturday and Sunday, February 18 & 19, 2012 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day at the Contra Costa County Fairgrounds, 1201 West 10^th Street, Antioch.

The show will feature jewelry, gems, findings, supplies, an auction, grab bags, exhibits and hands-on projects for kids.

Cost is $4.00 for adults, Free for kids 12 and under, scouts in uniform, and active military.

For more information contact Brenda Miguel at 925-301-6957 or brenda.miguel@yahoo.com, or visit www.antiochlapidaryclub.com.

On February 10th the Antioch Police Department received several reports of shots being fired in the area of Spanos Street and Magnolia Way. Officers arrived on scene to find a 56-year-old male in an alleyway behind the apartments on Spanos Street suffering from multiple gunshot wounds.

The victim, an Antioch resident, was taken to a local hospital where he has been listed in critical condition.

This investigation is still unfolding and updates will be released at a later time. Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Stenger at (925) 779-6894.

By Amy Claire

Antioch Unified School District teachers will be receiving information about students with a history of disciplinary problems, according to a new district policy.

“Teachers will be getting a hard copy notification of the three-year history of their students,” said Kevin McIntyre, Coordinator of Educational Technology, at the February 8 meeting of the AUSD School Board. These lists will include only severe offenses.

An electronic three-year discipline history will also be available on the Teacher Access Center, which district teachers currently use to take attendance and enter grades. The online history will include all offenses, not just severe ones, as well as comments about the nature of the incidents.

The district is also working on adding a feature that notifies teachers when their students’ records are updated. “We’re aiming to have that up and running for the next school year,” said McIntyre. The notices would only be sent to the students’ current teachers.

Willie Mims, a representative of the East County NAACP, objected to the new system. “This policy really concerns me,” he said. “What kinds of safeguards are in place to protect the students?”

Mims also praised the proposed bond measure for renovating Antioch High School, saying, “I’m happy, and I hope that the bond passes, because that school needs some help. I’ve never come across a site that bad.”

Board Member Claire Smith defended AHS, stating that she has seen a large number of high schools in the Bay Area while attending her children’s band-related activities. “Antioch High School looks fabulous compared to some,” she said. “I am grateful to our maintenance people.”

Later in the meeting, Mims expressed concern about the release of 57 temporary certificated employees. “That’s a huge number!” he said. “Isn’t that going to cause a shortfall?” He cited the caseload of a Deer Valley High School counselor as an example of the need for more staff members.

Keith Rogenski, Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources, replied that the temporary employees were hired to cover permanent employees’ leaves of absence and to fill other short-term positions. While the employees’ contracts with the district terminate at the end of each school year, they may be rehired for the following year if needs arise.

Antioch High teacher Sean O’Neil reported great success with the new media tech academy. “There’s some amazing stuff going on in the classrooms,” he said. However, he mentioned a need for more space. “There will be a point where we will be maxed out.” O’Neil also inquired about the effect on AHS from the potential closure of the G Street off ramp.

The next meetings of the school board will be held on February 22 and March 14 at 510 G Street in Antioch at 7:00 pm.

Politicians and their special interest supporters don’t see 2012 as the ideal time to seek ways to trim budgets and reform overgenerous public pension systems. Rather they see it as the moment to impose higher taxes and fees on taxpayers struggling in a down economy.

Some prime examples are:

1) Governor Jerry Brown’s proposed initiative to raise about $7 billion by increasing the state sales tax by a half cent (hurting those at the lower income levels) and raising income tax on those who make $250,000 or more a year.

2) The California Federation of Teachers tax initiative to raise about $6 billion for schools.

3) Activist lawyer Molly Munger and the California Teachers Association tax initiative to raise about $10 billion in taxes for schools.

4) The Contra Costa County Supervisors decision to send out ballots to property owners in regard to imposition of a “Clean Water” parcel tax. The election will cost approximately $526,500. Incidentally, we already pay a federal storm water tax on our properties, half of which stays within cities to clean storm drains and creeks and half of which goes to the County’s Clean Water Program.

Additionally, supervisors are expected to ask voters in November to approve a new parcel tax on behalf of the Contra Costa County Fire District, which has been affected by declining property tax revenues and retirement costs which continue to take a greater portion of the budget.

5) The Contra Costa Community College District is in the process of conducting a voter opinion poll seeking to gather voter support for a parcel tax on the November 2012 election ballot. Voters approved the first CCC College District local bond measure in March 2002. Measure A was for $120 million. Voters also approved a second bond measure in June 2006. That bond measure was for $286.5 million.

6) The Contra Costa Water District just approved an “adjustment” in rates and charges in order to increase revenues 3.6%. You may ask what does this mean to Antioch residents, but old timers like me know that when CCWD rates go up, the city decides to increase our rates also.

7) The Antioch Unified School District, which sought approval from property owners in the non-Mello Roos districts in 2008 for a $61,600,000 bond measure to renovate and modernize schools, is now planning to ask voters to approve an additional bond measure for further “improvements,” despite the fact that each year 3% of their budget is state mandated for maintenance.

NOTE: Property owners should be wary of casting votes for any new tax proposal. The California Franchise Tax Board intends to pursue taxpayers and tax preparers who have previously ignored a state law preventing property owners from deducting certain real estate taxes on their tax returns. The tax board is referring to charges that began appearing on tax bills after Prop. 13 limited general property tax increases.

Since then local governments and school districts have been raising revenues via voter-approved parcel taxes and other charges that will now be disallowed. The tax board will require property owners to show their parcel number and total property tax bill on their 2011 tax form in an effort to educate the public and generate voluntary compliance. Next year, however, the tax board will enforce compliance.

The Antioch Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce that the date has been set for the Antioch Chamber of Commerce Inaugural Gala and Recognition Dinner. This premier event will be held on Friday, March 9, 2012 at the Lone Tree Golf Course & Event Center.

The evening includes the installation of the 2012 ACOC Board of Directors as well as awarding Antioch’s Citizen, Business and Youth of the Year for 2011. Categories for recognition awards are: Citizen of the Year – lifetime achievement and most impact; Business of the Year – large and small; and Youth of the Year.

Nominations are due by February 10. Tickets are on sale now – $70 per person; reserved tables for 8 are $575. Silent Auction and our famous Balloon Pop are part of this not-to-be-missed evening. More information and nomination forms are available by calling the Antioch Chamber of Commerce at 925-757-1800 or obtaining the forms on-line at www.antiochchamber.com.

By Lou Davis

One of today’s popular sayings goes like this: “It is what it is.” But I say “it” is also what you make it. And it’s extremely critical today, moreso than ever before, that we make our contributions to help make a difference.

Nowadays, there are very few caring Americans who will disagree with the fact that, like never before in the history of our nation, casting your vote for leaders in this country has never been more important than in 2012. Too bad, but in our system of government we can only ‘throw the bums out’ of office by expressing our choices at the ballot box.

Most will agree that bums which deserve throwing out most are in Washington; from our Robin Hood style president to members of Congress who think the country can spend its way to prosperity and let future generations pay the difference in years to come.

Meanwhile, our governors and mayors appear to be cowered down by other bums called Occupy Wall Street protesters, who obviously do not believe in ballot style change-making, like Tea Party groups. Wall Street occupiers prefer to force their change on us. They obviously feel that the President is on their side, which he has stated several times, and that governors and mayors are afraid to take necessary steps to stop them.

In California, our first opportunity for helping make change comes during Primary Elections in June. If voters feel as I do, with a very strong opinion on who our next leaders should be, voting in the 2012 Primary is not an option. Particularly for the president and members of Congress, voting this year is a must-do proposition.

Although “it” may be what it is, it is up to us as responsible citizens to become more familiar with issues and candidates, and cast a positive ballot this year.