Roswell Butler Hard House on First Street in Antioch. by Sanfranman59

By James Ott

The boarded-up former home of Antioch’s first mayor is getting a new chance at life thanks to a local non-profit group’s efforts to save the historic house.

The Antioch City Council voted 4-0 Tuesday – Mayor Jim Davis was in Washington D.C. – to turn the 143-year-old property over to the Friends of Roswell Butler Hard House – a non-profit bent on attaining ownership of the property since 2009 in order to restore the home to it’s original state.

The Hard House as it’s called, was built in 1869 by Roswell Butler Hard – an influential resident of Antioch who served as a county supervisor, county Sheriff and the first Mayor of Antioch.

The two story home, which currently sits on 815 West First Street, was constructed in the “Italianite fashion” entirely of local brick from Antioch’s first brick factory. Newspapers at the time apparently described the Hard House as one of the area’s most attractive and costly homes.

Once Antioch became incorporated, the building became the site of the new city’s first council meeting.

The Hard House eventually became the first Antioch property to be listed on both the State and Federal Registry of Historic Sites.

In 1979 the Antioch Redevelopment Agency purchased the home with the intent to eventually restore the decrepit property.

When all California Redevelopment Agencies were eliminated this year by Gov. Jerry Brown cities like Antioch transferred many properties – including the Hard House – from their doomed Redevelopment Agencies to the city to avoid losing them altogether.

As a result of this change and a general lack of money over the years with which to restore the historic property, the house has stood neglected and is now boarded up and in very poor shape.

The Friends of the Hard House intend to eventually restore the house and use it possibly for city functions or as a museum.

The Friends cannot begin the much needed restoration however until the transfer is complete and the home closes escrow because of potential insurance issues.

And even after escrow the Friends aren’t out of the woods yet because the state is still in the process of deciding if some of the property transfers done between former Redevelopment Agencies and their cities is legal.

If the state finds the transfer legal then the restoration will continue. If not – the Friends will lose the property and any money and work that they put into it.

But the Friends think the risk is worth it for such an important property.

“The idea is to preserve it for the city,” said Friends’ member Sam Davis. “This is the oldest residence in the city, and very probably the oldest building in the city. We’re offering… the chance to do what [the city] would like to have done if it had the resources.”

The entire restoration including landscaping, structural improvements and construction is estimated to take six to seven years.

The Hard House is considered the area’s only surviving example of the Italianate style of architecture that was popular during the late Victorian period.

In other council business:

The July 4^th Fireworks & Celebration committee gave a report to the council letting them know that over $44,000 has been raised in contributions and commitments, to date. So they’re well on their way to achieving their goal of $65,000 to pay for all costs of the fireworks and parade. They are asking individual residents to contribute, as well, since the city is not covering any of the costs associated with the event, including city staff costs, estimated at $34,000.

A presentation was given on the eBART extension by Ellen Smith from BART and their plans for extending beyond the Hillcrest station.

The council added an urgency item to the agenda, to accept “a Facility Repair and Modification Grant from the California Department of Boating and Waterways (DBW) in the amount of $495,000 and authorize the City Manager or his designee to sign the contract,” for the new boat launch at the city marina.

The council also approved spending $200,000 of the remaining $2.1 million in Mello-Roos funds dedicated to Prewett Park, on a list of items including furniture and equipment for the new Community Center. Staff was also directed to research turf fields, sand volleyball courts and library equipment then, come back with recommendations on how to spend the final $1.9 million, to fulfill the master plan for the park.

The council voted to extend the sunset of the Residential Development Allocation Program by one year to May 1, 2013, to give staff the necessary time to complete the work on development impact fees and growth metering. The RDA Program was adopted to implement the intent of Measure U, the growth management advisory measure, approved by over 69% of Antioch voters in 1998.

Finally, the council approved a resolution supporting and joining the Healthy Eating Active Living Cities (HEAL) campaign. They offer training and technical assistance to city officials to help cities adopt policies in the areas of land use, healthy food and employee wellness, that will improve the physical activity and food environments for their residents. It’s an effort to address the obesity epidemic among children and over half the adults in California. For more information visit www.healcitiescampaign.org

Dear Editor:

By Walter Ruehlig

“What’s it all about, Alfie?” was the 1966 Michael Caine movie and Dionne Warwick soundtrack reiteration of man’s perennial question; what is the meaning of life?

In charting the pursuit of the holy grail of happiness I, for one, throw my lot in with the philosophers who say that the irony of life is that seeking happiness is a bit like chasing butterflies. The more excitedly you run after the prize, the less likely you’ll catch it. Be still, though and, presto, a butterfly may settle on your shoulder.

Interestingly, when we’re feverishly intent on trying to satisfy our own ego and myopic desires, we run around in circles forever chasing our own tails.

Am I advocating self-annihilation and shunning personal happiness? Contrary, it’s merely a call to a Higher Self where happiness is the by-product of a purpose-driven life.

Being productive, making some difference that you lived, should be the compass if we are not to be lost souls chasing a mirage of fool’s gold. Sensory pleasures, fame and fortune, are fleeting. They never light the enduring inner world of self-worth.

William James, the celebrated 19^th century philosopher, pierced the heart of life’s irony when in his essay, “Enlightened Self Interest” he advocated that true selflessness is actually selfishness. He asserted that selfless people are actually doing themselves their best favor. They understand the dynamics of true satisfaction, that kindness is a boomerang and that loving others is loving ones’ deepest Self.

We are all interconnected and our actions ripple on the shores of eternity. Call it, if you will, the law of physical cause and effect, equal and opposite reaction; call it the Biblical “as you sow, so shall you reap”; call it karma.

Given the strain on government services, public giving is needed more than ever. Here in Antioch our city payroll is that of Brentwood, which is half our size in population. Police, code enforcement, graffiti removers, recreation and over-the counter staff are scarce. Things, then, simply won’t all get done without community volunteering.

In this spirit, I put together a web site, www.Volunteer4Antioch.com with some fifty local organizations to connect to right in our own backyard. As examples, one can give loving, tender care to stray animals; provide companionship to home shut-ins and those convalescing in hospitals; fulfill the last wishes of the elderly; be a docent at the Historical Society; tutor at the library, our schools or Opportunity Junction; pick up litter from city streets; coach sports; be a male role model for the Watchdogs organization in our schools.

I am particularly hopeful for youth mentoring. We live in a city with 38% of our population under eighteen; the highest percentage in the county. Many of these youth suffer absentee parenting. Organizations like YIN, Community Resources 4 Youth, PAL and Parents Connected do fabulous work but need volunteers.

My hope and prayer for us all, then, is that Mother Teresa’s affirmation resonates in our hearts. “I am a living pencil in the hand of a living God who is sending a love letter to the world.” That’s a prescription for a life worth living and maybe an irresistible invitation for that butterfly of happiness to alight on our shoulders.

To have your organization be part of Volunteer4Antioch.com, visit our website or email me at walter.ruehlig@gmail.com.

Proclamation To Show Thanks and Gratitude to Physicians who serve the Antioch Community

The Commons at Dallas Ranch, Assisted Living initiated a Proclamation to declare March 30^th as Doctors Day in the City of Antioch.

Doctors’ Day was established to honor and pay tribute to members of the medical profession everywhere and recognize their contributions and continuing dedication.

“We feel privileged to be involved in such a momentous occasion. Our staff and residents truly appreciate the tireless efforts of the physicians that serve us and the community at large. The time is past due for us to say a big special thank you,” says Dina Osakue, Community Relations Director for The Commons.

A Proclamation Ceremony will be held at the Antioch Council Meeting on Tuesday, March 13, 2012 at 7:00 p.m., City Hall, Third & “H” Streets, Antioch, CA. The ceremony will be attended by representatives from the Antioch medical community, Alameda – Contra Costa County Medical Association, Sutter Delta Regional Medical Center, and Kaiser Permanente Hospital.

The Commons at Dallas Ranch Assisted Living Community is a community established by Premeira Care, an Oakdale, CA-based company. Dallas Ranch opened in Antioch in 2006, and continues to provide affordable luxury living and care for the senior community.

For more information contact Dina Osakue, Community Relations Director at 925.754.7772 or dosakue@commonsatdallasranch.com.

The event will be held Thursday, April 5, 2012 at Los Medanos College. To register and for more information visit http://techpalooza.org/

The Antioch Music Foundation is sponsoring the East County Idol auditions Saturday March 17th and 24th from 10 a.m to 3 p.m. at the Somersville Towne Center. The audition room is  adjacent to the security desk.

Finalists will perform at the El Campanil Theatre on April 20th at 7:30 p.m , for $700 in prizes. For applications go to www.antiochmusic.org and look under events, or call Walter Ruehlig at (925) 756-7628.

The contest is open to any high school student, public or private, living in Far East County.

By Barbara Zivica

I was amazed to read that the Chamber of Commerce nominated the Antioch Unified School District as one of the two contenders for the title of Large Corporate Business of the Year; the other contender being Allied Waste Services who ultimately won the title.

Folks, the Antioch Unified School District (AUSD) is NOT a corporate business. Corporations, which come in two different forms – the C corporation and the S corporation, are the most complex and structured of all legal business structures. Corporations operate as a separate entity from their owners and shareholders and can make income and suffer losses. A Corporation can sue other parties when its rights have been violated and can be sued by other companies or shareholders. A school district does not hold stock or shares which investors can buy or sell.

The Antioch Unified School District does, however, have a huge portfolio of land not being used for school sites or other district use, land which if sold could used for capital projects or improvements, such as facility renovation or building new schools instead of asking voters to approve another bond measure. (Ongoing maintenance is supposed to come out of district operating funds, districts being required to dedicate 3% of their general fund budget for this purpose.)

Furthermore, AUSD is going to structure the proposed $59.5 million June ballot measure to modernize Antioch High School, whose principal is the son of Councilwoman Mary Rocha, in the same manner as the previous 2008 $61.6 million bond measure, by forming a school facilities improvement district (SFID) which is similar to a Mello Roos district, but which requires only 55% voter approval rather than two-thirds voter approval.

In addition to voting no on this bond measure, voters should “pink slip” district administrators and school board members that support this unjust parcel tax measure.

Five additional public meetings have been added to the schedule, for a total of 10 in March, to get feedback on critical issues including a proposed fare increase. If you are unable to attend one of the meetings, you can review the materials online and take an online survey. For additional information, including a link to the meeting schedule and to the online survey, read more.