By James Ott

Nearly 200 people crowded the new boat launch at the Antioch Marina to witness the inaugural ribbon cutting ceremony and the official opening of the boat launch last Saturday.

Citizens of Antioch, the U.S. Coast Guard, Antioch Police, Contra Costa County Sheriff Marine Patrol and Jet Skiers were all on hand to watch the ceremony hosted by Antioch Deputy Director of Community Development Ryan Graham.

After the U.S. Coast Guard presented the U.S. flag on the water for the playing of the National Anthem, Graham spoke to the crowd about the new boat launch.

“This is really exciting,” said Graham. “It’s been a long time coming but… it’s a beautiful facility for the City of Antioch and this is one of many events we plan to have here.”

After the ceremony Diablo Jet Ski Action hosted a jet-ski race in front of nearby Humphrey’s Restaurant and the new boat ramp.

Saturday marked the end of eight years of planning, development and construction for the $3.7 million, state-of-the-art facility.

The facility has parking space for 129 boaters and thanks to another grant received back in January, the new launch will eventually have restrooms, a third boarding float and a payment kiosk.

The launch will be free until the payment kiosk is added, after which boaters will need to shell out $5 to launch their watercraft.

The project was funded in 2004 by a grant from the Department of Boating and Waterways.

Graham and other city leaders say the new facility will provide a better, safer alternative to the free-to-launch Fulton Shipyard Boat Ramp. Although City Council voted to keep it open while they and a core group of dedicated volunteers try to decide how best to update and clean up the decades-old boat ramp, its future is still unknown.

The unsteady future of the Fulton Shipyard boat launch remains an open wound for some Antioch residents, with some claiming the city only wants to shut down the Fulton facility to increase attendence, and thus spending, at the new facility.

Jim Boccio, owner of the Red Caboose – a restaurant near the Fulton boat ramp – was present Saturday to witness the opening of the new Antioch Marina Boat Launch.

“This new ramp is a tremendous facility, we hope that people will come to it,” said Boccio. “But we hope access will remain at both facilities.”

Rick Robinson, a resident of Antioch for 57 years and an attendee at Saturday’s event, agreed: “The more access to the river in Antioch, the better.”

Despite some opposition, overall reaction to the new marina boat launch has been positive.

24-year-old jet skier Johnny Barton was enamored with the new ramp that promises better access to the water for the sport he loves.

“It’s a beautiful day, it’s a beautiful facility and there’s a big turnout,” said Barton. “I think this will bring more people to the water.”

Twins Gabby and Molly Brodowski, 10, both had good things to say about the boat launch.

“It’ll be really good for the city” said Molly.

“It’s a better and safer launch,” said Gabby.

And they both agreed the day was, “really exciting.”

Perhaps one of the new boat launch’s biggest backers is Diablo Jet Ski Action Race Director Jim Lambert, who, until Saturday, had not had the chance to host a jet ski race on the waters of the city he grew up in for three years.

Lambert, who is also a Contra Costa County Sheriff Marine Patrolman, is big on water safety. Which is a big reason why he founded Diablo Jet Ski Action – to provide a safe outlet for speed on the water – and a big reason why he supports the new boat launch, which he said is much safer than the old Fulton facility.

“The new boat launch is incredible,” said Lambert. “Fulton wasn’t functional and safe enough for residents. This [new facility] is in the heart of downtown… [and] it’s completely lit up at night – it’s a five star facility – it really is.”

The Keep Antioch Beautiful Committee is seeking volunteers for the 2012 Keep Antioch Beautiful volunteer cleanup event. Last year several hundred volunteers turned out for the second all-volunteer event. Large amounts of trash was collected and deposited in Allied Waste dumpsters located at local schools and city sites.  The 3rd annual event is once again chaired by former Antioch Councilmember Martha Parsons and will be held on Saturday, April 21st from 8:30-11 AM. A free volunteer thank you lunch will be served following the event at Contra Loma Regional Park. This is your opportunity to give back to your community,  

Many individuals and organizations are supporting this event and the event is funded fully by the following sponsors: City of Antioch, Antioch Unified School District, Allied Waste, Honeywell, Walmart, Arts & Cultural Foundation of Antioch, Genon, East Bay Regional Parks, Rivertown Preservation Society (RPS), DIGITAL services, Pleasant Hill & Antioch Coin & Jewelry, Pinky’s Klassy Car Wash, Paradise Skate, Dick Straub (in memoriam), Staples, Fast Signs, Antioch Police Crime Commission, Delta Bowl, Central Self Storage, REI, Target, Jim Lanter State Farm, Kiwanis, East County Military Families & Friends.

Groups, service clubs and others are volunteering at the event. Volunteer groups include: AHS & DVHS Key Club, Antioch Police Crime Prevention Commission, Antioch Rotary, Boys Scouts Troops of Antioch, Kiwanis of the Delta, Operation Homefront & ECMFF, Rivertown Preservation Society, Rotary Club of the Delta, Target Employees and UCBN.

To sign up for the event, you may register on line at www.Art4Antioch.org. For more information call (925) 779-6137, option 1. You can also follow us on Facebook “Keep Antioch Beautiful” Group.

By Sergeant Tom Fuhrmann, Field Services Bureau Sergeant

LOCATION: Southbound Deer Valley Road north of Lone Tree Way

VICTIMS: Two female adults, one male adult and one17 year old male

On Sunday, April 8, 2012, at 1:23 a.m., Antioch Police received calls of a serious collision on Deer Valley Road north of Lone Tree Way. When officers arrived on scene they found a southbound two-door, black Toyota that had apparently been traveling at a high rate of speed while negotiating a curve and spun before striking a tree on the west side of the road with the driver’s side of the vehicle. The Toyota was torn in half on impact and two passengers were ejected while another passenger and the driver were trapped inside the vehicle. Fire personnel extracted the two trapped occupants. The driver and one of the ejected passengers were transported by helicopters to area hospitals. They were listed in stable condition at the time of this writing with facial and leg injuries. The other two victims were transported by ambulance to area hospitals with minor injuries and complaint of pain and were expected to be treated and released. All parties involved are expected to survive.

Alcohol is suspected to have contributed to the collision. The collision and the cause are under investigation. Names are being withheld as a courtesy pending notification of the victims’ relatives.

Anyone having information or having witnessed the collision are asked to contact Officer Martin at 779-6900 ext. 83343

The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) and the Contra Costa Transportation Authority (CCTA) are widening State Route 4 (SR-4) through Pittsburg and Antioch. As part of this construction work, the contractor will be closing a portion of North Park Boulevard at Loveridge Road on April 9, 2012. Access to and from Loveridge Road via North Park Boulevard will be closed for approximately 6 months. Signs will be in place to direct motorists to North Park Plaza per the attached sketch. The businesses in the North Park Plaza will remain open with normal business hours during the closure period.

Caltrans and CCTA appreciate your patience as we work to improve the highways. For the most current information on lane closures please visit our web site at: http://widensr4.org.

The City of Antioch is very pleased to announce a ribbon cutting ceremony on Saturday, April 7, 2012 at 10:30 a.m. to officially open the new Antioch Marina Boat Launch Facility located at the foot of “L” Street. The construction of this facility was funded by a grant from the California Department of Boating and Waterways.

In conjunction with the ceremony, Diablo Jet Ski Action will be hosting their season opening race at the boat launch facility.

The ceremony which will begin with the playing of the National Anthem with flags presented on the water by the United States Coast Guard and the Contra Costa County Sheriff Marine Patrol followed by honored dignitaries and, of course, the ribbon cutting.

Everyone is invited to attend the ceremony and stay to mingle with the jet ski racers, visit the displays, enjoy the new launch ramp facility and stay to watch some exciting jet ski racing on Antioch’s waterfront.

A female Deer Valley High school student who claimed to have been sexually assaulted on campus on Thursday, March 29, lied about it to cover up an off-campus trip to meet a boy.

During a subsequent interview with the assigned investigator, the alleged victim admitted to fabricating the story about being sexually assaulted on campus. The female student had left campus to meet with a boy and was late coming back to school. When she was confronted by school staff members, instead of admitting her fault, the student deflected the blame for being late by fabricating the story about being sexually assaulted.

By Walter Ruehlig

Kudos to the Friends of Music Series for once again bringing major talent to our own Far East Bay backyards.

On March 31st the organization celebrated the 327th birthday of Johann Sebastian Bach at St. Ignatius of Antioch Catholic Church. Don Pearson, former Organist and Choirmaster at St. John’s Episcopal Cathedral in Denver, and current Director of Music and Artist in Residence at St. Ignatius of Antioch Church, brilliantly performed a selection of Bach’s most thrilling music ever written for the organ. Pearson’s talent was complimented by the fantastic Rodgers’s 958 Trillium Masterpiece three manual and pedal Pipe/Digital Organ gifted the church by an anonymous donor.

A champagne and chocolate reception followed the concert. After all, Johann had a life worth raising a glass to. He was prolific beyond imagination, composing more music than almost any other composer in history. His complete works are in 150 volumes, each one being about as thick as your average telephone book.

Amazingly, even though it is estimated that about one third of his music is still lost, Bach is, nevertheless, the most recorded composer in history. His works have been adapted for everything from jazz choir to synthesizer, from banjo to bagpipes. Oddly, he faded into history after his death in 1750 and owes his popularity to Mendelsson’s efforts some 100 years later.

Bach was chosen to represent mankind on the Voyager launch.  That ship is still in space ready to tell any life it may happen to encounter about life on earth by a sampling of Bach’s music. When asked why Bach’s complete works were not included, Carl Sagan said that would have amounted to bragging.

His story is as colorful as his repertoire. Bach is an ex-con who was jailed for almost two months for asking permission to be dismissed from one job to take another.

He was prolific in more than music. He sired twenty children with two wives. Ten of those children died before he did.

The same physician, Dr. Taylor, had the ignominious distinction of putting a lot of great talent to rest. He performed eye surgery on both Bach and Handel, one in 1750 and the other in 1751. The outcome was not as desired. Both died. Luckily, the well-meaning but star-struck physician couldn’t kill the music.