WHAT: The Antioch Salvation Army, serving all of East Contra Costa County, will host its first spaghetti dinner fundraiser event. Tickets are $12, and proceeds will go to The Salvation Army’s after-school program

For the last 12 years, The Salvation Army has been operating an after-school program called the TRY (Teaching to Redirect Youth) Club in Antioch. The program has been established to improve literacy skills, basic math memorization, computer literacy, and assisting students with homework.

Last year, more than 1000 children attended the after-school program.

Tickets can be purchased at the Antioch Salvation Army, or call (925) 778-0808, ext. 17, for more information.

WHERE: 620 East Tregallas Road, Antioch

WHEN: Saturday, May 19, 2012, 5:00 p.m.

CONTACT: Lt. Alexander Williams (925) 778-0808 ext. 17 (office)

Tickets for the Contra Costa County Fair are on sale now. Purchase your admission tickets, carnival ride wristbands, and family fun passes before the Fair begins and save money! You can also save time and money by purchasing your Fair tickets online.

Advanced ticket sales are taking place now through May 30 at the Fairgrounds. For big savings, we’re offering “Money Saving Mondays!” where you can stop by the Fair Office and purchase a Family Fun Pass for only $20. The Family Fun Pass includes four adult admission passes for only $20, which is a savings of $12. This special is only available at the Fair Office on Mondays from now until the Fair.

Buy your admission tickets before May 30 and get discounts on adult, senior and children’s admission tickets; as well as carnival ride wristbands. Or, purchase an on-line Fair package, which includes two adult admission tickets and two ride wristbands, for only $44 – a savings of $12.

Advanced sale tickets can be purchased at the Contra Costa County Fairgrounds in Antioch, on-line at www.ContraCostaFair.com, or at your nearby Walgreens.

After May 30, admission for the Fair is $8 for adults, $5 for seniors, and $5 for children, and free to children under the age of five.

This year’s Contra Costa County Fair is May 31 – June 3. Gates open at noon on Thursday and Friday, and at 11 am on Saturday and Sunday. Gates close each day at 11 pm.

The Contra Costa County Fairgrounds is located at 1201 West 10^th Street, Antioch, CA 94509. For directions, event details or general information, visit www.ContraCostaFair.com or call the Fair Office at (925) 757-4400.

The St. Ignatius of Antioch Church Music Series continues with a Spring Concert on Saturday, June 9th, 7:30 p.m.  at 3351 Contra Loma Blvd.

Harmony – an acclaimed women’s vocal ensemble of Rossmoor, with Meriel Ennik as Artistic Director, will be performing a varied program of choral music ranging from classical to Broadway. A free will offering will be taken. There is plenty of free parking and a reception follows the one hour concert.

Barbara Barrigan-Parrilla Executive Director of Restore the Delta (RTD) responded this week to the release of the Delta Stewardship Council’s Draft Plan:

“Joe Grindstaff, with the Delta Stewardship Council (DSC), says the Delta Plan recommends new conveyance as a way to improve water quality.  Without a water quality analysis that examines how eliminating fresh water flows from entering the Delta will affect water quality, this draft of the Delta Plan is as incomplete as the last draft.  The Delta Stewardship Council must build its plan on a cost benefit analysis, a public trust analysis, a water quality analysis, and a flow analysis, and until it does so, its planning will remain incomplete.

“By indicating that new conveyance and the Bay Delta Conservation Plan (BDCP) will be favored by the Delta Stewardship Council, Joe Grindstaff has undermined the intent of the legislation that created the DSC. The DSC was given the charge to make its determination regarding the BDCP after members of the public appealed the merits of the plan to the DSC.  But apparently, such appeals will not carry much weight if the decision has already been made.  From a Delta perspective, the fix is in.”

“The Delta Plan fails to call for levee improvements at the highest standard as called for by the Delta Protection Commission, and last week by the Army Corps of Engineers.  They are adhering to a lower levee safety standard as put forth by the Department of Water Resources.  The Delta Stewardship Council is therefore failing in its mission to protect the Delta as a place.”

Joint Meeting of MTC, ABAG Executive Board, 7 p.m., Thursday, May 17, 2012, at Oakland Marriott City Center, 1001 Broadway, Oakland, CA

Officials from the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) and the Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) will vote on the Plan Bay Area Preferred Land Use Scenario and Transportation Investment Strategy at a special joint meeting at 7:00 p.m., Thursday, May 17, 2012, at the Oakland Marriott City Center, Junior Ballroom, 1001 Broadway, Oakland, CA.

Who: ABAG Executive Board and MTC

What: Special Joint Meeting to vote on Plan Bay Area Preferred Land Use Scenario and Transportation Investment Strategy

When: Thursday, May 17, 2012, 7:00 p.m.

Where: Oakland Marriott City Center, Junior Ballroom, 1001 Broadway, Oakland, CA

When completed, Plan Bay Area will be the region’s 25-year guide to jobs, population and housing distribution, as well as transportation investments. California’s Sustainable Communities and Climate Protection Act (SB 375) requires that each of the state’s 18 Metropolitan Planning Organizations – and in the Bay Area specifically MTC and ABAG – develop a long-range plan to reduce per-capita greenhouse gas emissions from cars and light trucks. The Bay Area is required to reduce emissions by 7 percent by 2020 and by 15 percent by 2035. SB 375 also requires the plan to house 100 percent of the region’s projected population growth, without displacing current low-income residents.

“We are making great strides toward adopting a long-range plan that links local aspirations for community development with regional objectives, particularly a strong regional economy,” said ABAG President Mark Luce.

The Preferred Land Use and Transportation Investment Strategy will comprise the Plan Bay Area project alternative to be evaluated as part of the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) required by the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). In December 2012, the agencies expect to release the draft Plan Bay Area and EIR, which will be followed by public hearings and workshops throughout the region in January through March 2013. MTC and ABAG are due to adopt the final Plan Bay Area and certify the final EIR in April 2013.

MTC Chair Adrienne J. Tissier said, “We are especially pleased that when our transportation investment strategy and preferred land use scenario are combined together, we are able to fully achieve the greenhouse gas reduction and housing targets required by law.”

MTC is the nine-county San Francisco Bay Area’s transportation planning, coordinating and financing agency. ABAG is the council of governments and regional planning agency for the nine counties and 101 cities and towns of the San Francisco Bay region.

Feeling taxed enough? It’s just the beginning of the latter part of a year in which voters will be asked to approve a growing number of tax measures. Regrettably, there are a number of tax increases in the works in which we won’t get to have a say e.g. increases by PG&E to recoup costs from the San Bruno disaster which they want to pass on to ratepayers rather than stockholders, water and sewer rate fees increases by the City of Antioch and a increase in residential sewer charges by Delta Diablo Sanitation District.

City of Antioch water and sewer rate fee increases for fiscal years 2010 through 2015 were previously approved by Council in 2010 at which time Council requested a rate review be conducted after two years, The findings are as follows:

Due to decreased consumption levels for all customer classes, offset by decreased purchased water costs compared to projections, the city was able to delay the need to issue a planned $10 million bond for capital improvement projects. However, if the city implements the remainder of the proposed rate increases from the 2010 Study there will be sufficient funds to cash finance the 5 year capital improvement program, meet the 60 day minimum working capital balance and start to fund a modest level of Repair and Replacement reserve for future capital needs.

For the Sewer fund, delayed execution of some capital projects over the past 2 years has resulted in a temporary fund balance greater than anticipated but, without an increase in rates, the city will be unable to complete a sewer capital improvement program or address future capital needs.

Both rate increases sound like a done deal!

As for Delta Diablo, in 2010 they approved a 4.8% rate increase and last year they approved a 7.5% increase in fees – 4.8% for costs of treatment, capital improvements etc. and 2.7% to begin funding a dedicated reserve fund to pay for advanced wastewater treatment facilities to meet new regulatory requirements. Now they want more.

I’m tapped out. How about you?

By Sergeant Tom Fuhrmann, Antioch Police Field Services Bureau

At 11:00 p.m. On Monday, May 14, 2012, an 18 year old female showed up in the emergency room at Sutter Delta Medical Center with multiple stab wounds. According to the woman, she was walking on Cavallo Road near Sunset Drive when she was attacked by an unknown assailant. She was stabbed multiple times before she broke free and ran away. She then walked to the hospital to seek treatment. The victim is being treated at an area hospital and is in stable condition with what appear to be non life-threatening injuries. There are some indicators that this may be a gang related case. The investigation is ongoing at the time of this writing.

By Sergeant Morefield, Antioch Police Field Services Bureau

On Sunday, May 13, 2012 at approximately 2:21 pm, Antioch police officers responded to a report of a shooting in the area of W. 10th Street and Auto Center Drive. As officers arrived in the area, they were advised that the victim had driven to his home nearby. Officers went to the victim’s home where they found him awake and alert but suffering from multiple gunshot wounds.

The 29-year-old victim was later transported to an area hospital with non-life threatening injuries. It was learned the victim was shot while driving his car near the intersection at W. 10th Street and Auto Center Drive. The intersection was closed down for approximately 30 minutes while officers collected evidence at that location. Police are still in the process of determining the circumstances surrounding the incident.

Anyone with information regarding this case is encouraged to call the Antioch Police Department at (925)778-2441.