The Antioch Police Department is excited to announce the 40^th installment of the Neighborhood Cleanup Program. This is a collaborative community effort which involves active participation from United Citizens for Better Neighborhoods (UCBN), community volunteers, and the Antioch Police Department Crime Prevention Commission; Neighborhood Watch Program, Target Volunteers, Volunteers in Police Service, community volunteers and the Public Works Department.

Collectively, “We”, everyone who works and lives in the City of Antioch, can make a difference and improve the quality of life. It’s our community and it’s our chance to make a difference.

The City of Antioch Neighborhood Cleanup program is not just for residential neighborhoods. It is a program that will change venues on a monthly basis and it will include business and commercial areas as well. Neighborhoods that are free of trash and refuse are inviting, and a clean community instills a sense of community pride.

The 40^th Neighborhood Cleanup event will occur on Saturday, November 3rd, from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Volunteers should report to the Mountaire Park located at 2600 Sunset Lane. There should be plenty of curbside parking adjacent to the park. Volunteers will receive instructions and the equipment necessary to accomplish the goal. The targeted area is within walking distance. Excluding inclement weather, future Neighborhood Cleanup events will be scheduled for the first Saturday of every month and the locations will be announced in advance.

If you have a suggestion for a future cleanup area, please inform the assigned Volunteer in Police Services (VIP) or you can call (925) 779- 6878. If there is no answer please feel free to leave a message regarding your suggested cleanup area.

Remember, cleaning up your neighborhood can make life better for your family, your neighbors and your community!

 

Dear Editor:

There is one plan Retired Environmental Manager and mayor candidate Don Freitas did have for Antioch: a plan to raise our property taxes.

You may have recalled back in April of this year receiving a mail in ballot for a Contra Costa Initiative which would have raised $8.7 million by increasing our property taxes. Before he retired this year, Don Frietas was the manager of that program and directed the taxpayer funded campaign for its passage.

The initiative was resoundingly defeated by homeowners. But not without controversy. Critics everywhere blasted Don Freitas’s spending of $1.45 million in taxpayer funds for promotion and propaganda in favor of the initiative to raise our property taxes.

Here are a few excerpts from newspaper articles talking about Don Freitas’s failed plan to tax homeowners:

“It is impossible to discern from the $1 million taxpayer-funded study and propaganda effort, produced by an unaccountable group of government bureaucrats (Don Freitas, Project Manager) and their consultants, whether the ballot measure deserves support.”

Dan Borenstein, Contra Costa Times Columnist, April 1, 2012

“The entire process cost approximately $1.43 million, the largest portion of which was $444,092.40 spent on campaigning, labeled as educational outreach by county staff (Don Freitas, Project Manager), as well as $346,800 on printing and mailing the ballots. Almost $435,000 was spent on analysis, research, the Engineer’s Report and action plan prior to the election.”

Allen Payton, Publisher, Antioch Herald, October 2012

“So they’re (Don Freitas, Project Manager) spending $1.55 million on their tax-funded campaign, including amounts explicitly intended to support and promote the new tax scheme – an illegal misuse of public funds.”

Richard Soderholm, Contra Costa Times, March 29, 2012

Citizens for Democracy

Ralph A. Hernandez, Chairperson

Antioch

The Dow Community Advisory Panel (CAP) found more projects worthy of funding than they have in the last six years.  Typically, the CAP has distributed $15,000 to four or five local organizations.  Though the number of applications this year was fewer, they found a larger number of projects about which they were passionate.  This resulted in six projects being chosen and nearly $25,000 in grants being given.

The Dow CAP is pleased to announce the six organizations that will be receiving this year’s grants.  The grants vary from $3,000 to $5,000 each for a total of $24,740.  The recipients are:

·Antioch High School Environmental Studies Academy (Antioch) – Garden restoration Project:  replace greenhouse heater, build a chicken coop, create compost areas, construct a pond and more.

·Delta Science Center (Oakley) – Delta In-Classroom Education Program: purchase microscopes to bring into the fifth-grade science classrooms

·Independence High School (Brentwood) – Biology = Learning Outside: purchase of lab materials that will allow students to explore local ecology, specifically through entomology

·Los Medanos College Foundation (Pittsburg) – Nature Preserve Improvement Project: erecting two greenhouses, providing fresh water to promote growth of California native fruits and plants, and creating learning tools for visitors

·Orchard Park School (Oakley) – Inquiry-Based Science:  materials and supplies to equip a science lab

·Lone Tree Elementary (Antioch) – Purchase of six new computers

The successful applicants designed projects that combined all of Dow’s criteria – education, science and the environment –, would reach a large number of residents and would have staying power; projects that, though the funding would be used in one year, would continue to have an impact for many years. CAP members were pleased with the variety of applications they reviewed and expressed their hope that the ideas won’t die just because they don’t get funded.

Members of the CAP Grants Committee ranked applications based on sustainability, overall impact, benefits to the community, emphasis, and the strength of their partnerships.

“We were surprised that so few non-profits and schools applied this year,” stated Darien Croce, a member of the Dow CAP who participated in the grants review process. “However, we were really pleased with the quality of applications.  And nearly all fit Dow’s criteria to a ‘t’ so that made it doubly hard to choose.  In fact, we appealed to Dow to allow us to increase the amount of grants just so we could fund some really worthy projects – and we’re grateful they complied.  These six projects will have a far-reaching impact in our community.”

About Dow

Dow is a diversified chemical company that combines the power of science and technology with the “Human Element” to constantly improve what is essential to human progress. The Company delivers a broad range of products and services to customers in approximately 160 countries, connecting chemistry and innovation with the principles of sustainability to help provide everything from fresh water, food and pharmaceuticals to paints, packaging and personal care products. In 2008, Dow had annual sales of $57.5 billion and employed approximately 46,000 people worldwide. The Company has 150 manufacturing sites in 35 countries and produces approximately 3,300 products. On April 1, 2009, Dow acquired Rohm and Haas Company, a global specialty materials company with sales of $10 billion in 2008, 98 manufacturing sites in 30 countries and approximately 15,000 employees worldwide. References to “Dow” or the “Company” mean The Dow Chemical Company and its consolidated subsidiaries unless otherwise expressly noted. More information about Dow can be found at www.dow.com.

About Dow’s Pittsburg Operations

The Dow Chemical Company purchased the Pittsburg facility in 1939 from the Great Western Electrochemical Company. It is one of more than 150 manufacturing sites located in 37 countries around the world and supports two of Dow’s eight global businesses – Dow AgroSciences and Performance Chemicals.  The Pittsburg facility produces a variety of products used in personal care products as well as a variety of crop protection products and intermediates. www.dowpittsburg.com

About the Dow CAP

The Dow Community Advisory Panel (CAP) is comprised of 14 members of the East Contra Costa community who serve to advise Dow on issues affecting both the community and Dow’s operations in the community.

The Way I See It

By Lou Davis

Many Americans may consider the election being held this year as the most important in our lifetime.

This is especially true now, with general elections being held which will determine many aspects of our futures. Nothing is more important when we vote than considering two of our country’s founding principles, both contained in our US Constitution: Freedom of Speech and Freedom of Religion.

Most seriously threatened of these Constitutional freedoms is the one regarding religion, threatened in the so-called affordable health care law, known as Obamacare. Christian religions, in an issue most identified by the Catholic Church, refuse to pay for health care which includes abortion and its related services. This question would force Christians to violate one of its chief religious principles, one that the Obama Administration completely overlooked.

Although President Obama says that Obamacare would not demand abortion services be paid for by the church, the law would still move forward with other aspects of the bill which would threaten Catholic hospitals, and other medical institutions. Also, just consider these facts:

It is still not clear who is to benefit when the much-needed health care reform is finally in place. There may not be a death panel set up -yet- but seniors and people with pre-existing health conditions are still not out of the woods, and are not being guaranteed anything by either political party.

Billions of dollars have already been spent or set aside for Obamacare, and the law is not even fully implemented yet. And despite more “hope and change,” the economy continues to worsen in several other areas:

The price of gasoline appears to be around the $4 and $5 mark for good, unless the country is allowed to explore its own resources, which would cut down on the Americans who are killed fighting over Middle Eastern oil.

Unemployment seems to be stuck above the 7% mark for good. And, no matter how many terrorist actions we witness, the Obama Administration seems to be afraid to call it terrorism.

Perhaps, we are not an official Christian country, but why is it that too many of us, who are so-called leaders in this country, especially the left-wing media report violations of other faiths, but when crosses are burned or other Christian relics are desecrated, the same people say nothing.

National Defense, Social Security, Immigration are still big issues still to be settled.

And, do we have something brewing in Benghazi, Libya that could make the Nixon Watergate cover-up scandal look like a children’s tea party? There is still much to come on this issue. Look for names in the future to help settle this question like; President Barack Obama, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and UN Ambassador Susan Rice.

One thing is for sure: 2013 will be a very interesting year!

Tickets: (925) 757-9500
Box Office: 604 W Second St ~ Antioch
Online: www.elcampaniltheatre.com

El Campanil Children’s Theatre Presents The Legend of Sleepy Hollow

Friday November 2, 2012 7:30 pm

Sunday November 4, 2012 2:00 pm

A classic ghost story by Washington Irving, adapted by Vera Morris

Based on the original story by Washington Irving, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow tells the story of Tarry Town, a place where strange things happen and the townsfolk seem entranced by spirits. Ichabod Crane, a well-educated teacher, is new to Sleepy Hollow and seems to fit right in. He’s taking over the choir, courting the wealthy daughter and sharing a ghost story or two. But not everyone is happy to see Ichabod and not everyone thinks he loves ghost stories as much as he says. He meets a mysterious fate. Legend has it that he is the victim of the dreaded “headless horseman” who allegedly haunts Sleepy Hollow.

Performed by our own Children’s Theatre Company. Performers usually range from ages 7 – 16.

Tickets: Adults: $ 12 Seniors (62 and Older): $ 10 Child (17 and Under): $ 8

 

Aja Vu – The Music Of Steely Dan

Saturday November 10, 2012 8:00 pm
The San Francisco-based Aja Vu band performs the music of Steely Dan.

Close your eyes and you’ll be there with AjaVu, the Dan that can!

From “Hey Nineteen” and “Reelin’ In The Years” to “Deacon Blues” and “Rikki Don’t Lose That Number”, you can buy a thrill when you hear the tight chunky horns, vocals and solos note for note and phrase for phrase backed up by an unparalleled rhythm section.

The Aja Vu show recreates the combination of rock, jazzy blues and unique storytelling that has made the Steely Dan sound endure throughout pop culture for 30+ years!

Come join us at our show at El Campanil Theatre and keep the music of Steely Dan alive in America for die-hard fans and newcomers alike.

Tickets: Adults: $ 27 Seniors (62 and Older): $ 24 Child (17 and Under): $ 15

 

Summerset Big Band & Summerset Singers – Veteran’s Day Concert

Sunday November 11, 2012 3:00 p.m. (PLEASE NOTE TIME CHANGE)

Stay for the concert after the Veteran’s Day Parade (1 pm) – Along Second Street

A musical celebration of America and its veterans is coming to the El Campanil Theater in Antioch this Veterans Day, November 11, 2012. This patriotic tribute to our country and those who have protected it will feature two popular local groups, the Summerset Singers chorus and the Summerset Big Band, together in concert. The show will include such inspiring and rousing favorites as “America the Beautiful,” “Armed Forces

Medley,” and “Battle Hymn of the Republic.” The program will also feature some of the most beloved standards from the World War Two era.

The SUMMERSET SINGERS are currently in their thirteenth season of entertaining residents of Brentwood community and Contra Costa County. Over-the years the chorus has grown to over seventy members, and has achieved the stature of one of the best choral groups in the area. Directed by Ernie Macintyre, the Singers are best known for their annual summer show, which this year will include an additional performance at the new Brentwood Community Center. The Singers also perform numerous Christmas concerts throughout the county.

The SUMMERSET BIG BAND was formed in May of 2006 as a “rehearsal band” within the Summerset retirement community. At that time there were nine members. The band has now grown to a core complement of fourteen, plus “alumni” and alternates, all talented musicians from the Brentwood-Antioch area of Eastern Contra Costa County. The band is comprised of five saxophones, four trombones, four trumpets, piano, bass, and drums.

The Summerset Big Band has played to the delight of thousands people who enjoy listening and/or dancing as the band interprets the music of Glenn Miller, Tommy Dorsey, Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Frank Sinatra, and others. It fills a musical gap for folks, many of whom become emotional because of the wonderful memories brought back by the band’s nostalgic music. Audiences cheer when the band performs a slow, melodic tune such as “Moonlight Serenade”; ups the tempo with “Two O’clock Jump”; or a vocal rendering of Frank Sinatra’s “New York, New York.”

Tickets: Adults: $ 15 Seniors (62 and Older): $ 12 Child (17 and Under): $ 10

 

Tribute To The Music Of John Denver – Starring Jim Curry

Saturday November 17, 2012 8:00 pm

The music of the late John Denver is like an old friend, outlasting trends and standing the test of time. Join acclaimed performer Jim Curry for this tribute to the music of one of the most beloved singer/songwriters ever to grace the stage.

Tribute artist Jim Curry, who’s voice was heard in the CBS-TV movie Take Me Home: The John Denver Story, has performed Denver’s music in sold out shows throughout the country and has emerged as today’s top performer of Denver’s vast legacy of multi-platinum hits.

Jim’s uncanny ability to mirror John’s voice and clean-cut look takes you back to the time when “Rocky Mountain High” “Sunshine”“Calypso” and “Annie’s Song” topped the charts, and his popular music had the heartfelt message of caring for the earth and caring for each other.

Tickets: Adults: $ 27 Seniors (62 and Older): $ 24 Child (17 and Under): $ 15

 

Filmed in Europe, RESTLESS HEART is the first full-length feature movie on St. Augustine. Born in North Africa, Augustine studied in Carthage, becoming an accomplished but dissolute orator. After converting to Manichaeism, a guilt-free religion, he was called to the imperial court in Milan to serve as an opponent to the Christian Bishop Ambrose. But when the Empress Justina sent imperial guards to clear out a basilica where Augustine’s mother, Monica, was worshipping, her constant prayers and the witness of Ambrose won him over to Christianity. Serving in Hippo in 430 AD, Bishop Augustine urged the Roman garrison to negotiate with the Vandal King Genseric, but they proudly refused. He passed up a chance to escape on a ship sent to rescue him by the Pope, and stayed by the side of his people.

Christian Duguay directed the film, and the cast includes Franco Nero, Johannes Bandrup, Monica Guerritore and Alessandro Preziosi.

GENERAL SEATING General Admission: $ 10 Online Fee: $1

 

El Campanil Theatre and the International Film Showcase Present

Three Quarter Moon

(Dreiviertelmond)

Friday November 23, 2012 7:30 pm

Sunday November 25, 2012 2:00 pm

Germany 2011

Directed by: Christian Zübert

Run Time: 94 minutes

Language: German /Turkish

Subtitles: English

The world of grumpy taxi-driver Hartmut Mackowiak (ELMAR WEPPER) comes crashing down when he finds out his wife is leaving him after 30 years. Suddenly, he has to rethink his whole life – making him even more of a cranky loner. That is, until the day he gets six-year-old Hayat and her mother as a fare in his taxi. While her mother has to go back to Istanbul for a few weeks, Hayat is supposed to stay in Germany with her grandma. But then Hayat’s grandma falls into a coma. Although Hartmut initially doesn’t want to have anything to do with the precocious little Turkish girl, he gradually succumbs to Hayat’s stubborn charm and decides to help her. Little does he suspect it may also be a case of the little girl helping the big grouch to learn to enjoy life again…

General Admission: $ 8 Seniors (62 and Older): $ 7 Children: $7

Dear Editor:

By James Ott

It’s election season – and as such, two high-profile ballot measures were on the agenda at the Antioch City Council meeting on Tuesday, October 23, 2012.

Measure B is a ballot measure that seeks a $56.5 million in school bonds to provide modern renovations for 58-year-old Antioch High School. The bonds would be paid over 30 years by new property taxes within the Antioch Unified School Facilities Improvement District #1 (SFID #1).

The district estimates that the highest tax rate required from property owners within SFID #1 would be $49.80 per $100,000 of assessed valuation per year beginning next year. Currently that works out to roughly $6 per month per homeowner.

Measure B will require a 55 percent majority vote to pass.

Money generated by Measure B will be used for improvements to the Antioch High School campus such as classroom renovations, a larger cafeteria, a new library with a college and career center, new computers and technology supplies for students, and to update outdated athletic facilities.

The Measure requires all of the funds raised to be used to, “modernize, renovate, construct, acquire, equip, furnish, and otherwise improve school and related facilities at Antioch High School.” In addition it requires the school district to pursue matching funds from the State and other potential sources to finance those upgrades.

Measure B will require the district to perform independent financial and performance audits each year until all of the bond money is spent. And if it’s passed it will also require the district to elect local residents to a citizen’s oversight committee to monitor the bond moneys and make sure they are spent only on school improvements and not on things such as teacher or administrator salaries.

Antioch High School Principal Louie Rocha is a strong supporter of the ballot measure and he stressed during the council meeting how vital improvements are to the aging school. In particular he stated that the cafeteria is so small that the school is forced to have several lunch periods and even then he said that students are still forced to eat outside, regardless of the weather.

Also of note were the athletic facilities. Rocha said that the track cannot be used for any track and field events because it’s so old that its lengths are still measured in feet and yards instead of the standard meters. And the pool, he said, cannot be used for water polo because one side is only three feet deep because it was only designed years ago as a community pool.

Supporters of the bond measure such as Rocha say that the school is in sore need of repair and that there is no other money available to make such improvements. They say that up-to-date classrooms and facilities are necessary for students to meet state and federal standards and to graduate and be prepared for college.

Critics of Measure B say that school officials are ignoring what happened just this past June with Measure J – a similar $59.5 million school bond that was defeated by voters. Although Measure J failed to pass by a mere 31 votes, critics say that the school board is ignoring what voters want.

A resident at the council meeting spoke against the measure and said that although the yearly amount for Measure B was low, over the 30-year life of the bond he estimated he would have to pay an additional $115,000 in property taxes.

Like many in this deteriorating economy, a lot of Antioch residents are hesitant to vote yes when that vote means additional taxes.

Also at the Meeting:

The City of Antioch is seeking $114,723 owed to it by Contra Costa County as the successor agency to the city’s redevelopment agency.

When Antioch’s redevelopment agency was dissolved and its funds were spirited away by the state, the city had the option to become a successor agency to that redevelopment entity.

By becoming a successor agency, the city guaranteed itself about $250,000 a year as part of an administrative cost allowance.

Or so the city thought.

Back in January the city told the county that they needed $125,000, (the $250,000 is paid in two yearly installments), and the county forked it over.

But in June when Antioch asked for the rest of the money, Contra Costa County informed them that they did not have enough money to pay the city.

So they gave them about $10,526.

Now the city is attempting to retrieve the remaining $114,473.

Although the county now has the money to pay Antioch, they told the city that the regulations surrounding the city as successor agency program prevents them from making a back payment.

City of Antioch Finance Director Dawn Merchant held a meeting with the county recently and said that the county claims they have never run into this problem. Merchant called the meeting “positive” however, and said she came away with the impression that there is hope for the city to get they money it is owed.

Antioch City Attorney Lynn Nerland said that there are about 25 lawsuits pending in relation to the state-wide dissolution of redevelopment agencies and summed up the city’s most current debacle with the county.

“No one seems to dispute that we are owed money,” she said, “but it seems to be a bureaucratic issue of how to get it to us.”

By James Ott

United Professional Fire Fighters of Contra Costa County President Vince Wells came to the city council meeting on Tuesday, October 23, 2012 asking them to support Measure Q – a proposed parcel tax for residents within the Contra Costa Fire Protection District. The council voted unanimously to endorse the tax.

Measure Q seeks to help raise money for the firefighter’s district that has lost about $32 million since the 2008 housing market collapse, according to Wells.

If approved, Measure Q will levy a $75 parcel tax per year for owners of single-family homes. It would cost apartment owners $37.50 per unit and any commercial or industrial landowners would need to plunk down $300 per acre, or $75 per quarter-acre. And agricultural or vacant property owners would pay $37.50 per parcel.

The proposed tax would take effect from July 1, 2013 to June 30, 2020 and is estimated to create $16.8 million a year for the county fire district.

Measure Q will need a two-thirds supermajority vote to pass.

There are 28 fire stations in the Contra Costa Fire Protection District and four of those are in Antioch. Wells said that the lack of money is forcing the fire district to close up to10 fire stations in the next two years, with the first closure coming as soon as January, 2013.

As for now, it isn’t known if any fire stations in Antioch are scheduled to be shuttered. Those that are scheduled to close will be notified in December.

Wells also said that lack of funding has cost the district 81 firefighters. Those that remain have taken a 10 percent pay cut and have also made concession to their benefits and pensions.

“I personally pay 26 percent of my paycheck toward my pension every month,” said Wells.

Like fireman Vince Wells, proponents of Measure Q say that the money is sorely needed, even in the rough economic times. Supporters point out that Contra Costa Fire Protection District is among the 14 largest metropolitan fire agencies in the state and they say that without additional money, response times to fires and other emergencies could be impacted.

Most people would only pay the $75-per-year parcel tax which adds up to only $1.44 a week.

Opponents of the measure such as “Halfway to Concord” Editor Bill Gram-Reefer accused Supervisors and union leaders of ignoring serious pension reform and restructuring that could have saved money without having to take from taxpayers.

Contra Costa Taxpayers Association President Kris Hunt said that the fire district has lived beyond its means for too long and thinks Measure Q is only a temporary fix.

And the Contra Costa Times editorial board went so far as to call the measure “political blackmail” for the district’s plan to close almost two-thirds of it’s fire stations if the voters don’t pass it.

It is worth noting that on the June 5, 2012 ballot, the East Contra Costa Fire Protection District proposed a similar parcel tax called Measure S. The $197-a-year tax proposal was soundly defeated when 56.2% of voters rejected it.