Cosponsored by Storytelling Association of California

Saturday, November 10, 2012

3:00 to 5:00pm

Antioch Public Library

501 W 18th St., Antioch

Tickets, $12  at the door

OLGA LOYA  —  As an international Latina storyteller, Olga uses a dramatic mix of Spanish and English to share traditional tales from Latin America as well as stories from her own colorful life.

GARTH GILCHRIST —  Garth tells tales of the living earth and our connection to nature’s wildness.  Heartfelt stories of people interfacing with nature have lasting impact.

LAURIE PINES —  Laurie knows how to adapt; her experiences in the Peace Corps and the high school classrooms taught her that!  Now she likes to weave and twist tales, adapting for the audience to bring you surprise and humor.  

ANDREI ARMEANU  —  An emerging teller, Andrei uses archetypal metaphors in his stories to weave listeners and communities together.  He tells of mystical and mythical worlds. 

KIRK WALLER, MC  —  Kirk will MC with high energy to present our tellers of the afternoon. He has told his own stories at the Bay Area Storytelling Festival and at the National Storytelling Festival in Tennessee.

For more information contact deltawordweavers@att.net or visit https://sites.google.com/site/deltawordweavers/ or 925-437-1360.

As part of the Highway 4 (SR-4) widening construction work, the contractor will begin installing temporary supports at Loveridge Road for the construction of the new bridge. In order to ensure crew and public safety during this work, the contractor will close all lanes of SR-4 in the westbound direction overnight during the next several weeks. The closures will take place on Sunday through Thursday evenings from 11:00 pm to 3:30 am and on Friday evenings from 11:59 pm to 6:00 am.

The detour for this work will be as follows:

o Westbound motorists will be directed off the highway at Somersville Road/Auto Center Drive exit, left on Auto Center Drive, left on Tenth Street, straight on Pittsburg Antioch Highway, left on Loveridge Road, right on California Avenue, and left onto the westbound SR-4 on-ramp. For detour map, please see attached.

Motorists are advised to expect delays and allow extra time for their commute. Please drive with caution through the detours and leave a safe traveling distance between your vehicle and the vehicle ahead of you. Caltrans and CCTA appreciate your patience as we work to improve the highways. For the most current information on all SR-4 corridor closures please visit our web site at: http://widensr4.org.

Valley View Hike

Saturday, November 17, 8 a.m.

Meet at County Line Staging Area Next to South Watershed Entrance Kiosk

Join Naturalist John Mottashed on a moderately strenuous, hilly, south watershed hike that will offer excellent views of the reservoir and Livermore Valley. You’ll need drinking water, sturdy hiking shoes, hat, snacks and sunscreen.

Directions: Take the new Vasco Road toward Livermore, turn right onto Los Vaqueros Road and drive to the entrance kiosk.

For information, call (925) 688-8010 on weekdays and (925) 240-2440 on weekends.

Parking fee is $4 per car for CCWD area residents, $6 for non-residents, and $5 for non-resident seniors.

Post Black Friday Hike

Saturday, November 24, 10 a.m. to Noon

Join Naturalist Briana Moore on a moderately strenuous, 5-mile loop hike to work off your Thanksgiving dinner and holiday stress. Meet at the Interpretive Center and plan to climb some hills. Bring at least 2 liters of water, sturdy hiking shoes, hat, snacks and sunscreen.

Directions: Take the Highway 4 Bypass through Brentwood and turn right on Walnut Boulevard before you drive onto new Vasco Road. Continue driving on Walnut Boulevard 2 miles into the watershed and to the end of the road, next to the Los Vaqueros Dam.

For information, call (925) 688-8010 on weekdays and (925) 240-2440 on weekends.

Parking fee is $4 per car for CCWD area residents, $6 for non-residents, and $5 for non-resident seniors.

For more information visit www.ccwater.com/losvaqueros.

Joshua Perry (12/27/80)

Felicia Viscaina (4-12-87)

On Friday, November 9, 2012, Joshua Perry, age 31 and Felicia Viscaina, age 25 have been arrested in the Thursday, November 8, 2012 murder of 44 year-old Antioch resident, Vaughn Walker.

This homicide appears to have occurred after an argument over money.

Viscaina and Perry were arrested in Antioch at approximately 4:30 a.m., Friday, November 9, 2012 by Antioch Police officers and detectives.

They were both interviewed and later sent to the Martinez Detention Facility. The Antioch Police Department will be seeking murder charges against the duo next week.

By Barbara Zivica

After election returns were in, I asked my dog (see his official photo which heads my column) what his take was on the election results. His answer – RUFF! RUFF!

Going in Gary Agopian seemed to be the expected winner of the Mayor’s chair but Wade Harper got the nod instead. (Harper 40.87% of the vote vs. Agopian’s 32.91%) Agopian, however, has a safe council seat and won’t be up for re-election until November 2014. Don Freitas only got 20.38% of the vote and Michael Leon 5.52%.

In the council race, I was surprised that Mary Rocha (24.41% of the vote) who has spent 16 years on the council and four as mayor, and Monica Wilson (23.17% of the vote), who had little name recognition, edged out Jim Davis (22.43% of the vote) who ran for council instead of re-election for Mayor. Walter Ruehlig pulled 17.80% of the vote and Noel Pinto 11.88%. I think what enabled the women to win was strong backing and turnout from the Democratic party and union trade group members.

The numbers I quote don’t include all the vote by mail ballots that were turned in at the polls or the provisional ballots. The Elections Department has 28 days to certify but they might have it done by Thanksgiving. That could change the outcomes of some elections, especially Jim Davis or Monica Wilson since there’s less than 300 votes separating them.

What concerns me now is how the new council will decide to fill the vacant council seat when Harper assumes the position of Mayor.

What council should do, did in the past but didn’t do back in 2008, is appoint the candidate who came in third. That candidate was Arne Simonsen. Council actually sent out a casting call and after many rounds of interviews and pointed questioning, ended up choosing Martha Parsons, a Democratic political consultant, who hadn’t even run for council.

Should it turn out that Monica Wilson’s lead holds and Jim Davis comes in third, let’s hope council does the right thing this time and seats him in the position left open after Wade Harper is sworn in as Mayor.

Last but not least, congrats to Arne Simonson who handily won election to the City Clerk Position.

What:              Veteran’s Day Concert

Where:             El Campanil Theatre, 602 W Second Street, Antioch, Ca

Date:               Sunday, November 11, 2012

Time:               3:00 pm (NOTE TIME CHANGE)

Tickets:            Adults: $15  Seniors (62 & Over): $12  Child (Under 18): $10

Ticket Office:  (925) 757-9500

Online:            www.elcampaniltheatre.com

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

By Sergeant Morefield Investigations Bureau

On Thursday, November 8, 2012 at approximately 8:30 PM, a 44 year-old male victim arrived at an area hospital suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. It was later learned that the victim was shot in front of a home at 50 W. 18th Street. Officers responded to that location and found evidence confirming a shooting had occurred there.

Life saving efforts were performed on the victim at the hospital, but he later succumbed to his injury. The incident is currently being investigated by the Antioch Police Department.

Anyone with information regarding this case is encouraged to call Detective Mortimer with the Antioch Police Department at (925)779-6941. You may also text a tip to 274637 (CRIMES) using key word ANTIOCH

By Allen Payton, Publisher

According to the Contra Costa County Elections Division, as of today – Thursday afternoon, November 8, 2012 – there were 105,963 ballots left to be counted from Tuesday’s election.

Of that figure, there were 82,271 vote by mail ballots and 23,692 provisional ballots left to be counted. However, the Elections officials did not know how many of the provisional ballots would be disqualified.

A total of 337,124 ballots cast had been counted as of Wednesday morning, November 7. So the remaining ballots total 23.85% of those cast in the election.

In Antioch, the remaining ballots could affect the outcome of the Antioch School Board race as well as the Mayor’s and City Council races.

Jack Yeager is currently trailing Claire Smith by 1,115 votes for the third seat in the school board race. Councilman Gary Agopian is trailing Mayor Pro Tem Wade Harper by 1,946 votes in the race for Mayor of Antioch. Mayor Jim Davis is trailing Monica Wilson by just 284 votes in the Council race for the two seats, which has  has the greatest chance of changing.

The Elections Division of the County Clerk’s Office has 28 days to certify the election, but word on the street is they want it all done before the Thanksgiving break. One official said there will be an update on Friday afternoon, November 9, but it will only be a partial.