Saturday, August 18, 2012 at 7:00 p.m.

Tickets: Adults (18 and over) $15 Seniors (62 and over) $12 Children (17 and under) $10

The  U. S. Premiere in May 2012 at the Oakland Asian Cultural Center is followed by this performance at El Campanil Theatre.

TAGABANUA, a dance interpretation conceptualized, designed and choreographed by Jay Loyola featuring traditional music by a Philippine indigenous tribe in Palawan with performances by dance and musical artists of the bay Area.

Taga Banua is a Palawano word that means “from the village.” Loyola created the concept in 1998 as a way to incorporate native dance forms to assimilate his art to people’s lives and the importance of the community to strengthen cultural identity. The project fulfills Loyola’s passion for dance and sharing these art forms with the world as he continues to work untiringly towards the refinement of Philippine dance into its highest disciplined form and as well as the preservation of Philippine traditional dance forms – by continually exploring interdisciplinary collaborations in his advocacy for peace and equality.

The piece will be narrated by the artists through dance and music, leading the audience on a journey through sounds and rhythms set against a backdrop of a Palawan indigenous village. This work will integrate original indigenous music and chants from the Philippines. The dance and music composition will incorporate Palawan rituals and shamanic percussive rhythm structures which will be integrated with the compositions of the performing artists.

“Alab ng Puso” is a dance that explores the meaning, perception, and exploration for beauty and understanding. Inspiration came from the simple, yet profound lyrics of Lupang Hinirang the national anthem of the Philippines. Its music was composed in 1898 by Julian Felipe, with lyrics in Spanish adapted from the poem Filipinas, written by José Palma in 1899.

The performance features the World Premiere of Jay Loyola’s new work inspired by Lucrecia Reyes- Urtula’s “Lemlunay Festival”” The piece is collaboration with award-winning Philippine composer Tony Castro and will be performed to live instrumentation by American Center of Philippine Arts. The program will also include “Mindanao Pageantry” (1994) “Philippine Panorama” (1990).

You will have the opportunity to see the talented young dancers of the ACPA SEED program.

About the American Center of Philippine Arts

Our mission is to provide a unique educational and developmental platform for multidisciplinary Philippine arts through innovative hands-on classes, collaborations, networking opportunities, and showcasing events. We strive to nurture both traditional and progressive Philippine arts to strengthen our community and ethnic identity. 

Jay Loyola, along with trained dancers, instructs youth on basic steps in Philippine Folk Dance and applies it to choreography and the stage. Philippines history and culture will also be emphasized. Each class is designed with the student in mind for natural progression and growth.

Artistic Director & Co-Founder – Jay Loyola

For almost two decades, Jay Loyola has created dance pieces performed by cultural groups in the Philippines, Asia and Europe. His dance method have garnered respect form his peers as he emerged as the Bay Area’s ingenious  dance practitioner with choreographies motivated through immersions in Philippine indigenous tribes. He has significantly contributed to Bay Area’s multicultural landscape by performances at major venues such as Palace of Fine Arts, and Cowell Theater as well as festival events like San Francisco Ethnic Festival, Pistahan Festival, and Filipino-American Arts Exposition that have been attended in by more than 150,000 audiences who yearn to experience a genuine Philippine dance experience.

Tickets May Be Purchased in Advance at the Ticket Office 604 W. Second Street – next door to the Theatre – Monday through Friday 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. and one hour before showtime or by phone at (925) 757-9500 or online at www.elcampaniltheatre.com.

Original Cancer Survivors lead off the 2012 Relay for Life

By Michele Littlefield, Event Co-Chair, Antioch Relay For Life

Our event was held at Los Medanos College on June 23rd – 24th from 10am-10am. We had 72 teams this year, 710 registered participants and have raised $113,080.00 so far.

Some of the original Antioch Relay For Life cancer survivors walked as Survivors 13 years ago and carried the banner for us this year to Celebrate!

It is so important to me that our community knows that the American Cancer Society has so many wonderful free services and that there is support in the community as well for everyone, patients, survivors, their families and friends. Our event feels like a giant block party with your favorite friends and family members in attendance. It is very powerful to stop and look around for a minute during the event knowing that we all come out to Relay for our own reasons but are united in the fight to cure cancer.

The Antioch City Council made the right decision when it decided against a proposal by Councilman Gary Agopian, on behalf of the Citizens for a Safe Antioch, not to place a parcel tax for additional Police Department funding on the November ballot One wonders, however, if Council would have made the same decision if there weren’t three open seats for City Council, including the mayor’s seat or if they’re just holding out hope for the Legislature to lower the threshold for public safety taxes from a two thirds approval to 55% approval.

The Police Department is currently operating with 34 less sworn officers than authorized. However, the city is planning to hire back 5 officers to fill positions lost through attrition and 5 more with $1.5 million dollars in federal grant money. ( This month the chief informed council he’s currently in the process of adding two additional cops, expanding the reserve officer program, replacing 2 recently retired K-9s and adding one additional K-9.)

Regrettably, the city laid off all it’s non-sworn community service officers (CSOs) in 2009. Hiring back a number of CSOs, who make considerably less than sworn police officers, would free up more officers to get back on the street. (The cost of funding the base salary and benefits of a Police Officer at Step C is approximately $132,000 a year, the cost of a CSO at Step 3 is approximately $84,000 a year. (The City recently tried to hire 3 people, but each one declined.)

In recent contract negotiations APOA agreed to give up raises that had been deferred since 2009, received a 6% raise, agreed to contribute 9% instead of the previous 3% to their PERS retirement and accepted an agreement giving them a 3% salary increase in 2013 and a 4% hike in September 2013. (I fail to comprehend, however, why Council gifted them with two additional annual holidays! )

Interesting to note, a recent staff report to Council from Human Resources stated that, as per the city’s recently approved Memorandum of Understanding with APOA, effective September 1, 2012, the City will report the employee paid member contribution to PERS as special compensation to the employee’s salary. Could it be that the intent to treat the contribution as a salary addition is to jack up their pensions when they retire

School Starts August 15

The start of the 2012/13 school year is Wednesday, August 15th. Please contact your child’s school for enrollment and schedule information.

Kindergarten Registration, including Transitional Kindergarten, is currently underway.

Please contact your local elementary school for information and registration packets.

If you are not sure which school your child will attend, enter your address on the school locator on the Antioch Unified School District’s website.

Enrollment FAQs

Q1. Where do I find Information regarding AUSD schools?

A1.Visit www.antioch.k12.ca.us/schoolwebsites

Q2. What School Should my child attend?

Visit www.antioch.k12.ca.us/enroll and click on “A1. School Locator”

Q3. What Information do I need to bring with me to enroll my child?

You will need the following information to register your child: 

•Proof of age (original birth certificate, baptism record, passport or affidavit).

•Immunization records (doctor’s verification of shots given).

•Residence verification (two of the listed items) All must be current: PG&E bill, water bill, final escrow papers, property tax bill, rental agreement.   

•Photo ID of resident for purposes of verifying identity only.

For additional enrollment information visit the school district’s website at www.antioch.k12.ca.us

By Natalie Souza-Rapp

Since opening in 1991, Humphrey’s delicious food and beautiful atmosphere has made it one of the most attractive dining establishments in Antioch. This well renowned restaurant sits in a perfect area on the water near the Antioch Marina in historic downtown.

Since the early part of this year, Antioch opened its new boat ramp, making Humphrey’s an even more popular dining spot for boaters.

When first entering Humphrey’s, one cannot miss learning how the restaurant came to be, a beautiful story of a humpback whale that entered the San Francisco Bay and made his way up the Sacramento River and Delta in 1985. Everyone watched as this whale made headlines and a successful rescue mission made it possible for the whale to find his way back to the Pacific Ocean.

Whether one is sitting in the lounge or in the dining room, there are many fantastic views of the river. It is truly relaxing watching the boats going up and down the waterway. Ms. Eva Romero, owner and manager since 1995, is excited to introduce their new menu due out August or September. You will still find popular dishes on the new menu; these include fresh Salmon, Halibut, Sea Bass, Seafood Newburg, Seafood Pasta, Cioppino, and Captain’s Platter which includes calamari, jumbo prawns, scallops, and cod. On Sundays, one has the option of ordering off the lunch or brunch menu.

Having owned and sold La Plaza Restaurant in 2004, Mrs. Romero says in 2011, they “brought over our popular dishes from the La Plaza menu.” When asked about blending a menu at Humphrey’s with a Mexican restaurant menu, she replied “these dishes were La Plaza specialties and they do well”. The dishes are the beef, chicken, and shrimp fajitas, and Camarones a La Plaza. They also offer Taco Tuesdays with a car show from 5 p.m. until close.

They have a large banquet facility that can hold seated meals for up to 300 people, as well as the Harbor Room with seating for up to 25.

There’s live music every Friday night starting at 9:30 p.m., and they feature the local, popular band PhD’s on the last Friday of the month. People can dance the night away on the large dance floor. The cover charge is just $5.00.

On Sunday afternoons, from 3pm-6pm, there is live music on the deck, overlooking the marina, performed by the Latin jazz band, Point of No Return.

Humphrey’s dining hours are Sunday-Thursday, 11am-9pm and Friday-Saturday 11am-10pm with the lounge open until 1:30am. On Saturdays you will find events ranging from wedding receptions to birthday parties taking place in the large banquet room.

Since first opening, Humphrey’s has remained one of Antioch’s top restaurants for a great menu, superb service and gorgeous views. They are located at 1 Marina Plaza, at the end of L Street. For reservations call 778-5800 and for more information visit their website at www.humphreysonthedelta.com.

I am announcing my candidacy for Antioch City Council 2012.

I have been a resident of this diverse Antioch community for over eight years and I truly enjoy living in this City. Antioch has become a stagnant City. We need leadership who has the vision for beneficial growth, thinks outside the box, is transparent and understands the complexities of fiscal responsibility. I bring new ideas, commitment, intensity, integrity, accountability and a strong desire to take on new challenges and find long-term solutions. I will represent all City residents without bias and will involve the community in the decision-making process.

I have a degree in Civil Engineering and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration with over 31 years of management experience working for Governmental Agencies. I have worked with various community groups, City Commissions and Boards, City Council and the Mayor’s Office. I have served on my HOA Board for four years and two years as the President. My wife and I were members of United Citizens for Better Neighborhoods (UCBN) since its inception.

My humble priority is to serve the citizens of the City of Antioch with dedication, integrity, fairness, transparency and full accountability. I encourage you to get to know me better by visiting my website www.noelpinto.com and communicate with me at noel@noelpinto.com. It is my privilege to have this opportunity to serve you.

Noel Pinto

Antioch

By James Ott

What appeared to be a last-minute move to place a parcel tax on the November ballot in order to raise money for additional Antioch police was ultimately rejected at the City Council meeting on July 10, 2012, due to lack of time.

At the close of the meeting, Antioch City Council Member Gary Agopian asked fellow council members to vote for a special meeting on July 17 to hear the item because Antioch has a city ordinance that requires two public hearings of an item before it can be placed on a ballot. And because the county will run the elections, they require any item that will go on the ballot to be placed between July 23 and the Aug. 1 deadline.

There was only one more regularly scheduled council meeting before that ballot proposal deadline so Agopian and fellow supporters would have needed that special meeting on July 17 for the item to have a chance to make the November ballot. In addition, the ballot measure’s supporters needed to conduct a formal poll of Antioch citizens to gauge their potential support of the parcel tax which currently requires a two-thirds majority vote to pass.

The idea of a parcel tax to generate the revenue to hire more cops was originally proposed at the Jan. 24 city council meeting by Antioch Crime Prevention Commissioner Bill Cook. Cook and his fellow supporters, Citizens for a Safe Antioch, asked Agopian to help them convince fellow council members to fast-track the item to squeeze it in on the upcoming ballot.

Agopian appealed to fellow council members – minus Mayor James Davis, who was absent from the meeting – saying that the item was “a fairly substantial issue that needs to be dealt with.”

“We’ve found the funding [for the required independent poll] and the poll’s going to be done and it should be done in time for a special meeting next week,” said Agopian.

Council members seemed to reject the special meeting – and thus prevented its inclusion on the ballot – after City Attorney Lynn Nerland specified the many requirements the last-minute item would need to make it onto the ballot.

“The council would have to introduce an ordinance on July 17 to be adopted without change on July 24 along with a resolution to consolidate the election in November,” said City Attorney Lynn Nerland.

After Nerland’s comments, Council Member Mary Rocha concluded that there would not be enough time to meet those requirements because even if they had all the necessary information such as the public poll at the special meeting on July 17, they wouldn’t have the required ordinance ready – something they would need all that information before hand to draft.

“Exactly,” responded Nerland. “I would have to be directed tonight to do that.”

To top it off, the final vote on the item would have to occur at a regularly scheduled meeting – the next being July 24.

Mayor Pro Tem Wade Harper said that he would not even have been able to attend the special meeting had they voted to do it anyway.

In the end even Agopian had to admit that it didn’t appear to be doable. “Well then it’s very apparent that the timing doesn’t work,” he said.

Agopian did appear to see a potential silver lining in the future for supporters of the parcel tax however. As mentioned earlier in the discussion by Council Member Brian Kalinowski and City Manager Jim Jakel – a state legislature bill is currently pending that would reduce the required majority vote to pass taxes used for public safety items – such as the proposed parcel tax to hire Antioch police officers – from a 66 percent, or two-thirds majority to only 55 percent.

Jakel seemed to think that, if passed, it could potentially be effective for next year’s ballot, possibly greatly increasing the odds that the parcel tax and related items could pass in public vote.

As a result, Agopian said that perhaps the Citizens for a Safe Antioch would continue with their polling in anticipation of the state bill’s passing, readying the information this time far ahead of its due date.

Also at the Meeting:

City Council decided to table the discussion that would potentially provide medical and retirement benefits for elected officials to the next meeting due to Mayor Jim Davis’ absence.

State law allows a general law city such as Antioch to provide salaries for its elected officials such as its city council members. And currently they $941.20 plus a car allowance of $350 a month and a communications allowance of $50 per month. The Mayor receives $450 for his car allowance and $100 for his communications allowance.

Although state law prohibits a council member’s salary from being reduced during their term, Antioch has passed resolutions since 2009 to encourage voluntary reductions in salary and car allowance due to the city’s years-long economic crisis.

The city council and City Manager Jim Jakel in the proposed resolution feel that because they are allowed benefits and were traditionally paid benefits before the economic problems and in light of “the sacrifices made by employees,” the council members deserve medical and retirement benefits.