Webster’s II New Revised Dictionary 2^nd definition for Psychology: The emotional characteristics and behavior associated with an individual.

Simple tip in concept this month, but the application is the hard part I find for many a student, and on occasion this author. So much of the improving in this game comes down to a “healthy” psychology.

The game is so fantastic, so many facets to enjoy and cherish in so many different ways. A path filled with ups and downs. But often, I see students get stuck in their “down”. The down being a shot, a club, the last round, rounds, practices, a slump, or over time an overall game. Often, this “down” becomes what their golf is about. If any of this sounds familiar.

I’d like to first point out that I don’t think you are getting the enjoyment out of the game that you should. And that might be rubbing off on your playing partners? (Sorry to point this out).

Secondly and very simply, I’d like to challenge you on how you think and in particular, “What do you attach your emotion too?” Where you attach your emotion is where your memory is going to go and seriously impacts your Psychology. I’ll give you an example.

Beginners, particularly ladies, are often afraid to hit down on the ground. So they top a lot of shots one right after the other because they blade the ball. As an instructor I will take them out to longer rough cut grass and tell them to brush the grass more or take a small divot, learning how to hit down on the ball which is what will get it up in the air and what we want. The grass creates the feel we are looking for.

But from experience with these students I know what is soon to come is a shot where they do brush down, but they do it before the ball and they hit it fat. When this happens within the first few balls, I reach over and give them a high five. Why? Because they met our goal of brushing the grass and trying to hit down.

Now if that new golfer went by the results of the golf ball, chances are they are going to feel bad about themselves and not get anywhere. But did she do what we wanted her to? Yes. So I give it some positive emotion so the learning takes hold.

The next thing I will do with the new student is tell her to do the exact same thing but keep their eye on the back of the ball so they meet it first. Guess what? Clubface hits down on ball first, loft on clubface puts ball into the air, then the club brushes the grass! Succesful airborne shot! Yes!

If that new golfer, got stuck feeling bad about hitting the fat shot, we would have never learned and gotten the positive one! So what about you? It doesn’t matter if you are a new player or a lifetime player. Are you stuck, or your emotions stuck giving weight to the misses? The downs?

Give a try to attaching your emotions to the successful attempts, shots, holes, rounds. Really put some strong, positive emotion to it. Celebrate. Bring back the high five and just let the downs drift on by not giving them any weight at all. See what happens to your golf Psychology and your golf game. Chances are it can only help.

By James Ott

The City of Antioch will need to find adequate sites for 1,784 low-income housing units to meet state demands.

According to a report by Vivian Kahn of urban consulting firm Dyett and Bhatia at the city’s last council meeting, the city is dealing with a shortfall of adequate low-income housing sites from its previous housing cycle that ran from 1996 to 2006.

Antioch doesn’t have to build the housing but needs to have adequate space identified to meet the Association of Bay Area Government’s (ABAG), so called Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA).

As Part of Antioch’s General Plan the city adopted a Housing Element to bring the city into compliance with such state housing laws.

ABAG has said that in Antioch’s current housing cycle planning period – 2007 to 2014 – the city’s share of the RHNA is 2,282 housing units, including 339 low-income and 516 very low-income units, so Antioch has had to identify space to accommodate those housing units.

The good news is that Antioch has already found the space for most of those requirements through such state accepted moves like identifying available vacant land as well as adding up applicable housing projects that are already in progress.

But due to the previous cycle’s shortfall, the city now has to find room for 1,380 more low income housing units, for a total of 1,784 units.

According to Kahn’s report she and her firm have provided some potential solutions to the issue.

Because state law says that 30 units per acre is the “default density” that will make low income housing feasible and affordable, Kahn suggest rezoning at least 60 acres to accommodate for the remaining low-income units.

Although a study found that a density of closer to between 20 and 30 units per acre would be more feasible in a place like Antioch, Kahn says that the state allows density bonuses that would make up the difference.

Kahn said that the city could accommodate all of the low income units by zoning 60 acres at 30 units per acre subject to a use permit, or it could rezone partly at 30 units an acre and accommodate the balance at 20 units an acre by right.

The city’s Housing Element and the Planning Commission have apparently found a total of 106 acres at 13 different sites that could potentially meet the city’s need.

Five of the 13 potential sites are clustered fairly close to the water with the remaining sites spread throughout the city.

Although finding space for the remaining 1,784 low-income units is the most obvious issue, Dyett and Bhatia and Kahn were hired to make clear all aspects of the state’s imposed housing regulations and provide solutions, including issues like emergency, transitional and supportive housing needs.

So Kahn’s presentation also outlined a few other needs the city must meet in order to be in full compliance with all state housing laws.

One of those needs is 124 emergency shelter beds for the homeless that Kahn suggests creating an overlay district for. An overlay district is a district with an additional zoning requirement that doesn’t change the area’s original zoning.

As part of her presentation Kahn also proposed amending zoning codes to allow for transitional and supportive housing for residential use. And she proposed that the city provide additional incentives to encourage affordable housing in Antioch’s Rivertown area.

Council Member Gary Agopian was critical of the whole process of allocating space for housing units that may or may not be needed.

Agopian argued that it was ABAG’s projections for the amount of housing cities must plan for is flawed.

“Our population’s 103,000 and change and it was essentially 103,000 and change in 07 so it hasn’t changed very much at all. And ABAG calculates our allocation… based on what we’re going to grow and we didn’t grow. In addition to that, not a lot of houses were built. And yet we’re still required by the state to designate or plan for areas to accommodate growth that isn’t even occurring. So am I to understand that if we don’t grow in the next two or three years that we’ll continue to accrue allocations; that we have to continue to plan… I mean, where’s the end of that?”

Kahn said that ABAG is supposed to release updated projections in light of such issues like the economic downturn, but she said that she understands the frustration because the process isn’t easy, but it’s the law and so has to be complied with.

Kahn also said that she hears similar complaints about state housing laws and ABAG’s processes from nearly every city and county she has worked in.

Also at the Meeting:

City Council voted unanimously to extend its interim urgency zoning ordinance blocking any new computer gaming and internet access business from being established in the city to 10 months and 15 days.

On February 28 the city had originally voted in the ordinance that also established certain operational regulations that such current related businesses had to follow. The move was intended to give the city time to investigate concerns and alleged problems with such businesses including criminal activity, public disturbances and concerns about the businesses potential impact on minors in the city.

City staff said that the extra time is needed because of the complexity of the issues and the lack of adequate staffing on the project.

Mark your calendar for this year’s Contra Costa County Fair, happening May 31 – June 3, 2012 at the Contra Costa County Fairgrounds in Antioch.

This year’s theme is “Here Comes the Sun,” and we’ve got four days of fun planned for Fair-goers of all ages. The Contra Costa County Fair is the perfect place to enjoy live entertainment, delicious food, carnival rides, animals, and hundreds of exhibits – all in a community-friendly environment and at affordable prices!

For entertainment, the Fair’s 2012 concert series features the Spazmatics, with 80’s hits; Nathan Owen Motown After Dark; Rockin’ Down the Highway; Cream of Clapton; and Blaze of Glory. Find musical entertainment at the Main Stage with FRESH, playing the best in Latino, Rock, R&B, and Hip Hop. On the Fiesta Stage, you’ll find a Hispanic Musical Celebration. All concerts are FREE with admission to the Fair.

While visiting the Fair, take time to see some of the other highlights – the jugglers, comedians, the hypnotist, Circus Imagination, and the Kids Pedal Tractor Pull. Or hop on a carnival ride, enjoy a delicious Fair treat, play a game on the mid-way, see the livestock exhibit, or stroll the Ag Museum.

For those interested in entering competitive exhibits, the Fair’s Exhibit Handbook is now on-line. The Fair is currently accepting paper entries, and on-line entries will be accepted beginning April 1 at www.ContraCostaFair.com.

Gates open at noon on Thursday and Friday, and at 11 am on Saturday and Sunday. Gates close each day at 11 pm. Admission is $8 for adults (13 and older), $5 for seniors, $5 for children 6 to 12, and children five and under receive free admission.

Take advantage of discounts and pre-sales on tickets by purchasing your tickets early. Advanced ticket sales begin April 9. At that time, there will be discounts on daily admission and carnival wrist bands. For big savings, we’re also offering “Money Savings Monday,” where every Monday, beginning April 9, you can stop by the Fair Office and purchase a Family Fun Pack, which gives four 1-day Fair admission tickets, for only $20! Advanced sale tickets can be purchased at the Contra Costa County Fairgrounds, on-line at www.ContraCostaFair.com, or at your nearby Walgreens (May 11 – 30).

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

By Allen Payton, Publisher

The low-cost, ultra-light rail, electric transit system known as CyberTran, currently in it’s final stage of development at the U.C. Berkeley Field Station in Richmond, has been proposed as a green alternative to the diesel multiple unit trains planned for eBART in East County.

It is now being pursued as a possible alternative to the high-cost, heavy-rail system planned for the California High Speed Rail by a consortium of cities, businesses and two of the national labs in the Bay Area, known as i-GATE.

On March 20, 2012, i-GATE officials visited the future site of the CyberTran International low speed test track in Richmond, CA. The meeting was attended by representatives from the cities of Richmond and Davis and the three East Bay U.S. Department of Energy national labs – Lawrence Livermore, Sandia, and Lawrence Berkeley.

The primary focus of the meeting was to discuss requirements of a high speed test track location for CyberTran’s ultra-lightweight high-speed rail technology. CyberTran is considering both Lathrop and Davis as potential locations for the track.

“We are pleased to see i-GATE and its partners embrace the discussion of new applications of rail transit technology,” said Jeff Ritterman, Richmond City Council Member.

The high-speed test track is proposed as a five-mile continuous figure eight loop that will allow CyberTran to validate the application of their rail technology at speeds in excess of 150 miles per hour. The CyberTran vehicle and rail technology have already been tested in low speed environments of up to 60 mile per hour on closed loop tracks and on a 1/32nd scale test track at their Richmond facility with speeds modeled in excess of 160 miles per hour.

With a full-scale high-speed test facility, CyberTran will be able to demonstrate that the technology is appropriate for use in urban and rural transit environments.

“Davis is committed to being a leader in sustainability and alternative modes of transportation. I am intrigued by the CyberTran technology,” explained Davis Mayor Pro Tem Rochelle Swanson.

CyberTran’s plan for the high-speed test track includes almost $100 million dollars of investment and will result in local and regional construction and manufacturing jobs in design and assembly of the track and vehicles. By demonstrating the ability of the system to operate across the spectrum of low to high speed environments, CyberTran hopes to demonstrate the potential for use of the technology as a connector between current mass transit systems across California, the US, and internationally.

At a projected cost of just 20% per rail mile of traditional rail technologies, and due to the designed ability to operate in built-out urban centers with minimal impact, CyberTran is currently working with several congressional members to identify funding for the high-speed test track from existing transportation appropriations.

The technology provides a passenger rail system that can allow the passenger to plan their destinations around their personal schedule. The proposed 20-passenger vehicle has the flexibility and comfort of current rail vehicles while making personalized service levels a reality. The raised track includes an electric third-rail for vehicle power similar to many urban mass transit technologies, but the track is light enough that it can be incorporated into buildings and structures so that stations can serve passengers with the greatest amount of flexibility. The computer-controlled and light weight rail cars are powered by solar panels that line the track. Stations are aligned as off-track sidings to allow the system to continue to move cars through the systems while unloading and loading.

“Rail transit is an important part of the transportation picture,” explains Neil Sinclair, CEO and President of CyberTran. “We have developed the CyberTran technology as an application of all of the best attributes that rail technology has to offer, including ease of use, seamless operation in urban and rural environments, connection between regional centers, and stations that are adjacent to the mainline so that the vehicles can bypass stations where no stop is necessary.”

This last point is a major distinction for the CyberTran rail technology. By using a station layout that allows stopping vehicles to get off of the mainline, travel times for passengers are dramatically decreased with the elimination of unnecessary station stops.

With a primary focus on connecting appropriate sectors together in collaboration, i-GATE partners have focused on identifying and quickly deploying new technologies and innovations to have a positive effect on the economy and assist in creating thousands of new job opportunities in the region.

For more information on CyberTran visit www.CyberTran.com.

Don’t delay – enter now!

Want to enter something in this year’s Contra Costa County Fair? The deadline has been extended, so there’s still time! The deadline for submitting paper entry forms is Friday, May 4, and the Fair Office will accept entries until 5 pm on that day. The on-line entry system will be available until midnight on Sunday, May 6.

There are no post entry fees, so simply visit the Fair Office in Antioch or log-on to the Fair’s website at www.ContraCostaFair.com to complete the entry process.

Join the thousands of Contra Costa County residents who enter exhibits in the Fair each year. There are hundreds of categories and specialty contests for adults and children. It’s fun and it’s easy to enter, so don’t delay – enter now!

Complete descriptions of all categories are available in the Fair’s Competition Handbook, which is available on the Fair’s website at www.ContraCostaFair.com.

The Fairgrounds is also accepting coloring contest forms and cook-out paper entries from now until May 18 at 5 pm.

This year’s Contra Costa County Fair is May 31 – June 3. For information, visit www.ContraCostaFair.com or call the Fair Office at (925) 757-4400.

By Sergeant Morefield, Antioch Police Field Services Bureau

On Thursday, May 2, 2012 at approximately 1:43 p.m., Antioch police officers responded to a report of an armed robbery in the parking lot of Wells Fargo Bank at the corner of 18th Street and A Street.

The victim reported to officers that he was arriving at the bank to make a deposit when he was accosted by two suspects in a white sedan, one of whom was armed with a handgun. The suspects took the victim’s cash before fleeing the scene. The victim was uninjured during the robbery, and the suspects were not located. There is no indication that the bank or any of the bank employees were targeted in this incident. The case is still under investigation.

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

On Tuesday, May 1, 2012 at 3:30 p.m., the Antioch police received a call of an auto vs. pedestrian collision on Lone Tree Way north of Davison Drive. Upon arrival, officers discovered an 83-year-old female Antioch resident had been struck by a vehicle in the #1 lane of northbound Lone Tree Way about 400 feet north of Davison Drive.

At this location Lone Tree Way is a 35 MPH, four-lane road with a planted center divide. There is no crosswalk at this location and it is unknown why the pedestrian was in the roadway. Alcohol does not appear to be a factor in this collision.

The pedestrian was flown to John Muir Medical Center in Walnut Creek with critical injuries. Anyone with additional information is urged to call Officer Joseph Zanarini at (925) 779-6900 x 8-2996.

On Tuesday, April 24, 2012, at 2:47 p.m. Antioch police received a call of a hit and run accident that occurred near the intersection of West Ninth and I Streets. When officers arrived they found a 30 year old Antioch resident had been riding his bicycle when he was struck by a passing vehicle. The vehicle fled the scene after the collision and the bicyclist had serious injuries and was transported to a local trauma center. The bicyclist is still currently hospitalized but is recovering from his injuries.

The victim and witnesses describe the vehicle as a gold Acura 4-door, with tinted windows and stock rims. The vehicle has front end damage and a broken front windshield as a result of the collision. The driver of the vehicle was described as a young Hispanic male and there was another young Hispanic male in the passenger seat.

If anyone witnessed the collision, or has information about the suspect vehicle please contact Officer BJ Hewitt at 925-779-6900, ext 83452.