Hans Ho speaks with volunteers.

By Dolly Ogawa-Amsk

On Saturday, March 10, the Parkgreen Circle Neighborhood Watch, had its second meeting, making the group official. Hans Ho, Antioch Neighborhood Watch Coordinator spoke to the group. He delivered hints on making your home and the neighborhood safer. “Never open the door to someone you don’t know. Let them know you are home. Antioch Police show a badge.” He went on to explain that there are safety steps you can take. One idea is planting bushes or plants outside windows. Rose bushes would make it more difficult for a burglar to enter through a window. Ho also spoke of the necessity of being able to describe a suspect. He had some interesting advice, especially about footwear. Sometimes criminals can shed a jacket, change their shirts but they don’t have time to change their shoes.

Ho has been a volunteer with the Antioch department for nine years, with a full time job. He is also an avid skier. “One of the best things about this is meeting people from all over the city.”

The crowd of concerned neighbors gathered in Knoll Park to share cookies, donuts, and soft drinks along with some facts about their goal to insure a safer, friendlier neighborhood. After the presentation two young men, Michael Jervoso and Elias Guevara, part of the group “Up From The Dust,” from the area, sang and entertained the neighbors with their guitars.

The Antioch Police Department and local citizens working together can make sure that the number of crimes committed is significantly reduced. On the other hand the police who have been informed of suspicious behavior have probable cause to stop a car or person and ask questions. Ho is available for presentations on several subjects including: Personal Security, Burglary, and Fraud.

For more information about a Neighborhood Watch on your block call 925-779-6980 or email: neighborhoodwatch@ci.antioch.ca.us

By Dolly Ogawa-Amsk

The Antioch Charter Academy II, was renewed after several teachers and parents spoke in favor the petition at the Antioch School Board meeting on March 14. The ACA II drew several teachers to the hearing, including: Amber Hummel, who teaches 4th, 5th & 6th grade, Marianne Dubitsky, Julie Fajean and Michelle Mankewich who teach 1st through 3rd grades, and Matt Hagan who will be teaching 8^th grade beginning next year.

This year they served 188 students but by adding 8^th grade they will be at 198. With a long waiting list, the school received strong support from parents and teachers. The school has addressed the need for other learning options with project based learning, including several grades in one classroom. Their results have enthusiastic support from the teachers and parents.

Other important items on the agenda included the budget. The news regarding the Second Interim Report of the 2011-12 showed developments since the First Interim Report. The State Triggers have been pulled; transportation Funding has been reduced and other reductions that have had an impact. The staff recommendation is that “based on the information included in the Second Interim Report, the staff is able to certify that AUSD can meet its fiduciary responsibility to maintain fiscal solvency for the current and subsequent two fiscal years.”

The district is on a very tight budget and there are variables that could make it even harder. The staff is making tough decisions with the “current truth” while making sure that basic needs and programs are covered. The state itself has made it difficult but things could happen to make a more positive change.

Kay Power, Chairman of the Oversight Committee for Bond Measure C, said that they have met their responsibilities by “Following the bouncing ball…”

The Antioch Unified School District will have a new bond Measure proposed for the June ballot to cover needed improvements to the Antioch High School.

On February 24^th, 254 third graders, teachers and chaperones from the Antioch Unified School District (AUSD) enjoyed the one hour Concert For Kids show performed by the San Francisco Symphony at Davies Symphony Hall in San Francisco.  This field trip was organized by AUSD Music Specialist Geneva Payne and sponsored by the Antioch Music Foundation through a grant from the Thomas J. Long Foundation. Photo courtesy of Cynthia Ruehlig

The controversial One Bay Area effort by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) and Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG), to fulfill the mandates the 2008 state legislation (SB375) to develop a Sustainable Communities Strategy, has published its Draft Preferred Land Use Scenario for review.

Antioch has two areas designated as PDA’s – Planned Development Areas, which are included in the plan. They include the 400 acres around and near the proposed Hillcrest eBART Station and downtown Antioch.

Following is the press release from MTC on the Preferred Land Use Plan:

This winter, MTC and the Associated Bay Area Governments (ABAG) solicited input from Bay Area residents on various land use and transportation investment strategies. Nine public workshops were held, one in each of the Bay Area counties, that drew some 1,100 participants, along with a companion virtual workshop with 1,300 responses. In addition, 10 focus groups were conducted with community-based organizations to assist with public involvement in low-income communities and communities of color, and a statistically valid telephone survey involved some 1,600 residents. And finally, four focus group sessions, with a mix of urban, suburban and rural Bay Area residents recruited from the poll, were held in San Francisco, Walnut Creek and Novato.

The resulting draft preferred land use scenario, titled Making the Jobs-Housing Connection, seeks to demonstrate how the Bay Area’s diversity of communities and natural resource areas can retain and enhance their unique qualities and characteristics supported by a strong, globally competitive economy with housing opportunities located near job centers and transit services. It provides an overview of past and projected trends: how the region grew over the past thirty years and expected economic and demographic trends; housing access and production challenges; and the relationship of housing, employment centers and transportation infrastructure. The scenario includes projected jobs, population and housing distribution by 2040 for the region, counties, cities and priority development areas.

Coming in April is a draft preferred transportation scenario and investment strategy that, together with the draft land use scenario, will be considered by MTC and ABAG in May. A draft Plan Bay Area is slated for release in late 2012, and MTC and ABAG are expected to approve a final plan by spring 2013.

Read more about the interagency Plan Bay Area effort here.

Celebrate the 75th anniversary of the iconic Golden Gate Bridge at the Golden Gate Festival, a two-day event slated for Memorial Day weekend, May 26-27, 2012. The festival is the center point of the Bridge’s year-long 75th anniversary program and will include a historic watercraft parade, multiple music and dance stages, art installations, history and educational presentations, and the display of cars from 1937 to the present. Bridge-themed activities will span the San Francisco waterfront from Fort Point (located below the Golden Gate Bridge) to Pier 39, including the Fort Mason Center, Ghirardelli Square, the San Francisco Maritime National Historic Park and Fisherman’s Wharf. The weekend will conclude with a fireworks display and grand finale at 9:30 p.m. on Sunday, May 27.
For additional information, go to www.goldengatebridge75.org.

With just one app, Smartphone users can plan trips on trains, buses and ferries offered by more than 30 public transit agencies. 511, the Bay Area’s traveler information system, is now offering its first smartphone app for transit users. The 511 Transit App is currently available for Android and an iPhone version will be released soon. The free 511 Transit App is a multiple-agency public transit trip planner using GPS-based location tools for smartphones. Ideal for a weekend errand, occasional trip or daily commute, the app serves both residents and visitors who are planning transit trips within the nine-county region.

The new app provides door-to-door transit trip planning and scheduled departure times for transit routes near your location or from a location you specify. It includes information for 720 routes and more than 23,700 transit stops throughout the region. An interactive, dynamic map shows routes and stops along the way, as well as your current position while on the move. Walking directions to and from stops and fares (including transfers) are also displayed.

The 511 Transit App includes data from SF Muni, BART, AC Transit, VTA, SamTrans, Caltrain, Golden Gate Transit, County Connection, Vallejo Transit, LAVTA, Sonoma County Transit, VINE (Napa County) and more than a dozen additional agencies. For a complete list of all transit agencies included in the 511 Transit app, visit the trip planning page.

Charlie Ochoa at Lynn House Art Gallery

Partner with His Wife Carmen in GATO – Give Always To Others & Company

Jesus Carlos Ochoa “Charlie – the Video Guy”

June 4, 1938 – March 10, 2012 Antioch, California

Beloved husband of 47 years of Carmen Aguilar-Ochoa, father to Carlos Jude and “Papa” to grandson Carlos, passed away on March 11, 2012 at the age of 73.

He was born June 4, 1938 in Antioch, attended Liberty High School in Brentwood, leaving before graduation to join the US Army. Charlie retired from Gaylord, leaving him the time to do what he does best, spend time on creating video documentaries for Give Always to Others & Company, with his wife and spend time with his son and grandson.  He was one of the first and most active community producers for the local cable access channel and touched many lives with the lens of his camera; preserving precious memories for the families and community members in Antioch, Pittsburg, Bay Point, Oakley and Brentwood.

Charlie was very active in the community: current President of Fiberboard Club of Antioch, past member of local scuba dive club, former member of John F. Kennedy Memorial Committee, board member of Give Always to Others & Co.  Charlie was a strong believer in good health and everyday he walked and swam at the gym. He had a smile for everyone he met, but especially for his grandchild, Carlos.  Together they spent time walking to the park, swimming in the pool, recycling cans and plastics for saving bonds for Carlos’s education, teaching him about nature in the park, enjoying watching the squirrels run up and down and feeding the feral cats.  He also enjoyed relaxing in his home in South Lake Tahoe. He spent many mornings with a group of retired friends at Jack in the Box solving the problems of the world.

Charlie is also survived by his brothers and sisters,  Ruben Ochoa of Martinez, Ofelia Pease of Brentwood, Gilbert Ochoa of Seal Beach, Grace Bustos of Oakley, and  John Ochoa of Fairfield.

A memorial mass will be held Monday, March 19^th, 10 AM at Holy Rosary Catholic Church, Antioch. The family wishes masses to be held in his name or donation to a favorite charity, such as Give Always to Others & Co.

Courtesy of the Antioch Arts & Cultural Foundation website – To see more photos of Charlie, please visit the page on their website by clicking here.