Charlotte, NC – Maaco® and Meineke®, part of the Driven Brands family of automotive brands, today announced a multi-year, multi-million dollar fundraising commitment that will benefit 170 Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals (CMN Hospitals) across the United States and Canada.  This commitment by Driven Brands to expand its longtime partnership with CMN Hospitals coincides with the newly established Driven Brands Charitable Foundation.   The Foundation is seeking to raise $1 million a year working in conjunction with Driven Brands’ franchisees, principals, vendors, customers and employees.

“For more than 5 years, we have proudly supported Children Miracle Network Hospitals in its mission to provide life-saving medical care to children in need across North America,” said Noah Pollack, Executive Vice President and General Counsel, Driven Brands.  “We are proud to continue building on this positive partnership through our Driven Brands Charitable Foundation, which was established to support philanthropic efforts in the communities where our franchisees and customers live and work.”

The Driven Brands Charitable Foundation launched this new unprecedented fundraising effort earlier this month at the 40th Annual Maaco® Franchise Convention held in Florida. With the generous support of its franchise community, the foundation raised commitments for $410,000 in just 5 days.

“Our member hospitals are well known for the first-class care they provide,” said John Lauck, president and CEO, Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. “They are lesser known for the fact that they are nonprofit organizations and rely heavily on community assistance. We appreciate Driven Brands’ commitment to help the kids in their communities and look forward to the many miracles that will result from their generous support.”

Maaco® and Meineke® will continue to support Driven Brands Charitable Foundation’s efforts throughout the year with in-shop promotions at the more than 1400 locations. All funds raised from this campaign will help create miracles by funding medical care, research and education that will continue to save and improve the lives of millions of children treated at Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals in the U.S. and Canada each year.

About Maaco:

Founded in 1972, Maaco Collision Repair & Auto Painting (www.maaco.com) repairs accident damage, dents and faded paint for close to 500,000 drivers annually. The 450 franchises have restored the safety and beauty of all types of vehicles for nearly 40 years. MAACO Franchising, Inc., headquartered in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, has been cited numerous times by Entrepreneur magazine as #1 in its category in the Annual Franchise 500 survey. The MAACO Auto Body Shop and Collision Center in Antioch is located at 1610 W 10th Street.

About Meineke:

Beginning in 1972, Meineke Car Care Centers (www.meineke.com) has expanded its menu of product offerings to meet the demands of a changing marketplace. In 1986, the chain relocated from Houston, TX to Charlotte, NC. Demonstrating steady growth, both domestically and internationally with locations in Canada, Mexico, South Korea, the Mid-East, China and new openings scheduled for Chile and Caribbean, Meineke now represents over 900 franchised service centers, with an additional 100 licenses sold and in development. The American Association of Franchisees & Dealers recognized Meineke in 2001 as its first automotive industry Franchisor to earn the coveted Fair Franchising Seal. Meineke regularly appears in Entrepreneur Magazine’s Annual Franchise 500 (55nd overall and #1 in class for 2011), a list of the 500 best franchise opportunities in America. The Meineke Car Care Center of Antioch is located at 1701 Auto Center Drive.

About Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals:

Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals® raises funds for 170 top and nonprofit children’s hospitals across North America, which, in turn, use the money where it’s needed most. When a donation is given it stays in the community, helping local kids. Since 1983, Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals has raised more than $4.3 billion, most of it $1 at a time. These donations have gone to support research and training, purchase equipment, and pay for uncompensated care, all in support of the mission to save and improve the lives of as many children as possible. Learn more at CMNHospitals.org.

By Barbara Zivica

They dined on turkey, trying to pick the carcass clean and now remain looking for leftovers. Who am I talking about? I’m talking about elected politicians who remain in office year after year thanks to the union vote which also helps them pass tax measure after tax measure. Fortunately, some of the ones we got to vote on didn’t pass e.g. the Contra Costa Fire Department and the Contra Costa Community College ballot measures.

Others, however, did e.g. Governor Jerry Brown’s Proposition 30, increasing the sales tax from 7.25% to 7.5% for the next four years and the Antioch High School bond measure. For this reason, I suspect there will be a race to see which agency is next to propose a new parcel tax measure .

Will it be the Antioch City Council? Having just gotten an update from Police Chief Allan Cantando, I’m sure they’re already thinking about it and telling themselves that the most recent attempt to pass a parcel tax, requiring a two-thirds majority to pass, failed only because it did not guarantee the money would be used for the police department.

That doesn’t mean I’m not concerned that crimes in Antioch are up and arrests are down but the city is in the process of hiring 14 sworn officers and 6 community service officers and Pittsburg, Antioch and Brentwood will soon have their own deputy district attorney to prosecute crime. Obviously, more officers, CSOs and a deputy district attorney will have a positive affect on the current increase in crime so let’s not rush another parcel tax on the next ballot measure.

Incidentally, the Chief’s report noted that 15 sworn police officers have not been released to work full time. Some are off work completely and some are on modified duty because of an on-duty injury or other protected disability (working the front counter, records, investigations, etc.) Sound like the NFL weekly injury update? Found it interesting that one of the two lateral officers recently hired quit and returned to his last agency.

Speaking of hiring lateral officers, a staff report on the November 19th agenda from the new Human Resources/Economic Director proposes changing the September 1, 2012 contract amendment to local safety and misc. members. Reason? The City is having difficulty attracting enough candidates to fill all the vacancies, especially lateral police officers from other agencies, and thinks by going back to the old 3% at 50 full formula for safety officers and 2.7% at 55 for misc. will provide the city with an advantage to recruit quality candidates from other agencies. The report also discusses other incentives e.g. cash payment, deferred compensation contribution by city, and increased pay base.

NOTE: The new Public Employees” Pension Reform Act recently signed in California law requires ONLY EXISTING members of PERS hired after January 2013 (lateral officers) be placed in the 3% at 50 benefit tier, trainees and Academy graduate new hires be placed in a 2.7% at 57 tier.

Frankly, changing the recent contract amendment is a dumb idea. It will just mean more General Fund money going to CalPERS. Instead, the City could offer to pay into a 457 Deferred Compensation Plan, since that would not have any long term obligations to the city once the employee retired.

Should Council take action and approve the proposed Resolution of Intention to approve an Amendment to the Contract between PERS and the City, they better NOT use the increased cost as an excuse to propose a parcel tax or increase in sales tax to pay for police!

Case deemed suspicious and under investigation

By Sergeant Morefield, Antioch Police Investigations Bureau

On Monday, November 26, 2012 at approximately 4:52 PM, the Antioch Police Department received a report of a subject possibly dead inside a home off of Mira Vista Court. Officers responded to the residence to find the 52-year-old, male victim deceased from what appeared to be a gunshot wound. The circumstances surrounding this incident are still being looked into, and the case is currently being investigated as a suspicious death.

Anyone with information regarding this case is encouraged to call Detective Stenger with the Antioch Police Department at (925)779-6894. You may also text a tip to 274637 (CRIMES) using key word ANTIOC.

Award-winning author and inspirational public speaker Ying Chang Compestine will speak about her books to the Antioch Rotary Club, during their regular weekly meeting, this Thursday, November 29, 2012.

Ying is the versatile author of many children’s books, cookbooks and novels. Ying has been featured on many national television programs and she has been profiled in national magazines and newspapers.

Ying has visited schools throughout the U.S. and abroad, sharing with students her journey as a writer, how her life in China inspired her writing, and the challenges of writing in her second language.

Ying is the spokesperson for Nestle Maggi and Celestial Seasonings and a regular contributor to the national magazines Cooking Light, Ski, EatingWell, Self, Men’s Health, and Delicious Living and Diablo. She was the food editor for Body + Soul, a Martha Stewart magazine that focuses on healthy living.

Ying has lectured around the world on a variety of subjects at writer’s conferences and universities, at spas including Canyon Ranch, aboard cruise ships, on television and radio programs, and for numerous other organizations.

She was honored as one of the 2012 “50 Great Writers You Should Be Reading,” by The Author’s Shop. Ying will autograph copies of her books, which will be available for purchase at the meeting.

The Antioch Rotary Club meets at the Lone Tree Golf and Event Center at 12:15 p.m.. Lunch is $15. Please RSVP Lindy Maynes at Lmaynes@losmedanos.edu.

For more information on Ying, visit her website at www.yingc.com. For more information about the Antioch Rotary Club, visit www.AntiochRotaryClub.org or their Facebook page.

By Acting Sergeant Santiago Castillo, Antioch Police Investigations Bureau

On Monday, November 26, 2012 at approximately 1:20 p.m., Antioch police detectives arrested a third suspect for the homicide of 32 year-old Juan Hernandez, following a short vehicle pursuit and then a chase on foot. Detectives had been conducting surveillance for this suspect in the area of Bryan Avenue and A Street in Antioch, when they spotted him as the driver of a Hyundai Santa Fe that was taken during a carjacking in Antioch, on Sunday.

A vehicle stop was attempted on the Santa Fe but the driver and his 21 year-old male passenger refused to stop and led officers on a vehicle pursuit South on A Street. As the vehicle approached the intersection of Lone Tree Way and Putnam Street, the driver lost control and crashed into a BMW that was traveling north on Lone Tree Way. No one was injured in the collision. Following the collision, the two suspects exited their carjacked vehicle and fled on foot into a nearby neighborhood. Following a short search, both subjects were arrested without incident.

Prior to this arrest, Antioch police detectives had arrested two other subjects in connection with this homicide. The arrested suspects names and photographs are not being released at this time as further follow up and investigation is currently being conducted. Antioch police plan to present this case to the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s office this week.

Hernandez was shot and killed on Wednesday, November 14, 2012 while at a friend’s house located at 2301 Sycamore Drive in Antioch.

Anyone with information regarding this case can contact Det. Joannides at 925-779-6931.

Any further information or additional press releases will be provided by the Investigations Bureau at (925) 779-6939. You may also text a tip to 274637 (CRIMES) using key word ANTIOCH

Antioch’s Chief of Police will be conducting another “Coffee with the Cops” event this Saturday, December 1st from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. Consequently we have canceled our Neighborhood Cleanup on that date .

Come join Chief Allan Cantando in a casual setting to discuss public safety issues, crime statistics, etc.  Chief Cantando will be providing a brief presentation on crime statistics.  Open communication about community issues is encouraged.

This “Coffee with the Cops” workshop will be held in the Antioch Police Department Community Room located at 300 L Street.  Members of the Antioch Crime Prevention Commission will be in attendance, and make themselves available to answer questions with a focus on enhancing Neighborhood Watch programs for Antioch residents.  

The “Coffee with the Cops” concept was developed as a pilot program by the Antioch Police Department in an effort to improve communication between the Police Department and the citizens they serve. These meetings will consist of a one-on-one type format with a member of the police command staff and members of the community. The format of these meetings has been designed to be informative.
The Antioch Police Department is dedicated to promoting the quality of life in Antioch in partnership with our community, by proactively reducing crime with integrity and commitment to excellence.

Waypoint Homes Ribbon Cutting –  photo by Allen Payton

New Antioch, CA Center to serve as Regional Hub for Leasing, Services

Antioch Chamber of Commerce members joined Waypoint Homes Co-Founder and Managing Director Doug Brien on Monday, November 19, 2012 for a gala ribbon cutting to celebrate the official opening of Waypoint’s first regional Resident Services Center in Antioch. The Antioch center is the first in a series of regional centers the company plans to open to bring its leasing, property management and maintenance services closer to the communities it serves.

Brien said, “Some of the first homes we purchased were in Antioch – since those early days, we’ve invested more than $100 million in Contra Costa County, purchasing homes and renovating them to a high standard. We’re proud that the capital we’ve invested is helping to stabilize neighborhoods and housing prices, and grateful to Antioch for welcoming us. This is the perfect location for our first resident services center.”

In addition to Chamber of Commerce members, Brien was joined by Councilwoman and Mayor Pro Tem-elect Mary Rocha, who welcomed Waypoint to Antioch, City Manager Jim Jakel, Antioch School Board  President Diane Gibson-Gray, and Lisa Sherrill from the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano, among others. The company is running a promotion throughout November and December to support food banks in all the communities where it does business.

Waypoint Homes works with local realtors and contractors in the regions where it operates to purchase, renovate, and rent single-family homes. Residents can take advantage of the company’s trademarked Lease Plus Rewards® program, qualifying by completing a personalized Financial Fitness consultation and earning points during their lease term for paying their rent on time, maintaining their home, and completing additional financial education seminars. At the end of the lease term, they can convert their “Waypoints” toward the purchase of any home in any market where Waypoint does business, exchange the value in cash or choose from a variety of different upgrades to their home provided they are current on their rent.

For more information visit www.waypointhomes.com.

An entry from a previous year’s Antioch Holiday Lighted Boat Parade, courtesy of the Sportsmen Yacht Club.

The Antioch Holiday Lighted Boat Parade will take place this Saturday, December 1, 2012 at 5:30 PM (weather permitting). The event is sponsored by Driftwood, Sportsmen, Bridge Marina and Dos Rios Yacht Clubs and the Ebony Boat Club. The parade begins at 5:30 PM and the best locations to view are the Riverview Lodge restaurant bar, Humphrey’s on the Delta, the Antioch Municipal Pier and all along the promenade between G Street and the Marina Boat Launch in Antioch’s historic downtown Rivertown. The boat parade is free and will have approximately 15 entries. 

For more information, please contact Georgine Shunk, (925) 757-2226.