Erin McDaid was honored as Antioch’s 2012 Student of the Year at the Antioch Chamber of Commerce’s annual dinner, on Friday, March 8, 2013.

Erin is a senior at Dozier-Libbey Medical High School and has expressed career interest in biology and medicine.

Erin has a GPA of over 4.0 due to her outstanding work in the classroom. She is a tremendous benefit to her fellow students, especially by her lab group. She is thoughtful in her responses and is very good at bringing together various ideas and forming one cohesive thought.

Outside of the classroom, Erin has been the president of the Interact Club and is very involved in the local Relay for Life chapter. During the holiday season, Erin volunteers as a Salvation Army Bell Ringer, is an active member of the California Scholarship Federation and Dozier-Libbey’s HOSA (Health Occupations Students Association) Chapter.

Erin knows how to be a leader and bring out the best in others. She is the type of student every teacher wishes they could have in their class.

Brittney Gougeon was honored as the 2012 Antioch Citizen of the Year – Most Impact for her work starting the community group Take Back Antioch, at the Antioch Chamber of Commerce’s annual dinner, on Friday, March 8, 2013.

Gougeon started Take Back Antioch (TBA), comprised of a group of concerned citizens who actively look for positive, sustainable solutions to the crime and blight that have developed in our city, because she was frustrated. Frustrated by her friend’s car being burglarized, frustrated by hearing that Antioch’s 2010 homicide number was now at unlucky 13 and her frustration continued to grow.

Brittney took her frustration to Facebook and created a Take Back Antioch and invited residents not only to share how crime and blight were affecting their neighborhood but to suggest solutions. In less than two weeks more than 400 people had expressed their appreciation of the site by clicking the “Like” button and a group of residents who wanted to help turn around the situation had started to form a nonprofit organization. Nearly two years later, that little idea not only has garnered upward of over 4,200 “Likes”.

The TBA website lists the phone numbers to call about problems that included abandoned shopping carts, overgrown weeds and illegal dumping, the police non-emergency number and more. But Take Back Antioch is considerably more than an online directory: The Facebook page has attracted volunteers who have used part of the $13,978 the group has received in donations since its inception to help two vandalized schools as well as contribute the majority of the funds toward the replacement of a park’s play structure damaged by fire.

TBA is in the process of becoming an official non-profit organization, also known as 501(c)3, in order to help us achieve our goals by allowing us to apply for federal grants and solicit corporate donations that are only available to non-profit organizations.

Brittney’s efforts show how one person can make a difference.

Congressman Jerry McNerney (D-Stockton) announces the launch of the 2013 Congressional Art Competition. The competition is part of the nationwide annual Congressional Art Competition intended to showcase the artistic talents and abilities of students all across the country.

“I walk past the impressive artwork every day that I am in the U.S. Capitol.  The talent demonstrated by our young artists is remarkable and it is my honor to display their work in all of my offices,” said Congressman McNerney.

Every year, Members of Congress are welcome to hold their own competition in their home districts.  Then, the winning artwork from each district is then displayed in a busy corridor that leads to the U.S. Capitol, used daily by Members of Congress and visitors to Washington, D.C.  In addition, the grand prize winner from the 9^th District will be flown with a guest to Washington, D.C. to attend an awards ceremony in June.

The second, third and fourth place winners will also have their work displayed in one of Congressman McNerney’s three offices, located in Washington, D.C., Stockton and Antioch.  A panel of judges will select the winning entries and their decision will be announced at a special ceremony and exhibit.  

There will be a public viewing of all submissions and an Awards Ceremony on Saturday, April 27, 2013, from 1-3 pm at the Family Resource & Referral Podesto Teen Impact Center, located at 725 N. El Dorado Street in Stockton.

Rules for Submissions:

The contest is open to all high school-aged students who reside in the 9^th District.  Artwork is due by 5 pm on Friday, April 19, 2013 and can be submitted at either of Congressman McNerney’s district offices.  The address for the Stockton office is 2222 Grand Canal Blvd., Suite 7, and the address for the Antioch office is 4703 Lone Tree Way. 

Guidelines for the Congressional Art Competition include the following:

• Frames are not required on any submission.

• Artwork must be two-dimensional.

• Each piece can be no larger than 28” x 28” x 4” (28 inches high, 28 inches wide, and 4 inches deep), including the frame on the winning piece.

• Artwork cannot weigh more than 15 lbs.

• Acceptable media for artwork are as follows:

  • Paintings: oil, acrylics, watercolor, etc.

  • Drawings: pastels, colored pencil, pencil, charcoal, ink, markers

  • Collage

  • Prints: lithographs, silkscreen, block prints

  • Mixed Media: use of more than two medias such as pencil, ink, watercolor, etc.

  • Computer-Generated Art

  • Photography

Students and teachers interested in the Congressional Art Competition should contact Cheri Clasen in Rep. McNerney’s Stockton office at (209) 476-8552 for further guidelines and information.

Washington, D.C. – On Wednesday, March 13, 2013, Congressman Jerry McNerney (D-Stockton) introduced the Solar Energy Deployment Act of 2013 to provide funding for state and local governments to install solar energy systems on rooftops and above parking structures.

“We need to be focused on working towards a clean energy future. By making funding available for solar energy, we can save money throughout California,” said Rep. McNerney.

The Solar Energy Deployment Act allows the U.S. Secretary of Energy to award competitive grants to state and local governments for installing solar equipment on rooftops and above parking structures. Recipients of the funds could design and install solar energy systems over other structures they own.

The secretary would have the authority to take into consideration several factors in deciding who would receive the grants, including:

– Speed with which solar systems can be deployed

– Total amount of solar energy deployed

– The financial need of the state or local government

– The use of best practices to ensure maximum efficiency of deployed systems

– Whether or not the materials to be used are manufactured in the U.S. and whether their components are manufactured in the U.S.

“In today’s economy, the green energy sector has been a consistent jobs creator. Applying American ingenuity to our environmental and economic challenges will result in cost savings for all Californians. Solar initiatives will save California in electrical costs and put people to work building solar systems.  Putting emphasis on American-manufactured products will create family wage jobs that are so critical to stabilizing our economy,” said Rep. McNerney.

When asked from where the funding would come to pay for the legislation, McNerney’s Deputy Chief of Staff Lauren Smith stated “It remains to be determined, as nothing gets funded until the bill passes and is signed into law, and it would then be up to the appropriators to determine exactly where the money would come from.”

Then in response to why McNerney believes it is the responsibility of the federal government to fund state and local programs, such as this, she responded, “the Congressman sees value in the federal government partnering with state and local folks on initiatives like these that improve the community, create local jobs, and grow the economy.”

McNerney represents most of Antioch, as part of the 9^th Congressional District in the House of Representatives.

By Allen Payton

Now, I’m not a sports reporter, but I had the chance to attend the NorCal Semi-Final High School Boys Basketball game on Tuesday night between the hosts Deer Valley Wolverines and the visiting Bellarmine College Prep-San Jose team and had to share what I witnessed.

What a game! It was a close one all four quarters, with just a brief six-point lead by Deer Valley in the fourth.

The gym was full of cheering students, players’ family members, school staff, administrators, school board members and other fans.

The officials made a few bad calls – mostly against the Wolverines, specifically in the lane, that most of us thought should have been offensive fouls. We just figured the official enjoyed doing that dance-looking move with his clinched fists next to his hips. LOL

It was the duo of the 6′ 9” All-American Marcus Lee and his friend since childhood, Kendall Smith who led the team to victory. And it was the final basket by Smith that gave Deer Valley the two-point lead to clinch the 54-52 win – but only after a court-long pass and a desperation 3-point attempt by Bellarmine that almost made it in at the last second. Whew! That was seriously too close for comfort.

It was an exciting game and the best part is Deer Valley won.

They’re making school history – since winning North Coast, last week. The team has never been this far, before.

The Wolverines are ranked 12th in the state and 59th nationally having moved up two spots, just yesterday. They have a league record of 9-1 and an overall record of 26-5. Very impressive.

Now on to the NorCal Championship game against Elk Grove’s Pleasant Grove High, this Saturday at 4:00 p.m. at the Sleep Train Arena – where the Kings play, for now – in Sacramento. If you don’t have plans, go. If you do have plans, cancel them and go. I’ll be there.

If, er I mean WHEN they win on Saturday, the Wolverines will play for the State Championship against the Southern California champs, next week, also at the Arena in Sac.

Go Wolverines!

photo by salliegoetsch.com

By Allen Payton

After Humphrey’s on the Delta Restaurant closed its doors this last Christmas Eve, the building went into foreclosure and was then sold by Wells Fargo Bank, which carried the loan.

A new buyer purchased it about a month ago. Local businessman John Majidi, President of Majidi Properties in Antioch, bought the restaurant and plans to either run it, himself, or find someone who will.

The restaurant sits on property owned by the City of Antioch and the previous owners were behind on their rent payments, (which were based on a percentage of sales or a flat rate, whichever was greater) by about $68,000.

The restaurant was given an appraised value of $940,000, last year. The remaining loan balance was $400,000. So, if Majidi paid the note and the back rent to the City, he was able to get twice the value for his investment without even opening the doors, again.

Check back for more information on this issue.

The Central Coast Wine Competition has announced that the Contra Costa Fair will be joining the family of California fairs that encompass the competition. “We are thrilled to add one more location for the award winning wines to be displayed, noted Chief Judge Bob Foster. “Contra Costa County winemakers are making some superb wines from the grapes grown in the region. Our panel of judges are anxious to evaluate wines from another segment of the Central Coast AVA.”

The Central Coast Wine Competition is the largest evaluation event for wines produced exclusively on California’s Central Coast and is hosted by five Central Coast fairs: the California Mid-State Fair, Santa Barbara County Fair, Monterey County Fair, Ventura County Fair, San Benito County Fair and the Grand National in San Francisco. With the addition of Contra Costa County, the region of grape growing will expand slightly outside the Central Coast AVA to include all parts of the county.

“Fairs were built on the foundation of agriculture and education”, stated Robert Williamson, CEO Contra Costa County Fair. “We are excited to add this key agriculture component to our fair program and hope to expand the locally grown awareness of our area.”

The 2013 competition features an internationally renowned panel of judges including wine writers, winemakers, sommeliers and wine buyers. New this year, all Gold Medal wines will receive a point score, as well as, the medal award. The competition staff strongly encourages wineries to take advantage of the opportunity to enter the competition online at http://cmsfw.fairmanager.com/. The entry book, which details the entry classes and guidelines, can be found at the California Mid-State Fair webpage or the CCWC blog at http://centralcoastwinecomp.com.

For a complete list of judges, further information regarding the competition and to submit online entries, please refer to the competition’s blog at www.centralcoastwinecomp.com. Entries will be accepted through May 24, 2013.

According to a report in the San Francisco Chronicle, today, the California “Supreme Court gave Walmart the go-ahead Wednesday to expand its Antioch store into a ‘supercenter’ by adding a grocery section, rejecting a challenge by environmentalists and labor groups.”

For the complete story, click here.