Archive for July, 2013

Relay For Life Benefit Concert August 18 at El Campanil

Wednesday, July 31st, 2013

Joel

JOEL: A Tribute To The Songs Of Billy Joel

Sunday,  August 18, 2013   3:00 pm

Location: El Campanil Theatre, 602 W Second St – Downtown Antioch

Tickets: Adults: $33   Seniors (62 & Over): $29  Children (Under 18): $15,  Online: www.ElCampanilTheatre.com or by phone: (925) 757-9500

JOEL is the premier rock and roll Billy Joel Tribute band on the West Coast.  Fresh off the national tour of Billy Joel’s Tony Award-winning rock musical “MOVIN’ OUT”, Piano Man KYLE MARTIN and his group of professional musicians have toured California and are preparing for their national tour later this year.  The band performs Billy Joel’s timeless repertoire including songs like “Big Shot”, “Only the Good Die Young”, “An Innocent Man”, and “New York State of Mind.”  They are blazing hot, and will have you on your feet rocking out.

KYLE MARTIN made quite a name for himself amongst Broadway and Rock fans as he traveled to over 100 cities starring as the “Piano Man” in two separate National Tours of the Tony Award-winning Billy Joel/Twyla Tharp musical smash “MOVIN’ OUT.”  The show is unusual in that, unlike the traditional musical, it essentially is a series of dances linked by a thin plot, and none of the dancers sing. All the vocals are performed by a pianist and band suspended on a platform above the stage while the dancers act out the narrative sans dialogue, making the show, in essence, a rock ballet.  Kyle outperformed over 30,000 people to nab the coveted role, and reviews like “Dynamic”, “Spectacular”, “A piano player with a touch like Billy Joel”, are just some of the accolades he received along his journey.

About Relay For Life

Relay For Life is an annual fundraiser to support the American Cancer Society.  Each year, more than 4 million people in more than 20 countries take part in this global phenomenon to raise much-needed funds and awareness to save lives from cancer.  Funds raised during Relay support cancer research and treatments as well as care programs such as Look Good … Feel Better and Road To Recovery.

Relay For Life is a 24-hour event in which participants form teams and keep at least one person on the track at all times.  This is a symbolic effort to demonstrate that cancer never sleeps and the fight against cancer will never rest.  The event includes special ceremonies to honor survivors and remember those who have lost their battle with cancer. Relay is also about having fun.  Teams host fundraisers and activities while live music keeps the energy going on the track.

Antioch Babe Ruth All-Stars win four straight to reign supreme

Wednesday, July 31st, 2013
Babe Ruth champions

Babe Ruth All Star A-Team champions

By Luke Johnson

Antioch Babe Ruth’s 15-year-old All-Star A-Team became NorCal-District 3 Tournament Champions after defeating the Northern Solano’s All-Stars, 9-4, on Monday, July 1, in a late night contest at Antioch Babe Ruth Fields.

Antioch fell short the first game of the tournament, in a double-elimination format, to its bitter rival Vallejo in a fierce battle that consisted of four lead changes. This forced Antioch into a situation where the team had to four straight games in the next two days in order to capture the district title.

I think it was a good shock for them knowing they are not untouchable or unstoppable,” Antioch Assistant Coach Garret Tamborski said. “It definitely brought them back to earth, and I think it actually helped us out in the long run.”

Antioch’s pitching prevailed in those fours games with Nasser Issa pitching a complete game shut out in the team’s second meeting with Vallejo. Issa spent 11 total innings on the mound in the tournament only allowing two earned runs, while his teammate Salvador Lopez went 13 innings with four earned runs.

It was a great team effort, [with] great defense,” Issa said. “I’m one of those players that like to get everybody up, ready to play, ready score and ready to win.”

In game two Antioch’s A-Team faced Antioch’s B-Team. With Lopez on the mound, the A-Team only need six innings before defeating the B-Team in a 10-run mercy rule. Later that day Antioch took on Vallejo in a grudge match where Issa threw his shut out, only allowing three hits in seven innings.

Since day one I knew we were deep in pitching,” Antioch Manager A.J. McNally said. “I put them in the positions they had to play, and they are the ones that made the plays.”

Antioch eased past Northern Solano in game four, 9-5, to ensure an all-or-nothing game 5. But due to field arrangements, the game was delayed an hour and a half.

Vallejo and Northern Solano’s 13-year-old All-Stars had an ongoing game on Burke Field with the sun setting. That caused them to switch to Regoli Field due to it is the only Antioch Babe Ruth park with lights.

Once the deciding game finally began between the 15-year-olds All-Stars, Antioch again easily succeeded Northern Solano finishing them off, 9-4, to clinch the NorCal-District 3 trophy in a bout that went until 11:24 in the evening.

This means everything,” Tamborski said. “After losing the first game, coming back, [and] winning four straight. [I’m] just so proud of the kids and all the work they put in.”

Putting Patients Back at the Center of Sensible Health Care Policy

Tuesday, July 30th, 2013

Guest Opinion

by Assemblyman Jim Frazier, (D-Oakley)

Many Californians are facing restricted access to health care due to dangerous and expensive health insurer policies that prevent patients from getting timely and effective treatments.

Some California health insurers have implemented a series of draconian restrictions in the name of cost containment that place health insurers squarely in the middle of the physician-patient relationship.

One such barrier is a policy known as “step therapy” or “fail first.” Step therapy requires that patients try and fail on up to five older, less effective medications before the insurer will cover the treatment originally prescribed by the doctor. Under this policy, patients are often forced to try and fail on these treatments even when they have already tried them in the past, and even when their doctor knows the treatments will not work.

Insurers enact restrictions like step therapy under the guise of cost containment, but the practical impact is that California patients – many of whom suffer from chronic conditions or debilitating pain or mental illness – will unnecessarily go for days, weeks, or months without their doctor-prescribed treatment. In short, step therapy hurts Californians, prolongs ineffective treatment, and prevents patients from immediately starting the treatments their doctors think are best.

While it would be tempting to dismiss step therapy as a mild inconvenience for patients, the unnecessary burden of step therapy has very real health and economic consequences. Delays in treatment can exacerbate health problems and often allow manageable conditions to deteriorate into more serious problems or disease.

Imagine, as an example, a single mother living with rheumatoid arthritis in Contra Costa County. When she is denied access to care, it is not only her physical condition that suffers. Every unnecessary visit to the doctor or pharmacist requires out-of-pocket co-pays.  Unnecessary medical appointments can also lead to additional days of missed work, which in turn results in loss of wages, as well as drives up costs for her employer through lost productivity and increased insurance premiums.

A recent analysis from the California Health Benefits Review Program (CHBRP) found that those living with and managing mental illness are particularly susceptible to the negative effects of step therapy protocols. CHBRP found that, when faced with the additional barriers to care created by step therapy, mental health patients are more likely to stop taking their medication. When a person coping with mental illness does not stay on his or her doctor-prescribed treatment regimes, it can lead to dire consequences, including hospitalizations, suicide attempts, and even imprisonment. In addition to the serious health consequences, unnecessary emergency room visits and increased imprisonment drives up the direct costs to the California health care system and all California taxpayers.

Advancements in science and medicine have yielded new treatments that can more effectively treat patients and speed up their recovery. Unfortunately, Californians will only be able to access these treatments when we require the insurance companies to limit their step therapy practices. Patients must not be asked to bear the unnecessary physical and emotional burdens of step therapy.

In an effort to address this issue, I have sponsored Assembly Bill 889, which directly addresses step therapy and the burden it places on patients. AB 889 is common-sense patient-protection legislation that will limit step therapy for all medicines to no more than two steps. In addition, it will prohibit a plan from requiring a patient to go through step therapy again if the patient went through it when covered by another plan.

In this critical era of health care cost containment, AB 889 preserves step therapy as a tool for California insurers, but also keeps decisions about how best to treat patients in the hands of their doctors – a win-win for the California health care delivery system. AB 889 will also help lower the long-term costs of health care, as patients can be appropriately treated for their conditions and not be forced to try outdated medications.

California legislators must take action now to ensure that all patients can access the treatments their doctors think are best. Our constituents are frustrated with current restrictions and it’s important that decisions about how to treat patients reside with doctors, not insurance companies.

Frazier represents the 11th Assembly District of California, which includes Antioch. To contact him, visit http://asmdc.org/members/a11/

Ty Carter, soldier from Antioch, to be awarded the Medal of Honor by the President in August

Saturday, July 27th, 2013

According to an article on the Stars & Stripes website, the White House announced last Friday that Army Staff Sgt. Ty M. Carter will be awarded the Medal of Honor for his courageous service in Afghanistan.

Ty Carter

Ty Carter

On August 26, President Barack Obama will award Carter for his actions as a cavalry scout with the 61st Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, during combat operations in Kamdesh district, Nuristan province, Afghanistan on Octobert 3, 2009. He was stationed at Combat Outpost Keating, in Afghanistan, at the time.

Carter, who grew up in Spokane, Washington, but considers Antioch his home, where his father, Mark currently lives, will be joined by his family at the White House for the ceremony.

He attended Los Medanos College before enlisting in the Army in 2008, after serving four years in the Marines from 1998 to 2002.

For the complete story, click here.

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Following is the Official Narrative from the U.S. Army’s website www.army.mil:

Staff Sergeant Ty Michael Carter

UNITED STATES ARMY

On Oct. 3, 2009, many Soldiers distinguished themselves when more than 400 Anti-Afghan forces, or AAF, attempted to overrun Combat Outpost, or COP, Keating, a company-sized outpost in Nuristan Province, Afghanistan. On that day, of the 54 members of B Troop, 3rd Squadron, 61st Cavalry Regiment, who defended the position, eight Soldiers were killed, and more than 25 were injured.

Of these men, one Soldier’s gallantry stood out. Without regard to his own safety, Spc. Ty Michael Carter proved himself time and time again. He resupplied ammunition to fighting positions, provided first aid to a battle buddy, killed enemy troops, and valiantly risked his own life to save a fellow Soldier who was injured and pinned down by overwhelming enemy fire. He did all this while under heavy small arms and indirect fire that lasted more than six hours.

Carter’s actions of risking his life above and beyond the call of duty, while engaged in combat against the enemies of the United States, were heroic, and he would be a most deserving recipient of the Medal of Honor for his fearless and decisive actions that day.

COP Keating, situated at the bottom of a constricted, bowl-shaped valley at the confluence of the Kushtowz and Landay Sin rivers, was established in 2006 as a Provincial Reconstruction Team camp. It was built to extend the reach of the Afghan government and Coalition Forces into the remote Kamdesh District, and to interdict al-Qaeda elements and other malign actors transiting the Hindu-Kush to attack points south. COP Keating was support by Observation Post, or OP, Fritsche, a platoon-sized position on high ground 1,500 meters to the south. Separated by rocky, broken ground and a sharp 500-meter rise in elevation, OP Fritsche could not provide visual or direct fire support, but could observe the northern high ground above COP Keating. OP Fritsche’s 120mm mortar fire support covered areas along the river immediately to the south of the COP.

COP Keating and OP Fritsche were static, fortified positions, entirely reliant on air lines of communication, subject to frequent indirect fire, and with little capacity to influence the small, ambivalent communities in the nearby villages of Urmol and Kamdesh. Two small contingents of Afghan National Army, or ANA, troops and Afghan Security Guards, or ASGs, co-located with Coalition Forces at COP Keating and OP Fritsche, proved ineffective at building meaningful ties with either village. At the time, tribal and criminal networks could call on hundreds of local fighters from Kamdesh District, even though it was comprised of fewer than 22,000 people. These networks shared little but their hostility to the intrusion of Coalition Forces and the Afghan government. Oct. 1, 2009, to realign Coalition and Afghan government forces more effectively with population centers in pursuit of counterinsurgency objectives, the commander of the International Security Assistance Force, or ISAF, ordered the COP and OP closed.

On Oct. 3, at 5:53 a.m., an interpreter approached the troop command post and notified Pfc. Jordan Wong, who had pulled duty that night, that the Urmol Police Chief had personally relayed a warning that 50 to 100 enemy fighters were presently staged in Urmol to attack COP Keating. Wong astutely logged the warning and notified the Sergeant of the Guard. At 5:59 a.m., six minutes after the warning had been received, the hills erupted.

The enemy engaged COP Keating and OP Fritsche with a coordinated, complex attack the magnitude and intensity of which had not been seen in the Kamdesh since Coalition Forces toppled the Taliban eight years earlier. At COP Keating, attackers fired from the creviced and overgrown high ground above all four sides of the combat outpost, initiating contact with rifles and Degtyaryov-Shpagin Large-Calibre, or DShK, heavy machine guns. The ANA guard positions suffered immediate casualties and collapsed. Ten to 15 Afghan Soldiers fled through the wire. The remainder abandoned their positions to U.S. occupied buildings in the western portion of the combat outpost, leaving the northeast corner undefended.

At the gun bursts, B Troop Soldiers jumped to reinforce guard posts throughout the compound. Staff Sgt. Justin T. Gallegos, Sgt. Bradley Larson, and Spc. Stephan L. Mace, raced to fortified High-Mobility Multi-Purpose Wheeled Vehicles, or Humvees, at the southern side that served as a Battalion Position. The Battle Position overlooked Urmol and a series of wide, roughly graded “switchbacks” that climbed a steep ridgeline to the south, providing enemy forces a convenient infiltration route. Larson and Gallegos immediately engaged the enemy in the hills with the Humvee’s .50 Caliber Machine Gun and ground-mounted, belt-fed M240 Machine Guns, while Mace engaged the east with him M4 carbine.

Across the compound, Carter had just emerged from his barracks and sprinted 100 meters across open ground, under concentrated fire, to join the others at the southern Battle Position. Upon arriving at the battle position, Carter gave two bags of M240 ammo to Gallegos, and most of his M4 magazines to Mace.

Above the din of the assault, Gallegos alerted Carter that they needed lubricant for the .50 Caliber and additional ammunition. With complete dedication to the task, and at great risk to his life, Carter ran the gauntlet a second time as enemy fire blossomed around him. Carter received two cans of lubricant from his platoon sergeant, Sgt. 1st Class Jonathan G. Hill, and then ran to the Ammunition Supply Point, or ASP, to collect ammunition. The doors were locked. Without hesitation, Carter shot off the hasps, secured additional M240 belts, and weaved his way back to the Humvee Battle Position.

The enemy attack was unrelenting, the cacophony of gunfire deafening, and the crew at the southern Battle Position quickly expended the additional M240 rounds. With suppression fire waning, the enemy fired a series of RPGs at the position, which had forced Gallegos, Mace and Carter to take cover in the Humvee. A PKM bullet struck Larson in his Kevlar helmet and he too ducked into the vehicle. At this point, Sgt. Vernon W. Martin joined the team as well.

Moments later, three to four rocket-propelled grenades, or RPGs, struck the vehicle carriage. One rocket detonated on the turret and destroyed the .50 Caliber, spraying the interior with shrapnel. Larson, Martin and Carter were wounded.

Approximately a half hour into the fight, at 6:30 a.m., with both crew-served weapons disabled, and the Humvee under heavy small-arms fire from an estimated 20 to 30 fighters on the high ground to the south, and another 30 to 40 fighters attacking from Urmol, Gallegos decided to break contact and move north, employing bounding over-watch to link up with the remaining Soldiers of B Troop, near the Tactical Operations Center, or TOC. Carter volunteered to stay with Larson and provide covering fire for the others as they attempted to bound back.

Carter and Larson left the vehicle and provided suppressing fire with their M4 carbines, while their three colleagues began displacing. As he maneuvered his team, Gallegos was hit by machine gun fire from the direction of Urmol, killing him instantly. Martin was hit in the leg and scrambled beneath a nearby laundry trailer. RPG shrapnel wounded Mace, who managed to crawl to low ground 30 meters from the Humvee.

Amidst a punishing hail of gunfire, Larson and Carter returned to the shredded Humvee. Lurching across the compound in a second Humvee, Sgt. Joshua M. Hardt, Spc. Christopher T. Griffin, and Pvt. Edward W. Faulkner Jr. reinforced the Battle Position. The new vehicle immediately encountered concentrated RPG fire from the southern high ground, and a squad of enemy fighters that breached the combat outpost through the Entry Control Point, or ECP. Eight successive RPGs hit the Humvee, including a direct strike on the right passenger door that severely wounded Hardt and sprayed Griffin and Faulkner with shrapnel. Hardt evacuated the Humvee, but was instantly cut down by PKM fire.

Recognizing the imminent threat from the enemy squad inside the wire, Carter and Larson engaged and swiftly killed two enemy combatants and wounded one. Their accurate fire under intense pressure, force the enemy into a hasty retreat and prevented them from overrunning several Soldiers pinned down in the nearby mortar pit. Griffin and Faulkner darted north toward the command post across the same open ground Carter had already traversed three times. Faulkner made it to safety, but Griffin was struck and killed instantly. Enemy fire set ablaze a number of buildings, and acrid black and grey plumes of smoke curled from the valley against the sky.

With their M4 ammunition nearly exhausted, Carter again stepped from the Humvee to secure additional ammunition and check on whomever might be in the second Humvee. Crawling through the dust and gravel as intense volleys of enemy fire rained around him, Carter found the Humvee empty, but grabbed an M249 light machine gun with a partial drum of ammunition, and an M203 grenade launcher, and crawled back to Larson.

Realizing the drum had only 50 rounds left, Carter suggested they delink the ammunition and employ it in the M4s, so both men could continue to fight. Though each had less than a full magazine, Carter and Larson engaged the enemy with precision fire. Carter killed a two-man enemy RPG team and two additional fighters in the Urmol station. Wounded, outmanned and outgunned, Carter and Larson still suppressed the enemy’s assault teams. Their accurate fire under extreme duress, with no margin for error, prevented the breach of COP Keating’s vulnerable southern flank.

Overhead, close air support and attack weapons teams hunted the hills, but the rocky overgrown slopes provided ample cover to the myriad enemy fighters. Nearly two hours into the fight, at approximately 7:30 a.m., Carter observed from the passenger seat in the Humvee, Mace moving exposed toward low ground 30 meters off. Carter turned to Larson and said he wanted to attempt a rescue. Larson initially sought to deter Carter, stressing that “you’re no good to Mace if you’re dead.”

When Mace was struck with a new volley of gunfire and pleaded for help, Carter decided he had no choice but to try to reach his fellow Soldier. Knowing that he would almost certainly be killed, and with no regard for his personal safety, Carter jumped from the truck and sprinted forward to Mace. With small arms fire riddling the Humvee and the ground around him, Carter staunched Mace’s bleeding and placed a tourniquet on his shattered leg. With enemy fire intensifying around him, Carter summoned the strength to lift Mace and carried him through the hail of bullets up to the rise and to the Humvee. Carter placed his fellow Soldier in the back seat of the damaged carriage and returned to the fight.

As their ammunition dwindled, Carter and Larson engaged the enemy with single, well-aimed shots. With inoperative radios and no contact with other B Troop Soldiers, the pair grew concerned that the rest of COP Keating had been overrun.

Recognizing that Mace needed immediate medical attention, and the vital need for reconnaissance, Carter, with Larson’s concurrence, headed toward the TOC along the same path on which Gallegos had been felled. Moving under Larson’s covering fire, Carter ran down the declining grade and maneuvered back toward the command post. En route, Carter came across Gallegos and checked his vital signs, grimly determining his fellow trooper had been killed.

Carter found the sergeant’s squad radio. Hearing traffic from others in B Troop, he turned around and made his way back to Larson. They called the command post and let them know they were alive, but still pinned down. Fires now burned in most structure on the eastern side of the compound, and it became apparent that enemy forces had penetrated the wire in at least two places. In response, the rest of B Troop had consolidated in a tight perimeter around the command post and surviving barracks.

While Carter and Larson had warded off a third breach, Staff Sgt. Clinton L. Romesha and Hill had led a counterattack to retake a meeting hall and close the ECP. Romesha and Hill killed several enemy fighters that had penetrated the combat outpost and opened an evacuation route that was still exposed to RPG and machine gun fire. When Carter and Larson called and confirmed they had been isolated and a litter-urgent casualty, Hill’s element established a base of fire to cover their withdrawal.

Carter climbed from the Humvee and dug through the debris of the two shattered vehicles to uncover a litter. Carter and Larson then carried Mace across 100 meters of open ground still being swept with sniper and machine gun fire. With Mace at the aid station, Carter reported to Hill and joined the fight with the platoon for the rest of the day. He served as a sniper providing accurate cover fire for the teams of Soldiers who were recovering the bodies of the fallen Soldiers.

Mace reached the aid station at approximately noon, nearly six hours after initial contact, and approximately five hours after he was first wounded. Capt. Chris Cordova administered extraordinary trauma care, including a series of intravenous drips, and six blood transfusions taken from the veins of the Soldiers in the troop, including his own.

The heavy firefights in the enclosed valley prevented a medical evacuation helicopter from touching down in the narrow landing zone, until the cover of darkness. When the helicopter was able to land, Mace was immediately flown to Forward Operating Base Bostick, and then on to Bagram Airfield. He succumbed to his wounds in the hospital, despite the heroic efforts of his fellow Soldiers.

About 12 hours after the initial attack, reinforcements finally arrived at the besieged combat outpost. A Quick Reaction Force, or QRF, that had set down at OP Fritsche had hiked down the interminable switchbacks, killing two retreating enemies en route, and linked up with the defenders of COP Keating. The command outpost had held, despite the unprecedented onslaught.

In operations over the next several days, Coalition Forces killed one of the top regional sub-commanders affiliated with the Taliban, turning a potential into a decisive victory for Coalition Forces in the contested Kamdesh.

However, the outcome might have been very different without the valor of Carter and Larson, who held the southern flank and prevented a platoon-sized enemy element from penetrating the wire, linking up with the others, and attacking the TOC at close quarters. Carter’s and Larson’s heroism bought the necessary time for multiple air assets to come on station and blunt the massive enemy attack.

Carter’s remarkable acts of heroism and skill, which were vital to the defense of COP Keating, exemplify what it means to be an American hero. President John F. Kennedy said that “A nation reveals itself not only by the men it produces, but by the men it honors.” Carter’s actions, which reflected great credit upon him, his unit, the United States Army, and the United States of America, make him a most deserving recipient of the Medal of Honor.

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To learn more about Ty Carter, click here.

What’s so affordable about the Affordable Care Act?

Wednesday, July 24th, 2013

Jeff Belle 06-13

By Jeff Belle

As with the majority of public policy, intent and pragmatism may not be in agreement. The Affordable Care Act of 2010 isn’t any different. In fact, the question is: How affordable is the Affordable Care Act? Is this massive health care expansion a life-vest for those without health care or is an expensive cruise ship plagued by over- flowing sewage and distasteful meals? Clearly there are two-sides to this question as in any worthy argument. Here are a few thoughts and facts to consider about the affordability of the Affordable Care Act (ACA).

ACA as passed into law in March 2010 requires individuals to maintain “minimum essential coverage” or pay a tax penalty. In this case, minimum essential coverage includes government-sponsored coverage such as “Medicare, Medicaid, Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), Veteran’s health benefits, employer-sponsored coverage, and other coverage as approved by the Secretary of U. S. Health and Human Services.”

According to Congressional Budget Office (CBO), implementing ACA will cost $ 1.8 trillion dollars over 10 years. It was estimated at the onset of the ACA legislation in 2009 that the cost would be around $900 billion over 10 years. In reality, the cost over 10 years has now doubled. These projections are for 2014 to 2013 when ACA goes into full effect.

Since its inception in 2010, what has ACA cost taxpayers? According to the General Accountability Office (GAO), the IRS (of all federal agencies) has spent $881 million between 2010 and 2013. Here’s how the IRS has spent our tax dollars in implementing the ACA in just two and a-half years:

  • $ 2.1 million and 13 full-time employees to implement the tax increases on drug manufacturers and health insurers,

  • $ 12 million and 150 full-time employees to “ customer service support”,

  • $ 405.2 million and 700 full-time employees to creating the infrastructure to support the exchanges and the individual mandate tax, and

  • $ 20.8 million along with 161 full-time employees to “promote compliance with other new provisions.”

In order to enforce provisions of the ACA which include 18 separate tax increases, business and individual mandates and an enormous number of new regulations; the IRS requested even more spending—“ a whopping $ 439.6 million and 1,954 {new} employees.“ Now, if indeed, we {United States} are in need of a life-vest or perhaps a cruise vessel to provide expanded medical care coverage is a matter of public opinion. Why would anyone in their “right mind” empower the IRS to monitor and enforce health insurance? Empowering the IRS to enforce health insurance mandates is akin to “asking chickens to vote for Colonel Sanders”-go figure! However, the facts regarding the affordability of ACA, as we now know them, may propel us to rethink the sanity of the Affordable Care Act and the wisdom our leaders in Washington.

Sources:

Government Accountability Office, June 2012

Congressional Budget Office, May 17, 2013

Congressional Budget Office, March 13, 2013

Washington Post, April 26, 2013

The Hill, April 10, 2013

Forbes, March 12, 2012

Belle is a Senior Fellow at the Institute for Public Policy and Leadership Development. He researches, writes and lectures on health policy and leadership development issues. He is a resident of Antioch.

Antioch Little League Senior Girls softball team in the Western Regionals, seek community’s help – today!

Tuesday, July 23rd, 2013

The Senior Girls Softball Team from Antioch Little League has made it to the Western Regionals. They and and their families need your help. The players and families are responsible for their own hotel and travel expenses to the tournament. The league has received a number of monetary donations and is a great start of getting everyone there.

Do you know of any companies or if you are interested in helping the families and players, donations have to be made to the league by this afternoon. (Tuesday, July 22)

They were featured on KTVU Channel 2 news, which you can watch by clicking here.

There’s a link on the league’s Pay Pal Account on their website at www.antiochlittleleague.com or feel free to contact Dennis Felix at questions@antiochlittleleague.com

Antioch Sports Legends Alumni to hold Second Annual Hall of Fame fast-pitch softball clinic in August

Tuesday, July 23rd, 2013

SportsLegendslogoThe Antioch Sports Legends Alumni is again gathering a roster of Hall of Fame softball players and outstanding coachesto conduct the Second Annual Hall of Fame Fast-Pitch Softball Clinic Saturday, August 17th at the Antioch Babe Ruth League complex in Antioch, 902 Auto Center Drive.

The clinic will draw from Antioch’s own great players, including Hall of Famers Debbie Nelson and Rachelle Manning. They will join a host of other former Hall of Fame players and college and high school coaches from 10 am to 3 pm to provide instruction, demonstration and practice in all areas of softball play.

The clinic is only $30 and is designed for players 8 to 18 years of age. Players will receive expert instruction in hitting, pitching, catching and defensive skills for the recreational and travel ball/high school player. In addition to instruction, players will receive a barbecue hot dog lunch, a clinic t-shirt and a tour of the Antioch Sports Legends Museum, located next door to the Babe Ruth fields.

The Antioch Sports Legends Alumni are committed to providing opportunities for local youth to receiveFast pitch softball the very best athletic instruction. Last year’s clinic was a great success. This is the Legends Alumni’s fourth sports clinic in the past year. In addition to the Fast-Pitch Softball clinic last August, the Alumni hosted a baseball coaches’ clinic in December and a Hall of Fame Baseball clinic for the area youth in May.

Don’t miss out on this great opportunity to learn from the best! Players may pre-register online at allamericansportscademy.net. For more information, contact Debbie Nelson at (209) 612-8984 or email her at dnelson@allamericansportsacademy.net.

Letter writer thanks Antioch July 4th Celebration sponsors

Monday, July 15th, 2013

Dear Editor:

Citizens of Antioch, pat yourselves on the back….. you made the family-friendly Antioch Fourth of July Parade and Fireworks again happen and once again be a smashing success!!! With many small donations swelling the total, we raised over $60,000 to pay the tab and the crowd was huge, appreciative and respectful.

This year we conclusively proved that the 2012 model was not a fluke and that this event could be pulled off privately. In fact, the Committee was so inspired that we formed a 501c3 non-profit, Celebrate Antioch Foundation, for permanency. There is hope that we can bring back Holiday-delites and incorporate the Veterans Day Parade under this umbrella, and other events, as well.

Special thanks to Wayne Harrison for his tireless Chairmanship; to Allen Payton for handling the fireworks arrangements, signs, printing and advertising; and to Joy Motts and Martha Parson for spearheading fund-raising. Committee members Bill Cook, Sue Davis, Tim Forrester, Jessica Green, Louise Green, Carole Harrison, Connie Kumar, Earlene and Jim Lanter, Frank Rundall, Alma Townsend, Jeff Warrenburg and Velma Wilson all played key roles.

Sponsoring the fireworks were Supervisor Federal Glover and NRG Energy; the Parade, Sharon Beswick and the Beswick Family Fund; and overall logistical support, the City of Antioch.

Platinum sponsors were Macy’s, Allied Waste, Arts & Cultural Foundation of Antioch, Kiwanis Club of the Delta-Antioch and the Antioch Herald.

Gold sponsors were the Contra Costa County Building & Construction Trades Council, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local #312, Mike’s Auto Body, VFW Post #6435 and the Leo Fontana Family.

Silver sponsors were the Gloria Martin Family, Strategic Threat Management, Antioch Education Association, Antioch Rotary Club, Monthly Grapevine, Brentwood Press, Tony Keslinke Family, Christ Embassy East Bay church, Pegnim & Ivancich, LLP, Delta RC, Rivertown Screenprinting, Paradise Skate, Sno Shack, Martha & Joe Goralka and the New Beer Garden.

Bronze sponsors were Pinky’s Klassy Car Wash, Antioch Woman’s Club, eTranzUSA, NAACP East County Branch, Rick’s on Second, Delta Advocacy Foundation, Rivertown Garden Club, Fidelis Advertising, Mayor Wade Harper, Mayor Pro Tem Mary Rocha, Councilman Gary & Robin Agopian, Councilwoman Monica Wilson and Councilman Tony Tiscareno.

Gratitude to all. Perhaps we’ll see you on our Facebook page or on www.AntiochJuly4th.com and see you for sure at America’s 2014 birthday bash.

Walter Ruehlig, Member

Antioch July 4th Celebration Committee