Begins Saturday, October 5

Painting by Gloria Cannon

The Arts & Cultural Foundation of Antioch is proud to present the works of artists living in and around the Delta at the Lynn House Gallery.  With the many hills and valleys, along with East Bay Regional Park properties, artists have an abundance of opportunities to capture nature and all its wonders in many art forms. The Nature’s Canvas Exhibit, will feature nature, in all mediums. The Lynn House Gallery is located at 809 West 1st Street in downtown Antioch. The exhibit begins on Saturday, October 5th, with an artist reception from 2-4 PM. Nature’s Canvas exhibit continues through October 26th on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 1-4 PM. The artist reception and exhibit are free to the public. |

Participating artists are: Nordyn Anderson, Gary Augustino, Lori Azzolino, Steven Bloom, Gloria Cannon, Prudence Capelle, Sandra Carrigan Berkson, Jo Cotarelo, Clyde Cox, Jean Cucuel, Laurie DiMaggio, Michele Eakin, Ezra J. Engle, Betty Espindola, Sandy Gangwer, Lon Givens, Easy Gonzales, Danny Grace, Kathleen Henderson, Carol Jurczak, Karen Kelly, Kay Kirby, Jolynn Lacasse, Ellen LaVaccare, Julia Offord, Patricia Puryear, Alma Renko, Nancy Roberts, Lisa Salazar, Paul Schorr, Carol Sideman, Julia Starr, Joel Summerhill, Ken Tomlin and Beverly Turner.
For more information, visit http://art4antioch.org/Nature’s_Canvas.asp, email: Diane@Art4Antioch.org or call Executive Director Diane Gibson-Gray at (925) 325-9897.

Click here to sign up for the Arts & Cultural Foundation’s Free Monthly Newsletter.

Painting by Sherry Cummings

The Arts & Cultural Foundation of Antioch’s continuing partnership with Antioch’s Umpqua Bank, located at 3700 Lone Tree Way, continues as a venue for local artists to showcase their work. The exhibit changes every two months. The second exhibit for the ongoing display opens October 3rd and ends on November 22nd. Art can be viewed from 9 AM to 5 PM (Umpqua’s operating hours) . There is a free artist reception on Thursday, October 17th, from 5-9 PM. The featured artists for the October / November Exhibit are: Sherry Cummings, Mary Lamb, Jeannie Wallen, Joel Summerhill, Ken Tomlin. For more information, visit http://art4antioch.org/UmpquaBankExhibit-Oct-Nov2013.asp or call Diane Gibson-Gray at 925.325.9897.

Currently seeking artists for the ongoing exhibit.

Painting by Jeannie Wallen

Exhibit changes every two months. If you are interested in participating, please email Diane@Art4Antioch.org or call Diane Gibson-Gray at (925) 325-9897.

As part of the Highway 4 construction work, the contractor will be performing various activities on the new concrete pavement. In order to ensure crew and public safety during this work, the contractor will close all lanes of eastbound Highway 4 between Loveridge Road and Somersville Road/Auto Center Drive on Tuesday morning, October 1, from 1:00 am to 5:00 am.

The detour for this work will be as follows:

o Eastbound motorists will be directed off the highway at Loveridge Road, right on Loveridge Road, left on E. Leland Road, becomes Delta Fair Boulevard, left on Somersville Road, and right onto the eastbound Highway 4 on-ramp from Somersville Road/Auto Center Drive. For detour map, please see attachment.

The contractor will close all lanes of eastbound Highway 4 between Somersville Road/Auto Center Drive and Lone Tree Way/A Street on Tuesday through Thursday evenings, October 1-3, from 11:59 pm to 5:00 am, and if necessary, Saturday morning, October 5, from 1:00 am to 6:00 am.

The detour for this work will be as follows:

o Eastbound motorists will be directed off the highway at Somersville Road/Auto Center Drive, right on Somersville Road, left on Delta Fair Boulevard, left on Buchanan Road, becomes Fitzuren Road, right on G Street, left on Putnam Street, left on Lone Tree Way, and right onto the eastbound Highway 4 on-ramp from Lone Tree Way/A Street. For detour map, please see attachment.

The contractor will close all lanes of westbound Highway 4 between Lone Tree Way/A Street and Contra Loma Boulevard/L Street on Tuesday through Thursday evenings, October 1-3, from 10:00 pm to 4:00 am, and if necessary, Saturday morning, October 5, from 1:00 am to 5:00 am.

The detour for this work will be as follows – See the detour maps by clicking here HIGHWAY 4 TRAFFIC ADVISORY FULL CLOSURES OCT 1-5 2013

o Westbound motorists will be directed off the highway at Lone Tree Way/A Street, right on A Street, left on W. 18th Street, left on L Street, and right onto the westbound Highway 4 on-ramp from Contra Loma Boulevard/L Street. For detour map, please see attachment.

The Highway 4 projects include improvements to the entire project corridor that will help revitalize eastern Contra Costa County. The projects expand Highway 4 from four to eight lanes between Loveridge Road and SR-160, and add a BART extension from Pittsburg to Antioch (eBART). The projects will also expand the highway from two to

four lanes from Lone Tree Way to Sand Creek Road. This will greatly improve transit accessibility for the region and help reduce traffic congestion and enhance the quality of life for the more than 250,000 residents of eastern Contra Costa County. The projects have been carefully staged to keep 130,000 vehicles per day moving as major construction and demolition work continue, and include over $1.3 billion in State, Federal, Regional Bridge Toll, and Contra Costa Measures C & J sales tax funds.

Caltrans and CCTA appreciate your patience as we work to improve the highways. For the most current information on all Highway 4 corridor closures please visit our website at: http://4eastcounty.org.

RC enthusiasts race at Delta RC’s new indoor track in Antioch.

By Allen Payton

Delta RC Hobbies has opened a new, indoor, asphalt track at it’s store in Antioch. That allows races to gain greater speeds than on their dirt tracks.

Located at 1400 West 10th Street, across from the County Fairgrounds, Delta RC is a full service radio control hobby retail store.

“We currently have four courses or tracks and hold racing events on a weekly basis,” owner Kraig Terazono said. “We strive to create a family fun atmosphere and cater to all levels of the RC hobby from the backyard basher to an expert level competitor.”

The other courses are located in the back of the fairgrounds, accessible off L Street at 18^th Street, and behind the little league baseball fields off W. 10^th Street in Antioch – across from the store.

Delta RC Hobbies also carries a full line of RC helicopters, boats, airplanes and accessories.

A calendar of events and weekly racing schedule can be viewed on their website at www.deltarc.com.

The retail store is open seven days a week with hours Monday through Friday 11am to 8:30 p.m., Saturday and Sunday 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Call them with any questions you might have at 925-778-2966.

There’s lots of room to race at Delta RC’s new indoor track.

There’s a large work area at Delta RC’s new indoor track.

By Allen Payton

At a very brief council meeting, that lasted less than half an hour tonight, Councilman Gary Agopian shared with the public that he has an inoperable brain tumor for which there is no cure.

“The first thing I want to say is I believe in the Lord Jesus Christ as my Savior,” Agopian said.”I want to be the man he wants me to be…and that my wife Robin wants me to be.”

He went on to share, with those in attendance, including Robin and His wife Robin and other family members, as well as on live TV on Comcast’s local cable access Channel 24, that he will know more about his condition and any treatments, later this week.

To his fellow council members he said, “I love you. I know that sounds strange being said up here. But I do.”

In a phone conversation, earlier today, Agopian shared that while the tumor, that has crossed over to the other hemisphere in his brain, is inoperable, it’s not untreatable. He’s going to focus on a healthy diet, which many studies and the experiences of others, has shown, can have a significant impact on the healing of someone with cancer.

CORRECTION: But, he also shared that the doctors told him people with his condition have a mean lifespan of two to two-and-a-half years. Half fall on one side, half on the other. Gary doesn’t know where he is on that, yet.

“So, I’m going to continue to serve. I’m not giving up on living,” he stated emphatically during the council meeting. “I’m not giving up on this city.”

Following his words, Mayor Harper and the other three council members shared their thoughts and telling him they were praying for him, loved him and to not give up.

“I just know you’re going to beat this,” Councilwoman Monica Wilson stated. “We’re going to be together at the Rivertown Jamboree in 2015.”

A streaming video from this council meeting, and all regular council meetings held in the Council Chambers can be viewed on the city’s website at www.ci.antioch.ca.us/CityGov/citycouncilmeetings.htm.

Editor:

Knowing City Councilman Gary Agopian as I do, I expected nothing less from the man than his spirited resolve to fight brain cancer with every ounce of his faith and his pledge to continue public service.

In four years serving with him on the Antioch School Board, through thick and thin, I never saw him flinch from challenge. I never saw him bitch, moan or whine, He’s a trooper and a certified positivist and if anybody can beat cancer, this warrior is the one to do so.

Knowing Mary Rocha, I again expected nothing less from this big-hearted woman than her glowing praise for Gary’s character. She, like so many of us, have grown to love Gary and to see him not as a towering 6’4” giant but as a teddy bear at heart.

You hit the bulls eye, Mary, when you characterized Gary as enormously dedicated to public service and a policy wonk who is always prepared. I found the same in him. There’s never any mistaking his unflappable commitment to homework, to the public goodwill, to speaking his mind and  to sticking to his conviction.

His charm is that beneath the passion is a gentleman’s soft streak. if Gary disagrees with you it is never personal and always respectful.

Certainly, all voters will, and should not, always agree on every policy decision but life is bigger than politics. I would daresay that all Antioch citizens of good faith are rooting for your recovery, Gary. You’re, after all, a good man, Charlie Brown. Antioch’s proud to have you.

Spit in the eye of this nemesis. Trust, a legion of prayers are with you.

Godspeed your recovery, my dear friend.

Walter Ruehlig

Antioch

By Allen Payton

Agopian

Antioch Councilman Gary Agopian announced this week that he has been diagnosed with brain cancer.  He had an MRI on Tuesday and was meeting with the head neurosurgeon at Stanford Cancer Center on Thursday, according to a Facebook post by his wife Robin, who is a teacher in Antioch.

Agopian, who is a Realtor in Antioch, was  was elected to the Antioch School Board of Trustees in 2006, and in 2008 ran for County Supervisor against Federal Glover and Erik Nunn. When Nunn was killed in a plane crash, after coming in second in the primary race, Agopian, who placed third, replaced Nunn on the ballot, but lost to Glover in the November General Election, later that year.

Agopian then ran for and was elected to the Antioch City Council in 2010. In last November’s election, he run unsuccessfully for Mayor of Antioch, coming in second to Wade Harper. His council term expires next November when he will be up for re-election.

“Thank you for your prayers and kind words. This has been VERY difficult news to hear ~ your support is helping us,” said Robin on her Facebook post.

He and Robin became grandparents this year, when their daughter Heather gave birth to a baby girl. They have two sons, as well, Corey, who graduated from California Baptist University this year, and Jason who is on the Men’s Volleyball team at U.C. Irvine.

On a personal note, Gary’s been a friend of mine for many years and I ask you to join me in praying for him during this time, and his family, as well.

By Sergeant Steve Bias, Antioch Police Community Policing Bureau

On Thursday, September 19, 2013 at 12:30 p.m., Antioch Police received calls of shots fired in the 1600 block of Sycamore Drive. Upon arrival, officers located a 39-year-old male victim, who is an Antioch resident, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds.

The victim was transported by ambulance to a nearby hospital and treated for his injuries and released. The investigation is ongoing and there is no additional information to be released regarding suspects or possible motives.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is encouraged to call the Antioch Police Department at (925) 778-2441 or text a tip to 274637 (CRIMES) using key word ANTIOCH.