Archive for June, 2014

Antioch man shot during attempted robbery, Saturday night

Sunday, June 29th, 2014

By Sergeant Michael Hulsey #2356, Antioch Police Community Policing Bureau

On Saturday, June 28, 2014, at approximately 10:42 PM, Antioch Police officers were dispatched to the 2300 block of Peppertree Way for a shooting victim. The victim, a 29-year-old Antioch man, who was suffering from multiple, non-life threatening gunshot wounds, was transported to a local hospital for treatment.

According to the victim, he was walking in the 1400 block of Sycamore Drive when an unknown male tried to rob him at gunpoint. When he resisted, the subject shot him.

The responsible is unknown and the victim’s name is not being released at this time.

If you have any nformation you can call the Investigations Bureau at 925-779-6926. You may also text a tip to 274637 (CRIMES) using the key word ANTIOCH.

Seven people shot in Antioch, Saturday night

Sunday, June 29th, 2014

By Sergeant Michael Hulsey #2356, Antioch Police Community Policing Bureau

On Saturday, June 28, 2014, at approximately 11:50 PM, Antioch Police officers responded to a call of a shooting in the 5500 block of Cedar Point Way. Upon arrival, officers located five victims at that location suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. The victims were transported to local hospitals for treatment and their injuries do not appear to be life threatening.

While officers were on scene at this incident, two additional victims, also suffering from apparent non-life threatening gunshot wounds, arrived at local hospitals for treatment. It was determined these two subjects were also victims of this incident, but left prior to officers’ arrival.

The responsible has not been identified and the names of those involved are not being released at this time.

If you have any information please call the Investigations Bureau at 925-779-6926. You may also text a tip to 274637 (CRIMES) using the key word ANTIOCH.

Man shot multiple times, killed in Antioch, Friday night

Saturday, June 28th, 2014

By Acting Captain Robin Kelley, Antioch Police Investigations Bureau

On Friday, June 27, 2014 at 9:30 PM, the Antioch Police Department responded to a report of shots fired and a victim down on the ground in front of 2300 Sycamore Drive. When officers arrived they found a male suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. The victim was pronounced deceased at the scene. No suspect information is available at this time. This information is preliminary as the investigation is ongoing.

Antioch Police Investigators are currently following up on leads. Anyone with information is asked to call Detective James Stenger at (925) 779-6894. You may also text a tip to 274637 (CRIMES) using key word ANTIOCH.

Man found stabbed in front of Antioch convenient store, Thursday morning

Thursday, June 26th, 2014

By Acting Sergeant Wisecarver, Antioch Police Field Services Bureau

On Thursday, June 26, 2014 at 12:13 AM, Antioch Police Dispatch received 911 calls from citizens reporting a man bleeding from an apparent stab would. The man was found to be in front of the convenient store at 2301 Buchanan Road and with a single puncture wound. He was treated by Contra Costa Fire personnel and AMR Paramedics on scene and transported to John Muir Medical Center in Walnut Creek where he underwent surgery for his injury. The man’s injury was non-life threatening.

This incident is still under investigation as an assault with a deadly weapon. Anyone with information in regards to this incident is asked to contact the Antioch Police Dept. at (925)778-2441

Antioch’s 10th Annual Celebration of Art Exhibit Opens June 28th

Tuesday, June 24th, 2014

Celebration of Art

The Celebration of Art Exhibit has been held in partnership with the Antioch Historical Society and the Arts & Cultural Foundation of Antioch for the past 9 years. Returning for the 10th year, the free exhibit runs June 28th through July 19th on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 1-4 PM and features the artworks of 35 artists.

Participating artists are: Amy Schmidt, Andre’ Salvador, Augustus Daugherty, Betty Espindola, Beverly C. Turner, Beverly Knight, Carol Jurczak, Cathy McNutt, Clyde Cox, Corrine Evans, Daniel Kennedy, Deborah Debusk, Dianne Solvari, Easy Gonzalez, Fred Hoskins, FROgard Butler, Gloria Cannon, James Waters, Jeannie Wallen, Joel Summerhill, John Nicolini, Josie O’Malley, Julia May Starr, Kay Kirby, Ken Tomlin, Laura DiMaggio, Lisa Salazar, Lori Azzolino, Lucia Segovia, Mauricio Ramirez, Mayette Ignacio, Michelle Ramirez, Paul Schorr, Paul Yang, Robin Mayoff and Shirley DiMercurio.

A free artist reception will be held on June 28th from 2-4 PM. The Antioch Historical Society and the Sports Legends Museums are located at 1500 West 4th Street, in downtown Antioch. For more information visit www.art4antioch.org or call Diane Gibson-Gray at (925) 325-9897.

Antioch’s Independence Day Celebration, Friday, July 4, 2014

Tuesday, June 24th, 2014

Exciting old fashion kids games, contest, concert series, carnival rides, games, inflatables, roller skating, parade exhibits and more!

Mark your calendar for this year’s Celebrate Antioch Foundation’s Independence Day Celebration on Frida, July 4th, at the Contra Costa County Fairgrounds in Antioch.

The foundation has created a new partnership with the Contra Costa County Fairgrounds for a fun-filled day of events for citizens of all ages. This celebration is the perfect place to enjoy live entertainment, exciting old fashion kids games, delicious food, carnival rides, inflatables, and exhibits – all in a community-friendly environment and FREE of charge! The annual 4th of July parade starting at 11 AM in beautiful downtown Antioch on 2nd street.

The celebration will then continue at the Contra Costa County Fairgrounds. Main stage entertainment starts at 1 PM with a concert series featuring Gospel music from Zion’s Den, a collaboration of churches, a Rock & Roll/Country band, Rosemarie & Rhythm Riders at 2:30 PM, Vocal Ease at 4 PM, and a Jazz/R&B/Motown performance from Ricardo Scales with The Escovedo’s along with many other performances throughout the day. All concerts are FREE. Plus a second community stage with local performers.

While visiting the celebration, enjoy other highlights such as a car show, street performers, old fashion kids games like the three legged race, water balloon toss, egg races, and much more! Plus lots of great prizes. Or hop on a carnival ride, enjoy delicious foods and crafts from local vendors, play in a variety of inflatable jumpies or stroll along the midway and enjoy the view of the spectacular fireworks display starting at approximately 9:15 PM.

For those interested in becoming a vendor, volunteering, or entering in the car show or parade, or want more information on this event please visit the Celebrate Antioch Foundation website on-line at www.CelebrateAntioch.org.

The parade will be starting at 11 AM near the dirt lot at 3rd and A Streets, proceeding down 2nd Street to I Street, around City Hall to 3rd Street and back to the dirt lot. The festivities will then continue at the Contra Costa County Fairgrounds where gates will open at 11 AM. Entrance to the event is FREE all day. Parking will be $5. Additional charges will apply to carnival rides, inflatables, etc. No ice chests or food permitted.

The Contra Costa County Fairgrounds is located at 1201 West 10th Street in Antioch.

For more information, visit www.CelebrateAntioch.org or call the Fair Office at (925) 757-4400.

Back to Drawing Board for Antioch School District LCAP, Budget

Friday, June 20th, 2014

By John Crowder

The Antioch Unified School District (AUSD) Board of Trustees conducted a Special Board Meeting on Wednesday, June 18, for the purpose of holding two public hearings, one on the Local Control Accountability Plan (LCAP), and one on the annual budget.

The hearings were in advance of the regular board meeting scheduled for June 25th, at which both items are currently listed on the consent calendar (www.antioch.k12.ca.us). By the end of the meeting, however, the LCAP was sent back to staff in order to incorporate the expenditure amounts for programs listed in the document, and later, the board recessed in order to take up the budget again on Monday, June 23rd, in order to give the public time to view the document online.

The first of the public hearings opened with the public invited to comment on the LCAP, which, as previously reported, is a requirement of Local Education Agencies (LEA), such as AUSD. The LCAP is supposed to describe how an LEA “intends to meet annual goals for all pupils.” It anticipates parents and the public having a significant voice as to how such goals are to be accomplished, and how funds will be expended in order to accomplish those goals, particularly with regard to “high needs students,” such as English Language Learners, low-income students, and foster children.

Over a dozen members of the public, some representing a coalition of advocacy groups, addressed the Board about the LCAP. All of the comments made were similar, many reading a scripted message, while, to varying degrees, also adding personal anecdotes to their statements. While many lauded AUSD, and, in particular, Associate Superintendent Stephanie Anello and her staff in Educational Services for including ideas generated by the community in their revised LCAP, they nonetheless expressed concern that there were no monetary amounts included in the document.

Speaker after speaker told the board that Supplemental and Concentration Funds, which they pegged at amounting to about $8.4 million for the next year, were being generated because of the large proportion of high needs students in the district, and were to be used to benefit these same students. They repeatedly quoted Education Code 52604, which, according to the LCAP template produced by the California State Department of Education, “requires a listing and description of the expenditures required to implement the specific actions.”

Speakers were also under the impression that AUSD was only planning to spend $650,000 for high needs students. Synitha Walker, one of the founders of Parents Connected, whose children attended both Deer Valley High School and Dallas Ranch Middle School, expressed the sentiments of many present.

There is no way the district can implement (the programs) fully and effectively in the first year with only $650,000 designated for the students it is supposed to serve,” she stated.

There is a lot of confusion within the local community regarding the money that AUSD is expected to receive from the State under the programs that are designated to serve high needs students, and part of this may be due to the fact that, under both the old and new funding formulas, AUSD is spending much more than it receives, steadily depleting its reserves. In fiscal year 2013-2014, AUSD had total expenditures under the General Fund (i.e., the operating fund) of $159.1 million on revenues of only $138.8 million, a deficit of $20.3 million. For 2014-2015, the picture is somewhat better, with revenues expected to be $151.4 million and expenditures $157.2 million, but that still leaves them with deficit spending of roughly $5.8 million.

After public comments on the LCAP concluded, Board Vice President Gary Hack asked AUSD staff why there were no numbers in the document they had been presented. Dr. Donald Gill, AUSD Superintendent, responded that, “Up until two hours ago,” the County Board of Education had been advising them not to include numbers. Tim Forrester, Associate Superintendent for Business and Operations, concurred with him. Gill then told the board that, now that they were being told to include numbers in the document, they would do so.

The hearing on the annual budget was then opened, and once again members of the public rose to express their dismay with the process. Willie Mims, Education Chair for the East County NAACP, expressed concern that the budget was not posted online, and, that because of this, “the people are operating at a serious disadvantage.” Once public comments concluded, Board President Joy Motts asked staff if the budget was posted online. Forrester said that it was, which immediately drove many in the room to their phones and computers to verify whether or not this was true. Several commented they could not find it, and board member Diane Gibson-Gray finally said, “It’s not there.” After further discussion, Motts asked, “When can we get the budget online?” Forrester responded that it would be there, “tonight.” The board then determined to reopen the hearing and recess until a at a special Board Meeting this Monday, June 23, at 6:00 p.m., in order to give the community time to review the document.

Antioch to celebrate July 4th with parade in downtown, fireworks at fairgrounds

Thursday, June 19th, 2014

Antioch July 4th article ad