By Allen Payton

On Tuesday, a special election was called by Governor Jerry Brown to occur on May 19, 2015 for California State Senate District 7, which includes all of Antioch. The vacancy is due to former State Senator Mark DeSaulnier being sworn into Congress, this past week, leaving the position vacant midway through his term.

If more than two candidates file to run, then a Primary Election will be held on Tuesday, March 17.  If none of the candidates receive a majority of votes in the March election, the top two candidates will face each other during a run-off in the May.

Four candidates have announced campaigns in the race, including State Assemblywoman Susan Bonilla of Concord, former State Assemblywoman Joan Buchanan of Alamo and college lecturer Dr. Terry Kremin of Concord, all Democrats and attorney Mark Meuser of Walnut Creek, a Republican.

All four candidates have either public office or some campaign experience. Bonilla is a former Concord Councilwoman, County Supervisor and is serving her third term in the State Assembly, Buchanan was termed out this past year, after serving six years in the Assembly, Kremin ran unsuccessfully for the Concord City Council in both 2012 and 2014, and Meuser was the Republican nominee against DeSaulnier in 2012 for the same State Senate District.

Event part of ongoing program providing paid, on-the-job training and mentoring to Contra Costans facing barriers to employment with the goal of reducing unemployment in East Contra Costa.

What: St. Vincent de Paul of Contra Costa County (SVdP) will welcome members of the community to officially apply to join our new Workforce Development class. This program provides a 24-week paid, part-time job at St. Vincent de Paul, intensive job readiness curriculum, (including resume preparation, interview practice, financial literacy, etc.), and one-on-one mentorship for WFD trainees.

The application event will also serve as an information session for those interested in applying for the program. The event is free, open to the public and provides details of the 24-week job training program.

Why: Even as unemployment numbers appear to improve, many in our community find themselves out of work and without hope of finding employment for various reasons. The Workforce Development Program at St. Vincent de Paul provides training and work experience for those who are new to or have been out of the workforce. The goal of our program is to help participants with barriers to employment find long-term, satisfactory work at a decent wage.

Selected participants may interview for the 24-week on-the-job training component consisting of paid, part-time on-the-job training at St. Vincent de Paul. Participants are matched with mentors and take weekly classes to continue developing skills necessary for finding and keeping employment.

The SVdP Workforce Development Program is supported by the East Bay Community Foundation, Firedoll Foundation, Wal-Mart Foundation – Pittsburg, and the Wells Fargo Foundation.

Who: St. Vincent de Paul staff and volunteer mentors run the Workforce Development Program. Members of the local community who are interested in applying to the program are invited.

Where: Dining Room at St. Vincent de Paul of Contra Costa County, 1415 Simpson Court, Pittsburg

When: 2-3:30 pm, Thursday, January 22, 2015

About St. Vincent de Paul

Inspired by values of charity, humility, and social justice, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul of Contra Costa County provides person-to-person service of time, talent and resources to help neighbors in need regardless of gender, national origin, race, or religion. It is part of an international non-profit, organized locally to bring concrete aid and comfort to those who are poor and suffering in Contra Costa County. The Society collaborates with other people and organizations of good will in mitigating need and addressing its causes, making no distinction in those served.

Antioch Bridge by Arturo Garcia

The Arts & Cultural Foundation of Antioch continues their partnership with Antioch’s Umpqua Bank and features six artists in their upcoming exhibit. The bank is a perfect venue for local artists to showcase their work, which changes every two months. The featured artists for the December / January exhibit are: Arturo Garcia, David Frazier, Paul Yang, Sandra Berkson, Sherry Cullison and Vicky Dendy.

The exhibit continues through January 30th. Umpqua Bank is located at 3700 Lone Tree Way and is open Monday-Friday, 9 AM – 5 PM, excluding bank holidays. For more information or if you are an artist who would like to participate in future exhibits visit www.art4antioch.org or call Diane Gibson-Gray at (925) 325-9897.

By John Crowder

On Monday, December 22, 2014, four local barbers came together at Ajja’s Barber Shop, to provide free haircuts and a Christmas gift to some of the underprivileged youth of the community.

Organized by Carl Rhodes, Director of Project 66 and former Dean of Students at RAAMP Charter Academy, the event saw about twenty local children receive a free haircut and a gift of either a football or a basketball. Family members waiting for the young boys to finish their haircuts snacked on cookies provided by the group. According to Rhodes, many of the boys were from single family homes, and with limited resources, obtaining a haircut was often considered a luxury they might otherwise have to go without.

Alex Fagalar, Sr., one of the barbers participating in the event, and the owner of Ajja’s, located at 508 W. Second Street in Antioch’s historic downtown Rivertown, said he had been cutting hair at his current location for five years, having first started in an apprenticeship program 25 years ago, while still in high school. He said that providing the free haircuts was a good way to give back to the community. His son, AJ, who is now his apprentice barber, and one of the four barbers participating, concurred.

Kalon James, co-owner of Ace of fades Barber Lounge in Somersville Town Center also participated in the event. James, who has been cutting hair for the last decade, said that he had heard about the event and thought it was a great way that he could use his skills to help others in a meaningful way.

‘Derek the Barber,’ also known as DTB, and who also works from Ajja’s Barber Shop, was the fourth participant in the haircutting event. Cutting hair since he was 12-years-old, DTB is truly an artist, with videos of his work posted on YouTube (with thousands, and in one case, over 100,000 views). He also competes in professional barber competitions.

According to Rhodes, the Christmas haircutting and gift event was not the first time these local barbers had come together to help out the community. Last August they held a similar event, at which they provided back-to-school haircuts, along with backpacks filled with school supplies. They expect to hold more such events in the future.

Rhodes also expressed his appreciation for the individuals and businesses who donated toward the back-to-school and Christmas gifts. These included Neil Case of Coldwell Banker Realty, Dr. Bob Cluff, Kobe’s Restaurant, Marcos Rodriguez of East Bay Furniture Outlet, Ryan Stewart Heating and Air, Stephanie Tran of Bagel Street Café, Togo’s, and Toys R Us.

By Barbara Zivica

Although Antioch’s homicide rate went down in 2014 (9 victims vs. 12 in 2013 and 10 in 2012) Antioch residents remain dissatisfied with continuing high crime statistics despite passage of Measure C (the half cent sales tax increase) and Measure O, another recent tax measure, revenues of both which are deposited into the General Fund where legally they can be used for multiple purposes.

One has to wonder if the passage of Prop 47, which made 10,000 felons eligible for early release, eliminated automatic felony prosecution for stealing a gun, and reduced penalties for theft, receiving stolen property and forgery as well as possession of drugs used to facilitate date rape has made the drug and crime situation worse. It’s my opinion that it has.

One thing we know already is that, due to changing felony charges for drug possession and other nonviolent offenses to misdemeanors, fewer drug offenders are choosing drug treatment programs and instead returning to the streets to ply their drug trade. I can point out a few corners in Antioch where the same drug dealers return day after day. Cops just pass on by because making an arrest which will just be reduced to a slap on the wrist is not worth the time or cost of processing, transporting and filing charges with the District Attorney. Can’t say I blame them.

Speaking of our cops, I want to express my appreciation for the fact that they, and department K9’s, too put their life on the line every day to serve and protect all the citizens of Antioch without bias.

John and LeeAnn Krause with the San Franciscan Roaster at their Antioch location.

By Allen Payton

If you want your favorite coffee fresh from the country where it’s grown, then Big House Beans is your place to buy it roasted. Whether they’re from El Salvador, Guatemala, Columbia, Indonesia or Ethiopia, your favorite roasted coffee beans can be found in the Big House.

Opened in Antioch in October by owner John Krause, it’s named for – you guessed it – prison. His story on their website states:

“As a former San Quentin Prison inmate, John Krause knows of the challenges life can throw at you.

Once completely hopeless and in despair, John has since had a spiritual experience. Submission to a power greater than himself has restored John Krause’s life, providing him with renewed purpose.

Today his mission is to provide opportunities for others by creating jobs for ex-offenders, raising money for their job training, and supporting rehabilitation programs. Providing customers with great coffee makes for an incredible bonus!

When asked how he turned his life around John says, ‘I cannot explain it… God does for us what we cannot do for ourselves.’”

Big House Beans is a roastery, which features a large, San Franciscan Roaster that can handle 25 pounds of coffee beans at a time. Plus, they offer wholesale and an online e-commerce site. You can subscribe and have whatever amount of coffee that feeds your habit shipped directly to your home, as often as every two weeks.

Located at 1925 Verne Roberts Circle, where the road curves next to Costco, the retail store offers large and small bags of roasted beans, coffee gear, clothing and they offer chocolate covered coffee beans, too.

John is already working on fulfilling his mission.

“A percentage of the profits will go into rehab,” John said. The current project is to restore the Soma House in Concord, which is a men’s rehabilitation home.

The store also features art and 20% of the sale of it goes to the woodshop at the Byron Boys Ranch.

For employee, Juan Valdez – yes, that’s his real name – working there is a dream come true.

“I’ve always drank coffee,” Juan said. “John’s a blessing to work for. It’s a good job and finally I get to do something I really love to do.”

For “coffee at an affordable price, from roasting, to grinding, to serving or sampling, customers get great quality,” he added.

To learn more about John and his new business, stop by Big House Beans and see John and Juan, call 1-844-244-2326 or you may email him at john@bighousebeansc.om. You can also visit their website at www.bighousebeans.com, on Facebook or Instagram. (Be sure to see their ad on the Ads & Coupons page of this website).

Nancy Olson, Chief Governance and Government Affairs Officer of John Muir Health and Larry Sly, Executive Director of the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano with the representative check for $25,000. photo by Mike McEuen

WALNUT CREEK – John Muir Health delivered much needed assistance to local families this past holiday season with a $25,000 donation to the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano. This year’s donation was designated to support the Food Bank’s Community Produce Program.

“This donation also reflects the generosity of our doctors, staff and volunteers who are committed to helping members of our community, especially those in need, during the holiday season and throughout the year.”

The Community Produce Program distributes fresh produce twice a month to more than 50 sites in Contra Costa and Solano counties. A grant in 2012 from the John Muir/Mt. Diablo Community Health Fund, which is funded by John Muir Health, enabled the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano to purchase a beverage truck that was customized to serve as a mobile distribution vehicle for fresh produce. After a six-month pilot program, a second vehicle was added through Feeding America, a national organization.

“We are extremely grateful for the generosity of John Muir Health,” said Larry Sly, executive director of the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano. “The Community Produce Program has an incredible impact on members of our community who are in need. People who visit the local distribution sites and meet income guidelines take home 20-30 pounds of fresh produce. They are receiving healthy food for their families that they might not otherwise be able to afford.”

“We are proud to be able to support the efforts of the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano. Providing access to fresh fruits and vegetables is a critical component of improving the overall health of our community, which is in keeping with John Muir Health’s mission,” said Cal Knight, John Muir Health’s president and CEO. “This donation also reflects the generosity of our doctors, nurses, staff and volunteers who are committed to helping members of our community, especially those in need, during the holiday season and throughout the year.”

In addition to financial support, John Muir Health employees have been participating in a holiday food drive to support the Food Bank. Since making its first holiday donation in 2008 at the suggestion of an employee, John Muir Health has contributed more than $200,000 to the Food Bank.

For more information on the Community Produce Program and a list of distribution sites, please visit www.foodbankccs.org/get-help/community-produce-program.html.

About John Muir Health

John Muir Health is a nationally recognized, not-for-profit health care organization east of San Francisco serving patients in Contra Costa, eastern Alameda and southern Solano Counties. It includes a network of 950 primary care and specialty physicians, more than 5,500 employees, medical centers in Concord and Walnut Creek, including the county’s only trauma center, and a Behavioral Health Center. The health system also offers a full-range of medical services, including primary care, outpatient and imaging services, and is widely recognized as a leader in many specialties – neurosciences, orthopedic, cancer, cardiovascular, trauma, emergency, pediatrics and high-risk obstetrics care. For more information, visit www.johnmuirhealth.com.

Ogorchock takes the lead on issue at her first regular council meeting

By John Crowder

During the December 16, 2014 meeting of the Antioch City Council, a proposed ordinance that would have instituted, according to Director of Public Works Ron Bernal, a “new requirement” effecting all Antioch property owners with or seeking to obtain sewer service was tabled on a 3-2 vote. The ordinance would have required property owners to ensure that their sewer laterals (the connection between the building and the public sewer system) have “proper cleanouts” and that they be, “inspected, cleaned, and replaced if necessary.”

Had it passed, staff intended to bring forward a budget amendment at a future meeting to approve a Public Works Technician position, at a cost of “approximately $120,000 plus $30,000 for startup costs for a workstation and vehicle.” The proposed ordinance was brought forward as part of a 2013 settlement agreement between the city of Antioch and Northern California River Watch, an environmental group which had alleged violations by the city of the Federal Clean Water Act and certain state regulations.

Prior to council discussion, local real estate agent Mark Jordan commented regarding the matter. “This seems to be reactive, rather than proactive,” he said. He later added, “I think it should go back to staff and it should be tightened up a little bit.”

In a discussion between council members and staff, Bernal said that, for older homes, “It could potentially be very expensive, as far as the amount of work that’s necessary to accomplish this ordinance.”

“Do we have a cost to the homeowner at this point?” questioned Mayor Pro Tem Lori Ogorchock.

Bernal estimated that cleaning a system was in the $500 to $1500 range, an inspection in the $300 to $600 range, and that the replacement of a sewer lateral could cost anywhere from a “couple thousand dollars to $10,000 or more.”

Ogorchock continued questioning Bernal, asking about the frequency of actions being taken by staff related to sewer systems. Bernal said overflows occur numerous times each month.

Ogorchock then said that, in her real estate business, she had seen costs as high as $30,000, which she characterized as a, “huge cost.” She also asked who would pay the cost on a distressed property. Bernal said it would be the seller’s responsibility.

In response to a question from Mayor Wade Harper, Bernal said an inspection would be required every ten years, and a cleaning of a sewer lateral every 20 years.

Ogorchock spoke again, saying she had a fear that the cost of this program would hinder people from buying or selling homes in the city. She put forward a motion to table the item. Following additional, brief discussion, her motion was passed, 3-2. Ogorchock, Harper, and Council Member Monica Wilson voted in favor, while Council Members Mary Rocha and Tony Tiscareno voted no.

Mayor Harper explained his vote, saying he was concerned that there were not enough homeowners present to go forward with this item. He wanted to ensure that homeowners were aware that the council would be taking up the potentially costly issue.

Before moving on to their next item, City Attorney Lynn Tracy Nerland said that, for the ordinance to be brought before the council again, an affirmative vote would be needed from them.