We are pleased to announce, the 22nd Annual Charity Roundup at Roddy Ranch is set for Saturday, October 3, 2015 benefitting Delta Advocacy Foundation’s efforts to support East Contra Costa County charities.

This year’s Charity Roundup will feature a delicious first-class barbecue dinner, can’t miss Silent Auction and new this year, the widely popular band Diversion will provide dinner and dancing music.

Since Delta Advocacy Foundation’s inception in 1989, we have given over $350,800 to those in need in East Contra Costa County. We work with faith-based organizations, community leaders, and school districts to identify needs within East Contra Costa County that might otherwise be overlooked. Scholarships, assistance to the elderly, disabled and Veterans, and support of local food banks are but a few of the areas of need that Delta Advocacy Foundation has funded. Delta Advocacy Foundation is a group of volunteers who are dedicated in making sure ALL funds raised go right back into our community!

Please consider supporting this event either by making a direct contribution to Delta Advocacy Foundation or by attending our Charity Round up at Roddy Ranch. The event will be held Saturday, October 3, 2015 @ 5:30pm. Tickets are $60.00 per person; tables for 10 may be reserved for $550.00.

R.S.V.P. via delta_advocacy@comcast.net. Seating is limited!

By Luke Johnson

Last Friday in a home game versus Rancho Cotate High School, Antioch High School running back Najee Harris broke the all-time school touchdown record, while linebacker Kobie Beltram surpassed the all-time school tackle record in a 54-14 victory.

Both have been playing on the varsity squad since they were freshmen, and only four games into his junior season, Harris already possess the school’s all-time rushing record (3,391 yards), season rushing record (2,263 yards), single-game rushing record (396 yards) and after two scores on Friday he now holds the all-time touchdown record with 34, passing Brian Boccio’s record of 32 set in 1992.

Harris did not want to shine the light on himself after eclipsing Boccio’s record; he was more excited for Beltram, who broke his brother Markie’s record set in 2012.

“What Kobie did, I think that’s pretty magical. I’m happy that he has come this far,” Harris said. “But about me, I don’t really care.”

Kobie only needed one more tackle to tie Markie’s record heading into the game against Rancho Cotate, and finished with five before sitting out the second half due to a 46-0 lead. He now has 256 career tackles in the midst of his senior season.

According to the Beltram household, breaking the all-time tackle record is family tradition. The eldest brother Richie, who graduated from AHS in 2002, is believed to have originally possessed the record.

“I feel bad I had to take it from my brother,” said Kobie. “But he’s the one who held it, and I’m the one who had to take it.”

Tonight, Antioch travels to Pinole Valley in an attempt to finish 5-0 in its pre-league schedule. Harris visits his old home during his middle school and youth football days. He has two brothers who played for Pinole Valley’s football team, and a sister who is also an alum. Harris said he will know most of the team’s players, but does not plan on bonding with them until after the game.

By Acting Captain Morefield, Antioch Police Investigations Bureau

On Wednesday, September 24, 2015 at approximately 2:16 PM, Antioch Police Officers responded to a report of a shooting with a subject down near Mountaire Park in the 2600 block of Sunset Lane. The officers arrived to find a male victim suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. The victim, a 29-year-old Walnut Creek man, was transported to an area hospital where he was later pronounced deceased. This case is currently being investigated by the Antioch Police Department Investigations Bureau. We are in the preliminary stages of this case, and no further information will be released at this time.

This is the fifth homicide of the year in Antioch.

Anyone with information regarding this case is encouraged to call Detective James Colley with the Antioch Police Department at (925)779-6922. You may also text a tip to 274637 (CRIMES) using key word ANTIOCH.

By Nick Goodrich

Antioch residents sporting bright yellow signs and T-shirts with the message “Save the Yard!” marched from the old Antioch Lumber Company lot to City Hall on Tuesday evening, protesting the city’s plan to allow real estate developer City Ventures to convert the empty property into condominiums.

Just two months after rezoning the lot to mixed use, which allows for a park and event center, the Antioch City Council met in a closed session on August 24th and voted 4-1 to move forward with the development of a housing complex. Their action was in spite of widespread sentiment among Antioch residents supporting the creation of an event center, and reversing previous comments by a majority of council members. With the development of new housing on the lot, the City Council hopes to attract new business to what many see as a decaying downtown area. However, citizens expressed concern that new housing in the area will attract seedier elements to Antioch’s downtown, citing Antioch’s continuing drug problem and drawing comparisons to the Geneva Towers housing development, which has since been condemned.

On a night in which the city’s development plans for the property were not on the Council meeting’s published agenda, nearly forty residents spoke in support of reversing the Council’s housing development decision. Their frustration was evident as citizens expressed concern at the City Council’s seeming dismissal of their desire to preserve one of the more scenic areas of downtown Antioch’s waterfront.

An increase in public parks and the desire to preserve the lumber yard property – the site of one of Antioch’s oldest businesses, founded just fifteen years after Antioch’s founding in 1849 – were cited as the primary goals of Save the Yard’s campaign. The group’s mission includes a plan, proposed by the Celebrate Antioch Foundation, to raise private funds for a park and event center for the lot. It has gained little traction with the City Council, however, which has expressed no desire to reconsider their plans for the property, since their vote on August 24th.

Antioch City Manager Steve Duran received a large share of the criticism, with several residents addressing comments posted on the City Hall Facebook page that seemed to call opponents of the development plan “troll blogs”. Duran, in response to outrage at the perceived lack of information on the reversal of the park and event center plan, cited the fact that the city’s consultations with real estate developers are confidential by law.

“I in fact have nothing to do with it nor was I there or anything” – Sunny Jacobson

By Allen Payton

Following her arrest by the Antioch Police, on Thursday, September 17, on a single charge of conspiracy after the fact, in a homicide case, Sunny Jacobson now claims she’s innocent.

She was released from county jail after being held on $500,000 bail, and has not yet been charged by the District Attorney’s office.

In an email exchange with the Herald, this week, she first threatened to sue if the article about her and the photo from her arrest were not removed from the Herald’s website, claiming she was only detained.

“im [sic] going to sue you if you do not take this pic n false info down abouyt [sic] me immed,” Jacobson’s initial email stated.

When asked what was false in the article, she responded, “Because I was never arrested I was detained…big mistake.”

Antioch Police Acting Sergeant Tom Furhman, who had issued the press release about Jacobson’s arrest, responded to a question of whether she had been arrested or just detained.

“She was arrested and booked into county jail on the conspiracy charge with a bail amount,” Fuhrmann wrote in an email. “You can’t book somebody into county jail without arresting them. It wasn’t until the DA reviewed the case that he decided not to charge her. She may or may not have originally been detained at the scene where we arrested Swanson, but we subsequently arrested her and sent her to county jail the night we arrested Swanson.”

In a separate email, Acting Sergeant James Stenger, also responded.

“Sunny Jacobson was arrested during the service of a search warrant and ultimately transported to the county jail on an accessory charge,” he wrote. “The district attorney chose not to file charges and she was released. I think she is basing her statement on the fact that she was given a form similar to the one below that states she was just detained. It does not change the fact that she was arrested under the eyes of the law and if the DA chose to file charges at a later date it would automatically void the form.”

“I know it is somewhat confusing but an arrest occurs any time someone is physically restrained (handcuffed) and transported,” Stenger continued. “I believe arrested is an appropriate term and as we both know anyone can file a lawsuit but in a case like this it would be baseless.”

Stenger’s email also included an attached copy of the Certificate of Release (shown below).

The email from Stenger was shared with Jacobson.

“Well, I don’t understand why they had given me the paper then,” she wrote, “but the way the story was put out there made me out to look like I have something to do with the crime when I in fact have nothing to do with it nor was I there or anything ..n it’s affecting me in a negative way.”

Not happy with her arrest photo posted on the Herald website, she asked that a different one be posted. A photo of Jacobson from her Facebook page accompanies this article.

“I look as if I could of been as crazy as to do such a crime, I’ve never been more embarrassed n all my life,”she wrote. “If you Google my name all pics n info appears so an update would be greatly appreciated since it will be there forever.”

When asked follow up questions of “Do you know Jess ‘Jessie‘ Swanson?”; “Were you with him at the time he was arrested?” and “Why did the police tell you they arrested you?” Jacobson did not respond.

Publisher’s Note: The Herald will not remove the original article and photo of Jacobson, as it is accurate regarding what occurred, and not unless or until the case is settled and in her favor. But, to be as fair to her as possible, I agreed to publish this article and the above photo of her.

Follows Superintendent Don Gill’s resignation announcement

By Allen Payton

In an evening that began with comments by and about Superintendent Dr. Don Gill’s announced resignation, at Wednesday’s Antioch School Board meeting, took a surprising turn with the resignation of School Board Trustee Barbara Cowan, one year before her term was up.

At the beginning of the meeting, Board President Claire Smith announced that during an earlier closed session, the board voted 5-0 to accept the superintendent’s letter of intent, to resign.

Then, during public comments, Cowan’s husband Richard Asadoorian spoke, spoke giving glowing accolades about her and listing her accomplishments, in what appeared to be the beginning of a re-election campaign announcement.

“Barbara Cowan chose to seek a position on the Antioch School Board in 2012,” he stated. “Following her election, she immersed herself in the business of the district.”

But, then his comments turned critical and he spoke of transparency.

“After the 2014 election, something changed,” Asadoorian said.

“Loyalty is the holiest good in the human heart,” he stated, quoting the Roman philosopher and statesman Seneca. “Barbara Cowan is the personification of loyalty to this district.”

That was followed by a loud round of applause from the unusually large, overflow crowd for a board meeting, made up mostly of teachers and other district staff. They were wearing buttons with the slogan “We Are Stronger Together” and in attendance to encourage the district in its negotiations with their union.

Following her husband and speaking from the podium after literally stepping down from the dais, Trustee Cowan showed her emotions, as she read from prepared notes, in which she resigned, effective immediately.

“This is very hard for me,” she began. “At the end of my term in November 2016, my husband and I had planned to move back to our home in Oregon.”

Cowan proceeded to outline the reasons for her resignation.

“November, 2014 proved to be the beginning of a new and unfortunate direction that the Board has taken.”

She then spoke of individual staff members being “criticized and scrutinized” and the “low morale and apprehensive atmosphere” in the district office.

“I have come to the conclusion, that I, as a minority of one have no power to pull us out of this morass. I am, therefore, submitting my resignation…effective this evening.”

Cowan then took a seat in the audience, next to her husband.

Public comments continued with positive comments from both Willie Mims and Angel Luevano about both Gill and Cowan.

“I hate to follow a resignation,” Mims stated. “But, I wish Barbara Cowan the best of luck. I will miss her and hate to see her resign.”

He then directed his comments toward Gill.

“It was chaos in this district when you came,” he continued. “You brought a sense of peace.”

Luevano said “I respect and accept your decisions. You’re leaving a big void.”

He then parodied a song made famous by Kenny Rogers, “You picked a fine time to leave us Barbara and Don Gill.”

During a break in the meeting, Cowan and Asadoorian left the meeting and were greeted with hugs, handshakes and farewells from friends, supporters and district staff.

They will be moving to their Oregon home in Sun River in a week and a half.

Following is Cowan’s complete resignation speech, she provided the Herald:

At the end of my term in November, 2016, my husband and I planned to move back to our home in Oregon. Since my election in 2012, I have felt that my mission was to support the District, Staff and our students with wisdom, caring, and using my experience to make the best decisions for our children. For the first two years of my term, the Board, the Superintendent, and Antioch staff created and implemented progressive policies and programs that enhanced and enriched our students’ education and their lives. We improved school culture, relationships, and academics through PBIS, Restorative Justice, the African American Male Initiative, and by working closely with community advocacy groups such as Parents Connected. We expanded the very successful linked learning and academies that have become renowned throughout the State as model programs. We recognized and awarded teachers who have demonstrated excellence in special ceremonies at Board meetings. We made our schools safer by hiring and training more effective security personnel and hiring a professional security company, Strategic Threat Management. We wholeheartedly embraced LCAP and its requirements to demonstrate our successes by stringent metrics and outcomes. We enjoyed a special alliance with AEA and CSEA. The principals and school site administrators we hired during those two years have proven to be outstanding and very effective.

November, 2014 proved to be the beginning of a new and unfortunate direction that the Board has taken. Individual staff members have been criticized and scrutinized. Proposed programs by school sites and District personnel have been rejected time after time which resulted, in some cases, in employees not being paid in a timely manner. The low morale and apprehensive atmosphere in the District office is palpable. The calling of multiple special Board meetings sent a disconcerting message to staff and community.

I have come to the conclusion that this Board will continue on its negative course and I, as a minority of one, have no power to pull us out of this morass.

I am, therefore, submitting my resignation as Trustee of the Antioch Unified School Board of Education effective this evening, Wednesday, September 23, 2015.

 

 

The tall ship Lady Washington, the official ship of the state of Washington, will stop at the Antioch City Marina October 14-26 and offer hands-on history experiences, tours, and public excursions. The ship is a replica of one of the first U.S.-flagged vessels to explore the west coast of North America. From its home port in Grays Harbor, Wash., Lady Washington visits ports in California throughout the school year, delivering education programs to 4th, 5th, and 6th graders. Here’s the ship’s public schedule.

10/15-16: 4 p.m. to 5 p.m., walk-on tours, $3 per person donation requested.

10/17-18: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., walk-on tours, $3 per person donation requested.

10/17: 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., Adventure Sail, $39-$47.

10/18: 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., Encounters & Explorations (special event), $39-$47.

10/20-23: 4 p.m. to 5 p.m., walk-on tours, $3 per person donation requested.

10/24-25: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., walk-on tours, $3 per person donation requested.

10/24-25: 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., Adventure Sail, $39-$47.

On October 18, Lady Washington will present “Encounters & Explorations: Echoes of Early Expeditions.” Join members of California Indian tribes and a historian from Fort Ross State Historic Park for a round-table discussion of the impact of early European and American exploration of the west coast on indigenous people. The three-hour sailing experience takes place aboard Lady Washington and includes demonstrations of tall ship handling, sea shanty singing, and maritime storytelling.

Adventure Sails are family-oriented experiences featuring opportunities for guests to take the helm of a real tall ship, conditions permitting. Tickets for all sails, including Encounters & Explorations, are available at www.historicalseaport.org, or by calling 800-200-5239. Excursion prices are $47 adults, $39 children 12 and under. Walk-on tours are by donation. No reservations for walk-on are required.

The 2015 stopover coincides with Delta Thunder VI powerboat races on the Sacramento River October 17-18.

Launched in 1989 for Washington State’s centennial, Lady Washington is a U.S. Coast Guard-inspected passenger vessel that has appeared in several motion pictures and television programs, including the 2003 Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl.

The Grays Harbor Historical Seaport Authority is a not-for-profit, 501(c)(3) public development authority based in Aberdeen, Wash. that owns and operates the tall ships Hawaiian Chieftain and Lady Washington, the Official Ship of the State of Washington. GHHSA provides educational, vocational, recreational and ambassadorial activities and experiences that promote and preserve the maritime history of Grays Harbor, the Pacific Northwest, and our nation while serving the needs of the community.

By Barbara Zivica

No matter how successful the new Math Intensive program, developed by John Crowder, teacher, tutor and private school administrator and partnered by Angel Luevano, as a taxpayer I resent AUSD continually hiring and paying for outside “consultants”.

A little background: Angel Luevano has served as a substitute teacher in the AUSD district, worked for 25 years for the Department of Labor, was a Vice President for the Far West League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) where he no longer plays an active role, a plaintiff in a case that resulted in the elimination of the Professional and Administrative Career Exam for 118 federal job classifications and is married to Argentina Davila-Luevano, who ran unsuccessfully for the Antioch City Council in 2002 and Antioch City Clerk in 2006.

Additionally, Iris Archuleta, former Chief Information Officer for the school district, subsequently established a contractual relationship with the district. Her business, Emerald Consulting was reportedly paid approximately $50,000 for a few months’ work. Other consultants have been hired by the district, as well.

Why aren’t the administrators downtown, themselves properly overseeing each school, making changes in personnel when scores are dropping or when misbehavior is occurring on school grounds rather than hiring specialists? Administrators also need to listen to parents who complain about a specific teacher or are having a problem, because some principals, e.g. reportedly, Deer Valley’s Kenneth Gardner, who just don’t want to listen to parents’ concerns.