Brentwood Car Audio and One Warm Coat®, warming communities…one coat at a time

Forty-five million Americans are currently living in poverty. For these families and individuals, a warm coat is a budget extra they simply cannot afford. Brentwood Car Audio invites area residents to make a difference in your neighbor’s lives by donating coats and dollars during our upcoming coat drive.

Brentwood Car Audio is working with One Warm Coat® to collect clean, gently used warm coats, and dollars to support the coat drive program, now through December 19, 2015, at 1921 Verne Roberts Circle, Antioch (Right Next to COSTCO). The process is simple: you drop off your extra coat(s) and Brentwood Car Audio takes care of the rest. All donated coats will be given to a local agency for distribution to local children and adults in need.

Customers who do not have a coat to donate can still get involved:

• Text “WARM” to 80100 to donate $10 to One Warm Coat® or

• Visit www.onewarmcoat.org/donate.

All Brentwood Car Audio customers who donate coats will receive either $30.00 off* the purchase and installation of a Stereo, $50 off* the purchase and installation of a Car Remote Starter or $50 off* the purchase and installation of Seat Heaters for your vehicle. *Please see the store for details.

“For more than 20 years we have been working to provide a warm coat to anyone who needs one,” said Jennifer Stockard, President and Chief Executive Officer of One Warm Coat®. “We are so thankful for our many coat drive ambassadors, like Brentwood Car Audio who volunteer their time, resources and energy to help their neighbors in need. Together, we can reach our goal of warming one million people each winter, one community at a time!”

One Warm Coat® is a national non-profit organization that works to provide a free, warm coat to any person in need. One Warm Coat supports individuals, groups, companies and organizations across the country by providing the tools and resources needed to hold a successful coat drive. Coats are distributed in the communities where they were collected, to children and adults in need, without charge, discrimination or obligation. Since One Warm Coat’s inception in 1992, they have worked with their volunteers to give away more than 4 million coats and spread awareness about the need for warm coats.

You will receive the following text to give: $10 will be charged to your mobile phone account. For One Warm Coat’s Privacy Policy, go to http://onewarmcoat.org/privacy/. By texting YES, you agree to the terms and conditions. Service is available on most carriers. Message & data rates may apply. Donations are collected for the benefit of One Warm Coat® by the Mobile Giving Foundation and subject to the terms found at www.hmgf.org/t. You can unsubscribe at any time by texting STOP to 80100. For help, text HELP to80100.

By Corporal Powell Meads, Antioch Police Field Services Bureau

On October 16th, 2015 at approximately 7:37 AM, Antioch Police Officers were dispatched to the 3000 block of “G” St for a possible kidnapping. An employee of Sutter Elementary School was on her way to work and noticed an 11-year-old female student in the front seat of a vehicle with an adult male. The employee was familiar with the female and knew that the male was not related to her. The employee used her own vehicle to block in the responsible, and contacted the police.

Arriving officers contacted and detained the male, identified as 51-year-old Santiago Salazar of Brentwood. It was determined through interviews that Salazar was not known to the victim. He followed her as she was walking to school and lured her over to his vehicle. The victim walked over to Salazar’s vehicle and he opened the passenger door from inside. As they continued to talk, Salazar grabbed the victim by the wrist and pulled her into his vehicle. It was at this point the Sutter Elementary employee intervened.

Salazar was arrested for kidnapping and was booked into Contra Costa County Jail.

Editor’s Note: To see more about this, visit ABC News Bay Area Channel 7’s website by clicking here.

Left to right: Len Price, LMC Appliance Service Technology Chair and Faculty; Kyumoon Yu, LGEAI President; Bob Kratochvil, LMC President; Michael Kozlowski, Director, Field Service & Strategy; Jae Park, Senior Manager, Human Resources; and James Chalut, Senior Manager, Technical Information Services.

Los Medanos College’s (LMC) Appliance Service Technology Program has a new industry partner: LG Electronics. An innovative industry leader in the world of electronics, LG will be supporting training at LMC that will focus on their line of state-of-the-art household appliances.

LG will be providing some of their latest appliances for LMC students to work on in their training classes, along with curriculum materials, training aids, specialty tools and repair parts. Training experts will give technical training to LMC’s instructors. They will also provide training sessions for current LG techs in the field at the College, and LMC’s appliance service technology students will have the opportunity to participate.

On Thursday, October 8, Kyumoon Yu, President of LG Electronics Alabama Inc. (LGEAI) joined LMC President Bob Kratochvil as the two partners celebrated the new alliance at the College. The celebration included a ribbon-cutting and certificate presentation, and a classroom conversation between LG representatives, LMC appliance faculty, and current appliance service technology students.

Michael Kozlowski, Director, Field Service & Strategy; Jae Park, Senior Manager, Human Resources; and James Chalut, Senior Manager, Technical Information Services, accompanied LGEAI President Yu.

“We are honored that LG Electronics is committed to working with Los Medanos College on this venture,” said LMC President Bob Kratochvil. “Part of our mission as a community college involves preparing a quality workforce, and seeking partnerships that promote the well-being of our diverse and growing communities. This new alliance will prepare our students for careers in the region and beyond.”

Len Price, Chair and Faculty of the LMC program explained, “LG is one of the most supportive companies for service technicians in the field. Being able to work with this industry leader is an honor and a privilege for our college. Their product is up there amongst top-of-the-line products currently available. LG will be providing a wide variety of appliances for students to practice on including refrigerators, ranges and ovens, microwave ovens, dishwashers, and clothing washers and dryers.”

“One of LMC’s goals is developing strong industry partners as the college prepares a strong workforce for today and tomorrow,” stated Natalie Hannum, Dean of Career Technical Education & Social Sciences. “With LG sales continuing to grow, more trained technicians are needed to service these appliances. We look forward to working with LG Electronics to train our students for successful careers servicing their appliances.”

LMC’s Appliance Service Technology Program is the only credit program of its kind at a public community college in California. Students and current field technicians come from far and wide to be trained at Los Medanos College on the latest home appliances. Alumni have gone on to successful careers working for major appliance manufacturers and appliance service companies, while others have their own repair businesses.

For more information about LMC’s Appliance Service Technology Program, visit www.losmedanos.edu/appliance or contact Len Price, Program Chair at lprice@losmedanos.edu, 925-473-7737.

COLOR RUN / Walk for Breast Cancer fundraiser

Friday, October 16, 2015 3:30 -4:30 p.m.

Dozier-Libbey Medical High School Parking Lot

• $10.00 entry fee students $20.00 entry fee adults

• Students must complete and return permission slip

• Make and wear your own tutu (optional)

• Put a memento of a loved one on our table of remembrance (are you walking for someone?)

• Decorate your own t-shirt (date TBA)

• Get splashed with color every few laps. The more color the better.

• All profits will be donated to the National Breast Cancer Foundation

• Awareness alone isn’t a cure, women need to get regular mammograms

To participate, download the entry form, by clicking here: COLOR RUN Entry form

By Officer R. Solari, Antioch Police Traffic Division Community Policing Bureau

On Thursday, October 15, 2015, at 10:28 AM, the Antioch Police Department received calls of a two vehicle collision in the intersection of Davison Drive and Sunset Lane where one of the drivers was unresponsive. Upon arrival of medical personnel, a 33-year-old male resident of Antioch was found under the passenger side dashboard. He had sustained apparent head injuries in the collision and was transported to the regional trauma center for treatment. He was listed in serious condition.

Investigating officers determined that the victim was driving his vehicle south on Sunset Lane. He pulled out in front of oncoming traffic and collided with a Toyota Tacoma truck. The victim was unrestrained in the driver’s seat and was thrown under the passenger dashboard as a result of the collision. The driver of the truck sustained minor injuries and was transported to a local hospital where he was treated and released.

This investigation is ongoing and anyone with information regarding this incident is encouraged to call the Antioch Police at (925) 778-2441. You may also text a tip to 274637 (CRIMES) using key word ANTIOCH.

By Corporal Powell Meads, Antioch Police Field Services Bureau

On October 15th, 2015 at approximately 9:03 AM, Antioch Police Officers were dispatched to the 1200 block of Miller Street for an auto theft in progress reported by an alert neighbor.

Arriving officers were able to interrupt the vehicle theft and detained an adult male at the scene. The male was identified as Gary Worthington, a 36-year-old Antioch resident.

An adult female fled from officers in her own vehicle, leading them on a vehicle pursuit towards Highway 4. The female lost control of her vehicle on Hillcrest Avenue near Renwick Lane and collided with a light pole in the median. The female fled on foot from her vehicle but was quickly apprehended. She was identified as Nicole Wade, a 30-year-old Pittsburg resident.

Both subjects were booked into the Martinez Detention Facility for charges including felony auto theft, evading, and probation violations.

By Nick Goodrich

On Tuesday night, following a public hearing, the Antioch City Council overturned the Planning Commission’s previous decision to approve a Use Permit for the Contra Costa Medical Career College to relocate to the AAA building on Auto Center Drive. The Council also approved allocating additional Measure C funds to the Antioch Police Department and Neighborhood Improvement Services for code enforcement.

On August 19th of this year, the Antioch Planning Commission, on a 6-1 vote, approved the permit for the college, but the decision was appealed less than a week later by Tom Nokes, the owner of the Antioch Auto Center car dealerships.

Speaking before the Council on Tuesday night, Nokes stated that he had been in negotiations for the property when he was informed it had been sold to the college. Neither party knew about the other’s intention to purchase the property. In his argument before City Council, Nokes cited the fact that the area was originally designed for retail, and reminded the Council of the city’s 2011 plan that called for the area to allow and encourage the sale of automobiles on Auto Center Drive.

The property where the AAA building is located is zoned for a business park, and while that does not prohibit the establishment of a college in the area, the city reaffirmed its original plan to keep Auto Center Drive focused on auto-related businesses. According to Antioch Community Development Director Forrest Ebbs, both the college and auto dealership require a Use Permit from the city to locate there.

Nokes cited his enormous sales tax contribution to the city in appealing the decision, as well as the amount of jobs his dealerships provide for the area. He plans to develop the AAA property and open another auto dealership that will extend to the two adjacent parcels, which he owns. Nokes estimates that upon completion, the new dealership will bring around one hundred additional jobs to Auto Center Drive. The establishment of the new dealership will bring even more in tax revenue to Antioch, as Nokes’ dealerships already rank number one in the city in terms of sales tax contributions.

Stacey Orozco, director and owner of the Contra Costa Medical Career College, also spoke before the Council at Tuesday night’s meeting. In negotiating for the AAA building, she cited the fact that 90 percent of her graduates go on to find higher-paying jobs in the area, with nearly one hundred and fifty students graduating last year alone. After speaking to residents and other business owners in the area, she claimed, “A lot of people around there seemed excited to get an influx of new business and students.”

Other properties she looked at, as possible relocation sites, either did not meet the number of required parking spots – one spot for every five students – or proved to be out of the college’s price range, Orozco said

In a 4-1 vote following the hearing, the City Council approved Nokes’ appeal of the Planning Commission’s decision, and formally denied a Use Permit to the college. Mayor Pro Tem Lori Ogorchock, Councilmembers Monica Wilson and Mary Rocha, and Mayor Wade Harper voted in favor of Nokes, citing the importance of Auto Center Drive to remain in the auto sales business, the city’s original plan for the area, and the generation of additional and much needed sales tax revenues the new dealership will bring.

Councilman Tony Tiscareno was the lone dissenter in the decision, stating the value of higher education, the creation of higher-paid workers to fill needed medical positions, and the fair outcome of a competitive bidding process as his reasons to support the college, which stated its desire to remain in Antioch provided they can find suitable accommodations. Ogorchock asked city staff to help the college find what it needs within Antioch’s city limits after the hearing was decided. City Manager Steve Duran agreed.

Approves Measure C funds for CSO’s, code enforcement

Following the hearing, a resolution to allocate over $1 million in Measure C revenues to the Antioch Police Department and Code Enforcement was brought before the Council. The Council voted unanimously to adopt the resolution and approved all four of its considerations, which included: the addition of three full-time budgeted Community Service Officers; two additional General Laborer positions to the Code Enforcement Budget; the addition of an Associate Development Services/Engineering Technician position in Code Enforcement; and a contract for a six month vehicle abatement pilot program, which would call for two full-time employees to perform vehicles and parking violation citations.

Measure C was adopted by the City of Antioch in November, 2013, in an effort to reduce crime and gang-related activities by bolstering police staffing and improving the emergency response times of the APD, through a half-cent sales tax increase in the city.

The next Antioch City Council meeting will be held Tuesday, October 27, 2015 at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers in downtown. Meetings can be viewed live on Comcast Channel 24 or via livestreaming on the city’s website.

Peter Parla

January 20, 1959 – October 7, 2015

Peter Parla age 56, passed away suddenly in a car accident, Wednesday, October 7, 2015.

He was born on January 20, 1959 in Pittsburg, CA. to Frank and Petrina (Alaimo) Parla. He was a longtime resident of Pioneer, CA.

Pete married Dawn Oliver in Lake Tahoe, NV on December 28, 1989.

Pete graduated from Antioch High School. He was the produce manager at Pokerville Market in Plymouth, CA. He had a very kind heart, a friend to everyone and will be dearly missed by all who knew and loved him.

He is survived by his wife, Dawn Parla; children, Jeremiah Parla and fiancé Alicia Hammett, Nicole Parla-Penge and Fiancé Michael Colenzo, Peter Parla II and Petrina Parla; grandchildren, Hailee Hammett, Hunter Hammett, Bella Parla and Cienna Parla; sister, Roseanne (Danny) Carroll; brothers, Sam (Lynette) Parla, Frank Parla. Pete was preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Peggy Parla.

A Celebration of Life will be held October 24, 2015 at the Mt. Zion Church, 13891 Cedar Pine Lane, Pine Grove, CA. 95665, 1:00 P.M. If you would like to help support the Parla Family, please do so using the following two methods. Thank you for any help you can provide.

1. Make all checks payable to “Memorial Fund for Pete Parla” and mail them to: Bank of Stockton Memorial Fund for Pete Parla, P.O. Box 100, Pine Grove, CA 95665

2. You can also give using Mt. Zion Church’s online portal here. Select the fund “Memorial Fund for Pete Parla”. Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.danerimortuary.com and signing the guest book.