Once in a lifetime gridiron rivalry

By Luke Johnson

One of the most intense and longest-lasting high school rivalries has returned. Antioch and Pittsburg football will meet Saturday afternoon for the 97th annual Big Little Game, and the winner will determine the Bay Valley Athletic League (BVAL) Champion. This is the first time both teams will face each other with undefeated records against league opponents.

The feud dates back to 1924, with over 20 future NFL stars coming from both programs, including Hall of Famers Gino Marchetti (Antioch, 1944) and John Henry Johnson (Pittsburg, 1949). In the earlier years of the contest, the teams met up twice each season.

The rivalry heated up in the late 1930’s, and from 1939 to 1943 the Big-Little Game was cancelled due to uncontainable hostility between the two towns; which means Antioch’s greatest player (Marchetti) never played in his school’s most important game. The game returned in 1944, and Pittsburg upset an undefeated Antioch team, 12-7, in front of over 7,000 spectators on a Tuesday night; back when both cities combined for a population of approximately 20,000. It was pushed from Friday to Tuesday due to overflowing rain fall.

Bad blood between the two schools continued into the 1970s, and the game was rescheduled for Saturday afternoons, in an effort to decrease game-time violence. Back then, even the cheerleaders had to have a police escort into the stadium.

In the 1980s, Antioch’s concrete panther statue had its head bashed off during the week of multiple Big Little Games. It was eventually replaced in the late 1990’s with a flat-iron statue, and in the 2000’s, it was traditionally spray painted pink by Pittsburg players.

The City of Antioch opened a new high school in 1996, Deer Valley, and AHS lost half its students; weakening its football team. Since that time, the rivalry has lacked some of its luster, and the game was switched back to Friday nights in 2011. Antioch has not won the Big-Little Game since 2006, and has not won in Pittsburg’s stadium since 2001. Pittsburg has generally dominated the series, and leads 65-26-7 (including two playoff wins).

But now it is a different story. With the game back on Saturday, Antioch is undefeated (9-0) and has a chance to win a League Championship for the first time since 1984. The last time the Panthers finish the regular season 10-0 was in 1977.

Vic Galli has been in command of Pittsburg’s football team for 14 seasons. Along the way he has won 10 BVAL Titles, broken a 72-year-old record to become the program’s all-time winningest coach (117 and counting) and holds a 13-1 record against Antioch. His rookie season, 2002, was the last time the Big Little Game decided the BVAL Champion. Pittsburg won that match-up, 31-21.

This year, the teams are led by two of the country’s best players. Antioch junior Najee Harris is committed to the University of Alabama, and holds every school rushing and touchdown record [see article here]. He is lighting up the scoreboard this season by totaling 2,078 yards on offense (rushing and receiving) and averaging 12.7 yards per carry with 28 touchdowns. Pittsburg senior Jordan Parker is a shutdown cornerback, who is committed to the University of Oklahoma. Even with quarterbacks avoiding to throw toward his direction, Parker still has the most interceptions in the BVAL for the past two seasons with eight.

Senior linebackers Kobie Beltram (Antioch) and Charlie Ramirez (Pittsburg) have something in common other than earning All-Bay Area accolades at the same position. Both have family history in the Big Little Game. Beltram has surpassed his brothers, Richie and Markie, as Antioch’s all-time leading tackler (310 and counting); while Ramirez’s father, Charlie, Sr., was a starting linebacker on Pittsburg’s 1991 North Coast Section Championship team, which was the last time De La Salle High School lost in Northern California. Beltram said a win would mean a lot to bring home to his family, and added it is equally important to win for his teammates and his city.

Pittsburg is 8-1 this year, with its only loss coming to Monte Vista, 49-42. They also have an 18-game winning streak against the BVAL, dating back to 2012. Galli said he is not impressed with Antioch’s 9-0 record, but added the Panthers still should not be taken lightly.

“Every year I schedule games against tough teams to get my players battle tested for the playoffs, and games like this,” Galli said, adding that his schedule against teams from the East Bay Athletic League is much more difficult than Antioch’s schedule.

According to Galli, the record-setting attendance at Pirate Stadium in Pittsburg was approximately 15,000 in a regular season contest versus De La Salle in 1995. He and other people involved in the game expect a crowd of 6,000 to 10,000 tomorrow. Pre-sale tickets went out this week to both schools, and hundreds have already been purchased.

With parking expected to be an issue, Pittsburg security has made precautionary adjustments. The Leber Lane parking lot will only be accessible for handicapped parking, team members and school employees. The Pittsburg City Court House parking lot on Railroad Avenue will be made available, with shuttles transporting people to the stadium. Doors open at 9:30 a.m., JV games starts at 11 a.m. and varsity kickoff is at 1:30 p.m.

 By Allen Payton

With the field of applicants for the vacancy on the Antioch School Board narrowed down to eight, the Antioch School Board held their interview process at a special meeting, Wednesday night, and ended by appointing small business owner Fernando Navarro as the new trustee.

The appointment is provisional for 30 days, in accordance with the state Education Code, during which members of the public can voice their opinion one way or another, or call for election. If all goes according to plan, Navarro will be given his oath of office at the next regular School Board meeting, after the 30-day period, which will be held on Wednesday, December 16.

The process began with the applicants choosing numbers to determine the order in which they would speak and then being given a three-minute opening statement at the podium. Then they were each asked the same four questions, with each question beginning with the next applicant in order. One applicant, Alicia Okoha, left after her opening statement, to go pick up her daughter, and missed the first two questions. The meeting was briefly suspended so district staff could look for her in the district office building.

When she returned to the podium to answer the third question, Okoha explained that she had informed Nancy Belleci, Superintendent Don Gill’s Senior Executive Assistant, that she would have to leave the meeting briefly.

The first line of Okoha’s three-minute opening statement was memorable and sounded strident.

“Hash tag all minds matter,” she stated. “But the black and brown minds have been miseducated in this history of this country.”

Another applicant, Mark Jordan focused his opening statement on the hiring of a new superintendent.

“This is of paramount importance to this community,” he said. “Dr. Gill has done a good job. But we need change because the community has changed.”

Then he committed to only serving 12 months and not run for election.

Navarro offered a philosophical answer to the first question of why he wanted to be on the board and what skills he would bring to the position.

“The basis of knowledge is understanding how the world works,” he stated. “But the basis of wisdom is the understanding of why the world works.”

He then shared about the need for more vocational schools.

Following the answers to the fourth question in the first round, the four board members then voted and announced their top four candidates. Any candidate who received at least three votes would move on to the next round of questions.

Only three candidates made the cut, Navarro, Alicia Marroquin, each with four votes, and Julie Young, who received three. The next closest applicant was Millard Larkin, who received two votes.

Jordan and former trustees Gary Hack and Joy Motts each received one vote.

School Board President Claire Smith thanked those who didn’t make it past the first round for their participation the process and said “By all means, consider running in November.”

“I think it was a very transparent, fair process,” Jordan said, after the process was completed.

The board then asked the remaining three candidates another series of questions.

In response to the question about their short-term, and long-term plans if appointed, Navarro said “Nobody’s indespensible. My focus isn’t in being a career politician. If my time here is efective, then I’m open to it (running in next year’s election). But it’s not my goal.”

“If I do a good job and if the community wants me to stick around, then I’m here at your service,” he added.

He spoke about being impartial and that he would listen, when asked what he would do if a parent met him in a grocery store and asked for his vote on a hot issue. Navarro also responded “It’s not the place to have a debate” and that he believed the role of a board member is “to be the voice of the community.”

Of the 11 applicants who applied, three were unable to participate in the interviews. Jayson Bordges, as previously reported, backed out because he was out of state and couldn’t attend the meeting. Another, Ronald Partain was disqualified because as of the date he submitted his application, he was still registered to vote in Brentwood, where he moved from four years ago. He explained that he has voted by mail for years and forgot to re-register when he moved to Antioch, but went to the county Elections Office in Martinez on Wednesday afternoon to change his registration. However, it was too late. Elections Office staff explained that candidates and applicants for elected or appointed office must be registered in the district in which they wish to serve at the time they file their papers.

The third applicant to miss the interviews was Carleton Booker, who stated by text, Thursday morning, that he had a family emergency and was still at the hospital, at that time.

Following the final round of questions, the board members shared their thoughts before taking their final vote.

“I think you are all extremely qualified and would welcome any of you on the board,” Smith said. “Each one of you has great strengths. I wish that the two of you who don’t get appointed would run in the General Election.”

Trustee Walter Ruehlig offered a different perspective.

“We’re not always looking for a better candidate,” he said. “We’re looking for the best fit for the board.”

They then took another vote and Navarro received four votes, Young received three and Marroquin received one. The unanimous decision of the board gave Navarro the appointment.

Smith offered her final comments to the two applicants who weren’t appointed.

“You two ladies have made yourselves and your families proud,” she stated.

Then, Navarro was given the chance to return to the podium and share his thoughts.

“Now I have to tell my wife. I’m in trouble,” he joked. “I’m in shock. I am so honored and humbled. This is my first dip in the pool. I just spoke from my heart. What you see is what you get.”

Then he turned to the audience and said “This is your opportunity to have a person in this seat who will listen to the community.”

“Don’t worry,” Willie Mims, who regularly attends and speaks at school board meetings, said to laughter.

Navarro is married and they have two children who attend Carmen Dragon Elementary, and has lived in Antioch for nine years. He owns a mobile waterless car wash and detail company serving, what he said are “dot com companies in the Silicon Valley.”

To read Navarro’s application for the appointment, please click here: Fernando Navarro

The Highway 4 Project hit another milestone this week with the opening of two new lanes of traffic on westbound Highway 4, starting just after the Lone Tree Way/A Street undercrossing. Commuters can now travel along four lanes of highway, including a High Occupancy Vehicle lane. The project also includes newly configured on- and off-ramps from the highway to local roads.

See diagrams of the new lane segments on the Contra Loma Boulevard segment web page.

The auxiliary lane and off-ramp to Contra Loma Boulevard are not yet open, but they are expected to be open in the next week. The Contra Costa Transportation Authority (CCTA) and Caltrans are working together to complete this segment of the Highway 4 corridor project, referred to as Contra Loma Boulevard/L Street, of the highway construction project.

The purpose of the overall Highway 4 corridor project is to improve traffic flow on the highway and enhance motorist safety.

“We’re very happy to be able to open these new lanes to traffic and bring additional congestion relief to Eastern Contra Costa County,” said Ivan Ramirez, Construction Manager, CCTA. “This is the third of five segments we’ve opened to the public for the Highway 4 corridor project, and we’ll continue to work hard to finish the next two to deliver a modernized Highway 4 to the public.”

“Caltrans is glad to work with our partner in this growing community in East Contra Costa County,” said Dan McElhinney, Caltrans Chief Duputy District Director. “Anything we can do to help meet the traffic demand is beneficial for the cities along this corridor and the entire Bay Area region.”

Construction on the Contra Loma Boulevard/L Street segment began in March of 2012. The eastbound lanes for the segment are expected to open in late November or early December.

The construction budget for this segment was $48.7 million. For more information, please visit our website at www.4eastcounty.org

About CCTA: The Contra Costa Transportation Authority (CCTA) is a public agency formed by Contra Costa voters in 1988 to manage the county’s transportation sales tax program and oversee countywide transportation planning efforts. CCTA is responsible for maintaining and improving the county’s transportation system by planning, funding and delivering critical transportation infrastructure projects and programs that connect our communities, foster a strong economy, increase sustainability, and safely and efficiently get people where they need to go. CCTA also serves as the county’s designated Congestion Management Agency, responsible for establishing programs to keep traffic levels manageable. More information about CCTA can be found online at www.ccta.net

About Caltrans: Caltrans manages more than 50,000 miles of California’s highway and freeway lanes, provides inter-city rail services, permits more than 400 public-use airports and special-use hospital heliports, and works with local agencies. Caltrans carries out its mission of providing a safe, sustainable, integrated and efficient transportation system to enhance California’s economy and livability.

The Highway 4 projects include improvements that will help modernize eastern Contra Costa County. The projects expand Highway 4 from four to eight lanes between Loveridge Road in Pittsburg to just west of State Route 160 in Antioch, from two to four lanes from Lone Tree Way to Sand Creek Road in Brentwood, add missing connector ramps at the State Route 160/Highway 4 interchange, and add a BART extension from Pittsburg to Antioch. This will greatly improve transit accessibility for the region, 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. These projects, plus previously constructed projects in the region, bring the total investment in East County to $1.3 billion, including State, Federal, Contra Costa Transportation Authority Measures C and J, regional bridge tolls, and other funds.

On Thursday, November 5 the Deer Valley High School ACE academy will sponsor a new planetarium show called “Back to the Moon for Good,” narrated by Tim Allen. This program explains the Lunar X-Prize contest, which describes a contest for a privately funded mission to the moon that will release a rover and send back pictures and messages.

Also that evening, we have a NASA Lunar Sample Disk with some small moon rocks on display. These are actual samples of rocks and soil from the moon, encased in an acrylic diåsk.

If you’ve never seen a moon rock, come take a look. The event will be Thursday night at 7 PM in room 511 at Deer Valley High School, 4700 Lone Tree Way, Antioch.

Contact Jeff Adkins for more information at either astronomyteacher@mac.com or 925 899 4001.

Congressman Mark DeSaulnier will host a town hall meeting in Pittsburg on Monday, November 9th, from 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm. This is the ninth public forum hosted by Congressman DeSaulnier since taking office in January. Town halls are one part of DeSaulnier’s efforts to be accessible to constituents. He is also holding mobile district office hours and listening tours across the district.

“As we wrap up the legislative year, I invite residents to a Congressional update with information on the federal budget, the six-year transportation bill, and other key issues of importance,”  said DeSaulnier. “This is an opportunity to hear about the work we are doing on behalf of the district and to ask questions and share ideas. We will also discuss the broad range of constituent services my office can provide.”

• What: Congressman DeSaulnier’s Town Hall Meeting in Pittsburg

• When: Monday, November 9, 2015, from 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm. Check-in begins at 6:00 pm.

• Where: Pittsburg Senior Center, 300 Presidio Lane, Pittsburg, CA 94565.

For more information or to request ADA accommodations: Please email CA11.RSVP@mail.house.gov or call (925) 933-2660.

DeSaulnier represents part of Antioch in the U.S. House of Representatives.

By Allen Payton

According to the Antioch Unified School District’s website, 11 people have submitted applications for the vacancy on the Antioch School Board, created by the resignation of Barbara Cowan, for the one year remaining in her term.

The applicants include both former Antioch School Board Trustees who were defeated in last year’s election, Gary Hack and Joy Motts, as well as Carleton Booker, Jayson Bordges, Mark Jordan, Millard Larkin II, Amalia Marroquin, Fernando Navarro, Alicia Okoh, Ronald Partain and Julie Young.

11-3-15 3:45 PM Update: According to their applications, posted on the district’s website, this afternoon (available below), phone interviews and internet searches, Booker is owner of 911 MYNONPROFIT and author of the book Things You Need To Know About Non-Profits – Making Sense of Non-Profit Status, and a pastor in an Antioch church; Bordges is Pastor of the Antioch Wesleyan Church; Jordan is a real estate broker in Antioch; Larkin is a Senior Vice President of One Ingress, a start-up technology company based in Walnut Creek; Marroquin is a mental health therapist; Navarro is the owner of a mobile waterless car wash and detail company serving “dot com companies in the Silicon Valley”; Okoh is a social worker; Partain is a retired locomotive engineer and CEO/Director of Wings Ministry International; and Young is an independent kitchen consultant.

Jordan said he would not run for the seat, in next year’s elections, but he thinks it would be good to have a business person on the board during the selection process for the new superintendent.

They will be interviewed by the Board during a special, public meeting on Wednesday, November 4 at 6:00 p.m. in the Board Room at the School District offices located at 510 G Street, in downtown.

11-4-15 12:15 PM Update: The school district, following media requests and the standard practice by the County Elections Office for candidates for public office, released the phone numbers of the candidates for both the media and public to be able to contact them. Below is that information in the order it was received by the district.

In addition, Gill stated Wednesday morning, that Jayson Bordges had withdrawn from consideration because he is out of state and unable to make the meeting for the interview, this evening.

Applicants and Phone Numbers (all are 925 Area Code unless noted):

Carleton Book – work: 877-865-4445, home: 752-1973

Gary Hack – home: 757-1375

Mark Jordan – work: 757-8080, home: 876-8080

Millard Larkin – work: 472-6968 x 105, home: 755-9724

Amalia Marroquin – work: 427-8664 x 242, home: 708-4693

Joyann Motts – work: 513-0444, home: 813-0036

Fernando Navarro – work & home: (650) 630-5209

Alicia Okoha – work: not provided, home: 864-2325

Ronald Partain – work & home: 628-1777

Julie Young – work & home: 778-5915

Applications:

Alicia Okoh Amalia Marroquin Carleton Booker Fernando Navarro Gary Hack Jayson Bordges Joyann Motts Julie Young Millard Larkin II Ronald Partain

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