Students from Antioch Unified School District will showcase their art at the Lynn House Gallery beginning during March, April and May. The Art4Schools Exhibits began March 1st and end on May 27th.

The exhibit schedule opens with students who attend the Afterschool Program, March 1st – 11th, followed by Mission and Sutter Elementary Schools March 22nd – April 1st, Kimball and Turner Elementary Schools April 26th – May 5th and concludes with Black Diamond and Dallas Ranch Middle Schools May 17th – May 27th. There is a cookie and punch artist reception on opening day of each exhibit from 4-6 PM.  Please join us and support AUSD’s students and artists.

The program is sponsored by the Arts & Cultural Foundation of Antioch, the City of Antioch, Calpine and Keller Canyon Mitigation Fund Grant from Contra Costa County Supervisor Federal Glover. In addition to sponsoring the gallery exhibit, each school receives $500 to be used for art and cultural supplies and educational endeavors. Due to the generosity of Supervisor Glover, the number of participating schools has doubled from prior years.

Exhibits are open to the public at no cost. The Lynn House Gallery is located in the Rivertown District at 809 W. 1st Street, Antioch (across from the AMTRAK Train Station) and is open from 1 – 4 PM on Wednesdays and Saturdays during exhibits and admission is free.

For more information about each exhibit call Diane Gibson-Gray at (925) 779-7018 or email Diane@Art4Antioch.org.

Kiara Chatman advances to state finals in competition that emphasizes language skill and public speaking

Kiara Chapman, photo courtesy of Robin Moore.

In a remarkable achievement, Kiara Chatman, a senior at Deer Valley High in Antioch, took first place in the Contra Costa County “Poetry Out Loud” competition for the second year in a row. The event was held in the lovely Las Lomas High School Theatre in Walnut Creek on February 11th.  The Runner-up position went to senior Camila Morales-Jimenez from El Cerrito High in El Cerrito, and Third Place to sophomore Wesley Little from Monte Vista High in Danville.

The three were among thousands of students across the state to participate in the national recitation contest, a program started by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and run by the California Arts Council and locally by the Arts & Culture Commission of Contra Costa County (AC5) to engage high-school students in the presentation of poetry through memorization and performance.  Chatman advances to the California state finals in Sacramento on March 12 & 13. At stake are hundreds of dollars on the state competition level and thousands at the national finals of Poetry Out Loud.

This is Contra Costa’s tenth year of Poetry Out Loud competition, and many attendees commented that the recitations just keep getting better and better.  Among the many fine recitations, Ms. Chatman’s “The Gaffe” by C.K. Williams, Ms. Morales-Jimenez’s “One Hundred Love Sonnets: XVII” by Pablo Neruda and Mr. Little’s “Cartoon Physics, part 1” by Nick Flynn helped secure the final outcome.

The very competitive pool of finalists included students from eleven county high schools: College Park High in Pleasant Hill, Deer Valley High in Antioch, El Cerrito High in El Cerrito, Independence High in Brentwood, Las Lomas High in Walnut Creek, Monte Vista High in Danville, Northgate High in Walnut Creek, Pinole Valley High in Pinole, Truthtrackers Co-Op in Walnut Creek and Making Waves Academy and Salesian College Preparatory, both in Richmond.  Countywide, over 2500 students memorized a poem for the program this year.

“To learn a great poem by heart is to make a friend for life,” said John Barr, president of the Poetry Foundation. “The national recitation program brings fresh energy to an ancient art form by returning it to the classrooms of America.”

The Poetry Out Loud program seeks to foster the next generation of literary readers by capitalizing on the latest trends in poetry: recitation and performance. Poetry Out Loud competitions start in the classroom, then at the school, region, state, and national finals, similar to the structure of the spelling bee. The national initiative is part of an attempt to bring literary arts to students, a critical need in U.S. schools, according to a 2004 NEA report Reading at Risk that found a dramatic decline in literary reading, especially among younger readers.

More information can be found at www.cac.ca.gov/initiatives/pol.php and www.poetryoutloud.org.

Washington, D.C. – On Thursday, March 2, 2017, Rep. Jerry McNerney (CA-09) introduced H.R. 1324, the Securing IoT Act, which requires that Internet of Things (IoT) devices be certified to be in compliance with cybersecurity standards. The bill directs the Federal Communications Commission, in consultation with the National Institute of Standards and Technology, to develop standards that address cybersecurity throughout the lifecycle of the IoT device.

“The proliferation of IoT devices creates immense opportunities for our society, including new jobs and efficiencies in all aspects of our everyday lives. However, the security of these devices has not kept up with the rapid pace of innovation and deployment,” said Rep. McNerney. “Security vulnerabilities in IoT devices are likely to pose threats to our national security and endanger our nation’s economy. This is especially concerning given that at least 20 billion devices are anticipated to be in use by 2020. My legislation, the Securing IoT Act, helps to address this issue by requiring that security standards be established for IoT devices and that these devices be certified to meet those standards. The legislation will help strengthen this market and protect consumers, business, and all the benefits that IoT devices offer.”

Last fall, McNerney raised concerns about the distributed denial-of-service attack on Dyn’s servers, which resulted from security weaknesses in IoT devices, and he joined his Democratic colleagues on the House Energy and Commerce Committee in calling for a hearing to examine the matter.

Delta Blues Festival Benefit Concert
Saturday March 4, 2017   7:00 pm
Gold Circle (1st 3 rows): $40
Adults: $30
Seniors (62 & Over): $28
Child (Ages 10 – 17): $15
Reserved Seating

 The Vagabond Players – Born Yesterday
Play by Garson Kanin

Sunday March 5, 2017  2:00 pm 
General Seating

Tickets:  Adults: $15   Seniors (62& Over): $13  Youth (17 & Under): $10

​United States Air Force Concert Band
Saturday March 11, 2017  3:00 pm
Tickets Available January 1, 2017
Reserved Seating. Tickets are free.
You may order up to four (4) online.  If you need more please call the ticket office.  (925) 757-9500

El Campanil Children’s Theatre  – Princess Who ?
Play by Brian Taylor

Friday March 17, 2017  7:30 pm
Sunday March 19, 2017  2:00 pm
General Seating

Tickets:  Adults: $12   Seniors (62& Over): $10  Youth (17 & Under): $ 8

Chicago…The Tribute
Saturday March 25, 2017  8:00 pm
Reserved Seating

Tickets: Adults: $27  Seniors (62 & Over): $25   Youth (Under 18): $10

Buy tickets online at www.elcampaniltheatre.com, by phone at (925) 757-9500 or at the Box Office next door to the theater, which is located at 602 W. 2nd Street in Antioch’s historic, downtown Rivertown.

Deputy Michael Foley, photo courtesy of Alameda County Sheriff’s Office.

By Allen Payton

The funeral service for Michael Foley, an Alameda County Deputy Sheriff and Antioch resident, will be held this Friday at 11:00 a.m. at the Concord Pavilion.

The 60-year-old was struck by a bus at the Santa Rita jail in Dublin on Wednesday, February 22 and died from his injuries, the next day. Foley worked for the Concord Police Department for 29 years, prior to his service with Alameda County.

A message was posted on the Sheriff’s Facebook page on Thursday: “It is with great sadness we report that Alameda County Deputy Sheriff Michael Foley has died from his injuries. Mike started his law enforcement career in 1978 as an Officer with the Concord Police Department. After a long and successful 29 year career there, he retired and was hired by ACSO in 2007. Michael was one of the hardest working Deputies on this agency. He used his experience and wisdom to mentor countless numbers of young officers throughout his career. He was an extremely kind man who loved his family, friends, co-workers and community. He believed in public service and making the world a better place. All of us who were touched by his life will never forget him. He is a role model and a great example for others to follow. Our hearts are broken today. Please keep Mike and his family in your thoughts and prayers.”

Sheriff escort for Deputy Foley’s body on Sunday, Feb. 26.

On Sunday, Alameda County Deputy Sheriffs escorted Foley’s body from John Muir Medical Center in Walnut Creek to the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office Coroner’s Bureau, according to a post on the Alameda County Sheriff’s Facebook page.

He is survived by his wife Tammie, and children Michael, Jr. and Tonya. A GoFundMe account has been set up to benefit the Foley family and has been verified by the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office. http://www.gofundme.com/deputy-mike-foleys-family-fund. According to that site, Foley “chose to work as a deputy at the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office to put his son, Michael Jr., through college.”

In addition, the San Francisco Police Credit Union has established an account under the Deputy Sheriffs Association of Alameda County Charitable Foundation for the benefit of Deputy Sheriff Michael Foley. Contributions may take place in person at a local branch, mail or electronically utilizing account #1387350 S5 M Foley Memorial Fund.  Funds may be forwarded to SFPCU via mail or electronically as follows:

ACSO DSA Charitable Foundation for Michael Foley

2550 Irving St San Francisco, Ca 94122

Acct#1387350 S5

Routing#321076496

By Allen Payton

Pete’s Restaurant & Brewhouse has been serving up homemade hand tossed pizza in the greater Sacramento area since 1987. Last year Pete’s expanded with a new location in Antioch with a few partners, including Jasminder “Jaz” Kaur. Having experience in the hospitality industry, owning a hotel and RV park for the past 16 years, she decided to buy out her partners and has taken the reins of the restaurant.

Jaz wants residents to enjoy a unique dining experience in Antioch, with the best architecture, atmosphere and ambiance in town, and most importantly the best food. From their signature and build-your-own pizzas, salads, like the delicious Pete’s Steakhouse salad, soup of the day, pastas, burgers, sandwiches such as their tasty hot pastrami, flatbreads – the Mediterranean is a favorite, and appetizers like their unique Famous Knots.

“Customer service and keeping people happy is our focus,” Jaz said. “We encourage everyone to join us for lunch or dinner and experience Pete’s, again or for the very first time. We’re sure you’ll be back.”

They’re currently offering lunch specials for just $6.99 every weekday from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.: Half Sandwich & Soup on Mondays, Taco Tuesdays, Wing Wednesdays, chicken strips and fries on Thursdays and a personal pizza on Fridays.

Pete’s also offers 46 beers on tap and a variety of wines to go with their great food choices, which can be ordered to go, or enjoyed on their outdoor patio next to the fireplace.

Located at 2709 Hillcrest Avenue, off Larkspur just off the Highway 4 on- and off-ramps, near County Market, Pete’s is open every day 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. For reservations call (925) 522-2222. For more information visit their website at www.petesrandbantioch.com and “Like” them on Facebook.