By Don Martin, II

Bobby Hogge IV scored the victory in the 25 lap Jerry Hetrick Memorial for the All Star Series A Modified division Saturday night at Antioch Speedway.  Bobby joined elite company as this was his 70th career win at Antioch.  Only J.D. Willis and Scott Busby have more Antioch wins as both have 72.

Hogge won his heat race earlier in the evening and shared the second row with previous winner Nick DeCarlo for the special race.  Incoming point leader Bobby Motts Jr. had mechanical problems early in the race and finished last in the 19-car field.

Later, Eric Berendsen rolled his car.  DeCarlo offered Hogge his biggest challenge, but not even he could stop Hogge by the time the checkered flag flew.  Multi time Petaluma Speedway champion Michael Paul Jr. finished third ahead of Busby and Trent Wentworth.

Rookie Robert Floyd scored a thrilling victory in the 20 lap Wingless Spec Sprint Main Event.  Floyd also won his heat race.  Bryan Grier led eight laps before spinning from the lead.  Alan Miranda had the lead from there in search of his first career victory.  Floyd began pressuring Miranda during the final few laps before charging by on the back stretch on lap 19 to take the lead.  Floyd scored the popular win in the car of the late Jimmy Lavell.  Miranda settled for second.  Grier charged back through the pack and made a late pass on Rick Panfili to finish third.  Heat race winner James East finished fifth.

Matt While grabbed the victory in the 20 lap Limited Late Model Main Event.  While is the reigning champion at Petaluma Speedway, and this was his first visit to Antioch.  While outran new point leader Kimo Oreta for his win.  Jim Freethy continued his streak of all Top 3 finishes so far this season as he held off Mark Garner and heat race winner Mike Gustafson for a third place finish.

Melissa Myers won the 20 lap Hobby Stock Main Event.  The two-time division champion was making her first appearance of the season, and she won her heat race before battling Brent Curran for the impressive win.  Curran gained some ground on point leader Chris Long in the championship battle.  Long was black flagged for his bumper.  After getting that fixed, Long returned and lost a driveline on the track.  He was still scored ninth.  Robert Niven finished third in the 18-car field.  Chris Bennett came back from an early spin to beat Randy Metzler for fourth.

Danny Wagner picked up the win in the 20 lap Dwarf Car feature.  The two-time champion managed to hold off David Michael Rosa, who settled for second for the second straight week.  Wagner’s heat race produced two of the rollovers the track had for the night.  Point leader Mike Corsaro was the first victim, and Chris Becker rolled at the end of the race.  Both drivers were done for the night, which will impact the championship battle.  Brandon Anderson finished third, followed by Toby Brown and two-time Street Stock champion David Rosa. Dave Mackey won the 12 lap Bay Area Hardtop Main Event.  Mackey won the battle with heat race winner Kimo Oreta for the victory.  Ron Ruiz held off recent Chico winner Jason Armstrong to finish third.

All Star Series racing continues next Saturday as Wingless Spec Sprints return along with DIRTcar Late Models, B Modifieds, Hobby Stocks and Dwarf Cars.  For further information, go to www.antiochspeedway.com.

Race Results

A Modified

Heat Winners (8 Laps)-Michael Paul Jr., Shawn DeForest, Bobby Hogge IV.  Main Event (25 Laps)-Bobby Hogge IV, Nick DeCarlo, Michael Paul Jr., Scott Busby, Trent Wentworth, Jake Dewsburuy, Sean O’Gara, Trevor Clymens, Mike Salazar, Gary Hetrick.

Limited Late Model

Heat Winners (8 Laps)-Mike Gustafson, Terry DeCarlo Jr.  Main Event (20 Laps)-Matt While, Kimo Oreta, Jim Freethy, Mark Garner, Mike Gustafson, Jon Haney, John Evans, Terry DeCarlo Jr., Buddy Kniss, Jeff Kendrick.

Wingless Spec Sprint

Heat Winners (8 Laps)-Robert Floyd, James East.  Main Event (20 Laps)-Robert Floyd, Alan Miranda, Bryan Grier, Rick Panfili, James East, Bob Newberry, Jeremy Newberry, Dusty Green, Abigail Gonderman, Shannon Newton.

Dwarf Car

Heat Winners (8 Laps)-David Rosa, David Michael Rosa.  Main Event (20 Laps)-Danny Wagner, David Michael Rosa, Brandon Anderson, Toby Brown, David Rosa, Charlie Correia, Brian Gray, Jenna Frazier, Devan Kammermann, Mario Marquez

Hobby Stock

Heat Winners (8 Laps)-Chris Long, Brent Curran, Gene Haney.  Main Event (20 Laps)-Melissa Myers, Brent Curran, Robert Niven, Christopher Bennett, Randy Metzler, Jordan Swank, Frank Furtado, Ken Rhoades, Chris Long, Gene Haney.

Bay Area Hardtops

Heat Winner (6 Laps)-Kimo Oreta. Main Event (12 Laps)-Dave Mackey, Oreta, Ron Ruiz, Jason Armstrong.

Sacramento, CA – Gov. Jerry Brown, Monday signed AB 341 by Assemblymember Jim Frazier (D-Discovery Bay), which gives local school districts the authority to use funds at their discretion for student participation in field trips or excursions to other states, the District of Columbia, or a foreign country.

“School districts have been explicitly prohibited from using funds to help students participate in field trips or educational excursions out of state,” Frazier said. “AB 341 changes this, allowing schools to use district funds to enhance educational opportunities by increasing access to student resources and improving the outcomes that students experience.”

 The idea for AB 341 came locally from the Fairfield-Suisun School District, which is in the 11th Assembly District. In the spring of 2016, Armijo High School and Grange Middle School VEX robotics teams qualified to participate in the world competition in Kentucky. The students on these teams needed financial assistance to attend the competition. The school district was required to file for a waiver to the state Department of Education, in order to use district funds for this purpose.  AB 341 will eliminate the need for a waiver, allowing school districts to use their own discretion on whether to use district funds for travel that enhances student educational experiences.

 “This common-sense legislation grants local school districts the authority to use funds to help students whose families may not have the financial means to pay for these types of opportunities,” Frazier said. “I thank Fairfield-Suisun School District for bringing the need for this legislation to my attention and for the district’s strong support of AB 341 during the legislative process.”

Assemblymember Jim Frazier represents the 11th Assembly District, which includes the communities of Antioch, Bethel Island, Birds Landing, Brentwood, Byron, Collinsville, Discovery Bay, Fairfield, Isleton, Knightsen, Locke, Oakley, Pittsburg (partial), Rio Vista, Suisun City, Travis AFB, Vacaville and Walnut Grove. To contact him please visit his website at www.asmdc.org/frazier or call his District Offices at 707-399-3011 or 925-513-0411. Follow him on Facebook and “Like” him for updates on events and happenings in the 11th AD.

By Allen Payton

This week, Antioch resident Allie Sealey is leaving for Nashville, to perform and record her own songs, and pursue a career in country music. The 2008 Deer Valley High graduate plays guitar and sings, and her following has been growing on social media over the past few years, as people enjoy her songs. Now she’s ready for the big time.

“Just a solo, one-man band going to Nashville, taking it on the road,” she said with a laugh. “I’ve been singing my whole life, and writing songs. But I started pursuing it professionally three years ago.”

“I was sent by Tiki Tom’s in Walnut Creek to an audition for American Idol,” Allie shared.

She also won some contests like the West Coast songwriting show.

Allie has also been mentioned in an article on the Country Rebel music website.

“It’s been one heck of a journey and I’ve really tried to go anywhere the music would take me,” she stated.

That journey has included playing in L.A. a few times this year, at the Santa Monica Pier, and causing her to sleep in her car at times, which she also mentioned with a laugh.

As for what inspired her, Allie said it was her grandfather, for whom she was a primary caregiver for several years up until his last moments when “he passed peacefully in my arms, at our home,” she shared. “After my grandpa passed away it kind of catapulted me into this place where I saw how short life was, and I just wanted to do what I like.”

“I’ve written a lot of songs about him, since then,” she added.

Allie successfully used crowdfunding to pay her way to Nashville and record her first album, “in loving memory of my grandfather,” she said.

As for the most recent growth in Allie’s career, it’s thanks to social media.

“I got on Periscope recently, which is an online livestreaming application,” she explained. “I’ve been Instagramming (another online app) all I could. But someone suggested Periscope. I started out with no viewers, then I had 100 viewers, then 500 viewers. It was just growing.”

“I would play for 12 hours. My fingers would bleed and scab over,” said Allie. “My longest session was eight hours. People would give me requests and I would play them, plus some of my original songs.”

Twitter then featured her as an artist who was trending.

“It was my grandpa’s birthday. I had 70,000 people watch my broadcast live,” she exclaimed. “My following started to increase. Now, I have something like 13,900 followers on Periscope.”

Allie shared a story of an interesting coincidence.

“It was weird that my grandfather shared the same birthday as Ronnie Van Zant, the lead singer of Lynyrd Skynyrd,” she said. “Because they shared their song that I covered, Write It In A Song, on their Facebook page.”

At the time she chose that particular song to sing, Allie wasn’t aware of the connection between the two birthdays.

She’s 27 and has probably written hundreds of songs during her budding career.

“I’m finally doing what I’ve really dreamed of doing which is going to Nashville,” Allie stated. “This has been dedication and really persevering.”

“Anything is possible,” she added.

Allie will be driving to Nashville, performing along the way, sending postcards to her fans as she goes. She will be taking some tambourines and a harmonica with her on the trip.

But the most important instrument she’ll have is a Gibson guitar given to Allie by local rancher and rodeo star John Holman, the best friend of country singer Chris Ledoux – who Garth Brooks mentions in one of his songs. Gibson is a top of the line brand of guitars.

Holman told her, “When I’m in a rodeo I take my best horse. If you’re going to Nashville I think you should take that guitar.” And she is.

Allie has had other help along the way. Her mother, Tina Cianfichi has “been a big support,” Allie shared. Cousins Dominic Cianfichi and Gianna Cianfichi have also helped.

“It’s been a family affair,” she said.

Allie mentioned having “a couple connections out there, thanks to KAT Country radio.” They had her sing at their listener appreciation concert in June.

There’s also a studio lined up that Allie will be using, where she will be performing a song she wrote featuring the guitar, John and his ranch.

“It’s about perseverance,” Allie explained. “John told me three things in life necessary for success are ‘try, heart and guts.’”

So that’s the name of her song, Try, Heart and Guts, one of six to be included on an EP she will be recording.

Her goal once she arrives is to get management and possibly a record label, and of course reach more people with her music.

“More importantly, some of my short-term goals are to record, but also to play some iconic venues – the Bluebird Cafe, the Listening Room,” Allie shared. “To play at and meet with people who are doing the same.”

She’ll be living nearby the Bluebird.

“Like one minute away. I’m super excited,” she offered.

As for her future plans Allie said, “I don’t know if I’ll be coming back to California any time soon.”

“Mom thinks I’ll be back in two months,” she added with a laugh.

She’s a local girl, having grown up in Antioch and attended local schools including Jack London Elementary, Black Diamond Middle, as well as Deer Valley High

“I’m always going to remember where I graduated from,” Allie said.

To listen to her music, enjoy her videos and follow her journey, watch Allie on her website at Alliesealey.com or on social media by visiting Facebook.com/alliesealeymusic, Periscope, Instagram.com/alliesealey or YouTube.com/user/alliesealey24.

 

 

Next show is Tuesday, July 11 in Concord, followed by another in Antioch on Saturday

By Jason Mueller, A-1 Auto Transport

Contra Costa County residents are invited to check out these great car shows happening in and around the area for 2017. Bring the entire family out for a good time. Check out the classics, enter your own, try out some activities or even grab a bite to eat. There is so much to do at the car shows, cruises and events that you can make the most of them all year long.

Cool Concord Cars

Come out and enjoy a little fun in the sun while checking out the coolest Concord cars from the area. Happening on July 11 from 5:30 to 7:30 PM, this is a free car show for one and all. Come out and look or bring your vehicle to be shown off. There will be goodie bags, prizes and plaques being handed out. Come out to downtown Concord for a good time. For more info, visit http://www.ci.concord.ca.us/page.asp?pid=3000 or call (925) 671-2489.

Antioch: Summerfest Car Show

If you’re looking for something to do this summer, then make sure to come out to the Summerfest car show. With hot rods, classics, newer and other vehicles on display, there is something for everyone at this event. Happening on July 15 at 11 AM, you can come out to the Contra Costa County Fairgrounds at 1201 West 10th Street in Antioch. For more info about this exciting event, visit https://www.facebook.com/showstopcc/.

Old Town Pittsburg Car Show

Come out not only for those classics and good times, but also food, live music and great people. You can share your love of classics with the others that are at the event. Come out a few different times for a good time – July 20, August 3, August 17, August 31 and September 7 from 6 to 8PM each time. Come out to Railroad Avenue between 3rd and 6th Streets in Pittsburg. For more info, call (925) 252-4842 or visit http://oldtownpittsburgca.com/2017/04/otp/car-show-2017-may-11-thru-sept-7-6pm-8pm/.

Antioch: 2nd Annual Knights of Columbus & East Bay Dukes Car Show

See hot rods, muscle cars, rat rods, low riders and motorcycles, Saturday, July 22 at Holy Rosary Church, 1313 A Street, Antioch. Entry Fees: Auto $25, Motorcycle $15, Lowrider Bikes $10. Vendors: $60. For more info call Mike at (925) 550-6265.

Soap Box Derby and Classic Car Show

If you want to bring the kids to show them a love of cars then this is the event you can make the most out of. Happening on September 2 from 9AM to 3PM, it is the event that welcomes one and all to come in and have a great time. Come out to Main Street Downtown Clayton to take part in the show and the derby. For more info, call (925) 673-9060 or visit http://ci.clayton.ca.us/about-clayton/community-events/.

Antioch: Billetproof Car Show

One of the largest car shows in the area, Billetproof is welcoming yet another for the Antioch area. $10 for spectators, kids under 13 and police or military personnel are free. Come out to check out the pin up contest, swap meet, live bands, racing and more. Happening on September 16 at the Antioch Fairgrounds 1201 West Tenth St. in Antioch for all day fun. For more info, visit http://billetproof.com/index.php/antioch-ca-sept-16-2017/.

Clayton: Wednesday Night Classic Car Show

Come out for the classics and the live DJ that is spinning all the greatest tunes. Bring the entire family out for a night of fun and excitement. Beginning on June 28 and reoccurring throughout the year, there is a lot of fun to be had from 6 to 8 PM. Come out to City Parking Lot, 6099 Main Street in Clayton. For more info, call (925)673-7316 or visit http://ci.clayton.ca.us/about-clayton/community-events/.

Brentwood: Hot Rods 4 Paws

Kings Car Club presents their annual Hot Rods 4 Paws car on October 21 from 10 AM to 4 PM, at Petco in Brentwood, 5481 Lone Tree Way. Come out and enjoy the cars and support a good cause – the non-profit Furry Friends Food Relief Program to keep pets out of the shelters and in the homes that love them.  Sponsors are needed. Your company can be seen by over 1000 people at the event. Select any of the options listed HERE or contact the Kings for details and they’ll be glad to discuss creating a customized sponsorship package for you. For more info. call (925) 240-3178 or email HotRods4Paws@gmail.com.

You’ll never have to worry about having a dull day when there are car shows happening in Contra Costa. You can grab the family and head out for a day full of activities, fun and classics. Share your love of cars with everyone that you come across and if you own your own, be sure to bring your own vehicle to display for others to enjoy. If you’re looking for auto transport to the car show be sure to contact a local California company such as A-1 Auto Transport.

 

Expect delays

Contra Costa County Public Works Department will perform work on Marsh Creek Road from Deer Valley Road to the Clayton City limits from July 10 through July 20, 2017. The work will occur Monday through Friday between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. to shape slopes and shoulders along the road edge where mudslides occurred during the winter storms.

The work may be rescheduled based on weather conditions. Electronic message boards will alert drivers of the scheduled work. There will be traffic control through the work area and drivers can expect delays of 10-15 minutes.

Regional Transportation Plan/Sustainable Communities Strategy Final Environmental Impact Report

The Final Environmental Impact Report (Final EIR) (SCH# 2016052041) for Plan Bay Area (PBA) 2040, the Regional Transportation Plan (RTP)/Sustainable Communities Strategy (SCS) (proposed Plan) for the San Francisco Bay Area is available for review as of July 10, 2017. Additional information and notice of public meetings is provided below.

The proposed Plan is a regional strategy for accommodating household and employment growth projected to occur in the Bay Area region through 2040, and a transportation strategy for the region based on expected revenues. The primary objective of the proposed Plan is to achieve mandated reductions of greenhouse (GHG) emissions and to provide adequate housing for the projected 2040 regional population level pursuant to The Sustainable Communities and Climate Protection Act of 2008 (Senate Bill (SB) 375, Statutes of 2008). The proposed Plan sets forth a transportation and land use blueprint for how the Bay Area can address transportation mobility and accessibility needs, regional housing responsibilities, economic conditions and forecasts, environmental concerns, and GHG emissions reduction requirements through the year 2040.

The region includes nine counties (Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Solano and Sonoma) totaling approximately 4.4 million acres (7,000 square miles). In 2015, the region had 4.01 million jobs, 2.76 million households, and 7.57 million people. The proposed Plan would accommodate projected growth for an additional 688,000 jobs, 666,000 households, and 2.06 million people by 2040 with a transportation investment strategy of $303 billion. MTC is required under State and Federal law to update the RTP/SCS every four years.

The Final EIR includes the Draft EIR, a copy of each comment on the Draft EIR received by MTC/ABAG during the public comment period, responses to comments on environmental issues raised in those comments, and corrections and clarifications to the Draft EIR.

The Final EIR is now available for public review online at the web link listed below or a free electronic copy may be obtained by contacting MTC at the contact information provided below.

http://2040.planbayarea.org/reports

MTC Public Information
375 Beale Street, Suite 800
San Francisco, CA, 94105
415.778.6757 office / 415.536.9800 fax
eircomments@mtc.ca.gov

The document will also be available for public review in at least one library in each of the nine member counties. A list of library locations is available at the website listed below:

http://www.planbayarea.org/2040-plan/access-plan

MTC/ABAG will be conducting two public meetings to consider certification of the Final EIR and adoption of the proposed Plan. All interested agencies, organizations, and individuals are welcome to participate in these public meetings for the Final EIR. Oral comments will be accepted during these meetings.

July 14, 2017       

Joint MTC Planning Committee with the ABAG Administrative Committee (9:30 a.m.) at the Bay Area Metro Center – Board Room, First Floor, 375 Beale Street, San Francisco, CA 94105. At this meeting, the decision-makers will make a recommendation to the MTC Commission/ABAG Executive Board regarding certification of the Final EIR and adoption of the proposed Plan.

July 26, 2017       

MTC Commission/ABAG Executive Board (7:00 p.m.) at the Bay Area Metro Center – Board Room, First Floor, 375 Beale Street, San Francisco, CA 94105. At this meeting, a final action will be taken regarding certification of the Final EIR and adoption of the proposed Plan.

The following statement is required to be included in this notice: Pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15087(c)(6), the nine county Bay Area region contains hazardous waste sites as enumerated under California Government Code Section 65962.5.

Do you need an interpreter or any other assistance in order to participate? Please call us at 415.778.6757. We require three days’ notice in order to provide reasonable accommodation.

為了便於參加，您需要口譯員或其他任何協助嗎？請致電415.778.6757聯絡我們。我們需要提前3天通知才能提供合理的輔助服務。

¿Necesitas un intérprete o cualquier otra asistencia para participar? Comunícate al 415.778.6757. Necesitamos aviso con tres días de anticipación para proporcionar asistencia razonable.

On Wednesday, May 24, the Fleet Reserve Association (FRA) honored three Antioch students for winning first place at their respective grade levels in the annual FRA Americanism Essay Competition.  The theme for this year’s competition was, “What Memorial Day Means to Me.”

The three students, all of whom attend Paideia Academy, are: 7th grader Khaaliq Parker-Thomas, 8th grader Eddy Crowder, and 10th grader Hugo Cortes.  Each of the students was presented with a cash prize and an American flag that had been flown over the United States Capitol.  They were hosted at a dinner held at the Veterans Memorial Building in Vallejo.

Gary Blackburn, past National President of FRA, expressed his appreciation for the students, and for Paideia Academy, which has seen students entering the competition for over a decade.

“We are very pleased to receive the essays from the Paideia students every year,” he said.  “Patriotism is something we, as veterans, value very highly, and working with a school that emphasizes this important character trait gives us great satisfaction.”

Sheri Crowder, Administrator for the school shared her thoughts.

“We consider it a great privilege to be able to enter the patriotic writing and speaking competitions,” she said. “It gives the students an opportunity to develop their research and writing skills.  It helps to teach the students how to focus their thoughts, and express them in a clear, logical way.”

“It also gives students the opportunity to think of something and someone bigger than themselves,” Crowder continued. “Most importantly, it gives all of us the opportunity to meet veterans and hear their stories.  It never fails to amaze me that in our attempt to honor veterans, we come away blessed and honored by them. Thank you to all the veterans.”

By Sergeant Dee, Antioch Police Field Services Bureau

On Wednesday, July 5, 2017 at 7:20 p.m., the Antioch Police Department received a 911 call of a 3-year-old toddler, who was found in a swimming pool unresponsive at a home in the 4000 block of Rocky Point Drive. CPR instructions were provided and both medical and police units arrived within minutes of the initial call. The child was transported by ambulance to an area hospital where further life-saving efforts failed to revive the child. The case is still under investigation. Based on preliminary information and investigation it appears the incident was accidental in nature.

No further information concerning this incident will be released at this time. Any further inquiries into the status of this incident should be done via the Media Access Telephone Line (925) 779-6874.