Archive for May, 2019

Antioch School Board considers four alternatives for 2020 district election maps

Wednesday, May 22nd, 2019

By Allen Payton

At their regular meeting on Wednesday, May 22, 2019 the Antioch School Board was presented with four alternative maps for the district elections in November 2020. They take into consideration racial demographics, locations of the district schools, as well as the locations of the current residence of each of the five trustees. AUSD Trustee Area Scenarios Presentation 052219

Only Trustee Ellie Householder had suggestions for the consultant from Cooperative Strategies, asking that he return with another alternative combining Scenarios 1 and 2. No one from the public spoke on the matter.

A schedule for public input on the maps is as follows:

Tuesday, May 28 – Community Meeting on Trustee Area Scenarios at the District Office at 5 p.m.

Saturday, June 1 – Community Meeting on Trustee Area Scenarios at Black Diamond Middle School at 10 a.m.

Wednesday, June 12 – Board Meeting: Second Public Hearing on Trustee Area Scenarios

Wednesday, June 24 – Board Meeting: Final Public Hearing on Trustee Area Scenarios, Board Consideration of Map and Change in Election Method, Public Hearing on General Waiver Request, Board Consideration of General Waiver Request.

July/August – County Committee on School District Organization Holds a Public Hearing and Considers Approval of Change in Election Method and Trustee Area Map.

Two young men shot, one killed at Antioch park Tuesday night

Wednesday, May 22nd, 2019

By Sergeant James Stenger #3604, Antioch Police Violent Crimes Unit (Investigations Bureau)

On May 21, 2019 at approximately 10:48 PM, the Antioch Police Department responded to Sutter Delta Medical Center on Lone Tree Way for two male victims, who arrived at the emergency room with gunshot wounds. A 19-year-old Antioch male succumbed to his injuries at Sutter Delta Medical Center, and an 18-year-old Antioch male was transferred to a trauma center and is in stable condition at this time.

It was determined the two victims were at Memorial Field Park on Putnam Street in Antioch when at least one male approached their vehicle and started firing rounds into their car. The 18-year-old male was able to drive away and drove directly to Sutter Delta Medical Center.

The Antioch Police Investigations Unit is currently investigating this case and evidence is being collected at this time.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Antioch Police Department non-emergency line at (925) 778-2441. You may also text-a-tip to 274637 (CRIMES) using the key word ANTIOCH.

Class of 2019 Baccalaureate for all Antioch high schools to be held Sunday, June 2 at Grace Bible Fellowship

Tuesday, May 21st, 2019

Job Fair at TreVista Antioch Wed. May 22

Monday, May 20th, 2019

Memorial Day Weekend activities in Antioch May 25-27

Monday, May 20th, 2019

This year Antioch is excited to host a whole weekend of enjoyment for our local community for Memorial Day.

The weekend starts off with the first eight Antioch Veterans Memorial Banners being displayed on L Street. The ceremony starts at 9:00 A.M. and will be held at the Antioch Veterans Memorial at the Antioch Marina. We also want to let people know that they can visit www.deltaveteransgroup.org to download an application for the Veteran Memorial Banner program.

Veterans Memorial Banners will be flown the length of L St. from 10th St. north to the Veterans Memorial at the entrance of the marina. A total of 34 Memorial Banners will be hung. The Memorial Banners will hang until it is torn or worn at which time the Banner will be retired by the Antioch Veterans Community with dignity and respect, the applicant will be notified at that time.

Delta Softball Tournament of Heroes (FREE Team Registration www.deltaveterans group.org) at the Antioch Community Park May 25th and 26th, 2018. Both days start at 8 A.M. Saturday there will be an Opening Ceremony at 8 A.M. on Field One. This is a co-ed double elimination tournament and is a family friendly event. You do not need to be a veteran to play. For the kids there will be a Tee-Ball Longest Hit competition (6 and under, 7-8, 9-10, 11-13).

On Monday the 27th, as in the past, there will be a Motorcycle Parade from downtown to the Oak View Cemetery in Antioch, where we will hold our Memorial Day services starting at 10 A.M. This year our keynote speaker will be Disabled American Veterans Past National Commander Delphine Metcalf-Foster. Mrs. Metcalf-Foster is the daughter of a Buffalo Soldier, a retired U.S. Army 1st SGT, and the first woman to be elected as National Commander for a major veterans service organization. She will also be the first female keynote speaker for Antioch’s Memorial Day Celebration.

That will be followed by a free BBQ at the Antioch VFW hosted by the Antioch VFW Post 6435 located on the corner of E. 18th Street and Fulton Shipyard Road.

Also on Monday, the Antioch Water Park is offering free admission to active and retired military personnel with current ID. The water park is located at 4701 Lone Tree Way inside Prewett Park.

Antioch Unified School District 2019-2020 Teacher of the Year receives special visit

Monday, May 20th, 2019

Antioch Middle School sixth grade teacher and AUSD Teacher of the Year DarVisa Marshall with County Superintendent of Schools Lynn Mackey during the visit on . Photo courtesy of CCCOE.

Recently, DarVisa Marshall’s six-grade classroom at Antioch Middle School received a visit from Contra Costa County Superintendent of Schools Lynn Mackey. For the past five years, Marshall has been teaching English language arts, English language development, and history. Before joining Antioch Middle, the 21-year teacher had taught the same subjects to grades 3-8 in Oakland and her native city of Cincinnati. This past March, Marshall was named by the Antioch Unified School District as their Teacher of the Year (TOY), and later was selected as one of the four finalists contending for one of the two spots as Contra Costa County TOY. The two county TOYs will then represent Contra Costa County in the California state-wide TOY program.

Throughout the school year, Superintendent Mackey makes it a point to visit each incoming TOY in their classrooms, before they are all honored at the annual Teachers of the Year Gala Dinner. This is a great way for her to meet the teachers and their students, as well as take in the day’s lesson plan.

On the evening of September 26, 2019, the 22 Contra Costa County TOYs, class of 2019-20, including Marshall will be introduced and honored at the renowned annual Teacher of the Year Gala, held at the Hilton Concord. The 22 TOYs will be accompanied by their families, friends, and co-workers. The expected crowd of close to 500 will also include numerous other supporters of the program. For more information about this year’s CCCOE TOY Program, please review this earlier-sent news release.

“This was my first year as a teacher,” says 8th grade English teacher Lorena Bathey. “I joined the world of eighth grade at Antioch Middle School and I was beyond nervous. My first day of teaching was a lesson for me in how not ready I was. I pushed the students out the door so they would not spy my weakness as the tears rolled down my face at the end of sixth period. To Ms. Marshall’s room I ran, no really… I ran, for help, saving a hug. And there was Ms. Marshall, with arms open saying, ‘How can I help you.’ This is a constant phrase from Ms. Marshall to everyone she knows.”

Bathey continues, “Beyond being an incredible teacher who has her student-centered classroom running so smoothly a clockmaker would be impressed, she is always striving to be more. From pursuing her National Board Certification, to being active with the Antioch Education Association, to serving as the school’s English chairperson, to mentoring a brand-new teacher like me, Ms. Marshall is all about helping Antioch Middle School.”

Currently, there are approximately 8,637 teachers educating nearly 178,000 students in Contra Costa County’s public schools. To recognize their efforts and bring much-deserved honor to the teaching profession, the participating school districts in the county named their TOY representatives in mid-March.

The incoming 22 TOYs represent 17 Contra Costa County school districts, the Contra Costa Community College District, and the Contra Costa County Office of Education (CCCOE). Most of these representatives, those who teach grades TK-12, are eligible to compete in the Contra Costa County TOY competition. The two top teachers in the county TOY program will represent Contra Costa County in the California State TOY Program this coming fall.

Note regarding eligible participants:

Each year, one instructor from Contra Costa Community College District is submitted to the TOY program for his/her outstanding body of work with their designated college. The colleges rotate each year between Diablo Valley, Los Medanos, and Contra Costa. (These instructors do not compete in the State Teacher of the Year competition.) This year is Contra Costa College’s turn.

Due to the larger number of students and teachers in their districts, West Contra Costa USD, Mt. Diablo USD, and San Ramon Valley USD are allowed to submit two TOY candidates.

Follow Contra Costa County’s Teacher of the Year program on Twitter and Instagram: #cocotoy

Woman found dead in Antioch following disturbance call early Sunday morning

Sunday, May 19th, 2019

By Sergeant James Stenger #3604, Antioch Police Violent Crimes Unit (Investigations)

On Sunday, May 19, 2019 at approximately 2:48 AM, the Antioch Police Department responded to a disturbance in the 4500 block of Big Horn Court. Antioch patrol officers arrived on scene and located a deceased 30-year-old female inside of a residence. The female had suspicious injuries that appeared to be the cause her death.

A 32-year-old male is being questioned as a person of interest in this homicide. This appears to be an isolated incident and there is no threat to the public.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Antioch Police Department non-emergency line at (925) 778-2441. You may also text-a-tip to 274637 (CRIMES) using the key word ANTIOCH.

Construction to begin on Marsh Creek Road Monday

Saturday, May 18th, 2019

The Contra Costa County Public Works Department will begin construction of the Marsh Creek Road Traffic Safety Improvements project. The project will consist of installing a centerline rumble strip, restriping of the centerline, and traffic sign replacement and upgrades along the 14-mile stretch of Marsh Creek Road between the Cities of Clayton and Brentwood. Improvements will also include a streetlight installation on a wooden pole, and two solar flashing beacons at the intersection of Marsh Creek Road and Deer Valley Road.

Construction will begin on Monday, May 20, 2019, with completion by July 1, 2019, barring unforeseen circumstances. Drivers can expect traffic delays up to 30 minutes. Work hours will be 8:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. to minimize impacts to commute traffic.

Funding for this project is gas tax revenues provided by the SB1 Road Repair and Accountability Act and the Highway Safety Improvement Program funds. More information for this project can be found at http://www.cccounty.us/pwdmap.