During School Day S.T.E.A.M. Fest 2023!

Velma Wilson of Antioch will sing the National Anthem before the Santa Cruz Warriors game at Chase Center Saturday night, March 4. Wilson was the Contra Costa County 2021 Humanitarian of the Year.

Gather your family and friends and join us for School Day STEAM Fest 2023 as your Santa Cruz Warriors (NBA G-League Affiliate) take on the Cleveland Charge! Join us on West Concourse Terrace for our STEAM Fest where a variety of vendors will be showcasing educational and interactive activations for you and more!

By Chantel Tieman

Hold Your Horses  Livestock Emergency Evacuation Response Team & Rescue is a local non-profit evacuation team and rescue based out of East Contra Costa County.

We are deployed by operations of emergency services, Calfire and local fire agencies and Animal Services. We not only rescue during disasters but whenever there are calls for neglect and abuse etc. For more information visit www.holdyourhorsesevac.com orour Facebook page.

Become an exhibitor and enter to win

ANTIOCH – Online entries for the 2023 Contra Costa County Fair closes April 14th. Imagine the thrill of winning a blue ribbon at the Fair for a special talent. Think you own the best pig, bake the most delicious apple pie, made a beautiful quilt, or have an uncanny knack for making crafts? Want to see who’s the best in all of Contra Costa County? Then be sure to enter the Contra Costa County Fair’s competitive exhibits! Entry information available on the fair’s website www.contracostafair.com

Once Upon A Fair ~ May 18th–21st is sure to be a fun event for children of all ages, with new exhibits and entertainment, the carnival, livestock and the always popular fair food.

For additional information visit our website at www.contracostafair.com, or like us on Facebook.

By Lt. Holley Connors, Walnut Creek Police Department

An Antioch woman who is suspected of making threats to a private school in Walnut Creek is in custody. Walnut Creek Police Detectives and the Central County SWAT Team served a search and arrest warrant at 33-year-old Danielle Nye’s residence in Antioch last night. Detectives ultimately arrested Ms. Nye for PC 422 – Criminal Threats.

On February 28th, Contra Costa Christian Schools (CCCS) reported to Walnut Creek Police Department (WCPD) that they received numerous emails and voicemails from an unknown person who spoke of vague threats of violence toward the school. Officers worked to identify and locate the sender and to determine if there were any credible threats.

On March 1st, CCCS notified WCPD that they received more emails, and the threatening language had escalated. One email contained a photo of an apparent rifle.

Based on the continuing threats, behavior of the caller, and the photo of the weapon, CCCS sent students in after-school classes home early on March 1st. Walnut Creek Police searched the campus and found no evidence of weapons or threats to staff or students. Out of an abundance of caution, CCCS cancelled all classes for March 2nd.

At this time, there is no known threat to CCCS’ staff or students. It appears this was an isolated incident, and WCPD will continue follow up investigation to confirm no one else was involved. It is unknown what, if any, connection Ms. Nye has to CCCS.

She was booked into the Martinez Detention Facility and remains in custody on $25,000 bail. Anyone with any information is asked to contact Walnut Creek Police Department at 925-943-5844 or call the Anonymous Tip Line at 925-943-5865.

Case #: 23-7237

Pamela Swicegood is the Antioch Teacher of the Year for 2023-24. Photo: AUSD

By Trine Gallegos/AUSD

A big congratulations to Antioch High’s Pamela Swicegood, who’s been named Teacher of the Year for the Antioch Unified School District.

Pamela first visited Antioch High in 1986 to judge cheerleading tryouts.

She said she was struck by the energy, the school spirit and the interactions with the kids. “Everyone was so welcoming and friendly I knew this was the place I wanted to be. And that is where the ‘official’ journey began.”

She said she was born to teach and was one of those kids “who read all the time and did school workbooks for fun. I loved school and had wonderful teachers, and I wanted to grow up to be like them.”

Fast forward 34 years and she proudly claims to be a Panther through and through.

During that time, she’s taught English, Jazz Dance, ELD, Creative Writing, and Poetry, and coached cheerleading, track, lacrosse and a competition dance team. She also produced two dance shows a year for 20 years, sponsored the AHS Poetry and Short Story contests and has been the advisor for the Pantheon Literary Magazine since 1991.

Most recently, she started the Shakespeare & Scones Society, an after-school club designed to make the Bard fun and accessible for kids. Students watch Shakespeare movies while sipping English tea from fine china and nibbling scones with lemon curd and clotted cream. In August, they took a road trip to Ashland for the Oregon Shakespeare Festival and another to see “King Lear” at the California Shakespeare Festival. She currently teaches English 11CP, Creative Writing, and Poetry.

“After working with so many outstanding administrators and fellow teachers over the years, it is truly humbling to be singled out for this recognition. It is an honor and a privilege and I am so very grateful.”

By Allen D. Payton

In response to the news that Antioch’s public information officer, Rolando Bonilla was fired, recently Antioch Police Officers Association President Rick Hoffman posted the following statement on the organization’s Facebook page Thursday evening:

“The APOA has learned that the contract for the City of Antioch PIO, Rolando Bonilla, was terminated sometime in the past week. The APOA is pleased to see that steps were taken to rectify the wrongs done by Mr. Bonilla to our department and we hope to foster a culture of transparency throughout the city’s departments.”

Rick Hoffman

APOA President

Download Vendor Application here: 2023 Spring Boutique Vendor Form

Barbanica confirms; Ogorchock reiterates call for investigation of Rolando Bonilla’s recent actions; Bonilla claimed city manager authorized press release

Antioch’s former contracted PIO, Rolando Bonilla. Source: Volersa.com

By Allen D. Payton

In the wake of a recent firestorm with the Antioch police chief and his officers caused by the City’s Public Information Officer Rolando Bonilla, City Manager Con Johnson terminated Bonilla’s contract, it was confirmed, today. According to District 2 Councilman Mike Barbanica, who spoke with Johnson Wednesday afternoon, the city manager ended the PIO’s contract in the past few days. Since September 2019 Bonilla was paid $8,000 per month for his work in Antioch through his position as Chief Strategy Advisor with San Jose-based Voler Strategic Advisors, according to his contract and his LinkedIn profile. However, a search on the company’s website resulted in no information about him.

As previously reported, Bonilla issued a press release to KRON-4 News on Friday, Feb. 17, which he claimed Johnson authorized, attributing a false quote to Police Chief Steve Ford that took a swipe at the Antioch Police Officers Association claiming their previous statements critical of Mayor Lamar Thorpe and Bonilla were “circus like antics”. In addition, the press release claimed Bonilla worked with Ford and his team “to develop and distribute a letter to our community where the Antioch Police Department takes full responsibility for the recent burglaries.” But Lt. Michael Mellone, who is in charge of the department’s Community Engagement Unit that includes their own PIO, Ashley Crandell, claimed that wasn’t true, either. He then issued another press release to the Bay Area media asking them to check with him or Crandell on any information they might receive from Bonilla regarding police matters in the city and denying Bonilla worked on the apology press release.

The police department didn’t take responsibility for the burglaries, instead apologized for the slow response times.

But Johnson did not inform at least two of the council members, including Barbanica and District 3 Councilwoman Lori Ogorchock, who asked for an investigation of the recent incident and for Bonilla to be let go during Tuesday night’s council meeting. According to Ogorchock, Johnson informed city staff of Bonilla’s termination by email but did not include the mayor or council members.

“I was told an email was sent out,” she said. “I asked if anyone on council had been added to the email and I was told ‘no’. But we didn’t have to be according to what the city attorney told me.”

“Rolando Bonilla needs to be investigated because the press release he sent to KRON-4 was not only impersonating a police officer, but the police chief of Antioch,” Ogorchock exclaimeed. “That’s why I said what I did last night. I believe not only Antioch needs to investigate it but the district attorney needs to investigate it. Whoever authorized that press release needs to be held accountable.”

Questions for City Manager Go Unanswered

Questions were sent late Tuesday night to the city manager, and copying all five council members and City Attorney Thomas L. Smith asking to verify if Bonilla had been terminated from his position as the City’s Public Information Officer and if so, when did that happen and what was the reason.

In addition, Johnson was asked for a copy of his communication with city staff members about the matter. Finally, he was asked if he will be issuing a Request for Proposal for a new City PIO, assigning the responsibilities to an existing staff member or hire a city employee to fill the position.

Neither Johnson nor the other three council members responded as of publication time on Wednesday at 7:25 p.m.