Finley Road ranch property

By Dave Mason, Public Information Supervisor, Public Affairs, East Bay Regional Park District

The East Bay Regional Park District has purchased the 768-acre Finley Road ranch property located in Contra Costa County at the western edge of Morgan Territory Regional Preserve and the southern edge of Mount Diablo State Park. The acquisition preserves forever one of the largest remaining pristine open spaces adjacent to Mount Diablo State Park. The property was officially acquired on April 24, 2023. Park District board of directors voted to authorize purchase of the property on March 7, 2023.

“The acquisition is an important step toward a long-desired staging area at the end of Finley Road,” said Park District Board Director John Mercurio. “Access to western Morgan Territory Regional Preserve and southern Mount Diablo State Park has been limited over the years and this property is an important step toward improving public access.”

The Finley Road Ranch property includes a flat, accessible area for a potential staging area that would provide access to the property and significantly improve public access to the Park District’s Morgan Territory Regional Preserve and the adjacent Mount Diablo State Park.

“The Park District thanks our partners for their contributions toward the acquisition, including the California Coastal Conservancy and Save Mount Diablo,” said Park District General Manager Sabrina Landreth. “The acquisition supports the Park District’s mission of habitat preservation and providing public access for recreation, and furthers California’s 30×30 Initiative goal of conserving 30 percent of the state’s lands and coastal waters by 2030.”

The Park District is a supporter of the state’s 30×30 Initiative and participates in the initiative’s partnership coordinating committee, which works toward implementing the policies of the 30×30 Initiative and facilitates coordination among state and federal public agencies, tribal partners, and other non-governmental partners.

The East Bay Regional Park District is the largest regional park system in the nation, comprising 73 parks, 55 miles of shoreline, and over 1,300 miles of trails for hiking, biking, horseback riding, and environmental education. The Park District receives more than 25 million visits annually throughout Alameda and Contra Costa counties in the San Francisco Bay Area.

By Antioch Sports Legends

Happy 100th Birthday to Antioch Sports Legends Co-Founder Leo Fontana. Leo has been an Antioch public servant for nearly seventy years. He has served on the boards of several local charities and organizations and was elected to the Antioch City Council from 1982-1986.

As a sports community leader, Leo participated in the creation of the Antioch Hornets football team, Lob Ball League, Antioch Softball League and Antioch Babe Ruth Baseball, for which he served as its first president.

Leo was committee chairman to create the Antioch Municipal Golf Course, helped found the Antioch Bocce Ball League and in 2006 Leo was a Co-Founder of the Antioch Sports Legends.

Leo was also a long-time member of the Antioch Rotary Club.

HAPPY 100th BIRTHDAY, LEO!!!

Leo’s bio from his ASL HOF induction Class of 2008 Community Sports Leader
https://www.antiochsportslegends.com/inductee/leo-fontana/

Celebrate Antioch Foundation is proud to announce our annual Mother’s Day weekend Rivertown Wine Walk & Artisan Faire May 13, 2023 12pm – 4pm. This free, fun, family friendly event features 40+ art and handmade vendors from local artisans, Live music featuring Project 4 Band performing amazing R&B and Dance Tunes. Dine at one of our 10 downtown restaurants and explore our shops.

To participate in the Wine Walk the fee is $20 in advance and $25 at the door “subject to availability” to sample up to 12 great local wines. To participate in the Wine Walk you must be at least 21 years of age and present a valid ID. This event makes a great Mother’s Day gift and you can shop for her gift while enjoying a fun and relaxing atmosphere.

Again, the event is Saturday May 13th 12pm – 4pm on W. 2nd and G Streets. We look forward to seeing you at the Rivertown Art & Wine Walk. For more info visit celebrateantioch.org Tickets are available for purchase on Eventbrite.com at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/546892689757

Sixth arrest this year including one the day before, has history of arrests dating to July 2018

By Chief Paul Bard, Oakley Police Department

On April 27, 2023 at 9:11AM Officers B. Jackson and A. Hurtado were on patrol in the area of Main Street at Neroly Road when they saw a white Saturn vehicle being driven in a reckless and haphazard manner. Officers Jackson and Hurtado attempted to stop the vehicle but the driver fled from them and lead them on a pursuit.

The pursuit went into the City of Antioch via Laurel Road. The driver briefly yielded at the intersection of Laurel Road and Canada Valley only to take off again. The driver then took several routes through the City of Antioch with Officers Jackson and Hurtado being joined by Officer Radcliffe and his canine partner “Harkon”.

Eventually the driver ended up driving down Fulton Shipyard Road to the dead end. The driver attempted to drive beyond what is typically able to be navigated at the end of the road, but then he came to a stop. The driver also opened his door and showed signs he was getting ready to run from our officers.

The driver, identified as Matthew Quiroz (Antioch, 36), however opted to surrender and comply at that point, and he was taken into custody.

Quiroz was booked into jail for being in possession of a stolen vehicle and for leading our officers on a pursuit.

Matthew Quiroz has been arrested five times so far in 2023. It appears as if Quiroz was released from jail (in Martinez) this morning, for the crime he committed yesterday, and quite possibly the first thing he did was steal a car to come to Oakley.  The following constitutes Quiroz’ known criminal activities in 2023:

• February 8, 2023- arrested for being under the influence of drugs and unable to care for himself (Brentwood PD)
• February 22, 2023- identified as the suspect in a carjacking involving threats of harm and death (Oakley PD)
• March 5, 2023- arrested for robbery, terrorist threats, false imprisonment and probation violation (Antioch PD)
• April 15, 2023- arrested for being drunk in public and unable to care for himself (Antioch PD)
• April 26, 2023- arrested for lewd conduct and theft (Antioch PD)
• April 27, 2023- arrested for evading officers and being in possession of a stolen vehicle (Oakley PD)

I suspect some people will look at the pattern of Quiroz’ activities and come to the conclusion many of his offenses have been “victimless crimes”. What I see however, is a strong pattern of criminal activity. We are barely past one quarter of 2023 and Quiroz has been arrested more times in this quarter than most readers of this article have been in their whole lives. When I consider the fact pattern of our carjacking case in February, the fact Quiroz was arrested for robbery and false imprisonment in March, and when I consider the lives Quiroz placed at risk during today’s pursuit I see many opportunities for his actions to create a great number of victims, so I am not apt to equate no harm to no foul. These crimes (fouls) did occur and there are victims associated to them.

Are you tired of the consistent pattern of crimes that occur time and time again? Are you tired of the more violent society we have? Are you tired of organized retail thefts when you spend your time working hard to pay for everything you need? If you answered ‘yes’ to all three of these questions I am in complete agreement with you. We need better legislation. We need legislation that would work for the people to undo the damage AB 109, Prop 47 and Prop 57 have done and we need to return necessary tools back to prosecutors, and the criminal justice system as a whole, in order to establish much more accountability for criminal behavior and a much greater degree of safety for society. Until then I will continue to appreciate and rely on the police officers of the Oakley Police Department, and the region as a whole, to keep doing what they do to keep the public safe.

Stay safe everybody.”

Suspect Has History of Arrests

In addition to his arrests this year, ccording to localcrimenws.com, Quiroz has a history of arrested dating back to July 2018 by the Solano County Sheriff’s, Antioch, BART Police, Vallejo, American  Canyon and San Leandro Police Departments for outstanding warrants, parole violations, drug possession, assault with a deadly weapon or with force likely to cause great bodily harm, threats of violence, vandalism of $6,000 or more and failure to appear.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

Prayers for Our Nation, State, County, City, Churches, Families & Youth, Military & Veterans and First Responders

A 2023 National Day of Prayer Luncheon will be held in Antioch this Thursday, May 4 from Noon – 1:30 PM at the Solid Rock Café – Home of Q’s Cajun Kitchen, 422 W. 2nd Street, Rivertown, Antioch.

This year’s national theme verse is James 5:16B – “Pray fervently in righteousness and avail much.”

Prayers will be offered for our Nation, State, County, City, Churches, Families & Youth, Military & Veterans, First Responders and Businesses.

Tickets are $24 per person and can be purchased on Eventbrite here. Seating is limited to 90 people.