By Amy Claire

The January 18 meeting of the Antioch Unified School District Board of Education included a report on the District’s audited financial statements for the previous school year..

“We look at a number of transactions throughout the year. The audit went very smoothly,” said Jeffrey Jensen, a representative from the auditing firm, to the board members. He expressed appreciation for the cooperation of staff members and district employees during the process.

The report was almost entirely positive.

“We did not have any audit adjustments, so that’s always good news,” said Jensen. “We didn’t have any uncorrected misstatements, either.”

District procedures and records were found to be adequate and accurate, and there were “no compliance-questioned costs” associated with the spending of funds acquired through voter-approved taxes. “Your internal control structure is operating the way you would like to see.”

A few issues were noted – one regarding compliance with state regulations, another regarding attendance and a third regarding Associated Student Body (ASB) issues. Jensen said that these were only minor concerns, and he did not go into detail about them during the meeting. “You had a clean audit this year.”

Tim Forrester, Associate Superintendent of Business and Operations, acknowledged the contribution that each staff member makes each day toward maintaining good accounting practices. “A clean audit report is a one-night look at all the good work that everybody does,” he said.

The firm, Crowe Horwath, served as an independent auditor to ensure that the District’s accounting and financial statements were done correctly.

The next school board meetings will be held on February 8 and February 22, at 7:00 pm, at 510 G Street in Antioch.

On Jan. 18 at approximately 5:40 p.m. an adult male entered the Wells Fargo Bank at 1715 A Street and approached a teller. The man handed the teller a handwritten note demanding all of the money.

The teller alerted other bank employees of the robbery attempt and the man fled the bank on foot and into a nearby residential neighborhood where he began to jump fences. Officers briefly located a man that fit the general description of the responsible, but upon attempted contact he fled over fences.

After an extensive search with K-9s and a helicopter, the suspect was not located. The bank did not suffer any loss in this robbery attempt and no weapon was seen or mentioned.

The suspect was described at a black male adult in his mid 20s. He was approximately 5-feet-7 with a medium build. He had a short 1-to-2inch afro type hairstyle and some facial hair. He was last seen wearing a black hooded sweatshirt, black sweatpants and sunglasses.

If anyone has any information regarding this robbery attempt, please contact the Antioch Police Investigations Unit at 925-779-6926/7.

The rapidly growing Society of St. Vincent de Paul of Contra Costa County (SVdP) announces the appointment of Melanie Anguay as its new executive director.

“Melanie Anguay will help St. Vincent de Paul increase its service to the poor and maximize the benefits that the poor receive from the help we provide,” according to Jim Noe, president of the Contra Costa Council of SVdP.

“Anguay already has had a highly accomplished career in service to the vulnerable,” Noe said. “Her experience with SVdP in Alameda County, and her international efforts to help the impoverished will now benefit those who receive help from SVdP in Contra Costa County.”

For the past six years Anguay worked with the SVdP of Alameda County, first as the director of programs and for the last four years as director of social enterprises. In those roles she managed SVdP’s thrift stores and other facilities, helped develop workforce development programs, a dining room serving 1,000 meals a day, and drop-in resource centers.

In 2005 Anguay was a lay missionary in Cochabamba, Bolivia with the Amanecer Foundation. She managed volunteers in eight facilities for orphans and former street children. Last August Anguay was the western regional leader at the Catholic World Youth Day in Madrid, Spain.

Anguay holds a Master of Business Administration and also a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, both from California State University East Bay in Hayward. She also completed the Executive Program in Social Entrepreneurship at Stanford Graduate School of Business.

She succeeds Ron Weston, who retired after seven years as executive director.”We are grateful for the important work Ron did as SVdP grew,” said Noe. “His efforts helped move us to the point where we can continue to increase our service to the poor.”

Programs offered from St. Vincent de Paul “Family Resource Center” include:
· RotaCare Pittsburg Free Medical Clinic at St. Vincent de Paul; a clinic to provide urgent/primary health care and disease prevention for uninsured adults.
· Free Dining Room, in partnership with Loaves and Fishes of Contra Costa County, providing 150 meals daily, Monday-Friday.
· Homeless Prevention Support by conducting 25,000 person-to-person visits annually, providing assistance to the needy by trained volunteers.
· Food Support Programs in Pittsburg, Brentwood and 22 other St. Vincent de Paul locations within Contra Costa.
· Free clothing/furniture at St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Stores in Pleasant Hill and Pittsburg.
· Thanksgiving/Christmas food baskets to over 1,200 needy families.
· Daytime Homeless Shelter in Pittsburg, in cooperation with “Winter Nights” program, providing daytime shelter October-April.
· One Warm Coat Program, distributing over 12,000 coats in the county.
· Health Programs; including health fairs, flu shot programs, free eye-glass programs, and bi-lingual AA.
· Transitional employment/job training for disabled and recently incarcerated.
· Rental and housing assistance and case management services offered in partnership with Catholic Charities.

Inspired by values of charity, humility, and social justice, the SVdP provides person-to-person service of time, talent and resources to help neighbors in need regardless of gender, national origin, race, or religion. It is part of an international non-profit, organized locally to bring concrete aid and comfort to those who are poor and suffering in Contra Costa County. The Society collaborates with other people and organizations of good will in mitigating need and addressing its causes, making no distinction in those served.

On Jan. 18 at 1:47 p.m. Antioch officers responded to Deer Valley High School after a parent called stating a person had just pointed a handgun at him. The person made a verbal threat while walking towards him.

The parent drove away from the person and contacted a DVHS staff member in the lot who called police. The parent provided a description of the person and another person seen walking with him through the campus and in the direction of Lone Tree Way.

Officers located the two people – Jashowndre Upshaw, 20, and Myrick Rucker, 19 – near Taco Bell in the Deer Valley Plaza. During further investigation, two loaded handguns were located in a vehicle near where the two men were contacted.

Both were identified as the involved persons and Upshaw was identified as the one who pointed the handgun at the victim. Upshaw was booked into the Martinez Detention Facility. Rucker was released from Antioch PD pending further investigation.

It was determined that neither are Deer Valley High School students. All involved parties involved are adults and no students were injured or threatened.

This preliminary information is made available by the Field Services Bureau. Anyone with additional information is asked to contact the Antioch Police Department at (925) 778-2441.

Brown Bag Lunch This Thursday, Jan 19, 2012 from 12pm – 1:30pm in the Antioch Chamber Offices, 101 H Street, Unit 4 Antioch.

Last year the Antioch Chamber made some drastic improvements to its online presence and online tools. During this transition it was important to implement a system that would be a benefit to the Chamber Members.

This week’s Brown Bag Lunch will focus on the available online promotion tools you have access to as a member of the Antioch Chamber. Some of the topics we will cover are:
How to log in and edit your Antioch Chamber business portal (if you are a member you actually have a password and username assigned to you)
How to edit and improve your listing webpage in the online directory
How to post and promote hot deals
How to place a job posting
How to place a free advertisement on the Antioch Chamber website
How to place an ad or promote an event in the Chamber E-blast
And more…

Cost: FREE!
Bring business cards, pen, paper and your Lunch!
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Ribbon Cutting and Open House
Friday, January 20, 2012
10 AM – 11:30 AM
Address:
Venture Commerce Center
5095 Lone Tree Way
Antioch

Ribbon Cutting at 10am
Meet Directors and Staff
Take a tour of the new office
Light snacks will be provided

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Our first business mixer of 2012 is on Thursday, January 26, 2012. Join us for networking, food and fun. This mixer is an opportunity to meet potential power partners, forge new relationships, solidify existing ones and be apart of the Antioch business community.

The Antioch Chamber is looking forward to a great year as we focus on our efforts to promote success
for our business community. Remember to bring plenty of business cards!

Where: Travis Credit Union
2721 Lone Tree Way, Antioch CA 94509
Date: Thursday, January 26 , 2012
Time: 5pm – 7pm

Dissolves Redevelopment Agency

By James Ott

An emotional flood of support from residents will keep the Fulton Shipyard open for the foreseeable future.

City Council members voted unanimously to keep the boat ramp open, after business owners, boaters and long-time patrons rallied to fight the closure of the Fulton Shipyard boat ramp at Tuesday’s city council meeting.

Although city council members said they were keeping an open mind, the tide seemed turned against the boat ramp after a previous staff report had all but condemned the 53-year-old facility.

In the report, Antioch Police Capt. Stephen J. McConnell said that police were called to the boat ramp 298 times over the last five years to deal with vandalism, stolen vehicles, drug dealing, drug use and assaults, among other crimes.

The same staff report went onto claim that the ramp is a potential pollution hazard because Antioch’s fresh water intake pipe is right next to ramp. Staff said that phone booths, shopping carts, porta potties and cars have all been sunk into the river nearby, potentially leaking hazardous waste into the city’s water supply.

As if it wasn’t looking bad enough for the ramp, the report also said that the old facility is a threat to the income potential of Antioch’s new Marina ramp, which currently charges a $5 fee for boat launches – something the Fulton Shipyard boat ramp does for free.

Despite the bad publicity caused by the staff report, the public outcry at that previous meeting was enough to postpone the closure until more public opinion was gathered. There were plenty of opinions at last Tuesday’s meeting – not one in favor of closing the ramp.

“I’m down there every single day,” said resident Charles Andrew Waters. “This stuff about these drugs and all this bull—- – it’s a bunch of lies. And as far as the maintenance: you guys don’t come down there and paint and replace the bench tops. It’s the citizens who replaced the bench tops and clean the boat ramp. If you would pay attention, you guys would know that. All I ever see is someone taking out the garbage and leaving.”

While not everyone was as strongly worded as Waters, the city council really responded to the speakers – particularly those that offered potential solutions to some of the issues brought up in the staff report.

“Make it a park,” suggested resident Rick Robinson. “We’ve got a beautiful spot. I’d love to go out there and take my grandkids and have lunch and just hang out. That’s what we grew up doing”

Other suggestions included charging the same $5 boat launch fee for the Fulton boat ramp that is charged in the new marina, closing the boat ramp at night to reduce crime, having a volunteer committee to clean up and police the area, and seeking new grant money to improve the aging facility.

Everyone that spoke seemed to volunteer their time and effort towards any activity that would save the ramp. Business owners in the area, such as Red Caboose restaurant owner, Sheila White, said that they are eager to do all that they can because the ramp’s closure could mean the end of their livelihoods.

“I’m here to talk about my business,” said White. “I’ve been there nine years. My husband and I made a pledge that we would keep our business clean, that we would contribute to our community and that we would keep our [business] area clean. I employ 12 people. Six of them live in Antioch and have no other job. If I can’t generate new customers, I can’t maintain my business. I care about this town – my children live here and my grandchildren go to school here. I want to stay in business – it’s important to my family.”

Many spoke about long-held community ties and fond memories of the Fulton boat ramp. Resident and business owner Bill Morel’s story in particular made an impression on the crowd and the council.

“In 1960 my girlfriend then, my wife now of 50 years, we’re watching the moon dance across the waves when Officer Mandervilt came down with his flashlight tapping on my Chevy, wanting to know what we were doing down there.” he said. “I said fishing but…”

In the end city council members were thoroughly convinced that despite a staff report that gave no reason to keep the ramp open, there were in fact, plenty of reasons to do just that.

“Your passion and your concern is obvious,” said council member Gary Agopian. “I think Antioch benefits from having as many ways to access the Delta as possible. There’s people here who are willing and they’re already doing the work – I’ve seen them picking up the trash and painting the graffiti. The more boaters that get on the river from Antioch the better for us.

“Even though we have evidence of crime, I’m not sure how this breaks down. Since it’s free, I’d encourage people to use the new launch as well but … I’m in favor of … working with the citizens who want to maintain it and ensure the area.”

The council voted unanimously to keep the Fulton Shipyard boat ramp open and to have the city manager create a subcommittee within the next 60 days to handle the boat ramp policies and procedures of operation going forward.

In other business…

In response to the State Supreme Court decision to allow the state to disband redevelopment agencies and use the funds for other state obligations, the council voted to dissolve the Antioch Development Agency, the city’s redevelopment agency and suspend all redevelopment activities with the exception of scheduled payments and current obligations, from previously issued bonds.  Staff pointed out that additional actions will be required of the council in the coming months to comply with the court decision, including deciding whether or not the city will serve as the Successor Agency to manage the winding down of responsibilities of the disbanded agency at the council’s January 24th meeting.

The council also voted to eliminate earthquake insurance for both city hall and the police station, saving the city approximately $124,000 in this year’s budget, because it could not find a policy on the open market from a reputable company at a reasonable cost.

The council voted in support of transferring the State Route 4 Bypass to the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) to be part of State Route 4 and included in the State Highway system, instead of a locally maintained road as it is currently classified. This was the plan from the beginning, and requires the approval of the Cities of Oakley and Brentwood, as well as the State Route 4 Bypass Authority and Caltrans. In addition, part of the agreement with Caltrans includes that agency turning over control to the cities of the current State Route 4, known as Main Street in Oakley and Brentwood Blvd. in Brentwood.

The public is warmly welcomed this Saturday, January 21st to the annual Santo Nino Celebration, sponsored by the Fil-Am Club, to Holy Rosary Church at 1316 A Street, Antioch.

Join in for all or any of the festivities, which start with a resplendent 5:30 Mass with songs in Tagalog and offerings of flowers by elegantly costumed youth. At 6:45 a Filippino feast starts at the rear of the parking lot in the Father Vicente Dominican Hall. At 7:15 entertainment begins, which includes native and popular dance acts, comedy and vocal and instrumental solos. The food and show are both free.

The Celebration is one of the most festive in the Philippines, The origin dates back to the landing of Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan who was commissioned in 1519 by the King and Queen of Spain to find the Spice Islands. Instead, Magellan landed at Limawsa in the central Philippines.

He was befriended by King Humabon and Queen Juana of Cebu, who embraced Christianity. Magellan then used Cebu as headquarters for his exploration, Christianization and conquests, At the behest of the gracious King, Magellan agreed to join his fight against the neighboring Mactan tribe. He was killed.

In 1565 the Spanish organized a return expedition from Mexico. It was led by Augustinian priest, Andres Urdaneta, a world-renowned cosmographer. The natives, though, feared retribution and a battle quickly ensued. Pounded by cannon and superior firepower the natives retreated to the mountains. Their villages were decimated.

In the ashes a Spanish soldier found a wooden box with an unscathed image of the infant Jesus. It was deemed a miracle and for four and half centuries the icon has been venerated. Further devotion ensued from instances like the World War II bomb that heavily damaged the cathedral but, again, left the icon untouched.

A strong tradition of adoring the infant Jesus took root in the Philippines. The Cebu Cathedral was renovated on the 400th anniversary of the fire and declared by the Vatican a Basilica Minore, with all the attendant status and privileges.

By Dave Roberts

Like a giant octopus grabbing helpless humans in a horror movie, a new bureaucracy is squeezing the Bay Area.

One Bay Area is a plan to push Bay Area residents out of their cars and jam them into pack-and-stack high rises in the coming decades. The goal: cut greenhouse gas emissions and supposedly help save the planet from global warming.

One Bay Area is mandated by SB 375, the Sustainable Communities and Climate Protection Act of 2008. It was passed by the Democratic-controlled Legislature and signed into law by then-Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, a Republican. SB 375 is not as well known as AB 32, the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006. But SB 375 well could affect Californians’ lives more directly.

One Bay Area is supported by the Bay Area’s liberal politicians, planning bureaucrats, environmentalists, social justice advocates and other elites. The plan is scheduled to be approved by the Association of Bay Area Governments and the Metropolitan Transportation Commission in spring 2013.

Click here to read the rest of this article: http://www.calwatchdog.com/2012/01/16/bureaucratic-octopus-grabs-bay-area/