By Walter Ruehlig

Dozier-Libbey Medical High School had a recognition bash December 9th that filled a good part of the gymnasium. State Superintendent of Schools Tom Torlakson, introduced by AUSD School Board President Diane Gibson-Gray, was the keynote speaker.

State Assemblywoman Susan Bonilla presented a certificate from the California Legislature honoring the achievement of DLMHS as a California Distinguished School. Dozier-Libbey was also recongnized for being one of a handful of California schools recognized by Connect Ed as a certified Linked Pathways institution.

Principal Nancy Castro and Antioch Superintendent Don Gill beamed at the recognitions and promised that the best was yet to come. They also acknowledged the tireless efforts of Executive Director of Programs and Interventions, Robin Schmitt, in putting together all the pieces of the Linked Pathways programs that has launched Antioch into the innovative forefront state-wide.

Other officials present included representatives from Congressman John Garamendi’s and State Sen. Mark DeSaulnier’s offices; City Council members Gary Agopian and and Mary Rocha; Cynthia Ruehlig, Trustee, County Board of Education; and Antioch School Board members, Diane Gibson-Gray, Vice President Claire Smith, Joy Motts and Walter Ruehlig.

All in attendance seemed wowed at the achievement of a school that is only into its’ fourth year and has held the standard for AUSD marks in attendance, API scores, successful U.C. system entrance requirement completion (A-G) and CAHSEE exit exam marks.

After the festive occasion, which included student speeches and music by the Dozier-Libbey High band, many of the attendees made their way over to Prewett Community Center where Tom Torlakson was honored for his thirty plus years of public service to Antioch. Tom has served as a City Counselor at the ripe age of age 27, a four term County Supervisor, a State Assemblyman and Senator. As the State Superintendent of Schools, Tom is the first Contra Costa official to be elected to a state-wide office.

After a stirring performance by the Antioch Music Masters, conducted by Ron Molina, and remarks by Mayor Jim Davis, City Councilwoman Mary Rocha introduced Tom by commenting on the fact that he sees the worth in, and relates to, everyone, from the Mayor to the blue collar worker.

Tom, from his side, remarked on how Antioch would always be home and that in looking out at old friends he saw his roots, like in the Kiwanis Club members present, Dave Massey, Martha Parsons and Kay Powers, a group that has worked closely with him on his annual Holiday Run that is closing in on four decades in the running.

On December 8 at approximately 6 a.m., Antioch Police detectives with the assistance of the Antioch Police Department SWAT team served search warrants at two residences simultaneously in the 4300 block of Wallaby Court in Antioch.

The search warrants were conducted as a result of an investigation into a series of armed robberies of pizza delivery drivers that have been occurring over the last month in the neighborhood. During the robberies, the drivers were robbed at knife point of their pizzas, cash and personal property.

A $250,000 Ramey Warrant for the arrest of Rashied Ali Hudson, 25, was obtained when the investigation identified him as being one of two responsibles. Hudson was identified as the main suspect who was armed with the knife during all of the robberies.

Hudson was located during the search warrant service and was taken into custody without incident. He was later transferred to the Martinez Detention Facility.

Numerous pieces of evidence were located and collected during the searches. The investigation is continuing into identifying the second suspect in this case. Detectives have identified a person of interest and are working to collect further evidence against him.

Anyone with information should contact Detective Santiago Castillo at (925) 779-6933.

Watchful neighbors and community involvement have yet again helped the Antioch Police Department apprehend criminals who were involved in committing residential burglaries.

In recent days there have several burglaries in which caring and watchful neighbors have reported suspicious activity prior to the actual crime being committed. In other cases, neighbors have provided timely and relevant descriptive information just after a burglary was committed and their diligent reporting was instrumental in the suspect’s apprehension.

Protecting the innocent from crime and apprehending those who are responsible for it instills pride in the men and women of the Antioch Police Department. The residents of this community who have been actively assisting in this endeavor are deserving of praise and should be proud that they too are making a difference.

‘Tis the season to be jolly, but it is also the season to be wary of burglars, thieves, pickpockets and other holiday Grinch’s. Nothing can ruin the holiday spirit faster than becoming the victim of a crime. This is the time of year during which we have experience a rise in burglaries.

Unfortunately, burglars view the holiday season a little differently. For them, it is a time of opportunity to burglarize your home and to steal your property, which in many cases includes gifts. Homes with openly displayed Christmas trees that are easily visible from the street are very tempting targets; as are homes where the discarded gift boxes are piled up after the holiday.

The burglars appreciate knowing which homes have expensive gifts inside to steal. Breaking the boxes down or cutting them up prior to disposal will help.

The holiday season is a very busy time and many of us have thousands of things on our minds. Remember to stay alert to your surroundings especially when shopping. Park in areas that have adequate lighting, plan group shopping trips; don’t put purchases inside the passenger compartment of your vehicle; place them in the trunk.

Don’t over burden yourself with carrying too much, don’t carry large amounts of cash and be on the look-out for strangers approaching you for any reason. Con-artists try various methods to distract you with the intention of taking your money or belongings.

Additional crime prevention information on burglaries and personal security can be found in the associated PowerPoint presentations:

http://www.ci.antioch.ca.us/CityGov/Police/beatalert/12081102.pdf

http://www.ci.antioch.ca.us/CityGov/Police/beatalert/12081103.pdf

 

To the editor:

Ready for this? St. Ignatius of Antioch Church, which has been hit three, yes count ’em, three times, for copper, twice within a week, had another attempted ripoff the other night. Luckily, the thief was frightened off by one of the volunteer parishioners who give up their warm beds to patrol the church grounds nightly.

You must have read how for the second time BART was vandalized, with the thieves going out on the tracks themselves. Here in Antioch, this week Marsh Elementary School got hit for the second time. And the beat goes on and on. If you’ve got copper faucets or copper pennies laying around the house, you better have a guard dog. These people are crazed!

On another note, my neighbor was monitoring their outside video cameras the other afternoon when they saw five male youth approach a neighboring house of folks vacationing in Europe. The suspects then proceeded to kick the door down.

My neighbor called the police, but no patrol car was available because of a fight somewhere in Antioch. Eight minutes later the thieves started leaving the house and my neighbor called the police again.

This time they sent out five cars and were apparently able to catch at least two of the suspects, who were running through back yards and climbing fences, including my mother in law’s around the corner from me. In fact, one of the suspects was filmed taking out a change of clothes from his backpack but didn’t change his flaming red socks. The foolishness of youth!

My best advice: get an alarm (which the broken-into folks didn’t have; try to get a house sitter if you are gone; have a dog; iron gate your door; start a Neighborhood Watch. The police are doing their best, but with a force down well over 30 uniformed cops, the ruling maxim is that God helps those who help themselves.

Walter Ruehlig
Antioch

On December 7 at 1:40 p.m. Antioch Police received several calls from citizens regarding a shooting on Manzanita Way at Mahogany Way. Witnesses indicated up to four people were involved and that people were running through the area.

Police officers arrived within minutes of the first call and found two adult males in their 20s suffering from gunshot wounds.

An extensive search was conducted. Some vehicles and structures were hit by gunfire, but no other victims were located. Many items of evidence were collected, including at least one loaded gun. The police are currently following up on several leads.

Two gunshot victims were treated at a local hospital for non-life threatening wounds. Names of victims and responsible parties are not being released at this time.

I really thought the treadmill would change things – mainly my thighs. Instead, I now have a new $300 clothes rack with cup holder (for my chocolate shakes), parked strategically in front of the TV.

Good intentions quickly convert into “not intended for those purposes” real quick-like in my pad.

I see myself getting up, mummy-style, before the rooster crows (or the upstairs neighbor starts showering). I do 10 minutes of brisk walking, then five of running at 3.2 miles per hour. Sweat begins dripping three minutes in, excessive gasps for air rapidly replace the garbled snoring just 15 minutes earlier – then I wake up, treadmill still cold from non-use. Do you burn calories while you dream of running?

Just weeks old, fresh from the big, bulky box (resembling my body) it had been yanked from, this apparatus, this melter-o-flab machine, this torturous hunk of metal with indicator knobs and a circulatory floor mat, bring tears to my eyes and guilt to my conscience. Yes, I pay happily and willingly for infliction of pain. I pay for self-chastisement too. But at least I envision the pay-off. Who doesn’t?

See, what I’m really doing is paying for privacy and good (stuffy) apartment air. Unlike the gym, at home I can run 24/7, with or without make-up, and watch “real” women on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.

Added bonus: I don’t have to chat with a complete stranger-dude who doesn’t know that turning 10 shades of red coupled with extremely heavy panting is biological charades for “I really can’t talk right now, bozo.”

Treading at home means I can wear my cute outfits (that don’t fit cute anymore), without having to don an extra-large cotton tee shirt to cover up what I’m trying to lose. And I could run, hop, skip and jump (off the unit) with no threats of annihilation from a trainer-slash-salesperson wanting me to get on a “program,” down protein powders (now sold in Costco-sized containers) and pop meal-metabolizing pills with the healthy foods I’m supposed to be eating.

Back off, junior-experts with commission checks, I only down Mexican food in those large quantities.

In my humble who-cares-what-I-think-anyway opinion, working out in public (without the trim, fit, you must be starving yourself-bods) is like performing a comedy set without using words or worse yet, in underwear-only. I’d rather go on stage “fit” and prepared (and fully clothed), than vulnerably exposed. The Full Monty, in this case, is just not my idea of weight loss.

Meanwhile, back at the apartment, my newfound dust-collector piece of furniture has potential. It promises me a thinner tomorrow, a private adventure towards a more energized me, and a healthier, cardiovascular circulatory system just begging to challenge any 10-year-old to a race … to the nearest ice cream shop.

Charleen Earley is a freelance writer, humor columnist, comedienne and high school journalism teacher. She can be reached at charleenbearley@gmail.com.

This Saturday December 10th from noon to 3 p.m. is the day for the Holiday Bazaar at Dozier Libbey Medical High School (4900 Sand Creek Road off Deer Valley Rd. – across from the Kaiser Emergency driveway). There will be a photo with Santa opportunity for attendees with small children.

The Bazaar committee is still looking for two more vendors. If anyone is interested, e-mail Erin at erin_patton@yahoo.com. The price is $30.

Police should instead contribute more to retirement

Antioch City Manager Jim Jakel said recently that the city’s current 2011-12 budget deficit is projected to increase in the 2012-13 fiscal year, and if the city can’t come to an resolution with the Antioch Police Officers Association (APOA), the city will have to consider changing police staffing hours and reducing services.

Reduce services? Services have already been cut drastically. The police department is understaffed, gone are code enforcement officers and city departments are closed on Fridays.

City officials have been having ongoing discussions with APOA, which agreed earlier in the year to pay 3% of the 9% employee share of their age 50 retirement benefit. This concession expires January lst, although the city‘s contract with APOA doesn‘t end until August 2013. For this small concession, the Council, unbelievably, awarded them two extra holidays a year!

APOA should note that Contra Costa County deputy sheriffs just ratified a two-year contract that not only will cut their pay 2.8% but require them to pay 80% of any increase in their pension premium increases in 2012 and 75% in 2013. Starting in mid 2013, deputies will pay their FULL share of retirement contributions.

In addition, Governor Jerry Brown has come up with a 12-point pension proposal, which he recently presented to his Joint Conference Committee on Public Employee Pensions. One component of his proposal could cost local workers more because of a provision requiring equal sharing of pension costs between employer and employee.

State workers are less likely to be impacted because most state employees are paying more than or close to half the total normal cost. In comparison, most local government employees are paying less than half the normal cost.

As Ed Mendel at Cal Pensions wrote, “A boost in what employees pay for their pensions would allow employers to cut their pension payments by a similar amount. So the governor’s pension plan could provide budget relief for struggling local governments.”

Interesting to Note: CalPERS newsletter (PERSpective Fall 2011) informed retirees that STATE retirees that are enrolled in a CalPERS Medicare health plan may be entitled to a reimbursement of all or part of their Medicare Part B premium provided the Part B reimbursement not exceed the difference between the maximum employee contribution and the premium for the health plan.

Additionally, the state retiree could be eligible for an ADDITIONAL Medicare Part B reimbursement if the retiree has a higher income level and paid a higher premium because they are subject to an Income Related Monthly Adjustment Amount. This provision doesn’t apply to local government workers who are enrolled in a CalPERS Medicare health plan.

Perhaps one of the first budget cuts Governor Brown could start with is abolishing this special perk for state workers. Unfortunately, he too, like some of our local officials, is afraid to buck unions.