The 2nd Annual Candlelight Memorial Service and Tree Lighting was held Thursday at the Oak View Memorial Park in Antioch, hosted by the park and Higgins Chapel.

John Goodner at Elite Photography and Design took these photos.

On November 17 at 5:44 p.m. a 15 year old female was walking in the southbound lanes of traffic on Lone Tree Way near Clearbrook Drive when she was struck by a white Ford pick-up truck traveling southbound on Lone Tree Way.

The pick-up was driven by Jose Sandoval, 60, of Antioch. Sandoval fled the scene and went home. He left the truck at his residence and was given a ride to a local hotel where police eventually contacted him. Sandoval was subsequently arrested for felony drunk driving and felony hit and run and was booked into the county jail.

The victim was transported to an area hospital where she was being treated for significant injuries. The injuries do not appear to be life threatening at this time.

The accident is still under investigation. Anybody witnessing the accident or with information pertaining to this investigation is asked to contact Officer Johnsen at 779-6900 ext. 84265.

When you think of the average workday for a local chemist, you may imagine sterile laboratories, protective clothing and intricate laboratory equipment. However, don’t be surprised if the next time you are boating or fishing in the Delta you meet one of the chemists from the Delta Diablo Sanitation District (DDSD) going about their work safeguarding the environment where protection means a life vest and sunscreen.

DDSD is responsible for collecting and treating wastewater from all homes, businesses, industries in Antioch. After we flush a toilet, shower, run the dishwasher or do a load of laundry, our domestic waste begins a process of physical and biological treatments to remove bacteria’s, chemicals, and other harmful substances before being released back into the Delta.

It is the role of wastewater chemists to perform and or review the laboratory tests necessary to ensure that processed wastewater meets all standards set by the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination (NPDES) permit. The NPDES permit details all the federal and state government guidelines DDSD is required to achieve before treated wastewater can be discharged back into the Delta.

Meeting these regulations requires a range of tests and reporting which are required daily, monthly, quarterly or semi-annually. Failure to meet these guidelines can result in violations and large fines.

Gurmukh Grewal has been a chemist at DDSD since 1990. Recently awarded the Grade IV Laboratory Analyst certification, the highest qualification bestowed by the California Water Environment Association, he is responsible for collecting and processing samples of the wastewater during all stages of the process to ensure that DDSD is in full compliance with its NPDES permit.

Tests are undertaken to determine specific levels of pollutants such as ammonia, pesticides, metals and bacteria. Tests are undertaken at the Plant, but also in sections of the Delta which are only accessible by boat. Testing done on the Delta is to ensure treated wastewater discharge doesn’t have any negative impact on our local ecosystems.

According to Grewal, “Even after 21 years, every test I undertake is challenging to ensure we are fully protecting the Delta”.

Treating wastewater requires the commitment of highly skilled worked to continually meet the increasing stringent regulations. This past summer DDSD was awarded the National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA), Platinum 7 Peak Performance Awards recognizing zero discharge violations over seven consecutive years. Achieved by only 1% of wastewater treatment operations nation-wide, this award acknowledges public wastewater treatment facilities for 100% operating compliance with its NPDES permit.

Ballot measures are going to be crowded in 2012. Seems everyone from the Legislature in Sacramento on down to our local school district board wants to ask taxpayers to pay more, except for BART.

Although BART directors also considered asking voters in three counties for more money next year, they’ve apparently decided to wait until 2013 to ask voters to approve a parcel tax to replace aging train cars. The measure would require two-thirds approval. (Board members, Joel Keller and Gail Murray said they favor an even later date such as 2014.)

BART says their decision was based on a poll in which 65% of those surveyed in the spring generally supported the ballot measure for a parcel tax of $45 per home per year. Wonder who BART surveyed? Was it those who ride BART daily or just a phone poll survey like the numerous ones I’m receiving these days? I don’t know as the poll results were presented to the Board not in a general meeting at Board headquarters, but at a retreat on Nov. 12.

According to my query to BART’s new communications chief, the retreat was held at the Renaissance ClubSport Hotel in Walnut Creek. I guess we should all be grateful the retreat wasn’t held in New Orleans where 4 BART Directors and 9 BART employees recently attended the annual APTA conference.

Frankly I object to any public agency retreating and holding meetings behind closed doors. BART directors receive a monthly stipend of $1,386.19 per month for 2011, minus a deduction of $100 if a director misses a meeting for a committee of which the director is a member.

Directors are eligible for the same benefits as most employees e.g. medical, dental and vision coverage for director, spouse/domestic partner and eligible dependents (director share of monthly premium is currently $86.95, the same as most employees.) Eligibility of former directors for health benefits upon leaving service is dependent on when directors first served and length of service.

Directors who served before 1/1/95 and serve a minimum of 12 years are eligible for benefits on the same terms as district employees/retirees. Others may participate in health plans on a fully self paid basis as long as they serve at least ONE full term.

BART also makes contributions equal to approximately 8.3% of the directors’ compensation into the Money Purchase Pension Plan in lieu of Social Security, have a $10,000 life insurance policy while active and upon leaving service if served for 12 years and receive a BART Transportation Pass, which is good not only for the director but his eligible spouse/domestic partner and eligible dependents while actively serving and upon LEAVING service. Sounds like a pretty sweet deal to me.

I won’t be approving any BART tax measure – whether it’s in 2012, 2013 or 2014. If BART is seeking more revenues they should just raise fares now.

State Senator Mark DeSaulnier is hosting a Town Hall Meeting on “State Government and Budget Reform” on Thursday, November 17th from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm at the Brentwood Senior Activity Center, 193 Griffith Lane in Brentwood.

A.J. Swearingen and Jonathan Beedle have been performing this remarkable tribute to the music of Simon & Garfunkel for more than a decade and their sold out shows prove the effect on their audiences is undeniable.

A chance meeting in 1991, in a local club in Bethlehem, PA, brought these two talented artists together. A brief introduction and moments later they were blending their voices as if they had been performing together for a lifetime.

A.J.’s warm baritone and Jonathan’s soaring tenor combine flawlessly to capture the essence and magic of “Simon & Garfunkel’s” sound of the early years in Greenwich Village.

With a quiet stage and an acoustic guitar, A.J. and Jonathan re-create the memories of the classic hits and obscure songs of Simon & Garfunkel. Discover why audiences are cheering for this duo as they capture the magic of Simon and Garfunkel.

Watch a YouTube video at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=MZ7Dvw4LZw4

Artist website: http://www.simonandgarfunkeltribute.com/

Saturday November 19, 2011, 8:00 pm

Tickets: Adults: $27, Seniors (62 and Older) $24, Child (17 and Under) $15

Tickets May Be Purchased in Advance at the Ticket Office, 604 W. Second Street – Next Door To The Theatre, Monday through Friday 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. and 1 hour before Showtime or by phone: (925) 757-9500 or ONLINE at http://elcampaniltheatre.com/events/prior/TributeToSimon&Garfunkel.htm

The 7th Annual Local Artist Collection begins on December 3rd and continues through December 21st.

The free artist reception will be held December 3rd, 2-4 PM. The exhibit, a local favorite, features 35 local artists, is a diverse, non-themed mixed media exhibit of artworks featuring paintings and photographs.

In its 7th year, the show is a local favorite and provides the community an opportunity to view and purchase art during the holiday season.

Participating artists are: Rosalinda Grejsen, Jill Ann Cooke, Sherry Cummings, Paul Schorr, David E. Fraser, Sam Gill, Ken Tomlin, Lisa Salazar, Julia Starr, Mauricio Ramirez, Mayette Ignacio, Sandy Gangwer, Kathleen Henderson, Sue Clanton, Nordyn Anderson, Julia Offord, Mark Jezierny, Sherry Morris, Kay Kirby, Milian Correa, FROgard Butler, Mark Pemberton, Elizabeth Westfall, Sheila Fisher, Fred Hoskins, Joel Summerhill, Ramona Kennon-Frink, Sal Valencia, Michelle Ramirez, Sandra Berkson, Lynn Peterson, Jeanne Wallen, Josie O’Malley, Jo Cotarelo and Gloria Cannon.

The Lynn House Gallery is located at 809 W. 1st Street in Antioch (across from the Amtrak Train Station) and is open Wednesdays and Saturdays, during exhibits from 1-4 PM.

For more information, visit www.art4antioch.org or contact Diane Gibson-Gray at the Arts & Cultural Foundation at 925.325.9897 or e-mail Diane@art4antioch.org.

$100,000 allocated for code enforcement

By James Ott

City leaders have decided to postpone the closure of the Fulton Shipyard boat ramp due to public pressure to save the 53-year-old facility.

City staff recommended at last Tuesday’s City Council meeting to close the free boat launch, saying the ramp and its surrounding area are a haven for crime and a threat to the income potential of Antioch’s new Marina ramp. Constructed in 1958, it’s now little more than a criminal nest and blight on the city, according to staff and Antioch Police Capt. Stephen J. McConnell.

Police were called 298 times to the Fulton Ramp over the last five years to deal with stolen and vandalized vehicles, drug dealing and drug use, assaults and vandalism among other crimes, said McConnell.

City staff also said they are concerned with potential pollution because Antioch’s fresh water intake pipe is right next to the west side of the Fulton Ramp. They say 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.

In addition, closing Fulton Ramp would conserve much needed funds currently spent maintaining the area, say staff. And closing the free boat launch will force residents to launch their boats at the new Marina Ramp for a $5 fee, thereby increasing city revenue.

Two residents told the council they’re aware of the problems, but would prefer that the city find a way to conserve the property because of its historical significance to Antioch. Robinson provided a petition with hundreds of names asking to postpone the ramp closure.

“There hasn’t been enough study to close this place down,” said Rick Robinson. “Please postpone this until we get experts who know this river, that know about the history of this area so that we can talk about this.”

Sheila White, who owns The Red Caboose restaurant near the Fulton Ramp, fears that closing the ramp will severely hurt the business she has owned for over eight years. White argued that while there are unsavory types that hang near the ramp, there are criminals all over the city, and she said that none of her customer’s cars have been vandalized.

White and Robinson suggested the area be turned into a park because they say there’s no other free place for residents to hang out near the water.

Councilman Brian Kalinowski suggested leasing the ramp to a private company that would clean up the area, removing the burden from the city while still keeping the ramp open for residents.

In the end the council voted unanimously to reconvene in January to discuss the item with more public input before deciding the fate of the Fulton Ramp.

Other items at the meeting:

The council voted unanimously to allocate $100,000 of community benefit money from the general fund to re-establish some form of city code enforcement after the economic crisis destroyed the city’s original 11-person Code Enforcement Division. Staff said the violations most worthy of attention are related to unoccupied and abandoned houses and trash buildup in residential areas.

Because of limited funding, however, the city is likely to only hire one employee to address just a few of the most critical code violations. A full time code enforcement officer is expected to cost the city $50-$59 an hour with overhead expected to double that cost to around $100 to $118 an hour.

Kalinowski disagreed with those figures and suggested that staff re-evaluate them. He also didn’t want to wait until January or February to hire an employee. The job market is so bad that many would be chomping at the bit to get the job, he said.

Councilman Gary Agopian suggested that the city look into creating a volunteer force to assist in code enforcement as well as blight and crime prevention, although the legality of such a volunteer force would have to be decided.

The council also received an annual report from the Antioch Development Agency. California Health and Safety Code requires such a report yearly that reveals what has been accomplished by the agency the prior fiscal year in areas such as blight prevention, properties purchased and any loans that may have defaulted.

The report said the city’s development agency completed blight prevention projects like the widening of L Street between Fourth and Tenth Streets, and is currently looking into a possible interchange at Phillips Lane and infrastructure improvements in the Hillcrest Station area.

The development agency also loaned $300,000 to purchase property for 85 affordable senior homes that will be available to seniors with incomes at or below 50 percent of the area’s median income level.

Antioch’s development agency, like all such agencies across the state, was hit hard by the state’s attempt to dissolve all state redevelopment agencies unless they agreed to pay a large annual fee to the California government. As a result, the development agency was only able to help two first-time homebuyers purchase a home in Antioch, despite more than 50 applications.

The city’s redevelopment agency currently has no loans above $50,000 – nothing below that is required in the report – that are in default.