Congressman Mark DeSaulnier (CA-11) will continue his longtime practice of meeting on-on-one with constituents during Mobile District Office Hours in Martinez on Saturday, March 5^th from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm. Since elected as a new Member of Congress, DeSaulnier has held eleven town halls throughout Contra Costa County and continues to hold listening tours across the district.

“We strive to be accessible to the people we serve, and invite Contra Costa County residents to join us in Martinez or at one of our future stops. This is an opportunity for constituents to talk with me about issues of importance or concern and learn about the constituent services my office can provide,” said DeSaulnier.

The congressman will be on hand to share thoughts and to answer questions on federal legislation, and to assist with issues related to Social Security, the Veteran’s Administration, passports, or other federal agencies.

• What: Congressman DeSaulnier’s Mobile District Office Hours
• When: Saturday, March 5th from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm
• Where: Contra Costa County, Department of Conservation and Development, 30 Muir Road, Martinez

First-come, first-served. No appointment necessary. Event is open to all residents of California’s 11th congressional district

For more information or to confirm you are a resident of the 11th district, which includes parts of Antioch, please email CA11.RSVP@mail.house.gov or call (925) 933-2660.

The Antioch Police Department is excited to announce the 69th installment of the Neighborhood Cleanup Program. The event will occur on Saturday, March 5th  from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at Lucena Way and Lopez Dr.  We will be cleaning the neighborhoods along Lopez Dr. from Gentrytown Dr. to Carmona Way.

This is a collaborative community effort which involves active participation from The Antioch Police Department Crime Prevention Commission; Neighborhood Watch Program; Volunteers in Police Service; community volunteers and the Public Works Department.

Collectively, “We”, everyone who works and lives in the City Antioch, can make a difference and improve the quality of life. It’s our community and it’s our chance to make a difference.

The City of Antioch Neighborhood Cleanup program is not just for residential neighborhoods. It is a program that will change venues on a monthly basis and it will include business and commercial areas as well. Neighborhoods that are free of trash and refuse are inviting, and a clean community instills a sense of community pride.

Volunteers will receive instructions and the equipment necessary to accomplish the goal. The targeted area is within walking distance.  Excluding inclement weather, future Neighborhood Cleanup events are scheduled for the first Saturday of every month and the locations will be announced in advance.

Remember, cleaning up your neighborhood can make life better for your family, your neighbors and your community.

By Pastor Kirkland Smith

We cordially invite you to support and participate in our 2^nd Annual Crab Feed, on Friday, March 4th, 7:00PM to 10:00PM at Grace Bible Fellowship of Antioch, 3415 Oakley Road, Antioch, CA, 94509, in the McKinnon Hall. The cost is $45 per person or $30 for a plate to go.  Checks should be made payable to “Grace Kings”.

Grace Kings is a young men’s mentoring program that we started over a year ago.  Our mission is to work towards a holistic approach to nurturing and developing at-risk African American males between the ages of 9-17 years old, with the expectancy of producing confident, hard-working, intelligent, leaders that are driven to succeed.  This fundraiser will allow us to receive funding to continue to expand the program which includes starting a non-profit business.  We are now in the process of obtaining our business license.

We’re hoping you can attend this event and if not, please help us with a donated item for our Silent Auction (sport memorabilia, gift cards, fine art, electronics, etc.).  If you have an item(s) you’d like to donate, please contact Wanda Dunmore at wdunmore@gbfofantioch.org or by phone at (925) 206-0509 to make arrangements for pick-up. For a donation of $250.00 or more, will entitle you to receive 4 tickets to the Crab Feed and preferred seating.

We are under a 501(c) 3 organization and your donations are tax deductible. Our Federal Tax ID: 61-1440404.

Thank you in advance for your support.

Treyvon Hall

The Antioch Chamber of Commerce announced Friday, February 26th the selection of the 2015 Antioch Youth of the Year is Treyvon Hall and the Runner-up is Savannah Vanderzwan, both juniors at Antioch High School.

The Antioch Unified School District, along with the community of the City of Antioch, continues to nurture and grow amazing young adults. The Antioch Chamber of Commerce has the opportunity to recognize the Youth of the Year for 2015 at the Antioch Chamber of Commerce Inaugural Gala on Friday, March 11th.

Treyvon Hall, Antioch High School Junior is being recognized as the Youth of the Year for 2015 and Savannah Vanderzwan, also a junior at Antioch High School Junior is the runner up.

Lucas Stuart-Chilcote, a senior at Dozier-Libbey Medical High School, along with Aimie McGoldrick, a senior at Antioch High School will be recognized as nominees for Youth of the Year.

Treyvon’s extra-curricular activities and club memberships include Conflict Mediation, Tobacco Use Prevention Education(TUPE), National Coalition Building Institute (NCBI), Careers In Teaching, Link Crew, Buddy Club, Care Club, Positivity Pals.

In addition, he plays on the JV football team as a receiver and corner, and on the JV volleyball team at Antioch High, and his interests include airplanes, motor sports and fitness.

Treyvon’s future plans include going to college and becoming a pilot or a flight attendant.

According to the Antioch Unified School District’s Facebook page “Both students will be honored at an awards dinner March 11th at the Lone Tree Golf Center. Both Treyvon and Savannah will be recognized for their work with fellow students. Treyvon works with students who are in conflict in order to find a non-violent and satisfying resolution to the conflict. AHS administration states that suspensions are down over 25% this year over last year — something they say Treyvon definitely had a hand in.

Savannah Vanderzwan

Savannah will be recognized for her work with special needs students. Last year, Savannah created the Buddy Club which paired special needs students with other students at Antioch High School. The students eat lunch together, attend events and, recently, attended the Special Olympics together –with AHS students cheering on their special needs friends.”

In addition to recognizing the 2015 Award winners:  Youth of the Year, Citizens of the Year, Non-profit of the Year and Business of the Year, Michele Copeland will receive the Chairman’s Award and Lindana Martell will receive the Ambassador of the Year award.

The Antioch Chamber of Commerce Inaugural Gala will be held on Friday, March 11th, 6 PM at the Lone Tree Golf & Event Center, 4800 Golf Course Road in Antioch. Tickets are on sale now at AntiochChamber.com, emailing JDossey@AntiochChamber.com or by calling (925) 757-1800.

Officials celebrate after cutting the ribbon on the new Highway 4/160 northbound ramp on Monday, Feb. 29, 2016. photo by Allen Payton

Officials highlight improved regional mobility, waterfront access and congestion relief with Ribbon Cutting Ceremony, Monday

Antioch/Oakley, CA—The Contra Costa Transportation Authority (CCTA) and the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC)/Bay Area Toll Authority (BATA), joined by state, regional, and local officials, marked the completion of work on the much-needed $50 million connection between State Route 160, the Senator John A. Nejedly Bridge (Antioch Bridge), and Highway 4 with a brief ribbon cutting ceremony Monday morning, February 29th.

“It will reduce greenhouse gases and congestion on local roads,” said CCTA Executive Director Randell Iwasaki.

The new ramps – one connecting westbound Highway 4 to northbound State Route 160, and one connecting southbound State Route 160 to eastbound Highway 4 – opened Monday afternoon and eliminate the U-turn that was previously required at Hillcrest Avenue, reduce through traffic and congestion on Oakley’s city streets, and improve access for Eastern Contra Costa County.

The new Highway 4/160 interchange ramps opened on Monday, Feb. 29 following a ribbon cutting ceremony. photo courtesy of CCTA

The completed State Route 160/Highway 4 Direct Connector Ramps add an additional 12-foot auxiliary lane to State Route 160 in both directions between the State Route 160/Highway 4 Interchange and the East 18th/Main Street Interchange. The new structure crosses the median of Highway 4 at a height that can accommodate a future BART extension.

“This makes the northern waterfront more viable for economic growth,” said Assemblyman Jim Frazier, who was part of the CCTA Board and an Oakley Councilman when the funding for the project was approved.

The project features sound wall extensions and new retaining walls in addition to the 2.62 new lane miles under construction, and was funded entirely by $50 million in Bay Area Toll Authority (BATA) Bridge Toll Funds.

“MTC/BATA is proud to support these important improvements, which enhance safety and mobility for the residents and motorists of Eastern Contra Costa County,” said Federal Glover, MTC/BATA Commissioner and Contra Costa County Supervisor.

The addition of the interchange connectors is part of a massive $1.3 billion undertaking by CCTA and project partners to widen the Highway 4 corridor between Pittsburg and Antioch in eastern Contra Costa County and extend BART to Antioch.

“This latest segment of the Highway 4 improvement projects is furthering our efforts to improve regional mobility, revitalize the local economy, and improve the quality of life for 250,000 residents in East County,” Iwasaki added. “These projects are possible in large part due to the passage of a local half-cent sales tax by Contra Costa voters in 2004.”

Randell Iwasaki, Executive Director of the CCTA signs a ceremonial check for the project’s leftover funds totaling $1 million, as Steve Heminger, Executive Director of the Metropolitan Transportation Commission and Bijan Sartipi, Region IV Director for CalTrans look on. photo by Allen Payton

The Highway 4 projects include improvements that will help modernize eastern Contra Costa County. The projects expand Highway 4 from four to eight lanes between Loveridge Road in Pittsburg to just west of State Route 160 in Antioch, from two to four lanes from Lone Tree Way to Sand Creek Road in Brentwood, add missing connector ramps at the State Route 160/Highway 4 interchange, and add a BART extension from Pittsburg to Antioch. This will greatly improve transit accessibility for the region, help reduce traffic congestion, and enhance the quality of life for the more than 250,000 residents of eastern Contra Costa County. The projects have been carefully staged to keep 130,000 vehicles per day moving as major construction and demolition work continue. These projects, plus previously constructed projects in the region, bring the total investment in East County to $1.3 billion, including State, Federal, Contra Costa Transportation Authority Measures C and J, regional bridge tolls, and other funds.

For additional information about Highway 4 Corridor Improvements/BART, please visit www.4eastcounty.org

By Corporal Shawn Morin, Antioch Police Field Services Bureau

On Sunday, February 28, 2016 at approximately 1:54 PM, Antioch Police Officers were dispatched to a vehicle collision with injuries at Alumrock Drive and Rockford Drive. Upon our arrival, we located a black Lexus vehicle that had lost control while making a turn on to Alumrock Drive. The Lexus collided with a parked SUV as the occupants of the SUV were getting out of the parked vehicle.

During the collision, a 10-year-old child was struck by one of the cars. The child was treated by medical personnel on scene and subsequently transported to an area hospital for injuries sustained in the collision.

This preliminary information is made available by the Field Services Bureau.

HIGHWAY LANE CLOSURES:

State Route 4:

There will be highway lane closures in the westbound direction of State Route 4 between Railroad Avenue and Contra Loma on Monday through Friday from 11:00 am to 7:00 pm.

There will be highway lane closures in the westbound direction of State Route 4 between State Route 160 to A Street on Tuesday through Thursday from 10:00 pm to 3:00 am and on Friday from 11:00 pm to 3:00 am.

There will be highway lane closures in the eastbound direction of State Route 4 between Bailey Road and Contra Loma on Monday through Friday from 4:30 am to 12:00 pm.

For questions or comments please send e-mail to info@4eastcounty.org.

The pair of tall ships scheduled to visit the San Francisco Bay Area later this month have added six mid-week sailing excursions to accommodate guests who cannot sail on the weekends. Lady Washington and Hawaiian Chieftain, both U.S. Coast Guard inspected passenger vessels, arrive in Oakland February 20 for a 52-day stay, which includes stops in Antioch, Redwood City, and Sausalito. Most public excursions happen on the weekends, but many of the ships’ fans work on the weekends or have family obligations. The ships have added the following mid-week Evening Sails as another option for these guests. Here’s the Evening Sail schedule:

Antioch (City Marina): 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., Thursday, March 3.

Antioch (City Marina): 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., Wednesday, March 9.

Redwood City (Port of Redwood City): 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., Wednesday, March 16.

Redwood City (Port of Redwood City): 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., Wednesday, March 23.

Sausalito (Bay Model): 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., Thursday, March 31.

Sausalito (Bay Model): 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., Wednesday, April 6.

The tall ship Evening Sails are value-priced at $35 per person. The two-hour excursions feature a chance for guests to help raise a sail, learn a sea shanty, and take the helm of a real tall ship, conditions permitting. Tickets are available immediately at www.historicalseaport.org or by calling 800-200-5239.

The ships have also scheduled two-ship cannon battles and single-ship sailing excursions from these ports:

Oakland: February 20-29.

Antioch: March 2-9.

Redwood City: March 12-23.

Sausalito: March 25 to April 11.

Purchase all tickets online at www.historicalseaport.org or by calling 800-200-5239. No reservations are required for the walk-on tours, which are usually scheduled for 4 p.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Saturday and Sunday. For a detailed schedule of tours and sailings, visit www.historicalseaport.org.

Editors: Download high-res images and b-roll of our ships at http://historicalseaport.smugmug.com. Click the “Media Images” category and select a gallery. Information is subject to change without notice. We welcome media aboard to observe operations and interview crew. Contact (media only) Joe Follansbee, 360-589-0766, jfollansbee@historicalseaport.org. Facebook: facebook.com/GHHSA; Pinterest: pinterest.com/ghhsa_wa.

Grays Harbor Historical Seaport is a not-for-profit, 501(c)(3) public development authority based in Aberdeen, Wash. that owns and operates the tall ships Hawaiian Chieftain and Lady Washington, the Official Ship of the State of Washington. GHHSA provides educational, vocational, recreational and ambassadorial activities and experiences that promote and preserve the maritime history of Grays Harbor, the Pacific Northwest, and our nation while serving the needs of the community.