2016 AD 11 Woman of the Year Gloria Martin holds her resolution on the floor of the Assembly, accompanied by Assemblymembers, from left, Chad Mayes (Minority Leader), Cristina Garcia (Women’s Caucus Vice Chair), Speaker Anthony Rendon and Jim Frazier.

Sacramento, CA – Today, Monday, March 14, 2016, Assemblymember Jim Frazier (D-Oakley) honored Gloria Martin on the Assembly Floor as his 2016 Woman of the Year for the 11th Assembly District. Martin, a lifelong resident of Antioch, has quietly given back to her community through philanthropic support by way of the Martin Family Foundation and devoting countless volunteer hours throughout the community.

“It is such an unexpected honor to be recognized for this award,” said Martin. “I would not be able to accomplish this great work without the help of all the other wonderful volunteers in our community.”

Martin developed her community spirit at a young age while attending Antioch schools, including Fremont Elementary, Antioch Junior High School and Antioch High School. She has since spent countless hours supporting children in the community. For over ten years she has been an active board member of the Antioch Schools Education Foundation. During this time she chaired the Fellows Award dinner honoring Antioch’s outstanding teachers and raised money to improve school classrooms through various grants.

In addition to her philanthropic work through local schools, Martin is a proud Rotarian with twenty years of perfect attendance and holding the office of Sergeant at Arms for many years. Martin is also an active member of the Holy Rosary church, Pittsburg Elks Club, Antioch Woman’s Club, Antioch Chamber of Commerce, and Umpqua Bank Advisory Board.

Marin regularly volunteers her time to support her community by participating in red ribbon week, various food banks, the Antioch Senior Center and the Antioch Historical Society. She also supports dozens of other nonprofits, including An Elderly Wish Foundation, the Police Activities League, Antioch High School, East County Boys & Girls Club, Leo Fontana Family Foundation, with a special place in her heart for the REACH Project.

“By selflessly dedicating her life to supporting her community, Gloria is the type of person we all wish to have in our lives,” said Frazier. “She truly lives the Rotary motto of ‘Service above Self’ and I am honored to name her my 2016 Woman of the Year for the 11th Assembly District.”

Frazier honored Martin in a ceremony this afternoon at the California State Capitol with an Assembly Resolution naming her an exemplary California woman.

The Bridge Marina Yacht Club in Antioch will present its 66th annual Opening Day Boat Parade at 1 p.m., Saturday, April 2.

Celebrating the 2016 Chinese calendar’s Year of the Monkey, this year’s boat parade theme is “Monkeying Around on the Delta.”

Decorated vessels will sail round-trip from the south base of the Antioch Bridge to the Antioch Marina.  The best public viewing is from the Riverview Lodge restaurant parking lot and I Street pier.

For more information and to enter the April 2 boat parade, please contact Wrenda Sabino at allstarws@comcast.net or (925) 516-2385.

For more information about Bridge Marina Yacht Club visit www.bridgemarinayachtclub.com.

By Allen Payton

The Antioch City Council will vote to hire a new City Attorney at their meeting, tonight, Tuesday, March 8, 2016. Mayor Wade Harper announced in a news release on Monday that Michael Vigilia, the Assistant City Attorney in Hayward has agreed to all contract terms and the Council is set to approve the contract at the meeting.

According to the news release, Vigilia became Hayward’s Assistant City Attorney in 2011 and has balanced litigation, transactional and advisory responsibilities, and served as legal advisor to the Public Works and Maintenance Services, and Police Departments. He recently advised the Hayward City Council on Prop. 218 and 26 issues related to the creation of a community benefit district in the downtown area. He had previously advised on legislation involving the regulation of outdoor feeding events, overnight camping on City-owned property, illegal dumping and simulated gambling devices.

Prior to his position in Hayward, Vigilia was the Deputy City Attorney for Fresno where he served as City Prosecutor and was appointed Special Deputy District Attorney. He represented the City of Fresno in Code Enforcement proceedings related to serious health and safety violations and served as legal adviser to the Police Department.

According to his LinkedIn profile, Vigilia had also previously worked as a Deputy District Attorney for Tulare County and in the Law Office of Reynaldo G. Santos. He earned his law degree from Santa Clara University School of Law in 2003 and graduated from UCLA in 1999 with a degree in American Literature.

“After conducting a series of interviews with city attorney candidates it became clear that Mike rose to the top as having the background and experience we were searching for,” said Harper.

Vigilia’s compensation package includes an annual salary of $180,000 and a one year severance package. He is set to begin working for Antioch this month.

The Antioch City Council meeting begins at 7:00 p.m. and will be held in the Council Chambers at West 3rd and H Streets in downtown. Meetings can be viewed on Comcast Cable Channel 24 or live stream via the city’s website at www.ci.antioch.ca.us.

By Allen Payton

The Antioch School Board will have another opportunity to approve the televising of their meetings, at their meeting Wednesday night, March 9th.

New Antioch School Board Trustee Fernando Navarro proposed the item be placed on the Board’s agenda.

“We had it as an open discussion a few meetings ago,” he said. “We were asked if anyone wanted to discuss it and I said ‘yes’. The consensus of the Board was we have touched on this many times and it’s a waste of money. But, I wanted a formal agenda item to discuss it and to let the community have a say in it.”

“We spend crazy amount of money without even blinking and this is actually one of our prime responsibilities is parent access to decisions the school board is making,” Navarro said. “This is something we should be spending money on.”

“We have students in audio-video clubs in the district. Maybe we could give them class credit for it,” Navarro suggested.

“This isn’t the 1970’s. We’re in the 21^st Century,” he added.

I agree. It’s long past time the school board does what the Antioch City Council does and that is to both televise their meetings live, on local Comcast Cable Channel 24 and live stream it on their website.

They need to spend the money and make it happen for greater transparency and communication with both parents and taxpayers who live in the district.

If you want to let the school board members know of your thoughts on this matter, attend the meeting at 7:00 p.m. and fill out a speaker card to speak on the item. Meetings are held at the School Services Building, 510 G Street. You can also email them at the following email addresses:

Board President Diane Gibson-Gray – Diane@DianeGibsonGray.com

Board Vice President Walter Ruehlig – Walter.Ruehlig@gmail.com

Trustee Claire Smith – crcdsmith@yahoo.com

Trustee Debra Vinson – debravinson@gmail.com

Trustee Fernando Navarro – stratazoom@hotmail.com

Antioch Chamber of Commerce CEO Dr. Sean Wright (center) with Principals Ken Gardner of Deer Valley High, (left) and Louie Rocha of Antioch High with the Champions On The Rise award.

Earn & Learn East Bay celebrated the Antioch Chamber of Commerce and Dr. Sean Wright as one of three Champions ‘On The Rise’ award winners in 2016 for their support of Education in our community.

“The Antioch Chamber of Commerce, and you as its CEO, are being honored for the countless ways you engage with Antioch Unified School District in its Linked Learning efforts–whether encouraging business engagement in our schools, providing technical assistance and support to Linked Learning pathways, lending a leadership voice to the Linked Learning statewide expansion, or coordinating business/education events to showcase our students and their demonstration of skills, you are to be commended for the passion and dedication you deliver every day to ensure student success,” said April Treece Director of the STEM Workforce Initiative of the Contra Costa Economic Partnership to Wright.

The Award was given on Friday, March 4th at the Hilton Concord at the Earn & Learn Kick-Off Breakfast with Principal of Antioch High School Louie Rocha and Principal of Deer Valley High School Ken Gardner in attendance.

About Earn & Learn East Bay

Earn & Learn East Bay connects employers to regional efforts designed to help grow our future workforce. We place students and young adults ages 16-24 in meaningful workplace experiences including summer jobs, internships and apprenticeships or in industry-led summer learning experiences. To create these opportunities, the Workforce Development Board of Contra Costa County, Contra Costa Economic Partnership and the Earn & Learn East Bay team rely largely on the support of local employers and community-based organizations.

Our efforts to create summer youth employment and enrichment experiences build off of a strong foundation that has provided more than 1,000 summer opportunities over the past five years. Our goal for 2016 is to connect at least 500 young people to jobs, internships and other high -quality work-based learning experiences, such as industry-led summer camps focused on Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM).

Benefits to employer partners:

• ·The opportunity to build your future workforce.
• ·The chance to showcase your industry and organization, including positive publicity as a partner supporting Earn & Learn East Bay (through publications, website, news media and special events).
• ·Direct impact on strengthening communities in the East Bay region.

Benefits to youth:

• ·Hands-on career and technical skills as well as life skills, such as communication, collaboration and critical thinking.
• ·Networking and relationship-building skills, and mentorships with industry professionals.
• ·Access to income and upward mobility, which can break the cycle of poverty.
• ·Newfound confidence in skills and abilities.

How it works:

• ·Learning goals are agreed upon by the youth participant, the employer partner, and a member of the Earn & Learn team, who also works with the participant throughout the summer.
• ·Youth typically work part time or full time over the summer months and earn minimum wage.
• ·The Earn & Learn team connects eligible youth to meaningful work experiences in a variety of industries.
• ·Contracted youth service providers can also serve as the employer of record, providing wages and covering insurance costs.
• ·Limited funds may be available to sponsor youth at your place of business. To find out how you can get involved, please visit www.earnlearneastbay.org or e-mail info@earnlearneastbay.org

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 eastbound direction of State Route 4 between Bailey Road and Contra Loma on Monday through Friday from 4:30 am to 12:00 pm.

There will be highway lane closures in the eastbound direction of State Route 4 between Contra Loma and A Street/Lone Tree Way Monday through Thursday from 11:00 pm to 6:00 am.

RAMP CLOSURES:

There will be a ramp closure at the A Street/Lone Tree Way eastbound off ramp Monday through Thursday from 11:00 pm to 5:00 am.

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

Antioch business and community leaders joined Pastor Shaun, Dianna Nepstad and daughters (with scissors) for the ribbon cutting of Fellowship Church’s new building on Lone Tree Way on Thursday, March 3rd, 2016.

By Allen Payton

Antioch business and community leaders joined Pastor Shaun and Dianna Nepstad on Thursday, March 3rd for a ribbon cutting at the new building for Fellowship Church in Antioch. Located in the former Orchard Supply Hardward building at 4873 Lone Tree Way, the church as grown from 22 people in a living room in 2003 to a weekly attendance of over 2,100 people.

Speaking of the new building, Pastor Nepstad shared some thoughts.

The slogan of Fellowship Church Hope & Healing on the wall inside the new church building.

“We started this whole process about two-and-a-half years ago,” he said. Our church really is about the community Our slogan is Hope and Healing. Hope for tomorrow and healing for their yesterday. We want to give honor back to the city and to one another.”

“This is not a business but we function with all of you,” Nepstad shared with the business owners in attendance. “We’re all in the same business of reaching people in some capacity. Let’s team up together to change the region.”

“I believe our best days are ahead of us for Antioch,” he added.

Then Dianna Nepstad spoke.

“I just want you to know we want to add value to the city,” she stated. “We want to elevate the city. Promotion of the people of God. That leads to a quality of life. Right now is the best time for us. Like my husband said, our best days are ahead of us.”

Representing the City of Antioch, Mayor Wade Harper offered his thoughts.

“This is a great ministry,” he said. “Come and visit. Come and join. The pastor is anointed. He’s funny. You’ll see his members out in the community.”

Speaking of the process for approval the church went through for the new building, Harper said “I made some calls and said I’m the mayor I want them here. What’s the problem?”

“We have a lot of people in Antioch who want to serve God,” he continued.“Anything we can do to serve you please let us know.”

Then Antioch Chamber of Commerce CEO Sean Wright said “I want to thank you for your investment in our community. But I would like you to say a prayer then cut the ribbon.”

Colleen Isenberg representing Congressman Jerry McNerney presented the Nepstads with a certificate of special Congresssional recognition. That was followed by Erica Rodriguez of State Assemblyman Jim Frazier’s office, who presented them with a certificate of recognition.

Then the ribbon was cut marking the official opening and those in attendance were treated to refreshments and a tour of the new building.

Fellowship Church services will be held in their new building for the first time, this Sunday, March 6 at 9:00 a.m. and 11 a.m., and 5:00 p.m.. For more information visit www.thefellowshipchurch.com.