The Friends of Laurel Ridge are Hosting a Crab Feed on Saturday, January 14th from 6 until 9 pm. in an effort to “Get Kids To Camp.”

The Cost is $45 per Person. Enjoy Great Crab & Tri-Tip in a warm friendly environment while supporting the Children and Student Ministries’ Camps and Mission Trips. Live Music from “Oldskool.” This is an alcohol-free event.

Find more info and purchase tickets online at http://www.LaurelRidgeChurch.org or www.FriendsOfLaurelRidge.bbnow.org.

The El Campanil Theatre in Antioch hosted a very special graduation ceremony on Dec. 22 for thirteen talented and grateful Contra Costa County residents.

Known as Opportunity Junction’s “Class 36”, this group of graduates definitely has something to celebrate this Holiday Season having just completed an intensive three months of full-time job placement and training.

Receiving their diplomas, each spoke of the commitment it took, not only by themselves but by their spouses, children, parents and friends – many of whom were in the audience – to get through the intensive program. They also recognized in their personal and emotional speeches that this was a life-changing opportunity which they were thankful to have been selected to participate in.

Founded in 1999, Opportunity Junction is a non-profit organization in Antioch which provides education and career training for qualified Contra Costa residents. Its mission is to fight poverty by helping low-income adults gain the skills and confidence to support themselves and their families.

Supported by community partnerships, grants, in-kind donations, pro bono services and donations from the public, Opportunity Junction’s successful Job Training and Placement program is able to combine technology training, personal development and real world experience to adults. Alumni are followed for at least 18 months and continue to be offered services including career counselling and mentoring indefinitely.

According to Alissa Friedman, Executive Director at Opportunity Junction, “There is a tremendous need for workers today to have strong technology and workplace skills. Without education, experience and stability many residents in Contra Costa County struggle to secure a job which can meet their basic needs.

She added, “Last night’s graduation ceremony means these thirteen wonderful people are now ready to get on the road to economic self-sufficiency with enhanced skills and more self confidence.”

What’s next for these special graduates? In the New Year they return to Opportunity Junction to commence up to four months of paid internships using the skills introduced during training. That is if they don’t find a full-time job first.

Ms. Friedman reminds potential employers that unlike staffing firms, Opportunity Junction’s Temp-to-Hire program has no conversion fees. Contact her to find out if your organization or agency qualifies for available tax credits through this program.

If you missed the graduation ceremony last night in Antioch, don’t worry because it will be available for viewing on CCTV (Comcast channel 27, Astound channel 32 and AT&T U-verse channel 99) Monday, January 9 at 8:00 pm, Wednesday, January 11 at 2 pm, Wednesday, January 18 at 2 pm.

For information about Opportunity Junction’s programs and services, visit http://www.opportunityjunction.org or contact Alissa Friedman, Executive Director, at 925-776-1133, alissa@opportunityjunction.org.

Please join Take Back Antioch on January 9th for a Spaghetti Feed and Benefit Auction to raise money for Lone Tree Elementary and Diablo Vista Elementary Schools.

Both these schools were recently affected by arson and vandalism. Proceeds from the fundraiser will be designated for ‘Safety and Security’ needs at both schools. All funds raised will be split 50/50 between the participating schools.

The feed will be held on January 9th from 5 PM to 8:30 PM at The Red Caboose Restaurant located at 210 Fulton Road in Antioch. Diablo Vista seating from 5-7; Lone Tree seating from 6:30-8:30. Tickets are $7 ($3/child 12 and under) and can be purchased at the door or in advance by emailing info@takebackantioch.com.

TBA is accepting donations from local business for the Benefit Auction. To donate a product or service to the auction please contact Veli Waller at tbaspaghettifeed@gmail.com. In exchange, participating businesses will be thanked at the event.

Sara Trail with one of the dresses she designed and made.

Talent of Quilting Passed Down In Her Family for Four Generations

Sara Trail’s Great-Great Grandmother, Margaret Smart, was brought to America in the mid 1700’s as a 12- year-old, captured, Ethiopian slave. Margaret, the first known quilter in her family, passed the artof quilting on to Sara’s great-grandmother who passed quilting on to her grandmother, who lives in Alabama, and she on to her mother.

“I was introduced to sewing as a four year old.” Sara said. “I vividly recall sitting on my mother’s lap and helping her guide quilt fabric under the sewing machine.”

Bernie Cabrara of Antioch’s Queen B’s Quilt Shop allowed Sara, at nine-years-old, to take her first of many adult Quilting classes. Bernie sometimes had to call Sara’s mother, Kay Trail, and ask her to pick Sara up early due to her incessant chatter and ‘over-zealous’ assistance offered to her adult classmates.

All of the Antioch quilting ladies have helped Sara learn more about sewing and have been extraordinary in their love and technical training, she shared.

Sara’s most influential quilting mentor is long time Antioch resident (like a grandmother to her), Mrs. Eleanor O’Donnell. Because of her patient and skilled quilt training, combined with lots of homemade treats, for many, many hours a week, over the course of several years, Sara was offered her first book deal at 12 years of age.

Professor Laverne Edwards – a retired design school and architecture professor and member of the same church as Sara – has been personally responsible for teaching Sara everything she now knows about couture level clothing construction and pattern design.

After many hours and years of Edwards’ expert instruction, Sara was offered an opportunity to design for Simplicity Patterns.

“God has blessed me with access to my two sewing mentors at an early age,” Sara stated. “I am humbled by their gracious and willing spirit to train me as a young girl, free of charge since I was eight years old and continuing to whenever I need help.”

Sara has authored three books, ‘Sew With Sara,’ ‘Simplicity Home,’ and ‘Simplicity Crafts.’ She has also been featured in a three-project DVD entitled, ‘Cool Stuff To Sew With Sara.’ The books and the DVD can be purchased at major book stores and on Amazon.com.

Last year, Sara was licensed to design fabric by Fabri-Quilt located in Kansas City, Missouri. Her designer fabric collection of eight fabrics is called, ‘Biology 101, By Sara Trail.’

The fabrics will be sold in major fabric stores across the U.S. and in Europe next spring.

She also designs clothing, home decor and accessories for Simplicity Patterns, Inc. Of New York City and her Simplicity patterns, ‘Designed With Love by Sara’ can be purchased at Wal-mart and Joann’s Fabrics stores across the U.S. and throughout the world.

Sara has a goal of establishing a ‘free of charge’ sewing studio for those children without the means to pay for private sewing classes in Antioch. The studio would be open to any child who has a desire to empower themselves through the art of sewing.

A high school senior at Contra Costa Christian School in Walnut Creek, Sara plans to attend college next fall in Northern California. She is a member of the Grace Temple Church of God in Christ where she works as an assistant children’s church teacher.

She is the only child of, whom she describes as her “fantastic parents,” Eddie and Katrinka (Kay) Trail and lives with them and her two dogs, Maddie and Cheetah, in Antioch.

Sara’s experience of only sixteen years has taught her well that it truly takes a village to raise a child and says “I am so blessed to be a part of the Antioch village!”

Recently Sara spoke to the Antioch Rotary Club, sharing her experiences in a rapid-fire speech, as well as some of her products, to the delight of the lunchtime audience.

Dr. Jim Green said her talk was one of the most enjoyable and memorable in his 40 years as a Rotarian.

For more information, visit Sara’s website at www.sewsarasew.com.

By Harry Stoll

I parked in the lot by Antioch Lumber under a silverblue sky. On the glass river an outboard yellow boat was anchored facing upstream. Three still silhouettes held three poles, one facing aft one forward one facing the windblades spinning white across the river.

The eternal dog was let out of the eternal station wagon, his tongue hanging out looking forward to whatever was to be.

The waterhouse inlet was spiritual in its commonness under the slanting sun. The bridge rose in a shallow slight wiry arc across the eastern horizon.

I drove “downtown.” Outside Nature’s Bounty a Conestoga sat on the sidewalk. An animal cage lashed to it and totes and paper bags and blankets and clothes hanging haphazardly but with some definite grand plan. The undercarriage may have once been corporate.

I went in, the young counter woman said she couldn’t make me a sandwich they were soon to close. Only soup remained. Lentil curry. OK said I.

The wagonmistress of the Conestoga was there. I remembered her. Young, maybe once pretty but with a face scarred scared and red. I didn’t know the whereabouts of the soup spoons and she brought and offered them to me. I thanked her and tried for eye contact. Nothing. I believe I wrote about her several years ago in one of my river pilgrimages.

I drank the soup seated in my Caddie then headed a poetic west. The Antioch Radiator Company abandoned was still sinking one corner into the primordial muck. I passed the citadel PD, turned right toward the giant vise grips in the sky. Smacked down to the ground now. Storage units to go there.

“Conforms to the zoning for the area, the General Plan, the highest best use of the land, the Dead Hand, approval recommended with the findings of.”

I headed toward the civilized Hazel’s. To the south the sensuous folds of Diablo were dark when low and light when high.

By Walter Ruehlig

The Antioch 2012 Fourth of July Parade and Fireworks Planning Committee came to the City Council meeting on December 13th bearing both gifts and good news. The Committee presented the Mayor and Council members with t-shirts announcing “The Tradition Returns.”

Joy Motts and Martha Parsons, who have been beating the pavement tirelessly, also shared the good tidings that the Committee had received two corporate pledges and a foundation grant of a guaranteed minimum of five thousand dollars each, or fifteen thousand total, with a possible range of up to $25,000 coming from two of the sponsors.

The donors are in the midst of annual budgeting so won’t know the exact amount until March. We will temporarily keep their identity anonymous but traction for a full blown event now seems sure.

The Committee, which has been meeting monthly, is chaired by Louis Green, Allen Payton and Walter Ruehlig. Logistics is being handled by Tim Forrester and Wayne Harrison; corporate fund-raising by Joy Motts and Martha Parsons; citizen fund-raising by Jim and Earlene Lantier; Kids Zone activities by Jeff Warrenburg; food by Robin Agopian; note-taking by Carole Harrison; meeting venue by Connie Kumar of Ricks on Second; promotion by Al Mason and Kerry Motts.

The Committee has set a deadline of January 15th to raise, via corporate and foundation donations, half the 60K funding needed for a full-blown event and then kick-off a citizen donations campaign. More details will follow regarding needed community support.

T-shirt, Glo-sticks and youth-group run soft beverage sales the day of the event will generate additional money for future celebrations. The intention, though, is to be in the black before then. The fireworks bill runs 20K, barge 5K, police holiday coverage 16K, city set-up/clean-up 3K; with incidental costs of promotion, sound system, stages, etc.

The goal is to bring back this celebration, now privately funded, as Antioch’s preeminent, signature civic event. Plans are emerging for a classic car show, eating contest, ten food booths, multiple bands, kids zone, parade with Clydesdale horses, and a grand finale fireworks show.

Past events used to generate crowds of fifteen and twenty thousand. We hope to rebuild to, and then surpass, that figure and to put our city on the map as a premier family fun Fourth of July celebration.

If you have fundraising or event ideas to share, or perhaps an interest in joining the Steering Committee, contact Walter Ruehlig at (925) 756-7628 or walter.ruehlig @gmail.com.

Tickets for the 10th annual major fundraiser for Antioch’s An Elderly Wish Foundation – the Heart to Heart Ball – which will be held on Saturday, February 25, 2012, are now available for $60 per person.

This year’s theme is “Moments to Remember” and will prove to be a memorable evening with an elegant dinner dance, live auction and live band at the Lone Tree Golf Course & Event Center. For information call 978-1883 email info@elderlywish.org or visit www.ElderlyWish.org.