By Ray Faulkenberry

The Antioch Community Center in Prewett Park opened in January and has quickly become a popular attraction in the community, despite the fact that most people aren’t even aware of it.

Some may say, “How can the city be spending money on a community recreation center when the economy is down, jobs are down, and times are tough?” There are many reasons why and I’ll get to them, but first and foremost the funds used to create this incredible center came from Mello-Roos taxes earmarked for the recreational development.

Don’t be fooled, though, we’re not just talking recreation. The city is also offering an incredible number of services and classes that promote culture, growth, physical fitness, educational opportunities and other topics. A growing library sits just inside the doors alongside a computer lab that anyone can use to surf the Internet, enjoy a cup of coffee and hang out.

The center boasts a cutting-edge preschool that is designed to enhance and stimulate our kids. Also, for the first time in Antioch’s history we have our own 10,000 square foot community gymnasium (one not at a school). This beautiful gym hosts drop-in basketball, volleyball, indoor soccer, gymnastics and a variety of leagues. The gymnasium also hosts crab feeds, large conferences and a bridal faire.

As you know, nothing can be run without the right people. The community center has been blessed to have two facility managers – Susan Vasquez and Al Anthony, who are warm and incredibly dedicated to the city and its mission to enhance and support the community. They are excited about the expanding range of classes that encompass traditional fitness, martial arts, dance and the latest fitness craze – Zumba.

“We’re branching out with the fifty-somethings, as this segment of the population is growing and we want to keep them active,” said Susan.

As a fifty-something myself, I can appreciate the fact that our age needs and wants opportunities to grow, expand, learn and challenge ourselves. For example, the center has plans to incorporate more cooking classes.

Added Al, “We want to make the community center a true gathering place where people can come and hang out, learn, laugh and have fun.

Both Susan and Al are advocates of listening to the community and providing what it wants. They encourage anyone to share thoughts on classes, programs, or events that could benefit the city.

The center also has a gorgeous amphitheatre with tiered seating providing a beautiful view of the mountains as well as the performers.

“We’ve already had two concerts put on by the city where we tested everything and worked out whatever kinks we had,” said Al with more than a little passion in his voice. “The future recreation guide will list concerts. Again, we’ll see what the community wants, and we’ll do our best to give it to them.”

The conference rooms are clean, professional and beautiful. People from all over the East County are renting the banquet room for parties, weddings and receptions of all kinds.

The facility also has the potential to be a fully functioning, police substation.

“Fiscally we’re doing very well,” Susan said. “We’ve had a massive increase in registrations and we’re looking to continue to grow in 2012. We’re expecting an exciting year for the city and we’re doing our best to provide the best services possible.”

We not only have an amazing, gorgeous facility full of programs, classes and opportunity, we also have a center that is run by caring, compassionate, professional people – some of Antioch’s finest.

I’m honored to be able to offer my own small part in the center, as my son, daughter and myself teach the martial arts classes. Come out and see the facility and talk with the staff. It’s a reprieve from the stresses that we experience living in this day and age. Best of all, it is Antioch through and through: practical, professional, and warm.

Ray Faulkenberry, PhD, is an author, coach, and entrepreneur that specialize in helping people and businesses achieve their potential. He teaches Taekwondo and Kenpo at the Recreation Center on Monday and Wednesday nights. Log onto his website and for a short time receive his books on success, leadership, and transformation for free. He can be reached at www.rayfaulkenberry.com or rayfaulkenberry@comcast.net.

Former Antioch City Councilman, Contra Costa County Supervisor and biker Tom Torlakson rode off to a new position in Sacramento.

Now as the state school’s chief, Torlakson is touting his “Schools of the Future” initiative designed to change California laws to encourage more renewable power systems for state schools. (California just lost out on the race for a share of $300 million in Race to the Top funds because of an “incomplete” application.)

Interesting to note that U.S. Congressman George Miller is also touting renewable energy, more specifically a failing California solar company called SunPower. (Miller is now the senior Democrat on the House Education and Workforce Committee.)

SunPower received a $1.2 billion federal loan guarantee for a photovoltaic electric ranch project three weeks AFTER announcing it was building a new manufacturing plant to build the panels for the project in Mexicali, Mexico.

What was Rep. George Miller’s connection to the project? The answer is his SunPower lobbyist son, George Miller IV. Although not a registered lobbyist in Washington, he’s a member of its bar, although not a member of the California bar, home of his lobbying firm, Lang, Hansen, O’Malley and Miller.

SunPower and its officers are defendants in a federal shareholder lawsuit whose plaintiffs include the Austin, Texas Police Retirement System, the Arkansas Teachers Retirement System and a number of institution investors in an alleged scheme to deceive the investing public by making false statements contrary to nonpublic information known to the insiders.

All this was known at the time it received it’s $1.2 billion loan guarantee from US taxpayers to build a new manufacturing plant in Mexico.

Frankly it’s time for a change in Sacramento and Washington D.C. where lobbyists hold sway and members of Congress benefit from insider trading. Let’s start with voting for passage and enforcement of HR 1148, the Stop Trading on Congressional Knowledge Act.

The Antioch Chamber of Commerce is changing the date of the Antioch Business Mixer from December the 8th to Thursday, December 15th from 5pm – 7pm at Paradise Skate Roller
Rinkl, 1201 W. 10th St., Antioch.

This change is to allow chamber members to participate in the Reception honoring Tom Torlakson for his election to State Superintendent of Public Instruction, which will be celebrated on Thursday, December 8, 2011 with the Mayor and City Council from 5 pm to 7 pm.

Those interested in fighting the rising tide of violence in East Contra Costa County’s schools and streets and were unable to attend last month’s anti-violence forum called Peace In The Streets will have the opportunity to hear the speakers and presentations on local television.

The forum, sponsored by Supervisor Federal Glover and the East County Gang Task Force, will be aired on CCTV on Nov. 29 at 1 a.m and on Thursday, Dec. 1 at 6 p.m.

Highlights include remarks from keynote speaker Larry Wallace from the California Attorney General’s office and panelists on the Justice panel and Community Rersponse panel. A presentation on local gangs in East County by the Pittsburg Police Department will be part of the presentation, which was held at Pittsburg High School on Oct. 29.

CCTV is Comcast channel 27; Astound channel 32 and AT&T U-verse channel 99. For additional air dates, visit CCTV’s program guide at www.contracostatv.org.

The Antioch Police Department is excited to announce the 29th installment of the Neighborhood Cleanup Program.

The 28th Neighborhood Cleanup event will occur on Saturday, December 3rd, from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Volunteers should report to Lone Tree Elementary School located at 1931 Mokelumne Drive. Ample parking can be found in the parking lot for the School.

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.

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.

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

This is a collaborative community effort which involves active participation from United Citizens for Better Neighborhoods (UCBN), community volunteers, and the Antioch Police Department Crime Prevention Commission; Neighborhood Watch Program, Target Volunteers, Volunteers in Police Service, community volunteers and the Public Works Department.

Standing in front of Antioch City Hall after the dedication plaque and gardening were recently completed for the Peace Pole are Father Tom Bonacci, founder, and Walter Ruehlig, Advisory Board Member of the Interfaith Peace Project.

The donated pole was installed on September 21st, the U.N.-sponsored International Day of Peace, awaiting the arrival of a plaque from a Pennsylvania foundry. It is inscribed ‘May peace prevail on earth’ in twelve languages common to our area and honors all East County residents of good will.

Made of cedar it is similar to poles planted at the base of Mt. Everest, the magnetic North Pole, Hiroshima and the Great Pyramids at Gaza.

(Photo courtesy of June Kirk.)

Once again the Holiday DeLites Street Parade will not take place this year due to the economic downturn and city funding cuts. However, the Antioch Lighted Boat Parade will be held, as it has been for over twenty-five years.

The event is sponsored by three local yacht clubs: Bridge Marina, Driftwood and Sportsman. The parade begins at 6:00 PM on December 3rd. The best locations to view it are the Antioch Municipal Pier and all along 2nd Street in downtown Antioch. The boat parade is free and will have approximately 15 entries.

The event is also an opportunity to collect toys for homeless students who attend schools in Antioch. Drop off new toys at the Lynn House Gallery, 809 W. First Street before, during or after the parade. For more information email Diane@Art4Antioch.org or call Diane Gibson-Gray at (925) 325-9897.

Mayor Jim Davis

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.

Deer Valley High Choir