AdvanceCamp 2011 will be held Saturday September 24, 2011 at the Contra Costa Fairgrounds in Antioch. The event is the largest single advancement event for Boy Scouts in Northern California.

This year we expect 2,000 attendees, including 1,700 scouts and 300 volunteers. Scouts will be working on rank advancement and over 50 different Merit Badges on their trail to Eagle Scout. The badges this year include four new ones to Boy Scouts: Geocaching, Inventing, Robotics and Scouting Heritage.

For more information contact AdvanceCamp Executive Director Steve Hoagland at 925-595-9156.

By Walter Ruehlig

Any thank you will fall short in expressing gratitude to first responders who put their all on the lines day in and day out. On September 17th the Knights of Columbus, as event sponsor for the tenth year running, tried their modest best to show appreciation.

The day started off with a bagpiper leading the way into St. Ignatius of Antioch Church where a resplendent Blue Mass was held in honor of those in uniform who serve us. The choir and organ music, led by Musical Director Don Pearson, was magnificent. The chief homily, given by Rev. Robert Rien, brought many a wet eye and lumped throat.

Luncheon, organized by Knight Gary Clausen and his staff at Twin Rivers Insurance, followed at Lone Tree Golf and Event Center. Walter Ruehlig emceed an alternatingly light-hearted and praise-filled afternoon. The Quintanilla brothers, Antonio and Carlos, assisted by Robert Plurkowski, brought in the colors.

Dayang Montilla, an opening pitch mainstay for the Stockton Ports baseball team, sang a stirring Star Spangled Banner, and Richard Asadoorian gave spirited a capella renditions of “Ave Maria” and “To Dream the Impossible Dream.” Sound engineering was donated by Malcolm Hunter, video by Joe Montilla of Snapeye Productions and background music by David Hunter on bass and Greg Lyncj on piano.

In attendance were County Board of Supervisor Mary Piepho, Antioch Mayor Pro Tem Wade Harper, City Councilor Mary Rocha, County Board of Education Trustee Cynthia Ruehlig, Antioch School Board Trustee Gary Hack, Antioch Superintendent of Schools Donald Gill, Antioch Chief of Police Alan Cantando, Pittsburg Chief of Police Aaron Baker, Fire Captain Ben Sanders, Lieut. Chris Sherry, Maurice Delmer representing Assemblywoman Susan Bonilla, and Emelyn Struthers representing State Senator Mark DeSaulnier.

Plaques and legislative certificates were given to Antioch P.D. Officer of the Year Jim Stenger, Pittsburg P.D. Officer of the Year Richard Hosier, CCC Fire Prevention District Firefighter of the Year Brett Schooley and California Highway Patrol Office of the Year Mark Mitchell.

As part of the 11 Days Of Peace celebration put on by the Antioch-based Interfaith Peace Project the Islamic Center of the East Bay sponsored an Open House on September 16th with dialogue, a tour and refreshments. Part of the several score in attendance are, standing left to right, Rev. Tom Bonacci, Walter Ruehlig, Sukhdev Singh, Ashraf Chaudry, Susan Batterton, Lesley Eubanks, M.D. Jalal Atmar.

By Amy Claire

While the Antioch School Board recognized improvements in the alternative education program at their September 14 meeting, not everyone was smiling. One teacher from Prospects High School, which is part of the alternative education program, raised concerns about the school’s lack of a vice-principal or a counselor for its students.

Because alternative education students are often those who have struggled with traditional education settings, he saw the removal of the counselor and administrative support as potentially harmful to student development.

Three parents also expressed their disappointment with the district.

The first, angered by the release of private information to an individual who did not have custody over her children, was also upset by the lack of district response to her repeated complaints about the matter.

The second parent, mother of three students who are high achievers and involved in many extracurricular activities, voiced her irritation about an ongoing absence of textbooks in her son’s advanced world history course in high school. She stated that this was an unacceptable state of affairs, particularly now that the school year is four weeks into session.

The third parent was also frustrated by apparent apathy from the district. The day after her son broke his hand at school and failed to complete an assignment, his teacher demanded to know why he had not brought his homework to the hospital in order to finish it. The parent was very upset by this response, but felt further scorned when, after repeatedly contacting administrators and district employees, the issue remained unaddressed.

The board stated that it would look into her situation, as well as those of the other two parents.

The alternative education program, in contrast, projected high spirits. This program, which includes Live Oak, Prospects and Bidwell as well as the adult education program, has recently seen significant increases in student achievement scores, and has helped to raise the graduation rate in the district by 5.2 percent.

Program Principal Amy Farias expressed gratitude to the teachers and staff on her team, and Superintendent Donald Gill agreed. “They make this program proud,” he said.

The board also recognized change order committee member Fred Ehler for his service to the district. They then gave special recognition to two donations from the Antioch High School Alumni Association to the AHS football team and the performing arts program. After the special recognitions, the board was presented with the budget actuals for the 2010 – 2011 school year, which were largely positive.

The next regular school board meeting will be on Wednesday, September 28 at 7 p.m. at the district office, 510 G Street in Antioch.

October 19, 2011  8 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at Los Medanos College, Community Room, L-109, 2700 East Leland Road, Pittsburg. Admission is free. Pre-registration is required on Supervisor Glover’s webpage at www.cccounty.us/supervisorglover.  For more information, call Lynn at 925-427-8138.

Come join the Antioch Band Backer’s Association for the 28th annual Delta Band Review on Saturday, Sept. 24th from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. The competition area is in front of Antioch Middle School on D street. The awards ceremony is at 1 p.m. in Eells Stadium at Antioch High School.

16 bands from Northern and Central California will be judged on music and showmanship. Bands attending include Deer Valley High School, Freedom High School, California High School, Northgate High School, Concord High School as well as many others.

This is a free event, no charge for the parade or awards ceremony. Food will be available for purchase at Antioch High from Sticky Chicken and Ribs, Straw Hat, Cold Stone Creamery and Jamba Juice.