District Attorney Mark Peterson will be the guest speaker at Supervisor Federal Glover’s breakfast on Feb. 10. One of the topics he will speak about is his program to fight habitual truancy among school-age children.

Peterson has made fighting truancy one of his cornerstones of his office since he was elected district attorney. Last month, the DA’s Office filed charges against a pair of Rodeo parents because their children missed too many classes. It is the first time in county history that parents are facing charges for their children’s truancy.

“Our goal is to get these kids back in school and get parents to take responsibility for making that happen,” said Peterson.

Since he took office, Peterson has been laying down the groundwork for this program by working with local school districts and law enforcement agencies. He formally unveiled the truancy program in early 2011 to a meeting of the East County Gang Task Force formed by Glover.

The breakfast will be held at the Martinez Event Center, 536 Main St., Martinez and will
start at 7:30 a.m.

“The Breakfast Club was formed as another way of communicating with constituents,” said Glover. “It also serves as a fundraiser for office holder (non-campaign) expenses so that my staff and I can continue our outreach efforts, cover costs for attending informational seminars and workshops, and pay for other office-related expenses not routinely covered by the general fund.”

The breakfasts feature speakers who are usually local, state or federal officials as well as experts in particular fields. The popular events are held quarterly. Individuals who wish to be members and received advance details about upcoming events can pay for the entire year. Nonmembers can also attend and pay $50 per breakfast or $25 if you are a senior citizen or a student.

For more information about the Breakfast Club, call 925-202-5001. Checks can be made payable to Federal D. Glover Officeholder Account ID# 12-44440.

The American Cancer Society invites individuals who want to celebrate the lives of those who have faced cancer, remember loved ones lost and fight back against the disease to join its Relay For Life, scheduled for June 23-June 24th from 10 AM-10 AM at Los Medanos College in Pittsburg.

In 1985, Relay For Life began with one man who walked around a track for 24 hours raising $27,000. This year, Relay For Life is coming to you in more than $4,800 communities.

The Relay For Life kickoff rally is where anyone families, caregivers, cancer survivors, schools, companies, etc., get together to kick off annual Relay For Life activities.

The American Cancer Society Relay For Life is an overnights community celebration where individuals and teams camp out, barbecue, dance, and take turns walking around a track relay style to raise funds to fight cancer. At nightfall, participants will light hundreds of luminaria around the track in a moving ceremony to honor cancer survivors as well as friends and family members lost to the disease.

he American Cancer Society Relay For Life represents hope that those lost to cancer will never be forgotten, that those who face cancer will be supported, and that one day cancer will be eliminated.

WHEN – Tuesday, February 7, 2012 – 6:30 PM
WHERE – The Pittsburg Elks Lodge #1474, 200 Marina Boulevard, Pittsburg, CA 94565
HOW – To join Relay For Life in our community, contact Event Chair Judy Dawson: judy_dawson@att.net, 925-787-9021 or Event Co-Chair Michele Littlefield: mmm5864@comcast.net, 925-813-5274 or visit www.RelayFor Life.org/antiochca

Dow has recently decided to eliminate the use of bicycles at our manufacturing site in Pittsburg, which means we have about 100-130 adult-sized bikes that we would like to donate to some charity. These are not pristine bikes (some are VERY old – almost “classic” looking) but they are all functional. Our employees have been riding them across our site – safely – for decades.

Does anyone have ideas of where we can donate these? A charity can certainly come here to pick and choose what they want. I’m hopeful we can find one or two organizations to take the majority (instead of 15 charities coming to take 5-6 bikes each or dozens of individuals – too labor intensive).

Or if you know an educational program that teaches kids/adults to work on or repair bikes, that would certainly qualify too. Please email if you know of any such organizations.

Patty Deutsche
Senior Manager, Public Affairs
Dow California Operations
The Dow Chemical Company
901 Loveridge Road, Pittsburg, CA 94565
phone: 925.432.5576 | email: pdeutsche@dow.com

The Antioch Police Department is excited to announce the 31st installment of the Neighborhood Cleanup Program on Saturday February 4, 2012, from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Volunteers should report to Fairview Park located at 1301 Crestview Drive.

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 will be scheduled for the first Saturday of every month and the locations will be announced in advance.

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.

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.

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

EAST CONTRA COSTA REPUBLICAN WOMEN FEDERATED WILL MEET ON THURSDAY, FEBUARY 9, 2012, 11:30 A.M. AT VIC STEWART’S, 2270 BALFOUR ROAD, BRENTWOOD. Speaker: Brad Dacus, President, Pacific Justice Institute. GUESTS WELCOME. COST $20. FOR RESERVATIONS AND MENU: (925) 634-5404.

The rapidly growing Society of St. Vincent de Paul of Contra Costa County (SVdP) announces the appointment of Melanie Anguay as its new executive director.

“Melanie Anguay will help St. Vincent de Paul increase its service to the poor and maximize the benefits that the poor receive from the help we provide,” according to Jim Noe, president of the Contra Costa Council of SVdP.

“Anguay already has had a highly accomplished career in service to the vulnerable,” Noe said. “Her experience with SVdP in Alameda County, and her international efforts to help the impoverished will now benefit those who receive help from SVdP in Contra Costa County.”

For the past six years Anguay worked with the SVdP of Alameda County, first as the director of programs and for the last four years as director of social enterprises. In those roles she managed SVdP’s thrift stores and other facilities, helped develop workforce development programs, a dining room serving 1,000 meals a day, and drop-in resource centers.

In 2005 Anguay was a lay missionary in Cochabamba, Bolivia with the Amanecer Foundation. She managed volunteers in eight facilities for orphans and former street children. Last August Anguay was the western regional leader at the Catholic World Youth Day in Madrid, Spain.

Anguay holds a Master of Business Administration and also a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, both from California State University East Bay in Hayward. She also completed the Executive Program in Social Entrepreneurship at Stanford Graduate School of Business.

She succeeds Ron Weston, who retired after seven years as executive director.”We are grateful for the important work Ron did as SVdP grew,” said Noe. “His efforts helped move us to the point where we can continue to increase our service to the poor.”

Programs offered from St. Vincent de Paul “Family Resource Center” include:
· RotaCare Pittsburg Free Medical Clinic at St. Vincent de Paul; a clinic to provide urgent/primary health care and disease prevention for uninsured adults.
· Free Dining Room, in partnership with Loaves and Fishes of Contra Costa County, providing 150 meals daily, Monday-Friday.
· Homeless Prevention Support by conducting 25,000 person-to-person visits annually, providing assistance to the needy by trained volunteers.
· Food Support Programs in Pittsburg, Brentwood and 22 other St. Vincent de Paul locations within Contra Costa.
· Free clothing/furniture at St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Stores in Pleasant Hill and Pittsburg.
· Thanksgiving/Christmas food baskets to over 1,200 needy families.
· Daytime Homeless Shelter in Pittsburg, in cooperation with “Winter Nights” program, providing daytime shelter October-April.
· One Warm Coat Program, distributing over 12,000 coats in the county.
· Health Programs; including health fairs, flu shot programs, free eye-glass programs, and bi-lingual AA.
· Transitional employment/job training for disabled and recently incarcerated.
· Rental and housing assistance and case management services offered in partnership with Catholic Charities.

Inspired by values of charity, humility, and social justice, the SVdP provides person-to-person service of time, talent and resources to help neighbors in need regardless of gender, national origin, race, or religion. It is part of an international non-profit, organized locally to bring concrete aid and comfort to those who are poor and suffering in Contra Costa County. The Society collaborates with other people and organizations of good will in mitigating need and addressing its causes, making no distinction in those served.