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

We’ll have to wait a century for a repeat of the 11-11-11 phenomena. Come to think of it, that might have been a bit fanciful, Saying ‘we’ that is. In my case I’d certainly have the last laugh on social security. For now, though, we can all boast that we experienced a “repunit palindriome.” How’s that for a mouthful? ‘Repunit’ means a number such as 11, 111, 1111 that contains only the digit “1”.

The number mania got me so curious that I looked closely at my odometer and saw that in 102 miles I would hit 111,111 miles. I hung a note on the visor to remind me to try and show my grandson the milestone, or if I’m on a commute, at least to honk and act crazy. Life is short. Why not recycle the teenage years?

True to to form, Las Vegas had their own way of celebrating 11-11-11 as 200 couples got married at the Little White Chapel. Here’s hoping that some of them have a repunit anniversary!

Antioch may have no wedding chapels but it was not to be outdone. It added its own exclamation to the calendar extravaganza by starting its fourth annual Veterans Day parade at 11 a.m. We had, then, an 11-11-11-11 happening. Best yet, though we had our drizzles, rain or sleet wasn’t going to dampen this affair.

One citizen shared with me the thought of the day; “Lord knows, our men and women in uniform put up with far worse conditions than suffering some measly raindrops. It is the least we can do to honor them.” I say amen to that sentiment.

Honor we did. There was a healthy crowd packing historic Second Street. State Sen. Mark Desaulnier attended as did Antioch Mayor Jim Davis, and Council Members Gary Agopian and Wade Harper and Antioch School Board President Diane Gibson Gray, Vice President Claire Smith and Trustee Walter Ruehlig.

There were four bands, motorcycle groups; representation from all armed forces branches; a dazzling array of civic marching units, all given an introduction by emcee and Asst. Superintendent of Antioch Schools Tim Forrester; Boy and Girl Scouts galore; an overhead helicopter; the splendid East County Military families float; a heartfelt poem by the Mayor’s wife, Sue Davis. Thanks go to Sue and her husband, Jim, and to those who served with them on the organizational committee.

Seems that it was more than the 11-11-11-11 fascination that brought people to the Parade on a damp day. You could tell from the cheers that this event has really captured the heart of Antioch. Plain and simple – they love their veterans.

Walter Ruehlig