A 19-year-old Antioch male was killed Saturday night after the driver of a vehicle traveling eastbound on James Donlon Boulevard lost control near Nightingale Drive and crashed into a retaining wall, causing the vehicle to flip on its side, according to police.

Two 16-year-old females and the 18-year-old driver were transported to the hospital for injuries – one of the females was in critical condition. The other 18-year-old male passenger was treated at the scene for minor injuries.

Police, who have not released the names of the deceased male or those who were injured, are investigating the cause of the accident.

Mayor Jim Davis said via e-mail that his wife Susan, a police volunteer who was on the scene until 7 a.m. this morning, “called in a drunk driver who almost mowed her down while directing traffic. Resulting in his arrest.”

Shirasoni Japanese Restaurant is currently taking donations on behalf of the American Red Cross for Japan’s Tsunami victims. To encourage donations Shirasoni Japanese Restaurant with be Matching Donations Dollar for Dollar. If you would like to help support this cause, please come in and donate whatever you can spare. Every penny is appreciated!
Shirasoni Japanese Restaurant

Contra Costa Times pet/wildlife columnist Gary Bogue will be the featured guest at the AAUW – American Association of University Women event on Thursday March 24 in St. George’s Episcopal Church Multipurpose room, 301 East 13th Street, Antioch. The event begins at 5:30pm with a wine social, followed at 6pm with dinner and 7pm with the program

You’re invited to spend an evening with the beloved columnist, naturalist and author of 4 books! Hear his stories and adventures while enjoying a delicious tri-tip dinner. Thank you for your support of AAUW – American Association of University Women, Delta Contra Costa Branch’s educational community projects and LMC scholarships

Dinner and program are $20. For tickets call Patty Chan, president, at 779-1079. .

http://www.ibabuzz.com/garybogue/about/

The city's public works employees ask for equal treatment with the police.

By Dave Roberts

The City Council approved an agreement Tuesday night with the police union that saves the city budget $967,000 and avoids the layoff of six police officers that had been announced in December.

“The residents of Antioch can feel confident in knowing that the number of officers patrolling our neighborhoods will not decline in 2011 due to layoff,” said Sgt. Tom Fuhrmann, president of the Antioch Police Officers Association (APOA), before the council took the vote. “This is a major step forward in our battle to keep crime at bay in Antioch.”

The agreement, known as a memorandum of understanding (MOU), saves the cash-strapped city budget nearly $650,000 by deferring the 8.6 percent cost-of-living pay raises that had been scheduled to take effect this year. It also saves nearly $318,000 by having the officers contribute 3 percent to their retirement pensions – previously the entire amount was paid by the city.

The deferral of the pay raise is in addition to deferrals in 2009 and 2010. At some point all of those deferred raises will come due, but that is not specified in the agreement.

To offset the sacrifices, the city’s 100 police officers and 12 dispatchers will receive two additional paid holidays, one on the day after Thanksgiving and the other on New Year’s Eve. The agreement, which remains in effect through this year, specifies that no officers will be laid off in 2011.

Fuhrmann, who has taken a combative, even mocking, attitude with the council in previous appearances, was conciliatory Tuesday night.

“It is with much work that we have forged this agreement, meeting regularly with both Mayor Davis and City Manager Jim Jakel to search out ways our police officers can give back to help the city in this time of financial challenge,” Fuhrmann told the council. “Thank you for your willingness to sit down with us to discuss the issues frankly and earnestly and for your willingness to listen to the views of Antioch police officers.

“It is no shock to know that at the same time Antioch is experiencing a spike in violent crime, there’s been a 21 percent decline in the number of police officers available to patrol Antioch neighborhoods. Yet our officers remain committed to doing their job to ensure the safety of all Antioch residents. I stand before you proud of representing the police officers and dispatchers who work hard for Antioch and who love the Antioch community. We have a history of giving back and have been making concessions by taking home less and contributing more since 2007 when this economic crisis first began.

“We humbly ask you to support this amendment to our MOU so that the city can save nearly $1 million and so our residents can feel safe in knowing there will not be a reduction in police officers on the streets due to layoffs. We remain committed to continuing to work with the city to identify ways we can lower costs and help bring the city of Antioch back to full economic vitality.”

The one note of discord came from Rollie Katz, representing the city’s public works employees, who have made larger compensation concessions than the police.

“For two years we have been making changes to our agreement to help the city out,” Katz told the council. “We have taken a 10 percent pay cut for two years. Not simply deferred pay raises, but taking home 10 percent less. You are now asking us not just to pay 3 percent for six months but to pay more for PERS this year, an additional amount next year and not have a pay raise until sometime in 2013.

“The agreement you’re entering into today with the POA, unless you make further changes in the summer, is not going to solve your budget problems as your people have described them to us. You may get some short-term savings. But if you do not address the other underlying issues, you’re not going to be in any different position six months from now.

“We have had informal discussions with you where we have said we are willing to do things along the parameters you have talked to us, with a little work along the edges, if and only if we get the assurances you will obtain the same thing from all of the groups, and that means the police. It is not fair to say that one group gets treated differently and is special. We have made sacrifices and we think it’s time for you to assure us those sacrifices are not in vain.”

None of the council members addressed Katz’s plea to treat equally those who repair potholes as those who catch criminals.

But Councilman Gary Agopian thanked all of the city employees for “the work you do, past work, current work and future work. It’s going to be very important for our city that we pull together and that we are able to overcome the obstacles, the financial ones primarily. But we have more than financial obstacles that we have to overcome. We all want this city to be a safe, growing, vibrant, caring city. I want to thank them (police) for their courage and their honesty and for their dedication to making this agreement here tonight.”

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For the 8^th year Give Always to Others & Company is hosting the annual free Cesar E. Chavez State Holiday Concert in the Marion Beede Auditorium at Antioch Senior High School on Sunday, March 27^th from 2-5 PM. This free community event will celebrate Cesar Chavez’s message of service and learning through cultural performances, guest speakers, displays chronicling his quest for civil rights.

There will also be information and resources information tables. In his quest for non violence and civil rights, he brought his cause to the communities of East Contra Costa County where many residents joined him in his journey. Mr. Chavez authored many quotes such as “We can choose to use our lives for others to bring about a better and more just world for our children” and this celebration serves as our reminder of his legacy.

The scheduled performers are U.C. Davis Ballet Folkorico, Mariachi Cali and Ballet Foklorico Raices Mexicanas de Maria Valdovinos.  In addition, the Guillermo “Bill” Muniz educational opportunity award will be presented to a high school senior. The scholarship program recognizes the Mr. Muniz’s years of community involvement and generosity to our communities in East Contra Costa County.

 The event is sponsored by Give Always to Others & Company (GATO), City of Antioch, Antioch Unified School District, Keller Canyon Landfill Mitigation Funds, Allied Waste Services, GWF Power Systems, Inc., Mechanics Bank, Los Medanos College Foundation, Arts & Cultural Foundation of Antioch, Gloria Martin & Family, Antioch City Council Member Mary Rocha, Brenden Theatres, Staples (Pittsburg).

Beede Auditorium is located at 700 E. 18th Street. For more information visit www.art4antioch.org or call (925) 325-9897.

The City Council’s next Quality Of Life Forum is set for this Saturday, February 26 from 9:00 a.m. to Noon at Deer Valley High School, located at 4700 Lone Tree Way, Antioch.

For a copy of the agenda, which includes presentations and discussions on the city budget, volunteerism, future priorities and by the school district, please click on http://www.ci.antioch.ca.us/CityGov/agendas/CityCouncil/2011/agendas/022611/022611.pdf.

Lone Tree Golf and Event Center invites you to join us Friday February 25 from 6-10pm at a Wine Tasting Fundraiser for The First Tee.  Appetizers will be prepared by our chef Jonathan Hork. Wine will be provided by Hanna Nicole Vineyards, Watts Winery and Brentwood Spices and Olive Oil. Silent Auction Items include hotel stays, rounds of golf, 49ers memorabilia, dinners at restaurants. There will be special pricing on cases of wine bought at the event

Tickets are available in the pro shop for $45 per person. A large portion of all proceeds will benefit the First Tee foundation.

On Thursday, February 17^th members of the Antioch Police Department along with a Special Olympics Athlete and her mother, volunteered as Celebrity Waiters at Chili’s located at 5809 Lone Tree Way, Antioch.

General Manager Sherie Farwell, Managers Rachael Harding and Jeff Henley and the remainder of the hard working Chili’s staff are deserving of praise for their welcoming spirit and patience in working with the Celebrity Waiters. 

The Chili’s Special Olympics Tip-A-Cop event was a huge success.  As a result of the tremendous community support and gracious donations from many community members, City employees and dignitaries who donated to this worthwhile cause, the fundraising efforts raised $1,686.00.

The outpouring of support during these difficult economic times is a testament to the caring and nurturing nature of our community. The amount of money donated this year exceeded our totals from last year and also exceeded the totals of eight other agencies who participated in Chili’s Tip-A-Cop events in their respective cities. Everyone should be proud of what was accomplished!

The gracious donations are appreciated.  The money we help raise will assist individuals with developmental disabilities reach their fullest potential.  Just know that the charitable donations received will help shape and enrich the lives of the Special Olympic Athletes. The Antioch Police Department thanks you and so do the Special Olympic Athletes!