In July, Simon & Schuster will publish Freedom: My Book of Firsts, a memoir by Jaycee Lee Dugard, the bestselling author of A Stolen Life, whose widely acclaimed account of being kidnapped at age 11 and remaining a prisoner for 18 years, just outside of the city limits of Antioch, became an international bestseller in 2011, selling over 1.5 million copies in the United States alone.

The kidnapping of Ms. Dugard occurred on June 10, 1991 in South Lake Tahoe, California, as she was walking from her home to her school bus stop. She was 11-years-old at the time.  She remained missing for 18 years, until 2009, when her captor, a convicted sex offender, was arrested.

In her new book, Ms. Dugard will tell the story of her first experiences after years in captivity: the joys that accompanied her newfound freedom and the challenges of adjusting to life on her own. “There is life after something tragic happens,” Ms. Dugard said. “Life doesn’t have to end if you don’t want it to. It’s all in how you look at it. Somehow, I still believe that we each hold the key to our own happiness and you have to grab it where you can in whatever form it might take.”

“Jaycee Dugard is a remarkable woman,” said Jonathan Karp, publisher of Simon & Schuster. “Her strength has been an inspiration to millions, and her story is a remarkable example of resilience and spirit.  Readers of this book will gain a new appreciation of how joyful freedom can be.”

The work will be published on July 12, on the fifth anniversary of the publication of A Stolen Life, in hardcover, ebook, and audio editions by Simon & Schuster in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and India.  Jaycee Lee Dugard was represented by Morton Janklow of Janklow & Nesbit Associates and Nancy Seltzer of Nancy Seltzer & Associates.

Delta Diablo has received the 2016 East Bay Innovation Award known as Catalyst from the East Bay Economic Development Alliance. This prestigious award was presented at the Fox Theater in Oakland, in front of an audience of hundreds from business, government and the non-profit sectors.

Delta Diablo (District) is the joint powers authority that provides water resource recovery services for the City of Antioch, the City of Pittsburg, and the unincorporated community of Bay Point, serving a population of nearly 200,000. The water resource recovery services consist of secondary treatment of wastewater, recycled water production and distribution, pollution prevention, energy recovery, beneficial reuse of biosolids, street sweeping, and household hazardous waste collection. The District operates and maintains a Wastewater Treatment Plant with a 2.2 MG flow equalization basin and 12 MG of storage and Recycled Water Facility.

The event was a result of months-long competition for the best use of innovation across eight industry sectors. Over 100 nominations for the eight categories were submitted. The East Bay comprises 74 cities and has a population of 2.5 million people.

This Catalyst award recognizes Delta Diablo for “transcending organizational boundaries to pull East Bay assets together in new ways and/or catalyze new thinking or processes.” Delta Diablo was specifically recognized for their collaborative partnerships to fund recycled water and develop resource recovery projects from wastewater.

Delta Diablo serves as lead agency for the Western Recycled Water Coalition (WRWC), developing reliable and secure water supplies for the East Bay region, as well as across California and Hawaii. They are also the lead agency for the Bay Area Biosolids to Energy (BAB2E) Coalition, which is pioneering resource recovery technologies that will generate new energy sources from biosolids on a commercial scale.

Antioch Mayor Wade Harper, who is the Chair of Delta Diablo’s Board of Directors, believes this award speaks to how Delta Diablo positively contributes to the East Bay’s culture of innovation.

“The commitment of Delta Diablo to collaborate across diverse sectors, adopt new ways of thinking and introduce new innovation processes is why they were recognized by the Alliance,” he said.

The East Bay Economic Development Alliance is a public-private partnership founded in 1990 to serve the Bay Area’s East Bay region (Alameda and Contra Costa Counties) through business attraction, retention and growth strategies. The East Bay EDA’s mission is to be the regional voice and networking resource for strengthening the economy, building the workforce and enhancing the quality of life in the East Bay.

“Our Catalyst finalists, Delta Diablo and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory/CalCharge, are

excellent examples of how cross-sector partnerships can contribute to the greater good, in a much more sustainable manner,” said Darien Louie, East Bay EDA Executive Director. “We applaud the efforts of Delta Diablo and the impact they have made – and will continue to make – for the businesses and residents of the East Bay region.”

Winning this prestigious award serves as a reminder that Delta Diablo is on the right track. It also reinforces the agency’s commitment to our industry, partners, customers, the environment and the East Bay economy,” added Harper.

Delta Diablo is located at 2500 Pittsburg-Antioch Hwy in Antioch. For more information call (925) 756-1900 or visit www.deltadiablo.com.

By Allen Payton

What was believed to be an attempted abduction of an Antioch High School girl, Tuesday morning, has been relabled suspicious activity by the Antioch Police Department.

According to a news release by Acting Sergeant Shawn Morin, Antioch Police Field Services Bureau, “On March 1, 2016 at approximately 9:44 PM, Antioch Police Officers were dispatched to investigate suspicious incident that occurred near the intersection of L St and Sycamore Dr. Upon arrival, officers learned of a student walking to Antioch High School that was approached by a subject in a vehicle. The subject motioned for the student to come to his vehicle, but the student ignored the man and continued to school.

There was no direct physical contact between the driver and student. Additionally, there was no clear indication of the intent of the subject driving the vehicle. The vehicle was last seen driving north on L St from 18^th St. The vehicle was described as an unknown make and model gold colored minivan. The driver was described as a hispanic male, unknown age, “droopy face” and black hair.”

According to an email from the office of Interim Superintendent Stephanie Anello of the Antioch Unified School District, received, Tuesday afternoon, March 1, 2016, the following phone message was sent out to parents of students in the district:

This is the Antioch Unified School District calling with an important safety announcement. Earlier today, an Antioch High School student reported that she was approached by a man in a van who attempted to grab her wrist. The student was unharmed and is safe.  Antioch Police Department has been notified. The van was described by the student as older with faded gold paint and a license plate with the letters 4 and D in it. The man driving the van was described by the student as Latino with bushy eyebrows. The student reported that this occurred near Antioch High School. As a precaution, we will have extra security in the area. Please take a moment to review stranger danger with your children and to remind them to never get into a vehicle with a stranger, even when the stranger says that he or she is a friend or has been sent to pick them up by another family member. As always, your child’s safety is our number one concern. Please do not hesitate to contact your child’s school should you have further questions or concerns.

Congressman Mark DeSaulnier (CA-11) will continue his longtime practice of meeting on-on-one with constituents during Mobile District Office Hours in Martinez on Saturday, March 5^th from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm. Since elected as a new Member of Congress, DeSaulnier has held eleven town halls throughout Contra Costa County and continues to hold listening tours across the district.

“We strive to be accessible to the people we serve, and invite Contra Costa County residents to join us in Martinez or at one of our future stops. This is an opportunity for constituents to talk with me about issues of importance or concern and learn about the constituent services my office can provide,” said DeSaulnier.

The congressman will be on hand to share thoughts and to answer questions on federal legislation, and to assist with issues related to Social Security, the Veteran’s Administration, passports, or other federal agencies.

• What: Congressman DeSaulnier’s Mobile District Office Hours
• When: Saturday, March 5th from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm
• Where: Contra Costa County, Department of Conservation and Development, 30 Muir Road, Martinez

First-come, first-served. No appointment necessary. Event is open to all residents of California’s 11th congressional district

For more information or to confirm you are a resident of the 11th district, which includes parts of Antioch, please email CA11.RSVP@mail.house.gov or call (925) 933-2660.

Treyvon Hall

The Antioch Chamber of Commerce announced Friday, February 26th the selection of the 2015 Antioch Youth of the Year is Treyvon Hall and the Runner-up is Savannah Vanderzwan, both juniors at Antioch High School.

The Antioch Unified School District, along with the community of the City of Antioch, continues to nurture and grow amazing young adults. The Antioch Chamber of Commerce has the opportunity to recognize the Youth of the Year for 2015 at the Antioch Chamber of Commerce Inaugural Gala on Friday, March 11th.

Treyvon Hall, Antioch High School Junior is being recognized as the Youth of the Year for 2015 and Savannah Vanderzwan, also a junior at Antioch High School Junior is the runner up.

Lucas Stuart-Chilcote, a senior at Dozier-Libbey Medical High School, along with Aimie McGoldrick, a senior at Antioch High School will be recognized as nominees for Youth of the Year.

Treyvon’s extra-curricular activities and club memberships include Conflict Mediation, Tobacco Use Prevention Education(TUPE), National Coalition Building Institute (NCBI), Careers In Teaching, Link Crew, Buddy Club, Care Club, Positivity Pals.

In addition, he plays on the JV football team as a receiver and corner, and on the JV volleyball team at Antioch High, and his interests include airplanes, motor sports and fitness.

Treyvon’s future plans include going to college and becoming a pilot or a flight attendant.

According to the Antioch Unified School District’s Facebook page “Both students will be honored at an awards dinner March 11th at the Lone Tree Golf Center. Both Treyvon and Savannah will be recognized for their work with fellow students. Treyvon works with students who are in conflict in order to find a non-violent and satisfying resolution to the conflict. AHS administration states that suspensions are down over 25% this year over last year — something they say Treyvon definitely had a hand in.

Savannah Vanderzwan

Savannah will be recognized for her work with special needs students. Last year, Savannah created the Buddy Club which paired special needs students with other students at Antioch High School. The students eat lunch together, attend events and, recently, attended the Special Olympics together –with AHS students cheering on their special needs friends.”

In addition to recognizing the 2015 Award winners:  Youth of the Year, Citizens of the Year, Non-profit of the Year and Business of the Year, Michele Copeland will receive the Chairman’s Award and Lindana Martell will receive the Ambassador of the Year award.

The Antioch Chamber of Commerce Inaugural Gala will be held on Friday, March 11th, 6 PM at the Lone Tree Golf & Event Center, 4800 Golf Course Road in Antioch. Tickets are on sale now at AntiochChamber.com, emailing JDossey@AntiochChamber.com or by calling (925) 757-1800.

Officials celebrate after cutting the ribbon on the new Highway 4/160 northbound ramp on Monday, Feb. 29, 2016. photo by Allen Payton

Officials highlight improved regional mobility, waterfront access and congestion relief with Ribbon Cutting Ceremony, Monday

Antioch/Oakley, CA—The Contra Costa Transportation Authority (CCTA) and the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC)/Bay Area Toll Authority (BATA), joined by state, regional, and local officials, marked the completion of work on the much-needed $50 million connection between State Route 160, the Senator John A. Nejedly Bridge (Antioch Bridge), and Highway 4 with a brief ribbon cutting ceremony Monday morning, February 29th.

“It will reduce greenhouse gases and congestion on local roads,” said CCTA Executive Director Randell Iwasaki.

The new ramps – one connecting westbound Highway 4 to northbound State Route 160, and one connecting southbound State Route 160 to eastbound Highway 4 – opened Monday afternoon and eliminate the U-turn that was previously required at Hillcrest Avenue, reduce through traffic and congestion on Oakley’s city streets, and improve access for Eastern Contra Costa County.

The new Highway 4/160 interchange ramps opened on Monday, Feb. 29 following a ribbon cutting ceremony. photo courtesy of CCTA

The completed State Route 160/Highway 4 Direct Connector Ramps add an additional 12-foot auxiliary lane to State Route 160 in both directions between the State Route 160/Highway 4 Interchange and the East 18th/Main Street Interchange. The new structure crosses the median of Highway 4 at a height that can accommodate a future BART extension.

“This makes the northern waterfront more viable for economic growth,” said Assemblyman Jim Frazier, who was part of the CCTA Board and an Oakley Councilman when the funding for the project was approved.

The project features sound wall extensions and new retaining walls in addition to the 2.62 new lane miles under construction, and was funded entirely by $50 million in Bay Area Toll Authority (BATA) Bridge Toll Funds.

“MTC/BATA is proud to support these important improvements, which enhance safety and mobility for the residents and motorists of Eastern Contra Costa County,” said Federal Glover, MTC/BATA Commissioner and Contra Costa County Supervisor.

The addition of the interchange connectors is part of a massive $1.3 billion undertaking by CCTA and project partners to widen the Highway 4 corridor between Pittsburg and Antioch in eastern Contra Costa County and extend BART to Antioch.

“This latest segment of the Highway 4 improvement projects is furthering our efforts to improve regional mobility, revitalize the local economy, and improve the quality of life for 250,000 residents in East County,” Iwasaki added. “These projects are possible in large part due to the passage of a local half-cent sales tax by Contra Costa voters in 2004.”

Randell Iwasaki, Executive Director of the CCTA signs a ceremonial check for the project’s leftover funds totaling $1 million, as Steve Heminger, Executive Director of the Metropolitan Transportation Commission and Bijan Sartipi, Region IV Director for CalTrans look on. photo by Allen Payton

The Highway 4 projects include improvements that will help modernize eastern Contra Costa County. The projects expand Highway 4 from four to eight lanes between Loveridge Road in Pittsburg to just west of State Route 160 in Antioch, from two to four lanes from Lone Tree Way to Sand Creek Road in Brentwood, add missing connector ramps at the State Route 160/Highway 4 interchange, and add a BART extension from Pittsburg to Antioch. This will greatly improve transit accessibility for the region, help reduce traffic congestion, and enhance the quality of life for the more than 250,000 residents of eastern Contra Costa County. The projects have been carefully staged to keep 130,000 vehicles per day moving as major construction and demolition work continue. These projects, plus previously constructed projects in the region, bring the total investment in East County to $1.3 billion, including State, Federal, Contra Costa Transportation Authority Measures C and J, regional bridge tolls, and other funds.

For additional information about Highway 4 Corridor Improvements/BART, please visit www.4eastcounty.org

HIGHWAY LANE CLOSURES:

State Route 4:

There will be highway lane closures in the westbound direction of State Route 4 between Railroad Avenue and Contra Loma on Monday through Friday from 11:00 am to 7:00 pm.

There will be highway lane closures in the westbound direction of State Route 4 between State Route 160 to A Street on Tuesday through Thursday from 10:00 pm to 3:00 am and on Friday from 11:00 pm to 3:00 am.

There will be highway lane closures in the eastbound direction of State Route 4 between Bailey Road and Contra Loma on Monday through Friday from 4:30 am to 12:00 pm.

For questions or comments please send e-mail to info@4eastcounty.org.

Maria McClain, math teacher, Deer Valley High School, Antioch Unified School District

By Allen Payton

Deer Valley High math teacher, Maria McClain was recently named one of the eight semi-finalists for 2016 California’s Teacher of the Year. Each year thousands of teachers throughout the State are nominated by their Districts. Finalists from each County are then nominated for the State award.

was recognized for her contribution to the teaching profession at a gala held last week in Sacramento. She is the only teacher from Contra Costa County to be either a semi-finalist or finalist for 2016.

McClain is in her 29th year of teaching grades 10–12 for the Antioch Unified School District. For the past 20 years, McClain has been at Deer Valley High School (Antioch). McClain has taught high school pre-calculus, AP Calculus, AP statistics, and algebra, as well as junior high school mathematics and algebra.

Last year, she was chosen as one of two 2015–2016 Teachers of the Year for Contra Costa County.

McClain obtained her undergraduate college units at Diablo Valley College, followed by earning her bachelor’s degree in mathematics and teaching credentials at California State University, Sacramento.

“Congratulations Ms. McClain and Deer Valley High School — you continue the tradition of great teaching in the Antioch Unified School District,” reads the statement on the AUSD Facebook page.

For more information on the California Teachers of the Year, visit www.cde.ca.gov/nr/ne/yr15/yr15rel79.asp.