By Greg Enholm

Have you wanted to go a museum but could not go on a free day or afford the entrance fees? Thanks to our Contra Costa County Library, any Library cardholder can receive a FREE or REDUCED PRICE pass for 30+ museums and other cultural institutions in the Bay Area. All you need to do is know about when you want to go, go to the County Library website (www.ccclib.org), look at the left-hand side column, and click on “Discover & Go” under MUSEUM PASSES. You will then be able to choose among all available options and print out your pass at home without going to the Library. But if you want, you can also go to any of our 26 community Libraries and a Librarian can help you find the museum or cultural institution pass you want.

As of July 1, the following museums and other cultural institutions offer FREE or REDUCED PRICE passes to County Library cardholders (It is very easy to become a cardholder – it’s free and available at any of our 26 community Libraries): Aquarium of the Bay, Asian Art Museum, Bay Area Discovery Museum, Bedford Gallery, Blackhawk Museum, California Academy of Sciences, California Historical Society, California Shakespeare Theater, Cartoon Art Museum, Charles M. Schulz Museum, Children’s Creativity Museum, The Contemporary Jewish Museum, Exploratorium, GLBT History Museum, Golden State Model Railroad Museum, Habitot Children’s Museum, The Lawrence Hall of Science, Lindsay Wildlife Museum, The Marine Mammal Center, Museum of Children’s Art, Museum of Craft and Folk Art, Museum of the African Diaspora (MoAD), Napa Valley Museum, Oakland Aviation Museum, Oakland Museum of California, Oakland Zoo, Pacific Pinball Museum, Peralta Hacienda Historical Park, Ripley’s Believe it or Not! ODDitorium , Saint Mary’s College Museum of Art, San Jose Museum of Art, The Tech Museum, UC Botanical Garden at Berkeley, USS Hornet Museum, Vallejo Naval and Historical Museum, and Yerba Buena Center for the Arts. Detailed information about what kind of passes are available for each institution including time restrictions is available on the website.

Antioch’s main library is located across the street from Antioch Middle School at501 W. 18th Street. Hours are Monday & Tuesday Noon – 8 pm; Wednesday & Thursday 10 am – 5 pm; Saturday Noon – 5 pm; CLOSED: Friday and Sunday.

Antioch’s Full-screen Prewett – GenOn Gateway Center for Learning is across from Deer Valley High School at 4703 Lone Tree Way. Its hours are Tuesday 10 am – 7 pm; Wednesday and Thursday Noon – 8 pm; Friday and Saturday Noon – 5 pm; CLOSED: Monday and Sunday.

Enholm is County Library Commissioner (5^th District – Antioch, Bay Point, Crockett, Hercules, Martinez, Pittsburg, and Rodeo). He can be reached at gbenholm@hotmail.com.

Antioch’s own water park at Prewett Park is open for the Summer.

Rates are as follows: Saturday, Sunday and Holidays $14, Monday through Friday $12, Daily After 4 p.m. $5, Seniors & Active Military (ID required) $5, Lap Pool Swim $4 and children 2 and under Free.

Open daily from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., now through September 2, and the Lap Pool is open from 3:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. Group Rates, Parties, Rentals and Buy Outs are available.

Located at 4701 Lone Tree Way, across from Deer Valley High School, the park also offers a snack bar to satisfy the thirst and hunger of their patrons.

For more information or details call (925) 776-3070 or visit www.ci.antioch.ca.us/CitySvcs/Prewett/#

BART customers will be able to get to the world famous Bay to Breakers race in San Francisco on Sunday, May 20, 2012, because the transit agency will open early and run additional long trains. The race is celebrating its 101th anniversary this year. All BART stations will open early with service starting at approximately 5 am Sunday so racers can get to the race well before Bay to Breakers begins at the new, early start time of 7 am. Trains running before 8 am will run at 20-minute intervals.
Download the special schedule (.pdf) for Bay to Breakers service.
Embarcadero & Montgomery Street Both Convenient
Because the Bay to Breakers race attracts thousands of runners and spectators, BART encourages riders originating from Peninsula and San Francisco stations to get off at Montgomery Street Station. Riders coming from the East Bay should use the Embarcadero Station. Both stations are just a short distance from Howard and Spear Streets, the starting point of the race.

More Tips for Runners
Runners can save themselves time and trouble by getting a Clipper card in advance of race day to pay their  fare. Those who do are reminded to be sure to load enough cash on the card to pay for a round trip fare. Clipper cards are available at transit ticket offices, through ticket vending machines in SFMTA stations and at most Walgreens and other retail locations. BART Ticket Vending Machines will allow you to add cash value to your Clipper card, but do not vend the cards.

Wet or damaged BART tickets will not work in fare gates, so runners who keep a round-trip ticket in their pockets while running seven miles may be disappointed when they try to get home. BART suggests that runners who don’t have a Clipper card should buy two one-way tickets: one ticket before heading to the race and the other before catching the train home instead of buying a single round-trip ticket.

BART reminds runners that shoes and proper attire are required on BART despite the “anything goes” attitude of the famous race. A reminder that there is no eating or drinking in the stations or on the trains so BART officials ask that runners do their pre-race carbo-loading before arriving at the stations. BART will not permit bicycles on the early Bay to Breakers trains that run prior to 8 am.

By James Ott

Nearly 200 people crowded the new boat launch at the Antioch Marina to witness the inaugural ribbon cutting ceremony and the official opening of the boat launch last Saturday.

Citizens of Antioch, the U.S. Coast Guard, Antioch Police, Contra Costa County Sheriff Marine Patrol and Jet Skiers were all on hand to watch the ceremony hosted by Antioch Deputy Director of Community Development Ryan Graham.

After the U.S. Coast Guard presented the U.S. flag on the water for the playing of the National Anthem, Graham spoke to the crowd about the new boat launch.

“This is really exciting,” said Graham. “It’s been a long time coming but… it’s a beautiful facility for the City of Antioch and this is one of many events we plan to have here.”

After the ceremony Diablo Jet Ski Action hosted a jet-ski race in front of nearby Humphrey’s Restaurant and the new boat ramp.

Saturday marked the end of eight years of planning, development and construction for the $3.7 million, state-of-the-art facility.

The facility has parking space for 129 boaters and thanks to another grant received back in January, the new launch will eventually have restrooms, a third boarding float and a payment kiosk.

The launch will be free until the payment kiosk is added, after which boaters will need to shell out $5 to launch their watercraft.

The project was funded in 2004 by a grant from the Department of Boating and Waterways.

Graham and other city leaders say the new facility will provide a better, safer alternative to the free-to-launch Fulton Shipyard Boat Ramp. Although City Council voted to keep it open while they and a core group of dedicated volunteers try to decide how best to update and clean up the decades-old boat ramp, its future is still unknown.

The unsteady future of the Fulton Shipyard boat launch remains an open wound for some Antioch residents, with some claiming the city only wants to shut down the Fulton facility to increase attendence, and thus spending, at the new facility.

Jim Boccio, owner of the Red Caboose – a restaurant near the Fulton boat ramp – was present Saturday to witness the opening of the new Antioch Marina Boat Launch.

“This new ramp is a tremendous facility, we hope that people will come to it,” said Boccio. “But we hope access will remain at both facilities.”

Rick Robinson, a resident of Antioch for 57 years and an attendee at Saturday’s event, agreed: “The more access to the river in Antioch, the better.”

Despite some opposition, overall reaction to the new marina boat launch has been positive.

24-year-old jet skier Johnny Barton was enamored with the new ramp that promises better access to the water for the sport he loves.

“It’s a beautiful day, it’s a beautiful facility and there’s a big turnout,” said Barton. “I think this will bring more people to the water.”

Twins Gabby and Molly Brodowski, 10, both had good things to say about the boat launch.

“It’ll be really good for the city” said Molly.

“It’s a better and safer launch,” said Gabby.

And they both agreed the day was, “really exciting.”

Perhaps one of the new boat launch’s biggest backers is Diablo Jet Ski Action Race Director Jim Lambert, who, until Saturday, had not had the chance to host a jet ski race on the waters of the city he grew up in for three years.

Lambert, who is also a Contra Costa County Sheriff Marine Patrolman, is big on water safety. Which is a big reason why he founded Diablo Jet Ski Action – to provide a safe outlet for speed on the water – and a big reason why he supports the new boat launch, which he said is much safer than the old Fulton facility.

“The new boat launch is incredible,” said Lambert. “Fulton wasn’t functional and safe enough for residents. This [new facility] is in the heart of downtown… [and] it’s completely lit up at night – it’s a five star facility – it really is.”

The City of Antioch is very pleased to announce a ribbon cutting ceremony on Saturday, April 7, 2012 at 10:30 a.m. to officially open the new Antioch Marina Boat Launch Facility located at the foot of “L” Street. The construction of this facility was funded by a grant from the California Department of Boating and Waterways.

In conjunction with the ceremony, Diablo Jet Ski Action will be hosting their season opening race at the boat launch facility.

The ceremony which will begin with the playing of the National Anthem with flags presented on the water by the United States Coast Guard and the Contra Costa County Sheriff Marine Patrol followed by honored dignitaries and, of course, the ribbon cutting.

Everyone is invited to attend the ceremony and stay to mingle with the jet ski racers, visit the displays, enjoy the new launch ramp facility and stay to watch some exciting jet ski racing on Antioch’s waterfront.

Antioch Delta Skimmers invites you to come and try out for the 2012 swim team.  For ages 4-18, Swim try-outs and sign-ups will be held at the Los Medanos College Pool.  2700 East Leland Rd, Pittsburg.  Dates for tryouts are:   March 24^th and April 7^th, from 10:00am to 1:00 pm.  Parents must accompany child and show proof of age when signing up. Don’t forget a towel, a swim cap and goggles! Go to www.antiochdeltaskimmers.com for more info!

Dissolves Redevelopment Agency

By James Ott

An emotional flood of support from residents will keep the Fulton Shipyard open for the foreseeable future.

City Council members voted unanimously to keep the boat ramp open, after business owners, boaters and long-time patrons rallied to fight the closure of the Fulton Shipyard boat ramp at Tuesday’s city council meeting.

Although city council members said they were keeping an open mind, the tide seemed turned against the boat ramp after a previous staff report had all but condemned the 53-year-old facility.

In the report, Antioch Police Capt. Stephen J. McConnell said that police were called to the boat ramp 298 times over the last five years to deal with vandalism, stolen vehicles, drug dealing, drug use and assaults, among other crimes.

The same staff report went onto claim that the ramp is a potential pollution hazard because Antioch’s fresh water intake pipe is right next to ramp. Staff said that phone booths, shopping carts, porta potties and cars have all been sunk into the river nearby, potentially leaking hazardous waste into the city’s water supply.

As if it wasn’t looking bad enough for the ramp, the report also said that the old facility is a threat to the income potential of Antioch’s new Marina ramp, which currently charges a $5 fee for boat launches – something the Fulton Shipyard boat ramp does for free.

Despite the bad publicity caused by the staff report, the public outcry at that previous meeting was enough to postpone the closure until more public opinion was gathered. There were plenty of opinions at last Tuesday’s meeting – not one in favor of closing the ramp.

“I’m down there every single day,” said resident Charles Andrew Waters. “This stuff about these drugs and all this bull—- – it’s a bunch of lies. And as far as the maintenance: you guys don’t come down there and paint and replace the bench tops. It’s the citizens who replaced the bench tops and clean the boat ramp. If you would pay attention, you guys would know that. All I ever see is someone taking out the garbage and leaving.”

While not everyone was as strongly worded as Waters, the city council really responded to the speakers – particularly those that offered potential solutions to some of the issues brought up in the staff report.

“Make it a park,” suggested resident Rick Robinson. “We’ve got a beautiful spot. I’d love to go out there and take my grandkids and have lunch and just hang out. That’s what we grew up doing”

Other suggestions included charging the same $5 boat launch fee for the Fulton boat ramp that is charged in the new marina, closing the boat ramp at night to reduce crime, having a volunteer committee to clean up and police the area, and seeking new grant money to improve the aging facility.

Everyone that spoke seemed to volunteer their time and effort towards any activity that would save the ramp. Business owners in the area, such as Red Caboose restaurant owner, Sheila White, said that they are eager to do all that they can because the ramp’s closure could mean the end of their livelihoods.

“I’m here to talk about my business,” said White. “I’ve been there nine years. My husband and I made a pledge that we would keep our business clean, that we would contribute to our community and that we would keep our [business] area clean. I employ 12 people. Six of them live in Antioch and have no other job. If I can’t generate new customers, I can’t maintain my business. I care about this town – my children live here and my grandchildren go to school here. I want to stay in business – it’s important to my family.”

Many spoke about long-held community ties and fond memories of the Fulton boat ramp. Resident and business owner Bill Morel’s story in particular made an impression on the crowd and the council.

“In 1960 my girlfriend then, my wife now of 50 years, we’re watching the moon dance across the waves when Officer Mandervilt came down with his flashlight tapping on my Chevy, wanting to know what we were doing down there.” he said. “I said fishing but…”

In the end city council members were thoroughly convinced that despite a staff report that gave no reason to keep the ramp open, there were in fact, plenty of reasons to do just that.

“Your passion and your concern is obvious,” said council member Gary Agopian. “I think Antioch benefits from having as many ways to access the Delta as possible. There’s people here who are willing and they’re already doing the work – I’ve seen them picking up the trash and painting the graffiti. The more boaters that get on the river from Antioch the better for us.

“Even though we have evidence of crime, I’m not sure how this breaks down. Since it’s free, I’d encourage people to use the new launch as well but … I’m in favor of … working with the citizens who want to maintain it and ensure the area.”

The council voted unanimously to keep the Fulton Shipyard boat ramp open and to have the city manager create a subcommittee within the next 60 days to handle the boat ramp policies and procedures of operation going forward.

In other business…

In response to the State Supreme Court decision to allow the state to disband redevelopment agencies and use the funds for other state obligations, the council voted to dissolve the Antioch Development Agency, the city’s redevelopment agency and suspend all redevelopment activities with the exception of scheduled payments and current obligations, from previously issued bonds.  Staff pointed out that additional actions will be required of the council in the coming months to comply with the court decision, including deciding whether or not the city will serve as the Successor Agency to manage the winding down of responsibilities of the disbanded agency at the council’s January 24th meeting.

The council also voted to eliminate earthquake insurance for both city hall and the police station, saving the city approximately $124,000 in this year’s budget, because it could not find a policy on the open market from a reputable company at a reasonable cost.

The council voted in support of transferring the State Route 4 Bypass to the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) to be part of State Route 4 and included in the State Highway system, instead of a locally maintained road as it is currently classified. This was the plan from the beginning, and requires the approval of the Cities of Oakley and Brentwood, as well as the State Route 4 Bypass Authority and Caltrans. In addition, part of the agreement with Caltrans includes that agency turning over control to the cities of the current State Route 4, known as Main Street in Oakley and Brentwood Blvd. in Brentwood.