Antioch High School Class of 1956 60th reunion attendees. photo by Teri Bell Johnson

By Sherrill Hecock

On August 9, 2016 at the City Council Chambers, the Antioch High School class of 1956 received a proclamation from Mayor Wade Harper declaring August 27th the “AHS Class of 1956 Day.”

Five members of the class were there to receive the proclamation which was shared with all at their reunion. Those in attendance that evening were Bob Franchetto, Sue Carris Siino, Joan Price Bell, Gayle Gibbs Autentico and Sherill Beckett Hecock and their guests. This class was the second to graduate from the newly built high school at 18th and L Streets.

A banner hung at the Antioch High football game welcomed the reunion attendees.

On August 26th at the 7:00 p.m. football game against Lincoln High school, the class was again honored with special seating, several announcements and a “Class of ‘56…Welcome home” sign prepared by the current high school students. This was arranged courtesy of Principal Louie Rocha. Nineteen class members and their guests were present at the game. (Not all pictured here below).

Their 60th class reunion was held at the Lone Tree Golf and Event Center on August 27th, and attended by 80 classmates including their guests. Masters of Ceremonies were Lanny Bown, who came all the way from North Carolina for the event, and Randy Autentico.

The class was treated to a fabulous “Italian House Buffet” prepared by chefs at the Golf Course. Grace was offered by Sue Carris Siino. Each attendee was greeted by Sue Siino and Gayle Gibbs Autentico at the door and received a packet containing a raffle ticket, name tag with their high school photo courtesy of Teri Bell Johnson, a copy of Mayor Wade Harper’s Proclamation, their class song “No Man is an Island” and a current roster of classmates.

During the evening, Lanny Bown read the bios of Antioch Sports Legends 2011 and 2012 inductees Ray Harrington and Randy Autentico, Gayle Autentico memorialized those who have passed away from a list prepared by Olga Jacques Martinez, and Renee Hunt Holding read the class song lyrics. Olga also prepared memory boards with photos from the past 60 years.

Beautiful flower arrangements were on each table compliments of Paula’s Family Florist. Principal Louie Rocha also arranged for the class to receive a gift basket for their raffle during the evening. It was a month to remember. A year of planning proved to be well worth the effort.

The East County Senior Coalition invites all interested senior citizens to get on the bus and join them for the Senior Rally Day in Sacramento, on Wednesday, May 11

If interested, contact Mary Chapman at either (925) 978-1883 or info@elderlywish.org so they can fill an East County bus.

Mike Neff with Antioch Mayor Pro Tem Lori Ogorchock.

The week of March 21 – 25 marked Meals on Wheels of America’s “March for Meals Community Champions Week,” a national campaign to raise awareness about senior needs, especially around hunger and isolation.

As a member agency, Meals on Wheels and Senior Outreach Services (MOWSOS) participated locally and invited community leaders to take part in meal delivery ride-a-longs to homebound, frail seniors around the county.

Community leaders who participated included Antioch Mayor Pro-Tem Lori Ogorchock; District V Supervisor Federal Glover; Clayton Mayor Howard Geller; Martinez Mayor Rob Schroder;  Pleasant Hill Mayor Sue Noack; Oakley Mayor Kevin Romick;  Orinda Mayor Victoria Smith; Walnut Creek Mayor Pro-Tem Rich Carlston; Pleasant Hill Councilmember, Tim Flaherty; Concord Councilmember Dan Helix; Walnut Creek Councilmember Bob Simmons; Bay Point All in One President, Delano Johnson;  Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff, Lt. Paul O’Mary, and Deputies Katie Rhoe and Matt Buckley;  Interfaith Council of Contra Costa County Executive Director, Will McGarvey; Bay Point Municipal Advisory Council Member Debra Mason; American Medical Response (AMR), Public Information Officer, Alicia Moore and EMT’s Sarah Dotson and Jason Kalan; Dayna Wilson, Keller Williams Realtor.

“It was a great day,” said Ogorchock, who rode on an Antioch meal delivery route with volunteer driver, Mike Neff.  “Meals on Wheels and Senior Outreach Services does a great service in our community by keeping our seniors safe and healthy.”

If you or your civic or community group, are available to help, please contact Carol Louisell, Director of Community Engagement at clouisell@mowsos.org or 925-954-8736.  An on-line application, an orientation, and background check are required.

By keeping a unwavering focus on creating a caring, nurturing and safe environment for its residents, Quail Lodge Retirement Community in Antioch, Calif., has won the 2016 Best of Senior Living Award from SeniorAdvisor.com, placing the community in the top 1 percent of senior living communities in the United States. Of the nearly 100,000 providers currently listed on SeniorAdvisor.com, just over 1,000 were recognized with this award.

Nestled in lovely Antioch, Calif., the affordable retirement living community offers 121 spacious apartments in three floor plans, all with kitchenettes and beautiful views, plus a host of amenities geared toward healthy senior lifestyle, featuring a chef-driven dining program and free local transportation.

The annual SeniorAdvisor.com Best of Awards celebrate the best of the best in senior living and home care across the United States and Canada. Winners of the SeniorAdvisor.com Best of 2016 Awards represent the top tier of in-home care, assisted living, and other senior living providers, based on the online reviews written by seniors and their families. This exclusive designation places the winners in the top one percent of senior care providers according to those who matter most – the consumers.

To qualify for inclusion in the Best of 2016 Awards, senior living communities must have maintained an average overall rating of at least 4.5 stars while receiving three or more new reviews in 2015.

“This award is quite meaningful for all of us who have the rare opportunity to work at Quail Lodge and spend our days with such amazing residents,” said Manager Timothy Thomas, Quail Lodge Retirement Community.

About Quail Lodge

Family-owned and operated by Sunshine Retirement Living, Quail Lodge offers 121 affordable and spacious, studio, one- and two-bedroom apartments with kitchenettes and beautiful views. The vibrant, independent living retirement community provides three, chef-prepared meals daily, free local transportation, weekly housekeeping, beauty salon and library, and daily activities and events geared toward a healthy senior lifestyle. For more information, visit www.QuailLodgeRet.com.

About SeniorAdvisor.com

SeniorAdvisor.com is the largest consumer ratings and reviews site for senior living communities and home care providers across the United States and Canada. The innovative website provides easy access to the information families need when making a senior care decision, and features trusted reviews and advice from local residents and their loved ones. For more information, please visit www.SeniorAdvisor.com or call (866) 592-8119.

Residents of Cobblestone Care Home in Antioch, Hazel Shelton and Fern Chisum are greeted by Santa (aka Angelo Pappas), Manager Angie Ramandanen and AEWF Board Member Sandy Fredrickson during the Santa for Seniors on Wednesday, December 16, 2015.

By Allen Payton

During their 10th Annual Santa For Seniors project the Board of Directors of An Elderly Wish Foundation adopted four board and care homes for Christmas.

On Wednesday, December 16th, nine board members played Santa Claus for 20 seniors, in two homes in Antioch and two in Pittsburg, by delivering a large Christmas bag to each one of the residents which included scarves, socks, combs, toiletries and puzzle books. Each large bag also included a shoulder shawl, a handmade lap quilt, thanks to Bernie Cabrera, owner of Queen B’s Quilt Shop and a stuffed animal from Jim Lanter at State Farm, both located in Antioch.

“All of us enjoyed singing Christmas Carols upon arrival, and then singing with the residents once the gifts were opened,” said Mary Chapman, Executive Director of the foundation. “It was a joyous day for all, as we shared the Christmas spirit.”

This year’s event was sponsored by the Delta Board of Realtors. Many seniors are touched by the giving spirit of Christmas from An Elderly Wish Foundation. For more information about the foundation, visit www.elderlywish.org.

John Cubit

By Lieutenant Diane Aguinaga, Antioch Police Field Services

This is an update to let everyone know that 86-year old John Cubit, who went missing Friday evening, December 11, 2015 from Country Place assisted living center on Olive Lane in Antioch, has been located. He is safe and back at his care facility.

Thank you for all your assistance in trying to locate him.

Editor’s Note: No other details were provided.

The lit Beacon at the top of Mt. Diablo. photo by Clayton Worsdell

On December 7th, Mount Diablo’s Beacon will be relit by survivors of Pearl Harbor.

“The Beacon lighting is a tribute to those individuals that lost their lives at Pearl Harbor”, says Earl “Chuck” Kohler, one of the few remaining survivors in Contra Costa County.  However, the ceremony is also an opportunity to honor the survivors.  When those who experienced Pearl Harbor are gone, the history is lost with them.

We invite you to attend the ceremony to pay tribute to and honor our veterans.

Pearl Harbor surviving veterans light the Beacon atop Mt. Diablo. photo by Charla Gabert

The Sons & Daughters of Pearl Harbor Survivors, Chapter 5 are pleased to co-sponsor this 52^nd Annual National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day Ceremony with Save Mount Diablo. Presentations will be made by the few remaining local Pearl Harbor survivors, Mount Diablo State Park, David Behring (President of Wheelchair Foundation), as well as Save Mount Diablo.

The Beacon on Mount Diablo was originally installed and illuminated in 1928 to aid in trans-continental aviation. It is one of the four guiding beacons installed along the west coast by Standard Oil of CA and is the only one known to still be operational.  After the attack on Pearl Harbor, the Beacon’s light was extinguished during the West Coast Blackout, for fear it may enable an attack on California.  It stayed dark until Pearl Harbor Day 1964, when Fleet Admiral Chester Nimitz relit the Beacon in a commemorative ceremony and suggested it be illuminated every December 7th to honor those who served and sacrificed. Since that day, Pearl Harbor Veterans and their families have gathered every December 7th to see the Beacon light shine once again.

What:  Save Mount Diablo, the Sons & Daughters of Pearl Harbor Survivors Association and California State Parks will light the “Eye of Diablo”, the Beacon atop Mount Diablo to memorialize Pearl Harbor Day. As the number of Survivors has decreased over the years, the number of people attending the ceremony in honor of these heroes has increased, including many sons and daughters vital to organizing the service.

When: Monday, December 7th, 2015, 3:45pm, lighting at 5pm

Where: The ceremony and lighting will be held at California State University, East Bay Campus, 4700 Ygnacio Valley Road, Concord, CA

Access:  Parking is available on Campus and the ceremony will be held in the Oak Room (with extra seating in the Redwood Room)

For more information about the Beacon Lighting Ceremony: please visit http://www.savemountdiablo.org/activities_events_beacon.html or contact Save Mount Diablo’s office at (925) 947-3535

Save Mount Diablo is a non-profit 501(c)(3) conservation organization, which has been preserving lands on and around Mount Diablo and educating the public to the mountain’s natural values since 1971.  Preserved lands have increased from 6,788 acres in one park to more than 110,000 acres in more than 40 parks and preserves.  Save Mount Diablo continues to preserve, defend and restore the remainder of the mountain for people and wildlife to enjoy. Contact: Save Mount Diablo, telephone: (925) 947-3535, fax: (925) 947-0642, 1901 Olympic Blvd., Suite 320, Walnut Creek, CA 94596; www.SaveMountDiablo.org.