The Bedford Center is celebrating the expansion of their facility and doubling of their capacity. The Grand Opening Ribbon Cutting ceremony will be held on Tuesday, October 4, 2016, from 4:30-6:30 at 1811 C Street, Antioch.

The long held dream of having a dedicated licensed program serving those with mid to late stage Alzheimer’s disease and dementia in east Contra Costa County is now a reality. For over 20 years The Bedford Center has been meeting the varied needs of the community’s most vulnerable members in order keep them vibrant and give their hero caregivers respite.

The community is invited to join in the festivities. The favor of an RSVP is required at http://tinyurl.com/zc7s7bo.

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.