Freighter seen from Lauritzen's Yacht Harbor

This photo is taken out at Lauritzen's Yacht Harbor. The San Joaquin and the Sacramento River merge by Oakley and it isn't uncommon to see a freighter slowly passing on these Delta waters heading from the Stockton Port out to see via the San Francisco Bay. We just happen to see this one from the freeway and decided to drive in and get a photo.

Blossom Trees in Oakley

At one time the city of Oakley used to be filled with Almond Orchards. Over the years trees were lost to homes and a disease. Today trees can be found here and there through the city. This one is taken just behind my home by the railroad tracks. The trees blossom every February.

Live Oak Church

This is Live Oak Community Church on Main Street and Live Oak Ave., in Oakley, California. This church has been her for over 100 years. The building used to be a school, actually in Antioch, but over the years boundaries have changed and now the property is well in Oakley's city limits. The building has been a church for several years. Currently they are working on placing a bell they recently had donated to them in the the bell tower.

Business Spotlight--Heavenly Hair

Name of business: Heavenly Hair by Qwivander

Type of business: Hair salon and barbershop

Owners: Qwivander Smith

Founded: 1997

Address: 1139 East 18th Street, Antioch

Phone number: 925-706-2131

Hours: Tuesday through Friday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Saturday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.; closed Sunday.

Number of employees: 5

Products and services: Heavenly Hair offers precision cuts, coloring and highlights, up do's, eyelashes, weaves and fusions, braids, twists, locks and silky flat iron. They also have a full line of professional products available.

How did you get into the business? "I always had a gift for doing hair," Smith said. "My husband encouraged me to go to school and open my own place."

Best part about the business: "We have a nice quiet Christian atmosphere that the customers enjoy," Smith said.

Worst part about the business: Smith said she couldn't think of a worst part about the business, she truly enjoys coming to work each day and doing what she loves.

Key to success: "It is really important to have consistency and have fair pricing," Smith said. "Other than that doing a great job on clients hair is key."

Biggest misperception about the business: Smith said there were no real misconceptions. "When people come in they get just what they are expecting 'Heavenly Hair'. They experience just that when they come in."

She prides herself and her business on offering everything positive, encouraging and uplifting.

Future plans: Smith said that they are always doing promotions on different hairstyles and they will keep that up in the future. Some time in the fair off future she hopes to expand her location and add more services for men in her barbershop area.

Senior Health Fair in Oakley March 7

Seniors are invited to attend a Free Senior Health Fair, where more than 50 agencies will be on hand at the Oakley City Hall offices Saturday, March 7. The event, which is sponsored by the East Contra Costa County Senior Coalition, will be open to all seniors who need help with a variety of issues.
"This event keeps growing, year after year," said event organizer Harriett Zych. Zych is a senior who lives in Oakley and has been very active with the CCC Senior Coalition since 2000.
"We're very lucky to have Oakley donate the use of their city hall for this event. The size of the building will allow us to service more people," she said.
The event will feature several groups and organizations, including some county departments and help from John Muir Medical Center and Sutter Delta Hospital. The health fair focuses on screenings that can identify risk factors that are known to lead to other health issues.
The Senior Coalition believes that the prevention is the key to staying healthy, but unfortunately a lot of times seniors have difficulties either getting to doctors' offices or paying for the service.
"They do the screenings at absolutely no cost to the seniors," Zych said.
One of the primary goals of the event is to promote health awareness and education. The screenings that will be provided glucose, cholesterol, bone density and blood pressure. Additionally, senior agencies will be onsite to provide information about resources available to the senior community.
Realizing that the seniors may have a hard time getting to the City Hall for the fair, organizers have worked in conjunction with the city of Oakley to offer pickup at several different locations in Oakley. The pickup points will be The Commons apartment complex, Eagle City Mobile Home Park, Summer Creek Senior Apartments, the HUD apartments on Rosemary Lane and Golden Oaks Senior Apartments.
"Hopefully this will give a chance for people who normally can't come to these types of events to come and get the help and services they need," Zych said.
The East County Senior Coalition has been helping seniors since November of 1999. Their primary goal is to bring organizations and people together to make sure that seniors have all the services available to them. The group is funded by the county, although like many other county organizations, they are concerned about their budget being cut. Until then, Zych said they would do whatever they can to help the seniors. She also said that the group is always looking for volunteers who want to get involved. They do not have to be involved with an organization or even be a senior, just someone who wishes to help the senior community.
Spaces are still available for organizations to come and hand out information that will benefit seniors. Call the Senior Coalition to sign up for the event. The event will take place March 7, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oakley City Hall is located at 3231 Main Street. For more information on the free Senior Health Fair, contact the coalition at 925-978-2754.

Business Spotlight--Brightstar Healthcare

Name of business: Brightstar Healthcare

Type of business: Home healthcare staffing

Owners: Ed Navales

Founded: 2008

Address: 5079 Lone Tree Way, Antioch

Phone number: 779-9000

Hours: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday; Saturday by appointment; phones are answered 24/7.

Number of employees: 40 to 50

Products and services: Full service healthcare staffing agency available for medical and non-medical home care. Brightstar works with private and corporate clients, hospitals, nursing homes and home assistants.

"Senior make up a large part of our business, but we do work with pediatrics, workers comp cases, veterans and long term health care issue," Navales said.

Navales also said that they are active in the public schools and retail health clinics.

Presently Brightstar is not licensed by the state, but is working on getting all the paper work complete.

How did you get into the business? Navales said he used to work in management consultant and fell in love with health care. "I used to travel four to five days a week nationally and didn't have a lot of time with my family," he said. "When my family experienced its own healthcare issues, it brought me to this journey, to this job. I love what I did, but now I have a passion for my work."

Best part about the business: "Going out and opening cases with the nurses. I like seeing that we give piece of mind and security that loved ones are safe. It's very rewarding," Navales said.

Worst part about the business: Navales said that there really isn't a worst thing, but he does know how hard it is for small businesses in health care industry. He also said that he sees how hard it is for families to can't afford healthcare for their family and trying to come up with alternatives because they can't really afford the care that is needed.

Key to success: "Being available 24/7. That means I answer the phone 95 percent of the time myself," he said. "Also earning the trust of the clients is very important."

Biggest misperception about the business: Navales said that Medicare covers some of the services need for in home care, but not everything. "Brightstar appeals to those who want more for their loved ones," he said.

He explained that Medicare give clients a window of time that they will come and check out the patients. He said that he makes sure that he provides an exact time, is punctual and he provides inexpensive home care.

Future plans: Currently Brightstar has offices that cover the East Contra Costa area, as well as, Central Valley including Lodi, Manteca and Tracy. Soon he would like to open a Stockton office so that he will have two separate teams to cover the large area. Next he would like to move in Solano and Napa counties while continuing to provide the same quality service.

Harvest Time Church Reaching Out

Over the past few years Harvest Time Church in Brentwood has been reaching out to the local communities to help those in need. They started slowly by helping at the Contra Costa Food bank and later purchased a van that they used to make food donations and deliveries. Now they are taking their efforts one step further by offering "A Day of Compassion", scheduled at the church on March 7.
"We started recognizing how times were getting harder for everyone, even those who had once been considered affluent and wanted to come up with an idea to help," said Pastor Dennis Reynolds of Harvest Time. "Once we got started the families of the church really took it to heart."
Their idea taking off, was the group to making regular trips to two locations, an apartment complex in Brentwood and a mobile home park in Oakley, offering a pick up point where needy families can come and pick up food and supplies. Reynolds said that once the van, or "mobile food bank" was purchased the church found it a lot easier to get what the community needed to the various locations.
The concept of "A Day of Compassion" event started when the group received a large donation from a Springfield, Missouri organization called "A Convoy of Hope". The non-profit, which was first responders during the Kratrina Hurricane in New Orleans and other natural disasters, offered Harvest Time Church over $20,000 in food.
"It is amazing to be able to partner with this group," Reynolds said. "We hope to feed between 1,500 and 2,000 people in need with this donation."
The story doesn't end there, however, since word has gotten out that the church will be offering the food donations after the truck arrives in Brentwood on March 7, other professionals have been coming out of the wood work to help. Reynolds said it started with a dentist who offered to come out and check teeth on this day. "He didn't just offer to come and do an exam, which would have been great, but he also offered to have the patients come back to his office and get fillings or whatever work they needed done for free," Reynolds said.
Reynolds said the list of those willing to donate their time and resources has been multiplying until now they currently have several dentist, doctors and even hair cutters coming out to offer their time on March 7. Sutter Delta and Mt. Diablo Medical Center has offered their help and services, as well.
"This has really rejuvenated our people a lot," Reynolds said. "This hard economy isn't just hitting the people who have always needed help, but those who may have had money and got hit with recent problems."
Reynolds said that so far his group has offered help to a variety of people. One couple, he explained, lived in Discovery Bay. When the van drove up to the very nice, large two-story house, there were two Mercedes parked in the driveway. From the outside this looked like a very affluent family, not needing any help. On the inside, it was a very different story. "The couple was in real estate and lost everything. The cars in the driveway were waiting to be repossessed, the house in foreclosure. The family was just waiting for the bank to evict them. They had three children who needed to be fed. They had no money for groceries," he said.
Reynolds said this it is his church's heartfelt desire to just help people. They are also looking for people with like minds. They estimate that they will need at least 100 volunteers for this event. Most of the volunteers will come from their church, but others are welcome if they just want to come lend a hand.
"We've really found that it is the little things that cause so many problems. We want to help empower people to live their lives and this is one way we can help," Reynolds said.
Reynolds said that they wouldn't be taking applications to make sure people qualify for service. They are taking on faith that those who come out to the church on March 7 are really in need. Harvest Time Church is located at 2220 Ventura Drive in Brentwood. The event starts at 9 a.m., but the food donations from Convoy of Hope are coming in on that day, and donations will start once the truck arrives. For more information call the church at 516-1908.

Percussion Discussion with Ken Bergmann

What do you get when you combine 1,600 third graders, a "smashing spectacle" of drums, cowbells, chairs and all the flash one would expect from a drummer gone amok? A little Percussion Discussion. This morning the Antioch Music Foundation has invited all the third graders in the Antioch Unified School District to learn more about percussion from the master Ken Bergmann.
In his, Percussion Discussion show Bergmann incorporates instruments from around the globe in a popular family-oriented show featuring a romp through the sound effects of Hollywood and a unique look at the computer age.
"The show will inspire these kids to become musically active. They will leave the theater experimenting with sounds and reliving the many musical moments and the humor of the show," Bergmann said. "I have run in to kids several years after they see the show and they still remember the jokes and the bits."
During the one-hour show students will hear all styles of music, including swing, Latin, jazz, rap and rock, Bergmann says he even has added some Scott Joplin ragtime and the Baroque music of J.S. Bach. While it looks like he's just a guy sitting in front of a really impressive drum set, Bergmann utilizes many instruments that students are already familiar with like cowbells, triangles and wood blocks, as well as many they might not have seen before. He uses humor to show off his rosewood marimba, cabasa and gankogui to help children remember what the unfamiliar instruments are well into the future.
Working with this age group, "is amazing to me and gives me a renewed prospective on how impressionable our youth are," Bergmann said.
Ken Bergmann is an educator as well as a professional musician and actor. As an actor he has performed the title role in Andrew Lloyd Webber's Jesus Christ Superstar, Zach in A Chorus Line, and most recently Harold Hill in The Music Man.
Best known as a musician, he has performed throughout the world including the Theatre de la Ville in Paris, Royal Albert Hall in London, the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, Symphony Hall in Toronto and Minneapolis, as well as New York and Berlin. His performance has been featured on ABC's 20/20, NBC's Entertainment Tonight, and CBS' Evening Magazine.
The Antioch Music Foundation is able to host Bergmann's show with the help of grants from the East Bay Community Foundation and the Keller Canyon Mitigation Fund in conjunction with Contra Costa County District 5 Board of Supervisor Federal Glover's office. The show will be set in three different times to accommodate all of the students at the El Campanil Theatre in downtown Antioch.
Bergmann say that he likes working with third graders because of "their energy and honesty. They get so excited about what is happening. From the opening air drumming sequence to the final featured musical number they are on the edge of their seats."
Others who want to see Bergmann can attend his upcoming show next month at the Lesher Center for the Performing Arts in Walnut Creek. The show will run at several different times March 10 through the 14. There will be special school and group matinees. For tickets contact the Center at 925-943-SHOW (7469).

Gateway Power Plant opens in Antioch

Just over a month since the power was turned on at the new Gateway Generating Station in Antioch, Pacific Gas and Election held a dedication ceremony. The electric company purchased the under construction power plant from Mirant Delta in June 2006 and worked to complete construction on the project in two year, said Randy Livingston, vice president of Power Generation for PG & E.
"This plant will send power into a grid that services 400,000 customers," Livingston said. Transmissions on this line will reach seven western states, including customers in central and northern California.
Members of the PG & E staff are very excited about this particular plant, Livingston said, because the plant employs new technology known as dry cooling. Under this new technology the plant can run by using 97 percent less water than previous conventional water-cooling system designed plants. It also produces 96 percent less discharge than the conventional plants.
"We are keenly aware of the Delta issues and a plant like this can safe an incredible amount of water," Livingston said.
Gateway is a 530-megawatt, state of the art gas facility. Cost of the construction for the Gateway plant at $386 million is higher than that the cost of building conventional plants, but Livingston said that in the long run the higher construction would provide a more efficient running plant and save money in the long haul.
Not only does the plant use less water, but also PG & E reports that the combined cycle technology will decrease fuel use and greenhouse gas emissions, which is reported to contribute to climate change. With this plant up and operational, as well as two other PG & E projects in California underway, California will ease away from relying on other aging fossil-fueled power plants and lower air emissions.
Currently there are hundreds of variations of these types of plants throughout the United States. They are expected to last 30 years or more. "From an engineering perspective these are at top efficiency," Livingston said.
The state of California is setting new regulations in 2010, and possible again in 2020, that will require more natural resource, such as wind and solar powered plants. Livingston explained that the advanced technology in a plant of this type is equipped to shift the load of power as needed. This will also be helpful with other future fluctuation changes, such as the increased need for electricity as more hybrid automobiles are purchased.
The Gateway project and these newly approved contracts are part of PG&E's comprehensive energy strategy designed to meet our customers' future energy needs in as environmentally responsible a manner as possible, Livingston said.
During construction PG&E hired on hundreds of local independent contractors and now that the plant is up and running it employs 22 local residents as regular staffing personnel.

Around Oakley: Property-maintenance codes catch some by surprise

In December 2007, the city of Oakley finalized its property-maintenance codes, providing detailed descriptions of do's and don'ts on residential and business properties. City officials and council members spent more than two years getting input from residents and offering online and newsletter surveys. When all was said and done, they believed the codes reflected the consensus of the community. But did they?
Over the past few weeks, several residents have complained because city officials have sent out enforcement notices and told residents it's time to clean up their acts — literally. These people aren't happy to learn that if they don't comply within a certain period time, they will be fined, and if they still don't comply, the fine goes up.
Here are some of the questions they are asking: Is this fair, because they didn't hear about these codes when they were being discussed by the City Council? Shouldn't this code have been voted on by residents before being forced on them? Isn't there a water shortage? Who cares how much cement I have on my front property?
Unfortunately, these people weren't happy to hear the answers to their complaints. First, code violators may think the city is just suddenly trying to collect money for their coffers because of the recent shift in the economy, but the actual reason is the city was shorthanded in the code-enforcement department and didn't have the manpower to
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keep up with neighbors' complaints. It seems all that has changed now.
Some charge that the complaints are nitpicking and giving credence to silly disputes among neighbors. For example, one resident said she had a leak from a fish tank and needed to leave her carpet out to dry flat for a few days. She placed the carpet on her front lawn, and within a day received a notice from the city sighting debris in the frontyard.
An easy enough fix, except, as long as you're cleaning up, you have a few more problems to take care of.
Keeping one's property clean and weed-free is certainly one of the goals of the municipal code. City representatives say the code was designed to benefit everyone in the neighborhood.
What if you want to sell your house in the future? You can spend a fortune on nice curb appeal, but if your neighbor has junk piled high in front of his garage, the property values for everyone in the neighborhood go down.
One of the major complaints about the code, though, is that the cost of repairs to property is really low on peoples' list of priorities right now. Let's face it: The economy is getting worse every day, and cutting weeds or removing excess cement in the frontyard can't be a No. 1 goal.
Residents are also asking whether the city can give them a break for a while and reduce some of the nonessentials in the code.
That question needs to be asked of the City Council. They meet the second and forth Tuesday of each month at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall. It can't hurt to ask.
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A new business is coming to Oakley, and let's hope it is a good omen for 2009.
It was a great disappointment to lose Bonanza Industrial Supply. Cynthia Showaker was a great supporter of the Oakley community, always donating when asked. In a few months, R&B Company will be moving into her old place.
It's another industrial supply-type business offering distribution of underground water, sewer, storm and irrigation pipes and the like. Unlike some cities surrounding Oakley, this city needs as many businesses as it can get.
Let's hope seeing new life on Main Street will draw others.

February is blossom season in Oakley. Oakley's history is filled with stories of it's blossom filled winters when orchards of almonds and walnuts lined the town. Today all are gone except a few small fields and lone trees on the side of the road here and there. Grapes are the most popular crops today. Some of vineyards in town are over 100 years old.

Oakley is located where the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers meet. This is a view from the Big Break Trail and the new bridge that just opened along the path.

Oakley street improvements looking good

This is a down week for Around Oakley so here is a February 2008 column that is still newsy. Driving down any number of streets in Oakley, one might see the little red and black Neighborhood Watch sign on a pole. Ever wonder what that really means? Several years ago my Vintage Park neighborhood went all out and started a Neighborhood Watch program. It sounded good at the time. Neighbors got together and discussed issues of crime in our town. That lasted all of about two, maybe three months.
At the time I think the worst problem was the issue of dogs getting loose and digging up lawns. Nonetheless, as those neighbors stopped meeting and moved away while others moved in, the sign on the pole still stands. The other day I noticed that there were men replacing the sign on the pole after it had slipped down and I wondered what was the use? Does it make any sense to have a sign on the street if no one does anything about it? Do we really pay attention to what goes on in our neighborhood?
I was surprised on Friday morning of last week when three police officers knocked on my door telling me they had received a call that there was a prowler in my backyard. They were told my house was vacant and the caller was concerned. Of course the officers realized quickly that my house wasn’t vacant, but took the time to quickly check out the backyard and then looked around the neighborhood a bit.
After a bit I began to think. The officers said they had been called to my house, but a house at the corner of my block is vacant and the last two numbers of its address are the same as mine. So I went out and told this to the officers and they immediately went to check at that house. The point is that someone did the right thing by calling in, even if the information wasn’t quite correct. If there was a problem at that house, we were all safer because the police had been called out.
The whole incident started me thinking. Maybe we don’t have our Neighborhood Watch program fully in effect in our neighborhood, but at the very least the people in the neighborhood are observant of their neighbors and are trying to help. That is what the Neighborhood Watch program is all about.
According to Clyde Hinkley, Oakley Police Department liaison, the Neighborhood Watch program has grown in Oakley in recent years. There are several neighborhoods that have been participating in the program in one form or another.
The program is sponsored by the National Sheriff’s Association, which includes the Contra Costa Sheriff’s Office, which has an annex in Oakley. They say that “Neighborhood Watch is one of the oldest and most effective crime prevention programs in the country, bringing citizens together with law enforcement to deter crime and make communities safer.” Hinkley says that the city of Oakley also is very supportive of the program.
Hinkley said that the Neighborhood Watch program is all about neighbors getting to know each other and their neighborhood. It doesn’t have to take a lot of time or any expense, although some neighborhoods choose to host block parties and other activities to break the ice. The whole point is to just know your surroundings and get to know who your neighbors are. That way if there is, say, a suspicious car in the neighborhood that might be there to cause trouble, the police can be contacted right away.
Some might say that it isn’t necessary to actually official join the Neighborhood Watch program to help your neighbors and that is true, but the program will give you the keys needed to help the police in making sure your neighborhood is safe. For those interested in starting a program in your neighborhood, Hinkley said he is available to help with the details. For more information, he can be reached at 925-625-8855.

Check with city when considering home improvement projects

We're on an off column week for the East County Times, so here is one that ran in February 2008
When considering a home improvement project, one of the last things people think about is calling the city to see if a permit is needed or certain guidelines must be met before they begin. While residents may not think it is the city’s business what kind of fence they put up or what precautions to take when putting a pool in their back yard, it might just be worth the time and effort to check beforehand. Like most cities and counties the city of Oakley has worked hard to put together a well thought out list of municipal and zoning codes.
Generally speaking these types of codes are made to protect public health, safety and general welfare as they relate to residential and business properties. Many times the codes concern structural safety of buildings, fire safety items, noise mitigations, air quality, aesthetics, traffic convenience and most of all safety to those around you.
The City Council and planning department are the ones who put together the municipal codes. When Oakley first became a city in 1999 the city generally adopted most of the county codes. Over the past few years the city officials have been working to make new rules and ordinances that better suit the needs of the growing city.
In December 2005 the city hired Robert Downing for the position of code enforcement officer to handle the complaints of residents and make sure that the municipal codes were followed. Before coming to Oakley, Downing worked for the city of Walnut Creek as a code enforcement officer for eight years. Before that he was a retired police officer.
According to Downing, many of the complaints that pass by his office include issues like graffiti, lack of garbage collection, debris on personal property and, during seasonal times, out-of-control weeds.
Most of the time, after a warning from the city, issues are promptly taken care of. In some cases, however, the city is forced to charge fines that start at a $100 citation, then $200 for a second notice and finally $500. Downing said the city is not unreasonable. They are always willing to work with people. If there is a viable reason why a certain issue cannot be dealt with right away they will work with alternatives.
Other issues that relate to code enforcement concern the clash between areas that are zoned residential and agricultural. While the city today is zoned largely residential, its roots are based in agriculture. Even if some property is zone residential on the current general plan, the property is generally grandfathered in as whatever it was zoned before the general plan was approved. Therefore there are instances where a farm might be located right in the middle of a residential area. Usually that property will retain its old zoning until it is sold.
Sometimes people in the residential areas take offense, for instance, to having goats being raised across from their brand new house. Or maybe they object to having the rooster across the way waking them each morning. Some issues can be addressed, but as long as everyone is within the law there is nothing that can be done. That is not to say that the city does not have strict guidelines for agricultural properties.
Over the next few months, Downing has agreed to help explore some of the city’s municipal codes in this column space, so that residents can better understand the rules. Keep in mind though that it is generally up to the residents to research any municipal codes before they construct something new. For instance it is all well and good to want privacy from your neighbors, but there are height limitations on fences. If it is found that the fence you put up last week is too high, you may be required to take it down and reduce the height. Be prepared. It’s better safe than sorry.

Project Linus makes blankets for kids in need

When a child is facing a traumatic situation and is in need of comforting, sometimes the little things can make a difference. That is the idea behind the Project Linus's "Make a Blanket Day" campaign. The national campaign, which happens each year on the third Saturday of February, will once again be hosted in Discovery Bay.
"The mission of Project Linus is to provide love, a sense of security, warmth and comfort to children who are seriously ill, traumatized or otherwise in need through the gifts of new, handmade blankets," said Jeanne Akin, new coordinator of the event.
Akin recently took over as coordinator of the Project Linus chapter that meets in Discovery Bay after retiring and decided she just couldn't sit at home. "I saw the article in the newspaper, attended a meeting and I was hooked," she said.
Project Linus is an all-volunteer organization that needs the help of local citizens to make their goal a success. On Saturday, Feb. 21, the East County group hopes to put together 100 or more blankets to donate to area hospitals and medical centers. The Make a Blanket Day, invites community members, not just those from Discovery Bay, but all over East County, to spend come together to make as many blankets as possible on this one day. Everyone from the most experienced quilter to the novice is welcome to attend.
"We are making everything from quilts to blankets that just tie together," Akin said.
Project Linus is named for the Peanuts character Linus who always carried his trusty blue security blanket everywhere he went. The group was started on Christmas Eve 1995, when an article titled “Joy to the World” appeared in Parade Magazine. Pulitzer Prize winning photojournalist Eddie Adams wrote it. The article featured a child who had been going through chemotherapy and stated that her security blanket helped her get through the treatments. After reading the article, Karen Loucks decided to provide homemade security blankets to Denver’s Rocky Mountain Children's Cancer Center, and Project Linus was born.
To this day Project Linus has delivered over 1 million blankets to children around the world and has over 350 chapters in the United States.
"Community involvement is vital to the success of this event and it is hoped that as many people as possible will come and help make these blankets," Akin said.
Volunteers are requested to bring their own sewing supplies such as thread, needles, fabric, yarn, and scissors. Some materials are on hand to make blankets for this event. Akin said that she joined a quilting club this year that hosted a clean your closet sale and found some great bargains on some nice pieces. She also received some discounts and donations from JoAnn Fabrics in Antioch.
Blankets are made out of quilts, crochet and fleece material. Anyone with the know how to make these styles of blankets are encouraged to attend for just a couple of hours or all day. Anyone who wants to learn to make quick blankets to help the cause can also come and give a hand. The event will be taking place at the Fellowship Hall of Delta Community Presbyterian Church, 1900 Willow Lake Road, Discovery Bay.
Akin said that anytime volunteers can give between 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. would be greatly appreciated. Reservations are not required to attend. For more information on Project Linus call Akin at 510-459-7457 or e-mail her at jakin@pacbell.net.

Fun things for couples to do for Valentines Day

Area non-profits are offering something a little different for Valentine's Day this year then just giving your loved one flowers. Three separate organizations are hosting dinners around the Valentine's theme offering diners the chance to not only give their loved one an evening out on the town, but also help a worthy cause.
"Some people are already going to be spending money on going out with their Valentine so why not help to fund a great organization," Michele Parisi, spokesperson for the Brentwood Men's Club's sponsored Crab Feed and Valentines Dance said.
While one of the dinners is happening on Valentine's Day, some organizations have decided that it is better to host the event before or after the lovers' day giving couples the chance to spend time alone or with family and friends. That's the case of the Immaculate Heart of Mary's Romancing the 20's Valentine's Day Dinner Dance.
The event is hosted by the church's Pilipino-American members to help raise funds for improvements at the church. They hope to help build a parish hall and make improvements to the church's parking lot.
"The dance is themed toward the 20s era, as well as Valentine's Day," according to event organizer Jan Bantique.
Although it is not required, Bantique said there would be people dressed in roaring 20's clothing. "Some of the women have already gone out and gotten their clothes to dress in," he said. "The men will probably just be wearing tuxedos for fun."
Since the Pilipino-American group sponsors the event, there will be authentic Pilipino food, but Bantique said that there will also be some American dishes available. Romancing the 20s Valentine's Day Dinner Dance will be taking place at 7 p.m. at the Resurrections Ministries, 1275 Fairview Ave., Brentwood. Tickets are $35 in advance and $40 at the door. For tickets call Jan Bantique at 354-1999 or Emma Arcayena at 325-5249.
Unlike the Immaculate Heart, the Men's Club is offering their event on Valentine's Day. The club has been putting this dinner on for the past 10 years, offering an all-you-can-eat crab dinner. One of the unique features about this dinner is that several groups attending buy a whole table for the dinner and then participate in a decorating contest. The decorations can range from everything from football to romance themes and all that's in between, Parisi said.
"It's really fun to just look at all the creative ideas people have come up with," Parisi said. The table with the best decoration wins a prize.
Parisi said that one of the reasons this event has been a success is that it features great food. The all-you-can eat crab comes with salad, bread and pasta. The cost is $80 per couple with 100 percent of the proceeds from the event going to East County charities and scholarships. Over the course of the year, the Men's Club receives requests from many different individuals and groups for donations. The money raised from this dinner goes to pay for those donations. Tickets can be purchased at to door, but advanced reservations are still possible by calling Joe at 634-6658.
"My husband and I love attending with a number of other couples. It’s more relaxed and engaging than simply going out to a restaurant for Valentines."
The Elderly Wish Foundation will be waiting a week and hosting their Annual Heart to Heart Ball on Feb. 21. The theme this year for the event is Dancing Under the Stars.
"We were really lucky this year to get a large donation allowing us to pay for the entire dinner. Now all the money we make on tickets and the auction will go directly to the wishes," said Mary Chapman organizer for the Elderly Wish Foundation.
Chapman said that not only were they lucky enough to receive that donation, but also were able to have several substantial prices donated to their auction. The auction will feature San Francisco Opera and Ballet tickets, sporting events, dinners and Napa Weekend with a hot air balloon ride.
The event is elegant black tie and will feature dinner, dancing and a silent and live auction. It will be located at the Lone Tree Golf and Event Center, 4800 Golf Course Road, Antioch. Tickets are $60 per person. For reservations call 978-1883 or e-mail info@elderlywish.org.

East County Times Column from Feb. 5

Ever wondered what you would really find if you dragged the Delta, or what kind of exotic and native plants or other species lived in the Delta? Here is your chance to get a first hand look. The Delta Science Center and the Marine Science Institute is offering an opportunity for residents to see the Delta from a completely different perspective this Saturday when they offer tour rides on MSI Science Vessel the R.V. Brownlee.
Previously this boat ride had only been open to elementary school field trips, but with the help of the Delta Science Center, MSI opened the trips to public. This is a trip that the whole family will enjoy. It includes science activities scheduled throughout the cruise. Scientists from the MSI lead the activities and show how people affect the water in the Delta.
Participants in the cruise will assist in dragging up all sorts of fish, animals, vertebrae, dirt and silt from the Delta and look at the contents under a microscope with the scientists help. The cruise cost $20 per person and leaves from the Antioch Marina at 9 a.m. Make reservations by calling 625-6070. This trip is also made possible with the help of the Ironhouse Sanitary District, Oakley Disposal and P.G.&E.
According to DSC's Nancy Chinn things are really starting to happen at the Center. This year DSC, in partnership again with MSI and East Bay Regional Park District will be hosting Science Days at Big Break. On March 21, April 25 and June 6 scientists will be out on the Big Break Regional Shoreline in Oakley for science activities on and near the water of the Delta. “We want to educate students, today, how to test the water, what to look for in the water and how to correct anomalies to keep the water flowing and safe for all of California to use for recreation and drinking water,” Chinn, Executive Director of the DSC, said.
The scheduled Science Days at Big Break will feature many of the same activities that are presented on the boat this weekend, but they will be done from the shore. This will allow families to participate in the activities along with their student age children. Science students from Freedom High School have previously tested the water in the Delta and they will be back on March 21 to test the water again and see if the water quality has changed.
"With two-thirds of Californian’s relying on the water from the Delta for their drinking water, it is vital that we keep the Delta healthy." Chinn said. "Levees must be fixed, invasive plants must be eradicated, wetlands must be restored, native fish populations need to be increased, etc. If the students are taught, now, what needs to be done they will be our stewards of the Delta in the future."
The Science Day's activities will be a bit different each month giving everyone the chance to learn about the water, bird studies, wetland preservation, invasive species and more. Those interested may sign up for one or all three days and be assured that all activities will be a learning experience, Chinn said.
Activities will begin at 9:00 a.m. and will end by noon each day. Cost for the day is $15.00 per person. For more information about the science days check out www.deltasciencecenter.com.

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Former football pro opens new business

Business Name: Trucks Training Inc. Sports Performance and Fitness Professionals

Type of business: Sports performance, personal training

Owner: Anthony Trucks with co-founders Brandon McMullen and Robert Henriquez

Founded: October 2008

Address: 3658 Lone Tree Way, Antioch; www.truckstraining.com

Phone number: 925-756-7321

Hours: Monday through Thursday 7 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.; Friday 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Saturday 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Sunday 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. (Earlier and later by appointment.)

Number of employees: five

Products, services: Individual and group sports performance and personal training, academics, massage therapy, adult fitness boot camps and gym memberships.

How did you get into the business? "We all have extensive backgrounds in the sports and fitness world," Anthony Trucks said.

Trucks played high school football at Antioch high before receiving a full football scholarship to the University of Oregon in 2002, where he started for three years and graduated with a bachelor in biology, anatomy and human physiology. He then progressed on to play in the NFL with the Buccaneers, Redskins and Steelers.

"I have always wanted to train and at all stops of my career I found myself training young athletes at different companies to become better mentally and physically at whatever sports they played," Trucks said.

He went on to explain that all three men have such a passion for what they do. "It was a no-brainer to create a company where we can share our knowledge, experience and passion with others. We range from NFL athletes, master trainers, professional level coaches, and Antioch's own 2008 trainer of the year," Trucks said. "We specifically chose to stay home because everyone kept telling us to chase the money over the hill into the Concord/Walnut Creek area, but we specifically wanted to stay home to help our local athletes who seem to get left behind in this area when everyone chooses to go out that way instead of staying to help build our community."

Best thing about the business: Trucks said that there is nothing better than seeing people come back and say how much you have helped them or their children improve their ability to get in shape or play their chosen sport.

"We are also very passionate about our academic support system. We have an academic center run by Robert Henriquez and Christina Trucks, who has a master's in special education. The center has computers that are Internet capable and have all the software for scholastic needs, tutor services for any subject, and seminars to cover SAT, ACT, Clearinghouse, A-G, and much more," he said. "We want everyone who is capable to make it to college. We feel that there are a lot of companies that will try to get your child to become a better athlete, but none that will truly strive to make your child a better student athlete. Someday sports will no longer be in the picture, but your education will never leave you.

Worst thing about it: "Nothing," Trucks said. "Where else can you go to work and help people fall in love with themselves all over again. You get to witness people reach their goals and exude confidence in ways that they either never have, or have not since they were a teenager. You can buy lots of nice clothes and expensive material objects that last only a little while, but the one thing you cannot buy is a new body, so why not do what you can to take care of the one thing you most definitely are going to have for the rest of you life."

Keys to success: "The keys to our success are to offer top-of-the-line knowledge and training for years and years to come. The one thing that some trainers in our profession lack is the humbleness to admit they do not know everything; truth is we don't, no one does," Trucks said. "What we do promise is that we are, and always will be, very diligent in researching all the new studies, methods and information that we implement now and in the future to make sure we are consistently ahead of the game when it comes to training every single one of our clients."

Trucks also believes their success will also be because their facility will be the best in the area because it houses not only a great academic center, but an indoor artificial grass field, top-of-the-line strength training equipment, sauna, spa, massage therapy, and soon physical therapy for rehab.

"This allows our members to have access to the same tools that every college athlete is using at a much earlier stage in life, which makes the transition that much smoother. Beyond that you are going to get trained by some of the most knowledgeable trainers in the profession, so you can feel comfortable in knowing you're getting what you pay for," he said.

Biggest misperception about the business: "We do NOT train truck drivers," he said.

Other than that, the biggest misperception about their line of work, Trucks said, is that anyone can do it.

"In all honesty someone can easily look up drills on the Internet and start doing them. The problem is that if you are unclear on the proper technique of the specific movements, or the way to design a workout to progress yourself along a path to your goal, you can either damage your body or simply never achieve the results you desire."

Future plans: At this point the only future plans are to continue to do what they do best, and enjoy doing it for a long time.

"I guess you can say our future plans are to be as successful as possible," he said.

Antioch West Point grad now Army captain

WHEN ANTIOCH'S Hananiah Jennings was growing up he always wanted to fly jets and had been interested in joining the Air Force. It wasn't until his senior year in high school that he was approached by the United States Military Academy at West Point that he changed his mind and decided to join the Army instead.

"I remember us flying on a plane and he was so fascinated by the plane," Concord police Sgt. Maurice Jennings, Hananiah's father, said. "The pilot let him come up to the cockpit. He must have been 9 or 10 at the time. That got him. That hooked him."

Attending West Point is not easy. It takes a lot of work and dedication to be accepted among the ranks, but in the end the rewards are great, Hananiah said.

"They are very selective," he said. "I learned a lot there."

While attending Antioch High School, Jennings played football, basketball and tennis. In his senior year he was the co-captain of the football and tennis teams, which kept him very busy. Even with all the work of playing on the sports teams he was able to keep his grades up and work part time. After graduating, in 2000, he went directly to a West Point preparatory school for one year. Then he was off to West Point for four years, graduating in 2005.

Jennings' father also attended a military prep school, opting instead of attending military school to just join the regular service. Today he is a sergeant for the Concord Police Department. Jennings' older sister, Sheena, served as an enlisted airman for four and a half years in the Air Force as a military police officer. Sheena has since gone on and gotten her master's degree in business administration.

During his military education Jennings attended various schools, including air assault, airborne, armor and air defense artillery. After leaving West Point, Jennings was given the rank of second lieutenant. He continued his training in the Army until he was deployed to Afghanistan in April 2008.

Although most of his time with the 101st Airborne has to remain classified, Jennings said it hasn't always been easy. He now holds the rank of captain. He said he was fortunate to have a three-week break and come home to visit with family and friends last month.

"I've had the chance to see some of my high school buddies since I've been back in town. That's been great," he said. "But mostly I've been spending time with family, which has been really important to me."

Before going to Afghanistan, Jennings said that he had the opportunity to travel around the world. The Army has sent him to England, Kurdistan, Germany and several U.S. states.

Jennings still has another five and a half months in Afghanistan and then to wherever the Army sends him next.

"I'm not sure I'll make the Army my lifetime career," he said.

Even so, he said his time with the Army would definitely do him good in any future career he might choose.

"I've had the opportunity to be a leader and learned a lot about myself during the time I've been in the Army," he said.

Inauguration trip was thrill of a lifetime

WHEN DEER VALLEY High School Junior Adrian Morris got word that she had been invited to the Presidential Youth Inaugural Conference in Washington, D.C., giving her the chance to watch the President's swearing in speech, her foster mother jumped right in working to make it possible for her to attend.
Morris, 16, said that it was really because of Loyce Brewer's efforts that she got to attend the conference at all.
"She's just an amazing woman. She supports everyone to the fullest. All she asks is for us not to give up on our dream," Morris said of the foster mother she calls mom.
Morris has been in Brewer's care for three years. Since she moved in with Brewer, Morris said that wonderful things have been happening to her. When she was in ninth grade, Morris was recommended for the National Youth Leadership State Conference, an organization that teaches leadership activities and public speaking.
Through that organization she was able to attend a conference in Vienna, Budapest and Prague last summer. She also attended a summer camp at Stanford University. Now through the group, she had the chance to attend the presidential inauguration. Each of these activities is available to specific students within the program, but not free of charge. Morris said that Brewer helped to raise money for the trips so she could go.
The trip to Washington, D.C. lasted five days, not only giving the teens the chance to see the inauguration activities, but also allowing students to visit museums, take tours and attend conferences with politicians, media representatives and celebrities. Morris enjoyed the most the ones that featured Desmond Tutu, Al Gore and Eric Windermere.
"It was so amazing all the people we got to hear and see," Morris said.
She admitted that some of the speaker's names may have sounded familiar, but she wasn't sure who all of them were.
"They were all really funny and passionate on what they spoke about. They were talking about topics that we were interested in and that made it all the better."
During her time at the conference, Morris said that there were 7,500 students attending the activities and many were staying at different hotels. Each day they would have the opportunity to get to make new friends that they would probably not see again on the trip.
When President Barrack Obama was sworn in, Morris was sitting three or four blocks away, crowded with many people around her. She was only able to see and hear the festivities on a big-screen television that was placed near them, but it didn't matter to her. She was there getting to experience history close-up, she said.
"It was so nice to be in the atmosphere and be included in what was happening," she said. "Everyone was so nice and helpful."
Morris said that she got a lot out of the experience and was happy she was able to attend.
"I was standing there crying and then turned to watch the crowd and there were others with tears as well," she said. "You never know what is going to happen now. It really just hit home. You never know I may just be the first woman president."
Morris said that she has truly been blessed. Not only with the chance to attend the inauguration, but with all of the people in her life who have been willing to help her achieve so much. She said she would have never believed this was what her life would have ending up being like when she was a little girl and entered the foster care system.
She said now she has so many dreams in her life and the confidence they will come true. That confidence she said has been instilled to her by Brewer, her time working with the leadership group and those who believed in her enough to donate money to help her attend the conference. In the future Morris hopes to attend an Ivy League College like Harvard to become a lawyer.
"To do something to make a difference in this world," she said. "My mom (Brewer) taught me never to settle for average. Thank God for her. My whole life I was looking for a family, looking for a parent to be there for me. Someone supportive. I finally found that, because my mom (Brewer) always gives everyone a chance."

Former rancher's wife dies in San Jose

When Mary Ann (Ghiozzi) Ghiggeri first moved to a Marsh Creek ranch in Brentwood in 1925 to marry her first husband Anthony Ghiozzi, the couple were one of the first to farm extensively in the area.
Ghiggeri recently passed away at 100 years old in San Jose, where she has lived since 1950.
She was born Mary Ann Garbini in Gilroy on June 14, 1908, where she worked with her family on their San Martin ranch. This was the beginning of Ghiggeri's long life in ranching and farming. During her time in Brentwood, Ghiggeri lived a very active life. Her husband, Anthony, died at an early age in 1932, during the Great Depression, leaving her to raise three small children on her own. President Harry Truman recognized Ghiggeri as a Gold Star Mother.
"As a resident of Brentwood, she was admired and known by many, including Bill Bristow, former principal and superintendent of the Brentwood School District, who remembered her in his early years in the Marsh Creek area and her involvement in the community, which included raising and showing horses in Western competitions, especially with her son, Gene," Jo Ann Bjornstad, Ghiggeri's daughter, said.
Mary Ann met and married Andrew Ghiggeri, a San Jose man with family from the Brentwood farming community, and moved to San Jose where they farmed produce.
Mary Ann's brother-in-law, the late Emilio Ghiggeri, planted the first sweet corn in Brentwood in 1940. Her nephew, Roy Ghiggheri, and his brother-in-law, Glenn Stonebarger, continue to farm that same sweet corn in Brentwood. The two own G and S Farms (Ghiggeri and Stonebarger Farms) in Brentwood.
After retirement, Mary continued to grow her famous prized tomatoes for the Italian community; her customers would travel for miles to purchase her produce. She and Andrew made many trips to Italy, enjoying the food and scenery of the Italian Rivera, from where their ancestors emigrated.
Mary Ann died on Jan. 10 in San Jose.
"She lived a very full and productive life and will be deeply missed by her family and friends in Brentwood, as well as in San Jose." Bjornstad said.
Memorial services were held in San Jose. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Spartan Foundation San Jose State University, One Washington Square, San Jose, 95192-0062 or The National Shrine of St. Jude the Claretions 205 W. Monroe St. Chicago, IL 60606.
Epitaph
WHO: Mary Ann (Ghiozzi) Ghiggeri
BORN: June 14, 1908 in Gilroy
DIED: Jan. 10, 2009 in San Jose
SURVIVIORS: Daughters Norma, Jo Ann (Roger), sons Gene (Jena) and Andrew, and numerous other relatives

Tux of Class turns 25

This month Antioch’s Tux of Class is celebrating 25 years of offering formal wear to the community. Lifelong resident of Antioch Judy Mori and her friend Fran Braxton opened the business because the only store in the area that offered men’s formal wear was closing. Braxton has worked for the other store and knew the time was right to open a new store.
“I had never worked in my life before we opened this store,” Mori said.
About the time that Braxton decided it was time to retire, Mori’s daughter, Gina Mori-Zebacnik, had just graduated from Fashion Institute and Design Merchandising college in San Francisco. Mori-Zebacnik bought Braxton out of the business and Mori-Zebacnik became Mori’s partner.
“This has been the best 17 years of my life,” Mori said about her daughter coming to work for her. It was actually Mori-Zebacnik who named the store “Tux of Class” at the age of 14.
Mori said that she isn’t quite sure if she can tell anyone what her key to success is. She said that people had asked her to answer that question over the years and since the beginning she has said that you can’t go into business with the idea that you’re going to get rich. “You have to make money to continue going in business, but most of the time you’re not going to get rich,” she said. “Money never was my number one priority in the beginning.”
She does explain that over the years she has kept active in the community and helping where she can. She also believes that customer service, no matter how corny it sounds, is very important to get people coming back. One of the best things about her business, Mori says, is that people keep coming back for different occasions in their life.
Mori also credits her employees for keeping the customers happy and doing a great job. Michelle Kiesz was hired on as manager for the store six years ago.
“Michelle knows every dress, every style and every tuxedo in the store,” Mori said. “Norine (Puccio) used to come in all the time spending money and my daughter said to her one day she should start working here and Norine said sure and put her purse down and started working.”
Tux of Class started with just offering men’s tuxedo and accessories. About six years ago the ladies decided to bring in prom and special occasion dresses. “Gina really has an eye for fashion and really knows the right clothes to bring in,” Mori said.
Mori has distributors from all over the country that she gets her designs from and is constantly restocking her shelves with new merchandise. They offer formal wear for all occasions and celebrations as well as accessories that match. Mori said another thing she attributes to her success is that she offers a no time limit layaway plan. “That really helps especially during these hard times,” she said.
Tux of Class is located at 43 E. 18th Street in Antioch. They are open from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday. Coming in February they will also be opening on Sundays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information, call them at 757-5020.