Freinds of Animal Services founder still going strong

By Roni Gehlke

In our "Neighbors" series, we give you a personal look at the people who are serving your community. If you would like to nominate someone for this column, contact Judy Prieve at 925-779-7178 or e-mail jprieve@bayareanewsgroup.com.

Name: Barbara Sobalvarro

Occupation: President of the Friends of Animal Services, a nonprofit volunteer organization that supports almost exclusively animals at the Antioch shelter.
Sobalvarro is also a piano teacher who teaches out of her home studio. Her "Musical Family" has been in business since 1982.
Sobalvarro plays piano on Friday and Saturday nights at Carpaccio Ristorante in Antioch. She also is the organist and piano player for St. Alban's Episcopal Church in Brentwood.

"You lead an interesting life when you are a musician. I really enjoy work with the venues of music. I like a lot of variety," Sobalvarro said.

Marital status/family: Sobalvarro lives in Antioch. She became a widow four years ago after 42 years of marriage. She has one son, Camille, who lives in Brentwood with his wife and two daughters.

Proudest civic achievement: Sobalvarro has worked for the Antioch community for over 30 years. She said that she has had many proud moments during that time, including her work with a local political organization many years back called the Association of Responsible Citizens.

Perhaps her proudest achievement, she says is when she founded and helped to build the Friends of the Animal Services organization. For the past 30 years the organization has worked to support the efforts and help the animals of the Antioch Animal Shelter.

"Through Friends of Animal Services we are helping animals that are totally innocent. Our community produced them and we should treat them in the most humane way," she said.
Sobalvarro said that for the past 30 years her organization has tried to keep the animal shelter in the public eye. They have attended countless City Council meetings and at times become very unpopular in the eyes of city officials, but through it all she said that their main goals has been the betterment of the shelter and the animals in their care.

In the past year Friends of Animal Services donated $40,000 to the Antioch Animal Shelter to help care for animals in the shelter. The money went to help pay for veterinary services, spay and neuter services, as well as adoption fees.

Future Achievement: Friends of Animal Services hosts many monthly events. On Oct. 24 the Friends will host its 14 annual Black Cat Ball at the Lone Tree Golf Course. This event will include the 30th anniversary celebration of the Friends group.

As a personal goal, Sobalvarro would like to see the Antioch Animal Shelter become a "no-kill" shelter.

"It wouldn't be something that has to be done all at once. It can be done in increments and show that they are committed to a no-kill goal," she said. "If they did I think they would find more people interested in helping the animals and giving money and volunteering."

Groups and organizations involved in: Although the founder of Friends of Antioch Services, Sobalvarro has not always been the only president of the organization.
Several others have been presidents over the years, she said, explaining that she is just doing her part for the group this year.

She is also a member of the Music Teachers Association of California.

Hobbies: Sobalvarro enjoys playing with her 12 cats. She also loves reading. "If I could I would read all the time," she said.

What was the last book you read: Discover the Power Within by Eric Butterworth. "It is a wonderful book that says if we think we can do it we probably can. If we think we can't, we probably can't. It is a very encouraging book," she said.

Favorite movie: She said "Gone with the Wind" is her favorite movie. She remembers sitting between her parents when she saw the movie for the first time. She also said she enjoys playing show tunes from the movie when she plays at the restaurant on Friday and Saturday nights.