Happy Halloween!
This blog is dedicated to articles that have run in the East Bay Times (East Contra Costa County, California), Brentwood News, Oakley News, Antioch News, Pittsburg News written by community columnist and correspondent, Roni Gehlke.
Friday, October 30, 2009
Neighbor: Young Oakley boy a budding singing sensation
By Roni Gehlke
Since he was 4 years old, Matthew's mother, Evelyn Parry-Jones, has been acting as his singing coach, finding the best music style that will work for him. For now, that style runs toward jazz and swing. Matthew used his talents last week performing for California State Sen. Dr. Leland Yee, D-San Mateo, at a dinner in his honor, singing Frank Sinatra and Elvis Presley hits.
"He (the senator) called me a playboy," Matthew said when remembering the evening's events.
"The audience was really in the groove."
Matthew keeps a pretty busy schedule these days. Not only is he a fourth-grade student at Oakley's Laurel Elementary School, he also spends quite a bit of time practicing his talents. He has been active singing at various venues for the past few months. He is also active in two choirs. One with his church, the Heavenly Harmonies Choir at Golden Hills in Brentwood, and another with his school. Matthew also takes hip hop classes at the Nick Rodriguez Center and attends an international school for acting and modeling in San Francisco every Saturday.
Born in the Philippines, Matthew and his family moved to Colchester, Essex, England two days after his first birthday and lived there until eight months ago when they moved to Oakley. He was featured as one of the 10 most beautiful babies in the Philippines by Good Housekeeping magazine.
"Matthew was called BKC's very own singing sensation when he performed 'Jailhouse Rock' at the First Dinner and Dance fundraising for orphans in Philippines," his mother said.
In just the short time he has lived in the states, Matthew has been busy working on making a name for himself locally. In August he was a special guest vocalist at an Antioch Woman's Club fundraiser; he also performed at the Adobo Festival in Stockton and sang with Antioch's Romano Marchetti Orchestra.
In September Matthew was one of the performers in the 15th Annual Fil-Am Friendship Celebration in Daly City.
"He made the audience groove when he performed Elvis Presley's 'Jailhouse Rock' and 'Proud Mary.' He also launched his Neil Diamond classic 'Sweet Caroline,' " his mother said.
On Nov. 12 Matthew will again perform for the Antioch Woman's Club. Parry-Jones said the members of the group will pass the hat for a fundraiser Matthew is working on so that the children from his class can go on a trip to Fort Sutter in Sacramento in May 2010.
If Matthew had to choose his favorite singer right now, it would be Elvis Presley, and his favorite song to perform would be "Proud Mary," he said.
Since he was 4 years old, Matthew's mother, Evelyn Parry-Jones, has been acting as his singing coach, finding the best music style that will work for him. For now, that style runs toward jazz and swing. Matthew used his talents last week performing for California State Sen. Dr. Leland Yee, D-San Mateo, at a dinner in his honor, singing Frank Sinatra and Elvis Presley hits.
"He (the senator) called me a playboy," Matthew said when remembering the evening's events.
"The audience was really in the groove."
Matthew keeps a pretty busy schedule these days. Not only is he a fourth-grade student at Oakley's Laurel Elementary School, he also spends quite a bit of time practicing his talents. He has been active singing at various venues for the past few months. He is also active in two choirs. One with his church, the Heavenly Harmonies Choir at Golden Hills in Brentwood, and another with his school. Matthew also takes hip hop classes at the Nick Rodriguez Center and attends an international school for acting and modeling in San Francisco every Saturday.
Born in the Philippines, Matthew and his family moved to Colchester, Essex, England two days after his first birthday and lived there until eight months ago when they moved to Oakley. He was featured as one of the 10 most beautiful babies in the Philippines by Good Housekeeping magazine.
"Matthew was called BKC's very own singing sensation when he performed 'Jailhouse Rock' at the First Dinner and Dance fundraising for orphans in Philippines," his mother said.
In just the short time he has lived in the states, Matthew has been busy working on making a name for himself locally. In August he was a special guest vocalist at an Antioch Woman's Club fundraiser; he also performed at the Adobo Festival in Stockton and sang with Antioch's Romano Marchetti Orchestra.
In September Matthew was one of the performers in the 15th Annual Fil-Am Friendship Celebration in Daly City.
"He made the audience groove when he performed Elvis Presley's 'Jailhouse Rock' and 'Proud Mary.' He also launched his Neil Diamond classic 'Sweet Caroline,' " his mother said.
On Nov. 12 Matthew will again perform for the Antioch Woman's Club. Parry-Jones said the members of the group will pass the hat for a fundraiser Matthew is working on so that the children from his class can go on a trip to Fort Sutter in Sacramento in May 2010.
If Matthew had to choose his favorite singer right now, it would be Elvis Presley, and his favorite song to perform would be "Proud Mary," he said.
LMC exhibit celebrates Latino culture
By Roni Gehlke
Los Medanos College Art Gallery is hosting a special exhibit honoring the "Day of the Dead" celebration called "Unforgettable/Inolvidable." The show, which runs through Nov. 5, features various art representing the Latino culture, including the work of four well-known local artists: Gary Duarte, Socorro Nunez, Enrique Martinez and the late John Acosta.
"We wanted to demonstrate what great local talent we had in the Latino community," said Carmen Aguilar-Ochoa, the guest curator for the event. Aguilar-Ochoa, who is also the executive director of Give Always to Others & Co., the organization that is sponsoring the exhibit, said that the show was held in honor of National Hispanic Heritage Month, which was Sept. 15 through Oct. 15. The art show opened Oct. 6, but recently added Day of the Dead altars in preparation for the upcoming holiday.
The Day of the Dead or Dia de los Muertos is widely celebrated throughout Mexico and by the Latino communities in the United States and Canada. The holiday takes place Nov. 1 (All Saints' Day) and Nov. 2 (All Souls' Day) and generally features parades, family celebrations and special church functions that honor and give prayer to those who have died.
"A lot of people think that Day of the Dead is about bad things," Gary Duarte said. "For me it is about happy memories with loved ones who are now dead."
Duarte noted that visitors would see a lot of skeleton scenes, which have recently become
popular in the art world, in his art now on exhibit at LMC. His scenes are generally happy with the skeletons dancing and embracing, he said.
Duarte has been painting these scenes in oil for several years and it is just one of his styles of painting that depicts his Latino background. Duarte was a steelworker for 32 years. As he was nearing the end of his career in 1995, he decided to change his usual swing shift to allow for time to take art classes at Los Medanos College. Painting was always something he had wanted to do, but he needed to work full time. After receiving his degree and retiring, Duarte went to work full time on his art. Now he has been displaying his work and enjoying his retirement.
Aguilar-Ochoa said that there are several varieties of art represented at the gallery for this show, including a pre-Columbian, Mexican art called "papel picado." She said that Antioch artist Enrique Martinez is an expert in this art form. Panel picado is a popular form of art for creating banners for the "Day of the Dead" celebration in Mexico. The art is made by creating pictures on stacked tissue paper and then pricking tiny holes through the paper with a metal rod. Each picture can take up to 16 hours to complete. Aguilar-Ochoa said the art form reminded her of American art that uses copper sheets and poke holes to create pictures.
Aguilar-Ochoa also said she was honored to have Acosta's paintings on display. The Pittsburg artist died earlier this year. Acosta was a popular artist who exhibited in many local art shows and painted the mural that is on display at the New Mecca Restaurant in Pittsburg.
Other artists exhibiting their work include Hermelinda Jimenez, a Mexican native who now lives in Antioch. Jimenez works in "repujado," which is the traditional Mexican metal relief craft.
Armando Jimenez, from Queretaro, Mexico, is a painter who draws inspiration from plants and planting.
Also on display is work from local photographer and teacher Mary Negrete who takes photographs while traveling the country and the world.
For the last two weeks of the exhibition, "Day of the Dead" altars will be on display. These will be created by several LMC student groups, including La Puente, Raza Club, and faculty from Los Medanos College. The exhibit will culminate with a "Day of the Dead" celebration on Nov. 1 from 2 to 5 p.m. The public is invited to attend.
If you go
WHAT: "Unforgettable/Inolvidable" exhibit
WHEN: 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays through Nov. 5; a Day of the Dead artists reception will be from 2 to 5 p.m. Nov. 5
WHERE: Los Medanos College Gallery, 2700 E. Leland Road, Pittsburg
INFO: 925-439-2181, ext. 3463
COST: admission is free; parking is $2
Los Medanos College Art Gallery is hosting a special exhibit honoring the "Day of the Dead" celebration called "Unforgettable/Inolvidable." The show, which runs through Nov. 5, features various art representing the Latino culture, including the work of four well-known local artists: Gary Duarte, Socorro Nunez, Enrique Martinez and the late John Acosta.
"We wanted to demonstrate what great local talent we had in the Latino community," said Carmen Aguilar-Ochoa, the guest curator for the event. Aguilar-Ochoa, who is also the executive director of Give Always to Others & Co., the organization that is sponsoring the exhibit, said that the show was held in honor of National Hispanic Heritage Month, which was Sept. 15 through Oct. 15. The art show opened Oct. 6, but recently added Day of the Dead altars in preparation for the upcoming holiday.
The Day of the Dead or Dia de los Muertos is widely celebrated throughout Mexico and by the Latino communities in the United States and Canada. The holiday takes place Nov. 1 (All Saints' Day) and Nov. 2 (All Souls' Day) and generally features parades, family celebrations and special church functions that honor and give prayer to those who have died.
"A lot of people think that Day of the Dead is about bad things," Gary Duarte said. "For me it is about happy memories with loved ones who are now dead."
Duarte noted that visitors would see a lot of skeleton scenes, which have recently become
popular in the art world, in his art now on exhibit at LMC. His scenes are generally happy with the skeletons dancing and embracing, he said.
Duarte has been painting these scenes in oil for several years and it is just one of his styles of painting that depicts his Latino background. Duarte was a steelworker for 32 years. As he was nearing the end of his career in 1995, he decided to change his usual swing shift to allow for time to take art classes at Los Medanos College. Painting was always something he had wanted to do, but he needed to work full time. After receiving his degree and retiring, Duarte went to work full time on his art. Now he has been displaying his work and enjoying his retirement.
Aguilar-Ochoa said that there are several varieties of art represented at the gallery for this show, including a pre-Columbian, Mexican art called "papel picado." She said that Antioch artist Enrique Martinez is an expert in this art form. Panel picado is a popular form of art for creating banners for the "Day of the Dead" celebration in Mexico. The art is made by creating pictures on stacked tissue paper and then pricking tiny holes through the paper with a metal rod. Each picture can take up to 16 hours to complete. Aguilar-Ochoa said the art form reminded her of American art that uses copper sheets and poke holes to create pictures.
Aguilar-Ochoa also said she was honored to have Acosta's paintings on display. The Pittsburg artist died earlier this year. Acosta was a popular artist who exhibited in many local art shows and painted the mural that is on display at the New Mecca Restaurant in Pittsburg.
Other artists exhibiting their work include Hermelinda Jimenez, a Mexican native who now lives in Antioch. Jimenez works in "repujado," which is the traditional Mexican metal relief craft.
Armando Jimenez, from Queretaro, Mexico, is a painter who draws inspiration from plants and planting.
Also on display is work from local photographer and teacher Mary Negrete who takes photographs while traveling the country and the world.
For the last two weeks of the exhibition, "Day of the Dead" altars will be on display. These will be created by several LMC student groups, including La Puente, Raza Club, and faculty from Los Medanos College. The exhibit will culminate with a "Day of the Dead" celebration on Nov. 1 from 2 to 5 p.m. The public is invited to attend.
If you go
WHAT: "Unforgettable/Inolvidable" exhibit
WHEN: 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays through Nov. 5; a Day of the Dead artists reception will be from 2 to 5 p.m. Nov. 5
WHERE: Los Medanos College Gallery, 2700 E. Leland Road, Pittsburg
INFO: 925-439-2181, ext. 3463
COST: admission is free; parking is $2
Freedom students to stage comedy
By Roni Gehlke
It didn't take long for Freedom High School's new theater director to see that the students at the Oakley school had a lot of talent. Michael Kleiman was hired when school started in July. Since then, he has been teaching ninth-grade English and working with the high school's Center Stage club.
"There are some very dedicated and talented students here at Freedom," Kleiman said.
In late August, Kleiman announced that Freedom's theater group would stage its first play in early November. He was excited to see that 50 students signed up to audition for the nine-person play.
In the end, 14 students and about 30 student volunteers were picked to be involved in the production of "The Ten Rules of Internet Dating."
The focus of the comedy, according to Kleiman, is the life of a man whose wife leaves him, forcing him to move in with his younger brother.
"The man's brother introduces him into the Internet dating scene, and the man learns a whole new way of life," he said.
Kleiman said there are many "Star Wars" references in the modern romance, and it has a great soundtrack.
Before coming to Freedom High School, Kleiman lived in Fort Erwin in the desert area of Southern California. While there, he taught middle school English and worked with the school's theater group.
"It is really different working with middle school-aged kids compared to high school age,"
Kleiman said. He said he is looking forward to doing some more grown-up varieties of plays than he did before.
"I'm hoping that we will be able to do a musical in the spring," he said. "High school level students are so much more excited about being in the plays."
Kleiman is a graduate of Western Michigan University, where he studied English and theater. He is enjoying being in the Bay Area now and likes seeing the green hills of the Delta region.
He is also happy to see how excited the students are about being involved in this production.
The Center Stage club at Freedom has roughly about 30 members, Kleiman said. He is hoping that the excitement over putting together this play will encourage more involvement from students. Theater productions are open to all students in all grades at Freedom and it isn't necessary to be part of the Center Stage club to be involved in one of the productions.
"Right now my goal is to have the kids feel proud about being in the show and have their friends feel envious of what they are doing," Kleiman said.
As part of the production, the students put together a preview trailer that was shown to other students during school announcements. "The kids had a lot of fun putting that together," he said.
Kleiman said that all of this is part of his master plan in building a reputable program for Freedom High School's theater department. He especially hopes that the students are happy about what they are doing, he said.
"The students are breaking down barriers and coming out of their shells," he said. "Even if they don't continue acting they are hard workers and I can tell they love every second of what they are doing and really enjoying themselves."
If you go
WHAT: "The Ten Rules of Internet Dating"
WHEN: 7 p.m. Nov. 5, 6; 2 p.m. Nov. 7
WHERE: Freedom High multipurpose room
COST: $15 adults,
$3 students
It didn't take long for Freedom High School's new theater director to see that the students at the Oakley school had a lot of talent. Michael Kleiman was hired when school started in July. Since then, he has been teaching ninth-grade English and working with the high school's Center Stage club.
"There are some very dedicated and talented students here at Freedom," Kleiman said.
In late August, Kleiman announced that Freedom's theater group would stage its first play in early November. He was excited to see that 50 students signed up to audition for the nine-person play.
In the end, 14 students and about 30 student volunteers were picked to be involved in the production of "The Ten Rules of Internet Dating."
The focus of the comedy, according to Kleiman, is the life of a man whose wife leaves him, forcing him to move in with his younger brother.
"The man's brother introduces him into the Internet dating scene, and the man learns a whole new way of life," he said.
Kleiman said there are many "Star Wars" references in the modern romance, and it has a great soundtrack.
Before coming to Freedom High School, Kleiman lived in Fort Erwin in the desert area of Southern California. While there, he taught middle school English and worked with the school's theater group.
"It is really different working with middle school-aged kids compared to high school age,"
Kleiman said. He said he is looking forward to doing some more grown-up varieties of plays than he did before.
"I'm hoping that we will be able to do a musical in the spring," he said. "High school level students are so much more excited about being in the plays."
Kleiman is a graduate of Western Michigan University, where he studied English and theater. He is enjoying being in the Bay Area now and likes seeing the green hills of the Delta region.
He is also happy to see how excited the students are about being involved in this production.
The Center Stage club at Freedom has roughly about 30 members, Kleiman said. He is hoping that the excitement over putting together this play will encourage more involvement from students. Theater productions are open to all students in all grades at Freedom and it isn't necessary to be part of the Center Stage club to be involved in one of the productions.
"Right now my goal is to have the kids feel proud about being in the show and have their friends feel envious of what they are doing," Kleiman said.
As part of the production, the students put together a preview trailer that was shown to other students during school announcements. "The kids had a lot of fun putting that together," he said.
Kleiman said that all of this is part of his master plan in building a reputable program for Freedom High School's theater department. He especially hopes that the students are happy about what they are doing, he said.
"The students are breaking down barriers and coming out of their shells," he said. "Even if they don't continue acting they are hard workers and I can tell they love every second of what they are doing and really enjoying themselves."
If you go
WHAT: "The Ten Rules of Internet Dating"
WHEN: 7 p.m. Nov. 5, 6; 2 p.m. Nov. 7
WHERE: Freedom High multipurpose room
COST: $15 adults,
$3 students
Author spends final days crafting romantic thriller
By Roni Gehlke
WHEN CAROL DOUGLAS Tillotson graduated from Antioch High School in 1957, she dreamed of someday publishing a book. As the years passed, she thought about accomplishing that goal, said her husband, Don, but many things seemed to relegate it to the back burner.
She finally completed a manuscript for a romantic thriller but never got to see the book published. Just a few months before it reached bookstore shelves, Tillotson succumbed to a short battle with breast cancer. She died in June at age 70.
"Carol was an extremely gifted and talented woman," Don Tillotson said.
After graduating from high school, she attended UC Berkeley, where she scored 100 percent on her entrance exam. After graduating college, she interviewed and was hired at Dow Chemical in Pittsburg.
"When Carol went to personnel to take the test, she scored 100 percent there, too," Tillotson said. "She was the only one to do so at the time. She scored better than the chemists who worked there."
After working at Dow for a few years, the Tillotsons moved to Placer County, where her joy in life was working with quarter horses in the Yolla Bolly wilderness of Northern California.
"She did other work there," Tillotson said. "But the only thing Carol wanted to do was write. She was never happier than when she was writing."
She also was a perfectionist, and although she wrote a few books over the years, nothing ever became of them. Finally,when she was ready to publish something, she sat down and wrote what turned out to be her only published work.
The book is titled "The Legend of Round Valley: A Romantic Adventure." The story idea was a suggestion of her husband's when Tillotson was looking for a subject.
Don Tillotson remembered when the couple had gone on a 10-day backpacking vacation in 1974. At the time, the Mendocino County area was filled with wilderness and Indian camps. Today, headlines abound about the area's illegal drug activity.
A grand jury report in 2008 found that the illegal drug industry dominates the Round Valley economy and that many of the area children experience an unstable home environment because of abuse of alcohol and illegal drugs.
"Carol really enjoyed that trip, and she still remembered it fresh in her mind," Tillotson said.
"The Legend of Round Valley" is a thriller about three couples on a romantic vacation that takes a dark twist, leaving the couples in a struggle for their survival.
When Carol Tillotson started writing the book, she did not know that she would soon be facing life and death struggles of her own. The cancer in her breast had gone undetected for four years, her husband said. By the time the doctors found it, all of the treatments tried were too late.
After Tillotson's passing, her husband continued to work to keep alive her memory, dreams and talent for writing by fulfilling her final wish. "She wanted to share her romantic thriller, 'The Legend of Round Valley,' with the world," he said.
The book opens with three couples leaving behind their worlds of hectic work and family life for a romantic getaway, setting out to explore unfamiliar terrain. Far from civilization, their guided horse tour leads them into contact with drug traffickers and Indian tribes.
Soon, their idyllic vacation turns into a nightmare. Lost and on the run, they realize they must work together to fight their attackers in order to make it through their vacation alive.
Tillotson said that through themes of love, hate, trust and betrayal, the close friends experience the darker side of human nature. "'The Legend of Round Valley' examines the deepest components of friendship and forces readers to reflect on their own relationships and experiences. The novel keeps readers anxious and on edge, anticipating the final fate of the couples," he said.
Tillotson said that his wife wanted to make sure that this book would do well before she would release it. Before sending the book to a publisher, she sent it to a literary professor at UC Davis and the head of a prestigious writing club in Arizona, who both praised it.
She finally sent the book to the publishers and received the approval letter around the same time she was diagnosed.
"I want to honor my wife and her memory," Don Tillotson says. "She was so proud of her book, and I want the world to share in the exciting story she spent her final days crafting."
"The Legend of Round Valley: A Romantic Adventure" can be found on several Internet sites, including eBay and Booktopia at booktopia.com.au/.
WHEN CAROL DOUGLAS Tillotson graduated from Antioch High School in 1957, she dreamed of someday publishing a book. As the years passed, she thought about accomplishing that goal, said her husband, Don, but many things seemed to relegate it to the back burner.
She finally completed a manuscript for a romantic thriller but never got to see the book published. Just a few months before it reached bookstore shelves, Tillotson succumbed to a short battle with breast cancer. She died in June at age 70.
"Carol was an extremely gifted and talented woman," Don Tillotson said.
After graduating from high school, she attended UC Berkeley, where she scored 100 percent on her entrance exam. After graduating college, she interviewed and was hired at Dow Chemical in Pittsburg.
"When Carol went to personnel to take the test, she scored 100 percent there, too," Tillotson said. "She was the only one to do so at the time. She scored better than the chemists who worked there."
After working at Dow for a few years, the Tillotsons moved to Placer County, where her joy in life was working with quarter horses in the Yolla Bolly wilderness of Northern California.
"She did other work there," Tillotson said. "But the only thing Carol wanted to do was write. She was never happier than when she was writing."
She also was a perfectionist, and although she wrote a few books over the years, nothing ever became of them. Finally,when she was ready to publish something, she sat down and wrote what turned out to be her only published work.
The book is titled "The Legend of Round Valley: A Romantic Adventure." The story idea was a suggestion of her husband's when Tillotson was looking for a subject.
Don Tillotson remembered when the couple had gone on a 10-day backpacking vacation in 1974. At the time, the Mendocino County area was filled with wilderness and Indian camps. Today, headlines abound about the area's illegal drug activity.
A grand jury report in 2008 found that the illegal drug industry dominates the Round Valley economy and that many of the area children experience an unstable home environment because of abuse of alcohol and illegal drugs.
"Carol really enjoyed that trip, and she still remembered it fresh in her mind," Tillotson said.
"The Legend of Round Valley" is a thriller about three couples on a romantic vacation that takes a dark twist, leaving the couples in a struggle for their survival.
When Carol Tillotson started writing the book, she did not know that she would soon be facing life and death struggles of her own. The cancer in her breast had gone undetected for four years, her husband said. By the time the doctors found it, all of the treatments tried were too late.
After Tillotson's passing, her husband continued to work to keep alive her memory, dreams and talent for writing by fulfilling her final wish. "She wanted to share her romantic thriller, 'The Legend of Round Valley,' with the world," he said.
The book opens with three couples leaving behind their worlds of hectic work and family life for a romantic getaway, setting out to explore unfamiliar terrain. Far from civilization, their guided horse tour leads them into contact with drug traffickers and Indian tribes.
Soon, their idyllic vacation turns into a nightmare. Lost and on the run, they realize they must work together to fight their attackers in order to make it through their vacation alive.
Tillotson said that through themes of love, hate, trust and betrayal, the close friends experience the darker side of human nature. "'The Legend of Round Valley' examines the deepest components of friendship and forces readers to reflect on their own relationships and experiences. The novel keeps readers anxious and on edge, anticipating the final fate of the couples," he said.
Tillotson said that his wife wanted to make sure that this book would do well before she would release it. Before sending the book to a publisher, she sent it to a literary professor at UC Davis and the head of a prestigious writing club in Arizona, who both praised it.
She finally sent the book to the publishers and received the approval letter around the same time she was diagnosed.
"I want to honor my wife and her memory," Don Tillotson says. "She was so proud of her book, and I want the world to share in the exciting story she spent her final days crafting."
"The Legend of Round Valley: A Romantic Adventure" can be found on several Internet sites, including eBay and Booktopia at booktopia.com.au/.
Around Oakley: City has rich history of spooky tales
By Roni Gehlke
THERE ARE MANY stories of ghosts and spirits that haunt Oakley. Some stem from the history of the town, while others are sheer products of the imagination fashioned to delight audiences at this time of year.
While Oakley is celebrating only its 10th year as a city, the history of the town dates back nearly 120 years.
Back in the days when the only thing that kept refrigerators cold were large blocks of ice, the old Oakley Hotel, and the local bar attached to it, had a large refrigerator unit. When residents of Oakley died, mysteriously or of natural causes, their bodies were taken to that large refrigerator for storage until they could be buried or county officials could come and take them away.
Decades later, members of the community who worked in the building talked of spirits haunting the old hotel — especially one woman who was rumored as dying under unexplained circumstances.
One local ranch family reported that it had moved into a house that had been built in the beginning of Oakley's history. In the home, a young boy had died of a childhood disease, and all those who had lived on the land are said to have seen the boy happily riding his tricycle in front of the barn on clear Saturday afternoons.
One of the more ghoulish stories is of a man who reportedly hung himself in front of the church on the corner of Live Oak Road and Main Street in the dead of winter in the early 1900s. Some
who drive down Main Street on stormy nights say they can still see the shadow of the body swinging from the tree. Many others report that the tree has long since died and been chopped down.
Of course, the stories are exaggerated and get more and more extraordinary this time of year, which is part of the fun of Halloween. Many people in the area go all out with decorations. Early in the month, lots of homes were already in full swing decorating for the coming holiday. Many decorations are for the benefit of young children who love to see sparkling pumpkins, witches and a black cat.
Others like Andreina Sanve and her partner Yvonne Fee go all out with the decorations and set up a full-scale haunted house for the neighbors and friends to enjoy. Sanve's haunted house on Carpenter Road started out as decorating for fun, but when Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans and the people needed so much help, Sanve decided to go a step further, opening her house to anyone who wanted to check out her decorations for a small admission fee or a donation to help those in need.
That was just the start to what today the family calls "Sanctuary of Evil Haunted House and Maze." The haunted house has come a long way over the past few years.
Since finding out how much fun it was to open the house to others, she decided to help look for another organization to assist and found a local Girl and Boy Scout troop. Each group is run, respectively, by husband and wife team Yvonne and Bill Fee.
The Girl Scout Troup, number 31437, and Venture Crew 152 Boy Scouts have been working on helping with setup. Many members of both groups dress up in costume and participate with working up the scares. The group keeps the haunted house open on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays throughout October and will continue to do so this weekend, even staying open on Sunday for those to enjoy for one more day after this year's Halloween.
New to the exhibit this year is a coffin ride called the "Last Ride" that Sanve purchased this year at the Transworld Home and Party Show in Las Vegas. The motion ride is sure to be a treat for die-hard haunted house fans.
A friend of Sanve's, Robert Moss, also helped this year by building a Western town so that they could host an Old West ghost town. There also will be the same great features from the past, including a pirate ship, a tour through a horrifying haunted house and a 7,000-square-foot corn maze.
The Sanctuary of Evil is located at 936 Carpenter Road in Oakley. Hours are 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $5 for the haunted house, $3 for the simulated coffin ride, or $8 for both.
The Venture Crew will offer snacks and refreshments. For more information, call 925-206-3339.
Roni Gehlke is an Oakley resident. Reach her at ourbackyard@comcast.net.
THERE ARE MANY stories of ghosts and spirits that haunt Oakley. Some stem from the history of the town, while others are sheer products of the imagination fashioned to delight audiences at this time of year.
While Oakley is celebrating only its 10th year as a city, the history of the town dates back nearly 120 years.
Back in the days when the only thing that kept refrigerators cold were large blocks of ice, the old Oakley Hotel, and the local bar attached to it, had a large refrigerator unit. When residents of Oakley died, mysteriously or of natural causes, their bodies were taken to that large refrigerator for storage until they could be buried or county officials could come and take them away.
Decades later, members of the community who worked in the building talked of spirits haunting the old hotel — especially one woman who was rumored as dying under unexplained circumstances.
One local ranch family reported that it had moved into a house that had been built in the beginning of Oakley's history. In the home, a young boy had died of a childhood disease, and all those who had lived on the land are said to have seen the boy happily riding his tricycle in front of the barn on clear Saturday afternoons.
One of the more ghoulish stories is of a man who reportedly hung himself in front of the church on the corner of Live Oak Road and Main Street in the dead of winter in the early 1900s. Some
who drive down Main Street on stormy nights say they can still see the shadow of the body swinging from the tree. Many others report that the tree has long since died and been chopped down.
Of course, the stories are exaggerated and get more and more extraordinary this time of year, which is part of the fun of Halloween. Many people in the area go all out with decorations. Early in the month, lots of homes were already in full swing decorating for the coming holiday. Many decorations are for the benefit of young children who love to see sparkling pumpkins, witches and a black cat.
Others like Andreina Sanve and her partner Yvonne Fee go all out with the decorations and set up a full-scale haunted house for the neighbors and friends to enjoy. Sanve's haunted house on Carpenter Road started out as decorating for fun, but when Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans and the people needed so much help, Sanve decided to go a step further, opening her house to anyone who wanted to check out her decorations for a small admission fee or a donation to help those in need.
That was just the start to what today the family calls "Sanctuary of Evil Haunted House and Maze." The haunted house has come a long way over the past few years.
Since finding out how much fun it was to open the house to others, she decided to help look for another organization to assist and found a local Girl and Boy Scout troop. Each group is run, respectively, by husband and wife team Yvonne and Bill Fee.
The Girl Scout Troup, number 31437, and Venture Crew 152 Boy Scouts have been working on helping with setup. Many members of both groups dress up in costume and participate with working up the scares. The group keeps the haunted house open on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays throughout October and will continue to do so this weekend, even staying open on Sunday for those to enjoy for one more day after this year's Halloween.
New to the exhibit this year is a coffin ride called the "Last Ride" that Sanve purchased this year at the Transworld Home and Party Show in Las Vegas. The motion ride is sure to be a treat for die-hard haunted house fans.
A friend of Sanve's, Robert Moss, also helped this year by building a Western town so that they could host an Old West ghost town. There also will be the same great features from the past, including a pirate ship, a tour through a horrifying haunted house and a 7,000-square-foot corn maze.
The Sanctuary of Evil is located at 936 Carpenter Road in Oakley. Hours are 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $5 for the haunted house, $3 for the simulated coffin ride, or $8 for both.
The Venture Crew will offer snacks and refreshments. For more information, call 925-206-3339.
Roni Gehlke is an Oakley resident. Reach her at ourbackyard@comcast.net.
Personal trainer moves to bigger digs in Brentwood
Name of business: Body By Santi
Type of business: Personal training
Owner: Santiago Lobec
Founded: September 2009
Address: 4525 O'Hara Ave., Suite B, Brentwood
Phone number: 510-478-3889
Hours: By arrangement
Number of Employees: 2
Products and services: Personal training and boot camp for athletes and weight control. Services include personalized exercise plans and nutritional programs. All age groups welcome, including children and seniors. Boot camps work with groups early morning and evening after work hours.
How did you get into the business: Lobec has been a personal trainer for 23 years. He started his career in Spain, where he was internationally certified to be a personal trainer. Lobec moved from Spain to California five years ago when he married a woman from the area. He opened Body By Santi in Brentwood at another location. He decided to move the business to a larger location on O'Hara Avenue. The grand opening for the new location was Oct. 9.
"I have a passion for life and keeping healthy," Lobec said. "I want to show my passion to them and help them with their personal goals."
Best part about the business: "Talking to people, working to get their goal and making the best workout plan for them," Lobec said. He explained that he works with individuals, and as such has to come up with the plan that works specifically for them.
"Every day will be different for them so that they will have fun and enjoy working out," he said.
Worst part about the business: Lobec said he is doing what he has always wanted to do and doesn't see a worst part.
Key to success: "Personality," he said. "It is what people are always telling me. That I have a good personality for this business."
Biggest misperception about the business: He said a big misperception is that "personal trainers are harder to work with." Lobec said one of the most important parts of keeping people on goal is to start off slow and work them into the program. He explained that many people want instant results, and that doesn't help people keep themselves in shape.
He also said it is important to work on a good nutrition plan when working on a weight-loss program.
Future plans: With the move, Lobec purchased new equipment and added more space to offer more room for his Boot Camp program.
— Roni Gehlke
Type of business: Personal training
Owner: Santiago Lobec
Founded: September 2009
Address: 4525 O'Hara Ave., Suite B, Brentwood
Phone number: 510-478-3889
Hours: By arrangement
Number of Employees: 2
Products and services: Personal training and boot camp for athletes and weight control. Services include personalized exercise plans and nutritional programs. All age groups welcome, including children and seniors. Boot camps work with groups early morning and evening after work hours.
How did you get into the business: Lobec has been a personal trainer for 23 years. He started his career in Spain, where he was internationally certified to be a personal trainer. Lobec moved from Spain to California five years ago when he married a woman from the area. He opened Body By Santi in Brentwood at another location. He decided to move the business to a larger location on O'Hara Avenue. The grand opening for the new location was Oct. 9.
"I have a passion for life and keeping healthy," Lobec said. "I want to show my passion to them and help them with their personal goals."
Best part about the business: "Talking to people, working to get their goal and making the best workout plan for them," Lobec said. He explained that he works with individuals, and as such has to come up with the plan that works specifically for them.
"Every day will be different for them so that they will have fun and enjoy working out," he said.
Worst part about the business: Lobec said he is doing what he has always wanted to do and doesn't see a worst part.
Key to success: "Personality," he said. "It is what people are always telling me. That I have a good personality for this business."
Biggest misperception about the business: He said a big misperception is that "personal trainers are harder to work with." Lobec said one of the most important parts of keeping people on goal is to start off slow and work them into the program. He explained that many people want instant results, and that doesn't help people keep themselves in shape.
He also said it is important to work on a good nutrition plan when working on a weight-loss program.
Future plans: With the move, Lobec purchased new equipment and added more space to offer more room for his Boot Camp program.
— Roni Gehlke
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Liberty Union High School District College Night
Liberty Union High School District, including Oakley's Freedom High School, students attending a district wide college night at Heritage High School in Brentwood, CA. This is only a small portion of those who attended that night. Many others split up to find out information at the seminars provided about financial aide and picking the right major. Student grades 9 through 12 were invited to attend from all three high schools in the district.
East County food banks are feeling the economic pinch
By Roni Gehlke
With the downturn in the economy and more people out of work, local nonprofit organizations, church groups and food banks are worried that there will not be enough to go around during the holiday season. Many local groups have already been feeling the pinch as donations have been down and more people are looking to them to help with food needs.
Capt. Jackie Smith from the Antioch Branch of the Salvation Army says that most people think about donating canned food and other items during the holidays, but lack of food is a year-round problem.
"Already this fall we are over 40 percent ahead of our usual service to the community," Smith said.
Becoming worried about what this would mean for the holidays and the year ahead, Smith and a group called Safe-Based Subcommittee to the Child Welfare Redesign alerted Federal Glover and the Board of Supervisors to their concerns. Safe-Based suggested declaring October as "Faith Feeding Families" Month, which the Board of Supervisors did at their Sept. 22 meeting.
"We wanted to request that people be alerted to the problem," Smith said.
Safe-Based will host a Pastors' Luncheon on Oct. 22 in the hopes of raising awareness of the problem. The group would also like to take it a step further by opening an additional East County food pantry after the holidays where local church and religious organizations would donate all the food.
"We're hoping that the church community, or faith-based, will help," she said.
Smith explained that churches are among the first place that people go for help, but they lack adequate publicity and ample donations to supply all of those in need. She is hoping that through this new pantry more people's needs can be met.
While the Salvation Army is best known for helping those in need, there are many other groups in East County who are working toward the same goal. The Antioch Food Closet has been around since 1969. It is located in St. Andrew's Lutheran Church, although it has no affiliation to the church.
The Antioch Food Closet offers a three-day emergency supply of food for a family of four. According to organizer Susan Clark, the program only allows families to come in once every three months for supplies. They can generally handle eight families a day. That comes to about 100 separate families a month. Clark says that she rarely sees the same families twice.
The group purchases food from the Contra Costa and Solano County Food Bank at a reduced fee. It also receives monetary donations from various sources, but Clark said she noticed a distinct reduction over the past several months.
"The main problem is that people just don't have the money to give," Clark said.
One of the resources for the group is a cash donation box at one of the local chain grocery stores. Each month the store managers add all the money collected from the box and put it an account so that Clark can go in and buy food, at the regular cost. Last February she found that the account was overdrawn by $2,000.
"I had no idea where we were going to get that kind of money," she said. "We had to wait months for the account to be repaid by donations so we could shop at the store again."
Clark said these types of programs work well when the economy is in good shape, but right now it is leaving a large hole that will need to be filled by other sources.
One of the ways these organizations fill the gap is with fundraisers. Over the next couple of months many of the groups will be hosting events that they hope will supplement their food donations.
The Brentwood Regional Community Chest helps approximately 500 residents each Christmas from Brentwood, Oakley, Discovery Bay, Knightsen and Bethel Island with food and toys. Last year a group called the Friends of Oakley took over helping the Chest's Oakley residents. By taking 125 Oakley families off the hands of the Community Chest, it allowed the Community Chest to add another 125 non-Oakley residents to its list.
Now in their second year of organizing the holiday food drive, the Friends of Oakley is putting together its first fundraiser for the event. On Oct. 10 it will host a Wine, Cheese and Children's Art Show at the Hanoum Estates in Oakley. With the $20 advanced or $25 at-the-door ticket, the groups hopes to raise the number of residents it helps from 125 to 250 this Christmas.
The Brentwood Regional Community Chest plans to kick off its fundraising with the help of the Bryon Delta Lions Club food drive in mid-October and with asking for donations at grocery stores starting in November.
"I believe there will be a really big need in the community this year." said Lillian Pierce of the Brentwood Regional Community Chest. "There are a lot of good organized groups out there to help."
With the downturn in the economy and more people out of work, local nonprofit organizations, church groups and food banks are worried that there will not be enough to go around during the holiday season. Many local groups have already been feeling the pinch as donations have been down and more people are looking to them to help with food needs.
Capt. Jackie Smith from the Antioch Branch of the Salvation Army says that most people think about donating canned food and other items during the holidays, but lack of food is a year-round problem.
"Already this fall we are over 40 percent ahead of our usual service to the community," Smith said.
Becoming worried about what this would mean for the holidays and the year ahead, Smith and a group called Safe-Based Subcommittee to the Child Welfare Redesign alerted Federal Glover and the Board of Supervisors to their concerns. Safe-Based suggested declaring October as "Faith Feeding Families" Month, which the Board of Supervisors did at their Sept. 22 meeting.
"We wanted to request that people be alerted to the problem," Smith said.
Safe-Based will host a Pastors' Luncheon on Oct. 22 in the hopes of raising awareness of the problem. The group would also like to take it a step further by opening an additional East County food pantry after the holidays where local church and religious organizations would donate all the food.
"We're hoping that the church community, or faith-based, will help," she said.
Smith explained that churches are among the first place that people go for help, but they lack adequate publicity and ample donations to supply all of those in need. She is hoping that through this new pantry more people's needs can be met.
While the Salvation Army is best known for helping those in need, there are many other groups in East County who are working toward the same goal. The Antioch Food Closet has been around since 1969. It is located in St. Andrew's Lutheran Church, although it has no affiliation to the church.
The Antioch Food Closet offers a three-day emergency supply of food for a family of four. According to organizer Susan Clark, the program only allows families to come in once every three months for supplies. They can generally handle eight families a day. That comes to about 100 separate families a month. Clark says that she rarely sees the same families twice.
The group purchases food from the Contra Costa and Solano County Food Bank at a reduced fee. It also receives monetary donations from various sources, but Clark said she noticed a distinct reduction over the past several months.
"The main problem is that people just don't have the money to give," Clark said.
One of the resources for the group is a cash donation box at one of the local chain grocery stores. Each month the store managers add all the money collected from the box and put it an account so that Clark can go in and buy food, at the regular cost. Last February she found that the account was overdrawn by $2,000.
"I had no idea where we were going to get that kind of money," she said. "We had to wait months for the account to be repaid by donations so we could shop at the store again."
Clark said these types of programs work well when the economy is in good shape, but right now it is leaving a large hole that will need to be filled by other sources.
One of the ways these organizations fill the gap is with fundraisers. Over the next couple of months many of the groups will be hosting events that they hope will supplement their food donations.
The Brentwood Regional Community Chest helps approximately 500 residents each Christmas from Brentwood, Oakley, Discovery Bay, Knightsen and Bethel Island with food and toys. Last year a group called the Friends of Oakley took over helping the Chest's Oakley residents. By taking 125 Oakley families off the hands of the Community Chest, it allowed the Community Chest to add another 125 non-Oakley residents to its list.
Now in their second year of organizing the holiday food drive, the Friends of Oakley is putting together its first fundraiser for the event. On Oct. 10 it will host a Wine, Cheese and Children's Art Show at the Hanoum Estates in Oakley. With the $20 advanced or $25 at-the-door ticket, the groups hopes to raise the number of residents it helps from 125 to 250 this Christmas.
The Brentwood Regional Community Chest plans to kick off its fundraising with the help of the Bryon Delta Lions Club food drive in mid-October and with asking for donations at grocery stores starting in November.
"I believe there will be a really big need in the community this year." said Lillian Pierce of the Brentwood Regional Community Chest. "There are a lot of good organized groups out there to help."
Lifelong resident sees many changes in Byron
By Roni Gehlke
"All the people would come on the weekends from San Francisco," she remembered.
Thomas and her family would attend picnics and go swimming in the summer.
On Sept. 23, Thomas celebrated her 99th birthday. Her grandniece, Sandy Fredrickson, gave her a surprise birthday party the weekend before. Fredrickson admitted that although it was a well-deserved celebration in Thomas' honor, it wasn't easy surprising the older woman. Fredrickson and Thomas still live on the same family property in Byron that Thomas has lived in since she married. Fredrickson lives in the house that Thomas' in-laws used to live in right next-door.
The event was celebrated with 50 of Thomas' closest friends and family. Thomas said she was very surprised because her birthday wasn't until the following Wednesday and she wasn't sure if her grandniece even remembered.
Thomas was raised in Byron, first by her parents and then her grandparents after her mother died when she was 10 and her younger sister Hazel was only 2. Thomas, whose maiden name is Volpone, and her husband, Lionel Thomas, were both 1929 graduates of Liberty High School. Although the class was small and she had attended school with Lionel for most of her life, Thomas didn't really know her husband well in those days. The two didn't marry until 1936.
The Thomas family owned a large piece of property that ran down Bixler Road and across Highway 4 where the Safeway shopping center and post office are now located. At the time of Kathryn and Lionel's marriage, the Thomases ran a large dairy, Thomas Dairy. The land was filled with cows and alfalfa.
Both Lionel and his twin brother built homes on the property to stay close to the family and work the farm. Lionel and three of his brothers also worked for the Contra Costa County sheriff's department. The family ran the dairy until Lionel Thomas' father died, then they sold the cows but kept the alfalfa business going. The Thomases used to keep a runway where the post office is now located so that they could do the crop dusting on the farm with their own plane.
Thomas said she never worked on the farm. For years she worked part-time at various stores in the area including the old Chaimes Grocery Store in downtown Byron. She also worked for Pacific Bell Telephone Co.
During her life she has seen a lot of changes in the Byron area. When she was first married there weren't any phone lines that reached the Thomas property. Her husband and his brothers worked to put the telephone and lines up so they could get phone service. The road in front of her property was dirt and she could count only one car going up the street in the morning and one in the afternoon. She said that today she likes to sit on her porch and watch the heavy traffic on her street.
When the building of Discovery Bay began in the 1970s, Thomas said that the sheriff's department offered her husband more hours on the job, but she asked him to decline because she was too nervous to be home alone. For most of her life, Thomas was used to living in a rural farm community where there weren't any houses but family as far as the eye could see. She said that she could see the Discovery Bay properties being built and worried about all of the strangers coming to the area.
Thomas said she didn't have many hobbies, but she did like to cook and bake. She also liked to dance. She and her husband, who had no children, used to drive into Antioch a couple of times a month to go dancing. At the time it was quite a long trek because roads weren't what they are today. She loved shopping with her younger sister. Hazel Silva lived with her husband in Oakley and Thomas enjoyed visiting her in her downtown home. The two ladies would make a day of going dress shopping in Stockton. Thomas said they were lucky to have the Greyhound Bus service to take them where they needed to go. Her husband died in the early 1990s and her sister died a few years ago.
Thomas said she is looking forward to her 100th birthday where she hopes that she will have another chance to celebrate with her family and friends next year.
"All the people would come on the weekends from San Francisco," she remembered.
Thomas and her family would attend picnics and go swimming in the summer.
On Sept. 23, Thomas celebrated her 99th birthday. Her grandniece, Sandy Fredrickson, gave her a surprise birthday party the weekend before. Fredrickson admitted that although it was a well-deserved celebration in Thomas' honor, it wasn't easy surprising the older woman. Fredrickson and Thomas still live on the same family property in Byron that Thomas has lived in since she married. Fredrickson lives in the house that Thomas' in-laws used to live in right next-door.
The event was celebrated with 50 of Thomas' closest friends and family. Thomas said she was very surprised because her birthday wasn't until the following Wednesday and she wasn't sure if her grandniece even remembered.
Thomas was raised in Byron, first by her parents and then her grandparents after her mother died when she was 10 and her younger sister Hazel was only 2. Thomas, whose maiden name is Volpone, and her husband, Lionel Thomas, were both 1929 graduates of Liberty High School. Although the class was small and she had attended school with Lionel for most of her life, Thomas didn't really know her husband well in those days. The two didn't marry until 1936.
The Thomas family owned a large piece of property that ran down Bixler Road and across Highway 4 where the Safeway shopping center and post office are now located. At the time of Kathryn and Lionel's marriage, the Thomases ran a large dairy, Thomas Dairy. The land was filled with cows and alfalfa.
Both Lionel and his twin brother built homes on the property to stay close to the family and work the farm. Lionel and three of his brothers also worked for the Contra Costa County sheriff's department. The family ran the dairy until Lionel Thomas' father died, then they sold the cows but kept the alfalfa business going. The Thomases used to keep a runway where the post office is now located so that they could do the crop dusting on the farm with their own plane.
Thomas said she never worked on the farm. For years she worked part-time at various stores in the area including the old Chaimes Grocery Store in downtown Byron. She also worked for Pacific Bell Telephone Co.
During her life she has seen a lot of changes in the Byron area. When she was first married there weren't any phone lines that reached the Thomas property. Her husband and his brothers worked to put the telephone and lines up so they could get phone service. The road in front of her property was dirt and she could count only one car going up the street in the morning and one in the afternoon. She said that today she likes to sit on her porch and watch the heavy traffic on her street.
When the building of Discovery Bay began in the 1970s, Thomas said that the sheriff's department offered her husband more hours on the job, but she asked him to decline because she was too nervous to be home alone. For most of her life, Thomas was used to living in a rural farm community where there weren't any houses but family as far as the eye could see. She said that she could see the Discovery Bay properties being built and worried about all of the strangers coming to the area.
Thomas said she didn't have many hobbies, but she did like to cook and bake. She also liked to dance. She and her husband, who had no children, used to drive into Antioch a couple of times a month to go dancing. At the time it was quite a long trek because roads weren't what they are today. She loved shopping with her younger sister. Hazel Silva lived with her husband in Oakley and Thomas enjoyed visiting her in her downtown home. The two ladies would make a day of going dress shopping in Stockton. Thomas said they were lucky to have the Greyhound Bus service to take them where they needed to go. Her husband died in the early 1990s and her sister died a few years ago.
Thomas said she is looking forward to her 100th birthday where she hopes that she will have another chance to celebrate with her family and friends next year.
New women's group forms at St. Anthony
By Roni Gehlke
St. Anthony Church in Oakley had been without a women's auxiliary for a couple of years, when Fran Kennealy decided that that needed to change. She had been looking for a place where her young family could thrive and her church was a logical choice. She had long been aware of the Knights of Columbus and the good works the men's group provided to the community, but when she heard the phrase "Columbiettes," she wondered about them.
The Knights of Columbus is an icon in many Catholic churches. Oakley's own St. Anthony Church has an active group that works on fundraisers and donates members' time and talent whenever necessary in the church and in the community. The Columbiettes is the women's version of the club, Kennealy said.
"The Columbiettes have a lot of charters on the East Coast, but there was none on the West Coast," Kennealy said.
Kennealy first heard about the group from a women's group president from Our Lady Queen of the World. "It sounded like what I was looking for in a group to join," Kennealy said.
After doing the research and working with the church, Kennealy founded the first West Coast chapter. The group was installed on June 14 and so far it's gained quite a bit of popularity throughout the church. At present the group has 32 members.
"Our primary mission is to bring women together and to raise money for the church," Kennealy said.
She said she hopes to focus on helping nonprofits and to move outside of the church community in the future, but for now helping the church is a big goal.
Kennealy said that the truly wonderful part is that now that St. Anthony has brought the Columbiettes to the West Coast other churches have become interested and started their own chapters. Already there are two other Catholic churches that have started the auxiliary and Kennealy hopes that others will follow.
As part of their fundraising efforts the Columbiettes are hosting a bingo game on the second Saturday of each month. Bingo is open to the public on a first-come, first-serve basis. The doors open at 5:30 p.m. There are door prizes, a $100 payout, two special blackouts and a $200 game. The bingo night comes with dinner. The $30 buy-in includes dinner and bingo. Those who want to just play a little, can purchase dinner for $5.
"At the first bingo game we held in September we had 68 people playing," she said.
Kennealy said that the Columbiettes will also offer other activities during the day on the second Saturday of the month. This month they will host a fashion show and luncheon from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 10. The event will feature a fashion show with clothing from Kohl's Department Store. Tickets are $15 each. Tickets can be purchased at the door or in advance by contacting Anna Kennealy at 679-8564.
Kennealy said that in the future the group plans to hold a holiday boutique on Nov. 10, a Halloween all-you-can-eat pancake breakfast on Oct. 31 and a Breakfast with Santa on Dec. 20. All of the events are open to the general public and not limited to just members of the congregation.
"Our auxiliary of the Columbiettes is open to all Catholic women, even if they aren't a member of St. Anthony Church," Kennealy said.
She encourages anyone who wants to get involved to contact the church at 925-625-2048 for more information.
St. Anthony Church in Oakley had been without a women's auxiliary for a couple of years, when Fran Kennealy decided that that needed to change. She had been looking for a place where her young family could thrive and her church was a logical choice. She had long been aware of the Knights of Columbus and the good works the men's group provided to the community, but when she heard the phrase "Columbiettes," she wondered about them.
The Knights of Columbus is an icon in many Catholic churches. Oakley's own St. Anthony Church has an active group that works on fundraisers and donates members' time and talent whenever necessary in the church and in the community. The Columbiettes is the women's version of the club, Kennealy said.
"The Columbiettes have a lot of charters on the East Coast, but there was none on the West Coast," Kennealy said.
Kennealy first heard about the group from a women's group president from Our Lady Queen of the World. "It sounded like what I was looking for in a group to join," Kennealy said.
After doing the research and working with the church, Kennealy founded the first West Coast chapter. The group was installed on June 14 and so far it's gained quite a bit of popularity throughout the church. At present the group has 32 members.
"Our primary mission is to bring women together and to raise money for the church," Kennealy said.
She said she hopes to focus on helping nonprofits and to move outside of the church community in the future, but for now helping the church is a big goal.
Kennealy said that the truly wonderful part is that now that St. Anthony has brought the Columbiettes to the West Coast other churches have become interested and started their own chapters. Already there are two other Catholic churches that have started the auxiliary and Kennealy hopes that others will follow.
As part of their fundraising efforts the Columbiettes are hosting a bingo game on the second Saturday of each month. Bingo is open to the public on a first-come, first-serve basis. The doors open at 5:30 p.m. There are door prizes, a $100 payout, two special blackouts and a $200 game. The bingo night comes with dinner. The $30 buy-in includes dinner and bingo. Those who want to just play a little, can purchase dinner for $5.
"At the first bingo game we held in September we had 68 people playing," she said.
Kennealy said that the Columbiettes will also offer other activities during the day on the second Saturday of the month. This month they will host a fashion show and luncheon from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 10. The event will feature a fashion show with clothing from Kohl's Department Store. Tickets are $15 each. Tickets can be purchased at the door or in advance by contacting Anna Kennealy at 679-8564.
Kennealy said that in the future the group plans to hold a holiday boutique on Nov. 10, a Halloween all-you-can-eat pancake breakfast on Oct. 31 and a Breakfast with Santa on Dec. 20. All of the events are open to the general public and not limited to just members of the congregation.
"Our auxiliary of the Columbiettes is open to all Catholic women, even if they aren't a member of St. Anthony Church," Kennealy said.
She encourages anyone who wants to get involved to contact the church at 925-625-2048 for more information.
Business spotlight: Belly dance and much more at Brentwood's Red Door Studio
By Roni Gehlke
Name of Business: Red Door Dance Studio and Dansoleil Belly Dance
Type of business: World dance and dance fitness studio
Owners: Toni "Thalia" Todd and Cozette Hileman
Founded: Dansoleil Belly Dance was founded in 2001 as a home-based business. In February 2009 Todd opened Red Door Dance Studio with Cozette.
Address: 817 First St., Brentwood
Phone number: 925-516-DOOR (3667)
Hours: Open during class times (some mornings, most evenings, some weekend hours)
Number of Employees: two
Products and services: At the Red Door Dance Studio Todd teaches Dansoleil belly dance classes for beginning, intermediate and advanced students.
"All students are welcome, whether they are looking for a good workout, new friends, or challenging themselves to learn a new skill," Todd said. "Belly dance is a wonderful dance style that embraces women of all ages, sizes and fitness and skill level."
Outside of the studio Todd also implements and runs the dance program at India 4 U in Antioch. She said she is able to have my students practice their performance skills there during "Dansoleil Nites."
She also teaches a class called "Sassy Pants Belly Dance Workout," which Todd describes as just as fun as it sounds. "We work on core and cardio conditioning, building strong bodies and stamina to support our dancing. Non-dancers and dancers are invited to shimmy, shake and let their inner 'Shakira' shine," she said.
Cozette Hileman teaches ballroom, Latin and swing classes, as well as country line. Todd said that there are other dance groups that rent out the Red Door Dance Studio: Katrina Williams, who teaches hip hop, and Christina Tapia, who teaches Zumba fitness. There will soon be yoga classes and she is in negotiations with a hula instructor.
How did you get into the business: "I have had a love affair with movement and dancing all my life," Todd said.
She said she first became a Jazzercise instructor when she was 21.
"My creative side started rearing its head, so I eventually started by own business so I could choreograph my own routines. I taught for about 20 years," she said.
Todd entered and won some national aerobic competitions. For awhile she had her own fitness studio and also became a personal trainer.
She discovered belly dance through the Brentwood Parks and Recreation Department after becoming ill and going through a long process of recovery and looking for a gentle exercise program. "After my first class, I was hooked," she said.
She learned the style, and within a year, began entering competitions. She decided that belly dance was something that she wanted to share with other women.
Best part about the business?: "The best part of life is always the relationships. Meeting women who are discovering new ways to express themselves in healthy ways is amazing," she said. "I couldn't be luckier to be surrounded with women who are brave enough to try a new skill."
She said she feels like their "Dance Mama" as she watches her students grow more confident, graceful, stronger and even flirtier.
Worst part about the business?: "I'd say the hardest part, not the worst part, but the hardest part is wearing so many hats. Just like any small business owner, we have to wear the '500 Hats of Bartholomew Cubbins' (Dr. Seuss)," she said. She explained that she had to do everything from being the instructor, manager of the business to advertising executive and bookkeeping.
Key to success: "Loving what you do and being passionate about it is the only way to be successful. And having a fabulous support system from my family and friends is huge," she said.
Biggest misperception about the business: "For starters, it's not only the belly that is used in this ancient art," she said. "We use our legs, our arms, backs, bellies, hearts and souls. And soles, too."
She also said that they never have to bare their bellies. There are many costuming choices for performers who choose to dress more modestly. During classes most students wear yoga-style pants and workout tops, or a more fitted T-shirt.
Future plans: To continue offering quality classes, and to expand her class offerings at Red Door Dance Studio. "I would love to bring on as many dance styles as we can find," she said. Currently they are looking for multicultural dance instructors, especially African, Bhangra, Tahitian, Tai Chi and Persian.
— Roni Gehlke
Name of Business: Red Door Dance Studio and Dansoleil Belly Dance
Type of business: World dance and dance fitness studio
Owners: Toni "Thalia" Todd and Cozette Hileman
Founded: Dansoleil Belly Dance was founded in 2001 as a home-based business. In February 2009 Todd opened Red Door Dance Studio with Cozette.
Address: 817 First St., Brentwood
Phone number: 925-516-DOOR (3667)
Hours: Open during class times (some mornings, most evenings, some weekend hours)
Number of Employees: two
Products and services: At the Red Door Dance Studio Todd teaches Dansoleil belly dance classes for beginning, intermediate and advanced students.
"All students are welcome, whether they are looking for a good workout, new friends, or challenging themselves to learn a new skill," Todd said. "Belly dance is a wonderful dance style that embraces women of all ages, sizes and fitness and skill level."
Outside of the studio Todd also implements and runs the dance program at India 4 U in Antioch. She said she is able to have my students practice their performance skills there during "Dansoleil Nites."
She also teaches a class called "Sassy Pants Belly Dance Workout," which Todd describes as just as fun as it sounds. "We work on core and cardio conditioning, building strong bodies and stamina to support our dancing. Non-dancers and dancers are invited to shimmy, shake and let their inner 'Shakira' shine," she said.
Cozette Hileman teaches ballroom, Latin and swing classes, as well as country line. Todd said that there are other dance groups that rent out the Red Door Dance Studio: Katrina Williams, who teaches hip hop, and Christina Tapia, who teaches Zumba fitness. There will soon be yoga classes and she is in negotiations with a hula instructor.
How did you get into the business: "I have had a love affair with movement and dancing all my life," Todd said.
She said she first became a Jazzercise instructor when she was 21.
"My creative side started rearing its head, so I eventually started by own business so I could choreograph my own routines. I taught for about 20 years," she said.
Todd entered and won some national aerobic competitions. For awhile she had her own fitness studio and also became a personal trainer.
She discovered belly dance through the Brentwood Parks and Recreation Department after becoming ill and going through a long process of recovery and looking for a gentle exercise program. "After my first class, I was hooked," she said.
She learned the style, and within a year, began entering competitions. She decided that belly dance was something that she wanted to share with other women.
Best part about the business?: "The best part of life is always the relationships. Meeting women who are discovering new ways to express themselves in healthy ways is amazing," she said. "I couldn't be luckier to be surrounded with women who are brave enough to try a new skill."
She said she feels like their "Dance Mama" as she watches her students grow more confident, graceful, stronger and even flirtier.
Worst part about the business?: "I'd say the hardest part, not the worst part, but the hardest part is wearing so many hats. Just like any small business owner, we have to wear the '500 Hats of Bartholomew Cubbins' (Dr. Seuss)," she said. She explained that she had to do everything from being the instructor, manager of the business to advertising executive and bookkeeping.
Key to success: "Loving what you do and being passionate about it is the only way to be successful. And having a fabulous support system from my family and friends is huge," she said.
Biggest misperception about the business: "For starters, it's not only the belly that is used in this ancient art," she said. "We use our legs, our arms, backs, bellies, hearts and souls. And soles, too."
She also said that they never have to bare their bellies. There are many costuming choices for performers who choose to dress more modestly. During classes most students wear yoga-style pants and workout tops, or a more fitted T-shirt.
Future plans: To continue offering quality classes, and to expand her class offerings at Red Door Dance Studio. "I would love to bring on as many dance styles as we can find," she said. Currently they are looking for multicultural dance instructors, especially African, Bhangra, Tahitian, Tai Chi and Persian.
— Roni Gehlke
Focus on Church: Antioch Seventh-day Adventists to open new church Oct. 10
By Roni Gehlke
Congregation: Antioch Seventh-day Adventist
Address: 2200 Country Hills Drive, Antioch
Phone: 925-757-7337
Pastor: O. Kris Widmer was installed as the new pastor of the Antioch Seventh-day Adventist Church in January of 2009. A native of Loma Linda, he had a Seventh-day education from kindergarten to his master's degree. He was elected as class pastor in both eighth and 12th grade. He received his bachelor of arts degree in pastoral studies at La Sierra University. He also received the Dean's Award upon graduation from La Sierra. He completed his master's of divinity degree from Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary at Andrews University.
He is ordained to the gospel ministry of Northern California Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. He was formally a pastor of the Redding Seventh-day Adventist Church. He has been married for 25 years to Debbie, a registered nurse. He has two children, Tim, a student at Pacific Union College, and Rebekah, a recent graduate of Redding Adventist Academy.
Future growth: The new church is opening for public services Oct. 10. The services will begin at 11 a.m. with a worship service by Pastor Widmer and a concert at 6 p.m. with the United in Christ, Resident Praise Band.
Established: December 1938
Religious affiliation: Seventh-day Adventist
Services: Saturday, 9:30 a.m. Bible study; 11 a.m. worship
Faith community: 420 members.
Motto: "Adventists believe a Trinity of three persons, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, make up one God," Widmer said. "They made salvation possible when Jesus, the Son, came to Earth as a baby in Bethlehem and lived a sinless life in accordance with the Father's will. When Jesus was crucified for the sins of the people of the world and arose from the dead on the third day, victory was won for everyone."
Community outreach: Pastor Widmer said that Seventh-day Adventist has small group community outreach as well as community service food baskets. They also host singing at Antioch Convalescent Home on the Second Sabbath of the month. They also offer Guatemala missions.
Youth outreach: The Hilltop Christian School and Preschool is on site at the church. Hilltop Christian School's mission is to show children Jesus, nurture their love for Him and others, teach them to think, and empower them to serve. They teach from the preschool level until 10th grade. They also offer a vacation bible school in June.
Family support and ministries: Seventh-day Adventist offers several ministries, including the Coronary Health Improvement Program (CHIP), prayer meetings in both English and Spanish during the week, a men and woman's ministry, Sabbath school for all ages, church services in both English and Spanish, and potlucks on the first Sabbath of the month at the church.
Future Activities: Once the church opens in October they will offer services on Saturday at 11 a.m. and concerts at 6 p.m.
On Oct. 24 the church concert will feature Margie Rice, an internationally known singer and violinist. She has played for numerous churches and conferences throughout the world.
On Nov. 7, the concert will feature Kelly Mower. She is an internationally known pianist. She combines her musical gifts and the ministry of the scriptures in a worship experience. She is seen regularly on 3ABN, a worldwide satellite television ministry.
Congregation: Antioch Seventh-day Adventist
Address: 2200 Country Hills Drive, Antioch
Phone: 925-757-7337
Pastor: O. Kris Widmer was installed as the new pastor of the Antioch Seventh-day Adventist Church in January of 2009. A native of Loma Linda, he had a Seventh-day education from kindergarten to his master's degree. He was elected as class pastor in both eighth and 12th grade. He received his bachelor of arts degree in pastoral studies at La Sierra University. He also received the Dean's Award upon graduation from La Sierra. He completed his master's of divinity degree from Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary at Andrews University.
He is ordained to the gospel ministry of Northern California Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. He was formally a pastor of the Redding Seventh-day Adventist Church. He has been married for 25 years to Debbie, a registered nurse. He has two children, Tim, a student at Pacific Union College, and Rebekah, a recent graduate of Redding Adventist Academy.
Future growth: The new church is opening for public services Oct. 10. The services will begin at 11 a.m. with a worship service by Pastor Widmer and a concert at 6 p.m. with the United in Christ, Resident Praise Band.
Established: December 1938
Religious affiliation: Seventh-day Adventist
Services: Saturday, 9:30 a.m. Bible study; 11 a.m. worship
Faith community: 420 members.
Motto: "Adventists believe a Trinity of three persons, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, make up one God," Widmer said. "They made salvation possible when Jesus, the Son, came to Earth as a baby in Bethlehem and lived a sinless life in accordance with the Father's will. When Jesus was crucified for the sins of the people of the world and arose from the dead on the third day, victory was won for everyone."
Community outreach: Pastor Widmer said that Seventh-day Adventist has small group community outreach as well as community service food baskets. They also host singing at Antioch Convalescent Home on the Second Sabbath of the month. They also offer Guatemala missions.
Youth outreach: The Hilltop Christian School and Preschool is on site at the church. Hilltop Christian School's mission is to show children Jesus, nurture their love for Him and others, teach them to think, and empower them to serve. They teach from the preschool level until 10th grade. They also offer a vacation bible school in June.
Family support and ministries: Seventh-day Adventist offers several ministries, including the Coronary Health Improvement Program (CHIP), prayer meetings in both English and Spanish during the week, a men and woman's ministry, Sabbath school for all ages, church services in both English and Spanish, and potlucks on the first Sabbath of the month at the church.
Future Activities: Once the church opens in October they will offer services on Saturday at 11 a.m. and concerts at 6 p.m.
On Oct. 24 the church concert will feature Margie Rice, an internationally known singer and violinist. She has played for numerous churches and conferences throughout the world.
On Nov. 7, the concert will feature Kelly Mower. She is an internationally known pianist. She combines her musical gifts and the ministry of the scriptures in a worship experience. She is seen regularly on 3ABN, a worldwide satellite television ministry.
Antioch's Linda B's features teas, handmade desserts
By Roni Gehlke
Name of business: Linda B's Coffee, Tea, Espresso and More
Type of business: Cafe and gift shop
Owner: Linda Brantley
Founded: February 2009
Address: 615 W. Second St., Antioch
Phone number: 755-BUZZ (2899)
Hours: Tuesday through Friday 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Saturday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; closed Sunday and Monday
Number of employees: one
Products and services: Linda B's offers a variety of coffees, teas, loose teas and espressos served with a mix of handmade breads, scones and dessert items. The breads, scones and desserts are all made in house. They offer takeout or eat-in services. For those who want to host a tea event, Linda B's offers a catering service with varieties of teas and baked goods. Linda B's also features
a gift shop area with tea accessories and purchased and handcrafted items.
How did you get into the business: "This was something I was always about to do," Brantley said. "About 15 years ago we looked in the area for a location but that didn't work out."
She said that she wound up moving away from the area for several years, and then when she moved back she revisited the idea of opening her coffee and tea place. She finally found the location she wanted and opened her doors.
Best part about the business: "I would have to say the best thing is the people I get to meet and deal with here," she said.
Worst part about the business: Like many businesses, Brantley said she is worried about the uncertainty of the times. Business has been slow, but she is hoping things will pick up over the next few months.
Key to success: "I think that is still to be determined," she said. "But if I had to say it would be determination."
Biggest misperception about the business: Brantley said if people were to just look into the window of their shop they would be confused as to exactly what type of business she had. That is because they not only have the coffee, tea and espresso part of the business, but they also have a wide variety of gifts. "They just have to step inside to find out," she said.
Future plans: Over the next few months for the holidays, Brantley has invited local artists and crafters to come in on Saturday to sell their items. She is also working on possibly adding Wi-Fi services and expanding her menu to include some simple lunch fare.
Name of business: Linda B's Coffee, Tea, Espresso and More
Type of business: Cafe and gift shop
Owner: Linda Brantley
Founded: February 2009
Address: 615 W. Second St., Antioch
Phone number: 755-BUZZ (2899)
Hours: Tuesday through Friday 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Saturday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; closed Sunday and Monday
Number of employees: one
Products and services: Linda B's offers a variety of coffees, teas, loose teas and espressos served with a mix of handmade breads, scones and dessert items. The breads, scones and desserts are all made in house. They offer takeout or eat-in services. For those who want to host a tea event, Linda B's offers a catering service with varieties of teas and baked goods. Linda B's also features
a gift shop area with tea accessories and purchased and handcrafted items.
How did you get into the business: "This was something I was always about to do," Brantley said. "About 15 years ago we looked in the area for a location but that didn't work out."
She said that she wound up moving away from the area for several years, and then when she moved back she revisited the idea of opening her coffee and tea place. She finally found the location she wanted and opened her doors.
Best part about the business: "I would have to say the best thing is the people I get to meet and deal with here," she said.
Worst part about the business: Like many businesses, Brantley said she is worried about the uncertainty of the times. Business has been slow, but she is hoping things will pick up over the next few months.
Key to success: "I think that is still to be determined," she said. "But if I had to say it would be determination."
Biggest misperception about the business: Brantley said if people were to just look into the window of their shop they would be confused as to exactly what type of business she had. That is because they not only have the coffee, tea and espresso part of the business, but they also have a wide variety of gifts. "They just have to step inside to find out," she said.
Future plans: Over the next few months for the holidays, Brantley has invited local artists and crafters to come in on Saturday to sell their items. She is also working on possibly adding Wi-Fi services and expanding her menu to include some simple lunch fare.
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