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Nearly one million people across the country to face deportation unless Congress acts
On Tuesday, Sept. 5, the Trump Administration announced the end of DACA, or Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals. This compassionate program allowed undocumented children and youth brought to America the opportunity to pursue the American Dream. These strivers are our friends, classmates, coworkers and community members who don’t have any other place they call home.
“We must fight to preserve and expand the American Dream,” said Jonathan Bash, President of the Contra Costa Young Democrats. “DACA has provided an opportunity for nearly one million children across the country to come out of the shadows and participate fully and freely in American society. To see their legal status ripped away is heartbreaking.
“We urge the Republican-led Congress to pass permanent legislation that will rescind this cruel decision by Donald Trump. We also call on all California state and local officials to announce their support for Dreamers, and resist any efforts by the federal government to target our law-abiding immigrant population.”
The DACA program was never presented as a permanent solution, but it was a way to protect deserving residents who have not called any other nation their home. Local Democrats, including the Contra Costa Young Democrats, believe that this move is a senselessly destructive action delivered by a xenophobic and divisive president who should have instead demonstrated care and compassion.
“Immigrants are America’s past, present and future. We cannot let fear and prejudice become the law of the land. The Contra Costa Young Democrats stand with our immigrant brothers and sisters, and will continue fighting on their behalf.”
Read More
Retired Judge Diana Becton. Courtesy of CCLawyer.cccba.org.
Three County Supervisors prefered retired Judge Diana Becton as Interim Contra Costa District Attorney over Supervising Deputy DA Paul Graves. Supervisors Gioia, Burgis and Glover favored Becton, while Andersen and Mitchoff favored Graves.
The 33rd Annual California Coastal Cleanup Day, the state’s largest volunteer event, is going to take place this Saturday, September 16, 2017 from 9 AM to Noon.
On Friday, Sept. 15 in Antioch will be the 4th Annual Coastal Cleanup Kayak Day. (Click here for details). Then on Saturday in Richmond another kayak cleanup will take place at Shimada Friendship Park. (See below)
The event is expected to draw more than 70,000 volunteers who will combat marine debris at over 800 locations throughout the state by removing the trash that has accumulated on California’s beaches and inland shorelines over the past year.
There are multiple locations throughout Contra Costa County where you can volunteer. Click on the name, below of the one you’re interested in to go to the information page for that location:
Marsh Creek Watershed, East County
Garrity Creek at Hilltop, Richmond
Antioch – 3 locations to choose from. Details here.
Point Isabel Regional Shoreline, Richmond
Richmond Greenway at Carlson Avenue
Richmond Greenway Rain Garden & Bioswale
Shimada Friendship Park, Richmond
Shimada Friendship Park-Kayak cleanup
Wildcat Creek at Verde Elementary School, Richmond
Wildcat Creek Staging Area, North Richmond
Read MoreComment Period Runs from September 1 – 15, 2017
Your input is welcomed as Contra Costa County and our regional planning partners have now completed a draft update to the County’s Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan. In November 2016, a coalition of Contra Costa County cities and special districts embarked on a planning process to prepare for, and lessen the impacts of, specified natural hazards by updating the County’s Plan. Responding to federal mandates in the Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 (Public Law 106-390), the partnership was formed to pool resources and to create a uniform hazard mitigation strategy that can be consistently applied to the defined planning area and used to ensure eligibility for specified grant funding success.
The County and regional planning partners invite residents and other stakeholders to review and comment on the recently completed draft update. The 14-day public review period of the Draft Plan began on September 1st and ends on September 15th, at 5:00 p.m. You can attend one of the public meeting below to hear a brief presentation regarding the Draft Plan; you can also offer public comment at the meeting:
September 12, 2017 4:00 PM 7:00 PM
San Ramon City Hall, 7000 Bollinger Canyon Road, San Ramon, CA 94583
Members of the Public can also provide written comments of the draft plan via the Local Hazard Mitigation Plan website, which can be found at: http://www.contracosta.ca.gov/6415/Local-Hazard-Mitigation-Plan. The Plan contains two volumes:
- Volume 1 contains components that apply to all partners and the broader planning area.
- Volume 2 contains all components that are jurisdiction-specific. Each planning partner has a dedicated annex in Volume 2.
Please direct your comments and questions on the HMP to Rob Flaner, Tetra Tech, Inc. at: rob.flaner@tetratech.com<mailto:rob.flaner@tetratech.com>, or (208)939-4391.
Read More
Discovery Bay Odyssey of the Mind students benefited by the 2016 Dow CAP Grant. Photo courtesy of Dow Chemical Pittsburg.
Deadline for applications is Monday, Sept. 18
Do you know a local non-profit in need of funding? Tell them about the 2017 Dow Community Advisory Panel (CAP) Grant. We invite eligible organizations in East Contra Costa County to submit grant proposals for projects supporting STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) and contribute to improving our community and environment.
Last year, the Dow Community Grant helped our friends at Discovery Bay Odyssey of the Mind prepare for their trip to the Odyssey of the Mind Eurofest competition in Minks, Belarus. The teams, consisting of 8th graders from Excelsior Middle and 5th graders from Discovery Bay Elementary, took home 1st and 2nd place trophies from the GLOBAL competition.
We continue to support STEM/STEAM organizations this year with our 2017 CAP Grant. Apply today. Deadline to apply is September 18.
Don’t …miss out on this opportunity to do great things for your organization. #STEM #STEAM #Grant #ContraCostaCounty
For questions, contact Taylor Gonzalez at tgonzalez2@dow.com. More info: http://www.dow.com/pittsburg/community/cap/ Apply here: http://www.cybergrants.com/dow/applications/open
Read More
Jeff Decker #84 moved even closer to his third DIRTcar Late Model championship with his fifth Main Event win, Saturday night, Sept. 9 at the Antioch Speedway. Photo by Paul Gould
By Don Martin, II
Antioch, CA…September 9…Jeff Decker won the 20-lap DIRTcar Late Model Main Event Saturday night at Antioch Speedway. This was the fifth win of the season for the point leader. Paul Guglielmoni paced the first three Main Event laps ahead of Decker. A lap four restart provided Decker with an opportunity to race by Guglielmoni on the back stretch for the lead. Reigning champion Richard Papenhausen moved into second and started pressuring Decker for the lead. However, Decker pulled away in the waning laps to record the impressive victory. Papenhausen settled for second ahead of Terry Kuntz, Kimo Oreta and Jim Freethy.
Art McCarthy #19 and crew celebrate his second Winged 360 Sprint Car win in the last three races. Photo by Paul Gould
Art McCarthy won his second 20 lap All Star Series Winged 360 Sprint Car Main Event. The ageless Sprint Car veteran has two wins and a second in his last three starts as he continues to cut into Marissa Polizzi’s point lead. McCarthy and fellow heat winner Dan Gonderman shared the front row for the Main Event, but title contender Burt Foland Jr. raced into second behind McCarthy at the start. There were two early yellow flags, but the final 17 laps went all green. McCarthy was being careful with a slower car on lap 15, allowing Foland to close the gap. McCarthy made a move past the slower car on the back stretch and continued his rapid pace for a well-earned victory. Foland settled for his fourth second place finish. Gonderman won a close battle with Polizzi for third as Ricky Brophy rounded out the Top 5.
Kellen Chadwick #83 won his third A Modified Main Event. Photo by Paul Gould
Kellen Chadwick returned to action and won his third A Modified Main Event. The race was a battle of attrition as several drivers didn’t make it to the end. Chadwick was the class of the field as he grabbed the win ahead point point leader Bobby Motts Jr. Heat race winner Scott Busby settled for third ahead of Sean O’Gara and Gregg McElhaney.
Reigning B Modified champion Trevor Clymens won his fifth 20 lap Main Event of the season. The race looked like it would go to past A Modified champion Kenny Neu. Neu led the first 13 laps through multiple yellow flags. Clymens was running second when Neu slowed in Turn 4 for a lap 14 caution flag. Clymens led the pack on the restart and led the rest of the way for the victory. Mark Garner battled point leader K.C. Keller for a second-place finish as Tommy Frazier and Nick Caughman Jr. completed the Top 5.
Reigning B Modified champion Trevor Clymens #2c celebrates his fifth win with his family and crew. Photo by Paul Gould
Kimo Oreta collected his fourth 20 lap Limited Late Model Main Event victory in the Sun Drop Racing #15 car. Oreta had a front row start in a race that was destined to go non-stop, and he charged into the lead at the drop of the green flag. He stretched his advantage to a half-lap ahead of second place by the time Bob Kempf threw the checkered flag, leaving the battle was for second. Despite relentless pressure from Mark Garner, Lori Brown kept her cool and earned a season best second place finish. Mike Gustafson made a couple of late passes to finish fourth ahead of fellow heat race winner Jim Freethy.
Limited Late Model point leader Kimo Oreta #15 stretched his point lead with his fourth Main Event win. Photo by Paul Gould
Melissa Myers won the 20 lap Hobby Stock Main Event. This was the second win of the season for the two time division champion. Jordon Swank led the Main Event for four laps before Chris Long made a high move in Turn 4 to grab the lead. Long slowed on the back stretch as Swank and Myers made it a three wide race up front on lap seven. Long fell back several positions, but a red flag flew moments later for a blocked race track exit. Long was back in the lead for the restart, but he slowed on lap nine. Myers raced into the lead at that point ahead of Brent Curran. Myers led the final ten laps to win ahead of Curran, Gene Haney, Cameron Swank and point leader Chris Sorensen.
Melissa Myers #33 (right) and passenger Rachel Slaney (left) win the Hobby Stock Main Event. Photo by Paul Gould
Jason Armstrong won the 15 lap Bay Area Hardtops Main Event. This was the 15th running of the Chet Thomson Memorial, and the race ran non-stop. Armstrong sprinted out to a straightaway lead over the dueling Ken Retzloff and Tommy Thomson, but Armstrong slowed his pace in traffic on lap six. Retzloff used traffic to break away from Thomson, and he chased Armstrong closely. However, Armstrong scored his second straight Thomson Memorial win ahead of Retzloff. Thomson managed to hold off last starter Kimo Oreta for third as Dan Williams rounded out the Top 5.
Next Saturday is the 2nd Annual John Soares Sr. Top Dog Memorial, which honors the man who promoted Antioch Speedway from its opening in 1961 to 1980. The All Star Series Winged 360 Sprints are back along with the DIRTcar Late Models, A Modifieds, B Modifieds, Dwarf Cars and Hobby Stocks. For further information, go to www.antiochspeedway.com.
All Star Series Antioch Speedway – Unofficial Race Results
DIRTcar Late Models Heat Winners (8 Laps)-Dennis Souza, Richard Papenhausen. Main Event (20 Laps)-Jeff Decker, Richard Papenhausen, Terry Kuntz, Kimo Oreta, Jim Freethy.
Winged 360 Sprint Cars Heat Winners (8 Laps)-Art McCarthy, Dan Gonderman. Main Event (20 Laps)-Art McCarthy, Burt Foland Jr., Dan Gonderman, Marissa Polizzi, Ricky Brophy.
A Modifieds Heat Winners (8 Laps)-Brian Pearce, Scott Busby. Main Event (20 Laps)-Kellen Chadwick, Bobby Motts Jr., Scott Busby, Sean O’Gara, Gregg McElhaney.
B Modifieds Heat Winners (8 Laps)-K.C. Keller, Mark Garner. Main Event (20 Laps)-Trevor Clymens, Mark Garner, K.C. Keller, Tommy Frazier, Nick Caughman Jr.
Limited Late Models Heat Winners (8 Laps)-Jim Freethy, Mike Gustafson. Main Event (20 Laps)-Kimo Oreta, Lori Brown, Mark Garner, Mike Gustafson, Jim Freethy.
Hobby Stocks Heat Winners (8 Laps)-Cameron Swank, Chris Long. Main Event (20 Laps)-Melissa Myers, Brent Curran, Gene Haney, Cameron Swank, Chris Sorensen.
Bay Area Hardtops Heat Winner (8 Laps)-Jason Armstrong. Main Event-Jason Armstrong, Ken Retzloff, Tommy Thomson, Kimo Oreta, Dan Williams.
Read More
Congressman Mark DeSaulnier (CA-11) announced he will host two upcoming “Service Academy Nights” in Pleasant Hill and Richmond. All students living in the Eleventh Congressional District of California who would like to apply to one of the nation’s premier service academies are invited to attend.
At each of the events, service academy representatives will be on hand to speak with interested students, including members from the U.S. Naval Academy, the U.S. Air Force Academy, and the U.S. Military Academy (aka West Point). Service academy representatives will give presentations, and Congressman DeSaulnier’s staff will provide a briefing on the nomination process.
Students who wish apply to a service academy must ensure a completed application is received by Congressman DeSaulnier’s office no later than October 31, 2017.
Richmond Service Academy Night Thursday, September 14, 2017 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Richmond City Council Chambers 440 Civic Center Plaza First Floor Richmond, CA 94804
Pleasant Hill Service Academy Night Thursday, September 28, 2017 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Diablo Valley College The Diablo Room, 3rd Floor HFS Building 321 Golf Club Road Pleasant Hill, CA 94523 Details: A map of DVC’s campus can be found here.
For more information on applying to any of the service academies or to RSVP, please contact Congressman DeSaulnier’s office at ca11.rsvp@mail.house.gov or (925) 933-2660.
Read MoreBy Colin Schwartz, Nutrition Policy Associate, Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI)
On Friday, Aug. 25, Food and Drug Commissioner Scott Gottlieb made it clear that calorie labels on menus are here to stay for all Americans. As Politico put it, “In the era of President Donald Trump’s war on regulations, one Obama-era rule — menu labeling — appears to be surviving.”
Unfortunately, a bill (H.R. 772) is working its way through Congress that would gut these menu labeling requirements, and undo recent progress toward giving Californians the information they need to make healthy choices about what to eat and what to feed their families. Now that the Trump Administration has affirmed it won’t delay menu labeling any further, it’s time for Congress to abandon this misguided effort. We are asking Rep. Jerry McNerney, who represents portions of Eastern Contra Costa County in the House of Representatives, to take a strong stand for informed consumer choice by opposing H.R. 772.
California’s adult and childhood obesity rates have steadily increased every decade since 1990, despite having the fifth lowest adult obesity rate in our nation. The rate also varies by community – currently, 77 percent of Latino adults are obese or overweight. California’s Department of Health Care Services has recognized that despite California’s best efforts, “obesity is clearly a significant driver of health problems and healthcare costs.”
Every Californian should have the information they want and need to choose healthy food for their families. Unfortunately, Congress is intent on curbing the freedom of consumers by denying them basic information about what they are ordering in restaurants. They also seem set on undoing California’s progress by scuttling the menu labeling law through the so-called Common Sense Nutrition Disclosure Act (H.R. 772). – Please see the comparison chart by the CSPI below. This bill ignores the reality that our nation’s top 50 restaurant chains have already committed to empowering consumers by including calorie counts at their locations across the country. Additionally, an independent economic analysis already found that the FDA’s decision to delay the enactment of the rule by one-year could already cost consumers an astounding $15 for every $1 saved by industry. Now imagine the damage H.R. 772 could have on consumers and our economy if signed into law.
This bill is contrary to Californians’ preferences. California passed the first state menu labeling law in our nation in 2008 to support and protect consumer choice. Since the signing of the legislation, California-based chains from California Pizza Kitchen to Taco Bell have shown that menu labeling can be accomplished without sacrificing customer satisfaction.
As Adam Russell of Santa Cruz, CA wrote in response to the FDA delaying implementation of the final menu labeling rule: “People deserve to be able to make informed choices.”
We all must remain vigilant not just about congressional efforts, but the FDA’s final guidance on the menu labeling rule later this year to ensure that the consumer-choice spirit of the rule remains intact. Unfortunately, anti-consumer industry groups and some corporate interests are lobbying Congress hard and against public will to deny Americans choice on a host of critical nutrition issues, including this one. It will only get worse now that the FDA didn’t decide in their favor.
The bill is moving quickly. It has already passed out of the House Energy and Commerce Committee with Rep. McNerney voting in favor of it and is headed to the House floor (and possibly to the Senate) for a vote, possibly this or next week.
The Center for Science in the Public Interest has been providing advice and advocacy toward a healthier food system since its founding in 1971. They publish Nutrition Action Healthletter and NutritionAction.com and lead action across the country on nutrition, food safety, and health.
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Nearly one million people across the country to face deportation unless Congress acts
On Tuesday, Sept. 5, the Trump Administration announced the end of DACA, or Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals. This compassionate program allowed undocumented children and youth brought to America the opportunity to pursue the American Dream. These strivers are our friends, classmates, coworkers and community members who don’t have any other place they call home.
“We must fight to preserve and expand the American Dream,” said Jonathan Bash, President of the Contra Costa Young Democrats. “DACA has provided an opportunity for nearly one million children across the country to come out of the shadows and participate fully and freely in American society. To see their legal status ripped away is heartbreaking.
“We urge the Republican-led Congress to pass permanent legislation that will rescind this cruel decision by Donald Trump. We also call on all California state and local officials to announce their support for Dreamers, and resist any efforts by the federal government to target our law-abiding immigrant population.”
The DACA program was never presented as a permanent solution, but it was a way to protect deserving residents who have not called any other nation their home. Local Democrats, including the Contra Costa Young Democrats, believe that this move is a senselessly destructive action delivered by a xenophobic and divisive president who should have instead demonstrated care and compassion.
“Immigrants are America’s past, present and future. We cannot let fear and prejudice become the law of the land. The Contra Costa Young Democrats stand with our immigrant brothers and sisters, and will continue fighting on their behalf.”
Read MoreRetired Judge Diana Becton. Courtesy of CCLawyer.cccba.org.
Three County Supervisors prefered retired Judge Diana Becton as Interim Contra Costa District Attorney over Supervising Deputy DA Paul Graves. Supervisors Gioia, Burgis and Glover favored Becton, while Andersen and Mitchoff favored Graves.
The 33rd Annual California Coastal Cleanup Day, the state’s largest volunteer event, is going to take place this Saturday, September 16, 2017 from 9 AM to Noon.
On Friday, Sept. 15 in Antioch will be the 4th Annual Coastal Cleanup Kayak Day. (Click here for details). Then on Saturday in Richmond another kayak cleanup will take place at Shimada Friendship Park. (See below)
The event is expected to draw more than 70,000 volunteers who will combat marine debris at over 800 locations throughout the state by removing the trash that has accumulated on California’s beaches and inland shorelines over the past year.
There are multiple locations throughout Contra Costa County where you can volunteer. Click on the name, below of the one you’re interested in to go to the information page for that location:
Marsh Creek Watershed, East County
Garrity Creek at Hilltop, Richmond
Antioch – 3 locations to choose from. Details here.
Point Isabel Regional Shoreline, Richmond
Richmond Greenway at Carlson Avenue
Richmond Greenway Rain Garden & Bioswale
Shimada Friendship Park, Richmond
Shimada Friendship Park-Kayak cleanup
Wildcat Creek at Verde Elementary School, Richmond
Wildcat Creek Staging Area, North Richmond
Read MoreComment Period Runs from September 1 – 15, 2017
Your input is welcomed as Contra Costa County and our regional planning partners have now completed a draft update to the County’s Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan. In November 2016, a coalition of Contra Costa County cities and special districts embarked on a planning process to prepare for, and lessen the impacts of, specified natural hazards by updating the County’s Plan. Responding to federal mandates in the Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 (Public Law 106-390), the partnership was formed to pool resources and to create a uniform hazard mitigation strategy that can be consistently applied to the defined planning area and used to ensure eligibility for specified grant funding success.
The County and regional planning partners invite residents and other stakeholders to review and comment on the recently completed draft update. The 14-day public review period of the Draft Plan began on September 1st and ends on September 15th, at 5:00 p.m. You can attend one of the public meeting below to hear a brief presentation regarding the Draft Plan; you can also offer public comment at the meeting:
September 12, 2017 4:00 PM 7:00 PM
San Ramon City Hall, 7000 Bollinger Canyon Road, San Ramon, CA 94583
Members of the Public can also provide written comments of the draft plan via the Local Hazard Mitigation Plan website, which can be found at: http://www.contracosta.ca.gov/6415/Local-Hazard-Mitigation-Plan. The Plan contains two volumes:
- Volume 1 contains components that apply to all partners and the broader planning area.
- Volume 2 contains all components that are jurisdiction-specific. Each planning partner has a dedicated annex in Volume 2.
Please direct your comments and questions on the HMP to Rob Flaner, Tetra Tech, Inc. at: rob.flaner@tetratech.com<mailto:rob.flaner@tetratech.com>, or (208)939-4391.
Read MoreDiscovery Bay Odyssey of the Mind students benefited by the 2016 Dow CAP Grant. Photo courtesy of Dow Chemical Pittsburg.
Deadline for applications is Monday, Sept. 18
Do you know a local non-profit in need of funding? Tell them about the 2017 Dow Community Advisory Panel (CAP) Grant. We invite eligible organizations in East Contra Costa County to submit grant proposals for projects supporting STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) and contribute to improving our community and environment.
Last year, the Dow Community Grant helped our friends at Discovery Bay Odyssey of the Mind prepare for their trip to the Odyssey of the Mind Eurofest competition in Minks, Belarus. The teams, consisting of 8th graders from Excelsior Middle and 5th graders from Discovery Bay Elementary, took home 1st and 2nd place trophies from the GLOBAL competition.
We continue to support STEM/STEAM organizations this year with our 2017 CAP Grant. Apply today. Deadline to apply is September 18.
Don’t …miss out on this opportunity to do great things for your organization. #STEM #STEAM #Grant #ContraCostaCounty
For questions, contact Taylor Gonzalez at tgonzalez2@dow.com. More info: http://www.dow.com/pittsburg/community/cap/ Apply here: http://www.cybergrants.com/dow/applications/open
Read More
Jeff Decker #84 moved even closer to his third DIRTcar Late Model championship with his fifth Main Event win, Saturday night, Sept. 9 at the Antioch Speedway. Photo by Paul Gould
By Don Martin, II
Antioch, CA…September 9…Jeff Decker won the 20-lap DIRTcar Late Model Main Event Saturday night at Antioch Speedway. This was the fifth win of the season for the point leader. Paul Guglielmoni paced the first three Main Event laps ahead of Decker. A lap four restart provided Decker with an opportunity to race by Guglielmoni on the back stretch for the lead. Reigning champion Richard Papenhausen moved into second and started pressuring Decker for the lead. However, Decker pulled away in the waning laps to record the impressive victory. Papenhausen settled for second ahead of Terry Kuntz, Kimo Oreta and Jim Freethy.
Art McCarthy #19 and crew celebrate his second Winged 360 Sprint Car win in the last three races. Photo by Paul Gould
Art McCarthy won his second 20 lap All Star Series Winged 360 Sprint Car Main Event. The ageless Sprint Car veteran has two wins and a second in his last three starts as he continues to cut into Marissa Polizzi’s point lead. McCarthy and fellow heat winner Dan Gonderman shared the front row for the Main Event, but title contender Burt Foland Jr. raced into second behind McCarthy at the start. There were two early yellow flags, but the final 17 laps went all green. McCarthy was being careful with a slower car on lap 15, allowing Foland to close the gap. McCarthy made a move past the slower car on the back stretch and continued his rapid pace for a well-earned victory. Foland settled for his fourth second place finish. Gonderman won a close battle with Polizzi for third as Ricky Brophy rounded out the Top 5.
Kellen Chadwick #83 won his third A Modified Main Event. Photo by Paul Gould
Kellen Chadwick returned to action and won his third A Modified Main Event. The race was a battle of attrition as several drivers didn’t make it to the end. Chadwick was the class of the field as he grabbed the win ahead point point leader Bobby Motts Jr. Heat race winner Scott Busby settled for third ahead of Sean O’Gara and Gregg McElhaney.
Reigning B Modified champion Trevor Clymens won his fifth 20 lap Main Event of the season. The race looked like it would go to past A Modified champion Kenny Neu. Neu led the first 13 laps through multiple yellow flags. Clymens was running second when Neu slowed in Turn 4 for a lap 14 caution flag. Clymens led the pack on the restart and led the rest of the way for the victory. Mark Garner battled point leader K.C. Keller for a second-place finish as Tommy Frazier and Nick Caughman Jr. completed the Top 5.
Reigning B Modified champion Trevor Clymens #2c celebrates his fifth win with his family and crew. Photo by Paul Gould
Kimo Oreta collected his fourth 20 lap Limited Late Model Main Event victory in the Sun Drop Racing #15 car. Oreta had a front row start in a race that was destined to go non-stop, and he charged into the lead at the drop of the green flag. He stretched his advantage to a half-lap ahead of second place by the time Bob Kempf threw the checkered flag, leaving the battle was for second. Despite relentless pressure from Mark Garner, Lori Brown kept her cool and earned a season best second place finish. Mike Gustafson made a couple of late passes to finish fourth ahead of fellow heat race winner Jim Freethy.
Limited Late Model point leader Kimo Oreta #15 stretched his point lead with his fourth Main Event win. Photo by Paul Gould
Melissa Myers won the 20 lap Hobby Stock Main Event. This was the second win of the season for the two time division champion. Jordon Swank led the Main Event for four laps before Chris Long made a high move in Turn 4 to grab the lead. Long slowed on the back stretch as Swank and Myers made it a three wide race up front on lap seven. Long fell back several positions, but a red flag flew moments later for a blocked race track exit. Long was back in the lead for the restart, but he slowed on lap nine. Myers raced into the lead at that point ahead of Brent Curran. Myers led the final ten laps to win ahead of Curran, Gene Haney, Cameron Swank and point leader Chris Sorensen.
Melissa Myers #33 (right) and passenger Rachel Slaney (left) win the Hobby Stock Main Event. Photo by Paul Gould
Jason Armstrong won the 15 lap Bay Area Hardtops Main Event. This was the 15th running of the Chet Thomson Memorial, and the race ran non-stop. Armstrong sprinted out to a straightaway lead over the dueling Ken Retzloff and Tommy Thomson, but Armstrong slowed his pace in traffic on lap six. Retzloff used traffic to break away from Thomson, and he chased Armstrong closely. However, Armstrong scored his second straight Thomson Memorial win ahead of Retzloff. Thomson managed to hold off last starter Kimo Oreta for third as Dan Williams rounded out the Top 5.
Next Saturday is the 2nd Annual John Soares Sr. Top Dog Memorial, which honors the man who promoted Antioch Speedway from its opening in 1961 to 1980. The All Star Series Winged 360 Sprints are back along with the DIRTcar Late Models, A Modifieds, B Modifieds, Dwarf Cars and Hobby Stocks. For further information, go to www.antiochspeedway.com.
All Star Series Antioch Speedway – Unofficial Race Results
DIRTcar Late Models Heat Winners (8 Laps)-Dennis Souza, Richard Papenhausen. Main Event (20 Laps)-Jeff Decker, Richard Papenhausen, Terry Kuntz, Kimo Oreta, Jim Freethy.
Winged 360 Sprint Cars Heat Winners (8 Laps)-Art McCarthy, Dan Gonderman. Main Event (20 Laps)-Art McCarthy, Burt Foland Jr., Dan Gonderman, Marissa Polizzi, Ricky Brophy.
A Modifieds Heat Winners (8 Laps)-Brian Pearce, Scott Busby. Main Event (20 Laps)-Kellen Chadwick, Bobby Motts Jr., Scott Busby, Sean O’Gara, Gregg McElhaney.
B Modifieds Heat Winners (8 Laps)-K.C. Keller, Mark Garner. Main Event (20 Laps)-Trevor Clymens, Mark Garner, K.C. Keller, Tommy Frazier, Nick Caughman Jr.
Limited Late Models Heat Winners (8 Laps)-Jim Freethy, Mike Gustafson. Main Event (20 Laps)-Kimo Oreta, Lori Brown, Mark Garner, Mike Gustafson, Jim Freethy.
Hobby Stocks Heat Winners (8 Laps)-Cameron Swank, Chris Long. Main Event (20 Laps)-Melissa Myers, Brent Curran, Gene Haney, Cameron Swank, Chris Sorensen.
Bay Area Hardtops Heat Winner (8 Laps)-Jason Armstrong. Main Event-Jason Armstrong, Ken Retzloff, Tommy Thomson, Kimo Oreta, Dan Williams.
Read More
Congressman Mark DeSaulnier (CA-11) announced he will host two upcoming “Service Academy Nights” in Pleasant Hill and Richmond. All students living in the Eleventh Congressional District of California who would like to apply to one of the nation’s premier service academies are invited to attend.
At each of the events, service academy representatives will be on hand to speak with interested students, including members from the U.S. Naval Academy, the U.S. Air Force Academy, and the U.S. Military Academy (aka West Point). Service academy representatives will give presentations, and Congressman DeSaulnier’s staff will provide a briefing on the nomination process.
Students who wish apply to a service academy must ensure a completed application is received by Congressman DeSaulnier’s office no later than October 31, 2017.
Richmond Service Academy Night Thursday, September 14, 2017 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Richmond City Council Chambers 440 Civic Center Plaza First Floor Richmond, CA 94804
Pleasant Hill Service Academy Night Thursday, September 28, 2017 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Diablo Valley College The Diablo Room, 3rd Floor HFS Building 321 Golf Club Road Pleasant Hill, CA 94523 Details: A map of DVC’s campus can be found here.
For more information on applying to any of the service academies or to RSVP, please contact Congressman DeSaulnier’s office at ca11.rsvp@mail.house.gov or (925) 933-2660.
Read MoreBy Colin Schwartz, Nutrition Policy Associate, Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI)
On Friday, Aug. 25, Food and Drug Commissioner Scott Gottlieb made it clear that calorie labels on menus are here to stay for all Americans. As Politico put it, “In the era of President Donald Trump’s war on regulations, one Obama-era rule — menu labeling — appears to be surviving.”
Unfortunately, a bill (H.R. 772) is working its way through Congress that would gut these menu labeling requirements, and undo recent progress toward giving Californians the information they need to make healthy choices about what to eat and what to feed their families. Now that the Trump Administration has affirmed it won’t delay menu labeling any further, it’s time for Congress to abandon this misguided effort. We are asking Rep. Jerry McNerney, who represents portions of Eastern Contra Costa County in the House of Representatives, to take a strong stand for informed consumer choice by opposing H.R. 772.
California’s adult and childhood obesity rates have steadily increased every decade since 1990, despite having the fifth lowest adult obesity rate in our nation. The rate also varies by community – currently, 77 percent of Latino adults are obese or overweight. California’s Department of Health Care Services has recognized that despite California’s best efforts, “obesity is clearly a significant driver of health problems and healthcare costs.”
Every Californian should have the information they want and need to choose healthy food for their families. Unfortunately, Congress is intent on curbing the freedom of consumers by denying them basic information about what they are ordering in restaurants. They also seem set on undoing California’s progress by scuttling the menu labeling law through the so-called Common Sense Nutrition Disclosure Act (H.R. 772). – Please see the comparison chart by the CSPI below. This bill ignores the reality that our nation’s top 50 restaurant chains have already committed to empowering consumers by including calorie counts at their locations across the country. Additionally, an independent economic analysis already found that the FDA’s decision to delay the enactment of the rule by one-year could already cost consumers an astounding $15 for every $1 saved by industry. Now imagine the damage H.R. 772 could have on consumers and our economy if signed into law.
This bill is contrary to Californians’ preferences. California passed the first state menu labeling law in our nation in 2008 to support and protect consumer choice. Since the signing of the legislation, California-based chains from California Pizza Kitchen to Taco Bell have shown that menu labeling can be accomplished without sacrificing customer satisfaction.
As Adam Russell of Santa Cruz, CA wrote in response to the FDA delaying implementation of the final menu labeling rule: “People deserve to be able to make informed choices.”
We all must remain vigilant not just about congressional efforts, but the FDA’s final guidance on the menu labeling rule later this year to ensure that the consumer-choice spirit of the rule remains intact. Unfortunately, anti-consumer industry groups and some corporate interests are lobbying Congress hard and against public will to deny Americans choice on a host of critical nutrition issues, including this one. It will only get worse now that the FDA didn’t decide in their favor.
The bill is moving quickly. It has already passed out of the House Energy and Commerce Committee with Rep. McNerney voting in favor of it and is headed to the House floor (and possibly to the Senate) for a vote, possibly this or next week.
The Center for Science in the Public Interest has been providing advice and advocacy toward a healthier food system since its founding in 1971. They publish Nutrition Action Healthletter and NutritionAction.com and lead action across the country on nutrition, food safety, and health.
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