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YOUR HOMETOWN WEEKLY NEWSPAPER
Vol. 11, No. 26
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July 1, 2011
Antioch walks to fight cancer by Justin Lafferty Staff Writer While the 2011 Antioch/Pittsburg Relay for Life, a 24-hour walkathon benefiting the American Cancer Society, raised a hefty sum, the event was about much more than fundraising. Participants arrived at Pittsburg’s Los Medanos College with purpose and spirit and left happy, having raised more than $113,000 for cancer research and prevention. The Antioch/Pittsburg Relay attracted more than 500 people, comprising 72 teams. “We had a rough start this year, but we’re really happy with how well the committee pulled it out,” said Amanda Roa, who served as Relay co-chair with Monica Olson. “It had a really good feel – a community, family feeling.” The event gave many participants a chance to do their part while friends and family fight a disease without a cure. Marcel Castanchoa, a member of the Ground and Pound team, helped the cause with both his wallet and his feet. Castanchoa not only raised more money than anyone – $3,400 – but walked a relay-best 140 laps, for which he was given a prize basket during the closing ceremony. Castanchoa was committed to walking a marathon in honor of his 38-year-old cousin,
Foremost facilitator Photo by Justin Lafferty
Numerous cancer survivors take the first circuit around the track during the Survivors’ Lap. Sandrine, who is battling breast cancer for the second time. “It was healing in a lot of ways; very emotional in a lot of ways,” Castanchoa said. “The beautiful thing about this to me is all these different walks of life come to this thing for 24
hours and are wonderful to each other.” To make the fun a nonstop affair, the event hosted contests such as the “Miss” Relay Pageant, where guys donned skirts and coconut
A man who normally works behind the scenes for military honorees was named Veteran of the Year. Page 3A
Strikefest wows crowds
see Walk page 22A
Cantando named new police chief by Justin Lafferty Staff Writer
Photo by Justin Lafferty
Allan Cantando, recently named permanent Antioch chief of police, speaks at a Delta 2000 summit earlier this year.
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After roughly six months as Antioch’s acting police chief, city officials announced on Tuesday that Allan Cantando’s interim tag will be removed on Friday. Cantando, 45, has been with the Antioch Police Department since July 14, 1987 and was named acting chief after Jim Hyde retired on Dec. 16. Since then, residents speaking at City Council meetings have expressed their support for Cantando to be promoted to chief. “I’m honored,” Cantando said. “I have a lot of work ahead of me. The city has a lot of crime
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challenges that we’re working with. But I have a wonderful department of people that work very hard and support me, and I have a community that is working with me to combat crime issues.” Since taking over in December, Cantando has made part-one – violent and property – crimes a priority. He recently announced that through the first five months of the year, violent crime is down 19.1 percent compared to January through May of 2010. The department recently launched an online non-emergency crime reporting system on which residents can report incidents such
The din of plummeting pins filled Harvest Park as a PBA Senior tourney came to a spectacular climax. Page 17A Business ............................... 5B Calendar ............................ 19B Classifieds ......................... 13B East County Life ................ 1B Entertainment ................... 9B Food .................................... 10B Health & Beauty ................ 6B Milestones .......................... 8B Opinion ..............................14A Sports .................................17A ravemotionpictures Brentwood 14 +
see Chief page 22A
Big Break buildout go to news/press releases
Construction will soon begin on an interpretive center at Big Break in Oakley.
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FOR MOVIE TIMES SEE PAGE 5A
Vets venerated go to multimedia/videos
Veterans’ service and sacrifices were honored at an event in Cortona Park.