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YOUR HOMETOWN WEEKLY NEWSPAPER
Vol. 11, No. 37
Peace blooming at City Hall
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September 16, 2011
United in remembrance
by Justin Lafferty Staff Writer About 50 people gathered recently outside Antioch’s City Hall to deliver a message: May Peace Prevail on Earth. As part of the Interfaith Peace Project’s 11 Days of Peace, a peace pole was planted on Monday at the city’s main offices. The wooden pole, placed next to a 9/11 memorial tree, translates the phrase “May Peace Prevail on Earth” in a variety of languages, a physical manifestation of the peace project’s diversity. Held at 16 East County sites, the project encompasses roughly a dozen religions and beliefs. This is the city’s second peace pole. The first one was planted last year, on the International Day of Peace, at St. Ignatius of Antioch Church. “Everybody looked uplifted and glad they were here,” Interfaith Peace Project event chair Walter Ruehlig said. “I think a tradition has begun. I think people will be clamoring to do something like this every year.” Ruehlig, an Antioch Unified School District Board member, said event officials
Communities gathered to honor the victims of 9/11 and renew their commitment to freedom. Page 1B
Furrocious philanthropy Photo by Justin Lafferty
Antioch religious and community leaders, including Fr. Tom Bonacci, left, and Mayor Jim Davis, center, connected with the peace pole during Monday’s ceremony. and city leaders bantered about where to put the pole before eventually deciding on City Hall. Organizers considered putting a pole at
Prewett Park in southeast Antioch, but decided that placing one at the governmental
The annual Black Cat Ball, which benefits the Antioch Animal Shelter, will put the “fun” in “fundraiser.” Page 6A
In awe of Outlaws
see Peace page 30A
Frazier to run for Assembly seat by Rick Lemyre Staff Writer
Photo by Rick Lemyre
Oakley Mayor Jim Frazier, right, is congratulated by longtime Oakley businessman and community leader Enrico Cinquini after Frazier announced last Thursday that he would seek election for the new 11th District of the state Assembly.
Oakley Mayor Jim Frazier is the first to announce he will run for a seat in the newly formed District 11 of the State Assembly. Created by the census-driven realignment of government districts, the 11th Assembly District encompasses Oakley, Antioch, Brentwood, Byron, Discovery Bay, Bethel Island and Knightsen in Contra Costa County, and Vacaville, Fairfield and Rio Vista in Solano County. Because the district is new, there is no incumbent against which to run, although the seat is expected to draw several more candidates.
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Hospice of the East Bay has expanded its Bereavement Services Program.
“This is an opportunity to work with some great people who are legislators already,” said Frazier, 52. Many expected him to challenge Mary Piepho for District III of the Contra Costa Board of Supervisors, but Frazier thinks he can make a bigger impact in Sacramento. “I think I can have a better footprint at the state level and get more done,” he said. Frazier, a general contractor, said he would take a “business approach” to the Assembly’s most challenging task: creating a balanced budget in the face of the ongoing economic crisis. In addition to supporting education, Frazier see Frazier page 30A
Park protection go to news/press releases
The California State Assembly has passed a bill to help keep state parks open.
Racing fans were treated to the Antioch Speedway’s first World of Outlaws sprint car event. Page 21A Calendar ............................ 15B Classifieds ......................... 10B Cop Logs ............................13A East County Life ................ 1B Entertainment ................... 5B Food ...................................... 6B Health & Beauty ................ 4B Milestones ........................ 14B Opinion ..............................12A Sports .................................21A FOR MOVIE TIMES SEE PAGE 5A
A decade later go to multimedia/videos Sorrow and solidarity marked East County’s 9/11 observances.