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YOUR HOMETOWN WEEKLY NEWSPAPER
Vol. 10, No. 42
Staff Writer
Had proper structure reached Gaby Rodriguez earlier, the Deer Valley High School junior’s story might be different. Rodriguez was on a panel of former gang members who spoke at Saturday’s East County Gang Summit, organized by Contra Costa County District 5 Supervisor Federal Glover and held on Rodriguez’s campus. She moved from Nicaragua to the United States at the age of 7 and got involved in gangs shortly thereafter because it was what her cousins and friends were doing. She thought it was the norm. Rodriguez started dissoci-
ating with gangs at age 13 because she just got tired of the lifestyle. She credited the East County-based nonprofit One Day at a Time, which also held presentations at the summit, for helping her turn things around. Her grades have improved since she escaped from gang life. “I was so young, but then I had so many little kids that would look up to me,” Rodriguez said. “I didn’t want them to go through the same thing.” The summit focused on early prevention and better relations between parents, guardians and their children. At the day-long event, police officers and people from local nonprofits stressed the importance of families taking an active role
October 15, 2010
This Week To trick a trickster
Gang Summit puts focus on prevention by Justin Lafferty
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A hiker waylaid by a Native American deity finds escape a tricky business. Page 6A
Photo by Justin Lafferty
Julie Vierra, right, a therapist with People Who Care, leads a group discussion about how teenagers can make positive choices. PWC student Jorge Bravo, left, reads a difficult situation, deciding on the best way to respond to it. in children’s lives, and students making good decisions. That morning in the theater, Antioch police officers directed Gangs 101, which educated par-
ents, teens and other members of the community about gang colors, affiliations and other
Wowed by the West A local Scout troop took a whirlwind tour of some magnificent scenery. Page 18A
Gridiron set to sizzle
see Summit page 22A
Highway project bid under estimate by Justin Lafferty Staff Writer
The soft economy continues to mean good news for the Highway 4 widening project, as the low bid for widening the road from Somersville Road to Contra Loma Boulevard has come in nearly 30 percent less than expected. Antioch City Manager Jim Jakel announced at the City Council’s meeting Tuesday night that Walnut Creekbased R&L Brosamer Inc. submitted a bid earlier this month for about $35.7 million. According to Contra Costa Transportation Authority Director of Projects Susan Miller, the cost of the project was originally estimated at
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“ It was a very competitive bid. I can say it did somewhat surprise me.
” Susan Miller, Contra Costa Transportation Authority $49.7 million. Miller said CalTrans has until Dec. 5 to accept or deny the bid. If everything goes smoothly, Miller said Brosamer has 55 days after CalTrans’ approval to start work, which will take roughly two years to complete. She added that Brosamer’s was one of 11 bids for the project. “It was a very competitive bid,” Miller said. “I can say it did somewhat surprise me. We have been trending low.”
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The highway will be widened to four lanes in each direction, including a carpool lane, from Somersville Road to Contra Loma Boulevard. Construction will include train tracks in the median for eBART connecting Antioch with the Pittsburg/Bay Point station. Jakel said Brosamer also owns the land around the planned eBART station at Hillcrest Avenue, near where the Highway 4 expansion is slated to end.
Canine casket
go to news/WebExtras! One of life’s tragedies is that we sometimes outlive our best friends.
An eBART groundbreaking ceremony is planned for Oct. 29 at 10 a.m. at the Pittsburg/Bay Point station. “I’m thrilled with the way everything is going,” Antioch City Engineer Joe Brandt said. “I think things are going very well and I hope they continue to do that.” Right now, the area between Loveridge Road in Pittsburg and Somersville Road is being expanded by Berkeley-based O.C. Jones & Sons. Miller said the bid for that segment of construction was also low, about 28 percent below the estimated cost. The engineers’ figure for that section was $91 million, she see Highway page 22A
Bucks for buyers go to news/press releases
Meritage Homes’ 25th anniversary bash puts $25K in the pockets of 25 homebuyers.
The BVAL football championship is at stake as local teams head into the home stretch. Page 1B
Plus: Arts .....................................15A Business .............................21A Calendar ............................ 23B Classifieds ......................... 16B Cop Logs ............................17A Entertainment ................. 10B Food .................................... 12B Health & Beauty ................ 8B Milestones ........................ 14B Opinion ..............................16A Outdoors ............................. 6A Sports ................................... 1B
FOR MOVIE TIMES SEE PAGE 5A
Flea market
go to multimedia/videos The Brentwood Lions Club raised money for high school scholarships.