Antioch Press_5.08.09

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YOUR HOMETOWN WEEKLY NEWSPAPER ward Winning News al A pa

Vol. 9, No. 19

Including Nearby Communities

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May 8, 2009

Flu restraints lifted, schools open Aerial

THIS WEEK

observances

by Ruth Roberts Staff Writer Schools throughout the county reopened this week – earlier than expected – following the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) announcement Tuesday that a suspected strain of the swine flu, or H1N1 virus, was less virulent than originally feared. “What I can tell you is that we are no longer closing schools and that we are following the guidelines of the CDC,” said Kate Fowlie, spokesperson for the Contra Costa County Health Services Department. “However, we are still recommending that anyone who is sick stay home.” At press time, a total of 11 cases of the H1N1 virus were confirmed in Contra Costa County. In East County, two schools – Brentwood and Lone Tree elementaries – closed their doors on Monday, May 4, following one probable case at each of the schools. Later in the week one case was confirmed at Edna Hill Elementary, but the school has, and will remain, open. The CDC relaxed its guidelines this week, stating that schools should remain open as long as the number of absences doesn’t affect the schools’ general operation. Superintendents from local districts, including Byron Union, Brentwood Union and

The city’s Memorial Day festivities will feature a visit from some vintage war birds .

Page 8A Photo by Richard Wisdom

Lone Tree Elementary School Principal Wanda Apel peeks around the corner at her school’s empty playground this week. The school was closed Monday and Tuesday after receiving probable confirmation of a case of the swine flu. Liberty Union High School, sent letters home to families reassuring them that the situation was being carefully monitored. Dana Eaton, director of student services for the Brentwood Union School District, said he received the call from the county health department on Saturday, May 2, and within 45 minutes all 8,300 families in the district had

been notified of Brentwood Elementary’s planned closure Monday morning. “We have a great autodial system that sends messages in Spanish and English and we were able to get the word out very quickly,” said Eaton. “At this point we haven’t had any see Flu page 21A

Casualties of road protocol Bicyclists will honor their comrades – and urge motorists to share the streets.

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High-voltage victories

Markstein unveils distribution plant by Dave Roberts Staff Writer

Photo by Dave Roberts

A Budweiser Clydesdale horse was on hand to lend celebrity star power to the Markstein grand opening in Antioch last Friday.

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In 1919 Albert Markstein bought a horse, wagon and six cases of beer and started his own business making beer deliveries to bars, restaurants and stores in Oakland. Ninety years later his great-granddaughter built a $15 million, 126,000-square-foot facility off East 18th Street in Antioch to make beer deliveries in Contra Costa and Alameda counties. Hundreds of people and a Budweiser Clydesdale horse braved a gentle rain last Friday afternoon to officially welcome the business, which outgrew its facility of 30 years in Pittsburg along Highway 4, bringing 125 full-time employees and much-needed tax dollars to Antioch. Ten years ago during the heady dot-com boom, the relocation of a beer distributor several miles down the road might not have received much notice. But in a down economy, this rare piece of economic good news was as welcome as a tall, frosty Bud on a 100-degree day in August, bringing out a state senator plus current and for-

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mer council members to the ribbon-cutting ceremony and receiving well wishes from the state attorney general and state treasurer. “We are just very happy to be in Antioch,” said Laura Markstein, president of Markstein Sales Company. “It’s a great location for us and everybody has been welcoming.” Laura is taking over control of the company from her father Robert, who took over control of the company from his father Albert, who with his two brothers took over control of the company from their father Albert, who bought the horse, wagon and six cases of beer and survived Prohibition by selling cider, soft drinks and “near beer.” There are two reasons for the company’s longevity: attention to customer service and Americans’ unquenchable thirst for beer, even in – or perhaps because of – a punch-drunk economy. “I really believe in providing the best customer experience we can out there and do what see Markstein page 21A

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The East Diablo Lightning ‘93 made the short list of local teams who’ve reached the state’s Sweet 16.

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INSIDE Calendar ..........................23B Classifieds ........................17B Contest ............................10B Cop Logs ..........................17A Entertainment ................14B Food .................................12B Health & Beauty ............... 7B Milestones .......................11B Opinion ...........................16A Outdoors ...........................6A Sports ................................. 1B WebExtras! ....................... 1B

FOR MOVIE TIMES SEE PAGE 5A


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