YOUR HOMETOWN WEEKLY NEWSPAPER
Vol. 18, No. 31
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Dune restoration underway by Tony Kukulich
Misty Marsh, a vegetation intern, helps clear the dune area at Big Break. The Dune Day event took place July 28 and was comprised of volunteers and park staff working to restore the habitat and encourage community stewardship.
Staff Writer
A wedge-shaped piece of ground in the Big Break Regional Shoreline is a remnant of a dune system that once stretched all the way to the Mojave Desert, and an effort is underway to restore the dune to its natural state. On Saturday, July 28, Brett Walsh, a Citizen Stewardship Project intern, led Dune Day at Big Break. Volunteers and park staff enjoyed a cool and breezy morning as they filled a large dumpster with invasive plants pulled by hand from the dune. The weeding was done in preparation for fall planting of native vegetation like evening primrose, datura, spike weed, California croton, lupin and buckwheat. “Once we finish getting all the weeds out this summer, we’re going to look to different sources for new seed and hopefully collect seed around the park and try to
Staff Writer
The Antioch City Council recently adopted an initiative that clears the way for a large development project while also preserving open land in the city’s southeast corner near the Brentwood border. The West Sand Creek initiative was one of two competing efforts to shape the future of the Sand Creek Focus Area – a 2,712acre area bounded by Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve to the west, city limits to the south and the City of Brentwood to the east – that could have appeared on the November ballot. The city has considered building 4,000 homes in that area. The council plans to continue studying the competing Let
come in and start to help with the project. The end goal for this is to create a space where we can have both some habitat restoration and some community stewardship – pride in the park.” The sand dunes community
“ Contra Costa – the state and particularly Antioch – is in dire need and has a lack of inventory of housing.
Antioch Voters Decide initiative, but the unanimous adoption of the West Sand Creek initiative locks in a 550-acre, 1,180-unit housing project west of Deer Valley Road and east of Empire Mine Road, even if the competing initiative is eventually adopted. “Contra Costa – the state and particularly Antioch – is in dire need and has a lack of inventory of housing,” said Antioch City Councilmember Tony Tiscareno. “We are grow-
ing. We can’t stop the growth in Antioch.” The adopted West Sand Creek initiative preserves about 1,244 acres at the western and southern boundaries of the Sand Creek Focus Area west of Deer Valley Road, designating it for open space, agriculture and rural uses. It also locks in The Ranch development project and requires voter approval of all urban limit line changes. It was submitted by Antioch residents Terry Ramus, Manny Soliz Jr. and Matthew
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New Year At Knightsen
Knightsen School District welcomes students back with new staff, programs. Page 4
Sgt. Lunger Remembered
Photo by Tony Kukulich
re-establish the dune with native seeds,” Walsh said. “At that point, we’d like to take care of the dune on a maintenance basis – pulling weeds out before they become a bigger problem again. That’s really where the community can
plant plot is the brainchild of the late Chris Thayer, botanist and Oakley dune enthusiast. With the help of local schools, volunteers and retired park district employsee Dune page 26
Initiative clears way for housing plan by Kyle Szymanski
August 3, 2018
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Malyemezian and backed by The Ranch Developer Richland Communities. The competing Let Antioch Voters Decide initiative, which the council will either adopt or place on a future ballot, would zone the 1,800-acre stretch between Deer Valley Road and Black Diamond Mines for rural, residential, agricultural and open-space uses, with a minimum parcel size of 80 acres. It also requires a vote for more intensive development and voter approval for all urban limit line changes. A band of Antioch residents and community groups launched the petition. The Let Antioch Voters Decide stipulations, if approved by the council at a future meeting,
Friends and family of Sgt. Scott Lunger participate in memorial ruck run. Page 7
Swinging For Big Leagues
Heritage baseball player tries out for USA National Team Development Program. Page 17
see Housing page 26
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District 3 is seeking local candidates to fill various board seats.
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BART is repairing track over next few weeks, and AC Transit is offering free rides.