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Thursday, October 18, 2012

City of Pittsburg: Halloween Bash & Pumpkin Patch

Halloween Bash & Pumpkin Patch

Ages 12 & under FREE with a canned food donation

Date: 10/28/2012 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Cost: $2 ages 12 & under; $4 ages 13 and over

Location: Small World Park
2573 Harbor Street
Pittsburg, California 94565

NEWS RELEASE

City of Pittsburg
Parks & Recreation Department

This year's Halloween Bash and Pumpkin Patch

Sunday, October 28, 2012 at Small World Amusement Park, 2573 Harbor Street, from 12:00 - 5:00 pm.

This event is a great time for families and young children to "trick or treat" in a safe and fun environment.

The entire park will be decorated and all are encouraged to come in costume.
There will be live music, magic shows, pony rides and a costume parade at 1:30 pm.
The first 600 children under 12 will receive a free jack o'lantern pail.
Also, Pittsburg Community Theatre will be showcasing some of the cast from their up-coming production of The Little Mermaid. The event is sponsored by the City of Pittsburg in conjunction with various community organizations.

The City of Pittsburg invites you and your family to come and spend what promises to be a wonderfully fun-filled afternoon in our Small World Park.

Come and take a ride on the train or other rides geared for younger kids.
Check out Fort Pitt and the River Boat.
Choose your pumpkin at the Pumpkin Patch, visit the animals in Barnyard Glen or watch a spooky movie or cartoon in the Barn.
Listen to the band and other performers at Tea Party Pavilion and watch for the Little Mermaid and some of her friends by the Party Castle.
Children under 12 will be admitted free with the donation of a canned food item.
Ages12 and over will pay regular park admission (12 and under $2, adults $4).
All rides and other activities are free.
Food and drink items will be available for purchase.
For further information call 252-4842.

Annual Halloween Bash & Pumpkin Patch click link for flyer

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City of Pittsburg: PROPOSITION 30, an Informational Debate

PROPOSITION 30, an Informational Debate

Presented by the Los Medanos College Debate Team

Posted Date: 10/18/2012

The Los Medanos College Debate Team Presents:

PROPOSITION 30

An Informational Debate

Should we raise taxes to fund education? Hear the best arguments on both sides.

· Wednesday, October 24, 2012

· 6:30-8:00 p.m.

· Pittsburg City Council Chambers

65 Civic Avenue, Pittsburg, CA 94565

Free admission and parking

Co-Sponsored by the LMC Debate Team & the LMC Honors Program

Proposition 30, an Informational Debate Click link for flyer

THREE SCHOOL BOARD CANDIDATES

Three candidates seeking seat on Pittsburg Unified School District Board

By Eve Mitchell
Contra Costa Times
Posted: 09/26/2012 02:52:15 PM PDT
Updated: 09/26/2012 02:52:15 PM PDT

PITTSBURG -- Three candidates running for an open seat on the Pittsburg Unified School District have outlined strategies for improving high school graduation rates and test scores for students.

Former school district trustee Joe Arenivar, newcomer Ruben Esqueda, and Duane Smith, who is making a second bid for a seat on the school board, are vying for a vacancy created by the resignation in June of former trustee Robert Belleci.
Whoever gets the most votes on the November ballot will serve the remaining two years of Bellecci's four-year term.

[1. THE PROBLEM]
The district's high school graduation rate of 66 percent is well below the statewide average of 76 percent, and while Pittsburg students have made steady progress in the last few years on test scores that measure competency in English and math skills, they are still 13 to 8 percentage points below the statewide average.

[2. ARENIVAR]
Children need to get a good education in the lower grades to have the academic foundation needed to [do] better in school and graduate, said Arenivar, who worked as a teacher and administrator in the district before he retired and served on the school board.

"Education starts in the home. We have to catch them in the lower grades and make sure when they are promoted they have earned it," said the 78-year-old Arenivar.
He served as a school board trustee for 13 years before he failed to win re-election 2010, the same year that Smith made his unsuccessful bid the first time around.

[3. SMITH]
Increased parental involvement and volunteering in the schools is indeed important when it comes to improving student performance and graduation rates, said Smith, a 49 year-old software engineer.

There should also be a bigger push to get more high school students to take courses at Los Medanos College that can be applied as credits toward high school graduation, he said.
"We need to make sure our students stay on track," said Smith, who has served on the Foothill Elementary School Site for five years and is president of the Parents Club at Foothill.

[4. ESQUEDA]
Esqueda is 31-year-old software engineer who grew up in Pittsburg and attended schools here.

"We have seen a lot of progress in the schools in the last 10 years and it's important not to just keep progressing but also to get better," he said.
Esqueda also believes parental involvement is a key plank when it comes to improving schools.
Schools could be improved by obtaining more feedback from teachers, said Esqueda, who believes that his work as a member of city's advisory Community Advisory Commission will help him when it comes to being a school board trustee.

[5. ARENIVAR]
Arenivar, who graduated from Pittsburg High, stresses his previous service on the school board and his long history of working as teacher and administrator for district from 1960 to 1994 as among the reasons that make him the best candidate. "I'm going to hit the road running and I don't have to learn," he said. "I think my experience will help."

[6. ESQUEDA & SMITH]
Both Esqueda and Smith have children who attend Pittsburg public schools and think this will make them do a better job as a trustee.

"I think being a parent, I can bring a fresh perspective on the board from the parents point of view," Smith said.
"I want my daughter to have the best education possible," Esqueda said.

Reach Eve Mitchell at 925-779-7189.
Follow her on Twitter.com/EastCounty_Girl.

Wednesday, October 17, 2012

GREAT NEWS!! Pittsburg Public Schools Success!

Dr William Wong,
Board of Trustees
Pittsburg Unified School District

17 September 2012

Pittsburg increasing student achievement!

1. As a school board member of the Pittsburg Unified School District, it is my pleasure to announce that Pittsburg schools are increasing student achievement every year.

2. This year, four elementary schools have exceeded the mandated California-established goal of at least 800 on the Academic Performance Index (API).

3. The API is a single number that reflects levels of achievement in Reading and Math for students in grades 2-11, in public schools in California.

4. California has set an expectation for all schools to reach 800 by 2014.

5. This standard represents high levels of achievement by most of the students in a school.

6. The four new elementary schools this year are:

Foothill Elementary School (825 API Score)
Heights Elementary School (804)
Parkside Elementary School (815)
Stoneman Elementary School (815)
These schools join Los Medanos which reached 800 several years ago and is currently scoring at 860.
Marina Vista Elementary School is at 764 and is expected to reach 800 by 2014.

7. For more information about API scores, visit the California State Department of Education at "www.cde.ca.gov."

[This Wikipedia article also pertains -- Editor]

WDW

Congratulations to the teachers, parents, students, and staff for these very important accomplishments!!

The Editor

City of Pittsburg: Successor Agency Oversight Board Meeting

Successor Agency Oversight Board Meeting

Date: 10/25/2012 8:00 AM - 9:30 AM

Location: Council Chambers
65 Civic Avenue
Pittsburg, California 94565

Click here to view the agenda

Thursday, October 11, 2012

City of Pittsburg: Future Build Program

Future Build Program

Interested in Working in the Construction Industry and Learning Green Trade Skills

Posted Date: 10/4/2012

Training Program Runs: January 7 through April 30, 2013

· Are you at least 17 years of age?

· Have a high school diploma, GED Certificate or need one?

· Live in one of the following East Contra Costa County cities: Antioch, Bay Point, Bethel Island, Brentwood, Byron, Discovery Bay, Knightsen, Oakley or Pittsburg?

Then this is the program for you!

Future Build utilizes PACT (Pre-Apprenticeship Certificate Training) Program designed by Home Builders Institute. PACT has been recognized by the U.S. Departments of Labor and Housing and Urban Development as an outstanding tool to prepare workers for the construction industry. PACT integrates work-based learning with vocational and academic skills training. Successful graduates will show proficiency in carpentry, electrical, plumbing, painting & finishing, brick masonry, facilities maintenance, landscaping, weatherization, green building and solar.

Future Build is an equal opportunity training program

FUTURE BUILD ORIENTATION

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2012

3:00-5:00 P.M.

329 Railroad Avenue, Pittsburg, CA

For additional info call:

Merl Craft at 925-522-2970

Or email openopportunties@ymail.com

Future Build Program click link for flyer and additional information

City of Pittsburg: Pittsburg Community Theatre Presents "MAS*H"

Pittsburg Community Theatre Presents "M*A*S*H"

For reservations, call (925) 439-PLAY

Date: 10/12/2012 8:00 PM

Cost: $12 - $15

Location: Creative Arts Building
250 School Street
Pittsburg, California 94565

Pittsburg play group to present 'M*A*S*H'

Contra Costa Timescontracostatimes.com

Posted: 10/10/2012 02:16:26 PM PDT

October 10, 2012 9:17 PM GMTUpdated: 10/10/2012 02:16:26 PM PDT

PCT to open season with 'M*A*S*H'

PITTSBURG -- Pittsburg Community Theatre presents "M*A*S*H," a comedy about two unpredictable madcaps, Hawkeye and Duke, two of the best surgeons in South Korea.

The comedy will be performed in the Little Theatre of the Creative Arts Building on the Pittsburg High School campus, 250 School St.

Directed by Diane Schepers, the play promises comic adventures right before your eyes.

The play will feature a special appearance by Eddie Hart, 1972 Olympic Gold Medalist, as "Spearchucker" Jones.

Performances are at 8 p.m. Friday, and Oct. 19 and 20, and at 2 p.m. Sunday and Oct. 20 and 21.

Tickets are $12 to $15. For reservations, call 925-439-PLAY.

Military servicemen and women can see the play for free when accompanied by one paid admission. Email military ticket requests to pct@pittsburgcommunitytheatre.org.