A-Z Tailor & Tuxedo owner, Hanif Mones works in his store.

By Allen Payton

Hanif Mones has worked as a tailor for 25 years. After working for his father’s tailoring business in Afghanistan – just like his grandfather – he came to the U.S. in 1992. He first worked for a uniform company in San Jose, then for George Zimmerman’s Men’s Wearhouse in one of their stores.

Then in 2006, he opened his own tailoring business in Roseville, for men, women and children. But, then moved to East County in 2011.

Tired of the commute, in March of this year, he opened his own business, A-Z Tailor & Tuxedo at the Crossings Shopping Center, next to Safeway, in Antioch. and I”d like to mention that he does the best service for his  costumers and he got a lot of repeated costumers from March of this year he does great alterations for and he is great at it  

“We do work for any kind of clothing – men’s suits, women’s dresses and children’s clothes, as well,” Hanif said.

They also offer Italian tuxedos for sale or rental, plus accessories, as well as formal dresses for proms, balls or that special night on the town. He plans to expand his line of formal dresses, this fall.

“We offer the best services on alterations, in a timely manner, and for an affordable price,” he added.

Mones offers a friendly atmosphere where they treat you like family. So stop by today with all your tailoring, tuxedo or formal dress needs, today and be sure to see the offers in their ad in this issue. Their phone number is (925) 238-0350.

The annual Delta Blues Festival returns to Antioch’s historic downtown Rivertown this Saturday, September 21st in Waldie Plaza on 2nd Street, starting at Noon and running until 8 p.m. Best of all it’s FREE!

So bring your lawn chair and get their early for a good spot to watch and listen to all the bands they have lined up, for this year’s show.

For details please visit www.deltabluesfestival.net.

The 29th Annual California Coastal Cleanup Day, the state’s largest volunteer event, will take place on Saturday, September 21st, 2013. The event is expected to draw more than 70,000 volunteers who will combat marine debris at over 800 locations throughout the state by removing the trash that has accumulated on California’s beaches and inland shorelines over the past year. Get out there, join the effort in Antioch. Last year, over 100 participants volunteered There are three locations to choose from: Antioch Marina, Prewett Park & Fulton Shipyard. Select your location when you complete your registration (see link below). Last  year over 100 participants came together to clean along the Delta and create awareness of why trash  so damaging to our aquatic and coastal areas.

Coastal Cleanup Day provides  a way for tens of thousands of Californians to remove trash from our environments, but also reinforces that each of us, as consumers of goods and producers of those goods, has a responsibility to reduce, prevent, and clean up marine debris. For more information, and to register to volunteer, visit www.art4antioch.org/Coastal-Cleanup.asp or email Diane@Art4Antioch.org.  or call Diane Gibson-Gray at (925) 325-9897 or Julie Haas-Wajdowicz at (925) 779-7097.

For more information visit www.coastal.ca.gov/publiced/ccd/ccd2.html.

By Officer R. Martin #3343, Antioch Police Department

On Friday, September 13, 2013, at approximately 7:09 PM, Antioch Police Officers responded to a solo vehicle collision on Hillcrest Avenue near the intersection of Sterling Hills Drive. The vehicle was found to have collided into a tree, ejecting both the driver and passenger. Officers located a 17-year-old male Antioch resident, who was pronounced deceased at the scene and a 19-year-old male, also an Antioch resident, who was transported to John Muir Hospital with major injuries.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is encouraged to call the Antioch Police at (925) 778-2441. You may also text a tip to 274637 (CRIMES) using key word ANTIOCH.

UPDATE:

By Corporal Rick Smith, Antioch Police Community Policing Bureau

During the course of this investigation, information was developed that a second vehicle may have been involved in this incident. On Saturday, September 14, 2013, Antioch Police Investigators were contacted by this second involved party. The driver of the second involved vehicle responded to APD and is cooperating with investigators. There are no signs that either vehicle collided with one another, but both had been traveling at a speed in excess of the posted speed limit prior to the collision. At this time, alcohol has not been determined to be a factor in this collision.

The condition of the injured 19yr old male has been upgraded from critical to serious.

All names are being withheld at this time due to the ongoing nature of the investigation.

SECOND UPDATE:

The 17-year-old victim of the car crash was identified, today as Lydell Benjamin, a Deer Valley High School student.

Daveion Cornelious

On Thursday, September 12, 2013 at approx 10:50 am, Antioch Police officers attempted to stop a vehicle reportedly occupied by a male armed with a firearm in the 1600 block of Sycamore Drive. The suspect, 19-year-old Antioch resident Daveion Cornelious, failed to stop and led officers on a short pursuit in the immediate area. During this pursuit, Cornelious attempted to ram a patrol vehicle, and then rammed two citizen’s vehicles in his way.

Cornelious slowed, exited his vehicle brandishing a gun. He shot at an officer in a patrol vehicle immediately behind him, but missed. The officer in turn struck Cornelious with his patrol vehicle, knocking him to the ground and knocking the gun out of his hand. Cornelious fled on foot but was apprehended approx ½ mile away at the Contra Costa County Fairgrounds.

At this time there does not appear to be any injuries to officers or citizens. Cornelious sustained only minor injuries from the incident and was booked into the Martinez Detention Facility for multiple charges, including attempted homicide, assault with a deadly weapon, felony evading, and associated weapons charges.

Cornelious has a short criminal history as an adult, but was out on felony bail for a burglary arrest in March of this year.

You may text a tip to 274637 (CRIMES) using key word ANTIOCH.

By Sergeant Steve Bias, Antioch Police Community Policing Bureau

On Thursday, September 12, 2013 at approx 12:33 pm, Antioch Police received a call of an armed robbery in progress at a business by the name of Gold Palace at 2970 Delta Fair Blvd. This business purchases gold from customers. The two suspects reportedly were armed with handguns. No shots were fired and no one was injured during this robbery.

The suspects were gone prior to police arrival. They were described as follows:

#1 Black male, 18 years old, 5’8″-5’10”, thin

#2 Black male, 22-25 years old, 5’8″, 160

The suspects left in a brown Lexus with tinted windows and no license plate.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is encouraged to call the Antioch Police at (925) 778-2441. You may also text a tip to 274637 (CRIMES) using key word ANTIOCH.

Due to the mandatory evacuation of homes caused by the fire burning near Mt. Diablo State Park in Contra Costa County, the Contra Costa County Fairgrounds has been set up as an evacuation center for horses, cattle, hogs, sheep, and goats.

The Fairgrounds are open and equipped to handle large and small livestock brought to the Fairgrounds throughout the night. The barns and pens have been set up, and water is available for the animals. Buckets have been donated by Home Depot of Brentwood, Lone Tree.

Animals are expected to arrive within the next few hours, and the Fairgrounds will continue to receive and house the livestock as long as needed. Residents with livestock who are impacted by the Mt. Diablo fire in the event of an evacuation, or need to remove livestock to a safer location, are encouraged to utilize the Fairgrounds.

For further information about bringing your livestock to the Fairgrounds, please call the Fairgrounds Office at (925) 757-4400. For updated fire information and evacuation updates, contact the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Department at (925) 335-1500.

By Wendy Oaks

On September 8, 2013, at approximately 1:40 a.m., there was a shooting at Paradise Skate Roller Rink, located at the Contra Costa County Fairgrounds.

There was an Adult Late Night Skate Jam taking place at the roller rink when an altercation took place outside the skating rink. The argument resulted in a shooting, leaving one person dead and two others wounded. At this time, we cannot comment on further details.

A 31-year-old woman was killed and an 18-year-old and 40-year-old man were shot, but their identities have not yet been provided, according to Robert Williamson, Fairgrounds CEO.

“On behalf of the Contra Costa County Fairgrounds and Paradise Skate Roller Rink, our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families,” said Williamson. “We are deeply saddened by the entire incident. We strive to create a family-friendly atmosphere, and take every precaution to keep individual’s safe, and my heart breaks to learn of such violence. We will continue to work with the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Department in their ongoing investigation into the incident and provide any information needed.”

The staff of the skating rink are all OK, according to owner Jeff Warrenburg.

Allen Payton contributed to this report