Will honor Historical Black Colleges & Universities and the Divine Nine Black sororities and fraternities

By Allen D. Payton

During Antioch Unified School District’s Black History Month Celebration on Wednesday, Feb. 21, they will honor the Historical Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU’s) and the D9 or Divine Nine Black sororities and fraternities. The event will include music, spoken word, special guests and more, and will be held in the Beede Auditorium at Antioch High School from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. The community is welcome.

The HBCU’s were established before 1964 with the intention of primarily serving the Black community. According to HBCUConnect.com, there are 105 schools on the official list.

According to BlackEnterprise.com, the D9 consists of the nine pioneering black Greek-letter organizations: Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Inc., Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc., Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., and Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.

Antioch High is located at 700 W. 18th Street. For more information about the event visit www.antiochschools.net or email velmawilson@antiochschools.net.

For more information about the crab feed or service organization visit Antioch Rivertown Veterans Lions Club – Lions e-Clubhouse or www.facebook.com/AntiochRVLions.

Program is key to the mayor’s efforts to keep City’s youth out of crime

Deadline to apply for 3rd Cohort is March 1st

On Friday, Feb. 9, 2024, Antioch Mayor Lamar Hernandez-Thorpe hosted an event celebrating the graduation of the participants in the second cohort of the Mayor’s Apprenticeship Program (MAP). He was joined by Monserrat Cabral of the City’s Department of Public Safety and Community Resources and a representative of Rubicon Program, Inc.

The program is key to the mayor’s youth crime prevention strategy.

In collaboration with Rubicon Programs, MAP trains, supports, and places youth adults ages 18-26 who may have been justice-involved, were in foster care system, or have had challenging barriers to employment and were assigned to the city’s public works department. Participants receive 60 hours of paid workforce development training and ongoing professional growth in an environment that actively encourages and supports their individual success.

The estimated costs for two cohorts annually were $600,000. As a result of savings, MAP will welcome its 3rd cohort in the next few weeks. To apply visit Mayor’s Apprenticeship Program (MAP). The deadline is Friday, March 1st.

Oath of office ceremony set for Feb. 13

Six more recruits in academies

By Antioch Police Department

We were quite proud to attend the graduation of Officers Justin Talavera (3rd from left) and Travis Donaldson (6th from left) at the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office Regional Training Center.

Both successfully completed six months of intensive academy training and will be hitting the streets of our community in a few weeks, where they will endure several months of field training.

Six More Recruits in Academies

We currently have four recruit officers in the junior class at the Alameda County Sheriff’s Regional Training Center (set to graduate in May) and two more at the Sacramento Police Department Academy (set to graduate in June). We are preparing now to send another group to the Alameda Sheriff’s Academy in March.

Would you like to join these officers, get paid to go to the academy, and receive a $30,000 hiring bonus? Visit https://joinantiochpd.com

For more details on our generous pay and comprehensive benefits.

Come be the change and work for a community that supports their police!

Oath of Office Ceremony Feb. 13

Talavera, Donaldson and two other new APD officers will be sworn in during an oath of office ceremony next Tuesday, Feb. 13 at 4:00 p.m. According to Acting Chief Joe Vigil that will bring the total to 85 sworn officers on the force out of 115 budgeted.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

By Allen D. Payton

As previously reported, Lydia Stewart, a 12-year-old entrepreneur and 7th grader from Antioch, is the proud owner of Lydia’s Soap. She has successfully secured a spot as one of the 10 finalists in the upcoming Contra Costa Youth Shark Tank Competition. To gear up for the February 6, 2024, event, Lydia is seeking support from her community.

The public is invited to Lydia’s practice event, organized by Antioch resident Dominique King, this Saturday, Feb. 3 at 3:30 p.m. inside TnT Smoothie and Juice Bar, 208 G Street in historic, downtown Rivertown, where attendees can enjoy refreshments, snacks, and explore various youth-run businesses as vendors.

“Let’s come together on a Saturday to celebrate and uplift our young entrepreneurs!” King said.

Space is limited for the free event to not overwhelm Lydia with a large audience. So, those who want to attend as mock audience members must register at Lydia’s Soap Shark Tank Rally Tickets, Sat, Feb 3, 2024 at 3:30 PM | Eventbrite.

By Walter Ruehlig

During the January 23, 2024, Antioch City Council meeting at City Hall the Board of Directors of the Friends of the Antioch Library (FOAL) presented a $60,000 donation for furniture and technology upgrades for the Antioch Library.

Since inception, FOAL has raised some $700K for library improvements through Amazon rare book offerings, used book sales, lobby magazine purchases, estate gifts and membership dues.

To learn more visit Antioch Friends | Contra Costa County Library (ccclib.org).

Plus, Valentine’s Day special menu and music

Monica’s Riverview has announced they are reopening for dinner starting Thursday, February 1, 2024, from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. with a new dinner menu.

Dinner reservations are available by phone at (925) 757-2272 or in person. Online reservations for dinner will be available Feb. 1

Their new cocktail menu is in development and coming soon.

Live music will continue on Friday and Saturday nights as well as during Saturday and Sunday Brunch.

Enjoy Valentine’s Day additional special and regular menus on Wednesday, Feb. 14 and dine to the sounds of jazz trio with Michael Cheadle in the dining room beginning at 5:00 p.m.

Monica’s has new brunch and lunch hours, as well. See website for details.

Monica’s Riverview is located on the pier at 1 I (“Eye”) Street in Antioch’s historic, downtown Rivertown. For more information see http://www.visitmonicas.com.

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For more information visit www.elderlywish.org.