By Tami Barrera

In the late 1930s it began in a basement as side jobs for a lawnmower business. But by the time 1940 rolled around, those small jobs had grown big enough to launch a business, Schwinn City, at 814 A Street (at 10th Street) in Antioch.

Schwinn City’s newest owners, Ron and Kelly Lopez, took over the business from Michael Kary, who had obtained it from Dan Jacuzzi in 1974 and retired in September 2007.

What made the transition so smooth was the fact that Ron was Kary’s first employee and has been assembling, fixing and fitting bicycles for as long as Michael was the owner. Ron is a rider himself, so he is well aware of the bicycle world and all it entails to have fun. Whether you are a first-time rider or you have been riding for years, the Lopezes want you to know that your safety is their first priority and your pocket book is a close second.

If you’re on a tight budget, they have a layaway program for some models in which you can put down as little as $50 and be well on your way to owning a bicycle that is backed by a free service agreement for the life of the bike. Schwinn City is among the top in Northern California when it comes to BMX bikes and offers outstanding customer service.

“I would rather get my bicycle from Schwinn City than from anywhere else, because Mr. Lopez takes the time to fit the bike to you like that of a well tailored suit,” said a customer, Alex Ronning.

Ron was born and raised in Antioch and remembers when the city was more orchard than suburbia. But he’s transitioned with the times and is proud to be an owner of a landmark that is a staple to bike riders around the globe. He loves expanding people’s horizons and feels that everyone should be educated when it comes to bicycles.

The Lopezes believe in giving back to the community – donating to the Chamber of Commerce Gala and planning to give away a bike on May 7 – and sharing all they have with those that are interested in their passion of bicycles. They also allow test driving. So how can you go wrong with top of the line service designed to last a lifetime?

They are open every day except Tuesday – hey, they’ve got to rest sometime. The phone number is 925-757-0664. Their website is www.schwinncity.com.

Antioch’s Max Muscle Sports Nutrition is anxious to host its Spring Customer Appreciation Day this May. The in-store event is dedicated to the store’s 2011 Running Team for their hard work in preparing for the 100th annual San Francisco Bay to Breakers 12k foot race. This event will take place in-store on Saturday, May 21, 2011 from 12 noon-4 PM, at 5887 Lone Tree Way (at Empire Road) # R, Antioch (near Office Depot, Lumpy’s and Panera Bread).

Everyone from the community is encouraged to come out to this event and show their support for local business, take advantage of huge sales, all while enjoying free sampling, and giveaways. Max Muscle Brentwood will have it’s Certified Fitness Nutrition Coaches on staff to provide customers with expert advice and ensuring what they have become known for, providing a one-on-one shopping experience.

Max Muscle specializes in Customized Nutrition Plans for individuals, couples, sport teams, and professional athletes looking for strategic nutrition planning. Proven results have shown that our customers and clients reach their nutrition goals through the staff infusing education and knowledge with leading edge technology.

“We are pleased and proud to provide an event like this for our customers and clients. We are passionate each time we get out into our community, speaking with the youth about living healthy lifestyles by making better nutrition choices. Hosting events like these give everyone a chance to experience our dynamic store,” Pierre and Brenda Goudie explained. “The relationships that we have built with our customers is what truly sets us apart from any other nutrition stores.”

About Max Muscle Sports Nutrition: Established in 1990, Max Muscle Sports Nutrition offers a diverse but integrated product mix of innovative nutritional supplements, fashionable athletic apparel and Certified Fitness Nutrition Coaching. Max Sports & Fitness Magazine is the magazine published monthly that targets a broad consumer base with a true passion for fitness and health. This combination is unique within the industry and has allowed Max Muscle to establish itself as a market leader with the health and fitness industry.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m28a-P53LG4

If you’d like more information about how you can contribute or schedule an appointment, please call 757-6299 or email MaxMuscleBrentwood@yahoo.com.

Kids,
Ever wanted to act on a real stage? The curtain is going up…on a summer filled with the excitement and magic of theater!

Students, from 7-17 will enjoy performing on the grand stage of the El Campanil Theatre.

Two week Performing Arts Camp begins with campers participating in theatre games and drama exercises in an encouraging environment. Morning instruction includes improvisations, skits and role-play.

Afternoons involve auditioning for a role in the play and beginning play rehearsal. The following days students learn how to create a character, develop the role, and rehearse the play to be performed at end of camp. Props and costumes make it all real.

Students will develop acting skills, and use their imaginations to create characters. Through drama, they will learn the importance of teamwork.Through creative drama, we will create a fun staged-production! We will work with a script, act, and end up with a play that friends and family are bound to enjoy!

It’s all under the guidance of our talented Artistic Director, Sharon Redman

Session 1: June 20—24 & June 27—July 1 9:30—3:30 Cost: $195.00
Session 2: July 11—15 & July 18—July 22 9:30—3:30 Cost: $195.00

FORMS AVAILABLE AT THE THEATRE
604 W. SECOND ST.
OR CALL (925) 757-9500
OR ONLINE:http://www.elcampaniltheatre.com/childrens_theatre.htm

Antioch Chamber of Commerce MEGA MIXER & EXPO FUNDRAISER TONIGHT

Thursday, May 5th, 5:30PM-7:30PM
Humphrey’s on the Delta
1 Marina Plz- Antioch, CA 94509-7905

Exhibitor Opportunity: Space is limited-
$50 for Chamber members
Includes a 5 foot table and 2 chairs
Call today to reserve your space! 925-432-7301

Mixer is free to attend for all Chamber Members.
Come out and enjoy fun, food and networking. Don’t forget your business cards!
For more info call (925) 757-1800

COFFEE AT THE CHAMBER –
Tuesday, May 10th, 8:30AM-10:00 AM
Speaker- Randy Sabatte of Fast Signs
For more info call (925) 757-1800

BROWN BAG LUNCH @ The Chamber
Rich McDaniel- Mutual of Omaho
Retirement for the Small Business Owner
Thursday, May 19th, 12:15PM-1:15 PM
FREE- For more info call (925) 757-1800

ANTIOCH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE MIXER
Thursday, May 26th, 5PM-7PM
Richard Pagano’s State Farm Insurance
2317 Buchanan Road – Antioch, CA 94509
Come out and enjoy fun, food and networking. Don’t forget your business cards!
For more info call (925) 757-1800

By Terry Karp, owner, Bases Loaded Restaurant & Bar

The PhD’s playing latin, salsa, merengue – not entirely sure what that is? Thought it was the top of a lemon pie, but I’ve seen other Cinco de Mayo parties advertise it so I will too! Come see the PhD’s at Bases Loaded Thursday to find out! See flyer above for details. Music starts at 9 p.m. No cover! For more information on Bases Loaded, click here.

Brittany Cervantes of Antioch, in one of her 2011 Bone Rock Girl competition photo

The search is on to find the next girl to win $5,000 and represent San Francisco’s FM radio station 107.7 The Bone at events for the next year as the Bone Rock Girl!

Brittany Cervantes, a 21-year-old Antioch native, is a finalist. The 2008 Antioch High graduate, and a receptionist at Antioch’s Wild Orchids – The Salon, submitted photos of herself plus a brief write-up of why she wanted be the Bone Rock Girl.

On April 4, the station narrowed it down to 32 contestants. Each girl had to promote herself and try and to encourage people to vote by going to the station’s website.

After one week, the “Sweet 16” were announced and Brittany had made the cut.

“We each got to have a special photo-shoot with professional photographer Pat Johnson of San Francisco,” Brittany stated. “He’s a photographer in the rock industry.”

Then after two more weeks of voting, the final four were announced and Brittany made the cut, again!

Each of the four ladies was a guest DJ on 107.7 with Steven Seaweed and played their own 1 hour playlist on “Hey Mom, I’m on the Bone!”. Brittany time on the radio station was last Thursday, April 28 from Noon to 1 p.m.

“It was nerve-wracking, but such an adrenaline rush,” Brittany said. “But he [Seaweed] comforted me by saying ‘don’t think of it as talking to thousands of people who are listening right now, just think of it as a one-on-one conversation with me.’”

Then the final four contestants were given another shoot with Pat Johnson.

Voting ends for the final decision, Bone Rock Girl on Wednesday, May 4^th at Midnight (that’s TONIGHT!) and the winner will be announced May 5th, tomorrow, at The Bone Rock Girl Coronation Party at Jillian’s In San Fransisco, starting at 7:30pm.

To check out Brittany’s profile and photos and vote before Midnight tonight, visit www.1077thebone.com.

The change from a two-principal to one principal administration at Deer Valley High is is a sound financial and management decision by the board.

The student numbers do not support this luxury as enrollment has dropped to around 2,700. Antioch High has about the same number and is doing well as a one principal school. A good administrator with a strong support staff can run an effective educational campus. Very few school districts in the state operate with this dual model.

I salute Dr. Gill and the Antioch School Board for making the tough decisions.

I would hope that this “outraged” group against the change would direct their efforts by lobbying the State Legislature in restoring a budget that will ensure no cuts, no shortened school year, no P.E., Arts, Music cuts, librarians and nurses restored, etc.

Richard Asadoorian

A series of workshops will be conducted to gather public input to the redrawing of the districts represented by Contra Costa County’s five supervisors.

“Everywhere I go, people keep asking about how the district will look,” said Supervisor Federal Glover, who represents District V. “It is a topic that is generating a lot of interest.”

Every ten years, the county is mandated to realign the districts so that each supervisor represents about the same number of people.

The 2010 Census shows that Contra Costa has grown to 1.2 million people with most of the growth occurring in the eastern portion of the county represented by Districts V and III. Slower growth occurred in the other three districts.

The District V workshops will be:

• Bay Point/Pittsburg, 7 p.m., May 19 at the Ambrose Community Center, 3105 Willow Pass Road in Bay Point.

• Antioch, 7 p.m., May 23 at the Antioch Community Center, 4701 Lone Tree Way.

• Far East County, 7 p.m. May 25 at Oakley City Hall, 3231 Main Street, Oakley.