Carries on family tradition

By Allen Payton

For those who aren’t yet clients of Strandz The Salon, inside Antioch’s Somersville Towne Center, they probably aren’t aware of the story behind it. This is how the new owner, in a quick decision, was able to just pick up and carry on where the previous owner left off, after being given just a three-week notice that they were leaving and closing shop.

“It’s a very interesting story of how we came to be,” said owner Sonya Vaid. “This used to be a Regis Salon for over 20 years. I started working there in 2003 as a stylist. Then I was promoted to manager in 2006.”

Then, just in March of this year, Regis decided to close the shop and not renew the lease.

“It was a big shock for me and the girls, there. They only gave a three week notice,” she continued. “We had to decide what we were going to do. I approached mall management, Julie (Neward) and we took the place over and changed the name and everything else stayed the same.”

That’s how Strandz was born on April 1^st, after Regis left on March 31^st, no fooling.

“So it was like an overnight transition, from employees to independent contractors,” Vaid shared. “I haven’t hired any new people.”

Vaid stepped up to take ownership of the business because, “someone had to take the fall,” she said with a laugh.

So, although the business and name are new, “we’ve been there for a while,” she stated.

They’re at the same place, with the same friendly people and same great service, but just a new name.

“And same clientele, which is amazing,” Vaid added.

There are a total of six stylists including Sonya, as well as Trisha, Rani, Angela, Jessica and Ginny.

They specialize in hair coloring, highlighting, Balayage, Ombre, Sombre, three-dimensional color melts, Keratin smoothing treatments, perms, facial waxing, cuts, blowouts and styles.

“We came to the realization that when change happens, you have to just roll with it. I’m just happy we’re there,” Vaid explained. “We get a lot of walk-in traffic in the mall and we want to contribute to the success of the mall. It worked out for us. We were lucky.”

This is the first business she’s owned.

“I always wanted to own a salon business, but not in this way,” the gregarious Vaid said with  another laugh. “There would have been a lot of planning going into it. But, I’m happy. It was meant to be.”

Asked about how she came up with the new business name, she responded, “I had pretty much two hours to file the fictitious business name. I thought of all kinds of fancy names. But, I also have a lot of male clients, so, I wanted it to be unisex. But, I wanted the name to be short and look pretty similar to Regis which was quite elegant. So, I named it Strandz, which basically means strands of hair. But I wanted to add the “z” at the end so it could be a little more catchy. It’s simple and easy to remember.”

Vaid has a bachelor’s degree in English literature from the university in New Dehli, India.  She also has a diploma in fashion design.

“People think it’s really strange for me to be doing what I do,” she stated. “My mom was a hair stylist for 30 years, when she lived in England. She’s my inspiration, my mentor and my role model in her own way.”

She has no hard feelings toward the previous salon owner, for what others might see as leaving her and the rest of the stylists high and dry.

“I owe a lot of what I have, educationally and personally to Regis Corporation,” Vaid shared. “They taught me well. No hard feelings at all. I’m grateful for the opportunity. It was time for them to move on and for me to move ahead.”

While Vaid owns the business, she isn’t running it alone. She also has her best friend Tina, who has helped her with marketing and inventory.

“She’s basically the managing partner,” Vaid added. “I could not have done all of this without her. She’s amazing.”

Stop by and see Sonya and the other stylists at Strandz The Salon, today and get your hair looking good for the holidays. They’re located inside Somersville Towne Center – East County’s only enclosed mall – near the Macy’s entrance, at 2550 Somersville Road in Antioch. To set an appointment, call (925) 777-3397. You can also like them and see photos of some of their satisfied clients on their Facebook page.

Bobby George Muncy

July 14, 1947 – December 14, 2016

Bobby George Muncy, 69, of Huntington, Arkansas, entered into rest on December 14, 2016 in Little Rock, Arkansas. He was born July 14, 1947 in Pittsburg, California the son of the late Robert and LaVance Muncy. He was a retired truck driver, Harley mechanic, and an Army Veteran.

Survivors include his wife of 50 years Stevie, three daughters, Cherie Lee Dickerson of Lake Tahoe, CA, Genevieve Carranzy of San Jose,CA and Jacqueline Spence of Lavaca, AR, son, Thomas Spillman of Searcy, CA, fourteen grandchildren, 24 ½ great grandchildren and one great great grandchild.

Funeral services will be held 10:00 a. m. Friday, December 23, 2016 at Lewis-Roberts Funeral Chapel, 2911 West Highway 10 Greenwood, Arkansas with burial at 12:30 p.m. at Keota Cemetery, Keota, OK. Pallbearers will be Brandon Spence, Ryan Spence, Tyler Spence, David Carson, Zake Claude, Clay Garison, Donny Joe Thacher. Viewing will be held 9:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. Thursday at Lewis-Roberts Funeral Chapel, Greenwood, Arkansas. To place an online tribute go to www.lewisfuneralchapel.net.

By Allen Payton

During a ceremony on Monday, Dec. 19, 2016 the Antioch Police Department added two more sworn officers and three Community Service Officers (CSO’s) to the force. The new officers are Spencer Cox from the Stockton Police Department and Robert Ibanez from the U.C. Berkeley Police Department. The three CSO’s are Shannon Moore who is returning to the APD after six years, Kevin Harvey from Alameda County, and Alan Sheffield who is from a police family. In addition, the department added Alicia Castillo as a new Animal Control Officer (ACO).

That brings the number of sworn officers on the Antioch police force to 98, for a total of nine additional officers as a result of Measure C funding.

Officer Spencer Cox

Spencer was raised in Rio Vista CA. He graduated Rio Vista High School in 2002. Spencer worked as an EMT in Los Angeles, Solano, and Contra Costa counties. He put himself through the South Bay Public Safety Training Consortium Police Academy and graduated in 2012. He was hired by Stockton Police Department in September, 2012. He worked patrol, as a member of the Critical Incident Investigation Team, and as a member of the Community Response Team. Spencer enjoys spending time with his family, working out, and playing ice hockey.

Officer Robert Ibanez

Robert was born and raised in Turlock CA. He graduated from Turlock High School in 2004 and joined the United States Air Force in 2005. Robert served in the United States Air Force until 2009. He then put himself through the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Academy and graduated in 2011. In 2012, He was hired by UC Berkeley Police Department where he worked as a patrol officer, was apart of the Special Duties Unit, Negotiations and Entry Team, and as a Defensive Tactics instructor. Robert enjoys spending time with his family, wakeboarding, wake surfing, snowboarding, watching football, and weight lifting.

CSO Shannon Moore

Shannon was raised on Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada. She graduated from Woodlands High School in 1992. Shannon attended Malaspina University on a soccer scholarship. After completing her Associate’s degree she took a year off of school and spent it traveling around Australia. Shannon moved to the Bay Area in 2000 and began a career in law enforcement as a CSO with Antioch PD in 2003. Shannon has worked for the City of Antioch as both a CSO and Code Enforcement Officer. For the past six years she has been managing a Pediatric office in Brentwood. Shannon’s husband Scott works with the Capital Improvement Division at the City of Antioch. She has two daughters, Emma 14 and Lia 11, and two step sons, Eric 21 and Brandon 16. Shannon spends most of her free time driving her kids to basketball practices, games and tournaments. She also enjoys working out and traveling with her family.

CSO Kevin Harvey

Kevin was born and raised in San Leandro, California and graduated from Arroyo High School in San Lorenzo, California. Kevin worked the last six-plus years in EMS in Oakland/Alameda County. Within the last few years has met his wife Danika, moved out to Contra Costa County. He has always enjoyed helping people and looks forward to continuing to serve the public in his new role. Kevin enjoys anything outdoors, leather working, listening to music and spending time with his stepdaughters and family.

CSO Alan Sheffield

Alan was raised in Antioch and Brentwood. He comes from a law enforcement family; his dad recently retired after 27 years at the Redwood City Police Department, his brother is currently a Redwood City Police Officer and his sister is currently a CSO for the Brentwood Police Department. Alan graduated from Fremont Christian High School in 2012 and is finishing up his AA degree in Criminal Justice at Los Medanos College. Alan has worked at BJ’s Brewhouse Restaurant for the past 4 years and enjoys volunteering with the middle school youth program at his church. Alan enjoys working out, snowboarding and spending time with his family and friends.

ACO Alicia Castillo

Alicia was born in Hayward, California and was raised in Modesto and Payson, Arizona. She graduated from Payson High School in 2014 and became a certified Vet tech. Prior to working with the City of Antioch she worked at the City of Hayward as an Animal Care attendant. On her free time Alicia like to hang out with her family and her two dogs Bowser and Zeus. She also loves Disneyland and is an annual passport holder.

Experience one of six Christmas Eve Candlelight Services at Fellowship Church in Antioch, beginning tonight, Wednesday, December 21, 2016. Hope for your tomorrow, Healing from your yesterday. The church is located at 4873 Lone Tree Way between Staples and Walmart in Antioch.

For more information visit www.thefellowshipchurch.com or follow them on Facebook.

By Sergeant Tom Fuhrmann, Antioch Police Investigations Bureau

Antioch Police released the following update, Tuesday night, on the shooting of two people Monday morning:

Kamani Stelly, age 18 and Cody Moss, age 25 both of Antioch, were walking on Cavallo Road near E. 18^th Street at approximately 11:25 AM on Monday, Dec. 19, 2016 when they had a verbal confrontation with another group of individuals near Little Caesars.

Stelly and Moss began walking back to the apartment they were associated with in the 1600 block of Cavallo Road when Moss pulled out a handgun he had concealed and gave it to Stelly. Stelly opened fire on the group from a considerable distance and struck a 26-year-old Antioch man that was in the group they had just had the confrontation with.

Simultaneously, a vehicle was struck by the gunfire that was westbound through the intersection of E. 18^th Street and Cavallo Road. The vehicle was occupied by three adults and a 5-year-old child. A 23-year-old female from Antioch was a passenger in the vehicle and was subsequently struck by the gunfire.

Both shooting victims were transported to an area hospital and both underwent surgery. The male victim is in stable condition with non-life threatening injuries. The female victim remains in critical condition at this time. No other injuries were reported.

Investigators on scene detained three people of interest and brought them to APD for interviews. The three were Stelly, Moss and Ronvell Scheneck, age 20 of Antioch. After interviewing the three, as well as multiple witnesses and reviewing an abundance of video footage from the area and evidence, all three were arrested and booked into the Contra Costa County Jail.

• ·Stelly was booked on two counts of attempted murder and unlawful discharge of a firearm.
• ·Moss was booked on two counts of attempted murder and unlawful discharge of a firearm as well as a couple of other weapons violations.
• ·Scheneck was booked on one count of being an accessory after the fact and a probation violation.

Antioch Police Detectives plan on filing this case with the Office of the District Attorney later this week.

Anyone with information regarding this case is encouraged to call Detective Gonzalez at (925) 779-6923.

No further information will be released at this time. You may also text a tip to 274637 (CRIMES) using key word ANTIOCH.

By Allen Payton

The winner for the second year in a row of the Antioch Rivertown Holiday Store & Window Décor contest is Urban Jumble.  It only took about an hour to tabulate the votes, not three weeks like in the recent Antioch Mayor’s race, to determine the winner, on Saturday evening, December 17th.

Urban Jumble, located at 307 G Street, garnered 250 of the 438 votes or 57.1% to place first, while Oddly Unique and Oddly Unique Two placed second and Zendy’s Clothing Boutique took third. Owner Nick Olivier was presented with his prize of a quarter-page ad in the Antioch Herald.

The winners of the prize drawing for those who voted in the contest are as follows:

$50 Gift Card from Urban Jumble – H. Jackson

Hair Products from Shearz on Third – Brandy DiMercurio

Bottle of Wine from Oddly Unique & Oddly Unique Two – John Goodson

Bottle of Wine from Reign Salon – Lizeht Zepeda

Movie Tickets to Maya Cinemas from Reign Salon – Shannon Villanueva

Winners will be contacted by the business owners who provided the prizes.

Thank you to all the Rivertown businesses that participated and those who voted in this year’s contest. Special thanks to Antioch Mayor Sean Wright and Mayor Pro Tem Lamar Thorpe who were on hand to help pick the winners of the prize drawing, Lamar for helping count the votes, and Plates Electic Cuisine restaurant for the use of their lounge for the tabulation process.

If you haven’t taken a drive to Antioch’s historic downtown, do it today to see all the decorations and do some last minute Christmas shopping or stop by at night as they decorations are just as spectacular then.

Shop local. Shop downtown. Shop Rivertown.

By Allen Payton

Contra Costa County Health Services announced, today, Tuesday, December 20, 2016, that the cause of the foodborne illness outbreak reported after a Thanksgiving Day charity event in Antioch has been identified. It was caused by the bacteria Clostridium perfringens.

A laboratory at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) confirmed the presence of the bacteria in stool samples taken from people sickened by food served at the Nov. 24 holiday celebration, held by Golden Hills Community Church of Brentwood and Antioch, at Antioch’s American Legion hall.

“Clostridium perfringens is one of the most common foodborne illnesses in the U.S. It can be found in the human intestine without hurting us, but eating food containing large amounts of this bacteria can cause illness and in some cases death,” said Dr. Louise McNitt, deputy health officer for Contra Costa Health Services (CCHS).

CCHS’ Public Health and Environmental Health divisions investigated 25 related reports of foodborne illness after the event, including three fatal cases.

“Our investigation was not able to determine exactly what people ate that made them sick. But after extensive interviews we found most of the ill people ate turkey and mashed potatoes and they all ate around the same time. Some dishes served at the event, including cooked turkey, were brought to the site after they were prepared in private homes,” said Dr. Marilyn Underwood, CCHS Environmental Health director.

Underwood said proper food handling is essential to prevent foodborne illness, including cooking foods to proper temperatures, cooling and storing them appropriately if they are not going to be eaten right away, separating raw meats from foods that won’t be cooked, storing food properly and washing hands and cooking surfaces often.

“We’re saddened for the families that suffered losses this holiday season. We encourage anyone planning charity events where food will be served to the public to contact us to understand the permitting process and to learn about food safety,” said Underwood.

All of the reported illnesses occurred within 24 hours of the patients consuming food from the event.

“We at Golden Hills are mindful of all the people who were affected,” said Senior Pastor Larry Adams. “We will continue to cooperate with local health officials and are encouraged by the county’s speedy investigation.”

“This is a difficult season for all involved. We as a Christian community will continue to pray for those who are ill and the families of those who have died,” he added.

For more information about preventing foodborne illness or about C. perfringens, visit cchealth.org.