Huevos Divorciados available at Monica’s Riverview through September! With all your fave flavors!
According to mylatinatable.com, “Huevos divorciados are a traditional breakfast originating in central Mexico, which consists of two fried eggs (huevos estrellados or sunny side up eggs) on top of a fried tortilla, with one egg covered in a red sauce (salsa roja), and the other in a green sauce (salsa verde). To keep them separate (aka divorced), there is a column of refried beans with queso fresco and tortilla chips.”
Choose steak, shrimp, chicken, carnitas, or chorizo. Every plate gets the house sauce treatment of red and green sauce and topped with avocado.
Monica’s is located at 1 “I” (eye) Street on the pier in the heart of Antioch’s historic, downtown Rivertown. See their entire menu at www.visitmonicas.com.
New Antioch Community and Economic Development Director Zach Seal. Photo source: City of Antioch
Zach Seal brings over 25 years’ experience in city planning, economic development in East Bay
By Jaden Baird, PIO, City of Antioch
ANTIOCH, CA — Following City Manager Bessie Scott reorganizing and combining the City of Antioch’s Community Development and Economic Development Departments, it was announced today, Friday, September 5, 2025, the appointment of Zach Seal as its new Director. He will officially begin his role on October 6, 2025.
Seal brings over 25 years of experience in city planning and economic development throughout the East Bay. His impressive track record includes leadership roles in Pleasant Hill, Martinez, Oakland, Alameda, and with the Association of Bay Area Governments, where he has consistently delivered high-impact results for local communities.
In his most recent position as Economic Development Manager for the City of Pleasant Hill, Seal played a pivotal role in revitalizing a key area of downtown by attracting Osaka Marketplace, a unique grocery store and restaurant market hall, to a long-vacant building. He also authored much of the City’s $500,000 Merchant Support Initiative, which included launching an award-winning Technical Assistance Grant Program for small businesses.
Seal’s previous work includes negotiating the agreement that brought the Martinez Sturgeon professional baseball team to Waterfront Park and establishing the public-private partnership that launched Oakland’s free Broadway Shuttle, connecting downtown residents and workers to the Jack London waterfront.
Earlier in his career, Seal served as a City Planner for the City of Alameda and the Association of Bay Area Governments, where he helped shape regional planning strategies and oversaw a range of private development projects.
“Zach’s depth of experience, creativity, and proven success in economic revitalization make him a tremendous asset to the City of Antioch,” said City Manager Scott. “We’re thrilled to welcome him to the team as we continue building a vibrant, business-friendly community.”
According to his LinkedIn profile, Seal holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology from U.C.L.A. and a Master’s Degree in City Planning from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Outside of work, he is a proud father of two young daughters and, by his own account, a recently minted expert in dad jokes and hair bows.
The public is asked to help identify a witness to the July 11, 2024, shooting death in Antioch. Photo source: Antioch PD
Victim Kevin Vandenbos shot atapartment complex on Wilbur Avenue
By Detective John Cox #5705, Antioch Police Investigations Bureau
The Antioch Police Department’s Investigations Bureau is asking for the community’s help in an ongoing homicide investigation. Kevin Vandenbos was shot and killed on July 11, 2024, at about 7:29 p.m. at 600 Wilbur Avenue in Antioch. (See related article)
When officers arrived, they located a male in the street near the center of the apartment complex suffering from a fatal gunshot wound.
The Department’s Investigations Bureau, consisting of Crime Scene Investigators and detectives with the Violent Crimes Unit took over the investigation.
This is an active investigation, and no further information will be released at this time.
Over the past year, detectives have conducted multiple interviews and reviewed forensic and digital evidence. They are still working to identify witnesses who were present during the incident.
Detectives are now seeking the community’s assistance in identifying the witness depicted in the attached surveillance screenshot. Anyone who recognizes this individual is asked to contact Detective John Cox at (925) 481-8147 or jcox@antiochca.gov.
Victim previously arrested last Christmas on violence charges
By Lt. Whitaker #6155, Antioch Police Investigations Bureau
On Sunday, August 24, 2025, at approximately 11:45 p.m., the Antioch Police Department dispatch center received multiple calls reporting shots fired in the area of Cobblestone Drive and Flagstone Drive. When officers arrived on scene, they located a 27-year-old man suffering from at least one gunshot wound. Antioch police officers provided aid to the victim who was pronounced deceased at the scene. He was identified as Richard Morello, Jr.
On Monday, August 25, the Antioch Police Department executed a search warrant at an undisclosed address in Vallejo in connection with the deadly shooting. Evidence from the home was collected. On Tuesday, August 26, Stockton Police Department arrested the suspect, 37-year-old Jesus Soto of Vallejo, without incident for homicide. Evidence from a vehicle he was in was also collected.
The Antioch Police Department’s Investigations Bureau, consisting of Crime Scene Investigators and detectives with the Violent Crimes Unit responded to take over the investigation.
The Antioch Police Department would like to thank our law enforcement partners from Vallejo Police Department and Stockton Police Department.
This is an active investigation. Additional inquiries, tips, or information can be directed to Antioch Police Detective John Cox at (925) 481-8147 or by email at jcox@antiochca.gov.
According to localcrimenews.com, Morello was arrested on Dec. 25, 2024, by Chico Police for false imprisonment by violence, battery on spouse, cohabitant or former spouse and disobeying a domestic relations court order.
No additional information could be found in an online search about the suspect.
Asked what led to the shooting and if it was a dispute, Detective Cox said he would not release any additional information, yet, that Soto had not yet arrived at the police department from Stockton and they had not yet interviewed him.
If adopted, applications will be due Thursday, September 11
By Allen D. Payton
During their meeting tomorrow night, Tuesday, August 26, 2025, the Antioch City Council will vote on the process for appointing a new City Clerk to fill the vacancy created by the sudden resignation and departure of Melissa Rhodes on July 30th. The Council had the option of holding a special election in November or making an appointment. The appointee would serve until just after certification of the November 2026 special election, consistent with state law governing resignations in the first half of an office. The remaining half of the term would be served by whomever is elected in that election.
According to the City staff report for the item, #8, on the meeting agenda, by Interim City Attorney Derek Cole, “At its regular meeting of August 12, 2025, the City Council directed that the vacancy be filled by appointment rather than by special election. State law requires that the appointment be made within 60 days of the vacancy, or no later than September 30, 2025.”
“The City last filled a City Clerk vacancy by appointment in 2011. At that time, the City Council adopted a process to ensure transparency, fairness, and public participation. That process included the following features:
1. Applications and Required Materials. Interested applicants were required to submit:
• A Letter of Interest (not to exceed 400 words) describing interest, qualifications, background, and other relevant information;
• A Nomination Paper signed by at least 20 but not more than 30 registered Antioch voters; and
• A completed Statement of Economic Interest (Form 700), as required by the Fair Political Practices Commission.
2. Eligibility. Applicants were required to be registered voters of the City of Antioch, consistent with the statutory qualification for an elected City Clerk.
3. Filing Deadline. Applications were required to be filed in the Office of the City Clerk by a fixed date and time.
4. Public Review. All completed applications were deemed public records and made available for public review.
5. Oral Presentations to Council. Each applicant was invited to make a brief oral presentation (no more than five minutes) at the Council meeting at which the appointment was considered. The Council had the opportunity to ask questions of the applicants.
6. Appointment at Open Session. Following applicant presentations and any public comment, the City Council deliberated and made the appointment during open session of the Council meeting.
Proposed 2025 Appointment Process
Staff recommends that the Council follow the same process as was used in 2011, using the following dates:
• Applications would be due in the City Clerk’s Office no later than 4:30 p.m., Thursday, September 11, 2025.
• The City Council would hold applicant interviews and consider appointment at its regular meeting of Tuesday, September 23, 2025.
This process balances transparency, fairness, and efficiency, and ensures compliance with the Government Code deadline for appointment at the end of September 2025.”
Closed Session, Special & Regular Meetings
The Council meeting begins with a Closed Session at 4:30 p.m. for a Conference with Labor Negotiators for the Management Unit, Treatment Plant Employees’ Association, Operating Engineers Local Union No. 3, Confidential Unit, Antioch Police Officers Association and Antioch Police Sworn Management Association.
That will be followed by a Special Meeting/Study Session beginning at 6:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers on a proposed Inclusionary Housing Ordinance. The regular meeting begins at 7:00 p.m.
The Council Chambers are located at City Hall, 200 H Street in historic, downtown Rivertown. The meetings can also be viewed via livestream on the City’s website at www.antiochca.gov/government/city-council-meetings/live/, on Comcast local cable channel 24 or AT&T U-verse channel 99.
Save the date and join us in Antioch’s historic downtown Rivertown Saturday, September 6, 2025, 5PM–9PM for line dancing, delicious food and excellent wine on the riverfront brought to you by:
The Pour Up Wine Bar, Monica’s Riverview, Country Kru Line Dancing and Antioch.Town.
We will have a combination of line dancing lessons, live walkthroughs and a request list.
This event is 18+.
Different ticket options available. So, please check out tickets now available on Eventbrite. See you sundown on the dance floor!
Located at 1 I Street #Unit C in Antioch on the pier.
Contra Costa County, in partnership with the City of Antioch and Supervisor Diane Burgis, is bringing its annual Block Party to East County.
Contra Costa County, the Clerk-Recorder-Elections Department, the Employment & Human Services Department, County Public Works and Contra Costa Health along with the City of Antioch are partnering to provide a fun, festive event that offers a wide variety of on-the-spot government services at one single location. This will be the seventh year of the increasingly popular event, providing opportunities throughout the County to learn what’s available to you as a Contra Costa County resident. Please submit your request at least 72 hours in advance to help ensure availability.
Available services at the Block Party include: Sign-ups for CalFresh, Medi-Cal, and CalWORKs, information about childcare and preschool options, Records within Reach from Clerk-Recorder’s Office, Voter Registration, Contra Costa Television (CCTV) — and many more County programs.
County Departments & Programs
4 Our Families Navigators (EHSD)
Clerk-Recorder-Elections
Community Services Bureau (EHSD)
Contra Costa Television
Information & Assistance (EHSD)
Public Works – Flood Control District
Public Works – Transportation Engineering
Supervisor Diane Burgis, District 3
If you require an accommodation to participate in the Contra Costa County Block Party, please contact Diane Truong, Public Facilities ADA Program Manager, at (925) 335-1436 or email Diane.Truong@riskm.cccounty.us.
