The dancers from Melody’s Dance Studio were the Overall Winners of the 2017 Antioch Lighted Holiday Parade. Herald file photo

Celebrate Antioch would like to say “Thank you” to the community and the City! We had a wonderful turnout for the Lighted Holiday Parade and Tree Lighting ceremony. You could feel the holiday cheer and the excitement of the children as they visited with Santa and Mrs. Claus.

The parade was well attended by our residents both with entries and people watching the performers. Seeing the community gather in such a positive manner is what makes the planning of the Holiday Parade and 4th of July festivities seem like play instead of work.

A special thank you to the City, they did a wonderful job of decorating the tree and setting up for the tree lighting. Having the Music Masters singing Christmas carols before the lighting was a nice addition, this year.

Following is our list of winners for the parade in the various categories, as well as our overall winner.

OVERALL WINNER: Melody’s Dance Studio

Scouts: Delta Gateway Girl Scouts of America

Civic Community Service Clubs: Antioch Rotary Club, YWCA of Contra Costa

Commercial for Profit:  Antioch Delta Skimmers

Entertainment Performance: Golden State Soul Line Dancers, El Pinto Ranch

Cultural Costumed: Rancho Los Centenarios

Musical Instrumental: Antioch High School Marching Band and Deer Valley Marching Band

Clubs: Antioch Lapidary Club

Youth Children non-scouts: El Campanil Children’s Theater

Dance/Gymnastics: Elite Dance/Special Haven

Public Officials: Mayor Sean Wright making three laps

The Celebrate Antioch Foundation is looking forward to another year of bringing celebration to our City with the 4^th of July Parade, fireworks all the festivities down out the Fairgrounds on the 4th of July and of course the Holiday Parade and Tree Lighting.

To everyone once again, Thank You!!!! We wish you Happy Holidays and a Merry Christmas!!!!!!!

Celebrate Antioch Foundation

See photos of the parade on the Herald website by clicking, here.

To download the entry form, click here: holiday_run_2017_registration_entry_form

SF Giants shortstop Brandon Crawford, with DRMS Principal Bridget Spires, student Joshua Pese, computer teacher Max Bridges and Jim Foley of Wells Fargo with the replica check. Photo courtesy of AUSD

Last week, San Francisco Giant Brandon Crawford and Jim Foley, Executive Vice president and President of Wells Fargo’s Pacific North Region presented checks to recipients of the KNBR Step Up to the Plate for Education grants program funded by Wells Fargo at AT&T Park. Through an open nomination process, schools applied to receive grants and winners were selected. Thirty-one Bay Area schools received $100,000 in grants to support their sports, musical, art and education programs.

Dallas Ranch Middle School received a $4,817.00 grant to purchase high-tech tools such as a Makerbot 3D printer, a video capable drone, and 3 Go-Pro cameras for students to create presentations, design products, and share digital videos using the school’s website and social media.

The judges for the parade, Tom Lamothe, Katie Bookman-Cook, Antioch Unified School District Superintendent Stephanie Anello and retired Antioch Police Chief Allan Cantando.

Parade MC Kenny Turnage II in his best Star Wars-themed ugly Christmas sweater.

Councilmembers Tony Tiscareno and Lori Ogorchock.

The Antioch Herald’s favorite float of the parade – the manger scene of the birth of Jesus by First Missionary Baptist Church.

Mr. & Mrs. J.R. Wilson of the Delta Veterans Group.

Councilwoman Monica Wilson.

Supervisor Diane Burgis.

Antioch Police Chief Tammany Brooks.

Celebrate Antioch Foundation board member Tom Hartrick in his favorite Christmas jacket while he waits for the City Hall Christmas Tree lighting.

The Antioch High Music Masters perform Christmas carols for the crowd as they await the lighting of the City Hall Christmas Tree. Click here to watch and listen: Music Masters 1

Antioch Councilwoman Monica Wilson standing next to Mayor Sean Wright helps lead the countdown to the City Hall Christmas Tree lighting.

Santa & Mrs. Claus (aka Angelo and Sharon Pappas) sat for photos with children and adults before the City Hall Christmas Tree lighting.

The City Hall Christmas Tree.

See more videos on the Antioch Herald Facebook page.

City’s 10th homicide of the year

By Sergeant John Fortner #3264, Antioch Police Investigations Division, Violent Crimes Unit

On Sunday, December 3, 2017 at 2:27 a.m., Antioch Police patrol officers responded to the call of a male subject down on the roadway on Empire Mine Road near Deer Valley Road. When officers arrived, they located a subject on the roadway suffering from injuries consistent with being shot with a firearm. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene.

Antioch Police Investigators were called to the scene and are in the early stages of the investigation. According to the crime statistics on the City’s website this is the 10th homicide of the year in Antioch.

No further information will be released at this time. Anyone with information regarding this case is encouraged to call Detective Colley with the Antioch Police Department at (925) 779-6922 or the Antioch Police Department non-emergency line at (925) 778-2441. You may also text-a-tip to 274637 (CRIMES) using the key word ANTIOCH.