For those who won’t be attending the party in the Marina Room and wish to have dinner, Smith’s Landing Seafood Grill will offer dinner and will be open until midnight. For reservations call (925) 775-4862 or online at www.smithslandingantioch.com.

Live music in historic, downtown Rivertown!

When: 6:00-8:00 p.m.

Where: 422 W. Second Street in Antioch’s historic, downtown Rivertown.

About the singer: Althea Battle is a gifted artist and musician whose sounds have captivated audiences for over two decades. Growing up the daughter of a pianist and a gospel entertainer in Oakland, California, Althea was destined to be the musical prodigy she is today. From an early age, she began her journey by singing in church and musical theatre in school. In 1990, Althea graduated Skyline’s Performing Arts School and began her musical theatre career with Beach Blanket Babylon. Later, she began working with her own musical groups and started a band.

Although success with popular music was fulfilling, Althea always made sure God was amid her career. Althea’s talents blessed her to sing alongside several amazing gospel artists. Stage and live performances include: opening for Twinkie Clark, Anita Wilson, Alexis Spight, Crystal Rucker, and BET Sunday Best’s Joshua Rogers.

With a lifetime experience in singing in church choirs, Althea gracefully developed her skills for choral instructing which led her to lead many gospel groups. In 2012, she began as Minister of Music for Nu Revelations Church in Oakland. After two years, she began singing as a gospel solo artist for Taylor Memorial United Methodist Church in Oakland. The pastor, Rev. Anthony Jenkins, Sr. immediately recognized Althea’s anointed gifts and appointed her Minister of Music; the director of the church choir and head of the Taylor Music Ministry. Starting as a praise team with just four members, Taylor Anointed Praise (TAP) has blossomed into a diverse group of true worshippers that willfully sing praises to the Lord regardless of musical experience.

With the growth and success of TAP, Althea expanded the music ministry as opportunities for more men and youth to participate in worship. Now with more ensembles such as the Musical Prodigy Youth Choir, Tapestry Young Adults Choir, and the Taylor Made Men’s Chorus, the Taylor Music Ministry has spiritually and physically grown beyond expectations. Althea has taken the ministry outside of Taylor walls and into other churches beyond the Methodist denomination. Also, the ministry has been blessed to grace larger platforms such as The Oracle Arena, ministering during games for the NBA Champions Golden State Warriors and the Harlem Globetrotters. Recently, the choir sung the Star Spangled Banner and the Negro National Anthem as the kickoff for the Warriors’ 2018 Black History Month Celebration.

Althea Battle continues to be an instrument of God’s praise with her wonderful talents and anointed leadership. By combining traditional and contemporary gospel music, Althea creates heavenly harmonies that minister to all of God’s people regardless of age, ethnicity, culture, or denomination.

A church building on W. 3rd Street was tagged with swastikas and profanity late Sunday night or early Monday morning, Nov. 25 or 26, 2018. Photo by Allen Payton

Photo of possible downtown vandal. From APD Facebook page.

Police have security camera footage of suspect

By Allen Payton

Over 20 buildings, including churches, city hall, businesses and a mural, were hit with black spray paint by vandals over the weekend. Some of the taggings included swastikas and profanity. According to Denise Skaggs from the City of Antioch’s Code Enforcement a total of 22 locations were tagged.

Pastor Eugene Jackson of Church of God Holy, which recently relocated to W. Third Street from their previous location on A Street, said “I was informed by text by one of our members that there were swastikas on the building.”

“When I saw them My heart sunk and I’m deeply saddened, because of the history of racism…against black churches in America,” he continued. “We contacted police and the news media. We want this racist hatred to be exposed… because it does exist in Antioch.

“We just held our second service, yesterday after we purchased the building and closed escrow last week,” Jackson stated. “This is someone who has a disdain for people of color. We are praying for this sick individual.”

Pastor Eugene Jackson speaks in front of his vandalized church on W. 3rd Street, Monday, Nov. 26, 2018. Photo by Allen Payton

When asked when it occurred, he responded, “I was informed at about 8 a.m. It probably happened early this morning between 1 and 3 A.M.”

“The police did mention that there were other buildings that have been vandalized. One had an ATM which has a camera on it. So, they’re hoping that will help them identify the individual,” Jackson added.

Another building on W. Second Street, which is the location of another church, that was vandalized with spray paint. But it appears that an attempt was made to clean it up.

An historic mural on W. 4th Street, commissioned by the Antioch City Council in the late 1990’s, was vandalized, as well. Photo by Allen Payton

In a post on their Facebook page, Monday morning, the Antioch Police wrote, “Over this past weekend, our downtown area was heavily damaged by vandals. Numerous businesses and vehicles were defaced with offensive words and symbols. This criminal behavior is not reflective of our community or our beliefs. As a police department, we are aggressively investigating these crimes. As members of this community, we are saddened and disappointed. Clean-up has already begun and we are now reaching out to our community to help us in identifying the responsible(s). If you have any information that will assist us in our investigation, please contact our Dispatch Center at (925) 778-2441.”

Then at 12:43 p.m. the Antioch Police wrote on their Facebook page, “We have an update on our earlier post regarding vandalisms in the downtown area of our City. Though the case is still being actively investigated, we have located surveillance footage of the suspect. If you recognize him, please contact Antioch Police Dispatch (925) 778-2441.” They also posted several photos of the suspect.

UPDATE 5:00 P.M., 11/26/18 – Good news thanks to the City crews! Most of the damage was cleaned up. According to former Antioch Councilwoman Elizabeth Rimbault, who was on the council when the murals were commissioned in the mid-1990’s, called city staff to inform them, the murals in downtown have been treated with anti-graffiti material.

In addition, Rimbault said she was looking to start a fundraiser for a summertime repair to the paint that came off and some of the peeling.