We are looking for all those fun people who came last year and made this event so successful. Come and join us again for fashions, great music and a whole lot of fun!
Tickets for this year’s show are available at Rivertown Treasure Chest and La Plazuela. The buffet tickets are $15, and the show tickets are only $5 which includes your first drink.
Join us Saturday, March 30th Noon-4pm in Antioch’s historic, downtown Rivertown district for our 7th Annual Easter Egg-stravaganza!
An afternoon filled with Easter fun with a store-to-store Easter Egg Hunt at 3pm sharp! There will be an Easter Egg Hunt and photos with the Easter Bunny at Waldie Plaza, 101 H Street, Antioch, CA.
Bring the kids, a big Easter basket and come join the fun!
Service Pros Plumbers staff and equipment. Source: Antioch Chamber of CommerceTom Menasco, who nominated Drill Tech Drilling & Shoring, with their team members, Shannon and Ann Creson, Dave Shupe, Brad Middleton and Darin Gossett, with Chamber Membership Director Jack Monroe. Source: Antioch Chamber of Commerce
To be honored at annual Chamber of Commerce Gala March 22
Antioch, CA – Among the Antioch Chamber of Commerce’s annual award winners, Service Pros Plumbers was named Small Business of the Year, and Drill Tech Drilling & Shoring was named Large Business of the Year.
Small Business of the Year – Service Pros Plumbers
Service Pros Plumbers, with their skills and dedication, actively contribute and volunteer in Antioch to support various charitable and community initiatives. Jason and Ana started this small business in Antioch in 2012 and have since expanded, creating employment opportunities within the community. Whenever help is needed, they respond promptly. They have aided numerous local organizations and charities, consistently offering their support. Their dedication to making a positive impact on the community remains unwavering.
Large Business of the Year – Drill Tech Drilling & Shoring
Drill Tech Drilling & Shoring is an Antioch based, family-owned company that employs 350 staff members in our local area and over 600 across the country. They actively support and participate in local organizations and events. Their generous donations greatly benefit our community. The owners quietly support many organizations, groups, and individuals without seeking praise or acknowledgment for their generosity. They provide help to those in need through their actions rather than seeking recognition. This quiet support benefits numerous people and makes a positive impact in the community. Their kindness and generosity make a difference in the lives of those they help.
Each of the winners will be honored at the Chamber’s annual Gala on Friday, March 22, 2024, at the Lone Tree Golf & Event Center. Tickets are $80 each or $640 for a reserved table of 8 and can be purchased on the Chamber’s website at www.antiochchamber.com.
Antioch 2023 Citizens of the Year – Most Impact Gerald JR Wilson (Antioch Herald file photo) and Lifetime Achievement Mary Rocha. Photo source: AUSD
In the Antioch Chamber of Commerce’s annual awards; to be honored along with Businesses, Youth and Non-Profit of the Yearduring March 22 Gala
By Allen D. Payton
The Antioch Chamber of Commerce has announced the winners of the annual awards, and local veterans leader Gerald “JR” Wilson was named the 2023 Citizen of the Year for Most Impact and Antioch School Board Trustee and former Mayor of Antioch Mary Rocha was named Citizen of the Year for Lifetime Achievement.
In addition, Service Pros Plumbers was named Small Business of the Year, Drill Tech Drilling & Shoring was named Large Business of the Year and Soroptimist International of Antioch was named Non-Profit of the Year. As previously reported, Antioch High School junior, Fifita Grewe was named Youth of the Year.
Citizen of the year – Most Impact Gerald “JR” Wilson
With a background in the US Army, Gerald “JR” Wilson has been a strong presence in Antioch, advocating for the well-being of local residents. His dedication shines through in his work with veterans, helping them access the benefits they deserve. Through his organization, DVG, he has made a significant impact on the community, improving the lives of many individuals. Stand Down on the Delta organized by JR Wilson’s unwavering commitment to serving others is truly commendable.
Citizen of the Year – Lifetime Achievement Mary Rocha
Mary, a resident of Antioch for many years, has dedicated over 50 years to serving the public. She made history as the first Latina Mayor of Antioch and currently serves on the school board. Mary is deeply committed to improving the lives of children and frequently volunteers to read to first graders. Additionally, she holds a special place in her heart for honoring veterans. She is one of the founding members for the Luminary Lighting project honoring members who have passed in active duty from East Contra Costa County. Friends describe Mary as Shakespeare quoted, “Some people are born great, some achieve great, and some have greatness thrust upon them”, this is Mary in all three situations. Mary has a deep wealth of political experience but at her core, she is all about serving our community.
Each of the winners will be honored at the Chamber’s annual Gala on Friday, March 22, 2024, at the Lone Tree Golf & Event Center. Tickets are $80 each or $640 for a reserved table of eight, and can be purchased on the Chamber’s website at www.antiochchamber.com.
Supervisors suspend all-electric requirements following U.S. Court of Appeals ruling
(Martinez, CA) – The Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors Tuesday suspended enforcement of its requirement that most new buildings be constructed as all-electric buildings. The County’s all-electric building requirement, as part of the County’s building code, had prohibited the installation of natural gas infrastructure in most new buildings and required developers to use electricity as the sole source of energy in the building. With Tuesday’s action, the County’s all-electric building requirement will not be enforced.
Last month, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit invalidated a City of Berkeley ordinance that prohibited natural gas infrastructure in new buildings. The court held that the federal Energy Policy and Conservation Act precludes cities and counties from adopting building codes that prohibit the installation of gas plumbing in buildings.
Contra Costa County’s all-electric building requirement, like the invalidated City of Berkeley ordinance, prohibits the installation of gas plumbing in new buildings. The County is therefore suspending this requirement in response to the Ninth Circuit’s decision.
At the same time, the Board of Supervisors remains committed to the goals that prompted it to adopt the all-electric requirement: improving public health and fighting what they believe contributes to climate change. The Board referred the topic of reducing greenhouse gas emissions from buildings to its Sustainability Committee and directed staff to report on alternatives for advancing this objective at the Committee’s next meeting.
“Contra Costa County remains committed to reducing the use of fossil fuels in buildings and continues to support the construction of new buildings using all-electric technologies,” said Board Chair Federal D. Glover, District 5 Supervisor. “We are eager to identify new and innovative ways to continue to pursue our goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions from buildings.”
The County encourages residents and businesses to continue to install all-electric building systems and appliances. There are many benefits of all-electric construction, some of which include:
Cleaner air and better health outcomes from eliminating the emissions associated with burning fossil fuels, particularly indoors.
Not having to pay to install gas pipes in new buildings.
Taking advantage of financial incentives and rebates for all-electric appliances.
Resilience against power outages, particularly when electric technologies are paired with battery storage.
Hedging against high electricity costs by being able to schedule electric appliances to operate at times of day when electricity costs are lowest.
Preparing for the potential discontinuation of gas appliances in the future that could occur from possible regulatory actions by regional, state, or federal agencies.
There are many good resources on the benefits of all-electric buildings, including:
The County’s sustainability web site has information on state and federal incentives, rebates, and other ways to fund all-electric upgrades.
MCE, the community choice energy provider for most of Contra Costa County, offers rebates and incentives.
The Switch Is On, sponsored by the Building Decarbonization Coalition, is a collaborative campaign to support all-electric home conversion by providing tools, support, and resources to Californians.
Rewiring America provides information about the benefits of all-electric technologies, and helps generate a personalized plan for individuals, including costs and savings.
PG&E also has resources on all-electric buildings, including rebates, incentives, rate plans, and design guides.
Rendering of the new PG&E Antioch Service Center Project building. Source: City of Antioch
By Allen D. Payton
During their meeting on Tuesday, February 13, 2024, the Antioch City Council approved the redevelopment of the PG&E Service Center on Hillcrest Avenue on a 3-0 vote with Mayor Pro Tem Monica Wilson and District 2 Councilman Mike Barbanica absent. The project includes a new operations building, fleet maintenance, logistics shops and warehouse, warehouses, material storage and support structures. (See Agenda Item 3)
PG&E Antioch Service Center site location map. Source: City of Antioch
Located on 36.39 acres of the existing 56.15-acre parcel at 2111 Hillcrest Avenue just north of the Sunset Drive and Slatten Ranch Road intersection, as well as the Union Pacific Railroad railroad right-of-way and the Antioch BART station.
The proposed project involves the replacement and demolition of four existing buildings within the existing PG&E Service Center (Fleet Maintenance, Logistics Warehouse, Logistics Shops, and Operations buildings). Additionally, the proposed project would include the construction of new non-occupied support structures, a below grade parking area, circulation improvements, expansion of paved surfaces, and expansion of lighting infrastructure.
PG&E Antioch Service Center Project Phasing Plan. Source: City of Antioch
During the Planning Commission meeting on Jan. 17, 2024, Brett Badelle, Local Government Affairs Representative for PG&E stated the Antioch service center would improve service to customers, add beautification and have a positive impact on the economy. He also explained that the project would improve safety, reliability, resiliency and sustainability. On a 4-0 vote with two members absent and one vacancy, the commissioners recommended the council approve the project.
Virtual event will be held on Zoom on Tuesday, February 27
TreVista in Antioch is proud to announce its collaboration with Patriot Angels, a leading organization founded in 2012 to assist veterans and their families in accessing rightful benefits for long-term care and other essential services. To raise awareness and provide valuable information, TreVista invites all veterans and their families to a virtual presentation to be held on Zoom on Tuesday, February 27, 2024, from 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. The presentation will be led by Mali Covington, Director of Senior Living Partnerships at Patriot Angels. Attendees must register in advance to receive a personalized event link to access the virtual presentation.
Patriot Angels was established with the mission of connecting veterans with the assistance they rightfully deserve. Many veterans and their families are unaware of the benefits available to them, specifically designed to aid in covering the costs of long-term care and other essential services. Patriot Angels serves clients Nationwide by helping them navigate through the process of applying for Aid and Attendance, a monthly pension available to eligible Veterans and spouses to help them supplement the cost of long-term care. This event aims to shed light on these benefits and guide attendees through determining their eligibility. To date, Patriot Angels has helped nearly 20,000 Veterans and spouses be approved for benefits that allow them to be cared for with dignity and honor.
Join us for this informative session, where experts from Patriot Angels will share insights, answer questions, and guide attendees through the steps to uncover unclaimed benefits. Whether you’re a veteran or a family member, this event is an opportunity to learn more about the support available.
“At TreVista, we are committed to supporting our veterans and their families. Partnering with Patriot Angels aligns with our dedication to ensuring that those who have served our country receive the benefits they are entitled to,” says Tamsen Meierdierck, Senior Living Consultant at TreVista Senior Living and Memory Care.
