Hair Zone in the Safeway shopping center on Deer Valley Road

The Hair Zone in Antioch was established by two hair stylists whom, combined, have over 40 years experience – Victoria Craffey and Laura Littleton. They have been serving the Antioch area since 1991.

On board and very much a big part of the team are stylists Marcy Shahkarami, Heather King and Marcia Culcasi.

“We opened our full service salon in this shaky economy, to provide a peaceful environment, in a beautiful salon, in a great location for our clients and stylists,” Victoria shared. “We also offer a variety of coffees for our customers, as well as sodas, video games, movies and toys for their children.”

They pride themselves on offering excellent services at extraordinary prices.

The Hair Zone also provides services for special occasions, such as weddings, proms, as well as coloring by color specialists, razor cutting, fades, waxing, extensions and straightening. They offer Senior Discounts and children’s prices, plus a Referral Program and more.

The salon is located in the Safeway Plaza at 3337 Deer Valley Road at Hillcrest Avenue and is open seven days a week. Walk-ins are always welcome. For a reservation, call 753-1015.

“Many thanks to our clients and the community for their support,” Laura added.

Pictured at the September 21st grand opening and ribbon cutting for the new manufacturing plant and outdoor mural of Ramar International Foods on Railroad and Central Avenues in Pittsburg is from left, Antioch School Board Trustee Walter Ruehlig, County Board of Education Trustee Cynthia Ruehlig, muralist Victor Sanchez, Congressman George Miller and Ramar International Marketing Director P.J. Quesada.
(Photo courtesy of Shanelle Scales)

Business owner Tricia Simmons stands in front of the lines of computers at T’s Internet Café.

In difficult economic times, people cut back. Often, one of the first things to go is the perceived luxury of Internet service. Unfortunately, with job applications, bill payments and loan information primarily available online, the lack of a computer cripples many attempts to recover from financial trouble.

Local business owner Tricia Simmons experienced this first-hand. “I couldn’t even look for a job without going to my best friend’s house,” she remembers. “We live in a world where the Internet is everything.”

After realizing that she was not the only person in her situation, she decided to open a store to provide computer time for people without home Internet. Her business, T’s Internet Café, started with a single machine in a single room, but grew to include seventy computers in a spacious, colorfully decorated business suite. When the computers started filling up and customers had to wait, Simmons opened Cot on the Web, a second location with twenty-five computers.

At the two stores, computer time costs 25 cents per minute, though purchased time comes with a chance to play a sweepstakes to win more time. The sweepstakes brings the charge down to about $5 per half hour. Copying, printing and faxing are available for a small fee. Cot on the Web has a private room that can be used for filling out sensitive information or attending online job interviews. Headphones and webcams are provided, allowing customers to chat with friends and family over Skype. Friendly employees are available to teach simple computer tasks, such as how to set up an email account.

“I feel that I’m helping the community,” said Simmons, who uses local vendors for most of her business needs. Her stores provide safe places for computerless individuals to search for jobs, apply for unemployment, sign up for rehab and file taxes. T’s Internet Café is open twenty-four hours a day to accommodate all work schedules, and security guards maintain customer safety. Simmons doesn’t allow any guests under the age of eighteen so that minors can’t use her stores to break their parents’ Internet rules, though she does give a fifty percent discount to college students who use the computers to complete schoolwork.

T’s Internet Café and Cot on the Web cater to more than business needs. Many people use the computers to check Facebook or watch videos on Youtube. Simmons is also exploring the possibility of hosting computer gaming parties.

“I’ve had a lot of help. I’ve been lucky,” she said. “I have an amazing staff.” She attributes her success to the support of the people around her, and to her persistent drive to succeed. “I didn’t think failing was an option. It was going to work one way or another.”

T’s Internet Café is located at 1908 A Street in Antioch, open 24 hours a day. Call 925-522-0801. Cot on the Web is located at 2333 Buchanan Street, Suite A, in Antioch, open from 11 am to 6 am. Call 925-778-7002.

By Ray Faulkenberry

I have known the owner of the Bases Loaded Restaurant Bar since I was in 7th grade. Terry Karp is his name and let me tell you a little about Terry. He was a stellar three-sport athlete, excelling in football, basketball and baseball.

Terry Karp

More than that, Terry was and is a genuinely nice guy. I can honestly say that playing the same three sports there weren’t a lot of nice guys – at least not like Terry. Although Terry and I weren’t great friends in high school as we ran around with different people, I always enjoyed him on every team I ever played.

When I heard that Terry would be opening up the restaurant, I grew excited that not only somebody I knew was opening a restaurant, but the fact that it was a sports bar and restaurant made it that much better. Although Terry opened up in August of 2009, it hasn’t always been smooth sailing.
“We struggle like any other business, but we’ve developed a good, core group of people who like the food, the music and the atmosphere,” Terry said.

Terry is not one to rest on his laurels. He spent countless hours planning, designing and doing the necessary paperwork with the city to realize his dream. He received a restaurant incentive grant, which gave him $300,000 to help with the creation of the restaurant. While that grant helped a lot, Terry has spent lots of his own as well as his family’s money to make Bases Loaded the incredible place that it is.

“We didn’t have a design like a McDonald’s or a Burger King in which you could just go in and cookie-cut the place out,” he said. “I had to go through a lot of meetings to get city approvals, use permits, inspections and such. It’s taken a lot of work.”

He recently put in an ultra-modern juke box, an “old-school” pinball machine and a couple of pool tables. Although I liked Bases Loaded the way that it was, this new version has a more vibrant atmosphere. It feels even more alive and interactive. “They’ve been a big hit, as people like to listen to the music of their choosing, and playing pool and pinball is something so many people like to do,” said Terry.

Terry is even considering incorporating video games that could be played by the family on one of his many large screens.

Terry has one of the largest dance floors in the area and he brings in some incredible musicians on the weekend that cover a wide range of music. You can hear dance music from the ’70s, ’80s and ’90s that make it very easy to get up and dance to. I know that the last time I danced was at Terry’s place while listening to a wonderful cover band that played the music I listened to in high school – and yes, it was the disco era! Bases Loaded will also be featuring a Country Western Night starting in the new year.

It is not easy in this economy to launch any new business, and restaurants are not easy in any economy! It took great courage to undertake this project, and it’s been a lot more work than Terry anticipated. However, knowing Terry the way that I do, I can tell you without asking him that when it became more work than he thought, he rolled up his sleeves, got creative and began pushing harder to achieve the success he wanted.

I believe in this day and time that it is vitally important to get out and support our local businesses. It has to do with sharing ourselves and supporting the business in our community. How we evolve, grow, and prosper in business AND life is to get out and interact with the world. We share ideas and support the dreams of our friends. We encourage them to improve as we also look to also improve.

If you are a fan of sports, come down and spend some time with Terry. Try some of his killer nachos. Tell him I sent you. You can even make him feel good by saying you forgive him (and me) for going to a rival high school in Concord – Clayton Valley.

Bases Loaded is located at 400 G Street in downtown Antioch and it’s open on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m., Friday from 4 p.m. to 1 a.m., Saturday from noon to 1 a.m., and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Ray Faulkenberry, Ph.D. is a business analyst, consultant, author, coach, and entrepreneur. Log onto his website through 2011 and receive his books on success, leadership, and transformation for free. He can be reached at www.rayfaulkenberry.com or rayfaulkenberry@comcast.net.

By Teresa A. Klein

Treating each and every client with compassion, sensibility and professionalism, Sweet Medical is a full-service specialty medical supply store servicing the public for nearly 20 years. Owned by Sandra Gama who began working as an administrative assistant under previous owner Marsha Green in 1995, Sweet Medical has recently moved into its new, expanded location at 4615 Golf Course Avenue at the corner of Lone Tree Way and Golf Course.

The new store carries rental equipment, medical supplies, treatment rooms, and a Women’s Boutique.  Supplies include: compression garments and pumps; professional sport supports; burn garments; CPM’s (continuous passive motion); breast care products; mobility; bath safety products; and cane and wheelchair accessories. The Women’s Boutique features Amoena, a leading brand of silicone breast forms and specialty designed post-mastectomy lingerie, swimwear and loungewear. In addition, the boutique includes accessories such as jewelry, purses, hats, scarves, head wraps, and books.

“What sets Sweet Medical apart is my years’ experience,” says Gama. “Even as owner I am still hands-on every day. I greet people at the door, do fittings and am aware of every situation in the company.”

Both Sandra and her sister Bernice are certified fitters and have taken many courses to stay on top of the latest product offerings. Sandra’s specialty is compression garments with a secondary emphasis in breast care, while her sister’s specialty is breast care with secondary in compression
garments.

All other Sweet Medical employees are trained as well so they can provide the best service to its patients, from fitting specialized medical garments and breast care products, to delivering and installing specialized equipment, says Gama.

“All our fitters are certified as well as sensitive to the needs of all patients,” Gama proudly states. “No matter the need … Sweet Medical fitters thrive by providing patients with the comfort they deserve and can always count on.”

Gama says that many suppliers in the field don’t train their patients as to the whys and hows of the garments or equipment, but Sweet Medical pride’s itself on doing just that: educating the patient. She says she always challenges herself and her staff to make the experience better for the patient because sometimes the patient has no idea why a doctor has recommended
a certain item.

“I can’t put the same garment on a patient with lymphederma as a diabetic, which is why we don’t sell anything without a fitting,” says Gama. She adds that Sweet Medical guarantees all fittings.

To help educate Antioch residents even more about their health, Sweet Medical holds monthly informational session from 6-8 p.m. on the third Monday of the month; October 17th will focus on breast cancer awareness. Gama holds these sessions, inviting other local businesses to come and share their knowledge and a wide variety of health topics with the public. This is held free of charge and includes food, and drinks, and sometimes raffles.

“It’s a way to get to know each other as a community,” she says. “I don’t believe we’re competitors; we all provide a service just in different ways. It’s good for the community to do this.”

Sweet Medical is open M-F, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sat. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. For more information call 925-779-0207 or go to www.sweetmedicalinc.com.

Mike Rose's Auto Body transformed a formerly blighted corner of 10th Street and Auto Center Drive.

With all of the publicity that businesses and corporations have gotten over the last several years from “cooked” books, golden parachutes, and excessive profit taking by management, it was very refreshing to get to spend some time with a business that is doing it right – Mike Rose of Mike Rose’s Auto Body.

I was fortunate enough to get to sit recently with Mike and his son Brennan in their new store on the corner of 10th Street and Auto Center Drive in Antioch. Not only is the facility cutting-edge and beautiful, it has taken a beat-down, vacant spot and turned into a beautiful testimony to smart business and good planning.

It’s funny in that I didn’t start out this interview looking to be doing what seems to be a commercial for Mike and his family, but it will probably turn out that way. You see, I’m one of the guys who write about the decline of business ethics, integrity, and compassion. In fact, even after writing my book “The Corporate Samurai,” I still had yet to meet a CEO of a business who fit the model of integrity, honesty, service, and compassion for not only his employees but their customers as well.

I was pleasantly surprised to find Mike’s organizational philosophy revolves around integrity and customer service. It wasn’t always easy and even though Mike and his family now have several successful stores, they still have to jump through hoops to get things done when it comes to working with city governments.

For example, according to Mike and Brennan, it wasn’t until a former mayor of Antioch left office and the new one stepped in that they could come into Antioch and revitalize a vacant and virtually dead corner.

“We had been trying to get in here for over a year,” Brennan said. “But the previous administration thought we were going to build a big high-rise and cause problems. We built a beautiful facility, poured in a bunch of money, brought in jobs, and made this a beautiful corner in Antioch. There was nothing left in here. The place was stripped bare.”

It still isn’t all roses for the family, though, as they are still dealing with governmental politics. They haven’t been given their final clearance even though they’ve been in the space for a year. “It’s funny,” Mike said, “we’ve gotten great support from everybody downtown (at City Hall) except one person.” He pauses and sighs and then a smile comes back on his face. “But we’ll get through.”

The work ethic of the business started with Mike as he originally worked for Jim’s Auto Body, but broke out on his own as more and more friends asked him for help. Brennan remembers nights and weekends when he and his siblings would be down at the shop helping out.

“It’s always been a family business,” Mike said. “In fact, I know that Brennan and his sister Ragen (Ortland) will take the business well past where I could have ever taken it.” That encouragement and confidence in the core management team is evident as they rarely, if ever, promote outside of the company. They groom their people to move up and take on new roles and responsibilities.

One of the things that I asked about was their community involvement and if that was important to them. “Absolutely,” Brennan said enthusiastically. “We do a lot of the basics like sponsor soccer, volleyball, and little league teams but we also have something called the benevolence program.”

Unsure of what that was, I asked Mike to provide some details. What he shared comes right out of the textbook of great business practices: “We donate around 25 cars a year in which we have our employees sign and volunteer to work on these donated cars. They do it on their time and they do a great job. We get our vendors to also donate to help make the car as beautiful as can be. We have a very simple little process in which people write in and explain why they are in need of a car and many are awarded one of these beautifully restored cars.

“We usually do it around Christmas time, and we bring in our employees and we call the families who won. The call is put on a speaker phone so everyone can hear. The excitement, gratitude, and tears are felt by not only those who win the car but also the employees who get to hear, feel, and witness what it is like to be a part of helping souls who truly need a break and feel that heaven answered their prayers when they get the call finding out they’ve won. There is not a dry eye in the house when we make those calls.”

While every business has its ups and downs, Mike and his family are building a business that is rooted in the right things. I hope that Mike and his style of business become common-place in a world where gouging the customer for profits, hoarding one’s profits and misrepresenting oneself appear to be the norm. As someone who provides free business analysis, I found this to be one business in which I don’t need to make suggestions.

Ray Faulkenberry, Ph.D. is a business analyst, consultant, author, coach, and entrepreneur and can be reached at www.rayfaulkenberry.com or rayfaulkenberry@comcast.net.

What the site used to look like.

By Harry Stoll

Rick’s on Second is a first choice to eat a good lunch with elegance sans attitude. This soulful spot in the heart of Antioch is across from the El Campanil Theater.

A block of white-outlined black tiles runs over the two large windows with white tied-back curtains. Slanted windows of the covered entry invite you into the intimate dining room. Ecru tablecloths cover the generously spaced tables with a vase of flowers at center. Bentwood chairs bend to your body.

You can start off with sliced carrots and cucumbers to dip in a pretty bowl of ranch dressing. Prices are from $9 to $10.75 with a choice of soup — quiche of the day — five different salads — Shrimp Louie — and several sandwiches, including meatless. Sandwiches are served with fruit and a cookie. They keep it simple; they keep it good. The waitresses are attentive, the light delightful, and the décor charming.

Rick’s on Second is the place to lunch with friends, or old or new acquaintances, or anybody who will become part of the everybody who comes to Rick’s.

Janice and Rick Carraher opened Rick’s in 1986. It has been a clean leisurely lunch place ever since. In January they decided to sell and wanted a buyer who would carry on the tradition. Customer Connie Komar was selling her restaurant in Danville, so it was a deal. Connie took over on July 1. She will carry on the rich Rick’s heritage, but will extend the hours.

Rick’s is available for private affairs and does catering.

Open Monday through Friday 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 619 West Second Street. Reservations recommended, call 925-757-5500.

Sutter Delta Medical Center’s Advanced Wound Care and Hyperbaric Center has reached a one-year milestone in healing patients who suffer from chronic wounds in East Contra Cost County. Offering the latest in advanced wound care and hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT), the center has treated and healed more than 300 chronic wounds since opening in September 2010.

“This center is another example of Sutter Delta’s continued commitment to serve the residents in our communities by bringing the latest, most advanced technology to our area,” says CEO Gary Rapaport. “Our residents now have the convenience of staying close to home to receive the care they need. You can’t put a price on not having to travel out of the area when you don’t feel well.”

About six million Americans suffer from chronic, non-healing wounds each year. Consequently, chronic wounds are quickly emerging as a very critical health issue and are often caused by other underlying medical conditions such as diabetes, peripheral vascular disease, high blood pressure, obesity and other circulation or mobility problems.

Treating skin wounds requires input from a number of specialists coordinating seamless care for a patient. For example, diabetic patients with chronic wounds need to work with wound care specialists who closely collaborate with their primary care physician and endocrinologist to help control their blood sugar levels, so their wounds can heal.

“Each wound requires a multidisciplinary approach,” says Dr. Ray Rassai, the center’s medical director. “We have a highly trained team that includes general, vascular and plastic surgeons; podiatrists; wound care nurses; and an HBOT safety director. Each member of our team utilizes the latest techniques in wound care management to accelerate the healing of chronic wounds and to reduce the rate of amputations.”

Even after a year, we are still working hard to meet with the many medical professionals serving our East County community — including dentists, primary care doctors, nurse practitioners, podiatrists, surgeons, oncologists and others — to let them know about our wound care services and hyperbaric oxygen therapy, which we can now provide to their patients close to home.

Sutter Delta Medical Center is located in Antioch, Calif., and has been serving East Contra Costa County’s communities since 1967. With more than 900 employees and 300 physicians on staff, Sutter Delta’s services include 24-hour emergency care, a family birthing/women’s health center and advanced cardiovascular care. Sutter Delta Medical Center is a proud member of the Sutter Health network of doctors, not-for-profit hospitals and other health care service providers.