Which Antioch businesses were your favorites, last year? Vote, today!

Due to an error in the February issue (we published the back side of the ballot, twice!) The Herald has extended voting in the 2021 Antioch People’s Choice Awards through May 20th. 2021 Antioch People’s Choice ballot Front    2021 Antioch People’s Choice ballot Back

If you’ve already sent in your completed ballot – both sides have been on our website since the middle of February when the mistake was discovered – we thank you for that and there’s no need to send in another ballot. But for those who haven’t be sure to cut out the ballot, below and write down your favorite businesses located in Antioch, only (be sure to check their business address before voting for them) for each category and mail it to or drop it off at our address on the ballot.

The top three businesses in each category receive a decal and logos for either Gold, Silver or Bronze for use in print or online. Those who submit a ballot will be entered to win a gift certificate from a local business. So, vote for your favorite Antioch businesses and send in your ballot, today!

The community’s first honor under Executive Director Alberto Maldonado

Antioch, CA – Agemark Senior Living recently recognized several of the company’s senior living communities as well as individuals from those communities in a company-wide virtual awards ceremony held February 10. TreVista Senior Living and Memory Care in Antioch was recognized as the company’s Rising Star Community of the Year. This award is given to the Agemark community that has shown tremendous improvement and future promise.

Agemark Founder and Managing Partner Richard Westin is impressed with the team at TreVista in Antioch.

“After undergoing a multimillion-dollar renovation, the community has filled nearly all of its available apartments, thanks to the excellent efforts of the entire TreVista team,” he said. “We are so thankful for their commitment to providing excellent care, love and support to all residents of the community.”

TreVista Senior Living and Memory Care in Antioch is under the direction of Executive Director Alberto Maldonado. He began leading the community in August 2020 and says the team is honored to be recognized by Agemark.

“Our community and incredible team embody the values of Agemark proudly and I believe that they are the reason for our tremendous growth, particularly over the last year,” Maldonado stated. “Agemark empowers its leaders and team members to operate as a family, and that’s another reason for our success. We are so thankful for Agemark’s belief in what we do, and we are proud to be the Rising Star recipients.”

TreVista in Antioch offers both Assisted Living and Memory Care in one comfortable and homelike community. Located at 3950 Lone Tree Way in Antioch, the community was acquired by Agemark Senior Living in fall 2017, with management takeover shortly thereafter. In 2020, the community completed an extensive remodel, which improved all common areas and added a bistro, theatre room, in-house beauty salon and manicure station, among other improvements for residents to enjoy. The in-house memory care community, The Villa, was completely redone, and made into a more homelike and comfortable environment for those who live with dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease.

A sister community, TreVista in Concord, is also managed by Agemark Senior Living. To learn more about TreVista, visit trevistaseniorliving.com.

By Bobbi Mauler, Executive Assistant to the District Attorney, Contra Costa County

Contra Costa County District Attorney Diana Becton announced Monday, Feb. 28 that the Contra Costa DA’s Office, together with 16 other California District Attorneys and City Attorneys, have reached a settlement with Copart for injunctive relief, civil penalties, and enforcement costs totaling $800,000.  According to their website Copart, founded in Vallejo in 1982 and now headquartered in Dallas, “is a global leader in 100% online car auctions featuring used, wholesale and repairable vehicles.”

After an investigation into the waste management practices of Copart, the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office, along with 16 other California district attorney and city attorney offices filed a civil complaint alleging Copart disposed of hazardous waste items into the trash. The items disposed of consisted of used office supplies, and items removed from vehicles being prepared for sale such as personal items, small electronics, personal care, automotive, and other consumer products.  These practices ultimately lead to hazardous waste being improperly transported to and disposed of in municipal landfills instead of authorized hazardous waste disposal facilities.

“Corporations must be held accountable for conduct that poses a harm to the environment,” said DA Becton. “Copart was cooperative with the investigation and enhanced their existing training programs designed to properly manage and dispose of all items that are regulated as hazardous waste.”

The judgment agreed to by the parties provides for $650,000 in civil penalties, $150,000 in costs of enforcement and a permanent injunction prohibiting Copart from violating hazardous waste laws and requiring Copart to implement compliance assurance measures. 

 

 

St. Patrick’s Day 2022 flier

Antioch Chamber also announces other awards

Choose Emerald HPC owned by Keith and Iris Archuleta, strategic planning consultants as Small Business of the Year, CoCo Farms cannabis dispensary as Large Business of the Year

By Allen D. Payton

Antioch resident Bob Butler was selected as the 2021 Antioch Citizen of the Year for Most Impact, the Antioch Chamber of Commerce announced, this week. Betty Smith, also an Antioch resident and president of the Rivertown Jamboree, was chosen Citizen of the Year for Lifetime Achievement.

The Chamber also announced the winners of the 2021 Antioch Business, Non-Profit, Student and Veteran of the Year Awards. The winners will be honored at the 2022 Inaugural Gala and Recognition Dinner on March 25.

Bob Butler

Butler, a KCBS Radio news reporter, was honored by the Kiwanis Club of the Delta-Antioch with their Community Service Award, last year, for his volunteer work helping people during COVID. (See related article)

Butler has decades of experience in radio and television news reporting, writing and production.  For over 40 years you may have heard his news reports on KCBS radio networks.

He has taught broadcast journalism at UC Berkeley and San Francisco State University and served as President of the National Association of Black Journalists.

Butler, has been helping neighbors during the pandemic by shopping for them. When the pandemic started most of us were worried about going out and exposing ourselves to COVID-19. Going to the store and finding necessary items was getting harder, and the idea of having to bring young children and the elderly was even more worrisome.

At that time Bob stepped up to help. He shopped and delivered items to seniors, people with compromised health issues and parents with small children or children with disabilities and many people who were just too concerned to go out for fear of exposure.

Thinking of others before himself and for his effort we have named Butler the Citizen of the Year with the Most Impact.

Betty Smith

Smith has been a long-time volunteer in the community, leading the Rivertown Jamboree non-profit organization, which previously organized the annual music festival in the city’s historic downtown and more recently, the Delta Thunder speed boat races in memory of the late Councilman Gary Agopian.

Smith hit the community running, as soon as she, her husband, and three children arrived at their new home in Antioch in March of 1984. She commuted to Auburn with the telephone company for three more years, before concentrating on Vancat Enterprises and her family. She wanted her three children taught how to live in a neighborhood. She started by joining Soroptimist International of Antioch, she served on the boards of the Antioch Chamber of Commerce, the Delta Learning Center, Metro-One Credit, which is now Travis Credit Union, The Rivertown Jamboree, Delta Memorial Hospital Foundation and Save a Life Sister.

She is still setting an example for her grandchildren by continuing her service in Soroptimist International of Antioch, the Rivertown Jamboree, Delta 2000/Rivertown Resource Center, Luncheon for the Antioch Police Department with the help of Chuck’s Wagon Catering, Saint Anna’s Episcopal Church Bishop Committee and Episcopal Church Women.

Betty said of her service to the Antioch Community, “With tears in my eyes I need to thank all of my family and friends for helping me along the way. I wouldn’t be here without the grace of God and your help. This is to all that have touched my life and my children’s lives. I love Antioch and I tried to plow the fields to make a better place for all.”

The winners of the other awards are:

2021 Small Business of the Year is Emerald HPC and owners Keith and Iris Archuleta, strategic planning consultants.

2021 Large Business of the Year is CoCo Farms cannabis dispensary.

2021 Non-Profit of the Year is the Rotary Club of the Delta (Antioch).

2021 Student of the Year is Gio Terrones of Antioch High School.

2021 Lifetime Veteran of the Year is Tom Menasco.

2021 Veteran of the Year is Gerald “J.R.” Wilson.

The Chamber will also be celebrating posthumously the lives of Antioch music teacher and musician Romano Marchetti and Tom Guarino of PG&E, who did so much for our community through their dedication and service to Antioch. 

This premier event will be held on Friday March 25 at the Lone Tree Golf Course and Event Center. If you would like to join in and celebrate with the winners, you can purchase tickets at www.antiochchamber.com.

A request was sent to the Chamber asking for more details about each of the winners, but a response was not received as of publication time. Please check back later for any updates.

Dr. Sean Wright, CEO of the Chamber and Ana Cosovic contributed to this report.

Also, extends distance from, clarifies limits on new tobacco retailers

“This is ridiculous to tell adults what they can put in their bodies” – Councilman Barbanica

By Allen D. Payton

During their Tuesday meeting on Feb. 22, 2022, on a 4-1 vote the Antioch City Council approved another marijuana business, this one growing, manufacturing, selling and delivering cannabis supplements. The council then voted to clarify thir xisting ban on additional tobacco retail businesses on a 5-0 vote and on a 3-2 vote approved a ban on the sale of certain tobacco products in the city.

Approve Natural Cannabis Supplement Business

The additional marijuana business will include growing, manufacturing, selling and delivering cannabis supplements. According to the city staff report, “The applicant proposes to operate a cannabis operations facility consisting of a Type 10 ‘Retail Storefront and Delivery’, a Type 11 ‘Distributor’, a Type 7 ‘Manufacturer’ and a Type 3A ‘Medium Indoor Cultivation’ license located at 2100-2300 Wilbur Avenue” which is currently an undeveloped dirt lot. Natural Supplements Cannabis Facility ACC022222

District 3 Councilwoman Lori Ogorchock offered the lone opposition vote.

Extends Distance From, Clarifies Limits on New Tobacco Retailers

The council then voted unanimously to require new tobacco businesses to be at least 1,000 feet from schools and similar uses, such as public parks, playgrounds, recreational centers, or childcare centers. and clarified the city’s existing limits on new tobacco retailers in Antioch. Prior to the vote, the City’s municipal code required at least 500 feet between a business selling tobacco and a school or aforementioned uses. Distances & Limits on New Tobacco Retailers ACC022222

Ban Certain Tobacco Product Sales

In addition, on a 3-2 vote, with District 4 Councilman Barbanica and District 1 Councilwoman Tamisha Torres-Walker voting against, the council approved a ban on certain types of tobacco products in the city. According to the city staff report, the council approved the “Ordinance Amending Section 6-8.02 of the Antioch Municipal Code to Add the Definitions of Characterizing Flavor, Cigar, and Little Cigar (including Cigarillo) and Amending Section 6- 8.14 Both to Restrict Tobacco Retailers or Businesses from Selling or Providing Tobacco with Characterizing Flavor, Selling or Providing Electronic Cigarettes or E-Cigarettes, and To Regulate the Size and Price of Specified Packages of Cigarettes, Little Cigars, and Cigars.” Ban on Certain Tobacco Product Sales ACC022222

The proposed amendment would: Add the definition of “characterizing flavor”

Prohibit the sale of tobacco or tobacco products with characterizing flavor

Prohibit a tobacco retailer or business from selling, offering for sale, possessing with the intent to sell, offer in exchange for any form of consideration, or provide at no cost any electronic cigarette or e-cigarette for use with tobacco or tobacco products

Add the definitions of “cigars” and “little cigars,” with the latter including cigarillos

Prohibit a tobacco retailer or business from selling, offering for sale, possessing with the intent to sell, offering in exchange for any form of consideration, or providing at no cost any package of fewer than twenty little cigars, any package of fewer than six cigars and any package of cigarettes, little cigars or cigars at a price that is less than ten dollars per package, including applicable fees and taxes.

Speakers During Public Comments Opposed to Ban

Local retailers and an industry representative spoke against the ban encouraging the council instead wait for a vote on a statewide measure planned for the November ballot, so that there would be a level playing field should it pass.

Before the council vote, in opposing the ban Barbanica said, “it’s ridiculous to tell adults what they can put in their bodies.”

VOTING EXTENDED!

Publisher’s Note: With apologies, we inadvertently published the Back Page of the ballot twice in the February edition of the newspaper. Please see both sides, below. You have until Friday, May 20 to send us your ballot and vote for your favorite Antioch businesses!

Download a copy: 2021 Antioch People’s Choice ballot Front

 

Download a copy: 2021 Antioch People’s Choice ballot Back