Located in the heart of Antioch, Bay Area Lifeline Nursing is a Nursing Assistant and Home Health aide training school. Our goal is to help change lives within the community one heartbeat at a time.

We prepare our students for the California Health Department Certification for Nursing Assistants and Home Health Aides. We also offer CEU (Continuing Education Units) and CPR classes.

Our instructors are highly experienced nurses with backgrounds from various healthcare settings including nursing education.

We offer an accelerated 21-day program to complete the Nursing Assistant Training and get you ready for the board examination and certification.

Certified Nursing Assistants are currently in high demand in health care facilities such as hospitals, nursing and convalescent homes, assisted living facilities, doctors offices, rehabilitation facilities, group homes, and in-home settings.

The California Health department requires periodic continued education units by every certified nursing assistant for certification renewal. Bay Area Lifeline Nursing offers courses to meet these requirements.

Let BALN help you start a new lifestyle with better job opportunities in California. They’re located at 3501 Lone Tree Way, Suite 1 in Antioch. For more information call (925) 839-7279, email info@balnursing.com or visit www.balnursing.com.

One of downtown Antioch’s longest staples has evolved. The city’s most famous photographer, Linda Johnson, is now providing a platform for other artists to shine by transforming her   business into a rental studio.

For the first time in 32 years, the sign in front of her storefront studio no longer says “Linda Johnson Photography” with her signature oval logo. It now reads “Studio 510”.

Rental of the studio includes use of the strobe lighting system and the window light shooting. Photographers also have access to the salesroom, digital projector, several backgrounds – along with many cool props. Additionally, they can put their logo on the door and one of their masterpieces on display in the gallery. Furthermore, there is a vast number of great outdoor shooting areas within a one-block radius of the studio in Antioch’s Historic Rivertown District.

Johnson wants to continue to provide a place for the local families to come for professional service with skilled, motivated and educated photographers that are driven to be the best.

“It’s important to choose a photographer that is licensed and insured,” she shared. “A photographer that will work in the best interest of the clients by offering a pre-portrait consultation where the clients can collaborate creative ideas with the photographer, go over products and services and build the trust that’s needed to tell their story through the art of photography”.

The photographer can provide signed releases, so the client has usage rights to the images. The clients should ask for model releases, so they know how the photographer is going to use their images and what the clients’ rights are for paying for work that was created for hire.

Linda lives primarily in Sedona, AZ, but offers mentoring to those that are interested when she is available in the summer months to teach technique, image quality, pricing, selling, marketing, portrait staging, lighting and posing. She enjoys helping photographers, wants to continue the respect in the industry and gain support from the community for the photographers.

“My goal is to help others get established at a low monthly cost like it was done for me at the beginning of my career,” Johnson said. “I feel that working in the studio presents a more professional image and provides an environment which will set a higher vibration and the energy to create better work, more enthusiasm and in turn satisfied clients.”

The studio is located at 510 W. Third Street in Rivertown, historic downtown Antioch.

Included an appearance by the Budweiser Clydesdales

By Allen Payton

On Saturday, Markstein Sales Company of Antioch celebrated their 100th anniversary with a big party for 500 of their employees, customers, friends and local government, fire and safety officials.  It included an appearance by the world-famous Budweiser Clydesdale team and featured multiple tasting stations with decorated themes, plus a variety of food vendors.

Laura Markstein, the fourth-generation owner of the beer distributor, presided over the event and thanked all those who helped the company achieve success and its longevity.

Markstein was founded in 1919 with a horse, a wagon and six cases of beer just before the 13 years of prohibition hit. The company made it through that challenge, as well as many others, and Markstein Sales Co. now delivers over 4 million cases of world-class beers to 1,500 retailers in the Bay Area.  The company employs more than 160 people in the East Bay, supports numerous not-profit organizations and serves as a great example of success for a woman-led company in a typically male-dominated industry.

Laura acknowledged her father, Bob, who was also in attendance and joined him for a ride on the beer wagon pulled by the Clydesdale team.

The company relocated to Antioch 11 years ago, as pointed out by Mayor Sean Wright during his presentation to Laura.

“Antioch truly benefited 11 years ago when Markstein chose to expand,” he said. “Laura, congratulations on 100 years and thank so much for what you do for our community.”

The company is regularly listed as one of the top woman-owned businesses in the Bay Area. The company’s offices are located at 1645 Drive In Way in Antioch. For more information visit www.marksteinsalescompany.com.

See more photos on the Herald Facebook page.

First two shows in October: comedy in Antioch; the “swingin’est rock band” in Pittsburg

By Allen Payton

East County businessman George Cardinale recently formed Licata-Cardinale Productions with Las Vegas-based Michael Licata to bring top-tiered entertainment talent to the area.

“There’s no reason for people to have to drive to Oakland or San Francisco anymore to see A-list entertainment,” Cardinale said.

“We’re currently in advanced discussions to bring four to six high-level acts to the area for 2020,” Licata added. “But, first up on our schedule are two great shows to get the ball rolling and close out 2019.”

First will be New Jersey’s Bad Boy comedian, Mike Marino with special guest, Pittsburg’s own home-grown comedian, Johnny Steele, Oct. 5 at Antioch’s El Campanil Theatre. Their show is entitled “Make America Italian Again!” (https://youtu.be/8jqLeK6aP5s and https://youtu.be/8jqLeK6aP5s)

Louis Prima Jr. & the Witnesses: Oct. 26 at Pittsburg’s California Theater. This band sold out the El Campanil six years ago. (https://youtu.be/91-HjEKKVhU and https://youtu.be/91-HjEKKVhU)

George Cardinale

After a successful management career at U.S. Steel, lifelong East County resident Cardinale has worked in the real estate sales and construction business for almost 50 years. The broker and owner of Cardinale Custom Realty, he started as a real estate agent in 1972, before forming Delta Bay Real Estate Company in 1974 with partners.

Then in 1976 he became a partner in Garrow & Cardinale Construction Company, which built several hundred homes in East County. Finally, in 1990 he formed the Cardinale Company, a currently active real estate company focused on land and commercial brokerage firm working with landowners and prominent new home developers.

Cardinale wants to give back to the community where he’s had his success. Due to his passion for the arts he is determined to bring higher quality and top tier acts to East County, to enhance the quality of life for local residents.

Michael Licata

Licata has been a force in the entertainment industry for over 20 years and brings his experience as a manager, agent, drummer, writer, producer and musical director to the team. He has been involved and responsible for multimillion-dollar projects for major recording artists including Chris Brown, Blues Traveler, Plain White T’s, Ricky Martin, Drake, Ringo Starr, Rodney Jerkins, Jermaine Stewart, Lil’ Wayne, Rhino Bucket, T-Pain, Savage Garden, Rihanna, Bang Tango and many others.

Michael has performed in internationally recognized music videos, on prestigious concert stages and has been awarded 16 Platinum/Gold records.

Management: Grammy-winners Blues Traveler, Grammy-winners Plain White T’s.

Behind the Drums: Ricky Martin, Ringo Starr, Rhino Bucket, Jermaine Stewart, Bang Tango, Savage Garden, Boys Don’t Cry.

Show Producer: Jason Alexander at Harrah’s Las Vegas.

TV Creator/Executive Producer: Viacom/CMT’s ‘H2Overdrive.’

About Mike Marino

Mike Marino – affectionately known to millions of his fans worldwide as New Jersey’s Bad Boy – is one of the most loved comedians of our time. He has performed in every major comedy club, theatre, casino and event center from New York to Los Angeles and around the world. Mike has also shared the stage with some of the biggest names in the business.

Marino was born in Jersey City, New Jersey. He entered the entertainment industry at an early age and has studied at some of the most prestigious acting schools in New York, the Herbert Berghof Studio and the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. Mike has appeared in over 200 national television commercials, including many endorsements and has received a Best Actor Clio Award Nomination. He has acted in many Prime Time soaps and television shows including: As the World Turns, One Life to Live, Becker, Nikki, Frasier and Party of Five. His film credits include Crooks, Pizza with Bullets, Hangin’ in Hedo and Steven King’s Lucky Quarter and Criticsized.

Adding to his great success in film, theatre, commercials and soaps, Mike Marino began touring the world performing and selling out at countless clubs, theatres and casinos. His stand-up material ranges from cutting edge observations of everyday life to his Italian family roots; which recently spun into a T.V. pilot called “Re-Constructing Jersey”. His comedic style has landed him guest appearances on The Tonight Show as a regular sketch player, The Martin Short Show, Canada’s Comedy TV, The Boomer Show, Wild Pitch, and Hand Held Comedy Radio. A clip of Mike’s appearance on Byran Allen’s Comics Unleashed earned him over 7 million views (and counting), which has led to his current web series “Marino 2016” – an original comedy based on Mike’s road to the White House and wise guy attempt to become the first Italian American President of the United States.

In the Fall of 2008, Mike Marino was inducted into the New Jersey Comedy Hall of Fame and in 2015 he won the USO Bob Hope Comedy Award for his many performances for the military. Mike has also been featured on numerous talk shows and has hosted some of the most prestigious award shows including The Beverly Hills Film Awards, Hoboken Film Festival, Montreal Quintus Film Festival and countless corporate events. Mike has been featured in the Just For Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal, Canada, seven years in a row.

Mike Marino has a tongue like a razor and a heart of gold. He has the incredible ability to perform in any arena, big or small, and can cater his material for all audiences, from strictly clean to down and dirty. He has performed in hundreds of corporate functions for companies including AT&T, United Airlines, American Express, Paul Mitchell, IBM, Wella, Merrill Lynch, Sebastian Intl., Toyota, L.A.S.D., N.J. Asphalt Assoc., The City of Hope, OSIA, and the LAPD. Mike Has performed for numerous charities including Aids Project – LA, Haven House, Team earthworks, and the Eric Davis Cancer Fund. When Marino is not performing, he enjoys traveling and spending time with his family on the East Coast.

For more information visit www.mikemarino.net.

“For retailers to meet the increasing consumer demand for faster shipping times”

San Francisco-based Stockbridge Capital Group has purchased a 6,350,000-square-foot, Class A industrial property portfolio from Westcore Properties for an undisclosed sum. It includes the 665,775-square-foot, two-building Antioch Distribution Center, located at 2200-2300 Wilbur Avenue and 2110-2300 Wilbur Lane, with both buildings being fully leased.

The acquisition is part of a trend toward institutional ownership of properties that are pivotal for retailers to meet the increasing consumer demand for faster shipping times.

“It is no secret that e-commerce continues to enhance the attractiveness of high-quality and well-located warehouse and distribution properties,’’ said Nicole Stagnaro, Head of Opportunistic & Platform Transactions at Stockbridge. “We’re excited about this portfolio because the properties are located in markets with above-average population growth, a propensity toward e-commerce buying and selling, lower overall vacancy rates and higher overall rent growth.’’

Stockbridge Chief Financial Officer Kristin Renaudin also noted a novel feature of the deal: nearly all of the senior executives on the buyer’s side – representing investors, lenders, lawyers and property managers – are women. “It’s certainly the first time we’ve seen this,’’ Renaudin said. “You don’t often see multiple senior women involved in industrial deals, so this was particularly unusual, and a hopeful sign for women executives.’’

“We were pleased with the completion of this portfolio transaction to Stockbridge, which we strategically assembled over the past several years in primarily off-market transactions, at a notable gain for our shareholders,” said Westcore Properties’ chairman Marc Brutten.

With 26 assets across nine markets in five states, the portfolio is nearly 100% leased, despite many of the properties being vacant at the time of Westcore’s purchase. Westcore acquired all of the properties in the portfolio since September of 2016 and renovated nearly all of them. The buildings’ tenants are primarily big-box and last-mile users.

“This sale demonstrates our business strategy,” said Don Ankeny, president and CEO of Westcore Properties. “We’re careful to select value-add properties where we can make a difference and return a premier asset to a thriving industrial market.”

To see the entire list of properties included in the purchase, click here.

On September 11, 2017, Westcore Properties acquired the Antioch Distribution Center, for $32.4 million. Westcore purchased the manufacturing/distribution project from the Covington Group, based in Dallas, Texas. Covington Group was represented by Steve Hermann, Scott Bertrand and Brooks Pedder of Cushman & Wakefield in the transaction. Westcore Properties is a global, entrepreneurial commercial real estate investment firm with a specialized focus in Western United States commercial and industrial properties. Stockbridge is a private equity real estate investment management firm led by veteran industry professionals. The firm’s portfolio comprises assets across the investment risk spectrum, including core, value-added, and opportunistic strategies. Stockbridge and its affiliates have approximately $14.6 billion of assets under management (as of June 30, 2019) spanning all major real estate property types, and certain specialty property types, throughout the United States.