Elise and Ebony Veal in their store in downtown Antioch.

By Allen Payton

Elise Veal’s dream has come true. She’s an entrepreneur, as the owner of the new Elise Beauty Supply in downtown Antioch.

While studying and earning an Associates Degree in Entrepreneurship from Las Positas College in Livermore, which she completed in 2010, she saw a documentary starring Chris Rock entitled “Good Hair.”

She realized there wasn’t much of a black presence in the beauty industry, as far as owning stores.

“My daughters were going every two weeks to buy hair, because it was synthetic and it would tangle and get matted,” Elise said. “I thought, that’s the business to be in.”

“It was very timely,” she shared. “It helped me focus on my ambition to be independent.”

Then during Christmas, 2009, Elise asked everyone in her home what their purpose was in life, so they could pray about it.

“The person who got my name prayed for me,” Elise said. “I prayed, too and shortly after that I saw the documentary and I knew.”

So, she created a vision board, every year with photos of her goals, including a store, placed on it.

“That helped me,” Elise exclaimed. “At that time I had one penny in my bank account and no job. I prayed and went and wrote my affirmations and the money came.”

“It was the biggest miracle I’d seen in a long time,” she added.

Elise shared about how she wanted to be in the beauty industry since she was a young girl.

“I was always intrigued by beauty,” she shared. “When I was a girl I used to put on my auntie’s wigs. I just wanted to be around beauty. She asked if I wanted to do hair. I said ‘No. Maybe I want to sell it.’”

“I think it’s fun and it’s one industry that gives you the flexibility to express yourself,” Elise continued. “I just knew I couldn’t give up.”

She shared how was she was taught and read has influenced her.

“‘Think and Grow Rich’ is my favorite book,” said Elise. “I can hear my granmother, who read the Bible to me when I was younger. In there are biblical principles. You must believe in that which you are asking for.”

Elise’ daugher Ebony, who has worked in retail, not only works with her mom, she’s on the company’s board of directors as Corporate Secretary.

“I’m happy Mom got into this business so I don’t have to buy cheap hair any more,” she said.

The 100% virgin hair they offer in any and all colors, lasts much longer than two weeks. In fact, it lasts longer then a year.

They offer tape hair, clip in and weft extensions, which makes it easier for stylists to sew it onto someone’s braids. Plus, sulfate-free shampoo, conditioners and hair styling products for all hair types and colors, as well as other beauty supplies such as eyelash extensions, lipstick, mascara and eyeliner. Elise serves both retail and wholesale customers.

Located at 214 G Street, the store is open Tuesday through Friday, 11-7 and Saturdays 11-3. Call them at (925) 206-4981 or visit their website at www.EliseBeautySupply.com and follow them on Facebook and Instagram.

13 California Organizations Receive Funding for Youth Programs, Education and Economic Opportunity

Portland, Ore., –The Umpqua Bank Charitable Foundation has awarded more than $230,000 in grants for nonprofit organizations focused on educational attainment for youth and economic opportunity. Fifty three Community Giving grants were awarded throughout Umpqua’s footprint, ranging between $2,000 and $8,000, and selected by the company’s associate-led Community Giving team.

“Part of the Umpqua Bank Charitable Foundation’s approach is to invest in and serve as a partner to community organizations,” said Nicole Stein, managing director of the Umpqua Bank Charitable Foundation. “As a community bank we believe we have an obligation to invest in youth and education programs that are essential to the long-term economic health and development of our communities.”

Through the Community Giving program, more than 150 Umpqua Bank associates located throughout the company’s footprint participate in the process of identifying need in their communities and reviewing the grant applications that help meet that need. Quarterly, their recommendations inform the Foundation’s grant making and result in the distribution of the company’s Community Giving grants.

Contra Costa County’s recipient

The one recipient in Contra Costa County of a 2015 California Community Giving Grant recipient was Junior Achievement of Northern California, located in Walnut Creek. Umpqua’s $5,000 grant will support Project SUCCEED (Students Understanding Career Choices, Economics, and Educational Development). This program provides various curriculum-based programs to students in grades K-12 that are flexible in providing the specific financially-focused program that is most needed and appropriate for the grade level.

About Umpqua Bank Charitable Foundation

The Umpqua Bank Charitable Foundation recognizes the fundamental connection between education and economic prosperity. It works to strengthen the communities Umpqua Bank serves by investing in organizations and initiatives that expand access to education and create economic opportunity for children and families.

The Umpqua Bank Charitable Foundation was initially funded with $10 million in April 2014, and was formed to demonstrate the company’s deep commitment to the communities it serves.

Organizations can submit an application for a Community Giving grant at www.umpquabank.com/communitygiving.

About Umpqua Bank

Umpqua Bank, headquartered in Roseburg, Ore., is a subsidiary of Umpqua Holdings Corporation, and has locations across Idaho, Washington, Oregon, California and Northern Nevada. Umpqua Bank has been recognized for its innovative customer experience and banking strategy by national publications including The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, BusinessWeek, Fast Company and CNBC. The company has been recognized for the past eight years in a row on FORTUNE magazine’s list of the country’s “100 Best Companies to Work For,” and was recently named by The Portland Business Journal the Most Admired Financial Services Company in Oregon for the tenth consecutive year. In addition to its retail banking presence, Umpqua Bank owns Financial Pacific Leasing, Inc., a nationally recognized commercial finance company that provides equipment leases to small businesses. The Umpqua Bank branch in Antioch is located in the Raley’s Shopping Center at 3700 Lone Tree Way.

Umpqua Holdings also owns a retail brokerage subsidiary, Umpqua Investments, Inc., which offers services through Umpqua Bank stores and in dedicated offices throughout Oregon. Umpqua’s Wealth Management Division serves high net worth individuals and nonprofits by providing customized financial solutions and offerings. Umpqua Holdings Corporation is headquartered in Portland, Ore. For more information, visit http://www.umpquabank.com.

According to the August 21, 2015 weekly report from Antioch City Manager Steve Duran the California Automobile Association, also known as AAA, will soon be relocating their Auto Center Drive offices to Slatten Ranch Shopping Center. They will totally renovate the Johnny Carino’s building, which closed some months ago.

“In recent years, AAA has been locating their retail facilities in shopping centers with mayor anchors to get better public visibility and higher traffic counts” Duran’s report states. “Slatten Ranch accomplishes this objective for AAA and provides a destination use that will compliment the adjacent retail and restaurant uses. They plan on opening the new facility by year’s end.”

Business and community leaders gather for the Community Champions award ceremony at the old Antioch Lumber Company building in downtown Antioch on Thursday, September 3, 2015.

By Allen Payton

The Antioch Chamber of Commerce honored Rodney and Ursula Lal, owners of Prime Vintage Realty, with one of their Community Champions awards, during a brief ceremony on Thursday morning, for their purchase and renovation of the old Antioch Lumber Company building in downtown.

Chamber CEO Dr. Sean Wright said the award was bestowed for “the work that Rodney and Ursula Lal have put into this building and downtown.”

Chamber CEO Dr. Sean Wright (center right) with Devon, Ursula, Rodney (with plaque), and Nicole Lal.

Local officials were also on hand for the ceremony.

Antioch Mayor Pro Tem Lori Ogorchock spoke on behalf of the city.

“Thank you to Prime Vintage Realty for opening up, here,” she said. “This has been a historical area for a long time here. I expect to hear some success stories coming out of this building.”

“The process was slow,” Wright explained. “It took a long time. There was not only a lot of time and money, but love and dedication that has gone into this building.

“Thank you for improving downtown and for your time, dedication and service to Antioch,” he added.

Rodney Lal then offered his appreciation for the award.

“Thank you on behalf of my family, Ursula, [son] Devin and [daughter] Nicole and awarding me this community champion. This is a great award. But the reason we bought this building…is from love.

Kelly O’Brien (right) a cousin of Hank Beede, speaks before Rodney and Ursula Lal cut the cake in the shape of the building, that she provided.

“The reason I got into real estate was to buy buildings and improve them,” he continued. “It’s unique. It’s built with tender loving care. It’s just so beautiful. You haven’t seen the best, yet. Our city will prosper. You will see this building prosper. You will see people drive by here. The river has so much to offer. My goal is to beautify this city. I just love it. Thank you.”

The late Henry “Hank” F. Beede, the last owner of the Antioch Lumber Company and building, passed away in 2010. In attendance at the ceremony was his widow, Leora Beede and their daughter Priscilla Fremering, who assisted in the sale of the building to the Lals.

Fremering stated the building was built in the 1860’s.

Kelly O’Brien the great, great granddaughter of Henry F. Beede and cousin to Hank Beede, provided the cake in the shape of the building.

Curt Holzer, who has had an insurance office in downtown since 1995, shared a little history.

“It was the oldest operating business in the county,” he stated. “I used to insure this building when Hank was in it. I asked him, ‘when will you stop coming down here?’ He said ‘The day I die.’”

“It’s definitely cleaned up the entrance to downtown,” Holzer added.

The Lals invested approximately $500,000 to improve the building, including shoring up the foundation, which was sloping toward the river.

“I guarantee you this building will last another 100 years, the way we built it,” Rodney stated.

This is the third Community Champions award presented to an Antioch business, including Mike’s Auto Body and Mountain Mike’s Pizza, earlier this year since the Chamber instituted the recognition program.

Tropical-themed casual dining franchise

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (September 2, 2015) – Hurricane Grill & Wings^®, a tropical-themed full service restaurant franchise, will open at 4827 Lone Tree Way in Antioch as the first location in California and it will occupy the previous UNOs grill pizzeria. Hurricane Grill & Wings is the industry leader for creating innovative flavor combinations, announced today the signing of a new multi-development agreement that will bring the concept to the state.

Twin brothers, David and Jack Nguyen have years of experience in the restaurant industry as multi-unit operators for numerous franchise concepts throughout Northern California. The brothers are already fast at work on the development of their first Hurricane Grill & Wings restaurant, slated to open this fall in the city of Antioch. The duo has signed on to develop additional Hurricane Grill & Wings locations throughout Northern California in the coming years.

For 20 years, Hurricane Grill & Wings has prided itself on offering guests fresh, never-frozen jumbo wings with more than 35 signature flavors of sauces and rubs. With selections ranging from traditional buffalo to an array of unique options that include: Chipotle Raspberry BBQ, Ancho Chili Lime and Jamaican Jerk with heat intensity that ranges from Calm Seas to Evacuation Route, there is something to satisfy any palate. Additionally, guests can customize their own burgers using the Build-A-Burger menu feature, including a variety of savory toppings and sauces.

“It is an incredible milestone for Hurricane Grill & Wings to enter the state of California with experienced operators like David and Jack Nguyen,” said Kevin Kruse, chief development officer of Hurricane Grill & Wings. “Their passion and excellence in their existing restaurants is evident, and we are very excited about David and Jack Nguyen being our franchisees and bringing the Hurricane Grill & Wings brand for the first time to California.”

“We researched numerous restaurants that have not yet tapped the California market to complement our existing brands,” said Jack Nguyen, franchisee of Hurricane Grill & Wings. “We ultimately selected Hurricane Grill & Wings for their commitment to providing fresh and flavorful food in an atmosphere reminiscent of a beach front shack, which is perfect for our customers in California.”

Hurricane Grill & Wings has seen tremendous national growth in 2015 with expansions in Florida, Iowa, Maryland and Texas. In addition to California, the concept will close out the year by entering Louisiana, Oklahoma and Virginia as well as its first international location in Italy.

About Hurricane Grill & Wings

With over 80 restaurants open or under construction in 15 states and 5 European countries that include Austria, Germany, Italy, Poland and Switzerland, Florida-based Hurricane Grill & Wings^® is known for its jumbo, fresh wings, more than 35 signature sauces and rubs and tropical, laid-back vibe. Named by USA Today as one of “10 Great Places to Wing It,” selected as one of the “Future 50” by Restaurant Business and as one of Franchise Times “Top 40 Fast and Serious,” Hurricane Grill & Wings’ menu includes crave-able Hurricane’s Garlic & Parm fries, tasty salads, seafood entrees and fresh ½ pound burgers. The brand’s signature Rum Bar with over 21 premium rums leads its tropical drinks menu along, along with a wide selection of craft beers and wines. The original Hurricane Grill & Wings opened in Fort Pierce, Fla., in 1995 and has expanded to locations in Alabama, Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, Iowa, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, North Carolina, Tennessee and Texas, with additional restaurants planned internationally. For more information, visit www.hurricanewings.com.

For Franchising Opportunities contact Kevin Kruse via email at kevin.kruse@hurricaneamt.com, by phone at (609) 731 – 2485, or visit our website at http://www.hurricanefranchising.com/

By Allen Payton

Ever had Mexican ice cream before? My mom and I just did, at the new Mayas Ice Cream Paleteria & Neveria that opened in Antioch on Memorial Day weekend in May. Boy, is it creamy, thick and delicious.

Owned and operated by Julieta and Fernando Lopez, Mayas offers a variety of flavors, including a few of the standards, like vanilla, chocolate, strawberry, chocolate chip and rocky road.

But, they also offer a whole list of flavors, some of which I’ve never heard of before, like Mamey and Nanche, which are fruits, Pitaya – Dragon Fruit, Guanabana – Sour Sop, Gansito, which Julieta said is like Mexican Twinkies, plus Mango, Guava and Tequila, and even two with vegetables, like elote – corn, and avocado.

Mayas also serves common flavors like strawberries and cream, strawberry milk shake, coffee, pistachio, which I tried and enjoyed, Beso de Angel (Angel’s Kiss) – marshmallow, coconut, Arroz con Leche – rice pudding, Nuez – nuts, dried fruit and Chicle – gum.

Julieta let Mom and me sample a variety of their ice creams and I gotta say the cream cheese flavor was my favorite. But, it must be everyone’s because they’d run out, the day we were there. So, hopefully I’ll have some next time.

All of their ice cream is made in Mexico and you can have your scoops in a cup, or on a cake or waffle cone.

Mayas also serves other sweet and even spicy treats, including Mangonadas, Escamocha, which is fruit with a spicy sauce, Bionicos, a fresh fruit salad with sour cream, Pepino Locos, which are cucumbers with pickled pig skin, nuts and chamoy chili, Tostilos, which are chips with fruit and vegetables on top, Duero, which is frozen strawberries and cream, and also banana splits.

Owners Julieta & Fernando Lopez

It’s a family run business, which includes the Lopez’ daughters, Evelyn and Amzi.

The shop, located at 4609 Golf Course Road near the corner of Lone Tree Way, behind Tailgater’s, is open every day, Monday through Friday, Noon to 9:30 PM and on Saturday and Sunday from 10 AM to 9:30 PM.

Stop by today, and tantalize your tastebuds with a cold, creamy, delicious treat this summer. See their ad on the next page to enjoy a discount on your next scoop.

Representatives from the Antioch Chamber of Commerce, City Council and School Board join the Spangenberg family for the ribbon cutting to officially open their new business.

By Allen Payton

City, business and community leaders gathered at the new Speed Clean Laundry on East 18th Street on Friday evening for the ribbon cutting with owners Paul and Georgia Spangenberg and their children, Cody and Chase, as part of the laundromat’s Grand Opening.

Owner Paul Spangenberg cuts the ribbon, while his wife Georgia, Mayor Wade Harper (left) on others watch.

The month-long celebration ends on Saturday, August 22, with free hot dogs and sodas for customers, as well as one free dry for those who wash their clothes at Speed Clean, up until they close at 10 p.m. Plus, customers can enter to win two $25 cash prizes, to be awarded at the end of August.

Mayor Wade Harper, in attendance at the ribbon cutting, along with Council Members Mary Rocha, Monica Wilson and Tony Tiscareno, along with Antioch School Board Trustee Diane Gibson Gray, offered his thoughts on the opening of the new business, that was once a Kentucky Fried Chicken location.

“We want to thank Speed Clean for choosing Antioch,” Harper said. “Anything we can do to help please let us know. Thank you for being here on our city.”

The Spangenbergs were then presented with proclamations from representatives of Assemblyman Jim Frazier and Congressman Jerry McNerney.

“The city has been really supportive,” Paul responded. “We’re just so thankful for their help. Thank you to my wife and our kids.”

“You’re our family and friends,” he said. “Thank you for joining us, tonight.”

Speed Clean Laundry is open 6 AM to 10 PM and is located at 317 East 18th Street. For more information visit their website at www.speedcleanlaundry.com.

A screen shot of Derek’s winning design on the Barber Battle TV show.

By Allen Payton

Derek “Tha Barber” Hernandez is not just another barber who enjoys cutting hair. He’s an artist and his talent won his fame and money, earlier this year on Cedric The Entertainers’ “Cedric’s Barber Battle” TV show.

Plying his trade at Ajja’s Barber Shop in Antioch’s historic downtown Rivertown, Hernandez is known for his portraits and design work.

“I’m only 22 but I’ve been cutting hair since I was 12,” he said.

He flew to Los Angeles where the competition occurred inside an actual barber shop.

Derek competed against a barber from Long Island, New York and another from El Paso, Texas. They were judged by three barbers to the stars.

The three contestants had to use soccer balls as the inspiration for the “buzzcut challenge” and had one hour to create their designs.

They had fun joking around and talking smack to each other as they cut their way through the show.

Derek, in Ajja’s, with his championship belt and a new design on a client’s head.

While Derek’s competitors buzzed the hexagonal shapes into the head of the men in their chairs, he went a different direction, buzzing in the design of a soccer player kicking a ball into pieces, instead.

He survived the first round, as one of his competitors got cut.

The second round was literally a head-to-head battle.This time they had to incorporate super heroes into their design. Derek was given Batman, while his opponent was given The Flash. More smack talk ensued, but it was Derek who came out on top.

Cedric referred to Derek as “DTB” and said “Your color work brought the Caped Crusader to life.”

The show aired on May 1st, and Hernandez won a championship belt, a package of hair supplies, a feature editorial on Barbershopconnect.com and $15,000. The editorial appeared on the website June 29th and can be viewed here. http://www.barbershopconnect.com/detail/054760/barber-of-the-week-derek-tha-barber/

Derek is married and lives in Antioch.

The show aired on May 1, 2015 and can be viewed on The CW website (www.cwtv.com) by clicking here.

Ajja’s is located at 508 W. Second Street in Antioch. To make an appointment to get a haircut that’s a work of art call Derek Tha Barber Hernandez at (925) 550-5602.