Join us this Saturday, December 8, 2012 for our HOLIDAY Event! Take advantage of our holiday sales, free product with purchase, samples, and the opportunity to WIN PRIZES!

Demos by EVOGEN, the elite pre- and post-workout solutions!

ATTENTION MMA FANS: We will be having a meet and greet with Professional MMA Fighter, Strikeforce veteran and Zuffa Top Bantamweight superstar ALEXIS DAVIS! Receive your own personal autographed photo too!

Stop by from 12 to 4PM!

MaxMuscle is located at 5887 Lone Tree Way, Suite R, in Antioch near Lumpy’s and Office Depot. For more information call 757-6299 or visit www.MaxMuscleAntioch.com.

Brought to you by the Antioch Chamber of Commerce

BENTONVILLE, Ark., Dec. 3, 2012 – Kids are willing to do almost anything to get the toys they want for Christmas according to Walmart’s Talking Holiday Toys Survey, which found that 68 percent of kids said they would clean their rooms daily for a year, while 84 percent would work hard and give up playtime. But every child has limits; only 23 percent of kids would eat spinach for a year to get their holiday toys. The Walmart-commissioned survey also found that mom and dad favor educational toys and are focused on price. 

“The survey reflects what we are seeing in our stores. Parents are intent on fulfilling their kids’ holiday toy wish lists and at the same time, are looking for the most affordable options,” said Laura Phillips, senior vice president of toys, seasonal and celebrations, Walmart U.S. “As the largest seller of toys in the U.S. we have a unique ability to leverage our size and scale in a way that meets those needs and helps parents deliver a Christmas to remember.”

Walmart’s Talking Holiday Toys Survey, which polled 1,009 children between the ages of 3 – 11 and their parents, also discovered:

• Naughty or nice? Kids who’ve had a few time outs this year are in luck. While the majority of kids think their behavior impacts the amount of holiday toys they get, 78 percent of parents plan to buy the same amount of toys for their children regardless of how naughty or nice they’ve been throughout the year.

• Wish list toys – parents and kids disagree: The top toy gifts parents want to give their kids this Christmas are “toys that teach;” however, the top toys on kids’ wish lists are dolls and action figures.

“We have seen that educational toys – including kids’ tablets – are one of the most popular categories this year,” shared Phillips. “To meet this demand, we have significantly increased the quantity of educational tablets in our stores and are adding new products throughout the season. This is just one example of how we’ve worked closely with our suppliers to help ensure we have the toys both kids and parents want.”

• Those sneaky kids: Parents are in the dark when it comes to knowing whether or not their kids find their gifts ahead of Christmas. Nearly twice as many kids as their parents say they found their gifts before the big morning (23 percent vs. 14 percent). The top hiding place? The closet.

• Nagging works.  Asked about the most persuasive technique their child uses to get the toy he/she wants for Christmas, the top response for parents is their child asking them repeatedly for the gift. Similarly, when kids are asked what they think is the best way to ensure that they get the toy they want for Christmas, the most popular response was to keep telling Mom or Dad over and over and over again. 

• The toy store parents are looking for: Price is the most popular factor among parents for determining the type of store to shop at for Christmas toys. Walmart is committed to offering low prices and currently has hundreds of toy rollbacks in store and online. Walmart.com also features an expanded assortment of the hottest toys plus free shipping options that help customers save even more. Thousands of toys are eligible for free shipping to home on qualifying toy purchases of $45 or more, or free shipping to any Walmart store across the US.  

In addition, as part of Walmart’s Toyland Tuesday toy rollback program, where Walmart has been rolling back prices on toys every Tuesday beginning in October, the retailer is offering parents the opportunity to vote on their toy savings.  On Nov. 29 and Dec. 6 parents can choose between two toys to go on rollback the following Tuesday. 

For more on Walmart’s Talking Holiday Toys Survey, please visit news.walmart.com/holidaytoys.  Watch the video by clicking here.

Survey Methodology

The “Walmart Talking Holiday Toys Survey” was conducted by GfK Public Affairs & Corporate Communications utilizing GfK’s KnowledgePanel. The survey polled 1,009 children between the ages of 3 –11 and each child’s parent in September 2012.

About Walmart

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE: WMT) helps people around the world save money and live better – anytime and anywhere – in retail stores, online, and through their mobile devices.  Each week, more than 200 million customers and members visit our 10,400 stores under 69 banners in 27 countries and e-commerce websites in 10 countries. With fiscal year 2012 sales of approximately $444 billion, Walmart employs more than 2.2 million associates worldwide. Walmart continues to be a leader in sustainability, corporate philanthropy and employment opportunity. Additional information about Walmart can be found by visiting http://corporate.walmart.com, on Facebook at http://facebook.com/walmart and on Twitter at http://twitter.com/walmartnewsroom. Online merchandise sales are available at http://www.walmart.com and http://www.samsclub.com.

Simone’s Double Double Day Spa Grand Opening

Tomorrow, Saturday, December 1, 2012, 9am – 5pm, Ribbon Cutting: 11am

Join the Antioch Chamber in celebrating the Grand Opening of Simone’s Double Double Day Spa! Hors d’oeuvres will be served and express facials will be performed at this event.

Details:

Simone’s Double Double Day Spa Grand Opening & Ribbon Cutting

Date: Saturday, December 1st, 2012

Time: 9am – 5pm
Ribbon Cutting: 11am 

Location: 1614 A St., Antioch CA 94509
Contact: (925) 727-1458

Join us in celebrating the grand opening of this Antioch business!

We look forward to seeing you there. 

Thank you.

Antioch Chamber of Commerce

Learn more about the benefits of membership in the Antioch Chamber of Commerce by calling 757-1800 or visiting www.AntiochChamber.com.

Charlotte, NC – Maaco® and Meineke®, part of the Driven Brands family of automotive brands, today announced a multi-year, multi-million dollar fundraising commitment that will benefit 170 Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals (CMN Hospitals) across the United States and Canada.  This commitment by Driven Brands to expand its longtime partnership with CMN Hospitals coincides with the newly established Driven Brands Charitable Foundation.   The Foundation is seeking to raise $1 million a year working in conjunction with Driven Brands’ franchisees, principals, vendors, customers and employees.

“For more than 5 years, we have proudly supported Children Miracle Network Hospitals in its mission to provide life-saving medical care to children in need across North America,” said Noah Pollack, Executive Vice President and General Counsel, Driven Brands.  “We are proud to continue building on this positive partnership through our Driven Brands Charitable Foundation, which was established to support philanthropic efforts in the communities where our franchisees and customers live and work.”

The Driven Brands Charitable Foundation launched this new unprecedented fundraising effort earlier this month at the 40th Annual Maaco® Franchise Convention held in Florida. With the generous support of its franchise community, the foundation raised commitments for $410,000 in just 5 days.

“Our member hospitals are well known for the first-class care they provide,” said John Lauck, president and CEO, Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. “They are lesser known for the fact that they are nonprofit organizations and rely heavily on community assistance. We appreciate Driven Brands’ commitment to help the kids in their communities and look forward to the many miracles that will result from their generous support.”

Maaco® and Meineke® will continue to support Driven Brands Charitable Foundation’s efforts throughout the year with in-shop promotions at the more than 1400 locations. All funds raised from this campaign will help create miracles by funding medical care, research and education that will continue to save and improve the lives of millions of children treated at Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals in the U.S. and Canada each year.

About Maaco:

Founded in 1972, Maaco Collision Repair & Auto Painting (www.maaco.com) repairs accident damage, dents and faded paint for close to 500,000 drivers annually. The 450 franchises have restored the safety and beauty of all types of vehicles for nearly 40 years. MAACO Franchising, Inc., headquartered in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, has been cited numerous times by Entrepreneur magazine as #1 in its category in the Annual Franchise 500 survey. The MAACO Auto Body Shop and Collision Center in Antioch is located at 1610 W 10th Street.

About Meineke:

Beginning in 1972, Meineke Car Care Centers (www.meineke.com) has expanded its menu of product offerings to meet the demands of a changing marketplace. In 1986, the chain relocated from Houston, TX to Charlotte, NC. Demonstrating steady growth, both domestically and internationally with locations in Canada, Mexico, South Korea, the Mid-East, China and new openings scheduled for Chile and Caribbean, Meineke now represents over 900 franchised service centers, with an additional 100 licenses sold and in development. The American Association of Franchisees & Dealers recognized Meineke in 2001 as its first automotive industry Franchisor to earn the coveted Fair Franchising Seal. Meineke regularly appears in Entrepreneur Magazine’s Annual Franchise 500 (55nd overall and #1 in class for 2011), a list of the 500 best franchise opportunities in America. The Meineke Car Care Center of Antioch is located at 1701 Auto Center Drive.

About Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals:

Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals® raises funds for 170 top and nonprofit children’s hospitals across North America, which, in turn, use the money where it’s needed most. When a donation is given it stays in the community, helping local kids. Since 1983, Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals has raised more than $4.3 billion, most of it $1 at a time. These donations have gone to support research and training, purchase equipment, and pay for uncompensated care, all in support of the mission to save and improve the lives of as many children as possible. Learn more at CMNHospitals.org.

Waypoint Homes Ribbon Cutting –  photo by Allen Payton

New Antioch, CA Center to serve as Regional Hub for Leasing, Services

Antioch Chamber of Commerce members joined Waypoint Homes Co-Founder and Managing Director Doug Brien on Monday, November 19, 2012 for a gala ribbon cutting to celebrate the official opening of Waypoint’s first regional Resident Services Center in Antioch. The Antioch center is the first in a series of regional centers the company plans to open to bring its leasing, property management and maintenance services closer to the communities it serves.

Brien said, “Some of the first homes we purchased were in Antioch – since those early days, we’ve invested more than $100 million in Contra Costa County, purchasing homes and renovating them to a high standard. We’re proud that the capital we’ve invested is helping to stabilize neighborhoods and housing prices, and grateful to Antioch for welcoming us. This is the perfect location for our first resident services center.”

In addition to Chamber of Commerce members, Brien was joined by Councilwoman and Mayor Pro Tem-elect Mary Rocha, who welcomed Waypoint to Antioch, City Manager Jim Jakel, Antioch School Board  President Diane Gibson-Gray, and Lisa Sherrill from the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano, among others. The company is running a promotion throughout November and December to support food banks in all the communities where it does business.

Waypoint Homes works with local realtors and contractors in the regions where it operates to purchase, renovate, and rent single-family homes. Residents can take advantage of the company’s trademarked Lease Plus Rewards® program, qualifying by completing a personalized Financial Fitness consultation and earning points during their lease term for paying their rent on time, maintaining their home, and completing additional financial education seminars. At the end of the lease term, they can convert their “Waypoints” toward the purchase of any home in any market where Waypoint does business, exchange the value in cash or choose from a variety of different upgrades to their home provided they are current on their rent.

For more information visit www.waypointhomes.com.

The Dow Community Advisory Panel (CAP) found more projects worthy of funding than they have in the last six years.  Typically, the CAP has distributed $15,000 to four or five local organizations.  Though the number of applications this year was fewer, they found a larger number of projects about which they were passionate.  This resulted in six projects being chosen and nearly $25,000 in grants being given.

The Dow CAP is pleased to announce the six organizations that will be receiving this year’s grants.  The grants vary from $3,000 to $5,000 each for a total of $24,740.  The recipients are:

·Antioch High School Environmental Studies Academy (Antioch) – Garden restoration Project:  replace greenhouse heater, build a chicken coop, create compost areas, construct a pond and more.

·Delta Science Center (Oakley) – Delta In-Classroom Education Program: purchase microscopes to bring into the fifth-grade science classrooms

·Independence High School (Brentwood) – Biology = Learning Outside: purchase of lab materials that will allow students to explore local ecology, specifically through entomology

·Los Medanos College Foundation (Pittsburg) – Nature Preserve Improvement Project: erecting two greenhouses, providing fresh water to promote growth of California native fruits and plants, and creating learning tools for visitors

·Orchard Park School (Oakley) – Inquiry-Based Science:  materials and supplies to equip a science lab

·Lone Tree Elementary (Antioch) – Purchase of six new computers

The successful applicants designed projects that combined all of Dow’s criteria – education, science and the environment –, would reach a large number of residents and would have staying power; projects that, though the funding would be used in one year, would continue to have an impact for many years. CAP members were pleased with the variety of applications they reviewed and expressed their hope that the ideas won’t die just because they don’t get funded.

Members of the CAP Grants Committee ranked applications based on sustainability, overall impact, benefits to the community, emphasis, and the strength of their partnerships.

“We were surprised that so few non-profits and schools applied this year,” stated Darien Croce, a member of the Dow CAP who participated in the grants review process. “However, we were really pleased with the quality of applications.  And nearly all fit Dow’s criteria to a ‘t’ so that made it doubly hard to choose.  In fact, we appealed to Dow to allow us to increase the amount of grants just so we could fund some really worthy projects – and we’re grateful they complied.  These six projects will have a far-reaching impact in our community.”

About Dow

Dow is a diversified chemical company that combines the power of science and technology with the “Human Element” to constantly improve what is essential to human progress. The Company delivers a broad range of products and services to customers in approximately 160 countries, connecting chemistry and innovation with the principles of sustainability to help provide everything from fresh water, food and pharmaceuticals to paints, packaging and personal care products. In 2008, Dow had annual sales of $57.5 billion and employed approximately 46,000 people worldwide. The Company has 150 manufacturing sites in 35 countries and produces approximately 3,300 products. On April 1, 2009, Dow acquired Rohm and Haas Company, a global specialty materials company with sales of $10 billion in 2008, 98 manufacturing sites in 30 countries and approximately 15,000 employees worldwide. References to “Dow” or the “Company” mean The Dow Chemical Company and its consolidated subsidiaries unless otherwise expressly noted. More information about Dow can be found at www.dow.com.

About Dow’s Pittsburg Operations

The Dow Chemical Company purchased the Pittsburg facility in 1939 from the Great Western Electrochemical Company. It is one of more than 150 manufacturing sites located in 37 countries around the world and supports two of Dow’s eight global businesses – Dow AgroSciences and Performance Chemicals.  The Pittsburg facility produces a variety of products used in personal care products as well as a variety of crop protection products and intermediates. www.dowpittsburg.com

About the Dow CAP

The Dow Community Advisory Panel (CAP) is comprised of 14 members of the East Contra Costa community who serve to advise Dow on issues affecting both the community and Dow’s operations in the community.

Tomatoes grow in abundance with the help of the Tower Garden.

On your patio or balcony

By Gwen O’Neill

Ask experienced gardeners about their secrets to success and they will tell you about the soil. Is it fertile, does it hold water and what is its structure? These are critical factors to succeed for traditional gardeners everywhere. Now take the soil out of the equation and you have another way of growing plants. Hydroponic and aeroponic gardening uses water and mineral solutions but no soil.

Hydroponics has been around for hundreds of years, but recent breakthroughs in technology have yielded new options for the home gardener. Many challenges such as busy home life, jobs, family commitments and other influences like weather and wildlife make what was at first enjoyable, a now backbreaking chore.

No more digging in the dirt.

Digging holes and tilling soil is not fun or easy. Protecting the plants from squirrels and other pests adds another level of

Tower garden

challenge.

A new system of gardening that anyone can do, virtually anywhere is a combination of container gardening and hydroponic gardening. This single unit holds a promise of success for the home gardener with less time involved, is an affordable investment and is moved easily.

Single unit portable system

The plant tower combines aeration technology with the flexibility and convenience of a container garden in a single unit. If you are tired of battling gophers and snails, digging in clay and hauling bags of compost and soil amendments into the garden only to have them break down over time and disappear, this advanced form of hydroponic gardening may be your new gardening passion!

Imagine a lightweight plant tower that assembles like a fountain with a reservoir and pump at the bottom, small enough to sit on a deck or porch, with castors to facilitate easy movement to take advantage of changing sun patterns as the seasons change. The tower garden® is a high quality unit made of food grade plastic with steel hardware for long-lasting durability, which uses closed system technology to recycle 90% of water and nutrients. Taking soil born pests and diseases out of your garden and growing your garden gets easier with the tower garden®.

Produce in Half the Time

This use of technology not only saves backs and pocketbooks, but it produces meals from seeds in half the time of conventional growing techniques. This system delivers the produce for only the cost of seeds and a modest amount of electricity to run the pump, producing a bountiful harvest that any professional farmer could be proud of!

Do you remember sprouting an avocado pit or Lima beans in a glass of water as a child? Do you remember how exciting it was to see that first bit of root emerge, and then a tiny sprout? That miracle of life emerges quickly through this unit in the form of lettuce, tomatoes, chard, herbs, beans, berries and more. The units can be stacked to create taller towers to maximize crop yield in a small area.

The seeds germinate in a day or two, and the seedlings harden off in a week or two, which makes this system easy to be a successful grower. The roots of your seedlings are continually bathed in nutrient solution in a highly oxygenated environment, which allows the plants to grow at an accelerated rate.

The uses for this system are wide and varied. Use them in a greenhouse, on a roof or a deck, for schools, food banks and shelters, restaurants, for commercial or for home use. Good health begins with good organic foods. You no longer need to rely on expensive commercially produced fruits and vegetables to support the needs of your family.

The towers were introduced to the market in April of 2012 and are available for purchase with an interest-free payment plan.

For information, contact Gwen O’Neill at 925-777-9780 or visit her blog at www.gwenoneillgarden.com. Additional information can be found at http://gwenoneill.towergarden.com.