Another Halloween Pawty!

By Antioch Animal Services

The APD Haunted House returns! 

We are excited to be having another Halloween Pawty and this time alongside Antioch Police Department who are returning with their Haunted House.

Enjoy K9, SWAT, Drone, Crisis Negotiations Team and Motor Unit demonstrations.

The event will be held on Friday, Oct. 31 from 3-6 p.m. at 300 L Street in Antioch’s historic, downtown Rivertown.

We are accepting candy donations at Antioch Animal Services next door to the Antioch Police Facility.

Prime Days are offering deals right meow… More event details coming soon! 

Community partners joined forces in Antioch to deliver fresh groceries, essential goods and compassion to hundreds of local families

By Steve Spraitzar, Public Relations & Trish Heaney – Marketing & Communications Manager, White Pony Express

Antioch, Calif. — On Saturday, October 18, 2025, White Pony Express (WPE) and Kaiser Permanente came together at Kaiser’s Antioch Medical Center to celebrate a remarkable milestone—the rescue and delivery of 32 million pounds of fresh, nutritious food since WPE’s founding in 2013.

The joyful Drive-thru Giveaway welcomed hundreds of local residents who received bags brimming with healthy groceries, hygiene kits, toys, books, and sweet treats. In total, WPE distributed more than 5,000 pounds of fresh foodand 1,000 hygiene kits, along with See’s Candies and other gifts to brighten the day for every family who came through.

The celebration was more than a giveaway—it was a gathering of community spirit and compassion. Volunteers offered smiles and encouragement, and new connections were formed in the heart of Antioch, strengthening bonds across East Contra Costa County.

“At White Pony Express, we believe that when one neighbor is fed, we’re all nourished,” said Eve Birge, CEO of White Pony Express. “Together with Kaiser Permanente and our community partners, we celebrate this milestone not only in pounds of food shared, but in the love that flows from neighbor to neighbor. This event reminds us that compassion is our greatest resource—and when we share it freely, everyone benefits.”

Eve added, “Today, collaboration is needed more than ever. These partnerships enable us to maximize resources. Working together, we believe we can provide access to good food to everybody in our community. And we couldn’t do it without partnerships like this.”

Pam Galley, Senior Vice President and Area Manager for Kaiser Permanente’s Diablo Service Area, shared, “At Kaiser Permanente, we believe that food is medicine, and good nutrition helps prevent and treat chronic disease. Everyone deserves access to healthy food, and through community partnerships like this one with White Pony Express, we are helping to improve the health of the communities we serve.”

Together, White Pony Express and Kaiser Permanente demonstrated what’s possible when compassion meets action—when organizations unite to ensure every neighbor has access to the nourishment and care they deserve.

About White Pony Express

Founded in 2013 by Dr. Carol Weyland Conner, White Pony Express is a volunteer-powered nonprofit based in Contra Costa County. Its mission is to eliminate hunger and poverty by delivering the abundance all around us to those in need—with love. WPE now rescues and redistributes approximately 14,000 pounds of fresh food daily to more than 100 partner agencies, supported by 1,200 dedicated volunteers who live the motto: “All of us taking care of all of us.”

For more information visit www.gracearmsofantioch.org or www.gbfofantioch.org.

Golden Hills Community Church is located at 2401 Shady Willow Lane in Brentwood. For more information and service times visit www.goldenhills.org or call (925) 516-0653.

Two Vitalant donors in November will win $10,000

Antioch Blood Drives Oct. 31, Nov. 14

By Kevin Adler, Communications Manager, Vitalant

Every two seconds, a patient in the U.S. needs blood but fewer donors give as end-of-year holiday activities start to fill calendars. That’s why nonprofit Vitalant is urging all eligible donors to give thanks for their good health and make an appointment to give blood this November. Just an hour time commitment helps ensure every patient’s blood need can be met all through the holidays.  

It takes donors of all blood types to keep the blood supply stable, especially type O and platelet donors. O-negative blood can help any patient. O-positive, the most common blood type, can help anyone with a positive blood type.

Blood Helps Even the Littlest of Patients

November is also National Prematurity Awareness Month. Premature infants commonly have anemia and need blood transfusions to help them thrive. The National Institutes of Health cites more than 80% of extremely preterm infants need at least one transfusion in their first month.

Vitalant is thanking donors in November with a chance to win one of two $10,000 prepaid gift cards in the Shopping Spree Giveaway.

Learn more and make an appointment to give by visiting vitalant.org, download the Vitalant app or call 877-25-VITAL (877-258-4825).

Upcoming Blood Drives in Contra Costa County

October 31, Friday – Antioch, Dozier-Libbey Medical High School, 10:00 AM – 1:45 PM

November 4, Tuesday – Walnut Creek, Mt. Diablo Unitarian Universalist Church, 10:00 AM – 2:30 PM

November 11, Tuesday – Pleasant Hill, Stokley Properties, 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM

November 12, Wednesday – Martinez, Alhambra High School, 9:00 AM – 1:30 PM

November 19, Wednesday – Antioch, Kaiser Sand Creek, 9:00 AM – 1:15 PM

November 22, Saturday – El Cerrito, Sycamore Christian Preschool, 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM

These are just a few of the nearly 100 community blood drives being held in November. Donors can also give at any of the six Vitalant donation centers in the area.

About Vitalant

Vitalant (Vye-TAL-ent) is one of the nation’s largest nonprofit blood and biotherapies healthcare organizations, providing hospitals and patients across the U.S. a safe blood supply, specialized laboratory services, transfusion medicine expertise and world-renowned research. Individuals generously donating blood, volunteering and giving financially are essential to our lifesaving mission. Learn more at vitalant.org.

Join us for our annual delicious tour of local restaurants!

Date: Sunday, November 2, 2025

Time: 1:00 PM – 6:00 PM

Ticket Price: $20.00 – All proceeds benefit local charities!

Tickets can be purchased here on Eventbrite, from any Kiwanian, the individuals listed below, or on Zeffy at https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/kiwanis-club-of-the-delta-antioch-pride-of-the-delta-restaurant-tour–2025-2

How it works:

• Visit any of the participating restaurants in any order you choose.
• Your ticket gets you a food sample from each location.
• Beverages and additional food must be purchased separately.
• Must visit all locations and get your ticket punched to be eligible for the special prize drawing!

Participating Restaurants:

• Bagel Street Café (1-3pm only) – 4893 Lone Tree Way – Antioch, CA
• Dad’s BBQ – 5887 Lone Tree Way, Suite R – Antioch, CA
• Hop Asylum (Must be 21 or over) – 2411 Empire Ave. #102 – Brentwood, Ca
• Celia’s Mexican Restaurant – 523 West 10th Street – Antioch, CA
• Freddy B’s BBQ – 1803 West 10th Street – Antioch, CA
• Beer Garden Pizzeria – 809 West 2nd Street – Antioch, CA
• Sawaddee Thai Filipino Cuisine – 1884 A St. – Antioch, CA
• The Original Mel’s Diner – 4827 Lone Tree Way, – Antioch, CA
• Skipolini’s – 901 Fitzuren Rd.- Antioch, CA
• Smith’s Landing Seafood Grill – 1 Marina Plaza – Antioch, CA
• Monica’s Riverview (3-6pm only) – 1 I Street – Antioch, CA
• The Four Seasonings Steakhouse (3-6pm only) – 304 G St – Antioch, CA
• The Hen and Drake Modern Tea Room (3-6pm only) – 520 West 2nd St. – Antioch, CA
• Antioch Tap House (3-6pm only) – 2709 Hillcrest Ave – Antioch, CA
• Lone Tree Golf & Event Center (3-6pm only) – 4800 Golf Course Road – Antioch, CA

Get your tickets today and help support our community!

To purchase tickets, please contact: Kay Power 925-202-3519 or Allison Norris 925-642-5404

For more information about Kiwanis of the Delta, visit www.facebook.com/KCODeltaAntioch.

Ring it Loud, Antioch! Ring it Proud!

1871 First Congregational Church bell; Society’s 50-year anniversary; 25-year anniversary at 1910 Riverview Union High School

By Carla Baker Marymee & Tom Menasco

The Antioch Historical Society invites the public on Sat., Nov. 1 at 11 a.m. rain or shine to celebrate a historically significant addition to the museum and two milestones. The groundbreaking was held on Wednesday, July 23, 2025. (See related article)

The museum is dedicating the refurbished 1871 First Congregational Church Bell housed in the newly constructed Unity Bell Tower. It is also celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Antioch Historical Society and the 25-year anniversary of residing at the historic 1910 Riverview Union High School Building.

Through the “Ring it loud, Antioch! Ring it proud!” marketing campaign and successful fundraising initiatives, the museum raised more than $85,000.00 to refurbish what is said to be one of the oldest artifacts from the settling of Antioch by early Americans.

The First Congregational Church traces its roots to June 12, 1865 and the bell brought early members of the church together as it rung loudly across the city.

To thank the Antioch community, sponsors, and donors for their financial support, the society is having a dedication and celebration that features — free lunch and anniversary cake, free tours of the museum and the Sports Legends Hall of Fame, free souvenir bells, oldies music by DJ Jim Lanter, and jazz by the Deer Valley Jazz Band.

There will be opportunities for children to see and experience the 1927 Model “T” Ford Fire Truck and the 1929 Santa Fe Red Caboose outside. The elegant museum theater will be open and showing videos of the restored Santa Fe Red Caboose. There will also be poetry reading and special discounts to become a member of the Antioch Historical Society.

“We are very proud to have brought this church bell back to life for our community to treasure and enjoy. The celebration on Nov. 1 is our way to acknowledge and thank all who supported this project,” Shari Gayle, Antioch Historical Society president said.

According to church documents, the First Congregational Church prioritized hospitality and welcomed all without exception, including African Americans as early as 1875 and children of Chinese laborers building the Delta levees.  

“The Unity Bell Tower, housing the 154-year-old bell from the First Congregational Church of 1871, honors the radically inclusive spirit of that church. It welcomed men, women, and children of all races—long before such inclusion was common,” Dwayne Eubanks, past president and project team coordinator said.

“I’m deeply grateful to have contributed to this effort—from helping secure the bell to co-designing the tower and supporting a remarkable team of volunteers through its completion. This was a labor of love, grounded in patience, collaboration, and a shared devotion to our community’s legacy. It remains one of the most rewarding experiences of my time with the Historical Society,” he said.

The project has been generously supported by major sponsors including: the City of Antioch, Kaiser Permanente Hospital, Kiwanis Club of the Delta, Wayne E Swisher Cement Contractor, Drill Tech Drilling & Shoring, Inc., and the East Bay Community Foundation.

The museum received scores of individual donations from the community, local businesses, and non-profit organizations including: Delta Veterans’ Group and Antioch Veterans Banner Program, St. Ignatius Catholic Church, Fontana Family Foundation, Antioch Rotary Club, and the Class of ’66 Antioch High School.

Special thanks go to Evans & Son Masonry, Best West Roofing, Eddie’s Coats, Black Diamond Electric, and Guepardo Landscaping.  

The Antioch Historical Museum resides within the 1910 Riverview Union High School, a site listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The museum, located at 1500 W. 4th St., is also home of the Antioch Sports Legends Hall of Fame program. The Sports Legends Hall of Fame showcases and honors the achievements of local individual athletes and teams. The museum is open on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

For more information, visit the website http://antiochhistoricalmuseum.org/ or check out the Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/antiochhistoricalmuseum/

For more information contact: Dwayne Eubanks at the Antioch Historical Society Museum at (925) 757-1326 or AntiochHistoricalsociety@comcast.net.