Jennifer and Rick Fuller and The Rick Fuller Team, 2019 Antioch Small Business of the Year. Photo courtesy of Rick Fuller.

This is a second in a series of articles on the annual awards presented Friday night, Sept. 24 by the Antioch Chamber of Commerce during its Gala Dinner. It was held virtually, this year and honored the city’s most outstanding residents and organizations with their annual awards.

Business of the Year

The Business of the Year is chosen based on the way the company gives back to community outside its normal business practice. Recipients usually support multiple groups in our community and realize that a strong local economy is based on a strong community. This category has been divided into Large/Corporate and Small Business Categories.

Rick Fuller speaks as his wife and business partner Jennifer looks on thanking the Chamber for the honor. Photo courtesy of the Chamber.

Small Business – Rick Fuller Team

Rick Fuller grew up in Antioch and graduated from Antioch High School in 1994.  Rick and his wife Jennifer have three amazing daughters: April, Autumn & Summer.  Rick serves the City of Antioch on the Economic Development Commission.

The Rick Fuller Team is dedicated to providing the kind of service their clients would be happy to tell a friend about. With passion and hard work, the Rick Fuller Team had the privilege of serving over 250 families in 2019 and have received nearly 1,000 five-star reviews online.

The Rick Fuller Team has raised over $1.25 Million and served over 2100 local homeless and foster children through the nonprofit Royal Family Kids since 2001.  Royal Family Kids provides camps, clubs and mentoring for homeless and foster children.  In 2019, With community support, they also raised $100,000 in 12 weeks for a young lady named Malysa (Melissa) who desperately needed a second heart transplant.

Travis Credit Union Antioch Branch Manager Marivel Branco and Assistant Vice President & Regional Manager Jennifer Victor receive the plaque and honors from Mayor Sean Wright, COO of the Antioch Chamber of Commerce. Photo courtesy of the Chamber.

Large Business – Travis Credit Union

Travis Credit Union works every day to make a difference in the lives of the people they serve. As a secure and trusted financial institution, they advocate for the financial education and wellbeing of each of their members, assist the underserved, and invest in our communities. Travis Credit Union has offered free financial education seminars for over a decade, which has resulted in many community members of all ages educated and financially literate. Monthly financial education seminars provided in partnership with the Antioch Public Library cover topics such as Building Budgets, Understanding Credit, ID Theft and Prevention, Organizing Financial Records, and many more.

As part of their efforts in educating the communities we serve, Travis Credit Union focuses on the underserved population of young adults. Travis Credit Union has offered Mad City Money to over 10,000 young adults, which include residents of Antioch. Building skills that will last a lifetime, participants in Mad City Money learn how handling adult finances doesn’t have to be difficult. The 3Y,-hour simulation allows young adults to make decisions about budgeting, spending, borrowing, and saving in an assigned-life scenario. Financial education is not part of the school curriculum, and it is our responsibility as a community to ensure young adults are walking into adulthood with the tools necessary to be financially healthy.

Travis Credit Union is passionate about changing lives and lifting communities through financial well ness. What sets Travis Credit Union apart from the rest is its commitment and dedication toward building authentic community impact through its “Awesome Cause”- Financial Education, Financial Literacy, and Financial Advocacy. Through the Awesome Cause, Travis Credit Union has established partnerships with many non-profit organizations such as; Opportunity Junction, The Lighthouse Mentoring Center, Courageous and Emerging Leadership Academy (CELA), Antioch Parks and Recreation, and Antioch Public Library to name a few.

Further demonstrating their commitment to the Antioch community, the local branch staff engages in community events such as the Antioch 4th of July Parade, Chamber Mixers, and many fundraising events.

Travis Credit Union has established many local partnerships, including the city of Antioch, to be able to offer Mad City Money to young adults between the ages of 14-24. Each participant receives a temporary identity, including occupation, salary, debt, marital status, children to give participants a sense of adulthood, and paying bills. Participants visit “merchants” in Mad City to choose housing, transportation, necessities and wants. The goal is ultimately to simulate the realities of approaching financial responsibilities and teach the tools to make better financial decisions. The Antioch Chamber of Commerce has participated for many years providing volunteers to become merchants at Mad City Money. Having the business community involved and allowing the youth to see their local merchants is positive community engagement. Mad City Money is more than just financial education. It is an opportunity for the entire community to come together and support the new generation.

Decorate your car to show veterans your support!

By Gerald J.R. Wilson, Jr., President, Antioch Veterans Day Committee

Antioch Herald file photo.

Every year on Veterans Day, November 11, Antioch becomes the jewel of the California Delta with a whole day of events to recognize those that have served our great country.  We would be honored for you to be a part of this great Veterans Day Celebration.

The day’s festivities start off at the Antioch Veterans Memorial with a Drive-In Style Ceremony beginning at 10:00 at the foot of L Street next to the Antioch Marina and boat launch parking lots.

Please be parked by 9:50 A.M.  You will be able to tune into the ceremony on your radio at FM 87.9. We will have a Flag Raising Ceremony, our main speaker will be Dr. Dan Helix, we will be introducing the Antioch Lifetime Veteran of the Year and the Antioch Veteran of the Year for 2020/2021, and we will be introducing the artist for the Antioch Veterans Memorial Mural.

This year unfortunately, we will not be having a Veterans Day Parade, However, that doesn’t mean you can’t let our veterans know how much you support them by decorating your car in a patriotic theme. We ask that after the ceremony you take a self-guided tour in your patriotic decorated car to other Antioch veteran spots:

1. Antioch Veterans Memorial
2. Antioch Historical Society
3. WWI Veterans Memorial at the CCC Fairgrounds
4. Oak View Cemetery Veterans Memorial
5. Ending at the Antioch VFW

U.S.S. ATR-28. Sept. 28, 1944. Photo by Fulton Shipyard.

Antioch has a long history of supporting our local troops, The Fulton Shipyard, located on the historic waterfront, built ships for the U.S. Navy ships during World War II and the Korea Conflict (war). Fulton Shipyard began operations in 1924 on the western portion of the grounds. Frank Leslie Fulton and Angeline Fulton Fredericks purchased the property in 1924 and began doing business as Fulton Shipyard, a predecessor of Fulton Shipyard, Inc. in 1928. Shell Oil Company owned and operated a fuel transfer station on a portion of the Site. Fulton Shipyard, Inc. purchased it from the Shell Oil Company in 1942.

During WWII, the U.S. government confiscated the terminal and later transferred it to the Fulton family. Prior to the war, the shipyard primarily built and repaired small wooden and metal boats, mostly tugs and river freighters. During both wars they built a variety of ships including two Aggressive Class minesweepers. In later years, the shipyard focused on sandblasting and painting vessels, while engine repair work mostly ended in the 1970s. It closed in 1999.

City staff has put together a great video highlighting our past Veterans Day Parade and Celebration.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bL7VIWDRVIg

As in years past, the City of Antioch has partnered with the veterans’ community to bring this celebration of our veterans.  We want to recognize the City of Antioch departments and staff that have worked so hard to make sure the day’s events occur without a hitch.  THANK YOU!!!!

Please abide by the Contra Costa County COVID-19 health orders. Social distancing and please wear a mask at all times.

Fun, Educational Annual Event Taken Off Concord Training Grounds and Into Residents Homes to Ensure COVID-19 Safety

WHEN: Saturday, Oct. 31, beginning at 8 a.m.

WHERE: Online at www.cccfpd.org/annual-open-house

WHAT: Contra Costa County Fire Protection District (Con Fire) hosts its Annual Fire Prevention Open House Saturday with a wide array of educational and potentially lifesaving presentations for every member of the family.

This year, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, we are taking our normally live and all-day event off the Concord Training Grounds and into resident’s homes using a variety of information-packed videos.

Virtual open house content is available to media for reporting purposes ahead of public release. All open house content will be posted to the Con Fire website beginning at 6 a.m. Saturday.

We’ll appreciate media sharing this unique, COVID-19 inspired virtual event with Bay Area audiences using the attached flyer and linked video content.

ADDITIONAL INFO: Open house video here: http://bit.ly/2020OpenHouseWelcomeVideo

Images of past years’ attendees available here: http://bit.ly/2019OpenHousePics

CONTACT: Steve Hill, PIO, Contra Costa County Fire Protection District, (925) 532-6512

About Contra Costa County Fire Protection District (Con Fire) — A recognized fire service leader — Con Fire provides fire and emergency medical services to more than a million people across its 304 square-mile District area, and through mutual aid, in and around the 20 cities and unincorporated communities of Contra Costa County, California. With few exceptions, county emergency ambulance transport services are provided by Con Fire through its unique sub-contractor Alliance model. In 2019, the District responded to nearly 78,000 fire and EMS emergencies and dispatched some 95,000 ambulances, providing expert medical care on more than 74,000 ambulance transports. The District, with 26 fire stations and more than 400 employees, is dedicated to preserving life, property and the environment.

Invites Antioch residents to add their ideas to the list

Gabe Makinano, announced additions to his Vision 2020 for Antioch, including the new, long-planned library at Prewett Park, the completion of the 115-acre park and a concrete pad at the park  for the annual Big Chill outdoor ice skating rink.

“Antioch is the second largest city in the county, yet Brentwood has a nicer, larger library, and Walnut Creek has two libraries. So, it’s time we have a nice, new, large library for our residents, too,” Makinano said. “The location has been planned for the open land next to the Community Center at Prewett Park.”

Location of the proposed new library at Prewett Park on Lone Tree Way in Antioch.

“The addition of this library to our community will help with the education of our students and all residents,” he added.

Makinano wants to complete the 115-acre Master Plan for Prewett Park – the west side remaining land, from the parking lot to Deer Valley Road, including the library. He proposes requiring the new homes in the Sand Creek area and other parts of Antioch pay for it, like the Mello Roos District homeowners paid for the other portion of Prewett Park, including the Antioch Waterpark and Antioch Community Center.

“This is one of the city’s Community Parks and is supposed to serve the entire city,’ he said. “It needs to be completed. The Disc Golf Course can remain in that area. But there’s room for much more on the west side.”

Map showing the western portion of Prewett Park included in the 115-acre master plan.

Finally, Makinano wants the city to build a concrete pad to accommodate an annual outdoor Ice Skating Rink at Prewett Park on the eastern end near the Skate Park. He will work with Big Chill owners who are looking for a permanent location. The pad can be used for other, outdoor and tent covered events during the rest of the year.

Site of the concrete pad Makinano is proposing be used for the Big Chill outdoor ice skating rink and other events and activities.

“Let’s have more fun things to do for our kids and families, all year long, throughout the city,” he said.

Gabriel Makinano

Makinano’s vision includes a variety of items under the six areas he is focusing on during his campaign and will work on once elected: Increased Public Safety; Local, Quality Jobs; Improved Education; Housing for All; and a Revitalized Rivertown – Antioch’s Historic Downtown, and now, Parks & Recreation.

He will take his leadership skills, community connections and what he’s already been working on, along with the rest of the city council and staff to make the items in his vision a reality.

Vote Makinano for Mayor, the only candidate with a vision for a brighter future for Antioch and a plan to make it happen. To see his entire Vision 2020 for Antioch visit www.VoteGMakinano.com. If residents want to help add to the vision, they’re invited to email their ideas to Gabe at votegmakinano@gmail.com. If their idea is included in his Vision 2020, they will get the credit and have their name mentioned with their idea.

Dear Editor:

At the end of Tuesday night’s council meeting, Councilmember Lori Ogorchock called for a moratorium on charter schools in the city.  As a City Councilmember, why is she concerned with a school board issue, and not focusing on the major issues that the city is currently dealing with?  The topic on the Rivertown Revitalization came up, and she had no real comments on that item besides being confused on what Mayor Pro Tem Joy Motts was asking.

When Mayor Sean Wright asked for suggestions for future agenda items, this is where a leader takes the opportunity to place ideas on the agenda for the city council to discuss. Revitalization of the Nick Rodriguez Community Center could have been placed on the agenda.  With property renovations and expansions of that center, both the youth and senior citizens can enjoy the community center.  Currently, the youth who live the vicinity of the Nick Rodriguez Community Center do not have the same luxuries as the Antioch Community Center on Lone Tree Way.

Revitalization includes reducing blight.  Antioch goes beyond the Rivertown and many area of Antioch are experiencing blight.  A new topic on city-wide beautification could have been added to the agenda.  As a council representative of District 3, losing focus on the rest of the city does the residents of Antioch a disservice.  We need broader thinking.  Focusing on something the city council has nothing to do with instead of on the issues they can do something about is what has brought us to where we are in the last six years since Lori Ogorchock was elected.

It is time to place cleaning up Antioch on the agenda, and really mean it.  The city is divided into districts.  However, we are one city.  My recommendation as an agenda item is to place citywide, small beautification projects on the agenda.  Let’s start small and work our way around the city.

Our city deserves the best.  As a candidate for Antioch City Council, District 3, I plan to focus on cleaning up our city, ensuring the development and availability of youth development programs here in Antioch, and ensuring our police department is funded and staffed in order to protect and uphold the beauty of our city.  This election year is our chance to make necessary change.  November 3rd, vote Antwon Webster for Antioch City Council, District 3.

Respectfully,

Antwon Webster

https://antwonwebster.com

2019 Antioch Citizen of the Year for Most Impact, Wanda Hom presented with her plaque and other recognitions by Mayor Sean Wright (photo by Chamber of Commerce) and the late Ralph Garrow, Jr., the 2019 Antioch Citizen of the Year for Lifetime Achievement.

On Friday night, Sept. 24 the Antioch Chamber of Commerce held its Gala Dinner, this year virtually, and honored the city’s most outstanding residents and organizations with their annual awards. About 65 people watched from their homes on their computers or phones to celebrate this year’s honorees, while eating a take-out dinner from one of the Antioch restaurants they had to choose from.

“We are honored to be part of a community that has so many involved members,” said Antioch Mayor Sean Wright, the Chief Operating Officer of the Chamber, who served as Master of Ceremonies for the event. “Most often this is done without thought to recognition. The Antioch Chamber of Commerce believes it is important to honor those that help create our dynamic city. The nominees for most awards come from our membership and the community. The extremely difficult job of selection is made by a committee for all but the Chairman’s Award. Often many wonderful citizens and companies seem to be overlooked: but in reality, we simply do not receive a nomination.”

The honorees included Citizen of the Year for Most Impact Wanda Hom, Citizen of the Year for Lifetime Achievement, the late Ralph Garrow who passed away, earlier this year; Small Business of the Year the Rick Fuller Real Estate Team; Large Business of the Year  Travis Credit Union; Youth of the Year, Antioch High School Senior Chris Garcia; Veteran of the Year, U.S. Army, Vietnam Veteran, Past Galt VFW Commander, and current Antioch VFW Post 6435 Commander, Denny Hollison; and Non-Profit of the Year, Fellowship Church and Co-Ambassadors of the Year Jose Solorio and Tom McNell. Garrow was presented with his plaque and other recognitions at his home, earlier this year prior to his passing. (See related article) The awards were announced earlier this year in anticipation of the annual Gala which was scheduled for April, prior to the COVID-19 shelter in place order. (See related article) Each of the other categories will be featured in separate articles on this website, throughout this week.

Citizen of the Year Award

This award has a history dating back to 1947. The Citizen of the Year is now divided into Most Impact for the previous year and Lifetime Achievement, a person who has contributed to the community this year but also someone who has a history of working in the community for the betterment of everyone.

Citizen of the Year – Most Impact Wanda Hom

What does a citizen of the year look like?  What are the values and impacts of a good citizen?  Let me answer those questions by introducing our 2020 Chamber of Commerce Antioch Citizen of the Year, Wanda Hom.

Wanda has lived in Antioch for 31 years with her husband Marty while raising two children, Allison and Kevin who graduated from Deer Valley High School.

Immediately, Wanda began impacting the Antioch community by volunteering and getting involved in the community.  She spent immeasurable time at our Antioch schools volunteering to inspire and prepare young people to succeed and reach their potential.  She was also the face of Junior Achievement fostering our students to be work-ready, become entrepreneurs, and become financially literate.

Fourteen years ago, she helped create an educational foundation for Deer Valley High School and it has since become her passion.  Over these years, the foundation has raised $200,000 that has provided many programs and materials for the high school.  She has also coordinated the Every 15 Minutes Program for 15 years.  This program has reached over 8,000 high school students at a crucial age showing them that decisions and consequences are an everyday reality. We read about unfortunate accidents every day, and this is the strongest tool we have to prevent them.

Wanda follows and respects the rules of our community, she takes care of our environment, she volunteers in community organizations, she is respectful, she helps people in need, she is a good person!  Our 2019 Citizen of the Year – Most Impact is Wanda Hom.

Hom is the Accounting Activities Specialist for Deer Valley High School and works with the student clubs and athletics to manage all the funds they bring in.

“Oh, man, I don’t believe it,” she said with a laugh, when reached for comment when the awards were first announced, earlier this year. “I’m very honored and don’t feel deserving. There are so many others in Antioch who are more deserving. But, I’m happy to highlight Deer Valley High School and all of the things we do, here.”

Asked about her activities in 2019, Hom responded, “it would be our educational foundation and its support for the school and the Every 15 Minutes driving safety program.”

“The Deer Valley Educational Advancement Foundation, which was started by the parents, has been around about 14 years, supporting the school,” she explained. “This year they’ll be raising funds for the choir to pay for risers with backs on them for safety. We’re always a place for homeless and foster students providing them with supplies and materials, such as backpacks.”

Citizen of the Year – Lifetime Achievement – Ralph Garrow Jr

Ralph grew up in Antioch and graduated from Antioch High School in 1970 as Valedictorian and Drum Major of the Panther Marching Band. He then graduated from Stanford University and studied theatre production at the Yale School of Drama, after which he entered the family business as a homebuilder for 20 years and then transitioned to selling and managing real estate as a REALTOR® up to the present day as President of Ralph Garrow Real Estate.

Along the way, Ralph consulted on the creation of the theatre space in the Antioch Community Center downtown, served as 2009 Chairman of the Antioch Chamber of Commerce where he spearheaded the Vision 2020 program, was 2011 President of the Delta Association of REALTORS® and was recognized as the Delta REALTOR of the Year for 2009. He is the current president of Rotary Club of the Delta (Antioch) and is a state appointed director of the California Association of REALTORS. A personal high point was finishing the Honolulu Marathon in 2004. Ralph is a diehard Oakland Athletics and Stanford football fan so attending as many games as possible is his hobby.

Always finding time to volunteer for community service, Ralph coached his sons in CYO Basketball and Little League Baseball. He also served on the boards of the Delta Memorial Hospital Foundation, Antioch Little League (3 years as President), Hapgood Theatre, Building Industry Association, Berkeley Repertory Theatre and the Magic Theatre. He served on the Hillside and Measure “C” Subcommittees for the City of Antioch.

Ralph lives in Antioch with Laurie, his wife of 36 years, and they raised two sons, Ian and Alex. Ralph and Laurie enjoy driving a route in Antioch together for Meals on Wheels. They travel often and continue to get involved in community activities and support local organizations as much as they can.

Our 2019 Citizen of the Year – Lifetime Achievement is the late Ralph Garrow.

“I’m honored but I don’t necessarily believe I deserve it. I care a lot about Antioch, so, maybe my life has reflected that,” Garrow said, when reached for comment earlier this year.

Allen Payton contributed to this report.