To honor 2025 Business, Citizen, Non-Profit & Youth of the Year

Nomination Deadline: Feb. 13

By Jim Becker, 2026 Board Chair, Antioch Chamber of Commerce

It’s time to celebrate excellence in our community! I invite you to nominate outstanding businesses, individuals, and nonprofits for our Business of the Year, Citizen of the Year, and Nonprofit of the Year awards. The winners will be honored at the annual Chamber Gala on March 27  at the Lone Tree Golf & Event Center.

This year’s theme is, “A New Chapter: Antioch’s Gala for Renewal & Opportunity.” We will also hold the Installation of the 2026 Antioch Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors.

Your nominations help us recognize those who make a real difference in Antioch.

Nominate Now:

Business of the Year Application 

Citizen of the Year Application 

Nonprofit of the Year Application

Youth of the Year Application 

Nomination Deadline: February 13, 2026

Submission Instructions: Return the forms to Antioch Chamber of Commerce, PO Box 1711 Antioch, CA 94509.

Thank you for helping us honor the best in our community. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to us at (925) 757-1800 or email frontdeskadmin@antiochchamber.com.

Annual Gala

The Annual Gala will include the Awards Ceremony, Silent Auction, Golden Tickets, 50/50 Raffle, No-host bar, Music by DJ GBaby and Dinner Buffet:

• Fresh baked garlic rolls & garlic butter
• Italian green salad with vinaigrette
• Lone Tree Caesar salad with marinated tomatoes, croutons & shaved parmesan cheese
• Antipasto platter
• Sauteed Italian vegetables
• Cheese tortellini with shrimp & alfredo sauce
• Steak marsala
• Chicken piccata
• Penne in house-made marinara sauce
• Dessert
• Tiramisu
• Complimentary beverages included with dinner
• Tea, Coffee, & Water

Tickets are $100 per person and available for purchase at Antioch Chamber of Commerce Gala.

Let’s celebrate those who make Antioch thrive!

Allen D. Payton contributed to this announcement.

Deadline: Feb. 1; Awards Celebration: Feb. 26

By Juliet V. Casey, Director of Marketing, Los Medanos College

Los Medanos College (LMC) is pleased to announce its call for nominees, recognizing community civil rights and social justice champions, and students whose activism sets them apart as emerging leaders. Use this form (or visit www.losmedanos.edu/mlk) to submit a nomination. The nomination deadline is February 1, 2026. 

Award recipients will be honored at LMC’s 2026 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Awards Celebration at 11 a.m. on Feb. 26, 2026, in the Student Union Conference Center of the Pittsburg Campus, 2700 E. Leland Road.

Award Categories:

Emerging Leadership Award

The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Emerging Leadership Award recognizes an LMC student or alumnus who embodies the spirit of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and, who within the past year, has made a significant difference on the LMC campus or in the local community through advocacy and social justice. Emerging leaders in our community exemplify the principles of Dr. King and affect social change. Dr. King once said, “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’”

Visionary Leadership Award

The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Visionary Leadership Award recognizes a member of the East Contra Costa County community who demonstrates the qualities of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The Visionary Leadership Award honors individuals who embody Dr. King’s strengths as a transformational, servant leader. Dr. King inspired others to shape the future articulated in his vision. He focused on the well-being, growth, and empowerment of others and the community he served. Dr. King said, “Human progress is neither automatic nor inevitable … Every step toward the goal of justice requires sacrifice, suffering, and struggle; the tireless exertions and passionate concern of dedicated individuals.”

Beloved Community Award

The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Beloved Community Award is presented to a local resident who has demonstrated a long-standing commitment to service and who best represents the core values modeled by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The Beloved Community Award is inspired by the term popularized by Dr. King – a global vision in which, as noted by The King Center: all people can share in the wealth of the earth; poverty, hunger, and homelessness will not be tolerated; racism and all forms of discrimination, bigotry, and prejudice will be replaced by an all-inclusive spirit of sisterhood and brotherhood; and love and trust will triumph over fear and hatred. At the heart of the quest for the Beloved Community is agape love, which Dr. King described as “understanding, redeeming goodwill for all” – a love “seeking to preserve and create community.”

See video about the awards.

According to Martinez resident, Scott Gordon, whose father, George Gordon was President of the Contra Costa Community College Board in 1964, that February, Dr. King visited the county for a speech at Contra Costa College in San Pablo.

About LMC

LMC is one of three colleges in the Contra Costa Community College District serving the East Contra Costa County community. Established in 1974, LMC has earned federal designations as a Minority-Serving and Hispanic-Serving institution. It offers award-winning transfer and career-technical programs, support services, and diverse academic opportunities in an inclusive learning environment. With exceptional educators, innovative curriculum, growing degree and certificate offerings, and state-of-the-art facilities, the college prepares students to succeed in their educational pursuits, in the workforce, and beyond. LMC’s Pittsburg Campus is located on 120 acres bordering Antioch, with an additional education center in Brentwood.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

Plus, $7,650 of in-kind services

By Allen D. Payton

During their regular meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2026, the Antioch City Council will consider approving $50,000 in Civic Enhancement Grants to 16 community groups. An additional $7,650 of in-kind contributions to two of the organizations for City facility uses are also recommended.

According to the City staff report for the Consent Calendar agenda item #5Q, “The FY25-26 Budget includes continued funding for the Civic Enhancement Grants Program to support community events and improvement projects that originate with Non-Profit organizations in Antioch. The City Council authorized $50,000 in FY25-26 to fund the civic enhancement grant program. The staff report shows the total amount of funding requested was $285,730 but the chart (below) shows a total of $308,890 in requests.

“A committee comprised of Mayor Pro Tem Don Freitas, City PIO Jaden Baird, and three Park and Recreation Commissioners, Chair Dorothy Ellis, Mariah Williams and La Shan Hunt all reviewed, scored and made the final recommendations for grant approval to the City Council, which ultimately authorizes the grant allocations.”

A total of 13 organizations that also requested funds were not approved by the committee for grants, this year.

Proposed 2025-2026 Civic Enhancement Grants:

• $1,500 grant to the Antioch Historical Society for School educational programming

• $2,000 grant to the Antioch Police Activities League for Youth Sports programs;

• $2,500 grant plus approximately $2,300 of in-kind City facility services to the Antioch Rotary Club for the King’s Conference for Underserved Male Youth;

• $1,500 grant to Be Exceptional for Funds to Expand Youth Programs for people with disabilities;

• $1,000 grant to Cancer Support Community SF Bay Area supporting programs assisting Antioch families affected by cancer;

• $2,000 grant to Celebrate Antioch Foundation for organizing and supporting family safe community events. That’s in addition to the $5,000 economic development grant received last year;

• $4,500 grant to Delta Learning Center for enhancing educational outcomes for underserved students

• $5,000 grant to Delta Veterans Group for the Veterans Day/ Memorial Day Ceremonies and the Veterans Banner Program;

• $2,000 grant to Downtown Antioch Assoc. & Foundation for small Business Saturday to market downtown businesses. That’s in addition to the $22,500 economic development grant received last year;

• $1,500 grant to East Bay Forward Economic Development Association for a free community music festival;

• $5,000 grant to Grassroots Poetry to Open mic events for both youth and adults for creative expression;

• $5,000 grant to Loaves and Fishes of Contra Costa for a hot meal program for unhoused and low-income residents;

• $1,500 grant to NAMI Contra Costa for Crisis Intervention;

• $2,500 grant plus approximately $5,350 of in-kind City facility services to New Generation Equity/STEM4Real for a STEM community Event;

• $2,500 grant to Rotary Club of the Delta for Support Antioch’s senior community with home repairs;

• $10,000 grant to Three Thirty-Three Arts for design and lead two crosswalk murals on 2nd street.

Antioch Council Meeting Details

A Closed Session begins at 5:00 p.m. to discuss employee group contracts and the regular meeting begins at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall located at 200 H Street in Antioch’s historic, downtown Rivertown. It can also be viewed via livestream on the City’s website and the City’s YouTube Channel, on Comcast Cable Channel 24 or AT&T U-verse Channel 99.

See complete meeting packet.

Annual fundraiser to celebrate 25 years of granting wishes

By An Elderly Wish Foundation

SAVE THE DATE!! This will be our “Silver Jubilee of Wishes.”

Come join us as An Elderly Wish Foundation celebrates a monumental accomplishment of serving Contra Costa County residents. The foundation has been making wishes come true for 25 years.

Our goal is to grant wishes for our neighbors, friends and your family members who have serious, chronic or life threating illnesses. All recipients must be 50 years of age.

We are celebrating this wonderful event on February 28th, 2026, at the Lone Tree Golf and Event Center in Antioch. Tickets are $80 per person and available on our website.

RSVP by Feb. 17th.

Sponsorships are being accepted now.

A fun evening is in store for all starting with a delicious dinner, followed by:

• Mystery Envelopes
• Card Raffle
• Our Live Auction, and
• Our Silent Auction

An Elderly Wish Foundation welcomes any donations for the Silent Auction and Live Auction. Gifts of cash, gift cards or gift baskets from individuals or businesses will be accepted. Remember they are tax deductible!

Proceeds from the benefit will help pay to grant wishes submitted to us.

Donations are always accepted. Please let foundation staff know if you can make a donation to help us grant our elderly with a special wish by calling (925) 978-1883 or emailing info@elderlywish.org.

If you know of anyone that would like a “Wish” please let us know.

By Antioch Police Department

We will be holding a community meeting for City Council District 1 residents on Tuesday, January 20th, 2026, to provide updates as well as discuss any issues or concerns. The meeting will begin at 5:00 PM in the Antioch Police Department’s Community Room at 300 L Street.

According to Community Liaison Officer Joseph Amiri the meeting will include an open forum with Q&A. Some of the topics that will be covered are Neighborhood Watch and staffing updates, as well as additional resources such as CitizenRIMS, which stands for (Records Information Management System), and a discussion of See, Click, Fix.

Antioch City Council District 1 includes all the area north of Highway 4 and east of Highway 160. To find your council district visit https://www.antiochca.gov/243/Find-Your-City-Council-District.

For more information contact Officer Amiri at jamiri@antiochca.gov or (925) 779-6900 extension 87046.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

By City of Antioch

Join us for an important community conversation about human trafficking. We’re screening “Buying Her,” a powerful documentary exposing the realities of human trafficking in America. This is a chance to learn, connect with local advocates and take action.

Friday, January 23 | 6:00 PM

El Campanil Theatre, 602 W. 2nd Street, Antioch

FREE & OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

• Panel discussion with local experts & service providers
• Q&A session

Why this matters:

• Raise awareness about human trafficking
• Educate on warning signs & prevention
• Inspire action for change

If you or someone you know needs help:

National Human Trafficking Hotline: 1-888-373-7888

RSVP: bit.ly/screeningbuyingher

Together, we can make a difference.

To expand respite care

By Nikki Lopez

Caregiver OneCall, an Antioch-based nonprofit, will host the All Our Love for Caregivers Gala on February 26, 2026, bringing together community leaders, advocates, and supporters to raise funds and awareness for caregiver support and expanded respite care across East Contra Costa County and the greater region. The event will be held at Center Concord, 5298 Clayton Road.

Caregiver OneCall was founded to support unpaid family caregivers who provide daily care for loved ones with dementia, disabilities, chronic illness, or complex medical needs. While caregiving affects families of all ages and backgrounds, many caregivers experience exhaustion, isolation, and burnout with little access to relief or guidance.

Funds raised through the gala will directly support expanded respite services, caregiver training, and real-time support for caregivers. Respite care allows caregivers temporary relief so they can rest, work, attend appointments, or simply recharge, helping prevent burnout and family crisis.

The evening will be celebratory while centering on the serious realities caregivers face. The program will feature lived caregiver stories and the recognition of individuals who have made a meaningful impact on caregivers and families in the community.

The gala will be emceed by Dave Clark of KTVU, longtime Bay Area media personality and caregiver advocate. Christina Irving of Family Caregiving Alliance will deliver the keynote address, sharing insights on the importance of caregiver support and policies needed. Debbie Toth, CEO of Choice in Aging, will be honored for her leadership and dedication to aging, individuals with disabilities, and caregiver services. The evening will also include a special musical performance and caregiver story shared by Anastacia Downey, award-winning Bay Area neo-soul artist and caregiver.

While rooted in Antioch, Caregiver OneCall serves caregivers throughout the region through partnerships with community organizations, ensuring caregivers are supported, informed, and never left to navigate care alone.

Community members, caregivers, leaders, and philanthropists are invited to attend, learn more about the importance of respite care, and support an organization strengthening families across the region.

Event Details

Event: All Our Love for Caregivers Gala

Date: February 26, 2026

Location: Center Concord, 5298 Clayton Road

Organization: Caregiver OneCall

Purpose: Fundraising and awareness to expand respite care and caregiver support

Service Area: East Contra Costa County and surrounding communities

Get your ticket: www.caregiveronecall.org

24/7 Free Support Line: 833-927-6599

The Antioch Lapidary Club will hold its annual Jewelry, Gem & Rock Show at the Contra Costa County Event Park (fairgrounds) on Saturday and Sunday, February 21 and 22, 2026. (See flier for details)

The club is dedicated to education and conservation of our resources. We cordially invite you to experience the fascinating and little-known world of lapidary. Lapidary is the art of cutting and shaping all manner of rocks, minerals, fossils and gems to create beautiful art forms. The Antioch Lapidary Club is looking for new members with a curious mind and willingness to discover the many sides to this skill.

This is a hands-on, involved club and all new members are welcome, as well as curious guests.
Our club reaches out to schools and youth groups to educate children about the fascinating world we live in! We also host Shows and Rock Swaps to let Rockhounds from all over California (and beyond!) to come together.

To learn more about the club click here. Although our club takes field trips out into the field to collect precious and semi-precious stones, we also make sure to respect both the land and the wildlife that has to share space in the area.