It is a classic Persian tale of a Blacksmith who wants to live life on his own terms, but unknown to him – the Shah is watching. By putting obstacles in Basim’s way he will see just how much those plans can be derailed !

This show is going to be a big & colorful Summer Production ! On stage there will be music, laughter, dancing and feasting – lots for you to enjoy as you watch the battle of wits unfold.

There is a Free admission showing on 7/16 for Seniors 55+, but everyone is welcome to attend.

Performances :

7/14, 7/15, 7/21, 7/22  at 7:30 pm

7/15, 7/16   at 1:30 pm

Nick Rodriguez Theatre     213   F  st ,  Antioch

Box Office opens 1/2 hr before showtime,   Credit/ATM  & Cash accepted

More information (925) 695-4123  or http://www.dramafactory.org

Next show is Tuesday, July 11 in Concord, followed by another in Antioch on Saturday

By Jason Mueller, A-1 Auto Transport

Contra Costa County residents are invited to check out these great car shows happening in and around the area for 2017. Bring the entire family out for a good time. Check out the classics, enter your own, try out some activities or even grab a bite to eat. There is so much to do at the car shows, cruises and events that you can make the most of them all year long.

Cool Concord Cars

Come out and enjoy a little fun in the sun while checking out the coolest Concord cars from the area. Happening on July 11 from 5:30 to 7:30 PM, this is a free car show for one and all. Come out and look or bring your vehicle to be shown off. There will be goodie bags, prizes and plaques being handed out. Come out to downtown Concord for a good time. For more info, visit http://www.ci.concord.ca.us/page.asp?pid=3000 or call (925) 671-2489.

Antioch: Summerfest Car Show

If you’re looking for something to do this summer, then make sure to come out to the Summerfest car show. With hot rods, classics, newer and other vehicles on display, there is something for everyone at this event. Happening on July 15 at 11 AM, you can come out to the Contra Costa County Fairgrounds at 1201 West 10th Street in Antioch. For more info about this exciting event, visit https://www.facebook.com/showstopcc/.

Old Town Pittsburg Car Show

Come out not only for those classics and good times, but also food, live music and great people. You can share your love of classics with the others that are at the event. Come out a few different times for a good time – July 20, August 3, August 17, August 31 and September 7 from 6 to 8PM each time. Come out to Railroad Avenue between 3rd and 6th Streets in Pittsburg. For more info, call (925) 252-4842 or visit http://oldtownpittsburgca.com/2017/04/otp/car-show-2017-may-11-thru-sept-7-6pm-8pm/.

Antioch: 2nd Annual Knights of Columbus & East Bay Dukes Car Show

See hot rods, muscle cars, rat rods, low riders and motorcycles, Saturday, July 22 at Holy Rosary Church, 1313 A Street, Antioch. Entry Fees: Auto $25, Motorcycle $15, Lowrider Bikes $10. Vendors: $60. For more info call Mike at (925) 550-6265.

Soap Box Derby and Classic Car Show

If you want to bring the kids to show them a love of cars then this is the event you can make the most out of. Happening on September 2 from 9AM to 3PM, it is the event that welcomes one and all to come in and have a great time. Come out to Main Street Downtown Clayton to take part in the show and the derby. For more info, call (925) 673-9060 or visit http://ci.clayton.ca.us/about-clayton/community-events/.

Antioch: Billetproof Car Show

One of the largest car shows in the area, Billetproof is welcoming yet another for the Antioch area. $10 for spectators, kids under 13 and police or military personnel are free. Come out to check out the pin up contest, swap meet, live bands, racing and more. Happening on September 16 at the Antioch Fairgrounds 1201 West Tenth St. in Antioch for all day fun. For more info, visit http://billetproof.com/index.php/antioch-ca-sept-16-2017/.

Clayton: Wednesday Night Classic Car Show

Come out for the classics and the live DJ that is spinning all the greatest tunes. Bring the entire family out for a night of fun and excitement. Beginning on June 28 and reoccurring throughout the year, there is a lot of fun to be had from 6 to 8 PM. Come out to City Parking Lot, 6099 Main Street in Clayton. For more info, call (925)673-7316 or visit http://ci.clayton.ca.us/about-clayton/community-events/.

Brentwood: Hot Rods 4 Paws

Kings Car Club presents their annual Hot Rods 4 Paws car on October 21 from 10 AM to 4 PM, at Petco in Brentwood, 5481 Lone Tree Way. Come out and enjoy the cars and support a good cause – the non-profit Furry Friends Food Relief Program to keep pets out of the shelters and in the homes that love them.  Sponsors are needed. Your company can be seen by over 1000 people at the event. Select any of the options listed HERE or contact the Kings for details and they’ll be glad to discuss creating a customized sponsorship package for you. For more info. call (925) 240-3178 or email HotRods4Paws@gmail.com.

You’ll never have to worry about having a dull day when there are car shows happening in Contra Costa. You can grab the family and head out for a day full of activities, fun and classics. Share your love of cars with everyone that you come across and if you own your own, be sure to bring your own vehicle to display for others to enjoy. If you’re looking for auto transport to the car show be sure to contact a local California company such as A-1 Auto Transport.

Join the staff of the Antioch Library on Monday, July 10 at 6:00 p.m. as they launch the new fiscal year with their expanded hours. Distinguished guests include Mayor Sean Wright, Mayor Pro Tem Lamar Thorpe, Council Members Tony Tiscareno, and Monica Wilson, as well as City Manager Ron Bernal.

The event is free and for all ages. The library is located at 501 W. 18th Street. For more information call (925) 757-9224.

The new hours for the library as of now are as follows:

Mon. 12 – 8 p.m.

Tues. 12 – 8 p.m.

Wed. 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Thurs. 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Fri. Closed

Sat. 12 – 5 p.m.

Sun. Closed.

The Antioch Library is one of 26 Contra Costa County community libraries. www.ccclib.org

Emphasizes investment in City, quality of life; includes 104 police officers by second year

By John Crowder

A two-year budget, with deficit spending of $2.8 million in the second year, was approved by the Antioch City Council at their regular meeting on June 27, 2017.  The budget is for Fiscal Years 2017-2019.  Projected reserves at the end of each Fiscal Year are $26 million for 2017-2018 and $23.2 million for 2018-2019.  The budget was approved by a unanimous vote.

City Manager Ron Bernal and City Finance Director Dawn Merchant presented the budget to the City Council, highlighting changes discussed at the May 23 Budget Study Session that the City Council had directed Staff to incorporate in the final document.

Under the budget, revenues are expected to be approximately $54.4 million for the year ending on June 30, 2018, and to increase to about $54.8 million for the year ending on June 30, 2019.  Revenue generated from Measure C, the half-cent sales tax due to sunset in 2021, are projected at $6.8 million and $6.9 million, respectively.

Expenses for the two years are expected to be $54.3 million in FY 17-18 and 57.6 million in FY 18-19.

During his discussion of the budget, Bernal emphasized “strategic staffing increases” in police, code enforcement, community development and finance that he said were important investments that would improve the quality of life for Antioch residents.  He said that a major goal of the City was to reduce crime, and that the addition of a 103rd police officer in FY 17-18 and a 104th in FY 18-19 would help with that goal.  He also noted the advantages Antioch needed to capitalize on coming from the widening of Highway 4, the addition of BART service, and Antioch’s water rights.

Before giving the floor to Merchant, though, Bernal also pointed out the importance of either extending Measure C or finding another revenue source to make up the difference should it not be renewed.

Merchant concurred with Bernal, then addressed the projected rise in expenditures over the two years, attributing them to increases in City employee salaries and to pension liability.  She also noted that the budget was balanced in 17-18, but that about $2.8 million in deficit spending was projected for 18-19, leaving a $23 million reserve at the end of that fiscal year.

“At this point we’re not going bankrupt,” she said, but emphasized the importance of the revenue generated by Measure C to the City’s fiscal stability, saying the City Council needed to be “very conscious” of it.

Merchant addressed the expenditures added to the draft budget after the May 23 study session, including:

• $250,000 in Police overtime costs for proactive details
• $104,052 for a Community Service Officer
• $150,900 to the Contra Costa Library to add another day of operation at W. 18^th location
• $270,000 in salary and benefits for one Assistant/Associate Planner and one Development Services / Engineering Technician to the Building Department
• $20,000 to the Celebrate Antioch Foundation for 4^th of July and Holiday DeLites events
• $60,000 for a landscape surge
• $100,000 for a public relations / marketing firm
• $75,000 for an update to the City’s Cost Allocation Plan
• $13,000 in FY 17/18 and $32,000 in FY 18/19 increases for the Arts & Cultural Foundation
• $18,600 in part-time help for Business License processing.

The addition of the 104th police officer for the 2018-2019 budget is projected to cost $175,914.

Each of the council members spoke positively about the budget, referring to the increased expenditures as investments in the city, and a recognition of the importance the Council places on the quality of life of Antioch’s residents.

Council Member Tony Tiscareno called it a “smart budget,” and said he was optimistic with the investment the Council was making in the City.

Council Member Monica Wilson said she also thought they were making, “good investments” that she expected to see a lot of return on.

Council Member Lori Ogorchock said, “This goes to show that this council cares about the quality of life,” but also emphasized the importance of the revenue currently generated by Measure C.

Mayor Pro Tem Lamar Thorpe expressed his appreciation for the work done by Bernal and Merchant, and said that he believed the city council was making very important investments in the community and in the quality of life of its’ residents.  He also emphasized the importance of economic development.

Mayor Sean Wright, while echoing the sentiments of the other council members, emphasized the importance of growing revenue, something he said this budget would allow Antioch to do with its’ emphasis on economic development.

The Antioch Police Department is excited to announce the 82nd installment of the Neighborhood Cleanup Program. This is a collaborative community effort which involves active participation from The Antioch Police Department Crime Prevention Commission; Neighborhood Watch Program; Volunteers in Police Service; community volunteers and the Public Works Department.

Collectively, “We”, everyone who works and lives in the City Antioch, can make a difference and improve the quality of life. It’s our community and it’s our chance to make a difference.

The City of Antioch Neighborhood Clean Up program is not just for residential neighborhoods. It is a program that will change venues, on a monthly basis and it will include business and commercial areas as well. Neighborhoods that are free of trash and refuse are inviting, and a clean community instills a sense of community pride.

The 82nd Neighborhood Cleanup event will occur on Saturday, July 1 2017 from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. We will be cleaning the neighborhoods from 16th St. to Merrill Dr. between Marie Ave. and A Street (see map). Volunteers will meet at Kimball Elementary School on August Way.

Volunteers will receive instructions and the equipment necessary to accomplish the goal. The targeted area is within walking distance. Excluding inclement weather, future Neighborhood Cleanup events are scheduled for the first Saturday of every month and the locations will be announced in advance.

Remember, cleaning up your neighborhood can make life better for your family, your neighbors and your community!