For the first time, the Antioch Chamber of Commerce announced their annual award honorees before their annual gala dinner. The dinner will be held on Friday, March 11th and will honor the the 2015 Citizens of the Year for Lifetime Achievement and Most Impact, as well as Youth, Large and Small Businesses, and Nonprofit organization of the Year.

Jane Parsons

Jane Parsons, an Antioch institution who has served her community as a volunteer and an elected official for more than four decades, has been named Antioch’s 2015 Citizen of the Year, Lifetime Achievement, along with Ken Turnage II as 2015 Citizen of the Year, Most Impact.

Citizen of the Year Lifetime Achievement

Jane Parsons was first appointed as a City Treasurer in 1983 and went on to win five elections, retiring in 2004. Jane has volunteered for over forty years for many community efforts including Rivertown Jamboree, Holiday De Lites and the Lighted Boat Parade, Soroptimist International of Antioch, Delta Thunder Boat Parade, Delta 2000 and is a past Commodore of the Driftwood Yacht Club. Jane is the longest serving member of the Antioch Chamber’s Ambassadors, supporting mixers, ribbon cuttings and more. She is one of those rare individuals who serves quietly and always has a smile and wonderful attitude. Those who have worked with her over the years do so because she is so inspiring and she serves without regard to personal gain and always for a good cause, women, children and the entire community.

Ken Turnage II

Citizen of the Year Most Impact

Ken Turnage II grew up in Antioch watching Antioch’s greatest mentors and influential families shape the community. Today, Ken serves on Antioch’s Economic Development Commission, is a member of the Antioch Rotary Club, supports and participates in the many events and activities of the Antioch Chamber of Commerce, and is a strong supporter Antioch Police Activities League (PAL) and the Leo Fontana Family Foundation. Through these organizations, along with many others, Ken’s efforts work towards creating and sustaining a sense of pride in Antioch.  Ken continuously offers his support and guidance to community events, however, the highlights of 2015 were using his extensive construction skills building Santa’s Sleigh for the Holiday De Lites parade and creating a pool top dance floor for the annual Rotarian Luau.

The other winners of the 2015 awards are:  Large Business of the Year, Sutter Health Medical Center; Small Business of the Year, M.A.L.U. Fitness; Nonprofit of the Year, Antioch Rotary Club.  The Youth of the Year winners will be announced at the event.

The Antioch Chamber of Commerce Inaugural Gala will be held on Friday, March 11th, 6:00 PM at the Lone Tree Golf & Event Center, 4800 Golf Course Road in Antioch. Tickets are on sale now at AntiochChamber.com, emailing JDossey@AntiochChamber.com or by calling (925) 757-1800.

Vote for Your Favorite Antioch Businesses  for Gold, Silver and Bronze awards and You’ll be Entered to Win Prizes from Local Businesses!

Our annual awards program is back to recognize those Antioch businesses, which the people like most.

The 2016 Antioch People’s Choice Awards will honor the best businesses as determined by your votes.

Be sure to see the official ballot on pages 13 and 14 of this issue, cut it out, write in your choices and mail or drop it off at our office at 101 H Street, Waldie Plaza, Suite 3 in downtown Antioch.

Ballots must be received by Friday, March 11 to be counted.

Winning businesses will be announced in our April issue and be given special decals for their business windows, and be able to use one of the logos, above in their advertising, throughout the year.

One ballot per person. Copies are accepted. Ballots will be entered into a drawing to win gift certificates from local businesses.

Download a copy of the ballot, here: 2016 People’s Choice ballot web

Grocer gives first percent of net profits to support local nonprofits

On Wednesday, February 17, 2016 Smart & Final, the value-oriented food and everyday staples retailer, announced the launch of its new giving campaign, First Street First Percent, which donates the first one percent of net profits from the sale of its First Street® private label brand products at its US-based Smart & Final banner stores in California, Nevada and Arizona to the Smart & Final Charitable Foundation™ to support local nonprofits.

“Smart & Final has a long history of giving back to the communities we serve,” said Smart & Final CEO Dave Hirz. “With our new First Street First Percent program, we are taking our community commitment to the next level.”

First Street, Smart & Final’s flagship private label brand, features more than 2,000 quality products and represents over 23 percent of Smart & Final’s total sales. Customers can find First Street® products across most categories throughout the store, from grocery, frozen and dairy to packaging and cleaning products.

Starting today, Smart & Final customers will see signage throughout the store that provides information about the First Street First Percent program and showcases how their purchase of First Street products can benefit local communities.

“Now when customers buy First Street products, our premier private label brand, they will be giving back to local communities through our Smart & Final Charitable Foundation,” Hirz added.

Through the Smart & Final Charitable Foundation, funds generated will support local nonprofits, e.g., food pantries, Little Leagues, Boys & Girls Clubs, the American Heart Association, Special Olympics, Olive Crest, local schools and many more.

“Buying First Street products will mean better playgrounds, more music in schools, more new uniforms and more meals for friends and neighbors in need,” Hirz continued.

Throughout the years, the Smart & Final Charitable Foundation has donated millions of dollars to causes and organizations focused on four key areas – health and wellness, education, hunger relief, and team sports and youth development.

Recipients of donations range from local Little Leagues and Boys & Girls Clubs to food pantries and organizations such as The American Heart Association, Olive Crest and the Special Olympics. In 2015, the Smart & Final Charitable Foundation gave more than $900,000 to community organizations in California, Arizona and Nevada where the company has stores.

When customers purchase First Street products, which range from grocery, frozen and dairy products to packaging and cleaning, they will be contributing to the development of more playgrounds, more school uniforms, and increasing the amount of meals available to people in need in their local communities.

For more information about First Street First Percent, visit www.smartandfinal.com/firstpercent.

About Smart & Final

Smart & Final Stores, Inc. (NYSE: SFS), is a value-oriented food and everyday staples retailer that serves household and business customers. The Company is headquartered in Commerce (located in Los Angeles), CA, where it was founded 145 years ago. As of January 3, 2016, the Company operated 276 grocery and foodservice stores under the “Smart & Final,” “Smart & Final Extra!”  including their location in Antioch, and “Cash & Carry Smart Foodservice” banners in California, Oregon, Washington, Arizona, Nevada, and Idaho, with an additional 15 stores in northern Mexico operated through a joint venture.

Smart & Final Charitable Foundation, located at 600 Citadel Drive, Commerce, CA 90040, is a nonprofit charitable organization that donates to local charities and other non-profit organizations. No part of the purchase price for the First Street First Percent program may be deducted as a charitable contribution.

Antioch, CA – On Wednesday, February 17, 2016, Congressman Jerry McNerney (CA-09) applauded the grand opening of the new Antioch Health Center, a facility that will allow Contra Costa Health Services to meet the growing demand for health care services in the East County region. The Congressman also had the chance to tour the new facility that includes nearly double the number of exam rooms as the health center’s previous location on Lone Tree Way.

“This is a great day for the people of Antioch, the greater Contra Costa region, and our Ninth Congressional District,” said McNerney. “I believe that access to quality health care is an important building block that helps our community prosper and grow. This new Antioch Health Center is larger, with the capacity to provide medical care to more patients seeking care. I am confident that this health center will help improve community health and be a valuable resource that will serve people for years to come.”

According to Contra Costa Health Services, the new Antioch Health Center will integrate behavioral care and physical health care to better address the needs of its patients.

“As Health Director of Contra Costa Health Services, I am grateful for the opening of this new Health Center which will expand access to health care in East County,” said Dr. William Walker, Director of Contra Costa Health Services. “I am particularly proud of the opportunity for further integration of physical and behavioral health services, so necessary for truly addressing the needs of our patients.”

The new Antioch Health Center will have 20 medical exam rooms and two group rooms – twice the number of exam rooms at the center’s old facility. The Antioch Health Center manages over a thousand visits each week.

Congressman Jerry McNerney represents California’s 9^th Congressional District which includes portions of San Joaquin, Contra Costa, and Sacramento Counties including most of Antioch. For more information on Rep. McNerney’s work, follow him on Facebook and on Twitter @RepMcNerney.

Do you know a deserving Business, Citizen, Non-Profit or Youth? Nominate them today for an Award and Recognition at the 2016 Annual Inaugural Gala and Awards Dinner.

Nomination deadline has been extended to Monday, February 15th due to President’s Holiday. Please email nominations to Diane@Art4Antioch.org or contact Diane Gibson-Gray at (925) 325-9897 for questions or paper submissions.

1. Nominate a Business for the Business of the Year Award.

The Antioch Chamber of Commerce, through its “Business of the Year” Award, honors a company’s contributions in developing the social and economic well being of Antioch.

Download Business of the year nomination form. 

2. Nominate a citizen for the Citizen of the Year Award.

The Antioch Chamber of Commerce, through its “Citizen of the Year” Award, honors an individual for his/her contributions in developing the social and economic well being of Antioch.

Download citizen of the year nomination form.

3. Nominate a youth for the Youth of the Year Award.

The Antioch Chamber of Commerce, through its “Youth of the Year” Award, honors a youth for his/her contributions to the community of Antioch.

 Download Youth of the Year nomination form. 

4. Nominate a Non-Profit for the Non-Profit of the Year Award.

The Antioch Chamber of Commerce, through its “Non-Profit of the Year” Award, honors a local non-profit’s dedication, time and service contributions in developing the social and economic well being of Antioch.

Download Non-Profit of the year nomination form.

Please email nominations to Diane@Art4Antioch.orgor contact Diane Gibson-Gray at (925) 325-9897 for questions or paper submissions.
We hope you will take this opportunity to share your business with the community.