Angela Juarez Lombardi, Public Information Officer and Marketing Manager at Sutter Delta Medical Center, speaks to the Deer Valley High School girls, as part of a panel of local women, including Antioch Councilwoman Monica Wilson, attorney Amy Hilton and chiropractor Dr. Stacey Duckett, following the showing of the Empowerment Project film in October.

By Allen Payton

In order to motivate young women in Antioch on their own personal journey of empowerment, the Antioch Rotary Club sponsored the screening of the film “The Empowerment Project” to all female students at Antioch High School and Deer Valley High School, in October. The film, created by filmmakers Dana Michelle Cook and Sarah Moshman, follows the travels of them and two other female friends across 7,000 miles throughout the United States as they find strong, positive role models in a wide variety of industries.These role models include a Four Star Admiral in the U.S. Navy, social entrepreneur, pilot, professional athlete, chef and an architect.

All the girls at Deer Valley High School attended the special Empowerment Project event in October.

Besides the film, the club members, lead by their President, Dr. Stacey Duckett, arranged for five panelists, each a positive female role model, to be at each screening to be available to discuss their professional careers and to answer any questions that students may have.

“We are very committed to the success of the youth in our local community of Antioch,” said Duckett. “We want girls to know that their options are not limited and that there is a wide arrange of careers available to them.”

Last year, Lindsay Wisely from Antioch High School started the concept of “Girl Power” with its theme of female empowerment and organized a group of 20 Antioch High School alumni to speak to the female population.  Deer Valley High School is exploring developing a club that would focus on empowering its female students, if they have an interest in doing so.

As part of the project, the Antioch Rotary Club worked closely with Antioch High School’s Vice Principal Lindsay Wisely and with Deer Valley High School’s Vice Principal Susan Ceballos. Panelists included Iris Archlutta, Mary Rocha, Lindsey Wisely, Jennifer Yu, Lynnette Giacobazzi, Amy Hilton, Sylvia High, Julie Haas-Wajdowicz, Christine O’Brien, Angela Juarez-Lombardi, Monica Wilson, Misha Dunford and Duckett, following the two showings.

Kimberly Sbranti, the daughter of club member Sal Sbranti, was the transcriber for the film, and was instrumental in bringing it to Antioch.

During the screening of the 54-minute film at Deer Valley High, attended by all of the school’s female students, the greatest response of applause was given to former Miss USA 2012 Nana Meriwether and Michelle Howard, the first female Four-Star Admiral in the Navy, and an African-American.

Following the film and a strong round of applause, four of the women panelists shared their experiences and thoughts with the teens, including Antioch Councilwoman Monica Wilson, the first African-American female elected to the council; Angela Juarez Lombardi, the Public Information Officer and Marketing Manager at Sutter Delta Medical Center and an Antioch High School graduate; family law attorney Amy Hilton, and Duckett, a chiropractor in Antioch.

In response to the question, what advice would you give to your teenage self, Lombardi told the girls “You have to live out of your comfort zone.” She also said “and this too shall pass,” whether things are going good or bad in your life.

“Find what you’re passionate about,” Wilson shared, and “be open to new ideas, new experiences.”

Hilton said the girls should “first, pay attention in your English class,” to laughter from the audience.

“I’m not joking,” she continued. “Learn grammar and how to write and you’ll be in the top five percent of your profession.”

“Do everything and enjoy yourself,” Hilton added.

“Don’t give up,” was Duckett’s advice. “Pick something different. Have a cub or start a club, like Toastmasters, to help you communicate.”

One more bit of advice she would give her teenage self was “You really should have taken Spanish, not French,” with a chuckle.

To learn more about the Empowerment Project, visit www.empowermentproject.com. To learn more about the Antioch Rotary Club, visit www.AntiochRotaryClub.org.

The Antioch Police Department is excited to announce the 67th 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 Cleanup 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 67th Neighborhood Cleanup event will occur on Saturday, January 2nd  from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at Wendy’s on A Street.  We will be cleaning the neighborhoods behind Wendy’s (Belshaw, Service, 19th, etc.)

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.

Children play on the new playground at Contra Loma Estates Park, Saturday, November 20, 2015.

New playground placed in one of Antioch’s most challenged neighborhoods

An Antioch neighborhood known for drugs, crime and violence (Sycamore) received a brand new playground, thanks to a grassroots group of parents and the City of Antioch who partnered to improve Contra Loma Estates Park. The parent advocates and representatives from the City of Antioch, including Mayor Harper and all four council members, as well as Rhea Elina Laughlin, Community Engagement Officer for First 5 Contra Costa and members of her team, joined together on Saturday, November 21st for a ribbon cutting ceremony and community celebration to unveil the new park.

The playground before the new installation.

The drive for the new playground began with the East County Regional Group, a parent advocacy group sponsored by First 5 Contra Costa, who first conducted in-depth rating assessments of every park in Antioch. Their findings revealed that parks located in the city’s lower-income communities were plagued by crime, graffiti or unsafe conditions that rendered these parks unusable by families, compared to the city’s newer neighborhoods.

The culmination of high crime and child poverty rates, along with its very low park rating, led the parents to select Contra Loma Estates as the park most in need of rehabilitation. They took their findings to the Antioch City Council, who given their ongoing efforts to improve safety in the Sycamore neighborhood, allocated $250,000 to renovate the park. The parents group worked with City staff to design the new play structure and will be partnering with the Antioch Police Department to address residents’ safety issues.

The renovated Contra Loma Estates Park includes a brand new play structure for toddlers and school-age children, play structures designed for children of all abilities, such as children in wheel chairs or with other special needs and a foam floor which replaces sand that often contained needles, used condoms and glass.

Rhea Elina Laughlin of First 5 Contra Costa, with Antioch Parks & Recreation Director Nancy Kaiser, thanked those in attendance gathered for the ribbon cutting of the new playground on Saturday, November 20, 2015.

Physical outdoor play is important for children’s health and development, but not all children in Antioch have access to safe, usable parks and playgrounds. Crime, vandalism, and unsafe conditions have prevented families from enjoying Contra Loma Estates Park – until now. This is the first victory for this grassroots group of parents, who aim to increase children’s access to outdoor play by improving one East County park at a time.

Contra Loma Estates Park is located at 2395 Manzanita Way at Mahogany in Antioch.

First 5 Contra Costa helps young children start school healthy, nurtured and ready to learn by investing in programs and activities focused on children during their first five years, the most important time in children’s development. Since 2000, First 5 Contra Costa has invested more than $120 million in Proposition 10 tobacco tax funds to help Contra Costa’s children get the best possible start in life. First 5 supports three Regional Groups of parents dedicated to making their communities healthier and safer for families. Learn more: www.first5coco.org.

County to honor residents who embody the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Do you know someone whose work and presence in the community exemplifies the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.?  Time is running short to submit your candidates for consideration as the Contra Costa County Humanitarian and Student Humanitarian of the Year.  County residents are encouraged to submit online nominations of community leaders no later than Thursday, December 31.  Student nominations can be accepted through Tuesday, January 5.

Each January, the Board of Supervisors recognizes a community member as well as a student leader whose dedication to others embodies the essence and spirit of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Those selected as winners will be presented with their awards during the County’s Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Ceremony on Tuesday, January 19, 2016.  The public is invited to the ceremony and commemoration, which takes place in the Board of Supervisors Chamber at 651 Pine Street in Martinez.  The event begins at 11:00 a.m., followed by a complimentary buffet lunch.

The 2015 Humanitarian of the Year was Bishop Edwina Perez-Santiago, whose work transitioning previously incarcerated women back into their communities has influenced countless lives.  Among her signature efforts was the opening last year of Naomi’s House, a first-of-its-kind transitional home in North Richmond for formerly incarcerated women and their young children.

Heritage High School alum Tyler Page took honors as the Student Humanitarian of the Year for 2015.  Page, now in college, has spent much of his young life raising money and awareness for kids less fortunate them himself, whether in his own community or to combat human trafficking in Ghana.

For more information, a look back at previous celebration videos or to submit a nomination, visit the County’s website at www.ContraCosta.CA.gov.

Residents of Cobblestone Care Home in Antioch, Hazel Shelton and Fern Chisum are greeted by Santa (aka Angelo Pappas), Manager Angie Ramandanen and AEWF Board Member Sandy Fredrickson during the Santa for Seniors on Wednesday, December 16, 2015.

By Allen Payton

During their 10th Annual Santa For Seniors project the Board of Directors of An Elderly Wish Foundation adopted four board and care homes for Christmas.

On Wednesday, December 16th, nine board members played Santa Claus for 20 seniors, in two homes in Antioch and two in Pittsburg, by delivering a large Christmas bag to each one of the residents which included scarves, socks, combs, toiletries and puzzle books. Each large bag also included a shoulder shawl, a handmade lap quilt, thanks to Bernie Cabrera, owner of Queen B’s Quilt Shop and a stuffed animal from Jim Lanter at State Farm, both located in Antioch.

“All of us enjoyed singing Christmas Carols upon arrival, and then singing with the residents once the gifts were opened,” said Mary Chapman, Executive Director of the foundation. “It was a joyous day for all, as we shared the Christmas spirit.”

This year’s event was sponsored by the Delta Board of Realtors. Many seniors are touched by the giving spirit of Christmas from An Elderly Wish Foundation. For more information about the foundation, visit www.elderlywish.org.