Residents enjoyed seeing and playing on a fire engine at the Tompkins Way neighborhood gathering for National Night Out in Antioch on Tuesday, August 4, 2015.

The National Night Out event for the Tompkins Way neighborhood included a potluck for the residents who attended.

By Allen Payton

Antioch residents, once again, participated in the annual National Night Out on Tuesday, August 4 to promote safety in their neighborhoods.

An effort of the National Association of Town Watch, according to their website,

“National Night Out is an annual community-building campaign that promotes police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie to make our neighborhoods safer, better places to live.

National Night Out enhances the relationship between neighbors and law enforcement while bringing back a true sense of community and provides a great opportunity to bring police and neighbors together under positive circumstances.”

In addition to police officers, firefighters serving Antioch also showed up with one of their fire engines at the gathering on Tompkins Way, which was organized by neighborhood residents Stephanie Sterling, and Steve and Roxanne Huddleston. The event at the Huddleston’s home included a potluck dinner and gave about 70 residents who attended the chance to meet and get to know each other. That way they all will better know who belongs in their neighborhood and who doesn’t.

For more information on Antioch’s Neighborhood Watch program click here.

For more information on National Night Out visit www.natw.org.

The Antioch Police Department is excited to announce the 62nd 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.

The 62nd Neighborhood Cleanup event will occur on Saturday, August 1st from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at Hillcrest Park on Larkspur Drive. Please meet in the parking lot on Larkspur Drive.

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.

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.

The Antioch Police Activities League will be hosting the first “Legos and the Law” activity on Saturday, August 22, 2015. From 9-11 am, Antioch Police Chief Allan Cantando and other members of the police department will be on hand to help Antioch residents between the ages of 5-10 build some cool Lego creations.

Who: Antioch residents ages 5 to 10 with a parent or guardian

When: Saturday, August 22, 2015 at 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

Where: Antioch Police Department’s Community Room

Refreshments will be provided.

This event is only for the first 25 children who RSVP. No walk-ins will be allowed to participate. To register please call (925) 779-6875.

Friday, July 3 is the busiest day of the year for Smart & Final. Last year, the company sold 621% more private label hamburger patties, 470% more hot dog buns and 300% more red cups on that day alone.

Smart & Final has affectionately coined the days leading up to the summer holiday weekend as “Engagement Days,” which were all-hands-on-deck, this year with more associates and company executives from all levels chipping in to handle the crowd rush. Even Smart & Final CEO, Dave Hirz—a former bag boy himself— took part in the fun by stocking shelves, ringing up customers, and even gathering all the carts in the parking lot.

On Thursday, July 2, as a way to show appreciation for customers and commitment to their communities, Smart & Final partnered with Feeding America, this year to package and donate food and everyday staples for families in need. Their Antioch store, just opened in May, provided packages for100 families in the Antioch community.

Smart & Final is a value-oriented food and everyday staples retailer for household and business customers. Smart & Final Extra!, one of the company’s newest store concepts, is designed to enhance the household consumer’s shopping experience and also includes changes to benefit business customers. The Extra! Stores are much larger and carry a greatly expanded selection of products in key categories like produce, fresh meat, frozen foods, dairy, deli and grocery basics like cereal, yogurt, bread and snacks. In addition, they have everything that small businesses, clubs and organizations need on a daily basis.

The Antioch Smart & Final Extra! store and is located at 2638 Somersville Road on the outside of the Somersville Towne Center.

Sean Shinn with his flag box Eagle Scout project.

By Allen Payton

Sean Shinn started in scouting in second grade. A few months later he met Josie Monaghan, founder of the East County Veterans Thrift Stores in downtown Antioch, at the 9-11 Memorial event and kept in constant contact.

“I’ve been around vets my entire life,” Shinn, now a junior at Antioch High and a member of Troop 151, said. “So, helping Josie would be amazing since she’s been helping every veteran that’s come back. I helped her with her store when she was starting out.”

So when it came to do a project to earn the rank of Eagle Scout, he contacted Josie. Shinn had already done two other projects at the [Veterans] Peer Counseling Center, including making a brochure rack, for the self-help mentoring. Plus, he organized the books they already had.

One of the ideas was a box for collecting American flags that are torn, tattered or faded, so they can be properly disposed of.

“They’re no longer fit for duty, according to the Flag Code,” Shinn shared. “They’re then retired.”

That’s done in two ways, either by burning or burying the flag.

He built the box and installed it in February, this year and a variety of flags have already been deposited in the box.

Shinn spoke of properly retiring a flag.

“It has to be done respectfully,” he shared. “Only Boy Scouts or military are authorized to do a flag retirement ceremony.”

He is almost done earning his desired rank.

“I have a couple more things to do,” Shinn stated. “One more merit badge and then my Eagle Scout Board of Review. Then I’m there. Hopefully in the next couple months.”

His future plans include military service with hopes of attending the Naval Academy.

If you have a worn American flag, you can bring it the East County Veterans Thrift Store at 522 West Second Street in Antioch and place it in Shinn’s flag box. It will be disposed of properly.

Residents and business owners are invited to learn how a Community Choice Energy (CCE) program can allow the city to buy electrical power from renewable sources (such as solar and wind) in partnership with PG&E for delivery and maintenance.

An Antioch CCE has the potential to reduce residential and commercial electrical bills, reduce Antioch’s carbon footprint and provide for new green developments, businesses and jobs within Antioch.

The meeting, sponsored by Contra Costa Clean Energy Alliance, will be held Tuesday, July 7th at 6:00 p.m. at the Antioch Library, 501 W. 18th St. For more information call Harry Thurston at (925) 303-9482.