More photos to follow….

The crowd at the candelight vigil for Jeremy “Lumpy” Sturgill gathers in front of Lumpy’s Diner in Antioch, and listens as his father Dave “Digger” Sturgill speak, Friday night, June 19, 2015.

By Allen Payton

An estimated 4,000 to 5,000 people gathered in the parking lot near Lumpy’s Diner in Antioch, Friday night, June 19^th to remember owner Jeremy “Lumpy” Sturgill, who died suddenly at the age of 35, the previous Tuesday morning.

Those in attendance held lighted candles and listened to family members and friends share their thoughts. Speakers included his father and mother, car club leaders and then, finally, his wife Marci.

Lumpy’s mother, Kathy Sturgill speaks to those gathered, last Friday night.

“You can’t outgive the Lord,” said his mother Kathy Sturgill speaking of her memory of the first fundraiser Lumpy held at his restaurant and the conversation she had with him about it. “All he wanted to do was make everyone proud of him. I can tell you we are proud of our son. I’m gonna miss my son. But, I love that boy.”

“This is the hardest thing I’ve had to do,” his father Dave “Digger” Sturgill, owner of Diggers in Brentwood, said. “They call me Digger because I’m a grave digger. Today I had to pick out the casket for my son. But I believe he made things right with God, and I will see him again. If you give your heart to Jesus you will see him again. That is the desire of my heart.”

Following Sturgill’s parents, leaders of various car clubs, which had participated in car shows in the same parking lot, spoke

“It didn’t matter what connected you to Lumpy, whether it was sports, art, or just good food,” said Arami Picazo of the Pastimes Car Club. “He made a connection with you. I’ll always remember Lumpy for the loving, caring person he was. As we celebrate Lumpy’s life let’s take a moment to remember the moments that were special.”

Gena Noack, Manager of Lumpy’s Diner, spoke as the female servers, known as the angels, stood next to her.

“I’m going to make this diner, with Marci, what he wanted,” she said. “This is the angels. Now, Lump now you’re our angel.”

Then, Marci Sturgill spoke and offered an emotional thank you to all those who attended.

Family and friends, seated in the center of the crowd, were then handed lanterns, which when lit, floated into the sky. Although it was a windy night, most all of the lanterns were able to launch.

The funeral service for Lumpy will be held this Wednesday and visitation will be Tuesday night. For details, please click here.

Friends and family light the lanterns at Lumpy’s vigil, Friday night.

The lanterns rise into the sky on the windy evening in memory of Jeremy “Lumpy” Sturgill, Friday night, June 19, 2015.

According to Wikipedia, “Juneteenth commemorates the announcement of the abolition of slavery in the U.S. state of Texas in June 1865, and more generally the emancipation of African-American slaves throughout the Confederate South. Celebrated on June 19, the term is a portmanteau of June and nineteenth, and is recognized as a state holiday or special day of observance in most states.

By 1865, there were an estimated 250,000 slaves in Texas. As news of end of the war moved slowly, reach Texas until May 1865, and the Army of the Trans-Mississippi did not surrender until June 2. On June 18, 1865, Union General Gordon Granger arrived at Galveston Island with 2,000 federal troops to occupy Texas on behalf of the federal government. On June 19, standing on the balcony of Galveston’s Ashton Villa, Granger read aloud the contents of ‘General Order No. 3’, announcing the total emancipation of slaves:

‘The people of Texas are informed that, in accordance with a proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free. This involves an absolute equality of personal rights and rights of property between former masters and slaves, and the connection heretofore existing between them becomes that between employer and hired labor. The freedmen are advised to remain quietly at their present homes and work for wages. They are informed that they will not be allowed to collect at military posts and that they will not be supported in idleness either there or elsewhere.‘”

It has now become a worldwide celebration. For more information, visit www.juneteenth.com. To purchase tickets to the event, call the the California Theatre at (925) 427-1611 or go online to www.pittsburgcaliforniatheatre.com. For more information about the visit www.grownwomendance.org.

Download the PDF, here. Rivertown Block Party flyer 6-17-15 Print out or email to your family and friends! Everyone is welcome.

 By Allen Payton

A joint meeting of the Antioch City Council, Planning Commission and Economic Development Commission will be held, tonight, for public input on the Antioch General Plan, Land Use Element and Zoning Update.

The study session will include the following:

– Review the General Plan Land Use Element & Zoning Update preliminary work products

– Review and discuss the Focus Areas of the General Plan along with associated Zoning Designations and provide input on any changes that should be made

– Provide input on the General Plan and Zoning Update prior to formal consideration by the City Council on July 14, 2015.

The meeting will begin at 6:00 p.m. at the Nick Rodriguez Community Center, located at 213 F Street in Antioch’s historic downtown Rivertown.

To view the agenda, please click here.