Just a quick reminder that the Antioch July 4th Parade will be held tomorrow, Monday, July 4th (hey, what a coincidence!) at 10 a.m. on 2nd Street in historic downtown Rivertown.

Be sure to get there early to get a seat along the parade route.

Presented by Delta-Antioch Kiwanis, Allied Waste, the City of Antioch, Mayor Jim Davis, Antioch School Board Trustee Walter Ruehlig, Antioch Chamber of Commerce Community Foundation, American Legion Post 161, Antioch, and the Antioch Herald.

There is no need to travel to get the best seat in the house and witness a spectacular Broadway theatrical performance. The Delta Memorial Hospital Foundation proudly presents its annual fundraiser featuring world renowned iL CIRCO to residents here in East Contra Costa County.

iL CIRCO is known for its breath taking acrobatics and choreography, enchanting music, dance and whimsical storyline. According to the company’s website “iL CIRCO has left a trail of standing ovations spanning the globe, after touring more than 14 countries on five continents, since first premiering in 1996.”

The Delta Memorial Hospital Foundation raises monies to help support advancements in services at Sutter Delta Medical Center. Last year the Foundation hosted a sold out fundraiser featuring Beach Blanket Babylon in the city of Antioch’s historical theater El Campanil. The event raised $100,000 for the hospital.

This event is open to the public and is such an opportunity for this area to have Broadway level talent right here to enjoy. The event is followed by a night of dessert, drinks and dancing in beautiful downtown Antioch overlooking the Delta.

WHEN: Saturday, September 17
WHERE: Antioch’s Historical El Campanil Theatre, 602 W Second Street

If you would like to find out more information about the upcoming fundraiser and iL CIRCO, please contact Victoria Calderia by calling 925-628-7284 or by e-mail at caldeiv@sutterhealth.org.

Everyone is Invited to Sign Up and Donate a Pint

This next Tuesday, you’ll have the opportunity to help save a life, by merely taking an hour out of your day and donating a pint of blood at the Antioch Rotary Community Blood Drive.

The event will take place at the Lone Tree Golf & Event Center from 2:00 to 7:00 p.m.

Please register online at www.helpsavealife.org or call 1-800-GIVE-LIFE (448-3543) and provide the Sponsor Code antiochrotary.

This is the second blood drive, this year, sponsored by the Antioch Rotary Club, thanks to the efforts of event coordinator Dale Hudson, the American Red Cross and the Lone Tree Golf & Event Center, which is generously donating the use of their banquet room.

“We collected 41 pints at our blood drive in January,” Hudson said. “We’re hoping to exceed that. Every pint is used to help save the lives of multiple people, right here in our community.”

For information about the American Red Cross, visit their website at www.redcross.org. For information on Antioch Rotary Club, which is now in its 68th year of serving both the Antioch community as well as supporting international projects and programs, please visit www.AntiochRotaryClub.org or see them on Facebook.

By Allen Payton, Publisher

As of this week, the parade in Antioch, to celebrate America’s 235th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, is on, according to event coordinator and Antioch School Board Trustee Walter Ruehlig.

Walter and I have been working on bringing the event to fruition over the past several weeks. While the fireworks couldn’t happen, again, this year, due to a cost of approximately $80,000, the good news is the Antioch Independence Day Parade will happen on Monday, July 4th. 

Details are still being worked out and some funds will have to be raised (only a few thousand dollars), but the Antioch Chamber of Commerce has allowed the use of their Antioch Community Foundation for tax-deductible donations to pay for the costs, and the route along 2nd Street, in historic downtown Rivertown has been selected, beginning at 10 a.m.

Any individual or organization wishing to march please notify Walter at walter.ruehlig@gmail.com for an application which he will e-mail or send  by mail. The application is also posted for downloading on line on this site and at www.art4antioch.org. Put it on your calendar and be sure to join us in celebrating our nation’s freedoms!

If you’d like to contribute, please make your check payable to “Antioch Community Foundation” and put “July 4th Parade” in the memo area, and mail it c/o Antioch Herald to P.O. Box 4672, Antioch, CA 94531 or bring it to the ECC Bank branch at 1411 A Street, and they’ll deposit it for you. Be sure to email or mail us a copy of the top of your check for your and our records.

Sponsors of $25 or more will be listed on this site and given special recognition in the July issue print edition of the Herald.

This is a community effort and we need your support and participation to make it a success.  Visit our Facebook page at www.Facebook.com/Antioch.JulyFourth or for any questions, please email walter.ruehlig@gmail.com at or antiochjuly4th@yahoo.com.

2011 Contra Costa County Fair Queen Brittney Ray

From Contra Costa County Fair

Just as you’d expect the Fair Queen to be, Brittney Ray is poised, outgoing, and charismatic. But would you guess that she has been riding horse since before she could walk? Meet your 2011 Fair Queen Brittney Ray!

The 19-year-old Antioch resident is no stranger to the Fair. Brittney sang with her pageant friends when she was just five or six years old. She also showed livestock at the Fair for the past seven years. Her favorite Fair memory is camping out on the fairgounds with her 4-H club. What Brittney looks forward to most during her reign as Fair Queen is the week of fair itself.

“I love the atmosphere and this year is going to the most special to me because I get to live every little girls dream and be the queen,” said Brittney. “I can’t wait to see all the kids faces when they get to meet a ‘real queen’!”

You can meet Brittney at the Contra Costa County Fair, June 2 – 5. You can find her helping out with kid’s contests, the livestock auction, opening ceremonies and interacting with guests during the entire Fair. She will also make special appearances at community events as a spokesperson for the Fair during her yearlong reign.

We are so pleased to have Brittney as this year’s Fair Queen and look forward to her being an excellent example for youth in the county. Please make sure to come and visit her and all of us at the Contra Costa County Fair June 2 – 5 and celebrate with us as “The Tradition Continues”. For more information visit the Annual Fair section of our website at www.contracostafair.com/fair.

Be sure to visit their website www.contracostafair.com/fair/ for all the details!

Members of law enforcement's Iron Spartans Motorcycle Club show respect at Antioch's 2011 Memorial Day ceremony - by Mike Schneider

Additional photos by John Goodner can be viewed at his Elite Photography and Design website by clicking here.