Join the Kiwanis Club of the Delta-Antioch Club for the Annual Romano Marchetti Memorial Dinner fundraiser on Saturday, March 14th, 2026. Profits of the dinner, opportunity drawing and auction contribute to the support of Kiwanis community and youth charities.
The event will be held at the VFW Hall at 815 Fulton Shipyard Road in Antioch and begins at 5 PM with Social Hour and Silent Auction, 6 PM Dinner which includes two kinds of meat, pasta, baked beans, cole slaw, salad, ice cream and all the trimmings, catered by Chef Archie S&Q.
Plus, Opportunity Drawing and Live Auction!
Tickets are $60 each.
For tickets and information call: Archie Smith Jr. (510) 367-3452 archiesandq@gmail.com
Tickets are also available to purchase in person at Willow Park Mercantile 205 G Street, in Antioch’s historic, downtown Rivertown.
Thank you to our sponsors! Dr. Ali Shirani Dentistry, Snug As a Bug, East Bay Community Foundation and Beswick Family Fund.
Kiwanis is the Premier Community Service Organization Celebrating over 110 years serving the Children of the World, One Child, and One Community at a Time.
The Antioch Police Department’s Sycamore Substation is located in the Sycamore Square shopping center at the corner of Sycamore Drive and L Street. Photos by Allen D. Payton
By Jaden Baird, PIO, City of Antioch
ANTIOCH, CA — The Antioch Police Department will host a grand opening ceremony for its new Sycamore Substation in the Sycamore Square shopping center on Wednesday, March 11, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
During their meeting on April 22, 2025, the Antioch City Council voted 5-0 to approve an 18-month lease agreement between the City of Antioch and Yahya Korin Sycamore Square, LLC for a Police Department Substation located at 1084 Sycamore Drive, at a cost not to exceed $33,127.50.
As previously reported by the Herald, the total approved by the council includes Lease Costs for monthly rent of $1.00 for three months and $840.00 for 15 months for a total of $12,603.00.
In addition, the council approved spending $10,524.50 for the City’s 50% share of the total $21,049.00 cost for Ballistic Glass and Installation as well as Substation Setup Costs including one-time expenditures for furnishings, signage, technology and operational readiness for $10,000.00.
The new substation represents a strategic investment in public safety infrastructure and community-based policing in Antioch. The project was supported in part by a $25,000 award through the Contra Costa County Community Impact Fund. The funding was recommended by District 3 Supervisor Diane Burgis and jointly supported by District 5 Supervisor Shanelle Scales-Preston, with each district contributing $12,500.
The funding was recommended for approval by Burgis and approved by the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors. The allocation supports the department’s continued efforts to strengthen neighborhood safety and improve response capabilities in Eastern Contra Costa County.
City Manager Bessie Marie Scott expressed appreciation for the County’s partnership, stating, “I want to express our sincere gratitude for your decision to allocate funding to our police department for the Substation in Sycamore. Your commitment to public safety and to ensuring that our officers have the resources they need to serve our community is deeply appreciated. This investment strengthens not only the department, but the wellbeing of our neighborhoods as a whole. Thank you for your leadership, your responsiveness to community needs here in Antioch, and your dedication to keeping our city safe.”
The grand opening event will include brief remarks from City and County representatives and an opportunity to tour the facility.
Mayor Ron Bernal (left) three council members, City Clerk Michael Mandy join residents Ramesh Suman, Porshe Taylor, Josiah Ben-Oni Graham (center) and William Spijker following their appointments to the Antioch Police Oversight Commission on Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. Photos by Jaden Baird
Applications for more positions on Police Oversight, Parks & Recreation and Sales Tax Oversight Commissions, Board of Administrative Appeals, General Plan Advisory Committee due Friday, Feb. 27
By Jaden Baird, PIO, City of Antioch
ANTIOCH, CA — The Antioch City Council has completed appointments to the Antioch Police Oversight Commission and the Planning Commission following action taken at its meetings on February 10 and February 24, 2026.
On February 10, 2026, in a unanimous 5-0 vote, the City Council reappointed Porshe Taylor to a full three-year term on the Antioch Police Oversight Commission and appointed Josiah Ben-Oni Graham to serve the remainder of a partial term expiring in November 2026. The Council also reappointed Ramesh Suman and William Spijker to full four-year terms on the Planning Commission.
At the February 24th meeting, also by unanimous 4-0 vote, the City Council appointed Addison Peterson to a full three-year term on the Antioch Police Oversight Commission and Don Aguilar to a full four-year term on the Planning Commission. Those appointed that night were sworn in during the meeting.
Mayor Ron Bernal (second from right) and three council members join Addison Peterson (center) following his appointment to the Antioch Police Oversight Commission on Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026.
Antioch Police Oversight Commission
The Antioch Police Oversight Commission (APOC) provides independent community oversight of the Antioch Police Department and plays a critical role in promoting transparency, accountability, and public trust.
APOC Vice Chair Devin Williams stated, “The continued appointments to the Police Oversight Commission reflect a renewed commitment to transparency, accountability, and community trust in Antioch. While the commission has experienced transitions, it is encouraging to see residents still stepping forward to serve – including the next generation of leaders. That willingness speaks volumes about our community’s investment in strengthening public safety through independent oversight. I look forward to the important work ahead as we continue building a commission that reflects the voices and values of Antioch.”
Mayor Ron Bernal (second from right) and three council members join Don Aguilar (center) following his appointment to the Antioch Planning Commission on Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026.
Planning Commission
The Planning Commission serves as an advisory body to the City Council on matters related to land use, development, zoning, and long-range planning, helping guide Antioch’s growth and community development efforts.
More Appointments to Commission, Board, Committee Vacancies
The council will be making additional appointments to the Police Oversight, Parks & Recreation and Sales Tax Oversight Commissions, Board of Administrative Appeals and General Plan Advisory Committee. Applications are due tomorrow, Friday, Feb. 27, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. For more information on those vacancies visit Antioch Council seeks applicants for city commissions, board, committee.
The City of Antioch thanks each commissioner for their willingness to serve and for their continued commitment to the community.
On Thursday, February 12, 2026, at 1:16 a.m., Antioch Police officers and members of the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District were dispatched to the area of Lone Tree Way and Dallas Ranch Road for a reported traffic collision.
Upon arrival, officers located a solo-vehicle collision with two occupants trapped inside the vehicle. Emergency personnel took immediate lifesaving measures, and both occupants were transported to area hospitals with major injuries.
The driver is a 17-year-old female and the passenger is a 21-year-old female. Due to the severity of the collision and the ongoing investigation, no additional information is being released at this time.
The Antioch Police Department Traffic Unit responded to the scene and assumed the investigation. The preliminary investigation indicates that alcohol appears to be a factor in this collision.
Anyone who witnessed the collision or has information related to this incident is asked to contact Officer Egan at (925) 778-2441 or via email at jegan@antiochca.gov.
The Antioch Police Department reminds everyone that impaired driving puts lives at risk.
If you plan to drink, please designate a sober driver, use a rideshare service, or arrange alternate transportation.
Will offer multiple services at former Community Outreach Center
“We’ve been working day and night to transform the place. The new sign just went up today” – Pastor Damon Owens
By Allen D. Payton
Genesis Church of Antioch leaders, Pastor Damon and his wife Shantell Owens invite you and your family to the Ribbon Cutting & Grand Opening of the Genesis Family Life Center on February 7th from 12 Noon to 3:00 pm.
“We are fully persuaded that the Genesis Family Life Center located at 525 East 18th Street in Antioch will be a place of hope and transformation where lives will be changed for the better,” they said.
The center’s slogan, Act Justly, Love Mercy, Walk Humbly… is from the Bible verse Micah 6:8 which reads, “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”
The Owens’ shared the following “list of culturally relevant wrap around services” available at the Center:
Grocery Share Program
After School Programs for At-Risk Youth
Senior Day Programs
Trauma Informed Care
Business Incubator for Entrepreneurs
Pop-Up Commercial Kitchen
Community Youth Development
Workforce Development
Prison Re-Entry
Transitional Housing
The new Genesis Family Life Center sign was erected on Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2026, just in time for Saturday’s Grand Opening. All photos courtesy of Damon Owens
The building was purchased from Golden Hills Community Church, which operated their Community Outreach Center there, until last year, for $800,000, according to Golden Hills’ Executive Pastor Matt LaValliere. The two churches are part of the same 170-year-old Baptist denomination known as Converge, for which Pastor Damon is a member of the Board of Overseers of the PacWest division.
The loan docs were signed by Pastor Damon and Shantell Owens on Nov. 24, 2025.
The transition from the COC to the GFLC was quick as, according to Pastor Damon, they signed the loan docs on November 24th.
“Genesis qualified for the loan and closed escrow. God did it,” he exclaimed.
Volunteers from the church then began work the day after Thanksgiving to prepare the Center for opening.
“We’ve been working day and night to transform the place,” Owens shared. “We wanted to bring an open Silicon Valley-type feel for organizations to use the space to provide the wrap-around services.”
“The new sign just went up today,” Pastor Damon added.
Construction on the Genesis Family Life Center began the day after Thanksgiving, on Friday, Nov. 28, 2025.
Asked if they would be serving meals to the homeless and those in need he said, “We’re going to be providing ready to eat groceries for those people without a kitchen, like those living in the Opportunity Village (transitional housing hotel), next door.”
“This building is just a shell; it is the people who will fill it that matter most,” the Owens shared. “Seeing the G.F.L.C (Genesis Family Life Center) transition from a vision on paper to a functional space has been a journey of faith and hard work.”
“Participants will be informed…that individuals have different rights and obligations depending on their circumstances. The forum will emphasize the importance of complying with the law…” – City Manager Scott
By Allen D. Payton
The City of Antioch in coordination with several non-profit community organizations, will hold an immigrants’ rights forum for those in the country illegally on Feb. 4, 2026. It was announced by District 1 Councilwoman Tamisha Torres-Walker on Jan. 24th in a post on her official Facebook page and at the Council meeting on Tuesday, January 27th. The event is co-hosted by Immigration Institute of the Bay Area, Immigrant Action Network and Hijas Del Campo.
According to City of Antioch Department of Public Safety & Community Resources Director Monserrat Cabral, “this is a City-supported informational event coordinated through the Public Safety & Community Resources Department.
“Outreach was intentionally targeted through specific community groups, schools and partners to ensure the information was shared accurately and in a way that respected the needs of the community the event is designed to serve. The event will also be formally announced during the City Council meeting, which allows for an official and transparent public announcement.
“For your reference, the event is:
An informational session focused on immigration-related resources and updates
Free and open to the public
Offered in English and Spanish
Hosted by the City in partnership with community-based organizations”
Questions for City Staff
The following questions were sent to Director Cabral and City Manager Bessie Scott:
Is this being done under Council direction?
How is the event being funded and what are the associated costs? Was it from a grant? Did the Council approve the expenditure? Or are the organizations paying for it?
If it’s partially or wholly funded by the City, why is the City using our tax dollars to assist those in the U.S. illegally? Shouldn’t that be left up to the non-profit organizations using private funds?
Will those in attendance be informed they don’t have a right to be in our country without permission?
Will the event not just discuss their rights but also their responsibilities as immigrants, legal or illegal, such as following the law and complying with law enforcement?
Will the forum encourage those here illegally to self-deport to give them a future option to return through a legal port of entry to our country and have the opportunity to become a citizen?
Will they also be informed that if they’re deported, they will never have that option?
City Manager Responds
City Manager Bessie Scott responded, “This is a City-supported, informational event coordinated through the Public Safety & Community Resources Department as part of our ongoing community education and outreach efforts. It is not a policy action item and does not require separate Council approval beyond existing departmental authority to conduct community informational programming. The event was publicly announced during the City Council meeting to ensure transparency.
“The event is low-cost and focused on information-sharing. Any City-related costs are covered within existing, Council-approved departmental budgets. Community-based partners are contributing subject-matter expertise and participation. No new or special appropriations are associated with this event. Any City-associated costs are consistent with standard community outreach and public education activities.
“The Immigration Informational Night is designed to provide general, high-level information about available resources, recent changes and community services, delivered by qualified organizations. It is not an enforcement forum, a legal proceeding or an advocacy campaign.
“The City does not determine immigration status, provide legal determinations, or direct federal immigration outcomes. Accordingly, the event is not intended to instruct attendees on enforcement actions, deportation decisions, or federal legal consequences, which fall under federal jurisdiction.
“The City’s role is limited to facilitating access to accurate information and ensuring residents know where to seek appropriate, lawful resources. This approach aligns with longstanding City practice of hosting informational sessions on a wide range of topics that impact residents’ health, safety and well-being.
“Regarding outreach, initial distribution was intentionally targeted through community partners, schools, and trusted networks to ensure accurate information reached intended audiences. The event is open to the public, offered in both English and Spanish, and the finalized flyers are attached for reference.
“Participants will be informed that U.S. immigration law is complex and that individuals have different rights and obligations depending on their circumstances. The forum will emphasize the importance of complying with the law and encourage attendees to seek guidance from qualified legal professionals regarding their individual situations.
“The event does not promote unlawful behavior, nor does it encourage self-deportation or make representations about future immigration outcomes, as those determinations depend on federal law and individual case facts.
“Our goal is to ensure community members have access to accurate information so they can make informed decisions and better understand their responsibilities and options under the law.”
Event Details
The event will be held from 6:00-7:30 PM at Antioch High School in Conference Room B, 700 W. 18th Street. Dinner is provided and translation available. It is not a program of the Antioch Unified School District and AUSD accepts no liability or responsibility for this program. See flier for an additional disclaimer.
Antioch Sports Legends is hosting a Crab Feed Fundraiser and You are invited to attend! We are hoping to see our friends and supporters on Saturday, February 28th, 2026, at the Antioch Community Center in Prewett Family Park, 4703 Lone Tree Way. The price for each ticket is $100 per ticket – All-inclusive is the food, beer, wine and beverages. Doors open at 5:30 pm and dinner will be served at 6:30 pm
There will be raffle prizes, silent auction prizes as well as a live auction.
Round tables of 8, 9 or 10 can be reserved and purchased. Individuals are encouraged to attend too.
Please come join us for a fun filled night of delicious crab and great company! This is a smaller event and the number of tickets are limited, so please get yours today, as this event is projected to sell out fast.
If you are not able to use a debit or credit card, please stop by the Antioch Sports Legends office any Wednesday or Saturday inside the Antioch Historical Society Museum at 1500 West 4th Street, from 1pm-4pm by February 14th to purchase your ticket. We accept cash, checks, debit or credit cards while tickets are available.
To honor 2025 Business, Citizen, Non-Profit & Youth of the Year
Nomination Deadline: Feb. 13
By Jim Becker, 2026 Board Chair, Antioch Chamber of Commerce
It’s time to celebrate excellence in our community! I invite you to nominate outstanding businesses, individuals, and nonprofits for our Business of the Year, Citizen of the Year, and Nonprofit of the Year awards. The winners will be honored at the annual Chamber Gala on March 27 at the Lone Tree Golf & Event Center.
This year’s theme is, “A New Chapter: Antioch’s Gala for Renewal & Opportunity.” We will also hold the Installation of the 2026 Antioch Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors.
Your nominations help us recognize those who make a real difference in Antioch.
Submission Instructions: Return the forms to Antioch Chamber of Commerce, PO Box 1711 Antioch, CA 94509.
Thank you for helping us honor the best in our community. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to us at (925) 757-1800 or email frontdeskadmin@antiochchamber.com.
Annual Gala
The Annual Gala will include the Awards Ceremony, Silent Auction, Golden Tickets, 50/50 Raffle, No-host bar, Music by DJ GBaby and Dinner Buffet:
Fresh baked garlic rolls & garlic butter
Italian green salad with vinaigrette
Lone Tree Caesar salad with marinated tomatoes, croutons & shaved parmesan cheese
