For Most Impact and Lifetime Achievement, respectively

By Antioch Chamber of Commerce

During the annual Gala on Friday, March 28, 2025, the Antioch Chamber of Commerce honored Deer Valley High School Vice Principal Mike Green as the 2024 Antioch Citizen of the Year for Most Impact and former Councilwoman Lori Ogorchock with the 2024 Antioch Citizen of the Year for Lifetime Achievement award. The event was held at the Lone Tree Golf & Event Center.

2024 Citizen of the Year for Most Impact – Mike Green

Mike is the kind of volunteer every community dreams of – dedicated, selfless and endlessly giving. His commitment to service extends both locally and internationally, having traveled alongside his father to Mexico and Zambia to assist with dental work for those in need. A natural leader from a young age, Mike achieved the rank of Eagle Scout at just 12 years old and has since continued his scouting journey as a Scoutmaster, tirelessly fundraising and mentoring young scouts.

Beyond scouting, Mike has devoted his career to shaping young minds, serving as an elementary school principal and now as the Vice Principal at Deer Valley High School. His passion for helping students reach their full potential extends to the athletic field, where he previously coached track at Deer Valley. His impact in Antioch runs deep – serving on the boards of Delta Advocacy, the Leo Fontana Foundation, and the Rotary Club of the Delta, where he has championed initiatives supporting low-income families, youth, and seniors.

Mike’s generosity does not stop there. He founded the Home Team program, which provides minor home repairs for local seniors, ensuring they can live safely and comfortably. His heart for service is also evident in the kitchen, where he volunteers as a sous chef, preparing meals for community dinners benefiting causes such as the Elderly Wish Foundation and Special Needs Christmas events. The list of Mike’s contributions could go on and on, but one thing is clear—his impact is profound, and his dedication to Antioch is unmatched. He is truly an incredible, selfless, and exemplary member of our community.

2024 Citizen of the Year for Lifetime Achievement – Former Councilwoman Lori Ogorchock

Lori is the true definition of a servant leader, dedicating countless hours to understanding and uplifting her community. Her passion and commitment have driven numerous initiatives that have positively impacted Antioch and beyond.

From coaching youth sports to organizing fundraising efforts, Lori has always prioritized the well-being of children and families. She played a pivotal role in coordinating the first Women’s March in Antioch, raising awareness for women’s rights in East County. She also initiated the Veterans Banner Program, a heartfelt tribute that honors local veterans by displaying their images along the city’s main streets.

As a dedicated board member of PAL (Police Activities League), Lori works tirelessly to support fundraising efforts for youth programs, ensuring that children have access to positive activities and opportunities. Additionally, she serves as the Chair of the Elderly Wish Foundation, granting seniors their final wishes and bringing joy to their lives in their most precious moments. Lori’s impact extends even further as she was instrumental in the opening of Antioch’s Family Justice Center, providing essential resources and support for individuals and families in need.

Her efforts have not only strengthened community programs but have also inspired countless individuals to take action and give back. Whether advocating for women’s rights, honoring veterans, supporting youth, or fulfilling the wishes of seniors, Lori’s selfless contributions have touched lives in profound ways. Her lifelong commitment to service and advocacy is a testament to her character, making her a truly deserving recipient of this award.

Fundraiser for annual Antioch School Supply Giveaway

Benefiting 4 Ever Me Foundation.

643 5-Star Reviews to date!

Organizers hope Diana Becton’s luck has run out; have 160 days to gather signatures of 73,000 voters; election may not happen until next March

By Allen D. Payton

With less than two years left in her term and over a year after posting about their effort on social media, organizers announced on Monday, March 17, 2025, Contra Costa District Attorney Diana Becton was served with recall papers. They cite a “persistent cycle of unaddressed criminal activity” and “empty promises to victims and their families.”

In an announcement on their website on Tuesday, organizers wrote, “District Attorney Diana Becton has been served with the Notice of Intent to recall her from office on March 17, 2025. This recall notice was delivered in person, as shown in a video recording, while she was entering the back entrance of the DA’s office. Furthermore, the notice of intention was filed with the Contra Costa County Elections office today. Out of the 121 signatures collected, 103 were validated, exceeding the recall group’s requirement of 100 valid signatures for the initiative to proceed. Diana Becton now has seven days to respond to the Notice of Intention.

The petition declares, ‘We, the victims of crime, their families, local business owners and employees, as well as residents of Contra Costa County, have reached our limit and are initiating the recall of District Attorney Diana Becton. We are increasingly concerned about the persistent cycle of unaddressed criminal activity. We are frustrated by her continuous empty promises to victims and their families that justice will prevail while she permits criminals to roam free. Her lack of transparency regarding crime in this county and her attempts to keep offenders out of jail have left us disheartened. We stand for the residents of Contra Costa County because everyone deserves to live in a safe environment. We advocate for all crime victims who feel ignored, exasperated, and hopeless in their pursuit of justice for themselves or their loved ones. We support the business owners who endure constant thefts and burglaries from repeat offenders while Becton turns a blind eye. District Attorney Diana Becton is compromising the safety of our community and failing to address the needs of victims. We are committed to restoring justice, starting with the urgent recall of District Attorney Diana Becton.’

The organizers of the recall will be arranging a press conference soon. For any questions or inquiries, please reach out via email to recalldianabecton@gmail.com or info@recalldianabecton.org.”

The brief video on the website shows Becton being served with the recall papers as she walked into a building.

In addition, the website reveals a photo and list of the 10 recall organizers as promised to the Herald in an email dated Sept. 6, 2024, as well as the victims they represent. They include:
Top Row
1. Zelma Johnson – Grandmother of Damond Lazenby Jr.
2. Stephen Arellano – Father of Thomas Arellano
3. Gwyn Gabe – Father of Alexis Gabe
4. Kelly Melton – Aunt of Allie Sweitzer
5. Monte’ Corley – Brother of Stacy Dewayne Corley Jr.
6. Emileigh Faulkner – Cousin of Allie Sweitzer
Bottom Row
7. Carol Ann Sherman – Granddaughter of Carmen Vasquez
8. Erica Esperanza Cano – Ex-Wife of Anthony Hernandez
9. Jessica Frances Gabe Zuasola – Cousin of Alexis Gabe
10. Christopher Rodriguez – Stepfather of Allie Sweitzer

According to a December 2024 report by Richmondside, “Contra Costa County’s Registrar of Voters told Richmondside there are about 729,500 registered voters in the county, so the recall team will need to gather, at minimum, about 73,000 signatures,” or 10 percent as required in local jurisdictions with 100,000 or more registered voters.

According to the California Secretary of State’s Procedures for Recalling State and Local Officials, the organizers will have 160 days to accomplish that requirement.

In addition, the procedures require, “If there are more than 500 signatures to verify, the elections department has 60 days to determine if there are enough valid signatures, and the elections department can use random sampling techniques. However, if the elections department determines that a 60-day window “could cause the recall election to be ineligible for consolidation with the next regularly scheduled election,” the process must be finished in 30 days instead of 60.

“The relevant governing body (Board of Supervisors) must call for an election within 14 days after the meeting at which the certificate of sufficiency for the recall petition was presented. If the governing body fails to issue the order within 14 days, the county elections official, within 5 days, shall set the date for holding the election.

“The election shall be held not less than 88 nor more than 125 days after the issuance of the order. However, the election may be conducted within 180 days after the issuance of the order so that the election may be consolidated with a regularly scheduled election.” The latest the recall election could occur is next March.

CORRECTION: A previous version of this report claimed Becton was up for re-election in 2026. However, a state law passed in 2022, AB-759 aligns elections for county district attorneys and sheriffs with the presidential election, and all those who were elected that year had their terms extended by two years until 2028.

Due to new state laws passed by the legislature and signed by Newsom in 2022, local recalls no longer include a simultaneous replacement election. Instead, should Becton be recalled, then her position will remain vacant until the Board of Supervisors appoints her replacement or holds another election. If appointed or elected, that person would fill the remainder of Becton’s term until December 2028.

School notifies parents after suspects enter campus

No need for ‘Luck o’ the Irish” on St. Patrick’s Day as no arrests made

By Lt. Joe Njoroge #7052, Antioch Police Field Services Division

At approximately 2:45 p.m. on Monday, March 17, 2025, APD Dispatch received a report of a physical altercation in the area of Lone Tree Way and Deer Valley Road, with concerns that one of the individuals involved may have been armed with a firearm.

Upon arrival, officers were informed that the suspects had fled on foot toward the Country Hills Drive area. Using drones, officers were able to locate the individuals who later entered a vehicle. As a precautionary measure, nearby schools were notified of the potential threat and initiated lockdown procedures.

Officers conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle and made contact with several individuals. A thorough search of the vehicle, as well as the areas where the suspects had been seen fleeing, was conducted, but no firearms were discovered. Additional searches of surrounding areas were also carried out, but no firearms were found.

Subsequently, all schools were informed that there was no ongoing threat to public safety, and the lockdowns were lifted.

According to an Antioch resident, “APD told the school to go on code red” and the following notice was sent out to parents of the nearby Hilltop Christian School:

“Good evening, Hilltop parents,

This afternoon, at approximately 2:45 PM, we received an immediate directive from the Antioch Police Department to go into lockdown.

Authorities informed us that a group of six to eight individuals had been involved in an altercation off campus. Some of these individuals, possibly armed, evaded law enforcement and drove onto our church parking lot. Once they reached the church parking lot, they abandoned their vehicle and dispersed throughout our campus.

In response, we swiftly and securely implemented lockdown procedures. Law enforcement conducted multiple thorough searches of our campus, with special attention to our playgrounds, to ensure no weapons had been discarded. Once all suspects were located and taken into custody, officers confirmed that our campus was safe, and the lockdown was lifted.

We understand that receiving lockdown notifications can be concerning, and we deeply appreciate your patience and cooperation.”

However, Lt. Njoroge later said about the suspects, “They were detained. We didn’t arrest anybody.”

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

Orey Douglas has history of over 20 arrests since 2014 including for murder, multiple gun and sex crimes

By Brentwood Police Department

Around 1:00 AM Sunday morning August 4th, 2024, Brentwood officers responded to an armed robbery at 50 Sand Creek Road. While officers were interviewing the victim, Oakley PD spotted the suspects’ vehicle in their jurisdiction and attempted a traffic stop. The driver fled at a high rate of speed, leading to a pursuit. The suspect vehicle eventually crashed into an embankment off Highway 160.

Brentwood officers arrived at the crash scene and confirmed that the vehicle matched the description of the suspects’ car. Both occupants were detained, and a loaded handgun, along with the stolen property from the victim, was found in the vehicle. The suspect, 28-year-old Orey Azniam Douglas of Antioch, was positively identified and placed under arrest. Douglas was transported to the Martinez Detention Facility for booking.

This quick and coordinated response not only led to the arrest of the suspect but also likely prevented further crimes.

According to a report by crimevoice.com, they robbed Los Mexicanos Market and the second suspect Sam Donte Gray, 38 (born 11-10-85), of Concord, remained at large until he was arrested on August 8. Douglas was charged with second-degree robbery and three firearms-related charges and was held in the West County Detention Facility on $160,000 bail pending his Oct. 7th court hearing.

On March 3rd, 2025, the suspects, Douglas and Gray, were found guilty of armed robbery and assault with a deadly weapon, along with numerous firearm charges and enhancements.

This case highlights the collective efforts of everyone involved, including patrol officers from both Brentwood PD and Oakley PD, along with our Detectives. Their dedication and teamwork played a critical role in this successful conviction while also ensuring the safety of our community.

According to localcrimenews.com, the six-feet, three-inch tall, 215-pound Douglas is Black and has a history of arrests dating back to 2014 by multiple agencies including police departments in Antioch, Hayward, Fremont, BART, Oakland, San Jose, Vacaville, as well as Sheriff’s Departments in Contra Costa, Alameda and Solano counties, and Contra Costa CHP. Charges include murder, inflicting corporal injury on a spouse or cohabitant, assault with any means of force likely to produce great bodily injury, multiple gun crimes, sex with a minor and unlawfully causing a minor to engage in a commercial sex act by force, carjacking, vehicle theft, receiving stolen property, false imprisonment, threatening a witness, evading police and resisting arrest.

According to the Contra Costa Sheriff’s Department, the five-feet, nine-inch tall, 217-pound Gray is Black and being held in the Martinez Detention Facility on $140,0000 bail. His next court appearance is scheduled for May 9, 2025, at 8:30 AM in Superior Court in Martinez.

According to localcrimenews.com, he was arrested for conspiracy to commit a crime, robbery, assault with a firearm on a person, felony parole violation and addict in possession of a firearm. Gray was previously arrested on Sept. 8, 2023, by the Alameda County Sheriff’s Department on order for a person’s removal from prison to appear in court.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

Donors, sponsors requested

In honor of our Past Distinguished Member, Romano Marchetti, the Kiwanis Club of the Delta-Antioch is proud to host our Annual Tri-Tip / Chicken Dinner on March 29th, 2025. This event will take place at the Veterans of Foreign Wars located at 815 Fulton Shipyard Road in Antioch, CA. Come on down for 5PM Social with dinner starting promptly at 6PM.

Enjoy Garlic Butter Tri-Tip, Roasted Herb Chicken, Bam Beans made with no meat, fresh Bam Slaw, a fresh roll with butter, and a decadent ice cream cup catered by Archie’s S and Q Smoked Meats. All this for $40 per adult and only $20 for children. Plus, you will have the chance to win many great prizes in our opportunity drawing, live auction and Silent Auction.

All profits of this dinner, Opportunity Drawing, and Auction contribute to the support of the local Kiwanis Community, Youth Charities, and local Scholarships.

You can buy tickets from Kay Power, Allison Norris, or purchase them online at www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/romano-marchetti-memorial-tri-tip-chicken-dinner–2025.

Donors and sponsors will be announced that night. Please see donation and sponsorship letter from 2024-25 Club President Tom McNell.

For more information visit Kiwanis Club of The Delta-Antioch.