Ring it Loud, Antioch! Ring it Proud!

1871 First Congregational Church bell; Society’s 50-year anniversary; 25-year anniversary at 1910 Riverview Union High School

By Carla Baker Marymee & Tom Menasco

The Antioch Historical Society invites the public on Sat., Nov. 1 at 11 a.m. rain or shine to celebrate a historically significant addition to the museum and two milestones. The groundbreaking was held on Wednesday, July 23, 2025. (See related article)

The museum is dedicating the refurbished 1871 First Congregational Church Bell housed in the newly constructed Unity Bell Tower. It is also celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Antioch Historical Society and the 25-year anniversary of residing at the historic 1910 Riverview Union High School Building.

Through the “Ring it loud, Antioch! Ring it proud!” marketing campaign and successful fundraising initiatives, the museum raised more than $85,000.00 to refurbish what is said to be one of the oldest artifacts from the settling of Antioch by early Americans.

The First Congregational Church traces its roots to June 12, 1865 and the bell brought early members of the church together as it rung loudly across the city.

To thank the Antioch community, sponsors, and donors for their financial support, the society is having a dedication and celebration that features — free lunch and anniversary cake, free tours of the museum and the Sports Legends Hall of Fame, free souvenir bells, oldies music by DJ Jim Lanter, and jazz by the Deer Valley Jazz Band.

There will be opportunities for children to see and experience the 1927 Model “T” Ford Fire Truck and the 1929 Santa Fe Red Caboose outside. The elegant museum theater will be open and showing videos of the restored Santa Fe Red Caboose. There will also be poetry reading and special discounts to become a member of the Antioch Historical Society.

“We are very proud to have brought this church bell back to life for our community to treasure and enjoy. The celebration on Nov. 1 is our way to acknowledge and thank all who supported this project,” Shari Gayle, Antioch Historical Society president said.

According to church documents, the First Congregational Church prioritized hospitality and welcomed all without exception, including African Americans as early as 1875 and children of Chinese laborers building the Delta levees.  

“The Unity Bell Tower, housing the 154-year-old bell from the First Congregational Church of 1871, honors the radically inclusive spirit of that church. It welcomed men, women, and children of all races—long before such inclusion was common,” Dwayne Eubanks, past president and project team coordinator said.

“I’m deeply grateful to have contributed to this effort—from helping secure the bell to co-designing the tower and supporting a remarkable team of volunteers through its completion. This was a labor of love, grounded in patience, collaboration, and a shared devotion to our community’s legacy. It remains one of the most rewarding experiences of my time with the Historical Society,” he said.

The project has been generously supported by major sponsors including: the City of Antioch, Kaiser Permanente Hospital, Kiwanis Club of the Delta, Wayne E Swisher Cement Contractor, Drill Tech Drilling & Shoring, Inc., and the East Bay Community Foundation.

The museum received scores of individual donations from the community, local businesses, and non-profit organizations including: Delta Veterans’ Group and Antioch Veterans Banner Program, St. Ignatius Catholic Church, Fontana Family Foundation, Antioch Rotary Club, and the Class of ’66 Antioch High School.

Special thanks go to Evans & Son Masonry, Best West Roofing, Eddie’s Coats, Black Diamond Electric, and Guepardo Landscaping.  

The Antioch Historical Museum resides within the 1910 Riverview Union High School, a site listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The museum, located at 1500 W. 4th St., is also home of the Antioch Sports Legends Hall of Fame program. The Sports Legends Hall of Fame showcases and honors the achievements of local individual athletes and teams. The museum is open on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

For more information, visit the website http://antiochhistoricalmuseum.org/ or check out the Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/antiochhistoricalmuseum/

For more information contact: Dwayne Eubanks at the Antioch Historical Society Museum at (925) 757-1326 or AntiochHistoricalsociety@comcast.net.

In Antioch’s historic, downtown Rivertown

By Celebrate Antioch Foundation

Join us for the 11th Annual Hot Rods 4 Paws Benefit Car & Bike Show and Trunk or Treat Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025, in Antioch’s historic, downtown Rivertown.

Enjoy and participate in the Pet Costume Contest at 11:30am, Kids Costume Contest at 12:00pm on the corner of W. 2nd and G Streets and store-to-store Trick or Treating from 12:00-4:00pm.

Plus, there will be Monster Truck rides, a Kids Zone, Music and Vendors and it is FREE to the public.

The event will benefit Furry Friends Pet Relief, a 501c3 non-profit organization that assists struggling families and the homeless in the East Bay and surrounding counties with dog and cat food.

For more information visit them at 708 W 2nd Street in Antioch or online at www.furryfriendspetrelief.com.

See more events at CelebrateAntioch.org.

By City of Antioch Recreation Department

It’s that time again! Falloween is back for its 6th year of fun! Don’t miss out on this Antioch Fall Tradition.

Bring your friends and family to enjoy the Pumpkin Patch, Magic Shows, Live DJ, Sweet Treats, Games, Inflatable Activities, Swimming, Face Painting and a good time. Plus, win Costume Contests and a Pumpkin Carving Contest!

We’ll see you on Saturday, October 18th, 2025 from 2 pm – 6 pm at the Antioch Water Park located at 4701 Lone Tree Way.

Tickets: $9 Pre-Sale, $13 Day Of

Pre-Purchase tickets by calling 925-776-3070.

By Department of Public Safety and Community Resources, City of Antioch

Community voices are essential to creating a safer, stronger Antioch. Join us on October 15th for an open conversation with City leaders and community members about public safety and violence prevention. Whether you live, work, or volunteer in Antioch, we want to hear from you.

Date: Wednesday, October 15, 6:00-8:00 PM

Location: Genesis Church, 1800 Woodland Drive, Antioch, CA 94509

We’ll discuss important topics such as community gun violence, police and community relations, and more.

At the forum, you’ll:

• Learn about Antioch’s current efforts and strategies to prevent community violence
• Talk about your experiences and ideas for improving community safety
• Help shape future safety strategies for our community

Light dinner and $25 gift card provided (with registration and attendance; must be 18+ to participate).

All voices are welcome and needed, come be part of the conversation! Register today: https://form.jotform.com/252606632711048

 By Elissa Harrington, Sr. Media Relations & PR Rep, Kaiser Permanente Northern California

A mobile medical vehicle provides routine and urgent care for a community recovering from a flood.

A modern community food hub opens in a struggling neighborhood, so residents don’t go hungry.

And a high school wellness room offers teenagers a welcome respite from the stresses of daily life.

These are just three examples of programs that Kaiser Permanente recently supported as part of its mission to improve health in the communities it serves. The Kaiser Permanente Northern California Community Health Snapshot includes brief stories about these programs and much more.

In 2024, Kaiser Permanente invested $1.7 billion in Northern California communities and $89 million in the Diablo Service area, which includes Antioch and Walnut Creek, to support community health. A major part of that investment helped people access high-quality health care through Kaiser Permanente’s participation in Medi-Cal and its own Medical Financial Assistance program.

Kaiser Permanente also worked with many local organizations throughout Northern California to address the biggest factors that shape people’s health. The report is titled “Connection is Everything,” in recognition of the connections we make in the communities we serve to improve health.

“We partnered with community organizations to address deep-rooted barriers that keep people from being healthy, such as not having a safe place to live, enough food to eat, or money to cover life’s essentials,” said Yvette Radford, vice president, External and Community Affairs for Kaiser Permanente Northern California. “When we help keep people and communities healthy, the health care system works better for everyone.”

You can learn more about our work to improve health in your community by exploring Kaiser Permanente Northern California’s 11 local Community Health Snapshots. Go to our Northern California page and scroll down to the “Communities we serve” section.

Extension for grants of $3,000 to $7,000 aligns with California Great ShakeOut to boost earthquake preparedness awareness; now includes non-owner-occupied homes; more than $20 million available

Sacramento, CA – The California Residential Mitigation Program (CRMP) today announced that it is extending the registration period for its Earthquake Brace + Bolt (EBB) grant program to October 17, 2025, adding more than two weeks to the original October 1 deadline. The extension ensures that the program’s closing date now coincides with the California Great ShakeOut drill on October 16, when millions of Californians will be focused on earthquake preparedness.

The program, which first opened this registration period on August 20, offers critical funding support for seismic retrofits that bolt houses to their foundations and brace crawl space walls—proven methods to reduce the risk of earthquake damage. With eligibility covering more than 1,100 ZIP Codes statewide, including 303 added earlier this year, the extension provides even more Californians with the opportunity to apply for up to $3,000 in grant funding. In fact, for the first time, CRMP has expanded EBB eligibility to include non-owner-occupied homes, allowing landlords to apply for this retrofit grant opportunity for their investment properties.

“Extending the deadline helps meet the high demand for earthquake retrofit assistance while drawing attention to the importance of preparedness as millions of Californians take part in the Great ShakeOut on October 16,” said Janiele Maffei, Chief Mitigation Officer of the California Earthquake Authority (CEA). “This extra time gives homeowners and rental property owners another chance to apply, choose a contractor, and begin strengthening their homes. Each retrofit improves safety not just for families but for entire communities.”

More than $20 million is available in this registration period to offset retrofit costs. Since the program’s launch in 2013, more than 33,500 California homeowners have received assistance through EBB.

Qualified income eligible households may also be eligible for supplemental grants of up to $7,000, which can cover as much as 100% of retrofit costs.

“Every retrofit makes California stronger and more resilient,” said Tom Welsh, CEO of the California Earthquake Authority. “By aligning with the Great ShakeOut, this extension ensures that more families are reminded of the simple but powerful steps they can take to protect their homes before the next big quake.”

The EBB grant program is administered by CRMP, a Joint Powers Authority between CEA and the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES).

Interested property owners can learn more and register at EarthquakeBraceBolt.com. The updated registration period runs through October 17, 2025.

About Earthquake Brace + Bolt (EBB)

Established by the California Residential Mitigation Program, EBB offers up to $3,000 to help California homeowners retrofit their house to reduce potential damage from earthquakes. A residential seismic retrofit makes a house more resistant to earthquake activity, such as ground shaking and soil failure, by bolting the house to its foundation and adding bracing around the perimeter of the crawl space. For more information, please visit EarthquakeBraceBolt.com.

About the California Residential Mitigation Program (CRMP)

CRMP was established in 2011 to help Californians strengthen their homes against damage from earthquakes. CRMP is a joint powers authority created by the California Earthquake Authority and the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services. For more information, please visit CRMP.org.

During 2025 Rhythms by the River Fall Festival

Click for details about the Annual Rhythms by the River Fall Festival in Rivertown Oct. 4. For more information about the Downtown Antioch Assocation visit https://downtownantioch.com.

The GFWC Woman’s Club of Antioch will hold their annual Fall Boutique on Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025, from 9:30 am – 3:30 pm. This event is a fundraiser for community charities and the restoration of the Historic GFWC Woman’s Club of Antioch building and is open to the public.

Handmade Crafters Artists & Vendors will offer Jewelry, Bags, Accessories, Scarves, Baby Items, Bowl Cozies, Tissue Holders, AVON, Small Christmas Trees, Handmade Bracelets, Shabby Chic, Colorstreet Nails & Lip Care, Tea Towels, Pillows, Aprons, Diamond Paintings, Alterations, Small Clocks, Printed Vases, Wreaths, Ornaments, Blankets, Quilts, Table Runners, Crochet Items, Key Chains, Magnets, Succulents, & unique gifts for Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas and all seasons

LOCATION: GFWC Woman’s Club of Antioch at 509 “G” Street in Antioch’s historic, downtown Rivertown. Parking is available across the street in the school district parking lot. Please do not park in the church parking lot next door. 

For questions contact Chairpersons: Nancy Burkard (925) 759-3383 or Liese McCause (925) 752-6725.

Business Women giving back to the Community!

Founded in 1902, the Woman’s Club of Antioch was formed “To improve and beautify the town, to do any business which shall promote the educational industrial benevolent, social or political welfare of its members or the community at large.”

In 1904 the club was then admitted to the General Federation of Women’s Clubs, known as the GFWC.  In 1905 with 40 members the club was incorporated, and our club was admitted to the California Federation of Women’s Clubs known as CFWC, then in 1924 admitted into the Mount Diablo District.  

For more information visit www.gfwcwomansclubofantioch.org.

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