By Allen D. Payton

During their meeting on April 14, 2026, the Antioch City Council honored both the Cornerstone Christian School Cougars boys’ and girls’ varsity basketball teams for their state championships this year. In addition, on Thursday, May 28, 2026, the Antioch Sports Legends hosted and honored the teams, in their wing inside the Antioch Historical Museum.

The undefeated boys’ team won the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) Boys Division III State Championship defeating the Birmingham Patriots of Lake Balboa, CA, 74-64 at the Golden One Center in Sacramento on March 13th. They ended their season with a 29-8 overall record and 12-0 for first place in league. (See game video)

The boys’ basketball team was also the 2024 North Coast Section (NCS) and Norcal State Champions.

The undefeated, number one seeded girls’ team won the NorCal Girls Division VI Championship by dominating and defeating the number two seed Redding Christian Lions 48-27 inside the Cornerstone Christian gym on March 11th. They ended the season with a record of 27-7 and 10-0 for first place in league. (See game video)

The girls’ team was also the 2023 NCS and Norcal State Champions.

The City Council’s proclamation reads as follows:

RECOGNITION HONORING CORNERSTONE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL’S

2026 STATE CHAMPIONSHIP BASKETBALL TEAMS

APRIL 2026

WHEREAS, Cornerstone Christian Center and Cornerstone Christian School have long served as valued institutions in the Antioch community, fostering spiritual growth, community engagement,

and a commitment to developing young people of purpose, integrity, and service;

WHEREAS, Cornerstone Christian School has built a strong reputation for providing an education that supports the development of students academically, spiritually, and athletically, while

encouraging excellence, discipline, leadership, and character;

WHEREAS, throughout the 2025–2026 basketball season, both the Cornerstone Christian School Girls and Boys High School Basketball Teams demonstrated extraordinary perseverance, teamwork, sportsmanship, and dedication, representing their school and the City of Antioch with pride and distinction;

WHEREAS, the Cornerstone Christian School Girls Basketball Team achieved an exceptional milestone by winning the 2026 CIF State Division VI Championship, reflecting the team’s resilience, unity, and unwavering commitment to excellence;

WHEREAS, the Cornerstone Christian School Boys Basketball Team achieved a historic accomplishment by securing the 2026 CIF State Championship, establishing a new legacy of excellence for the school and bringing great pride to the Antioch community;

WHEREAS, these accomplishments reflect not only the talent and hard work of the student-athletes, but also the invaluable leadership of coaches, the support of families, and the strength of the broader Cornerstone Christian School community; and

WHEREAS, the success of these teams has brought honor to the City of Antioch and serves as an inspiration to future generations to pursue excellence in athletics, academics, and character.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, RON BERNAL, Mayor of the City of Antioch, hereby proclaim April 14, 2026, as a day of recognition honoring the Cornerstone Christian School, Girls and Boys Basketball Teams for their 2026 CIF State Championship victories, and extend sincere congratulations to the student-athletes, coaches, school leadership, families, and the entire Cornerstone Christian School community.

APRIL 14, 2026

RON BERNAL, Mayor

(See council meeting video beginning at the 25:08 mark)

Antioch Sports Legends Also Honor Teams

According to a May 29th post on their Facebook page, the “Antioch Sports Legends had the honor of welcoming the Cornerstone Christian High School varsity basketball teams to the museum to celebrate an incredible season!

“The students-athletes had the opportunity to explore the Sports Legends Hall of Fame—many for the very first time.

“We proudly recognized two outstanding teams:

CIF Boys Division III State Champions the Cornerstone Christian HS Boys Team

NorCal Girls Division VI Champions the Cornerstone Christian HS Girls Team

“A special thank you to Gary Bras and Kris Del Monte for organizing this memorable event, and to Sports Legends co-founders Tom Menasco and Eddie Beaudin for presenting awards to these talented student-athletes.

“Congratulations to Cornerstone Christian High School on a remarkable year—we are proud to celebrate your success and dedication both on and off the court.”

Both teams were presented with plaques bearing the Antioch Sports Legends logo recognizing their accomplishments.

The Antioch Sports Legends is located inside the Antioch Historical Museum at 1500 W. 4th Street. For more information visit www.antiochsportslegends.com.

About Cornerstone Christian High School

Cornerstone Christian School provides a well-rounded academic, extra-curricular, and spiritual experience. The foundational purpose of our facilities, programs, curriculum choices, and most of all our dedicated teachers and staff is to inspire your child in the joy of learning and a love for God and His Son Jesus. We want to partner with you, the parent, to bring about the best in your child. The school is located at 1745 E. 18th Street in Antioch. For more information visit www.cornerstonechristianschool.net.

Get your unwanted documents shredded at St. John’s Lutheran Church, 1360 East Tregallas Road, Antioch Saturday, May 2 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Donations will raise funds for scholarships and grants coordinated by the church’s Endowment Committee.

“Through its endowment, the church has given scholarships to students pursuing college degrees as well as continuing education opportunities such as gaining teacher certification. It has also given a grant to support training school tutors and a grant to purchase microphones for a middle school classroom,” said Eileen Blumhardt-Butler, chair of the Endowment Committee.

“These scholarships and grants are a way our church can share God’s love with the community,” Blumhardt-Butler added.

St. John’s Lutheran Church (stjohnsantioch.org) has Sunday School and services at 9 a.m. on Sundays. For more information, please call (925) 767-3070.

^{Paid advertisement}

^{Paid publication.}

Golden Hills Community Church is located at 2401 Shady Willow Lane in Brentwood. For more information visit goldenhills.org, call (925) 516-0653 or email info@goldenhills.org.

Hosted by Grace ‘n Grub

By Allen D. Payton

On Friday, March 27, 2026, Grace n’ Grub will host the Grand Opening of the Daily Bread Market which will include a variety of other food pop-ups. The event will be held at 2515 Somersville Road from 7:00 PM to 11:30 PM. and will include a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony with Antioch Mayor Ron Bernal and other community leaders.

The market will continue each following Wednesday and Friday.

Grace n’ Grub is a youth-led food business founded by Diego Chavez Marquez when he was just 17 years old, and operated with his brothers Alfredo, 20, and German, 15, and a few of their closest friends, according to a Los Medanos College Experience report.

For more information about Grace n’ Grub visit them on Instagram.

To benefit Shepherd’s Gate women and children’s center, Antioch Church Family ministries

“A complex and ambitious adventure for lovers of ancient historical romance.” — Kirkus Reviews

By Wes Seeley, PR by the Book

Valentine’s Day celebrations generally include chocolates, flowers, and perhaps a candlelit dinner. But in The Legend of Valentine, screenwriter, director, and author Sheldon Collins draws back the curtain on the world’s most romantic holiday and recreates a dark history born from rebellion, forbidden weddings and a love so fierce it defied an empire.​

Set in Rome, 268 AD, in an age of tyranny and turmoil, an eternal love story ignites a revolution. Valentine, a once-fearsome warrior reborn from the brink of death, sheds his violent past for a new destiny inspired by his blind lover, Agatha. Amidst the ruthless rule of a merciless emperor, Valentine undertakes a clandestine mission: to unite lovers in secret ceremonies, defying imperial decrees that threaten to obliterate the Christian faith. As Valentine’s covert acts of defiance grow bolder, he challenges the tyrannical order, planting the seeds for a celebration of love that will echo through the ages.

The Legend of Valentine is an epic tale of love, war, faith, and rebellion. This gripping saga looks beyond the candy hearts and greeting cards to find the roots and meaning of the holiday – a world where love defies all odds, heroes rise from the shadows, and the undying spirit of hope shines through the darkest times.

Discover the man behind the myth, witness the birth of a legend, and experience a love story so profound it promises to live forever.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Sheldon Collins is a distinguished storyteller whose career began in Hollywood as a screenwriter and director. His films, celebrated for their compelling narratives and rich character development, have been featured on premium television and at numerous film festivals—earning critical acclaim and a host of awards. The Legend of Valentine marks Collins’s debut novel. The multi-cast audiobook edition, which he co-directed, was the winner of two 2026 Society of Voice Arts and Sciences Voice Arts Awards. 

Educated at UC Berkeley with a Bachelor of Arts in Rhetoric and holding a Master of Fine Arts in Directing from the prestigious American Film Institute, Collins brings a unique blend of narrative expertise and directorial acumen to his literary endeavors.

For more information, visit https://prbythebook.com/experts/sheldon-collins and https://sheldoncollins.com/about.

Amazon link: www.amazon.com/Legend-Valentine-Ancient-Historical-Revolution/dp/B0DPTDX66T/  

The Legend of Valentine

Publisher: Hutchinson & Collins Publishing

Pub Date: 2025

ISBN: 9798991362405 (HC), 9798991362412 (PB), 9798991362443 (Ebook), 9798991362429 (Audiobook)

Available from Amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com, bookshop.org

By Allen D. Payton

Join St. Ignatius Church of Antioh for a memorable organ concert featuring an evening of colorful, uplifting music with German organist, composer, and YouTuber, Paul Fey on Sunday, Feb. 15, 2026.

Fey stands out for combining traditional church music with modern media, making organ music more approachable — especially to younger audiences. His performances reflect both reverence for sacred music and a fresh, engaging style that marks him as one of Germany’s most innovative young church musicians.

On his website, Fey shares, “I was born in 1998 near Leipzig and always loved playing music, especially because of the way it can connect people, and the feelings it can communicate.

“My music education started when I was in kinder garden and my parents signed me up for ‘early music education’. I really enjoyed making music, so we decided the next step would be to start me with classical guitar lessons during my first grade at primary school.

“About one year later, I’d also discovered the magic of piano music. When I was about 15 years old, I was eventually introduced to the pipe organ at our local church – which caught my attention almost immediately! I went on to practice and experiment on this instrument for several hours at a time, never once getting tired of all the possible combinations of the different timbres.

“After studying organ and sacred music full time at the specialist university in Halle (Saale) I’m now a full-time musician, composer and Youtuber.”

Concert Details

When: Sunday, February 15, 2026

Time: 4pm

Where: 3351 Contra Loma Blvd., Antioch

Cost: Free admission. Free-will offering will be collected.

For a sampling of Fey’s music, visit his YouTube channel.

For more information about St. Ignatius of Antioch Church click on the ad on the right side of this website.

Paid advertisement