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.

With four Easter Egg Hunts!

By Antioch Recreation Department

Antioch families, plan to hop on over to your neighborhood park for a community-wide egg hunt on Saturday, March 28th!

The Recreation Department invites residents to enjoy a free egg hunt and festive photos with the Easter Bunny at a park near you. We will be coming to each district in the city, so gather your baskets, bring your friends and neighbors, and celebrate the season right in your own backyard. Take a look at our list of parks to locate the park closest to you:

Eggstravaganza – Easter Egg Hunts

Saturday, March 28, 2026

10AM-11AM

Contra Loma Estates Park | Mahogany Way

Gentrytown Park | Monterey Drive

12PM-1PM

Meadow Creek Park | Vista Grande Drive

Diablo West Park | 2000 Prewett Ranch Drive

For inquires contact recreation@antiochca.gov or call our front desk at (925) 776-3050.

Let’s fill our parks with smiles, laughter, and community spirit. We can’t wait to see you there!

“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 Dawn Kruger, Community and Media Relations Coordinator, Contra Costa County Clerk-Recorder-Elections Department 

The Contra Costa County Clerk’s Office will be open to perform in-office wedding ceremonies on Valentine’s Day, Saturday, February 14, 2026.  All 47 ceremony appointments have been reserved at this time due to the popularity of our Valentine’s Day Event.

“We know there is high demand for weddings on Valentine’s Day and we are grateful to our employees for being willing to work on a Saturday to create this opportunity for dozens of couples,” said Kristin B. Connelly, Contra Costa County Clerk-Recorder and Commissioner of Marriages. “Last year our team performed 52 Valentine’s Day ceremonies at our office on a Friday and this year we have already booked all 47 appointments for this special Saturday event.”

Typically, the County Clerk’s Office officiates Valentine’s Day ceremonies as part of the Destination Weddings program in a picturesque or historic location. Because Valentine’s Day is on a Saturday this year, the staff will open the office for wedding services only to provide a memorable experience for couples wanting to get married on this sentimental day. 

A marriage license must be obtained before a ceremony can be performed. Couples may purchase a marriage license the same day, prior to their Valentine’s Day ceremony at the County Clerk-Recorder’s office at 555 Escobar Street in Martinez. The fee for a public marriage license is $95, while a confidential license is $100. The Marriage Ceremony fee is $75. Couples who only wish to purchase a marriage license are invited to come to the office as this is one of our wedding services.

For more information about this event or other Clerk’s Office services, please visit http://www.contracostavote.gov or call 925-335-7900.

Presents it to Pastor Damon and Shantell Owens of Genesis Church

During their meeting on Tuesday night, January 13, 2026, the Antioch City Council unanimously approved the following proclamation honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day and presented it to Pastor Damon and Shantell Owens of Genesis Church in Antioch. District 1 Councilwoman Monica Wilson was absent. But first, Pastor Owens spoke followed by District 1 Councilwoman Tamisha Torres-Walker sharing his bio and her experience working with him in her district.

WHEREAS, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. taught us that we are ultimately measured not by where we stand in moments of comfort and convenience, but by the stand taken during times of challenge and controversy;
WHEREAS, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s legacy reminds us that moral leadership does not require a person to be in elected office or hold a position of power. Instead, exercising moral authority requires the will to do the right thing;
WHEREAS, Dr. King helped transform how our country saw itself and its future, providing a framework for how each of us can shape the future and working toward something better;
WHEREAS, The King Center has declared their theme for 2026 is ‘Mission Possible 2: Building Community, Uniting a Nation the Nonviolent Way’. This theme defines the 2026 King Holiday Observance events and programming while serving as a compass for all the work accomplished this upcoming calendar year and beyond; and
WHEREAS, Antioch’s Recreation Department has planned for Martin Luther King Jr. Day to spend “a day on, not a day off,” encouraging all Americans to volunteer to improve their communities. Let’s work together to build a stronger Antioch!
Participate on January 19, 2026, from 9:00 am-3:00 pm at the following Locations: Antioch Community Center, Antioch Skatepark, and Antioch High School Theatre. (See related article)
NOW, THEREFORE, I, RON BERNAL, Mayor of the City of Antioch, do hereby proclaim January 19, 2026, as “Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.” and call on all of us to gather strength from Dr. King’s legacy and use our moral authority to push for a more equitable city, state, society and world.
JANUARY 13, 2026

RON BERNAL, Mayor

Includes Senior Engagement Activities & Discussion; Skatepark Restoration Project; AUSD Poetry Contest

By City of Antioch Recreation Department

The past few years, Antioch residents have completed several restoration and beatification projects around our lovely city in celebration of MLK Jr. Day of Service.

From painting a vibrant mural inside of Mission Elementary school in 2024 to working on a myriad of landscaping and painting projects for Fremont Elementary School and Antioch Community Park in 2025, each year residents of all ages have come together, not only to commune, but also to be of service to each other.

Join us this year on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day as we spend “a day on, not a day off,” encouraging all Americans to volunteer to improve their communities.

According to the National Park Service, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was a tireless advocate for racial equality, working classes and the oppressed around the world. Commonly called Martin Luther King, Jr. Day or MLK Day, the third Monday of January is a federal holiday to honor his life and legacy. Explore places in national parks or your own community that preserve the legacy of Dr. King and the Civil Rights Movement.

The holiday is also a day of service when thousands of volunteers participate in service projects across the country.

Let’s work together to build a stronger Antioch! Register to get involved today!

We will hold the following on Monday, January 19, 2026:

• Senior Engagement Activities & Discussion at the Antioch Community Center at Prewett Family Park, 4703 Lone Tree Way from 10-11 AM, includes Art Projects, Lunch Service and Senior-to-Senior Discussion;
• Antioch Skatepark Restoration Project at Prewett Family Park, Lone Tree Way from 9 AM-12 Noon, includes Graffiti Removal, Landscaping & Bench Restorations; and
• AUSD Poetry Contest at the Antioch High School’s Beede Auditorium, 700 W. 18th Street from 1-3 PM with the Theme: Keeping The Dream Alive In Our Community.

We want to highlight the Antioch Skatepark, one of our city’s hidden gems! Step one of our plans is to focus on restoring the park with a brand-new paint job and we need your help. We are looking for 40-50 volunteers who want to roll up their sleeves and contribute to making Antioch an even more beautiful place to be.

Want to register as a volunteer today? Visit antiochca.gov/mlk-day to sign up for free.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this announcement.