At Paradise Skate

Presented by Forever Me Foundation and Celebrate Antioch Foundation.

Williamson Ranch Park | 4pm-8pm | Cost: FREE

Featuring performances by headliner Grammy-nominated Shanice and Golden State Warriors performance band Universal Soul

Celebrate freedom, culture and community right here at home! Join us for Antioch’s fourth annual Juneteenth Celebration on Thursday, June 19th at Williamson Ranch Park from 4-8 PM, featuring a special headlining performance by Shanice! Enjoy live music, local vendors, food, and powerful moments of history and heritage. From history booths to rides and games to domino and double dutch tournaments, there will be plenty to keep the entire family entertained! Don’t forget to bring your lawn chairs and blankets!

Shanice Wilson is a Grammy-nominated American singer, songwriter, record producer, actress, and dancer. She had the Billboard hit singles “I Love Your Smile” and “Silent Prayer” in 1991 and “Saving Forever for You” in 1993. In 1999, Shanice scored another hit song with “When I Close My Eyes“, which peaked at No. 12 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. She is recognized for her coloratura soprano voice and her ability to sing in the whistle register.[4]

 Shanice was age nine when she appeared in a Kentucky Fried Chicken commercial with jazz vocalist Ella Fitzgerald.[4] In 1984, she was part of the regular cast in the first thirteen episodes of the children’s program Kids Incorporated. Shanice competed on Star Search at age eleven and later signed with A&M Records.[5]

In addition to singing, Shanice is also an actress, first appearing in “Rock Enroll”, a season five episode of Family Matters.[12] In 2001, she made a guest appearance as a singer on her husband Flex’s TV show, One on One. That same year, she starred in the TV movie One Special Moment,[13] an adaptation of Brenda Jackson‘s 1998 novel of the same name.

In 1997, Shanice became the first Black performer to star in the role of Eponine in the musical Les Misérables on Broadway.[14] In 2011, she joined Niecy Nash and Frenchie Davis for the 21st Annual “Divas Simply Singing” HIV/AIDS charity event.[15] Shanice and her husband, Flex, also starred in the reality show Flex & Shanice, which premiered on the Oprah Winfrey Network on November 1, 2014.

She is currently starring as Michelle Obama in the Broadway musical “44,” the Obama musical, and has her own lipstick line, called Smile by Shanice.   

She is currently performing all over the USA and the world and working on new music as well. 

Universal Soul

Universal Soul is one of the Golden State Warriors’ favorites (that plays during home games at Chase Center in San Francisco). The band’s name is inspired by their desire to provide music that resonates with all GSW audiences and fans everywhere.

The band consists of four dynamic musicians: Dante “Taz” Roberson, Eddie Minniefield, Michael “Tiny” Lindsay, and George Epps. Their substantial experience and versatility have allowed them to tour and share the stage with artists Eric Benet, Cameo, Gavin DeGraw, Anthony Hamilton, Joe, Kem, Alicia Keys, John Mayer, Shawn Raiford, Tank, Too Short, and Tony! Toni! Tone! and many more. The band’s musical influences and style are infused with funk, jazz, pop, rock, and classic R&B. This unique fusion creates a “Universal” sound that is both nostalgic and fresh.

The band consists of four dynamic musicians: Dante “Taz” Roberson, Eddie Minniefield, Michael “Tiny” Lindsay, and George Epps. Their substantial experience and versatility have allowed them to tour and share the stage with artists Eric Benet, Cameo, Gavin DeGraw, Anthony Hamilton, Joe, Kem, Alicia Keys, John Mayer, Shawn Raiford, Tank, Too Short, and Tony! Toni! Tone! and many more. The band’s musical influences and style are infused with funk, jazz, pop, rock, and classic R&B. This unique fusion creates a “Universal” sound that is both nostalgic and fresh.

Their high-energy performances and ability to connect with the crowd have made them a fan favorite at Chase Center. They have become an integral part of the overall game day experience for GSW fans, adding an extra level of excitement and entertainment to each home game. Universal Soul’s dedication to providing top-notch musical entertainment for GSW fans has solidified their reputation as one of the premier performance bands in the NBA. With their infectious energy and undeniable talent, Universal Soul continues to captivate audiences and enhance the overall game day experience for GSW fans.

Thank you to our sponsors: Republic Services, All Phase Brokers, Metz Entertainment Group, Ironworkers Family Health and Marathon Health.

Learn more about Antioch’s Juneteenth Celebration when you visit antiochca.gov/juneteenth.

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Second event June 28

Rivertown Treasure Chest will host a Father’s Day Treats & Treasurers on Sunday, June 15 during the annual Rivertown Father’s Day Car Show.

Join us 10 AM to 2 PM for coffee and donuts, sales, raffle baskets and of course, RTC fun at 306 G Street in Antioch’s historic downtown.

RTC will host a second Treats & Treasures on Saturday, June 28th with sales, raffles and local pizza from 11 AM to 2 PM. Come join us and help us with our month’s sales to even surpass May!

See ALL of you in June as often as you want. Our vendors have the best customer service in town and are there to assist or just talk about the day! We couldn’t do this without all of you.

Please share to spread the word about June!

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Celebrate Dad in style! Join us for the Rivertown Father’s Day Car Show Sunday, June 15th from 10AM–2PM in Antioch’s historic, downtown Rivertown! Classic rides, food, beer & wine, music, and your vote for People’s Choice. Bring the family and cruise into summer with Celebrate Antioch Foundation.

Register your car for $25 today at celebrateantioch.org.

Holiday Enforcement Period Friday, May 23 at 6:01 PM to Monday, May 26 at 11:59 PM

SACRAMENTO — As Memorial Day weekend marks the unofficial beginning of summer, the California Highway Patrol (CHP) urges drivers and passengers to prioritize safety by buckling up before each trip.

The CHP will begin its annual statewide Memorial Day Holiday Enforcement Period (HEP) on Friday, May 23, at 6:01 p.m. and continue through Monday, May 26, at 11:59 p.m. To help maintain safety on California’s roadways, CHP officers will be vigilant for impaired and reckless drivers and motorists who fail to buckle up.

“Our top priority is keeping the public safe, not just during the holidays but daily,” said CHP Commissioner Sean Duryee. “Buckling up is one of the easiest and most effective ways to protect yourself and your passengers in a crash. Our officers will be out in force to help everyone arrive at their destination safely.”

In addition to CHP officers driving traditional black-and-white patrol vehicles, motorists are reminded that they may encounter the CHP’s new generation of low-profile Specially Marked Patrol Vehicles on the roadway. These fully marked patrol vehicles blend into traffic just enough to observe the most reckless and dangerous driving behaviors without immediate detection.

Last year, 42 people lost their lives in crashes across California during Memorial Day weekend. Tragically, nearly half of all vehicle occupants killed in a crash within CHP jurisdiction were not wearing seatbelts. CHP officers also made more than 1,100 arrests for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

California law mandates that all drivers and passengers aged eight and older must wear seatbelts. Children under eight need to be properly secured in an appropriate child passenger safety seat or booster seat situated in the back seat of the vehicle. Children under two must also ride in a rear-facing car seat unless they weigh more than 40 pounds or are taller than 40 inches.

This year, the CHP’s holiday enforcement effort coincides with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) designation of May 19 – June 1 as the national “Click it or Ticket” mobilization campaign. Throughout this awareness initiative, CHP personnel will concentrate their enforcement efforts on seat belt and child safety seat violations.

As always, the CHP urges everyone to make smart choices behind the wheel: Buckle up. Drive sober. Stay alert. If you plan to drink or use drugs, arrange for a safe ride home before heading out. Your safety and the safety of others depend on it.

Let’s work together to make this Memorial Day weekend safe for all Californians.

The mission of the CHP is to provide the highest level of Safety, Service, and Security.

Plus, open at 11 AM all month!

Monica’s Riverview is located on the water at 1 I (eye) Street in Antioch’s historic, downtown Rivertown. For their menu and more information see visitmonicas.com.

Flag will fly through Juneteenth

By Allen D. Payton

During their regular meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025, the Antioch City Council voted unanimously to approve a proclamation recognizing February as Black History Month in the City of Antioch and fly the Pan-African Flag in February and until Juneteenth.

Under Consent Calendar agenda Item 1.01, the council on a 5-0 vote approved the Black History Month Proclamation. (To read the proclamation see below or click here).

Then, to further recognize Black History Month, under the Consent Calendar Item 4.A., the council approved on a 5-0 vote flying the Pan African Flag at City Hall during February and until Juneteenth on June 19 to honor the nation’s newest holiday. That’s the day in 1865, two-and-a-half years after President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation, when Union Army troops entered Texas and General Gordon Granger announced that the slaves in that state were also free.

According to the Flag Database, “The Pan-African flag, also known as the Afro-American flag, Black Liberation flag, and various other names, consists of three equal horizontal bands of red, black, and green. The red band is positioned at the top, followed by the black in the middle, and green at the bottom. This flag is a powerful symbol of African and African Diaspora unity, pride, and freedom. The red color represents the blood that unites all people of Black African ancestry, and that was shed for their liberation. The black band symbolizes black people whose existence as a nation, though not a nation-state, is affirmed by the existence of the flag. The green represents the abundant natural wealth of Africa.

“The Pan-African flag was first adopted on August 13, 1920, during the Universal Negro Improvement Association and African Communities League’s (UNIA-ACL) convention in Madison Square Garden in New York City. It was introduced by Marcus Garvey, a Jamaican political leader, publisher, journalist, entrepreneur, and orator, who founded the UNIA-ACL in 1914. Garvey proposed the flag in response to the 1900 coon song ‘Every Race Has a Flag but the Coon,’ which highlighted the fact that African Americans at the time did not have a flag symbolizing their own race. The creation of the Pan-African flag was a response to the derogatory song, aiming to provide Black people around the world with a symbol of their own pride and sovereignty. Since its adoption, the flag has been used in various African diaspora contexts, particularly within civil rights movements in the United States. It has also been embraced by many African countries and movements seeking to assert their independence and unity. Over the years, the flag has grown to become a global emblem of African solidarity, liberation, and pride.”

According to Wikipedia, “The flag was created as a response to racism against African Americans…with the help of Marcus Garvey,” who was “a Jamaican political activist” and “founder and first President-General” of the “Universal Negro Improvement Association and African Communities League (UNIA-ACL)” which “formally adopted it on August 13, 1920, in Article 39 of the Declaration of the Rights of the Negro Peoples of the World, during its month-long convention.”

IN HONOR OF
BLACK HISTORY MONTH
FEBRUARY 2025

WHEREAS, the origins of Black History Month can be traced back to 1915, half a century after the Thirteenth Amendment abolished slavery in the United States;

WHEREAS, in 1976, Black History Month was formally adopted to honor and affirm the importance of Black History throughout our American experience and is full of individuals who took a stance against prejudice advanced the cause of civil rights, strengthened families, communities, and our nation;

WHEREAS, the Black History Month 2025 theme, “African Americans and Labor,” focuses on the various and profound ways that work and working of all kinds – free and unfree, skilled and unskilled, vocational and voluntary. That work ranges from the past agricultural labor of enslaved Africans to today’s Black professionals providing leadership as corporate executives and entrepreneurs;

WHEREAS, because of their determination, hard work, and perseverance, African Americans have made valuable and lasting contributions to our community and our state, achieving exceptional success in all aspects of society including business, education, politics, science, and the arts;

WHEREAS, the City of Antioch continues to work toward becoming an inclusive community in which all residents – past, present, and future – are respected and recognized for their contributions and potential contributions to our community, the state, the country, and the world; and

WHEREAS, the City of Antioch is proud to honor the history and contributions of African Americans in our community, throughout our state, and our nation.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, RON BERNAL, Mayor of the City of Antioch, hereby proclaim February 2025 to be “Black History Month.” I encourage all citizens to celebrate our diverse heritage and culture and to continue our efforts to create a world that is more just, peaceful, and prosperous for all.

JANUARY 28, 2025

RON BERNAL, Mayor