Miss Contra Costa County Fair to be chosen Thursday, May 17

Discounted Presale Tickets & Carnival Unlimited Ride Wristband pass on sale now

Fair Hours: 12:00 Noon-9:30pm Daily. (Gates Close at 9pm)

Midway of Fun Carnival Hours: Noon-10pm Daily except Saturday, Noon-11pm (Carnival will remain open after Fair Gates Close)

SPECIAL DAYS

Dollar Day – Thursday, May 15 at Noon – $1 Admission until 5pm Buy 1 Carnival Ride Wristband get 1 FREE until 6pm (Riders must be present at time of wristband purchase)

Senior Day – Friday, May 16 – $1 Admission for Senior’s 62+

Military & Law Enforcement Day – Saturday, May 17 – Military/Law Enforcement and their families with active ID will receive FREE Admission.

Fiesta Day – Sunday, May 18 – Hispanic Themed Stage and Grounds Entertainment.

See complete schedule of daily events.

SPECIAL EVENT

Miss Contra Costa County Fair Queen Pageant at 5PM – Estrella Pavilion Stage – Come watch and support these local girls competing for the title of Miss Contra Costa County Fair.

DAILY ATTRACTIONS

Barnyard Bash – Get ready to go Hog-Wild with this interactive music and dance, audience participation Hoe-Down stage show. Daily Performance 1:30pm, 3:30pm, & 5:30pm.

BC Characters – Keep your eye pealed for these fun and furry characters.

Camel Rides – Feeling a little adventurous, here is your chance to take a ride on a camel.

Chicken Rider – Be on the lookout for the Chicken Rider and his chicken, Salt & Pepper.

Cowgirl Tricks – Cowgirl Tricks is a tongue-in-cheek vaudeville-style comedic bonanza of trick roping, whip cracking, music, magic, audience participation and lots of kooky cowgirl shenanigans. Performing daily on the Estrella Pavilion State, 12:30pm, 2pm and 3:30pm, May 15 – 17.

Daily Parade – 5PM on the Midway

Fables of the West – Look out for these two just horsing around.

Little Rascals Kids Club – FREE interactive, hands-on kid’s activity zone, where parents can relax and let their kids be kids in this fun activity area.

Paradise Roller Skating Academy – Demonstrations Watch as some of these skaters show you their amazing Roller-Skating talents. Demonstrations Thursday, May 15th at 6pm, and Saturday, May 17th at 2pm in Paradise Skate Roller Rink.

Petting Zoo – Here is your opportunity to get up close and personable with all kinds of fun furry creatures.

Pony Rides – Be a Cowboy or Cowgirl and ride the ponies.

Roaming Railroad – Take a ride on this Fun Little Train.

Sarah Nep Cheese Carver – Watch as Sarah turns a block of cheese into a fabulous work of art. Daily demonstrations from 1pm to 6pm in the Arts Pavilion.

Wiener Dog Stampede – Come out and support local contestants and their Wiener Dogs compete for Grand Champion in the Wiener Dog Stampede. Saturday May 17th at 3pm.

Wooden Creations – Chainsaw Carving Demonstrations – Watch these chainsaw artists work their magic and turn a log into a work of art. Fairgoers will have the opportunity to purchase Chainsaw Carvings. Daily Demonstrations 2pm, 4pm, & 6pm.

Xtreme Sports Zone – A thrill for everyone young and old. Bungee, Rock Wall, Water Balls and more.

EXHIBITS

Agriculture Pavilion

Arts Pavilion

Fur & Feathers Pavilion

Livestock Pavilion (Closed Sunday, May 18th)

Home Arts, Fine Arts, Photography, Agriculture Exhibits, Floriculture, Horticulture, Ag Mechanics, Industrial Technology & Science. – Take a look at what the talented local community artists have created, from youth home arts to adult fine art and photography, as well as agriculture and horticulture exhibits and displays.

LIVESTOCK COMPETITIONS & AUCTIONS – Livestock Show Ring

Daily Goat Show followed by All Other Breeding Goat Show – 5:00PM

Boer Goat Show followed by Sheep Show – Friday, May 16, 4PM

Swine Show – Saturday, May 17, 8AM

Small Stock Master Showmanship – Saturday, May 17, 4PM

Large Livestock Showmanship – Saturday, May 17, 7PM

Junior Livestock Auction – Sunday, May 18, 9AM

LIVE MUSIC – Headliners

Gotcha Country is the band that can keep you “Boot Scootin” all night long! Daily shows are at 4pm, 6pm and 8pm – PG&E Midway Stage.

You Should Be Dancing – A Tribute to the Bee Gees – The San Francisco Bay Area’s premiere Bee Gees Tribute band. Experience non-stop dancing, soaring falsettos, and the most beautiful ballads of all time. Friday 7:30pm – Estrella Pavilion Stage.

Patton Leatha – Making Music that moves your mind body and Soul. Saturday 5:30pm & 7pm – Estrella Pavilion Stage.

Night Owls – Top 40 Cover Band, based out of San Francisco Saturday 8:30pm & 10pm – Estrella Pavilion Stage.

Sunday Hispanic Themed Entertainment to include: DJ Winners, Banda Katana, El Rifle, Komando De La Siera

MIDWAY OF FUN CARNIVAL

Brass Ring Amusements Midway of Fun is a family owned and operated carnival business which has served the California fair circuit since 1991. From the Ferris Wheel to the Zipper and the Merry Go Round to the Viper there is something for all ages to enjoy at the Midway of Fun Carnival. Don’t forget to try your luck at one of the fun carnival games.

ANTIOCH SPEEDWAY – Saturday Night Races

Get your adrenalin pumping as you prepare for racing action, Saturday, May 17th. Watch IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Sport Modifieds, IMCA Stock Cars, Pacific Coast Hobby Stocks, Mini Stocks & Figure 8. Gates open at 4pm. Racing starts at 5:30pm. Separate Ticket required for Races, visit www.antiochspeedway.com for details.

Tickets & More Info

Ticket Prices: Kids 5 and under FREE Youth 6 – 12, $9 at the Fair, $7 presale

Seniors 62 & Over, $9 at the Fair, $7 presale

Adults, $14 at the Fair, $10 presale

Youth Season Pass – $25

Adult Season Pass – $35

Unlimited Carnival Ride Wristbands at the Fair $40, presale $35 Daily

Parking – $10

Season Parking Pass Livestock Lot – $35

Livestock Exhibitor Carnival Wristband – $99

To buy tickets and for more information visit contracostafair.com or call (925) 757-4400.

Chaperone Policy

The safety of our guests is of the utmost importance to the Fair. To improve this safety the Contra Costa County Fair Board of Directors adopted and implemented a Chaperone Policy for the 2024 Fair and will continue the policy for the 2025 Fair.

All youth under the age of eighteen (18) are required to be accompanied by a parent/guardian (adult – age 25+) to be admitted into the Contra Costa County Fair. Any person entering may be asked to show a valid California Driver License or Identification Card or other government-issued ID. Each adult can only chaperone 4 youths at a time. Groups larger than 4 youths require an additional chaperone for every 4 youths. The chaperone (parent/adult) are required to remain on the facility with the youth during their time at the Fair. The youth must provide a telephone number of the attending parent/adult to a Fair Security representative upon request. Any and all misbehaving youth will be held and released to their chaperone (parent/adult). Any youth under the age of eighteen (18) not accompanied by an adult will not be admitted.

Location

The 2025 Contra Costa County Fair at the Contra Costa Event Park, 1201 W. 10th Street in Antioch. Parking off L Street and O Street entrances.

1 pet per household. No brachycephalic (flat faced) breeds.

By Antioch Friends of Animal Services

Joybound People & Pets will be setting up their rig outside of Antioch Animal Services, tomorrow, Tuesday, February 25th at 8am. This is first come, first served, spay/neuter services at an affordable cost.

Please read all details as there are limitations of animals per household and on breeds.

Our mobile spay/neuter clinic addresses the pet overpopulation crisis, while preventing health and behavior problems in your pet. Plus, animals can be administered with free pet microchips, age-appropriate vaccinations, and post-surgery pain medication and e-collar.

Credit or debit cards and cash are accepted. Payment is due at the time of services. No checks, please.
• All patients will be seen first-come, first-served.
• All animals must be in good health.
• One pet will be served per household.
• No pregnant or nursing animals.
• Pets must be between 4 months and 6 years of age.
• Pets must weigh between 2 and 50 pounds.
• Pet guardians must be residents of Contra Costa County.
• Please withhold food after midnight the night prior to surgery.
• Please bring any medical paperwork you have related to your animal’s vaccine or health history.
• Dogs must be on a leash and cats must be in carriers.
• No brachycephalic breeds (French Bulldogs, English Bulldogs, Pugs, etc.)
• Animals are not given full health or wellness exams at these clinic, only spay/neuter surgeries and vaccinations.
• Joybound People & Pets reserves the right to refuse service to anyone.

For more information about these events, please contact our clinic team.

Prices
Spay (Female): Cats $150, Dogs $300

Neuter (Male) Cats $100, Dogs $200

We advise getting here early, bring a chair, wrap up warm!

Thank you to Joybound for this valuable service. For more information visit their website;
https://joybound.org/blog/mobile-spay-neuter-clinics/

To further enhance state’s preparedness and accelerate ongoing cross-agency response efforts following spread of Avian influenza A (H5N1) in 16 states, including California and outside the Central Valley,

“To date, no person-to-person spread of Bird Flu has been detected in California and nearly all infected individuals had exposure to infected cattle.”

Sacramento, California – December 18, 2024 – Governor Gavin Newsom today proclaimed a State of Emergency to streamline and expedite the state’s response to Avian influenza A (H5N1), commonly known as “Bird Flu.” This action comes as cases were detected in dairy cows on farms in Southern California, signaling the need to further expand monitoring and build on the coordinated statewide approach to contain and mitigate the spread of the virus. The virus has spread in 16 states among dairy cattle, following its first confirmed detection in Texas and Kansas in March 2024.

To date, no person-to-person spread of Bird Flu has been detected in California and nearly all infected individuals had exposure to infected cattle. California has already established the largest testing and monitoring system in the nation to respond to the outbreak.

This emergency proclamation will provide state and local agencies with additional flexibility around staffing, contracting, and other rules to support California’s evolving response. 

“This proclamation is a targeted action to ensure government agencies have the resources and flexibility they need to respond quickly to this outbreak. Building on California’s testing and monitoring system — the largest in the nation — we are committed to further protecting public health, supporting our agriculture industry, and ensuring that Californians have access to accurate, up-to-date information. While the risk to the public remains low, we will continue to take all necessary steps to prevent the spread of this virus,” said Newsom.

Ongoing efforts to prevent spread and serious infection

California has mobilized a comprehensive cross-agency response to Bird Flu in dairy cattle and poultry farms to minimize farm worker exposures, reduce raw dairy product contamination, and mitigate the spread of the virus. The state has enlisted local, state, and federal government technical and operational expertise to support all facets of the response; worked to educate the public, health professionals, employers, and workers on prevention and control measures to reduce the risk of exposure to Bird Flu; provided comprehensive information for employers and workers on personal protective equipment (PPE) requirements; and distributed millions of pieces of PPE to high-risk workers at dairy farms. 

Through coordinated public awareness efforts between the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA), California Office of Emergency Services (CalOES), and other agencies, the state is leading a cross-agency response that includes timely public updates, multilingual outreach to dairy and poultry workers, targeted social media efforts to promote preventive practices, online and printed resources for the public, and media interviews to keep Californians informed. Additionally, the state is ensuring that agriculture workers have access to additional doses of seasonal flu vaccine from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to reduce concurrent flu risks.

Officials have also been working in close collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the U.S.  Department of Agriculture, and local health and agricultural officials, as part of a whole-of-government effort to coordinate, implement, and ensure timely surveillance and investigation of potential cases of Bird Flu.

Bird flu in the United States

Bird Flu was first detected in the United States in the wild bird population in South Carolina in January 2022, and in the wild bird population in California in July 2022. On March 25, 2024, an outbreak of Bird Flu in dairy cows was first reported in Texas and Kansas, and CDFA took immediate action to monitor for Bird Flu infections in California herds. Since then, there have been 61 total reported confirmed cases of Bird Flu infection in humans across seven states, including 34 reported human cases in California.

On August 30, 2024, following its detection in 13 other states, Bird Flu was confirmed in a dairy cow in Central California, and the California Department of Public Health immediately activated its Medical Health Coordination Center. 

See Gov. Newsom’s Proclamation of a State of Emergency.

Local former city officials offer their memories of the advocate for pets

“Her greatest wish was that all people would responsibly raise their pets, and any strays would be adopted. Barbara wanted everyone to love and care for an animal.” – former Antioch Mayor and councilman-elect Don Freitas

By Allen D. Payton

The Antioch Friends of Animal Services is mourning the passing of its founder, Barbara Sobalvarro, today. In a post on the group’s Facebook page on Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, they wrote, “It is with great sorrow we share with you the passing of our Founder, Honorary President and Cherished Friend, Barbara Sobalvarro.

Barbara’s remarkable legacy leaves an enduring impact on our hearts and we extend our most heartfelt condolences to her family, friends, the community and the cherished animals she devoted her life to saving.

‘Seldom does a heart feel better, than when you save the life of one of our animal friends’
Barbara Sobalvarro

Aug 18, 1941- Nov 6, 2024

We’ll share more about Barbara in the coming days. As you can imagine, we need some time to process this profound and unexpected loss.

Please consider saving a life at Antioch Animal Services in her memory………”

Founded in 1979 following the passage of the City’s advisory measure in 1978, in which “the citizens of Antioch voted overwhelmingly in favor of maintaining a local animal services program and became unique in Contra Costa County in this regard. Soon after this election, the Friends of Animal Services was formed for the express purpose of guaranteeing the people of Antioch a humane and comprehensive Animal Services program with an emphasis on a quality Animal Shelter and maximum responsible adoptions of animals,” according to the group’s website.

As a result, Antioch is the only city of the 19 in the county to operate its own animal shelter.

“From its political beginnings, the Friends has enriched the Animal Services program for nearly twenty years through fund-raising, education, volunteer efforts, community events, and even beautification of the shelter and its surrounding grounds and—of course, through its continuing monitoring of local government!” said Sobalvarro about her organization.

It became a powerful organization that successfully blocked efforts to cut the budget for and close the Antioch Animal Services and shelter and give the responsibility back to the County.

Former Antioch Mayor, and recently elected District 3 council candidate, Don Freitas, a long-time friend of Sobalvarro and supporter said, “Barbara was an extraordinary advocate for the humane treatment of animals. She was able to politically weaponize the support of many in the community. She was a power to reckon with.”

“One of her biggest focuses was the successful creation of the Antioch Animal Services and shelter,” he added. “I’m actually kind of shocked. She was such a part of Antioch for the past three decades, it’s hard to believe she has passed. Her greatest wish was that all people would responsibly raise their pets, and any strays would be adopted. Barbara wanted everyone to love and care for an animal.”

About Sobalvarro former Mayor Joel Keller said, “She was a dedicated community member who loved animals and worked hard to ensure their safety and well-being.”

About the animal shelter he said, “We did put a funding stream toward it,” referring to three percent of the City’s 10 percent Transient Occupancy Tax on hotel and motel stays in Antioch.

Former Mayor Pro Tem and Councilman Manny Soliz also offered his thoughts on Sobalvarro’s passing. “This is a great loss for Animal Services and me personally,” he shared. “I had a long, personal relationship with her and her late husband Estuardo. I’m very sad, but grateful for having been friends with her.”

Learn more about Antioch Friends of Animal Services on their website.

Sobalvarro was also a piano teacher and could be seen performing her music at the Lone Tree Golf and Event Center during brunch on Sundays, and at other events in the community.

Another Joybound event begins at 9:00 a.m.

By Antioch Animal Services

Free vaccinations and microchips courtesy ot Joybound People & Pets. Get in line early. These events are first come, first served.

There will be a limited supply of food, dog beds and resource materials available from the Community Solutions table.

Please plan to wait – bring a chair, bring a friend and bring water.

All pets should be adequately contained / restrained. They do not have to be present for check in (they can wait in car). Please advise at check in if you need a carrier or leash.

Thank you Joybound for all you do in our community!

Antioch Animal Services is located at 300 L Street at the corner of W. 2nd Street next to the Antioch Police Facility in historic, downtown Rivertown.

#LoveIsAtTheCornerOf2ndAndL

Including a fancy dress Pet Pawrade!

Join us for our Howl-O-Ween Pawty at Antioch Animal Services, Thursday, Oct 31st 3:00-6:00 p.m.

Extended adoption hours! Fancy dress Pawrade at 4:00 p.m. – bring your leashed dogs! 

The event will include music and treats (for furry and human kids), vendors, fun and games – animal related, a chance to talk to our staff, volunteers and rescue partners and shelter tours… is that a ghost or a husky?

Antioch Animal Services is located at 300 L Street next to the Police Facility. For more information visit Animal Services.

Robert Chukwuemeka Chuksorji held on $2 million bail; police ask any other victims to come forward

By Sgt. Whitaker #6155, Antioch Police Investigations Bureau

On June 24, 2024 at 6:36 AM, the Antioch Police arrested a suspect wanted for a violent sexual assault. During the investigation, several other victims were identified and provided crucial information to the case. The Antioch Police Department Investigations Bureau began investigating multiple cases over the past ten years.

The suspect, 37-year-old Robert Chukwuemeka Chuksorji (born 10/17/87), would meet women either in person or online, obtain their phone number and begin a texting relationship. Chuksorji would then plan to meet the victim, which would later turn into a sexual assault. Chuksorji was ultimately caught, and charges have been filed against him

During the investigation, detectives determined that there could be other unreported sexual assaults and victims related to Chuksorji. Chuksorji may have used several other names throughout the years. If you have been victimized by this individual, please contact the Antioch Police Department immediately.

According to the Contra Costa Sheriff’s Office, as of Monday, October 14, 2024, he was still in custody. The six-foot, two-inch tall, 175-pound Chuksorji is being held in the Martinez Detention Facility with bail set at $2 million. His next court appearance is scheduled for Nov. 22 at 8:30 AM in Delta Superior Court, Dept. 04 in Pittsburg.

According to localcrimenews.com, Chuksorji was also arrested in 2017 by Antioch PD on July 27, 2016 on an outstanding warrant.

This is an active investigation, and no further information will be released at this time. Any tips or other information can be directed to Antioch Police Detective Allen at (925) 779-6923 or by email aallen@antiochca.gov.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

For Furry Friends Pet Relief, Saturday from 10-4pm, Pet and Kids Costume Contests

The event presented by Hot Rods 4 Paws and Celebrate Antioch Foundation will be held on W. 2nd and G Streets in Antioch’s historic downtown Rivertown Business District. The benefit for Furry Friends Pet Relief will offer fun for the whole family, with:

• Trunk or Treating
• Store to Store Trick or Treating
• Music
• Food
• Artisan Vendors
• Beautiful Automobiles!
• Pet Costume Contest 11:30am
• Kids Costume Contest 12pm

Free Entry and Parking! Come in costume and join the fun! To be an Artisan Vendor visit Rivertown Trunk or Treating Car Show – Celebrate Antioch Foundation.