The topsail ketch Hawaiian Chieftain will open its 2014-2015 tour of California ports with a seven-day stay in Antioch. The two-masted tall ship specializes in living history education experiences for K-12 students, as well as sailing excursions and walk-on tours for the public.

On September 15, Hawaiian Chieftain sailed for the Antioch Marina, where it is offeroing public tours, excursions, and K-12 educational programs. Here’s the Antioch schedule:

9/16-19: 4 p.m. to 5 p.m., walk-on tours. $3 donation per person requested.

9/20-21: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., walk-on tours. $3 donation per person requested.

9/20-21: 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., Adventure Sail, $43 all ages.

Tickets for all Oakland and Antioch excursions are available now. To purchase online, visit www.historicalseaport.org, or call 800-200-5239.

Space is still available for one-hour and three-hour educational programs in Antioch. Public schools with 40 percent or more of their students receiving free or reduced-price meals may be eligible for significant discounts. Educators, home-school groups, and youth group leaders interested in hands-on learning experiences for young people should contact Roxie Underwood, education programs manager, 800-200-5239, runderwood@historicalseaport.org.

Launched in 1988 in Lahaina, Hawaii, and originally designed for the cargo and passenger trade in the Hawaiian Islands, Hawaiian Chieftain sailed out of Sausalito for several years before she was purchased by Aberdeen, Wash.-based Grays Harbor Historical Seaport Authority in 2004. Over the past ten years, the ship has spent the school year visiting numerous California ports, including the Bay Area ports of San Francisco, Oakland, Sausalito, Antioch, and Redwood City. After the Antioch visit, Hawaiian Chieftain will sail to Sacramento, where she will spend nearly three months delivering her popular education programs to school children.

The Grays Harbor Historical Seaport Authority is a not-for-profit, 501(c)(3) public development authority based in Aberdeen, Wash. that owns and operates the tall ships Hawaiian Chieftain and Lady Washington, the Official Ship of the State of Washington. GHHSA provides educational, vocational, recreational and ambassadorial activities and experiences that promote and preserve the maritime history of Grays Harbor, the Pacific Northwest, and our nation while serving the needs of the community.

The Antioch Rivertown Jamboree, in conjunction with the Delta Boat Racing Association is excited to showcase the Delta Thunder V-Gary Agopian Memorial Powerboat races, formally held in Isleton CA.

The event is at the New Antioch Marina on the weekend of October 4th & 5^th. Racing Action runs from 10am-4:00pm.

The race will be a Championship Race featuring the exciting 100 mph Cracker Box Power boats, Sport C boats, SST 45 and the fun to watch high horsepower outboard runabouts.

It will also feature a boat show with folks showing their prized boats as well as numerous water related informational booths.

Admission to this event is free, although donations, sponsorship and advertising spots in the race program guide are needed and welcomed.

Don’t miss this exciting event in historic downtown Antioch. Come out and cheer on your favorite racer.

For more information contact: Inland Marine 925-757-1714

On Facebook: www.facebook.com/DeltaThunderV

Website: www.inland-marine.com/DELTATHUNDER.html

Owner Marcus Malu, right, shared a few words before cutting the ribbon during the Grand Opening of Malu Fitness in Antioch, August 9.

By Luke Johnson

Nearly a hundred people gathered Saturday, August 9 to celebrate the Grand Opening of Malu Fitness, in Antioch.

A list of local area celebrities and dinitaries were in attendance. Cal-Berkeley’s head football coach Sonny Dykes, professional basketball player Eli Holman and Brentwood Vice Mayor Joel Bryant all made an appearance.

After cutting the big red tape, employees and gym members gave back to the community and served free food to the homeless in downtown Antioch.

“I know how it is to be down on your luck. To be called a loser. To be called a ‘brokey-broke,’” owner Marcus Malu said. “The opportunity and doors that God has opened for me and the people He has put in my circle, why not take advantage of all those things? Why hold on to that hook up when you can have your hook up, hook you up, to hook everybody else up? It’s not, ‘scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours.’ I’m scratching your back because I know your back itches.”

Malu has been a personal trainer for five years, and has produced top tier talent. He worked with former Freedom High School running back Joe Mixon, who received over 50 Division I scholarship offers. Current athletes under Malu, Freedom High senior Dominic Fredrickson, Antioch High sophomore Najee Harris and Heritage High senior Sam Hinn combine for well over a dozen offers.

Malu is not just Marcus’ last name, it’s also an acronym which stands for “Making Athletes Live Unique,” which is their slogan. One thing that makes Marcus unique is that he trains kids, whose parents cannot afford it, for free.

“I grew up with nothing, but at the same time with the very little that we had, my parents taught me to always share,” Malu said. “If somebody ain’t got it, reach out and help them. It’s always been that way.” Malu Fitness is located at 8 Walter Way, off A Street. To learn more, call (925) 305-6249 or visit www.Facebook.com/malunique.

Aikido is a non-violent form of martial arts.

By Allen Payton

Brandy Lucky is a rarity in martial arts, as a woman sensei (teacher, in Japanese) of her own dojo.

“I really was, 30 years ago, when I started,” she laughed. “I started fresh out of college.”

Lucky is the sensei of a new studio in Antioch, known as Evolve Aikido & Movement Center.

Aikido is a Japanese, non-violent martial art, she explained. There’s no kicking, hitting or punching. It uses the force of the attacker to take them down.

“The founder would say if any of those are included, it’s not Aikido,” she stated.

Lucky first learned about Aikido at a dojo in Stockton, where she developed their juniors program and women’s self-defense program, before starting her own in Santa Rosa.

That dojo still exists, today and was handed over to one of her apprentices.

Her newest location, which just opened at 1211 Auto Center Drive in Antioch, is more than Aikido. Evolve offers instruction in Tai Chi, Jiu Jitsu, self-defense, yoga, dance and tumbling, plus cheer and gymnastics.

“It’s inspired movement, which is different than going to the gym,” Lucky said. “It gives you far better results than just being on the treadmill for 30 minutes.”

Each of the instructors are well-known and high-level in their fields. The dance instructor, for example, has a Masters degree in Dance.

Lucky is a 4^th Degree Black Belt in Aikido and a Brown Belt in Kung Fu, as well.

“I got into this because I realized I could help change people’s lives,” she shared. “That trumped everything – my college degrees, the vision of who I wanted to be.”

“Seeing the results in a student who, after just a few classes, would think of themselves differently, walk and carry themselves differently makes it all worth while,” Lucky added.

The classes are affordable with an introductory price of just $5.00 each and instruction is for all ages.

She is starting an eight-week Beginners Course in Aikido in September and there is limited space. So, be sure to pre-register by calling 207-8656.

If you’re interested in starting on a new path of personal evolution, to feeling safe, healthier and more powerful, call Evolve Aikido & Movement Center, today.

Omari Travis Clinches First Place and Earns Esteemed Title of Pokémon Regional Champion

After a weekend of head-to-head Pokémon video game battles, Omari Travis of Antioch, earned the esteemed title of Pokémon Winter Regional Champion at the 2014 Pokémon Winter Regional Championships. Held in Long Beach, CA on January 18th and 19th, Omari is among only five Masters Division Winter Regional video game Champions from across North America to earn the esteemed title. The Winter Regional Championships is the second of three Regional tournaments taking place throughout the U.S. and Canada in the 2014 Pokémon Championship Series season including the Spring Regional Championships taking place in April 2014. Players that achieve a top Championship Points ranking after the Spring Regional Championships will earn Travel Awards to compete at the 2014 Pokémon U.S. National Championships in Indianapolis this summer.

“Congratulations to all of the Pokémon Winter Regional Champions and a special thank you to the thousands of family, friends and Pokémon fans who attended the five events throughout North America,” said J.C. Smith, director of Consumer Marketing for The Pokémon Company International. “Winter Regionals brought out a strong turnout of competitive players and we look forward to what’s in store for the rest of the season, including the Pokémon TCG State Championships and Spring Regional Championships.”

Players of all ages and skills are encouraged to participate in Organized Play events. For more information on future tournaments including dates, locations, prizes, and tournament rules and regulations, visit www.pokemon.com/play.

Be sure to “Like” the official Pokémon Facebook page at Facebook.com/Pokemon and follow Pokémon on Twitter @Pokemon for the latest Pokémon news and fun!

About Pokémon

The Pokémon Company International, a subsidiary of The Pokémon Company in Japan, manages the property outside of Asia and is responsible for brand management, licensing, marketing, the Pokémon Trading Card Game, the animated TV series, home entertainment, and the official Pokémon website. Pokémon was launched in Japan in 1996 and today is one of the most popular children’s entertainment properties in the world. For more information, visit www.pokemon.com.

Racers take off at the start of the 3-mile run during the annual Holiday Run & Walk for Health at Contra Loma Reservoir on Saturday, December 14, 2013.

By Allen Payton

Hundreds of people from the Bay Area and beyond participated in the Kiwanis Club of the Delta-Antioch’s 37th Annual Holiday Run & Walk for Health, around the Contra Loma Reservoir, on Saturday, December 14.

The event is a fundraiser for local causes, including the Antioch library. Co-founded and still co-sponsored by Antioch’s own Tom Torlakson, the current State Superintendent of Public Instruction, the day included 10K, 3-mile and 1-mile races, with overall winners for each race, as well as based on age categories.

While Jennifer Derego, age 34 of Brentwood won the 10K race with a time of 41 minutes 28.61 seconds, four Antioch runners placed in the top ten: J

A happy Stephen Caufield, age 12 of Antioch, crosses the finish of the 3-mile run, in 45th place overall and 5th place in the Boys age 10-12 Division with a time of 26:35.44 or 8:49 per mile. – photo by Dr. Brandon Roberts.

arrod Aghily, age 17 placed 6th, Arkady Sanderson, age 16 placed 7th, William Pace, age 20 placed 8th and Itai Mordo, age 28, placed 10th.

The youngest runner to win in an age category was Antioch’s Isabella Laspina, age 10, finishing 20th overall, with a time of 58:30.78 in the Females 13 & Under and Ben Elies, age 13 also of Antioch, who finished 15th overall, with a time of 56:52.83 in the Male 13 & Under category.

In the 3-Mile Run and Walk, Brentwood’s Eric Morford, age 20 with a time of 16:20.40. Antioch’s William Berger, age 27 took 3rd.

The youngest winner for the Boys 9 & Under was Jaylin Cobbs, age 9 of Antioch and Girls 9 & Under was Mariela Torres, age 6 also of Antioch.

For complete results, visit www.holidayrun.org/results.