Contra Costa News

On this episode, Tirrell Muhammad joins me to talk about his efforts with the Kings Accountability Group and the work being done in the City of Richmond and other parts of the Bay Area. He shares how it started as just four men talking weekly to hold each other accountable, which morphed into a non-profit. Muhammad shares his journey of how a Big Brother program in San Francisco changed his trajectory. He shared the importance of h...

On this episode, I chat with Foodie Crew creator Adam Gross about everything food trucks and what is coming in Contra Costa County this year. Launched in 2017 in the City of Antioch, we get into how Adam got into food, then owning a food truck to launching Foodie Crew where they are weekly in Antioch, Brentwood and soon in Pittsburg—while Oakley is monthly. We talk about the industry, some data, myths what the future may hold for t...

On this episode, a chat with Tara D. Sanders of Dále Vino-- the first wine bar in Pittsburg. Her love of wine first began while in South Africa. But her journey started while in High School when she became Miss Black Ca USA, Miss Teenage Ca, and Miss Teen of the Nation, Tara used her title funds to complete her BA and master’s degrees--along with the influence of her parents.

She is a big believer in education, providing tools to h...

On this episode, a chat with Sam Nunn of Three Nunns Farm who gives an update on the upcoming strawberry u-pick season and soon to be cherry season.

Located at 550 Walnut Blvd in the City of Brentwood, Three Nunn Farms offers a variety of activities throughout the year between u-pick seasons (strawberry, cherry, peach and pumpkins) to a giant corn maze in the fall—along with many other amenities such as a roller coaster, and pumpki...

A chat with Paul Culbertson and Kevin Wilson of Side Gate Brewery in Concord, CA. We talk about how they went from being in finance to launching a brewery and their love of beer. The two share their journey from concept to reality of how Side Gate Brewery was born and what went into the transformation in downtown Concord—and how they ended up in Concord. Obviously, we talk beer, what they make and what goes into each beer launch—bu...

On this episode, a chat with Trevel Adanandus of TNT Smoothie & Juice Bar located in downtown Antioch. While waiting to become a longshoreman, he opened in October of 2022 after talking with his dad (owner of Tease Southern Kitchen) where he offers healthy options from Acai bowls (superfood bowls), smoothies, juices to many other items. We get into how he came up with the concept, early challenges, why he chose the City of Anti...

On this episode, at chat with Sylvia Green of Blessed to be a Blessing Ministries who are a local non-profit food pantry in Contra Costa County serving families. They are helping fight hunger by serving families in Antioch, Bay Point, Brentwood and Oakley where they provide food via delivery every other Saturday.  The food pantry started 4-years ago and serves 30-35 families while being all donation and volunteer based.  We talk ab...

On this episode, a chat with Sean McCauley who shares some exciting news of 7 restaurants opening in the next 6 months. These will happen in the City of Antioch, City of Brentwood and City of Pittsburg. We get into downtown Antioch and what is transpiring down there. What cities can do to better help business. Get into chicken and goats, Harvest Time and Agriculture. Touch on the Urban Limit Line which is coming quickly. Meanwhile,...

On this episode, I chat with Lauren Huffmaster, founder of Adventure Therapy Foundation, a nonprofit that exists to break the destructive cycles created by the isolation, fear and broken identity in families impacted by cancer. Through programs that are designed to teach individuals and families how to face each side effect and learn how to break through it. Lauren shares her story, how the foundation was created and how she woke u...

On this episode, I chat with Bri and Joseph Drake who are launching Break Free Fitness in Brentwood with an open house on March 2 and will open next week. Bri shares her credentials from the fitness world to nutrition and what she hopes to achieve with this facility--focusing on women's health. She hopes to build community with small group and semi-private fitness classes where one can work out, stay motivated and achieve their goa...

On this episode, I chat with photojournalist Art Ray who shoots local news stories with a camera. We talk about what he does, how he got started and how no one would hire a African American man to shoot news in Chicago. Ray shares his journey to California and ended up in Contra Costa County and many of the videos on local news channels are from Ray. We get into several other issues from socioeconomic to racism to how politics ruin...

On this episode, I chat with Ronnie and Jena of the Paulo Sausage Company who have expanded their business over the last few years, including a storefront in the City of Pittsburg.

We talk about how they started, taking the concept from idea to reality and the growth trajectory and even tackle some of their challenges. A lot of fun goodies they share including navigating a work-life balance.

Launched in 2021, the Paulo Sausage...

On this episode, a chat Kori Barton about her Hometown Highlights Alphabet Series. This is a husband-and-wife team illustrating their way across Contra Costa County with a series of children’s books.

To date, books have been released on the City of Clayton, City of Concord, City of Brentwood and City of Walnut Creek – with the City of Martinez in progress. The goal is to bring to light the beauty and unique aspects of Bay Area citi...

On this episode, a chat with Dennis Mobley, who is the new head winemaker at Vino Olivo Winery in Brentwood. This Sunday, they release the 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon as they host a wine tasting at McCauley Estate Vineyards in Brentwood. We chat about Mobley’s background, where his passion came from and his style of wine making. Plus, cover a bunch of other stuff of how Contra Costa County is primed to see great things from the wine in...

On this episode, a chat with Debbie Blaisure and Toni Lincks of the Rivertown Treasure Chest in downtown Antioch.

They share their growth from starting out in a co-op to launching their own store with growth from Oddly Unique to Rivertown Treasure Chest.

We talk “flip game” as the idea is to buy low, sell high, but its not as easy as it seams and products could sit for years. Blaisure and Lincks talk about the industry and impact o...

On this episode, a chat with Mike Barbanica, candidate for Contra Costa County Board of Supervisor in District 5. He provides an update on the campaign, where he is at on several issues. With he and his opponent pretty close on most topics, the race will likely come down to public safety and ensuring people are held accountable—and impact of Proposition 36. We touch on the bizarre EB Times endorsement. The race also has an opportun...

On this episode, I chat with Louie Rocha who is running for Antioch City Council, District 2.  He is a retired principal of Antioch High School who is seeking to bring back stability and civility back to the Antioch City Council will looking to focus on not only public safety, but better improve services for residents in the city of Antioch. He also wants to bridge the communication and partnership with the Antioch Unified School D...

On this episode, I chat with Brian Oftedal, candidate for Brentwood City Council District 3. We address not only why he is running, but some of the goofy online rhetoric being stated about him. We get into his experience on the East Contra Costa Fire Protection District Board of Directors, work with the American Red Cross and Ronn Nunn Elementary. We get into several items relating to the city of Brentwood from public safety, staff...

On this episode, I chat with Faye Maloney who is running for Brentwood City Council in District 1. We talk about what she has been up to in serving on a county role with the Contra Costa Commission on Women and Girls and how they serve the community. We get into her background where as a child it created her "why" in terms of living her life and serving the community.

We talk City of Brentwood public safety, importance of staffing ...