Contra Costa Marketplace_Oct 2025 by hudsonprinting

2025 Editorial Calendar

Hello Neighbors

October always feels like a deep breath. For the parents of young ones, we are getting back into the groove of school days. The air is crisp, porches glow, and our neighborhoods come alive with pumpkin patches, school carnivals, and cozy weekends in.

Inside you’ll find local pros for fall tune-ups and fun things to do. It’s also Breast Cancer Awareness Month please schedule that screening—and we close out Hispanic Heritage Month on Oct 15 with thanks for the culture and businesses that enrich our community.

Thanks for supporting the advertisers who keep this free community magazine thriving—be sure to tell them you saw their ad here.

This month we’re proud to bring you a new advertiser, JJ & CC Maintenance Services, a trusted, family-owned-andrun, Richmond-based cleaning services company that has become the leading residential cleaning service in the Bay Area. They offer fair and transparent pricing, eco-friendly cleaning and 100% customer satisfaction! See their ad directly to the right!

From

your friends at CC Marketplace Magazine

Susie | Jacqueline

OCTOBER TREAT

Carmel Corn

THE RECIPE

2 cups of Brown sugar

2 sticks of butter

½ cup of honey or white corn syrup

1 tsp. of salt

½ tsp. of baking soda

8 quarts of popped popcorn

Combine brown sugar, syrup, butter and salt. Bring to boil over medium heat and boil for 5 minutes. Stir in baking soda. Pour immediately over popcorn. Stir until coated well. Bake one hour at 250°. Stir every 15 to 20 minutes. (I bake this in a large turkey roaster pan.) When done, remove

by Karen A. Walker

Congrats to young Sayer from Hercules!

”

“We didn’t receive many responses on this question. Maybe there wasn’t much interest in scrolling through Halloween archives.

BUT, the one photo we did receive is so adorable, we are delighted to highlight it! Kudos to young Sayer, from Hercules, who was proud to be R2D2 for Halloween!!

BEST PHOTO EVER!!

NEXT QUESTION (Deadline: October 10, 2025)

Q. WHAT’S YOUR GO-TO COMFORT SOUP OR FALL TREAT?

Send your response by October 10, 2025 — including your name (as you’d like to see it in print) and city — to: sales@ccmarketplacemag.com for a chance for your recipe to appear in our November issue OR win an Amazon Gift Card!

REAL ESTATE Ask Ponytail

Top 1% Agent in the East Bay

Top 1.5% Agent Nationwide

...OUR HOME WAS SOLD IN JUST 10 DAYS...

“We were so nervous about selling—everywhere we turned, we heard doom and gloom about the economy and the ‘worst real estate market.’ That’s when we called Sara. From the moment she walked in, she rolled up her sleeves, brought in her dream team of vendors, and took charge with total confidence. The transformation was incredible. Next thing we knew, our home was SOLD in just 10 days! Sara made what could have been stressful feel effortless—and she delivered results beyond what we thought possible. If you’re thinking about selling, don’t wait. Call Sara—she’s simply amazing.”

— BRIAN H. (HAPPY SELLER)

540 24th St, Richmond

Offered at $825,000 Mid-Century Style

Years and Still a Vibrant Part of Italian Culture and the Local Community

THE GALILEO CLUB OF RICHMOND: 93

Chi trova un Amico, trova un Tesoro!

He who finds a friend, finds a treasure!), a common Italian saying, captures the heart of the Galileo Club of Richmond. Or, as many members sum up the unofficial motto of the club, “Good food, good friends, good times!”

The club’s bylaws define its purpose, namely, “to preserve our cultural heritage and to serve our membership as well as our local Richmond community,” Alan Del Simone, past president,

True to its purpose, the Galileo Club continues to “make a tremendous impact on the lives of our members and others, providing a gathering place to relax, meet new friends, nurture Italian culture and celebrate events,” adds Del Simone. “Many members are from multi-generational Richmond Italian families, dating back to its founding more than 93 years ago.”

HISTORY

Chartered in 1933 as a men’s social club for Italian Americans—Italians being the largest ethnic community in both Richmond and the greater Bay Area at the time, the club originally provided informal gatherings to play popular card games, drink, and play Bocce Ball—traditional features of Italian village life.

At the time, many Italian clubs were introduced throughout the U.S. to foster fraternal relationships among Italian immigrants where

they could speak their native language and preserve aspects of their cultural heritage. For many, these clubs also provided a friendly gateway to life in a new country, employment opportunities, marriage and even help with housing.

With several Italian clubs in the area, the Italian-American Federation (IAF) of the East Bay was soon formed to serve the local clubs and “to further the welfare of all persons of Italian-American descent living in the East Bay and surrounding areas.” The IAF helps coordinate the annual selection and coronation of a Queen for the San Francisco Italian Heritage parade among other community affairs.

In Richmond, the Galileo Club grew from informal meetings in members’ homes and a local boarding house, to the current clubhouse. A stunning mural of the Italian countryside graces one side of the building.

Built in stages, the Galileo Club not only serves its members, but also offers its large facility as a rental for non-Galileo events, meetings and celebrations.

A stunning mural of the Italian countryside graces one side of the building.

LADIES AUXILIARY

In 1938, five years after its founding, the Ladies’ Auxiliary was added “…so peace and harmony can be maintained at home and at the Club,” as one original founder put it. The women might see it a little differently, of course, but that’s genuinely part of the fun, with all members enjoying and working together, each adding their own unique talent and creativity, for the good of the club, its members and the local community.

GALILEO CLUB WAY, AN HONOR BY THE CITY OF RICHMOND

Located at 371 South 23rd Street, the Galileo Club is the oldest social club in Richmond. In 2017, the City of Richmond honored the club and its long-standing contribution to the local community by sub-naming the street where their building stands, “Galileo Club Way.”

The recognition is well-deserved.

“During World War II, the Club remained open for civil defense and first aid training and as a place for Rosie the Riveters to congregate and relax,” says Alan. “We’ve always had good relations and support for Coronado School, the nearby elementary school. We support the Richmond Firefighters Christmas Toy Drive, the Read Aloud Foundation, the Club’s scholarship awards for graduating high school seniors, making sandwiches and cookies for Love Bites (a local nonprofit serving homeless), organizing winter coat drives for a different local nonprofit and more.”

EVENTS AND FUN

Club events evolve over the years and currently include a Bagna Calda dinner (unique to a region in Italy, always popular), Easter and Christmas season events, Limoncello workshop,

DON’T FORGET BOCCE!

The Club has “beautiful, well-maintained bocce ball courts,” Del Simone adds, “with an impressive wall mural featuring landmarks in Richmond and Italy, and flags representing the different regions of Italy. Co-ed leagues are formed with members and friends, with lively competition nearly every Monday night throughout the year.”

COMFORT DURING LOCKDOWN

As with so many other businesses and organizations, the pandemic created great challenges for the Club as well, shares Del Simone. Revenue from monthly events and meetings dried up, so did the club’s much-enjoyed socialization. As lockdown dragged on, the Galileo Club introduced “drive-thru” dinners, where members could safely pick up food to enjoy and support the Club. More than that, it offered a little comfort and kindness to members (after all, it’s tough to feel blue while enjoying authentic Italian ravioli!)

“The tremendous and guideline-attentive volunteering it took to make this happen was impressive,” recounts Del Simone, “as was the support and cooperation from members and guests when we were able to open our doors again.”

Upcoming events open to the public include the Concorso Galileo Car Show Galileo Club, on October 19, 10am-2pm, and San Francisco’s annual Italian Heritage Parade on October 12 (a tradition since 1869).

Indeed, for the Galileans and their local community,

EastBaySBDC Turn-Around Success Story

EAST BAY SBDC SUCCESS STORY: CIRCOSPHERE

by Karen Walker

Circosphere (circosphere.com) is a woman-owned cirque entertainment company specializing in unique, interactive and WOW-factor performances for special events. The founder faced challenges in navigating the certification process to become a woman-owned business and applying for loans and grants post COVID-19.

With the support of her East Bay SBDC advisor, the business successfully secured critical funding, including PPP loan, Shuttered Venue Operators Grant and California Venues Grant. Between 2022-2024, the founder increased sales by $469,393 and expanded the team by

KRISTEN PARKS

FOUNDER

CONTRA COSTA COUNTY BUSINESS DIRECTORY

CONTRA

D ON ’S REA L ES TATE UPDATE

DO HOM E IMP ROVEM EN TS REALLY PAY O FF?

Many homeowners are unsure whether improving their home is worth the investment. In the East Bay, the improvements that will deliver the highest return on investment (ROI) include:

· LANDSCAPING: Believe it or not, landscaping upgrades tend to deliver the highest ROI. Drought-friendly landscaping is extremely attractive to buyers.

· MINOR BATHROOM AND KITCHEN UPGRADES: A few minor improvements, new appliances and careful when approaching a major kitchen remodel though, unless you plan to live in the home and enjoy it.

· WINDOWS: consider replacing them.

ATTIC & BASEMENT REMODELS: Adding permitted bedroom or family room - will almost always be worth the investment.

EXTERIOR: Many exterior upgrades will improve the appeal of your home without breaking the bank. Consider painting or a fresh coat on trim and doors. Garage door upgrades tend to recoup their cost, and if your roof needs replacing, don’t