ay d i l o H
g n i p p Sho ge 10 Pa
www.claytonpioneer.com
October 23, 2009
925.672.0500
PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID CLAYTON, CA PERMIT 190
IT’S YOUR PAPER
Big event raises funds to save sports JAY BEDECARRÉ Clayton Pioneer
They said it with their participation and in the colors of their shirts. The effort to Save High School Sports in the Mt. Diablo Unified School District received its biggest community boost last Sunday at Newhall Park when over 2,000 people turned out for the inaugural 5K Run/Walk sponsored by United Mt. Diablo Athletic Foundation, the fundraising and support group headed by Clayton Valley High School athletic director and Clayton resident Pat Middendorf. Event organizers originally hoped to attract 1,000 participants. By last Saturday night they closed off advance online registrations at 1,221. On Sunday they ran out of the 2,000 runner/walker numbers they had printed due to all the walk-up registrants. Former Clayton Valley High star Nathanael Litwiller, who ran an
JULIE PIERCE
MAYOR’S CORNER Boundary issues finally put to rest I want to thank our city staff for the considerable time and effort they’ve spent working with another regional agency, LAFCO. That’s the Local Agency Formation Commission, a state-created commission in each county responsible for overseeing local government boundary changes, including incorporation, annexations, and special district formations. Every five years LAFCO conducts Municipal Service Reviews (MSR) of all cities and special districts to determine whether the established boundaries continue to be appropriate.
See Mayor, page 5
Photos by Mike Dunn/Clayton Pioneer
OVER 2,000 TURNED OUT LAST SUNDAY for the Save High School Sports 5K Run/Walk at Newhall Park. The event drew more than twice the anticipated participants and raised an estimated $50,000 for MDUSD athletic programs.
Resident spies burglar; police arrest two TAMARA STEINER Clayton Pioneer
Two Concord men, 18 and 19, were arrested and a baby taken into custody on Oct. 1 when a botched burglary in Peacock Creek ended at police
gunpoint after a short pursuit by Clayton Police Cpl. Richard Enea. According to police, the victim was in his Inverness Way home about 4 p.m. when he heard noises outside. When he went to investigate, he found
that the side door had been kicked in and there was a man in his garage. He confronted the burglar, who punched the homeowner and ran to a waiting car. The homeowner flagged down a neighbor and the two
followed the suspects, calling police along the way. Enea was just leaving the police station when he got the call. He caught up to the suspects at Ygnacio Valley Road and followed them down Clayton Road to Bailey Road,
where the suspects pulled over. Enea held the men in the car at gunpoint until Sgt. Tim Marchut of Clayton PD and Hollie Sanson of the Concord K-9 unit arrived. As officers
See Burglar, page 4
See Walk, page 8
Assistant to city manager to run for county office ANDRÉ GENSBURGER Clayton Pioneer
New Explorer joins dad and brother at Clayton PD DENISEN HARTLOVE Clayton Pioneer
Photo courtesy of Richard McEachin Jr.
LAW ENFORCEMENT IS A FAMILY AFFAIR with the McEachins as Whitney McEachin (right) joins her brother Richard III (left) in the Clayton Police Explorer program. Dad is Clayton Officer Richard McEachin Jr., Whitney and Richard III are the third generation to serve in law enforcement.
What’s Inside Around Town . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Book Review . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17 Church News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14
Classified . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 Community Calendar . . . . . . . . . .16 Deal with It . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 Directory of Advertisers . . . . . . . . .5 Food for Thought . . . . . . . . . . . . .20
The McEachin family may have the bluest blood in Clayton. Police blue, that is. Members from three generations have served in law enforcement, and three members of the same family are currently part of the Clayton Police Department. Just a few weeks ago, Whitney, 14, followed in the family tradition when she joined her dad and older brother in the Clayton department. The family’s patriarch, retired police chief Richard McEachin, originally served as an officer in Antioch. He later became a chief in Kansas and then Washington State before retiring 38 years later. His son, Richard Jr., went on to join Clayton’s police department. Richard Jr.’s children, Richard
From the Chief . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 Garden Girl . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19 Going Green . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19 Holiday Shopping Guide . . . . . .10 Movie Review . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17
III and Whitney, have donned the uniforms that identify them as part of Clayton’s elite team of volunteer Police Explorers. McEachin Jr. described the Explorers program as a win-win situation for its members and the city. “We really rely on those Explorers,” he said. “Being a small department, we need all the help we can get.” He cited the Explorers’ work at Clayton’s three biggest events, the Art & Wine Festival in May, the 4th of July parade and Oktoberfest. The volunteer program was brought to Clayton in 1991 by then Sgt. Rich Enea to give local teens insight into the life of a police officer. The senior McEachin says Explorers – and volunteers in general – gain invaluable experience just by the act of giving their time.
With a measure of cautious enthusiasm and a tinge of regret at leaving her Clayton post if she is successful, Laura Hoffmeister, Clayton’s assistant to the city manager, is planning to vie for the county supervisor seat that will be vacated next year. The current District 4 supervisor, Susan Bonilla, is making a bid for Tom Torlakson’s seat in the California Assembly. The election primary next June could well run off into a November election, with the
See Police, page 9
See Hoffmeister, page 7
Pets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18 Real Estate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 Safety Zone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9 School News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12
LAURA HOFFMEISTER
Theatre Review . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17 Travel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9 Upcoming Events . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 Weather Words . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
Page 2
Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com
October 23, 2009
Around Town Reunion with Carol Burnett a memorable experience
Emmi parties hearty with Garden Girl
RON JACOBS Special to the Pioneer
On October 4, Nicole Hackett, the Garden Girl, was the entertainment at Emmi Johnson’s fourth birthday party. Emmi is pictured above, in front, in the princess dress. Nicole is standing in the back. Emmi celebrated her big day in the garden with family and friends at their home in Oakhurst. The children planted colorful zinnias and nasturtium seeds in pots decorated with ribbons and balloons.
I met Carol Burnett when she and I attended UCLA in the early ’50s. At the time, I commuted daily between my home in the Hollywood area and the campus. She also was a commuter and lived about two blocks above Hollywood Boulevard. One day, a friend of ours asked if I would give Carol a ride home. In my hand-medown 1948 Studebaker, I drove her to the Spanish-style apartment building where she lived with her grandmother and mother. Fast forward to Oct. 1, 2009. Having enjoyed watching her for years, I was thrilled to learn she would have a onenight appearance at the
Rare white hummer nests in town When Brandee Caldwell placed a hummingbird feeder on the porch of her Diablo Street home, she had no idea she would become the permanent dining spot for a rare white hummingbird. With its black beak and feet and white feathers, Brandee’s Leucistic Hummingbird is not a true albino, but is nonetheless extremely rare, according
to the hummingbird Website www.rubythroat.org. The white hummer nests in the oak tree on the hill by the elementary school and feeds about every 15 minutes during the day.
D
J
D
STE
STE
LI UST
The white hummer is one of 15 that regular feed at Brandee’s four feeders. “They swarm me when I go to fill the feeders. ‘Hurry, hurry up, they cheep.’”
LI UST
J
Photo courtesy of Ron Jacobs
This photo appeared in the UCLA Daily Bruin circa 1954. Carol Burnett is third from the left
Photo courtesy of Rob Jacobs
Barbara and Ron Jacobs (left) enjoyed a reunion with old friend and classmate, Carol Burnett, at the Paramount Theater recently. Ron and Carol attended UCLA together in the fifties.
Oakland Paramount Theatre billed as “A Conversation with Carol Burnett.” I bought tickets, contacted the production company, told my story and they put me and my wife, Barbara, on the list of guests to meet her backstage after the show. I presented her with letters of greeting from my friends who appeared in UCLA productions with her, as well as photos from some of those productions. One photo scheduled to be printed in the Daily Bruin was returned with a note on the back asking for the identity of “the girl.” Of course, it was Carol. She certainly has come a long way since then! Carol was so welcoming and gracious and was utterly delighted to have the letters and photos. She instantly named all
the actors, the productions and the years in which they took place. The hour and half show was a great evening consisting of questions from the audience, a variety of film clips from her many shows and some hilarious stories. I never knew that doing something seemingly uneventful like giving someone a ride would lead years later to a most memorable evening.
What’s happening Around Town? Send your news and photos of your births, engagements weddings, special recognitions, etc. to info@claytonpioneer.com.
E
RIC
P NEW
$729,000 350 Blue Oak Lane, Clayton Eagle Peak – Sought-after 2,448 s.f. Diablo model offers single-story luxury, 4BD/2.5BA, on corner lot. www.BlueOakLane.com
$599,000 1267 Quiet Circle, Concord Custom Pine Hollow – Elegant 4BD/3BA down a private lane offers heated pool/spa & 2,802 s.f. www.1267QuietCircle.com
$448,800 1278 Shell Circle, Clayton Chaparral Springs – 3BD/3BA town home on golf course w/views. Amenities galore – feels like home!. www.1278ShellCircle.com
3104 Coyote Circle, Clayton $299,000 Diablo Ridge – Updated & private 2BD/2BA condo w/bedroom & deck views and two garages. www.3104CoyoteCircle.com
27 Mirango Court, Clayton $608,000 Regency Woods – 4BD/2.5BA rancher with .32 acre lot, heated pool/spa & cozy living & family rooms. www.MirangoCourt.com
785 Bloching Circle, Clayton $578,500 Regency Woods – Value priced 4BD/2.5BA ready for a quick close! Well-maintained home w/Mt. Diablo out your door. www.785BlochingCircle.com
421 Diablo Creek Place, Clayton $659,980 Cardinet Trail – 3BD/2BA has master suite w/fabulous master bath! New decks, solar pool/spa. www.DiabloCreekPlace.com
170 Brandywine Place, Clayton $859,000 Peacock Creek – Single-story w/3,030 s.f. on corner lot has over $200K in upgrades & incredible landscaping. www.170Brandywine.com
Clayton Resident & Broker Owner
DRE# 01122025
October 23, 2009
Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com
Page 3
Around Town
Est.1972
Smith & Bernal
Lynne French team helps out at the Food Bank
For their annual service day, the Lynne French Team collected over 2,600 pounds of food for the Contra Costa Food Bank.
Every year, the staff and agents at Windermere Lynne French and Associates participate in a community service day. One year the staff planted trees at the elementary school, another year they did some well-needed maintenance work at a Pittsburg homeless shelter. This year, the staff joined with the Contra Costa Food Bank on a food drive. “With the strain on employment and income for a lot of people, the food bank is actually DOWN about 35 percent and in des-
Roofing Tile repairs Reroof Ventilation
perate need of help,” said managing broker Angelique Booth. The staff collected 2,645 pounds of food and worked at the Food Bank all morning on Oct. 16, sorting, bagging and distributing.
Pioneer says ‘Opa’ to Greek vacation
Gutter Cleaning Inspections Bird abatement
Free Roof Check-up (925) 672 0138 Clayton resident Lic. Number 727021
Enter to win a $250 Shopping spree.
Thousands walk for diabetes research Five Claytonians were among the more than 2,000 that gathered at Heather Farm
Park in Walnut Creek on Oct. 4 to complete a two-mile walk for the Juvenile Diabetes Research
Rosalie Christensen, Christy DeAngelo, Alex Treshler, Frank Enciso and Michelle Treshler, all of Clayton, participated in a charity walk for diabetes research on Oct. 4.
Foundation. The walkers and their supporters came from all over the Bay Area and raised more than $400,000. Over 100 families and 34 corporate and civic groups walked as teams. “The good news is that our walk has grown from dozens to thousands,” said walk chairman Stan Pachura or Danville. “The best news is our progress in research was measured in years, but now it’s measured in weeks and days,” Pachura added. Pachura’s grandson has Type 1 diabetes. The event raises money for research and treatment for juvenile diabetes, one of the fastest growing medical problems facing the nation. For more information visit www.CureType1.org.
Keenan/Heinz company Really cool stuff for home & garden
Name Phone or Email Enter now thru 11/15/09. Drawing held on 11/16/09. Enter as often as you wish in person, just once per day.
Www. keenanheinz.com
Joe and Marty Magana remembered the important stuff when they traveled to Greece this summer. “We took the good ole Clayton Pioneer along with us to Santorini.”
Jonelle Derickson and Carl Littorno exchange vows The bonny green of County Kildare in Ireland was the setting for the wedding of Jonelle Derickson of San Ramon and Carl Littorno of Clayton on July 8. The ceremony, which was performed by the bride’s uncle, included a “Celtic Knot” tradition where family and friends tied a ribbon around the couple’s clasped hands, then each shared a special wish for the couple. Jonelle is the daughter of Jack and Candace Derickson of Breckenridge, Colorado. She wore an ivory satin gown with a beaded lace bodice and carried red roses. She was attended by Jenna and Joanna Derickson and Margie Calvin. The groom is the son of
JONELLE DERICKSON AND CARL LITTORNO
OWs ay N a w a t y s La r Chri m fo
Celebrating 35 years in business
Mon. – Sat. 10 to 7, Sun. Noon to 6
Encina /Clayton BICYCLE CENTERS Two locations to serve you CLAYTON/CONCORD – Clayton Road 925-672-2522 WALNUT CREEK – Ygnacio @ Oak Grove 925-944-9200
www.encinabicyclecenters.com
Lifetime free service on all new bike purchases
1700 East Street Concord (925) 288-0159
Nancy and Richard Littorno of Clayton. Mark Hayes, Calvin Thompson and Steve McGlasson served as groomsmen. The wedding was followed by a reception, dinner and dancing. Jonelle attended high school in Sugarland, Texas and is a graduate of Texas A&M University. She is a sales operations manager. Carl graduated from Clayton Valley High School and NCTI paramedic school. He is currently in the firefighter program at Los Medanos College and is a firefighter and paramedic with the Benicia Fire Department. The couple honeymooned in Ireland and will live in Dublin, California.
Page 4
Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com
Upcoming Events safety with games like Stop, Drop and Roll and Firefighter Boot Toss. Win prizes playing the Wheel of Fire and learn how to call 9-1-1.
October 31 E v e r y t h i n g FOR H A L L O W E E N FARMERS MARKET COSTUME CONTEST 8 A.M. – NOON Kids, start the day early. Prizes for best costume. Sign up at 10 a.m., judging begins at 11 a.m. First prize is a gift certificate to Skipolini’s. First and second place winners will both receive a gift bag of Farmers Market goodies. HALLOWEEN AT THE FIREHOUSE 5:30 – 7:30 P.M. Kids, pre-K through fifth grade, come see the fire engine, visit with Sparky the Firedog and have your picture taken with the firefighters. Learn fire
YMCA “BOO” NIGHT 6-8 P.M. AT THE CLAYTON COMMUNITY GYM. Come join us for our Annual Boo Night. Come in costume! The evening will include pumpkin carving, Halloween games, the Bounce House, Halloween Costume contest, face painting, trickor treating, and decorating a bag, all free. New this year is a Haunted House. “Boo” Night is free; however a donation to benefit the YMCA Strong Kids Campaign of $2 is requested for the Haunted House. For more information call 889-1600. 29TH ANNUAL HALLOWEEN GHOST WALK BEGINS AT 7:30 Take a spooky walk through history and visit with celebrity ghosts along the way. Bring a flashlight. Led by Clayton historian Richard Taylor, the tour begins and ends at Endeavor Hall and includes 10 stops. For more information, call 228-9144.
Financing plan could pay back local governments as early as May TAMARA STEINER Clayton Pioneer
Clayton may soon see some relief from the latest round of state raids on local tax revenues. At the October 6 regular meeting, the City Council voted to participate in a structured financing arrangement which would pay off the property taxes borrowed from the local governments by next May, rather than in the three years required by law. The bill has passed both the Assembly and the Senate and is awaiting the governor’s signature. In 2004, the voters passed Proposition 1A, which prohibit-
ed the state from diverting for its own use, property tax revenues from cities, counties and special districts, except in an emergency, or a “severe financial hardship.” The $26 billion budget gap faced by the state this year created a financial hardship, and the legislature looked to local agencies to fund the shortfall, “borrowing” from property tax revenues and seizing Redevelopment Agency funds. Clayton’s loan to the state is $139,195, a receivable which the state is required to repay in three years at 2 percent interest. Under the securitization program, the city will sell its receiv-
able to California Communities, a joint powers authority, which will issue tax-exempt bonds to finance the purchase. The net result to the city is 100 percent payback of the $139,195 in two installments – one on Jan. 15, 2010 and another on May 15, 2010. In return for the quick repayment, the city waives any right to interest. The resolution passed unanimously. “It’s a no-brainer,” said Mayor Julie Pierce. Redevelopment Agency funds taken by the state are not considered a loan and not eligible for the securitization program.
October 23, 2009
Have a spook-tacular, but safe, Halloween Halloween should be filled with surprise and be an enjoyable experience for everyone. However, trick-or-treating can become dangerous because of a number of factors. The Clayton Police Department, the National Safety Council and the American Academy of Pediatrics offer some basic safety tips to parents, trick-ortreaters and homeowners: Parents should make sure that children eat dinner before setting out. Young children should be accompanied by an adult. Instruct children to travel only in familiar areas and along an established route. If children go out on their own, make sure they have a watch that can be read in the dark and have them carry a cell phone and flashlight. Although tampering is rare, tell your children to bring the candy home to be inspected before consuming anything. Look at the wrapping carefully and toss out anything that looks
suspect. Establish a return time. Trick-or-treaters should walk on sidewalks, if available, not on the streets. Remind them to look both ways before crossing streets, checking for cars and trucks. Always carry a flashlight to light your way. Wear light-colored or reflective costumes so you are more visible. Use or buy only fire-retardant materials for costumes. Costumes shouldn’t be so long as to create a tripping hazard. Visit homes that are familiar and well lit. Be cautious of animals and strangers. Homeowners should make sure that yards are clear of hazards, such as children’s toys, hoses, Halloween decorations or flower pots, that might cause young ones to trip. Change burned-out light bulbs. Pets get frightened on Halloween. Protect them from cars or trick-or-treaters by
Burglar, from page 1 were handcuffing the men, the burglary suspect told them his baby was in the backseat. The child was turned over to Child Protective Services. Also in the car were a number of items from an earlier residential burglary in Pleasant Hill. All stolen property was
recovered. The two men were arrested and charged with two counts of first-degree residential burglary, child endangerment and conspiracy. Bail was set at $270,000. Enea credits the successful outcome to the victim’s quick thinking and cool head. “He did
DAN LAWRENCE
FROM
THE
CHIEF
bringing them inside. If you use outdoor candles, make sure they are placed away from where trick-or-treaters will travel. Healthy food alternatives for trick-or-treaters include packages of low-fat crackers with cheese or peanut butter filling, packaged fruit rolls, mini boxes of raisins and single-serve packets of low-fat popcorn that can be microwaved later. If you have questions or wish to report any suspicious activity associated with Halloween, call the Clayton Police Department at 673-7350.
Dan Lawrence is Clayton’s Police Chief. Please send your questions, comments or topics you’d like to see covered to DanL@cpd.ci. concord.ca.us
an excellent job of not wanting to be a victim,” Enea said. “He took matters into his own hands by calling police and keeping himself out of danger.” In a statement to the press, Marchut praised Enea. “(He) did an amazing job during this investigation at each step. He did not take any shortcuts and it clearly paid off.”
Clayton Valley Shell
BACK TO SCHOOL SPECIAL FREE
$ 5 off
OIL CHANGE
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT
CHECK Pull codes only. $57 value
Clayton Valley Shell. May not be combined with other offers. Expires 11/07/09
$ 10 off SMOG
INSPECTION
Clayton Valley Shell. May not be combined with other offers. Expires 11/07/09
ervice s e l t t u Free sh r repairs o
for maj
Clayton Valley Shell. May not be combined with other offers. Expires 11/07/09
Official S m and Rep og Check air Statio n
Our professionals are here to serve you:
Mechanical repairs and computer diagnostics including 30K, 60K, 90K factory maintenance on all European, Imported and domestic vehicles.
Corner of Clayton Road and Kirker Pass Road
925 672-3900
October 23, 2009
Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com
Mayor, from page 1 P.O. Box 1246 6200 Center Street, Suite H, Clayton, CA 94517 TAMARA AND R OBERT S TEINER , Publishers TAMARA S TEINER , Editor A NDRÉ G ENSBURGER , Reporter and Feature Writer P ETE C RUZ , Graphic Design B EV B RITTON , Copy Editor J AY B EDECARRE , Sports B ETH N EUDELL , Advertising Sales C HRISTINA S CARLOTT , Administrative Assistant We remember Jill Bedecarré - Her spirit is our muse
PIONEER INFO
We will not accept any ad that discriminates on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, nationality, family status or disability. The Clayton Pioneer reserves the right to reject any advertising we believe is unsuitable.
CONTACT US Tel: (925) 672-0500 Fax: (925) 672-6580 Tamara Steiner tamara@claytonpioneer.com André Gensburger Andre@claytonpioneer.com Beth Neudell beth@claytonpioneer.com Send ads to ads@claytonpioneer.com Send Sports News to sports@claytonpioneer.com Send Club News to clubnews@claytonpioneer.com Send Church News to churchnews@claytonpioneer.com
Send School News to schoolnews@claytonpioneer.com
CLASSIFIEDS Classified rates per insertion: Non-profit: $12 for first 30 words, $.20 each additional word Individual/non-commercial: $18 for first 30 words, $.30 each additional word Commercial: $48 for first 30 words, $.40 each additional word To place your classified ad over the phone, call the office at (925) 6720500 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Mon.-Fri. Or, you may fax your typewritten ad and credit card information to (925) 672-6580. All classifieds must be paid for in advance by credit card (Master Card or Visa)
LET US KNOW Weddings, engagements, anniversaries, births and deaths all weave together as part of the fabric of our community. Please let us know of these important events. We ask only that the announcement be for a Clayton resident. You will find the appropriate form for your announcement on our Website. Attach your photo to the form. Make sure the image size you are about to send is at least 3 MB but not bigger than 6MB. The only format we accept is JPG. You can also mail or bring your print to the office and we can scan it for you. Also on our Web site are forms for submitting Community Calendar items and press releases for your organization.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR The Clayton Pioneer welcomes letters from our readers. As a general rule, letters should be 300 words or less and submitted at least one week prior to publication date. Letters concerning current issues will have priority. We may edit letters for length and clarity. All letters will be published at the editor’s discretion. Please include your name, address and daytime telephone number. We will not print letters from “anonymous.” E-mail your letter in a Word document to tamara@claytonpioneer.com. Letters MUST be submitted via E-mail.
That includes reviewing our city limits boundary and our Sphere of Influence (SOI) and how they relate to the voterapproved Urban Limit Line. Each city has a SOI which is defined as the plan for the probable physical boundaries and service area of a local agency. For more information on how that is determined you can visit their Website at www.ContraCostaLafco.org. During this year’s MSR, LAFCO staff recommended shrinking Clayton’s SOI to match the Urban Limit Line (ULL). This would have removed the area east of town included in our Marsh Creek Specific Plan which has several parcels actively seeking to become part of our community so they can receive the water and sewer service they need. It would also have removed the Cemex Quarry from our SOI. The quarry is an active member of our community and we feel strongly that we need to maintain that relationship in an official capacity. In the future, when that land is no longer used for a quarry, it should logically become a part of the city of Clayton. LAFCO staff also recommended removing the 50acre portion of Mt Diablo State Park that was within our SOI. We agreed with that part of their recommendation. As the former chair of the Contra Costa Shaping Our Future Plan, I was also our active representative at the Urban Limit Line negotiations in which those same boundaries were hotly contested. At the hearings, I politely reminded our colleagues on the LAFCO Board that we should not fight that same battle all over again. They remembered the battles of
Mon - Fri 10-6 Sat 10-5
Hardwood, Tile and Stone, Carpet, Laminate
Free shop at home service! •
Free custom baseboards with all hard surface orders! OR
• •
the ULL and agreed to maintain our SOI, only removing the Mt. Diablo parkland as we requested. Good job done by all - thank you. UNUSED DRUGS DROP OFF I’m excited about a new service we will be offering to our community. We are in the process of setting up an unused pharmaceutical and Sharps drop-off location. The service is being organized by the Central Sanitary District to help keep these items out of the sewer system and landfill where they leach into our water supplies or present a safety hazard. Disposal of these products has long been a problem as there has been no legal place to dispose of them. They cannot go into the garbage, down the drain or even to the hazardous waste collection. Allied Waste (now Republic Services) is generously buying the secure containers that will be located at our Clayton Police Station on the second floor at City Hall. We will accept your unused pharmaceuticals and Sharps products during regular business hours. I’ll let you know as soon as the service is available should be very soon. This program is a good example of how a regional agency can offer much-needed services to our community. As always, you can contact me at Julie_Pierce@comcast.net. Let me know what you think.
Classified
Locally owned and operated by 30-year Clayton residents Keith and Mike Baker
floorstogodanville@sbcglobal.net
Richard A. Littorno Since 1979
Nursing Home Costs Can Be Controlled With Medi-Cal and Asset Protection Planning If you or a loved one is facing the huge costs of nursing home care, our Medi-Cal and estate planning techniques can reduce or eliminate these costs, protect your home and other assets. Learn about your options NOW, before you spend too much money on nursing home costs.
Clayton Office:
Pittsburg Office:
6160 Center St., Suite D Clayton, CA 94517 Phone: (925) 672-6463 Richard@LittornoLaw.com www.LittornoLaw.com
2211 Railroad Ave. Pittsburg, CA 94565 Phone: (925) 432-4211 Fax: (925) 432-3516
Construction and Trades Belfast Plumbing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .457-5423 Burkin Electric . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .212-3339 Grover Electric Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .783-3839 Michael Dwyer & Sons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-3980 Olde World Mill & Cabinets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .915-0822 Outback Construction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .673-1244 Smith & Bernal Roofing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-0138 Tipperary Construction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .216-2679 Dentist Bradburn, Keith D.D.S. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-0110 Children's Dentistry of Walnut Creek . . . . . . . . . .938-2392 Chong, Jenny D.D.S.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .827-5595
Gardner, Randell D.D.S. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-0110 Renner, Jason D.D.S. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .689-2800 Rissel, Richard D.M.D. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .689-2800 Dining and Entertainment Clayton Club Saloon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .673-0440 Contra Costa County Fall Fair . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .757-4400 La Veranda .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .524-0011 Willows Theatre . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .957-2500 Educational Services Katherine Palau . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 510-207-7467 Financial and Insurance Services Benton, Mureleen - Ameriprise Financial . . . . . .685-4523 CD Federal Credit Union . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .825-0900 Ferrante Insurance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .674-1755 Littorno, Richard - Attorney at Law . . . . . . . . . . .672-6463 Van Wyck, Doug - State Farm Insurance . . . . . . .672-2300 Funerals Ouimet Funeral Home . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .682-4242
Clear Splash Pool Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .216-6245 Floors to Go Danville . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .820-8700
DONATIONS NEEDED
Lewis & Lewis Carpets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .939-2145
Clayton YMCA The Y is seeking donations of supplies and items for use in the afterschool programs. Please call Jennifer Beck at 925-692-2364 if you have books for all ages, old movies (PG and G rated), all types of board and interactive games and anything else that would be appropriate for kids.
Pacific Coast Flooring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .609-2151
HELP WANTED
Bella Mia Spa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .680-7792
Real Estate Agents Be Successful! Lynne French is expanding and interviewing for a few agents. Call her today (925) 672-8787.
SERVICES
Law Offices of
Mike's Auto Body . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .689-1739
Keenan Heinz Co. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .288-0159
Meeting Date Change This is a notification from the Contra Costa Resource Conservation District, 5552 Clayton Rd., Concord, 94521. Effective immediately, the Board of Directors will hold it’s regular meeting on the third Tuesday of the month. Please contact Teresa Hunter, Office Administrator at (925) 672-6522 x107 with questions.
99 Railroad Ave., Danville www.diablo.floorstogo.com
Clayton Valley Shell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-3900
Bee Hive Ovens, Al Fresco Imports . . . . . . . . . . .672-9547
with any new carpet order!
(925) 820-8700
Auto
Abbey Carpet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .686-9901
LEGAL NOTICE
on sale now!
Directory of Advertisers
Home and Garden
Free upgraded pad Hardwood
Page 5
Experienced Tutor Available for Students K-10. Specialties include Math (Basic, Algebra & Geometry), English (Grammar & Writing), and Homework Help. Located in Clayton. Lessons to take place in your home or mine. FREE CONSULTATION! $30-$40 per hour. Call 415-845-0203!
VOLUNTEERS WANTED
Nichols Landscape . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-9955 Pans on Fire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .600-7267 Utopic Gardens . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .524-0055 Welcome Home House Cleaning . . . . . . . . . . . . .584-5980 Mailing and Shipping The UPS Store . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .689-6245 Personal Products and Services Roberta Claire Photography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .625-1123 Sport Clips Haircuts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .368-4264 Pet Services Aussie Pet Mobile . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .800-738-6624 Monte Vista Veterinary Hospital . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-1100 O’Brien Family Pet Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .899-7354 Rodie’s Feed and Country Store . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-4600 Real Estate and Mortgage Services Flannery, Patty - Diablo Realty . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-0541 French, Lynne - Windermere Real Estate . . . . . .672-8787 Kavanaugh, Mike - RE/MAX Town & Country . . .383-6102 Laurence, Pete - RE/MAX Realty . . . . . . . . . . . .890-6004 Lopez, Stephanie - Coldwell Banker . . . . . . . . . .932-7329 Morucci, Kim - Intero Real Estate Services . . . . .280-8563 Rahimzadeh, Helen -Coldwell Banker . . . . . . . . .932-7375 Vujnovich, George - Better Homes Realty . . . . .672-4433 Recreation Clayton Bicycles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-2522 Clayton Valley Bowl . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .689-4631 Oakhurst Country Club . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-9737 Senior Services Aegis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .692-5853 Diamond Terrace Senior Retirement Living . . . . .524-5100 Services, Other Appliance Repairs by Bruce, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-2700 Computers USA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-9989
VOLUNTEERS WANTED
Contra Costa Water District . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .688-8320
Meals on Wheels Drivers 673-0300 or hairbyjim@sbcglobal.net. Anna’s Attic Volunteers Call 674-9072 or (925) 766-5066. Hospice of the East Bay Call Volunteer Dept. at (925) 8875678 or email volunteers@hospiceeastbay.org. Clayton Historical Society Museum Call the museum at 672-0240. Clayton Community Library. 673-9777 or email: akikkawa@ccclib.org
Recycling Center & Transfer Station . . . . . . . . . .473-0180 The Cutting Edge Knife Works . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-2723 Shopping Donna’s Quilting Loft . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-0401 Pacific Coast Farmers Market . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .825-9090 The Royal Rooster . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-2025 Travel Cruise Adventures Unlimited . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .935-7447 Travel to Go . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-9840 Worship Crossroads Covenant Church . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .798-5905
Page 6
Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com
Weather guy calls for reader participation in rainfall survey
Please let our Advertisers know you saw them in the Clayton Pioneer WOODY WHITLATCH WEATHER WORDS
Clayton and the rest of the Bay Area experienced a major early season storm on Oct. 13. As strong as the winds were, it was the amount of rainfall associated with this weather system that broke many long standing October records. After reviewing some data available on the internet, the Bay Area rainfall measurements showed some astonishing totals. For example, many weather stations reported between two and six inches of rain; a station in the Santa Cruz Mountains received over 10 inches of rain that one day. A few days after the storm, I visited the Clayton Post
Oct. 31 Halloween-themed evening Live music begins at 6 p.m. $
per person
Winemaker’s Dinner, 6:30 pm
4 course dinner paired with 4 different wines
La
(925) 524-0011 6201 Center St. Clayton
Verand a Restaurant
ar B &
www.LaVerandaCafe.com
Appliance
Repairs by Bruce, Inc. 35 years experience
“We do a doggone good job” Bruce & Holly Linsenmeyer 30 year Clayton residents Office: (925) 672-2700 Cell: (925) 956-8605 State of California B.E.A.R license #A44842
- Zoey & Bruce
We repair all major appliances, most major brands, and we’re local
http://appliancerepairsbybruce.com
Hospice workshop can help the grieving to cope with holidays The holiday season – that time from Thanksgiving to New Year’s – is a time to give thanks, to rejoice and spread good cheer. For many, however, the holidays can be a time of grief. Hospice of the East Bay is offering a workshop for people who have experienced the death of a loved one, and find the holiday season to be a sad and stressful time of the year. The Pleasant Hill workshop is Wed., Nov. 4 from 7-9 p.m. at Hospice’s administrative office, 3470 Buskirk Avenue, Pleasant Hill. The Brentwood workshop
Mention the Clayton Pioneer & receive a
Build-a-Bear gift card with new patient visit!
Randall E. Chang, DDS, Inc.
Less than 10 min. from Clayton
Specialist in Pediatric Dentistry 3050 Citrus Cir., #110 Walnut Creek (925) 938.2392
Office. In the lobby a few people were sharing their storm stories, and someone mentioned that they measured over six inches of rain. A friend who lives a few miles away reported 5.3 inches in his backyard rain gage. It occurred to me that perhaps many Clayton Pioneer readers have rain gages in their back yard. It would be interesting to see how much variation in rainfall there was in the Clayton area for this event. So, I have a request to submit to our readers. If you have a rain gage and measured rainfall on Oct. 13, please write down the information requested in the table below and send me the information in an email. I will compile the data received and summarize the results in my next column.
40
Nov. 16 - Kendall Jackson
October 23, 2009
www.cd-wc.com
We Specialize in the Treatment of Infants, Children, and Young Adults The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends that children see their dentist by their first birthday.
is Tues., Nov. 10, 10 a.m. until noon at 350 John Muir Parkway, Brentwood. “In our society, so much emphasis is placed on gifts and glitter that there is an enormous amount of heightened expectation, making it difficult for anyone to admit they hurt,” says Lee Ann Morgan, Manager of hospice’s Center for Grief and Loss. “Coping with the Holidays provides a forum for people to share concerns and ideas and learn helpful, positive ways to manage holiday grief.” This workshop is offered for a fee and requires pre-registration. The fee is waived for those who cannot afford it. For further information, and/or to register, please call: (925) 8875681.
Established in 1977, Hospice of the East Bay is a not-for-profit agency that helps people cope with life-threatening illnesses by providing medical, emotional, spiritual, and practical support for patients and families, regardless of their ability to pay. To learn more, or to make a donation of time or money, please contact (925) 887-5678, or visit www.hospiceeastbay.org.
If you don’t know the exact time you took your reading, estimate the best you can. Please send your information by Oct. 26 so that we can present the results in the Nov. 6 issue. Email to Woody Whitlatch at clayton_909@yahoo.com, or
drop off or mail to the Pioneer office, 6200 H Center St., Clayton 94517. Woody Whitlatch is a meteorologist with PG&E. Email your questions or comments to clayton_909@yahoo.com
Clayton Reads chooses “Three Cups of Tea” Clayton Community Library will once again join the Contra Costa Libraries “One City, One Book” program. The program encourages everyone in a community to focus on one topical book with reading, discussions and presentations. This year, the book is Greg Mortensen’s widely acclaimed “Three Cups of Tea,” the true story of one man’s dedication to build schools and better the lives of people in Pakistan and Afghanistan. Starting October 19 and continuing while the supply lasts, readers can pick up a free copy of the book along with a hand made, culturally related bookmark designed by the Community Service Interns. The Clayton Library Foundation, which is sponsor-
ing the event, only asks that you read the book and pass it along to someone else when finished. Karen Hansen-Smith, Senior Librarian, along with the Foundation has planned a variety of related programs, all of which are free. These programs are listed in the At the Library section in the Community Calendar of the Pioneer and in a flyer available at the library. Take advantage of a chance to read a thoughtprovoking book and share ideas with others.
The Clayton Community Library is located at 6125 Clayton Road and is open Monday and Wednesday, 1-9 p.m., Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, 10 a.m.-6p.m. and Sunday, 1-5 p.m. Closed Friday.
Miwok history program for kids at Clayton Museum In honor of California Archaeology Month, the Clayton Historical Society and Museum are hosting “Arrowheads and Acorns: a Journey Back in Time,” a workshop for kids to learn about the native Miwok people who once called Clayton home. On Sunday, Oct. 25, a California archaeologist will be at the Clayton Museum to conduct workshops about the Miwok tribe and local archaeology, including what life may
have been like in Clayton thousands of years ago. Children will be encouraged to participate and help solve some of the problems real-life archaeologists encounter. Registration begins at 2 p.m. for the 2:20 p.m. and 3:20 p.m. workshops. Admission is free, but space is limited. Parent signature required for participation. For more information, call 6720240.
Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer .com
‘Green Living’ upgrades may prove to be good investment LYNNE FRENCH
REAL ESTATE I am hearing about “green Q living” lately. In preparing my home for sale, will “green” upgrades increase the value? There is approximately 20 A percent of the market who will only buy “green.” Another 25 percent will at least look for these features. A modest green-related
investment for utility savings can enhance the value in the eyes of more and more buyers. Just like with cosmetic upgrades to your home, you need to weigh the expense against what you will get back. With this type of upgrade, most homeowners don’t know where to start. An energy audit can help you evaluate your expense related to your energy savings. You can search for professional firms on the Internet. One site is energystar.gov. There are a whole host of insulation type upgrades to enhance the “sustainable living”
Locals share views on health plan over coffee ANDRÉ GENSBURGER Clayton Pioneer
Finding someone to talk about health care and their thoughts on the Obama plan is not an easy task. For one thing, people are quick to establish their political viewpoints and ally their opinion on the health plan with those views and yet equally quickly complain about the current health care situation. “It’s criminal,” Margie Folak said at the Clayton Starbucks. “My premiums have increased 60 percent in the last year.” Folak said she had to increase her deductible in order to lower the premium. “For the amount of money I pay, I get nothing unless I wind up in the hospital with something major.” Don Wexler is unhappy with the bailouts of the insurance companies. “We bail them out and they still spend recklessly,” he said. Wexler, a Republican, does not think that the Obama health plan will be realized. “It’s all politics,” he added. “I don’t think I will get better coverage than I have now.”
“This is America,” said Harv Jensen. “I think like any business, health companies have the right to a profit. They insure risk. People want to have everything for free. I think we’ve had it too good for too long and are just spoiled.” The Obama plan proposes a standardized federal health benefit system that will prevent patients from being dropped because they are ill, will cap out of pocket expenses and end discrimination against people with pre-existing conditions. While most Americans agree that the current health insurance system is flawed, agreement on how reform should emerge is splintered. The end result of revision and compromise may produce a plan that contains only some of the original components, however, it may well be that any plan offers the promise of further revision. “I just wish they get something passed,” Folak said. “I’m realistic enough to know that it will only be a marginal change, but at least it will be a change.” For more information about the Obama plan, visit barrackobama.com.
Hoffmeister, from page 1 winner ultimately in place the following January. It is a game of musical chairs played to political overtures as Hoffmeister, who is also the current mayor of Concord, goes up against fellow Councilwoman Helen Allen, a former mayor of Clayton and Concord; Karen Mitchoff, the current vice mayor of Pleasant Hill; and Mike McGill, a Contra Costa Central Sanitary District board member. “I looked at this when Susan
Bonilla was running about four years ago,” Hoffmeister said, “but Concord was in the middle of the (Naval Weapons Station) base reuse with a long way to go. I felt it was important that I stayed with that.” That project is in its latter phases now, with a mid-2010 wrap-up expected before the next phase begins. “That doesn’t involve us as much,” she noted. Having been with Clayton for 10 years, Hoffmeister would
Buying
feature that people would appreciate. Just as with cosmetic upgrades, one should do them early in their ownership so they can enjoy them before they sell. I have been considering real estate as a career for quite some time. I am thinking of becoming an appraiser. Is this a lucrative undertaking?
Q
If you have the interest A and the work ethic, any field of real estate can be lucrative. Appraisal can be fascinating if you enjoy details and statistics. In the present environment, unfortunately, there are politics involved as well. There are a host of new laws governing appraisal, and some are affecting the appraiser’s fees. One of these is the requirement of an appraiser being paid a “customary and reasonable fee.” In this market, appraisal management companies have been created. They don’t distinguish between an independent appraiser and a management company, and they are paid the same. So the appraiser who works for the management company gets paid half of the fee. Many FHA loans, which are popular these days, are required to use these management companies. This takes work away from the independent appraisers. Many independent appraisers are not able to stay in business these days. This is one of the unintended consequences of some of the new government rules governing appraisals. I would suggest you talk to a few seasoned appraisers about the business before you make your decision. You and others seem Q pessimistic about the real estate market’s rebound. Aren’t we at the bottom. I am not pessimistic. I am A always excited about the possibilities in every market. I want people to be optimistic but
carry with her a wealth of knowledge about the city and the issues present. “I’m excited,” she said, “although I have mixed emotions.” The supervisor seat is a fulltime job, which means giving up both her Clayton job and Concord council spot. She’s been with the Concord City Council for 12 years. “I’ve worked in other cities as well,” Hoffmeister added. “I’ve worked for the city of Martinez as well and so I understand the differences in the county on a regional basis.”
not to have unrealistic expectations. I am trusting that there will be more steps implemented to slow the potential damage that the growing number of foreclosure properties will have on the market. However, here are some facts that have me worried:
Page 7
Installations – Repairs Toilets Faucets Water heaters Garbage disposals Clogged drains
Belfast Plumbing Clayton Resident
(925) 457-5423 www.belfastplumbing.com
13.54 percent of the 44.7 million mortgages tracked by the Mortgage Bankers Association are delinquent. 7.57 million homeowners are delinquent, applying the same percentage to the 11.2 million mortgages not tracked by the MBA (55.9 million total mortgages in the United States). That means 10 percent of all homeowners in the country are delinquent. Based on historical trend analysis by Amherst Securities, 6.94 million homes that are already delinquent will be liquidated. That’s more than a one-year supply of distressed sales poised to hit the market in 2010 and 2011. During the first quarter of 2005, that figure was only 1.27 million. Defaults continue to grow at the rate of approximately 300,000 per month, assuring that the number of distressed sales will grow and will continue through 2012. Though this isn’t great news having to do with price appreciation, there is a lot of pressure on banks to not flood the markets all at once to really drive prices down. There are also new guidelines from some of the banks for appraising bankowned property for market which will not deflate the prices as much as before. Interest rates are still historically low, so it is a great climate for buyers. Send your questions to Lynne@LynneFrench.com and look for your answer in a future column. French is the broker/owner of Windermere Lynne French & Associates and a Clayton resident. For any real estate needs contact her at 672-8787, or stop in at 6200 Center St. in Clayton.
Recycle this paper
License. 906211
Cruise Adventures Unlimited Serving all cruise lines since 1987
Princess Cruise Sale Oct. 23 - Nov. 15
A reduced deposit of $100 per person Onboard Value Coupon Booklet worth up to $325 in saving on shipboard products and services
Valid for Europe, Alaska, Panama Canal, South America, Australia/New Zealand, Asia, Canada/New England, Hawaii and Caribbean.
Owners Valerie O’Connell (Clayton resident, 30 years) & daughter Colleen O’Connell
Valid on sailings of 7 days or more in 2009/2010/2011. ©2009 Princess Cruises. Ships of Bermudan registry.
(925) 935-7447
CST 2074362-40
1610 Locust St., Walnut Creek
www.cruiseadventuresunlimited.com
Where the artisan meets the craftsman
Quality Custom Cabinets Kitchen, Bath, Office and Entertainment Centers Commercial Millwork Kevin Mancino, Proprietor, Local Resident
(925) 915-0822
www.oldeworldcabinets.com With our compliments
Free granite countertop with your kitchen cabinet purchase Limited to granite styles in stock, fabrication not included
LIC # 915172
October 23, 2009
Now or Selling? Interviewing For Agents HAVE A CHO U O Y W IC E O N and Teams When Experience, Integrity no and Local K wledge Count
925-383-6102 Mike Kavanaugh Owner 1026 Oak St., Suite 204, Clayton, CA DRE#0888284
Page 8
Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com
Dentistry
Required kindergarten screening – complimentary
for Infants, Children & Teenagers Jason M. Renner, D.D.S. Richard C. Rissel, D.M.D
925-689-2800
www.diablovalleykids.com 2875 Willow Pass Rd., Concord
Proudly serving the Diablo Valley for over 25 years – “experience counts”
Less than 5 miles from Clayton
6096 Main Street, Clayton, 673-0440 All entertainment from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.
Oct. 23, 24 . . . . . . . . . . . .Gerald & the Aces Oct. 30, 31 . . . . . . . . . . . .Crossman Country Karaoke Wed. nights Open Mic Thurs. nights www.claytonclubsaloon.com
2 for the price of 1 Beer only. Good anytime with original coupon. Exp. 11/07/09
Stunning and Spectacular Home Northgate custom with over 3,980 sq.ft. of elegant living space, 4 bedroom, 4.5 bath, Grand marble entry with spiral staircase, unique architectural features throughout, private serene backyard with pool/spa/waterfall on 1/3 acre premium lot. Offered at $1,359,000 Call for Private
Protecting the future from the past is a mind-numbing prospect According to McKinsey & Co., a global management consulting firm, there will be 10 billion people in the world of 2100. Based on current trends, about 8 billion people will live in urban centers – an increase from today’s 3.3 billion. Megacities holding more than 20 million inhabitants will be commonplace; cities like Beijing or Mexico City will further swell. While opportunities will be great, the road toward finding a balance will involve hardship. Income inequity and the movement of people from rural areas into cities changes the landscape of society’s structure. It is expected that of the 7,000 or so languages present today, only a few hundred may survive – with English as the major medium of communication for most of the planet. In Asia, it will hold second place. Given the deplorable financial state of the country, the global recession and the sinking level of education and skilled workers, could the future really hold promise as a balanced society? I am a science fiction fan and from the many stories of the future, one can see the trend ranging from abject poverty and
RESIDENTIAL BROKERAGE
(925) 932-7375 Email: Helen@HelenandHomes.com
www.HelenandHomes.com
Sharp knives take the stress out of holiday cooking
8K race the day before for his Sacramento State team, returned to Newhall Park to win the competitive 5K race in a time of 16:10. The course was modified to be less hilly than the normal layout used for meets, CVHS cross country coach Michelle Howisey explained. But Sunday wasn’t about winning times. It was about the community coming together to demonstrate their resolve to save high school sports at the six MDUSD high schools – Clayton Valley, College Park, Concord,
The
g n Edge i t t u C Knife Works Custom Sharpening Services Chipper Blades Planer Blades Jointer Blades
Louie Galvin Clayton Resident
ANDRÉ GENSBURGER
DEAL WITH IT chaos to the almost utopian “Star Trek” missing only a virtual John Lennon singing “Imagine.” Yet the reality of the present offers global climate change – whether it is a disaster or merely a planetary realignment – and this itself shifts the geography of formerly hospitable terrain while restoring lush vegetation to former deserts. Talk about a brave new world. We are used to our individual rights in this country, and as the fabric of society is stretched in numbers not to mention further diversity, maintaining those individual rights may be more difficult to maintain. Order within society often means imposing rules upon the masses that can almost certainly be seen
as a violation of individuality and the rights of individuals. How do we cope with that? In 2000, we were fearful of “Y2K” – that rollover of the double digits that had formerly represented years transformed now into the more formal fourdigit version. Y2K never caused much in the way of a problem, although many a banker watched the New Year’s celebrations from New Zealand, hours before the United States crossed that dateline – gleefully noting an absence of blackouts and no aircraft falling from the sky. In 1900, society was happy with the light bulb, invented in 1879 and now in wide use as a filament bulb. And yet penicillin had not been discovered (1928) and the world was almost primitive by today’s standard. Or was it more civilized? I can never be sure. The 1800s were the start of the industrial revolution, with factories using mass production. Horses on treadmills often powered larger machinery. The year 1776 was important in America, and if you do not know why I will not destroy your happy lack of knowledge in this article. The 1600s offered the Early
Modern period of Europe, the Baroque cultural movement and the Thirty Years War. From our vantage point in 2100, that period was a short 500 years in the past. The global population was estimated at 500 million people. To go from 500 million to 10 billion people in 500 years is a significant leap. To go from sailing boats to supersonic aircraft is equally daunting. To go from candle power to laser beams, from wild herbs to powerful medications, single horsepower to hundreds of horsepower and much more is a staggering growth curve. If we are the sum of our experiences, then the future need be wary of the present for we have regressed in many areas. I am amazed at the ingenuity that I see emerge from simple people of no pretense. I am appalled at the corruption and deceit that I see from political people of great pretense. Somewhere in the middle lies a kernel of truth. And the future will have to deal with it.
André Gensburger is a staff reporter and feature writer for the Pioneer. His email address is andre@claytonpioneer.com
Walk, from page 1
Showing
Knives Scissors Mower Blades Garden Tools
October 23, 2009
M – F 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Sat. 9 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Closed Sundays
925
672-2723
1030 Diablo St., Clayton
Behind Cup O’Jo next to the Royal Rooster
FORMER CVHS STAR NATHANAEL LITWILLER was the first runner across the finish line at the Save High School Sports run last Sunday.
Mt. Diablo, Northgate and Ygnacio Valley. It was the colors of those schools (red and blue for Clayton Valley, purple for College Park, green and gold for Concord, red and green for Mt. Diablo, crimson and gold for Northgate and navy blue and gold for Ygnacio) proudly worn by athletes from every sport and their parents that stood out on the beautiful fall morning. There were football jerseys galore along with shirts for cross country, water polo, basketball, wrestling, tennis, golf, volleyball, swimming, soccer, track and field, baseball, softball, lacrosse and sports medicine – all jeopardized by lack of funding. Last spring, the MDUSD board, facing the need to make severe budget cuts, took the extraordinary action of eliminating funding for these extracurricular activities that draw a participation of over 5,000. Superintendent Dr. Dick Nicoll not only helped sponsor the event with a $500 donation but was also a runner, finishing amongst a large group of runners, including many students under his charge. The major benefactors who provided the UMDAF with it’s initial $100,000 seed money, Steve and Debra Gonsalves,
STEVE GONSALVES (LEFT) AND HIS WIFE DEBRA (center) made a donation of $100,000 to give the Save High School Sports foundation its initial funding. UMDAF Foundation president Pat Middendorf oversees foundation activities.
were part of the walk following the competitive run. “Unbelievable” was the first word out of Steve Gonsalves mouth while surveying the large turnout after he completed his walk in a group that included Clayton Valley High football coach Herc Pardi and his wife Roxanne. The Fun Run and Walk included dogs, strollers, parents and grandparents and a wheelchair contingent from Stonebrook Healthcare Center escorted by Concord High football players. Former Oakland Raider tight end Jeremy Brigham spoke to the assembled crowd before the run explaining how high school
sports enabled him to get a scholarship to the University of Washington and then the opportunity to play pro football. He is sponsoring a celebrity golf tournament Nov. 12 to help fund UMDAF efforts. Based on the $20 entry fee and the amount of sponsor pledges turned in by high school students prior to race day, it’s likely the event fundraising exceeded $50,000 as the UMDAF continues one step at a time to reach its requirement of raising $1.2 million to ensure every high school sport takes place this school year. For more information on UMDAF and upcoming events visit www.unitedmtdiabloathletics.org.
For reservations or information call
FREaEdes on Summer 2010 Alaska, Europe & Caribbean cruises! upgr
* ! s r u o t e s i u DOUBL ka cr s a l A n o S E UPGRADE *
7 – day Carribean balconies from as low as $939 7 – day Alaska balconies from just $1,199* 11 – day Europe balconies starting at just 1,599* 10 – day Alaska cruisetour balconies from 1,999*
For a limited time, you’ll receive a FREE balcony upgrade when you book an Oceanview stateroom. Or take advantage of FREE double upgrades on Alaska cruisetours!
(925) 672-9840 *
Clayton Station Shopping Ctr. 5439 Clayton Rd., Ste. F
Experience the difference!
Luxury Cruise Experts CST #2033054-40
*FREE Balcony Upgrades refer to reserving a Balcony stateroom for the price of an Oceanview stateroom. FREE upgrade must be confirmed at time of booking in preferred stateroom available and is based on a price reduction to applicable lead-in fares. Fares available as of 9/14/09 and are subject to change. Fares based on Emerald Princess 9/12/09, Diamond Princess 05/15/10, Cruisetour AB3 on Coral Princess 5/19/10 and Star Princess 5/12/10 saving only. Fares for other dates may vary. Fares apply to minimum lead-in category on a space-available basis at time of booking. Fares are per person, non-air, cruise-only, based on double occupancy and apply to the first two passengers in a stateroom. These fares do not apply to singles or third/fourth-berth passengers. Fares may remain at discounted level after this promotion. Government fees and taxes of up to $138.78 per person are additional and subject to change and may be higher for Canadian residents. Princess reserves the right to impose a Fuel Supplement of up to $9 per person per day on all passengers if the MNYMEX oil price exceeds $70 per barrel, even if the fee has already been paid in full. This offer is capacity controlled and may not be combinable with any other public, group or past passenger discount, including shipboard credits. Fares quoted in U.S. dollar. Ask about our optional air add-on program. See the applicable Princess Cruise brochure or princess.com for terms, conditions and definitions that apply to all bookings. Please reference promotion code RGA.
October 23, 2009
Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer .com
Page 9
Preparing for quake – before, during and after following can minimize your shock and help you take the best steps to remain safe.
HARUN SIMBIRDI
SAFETY ZONE It’s hard to believe it’s already the 20th anniversary of the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake. I’ve written about earthquake preparedness before so this article will be a refresher on preparedness. I’ve also added what you should do during and after an earthquake. Many experts predict there will be an overwhelming likelihood of another Loma Prieta type earthquake in the Bay Area within 20 years. Unlike other natural disasters, you can’t predict when an earthquake will occur. Unless you are an expert on what to do next, the surprise and shock of an earthquake will be confusing to the senses and you may not know how to react. The
BEFORE A QUAKE HITS Be sure to repair defective electrical wiring, leaky gas lines and inflexible utility connections. Get appropriate professional help, especially when dealing with gas or electrical lines. Bolt down and secure your water heater, refrigerator, furnace and gas appliances to the wall studs. Contact PG&E about how to get an automatic gas shut-off valve installed that is triggered by strong vibrations. Place large or heavy objects on lower shelves and fasten shelves, mirrors and large picture frames to walls. Always brace high and top-heavy objects. Store bottled foods, glass, china and other breakables on lower shelves or in cabinets that fasten shut. Anchor overhead lighting fixtures and be sure your home is firmly anchored to its founda-
tion. Install “flexible” pipe fittings to avoid gas or water leaks. These fittings are more resistant to breakage. Locate safe spots in each room under a sturdy table or against an inside wall. Do drills with your family to get familiar with these places and remember to practice drop, cover and hold on. DURING A QUAKE Minimize your movements during an earthquake to a few steps to a nearby safe place. Stay indoors until the shaking has stopped and you are sure exiting is safe. If you are indoors when an earthquake hits, take cover under a sturdy desk, table, bench or against an inside wall and hold on. If there isn’t a table or desk near you, cover your face and head with your arms and crouch in an inside corner of the building. Stay away from glass, windows, outside doors and walls or
Take charge of where you sit! PEGGY BIDONDO
TIME
TO
GO
If you were to ask the airlines if the legroom between seats is shrinking, they would tell you that it is not. However, once you find yourself in the dreaded middle seat with the seat in front of you fully reclined and the tray table hitting you in the midsection, you would probably disagree. Where you sit on a long flight can make or break the trip, or your back. If you are making your own air travel plans, how do you get the best seat? Easy, you ask for the seat you want. A recent Wall Street Journal article reported that some of the new planes being delivered to airlines such as American, Delta and Continental have added anywhere from 10 to 12 more coach seats. Since most planes used to have 32 to 33 inches of legroom, it will now be more like 31 inches. JetBlue has the most legroom of the domestic economy flights with 34 to 38 inches between seats. United is close with 34 to 36 inches in their Economy Plus sections. If you want a specific seat, it is important to select it as soon as possible. You can usually do this at the time you purchase your ticket. If you happen to end up with an undesirable seat, try to request a better one at check-in and if that doesn’t work, try again at the gate. If you book online, you can call the airlines immediately after completing your booking and speak with a real person. Of
TRAVEL TIP If you are planning air travel with infants or children, www.flyingwithkids.com has everything you need to know about getting ready to go including information on gear, packing and what to expect at specific airports.
course, they may charge you a fee for doing so, but it could be worth it if you can get the seat you want. Exit rows and bulkhead rows have the most legroom, but most airlines will not allow you to book an exit row until the day of the flight or unless you are one of their elite status customers. Sometimes airlines will switch the type of plane they are going to use, so it cannot hurt to call the week before your flight to see if that is the case. It’s possible that you have been reassigned and the seat you so carefully selected is no longer available. However, it could also mean that other desirable seats come up for grabs. If Business and First Class sections are not completely full, the gate agents will allow upgrades for other passengers – usually those who have elite status or are full fare passengers. This then leaves some preferred economy seats available. If you inquire about these newly available seats, you may have the opportunity to snag one of them. But how do you know what seat to ask for? Until recently, the most commonly used Website for fliers to access was www.seatguru.com. This site
Police, from page 1 “Whenever somebody volunteers to help somebody else, it’s a sense of self-satisfaction,” he said. “It’s a feeling that kids who don’t volunteer don’t have. “Youth who are exposed to all different facets of life pick up, I call them, street skills that they can use to communicate or get by or further themselves in life,” he added. Richard III (who goes by Trey) is in his third year as an
Explorer. Between the Explorers, membership in school choir and band and a part-time job at Burger King, he’s busy. He remains enthusiastic about the Explorers, however. “I’ve learned a lot of people skills and how to accomplish what needs to be accomplished,” he said. Although the Explorers are carefully shielded from con-
allows you to scope out the plane’s best and worst rows. It contains information on 95 airlines and includes 683 seat maps. However, you need to know the model of aircraft for your flight. They use color coded seat maps and when you scroll over the seat location, there are comments related to the location, legroom and window placement. If you fly a lot or within small, overseas countries, this is a good site for you. They have recently partnered with FrequentFlier.com and therefore have updated information and ideas on how to make the most of your frequent flier awards. A competing site, www.seatexpert.com is even easier to use, especially for the leisure traveler who plans to fly in North America or Western Europe. You type in your airline, flight number and departure date, and the site will retrieve the seat map for your flight. This site, too, has color coded seat maps that rate which seats are best, good, bad or awful for 57 different airlines. You’ll also get the scoop on whether or not it is near a stinky bathroom (so that you don’t smell like the lavatory when you arrive at your destination), if you have access to a window, or if you are the last one to get off the plane. You can also ask questions of the “Seat Expert” and the answers are posted on the site for all to see. Recently retired, Clayton resident Peggy Bidondo now has the time to indulge her passion in travel planning and writing. Send your questions and column ideas to Peggy Bidondo at timetogo@claytonpioneer.com.
tentious situations, Trey has seen potentially belligerent suspects calmed down by the officers’ communication skills. “I’ve seen a lot of tactics, ways of talking in certain situations – convincing people to do what you need them to do,” he reported. Asked his advice for Whitney, Trey said that paying attention is crucial. “Take notes on everything,” he said. “These cops do not mess around. They know their stuff – they know what they’re doing. You can really learn so much.”
anything that could fall, such as lighting fixtures or furniture. If you are in bed when the earthquake strikes, hold on and protect your head with a pillow unless you are under a heavy light fixture that could fall. In that case, move to the nearest safe place. Use a doorway for shelter only if it is in close proximity to you and if you know it is a strongly supported, load-bearing doorway. Stay inside until shaking stops and it is safe to go outside. Most injuries during earthquakes occur when people are hit by falling objects when entering or exiting buildings. Be aware that the electricity may go out or the sprinkler systems or fire alarms may turn on. If you are outdoors, don’t go
indoors. Move away from buildings, streetlights and utility wires. In a moving vehicle, stop as quickly and as safely as possible and remain in your vehicle. Avoid stopping near buildings, trees, overpasses and utility wires. If you get trapped under debris, do not light a match. Do not move about or kick up dust. Cover you mouth with a handkerchief or clothing. Tap on a pipe or wall so rescuers can locate you. Use a whistle if one is available. Shout only as a last resort, because shouting can cause you to inhale dangerous amounts of dust.
additional damage to weakened structures. Cautiously open cabinets and beware of objects that can fall off shelves around your home. Stay away from damaged areas (inside or outside) unless police, fire or relief organizations have requested your help. If you are near a coastline, be aware of possible tsunamis (also known as seismic sea waves). Stay away from the beach if a tsunami warning has been issued and always assume that dangerous waves are on the way. For more information, visit claytoncert.org/eqprep.htm.
AFTER A QUAKE Always be ready for aftershocks. These quakes are usually less violent than the main quake but can be strong enough to do
Harun Simbirdi is a member of the Clayton Citizen Corp Council, part of CERT, and a resident of Clayton. His email is simbirdi@yahoo.com.
Clayton estate home on 1.26 acres–Now only $1,195,000! (Would Consider a Contingent Purchase)
This custom “Country-Tudor” home built in 2002 has 5 bedrooms, 3 baths, 4,025 square feet plus 500 more in a basement for storage, and has extras galore! From a stone column front with parking for 9 cars, to a huge marble entry, 10’ ceilings, 3 fireplaces, a gourmet granite kitchen, beautiful formal dining room, to its Master Suite with his & hers walk-in closets, this home is filled with casual elegance. KNOWLEDGE
SERVICE
Located 3 doors from Mt. Diablo state park it has awesome views. A 9-Hole putting green, it’s own regulation horseshoe pit, granite outdoor kitchen with Bar and BBQ, a 9’x12’ inground Spa, a burning pit, Barn, rose garden, room for a pool, and it’s own secluded meadow and trails for your own private park! Call PETE or your Agent to see this great home and value while it’s still for sale!
INTEGRITY
RESULTS
Pete Laurence,
Broker, Realtor, GRI 2950 Buskirk Avenue, Ste. 140, Walnut Creek Direct 940-2777 Cell 890-6004 Fax 937-0150
Now is the time to buy.
DRE#00344166
For all your Electrical Needs. All work done by owner.
Residential g Commercial g Industrial Professional Installation of: Ceiling Fans, Recessed & Track Lighting Kitchen or Bath Remodel Exterior/Security/Landscape Lighting Complete Home Wiring Old & New
Electrical Service Upgrade Spa Installation Custom Homes Office & Building Maintenance Repairs Insurance Repairs Troubleshooting & much more
Bonded & Insured
Licensed l Lic. # C10-631523
James J. Burkin
Sole Proprietor
Call Jim for a FREE Estimate Today phone
925.672.1519 Serving Contra Costa since 1991
cell
925.212.3339 30 years experience
www.burkinelectric.net
Page 10
Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com
Four more a i M a l l e B opportunities to adv ertise in the Pioneer Holiday Shopping Guide.
October 23, 2009
October 23, 2009
Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer .com
Page 11
THE
All fabric in the store
SPA
Where Life is Beautiful
5439 Clayton Rd., Ste. E, Clayton
Dreaming of a White Christmas?
40% off
We Accept Most Insurance
In-Office Bleaching
(65 Savings)
New Patient Special
O F F E R E X P I R E S JA N UA RY 3 1 , 2 0 1 0 .
Spa Pedicure
Call 672-0500 for more information
Bring in this ad and receive:
Therapeutic 45 min. Full Body Massage
Buy 1 for $35 ($5 Savings) Buy 5 for $200 and get 1 FREE
INSTALLATION
*
*with this ad. 1 yard minimum. Exp. 11/7/09
Across from Blockbuster Video
Buy 1 for $60 ($5 Savings) Buy 5 for $325 get 1 FREE
COMPLETE LANDSCAPE
* Full Exam * Cleaning * Digital X-rays
C A N N OT B E C O M B I N E D W I T H A N Y OT H E R O F F E R .
($40 Savings) KEITH B RADB U R N D DS
925-680-7792 www.thebellamiadayspa.com
R AN D ELL GAR D N E R D DS
6123 Main Street, Clayton, ca 94517 phone 925.672.0110 fax 925.672.0365 email info@bradburndentistry.com
We also have Specials on * Invisalign & * ZOOM Whitening
$89
Paver Patio & Walkway Retaining Walls Drainage Lawn & Plant Installation Lawn Renovation - Aeration & Thatching Low Voltage Lighting We Design & Install Landscape
925-672-9955
Promotions End Jan 31, 2010
Store closing December 31, Long arm machine quilting service will continue
www.nicholslandscape.com
Near Clayton Valley Highschool, on Clayton Rd. in Concord
(925) 827-5595
FREE ESTIMATES
www.drjennychong.com
Lic. 542812 Fully Insured
Boyce Nichols - Owner
Halloween Sale
25% off
A purveyor of unique gifts, home decor & pantry 1028 Diablo St. 925-672-2025 Tues. - Fri.: 10 am - 5 pm Sat.: 8 am - 5 pm Now open Sundays 11 am - 5 pm Across from Skipolini’s
AL FRESCO IMPORTS WWW.ALFRESCOIMPORTS.COM Founded in 2004, based in Clayton, and run by husband and wife team, Fiona and Larry Hughes, Al Fresco Imports provides outdoor lifestyle products to customers across North America. Their flagship product is the Bon Appétit Magazine awardwinning terracotta Beehive Oven, imported from Portugal, where it is hand-crafted by third-generation artisans. Sold throughout the USA and Canada, the Beehive Oven is a self-contained and portable wood-fired oven on an iron stand with wheels, that lets you experience the pleasures of wood-fired cooking anywhere in your yard. The Al Fresco Imports Beehive Oven cooks delicious pizzas in only two minutes, as well as tender breads, succulent meats, desserts, fish, and caramelized vegetables - all touched by the magic of wood fire. Al Fresco Imports also offers accompanying terracotta cookware, tablecloths, and a range of pizza and wood-fired oven tools. Toll free: 866-305-2675
BELLA MIA SPA WHERE LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL Come let us pamper your body, mind and spirit in our luxurious day spa. Slate walls evoke the sense of Old Italian ruins, while water fountains, cupid fairies, and grapevines add to the Italian-inspired atmosphere. There are four treatment
rooms, two pedicure stations, one manicure table, and a sunless tanning area in the spa. Relaxing music plays in each room and treatment areas. The spa’s customized European Facial incorporates a cleansing, exfoliation, face, neck, and shoulder massage, extractions (if necessary), a hydrating facial mask, and aromatic moisturizer and sunscreen. Our massage therapy and spa body treatments are of the highest quality and are customized to your personal health and beauty needs. We specialize in professional skin care providing facials, manicures, pedicures, waxing, microdermabrasion, cellulite treatments, airbrush tanning and body wraps. Let our friendly professional staff guide you through the journey to total relaxation.
CD FEDERAL CREDIT UNION CD Federal Credit Union is a member-owned, not-for-profit financial cooperative providing a full range of financial services to eligible members. Due to its notfor-profit structure, the credit union is consistently able to provide higher dividends on savings and lower interest rates on loans than most banks or savings and loan institutions. PRODUCTS/SERVICES Savings Accounts Advantage Checking Second Chance Checking Business Advantage Checking Home Banking Mobile Banking Bill Pay
E-Statements ATM/VISA Debit Card Youth Accounts-Looney Tunes & CDYA VISA Credit Cards Money Market Accounts Share Certificates Individual Retirement Accounts Overdraft Protection New and Used Auto Loans Personal Loans Home Equity Loans CO-OP/STAR ATM Access Financial Planning Seminars Score Enhancement Sessions Discounted Theme Park/Movie Tickets For more details visit us at www.cdfcu.org 1855 2nd St., Concord, CA., (925)-825-0900
DR. KEITH BRADBURN & DR. RANDELL GARDNER Conveniently located in the heart of downtown Clayton, our newly remodeled office offers the latest in dental technology and the comforts of home. Dr. Bradburn and Dr. Gardner are highly skilled dentists who are compassionate towards their patients and to their needs and wants, to create the healthiest smile possible! We know your time is valuable making multiple dental appointments a challenge. For that reason, our office provides one single appointment for crowns. We also offer an in-office teeth whitening process known as ZOOM, which can dramatically whiten your teeth in just about two hours. We are always welcoming new
patients! We understand and embrace the importance of family and community. You can be assured that you will receive the highest standard of quality and care! Please stop by our office for a tour or to ask us any questions or call us at 925.672.0110. (Mon.Fri. 8-5; some Sats.)
DONNA’S QUILTING LOFT After almost two years of offering friendly and knowledgeable quilting advice, notions and a huge quantity of quilting fabric, Donna’s Quilting Loft will close December 31. In the meantime, the store is chock full of exquisite quilting fabrics, so stop in now to take advantage of an incredible sale, currently 40 percent off all material. This is an unbelievable opportunity to stock up on fabric for quilting projects for this year’s holidays and for projects for years to come. Donna will continue to offer quilting services on her Gammill Classic Long Arm computerized quilting machine. She will work her magic providing the finishing touch to your quilting projects now and in the future. Stop in to see how she works and the quilts she’s made. You might just get bitten by the quilting bug.
PANS ON FIRE Pans on Fire is full of unique, entertaining and exciting ideas for the holidays! Try a cooking party! Gather a group of friends or co-workers and cook up some fresh pasta
and sauces, or learn how to put on a full Thanksgiving dinner in three hours. With our fun daytime or evening classes you’ll learn how to prepare the entire menu, then sit down to enjoy your creations (even with wine, if you wish!). We offer several classes open to the public each month, too. Need a turkey brine, a fruity olive oil (now being served at Chez Panisse), a Swiss-made nonstick (non-teflon) pan, or a cooking gadget ensemble for kids? We’ve got everything for the serious as well as wanna-be cook. Pans on Fire is located in old downtown Pleasanton, just a half an hour from Walnut Creek. See us online at www.pansonfire.com or call us at (925) 600-PANS.
SPORT CLIPS HAIRCUTS When a guy needs a haircut, where can he go? His choices used to be limited to a local barbershop or the salon where his wife went. Unfortunately, barbershops are disappearing and the salons are full of chemical smells and one-hour haircuts. Now guys have a place that’s just for them. Sport Clips Haircuts is where guys can go to have a championship haircut experience. Sports on TV Guy smart stylists. Steamed towels. Shoulder and back massages. That’s what guys want and that’s what Sport Clips delivers. You won’t find chemical smells because we don’t perm or color. We just cut hair the way that guys
want it cut. Check us out at the Clayton Valley Shopping Center (925) 673-5686. We are between Bronze Buddha and Tavo’s Pizza. Ask for the MVP treatment.
DR. JENNY CHONG D.D.S. Dr. Chong and her staff focus on the priorities of her patients, providing that individual and personal care only available at a small private practice. Worried about pain, costs, or time? We have “The Wand”, an ouchless shot. We accept most insurance, our fees are always competitive and we provide interest-free financing. Ask about our recession-conscious promotions. In most cases there’s no wait and we have the latest digital xray to make your appointment efficient and fast. There’s no substitute for quality chair time and Dr. Chong sits with each patient for a comprehensive consultation. Dr. Chong graduated from the University of Michigan School of Dentistry and has practiced for eight years. More about our office is found at www.drjennychong.com. We can typically book appointments within a week, so call us today: (925) 827-5595. Our local office is conveniently located on Clayton Road, near Alberta Way (Across from Kmart).
NICHOLS LANDSCAPE The winter months are a great time to reevaluate your home’s landscaping. You’ll have plenty of time to plan and plant your new grasses, trees, and shrubs before
the blistering heat of the summer. Nichols Landscape is a full-service landscaping company featuring state-of-the-art techniques, professional employees and heavy-duty equipment to handle all your landscape needs from start to finish. “We specialize in all kinds of installation, including the installation of sod and plantings,” says Nichols. “We can install pavers, concrete, patios, arbors, decks, sprinkler systems, low-voltage, lighting and retaining walls. We can also do awesome stuff like waterfalls and bridges.” Don’t trust your lawn and landscaping to amateurs! When you need a contractor you can trust with the design, appearance and uniqueness of your yard, call the professionals at Nichols Landscape. For a free estimate call (925) 672-9955, or email Nicholslandscape@msn.com, or visit www.nicholslandscape.com. A complete photo gallery is available to view online.
Hours: Sat. 10-5pm, Sun. 10-4pm
Huge Selection of Crafts
at the Fairgrounds in
Antioch
Free Parking
Car Show (Sat) Tickets: 13 and Over - $5 BBQ Contest (Sat) 12 and Under - FREE FREE Kids Zone 1201 West 10th St., Antioch Entertainment (925) 757-4400 Food info@ccfair.org www.ccfair.org
Sponsors
cious gourmet foods including Stonewall Kitchens, Barefoot Contessa, A Perfect Pear and Elaine’s Toffee. The Royal Rooster is located at the corner of Center and Diablo Streets in Clayton, behind Cup O’ Jo Coffee House. (925) 672-2025.
Oven
ents
id ing n res Winn layto d C r a y e Aw ted b pera gazin o a M & t i ed ppet Own Bon A orts
d e r i F ood W e iv mp BeehAl Fresco I From
Thinking about a Beehive Oven for the Holidays?
THE ROYAL ROOSTER Tired of the same old look available in every national chain store? The Royal Rooster has both hard-to-find antiques and custom-order furniture to fit your needs. Not just a furniture shop, The Royal Rooster also sells unique gifts for friends and family of all ages, including the popular Webkinz and a line of Melissa and Doug Toys. Their French Country specialties include gorgeous stationary and
November 14 & 15
Fall Faire
bath items for every occasion, including distinctive lines such as Thymes Bath & Body, Caldrea, Lollia, Sonoma Lavender and LaLavande French Soaps. Corporate gifts and personal shopping services are also available. The Pantry is stocked with deli-
Cook your turkey, meats, breads and caramelized vegetables to perfection in this European wood-fired oven.
(925) 672-9547
www.alfrescoimports.com
Page 12
Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com
October 23, 2009
Clayton Sports Clayton Valley girls mentored by water polo pioneer JAY BEDECARRÉ Clayton Pioneer
sity winning for the second time in a row (the first wins ever for the varsity) by a 12-11 score.
As the Clayton Valley High School girls water polo team competes in the Diablo Valley Athletic League tournament next week, looking to bolster their record to earn a berth in next month’s North Coast Section playoffs, they will be led by veteran coach Dennis Bledsoe. And Bledsoe is someone who can truly say he’s seen it all when it comes to high school water polo in Northern California. He was at the Alberta Way school before and during the startup for both the boys and girls water polo programs. Bledsoe began teaching at Clayton Valley in 1965, when he was also the swim coach. Boys water polo began in 1970, but it was a quarter of a century later before girls water polo was offered as a high school sport. He had two different stints as coach of the swimming and boys water polo teams. He took over the girls polo team in 1996. Although Bledsoe retired from teaching a decade ago, he continues to coach CVHS girls polo. In order to keep this aquatics heritage alive, Bledsoe annually hosts alumni water polo games between the varsity teams and past Eagles players. This year’s renewal of those games was held recently, with the boys var-
The alumni girls gave a lesson to their younger foes by a 28-10 margin. The girls alumni was
loaded with former collegiate players, including Allison Johnstone (UC Davis), Kristen
Langford (UC San Diego), Meghan Pardi (Loyola Marymount) and Lindsay
Photo by Pam Jones
THE ANNUAL CLAYTON VALLEY HIGH ALUMNI WATER POLO GAME WAS HELD RECENTLY AT CONCORD COMMUNITY POOL. The players got together for a BBQ after the game, which was won by the alumni. Taking part in the game were, front row from left, Cheyenne Colomb, Olivia Chernyk; second row, Brittany Chestnut, Taylor Ryle, Casey Adams, Lauren Jones, Alexis Lamoreaux; third row, Gabby Creamer, Jody Cabral, Ashley Jennings; back row, Aislen Wray, Amber Branske, Lindsay Kiyama, Meghan Pardi, Kim Keck, Allyson Hansen, Jessica Brandt, Kristen Keck, Logan Shaw and Cherlynn Brock.
Kiyama (an All-American at UC Davis). Bledsoe hosts a barbecue after the alumni games to foster ties between current and past Eagle polo players. Matt Vecchio, the Eagles head boys coach, played for Bledsoe when he went to Clayton Valley and pulled time in the pool for the alumni team this year. Top alumni boys scorer was Danny Boessenecker, another Claytonian. The girls varsity is in the home stretch of its season. They played their final DVAL league game this week after taking part in the Western States Tournament last weekend in Modesto. That tournament is the largest women’s water polo tourney in California, with 80 teams competing. The Eagle girls water polo program has been a regular participant in NCS. The school was in 10 consecutive NCS tournaments through 2004, reaching the semi-finals in 2002. They have been in the past two NCS fields as well, so they hope their showing in next week’s DVAL tournament will help them secure an at-large berth this year. Bledsoe is disappointed that NCS backed off plans to have two divisions in the water polo tournament (based on school
See Water Polo, page 13
Eagle golfers face less competition after league realignment JAY BEDECARRÉ Clayton Pioneer
Clayton Valley High School athletes enjoyed a banner year in 2008-’09, with teams and individuals achieving tremendous success in many sports. Part of the reason for this success was that the North Coast Section’s periodic realignment of schools returned CVHS to the Diablo Valley Athletic League in the fall of 2008. This made for a geographically convenient grouping of seven Concord, Pleasant Hill and Walnut Creek high schools and moved perennial powers De La Salle and Carondelet to the East Bay league. But for girls golf, the realignment has been anything but a good thing. Golf coach Jen Moore bemoans the realignment as this year’s DVAL girls golf season really only involved Clayton Valley and Northgate fielding full squads.
Concord High only had four golfers (five are needed to score) so they had to forfeit all their matches. College Park is defending DVAL champion but didn’t have a coach until after the season started. Ygnacio Valley, Mt. Diablo and Berean Christian did not field teams. This made for a “bummer season” for the senior-laden Eagles team. In order to accommodate some of the teams unable to perform at full strength, Moore set up the tees at 200 yards (or less on the par threes) for all of the Eagles’ nine-hole home matches at Oakhurst Country Club. “We wanted to make the course playable for the girls,” Moore explained. “Next year, if the existing schools don’t field teams, we will be forced to seek out other leagues for competition,” she added. Megan Sullivan has been the No. 1 player for the Eagles this year. Along with fellow seniors
Maggie Patterson, Sarah Jonathan and Nicole Kallas, she was aiming to earn a spot in the NCS qualifier next Monday during the DVAL tournament earlier this week at Boundary Oak. Northgate was favored to win the league title and, as DVAL champions, would qualify their team for NCS. Moore was hoping her golfers would tie up the three individual spots available to DVAL golfers not on the championship team, should the Eagles be unable to upset Northgate in the team competition. Moore speaks passionately about the sport. She’s been a teacher at Clayton Valley since 1998 and began with the golf team in 2000. She started golfing in her 20s. Her family had planned a 1996 vacation to Scotland and she wanted to be able to golf with them. “There was no girls golf when I was in high school,” she reported. She now takes part in Fore
Women Golf Association events around the area. “I believe in the sport. It teaches discipline. It’s the only sport where you call a penalty on yourself,” she said. “You can take great pride in your achievements. Women are taken seriously for their accomplishments in golf.” She thanks Oakhurst County Club and pro Barret Hendrickson for allowing the Clayton Valley girls team on the course every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday during the fall at no charge. “We generally have matches on Tuesday and Thursday and practice on Wednesday. Oakhurst also provides us with range time and free range balls.” She’s hoping for a strong turnout of new girls next year. “Sophomore Kelly Sullivan and junior Rachel Anderson are the only non-seniors on our squad,” she noted. “Barrett says a couple of scratch golfers are freshmen at Clayton Valley and will
Jay Bedecarré/Clayton Pioneer
Three of CVHS girls golf team’s seniors, from left, Sarah Jonathan, Nicole Kallas and Elise Canevascini, took their swings at the Oakhurst driving range in preparation for the DVAL league tournament.
be coming out next year.” Her most pleasant surprises this year were Elise Canevascini, who improved tremendously after starting with the team a year ago, and Patterson, a first-
Clayton resident, Mike Rose, has been in business for over 36 years and has always provided quality repair with excellent customer service!
Mike Rose’s Auto Body Concord (925) 689-1739
Six other locations to serve you Antioch (925) 755-1739
Concord (925) 686-1739
Walnut Creek (925) 210-1739
Brentwood (925) 634-6366
Pittsburg (925) 432-9910
Walnut Creek (925) 979-1739
Visit our website WWW.MAUTOBODY.COM I Car Gold and ASE certified technicians Approved by most major insurance companies
time player who also demonstrated lots of development during the season. All the golfers on this year’s squad except Kallas are from Clayton.
“I do all work myself. I am the only person that will be in your house.” - Leah Gomez Owner, Clayton Resident
Call (925) 584-5980 FREE ESTIMATE
MANY REFERENCES Est. 1991
October 23, 2009
Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com
Help the Pioneer cover the local sports scene. Send competition results, story ideas, announcements, sports shorts, etc. to sports@claytonpioneer.com. Please attach a high-resolution photo whenever available.
Page 13
Clayton Sports
Senior Eagles completing four-year journey with coaches JAY BEDECARRÉ Clayton Pioneer
In 2006, coaches Suzanne Beck and Rick Ortega organized the girls’ tennis program for the first time. Among the girls signing up were five freshmen who had little tennis experience but looked at the sport as a way of getting involved in athletics at their new school. Katie Hill, Katie Marchant, Kristin Gleason, Sam Mazza and Natalia Ong began the 2006 season on the Eagles junior varsity. Four years later, they are in the final days of their high school tennis careers – helping lead the Eagles varsity to a successful season. Next Tuesday through Thursday, the Diablo Valley Athletic League tournament will be held in Walnut Creek, with berths at the North Coast Section championships on the line. Beck is the head coach of the girls’ team and assists Ortega in the spring, when he is head coach of the CVHS boys. Ortega plays a key role in developing both teams as he also is a coach at Oakhurst Country Club – where many of the players got their first exposure to tennis and continue to play in the off season. Team co-captain Hill took
up tennis after a medical condition precluded her playing other sports. She was No. 1 or No. 2 singles on JV that first year and is now the No. 4 varsity singles player. “I liked being able to get to know all the girls on the tennis team. We’re really a ‘tennis family’ now. Everyone is so encouraging to the other players,” says the senior, who plans to go to Sonoma State and major in business next year. Hill is undecided about playing competitive tennis in college but is certain tennis will be a part of her life for many years. “It’s wonderful exercise and a great sport you can play anytime to keep in shape.” Marchant and Ong met in seventh grade at Diablo View Middle School. They decided to sign up for tennis at Clayton Valley when someone from the high school visited Diablo View to tell eighth graders about programs they could participate in at CVHS. They played all that summer at Oakhurst under the watchful eye of Ortega to get ready for their first taste of competitive tennis. Right-hander Ong uses her serve as her best weapon while playing in the No. 3 singles spot. She is going to San Jose
Water Polo, from page 12 enrollment) and instead will have a single field of 20 teams. Junior Allyson Hansen, who was the high scorer in the alum-
ni game for the varsity, has scored the most goals and drawn the most ejections from opponents this season as one of
Photo by Pam Jones
SENIOR CAPTAIN ASHLEY JENNINGS (6) is the assist leader for the Clayton Valley water polo team. She fires this shot over alumnus Aislen Wray (left) in the annual CVHS Alumni game.
Photo by Mike Dunn
CLAYTON VALLEY HIGH TENNIS COACHES SUZANNE BECK AND RICK ORTEGA began at the school four years ago. The five seniors completing their fourth year on the girl’s team under the coaches’ tutelage are, from left, Kristin Gleason, Katie Marchant, Katie Hill, Natalia Ong and Sam Mazza.
State next fall to study animation and hopes it leads to her “dream job” at Pixar. She took computer graphics and creative writing at Clayton Valley, which sparked her interest in the animation field. Ong has been involved with martial arts since she was 7 and still does that as well as tennis.
Marchant, the other cocaptain, credits her “positive attitude to stay upbeat” on the tennis court. For the last three years, she’s concentrated on singles play and is No. 2 on the varsity this year. Fellow senior Amber Lucero holds down the No. 1 spot for the Eagles. Bria
three CVHS captains. Her two senior captains are Lauren Jones and Ashley Jennings. Jones has the most steals for the Eagles and Jennings has set up the most assists. Other regular starters for CVHS are senior goalie Brittany Chestnut, Ashley Richman and Olivia Chernyk. Two underclassmen, Logan Shaw and Casey Adams, have also earned spots in the starting lineup. Clayton is well-represented on varsity by Adams, Jennings, Shaw, Richman, Cherlynn Brock, Alexis Lamoreaux, Hannah Polshuk and Taylor Ryle. Bledsoe used to coach water polo on a club basis in the summer. Since he’s stopped doing that, the number of Eagles who play the sport beyond the fall high school season has dropped to just a handful on varsity. “Used to be that 20 or so would be playing club polo,” Bledsoe noted.
Sports Shorts
McKinney and Aman Nijjar round out the eight seniors on this year’s squad. “We love our coaches,” Marchant says. The senior is undecided about which colleges she will apply to in the next month but wants to pursue a medical career. The team was 8-1 in DVAL
FRIDAYS THROUGH NOV. 6 DIABLO FC SOCCER FALL SKILLS ACADEMY Diablo FC, in partnership with Mt. Diablo Soccer Association, is holding a Fall Skills Academy every Friday afternoon from 5:30-6:30 p.m. at Boatwright Sports Complex in Concord. The renowned Diablo FC professional coaching staff will teach boys and girls 5-10 years old basic dribbling and juggling skills, passing and receiving the ball and ball striking. Youth of all skill levels from novice to those ready for competitive soccer are invited to attend. You can sign up at www.diablofc.org or come to the next session. Cost is $10 per session. LACROSSE CLUB SEEKING CLAYTON PLAYERS FOR U13 & U15 TEAMS Walnut Creek Warriors Lacrosse Club is seeking to set up Clayton-based boys and girls teams in the Under 13 and Under 15 age groups. Clayton resident Leslie Hunt is recruiting players to develop teams in the middle school age groups. “The teams will practice at Clayton Valley High
play entering a busy final week that included matches against Mt. Diablo, Northgate and Ygnacio Valley. The Eagles were second to Northgate entering play this week. Clayton Valley played four non-league matches, going 2-2, and went 3-2 in a round-robin tournament hosted by Freedom High. Beck speaks fondly of this year’s team. “We began the season with 18 players, 12 on varsity and six JVs. The skill level of the junior varsity players increased rapidly and all the girls now have some varsity matches under their belts to prepare for next season.” While many of her players didn’t begin tennis until their teens, Beck was an adult when she took up the sport. “Most of my family played tennis, but I was a skier and horseback rider,” she said. She is also involved with tennis at Oakhurst, both on the USTA women’s team and in mixed doubles. The East Coast transplant is a Clayton resident. “It’s a great story how the seniors began as new tennis players four years ago at the same time Rick and I took the team over. The girls have developed along with the whole tennis program at CVHS,” the proud coach says.
School. The objective in starting up the Clayton area team is to grow the game, offer good coaching and lots of playing experience for the kids and make it as convenient as possible by holding practices in the area. We are doing this with the help of both Clayton Valley boys and girls lacrosse coaches.” Registration is now open at www.walnutcreeklacrosse.com or call Hunt at (925) 6735206. SHOWTIME SEMI-PRO BASKETBALL IS COMING TO CLAYTON. The public is invited to the first game on Sat., Oct 24 at 2 p.m. at the Clayton Community Gym. The event is free, but donations to the YMCA Strong Kids campaign are requested. “We are excited about our progress from a bunch of guys playing REC ball together to a certified team in the 09-10 American Basketball Association season,” says head coach Earl Williams. All home games will be at the Clayton Gym. Watch the Pioneer for a complete game schedule.
Fall Leagues starting NOW Freaky Funday on Sundays -
Reem mood deelliinngg R Deecckkss D Ovveerrhhaannggss O Wiinnd doow wss//D Doooorrss W wnn M Moolld diinngg CCrroow diinngg SSiid m TTrriim
5pm to midnight - $6 cover charge gets you $1-games, shoes, hotdogs, sodas and small beers.
Now during our GOLD TAG FLOORING SALE you’ll find savings in every department
Nifty $1.50 Nights for everyone $1.50 games, Mon. thru Thu. 9pm to midnight
free free estimates estimates
rG ital Thunde low Bowling g i D 5 BIG DVD SCREENS
Declan Woods 925.216.2679 Specializing in Bathrooms and Kitchens
Noel O’ Meara 925.518.0821
Digital Thunder PLUS on the last 12 lanes FRI 4 pm - 6 pm (kids), 10 pm - 1 am, Sat 10 pm - 1 am
Recommended by “Realtor of the Year” Lynne French
Carpet
Hardwood
Tile
starting at
starting at
starting at
$1.99*
sq.ft.
$2.99
sq.ft.
$2.00
Laminate sq.ft.
starting at
$1.09
sq.ft.
*installed
Abbey Carpet Gallery Flooring & Interiors
General Contractor license# 783799, B, HIC
Clayton Resident
1170 Burnett Ave., Ste. E, Concord
925-686-9901
Contra Costa Floors Showroom hours: M-F 9-5 Sat 10-4
925.689.4631 visit: claytonvalleybowl.com
Clayton Valley Bowl 5300 Clayton Road Concord, CA
Page 14
Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com
We love our Pastors At Crossroads Covenant Church Pastor Aaron Gonzenbach Jeremy Brown – Ministry to Students Laurey Ahonen – Ministry to Children
ll for A s k n a Th o! You D
CVHS small learning communities struggle to survive despite budget cuts MATTHEW BROWN Special to the Pioneer
The new fiscal realities of public education in California have affected the ClaytonArts Academy and the Public Service Academy, the two small learning communities within Clayton Valley High School. Formed in 1998 with a state grant of $250,000, the ClaytonArts Academy teaches specialties in art, drama, photography and video arts. The academy, which consists of 120130 students led by a faculty of six teachers, is now functioning largely on district funds of only $3.50 per student supplemented by parent donations. “We’re in the same boat as all the teachers at CVHS,” says department chair Jeff Hagerstrand, “but there are additional expenses associated with the academy.” Each year, academy students undertake three or four cooperative learning projects. On Nov. 7, the students will present “An Entrepreneurial Convention,” which, ironically, highlights this year’s theme of economics. Student groups have developed an original product or service and will be competing for investor funding, as determined by faculty judges. “Our projects are funded primarily by parents and that is
CVHS ACADEMY INSTRUCTORS, Jeff Hagerstrand (left) and Neil McChesney remain enthusiastic about the small learning communities and rely heavily on parent support to continue.
tough, because everyone is suffering in this economy,” Hagerstrand notes. Technology purchased in 1998 with the academy’s initial grant needs to be upgraded, the photo lab has yet to go digital, and the campus cafeteria doubles as the theater. The Public Service Academy is the lone survivor of several career-based academies begun at CVHS in 2003. The PSA is now a community of serviceminded students and faculty. Like the ClaytonArts Academy, PSA students share core classes in social studies and English. PSA students devise
Church News CONCORD UNITED METHODIST CHURCH The annual Church Bell Bazaar will be held 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Friday, Nov. 6, and 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 7. There will be crafts and baked goods for sale, along with collectibles and a raffle. Lunch can be purchased 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. both days.
1015 San Carlos Drive
Proceeds benefit missions for children, women and youth around the world. The church is at 1645 West St., Concord. For more information, call 6855260.
Beautifully updated 3 bedroom 2 bath home – Call for details!
BAHA’IS OF CLAYTON All are invited to a talk and evening of fellowship on Friday, Nov. 6. Tony Faustini will speak about “A Framework for Transforming Society.” Faustini
works in the software industry and is now a principle in the start-up company Cloudscale. The program starts at 7:30 p.m. with interfaith devotions at the Toloui residence in Clayton. For more information and directions, call 672-6686. CLAYTON VALLEY PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH/ ST. JOHN’S EPISCOPAL PARISH The two churches are teaming up to present the award-winning film “Caring for Dying: The Art of Being Present” at 6:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 8, at St. John’s, 5555 Clayton Road, Clayton. The film uses the real stories of three people who cared for loved ones to offer wisdom about what they learned from the experience. Filmmaker Michelle Peticolas will show the 30minute documentary and lead a conversation after the screening. Peticolas is a sociologist, filmmaker and long-time student of Sufism. Suggested donation is $10. For more information, call 6728855.
UTOPIC GARDENS
personal service programs in the fall semester, donating at least 15 hours to public service and to group public service programs in the spring semester. “We like to describe our students as super citizens,” says PSA department chair Neil McChesney, “but money has always been an issue for the PSA.” The four PSA faculty members put in many hours preparing a state grant application similar to the grant that initially funded the ClaytonArts Academy. “The state was in the selection process when all funding was pulled for this academic
For more information, visit mdusd.k12.ca.us/claytonvalley.
Pets go to church on feast of St. Francis, blessed and honored in special service It was all about fur, fluff and big ears on Sunday, Oct 4, when St. John’s Parish celebrated the feast of St. Francis of Assisi with the annual Blessing of the Animals. Dogs and cats and bunnies, some leading, some led; and children carrying photos of assorted turtles, hamsters and goldfish, approached the altar where St. John’s priest, Fr. Peter Champion, bestowed blessings, prayers and a tasty treat on the critters. ETERNAL LIFE LUTHERAN CHURCH To follow up on the Lutheran Reformation on Oct. 31, the church will focus on “Positively Lutheran: A Simple Statement of What Lutherans Believe.” The study will be held 10- 11 a.m. Sundays in November. At 7 p.m. Wednesdays in
November, the group study will look at the message and music of some contemporary Christian hymns with a study called “Sermons in Song.” The congregation meets at 5554 Clayton Rd., Suite 1B, in Concord. For more information, please go to the website EternalLifeLutheranChurch.org
A Different Kind of We do one job at a time, so YOUR project has our full attention. Woman Owned & Operated by Local Residents since 1991
c k en suc ith the ban v o r p w Her ealing et results! d t c e dir you g p l e h l wil
Kitchens Baths Windows Decks Crown Moulding Shelving Tile & More Major Remodels
Real ired vice p s n I r te Se Esta
year,” McChesney explains. The PSA has had to scale back academy programs and field trips and put on hold plans for new technology. According to McChesney, no core services have been affected. “Under these trying economic conditions, we have been amazed by the level of parental support we have received,” he notes. “We really appreciate the student enthusiasm and the active participation of the parents,” Hagerstrand says. “We are managing so far,” Hagerstrand adds. “We have students who are committed to the program and that is a great advantage. Small learning communities like PSA and ClaytonArts Academy have been shown to be effective in preparing students for college by providing a more intimate learning experience. However, these academies may need to find new sources of funding to continue to provide the unique experience academy students enjoy. “It is just frustrating that the seniors who helped develop a vision for how the Public Service Academy needs to grow won’t be able to help enact that vision due to fiscal reasons,” McChesney says.
Small Repairs
Cosmetic Updates
Contractor
p you d l e h anie e an l h a p s e t t r Let S e sho h t h g ss! throu ure proce los d ocess forec ess an ing pr
October 23, 2009
Local, Licensed, Bonded, Experienced.
925.932.7329
Stephanie Lopez
Welcome!
925.524.0055
For more listings and Real Estate Alerts, go to
DESIGN & INSTALLATION
www.MyDynamicRealtors.com
LIC. NO. 898331 Fully Insured - Clayton Resident
www.utopicgardens.com
Outback Construction Michèle Gorman or Chris Mankewich
925-673-1244 CA Contractor Lic# 625193
Outbackconstruct@aol.com
October 23, 2009
Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com
Page 15
CV accomplishments give students reason to be proud SARAH ROSEN
STUDENT REPORTER Clayton Valley High School seems to have a renewed energy this year as students, parents, and faculty pull together to rejuvenate the appearance of the campus to reflect the school’s
New DVMS program to help students help others
ROBBIE PARKER DVMS REPORTER Sometimes teenagers have so much on their plates with school, friends, sports and all the pressures of daily life that it’s hard to find time to stop, sit down and think of others. Every so often we are faced with the difficult decision of whether to put ourselves or someone else first. The Diablo View Middle School Character in Action program (CIA) aims to help kids understand what it means to be considerate and thoughtful toward others and to give back. CIA is a program that focuses on character building. Mrs. Jill Curtin attended a CIA workshop over the summer and brought the program back to DVMS. Each month, CIA will focus on a different giving activity. In September, students made bookmarks for sick patients at Children’s Hospital in Oakland to accompany donated books. Students from each grade delivered the bookmarks and the 2,018 donated books to the hospital. In October, CIA focused on supporting our troops by organizing Holiday Hugs. Students were encouraged to bring canned and packaged goods, along with small entertainment items for holiday stocking stuffers. CIA is helping DVMS students understand and increase their awareness toward giving back. The planned activities help build character, and bring students together to accomplish a goal. It will be interesting to see how DVMS students will answer the question, “How do you get to a point where you are not selfish?” It is difficult, sometimes, to grasp the concept that you don’t always get a pat on the back or praise for an action. Instead you just do something kind to help others or the world. If everyone could do this, the world would be a better place. Everyone would be just paying forward, instead of paying back or expecting admiration. Robbie Parker is a student at DVMS. Send comments to Robbie@claytonpioneer.com
recent accomplishments. In the past, CVHS morale has not always reflected the school’s noteworthy achievements. High achieving students graduate and go on to some of the top colleges in the country. In 2008, there were 12 students accepted to UC Berkeley, and this year a CV graduate is attending Columbia. The boys’ baseball team won the final NCS game against Alameda High at the Oakland Coliseum. For the first time in a decade, the Clayton Valley Orchestra was awarded first place and given a superior rating last year at their Music in the Parks performance in Great America. One would think that all of these achievements would bring a positive view of CV with it, but this does not seem to be the case. CVHS is not without flaws, but we’ve been working hard to demonstrate that the positive outweighs the negative. It is time for the community to come together to start making CV look like a place we can truly be proud of! On the outside, our 51-yearold campus is starting to show its age. Between the gum caked on the hallway floors and the peeling paint on the walls, there is plenty of room for improvements. This is where a new group called Project Pride comes in. Project Pride is a col-
DRE#00906625
Patty Flannery Your local neighborhood REALTOR since 1986 Call me. Let’s talk REAL ESTATE
Office: 925.975.5255 home & fax: 925.672.0541
email: granyflany@msn.com,
ELECTRICAL
WORK
Photo: Sarah Rosen
CV STUDENTS, PARENTS AND TEACHERS work together at the Project Pride clean up day on Oct. 18. The project is part of the “new attitude” at CVHS.
laboration of parents, students, and teachers coming together to build pride in education and pride in our school. Project Pride held a campus clean-up to help beautify our run-down campus on October 18. They’ve set goals that include removing the gum, painting walls and cement borders, sprucing up the planter boxes, and planting trees. As Clayton Valley watches as teachers, classes, sports, and other programs are cut, the school bands together to bring hope for the upcoming sports seasons. In the midst of the chaos, students and teachers
have put together events to help make the situation a little less stressful. The MDUSD 5K run/walk, held on Oct. 18, will help raise money to replace the missing funds for the sports programs. Students, teachers, and parents throughout the Mt. Diablo School District came together in support of sports. It is hoped that funds raised from the registration fees and the sponsorships will be enough to carry the winter and spring sports.
Restore power to breakers, fuses & outlets. Fix any electrical problem no matter how small or large. FREE estimates.
At your DOOR in 1 HOUR or
Locally Owned & Operated Since 1992
10% OFF
Bonded & Insured Lic. #914192
925-969-9741
1 Year Guarantee on All Labor
You don’t need an appointment. A notary is on staff when the store is open
Sarah Rosen is a sophomore at CVHS. Email her at sarah_rosen@claytonpioneer.com.
Store Hours Mon - Fri 8 am - 7 pm Sat 9 am - 5 pm
The UPS Store
School News DE LA SALLE HIGH SCHOOL The school’s drum majors for the marching band are both graduates of Diablo View Middle School in Clayton. Tim Santos, a senior at DLS, played the flute in the Diablo View symphonic band. Lincoln Crane, a DLS junior, played the saxophone. Both students have great memories of middle school band under the direction of Karl Kaiser.
Clayton/Concord Location:
Independently owned and operated
Vineyard Shopping Center 5100 Clayton Rd., Concord ph: 925-689-6245
MT. DIABLO UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT The district is required to have an approved Technology Plan by the California Department of Education to be eligible to receive technology funds and E-rate savings. MDUSD will be submitting its new five-year plan in December. Staff is requesting student, staff, parent and community input. A draft copy of the 2010’15 Draft Technology Plan is available for viewing at mdusd.org. Send questions, suggested revisions and/or additions to Stephanie Roberts at robertss@mdusd.k12.ca.us or fax to 685-4032. The Draft Technology Plan will be brought to the School Board on Oct. 27 for information and Nov. 10 for action. The board meets at 7:30 p.m. at 1936 Carlotta Dr., Concord
Give your teenager the tools to succeed in school. Is your teenager struggling with writing projects or reluctant to begin assignments? I offer one-on-one customized tutoring to improve:
analytical writing skills reading comprehension English SAT scores organization & time management skills
FREE FIRST SESSION
Katherine Palau Masters degree in English. 20 years teaching experience Focus on High School English. References available.
$40/hr In home or at library
510-207-7467 located in Clayton
TIM SANTOS, LEFT, AND LINCOLN CRANE are the drum majors for De La Salle’s marching band. Both attended DVMS.
MT. DIABLO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL The school’s food drive to benefit the district’s food pantry ends Friday, Oct. 23. The pantry provides boxes of food to needy families in the school district. Each box contains enough food for three to four days for a family of four. Community members may drop off non-perishable food in the collection bins in the Mt. Diablo multi-use room, 5880 Mt. Zion Dr., Clayton. *** The school is having its annual Holiday Vendor Boutique/Secret Shopper event 1-7 p.m. Wednesday, Dec 2. Potential vendors are encouraged to apply early. Table costs vary. For more information, email Cheryl Childs at eaglespress@pacbell.net.
CLAYTON VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL On Wednesday Oct. 28, 25 percent of all yogurt sold at Yogurt Shack in Concord will be donated to the CV men’s water polo team. Customers just need to mention CVHS when making a purchase. The store is at 5438 Clayton Valley Road, Concord. *** The CVHS fall drama production is an original creation written and staged by the student actors. “Awkward? Yes! But the Penguin’s Still Drumming” chronicles the antics and travails of 18 awkward folk who are just trying to make it through their lives with a little help from AA (Awkward Anonymous). The play will be performed 7:30 p.m. Oct. 28, 29 and 30 in the CV multi-use room, 1101 Alberta Way, Concord. Tickets are $5 at the door.
Page 16
Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com
October 23, 2009
Clayton Community Calendar PLEASE SUBMIT YOUR CLAYTON COMMUNITY CALENDAR EVENTS BY 5 P.M. OCT. 28 FOR THE NOV. 6 ISSUE. ITEMS MUST BE SUBMITTED BY EMAIL TO calendar@claytonpioneer.com
EVENTS & ENTERTAINMENT
In Clayton Oct. 25 “Arrowheads/Acorns: A Journey Back In Time” The Clayton Historical Society and Museum is hosting a workshop for kids to learn about the native Miwok people. Clayton Museum, 6101 Main St. Registration begins at 2 p.m. for the 2:20 p.m. and 3:20 p.m. workshops. Free, but space is limited. Parent signature required. 672-0240.
Nov. 8 Save Mount Diablo’s Trail Adventure
Donations most needed are small toys, plus items for service dogs. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Oct. 24, Concord Veterans Building, 2290 Willow Pass Road. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Nov. 7, Wal-Mart, 1021 Arnold Dr., Martinez. ccbluestarmoms.org.
Includes a half-marathon, 10K run, family hike and lunch. 9 a.m., Castle Rock Park, Walnut Creek. $35 before Oct. 28, or $40. savemountdiablo.org.
MEETINGS
Oct. 25 Breakfast with the Veterans of Foreign Wars
Oct. 27, Nov. 10, 24 Clayton Planning Commission
8-11 a.m. the second and fourth Sundays, Veterans Memorial Hall, 2290 Willow Pass Road, Concord. $4 adults, $2 children under 12.
7 p.m., Hoyer Hall, Clayton Library, 6125 Clayton Road. 673-7304 or ci.clayton.ca.us.
Oct. 28 Yogurt Shack Benefit for CVHS Water Polo
Through October Clayton Farmers Market Special Halloween activities this month. 8 a.m.-noon Saturdays, Diablo Street in downtown Clayton. pcfma.com or 800-949-3276.
Close by Oct. 23-Nov. 16 “Over the River and Through the Woods”
Photo by Ben Krantz
Oct. 24, Nov. 7 Blue Star Moms Holiday Donation Drive
Diablo Actors’ Ensemble presents the funny and heartwarming tale of a notso-typical family. $10$25. 1345 Locust St., Walnut Creek. diaVINCE FASO AND SAL RUSSO star in “Over the bloactors.com or 866River and Through the Woods.” 811-4111.
Oct. 28-30 CVHS Fall Drama Production “Awkward? Yes! But the Penguin’s Still Drumming” is an original creation written and staged by the students. $5 at the door. 7:30 p.m. nightly, Clayton Valley High School multi-use room, 1101 Alberta Way, Concord.
Through Oct. 31 “The Texas Chainsaw Musical”
Mention Clayton Valley High School and the Yogurt Shack will donate 25 percent of all yogurt sold to the boys water polo team. 5438 Ygnacio Valley Road, Concord.
Through Nov. 1 “Broadway Bound” The third part of Neil Simon’s autobiographical trilogy, with Onstage Theatre. Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek. 943-SHOW or lesherartscenter.org.
Through Nov. 7 “Oliver!” Contra Costa Musical Theatre presents Dickens’ classic tale. Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek. 943-SHOW or ccmt.org.
9 a.m., Community Room, 300 Diablo View Lane, Clayton.
More than 20 vendors, free entertainment and food/bake sale to benefit Highlands Elementary School. 1-7 p.m., 1326 Pennsylvania Blvd., Concord. Contact Stephanie at 783-1238.
Nov. 3, 17 Clayton City Council 7 p.m., Hoyer Hall, Clayton Library, 6125 Clayton Road. 673-7304 or ci.clayton.ca.us.
Nov. 21 Holiday Boutique
CLUBS
Sponsored by the Clayton Valley Woman’s Club. 11 a.m.-4 p.m., Clayton Library, 6125 Clayton Road. Call Peggy at 672-2043.
Clayton Business and Community Association Meets 6:30 p.m. the last Thursday of the month, except holidays, Oakhurst Country Club, 1001 Peacock Creek Dr., Clayton. Call Sue at 672-2272.
CLASSES Nov. 3 “Could It Be Dyslexia?”
Clayton Valley Garden Club
Learn about the classic warning signs and solutions to the struggles with reading, writing and spelling. Presented by April McMurtrey, a dyslexia specialist. Sponsored by Mt. Diablo Adult Education. 7-8 p.m., Mt. Diablo Elementary Multi-Use Room, 5880 Mt. Zion Dr., Clayton. Free. 685-7340.
Meets 7 p.m. the second Wednesday of the month. Contact Dorothy at 672-2526 or visit claytonvalleygardenclub.org.
Clayton Valley Woman’s Club Meets 9:30 a.m. for coffee, 10 a.m. meetings, second and fourth Tuesdays of the month, Holy Cross Lutheran Church, 1090 Alberta Way, Concord. Membership drive is Oct. 27. Call Joyce at 672-3850.
AT THE LIBRARY
Clutch Busters Square Dance Club Meets 7:30 p.m. Thursdays, Mt. Diablo Women’s Club, 1700 Farm Bureau Road, Concord. Contact Dorothy at 754-8117.
Through Nov. 19 Clayton Reads The second annual Clayton Reads features “Three Cups of Tea” by Greg Mortenson. A free copy of the book may be picked up at the library as supply lasts. Readers are encouraged to pass the book on to friends and neighbors. Events include: “Islamic Contributions to Civilization,” 7 p.m. Oct. 26; “The Miseducation of Pakistan,” 7 p.m. Nov. 2; “Afghanistan: Hidden Treasures from the National Museum,” 7 p.m. Nov. 4; “Midwives on a Mission of Service,” 2 p.m. Nov. 8; “Daughters of Afghanistan,” 7 p.m. Nov. 9; “Three Cups of Tea” book discussion, 7 p.m. Nov. 16; and a Tea Party, 4 p.m. Nov. 19.
Concord Stompers Square Dance Club
Through Dec. 1 Patty Cakes
Contra Costa Chess Club
Neil Simon’s nostalgic look at newlyweds. Willows Theatre, 1975 Diamond Blvd., Concord. 798-1300 or willowstheatre.org.
A concert of liturgical, classical and folk selections. 4 p.m., St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church, 1955 Kirker Pass Road, Concord. childrenschorus.org or 945-7101.
Nov. 15 Contra Costa Wind Symphony A concert with trumpet soloist Ben Loomer of Alamo and guest conductor Larry Widener of Deer Valley High School. 7:30 p.m., Lafayette-Orinda Presbyterian Church, 49 Knox Dr., Lafayette. $10 at the door. ccwindsymphony.org.
Through Nov. 21 “Witness for the Prosecution” Center REPertory Company presents the Agatha Christie drama. 1601 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek. $18-$41. centerREP.org or 943-7469.
Nov. 21 Diablo Valley Masterworks Chorale & Orchestra Festival holiday music for brass and choirs. 8 p.m., Diablo Valley College Performing Arts Center, 321 Golf Club Road, Pleasant Hill. $20, or $25 at the door. 687-4445.
FUNDRAISERS To benefit the school district’s food pantry. Community members may drop off non-perishable food in the collection bins in Mt. Diablo’s multi-use room, 5880 Mt. Zion Dr., Clayton.
Meets 6:30 p.m. Oct. 26, Countrywood Clubhouse, 1706 Countrywood Court, Walnut Creek. Members have sons and daughters in uniform. ccbluestarmoms.org.
Meets 7-8:30 p.m. the second Wednesday of the month, Clayton Library Story Room, 6125 Clayton Road, Clayton. All artforms and both emerging and experienced are welcome. Contact Arlene at 673-9777 or nielsenjanc@aol.com. Or creeksideartists.org.
Diablo Valley Macintosh Users Group
YMCA Register at mdrymca.org or 889-1600. Or, contact Jennifer at 6922364 or jbeck@mdrymca.org.
Meets 6:30-9 p.m. the third Tuesday of the month. Bancroft Elementary School, 2700 Parish Dr., Walnut Creek. 689-1155 or dvmug.org.
Nov. 7-Dec. 19 Youth Basketball
East Bay Prospectors Club Meets 7 p.m. the fourth Wednesday of the month, 1021 Detroit Ave., Unit D, Concord. Clayton resident Doug Junghans is president. eastbaygpaa.webs.com or 672-1863.
For preschool through fifth grade. $113, or $123 non-residents.
Nov. 7-Dec. 19 Youth Flag Football
Rotary Club of Clayton Valley/Concord Sunrise
For first through sixth grade. Contact Brittney at 692-2362 or ccyprograms@mdrymca.org.
Through June 17 Middle School After-School Program
Meets 7 a.m. Thursdays, Oakhurst Country Club, 1001 Peacock Creek Dr., Clayton. Includes breakfast and a speaker. Contact Chuck at 689-7640 or claytonvalleyrotary.org.
Sons In Retirement (SIR)
Fun, safe, supervised environment for children with indoor/outdoor activities, homework help, healthy snacks and monthly special events. $220 a month for three days a week; $300 a month for five days.
Meets 11:15 a.m. first Thursday of the month, Oakhurst Country Club, 1001 Peacock Creek Dr., Clayton. 429-3777.
Soroptimist International of Diablo Vista Meets 12:15 p.m. the first, second and third Wednesdays of the month, September-June, Sizzler, 1353 Willow Pass Road, Concord. Clayton resident Sue Manning is president. 672-2727.
NATURE Oct. 25 Flaming Ecology
Through Oct. 23 Mt. Diablo Elementary School Food Drive
Contra Costa Blue Star Moms
Creekside Artists Guild
Through Dec. 3 Picture Book Time Story time for 3- to 5-year-olds. Child may attend without caregiver. Drop-in 11 a.m. Thursdays.
Nov. 14 Contra Costa Children’s Chorus
Meets 7:30 p.m. Wednesdays, Mt. Diablo Women’s Club, 1700 Farm Bureau Road, Concord. Call Jennie at 672-9676 or angelfire.com/id/stompers.
Meets 7-9:30 p.m. Thursdays, Starbuck’s, 1536 Kirker Pass Road, Clayton. Players of all ages and skill levels welcome. Contact Mike at 639-1987 or uschess.org.
Story time for babies to 3-year-olds. Child attends with caregiver. Drop-in 11 a.m. Tuesdays.
Through Nov. 8 “Barefoot in the Park”
7:30 p.m., 1936 Carlotta Dr., Concord. mdusd.org.
Nov. 10 Diablo View Middle School Parent Faculty Club
Nov. 4 Holiday Boutique
The Clayton Community Library is at 6125 Clayton Road. Most programs are free. 673-0659 or clayton-library.org.
Takes the classic movie beyond any ordinary realm. Willows Cabaret, 636 Ward St., Martinez. willows-theatre.com or 798-1300.
Oct. 27, Nov. 10 Mt. Diablo Unified School District
Learn about fire on a two-mile moderate hike. Meet 9 a.m. at MP #42 Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve. No registration required. ebparks.org.
Call today for a personal tour & complimentary lunch
(925) 524-5100
Meets for dinner, brunch, theater, etc. This is not a dating service nor is it a grieving class - just a way to meet other people. Contact Lori at 998-8844 or lori@lorihagge.com.
20350 Marsh Creek Rd., Brentwood
State of the Art Equestrian Facility, near Clayton Call for More Info.
Retirement Community
Widows/Widowers
Nearly New Custom Facility With "Big Red" Barn, with Full Bath, Office, Laundry Facility, and stalls with paddocks. Also Offers Mare Motel, Fully covered Riding Arena, Outdoor arena, Round Pen, Hunter/Jumper Course, and Even More. This Beautiful Estate Boasts a nearly New Custom Home with Endless Designer Finishes Throughout. All this on Nearly 30 Acres. $2,999,999
11400 Marsh Creek Rd., Clayton
11680 Byron Highway, Brentwood
Amazing Ranch Property less than 10 min. from Clayton
Gated Vineyard Estate, Wine Producing 5yr Old Syrah Grapes.
This Incredible Spanish Style Hacienda, Custom Built Home on 7.6 Acres, with City Water is Value Priced at $879,000. Beautiful Gardens, Stone Entry, Huge Kitchen with Sitting Room, Views and Privacy. Great Opportunity to Own Ranch Property at Single Family Home Price!
$849,000
6401 Center Street Clayton CA 94517
www.diamondterrace.net
Kimberly Morucci (925) 437-1650
“I just love it here. I feel moving to Diamond Terrace has added years to my life!” - Ella Churnside
Private Road, 1 Acre Building Pad with Utilities in and County Approved Plans for Custom Estate Home. Spectacular Views of Mt. Diablo. Wine Business, Alcohol License, Farm Equipment, and 1 Year Consultation from Seller, Included with $735,000 Acceptable Offer.
kmorucci@rockcliff.com www.kimmorucci.com President’s Award 2007
DRE #01356365
Clayton resident & ranch property owner.
October 23, 2009
Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com
Page 17
Theatre Review
‘Barefoot’ treads on marital bliss
LOU FANCHER Clayton Pioneer
Willow Theatre Company’s “Barefoot in the Park” is worth the ticket price for the laughs alone. Playwright Neil Simon’s knack for piercing the heart of marital matter, drawing chuckles instead of blood, made him an icon in the industry. The wellknown American comedy opened on Broadway in 1963 and ran for four solid years. In 1967, Jane Fonda joined Robert Redford, who appeared in the
Broadway production, to star in the popular film adaptation. Corie (Melissa Quine) and Paul Bratter (Brady Woolery) are newlyweds. Living in their first apartment at the top of six killer flights of stairs in New York City, they discover the truth about long-term love: opposites attract, except for when they don’t. While dodging Corie’s wellmeaning mother and a sexually charged but harmless neighbor, the Bratters do-si-do through their too small, too cold new home. Expectedly, toes are stepped on and feelings are bruised when they have their first doozy of a marital spat. Corie labels Paul a stuffed shirt, and Paul announces a zero tolerance policy for his wife’s freespirited ways. Adding woe to worry, Corie’s mother ends up in the arms (and robe!) of the overly boisterous neighbor. Simon works the hilarity angle to its limits.
Richard Elliott directs the Willows’ production with customary simplicity. He’s at his best in the comic moments, displaying an instinctive sense of timing for Simon’s one-liners. Nina Ball’s set is all angles, with the skewed lines adding to the play’s tension. Quine moves with impressive ease across the raked stage, and Woolery does a convincing mean drunk. Both could be more extreme: Quine more wildly exuberant, Woolery carrying more starch in his posture and delivery. Greater contrast would make their eventual spat convincing, instead of fabricated. Sally Hogarty, as Corie’s mother, is wonderfully wobbly and warm, and Lawrence Robert Rose’s portrayal of Victor Velasco boldly rides the line between lecherous and lovable. Gary Grossman nearly steals the show with two brief appearances as the phone repairman, Harry Pepper. He captures the
mixed nuances of intonation and expression that bring zest to live theater. The Willows Theatre does a fine job and Simon’s humorous take on cohabitation, although nostalgic, remains refreshingly relevant. “Barefoot in the Park” plays through Nov. 8, Willows Theatre, 1975 Diamond Blvd., Concord. For more information, call 798-1300 or visit willowstheatre.org. Willows Theatre presents
Recession Survival Sale
925-939-2145 2615 North Main St., Walnut Creek www.lewisandlewiscarpets.com
Vintage Clothing, Costumes,
Mascots, Props, Furniture, Misc. Treasures Friday, Oct 23, 10-3 Saturday, Oct 24, 10-5 Sunday, Oct 25, 10-3 At the Old Train Depot in Martinez at the corner of Ferry and Marina Vista Cash and Carry Only
Movie Review
Now more than ever, you deserve 110 years of strength and stability on your side. Today’s economy gives us all cause for concern and we realize that one of the most important messages you can hear right now from Ameriprise Financial is this: we are strong, stable and committed to safeguarding our clients’ dreams. Call me today, I can help you understand your options and give you the guidance you need to weather turbulent times.
Mureleen Benton, CFP®, Financial Advisor
‘Lying’ fails to invent hilarity
5356 Clayton Rd., Suite 211 Concord, CA 94521 (925) 685-4523 Mureleen.M.Benton@ampf.com CA License #0692378
DON PEDRO CRUZ
AT
THE
MOVIES
In “The Invention of Lying,” Ricky Gervaise imagines a world of complete honesty. People spout off whatever they are thinking, no matter how cruel or insensitive. All the social conventions that exist to spare people’s feelings are unheard of in this imaginary world. Gervaise plays a downtrodden writer named Mark Bellison who must bear the bluntness of his beautiful blind date Anna (Jennifer Garner) telling him exactly what she thinks about him at first glance, coworkers telling him that they think he’s a loser to his face rather than behind his back and waiters being openly rude. It’s a clever concept and the absurdities of such a world provide some good laughs. Since acting, or pretending to be someone you are not, doesn’t exist here, people narrating historical texts have replaced movies as entertainment.
Religious beliefs also get skewered in this film. Mark becomes the first person to figure out that he can say things that aren’t true and goes from being the ineffectual buffoon to a powerful, almost messianic figure. When people will believe whatever he says, the power that deception has becomes clear. At the center of all this, Mark’s romantic pursuit of Anna drives the story. Although he could win her over with a simple lie, it’s the one lie he refrains from – preferring to win her love honestly. No matter how much power he gains over the rest of the world, the one thing he wants remains out of reach. Gervaise is a British comedian known for his award-winning work on “The Office” and the HBO series “Extras.” The problem with this film is that it’s just not funny enough. It should have been hilarious and instead it’s merely amusing. Tina Fey and Rob Lowe have some great bits as mean-spirited co-workers but in order for the romance to work, Jennifer Garner’s Anna should have been more likeable. As a sweet
Financial planning services and investments available through Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc., Member FINRA and SIPC. © 2009 Ameriprise Financial, Inc. All rights reserved.
Warner Bros. Pictures
Anna (Jennifer Garner) and Mark (Ricky Gervaise) seek romance without deception in ‘The Invention of Lying.’
innocent untouched by deception, Anna would appeal to Mark. Instead, she comes off mostly as beautiful and dumb. Although complete honesty is acceptable in this world, it doesn’t make sense that she would prefer to marry Lowe’s egotistic control freak. But she wants her children to have Lowe’s good genetics rather than have “snub-nosed fat kids” with Mark so she puts up with Lowe’s verbal abuse. Not exactly an endearing quality and yet Mark continues to be infatuated with her. Although it has a few laughs
and a good supporting cast, “Lying” doesn’t have what it takes to be a great comedy. Gervaise and fellow writer/director Matthew Robinson had a funny idea but failed to make it work as a fulllength feature. PG-13 for language and a couple references to sex and drug use
Don Pedro Cruz is a local freelance writer and graphic designer. Send your comments to dpvc2000@gmail.com
Contractors
Book Review
Call us today to
“Magician’s Elephant” a rich read for adults as well as kids Oh, what a pleasure to recommend a new Kate DiCamillo book. Don’t be fooled by its being targeted to middle readers, which means kids between 10 and 13. “The Magician’s Elephant” is a book for anyone who loves a good story superbly written. It also gives me a chance to strongly encourage adult readers to seriously look at children’s books. DiCamillo is near the top of my list of writers for young people (from picture books to middle readers) whose work adults will find immensely satisfying. If you’re not sure about
committing time to non-adult books, start with DiCamillo’s, “The Tiger Rising,” then move onto “The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane,” but don’t miss h e r Christmas picture book (a gem), “Great Joy.” I’m often amused when friends and customers ask why I would expect them to read children’s literature. I think that if the writing is good, why let a publisher’s marketing department select one’s reading material?
And so we come to DiCamillo’s most recent book, “The Magician’s Elephant,” a small, but rich telling of a tale that wastes no time in pulling the reader into the story. “At the end of the century before last, in the market square of the city of Baltese, there stood a boy with a hat on his head and a coin in his hand.” The boy is Peter Augustus Duchene and he is as dear a boy as any reader, of any age, could ask for. The elephant, though key to the tale, does not have a name. This can be interpreted as meaning that if you are pivotal in the lives of many people, as this elephant is, maybe a name is not important. It is not so much what the elephant does, as what her magical presence means to those she touches and those who touch her. But the magician, upon
saveon your $$$$$ insurance
General Liability SUNNY SOLOMON
FOR
THE
BOOKS
Worker’s Compensation Bonds
causing this poor elephant to fall through the roof of the opera house in Baltese, is imprisoned for most of the story. Leo Matienne, a wise and caring fellow, is a policeman who has the soul of a poet, “and because of this, he liked very much to consider questions that had no answers.” Questions such as, “What if ? and Why not? and Could it possibly be?” were posed by this good man throughout the tale. There is much to be accomplished in
See Books, page 19
Locally owned since 1996
Ferrante Insurance Services, Inc. 3018 Willow Pass Road, Suite 100, Concord
License # 9603-4769
Page 18
Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com
Tricks and treatments for the holiday season While humans revel in festivity by hanging decorations and donning costumes, animals are environmentally sensitive and prefer to keep to the status quo. Any changes or interruptions to their normal, predictable routine can cause them stress. With Halloween starting the holiday season, it’s time to start preparations for the safekeeping of our pets.
World Woof Tour promotes pet neutering and adoption; makes quick stop in Clayton
Costumes and high jinks can frighten our furry friends because they can’t distinguish between make-believe and reality. Animals rely on body language to communicate and understand their environment, and costumes can be confusing. Dogs encountering other dogs in costumes might react unpredictably, even to their friends, since they are unrecognizable
HOLIDA Y SPECIA L ONE FR
Dog Walking, Cat Visits, Pet Sitting,
EE VISIT *
Overnight & Nursing Care, Fine Art Pet Portraits
*with four day minimum. Overnights not included. New clients only.
O'BRIEN FAMILY PET CARE for dogs, cats, horses & exotics Insured and Bonded
(925) 899-7354
October 23, 2009
Aimee O'Brien
Registered Veterinary Technician with 10+ years experience with animals
ELENA BICKER
PAWS
AND
CLAWS
and unreadable in their disguises. Their own costume may not be much better: visibility can be limited, they can overheat, and elastic or rubber bands can bind and injure. A dog that is uncomfortable, frightened or confused can become irritable and bite. While dressing up can be cute, many pets just don’t appreciate the practice as much as their human counterparts. Keep animals indoors during the holidays. Be careful of Fido or Fluffy scurrying out into the night amidst the excitement of arriving guests. During trick-ortreating hours, keep pets in a back room with a television or radio on at low volume to distract them from the ringing doorbell and stream of visitors. Keep a quiet time-out area
www.obrienfamilypetcare.com
See Paws, page 19
Tamara Steiner/Clayton Pioneer
CLAYTON
DOG LOVERS GATHERED
in The Grove at an informal reception to welcome the World Woof Tour.
Oscar, the “spokesdog” and his handler, Joanne Lefson, both from South Africa, brought the World Woof tour to Clayton last week at a reception for local dogs and owners in The Grove. The reception followed their appearance at ARF in Walnut Creek. Barking from the heart, Oscar speaks passionately about the need for adoption and against the wholesale euthanasia of unwanted animals. He, himself, was within hours of certain death in a South African animal shelter when Lefson rescued him. “I caught his eye and started laughing,” Lefson recalls. “He rolled over on his back. I was his.” “The point is,” Lefson continued, “is how many Oscars don’t get adopted.”
Accompanied by a cameraman, the two are filming a documentary and writing a book on the need for spaying and neutering to reduce the number of unwanted animals worldwide. They were recently in China where Oscar received special permission to walk the Great Wall. Two days later, they were walking across the Golden Gate Bridge. “It’s been an amazing trip,” said Lefson. “Everyone loves Oscar. He’s perfect for the job. And everyday, there are new sniffs.” For more information on the Oscar and the World Woof Tour, visit www.worldwooftour.com or call Nancy Janes of the Romanian Rescue Foundation at 672-5908.
OSCAR, SPOKESDOG for the World Woof Tour, with Nancy Janes (left) of the Romanian Animal Rescue Foundation and handler, Joanne Lefson.
Edison and Khampa are ARF’s Stars Is your Best Friend set for Winter? OUTBACKTM DOG HOMES
LUXURY OUTBACK LOG CABINTM One size large $129.95
EXTREME OUTBACK LOG CABINTM 3 Sizes from $129.95
OUTBACK COUNTRY LODGETM 3 Sizes from $99.95
Solid wood construction Easy Assembly (screwdriver only) Durable weatherproof roof liner Raised floor keeps pets dry Sealed with weatherproof coating Plastic door available for added weather protection (sold separately)
SnooZZy® Classy comforter. Luxurious designer fabric. Non-skid backing. 6 sizes from $18.95
And Don’t Forget your Feathered Friends Complete Supply of Wild Bird Feed, Feeders and Many Products to Attract Wild Birds to your Back Yard. Nyjer Thistle - 20 lbs. $
26.99
Small, Black Oil Sunflower Seed - 20 lbs. $ Western Delight Value Mix - 40 lbs. $
12.99
11.99
Coupon expires 10-31-09
Khampa is a sweet twoyear-old who loves to be brushed. His emerald green eyes are likely to put you under his spell, while his adorable head butts are guaranteed to melt your heart. Khampa would appreciate a calm, quiet household, and is suitable for a first time cat owner. The adoption fee for adult cats is $50. Meet your forever friend at Tony La Russa’s Animal Rescue
Foundation, 2890 Mitchell Drive, Walnut Creek, during adoption hours: 3 to 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday, Noon to 4:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. The primary caretaker must be present to adopt. ARF also encourages kids 16 and younger and canine family members (dog adoptions only) to be present during the adoption process. For more information see our website, www.arf.net, or call 925.256.1ARF.
SnooZZy® Convertible comfort. Corner ties allow sides to go up or lay flat. Reversible. 3 colors $29.95
OUTBACK MOUNTAIN VIEWTM Small only $139.95
(925) 672-4600
Edison is a true terrier—a busy bee who is always on the go! Rated for homes with children five years and older, Edison is looking for a terrierexperienced family with the time to devote to his need of physical and mental exercise. Edison is three years old and is good with other dogs. The adoption fee for adult dogs is $225 and includes 60 percent off one 7-week dog training session.
8863 Marsh Creek Rd. in Clayton
P
EDISON
KHAMPA
October 23, 2009
Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com
GEORGE L. TABER
Page 19 HAPPY DAYS
WARD’S RUBY
u t b b e n w o i a t r p e o o l f u f s r u o n l o c c o a n d s i a t e ions l a z A Happy Days, Ward’s Ruby and George L. Taber are just a few of the awesome azaleas that Clayton Valley gardeners have the opportunity to enjoy. Autumn is an ideal time for the installation of this evergreen shrub with showy springtime flowers. Azaleas are familiar and can be extremely successful in our landscapes if installed in a suitable location while following appropriate planting instructions. When considering azaleas, think about sun exposure and soil. These two elements can make your planting a triumph or a disappointment. HERE COMES THE SUN Plant labels have the tendency to be misleading because growers do not swap out plant labels per nursery location. When Monrovia labels its plants
for delivery, the same tags are sent to Clayton as for nurseries in Berkeley and Oakland. But we all know that
NICOLE HACKETT
GARDEN GIRL Clayton is much hotter Berkeley, so adjust the plant’s placement accordingly. In the Clayton Valley, azaleas can only tolerate part-sun situations in the spring and summer. They can handle morning sun, filtered afternoon sun or blasts of late afternoon sun successfully.
Soil is also an important component for a flourishing azalea. The garden lover must be ready to amend the heck out of an area for the survival of the plant. Azalea plants are usually happiest beneath large trees, where eons of leaf debris has built up to create a lighter, richer soil environment. You have to emulate these conditions for a fabulous azalea. FORGOT THE CLAY Before installing, prep the soil. Dig larger that average holes that are about 1½ times as deep as the plant’s container and two-three times the width. Discard the sticky clay; azaleas hate to have their roots bound up and stuck in clump. Use a planting mix for acidloving plants. Our native soil tends to run on the alkaline side, so extra acid is necessary. It is also a good idea to fling in a handful or two of bark to encourage oxygen at the roots. The bark eventually breaks
down and becomes acidy organic matter for the soil. Growers tend to plant their stock in light soil so they grow faster and they can sell them faster. When you install these plants, remove as much of the grower’s soil as you can – especially with azaleas. The loamy, peat-like medium needs to be stripped from the roots. Use a pail of water so the soil can be removed with ease. Be gentle with the roots, yet mean to the soil. Plant your azaleas high in the hole; you need to see the roots entering the earth. As you water to establish your selection, or as the rain falls, the new plant will settle into place, rather than finding itself over-buried, a mistake that can be fatal to any installation. COLORFUL CONTRIBUTIONS Now we can talk about the fun part, choosing colors that represent you. Happy Days is my favorite double-blooming azalea. This plant is easy to keep
The drought continues and water conservation is still necessary In 2009, the majority of Clayton residents did an excellent job of saving water as California weathered its third year of drought. Overall, summertime water use in Central Contra Costa County was reduced by about 18 percent, as comSponsored by the pared to summertime Contra Costa Water District water use in 2005, 2006 and 2007. This overall reduction surpassed the 15 percent goal set by the Contra Costa Water District’s Drought Management Program. Summertime is the peak water-use season because most landscapes need to be watered regularly. So now that winter is upon us, you might be wondering if water conservation is still necessary. The answer to that question is a resounding yes. Even if we have a wet winter and spring in 2010, it’s unlikely that enough snow and rain would fall on the state to undo the last three years of drought. If we don’t have a wet winter and spring, we will have another dry year and the state’s water shortage will intensify, making water conservation even more important than it has been. It is extremely important for everyone to conserve water throughout the winter. Water supplies must last until the drought ends, and no one knows when that will be. The water
we conserve today is water that stays in reservoirs and is available to ensure everyone’s health and safety at a later date. The District offers a variety of incentives and services to help you conserve water. These include rebates for replacing older toilets and clothes washers with new high-efficiency models, one-on-one conservation surveys of your home or business, and plenty of tips and good advice. For more information about the District’s water supply, incentives and free conservation services, visit www.ccwater.com or call (925) 688-8320. When checking your home for possible water waste this winter, don’t overlook the timer on your automatic sprinkler system. During the winter months, sprinkler timers should be turned off and landscapes should be watered manually only if there is an extended dry period and the plants start to show signs of stress. Sprinkler timers that are not turned off in the winter are a common water waster, especially when they turn on the sprinklers in the rain. If it rains regularly during the months of October, November and December, you can have your sprinklers turned off. If there is a dry spell, use the following irrigation schedule to set your timer:
Paws, from page 18
Make sure your animals have identification in case they slip outside. Most vets can implant microchips. Keep the phone number of your regular veterinarian and an emergency vet easily accessible. The number for California Poison Control should also be by the phone to protect both pets and children. For more information on how to handle pet emergencies, sign up for a pet first aid class like the one offered at ARF. Class availability can be found at www.arf.net/resources/petfirst-aid. With a little caution and preparation, the holidays can be happy for all.
throughout the holiday season where animals can go to escape loud conversation and the extra activity associated with celebrations. Ample exercise before festivities begin can also help animals relax. Decorations pose a change in the environment that dogs and cats will want to investigate. Delicate tchotchkes should be kept out of reach, as should objects made of string or fiber, like decorative spider webs or tinsel. Lit candles, though fragrant and decorative, should be placed out of range of curious paws and wagging tails. Holiday plants are often poisonous and
can be hazardous to pets as well. Animals find holiday treats as hard to resist as people do. Keep candy—especially any potentially deadly chocolate— away from Fluffy and Fido. Teach children to put wrappers in a trashcan with a lid on it, and store Halloween candy in a cabinet or drawer. Discourage guests from feeding your pets. This makes it hard to monitor the quantity consumed. Dogs acting lethargic with a distended stomach should be taken to the vet immediately to confirm they do not have bloat, a condition that can kill in less than an hour. It is always better to be safe.
Lawns October: 2 days a week November: 1 day a week December: 0 days a week
Shrubs 1 day a week 0 days a week 0 days a week
It is best to set your timer to water in three short cycles early in the morning. This results in the best water penetration and the healthiest lawns. If there is an extended dry spell this winter, water manually and only as needed.
Elena Bicker is the Executive Director of Tony La Russa’s Animal Rescue Foundation. She can be reached at (925) 2561ARF (1273)
green and tidy. Double, dark purple blooms appear in abundance during the early spring. Happy Days can reach 3-4 feet tall and wide, making it a nice size plant to install in groupings. You can expect a nice fall bloom display as well. Ward’s Ruby is another awesome azalea. Small, tight, dark green leaves line these upright branches. Dwarf by nature, this azalea may only reach 2-3 feet tall and wide. It is lovely planted beneath lacy foliage trees, like Mimosa or Japanese maple. During the middle of spring, miniature, single dark red flowers burst from the stems. Ward’s Ruby is the reddest azalea that’s available. Not dark pink, but red. George L. Taber is an excellent older variety. It sprawls through the landscape with large blossoms of blush-colored petals freckled with dark pink. This plant can easily reach 3 feet tall and eventually 5 feet wide. You may find this shrub as a
Nicole is the Garden Girl at R&M Pool, Patio, Gifts and Garden Contact her with questions, comments or suggestions at gardengirl@claytonpioneer.com
Lawn overwatered? Beat the drought this fall by adjusting your sprinkler timer
WATERING DAYS
PER
Month lawn shrubs
Nov. 1 day 0 days
Oct. 2 days 1 day
WEEK* Dec. 0 days 0 days
*suggested watering-days per week for lawn and shrubs. Schedule may need to be adjusted to meet Drought Water Budget.
Tip: Set your sprinkler timer to water three short cycles early in the morning on each watering day. This will help the water soak in and result in a healthier lawn and landscape.
For information on CCWD Water Conservation Services, call 688-8320 or visit www.ccwater.com/conserve
Books, from page 17 DiCamillo’s story: a most unlikely reunion between two orphaned siblings; the healing of a gargoyle-sculpting stonecutter; the freedom of an imprisoned magician; and the taking back of a magical act that impossibly occurred in the first place. DiCamillo’s writing is fluid and mature as any seasoned storyteller’s should be. Those are some of the characteristics that move her writing into the world of literature. Words such as “presaged,” “wrest,” “reciprocal,” “largesse,” “elucidating,” and
bush or grafted as a tree. Either way, it is showy in the proper landscape. Cherry drops are a dwarf selection of azalea, maturing to 12 inches tall and 3 feet wide. Phoenicia is fabulous with large, dark purple single flowers. It’s probably the most-sun accepting azalea – not full sun, but a touch more than the others. The overall stability of this evergreen shrub makes the azalea an appealing selection as a foundation planting or deciduous plant support. The vast color choices are also exciting. The season for azalea installation is now. Choose your location, prep your soil and get planting.
“respite” are used with such unassuming aplomb that any parent or grandparent reading this story aloud will immediately realize that DiCamillo does not “dummy down” for her marketed readership. In this day of tweeted messages that come to us punched out in minimalist word use, it is a heady experience to read an author who loves the language in which she writes. “The Magician’s Elephant” is illustrated by Yoko Tanaka in muted black and white drawings that charmingly add to the almost
dream-like quality of the tale. DiCamillo stories often deal with a world in which its characters are not afraid to question those people and events that wear them down, and this tale is no different. Will Peter listen to his heart? Will the injured countess find room for forgiveness? Does the policeman’s wife dare hope again for a family of her own? Welcome to Kate DiCamillo’s world. Sunny Solomon holds a Master of Arts in English and Creative Writing from San Francisco State University. She is a poet, published author and the reviewer-at-large for Clayton Books. Email her with questions or comments at memorie3@yahoo.com
Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com
LINDA WYNER
FOOD
With the abundance of farmer’s markets in the area, it’s not too difficult to find unusual produce. Some bright red berries caught my attention the other day—currants. These tart fruits are part of the gooseberry family and are esteemed in European, particularly French, cuisine. Fresh red currants (there are pink, black and white varieties) are completely different from “dry currants” which are nothing more than raisins from the Zante grape, a venerable plant cultivated by the ancient Phoenicians in the Mediterranean region. Native to Europe, western Asian, and parts of North America, the fresh currant is a relative newcomer on the culinary stage, first appearing in recipes around in the 1400s. They were the first berries grown by European settlers in North America, showing up on the table in the Massachusetts Bay Colony in the 1600s.
Like most berries, currants are a nutritional powerhouse, having significant amounts of vitamin C, phosphorus and iron. Medicinally, currants are used to treat sore throat (just simmer two tablespoons of the fruit in a couple of cups of water, strain and gargle); as a fever-reducer, diuretic and digestive aid and to treat gout and rheumatism (sweeten with honey or sugar and drink). Perhaps one of the most well-known uses for the fruit is cassis, a liqueur distilled from the juice of the black currant. I recall being particularly fond of currant jelly as a small child. I loved the bright red color and sweet-tart flavor. Although my jelly was from Smuckers, Bar-le-Duc jelly from Lorraine province in France was one of Europe’s most highly prized condiments (sadly, no longer made commercially). Red currants are found in English mincemeat recipes (along with raisins, dried fruits,
FOR
THOUGHT
apple, sugar and spices—and sometimes bits of meat) and in the famous Cumberland sauce, a fine condiment for roasted meats, particularly wild game. Scandinavians love them in fruit soups, and the Austrians employ them in their famous Linzer torte. The 1861 Book of Household Management offers a fresh fruit salad recipe that stands the test of time: combine 1 ½ pints of fruit with 3 ounces of pounded sugar, 6 large tablespoons of wine or brandy (or 3 tablespoons of liqueur) and a little pounded cinnamon. “Lightly stir [so] that the wine and sugar may be equally distributed.” Simply substitute granulated sugar and ground cinnamon for the ingredients and you have a tasty side dish or dessert. Pure red currant jelly is quite easy to make, although not inexpensive. (My $4 box of currants reflects their scarcity— 100 years ago I would have bought a couple of boxes for 25 cents along with my 35 cents for a dozen Bartlett pears.) RED CURRANT JELLY 4 lbs red currants 6 ½ c sugar 1 c water 4 oz liquid pectin Crush currants (gently to avoid a cloudy jelly) in a large non-reactive stockpot. Add water and bring to a boil.
October 23, 2009
In Your Dreams
Reduce the heat and simmer for 10 minutes. Strain the liquid through a jelly bag or colander lined with cheesecloth. Measure out 5 cups of juice and reheat to boiling. Stir in the pectin and boil for an additional 30 seconds. Remove from heat and skim any foam. Ladle into sterilized jars and process in a water bath for 10 minutes. Makes about five ½ pint jars. The English Earl of Cumberland enjoyed wild game with a fruit sauce highlighted by currants. Of German origin, the sauce was probably served to English royalty because of their roots in Hanover (Northern Germany). Celebrity chef Emeril LaGasse has devised a Cumberland sauce fortified with a little Scotch whisky to accompany pheasant. I like it on lamb.
If a new computer is in your dreams, let CUSA make it a reality.
WHISKY-CUMBERLAND SAUCE 1 c Scotch whisky ½ cup fresh orange juice 2 Tbsp grated orange zest 1 c red currant jelly ¼ tsp salt Pinch cayenne In a medium saucepan, combine the whisky, orange juice, and orange zest, and bring to a boil. Lower the heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, until reduced by 50 percent in volume to about 3/4 cup. Add the currant jelly, salt, and cayenne, and stir well. Cook until thickened, about 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from the heat and pour into a decorative bowl. Cool slightly before serving. Tailor your own Cumberland sauce to your own tastes—add cloves, ginger, dry mustard, golden raisins, etc.
Everything we sell we support. "We speak computers in English"
Local experts help you select just the right computer or notebook. Why guess on web sites? Custom Dreams We offer a wide range of netbooks, notebooks, desktops and servers with brand names from Toshiba, Dell, Lenovo, Acer, HP and BTODiablo, all customized just for you.
Build It To Order-BTO Diablo Your choice of:
Dual & Quad Core CPUs 4-32GB of RAM DDR-2, DDR-3 32 or 64 Bit Operating Systems 320GB - 1 Terabyte Hard Drives Fulfill your dreams, let's talk. I'm Green Terabyte RAID Arrays sure you'll love your choice. Business & Game Graphics GPU Major brand names from $399.99. Ultimate Game Cards Digital SSD Hard Drives 15 years of local support. Choice of Chassis New lower prices too! We've Memory Card Readers reduced the price on hundreds of Windows XP, Vista, Windows 7 network, cables & computer items Dependable MSI Motherboards guaranteed price competitive with the big-box stores. Give us a call or Dependable, Fast, Supported drop by. BTO Diablos from $587.97
Linda Wyner, a local attorney and foodie, owns Pans on Fire, a gourmet cookware store and cooking school in Pleasanton. Direct your suggestions or questions to lwyner@claytonpioneer.com
ComputersUSA! Best in Clayton 1520C Kirker Pass Road, Voted #1 Clayton Station (Safeway) Brentwood BEAR License E-77986 E-81057
925-672-9989
georgevujnovich.com
Tel: (925) 672-4433
Trust your home to
GEORGE VUJNOVICH, Broker Helping friends, neighbors and newcomers buy and sell their homes since 1979 CLAYTON!
Peacock Creek at Oakhurst Country Club! 4 bedrooms, plus a den, 3 full baths, approx. 3,030sf, 2 fireplaces & a 3 car garage! Gourmet kitchen boasts all stainless steel appliances, Euro style cabinets, bull-nosed slab granite counters and a custom extended island with built-in dinette. Spacious family room features a fireplace & custom built-in. An upgraded fireplace the focal point of the elegant dining and living rooms featuring crown moulding and an elaborate chandelier. Enormous master suite. Huge lot has been professionally landscaped with lush lawn areas, custom pergola topped stained concrete patios, various ornamentals, colorful flowers & maturing trees add to the relaxed and private atmosphere $785,000
ING D N PE
NG I D PEN
Country Living in the middle of Concord! Super Cute single story on a huge lot in a private court with only two other houses! 3 bedrooms, 1 bath, inside laundry, approx. 1,212sf & a detached 2 car garage with RV and Boat parking! Updated kitchen boasts slab granite counters with full backsplash, oak cabinets & stainless steel appliances. Dining area with gleaming hardwood floors. Family room with updated fireplace & hardwood floors. Huge .32 acre (approx) lot with large patio area offers tons of possibilities! $325,000
CLAYTON!
Falcon Ridge at Oakhurst Country Club!
CONCORD!
Crystyl Ranch! Coming Soon! Large “Waterford” model in a quiet cul-de-sac with sweeping views of Oak studded hills, valley & Mountain. 4 bedrooms, 3.5 baths, 3 fireplaces, 3 car garage, approx. 3,168sf & inside laundry. First and second floor Master Suites.
Coming Soon!
Oak Hollow at Oakhurst Country Club! Prime golf Course Lot backs
CONCORD!
6160 Center Street, Suite E, Clayton 94517
Superb Single Story “Moonlight” model backs to oak dotted open space! 4 bedrooms, 2 baths, approx. 2,237sf, fireplace & 3 car garage! Upgraded travertine tile floors, neutral carpet & décor! Gourmet kitchen features granite tile counters, island & maple cabinets. Spacious master suite looks out to open space/hill. Large lot offers a custom patio, lawn area & an assortment of ornamentals. $619,000
CLAYTON!
to 4th fairway! 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, approx. 1,911sf, inside laundry & 2 car attached garage! Gleaming hardwood floors in living & dining rooms. Family room with marble tile floors and fireplace! Kitchen offers tile counters & island with cozy eating nook. Spacious master overlooks golf course & oak dotted hills. Patio features exposed aggregate and brick in-lay. $465,000
Each Office Is Independently Owned & Operated.
Clayton Market Update provided by George Vujnovich of Better Homes Realty ADDRESS 23 El Toro Court 7014 Molluk Way 1824 Ohlone Heights 402 Chupcan Place 179 Mt. Vernon Dr 1519 N. Mitchell Canyon Rd 1349 Shell Lane 139 El Portal Pl 312 Mount Sierra Pl 260 Mountaire Parkway 953 Tiffin Dr 6022 Mitchell Creek Pl 93 El Portal Place 106 La Encinal Ct 3087 Windmill Canyon Dr 252 Stranahan Circle
PRICE $750,000 $499,500 $587,000 $510,000 $505,000 $433,000 $427,500 $640,000 $498,000 $612,000 $550,000 $647,000 $695,000 $630,000 $600,000 $425,000
SALE DATE
SF
BED/BATH
9/24/09 9/22/09 9/22/09 9/18/09 9/2/09 9/1/09 8/28/09 8/26/09 8/19/09 8/14/09 8/12/09 8/8/09 8/7/09 8/5/09 8/4/09 8/4/09
2890 2315 2313 1939 1740 1831 1709 2420 2261 2694 1878 2200 2427 2390 2532 1663
5/3 3/2.5 4/2.5 3/2.5 4/2 4/2.5 3/3 4/2.5 4/2.5 5/2.5 4/2 4/2.5 3/2.5 4/2.5 5/2.5 3/2.5
Better Homes DRE#00933393
Page 20