JAN 08 Clayton Pioneer 2010.pdf by Pioneer Publishers

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January 8, 2010

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Clayton Counts Down the decade at 7th annual New Year’s Eve event HANK STRATFORD

MAYOR’S CORNER Mayor asks, What if ...? I’m sure most of us have imagined what we would do if we earned, inherited or won a large sum of money. It may not be a very productive exercise, but it can be fun to imagine what you might do with the money – how you would allocate the money among practical purchases, “always-wanted” purchases and future uses. The risk of playing this game comes when we slip back into reality. So with this risk in mind, I would like to encourage you to play the Clayton edition of “What If ?” Suppose we, as a city, weren’t constrained by our very limited budget. What would you like to see in Clayton?

See Mayor, page 6

Moore deemed incompetent for trial in Casso slaying TAMARA STEINER Clayton Pioneer

Shannon Bradley Moore, the 38-year-old Concord man charged with the murder of Clayton resident Ray Casso last March, has been declared incompetent to stand trial. Casso, 73, was picking up his mail at the post office on March 7 when witnesses say Moore, enraged over postal workers’ refusal to give him cash for outdated stamps, stormed out of the post office, stopping on the way to grab Casso and stab him to death. Moore was apprehended moments after the attack and arrested. According to court records, Moore does not understand the

PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID CLAYTON, CA PERMIT 190

See Moore, page 4

Tamara Steiner/Clayton Pioneer

ORDINARY WHITE SOCKS BECAME MAGICAL PUPPETS with imaginative names like “Scary Sneeze” and “Fishing” at the hands of Miranda Wiggenhauser, Macaenzie Tobin and Johnny McCluhan at the city’s annual New Year’s Eve family event at the Clayton Community Gym.

Scouts record stories of Clayton’s past DENISEN HARTLOVE Clayton Pioneer

Three Clayton Girl Scouts labored together recently with Mary Spryer, curator of the Clayton Historical Museum, to ensure that their community’s history remains alive. Sarah Agronow, Claire Minorsky and Mary Raymond set out in early 2009 to find a project that would serve their community and earn them the prestigious Gold Award. The award is the highest one Girl Scouts ages 14-18 can achieve. The group’s Website describes the award as representing “a girl’s commitment to herself and to her community, as she focuses on leadership, career exploration, personal challenges and completing a lasting project that will benefit her community.” Agronow, who had served as a junior docent at the museum, went to Spryer for ideas for the project. Spryer had just the thing in mind: the museum’s oral history project. The project was a long cherished one, but thus far, no one at the museum had enough time to commit to it.

“We thought it was important because we have so many members, old timers, and all they’re doing is getting older and older,” Spryer said. The project would use Agronow’s skills as a videographer, Raymond’s ability to bring people out of their shells and put Minorsky’s organizational skills to work contacting interviewees and transcribing the DVDs. The goal was to put stories of Clayton’s past onto DVD and paper to make them accessible to the community and keep them for posterity. Working as a team, the girls contributed more than 200 hours to the project. They drafted letters to a group of potential interviewees provided by Spryer. Raymond made calls to follow up on the letters. Minorsky, who is studying psychology at UCLA, conducted the interviews, and Agronow, who aspires to make movies, filmed them. Raymond transcribed the interviews. Iola O’Grady was one of those interviewed. The granddaughter of Dominic and Julia Murchio, she remembered visiting their ranch on Mitchell

What’s Inside Around Town . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Book Review . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11 Church News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10 Classified . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5

See Scouts, page 16

How did you say 2009? Two thousand and nine? Twenty-nine? Oh-nine? No matter what it was called, the decade came to a rousing end in Clayton when families gathered at the gym for the 7th annual Clayton Counts Down New Year’s Eve party. “This is such a great event,” said Jeannette Cataldo, as she parceled out popcorn cups to her grandkids. “We’re the babysitters for New Year’s Eve and this gives the kids a way to celebrate.” The free, no-alcohol, all-volunteer, all-donation financed event drew an estimated 700 to the Clayton Community Gym for a host of kid-friendly activities, which included a sock puppet contest, basketball, movies, games, musical chairs and limbo and hula hoop contests. A bounce house and inflatable slide helped the little ones burn off their excess holiday energy. The brainchild of Councilwoman Julie Pierce and former Councilman Gregg Manning, Clayton Counts Down began in 2003 and takes more than 30 volunteers to run. Plans are already in the works for next year’s event. So, whether you say twenty-ten, two-thousand-ten or just plain ten, plan on spending the next New Year’s Eve at the gym. And if you can help, call the city at 673-7300.

Robbers enter home while occupants are sleeping TAMARA STEINER Clayton Pioneer

Denisen Hartlove/Clayton Pioneer

MUSEUM CURATOR MARY SPRYER ( second from left) stands in front of the museum with Girls Scouts Claire Minorsky, Mary Raymond and Sarah Agronow. The Scouts completed an oral history project for the museum, earning their Gold Award, Girl Scouts highest honor.

Club News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 Community Calendar . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 Dan Ashley . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 Deal With It . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 Directory of Advertisers . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 DVMS Reporter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9 Financial Sense . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10

Food for Thought . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18 From the Chief . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 Garden Girl . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17 Going Green . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17 Letters to the Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 Movie Review . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11 On the Net . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8

An Oakhurst woman was awakened in the early morning hours of Dec. 14 by two men who claimed to be police officers, but instead were robbers who emptied the family’s safe of jewelry, watches, passports and bonds. The woman was asleep in her bedroom when she was awakened by a hand on her shoulder and a voice telling her to stay in bed. According to responding officer Shanna DeCoite, the woman asked repeatedly to see his badge but was told to stay in bed and not use the phone. A second man was kneeling in front of the safe with the door open. When she determined that the suspects did not have weapons, the woman screamed for her husband, who was in another room, and he called police.

See Robbery, page 16

Pets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13 Pioneer Photo Album (NEW) . . . . . . . . .2 Real Estate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 School News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14 Teen Speak . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9 Weather Words . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8

Page 2

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

January 8, 2010

Around Town Local equestrians ride in Rose Bowl events

Ashley Farizell to marry Aaron Bates High school sweethearts Ashley Farizell and Aaron Charles Bates will be married in Berkeley in June. Ashley is the daughter of John and Lynn Farizell of Clayton. She is a 2004 graduate of Clayton Valley High School and received her teaching degree from Sonoma State University in 2008. She currently attends Diablo Valley College where she is a member of the water polo and

swim teams. Ashey teaches second grade in the San Ramon Valley School District. Aaron is the son of Chuck and Stephanie Bates and is also a 2004 graduate of Clayton Valley High. He is a paramedic, emergency room technician and a reserve firefighter for Moraga Orinda Fire. Ashley and Aaron began dating in their sophomore year of high school. Ashley Farizell and Aaron Bates recently announced their engagement. They will marry in June.

Photo courtesy of Marc Hannigan

Walnut Creek based Amigos de Anza rode in the New Year’s Day Tournament of Roses parade in honor of George Cardinet.

The Amigos de Anza Mounted Arabian Drill Team packed up and headed south for New Year’s. The team, founded by longtime Claytonian George Cardinet, performed in both Equestfest, equestrian showcase on Dec. 29 and in honor of Cardinet in the Tournament of Roses parade on New Years Day. The Equestfest is an opportunity for drill teams, mounted cowboys, ladies in fine gowns, medieval knights and other riders to show off the fancy moves they are unable to perform during the more straightforward ride down Colorado Boulevard on Friday morning. The team performed and marched in honor of Cardinet, who founded the organization and was instrumental in the establishment of the Juan

Batista de Anza Historic Trail which runs from Nogales, Arizona to San Francisco. He was also an ardent supporter of Clayton’s trail system. The trail running from the Library to Safeway was named in his honor. Cardinet died at in 2007 while visiting a friend in Mexico. He was 98. The Amigos de Anza organization is based in Walnut Creek at Castle Rock Arabians ranch owned by Nancy Dupont. Because of George Cardinet’s connection to the town of Clayton and the trails he advocates, the Amigos have participated annually in Clayton’s 4th of July parades as well as advocating the trails, nationally and locally that intersect in downtown Clayton. For more information go to www.castlerockarabians.com.

East meets west with five generations

Yolanda Fiore, 93 traveled across the United States from New Jersey to meet her one year old great-great-grandson Julian. The family gathered at the home of Theresa and Don Bragg in Clayton to share in this special occasion. Over thirty members of the family celebrated this event over the Christmas Holidays. From left: Great-granddaughter Kendra, granddaughter Renee, great-great-grandson Julian, Matriarch Yolanda Fiore and daughter Theresa Fiore Bragg.

25/50 are Metz’s lucky numbers Clayton residents Denyse and Mike Metz traveled to Las Vegas to celebrate both their 25th wedding anniversary and Denyse’s half century birthday along with their best friends Colleen and Connie Wood from Toms River, New Jersey and Joanne and Ralph Stelzner, from Clayton. Before hitting the casinos and shows, they started their adventure by stopping at the “Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas Nevada” sign while taking time to check out the community news in the Clayton Pioneer.

Front: Joanne Stelzner, Denyse Metz, Colleen Wood. Back: Ralph Stelzner, Mike Metz, Conrad Wood.

What’s happening Around Town? Send your news and photos of your births, engagements, weddings, special recognitions, etc. to info@claytonpioneer.com.

January 8, 2010

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

Page 3

Local commuter opts for two-wheeled transportation from Clayton to Lafayette

Photo courtesy of 511 Contra Costa

CLAYTON

RESIDENT

STEVE BIGGS has been biking to his office in Lafayette since May.

While the snow in early December forced Clayton resident Steve Biggs into his car for a day, there’s hardly a weekday that passes when he isn’t navigating the area’s extensive network of bike trails and back roads to get to his job in downtown Lafayette. Biggs started making the 34mile round trip commute during May’s annual Bike to Work Day, which he had heard about through the news. The event is organized locally by 511 Contra Costa, a county agency that encourages individuals to use commute alternatives. “It’s so much more relaxing to ride than to sit in traffic, and

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369 Mt. Washington

1200 Buckeye Terr.

785 Bloching Circle

is this cover shot, taken by Linda Pinder, of the snow covered hills from Candace Bass’ Oakhurst backyard. The picture captures both the beauty of Clayton and the drama of that historic day.

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27 Mirango Ct.

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43 Mountaire Ct.

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Linda Pinder

EDITOR’S CHOICE. My personal favorite from last year

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One thing about Claytonians – they LOVE to take pictures. The recent snowstorm proved that. The day it snowed, our email boxes were filled with over 150 great pictures, all of them snapped by enthusiastic shutterbugs. In the last issue, both of the fantastic front page photos were taken by Clayton residents and contributed to the Pioneer. In keeping with our motto, “It’s Your Paper,” the Pioneer will spotlight an Editor’s Choice photo in each issue, beginning January 22. Send in your cute pets, funny kids, great landscapes or favorite sites in town. Send those great shots that make you happy or weepy. Or the one that makes your heart beat just a little faster. Email your photo to album@claytonpioneer.com. Photos must be high resolution. Jpeg or tiff files are preferable to pdf. Be sure to include a description of the picture – where it was taken, what was happening and a little about why you like the photo. Include your name and phone number. Then, look for it in the next Pioneer. Who knows? We may just find the next Ansel Adams right here in Clayton.

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Pioneer Photo Album

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For more information about biking to work and other commute assistance programs, visit 511contracosta.org or contact DutraRoberts at Corinne@511contracosta.org. Read Biggs’ biking blog at 511contracosta.org/commuting-towork-is-recreation-for-clayton-cyclist.

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to the convenience and safety of bicycling.” Biking extends Biggs’ commute by 20 minutes to half an hour, but he doesn’t need to spend additional time and money at the gym. Plus, he estimates saving about $100 per month on commute costs. For many people, the biggest hurdle to biking to work is the logistics of getting started. Before Bike to Work Day, Biggs wasn’t sure what route he would take or how he would shower and change into work clothes. “You just have to do it a few times, and then you figure it out,” he advises. Biggs mapped out his 17-

SOL

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I feel refreshed when I arrive at the office,” Biggs says. Biggs is a recreational bicyclist who used to do some racing in his college days. This is the first job he’s had where it’s made sense to ride his bike three to four days a week. While drenching rain may force him into his car, neither drizzle nor cold can keep Biggs off the saddle. “In California, we’re fortunate to have weather that’s conducive to biking most of the year,” notes Corinne Dutra-Roberts, who runs 511 Contra Costa’s commute assistance programs. “The wellmaintained bike trails also add

mile, one-way route with Google Maps. He typed in his origin and destination and chose the “walking” route, which includes biking and walking trails. He also uses the East Bay Bicycle Coalition’s comprehensive bike trail map that he picked up at 511 Contra Costa’s energizer station on Bike to Work Day. His commute takes about an hour and involves riding along three of the area’s main bike trails – the Canal, Iron Horse and Lafayette Moraga trails. He carries his work necessities in a messenger bag slung over his shoulder and keeps work clothes and shoes at the office, so he can shower and change. His bike has reflectors and bright lights for riding in the dark. Biggs retrofitted his bike with puncture-resistant tires and switched to more casual mountain-biking shoes that can clip onto the pedals, but that he can also use for walking. If a rainstorm blows in during the day, he calls his wife for a ride home. However, 511 Contra Costa also has given him vouchers for a cab ride home as part of the Guaranteed Ride Home program. As Bike to Work Day 2010 comes this May, Biggs will be wiser and more confident. “I try to keep it fun,” he says. “As long as I enjoy doing it, I’ll keep doing it.”

New this year:

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$690,000

1278 Shell Circle

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ALSO SOLD BY LYNNE FRENCH More Clayton Solds 145 Mountaire Pkwy . . .$578,000 4605 Keller Ridge Dr . . .$298,000 1228 Buckeye Terrace . .$529,000 1816 Eagle Peak . . . . . . .$509,000 1001 Feather Cir . . . . . .Co-Listed 5593 Coronado Ct . . . . .$440,000 1347 Shell Ln . . . . . . . . .$369,000 250 El Pueblo Place . . .CLOSED Short Sale 312 Mt. Sierra Place . . .CLOSED Short Sale 228 Stranahan Cir. . . . .CLOSED Short Sale 1945 Eagle Peak . . . . . .CLOSED Short Sale

Concord 1584 Laverne Way. . . . . .$557,000 4542 Adams Dr . . . . . . .$410,000 4632 Adams Dr . . . . . .CLOSED Short Sale 1276 San Carlos Ave . . .$221,000 5050 Valley Crest Dr . .CLOSED Short Sale 842 Wilmore Ave . . . . . .$450,000 825 Oak Grove Road. .CLOSED Short Sale 1131 Kaski Ln . . . . . . . .$600,000 1516 Rishell Dr . . . . . .CLOSED Short Sale 1115 Glenwillow Ln . . .$545,000 5472 Preston Ct . . . . . . .$450,000 1897 Brownwood Ct . . .$508,000

5546 Maryland Dr . . . .CLOSED Short Sale 1505 Kirker Pass Rd, Unit 151 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .CLOSED Short Sale 5450 Kirkwood Dr, #B1 $313,000 5485 Kirkwood Dr . . . .CLOSED Short Sale 4322 Machado Dr . . . . .$268,000 1810 Granada Dr . . . . .CLOSED Short Sale Pleasant Hill 2033 Oak Park Blvd . . .CLOSED Short Sale 148 Margie Dr . . . . . . . .$482,000 Pittsburg 20 Sea Point Way . . . . . .$305,000

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Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

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One of the great things about seeing a PGA Tour event in person is that, unlike all other professional sports, you don’t watch it from a seat. If you want to see Kobe Bryant dunk a basketball, Tom Brady lace a touchdown pass, David ‘bend it like’ Beckham zip one past the goalie, or Serena Williams pound away at the base line, you’re going to see them do it from the stands. When you attend a tour event, you can walk in the shadows of some of the best golfers in the world and, if you’re lucky, practically rub shoulders with a living legend every now and again. Or, in my case one time, bump right into one. It happened a dozen years ago at the famed Olympic Club in San Francisco. A made for television match, pitted Johnny Miller going head-to-head against one of my idols, Jack Nicklaus. The gallery was relatively small, maybe three thousand people, and the weather was cool and foggy which is not at all uncommon in that part of the city. Both men were past their prime, which was quite evident that day with Miller’s game. He was off. Because of the small number of spectators, we were able to move pretty freely as Nicklaus and Miller made their way around the Lake Course. So

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freely that I literally, and much to my horror, bumped into the Golden Bear as I was cutting across the same fairway he was navigating on his way to the golf ball he had just placed dead center off the tee.

“Golf is more than a sport; it represents a code of conduct and a standard of behavior that applies away from the golf course, too.” As anyone who has had it happen can attest, it is a surreal experience to see someone in person whom one has seen only on television. There is something quite exciting and even a little bit strange about being able to fix your eyes on a person right there in front of you who is famous worldwide, doubly so if that person is not only famous, but a living legend and an icon. In my job, I am fortunate to meet a lot of famous people and you do tend to get a bit used to it, frankly, but there are certain people who transcend any nonchalance. Tiger Woods was, for me at least, one of those people. The first time I saw him play in person was at Pebble Beach. Unlike most of his fellow golfers at a PGA event, it is quite easy to find Tiger when you first arrive at any golf course on which he is prowling. Tiger will be the guy with an enormous gallery, many, many times bigger than anyone else

out there. When I fist laid eyes on him during third-round action on a sparkling Saturday afternoon at Pebble, I noticed his presence before I was wowed by his game. He oozes seriousness and savvy as he goes about the business of dissecting a golf course and his competitive demeanor is obvious and easy to understand why so many of his opponents find it so intimidating. The other thing that struck me is his icy focus. For any weekend golfer who has ever stood over his ball on the first tee with two or three groups waiting behind, all eyes on you and your inadequate swing, Tiger’s ability to block out distraction is awe inspiring and hard to grasp. Hundreds, sometimes thousands, of people are staring him down from a few feet away, unblinking network television cameras are transmitting his every move from every possible angle to viewers around the world, and people begin shouting his name and the overplayed “you-da’man” a split second after he makes contact. Yet, despite it all, or maybe because of it, Tiger Woods, time and time again, does not flinch. But that was the Tiger we thought we knew. When the greatest golfer of a generation returns to the tour, one wonders now whether he will continue to be the dominant force in the game and the over-riding draw for the galleries. I suspect that the answer to that question is yes because, despite the humiliating scandal that has knocked him off the squeaky-clean, super-elite pedestal he has resided upon for the past dozen years, the

man can still play some golf. But watching him play will never be the same. We must now accept that, while every aspect of his game is nearly perfect, his character is deeply flawed. It is a sad reality for his fans and a stunning fall from grace for one of the formerly most admired athletes and role models on the planet. So many people have said to me since Tiger’s shortest ever drive, the ill-fated one down his driveway, that “he did this to himself.” But that’s not true. Tiger did this to his sport, to his legacy, and to the millions of fans who were dazzled by his ability and impressed with his example. Golf is more than a sport; it represents a code of conduct and a standard of behavior that applies away from the golf course too. That may sound silly to those who do not fully understand the traditions of the game, but it is What Really Matters to those who care deeply about the game. And, while all of us who play and follow golf fall short of those ideals, it is exponentially more damaging when you are Tiger Woods. The game’s number one star has done so much to bring golf and the values it teaches to children who might not otherwise have been exposed to either. But the veil has now been lifted, sadly, which leaves those countless young people who already have precious few public role models to emulate, one fewer. And that is such a shame. Dan Ashley is an ABC-7 news anchor. Watch him weeknights on Channel 7 at 5, 6, and 11.

Moore, from page 1

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criminal proceedings and is unable to aid in his own defense. He has been refusing to take prescribed anti-psychotic medications. Casso’s wife, JoAnn, has closely followed the case, attending most of the court proceedings. In an interview with the Pioneer, she said: “I just don’t understand why he isn’t responsible. Why can’t they make him take the pills?” According to court documents, Moore could be forced to take the medications if that is the course recommended by his doctors. Casso describes Moore as “very strange.” “At one hearing last summer, he looked very disheveled – long hair sticking out, unruly beard. He just mumbled.”

At a hearing in October, she noted that “they had cleaned him up, trimmed his hair. He looked clean, but he didn’t say much.” In the months since the killing, Casso has struggled with deep grief, major emotional and financial life changes and bewilderment over a system that appears insensitive and unresponsive. She was faced with closing her husband’s rubber stamp business, selling their beloved vacation home in Tahoe and learning to live without her mate of 47 years. “It’s been extremely difficult. My whole life changed,” she said. A new puppy helps a little. She recently adopted Dino, a 4month-old miniature schnauzer “for company, not protection,”

Photo courtesy of the Casso family

JOANN CASSO with husband, Ray who was murdered in a random attack at the post office last March.

she said. “I just don’t like being alone.” She’s installed an alarm system on her home and frequent visits from family and friends help ease the loneliness. On Feb. 4, Casso will again be in the courtroom when attorneys appear for a progress report. If Moore is deemed competent at that time, the criminal case will resume.

January 8, 2010

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

TAMARA AND R OBERT S TEINER , Publishers TAMARA S TEINER , Editor, Advertising Sales P ETE C RUZ , Graphic Design B EV B RITTON , Copy Editor J AY B EDECARRÉ, Sports C HRISTINA S CARLOTT , Administrative Assistant S TAFF W RITERS : Andre Gensburger, Denisen Hartlove, Lou Fancher, Nicci Shipstead

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

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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.

Belfast Plumbing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .457-5423 Burkin Electric . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .212-3339 Hair's the Place Lela's Hair Salon Lynne French Windemere Real Estate Perfect Tan Pet Suite Inn R&M Pool, Patio and Garden Re/Max Accord in Flora Square Rodie's Feed & Country Store Royal Image Day Spa Skipolini's Snap Fitness St. Bonaventure's Catholic Church St. John's Episcopal Church The Clayton Club The Cutting Edge Knife Works The Royal Rooster The UPS Store TLC Pet Grooming Travel to Go Window Works

or at the Clayton Pioneer, 6200 H Center St, Clayton.

Olde World Mill & Cabinets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .915-0822 Smith & Bernal Roofing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-0138 Tipperary Construction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .216-2679 Dentist Children's Dentistry of Walnut Creek . . . . . . . . . .938-2392 Renner, Jason D.D.S. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .689-2800 Rissel, Richard D.M.D. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .689-2800 Dining and Entertainment Clayton Club Saloon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .673-0440 Willows Theatre . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .957-2500 Financial and Insurance Services Benton, Mureleen - Ameriprise Financial . . . . . .685-4523 Capital Management Advisors Group . . . . .888-350-PLAN CD Federal Credit Union . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .825-0900 Ferrante Insurance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .674-1755

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Littorno, Richard - Attorney at Law . . . . . . . . . . .672-6463

The Clayton Pioneer welcomes letters from our readers. As a general rule, letters should be 250 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.

Miller, Thomas C.P.A. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .354-1385

Classified

Fitness

HELP WANTED Advertising Sales Experienced salesperson needed to help with advertising sales for the Clayton Pioneer. Part time or full time. Generous commissions. Send resume to tamara@claytonpioneer.com, or drop off at the Pioneer office, 6200 H Center Street., Clayton.

CITY OF CLAYTON

For Sale: Affordable Housing Unit

This residence is owned by the Clayton Redevelopment Agency and is a part of the Agency’s Affordable Housing Program. The home is located in the Stranahan subdivision, an attractive planned unit development in Clayton. This property is within easy walking distance of the Clayton Town Center. The home is approximately 14 years old, has two stories, with living space that measures approximately 1,627 square feet in area, plus a two-car, attached garage. The living space features 3 bedrooms and 2.5 bathrooms. Program restrictions require a minimum household size of 3 persons. The final sale price will depend primarily on the following factors: the selected household’s income category, household size, total actual household income and the related maximum percentage of income which can be spent on specified housing costs. Two income categories will be considered for initial qualifying households to purchase this home: Low Income and Moderate Income.

The 2009 maximum qualifying household income limits to purchase this affordable home for the two specified income categories are as follows: 3 $96,450 $59,600

4 $107,150 $66,250

Real Estate Agents Be Successful! Lynne French is expanding and interviewing for a few agents. Call her today (925) 672-8787.

5 $115,700 $71,550

6 $124,300 $76,850

The final sale price of the home will be based on the factors mentioned above plus other factors, such as interest rate and down payment. The estimated range of final sales price, based on the factors involved is as follows: $175,000 - $200,000 (Low Income) and $275,000-$370,000 (Moderate Income). To ensure the long-term affordability of the residence, a deed restriction will be recorded at the time of sale. The deed restriction will establish a formula for the maximum resale price of the home, establish a cap on the maximum income of future buyers, and be in effect for 45 years. The intent is that households of the selected income category could continue to afford to buy this home over time. Applicants must meet the household income restrictions described above as well as other applicable requirements listed in the application materials. Applications will be accepted until an acceptable qualifying pool of applicants has been determined. For an application visit the City’s website at

www.ci.clayton.ca.us or contact the Clayton Community Development Department at (925) 673-7300

Traveling Trainers for Life . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .890-6931 Funerals Ouimet Funeral Home . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .682-4242 Gifts

SERVICES Garden Girl Gardening Garden care for your roses, perennials and ornamentals. Monthly pruning and fertilizing services. Plant suggestions and installation. If you want more flowers this year, call or email Nicole Hackett 6731746, or gardengirl94517@yahoo.com.

VOLUNTEERS WANTED

The City of Clayton is accepting applications from qualified households interested in purchasing an affordable single-family home in the Clayton community.

Persons in Household Moderate Income Limits (Maximums) Low Income Limits (Maximums)

Van Wyck, Doug - State Farm Insurance . . . . . . .672-2300

Meals on Wheels Drivers 1 – 1 1/2 per week. Drivers and relief drivers needed for delivery of Meals on Wheels in East County. Call Jim at 673-0300 or e-mail hairbyjim@sbcglobal.net.

Keenan Heinz Co. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .288-0159 The Royal Rooster . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-2025 Home and Garden Abbey Carpet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .686-9901 Clear Splash Pool Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .216-6245 Floors to Go Danville . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .820-8700 Pacific Coast Flooring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .609-2151 Nichols Landscape . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-9955 Pans on Fire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .600-7267 Utopic Gardens . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .524-0055 Mailing and Shipping The UPS Store . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .689-6245 Pet Services

Anna’s Attic Volunteers Hospice of the East Bay – Anna’s Program is Seeking dedicated, caring volunteers to provide home companionship and practical support for women with recurrent breast cancer. To volunteer at the Hospice of the East Bay thrift store at 5350 Clayton Road. Call store manager, Debbie at 674-9072 or Lamont Campbell at (925) 7665066.To apply for free training, call Hospice of the East Bay at (925) 887-5678 or email volunteers@hospiceeastbay.org. Anna's Program is generously supported by the Susan G. Komen for the Cure, Anna's Attic Thrift Shop, and other community donations.

Monte Vista Veterinary Hospital . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-1100

Clayton Historical Society Museum The Clayton Historical Society Museum needs a greeter for two hours per month from 2-4 p.m. Wednesdays or Sundays. No experience or extensive knowledge of Clayton history is necessary. Call the museum at 672-0240 and leave your name.

Castle Rock Arabians . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .937-7661

Clayton Community Library Needs volunteers. Minimum age 13. Minimum commitment is 6 months. Some training provided. Shelver - to shelve and sensitize library materials. Various days/times. Tutors - no prior experience necessary! You determine the grade level and subjects you are comfortable with and the days/times. Requires good communication skills, patience and a desire to help students in the community. Contact: Arlene @ 673-9777 or email: akikkawa@ccclib.org

Vet Tech Pet Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .899-7354 Peace of Mind Pet Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-9781 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 Rahimzadeh, Helen -Coldwell Banker . . . . . . . . .932-7375 Vujnovich, George - Better Homes Realty . . . . .672-4433 Recreation

Clayton Valley Bowl . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .689-4631 Diablo FC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .798-GOAL Oakhurst Country Club . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-9737 Senior Services Diamond Terrace Senior Retirement Living . . . . .524-5100 Services, Other Appliance Repairs by Bruce, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-2700 Computers USA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-9989 Contra Costa Water District . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .688-8044 Recycling Center & Transfer Station . . . . . . . . . .473-0180 Shopping Clayton Books . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .673-3325 Travel Cruise Adventures Unlimited . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .935-7447 Travel to Go . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-9840

Page 6

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

January 8, 2010

Volunteers, foster families needed for Dogs4Diabetics GRAHAM PIMM Special to the Pioneer

I have been volunteering at Dogs4Diabetics as part of my community service program with Clayton Valley High School’s Public Service Academy. Although I am not a diabetic, working with these wonderful animals has been rewarding and I recommend this activity for any student or family who would like to have a lot of fun while also making a real difference for people in need. Volunteers at Dogs4Diabetics learn how to handle an assistance dog, walk, groom, cuddle and play with the dogs in training and also partici-

Dogs4Diabetics needs volunteers to foster their service dogs in training.

pate on a fundraising team. It’s a great way to use your talents to

help save lives. Dogs4Diabetics is a nonprofit organization that provides quality medical alert assistance dogs to youth and adults who are insulin-dependent type 1 diabetics. The assistance dogs have been specifically trained to identify and act upon the subtle scent changes that hypoglycemia (low blood glucose) creates in body chemistry. These changes are undetectable to their human companions. Dogs4Diabetics trains and certifies dogs for hypoglycemic medical alerts. The group also studies and develops training protocols for such programs, qualifies diabetic youth and

DAN LAWRENCE

FROM

THE

CHIEF

will be looking for drivers and passengers who are in violation of the seat belt law. Aggressive traffic enforcement has proven to be the best strategy to educate and encourage drivers to obey traffic laws, including seat belt laws. There is absolutely no question that wearing seat belts saves lives. As a result, buckling up will not only save your life but could save you from paying a heavy fine as well. If you have questions about the seat belt law, feel free to contact me at 673-7350, 9 a.m.5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

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

Mention the Clayton Pioneer & receive a

Build-a-Bear gift card Randall E. Chang, DDS, Inc.

Less than 10 min. from Clayton

Specialist in Pediatric Dentistry 3050 Citrus Cir., #110 Walnut Creek (925) 938.2392

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.

The next foster class will be 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 23, at the training facility at 1400 Willow Pass Court, Concord. For more information, contact Breanne at 246-2018. Visit dogs4diabetics.com/index.html for a short video.

from page 1

A Dec. 4 “Going Green” article included some unfortunate mischaracterization about smart meters. It’s ironic, because smart meters will help us become more green. We have smart meters on both our gas and electric services and have not experienced any problems. We monitor our utility bills monthly and our utility bills have not increased as a result of the meters – we are on PG&E’s balanced payment plan and they actually went down. Not only are the smart meters highly accurate, but consumers around the U.S. and the world have been using them with great success. The new meters provide consumers with detailed information about their own energy usage. They also help consumers save money by offering more rate options that help conserve energy at critical times, such as hot summer days when the power grid is stressed. William Gray, Clayton The “Going Green” column (Dec. 4) portrays smart meters as being anti-green. In reality, smart meters will help California become greener by decreasing power usage. Utilities throughout the country are adopting smart meters as the answer to help combat global warming. Smart meters give a real time reading of energy use, giving people greater control over their energy use and costs. Solar power is an important part of the equation to reducing green house gas emissions. However, if we all pay more attention to when and how we are using energy, we can call do our part to become greener – and save money. Alise Lacosse, Clayton

Library earns grant for ‘Snap and Go’ mobile technology The Contra Costa County Library was awarded a $60,000 Bay Area Library and Information Systems innovation grant to create a mobile platform that will bring new and existing library content and services into the hands of cell phone users. The “Snap & Go” project will allow residents with mobile phones and a library card to access library materials, enhanced content and manage their accounts without visiting a library or using a computer. The

are 8 weeks old. All of the dogs reside in local foster care homes. Foster care providers bring the dogs to Dogs4Diabetics each day for training. In the evening, foster care providers socialize the dogs in the community. Long-term, weekend/short term and regular foster homes are needed.

Mayor,

Readers defend PG&E Smart meters

restrained by a seat belt. The law also requires that all children under 6 years of age and/or under 60 pounds be restrained in an approved child seat. California has a seat belt usage rate of approximately 95 percent. On the surface, this seems to be an outstanding statistic. However, that means more than 1.5 million drivers still do not buckle up. As a result, the OTS is making an allout effort to reach those who do not utilize their seat belts. More than 175 law enforcement agencies statewide, including the Clayton Police Department, will be participating in this year’s “Click it or Ticket” mobilization. Funding to support this campaign is provided by a grant from the OTS through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The city of Clayton was awarded $6,000 in OTS grant money that will be available through May. While Clayton police officers patrol our 42 miles of public roadways, they

with new patient visit!

alert training was started. Armstrong enjoyed his new job and was soon alerting on diabetic-related hypoglycemia. Today, the dogs are obtained primarily from Guide Dogs for the Blind in San Rafael and retrained for diabetic alert work. Dogs have also been obtained from Genesis Services of Boise, Idaho. In addition, Dogs4Diabetics works closely with Tony LaRussa’s Animal Rescue Foundation in Walnut Creek. When dogs are received for diabetic alert training, they’ve already been professionally trained and socialized as assistance dogs from the time they

Letters to the Editor

Save lives – and money – by buckling up Most of us have driven by one of the lighted Cal Trans signs on our state’s highways. You may have noticed that the most recent message is “Click it or Ticket.” This slogan has been adopted by the Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) as the state’s official way to inform, remind and encourage all drivers and passengers to wear seat belts while driving their motor vehicles. This month’s article is a reminder for you to insist that everyone in your car buckle up. Properly restrained drivers, passengers and children have a 50 percent better chance of surviving a crash than unbelted occupants. Those ejected from vehicles in crashes or rollovers are more likely to receive fatal injuries than restrained occupants. The mandatory seat belt law, which is contained in the California Vehicle Code, requires that all persons operating a motor vehicle and all other occupants be properly

adults for placement and service of dogs, trains diabetic youth and adults for the proper use and care of the dogs, conducts placement and follow-up services and educates businesses, organizations and the public to the uses and rights of certified medical alert dogs. The program began almost seven years ago, when the founder began researching the possibility of training dogs to detect type 1 diabetes-related hypoglycemia and physically alert the diabetic to the impending hypoglycemia. In October 2003, a dog named Armstrong was obtained from Guide Dogs for the Blind and his scent and

project will utilize Quick Response (QR) codes, a twodimensional barcode technology increasingly found on product labels, billboards and posters, to encode information and automatically launch Webaccessible functions. “This development will allow our library to serve as a model for others, to bridge the physical, digital and mobile worlds and provide service beyond library walls and personal computers,” says county librarian Anne Cain.

Are there any programs, facilities or services that you wish we had here in town? I love the beauty of where we live and I love the people who live here. So as long as things are running smoothly, I don’t often wish for more. However, I thought it might be useful to hear what ideas you have for Clayton. What would be on your wish list for our town? As you are coming up with ideas, also think about goals you would like the city to consider. Your goals for the city may be the same as your wish list, or you may have ideas for making the city more efficient. For example, reducing the amount of paper we use and switching to paperless agenda packets for our City Council meetings has been one of our goals. Both Julie Pierce and David Shuey had been pushing this idea for a number of years. Finally, in December we switched to paperless agendas. Each January, the City Council and city manager meet to set goals for the new year. We have a running list of goals that we continue to work on and we always add new ones. Each Friday, the city manager prepares a summary of the week’s activities and he includes an update on our goals, with new progress being shown in red. It is an effective way to keep the goals in front of us and to monitor the progress. As we prepare to meet later this month, it would be nice know of any ideas you may have for the city. As lovely as Clayton and the surrounding areas are, it’s all of you that really make this a great place to live. When you get a chance, send me your thoughts and ideas for Clayton. My email address is hank_stratford@yahoo.com. Happy New Year.

WISHING YOU THE BEST IN 2010

In today's ever changing market call the professionals at RE/MAX Town & Country for all of your real estate needs:

925-672-7800

Happy New Year Mike Kavanaugh, Owner

1026 Oak St., Suite 204, Clayton DRE#0888284

January 8, 2010

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer .com

Seeing the shape of things to come calls for a change ANDRÉ GENSBURGER

DEAL WITH IT One of my favorite, and underused, words is nephelococcygia – a term that describes the ability to see shapes in objects such as clouds. I don’t see much in clouds except fluffiness; however, I do see faces in a lot of other places – anywhere with patterned surfaces such as bathroom tiles or walls. If I stare long enough, faces will emerge from the patterns, often with sufficient depth to discern high details of eyes or noses, hairlines and even clothing to complete the image. One time Abraham Lincoln popped out of the tile, his deep-set eyes quite familiar and unmistakable. This ability to discern faces

is quite common, a result of our brain’s need to identify and categorize the faces we encounter in life. “I don’t know his name but I recognize his face” is a common statement we make, and the reason is simply that our brains are wired for a visual acuity that transcends our memory or our desire to remember the names that go along with the image. The fact that my bathroom can come alive with people is a little disturbing at times, especially when it seems a somewhat useless ability. However, when faced with people who see the image of Jesus in potato chips or a now popular Website that has images all with visible smiley faces, I suppose it is harmless enough. In a way, this Deal With It column began as a series of mental images that seemed to

stand out against the backdrop of the real world. Over the almost two years of writing it, I have found that those faces don’t seem to be smiling so much anymore and so I have decided to end this column rather than start focusing on the mess that seems to permeate the landscape. These are tough times ahead, especially in California, where the recession will drag on even longer with the governor’s deficit figures expected to exceed $20 billion in his midJanuary announcement. Cities will be forced to make more cuts and for the Mt. Diablo Unified School District, that may well include school closures. Too much of our world, our economy and our future prospects appears bleak. It is time for new attitudes, forward-

Page 7

UTOPIC GARDENS

looking people with the courage to require a higher standard of behavior in education as much as in society as a whole. Luckily, in Clayton, with a greater affluence, parents have been able to step up to help their child’s school fund programs and keep alive a sense of community. And yet even in Clayton, many families have suffered foreclosure as a result of job loss and been forced to move away, and local businesses struggle to stay afloat. Sometimes as hard as you can stare at a bathroom tile, Lincoln just won’t smile back at you. And you just have to deal with it.

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The Clayton Pioneer thanks Andre Gensburger for two years of lively, sometimes controversial, always thought-provoking columns.

Holi lect items nd se a t ghou u o r h t tore the s

Staging a home can increase buyer interest Q

I am planning on selling my home this year. I don’t have a lot of equity in it so I need to sell it for top dollar. Do I need to hire a stager? New home builders have benefited from staging for years. They can stage a few models so buyers can see themselves living there. Then they can sell their models on various lots even before they are built. Though staging resale homes has been popular in the Bay Area for years, it has only caught on fairly recently for

LYNNE FRENCH

REAL ESTATE mainstream sellers. It is now an important component of sell-

In-Shape completes former Maverick’s Club renovation In-Shape Health Clubs has completed a $2.5 million renovation of the former Maverick’s club at 5294 Clayton Road in Concord. The plan includes a new woman’s locker room, expansion and enhancement of the Kids Club, addition of the ReShape 29-Minute Circuit Training and a large upstairs cardio room.

“We envision this club as a special place for members of the community to enjoy and want to come to for their health and fitness needs,” says Rob Farrens, In-Shape’s executive vice president. Stockton-based In-Shape also runs locations in Antioch and Brentwood. For class schedules and more information, visit inshapeclubs.com.

ing your home. Three things sell a home: price, presentation and exposure. To get top dollar, you must emphasize all three. First, don’t overprice it or you will get fewer showings and the buyers will feel you are unrealistic. Second, make sure you list it with a Realtor who will give it maximum exposure in a variety of media. Third, enhance the way it shows when buyers view it. Some Realtors provide free staging services. If they don’t, they can recommend a stager whom you can consult with for an hour or two. They can suggest how to arrange your furniture and belongings. They will suggest removing pieces so the rooms don’t look crowded. They can also bring in accessories to accentuate the area. They might suggest going as far as removing some of your furniture and renting furniture. After their home is staged, many sellers think it looks empty and barren. A wellstaged home also has taken much of your personality out of it. That’s because buyers should be able to picture their things in the home. You don’t know the new

owners’ style preference. Sometimes the more beautiful your personal belongings are, the more they will distract the buyers. You don’t want them looking at your things, you want them to look at the home. A great starting point is removing all clutter and personal pictures. In this market of foreclosures and other distressed property that has been neglected, the majority of buyers still are looking for an updated, turnkey, well-priced home that is ready to occupy. If that is your home, it will sell for top dollar for the market. Don’t wait too long to list your home for sale. The market is uncertain for 2010, though it is pretty good for now with low inventory, low interest rates and buyer incentives to close on a home before April 30. Send your question and look for your answer in a future column. E-mail: Lynne@LynneFrench.com Lynne French is the Broker/Owner of Windermere Lynne French & Associates and a Clayton resident. For any real estate needs or questions contact her at (925) 672-878 7or stop in at 6200 Center Street in Clayton.

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Club News CLAYTON VALLEY GARDEN CLUB

CLAYTON AAUW Mixing fun with service, the women of the Clayton AAUW made their monthly field trip to Shadelands Museum in December where they had lunch and shopped in the boutique. Field trips are but one of the fun interest groups the Clayton Branch offers. The AAUW, California’s most active and diverse organization for women, offers action for equality, personal and professional growth, community leadership and friendship. The AAUW is open to all women with a college degree (either two-year or four-year ) For membership information please call 680-8345 or 798-6406.

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Clayton Valley Garden Club members Sue Fletcher, left, Peggy Arundell, JoAnn Caspar and Nicole Hackett planted flowers for winter color in downtown Clayton. Downtown visitors will find white cyclamens, red snapdragons and pansies in the planter boxes and around the Veteran’s Memorial.

Locally owned since 1996

Ferrante Insurance Services, Inc.

VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS AUXILIARY You are eligible for membership in the VFW’s Ladies Auxiliary if you are a wife, widow, mother, foster mother, stepmother, daughter, granddaughter, foster daughter, stepdaughter, sister, half sister, foster sister or stepsister of a male or female who was or is eligible for membership in the VFW. If you are interested in joining the auxiliary, please attend VFW Post 1525’s meeting at 9 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 9, at the Veteran’s Hall, 2290 Willow Pass Road, Concord. For more information, call Pete Loechner at 255-3449.

3018 Willow Pass Road, Suite 100, Concord

Attending the December AAUW function, from left: Lynne Cheney, Sandy Hansen, Dee Totman, Carol Wolfe, Donna Baggett License # 9603-4769

Page 8

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

January 8, 2010

With no weather on the moon, whatever will we talk about?

Where the artisan meets the craftsman

Many of the New Year’s Eve celebrations in Clayton and throughout the world started as “blue moon” parties, where revelers observed a rising full moon just after sunset. The name blue moon is a misnomer, since it has nothing to do with the color of the lunar surface. The nickname is applied to the second full moon that is observed in one month, as was the case in December 2009. A blue moon is a relatively rare event, observed just three times every two years. A blue moon on New Year’s Eve is considerably rarer, happening once every 19 years. We won’t see another New Year’s Eve blue moon until 2028. The moon’s gravitational pull is so weak that any gas molecules existing at its surface readily escape into space. Consequently, the moon does not have an atmosphere. That means there are no clouds,

winds or weather as we know it. If humans ever establish colonies on the moon, there will be no need for weather forecasters. One interesting feature of our nearest planetary neighbor is that temperature extremes are huge. Recent unmanned lunar spacecraft have measured temperatures near minus 400 F at the lunar pole, an area that never receives sunlight. Polar temperatures on the moon change very little over a period of thousands of years. On portions of the moon where the sun’s rays strike, the lack of an atmosphere allows the lunar surface to heat and cool rapidly. During the lunar daytime, the temperature is hot enough to boil water. After sunset, the temperature plunges more than 250 degrees in a matter of minutes. Many scientific studies have been conducted to determine if

there is water on the moon. Forty years ago, astronauts brought samples of lunar rocks and dirt back to earth. Detailed analyses of these materials suggested that the moon contained no water. Although many scientists theorized that water may be present on the moon, our manned ventures were unable to provide any proof. Late last year, scientists carried out a unique experiment to search for lunar water. NASA launched two moon-bound spacecraft. The first craft was programmed to crash into a cold and permanently dark part of the lunar surface. The debris cloud created by the crashing probe was sampled by the second rocket, which followed closely behind it. Analyses of the debris cloud revealed that the permanently dark portions of the moon contain ice. In fact, NASA scientists found what they referred to as

WOODY WHITLATCH WEATHER WORDS “significant amounts” of water. Although the original source of the moon ice is still unknown, one theory is that ice-bearing comets crashed into the moon billions of years ago. Even though the moon has no atmosphere or weather, the discovery of water on the moon might lead to the development of lunar space stations and colonies. Who knows – by the time the next New Year’s Eve blue moon arrives, Clayton residents may look up and wave toward friends or relatives living in a world that we can’t even imagine today. Woody Whitlatch is a meteorologist with PG&E. Email your questions or comments to clayton_909@yahoo.com

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Managing your money on the Internet can be confusing. With your information scattered across multiple Websites, it can be difficult to piece together a report card of your financial health. But a new breed of moneyminded sites bring your infor-

NOW’S THE TIME TO BUY GOOD INVESTMENTS! This Oakley home is a 4 bedroom, 2 bath with 2-car garage, tile roof, French doors, vaulted ceilings and on a quiet street in a nice neighborhood, and vacant, ready to sell. At 2,012 square feet and built in 1994 it is a solid home just needing TLC. It is in foreclosure, but can be bought for only $219,000. To benefit rather than lose, to beat the coming inflation a lot of investors are using their savings and IRAs to pick up low priced rental homes. Call PETE to talk about your possibilities: 890-6004

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mation together in one place so you can assess your debt, see where you’re overspending and even figure out your net worth. Mint.com is one of the top personal finance sites. It lets you see the value of your bank accounts, credit cards, investments and loans from one place and makes budget management easily. You can set up an account with Mint in minutes by linking your accounts to the Website. This process involves providing the ID and password that you use for BankofAmerica.com, for example. Since security is obviously a concern, Mint ensures that your information is safe by protecting your information with banklevel encryption technology. In addition, you do not provide your name, address or Social Security number when you register. Finally, you cannot transfer money using the site. Mint’s overview page displays all your account information in one place. At a glance, you can see how much money is in your savings, how your portfolio is performing and how much credit card debt you have. The page also displays your net

worth and a sample of your spending. Mint’s transactions page lists your recent purchases, deposits and interest payments, among other things. The site also saves you hours of work by automatically assigning categories to transactions. For instance, a McDonald’s purchase is designated “fast food.” However, Mint doesn’t always get the categories right. When I bought supplies at my college bookstore, Mint designated the purchase as “clothing.” Should this happen, you can easily switch a category or create a custom one. You can also split a transaction into multiple categories, a useful feature for grocery purchases. One of Mint’s best features is its trends page, which breaks down your spending by category. This page organizes your spending into large, readable pie charts that show where your money is going. You can adjust these charts to see how much you’ve spent over several months, a year or all time. Unfortunately, you need to use the site for awhile if you want to build a more complete transaction history. After join-

ing, I was only able to access transactions dating back to September. You should probably use Mint to track recent spending at first. Mint’s planning page lets you create budgets and notes when you overspend. You can also plan for irregular expenses and roll over extra cash or debt from a previous month. This feature is useful for those who want more financial discipline. The investment page examines how your portfolios are performing. You can also track your investments against the Dow Jones, S&P 500 and NASDAQ indexes. Mint includes a graph that shows when you have outperformed or underperformed these indexes. However, you can’t designate whether a particular investment account is for a special purpose, like retirement savings. Mint has become the gold standard for personal finance Websites. It was recently purchased by the makers of Quicken, a popular finance program, and will replace Quicken’s online version.

See Websites, page 11

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Parents struggle to make sense of autism disorder Emily Jones of Clayton loves to negotiate, haggling like any bargain hunter – or 4-yearold child – for “just one more” potato chip. Mateo Ibarra recently started kindergarten. He is proud to be able to recite all 26 letters of the alphabet, and his favorite number is 4. Both of these children have autism spectrum disorder or ASD. There are three different types of ASDs: “classic” autism, Asperger Syndrome and what is known in treatment circles by the dizzying acronym PDD NOS, or Pervasive Development Disorder, Not Otherwise Specified. People with autism are often

slower in learning to speak, disinterested in social interactions and may have strange, sometimes obsessive interests. Dustin Hoffman’s character in the film “Rain Man” was autistic and, for example, could recite data relating to airline crashes and fatalities. People with Asperger’s show fewer symptoms – most notably difficulties with communicating and socializing, while those with PPD NOS have even fewer symptoms. Annette Jones’ first hint that her daughter might have ASD was at Emily’s 2-year-old wellbaby appointment. Showing a speech delay, Emily was initially thought to be partially deaf. Jones knew better, however. “This is a kid who could hear the Jimmy Neutron theme from the back of the house and

come running,” she said. But Jones described failed attempts to go to the market, where Emily would become over-stimulated and start screaming. Passers-by stared as they fled the store. Instead of asking for what she wanted, Emily would “take our hand and take us to whatever she wanted, scream or grunt,” to indicate her desired object. MAKING STRIDES After Emily was finally diagnosed with PPD NOS, the Mt. Diablo Unified School District started her on kindergarten preparation sessions. A special education aide visited the Jones’ home for three hours a day, five

See Autism, page 9

January 8, 2010

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer .com

Page 9

Change the way you look at things and you’ll change the way you see them ROBBIE PARKER DVMS REPORTER When students are asked to reflect on what they are thankful for, they typically give the expected response that they are grateful for their house, food and families. While I’m sure that they’re thankful for all those things, the question got me thinking. Sometimes it is hard to appreciate what you’re thankful for because you’re so used to it. You never really appreciate or know how lucky you are until it

is gone. Or sometimes you see someone who is not as fortunate or blessed and it has an impact on you. I remember an experience I had with my dad when I was younger. We were near a convenience store when we spotted a homeless man. To my surprise, my dad took out a $20 bill and gave it to him. I couldn’t believe he just randomly gave away money to someone he didn’t know. I asked my dad why he had helped the man. He told me that the man was truly hungry and I was lucky that I didn’t have to experience hunger like that. I had always tried to avoid

being near the homeless or tried not to look at them. I wondered why they were so dirty and disheveled. This time, I took a long look at the man. I realized he was just another human being down on his luck and this could happen to anyone if the circumstances were right. I once heard that one of the hardest things that homeless people deal with is people not wanting to look at them. It’s almost as if they are invisible. It started me thinking about what it means to do more for others. I believe if we stop and reflect on how lucky we are and look at those around us who are less fortunate, it provides a perspective on how much we truly

have. So when we give thanks for all of the people and things around us, we should think about ways we can give back. A good thing to do would be to volunteer your time or give donations. There are many ways one can help, such as giving to local churches or food banks, donating to charities, working at an animal shelter or spending time with an elderly person. Then, the next time we are asked to reflect on why we are grateful, we can truly understand the answer. Robbie Parker is a seventhgrader at Diablo View. Send comments to Robbie@claytonpioneer.com

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“Nothing in life is to be feared. It is only to be understood.” – Marie Curie These days, aging invokes fear in us as a society. When was it that the word “old” became taboo? It seems our society is obsessed with youth. From the young, attractive people used in advertising to the beauty products that claim to “turn back the clock,” it feels as though we are constantly being bombarded with the idea of eternal youth. The sad thing is that many people have succumbed to this inane ideology. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had an adult tell me, “Oh, please – don’t call me Mr./Mrs. So-andso, it sounds so old. Call me by my first name.” The last time that I checked, being addressed in that manner was a way of showing respect.

I’m surprised that some adults would rather be treated as the peer of an adolescent than receive the respect due to them as an older and wiser being. Perhaps even more shocking are the lengths that people will go to conceal the natural aging process. It amazes me that some people inject Botox into their faces, intentionally paralyzing them in order to staunch the wrinkles that might give away their age. Even birthdays pose a predicament for some people. In many countries, being advanced in years is a thing to be revered and honored. Their wisdom and years are treasured and they hold a position of high esteem in their families. However, in our culture, people can often look forward to being treated as senile or ignorant. I believe that the fear of aging is, in actuality, the fear of death. Every little bit of youth

Autism, from page 8 days a week, preparing her to start classes geared toward autistic children at a local elementary school. They worked to teach Emily to communicate, using a “pex” chart with pictures of various items. Starting with “juice” and “snack,” the 3year-old learned to point to a picture of what she wanted. Verbal skills came next. “She went through a week or so of screaming in frustration because they forced her to use her words,” said Jones. However, the hard work has been paying off. “It’s been wonderful to go from a child who would scream mostly and not be able to verbally communicate to one who can tell stories and play pretend and negotiate,” said Jones, who noted that Emily has recently learned to spell her first word: toys. FAMILY SUPPORT NETWORK Five-year-old Mateo goes to the same school as Emily. Vi Ibarra noticed early on that her interactions with her son seemed markedly different than those she had experienced with his older sister. “I just couldn’t get him to look at me. He wasn’t unhappy or anything, he was just not into me,” she described. He wouldn’t talk, other than to recite the alphabet. “He’d grab my hands and walk me to where it was what he wanted,” she said. Mateo was diagnosed with autism. Today, Ibarra is reaching out to other families like

hers as the director of the Autism Family Support Project, which offers support to families of children up to 7 years old with ASDs “It’s important to me to feel like I’m part of a community,” said Ibarra, who spoke of her fears of failure while advocating for Mateo. “It’s important for me to not be the odd man out … to not feel like we’re being looked at because my kid can’t participate in the same way that everyone else does.” Services include parent support groups and seminars on subjects such as positive discipline techniques and financial planning. The group had a families’ get-together recently at the Clayton Bowl. Ibarra described older siblings learning that “there are other families who look like mine.” Ibarra has an eye on Mateo’s future. “If he wants to be a firefighter, I want him to be able to do that,” she said. “I want him to be happy. I want him to be successful and whatever that means to him.” While services through the school district, the California Department of Developmental Services and groups like the Autism Family Support Project try to smooth their path, Ibarra, Jones and other parents worry about who will take care of their children as they age. The second part of this series will focus on what happens with ASD children as they become adults.

that you lose brings you that much closer to old age, which in turn makes death so much more of a tangible reality. In light of that, it’s facile to see why so many people have a fear of aging; everyone can identify with mortality. I want to be content with my age in all the stages of my life. When I was younger, I eagerly anticipated getting older. Now, I’m content at where I’m at, and I hope I will be in all stages of my life. I don’t intend to lie about my age or try Botox. If anything, I hope that my appearance in later years will show a life well-lived with sorrow and joy, experiences and emotions. I’d like to age gracefully and with dignity, without trying to keep up a charade. Of course, I suppose it’s easy to have these convictions as an impressionable youth. It could very well be

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Cady Lang is a senior at Berean Christian High School. She would like to major in English and eventually pursue a career in writing. Email her at cady_lang@claytonpioneer.com

School News CLAYTON VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL Clayton Valley High School Athletic Boosters Club will be hosting it 16th annual Crab Feed and Auction on Sat., Jan. 9 at 6 p.m. at the Centre Concord. This is a major fundraiser which directly benefits all athletic programs at CVHS. Seating is limited. Tickets are on sale now for $50/each at the school or online at www.cvhsboosters.org

For more information, go to crabfeed@cvhsboosters.org .

Students to perform in Music-A-Thon fundraiser More than 10 schools from the Mt. Diablo Unified School District will be participating in a Music-A-Thon on Jan. 16 to support the district’s music programs. The Mt. Diablo Music Education Foundation is hosting the fundraiser, which features different styles of music and vocals. Participating schools include Clayton Valley High School and Pine Hollow Middle School. The music will be performed 10 a.m.-10 p.m. in the Multi-Use Room at Concord High School, 4200 Concord Blvd., Concord. Music students will be collecting pledges, and donations will also be taken at the event. Tickets are $5 for adults and $3 for students. The fourth-grade instrumental music program was eliminated this year, and the district is planning to cut fifth-

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grade music the next school year. The Mt. Diablo Music Education Foundation was formed to raise awareness of the cuts and to solicit donations to support music education. While high schools in the district support a wide range of music programs, including orchestras, choral, jazz ensembles and band, the elimination of elementary music will start to erode the quality of the secondary music program. It has been shown that students who become involved in music education become better students, attend school more regularly than other students, score higher on state standardized tests than other students and stay engaged in school. For more information, visit mdmusicfoundation.org or call Michael McNally at 827-5706.

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Page 10

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

Local author’s passion for dogs drives her book on canine war heroes and their handlers

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January 8, 2010

ANDRÉ GENSBURGER Clayton Pioneer

Clayton’s Nicole Arbelo has a deep commitment to the subjects of her book “K9 Heroes,” the four-legged soldiers and their handlers she has spent many years learning about and meeting. So deep is this dedication that, as she tells you of the journey she has taken, her eyes well with tears. These real stories are poignant and offer a different side to places like Iraq and Afghanistan than the public gets through network news coverage. On the cover of her book, a photograph of Marine Sgt. Adam Cann and his K-9 Bruno begins the journey for this dog lover who was saved from a rattlesnake bite as a child by the family German shepherd. Arbelo came across a Website, anysoldier.com, that encourages civilians to communicate with the troops. The then 23-year-old Cann’s postings caught her eye. He was from her hometown of Davie, Fla., and although she never met him, they shared a mutual friend. Cann was killed Jan. 5, 2006, by a suicide bomb attack in Iraq. He was part of one of five K9 units in the area and the first K9 handler to die there – after two tours of duty. Arbelo wondered what had happened to Bruno. There was contradictory infor-

André Gensburger/Clayton Pioneer

NICOLE ARBELO POSES WITH CAPPIE, a canine rescue dog. She notes the similarities between Cappie and Military Working Dog Bruno, who appears on the cover of her book.

mation on Websites, some stating the dog had died while another reported an injury. “I had adopted two units (of soldiers),” Arbelo said of the anysoldier.com site, “and was looking to add another.” Then she came across Lance Corp. Justin Granado and his Military Working Dog (MWD) Bruno. “I wanted to find out if it was the same Bruno that Sgt. Cann had trained,” she said. Through Granado, she was able to confirm that it was the same dog as well as get in touch

with Cann’s family, his father Leigh and mother Carol. She met them at a dedication of the Adam Leigh Cann Canine Facility in Barstow in March 2008. “It was like meeting my second family,” Arbelo said of the experience. To make the meeting even more poignant, Granado brought Bruno to the dedication of the facility, which trains canines. War dogs are used to sniff out explosives, in addition to

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See Arbelo, page 13

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their strong guard dog instincts for base security. While using a dog to help guard a soldier is straightforward enough, the truth is that a large number of dogs are lost to bombs or in attacks that injure and kill their handlers. With several hundred military working dogs in Iraq and Afghanistan, the danger from the hot climate poses additional challenges. MWDs require special cooling vests that aren’t supplied by the military and are often sent from home. Jose Sparvoli from Clayton knows about the needs of German shepherds. His dog Cappie is a rescue from the Northern California German Shepherd Rescue Society. “We’ve had him for two years,” Sparvoli said. “He’s now a therapy dog.” Cappie visits children at Oakland’s Children’s Hospital. “A lot of canines are used for therapy,” he added. “When he jumps up on children, he is gentle barely touches them.” Sparvoli met Arbelo at the Clayton Starbucks and the two discussed their common interest in the dogs. “It’s a bond,” Arbelo said of people with service dogs. Arbelo works at Concord High School as an aide to the deaf and hard of hearing. This is her fifth school year. Having worked on her book for three years, she was delighted by the support she received from coworkers as well as the military personnel with whom she has come into contact. Only recently have qualified personnel with the needed training been allowed to keep their retired military working dogs, Arbelo reported.

MURELEEN BENTON FINANCIAL SENSE A low appetite for risk and lingering uncertainty about the health of the stock market has many consumers weighing the pros and cons of bonds and other fixed income investments. If you’re looking to invest in these steady return options, here are a few things you should keep in mind. Under normal economic conditions, stocks tend to outperform bonds over long periods of time. This makes them an attractive option for risk-tolerant investors who can handle seeing their assets fluctuate with the ups and downs of the stock market. Contrarily, bonds are fixed. Barring a default or other unusual event, bond investors receive their principal plus the assigned interest at the time of maturation. Exceptions to the rule exist. In periods of severe economic volatility, bond interest rates can yield higher returns than stocks. Until the stock market began to rally in the second half of 2009, the decade prior generally proved more favorable to bonds than stocks. This fact, coupled with a sense of uncertainty about the market, has driven some investors to recalibrate their portfolios’ bonds to stocks ratio. Now that it appears we are on the road to economic recovery, will bonds continue to generate higher returns going forward? Nobody can say for cer-

tain, but the low interest rate environment may be an obstacle that stands in the way of superior bond market performance in the years to come. Bond prices are affected by the direction of interest rates. When interest rates decline, bonds increase in price. When interest rates rise, bond prices fall. Returns for bondholders typically rise in an environment where interest rates are declining – a trend that has worked to the benefit of bond investors in the past decade. Suppose you invest in a bond from an issuer for $1,000 and it pays 4 percent interest. That amounts to $40 in annual income from the bond. If, one month later, the same issuer offers a $1,000 bond with a 5 percent interest rate, you could buy the same bond and receive an annual income of $50. In that case, the original bond you purchased that pays only $40 in income is no longer worth $1,000. To match the current market yield of 5 percent, a buyer would only offer $800 for your older bond to achieve a comparable yield based on the $40 annual income payout. That represents a 20 percent loss of investment principal. Of course, if you hold the bond until it matures, the issuer is obligated to repay the entire face value of the bond. Then again, if you wish to sell it in the secondary market prior to maturity, the bond has lost value – unless the interest rate environment has changed enough in your favor to compensate. Keeping in mind how interest rate movements affect bonds, consider the state of interest rates in today’s market. They are at relatively low levels on an historic basis. For example, one of the benchmark measures of the bond market, the 10-year U.S. Treasury note, had a yield of 3.4

percent as of Oct. 30. At the end of 1999, the same maturity government issue yielded 6.3 percent. The yield on the 10-year Treasury note has rarely dipped under 3 percent and typically is much higher. In fact, in the fall of 1981, 10-year Treasury note yields soared above 15 percent. The note of caution for investors is that long-term interest rates may not have much room to decline from current levels, limiting the potential upside for bond values. The greater risk in the current environment is that interest rates will rise, depressing values of existing bonds. If that occurs, it could have a detrimental impact on your bond portfolio. One way to measure interest rate risk in a bond mutual fund is to look at the fund’s duration. The longer the duration, the more it is affected by changes in interest rates. That can work to your advantage in a declining interest rate environment but will have a negative impact on your returns if rates move higher. Historically, interest rates have tended to move higher in periods of an economic recovery. This is important to bear in mind as you consider putting your money in bonds. If the economy continues to build steam, you may need to temper your expectations about future returns on your fixedincome portfolio.

Mureleen Benton is a Certified Financial Planner. Call her with questions at 685-4523 This information is provided for informational purposes only. The information is intended to be generic in nature and should not be applied or relied upon in any particular situation without the advice of your tax, legal and/or your financial advisor. The views expressed may not be suitable for every situation. Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc., Member NASD and SIPC, part of Ameriprise Financial, Inc.

Church News CHURCH WOMEN UNITED All are invited to attend “Standing Up For Human Rights,” a discussion about human trafficking and sexual exploitation of children, on Friday, Jan. 8. Learn the extent of this worldwide problem and what is being done to alleviate it. Coffee and registration begin at 9:30 a.m., with the program to follow at 10 a.m. at the Salvation Army Church, 3950 Clayton Road, Concord. The event is sponsored by Church Women United, an ecumenical movement of prayer, action and advocacy with women representing 70 denominations.

For more information, contact Lenita Shumaker at 672-1053. Call by Jan. 5 to reserve child care. BAHA’IS OF CLAYTON All are invited to a talk and evening of fellowship on Saturday, Jan. 9. The subject of the talk is “Like a Thief in the Night: The Relationship between Christ and Baha’u’llah. The speaker is Russell A. Ballew, an author who has spent most of his life in service to humanity. The program starts at 7:30 p.m. with a period of interfaith devotions, followed by Ballew’s presentation, at the Toloui residence in Clayton.

For more information and directions, call 672-6686.

January 8, 2010

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer .com

Page 11

Movie Review Est.1972

Compelling cast brings ‘Brothers’ together

DON PEDRO CRUZ

THE

MOVIES

“Brothers” brings a lot of acting firepower to the screen. From Sam Shepard and Mare Winningham in the supporting cast to Natalie Portman as the young wife of a missing, and presumed dead, Marine, the cast shines. But the title and center of the story belongs to Jake Gyllenhaal and Tobey Maguire played as polar opposites – so much so that it borders on cliché. The good brother, Sam (Maguire), is a stand-up family man and clean-cut football hero. The bad brother, Tommy (Gyllenhaal), is just out of prison, drinks, smokes, doesn’t shave and stirs up trouble simply by his very presence. But the differences seem to matter more to other people than to each other. When Sam picks up Tommy as he is

released from prison, a tiny smile passes between the two that dispels any tension. The glances they give each other across the dinner table are full of meaning that only they can understand and the events of the story push this brotherly bond to the limit. Sam is deployed to Afghanistan and soon the family gets word that he has been killed. Even if you haven’t seen the trailers, the attraction between Tommy and his brother’s widow seems inevitable. The vacuum that his brother’s death leaves

spurs Tommy to step up and walk in Sam’s “good” shoes for a while. When Sam turns up alive but mentally damaged by his war wounds, he becomes the bad one who can barely be around his own family. The reversal is devastating. Irish director Jim Sheridan has a habit of getting Oscarnominated performances from his actors in movies such as “My Left Foot” and “In the Name of the Father,” and this film deserves the same kind of attention. “Brothers” has some great moments as the characters

struggle to understand what’s going on with each other and try to express feelings for which they have no words. Shepard, as the boys’ father, brings his usual understated brilliance. As a tough Vietnam vet, he may empathize with his son’s crisis but doesn’t know how to reach out. When Sam accuses his brother of sleeping with his wife, Tommy’s inability to express his denial out loud feels very real. Another movie might have given the characters eloquent but misplaced monologues to vent their powerful feelings, but the actors here must reach out with their eyes, their body language and their fists to reveal their frustrations and fears. It’s a tough order, but the cast delivers. Finally, this well-acted film explores whether the brothers will find the right words – and hear them – in time to save themselves from destruction. “Brothers” is rated R mostly for some wartime violence and torture scenes.

Sam (Tobey Maguire) returns to his wife (Natalie Portman) and daughters (Bailee Madison and Taylor Geare) but finds his wartime experience in Afghanistan is impossible to leave behind in Lionsgate Films’ “Brothers.”

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as how your credit card is utilized. And, you can track rewards accounts on the site and see your transactions on a financial calendar. However, there is a glaring security issue with Yodlee. The Website stores IDs and passwords for your financial accounts and will display them if you provide the password you use for the site. If your Yodlee Money Center password is compromised, all of your accounts could be at risk. Yodlee is a decent service, provided your password is wellprotected. But security issues aside, its interface is clunky and a bit outdated compared to Mint’s simple, easy-access

INSTALLATION

housekeeping advice column. sions a career in New York, the The problem is Skeeter was Mecca of the publishing world. raised by nannies and maids and She proposes a book idea to an hasn’t the faintest idea about editor in New York and before how to remove ring around the she knows it, her idea takes collar or how to keep dogs from wing. However, she has to sell getting into the trashcans when the idea to Aibileen and to your lazy husband forgets to Aibileen’s best friend Minny and bring the cans in 10 other maids from the curb. in Jackson – no Luckily for her, easy task. one of Skeeter’s Skeeter probest friends, Miss poses to tell the Leefolt, employs a story of the very capable black maids’ lives, in maid named their own voices, Aibileen who can their victories answer any quesand their hearttion regarding b r e a k s . domestic mainteNaturally, not CYNTHIA GREGORY one of the nance. Aibileen is a good woman, a FOR THE BOOKS maids considers strong woman, a this a lucky dignified figure who has raised break or is willing to put her 17 white children in her domes- livelihood or life on the line for tic career. a crazy white woman’s idea of Though practically invisible an interesting story. to Miss Leefolt, Aibileen proThis is where “The Help” vides a door into an unimagined really starts to get good because world for Skeeter and rescues there is nothing more interesther from a suffocating life as a ing than one reluctant hero, member of the local gentry. much less a dozen. I don’t know And then, mad ideas begin about Jackson, Miss., specificalto occur to Skeeter. She envi- ly, but I do know that the ’60s

Websites, from page 8

COMPLETE LANDSCAPE

Don Pedro Cruz is a local freelance writer and graphic designer. Send your comments to dpvc2000@gmail.com

Delving into ‘The Help’ helps define ’60s

Another Website that functions like Mint is Yodlee Money Center, available at moneycenter.Yodlee.com. Yodlee also tracks your finances from various sources, though in a less elegant manner than Mint. For example, Yodlee Money Center’s dashboard page displays similar information and includes a nice spending tracker, but the data is less organized than Mint’s overview page. Yodlee does include some features that Mint lacks. For example, the site’s reports are highly customizable and you have better command over how things are categorized. You can also view more detailed spending reports, such

Roofing

Book Review

What I like about “The Help” by Kathryn Stockett is that the author doesn’t play it safe. She takes chances with character, time and place. This debut novel provides a snapshot of a time that doesn’t seem so long ago – 1962, in Jackson, Miss. Skeeter is a privileged white woman with a college degree and a refined sense of not belonging to the place she was born and raised. After returning home with a diploma to live like a respectable young woman with her parents until such time as she should snag a respectable husband, Skeeter yearns to begin her real life. In a remarkable twist that will determine her future, Skeeter takes a job as a reporter for the local paper. Her assignment is to write the weekly

Smith & Bernal

approach. If you’ve resolved to take better care of your money this year, sites like Mint and Yodlee can help you check this goal off your list. It’ll be easier than going to the gym more often

were a turbulent time. Civil rights. Political assassinations. Integration. Women’s rights. Student rights. An unpopular war. “The Help” makes that time real by taking one issue and making it personal – by telling the stories of a group of women who weren’t just on the front line, they were the front line. “The Help” is a story of the lies we can live with and the lies we can’t. It is about strength, courage and a willingness to tell the truth – regardless of the consequences. Read this one before it gets optioned for a movie, so you have something to compare with the film. Cynthia Gregory has won numerous awards for her short fiction. Her work has appeared in Glimmer Train Press, the Red Rock Review, Writer’s Digest, The Sun, The Ear, Santa Barbara Review, Black River Review, Briarcliff Review, Chicago Tribune, Bon Appetit, and the Herb Quarterly. You can write her at ceegregory@aol.com.

Mark Freeman is a student at St. Mary’s College in Moraga, studying economics and English. He enjoys creative writing and is a reporter for the school paper. Questions/comments can be sent to mfreeman543@gmail.com.

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Page 12

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

January 8, 2010

Clayton Community Calendar PLEASE SUBMIT YOUR CLAYTON COMMUNITY CALENDAR EVENTS BY 5 P.M. JAN. 10 FOR THE JAN. 22 ISSUE. ITEMS MUST BE SUBMITTED BY EMAIL TO calendar@claytonpioneer.com

EVENTS & ENTERTAINMENT Jan. 8 Second Friday Concert Series Featuring OMGG, a bluegrass group. Donation is $10, or $25 per family. 7:30 p.m., Walnut Avenue United Methodist Church, 250 Walnut Ave., Walnut Creek. Free childcare. 787-3038. Through Jan. 10 “Hats: The Musical” Willows Theatre presents a rollicking tribute to the Red Hat Ladies. 636 Ward St., Martinez. $22-$32. 798-1300 or willowstheatre.org. Jan. 18 Martin Luther King Day Celebration Speakers: Rev. Phil Lawson of East Bay Housing Organizations and Marianne Williamson, co-founder of the campaign to establish a U.S. Department of Peace. Noon, Civic Park Community Center, 1365 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek. Please bring nonperishable food items or large size disposable diapers for the Monument Crisis Center. 933-7850.

Jan. 25-Feb. 28 “Brimstone” An epic love story set in the angst of Northern Ireland and the IRA. Willows’ Campbell Theatre, 636 Ward St., Martinez. 798-1300 or willowstheatre.org.

SCHOOLS Jan. 13 Diablo View Middle School Parent Faculty Club 7 p.m., DVMS library, 300 Diablo View Lane, Clayton. Jan. 27 College Admissions Workshop For parents of middle school students. 7-9 p.m., Diablo View Middle School multi-use room, 300 Diablo View Lane, Clayton. RSVP by sending a check for $10 per person or $15 per couple payable to DVMS PFC to Tami Smith, 5213 Keller Ridge Dr., Clayton CA 94517.

MEETINGS Jan. 12, 26 Clayton Planning Commission 7 p.m., Hoyer Hall, Clayton Library, 6125 Clayton Road. 673-7304 or ci.clayton.ca.us. Jan. 12, 26 Mt. Diablo Unified School District 7:30 p.m., 1936 Carlotta Dr., Concord. mdusd.org. Jan. 19 Clayton City Council 7 p.m., Hoyer Hall, Clayton Library, 6125 Clayton Road. 673-7304 or ci.clayton.ca.us.

AT THE LIBRARY The Clayton Library is at 6125 Clayton Road. Most programs are free. 673-0659 or clayton-library.org.

FUNDRAISERS Jan. 9 CVHS Athletic Boosters Crab Feed To benefit athletics at Clayton Valley High School. $50. 6 p.m., Centre Concord, 5298 Clayton Road. To make a donation, email crabfeed@cvhsboosters.org or call 6720418. Or www.cvhsboosters.org. Jan. 16 Mt. Diablo Music-a-Thon A 12-hour marathon of music by Mt. Diablo Unified School District music students to raise funds for music programs. Sponsored by Mt. Diablo Music Education Foundation. $5 adults, $3 children. Donations also accepted. 10 a.m.-10 p.m., Multi-Use Room, Concord High School, 4200 Concord Blvd., Concord. 827-5706 or mdmusicfoundation.org.

Jan. 21 Short Attention Span Circus Juggling, magic and fun for all ages. Sponsored by the Clayton Community Library Foundation. 4 p.m. Through March 2 Patty Cakes Story time for babies to 3-year-olds. Child attends with caregiver. Drop in 11 a.m. Tuesdays. Through March 4 Picture Book Time Story time for 3- to 5-year-olds. Child may attend without caregiver. Drop in 11 a.m. Thursdays.

CLUBS

YMCA Get in Shape in 2010. Attend an Open House 8:30-11:30 a.m. Jan. 9 at Endeavor Hall, 6008 Center St., Clayton, to learn about the new adult and youth health and wellness programs that begin Jan. 11. Programs will include yoga, Zumba, sports conditioning and boot camps. Visit mdrymca.org or contact Brittney at 6922362 or ccyprograms@mdrymca.org. Adult Volleyball Teams are back in action Jan. 14. Contact Brittney at 6922362 or ccyprograms@mdrymca.org. Youth Basketball League begins Jan. 16 for beginners and intermediate players. Play is 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturdays. Call 889-1600 or Brittney at 692-2362. Or mdrymca.org. Adult Basketball League starts Jan. 24. Teams and individual players welcome. Contact Jennifer at 692-2364 or jbeck@mdrymca.org.

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. Clayton Valley Garden Club Meets 7 p.m. the second Wednesday of the month, Diamond Terrace, 6401 Center St., Clayton. The next meeting is Feb. 10. claytonvalleygardenclub.org. Clayton Valley Woman’s Club Meets 9:30 a.m. for coffee, 10 a.m. meeings, second and fourth Tuesdays of the month, Holy Cross Lutheran Church, 1090 Alberta Way, Concord. Call Joyce at 672-3850. 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. Concord Stompers Square Dance Club Meets 7:30 p.m. Wednesdays, Mt. Diablo Women’s Club,

Mon - Fri 10-6 Sat 10-5

1700 Farm Bureau Road, Concord. Call Jennie at 672-9676 or angelfire.com/id/stompers. Contra Costa Chess Club 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. Contra Costa Mineral and Gem Society Meets 7:30 p.m. second Monday of the month, Centre Concord, 5298 Clayton Road. 779-0698 or ccmgs.org. Creekside Artists Guild 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 artists welcome. Contact Arlene at 673-9777 or nielsenjanc@aol.com. creeksideartists.org. Diablo Valley Democratic Club Meets 7 p.m. the third Wednesday of the month, Ygnacio Valley Library, 2661 Oak Grove Road, Walnut Creek. 9460469 or dvdems.org. Diablo Valley Macintosh Users Group Meets 6:30-9 p.m. the third Tuesday of the month. Bancroft Elementary School, 2700 Parish Dr., Walnut Creek. 6891155 or dvmug.org. 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. Knights Of Columbus, Concord Council 6038 Meets 7:30 p.m. the first Wednesday of the month, except holidays, Cauchi Hall, St. Agnes Catholic Church, 3966 Chestnut St, Concord. Contact George at 685-9547 or visit kofc6038.org. Rotary Club of Clayton Valley/Concord Sunrise 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. Scrabble Club Meets 11 a.m.-4:30 p.m. second and fourth Saturdays of the month, Carl’s Jr. Restaurant, 1530 Kirker Pass Road, Clayton. All ages and skill levels welcome. $3 fee. Call Mike at 639-1987 or scrabble-assoc.com. Sons In Retirement (SIRs) Meets 11:15 a.m. the first Thursday of the month, Crown Plaza Hotel, 45 John Glenn Dr., Concord. The chapter no longer meets at Oakhurst Country Club. 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. Widows/Widowers Meets for dinner, brunch, theater, etc. This is not a dating service nor is it a greiving class - just a way to meet other people. Contact Lori at 998-8844 or lori@lorihagge.com.

Send your calendar announcements to calendar@claytonpioneer.com. Free listings must be from a non-profit, school, club or government agency. Business events are $25 for the first event and $10 for each additional. Call the office at (925) 672-0500 with your business event listings.

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January 8, 2010

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

Page 13

Chewing and brushing will help keep pets’ teeth healthy between cleanings MARYBETH RYMER,

PAWS

AND

DVM

CLAWS

February is Pet Dental Health Month, so starting in January, veterinarians will offer discounts for dental exams and other special promotions. If you have been putting off your pet’s dental care, this is time to call your veterinarian. Sixty to seventy percent of all pets over the age of 3 have periodontal disease and need immediate dental care. The overall health of your pet can be seriously affected by neglected oral hygiene. The bacteria found in the dental calculus can result in seriously diseased teeth and gums. From the mouth, the same bacteria can travel to and infect the gastro-intestinal track, liver, kidneys and heart – causing premature deterioration of these vital organs. Signs of dental disease include bad breath, yellow or brown teeth, red inflamed gums, broken, loose or missing teeth and sensitivity around the mouth. Pet dental care starts at home. Feeding dry foods and dental treats with the Veterinary Oral Health Council approval helps to reduce plaque and tarter build-up. Appropriate dental chew toys, such as the

firm but soft rubber of the Kong product, will provide gingival exercise. Brushing your pet’s teeth two to three times a week is the best way to significantly prevent dental disease, yet only 2 percent of pet owners routinely brush their pet’s teeth. Follow these steps for a successful start: Begin working with your pet’s mouth. Choose a convenient time when your pet is relaxed. For the first few days, hold your pet as you normally do when petting it. Slowly lift your pet’s lip and gently massage the teeth and gums with your finger. End with praise and a healthy dental treat. Introduce pet toothpaste. After your pet accepts this handling, apply pet toothpaste to your finger and gently rub your pet’s teeth and gums. Many pets love the malt, beef, poultry or salmon flavors and consider it a treat. Unlike human toothpaste, there is no need to rinse since pet toothpaste has no detergents to cause digestive when swallowed. Begin using a pet toothbrush. Only the outer surfaces need to be brushed since the normal tongue action reduces tarter build-up on the inside of the teeth. Your veterinarian can provide an appropriate pet toothbrush. Place a small amount of toothpaste on the brush. Gently raise your pet’s

lip and place the brush against the upper molars, pointing the bristles at a 45-degree angle to the gum line. Brush back and forth. Then point the bristles down, brushing the lower molars as your pet attempts to chew on the brush. Be careful not to go beyond your pet’s comfort level. Increase brushing until you spend about 30 seconds of brushing per side. Always reward your pet with praise and a healthy dental treat. As we know with our own teeth, not even the best home care prevents tarter build-up and regular professional cleaning is needed. Because our pets do not understand to sit still during a dental cleaning and the conformation of their mouths makes it harder to reach the back teeth, proper cleaning cannot be done with the animal awake. General anesthesia is required for a thorough teeth/gum examination, measurement of pockets, dental Xrays, proper cleaning and for

TULE

Texas is a busy bee of a fellow who can’t wait to start his new life. He’s hoping to find adopters who’ll be able to provide him with plenty of mental and physical exercise. Attending training classes will be a great way for him to learn the skills he’ll need to become a well mannered companion. The adoption fee for adult dogs is $225 and includes 60 percent off one 7-week dog training session. Tule is nice girl that needs a

gentle family that will take their time with getting to know her. She is shy at first, but over time she becomes more outgoing to the people she knows. If you are looking for a sweet girl, Tule is your gal. 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. Would you like to be part of the heroic team that saves the lives of rescued dogs and cats? Can you share your talents to connect people and animals? ARF volunteers are making a difference! For more information see our website, www.arf.net, or call 925.256.1ARF.

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advanced dentistry such as extractions or root canals. To prepare for safe anesthesia, your veterinarian will perform a thorough exam and recommend laboratory tests. It is important to remove the unseen tarter below the gum line. This cannot be done in a “non-anesthetic” cleaning. If not removed, the bacteria in the tarter will destroy bone – creating serious periodontitis and tooth loss. After scaling, fluoride polishing will smooth out surface crevices where bacteria and plaque will quickly reattach. Usually a two week dental re-check is recommended to confirm proper gum healing and to discuss a dental health care program that fits you and your pet’s lifestyle. With the help of your veterinary team, you can start off the new year with a good oral health program for your pets.

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from page 10 The family of Cpl. Dustin Lee, who was killed in action in March 2007, petitioned the military to allow his MWD Lex to be adopted by the family. Lex had been injured in the rocket attack that killed Lee. “Prior to the Lee family, retired dogs were euthanized,” Arbelo said. Arbelo hopes her book will help raise awareness of this integral part of the ongoing war that seems to receive only minimal attention and perhaps add to donations for the cooling vests these dogs need. “There are so many emotional parts of these stories,” she said. “It becomes so personal. Handlers will tell you that with their dogs, they are a team of one. Their lives become so entwined. These stories need to be told.” The book is available at Clayton Books, other book sellers and online at amazon.com.

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Page 14

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

January 8, 2010

Clayton Sports U.S. Olympic bobsled berth beckons Berkeley JAY BEDECARRÉ Clayton Pioneer

bobsled events, and Berkeley is hoping to compete in both.

It’s a long and winding road that brought Chuck Berkeley from glamorous winter sports stops all over the globe to hanging out in Clayton with his daughters Amaya and Jasenia. Within the next week or so, he’ll find out if that road continues to Vancouver, B.C., where he hopes to represent the United States in the bobsled at the Winter Olympic Games beginning Feb. 12. The United States will have two or three sleds in the Olympics. Berkeley, who burst onto the team in 2007, is literally pushing for his spot on the USA II sled. He’s currently the left side pusher on the four-man sled driven by John Napier. He will soon be in a “push off ” to maintain his spot on the U.S. team for its final preOlympic meets in Germany and Switzerland. The Olympics include four-man and two-man

DECIDING TO MOVE WEST Berkeley has called Clayton home while living with his sister Tonia and her husband Scott Chaves since selling his Concord home a couple years back. He’s a regular at Peet’s Coffee and can also be seen around town with his daughters. And seen he is, standing 6 foot 5 and weighing a fit 230 pounds. A native of Pittsfield in western Massachusetts, Berkeley excelled in football and track in high school. He went to a junior college in Illinois but ended up with a track coach “who was MIA and neglected the team.” He returned home to work as a pressman at the local newspaper. His sister had moved to the Bay Area and Berkeley decided to visit her. He went to an Oakland Raiders game and found the area “pretty awesome,” prompting a decision to move west.

Photo courtesy Berkeley family

FORMER CAL BERKELEY TRACK STAR CHUCK BERKELEY has been calling Clayton home for the past couple of years as he trained for a berth on the U. S. Olympic bobsled team. He took time off from his grueling off-season regimen to take his daughters Amaya (left) and Jasenia to Waterworld in Concord.

His college credits didn’t all transfer to Diablo Valley College, so he wasn’t able to take part in track there. Although he was working out with DVC team, he visited the office of Cal Berkeley track coach Erv Hunt one day. “I didn’t fully understand the prestige of Cal, but I walked into the coach’s office and asked him for a track scholarship.” Hunt invited him to all comers meets in February 1998. After running 21.5 in the 200 meters and 48.0 in the 400, he was offered a full-ride scholarship. He competed for the Golden Bears through 2000 and eventually got his liberal arts degree in 2003, after his second daughter was born. He hoped to continue his track career in the 400 meters on the lucrative European circuit. Although he was already into a real estate career, he also tried the 400 intermediate hurdles but never was quite fast enough. A chipped ankle in 2005 forced him to give up the quest. TAKING A CHANCE In 2007, his marriage fell apart and his real estate business “tanked” as the housing market collapsed. The only bright light was his reintroduction to bobsledding. He was first exposed to the sport at Cal, where assistant track coach Ed Miller was training Darrin Steele, a two-time Olympic bobsledder who also took part in the 2000 Olympic trials in the decathlon. On a whim, Berkeley went to the USA Bobsled Federation Website and submitted his resume in 2007. The American bobsled team in recent years has recruited outstanding athletes to be pushers (a task that combines

Photo courtesy US Bobsled Federation

CHUCK BERKELEY is seeking to follow in the footsteps of American Olympians from Clayton, Erin Dobratz and Daron Rahlves, as he tries to keep his position on the USA II sled for the Vancouver Olympic Games in February. Berkeley is the left side pusher for the American team.

strength and speed) to compete in a sport long dominated by Europeans. Heisman Trophy winner Herschel Walker and gold medalist hurdler Edwin Moses have been on the U.S. team. Berkeley was invited to a camp at Lake Placid, N.Y., in April 2007. It was there that he was exposed to his first fullspeed sled ride – which averages 80 mph for the two-man and 84 for the four-man. “It was unbelievable. I thought there was something wrong with the sled,” he recalls. “It was so loud and too fast. My back was so bad I couldn’t slide

the last day.” MAKING THE OLYMPIC TEAM The coaches were “pretty impressed” and invited Berkeley to join the team. His first meet was a World Cup race in Calgary and he placed 16th at the World Championships with driver Napier. The next year, he was fifth with Todd Hays in the twoman World Cup in Konigssee, Germany. He began increasingly strenuous off-season workouts at Cal, combining weight training with sprints. This season, he was having a successful run with Hays. However, a crash in

Germany a couple weeks ago injured Hays to the extent the driver had to retire from the sport. The team was using a new sled that had a steering problem and hit a bump on the ice while experiencing 4 or 5 Gs. Berkeley suffered a cracked rib but claims it’s “just an annoyance I have to put up with.” The United States won its first Olympic bobsled medal in 46 years with Hays driving to a silver medal in 2002. The men’s team was shutout in 2006, so they have much to prove as the Winter Games come back to North America.

Coach optimistic about young Eagles wrestlers JAY BEDECARRÉ Clayton Pioneer

Kyle Behmlander has been around the Clayton Valley High School wrestling program for nine years and can’t recall a younger team than this season’s Eagles. “We have lots of freshmen and sophomores, but the team is working very hard – which bodes well for the next three seasons,” the coach says.

Despite a squad with little experience, Behmlander set an ambitious schedule for his wrestlers. They were in Reno last week for the Sierra Nevada Classic after taking part in two East County tournaments during December– the prestigious Lou Bronzan Tournament at Liberty in Brentwood and the Freedom Dual Tournament in Oakley. “We placed seventh at Liberty, which is outstanding,”

Behmlander notes. More tournaments in Sonoma, Auburn, Fremont and the team’s own Clayton Valley Invitational are on the horizon, sandwiched around DVAL dual meets. Senior leadership will come from Dylan Mitchell at 130 pounds, Adam Lee at 215 and heavyweight Zach Bangert. Lee, Bangert and junior Brian Gentry (152) got a late start on the season after finishing the fall

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football campaign in the North Coast Section playoffs for the Eagles. Sophomores Kenta Caproni (119), Josh Johnson (125), Bryan Jimenez (135), Radcliff Humphrey (145) and Troy Lakin (103) figure to get plenty of mat time for the varsity. Lakin took fourth in the Bronzan Tournament, as did Lee. Mitchell captured the silver medal. Freshmen challenging for first-team action are Matt McCoy

(112), Sam Swift (125) and Logan Bangert (160). Juniors Aaron Swift (171), Ben O’Connor (189) and Bobby Rodriguez (140) also hold down No. 1 spots in their weight classes. The Clayton Valley Invitational is on Jan. 16. Known as the “best one-day tournament in California,” the event last year had 34 state qualifiers and 10 state placers from six sections – Northern, North Coast, Central Coast, Sac

Joaquin, San Francisco and Nevada. “We expect to do well in DVAL competition,” Behmlander adds. “College Park is defending champion. I expect them and Northgate to be our biggest challengers.” The coach is hoping his team will peak when the DVAL and NCS meets roll around in February. By then, the freshmen and sophomores will have plenty of matches under their belts.

January 8, 2010

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

Page 15

Clayton Sports Team Riley comes from behind to win Tahoe Classic MIKE METZ Special to the Pioneer

Photo courtesy of Mike Metz

THOSE

M&M TAHOE CLASSIC

INCLUDED,

first row, Chris Cozort, Randy Morris, Kevin Allen, Mike Metz, Rob Sheffield, Jay Polshuk, Steve Johnson, Sean Lally and Capt. Mike Banducci. Second row, Roger Mazza, Ed Christiansen, John Marr, Fred Hunziker, Jim Linck and Capt. Mark Riley. Back row, Jim Westermeyer, Mike West, Vaughn Stephens, Joe Medrano and Mark Smith. COMPETING IN THE

Sports Shorts LITTLE LEAGUE ACCEPTING LATE SIGNUPS

Signups are still being held for Clayton Valley Little League teams. CVLL includes baseball for 5- to 16-year-olds and softball for 6- to 15-year-olds. For more information, including residency requirements, fees and schedules, visit cvll.org. Tryouts begin Jan. 23.

Twenty members of Oakhurst Country Club recently ventured to Truckee to compete in the 8th annual M&M Tahoe Classic golf tournament, a highly contested, boisterous, match play competition. This year’s teams were captained by the original trip’s founders, Mark Riley and Mike Banducci. Day one best ball matches, held at Coyote Moon, found the heavily favored Team Banducci taking a 3.5-1.5 lead. However, with 10 points still available during the next day’s singles matches, the out-

Clayton Valley High School’s varsity football team avenged a lopsided loss in its homecoming game to Concord High when the Eagles overran the Minutemen 48-28 in the opening round of the North Coast Section playoffs in November. Evidently that wasn’t enough of a revenge factor. Clayton Valley later defeated Concord 42-22 in an alumni football game at Diablo Valley College on Dec. 19. Concord took a 22-14 lead before the Eagle alums scored the game’s last four touchdowns to settle the season’s action between the rivals.

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Metz, his second at this course in three years, using a 7 iron on the Par 3, 208-yard 17th hole. At the post tournament award ceremony, Banducci won Lowest Net. The Most Improved, “Johnny-on-theSpot” award went to Randy Morris for the solid 2 points he contributed to Riley’s winning team. Ed Christiansen won Rookie of the Year honors, while the coveted Jug award went to Roger Mazza. The Bad Driver award was given to Chris Cozort, not for his astute golf game but rather his sedan driving skills. This year’s M&M MVP was earned by Metz for his hole-in-one prowess.

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Clayton Valley alumni football defeats Concord High

CVHS 2010 HALL OF FAME The Clayton Valley High School Athletic Hall of Fame committee is accepting nominations for the 2010 induction class. Individuals can nominate student athletes and coaches to the Hall of Fame. The requirement is that the nominee was a CVHS grad or coach in the years 1960-1989 who was allleague in at least one sport. The initial Hall of Fame ceremony

come wasn’t guaranteed. The first team to reach 8, with 1 point for a match win and a half point for a tied match, would claim bragging rights for this year’s M&M team trophy. Using the “Three Trees” tee box, at a length of 6,944 yards, the links course at Old Greenwood was a challenge for all participants – not only for its imposing length but for its equally uncompromising fast greens. Team Riley prevailed with a final tally of 8.56.5. Riley “handicapped” his team well to accomplish this come from behind victory. The rounds were highlighted by a hole-in-one by Mike

Photo courtesy of the Fitzgerald family

THE VICTORIOUS EAGLES included, front row (lying down) from left, Diego Sanchez, Jason Poltl, Kyle Fitzgerald, Matt Underwood, Chase Cassity; kneeling, Donnie Rath, John Barton, Darryl Rath, Denny Guttry, Mo Hatefi, Don Maich, Sean Connors, Ryan Nist, Tommy McDevitt and Robbie Adan. Standing, Justin Younger, Erik Oxenbol, Robert Bartnik, Ricky Valenzuela, Brian Pike, Brett Ballard, Zach Bednarz, Addison Rosenbalt, Ryan Cassity, Jesse Hunt, coach Herc Pardi, Kyle Ballard, Danny McDowell, Paul Reynaud and Stephen Horton.

9 th th Season

Soccer coaches look for strong seasons JAY BEDECARRÉ Clayton Pioneer

Although they only have one year of head coaching experience at the school between them, Clayton Valley High School soccer coaches Rory Gentry and Scott Booth have set high expectations for the boys and girls teams as they resume Diablo Valley Athletic League play this week. Booth moved up from the junior varsity level to take over the girls soccer head coach position, replacing CVHS Athletic Director Pat Middendorf – who stepped down after her 14th season. Middendorf leaves a strong legacy as the Eagles have become perennial North Coast Section qualifiers. Her career coaching record was 143-33-29, with her teams winning or drawing 84 percent of their games. “She will be a tough act to follow,” Booth says. On the boys side, Gentry begins his second year in charge of the Eagles after a fine sixyear run at Concord High – where he rejuvenated the Minuteman soccer program. Gentry and Booth have each also been involved with the local soccer program for many years on the AYSO and club soccer

levels. “My expectations for the team this year are to expect the very best from each other, win as many games as possible and have fun,” Booth says. He has two excellent resources on his staff, CV alumnus Megan Swann and Brazilian World Cup star Sissi. “We are committed to giving these young women the tools they need to be successful,” Booth adds. The Eagles have a core of excellent returning players to lead the way. Seniors Morgan Nichols (goalkeeper), central defender Cherie Lapating and forward Susan Antaki are joined by versatile junior midfielders/forwards Kelsey Booth and Tori Kobold as team stalwarts. They all earned AllDVAL honors last year. Alicia Roberts returns in the midfield, while new varsity members are Celeste Piper, Alison Marines, Simone Miranda, Janel Guzman, Renee Roccanova, Bridgette Leblow, Megan Dwyer and Samantha Boeger. “DVAL should be very competitive this year,” Booth says. “For many games, it will come down to who is healthy and who is not. Our goal is to finish on top this year, which should put us in a good position for NCS.”

During pre-season play, the team had early losses to California High and Monte Vista but opened up league strong against Berean Christian with a 1-0 win before Christmas. The team followed with “a fantastic 1-0 win” over former league arch-rival Carondelet, which had defeated defending NCS champions San Ramon Valley a week earlier. In their final tune-up before entering the busy DVAL, the team faced four strong opponents in the prestigious Tri Valley tournament. They opened with a 2-0 win over Granada, then lost 1-0 to St. Ignatius before drawing 1-1 against both Amador Valley and Liberty. “This was an excellent opportunity for us to gauge where we are as a team, identify key learnings and build on these experiences,” Booth says. Gentry also set the bar high for his Eagles boys. “The DVAL has many of the top teams in the East Bay, including College Park, Ygnacio Valley, Northgate and Concord. Our goal is to be league champion,” Gentry says. “However, there are three or four contenders for that spot.” He expects to gain a high seed for the NCS playoffs and do well in that season-ending competition.

Gentry will rely on several returning players from his first Eagles squad to lead the way. A quartet of seniors – goalkeeper Dale Nelson, midfielder Fernando Vesga, defender/midfielder Nick Sharapata and defender Alejandro Chavez – provide experience and leadership. Sophomore Josh Gomez returns in the midfield. Sharapata was DVAL Most Valuable Defensive Player last year, while Vesga was All-DVAL first team. Making their varsity debuts are Zach Punty, Zarel Avila, Kevin Sanchez and freshman Elisama Padilla. Also in the mix for playing time are Christian Duenas, Nelson Powell and Sam Marchant. They will all be counted on by Gentry to replace departing seniors Chris McNally, Alex Placensia, Alex Duenas and Anthony Cogo. Highlights from the pre-holiday schedule for the Eagles include a second-place finish in the Silver Division of the Winter Classic tournament, where their only loss was to reigning NCS Division II champion Acalanes. They defeated Pittsburg, Freedom and drew with Monte Vista. They have scored 20 goals while giving up only four, just one from open play, while racking up seven wins and a draw in nine games.

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January 8, 2010

Willows moves all operations to Martinez location TAMARA STEINER Clayton Pioneer

Although the Willows Theatre Company was forced to turn out the lights at the Concord main stage in November, all is not dark. The company has shifted operations to their newly refurbished cabaret-style Campbell Theatre in downtown Martinez. Hit hard by a two-year recession, the Concord theater closed in November when a last-ditch appeal for funds fell short of the $350,000 needed to keep the 34-year-old company operating in the Willows Shopping Center. “There really is a sense of relief now that Concord has wound down,” admits general manager Chris Butler-Marshall. “The decision was difficult but not without its bright side.” The city of Martinez has rolled out the welcome mat to the company. “The restaurants in Martinez are ecstatic,” she says.

Robbery,

And the company’s season subscribers stepped up in a big way. “Within hours after the letters announcing shift to the Martinez location went out to the patrons, the phones were ringing off the hook,” ButlerMarshall says. All but a handful of the company’s 3,000 patrons changed their Willows tickets for the new season at the Campbell Theatre. “It just proves that we are not defined by a stage,” says marketing representative David Faustina. “We are about professional, regional theater and we offer an experience that is unique in the Bay Area.” “We’ve managed to make it through and come out the other side,” says Butler-Marshall. “And we’re excited about the new space and new direction.” The 2010 season opens Jan. 25 with “Brimstone,” which debuted at the Willows 10 years ago. The epic love story, set in the angst of Northern Ireland and the IRA, won five Critic’s

from page 1

The robbers ran and were gone by the time police arrived. Police suspect that it wasn’t the first time the two men had

been in the house. “We don’t know who these men are,” said DeCoite, “but it seems they knew exactly where things were.”

average day in the life of Charlie Brown and the characters of the Peanuts cartoon strip. Late summer brings “Six Women with Brain Death, or Expiring Minds Want to Know,” Aug. 16-Sept. 12. A fast-paced, take-no-prisoners satire of life and pop culture at the end of the millennium, “Six Women” is an entirely feminine view of the world. The season continues with a director’s choice selection in October. And finally, everyone’s favorite nuns, the Little Sisters of Hoboken, are back in the West Coast premiere of “Nunset Boulevard” wrapping up the 2010 season, Nov. 29Dec. 31. DESPITE BEING FORCED TO CLOSE THEIR CONCORD MAINSTAGE, the Willows Theatre Company is looking forward to a full 2010 season at their Martinez venue.

The Campbell Theatre is at 636 Ward St. in downtown Martinez, one block east of Main Street. The daytime box office, at 115 Tarantino Dr., Martinez, is open noon-5 p.m. Monday through Friday. For more information, call 798-1300 or visit willowstheatre.org.

Choice awards and “is a real success story for us,” says Butler-Marshall. “Brimstone” runs through Feb. 28.

Next is the lighter “8 Track: The Sounds of the ’70s,” March 15-April 18. “We already have people calling for tickets for

Charges against the men could include robbery, burglary and false imprisonment. Police urge anyone with information about the crime to call Clayton Police at 673-7350.

For first book, author focuses on friendship LOU FANCHER Clayton Pioneer

Shorts, from page 15 was held during the school’s 50th anniversary year in 2008. Requests for a nomination form can be sent via e-mail to cvhalloffame@yahoo.com. Include a mailing address and an application form will be mailed to you. DIABLO FC SOCCER WINTER ACADEMY

Diablo FC is holding its ninth annual Winter Soccer Academy Jan. 11-Feb. 18, 5-6 p.m. Monday and Thursday at Willow Pass Park No. 5, adjacent to the Willow Pass tennis courts in Concord. The renowned Diablo FC professional coaching staff will teach boys and girls 5-12 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. There are no tryouts. Sign up at diablofc.org or at the first session.

“Just sit down and write,” author D.W. Buffa told first-time novelist Judith Marshall years ago. And so she did. “Husbands May Come and Go but Friends are Forever,” a dramatic, tightly composed story of five female friends, is the result. Marshall, who has lived in Concord close to the Clayton border most of her life, speaks with refreshing honesty about her foray into writing. “If I had known how much I didn’t know, I would never have had the courage to finish it,” she says. After cranking out a first draft, she joined the California Writer’s Club and learned what she didn’t know about writing and discovered the value of knowing oneself. After years of working as a human resources professional, it was time for a change. “I was working 60-80 hours a week, but I wasn’t having any fun,” she notes. Describing her prewriting life as unconscious – “like when you drive home and don’t know how you got there” – she woke up, set up her own consulting business and began to write. A fateful chain of events steered the book’s subject. Reading “Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood,” experiencing single motherhood and relishing the support of friends, Marshall wrote about what she knew: female friendship. Growing up, Marshall wasn’t particularly close to her family. “I always considered myself an

this show,” Faustina notes. May 3-June 6, “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown” takes the audience through an

only child,” she says. Her older stepbrother and stepsister were out of range by virtue of age and a home life she labels as “dysfunctional.” It’s a powerful term, until she extends the description – stating that most of her high school friends felt the same disconnect with their families. The friendships these young women formed were unique, perhaps because of the emotional growth that happens during this time of life, Marshall suggests. The women remain close. “We support each other as if we are blood sisters,” she says. The characters in “Husbands May Come and Go but Friends are Forever” are a rowdy, forthright group. While the novel is fictional, it parallels Marshall’s joie de vivre. “Friendship takes work,” she says. “I think the thing that keeps it going is effort.” As if to prove her point, she drums up a few more vital ingredients: “a sense of humor” and later, “forgiveness.” It’s all warm and cozy, until she applies the brakes with a rule: “You only get to complain about something for so long, then you have to shut up and do something about it.” According to Marshall, 90 percent of writing is tenacity. “You have to do most of the marketing, promotion and distribution by yourself. Most writers like the creative part, but the marketing part, they say ‘Oh no, I don’t want to do that.’ ” As with her deep friendships, finding a publisher for her first novel was a process. She queried more than 200 agents, test-mar-

Scouts, from page 1 Canyon Road when she was a child. Even then, traffic was a concern for her family traveling to Clayton from their home in Berkeley. “They used to leave early to avoid the traffic, probably all of 20 cars,” she said with a laugh. The museum resides in the house once owned by O’Grady’s Aunt Iola and Uncle Neff Christy. Across the street sits the house where her Aunt

Dolores (Dolly) Murchio lived and ran the post office from her front room. The building now houses Skipolini’s Pizza. “I learned a lot more about Clayton’s history, and I learned to appreciate it a lot more,” said Agronow. “I never really realized how much history Clayton had before.” Minorsky also enjoyed learning about the area’s history. “That’s why we’re all here. Without those people, Clayton

Tamara Steiner/Clayton Pioneer

Judith Marshall at her book signing at Clayton Books in November

keted sample copies and sought feedback from reviewers and impartial acquaintances. In the end, she abandoned the pursuit of a big publisher. “It’s silly to keep trying to nail Jell-O to a tree,” she says of her decision to choose a small, independent press. When she’s not out promoting her first novel, she’s hard at work on “Staying Afloat,” her second, and mulling “Bitter Acres,” her third. She relies on good fortune, trusting fate and friends to lead her to what she has always sought – a life’s work both personally rewarding and corporately significant. “Husbands May Come and Go, but Friends Are Forever” is available at Clayton Books.

wouldn’t be what it is today,” she said. “None of us would be living here.” Through the project, Raymond said she learned more about her own motivations. “It’s like they say, you can’t really know where you’re going until you know where you’ve been. I feel like who my ancestors were would help define who I am and where I’m going to be. “It’s made me want to have a voice in the community, made me want to take up leadership positions and make a difference in the world.”

January 8, 2010

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer .com

Page 17

CCWD offers rebates for lawn replacement area must be replaced with a drip system if irrigation is used. Before starting work, customers must have their plans for a new landscape reviewed and approved by CCWD staff. Projects started without a CCWD Notice to Proceed letter will not qualify for a rebate. Only plants listed on the CCWD Approved Plant List qualify. The list can be found at ccwater.com/conserve. If you already replaced your lawn with water-efficient plants, you cannot apply for a rebate because the program is not retroactive. Customers can only apply for one rebate per water account. If you are installing irrigation for the new landscaped area, it must be a drip system. The drip system must include a pressure regulator, filter and pressure-compensating emitters. If only part of a lawn is replaced with water-efficient landscaping, the remaining lawn must be irrigated separately from the new landscape and the sprinkler system for

Sponsored by Contra Costa Water District You can save water, reduce your water bill and improve the environment by replacing a water-thirsty lawn with a waterefficient landscape. For a limited time, the Contra Costa Water District (CCWD) is offering rebates to customers who replace their front lawns and other publicly visible lawns with water-efficient landscaping. The WaterEfficient Landscape Rebate Program was approved by the board in November. The program is open to CCWD’s residential, commercial and municipal customers including those in Clayton. The rebate is fifty cents per square foot for lawn replaced. The maximum rebate is $500 for residential customers and $5,000 for commercial and municipal customers. No addi-

Drought tolerant plants can provide great interest and texture to landscaping as this Concord yard shows. Replace your lawn and save water and money. tional rebate is available for material or labor costs. The existing lawn areas to be replaced must be in front yards or in areas visible to the

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the lawn must be modified to eliminate overspray onto the new landscaped area. To participate in the WaterEfficient Landscape Rebate Program, visit ccwater.com/conserve and click on the link to the Pilot Water-Efficient Landscape Rebate Program. Read the terms and conditions. Then, call 688-8320 to schedule a pre-inspection and request an application. After the pre-inspection, return the application to CCWD and wait for your Notice to Proceed Letter. Do not start work until you receive your letter. Once you receive a Notice to Proceed Letter, you have four months from the date on the letter to complete your project. Schedule a post-inspection when your project is completed. A CCWD staff member will verify that your project meets the program’s terms and conditions. A rebate check will be processed and mailed to you.

Plant lovers, scope out these new beauties for 2010 gardens

NICOLE HACKETT

GARDEN GIRL All sorts of new things come with the advent of a new year. New cars, new movies, a new Madden football video game and, of course, new plants and perennials. Hybridizers work hard to create new, improved selections of the plants that we already love. They are released to the growers, and we wait patiently for the arrival of 2010’s perennial selections to our nurseries and garden centers. Thank goodness for garden magazines and the Internet. Now we can read about and see what new plant varieties will be available once spring has sprung. This year, we get to look forward to new coneflower plants, ajuga, sedum, coreopsis and many more. It is an exciting time to be a plant lover. MAKING THE GARDEN SPARKLE The groundcover ajuga has been a Clayton Valley favorite for many years. This plant is hardy, responsive, fast-growing and tolerant. This year, plant developers came out with a new, improved variegated selection called Sparkler. Ajuga Sparkler has thick, dark green shiny foliage covered with creamy white splashes. This groundcover will really light up the floor of your part-shade garden, or make a wonderful trickle over the sides of a container combination. Expect 12-24 inches of width from this root as groundcover. During the late spring through early summer, Ajuga Sparkler will boast blue bugles of flowers standing about 3 inches tall. The flower will complement any azalea or gardenia that it surrounds. Heuchera is another Clayton Valley favorite. Commonly called coral bells, this evergreen comes

out with fabulous new introductions every year and this year is no different. Heuchera Shanghai and Heuchera Autumn Leaves will not disappoint any collector. Heuchera Shanghai is silvery and sleek. A tight mound of silvery-purple leaves piles beneath white flowers that stand atop dark stems. This plant contrasts itself. Heuchera Autumn Leaves is perfect for the person who craves bold red foliage. Mottled ruby red and dark scarlet leaves change with the seasons. The bloom pales to the excitement provided by the leaves. A gardener may choose to remove the flower and concentrate on the beauty of the leaves. Heuchera requires part sun in your Clayton Valley garden or container. It will not shy away from a few hours of afternoon sun, so don’t protect it too much. Be wary when installing any coral bell, because you must keep the

AJUGA SPARKLER

crown of the plant high in the soil. Take care not to water too much; let all coral bells dry out between waterings. TIME FOR A FIESTA Agastache may sound new, but the sage-like blossom is familiar. Agastache Summer Fiesta is a feisty, spicy orange-red blooming perennial. Spikes can reach 28 inches tall and look great in any landscape that wants to focus on summer flowers. Summer Fiesta is outstanding when combined with more common purple plants. Hummingbirds will not be able to resist this fabulous Clayton Valley selection. Sedum is a family that is both heat-loving and drought-tolerant. Crystal Pink is the new introduc-

tion for 2010. Sedum Crystal Pink has extra large, broccolishaped heads supported by stubby, strong stems. Butterfly- and bee-friendly, this perennial is ready for your garden. Plant toward the front of beds or borders, since this sedum reaches only 12 inches tall. Sedum Crystal Pink will provide flowers from mid-summer through fall. Yellow Coreopsis is a faithful installation for any local landscape. This year, Coreopsis Lemon Punch has arrived. Its soft yellow flowers kissed with rosy pink hues are sure to please any level of gardener. Shear back hard after bloom to refresh and re-bloom. This perennial is a great mixer and can be easily combined with salvia, coneflower or alstroemeria. Speaking of coneflower, keep your eyes peeled for two new introductions – Echinacea Hot Lava and Echinacea Gum Drop. Hot Lava is a bold selection with many super-wide petals of deep orange-red that darken as they near the deep red cone at the center of the flower. Gum Drop is a familiar dark pink selection with an unfamiliar shape. A single row of petals incases a frilly, hairy center cone of pollen. This perennial will be extra great for attracting butterflies to the yard. As with all Echinacea, plant in full sun and water deeply and only occasionally. Within a landscape, you should only need to water this perennial every 2-3 days, even during the hot summer. Too much water will force this plant into early dormancy. Both of these selections will be tall plants, so proper placement is important. Expect 36-48 inches of height from these Echinacea. Also, don’t be afraid to cut the flowers to enjoy indoors. The sturdy stems of the coneflower make them excellent flowers for cutting. This is going to be a big year in the garden, with many new plants to install and grow to cultivate a fabulous landscape.

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Rosemary, the perennial herb, chases off evil spirits and tastes good, too Rosemary grows just about everywhere here in Northern California. It’s in flower pots and hedges or draping over balconies. Rosemarinus Officinals is winterhardy to 20 degrees and likes poor soil that has good drainage. In fact, rosemary is known as “garden rosemary” in many parts of t h e Mediterranean. Its Latin name, rosemarinus, means “dew of the sea” and it’s often found growing wild near the ocean. Rosemary is steeped in history, folklore and medicine. It was burned at ancient Greek shrines to drive away evil spirits. A fresh sprig was tucked under a pillow at night to ward off nightmares. A rosemary necklace was said to preserve youth. The herb is also associated with memory and fidelity. At one time, students would bring a sprig of rosemary to examinations. Brides wore it to symbolically recall their family roots and relatives. The dead were buried with it to signify that they would not be forgotten by the living. In the past and continuing to present day, herbologists use rosemary to treat headaches, dizziness, wounds, stomach disorders and depression. But

ROASTED POTATOES ITALIAN STYLE 1½ lbs. Yukon gold potatoes 2 onions 2 anchovies (optional) 1 large clove garlic, finely minced Leaves from 1 sprig rosemary (or ½ tsp. dried) ½ c. whole pitted olives (nicoise or kalamata) Olive oil Preheat oven to 375. Cut potatoes and onions into wedges. If using anchovies, mash them with a little salt and the garlic into a paste. Toss the potatoes and onions, garlic (or anchovy-garlic mixture), rosemary and olives with olive oil to coat. Season generously with salt and pepper. Roast until tender, 30-45 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes for even cooking and browning. Serves 4-6.

beware: An essential oil distilled from rosemary is toxic in strong doses and should not be taken internally. This is different than a rosemary-infused cooking oil, which is safe to consume. Rosemary is a powerful anti-oxidant and also used as a preservative in cosmetics and plastic food packaging. It is a member of the mint family and related to basil, marjoram and oregano. The small, grayish-green leaves resemble pine needles and have a bittersweet, lemony, almost pine flavor. In springtime, pale blue flowers erupt along the branches. In California, we can use fresh rosemary year-round. If you purchase dried rosemary, it is likely from Spain, France or Morocco. If using fresh rosemary, remember that a little goes a long way. Dried rosemary tends to be far less aromatic, so using a bit more won’t ruin a dish. Even if Simon and Garfunkel hadn’t memorialized it in “Parsley, Sage, Rosemary & Thyme,” we’d enjoy it in so many dishes – particularly those with Mediterranean roots. Its aroma and woody flavor complements a vast array of foods meat (particularly lamb), veggies, soups and even desserts.

ROASTED ROSEMARY LEG OF LAMB Boneless leg of lamb (about 4 lbs.) 2 T. chopped fresh rosemary 2-3 garlic cloves, finely minced ¾ tsp. salt ½ tsp. ground mustard ½ tsp. dried oregano ¼ tsp. black pepper 1/8 tsp. cayenne pepper Preheat oven to 350. Stir together the dried spices and mix in the garlic and rosemary. Untie the lamb and open up. Rub the spice mixture on both sides of the lamb, then re-roll the meat and tie.

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Roast the meat on a rack for two hours or to desired doneness. A meat thermometer will read 145 for medium rare, 160 for medium and 170 for well done. Let the roast rest at room temperature 15-20 minutes before slicing. ROSEMARY PEAR SORBET 4 sprigs fresh rosemary 1½ c. water 3-4 Bartlett or Comice pears ¼ c. lemon juice 1/3 c. sugar Dash nutmeg Simmer the rosemary and water until the mixture has reduced to ½ cup. Strain and cool. Peel and core pears. Puree in a blender or food processor with the lemon juice and measure out 1¾ c. pulp. Transfer to a bowl and whisk in sugar, nutmeg and cooled rosemary reduction. Freeze in an ice cream machine or transfer to a thin metal pan and freeze, using a fork to break up the mixture every 20 minutes, until well frozen. 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

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Peacock Creek at Oakhurst Country Club! Single Story Stunner! backs to open space with in-ground “endless swimming” pool! 4 bedrooms, 2 full baths, approx. 2,684sf, inside laundry & 3 car garage! New paint-carpetflooring throughout! Living room features a fireplace. Dining room. Gourmet kitchen features Corian counters & island, cherry wood cabinets & laminate floors. Large family room boasts a dramatic fireplace with recessed media niches, lighted fan & built-in speakers. Large master suite offers a romantic two fireplace shared with master bath! Large private lot offers a custom patio with meandering paths, steps leading to a pergola topped reflecting area and an “Endless Swimming” Pool.

Coming Soon CLAYTON!

Vintage Clayton! Exquisite home with breathtaking views nestled in a quiet court with walking distance to downtown! 4 bedrooms, 3 full baths, large loft, approx. 3,213sf, 2 car garage with workshop. Huge gourmet kitchen features slab granite counters, all stainless steel appliances & cherry wood cabinets. Oversized family features walls of window with gorgeous views of Mt. Diablo & surrounding hills. Living room with cozy fireplace & views from every window. Separate formal dining room features a built-in wine refrigerator & raised ceiling with a dramatic chandelier. Spacious master suite offers wooded, sweeping views of Mt. Diablo & surrounding hills. Luxurious upgraded travertine tile master bath boasts a jetted tub looking out to Un-obstructed Mt. Diablo views, a separate oversized stall shower, two walk-in closets with extensive organizers. Large level lot offers a sprawling lawn, extensive natural slate patios & a custom built waterfall feature and magnificent views of Mt. Diablo & oak dotted rolling hills $849,000 CLAYTON!

Rancher on a Huge Lot! 4 bedrooms, 2 baths, approx. 1609sf & 2 car garage! Hardwood and tile floors throughout! Kitchen features all white newer appliances and eating nook with views of hills. Family room with brick fireplace. Dual pane windows, newer roof & upgraded light fixtures. Huge private lot boasts a great entertaining pavilion featuring an impressive fireplace and BBQ. Nice lawn area, lots of trees and wooded neighborhood $499,000 views.

Diablo Ridge at Oakhurst Country Club! Largest “Winter” model! backs to 7th Fairway with wooded & course views! 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, approx. 1,595sf with inside laundry, fireplace & a 2-car attached garage! Living and family rooms share a two-way fireplace. Separate dining area. Kitchen features tile counters & maple cabinets plus an eating nook. Spacious master suite overlooks wooded and fairway views. Walk to community pool and spa! $349,000

ING D N PE

CLAYTON!

Falcon Ridge at Oakhurst Country Club! Beautiful single story “Moonlight” model backing to open space on a quiet court! 4 bedrooms, 2 baths, approx. 2,237sf & 3 car garage! Gourmet kitchen features 13x20 upgraded tile floors, upgraded tile counters and island. Family room with travertine tile fireplace. Huge private level lot with large lawn, ornamentals & a “Sundance” spa. $629,000

Clayton Market Update provided by George Vujnovich of Better Homes Realty ADDRESS PRICE 5206 Keller Ridge Drive ...........$610,000 184 El Molino Drive ..................$649,000 250 El Pueblo Pl.......................$630,000 1016 Pebble Beach Dr .............$725,000 112 Mount Etna Drive...............$440,000 1443 Indianhead Circle ............$395,000 350 Blue Oak Lane ..................$690,000 1144 Peacock Creek Drive.......$725,000 7 Atchinson Stage Rd...............$549,950 1360 Yosemite Circle ...............$550,000 1278 Shell Circle ......................$439,000 901 Deer Place ........................$600,000

SF . . . . .2237 . . . . .2324 . . . . .2857 . . . . .3030 . . . . .1442 . . . . .1355 . . . . .2448 . . . . .3599 . . . . .1864 . . . . .2144 . . . . .1745 . . . . .2237

BED/BATH SALE DATE . . . . .3/2 . . . .12/23/09 . . . . .4/2.5 . . .12/23/09 . . . . .5/3 . . . .12/22/09 . . . . .4/3 . . . .12/18/09 . . . . .3/2 . . . .12/18/09 . . . . .3/2.5 . . .12/18/09 . . . . .4/2.5 . . .12/17/09 . . . . .4/2.5 . . .12/15/09 . . . . .3/2 . . . .12/11/09 . . . . .3/2.5 . . .12/08/09 . . . . .3/3 . . . .12/03/09 . . . . .3/2 . . . .12/01/09

Better Homes DRE#00933393

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