IT’S YOUR PAPER www.claytonpioneer.com
April 23, 2010
925.672.0500
Firefighter puts training to test in water rescue HANK STRATFORD
MAYOR’S CORNER Updates on library, cell towers, finance issues I thought it was time for another update on some things going on in Clayton. We might as well deal with the tough issues first, so here’s the latest on the city’s finances. City staff continues to work on next year’s budget. Things are looking tight, as we expected. We are planning on a 5 percent decrease in property tax revenue, which is going to be a challenge. Concord is bracing for an 8 percent decrease and Antioch has seen a $20 million decrease in its property tax revenue. So things could be worse. The county library has asked all the cities, including Clayton, to pay more to keep the current level of operations. We are looking at options, but we may have to reduce the number of hours the library is open. T-Mobile is interested in placing two cell phone antennae in Clayton. These leases would result in about $61,000 in revenue to the city per year. We have so few opportunities to raise revenue, we believe these leases will be good for the city with minimal impact. Save Mount Diablo has already voiced its opposition. I hope the group chooses to work with T-Mobile and the city in making this opportunity work, rather than simply trying to block it. Our police department continues to do a great job protecting the city. Incidents of crime have been down lately and we hope this continues. With the nicer weather, Officer Allen White has been out on the police bicycle patrolling the trails and Office Jason Shaw has been using the patrol motorcycle. With the good rainfall and the above average snow pack, we expect the Contra Costa Water District to lift the water restriction. We expect this to occur by May 1. The city can
TAMARA STEINER Clayton Pioneer
JAY BEDECARRÉ Clayton Pioneer
Fire engineer David Manzeck and the crew at Station 84 in Pittsburg were cooking dinner a little after 6 p.m. on Sunday, April 11. They had been out on a fire that day and were ready to kick back for the evening when the call came in. A car had crashed through a fence on Mt. Diablo Boulevard near San Miguel in Walnut Creek and overturned in the flood channel. At least two people were in the water. Station 84 is a water rescue operation. Manzeck and his crewmates are highly skilled and trained in techniques needed for complex rescues. Within seconds, they were en route to the scene at Bancroft and Minert Road in Concord, 2½ miles downstream from the accident. A passenger, Janet Hogan, 74, had been carried there by the fast-moving current.
CBCA Art and Wine Festival FREE Art and craft exhibit and sale, live music, food court, beer and wine & a Kiddieland. When: Saturday, May 1, 10 a.m. – 7 p.m. Sunday, May 2, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Where: Downtown Clayton
STEPPING INTO ACTION Swollen with heavy rains, the 50-degree water was moving at 20 mph. The woman had gone over a 10-foot waterfall and was trapped in the “boil,” the churning water at its base. From the bank high above the channel, Manzeck could see her fighting for her life. “There was frantic in everyone’s voice when I first got there,” he says. “We could hear her yelling and screaming for help.” Upstream, rescue workers had three times thrown inflated bags to her. She grabbed at each one but was only able to hold on for 15 seconds or so. Overhead, a CHP helicopter had dropped a harness to the drowning woman, but she was too weak to put it on. With no audio communication between him and the pilot, Manzeck used hand signals to call for a line. “Conditions were extremely difficult,” Manzeck explains. “There was literally a twofoot margin between the trees and the barbed wire fence where they had to drop the line.” There was no time to call for the threepoint harness normally used in water rescue, Tamara Steiner/Clayton Pioneer so the hoist operator in the helicopter, Sheaun Bouyea, lowered the rescue harness – DAVID MANZECK STANDS ABOVE THE SPOT where he and CHP helicopter rescue workers pulled Janet Hogan from the fast moving water of the Walnut Creek See Manzek, page 3 flood channel after a car accident on April 11.
Like the crack of the bat at a baseball game and the green hills with blooming wild flowers, the annual Clayton Art and Wine Festival signals that spring has come to our little corner of the world. The Art and Wine Festival, presented by the Clayton Business and Community Association, returns for the 15th year on Saturday and Sunday, May 1 and 2. All the features that more than 150,000 attendees during past festivals have come to enjoy will return: premium wines and beers, arts and crafts vendors, a food court,
Locals meet in the Grove for tax day ‘tea party’ Tamara Steiner/Clayton Pioneer
See Mayor, page 6
PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID CLAYTON, CA PERMIT 190
Volunteers make Art & Wine Festival a community trademark
Mike Dunn/Clayton Pioneer
NICHOLAS WILLIAMSON of Clayton exercises his constitutional rights to free speech and freedom of assembly at the Tea Party Movement gathering on tax day.
What’s Inside Around Town . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Book Review . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19 Church News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18 Classified . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
While many Americans were waiting in lines at the post office to file their tax returns on April 15, others were gathering in the Grove that evening for a different kind of tax day observance. Organized by Claytonian Bill Jordan, the event was part of a national Tea Party Movement of conservatives opposed to big government and increased taxation. Of the estimated 250 attending, about 30 locals took the microphone, to speak out against what they
Club News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10 Community Calendar . . . . . . . . . . .16 Directory of Advertisers . . . . . . . . . .5 DVMS Reporter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9 Financial Sense . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14 Food for Thought . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21 Garden Girl . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20
believe are unresponsive elected officials, the national debt and healthcare reform. “I would say that it was a “great Americana event that Clayton can be proud of,” said Pete Laurence, local real estate broker and former city councilman. “There was no drinking, fighting, yelling, no pot smoking, no loud noise from a loud speaker system, just a bunch of our patriotic citizens in the “Town Square” discussing the politics of the day.
ED WARANER turns the scrap wood from his tree business into animal carvings.
continuous live music and the popular Kiddieland. The Art and Wine Festival is open to the public with no admission charge. Saturday’s festivities run 10 a.m.-7 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Ed Waraner, owner of Waraner Tree Service, will join the more than 100 vendors that will line Main Street and Marsh Creek Road. Waraner creates the very recognizable large wood
See Art & Wine, page 21
Obituary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 Pets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17 Pioneer Photo Album . . . . . . . . . . .20 Police Log . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15 Real Estate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 Safety Zone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 School News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
Senior Moments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 Teen Speak . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 Theatre . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19 Travel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15 Upcoming Events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 Your Health . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7
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Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com
April 23, 2010
Clayton’s letter carrier food drive set for May 8
Around Town Clayton women fundraising for Komen cancer walk
The Pioneer goes south of the border Hola, amigos. The Pioneer just got back from Zihuatanejo, Mexico where we went surfing, snorkeling, sailing and eating great food with DVMS students Casey Smith and Evan Gittleman.
BEV BRITTON Clayton Pioneer
NICCI SHIPSTEAD Clayton Pioneer
“Just cure it” is the mantra for three Clayton women taking part in the Susan G. Komen 3Day for the Cure breast cancer fundraising walk next fall. “I feel strongly that as a mother, daughter, sister and friend that I must take a stand and make a difference in this journey to fight breast cancer and find a cure,” says walker Jessica Moraes. “I hope by participating in this awesome event, I will teach my girls the importance of being a part of something that is bigger than we can imagine.” Breast cancer has affected both friends and family of fellow walker Cyndi Moise. “My godmother, Annie, was one person of many struck by breast cancer and survived,” Moise notes. “Annie is doing much better now and has been told she is lucky to be alive. This is due to the advances they make each decade and the funds raised by the Susan G.
Anabelle joins the Manning clan Joan and Gregg Manning of Clayton welcomed their first grandchild, Anabelle Eva Stern, on Jan. 27, which is also her daddy’s birthday. Parents are Rachele Manning and Aaron Stern. The family lives in Massachusetts.
Clayton
On Saturday, May 8, the Clayton Post Office will participate with the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) to Stamp Out Hunger across America. The nation’s largest singleday food drive is in its 18th year. NALC’s 230,000 members collect donations from homes and deliver to food banks and other hunger relief organizations in more than 10,000 communities. In 2009, letter carriers collected a record total of more than 73.4 million pounds of food. However, given the declining economy, the Clayton Post Office donated about 720 pounds less to the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano than in 2008.
See Food Drive, page 5 JESSICA MORAES, LAELA DUNCAN AND CYNDI MOISE plan a series of fundraisers as they train to walk in the Susan K. Komen Breast Cancer walk in October.
Komen Walk for the Cure.” After Moise made a commitment to the walk, friends Moraes and Leala Duncan joined her team. To support their efforts, the Just Cure It team is hosting a variety of local fundraisers. On April 29, Rocco’s in Walnut Creek will donate a portion of sales to the team. On May 26, Mary’s Pizza Shack in Walnut Creek will hold a similar fundraiser. Diners must bring in fliers to participate. On May 9, Sonset Flowers
in Concord will donate 5 percent on flower arrangements with the color pink in them. Mention the Just Cure It group when ordering. The women also will run car washes 11 a.m.-3 p.m. June 6, July 18 and Aug. 22 at Mountain Mike’s Pizza, 5358 Clayton Road, Concord. The 60-mile San Francisco Bay Area walk takes place Oct. 1-3. The women are training together on weekends, as well as individually. “I’ve always wanted to participate in an event like this,”
Clayton Breathtaking setting perched on an oak studded knoll on approx. 5.00acres over-
Oakhurst Country Club!
says Duncan. “The Susan G. Komen 3-Day Walk for the Cure is allowing me the opportunity to not only fulfill my personal goal, but to help raise funds for a great cause.” To get fliers for Mary’s and Rocco’s fundraisers, call Cyndi at 381-3722 or pick one up at the Pioneer office. To make a team donation, visit the3day.org, click on Donate to a Participant and search for the Just Cure It team in San Francisco.
LETTER CARRIERS Betty Asberry and Donna Youngquist
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Clayton Market Update provided by George Vujnovich of Better Homes Realty ADDRESS
PRICE
407 Grenache Circle ................$659,000 3908 Coyote Circle...................$400,000 1351 Yosemite Circle ...............$460,000 1425 Indianhead Way ..............$365,000 1068 Mitchell Canyon Rd .........$465,405 62 Weatherly Dr .......................$490,000
SF . . . . .2052 . . . . .1595 . . . . .1609 . . . . .1355 . . . . .1494 . . . . .1781
BED/BATH
SALE DATE
. . . . .4/2.5 . . . .4/12/10 . . . . .3/2.5 . . . . .4/8/10 . . . . .4/2 . . . . . .4/7/10 . . . . .3/2.5 . . . . .4/7/10 . . . . .3/2 . . . . . .4/1/10 . . . . .3/2.5 . . . .3/26/10
ADDRESS
PRICE
569 Mount Dell Drive................$375,000 3135 Morgan Territory Rd ........$700,000 6026 Mitchell Creek Pl .............$675,000 341 Semillon Cir.......................$669,000 3011 Windmill Canyon Dr.........$535,000 1077 Pine Lane ........................$585,000
SF . . . . .1423 . . . . .3237 . . . . .2200 . . . . .2078 . . . . .2313 . . . . .1622
BED/BATH
SALE DATE
. . . . .3/2 . . . . .3/25/10 . . . . .4/3 . . . . .3/23/10 . . . . .4/2.5 . . . .3/23/10 . . . . .4/3 . . . . .3/16/10 . . . . .4/2.5 . . . .3/12/10 . . . . .3/2 . . . . .3/12/10
April 23, 2010
Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com
Manzek, from page 1 a simple collar designed to slip around the victim. The collar was not designed to bear Manzeck’s weight and it tightened around his chest as soon as he was lifted. “I could feel my breathing get shallower and shallower,” says the Clayton Valley grad. POWERFUL RESCUE In the churning water, Manzeck was pummeled by logs and bashed around on the rocks. They could no longer see Hogan. Suddenly, the helicopter lost lift and Manzeck plunged underwater for several seconds – long enough that he thought he was drowning. While he was under water, the unconscious woman’s head bumped into his knee. Manzeck thought quickly. With all the strength of his 6 feet and 245 pounds, he gave her a kick hard enough to push her above the surface and onto a rock. This gave him a muchneeded few seconds on the skid of the helicopter to catch his breath before going back down to complete the rescue. Spinning on the end of the line and whipped around by the wind of the helicopter, Manzeck fought his way to where Hogan lay on the rock. Sometime during his first attempt, he had dislocated his right shoulder. When he finally reached her, he had only one good arm to lift her from the rock and carry her to shore where paramedics began resuscitation. She was revived in the ambulance on the way to the hospital. “It was a good ending but sad, too,” Manzeck notes. “She was alive, but she had just lost her loved ones.” The woman’s son, Tim, 40, was trapped in the car when it overturned and died. Her husband, James, 79, had also been swept away by the raging waters.
His body was found three days later near Buchanan Field Airport in Concord. A TEAM EFFORT Later that night, Manzeck went to John Muir Hospital for treatment of a separated shoulder and torn ligaments. There, he reunited with Janet Hogan, who gave him a well-deserved hug and a kiss on the cheek. Hailed as a hero by the media and called an “angel’ by Hogan, Manzeck deflects the praise and credits teamwork for the successful rescue. “The most important thing in the whole operation was that the CHP helicopter self-dispatched in cruddy weather,” he says. “And the guys throwing down the bags along the way bought us the 45 seconds we needed at our end.”
During the rescue, Manzeck didn’t have time to think about his actions. “It’s all technical. The training kicks in and all you think about are the techniques.” “Fearless” is the word mom Linda uses to describe her son. She and Manzeck’s father, John, live in Clayton. Battalion chief Bryan Cisterman, the incident commander during the rescue, calls a water rescue of that nature “about as difficult as it gets.” “David has the one thing that that you can’t teach – a good attitude,” reports Cisterman.
Manzeck’s mentor, Tony Semenza, recalls a high level of commitment from his early teens. “He had a real determination to learn and a real inquisitiveness. You could see it in his eyes,” says Semenza, a retired Chevron fire chief. Manzeck began his career as an EMT right out of high school, followed by paramedic training. In 2003, he became a firefighter/paramedic with the county Fire Protection District and was promoted to fire engineer in 2007. Last year, he was assigned to Station 84. “I wanted to be on the ladder truck. The water training comes with that,” he says. Janet Hogan was his first water rescue. Married for eight years, Manzeck and his wife Christy live in Tracy with children, Kaleb, 6, and Tyler, 2. Another son, Aiden, is due in June.
A LIFELONG CALLING Manzeck, a 1992 CVHS graduate, has always known he’d be a firefighter. “It’s a calling,” says the 36-year-old. “I can’t ever think of when I didn’t want to be one.” “He used to play ‘fireman’ with his grandmother for hours,” says his mom.
Photo by Cindi Christie, Bay Area News Group
DAVID MANZECK LIFTS JANET HOGAN out of the churning floodwater and carries her to shore with one arm. His right shoulder was dislocated during the rescue.
Page 3
Obituary
Victor Henry Thole Aug. 7, 1921 – March 26, 2010
Victor Henry Thole, father of Clayton Pioneer publisher Tamara Steiner, died of injuries sustained in a car accident in Sonora, California on March 26. He was 88. Mr. Thole was born in Richmond, California on August 7, 1921 to Richmond business owners Henry and Levina Thole. He graduated from Richmond High School in 1935. Following the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and was attached to a marine airwing on Guadalcanal until his discharge as a corporal in 1946. Mr. Thole worked for Owens Publications, publishers of the Richmond Independent, Concord Transcript and Berkeley Gazette, for more than 45 years, starting as a carrier at age 12. He served as District Circulation Manager until his retirement in 1983. He lived in
Martinez until 1989 when married his wife, Marge and moved to Lake Don Pedro in Tuolumne County. Mrs. Thole died in August 2009. He was an avid outdoorsman and spent his whole life hiking and fishing in the Sierras. For years he was a league bowler and enthusiastic golfer. In quiet times, he read and gardened. He was known throughout his community for his volunteer work, committing many hours a year to various Lions Club projects, including two weeks a year at the Lions Club Camp for Hearing Impaired Children in Pacific and the Food Basket Ministry at his church. Mr. Thole is survived by his daughter, Tamara Steiner and her husband Robert of Clayton; grandsons Jerry Richardson of Concord and Donald Richardson of Queretaro, Mexico and six great grandchildren.
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May 1st & 2nd
LOOK for Lynne's booth Stop & talk with the Area's #1 Realtor* Pose for a FREE, Fun Commemorative Photo. *statistics based on Clayton/Concord closed transactions by listing/sales agent (1/09-12/09). Data by Max EBRDI.
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Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com
Upcoming Events
CERT classes to resume in May The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program is back up and running after being sidelined briefly over Workers Compensation and liability issues. The six-week, 20-hour program, which trains citizens in basic disaster response, will resume 6:30 p.m. May 5 at Endeavor Hall. Participants will receive instruction in emergency preparedness, fire safety, emergency medical operations, light search and rescue and dis-
April 24 Clayton Cleans Up, City Hall, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Celebrate Earth Day with your friends and neighbors in the morning at Clayton Cleans Up, the annual “spiffing up” day to get the town ready for the Art and Wine Festival. Meet at City Hall at 9 a.m. to check in and pick up trash bags. Then head out along the streets and trails of Clayton to pick up litter and junk. Meet back at City Hall at 11 a.m. for a BBQ lunch.
aster psychology. Graduates will be qualified Disaster Service Worker Volunteers and will become part of Clayton’s emergency response plan during a declared emergency. More than 130 residents have graduated from the Clayton CERT program. The ultimate goal of the program is to have all residents trained to be self-sufficient in the critical days following a major earthquake, landslide or other disaster – when Clayton could be cut off from emergency resources for up to a week.
City to expand parking at ball fields
Kid’s Scavenger Hunt, Clayton Library, 1 – 3 p.m. After Clayton Cleans Up, take the kids on over to the library for “Treasure at the Library.” This children’s scavenger hunt is part of the continuing celebration of the library’s 15th birthday. Children in preschool to 8th grade are welcome to this free event which will include different levels of difficulty for each age group. Snacks and prizes. For more information, go to www.claytonlibrary.org. Murder Mystery, Clayton Library, 7:30 p.m. And the Library Birthday Celebration continues into the evening when the Clayton Community Library Foundation is presents “Death by Checkmate,” an original murder mystery event. The murder mystery features a cast of recognizable locals including county librarian Anne Cain; Clayton Mayor Hank Stratford; current and former council members Howard Geller, and Gregg Manning; Gary Napper, city manager and Laura Hoffmeister, assistant to the city manager; Clayton Community Church pastor Shawn Robinson; and Clayton Pioneer editor Tamara Steiner.
For more information or to enroll in the free program, call 673-7355 for visit claytoncert.org.
Participants will gather at the library for drinks, desserts and a bit of mystery at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are available at the library for $15. Exact change only or write checks to CCLF/Murder Mystery. For more information, visit claytonlibrary.org.
May 7-8 Clayton Gardens Tour The Clayton Historical Society’s 18th annual Clayton Gardens Tour will feature five Clayton gardens filled with great landscape ideas. See first hand what grows well in the Clayton Valley. Tickets are $25, in advance. Take advantage of a great group rate. Buy four tickets and the fifth one is free – advance purchase only. Days of tour, tickets are $30 and group rates no longer apply. Purchase tickets at the Clayton Museum, 6101 Main Street, 6720240 or at R&M Pool, Patio, Gifts and Gardens, 6780 Marsh Creek Road. Cash or check accepted.
May 1 & 2 Art and Wine Festival CBCA sponsors this annual event that draws dozens of arts, crafts and gift item vendors. Sample wines from local vintners. Live music. Saturday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Think before texting or dialing while driving
At their regular meeting on April 6, the City Council approved the addition of 100 new parking spaces to the lower lot next to the ball fields at the Clayton Community Park. This brings the total parking spaces to 150 and will relieve some of the pressure on surrounding residential streets, especially during baseball season when the ball fields are in use all weekend. The $480,000 cost of the project will be covered by Clayton’s share of the East Bay Regional Park Measure WW bond funds.
Oprah Winfrey has been on a crusade of getting celebrities and audience members to commit to
not using cell phones or texting while driving. She is asking everyone to sign a document confirming their promise to keep both hands on the wheel. It is too bad that we should have to sign something, but maybe that is the only way people will keep their commitment or get the message. Perhaps I should stand at the corner of Clayton Road and Marsh Creek and ask people to sign a commitment not to text or use a cell phone while driving. I bet I would get a lot of drivers honking at me for causing a traffic
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problem, to say nothing of what the Clayton Police would do. With a penalty of $20 plus court fees for being ticketed, most people may just figure it is too small to worry about or that they are not going to get caught or cause an accident. There is talk in Sacramento about increasing the fine so it is “meaningful.” Since July 1, 2009, when the law took effect, the Clayton Police Department has issued 140 tickets. The police are out there trying to get us to keep our hands on the wheel. Every day that I am on the
road, I see at least one person using a cell phone or texting which driving. I heard a statistic recently that only about 2 percent of the population is capable of keeping their attention on driving while using a cell phone or texting. I only use my cell phone for emergencies and it is in the glove compartment of my car. Yes, I live in the dark ages, but if I need the cell phone I pull off the road. I am not part of the 2 percent nor do I wish to pay the fine, or worse, cause an accident. Driving at 65 mph on a two-
lane road and texting is not just risking your life, but fellow motorists, your family and theirs. Think of the impact on families. Do we really need to sign a document? Let’s not wait until we get a ticket or cause an accident due to not having both hands on the wheel. Think about it. It’s a good topic to discuss at the dinner table. Herb Yonge is a volunteer with the Clayton Police Dept. & a member of the city of Clayton Citizen Corp Council, CERT Team. He can be reached at 673-7355 or by email at hlyonge@att.net.
April 23, 2010
Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com
Food Drive, from page 2 P.O. Box 1246 6200 Center Street, Suite H, Clayton, CA 94517 TAMARA AND R OBERT S TEINER , Publishers TAMARA S TEINER , Editor R ANDY W ENGER , Display Advertising 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 : Denisen Hartlove, Lou Fancher, Nicci Shipstead, Pam Wiesendanger, Mike Dunn, Harry Stoll We remember Jill Bedecarré - Her spirit is our muse
PIONEER INFO CONTACT US Tel: (925) 672-0500 Fax: (925) 672-6580 Tamara Steiner tamara@claytonpioneer.com Randy Wenger Randy@claytonpioneer.com Send ads to ads@claytonpioneer.com Send Sports News to sports@claytonpioneer.com Send Club News to clubnews@claytonpioneer.com Send Church News to churchnews@claytonpioneer.com
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CLASSIFIEDS Classified rates per insertion: Non-profit: $12 for first 30 words, $.20 each additional word Individual/non-commercial: $18 for first 30 words, $.30 each additional word Commercial: $48 for first 30 words, $.40 each additional word To place your classified ad over the phone, call the office at (925) 6720500 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Mon.-Fri. Or, you may fax your typewritten ad and credit card information to (925) 672-6580. All classifieds must be paid for in advance by credit card (Master Card or Visa) We will not accept any ad that dis-
criminates on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, nationality, family status or disability. The Clayton Pioneer reserves the right to reject any advertising we believe is unsuitable. LET US KNOW Weddings, engagements, anniversaries, births and deaths all weave together as part of the fabric of our community. Please let us know of these important events. We ask only that the announcement be for a Clayton resident. You will find the appropriate form for your announcement on our Website. Attach your photo to the form. Make sure the image size you are about to send is at least 3 MB but not bigger than 6MB. The only format we accept is JPG. You can also mail or bring your print to the office and we can scan it for you. Also on our Web site are forms for submitting Community Calendar items and press releases for your organization. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR The Clayton Pioneer welcomes letters from our readers. As a general rule, letters should be 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.
Clayton Post Office supervisor Betty Asberry hopes to beat the higher 2008 tally of 3,298 pounds. “With the economy rising, we should rise, too,” Asberry said. Hunger impacts 49.1 million Americans, including 16.7 million children, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. In a recent survey conducted by Feeding America, its 203 food bank members report increased demand for emergency food assistance. Summer donations are even more critical since many children no longer have the benefit of a school lunch program. “In these trying times, it’s important for Americans to rally behind causes like the Letter Carriers Food Drive to help their neighbors struggling with hunger,” said Fredric V. Rolando, NALC president. “While we’re very proud of our success over the years in the battle against hunger, the fact remains that
QUESTIONS ABOUT DELIVERY OF YOUR CLAYTON PIONEER? The Clayton Pioneer is published twice a month. The paper is distributed FREE to all of Clayton (94517) by direct mail and to 7600 selected addresses in 94521 by home delivery. If you live in 94521 and wish to stop delivery, please call our home delivery service, ABC Direct at (510) 532-2432. If you are outside of our free distribution area and want to receive the Pioneer, please call (925) 672-0500 to subscribe. Annual subscription is $50.
Free Checking that’s still free! Why pay for your checking account if you don’t need to? “I love Free Checking because I don’t have a monthly fee and there are lots of freebies, like ATMs, debit cards, Online Banking and TCU’s Bill Pay service.”
more Americans than ever are in need – which is why we remain committed to this drive.” To help Stamp Out Hunger this year, leave a sturdy bag containing non-perishable foods in non-breakable containers next to your mailbox prior to regular mail delivery on May 8. Additionally, Campbell Soup Co. will donate one can of soup (up to 1 million cans) to Feeding America for each Facebook fan that joins the fight against hunger at facebook.com/StampOutHunger. For more information, ask your letter carrier, call 672-4337 or visit helpstampouthunger.com. The Clayton Post Office also provides a food bank donation barrel all year round just inside the door at 6150 Center St. during business hours.
Please let our Advertisers know you saw them in the Clayton Pioneer
Classified LOST Male Cat Silver with a white belly and dark silver rings on tail. Indoor cat, declawed, very shy. Older cat, NEEDS MEDS! Last seen Allegro & Concerto Circle. His name is Zazu. Please call Sharon if seen or found. 5775673
SERVICES 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 673-1746, or gardengirl94517@yahoo.com.
WANTED Real Estate Agents Be Successful! Lynne French is expanding and interviewing for a few agents. Call her today (925) 672-8787.
VOLUNTEERS WANTED 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. Anna’s Attic Volunteers Hospice of the East Bay – Volunteer at Anna’s Attic Thrift Shoppe, located at 5350 Clayton Road. It's a way to make a meaningful difference. You’ll have the opportunity to help customers, stock shelves and prepare merchandise for sale. For information call (925) 6749072. or email volunteers@hospiceeatbay.org.
Monica, TCU member since 1991
Open yours today!
(800) 877-8328 Concord: 1257 Willow Pass Road Antioch: 5819 Lone Tree Way
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Clayton Valley: 5442 Ygnacio Valley Rd, Suite 10 Brentwood: 3111 Balfour Road, Suite N
*Please visit our Web site for complete details and qualifications for Debit Cash-back Rewards. NCUA—Your savings are federally insured to at least $250,000 and backed by the full faith and credit of the United States government. Everyone who lives, works, worships or goes to school in our 12-county area is eligible to join. Certain membership requirements may apply.
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 6720240 and leave your name. 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! Requires good communication skills, patience and a desire to help students in the community. Contact: Arlene @ 673-9777 or email: akikkawa@ccclib.org
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Directory of Advertisers Auto B & C Auto Care & TireCenter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .676-4366 Clayton Valley Shell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-3900 Mike's Auto Body . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .689-1739 Children’s Services Kid’s Choice Jumpers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .457-9543 Construction and Trades Belfast Plumbing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .457-5423 Closets & Kitchens Van Go . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .914-7557 Haddon Heating & Cooling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .521-1380 LHI Construction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .682-9941 Smith & Bernal Roofing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-0138 Tipperary Construction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .216-2679 Dentist 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 Events Afternoon of Wine & Music . . . . . . . . . . . . . .415-867-2955 Pacific Coast Farmers Market . . . . . . . . . . . . . .825-9090 Financial and Insurance Services Benton, Mureleen - Ameriprise Financial . . . . . .685-4523 CD Federal Credit Union . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .825-0900 Middendorf, Jim ~ Federated Insurance . . . . . . .672-8774 Littorno, Richard - Attorney at Law . . . . . . . . . . .672-6463 Van Wyck, Doug - State Farm Insurance . . . . . . .672-2300 Fitness Jo Nash Dance Workout . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .707-812-3863 Traveling Trainers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .890-6931 Funerals Ouimet Funeral Home . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .682-4242 Gifts The Royal Rooster . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-2025 Home and Garden Abbey Carpet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .686-9901 California Aerating Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-6539 Clear Splash Pool Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .216-6245 Diablo Lawnscape . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .381-3757 Floors to Go Danville . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .820-8700 Lewis & Lewis Carpets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .939-2145 Pacific Coast Flooring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .609-2151 Michael B Home Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .305-7716 Navlet’s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .681-0550 Nichols Landscape . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-9955 Pans on Fire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .600-7267 Utopic Gardens . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .524-0055 Interior Design Amy Carpenter Interior Design . . . . . . . . .1-877-748-1310 Mailing and Shipping The UPS Store . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .689-6245 Motorcycle & ATV’s Contra Costa Powersports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .687-7742 Personal Products and Services A Perfect TAn & Body Wraps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-8261 Bella Mia Spa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .680-7792 Clayton Mind & Body Connection . . . . . . . . . . . .673-0686 Pet Services Monte Vista Veterinary Hospital . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-1100 Rodie’s Feed and Country Store . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-4600 Real Estate and Mortgage Services Cutrifelli, Wendy - Alain Pinel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 934-1111 Flannery, Patty - Diablo Realty . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-0541 French, Lynne - Windermere Real Estate . . . . . .672-8787 Kavanaugh, Mike - RE/MAX Town & Country . . .672-7800 Klock, Leigh - Coldwell Banker . . . . . . . . . . . . . .212-5593 Laurence, Pete - RE/MAX Realty . . . . . . . . . . . .890-6004 Lopez, Stephanie - Coldwell Banker . . . . . . . . . .932-7329 Morucci, Kim - Intero Real Estate Services . . . . .280-8563 Vujnovich, George - Better Homes Realty . . . . .672-4433 Recreation Castle Rock Arabians . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .937-7661 Clayton Valley Bowl . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .689-4631 Senior Services Aegis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .692-5853 Always Available Home Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .349-4854 Diamond Terrace Senior Retirement Living . . . . .524-5100 Services, Other Air Cloud Communications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .260-4119 x 2 Appliance Repairs by Bruce, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-2700 Computers USA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-9989 Contra Costa Water District . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .688-8044 Household Hazardous Waste . . . . . . . . . 1-800-646-1431 Net Solutions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-6029 Next Energy Solar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .798-0600 Recycling Center & Transfer Station . . . . . . . . . .473-0180 Travel Cruise Adventures Unlimited . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .935-7447 Travel Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .305-4000 Travel to Go . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-9840
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Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com
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April 23, 2010
New law exempts debt forgiveness from tax Now that I have successQ fully completed a short sale as a seller, will I have to pay federal and state taxes on the amount I have been forgiven? I heard that the tax exemptions expired at the end of 2008.
ify for the above exemptions (rental property or second homes, etc.) may be exempt under other provisions. Taxpayers who are bankrupt or insolvent (when their liabilities exceed their assets) are exempt from debt relief income tax.
Congratulations on the A With all the turmoil in the sale; I hope it didn’t take too long. In 2007, a law was Q economy and especially in enacted to exempt forgiven the housing market, do you debt on a qualified primary residence from your income tax and state tax. This expired for state tax at the end of 2008. Just last week, Senate bill 401 was enacted into law. It aligns California’s tax treatment with federal law. Sellers will now be exempt from both federal and state income tax on the forgiven debt. This is for indebtedness that occurred in acquiring, constructing or substantially improving a principal residence. It includes both first and second trust deeds. It also includes a refinance loan to the extent the funds were used to pay off a previous loan that would have qualified. The tax breaks apply to debts discharged from 2009 through 2012. Taxpayers who do not qual-
think that homeownership is still a good investment? My short answer is yes. We A could wonder the same thing about many financial investments in the past few years. Historically, residential real estate has appreciated over time. Those who are able to buy today and in the next couple of years will certainly see appreciation. I believe it will be pretty modest, though, for quite a while. In fact, one study by a financial services tech company predicts that California won’t surpass its previous highs of 2005 until 2025. They believe that we could have up to another 7 percent decline this year before a prolonged recovery
begins. But to get back to your question, a recent national survey gauging attitudes toward housing finds that 65 percent of Americans still prefer owning a home despite the recent economic challenges. The survey revealed that homeowners and renters alike are taking a more cautious approach to homeownership. Twenty-three percent of renters polled said they will buy a home later than once planned. Respondents cited non-financial reasons such as safety (43 percent) and quality of schools (33 percent) as driving factors ahead of financial considerations. Americans with traditional fixed rate mortgages with predictable payments are significantly more satisfied than those with other types of mortgages. A majority of consumers (60 percent) believe that buying a home today is harder than it was for their parents and 68 percent think it will be more difficult for their children. I just put my home on the Q market. My Realtor told me to leave my mind open to the possibility of a contingent offer because of the current market. What do you think of contingent offers?
Mayor, from page 1
I assume you are referring A to an offer contingent on the buyer selling their home.
then finalize plans with the Clayton Business and Community Association (CBCA) and begin planting Daffodil Hill. A subcommittee of the Trails and Landscape Committee has been putting together a design suggestion for the fountain area. I suspect the new design will include less grass and will be able to better handle a future drought. On the recreation front, Vice Mayor Dave Shuey and Councilman Joe Medrano have been working with All Out Sports League, a not for profit organization, to operate a sports and activities program at the Clayton Community Gym. This should help fill the void created with the departure of the YMCA. One of the challenges is getting the school district to agree to terms that would make this possible. A group of students from St. Mary’s College is conducting a survey of recreational desires within our community. About 1,200 of you received this survey; I hope you will fill it out
Sellers prefer an offer that is not contingent, because they tend to be less risky than a contingent sale. There is no recourse if the buyer backs out during the contingency period.
and send it back. The city is planning to expand the lower parking lot at the Clayton Community Park. An additional 100 parking spaces will be added and the expanded lot will connect with the gym parking lot. Currently, parked cars are spilling over into residential areas on the weekends. This expansion is being paid for with money the city will receive from the East Bay Regional Parks’ bond measure. The Clayton Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program is going strong, with a new course starting May 5. The weekly class runs for six weeks and provides excellent emergency training. About 150 residents have taken the training course so far. For more information, visit claytoncert.org. Some upcoming events to keep in mind: April 24 is Clayton Cleans Up, May 1 and 2 is the annual CBCA Art and Wine Festival downtown, May 8 is the start of the concert series and the farmers market.
LYNNE FRENCH
REAL ANSWERS If the market is moving at a fast pace, there is little reason to consider a contingent offer. However, in a slower market, sellers can’t afford to be so choosy. One benefit to a seller of accepting a contingent offer is that you might receive a higher price than you would from a buyer who doesn’t have to sell in order to buy. Buyers might have to pay more to entice a seller into accepting a contingent sale offer. I would strongly suggest that you include a release clause before you accept an offer. A release clause allows the seller to continue to market the property until the buyer removes the sale contingency. If another offer comes in that you are interested in, you have to give the contingent buyer a chance to remove their home sale contingency within a certain timeframe (often 72 hours). If you choose to accept a contingent offer, make sure that the buyers’ home is salable and that it will be listed at a reasonable price. Send your question and look for an answer in a future column. Email Lynne@LynneFrench.com. French is the broker/owner of Windermere Lynne French & Associates and a Clayton resident. For any real estate needs or questions, contact her at 672-8787 or stop in at 6200 Center St., Clayton.
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April 23, 2010
Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer .com
Page 7
National
Variety of medications can ease allergy symptoms
Sales Service Installation
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DR. DAVID BIRDSALL
YOUR HEALTH Ah, spring. Ah, pretty flowers and green hills. Ah, ah, ah choo. What a cruel joke to leave winter’s cold only to be confronted with a runny nose, watery eyes and a sinus headache. “Allergies” is the common term most people use when they reference the symptom complex caused by your body’s reaction to certain elements in the environment. True, you can have an allergic reaction to certain foods, medications, animals, etc. However, today I will address those reactions caused by natures’ bloom, aka seasonal allergies. People can have allergies all year long. Most are caused by indoor allergens such as pet dander, dust mites and cockroaches. Those with seasonal allergies are typically reacting to such items as pollens released by trees, grasses and weeds. You may have heard of the term “hay fever” in reference to
seasonal allergies. This term originated in the 1800s, when British doctors noticed that some rural residents experienced symptoms after exposure to cut hay or grass. They called it a fever, because it caused nervousness, one of the old English definitions of fever. Seasonal allergies, or hay fever, can begin at any age, however, you are most likely to develop it in childhood or early adulthood. If you do have allergies, you probably can legitimately blame your parents. Your risk of developing an allergic reaction is 48 percent if one of your parents has hay fever and 70 percent if both parents have it. You are also at risk if you are a male, a first-born child, or were exposed to indoor allergens or cigarette smoke in the first year of life. If you have allergies, your body is reacting to a certain allergen in a violent way in order to protect itself. We all know the symptoms: watery eyes, runny nose, congestion, sneezing, cough, fatigue, irritability and facial pain. There are a number of medications to help allergy sufferers.
The first is in the category of nasal corticosteroids. These are medications that you squirt in your nose to block the allergen before it enters your system. You may notice improvement right away, but mainly the effects are not seen for several days to two weeks. Some examples are Rhinocort and Nasonex. Another agent is an antihistamine. When an allergen enters your body, your body reacts by releasing histamine – which is part of what gives you the allergy symptoms. Antihistamines block this release. Examples are Benadryl, Tavist and ChlorTrimeton. There are others, known as second-generation antihistamines, which don’t make you as sleepy. They are medications such as Claritin, Zyrtec and Allegra. Cromolyn sodium (NasalCrom) is an antihistamine you squirt in your nose. Decongestants (Sudafed, Actifed) help with the runny nose, sinus pressure and postnasal drip. Your doctor may also prescribe Singulair if you have recurrent or severe allergies. This medication acts by turning off, or at least down, your
body’s response to the allergen. Many of these drugs can react with other medications or may make certain medical conditions worse, so talk to your doctor before starting them. If the allergy treatments mentioned don’t work, your doctor may recommend allergy shots (immunotherapy). You would receive regular injections of purified allergen extracts for three to five years to desensitize your body’s reaction. They can be quite effective. Seasonal allergies are not dangerous, but they can trigger or lead to some conditions that require different treatment modalities. Asthma, sinus infections and ear infections are examples of this. If you develop a fever, severe facial pain or shortness of breath, see your doctor. Dr. Birdsall is the Medical Director of the Emergency Department and Chief of Staff of John Muir Hospital in Concord. He lives in Walnut Creek with his wife, Dr. Marian Birdsall, and two children. Please email him at David.Birdsall_md@johnmuirhealth.com
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From the Editors of E/The Environmental Magazine I pruned an overgrown Q bush in my back yard last fall and now the soil around it is covered with dandelions and other weeds. Is there a way to get rid of these weeds without resorting to RoundUp and other chemical herbicides? – Max, Seattle Weeds are nothing if not A opportunistic. While you may not have bargained for getting one form of eyesore (weeds) by clearing another (an overgrown bush), dandelions and other fast-growing, quickly spreading plants know no bounds when new territory opens up. They will colonize and spread out given the slightest opening. After all, that’s what defines them as weeds. Conventional herbicides such as Monsanto’s RoundUp
will take down the weeds in a jiffy, but the negative effects on people, animals and the environment may be both profound and long-lasting. Independent studies of RoundUp have implicated its primary ingredient, glyphosate, as well as some of its “inert” ingredients, in liver damage, reproductive disorders and Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. It’s also linked to cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, nerve and respiratory damage. California’s Department of Pesticide Regulation reports that, year after year, RoundUp is the No. 1 cause of pesticide/herbicide-induced illness and injury around the state. RoundUp is also blamed for poisoning groundwater across the country and beyond, as well as for contributing to a 70 percent decrease in amphibian biodiversity and a 90 percent decrease in tadpole numbers in regions where it is used heavily.
Given that you’ll have to manually remove dead weeds from your yard after applying RoundUp (or any other “postemergent” herbicide), why not just pull them up by hand in the first place? No doubt, the most eco-friendly way to get rid of weeds is to yank them out without the aid of poisons. Many weeds have long deep roots that need to be pulled completely if you don’t want them to grow back. If need be, use a metal weed puller with a hooked end or a mechanical grabber available at a local garden supply or hardware store. Garden expert Dean Novosat of the Garden Doctor Website suggests giving the weed beds a good watering the night before you pull weeds. “The soil will be softened and will yield the entire weed plant, root and all,” he says. Another way to kill weeds, he says, is by pouring boiling water over them.
Once you’ve killed or pulled up all those weeds, you’ll want to make sure new ones don’t start showing up in their place. Planting some regionally appropriate and ideally native plants in place of the removed weeds would be a good first step. Check with a local nursery about options. Once the area is cleared and replanted, cover it with three to six inches of mulch. Mulch forms a barrier between the soil and the sun, depriving any new germinating weeds of the sunlight they need to photosynthesize. Mulch is composed of large chunky material such as wood chips and bark nuggets. It works well for weed control because it is low in nutrients and won’t fertilize plant starts below. For more information, visit cdpr.ca.gov or the-garden-doctor.com.
See EarthTalk page 11
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Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com
April 23, 2010
Students act as mediators to aid fellow teens DENISEN HARTLOVE Clayton Pioneer
Zaira Lara, a senior at Clayton Valley High School, has some advice for the Keith Olbermanns and Glenn Becks of today’s world: Be mindful of what you say. “You really can’t judge someone or say something and not even consider what the repercussions of your actions might be,” she says. Lara knows this because of her experience with the conflict resolution program at Clayton Valley High School. As part of a team of about eight student mediators, she’s offering students a chance to resolve disputes in a confidential, peer-led setting. The program is headed by student and community services coordinator Rocquel Colbert and vice principal Rick Leach. With more than 40 years of experience working in high schools, first as a science teacher and then as a school administrator, Leach started the conflict resolution program about seven years ago.
Photo by Denisen Hartlove
SCHOOL ADMINISTRATOR ROCQUEL COLBERT AND STUDENT SUNNY SHERGILL shake hands outside the room used for the conflict resolution program at Clayton Valley High School.
“I’m very much a believer in kids working with kids,” he said. “Sometimes they communicate with each other better than we can as administrators.” Students interested in acting
as mediators in the volunteer program attend a day-long, offcampus training session where they learn communication and active listening skills. They participate in resolving mock con-
flicts to gain confidence and to learn when to step back and let the opposing parties talk to each other. Frustrated parties can request the group’s services, but more often they are referred by friends or teachers. While certain disputes – those involving fights, threats or drugs, for instance – can’t be handled by the group, most are addressed within a day or two in a confidential session attended by two student mediators. Colbert noted that most of the conflicts start with social media such as Facebook or email. “It starts offsite but then transfers back to the school site,” she said, describing cyberbullying and instant messaging as common pathways to her group’s door. Sunny Shergill is another CVHS mediator. Trained in the art of conflict management at a similar program at Diablo View Middle School, the sophomore hopes to someday use his prob-
SARAH ROSEN results, has gone up almost 70 points, from 701 to 770. “It’s going to be a challenge, everybody knows that,” said testing coordinator Rocquel Colbert. “But I think it’s still possible. I think we can make that 800 mark.” “The class size increase is going to have some impact – there’s no question,” said Principal Gary Swanson. Nevertheless, he has a plan to keep the often cynical stu-
Students at Clayton Valley High School will begin STAR testing on April 27. Despite budget cuts that have led to increased class sizes, administrators are optimistic the school’s test scores will continue to rise. In the past four years, CVHS’ API score, which is based largely on STAR test
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dents focused on the task at hand: the Golden State Seal Merit Diploma. This award is given to students who do well on STAR tests over a period of three years. It shows on the student’s diploma and, more importantly for college-bound students, appears on their transcripts. Not all parents share Swanson’s optimism. Sherry Hamilton, the mother of a ninth grader, thinks the school has a hard road ahead in continuing to raise test scores. “It’s kind of like with the budget cutting,” she said. “It’s easy to cut the surplus when there’s lots of fat. It gets harder and harder to find ways to cut without losing something that’s valuable.” Swanson remains hopeful. “It’s very reasonable,” he said of expecting scores to rise, “if we can get the kids to take it seriously.”
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TEEN SPEAK There comes a time in everyone’s life when they know it’s time to let go of a friend. It’s never simple and it often hurts more than it seems to be worth, but it’s important to identify when to let go. When thinking of a concise way to define a friend, I turned to the dictionary. The result defined a friend as “somebody you trust and enjoy being with.” To me, that definition doesn’t do a word like “friend” justice. I pondered what a friend was to me and attempted to put that into a definition. To me, a friend is: Someone who would never hurt you intentionally, lie to you, manipulate you, abuse you; somebody who is honest with you, dependable and loyal. Someone you enjoy being around, who would sacrifice their own feelings for yours and who supports you indefinitely. To know when to move on from a friendship is difficult, but when you think about what a friend is to you, it makes it easier to judge whether they fit the
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handful of student conflict managers mediate disputes. Colbert hopes the program will continue to grow. She and the students are trying to boost awareness of the program by ensuring referral sheets are prominently displayed in each classroom. Patti Bannister, principal of Diablo View Middle School, may be giving the program a boost as well. Along with principals from several other middle schools in the district, Bannister plans to send 10 sixth and seventh graders to training for conflict resolution skills. “I think it’s an important part of their education, focusing on the character development and their social and emotional growth as well as their academics,” said Bannister, noting that the students were leaders of on-campus social groups. “Those skills are going to take them a long way when they go off to high school and beyond.”
Not always wise to hold on to friendships
Amid budget woes, CVHS principal optimistic about STAR results DENISEN HARTLOVE Clayton Pioneer
lem-solving skills in the field of law enforcement. Sometimes opening channels of communication is all it takes to resolve a dispute, he said. Shergill told of one problem he helped mediate where a student had been observed bullying another. Given an opportunity to talk to one another face-to-face, the parties soon learned they had a common interest – both played the guitar – and a friendship was born. While not all conflicts end in friendship, Shergill noted that one side is rarely entirely right. “The biggest thing is teamwork,” he said. “You have to work together with both sides to gain resolution.” Everyone agrees the program offers benefits to the parties needing resolution and the managers themselves. Despite its attributes, the program was put on hold last year – possibly due to a lack of time from overworked school staff. It started up again this year, though, and a
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bill. Often, a friendship fades slowly rather than ending in consequence of a huge blowup. Usually, it’s begun with a series of small events that indicate your friendship has changed. Though it may be difficult to come to terms with an ending friendship, it’s important for both sides. Unfortunately, I know all too well about the hurt involved in ending a long-term and debilitating friendship. For four years, I had one best girl friend. We were inseparable until just after eighth grade, when we slowly began drifting apart. It started with her chiding remarks. As teenage insecurities set in, she found it easier to pick at my family and me, rather than her own life. Although I continued to be loyal, she chose to proceed in putting me down. By the end of our freshman year, we had made a group of friends and slowly began spending less time together. I knew that our friendship was fading, but I was too stubborn to realize that until
it was gone. Her sarcastic jabs had caused me to become insecure and doubtful of what I could achieve. When we stopped talking and both made new friends, I began to regain my confidence and realize how much I had been missing out on in being friends with her exclusively. Our friendship had been detrimental to not only my own personal growth, but hers as well. Though it’s difficult, many friendships will come to an end over the course of our lives. It’s important to know when it’s the right time to let go. Keep healthy friendships as long as you can and enjoy the times you have with those friends, but never allow anybody to prevent you from growing as a person. Letting go is a part of the process of growing up, and one cannot expect to develop without experiencing the drifting of friendship and moving on. Sarah Rosen is a sophomore at CVHS. You can e-mail her at sarah_rosen@claytonpioneer.com.
School News MT. DIABLO MUSIC EDUCATION FOUNDATION The foundation is holding a “Give Music a Chance” fundraiser to support music in the Mt. Diablo Unified School District. A $10 donation provides a chance to win a Disney vacation. A $20 donation offers three chances. First prize is a seven-night Alaskan-Pacific sail for four, departing from Vancouver with ports of call throughout Alaska. Airfare from the San Francisco area included. Value: $9,000. Second prize is a five-day, four-night vacation for four in Orlando, Fla., featuring Disney’s Boardwalk Inn. Vacation includes airfare from the San Francisco area, five-day park hopper passes and a dining package. Value: $6,000. Third prize is a four-day, three-night vacation at Disneyland Resort with a stay at
the Grand California Resort. Vacation includes airfare from the San Francisco area, four-day park hopper passes and a dining package. Value: $3,500. Winners will be announced May 15 at the foundation’s Music Festival at the Sleep Train Pavilion. The 2 p.m. concert will feature music students from various schools. Winners need not be present to win. For more information, visits mdmusicfoundation.org or call Kathy Kaminek at 798-2798. CLAYTON VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL The Choral Department will present a spring concert at 8 p.m. Friday, April 23, in the CVHS Multi-Use Room. It will feature performances from the Show Choir, Concert Choir, Women’s Ensemble and Honors Choir. Tickets can be purchased at the door for $10 adults and $5 students.
April 23, 2010
Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com
Education cuts taking massive toll on students, teachers ROBBIE PARKER DVMS REPORTER Every time I turn around, I hear someone talking about how education is falling apart in California. The overspending and bickering at the legislative level is a major cause of problems in California’s schools. Unfortunately, leaders are missing the big picture. Education is an investment in America’s future. Diablo View Middle School continues to face cuts and layoffs, thereby affecting students’ lives. As each year advances, I notice the difference in the needs of the school. Fundraisers are occurring more frequently. I am constantly reminded of how supplies are diminishing and electives such as music and sports are being eliminated. Add this to the continual layoffs of teachers, and one starts to think “What a mess!” Education is being sliced and diced, and students and teachers are suffering. You can-
not have successful classrooms and high test scores while cutting resources and areas such as class size. A typical middle school classroom holds 36 plus students. For middle and high school teachers, that can mean more than 200 students a day. Teachers are not miracle workers; they do the best they can. When I think back to my most successful classes, it was more than just the subject – it was the connection with the teachers. I worked well in those settings not because the work was easy, but because the teachers spent most of their time helping us. The teachers made sure each of us would have the best education we could get and inspired us to reach our full potential. When you have so many students, teachers cannot connect with each individual. Class size does make a difference. My best teachers prepared me for the next grade ahead and could relate to the lives of their students. They taught me to be efficient and made school a bet-
ter experience. Most of these teachers cared about us as people, rather than just a letter on a report card. They didn’t just give me a “good job” or “great work.” They made me strive to do my best and motivated me to make a difference. California needs to encourage individuals to become teachers and seek those who will best educate the students. How can we do this with the problems facing education and the loss of so many quality teachers? Unfortunately, cuts are going to continue to happen. Just watch the news or pick up a newspaper. However, we need to encourage California legislators to make the right decisions. Get involved in what is happening in our state. If they hear the voices of many, they may make choices that will give students opportunities rather than limiting them.
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While Clayton Valley High School students were enjoying spring break, somebody vandalized the campus. In addition to several walls being covered in graffiti, windows in the office were smashed, every open garbage can was lit on fire and the shed near the field was
burned down. About $25,000 worth of band instruments and equipment were lost in the fire, along with all of the gardening tools, the golf cart and the only AstroTurf scraper in the district. The vandals also broke new lacrosse goals, privately donated just a few weeks ago. Because the music department receives little funding from the district, the bands rely upon the Music Boosters to fix wornout instruments and equipment. “All of the equipment in the shed was completely lost, and if it cannot be replaced, it’s possible that the students won’t be able to give some performances in the
VANDALS SET FIRE TO THIS STORAGE SHED over spring break. Band instruments and equipment worth about $25,000 were lost in the fire.
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future,” said CV band director Mundy Viar. “Lots of protocol needs to be followed in order to receive the insurance money for the lost equipment, and that’s quite a lengthy process.” At the beginning of the school year, school officials installed a huge black fence surrounding the campus. The fence was meant to dissuade intruders and prevent vandalism. Now the school may be burdened with the price of a security system because the fence hasn’t done its intended job. As the vandals continue to get away with destruction, CV must scramble to clean up the mess. It’s perplexing to me, considering the lack of funding, that money would be spent to deter people from coming onto campus. If security cameras were installed, at least the perpetrators could have been caught. It’s likely that this destruction was carried out by juveniles who most certainly would not want to be caught. We cannot always point fingers at the lack of funds. At times, we need to take a candid look at what may be misuse of funds.
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DVMS students to take on math, science at Tech Trek camp
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This summer, Diablo View Middle School students Megan Haley, Monishaa Suresh and Kelsie McNiff will get a preview of college life while having fun with math and science. The three will attend Tech Trek Science Camp for Girls, a summer program for girls entering eighth grade sponsored by the American Association of University Women of California. Diablo View teacher Cynthia Brewington nominated five students for the camp, based on grade performance and enthusiasm in the classroom. The girls then wrote essays and were interviewed by the Clayton AAUW branch. Brewington calls the five students “exceptional.” “All three Tech Trek recipients are bright, engaged and well-regarded by their peers,” Brewington notes. Kelsie relishes a sense of accomplishment when she mas-
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KELSIE MCNIFF, MEGAN HALEY AND MONISHAA SURESH will attend the Tech Trek Science Camp for Girls, sponsored by the AAUW.
ters a complicated math problem. “Math and science are a challenge and you feel great when you learn something new. It just makes you want to learn more,” says Kelsie, who lists the human body and arithmetic as her favorite science and math subjects.
During a week at Sonoma State, campers will attend classes taught by middle school teachers featuring hands-on experiments. Women who are professionals in the fields of math, science and technology will be guest presenters. Monishaa is excited about
the opportunity to talk with people who are experts in their fields. In school, she enjoys biology and all aspects of math. “I just like math because whatever subject you are learning, math is always relevant to it,” Monishaa says. Haley expects it to be a valuable learning experience, particularly the lab sessions. “In science, I like the fact that you get to learn hands-on and you get to do research,” says Haley, who points to biology and animal science as her favorites. The Clayton AAUW provides camp funding for the three local students, with matching money from the Clayton Business and Community Association. Emma Hall and Sarah Owen are alternates should a camper be unavailable to attend. To support programs like Tech Trek or to learn more about the AAUW, contact Jeanne Boyd at 672-3672 or Rosemary Harwood at rfharwood@sbcglobal.net.
Club News SOROPTIMIST INTERNATIONAL OF DIABLO VISTA The club held its annual Women of Distinction Luncheon at the Contra Costa Country Club in Pleasant Hill on March 24. Norene Lowry was honored for her personal courage and caring for others through Soroptimist and the American Cancer Society. As an educator, Lowry makes learning fun for young people. Tania Hanson-DeYoung was rewarded for her volunteer efforts and devotion to philanthropic non-profit organizations. As secretary and director, she has played an instrumental part in the creation and growth of the Gretta Foundation. Meg Styles makes a difference by developing nurses in impoverished, disease-burdened countries. She founded the Gretta Foundation in honor of her deceased mother, a global leader in nursing. Styles was given the Ruby Award/Woman of the Year award. The Soroptimists also gave out scholarships to two Women’s Opportunity Award winners, single head of households who are furthering their education to improve their employment status, and the Violet Richardson award to a
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WOMEN OF DISTINCTION AWARD WINNERS are shown with Soroptimist members, from left, Ginger Marsh, Tessa Lepper, Tania Hanson-DeYoung, Jay-Marie Garcia, Meg Styles, Norene Lowry, Connie Loosli, Jo Harlow and Sue Manning.
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VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS VFW Post 1525 is hosting a variety of events. Loyalty Day is May 1. The “forgotten” holiday celebrates an idea – and that idea is America. A Loyalty Day Breakfast will be held 8-11 a.m. Sunday, April 25, Concord Veterans Memorial Hall, 2290 Willow Pass Road.
On May 28-29, club members will be seeking donations at local markets for Buddy Poppies to honor veterans killed in action and support America’s returning wounded veterans. A Memorial Day Ceremony will be held 10 a.m. Monday, May 31, at the downtown Clayton flagpole. For more information, call Commander Richard Loechner at 682-6533 or visit vfwpost1525.org.
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Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer .com
Bowling a perfect game was no ‘small’ task for this Clayton Valley octogenarian JAY BEDECARRÉ Clayton Pioneer
After his wife of 52 years died six years ago, retired local resident Rick Small realized he “needed something to do.” So he turned to a recreational pursuit he had enjoyed off and on for decades bowling. Small has joined an elite club of those who bowl a perfect 300 game after their 80th birthday. He accomplished his feat March 15 at Clayton Valley Bowl. “There have only been three or four bowlers in their 80s to bowl a perfect game in the history of the Contra Costa County Bowling Association,” says Clayton Valley Bowl general manager Paul Thompson. Small was taking part in the Monday night Valente Invitational Scratch Trio League with teammates Karen Vladyka and Jim Erickson when the strikes started mounting up. “Most of the strikes were just dead solid, since I was hitting the pocket every time,” the left-handed Small recalls. “In the eighth frame, I hit another perfect strike but it looked like the 8 and 10 pins were not going to fall. Then the 10 pin fell, bounced up and knocked over the 8. It was almost in slow motion.” Everyone stopped to watch as he threw his last three balls in the 10th frame. After that, it was high fives all around Clayton Valley Bowl. His was the first 300 game of the year at the local center. Thompson says they average about 10 perfect games a year due to the high number of scratch bowlers – about 150 – who regularly bowl at Clayton Valley. STRIVING FOR A CAREER IN BASEBALL
Bowling has played a significant role in Small’s life despite several periods away from the game. He met a young lady named Rita who was working the desk at the Albany Bowl when Small went in there one evening. “I got her fired,” is all he says with a smile about their time at the bowling alley.
Tamara Steiner/Clayton Pioneer
RICK SMALL is one of only a handful of bowlers in the CCC Bowling Association to achieve a perfect 300 after reaching age 80.
At the time, Small was home from his job as a professional baseball player. He was a star first baseman at El Cerrito High School, where he batted .457 as a senior and has a record that may never have been matched. “I didn’t have a single that year. All my hits were for extra bases.” After his senior year, he played in San Francisco at Seals Stadium in the East-West AllStar game and caught the eye of a major league scout. He signed a contract with the Philadelphia Phillies and spent two years in their minor leagues at Klamath Falls, Ore., and Salina, Kansas. One of his opponents in Salina for the Joplin Minors of Missouri was a young man named Mickey Mantle. Before the next season, the Brooklyn Dodgers drafted Small. He was eligible to be drafted by another major league team since he wasn’t in AA League.
By the time he reported to Vero Beach, Fla., for spring training the next year, both the scout who recommended him to the Dodgers and player manager Larry Shepard had left the organization. “I no longer had anyone who knew me or was ‘pushing’ me within the Dodgers organization,” Small says. He played three years in the Dodgers system before hanging it up in 1952. By then, he had married that girl he met at Albany Bowl. MAKING A LIFE IN THE EAST BAY Small took a job at the Ford Motor plant in Richmond. When that closed a few years later, he went into the aluminum business as a draftsman. During this time, Rick and Rita had four children and the family moved to Concord in 1961. A salesman from the aluminum company started his
own business in 1963 and took Rick along. He worked there until his retirement in 1998. The company was called Pacific International and then Jayco. “We did 80 percent of the major aluminum work in Hawaii on all the major commercial buildings.” Once their kids got old enough and were “into their own things,” Rita and Rick began bowling together. Rita developed a bad shoulder in the late ’80s, so they stopped. Then the year Small retired, he had a hip replacement that halted his game. In 2005, Small bowled his first sanctioned 300 game at 75 years old. He told Thompson then he’d “bowl another 300 when I’m 80.” Now Small says he’s planning a perfect game when he turns 85. If he doesn’t accomplish that feat, it won’t be for lack of trying. He maintains an impressive 201 average. Besides the Monday night league, he’s in a Tuesday afternoon senior league, Tuesday night handicap league, Wednesday morning league with a senior SIRS group and a Thursday Scratch League. He is also subbing this season in a Friday morning league. Although his weekends are not fully committed, he’s in a Match Club that once or twice a month competes with teams from other bowling centers. “We bowl and combine it with a potluck dinner with the other team,” Small says. He lives on the ConcordClayton border with his oldest daughter, Roxane. “We saw the Cyrano de Bergerac movie before she was born and liked the name.” His other three children and one grandchild have passed away, but Roxane and a great grandson keep him company every day. Even though he played for the Phillies and Dodgers, he remains loyal to his boyhood team – Boston Red Sox – as well as the San Francisco Giants. “I was born in Holyoke, Mass., and I can remember sitting and listening to Red Sox games on the radio with my grandfather.”
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EarthTalk, from page 7 How effective have plastic bag bans and restrictions been on reducing plastic litter and other problems associated with their proliferation? Is it really better to use paper bags, which will just lead to more deforestation? – Peter, New Canaan, Conn.
Q
Introduced in the 1950s as A a convenient way to store food, plastic bags have developed into a global scourge – littering roadsides, clogging sewer drains and landfills and getting ingested by animals and marine life. In recent years, we’ve discovered that they are so prolific they now comprise a significant portion of the plastic and other garbage that has collected in huge ocean gyres far from land. A few countries around the world – including Bangladesh, China, India, Australia, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Israel, South Africa, Taiwan and Mumbai – have taken stands against plastic bags through taxing their usage or banning them outright. The environmental think tank Worldwatch Institute reports that China’s decision to ban free plastic bags in 2008 has cut demand by 40 billion bags, reduced plastic bag usage there by 66 percent and saved 1.6 million tons of petroleum. In March 2007, San Francisco became the first (and is still the only) major U.S. city to implement
an across-the-board ban on plastic bags. Large supermarkets and pharmacies there had to ditch plastic shopping bags by early 2008 in favor of paper bags or those made from all-natural biodegradable cornstarch-based plastic. Environmentalists are particularly fond of the latter option for those who don’t bring their own grocery bags, as these cornstarch bags offer the biodegradability of paper without the deforestation as well as the convenience of plastic without the damage to ecosystems. San Francisco officials originally tried to work with retailers on reducing plastic bag use voluntarily. But after a few years of little or no cooperation, they decided to institute the ban on anything but biodegradable bags. The result has been a 50 percent drop in plastic bag litter on the streets. Los Angeles followed suit and the City Council voted in 2008 to ban plastic bags beginning in July 2010, but the ban will only take effect if the state of California doesn’t follow through on a statewide plan to impose a fee on shoppers who request plastic bags. City Council members in L.A. hope the ban will spur consumers to carry their own reusable bags, thus reducing the amount of plastic washing into the city’s storm drains and into the Pacific Ocean. Several other U.S. cities,
including New York, Philadelphia and Baltimore, have considered outright bans like San Francisco’s, but each settled on plastic bag recycling programs in the face of pressure from the plastics industry and retail commercial interests. While increased demand for paper bags in the wake of plastic bag bans could lead to more deforestation, most paper grocery bags in use today are made from recycled content, not virgin wood. Also, an added benefit of paper over petroleum-based plastic is its biodegradability. Americans go through some
92 billion disposable plastic bags each year – and only five billion paper ones. If the nation banned plastic bags, it is likely that paper varieties would only make up a small part of the difference in light of the proliferation of reusable canvas shopping bags as well as the availability of biodegradable cornstarch plastic. For more information, visit worldwatch.org. Send environmental questions to EarthTalk, c/o E The Environmental Magazine, P.O. Box 5098, Westport, CT 06881 or email earthtalk@emagazine.com.
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April 23, 2010
Clayton Sports Eagle teams facing challenges on lacrosse field JAY BEDECARRÉ Clayton Pioneer
Lacrosse is the newest sport to establish itself as a regular part of high school athletic programs. Clayton Valley High School started boys and girls lacrosse programs during the
past decade but still must scramble to find adequate local competition, especially for league play. The boys team coached by Matt Hill was undefeated in Diablo Valley Athletic League last season and advanced to the second round of the North
Coast Section playoffs before losing to established lacrosse power De La Salle. This year, they participate in a four-team DVAL lineup with College Park, Northgate and Berean Christian. Ex-assistant CVHS coach Kyle Allen took over the College Park program,
which was almost dropped, allowing the DVAL to continue with a minimum four teams. Allen Raymond’s CVHS girls lacrosse team belongs to the Bay Shore Athletic League along a geographically diverse group of Berkeley, Piedmont, Northgate, Bishop O’Dowd and league
favorite Davis. He is in his fifth year on the CVHS varsity staff, the last three as head coach. One of his assistant coaches, Kelsie Piper, helped start the girl’s team at CVHS and went on to be co-caption at Oregon and a member of the U.S. national team.
Photo by Steve Jacobson
SENIOR JAKE LOONEY IS A DEFENSIVE PLAYER but has stepped up to the plate to help out the offense in the midst of the numerous injuries to key offensive players for the Clay Valley High varsity. Heis a defensive midfielder and has also filled in at the face off position.
The Eagles varsity squads each set realistic goals for this spring season. Raymond believes his team will make the BSAL playoffs but are a long shot to advance to the NCS playoffs. Wins over O’Dowd and Dublin, in a non-league match, have given the team hopes for a good season. Senior midfielders Andrea Araujo, Sarah Jonathan and Kathryn Burton and defender Hannah Dehghan pace the Eagles LAX team. Top new varsity players include a trio of sophomores, Kaylee Andrews, Emily Ly and Heather Raymond. The boys team reached its highest point a year ago with the league title and NCS first-round win over Las Lomas. Hill has raised the bar. “We expect to win our league again this year and move onto the North Coast Section championships,” the coach said. He maintains that confidence with a corps of senior team leaders. Goalie Conrad Carlson, defenseman Dominic Garaventa, midfielder Shaun Duckworth, midfielder/faceoff/attack Cory Callahan and attackman Horacio Urias lead the way for the Eagles, who have suffered a spat of injuries this spring necessitating some players switching positions. Sopho – mores Cameron Bacigalupo and Zach Jacobson are filling key roles as varsity newcomers. “Our injured players are starting to return to the lineup and we should peak as we enter the championships,” Hill notes.
Clayton golfers seek magic number of 200 JAY BEDECARRÉ Clayton Pioneer
Clayton Valley High School golf coach Chance Gernhardt has set a goal for his golfers to post a five-man team score of 200 this season. That equates to an average of 40 strokes per player and would probably be more than enough for the Eagles to attain Gernhardt’s other team goal – qualifying for the North Coast Section championships next month. In order to achieve those goals, the team needs to continue working on its game. The Eagles are on their home Oakhurst Country Club every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday fine-tuning their
game. Many of the players can also be found playing at Oakhurst on their own each weekend. High school matches feature six golfers per school playing nine holes, with the lowest five scorers counting for each team. Senior Ian Livingston has been leading the way as a threeyear letterman. Gernhardt also notes that Tyler Metz showed “huge improvement during the off-season” and is another fixture in the lineup. A third senior who was counted on heavily, Jimmy Leedom, is about ready to return from a broken arm that has kept him sidelined all season. Gernhardt hopes Leedom is ready to go for the stretch drive of the season.
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Also complicating the Eagles drive for NCS this year were the losses of first team all-DVAL standout Domenick Mazza to the CVHS baseball team and his cousin Nick Mazza, who is concentrating on football. Offsetting those loses, junior Stuart Bredell returned to the team this season. He was on junior varsity as a freshman then took off his sophomore year. “His hard work in the offseason has paid off and we are looking forward to him being a force in the DVAL,” Gernhardt says. Juniors Garret Dane and Corbin Weller have been seeing lots of varsity action. The Eagles golf squad also includes Chris Avila, freshman Wyatt Dane, Jack Lyons and Jay
Schneider. The Eagles play a double round robin schedule against Diablo Valley Athletic League opponents College Park, Northgate, Concord and Berean Christian. The league champion earns an automatic NCS berth. YV hosts the DVAL meet May 4 with another NCS spot up for grabs. Northgate and College Park are the biggest rivals to CV for top league honors and the two precious NCS invites. The NCS qualifying meet is May 10, and the NCS championships are one week later. Gernhardt, a lifelong Clayton resident, is in his fifth season coaching CVHS golf – two with the girls team in the fall and this third with the boys in the spring.
Photo by Mike Dunn
JUNIOR CORBIN WELLER OF CLAYTON doesn’t look totally satisfied with his shot at Oakhurst Country Club.
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April 23, 2010
Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com
Page 13
Clayton Sports
Help the Pioneer cover the local sports scene. Send competition results, story ideas, announcements, sports shorts, etc. to sports@claytonpioneer.com. Please attach a high-resolution photo whenever available.
MDSA teams earn three titles at Pleasant Hill AYSO Soccerfest
Sports Shorts FALL
LEAGUE
AYSO
REGISTRATION
Mt. Diablo Soccer AYSO Region 223 registration for its fall season continues noon-3 p.m. Saturday, April 24, at Mt. Diablo Elementary School in Clayton. Everyone plays on the teams for girls and boys age 5-18. Fall season begins with practice in August, followed by games through the season-ending Mt. Diablo World Cup in October for Under 10, U12 and U14 age groups. For more information, visit mdsoccer.org.
DIABLO FC
COMPETITIVE TEAM TRYOUTS
Tryouts for the 2010-’11 season will conclude Sunday, April 25, at Ygnacio Valley High School in Concord for Under 15 through U19 teams. Boys and girls born between Aug. 1, 1991, and July 31, 1996, are invited to try out for Diablo FC Division 1 and Division 3 teams. There is no charge to try out. For times and to pre-register, visit diablofc.org.
EAGLE BASEBALL ACADEMY Defending North Coast Section champion Clayton Valley High Eagles coaches and players will present the annual Summer Baseball Camp June 15-July 1 at the Concord school. The program is for boys and girls 7-15, from beginners to advanced players. Current college players and student coaches from Clayton Valley provide positive role models and give hands-on instruction. For more information, call 682-7474 ext. 3115 or visit eaglebaseballacademy.com.
CLAYTON VALLEY YOUTH FOOTBALL CAMP
Photos courtesy of MDSA
THE UNDER 12 BOYS MDSA UNITED TEAM WON THE PHMSA SOCCERFEST. The United team includes, bottom row from left, Casey Smith, Josh Marquez, Anthony Maytum, Faisal Hakimi, Peyton Rhodes, Alex Delgadillo, Ryan Bolender, Enrique Guzman; back row, coach Zbysek Rychtecky, Will Morimoto, Daniel Ferrell, Muhammud Opeyany, Ronnie Hernandez and assistant coach Mas Morimoto.
JAY BEDECARRÉ Clayton Pioneer
The annual spring AYSO tournament season kicked off in March and Mt. Diablo Soccer AYSO Region 223 racked up some fantastic results with three championships and two more teams reaching the final four over two weekends at the annual Pleasant Hill Soccerfest. Both Under 10 championships at Soccerfest went to MDSA teams, with the Stampede girls and Chivas FC boys claiming first-place medals. The U12 MDSA United boys were also victorious, while the U16 girls, MDSA United FC, took home second-place honors and U12 girls, MDSA Destruction, were third. The AYSO tournament season includes stops in Carson City, Nev., for the Comstock Shootout, the Pacifica Fog Classic, Davis World Cup and locally for Concord Cup XVII on May 15-16. MDSA Chivas FC edged
Davis Supernova 2-1 in the U10 boys finale at Soccerfest after beating host PHMSA Shockwave 5-2 in the semifinals. Coach Brian Hanson leads the team. In the U16 girls semis, MDSA United FC beat close rivals Concord Chaos 3-1. Then United, coached by Elias Haddad and JC Araujo, was blanked 2-0 in the championship match by Davis Beasts. Finishing third in U12 girls was MDSA Destruction, coached by Sylvia Jones and Pat Healy. The team lost 4-1 in the semi-finals to MV-LA the Power but bounced back to take third with a 2-1 verdict over PHMSA Thunder. MDSA U10 girls Stampede won their first tournament of the year at Soccerfest. “I love this team because everyone finds a way to contribute in each game,” said coach Chris Linzey. “They are a true team, and it really shows in the tough games. Linzey and Tom Brown have been coaching together for four seasons and decided to try a higher level of competition this year by coaching the
select team. The Stampede reached the Soccerfest semi-finals with two wins and a draw, which came against their nemesis Davis Dominators. The semifinal game against the host PHMSA Barbie Dolls was a defensive battle. Both teams had chances to score, but good defense and great goalie work from Karina Linzey, Alicia Perez and Courtney Lally kept the Barbie Dolls in check. Each team managed to grind out a goal and the game ended in a 1-1 tie. The Stampede was able to move through to the finals after a tense penalty shootout. In the final, they faced the PHMSA Pride. The Pride scored on a penalty kick in the first quarter, and the Stampede answered back on a give and go play from Lally to Alli Moody for the tying goal. Goals by Moody and Lally in the second half and another defensive shutdown sealed the victory and the championship for the Stampede, 3-1. “Winning this tournament was great fun and the girls have given me quite a gift,”
Sign-Up Now... th
Mt. Diablo Soccer’s 30 Anniversary 2010 Fall Registration
AYSO Region 223
Fun, affordable memories that last a lifetime. Player ages are 4½ to 18 years old (Players must be born on or before January 31, 2006 to play this fall season) Every child plays at least 50% of EVERY game
Sat., April 24, Noon – 3:00pm Mt. Diablo Elementary 5880 Mount Zion Dr., Clayton 2010 Fall Registration Fee is $110 Pre-register at www.eayso.org and bring one signed print out of the registration form for each child along with cash or check payable to MDSA. First time players with AYSO Region 223, must bring a copy of Birth Certificate or another legal document verifying date of birth.
The 10th annual camp runs 9 a.m.-2 p.m. June 21-25 at Gonsalves Stadium on the CVHS campus. It is for boys entering fifth-ninth grades. Head football coach Herc Pardi and his staff provide fundamental instruction and competition. There is a trainer on site. Each participant gets a camp shirt and a written evaluation. Cost is $125 plus a refundable $75 equipment fee. For more information, call 682-7474 ext. 3115, press 5, or pick up a brochure at the CVHS front office. Deadline to apply is June 9.
Brown said. “This group of girls was selected for a reason and they have shown why all season long.” The U12 boys MDSA United stormed through three Saturday games with victories and then beat Palo Alto Hackers 5-1 in the Soccerfest semis. In the finale, they met undefeated Davis Dynamite – a team that outscored their four opponents 16-4. MDSA got out to a quick 2-0 lead after a goal by Josh Marquez and a converted penalty kick by Peyton Rhodes. Davis scored to make it 2-1 just before halftime, but Ronnie Hernandez regained the advantage to make it 3-1. Davis kept on the pressure but was thwarted by the excellent defensive play of Daniel Ferrell, Will Morimoto and Rhodes. Muhammud Opeyany put the game out of reach for United with a breakaway goal. The Dynamite scored in the waning minutes for the final 42 margin and a title for the United team, coached by Mas Morimoto and Zbysek Rchytecky.
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April 23, 2010
Education is key to estate plan that leaves your desired legacy Joel and Nancy were more concerned about sharing their values with their daughter, Isabel, than they were with sharing their wealth. They wanted to provide Isabel with a solid financial safety net, but they also wanted to impress on her the importance of education, hard work and philanthropy. So, Joel and Nancy established an incentive trust that provided Isabel with a modest income and conditioned the bulk of her inheritance on obtaining a college degree, maintaining gainful employment for at least five years and other desirable behaviors. Isabel met the trust’s conditions and received a $5 million distribution at age 28. She blew through her entire inheritance by age 35. Two lessons can be learned here. When it comes to teaching children about money management, even a well-designed estate plan is no substitute for education and experience. And, an all-or-nothing approach often backfires. An incentive trust can be an effective estate planning tool, but there’s a fine line between encouraging positive behavior
and controlling your children’s life choices. A trust that’s too restrictive may incite rebellion or invite lawsuits. Incentives can be valuable, however, if the trust is flexible enough to allow children to chart their own course. A “principle trust,” for example, gives the trustee discretion to make distributions based on certain guiding principles or values without limiting beneficiaries to narrowly defined goals. But no matter how carefully designed, an incentive trust won’t teach your children critical money skills. If your kids are old enough, consider sending them to a money management class. For younger children, start by giving them an allowance in exchange for doing household chores. This helps teach them the value of work. After they spend the money all in one place a few times and don’t have anything left for something they really want, it teaches them the value of saving. Opening a savings account or buying bonds or a CD can help teach kids about investing and the power of compounding.
For families that are charitably inclined, a private foundation can be a great vehicle for teaching children about the joys of giving and the impact wealth can make beyond one’s family. For this to be effective, children should have some input into the foundation’s activities. There’s still a place for incentive trusts, but if you leave wealth to your children with strings attached, communication is critical to ensure that they understand your motivations and the values you’re trying to reinforce. In addition to teaching your children about money management principles, it’s important to give them practical experience so they can learn from their mistakes. Unfortunately, many parents take an all or nothing approach, either transferring substantial amounts of wealth all at once or making gifts that are too small to provide meaningful lessons. Trust distributions should be large enough so that your kids have something significant to lose, but not so large that their entire inheritance is at risk. Your estate plan can be a
RICHARD LITTORNO FINANCIAL SENSE powerful teaching tool, but only if your children or other beneficiaries understand the lessons you’re attempting to impart. To avoid hurt feelings – or even litigation – it’s important to discuss your plans with your family. Perhaps you’re limiting your children’s inheritance so they can make their own way, providing nothing more than a financial safety net so they won’t end up on the street if they fail. Or maybe your plan encourages financial success by making matching gifts equal to the amount of income your children earn each year. In any case, ensure that everyone in the family is on the same page through informal discussions, family letters, structured family meetings and family mission statements. Richard A. Littorno is an attorney specializing in estate planning. He has offices in Clayton and Pittsburg. Send your questions to Richard@LittornoLaw.com.
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During the recent boys soccer season, the Tabernacle School Tigers earned their first final four finish. According to coach Scott Martin, eight players from Clayton were key to the team’s success. Brad Antonson, Connor Antonson, Dalton Heinz, Cole Hermeston, Cole Temple, David Thompson, Chandler Wakefield and Kyle Ward helped the Tigers to a 9-0 league record. The team included nine eighth graders, five in seventh grade and two in sixth. The majority also play soccer for Diablo FC or MDSA. Tabernacle participates in middle school sports as part of the Bay Area Christian School Athletic League. The undefeated league season earned them the No. 1 seed in playoffs, where the Tigers met North Creek Christian Academy. The game ended tied 1-1 through two overtime periods. The
game was settled with penalty kicks, and Tabernacle emerged victorious and moved onto the area tournament.
The Tigers were caught off-guard by the fast start of a strong Valley Christian School team and lost 5-2 to the
Dublin team in the semi-finals. Tabernacle came back to finish in third place with a 3-1 win over Los Gatos Christian.
Photo courtesy Tabernacle School
WINNING THEIR FIRST BACSAL MIDDLE SCHOOL SOCCER CHAMPIONSHIP WERE THE TABERNACLE TIGERS. The team includes, bottom row from left, Sam Whipple, Fernando Artiga, Daniel Frederick, Connor Antonson; back row, assistant coach Devin Toma, Codey Bertlin, Jake Meyer, Chandler Wakefield, Max Brandt, Cole Temple, Brad Antonson, David Thompson, Kyle Ward, Cole Hermeston, coach Scott Martin, Joey Whipple and Dalton Heinz.
Wrestling, soccer players and coaches honored Clayton Valley High School got both its soccer teams to the second round of the North Coast Section playoffs, and more honors came the Eagles way when Rory Gentry was named East Bay Boys Coach of the Year. CVHS won 17 games this year in Gentry’s second season at the helm. The Eagles had
notched a single win in each of the two seasons before Gentry came on board. Among the standards established by the Eagles were most wins in school history, highest winning percentage of 0.771 (17-4-3 overall), most goals scored (73) and fewest goals allowed (22). Sophomore midfielder Joshua Gomez was
DVAL Offensive MVP, and seven teammates earned allleague honors. Gentry succeeds De La Salle’s Brian Voltattorni as Coach of the Year. The two work together in club soccer for Diablo FC. The Moita brothers of Clayton won similar East Bay honors in wrestling. Vince and
Joe, the De La Salle High grapplers, were first-team at the two lightest weight classes after each captured league and NCS championships before advancing to the State Meet – where sophomore Joe was fourth at 103 pounds. Their high school and club coach, Mark Halvorson, was East Bay Coach of the Year.
April 23, 2010
Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com
Know the schemes and scams to foil pickpockets PEGGY BIDONDO
TIME
TO
GO
The old scout motto “Be Prepared” is good advice for today’s travelers in the United States and in foreign countries alike. Every year, thousands of travelers fall prey to the quick and clever tactics of pickpockets and thieves, especially in major tourist cities. Even the most careful traveler can get ripped off. A thief can take in a moment what might take weeks to replace. It’s important to be aware of your surroundings and the people in it. A thief may be hard to recognize and can appear as a well-dressed businessman or a friendly group of young children You can prevent the majority of common thefts by arming yourself with knowledge of typical scams, following some basic travel safety tips and using security products such as purses, wallets and belts available at most luggage shops. There are variations on the “Oops!’ scam. Say you are jostled in a crowd and someone spills mustard, ketchup or ice cream on your shirt. Greedy apologies are offered as they dab it up and paw through your pockets. Sometimes a group of three will work together. The first will draw your attention, the second picks your pocket or purse while you are distracted and the third will take the items and casually disappear into the crowd. Others “accidentally” bump into you and another “kind” person catches you
from falling while removing your valuables. Schooling for thieves starts early, especially in Europe and Central and Latin America. Groups of children have been known to gang up on unsuspecting travelers. Another trick is to try to sell
sessions were safe. Another friend was on a subway in Madrid and felt a hand in the pocket where he had placed his passport. He turned to find a young man who was obviously new at the game and was embarrassed to be caught. We dubbed our
Clever thieves might work in groups. One draws your attention while another picks your pocket, purse or backpack.
you something as they jab at you with newspapers. The papers actually block your view as their little hands work quickly to open pockets, etc. On a trip to Italy, a friend was surrounded by a group of children with big eyes, troubled expressions and colorful, raggedy clothes begging for money. The “mother” also approached holding an infant. However, the infant was a doll and the hand underneath the blanket was attempting to open the traveler’s fanny pack. The traveler shouted “Va via!” (“Go away!”) as he had been taught by the tour guide. The group ran from the scene and his pos-
friend the “honorary security officer” for the rest of the trip. After that episode, he always put his passport in the hotel safe. Thieves posing as concerned locals will warn you to store your wallet safely and then steal it after they see where you stash it. Or they will watch you as you pay for items to see where you put your money. Two thieves may stop you on the street and tell you that they are the “tourist police.” After showing you phony badges, they will ask to check your money to see if there are any counterfeit bills. Somehow
Be aware of early signs of Alzheimer’s Perhaps your dad has been getting lost while running errands, or Mom asks the same questions over and over. Signs of the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease aren’t always clear-cut, and it can be hard to distinguish them from the normal memory changes that come with age. If you are worried about an older loved one’s memory or behavior, it’s important to know Alzheimer’s warning signs. Many people confuse Alzheimer’s disease with dementia. Alzheimer’s is a disease, while dementia – which results in memory loss and disorientation – is a symptom of the disease. Dementia isn’t always caused by Alzheimer’s; it can result from other conditions as well. Although some memory changes are normal as you get older, memory problems that interfere with daily life are not. According to experts, common early signs of Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias include:
Short-term memory loss: Although older memories might seem unaffected, people with dementia might forget recent experiences. Anyone can forget details from a recent event or conversation, but people with dementia might forget the entire thing. Repetition: People with
dementia may repeat stories, sometimes word for word. They may keep asking the same questions, no matter how many times they are answered. Language problems: We all struggle to remember a word occasionally. People with dementia can have profound problems remembering even basic words. Their way of speaking may become contorted and hard to follow. Personality changes: People with dementia may have sudden mood swings. They might become emotional, upset or angry for no particular reason. They might become withdrawn or stop doing things they usually enjoy. They could become uncharacteristically suspicious of family members or trusting of telemarketers. Disorientation and confusion: People with dementia may get lost in places they know very well, like their own neighborhoods. They may have trouble completing basic and familiar tasks, like cooking dinner or shaving. Lack of hygiene: Sometimes this is the most obvious sign of Alzheimer’s disease. People who have dressed smartly every day of their lives might start wearing stained clothes or stop bathing. Odd behavior: We all mis-
KELLY FERRO
SENIOR MOMENTS place our keys from time to time. People with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias are prone to placing objects in odd and inappropriate places. They might put a toothbrush in the fridge or milk under the sink. If your loved one is exhibiting any of these Alzheimer warning signs, don’t panic. Having these symptoms doesn’t mean that your loved one necessarily has Alzheimer’s disease, but you need to schedule an appointment with the doctor for an evaluation. Alzheimer’s disease is difficult for an entire family. Seeing changes develop over time in your loved ones can cause great sadness and despair. Knowledge can give you some control and be helpful in dealing with family issues. Contact the Alzheimer’s Association in your area with any questions. Or visit, alz.org.
Kelly Ferro is a marketing director for Aegis Living. Send comments or questions to kelly.ferro@aegisliving.com
not all of the bills make it back into your wallet. Remember: Never give your wallet to anyone. You are most vulnerable to pickpockets in a busy environment such as an airport, train station or other travel hub. Often, travelers are tired and disoriented while handling cash, tickets, driver’s licenses or passports. Also beware when you are keying in numbers for your ATM, credit card or telephone card as someone may be looking over your shoulder to get the numbers. Shield the keyboard with one hand as you press the keys with the other. Some thieves even shouldersurf with binoculars! Next month, I’ll talk about safety and security tips for women travelers traveling alone. Travel Tip: Before you leave on a trip, especially out of the country, make photocopies of your valuable documents and tickets. Bring a copy along and leave one at home with a friend or relative. American embassies or consulates are located in major European cities and can assist you in replacing lost documents. Recently retired, Clayton resident Peggy Bidondo now has the time to indulge her passion in travel planning and writing. Send your questions and column ideas to Peggy Bidondo at timetogo@claytonpioneer.com.
Page 15
Police Log Two weeks ending April 15, 2010 ACCIDENTS Apr. 7, 2:54 p.m., Center St. & Clayton Rd. Accident noninjury ARRESTS Apr. 5, 5:04 p.m., Clayton Rd. & Washington Blvd. Warrant Arrest, Concord man, 37. Apr. 8, 10:23 p.m., Regency Drive & Weatherly Dr. Warrant Arrest, Concord woman, 24. Probation Violation, Cayucos man, 30. Apr. 9, 9:46 a.m., Weatherly Drive & El Molino. DUI –Drugs; Possession of Controlled Substance; Use/Under the Influence of a Controlled Substance; Driving
on a Suspended License, Placerville man, 32. Apr. 13, 7:23 p.m., Clayton Rd. Burglary, Concord man, 39. Apr. 14, 11:52 p.m., Clayton Rd. & Tara Dr. DUI, Nevada man, 51. Apr. 15, 1:18 p.m., Pine Ln. & Marsh Creek Rd. Assault with a Deadly Weapon, Antioch man, 26. BURGLARIES/THEFTS Apr. 6, 10:31 a.m., Diablo St. Commercial burglary. Apr. 8, 1:20 p.m., Pine Hollow Ct. Petty theft. Apr. 8, 12:47 p.m., Eagle Peak Ave. Petty theft. Apr. 13, 7:23 p.m., Clayton Rd. Commercial burglary. VANDALISM Apr. 11, 8:17 a.m., Center St.
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April 23, 2010
Clayton Community Calendar PLEASE SUBMIT YOUR CLAYTON COMMUNITY CALENDAR EVENTS BY 5 P.M. APR. 26 FOR THE MAY 7 ISSUE. ITEMS MUST BE SUBMITTED BY EMAIL TO calendar@claytonpioneer.com
CLAYTON EVENTS
FUNDRAISERS
May 1-2 Art and Wine Festival
April 23 Mt. Diablo Elementary School Auction
Art, crafts, food, kiddieland, music. Sponsored by the Clayton Business and Community Association. 10 a.m.-6 p.m., downtown Clayton. 6722272 or claytoncbca.org/artandwine.aspx.
“Springtime in Paris,” sponsored by the Parent Faculty Club. Centre Concord, 5298 Clayton Road. mdusd.k12.ca.us/mountdiabloelementary/ auction2010.htm.
May 2 Bringing Back the Natives Garden Tour
April 24 East Bay Animal Rescue and Refuge Yard Sale
A self-guided tour of 50 gardens that are pesticide-free, water-conserving, provide habitat for wildlife and contain 50 percent or more native plants. Includes two Clayton gardens. Free, but RSVP by April 25 at bringingbackthenatives.net.
Includes hot dog lunch with free raffle ticket, $6. 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Rodie’s Feed, 8863 Marsh Creek Road, Clayton. Contact Denise at deniseeberle@ebarr.org or ebarr.org.
May 7-8 Clayton Valley Gardens Tour
April 24 Clayton Valley High School Auction-Dinner
May 1 Mount Olympia Summit/Bruce Lee Spring Trail Loop A nine-mile trek for experienced hikers, sponsored by Sierra Club and Mt. Diablo Interpretive Association. 9 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Meet at the end of Regency Drive in Clayton. Contact Helene at 974-2209.
May 2 Geocache Hike Find hidden treasures in the park; bring a map and GPS. Sponsored by the Mt. Diablo Interpretive Association. 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Meet at the Mitchell Canyon Visitor Center. Contact Mike at nuntius@mindspring.com.
May 2 Diablo Restoration Team Workday
Sponsored by the Parent Faculty Club. 6:30-11 p.m., Centre Concord, 5298 Clayton Road. $35, including $10 in casino chips. cvhspfc.com.
Help remove non-native weeds; sponsored by Save Mount Diablo. 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Meet at 3240 Aspara Dr., Clayton. RSVP to George at 9473535.
Through May 15 Give Music a Chance
May 5 Riggs Canyon Hike
8 a.m.-noon Saturdays, downtown Clayton. No markets July 3, Sept. 4 and Oct. 2. pcfma.com or 1-800-949-3276.
A Mt. Diablo Music Education Foundation fundraiser. $10 and $20 donations provide chances to win Disney vacations. Winners announced at a 2 p.m. concert May 15 at the Sleep Train Pavilion. Contact Kathy at 7982798 or mdmusicfoundation.org.
An eight-mile hike, sponsored by Save Mount Diablo. 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Meet at the Red Corral trailhead on Morgan Territory Road in Clayton. Contact Jake at 933-3486 or jvanakkeren@comcast.net.
May 8, 22 Concerts in the Grove
May 15 Clayton Valley Garden Club Plant Sale
May 8: AJA VU, playing the music of Steely Dan, Sly, the Doobie Brothers and other ’70s groups. May 22: Mamaluke, a classic rock dance band. 6 p.m., Grove Park, downtown Clayton. Ajavu.com or mamaluke.com.
One-gallon plants are $4. Buy five and get one free. 8 a.m.-1 p.m., Endeavor Hall parking lot, 6008 Center St., Clayton. Contact Neal at 672-2624.
10 a.m.-4 p.m. Self-guided tour of five gardens starts at the Clayton Museum, 6101 Main St. $25, or $30 on tour days. Proceeds benefit the Clayton Historical Society. 672-0240.
Opens May 8 Farmers Market
May 31 Memorial Day Program Hosted by VFW Post 1525. 10 a.m.-noon, downtown Clayton flagpole. Contact Ming at 672-4911 or Pete at 682-6533.
ENTERTAINMENT April 23-May 2 “Seussical” Based on the Dr. Seuss book “Horton Hears a Who,” featuring the STAGE Troupe. Winslow Center, 2590 Pleasant Hill Road, Pleasant Hill. pleasanthillrec.com or 682-0896.
Through April 25 “Oklahoma” Contra Costa Musical Theatre’s production includes Clayton residents Hannah and Marcella Newton. Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek. $40-$45. 943-SHOW or lesherartscenter.org.
AT THE LIBRARY April 24 “Death by Checkmate”
April 27; May 11, 25 Mt. Diablo Unified School District
Sponsored by the Clayton Community Library Foundation to celebrate the library’s 15th birthday. The original murder mystery event features local celebrities, plus drinks and dessert. 7:30 p.m. $15.
7:30 p.m., 1936 Carlotta Dr., Concord. mdusd.org.
April 27-May 18 “Paws to Read”
7 p.m., Hoyer Hall, Clayton Library, 6125 Clayton Road. 673-7304 or ci.clayton.ca.us.
April 30-May 2 Spring Art and Pottery Sale Sponsored by the Clay Arts Guild and Walnut Creek Civic Arts Education. Ceramics at Civic Park, 365 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek. Ceramics, painting, photography, jewelry and textiles, Shadelands campus, 111 N. Wiget Lane, Walnut Creek. Opening reception 5-9 p.m. April 30. 11 a.m.-9 p.m. May 1 both locations. 11 a.m.-5 p.m. May 2 at Civic Park and until 6 p.m. May 2 at Shadelands. 943-5846 or arts-ed.org.
Through May 1 “Noises Off” Diabolically constructed, relentlessly clever and mercilessly hilarious. Center REPertory Company, 1601 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek. $14.50-$41. CenterREP.org or 943-7469.
May 3-June 6 “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown” Willows Theatre Company presents the award-winning musical featuring the “Peanuts” gang. Willows Cabaret, 636 Ward St, Martinez. $22-$32. 798-1300 or willowstheatre.org.
Opens May 4 Music and Market Series Season opens with Alegres de Coalcoman, featuring traditional acoustic music of Michoacán, Mexico. Concerts continue Tuesdays at noon through June 29 and Thursdays at 6:30 p.m. through Sept. 16, Todos Santos Plaza, downtown Concord. Tuesdays concerts move to 6:30 p.m. July 6-Aug. 3. Also, Elvis tribute 2 p.m. Mother’s Day, May 9, and Motown music Father’s Day, June 20. ci.concord.ca.us or 671-3464.
May 7-16 “Fabulous Follies” The Vagabond Players mark their fifth anniversary. $10-$20. El Campanil Theatre, 602 W. Second St., Antioch. 757-9500 or vagabondplayersinc.com.
May 8-9 “Music that Dances” The Contra Costa Chamber Orchestra features the premiere of a work by Bay Area composer and cellist Gianna Abondolo. 7:30 p.m. May 8, Los Medanos College Recital Hall, Pittsburg. $5-$10. 2 p.m. May 9, Lesher Center for the Arts, Walnut Creek. $15-$18. 943-SHOW or lesherartscenter.org.
May 14 Second Friday Concert Series The final concert of the season features the Mt. Diablo String Band. 7:30 p.m., Walnut Avenue United Methodist Church, 260 Walnut Ave., Walnut Creek. $5-$10 or $25 per family. Free childcare. 2ndfridayconcertseries@walnutavenueumc.org.
May 20-June 26 “The Noel Coward Celebration” The Bay Area premiere of an evening of song and sparkling repartee. Center REPertory Company, 1601 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek. $18-$45. CenterREP.org or 943-7469.
CLUBS Clayton Business and Community Association
May 6 Mother’s Day Stories and Craft
May 10 Storytime and Crafts
A rock musical presented by Civic Art Education’s Youth Theatre Company, featuring Zoe Manoguerra of Clayton. 7 p.m. April 30, 2 and 7 p.m. May 1, Del Valle Theatre, 1963 Tice Valley Blvd., Walnut Creek. $15-$27. 943-SHOW or lesherartscenter.org.
May 4, 18 Clayton City Council
Children in grades 1-5 can read aloud to a dog to encourage those who have trouble reading. 4-5 p.m. Tuesdays. Registration by a parent is required.
Noon-4 p.m. Sunday, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Wednesday and 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Thursday-Saturday. Kevin Milligan Gallery and Wine Bar, 408 Hartz Ave., Danville. 309-4648.
April 30-May 1 “Footloose”
MEETINGS April 27; May 11, 25 Clayton Planning Commission 7 p.m., Hoyer Hall, Clayton Library, 6125 Clayton Road. 673-7304 or ci.clayton.ca.us.
For ages 3-6. 11 a.m. Register in advance.
The center aids neurologically impaired people. 9 a.m.-9 p.m. MondayFriday and 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday. Shadelands, 111 N. Wiget Lane, Walnut Creek. 827-3863.
BART Station Hills, 7:15 a.m.-noon. RSVP with waiver form by May 4. Sponsored by Save Mount Diablo. smdinfo@savemountdiablo.org.
The Clayton Library is at 6125 Clayton Road. Most programs are free. 673-0659 or clayton-library.org.
Through April 27 Save Mount Diablo Art Exhibition
Through April 30 Center for Adaptive Learning Art Show
May 8 Concord Naval Weapon Station Hike
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
In honor of Children’s Book Week. For children pre-K through first grade. 4 p.m. Register in advance.
May 10 “Maneuvering in Today’s High-Tech Job Market” Sean Hallihan will discuss hot technologies, the job outlook, what skills top employers are seeking, resumes and what to expect during an interview. 7 p.m. RSVP at ccclib.org/programs or contact Doug at 673-0659.
Meets 7 p.m. the second Wednesday of the month, Diamond Terrace, 6401 Center St., Clayton. On May 12, Prodromos Stephanos will speak about bees and how we benefit from them. Contact Nancy at 673-3522 or claytonvalleygardenclub.org.
Clayton Valley Woman’s Club Meets 9:30 a.m. for coffee, 10 a.m. meetings, second and fourth Tuesdays of the month, Holy Cross Lutheran Church, 1090 Alberta Way, Concord. Call Joan at 672-2471.
Clutch Busters Square Dance Club Tuesdays through May 11 Patty Cakes
Meets 7:30 p.m. Thursdays, Mt. Diablo Women’s Club, 1700 Farm Bureau Road, Concord. Contact Dorothy at 754-8117.
Story time for babies to 3-year-olds. Child attends with caregiver. Drop-in 11 a.m.
Concord Stompers Square Dance Club
Thursdays through May 13 Picture Book Time Story time for 3- to 5-year-olds. Child may attend without caregiver. Drop-in 11 a.m.
NATURE April 24 Diablo Restoration Team Earth Day Project Join REI and Save Mount Diablo by volunteering for a service project in the Marsh Creek area in Clayton. 8:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Free breakfast. Register at rei.com/event/3998/session/4670. Or contact April at arovero@rei.com or 825-9400.
April 24 Mt. Diablo Peaks Hike A 15-miles hike for experienced hikers only, sponsored by the Sierra Club and the Mt. Diablo Interpretive Association. 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Meet at the end of Regency Drive in Clayton. Contact Diane at 935-2869.
April 24 Three Springs Nature Hike A leisurely hike to see the wildflowers, sponsored by Save Mount Diablo. 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Meet at the Three Springs parking lot off Marsh Creek Road. Contact Sue at 254-4077.
April 24 Astronomy Night See the Lyrids Meteor Shower. 7:30-9:30 p.m. Meet at the Kellogg Creek Picnic Area in Brentwood. Clear weather only. Savemountdiablo.org.
April 25 Vasco Caves Regional Preserve Hike The preserve is accessible only through guided hikes. 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Meet at Round Valley Regional Preserve in Brentwood. $32. Register at 1-888EBPARKS 2, 3.
April 28-May 1 Four Days Diablo Hike Crews carry the hikers’ gear as they walk and learn from guides about the cultural and natural resources of the area. Dinners catered by premiere East Bay restaurants. 947-3535 or savemountdiablo.org.
April 28 Morgan Territory Hike A six-mile hike with magnificent views, sponsored by Save Mount Diablo. 9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Meet at the Morgan Territory Preserve parking lot. Contact Jake at 933-3486 or jvanakkeren@comcast.net.
April 29 Birding/Raptor Hike Help document the variety and number of birds of prey. 9-11:30 a.m. Meet at the Morgan Territory Preserve staging area. Register at 1-888EBPARKS.
May 1 Spring Bird Walk A five-mile walk on Lime Ridge, sponsored by the Walnut Creek Open Space Foundation. 8 a.m.-noon. Meet at the kiosk at the end of Valley Vista Road in Walnut Creek. Contact Maury at 937-1406.
Meets 7:30 p.m. Wednesdays, Mt. Diablo Women’s Club, 1700 Farm Bureau Road, Concord. Call Jennie at 672-9676 or angelfire.com/id/stompers.
Contra Costa Chess Club Meets 6:30-9:30 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 “Those Puzzling June 8 Propositions” is the topic of the meeting 7 p.m. April 28, Ygnacio Valley Library, 2661 Oak Grove Road., Walnut Creek. 946-0469 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. 689-1155 or dvmug.org.
East Bay Prospectors Club Meets 7 p.m. the fourth Wednesday of the month, Gold Pan California, 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 6897640 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 grieving class - just a way to meet other people. Contact Lori at 9988844 or lori@lorihagge.com.
April 23, 2010
Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer .com
Page 17
Injured puppy needs surgery to save leg, MDES students seek donations NICCI SHIPSTEAD Clayton Pioneer
Mt. Diablo Elementary School kinder and first-grade students from room 16 and teacher Deborah Huaco are appealing to the Clayton community on behalf of a 10month-old canine named Chachi. The playful pup needs orthopedic surgery to save his leg. Huaco is fostering the miniature Pinscher-Chihuahua mix abandoned at the county shelter. His broken leg is set in a cast but if progress is not made in the next few weeks, Chachi will need a $5,000 surgery. In lieu of funds, the likely outcome is a much less costly leg amputation. Huaco’s students wholeheartedly embrace Chachi’s predicament. Having fruitlessly begged families to at least give Chachi a lasting home, the children have written letters “in hopes that someone may learn about Chachi and have the means or the ideas that will ultimately help him,”
Huaco said. First-grader Ean Tsao sums up the request in his letter. “Our friend Chachi needs a home. The bad news is he has a broken leg. Chachi is a deer (sic) little dog. He needs surgery. He needs a family.” Anthony Leontini is more frantic. “Can you please help our dear little dog! We need a helping hand for Chachi. We need you!!” Gavin Simmons gets right to the point. “Please help. A little dog needs help. Will you help? By the way, he likes to snuggle.” Huaco is director of education with the East Bay Animal Rescue and Refuge (EBARR), a non-profit organization. She began fostering dogs and cats with EBARR upon visiting a shelter’s “back holding area,” where animals are placed when unsuccessful in the community adoption area. “Often a dog’s behavior changes as soon as we put a leash on them,” said Huaco. “It’s like they know, ‘I’m free!’ ” EBARR president Ray
ELENA BICKER
PAWS
Photo by Nicci Shipstead
TEACHER DEBORAH HUACO HOLDS CHACHI while reviewing first grader Anthony Leontini’s letter urging community support for the injured pup.
Gonzales says the group uses foster families exclusively. “We believe the animals are happi-
Sir Francis Drake and Quesadilla are ARF’s Adoption Stars
er, better socialized and ultimately more adoptable by interacting with families and their pets,” he said. EBARR holds regular adoption hours at local weekend adoption sites or by appointment. Find upcoming adoption sites, make an appointment or donate at ebarr.org or mail to East Bay Animal Rescue and Refuge, 5433 Clayton Road, Unit K-#125, Clayton, CA 94517 or call 429-2785. Designate donations for Chachi. In April, Pet Food Express is donating $1 to a cat rescue organization for every Bay Area resident who becomes a “fan” of Pet Food Express via Facebook. Post a comment including EBARR and your zip code.
CLAWS
Scratching and clawing are natural behaviors that help cats stretch, exercise, mark territory and remove dead claw tissue. While cats need to do this, they don’t need to do it on the wallpaper or your favorite chair. If your cat already favors an undesirable location for scratching, some minor detective work can help you decipher his selection. Then with persistence, you can redirect him someplace more acceptable. There are as many different kinds of scratching posts as there are cats. They come in assorted surfaces, such as sisal, carpet and corrugated cardboard and can be vertical, horizontal or any degree in between. There are three main criteria to consider when selecting a scratching post. The post or pad should be as long as your cat, so he can stretch out full length. It should have a shreddable surface, and it should be secure so your cat won’t be injured or startled by having it tip or fall over during a robust scratching session. For a new cat, placing a scratching post in every room will discourage the use of inappropriate surfaces from the start. Try rubbing the post with catnip to make it more appealing. Build positive associations by feeding or playing with your cat near the post. Be sure to let him discover the post on his own. Many animals are uncomfortable with people touching their paws, so forcing your cat to use the new post can actually backfire and cause him to avoid it. To discourage your cat from scratching in a spot he’s already attracted to, you will need to remove his scent from the area. Many pet stores sell products to
remove such odors. Covering the area with double-sided tape, aluminum foil or sand paper will further reduce his attraction. Don’t punish your cat. He will associate the punishment with you and will simply do his scratching when you aren’t around. Place a preferred scratching object of similar height/length and texture next to the old site, rubbing it with catnip to make it more interesting. Other solutions involve managing a cat’s nails. Keeping nails trimmed reduces scratching effects and prevents claws from snagging on carpet, fabric and skin. There are also soft plastic nail caps available to cover the nail tip. Declawing is strongly discouraged. It is major surgery, since the vet must remove the nail and part of the toe bone. Unlike human fingernails, cat claws are actually attached to the toe bone. The recovery period is long and painful, requiring high levels of pain medication for an extended amount of time. Once declawed, cats must be kept indoors since they are completely defenseless. This helplessness may cause cats to develop other undesirable behaviors, such as biting or hiding, to protect themselves from real or perceived dangers. Scratching is natural. But by offering attractive and convenient surfaces, you can limit the temptation of inappropriate scratching and preserve your cat’s happiness as well as your couch. For more information, visit the cat behavior library on the Resources & Links page at arf.net. Elena Bicker is the Executive Director of Tony La Russa’s Animal Rescue Foundation. She can be reached at (925) 256-1ARF (1273)
QUESADILLA
SIR FRANCIS DRAKE Sir Francis Drake is a bouncy and active young dog. He’s hoping to find adopters who’ll be able to provide him with lots of opportunities for both mental and physical exercise on a daily basis. Attending training classes will be a great way for him to learn the skills needed to become a well mannered companion. The adoption fee for adult dogs is $225 and includes 60% off one 7-week dog training session.
AND
Start from scratch to cure cat’s bad habit
Quesadilla is fun loving girl who is looking for a family to call her own! 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 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. The primary caretaker must be present to adopt. ARF also encour-
ages 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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Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com
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National Day of Prayer on May 6 honors first responders
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Anne Hjelle will share her inspirational survivor experience at Centre Concord while honoring Clayton Valley first responders at the National Day of Prayer Leadership Breakfast and an evening celebration on Thursday, May 6. The National Day of Prayer is an annual observance held on the first Thursday of May, inviting people of all faiths to pray for the nation. Not a stranger to courage, Hjelle first came to California from Minnesota serving in the Marine Corps as a helicopter mechanic. On Jan. 8, 2004, she was ambushed and mauled by a mountain lion while biking with a friend in Orange County’s Whiting Ranch Wilderness Park. “By bearing my soul, I will let others see my transformation from a wounded victim to a conqueror,” Hjelle said. “The focus of this year’s program is really on first responders,” states Father Peter Champion of St. John’s Episcopal Church. “We want
to say ‘thank you’ for the work you do every day.” Champion said Clayton Valley churches are working together to plan a “broadly based Christian spectrum,” including local Protestant, Episcopalian, Roman Catholic and evangelical denominations. “Anne’s story is a natural tie-in to the focus on first responders,” said Shawn Robinson, pastor at Clayton Community Church. “Her initial response on that fateful day was to cry out to God. Because she’s not with a particular church, she’s really speaking to the community.” Hjelle has come to realize how a positive mindset has the ability to transform the harsh reality of daily life. “Throughout my recovery, I waged a mental battle against negativity; I was determined to live my life as an example – as a warrior,” she said. “I remember everything about the attack: the color of the lion’s fur, the vice-like grip of his jaws on my face, and the moment he grabbed me by the front of the throat to cut off my air supply,” she added. “My friend, Debi Nicholls, fought the lion in a brutal tug-ofwar.” It is common for survivors of a traumatic event to forge a deep bond with people who
help, Champion said. “Anne says she maintained a relationship with her first responders.”
ANNE HJELLE, survivor of mountain lion attack will speak at National Day of Prayer events on May 6
In a CNN interview with Paula Zahn airing Dec. 23, 2005, one of Hjelle’s two biker/rescuers’ 911 calls is transcribed: “We got a lady that is attacked by a mountain lion in her face. Her face is almost gone. I need people out here at Whiting Ranch, Cactus Ridge. She’s in bad condition. I would get somebody here now.” “It was 16 minutes from the 911 call until the paramedics arrived on the scene,” Hjelle said. “They got an IV
started, put a neck brace on, a little bit of bandaging and then they basically put me on the helicopter. And it took a total of 40 minutes from the initial 911 call to arriving at the hospital.” The prayer day is set aside to encourage and appreciate first responders and give a sense of the long-term difference they make in peoples’ lives. “It’s also an opportunity to let them know they can turn to (the church community) for support,” Champion said. The 7 a.m. Leadership Breakfast is patriotic, with a full color guard and appreciation and honor for first responders, civic leaders and the business community. Tickets are $10 and available by contacting Bay Summit, Clayton Community, Clayton Valley Presbyterian, St. John’s or St. Bonaventure’s churches. The event is free for first responders. The 7 p.m. free celebration will offer a more extensive presentation by Hjelle (possibly graphic for younger audiences). It also includes sharing, music, dessert and coffee. For more about Hjelle, visit annehjelle.com. Learn more about the National Prayer Day at nationaldayofprayer.org.
Church News BAHA’IS OF CLAYTON All are invited to a talk and evening of fellowship on Friday, May 7. The subject of the talk is “Service in Haiti after the Disaster.” The speakers are Dr. Tina Edraki and Dr. Torsten Jacobsen, who have traveled twice to Haiti in medical missions. Edraki attended Northwestern University and the University of Iowa Medical School. She established private practice in Menlo Park and simultaneously was a clinical professor at Stanford University. She later joined the faculty at Stanford. She moved her practice to Modesto and then to Danville, where she practices as an OBGYN. Jacobson graduated from UC San Francisco school of
medicine and was a surgeon/field grade officer for NATO forces in Germany. He was also a professor of orthopedics in the Netherlands, an orthopedic consultant at Contra Costa Regional Medical Center and chief of orthopedics at Mt. Diablo Medical Center. The program starts at 7:30 p.m. with a period of interfaith devotions at the Toloui residence in Clayton. For more information and directions, call 672-6686. CLAYTON VALLEY PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH All are welcome to a biweekly Bible Study led by Pastor Gail Doering at Diamond Terrace Retirement, 6401 Center St., Clayton. The group meets 10:30-11:30 a.m.
the second and fourth Thursdays of the month. On April 22, they began to study the book of Romans. The next Bible Study will be May 13. For more information, call 6724848. ST. JOHN’S EPISCOPAL Come join filmmaker Dr. Michelle Peticolas for a showing of her film, “Facing Death...With Open Eyes.” In an age of spiraling medical costs and heroic efforts to extend life, this film is a thought- provoking look at living with dying. Stunned by the loss of both her parents and by the lack of cultural dialogue, Dr. Peticolas turns the camera on herself and a few wise souls. A lyrical tapestry of words, images and sound, the
film takes the viewer on an inspiring journey of mind and spirit. After the film, Dr. Peticolas will lead a discussion about living fully while preparing for death. Suggested donation to attend is $10, but nobody will be turned away. St. John’s is located at 5555 Clayton Road in Clayton. For more information, call 925.672.8855. CONCORD UNITED METHODIST CHURCH The church will host its annual Rummage Sale and Raffle 9 a.m.-5 p.m. May 6-8. The fundraiser will include collectibles, furniture, books, games and clothes. The church is at 1645 West St., Concord. For more information, call 685-5260.
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April 23, 2010
Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer .com
Page 19
Theatre
Charlie Brown takes center stage in Willows production Laminate Flooring GARY CARR Special to the Pioneer
Photo courtesy of the Willows Theatre
TREVOR MOPPIN, left, is Schroeder, Sean Fenton is Linus and Eric Inman is Charlie Brown in the Willows Theatre musical.
The Red Baron patrols the skies, the doctor is in and the “blankie” is in jeopardy again as Snoopy, Linus, Lucy, Sally, Schroeder and, of course, Charlie Brown come alive at the Willows Theatre in May. The Willows continues its 2010 season with the beloved musical, “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown,” playing May 3June 6 in Martinez. The Drama Desk Award-winning show features a cast of seasoned Willows favorites and is directed by Christine Marshall, with musical direction by Kim Vetterli and choreography by Nicole Helfer. The show presents “an average day in the life” of Charlie Brown and his friends, based on the “Peanuts” comic strip by Charles M. Schultz. The play includes some wonderful moments, from Valentine’s Day to the baseball season, from wild optimism to utter despair. It’s all mixed in with the lives of
friends (both human and nonhuman) and strung together on a single day – from bight uncertain morning to hopeful starlit evening. “Peanuts” fans will get all the songs, such as “My Blanket and Me,” “The Kite,” “The Baseball Game,” “Beethoven Day” and what might be called the Snoopy theme song, “Suppertime.” Eric Inman stars as Charlie Brown, with Jenny Angell as Sally and Michael Scott Wells as Snoopy. Trevor Moppin is Schroeder, Sean Fenton is Linus and Catherine Gloria is everyone’s know-it-all nemesis, Lucy. “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown” plays May 3-June 6 at the Willows Cabaret, 636 Ward St, Martinez. Tickets are $22-$32. For more information, call 798-1300 or visit willowstheatre.org.
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There’s still time to see ‘Oklahoma’ If you haven’t seen Contra Costa Musical Theatre’s production of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “Oklahoma” yet, you better get a move on. There are still a few tickets left for this all-American favorite set to close this weekend. From the opening strains of “Oh, What a Beautiful Morning” to the rousing “Oklahoma” finish, the muchloved music of Richard Rodgers will have everyone tapping their feet and singing along. This glorious musical is set during the turn of the century in Oklahoma Territory when
“The Farmer and The Cowman” should be friends. The handsome cowboy, Curly, and the winsome tomboy, Laurey, stubbornly resist their attraction to each other fearing “People Will Say We’re in Love” and the lovable tart Ado Annie, just “Cain’t Say No” to anything in pants. Four of the show’s lead actors make their CCMT debuts in “Oklahoma.” Zachary Franczak as Curly gives a Broadway-worthy performance that can only be described as “WOW.” Jessica Knudsen appears as Laurey and Jeff Draper as the dark
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and troubled Jud Fry. Elise Youseff was flawless as Ado Annie. The entire cast of this unabashedly corny and nostalgic show is quite simply outstanding. The orchestra, under the direction of Karl Pister, is at the top of its game. Sets, staging, costumes, dancing and singing…this show has it all.
“Oklahoma” plays at the Lesher Center for the Arts Friday and Saturday, April 23 and 24 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, April 25 at 2 p.m. For tickets call (925) 943-SHOW.
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Jessica Knudsen as Laurey and Zachary Franczak as Curly in the Willow’s production of “Oklahoma.”
Book Review
Book gets to the root of school desegregation
SUNNY SOLOMON
FOR
THE
BOOKS
With “Root and Branch,” Rawn James has written an emotionally dramatic narrative of the historic facts and heroes surrounding the legal seeds of desegregation in the United States, culminating in the Supreme Court’s ruling in Brown vs. Board of Education. Charles Houston preceded our current U.S. president as the first African American on the Harvard Law Review. A native of Washington, D.C., he graduated from Amherst College, taught at Howard University, was a WWI Army officer, then attended Harvard Law School. Houston was a man for all seasons when it came to opposing segregation. He began by revamping Howard University’s second-rate School of Law when he reluctantly accepted the position of dean. Although
his efforts to bring credibility to the law school were often derided as “Harvardizing Howard,” the school was no longer sought after by part-time students, but instead attracted some of the brightest African American students. Among them was his prize pupil, a young man named Thurgood Marshall. It was Houston’s intent to go after the prevailing Jim Crow laws by doing battle in the courts, and he made sure the newer graduates of Howard’s School of Law would be up to the task. He understood that having black attorneys “with a blood-stake in their cases’ outcomes” was critical. Houston and Marshall became more than mentor and student. Theirs was a friendship that lasted until Houston’s death in 1950. James’ writing is compelling as he digs beneath the case names and headline-grabbing events we’ve all read about in our high school and college texts. As Houston and Marshall crisscross many states on factfinding missions, we see the dilapidated schoolrooms of separate but equal facilities throughout the South. Our understanding of an impoverished education takes on new meaning and we begin to understand Houston’s thinking.
He and Marshall return with their facts and, as part of the NAACP, they take to the courts to demand the equal part of a separate but equal education. Houston knows that such a demand is legally sound, but financially unfeasible. If James’ book only covered the fight for the rights of African Americans to the same education as whites, it would be a strong and informative telling, but James goes two better. First, he includes African Americans’ struggles against closed unions, inequality of pay for teachers, brutalization at the hands of the police, rampant racism in the U.S. military and the inability of African Americans to live in neighborhoods of their choice. Secondly, and new to many, he gives us a rich and moving biography of a friendship between two important Americans. Between their brains and their hearts, Houston and Marshall empowered a fledgling NAACP with an almost unimagined legal prowess. James’ civil rights history is enlightening, personal and exciting. It was Houston’s firm belief – a belief passed on to Marshall – that African Americans were more than capable of taking their fight for civil rights through the American court sys-
tem all the way to the Supreme Court. In 1938, a racist Supreme Court justice turned his back on Houston as Houston argued before that court. What irony
See Books, page 20
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Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com
April 23, 2010
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The front garden at St. Bonaventure’s Church on Clayton Road is bursting with color this spring. The piles of bright orange California poppies, hazy purple blossoms of the lilac verbena and the bold blue clusters of ceanothus thrive with all the spring rain. This garden has powerful curb appeal, but you may not realize it is planted entirely with California native plants. California native plants are exactly that – plants found naturally in our hills, chaparrals and fields. California natives are tolerant to our extreme climate conditions. They are used to our long summer heat, poor soil and drying winds. They are also practically carefree, needing no fertilizer, minimal summer water and just a touch of annual pruning. This California native garden is just two years young. Kelly Marshall, a Clayton resident and owner of Kelly Marshall Garden Designs, created the plan and organized the garden. She is an advocate for California native plants and their introduction back into Clayton Valley landscapes. It took 32 volunteers, 100 plants and one afternoon to transform a rose garden surrounded by fescue grass into a responsible, earth-friendly,
California native garden. From the road, the color at the St. Bonaventure corner is tremendous. The Western Redbud trees, Cercis occidentalis, have just finished their intense pinkish-purple bloom. This hardy, ornamental tree will reach 10-15 feet tall and wide. Not only are the blossoms beautiful, come late summer, pea-pod like seeds hang from the branches and last through winter for more interest. The Joyce Coulter Ceanothus is still small this year, but will eventually reach 4-5 feet tall and wide. This ceanothus has brilliant blue clusters of flowers and hardy, dark-green leaves. Honeybees can’t get enough of this archy, dramatically shaped shrub. The whirls of periwinkle blue flowers are from the Salvia Clevelandii. It has extremely aromatic, gray foliage that stays evergreen though our Clayton Valley winter. The blossom is hummingbird attractive, and later, seed heads will beckon birds. Summertime in this California native garden is also showy. The Eriogonum fasciculatum, or California Buckwheat, blooms up a storm. Needle-like, evergreen leaves support dense clusters of frilly pink and white blossoms. This summer bloomer is an important source of nectar
for honeybees. California Buckwheat will grow 2-4 feet tall and almost as wide, so proper placement is key. Lilac verbena is also thrilling in a California native garden during the summer. This plant is not one sold by Proven Winners; look for a tag reading Verbena lilacina. This plant is an evergreen that may partially die back during heavy frost. Expect the ferny foliage to reach 2-3 feet tall and 4 feet wide. Tight clusters of pinkish-purple blooms mound on this California native’s foliage for months. You will have flowers as long as our Clayton Valley has heat, which is usually well into October. Verbena lilacina is extremely important to our native butterflies. Island Pink Yarrow, or Achillea millefolium Island Pink, is also planted in this California native garden. Soft, fern-like leaves spread wide as stems of flowers stand 2 feet tall above the foliage. This flat flower resembles a landing pad for honeybees and butterflies. The pink color begins bright and ages dark. This young garden needs periodic water. Because St. Bonaventure does not have irrigation hooked up to regularly water this garden, you may see a volunteer
NICOLE HACKETT
GARDEN GIRL spot-watering with a hose during a heat wave. But eventually, it will not need any additional summer water. The idea with planting a California native garden is that as long as you are planting natives in conditions where they would survive in the wild, they will need nothing from you. St. Bonaventure’s California native garden is an example of responsible gardening. It uses minimal water and no fertilizer. Pests are never a problem. Since the area is free of chemicals, predator insects are available to do their jobs. This area almost takes care of itself. Other gardeners have jumped on the California native garden train. You can see examples of others by attending the Bringing Back the Natives Garden Tour on May 2. Visit bringingbackthenatives.net for Nicole is the Garden Girl at R&M Pool, Patio, Gifts and Garden Contact her with questions, comments or suggestions at gardengirl@claytonpioneer.com
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St. Bonaventure’s native garden. Photo by Richard Brick
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Books,
Pioneer Photo Album
from page 19
Kori Hadden took this picture while on a walk with her sister near Crystal Ranch in August 2009. “I discovered this little dragonfly in a frenzy near the sidewalk, trying desperately to fly. I picked him up and carried him home on my shoulder. He was in need of a proper name, so I dubbed him Solo Dunly. After playing with him for awhile and feeding him bugs, we put him in a comfy plant in the backyard. We found him the next day and he was on his last wing, per se. He perished soon after, and will be missed.” - Kori Hadden
that in 1967, Houston’s favorite student came to sit on that same august bench. The story of Houston and Marshall, true American heroes, is not something to be brought out every February for Black History Month. Black history is American history and stories like this ought to be with us all 12 months of the year.
Send in your photos of cute pets, funny kids, great landscapes or favorite sites. Email your photo in a hiresolution jpeg or tiff format to album@claytonpioneer.com with a description of the photo, where and when it was taken and a little about why you like it. Include your name and phone number.
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Sunny Solomon holds a Master of Arts in English and Creative Writing from San Francisco State University. She is a poet, published author and the reviewer-at-large for Clayton Books. Email her with questions or comments at memorie3@yahoo.com
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If it’s spring, it must be mangoes Introduced in Florida in the 1860s and Santa Barbara in the “We got mangoes and bananas you 1880s, mangoes can be found in can pick right off the tree.” two principal types in our mar– “South Pacific” kets. The Indian variety is a large oval, generally green with a redOranges and tangerines are dish blush, while the so-called fading this time of year, and it’s Filipino variety of yellow, kidneyhard to find fresh local fruit. shaped fruit came to California Strawberries are making their sea- via Mexico. sonal comeback, but with all the Don’t be surprised if you spring rain, their availability and encounter a melon, cucumber, quality are declining a bit. green pepper or pickle referred to One fruit that has been abunas a “mango.” In dant of late is the the Eastern mango. While United States, parmangoes are ticularly in shipped in from Appalachia, cooks Asia, the tropics and cookbooks (hence the lyric often use the from the musical word “mango” to “South Pacific”) refer to green and Mexico, there peppers. My 125is also a robust year-old “White domestic crop of H o u s e mangoes and Cookbook” has LINDA WYNER quite a bit right a recipe for here in California. FOOD FOR THOUGHT green pepper Mango is the mangoes that are most frequently stuffed with cabeaten fresh fruit in the world. It bage and green tomatoes and seaoriginated in India, Malay soned with mustard seed and Peninsula and Burma (Myanmar) cloves, then boiled in a sweet and thousands of years ago. In India, sour sauce several times before being canned. the mango is associated with love Mangoes can be very juicy, are and fertility and is often the sub- quite sweet and most have little ject of artistic renderings. One fiber except around the pit. High pattern of mango has been in Vitamins A, C and D, mangoes adopted in Western fabrics – the can be used ripe or unripe. To paisley. hasten ripening, place them in a
bag with a banana. Overly ripe mangoes, however, can taste bitter – a flavor some associate with turpentine. Some people have a hard time getting to the fruit because of the large, thin flat seed in the middle of the fruit. Simply cut down on both sides of the flat part of the seed to get two halves. You can score the flesh with a knife (taking care not to cut through the skin) and then invert the skin to reveal the almost diced fruit. Cut pieces away from the skin with a knife at this point. I’ve come to adore mango lassi drinks in Indian restaurants. They’re a lot like milkshakes but probably better for you. MANGO LASSI (4 servings) 1 c. plain yogurt (Greek recommended) ½ c. milk 8 oz. fresh or frozen mango, diced 1-2 T. sugar (to taste) Salt and ground cardamom (optional) Puree the first four ingredients in a blender until smooth. Add a pinch of salt and/or a pinch of cardamom if desired. Serve chilled but not over ice. Mangoes are great in fruit salsas, but I also like them in chutney – a condiment served with roasted meats, like pork. Here’s a recipe adapted from Food Network’s Alton Brown. MANGO CHUTNEY (Makes 2 cups) 2 T. vegetable oil ½ tsp. chile flakes
1 c. medium diced red onion 2 T. minced fresh ginger ½ c. red bell pepper, small dice 2 ripe mangoes, peeled and roughly chopped ½ c. unsweetened pineapple juice ¼ c. cider vinegar ¼ c. packed brown sugar 1 T. curry powder Kosher salt and white pepper ¼ c. raisins (or golden raisins) ¼ c. toasted, roughly chopped macadamia nuts Preheat a sauté pan over medium heat. Add the oil and chile flakes and cook for a minute to flavor the oil. Be careful not to burn the chile. Add the onion and sweat until soft. Add the ginger and bell pepper and sauté for 2 minutes. Add the mango and cook for another minute. In a separate bowl, combine the pineapple juice, vinegar, sugar and curry powder. Add this mixture to the pan and stir to combine. Bring the mixture to a bare simmer and cook for about 30 minutes, stirring frequently. The mixture will thicken as it cooks. Season with salt and pepper; add raisins and nuts. Transfer the chutney to a heat-resistant bowl and set the bowl in an ice bath (a larger bowl with ice and water). Stir to cool the chutney quickly. Refrigerate and use in two weeks, freeze or can.
pay anyone to coordinate this event or secure sponsors and vendors so we rely on our volunteers to take on all aspects of the festival.” According to Hartley, many of the groups that CBCA donates to provide volunteers for this event and Oktoberfest. “This means that our recipients return the favor to us. The main portion of this help is with parking, Kiddieland and trash cleanup,” he adds. “The Boy Scouts are absolutely instrumental in picking up trash and breaking down boxes for recycling. The scouts and their parents come out in force to help.” It takes more than 300 volunteers to plan, run and manage the event. Volunteers are still needed to pour wine and beer and sell tickets both days. If you can help, call the CBCA office at 672-2272. Howard Kaplan is in charge of beer and wine at the festival, and he’s lined up Wine Thieves, Delicato Gnarly Head, Dancing
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Art & Wine, from page 1 carvings of bears, rabbits and eagles that are seen around town. The Smokey Bear carving at the Sunrise Fire Station on Marsh Creek Road is his work. The wood is all salvaged from his business – “designer firewood” he calls it, chuckling. Also among the artists exhibiting and selling their works is nature photographer Ted Arden. He uses transparent oils on photographs to create a vivid image. Each work is an original and no two photographs are colored the same. CBCA president Ed Hartley and VP Keith Haydon assumed the festival’s co-chair positions “for this year only,” when City Councilman Joe Medrano stepped aside late last year from the post he’d held for several years. “We have over a dozen volunteer committees who work selflessly to plan and present the event,” Hartley says. “This year, we’ve had new people step up in important positions. We don’t
Page 21
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Coyote and Saint Michelle Winery. Kaplan promises more beer and wine surprises this year to enjoy along with the delicious culinary treats from the Food Court. All proceeds from the festival and other CBCA events are poured back into the community. The association is particularly partial to supporting the educational, cultural and sports pro-
grams at local schools. “We keep our expenses as low as possible so that we maximize the amount that goes back to the community. That’s what our CBCA members want,” Hartley says. To contact CBCA about the Art and Wine Festival or for membership information, visit claytoncbca.org or call 672-2272.
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Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com
April 23, 2010
Resident takes nursing skills to Kenya SHERATON PRINCESS WAIKIKI from $ 799* pp
DENISEN HARTLOVE Clayton Pioneer
On her latest “vacation,” Clayton resident Kira Lass endured 28 hours of air travel to Kenya. There, she divided her time between volunteering in a village of huts made from cow dung and helping at a camp for refugees for whom daily meals were not a guarantee. “It was kind of like wow, there’s something out there that we feel we need to do and find meaning,” Lass, who works as a clinical nurse practitioner at Kaiser, said of her motivation for the “volunteer vacation.” In what has become an increasingly popular trend, people are traveling to exotic locales to give their time helping with services such as teaching children, building hospitals and providing much-needed medical care. After nearly a year of planning, Lass and her friend Jennifer Reber arrived in Nairobi, the capital city of Kenya, in February. They were given a one-day orientation by the group International Volunteer Hotline before being sent to the rural village of Kajaido Town to live with local Maasai tribes people and work in a medical clinic. Their trip to the village was lengthened by frequent stops, including waiting for herds of wild zebras to pass, seeing a caravan of several hundred camels go by and, at one point, stopping to watch two cheetahs hunt a gazelle. “It’s National Geographic being played out right before your eyes,” she said. Lass described the clinics as the main source of health care in a country still reeling from recent civil unrest. The average life expectancy for women is 58 years, and typhoid fever is still a major health concern. Clinics and dispensaries dot the landscape, where nurses provide services from administering immunizations to setting broken bones and suturing wounds. “There was no running water, no electricity,” she said. “There’s nothing that
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MOBILE TEAMS SET UP CLINICS AND FOOD DISTRIBUTION centers in the interior villages in Kenya and are often the village’s only form of healthcare. Kira Lass stands with several Maasai women who had walked to the clinic to obtain immunizations for their children. Lass’ team saw over 70 patients that day.
reminds you of what we think of in the United States.” Despite the rural area, Lass felt as welcome as she would have at home. “We met people from his church,” she said of their host, a local pastor and his family. “We met his friends in the community. And so it really felt like someone dropped you off in Clayton and introduced you to Ed. You could just walk down the street and feel really safe.” In addition to working in the clinic, Lass and Reber helped distribute food at a camp for Kenyans who had lost their homes in election-related riots in 2007 and 2008. Lass recalled hearing one woman’s story firsthand. The 40-year-old was living with her seven children in a donated tent. Having lost family members – and nearly her own life – to the violence, she became a single mother when her husband left, unable to stand the stress of seeing the misfortunes that had befallen his family. The camp offered some stability but no guarantee of
even the basics. “They are lucky to eat once a day,” Lass reported. “Nothing that I’ve ever done in my life, nothing I’ve ever seen can come close to what these people are living and going through.” Lass plans to return to Kenya with her husband after Thanksgiving to continue giving her time. In the meantime, she wants to pass on what she has learned from her experience in the hope of inspiring others to give, whether through donations or volunteering their time as well. “There are things that need to change. And you can be part of that change,” she said. “It could be you going there. It could look many different ways. But what we’re looking for is action instead of talking about it,” she said. “And you can’t have action unless people know.” For more information on volunteering or donating time or supplies to help the people of Kenya, contact Lass at kiralass@gmail.com.
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