AUG 20 Clayton Pioneer 2010.pdf by Pioneer Publishers

IT’S YOUR PAPER www.claytonpioneer.com

August 20, 2010

925.672.0500

Campus improvements aim to restore pride to CV High HANK STRATFORD

MAYOR’S CORNER Some question Character program I recently received some criticism for the “Do the Right Thing” character development efforts. Some of the criticism was personal and some was regarding the program. Since the character trait for August and September is “responsibility,” I want to address the criticism and seek your input in a responsible manner. A few members of the community believe I have overstepped my role as mayor by participating in the development of a community-wide character development program. They say such a program is offensive and not needed. I have struggled to understand

See Mayor, page 9

Incumbents challenged for two city council seats TAMARA STEINER Clayton Pioneer

A Microsoft executive and a small business owner will face off against the incumbents for the two open seats on the City Council this November. Jim Diaz has lived in Clayton for 30 years and owns a small security and investigations business. He is a member of the Clayton Business and Community Association. He made an unsuccessful bid for the council in 2008. Ted Meriam, a 2001 graduate of Clayton Valley High School, moved back to Clayton in 2008 after graduating from the

JAY BEDECARRÉ Clayton Pioneer

PAMELA WIESENDANGER Clayton Pioneer

Two falls ago, Clayton Valley High School began a year-long celebration of its golden anniversary. Alumni, community members, faculty, staff and students celebrated past accomplishments while looking ahead to even better times. Of course, that also meant the facility was 50 years old. Kelly Clough was among those concerned with the appearance of the campus. The 2009-’10 president of the Parent Faculty Club and the PFC Project Pride Committee decided that those who “look good, feel good” and went about giving the aging school grounds a fresh look. Visitors driving down Alberta Way may do a double take when they see the new landscaping in front of the campus. Imagine lush green grass, plants and shrubs where mud and weeds have reigned supreme for quite some time. There are also new murals and a dozen benches around the school. However, it will take a more discerning eye to see the other result of Project Pride this summer – gum removal on the walking surfaces. ONGOING EFFORT These changes are the most striking, but the PFC and Project Pride Committee consider these just the first phase of an ongoing effort to “bring pride back to the school,” according to Clough. Her successor as PFC president, Alison Bacigalupo, has taken up the charge and has been keeping tabs on the sweeping changes this summer.

See CVHS, page 3

Two Clayton Valley High School grads each spent 160 hours to create a gallery for local artists in addition to the one at the library. For their senior project for the ClaytonArts Academy at CVHS, Danielle Velasquez and Elena Nielsen partnered with a nonprofit organization on a project that benefits the community. With guidance from the Creekside Artists Guild and mentors Arlene Kikkawa-Nielsen and Anne Sackman, the students met with Cup O’Jo owners to hear their ideas and prepare proposals for the makeover of two rooms. The project includes a room for children to display art (Jo’s Play Place and Children’s Rotating Art Gallery) and another for adult artists (Creekside Jo’s Gallery) to display their artwork, including three-dimensional pieces such as ceramics. They kept costs to a minimum by getting recycled paint for free.

See Gallery, page 10

Tamara Steiner/Clayton Pioneer

NEW FRONT LANDSCAPING, A CLEAN CAMPUS and freshly painted wall murals will greet students returning to CVHS this fall. The sprucing up was the result of “Project Pride,” a two-year-long collaboration of parents, students, local businesses and civic organizations.

YOUNG ARTIST GEORGE CURTIS VAN LIEW is flanked by Danielle Velasquez and Elena Nielsen in the Children’s Rotating Art Gallery at Cup O’Jo on Main Street where Van Liew’s watercolors are currently on display. The gallery was the senior project for Velasquez and Nielsen. Another room, which will display the work of adult artists, is due to open soon.

Police, neighbors team to thwart crime TAMARA STEINER Clayton Pioneer

See Council, page 7

PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID CLAYTON, CA PERMIT 190

New galleries bring artistic flair to coffeehouse

Tamara Steiner/Clayton Pioneer

ALEXANDER AND SISTER NICOLE ROYET check out Police Chief Dan Lawrence’s car at the National Night Out gathering at Khani and Dane Horton’s Oakhurst home. The goal of NNO is to bring neighbors together to increase vigilance against neighborhood crime.

What’s Inside Book Review . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19 Church News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17 Classified . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5

On Aug. 3, residents in four neighborhoods across town met with police as part of the National Night Out program. NNO’s primary focus is to fight crime at the very local level by getting neighbors out in their front yards and talking to each other. As police met with residents, they each cautioned their groups to be vigilant about what is happening on their streets. “Call police if you see slowmoving vehicles cruising, espe-

Club News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 Community Calendar . . . . . . . .16 Directory of Advertisers . . . . . . . .5 DVMS Reporter . . . . . . . . . . . . .17 Estate Planning . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9 Financial Sense . . . . . . . . . . . . .10

cially if they have no lights and appear to be looking inside parked cars,” Officer Rich Enea told his Eagle Peak group. “Take everything out of your parked car and lock it,” advised Officer Todd Billington, who met with neighbors in the Westwood area. “And call if you see something suspicious.” The city requires door-todoor solicitors – magazine sales, painting contractors, landscapers, etc. – to have permits. If the solicitor refuses to show a permit, call the police immediately. NOISE, TRASH CONCERNS The dozen or so neighbors

Food for Thought . . . . . . . . . . . .19 Garden Girl . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18 Letters to the Editor . . . . . . . . . . .4 Pets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11 Pioneer Photo Album . . . . . . . .20 Real Estate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8

who gathered at the Oakhurst home of Khani and Dane Horton had some specific concerns for Police Chief Dan Lawrence. The open space along Pebble Beach Drive has become a popular gathering spot for carloads of teens, who congregate there almost nightly. Residents say the noise from boom boxes wakes them up at night, and mornings find the street scattered with trash – beer bottles and used condoms among the most offensive, says one neighbor who goes out every morning with a garbage

See NNO, page 6

Senior Moments . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 Teen Speak . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17 Travel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15 Upcoming Events . . . . . . . . . . . .4 Your Health . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15

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Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

August 20, 2010

Mountain Star Awards honor three naturalists for Mt. Diablo endeavors The 2010 recipients of the Mountain Star Awards exemplify the determination required to save Mt. Diablo and its foothills. Save Mount Diablo presents the annual awards, sponsored by Dave and Dana Dornsife. This year’s winners are Kathy Griffin, Michael Park and David Gowen. This spring, there was a serious attempt to break Brentwood’s Urban Limit Line and develop its western hills. Before Save Mount Diablo began formulating a response, Griffin was in the local newspaper debunking Measure F. Over the next 13 weeks, Griffin was the unquestioned leader of the grassroots effort. On June 8, the “no” campaign won and threats to Brentwood’s western hills were dramatically decreased. She is a true conservationist and leader, deser ving of a Mountain S t a r Leadership Award. Gowen, meanwhile, is a self- DAVID GOWEN trained but expert botanist. He stumbled upon Mt. Diablo on a hike in 1990. Trips to Mt. Diablo often included an elusive target, a pretty little pink wildflower called the Mt. Diablo buckwheat. Save Mount Diablo cofounder Mary Bowerman was the last person to record seeing the buckwheat, in 1936. Gowen researched locations of the

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plant and visited them all – with no luck. In 1998, however, he found an interesting, unrecogKATHY GRIFFIN n i z e d Navarretia. He later found another unfamiliar plant – an Eriastrum, or Woolly Star. Both wildflowers resemble star-shaped, flowerstudded pin cushions. Gowen went to experts to identify the plants, in the process becoming a world expert on them. It was established that he had discovered two plants new to science, both critically endangered, less than three miles from downtown Walnut Creek in an area quarried for a hundred years. Park, a graduate student, was assigned a large area of Mt. Diablo for a botany project. He made more than 90 visits to Mt. Diablo, always with the buckwheat in the back of his mind. On May 10, 2005, Park took a different route into his study area and re-discovered Mt. Diablo buckwheat – which had been thought extinct. There were just 15 plants and, in searches since 2005, no other locations have been found. The location was kept secret, but it’s on a property that Save Mount Diablo protected. Park collected a few hundred seeds from the wild plants and preserved in seed banks and more areas have been planted on Mt. Diablo. The plant is no

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has become the expert on the Mt. Diablo buckwheat. For their discoveries and dedication to preserving rare native species, Gowen and Park are each receiving the Mary Bowerman Award for Science and Discovery. The Mountain Star Awards will be presented at Moonlight on the Mountain on Aug. 28. For more information, visit savemountdiablo.org. Photos by Scott Hein

Small fire behind MDES

Mike Dunn/Clayton Pioneer

Clayton resident Dan Grohs was a witness to a small fire that started behind Mt. Diablo Elementary School on Aug. 2. Grohs told police he saw two kids, 12-13 years old, trying to stomp out the fire. As he was calling 911, the kids ran away. Grohs is pictured here with Clayton police officer Jason Shaw.

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August 20, 2010

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

Page 3

CVHS, from page 1

Business and Community Association to purchase 12 benches for the campus.

PFC MEMBER, MARY-ELLEN MCGRANE works with the plants donated by the Clayton Valley Garden Club for the planter areas next to the Quad at CVHS. The plantings are part of Project Pride, a collaborative effort to clean up the campus.

ARTISTIC RENDERINGS Clough and her committee worked with art department chair Katie Nolan to coordinate the painting of murals, which will be a long-term program for Project Pride. Students from the art department did an eagle mural behind the amphitheater in the quad and Clayton Arts Academy did the drama-themed mural facing Alberta Way on the auto shop. There are striking murals on each side of the library as well. More murals on Alberta Way will be created in the coming years as an annual school project. As anyone who has tried to remove gum from their property knows, it’s not an easy task. CVHS parents Carla and Mike Neer “did a fantastic job on not giving up until they found a gum removal process the district would approve,” explains Cough. The removal, costing about $10,000, is being performed by Alfredo Diaz of Norcal Cleaning Services. The level and age of the waste was so extensive that regular removal methods were not effective and necessitated special equipment and processes. His crews have had to work twice as long as anticipated. “Mr. Diaz has children of his own and appreciated the difficulties we faced in affording this task. He was willing to work with us on the cost,” Clough says. “In light of the existing and ongoing budget cuts brought on largely by state budget issues, creating a school environment that continues to be positive and welcoming is one way this school and the broader community can work to help itself,” Bacigalupo adds. Faculty member and parent Dana Tarantino praises the effort. “You don’t notice it until you notice it,” she says of the gum build-up. “And then you realize that it’s everywhere.” Ongoing maintenance of the gum situation may be handled through regular campus cleanup days and Saturday School, the process for clearing tardiness and truancies. “The community and parents have shown their pride in the school,” Swanson notes. “Hopefully, our students will appreciate all of this effort and show the same pride in their school.”

Mike Dunn/Clayton Pioneer

What has happened so far takes even the optimistic Clough by surprise. “When I introduced Project Pride to the high school last fall, I couldn’t have imagined what was going to be accomplished in just one year,” she says. “I will never forget the first campus clean-up we held last October. Over 400 people came out. There were students, faculty, parents, siblings, community leaders and neighbors who were ready to help clean up our campus,” she recalls. “Our principal, Gary Swanson, and students worked side by side, hauling leaves and trash all day long.” Project Pride calls for quarterly cleanup days. The campus cleanup effort also includes local sports organizations, such as Clayton Valley Little League and Diablo Futbol Club, working on other weekends to help maintain the athletic facilities, which outside groups also use on weekends. A WELCOMING ENTRANCE The most apparent change is the front

landscaping. When Project Pride approached Swanson about the state of the school’s landscaping, he said there may be district funds available from the original Measure C bond, passed in 2002. Mt. Diablo Unified School District worked with CVHS, and Bacigalupo reports that $114,000 was spent this summer to bring the sprinkler system and landscaping up to its very pleasing level. “There will also be work done to get water to the last little strip in front of the multi-use room,” she adds. In addition to the efforts through Measure C funding, CVHS custodial staff and members of the Project Pride Committee spent time digging out overgrown sprinklers inside the campus area, “which has made a big difference in the look of the grassy areas,” Bacigalupo says. The Clayton Garden Club stepped up with the donation of plants as well. During the last school year, the PFC also received a $3500 donation from the Clayton

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Page 4

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

Clayton Olympian to speak at Rome games THERESA BRAGG Special to the Pioneer

Fifty years after winning gold, Don “Tarzan” Bragg will return to Rome for an Olympic celebration at the end of August. The Olympic Organization of Rome has invited the Clayton resident to represent the athletes of the world and present a speech at the Opening Day celebration. Along with the mayor of Rome and international Olympic representatives, he will address guests on behalf of his fellow Olympians. At the 1960 Olympics, Bragg won a gold medal in the pole vault, being the last of the vaulters to use the aluminum pole. Today, vaulters use a fiberglass pole as a catapult. Because of the change, his world indoor, outdoor and Olympic record will never be broken. After competing in the Olympics, Bragg aimed to fulfill his lifelong dream of playing Tarzan in the movies. Several attempts later, the dream was legally put on hold and never came to fruition. Putting that phase of his life away, Bragg built a boys camp for inner-city children in New Jersey. His tutorial camp program was the first of its kind and went on for several years. Several of his Olympic friends frequented the camp and participated in entertaining the boys. Muhammad Ali spent several summers sparring and playing with the campers, giving them unforgettable memories. Bragg has written several books, including a book of poet-

Photo courtesy Theresa Bragg

DON BRAGG POLE VAULTED HIS WAY TO A GOLD MEDAL at the 1960 Olympics. Bragg, a Clayton resident will represent the ‘athletes of the world’ at an Olympic celebration in Rome this month.

ry entitled “Reflections of Gold,” his biography called “A Chance to Dare” and a book about his boys camp, “Kamp Olympik.” He married his high school sweetheart, Theresa, two months after the 1960 games. In his retirement, he enjoys the company of his four children, 11 grandchildren and great-grandson. Life has presented him with some medical challenges. But with the same determination he

used to become one of the best in his field, he combats the affects of a stroke suffered a year ago. Now, he welcomes the opportunity to relive the moment that will always take his breath away – when they placed the gold around his neck, with the American flag blowing in the wind and the national anthem bellowing through the Olympic Stadium.

August 20, 2010

Letter to the Editor CVHS THANKS CBCA I would like to thank CBCA for their willingness to work toward a better environment for all who live in our community. CVHS is an older school with significant challenges in physical plant due to budget cuts and progressive decline in pride by the students, staff, and community. Sadly, it becomes a continuous cycle of worsening appearance and thus progressive apathy. Last year, CBCA generously donated matching funds to CVHS via Parent Faculty Club subgroup, Project Pride. One of Project Pride’s many goals was to provide much-needed seating around campus to be utilized by students and staff during breaks and lunchtime. Initially, Project Pride had planned to purchase 10 picnic tables to be placed around campus. CBCA donat-

ed a $2500 matching grant toward this endeavor. We were then presented with a great opportunity to purchase refurbished benches for a fraction of their original cost, allowing for the CBCA and PFC funds to go much farther. Along with donations from students and families as well as CBCA and PFC, ten beautiful benches have been installed so far at CVHS. Four more are due to be installed by the school district in the months to come. The district also moved forward in July with much-needed replacement of sprinklers, lawn, and landscaping along the front of the school from past budgeting. The interior of the school remains run down, but with student, staff, and continued community support, we will see a move toward rejuvenation of care for our high school. - Micki McCabe Walls

CC Waste offers free waste disposal Sept. 4 Contra Costa Waste Services is hosting free e-waste recycling on Saturday, Sept. 4, for all county residents. Acceptable items include audio visual equipment, cell phones, computer components, computers, copiers, digital cameras, fax machines, nonferrous metal, floppy diskettes, Monitors, mp3 players, power cables, printers, scrap metal, steel and alloy rims, telephone equipment, televisions, toner

cartridges, VCRs/DVDs and video game systems. No hazardous waste will be accepted. This includes paint, car batteries, household batteries, fluorescent bulbs, furniture, garbage and appliances. Hours are 9 a.m.-2 p.m. at 1300 Loveridge Road, Pittsburg. Bring proof of residency. For more information, please call 692-2224.

Upcoming Events Aug. 21 CBCA Rib Cook-off Got ribs? Up to 15 contestants will heat up the grills and break out their best rib recipes, special sauces and BBQ secrets in the first CBCA sponsored Rib Cook-off. Grilling begins at 8 a.m. with judging at 2 p.m. After the judging, the public is invited for a rib tasting. The Clayton Club will host the event. Contestant applications are available at claytoncbca.org and at the Clayton Club on Main Street.

Sept. 4 Labor Day Derby and Car Show

Don’t miss this annual event which has become a Labor Day tradition in Clayton. Produced by the Clayton Community Church, kids from 7-14 can race down Main Street in classic soapbox-style cars provided by the sponsors. Pre-register by Aug. 29 by emailing gaylynnlaventure@yahoo.com or call (925) 673-5337. Classic and custom cars will be on display at the car show from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. To enter, register between 7 and 9 a.m. See ad on this page for more details.

August 20, 2010

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

Page 5

Directory of Advertisers Auto P.O. Box 1246 6200 Center Street, Suite H, Clayton, CA 94517

Clayton Valley Shell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-3900 Mike's Auto Body . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .689-1739

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 PAMELA W IESENDANGER , Administrative Assistant

Children’s Services Kid’s Choice Jumpers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .457-9543 Kidz Planet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .825-3012 Churches Clayton Community Church . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .673-9060 Clayton Valley Church . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-3397

S TAFF W RITERS : Denisen Hartlove, Lou Fancher, Nicci Shipstead, Pam Wiesendanger, Mike Dunn We remember Jill Bedecarré - Her spirit is our muse

St. Demetrios . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .676-6967 Construction and Trades Appliance Repairs by Bruce, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-2700

PIONEER INFO

Belfast Plumbing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .457-5423

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.

Burkin Electric . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 212-3339 Handyman Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .639-4209 LHI Construction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .682-9941

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.

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

Send School News to schoolnews@claytonpioneer.com

CLASSIFIEDS Classified rates per insertion: Non-profit: $12 for first 30 words, $.20 each additional word Individual/non-commercial: $18 for first 30 words, $.30 each additional word Commercial: $48 for first 30 words, $.40 each additional word

Shield of Armor, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .285-6400 Smith & Bernal Roofing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-0138 Tipperary Construction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .216-2679 Dentist

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Dining and Entertainment Diablo Theatre Company . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .943-7469

LUBE, OIL & FILTER

Offers may no t be

Rissel, Richard D.M.D . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .689-2800 Clayton Club Saloon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .673-0440

$10 off $ 15 off $ 20 off A/C SERVICE

Renner, Jason D.D.S. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .689-2800

Clayton Valley Church

SUMMER SPECIALS

CLAYTON VALLEY SHELL

Clayton Valley Orthodontics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-6200 Ludwig, Stephen D.M.D . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-6200

www.claytonvalleychurch.com.

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.

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-

(925) 672-3397

Alex

(925) 672-3900

Peter

Events Family Fest 2010 . . . . . . . . . . . . .www.WCFamilyFest.com

WANTED

Pacific Coast Farmers Market

. . . . . . . . . . . . . .825-9090

Financial and Insurance Services

Real Estate Agents Be Successful! Lynne French is expanding and interviewing for a few agents. Call her today (925) 6728787.

Benton, Mureleen - Ameriprise Financial . . . . . .685-4523

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

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

Help Fight Hunger Anna Chan ~ AKA: The Lemon Lady needs your help! Volunteers are needed to haul donated produce from Farmers' Markets to food pantries throughout the area. Weekly commitment appreciated. Please contact Anna at 672-1988 or AnnaAndAva@gmail.com. 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@att.net.

CD Federal Credit Union . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .825-0900 Littorno, Richard - Attorney at Law . . . . . . . . . . .672-6463 Travis Credit Union . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-800-877-8328 Funerals Moore’s Mission Funeral Home

. . . . . . . . . . . . .682-1100

Ouimet Funeral Home . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .682-4242 Home and Garden Abbey Carpet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .686-9901 Clear Splash Pool Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .216-6245 Diablo Lawnscape . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .381-3757 Floors to Go Danville . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .820-8700 Just Floors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .681-4747 Nichols Landscape . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-9955 Utopic Gardens . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .524-0055 Mailing and Shipping The UPS Store . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .689-6245 Personal Services

Hospice of the East Bay – Anna’s Attic 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. Funds raised by the Hospice Thrift Shoppes benefit Hospice of the East Bay. Established in 1977, Hospice of the East Bay is a not-for-profit agency that helps people cope with life-limiting illnesses by providing medical, emotional, spiritual, and practical support for patients and families, regardless of their ability to pay. To learn more about volunteering for Hospice of the East Bay please contact (925) 887-5678, or email volunteers@hospiceeatbay.org. Clayton Historical Society Museum The Clayton Historical Society Museum needs a greeter for two hours per month from 2-4 p.m. Wednesdays or Sundays. No experience or extensive knowledge of Clayton history is necessary. Call the museum at 672-0240 and leave your name. Clayton Community Library Needs volunteers. Minimum age 13. Minimum commitment is 6 months. Some training provided. Shelver - to shelve and sensitize library materials. Various days/times. Tutors - no prior experience necessary! You determine the grade level and subjects you are comfortable with and the days/times. Requires good communication skills, patience and a desire to help students in the community. Contact: Arlene @ 673-9777 or email: akikkawa@ccclib.org

Frontier Hair Salon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-6900 Main Street Nail Studio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .933-8606 Pet Services Is Dog . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .360-5811 Monte Vista Veterinary Hospital . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-1100 Peace of Mind Pet Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-9781 Pet Suites Inn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .432-7387 Rodie’s Feed and Country Store . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-4600 Real Estate and Mortgage Services Flannery, Patty - Diablo Realty . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-0541 French, Lynne - Windermere Real Estate . . . . . .672-8787 Kavanaugh, Mike - RE/MAX Town & Country . . .672-7800 Klock, Leigh - Coldwell Banker . . . . . . . . . . . . . .212-5593 Laurence, Pete - RE/MAX Realty . . . . . . . . . . . .890-6004 Lopez, Stephanie - Coldwell Banker . . . . . . . . . .932-7329 Mazzei, Matt -Mazzei Realty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .693-0757 Morucci, Kimberly - J. Rockcliff Realtors . . . . . . .437-1650 Stojanovich, Jennifer - Better Homes Realty . . . .567-6170 Van Wyck, Doug - State Farm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-2300 Vujnovich, George - Better Homes Realty . . . . .672-4433 Recreation All Out Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-4303 Castle Rock Arabians . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .937-7661 Clayton Valley Bowl . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .689-4631 Oakhurst Country Club . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-9737 Sport Chalet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .521-7009 Senior Services Aegis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .692-5838 Diamond Terrace Senior Retirement Living . . . . .524-5100 Services, Other Air Cloud Communications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .260-4119 x 2 College Planning Specialists . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .348-1704 Computers USA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-9989 Martha Wasley Piano Lessons . . . . . . . . . . . . . .524-0719 Net Solutions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-6029 Recycling Center & Transfer Station . . . . . . . . . .473-0180 Travel Cruise Adventures Unlimited . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .935-7447 Travel to Go . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-9840

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Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

Piano Lessons Martha Wasley Concert pianist, teacher and coach Piano faculty at UC Berkeley Located in Clayton Please call Tel: 925-524-0719 Cell: 925-998-3662

NNO, from page 1 bag to clean up. Police are limited in what they can do, says Lawrence. “It’s not illegal to sit in a parked car.” If the kids are violating the curfew law, police send them home. But unless they see a crime in progress, they cannot “connect the dots” and assume illegal activity, Lawrence explained. If the boom boxes exceed 60 decibels, they can cite the users for disturbing the peace. “I don’t know what 60 decibels is,” said one neighbor. “I just know that it wakes me up in the middle of the night.” “It sounds like a ghetto out there,” added Khani Horton. “We need to take our neighborhood back.” “The best way to clear out the cars,” answered Lawrence, “is to keep calling the police.” The Pebble Beach neighbors are in the process of starting a Neighborhood Watch group and have been writing down license numbers and taking photos. PROGRAM CELL PHONES In other discussions, resi-

dents learned that dialing 911 from cell phones is not the best way to reach police. A 911 call goes to the California Highway Patrol in Vallejo and can delay a response. Regardless of the time, police advised calling the Clayton Police Department at 673-7350. If it is after hours, the call will roll over to Concord Dispatch for a much faster response.

Clayton has an excellent Neighborhood Watch program which covers crime prevention including how to report a crime, identity theft, home security and safe home practices. To schedule a Neighborhood Watch meeting, contact Community Services Officer Lynn Christ at the Clayton Police Department, 6737350. Herb Younge, a volunteer with the Clayton Police Department, contributed to this story.

Tamara Steiner/Clayton Pioneer

POLICE CHIEF DAN LAWRENCE fields questions from neighbors concerned with activities in their Oakhurst neighborhood at the this National Night Out event on Aug 3, hosted by Khani (left) and Dane Horton.

CERT offers two emergency preparedness options The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) will conduct a two-hour seminar on emergency preparedness on Wednesday, Sept. 1. This free seminar will include information on home evacuation plans, emergency provisions and communications. The program begins at 7 p.m. at the Clayton Library, 6125 Clayton Road. To reserve a spot, call 673-7355. Meanwhile, a six-week, 20hour CERT program begins on Wednesday, Sept. 15. The sessions include training in fire safety, light search and rescue and terrorism, in addition to the information shared in the twohour seminar. The free class meets at 6:30 p.m. at Endeavor Hall, 6008 Center St., Clayton. To enroll, visit claytoncert.org or call 6737355.

1st

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August 20, 2010

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Celebrate all things Greek at festival St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church hosts the 32nd annual Contra Costa Greek Food and Wine Festival Sept. 17-19. Food and wine are not just Greek traditions, they are art forms celebrated by the best artisan chefs in the world Greek grandmothers. They are

passionately dedicated to cooking the best Greek food with the freshest ingredients and authentic recipes. They lovingly prepare delectable pastries and savory dishes on the premises. This year, the festival will also offer an assortment of Greek wines to taste. Pair the rich reds and delightful whites

with moussaka or souvlaki. Those seeking something different could opt for a mojito. Festival-goes will be entertained by live bands and traditional Greek dances, along with a variety of Hellenic arts, crafts and treasures. The festival is open 5-11 p.m. Friday, noon-11 p.m.

Club News

CLAYTON VALLEY GARDEN CLUB On Aug. 11, the club met at the Clayton Valley Pumpkin Farm. Sharon Osteen gave a presentation on vermicomposting, the process of using red

Saturday and noon-8 p.m. Sunday at 1955 Kirker Pass Road, Concord. Admission is $5, with $3 for seniors 55+. Children under 12 free. The event is also free 5-6 p.m. Friday. For more information, call 6766967 or visit ccgreekfest.com.

odorless if done correctly and does not require a lot of labor or space. Supplies include a bin, some red wigglers, shredded newspaper and organic material like leftover food scraps. Maintenance of the bin requires some monitoring and controlling, though not as much as a compost pile. The pumpkin farm’s nursery is open 1-6 p.m. Fridays this month. Customers will receive free root beer floats Aug. 20. Visit cvpumpkinfarm.com to learn more about the plant nursery, private tours and field trip programs for kids. For garden club information, visit claytonvalleygardenclub.org.

wiggler worms to transform food scraps into a nutrient-rich fertilizer known as castings. Vermicomposting helps reduce the amount of waste going to landfills, and it can be done inside or outside. It is

Send your Club News items of community interest to clubnewsnews@claytonpioneer.com. Include a photo whenever possible.

FREE College Planning Workshop Here is what families are saying about College Planning Specialists workshops: “Every parent should go to your workshop! They will realize how much they don’t know AND how much money they would have missed out on.”

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August 20, 2010

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer .com

“The Lemon Lady” takes on bottle caps in latest community service effort

Page 7

Learn to Ride

August 23 thru 27 Mon. - Fri. 9 to 3 = $500 August 23 & 24 Mon. & Tues, 9 to 3 = $200

Children, Teens, Adults English, Western & Trail Scout Sessions/Rider’s Badge

DENISEN HARTLOVE Clayton Pioneer

Anna Chan is at it again. “The Lemon Lady” has embarked on a new mission, this time saving the albatross – and countless other birds and marine life – from the monster known as the plastic gyre, or the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. Bigger than Texas, this floating patch of debris includes cast-off plastic bags, old fishing nets and used bottle caps, much of which is recyclable. Wildlife eat many of the shiny but indigestible objects and feed them to their young. Toxins also make it back into humans via the food chain. “They’re finding 100 percent of the deceased birds on the beach have bellies full of bottle caps, cigarette lighters, plastic debris,” said Chan. “The albatross mother feeds them to her chicks, because she believes they’re colorful food.” The Clayton resident is best known for her efforts supplying food pantries with more than a million pieces of fresh fruit and vegetables from the backyards of locals. Now, she has added recycling to her list of causes.

AVA JOINS MOM ANNA CHAN IN CHAN’S latest community effort to recycle bottle caps and plastic and glass containers. Anna Chan is best known as “The Lemon Lady” for her work in harvesting fruit from local orchards for local food banks.

Although Concord Disposal readily recycles bottle caps along with plastic and glass containers, Allied Waste, which services Clayton residents, does not. Instead, bottle caps go into landfills or make their way into sewers and oceans. When Chan discovered the gap in Allied’s services last year, she began collecting bottle caps for recycling elsewhere. Since Earth Day 2009, she has scattered the area with what she estimates to be thousands of

Council, from page 1 U n i ve r s i t y of Puget Sound and is an executive w i t h Microsoft. He sits on the Clayton Planning Commission and holds TED MERIAM memberships in the CBCA, Clayton Garden Club and the Historical Society. Meriam is co-founder with Joe Medrano of Passport 2 Clayton (P2C), a local fundraising organization. Diaz and Meriam will face off ag ainst incumbents H a n k Stratford and Dave Shuey. JIM DIAZ

Stratford, a CPA and owner of Diablo View Cleaning in Clayton, was elected for his first term in 2006. He currently serves as mayor. Shuey, an attorney with an Oakland law firm, will be running for a third term this fall. As Clayton’s vice mayor, he will be next in line to serve as mayor if he wins the November election. Council members Julie Pierce, Howard Geller and Medrano won’t be up for reelection until 2012. Members are elected for four-year terms and elect a new mayor each year from among themselves – typically in rotation and based on seniority. All four candidates will have an opportunity to address questions from each other and the public in the October issues of the Pioneer. Send your questions for the candidates to tamara@claytonpioneer.com by Sept. 15. The Pioneer will compile a list from those submitted.

used coffee cans, repurposed with bright yellow labels that shout “CAPS” and “Earth Day Every Day!” for residents to collect the brightly hued items. Kelly Tuohey, the mother of three young children, supports the effort. “I’ll be honest. I like to think I’m sort of an environmentalist, but when I get busy I don’t do as good a job as I could,” admitted Tuohey, who promised to look for the boxes set aside for dropping bottle tops. Today, three television-box sized crates sit in Chan’s garage, piled full of the booty collected by locals. Caps include those from bottles of shampoo, tofu boxes, juice bottles and even Play-Doh containers. “It became so easy to start saving bottle caps,” Chan said.

“When I first picked a lemon, my goal was a thousand pounds. It seemed endless – it seemed like such a huge, unobtainable number. But it came so fast. And it’s the same with bottle caps.” She estimates that every person in Clayton generates on average one bottle cap per day. “That’s five to seven caps a week.” Aveda Corp., best known for its hair styling products, is also in on the act with a program called “Recycle Caps with Aveda.” The corporation offers shipping labels, and in some cases postage, for school groups and people like Chan who collect the caps for recycling. Collectors can also drop caps off at local Aveda stores, such as the one in Sunvalley Mall. Aveda plans to recycle at least some of the caps into new bottle caps, thus cutting down on consumption. Chan plans to either send her collection of caps to Aveda or find a local recycler. She sees the experience of collecting caps to be recycled as what President Barrack Obama once termed a “learning moment.” “It’s the power of one,” she explained. “We disregard an item that’s as small as a paper clip, but it’s really making a difference.”

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Local cast takes on murder mystery Bay Area theater critic Pat Craig headlines a star-studded cast for “Final Signing,” a murder mystery fundraiser hosted by the Clayton Valley Woman’s Club. Also appearing are Joel and Christy Harris, former owners of Clayton Books; Kathy Hester, CVWC president; Dave Shuey, Clayton’s vice mayor; Laura Hoffmeister, Concord councilwoman and city of Clayton staffer; Dan Lawrence, Clayton’s chief of police; and

Last call for Horse Camp

Nicci Shipstead, Clayton Pioneer staff writer. The mystery is adapted from “Murder in the Library” by Tom and Penny Warner. The event begins at 4:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 19, at Oakhurst Country Club. Tickets are $45 and include dinner. There will be a no-host bar. Proceeds go to CVWC charities and scholarship fund. Reservation deadline is Sept. 10. For tickets, call 969-9885.

Cruise Adventures Unlimited Serving all cruise lines since 1987

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Page 8

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

Laminate

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August 20, 2010

Tax rules apply when selling rental property We have lived in our priQ mary home for 10 years and are thinking about renting it out for a year or two. When we sell in a couple of years, will we have to pay extra taxes because we have not lived in it for a certain period of time? The rule for avoiding capital gains on your primary residence is you have to live in the home for two out of the last five years. They don’t have to be consecutive. Then you can qualify for up to a $500,000 exemption for a couple on the title, or $250,000 each. Generally the gain is figured by what you paid for the property, plus your costs of purchase, plus any capital improvements you have put into the property. You deduct this figure from the price you sell the home for, minus the cost of sale. That is your gain. Capital improvements are not cosmetic upgrades such as carpet and paint, repairing or replacing heating or air condi-

Save 15% off All Yard Clean-Up Not valid with any other coupon.

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Service of $300 or more. Not valid with any other coupon.

Monthly/Weekly Lawn & Landscape Maintenance Programs Lawn, Shrub & Garden Care Irrigation Repair Tree Service – ISA Certified Arborist on Staff

LYNNE FRENCH

REAL ANSWERS tioning units or water heaters. They are things like installing landscape, room additions, major kitchen or bathroom remodeling. Check with your tax professional. You don’t say why you are considering renting your place out for two years. You might want to talk with a real estate professional about the timing of the market. Some people are renting out their homes hoping that prices will go up. I don’t think two years is enough time for that. Some people want to try another area before they let go of a home in this area to make sure they really want to make the move. This is a legitimate reason as long as they have enough equity to withstand a possible decline in value. I own four investment Q properties that I rent out. I have owned them for several years and have refinanced them over the years. My cash flow was always a little negative on them,

but it was a tax deduction. However, rates adjusted and they became a very negative cash flow. I paid them every month on time for a long time, until I couldn’t afford to anymore because my income had declined significantly. I wanted to sell them but they had become upside down. I tried to negotiate a loan modification, but the lender refused because it was not my primary residence. Then I asked about a short sale. The lender refused because it wasn’t my primary residence and because I was current on all my other bills. I slipped onto the foreclosure list, and it is embarrassing. I thought there was so much help for people who are looking for an alternative to foreclosure. What do you make of this? As time goes on, there are more available alternatives to foreclosure but mainly for your primary residence. There are many new short sale programs available without as serious repercussions as previously. But none of the new government programs are designed for the investor. They are mainly designed to keep homeowners in their homes if possible. Some lenders are easier to work with than others. I won’t mention the bank that you used, but I will say that it is one of the most difficult. It is definitely worthwhile to try every alternative to avoid foreclosure, but sometimes it is the only alternative. It sounds

like that is the case for you. However, there is life after foreclosure. It just takes longer to build your credit and sometimes there are lessons to be learned. I always tell my clients that there is no shame in doing what you have to do in this economy, as long as what you do is legal. I am buying my first home Q and my uncle is going to give me part of my down payment. I intend to pay him back someday. My loan broker said these must be called gift funds and there is a specific way that I can receive them. What are the rules for this? My favorite loan broker told me this: When a buyer is receiving “gift funds” from a relative for a purchase, it is imperative that the funds go straight to the title company. Don’t deposit them into your checking account. The paper trail this creates is extremely dif-

ficult to handle. Any “relative” can provide gift funds. This includes aunts and uncles who do not have to prove their relationship. Gift funds for conventional loans (non-FHA) that go straight to escrow do not have to have a paper trail. That’s a huge convenience for the donors. Gift funds for FHA loans have to be “paper-trailed,” no matter what. Donors have to provide proof that they have/had the funds to give away. This is called the “ability to give.” Send your question and look for your 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 672-878 7or stop in at 6200 Center St., Clayton.

Why advertise in the Pioneer? Here’s one reason: "Your paper gives us exactly what we need, affordable advertising that delivers our message to the people who need it most! We are a community first company, that appeals to the local Clayton families. The Pioneer truly has made a significant impact with our business, THANK YOU!" SEAN CONNORS, COLLEGE PLANNING SPECIALISTS

To advertise in the Clayton Pioneer, call 672-0500

Certified Weed & Fire Abatement

FR EE ES TIM AT E S

Getting older does not mean you need to lose your teeth Tooth loss is simply the result of an oral disease – not the aging process. The elderly, who make up the fastest growing segment of the U.S. population, are healthier and have kept more of their natural teeth than prior generations. But there is always room for improvement. Many seniors do not visit a dentist even once a year, even though it’s one of the most important preventative strategies in ensuring that teeth last a lifetime. Seniors often take long breaks from seeing the dentist, thinking this is not an important issue now that they are getting older. However, oral hygiene should continue as we age. Family members need to encourage regular dental visits and assist in helping to promote this.

Regular dental visits are especially important for older people since many suffer from dry mouth, which slows the flow of saliva. Saliva plays a major role in preventing tooth decay by rinsing away food particles and neutralizing harmful acids. Dry mouth often comes with aging but can also be caused by medications. Dry mouth can often be treated by a dentist. Along with regular dental check ups, seniors should floss daily and brush twice a day with fluoride toothpaste. Using fluoride rinses and gels may be beneficial in fighting tooth decay and cavities. Seniors are most likely to get cavities where old filling have chipped or where root surfaces are left unprotected by receding gums. A visit with the dentist will help with early detec-

tion of these possible problems. Following these preventive measures should help seniors avoid wearing dentures, but even seniors with no teeth still need to visit the dentist regularly. Many aspects of oral health, such as adjusting ill-fitting dentures and oral cancer screenings, can be handled at routine dental visits. Most people don’t realize how important it is to take care of the gums. Gingivitis is caused by bacteria found in plaque that attack the gums. Symptoms of gingivitis include red swollen gums and bleeding when brushing. If you have any of these symptoms, see a dentist at once. Sever gum disease affects about 25 percent of 65- to 74year-olds. This can lead to tooth loss if left untreated, especially in patients with osteoporosis.

KELLY FERRO

SENIOR MOMENTS When regular oral care becomes too difficult, the dentist can provide alternatives to aid in flossing and brushing. Consult a dentist if these daily tasks become harder due to arthritis or other medical problems. A smile is a terrible thing to lose. With proper oral care and regular visits to the dentist, seniors can keep smiling well into retirement. Kelly Ferro is a marketing director for Aegis Living. Send comments or questions to kelly.ferro@aegisliving.com

August 20, 2010

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

Page 9

“Let Us

Health care reform could breathe new life into health savings accounts RICHARD LITTORNO INSIGHT ON

ESTATE PLANNING

by any non-HDHP insurance (such as a spouse’s plan) except for certain dental, vision, disability or long-term care coverage. REDUCING HEALTH

As the provisions of health care reform law take effect over the next few years, you may hear more about health savings accounts, or HSAs. HSAs survived the health care overhaul largely intact and may prove to be a valuable tool for reducing health care costs. And because unused HSA balances grow on a tax-deferred basis — similar to an IRA — they can serve as an additional weapon in your estate planning arsenal. An HSA is a tax-exempt account funded with pre-tax dollars. Like an IRA or 401(k) plan, contributions may be made by employers, employees or both. An HSA must be coupled with a high-deductible health plan (HDHP). For 2010, to qualify as an HDHP, a plan must have a minimum deductible of $1,200 ($2,400 for family coverage) and a $5,950 cap on out-of-pocket expenses ($11,900 for family coverage). Because the deductibles are higher, HDHPs generally have significantly lower premiums often as much as 30 percent lower. To be eligible for an HSA, in addition to being covered by an HDHP, you must not be enrolled in Medicare or covered

CARE COSTS

HSAs provide several important benefits. They reduce unreimbursed health care costs by allowing account holders to withdraw funds tax-free to pay for qualified medical expenses. These generally include otherwise tax-deductible medical expenses for account holders, their spouses and dependents. Withdrawals for other purposes are subject to income taxes and, currently, a 10 percent penalty. Unused funds may be carried over from year to year, continuing to grow on a taxdeferred basis. To the extent you don’t need the funds for medical expenses, an HSA serves as a supplemental IRA. Once you reach age 65, you can make penalty-free withdrawals for any purpose. Withdrawals not used for qualified medical expenses will still be subject to income tax. If you become ineligible (for example, because you enroll in Medicare), you can no longer make contributions to your HSA, but you can still make tax-free withdrawals for eligible expenses. Currently, the maximum annual contribution is $3,050 for account holders with individual coverage or $6,150 for

Mayor, from page 1 why there might be opposition to a program that involves the schools, the business community and the city. If the opposition centers around the concern that the program is religious-based, I can understand that since religious worship is very personal. When the committee – comprised of school administrators and teachers, parent faculty club members, Clayton Business and Community Association leadership and community members – was discussing which traits and behaviors to encourage, the focus was on what makes a good citizen or a good member of society. The six chosen traits – responsibility, respect, kindness, self-discipline, integrity and courage – were considered important for any individual, irrespective of religion. Some people wonder what

role, if any, the city of Clayton should play in the promotion of good character. I believe the responsibility of teaching and encouraging good character is centered squarely in the home. The schools, the business community and the city can reinforce those teachings but do not have the primary responsibility. Clayton could choose to be simply a silent supporter of “Do the Right Thing” and let the schools and possibly the CBCA do the community work. Or the city could take a proactive role by encouraging the City Council and the city staff to be role models of these traits. The city could allow the display of a banner showing the current character trait for the first week of each month. Those individuals that expressed concerns about “Do the Right Thing” said that banners with the current character

those with family coverage. If you’re 55 or older, you can make additional “catch-up” contributions of up to $1,000 this year ($2,000 for married couples if both spouses are 55 or older). The health care reform law made two changes to HSAs that take effect in 2011. Tax-free withdrawals no longer will be allowed to purchase over-thecounter drugs that aren’t prescribed by a physician. Also, the penalty for nonqualified withdrawals before age 65 will increase to 20 percent from 10 percent. LOOKING TO THE FUTURE Like an IRA or 401(k) account, unused HSA balances can supplement your retirement income or continue growing on a tax-deferred basis for your family. Unlike other retirement savings vehicles, however, there are no required minimum distributions (RMDs) for HSAs. It’s important to consider an HSA’s beneficiary designation carefully. When you die, any remaining HSA balance becomes the beneficiary’s property. If the beneficiary is your spouse, your HSA becomes his or her HSA and is taxable only to the extent he or she makes nonqualified withdrawals. If the beneficiary is someone other than your spouse, then the account no longer qualifies as an HSA, and the beneficiary must include the account’s fair market value in

trait were “offensive,” “tacky” and “preachy.” While I respect their concerns, I do not know a better way to unify the community around these traits without them being displayed for a short time each month. A parent driving through town will be reminded that this month his/her child will be hearing about “responsibility” at school. The parent may remember an example at work that relates to this trait and can take the opportunity to teach it at home. Just to be clear, any involvement by the city will require the supporting vote of the City Council. My recommendation is that the city of Clayton support the program this first year and then re-evaluate its role. The fiscal impact and time impact on the city would be minimal.

Light Up Your

Life”

his or her gross income. As long as the beneficiary isn’t your estate, however, he or she can deduct any qualified medical expenses paid with HSA funds within one year after death. That differs from an IRA, where a non-spouse beneficiary can spread RMDs over his or her lifetime. So those age 65 or older who need to take distributions to pay non-medical expenses (or for other purposes) may want to consider whether it makes more sense to withdraw from their IRA or HSA. Withdrawing from the IRA preserves the HSA, so tax-free funds will be available for their own (or their spouse’s or dependents’) future medical expenses. Withdrawing from the HSA preserves the IRA’s ability to generate tax-deferred growth for heirs. The answer will depend on a variety of factors, such as the account holder’s age and health, the size of each account, and the beneficiary’s age, health and relationship to the account holder. Most of the new health coverage requirements take effect in 2014. But if you’re eligible for an HSA, opening an account now can help you prepare for the additional expense down the road. 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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Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

August 20, 2010

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Like 12 percent of my fellow Californians, I was laid off in the last year. This first-time experience came with a range of emotions that closely resembled the breakup of a relationship and dating. And who wants to go through that misery? Luckily, I was not blindsided by going to work one day and getting a pink slip. I had eight months to get used to the idea. Nonetheless, it was traumatic. Having been at the job for 25 years, I thought most of my identity came from my job. It was both a relief and a disappointment to find that I was who I always thought I was once I became unemployed. I found I was still driven to achieve, stay fit and be productive even without a job.

On the down side, I realized I still felt a race against time every day and stress to get more done than can possibly be done in one day. Instead of carrying around the weight of a job, I carried the weight of finding a job. Dare I admit that some of that pressure was self-imposed? The Breakup: Sometimes it happens fast and unexpected. Other times, you see the handwriting on the wall and are forced to endure awkward conditions until there is a clean break. For example, getting advance notice of a layoff helps you prepare financially for the break, but it’s humiliating and degrading to have to live under the same roof until one of you can move out. Dating: Remember the anxiety of anticipation? Could Mr. Right be the guy (company) right in front of me that I have

known all along? Will it be someone new? How will I meet him? Will he ask me out? Then, he asked me out (interview)! I got a good vibe during the date. He said he would call, but he hasn’t. Do I call? How many times do I follow up before I appear to be a stalker? Once out on your own, you wonder, Will I ever love (find a great job) again? Will the new relationship (job) ever measure up to the old? Will the new job be as close to home? Pay as well? Come with as much vacation? It is hard to believe the new could be even better than the old. It could show you more respect, develop your character and advance your skills on top of paying better – or simply be priceless to you because it is less stressful. This job might actually close the cap on the toothpaste. Transition Guy: Maybe before

you find Mr. Right, you need a transition guy (job). A job to get your feet wet that will not necessarily be the be-all-end-all but will certainly get you back in the (dating) game again. Mr. Right: And when you finally land the right job, there can be a reminiscing, comparing and mourning all over again. But in the end, whether you believe change (job, relationship) is good or necessary, being resilient is – especially in this economy. So strengthen that network of friends, keep putting your best foot forward, replace bad habits with good and look with excitement toward what the future will bring. I hope you find yourself in a happy place, like I did here at the Clayton Pioneer. Pamela Wiesendanger is an administrative assistant and staff writer for the Pioneer.

Educate yourself about finances before going back to school In light of the challenging job market, many people are wondering if it’s the right time to go back to school. Whether it’s to finish an undergraduate degree or enter an advanced degree program, seeking additional education may be the easiest part of the task. Much more challenging, particularly in these economic times, is finding a way to pay for it. If you are currently working and up to the task of juggling school and office responsibilities, you may want to find out if your employer offers a tuition assistance program. Many companies are willing to pay part or all of the tuition costs associated with higher education, or

reimburse you for tuition at a later date if you remain with the company for a required period of time. If that option is available to you, college will be much more affordable, though it will require you to arrange your class schedule around your working hours. ALTERNATE FUNDING OPTIONS

If you have been laid off, check to see if there are funding opportunities in your community, your state or through the educational institution you plan to attend. In some cases, there may be education grants available to those who have lost their jobs and are seeking to further their education in order to

Gallery, from page 1 George Curtis Van Liew is the current featured artist in the playroom. He paints beautiful watercolors of flowers and fruit, with irises as his favorite subject matter. While singing with a group at Diamond Terrace at the age of 9, George Curtis told his mom he wanted to take a watercolor class. The staff invited the singers to participate in any of the classes. George Curtis joined the watercolor class and now, four years later, takes pri-

vate lessons from the instructor. He also practices and experiments on his own, finding photos of flowers on the Internet and recreating them free-hand for his watercolors. “I want to give art lessons … I have paintings and I want to sell them,” says George Curtis. “We’re very proud of him,” says Becky Van Liew. “We hope he finds a way for it to be a field he can work in.” His love of flowers began when he was 3, when everyone at

improve future hiring prospects. Some communities have special programs to help adults fund education efforts. Be sure to contact the financial aid office of the educational institution you are attending. Standard college funding programs, such as grants, loans and even scholarships, are available to non-traditional students as well as professionals who are looking to earn an advanced degree. The availability of grants (money that does not have to be repaid) is typically based on financial need, but you should consider applying to determine your eligibility. Be sure to check all of your options, starting with a visit to the government’s education

the Easter table had a flower at their place setting – except him. He was sitting in his high chair in tears at being overlooked. Grandma quickly picked a flower for him when she realized why he was crying. That was when “the beauty of the individual flower captured my attention,” remembers George Curtis. According to KikkawaNielsen, the children’s area at Cup O’Jo was redesigned to encourage creativity and education through exploration and play. “We also hope that children of all ages will inspire each

MURELEEN BENTON FINANCIAL SENSE funding Website, fafsa.org. Other common ways to finance graduate education include trading out your services as a teacher, researcher or advising assistant in return for tuition and other expenses. You may find that your relevant experience and previous education are marketable skills a university can use in exchange for free or reduced tuition.

See Finances, page 16

other by providing a place for them to showcase their artwork,” she says. Creekside Jo’s Gallery will be a mini gallery and cyber café, once some lighting and wireless work is completed. One artist will be showcased in each room for a three-month period. The children’s art room is open during Cup O’Jo hours, 7 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Friday and 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday. To find out about displaying art, leave a message for Kristi at Cup O’Jo, 6054 Main St., or email Kikkawa-Nielsen at nielsenjanc@aol.com.

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Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer .com

Injured pooch recovers, finds a home NICCI SHIPSTEAD Clayton Pioneer

Erin Tindall first saw Chachi at Clayton Station’s Safeway and fell in love with the rescued miniature Pinscher-Chihuahua. “He was so cute,” said Erin’s mom Lori, who has agreed to make Chachi a member of their family. Last April, Mt. Diablo Elementary teacher Deborah Huaco’s kindergarten and firstgrade students wrote letters to the Pioneer asking the community to help Chachi. Huaco, director of education with non-profit East Bay Animal Rescue and Refuge (EBARR), fostered the pup abandoned at the county shelter with a broken leg. “The children have written letters in hopes that someone

CHACHI, A MINIATURE PINSCHER-CHIHUAHUA MIX, was abandoned at the county shelter last spring with a broken leg. His story has a happy ending with adoptive family Lori Tindall and daughter Erin.

may learn about Chachi and have the means or the ideas that will ultimately help him,” Huaco said in her appeal. All Bay Animal Hospital had given Chachi a 20 percent

shot at recovery, predicting the dog would need a $5,000 orthopedic surgery or a less costly leg amputation. Meanwhile, Huaco brought Chachi to several EBARR

Teach your dog the ABCs of school schedule ELENA BICKER

PET PALS Going back to school means a complete schedule change for the entire family. For dogs, it means less playtime and interaction with the family and more time spent alone. Long periods alone can cause boredom and anxiety, so it’s important to ease your dog into this transition before the change occurs. Start by leaving the house for a few minutes, then slowly lengthen the absence. Keep your dog from becoming increasingly concerned by varying the amount of time he spends alone, between a few minutes to a couple of hours. If he shows signs of distress before being left alone, such as anxious pacing, whining or panting, return to practicing short absences.

Extend the time only when the dog appears comfortable with being left alone, but keep including shorter time periods for encouragement. Changing access to the house and outdoors can also cause distress. Check the security of your yard if dogs are to be left outdoors. Bored dogs might dig or even climb. Dogs who blissfully roamed outdoors while the family was home might bark incessantly while the family is gone. During absence rehearsals, park the car a block away and walk quietly back to see if your dog is barking. Ask neighbors as well. If your dog does bark, consider keeping him indoors. The neighbors will be grateful. Chewing can help relieve stress for dogs. To help prevent inappropriate chewing while unsupervised, put away precious items and restrict access to “dog-proofed” portions of the

house. Frozen, filled Kongs or marrow bones (use caution as these can leak onto carpets and floors), cow hooves and other chew toys can help soothe and occupy your dog. Some dogs are so stressed during owner absences that they will not chew or eat. For them, intense exercise before separation can boost their comfort level, as well as provide beneficial one-on-one time with you. Long walks or vigorous play can relieve stress and allow a dog to sleep away part of his time alone. Set patterns allow dogs to predict when they will be left alone – and to plan accordingly. Vary walking paths and routines to prevent your dog from slowing down as you near home, or refusing to empty his bladder. For puppies, consider crate training for short absences or have someone take the dog

See Pet Pals, page 15

Gaberdine and Fran are ARF’s Adoption Stars

GABERDINE Gaberdine is a gorgeous, petite cat who loves to be held and petted. Gaberdine would do best in a quiet/calm home with a snuggly bed as well as a gentle person to cuddle close to. The adoption fee for adult cats is $50. Fran is a sweetheart of a little dog, hoping that her new adopters walk through the door soon and fall in love with her so she can start her new life! Like all dogs, she’ll enjoy getting daily

FRAN opportunities for both mental and physical exercise. Attending training classes will be a great way for both her and her new folks to learn new skills! The adoption fee for adult dogs is $225 and includes 60% off one 7-week dog training session. 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 encourages kids 16 and younger and canine family members (dog adoptions only) to be present during the adoption process. Would you like to be part of the heroic team that saves the lives of rescued dogs and cats? Can you share your talents to connect people and animals? ARF volunteers are making a difference! For more information see our website, www.arf.net, or call 925.256.1ARF.

adoption clinics throughout the area. That’s how 12-year-old Erin had the opportunity to take care of Chachi for a few days. “He was such a mildmannered, sweet, sweet dog,” said Lori. “He doesn’t even bark.” Lori too was in love. But there was an obstacle: the Tindalls’ 8-year-old mini Dachshund, Dinky. The newcomer was accepted at first, but after a few days Lori said, “Chachi was jumping all over and Dinky looked like, ‘When is this dog going?’ Now they both sleep in the bed with me. It was a blended family right away.” Father and husband Bill Tindall was the Good Samaritan struck and killed on Marsh Creek Road more than a year ago. “He’s laughing from heaven,” Lori said. “He would think like Dinky … ‘Do we really need another crazy?’” Huaco admits she cried when Chachi left her foster care. “But I was happy because he got a good home. I think they were meant to come together.” Chachi’s health has improved. An X-ray revealed his leg actually healed stronger in one area than it was before, so he still walked as if the cast were on for a few days. And, thanks to Huaco’s students, Chuck Walls at Concord’s Veterinary Surgery Association offered reducedrate surgery for Chachi if necessary. “I try to teach (my students) if there’s something they really care about, they can make a big difference. What they did is very important,” said Huaco. Find more adoptable pets and EBARR information at http://ebarr.org.

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Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

August 20, 2010

Clayton Sports Dana Hills, Oakhurst claim honors at city meet JAY BEDECARRÉ Clayton Pioneer

Clayton swim teams put their stamp on the 44th annual Concord City Swim Championships earlier this month, with Dana Hills winning its eighth straight A Division title and Oakhurst earning the Sportsmanship Award for the third time since 2004. Additionally, Dana Hills Otters boys and girls quartets were named outstanding relays and DHST also accounted for all five meet records. Bekah Padilla continued her season-long domination by setting three individual records and contributing to a fourth on the 15-18 girls medley relay. Dana Hills lived up to its legacy in the Concord City meet,

boys and Justine Trimble in 1314 girls even though each swimmer was moving up to a older age group. Padilla, Melissa Schoell in 11-12 and Sarah Hamilton in 7-8 were also highpoint winners for Dana Hills on the girls side. Anthony Vines in 11-12 and Derek Anderson in 15-18 were other Dana Hills boys taking high-point laurels. Grace Smith had another excellent meet, taking high point in 6 and under girls for Oakhurst. In B Division, Oakhurst swept the 11-12 high-point awards with Katie Hoyt and Chris Buzis. Dana Hills had three B Division honorees, Toshio Longley in 7-8 boys, Joseph Silveria 9-10 boys and Kayleigh Rohrbach in 13-14 girls.

Photo courtesy of Oakhurst Orcas

KATIE HOYT of Oakhurst won the 11-12 girls B Division highpoint award at the 44th annual Concord City Swimming Championships. Hoyt was first in the butterfly and second in the individual medley for the Orcas. Hoyt has her athletic role models in older brothers Stephen and Chris Wondolowski, who are both professional soccer players. Her oldest brother Chris is the leading scorer for the San Jose Earthquakes this season.

which has been hosted by Springwood Swim Team for several decades and held in Concord Community Pool for the last 15 years. The Otters had the largest contingent in the meet with 181 swimmers and they piled up 973.5 points to outdistance runner-up Springwood with 721.5 points. Oakhurst moved up to sixth place in the final A Division standings. The Orcas were also sixth in B Division, while Dana Hills was edged for the B title by Forest Park as the two teams swapped positions from 2009 results. HIGH-POINT HIGHLIGHTS Demonstrating their firepower, the Otters had seven highpoint swimmers among the 12 age groups – including repeat winners Niklas Weigelt in 9-10

SWIMMER ON TOP OF HER GAME

In her first year at Dana Hills, Padilla has literally and figuratively left her mark. The Ygnacio Valley High School grad not only owned all three of her individual races (the maximum allowed per swimmer at Concord city meet), she also helped the Dana Hills 1518 200-yard medley relay to a smashing meet record of 1:53.79. Nikki Palmer, Ashley Jennings and Sam Boeger joined Padilla in obliterating the record by almost three seconds. This earned the quartet the outstanding girls relay award. Palmer and Boeger were on the Dana Hills 13-14 medley relay that nabbed the same honor in 2009. The same four swimmers also won the 15-18 freestyle relay to complete a five-for-five gold

Kid’s Fall Leagues

medals for Padilla. Padilla’s individual records came in the 100 individual medley, 100 butterfly and 100 backstroke. She significantly lowered the meet records in all three events. The fifth meet record was set by Dana Hills, as Logan Sherman, Hamilton, Ali Bamberger and Ryanne Boland set a new mark of 1:02.88 in the 7-8 girls free relay – smashing the record set 21 years ago by Walnut Country. The Dana Hills 15-18 freestyle relay of Anderson, Josh Harmon, Michael Chiok and Nathan Hejad was the outstanding boys relay of the meet. Anderson and Chiok won the same award a year ago when the DHST 15-18 medley relay was honored. Among the high point winners, Karlee Kronquist (9-10) of Springwood joined Dana Hills swimmers Trimble, Padilla, Weigelt, Vines and Anderson in winning all three of their events to score a maximum of 27 individual points. Lauren Offield of Forest Park shared the 11-12 girls high-point award with Schoell. On the boys side, Cole Gonzales of Bishop Estates was top six and under swimmer, Mikey Mainer of Ygnacio Wood and Lawrence Hamilton of Bishop Estates shared the 7-8 award while Seamus Cheer of Forest Park was top 13-14 boys scorer. A WILD WEST SUCCESS Oakhurst previously won the Sportsmanship Award, which is voted on by the nine participating teams, in 2004 and 2008. Sixth-year head coach Jane Robinson was especially pleased with the spirit, enthusiasm and good sportsmanship demonstrated by her 68 swimmers, the coaching staff and Orca supporters. The team came up with a Wild West theme and matched their personality on the pool deck with excellent performances in the pool. Meet co-directors Meghan Mahler and Todd Skow marshaled their Springwood Swim Team volunteers through another successful city meet that was blessed by outstanding weather for the three days with 908 swimmers taking part. Dana Hills Swim Team has now won 18 of the past 19 Division A titles, a run interrupted in 2002 when Springwood won the championship. Dana Hills was the 2002 B Division winner, so the large Clayton recreation swim team has won a Concord city meet title 19 years in a row.

Photo courtesy Dana Hills Swim Team

JUSTINE TRIMBLE won the individual medley, butterfly and breaststroke to claim the 13-14 girls high point award at the Concord city swim championships. The Dana Hills Swim Team star also was on a pair of winning Otters relay teams. She was the 11-12 high-point winner a year ago at city meet.

Local track and field athletes excel at Junior Olympics JAY BEDECARRÉ Clayton Pioneer

Since the demise of popular all comers meets, track and field activity for pre-high school athletes in the area has generally been limited to the CYO season in the spring. Now, Darren Newell, Randy Bone and Thomas Vincent have organized the Clayton chapter of the Athenian Athletics USATF track club and they have youngsters making their mark in meets around California and Nevada. Kaylie Collins of Clayton, who also keeps busy as a year-round soccer player for Diablo FC 97, is ranked among the top 10 long jumpers in America in her age group. At the recent National Junior Olympic Championships at Hughes Stadium in Sacramento, she placed ninth in the midget (12year-old) age group long jump with a leap of 14 feet, 5 inches. Collins earlier medaled in the long jump and the 100- and 200-meter sprints at the AAU West Coast Junior Olympic Track and Field Championships at Reno. Jake Kern participated in the USATF sub bantam (7- to 9-year-olds) championships, finishing second in California as a 7-year-old with a jump of 11-6. His sister Katie Kern, 12, placed ninth in the Junior Olympic Sectionals with a long jump of 135 for midgets and another sister, Kelly Kern, is also a long jumper on the team. Other Athenian Athletics team members are DJ Newell, 10, 10th in Regional Junior Olympics, and Christian Bone, 14, who placed 12th in JO Sectionals.

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Photo courtesy of the Collins family

CLAYTON’S KAYLIE COLLINS is a busy young athlete. The 12-year-old plays goalkeeper for the competitive Diablo FC 97 soccer team and is ranked among the top 10 long jumpers in the nation for her age group.

August 20, 2010

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

Clayton Sports Athlete Spotlight Name: Niklas Weigelt Age: 10 Sport: Swimming Team: Dana Hills Swim Team The Clayton youngster, competing in his “down” swimming age year, just captured his third straight Concord City Swim Championships high-point age group trophy as he helped his Dana Hills Otters to their eighth consecutive city title. The Mt. Diablo Elementary School fifth grader won the IM, freestyle and butterfly races in the 9-10 age group and also was part of the DHST boys medley relay which won a city championship. This is his

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.

sixth year on the Otters and he’ll be competing next year again in the 9-10 age group. He is taking part in MDSA soccer house league this fall. He’s also played MDSA select soccer the past two years. Niklas will receive a $25 gift card from Sport Chalet, generous sponsors of the Pioneer Athlete Spotlight. Do you know a young athlete that should be recognized? Perhaps he or she has shown exceptional sportsmanship, or remarkable improvement, or great heart for the sport. Send your nomination for the Pioneer Athlete Spotlight to sports@claytonpioneer.com.

Diablo FC boys teams win prestigious titles, earning high national rankings

Sports Shorts VINCE MOITA OFF TO COLLEGE AS NATIONAL GRECO FINALIST The Moita brothers of Clayton participated in the Freestyle and Greco-Roman National Championships in Fargo, N.D., representing the Community Youth Center. Prior to leaving next week for his freshman year at Brown University in Rhode Island, Vince Moita was second at 105 pounds. He lost in the finals to defending national champ Freddie Rodriquez of Michigan. Younger brother Joey Moita, who was sick and didn’t place in the meet he won last year, has begun his junior year at De La Salle. PANTHERS BASKETBALL CLUB OFFERS GIRLS TRYOUTS Girls in fifth through eighth grade looking to play competitive AAU basketball can try out for the Panthers Basketball Club in Walnut Creek. Tryouts are 7-9 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 26, at Foothill Middle School and 10 a.m.-noon Sunday, Aug. 29, at Tice Valley Gym. For additional information, visit eastbaypanthers.org. CLAYTON’S BROCK GALVIN, UC DAVIS READY FOR CAL CLASH Brock Galvin of Clayton is in the three-man defensive tackle rotation for the UC Davis football team and figures to see plenty of action when the Aggies visit Cal for both team’s season opener Sept. 4 in Berkeley. The 6-3, 255-pound Concord High grad drew rave reviews for his pre-season work from Davis defensive coordinator Mark Johnson. FALL BASKETBALL LEAGUE AT CLAYTON COMMUNITY GYM All Out Sports is offering a seven-week basketball league for boys and girls age 4-14 starting Sept. 18 at the Clayton Community Gym. For more information or to register, visit alloutsportsleagueclayton.com.

JAY BEDECARRÉ Clayton Pioneer

A pair of Diablo Futbol Club boys teams earned high national rankings this month after capturing championships in the two major youth soccer tournaments on the West Coast. The Diablo FC 94 under 16 boys of coach Marquis White got a last-minute berth in the prestigious Surf Cup XXX in San Diego and then went through a tough field to capture the Gold Division championship with a shootout victory in the finals over a New York team. Two weeks later, Diablo FC 95 battled through an incredibly difficult U15 field to win its second consecutive title in the Santa Clara Sporting Invitational, putting coach John Badger’s team in the No. 14 ranking in America. Two weeks before the 30th Surf Cup in San Diego, a U16 boys team dropped out and the tournament committee invited

Page 13

P2C CHARITY GOLF TOURNAMENT SET FOR SEPT. 27 The inaugural P2C Charity Golf Tournament is Monday, Sept. 27, at Oakhurst Country Club. The tournament will use a unique format where all 18 holes will be set up as Par 3s. The Passport to Communities Foundation is looking for golfers, sponsors and volunteers. Proceeds will benefit the local community. For more information, visit http://p2cfoundation.org/friends.aspx.

Photo courtesy of Diablo FC

IN A FIRST FOR THE LOCAL CLUB, DIABLO FC 94 WON THE PRESTIGIOUS SURF TOURNAMENT in San Diego this month. The team includes, front row from left, Scott O’Sullivan, Steven Muraoka, Phillip Wcislo, Tommy Lisiak, Andy Altamirano, Sean Walker, Conrad Rowling, Sean Hart; back row, coach Marquis White, Alex Shimberg, Yojay Basulto, Nicolas Bob, Danny Glascock, Sergio De La Mora, Austin Gamm, Carlos Garcia, Elisama Padilla, Piero Farfan and Mateo Palacios.

White’s team. They began the tournament with a 2-0 win over the Edmonton Drillers from Canada. The local team came back with an identical 2-0 decision over highly touted Texas Fire. They then tied Santa Clara Sporting 1-1 on Danny

Glascock’s goal in their final group game. Although Diablo FC 94 didn’t win its bracket, they earned the semifinals wildcard berth with the most points by a team not winning its preliminary group.

Photo courtesy of Diablo FC

THE DIABLO FC 95 U15 BOYS WON THE SEVENTH ANNUAL SPORTING CUP INVITATIONAL for the second year in a row. The team includes, front row from left, Ryan Ringelstein, Izzy Murguia, Isaiah Dargan, Mario Matute, Jonathan Silvan, Juan Velazquez, Raul Sepulveda, Edgar Damian; back row, TJ Hogan, Reymond Velete, Michael Guerrero, Andrew Konstantino, Derek Wilcox, Trenton Matson, Javier Valencia, Esteban Berumen, Kian Maghsoodnia and coach John Badger.

In the semis, Diablo beat South Bay Force Black from Southern California 2-1, putting them into the championship game on Monday afternoon against Albertson Academy from eastern New York. The title game was scoreless through full-time and two overtime periods. Diablo FC 94 finished the game shorthanded after a red card reduced them to 10 players. The locals won the penalty kick shootout to claim the Surf Cup crown. White credited the defensive efforts of Sean Hart, Yojay Basulto, Phillip Wcislo, Austin Gamm and Scott O’Sullivan in front of goalie Sergio De La Mora in keeping a clean slate in the tense finale. The Diablo FC 94 championship roster also includes Nicolas Bob, Tommy Lisiak, Emmanuel Jimenez, Carlos Garcia, Piero Farfan, Andy Altamirano, Elisama Padilla, Steven Muraoka, Mateo

5K RUN BENEFITING HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS ON OCT. 10 The second annual 5K Run at Newhall Park in Concord to benefit sports at the six high schools in the Mt. Diablo Unified School District is set for Sunday, Oct. 10. For sponsorship information or to sign up to run or walk, visit unitedmtdiabloathletics.org. CVHS ATHLETIC HALL OF FAME INDUCTION OCT. 30 The second Clayton Valley High School Athletic Hall of Fame induction ceremony and dinner will be Oct. 30 at Centre Concord, honoring athletes, coaches, teams and community leaders from the 1960s, ’70s and ’80s. For the list of inductees and to buy tickets, visit mdusd.k12.ca.us/claytonvalley.For more information, contact Dee Billeter at 672-6379.

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Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

Clayton Sports Clayton Valley High football preps for fall season with busy summer schedule

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Recent Clayton Valley High School football teams have set a high standard for the 2010 edition of the Eagles to match. “We’re looking forward to an outstanding season. Our student athletes will be hard-working and committed to making our community proud of their effort every week,” head coach Herc Pardi says in accessing the team following a busy summer of camps, linemen competitions and passing league. The Eagles had their best ever season in 2008 during the golden anniversary year for the Concord school, reaching the NCS championship game. Last year, the Eagles began on a hot streak before losing three straight Diablo Valley Athletic League games. CVHS rebounded to win its last DVAL game to qualify for the playoffs, where they gained revenge 48-28 on rivals Concord High in the NCS opener before being eliminated in the quarterfinals by Montgomery of Santa Rosa 2111. This summer, the 10th annual Clayton Valley Youth Football Camp welcomed 80 players for

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INTEGRITY

Photo courtesy Clayton Valley Football Camp

THE 10TH ANNUAL CLAYTON VALLEY FOOTBALL CAMP recognized players for top performances following the final scrimmage. In the fourth through sixth grade division the honors went to, front row from left, Nick Pacult (Most Improved), Justin Roper (Mr. Defense), Ryan Sheffield (Outstanding Lineman); back row, Evan Barney (Eagle Award) and Jonathan Hackett (Outstanding Player).

five days. At the end of the week, a scrimmage was held for each of the age groups (4th-6th grades, 7th-8th grades and freshmen). The coaching staff named a number of camp awards: Eagle Award: Evan Barney (elementary), Nathan Jaggers (junior high) and Garrett Nelson (frosh). Most Improved: Nick Pacult (elementary), Tyler Moreci (junior high) and J.P. Bailey (frosh). Mr. Defense: Justin Roper (elementary), Isaac Callais (junior high), Vince Garaventa (frosh). Outstanding Lineman: Ryan Sheffield (elementary), Joe Levine (junior high), Brenden Crabbe (frosh). Outstanding Player: Jonathan

Hackett (elementary), Joe Cumbelich (junior high), Austin Rogers (frosh). The coaching staff also mentioned Dalton Cooney, Peter Wrensen, Austin Cannedy, Ken Dais, Matt Ramirez, Jack Cullen, DJ Newell, Billy Ralston, Tyler Brigance, Scott Meylan, Jason Newberry, Jacob Leanio, Domenick Clement, Zach Dominquez, Riley Tullis and Riley Smith for their camp performances. For current CVHS players, there are summer competitions to hone their skills against other high school players. The Eagle linemen won competitions at Diablo Valley and Los Medanos colleges. Coaches Paul Reynaud and Monty Consani led the Eagle teams, which included

Nick Mazza, Kevin Jo, Nick Milano, Gulien Rhodes, Jon McIntyre, Edgar Picazo, Harris Montanez, Rudy Ellison, Sung Oh, Ethan Smith and Kevin Williams. The 7 on 7 passing league team finished with a 7-5-1 record and the consolation championship at DVC. Top performers were Mateo Gomez, Joe Protheroe, Frankie Ferrante, Kunle Fashola, brothers Jeff and Kelii Dominquez, Brenden Eddy, Jesse Medrano, Stuart Bredell and Parker Ewing. Clayton Valley football teams begin play with a Jamboree at Gonsalves Stadium on Aug. 27 with Richmond, Acalanes and Tracy visiting the Eagles. The 2010 season officially begins with Clayton Valley hosting Liberty of Brentwood Sept. 3. The DVAL season kicks off Oct. 15 at Concord High for the Claycord Cup game. Pardi is pleased that his varsity and junior varsity coaching staffs are returning. The 40 incoming freshman players will be led by new head coach and Clayton resident Mike Dominguez along with Clayton Valley alumni Eddie De La Torre, Chad Linderman and Joey Levine. Completing the frosh staff are Pat McGraf, Sitiveni Manoa and Charles Barnett.

Submit Sports Items Online To submit competition results, ideas for stories, nominations for Athlete Spotlight and Sports Shorts on our Website. Go to www.claytonpioneer.com. On the left side of the page, under “Sports Items” you will find links to the proper forms.

Oakhurst swimmers, fans win Concord City Meet Sportsmanship Award

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FOR THE THIRD TIME SINCE 2004 THE OAKHURST ORCAS SWIM TEAM were presented with the Sportsmanship Award at the 44th annual Concord City Swim Championships. Head coach Jane Robinson and her staff organized a “Wild West” theme for the meet at Concord Community Pool, where nine recreation swim teams from Clayton and Concord competed. Oakhurst’s 68 swimmers, coaching staff and supporters carried out the theme and were judged as the club best exemplifying positive attitudes, cheering for all teams, graciousness in victory and defeat, respect and politeness. Leading an Orca cheer, standing from left, are head coach Robinson (in Indian costume), Carly Urteaga, Alexa Harris (in cowboy hat), Allison Macaulay, Grace Smith and assistant coaches Angie Bradley and Jessie Byers. Smith also won meet high point award for girls six and under. -Photo courtesy of Oakhurst Orcas

August 20, 2010

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

The ‘Swine Flu’ wasn’t the first, or the only, silly nickname for a disease Americans love nicknames. We name our athletes “The ManChild” and “The Ghost.” We name our singers “The Velvet Fog” and “The King.” We even have names for our criminals, like “The Teflon Don,” “The Unabomber” and “Scarface.” So it is not surprising that when a virus came along named the Swine Flu we took to it like, well, like a pig takes to mud. Never mind that the H1N1 virus is actually a reassortment of at least four viral strains – two from pigs, one from birds and another from humans. We went after Porky Pig, darn it. (And no, if you had the swine flu your doctor did not give you an oinkment.) However, it did get me thinking about nicknames attributed to other diseases. I did a little digging and came up with my top five, in no particular order. Consumption: This is a term you will hear in many Westerns, as it seems that there are always characters afflicted by it. Consumption refers to tuberculosis, which has been around for thousands of years. One contracts it by breathing in the little buggers when an infected person

coughs or sneezes. Most people have inactive disease and just have a positive PPD skin test. Others, however, can become very sick as the disease “consumes” them from the inside out – hence the nickname. Antibiotics can kill TB, but more and more people, especially in the HIV population, have multiple drug resistant strains that are hard to exterminate. The Black Death: This term arose to describe the horrible pandemic of bubonic plague that killed millions of Europeans in the mid-1300s. Many think that this name was coined to describe the black color of the skin that developed in afflicted individuals. However, writers actually came up with this term to characterize the black times that the people lived in. Trade was halted, farming was impeded and a population was decimated. Certainly not at all like Monty Python depicts. The Kissing Disease: Although the term used to describe infectious mononucleosis is quite romantic, it is a bit inaccurate. You don’t have to kiss someone to get it; you simply have to come in contact with their saliva or

mucous. I guess people preferred calling mono “the kissing disease” to the “saliva or mucous disease.” I don’t blame them. Yellow Fever: This term describes an illness that develops when one is infected with a particular virus. This virus usually causes flu-like symptoms, which often clear up after three to four days. However, for about 15 percent of those afflicted, it enters a second phase going after your liver – leading to jaundice. Simply put, you turn yellow. Unfortunately, 20 percent of these people die, but believe it or not, there is an upside. If you survive the disease, you will forever be immune to Yellow Fever. This disease is alive and well in tropical areas of South America and Africa, so get vaccinated before you head to the jungle. Mad Cow Disease: This is a disease caused by something called a prion. A prion is a deformed protein that, when ingested, travels to the brain and converts native proteins into other prions. The result is a functionally unsound brain that causes the affected cow or human to act strangely (“mad”). While incurable, Mad

Page 15

Installations – Repairs Toilets Faucets Water heaters Garbage disposals Clogged drains

DR. DAVID BIRDSALL

YOUR HEALTH Cow Disease is preventable if one avoids ingesting an afflicted animal. I should add that just because your brother is acting strangely doesn’t mean he has Mad Cow Disease. That could just be how he is. I hope this has enlightened you without disgusting you. And if this topic has interested, you I can follow it up with explanations of other medical wonders like sucking chest wounds, cauda equina syndrome, Jake leg and infectious laughter. The list is endless. 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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Learning a new language enriches travel experiences PEGGY BIDONDO

TIME

Whether you are planning a visit to a foreign country or just want a challenge, consider learning another language. Not only have studies indicated that the ability to use more than one language could be good for the brain, it also helps increase your understanding and appreciation of other cultures. Knowledge of foreign languages may also increase your chances of finding a new job, getting a promotion or transfer overseas, or going on foreign business trips. And, it could get you a better table in a restaurant. On a business trip to Thailand, I made a point of learning a few words as a courtesy to the people I would be meeting. At the hotel restaurant, I greeted the hostess by slightly bowing my head with my hands folded together in a prayer-like fashion and said “Sawadeeka,” the female form of greeting someone. Of course, it did not take her long to discover that was pretty much the extent of my Thai. We had a pleasant conversation in English after that. However, each and every morning when I arrived for breakfast, she escorted me to the same lovely table by the window with a view. By the time I was

seated, my morning cup of tea was served without even asking for it. While learning a language is an enriching experience for all ages, children have the most to gain from this wonderful adventure. Just think how quickly they learned their first language. Research suggests that exposure to more than one language is an excellent way for children to flex their brain muscles. The feeling of accomplishment that comes with their first steps toward a second language can spur them onto a greater passion for learning in general. Numerous reports have shown that students who have studied a foreign language perform much better than their monolingual peers on many standardized tests, including all sections of the SAT. Colleges now place an increasingly high value on knowledge of more than one language. It will also increase your marketability when you graduate and are looking for that perfect first job. Before I leave on a trip, I spend a good deal of time brushing up on my skills and learning new phrases I may need. It’s wonderful to be able to read signs, menus, newspapers, etc. Many people don’t bother to learn other languages because they believe that most people, especially in large tourist areas or in business situations, can speak English. All you need to do is speak slowly and turn up

Pet Pals, from page 11 outside to maintain hard-earned house training. Doggy day care and dog walkers are another option, but be clear about policies on playtime, quiet time, walks and training expectations (if any). Substitute supervision should be fun, not traumatic. A disruption of routine can sometimes cause dogs to lapse into inappropriate behavior. Dogs can become jumpier, needier or forget house training. They aren’t being spiteful, they’re confused. Refresher

training courses and reviewing former training habits help reassure dogs that the same expectations apply and that their needs will still be met. Remember, the anxiety is caused by our dogs’ love of being with us.

Travel Tip If you are unable to read the local language and you are using your charge card to get the best currency rate, write on the charge slip right away the amount, items, date and place of purchase so you can read it when the statement comes at the end of the month.

the volume, right? You might get away with this as long as you stick to popular tourist resorts and hotels, but if you have the opportunity to travel to non-tourist sites where little or no English is spoken, even a rudimentary knowledge can be a big help. I’ve also found that once someone sees your feeble attempts to speak their language, they try out their English on you without feeling embarrassed. Your trip to another country will be greatly enhanced in both ease of communication and friendliness if you speak the language. People in every country prefer it when tourists make an effort to speak the local language, even if all you can say is “hello” and “please.” In anticipation of an upcoming trip to France, my husband and I will be re-learning our high school and college French. Whether you have a private tutor, take a class through adult education, use language learning

software or take a class online where you can go at your own pace, learning a new language offers virtually limitless possibilities. There are also many free sites on the Internet that offer language learning tools. If you ever need a quick translation, babelfish.com allows you to enter a word or phrase and then translate it into one of 75 supported languages. I use this site whenever I want to communicate with my Hispanic friend. But he always laughs at my attempts as the Website translates it into European Spanish not California Spanish. Modern life is hectic; its demands are frequent and often contradictory. Learning a language together as a family provides a unifying activity which doesn’t require you to drive your kids anywhere and doesn’t make it necessary to be in 10 places at once. Starting this process early with your children or grandchildren can provide your family with an activity and an experience that will grow over the years. Starting now means the possibilities are wide open. 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.

When it comes to retirement accounts, sometimes less is more. Call me today at (925) 685-4523 to learn how to roll over to an Ameriprise IRA. Mureleen Benton, CFP®, Financial Advisor 5356 Clayton Rd., Suite 211 Concord, CA 94521 (925) 685-4523 Mureleen.M.Benton@ampf.com CA License #0692378

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Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

August 20, 2010

Clayton Community Calendar PLEASE SUBMIT YOUR CLAYTON COMMUNITY CALENDAR EVENTS BY 5 P.M. AUG. 26 FOR THE SEPT. 9 ISSUE. ITEMS MUST BE SUBMITTED BY EMAIL TO calendar@claytonpioneer.com

CLAYTON EVENTS Saturdays through October Farmers Market 8 a.m.-noon Saturdays, Diablo Street between Main and Center, downtown Clayton. No markets Sept. 4 and Oct. 2. pcfma.com or 800-949-3276.

Aug. 21 CBCA Rib Cook-off/Membership Drive Sponsored by the Clayton Community and Business Association. 7 a.m.-7 p.m., Clayton Club, 6096 Main St. Judging completed by 2 p.m., with public tastings after. Contestant applications at claytoncbca.org and at the Clayton Club. 672-2272.

music and dancing. 5-11 p.m. Friday, noon-11 p.m. Saturday and noon-8 p.m. Sunday, St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church, 1955 Kirker Pass Road, Concord. $5, $3 for seniors 55+. Children under 12 free. All are free 5-6 p.m. Friday. 676-6967 or ccgreekfest.com.

Through Sept. 19 “Six Women with Brain Death, or Expiring Minds Want to Know”

Aug. 28: East Bay Mudd is a 10-piece cover dance band. Sept. 11: Hit Waves is a 12-piece, high-energy dance band. 6-8:30 p.m., Grove Park, downtown Clayton.

Sept. 4 Soap Box Derby/Classic Car Show Kids 7-14 can race in classic soap box style cars provided by sponsors, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Main Street in downtown Clayton. Pre-register by Aug. 29 at gaylynnlaventure@yahoo.com or 673-5337. Cars on display 9 a.m.-1 p.m., followed by trophy parade. Register cars between 7-9 a.m. Sept. 4.

Through Sept. 15 Classic Car Exhibit 2-4 p.m. Sundays and Wednesdays, plus 6-8 p.m. Wednesdays to coincide with the Main Street Car Show. Clayton Museum, 6101 Main St. 672-0240 or claytonhistory.org.

ENTERTAINMENT Through Aug. 21 Diablo Actors Ensemble One-Act Festival

Inaugural event with five stages. Includes entertainment, free art, sports, kids’ karaoke, carnival games, arts and crafts booths, rides, food. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Heather Farm Park, 1750 Heather Dr., Walnut Creek. $5-$6, babies and seniors free. wcfamilyfest.com.

FUNDRAISERS

Sept. 20 Friends of Camp Concord Golf Tournament Hosted by Dan Ashley at Oakhurst Country Club, 1001 Peacock Creek Dr., Clayton. friendsofcamp.com.

Sponsored by the Clayton Valley Garden Club. 8 a.m.-1 p.m., Endeavor Hall parking lot, Center and Diablo streets, Clayton. Contact Neal at 672-2624 or claytonvalleygardenclub.org.

Through Sept. 30 Collection of Locally Grown Produce Donations benefit the Monument Crisis Center. Drop off 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Mondays, Mt. Diablo Peace Center, 55 Eckley Lane, Walnut Creek. Or at the Crisis Center 9 a.m.-noon and 1:30-4 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays or 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesdays, 2350 Monument Blvd., Suite B, Concord. Contact Mary at 9337850 or maryalice@mtdpc.org.

Sept. 1 Emergency Preparedness Seminar Sponsored by the Clayton Community Emergency Response Team (CERT). Topics include recommended emergency supplies for home and business, preparing an evacuation plan for the family and family communications. 7 p.m. RSVP at 673-7355.

Sept. 13 Clayton Library Book Club

Sept. 2-Oct. 10 “She Loves Me”

Sunny Solomon leads discussion of “Little Bee” by Chris Cleave. 7 p.m.

Considered the most charming and romantic musical ever written. Center Repertory Company, 1601 Civic Drive, Walnut Creek. $19$45. Centerrep.org or 943-SHOW.

Sept. 15 “Fall and Winter in the East Bay Regional Parks” Allison Meador, a naturalist with Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve, discusses the off-season in East Bay parks. 7-9 p.m.

Irish, old-time music and more. 7:30 p.m., Walnut Avenue United Methodist Church, 260 Walnut Ave., Walnut Creek. $10, or $25 per family. Free childcare. walnutavenueumc.org or extendedroots.com.

Through Sept. 16 Music and Market Series Concerts 6:30 p.m. Thursdays, Todos Santos Plaza, downtown Concord. ci.concord.ca.us or 671-3464.

Sept. 17-19 Contra Costa Greek Food and Wine Festival

RECYCLING Sept. 4 E-waste Disposal Sponsored by Contra Costa Waste Services. Free for all county residents; bring proof of residency. Audio visual equipment, cell phones, computer components, computers, copiers, digital cameras, fax machines, non-ferrous metal, floppy diskettes, Monitors, mp3 players, power cables, printers, scrap metal, steel and alloy rims, telephone equipment, televisions, toner cartridges, VCRs/DVDs, video game systems. No hazardous waste. 9 a.m.-2 p.m., 1300 Loveridge Road, Pittsburg. 692-2224.

MEETINGS

Palacios, Conrad Rowling, Alex Shimberg and Sean Walker. The team, now ranked in the top 70 teams in the country, is familiar with championships. Earlier this year, they won their own 11th annual Diablo Cup. In November 2008, they captured the Super Y-League North American championship, once again in a shootout following the final game. Diablo FC 95 boys are also used to playing for championships. They won their second straight Santa Clara Sporting crown, enroute defeating the host team which has edged Diablo FC 95 for the CYSA State Cup title

each of the past two seasons. In order to claim another SCS title, Badger’s team faced a difficult lineup of opponents. In just its seventh year, the Sporting tournament is ranked the third best boys tournament in America. Two wins and a draw placed Diablo FC 95 in the knockout stages. They blanked Stockton Monarcas FC 96 in the quarterfinals, so they needed to defeat two teams ranked above them in Northern California and national rankings in order to defend their title. The local lads had a 3-1 win over hosting Santa Clara Sporting in the semi-finals, partially aveng-

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. Meetings begin again in September. Call Joan at 672-2471.

Meets 7:30 p.m. Thursdays, Willow Pass Community Center Hall, 2748 East Olivera Road, Concord. Contact Karen at 686-3774.

Concord Stompers Square Dance Club Meets 7:30 p.m. Wednesdays, Willow Pass Community Center, 2748 East Olivera 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

Creekside Artists Guild Meets 7-8:30 p.m. second Wednesday of the month, Clayton Library Story Room, 6125 Clayton Road, Clayton. All artforms and both emerging and experienced artists welcome. Contact Arlene at 673-9777 or nielsenjanc@aol.com. Creeksideartists.org.

Diablo Valley Democratic Club Meets 7-9 p.m. third Wednesday of the month, 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. 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. 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. 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. 566-8166 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. first Thursday of the month, Crown Plaza Hotel, 45 John Glenn Dr., Concord. 429-3777.

Soroptimist International of Diablo Vista

Aug. 24; Sept. 14, 28 Clayton Planning Commission

Meets 12:15 p.m. first, second and third Wednesdays of the month, September-June, Sizzler, 1353 Willow Pass Road, Concord. Clayton resident Sue Manning is president. 672-2727.

7 p.m., Hoyer Hall, Clayton Library, 6125 Clayton Road. 673-7304 or ci.clayton.ca.us.

Widows/Widowers Meets for dinner, theater, etc. Contact Lori at 998-8844 or lori@lorihagge.com.

Authentic Greek food and pastries, Greek wine tasting, live Greek

Diablo FC, from page 13

Meets 7-9 p.m. second Wednesday of the month, Diamond Terrace, 6401 Center St., Clayton. Contact Nancy at 673-3522 or claytonvalleygardenclub.org.

Meets 7:30 p.m. second Monday of the month, Centre Concord, 5298 Clayton Road. 779-0698 or ccmgs.org.

Learn about job training programs in East Contra Costa County in a workshop by Opportunity Junction. 2 p.m.

Sept. 11 Extended Roots

Meets 6:30 p.m. last Thursday of the month, except holidays, Oakhurst Country Club, 1001 Peacock Creek Dr., Clayton. Call Sue at 672-2272.

Clutch Busters Square Dance Club

Sept. 24 Fall Plant Sale

Aug. 25 “Free and Low-Cost Job Training”

America’s favorite curly-top redhead and her dog Sandy come to the Lesher Center in the Diablo Theatre company production of “Annie. Call (925) 943-SHOW or go to www.lesherartscenter.org for performance times and ticket information.

CLUBS

Clayton Valley Woman’s Club

The Clayton Library is at 6125 Clayton Road. Programs are free unless otherwise noted. 673-0659 or claytonlibrary.org.

Sept. 10-Oct. 2 “Annie”

7 p.m., Hoyer Hall, Clayton Library, 6125 Clayton Road. 673-7304 or ci.clayton.ca.us.

Clayton Valley Garden Club

Sponsored by the Clayton Valley Woman’s Club. 4:30 p.m., Oakhurst Country Club, 1001 Peacock Creek Dr., Clayton. $45, includes dinner and the murder mystery with local celebrities. claytonvalleywomans-club.org or 969-9885.

AT THE LIBRARY

The Dangerous Dinos will entertain kids at the Walnut Creek FamilyFest Aug. 28-29

Sept. 7, 21 Clayton City Council

Clayton Business and Community Association

Featuring middle and high school students. 1345 Locust St., Walnut Creek. diabloactors.com or 866-811-4111.

Aug. 28-29 Walnut Creek FamilyFest

7:30 p.m., 1936 Carlotta Dr., Concord. mdusd.org.

A wacky musical satire from the Willows Theatre Company. Campbell Theatre, 626 Ward St., Martinez. $22-$30. willowstheatre.org or 798-1300.

Sept. 19 Murder Mystery Dinner

Aug. 28, Sept. 11 Concerts in the Grove

Aug. 25; Sept. 8, 22 Mt. Diablo Unified School District

ing their two State Cup finals defeat to the same team. That put them in the finale against Mustang Hotspur, and Diablo FC 95 was up to the task with a 2-0 shutout for the title. Diablo FC 95 includes Esteban Berumen, Edgar Damian, Isaiah Dargan, Sam Giambalvo, Michael Guerrero, TJ Hogan, Andrew Konstantino, Kian Maghsoodnia, Trenton Matson, Mario Matute, Izzy Murguia, Ryan Ringelstein, Raul Sepulveda, Jonathan Silvan, Javier Valencia, Juan Velazquez, Reymond Velete and Derek Wilcox. The local team had rebounded at Sporting after being downed in the semi-finals of Surf Cup XXX two weeks earlier. The 2009 Surf Cup finalists

won their bracket and were matched up with Mustang Hotspur in the quarterfinals. They beat their Contra Costa rivals 4-1 to move into Monday’s semi-finals. San Diego Surf Academy edged Diablo FC 95 10 in the semis, denying Badger’s team a repeat visit to the Surf Cup finals. Even with their near miss at Surf Cup and championship at Sporting, Diablo FC 95 dropped to No. 14 in the country in the rolling rankings after spending much of the past year in the top 10. Three teams from Northern California (Sporting, Milan FC and Mustang) are currently ranked higher than Diablo FC 95, even outstripping usually powerful Cal South on the national stage.

Finances, from page 10 PLAN AHEAD IF YOU CAN If you plan to return to school in the future, put yourself in a better position to make it happen by starting to save money toward that goal today. One option is a 529 education savings plan. The money you put away in a 529 plan is invested in mutual funds or similar products. You can choose among several investment options. Earnings generated in the account are not subject to current taxation. When you take money out to pay for qualified education expenses, no federal income taxes are assessed. State taxes may apply. If you change your mind and

don’t go back to school, you can apply the funds for the benefit of your children or others to help them pay for education expenses. Neither Ameriprise Financial nor its affiliates or representatives may provide tax or legal advice. Consult your tax or legal advisors concerning your situation. Clients should carefully consider the investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses associated with a 529 Plan before investing. More information regarding a particular 529 Plan is available in the issuer’s official statement. Clients contributing to a 529 Plan offered by a state in which they are not a resident should consider whether their or their designated beneficiary(s) home state offers any state tax or other benefits only available for investments in such state’s qualified tuition program.

Mureleen Benton is a Certified Financial Planner. Call her with questions at 685-4523

August 20, 2010

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer .com

Page 17

Singing the summertime blues As I draw a chair to my computer screen and poise my fingers over the keyboard, ready to commence writing my first Teen Speak column, I am distracted not by the open window and the beautiful summer day beyond it but by the teetering stack of unfinished summer homework that looms above me. The word summer conjures up sunny images of family barbecues, splashing days away in the pool and late nights in front of a bonfire, s’mores in hand. Such were the activities of our youth, filling up the long days with carefree fun from June until school’s dreaded return. However, it seems that with every year that passes, summer becomes less and less worry free. In elementary school I spent every day outside, taking full advantage of the warm weather and lack of school. I returned to class in September reluctant but refreshed. In middle school it was much the same, but with the pesky addition of a few light-

weight assignments. And now, as I prepare for my junior year of high school, it seems that so

TAYLOR TOVREA TEEN SPEAK

much of my summer vacation has been eaten up by thinking about, procrastinating the completion of and the eventual execution of the several essays, reading assignments and work packets assigned by various teachers to be turned in the first day of school. As the years go on, the sum-

mers of our childhood will continue to fade. Once in college, summers will be spent interning or working. As adults, summer vacation will be a thing of the past save for those who choose a profession in education and are lucky enough to return to the three-month summers of their school days. I can’t help but wish, though unrealistically so, that we were not gradually robbed of our summertime fun with age. If only the carefree celebration of the warmest months of the year were reserved not only for children, but for everyone. Clearly this could never be the case. If everyone in the world were to take a three-month break at the same time, the world would fall apart. Aside from inspiring daydreams of workless summer vacations for forever, my summer workload has also brought about the realization of my rapid approach to adulthood. It seems only yesterday that I was a first

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grader spending my days searching for frogs, riding bikes and playing with my friends without a care in the world. Now I’m 16. I have my license and a car and more worries than I can count. I have friends who are graduating, friends who are in college, friends who are getting married, and, heck, I’m graduating and going to college frighteningly soon myself. It seems that if I close my eyes for a moment, I’ll reopen them to find myself a soccer mom with a minivan full of kids enjoying the long summer days of my past themselves. What I wouldn’t give to go back to the summers of when I was a kid for a week or two; it feels too soon to already be almost grown up.

Patty Flannery Your local neighborhood REALTOR since 1986

Office: 925.975.5255 home & fax: 925.672.0541 email: granyflany@msn.com

Taylor Tovrea is a junior at Clayton Valley High School and a student correspondent for the Pioneer. Contact her at taylor@claytonpioneer.com.

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ROBBIE PARKER DVMS REPORTER As summer is coming to a close, so has the 2010 swim season for me and my teammates. After coming in first at the Concord City Meet for the A division and claiming No. 2 in B, it was time to celebrate. The longest meet of the year is over, and a successful season is once again finished. However, after everything was said and done, I wanted to take a better look at what was accomplished. I saw many swimmers focusing on their races during the final meet of the year.

Their families were chatting and crowds were bustling with excitement. All the hard work, training and preparation had paid off. But after witnessing some young swimmers bragging that they were “winners” and others were “losers,” I had to step away and look at my own goals. Had I been placing too much focus on victory? Was I falling in that same trap of wanting only to win? Of course, much of it is just healthy competition between teams, but it seems like winning has become the most important or even the only goal. Swim helps give one confidence. However, there is a big difference between being confi-

dent and arrogant. Winning should be the glory of knowing you were a part of the success, but it doesn’t give bragging rights to make others feel less than they are. Sometimes this is easier said than done. Real winning is leaning over the lane rope after the race and shaking the hand of the swimmer next to you. It’s showing respect toward other teams and fellow swimmers. Winning comes with being the very best you can be and giving all you can to the success of the team. It requires goal setting, commitment and team building. Success then becomes the product of hard work, determination and teamwork. It also demands good sportsmanship.

After looking closer at all the different objectives and effort given by swimmers, I’ve come to understand that winning isn’t everything. It can be a high priority and it’s all right to be excited about being victorious, but don’t let it become the only target. Keep sight of what’s most important when you’re playing the game. Swimmers will come and they will go. They will set records and others will break them. Meets will be won and lost. The most important thing is to have fun. Winning sure is rewarding, but it’s not everything. Robbie Parker is a eighthgrader at Diablo View. Send comments to Robbie@claytonpioneer.com

Church News THE BAHA’IS OF CLAYTON All are invited to a talk and evening of fellowship on Friday, Sept. 3. The subject of the talk is “The Oneness of Religions: A Baha’i Perspective.” The speaker is Vahid Fozdar, an associate professor of history at Cal State East Bay. He was born in Vietnam, grew up in

Southeast Asia and California and currently lives with his wife in Oakland. The program starts at 7:30 p.m. with interfaith devotions, followed by Fozdar’s presentation at the Toloui home in Clayton.

“We want to let you know how much we enjoy the Clayton Pioneer. It really makes us feel connected to the community. When we take the mail out of our mailbox and the Clayton Pioneer is there, it's the first thing we read. Thanks for a great publication.” SINCERELY, BARBARA AND RON JACOBS

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Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

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Landscaping around a swimming pool can be an interesting undertaking. Some of the usual ornamental trees, shrubs and plants enjoyed in other areas of the yard have the potential to become an absolute nuisance around a pool. The crepe-like petals of a crape myrtle tree or the expired blossoms from carpet roses lose their luster if you have to constantly skim the debris from the swimming pool. Whether considering a new pool or renewing an existing poolscape, careful planning today will save you some pool care tomorrow. PALMS PAVE THE WAY Privacy and vertical interest are sought-after elements in designing a poolscape. Queen palms are an obvious choice for a pool owner seeking a tropical look. They are easy to find and reasonably priced. Aside from some extra care the first few years, they make a great evergreen backdrop to a swimming pool. Arbutus Marina is an evergreen selection found multitrunked or shaped like a tree. Dark green foliage complements the cinnamon red trunk of this small tree. Purchased as a patio tree, Pittosporum tenuifolium is a simple selection that will create great privacy. This evergreen has a dense appearance, with an eventual height of 812 feet. It’s not too big and not too small. The tree is excellent when installed to camouflage a neighbor’s window. For those needing a wider, more graceful look, consider the Maytenus boaria Green Showers. This is an exceptional evergreen with weeping branches. Light green leaves are small and will hardly be noticed if they fall into the pool. GO FOR THE GRASS Medium-sized grasses and shrubs will add dimension to your plantscape. They help hide fences and add pops of color. Cordyline is an ornamental grass-looking plant that grows like a small palm. Years ago, these small trees would grow 18 feet tall, but hybridizers have created small, more

beautiful cordyline. Red Sensation has 2-inch wide, 18-inch long leaves that look like the popular phormium plants. But soon you’ll notice that the cordyline develops a trunk, and Red Sensation can become a 4-foot tall mini tree with dark red leaves. Electric Pink is a striped cordyline with red margins and pink centers. This plant is so fascinating that no bloom is necessary. Agapanthus Storm Cloud is one of the large flowered agapantha. The foliage can reach a sturdy 4-5 feet wide. The flowers are dark indigo blue and can easily stand 5 feet tall in three years. When not blooming, the foliage of this sun lover has a nice traditional or tropical look. Storm Cloud really reflects the surrounding style of the rest of the plantscape. AN EMERALD GEM Euonymus Emerald Gaiety is an evergreen shrub with small leaves of green surrounded with white. During the winter, the variegation of this evergreen changes with the cooler weather and takes on a pink cast. You can expect this evergreen to grow 3-4 feet tall and about that wide. Westringia Wynyabbie Gem is not as easy to find, but it is worth the search. Gray foliage appears hazy, and periwinkle flowers are showy nearly yearround. Westringia is significantly drought-tolerant and sun-loving. Leucadendron Chief is another evergreen shrub that must be mentioned. Foliage is green, with a reddish cast that intensifies toward the plant tips. This shrub blends with tropical and Mediterranean style plantscapes. DON’T SKIMP ON THE SALVIA Showy perennials and plants have a spot in a plantscape surrounding a pool. Kangaroo paw plants are widely available and the colors are vast. If you crave orange, red, yellow or pink, there is a Kangaroo paw for you. This plant foliage is not too hot looking year-round, so install it behind a medium-sized stone to cover up the plant’s bad side. Phlomis fruticosa is an evergreen that blooms May-June in the Clayton Valley. Whirls of yellow, two-lipped flowers stand 2-3 feet above gray foliage. The flowers are sturdy and proud.

CORDYLINE

Salvia Indigo Spires is an absolute favorite of mine. This wild-shaped plant can be 4 feet tall and wide with spires of dark purple-blue. Salvia Indigo Spires blooms June-October and is a must-have. Veronica Sunny Border Blue is another favorite. Dark green leaves reach 18 inches tall and will be topped with short, thick spikes of royal blue flowers August-October. Plant Sunny Border Blue near Tinker Bell variegated agapanthus for a seriously great complement. STAYING GROUNDED Groundcovers are needed in some pool landscape applications. Teucrium majoricum is occasionally called false alyssum. This plant has gray foliage and purple flowers all growing season long. At first look, you may think that this groundcover is wimpy, but looks in the plant world can be deceiving. Teucrium majoricum rocks in the garden. Sunset Gold Breath of Heaven

is technically not a groundcover, but we still use it as such. This evergreen reaches 1-2 feet tall and 3-4 feet wide. Yellow, soft foliage flows in the slightest breeze and contrasts with everything. Trailing lantana needs to be mentioned. Whether purple, white or gold, they are all swimming pool worthy. Pelargonium sidoides is a mounding evergreen, spreading geranium relative. Icy gray foliage contrasts with the plant’s maroon flowers. This pelargonium blooms AprilOctober and is hardy and easy. My mom grows it near her pool and it’s awesome. Swimming pool plantscapes can be easy with a little thought and guidance. Don’t be one of those pool owners married to the skimmer net– you probably have better things to do. 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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Summer can sizzle with salsa Linda Wyner is on vacation. The following article is reprinted from August 2007. Tomatoes are ripening on vines and chilies are greening up, so it’s time to start thinking about salsa. Salsa is a native product of the Americas. Some historians trace its roots to the Incas of Peru since they are linked to the domestication of tomatoes and chilies. We know for sure that the Spanish encountered salsas among the Aztec and Mayan people of Mexico and Guatemala. Indeed, that’s how the condiment came by its name. Salsa is “sauce” in Spanish. Many think that salsa is only made for chips, but that greatly undervalues its fine flavors and versatility. From a culinary perspective, salsa is a condiment, not unlike “relish,” a word used in French cuisine. It is destined to add flavor to foods and is mostly served in uncooked form. Its popularity in the United States has grown so much in the last 20 years that salsa now outperforms ketchup as a preferred condiment. The basic American recipe for salsa calls for tomatoes, chilies and other spices. It is a healthy addition to a balanced diet because it is low in calories and contains little or no fat. Many of the ingredients contribute vitamins and minerals, such as vitamins A and C and

potassium. Chilies are desirable for the flavor and texture they impart to fresh salsa. Most traditionalists favor the serrano chili because of its uniform

LINDA WYNER

FOOD

FOR

THOUGHT

flavor, but Tex-Mex or Cal-Mex aficionados use jalapeños. A chipotle provides a hot, smoky flavor, while guajillo provides a milder heat and ancho a very mild flavor with almost a fruity note. To enhance the flavors, spices such as garlic, black or cayenne pepper, cilantro, cumin and oregano are added to the salsa. Most salsas include onion and experimentation such as adding black beans or corn can be successful. Replacing tomatoes with tomatillos provides a wholly different taste experience. Sweet salsas are gaining ground. These newer blends use fruit to mellow the spiciness of salsa. Pineapple, mango, papaya, citrus and raspberries all blend nicely with chilies, onion, cilantro and spices. They pair well with fish and mild roasted meats like pork and chicken.

SALSA FRESCA 1 lb. tomatoes, seeded and diced ½ c. minced onion 1 garlic clove, minced 1 jalapeño, minced 1-2 T. chopped cilantro, to taste 1 tsp. fresh chopped oregano (or ½ tsp. dried) 1 lime, juiced 1 T. olive oil Salt and pepper to taste Combine all ingredients and serve with chips, or atop a freshly grilled quesadilla or your favorite roast meat or fish. ROASTED TOMATO SALSA 6 Roma tomatoes 1 T. olive oil 1 medium onion, coarsely diced ½ dried chipotle chili (rehydrated) Broil tomatoes until skin is blackened. Cool and coarsely chop. Heat the oil in a skillet and add onion. Cook until deeply colored and caramelized. Place the chile, half of the tomatoes and half of the onions in a blender and puree. Add to remaining ingredients and add salt to taste. BLACK BEAN AND CORN SALSA 1 can prepared black beans, rinsed and drained ½ c. fresh corn kernels ½ c. jicama, finely diced 2 tomatoes, seeded and diced ½ c. red onion, diced ½ tsp. dried oregano 1-2 serrano or jalapeño chilies (to taste), minced 1 T. cider vinegar Salt and pepper to taste

Book Review

Friendship a gathering force in ‘long way home’ SUNNY SOLOMON FOR THE BOOKS As a book reviewer whose least favorite genre is memoir, I raise my book-holding hands in surrender to Gail Caldwell’s “let’s take the long way home.” If you have a favorite friend, or have taken one drink too many (or know someone who has), or love dogs or long walks, or value your solitude, or are in any way human, you should read this book. How important can a friendship be? For Caldwell, a book reviewer and editor, and Caroline Knapp, the author of “Drinking, a Love Story,” it is a pivotal chapter without which their life stories would not have been complete. Simply put, friendships can be everything. They teach us about ourselves with patience, understanding, acceptance, laughter, respect and love. Caldwell’s life as a writer is a solitary one. She, like Knapp, has overcome alcoholism, but that is not their greatest bond. The sticking stuff of their relationship is their acceptance of each other, flaws and all. Caldwell’s writing is honest and moving, without sentimentality. Her insights into the writing life deftly prove this point: “If writers possess a common temperament, it’s that they tend to be shy egomaniacs; publicity is the spotlight they suffer for the

recognition they crave.” We follow Caldwell from her Southern roots, “I had grown up staring at the vast, imprisoning horizon of the Texas Panhandle …” to the northeast, as she takes us to the forests and fields where she and Knapp hike with their beloved dogs every season of the year. “All of it offered a palette in time and space where beauty was anchored to change.” Change is a word to remember well. Everything changes when Knapp is diagnosed with lung cancer and dies a short time later. Caldwell’s book proffers the idea that death can have a life of its own. As Caldwell looks back on the days and hours before her friend’s death, she concludes that such suffering “is a badly lit corridor outside of time, a place of crushing weariness, the only thing large enough to bully you into holding the door for death.” The handling of her grief and the gradual understanding of its accompanying solitude is what make this book stand out. Their friendship included rowing on the Charles River, swimming laps, rigorous and sometimes hilarious dog training, evenings spent in their own company or in the company of friends and colleagues, and hours alone, knowing their friendship was only a phone call away. “We lived here for each

other, and for everyone else we loved within twenty miles and for all the good reasons people live where they live.” Caldwell poignantly describes the loss of the meetings, the conversations so expected, so theirs: “Now we couldn’t talk anymore and so I didn’t either, our narrative became a choreography of silence.” And if their narrative changed, as this books suggests, Caldwell claims “Life, not death, has intervened.” An earlier observation that the author makes about where we live becomes almost prophetic at the end of that reflection: “Or they need to leave, so that they can invent what they need someplace else.” The need for tangible memories, a sweater, a photograph, a dog’s collar, or in Caldwell’s case, a favorite scull, is what we humans seek as compensation for loss. Caldwell gives the reader a statement of near faith, a statement that all of us who have ever lost a beloved can grasp with utter clarity, when we read, “Her death is what I had now instead of her.” Sunny Solomon is the “Book Lady” for the Clayton Community Library Book Club. She holds an MA in English and Creative Writing from San Francisco State University. Her poetry and prose has been published in literary journals and magazines. You can each her at memorie3@yahoo.com.

Combine ingredients and chill for 2 to 3 hours. Taste and add additional vinegar, salt or pepper if needed. PEACH-MANGO SALSA 1 fresh mango, diced 2 medium peaches, diced 2 cloves garlic, minced 2 T. fresh ginger, grated ¼ c. fresh basil, chopped 2 serrano chile peppers, minced ¼ c. fresh lime juice Salt to taste Combine all ingredients and add salt to taste. This salsa should be refrigerated about 2 hours before serving to allow flavors to blend

Page 19

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Concord Disposal Recycle your waste at our place

www.contracostawaste.com Open 7 days a week 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. 925-473-0180 Please call for prices

Mt. Diablo Recycling www.mtdiablorecycling.com We’ll buy back your recyclables! 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Open Monday - Friday 925-682-4518 Please call for prices Linda Wyner, a local attorney and foodie, owns Pans on Fire, a gourmet cookware store and cooking school in Pleasanton. Direct your suggestions or questions to lwyner@claytonpioneer.com

1300 Loveridge Road, Pittsburg

family . i e z z a M service e n h o t , r s a r b yea ised the a For 56 r y l l a tinu has con

Flat corner lot in Antioch

With interest rates at an all-time low, now is a good time to buy. Questions regarding Short Sales, REO’s, Foreclosures or Loan PreQualification? Call Matt for a free Consultation.

Approx. 2.5 acres on the corner of West 10th St. and Crestview Dr in Antioch, Ca. Busy cross street with lots of exposure. Only a few blocks away from downtown Antioch. Must sell. $795,000

Warehouse/Industrial Space -

Cheap

2100 Clement Ave., Alameda. Approx. 39,060 sq. ft. Dividable into 3 spaces. As low as $0.29/sq. ft for rental space. Minutes from the shipping ports. Call for more details.

Rental property available. Thinking about selling? Call us first! 925-693-0757 (Main) 925-766-6745 (Direct)

925-693-0752 (Fax) mazzeirealty@yahoo.com

6160 Center St. Suite #C, Clayton

mazzeirealty.net

Matt Mazzei, Jr. Broker/Owner

Matt Mazzei, Sr. Sales Agent

Clayton residents since 1959 DRE# 01881269 DRE# 01879806

We are actively recruiting qualified real estate sales agents. Call for an interview.

Page 20

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

Walnut Creek

Meet and have your picture taken with

Beware tick activity in fall/winter ERIC GHILARDUCCI Special to the Pioneer

Courtesy of

nnar Downtown Walnut Creek Heather Farm Park near

Contrary to popular belief about summer dangers, Contra Costa County residents are more likely to encounter adult ticks during fall and winter that potentially carry bacteria that cause illness, including Lyme disease. There are three species of ticks in the county that most commonly bite people: the American Dog Tick, the Pacific Coast Tick and the Western black-legged tick. Only the Western black-legged tick is considered to be the carrier and transmitter of Lyme disease. In Contra Costa County, these ticks are most active during the cooler months of the year, between October and March. Ticks can be found in all parts of the county. They do not hop, jump or fly. Adult ticks climb to the top of grass or vegetation and wait for an animal or person to walk by and brush up against them. Ticks grab hold of the passing person or animal and begin looking for a place to feed by sucking blood. During the time that the tick is attached and feeding is when Lyme disease and other bacteria are transmitted. Ticks can remain attached for several days or until feeding is finished, when they let go and drop off. The Contra Costa Mosquito and Vector Control District recommends that people working or playing outdoors during these months watch for ticks and use precautions. Reducing the risk of ticks is as simple as wearing light-colored clothing so ticks are more easily identifiable and tucking clothing in to

Aug. 28 & 29 Yes, we have just the ticket to end your summer on a high note!

Dangerous Dinos Stage Show

n only Admissioper $ person*

Les Aerielles Trapeze Arts

nce! Last Char Exhibito nities Opportuilable! Still Ava

Annie from Diablo Theatre Co.

Happy Birds Performing Parrot Show

The inaugural Walnut CreekFamilyFest at Heather Farm Park will bring an unparalleled smorgasbord of activities for the family. Included in the low $5 admission price are 5 stages of entertainment, arts & crafts and exhibitor booths, dozens of free games, sports and art activities, crawls, bounces and inflatables. Meet Scooby-Doo and other famous characters from TV and the movies plus enjoy the Disney Channel Red Carpet Experience. We’ll have 3 shows each day of the smashing Dangerous Dinos stage show, the incredible Happy Birds Show and the thrilling Les Aerielles from Trapeze Arts plus the popular Kid’s Karaoke stage. There will also be performances by a variety of music, dance, martial arts, gymnastics and cheer groups from the Bay Area. There’s a delicious food court and 15 rides including ferris wheel, petting zoo, pony rides, Euro Bungy trampoline, giant slides, ZippyPets, climbing wall & more. Proceeds from Walnut Creek FamilyFest will go to a number of local non-profit groups in health, education, sports and the arts.

Saturday & Sunday • 10 am - 6 pm Saturday Only Announcing a Noon to 3 pm special Saturday appearance from one of the stars of Disney Channel “Sonny With A Chance” during the Disney Channel Red Carpet Experience brought to you by Xfinity and hosted by Radio Disney. Games, music, photo ops on the Red Carpet, prize raffle and more! Ferris Wheel & 15 more rides

And much more entertainment!

Doug Brochu “Grady”

*Admission $5 per person with canned food donation; $6 without donation. Babies under 24 months & Seniors 65+ FREE!

For a complete schedule visit our website

www.WCFamilyFest.com

Heather Farm Park in Walnut Creek is located 1 block off Ygnacio Valley Rd. @ Marchbanks Dr. Produced by Bay Area Festivals, Inc.

Attractions, programs and schedules subject to change.

B U T Y O H on Dog Food S Premium Edge New! Dog Food Just in

35 lbs.

27.99

Iams Lamb & Rice, 44 lbs.

Nutro Max Lamb & Rice, 30 lbs.

Nutro Natural Choice, Lamb & Rice, 38.5 lbs. Bonus Bag

AvoDerm Chicken & Rice, 30 lbs. & AvoDerm Lite, 28 lbs.

Canidae All Life Stages, 35 lbs.

(925) 672-4600

August 20, 2010

Choose from

Lamb & Rice

Chicken & Rice

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Skin & Coat

Thru Sept. 9

39.99

Thru Sept. 9

8863 Marsh Creek Rd. in Clayton

prevent exposed skin. Always be sure to conduct a tick check at the end of outdoor activity to make sure a tick hasn’t attached to your clothing or skin. Removing an attached tick within 24 hours reduces the risk of contracting Lyme disease. To remove an attached tick: Use fine or blunt-tipped tweezers to grab the tick as close to the skin as possible and gently, but steadily, lift

the tick up and out of the skin. If tweezers are not available, fingers may be used. Clean the area with soap and warm water. Do not squash the tick while it is still attached to the skin. Use an antiseptic at the bite location once the tick is removed. Do not use a hot match, petroleum jelly or other products to coax the tick out of the skin. Do not twist or attempt to unscrew the tick from the skin. Doing so may increase the risk of contracting Lyme disease.

Early symptoms of Lyme disease may appear 3-30 days

Pioneer Photo Album Brianna Hadden, 15, is seldom without her camera. While on a run in Crystyl Ranch one day, she saw the beginnings of an “amazing” sunset. “I ran up a nearby hill and found this bench with the setting sun. I thought that it would make a great picture! I like this photo because of all the colors.”

In keeping with our motto, “It’s Your Paper,” the Pioneer is proud to spotlight our reader’s photos. Send in your cute pets, funny kids, great landscapes, favorite sites in town or whatever makes your heart beat a little faster. Email your photo in a hi-resolution 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. Then look for it in the next Pioneer.

after a tick bite and often include a spreading rash, which is usually accompanied by flulike symptoms such as fever and body aches. These symptoms may persist, change, disappear and reappear intermittently for several weeks or months. Most cases of Lyme disease can be successfully treated with antibiotics, but early treatment is important. Ghilarducci is a vector ecologist with the Contra Costa Mosquito & Vector Control District. For more information on Lyme disease, ticks and the district’s free services, visit contracostamosquito.com. To schedule a free presentation for a community group, contact Nola Woods at 7716158 or nwoods@ccmvcd.net.