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October 12, 2012
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Good gourd! Monster pumpkins take over Highlands backyard DeniSen HarTlOve Clayton Pioneer
HOwArD Geller
Mayor’S corner
Good neighbors make for a safer community I want to thank those of you who e-mail me comments about my column, along with suggestions for future ones. The common thread in most e-mail I receive is complaints about speeders and people running stop signs in our neighborhoods. I forward these e-mails to our city manager, Gary Napper, and our police chief, Dan Lawrence. There is no simple solution to this problem that plagues all cities. Clayton has approximately 45 miles of roads to patrol. We patrol all neighborhoods. However, police need to be on main thoroughfares during rush hour. Since all roads are not as problematic as others, we try to concentrate on roads that get the most complaints. The squeaky wheel getting the oil is true. These are several things you can do to help reduce speeding in your neighborhood. For offenders you see speeding on a regular basis, try to obtain the car’s make and model, the
See Mayor, page 13
Medrano faces tough court battle Embezzlement trial should wrap up late this week Tamara STeiner Clayton Pioneer
After months of delays and jurisdictional wrangling, the embezzlement trial of insurance broker Joseph Medrano finally began on Monday, Oct. 1. The jury heard four days of prosecution testimony before being excused on Friday. Defense testimony began last Tuesday and the case is expected to go to the jury by the end of this week. Medrano is owner of Insurance Management Corporation (IMC), a middle-man between insurance companies and the businesses they insure. He is also a city councilman and Clayton’s vice-mayor. Medrano is on trial, charged with embezzling $159,630 from a former client. The prosecution says that
See Medrano, page 7
after Halloween, laura anD aDaM fiScHer plan to till at leaSt two of tHeir four giant puMpkinS into the soil to prepare the ground for new landscaping next spring – after removing the seeds, of course. Miss Piggy weighs in at 222 pounds, The Ogre, at 303, Fat Albert at 329, and Fatty McGee tips the scales at a whopping 434 pounds.
On a quiet, tree-lined street in the Clayton Valley Highlands, sits a home with lovingly tended lawns and rosebushes, whose picture window smiles a welcome out to visitors and passers-by alike. But in the back, behind the house’s friendly exterior, lurk not just one, but four monsters. Although the monsters live on in their backyard, homeowners Laura and Adam Fischer aren’t in any danger, unless, that is, a surfeit of pumpkin pie, pumpkin ravioli and pumpkin butter could be considered a threat. The monsters, while giant, are entirely benign. They are, after all, pumpkins. Having grown up on farmland in Stanislaus County – his parents’ property sported 10 acres of walnut orchards – it wasn’t a stretch for Adam to plant a vegetable garden in the backyard of their own home. There, brightly colored chilies and green beans race tomatoes and cucumbers for the sun’s rays. But though Adam had grown pumpkins as a child, this was a new experience.
See Pumpkins, page 15
City, SMD ready to dedicate small but vital property Lot 25 includes the important ‘missing link’ of Mt. Diablo Creek Peggy SPear Clayton Pioneer
When Save Mount Diablo members, Clayton officials, representatives of Toll Brothers homebuilders and local residents gather to dedicate a five-acre parcel of land next to Diablo Pointe subdivision on Oct. 28, it won’t be your average trail opening. It will be a celebration marking 10 years of unprecedented collaboration between environmentalists, the city and developers to make the most of a beautiful and pristine sliver of land known as the “missing link” of Mt. Diablo Creek. “Lot 25” – as it is unceremoniously called – is the latest acquisition of land by SMD, and also has the distinction of being the first parcel in which a building was torn down to allow for the replanting of the riparian (riverbank) corridor. “This project has a long storyline,” says Clayton City councilwoman Julie Pierce. “At the end, though, it is liter-
What’s Inside Around Town . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Book Review . . . . . . . . . . . .12
ally a link between the mountain and the city of Clayton, and we have another beautiful spot available for recreation for our families and the whole community.” The ‘missing link’ Besides its beautiful setting, Lot 25 includes 500 feet of Mt. Diablo Creek, the last thread of that waterway not protected between the Regency Meadows creek dedication and the city-owned segments downstream. It also features intact riparian vegetation including maple, cottonwood, sycamore, oak, buckeye, and willow trees. It was also the home of the caretaker’s house on the premises of the Claretian Seminary, a large, 35,000square-foot school building that overlooked Clayton from a knoll below Mount Diablo’s Donner Canyon. Built in 1961, the school was owned by the Claretian Missionaries religious order. The school and its surrounding grounds made for an attractive parcel, and the missionaries received a lot of proposals for it over the years. Nothing ever came of them until 2003, when Lemke Con-
Classified . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 Club News . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16 Community Calendar . . . . . .14 Concord News (NEW) .....8 CVCHS Reporter . . . . . . . . . .9
struction proposed replacing the school building and caretaker unit with 25 homes. The project included significant grading near the park and three houses along Mt. Diablo Creek.
Save Mount Diablo and neighbors along Rialto and Regency Drives worked with the developer to create a plan everyone could be happy with. Part of the plan was that the 25th lot in the develop-
ment would be donated to the Mount Diablo State Park, and that the caretaker’s house would be removed to restore natural habitat.
See Missing Link, page 4
Scott Hein/Save Mount Diablo
SMD’S late co-founDer art Bonwell anD executive Director ron Brown strategize in 2004 on how to preserve the piece of land that will complete the connection between Clayton and Mt. Diablo. The “missing link” will be dedicated on Oct. 28 at 1 p.m.
Design and Dé cor . . . . . . . .16 Directory of Advertisers . . . . .5 DVMS Reporter . . . . . . . . . . .9 Fashion Over 50 . . . . . . . . .16 Fitness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12
Food for Thought . . . . . . . . .15 From the Chief . . . . . . . . . . . .7 Garden Girl . . . . . . . . . . . . .18 Mind Matters . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 Pets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13
Performing Arts . . . . . . . . . .17 Real Estate . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10 Sports Shorts . . . . . . . . . . . .11 Weather Words . . . . . . . . . .14
PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID CLAYTON, CA PERMIT 190
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Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com
October 12, 2012
Around Town Conroys celebrate 60 years of marriage Patricia and Eugene Conroy will celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary this month with a special Mass at St. Bonaventure’s Catholic Church and a family gathering at their home in Clayton.
Allison Munden aims for national title
CVCHS Homecoming
The gathering is sure to be a big one. The couple has 10 children, 31 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. The Conroys were married in Maryland on Oct. 11, 1952.
Allison Munden will compete in the National American Miss Pageant in Disneyland over the Thanksgiving weekend. Allison, daughter of Chuck and Connie Munden of Clayton, was the first runner up in the Miss California 2012 PreTeen title.
HOMECOMING KING, JASON FERNANDES AND QUEEN JEN LYONS
CVCHS ushered in Homecoming Week 2012 with a renewed school spirit evident from the hundreds lining Main Street for the Homecoming Parade on Sept. 26. Senior Women Gabriela Keneipp, Kayla Dodge, Rachel Kapfenstein and Heather Clary, dressed up as characters from the movie Hunger Games, were
joined by the marching band, senior men, and more than a dozen other floats for the Wednesday Parade. The week ended victoriously with a 55-15 win against Hayward on Friday and the crowning of the Homecoming King, Jason Fernandes of Clayton, and Queen Jen Lyons of Concord.
ALLISON MUNDEN
PATRICIA AND EUGENE CONROY AT THEIR WEDDING IN 1952.
158 Regency Drive Regency Woods Classic Single Story Rancher! Backing to open space. 4 bedrooms, 2.5
4370 Kearsarge Court, Concord Desirable Lime Ridge!
In the last issue, the wedding announcement for Jeannette Rapicavoli and Evan Rathje, Jeannette’s last name was spelled incorrectly. We apologize for the error and send our very best wishes to the newlyweds.
What’s happening Around Town?
Photos by Mike Dunn
SENIOR WOMEN Gabriela Keneipp, Kayla Dodge, Rachel Kapfenstein and Heather Clary dressed as ‘Hunger Games’ characters were among the floats in this year’s parade, the biggest in recent history.
Correction Rapicavoli vows
Pageant competitors are judged on inner beauty, poise and presentation. Emphasis is placed on the importance of gaining self-confidence, learning new skills, learning good attitudes about completion, and setting and achieving personal goals. Allison was also a state finalist in the Spirit of America Awards for her volunteer service hours and in the speech competition.
We want to know what’s happening in your families and in your neighborhoods. Send your news of births, engagements, weddings, special recognitions, etc. to info@claytonpioneer.com. Please attach your photos to the email as JPEG files between between 3MB and 6MB and include a caption to identify people in your photos.
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GEORGE VUJNOVICH Broker Helping friends, neighbors & newcomers buy and sell their homes since 1979
baths, approx. 2,032sf, inside laundry & 2 car garage. Walk to Mt. Diablo! COMING SOON
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Don Howard at the rear of the complex in a tranquil setting. 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, approx. 1595sf with inside laundry and 2 car attached garage! Upgraded carpet and flooring. Living room shares a two way fireplace with family room. Separate dining area. Spacious master with views of hills. Cozy patio looks out to hills. Walk to community pool & spa! $319,000
Realtor-Associate Clayton Resident
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donhoward.ccartoday.com
672-4433
Clayton Market Update provided by George Vujnovich of Better Homes Realty ADDRESS
PRICE
1412 Greystone Lane ..........$421,000 1052 Pebble Beach Dr ........$764,000 21 El Molino Drive ...............$460,000 906 Diablo Downs ...............$750,000 5591 Redondo Court ...........$508,000 1233 Buckeye Terrace .........$440,000 5550 Southbrook Drive ........$520,000 4505 Keller Ridge Dr ...........$247,160 402 Chupcan Pl ...................$430,000 130 Mount Shasta Ct...........$594,500 50 Mountaire Place..............$480,000 202 Round House Place......$405,000 478 Obsidian Way ...............$692,500
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October 12, 2012
Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com
Page 3
Around Town First 5K for Shelly Shuey
LIANE LINGUA AND SHELLY SHUEY
CBCA Oktoberfest does it one more time
Liane Lingua and Shelly Shuey, both from Clayton, enjoyed a beautiful day in San Francisco at the 36th annual Oral-B Glide Floss Bridge to Bridge 10K/7K run benefitting Special Olympics on Sept. 30. This was the first 5K run for Shelly who recently started a Facebook page for friends to support each other in their diet and fitness goals. Liane went along encourage and support Shelly. Shelly’s Facebook page, Working Out/Losing Weight, has over 100 locals signed up. People in the group have lost anywhere from 10-60 lbs, Shelly says. “We don’t allow anyone to sell anything,” she says. “We just encourage each other.”
Pioneers on the move ITALY Tony Dress of Clayton carefully supports the Leaning Tower of Pisa with one hand while holding the Clayton Pioneer with the other during a recent trip to Italy.
ALASKA Ryan Kearney of Clayton brought the Pioneer along on an Alaskan cruise last summer. He and all the Kearneys celebrated his grandparents’ 50th wedding anniversary on the 11-day cruise out of San Francisco. HUNTINGTON BEACH, CA Four Clayton women headed south last month for a good long “girlfriend” weekend with Pricilla Parker of Huntington Beach. Diane Favero, Chris Smith, Peggy Hooper and Sue Elliott took us along to Crystal Cove State Park where we toured Newport Beach and the harbor in an electric boat and saw the spellbinding “Pageant of the Masters” in Laguna Beach where Old world oil paintings and sculptures are replicated on stage with actors. “This is a must-add to your bucket list,” said Sue.
The 9th annual Clayton Oktoberfest, sponsored by the Clayton Business and Community Association brought thousands of visitors to downtown last weekend to sample beer, wine and all kinds of food. Students from CVCHS were on hand selling root beer to raise money for the CVCHS bands. They hoped to raise about $500. Over by the midway, the carnival rides drew big crowds of kids and parents. At noon, the keg in a red wagon, pulled by Chief, the dog, made its way down Center Street followed by the band, The Internationals,. the beer servers and friends. Once inside the tent, Mayor
Howard Geller and his new wife, Debbie, tapped the keg and officially kicked off Oktoberfest weekend. Oktoberfest is one of three
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$499,000 502 E. Myrick Court, Clayton Regency Woods – Great court location for this 3BD/2.5BA with nice pool and some great views. Single-story has 1,813 sq. ft and is on a flat corner lot. Close to trails for hiking and biking to Mt. Diablo.
5229 Keller Ridge Drive, Clayton $618,000 Falcon Ridge – 5BD/3BA in sought-after neighborhood has great curb appeal and a large lot. This two- story home offers 2,894 sq. ft. and backs to open space to give you extra privacy. Enjoy fabulous open floor plan.
5817 Mitchell Canyon Court, Clayton $649,000 Mitchell Canyon – Huge lot with beautiful pool & lots of privacy. 4BD/2.5BA has seen upgrades in all the right places. Master suite w/a retreat & views from deck. Dining & family rooms have built-ins & shutters.
4768 Mintwood Drive, Concord $344,700 Springwood – 4BD/2BA has a great location and private yard that backs to open space. Open kitchen/family combo with slider to patio. Sizable living room and formal dining makes a wonderful place to entertain.
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1595 Lower Trail Ride, Clayton $100,000 Concord Trail Ride – Just over an acre with building pad and utilities, this beautiful lot is fenced and surrounded by mature pine trees. Ride your horses right onto the mountain & enjoy the tranquility.
0 Wanda Way, Martinez $199,000 Alhambra Valley – Level .69 acre parcel is located in an upscale area and offers panoramic views and lots of privacy. Building pad, utilities at street, ready to gosewer, city water. Build your dream home!
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1 El Portal Place, Clayton Call for Info Regency Meadows – 5BD/2.5BA has fantastic court location & large lot with boat parking. Beautiful entry way, updated kitchen with granite & spacious master. Sizeable fenced pool area. Mt. Diablo out your door.
Windermere Real Estate has 3 Basic Principles: Hire the best people; Give them the best tools; Create thriving communities. Lynne French & Associates are proud to honor those principles by participating in their annual
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Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com
Parks and trail map updated for the Mt. Diablo region BERYL ANDERSON Special to the Pioneer
What is waterproof, tearproof and has 15,000 more acres of protected lands? The second edition “Mount Diablo, Los Vaqueros & Surrounding Parks, Featuring the Diablo Trail” map, released by Save Mount Diablo. The original was the first to show the entire Diablo region with nearly 40 parks and 520 miles of trails. With 15,000 more acres of protected lands, a lot of updates were needed both in the cartography as well as in the size of the map itself. As with all non-profit projects, the map wouldn’t have been possible without volunteers. This one required a father-son duo.
For the past year and a half, Mike McCormack and his son, Tommy, have been working on Save Mount Diablo’s volunteer map committee to produce the updated map. McCormack, who chaired the committee, and Tommy spent hundreds of hours updating land statuses and trails with Geographical Information Systems (GIS), a skill Tommy learned before graduating from college a few months earlier. The map was created using Esri’s GIS mapping product, ArcMap, and details more than 110,000 acres of protected land throughout Central and Eastern Contra Costa County and portions of Alameda County. “No other map shows all of
the Diablo area parks in a unified design and in regional context,” said Seth Adams, Save Mount Diablo’s Land Programs Director. “The map illustrates what has been accomplished and what private lands still need to be protected.” The updated map is 60 percent larger but designed to open and close efficiently with accordion folds. It displays protected lands and trails within the Diablo wilderness which is roughly bounded north to south from Suisun Bay to Highway 580 through the Altamont Pass, and west to east from Highway 680 to the Byron Highway. Of the 338,000 acres shown, more than 110,000 are now protected. The new map is available at at Save Mount Diablo’s office,
October 12, 2012
Missing Link, from page 1 In 2004, the Clayton City Council approved the Diablo Pointe plans, and the project took off. The school and the caretaker house were torn down, the knoll graded and streets and curbs installed.
1901 Olympic Boulevard, Suite 320 in Walnut Creek, for $10, or by mail for $12.50.
Beryl Anderson is the Communications Coordinator at Save Mount Diablo. For more information about Save Mount Diablo, visit savemountdiablo.org or call (925) 947-3535.
ECONOMIC SNAGS During the economic downturn, Toll Brothers took over the development project. But the efforts hit a snag in 2011 when, due to state budget cuts, the state park couldn’t accept the land. Luckily, SMD and the city had put a contingency plan in place: If the park couldn’t take over the land, SMD would take over the parcel until the time Mount Diablo State Park could take it back. The past year has seen SMD working with the city and Toll Brothers to accept the property. The city of Clayton
Record dry conditions pose high wildfire threat Just because it’s autumn doesn’t mean the threat of wildfires is over, especially in the Golden State. The combination of aboveaverage temperatures, belownormal rainfall and record dry conditions have resulted in above-normal potential for large fires in many parts of the state, Cal Fire warns. “California has already experienced a significant increase in fire activity this year,” said Chief
Ken Pimlott, director of Cal Fire. “Crews remain prepared to respond to wildfires, but we are asking the public to take steps to help prevent fires during this unusually dry fall.” Already this year, Cal Fire has responded to more than 5,300 wildfires, which is over 1,300 more than last year and nearly 20 percent more than average. From these fires nearly 130,000 acres burned, over 75,000 more than last year.
National forests, parks and other federally owned lands have seen their fair share of fires this year including a 270,000 acre fire that burned its way into the records books becoming the second largest wildfire in California’s history. In August the Rush Fire charred 271,911 acres in Lassen County on land managed by the Bureau of Land Management. Historically, California experiences its largest and most dam-
aging wildfires in the late fall months. The potential this year is no exception, with no significant rainfall in sight. The result is an above-normal potential for large wildfires in October for most of Northern California including the Bay Area, as well as much of Southern California from Santa Barbara down to San Diego County. With the continued threat of wildfires, Cal Fire is asking all Californians to ensure they are
prepared for wildfires. All residents should have a wildfire action plan that includes an evacuation plan. Unfortunately, many evacuees have not decided what to take and where to go, and it’s often too late to remember those items when a wildfire strikes. To learn more on how to be prepared for a wildfire visit www.ReadyForWildfire.org. Additional fire safety tips can be found at www.fire.ca.gov.
LEIGH KLOCK
declined taking ownership of the parcel, knowing it didn’t have the resources to keep it up as a park. “The city felt that by giving the parcel to SMD, it was better for the residents and for the community as a whole,” says Clayton Mayor Howard Geller. “I still think it was a good decision.” The economic woes may have made this project workable, however, as SMD has been acquiring smaller parcels of land in the last few years. “‘Lot 25’ is an example of how complicated land protection can be, project by project, lot by lot,” says SMD’s Seth Adams. “This is a small fiveacre property that is being donated but nonetheless, so far, represents 10 years of effort. Is it worth it? Yes.” The first public tour of the land will be at the dedication ceremony, from noon to 3 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 28. There will be an easy 1.75 mile walk to Lot 25 (3.5 miles round trip) and an optional half-mile hike to the top of the property to take in the view. Parking will be available at the Park n’ Ride lot at the corner of Peacock Creek Drive and Clayton Road in Clayton, where the walk to Lot 25 will begin. Guests with mobility concerns may call for alternate arrangements. Neighbors are encouraged to walk directly to the 1 p.m. dedication at the end of Petar Court. For more information, call 925-947-3535 or visit www.savemountdiablo.org.
STEPHANIE LOPEZ
Realtor®, DRE#01874255
Realtor®, DRE#01370548
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“COMMITTED TO COMMUNITY”
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Clayton Valley Charter High School advocate
Founder & chair of the Clayton Art & Wine Festival
C.E.R.T. trained (Certified Emergency Response Team)
Clayton Cleans Up volunteer
Clayton Counts Down volunteer
4th of July volunteer
Oktoberfest volunteer
Rib Cook-Off judge
Chili Cook-Off judge
Co-chaired CBCA community golf tournaments
38-year Clayton resident
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EXPERIENCE COUNTS Current Mayor of Clayton Accessible City Council member for the past 4 years Represented Clayton on local and regional committees Understands the issues facing Clayton
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October 12, 2012
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CLASSIFIEDS Classified rates per insertion: $48 for first 30 words, $.40 each additional word Non-profit: $24 for first 30 words, $.20 each additional word To place your classified ad over the phone, call the office at (925) 6720500 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Mon.-Fri. Or, you may fax your typewritten ad and credit card information to (925) 672-6580. All classifieds must be paid for in advance by credit card (Master Card or Visa) We will not accept any ad that discriminates on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, nationality, family status or disability. The Clayton Pioneer
reserves the right to reject any advertising we believe is unsuitable. 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 Website are forms for submitting Community Calendar items and press releases for your organization. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR The Clayton Pioneer welcomes letters from our readers. As a general rule, letters should be 250 words or less and submitted at least one week prior to publication date. Letters concerning current issues will have priority. We may edit letters for length and clarity. All letters will be published at the editor’s discretion. Please include your name, address and daytime telephone number. We will not print letters from “anonymous.” E-mail your letter in a Word document to tamara@claytonpioneer.com. Letters MUST be submitted via E-mail.
Cheyenne Electric . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .566-8226
Classified FOR RENT Office Space for Rent Sublet 250 sq. ft. furnished office near Centre Concord/Clayton Bowl. Call 685-4523.
SERVICES Book Greg Fogg of My Evergreen Soul now for your holiday parties, wedding receptions, other occasions. Live violin music from classical to jazz and contemporary. Solo violin or duo with guitar. Reasonable rates. 8268222 or bikerfogg1@gmail.com.
HELP WANTED Rodie’s Seeking part-time Administrative Assistant. Strong math, computer and phone communication skills required. Must be able to work Thursdays and Fridays, eight hours each. Email resume to nicole@rodiesfeed.com. No phone calls please.
City of Clayton Office Assistant/Code Enforcement Officer (salary range: $38,352-$46,608 plus benefits): City of Clayton seeks a highly motivated, multi-tasking, self starter with excellent computer and customer service skills. Under general direction, provides a variety of technical and field functions regarding the city’s Business License Program; enforcement of municipal land use codes; coordinates city park and facility rentals. High School Graduate. Government experience preferred. Closes 5 p.m. Nov. 9, 2012. For details and application, visit www.ci.clayton.ca.us or call 925-673-7300. Seeking Sales Associate, part time, 2-3 days, weekdays or weekend. Apply in person (no phone calls please.). Rodie’s Feed and Pet Supply, 8863 Marsh Creek Road, Clayton. Come join Mazzei Realty! Currently interviewing and hiring new and experienced real estate agents. Call 693-0757 for details.
Copa Painting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .682-2202 Diablo Integrated Construction & Solar . . . . . . . .451-8564 Diablo View Construction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .822-5144 Iron Horse Concrete . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .595-3951 Ken Mitolo Construction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-2460 Steffan Smith Construction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .914-0497 Tipperary Construction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .216-2679 Dentistry Perfect Smiles Family Dentistry . . . . . . . . . . . . . .331-7665 Dining and Entertainment Clayton Club Saloon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .673-0440 Memo’s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .914-0395 Election Diaz, Jim . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .jimdiaz2002@pacbell.net Geller, Howard . . . . . . . . . . . . .councilmangeller@aol.com Events Oakhurst Country Club . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-9737, ext. 217 Pacific Coast Farmers’ Market . . . . . . . . . . .800-949-3276 Financial and Insurance Services Held, Chris - Morgan Stanley Smith Barney . . . .930-3815 King & Associates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .465-2565 Littorno, Richard - Attorney at Law . . . . . . . . . . . .432-4211 Prosperitas Wealth Management . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-7700 Van Wyck, Doug - State Farm Insurance . . . . . . .672-2300 Funerals Ouimet Funeral Home . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .682-4242 Home and Garden Abbey Carpet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .686-9901
Real Estate Agents Be Successful! Lynne French is expanding and interviewing for a few agents. Call her today 6728787.
Meet Clayton City Council Candidate
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
JIM DIAZ The Best Choice for Clayton!
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COMPLIMENTARY BAR-B-QUE and REFRESHMENTS LIVE MUSIC WITH THE RELYKS And Special Guest: “Shorty Bacon” Revue
All Clayton Citizens Welcome! Paid for by Jim Diaz for Clayton City Council - 2012 - ID#1248998 P.O. Box 399, Clayton, CA 94517-0399 Dana Diaz, Treasurer Email: jimdiaz2002@pacbell.net
Clear Splash Pool Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .216-6245 Diablo Lawnscape . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .381-3757 Flooring City . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .680-8220 Just Floors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .681-4747 Nichols Landscape . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-9955 Utopic Gardens . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .524-0055 Waraner Bros. Tree Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .831-2323
Art Clayton Valley Art Collaborative (CVAC) is looking for computer savvy individual for specific projects. Appreciation for art and creative people necessary. CVAC collaborates with wide range of community organizations, individuals and businesses in East Bay. Contact Candace Bass at 673-7036 or kndbass@aol.com.
Waraner Tree Experts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .250-0334
Help Fight Hunger Anna Chan – AKA: The Lemon Lady needs your help! Weekly commitment appreciated. For more info and contact numbers, go to thelemonlady.blogspot.com.
French, Lynne - Windermere Real Estate . . . . . .672-8787
Mailing Services The UPS Store . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .689-6245 Optometry Foresight Optometry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-4100 Pet Services Monte Vista Veterinary Hospital . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-1100 Pet Suites Inn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .432-7387 Real Estate and Mortgage Services 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 Vujnovich, George - Better Homes Realty . . . . .672-4433
Meals on Wheels Drivers 1 – 1 1/2 hours per week. Drivers and relief drivers needed for delivery of Meals on Wheels in East County. Call Jim at 6730300 or hairbyjim@hotmail.com. Hospice of the East Bay Help needed at Hospice of the East Bay Concord Thrift Shoppe located at 5350 Clayton Road, Concord. 674-9072. For information contact Carmen Siems, volunteer coordinator at 887-5678 or carmens@hospiceeastbay.org.
Recreation and Fitness Castle Rock Arabians . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .933-3701 Clayton Valley Bowl . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .689-4631 Earthquake Arabians . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .360-7454 East Bay Regional Park District . . . . . . . . . . . .ebparks.org Kali Ball . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .276-0845 Senior Services Diamond Terrace Senior Retirement Living . . . . .524-5100 Montecito - Oakmont Senior Living . . . . . . . . . . .852-6702 Services, Other Computers USA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-9989 Net Solutions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-6029
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. 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. Contact: Arlene at 673-9777 or nielsenjanc@aol.com.
Recycling Center & Transfer Station . . . . . . . . . .473-0180 The Maids . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .798-6243 Travel Cruise Adventures Unlimited . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .935-7447
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‘Echo boomers’ to drive housing recovery Q. What do you think will drive the recovery of the housing market in the foreseeable and longer range future? A. There are numerous factors that still can affect the housing market in the near future and beyond. One of them is the age demographic. I found an interesting report by the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University. They explained that starting this year 2012 and continuing over the next 20 years, the echo boomers (born in the late 1970s and early 1980s) will drive the housing market. The study found that many adults under the age of 35 have chosen to stay at home with their parents instead of purchasing their own home; however, they do believe in the value of home ownership and do plan to buy. Another study found that 86 percent believe they will ultimately own a home and 70 percent felt this was a good time to buy. They just don’t feel the need to rush into it before they are thoroughly qualified. But, the fact is, monthly mortgage payments currently compare more favorably to rents than anytime since the 1970s. The report projected the impact of the echo boomers over the next two decades: If the economic recovery continues over the next few years, echo boomers entering into adulthood should support the addition of about one million new households per year over the next 10 years. The echo boomers have the potential to spur new home demand to an even greater extent than their parents did starting in the 1970s, in the next 20 years. This new generation already outnumbers the baby boomers at the same age. Even modest immigration will help this group to grow larger. If housing affordability continues at historic lows, more and more of the echo boomers will take the plunge into home ownership.
LYNNE FRENCH
REAL ANSWERS Q. I heard that the government implemented some sort of stimulus to improve the housing market. Could you explain in layman terms what this is and how it will help? A. The stimulus is called QE 3 - short for “Quantitative Easing - Round 3.” I hope 3 will indeed be a charm this time. This is a policy where the Fed buys up debt instruments or assets in an effort to push down
long-term interest rates. Their hopes are that lower long-term rates will stimulate the economy by giving consumers and businesses an incentive to borrow and invest more. (It is now cheaper to borrow). Sometimes the Fed’s actions don’t do as much as they hoped, as far as moving rates, but QE 3 seems like it will be effective because the Fed has committed to buy up “mortgages” (mortgage backed securities) of $40 billion per month. This represents about 25 to 30 percent of overall mortgage volume; this increase in demand will bring down rates. The Fed has committed to QE 3 indefinitely, too, so rates are expected to remain low for a long time. Q. Please remind me of what expires at the end of this year pertaining to short sales. A. It is the forgiveness for
state and federal taxes on the forgiven amount on a short sale. So, if you are considering a short sale, now is the time to discuss this with a qualified realtor and get started. There is just enough time to complete most short sales before the end of the year. Remember, if you are not behind in your payments, you can still do a short sale. It will not affect your credit to the point that you can’t buy a lesser property immediately afterward. Also remember that a foreclosure is much worse on your credit record. 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 672-8787 or stop in at 6200 Center St., Clayton.
Clayton hooks up new emergency ham radio station Clayton has a new ham radio station for use during emergencies. After two years of juggling logistics, politics and finances, a base of operation has been agreed to and equipment set up for use at the Clayton Police Department. Michael Gibson, a local resident and amateur radio operator, started the ball rolling in November of 2010. Working initially with Sergeants Scott Dansie and Richard McEachin of the Clayton Police Department, Gibson evaluated the emergency amateur radio equipment at the police department. “During a time of emergency or city crisis, it’s important to have a reliable network of equipment to contact additional government agencies when all other forms of communication fail,” Gibson said.
“Amateur radio equipment fills this need.” He added that although telephone systems and cell phone towers are robust during an emergency, often times these systems fail because of user overload. “Amateur radio is usually the first form of communication that is up and running during such emergencies. Having this station in Clayton is a valuable asset for the community.” The radios are old but still usable, Gibson said. All they needed was a new antenna and cable to hook it up, which ended up being a minimal cost and paid for with funds already available. Although the radio station is not a full-time RACES (Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Services) station, it was one back in the 1990s and will be used as one again during future emer-
gencies. Local city officials saw the need to re-activate the use of the amateur radio equipment after Gibson, Sergeant McEachin and Herb Yonge coordinated with personnel at the Concord Police Department and Office of Emergency Services (OES) at the Contra Costa County Sherriff’s Department. “I go down to the Clayton Police Department about twice every month and use the equipment to ‘check in’ to the local emergency networks,” Gibson said. “Clayton is now ‘on the map’ with OES in central Contra Costa County.” If you would like to know more about Contra Costa County RACES and its Volunteer Services Unit, visit the website at www.cocoraces.org/join.
Alaska Cruisetours and History of Alaska by Brent Dixon, Naturalist
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Historic Trust to celebrate John Marsh House history at gala event Oct. 14 KAREN RAREY Special to the Pioneer
Some of California’s best kept secrets are right here in Contra Costa County, and their history, both origins of statehood and archaeological treasures, are about to unfold. The John Marsh Historic Trust (JMHT) unveils this history at its A Taste of California gala, from 2 to 4 p.m. on Oct. 14. Attendees can learn more about Marsh and his role in the Golden State’s road to statehood. Also on hand will be a California state archaeologist who will share the historical value of the artifacts discovered immediately adjacent to the historic John Marsh House.
“Just a few hundred feet north of the house, state archaeologists have unearthed hundreds of artifacts showing evidence of human habitation dating back 7,050 years,” said JMHT Chairman Alex Ghiozzi. “These finds predate the pyramids in Egypt.” Dr. John Marsh, a Harvard graduate, also made his mark on the land. A decade before the Gold Rush brought thousands flocking to California in search of riches, Marsh had already settled on the vacant landscape east of Mount Diablo. Local historians will share the story of how Marsh forged his way through Indian Territory to Alta California, and how in
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1836 he became the first person in Los Angeles to practice medicine. Marsh then made his way north to a small coastal town consisting of three buildings called Yerba Buena – now known as San Francisco. By 1837, Marsh left Yerba Buena and journeyed east, where he bought and settled on a 50,000-acre oasis of land on the eastern side of Mount Diablo, making him the first settler in Central California and the first American pioneer of what would in time become Contra Costa County. It was there that Marsh began his prolific letter writing back east, urging others to come west. These letters enticed the
first American emigrants, the Bartleson-Bidwell Party, to traverse the rugged and sometimes treacherous terrain westward. They became the first to travel the California Trail, using Marsh’s map and his home as its terminus. Thousands more would follow. A Taste of California will take place at Hannah Nicole Vineyards, 6700 Balfour Rd., Brentwood. Tickets are $40 per person and are available online at www.JohnMarshHouse.com, by mail at P.O. Box 1682, Brentwood, CA 94513, or in person at Hannah Nicole Vineyards. Karen Rarey is the John Marsh Historic Trust Director.
October 12, 2012
Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com
Keeping Halloween fun, and not scary for parents Dan Lawrence
From
the
ChieF
Believe it or not, Halloween is right around the corner. It is that time of year to dress up, wear a costume and be someone or something else. On Halloween night, there is always a lot going on: Trick-ortreating, parties and the annual Clayton Ghost Walk. It’s usually a busy night, which is why I write this article each year. While trick-or-treating is much fun, this activity can also be dangerous because of a number of factors, such as darkness, unsafe costumes, etc. By taking a few simple precautions, trick-ortreating can be a safe and fun practice this year. I know that the safety tips contained in this month’s article may seem repetitive; however, I want to remind parents, trick-ortreaters and homeowners of several basic safety guidelines that
can prevent accidents and injuries from occurring. These basic tips are still relevant every year. foR paRents Parents should make sure that children eat dinner before setting out. Ideally, young children of any age should be accompanied by an adult. If this cannot occur, instruct your children to travel only in familiar areas and along an established route. Make sure they have a watch that can be read in the dark, and have them carry a cell phone and flashlight. Although tampering is rare, tell your children to bring the candy home to be inspected before consuming anything. Look at the wrapping carefully and toss out anything that looks suspicious. Establish a return time. foR tRick-oR-tReateRs When Trick-or-treaters go out, they should walk on sidewalks, if available, not on the streets. Look both ways before crossing streets checking for cars and trucks. Carry a flashlight to
Medrano, from page 1 Medrano breached his fiduciary responsibility when he kept for his own use money sent to him by iPass Corporation in 2009 to pay their Workers Compensation insurance premiums. Despite the charges, Medrano is running for re-election to his council seat, and he says he is confident the jury will find him not guilty before the Nov. 6 election. Medrano maintains that a verbal contract with iPass Chief Financial Officer Frank Verdecanna entitles him to a brokerage fee and commissions for the company’s Directors and Officers (D&O) liability policy, despite the fact that iPass placed the coverage through another broker. ‘Red flags’ Anticipating getting the D&O renewal, Medrano says he invoiced iPass in May 2009 and Verdecanna promised by email to pay the invoices the first week in July. During this period, iPass management was in transition. Steven Gatoff took over as the new CFO in June and Verdecanna left the company the end of July, leaving Gatoff to make the final decision about the D&O policy. After reviewing Medrano’s D&O proposal with him, Verdecanna and other iPass execs, Gatoff said there were several “red flags,” that called into question the quality of
Medrano’s work and his integrity. At $60 million, the amount of the D&O coverage recommended by Medrano was more than twice what Gatoff would expect for a company the size of iPass. And there were no competitive quotes included in the proposal. Medrano said the 15 or so companies he contacted thought the rates Medrano already had were too competitive for them to beat. “Every carrier except Joe’s could not provide a competitive quote,” Gatoff said. “It just didn’t sit right.” Gatoff fired Medrano as broker and placed the D&O policy through Lockton Insurance, who obtained $32 million in coverage at half the cost. In preparing their quote, Lockton found that none of the companies that Medrano said declined to quote had ever been contacted. When Lockton notified IMC’s carriers of the change in brokers, they discovered that iPass’ Workers Compensation insurance was delinquent and on the verge of cancellation. iPass had paid Medrano for the coverage, but Medrano kept the payments in lieu of what he felt he was owed in broker fees and commission payments on the D&O policy placed through Lockton. Attempts to collect from Medrano were described by iPass attorney Paul Levy as “bizarre.”
light your way. Visit homes that are familiar and well lit. Remain on the front porch to receive your treat. There should be no reason to go inside a home. Be cautious of animals and strangers. When selecting a costume, try to wear light-colored or reflective costumes so you are more visible. Use or buy only fire-retardant materials for costumes. Costumes shouldn’t be so long as to create a tripping hazard. foR HoMeowneRs Homeowners should make sure that the front yard is clear of hazards such as children’s toys, hoses, Halloween decorations, or flower pots that might cause young ones to trip. Change burned out light bulbs. When decorating your home, use safe lighting and make the path to the front door safe and well lit. Pets get frightened on Halloween. Protect them from cars or inadvertently biting trick-ortreaters by bringing them inside your home. True treats –
In one phone call, Levy said Medrano “spoke rapidly…spoke of declining business and said he did not have it anymore; that he didn’t mean to keep it.” Immediately after the phone call, Levy received an email from Medrano with an entirely different message. “‘…it’s my money,’” Levy quoted. “‘Don’t hassle me or I’ll sue you.’” Missing pReMiuMs. Further damaging testimony came from Travelers Insurance Regional Controller Phyllis Kofman and Golden Valley Federal Credit Union Vice President, Jodean Hart. Kofman said when she determined that Medrano had kept iPass’ premium checks meant for Travelers, she sent an “agency termination letter” to the IMC clients insured by Travelers. She was then notified by Golden Valley Federal Credit Union that they had also sent $38,787 in payments to Medrano, which were never forwarded to Travelers. In 2010, Travelers sued Medrano in civil court, listing both the iPass and the Golden Valley losses and won a default judgment. Medrano never answered the suit. On cross examination, the defense produced a Wells Fargo Bank Statement showing three wire transfers they said were made to Travelers, which they claimed were payments for the Golden Valley premiums. Kofman said Travelers had no record of receiving those payments.
Although candy is the “normal” treat that many trick-or-treaters receive, there are many healthy food alternatives for trick-ortreaters that include packages of low-fat crackers with cheese or peanut butter filling, packaged fruit rolls, mini boxes of raisins, and single-serve packets of lowfat popcorn that can be microwaved later. The Halloween holiday is a fun time and should be an enjoyable experience for everyone in the Clayton community. The Clayton Police Department will have extra staff on duty during the trick-or-treating period in order to ensure safety. If you have questions about any of these common sense precautions or wish to report any suspicious activity associated with Halloween, please call the Clayton Police Department at 925673-7350.
Dan Lawrence is Clayton’s Police Chief. Please send your questions, comments or topics you’d like to see covered to DanL@cpd.ci. concord.ca.us
Page 7
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In her opening statements to the jury, Deputy District Attorney Sharron Lee cautioned the jury not to be confused by talk of other policies. “Keep your eye on the ball,” she said. “…No matter how he felt or what he thinks he deserves, he kept the Workers Compensation premiums…” Big Biz vs. aveRage Joe. In his opening remarks, defense attorney Kenneth Moyal countered Lee saying, “This case is not about embezzlement, it’s about government and big business against the average Joe.” The defense claims that iPass has a vested financial interest in seeing Medrano convicted because of a civil suit still pending in Contra Costa County. iPass filed a civil suit against Medrano in December 2010. In May 2011, Medrano filed a counter suit, claiming defamation and breach of contract. If Medrano wins his counter claim, the defense says iPass could be liable for damages. A verdict is expected by the end of the week—well in advance of the Nov. 6 election, but not soon enough to remove Medrano’s name from the ballot. A convicted felon cannot serve in public office, so if convicted and re-elected, he would have to relinquish his seat. The remaining council members would then appoint his replacement. If convicted, Medrano faces up to five years in prison.
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Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com
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Each year, more than 200,000 people visit Todos Santos Plaza in Concord to experience fun, food and plenty of outdoor music. The downtown hub of the city has become quite an attraction over the last several years, with the many events, restaurants, renovations and farmer’s markets bringing a noticeable influx of people and money into the area. With that in mind, the city would like to be ready for more positive growth and expansion should funds become available over the next five to 10 years. This, of course, takes a bit of foresight. That’s why the city held a Downtown Ideas Fair on Sept. 22. Nearly 100 Concord residents, business owners, contractors and interested folks showed up at the Concord Senior Center to give input and share visions.
Mayor Ron Leone referred to Todos Santos Plaza as “the gem of our city,” but said that we can’t simply be content with that. “We’ve got to take a look at the rest of the city. Obviously, we can’t do it all at one time, and we need to do it piece by piece. I think it’s really important to have a vision. What should it look like? What do we want it to be? If we don’t, the fear that I have is that it grows haphazardly.” The feedback from the Ideas Fair will become part of the Downtown Specific Plan, said Planning Manager Carol Johnson. “All residents, property owners and businesses in Concord will benefit from a strong, vibrant and sustainable downtown that serves to attract additional investment in the community. “ Darin Walters, a local business owner, attended to find out “specifically what they’ve got plans for” and “what they’re planning to do to help our busi-
nesses grow.” David Dowell, representing the First Presbyterian Church, was there to share concerns over parking during busy times in Todos Santos Plaza, which is adjacent to the church facility. Attendees had the opportunity to work through seven “topic stations” and leave written comment notes after a session with a moderator. Each station related to the downtown area and had its share of interesting discussion and information. Here are some of the ideas that were shared: Fix buckling sidewalks; Add housing to the immediate square; Add more bike racks; Open a downtown hotel; Put in a community garden in place of the lawn in front of Concord City Hall; Keep homeless traffic down; Add two or three retail shops that are “somewhere between The 99-Cent Store and Nord-
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The Todos Santos Business Association is scaring up some fun for this year’s Halloween celebration in downtown Concord. Voting in the eighth annual Downtown Concord Scarecrow Contest takes place from Oct. 13 through Oct. 28. Thirteen stores in the downtown area have dressed scarecrows in imaginative costumes and created displays around the theme of “Elections.” Residents are invited to visit the stores and vote for their favorite scarecrow by Monday, Oct. 28.
Also, from 3 to 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 31, downtown businesses invite costumed parents and children to trick-or-treat in the shops surrounding the plaza. Participating businesses will fly orange and black balloons and the winning scarecrows will be announced. The following merchants are participating in the scarecrow contest: Astound/Brenden Theater, D’Ann’s Academy of Dance, Downtown Concord Dental, EJ Phair Brewing Company, Half Price Books, Panama Red Coffee Co., Peet’s Coffee
and Tea, Skipolini’s Pizza, Sonoma Bank, Starbuck’s Coffee, Sweet Tart, The Old Spaghetti Factory and Tim McGallian/State Farm. In past years, the City of Concord sponsored a Halloween Parade and Costume Contest as well as a Pooch Parade on the Sunday before Halloween. This event is no longer possible due to budget cuts.
For more information visit, www.concordtsba.org or www.cityofconcord.org/recreation/events/downtownevents.htm.
strom”; Develop a master trail plan, similar to what Clayton has; Add more handicapped parking spaces; Build more bike paths. If you have more ideas that you would like to contribute to the future of the downtown Concord area, e-mail them to carol.johnson@ci.concord.ca.us. John Jackson is a freelance writer and principal at Calvary Temple Christian School. He lives in Clayton with his wife and two children. Email him at johnjackson@claytonpioneer.com.
Concord offices closed Oct. 19 for furlough day City of Concord offices will be closed Friday, Oct. 19 for an unpaid furlough day. Facilities to be closed include the Civic Center complex (1950 Parkside Drive), Public Works (1455 Gasoline Alley), Concord Community Pool (3501 Cowell Rd.), the Concord Senior Center (2727 Parkside Circle), Centre Concord (5298 Clayton Rd.), Willow Pass Community Center (2748 East Olivera Rd.) and Police Headquarters (1350 Galindo St.). Police patrol and dispatch operations will not be affected by the closure. As a cost-saving measure, City employees are taking 13 unpaid furlough days during the year, which equates to a five percent reduction in pay. For more information, contact the City Manager’s Office, (925) 6713150.
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I was alarmed but not surprised to read the American Journal of Public Health’s recent report that suicide rates have increased 15 percent since 2000 and that suicide is now ranked first as the cause of death by injury, ahead of motor vehicle accidents. The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) reports that every 13.7 minutes someone in the U.S. dies by suicide. Ninety percent of people who die by suicide have a diagnosable and treatable psychological disorder at the time of their death but many are not receiving any kind of mental health care. Suicide happens for a number of reasons. Often, people who think about, attempt or complete suicide are suffering from depression, bipolar disorder, PTSD, or schizophrenia. These people are dealing with significant life stressors. What drives people to the brink of suicide is often a pervasive sense of hopelessness and suicide is seen as the answer to the problem and the only way to relieve their pain. Unfortunately, when people are on the edge of whether to live or
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die, alcohol and substance use can push them to suicide by lowering their inhibition. We know from years of extensive research that suicide is preventable. While some suicides occur without warning, up to 75 percent of people who are suicidal do give warnings. Prevent the suicide of loved ones by learning to recognize the signs of someone at risk, taking those signs seriously and knowing how to respond to them. Here are some warning signs of suicide: Observable signs of serious depression: Unrelenting depressed mood,
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pessimism, hopelessness, desperation, anxiety, withdrawal, sleep problems Increased alcohol and/or drug use Recent impulsiveness and taking unnecessary risks Threatening suicide or expressing a strong wish to die Making a plan Giving away prized possessions Sudden or impulsive purchase of a firearm Obtaining other means of killing oneself such as poisons or medications Unexpected rage or anger When you fear someone may take his/her life: Start by telling the person you are concerned and give him/her examples. If he/she is depressed, don’t be afraid to ask whether he/she is considering suicide, or if he/she has a particular plan or method in mind. Do not attempt to argue someone out of suicide. Rather, let the person know you care, that he/she is not alone, that suicidal feelings are temporary and that depression can be treated.
Avoid the temptation to say, “You have so much to live for,” or “Your suicide will hurt your family.” Help the person find a knowledgeable mental health professional or a reputable treatment facility, and take them to the treatment. IN AN ACUTE CRISIS: If a friend or loved one is threatening, talking about or making plans for suicide, these are signs of an acute crisis. Do not leave the person alone. Remove from the home any firearms, drugs or sharp objects that could be used for suicide. Take the person to an emergency room. If the above options are unavailable, call 911 or the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).
Stephanie T. Ho is a licensed psychologist. She has a private practice office in Walnut Creek and works at UC Berkeley. She can be reached at stephanie.ho.phd@gmail.com.
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CVCHS hopes to pave the way in race to college
“ Let Us Light Up Your Life” Residential
It’s no surprise that most students aiming for college wish to graduate from a high-level school. The proof is factually in the pudding: people with a higher education typically have a higher yearly salary and more secure, successful occupations. Thanks to the staff at Clayton Valley Charter High School’s Career Center, students there may have an edge on the rest of the competition. Recently, during the month of September, CVCHS students attended various assemblies discussing career paths and college education. Academic guidance counselors Jackie Valdez and Steve Nares gave demonstrations explaining the college system in California, as well as many of the academic
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CVCHS REPORTER requirements and recommendations needed to participate in higher education. The presentations were tailored for each grade level, and gave students a better understanding of education after high school. Both counselors encouraged students to meet with them or contact them through whatever means. This is just a fragment of CVCHS’s plan to provide all students with the necessary requirements and information needed for college. While it’s a fine idea, it obviously takes more than quality transcripts and public service to get into college. According to many studies of overall demographics, getting accepted by a college is no easy affair. In the State of California, there are numerous community colleges, many hightier UCs and CSUs, and scores of prestigious private colleges. While there is a wide range of schools in California, the acceptance rate for many of these schools has dropped significantly. However, most community colleges will accept students with a high school diploma. For those who wish to attend high-status and or private
universities, however, the challenge to be accepted is much greater, and it’s only getting tougher. It is very simple to understand that once you examine the statistics. Simply put, more high school graduates than ever are competing for seats in the freshman class. There are only limited numbers of seats available in colleges. Thus the level of competition rises. High-level college administrators also prefer to admit only the “creamof-the crop” students. So they critically check each student’s academic grades, as well as extracurricular activities and community service, raising the bar for everyone wishing to pursue higher education. Many of the state’s best schools have acceptance rates fewer than 10 percent. The school’s proactive approach to college readiness is another part of the CVCHS’s goal of achieving a school wide climate of success, and equipping students with the necessary college-preparatory skills. However, that vision will require not only student willingness but also rigorous work and studying – and it takes more than working hard in high school. While it’s one thing to graduate with fantastic scores, it’s another to make it to the next level and get accepted into a school of choice. For every dedicated student, there will always be someone else, somewhere, who is striving even harder in competition for the same spot. Many students at CVCHS are starting their journey down the path of academic success, whether it is meeting with guidance counselors, applying
Be an upstander to stop bullies October is national bullying prevention month, and the students of Diablo View Middle School learned many new skills to prevent bullying at a recent assembly presented by the Safe School Ambassadors. They learned that the more people who act as the bully the cooler it appears, to some, to bully others. However, if kids stand up for the victim, tell the bully to stop, or get help, they can reverse the idea that it is cool to bully others. Instead, it will be cool to stand up. Bullying has many different effects. According to PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center more than 160,000 stu-
dents stay home from school each day because they are being bullied. Some people who are bullied may start bullying others to make themselves feel better. Or, when taken to the extreme, bullying can even cause the victims to kill themselves. It is important for kids to know that if they ever feel that desperate that there are places they can go for help. They can talk to their friends, an adult they trust or even call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 24/7 at 800273-8255. DVMS is promoting upstanders, so kids will understand that even if they don’t think they are at fault being a
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bystander, they are also partly responsible. By just standing there, the bystander is telling the bully that they think what the bully is doing is all right. Don’t be a bystander, be an upstander and help stop bullying. Samantha Tuohey is in the seventh grade at Diablo View Middle School and plans to be a writer someday. Email your story ideas, comments and questions to Samantha@claytonpioneer.com.
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Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com
October 12, 2012
Sports High octane CV football faces October crunch time JAY BEDECARRÉ Clayton Pioneer
Last winter, the Clayton Valley High School boys basketball team reached the North Coast Section playoffs averaging 56.6 points per game. This fall, Clayton Valley Charter football has posted incredible offensive numbers while scoring over 55 points in each of its last five games for an average of 55.7 a game. Coach Tim Murphy and his staff are happy with the Eagles efforts to date as they’ve compiled a 5-1 record following last Friday’s 69-22 victory over his old school Ygnacio Valley in the Diablo Valley Athletic League opener for both teams. At the same time the coaches and team realize that the heart of the Eagles schedule is immediately in front of them, facing DVAL contenders College Park, defending champion Concord and upstart Northgate this month. Clayton Valley Charter’s impressive output has reportedly placed them at or near the statistical top of all high school offenses in Northern California. With all the points and yards racked up school records have also fallen by the wayside with the team averaging over 431 yards a game rushing and 540 yards total offense. The Eagles are within 83 point of shattering the school record from 1997 of 417 points in a season. This Friday’s visiting opponent College Park has been hit by key injuries and is 3-2 overall with a win over Mt. Diablo in its league debut. Earlier, CP barely edged Hayward while Clayton Valley ran over the Farmers 55-15 two weeks ago in their homecoming game. A large, enthusiastic crowd cheered on the Eagles against Hayward and new athletic director Greg Fister was excited about the evening at Gonsalves Stadium. “The homecoming festivities at CVCHS were magnificent and everyone in attendance witnessed the amazing culture we have at the
Mike Dunn photo
MOST OPPOSING DEFENDERS LIKE HAYWARD HIGH’S KYLE FOOTE (20) have felt outnumbered trying to stop a Clayton Valley Charter High School rushing attack that is averaging over 400 yards a game. Senior Cesar Luengas (3) takes a handoff from quarterback Joe Protheroe (right) and the diminutive running back is tucked in behind blockers Jesse Medrano (42 left), Spencer Wraa (2) and Logan Bangert (50).
Charter.” Concord High (5-1) was knocked from the unbeaten ranks in a stunning 28-20 loss to the year’s biggest surprise team, Northgate (5-1), in the other DVAL opener. Concord was NCS champion in 2010, runner-up last year and figured to be the biggest obstacle to a possible league championship for Murphy is his first year with the Eagles. Clayton Valley last won the league title in 2008 and in 2009 the Eagles eliminated Concord from the NCS playoffs 48-28, avenging
a 56-20 defeat to the Minutemen during that regular season. The city rivals meet next Friday evening under the lights at Concord with most eyes on the battle of outstanding running backs with Olito Thompson of the Minutemen and the Eagles’ Joe Protheroe, who has outgained the highly-touted Thompson thus far in 2012. Last year Concord shutout the Eagles 42-0 and Thompson outrushed Protheroe 235-42. Senior running back
Protheroe continues to post strong numbers with 1378 rushing yards in the first six games averaging a ridiculous 16.8 yards per carry with 12 touchdowns and one score receiving. His younger brother, junior quarterback Joe Protheroe, has thrown only 31 passes for the run-oriented offense but has eight touchdown passes among his 21 completions and also tallied five TDs rushing while throwing only one interception. Five other ball carriers and four receivers have also scored
Eagle girl golfers seek repeat JAY BEDECARRÉ Clayton Pioneer
Mike Dunn photo
COACH JENNIFER MOORE EXPECTS HER CLAYTON VALLEY CHARTER HIGH SCHOOL GOLFERS will claim a second consecutive DVAL championship this fall with a lineup that includes girls from all four classes. The Eagle golf squad includes, from left, sophomore Annie Park, junior Danniele Biala, senior McKenna DeLong, sophomore Rachel DeLong, freshman Rebecca Walsh and soph Katie Haymaker.
Jennifer Moore returns to coach the Clayton Valley Charter High School girls golf team this fall after taking off two years and she finds herself leading a talented bunch that is intent on defending its Diablo Valley Athletic League championship with the DeLong sisters leading the way. McKenna DeLong was medalist at the league tournament and MVP in the DVAL last year as a junior and is shooting low scores again this fall as she tries to keep ahead of sophomore sister Rachel DeLong, a first-team all-DVAL choice as a freshman. The Eagles won their initial league crown last fall and qualified for the North Coast Section Tournament of Championship for the first time with McKenna DeLong carding 81 and Rachel DeLong 83 at DVAL. The Eagles are hosting the DVAL Tournament next Monday at their home course, Oakhurst Country Club, looking to secure the automatic NCS TOC berth against Northgate, Concord and Ygnacio Valley,
the only other DVAL schools fielding girls golf teams. McKenna and Rachel DeLong were newcomers to the Eagles golf team last fall but they have golf genes as their father Dave DeLong is a teaching pro at Boundary Oak Golf Course and they have an uncle who is a pro golfer. When McKenna DeLong shot 89 at the TOC it was only her second ever 18-hole round. Joining the DeLong sisters on the first team for Clayton Valley are junior Danniele Biala, sophomore Annie Park, freshman Rebecca Walsh and soph Katie Haymaker. Park didn’t play too much as a freshman but is a solid #4 on this year’s team. “She’s panning out to be a confident player and leader.” Competing for first-team berths are freshman Fatima Opeyany, sophomores Emily Guerisoli, Skylar Wilkinson and Jessica Rosales and senior Tia Wilkinson. The team’s strong showing this year – undefeated to date –is in spite of losing a pair of underclassman all-DVAL players from last year, Hailee
See Golfers, page 11
touchdowns for the prolific Eagles as they become more accustomed to running Murphy’s wing-gun offense. Not to be overlooked, the CVCHS defense has also improved as the season has progressed. The Eagles gave up 75 points in their first two
games, a loss to Pittsburg and a win over Montgomery of Santa Rosa, but has surrendered 77 points total in its last four games. Murphy knows that defensive improvement will be even more important during this stretch drive of DVAL games and beyond.
Jesus Martinez named new CVCHS boys soccer coach JAY BEDECARRÉ Clayton Pioneer
Jesus Martinez, a former standout youth player in the area with Diablo Valley Soccer Club, gets his first high school head coaching assignment at Clayton Valley Charter after being selected as boys coach for the Eagles. Martinez, 33, replaces Rory Gentry who resigned in August. He currently coaches boys in the 10-15 age groups for NorthBay Elite Futbol Club in Solano County. Martinez has been an assistant coach at Hogan High in Vallejo. CVCHS Athletic director Greg Fister made the appointment of Martinez as the new head coach. He also announced head junior varsity coach Jim Giannini, who has coached at Clayton Valley for the last four years as JV assistant coach. Giannini will be assisted by alumnus Alex Geller. Head freshman coach will be Bassam Altwal, who played college soccer in Italy, was an assistant at College of Marin and is an assistant coach at Diablo FC. Martinez played with former De La Salle High head coach Brian Voltattorni on the DVSC Machine. He was an under 16 all-state and all-region defender and played in the Olympic Development Program from U14 to U19. Martinez has state, regional and national coaching
licenses from NSCAA. The Cordelia resident is the father of three daughters who play club soccer for NorthBay. Fister says his new head coach has a coaching philosophy of soccer that includes “the importance of possession, onetouch and two-touch passing and conditioning.” The AD adds it’s “going to be an exciting soccer season at CVCHS.” Under Gentry the Eagles have become a top East Bay soccer power in the past three years. The team was in the North Coast Section quarterfinals in 2009-10 followed by back-to-back trips to the NCS semi-finals where they lost last season to eventual champion De La Salle 2-1. Gentry’s teams compiled a 65-16-23 mark over four years and in the process completely rewrote the Clayton Valley school record book on both offense and defense. The Contra Costa Times named Gentry high school coach of the year for 2010-11 when the Eagles won their first of two consecutive Diablo Valley Athletic League championships. Tryouts for high school soccer begin Monday, Nov. 5. Martinez says the Eagles have their first scrimmage Nov. 17. DVAL play begins Dec. 13 with Clayton Valley hosting Concord High.
October 12, 2012
Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com
Sports
Page 11
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IT WENT RIGHT DOWN TO THE WIRE BEFORE DIABLO FC 96 BLACK GIRLS SCORED THE WINNING GOAL in the waning minutes of the under 16 championship game at the 16th annual Bob Fowler Memorial Tournament at the end of September. Coach Brandon Enriquez has seen his team beset by injuries in recent months and was bolstered that weekend by guest players from the club to claim the title. The finale was 2-1 for 96 Black over the Albany Berkeley Jaguars. Earlier the host team shut out East Bay United Sting Yellow 4-0 and ABSC Earthquakes 1-0. The Diablo FC 96 Black Bob Fowler winning team included, front, goalkeeper Paige Alford; kneeling from left, Keira McLane, Ruth Fernandez, Nina Galvan, Sarah Owen, Alex Converse, Lindsey Mondloch, Cristina Daly, Jordan Howard, Alyssa Bluth, Alyssa Kessenich; standing, coach Lyndy Enriquez, Yadira Ramirez, Katie Lizzarago, Megan Smith, Lauren Russell, Leanna Valerio, Hela Ahmadi, Riley Heinz, Janine Bandayrel, Sabina Nunn, Nicki Apana and coach Brandon Enriquez. Not pictured, Nicole Simons.
Sports Shorts MT. DIABLO WORLD CUP KICKOFFS SATURDAY The three-week long Mt. Diablo World Cup tournament under 10, 12 and 14 MDSA divisions begins this Saturday. The Cup culminates the AYSO fall soccer season for 60 teams with berths in the Area 2C tournament in November at stake for the top finishers on the final weekend of Oct. 27-28. Select team tryouts conclude this Sunday. For details on select tryouts and the World Cup visit mdsoccer.org.
CLUB VOLLEYBALL CLINICS, TRYOUTS AT CLAYTON GYM All Out Sports is holding tryouts at Clayton Community Gym for Blaze girls volleyball club on Saturday, Nov. 10, from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. for ages 10-18. The competitive volleyball program runs from January – June with Blaze teams playing in up to 10 tournaments throughout Northern California. Cost to tryout is $10 per player. AOSL is having volleyball clinics for boys and girls from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. each Sunday in October. Cost is $20 per clinic. Registration for tryouts or clinics can be found at alloutsportsleague.com. For more information on the Blaze program and tryout requirements contact coach Shauna at (510) 816-3362.
DIABLO FC WINTER SOCCER ACADEMY NOW ACCEPTING PLAYERS
Diablo FC’s renowned 12th annual Winter Soccer Academy is taking signups now for its 2013 session running on Mondays and Thursdays from 5-6 p.m. at Willow Pass Park in Concord from Jan. 7 through Feb. 21. Boys and girls 5-12 years of age in all skill levels can participate in Winter Academy getting professional coaching in a noncompetitive environment. For more information visit diablofc.org.
Golfers, from page 10 Espinoza and Alex Baker, who both transferred from the new CV Charter High School. Moore began teaching at Clayton Valley in 1998 and now teaches ceramics and art in the
ClaytonArts Academy. She began coaching the golf team in 2001 but took off the last two years with Chance Gernhardt taking the reins. “We are very strong this year
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5TH ANNUAL DIABLO FC BENEFIT GOLF TOURNAMENT, BBQ OCT. 12 Benefitting field development and financial aid scholarships, the fifth annual Diablo FC golf tournament is this Friday at Diablo Creek Golf Course in Concord. Tee time is 12 noon with a BBQ dinner open to all at 6 p.m. Visit diablofc.org for more information.
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WINTER YOUTH BASKETBALL, VOLLEYBALL LEAGUES OPEN AT CLAYTON GYM Registration for the popular winter youth basketball and volleyball leagues at Clayton Community Gym is now open. Basketball for girls and boys from 4-15 begins Dec. 15 and player evaluation day is Nov. 23. Winter youth volleyball for ages 8-16 runs on Sundays 6-9 p.m. from Nov. 18 through Jan. 6. Registration is being taken online until Nov. 16 for volleyball and Nov. 20 for basketball at alloutsportsleague.com. Call 203-5626 for more info.
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Clayton Valley High School Athletic Hall of Fame committee is accepting nominations for the 2013 induction class. This will be the third class for the Hall, which began during the school’s 50th anniversary year in 2008. Individuals can nominate student athletes and coaches for the Hall of Fame. The requirement is that the nominee was a CVHS grad or coach in the years 1960-1999 who was allleague in at least one sport. Requests for a nomination form can be sent via e-mail to Dee Billeter at deebilleter@yahoo.com or Bill Nelson at mommanelson5@yahoo.com. Include a mailing address and an application form will be mailed to you. The induction takes place next May 18 at Centre Concord.
and will be for the next two years for sure! I am very confident in our ability to defend our DVAL title this year.” The coach bemoans the lack of a full DVAL school lineup in her sport, which prompted her to find outside competition to enhance the team’s NCS resume. “I wish
more girls in this area were interested in golf.” She adds that CVCHS is grateful to Oakhurst for “their continued generosity to our school and to our sport.” The NCS TOC tournament is on Monday, Oct. 29, at Windsor Golf Club in the Sonoma Wine country.
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Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com
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An ‘Amazing’ Clayton Reads kicks off next week at library KAREN HANSEN Special to the Pioneer
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Get ready to curl up with a good book, as the fifth annual Clayton Reads takes place from Oct.15 – Nov.15. This year’s pick is “One Amazing Thing” by Chitra Divakaruni. The popular program is a part of the Contra Costa Library’s “One City, One Book” program. The idea is to encourage community members to focus on reading one book, and join book discussions and programs or presentations related to the book. Beginning on Monday, Oct. 15, and continuing while the supply lasts, readers can pick up a free copy of the book at the Clayton Library. The Clayton Community Library Foundation, sponsor of
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ern California, she now lives in Houston, Texas, where she teaches in the creative writing program at the University of Houston. Two of her books, “The Mistress of Spices” and “Sister of My Heart,” have been made into movies. Much of Divakaruni’s work deals with immigrant experience, often centered around the life of immigrant women. Leading up to Clayton Reads and during the rest of the month of October, the exhibit “Growing Up Asian in America” is on view at the library. The exhibit showcases the winning students of the 2012 essay, poem and artwork contest for K-12 students in the San Francisco Bay Area (a program of the Asian Pacific Fund). There are a number of other
programs associated with Clayton Reads at the library this fall, including “Earthquake! Bay Area History of a Hazard,” “Henna for Teens,” “Ayurveda Diet: the Healing Cuisine,” yoga classes, “Tell your Own Story,” “Make your own Picture Book,” and many book discussions. For more information about the programs, pick up a flyer at the library, visit http://guides.ccclib.org/onebook or www.claytonlibrary.org. Karen Hansen is a librarian at the Clayton Library.
‘Julia’s Chocolates’ is a sweet novel of hope
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the program, only asks that readers pass the book along to another reader when finished. The novel takes place in an Indian consulate in an unnamed American city. When an earthquake hits, nine men and women of diverse ages and backgrounds are trapped with little food in a slowly flooding office. As they wait, a young student suggests that they each tell an important story from their lives, which they have never told anyone before. The tales of heartbreak and revelation are nuanced and riveting, telling as much about the diversity of Indian culture as they do about the American “melting pot.” Best-selling author Divakaruni was born in India and came to the United States for her graduate studies. Having spent most of her life in North-
Book Review
www. B lack D iamond E lectric.com
Doug Van Wyck
October 12, 2012
THE
BOOKS
You have to love a book about a woman who discovers her innate worth on a chicken farm in rural Oregon. You must adore a heroine who follows her heart even when doing it means turning her back on a sure bet. You might say you need to love a girl who walks out on a blueblood fiancé because unhappiness threatens to swallow her whole. Most of all, you have to admire the chica who hangs her wedding dress on the limbs of a dead tree and drives straight out of town. Cathy Lamb’s latest novel, “Julia’s Chocolates,” (Brava) delivers all these succulent details, and more.
“Julia’s Chocolates” touches a nerve that any woman with a heartbeat will relate to. It seeks out the insecurities we all carry around like little designer bags to reveal them to the world. Who can’t love that? Julia has a weakness for a man in charge. So she’s not perfect. So she carries a few extra pounds. What girl doesn’t harbor imperfections? But the difference between me and you and Julia is that we (I pray) don’t let the man who declares his love for us slap us around and say hurtful things for kicks. One day, finally fed up with her lover’s abuse, and despite a gnawing fear that he will hunt her down no matter what, Julia leaves. She lights out for the one person she thinks can save her. Lamb’s narrative is lyrical and lovely and the quirkiness of her characters adds an elegant counter-point to the
deadly violence that tracks Julia across the country, threatens her with messages that pointedly say “I know where you are and I’m coming for you.” Meanwhile, out in Oregon, Aunt Lydia is a woman worth knowing. She has enough love to make Julia believe that she is beautiful and worthy and valued. Aunt Lydia has a magic all her own and when she calls together one of her women’s’ circles, her niece cannot refuse. Julia believes she has a Dread Disease that will kill her. . .that is if her psycho ex-fiancé doesn’t do it first. What she really has is anxiety, but it’s something she learns to live with, like the garden of porcelain toilets in Aunt Lydia’s front yard. For all her auntie’s eccentricities, Julia discovers a family in Lydia’s community of friends and lovers and she feels prized for perhaps the first time in her life. She meets a man she calls Paul Bunyan because he is
big and burly and handsome enough to stop her heart. She works part time at a library in the next town and delivers newspapers from her car because those are the only jobs she can find. With Aunt Lydia’s sensible care, Julia begins to come out of her cocoon, she begins to make friends, even meets a really nice man who doesn’t seem to notice her fatal flaws. She begins to make what quickly become chocolates that people will drive miles for, but then the hammer falls. Lydia is diagnosed with cancer. The fiancé is on his way and makes it clear that she will be punished for her betrayal. This is a funny, sadly earnest novel that is far too real in too many ways. The sweetness of “Julia’s Chocolates” comes from the courage of a woman who has been given no reason to hope, but she does it anyway and when she does, love follows. Cynthia Gregory writes book reviews, award-winning short stories and a blog. Visit her at www.twogirlstakeonlove.com or write cgregory111@gmail.com
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Try this out with the whole family, and use a chair for balance. It will warm you in no time, burning up about 175 calories. Minute 0-1: Knee Strikes Squat Down As you rise, lift left knee. Thrust hips and knee up, toes pointed, elbows down. Repeat on right.
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Minute 1-2: Upper-Body Sculpter Turn to right and jab forward with right hand, then jab across your body with left. Do 10 reps. Stop and do five push-ups on chair, hands on seat. Turn left, repeat. Minutes 2-4: Cardio Blast Run in place five seconds, do four knee strikes. Repeat. Minute 4-5: Leg Toner Do front-kicks; alternate left and right legs. Minute 5-6: Upper-Body Sculpter Turn to right and jab forward with right hand, then jab across your body with left. Do 10 reps. Stop and do five push-ups on chair, hands on seat. Turn left, repeat. Minutes 6-8: Cardio Blast Run in place five seconds, do four knee strikes. Repeat. Minute 8-9: Booty Camp Hold on to chair for balance; do side-kicks to left. Minute 9-10: UpperBody/Core Sculpter Alternate five push-ups and five seconds of mountain climbers (push-up position, switching knees to chest).
ILIMA HEUERMAN
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Minute 10-11: Booty Camp Hold on to chair for balance; do side-kicks to right. Minutes 11-13: Cardio Blast Run in place five seconds, do four knee strikes. Repeat. Minute 13-14: Four-Count Sit-Up Lie down and crunch in, extend legs, open to V; close legs, keep legs and shoulders six inches off the floor. Minute 14-15: Cool-down Lie on back with eyes shut, arms and legs extended. Ilima Heuerman holds multiple fitness certifications. She trains at Levity Fitness studio in Clayton. Email Ilima at IlimaHeuerman@levityfitness.com
October 12, 2012
Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com
Preparing for your pet’s final journey
Page 13
Steffan Smith Construction Residential Remodeling and Renovation Specializing in Kitchens and Bathrooms
MARYBETH RYMER,
DVM
PET PALS When our aged animal companions reach their final days after many years of devo-
tion and unconditional love, a terminal diagnosis is devastating. We are faced with many medical decisions. The most difficult is deciding when and how the final transition will occur, be it a natural death or euthanasia. With a team of veterinarians, their support staff and animal hospice professionals, family members can be better prepared for their pet’s final journey. Within the last year our hospital cat, Dewey, has been diagnosed with inoperable splenic and liver mast cell cancer. We have made a team staff
decision to make the final days of his life as comfortable as possible. His pain, vomiting and diarrhea are controlled with appropriate medications and diet. Despite his weight loss and increasing fragility he is still functional and happy, enjoying his time visiting with clients at the receptionist desk. Our decision for euthanasia will come when four or more of his ADL’s (activity of daily living) are lost: self-grooming, feeding, locating, ability to control urination and defecation, righting and ability to ambulate. When we see symp-
Woody and Pierre are ARF’s Adoption Stars
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Woody is a perky, bubbly boy who can't wait to start his new life with his new adopter. He loves to explore, and he would love it even more if he could explore with his new adopter. Woody is an energetic boy, but he won't overwhelm you with his enthusiasm. Woody is social, curious, and outgoing. A Basic Manners training class is a classic way for Woody to bond with his new adopter and show off how smart he can be! The adoption fee for adult dogs is $225 and includes 60 percent off one 7-week dog training session. Pierre is a bit of a celebrity
at ARF. He's big and handsome and he knows it. He is looking for a gentle, quiet home or office where he will get the love and freedom he deserves. While he does enjoy playing with the cat dancer, he also enjoys short jaunts around our facility and giving a bit of face time to his avid followers. Pierre has a few special needs: A carpeted home/office, a larger than usual litter box and an adopter willing to be a part of his epic weight loss journey. Will you be his #1 fan? The adoption fee for adult cats is $50. Meet your forever friend at Tony La Russa’s Animal Rescue
Mayor, from page 1 license plate number and the time the violation occurs. Sending this information to our police department should make a difference. A warning letter can be sent to the offender. When possible, patrol cars can then monitor the situation, witness the violation and ticket the individual. We live in a small city where most Claytonians want to have the feeling of a “village.” By communicating with your neighbors, concerns about safety issues will spread through the “village.” Hopefully violators will then become aware of the potential danger they are creating. Do not be complacent. Report speeders. Report people in your neighborhoods who are in the streets, parks and open spaces after dark when these areas are off limits. Know your neighbors and create neighborhood watch programs. You can make a difference. Our Beautiful City: As I drove through our neighborhoods looking for inspiration for this column, I noticed how
diverse our subdivisions are. Each neighborhood has its own character depending on when it was built, who built it or the modifications made by different owners over the years. There is definitely pride of ownership. Homes have lots of fresh paint, blooming flowerbeds and beautiful mature landscaping. Speaking of landscaping, Clayton’s newly landscaped medians are colorful and filling in nicely. Our signature oak trees are truly a focal point. The added accent of night spotlights makes the oak trees even more attractive. Daffodil Hill is now complete. I am confident the winter rains will help establish the maturing plants. Good attendance at CVCHS: On a recent visit to Clayton Valley Charter High School, I met with Executive Director David Linzey and Director of Operations Pat Middendorf. We chatted and I walked away with the feeling our children are truly benefiting from the conversion. School attendance this year has been at 97.3 percent. Parents or
Foundation, 2890 Mitchell Drive, Walnut Creek, during adoption hours: Noon to 5 p.m. Wednesday, 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.
guardians are contacted about their absent student. When possible, help is offered for problematic situations. I observed brunch in the quad and noticed students using trash receptacles. There was a “buzz” of congeniality as students mixed and mingled. I am looking forward to returning and trying out the new lunch menu that teachers and students like enough to wait in line for. Mr. Linzey reminded me of the importance of family values. Eating dinners together, without electronic devices for distraction, encourages families to discuss their day’s events. It allows families to share calendars so they can support each other’s endeavors. Mr. Linzey assured me dinner hours shared by families help create better students, better parents and better communities. Thanks again: Finally, I want to thank all of you for your kind words, e-mails, phone calls and congratulatory cards about my recent marriage to Debbie. It was a day we will certainly cherish. Please send comments and questions to Councilmangeller@aol.com.
toms of a loss of appetite, fluid retention or dehydration, anemia, uncontrollable pain, trouble breathing at rest, or inability to greet us we will know death is near and it is time for euthanasia. But there is always hope for a peaceful natural passing. Your veterinarian can recommend supportive care during these last days. There are also hospice professionals who provide at-home services and round-the-clock support. But often pain becomes too great or the prolonged nursing care becomes too emotionally and physically draining for the caregivers, making euthanasia a kind alternative. Inevitably, you will know when the time has come, when the undeniable loss of that life affirming sparkle has waned from your pet’s eyes. The privilege of performing euthanasia is not a task that is taken lightly. Our pets are unable to make this choice, so we must make this decision the best we can for them. It can be a welcomed relief of pain and suffering for those who are terminally ill. Perhaps euthanasia allows us to have some control of death, allowing us to choose a quiet time to help our beloved pet in their transition. Whether it is euthanasia or a pain-controlled hospice guided passage, these choices allow our companion to pass with dignity, alleviating the fear, pain and often struggles that come with the last minutes of life. For further help in making these end-of-life decisions, please discuss your options with your veterinarian and visit these informative web sites: www.rainbowbridgevet.com, www.pethospice.org. Marybeth Rymer, DVM, can be reached at Monte Vista Animal Hospital, Concord. 672-1100.
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Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com
October 12, 2012
Weather balloons still fly in the 21st Century
WOODY WHITLATCH WEATHER WORDS Over the past several years, data transmitted from multi-billion dollar orbiting weather satellites have played an important role in advancing our knowledge of the earth’s weather. As impor-
tant as the satellite data are, meteorologists still rely on old-fashioned weather balloons to produce weather forecasts. Nearly a century ago, scientists began using balloon-borne instrument packages with radio transmitters to relay upper air temperature, relative humidity and pressure measurements to ground stations. These measurement systems were called radiosondes (“sonde” is an old English word for “messenger”). Ground-based tracking of the balloon’s ascent path allows for the calculation of wind speed and wind direction. During the mid 1930s, the
U.S. Weather Bureau established a network of radiosonde launch sites. Radiosonde observation balloons (commonly called RAOBs) quickly emerged as the data backbone for weather maps used by commercial and military flight planners. It soon became convention to release the RAOBs twice per day. With the advent of computer forecast models after World War II, RAOB measurements began to be used as the primary initialization database for each model run. They still serve that purpose today. All RAOBs are launched at the same time every day, 00
GMT and 12 GMT. GMT is Greenwich Mean Time, eight hours ahead of Pacific Standard Time, meaning that the launch times in our time zone are at 4 a.m. and 4 p.m.. RAOB data from throughout the world are transmitted to a supercomputer, quality checked, and then sent to the modeling centers. The accuracy of today’s forecast models is in a large part due to the high-quality initialization database provided by RAOBs. A modern RAOB system consists of a balloon attached to a white plastic box containing an instrument package, radio
receiver, tracking unit, recorder and parachute. The balloon that carries the package skyward is inflated to a diameter of about six feet at the time of launch. When the RAOB reaches an altitude of approximately 25 miles, the balloon expands to a diameter of nearly 30 feet before bursting. After the balloon bursts the parachuted instrument box descends slowly to earth. Return mailing instructions are printed on the box. RAOBs that are recovered can be refurbished for subsequent flights. Today there are 70 RAOB stations in the U.S. and more than
300 world-wide. The weather balloon launch site closest to Clayton is at the Oakland Airport. The next time you fly out of Oakland look out the window. If you observe a large red object floating skyward in the distance, rest assured that it is not an alien spaceship, but a weather balloon. Attached to that balloon is a RAOB, one of the most important tools that meteorologists have for measuring weather conditions in the sky. Woody Whitlatch is a meteorologist with PG&E. Email your questions or comments to clayton_909@yahoo.com
Clayton Community Calendar PLEASE SUBMIT YOUR CLAYTON COMMUNITY CALENDAR EVENTS BY 5 P.M. OCT. 17 FOR THE OCT. 26 ISSUE. ITEMS MUST BE SUBMITTED BY EMAIL TO calendar@claytonpioneer.com
IN CLAYTON Oct. 13, 20, 27 Farmers’ Market 8 a.m. – noon, Saturdays, Diablo Street between Main and Center streets, downtown, pcfma.com/clayton. Oct. 18 Framing The Clayton Valley Art Collaborative is hosting coffee and speaker Craig Andersen, owner of Clayton Valley Frameworks, to talk about proper framing technique. 3 – 5 p.m. Diamond Terrace, 6401 Center St., Clayton. $5 donation. Call Candace Bass kndbass@aol.com. 673-7036. Nov. 4 Vet Clinic Free rabies shots for dogs. $9 rabies shots for cats. Other vaccines and nonemergency care available for pets. 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Rodie’s Feed and Pet Supply, 8863 Marsh Creek Rd., Clayton. 672-4600.
HALLOWEEN Oct. 26, 27, 31 Cursi House of Screams Halloween horror. Fri. and Sat. 7:30 – 10 p.m. Halloween 7 – 9:30 p.m. 5625 Lewis Way, Concord. $1. cursihouseofscreams.com.
Oct. 15 “The Water is Wide” Singer and storyteller Randy Rutherford performs his award-winning program. 7:30 p.m. St. John’s Episcopal Church, 5555 Clayton Road, Clayton. $15. brownpapertickets.com. 672-8717. Oct. 18 “The Sounds in the Night” Renowned conductor David Commanday leads an exploration of the mysterious and mystifying sounds of the night. 7:30 p.m. Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek. $20-$65. lesherartscenter.org. 943-7469. Oct. 19 – Nov. 17 “The Underpants” From the mind of Steve Martin comes a wild and crazy satire. Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek. $33-$53. centerrep.org. 943-7469. Oct. 27 Lung Health Fair Vital information about lung health. Time for questions and free screenings. 8 a.m. – 1 p.m. John Muir Medical Center, 2540 East St., Concord. Register at johnmuirhealth.com/classes or call 9474447.
Oct. 28 Pet Costume Contest Pictures and prizes. 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. Rodie’s Feed and Pet Supply, 8863 Marsh Creek Rd., Clayton. 672-4600.
Oct. 27 Sierra Guitar Performance by Thibault Cauvin. 7:15 p.m. Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek. $25. lesherartscenter.org. 9437469.
Oct. 31 Ghost Walk Walking tour of local downtown haunted folklore sites. Narrated by Richard Taylor. Rain or shine. Bring flashlight and umbrella, if needed; costumes optional. 7:30 – 9:30 p.m. Meet at Endeavor Hall, 6008 Center St., Clayton. Free.
Oct. 30 Hike Leader Workshop Learn about leading hikes in the parks and around Mount Diablo. 6 – 8 p.m. Save Mount Diablo, 1901 Olympic Blvd., Suite 320, Walnut Creek. Response required to George: gphillips@savemountdiablo.org or 947-3535.
EVENTS AND ENTERTAINMENT Thru Oct. 13 “The Emperor’s New Clothes” When the clothes-loving King decrees that he will give his daughter in marriage for the most beautiful wardrobe, a most unusual and amusing result occurs. Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek. $14. lesherartscenter.org. 943-7469. Thru Nov. 4 “She Stoops to Conquer” Oliver Goldsmith’s comedy of miscommunication and mistaken identities. Cue Productions Live, 1835 Colfax St., Concord. Oct. 12: $25 opening night gala. $10-$20. brownpapertickets.com. Oct. 12 “Great Music from Great Ballets” Fantastic evening of classical music from legendary ballets. 8 p.m. Sherman Clay, 1605 Bonanza St. Free. diabloballet.org. 943-1775. Oct. 12 – Nov. 10 “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” Brilliant celebration of music, color and words. Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek. $40-49. ccmt.org. Oct. 13 Plant Sale End-of-season, fall plant sale: 50 percent off, including hard-to-find California native plants and succulents. 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. Markham Regional Arboretum Society Nursery. 1202 La Vista Ave., Concord. 681-2968. Oct. 14 “Arabian Nights” The opening of Diablo Symphony Orchestra’s 50th anniversary season, featuring Joyce Johnson Hamilton on the trumpet and new music Director-Conductor Matilda Hofman. 2 p.m. Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek. $10-$25. diablosymphony.org. 943-7469. Oct. 15 Teen Nutrition Join pediatric nutritionist, Johanna Kammerer, RD, as she reviews basic nutritional needs for adolescents and teens. 6:30 – 8 p.m. John Muir Health’s Women’s Health Center, 1656 N. California Blvd., Walnut Creek. Free. Register at johnmuirhealth.com/classes. 941-7900.
and Tavo’s donates 20 percent. Dine in, take out or delivery. 11 a.m. – 9 p.m. Located at 5434 Ygnacio Valley Road, Concord. 672-6696. Oct. 26 Katie’s Dream Dinner, live music, auction to raise funds for Katie Grace Groebner’s heart and lung transplant. 6:30 – 11 p.m. Centre Concord, 5294 Clayton Road, Concord. $100. cotaforkatiegraceg.com. Nov. 10 Auction Old West two-bit auction, dessert raffle, prizes. 6 p.m. Back Forty Texas BBQ, 100 Coggins Drive, Pleasant Hill. $50. Proceeds benefit Soroptimist International of Diablo Vista programs. Respond by Nov. 5 to Jan Townsend at 827-1050.
AT THE LIBRARY The Clayton Library is at 6125 Clayton Road. Programs are free unless otherwise noted. claytonlibrary.org or 673-0659. Wednesdays Book Buddies A volunteer will read stories for children 3 and older. 1-2 p.m. Tuesdays thru Nov. 27 Patty Cakes Story time for babies to 3-year-olds. Child attends with caregiver. 11 a.m. Thursdays thru Nov. 15 Picture Book Time Story time for 3 to 5-year-olds. Child may attend without caregiver. 11 a.m. Thru Nov. 6 Paws to Read Encourage children to read. Children in grades 1 – 5 read out loud to a dog. Sign up for maximum of four sessions. 4 p.m. or 4:35 p.m. Registration required.
Nov. 1 – 18 “Status Update” A comedy with music about Internet addiction for the curious and the curiouser. Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek. $25-$35. centerrep.org. 943-7469.
Oct. 12 - 14 Book Sale Fall book sale by Clayton Library Foundation. Members only, Fri. 4 – 7 p.m. Sat. 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Sun. 12 – 4 p.m. Books from $.50-$1. Most half price on Sunday or $3/bag from 2 – 4 p.m.
Nov. 2 – 17 “All in the Timing” Evening of comedy combining wit, intellect, satire and just plain fun. Diablo Actors’ Ensemble, 1345 Locust St., Walnut Creek. $10-$25. diabloactors.com.
Oct. 15 – Nov. 15 Clayton Reads While supplies last, pick up “One Amazing Thing” by Chitra Divakaruni. Read and pass along to another reader or back to the library.
Nov. 4 Contra Costa Wind Symphony Celebrate election time and Veteran’s Day with an evening of patriotic music and vocal selections from Broadway. 7:30 p.m. Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek. $10-$25. lesherartscenter.org. 943-7469.
Oct. 20 Earthquake! Bay Area history of a hazard. Presentation by Chuck James, Earthquake Engineering Library, UC Berkeley. 1 p.m.
FUNDRAISERS Thru Nov. 18 Coat Drive Clayton Community Church and CVCHS Public Service Academy are collecting winter wear at the church to give to families in need in the Bay Area. 6055 Main St., Clayton. Contact Jayleen at coatdrive2012@gmail.com.
Oct. 22 Henna for Teens How and why Henna body art is used around the world, demonstration, practice. Register in person at library. Permission slip required. 4 p.m. Nov. 3 Ayurveda Diet Dietitian Chaitali Rede discusses integrating this age old nutrition wisdom from India into American lifestyle. 1 p.m.
Oct. 13 Music-a-thon CVCHS Band marches from Endeavor Hall through Clayton starting at 9 a.m.
Nov. 3 Yoga with Alandi Instructor Alandi Stec gives introduction to yoga and benefits. Practice for mixed levels. Bring yoga mat and loose clothing. 10:15 a.m.
Oct. 14 Autumn at the Adobe An afternoon of wine tasting at the historic home of Concord’s founder, Don Salvio Pacheco. Proceeds benefit Concord Historical Society Museum. 1 – 4 p.m. 1870 Adobe St., Concord. $30 in advance; $35 at the door. Make check payable to Concord Historical Society and mail to Janet Bruno, 4033 Treat Blvd., Concord, CA 94518. Call 827-3380 for more information.
Nov. 4, 7 Book Discussions Join discussions of 2012 Clayton Reads book, “One Amazing Thing.” Moderated by Karen Hansen-Smith. Nov. 4 at 2 p.m. Nov. 7 at 7 p.m.
Oct. 21 Hike for SHELTER Join SHELTER, Inc. for a hike on Mount Diablo to raise awareness of homelessness in the community. shelterincofccc.org. Oct. 24 Mt. Diablo Elementary Parent Faculty Club Mention MDES when you order from Tavo’s Pizzeria and Restaurant.
GOVERNMENT 1st and 3rd Tuesdays Clayton City Council 7 p.m. Hoyer Hall, Clayton Library, 6125 Clayton Road. 673-7304 or ci.clayton.ca.us. 2nd and 4th Tuesdays Clayton Planning Commission 7 p.m., Hoyer Hall, Clayton Library, 6125 Clayton Road. 673-7304 or ci.clayton.ca.us.
October 12, 2012
Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com
Page 15
e c t h a i l p o s c o f f th e o l e b l o c k o h C In the store the other day, I was faced with a surprisingly vast array of chips for baking – the standard semi-sweet chocolate, milk chocolate, butterscotch and white chocolate chips, Heath toffee chips, Reese’s peanut butter chips, Ghirardelli’s 60 percent cacao chips (the darker side of chocolate), and Andes weighed in with mint and dark chocolate chips and peppermint crunch chips. How this all came about can be traced back to Ruth Wakefield and her Toll House Inn in New Bedford, Massachusetts. In the 1930s, she baked cookies for her guests and one day she decided to put small bits of a semi-sweet chocolate bar into the cookies, thinking they would melt. Instead, they became softer but held their shape. Legend and fame followed and she soon struck a deal with chocolate maker Nestle to publish her recipe on the back wrapper of their semi-sweet chocolate bars. In exchange, she received a lifetime supply of chocolate. Wanting to make the product more usable, Nestle formulated chocolate in the now-classic teardrop shape and Nestle’s Toll House Real Chocolate morsels
were launched for posterity. We have to go back more than 135 years to find the origins of the Nestle company. In 1875, a Swiss experimenter was able to combine condensed milk (milk with a portion of the liquid removed) and cocoa to create milk chocolate. His neighbor, a gentleman named Henri Nestle, the condensed milk pioneer, fell in love with the concoction. He bought the rights from his neighbor and founded a company bearing his name that has since become a multi-national conglomerate. It’s well known that chocolate chips are used in sweets like cookies, pancakes, waffles, cakes, muffins, pies and ice cream, but you’ll also see them in granola bars and trail mix. However, I’ve melted deep dark chocolate chips and blended them with port and beef broth to make a positively sinful sauce for filet mignon. There’s more port and broth in the sauce than chocolate but that bit of chocolate creates a magnificent depth of flavor that makes the filet taste even beefier, if that’s possible. Chocolate chips aren’t just plain chocolate. The traditional
Nestle morsels consist of semi-sweet chocolate (sugar, chocolate liquor and cocoa butter) combined with soy lecithin (a natural emulsifier) and “natural flavors” (including vanilla). Reading the ingredients on other chip manufacturers can be worthwhile if you prefer to avoid chemical enhancements. Chocolate chips are denser than chips from a chocolate bar (there’s less cocoa butter) and this allows them to mostly maintain their shape when heated. The cocoa butter in chips begins to melt at 90 degrees, and if you’re deliberately melting them to make a coating, or chocolate bark, or include in brownies, you need to take care not to heat them past 115 degrees or the chocolate will burn. Back in the 1990s someone got the bright idea of pairing off cookies of First Ladies-to-be to see who had the best cookie. Except for one time, it’s proven to be a good barometer of the outcome of the pending Presidential Election. In 2008, Cindy McCain’s cookie bested Michele Obama’s – but there was controversy, of course. The informal rules called for homemade cookies and although homemade, Mrs. McCain used a recipe printed on the back of a chocolate bar. This year, the First Lady and Ann Romney squared off in the Family Circle Presidential Cookie Bake-Off. The results are in and Mrs. Obama’s cookie out-polled that of Mrs. Romney (who chal-
Getting sweet on sweet potatoes
MAMA KAYE’S WHITE AND DARK CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES (Makes about 5 dozen)
It wouldn’t be autumn without sweet potatoes. Whether you bake them, “candy” them, or mash them, they’re delicious. Full of antioxidants and vitamins, and surprisingly low in calories, they’re perfect as a side with turkey or ham, vegetables and more.
2¼ cups all-purpose flour 1 tsp. baking soda 1 tsp. salt 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened 1 stick Crisco butter-flavored solid vegetable shortening ¾ cup granulated sugar ¾ cup packed brown sugar 1 tsp. vanilla extract 2 eggs
FOOD
FOR
THOUGHT
Drop rounded tablespoons of dough onto ungreased baking sheets and bake 10-12 minutes until set and lightly browned. 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@pansonfire.com
HOME SHOW Oakhurst Country Club
THURSDAY, NOV. 1 5:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Featuring fabulous ideas to spruce up your home for the holiday season! Learn from experts and meet interior designers, décor specialists, see beautiful tablescapes, holiday décor, menu presentation and so much more. Sample delicious hors d’oeuvres and taste exquisite wines (holiday case discounts will be available). COMPLIMENTARY TO ATTEND.
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A true yam, native to Africa , is the tuber of a tropical vine (Dioscorea batatas) and is not even distantly related to the sweet potato. The term “yam” came to be synonymous with sweet potatoes because Louisiana farmers used the term to market their moist, orange sweet potatoes. Here is one of my own favorite sweet potato recipes.
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Peel and cube the sweet potatoes. Toss them in a bowl with the oil, fresh thyme, fresh rosemary, salt and pepper. Add minced garlic if you like. Place in a single layer on an aluminum foil covered cookie sheet. Cover loosely with another sheet of foil. Bake 30 minutes, then remove top foil and bake another 15 minutes, or until browned and softened. This recipe works for winter squash and pumpkin as well.
Discover
Pumpkins, from page 1 nated the plants indoors before meticulously transplanting them outside into individual mounds of dirt, and frequently tested soil temperature, just to be sure all was well. The vines responded, soon racing and reaching past one another for space to grow further until they took over half the yard. Golden flowers blossomed, and in their wake, pumpkins. Adam soon found himself having to place wooden pallets under each of the giant squash to keep them from rotting under their own weight. And speaking of weight: Once pumpkins get to a certain size, regular scales become impractical. Instead, a series of measurements are taken and entered into a formula to determine their mass. “Once we got to 200 pounds, I was like, ‘wow …’” says Adam. “They just got bigger, bigger, and
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bigger!” The pumpkins didn’t stop growing then. As of Sept. 22, when the four pumpkins had been clipped from their stems and set to cure, the smallest weighed 222 pounds, and the biggest – dubbed Fatty McGee after an Adam Sandler character – came in at a whoppin’ 434 pounds. Asked what they plan to do with the pumpkins, Laura Fischer laughed. “That’s the million dollar question,” she says. “That’s a lot of pumpkin pie!” In fact, once cured and ready for transport, one of the pumpkins is bound for a neighbor’s Boy Scout troop for a giant pumpkin carving party. The Fischers plan to have two on display in their front yard for trick-or-treaters to admire on Halloween. The fourth is bound for Adam’s parents’ place in Stanislaus. There, Adam expects, he’ll have plenty of land, and plans to use the seeds from this year’s pumpkins to grow a whole new crop of monsters.
the
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“I just thought it would be fun to try to grow one bigger than the biggest one we’d ever had,” says Adam, who made the project work in the time before they relandscape their backyard next year. That pumpkin, he recalled, weighed about 138 pounds. Anyone who thinks they can just buy a packet of seeds at Orchard Supply Hardware, plant them in the backyard with a few drops of Miracle-Gro and suddenly produce giant gourds may have just fallen off a pumpkin truck. Indeed the process of amending soil, clipping runners and pulling weeds is similar to that of growing vegetables from the smallest of chilies on up. But there the similarity is squashed. Adam mixed 50 bags of steer manure into the soil of his backyard, and installed an irrigation system just for this crop. Having paid nearly $2 for each of the six seeds he planted, he germi-
Heat oven to 375°. Whisk together flour, baking soda and salt in a small bowl and set aside. In a large bowl with an electric mixer, cream butter, vegetable shortening, granulated sugar, brown sugar and vanilla extract. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. On low speed, beat in flour mixture. By hand, stir in white and milk chocolate chips, mint chips and walnuts.
LINDA WYNER
HERB-ROASTED SWEET POTATOES 2 large sweet potatoes, peeled and cubed 1 Tbsp. olive oil 1/2 Tbsp. fresh thyme 1/2 Tbsp. fresh rosemary ¼ tsp. salt Dash ground pepper 1 clove minced garlic (optional)
DEBRA J. MORRIS Pacific Coast Farmers Market
SWEET POTATOES VS. YAMS California grows both “dry flesh” and “moist flesh” varieties. The “moist flesh” type is sometimes referred to as a yam, and the “dry flesh” as a sweet potato. They are both sweet potatoes. Sweet potatoes are native to Central America and Peru. The sweet potato is a member of the morning glory family.
1 cup each white chocolate chips, milk chocolate chips and mint chocolate chips (or Andes mint pieces) 2 cups chopped walnuts
lenged with an M&M cookie). Here’s the winning recipe:
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Recipe for a successful kitchen remodel
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October 12, 2012
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Let’s be honest, kitchen remodels are not “weekend warrior”-type projects, nor are they easy on the checking account. But if you have a good designer and contractor working together, they will guide you in the right direction with style, function, layout and budget in mind. Here are a few things to consider when taking on a kitchen remodel: DESIGN YOUR KITCHEN FOR YOU
Perusing through popular home magazines, it’s almost impossible not to fall in love with the beautiful kitchens luxuriously spread across the pages. Visions of perfectly designed and glazed cabinetry, built-in
appliances for every single cooking need, and sparkly glass and hand-painted ceramic back splashes make you feel like you could move right in with your dish towel in hand. The kitchen, next to the bedroom, is the most lived-in room within a home. If you’re making moves to remodel your kitchen, make sure this kitchen fits your lifestyle, aesthetically and functionally, not for the model drinking champagne in her ball room gown while cooking pasta on her gas cooktop that you saw in Elle Décor. SHOP ONLINE, BUT BE AWARE
the “place order” button, do your due diligence and ask the online seller what their terms are if you should have an issue with your purchase down the road.
OF VOID WARRANTIES
REPURPOSE YOUR EXISTING
We’ve all done it, shopped online for a better price for one thing or another. For some things, like a fabulous leather chair you found on eBay for a steal, your searching endeavors have paid off. But this is not always the case for installed items such as plumbing, appliances or light fixtures where a warranty may be void if purchased online, compared to a contractor, designer, or well known home store. Your online find very well may be the deal of the century, but before you hit
When most people think of a kitchen remodel, the first item on the list is new cabinetry. One way to lessen this line item in your budget is to use your existing cabinet frames. Your contractor or cabinet maker will be able to assess your cabinet frames to determine if they are in good condition and can go another round with new doors and drawers. This idea works best for kitchens that need an updated look, but not an entirely new layout. If your cabinet
CABINETRY FRAMES
frames pass the inspection, this means you may have a little more wiggle room in your budget to potentially select a door with a more interesting finish or transitional profile. A new kitchen is a very exciting project, and doing your own research with popular home magazines for style and layout, talking with different contractors and designers to get a feel for budget and timelines, as well as repurposing different elements in your existing kitchen, will help you get the most out of your new project. Jennifer Leischer is the owner of J. Designs Interior Design based in Clayton. Contact her with questions, comments and suggestions at jenna@j-designs.com.
Mix textures, layers and prints this fall Contractors Lic #879423 Arborist Lic WE-7372A
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f f O % 0 1 ton for Clay only s t n reside
Remodeling Specialist Kitchens Bathrooms Windows Mouldings Decks Siding Painting interior & exterior We accept credit cards. Kevin Schmidt, Clayton Resident Family Owned and Operated license 962284
No woman today expects to refresh her whole closet for fall, but few of us want to just sit out the season either. So if you’re having trouble deciding what to buy, here are some trends to consider: Mix it Up: Go for woven opulence, brocades, velvet and embroidery. The key is to mix up your fabrics and finishes. For pants, be brave, go vibrant and really colorful – it’s the best way to welcome winter. Red, cobalt and orange are still important shades, but this season anything goes. If you want to plunge right in, go for head-to-toe color, otherwise team a brightcolored pant with a more subtle cream or gray top. Summer was all about floral prints, but for fall switch it up a notch and go for graphics. Lay on layers: If you like layering, here are some basic tips – the thinnest garment should lay closest to your skin. The longest
piece of clothing is normally the bottom layer. Don’t wear two garments with the same style. For instance, if you are layering a ruffled shirt with a sweater, avoid using a sweater that also has ruffles. Also mix and match patterns with solids. Slippery shoes: The shoe trend includes metallic leather, glittered panels, and toecaps on everything from boots to flats. The slipper has been re-invented as the hottest flat of the
moment. Try velvet, animal print and silk designs. Glovely: Although we probably won’t see them in downtown Clayton, elbow-length or upperarm gloves in leather, silk or satin are back – perfect with a sharp suit. Fur sure: Outerwear is supremely warm and stylish with faux fur and shearling topping the list. The pea coat is transformed in soft cashmere or oversized knits. Suit up: The two-piece suit has a fresh look with bold patterns, bright hues, slim-fit pants and waist-cinching jackets. The blouse reappears in look-at-me prints, with prim ruffles and bows. Eyes are drawn to the neckline as the collar has its moment. With ornate beading, pearls, jewel embellishment or patent leather, this is your new jewelry. Dress-up time: For evening, think embellished, sequined,
JUDITH MARSHALL
FASHION OVER 50 shiny, lacey and super-elegant. Blood red lipstick paired with violet eyeshadows make for an updated look. Dress up your “do” after dark with ornate jewels and hairclips. Embracing one or two new trends can make your favorite golden-oldie staples look fresh. Live long and pester! Judith Marshall is the author of “Husbands May Come and Go but Friends are Forever.”
925-822-5144 738 Bloching Circle, Clayton
“We recently hired Kevin Schmidt at Diablo View Construction to do some remodeling in our kitchen and bathroom, and we couldn’t be more pleased with the results. Kevin is professional, thorough and timely. Every telephone call is promptly returned. Every small detail is done with exacting precision. Each room exceeded our expectations, and we are confident to recommend Kevin to anyone.” – Mike and Susan Fossan
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Club News CARE PACKAGES FOR OUR TROOPS The Contra Costa Blue Star Moms are preparing to send holiday care packages to troops deployed overseas and are seeking care package donations. All of the following items are welcome: beef jerky (no pork); beef sticks; tuna packets; tuna and chicken salad kits (no ham); canned chili or stew; small packets of trail mix, corn nuts, snack crackers, nuts and cookies; granola and protein bars; single cider mix and cocoa mix; instant oatmeal packs; microwave popcorn; mini cereal boxes; microwave macaroni and cheese; individually wrapped hard candy (no chocolate); gum; mints; small packs of baby wipes; 80 percent or more cotton crew socks; black knit caps; clothespins; dispos-
Laurie Arbour, Sonia Cardich, Tracy Conley, Kim Hicks and Debbie Fautt prepare care packages for troops overseas.
able razors; fingernail clippers; small foot powders; Q-tips; eye drops; toothbrushes; small toothpastes; sewing kits; eyeglass
repair kits; AA batteries; pencils; work game and crossword books (no Sudoku); playing cards; antibiotic cream and cough drops. Donations may be delivered to A-1 Self Storage at 5296 Concord Blvd., Concord. Cash donations are also welcome for postage. Make checks payable to Contra Costa Blue Star Moms and mail to P.O. Box 6379, Concord, CA 94524. All donations are tax deductible. The Blue Star Moms are happy to send a Holiday care package to any address they receive. APO or FPO addresses should be sent to carepackageaddresses@ccbluestarmoms.org. Please include an end-of-deployment date. Contact Loretta Masnada with questions at 686-3944. The Blue Star Moms is a nonprofit organization to provide support for all members of the United States Armed Forces and its veterans. Go to www.ccbluestarmoms.org for more information.
CLAYTON VALLEY WOMAN’S CLUB DISPLAY AT THE CLAYTON COMMUNITY LIBRARY DURING OCTOBER
Club members Arlene Lewandowski, Aleta Huck and Shirley Boyd (not shown) assembled the display to share the good works of the club.
Stop by the Clayton Community Library during October to view the library’s display case which will be devoted to the history and activities of the Clayton Valley Woman’s Club, one of the long-time clubs in the area. Some of the items in the display case are a Proclamation from the city of Concord, lists of donation and scholarship recipients, Club Charter and picture from Endeavor Hall, list of
fundraisers, a letter from President Obama and a list of some of the club projects. The GFWC Clayton Valley Woman’s Club started in 1973 and is dedicated to meeting the needs of the community. The club meets the second Tuesday of each month, except July and August, at Holy Cross Lutheran Church, 1092 Alberta Way, Concord. For more information, go to claytonvalleywomansclub.org.
October 12, 2012
Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com
Page 17
Advertise in the Pioneer (925) 672-0500
Performing Arts
CCMT presents a new look at ‘Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat’ With a crash of drums and a flash of light, the Contra Costa Musical Theatre (CCMT) cast will explode with a new version of “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,” opening at the Lesher Theatre October 12. The show is a colorful and comic journey through the Biblical story of young Joseph, sold into slavery by his brothers after being favored by their father with a gorgeous colored cloak. His gift of prophecy saves him from an uncertain fate and helps him to rescue Egypt from famine. Animated with a high-
St. John’s Stage presents
Singer/Storyteller
Randy Rutherford
energy mix of music and dancing from 50s rock to Calypso to country western, this show is hailed by audiences everywhere for its family-friendly storyline, universal themes and catchy tunes. “Joseph” plays at the Lesher Center for the Arts in Walnut Creek, Oct. 12Nov. 10. Tickets are on sale at the Lesher Center for the Arts Ticket Office, 1601 Civic Drive in Walnut Creek. For show times or tickets call (925) 943-7469 or purchase online at www.lesherArtscenter.org.
$15 at brownpapertickets.com 925-672-8717 or at the door Limited seating
Oliver Goldsmith, has delighted audiences past and present, and remains one of the few 18th century plays to be regularly performed for modern audiences. The action centers on a wealthy Londoner, Charles Marlow, who is impossible with women of his own class, but transforms into a ladies’ man around lower-class women. Hoping to convince him to marry the wealthy and highborn Kate in spite of his aver-
Friday, Oct. 12, 7:30 p.m.
in
The Water is Wide
“One of the funniest, most poignant and inspiring performances you're likely to see for a long time.” - Toronto Star
St. John’s Episcopal Church 5555 Clayton Rd, Clayton
TIM HOMSLEY (JOSEPH) stars in Contra Costa Musical Theatre’s exciting new take on “Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat” opening at the Lesher Center Oct. 12. Homsley was most recently seen in Center REP’s “Spring Awakening” and “Xanadu”
Butterfield 8 conquers the classics with this raucous, restoration comedy opening Oct. 12 Butterfield 8 Theatre Company, housed in a tiny little theater downtown Concord, is one of the better kept secrets in the local performing arts world, This month, the company will present Oliver Goldsmith’s restoration comedy, “She Stoops to Conquer,” opening Oct. 11 and running through Nov. 4 at Cue Productions Live on Colfax St. The raucous comedy, written in 1773 by Irish playwright
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sion to upper class women, a zany cast of characters including Kate, her father, Kate’s half brother and even the servants, must resort to miscommunication and mistaken identities to achieve their goals. “Although the play itself was written more than 200 years ago, it remains surprisingly relevant and engaging to a modern audience,” says director and company Artistic Director, John Butterfield. “It’s
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escapist entertainment at its best – just in time for election season. The play is laugh out loud funny, a little bit bawdy and a little bit romantic. We are thrilled to be able to bring this timeless gem back to the Bay Area.” Cue Productions Live is at 1835 Colfax St. in Concord. For showtimes and ticket information, call 800.838.3006 or go online at b8company.com/events.
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Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com
October 12, 2012
Get three times the flavor with grafted fruit trees Three-in-one fruit trees are a great way to save space in your Clayton Valley landscapes and backyard orchards. Grafters have been busy creating fruitbearing trees for busy people who want more variety and flavor, yet don’t have the time or space to grow many different trees. Three-in-one fruit trees are exactly what the name implies: They are a trunk with three different fruit growths grafted on it. A three-in-one fruit tree will spread out the fruit yielding time, and gives growers more variety to enjoy. Apple and cherry trees make excellent three-in-one trees in our Clayton Valley climates. They are the least prone to the various diseases that plague our peaches, nectarines and pear trees, making them perfect for those who want to do less spraying. Apple three-in-ones come in many combinations of apple varieties. One of the more popular combinations are the ones that yield Gala, Fuji and Jonagold. A Jonagold apple is an American apple that was developed in the 1940s. It is a cross between a Golden Delicious and a Jonathan apple. The Jonagold has a honey, sweet taste with a slight kick of tartness. It has crisp flesh that is creamy yellow. The Jonagold is great right off the tree, in baking and in sauces. Fuji is a self-fertile apple that has become the most mar-
pink blush. They are excellent for baking. The Van cherry isn’t recognizable by name, and their taste is very sweet and resemble Bing cherries. The Van cherry is included in the three-in-one tree since it’s the pollinator for both the Bing and the Rainier Sweet cherries.
NICOLE HACKETT
GARDEN GIRL ketable apple in recent years. They were developed in the 1950s in Japan and are the combination of Red Delicious and Ralls Janet. Gala is another highly desirable apple. It is described as a kid’s apple, with mild flavors and thin skin that picky eaters love. Cherries are expensive to purchase, so growing them is an appealing venture for many. Three-in-one trees allow you to get the most variety ripening at different times for maximum family enjoyment. Rainier Sweet, Van and Bing are some of the most sought-after cherries. Bing cherries are a grocery standard with familiar deep red skin and super sweet flavor. Bing cherries are great eaten straight off the tree, in jams and pies. They are also full of toxin fighting anti-oxidants. Rainier Sweet cherries are large, sweet cherries with a creamy texture to their fruit. They have uniquely colored skin of yellows with a
Apple and cherry trees need to be planted where they can get full sun. In the early years they will need regular fertilizer. Use an organic food formulated for fruit trees beginning in February through the fruiting season.
Apple trees will need to have Coddling Moth traps hung in their branches sometime in March. Watch your cherry trees closely to spot any signs of scale. This is a persistent problem for cherry trees. You may consider applying a layer of Tree Tanglefoot, an insect barrier, in the early days of spring. You will need to reapply. Autumn is a great planting time. Any fruit tree can be installed and you should add to your veggie gardens too. Plant broccoli, Brussels sprouts, chard, spinach, snow peas and
lettuce now. If you are still waiting on the ripening of some of your tomatoes, consider installing your winter veggies in portable Smart Pots or tubs. You will get the same results without all the fuss. Happy planting. Nicole is the Garden Girl at R&M Pool, Patio, Gifts and Garden and the 2012 president of the Clayton Valley Garden Club. Contact her with questions, comments or suggestions at gardengirl@claytonpioneer.com
October Fall and Holiday Boutique to raise funds for St. Bonaventure Food Pantry
COLORFUL AUTUMN WREATHS are just one of many beautiful handmade creations featured at the Holiday boutique.
St. Bonaventure’s Food Pantry has been feeding local community families in need for more than 25 years. The Pantry has expanded their assistance to include a Silent Auction and
Fall/Holiday Boutique. Both events have free admission and are open to the public. The auction is 6 to 8 p.m., Friday, Oct. 26. The boutique is 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 27 and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 28 in the church hall. The Food Pantry is currently serving 800 households every month. The need has grown 20 percent over the last year. Another 25 percent increase is expected for the holiday season. To help serve the growing demand, Barbara Wolpman, member of St. Bonaventure Catholic Church, decided the Food Pantry needed more help than sales from her own canned items could provide. She got the idea for a “grand” boutique benefitting the Food Pantry.
Barbara has developed a group of talented parishioners into a thriving team of over 20 women who have been meeting for several months to make hundreds of beautiful items. Items include Halloween, fall and Christmas decorations and handmade apparel for all seasons and all ages. There will be plenty of delicious baked and canned goods from local kitchens, too. Auction items include a carousel horse, vacation packages, catered dinners, themed gift baskets, a handmade hooked rug, quilt and jewelry. St. Bonaventure is located at 5562 Clayton Road, Concord. For more information, contact Linda at manzeck@sbcglobal.net.
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