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April 2020 Online
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MDUSD volunteers serving 40,000 meals each week during pandemic JAY BEDECARRÉ The Pioneer
In a typical five-day school week in February, the food service staff in the Mt. Diablo Unified School District serves approximately 100,000 meals at 47 sites. In spite of the closure of all school campuses, district staff volunteers are preparing about 40,000 meals weekly distributed through curbside service at nine schools. Dominic Machi is the district’s Director of Food & Nutrition Services. As he observed the process Friday in front of El Dorado Middle School in Concord, Machi showed obvious pride for what his 82 staff volunteers and several dozen other MDUSD administrative, staff and faculty volunteers are accomplishing in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. “I want to acknowledge the incredible work happening during this crisis. Placing Jay Bedecarré/Pioneer their lives on the line as also Over 125 Mt. Diablo Unified School District employees are volunteering their time and talent to prepare food and distrib‘First Responders,’ which was ute food during lunchtime three times a week at nine school sites in Concord, Bay Point, Walnut Creek and Pleasant Hill.
See Meals, page 5
TAMARA STEINER PUBLISHER
All over the country, free community newspapers are shutting down – threatened into extinction by the cost of paper, printing, postage and people. Since May 2003 here at the Pioneer, our small, stellar
On Friday at El Dorado Middle School, from left, Amanda Hill, Mary Mingay and Ian Maslen were part of the crew that assembled and handed out over 400 meals in 90 minutes.
Reaching out to our readers: Please support local journalism staff has spit in the face of danger, defied the revenue gods and month after month delivered a quality print newspaper on deadline for 393 issues that our advertisers are proud to call home. Five weeks ago, the COVID-19 pandemic upended all that, shutting down businesses and sending us all into self-isolation. Advertising, which is our only source
of revenue, dwindled to a fraction of what we need. Off-kilter but undaunted, we keep on keepin’ on. We have not furloughed anyone, and we are working harder than ever across multiple platforms to keep you informed and to support our local businesses, whether they are advertisers or not. We are committed to the communities we serve. We
from 24 for the first weekend of the shelter in place in March to 32 tickets this past weekend. In an email comment to the council, Regency Drive resident Dan Walsh said he has been seeing a thousand people on his street on Saturdays. “I have personally witnessed groups of up to 20plus gather outside my house, violating every possible social distancing regulation,” he wrote. “These hikers are nothing like the hiker issues we brought before the City Council last year. These hikers are way worse. The level of rudeness is something I’ve never witnessed here in the last 20 years,” he said, adding: “I personally witnessed a female hiker squat down in the street, defecating.”
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Lennar, city part ways on base project after labor talks stall TAMARA STEINER The Pioneer
Meanwhile, no deal with Coast Guard for affordable housing Concord Naval Weapons Station (CNWS) master developer Lennar Concord LLC and the city of Concord called it quits March 24, when the council refused Lennar’s request for a six-month extension to the Exclusive Negotiating Agreement (ENA) – allowing it to expire March 31. After negotiating for nearly two years, Lennar and the Contra Costa Building Trades Council (BTC) were unable to reach agreement on how much union labor the developer would use on the $6 billion project. Using 100 percent union labor would “sink the project, financially,” Kofi Bonner of Lennar Five Point told the council at a marathon meeting with more than five hours of public comment that stretched over two nights Jan. 7 and 8. “No one can deliver the project envisioned by this community plan, satisfy the agreed to community benefits and meet the Navy and city’s revenue objectives under the terms of the building trades’ PLA (Project Labor Agreement),” he said. Dan Cardoza, attorney for the BTC, said Lennar hadn’t given them enough financial information to back up its claims. “We need to know what labor costs they assume,” Cardoza said. “Lennar has only given this information to the
See Lennar, page 8
Clayton ups parking ban to halt hordes of hikers BEV BRITTON The Pioneer
In an effort to keep large groups from accessing Mount Diablo State Park through Regency and Rialto drives, the Clayton City Council imposed a 24/7 ban on nonresident parking starting at 12 a.m. April 23. A previously approved pilot program authorized resident-only parking through permits 8 a.m.-6 p.m. on weekends and federal holidays. However, due to the shelter in place order, residents say droves of people from other cities are filling their streets to get to the trails. The 24/7 parking ban will be lifted along with any shelter in place rules. Clayton Police Chief Elise Warren told the Pioneer that citations are “clearly upticking” in the neighborhood –
COUNTY ORDER
Although Mount Diablo State Park remains open, all parking lots are closed – including one at Mitchell Canyon Road. Warren said she has contacted the park superintendent “a couple times” about the problem. “They are not willing to reopen the parking lot, so the local streets are heavily impacted and there are limited options on how we can help relieve that,” she said at the April 21 virtual meeting. “This issue is very urgent. We’re really upset with the park for their lack of concern for residents,” Regency Drive resident Jeff Weiner told the council. “Many of us are in a highrisk group for COVID-19, and we don’t need all these hikers Tamara Steiner/Pioneer in our area. This is not a park- City workers were on site early Wednesday morning following a city council decision to restrict parking on Regency Dr. to residents only 24/7. The neighborhood was overrun with
See Hikers, page 5 those seeking trail access after the state park closed nearby parking lots.
COVID-19 in nursing homes ‘high on the radar’
Page 2
The Pioneer • www.pioneerpublishers.com
DAVID SCHOLZ Correspondent
When the last sordid chapter of the COVID-19 saga is written, it may be of the untold impact on the vulnerable residents of nursing homes and care facilities. As overall minimal testing data for the general county population mirrors the national trend, the spotty data to track the outbreak’s severity in senior citizen facilities throughout Contra Costa County is equally distressing. Dr. Ori Tzvieli, the county’s deputy health officer, made it clear more testing needs to occur. “Understanding the situation is dependent on testing, and having more testing capacity is part of that,” he noted. MULTIPLE FACILITIES
UNDER INVESTIGATION
According to information
A Concord Royale worker disinfects packages and leaves them outside for an hour before they are brought into the facility.
received in an email dated April 17 from the health department, nine nursing home residents had died from COVID-19. Five were due to the outbreak investigated at Carlton Senior Living Downtown Pleasant Hill site, and four occurred at the Orinda
Care Center. Between these two facilities, 64 residents tested positive, as well as 47 staff members. Two other positive cases involving nursing home residents and 10 positive cases involving staff are linked to other undisclosed facilities in the county. Unless an outbreak should happen again, officials said they will not be disclosing other cases involving nursing homes, citing privacy concerns. “These are just the ones that we know about. There are many more cases out there that we don’t,” Tzvieli said, citing a growing national phenomena. There have been 2,000 nursing home deaths in New York City alone. The department is investigating multiple nursing homes in the area, including Walnut Creek, where coronavirus is suspected. Known cases of COVID-19 prompt a disease investigation and contact tracing, as well as additional testing of patients and staff to understand the extent of any outbreak. The county also assists with infection control
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April, 2020
and other safety practices at affected facilities.
ADDED SAFETY MEASURES AT STONEBROOK Yvette Ortega, administrator of Concord’s Stonebrook Healthcare Center, says she and her peers at the close-knit area facilities have tried to get out front of the outbreak. Even before the county ordered proactive measures on April 14, managers at Stonebrook, Concord Royale and other local facilities were working to lessen virus transmission in residential care and other licensed health-care centers. This includes keeping a log of screenings of staff and visitors who enter the buildings. “There is a small community of administrators in Concord, and we have all been on the same page since Day 1,” Ortega said. Stonebrook’s normal occupancy is 120, with half for short-term rehabilitation after surgery. The current total is 79, of which 48 are long-term residents, including hospice care. To date, four residents have been tested for coronavirus after showing symptoms. “Thank God, all of them came back negative,” said Ortega, who added that no staff members have contracted the virus. Stonebrook instituted extra safety measures on March 9. They included taking the temperatures of every employee before they start a shift and screening each for symptoms. The facility has redoubled training for practices such as hand washing, and personnel now wear protective gear like gowns, masks and face shields. And, they added a drop box
Photos courtesy of Concord Royale
At Concord Royale, staff and visitors get their temperatures taken and sign waivers before entering the assisted living facility.
for no-contact delivery of packages. Visits are now limited to those with loved ones in hospice or facing an end of life situation. Visitors undergo a rigorous protocol, including having temperatures taken, symptom screening and supervised hand washing for 20-30 seconds. Strict social distancing guidelines are monitored, too. “We are trying to be extra cautious,” said Ortega. “We are trying to do the best we can to protect this population.” Kathy Vander Hagen’s husband, Steve, has been at the Concord Royale for assisted living care since last October. These days she can’t visit him because of the quarantine but
they talk everyday and also use FaceTime to stay in contact. ``He’s healthy, and his caregivers are patient and understanding,’’ she said, having not heard of any problems at the Concord Royale. Short of widespread testing, officials are also supporting nursing homes with protective equipment, screening procedures and patient isolation strategies to stem the potential tide of cases. An assessment of infection control practices of facilities across the county is slated. “We are concerned,” Tzvieli said of what nursing homes may unwittingly be harboring. “It is high on the radar of the public health department.”
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Guest Editorial
Page 3
Parking, safety drove ‘no’ vote on Clayton’s high-density project JIM DIAZ City Councilmember Clayton
As a member of the Clayton City Council, I wanted to share my thoughts on what led me to vote no on the high-density Olivia project downtown. After the Clayton Planning Commission rendered its decision on the project, it was appealed and forwarded to the City Council. There were four appellants: the developer, a Clayton business owner/resident and two resi-
dents from the Stranahan development. I reached out to all of these individuals and questioned their reasons for the appeals. The developer’s opinion was clear: He wished to proceed with the development and provide additional residential units in Clayton. He further relayed to me that he had presented an initial plan that included a 60-unit, threebuilding, two-story development with appropriate on-site parking. The Clayton Plan-
ning Department rejected this proposal for limited technical reasons, on which he did not elaborate. This proposal was never brought forward to the City Council, and the rationale for the rejection was not identified to me. The Clayton business owner/resident expressed concerns regarding the number of units and the height of the current 80+ unit, three-building, three-story development proposal. Further, he had concerns about the bare minimum
on-site parking proposed. The two Stranahan residents individually told me their concerns about the 80+ unit, three-building, three-story proposal. Further, they noted that with the lack of adequate onsite parking, excess parkers would likely overflow onto Marsh Creek Road, which has only two lanes for vehicular traffic and two minimal bicycle lanes. They also believed that parking would likely overflow into the Stranahan area to accommodate the Olivia project’s guest and overnight park-
ing needs. At the two City Council meetings dedicated to hearing from the developer, the Clayton community and other interested parties, the vast majority of opinions identified three major areas of concern: parking, traffic and safety. These three major areas of concern highlighted, in my view, the lack of on-site, adequate parking at the currently proposed Olivia project, the additional traffic generated by the proposed development on Marsh Creek Road and the
potential for citizen safety in the immediate Olivia project area. After all presentations and deliberations at the second and final City Council meeting on the Olivia project, I had hoped that the developer would offer to revisit his proposal and bring back the original 60-unit, three-building, two-story proposal for discussion and, ultimately, a unanimous project approval. As a result of the above, I voted to deny the proposed Olivia project as presented.
All told, the plan will save about $200,000 in fiscal year 2019-20 and almost $1.4 million next year. Earlier in the virtual meeting, staff briefed the council on updated revenue estimates. Scenario A, based on research by sales tax consultants, predicts an $8 million decrease in general fund and Measure Q tax revenue in the fiscal year ending June 30 and more than $14 million in the next fiscal year. A second, more pessimistic scenario mirrors the effect of the Great Recession – resulting in more than $14 million in losses this fiscal year and more than $23 million in the next. City manager Valerie Barone and many council members expect those numbers to be more accurate. “The good news is Concord has a history of fiscal prudence and in acting in the best interest of our residents and this has served us well in the past and will serve us well
again this time,” Barone said.
ices. “Are we going to be able to fill any holes, literally and figuratively, in our roads and in our budget?” he asked Barone. “I think you will find that many of the cuts that you will have to consider will be unpopular – they will impact services,” she responded. “And what staff will do is try to find those cuts that are not hitting the most essential of services and that may be reducing service levels but not eliminating services entirely. But you will see significant proposals for service reductions when we come back to you in May or June.”
Now they’re projecting deficits – but they get the advantage of coming off what were going to be surpluses,” she said, adding: “By having a history of doing very detailed and advance budgeting and using an advance forecasting model, the city of Concord seems to capture the issues in play earlier than any of our surrounding cities.” Birsan also asked staff to look into “consolidated administration” of services with other cities, such as a metropolitan police force, or a joint parks department or housing inspector. He also questioned the advantages of changing to a charter city. “There will be fundamental societal changes,” he said. “We need to look outside the box from our past approaches.” Barone said staff would provide the council with more information on both topics. “In terms of sharing services, it can be done. It’s been successful in different parts of
California for certain services,” Barone said. “The biggest challenges are usually political, but there can be many other challenges as well – including bargaining groups, local control, not necessarily saving money but diffusing the decision-making.” Councilman Laura Hoffmeister noted that a county Grand Jury report showed that a consolidation of services could be more expensive in some cases. Meanwhile, Barone said the staff will continue to reach out to state and federal elected officials for assistance, and she encouraged council members to do the same. “Unfortunately, the city is receiving no support or relief from the federal or state to backfill the loss of revenue,” she said. “Consequently, we see significant fiscal challenges affecting us immediately. And it’s clear the city is going to have to rely on itself to address these challenges.”
In light of huge tax losses, Concord budget in flux BEV BRITTON The Pioneer
As Concord braces for the devastating financial impact of the shelter in place order, the City Council voted on April 14 to lower compensation and benefits for more than 60 employees. The city manager, city attorney and executive management team had already voluntarily agreed to about a 9 percent reduction in compensation. The austerity measures don’t affect workers represented by bargaining groups, but city officials said they have initiated conversations with the unions about responses to the budget crisis. The council members also voted to take a 10 percent reduction in their salaries. Assistant city manager Katheen Trepa said the $135.20 per month per council member “is largely symbolic, given the total anticipated shortfall.”
REDUCTIONS IN SERVICES LIKELY
The city manager has already taken measures to save about $4.7 million from this year’s fiscal budget – including a hiring freeze except dispatchers and sworn officers, halting non-essential spending and moving some capital improvement money back into the reserves. City staff expects to bring updated figures to the council in May or June. “We will know more when they’re going to end the shelter in place and how they’re going to end the shelter in place and which businesses survive,” Barone said. “There’s an awful lot of uncertainty right now, which is one of the reasons we’re retaining as large of a reserve as we can make happen. We’ve never been in a situation like this before.” Mayor Tim McGallian expressed concerns about how the city will maintain vital serv-
CHECKING IN WITH NEIGHBORING CITIES
Councilman Edi Birsan wondered how Concord was doing in comparison with surrounding cities, and Barone said the impacts vary based on reliance on retail revenue and each city’s current financial situation. “Walnut Creek, for example, was projecting surpluses.
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Save Mount Diablo expands to protect Diablo Range
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Stephen Joseph
The view of the Diablo Range from the top of San Benito Mountain, the range’s highest peak.
Save Mount Diablo (SMD) has launched a campaign to connect Mount Diablo to the whole of the Diablo Range, a 150-mile long mountain range and biodiversity refuge that’s next door to millions of people – but that is unfamiliar to most. “The Diablo Range is the missing piece of the California conservation map,” says Seth Adams, SMD’s land conservation director. “It’s California’s next great conservation story.” “Seventy-five percent of the ecologically important area around Mount Diablo has been preserved,” explains Edward “Ted” Sortwell Clement Jr., SMD’s executive director, “while in the full 150mile range, only 24 percent of the landscape has any protection. We’re going to change that. “Save Mount Diablo’s first step is defining the range as a whole for the conservation community and the public and educating them about its importance,” Clement adds.
counties. This area includes an essential, 10-mile-wide wildlife corridor – including the Altamont Pass – that connects Mount Diablo to the rest of the Diablo Range. It also includes one of the most important and vulnerable biodiversity hotspots in California. “The 150-mile range of mountains from the Carquinez Strait to the oil fields of the southern San Joaquin Valley holds some of the largest remaining wild places in California,” says Simons. “It is a rugged, remote, difficult realm, a biodiversity ark incised by the San Andreas Fault. It is a his-
KEY WILDLIFE HABITAT The range is extremely important for wildlife, crossed only by two major highways at Altamont and Pacheco passes. It serves as a reservoir of biodiversity, a core habitat for wildlife in California. Although golden eagle populations are declining in western North America,
ARTICLE IN BAY NATURE MAGAZINE
As part of this campaign, SMD helped sponsor a cover story and supplement about the Diablo Range in Bay Nature magazine, along with the Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority. “The Spine of California,” by Bay Nature digital editor Eric Simons, explores the most rugged, plant-rich stretch of California that remains unknown to most residents. The cover story is the first article ever published specifically about the Diablo Range, and it includes the first published map of the public and protected lands of the Diablo Range. “Our first effort is to put this place on the map,” notes Adams.
EXPANDING ADVOCACY AREA As part of the campaign, SMD recently expanded the geographic area in which it now does its land use advocacy to include the three northern counties of 12 crossed by the Diablo Range. The organization’s primary acquisition focus remains north of Highway 580 and around the main peaks of Mount Diablo. The organization recently announced two acquisition projects on the main peaks, the 154-acre Trail Ride Association conservation easement on North Peak – for which it needs to raise about $1,040,000 – and the $650,000 Smith Canyon project adjacent to Curry Canyon. In addition to working in Contra Costa County between Highway 680 and the Byron Highway, SMD now also works in southeastern Alameda and southwestern San Joaquin
Credit: Save Mount Diablo and Nomad Ecology
This map shows the northern Diablo Range, including Save Mount Diablo’s recently expanded area of interest down to the Santa Clara County line.
toric mixing place, where Central Valley Yokuts and coastal Ohlones traded and danced, where California’s ever-morediverse future residents will seek escape and recreation. And it is nearly unparalleled in ecological significance.”
FROM THE CARQUINEZ STRAIT TO ANTELOPE VALLEY The Diablo Range stretches from the Carquinez Strait all the way to the Antelope Valley in Kern County and contains some of the largest remaining unprotected wild places in California. The mountain range is huge, rugged and remote. Bounded by Highway 101 to the west and Highway 5 to the east, the 150-mile long, 40- to 50-mile wide area is a blank spot on the map for the public focused on its outer grassland foothills. “Five miles in and 500 feet up, oaks and chaparral appear,” Adams says, “and it’s Mount Diablo multiplied.”
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The Diablo Range covers 5,400 square miles and has many peaks, some of which are taller than Mount Diablo. The tallest one is San Benito Mountain at 5,241 feet. Mount Diablo measures 3,849 feet.
Credit: Stephen Joseph
Rare plant species grow along the serpentine ecosystems at San Benito Mountain.
they’re stable in California because of the Diablo Range. The northern Diablo Range supports the highest density of golden eagles on the planet. The Diablo Range could also be the source for replenishing the genetic diversity of mountain lion populations in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Tule elk, nearly hunted to extinction in the 1970s, have recovered quickly in the Diablo Range. Bay checkerspot butterflies have their last stronghold along Coyote Ridge just above San Jose. And the Diablo Range offers great habitat for California condors to expand into as they recover from the brink of extinction. The Diablo Range is threatened by energy development (both alternative and fossil fuel-based energy), suburban sprawl, and proposed dams and reservoirs. Wind turbines endanger golden eagles and other birds. And the Panoche Valley, part of the Diablo Range, now has a 4,800-acre solar farm. This mountain range contains large swaths of land with serpentine soils, home to rare plant species that don’t grow anywhere else. And some of the soils are “vertic clays,” which also support rare and endemic plant species. Although the Diablo Range is right next to some large cities, large areas of it have limited to no cell phone coverage, light pollution or major roads – an indication of its habitat connectivity. For more information, visit savemountdiablo.org or baynature.org.
April, 2020
The Pioneer • www.pioneerpublishers.com
Meals, from page 1
asked of them by the federal government under the United States Department of Agriculture.” He added, “I want my staff to feel appreciated for the incredible work they are doing. They are unsung heroes.” The National School Lunch Program began in 1946 at the end of World War II and now serves 5.5 billion school meals a year. Machi says this pandemic has caused the program to be categorized as a national security issue for the first time in those 74 years with the direction to assist in mass feeding around the country during the pandemic. In MDUSD, 43% of its approximate 30,000 students are in the free or reduced-price meals program. Whenever students are allowed back on campus, he anticipates that per-
centage will balloon up to 5560% of all students with the unemployment rate in California skyrocketing by the day. MDUSD initially shut down campuses on Friday, Mar. 13. By the next Wednesday, Mar. 18, the curbside lunch program was in operation. In order to simplify the system for staff and families needing food, the Monday and Wednesday food bags include two day’s meals. Friday distribution includes a bag of fruits and vegetables from the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano in addition to meals for that day. Machi says each meal includes grains, meat or protein, fruit, vegetables and milk (which is optional). Cassie Van Dyke, Silverwood Elementary cafeteria
manager in regular circumstances, stood in the El Dorado parking lot Friday. As each vehicle reached her, she would ask how many meals were needed and whether they wanted milk with each. She shouted the numbers to a group of volunteers who filled the order and wheeled it to the curb for pickup as each vehicle pulled up. To make it convenient for all residents in the district to pick up food, MDUSD lunchtime distribution is on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. in Concord (Mt. Diablo High, Ygnacio Valley High, El Dorado, Meadow Homes Elementary, Cambridge Elementary), Bay Point (Bel Air Elementary, Riverview Middle), Walnut Creek (Foothill Middle) and Pleasant Hill (Valley View Middle). Machi, a long-time Concord resident who came to the
district three years ago from the Davis Joint USD, says MDUSD got approval this week to continue its curbside food distribution program until the new school year begins Aug. 13. The program had been slated to end at the close of this semester June 3. The current district program is also providing meals to seniors in the county through the City of Concord and Diablo Region Meals on Wheels. Machi adds, “In the Bay Point area, we are working with The Bay Church providing groceries to families who are receiving meals through our Grab N Go distribution program at Bel Air Elementary. The County Connection bus service is picking up meals at Bel Air and distributing meals to homes for those who cannot travel to the school site to receive meals.” St. Vincent de Paul Society of Contra Costa, the Food
Hikers, from page 1
ing problem, but a health problem.” Weiner said he has talked with hikers from Lafayette, San Jose and as far away as Sacramento. He and some neighbors argue that the hikers are violating the shelter in place order. However, Warren called it “a gray area.” “Our county has not specified the number of miles you can travel for exercise, which is clearly permitted,” she said. “It just asks that you stay in your neighborhood.” “If they’re coming from outside Clayton, they ought to be staying home,” noted Mayor Julie Pierce.
Adult School near Concord BART Station. A new 5600 square foot storage warehouse for the food service department is under construction (funded by Measure C) at the district’s maintenance and operations facility on Gasoline Alley in Concord. During the school year, breakfast, lunch, snack and dinner are available. Even now with fewer meals being prepared, the Loma Vista central kitchen is operating weekdays by 4:30 a.m. As cars, trucks, SUVs, bicycles and minivans pulled in to pick up food on Friday, the volunteers would get a “thank you” or smile from many people. One man grabbed the food and vegetables bags, looked up and said, “You guys have been awesome.” For updates, visit mdusd.org
n
At Pierce’s suggestion, the council also voted to put up temporary barricades at the end of Regency Drive to thwart parking there.
Warren noted that they only have the authority to tow under certain circumstances, including non-payment for several violations. Other than two repeat offenders during last fall’s trial run, no vehicle has been cited twice. In addition to the new signs added to the neighborhood on April 22, Warren is hoping to borrow an electronic message
From NOW to April 30, 2020 kids between the ages of 5-10 can create artwork for a chance to win some cool prizes. Mt. Diablo Resource Recovery is running an artwork contest for the month of April in celebration of Earth Day’s 50th Anniversary. Kids are encouraged to be creative
and make art that is Earth themed. Maybe a frame, vase or car… the sky’s the limit. We ask that kids be resourceful using only items typically found in their garbage or recycle cart (only new/raw materials allowed are tape, glue and staples). Contestants artwork will be displayed on Facebook from
May 1st to May 8th with the general public voting by liking the most creative and original pieces. Winners to be announced May 8th, 2020. To enter, parents will submit photos of their child’s artwork via email by 4/30/2020. For additional info and to enter visit www.mdrr.com/kidscontest
BARRICADE
Bank and White Pony Express are supplying food for giveaway at Parkhaven Community Church and four Catholic Churches in Concord (Queen of All Saints, St. Agnes, St. Bonaventure and St. Francis of Assisi). Monument Crisis Center is also having food distribution weekly. Clayton Valley Charter High School is distributing breakfast and lunch weekdays from 9 a.m. – noon. Executive Director Jim Scheible reports they are giving away 4,000 meals a week (19,862 in five weeks). Their Friday distribution includes meals for three days. Machi says donations from Pepsi Cola, Girl Scouts of America in Martinez and KIND Snacks have supplemented the food MDUSD gets through the USDA’s National School Lunch Program. The food is prepared at their central kitchen at Loma Vista
New Generatio
“That’s not handicap accessible, and it would not be blocking anybody’s pathway,” she said. “But I think it sends the message that there is no parking up there – at all – unless you live there.” Some council members talked about expanding the program to adjoining streets, which could be adversely impacted due to the 24/7 parking ban. But city attorney Mala Subramanian cautioned against doing so without notifying residents in advance. She also advised the council not to immediately change the fine from its current $45. Pierce told the Pioneer that city staff would look into fine levels from other cities that back up to Mount Diablo, and the council might consider an increase at a future meeting. Councilman Jim Diaz repeatedly called for more towing of non-resident vehicles.
ADDING ADDITIONAL
Page 5
Police were issuing warnings to permit parking violators in the first days after the ban.
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board to warn visitors. The pilot parking program launched last September, with 33 residents obtaining permits. If the 12 residents who opted out end up getting a ticket under the new rules, Warren said they should contact the police department about getting it dismissed.
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Concord farmers market opens Tuesdays at Concord High Page 6
The Pioneer • www.pioneerpublishers.com
The Concord farmers market has reopened and will be open 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Tuesdays temporarily at Concord High School The opening of the Thursday evening market has been postponed and will be determined at a later date. As area farmers markets slowly return, the asparagus continues to grow, sweet cherries await harvesting, and lettuce and carrots shine. The local farmers need your support, so they can continue growing and selling their fruits and vegetables directly from the farm to you. Farmers markets are designated an essential business during the coronavirus pandemic, although fewer farmers markets are open and farmers have had to improvise on how to sell their products. Some farmers have opened farm stands, some are offering CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) boxes, while others are kind enough to donate some of their produce to those in need. The Urban Edge Farm in Brentwood offers a weekly farm stand, and Swank Farms
DEBRA MORRIS
FARMERS MARKET
Social distancing measures were in place when the Farmers’ Market reopened Tuesday, April 21.
in Hollister has an open-air market stand every week. “The hens still lay eggs and we need to sell them,” says Shelly McMahon of Shelly’s Farm Fresh in Brentwood. “We come to as many markets as we can, but now we also have a place for people to purchase them at the farm.” You may notice at your local grocery store that the industrial food system is struggling, and there is not a lot of fresh produce available on the shelves. When you purchase from a farmers market, you not only get the freshest possible pro-
duce, you are also supporting local farmers who depend on selling their produce directly to customers. The Pacific Coast Farmers Market Association (PCFMA) and your local farmers wish to thank you, the local community and market customers for your continued support. Asparagus is still available at farmers markets, along with spring artichokes, green onions, fava beans and peas. Look for the arrival of sweet cherries in May. We are pleased that the Concord farmers market has
reopened in a new location and hope you visit each week. PCFMA is committed to creating a safe environment at each farmers market and have implemented changes to operations. There is no sampling or handling of products, social distancing is observed, new booth configurations allow for easier distancing, and more safety measures have been enacted. Before you visit the farmers market, please become familiar with our Customer Safety Guidelines at pcfma.org/pcfma-coronavirus. We hope you remain safe and healthy during this difficult time. Keep updated on any changes to our farmers market schedules through the market Facebook pages and email newsletter. Or visit pcfma.org to find current market information or to sign up for our monthly email newsletters.
Concord Council OKs two street repairs projects using SB1 funds BEV BRITTON The Pioneer
At the April 7 virtual meeting, the Concord City Council approved street repairs in the Graymount Circle/Woodside neighborhoods and along Oak Grove Road. Funding will come from Senate Bill 1, the Road Repair and Accountability Act of
2017, which addresses transportation funding shortfalls statewide. Concord expects to receive an estimated $2,122,713 million in state funding for Fiscal Year 2020-’21, which is the third year the city has obtained SB1 funding to rehabilitate local streets and improve its transportation infrastructure. However, the actual distribu-
tion could be lower due to the shelter in place orders, which have decreased the amount of gas taxes collected statewide. According to the resolution, Concord has “undergone a robust public process to ensure public input into our five-year Pavement Management Plan to identify the project list.” The city used a Pavement
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Management System to develop the SB1 project list “to ensure revenues are being used on the most high-priority and cost-effective projects that also meet the community’s priorities for transportation investment.”
THE TWO PROJECTS APPROVED ARE: Pavement maintenance Zone 3. Areas of the Graymount Circle/Woodside neighborhoods will receive slurry, cape seal or “more robust treatments” as required. Plans include Graymount Circle, Barrymore Drive, McKean Drive, San Simeon Drive, Citrus Avenue and related side streets. The project cost is about $3,270,000, and the estimated useful life is 10-15 years. Funding beyond the SB1 allocation will be part of the city’s FY 2020-’21/2021-’22 capital budget. Construction is planned for July-November 2021. Oak Grove Road pavement rehabilitation. This project may use FY 2019-’20 revenue, but the city is relisting it to reaffirm its intent to fund it with Road Maintenance and Rehabilitation Account revenue. The plan extends the recently completed pavement rehabilitation work on Oak Grove Road from Whitman Road to Treat Boulevard. The project is expected to cost $3,330,000, and the estimated useful life is 15-20 years. Construction is scheduled for April-September 2020.
New police chief eager to put Concord First
April, 2020
BEV BRITTON The Pioneer
Concord Chief of Police Mark Bustillos is looking forward to the days when he can get out and meet with residents. But right now, in just his first week on the job, the coronavirus pandemic is his No. 1 priority. “I’m having my officers focus on their own personal health and safety when anyone calls 911. If we get an outbreak internally, we can’t provide the level of service needed,” he told the Pioneer on April 8 in his first press interview. “The second part is educating people who are still violating the social distance rules and reminding them how that affects things,” he added. Due to the shelter in place order, overall calls for police service are down in Concord. Still, Bustillos wants to keep 911 open for emergencies, so he encourages residents to report social distancing violations via the Concord Connect app.
LONG HISTORY WITH SAN JOSE PD Bustillos, who is replacing retiring chief Guy Swanger, has a bachelor’s degree in international relations from Stanford and a master’s in public policy from Claremont Graduate School. He started with the San Jose Police Department in 1992, working in field operations, patrol, street narcotics, SWAT team, internal affairs and special investigations, among other assignments as he rose through the ranks. He became deputy chief of bureau administration in 2016 – managing 420 sworn and civilian employees. Coming to the Concord department, with 154 sworn personnel and 57 civilian staff, is like coming home for Bustillos. “It reminds me of the community I grew up in, which was San Jose – but with 200,000 people,” he noted. “Kids ride their bikes up and down the streets, well, before COVID19, people are playing in the parks – I totally understand that kind of community.”
PLANNING COMMUNITY OUTREACH
When the time is right, Bustillos and his wife will make the move to Concord and he will head to the parks, commu-
Mark Bustillos was sworn in as Concord’s new chief of police on April 6 in a ceremony shared online.
nity fairs and neighborhood association meetings as well as talking with religious and nonprofit leaders. “I want to hear them in their own voice, how they feel and how they interact with the police,” he said. “We can’t do it by ourselves – we have to do it with community help. Part of that is to understand what’s been working for them and hear their experiences. Are they afraid to call the police? Do people feel safe?” Bustillos says the smaller size of the Concord force makes it a more full-service police department. “My experience has shown me that it’s more of a robust relationship with the community when the agency is smaller and the officers are more jacks of all trades.” And, he wants to expand upon that close relationship. “Frankly, there is a tremendous opportunity in some neighborhoods to do some community building to bring them more into the civic life,” he said, pointing to “Monument Boulevard for sure.” During the recruitment process, the city of Concord issued a community survey to ask residents and business leaders what they were looking for in the next chief. One of the top traits was the “ability to integrate and build relationships throughout the whole Concord community, becoming an active member of the community.” “Mark is a proactive and creative problem solver with extensive community policing experience and strong leadership skills,” said Concord city manager Valerie Barone. “I am confident that his positive, inclusive management style will serve the department and our Concord community well.”
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F r om the desk o f . . .
April, 2020
The Pioneer • www.pioneerpublishers.com
Page 7
Clayton city staff and police still working to serve residents
I hope you are all staying well during this challenging time. Please keep up with our latest city news and COVID19 announcements on our city website (ci.clayton.ca.us) and our new Clayton pages on both Facebook and Nextdoor. City Hall is closed to the public. Most city staff is working remotely, with only essential workers in City Hall. Staff will continue to take telephone calls during regular office hours, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday, at 925-673-7300. Staff is also monitoring messages. The Police Department is at full strength, keeping our community safe as always. Many thanks to them and all of our small, but dedicated city staff.
approximately 50 years. While the quarry is located outside the city limits, it’s within Clayton’s “sphere of influence.” The county is in the initial stages of scoping for the Draft EIR for that reclamation plan. Our planning staff has already contributed feedback, but the council wanted to be sure the county understands the tremendous impact the quarry has on our community – now and in the future. Many residents have commented to us about the draft reclamation plans and about the day-to-day operations. We want to be sure their concerns are heard and considered. The county won’t make final decisions for more than a year, so there will be several opportunities for community input. We have invited the county to host some of those meetings locally so residents have better access to the process. For more information on the quarry’s plans, see the CEMEX website at cemexclaytonquarry.com/reclamation-plan/. To see copies of the comment letters from our county responding to the planning staff and the City request by CEMEX Quarry to Council, visit make some significant changes ci.clayton.ca.us/communityto its reclamation plan for development/planning/region after the mining ends in al-planning/.
knowledge in local governments. Throughout his career in local government, Feske has been active in the communities he works for to further the vision of the residents and community leaders. He is known for creative problem solving and innovative thinking. His dedication to solving organizational and community-wide issues has been a cornerstone of his JULIE PIERCE career, building trust among CLAYTON MAYOR his co-workers, clients, and community members and Rodrigues has worked in leaders. both the private and public Feske and his family have sector, most recently as the lived the last six years in finance manager for the HumSouthern California and are boldt Community Services happy to be back in the Bay District. His passion is adopArea. He is well-known as tion advocacy, and he is active “Coach” in the world of on several adoption and foster youth soccer, but his proudest care non-profit boards. title is “Dad.” He and his famHe is an avid fan of the ily will live near Clayton and Oakland A’s and is looking participate in church, educaforward to attending more tion, sports and community games now that he and his activities. wife Debbie are soon to be Bay Area residents. They are LOOKING AT CEMEX excited to be moving to the QUARRY PLANS Bay Area and for Paul to be At the April 7 City Council undertaking a new challenge meeting, held virtually, we in Clayton. agreed to send a letter to the
TWO NEW STAFF MEMBERS After several months with interim staff in key positions, we want to welcome a new finance manager and a new Community Development director. We are thrilled to have them both. Paul Rodrigues, our new finance manager, was born in Castro Valley and moved to Humboldt County at a young HELPING BUILD COMMUNITY age. He attended Humboldt Community Development State, graduating with a bachedirector Mathew Feske comes lor’s degree in business adminto the city of Clayton with 18 istration/accounting in 1985. years of experience and
PRIDE FLAG TO FLY At our meeting on April 21, we approved recognizing June as Pride month. We will be approving a proclamation of recognition at our May 5 meeting, and we will be adding the Pride flag during June to our flagpoles at City Hall, the Library and The Grove Park. We also approved revisions to the permit parking program for the Regency Drive and Rialto neighborhoods. UPDATE ON COMMUNITY EVENTS
In consideration of the safety of all residents, the Clayton Business & Community Association has canceled the Art & Wine festival, the VFW has canceled our Memorial Day program and the Clayton Historical Society has postponed the annual Gardens Tour. Further, we are canceling, or postponing, all Concerts in the Grove scheduled for May, June and July 4th. While the remaining schedule depends on the duration of the current shelter at home precautions, we hope to be able to reschedule these concerts for later in the season or, alternatively, bring these bands back next season. We are even considering scheduling double-header concerts or sequential weeks later in the season, if we can hold the concerts safely. As we know more about our schedule, we will post updates on the city’s website,
Facebook and NextDoor, and here in the Pioneer. Given the governor’s orders, it is unlikely we will be able to complete the season, but we will take a “wait and see” position until we know more. We know how much the concerts bring to our community, but everyone’s health comes first. I will post updates as we get closer to events after July 4. Because of the uncertainty, and because our local business sponsors have been financially burdened by the Covid-19 pandemic closures, we will not be soliciting banner sponsorships for the concerts this year. Fortunately, as is our practice, and thanks to our generous sponsors and audiences, we raised enough funds last season to completely pay for this season. We all hope to be able to gather again later this season to enjoy some great bands. Until then, enjoy the spring weather, turn on some favorite tunes and dance around your living room, or rock out in your garden. Stay safe everyone. As always, feel free to contact me with any questions of concerns. Julie Pierce is mayor of Clayton and chair of the Contra Costa Transportation Authority .She is a past president of the Association of Bay Area Governments and serves on the executive committee where she represents Contra Costa cities. You can reach her at 925-6737320 or by email at julie.p@ci.clayton.ca.us.
Grayson ready to help residents Affffoorrddaabblblee Reettiirreem meenntt Liivviinngg with coraonavirus concerns
calls and emails. Since the pandemic began, I have been providing regular updates on my Facebook and TIM GRAYSON Twitter pages and posting comprehensive resources on 14TH ASSEMBLY my website. I have participatDISTRICT ed in nine telephone town halls with my colleague, Sen. The unprecedented Steve Glazer, and other local COVID-19 outbreak has elected officials. caused major disruptions, anxIn the last month, my staff ieties and uncertainties across and I have helped more than nearly all aspects of life. 350 constituents with issues or To do our part to help flat- questions related to the public ten the curve and slow the health crisis, and we are availspread, the California Legisla- able to help you, too. Many of ture has adjourned for an the calls my offices receive are extended recess – with a tenrelated to unemployment tative return date of May 4. insurance, assistance for small This temporary recess has business owners and the allowed me to safely shelter at Department of Motor Vehihome with my family and to cles, and we can help provide focus my attention on how to guidance in all of these matbest serve you and our comters and more. munity. If you need help navigatIn accordance with Gov. ing any state agency or have Gavin Newsom’s and county questions about what officials’ health orders, my resources may be available to capitol and district offices are you, please call 925-521-1511, not taking physical meetings. or 925-338-0766 for assistance But we are still working fullin Spanish. time to serve you and are While ensuring the safety available to take your phone
of our community during the outbreak remains my priority, I am continuing my efforts to move legislation forward that will address some of California’s biggest challenges and help those who need it the most. When the Legislature returns from recess, I will be working to: Dramatically increase our housing supply, produce housing that is attainable for working families at all income levels and ensure that fees on new development are justified. Ensure that our state is prepared for any disaster or emergency by funding lifesaving air ambulance services. Keep insulin affordable for individuals whose lives depend on the medication. Increase access to childcare by allowing home daycares to employ additional licensed assistants. Protect the identities of human trafficking victims and minors who are victims of crimes. Stop online lead generation companies from selling per-
sonal consumer information, such as social security numbers, bank routing numbers and income, to unlicensed lenders that issue predatory loans to vulnerable Californians. Together we will get through these challenging times and be able to return to our families, friends, communities and jobs. In the meantime, I urge everyone to listen to local policies and state guidelines, to stay home, practice social distancing when running essential errands and to frequently wash your hands. Remember to prioritize your mental and physical health, to do things that bring you peace and joy and even enjoy the outdoors as long as you keep a distance from others. Please keep yourselves and your families safe and check in on your friends and neighbors. It is my pleasure to serve you.
Reach Assemblyman Tim Grayson at (925) 521-1511. Visit or write the district office 2151 Salvio Street, Suite P, Concord, CA 94520
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April, 2020
Lennar, from page 1
consultants.”
LENNAR WANTED RECOGNITION OF ‘GOOD FAITH’ Both sides acknowledged the impasse, and Bonner asked the city for direction. The City Council gave no further guidance, sending them back to the table to “refocus” and keep trying, a decision Bonner said was “unclear” and failed to provide a path forward. In a Jan. 17 letter to the council, Lennar president Jonathan Jaffe reaffirmed the impasse and said his company would move forward on the project only if the council provided assurances that Lennar had negotiated with the BTC “in good faith” per their ENA, paving the way for future potential discussions with individual unions. They asked for a six-month extension to the ENA through Sept. 30. At a special meeting held remotely on March 24, under the coronavirus shelter at home order, the council voted 3-2 to deny the request for extension and to allow the agreement to expire – bringing to an end the plans for the “world class” project.
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Councilwoman Laura Hoffmeister and Mayor Tim McGallian wanted to grant the extension but were overruled by Carlyn Obringer, Edi Birsan and Dominic Aliano. “What we did was tell Lennar their demands were unacceptable,” Birsan told the Pioneer in a telephone call the day after the meeting. Birsan was on the council four years ago when the city entered the agreement with Lennar, based somewhat on their “very good” relationship with labor on the Hunters Point project in San Francisco. “At the time, I said I don’t want anything less than what is going on at Hunters Point,” Birsan said. “Apparently, their calculations (on the CNWS project) did not include what they did at Hunters Point.” It was clear by October 2019 that talks with the unions were not progressing. In November, Lennar effectively pulled the plug on the project when it closed the Concord office and ceased reimbursing the city the $37,000 a month for staff costs. The city owes Lennar $800,000 in advances, which it will return by the end of April. COAST GUARD PROPERTY DISAPPOINTMENT
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In another difficult twist for the city, reuse planning director Guy Bjerke reported that the Coast Guard has turned down the city’s and DeNova Homes’ offer to buy 58 acres in North Concord – dashing hopes for more affordable housing in the city.
Concord officials had been working with the General Services Administration and the Coast Guard to demonstrate the city would be a good partner. The dialogue started in 2014, after the Navy transferred the land to the Coast Guard. DeNova Homes hoped to build a mixed-income residential project, with 25 percent of the units billed as affordable. However, the two sides could not agree on a price, and the Coast Guard plans to offer the property to the public at market rate.
WHERE TO GO FROM HERE Meanwhile, Bjerke says the city has some work to do before moving ahead with finding a new developer for the weapons station property. “First, we need to get our balance back after COVID,” he said. Then his team will work up a “lessons learned” document to review with the Kofi Bonner of Lennar/FivePoint asked Council for direction council before fall. He at the Jan. 7 meeting after labor talks reached impasse. doesn’t realistically expect the search for a new developer to begin before January 2021, if then. Several months ago, the Navy found new chemicals on the base that require retesting of the entire 2,500 P.O. Box 1246 acres. That will take two 6200 Center Street, Suite H, Clayton, CA 94517 years. “We are not blowing up Tamara and r oberT S Teiner , Publishers the development on the Tamara S Teiner , Editor base,” Bjerke told the Pio- P eTe C ruz , Graphic Design, Social Media neer. “We are on no different b ev b riTTon , Copy Editor, Calendar Editor schedule that we would have J ay b edeCarré, Sports Editor, Schools Editor been with or without a develC ORRESPONDENTS : Bev Britton, Kara Navolio, David Scholz oper.” In the meantime, Bjerke said the council must take a good look at the whole projters for length and clarity. All letPIONEER INFO ect – which could include ters will be published at the edi13,000 units of housing, 6 CONTACT US tor’s discretion. Please include million sq. ft. of commercial name, address and daytime teleTel: (925) 672-0500 space, a sports complex, colphone number. We will not print Fax: (925) 672-6580 lege campus and community anonymous letters. E-mail your center. Tamara Steiner letter to tamara@pioneerpublish“It was a different council editor@pioneerpublishers.com ers.com. (925) 285-8612 10 years ago when the project Letters must be submitted via E-mail. was defined,” he said, noting Send Ads to that priorities could have CIRCULATION ads@pioneerpublishers.com shifted. The Pioneer is delivered The city also needs to monthly by the third Friday to consider if the project would Send Sports News to 38,500 single-family homes and sports@pioneerpublishers.com generate enough return to businesses in 94518, 94519 and pay for all the hoped-for ben94521. Papers to Clayton are The Pioneer is a monthly pubefits in the original plans, delivered by US mail. Concord zip given the city’s current fiscal lication delivered free to homes codes are delivered by commerpicture and union labor and businesses in 94517, cial carriers for ABC Direct. To 94518, 94519 and 94521. ZIP requirements. stop delivery for any reason, call Although the city is back code 94520 is currently served the office at (925) 672-0500 . to the drawing board with by drop site distribution. The If you are NOT receiving the finding a developer, Bjerke papers are published by Clayton Pioneer, please check the distribusaid the effort has not been Pioneer, Inc., Tamara and Robert tion map on the website. If you live wasted. In a big move for- Steiner, PO 1246, Clayton, CA in a single-family home within the ward, the Navy transferred 94517. The offices are located at shaded area and are not receiving title of 2,500 acres to the 6200 Center St. Suite F, Clayton, the paper, please let us know. If East Bay Regional Park Dis- CA 94517 you are not in the shaded area, trict for open space, parkland please be patient. We will come to LETTERS TO THE EDITOR and hiking trails. your neighborhood soon. The Pioneer welcomes letters Birsan is confident the city will find a new developer. from our readers. As a general ADVERTISING “Remember, we had 16 quali- rule, letters should be 175 words rates and circulaAdvertising fied bidders last time,” he or less and submitted at least one tion maps arei posted at week prior to publication date. said. www.pioneerpublishers.com or Letters concerning current issues will have priority. We may edit let-
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SCHOOLS
April, 2020
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MDUSD prioritizes connecting with the community
ROBERT MARTINEZ
MDUSD
SUPERINTENDENT
Mt. Diablo Unified School District (MDUSD) educators and employees from all facets of the district are continuing to connect, engage and sup-
port our students, families and each other during this unprecedented and uncertain time. As a district, we have come together to provide for the essential needs of our students in so many ways, and we will continue to provide resources, distance learning opportunities and encouragement during this pandemic. The MDUSD Food and Nutrition Services Department is continuing to provide close to 42,000 meals per week to not only students, but to senior citizens in Concord and families in Bay Point. Through partnerships with Meals on Wheels and the city
of Concord, they are continuing to provide food to individuals across the county. We will work to extend these services as long as possible. The Food and Nutrition Department is providing meals on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Families may pick up meals for students for the day, and the next morning, at nine locations. As access to some food sources may become more limited, the flair and resourcefulness displayed by chef Dominic Machi is simply incomparable. We continue to salute these Food and Nutrition heroes who are serving so many people each day.
MAKING TECHNOLOGY
some form or another over the last few days, however, our The district has deployed goal is to connect with 100 more than 7,000 technology percent of our students. We devices to students since this want to make sure they are pandemic impacted on-site safe, provide access to our diseducation. We continue to tance learning options, and recommend that students support them as they conand their families reach out clude this school year and directly to the principals for plan for their transition to their technology needs. The next school year. principals are working As we continue to look together to provide devices ahead to the unfortunate realito students and are coordity of no on-site instruction nating with staff members to for this year, our focus is turnensure that students are ing toward the continuation of being supported. educational opportunities for One indicator found that all students via distance learnclose to 96 percent of our ele- ing. While this type of mentary students had coninstruction can never take the nected with their teachers in place of on-site, in-person WORK
teaching, we must support our children in their quest to learn. We are also working to craft some level of graduation ceremonies for our seniors and are striving to provide resources for our students, employees and parents as each person seeks to exist under these unique set of circumstances. The MDUSD website provides a plethora of information for everyone in dealing with the coronavirus pandemic: mdusd.org.
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Concord teachers keeping on doing what they do best TAKING THE WORK SERIOUSLY
DAVID SCHOLZ Correspondent
The implementation of effective distance learning was destined to be a work in progress, but the process has taken on greater urgency due to the closure of local schools because of the coronavirus. The task remains daunting, especially as the time at home turns into months. The fallout of not having that personal daily contact with her students – including missing assignments – is becoming real for Ann Borba, who teaches sixth-grade language arts and social studies at Oak Grove Middle School in Concord. Borba, whose students include English as second language learners, plans to reach out to parents of those children who are not participating or when a child is missing a few assignments. During the initial few days of the transition to online learning, she spent a lot of time setting up Zoom and Google Meet so students could contact her to ask questions or just talk.
David Scholz
St. Francis of Assisi School teacher John McDonough takes a break in his home classroom as he conducts an online Zoom session with his eighth-grade religion class.
VARIETY OF ONLINE RESOURCES
Borba emphasized that nobody sent home packets with the students. “We have been using technology.” The school did have a checkout for Chromebooks, with many students and their parents picking them up. In addition, the vice principal told parents about a wireless provider that was giving two months’ service free. The learning resources Borba set up for her students include EDpuzzle, Quizizz, YouTube, Newsela, Scholastic and Ducksters. The school’s principal created a HyperDoc
for the school’s remote learning plan, which also has tips for health, welfare, counseling, mindfulness and links to supportive websites. “We try to make the learning pertinent and accessible,” Borba said. She has continued the learning routine she had in place in the classroom, including having students send their responses to literature paragraphs to her via Google Classroom. “I will continue to create lessons that are dynamic, entertaining at times and follow the curriculum that we were on track to do,” Borba said.
John McDonough, a teacher at St. Francis of Assisi School in Concord, has taken an old school and new school approach with his lesson planning as “sustained learning” has replaced the initial catch phrase “distance learning.” He recalled a healthy exuberance in his students in the final two days at school before the closure. So, he issued them a stark warning. “This is not a vacation – this is going to be very hard and very difficult,” McDonough said of the time apart that many initially thought would only be two weeks. “You are going to have buckle down; this is on you – you will have to work hard,” he added. McDonough is the eighthgrade homeroom and religion teacher and also teaches English, literature and social studies for grades 6-8. He has always taken a self-directed approach with his student as opposed to being “warm and fuzzy” and “spoon-feeding them” because, he says, that won’t help them succeed in high school. And, that hasn’t changed. Along with using envelopes
Bay Area classrooms officially close for 2019-20 school year
students would not return to campus for in-person learning for the remainder of this On Tuesday, April 7, pub- school year. lic health officers and county superintendents in six Bay CLAYTON VALLEY CHARTER HIGH SCHOOL Area counties announced Executive Director of that schools will remain closed for the rest of the CVCHS Jim Scheible said, “We know that today’s 2019-2020 school year. Alameda, Contra Costa, announcement will obviously Marin, San Francisco, San cause some distress for all Mateo and Santa Clara coun- our families and especially for ties will continue to transition members of the senior class. from in-person classroom Please know that we are instruction to at-home and working diligently to find credistance-learning formats. ative and inclusive solutions School campus workers will for senior events, including distribute meals and provide the graduation ceremony.” continued, Scheible childcare or supervision as “Given that we will be facilidetermined by local needs. After recently announcing tating online learning for the campuses would remain rest of the year, CVCHS will closed for in-person learning be making some adjustments until May 3, Bay Area coun- to increase support for stuties’ staffs took action to dents starting the week of review their timelines follow- April 20.” The Conco4d ing statements by Governor charter high school is on Gavin Newsom and State spring break this week. Mount Diablo Unified Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond, School District Superintendent of suggesting that California’s JAY BEDECARRÉ The Pioneer
JIM SHEIBLE
LYNN MACKEY
ROBERT MARTINEZ
classified staff and administrators in our programs and throughout Contra Costa County continue to provide meals and learning devices to students who need them, and are working hard to transition to high-quality distance learning, and support the needs of all students,” said Lynn Mackey, Contra Costa County Superintendent of Schools. As the number of confirmed cases continues to rise, all residents, including SCHOOL NOT OVER students, are urged to continFOR THE YEAR ue adhering to the guidelines The announcement “does provided by public health not suggest that school is officials. over for the year, as teachers,
MDUSD Robert Martinez said, “We have been working to ensure that our Governing Board is aware of our efforts to enhance our extended distance learning design, ensure clarity on grading processes for students and educators, and to provide as much information as we can to our public. We fully expect to provide clarity on these issues during the virtual Governing Board Meeting [on] April 13.”
that contain assignments that parents have dropped off each Sunday, at which time new work is picked up, he is using Zoom a few times a week to go over material with his classes. Students also have asked questions and sought clarification for one thing or another through email exchanges with McDonough. “I think it has overwhelmed some of the kids,” he said, knowing his students run the gamut from those who are very organized to others who struggle without the structure of his classroom.
These days, McDonough can commiserate with his charges. “It doesn’t seem like I am really teaching,” he said, citing the assistance his gives his students through the personal contact. He continues to draw on his corporate world experience to focus on what’s applicable now – ensuring he is being consistent and continuing to give his students the best Mr. McDonough experience possible. “I am going to do those things that I do well and go on.”
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SPORTS
Page 10
The Pioneer • www.pioneerpublishers.com
April, 2020
All high school spring sports canceled JAY BEDECARRÉ The Pioneer
California became the 10th state to cancel its high school spring sports schedule due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The California Interscholastic Federation last Friday announced the decision after a conference call between CIF executive director Ron Nocetti and the 10 section commissioners, including new North Coast Section commissioner of athletics Pat Cruickshank. The memo states that there will be no section, regional or state play, which obviously hits hardest for seniors who are deprived of that opportunity in their final high school season. KEEPING EVERYONE SAFE The president of the NCS
RIANNE PFALTZGRAFF, PRINCIPAL, CONCORD HIGH SCHOOL
board of managers is Concord High School principal Rianne Pfaltzgraff, a former collegiate basketball and softball student athlete. She summed up the disruptive legacy of the last few years for high school sports in Cal-
LEO LOPOZ, EBAL COMMISSIONER
PAT LICKISS, DAL COMMISSIONER
ifornia: “We have seen extraordinary circumstances in the past few years. We have cancelled school and athletics for smoke and air quality, for excessive heat, and now for a global pandemic. Although it is very
disappointing for our athletes, we realize it is necessary to keep everyone safe, as is one of the goals of the NCS.” Local high schools belong to the Diablo and East Bay athletic leagues. Spring sports include softball, baseball, swimming and diving, boys volleyball, track and field, boys golf, badminton,
Whose name is on your school’s athletic facilities?
lacrosse, cheer and boys tennis. Club sports mountain biking, rugby, ice hockey and trap shooting also held in the spring. EBAL commissioner Leo Lopoz of De La Salle High announced that during a conference call with the league’s board of governors and athletic directors it was decided to cancel spring sports. The statement said, “Our hearts go out to all of the student athletes and coaches who will not be able to compete this spring, especially the senior student athletes.” DAL DECISION COMING SOON
DAL commissioner Pat Lickiss had a Zoom meeting with principals from his member schools on the fate of spring sports. They also determined there would be no resumption of play as noted in numerous social media posts from schools, teams and athletes since the
CIF announcement. The CIF’s cancelation notice said in part, “We understand this is disappointing for everyone involved in education-based athletics and empathize with our studentathletes and all who are impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak. As always, our top priority is everyone’s ongoing health and safety during this challenging time, and we all look forward to the day when education-based athletics resumes.” For the first time in the history of the tournament, CIF canceled the 40th annual basketball championships a day before they were to start on March 13 due to COVID19. The following week, CIF postponed its spring sports to take a wait-and-see approach until last Friday’s meeting. Some spring sports teams had a handful of competitions before the suspension of all school activities in mid-March.
Athlete Spotlight
Gabby Riva
Grade: Senior School: Carondelet Sport: Lacrosse
Carondelet senior Gabby Riva’s 4th varsity lacrosse season ends early.
JAY BEDECARRÉ The Pioneer
When the COVID-19 pandemic has receded enough for health and government officials to reopen California schools, high school sports will resume. Local athletes, coaches, students, parents and fans will come back—perhaps adhering to social distancing—and attend competi-
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tions on football/soccer fields, basketball/volleyball courts, swimming pools and baseball/softball diamonds. What many, if not the majority, of the people at the games and meets most likely will pay little attention to are the names attached to the venues used by the eight Concord and Clayton high schools. The Pioneer will feature an 8-part series online high-
lighting the venues at each school and the story behind the coaches, administrators, alumni and community supporters who have had school venues named after them. We will start the series next week and in the next two months will spotlight Carondelet, Clayton Valley Charter, Concord, De La Salle, Mt. Diablo, Northgate, Olympic and Ygnacio Valley school facilities.
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Riva spent four years on the Carondelet varsity lacrosse team and since she was a freshman, she envisioned the time she would walk across the field on Senior Night while her coach talked about her accomplishments on the Cougars. That day would have come this May had the coronavirus pandemic not brought an abrupt halt to spring sports. Carondelet started this season with a 4-1 record, the best start to a season since Riva was on the team. That is also the team’s final record. Riva started playing lacrosse when she was in sixth grade at St. Agnes School in Concord. She was a team captain the past two seasons at Carondelet. She won allEBAL honors as a junior when she was also a US Lacrosse all-American and team MVP. The center led the Cougars in scoring last year with 52 goals and 23 assists and started out hot this spring with 15 goals and five assists in five games. The Clayton native says, “Having the season come to a halt has been extremely tough. It is very disappointing I will not be able to experience finishing my last season of the sport I love, but my teammates, coaches and family have been very supportive and assuring during this time. This team has been my family for the past four years and I am forever grateful for the bonds I have made and lessons I have learned from this sport that I will carry with me beyond my time at Carondelet. “This team had so much potential that we sadly did not get to see. Every game we put up a battle and would not go down without a fight. The reason for our success was our team dynamic — the way we could connect passes up the field on transitions was impeccable.” The last three years the Cougars lost in the North Coast Section
quarterfinals and had hopes of going further in this year’s playoffs. She played club lacrosse at Tenacity for four years and this past season played at LAXUHR Lacrosse. For both clubs she had practice during the winter, fall and summer and traveled across the country for tournaments. Riva hasn’t decided where she will go to college this fall. “Wherever I end up for college, I will be majoring in biology with a pre-med track with the end goal becoming a physician’s assistant. I made the decision pretty early in my high school career that I did not want to go through the recruiting process. I have always put school at a higher priority than sports. Although lacrosse has been a huge part of my life, I think college is a time to really focus on my studies and prepare for the next chapter of my life. That said, I do plan on playing club lacrosse wherever I end up.” Riva was a math tutor at De La Salle for all classes from algebra to pre-calculus. “I really enjoy being able to help my classmates understand their material.”
The Pioneer congratulates Gabby and thanks Athlete Spotlight sponsors Dr. Laura Lacey & Dr. Christopher Ruzicka who have been serving the Clayton and Concord area for 25 years at Family Vision Care Optometry. www.laceyandruzicka.com
Do you know a young athlete who should be recognized? Perhaps he or she has shown exceptional sportsmanship, remarkable improvement or great heart for the sport. Send your nomination for the Pioneer Athlete Spotlight today to sports@pioneerpublishers.com
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56 local student athletes in class of 2020 ink college commitments April, 2020
The Pioneer • www.pioneerpublishers.com
JAY BEDECARRÉ The Pioneer
Even though schools are operating remotely, and all high school sports were shut down in March, six seniors recently confirmed their college commitments when they signed National Letters of Intent. Three seniors each from Carondelet and Clayton Valley Charter signed their NLI, bringing the total signees in the Class of 2020 from five local high schools to 56. From CVCHS, midfielder Edgar Castaneda, the DAL offensive MVP, is going north to play soccer at Humboldt State University while Gianna du-Long will be a sprinter on the UC Santa Cruz swim team this fall and point guard Ysobelle Eustaquio will be playing basketball at Dominican University in Marin County. Carondelet attacker Lauren Longstreet will play lacrosse at Emerson College in Boston, infielder Ella Romero will be joining the Santa Clara softball team and Sarah deBack from Clayton will be swimming in Washington for the University of Puget Sound. The 56 student athletes they will be playing 14 different sports: baseball (11 signees), softball (9), soccer (8), football (8), lacrosse (4), swimming (4), volleyball (2), golf (2), water polo (2) and one each in rowing, track and field, basketball, wrestling, cross country and equestrian. About 40% of the seniors will be leaving California for college in 16 states and one internationally in England. For the Class of 2021, National Letters of Intent signing periods being, Nov. 11, Dec. 16, Feb. 3 and April 14. CLASS OF 2020 NLI SIGNEES (SPORT AND COLLEGE)
Carondelet • Gigi Baldacci (Swimming, Boston College) • Carissa Capinpin (Soccer, San Francisco State) • Sarah deBack (Swimming, University of Puget Sound) • Kelly Kern (Track and Field, Stanford) • Lauren Longstreet (Lacrosse, Emerson College) • Kiki Mein (Water Polo, Indiana) • Ellie Ospeck (Soccer, Notre Dame) • Helena Perez (Volleyball, Colorado State) • Ella Romero (Softball, Santa Clara) • Isabella Rosa (Equestrian, Baylor) • Gabby Williams (Softball, UCSD) • Carissa Wu (Golf, Cal Poly SLO) • Lexi Zandonella (Soccer, Sonoma State) Clayton Valley Charter • Alexa Avelar (Soccer, San Francisco State) • Casey Barnes (Lacrosse, Merrimack College)
SARAH DEBACK CARONDELT
• Edgar Castaneda (Soccer, Humboldt State University) • Eddie Curley (Baseball, St. Mary’s College) • Darby Dresdow (Soccer, Biola University) • Gianna du-Long (Swimming, UC Santa Cruz) • Ysobelle Eustaquio (Basketball, Dominican University) • Jordan Frost (Water Polo, UC Irvine) • Chase Graves (Baseball, University of the Pacific) • Telly Hill (Baseball, University of the Pacific) • Jackson Nosrati (Lacrosse, Concordia of Wisconsin) • Ryan Pierce (Baseball, Fresno State)
EDGAR CASTENADA CLAYTON VALLEY CHARTER
ELLA ROMERO CARONDELT
Whittier College) • Ashley Slagle (Softball, • Keoni Coloma (Baseball, Westcliffe University) Saint Mary’s College) • Joey Soberon (Baseball, UC • Wyatt Crespi (Football, San Diego) Wake Forest University) • Mana Taimani (Football, • Grant Daley (Football, UC University of Wyoming) Berkeley) • Shamar Garrett (Football, Concord San Jose State) Madelyn Mays (Softball, Har• Kyle Harrison (Baseball, vard) • Amber DeSena (Softball, University of Iowa) • Marina Delaluna (Softball, Trinity University) De La Salle • Anthony Banis (Rowing, University of Washington) • Vince Bianchina (Baseball, Northwestern) • Chase Britton (Lacrosse,
YSOBELLE EUSTAQUIO CLAYTON VALLEY CHARTER
UCLA) • Charles McAdoo (Baseball, San Jose State) • Derek O’Connor (Cross Country, Saint Mary’s College) • Benjamin Roe (Football, Eastern Washington) • Brendan Tuholski (Football, UC Davis)
Page 11
Northgate • Abigail Cheung (Soccer, Biola University) • Adrian Dulay (Swimming, University of Connecticut) • Benji Elster (Soccer, Northumbria University) • Gia Feliciano (Golf, University of Wisconsin) • Jon Jon Gazdar (Baseball, San Jose State) • Amaya Lee (Softball, Marshall University) • Katie Hicks (Softball, Oregon State) • Olivia Lee (Softball, Holy Names University) • Eric Prough (Football, Pomona College) • Miks Ramanis (Volleyball, BYU) • Luke Saunders (Baseball, UC San Diego) • Liv Villanueva (Wrestling, Southern Oregon) • Nathan Wu (Football, Macalester College)
Athlete Spotlight
Chase Graves Grade: Senior School: CVCHS Sport: Baseball
GIANNA DU-LONG CVCHS
LAUREN LONGSTREET CARONDELET
Senior Graves was a key member of the Ugly Eagles baseball team that was 6-1-1 in non-league play this spring before the coronavirus pandemic cut short their season. He says, “This team is more than just a baseball team. Beyond the amazing talent on the field, we have an unbreakable bond that we will all remember for the rest of our lives. I’m so grateful to have spent the last four years with my best friends and teammates. Losing this season means everything, as we put countless hours working hard non-stop for this year. What hurts is the fact that I can’t play with my brothers- some of which I’ve played with my whole life. For it to end the way it did was heartbreaking. This season was supposed to end with glory and championships, instead it ends like this. It’s a shame but I know it’s something that had to happen, and I wish nothing but good health for everyone affected and their loved ones.” The outfielder will be playing in Stockton this fall for the University of the Pacific. He was a second team all-Diablo Athletic League player last year as a junior in his second season on the CVCHS varsity, a team that is a perennial North Coast Section play-
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off participant. Graves batted .304 last year and had started off 2020 with a hot .385 batting average in the eight games they played Head coach Casey Coakley says, “Chase is a player who represents Clayton Valley baseball well. He is a hard worker who is always there for his teammates. Chase will be a great teammate wherever he plays.”
CVCHS student journalist Alexa Oldham wrote this Spotlight.
The Pioneer congratulates Chase and thanks Athlete Spotlight sponsors Dr. Laura Lacey & Dr. Christopher Ruzicka who have been serving the Clayton and Concord area for 25 years at Family Vision Care Optometry. www.laceyandruzicka.com
Do you know a young athlete who should be recognized? Perhaps he or she has shown exceptional sportsmanship, remarkable improvement or great heart for the sport. Send your nomination for the Pioneer Athlete Spotlight today to sports@pioneerpublishers.com.
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