Not just any chief – but Pleasant Hill’s, says Vermillion

police chief of Pleasant Hill,” he said, showing his love of the community.

Scott Vermillion potentially could have had his pick of police chief positions, but his heart kept him here.

“I just did not want to become ‘a’ police chief, but the

A nearly 23-year veteran of the department that began as a patrol officer in October 2000, Vermillion shed the interim title in early March and was officially promoted to the top position.

“I really believe in service over self,” said Vermillion. “If I wasn’t blessed to be its police chief, I would have stayed on with the Pleasant Hill Police

Department as a captain to support the next chief and be pleased to be able to be a service to the community.”

He believes his time on the streets and the knowledge he gained will be his most enduring assets as he establishes goals and seeks to make improvements.

“In the world of law enforcement, Pleasant Hill is a great place to work as a police officer. It has a supportive community that has its values in the right and appropriate places,” said Vermillion.

The new chief says the police department should reflect and resemble the community it polices – and that includes the values of the community.

“It’s an inclusive community. We are all in this together,” he said. “Diversity should be clearly embraced because it is what makes us strong.”

Worldlyperspective

Ahead of his appointment, Vermillion attended training at FBI headquarters in Quantico, Va. He saw it as an invaluable experience, including networking with law enforcement executives from around the country as well as around the world, representing numerous countries and every continent.

Vermillion spoke of rooming with a law enforcement

See Chief, page 7

SCOTT VERMILLION

Crowds lined Clayton’s Main Street during the 2019 Art & Wine Festival.

Spring is in the air, and that means it’s time for the return of the Art & Wine Festival on Saturday and Sunday, April 29 and 30.

The Clayton Business & Community Association (CBCA) held its first Art & Wine Festival in 1995, launching the CBCA tradition of making Clayton “a festival destination city.”

Thousands of Claytonians and visitors alike flock downtown each year to delight in the charms of the town, businesses, beautiful surroundings and friendly festival atmosphere.

At the Art & Wine Festival, attendees stroll down Main Street enjoying vendors, arts & crafts and continuous live music, while sipping premium wine or beer. The food court offers a vast variety of foods, and there’s also a Kidland/Teen Zone.

Hours are 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday. Admission and parking are free.

The CBCA is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization comprised of dedicated volunteers serving the community. The group donates proceeds from festivals to a variety of causes, organizations and charities benefiting the Clayton community. CBCA has earmarked $175,000 to donate back to the community in 2023.

For more information, visit www.claytoncbca.org.

Clayton Cleans Up returns to beautify town just in time for Art & Wine Fest

After a three-year hiatus, Clayton Cleans Up returns 9 a.m.-noon Saturday, April 22.

As in years prior, the event will coincide with Earth Day, and comes one week before the Clayton Business & Community Association’s Art & Wine Festival. In contrast to the past, however, the event is being spearheaded by one resident: Clayton City Councilmember Peter Cloven.

The event hit a roadblock and was discontinued after the 2019 clean-up because of COVID-19. Prior to that, the clean-up was held thanks to the city and the Pioneer’s combined efforts each Earth Day for a decade. Cloven credits Pioneer co-publisher Bob Steiner with helping him through the learning curves of taking on the event. People who want to volunteer to clean up the heart of

Clayton can sign in at 9 a.m. in the courtyard outside City Hall. From there, Cloven says they don’t have too strict of a goal. Following the clean-up, volunteers will meet back in the courtyard for a noon barbecue.

“They’ll get a T-shirt and they’ll get gloves and a garbage bag. And then they’re going to give them the simple instruction to go and clean up,” says Cloven.

He wants volunteers to pick up trash in whatever areas they prefer, giving people the chance to clean spots that are special to them. “I want the citizens to be in charge of choosing the areas that make sense based on their observations of our town,” Cloven notes.

He calls the event an opportunity for residents to engage in a community-building cause that everyone can support. “If you’re willing (to help), this is such a nonpartisan issue. It doesn’t matter what side of the fence you fall on politically. Everybody actually loves our city.”

He goes on to say that Clayton Cleans Up is focused on general community improvement. “There’s no profit motive.” Cloven hopes volunteers will clean up their own neighborhoods or “other places of public visibility.” The town center is also likely to get a new life.

“It’s the week before the Art & Wine Festival. So, it’s really appropriate to spruce up our town for all the visitors who are coming.”