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A cunning win for first-timers at annual CBCA Rib Cook-off PEGGY SPEAR
Clayton Pioneer
TAMARA STEINER
Publisher
Six slabs of ribs did what Christmas and birthdays couldn’t do: They made my husband Tony Ucciferri feel like a kid again. Indeed, when my husband decided to enter the fifth annual Clayton Club’s Rib Cook-off last Saturday — a fundraiser for the Clayton Business and Community Association — we couldn’t wipe the grin off his face. That is when he wasn’t spending a few sleepless nights going over rub recipes, sauce quantities and looking over spreadsheets of cooking times. It was a long time coming. More than 30 years to be exact. That’s when he and teammate Walid Abdul-Rahim first began experimenting with barbecue recipes in their UC Berkeley dorm, Cunningham Hall. It’s also where their team name was born: The Cunning Hams.
Next month, Pioneer Newspapers will begin a new phase when the 11-year-old Clayton Pioneer will be joined by an allnew Concord Pioneer in bringing quality community news coverage to both cities. Beginning with the Sept. 12 issue, the Clayton Pioneer will publish monthly in the second week of the month. Other than the new schedule, readers will see no change. The paper will still be home-delivered to all of Clayton by U.S. mail. It will still have complete coverage of community events, city politics, local sports, school and club news, a community calendar, popular columns and articles on a rich variety of topics. The Concord Pioneer will also publish monthly beginning Sept. 26. The paper will be delivered to 28,000 homes and businesses in Concord during Tamara Steiner/Clayton Pioneer
See New Pioneer, page 3
PEOPLE'S CHOICE WINNERS THE CUNNING HAMS, a.k.a. Tony Ucciferri and Walid Abdul-Rahim, debate the cooking time at the Fifth Annual Rib Cook-off on Aug. 9.
De La Salle movie shines spotlight on Eidson Terry Eidson and Bob Ladouceur portrayed by Hollywood stars JAY BEDECARRÉ Clayton Pioneer
When Terry Eidson began coaching football at De La Salle High School in 1981 — as an assistant junior varsity coach — he would have been hard pressed to imagine that as he prepares for his 34th season at
acclaimed major motion picture. Eidson, a Concord resident, was accompanied by wife Aggie, their daughters Kayleigh and Therese, and other family members earlier this month on the red, er, green carpet for the Hollywood premiere of “When The Game Stands Tall,” a TriStar movie chronicling the recordbreaking 151-game winning streak from 1992-2003 that brought De La Salle football to the forefront of the American sports scene.
Photo courtesy TriStar Pictures
Veteran De La Salle High School football coach Terry Eidson (left) traveled to New Orleans after the end of the 2013 school year to observe filming of “When The Game Stands Tall,” the story of the record-breaking Spartans football team. Michael Chiklis (right), plays Eidson in the film.
the Concord Catholic school he would have an Emmy- and Golden Globe-winning actor portraying him in a highly-
“The carpet was actually green football turf,” Eidson said about the Hollywood premiere with star Jim Caviezel (who
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Around Town . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Ask Us . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 Behind the Badge . . . . . . . . .6 Book Review . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
players Spartans head coach Bob Ladouceur), director Thomas Carter, producer David Zelon and several young actors, including Alexander Ludwig and Jesse Usher, who portray De La Salle players. Ladouceur and Eidson have coached together for 32 years at De La Salle (Eidson was promoted to head JV coach for his second and third years and has been on the varsity staff ever since). They are central figures in the movie based on the 2003 book of the same name by former Contra Costa Times columnist Neil Hayes. Each is credited as a consultant on the film as well. Michael Chiklis, who won Emmy and Golden Globe awards for his portrayal of Detective Vic Mackey in the groundbreaking series “The Shield,” plays Eidson in the film. Hayes was thrilled with the casting. “From the moment he came on set, Mike had Terry down," Hayes says. "Bob and Terry are almost yin and yang: Bob’s introverted and quiet, while Terry is extroverted and loud and since they’ve been together coaching for 32 years, they’re like an old married couple. There’s some real humor in the way they needle each other and have a good time together – and Mike got that. He brought energy, comedy and a really fun element.”
Classified . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 Club News . . . . . . . . . . . . .17 Community Calendar . . . . .14 Concord City News . . . . . . . .5 Design and Décor . . . . . . . .15 Estate Planning . . . . . . . . . . .8
LONG HISTORY TOGETHER The coaches met the summer before Edison began at DLS. They were in a dorm at St. Mary’s College. Edison was just out of college and in a program with the Christian Brothers that he thought would lead to him joining that religious order and Ladouceur was taking a workshop on the Moraga campus.
“We hit it off real well,” Eidson recalls. The two are religious studies teachers at DLS. “Bob was outgoing and funny when we were at St. Mary’s,” he adds. “Then I went to De La Salle and thought, 'he’s not so talkative on campus.' I thought it was kinda weird.”
See Rib Cook-Off, page 4
Check out the EBRPD Activity Guide Inside.
See DLS Movie, page 4
Mayor’s Wellness Challenge proves healthy cooking is easy, delicious PEGGY SPEAR Clayton Pioneer
Tevy Sun of Sweet Bakery knew that it wasn’t a typical cooking challenge when she was asked to hide the plates of delicious-looking cookies and confections that are a hallmark of her Clayton bakery. “No sugar or processed foods are allowed on display,” said Cindy Gershen, founder of the Wellness City Challenge and organizer of the Sixth Annual Mayor’s Healthy Food Cook-off, which was held July 31 at Concord’s Todos Santos Plaza. Indeed, this was not your
See Challenge, page 5
Garden Girl . . . . . . . . . . . . .16 Northgate Correspondent . .12 Performing Arts . . . . . . . . . .15 Pets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13 Pioneer Photo Album . . . . .15 Police Report . . . . . . . . . . . .3
Tamara Steiner/Clayton Pioneer
Clayton Councilman Jim Diaz waits for instructions as Sweet Bakery’s Tevy Sun creates a healthy chicken salad in the annual Wellness City Challenge on July 31.
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Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com
August 15, 2014
Around Town Relay for Life fundraiser honors Anu Ray
Photo: Courtesy Pat Middendorf
CLAYTONIANS BRENDAN ROSE, DEBRA GONSALVES, Tom Branich, Sam Ray and Mike Rose recently attended a Relay for Life Team fundraiser, raising $19,000 for Team Anu.
One of the local teams for Clayton’s Relay for Life event recently held a “Party Under the Stars,” raising $19,000 for the American Cancer Society in honor of Clayton resident Anu Ray. The Team Anu fundraising event was held at the home of Steve and Debra Gonsalves, and featured raffle baskets, a silent auction and premium wines donated from team members and the business community. Anu Ray was the wife of Clayton resident Sanjay Ray, and the mother of Sean and Sam Ray. An active school and com-
munity resident, Anu Ray lost her battle with gall bladder cancer on May 31, 2013 at the age of 57. Before her death Anu was an active participant in the Relay for Life, the 24-hour walk-run that benefits the ACS, and Team Anu was formed in her honor in November, 2013. All Relay for Life teams hold fundraisers before the event with the help of the Relay committee. Clayton’s Relay for Life will be held Aug. 16-17 at Gonsalves Stadium at Clayton Valley Charter High School.
119 Crow Place – Clayton
Four-year-old Anthony Zamora is already an expert in harvesting his family’s fruit. Over the past couple of years, he has seen his mother and father, Heather and Matthew, collect the extra Meyer lemons and oranges from trees in his yard and donate them to The Lemon Lady. Anna, The Lemon Lady, is well-known in the East Bay area for her work collecting extra fruit from trees in the community and vegetables from local gardens and donating them to local food pantries, including Share Food Pantry in Concord, as well as to local seniors and families in need. Area residents who have extra fruit and vegetables from their trees and gardens are encouraged to contact The Lemon Lady, who offers free pick-up and delivery to hunger relief organizations in Contra Costa County. Email Anna at
AnnaandAva@gmail.com, or contact her at 510-406-1625 (cell) or 925-672-1988 (home).
Aloha from Kaua’i We just spent a week in paradise with the Alcock family in Hawaii. Besides sunning on the beach, we spent a day on a Zodiac adventure through the caves and waterfalls. The family’s favorite activity was the six- hour Zodiac adventure through caves and waterfalls, Here we are with Tyler, Ken, Sydney and Mikayla in front of our hotel. Yorks in Four Corners We spent a great week with the York family at Four Corners … No, not THAT Four Corners — the Four Corners where Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and Utah meet. We toured all four states, zip-lined and hiked the famous arches in Utah. ANTHONY ZAMORA
We want to know what’s happening in your families and in your neighborhoods. Send your news of births, engagements weddings, anniversaries, celebrations, 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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Jennifer Stojanovich
Broker
Broker-Associate
Clayton Resident
Lifelong Concord/Clayton Resident
(925) 672-4433 cell: (925) 348-5700 georgevujnovich@sbcglobal.net
www.georgevujnovich.com
(925) 567-6170 Cal BRE #01446062
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1012 Panadero Way ............$658,000 1179 Shell Ln .......................$429,000 15 London Court ..................$690,000 3036 Windmill Canyon.........$652,000 107 Samuel Ct .....................$728,000 1462 Yosemite Circle ...........$635,000 1163 Gamay Drive ...............$760,000 5017 Raven Way .................$685,000 925 Douglas Ct ....................$899,000 101 Salazar Court................$658,888 3205 Coyote Cir...................$334,000 5880 Herriman Dr ................$629,900 17 Tiffin Ct............................$615,000 1541 Haviland Pl .................$380,000
George Vujnovich
Cal BRE #00711036
Pictured at right: Lisa York, Emily York, Kevin York, Madison York, Todd York.
What’s happening Around Town?
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Pioneer Travels
Pint-sized picker joins family in harvesting for the Food Bank
jenstojanovich@yahoo.com
www.jenniferstojanovich.com
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Don Howard Realtor-Associate
Clayton Resident
(925) 408-3184 Donald.kent.howard@gmail.com
Emily Howard
Realtor-Associate
925-408-1871 howard.emily05@gmail.com Cal BRE #01846446 & Cal BRE#01938441
howardhomeseastbay.com
August 15, 2014
Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com
Ask Us Q. What’s going on out on Marsh Creek Road about a mile east of Rodie’s? It looks like they are widening the road. – Laurie M. According to Adelina Huerta of Contra Costa Public Works, the culvert under the roadway needs to be replaced. One of the walls of the culvert collapsed and the other side needs reinforcing. The creek bed will
be temporarily diverted while the repairs are being done. Signs at each end of the work warn drivers of possible 15-30 minute delays. Mon.-Fri. between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. For questions related to the project, please call Adelina Huerta (925) 313-2305. Curious about things happening around town? Email questions to tamara@claytonpioneer.com and we’ll do our best to get answers.
Police Report Police activity for three weeks ending Aug. 7, 2014 Arrests July 20, 10:05 p.m. Park Highlands Blvd./Ygnacio Valley Rd. A 30-year-old Concord male was arrested for possessing narcotic controlled substance; under the influence of a controlled substance. July 22, 1:16 a.m. Kirker Pass Rd./Myrtle Dr. A 29-year-old Pittsburg male was arrested for possessing narcotic controlled substance; possessing controlled substance; under the influence of a controlled substance; possessing controlled substance paraphernalia. July 27, 2:15 a.m. El Camino Dr./Carolina Dr. A 25-year-old Concord male was arrested for driving under the influence. July 28, 7 p.m. Main St. A 55year-old Clayton male was arrested on a warrant. July 31, 2:54 p.m. Mt. Teton Pl. A 49-year-old Napa male was arrested for possession of methamphetamine; possession of controlled substance paraphernalia. A 35-year-old Clayton female passenger was also arrested. Aug. 2, 8:25 a.m. 6400 Clayton Rd. A 28-year-old San Francisco male was arrested for vehicle theft; possessing drug parapherna-
Clayton
lia; possessing burglary tools; possessing metal knuckles; probation violation. His companions, a 23year-old San Francisco male and a 32-year-old Clayton female, were also arrested for vehicle theft, possessing drug paraphernalia and possessing burglary tools. Aug. 7, 2:29 a.m. 5400 Clayton Rd. A 30-year-old Concord male was arrested for under the influence of a controlled substance. Burglaries and Thefts July 18, Mt. Dell Dr. Burglary – Residential. July 18, Hummingbird Wy. Burglary – Residential. July 19, Yolanda Cir. Burglary – Vehicle. July 21, Mt. Wilson Way. Petty Theft. July 22, Eagle Peak Ave. Burglary – Residential. July 23, El Camino Dr. Petty Theft. July 24, Pebble Beach Dr. Petty Theft. July 28, Kirker Pass Rd./ Concord Blvd. Petty Theft. July 29, Yosemite Cir. Petty Theft. Aug. 3, Peacock Creek Dr. Burglary – Vehicle. Aug. 4, Peacock Creek Dr. Burglary – Commercial.
$729,000
Clayton
Page 3
Doing the Right Thing means taking ‘Responsibility
HANK STRATFORD
MAYOR’S CORNER During the months of August and September our community character initiative, Do the Right Thing, will focus on the character trait “Responsibility.” As the Do the Right Thing program was being formed, the schools felt that “Responsibility” should coincide with the start of school. It is easy to see why edu-
cators would like to focus their students on this important characteristic. This character trait can be defined as “Doing what I am supposed to do; Always doing by best; and being accountable for my actions.” These are good guidelines to live by for all of us and especially our students. NO RE-ELECTION: A couple of issues ago I wrote that I have decided not to run for re-election. I am grateful for the kind words that have been expressed and I truly will miss serving on the Clayton City Council. A few people also thought
that my column hinted at some sort of discord that prompted my decision. That was simply a result of bad writing on my part. I have enjoyed serving with all of my fellow council members, both present and past members. I will miss associating with them and our great city staff. I hope everyone is enjoying the summer. I hope you take some time to think about the role “Responsibility” has or does now play in your life. I would love to hear examples or stories related to “Responsibility.”
on rts t y a Cl once C eG
rov e
Th n i
Saturdays
6 to 8:30 p.m. At the Gazebo in The Grove Aug 16 AJA VU plays the music of Steely Dan and Chicago
Aug 30 Apple Z – high energy rock and roll spanning the decades from Rolling Stones to Lady Gaga
Sept 13 East Bay Mudd 10-piece cover dance band with a powerful 4-man horn section
Thursdays 7 to 8:30 p.m. August 21 PHD’s
Contact me with questions and comments at hstratford@ci.clayton.ca.us.
(Latin Jazz R&B)
www.cityofclayton.org.
New Pioneer, from page 1 the last week of the month. With this change, Concord will have its own Pioneer with the quality news reporting, features and columns readers have come to expect from us. And advertisers will see a whopping 225 percent increase in exposure since all ads will appear in both papers. The publication and deadline schedule for both papers is on the websites at www.claytonpioneer.com. The new website, www.concordpioneer.com, will be online soon, as well. We urge readers to Like us on Facebook and check the website where we will post frequent updates for breaking news and important events happening between publication dates. Whether you live in Clayton or Concord, it’s still your paper.
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Assisting More Buyers & Sellers than Anyone Else* *Statistics based on Clayton closed by sales volume (1/2012 – 12/2012). Data by Trendgraphix
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Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com
Rib Cook-Off, from page 1 But life has a way of getting in the way of big plans, and it wasn’t until this summer that the two guys decided to test the waters of an actual competition together. The Cunning Hams, as well as 25 other teams, arrived by 7 a.m. that morning at the back lot of the Clayton Club, rolling in their two backyard Webers to their tent. By 7:15 it looked like another Clayton fire had sprung up as all the teams began firing up their coals — at least the ones who didn’t use propane. But despite the threat of smoke inhalation, the Cunning Hams were in their element. Each team was given six slabs of pork ribs, and detailed
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All these years later "Coach Lad" is still the quiet one and Eidson is the loud and wildlygesticulating sidekick. Hayes spent every single day before and during the 2002 De La Salle season, which began with them having won 125 games in a row — far and away the longest streak in major American sports history. He attended every meeting, practice and game and “When The Game Stands Tall” was the resultant book. The winning streak finally ended with the first game of the 2004 season in Washington. Earlier that year one of the school’s greatest players, Terrance Kelly, was murdered in
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Richmond the night before he was to leave for a college football career at the University of Oregon. Ladouceur had had a heart attack that previous New Year’s Eve. These factors inspired Hayes to write an additional chapter for the paperback edition. INTRIGUING FRIENDSHIP Chiklis, who grew up playing football, hockey and baseball, says, “I was thinking about the things I’d like to accomplish in the second half of my career and I was looking to do something more inspirational. And it was just incredible how the door that opened was this story.” He was immediately
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their rib selections like jewelers going through diamonds. Every aspect, from color, texture and density was weighed. The first two rounds were judged by local dignitaries and CBCA members, but the final round was judged by professionals: Tim Ford of Armadillo Willie’s in Dublin, Jeff and Yvonne Erb of Back 40 Texas Barbecue, and Rob Zavataro of Beaver Creek Smokehouse in Martinez. When the smoke cleared, the winners gleefully accepted their trophies. Tied for second place were Ferrell Family BBQ and Half Fast, led by Greg Ferrell and Stephen Lim, respectively. Top prize went to Third Coast Smoke, led by Colin Mendenhall. And the coveted People’s Choice Award, voted on by a selection of the afternoon’s diners, went to none other than The Cunning Hams.
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afternoon was livened up by live music performed at the back of the Clayton Club, but I was particularly entertained by the good-natured bickering between Tony and Walid over how to stack the coals, flip the ribs and even whether they should put some in foil if they were getting too burnt. There was also a lot of looking-over-their-shoulders at the other competition. Should they be preparing the garnish yet? Should they be spraying the ribs with apple juice, which helps keep them moist? And the guys gazed lovingly at the trophies other teams sported from earlier years’ success. Suddenly, around noon, it was go-time. The first four racks were coming off, and would be entered into judging. The remaining two, which would be judged last in the People’s Choice category, would come off the fire later. Walid and Tony picked over
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instructions about judging times. Even the green-leaf garnish was regulated. After the meat was delivered, it was time to “do the rub.” “This is where the magic happens,” Tony said as he and Walid lovingly massaged their spicy concoction — I’m not even really sure what was in it — over the six slabs. Then around 8 a.m., the first four slabs were put in the Weber. As a barbecue novice, I thought that meant we could all sit and relax for a few hours. But obviously I was very naïve. They needed to be tended and flipped every half hour (at least that’s what the spreadsheet said), and Walid even brought his portable kitchen timer to make sure they were on the nose. The long morning and
August 15, 2014
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intrigued by the friendship between Terry and Bob. “Terry is much more demonstrative, but they complement each other as opposite sides of the coin.” Chiklis also loved that the story is not the expected tale of sports triumph. “I love that this movie takes place at the end of the Spartans’ streak, at that moment when the whole team is suddenly facing adversity,” he says. “That makes it something really special.” Eidson, 56, is very impressed how the filmmakers captured the essence of the De La Salle program, mission and philosophy. “Bob and I are pretty happy about that.” He was equally impressed with the football action. “They used ex-college players and they were not playing around. There’s some good contact and live hitting.” Ladouceur and Eidson went to New York before this year’s Super Bowl for a Fellowship of Christian Athletes dinner with 2000 people. They got to see the first cut of the movie then and hadn’t seen it again until the premiere. “The music changed and it’s fantastic,” Edison adds. Sports luminaries Vin Scully and Jerry West extol the movie’s virtues on Facebook where “When The Game Stands Tall” has over 136,000 likes. Edison’s biggest relief at the premiere was that Aggie’s brief cameo with Laura Dern (who plays Ladouceur’s wife, Bev) wasn’t cut from the final version. Three showings of “When The Game Stands Tall” benefitting the Terrance Kelly Youth Foundation will be held this Sunday, Aug. 17, at 1, 1:20 and 1:40 p.m. at Century Blackhawk Plaza. The movie opens nationwide Aug. 22 including at the Brenden Theatres in Concord.
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August 15, 2014
Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com
Page 5
Concord News
Council sends Measure Q to voters in November PEGGY SPEAR Clayton Pioneer
It’s official: The Concord City Council will ask its residents to decide if they want to pay to maintain vital services in the city. At a special council meeting held the last week in July, just before the council’s August hiatus, the board unanimously
agreed to put the City of Concord Essential Services Measure, also known as the Measure Q Continuation Measure, on the Nov. 4, 2014 ballot. Measure Q was a half-cent sales tax measure that passed in November 2010, and is set to sunset in 2016. Without the funds generated by the measure, the city faces at least a $4 million budget reduction, which City
Blue Devils get Sweet 16th
Manager Valerie Barone said would severely curtail the services the city could offer. If passed, the continuation measure could generate funds to maintain services that residents have identified as important, such as 911 emergency response, neighborhood police patrols, gang prevention programs, street and pothole repair efforts and youth and senior programs.
CONCORD CITY NEWS Photo Jen Lowe
The Pioneer will have comprehensive coverage of the champions in our next issue.
Concord’s rich Hispanic heritage will be on display in two upcoming community events. On Sat. Aug. 23 in Todos Santos Plaza, we will have the “Festival of Latin Culture,” which will be a day-long outdoor celebration of Latin music, food and dance. This fun-filled day will feature familyfriendly activities, arts and crafts, 30-plus vendor booths and more. There will be a musical performance by Puro Bandido and there will be a Piñata-making contest for youth ages 5-18. On Oct. 12, Concord will also host the Taste of Monument from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The goal
Grayson said as he chopped strawberries. “This shows that there are healthier options than the ones we grew up with. We are teaching the younger generation early how to eat right.” The Wellness City Challenge is a local non-profit that partners with schools, restaurants and other agencies to promote healthier lifestyles, especially in food choices. Concord and Clayton were joined by teams from Antioch, Danville, Martinez, Moraga, Pittsburg, Pleasant Hill, San Pablo, San Ramon and Walnut Creek. “These teams are raising the bar this year,” Gershen said, as she surveyed the gourmet dishes coming out of the Iron Chef-style competition. “And the fact is, we can all do this at home—and in our schools.” Her healthy food movement is already making a dent in such institutionalized systems as school lunch programs. “Quinoa and lentils are already being served in the Mt. Diablo Unified School District,” she said. “That’s a huge step.” The “secret ingredient” each team had was surely the student sous chefs from Mt. Diablo High School. In the Clayton booth, senior Shelby Cooper deftly braised tofu strips to add to the sandwich, offering advice to Sun and Diaz. “I told them not to go heavy on the spices,” she said. Next door, senior Hector Medina grilled a peach to go along with the curried chicken over lentils. “I don’t know if I’m going into the culinary arts after
council members as well as many public speakers spoke up in favor of the extension. “It’s a slam dunk,” said Council member Edi Birsan, “Putting this before the voters is the right thing to do.” Council member Laura Hoffmeister agrees. “We owe it to the voters to let them decide.”
See Measure Q, page 13
of this event is to bring people to the Monument area to discover its many businesses and community. Indeed, with creative visioning, Concord’s Monument Corridor has great economic potential. It is culturally rich with a large Hispanic population. More than 37,000 residents, which is almost one-third of Concord’s total population, call the Monument home. More than half of the Monument residents are Latino, and 61 percent of these Latinos are foreign-born. The Monument community is 3.8 square miles, making up 12 percent of the total area of Concord. Although the majority of Monument residents are lowskilled workers in industries (some of the hardest hit by the recession with higher than average unemployment) many of them are entrepreneurial and very hard workers, and willing to take on many jobs that others won’t. And if you want real authentic Mexican food, you don’t have to travel to Mexico, you can go to restaurants like Tortilleria El Molino, Mercado Del Sol, Los Taco De Pancho or El Faro.
Photo courtesy Puro Bandido
PURO BANDIDO WILL BRING THEIR HIGH ENERGY LATIN ROCK SOUND To Todos Santos Plaza Aug. 23 when the city will celebrate a family-friendly “Festival of Latin Culture” with music, food and dance.
Concord began with Hispanic roots. In 1772 Spanish explorers, led by Captain Pedro Fages and Father Juan Crespi, were the first Europeans in this area. The Spanish explored for the next 50 to 60 years, but did not settle in our valley. In 1834, Don Salvio Pacheco received a 17,921-acre land grant from the Mexican government for lands in this valley named “Monte del Diablo.” Don Salvio’s son, Fernando Pacheco, was sent immediately to occupy the grant and begin cattle operations on the Pacheco family’s new Rancho. In
1868, Don Salvio Pacheco, his son Fernando, and his son-in-law Francisco Galindo created a new town at the center of their Rancho. They called their new town Todos Santos (All Saints) which would eventually be known as Concord. By 1879, there was a population of 300. It would double by February 1905, when incorporation of the “Town of Concord” was approved by a twovote margin. Recently, I chaired the city council’s Downtown Specific Plan Steering Committee that was created to do the visioning work for our downtown area. Now that we’ve concluded that task, I believe we need to look to revitalize and create a vision for the Monument Corridor. With the right plan and the cooperation from our community, police and local businesses, I believe we can help to make the Monument Corridor as vibrant a destination as downtown. Ron Leone is vice mayor and a former mayor of Concord. Email comments or questions to ronaldleone@comcast.net, or call (925) 680-1776
Concord celebrates community, safety at National Night Out
Challenge, from page 1 grandma’s cooking challenge. Teams made up of mayors from 11 Contra Costa cities — or their representatives — along with a chef from one of their local restaurants were given a grocery bag containing chicken, grains from Concord Grocery Outlet and fresh produce from Pacific Coast Farmers’ Market Association, and charged with creating a dish that was not only presented attractively, but delicious and healthy as well. The teams were aided by some ringers, students from Gershen’s Sustainable Hospitality program at Mt. Diablo High School, who are learning how to prepare healthy and sustainable meals from their own garden at the school. Sun, who was a last minute stand-in for Clayton’s challenge, didn’t seem daunted by having to put away the sugary treats, as she and Councilman Jim Diaz proceeded to create a tasty lettuce wrap and a version of her signature chicken salad. Voila. In the booth next door, Concord Mayor Tim Grayson had some tense moments waiting for his teammate, John Acuna from The Big C restaurant, to arrive. He was forced to flex some civic muscle when Acuna said he was unable to park at the busy plaza to unload his cache of spices. But after a quick intervention by Grayson and planning commissioner Tim McGallian, Acuna arrived and quickly got to work dicing chicken and searing fruits and vegetables for a savory curried chicken. “This is a great event,”
“Our city needs locally controlled state funds for local projects and services, with money that can’t be taken by the state.” A survey conducted by the city indicated that more than 68 percent of the residents would support the continuation, much more than the simple majority needed to pass. Barone may have been preaching to the choir, as all the
Latin history, culture rooted in Concord
RON LEONE
Recording the highest score in the history of Drum Corps International competition the Blue Devils of Concord won their 16th DCI World Championship last Saturday evening in Indianapolis with a near-perfect performance of their 2014 program “Felliniesque.” The Blue Devils registered a stunning 99.65, just .35 off a perfect mark of 100 with seven of the 11 judges scoring them 100. They beat second place Bluecoats of Canton, Ohio by 2.475 points. This gained the local corps its fifth championship in the past eight years and 16th overall since their first in 1976. They have never finished out of the top five at the world championships since 1975. Their undefeated 2014 season is the sixth for BD. The Blue Devils B Corps won the Open Class World Championship as well, for their fourth world title since 2009.
Barone pointed fingers at two issues that makes her feel that the sales tax is essential. “Sacramento has taken more than $78 million from the city of Concord over the past 20 years. That, and the slow economic recovery, has forced the city to already cut its workforce by 25 percent, defer road maintenance, reduce programs and outsource services,” she said.
EMILY WRIGHT Special to the Pioneer
Concord Mayor Tim Grayson, toasts cashews for Big C chef John Acuna’s curried chicken.
high school,” he said. “But at least I have options.” When the smoke had cleared and the hour-and-a-half challenge was complete, Antioch came away as the grand prize winner, followed by Danville and Pleasant Hill. Clayton’s dish came in a respectable fourth place. The top three teams will compete against Alameda County’s top three teams in a cook-off in October. The judging panel was made up of local civic leaders, food service employees and laymen, but they all had one universal comment. “We were blown away by how good the food was,” said Kish Rajan, Director of the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development. “This shows that we can make a difference to ourselves, and the environment, buy what we choose to put in our bodies.” For more information on the Wellness City Challenge, visit the website www.wellnesscitychallenge.org.
Concord’s Todos Santos Plaza often has live music and enthusiastic audiences, but on Tuesday, Aug. 5, people were celebrating more than a local band. National Night Out, “America’s Night Out Against Crime,” is in its 30th year of bringing people together, and Concord is one of many communities that held neighborhood celebrations in honor of the event. At Todos Santos, festivities included vendor booths, live music, police K-9 demonstrations, and a chance for the public and the police to meet and greet on an informal basis. “It’s a great time to build relationships,” Concord Police Lieutenant Ivan Menchaca said. National Night Out was celebrated throughout the city. This year’s event featured returning as well as some new first time events, including the Block Party at Rosemary Lane in the “Fruit Bowl-Tree Haven” area off of Oak Grove by Peach. There, about 50 so residents had a great gathering with their new Neighborhood Watch representatives and the local Police District Commander. They had a banner for everyone to write on including answers to the question: “What does community mean?” Answers included “A family of homes.” In Roundtree (off of Ygnacio Valley Road and Michigan), there was a gathering with a demonstration of the ever popular K-9 police, featuring police dog Ben,
who apparently is fluent in Dutch commands and exercised great restraint at the tables of food. At The Alameda and Bella Drive gathering there was a large group of young pre-schoolers with their parents, and games as well as another K-9 demonstration. The food at the events was as diverse as the Concordians at each location, with everything from pizza to “mystery dip” to ethnic favorites. The Todos Santos festival also had several live bands, emceed by local musician and event producer Jim Ocean. “I’ve been running shows here for 26 years,” Ocean said. “This event has been going on for sever-
al years now. Basically it creates community. It also creates commerce — financial return for the downtown.” “I think it’s really great,” Sisi Chavez, of locally owned Ravioli’s restaurant, said about the festival. “A lot of the businesses in the square are independently owned, and it brings people together and into local businesses.” “The interesting thing with National Night Out is that rather than it being a Concord or Clayton or Pittsburg thing, it’s a national thing,” Officer Manchaca said. “So it helps everyone get together as a community.” Concord City Council member Edi Birsan contributed to this story.
Concord Concert Schedules Concord Pavilion Aug. 17, 7 p.m. Monumentour, Fall Out Boy, Paramore
FREE Thursday Night Music in the Market Aug. 21, Zepparella All Female Led Zeppelin Tribute Sept. 4, The Purple Ones 10-piece Tribute to Prince Sept. 11 Lafayette Studio Big Band; Count Basie-style 9/11 Memorial Show
Sept 7, 7 p.m., Marc Anthony Sept. 19, 6:30 p.m. Carnivores Tour: Linkin Park, 30 Seconds to Mars and AFI NEW: Sept. 20, 7 p.m. MAZE: featuring Patti LaBelle, Rubin Stoddard Sept. 25, TBA, Zac Brown Band Oct 1, 7 p.m., Kings of Leon, Young the Giant and Kongos Oct. 17, 7 p.m., Luke Bryan, Lee Brice and Cole Swindell
Page 6
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Upgrading can increase home value Q: My husband and I are going to sell our house and retire. We would like to know what the listing price should be if we sold it as is, or had it fixed up. It is well maintained but in original condition. A: One rule of thumb is that you must get back $1.50 for every dollar you spend. That isn’t the only consideration though. What is your tolerance for living in the midst of dust and repairs going on? The other thing to consider is your time constraints. Do you need to sell right away or do you have time to wait for the improvements to be completed? If your decision is purely price driven, you should select a
LYNNE FRENCH
REAL ANSWERS realtor to work with and get them involved. If it is possible, your realtor should pull comparables from the multiple listing service of original-condition
homes, then homes that are similar in style and square footage that are totally upgraded. Compare the sold prices. My team was recently called on to do this comparison. We discovered that a certain single story property in good but original condition would sell for $620,000 to $630,000. After spending about $15,000 to $18,000 for upgrades to the same square foot house would sell for $680,000. Whichever plan you go with, make sure the home is super clean, including windows, and staged so buyers can have a sense of space in each room. Some buyers prefer to buy a home that needs upgrades so they can pick out
the styles and colors that they like. Many buyers want a “turnkey” house that already has the upgrades in so they can just move right in. If you choose to upgrade the house before you sell it, stick to neutral colors that will be enjoyed by the widest group of buyers. If they like color they can achieve the look they want with accessories and accent pieces. 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. Contact her at 672-878 7or stop in at 6200 Center St., Clayton.
Clayton Police Department staffing up
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August 15, 2014
Typically my article focuses on an issue such as traffic, crime prevention or some other matter of police work. This month I thought I’d update the community on some goings on here at the Clayton Police Department. STAFFING We are nearly back to full staff, as we have one Sergeant vacancy yet to fill. In the next month or so we will make an appointment to fill the position. When done, we will be at full staff for the first time in many months. We are very excited to get back to full strength! TRAINING Due to some hard work by one of our officers, we received a grant from the NRA foundation to purchase training equip-
The Clayton Pioneer Clayton Police Department Clayton Valley Bowl Clayton Valley Pumpkin Farm D & H Enterprises Dampney Company, Inc.
Aurora Refreshments
ment. The equipment consists of airsoft weapons and the associated safety gear. This type of equipment is becoming widely used by law enforcement agencies as we seek to provide effective and realistic training for our staff while controlling costs. The equipment will be used by our staff to better prepare for critical incidents and use of force scenarios. COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT: I continue to be impressed at the level of involvement our officers have within the community. Most recently, with generous assistance from members of our community, the cops obtained a car for the upcoming soap box derby races. Pictures have not been released yet, but I’m told the car is black and
white, outfitted with decals/lights and looks remarkably like a Clayton Police cruiser. This year, your child may find themselves pursuing, or being pursued, down Main Street. SUMMER COMING TO A CLOSE As we race through August, it occurs to me the beginning of the new school year is just around the corner. There are some changes coming to the traffic pattern surrounding Mt. Diablo Elementary School. The project is being funded by 511.org and has involved stakeholders from the school, the school district, the city engineering department, the police department and Clayton City Council. Our hope is to ease the long-standing problems with
Diggers Diner Doug Van Wyck State Farm Insurance Drive Magazine Jim’s California Auto Body, Inc. Kelly-Moore Paints Kleen Blast Abrasives
CHRIS THORSEN
BEHIND
THE
BADGE
traffic surrounding the school. Parents of children at the school will be receiving more information as we get closer to the school year starting. As you can see, it’s been a busy summer. Chris Thorsen is Clayton’s chief of police. For questions and comments, call him at (925) 673-7350.
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Located at 6055 Main St in Clayton (925) 673-9060 www.claytoncc.com
August 15, 2014
Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com
County seeks election workers P.O. Box 1246 6200 Center Street, Suite H, Clayton, CA 94517 TAMARA AND R OBERT S TEINER , Publishers TAMARA S TEINER , Editor P ETE C RUZ , Graphic Design P EGGY S PEAR , Copy Editor J AY B EDECARRÉ, Sports PAMELA W IESENDANGER , Administration S TAFF W RITERS : Peggy Spear, Pam Wiesendanger, John Jackson, Jay Bedecarre
We remember Jill Bedecarré - Her spirit is our muse
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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 resident in our home delivery area. Submit on our website and be sure to attach a JPG photo that is at least 3
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Contra Costa County is in need of civic minded people willing to serve as poll workers in all areas of the County. Bilingual poll workers are especially needed. Poll workers must currently be a registered voter in California, or a non-voter who is a permanent resident in the United States. High School students, who are US citizens, and at least 16 years of age and who have at least a 2.5 GPA can serve as poll workers. Student poll workers will receive a stipend and may fulfill community service requirements. No prior experience is necessary and training is provided. Poll workers receive a stipend of $125 inclusive of attending a two-hour required training and working on Election Day from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. County and state employees are encouraged to apply. Submit applications to eo@vote.cccounty.us or call the Contra Costa County Elections Division at (925) 335-7873.
Classified DOG SITTER Take care of our gentle, nineyear-old Irish Setter for 10 days over Christmas at your house. Pays $30 per day. Call Jim at 672-9938.
TUTORS NEEDED Diablo Valley Literacy Council, English tutors. Must attend both training classes: Sept. 6 and 13. $15 fee for training and materials. Go to dvlc.tripod.com, call 6853881 or email dvlc4esl@gmail.com.
GARDEN Flower Gardening by Nicole Hackett. Perennial, ornamental, rose and container care. Keep your garden in flowers this year with monthly fertilizing and pruning visits. Email for consultation or details. Gardengirl94517@yahoo.com.
REWARD! For information leading to the return of three prized bull skulls with horns. Contact Jack Wessman at 672-5225.
FOR LEASE Office and retail space for lease in Historic Clayton City Center: Village Oaks Center, 6200 Center St., Clayton. Call Nick Adamson at (408) 371-8770, ext. 21.
HELP WANTED Assistant Manager Retail feed and pet supply store. Must have retail experience and excellent computer skills. Salary 24K-30K plus benefits. Send resume to sarah@rodiesfeed.com. No phone calls, please. Tech, Computer Growing business has position for onsite pro computer tech in Contra Costa County. Must have experience in Windows and Mac OS, network repair and troubleshooting. ComputersUSA! 672-9989. Come join Mazzei Realty! Currently interviewing and hiring new and experienced real estate agents. Call 693-0757 for details. Real Estate Agents Be Successful! Lynne French is expanding and interviewing for a few agents. Call her today 6728787.
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED 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. 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. Meals on Wheels Meals on Wheels is looking for volunteer drivers one day a week between 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Make a tremendous difference to seniors in your community. Contact Sharon Fitzgerald at 932-8607 or sfitzgerald@mowsos.org today!
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Directory of Advertisers Automotive Clayton Valley Shell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-3900 Business Services Rising Moon Marketing & Public Relations . . . . .672-8717 Construction and Trades Appliance Repairs by Bruce, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-2700 Belfast Plumbing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .457-5423 Burkin Electric . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-1519 Diablo View Construction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .822-5144 Gary’s Home Repair . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .787-2500 Schaefer’s Painting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .260-6065 Tipperary Construction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .216-2679 Dining and Entertainment Clayton Club Saloon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .673-0440 Oakhurst Country Club . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-9737 Subway . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .693-0621 Events City of Clayton – Concerts . . . . . . . .www.cityofclayton.org Judge Tue Phan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .524-0011 Derby – Clayton Community Church . . . . . .www.claytoncc.com Pacific Coast Farmers’ Market . . . . . . . . . . .800-949-3276 Financial, Insurance and Legal Services DuRee, Daniel – The Law Office of . . . . . . . . . . .210-1400 Littorno, Richard – The Law Office of . . . . . . . . .432-4211 SAFE Credit Union . . . . . . . . . . .800-733-7233, ext. 2772 Van Wyck, Doug – State Farm Insurance . . . . . .672-2300 Funerals Ouimet Funeral Home . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .682-4242 Groceries Doorstep Farmers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .349-4568 Home and Garden Clayton Furniture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .686-2299 Diablo Lawnscape . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .381-3757 Interiors Panache . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-7920 Just Floors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .681-4747 Nichols Landscape . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-9955 R & M Pool, Patio, Gifts & Gardens . . . . . . . . . . .672-0207 The Floor Store . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .969-9890 The Maids . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .798-6243 Utopic Gardens . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .524-0055 Waraner Bros. Tree Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .831-2323 Waraner Tree Experts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .250-0334 Mailing Services The UPS Store . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .689-6245 Optometry Foresight Optometry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-4100 Pet Services Monte Vista Veterinary Hospital . . . . . . . . . . . . . .276-5744 Peace of Mind Pet Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-9781 Pittsburg Pet Resort . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .432-7387 Rodie's Feed and Pet Supply . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-4600 Real Estate and Mortgage Services French, Lynne – Windermere Real Estate . . . . . .672-8787 Howard, Don – Better Homes Realty . . . . . . . . . .408-3184 Howard, Emily – Better Homes Realty . . . . . . . .408-1871 Hudson, Cait – Coldwell Banker . . . . . . . . . . . . .451-6844 Klock, Leigh – Coldwell Banker . . . . . . . . . . . . . .212-5593 Landgraf, Linda – Prudential . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .876-0311 Laurence, Pete – RE/MAX Realty . . . . . . . . . . . .890-6004 Lopez, Stephanie – Coldwell Banker . . . . . . . . . .932-7329 Mazzei, Matt – Mazzei Realty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .693-0757 Stojanovich, Jennifer – Better Homes Realty . . .567-6170 Vujnovich, George - Better Homes Realty . . . . . .672-4433 Recreation and Fitness Anytime Fitness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-6700 Earthquake Arabians . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .360-7454 East Bay Regional Park District . . . . . . . . . .888-327-2757 Senior Services Courtyards at Pine Creek . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .798-3900 Diamond Terrace . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .524-5100 Montecito – Oakmont Senior Living . . . . . . . . . . .852-6702 Services, Other ComputersUSA! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-9989 Net Solutions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-6029 Recycling Center & Transfer Station . . . . . . . . . .473-0180 Travel Travel to Go . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-9840
Responsibility Do the Right Thing
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Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com
Now
August 15, 2014
Options for blended-family trusts
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DANIEL DUREE ESTATE PLANNING The issues involved in estate planning are both complicated and emotionally charged for any family. Things become even more difficult when a husband or wife has children from a previous relationship. The decisions become more important because of the possibility that the children from a previous relationship may not end up with anything if the surviving spouse spends all of the assets or changes the estate plan. If the children are strictly provided for there is also a possibility that the surviving spouse may not have enough money to support themselves.
This is a very common issue and can be dealt with in a couple of ways. With proper legal planning and communication, many of the potential problems can be mitigated. I will discuss the three most common ways of dealing with estate planning for a blended family. We will assume the family is using a revocable trust for probate avoidance. LEAVE ALL ASSETS IN CONTROL OF THE SURVIVING SPOUSE A married couple can create a jointly settled revocable trust with agreed-upon beneficiaries and the spouses acting as co-trustees. In its most simple form, when one spouse dies, the other spouse is sole trustee and the trust is still fully amendable and revocable by the surviving spouse. What this means is that even if the children of the deceased spouse were initial beneficiaries, the surviving spouse has the power to amend the trust and remove them as beneficiaries. It is not uncommon for a surviving spouse to amend a trust years after the death of
the first spouse because their relationship with some of the initial beneficiaries (i.e., the deceased spouse’s children) has changed over time. The other potential issue arises when a surviving spouse enters a new relationship and amends the trust in favor of their new significant other. SPLIT THE TRUST AT THE DEATH OF THE FIRST SPOUSE Another option is to split the trust in half at the death of the first spouse with half of the trust being irrevocable and earmarked for the deceased spouse’s children. The trust can be drafted so that the surviving spouse has access to all of the income but none of the principal, or all of the income and a certain percentage of the principal per year. It can also be written so that the surviving spouse only has access to the deceased spouse’s half after they have spent their own half. Of course the danger with this scheme is that the surviving spouse needs the assets to care for themselves and they are unable to access them.
GIVE THE CHILDREN THEIR SHARE AT THE DEATH OF THEIR PARENT The easiest way to deal with estate planning for a mixed family, if practica,l is to simply leave a certain amount of assets to the children when their parent dies. That way, the children are provided for and the surviving spouse has control over the remainder of the assets to support themselves. Although the children may not end up with as much as under the split trust scenario, they will receive the money earlier and the surviving spouse will be better protected. There are numerous other permutations of a trust that can combine different aspects of these three approaches. If you have any further questions, don’t hesitate to speak with a financial advisor.
Daniel DuRee is a licensed attorney whose practice focuses on estate planning. He may be reached for questions or comments at Daniel@DuReeLaw.com or 925210-1400.
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Cait Hudson of Concord is a “people person.” Her loved ones know it. Her coworkers see it. She thrives on connecting with people, maintaining friendships and providing helpful information as a real estate agent for Coldwell Banker in Orinda. “Cait is amazing with our clients,” Tina Jones, associate broker, says. Jones notes there are not a lot of young people coming in to the industry. Hudson is young, sharp and good with social media. “She was immediately successful. I’ve never seen anything like it.” Hudson says that once she earned her real estate license in March, she marketed herself. Her strategy includes consistently updating social media. “It shows my personality and sets me apart from other agents.” Catch Hudson’s weekly Wednesday YouTube video for best home buying applications or a lesson on how to increase the value of your home with simple projects. Knowing that buying a house is not only about the house, but the community, Hudson includes other tips like best dog parks in the
East Bay. Her Facebook page gives real estate advice as well as personal insight with inspirational quotes and pictures of her enjoying one of her hobbies, hiking. Living most of her life in Concord, Cait knows and shares all about places to play and places to live. Professionally, Hudson wants to grow business in the next five years and have people working for her. She keeps her clients’ best interests at heart. “If I really want to help the clients, whether it benefits me or not, the money will come.” Hudson graduated from Carondelet High School in 2006 and has a bachelor’s in psychology from the University of California, Santa Cruz. She says the degree helps with the real estate business because “part of it is emotional. I am able to help with that aspect.” Hudson considered applying her education to becoming a therapist. She volunteered at the Contra Costa Crisis Center and decided to change course with her career, but applies the skills she learned to helping those buying and selling residential homes through the stressful moments of the process. Personally, Hudson hopes to be married and starting a
CAIT HUDSON is eager to succeed as a real estate agent, hosting open houses and doing floor time (attending to walk in clients) to gain experience.
family by the time she is 30 years old. Her boyfriend, Garrett Shoaff, is a cardiac ultrasound technologist in Southern California and will relocate here. It was Shoaff who encouraged Hudson to take
some real estate courses. Hudson says of real estate, “I’m taking it very seriously. I want to be successful.” For more information, visit caithudson.com.
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Muggy weather due to monsoons Most of California, including Clayton and the Bay Area, has experienced several periods of hot and humid weather this summer. This muggier-than-normal weather is due to moisture surges that are associated with a monsoonal weather pattern that usually only affects the southwestern United States. What is a monsoon? Well, the word “monsoon” comes from an Arabic word meaning “season.” Monsoons develop when wind patterns shift during the hottest summer months. When the land heats up during summer, air pressures drop, causing onshore wind flow patterns to develop. Moisture-laden air masses above warm bodies of water are drawn toward the areas of low-pressure and monsoons are born. During strong monsoon seasons, jet stream winds align with the surface on-shore winds. In these cases, monsoon moisture can be carried deep into continen-
WOODY WHITLATCH WEATHER WORDS tal areas resulting in increased summer rainfall and thunderstorms, especially in mountain areas. Monsoonal wind patterns have been in many parts of the world. The most famous monsoons occurs in India and Bangladesh, where a large percentage of annual rainfall occurs during the monsoon season. The Southwest U.S. monsoon typically affects western Texas, New Mexico and Arizona from July through September. The
moisture sources for this monsoon are the Gulfs of Mexico and California. Often the wettest monsoon episodes contain moisture from dissipating hurricanes and tropical storms. During some summers the Southwest U.S. monsoon moisture never moves far enough north to affect our area. This summer, however, favorable jet stream wind patterns and an ample supply of subtropical moisture have combined to steer several bands of monsoon clouds into Northern California. To date, the 2014 Bay Area summer monsoon rainfall totals have been light, but any summer season rainfall here is considered unusual. Streaming high clouds, muggy afternoons and beautiful sunsets have been the most notable effects of the monsoon in our area. To our east in the Sierras, several monsoon-related thunderstorm outbreaks have occurred this summer. Lightning strikes
Book Review Find yourself in ‘You Lost Me There’
CYNTHIA GREGORY
FOR
THE
BOOKS
Imagine living through the loss of your wife just as you are beginning to slide into the throes of a full blown mid-life crisis. Author Rosecrans Baldwin might say that “You Lost Me There” (Riverhead Trade; August, 2011) is the story of a cerebral research scientist who explores the nuance of emotional loss, and not about a man drowning in midlife existential angst. But then, sometimes authors are the last to understand the complexity of their own work. Still, Baldwin crafts a riveting narrative that drags the reader through a swamp of Professor Victor Aaron’s grief, confusion and well-deserved sense of betrayal in the aftermath of his wife’s tragic death. How could we not fall a little in love with the sweetly dorky Victor? He worships the memory of his gone wife. He maintains close contact with Sara’s Aunt Betsy, a crusty old-school
socialite who tolerates his eccentricities because he takes her to dinner dutifully every Friday night. We love Victor. Especially one year after the “seminal event,” the accident (though was it? really?) caused by Sara driving blindly on black ice around a dangerous curve of coastal road without a seat belt. He’s lost. He’s bereft. He’s having an on-again, off-again affair with a young research fellow who happens to turn a mean burlesque routine for a 25-yearold, and who calls him on the frozen tundra of his feelings. Then, just as he finally accepts Sara’s death, he find a series of note cards she wrote the winter before, when the two had sought out a marriage counselor hoping to mend the rips in their 20-year marriage. Reading Sara’s notes, Victor learns that he and Sara were treading the waters of two completely different marriages. At what point do the small slights of a relationship add up to something irrevocable? Victor wonders if Sara had an affair. He wonders if she had intended to leave him. He wonders things he’ll never know for sure and it makes him a little bit crazy.
“And what Sarah said came back to me slowly. There in jail, there sitting on Cornelia’s bed, it had been with me all day, but I couldn’t see her. I tried to see her and closed my eyes, but my memories were whitewashed. I tried to sleep with the driver’s seat cranked flat, but mostly I cried. I called her under my breath and remembered her shoe size. Her long fingers. I remembered when I held the box with Sara’s ashes over a stream near the house, how long the moment lasted until I tipped it over and then how quickly it was done. I remembered. . .how much I loved her. I remembered with painful clarity, with the words piped into the car, the moments when I’d asked Sara what she knew about writing screenplays.” Baldwin’s voice is pure and erudite and makes the reader crave a summer in Maine. His narrative is seductive, and his dialog is sharp and funny and makes you wish that you could be so clever while arguing with the people you love best. The perfect summer reading is waiting for the devoted reader in “You Lost Me There
during these storms have ignited wildfires. Bay Area locations are not exempt from summer thundershowers. Occasionally the monsoon moisture layer is deep enough to trigger thunderstorms and lightning strikes as the air moves over the coastal hills and mountains. Monsoons are an important weather phenomenon, providing needed summer rainfall to many areas of the world. This summer a strong Southwest U.S. monsoon has delivered several moisture surges to the Clayton area. So far, the main local effect has been a persistent mugginess that reminds me of the Midwest summers of my youth.
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Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com
August 15, 2014
Sports Dana Hills wins 22nd City Meet swim title ahead of County finale IM), Ariana Dargan (11-12 breast) and Arie Vanhoven (13-14 free). Vanhoven was the only boy to set a new meet record this year.
JAY BEDECARRÉ Clayton Pioneer
With a record 1162 swimmers filling Concord Community Pool last weekend the Dana Hills Swim Team did what it’s done so many times before in winning its 22nd City Meet championship in the past 23 years with relays and record-breaking performances leading the way. The final team tally saw Dana Hills of Clayton 417.5 points ahead of runner-up Forest Park from Concord with host Springwood third in A Division scoring. Forest Park took the B title with Walnut Country second. Oakhurst Country Club of Clayton was sixth in both divisions. Dana Hills and Forest Park dominated top awards at the 48th City Meet with the Otters and Flyers taking best girls and boys relay honors, respectively. In the individual A Division high point awards Dana Hills had six top scorers vs. four for Forest Park. Oakhurst Orcas won the coveted Team Sportsmanship Award for the fourth time since 2004. The rec swim season ends this weekend at the 54th annual Contra Costa County Meet at Acalanes High in Lafayette. Dana Hills was fifth at county the last two years. Ryan Levy of Walnut Country (15-18 boys) and Jenna Ewert from Dana Hills
Photo by Joern Weigelt
ANTHONY VINES HEADS INTO THE COUNTY MEET THIS WEEKEND after winning the 15-18 boys 100yard freestyle and butterfly events at the City Meet championship in Concord. The 16-year-old Dana Hills swimmer was also sixth in the individual medley on the meet’s opening day. He clocked 48.83 seconds in the free and 53.79 in the fly after also posting the top preliminary time in each event.
(13-14 girls) repeated from last year as high-point age group winners with Levy moving up an age group and still taking top honors. Dana Hills girls again grabbed four A Division top scorer honors with Ewert, Sara Abele (15-18), Isabella Samardzic (11-12) and Karlie Seastrand (9-10). Colton Seastrand (7-8) and Clayton Seastrand (11-12) were Otter boys claiming high-point awards. Tyler Summers of Walnut
Country (6 & under boys) was another local high point winner. Oakhurst had three B Division high-point scorers with Olivia Tellez (7-8 girls), Megan Morimoto (11-12 girls) and William Lingua (11-12 boys). Daniel Lewis (7-8 boys) and Rachel D’Lima (15-18 girls) from Walnut Country, Springwood’s Natalie Vaquera (6 & under) and Megan Eberhart (9-10) and Teddy McGee (6 & under) of DHST nabbed B
Photo by Joern Weigelt
ERICA DULONG HAD A FIRST AND TWO SECONDS AT THE CITY MEET last weekend in Concord to help the Dana Hills Swim Team to its 22nd title in the past 23 years. Taking first in the 13-14 50 breaststroke (32.44) duLong topped second place by nearly two-and-a-half seconds. She was second in both the 50 back and 100 IM, the latter event won by teammate Jenna Ewert in meet record time of 1:03.33.
Division high-point awards. 11 RECORDS FALL Eleven meet records fell by the wayside with DHST setting six of the new marks. The 11-12 Dana Hills freestyle relay set a meet record and won the outstanding girls award with Ryanne Boland, Gianna duLong, Logan Sherman and Samardzic lopping nearly three seconds off the 2011 record from another DHST quartet. The same Otters team also won the medley relay. Forest Park’s 1314 medley relay won the top boys relay award. Otter relays swept both the free and relays in girls 9-10, 1112, 13-14 and 15-18 and boys six and under. Overall, Dana Hills won 13 relay races with seven runners-up and one third-place finish out of the 24 total relays. Forest Park and Springwood both won four relays. Dana Hills swimmers breaking meet records were Samardzic besting her own 1112 free record (25.69) and the 11-12 100 individual medley (1:06.28), Ewert in the 13-14 IM (1:03.33) and 50 butterfly (26.47) and Abele 15-18 100 breaststroke (1:08.62). Forest Park set meet records by Juliannah Colchico (7-8 IM), Sophia Miller (9-10
SMITH FOR ORCAS Oakhurst’s Grace Smith had another strong with meet with first in 9-10 50 back and second in 50 fly. Kai Parker and Brandon Hristov also won A Division races while Tyler Brown and Jimmy Costello took top three places. Vincent York won a pair of races and finished second and Jack Brown had a first and two seconds for Springwood while their teammates John Finck, Harley Estrella and Jordan Tate were also in the top three. Walnut Country winners were Levy, Summers and Tanner Lustig while Enya Castaneda, Marco Tredinnick, Brandon Delizo and Grace McNally were top three. Besides previously mentioned Otters swimmers, Anthony Vines had a pair for 15-18 first places. Taking second or third for DHST were Cami McGhee, Molly Boland,
Ethan Cline, Joshua Ewert, Erica duLong, Gabi Mancini, Niklas Weigelt, Abbie Kubota, Scott Iannaccone, Melissa Cark, Ryan Iannaccone, Kayla Conger, Diego Castaneda, Serafina Celentano, Stephanie Iannaccone, Devin Kelly, Xander Friedman, Paige Landstrom, Dominic Celetano, Aaron Woodling, Julia Deely and Sean Thomas. TEAM STANDINGS A Division - Dana Hills 1574.5, Forest Park 1157, Springwood 518, Pleasant Hill Dolfins 460.5, Walnut Country 412, Oakhurst Country Club 399, Bishop Estates 386, Forest Hills 365, Ygnacio Wood 297, Gehringer Park 207, Crockett 179, Vista Diablo Dolphins 119. B Division - Forest Park 580.5, Walnut Country 449, Forest Hills 401, Dana Hills 394.5, Gehringer Park 304.5, Oakhurst Country Club 302, Springwood 281.5, Pleasant Hill Dolfins 216.5, Bishop Estates 202, Ygnacio Wood 109, Vista Diablo Dolphins 82.5, Crockett 82.
Photo courtesy Walnut Country Swim Team
THREE WALNUT COUNTRY SWIM TEAM MEMBERS WERE DOUBLE GOLD AWARD WINNERS at the Diablo Community Swim League championships at College Park High School. Stingray double winners were, from left, Enya Castaneda (11-12 individual medley and butterfly), Ryan Levy (15-18 freestyle and backstroke) and Tanner Lustig (6 and under free and back). Castaneda (fly) and Levy (free) set team records at the DCSL meet. Levy was also 15-18 high point winner at last weekend’s City Meet.
2 Diablo FC teams rule on the Santa Cruz Boardwalk
Photos courtesy Diablo FC
“THE GIRLS’ COMMITMENT TO PRACTICE, HARD WORK AND A DESIRE TO WIN PAID OFF with a great result. They believed in themselves and played their hearts out on the field,” coach Tafa said about her U12 Diablo FC 02 girls after they won the gold division at the Santa Cruz Breakers Cup earlier this month. Last year the team was second in the same tournament. Diablo FC edged East Sacramento Impala 2-1 in the finale after outscoring their first three opponents by a combined 14-1. The 02 girls with the team nickname Thunder include, front row from left Taylor Davis, Jenna West, Vanessa Hawley, Lauren “LJ” Utne, Megan Gherlone, Alexys Canas, Olivia Kreamer; back row, coach Tafa, Maddie Thompson, Lucy Goller, Leilani Fabriquer, Hailey Fanner, Alexa Avelar, Clarisa Granados, Rylie Velez and Evelyn Martinez. Ryan McNevin not pictured.
THE DIABLO FC 04 BOYS OF COACH BOGDAN ONUT SWEPT THROUGH FOUR OPPONENTS to win the gold division of the 13th annual Santa Cruz Breakers Cup at the end of July. The Diablo FC under 10 boys defeated San Jose FC Gunners Academy 3-1 in the championship match. They scored five or more goals in each of their first three victories and ended up with 20 goals in their four games while winning their first tournament title of the 2014-15 season. The team (and some young fans) include, front row from left, Myles Barker, Alton Manning III, Damian Padilla, Alex Braginsky, Hunter Bock, Riley Whelan, Luis Esteban, Luca Onut; back row, Cezar Onut, Andy Castro, Jason Castro, Julian Renteria, coach Onut and Lucas Thompson.
August 15, 2014
Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com
Page 11
Sports De La Salle shooters capture U.S. Open title capping off most successful season
Billy Beane, the Oakland Athletics general manager, has one thing on his mind and one thing only: the A’s winning a World Series Trophy this year. Beane has been extremely busy over the past month and a half, wheeling and dealing players in order to make an A’s roster that looks unbeatable. It started with the blockbuster deal with the Chicago Cubs, where the A’s sent top prospect Addison Russell to Chicago (along with three other players), in exchange for starting pitchers Jeff Samardzija and Jason Hammel. Samardzija has been a force in the A’s rotation since the trade, whereas Hammel has been very inconsistent on the mound. After a few floundering starts by Hammel, Beane was prompted to trade for starting pitcher Jon Lester from the reigning world champion Boston Red Sox. The Lester trade was even more surprising than the trade for Samardzija and Hammel. The A’s were rumored to be a dark horse in the Lester sweepstakes but due to their lack of prospects it seemed impossible for them to acquire the all-star pitcher. Beane shocked the baseball world by
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925-672-6700 Photo courtesy De La Salle shooting team
DE LA SALLE SHOOTING TEAM CAPTURED ITS FIRST-EVER U.S. OPEN HIGH FIVE CHAMPIONSHIP award at the competition in Las Vegas. National collegiate champion coach Shawn Dulohery (left) from Lindenwood University was on hand to fete the Spartans. The DLS team includes, starting second from left, Sam Dyer, Emmanuel Rovirosa, Jeremy Connelly of Clayton, coach Wade Haley, Michael Marymee and Bianca Delfabro.
of Clayton was first in skeet and third in sporting clays for the club division. Winship was fourth individually in skeet and fifth in sporting clays. The main trap shooting event took place over two days in temperatures exceeding 100 degrees. Spartans Dyer and Jeremy Connelly of Clayton turned in flawless scores of 100, followed by near perfect scores from Bianca Delfabro (99), Kyle Savio (98), Fairfield (98), Emanuel Rovirosa (98) and Marymee (97). On day two of trap shooting DLS was just as
strong as Dyer repeated his performance from day one turning in another perfect 100-straight for a final score of 200. Connelly missed the 98th target on day two for a final score of 199. Overall, Dyer tied for first place and Connelly deadlocked for second with four others. After shoot offs to break ties Dyer eventually placed second and Connelly fourth. The Spartans green squad of Dyer, Connelly, Rovirosa, Marymee and Douville was second in the high school DI varsity High-Squad award with a score of 972.
The main award for the week was the Trap Shooting High-Five team award based on the top five shooters from each team in all categories. The Spartans captured the title of U.S. Open Champions with a score of 988 turned in by Dyer (200), Connelly (199), Delfabro (198), Marymee (196) and Rovirosa (195). A month earlier the Spartans finished the regular season as Division I regular season state champions and took third place in the DI high school division at the California State Shoot in Stockton.
World Series or bust for Oakland A’s
TYLER LEHMAN SPORTS TALK
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De La Salle High School’s trap club traveled to Las Vegas last month for the annual U.S. Open Youth Clay Shooting Championships and at the end of the four-day event the Spartans won the Trap Shooting High-Five team award for overall excellence to claim the team title. The event was attended by over 300 competitors from throughout the western United States also including the local Diablo Valley Junior Skeet team. The De La Salle team includes shooters from DLS and Carondelet coached by Wade Haley. The club has been together for five years and captured their first U.S. Open title as well as several other Division I varsity awards this season. The Las Vegas event featured one day each of sporting clays and skeet shooting and two days of trap competition. Athletes shoot 200 targets of skeet and trap and 100 targets of sporting clays and are scored on the total number of flying clay targets they can break. Spartans Sam Dyer, Michael Marymee and Sam Douville took second in the varsity Division I High Three skeet shooting category with a combined score of 454. DLS scored again with a second-place finish from Dyer, Austin Dron and Andrew Fairfield in the sporting clay event with a 190 score. Diablo Valley Junior Skeet Club including Quincy Winship
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giving up Yoenis Cespedes, in exchange for Lester and outfielder Jonny Gomes. The trade signified that this is the year that the A’s put everything on the line and push for a World Series title. They gave up their top prospect in Russell and traded away Cespedes, a mainstay in the middle of their batting order. It is hard to say yet whether or not the Lester trade will be worth it for the A’s. Come playoffs, the A’s will have arguably the best pitching rotation with Lester, Sonny Gray, Scott Kazmir and Samardzija. It is a point of contention whether or not they can score enough runs in the playoffs without Cespedes. While it is true that Cespedes offered power that cannot be replaced in the A’s lineup, they still have plenty of capable hitters. Stephen Vogt comes to mind. The catcher turned outfielder has an average around .330. Vogt certainly does not have the power that Cespedes does, but he gets on base more often, which we all know Billy Beane loves. Home runs are great, but on-base percentage is one of the most important stats in baseball that sometimes gets overlooked. When Beane traded Cespedes away, he was well aware of the power the A’s lineup would be losing, but he understood that the team would not be losing on base percentage. If players consistently get on base, the runs will come eventually. There are no more excuses for the A’s. They have one of the best pitching rotations in baseball, one of the best bullpens and a potent offense.
The A’s are more than capable of winning the World Series with the talent they have. Billy Beane has assembled the team, now it is up to manager Bob Melvin and the players to get the job done.
Tyler Lehman is a sophomore at Diablo Valley College and a 2012 CVHS graduate. He plans to major in journalism and wants to be a sports writer. Email your comments or questions to Tyler@claytonpioneer.com.
CVAA Falcons quarterback goes football camping in Ohio
Photo courtesy CVAA Falcons
Cameron Delmar helped his CVAA Falcons Pee Wee football team to an undefeated 13-0 season last fall. The young quarterback earned an invitation to participate along with 70 other eighth grade quarterbacks from around the U.S. at Football University’s TOP GUN camp last month in Ohio. The athletes were instructed by former NFL players like Jeff Rutledge, Wes Chandler, Mike Sherrard, Billy “White Shoes” Johnson and Ray Buchanan. Delmar begins eighth grade at Pine Hollow Middle School later this month and hopes to matriculate to Clayton Valley Charter High School a year from now. He’s playing for coach Greg Swenson’s CVAA Midgets this fall. Quarterback guru Tony Ballard (right) from Florida was among the instructors working with Delmar in Ohio.
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NHS programs first computer science class
Sports Sports Shorts CONCORD ADULT SOFTBALL LEAGUE REGISTRATION DEADLINE FRIDAY Team registrations are being accepted for Concord fall adult softball leagues. Men’s, women’s and co-ed divisions are offered Sunday through Friday. Concord softball’s fall league is a seven-game season with playoffs Sept. through early Nov. Registration deadline is this Friday. Registration and information packets are available at Willow Pass Community Center or online at cityofconcord.org/softball. To receive info by mail or to join a team by being placed on the free agent list call 671-3423.
ST. BONAVENTURE CYO CROSS COUNTRY SEEKS COACHING HELP
St Bonaventure CYO cross country is looking for coaches for its fall season for boys and girls in 2nd-8th grades in the St. Bonaventure attendance area. Cross country is a short, family-oriented season with practices typically on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Parents are highly encouraged to run too. Meets begin in late September on Friday evenings with the Oakland Diocese meet in mid-October. Anyone interested in helping with the cross country program should contact St. Bonaventure athletic director Tim O’Hara by phone 6725774 or email retreat24@yahoo.com.
Starting this school year, 25 Northgate High School students will make history. The first ever AP Computer Science class in the Mount Diablo School District has been approved and scheduled to begin on August 25. The class will cover a simplified explanation of how a computer works and by the end of the course, students will be able to fluently program using the computer software program Java. The idea of starting a computer science class began with two students: seniors Cara Van Uden and Samson Mataraso. “We both wanted to take the class and Diablo Valley College didn’t have an alternative that we could take,” Mataraso said. “We also wanted to be on par with other high
WALNUT CREEK AQUANUTS FALL SHOW OVER LABOR DAY WEEKEND Walnut Creek Aquanuts Fall Synchronized Swimming Show takes place over Labor Day weekend, Aug. 29-31, at Heather Farm Park. The 45th anniversary of this iconic show showcases synchronized swimming in a theatrical format complete with lights, monumental 3-D stage and glittering costumes. Many Aquanuts Olympians and United States National Team swimmers perform along with the newest members of the club. Tickets are available at aquanuts.org or at Sports Basement. For more information visit aquanuts.org.
DIABLO FC RECREATIONAL LEAGUE, CAMP BEGIN NEXT WEEK Diablo FC is rolling out a youth soccer recreational league program starting next month that will focus on individual technical development, building confidence in young soccer players, improving cognitive development and increasing imagination by allowing players to learn the game gradually in a fun, engaged environment. Diablo FC is the area’s premier youth soccer program and is offering open registration to all players ages 4-10, regardless of ability or previous experience. A mini-camp will be held Aug. 18-22 and the league runs through Oct. 11. Refer to diablofc.org for more details.
CLAYTON PIONEER BASEBALL TRYOUTS SUNDAY Clayton Pioneer Baseball (formerly Clayton Pony) is having fall tryouts for 12U, 13U, 13/14U and 14U teams this Sunday, Aug. 17, 1:30 – 3 p.m. at Clayton Valley Charter High School. For more tryout info email cvpioneers@gmail.com.
FALL PROGRAM REGISTRATION OPEN FOR ALL OUT SPORTS LEAGUES All fall programs at Clayton Gym including youth volleyball and basketball and adult co-ed softball are accepting applications. For complete information on all the Clayton programs, visit alloutsportsleague.com.
PICKLEBALL IS COMING TO CONCORD Already very popular in Arizona and other parts of the country, pickleball is a racket sport that combines elements of tennis, table tennis and badminton. It’s played with two to four players on a court about half the size of a tennis court with wooden paddles and a plastic whiffle ball. One of the fastest growing sports among adults of all ages, pickleball is especially popular with young adults and adults nearing or in their retirement years. To receive information on upcoming pickleball clinics and leagues in Concord visit teamsideline.com/concord or call 671-3423.
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August 15, 2014
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NORTHGATE CORRESPONDENT schools in the area.” However, this class was not easily established; it took six months of planning and more than 100 student signatures. “The biggest obstacle was getting support from the school to start the class,” Mataraso said.
“We started a petition, collected about 100 signatures, and turned the signatures into the principal. The administration did the rest.” Mataraso emphasized how computer programming is very important, especially with society advancing in the field of technology every day. He states how students in the area should be expected to learn some form of computer programming, given that Silicon Valley is so close by. “Our world is overrun with technology; almost every job requires some knowledge of it,” Mataraso said. “The more one understands a computer, the better one can use a computer to his or her advantage.” Mataraso believes computer science can open many doors, including majors in accounting, business and management and
Choosing a career is tough for students ROBBIE PARKER
TEENSPEAK The first semester of senior year is approaching, and it marks the beginning of the university application process. For once, future-graduates have the autonomy to choose where to spend the next few years. More importantly, college offers us students a chance to choose a school tailored to a preferred field of study – a promising, yet overwhelming prospect. As the commitment deadline draws near, the application and selection process indirectly forces students to make imperative decisions regarding future careers. Considering a major post-admission is perfectly acceptable, but many universities specialize in training for particular occupations, thus complicating an already tough decision. I continuously hear my peers asking each other the same question I often ask myself: Do I know who I want to be? From a very young age, I thought I knew the answer to that question; I have always wanted to design, develop and program my own video games. As of late, the hit-and-miss availability of stable careers in job market, combined with the scarcity of educative programs suited for aspiring game developers, has altered my once
impermeable decision. I often catch myself dodging conversations with friends, family and teachers over potential career options. Thanks to my well-established reputation as a computer geek, it is easy to provide an ambiguous response to others’ inquiries with, “I want to become an expert in information systems and technology management.” In reality, choosing software development over video game development is like picking up an instruction manual for pleasure reading over fiction. Confucius tells me to choose a job I love and I will never have to work a day in my life, but society reminds me most passions don’t line up well with paying careers. From both observation and personal experience, students feel obligated to choose a “safe job” over one they will enjoy. It takes little effort to destroy a teenager’s self-confidence, especially when his or her passion is branded as merely “a phase.” Is it naïve to make a firm career decision while still in high school? Perhaps it is. Passion is certainly no substitute for experience. It is entirely possible that I could attain a bachelor’s degree in software and game development, find a suitable position in the industry, and soon realize I made a grave mistake. Yet, not all stories of passion versus practicality turn so
glum. Had Walt Disney decided drawing cartoon characters was a childish profession, the world would be quite a different place. It’s no coincidence that both The Beatles and J.K. Rowling found themselves facing continuous rejection in youth before attaining absolute eminence in pop-culture. With the success of fellow dreamers in mind, I continue to pursue my passion of developing games. Choosing passion over practicality is a difficult decision – just as is committing to a university. With another year of school and college general education classes ahead however, seniors have ample time to find their calling. Just as the legendary entrepreneur, marketer, and inventor Steve Jobs once said, “The only way to do great work is to love what you do.” Robbie Parker is a senior at Clayton Valley Charter High School. Send comments to Robbie@claytonpioneer.com
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Julie Jung is the feature editor for the Northgate High School newspaper, The Sentinel. She specializes in news and feature stories. Email her at Julie.jung@claytonpioneer.com
Northgate students ‘Unwind,’ win app challenge A team from Northgate High School has won the first ever 2014 11th District Congressional App Challenge, U.S. Rep. George Miller announced recently. The Northgate “STEM” (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) Girls team — Nishtha Chavda, Shion Andrew, Ami Yuen, and Michelle Liang — was a favorite among the judges. Their app, Unwind, is designed with the purpose of helping both teenagers and young adults reduce stress through the use of scientifically proven methods. The app incorporates a variety of userfriendly short and long-term features to alleviate stress. Miller applauded the Northgate STEM Girls team and the other participants of the Congressional App Challenge. “I am proud of the Northgate ‘STEM’ Girls team’s hard work and desire to help people live healthier, more productive, and happier lives. I congratulate the Northgate STEM Girls team and all of the students that submitted an app to this year’s competition.” The contest is part of the nationwide House Student App Challenge aimed at promoting Computer Science and STEM. The winners of the contest will have their app displayed in the U.S. Capitol.
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engineering. “With computer science, anyone can change the world from their desk, and some already have,” he said.
Ezra Faulkner’s life was perfect. He was the captain of Eastwood High’s varsity tennis team, he had an abundance of friends, and one of the hottest girls in school, Charlotte, was his girlfriend. Until one night Ezra found himself at a hardcore party he wasn’t planning on attending. Upon his arrival, he discovered that Charlotte has been cheating on him. He leaves in hurry and before he knows it, he’s in a horrendous car accident. Not only is his knee completely shattered, so it his social life and athletic future. Thus the start of “The Beginning of Everything” by
Robyn Schneider. When senior year begins, Ezra meets Cassidy Thorpe, a fearless, reckless and achingly perfect teenage girl. The two of them bond quickly and soon become the most renowned couple at Eastwood. Together they sneak into college classes, participate in a flash mob, and without a doubt fall in love. But on the night of the homecoming dance, Cassidy is nowhere to be found. Once Ezra has searched almost all night, he finds her and she unleashes secrets she has been keeping from him, and everything you thought you knew about Cassidy and Ezra is as good as destroyed. This book is so intriguing it’s almost impossible to put it down. Every page is full of fastpaced drama so there is never a dull moment. Schneider has perfectly sculpted beauty, heartbreak, betrayal and humor into a one-of-a-kind novel you surly will never forget.
Emily York is a sophomore at CVCHS.
August 15, 2014
Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com
Page 13
Tips for travelling with Fido
ELENA BICKER
PET PALS Hitting the road this summer? Why not bring your dog along with you? Traveling with your pet can seem daunting at first, but with a few precautions and arrangements you will see that it is really not difficult at all — in fact, having your furry best friend along for the ride is
half the fun. Whether you’re flying or driving, these tips for traveling with your pet will surely come in handy. If you are reaching your destination by plane, first check with the airline for availability. Only a limited number of dogs are allowed in the cabin per flight, so be sure to inquire about a reservation for your dog when you purchase your ticket. Most airlines require a health certificate issued from your veterinarian within 10 days of travel; find out your requirements and allow yourself enough time to schedule an appointment. You will also want to travel with copies of your dog’s vaccination records, rabies certificate, microchip information and an
adequate supply of your dog’s medications. Even if you are going on a road trip this is excellent information to have at your fingertips in case of an emergency. Talk with your veterinarian about where you will be visiting with your dog and what to do in case any travel-related sickness issues arise. Some areas of the country have higher incidences of diseases like heartworms and Lyme disease, so do your research and ask if your dog should be on any preventative medications or have additional vaccinations prior to your journey. Set your dog up for success on long car rides by having something fun and stimulating for him to do. Chew toys such as Nylabones, bully sticks, or
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Three-year-old Betsee Ann is a sweetie pie who, once she gets to know you, is always looking for the best position from which to give you kisses. This smart snuggle bug will learn tricks or manners from you super fast if you have a tasty treat in hand. She’ll be the star of a Wallflowers class, which we encourage to help her build more confidence in new situations, continue her socialization; and start her new life with her
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best paw forward. She currently weighs 76 pounds and is suitable for a first time dog guardian. The adoption fee for adult dogs is $225 and includes 50 percent off one 7-week dog training session. Vienna, 2, is a sweetie who’s bit on the shy side at first, but she loves being petted and will show her appreciation with soft purrs and little chirps. She is suitable for a
Kongs stuffed with kibble are a great distraction. On road trips, plan to stop every couple of hours to give your dog a chance to stretch and relieve himself. When stopping at rest areas, which are new and exciting for your dog, always attach the leash to his collar before you open the car door to prevent possible escapes. Do not allow your dog to wander off leash no matter how peaceful the area looks! If you need to leave your dog in the car, be aware of how quickly heat stroke can occur for any animal in a parked car. Never leave your dog unattended in the car in warm weather for any length of time. Since you and your dog will be exploring new areas together, it is essential idea to have your dog microchipped and registered with your current information. Your dog’s collar should have identification tags that include your name and address and a cell phone number where you can be reached while away from home. Elena Bicker is the Executive Director of Tony La Russa’s Animal Rescue Foundation. She can be reached at (925) 256-1ARF (1273)
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Measure Q, from page 5 Former mayor Guy Bjerke, who chairs the Measure Q advisory committee, agrees that “letting the residents decide” is important. He also said that the continuation measure would include language that says if the city is financially solvent down the road, the tax could be eliminated. Even residents who were originally opposed to Measure
Q now support its continuation. “I didn’t support Measure Q,” says resident Ray Barber, “but I’ve changed my mind. I want to feel like if I need to call 911, I’ll get the attention I need.” While the specific impact a $4 million reduction would have on the city is still impossible to state, Barone has already given the council scenarios of most-
likely cuts. Police services rank high, including 911 dispatchers, community policing efforts and gang prevention. Community centers would also be cut back or closed altogether, and economic development plans would need to be cut back. “These are the quality of life issues that are most important to our residents,” she told the council at an earlier meeting this summer. “Unfortunately, these are the things that will go first if we can’t pay for them.”
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August 15, 2014
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Clayton Community Calendar PLEASE SUBMIT YOUR CLAYTON COMMUNITY CALENDAR EVENTS BY 5 P.M. AUG. 20 FOR THE AUG. 29 ISSUE. ITEMS MUST BE SUBMITTED BY EMAIL TO calendar@claytonpioneer.com
IN CLAYTON Saturdays thru Oct. 25 Farmers’ Market Music: Aug. 16, Ukulele Bob. Aug. 23, Oscar Reynolds. 8 a.m. – 12 p.m. Diablo Street between Main and Center streets, downtown Clayton. pcfma.com/clayton. Aug. 16, 30 Saturday Concerts in the Grove 6 – 8:30 p.m. Grove Park, downtown Clayton. Free. For a complete concert series list, see Page 3. Aug. 16 - 17 Relay For Life American Cancer Society fundraiser. Join a team or walk as an individual. Activities for participants and spectators. 10 a.m. Saturday to 10 a.m. Sunday. Clayton Valley Charter High School, 1101 Alberta Way, Concord. Register at relayforlife.org/claytonca. Aug. 21 Thursday Concerts in the Grove Featuring local talent. 7 - 8:30 p.m. Grove Park, downtown Clayton. Free. For a complete concert series list, see Page 3. Aug. 30 Derby and Car Show Clayton Community Church’s 11th Annual Labor Day event. Kids 7 – 14 race derby cars down Main Street. Car show and parade. 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Main Street, Clayton. Free. Register kids at claytoncc.com and cars at claytonderbycarshow.org.
IN CONCORD Tuesdays Farmers’ Market Tuesdays year round, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Todos Santos Plaza, downtown Concord. cityofconcord.org. Music and Market Thursday night live music and farmers’ market. Music: Aug. 21, Zepparella. Aug. 28, California Symphony Orchestra. Market 4 – 8 p.m.; music 6:30 – 8 p.m. Todos Santos Plaza, downtown Concord. cityofconcord.org. Aug. 23 Festival of Latin Culture Family-friendly celebration of Latin music, food, dance; arts and crafts and vendor booths. 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. Todos Santos Plaza, downtown Concord. Free admission. latinculturefest.org. Sept. 13 Tribute to Congressman George Miller Lunch and guest speakers. 11:30 a.m. Crowne Plaza Hotel, 45 John Glenn Drive, Concord. $45 and up. For more information, call 945-1938.
EVENTS & ENTERTAINMENT Aug. 15 H.O.P.E. Fourth annual Helping Others Pursue Excellence awards ceremony presented by Order My Life. 7:30 p.m. Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek. $15-$20. lesherartscenter.org. 943-7469. Aug. 15 Jon Mendle Walnut Creek Guitar Series. 7:15 p.m. Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek. $25. lesherartscenter.org. 943-7469. Aug. 16 An Enchanted Evening Highlights from many Disney shows performed by In The Light Voice Studio. 3 p.m. El Campanil Theatre, 602 W. Second St., Antioch. $8-$13. elcampaniltheatre.com. Aug. 16 Clayton Brothers Quintet. Part of the Walnut Creek Jazz Concert Series. 5 and 8 p.m. Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek. $25-$40. lesherartscenter.org. 943-7469. Aug. 16 Random Acts of Improv Presented by Ready or Not Improv. 8:15 p.m. Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek. $15. lesherartscenter.org. 943-7469. Aug. 17 Destiny Muhammad Jazz Trio Sound sculptress from Celtic to Coltrane with a feel for storytelling. Presented by Owl Eye Entertainment. 2:45 p.m. Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek. $25-$35. lesherartscenter.org. 943-7469. Aug. 17 The Diamonds Classic rock and roll with today’s attitude. 3 p.m. El Campanil Theatre, 602 W. Second St., Antioch. $25-$27. elcampaniltheatre.com. Aug. 22 Jinx Jones and the King Tones Rockabilly music. Presented by Red Legged Frog Productions. 8:15 p.m. Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek. $25. lesherartscenter.org. 943-7469. Aug. 22 – Sept. 7 “Beau Jest” Onstage Productions’ romantic comedy at the Campbell Theatre, 635 Ward St., Martinez. For performance times and ticket info call 518-3277
ON THE MOUNTAIN Mount Diablo Interpretive Association programs listed are free with the exception of park entrance fee. Go to mdia.org and click on Events Calendar for more information. Ongoing Tarantula Hikes Search for Mount Diablo’s giant arachnids. Check the website for tarantula hike dates and times. Reservations are required and fill up fast. Aug. 23 Things That Go Bump in the Night Nature hike as darkness falls. Search for owls, bats, scorpions, tarantulas, poor-wills and other inhabitants of the dark. 6 – 9 p.m. Meet at Mitchell Canyon Visitor Center. Registration required: mtdiablohiker@aol.com or sweettrails00@gmail.com. Aug. 30 Up in the Clouds Take a one-mile hike around Mary Bowerman trail, enjoy the view and hear history and folklore of landmarks below. 4 – 6 p.m. Meet at Lower Summit Parking Lot. Registration required: mtdiablohiker@aol.com or sweettrails00@gmail.com.
Aug. 23 Perceptions Tony Jones combines hypnosis and comedy. 7:15 p.m. Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek. lesherartscenter.org. 943-7469. Aug. 23 Roy Hargrove Trumpeter. Part of the Walnut Creek Jazz Concert Series. 5 and 8 p.m. Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek. $25-$40. lesherartscenter.org. 943-7469. Aug. 24 Gabriel Ayala Guitarist performing JazzMenco, the chords of jazz with the drive of flamenco. 2:45 p.m. Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek. $25-$35. lesherartscenter.org. 9437469. Aug. 25 Auditions Walnut Creek Chorus has openings for all voices. Drop by 7 – 9 p.m. Trinity Lutheran Church, 2317 Buena Vista Ave., Walnut Creek. walnutcreekchorus@gmail.com.
Aug. 29 – Oct. 5 “Life Could Be A Dream” A 1960s doo-wop musical. Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek. $37-$66. centerrep.org. Aug. 30 Before Your Eyes Featuring illusionists Alvin Lui and Timothy James. For ages 15 and up. 4:15 and 8:15 p.m. Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek. $24-$27. lesherartscenter.org. 9437469. Aug. 30 Tim McGraw Tribute Performed by Tom Drinnon. 8 p.m. Firehouse Arts Center, 4444 Railroad Ave., Pleasanton. $17-$27. firehousearts.org/events. Aug. 31 Concert 15th anniversary celebration by Music Repertoire. 2:45 p.m. Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek. $10. lesherartscenter.org. 943-7469.
CHURCHES AND RELIGION Starting Sept. 2 Healing the Heart A safe place to express grief and begin healing after loss. Six weeks on Tuesdays, 7:30 – 9 p.m. St. Bonaventure, 5562 Clayton Road, Concord. Register with Janie Eddleman at 6236254.
FUNDRAISERS Aug. 16 Tea and Fashion Show Fun-filled event for all ages. Free multi-media art show from 9:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. Tea and refreshments, hat contest, best dressed impersonator contest. 10:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. Concord Senior Center, 2727 Parkside Drive, Concord. $20 adults; $15 children, students and seniors. Call 671-3320, ext. 1 for tickets.
AT THE LIBRARY The Clayton Library is at 6125 Clayton Road. Programs are free unless otherwise noted. claytonlibrary.org or 673-0659. Thru Aug. 16 Contest Guess the number of pet treats in the jar. Closest guess wins a prize. All ages. One guess per person.
GOVERNMENT 1st and 3rd Tuesdays Clayton City Council 7 p.m. Hoyer Hall, Clayton Library, 6125 Clayton Road. 6737304 or ci.clayton.ca.us. 2nd and 4th Tuesdays Clayton Planning Commission 7 p.m., Hoyer Hall, Clayton Library, 6125 Clayton Road. 6737304 or ci.clayton.ca.us. 1st, 2nd and 4th Tuesdays Concord City Council 6:30 p.m., Council Chamber, Concord Civic Center, 1950 Parkside Dr. cityofconcord.org. 1st and 3rd Wednesdays Concord Planning Commission 7 p.m., Council Chamber, Concord Civic Center, 1950 Parkside Dr. cityofconcord.org.
Meeting dates and times for local clubs and organizations are listed at claytonpioneer.com. Click on ‘Links’
August 15, 2014
Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com
Performing Arts
Coming in September
Photo: David Allen
TIM HOMSLEY, RYAN DRUMMOND, Jerry Lee, Derek Keeling and Sharon Rietkerk in ‘Life Could Be a Dream’ at the Lesher through Oct. 5
which runs at the Lesher Center Aug. 29 to Oct. 5 Denny and the Dreamers is a fledging doo-wop singing group preparing to enter the Big
Whopper Radio contest with dreams of making it to the big time. Trouble comes in the form of Lois, who arrives to put some polish on the boys. Denny falls in love, Wally falls in line, Eugene falls apart, and then the trouble doubles when handsome heartthrob Skip enters, played by Derek Keeling, star of Broadway’s “Grease” and NBC’s “You’re the One That I Want,” to really send things spinning. The 1960s hits include “Fools Fall in Love,” “Tears On My Pillow,” “Runaround Sue,” “Earth Angel,” “Stay,” “Unchained Melody,” “Lonely Teardrops,” and “The Glory of Love.” “Life Could Be a Dream” is written and directed by Bean, with musical direction by Brandon Adams and choreography by Lee Martino.
an indelible mark on the culture and music of 70s and 1980s. Michelle Whited leads the popular group that pays tribute to The Carpenters and their music. She will reproduce Karen Carpenter’s vocals along with Don Stamey on piano and accompanied by a live band. Other songs include “Top of the World,” “I Won’t Last a
The Best of Edgy, Independent Theatre
Sept. 5-20
For tickets and more information, stop by the Lesher Center Ticket Office at 1601 Civic Drive in Walnut Creek, call 925-973SHOW, or visit www.centerrep.org.
Pioneer Photo Album Nicole Hackett took this beautiful of a butterfly as it passed through town last week.
35 Shows in 14 Days
An Awkward Sensation, one of the 35 shows at this year’s SF Fringe Festival.
$5-10 per show
EXIT Theatre
For Info, Contact SF Fringe (415) 673-3847 www.sffringe.org
The performance is at 3 p.m. and tickets are $25-$27. To purchase tickets or for more information, stop by the El Campanil Theatre at 602 W. Second St. in Antioch, call 925757-9500, or visit the website at www.elcampaniltheatre.com.
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El Campanil hosts Carpenters tribute Antioch’s El Campanil Theatre is going back to the 1970s to celebrate the classic songs and sounds of the popular music duo The Carpenters with a tribute show by the group Close to You on Sept. 7. With songs like “We’ve Only Just Begun,” “For All We know,” and “Rainy Days and Mondays,” The Carpenters left
The 23rd Annual
Festival San Francisco Fringe
Doo-wop dreams rock Center REP
Center REPertory Company, in association with Jonathan Reinis and Roger Bean, present a rollicking blast from the past with “Life Could Be a Dream,”
Page 15
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The Pioneer is proud to spotlight our readers’ photos. Email your high-resolution photo to tamara@claytonpioneer.com with a description of the photo, where and when it was taken and a little about why you like it. Include your name and phone number. Then look for it in the next Pioneer.
Clayton resident, Leo Schindler
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Get privy to good bathroom design ambiance when you’re taking a bubble bath or extra-bright lighting when you’re applying make-up or getting dressed (avoiding the one blue, one black sock fashion faux pas). LEAKING NOT ALLOWED You know the saying, “you get what you pay for?” Well, with plumbing fixtures this couldn’t be more true. From big box, DIY home stores to higher end plumbing showrooms, there are a million and one different ways you can go with plumbing. To find the best fixtures for your budget and bathroom design, you really just need to do your homework. Visit the big box retailers, visit the boutiques, research products online, and then make a decision. There’s nothing worse than a beautifully chic faucet…that leaks. 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.
JENNIFER LEISCHER
DESIGN & DÉCOR You’ve seen them all: The grand and luxurious master bath, the petite and stylish powder room, the comfortable home-away-from-home guest bath, and the cheerful and festive kids bath. Regardless of the bathroom “title,” all bathrooms need good storage, a timeless tile scheme, and lighting and plumbing fixtures that are both stylish and highly functional. Whether you are embarking on a total bathroom remodel, adding square footage or reworking an existing space, really take your time to consider each square foot to get the most out of your newly redesigned space. WHERE TO PUT THE TOWELS AND TOOTHBRUSH
The idea of a linen closet or vanity storage towers on either side of a sink is literally mouth watering when it comes to storage in the bathroom. But if you don’t have these coveted spaces, don’t fret. Storage can be a series of robe hooks or towel bars dispersed in handy locations where you need towels, or decorative rattan baskets fit into corners here and there. A series of shelves above the toilet is decorative and functional, as is a supersized recessed medicine cabinet. Storage is all about accessibility, so create storage that allows you to move through your bathroom with ease. CHOOSE YOUR TILE WELL When creating a new look for your bathroom, select tile colors that will give you options as your décor tastes change. Consider using natural stone
that has warm neutral tones of brown, ivory and tan, or the crisp and delicate shades of blue, green or clear glass that add sparkle and reflect the natural and incandescent lighting. Don’t avoid color, but rather, consider colors that will age well. Also, select tiles that will physically hold up through the years: porcelain for flooring, ceramic for walls, and stone or man-made slabs for countertops and tub decks. Create a stylish and functional design that will literally last through the years. TURN ON THE LIGHTS Lighting in the bathroom should be abundant. From vanity lights over the sink, to a decorative chandelier or ceiling mount fixture that illuminates the overall bathroom, to recessed lights in the shower or next to the linen closet, you need good task and decorative lighting in a bathroom. And like any other room in your house, you can certainly install dimmers to create a calming
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Page 16
Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com
Rochellez
August 15, 2014
Wake up to all-year beds Photography rochellez@live.com 510-677-4170
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Rochelle Douglass
GARDEN GIRL
OWNER/PHOTOGRAPHER
The world is your stage
A flowering bed or border is the combining of perennials and evergreen plants together with complimentary flower colors, textures and varying seasons of bloom. Garden beds and borders are very desirable elements of any landscape or gar-
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672-0207 randmpool.com
den. Garden beds and borders are as individual as the people who create them, and the options are endless. This week, a Clayton resident came in to the nursery looking to create such a border. She was looking to fill a raised bed along a deck with flowers for every season. Her color palate was open to anything, and she wanted to represent various shapes of flowers as well. We started showing her the summer bloomers. Since it’s summer the availability is prolific and examples are on the shelves rather than on Bing images. Coreopsis Moonbeam with its thread-like leaves, soft yellow daisy shaped flowers and natural round growth habit was our first choice for the planter. Coreopsis Moonbeam reaches 18-inches tall and wide and blooms June through the middle of September. Considering this planter is Lshaped and roughly 20-feet long we decided to grab three plants for more visual impact. To contrast the yellow, we looked at Veronica Sunny Border Blue. This perennial has true blue spires of flowers that stand 18inches tall and wider with age that also blooms from June through September. Our Clayton gardener wanted to add the summer flowering Gaillardia “Gallo Bright Red,” which was a nice introduction considering its thin, tall growth habit.
The planter now had some good perennial choices for summer-fall flowers, so it was time to focus on finding nice late winter through spring introductions. Penstemon “Strawberries and Cream” has instant appeal with its basil shaped dark green leaves and trumpet-shaped flowers of cream with pink variegation. Penstemon “Strawberries and Cream” blooms from late March through October. Its growth habit is u-shaped. Our gardener liked it so well we are incorporating four plants in this raised bed. Salvia Chiapensis is another early spring blooming perennial that we chose to add in. The dark-green leaves almost have a red cast to them making it a stand out in the bed. Magenta two-lipped shaped flowers are born on thin stems that bow and bend. Salvia “May Night” was also added for a punch of dark purple. Its spires can stretch 24-inches tall and wide.
Bees love Salvia “May Night.” We decided to add some Tradescantia “Red Cloud” mostly for its grass-like foliage. We felt the bed needed the additional texture. Finally we needed to introduce some evergreen plant material. Many of our other choices are perennial, and they all can experience a period of rest. Parahebe linfolia and Iberis were picked. Both are sturdy evergreen plants that mature into small shrubs or mounding groundcovers. Iberis blooms clusters of white from February through April. Parahebe begins to flower in May and blooms through summer also with white flowers. Peg will only need to add some annual winter color to make her flower bed “flowertastic” all year long. Nicole is the Garden Girl at R&M Pool, Patio, Gifts and Garden. Contact her with questions or comments at Gardengirl@claytonpioneer.com
Midsummer melon madness hits markets SHAVED MELON SALAD WITH LEMON SHERRY DRESSING
DEBRA J. MORRIS Pacific Coast Farmers Market
It’s a sure sign of summer is in full swing when melons appear at your farmers’ market. Big watermelons, fragrant cantaloupe and honeydew, and a variety of exotic melons like Persian, casaba, canary, and Crenshaw, just to name a few, are available. Each has a distinctive sweet flavor and each is a must-try this season. Just chill and enjoy. Melons are in the same gourd family as squashes and cucumbers. Most melons have similar structure to winter squash with thick flesh and an inner seed-filled mid-section. So what’s the difference between melons and squashes? It’s the way they’re used. Squashes are considered vegetables, while melons are known as fruits with sweet and juicy flavor. Selecting:: Ripe muskmelons have a strong, sweet fra-
grance and give slightly when pressed at both ends. A fully ripe melon may have tiny cracks at the stem end. Choose melons that are heavy for their size and free of deep blemishes, shriveled peel or soft, moldy areas Storing: Store ripe melons in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Although it will not obtain the flavor of a vine-ripened one, an unripe melon will sweeten slightly if left in a paper bag at room temperature for a few days. An exception is the honeydew, which will stay only as sweet as it was when harvested.
1 tsp. grated lemon rind 2 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice 1 Tbsp. sherry 1 tsp. honey 3/8 tsp. kosher salt 1/4 tsp. freshly ground black pepper 2 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil 1/2 medium cantaloupe 1/2 medium honeydew melon 3 tablespoons torn fresh mint Combine first six ingredients in a large bowl, stirring with a whisk. Gradually add oil, stirring constantly with a whisk. Remove and discard seeds from cantaloupe and honeydew melon. Cut melons into twoinch-wide wedges; remove rinds. Cut melon wedges into long, thin ribbons using a mandolin. Add melon ribbons to dressing; toss gently to coat. Sprinkle with mint. Serve immediately.
We offer dining, social events, cooking classes, live music, heated pool, swim, tennis & golf lessons! Golf, sport and social memberships are available
It’s time to join! Contact us for a tour and lunch at the club.
Banquet facilities are available for your special occasion
Oakhurst Country Club (925) 672-9737 ext. 205 directorofsales@oakhurstcc.com
August 15, 2014
Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com
Club News
Knights of Columbus St. Bonaventure Council 6038 announced the 2014 Substance Abuse Poster Competition winners. Pine Hollow Middle school captured the winning posters for the 12 to14 age group at the Council, Regional and State levels for the third year in a row. The themes were “Don’t be Part of the Walking Dead” by Kailey Kingsmore for drug awareness and “Don’t Pollute Your Life” by Yaneli Balcazar for alcohol awareness. Both advanced to the State competition. Special awards for Artistic Excellence in Graphic Art were
Basses, backpacks, chairs, and a new roof were on the granting list at the meeting of the Clayton Business and Community Association on July 31 at The Oakhurst Country Club. CBCA granted a monetary request from the Volunteer Emergency Service Team in Action, or VESTIA, for their county-wide back-to-school backpack program. This county agency will purchase school supplies for kids whose families can’t afford these learning materials. Closer to home, CBCA is holding its own backpack program. They welcome backpacks (any color except blue or red) and/or the fillings for all grades, K-12. Donors may contact Sue White, 925.672.2272. The club also voted to fund
GARY CARR Special to the Pioneer
Bob Estrada and Ron McLennan can be seen in the background.
SUBSTANCE ABUSE POSTER COMPETITION
Poster winners Tiffany Hernandez, Sabrina Hambalek, Kailey Kingsmore and Yaneli Balcazar show their artwork and awards with Claire Tryon, chairman of the competition.
CBCA bestows backpacks, basses, gets ready to raise a roof
CBCA honors super volunteer Fitzgerald
Knights of Columbus JOSEPH SIMINI HONORED Joseph Simini received the Honorary Lifetime Award for 74 years as a faithful Brother Knight of Columbus on July 1 by the St. Bonaventure Knights of Columbus Council 6038. Simini made his first degree on Jan. 1, 1940 in Allegheny, N.Y. Simini moved to Concord in 2013. Deputy Grand Knight Brian Gunderson, left, is presenting Simini with the award.
Page 17
presented to Tiffany Hernandez for “Rise Above” for alcohol awareness and Sabrina Hambalek for “Drugs Aren’t Anything to Laugh About.” The students showed the positive aspects of not using drugs or alcohol. Winners in the eight to 11 age group were Audrey Carlson and Matthew Hubbard of Mt. Diablo Elementary and Jessica Oledan of St. Agnes. Jessica was a State winner and advanced to the International competition in New Haven, Conn. where she place fourth in her age group and category. This is the 15th year for the Substance Abuse Poster Competition. Students participating were from Pine Hollow Middle School, Highlands Elementary, Mt. Diablo Elementary, St. Agnes and St. Bonaventure. There were over 400 posters. Claire Tryon, poster chairman, says the upcoming 2014 2015 competition will tie in more closely with Red Ribbon Week at the end of October. The dates of the competition are Aug. 15 through Jan. 31, 2015. Entry sheets are available through the schools and at the St. Bonaventure Parish Office.
From the Art & Wine Festival to the trash cans downtown, a host of Clayton fixtures probably wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for Don Fitzgerald. His many friends know him as a man who never takes “no” for answer and always pushed ahead when told something couldn’t be done. On July 31, Fitzgerald accepted the Clayton Business and Community Association’s President’s Award for his 25plus years of service to the community, presented to him by CBCA president Greg Manning. A member of the CBCA since 1988, Fitzgerald was the one who conceived of the Art & Wine Festival and did most of the initial work on what is now the town’s most successful event. (Even though, at the beginning, he was told that Clayton was too small for such an ambitious project.) Fitzgerald served as vice president for CBCA for three years and has worked on almost every event the club has sponsored. He worked on establishing the first Clayton Farmers Market, which opened in 1992. Fitzgerald was also instrumental in getting the benches and trash cans placed around downtown. He has worked on the Art & Wine Festival since its inception in 1995. A tribute to his foresight and perseverance, Art & Wine has been profitable from its very first year and is a major fundraiser for CBCA community projects. Typical of a man who gets things done, Fitzgerald is quick to point out that he doesn’t work alone.
DON FITZGERALD
“Art & Wine is a tribute to a lot of hard work by many, many people. We’re fortunate to have such a large group of dedicated people who care about Clayton,” he says.
the purchase of two bass violins and three ‘cellos for the CVCHS Music Boosters. The Boosters are major volunteers at Art & Wine, and this year will run the root beer float booth at Oktoberfest. The Clayton Community Library has been open almost 20 years and still with the same upholstered chairs in the reading room. CBCA voted to donate to the purchase of 14 new comfy chairs to help cushion the impact of today’s news stories. Diablo Valley Ranch is a major manpower source for CBCA functions, everything from Art & Wine to reorganizing the storage shed. In turn, CBCA gratefully donated funds to replace the roof at the Oak Knoll House. For CBCA membership info, call Sue White, 925.672.2272.
Venture Crew 444 rides through New Mexico mountains Members of Venture Crew 444 from St. Bonaventure went on a summer trek through the
Sangre de Cristo Mountains at Philmont Scout Ranch in Cimarron, N.M. at the end of
VENTURE CREW 444 trekked through the Sangre de Cristo Mountains this summer. Scouts pictured standing: Tom Santos, Matthew Patton, Arron Schubert, Lucas Daugherty, Matthew Jin and Sam Buchholz. Kneeling: Courtney Mizutani, Sophia Hecht, Claire Mizutani, Courtney Sheffield, Liz Kinsey and Gigi Henderson. Wrangler Sam and horseman Christine seated on the wagon.
July. Once complete, Scouts could qualify for the 50-miler award patch. Philmont covers 214 square miles of vast wilderness with trails climbing from 6,500 feet to 12,441 feet. During their trek, Venture Crew 444 rode horses for 58 miles over seven days. They participated in backcountry programs as they went from camp to camp, including burrow racing, roping, branding and gold prospecting. The trek included a conservation project where the Scouts learned and participated in the upkeep of various parts of Philmont. The crew competed in the gymkhana at the end of the journey to test their new horse skills. Venturing is a co-ed, high-adventure development program of the Boy Scouts of America.
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6160 Center St. Suite #C, Clayton
Clayton residents since 1959
925-693-0757 (Main)
Save $1000 per couple on select Europe river cruises.*
925-693-0752 (Fax)
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*Book a select 2015 Avalon Waterways Europe vacation to receive $500 off per person on the cruise/and or cruise only price. For A Taste of the Danube the promotion applies only to the land inclusive price. Offer available on select dates of select cruises. Booking must be made, under deposit, and discount applied between May 7 and Sept. 30, 2014 for travel at select times in 2015. Avalon and Royal Suites excluded. Not applicable to custom tours. Discounts will apply to individual members of groups adding a name and nonrefundable per person deposit WITHIN the promo window. Not applicable on TBAspace. Not combinable with any other offer, other than Journeys Club Repeat Traveler benefit. Applies to new 2015 bookings only, and offer will not be applied to pre-existing bookings. Offer reliant on space availability at time of booking and may be withdrawn at any time. Full cancellation penalties will apply. Additional restrictions may apply.
Page 18
Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com
August 15, 2014
Personalized bricks help garden bloom LINDA CRUZ Special to the Pioneer
Clayton residents and other history buffs can help create a landscaped garden downtown by purchasing personalized engraved bricks that will help decorate the unique plot of land and raise money to complete the Clayton Historical Society’s Main Street Historical & Educational Garden. A limited number of 116 personalized engraved bricks to be permanently installed in the garden landscape are now for sale and can be purchased from the CHS. The brinks range from $40 to $300, depending where they will be in the garden. To date 83 bricks have been reserved. It all started in 1996 when, Bob Hoyer, then President of the CHS, reported as a result of the trade the City of Clayton made with the Presley Company, the city would acquire the Jawad lot (the location of the old Pioneer Inn), and there was the possibility that the city would allow the Clayton Historical Society to use a portion of the vacant lot for a historical garden. Peggy and Don Arundell became the project leaders for the CHS Garden Project. Curator Renee Wing wished to add native plants to the museum garden. Her goal was to educate visiting schoolchildren on field trips as well as all visitors about how Native Americans used the native plants. In 2009, a new landscape design was bid on at $24,150; however, the museum was short of funds so the project was dropped. Later in 2009, Clayton Valley
Garden Club President Linda Cruz partnered with CHS Curator Mary Spryer to see about bringing back the native garden plan in affordable ways. In spring 2010, Dan Richards guided members of the CVGC and CHS President Dick Ellis with a major clean up on the lot. The CVGC was able to obtain native plants needed for the Native American garden at no cost as well as a donation of $300 to purchase native plants, including a Black Oak tree. CHS member, museum docent and landscape designer Anna Wendorf volunteered her services to draw up a new design for the garden. Cruz applied for help from the East Bay Volunteer Center for the “Week of Caring,” which is held each September. During “Week of Caring” in 2010 and 2011, employees from Chevron, Bank of the West and Dow Chemical worked alongside CHS and CVGC members to plant the Black Oak tree and other plants, make gopher cages to protect roots, and help with irrigation. Much effort has been put into raising funds in order to make the new improved educa-
tional garden become a reality. CVGC donated another $500 in 2012. CHS President JoAnn Caspar lead the CHS Christmas Tours raising funds specifically for the garden. In 2012, CVGC Vice President and CHS Garden Committee member Steve Lane, a Clayton-based draft consultant, was contracted by CHS to consult and manage the proposed landscape improvements. The improved design included personalized engraved bricks for the project fundraising. The City of Clayton approved the design this past May and work should begin late summer/early fall to be completed before the end of year. For more information or to purchase a brick, visit www.ClaytonHistory.org or call 925672-0240. Interested brick buyers can also see the conceptual drawing and pick up Brick Order Forms at the museum during hours of operation, Sunday and Wednesday from 24 p.m. and during extended summer hours Wednesday evenings from 6 to 8 p.m. through August. Brick orders are on a first come-first serve basis. All orders will be due in early September.
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Adopt-a-thon
10% Off all kitten supplies FREE bag of kitten food Micro chipped Shots up to date
Only $
50
Wormed Free Vet visit Now through Aug. 31
Blue Buffalo Dog Food $3 Off
Chicken and Brown Rice
$3 Off
Lamb and Brown Rice
30 lb. bag Reg. Price $
30 lb. bag
65.99
Reg. Price $
62.99
68.99
65.99
$
$
Now through Aug. 31. Prices good at Rodie’s only.
Bird Grooming VIP Shot Clinic
Sat. 10am - 3pm
Sept. 6
Sat. 10 - 11:30am
Sept. 6
If we do not have your product, we can special order. Open 7 days Mon - Fri 10 to 6 Sat 9 to 6 Sun 10 to 4
www.rodiesfeed.com (925) 672-4600
8863 Marsh Creek Rd. in Clayton