Amit Elor is Golden in Paris
Amit Elor dominated as advertised while marching through her four matches to the Paris Olympics gold medal podium in the 68kg freestyle wrestling division last week, becoming the youngest ever American wrestler of any gender or discipline to claim Olympic Gold.
The former College Park High wrestler has not lost a match since 2019 and even dropping down a weight class from 72 to 68 kilos (about nine pounds difference) for the Olympics didn’t impact her strength with four successive victories in Paris by a combined score of 31-2.
The 20-year-old Contra Costan was cheered on in Paris during her Aug. 5-6 matches by Team Elor with mom Elana as always, her biggest supporter along with her two brothers, cousins, nieces and nephews, coaches and trainer. Her beaming coach Sara McMann shared her 2004 Olympic silver medal with star pupil Elor in a photo after the match in front of the Eiffel Tower.
See Amit Elor, page 4
In 1974 Concord Community Pool hosted the Six Greatest Days of Swimming
the
Fifty years ago this month—-decades before 2024 Olympic legends Katie Ledecky and Leon Marchand were born—-it was Concord that “captured the hearts of the swimming world.”
Swimming World, the bible of aquatic sports, went on to say of Concord in a front-page editorial in the October 1974 issue, “You made this a meet that will be long remembered….it was one for the books. It was six days of swimming never equaled in the United States.”
From Aug. 22 to Sept. 1, 1974, Concord Community Pool hosted six days of swimming that was unprecedented outside of an Olympics. The annual United States AAU National Long Course Championships were Aug. 22-25 followed by the United States vs. German Democratic Republic dual meet on Aug. 31 and Sept. 1. World records were set each of the six days.
Over those six days in Concord there were 25 world records and 47 American records tied or broken as the two meets drew world-wide media attention. American, Canadian, Australian, Commonwealth, Brazilian, European and GDR (East Germany) records were smashed one after another, bringing thrills to the over 35,000 spectators that filled the temporary bleachers at the pool.
World records were set each of the six days. By contrast the just concluded Paris Olympic swimming competition featuring all the top swimmers from around the world saw only four world records set!
Concord Community Pool opened as part of a community park on Cowell Road in 1967 with its unique L-shaped 50-meter and 25-yard pool.
A few years later, Concord swim dad (and mayor/councilman) Dan Boatwright led a delegation to Lake Placid, NY that included Concord Leisure Services Director John Toffoli Jr., Concord Swim Club founder and Hall of Fame coach Pete Cutino and city officials supported by City Manager F. A. Bud Stewart to bid on hosting the national championships in their new pool. The bid effort was successful, and Concord was awarded the 1973 Summer Nationals. Louisville later reached out to the AAU (Amateur Athletic Union which was the sanctioning body for all American amateur sports at that time) requesting they have that meet.
DUAL MEETARRIVESASBONUS
National swimming officials approached Concord and as a sweetener to moving their meet ahead to 1974, the AAU said the city could also host the highly anticipated USA-GDR dual meet.
Preparations for the meet were already underway and over the period before the meets Concord hosted site visits by USA national and GDR officials to inspect the pool and other facilities. Concord officials were present at the 1974 AAU Short Course Nationals that spring in Dallas to promote the upcoming meets and observe site logistics.
Retired swimming legend Mark Spitz,
schools
Samantha Campbell, a junior at Clayton Valley Charter High School, like most high school kids, packs up the usual things each morning: notebooks, textbooks, a water bottle and of course her cell phone. That last item, though, may end up kicked out of the clique if Mt. Diablo Unified School District follows Gov. Gavin Newsom’s plans to build on an Assembly bill that restricts cell phone use by students during the school day.
As school bells ring throughout local schools this fall, the chirps, pops and Taylor Swift lyrics that indicate an all-important text may not, at least in many Diablo Valley middle and high schools. Already, most schools in the Mt. Diablo Unified School District, as well as De La Salle and Carondelet private high schools, limit the use of phones in the classrooms. “I feel like we’re ahead of the curve,” says Alison Sparks, director of operations for the Ugly Eagles. At CVCHS and many others, upon entering classrooms, students are required to put their phones in a large, pocketed hanger on the wall, to keep them off their desks.
“We don’t like cell phones in students’ hands,” Spark says. “If there is an emergency and a parent is trying to reach their child, they can call the office.” Students are able to retrieve their phones after class for use during passing times, brunch, and lunch.
Some local schools are taking it even further, however. Both Ygnacio Valley High School and Mt. Diablo High School in Concord are limiting all cell phones on campus. So is St. Agnes Middle School.
According to MDHS Vice-principal Liz Mangelsdorf, the school will be a cell phone-free campus, meaning students are not allowed to use cell phones during the school day. They are using what’s called the Yondr program. Upon entering the campus, students must place their phonesin the pouch provided by the school and place the pouch in a backpack. Thesephone pouches will be locked upon arrival and unlocked at the end of
Tony Rotundo photo courtesy USA Wrestling WrestlersAreWarriors.com
Team Elor was behind Olympic Gold Medalist Amit Elor during her four Paris matches. She shared a group photo minutes after winning her final match last week. She is holding the medal next to her biggest supporter, mom Elana, with her brothers Orry and Aviv (right of the champion).
Photo from Jay Bedecarré archives
Nothing at
1974 Concord Swimming Championships topped Saturday’s 200-meter backstroke race. Two-time Olympic champion Roland Matthes (right) had not lost a race in seven years when he faced off with 18-year-old John Naber (left). The California teen not only beat East German superstar Matthes in the 200 but the next day Naber prevailed in the 100 and in the leadoff leg of the medley relay.
JAY BEDECARRÉ The Pioneer
PEGGY SPEAR The Pioneer
JAY BEDECARRÉ
Kids craft cool creations in new generation woodshop
DAVID SCHOLZ Correspondent
In the current educational era of STEM and STEAM, a handful of local middle school educators are turning back the clock to revitalize the time-tested woodshop classes for a new generation of students.
For their parents, but more likely grandparents who graduated in the 1960s, 1970s or 1980s, those bygone days in the industrial arts elective classes produced projects ranging from the simple birdhouses and picture frames to more complex projects like cutting boards, desk drawer organizers and chess tables that combined different types of woods. At the same time, those projects were unknowingly garnering vital problemsolving and critical thinking skills that are buzz words in today’s classrooms.
CALL IT WOODSHOP 2.0.
Teachers who are reinvigorating this elective option for today’s middle schoolers
at a few sites around the Mt. Diablo Unified School District, see the opportunity as two-fold.
Providing both a wholly new and old hands-on experience for their students, while also introducing potential new career paths for them as they prepare for high school and the period afterwards that may not necessarily include college, but the vocational trades.
“You cannot get more STEM than actually building and creating stuff,” said Jim Bergmann, who teaches woodshop at Sequoia Middle School in Pleasant Hill.
Prior to embarking on his efforts to revamp the woodshop offering at Sequoia, the classroom and its equipment sat idle for several years.
Since the school’s inception in 1967, there had been six woodshop teachers.
When all the rage was about setting up computer labs in the early 2000s to complement growing technology curriculums, wood-
shops were switched for a new purpose. Then when schools invested in portable laptops and Chromebooks that could be stored and charged in rolling boxes in classrooms, the woodshops of old basically became storage rooms for these obsolete desktop computers.
Fast forward to the new 2024-25 school year, Bergmann’s third year at the helm of Sequoia’s program after moving up from teaching fifth grade, he is committed to bringing back the traditional wood-working experience.
“I gave myself five years to get the shop up and running to the way I wanted,” he said, recalling many recent summers when he worked several hours a day, up to five days-a-week, repairing equipment that had fallen into disrepair due to a lack of usage.
“After you breathe life back into it, for me it is about getting tools in kids’ hands,” Bergmann added.
Allowing kids to make
mistakes is part of the learning process in his classroom, as is having pride in making something.
TWO BETTER THANONE
Bergmann attributes the bright outlook for the future of his woodshop to the collaboration forged with Nicole Manasewitsch, who has been similarly working to revitalize her program at Valley View Middle School.
Through her outreach efforts to the community, the two area woodshop programs have gained financial support from service clubs – like the Pleasant Hill Rotary – to acquire items like six skills saws as well as badly needed donations of spare wood from the commercial establishments like Golden State Lumber.
“Not only do we share curriculum, resources and ideas, but this year we hope to do a pinewood derby challenge between our schools,” said Manasewitsch, who
embarks on her second year of teaching woodshop this upcoming school year.
Also instrumental have been the Diablo Woodworkers, which supports the MDUSD Adult Ed program, which she said, “have been paramount in supporting the revitalization of our shop program.”
Her love of woodworking was instilled in her as a middle school student under the tutelage of Don DuPont, which led to her taking it for three years.
“I was bummed to discover that my high school did not offer a woodworking course and many schools at the time were losing a lot of their hands-on courses,” said Manasewitsch.
Coincidentally, she noted having reconnected with DuPont, who has served as a mentor to her and has continued to lend his assistance in her woodshop throughout the school year.
“In my 19 years of teaching, I have seen students’ joy for learning fade. Students should enjoy coming to school. They should be excited to share what they learned in their day with others,” she said. “We need to offer programs and activities which ignite students’ love for learning. We need to give them programs that spark their interest and make them want to come to school. Almost everyone out there, who has ever taken a shop class, typically still has one of their projects at home.”In providing this elective, Manasewitsch hopes it’s an outlet that sparks consideration in other post high school career interests.
“Trade careers are really in need of a workforce. Numbers have been dwindling as our young people have had less exposure to non-college career options. More
David Scholz
A pair of students in the Valley View Middle School woodshop work on different
from page 1
fresh off his 1972 “seven races, seven world records, seven gold medals” performance two years earlier at the Munich Olympics, came to the pool to promote the meets in advance.
To make their L-shaped pool into a traditional rectangular 50meter, 8-lane pool Concord installed a bulkhead along the 25-yard opening at the “bottom of the L.” Temporary bleachers were installed on two sides of the pool to accommodate 6,000 spectators a day.
A week or so before the meet, Toffoli, concerned about the water temperature being exactly as requested by swim officials, dispatched his longtime aquatics director Pete Chalmers to maintain near 24hour monitoring of the pool water.
When swimmers from around the world arrived for the AAU meet, how “fast” of a pool Concord Community would be was anyone’s guess.
RECORDSETTLESFEARS
All those fears vanished in the Thursday morning men’s
400-meter freestyle preliminaries when Long Beach 16-yearold Tim Shaw shattered the world record. You could almost hear the sigh of relief from Concord and AAU officials over the cheers of the crowd. Shaw went on to also star for the American team the following weekend.
One of the benefits of winning an AAU championship that year for American swimmers was the chance to be chosen for the dual meet team the following weekend.
USA head coach Flip Darr and his assistants assembled a team to compete against the powerful East Germans.
The international print and television media on hand were touting the dual meet as “the most dramatic sports event between two countries since
1962 when the United States and Soviet Union met at Stanford in track and field.” They called it “the greatest international sports event ever.” All six days received world-wide coverage and TV broadcasts not only in the US but Europe and Australia.
Although there were plenty of rumors after GDR performances at the 1972 Munich Olympics and 1973 World Championships in Belgrade, it would not be until the Berlin Wall fell a year after the 1988 Seoul Olympics that proof of the state-sponsored doping system of GDR athletes was uncovered.
The Germans with their near invincible women’s team came to California hopeful of defeating long-time powerhouse USA. With capacity crowds looking on, the American men won every event and the Yank swimmers won the meet 198-145. In a separately scored diving meet for men and women on Concord’s 10meter platform and 3-meter springboard the Americans prevailed 24-20.
Nothing that weekend topped Saturday’s 200-meter backstroke race. Two-time
Olympic champion Roland Matthes, 23, had not lost a race in seven years when he faced off with 18-year-old John Naber. The California teen not only beat Matthes in the 200 but the next day Naber prevailed in the 100 and in the leadoff leg of the medley relay.
To date, nine swimmers and two divers who competed in Concord 50 years ago have been inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame. From the DGR team are Ulrike Richter, Matthes, Kornelia Ender and Falk Hoffman. American inductees are Phil Boggs, Joe Bottom, Mike Bruner, Bruce Furniss, Tim Shaw, Naber and John Hencken.
Concord Community Pool not only hosted those two historic meets but over the years it was the training pool for Olympians Natalie Coughlin, Peter Rocca, Matt Biondi and Nancy Hogshead, who combined for 15 gold, 9 silver and 6 bronze Olympic medals.
Swimming World labeled a two-page photo collage from Concord in its October 1974 issue the “Six Greatest Days of Swimming.”
Jay Bedecarré was meet publicist for the two swim meets and is one of the very few surviving officials from those 1974 meets.
Elor was the first American wrestler to medal this year in Paris and the USA wrestling team followed with six more medals before the Games concluded last Sunday, including gold, silver and bronze performances by female teammates.
In her gold medal final match Elor scored three points in the opening period over Kyrgyzstan's Meerim Zhumanazarova, the 2020 Olympic bronze medalist. Elor continued to press the rest of the match, which ended in her 3-0 victory.
Although Elor won eight world championships between 2021 and 2023 she was unseeded in the Olympics at 68kg because she had not won any senior titles in that weight class. That meant she was drawn against Türkiye’s world champion Buse Cavusoglu Tosun in the opening match. Elor scored an easy 10-2 win over Tosun with many observers saying the 68kg world champ looked "paralyzed by fear of Elor."
Her second match was an 80 shutout of Wiktoria Choluj of Poland in the quarterfinals. Her third match of the day was a 100 technical fall in the first period over Sol Gum Pak of North Korea in the semifinals.
As a College Park freshman in 2018-19 she was identified as a phenom as the Diablo Athletic League champion and going through all 36 matches undefeated. In the 150-pound weight class Elor pinned her nine North Coast Section and State Meet
opponents, and her two championship matches ended in 15 and 20 seconds, respectively.
Elor has never lost a match on the senior level since her debut in the 2022 season. Her senior career record is 28-0 and she has amassed an 83-match win streak when considering all age group competition. Her last defeat was at the 2019 U17 World Championships in Sofia, Bulgaria, where she won a bronze medal and lost to Honaka Nakai of Japan in the semifinals 3-1.
When she was just three or four years-old Amit Elor loved to tag along to her teenage siblings’ wrestling matches. Brother Orry competed for three years on the College Park wrestling team, placing eighth and third in the CIF State Meet as a heavyweight.
Orry Amit says his baby sister, the youngest of six children in the Walnut Creek family,
“loved everything about wrestling. She would try to get on the wrestling mat to support me.” He recalls a female referee gave the young Amit a US Olympic singlet and she’s never looked back.
Her brother says Amit trained at the Community Youth Center starting as a four-year-old as her brothers Orry and Aviv and sister Ronny also trained there. He says Amit was one of the only female wrestlers in the program at the time, but that CYC now has a burgeoning girl’s program that is likely to blossom even more with the success of its most famous alumnus.
Ronny Elor, who was sorely missed in Paris due to travel issues, won an unofficial state championship for College Park before female high school wrestling was fully organized by CIF. “Ronny has been absolutely critical for Amit, making wrestling fun and traveling and coaching her to countless youth competitions. There is no way Amit would have continued wrestling through her youth if it were not for Ronny. She is an amazing rockstar, and a US national freestyle wrestling champion at the junior level,” brother Orry adds. After that all-winning freshman year at College Park, Elor’s club wrestling coach at the time discouraged her from continuing with high school folkstyle wrestling, fearing it would negatively impact her training for national and international freestyle competition.
Starting with her sophomore year she enrolled in the Mt. Diablo Unified School District Horizons independent study program and took courses at Diablo Valley College, which units counted three times those of high school. Effectively she had enough credits to graduate before she was officially a junior. This allowed her to spend more time training for a wrestling career that has taken off like a rocket.
Amit Elor is qualified to attend UC Berkeley and other universities but has not found a school with the requisite wrestling and academic program. Perhaps with NIL a school will come calling for an Olympic Gold Medalist and international sensation as well as outstanding student.
Photo courtesy Kohler Family
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Proposition 36: A fix to put shoplifters and thieves behind bars
On the November 4, 2014 ballot, Californians passed Proposition 47, which was originally intended to reduce nonviolent criminal convictions in an effort to address prison overcrowding. In Contra Costa County, our voters overwhelmingly approved Proposition 47 66% to 34% as it was touted as a fix to save resources used to arrest and convict nonviolent offenders. What we didn’t know at the time of its passage was how negatively this initiative would affect every single community in California, including ours.
Here’s what Proposition 47 did: It recategorized previously designated felonies for shoplifting, grand theft, forgery, fraud, bad check writing and stolen property from homes, cars and businesses as misdemeanors if valued under $950. It also lowered certain drug possession charges to misdemeanors.
What was the result? A decade of smash and grab robberies, serial shoplifters, car and home break-ins, check forgers, drug dealers – all going unchecked because criminal activity valued under $950 is considered a misdemeanor and not punishable by jail time.
And for dealers possessing fentanyl, or the date-rape drug, Rohypnol, Proposition 47 is the reason they will likely escape prison time, as those crimes are misdemeanors, not felonies.
People I talk to – my neighbors, friends, law
enforcement advocates and victims of these crimes – we are all fed up. So are our local businesses and retailers –some of which are closing up shop as the losses from these crimes become too wieldy. Luckily, there is something tangible we can do about it.
It’s Proposition 36 on the November 5th ballot – the “Homelessness, Drug Addiction, and Theft Reduction Act”. If passed by California voters, it will reform some of the public safety challenges created by Proposition 47.
Here’s what Proposition 36 does: It increases penalties for certain property theft crimes under $950 – punishable as felonies for criminals with prior convictions. Where current thieves are subject to a maximum of 6 months in jail, Proposition 36 would increase sentences based on the amount of property stolen –punishable for up to 3 years in jail or prison. If passed, it would also increase penalties for certain drug crimes, mandate rehabilitation and include fentanyl on the list with
cocaine, heroin and meth as drugs warranting a felony conviction.
Proposition 36 is supported by Californians for Safer Communities, the California District Attorneys Association, the California Sheriff’s Association, San Francisco Mayor London Breed, San José Mayor Matt Mahan, the Republican Party and our local law enforcement officers. It is being financed by Walmart, Target and Home Depot – all retailers hit heavily by serial shoplifters. Also contributing are 7-Eleven and In-N-Out Burger.
But not everyone thinks Proposition 36 is a good idea. It is opposed by Governor Gavin Newsom, criminal justice reform groups and human rights activists, the ACLU and some Democratic lawmakers.
They say it will overcrowd our prisons and cost the State too much money.
Google “Proposition 36 on the California November 2024 ballot” to learn more about the initiative’s pros and cons and read the information you’ll receive next month in your Voter Information Pamphlet. As for me, I’m voting YES on Proposition 36 – I lose my mind every time I go to Target or my local drug store and the deodorant or hair products I need are in acrylic cases under lock and key.
Mary Jo Rossi is a local political strategist managing state/local campaigns for over 40 years and is owner of Rossi Communications in Concord. Send email to maryjo@rossicommunications.com
Letter to the Editor
Blood shortage important
I appreciate the use of your publication to announce the current Red Cross blood shortage. So important. It is a great way to reach out to our community and yours is an
Correction
ideal venue. The notification was outstanding and the many donation locations & dates very convenient. Heads up to those that put that together. Thank you.
In the Rotary Club story about their HOME program on page 4 of the July 2024 issue, the photo was mistakenly credited to Vince Martellacci. Clayton Worsdell was the photographer
Filing deadline closes for Nov. election
The filing deadline for candidates running in the November election has officially closed for all offices except the Clayton City Council. Prospective candidates running in Concord and Pleasant Hill and for California Assembly and Senate offices had until the end of the day Aug. 9 to submit their paperwork, and no further applications will be accepted. This marks the final list of candidates who will appear on the ballot for those cities.
However, in Clayton, the situation is slightly different. Incumbent City Councilmember Peter Cloven chose not to seek re-election, which has triggered an extension of the filing period. According to election rules, when an incumbent does not file for re-elec-
tion, the candidate filing period is automatically extended. As a result, the deadline for Clayton city council candidates has been pushed to August 14 which was after our deadline
for the August issue. This extension provides additional time for potential candidates to consider running for a seat on the council. As of the current press
time, only four candidates have declared their intent to run for the available positions in Clayton. Watch the Pioneer for any last minute filings.
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the exciting new businesses and events in downtown Concord
The Todos Santos Business Association (TSBA) wishes to keep you up-to-date on what is new and happening in historic downtown Concord. Please come and visit some great, newly opened businesses and others which are just about to open.
Fred’s Burgers on Salvio St. features delicious halal hamburgers, shakes and more. On Mt. Diablo St., the new Isla Restaurant features authentic Mexican and seafood dishes. And check out Ver’a Patio Bar & Restaurant on Colfax St. with their famous tapas and cocktails.
Also, two new places to eat are coming soon to our downtown, with Blast & Brew on Salvio and Tandoori Pizza on Mt. Diablo St. For great family times, please visit the new Champion Snooker & Billiard Club on Galindo and the new Cali Claw Arcade on Willow Pass Rd. Of course we cannot wait for Urban Air Trampoline and Adventure Park in the old Fry’s
Building to open. Our beautiful Todos Santos Plaza has several wonderful events coming up. Voted Best Concert Series by Diablo Magazine voters the Music & Market Concert Series runs every Thursday evening through Sept. 26.
The Second Saturdays at Salvio Night Market with live music, crafts and beer garden runs Aug. 10 and Sept. 14. On Aug. 10, the famous Concord Blue Devils Drum Bugle Corps will play; on Aug. 17, we have Pride in the Plaza, on Sept. 7 come see the Merry Makers Market, and then on Sept. 15, we have the Festival Latino.
Walter Eichinger is president of the Todos Santos Business Association and a senior executive with Brenden Theaters. Email comments or questions weichinger@brendentheatres.com
Something very important for everyone these days is the annual Concord Emergency Preparedness Safety Fair on Sept. 5. For the past year, our TSBA Welcome & Cleanliness Program has added much additional security and cleaning programs to Todos Santos Plaza, the city garages and surrounding areas. Please come and visit us here in our downtown. We are ready. For more information on these events, please visit VisitConcordca.com.
WALTER EICHINGER DOWNTOWN BUZZ
MARY JO ROSSI POWER PLAY
Randall Pfyl Concord resident
TAMARA STEINER The Pioneer
From the desk of...
Some 50 years ago this October, Concord Mayor Holmes and Kitakami Mayor Saito officially established a Sister City relationship. This October, there will be a delegation from the Japanese city to celebrate with us the international link. Every 5 years, we arrange for formal delegations, and this year we will be
Kitakami and Concord celebrate sister city bond this fall
graced with their arrival. The City of Kitakami, originally called the Town of Kiurasawajiri, 278 miles north of Tokyo, has 93,000 people and its history includes the amalgamation of nine different villages and towns starting in the 1950s. (Just as we took over the town of Cowell and annexed county land as our original town of Todos Santos evolved into the City of Concord.)
They have a directly elected mayor (a process of which I am jealous), but they have 13 city council members, whereas we have just 5. I cannot imagine how long our Council meetings would go if there were 13 of us! They also share 4 votes in the county legislature; unlike us,
we have 1 representative who also covers three other cities. Like us, they started as an agricultural community, though theirs goes back a thousand years or more, and now are transitioning to a light industrial hub with numerous industrial parks. Their school system is like ours in the number of schools; however, the city, not an independent school board, controls the schools.
They have a spectacular cherry tree sakura bloom in their Tenshochi Park and are known for a unique sword dance during their summer festivals.
Our relations are further strengthened by the fact that several Concordians have
moved to Kitakami to teach English and spread the rather special way we pronounce Concord so as not to be confused with those other sites on the East Coast. When there was the major earthquake and disaster with the Fukushima nuclear accident, which is only two hours away, our community put together thousands of paper cranes as symbols of our shared sadness for their pain, and we held a candlelight vigil in Todos Santos Plaza.
It is important to remember that being in concordance with one another can also be spread to those in distant lands, where we can share in the same humanity and civility towards one another.
Students return to school as DVC marks milestone anniversary
Summer is coming to a close and August is when our students start heading back to school. With this thought in mind, I want to take some time to highlight and celebrate a significant milestone anniversary for one of our institutions of higher learning. Diablo Valley College, which with one of its campuses right here in Pleasant Hill, has been a staple of Contra Costa County since 1949, and is celebrating 75 years of service. According to the book “Diablo Valley College: the first 40 years,” the creation of Diablo Valley College (DVC) very closely relates to the creation of the Contra Costa County Community College District.
In the early 1900s, high schools were allowed to provide “secondary education”
KEN CARLSON COUNTY
SUPERVISOR
Contra Costa County Library has a wealth of free resources and programs that help improve the lives of residents throughout our County.
A trip to the library is no longer simply borrowing a book. Our libraries are community centers where there’s something for everyone – kids on summer break can receive a free lunch and watch a movie, numerous cultural festivals, a secondary classroom where everyone can learn new skills, or where community members can learn to read.
One of the primary strategic goals of the County Library is to champion person-
classes, and colleges were largely run by religious institutions or state governments. In 1939, Contra Costa County began looking into the creation of a community college district, an effort that took nearly 10 years to accomplish. This led, in 1949, to the creation of the forerunner to DVC, called the East Contra Costa Junior College. In those early days, classes were held at the American Legion Hall, Martinez City Hall, in a bank, a church and an old army base, Camp Stoneman. The college moved to its current site in 1952, with the first permanent building constructed in 1953, and adopting
the name Diablo Valley College.
Since that time, DVC has continued to grow and adapt with the times. During the Korean War, the student newspaper provided specific information regarding the draft and the Selective Service Act.
A decade later, students would organize to protest the Vietnam War, holding demonstrations on campus and even leading a march opposing the war from the campus to Pleasant Hill Park on the Oct.15, 1969, Day of Protest. DVC was one of the only campuses in California to have organized an event that day.
This evolution continued through the late 60s and 70s with the introduction of Women’s Studies and greater enrollment by female students.
DVC grew with the San Ramon Valley, to the point that a second campus in San Ramon was opened in 2006. Today, roughly 25,000 students attend classes per semester within the nearly 747,000 square feet of classrooms and learning facilities. DVC has one of the highest transfer rates to four-year institutions in California and was 67% higher than the national average.
We are fortunate to have DVC here in Pleasant Hill, and the classes and services it provides to our community and our neighboring cities. It is one that has left a lasting mark on many.
Some well-known students have walked the halls of DVC, which include actress Katharine Ross, St. Louis Cardinals All-Star outfielder (and current assistant coach) Willie McGee, U.S. Representative George Miller and Olympic Wrestling Gold Medal winner, Amit Elor.
I am very excited to wish our Diablo Valley College a very happy 75th anniversary.
Contact Matt Rinn at Mrinn@plesanthillca.org.
Volunteers needed for Project Second Chance
al and community engagement in literacy, learning, and reading to enrich lives. Project Second Chance (PSC), our adult literacy program, is one program that helps achieve this goal. Founded in 1984, PSC has helped more than 6,500 community members accomplish their personal literacy goals related to family, career, community, and self-development. PSC provides free, confidential, one-on-one basic English reading, writing, spelling, and conversation instruction to adults who are 16 and older and are not in high school. PSC is designed for adults who read or write below a 6th-grade level in English. People from various backgrounds and age groups have joined PSC for reasons such as never having the opportunity to learn to read, selfimprovement, wanting to read to their grandchildren, and overcoming dyslexia. The pro-
gram allows students to set their own specific goals, such as passing the General Educational Development Exam (GED), taking the California Driver’s License Exam or furthering their economic growth.
Project Second Chance provides a fulfilling learning and teaching environment. Learners and their tutor meet for 90-minute lessons, twice a week, for at least six months. The one-on-one sessions provide a comfortable atmosphere where learners have the privacy to express their reading skills without embarrassment and, over time, increase their confidence. And tutors have an opportunity to directly impact our community, develop their professional skills and work with their learner to find material that resonates. Both tutors and learners have described PSC as fun, inspirational, a cultural exchange, and a way to
The Concord Ambassadors (https://www.concordambassadors.org/), who graciously handle the relationship, are in need of volunteers to help with the events planned as well as folks willing to host a Japanese delegate for a few days in the
first week of October. If you can make that effort, you will be putting the community’s best foot forward as our people are our best ambassadors to the world.
Send comments and questions to EdiBirsan@gmail.com.
Clayton’s had a busy summer
The City Council is finalizing the interview process for a city manager. This effort is moving along very well, and we should have a finalist selected soon. We will keep you posted.
The Clayton celebrated Independence Day, July 4th with our annual parade downtown. It was very well attended. The Parade featured Ed Moresi, owner of Ed’s Mudville Grill and Moresi’s Chophouse as Grand Marshall.
The parade also continued the celebration of Clayton’s 60th anniversary of incorporation.
The morning started early with the Clayton Valley Rotary Pancake Breakfast held at Endeavor Hall–an excellent way to start the day’s events.
Our 17th Annual Concerts in The Grove Season continues its fantastic start. The entertainment has been excellent. And, the attendance has been very good. The season opened with Leo Vigil and the Rockin’ Horns, then, R.W. Smith and the California Cowboys, the Mixed Nuts and Pride & Joy.
Sadly, the heat caused cancellation of the July 6 concert when Strange Brew was set to perform. It’s still up in the air whether they will be rescheduled at the end of this season or have them return in 2025.
In any event, be sure to come out and join us at The Grove Park to attend at least one of the remaining two concerts. Visit the city’s website at Claytonca.gov for the complete schedule.
The Clayton Classic Car Show will conclude its season
on Sat., Sept. 21 and will feature many “Low Rider” cars on display. We also plan to have a Mariachi Band perform to celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month, which runs Sept. 15 through Oct. 15. Clayton celebrated the National Night Out Aug 6 at the Clayton Community Park. The event was sponsored by the Clayton Police Department. The community enjoyed seeing the police vehicles on display and hearing about our police department and its role in keeping Clayton safe. Also, the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) representatives provided very important safety information and preparedness tips to the attendees. Fire Station 11 provided a close-up look at fire equipment. As mayor, I will continue to work hard to maintain Clayton’s small town charm and character while running an open and transparent local government. You can reach out to me directly with any questions or concerns at 925-673-7316 or JimD@claytonca.gov.
AB 2017 will help to rein in junk fees
form friendships. It is a win for everyone who participates in the program; a true second chance.
PSC serves adults in all communities represented by the Contra Costa County Library system and is currently looking for volunteers tutors. No teaching experience is necessary, and tutors should feel comfortable with their own English reading, writing, and spelling. PSC staff provides a comprehensive training program and ongoing support for tutors.
If you or someone you know is struggling with reading or writing, or you’d like to explore becoming a tutor with Project Second Chance, please visit https://ccclib.org/psc/.
Ken Carlson is Contra Costa County District IV supervisor. Email questions or comments to SupervisorCarlson@bos.cccounty.us or call his office at 925-655-2350.
TIM GRAYSON 15TH ASSEMBLY DISTRICT
As Chair of the Assembly Banking and Finance Committee, I’ve worked to take on predatory lenders and unfair banking practices, and help reform our financial systems to better serve hardworking Californians.
Over the last decade, the banking industry has been rife with “fee creep,” the gradual and growing use of questionable fees often charged to those consumers who least can afford them. These “junk fees” are often disproportionate to the actual cost of providing a service to a consumer, and banks and other financial institutions have increasingly relied on them to increase their profits.
This year, I am authoring legislation to rein in a particular type of junk fee known as nonsufficient fund (NSF) fees. My bill, AB 2017, will prohibit a bank or credit union from charging consumers an NSF fee when they attempt to make a purchase – and it’s declined immediately by the bank or credit union due to nonsufficient funds. Said another way, banks should not be charging consumers fees for transactions that are declined right away, and my bill will put a stop to this practice. Currently, when a consumer’s attempted withdrawal or transaction amount exceeds the available funds in their account, a bank or credit union may decline the transaction and charge the consumer an NSF fee.
An NSF fee is separate and distinct from an overdraft fee, which is a fee charged by a bank or credit union when they allow a purchase to go through, even if the account does not have enough money in it. Though they are different, NSF fees and overdraft fees are often discussed together when we discuss the
JIM DIAZ CLAYTON MAYOR
EDI BIRSAN CONCORD MAYOR
MATT RINN PLEASANT HILL MAYOR
Photo courtesy Community College District. An early graduation while the college was still under construction.
Phones, from page 1
theschoolday.
This is in response to Newsom’s plan to limit cell phones in schools. He had approved legislation in 2019 authorizing school districts to limit or prohibit students’ use of cellphones at school. Recently, he said he plans to build on that law — Assembly Bill 272 — to further restrict students’ cellphone use at school but did not offer specific plans.
“I look forward to working with the legislature to restrict the use of smartphones during the school day,” Newsom said in a statement. “When children and teens are in school, they should be focused on their studies — not their screens.”
Most teachers obviously agree with that, says Northgate Principal Kelly Cooper. Two years ago, Cooper charged two teachers to use
Woodshop,
importantly though, handson courses like shop, allow our young people to learn transferrable skills that are useful in life – like home or car maintenance,” she said.
HELP FROMOTHERS
Bergmann noted the financial support for his efforts have come from Local 342 Steam Fitters, the Sequoia PTA, as well as friends, who themselves gained success in the trades by product of their own positive woodshop experiences.
Working side-by-side with his dad, who volunteers in his classroom several days a week, has been invaluable.
The knowledge Bergmann now imparts to his students, was instilled by his father.
“It shows these skills are generational,” he said. “I am grateful to have my dad there.”
the “pocket” system in their classrooms. It was such a success at keeping students focused on the class studies that she implemented classroom wide.
“It helps the kids be less distracted. They can’t communicate with their friends during class, and our teachers have said they’ve seen less issues like cheating, issues between students, and fights on campus.
“It also eliminates anxiety for some students who are already online so much.”
But does it eliminate anxiety for parents? Cooper, who has two teenage kids – one with Type 1 diabetes – says it doesn’t for her.
“They know how to get ahold of me,” she says. She also is adamant that she would support an all-school daily ban on cell phones, like YVHS and MDHS.
from page 2
And, with 37 kids in the classroom, just having another set of well-skilled eyes and a common voice is highly beneficial for the younger Bergmann.
“Mr. Bergmann said the same thing as Mr. Bergmann said, so maybe we should do it,” he recalled hearing his students say.
Looking ahead to the coming school year, he recalled what he always shares with the parents at the annual back-toschool night gathering.
“If my name is not mentioned as your children’s favorite teacher by the end of school year, I have not worked hard enough,” he said. “I want to create those long-lasting memories and help the students to not be afraid of tools and know how to use them safely.”
“I’d go for a mandate,” she says.
Cell phone mandates are common in many private schools, like St. Agnes and Walnut Creek’s Seven Hills School.
“It makes a big difference, both in the classroom and out of it,” says Seven Hills Middle School Spanish teacher Amy Casey. However, some the students she tutors on off hours object wholeheartedly.
“They don’t want to lose that privilege,” she says. “But I’m 100 percent in favor. But that applies to all devices in the room, like computers and iPads. I don’t want to see them using GoogleChat or other ways to communicate and not pay attention to the lesson.”
Unlike Casey and Northgate’s Cooper, there are many parents who oppose an outright ban on cell phones during classroom time.
“I’ll be honest, I don’t
think there should be a ban,” says CVCHS Parent-Faculty Club President Beth Campbell, Samantha’s mom. “I think there should be guidance and direction for all students and teachers.
On one hand, Campbell wants Samantha to be able to reach her in a threatening situation, such as an intruder on campus or a fight that breaks out in the classroom. On the other hand, she doesn’t want to see other students filming a fight or an embarrassing encounter that will end up on Tik-Tok.
“For the safety of my student, I want them in the classroom,” she says. Still, she recognizes that it is hard for students to rat out their peers when they are misbehaving. That’s why she supports the “pocket protocol” many schools use.
She has also heard of other dissuasions used in other districts, such as a “three-strikes rule.” If a stu-
dent is caught misusing a cell phone in the classroom more than twice, they will surrender their phone to the principal, and have to pay a significant fine to get it back.
Newsom’s announcement came after the U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy called on Congress to require warning labels on social media platforms to advise that social media use can harm teenagers’ mental health. Samantha is more laid back than her mom about a total ban. “If it happens, it happens. I’ll just read a book or something.”
ways financial institutions have become over-reliant on junk fees. Today, the combined costs of overdraft and NSF fees are a higher cost to consumers than the combined cost of periodic maintenance fees and ATM fees.
According to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) in 2019, banks and credit unions collected an estimated $15.5 billion from their consumers through overdraft and NSF fees. These fees are most likely to be assessed on financially vulnerable consumers, such as those with lower incomes and lower credit scores.
NSF fees, which average around $30, are particularly an unfair practice because consumers receive no service at all in exchange for the fee.
California should lead the nation in proactively setting regulations to protect consumers from abusive practices. By prohibiting a financial institution from charging a consumer an NSF fee when the consumer’s attempt to initiate a transaction is declined right away due to nonsufficient funds, AB 2017 will rein in junk fees and protect financially vulnerable consumers from charges that they cannot afford.
To learn more about legislation related to junk fees being considered by the Legislature this year, or to discuss other matters important to you, please connect with me through my Concord District Office at (925) 521-1511. As always, it is an honor to serve you and our community. Junk Fees, from page 6
David Scholz
8th grade girls as well as boys comprised Nicole Manasewitsch's inaugural woodshop class during the 23-24 school year. Here a student smooths the edge of her project.
Obituaries
James Richard Watson
James Richard Watson, loving husband and father, adored Papa and loyal friend passed away on May 29, 2024, in his home surrounded by his daughters. He was 75 years old.
James was born on October 7,1948 in Richmond, Calif. to Jack and Mary Watson. He grew up in Concord where he attended high school at Concord and Clayton Valley High Schools. He had a variety of career paths and was proud to have worked with his father at Hunter’s Point, and later at Concord Naval Weapons Station, and as a Pipe Fitter at Mare Island. Later in life, he earned his pharmacy technician certificate.
Outside of work, James was a devoted family man. He married the love of his life, Karen L. Smith, on January 27, 1968. He was a cherished father to his children, instilling in them values of kindness, generosity and the importance of family. After losing his wife in 1981, he spent his life devoted to raising his two girls that were always his priority and focus.
James had a wide range of interests and hobbies. He
found joy in spending time with family, friends and pets, traveling, golfing, reading, and he was a lifelong fan of the Oakland A’s and Raiders. Known for his generosity and love, he had an open door to all and has left a mark to all that knew him. His playful spirit enjoyed life, and he never hesitated to spend time on the road with his friends and family. The journey was just as fun as the destination.
James will be remembered for his generosity, his gentle spirit, and his unwavering love for his family. He touched the lives of many with his kindness, warmth, humor and wisdom, leaving behind a legacy that will continue to inspire.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Karen Watson, his parents Jack E. and Mary C. Watson, and his sister Kathleen Albrecht and many close friends. He is survived by his brothers, Thomas M. Watson and Jack E. Watson, his girls Chere’ Shaw and Angelynne Akhtar, his grandchildren, Kathleen Antoque, Joshua Akhtar, Shahaub Akhtar, Laila Akhtar, and Nyla Akhtar, and great-grandchildren Ariah Watson and Mila Antoque and a wide circle of family and friends who deeply miss his presence.
James Richard Watson leaves behind a profound impact on all who knew him. May he rest in peace, knowing that his spirit lives on in the hearts of those who knew him.
A service to remember James’s life was held on August 10, 2024, at Bryan Braker Funeral Home in Fairfield.
Jeanne Elise Kirchhoff
Boyd, a beautiful loving wife, mother and grandmother, left this world on July 9 at age 83, after spending the evening surrounded by those she cherished: her children and grandchildren.
In Clayton, Jeanne is perhaps best-known as a cofounder of the Clayton Community Library. Until the 1990s, Clayton had no library of its own. The only way to check out books was to wait for the semi-weekly visits of the county library’s bookmobile, which eventually broke down and was not replaced.
In 1989, Jeanne and other members of the Clayton branch of the American Association of University Women (AAUW) began working to get a library built for Clayton. Together with Joyce Atkinson, Jeanne wrote numerous grant applications and petitions to state and local agencies to line up the necessary funding and approvals. They also set up the Clayton Community Library Foundation, which organized many used book sales to raise additional funds.
For years, the self-styled “library ladies” persevered, overcoming countless logistical hurdles until the Clayton Community Library finally opened its doors in March 1995. Jeanne and Joyce continued to steward the library foundation for 27 more years.
Born in Huntington, Long Island, N.Y., to Rene and Josephine Kirchhoff, Jeanne spent her childhood in Hunt-
Jeanne Elise Kirchhoff Boyd
April 7, 1941 – July 9, 2024
ington, Falls Church, Va., and Santa Monica, graduating from Notre Dame Academy High School in Los Angeles.
She attended the San Francisco College for Women (now a part of the University of San Francisco), earning a bachelor’s degree and a teaching credential in 1963. Jeanne later worked for many years as a substitute teacher in the Mt. Diablo School District.
On a ski trip in Lake Tahoe, Jeanne met her future husband, Don Boyd. They married in 1964. In 1971, they moved from San Francisco to the Dana Hills community in Clayton, where they raised their three children, Brooks, Kevin and Lynn. She supported them with countless rides, encouragement, teachings and delicious meals. She was a steadfast presence in her children’s lives while also giving them the freedom to learn from their failures.
Jeanne was passionate about food and cooking and was constantly on the lookout for new recipes, cooking tips and tricks. She took pride in
Marsha Jean York of Pittsburg, age 77, passed away at her home in Pittsburg early Tuesday morning, July 16. Marsha was born on December 3, 1946, in Oakland, California, a daughter of Irma Gordon and Mervyn Stewart. She resided in Concord for 10 years before mov-
having a well-organized kitchen with just the right gadget for every task. She inspired a similar passion for cooking in her children and grandchildren, and she was always ready to point out how they might improve their techniques.
Jeanne loved the outdoors and had a special affinity for hiking and fly fishing. In her younger years, she enjoyed camping and backpacking with the family. She and Don took many summer fishing trips to Alaska, each time returning with multiple coolers packed with pounds and pounds of salmon and halibut. After Don’s death in 2012, Jeanne remained an active member of Diablo Valley Fly Fishing Club.
Jeanne and Don traveled the world, learning about the cultures and places of Asia, Africa and South America.
Jeanne took each of her six grandchildren with her on a special trip after they turned 10. Destinations included Paris, Costa Rica, Italy and Greece.
Jeanne was a member of Concord United Methodist Church for more than 50 years. She was active both physically and socially, with a full calendar of volunteering (AAUW, library, Clayton Business & Community Association), bocce league, bridge, book club, gardening, concerts, workouts, hikes and dinners with friends, and celebrating every holiday in themed attire.
Jeanne is survived by her brother, Bob; children, Brooks (Lisa), Kevin (Jenn) and Lynn; and grandchildren Emma, Phoebe, Nathaniel, Nicholson, Vivian and Savannah. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, Oct. 19, at Concord United Methodist Church. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Clayton Community Library Foundation (by becoming a member) at https://claytonlibrary.org or to Save Mount Diablo at https://savemountdiablo.org.
Marsha Jean York
December 3, 1946 – July 16, 2024
ing to Pittsburg 45 years ago. A 1963 graduate of San Ramon Valley High School, Marsha loved listening to Elvis Presley, watching western movies, the San Francisco Giants, and taking trips to Cache Creek Casino. Marsha is now resting with her loving husband of 45 years, James Lee York, who passed away in 2008.
Marsha will be deeply missed by her beloved sons Brian York (Dawn) of Antioch, Chris York (Lindy) of Gilbert, Arizona, and Todd York (Lisa) of Clayton; by her loving sisters Kathy Sutfin of
Michael Ray Alton
August 1 1966 – June 6, 2024
On June 6, 2024, we lost one of the good ones. Michael R. Alton, age 57 of Concord, CA, was a hardworking father of two kids, McKenah and Garrett, and a caring husband to his wife Laura. He was born in San Francisco, CA on August 1, 1966, to Shirley Utterback and Raymond Alton.
He passed peacefully in his home in Concord. He loved his family, friends, music, golf, “The Godfather,” the 49ers and ice cold beer. He spent 40 years in the printing industry, in which he took great pride. He loved working with his hands - in his spare time, one
might find him taking on projects around the house or lending a hand to friends with projects of their own.
In November of 2022, Mike was diagnosed with glioblastoma, a form of brain cancer. He battled for a year and a half, taking each new challenge with hope and positivity despite constant pain, as he always did.
He was loved by so many.
One of his main concerns in life, but especially the last few months, was making sure his family was taken care of.
San Ramon, California, and Cheryl Dillard of Branson, Missouri; by her nine adoring grandchildren, Elisabeth, Jesse, Ainslee, Danny, Wyatt, Steven, Kevin, Emily, and Madison; and by her seven doting great-grandchildren, Audrey, Giovanni, Elaina, Logan, Amelia, Camille, and Warren. Marsha was preceded in death by her brothers, Norm and Mervyn “Bud” Stewart. A memorial celebration of Marsha’s life was held July 26 at Ouimet Bros. Concord Funeral Chapel.
He was greatly appreciative of the outpouring of support shown to our family from the moment he was diagnosed. He now rests peacefully, preceded by his mother and father, his beloved uncle Roger and his close friend Vince. He is survived by his children, wife, sisters, nephews, aunts and cousins. Services are being planned for this summer.
Real estate transactions in California face significant changes
Significant changes are on the horizon for California’s real estate market, set to take effect on August 13th. These changes will impact both buyers and sellers, particularly in how compensation is handled and the role of buyer representation agreements. One of the most notable changes is the elimination and prohibition of any requirement for offers of compensation in the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) between listing brokers or sellers and buyer brokers or other buyer representatives. Traditionally, it has been common practice for the seller, through their listing agent, to offer a
commission to the buyer’s agent as an incentive to bring a buyer to the property. This will no longer be mandatory.
This shift is designed to promote greater transparency and fairness in real estate transactions. It allows for more flexible negotiations between buyers, sellers, and their respective agents. Buyers will need to be more informed about the costs associated with hiring a real estate agent, and sellers may find themselves negotiating the buyer’s agent’s compensation directly with buyers through the purchase agreement.
NEW REQUIREMENT
Another key change is the requirement for realtors to have a buyer representation agreement signed with a buyer
before working with buyers or showing any properties. This agreement formalizes the relationship between the buyer and their agent, ensuring that the agent works in the buyer’s best interest throughout the transaction.
A buyer representation agreement outlines the services the agent will provide, the duration of the agreement, and the commission structure. It also clarifies the obligations of both parties, helping to prevent misunderstandings and ensuring a smoother transaction process.
BENEFIT TO BUYERS
For buyers, signing a repre-
sentation agreement offers several advantages. First and foremost, it guarantees that the agent is committed to working on behalf of the buyer, providing dedicated support and advocacy throughout the home-buying process. It also ensures that the buyer is fully informed about any commission fees upfront, eliminating any surprises at closing.
Moreover, with a formal agreement in place, buyers can feel more confident that their agent will act in their best interest, providing expert guidance, negotiating on their behalf, and helping them navigate the complexities of the real estate market. These changes represent a significant shift in the way real estate transactions are conducted in California. Both buyers and sellers should take the time to understand the new rules and how they may affect their real estate decisions. For buyers particularly, signing a buyer representation agreement is not only a new requirement but also a valuable step towards a successful home purchase.
Jennifer Stojanovich is an owner/broker with Better Homes Real Estate. Send questions and comments to jennifer@bhrbroker.com
Creating living spaces you love and adore without rushing the process
Remember in 2020 when, instantly, we all had to regroup, reorganize and re-establish our daily routines?Turning our homes into offices, school classrooms, gyms, gourmet cafes, and even create curbside parklets outside our homes, so we could entertain our friends and family, safely, remaining outside in the fresh air.
Remodeling our homes progressed at alarming speeds, as we quickly made accommodations for our new way of life.
Our homes became our sanctuaries during the 2020 blitz – sometimes chaotic, but nonetheless, safe havens. If you’re still living with a 2020 design aesthetic, it’s time for a
fresh and detailed update.
The home office, for many, really was a living space quickly thrown together. The guest bedroom, pool house, third car garage or play room –all may have had to give up their intended use – for that workfrom-home individual or two.
Fast forward a few years and maybe you’ve added a home office addition, an ADU that now functions as your home office, or if you happen to be an empty-nester, you could have a home office that also doubles as a guest bedroom when needed.
Perhaps you’ve accounted for the actual home office space, but your furniture may still be in dire need of an update. Furniture from that time period may be a hodgepodge of uncoordinated pieces forced to work together quickly, looking more like a used furniture sale than a sleek office that inspires and invigorates. Your new home office can be as elaborate or simple as desired. From custom-built cabinetry to a well-planned out retail shopping extravaganza, whatever your office needs may
This sweet, historic residence in Niles Canyon had many former lives before this incredible kitchen transformation, which was one step of many for an entire house remodel. Function, storage and big color were the three design goals. Creating a thoughtful floor plan, making space for important kitchen accessories and selecting materials that were hard-working, but vibrant, made this remodel a success.
be, just like a kitchen, really think about how you will be using your home office, focusing on functional and aesthetic details.
During 2020, the family room was a catch-all for everything. TV-watching and lounging, a place for the treadmill or stationary bike, the classroom for all the kids, casual dining and snacking on the upholstered furniture, a home office
for anyone with a laptop, and so on. Family rooms are supposed to be multi-tasking rooms and well thought-out living spaces, but when they’re continually added to, without a functioning plan, they begin to look more like a little bit of everything.
At a minimum, the family room should be a comfortable, cozy lounging space for family and friends. In addition to the
typical sofa and lounge chair, consider a reading nook with a wall full of books and meaningful decor, a fireplace and TV to enhance movie-watching. a pair of lounge chairs that might take advance of a hillside of cityscape view, or even a desk for those who need to work or catch up on homework.
If you need your family room to multi-task, make the space fluid so every task has its own space and not a cumbersome catch all.Make the space cohesive and comfortable with a common decorative feel, while paying attention to functional details.
The kitchen is a busy living space, but during 2020, the kitchen really was maxed out. Many of us had our meals delivered to our homes by any means necessary, but for those lucky enough to have groceries delivered, well, our kitchens became 24-hour diners.
It became this insane catchall from cooking to home schooling and laundry to home offices, etc. If you still have non-kitchen items on your countertops, clear everything off – now!Bring your kitchen
back-to-life with a fresh coat of paint, new window treatments, an interesting backsplash or even new lighting. Whatever your aesthetics, embrace it and create a kitchen workspace that provides a lovely visual, while also creating functional storage and a place for culinary greatness.
Leave 2020 in the past and vow to never, ever, rush the interior design process. Interior design works best when it’s slowly and methodically realized over the course of your personal timeline. Implementing unique touches that make only you happy. Select colors and materials that delight you, items you’ve acquired from local and far away destinations. Think classic-but-unique and conversational design choices. Think beyond the “all white” kitchen and instead, focus on color. Never rush. Instead, let’s savor each design step, the materials we acquire, rushing only to enjoy the living space we’ve created. Owner of J. Designs Interior Design in Clayton, Jennifer Leischer can be reached at jenna@jdesigns.com.
and
those you know with
If you are considering senior living for yourself or someone
please join us for a special taste of TreVista, featuring fabulous selections from our signature summer menu for you to savor. This complimentary preview will be hosted at TreVista in Concord. Come &
by
JENNIFER STOJANOVICH CLOSE TO HOME
JENNIFER LEISCHER DESIGN & DÉCOR
Bees have been very busy throughout the nursery these past couple of weeks. All the heat has some of their favorite plants producing masses of flowers, and the bees are working harder than ever. If you’re one of the many interested in attracting pollinators to your garden, this is the column for you.
Sea Lavender is the common name for Limonium Perezii. This short-lived evergreen perennial has graced many Clayton Valley full sun landscapes through the decades. Sea Lavender has lettuce-like dark green foliage.
Beginning in April, the Sea Lavender’s thin dark green stems struggle to hold up the robust cluster of purple flowers with white tips, which arch and bend. The flower stems stretch
2-feet above the evergreen foliage and dries in place as the flower fades.
Once the blooming begins, it seems that Sea Lavender will continuously flower. Sea Lavenders are short-lived plants, usually lasting about 5-7 years after installation. Fortunately, Sea Lavender plants are readily available, and reasonable to buy. Considering all the flowers each plant produces, most decide to replant this beauty.
Gaillardia is a group of perennials with daisy-shaped flowers, available in many hot colors and grows as a rounded mound – often found in reds, oranges, bicolor of both, golds and yellow.
The intriguing characteristic of Gaillardia is the center of the petals. As the flower fades, and the petals fall, Gaillardia leaves behind a familiar globe of color where petals once encircled. Once the globe browns, you prune back to the growth of leaves and more flowers appear.
Gaillardia is long-blooming, flowering through even the hottest summers. The bees find this shape irresistible, and the pollen is so easy to collect, it is always a favorite.
Agastache Purple Haze is an excellent perennial that stands
tall and proud in a flower bed. Clusters of blue-violet flower appear in late spring and with deadheading lasting far into the fall. This perennial does appreciate good drainage, so we advise gardeners to leave ½inch of the root ball above the soil grade when installing.
Agastache plants usually boast their attraction to hummingbirds, but Purple Haze is that one family member that does its own thing, and the bees love it.
Teucrium cossonii is a beemagnet as far as groundcovers go. Small bunches of purple flowers cover this evergreen’s gray foliage. Native to Australia,
Really, all you need is air.
While on a recent vacation in Costa Rica, I had the opportunity to experience a leisurely boat ride down the River Tarcoles towards the end of an impressive crocodile tour. As we floated past a forest of mangrove trees, our guide casually mentioned that this species produces more oxygen than most other trees. A quick fact-check confirmed they do—each tree satisfying the oxygen needs of up to four people! Beyond that, they are champions of carbon storage. There are several global efforts to preserve and enhance mangrove forests, which are
it does exceptionally great in our hottest sun areas.
Nepeta is a fabulous family of perennials that are herbaceous and live for decades. In the ground, many confuse them for lavender, or salvia, but no … they are nepeta, and they are wonderful.
Gray foliage, periwinkle-colored flowers and an exceptionally long blooming season. This perennial is one of the first in the spring and bees love the early pollen it provides. There are many nepeta to look out for, Nepeta Six Hills Giant and Nepeta Walkers Low, both would make your garden and bees happy.
or pollen.
incredibly desirable plants for bees. Salvia Mystic Spires and Maynight both are bee’s favorites, as well as Hot Lips and any of the other greggii varieties. All the lavender is attractive to bees. The earliest blooming lavender are the otto quast selections, the most maintainable are the dwarf varieties, Provance is the most sought after and Goodwin Creek grows like the largest shrub. Nicole is the Garden Girl at R&M Pool, Patio, Gifts and Garden. You can contact her with questions or comments by email at gardengirl94517@yahoo.com
Want better vibes? Plant trees and breathe deeply
easily found with a quick Google search and worthy of support. Breathing air so kindly provided by the mangroves spurred contemplation of the more insidious effects of polluted air. The World Health Organization (WHO) defines air pollution as “the presence of one or more contaminants in the atmosphere, such as dust, fumes, gas, mist, odor, smoke, or vapor, in quantities and duration that can be injurious to human health.” When we breathe in these particles, they cause oxidative stress, inflammation, impaired immune system function, and even cellular changes. Although the lungs, as the entry point, are especially vulnerable, smaller particles (less than 2.5 microns) called Particulate Matter 2.5 (PM2.5) can enter the bloodstream and travel to other organs. According to the WHO, diseases most closely linked to exposure to environmental air pollution include: “stroke, ischemic heart disease,
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer, pneumonia, and cataracts (household air pollution only).”
Recent research has also demonstrated a disturbing link between mental health and exposure to airborne environmental toxicity. PM2.5, when found in concentrations exceeding 5 microns per cubic meter, can make its way through the olfactory nerve and enter brain tissue directly, causing significant damage. Research indicates that five years of exposure to high levels of air pollution can increase the risk of depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation. Exposure to excessive air pollution is also associated with an increased risk of dementia, Parkinson’s disease, and autism. The risks from PM2.5 are especially high for children as their young brains develop. Poor air quality may also elevate the risk of developing bipolar dis-
orders, schizophrenia, and Axis II disorders.
Indoor air with elevated PM2.5 may also be linked to lower performance on cognitive tests, and studies point to a connection between children exposed to poor indoor air quality at school and deficits in math and reading comprehension tests. Driving less, using nontoxic cleaning agents, and advocating for responsible city planning are some actionable steps we can take to make a difference in Contra Costa County, whose PM2.5 levels are sometimes in excess of healthful levels. We can also plant and cultivate trees, which often leads to a renewed relationship with nature. Consider joining the local Garden Club (Clayton’s is wonderful!). Meet a mandrake and appreciate that sometimes all you need is the air that you breathe…
Please send comments and question for Nathalie Montijo to newwavenightingale@gmail.com.
Salvia and lavender are both
Bees loveSea Lavender in bloom, as they love anything in bloom where they can get nectar
NICOLE HACKETT GARDEN GIRL
NATHALIE MONTIJO NEW WAVE NIGHTINGALE
& LIFESTYLE
Dramatic finish brings Forest Park 7th County swim crown
Forest Park Swim Team got clutch performances from two of its youngest swimmers enabling the Concord team to tie Sun Valley for the Division III team title at the annual Contra Costa County Swim Championships earlier this month in Lafayette.
Dana Hills Swim Team of Clayton had its three-year run as Division I champions ended when rival Rancho San Miguel topped the Otters after the Walnut Creek team had been second to DHST three years in a row.
Coach Jeff Mellinger’s Forest Park team had a big day on Saturday to build a lead over
Sun Valley of Walnut Creek. The Flyers 9-10 girls medley relay placed fourth, Alexis Steffensen was third in 13-14 freestyle and fifth in breaststroke, nine-year old Skyler Champathong placed third in breast and Ally Brown was fourth in 9-10 free.
On Sunday, with fewer swimmers competing, Forest Park watched Sun Valley slowly catch up until they took the lead after backstroke. Both teams had two swimmers in butterfly finals. The Flyers six and under Gia Arnold and 7-8 Khloe Ramirez both made county finals in their first year of swimming. “We needed great swims from both of them to catch up and they both dropped time and swam great,” a proud coach Mellinger said.
Forest Park’s county success dates back to Community Division titles in 1970, 1979 and 1983 and then Division II championships in 2012, 2015 and most recently 2019. This is the team’s first Division III crown. The three divisions at County Meet are determined by the number of entries for each of the 40 teams taking part this year.
Oakhurst Country Club of Clayton was a best-ever third place behind Forest Park and Sun Valley in D3 standings. For the past decade, Dana Hills has maintained a top three spot in the county’s largest Division I and, after reaching the mountaintop from 2021-23, they were outscored this go-round by
Swim teams come together to host successful City Meet
JEANDHEUR The Pioneer
There was no question that the Otters ruled the pool at the 57th Concord City Swimming Championships which returned to its home at Concord Community Pool last month. Each nicknamed the Otters, perennial power Dana Hills won the A Division and newcomers Martinez Community finished ahead of runnerup Pleasant Hill Dolfins to become B Division champs.
“It was truly amazing to see what can happen when people come together for a common
goal!” says meet coordinator Brienne Hertzfeldt.
Springwood Swim Team, which has hosted the city meet for nearly half a century, wasn’t able to field a team this year but a number of the other local summer recreation programs stepped up along with some Springwood parents such as Hertzfeldt and this edition of the meet came off beautifully, according to many reports.
The teams reached an agreement with the City of Concord to return to Concord Community Pool after the three post pandemic meets were held at Walnut Creek’s Northgate High
School. Duties of running a meet for over 1000 swimmers were split up among local teams and most of the attending parents and swimmers wouldn’t have noticed anything different from past years other than longtime participants Springwood and Vista Diablo Dolphins unable to field teams this year.
Hertzfeldt pointed out Devynn Darner of Concord Rec for her assistance in making things run smoothly at the pool.
One thing that was very much business as usual was Dana Hills continuing its run as
See City, page B2
sq. ft.) with 3 bays plus extensive covered parking and storage. Plus, a fully appointed 2-bedroom, 1bath unit with laundry room, family room with fireplace, large kitchen, private deck and yard. Offered at $2,850,000
Photo courtesy Forest Park Swim Team
Coach Jeff Mellinger (back row holding plaque) saw his Forest Park team get great Satur-
Costa County Swim Championships earlier this month in Lafayette.
Presented by Kelly McDougall
CORINNE
Pete Cruz photo
The 57th Concord City Swimming Championships returned to Concord Community Pool last month with over 1000 swimmers on 10 teams in attendance.
See County, page B3
Athlete Spotlight
Brandon Palaganas
Age: 14
Team: Pleasant Hill Dolfins
School: Clayton Valley Charter High Sport: Swimming
Hill Dolfin swimmer
deftly balances his life in and out of the pool and it shows. “I admire Brandon's commitment to effort and balance. He pushes himself to give his best effort in all areas of his life: academics, swimming, theater arts and dance, to name a few. However, he also recognizes the need for balance. . .Balance is key,” praises his mom Chriscelle Palaganas. Since the age of six, Palaganas has been swimming for the Dolfins during the spring and summer. He excels in the 50-yard butterfly and 100 individual medley. This year he shaved eight seconds from his previous best time in the 100 IM. At the recent Concord City Swim Meet he won the IM, was second in fly and third in freestyle in the 13-14 age group. At the season-ending County Swim Meet a week later he raced against the top swimmers in Contra Costa and placed fifth in the fly finals. His coach Talli Pitcher reflects, “It has been fun to watch Brandon transform into a highly-motivated all around, fast swimmer. His love for dance has helped him connect his whole body with good posture and timing in all his strokes. His mental focus and determination in races make him a favorite to watch at meets. He is a kind and caring
teammate and an important part of the Dolfins fun team culture.”
Palaganas began dancing ballet in 2022 and takes lessons at Studio A. The Concord resident acknowledges the connection between swimming and dance and the positive fitness effect they have on each other. Palaganas is excited to attend Clayton Valley Charter High School as a freshman this fall where he will continue to dance and join the Ugly Eagles swim team in addition to continuing with his Dolfins team in the summer.
CVCHS student journalist Corinne Jeandheur wrote this Spotlight.
The Pioneer congratulates Brandon and thanks Athlete Spotlight sponsors Dr. Laura Lacey & Dr. Christopher Ruzicka who have been serving the Clayton and Concord area for over three decades at Family Vision Care Optometry. laceyandruzicka.com.
Do you know a young athlete who should be recognized? Perhaps he or she has shown exceptional sportsmanship, remarkable improvement or a great heart for the sport. Send your nomination for the Pioneer Athlete Spotlight today to sports@pioneerpublishers.com
from page B1
A Division champions with the Otters from Clayton Otters prevailing for the 31st time in the last 32 meets. DHST swimmers set six new meet records and had half a dozen A Division highpoint award winners.
Eight-year-old Otter Charley Branich smashed three individual meet records (two of which were from 1979 and 1981) and was part of two record-setting Dana Hills 7-8 girls relays.
The Clayton 7-8 medley relay of Charley Branich, Meritt Pak, Cora White and Chooch Branich and the six and under Ygnacio Wood boys freestyle quartet of Kadon Johnson, Weston Carter, Deacon Malkovich and Noah Bright took home the meet’s top relay awards.
Both records in the newish
15-18 50-yard free event were toppled. Nico Bushnell of Dana Hills on the boys side and Kyla Joseph of Solar Sea Monsters posted new record times.
FOREST PARKSECUREDTHE COVETEDSPORTSMANSHIP AWARD
In B Division, high-point awards for girls went to Isla Agostino (6 & under) and Naia Olavides (13-14) of Solar, Holly Bartlett (7-8) Ygnacio Wood, Bella Valero (9-10) and Izzy Ragland (15-18) Forest Park, Avery Boughton (15-18) Gehringer Park and Martinez Community’s Aria Ardelean and Paige Russey (11-12) and Addie Purewal (15-18).
For B division boys high pointers included Chase Quizon (6 & under) of Dana Hills, Mateo Pacheco (7-8) Walnut Country, Matthew Zandonella (9-10) Gehringer Park, Pleasant Hill Dolfins Oliver Morford (1112) and Orin Budgin (13-14),
and Ygnacio Wood swimmers Bryce Galicz (6 & under), Will Boone (13-14) and Joseph Mucha (15-18). Dana Hills dominated girl A high points with Isla Hollis (6 & under), Charley Branich (7-8), Sadie Junier (9-10) and Cole Branich (11-12). Forest Park’s Alexis Steffensen (13-14) and Solar’s Joseph (15-18) taking their age groups. Ygnacio Wood boys Noah Bright (6 & under), Andrew Kosich (7-8) and Caleb Christy (13-14) won high point in A Division along with Dana Hills’ Preston Forney (9-10) and Bushnell (15-18) and Oakhurst’s Rob Griffith (11-12) who also scored highest point totals in their age groups.
A
Clayton Valley Charter football back in the DAL while De La Salle Spartans heading to London vs. NFL Academy
CORINNE JEANDHEUR
The football season is just a couple weeks away and local high school teams are gearing up for another exciting year.
Official practices began this week and with Clayton Valley Charter moving back into the Diablo Athletic League it has prompted a three-division setup in the 13-team league. The Ugly Eagles were shifted to the East Bay Athletic League in 2018 where they reunited with Concord rival De La Salle after some DAL schools complained that the Ugly Eagles were too strong.
This year CVCHS football has been moved back to the DAL as part of the 2024-2028 NCS realignment process. The Ugly Eagles will be part of a five-team Foothill Division along with state champion Acalanes, Miramonte, Las Lomas and Campolindo.
The four-team Mountain Division includes Berean Christian, Concord, Mt. Diablo and Ygnacio Valley. The four Valley teams (middle level of DAL brackets) is Alhambra, Benicia,
College Park and Northgate.
To get the requisite fiveleague games for each team the Foothill and Valley divisions will have interleague matchups on Sept. 6 and 20 and Oct. 4. The Valley and Mountain teams will close the season with interleague matchups while De La Salle visits Clayton Valley Charter in a non-league clash of Concord schools.
Beyond the changes in DAL football divisions, North Coast Section adopted a new process in January for bracketing teams for post-season play in its competitive equity sports of baseball, basketball, football, lacrosse, soccer, softball, volleyball and water polo.
The process begins by placing teams based on their prior school year’s enrollment. In the case of local schools, all but Clayton Valley Charter and Northgate were moved up or down one division in this process. (See divisions for each school below with their schedule.)
the challenge will be making sure a lot of playmakers get opportunities with the ball.”
He cites a crew of returning players he’ll be counting on: Matthew Johnson, Mya Telona, Ace Robinson, Toa Fa’avae, Braydon Knight, Dom Kelley, Derrick Blanche, Deuce JonesDrew, Tre Dean, Jaden Jefferson, Jayden Nicholas, Nico Baumgartner, Anthony Morgan, DJ Asiasi, Wyatt Ferguson, Jacob Dartez, Trisshon Wright and Robert Santiago.
That talent and experience will be tested close to home against highly ranked foes including San Ramon Valley (after last year’s two classic matchups), Grant of Sacramento, El Cerrito and regular nonleague foes Serra, St. Francis and St. Mary’s-Stockton, not to mention the NFL Academy.
HERSCHELIS
GONE BUT MT. DIABLOISREADY
Mt. Diablo is without record-breaking, all-America runningback Herschel Turner Jr. but coach Fetuao Mua is ready for the challenge. “We are excited for the upcoming season, as there’s big shoes to fill. Many people are questioning how we’re going to look without Herschel on the team, but I’m confident that our team and staff are working hard to top last season.” He mentions top returning seniors Jeremiah Owens, Santiago Rojas, Eryck Cabrera and Manny Zuniga plus junior Sheldon Silas. Top newcomers are sophomore quarterback Michael Vasquez and junior Antonio Campbell III, a runningback and linebacker.
With league and NCS bracket switches, rising and new play-
MaxPreps rankings will now be used as a key factor in developing playoff brackets, which will still be finalized with NCS oversight. MaxPreps utilizes “the huge number of game results stored in MaxPreps across the nation. Generally, the more a team wins, the higher the ranking. However, the system takes into account quality wins (against other highly ranked opponents) and strength of schedule.”
SPARTANS VISIT
JOLLY OLE ENGLAND
De La Salle over the years has played national games in Florida, New Jersey and Texas among numerous intersectional matchups. In October they will take it a step further as they travel to England for a game against NFL Academy in London’s Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Coach Justin Alumbaugh considers himself “a travel” and says his team is “looking forward to a challenging schedule and have an overseas trip to London to play at Tottenham stadium. We have a lot of returning starters and more team speed than we have seen in a long time-
Pleasant
Palaganas
TEAM SCORES
Division: Dana Hills Otters 1134 points, Ygnacio Wood Seahorses 644, Martinez Community Otters 461, Forest Park Flyers 388.5, Gehringer Park Gators 332.5, Pleasant Hill Dolfins 330, Oakhurst Orcas 312, Walnut Country Stingrays 160, Solar Swim Sea Monsters 111.5,
Swimmers, volunteers and parents enjoyed the successful return of the meet to Concord for the first time since 2019.
Photo courtesy Terrapins Swim Team
Terrapins Swim Team was represented at the USA Swimming Futures Championships in Sacramento in late July by a trio of swimmers who racked up a number of best times and podium visits and took eighth as a team. Mason Wendler (right) was first in the 200 freestyle, second in 100 free, third in the 400 free and top 16 in the 50 free and 100 butterfly. Diego Castaneda (left) was fourth in the 100 and 200 fly, second in the 200 backstroke and sixth in the 100 back. Madison Bautista finaled in the 50 free.
Pete Cruz Photos
Dana Hills Otters swam to first in the A Division while Martinez Community debuted in Concord City Meet by winning the B Division.
Kara Kohler rows to 5th place at Summer Olympic Games in Paris
JAY BEDECARRÉ
Kara Kohler had to live for three years with “the taste” that she was less than one second from racing in the Olympic finals in Tokyo but the three-time American Olympian erased that thought when she reached the gold medal finals in Paris and she comes home to Clayton as the fifth fastest single sculler in the world.
The Clayton rower challenged for a bronze medal in the middle of the single scull finals on Aug. 3. As she did in Tokyo in her fateful semi-final race, Kohler was off to a slow start in the Paris finals. Current world champion Netherlands’ Karolien Florijn and New Zealand’s Emma Twigg, the defending Olympic champ, took the race out fast to establish themselves at the head of the field just 500 meters into the race.
Kohler got off the line in sixth place but moved into fourth in the second 500 meters, just behind Australia’s Tara Rigney in third. Kohler and Lithuania’s Viktorija Senkute began to push Rigney in the third 500 meters and as the scullers entered the final quarter of the race, Senkute had pulled ahead of Kohler and was closing on Rigney. Florijn was able to hold off
Photo courtesy Row2k
Kara Kohler got rid of “the taste” that she was less than one second from racing in the 2020 Olympic finals in Tokyo when the three-time American Olympian reached the gold medal finals in Paris this month. She finished the Games as the fifth fastest single sculler in the world.
Twigg’s sprint to win the gold medal in a 7:17.28, with Twigg taking silver. Senkute passed Rigney to earn the bronze medal.
“I would say that I appreciate (racing in the A final) a lot more and the sacrifice and work that goes into getting into an A final,” Clayton Valley High and Cal Berkeley grad Kohler said.“To be off the medal stand is obviously disappointing, but those are some fast women’s singles out there, and it’s an honor to get the chance to race with them. I’m very happy for them.”
Kohler won her first heat in Paris and then had no trouble
Athlete Spotlight
Chase Duarte
Grade: Senior
School: Clayton Valley Charter
Sport: Football
Ugly Eagles football captain Duarte is a highly coveted player among D1 colleges. After receiving five offers from colleges across the coast, he eventually verbally committed to San Diego State this past June. Other colleges he received offers from include Sacramento State, Fresno State, Portland State and UC Davis. At an impressive height of 6-6, Duarte towers over his opponents as an offensive tackle. During his first year at CVCHS, he
advancing to the semifinals, finishing second in her quarterfinal behind Australia’s Rigney.
With three of six to advance to the A final for the gold medal, Kohler finished behind Twigg and Senkute in their semi-final. Those three rowers took control in the first 500 meters. Twigg held a 1.48second lead on Kohler at the 500-meter mark and Kohler still held second at the halfway point. In the third 500 meters, Senkute made her move to pull into second position and with Kohler staying third for the remainder of the race.
“That was definitely the
played on the freshman team, but moved up to varsity for the last three years.
Duarte has served as a captain for two years and received all-East Bay Athletic League recognition last fall. He hopes to come back stronger this season after he tore his meniscus during a practice. When asked about Duarte, coach Nick Tisa, says, “Chase exemplifies what it means to be a true leader both on and off the field. His relentless drive and exceptional physical skills
are matched only by his dedication to uplifting his teammates and embodying the values of our team standards. Chase inspires everyone around him with his commitment and character. San Diego State is lucky to have him.” In addition to the Ugly Eagles, this past year Duarte played for Stag Elite, a lineman 5 on 5 team.
Duarte was not always a football player, and he believes that his delayed entrance to the sport put him at a disadvantage from the other players with years of experience. When he was younger, his mom did not want him to play the sport, so instead, he participated in
race I was looking for,” Kohler said. “The taste of fourth in Tokyo (in the semifinal) was strong on my palate today, making sure that that didn’t happen again. To walk away with a solid place in the A final and a chance at a medal, I’m pretty pumped.”
Kohler made her first Olympic team in 2012 while a Cal student athlete, winning a bronze medal as part of the USA women’s quadruple sculls.
She switched to the single following the disappointment of not being selected for a boat at the 2016 Rio Olympics. In 2017 the Clayton athlete began competing in single sculls where her selection to US international teams would be predicated on her results rather than other measurements USRowing might use to pick spots on pair, quad and eight’s boats.
Kohler has dominated the single sculls in America since, including being named USRowing 2019 Female Athlete of the Year.
At the Tokyo Olympics she was a disappointing ninth at the Games, which were held without spectators in 2021 after the Pandemic. Problems early in her races derailed her medal hopes in Tokyo and she was a half second away from qualifying for the A finals
basketball and swimming. He credits his coordination to playing those sports early in his career. Despite all the time he spends on the field, he works hard to keep his 3.83 GPA. Duarte is grateful to his coaches, friends and parents whose guidance helped him reach the next level of football. He is excited to play for San Diego State next year and pursue a triple business major to work in human resources after college.
CVCHS student journalist Corinne Jeandheur wrote this Spotlight.
The Pioneer congratulates Chase and thanks Athlete Spotlight sponsors Dr. Laura Lacey & Dr. Christopher Ruzicka who have been serving the Clayton and Concord area for over three decades at Family Vision Care Optometry.
Do you know a young athlete who should be recognized? Perhaps he or she has shown exceptional sportsmanship, remarkable improvement, or a great heart for the sport. Send your nomination for the Pioneer Athlete Spotlight to sports@pioneerpublishers.com.
Providing complete history can speed up your pet’s diagnosis
When your pet is sick and you need to see a veterinarian, it may seem obvious, but giving a good history can be crucial in helping them make a diagnosis faster. Remember, our patients are not able to give their own account of how they feel, or what they feel, for that matter.
As your pet’s guardian, it is paramount you give complete information to help guide the vet in what direction they might need to go to help obtain a diagnosis, prognosis and treatment plan. This can potentially save you money since the vet is able to throw the ‘fishing net’ of diagnostics in one direction rather than every direction, or worse, in the wrong direction.
For the skilled veterinarian, taking a good history requires good listening skills as well as the ability to ask open-ended questions and allow the client to fill in the blanks on what may not be obvious on the physical exam. And yes! Veterinarians still do physical exams.
I often wonder a bit about the lack of a true physical exam in the human medical world (sorry MD’). As a client and pet guardian, you can really help the process by being specific and making sure the doctor hears your concerns. Even subtle changes you’ve noticed in your pet can help guide the next steps in diagnostics. Sometimes, writing down the information can be quite helpful, so you don’t forget to share something that might turn out to be vital in the history.
For instance, if the only clinical sign you have noticed is lethargy, the doctor will be trying to ascertain what body system might be involved: Is there an increase in water intake? Increase in urinations: quantity versus frequency? As a few (of many) examples, the former could mean kidney disease, Cushing’s, diabetes, liver disease or certain cancers. The latter could mean urinary tract infection, or even a behavioral change/marking behavior.
Is there any change in weight or appetite? Any vomiting or nausea? What supplements or medications do you routinely give to your pet? Have you changed the diet or recently
purchased new food? Do you store kibble in the garage and purchase in bulk?
Sometimes subtle changes can help direct the vet to find (hopefully) easy solutions, like rancid kibble from being in the heat or being stored too long or a recent pet food recall. Sometimes the vet will need to do further diagnostics, but by now – from your history alone –they have already ruled out several things.
Limping can be another interesting mystery to solve. Sometimes there is an obvious traumatic event in the history. But other times, a pet could have a lameness that switches between legs. In a young dog, this can be a sign of something called panosteitis, where, in a rapidly growing puppy, the long bones can get painful due to local inflammation inside the bone itself – it can quite painful and also thankfully, only transient.
In a bit older pet, we might look for something called polyarthritis, where the joints in the body get inflamed and sore, and sometimes switch between affected limbs. When polyarthritis is suspected, the vet might query whether there were recent vaccinations (if they don’t have it in their records), or perhaps exposure to ticks or certain medications in the recent past. Often, a minimum data base is the first step following a thorough physical exam. This includes a complete blood count (CBC), biochemical profile (a “chemistry” panel) and a urinalysis. These three lab work findings can rule in or rule out a myriad of conditions, but also help guide your vet to specific next steps. More significant issues may require further diagnostics that could include radiographs, ultrasound, etc. Any new pets in the home? Any new family members? Has a favorite family member gone off to college? Behavioral issues can often be brought on by a change on the home front, as well as stressful events of other types, such as fireworks and other loud noises. Your vet should be able to navigate behavioral issues with you once no physical ailment is confirmed.
Some of these conditions might lead to referral to a specialist to help get to the bottom of the problem, but it all starts with a great history from you.
ers on the field and a new continent to conquer, this season promises to be a good one.
HIGH SCHOOLFOOTBALL SCHEDULE
Clayton Valley Charter (Open Div./Div. 1) - 8/30 Span-
ish Springs-Sparks, NV, 9/6 at College Park, 9/13 at San Ramon Valley, 9/20 Northgate, 9/27 at Liberty-Brentwood, 10/11 at Las Lomas, 10/18 Acalanes, 10/25 Campolindo, 11/1 at Miramonte, 11/8 De La Salle.
County, from page B1
their Walnut Creek rivals. The Otters swam to a new county meet record in the 15-18 girls 200 medley relay with Zoe Lahanas, Maya Canada, Gianna Kougios and Dillon Knipstein touching at 1:50.57. Lahanas was second in 15-18 girls scoring and Canada was fifth. Dana Hill’s Charley Branich was high-point win-
ner for 7-8 girls while her sister Chooch Branich and teammate Meritt Pak tied for third in the same age group. Preston Forney (9-10) tied for third and Sadie Junier was fourth on the 9-10 girls side for DHST. Noah Bright of Ygnacio Wood was fourth in six and under boys scoring. His YW team was fifth in the Division II standings.
College Park (Div. 2) – 8/30 San Marin-Novato, 9/6 Clayton Valley Charter, 9/13 Salesian College Preparatory Pride-Richmond, 9/20 at Acalanes, 9/27 at Las Lomas, 10/4 at Miramonte, 10/18 Alhambra, 10/25 at Northgate, 11/1 Benicia, 11/8 Mountain opponent TBA. Concord (Div. 5) - 8/30 Newark Memorial-Newark, 9/6 Alameda, 9/13 at San Lorenzo, 9/21 at Archie Williams-San Anselmo, 9/27 at Mt. EdenHayward, 10/4 Encinal-Alameda, 10/18 at Mt. Diablo, 10/25 Ygnacio Valley, 11/1 Berean Christian, 11/8 @ Valley opponent TBA.
De La Salle (Div. 2) – 8/30 Grant-Sacramento, 9/6 SerraSan Mateo, 9/13 Saint FrancisMountain View, 9/20 at St. Mary’s-Stockton, 9/27 at El Cerrito, 10/8 at NFL Academy, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, 10/18 San Ramon Valley, 10/25 Monte-Vista-Danville, 11/1 at California-San Ramon, 11/8 at
Clayton Valley Charter. Mt. Diablo (Div. 3) - 8/30 at Deer Valley-Antioch, 9/6 at Acalanes, 9/13 at Vallejo, 9/20 at Alameda, 9/27 at Mission-San Francisco, 10/4 CastlemontOakland, 10/18 Concord, 10/25 Berean Christian, 11/1 Ygnacio Valley, 11/8 @ Valley opponent TBA. Northgate (Div. 3) - 8/30 Dougherty Valley-San Ramon, 9/6 at Campolindo, 9/14 Bishop Diego-Santa Barbara, 9/20 at Clayton Valley Charter, 9/27 Lincoln-San Francisco, 10/4 Las Lomas, 10/18 Benicia, 10/25 College Park, 11/1 at Alhambra, 11/8 Mountain opponent TBA. Ygnacio Valley (Div. 5) –8/30 at Alameda, 9/6 Redwood Christian-San Lorenzo, 9/13 at Kennedy-Richmond, 9/20 Pinole Valley-Pinole, 9/27 at Richmond, 10/4 San Lorenzo, 10/19 at Berean Christian, 10/25 at Concord, 11/1 at Mt. Diablo, 11/8 @ Valley opponent TBA.
virus, or it could just need a tune-up. Prevent problems with
The Pioneer
The hits and misses of yesteryear’s baseball practices
WAY WE WERE
Baseball in the early 19th century was a wild affair. It had become a singular American entity having some similarities to the games of cricket and rounders, but included some peculiarities to make the game proceed at a faster pace and be more aggressive overall. The baseball itself was small; six inches compared to the current standard of nine inches, and many times was homemade by the pitchers themselves. Cork was a popular material for the core, as it is today, but the eye of a sturgeon fish could serve as a substitute in a pinch. Rubber from old shoes was used to wrap around the core, then wound with wool yarn and covered with any type of leather. The construction of each baseball was unique, but
all were similar in the fact that none of them lasted longer than one game.
Batters made their own bats from wood; ash being a favorite, but any wood around would serve. Shapes were round or flat, and length and weight were whatever a batter felt would improve his play.
The ball field was just that, a field; a flat open space with no particular dimension. Play was barehanded, pitching was underhanded and the batter could stand at the plate for as long as it took to hit the ball.
Throwing an opponent “out” required a player to actually throw the ball and hit the runner’s body using a method known as “soaking” or “plugging.” In 1845, the Knickerbocker Base Ball Club in New York City came up with the first set of written rules, including the diamondshape infield, the three-strike rule and replacing soaking and plugging with the “tag.”
Men from different parts of the country came in contact when enlisted to fight in the Civil War, and baseball was a favorite pastime of the troops. Once the men returned home, it quickly became a national pastime and the game earned more credibility when some churches endorsed Sunday ball games
as acceptable alternatives to Sundays spent in saloons.
In the 1870s, baseball began to look more like our modern version: separate amateur and professional leagues were established, bats and balls were standardized and gloves were no longer thought to be “unmanly.”
Clayton had an amateur team at this time called the “Haymakers” made up of young men from local farm families. Away games were held at the fields of other Contra Costa teams and Clayton home games were hosted at the large vacant lot behind the buildings on north Main Street that in 1912 would boast a grandstand.
By 1892, the team was referred to as the Clayton N ine in local newspapers and praised for being a competi-
Is Microsoft the evil empire or just misunderstood geek
WILL CLANEY TECH TALK
A customer just walked in and called Microsoft the evil empire that has set his blood “a-boil” and being a loyal Microsoft minion – well, I “gotta” agree. Sorry Microsoft, have you just entered the realm of Middle-earth by becoming the evil eye of Sauron?
Well, in all fairness, Microsoft needs to evolve and some of the moves they are currently making makes one ponder what the future holds.
Windows 11 is an example of the control and overwatch Microsoft wants to have on its users. Did you know that in order to receive updates to your operating system software, you are now required to have a Microsoft account. Yes, there are exceptions, like pre-existing customers that converted to Windows 11 earlier this year and some new Windows 11 computers that were sold earlier this year as well.
Microsoft backed down, temporarily, and allowed a “work-around” so one could get updates and not (yet) have a Microsoft account. Rest assured, they want everyone to have their accounts to get current and future updates, so most hacks and work-arounds will not last for long. According to Co-Pilot:
“Initially, theHome version required a Microsoft account during installation, but this requirement has been lifted. [For now – Ed] Windows 11 Pronow also mandates a Microsoft account for installation.
An upcoming update will eliminate the option to install Windows 11 Pro without logging into a Microsoft account.”
Why is this requisite necessary? To answer this question, we once again turn to artificial intelligence for the answers. According to these super AI geeks, “A Microsoft account serves several purposes, making it valuable for users:
“Single Sign-On (SSO): With a Microsoft account, you can access various Microsoft services and products using a single set of credentials. This includesWindows,Office 365,Outlook, OneDrive and more. [Beware of this word, “more,” it could be short for Mordor]
.Cloud Services: A Microsoft account allows seamless integration with cloud services. You can store files on OneDrive, sync settings across devices and access your data from anywhere. App Store and Downloads: To download apps from the Microsoft Store, you need a Microsoft account. It also helps manage app licenses and updates.
Windows Activation: When setting up a new Windows device, a Microsoft account simplifies the activation process.
Security and Recovery: A Microsoft account enables features like BitLocker encryption, Find My Device and password recovery options.
Personalization: It allows customization of settings, themes and preferences across devices.”
It now seems clear that Microsoft is out to become Apple, or at least beat them at their own game, namely a closed-loop computer environment. If you want to use Microsoft stuff, you must bleed Microsoft blue.
Okay, there you have it, Microsoft will become either Gandalf the Grey protecting you and guiding your efforts or Sauron’s overseeing evil eye. We shall see.
William Claney is an independent tech writer and former owner of Computers USA in the Clayton Station. Email questions or comments to willclaney@gmail.com.
tive team known for their sportsmanship and generous hospitality to visiting teams. Sometimes they were taunted by nasty opponents as “hayseeds, pumpkins and woodchoppers.”
These labels were applied liberally by an opposing team, the Coles, in April of 1892 at
People have varying metabolic responses to different foods. One diet does not fit all. The solution is, I think, more profound: Eat quality food. Don’t fill your cupboard with boxes of processed food. Many people are running away from gluten these days. But some researchers wonder if this is another food fad where marketing tactics start to look like scare tactics.
Gluten is a group of indigestible proteins found in wheat, rye, and barley. Celiac disease is an autoimmune condition in which gluten signals the body to attack the lining of the small intestine. People with celiac disease need to cut gluten out of their diets. But celiac disease is often misdiagnosed, and there are many people with non-celiac gluten sensitivity, reported Dr. Sophie Balzora, a New York University gastroenterologist. Research indicates 1 in 141 people in the United States has celiac disease. Compare that with another recent study that estimated one-third of the population is leery about gluten. It’s an overreaction. Many people are needlessly
a game in Martinez when Clayton was coming back from a 19 to 3 deficit in the fifth inning. The Coles and an “outside element” in the crowd began to “vent their spleen” on the team and the umpire when “they began to realize that the ‘pumpkins’ were hot stuff,” wrote a
reporter from the Antioch Ledger.
The Martinez crowd registered “disgust and disapproval” at the conduct of the Coles when that team kept insisting on changing umpires to their own advantage. By the end of the game, four umpires came and left, but Clayton won by three runs.
Amateur baseball may have experienced elements of standardization throughout its early years, but its controversy and excitement has always kept the game fresh.
Debbie Eistetter is a board member of the Clayton Historical Society. For more information or to become a member, visit claytonhistory.org. The Clayton Museum is open 2-4 p.m. Wednesdays and Sundays at 6101 Main St.. Admission is free.
Researchers question if gluten avoidance is just another food fad
restricting their diets and losing the benefits of gluten, a source of fiber, vitamins, and minerals. Some take the drastic step of eliminating gluten from their diet without checking with doctors. A simple blood test can confirm celiac disease.
Alan Levinovitz, in his 2015 book The Gluten Lie: And Other Myths About What You Eat, listed some fad diets and food scares that have faded over the years with further, more focused research: the Atkins diet, the Paleo diet, monosodium glutamate, salt, and saturated fat. The examples stretch deep into our past. In the 19th century, the Reverend Sylvester Graham was selling Graham crackers as he advocated vegetarianism. Graham believed meat consumption encouraged animal tendencies like violence and excessive sexual desire, wrote Levinovitz, a professor of religion at James Madison University in Virginia. The same leaps in logic lead many to adopt one-sizefits-all solutions as our country and the world battle the epidemic of obesity. Many doctors jump on the bandwagon, and not far behind are the marketers, pitching a pill or elixir that will make everything better.
So I return to common sense. You cannot apply one
fix to everything. Eat a balanced diet of fresh, quality food, as demonstrated in the recipe below. Also, look for the next column to explore modern farming’s breeding of wheat and its implications for gluten.
SHEET PAN CAPRESE CHICKEN
6 servings INGREDIENTS
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 pints cherry tomatoes
6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts ½ cup balsamic vinegar
1 1-pound ball fresh mozzarella, sliced into 6 rounds 10 fresh basil leaves, torn Baby arugula, for serving Crusty bread, for serving DIRECTIONS
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Drizzle 1 tablespoon of oil onto a rimmed baking sheet and use your fingers to evenly spread it out and coat the bottom of the pan. Sprinkle with the Italian seasoning, 1 tablespoon of salt, and a few grinds of pepper. Scatter the cherry tomatoes on the baking sheet and shake it back and forth so they become evenly coated in the oil and seasoning. Arrange the chicken in the center of the baking
Let’s ‘ear it for corn!
Summer wouldn’t be complete without sweet, juicycorn on the cob. Sweet yellow, white and bicolor corn varieties are the stars of summer picnics and barbecues. There’s nothing quite like sinking your teeth into a fresh cob, hot off the grill. Sweet corn is hard to top for its flavor, freshness and just plaingood summer eating, especiallyfrom your local farmer.
Corn, also known as maize, isn’t a vegetable.It’s a grain domesticated from a grass called teosinte over 7,000 years ago by indigenous people in North and South America. It became a staple food for many cultures. Corn eventually spread throughout the Americas and surprised European explorers who had never seen anything like it. In Northern California, sweet corn isprimarily grown in Contra Costa and San Joaquin counties, from Brentwoodto Stockton.G&SFarmsandSi moni
&Massoni Farm areproducers, but many smaller farms also contribute. They get their sweet corn to market quickly to preserve its peak flavor. Since corn loses sweetness as soon asit’s picked, they also keep it chilled to lock in that sugary goodness.Unless you’re picking them directly off the farm, other sources of corn can’t beat the freshness and taste of those from the farmers’ market. There are numerous varieties of corn used for feed and fuel, but the ones seen at your farmers’ market are sweet corn and sticky corn. Sweet corn,the corn we eat, can beeaten fresh, canned or frozen.It makes up only 1% of total corn grown in the entire U.S. Sweet corn is seldom processed into feed or flour. It gets its name because it contains more sugar than other types of corn. It is available with white, yellow or bicolor kernels. Remember, it has a very short shelf life. “Sticky” corn,also called
waxy corn, ischewy and more glutinous than other corn and needs to be cooked longer. In addition, there’s a purple sticky corn (even stickier than the white sticky corn) with purple kernels. Sticky corn is usually boiled and served. You can also make some tasty corn fritters.
Our farmers appreciate your cooperation in handling their corn at the market. To keep the corn fresh for everyone, please avoid peeling back the husks to inspect it. A peek of an inch or two is plenty. Also, poking the kernels with your fingernails is unsanitary and doesn’t tell you much about freshness. Instead, strike up a conversation with the farmer. They’re passionate about their crop and love to talk about it. They’ll be happy to answer your questions and help you choose the perfect ears.
Select: Corn is best stored in a cool environment, since warm temperatures will convert the sugar in the corn to starch. Your farmers’ mar-
sheet, pushing the tomatoes out to the perimeter, and drizzle the chicken with the remaining tablespoon of oil. Bake until the tomatoes are soft, blistered, and begin to burst, 20 to 25 minutes. Meanwhile, add the vinegar to a small saucepan and bring to a boil over mediumhigh heat. Lower the heat to medium and simmer until the vinegar has reduced by half and is thick enough to coat the back of a spoon, 7 to 8 minutes.
Remove the baking sheet from the oven and drape a slice of mozzarella over each chicken breast. Bake until the cheese melts and an instantread thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the breast has reached 160 degrees, 5 to 7 minutes (the chicken will continue to cook to 165 degrees).
Sprinkle the chicken and tomatoes with the basil and drizzle with the balsamic reduction. Spoon the collected pan juices over the tomatoes and chicken. Serve on a bed of arugula with crusty bread to mop up the pan juices.
Cindy Gershen is a culinary teacher and the chef-owner for 40 years of Sunrise Bistro and Catering in Walnut Creek. Send your questions and comments to cindymgershen@gmail.com.
ket producer should be displaying their corn in cold or iced containers. The husks should be bright green with the silk ends free from decay and obvious worm damage. The ear of corn should be of average in size. Too large and it could mean the corn is a bit tough or old. Too small and the kernels may not be mature enough.
Store: Refrigerate corn in your high-humidity storage bin when you get home. It is best to refrigerate corn with the husksattached to keep it moist. If the corn has already been husked, partially or fully, refrigerate it in a perforated plastic bag.Eat as soon as possible, before the natural
Photo courtesy Clayton Historical Society
Baseball at the Clayton ball field behind the buildings on north Main St.The team uniforms were gray with red pinstripes and a red “C” on the front.
DEBBIE EISTETTER THE
CINDY GERSHEN FARM TO TASTE
DEBRA MORRIS FARMERS MARKET
Thanks to the generosity of over 700 donors, California Shakespeare Theater can open its 50th anniversary production this September. The company already had the sets and costumes designed and the show cast when a funding shortfall of $350,000 put their production of Shakespeare’s “As You Like It” in jeopardy.
Thanks to theater-lover donors, the shows WILL go on at Cal Shakes
Executive Artistic Director Clive Worsley immediately started a GoFundMe campaign and a little over a week later, the shortfall was covered.
“We are so grateful to all those who contributed to our campaign,” said Worsley. “We had over 700 incredible donors from people we know and others we haven’t met yet, but whom I hope will come to the show and see what we’re all about.”
Directed by Elizabeth Carter, “As You Like It” features Sofia Ahmad, Catherine
Castellanos, Sam Jackson, Leontyne Mbele-Mbong, Alicia M. P. Nelson, Jed Parsario, Jessica Powell, Stacy Ross, Nic Sommerfeld, Chris Steele and Wiley Naman Strasser.
For tickets and additional information, go to https://calshakes.org/.
Lafayette’s Town Hall Theatre offers a new look at the ideologies fracturing our country with Eric Pfeffinger’s “Human Error.”
The intriguing comedy introduces two very different couples – one identifies as blue-state liberals, while the other purports to be NRAcardholding, red-state conservatives. While they don’t know each other, both couples are trying to have a baby and happen to be attending the same fertility clinic.
Thanks to a blundering doctor, the conservative wife is impregnated with the liberal wife’s fertilized embryo. You can imagine the comedic possibilities as they try to get through nine months of gestation without killing each other.
“Eric Pfeffinger’s hilarious play invites us all to take a step back, enjoy a hearty laugh at our collective quirks and perhaps discover new perspectives,” said Director Richard Perez.
The cast features Mark Anthony, Kyle Goldman, Flannery Mays, Melody Payne and John Charles Quimpo.
Town Hall Theatre is located at 3535 School Street, Lafayette. For tickets, go to https://www.townhalltheatre.c om/human-error.
The Campbell Theater also offers lots of laughs in August with Spontaneous Mind’s “Improv for Good.” Taking place Aug. 24 at 7:30 p.m., the improv troupe will perform scenes and games based on audience suggestions. Proceeds go to a local charity partner.
Then on Sept. 6, Plotline Theatre Company presents Noel Coward’s “Blithe Spirit” at the Campbell. Expect lots of laughs as a fussy, cantankerous novelist finds himself haunted by the ghost of his late wife. Needless to say, his current wife isn’t amused!
For more information on both productions, go to https://www.campbelltheater.com/.
The “Ronstadt Revolution” comes to Walnut Creek’s Lesher Center Aug. 16 at 7:30 p.m. with the seven-piece “Linda Ronstadt Tribute Band.” The band, which features local vocalists Marisa Barley and Natalie
Executive Artistic Director Clive Worsley happily announces the successful GoFundMe campaign that will allow the fall show to open. In the background, Facilities Manager Justin Du Puis addsnew donor names to the Giving Tree.
Amaya, will sing the awardwinning artist’s hits in both English and Spanish.
For tickets, go to https://www.lesherartscenter.org/.
Warm up those vocal cords and get ready to sing! Diablo Women’s Chorale is looking for singers and will hold auditions on Mondays, beginning Aug. 19 at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, 3051 Putnam Blvd., Pleasant Hill, from 7-9 p.m.
Contact Nancy Hickman at 925-899-5050 or hickmandg@gmail.com. For more information on the chorale, go to https://www.diablowomenschorale.org/.
Sally Hogarty is well known around the Bay Area as a newspaper columnist, theatre critic and working actress. She is the editor of the Orinda News. Send comments to sallyhogarty@gmail.com
Nancy Boynton Hartley, an artist with deep roots in the East Bay hills, has spent over two decades capturing the essence of beauty and emotion through her vibrant paintings.
As a fourth-generation native of the San Francisco Bay Area, Hartley’s journey into the art world was nurtured from a young age, with her grandparents and extended family fostering her passion for creativity. Her early exposure to the rich cultural landscape of the Bay Area, including visits to numerous museums and art galleries, laid a strong foundation for her artistic development. Her formal art education began at the Richmond Art Center, where she honed her skills as a young student. Her commitment to art continued through high school, where she attended Saturday and
summer life drawing and painting classes at the California College of Arts and Crafts in Oakland. She later earned a BA degree in painting from San Jose State University and subsequently accepted into their Master of Fine Arts program.
“Bright colors, my travels, meeting new people and the happy moments that bring me joy – are the inspirations behind the vibrancy and warmth you see in my paintings,” she said.
Known for her love of bright colors and beautiful sceneries, Hartley has long been an abstract landscape artist. However, her recent work has seen an exciting evolution, incorporating elements such as furniture and figures, reflecting her desire to explore new styles and narratives within her art.
Beyond Hartley’s artistic pursuits, she is deeply committed to philanthropy. She is a dedicated supporter of the Lyme Disease Foundation, creating and donating paintings to raise funds and awareness for the cause. Hartley’s compassion shines through in her advocacy, particularly for those who suffer from Lyme disease and face challenges in accessing proper healthcare and treatment, including young children, adults and the elderly.
Hartley’s work is featured
in prominent locations, including The Gardener in Berkeley and San Francisco, Studio Gallery in San Francisco, JOR Fine Art Gallery in Clayton and Elliott Fouts Gallery in Sacramento. Her art continues to inspire and connect with audiences, offering a window into her vibrant world and the causes she passionately supports. In a career marked by con-
tinuous growth and a heartfelt commitment to the community, Hartley stands as a testament to the power of art to not only capture beauty, but to drive meaningful change.
JuliaO’Reilly is the owner of JOR Fine Art Gallery in Clayton. She is an active voice on the local arts scene. Email her at joreillyfineartgallery@gmail.com.
NANCY BOYNTON HARTLEY
Sally Hogarty
Photo by Jorge Hernandez Lopez
Mark Anthony and Kyle Goldman in a scene from Eric Pfeffinger’shilarious“Human Error.”
HOGARTY STAGE STRUCK
Recording and Releasing Music Pt. 2: Production and Release
In last month’s column, I explained what would be needed for recording music at home, and the many benefits of going through a professional recording studio. In this month’s follow-up, I’ll walk through the process of producing and releasing those recordings. Whether you opt for DIY or professional work, once the recording process is done, you’re left with a collection of raw stereo tracks which need to be optimized and properly mixed. That final mix then needs to be mastered, and those mastered songs can then be released. Let’s take these next steps one at a time. Mixing your tracks
As with recording, mixing can be done at-home on a DAW if you feel you have the skillset, or be shopped out to a professional mixing engineer. Those mixing at home should be proficient in navigating their DAW software (YouTube videos can help shore up a novice’s skillset), and confident in their
ear’s ability to hear subtle nuances in sound.
High quality playback is also essential for a good mix. Topgrade headphones and/or monitors are highly recommended. I recommend both, however, as Diablo Valley College Professor Doug Michael points out, either can be sufficient: “If you know your speakers or headphones, you can get a good mix, it just takes practice.”
Your home studio set-up is just as important as your ear. For optimal stereo perception, the two monitors should form an equilateral triangle with you. This means the distance between the speakers and the distance from each speaker to the back of your head should be equal. Michael recommends positioning each monitor toward your ear with a distance of three to five feet.
With proper skillset and equipment, you can now determine how much adjustment each track independently needs. Do your tracks require editing? How should they be EQ’d Does anything need reverb? Compression? Effects? If so, how much?
Many questions will arise as you work to get each track sounding its best, and trial and error is perhaps the foremost way to address them. At the end of the day, the big question you need answered is “does it sound good?” Trust yourself. Just remember that ear fatigue is real, and it’s very important to take breaks regularly to have a fresh sense of
how things are sounding. Once you’ve made the proper tweaks and are content with the overall sound of everything played together, you’ll export that mix into one new stereo track. This is your final mix, which will then be ready for mastering.
Mastering your mix
Think of mastering as the finishing touches that prepare your well-mixed recording for optimal playback on all platforms and sound systems. Additionally, professional mastering ensures all the complicated metadata and ISRC codes associated with the digital files of your music are done properly (necessary in the digital age).
If there’s one step in the whole process of sound-recording that I’d personally recommend all artists leave to the professionals – it’s mastering. This is not where you should cut corners. Lesser experienced engineers might charge in the neighborhood of $50 per song, while more renown outlets might charge hundreds.
If hiring a professional is not an option for you, just ensure that whoever does this crucial step is not the same person that mixed it; the final product will benefit from having one set of ears paying attention to the nuances of the final mix, and another honed in on the final master.
Releasing your music
The overwhelming majority of music today is consumed through digital playback via
Moroccan Magic cocktails and belly dancing steal the spotlight
In a dimly lit venue that reminds one of a Casbah once frequented by the legendary Arabian Knights, Zahara entertains the audience with her mesmerizing belly dancing routine.
Clad in a colorful two-piece costume, she performs her act accompanied by live Sitar music. The captivating melody could tame a herd of wild cobras. Were Aladdin to fly in on his magic carpet, the enthralled patrons would likely not notice.
Welcome to theEl Morocco restaurantexperience.
Founded in 1977 on Meadow Lane in Concord, the business moved to its present Pleasant Hill location in 1993. Along with its famous dancing show, El Morocco offers a gourmet menu of Middle Eastern cuisine.
Having pleased customers for over 47 years, this fun place has provided a bill of fare resulting in many return visits from a loyal clientele.
Present day Executive ChefOwner Nader Shanhin has incorporated some of the recipes he grew up with in Bethlehem. His made-fromscratch creamy hummus dip should not be missed.
Nader immigrated to the United States when conditions became too unsettled in the land where Jesus was born. Moving nearby, he received training in the culinary arts while graduating from the program at Diablo Valley College.
This led to working at Boundary Oaks Golf Club, The
Embassy Suites and The Cantina in Walnut Creek. Eventually, Shanhin became chef and general manager at the highly acclaimed Marrakech Restaurant in San Francisco.
After commuting for more than 10 years over the San Francisco Bay Bridge, he purchased El Morocco from its founder Fadil Shahin.
Either sitting at the bar or lounging on cushions at low tables in the dining room, a good way to start ones meal is with their trademark Moroccan Magic cocktail.
It incorporates two types of rum, flavored brandy, with a blend of three juices, topped with a maraschino cherry. The concoction is twirled upside down three times, resulting in a multicolored effect. Talk about a new twist of “shaken, not stirred.”
TheCasa (Moroccan lager beer) and the Almaza (Lebanese pilsner), pair well with the diverse menu.
For starters, we tried the Bastilla, which is a stuffed phyllo dough pie filled with a mixture of chicken, eggs and almonds, with a hint of sweet cinnamon. Also enjoyable was the Maghreb diced salad, falafels and dolma’s, that can be found in the full six course dinner.
Of note is the lentil soup, which I found delicious, despite not caring for it previously.
Entrees at El Morocco reflect traditional cuisine served in this colorful North African country. The Honey Lamb reminds me of the richness of lamb shank served in a sweet sauce. Couscous Royal with braised meat was also a winner. Also available are a wide selection of kabobs grilled on a stick.Different types included prawn, chicken, lamb, and my favorite Kofta, ground beef cooked with exotic Moroccan seasoning.
As we were finishing our main course, Zahara began her belly dancing show, which she performs every Friday and Saturday at 7:30 and 9
downloaded music files or online streaming services. For that reason, it’s important to make sure your music is available in all corners of the internet where people stream or purchase music.
Accessible distribution companies ensure this with relatively little effort on your part. Two of the most popular among my musician peers are Distrokid and CD Baby. In my experience, both are easy
to use and affordable. The fundamental difference between the two is that Distrokid allows unlimited releases and charges an annual fee $20$25, whereas CD Baby charges a one-time fee of roughly $10$20 per release, regardless of single, EP or album. Both companies will get your music to most stores and streaming services within a matter of days. Once your music is out there, congratulations! You did it! Now, you might be left wondering if you should invest in a run of CDs, cassettes or vinyl records. That’s up to you. The important thing is that you’ve done something amazing; music that once lived in your head can now be heard around the world.
Contact Dave Hughes at MrDaveHughes@gmail.com.
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on
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p.m. When she finished her performance, audience members joined her on the floor for an encore number.
Many clapped with appreciation. Zahara, who is the niece of the former owner of El Morocco, also operates a school, teaching her craft to aspiring dancers.
Our night ended with a pot of mint tea and Baklava, along with a promise to come back soon to this oasis of Middle Eastern culture.
El Morocco offers brunch on the weekends, from 9 a.m.2 p.m., featuring their Middle Eastern menu, along with other dishes such as crepes, omelets and even burritos.
Located at 2203 Morello Ave., Pleasant Hill, El Morocco is open for dinner Wed.- Sun. 5:30 to 10 p.m., staying open to 11 p.m. on Fri. and Sat.. Call (925) 349-9313 for reservations.
Zahara performs every Friday and Saturday at El Morocco
Meadow Lane
Concord.
Ken Lyon An at-home recording artist listens to the final mix of his EP before sending off to a professional engineer for proper mastering.
DAVE HUGHES THE BEAT OF DIABLO
RICHARD EBER TASTE & TELL