AUG 24 Clayton Pioneer 2007 by Pioneer Publishers

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IT’S YOUR PAPER www.claytonpioneer.com

August 24, 2007

925.672.0500

Wild birds have residents talking turkey JUSTIN BEDECARRÉ Clayton Pioneer

There’s a new gang loitering in our neighborhoods, taking to the streets and cavorting around town like they own the place. One resident even saw them peering in her bathroom window while she was showering. But you can’t exactly call the Clayton police on these “peeping toms” and transients. They would be tough to round-up, handcuff and throw in the back of a police car. These wild turkeys are appreciating the hospitable town and bountiful yards, appearing in the cool mornings and afternoons to march the streets and trails and harvest yards. Clayton residents have been buzzing about these wild animals. There have been sightings in Regency Woods and Regency Meadows, Dana Hills, Marsh Creek and the Clayton trails. Wild turkeys are not indigenous to California. They were

BILL WALCUTT

MAYOR’S CORNER

Slow it down and lock it up Money magazine gave Clayton a grade “A” for public safety. This is because we have one of the lowest crime rates in the state. Maintaining a high score for public safety is not easy. It takes a team effort between the police department and the community, and we are fortunate to a have a great team. It is critical, however, that we continue to be diligent about public safety and be aware of what’s going on around us. We have some great tools that we can use to help keep our crime rate down. A Neighborhood Watch program is very effective, and several areas have already started one. If you would like to start a Neighborhood Watch in your neighborhood, contact the Clayton Police Department. We still have a lot of convenience thefts occurring in Clayton. These highly sophisticated/lazy crooks go around looking for open garage doors, unlocked cars and unlocked homes to do their shopping. Don’t turn you home or car into a “convenience store” for the crooks – lock up. Besides an occasional spike in residential burglaries and thefts, one of the biggest police issues we face is speeding. This is especially problematic on residential neighborhood feeder streets, such as Mountaire Parkway and Circle, Keller Ridge Drive, Windmill Canyon Drive, Regency Drive and El Molino Drive. The problem is not isolated to any particular neighborhood and there are many more streets I have not mentioned.

Photo by Gary Napper

WITH

FEW NATURAL PREDATORS,

proliferating flocks of wild turkeys are becoming a nuisance to homeowners.

New MDES principal excited about job Council BEV BRITTON Clayton Pioneer

When someone suggested to a young Bob Dodson that he go into teaching, he did just that – and he has never regretted the decision. Although he moved into administration after 15 years in the classroom, he still does his job “for the kids.” “I just love the kids. They’re incredible,” says Dodson, the new principal at Mt. Diablo Elementary School in Clayton. He replaces Linda

Hutcherson, who is now principal at Foothill Middle School in Walnut Creek. For the last seven years, Dodson has been principal at Pleasant Hill Elementary School. He decided to come to Mt. Diablo because he’d heard good things about the school and he felt he’d accomplished his goals at his previous post. On his list are the Pleasant Hill school being named a California Distinguished School, the completion of $3.7 million in Measure C construction and the

says ‘tear down that wall.’

improvement of student achievement and attendance. The Bay Area native brings to Clayton five goals: accelerated achievement, increased attendance, improved school facilities, advanced technology and promoting a positive learning environment. But at first, he plans to be a “casual observer” while he learns about the community. “I invite parents to come in and talk and get to know me,” he says.

See Principal, page A6

TAMARA STEINER Clayton Pioneer

Tamara Steiner/Clayton Pioneer

MDES principal, Bob Dodson

Cause of Chupcan Place fire undetermined TAMARA STEINER Clayton Pioneer

See Mayor, page A4

What’s Inside SECTION A Around Town . . . . . . . . . . . .A2 Readers Forum . . . . . . . . . . . .A4 Classified Ads . . . . . . . . . . . . .A5 Directory of Advertisers . . . .A5 Real Estate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A6 Senior Moments . . . . . . . . . .A8 Look Good, Feel Good . . . .A8 Theater Review . . . . . . . . . . .A9 Club News . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A9 CVHS Reporter . . . . . . . . . .A10 School News . . . . . . . . . . . .A10 Your Health . . . . . . . . . . . . .A10 Book Review . . . . . . . . . . . .A11 Minding Your Business . . . .A11 At The Movies . . . . . . . . . . .A12 Food for Thought . . . . . . . .A13 SECTION B Travel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .B1 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .B2 Financial Sense . . . . . . . . . . .B5 Sharing History . . . . . . . . . . .B6 Tax Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .B6 Paws and Claws . . . . . . . . . . .B7 Crossword Solution . . . . . . . .B7 Community Calendar . . . . . .B8 Church News . . . . . . . . . . . . .B9 Garden Girl . . . . . . . . . . . . .B10

See Turkeys, page A8

Photo by Jim Vestal

DIANE MASSONI LOOKS AWAY as firefighters mop up after fire destroyed her Chupcan Place home on Aug. 2.

Fire investigators have been unable to determine the cause of a two alarm fire that destroyed a duet home at 406 Chupcan Place and damaged the unit next door on Aug. 2. The fire, which started in the garage, spread rapidly and caused the second story to collapse, said Contra Costa Fire Protection District (CCFPD) spokesperson, Emily Hopkins. “The garage was so destroyed that they couldn’t determine a cause,” said Hopkins. Arson is not suspected. According to fire investigators, owner Diane Massoni, had gone to pick up her car at the shop and was only gone a short time when the fire broke out. She returned to find her home engulfed in flames that reached as high as 20 feet. Massoni was unavailable for comment. The owner of the second unit, Grace Maes, was in Salinas on a teaching assignment when

she got word of the fire. “I didn’t want to come home, “she said, “I was in complete denial.” Fire damage to Maes’ home was confined mainly to the garage and front bedroom where the ceiling fell in due to the weight of the water on the roof. The smoke damage, however, is extensive making her home uninhabitable. Maes’ has moved to a Residence Inn in Pleasant Hill until the repairs, which could take several months, are complete.

A six-foot retaining wall with a six-foot fence atop, referred to by a neighbor as “the Great Wall of Clayton,” must come down, says the City Council. The project has a long history with the city staff, the Planning Commission and the City Council. The project was built based on administrative approval by Community Development Director Jeremy Graves. When he discovered that the wall and fence were out of compliance with zoning regulations, he withdrew administrative approval and required a Planning Commission hearing. The commission ruled that the wall could stay, but the fence must be moved back three feet. The homeowner, Ruth Reed, was unwilling to move the fence and appealed to the City

See Wall, page A3

REPORTER/FEATURE WRITER NEEDED The Pioneer is looking for a Clayton resident with reporting or feature writing experience (in the AP style) to cover local news, events and people. If you love being in the thick of things, have excellent language skills, are computer savvy, available to cover evening and weekend events and are competent with a camera, this may be the spot for you. (A sense of humor is crucial for maintaining sanity.) This is a part time position with somewhat irregular hours (roughly 20-30 hours per issue) requiring a flexible schedule. Send resume and writing sample to tamara@clayton pioneer.com, or mail to PO Box 1246, Clayton, CA 94517, or drop off at the office, 6200 F Center St.

Page A2

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

August 24, 2007

Obituary

Around Town New HVAC system and Kids’ Corner for Museum

Sue Pfister gets extreme makeover

The Grove Park and the Village Market aren’t the only sites on Main Street where the construction dust flies. The Museum got a new HVAC system this month,

On Aug. 7, the Contra Costa County Community Services Bureau was invited by Supervisor Susan Bonilla to participate in the National Night Out at the City of Concord’s Todos Santos Plaza. Representatives from the bureau, Lisa Leach, Clayton resident Sue Pfister and Leslie Clawson (pictured above) set up a table in the plaza and featured face painting for the children who attended the event. Showing off the “Barry Bonds” spirit with the words “Go Barry” and the number “25” on their cheeks, the group passed out information on the County’s programs for children, Head Start flyers and information on the bureau’s Heating and Energy Assistance Program. Apparently, the face painting was good luck for Barry as that was the evening he broke Hank Aaron’s record of 755 home runs. The National Night out is designed to strengthen community spirit and develop partnerships with local law enforcement to provide safe family environments.

Girl Scout Troop 2386 helps out with Meals on Wheels

Scott Smith

Walter Moore installs new HVAC system in the Clayton Museum

thanks to Walter Moore, owner of Clayton Valley Mechanical. Not only will the upstairs temperature be more comfortable, especially for our summer visitors, but more importantly, the HVAC will keep the temperature in the little house museum constant thereby protecting its collection of irreplaceable artifacts for generations to come.

1957 – 2007

There are “old time” crafts ideas, slates for kids to practice their writing skills and a “gadget match” game where kids can try to guess what some old kitchen gadgets were used for. The Kids’ Corner was made possible through the generous donations of the Clayton Valley Woman’s Club and Regency Woods Homeowners. Kirsten Spryer helped develop the concept of the room for her 2006 senior project at Clayton Valley High School. Dave and Joyce Atkinson, donated kitchen gadgets for the project and Jeff Crady built the necessary shelving and counter space which transformed the former laundry room. The museum curators are still looking for a working, small (kid-sized) record player for the room, if you have one to donate, or if you have something you think would be an interesting machine or gadget for the kids to use, please leave a message at the museum 672-0240.

Scott William Smith passed away suddenly on June 17 at his home in Clayton. He was 50. Scott was born in Castro Valley, California on March 11, 1957 and raised in Burlingame. He attended California State University Sacramento and worked and lived on the Peninsula until moving to Clayton in 2004. He is survived by his wife Cynthia, son Blake and stepson Jackson Towle. He is also survived by his parents Tim and Jan Smith of Grants Pass, Oregon, his brothers and sisters-in-law Todd and Gina Smith of San Mateo and Blair and Vickie Smith of Brentwood and many aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. “He was a loving husband, father and true friend,” said Blake’s mother, Cindy Curd. “He had a friendly, easy-going and generous nature. He loved us all. He will be missed.” Funeral services were held at Oak Park Hills Chapel in Walnut Creek on June 21. Memorial donations can be sent to The American Heart Association, 426 17th Street, Oakland, CA 94612; or online at www.americanheart.org.

NEW HANDS-ON EXHIBIT FOR KIDS

Photo courtesy of Colleen Elwy

Several girl scouts from JR Troop 2386 helped out Meals on Wheels recently. Assisting Meals on Wheels’ Lorin Waxman, the girls delivered hot meals and juice to homebound seniors, meeting and chatting with them all. Pictured, from left, Victoria Williams, Kayla Elwy, Audrey Annison, Lorin Waxman, Bethany Anzelone and Lauren Gloekler.

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The new “Kids’ Corner” is a small room inside of the museum that has been a long time coming. After several years of planning, the room is a place where kids can touch everything—the adding machine, a manual and an electric typewriter, a rotary dial telephone and a stereoscope among other things

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New interactive Kid’s Corner in the Clayton Museum.

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$619,980 Clayton Oakhurst C.C. – 3BD/2.5BA on a cul-de-sac is open & airy w/light wood floors, high ceilings, transom windows and a 2-way fireplace warms the living & family rooms. Gourmet kitchen w/maple cabinets & tile counters.

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August 24, 2007

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

Wall, from page A1 Council, which rejected the Planning Commission decision and ruled that the whole structure must come down. The wall and fence are part of an $80K backyard pool project at 1816 Ohlone Heights. They were constructed to extend the backyard about three feet and provide privacy. The home is at the corner of Ohlone Heights and Joscolo View.

not belong anywhere in Clayton.” Hellman’s house faces the wall and fence. Zoning regulations require a physical site inspection for a retaining wall only if the wall cannot be seen from the street. According to Graves, Baker assured him that it was not visible from the street and the plans were given zoning clearance without a site plan review. Baker was

city began fining Reed $500 a day. Baker did not send new plans to the city until March 2007. By then, the fines had mounted to $74,800. “There were a lot of conversations with Milan (Milan Sikela, assistant planner) during this time, and I was on him (Baker) all the time. But his son was sick and then other things and there was always some excuse,” said Reed. “I was motivated – I was getting fined $500 a day.” On March 27, the Planning

Tamara Steiner/Clayton Pioneer

COMBINED

HEIGHT OF THE RETAINING WALL and fence is nearly 13 feet, more than twice the legal

fence height limit of 6 feet. The city is requiring that the wall and fence be torn down and redesigned.

CONFUSION OVER FENCE According to Graves, in April 2006, Reed’s contractor, Craig Baker, submitted plans to the city for a six-foot retaining wall. The plans, which were given zoning clearance by the city, did not show the fence, says Graves. In June, Peter Hellman, Reed’s neighbor at 156 Joscolo View, alerted the city that the combined wall and fence height exceeded the zoning ordinance limiting fence height to six feet and had been built without a building permit. Hellman also complained that the wall was “ugly and does

expected to apply to the county for a building permit. He never obtained the permit. In July 2006, in response to Hellman’s complaint, the city revoked the zoning clearance and alerted Reed and Baker that they would need to submit a new application to the Planning Commission for a site plan review which would include both the wall and the fence. Baker agreed to submit new plans by the end of August. FINE OF $500 A DAY By Oct. 19, when Baker had still not submitted the plans, the

Commission approved the retaining wall but required a variance for the fence, saying that it must be moved back at least three feet and that Reed plant additional landscaping in front of the wall to soften it. Reed appealed the Planning Commission decision to the City Council, maintaining that Graves should have required a site plan review in the beginning because it was obvious from the plans that the retaining wall could be seen from the street. “The city screwed up,” says Reed. “I shouldn’t have to pay for

Page A3

Jeremy’s mistake.” Graves says that Baker “lied to us. He misrepresented the project.” Calls to Baker from the Pioneer were not returned. HEARING DELAYED AGAIN Reed’s appeal was set for hearing on June 15 and continued at Reed’s request to the regular June 19 meeting and then again at her request to the Aug. 3 meeting. In a letter read at that meeting, Reed requested that the matter be continued for a year since she had leased her home and moved out of the area. Impatient with the third delay, the council denied her request for continuance and proceeded with the appeal hearing without Reed present. Councilwoman Julie Pierce was a new planning commissioner who worked on the original architectural standards for the Oakhurst subdivision. “We were set to make (Oakhurst) a showcase project. We agonized over them,” said Pierce, “and we were pretty hard-nosed about them … Everything about this project flies in the face of that … the applicant has been arrogant.” “She’s shown utter contempt for our community,” added Councilman Gregg Manning. The newest member of the council, Hank Stratford, disagreed. “Approval was given in error,” he said. Stratford’s was the one no vote in the 3-1 decision to deny the appeal and the variance and to require the project be torn down and redesigned. Councilman Dave Shuey was absent. Hellman was president of Presley Homes at the time Oakhurst was built and worked closely with the city during the design phase, a fact that Reed claims has influenced the council’s judgment. “It’s all political. He’s a good ol’ boy,” she says. “And I’m not going down quietly. I’ll fight this to the death. It’s not as if I did anything malicious. I acted on the city’s approval.”

County Connection offers Cal Express bus service to UC football games The Cal football season gets underway on Sat., Sept. 1, and the County Connection is ready. Cal bear fans in central Contra Costa County can avoid traffic and parking hassles in Berkeley by taking County Connection’s Cal Express service to Memorial Stadium. Riders can catch the bus at either the Lafayette or Concord BART stations and arrive at the game in plenty of time for kickoff. Buses depart the BART stations approximately two hours before game time. Hours can vary according to televised schedules, so riders are advised to call customer service at (925) 676-7500 to confirm departure times. Return trips begin leaving Memorial Stadium approximately 20 minutes after the game ends. Fans can save money by purchasing Cal Express bus tickets in advance. Adult round trip tickets are just $7 and youth (to age 18) round trip tickets are $4.

Same day round trip tickets are available for $9 and $6 for adults and youths respectively. Those purchasing same day tickets at the bus are advised to have correct change, as bus operators do not carry cash. Fans can purchase bus tickets through the mail or at the Transportation Center located at the Walnut Creek BART station at 220 Ygnacio Valley Rd., Walnut Creek, CA 94596. This year when the Big Game takes place at Stanford University, County Connection buses will caravan to the Palo Alto campus. Prepaid bus tickets to the Big Game are $16 and $10 for adult and youth round trip tickets. The County Connection provides fixed-route bus service and ADA paratransit service to nearly 5 million passengers each year. For information on routes and schedules in your neighborhood, call the customer service center at (925) 676-7500 or visit our website at www.cccta.org.

Dan Rosendich

Free Family Fun Clayton Community Church presents the Fourth Annual

In association with Insurance Management Corp.

Sat., Sept. 1, 2007 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. This event is intended as an opportunity for family fun. Kids age 7-16 can register. There is NO fee to participate. Register by August 26th to get a free t-shirt and run in two races.

e! e r F e c Kids Ra rovided! p e r ce car, a a r n s r w o a r u C

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Adults! You too can take a fun ride. Stick around after the kids race!

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Registration form available online at www.claytoncc.com

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Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

and build a 2.3 acre church complex in the heart of our commercial downtown. This plan would use up 25 percent of our Main Street’s frontage! Many think their plan would be harmful for both Clayton and for these church members, so you should be opposed for the following reasons: 1. Since Joel Clayton’s days and our incorporation in 1964, our citizens and every elected City Council has been working to save and build our historic downtown into our commercial center to gather, enjoy, and shop with businesses, shops, stores, banks—even an ice cream parlor—without having to leave downtown. 2. In addition to the convenience of such a downtown done in our “old west” architecture. Clayton, with no major industry, needs and deserves the revenues from such a downtown to run our city and to avoid increasing other taxes. 3. To help accomplish this, Clayton voters in 1987 created our Redevelopment District and invested many millions of dollars of bond money creating this downtown. The bonds must now be paid back from the expected revenues from new downtown businesses. 4. Clayton citizens are already served by many fine churches, so there is no reason or need to sacrifice our scarce remaining retail space for one more.

Mayor, from page A1 Most of these neighborhood feeder streets have a posted speed limit of between 25 and 30 mph, so you have to be diligent about watching your speed. I truly believe that most people do not realize how fast they are going because they are preoccupied with other things. Not surprisingly, most citations written in Clayton are for speeding. What’s more, almost 50 percent of them are Clayton residents. Believe it or not, the Clayton P.D. does not like writing citations. Therefore, please help them out and be courteous to your neighbors by slowing down. Now, for a few updates: There will soon be a new walk-

ing trail from the intersection of Marsh Creek Road and Clayton Road to the new Longs Drug Store. In addition, the old deteriorated wood fence/retaining wall along Marsh Creek Road between Center Street and Mountaire Parkway will be replaced with a retaining wall that has a stone façade. The Daffodil Hill/Clayton downtown entrance sign will soon be getting a facelift. This is a community beautification partnership project with the Clayton Business and Community Association. It includes new landscaping and signage that will showcase our historic downtown. “Never doubt that a small

Reasons why the church plan would also be bad for the church include: 1. Even if this parcel sells to commercial/retail, the church’s current Town Center office, church services at Diablo View Middle

BE VARIETY

THE W AY

SH OULD BE

Clayton’s historic downtown is finally experiencing its long desired development into a quaint and REAL downtown. With many years and many millions of tax dollars invested in utilities, boardwalk sidewalks, streetlights, parking and now our new “Grove Park,” businesses finally WANT to be in our downtown, and we NEED them! However, in spite of it not being why we spent the money and being against Clayton’s zoning and Town Center Specific Plan, a church is trying to buy some of our prime downtown land to build. Clayton’s zoning etc. would normally protect us because a prudent buyer would apply first and be turned down, but this church is hoping instead to force their way after they buy it. With nothing against churches in general, Clayton citizens need to be alerted and able to defend themselves. A recent letter from this church to the congregation and others states that they are starting this “fight” as they plan to “fight and battle” to get their way. Their letter tells their membership that “failure is not an option;” that “God has called them;” that they “will not be dissuaded;” and that they will “battle” to “further God’s glory” by building within our commercial downtown. They need to raise $1.4 million to close escrow to buy the 1.66 acre parcel in November. They then want to combine it with the .61 acre historic Pioneer Inn, to knock it down

TAS

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Downtown parcel is not a good location for church for many reasons

ER TT

The Pioneer makes the Readers Forum space available to readers with a point of view on a topic of community interest. The views expressed in the Readers Forum are those of the writer and not necessarily held by the Pioneer publishers.

School, Main Street events, and their good works can still continue while they prepare for their ultimate location. 2. To accomplish the church’s larger goal of a 10-acre plus church complex, they’d do it sooner and cheaper now on land like the Temps site, Hess Road, or out Marsh Creek Road at the old Marsh Creek Park site. This way they wouldn’t sidetrack their effort, time and money downtown which they’d eventually outgrow and would want to sell to some other church/religion that would then pay them the most. 3. To “fight and battle” to take Clayton’s prime commercial site now, would not add to Clayton’s “sense of Community, but would divide and upset it, and probably be counter to the church’s goal of gaining in membership. 4. Other former Clayton mayors, civic leaders and businessmen like Rich Littorno, Skip Ipsen and Matt Mazzei, agree and will help if we need to organize to defend Clayton from this unnecessary “fight” being brought to us. Talking and writing letters to the newspaper, the City Council and to church members, would hopefully help them to reconsider before making the costly mistake of buying it in November and causing the land to be tied up for many years. If you feel similarly about this threat to Clayton, you can email us at pete@ palaurence.com, and we’ll start a list of concerned citizens to prepare, in case the church members proceed with this harmful direction. - Pete Laurence Former Councilman and Mayor

Reader’s Forum

5. Before this church came along Clayton already had its strong “sense of community” and uses Main Street for community activities. What is at issue is this: Will this church respect Clayton’s zoning and locate as have the other churches? 6. Large churches with or without a lot of people do NOT add much to commercial activity and nothing to the city’s tax revenue as do additional businesses. That is why they are not sought for downtowns or planned into shopping centers or malls. 7. Just as Clayton would oppose a “big box” store in our quaint downtown, we should also oppose a “big box” church, be it at Council meetings or by vote. 8. The seller is an Orinda based developer that wanted to build a single story on this parcel that is zoned for twostory commercial. When his single story plan was rejected by the city, he offered to sell it to the church at below market. Clayton still needs a two-story retail/commercial projects that can be enjoyed now, rather than after years of hassle, appeals and litigation. 9. Even though the 800 member church (about half the congregation and its Pastor live outside Clayton) can pack City Council meetings, Clayton’s elected City officials and if needed the ballot box, should instead decide in favor of Clayton’s 11,800 citizens to build out our remaining historic Town Center as commercial/retail.

August 24, 2007

MOR

Page A4

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4807 Boxer, Concord

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This is a must see. Beautifully updated 3 bedroom 2.5 bath free standing condo directly across from Newhall Park and the lake. Enjoy the view of the lake and the ducks from the updated kitchen with tile floors and custom cabinets. Rich hardwood floors and crown molding in the living and dining room complete a fantastic downstairs living area. All of the bathrooms have been tastefully updated. A wood burning fire place, 6 panel doors and a 2 car garage are just some of the amenities of this exceptional property. This is a short sale and will not last. Offered at $459,000

Fabulous 3 bedroom 2.5 bath home in Marsh Creek Villas with 1,378 square feet of living space. This home features updated kitchen and baths, 2 car attached garage and newer carpet, paint and fixtures. Don’t miss the incredible views of Mt Diablo. Wonderful clubhouse and pool with RV/Boat parking available through the Homeowners Association. Seller will pay 6 months HOA fees. Your chance to live in beautiful Clayton won’t last at this price. Offered at $450,000

August 10, 2007

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

Page A5

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HELP WANTED

SERVICES

Part-time Positions. Now hiring at The Royal Rooster gift boutique in historic Downtown Clayton. Part-time positions, flexible schedule, store discount. Contact Sara Skow at 672-8744 or theroyalrooster@sbcglobal.net.

Pet Sitting. Traveling? I provide in your home, stress-free care for your pets. Call Linda at Peace of Mind Pet Services at 672-9781. Reasonable rates, licensed, bonded, insured. Business based in Clayton and nearby Concord.

Counter Person. Part-time entry-level counter position. Saturday 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., Mon., Tues., and Wed. 3 p.m. – 7 p.m. Call 497-1003.

Perennial Garden Design by Nicole Hackett AKA the Garden Girl. Personal consultations regarding plant choices, placement, identification, fertilizing and maintenance. Spring is just around the corner. Call or email for information and pricing. 673-1746 (leave message) gardengirl94517@yahoo.com.

Wild Bird Caregiver. A wildlife education non-profit in the Clayton area is seeking an individual to care for non-releasable wild birds housed in outdoor aviaries and to perform other related duties. The position is part time, 3 days a week, 6 to 7 hours a day. The applicant must have previous animal care experience. Knowledge of wildlife rehabilitation or zoo keeper experience and a good eye for detail will make the applicant stand out. Send background and contact information with emphasis on animal related experience via e-mail to corvidconnection@aol.com.

Reg

ister

Aug

.2 I want to invest in - Lim 9 & 3 0 ited seat i n real estate, but not in g California. Where should I go?

NOW

It’s no secret that the California real estate market has cooled. But the Southern states are HOT right now. And we aren’t talking about the weather. Take a look:

Real Estate Appreciation in the Last 12 Months SF/Oakland Bay Area . . . . . . . DOWN 9% Nashville, Tennessee . . . . . . . UP 12.5% Raleigh, North Carolina . . . . . UP a whopping 21.9% Our workshop will feature an out-of-state broker offering builder direct, cash flow duplexes. These properties are a turn key investment, complete with financing and property management. These multi-family properties will be a good compliment to your real estate portfolio.

When: Where:

Wed., August 29, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. Heald College Conference Center, 5130 Commercial Circle, Concord.

and

When: Where:

Thurs., August 30, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. Caps Restaurant, 144 Oak St. Brentwood

Call (925) 777-1920 or visit www.NWREI.net

NATIONWIDE REAL ESTATE INVESTMENTS

VOLUNTEERS WANTED Hospice of the East Bay (formerly Hospice and Palliative Care of Contra Costa) is seeking volunteers to assist hospice patients and their caregivers. Needed are volunteers who are fluent in Spanish, patient support volunteers to provide companionship and practical assistance, licensed hair stylists, certified massage therapists, handymen, mobile notaries, and bereavement support volunteers to support family members after their loved one has died. Free training begins September 26. Call Hospice of the East Bay at (925) 887-5678 and ask for the Volunteer Department, or email volunteer@hospiceeastbay.org .

PIONEER INFO CONTACT US Tel: (925) 672-0500 Fax: (925) 672-6580 CONTACT US Tamara Steiner tamara@claytonpioneer.com Beth Neudell beth@claytonpioneer.com Send ads to ads@claytonpioneer.com Send Sports News to Randy Rowland sports@claytonpioneer.com Send Club News to clubnews@claytonpioneer.com Send Religion News to churchnews@claytonpioneer.com

HOW TO PLACE A CLASSIFIED AD Classified rates per insertion: Non-profit: $12 for first 30 words, $.20 each additional word Individual/non-commercial: $18 for first 30 words, $.30 each additional word Commercial: $48 for first 30 words, $.40 each additional word

Where the meat is Choice and the parking is easy

To place your classified ad over the phone, call the office at (925) 672-0500 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Mon.-Fri. Or, you may fax your typewritten ad and credit card information to (925) 672-6580 All classifieds must be paid for in advance by credit card (Master Card or Visa) We will not accept any ad that discriminates on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, nationality, family status or disability. The Clayton Pioneer reserves the right to reject any advertising we believe is unsuitable.

Ryan Spangler Meat department manager

LET US KNOW

Dana Foods participates in the E-Scrip program, which benefits local schools, churches and other organizations.

USDA choice meats & poultry cut to order by our top notch friendly, neighborhood butcher

Harris Ranch Beef

freshest fish in town produce to please a deli to dazzle

Tri-Tip - plain, marinated or seasoned . . .$5.49 lb. Rib Eye Steaks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$7.99 lb. prices good through 8/28/07

Dana Foods-If you care what you eat. It’s worth the 10-minute drive down Concord Blvd.

4115 Concord Blvd. 925-609-7789 Store hours: Mon.-Sat. 8 am to 9 pm, Sun. 9 am to 7 pm

Weddings, engagements, anniversaries, births and deaths all weave together as part of the fabric of our community. Please let us know of these important events. We ask only that the announcement be for a Clayton resident. You will find the appropriate form for your announcement on our Website. Attach your photo to the form. Also on our Web site are forms for submitting Community Calendar items and press releases for your organization.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR The Clayton Pioneer welcomes letters from our readers. As a general rule, letters should be less than two double spaced pages and submitted at least one week prior to publication date. Letters concerning current issues will have priority. We may edit letters for length and clarity. All letters will be published at the editor’s discretion. Please include your name, address and daytime telephone number. We will not print letters from “anonymous.” E-mail your letter in a Word Document to tamara@claytonpioneer.com. Letters MUST be submitted via E-mail.

P.O. Box 1246 6200 Center Street, Suite F Clayton, CA 94517 Office: 925.672.0500, Fax: 925.672.6580 TAMARA

AND

R OBERT S TEINER , Publishers

TAMARA S TEINER , Editor P ETE C RUZ , Graphic Design B EV B RITTON , Copy Editor and Feature Writer R ANDY R OWLAND , Sports Writer B ETH N EUDELL , Administrative Assistant

Directory of Advertisers Abbey Carpets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .686-9901 Acupressure for Health . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .674-0767 Aegis of Concord . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .692-5838 Antioch Paintball Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .757-2468 Andrus, Randi - Keller Williams Real Estate . . . . . .381-0659 Apronstrings Pet Sitting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .798-7621 Benton, Mureleen - Ameriprise Financial . . . . . . . . .685-4523 Beautique Beauty Supply and Salon . . . . . . . . . . . .672-0405 Burkin Electric . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-1519 Butterfly Life . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-4238 Calkins, Bill - Charlotte Clifford Realtors . . . . . . . . . .673-9164 Cartridge World . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .673-3500 Carol Keane and Associates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .937-5200 CD Federal Credit Union . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .825-0900 Chic'z on the Go . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-877-933-6644 Cegielski Jewelers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .682-2855 Clark, Robert C., D.O. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .969-7530 Clayton Books . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .673-3325 Clayton Community Church . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .673-8957 Clayton Financial . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .673-5470 Clayton Fitness and Tanning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-2010 Clayton Mind and Body Connections . . . . . . . . . . . .673-0686 Clayton Valley Bowl . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .689-4631 Clayton Valley Medical Group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-6744 Clayton Valley Shell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-3900 Clayton Valley Villa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-8401 Computers USA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-9989 Cruise Adventures Unlimited . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .935-7447 Dana Foods . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .609-7789 Denim & Lace . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .524-0345 Diamond Terrace Senior Retirement Living . . . . . . .524-5100 Dromlewicz, Kim - Century 21 Hosking Assoc. . . . .682-4663 Englund's Tea Cottage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-8327 Farrand, Greg - HomEquity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .673-9737 Flannery, Patty - Diablo Realty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-0541 Fly Media . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .437-2318 French, Lynne - Windemere Real Estate . . . . . . . . .672-8787 Golf n Games . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .754-5053 Gotta Dance! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .825-7543 Help - U - Sell Real Estate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .680-4950 Hudak, Jim - Pianist and Composer . . . . . . . . . . . . .673-7293 HomEquity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .673-9737 Insite Design . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .689-6460 Kavanaugh, Mike - Re Max Accord Real Estate . . . .383-6102 Kelly Marshall Garden Design . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .914-0327 Ken Mitolo Construction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-2460 Laurence, Pete - Better Homes Realty . . . . . . . . . . .939-7920 La Veranda Restaurant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .524-0011 Lillie's Realistic Body Spa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-6013 Littorno, Richard - Attorney at Law . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-6463 Lopez, Stephanie - Coldwell Banker . . . . . . . . . . . . .932-7329 Main Street Nail Studio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-4975 Marchione, Terry - Eagles Peak Realty . . . . . . . . . .465-0435 Michael Dwyer & Sons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-3980 Mike's Auto Body . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .689-1739 Miller, Linda - HomEquity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .765-4765 Monte Vista Veterinary Hospital . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-1100 Morucci, Kim - Intero Real Estate Services . . . . . . .280-8563 Music Together . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .946-2990 Nationwide Real Estate Investments . . . . . . . . . . . .777-1920 Nature's Creations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .800-624-2188 Navlet's . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .681-0550 Neptune Society of Northern California . . . . . . . . . .944-5100 Nichols Landscape . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-9955 Nickerson, Glenna - Diablo Funding Group . . . . . . .227-0100 Nu Image Painting & Decorating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-1777 Ouimet Funeral Home . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .682-4242 Pawsitively the Best Pet Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .695-4476 Peregrine Lending . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .627-2564 Postal Annex + . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-8900 Quiznos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .673-5333 Rahimzadeh, Helen - Coldwell Banker . . . . . . . . . . .932-7375 R&M Pool, Patio & Gardens . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-0207 R.E. Carpet Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .595-8623 Roberta Claire Photography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .625-1123 Robin's Ranches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-7323 Rocco's Ristorante & Pizzeria . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .947-6105 Saxbys Coffee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .687-9592 Seasonal Reflections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-4425 Skuba, Arlene - REMAX Allied Brokers . . . . . . . . . .672-6009 Skuba, Lana - REMAX Allied Brokers . . . . . . . . . . .672-5501 Skylark Equestrian . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .516-5942 Smith Bernal Roofing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-0138 Sonset Flowers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .685-8200 Sparkle Pools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .260-5025 Stone Tree Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .798-2094 St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church/Greek Festival .676-6967 Straight Line Imports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .335-9801 The Maids . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .798-6243 The Painting Ladies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .787-5553 The Royal Rooster . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-2025 The UPS Store . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .689-6245 Tipperary Construction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .216-2679 Travel to Go . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-9840 Van Wyck, Doug - State Farm Insurance . . . . . . . . .672-2300 Volf Accountancy, L.L. P. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .889-4950 Vujnovich, George - Better Homes Realty . . . . . . . .672-4433 Williams, Mike - Williams Properties . . . . . . . . . . . . .260-5363

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Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

August 24, 2007

Get a termite clearance early to ease home sale REAL ESTATE Imagine finding out after you purchased a home that it’s riddled with dry rot and termites. To guard against such misfortune, most homes are put through the scrutiny of a termite inspection during the course of a sale transaction. A termite inspection checks the structure for all evidence of infestation and infection by wood-destroying pests and organisms, not just termites. Other culprits might include dry rot, fungus, wood-boring beetles, mold and carpenter ants. After the infestation is eliminated and related damage is repaired, a licensed pest control contractor can issue a certification stating that the property is free and clear of active infestation by wood-destroying pests and organisms. This certification is loosely referred to as a termite

Principal, from page A1 Parent Faculty Club copresident Kristy Smith was part of the Mt. Diablo group that interviewed five principal candidates. “I was very impressed by the process and the amount of input that the district was willing to receive from the parents and teachers at Mt. Diablo,” Smith says. She is pleased with Dodson’s appointment, citing his experience, knowledge and enthusiasm. “He also has great respect for the things we have already achieved at Mt. Diablo,” she notes. “Of course, we’ll miss Linda Hutcherson tremendously, but I think he’s going to be really great. He’s very open and warm.” Dodson shares similar feelings about the Mt. Diablo interview team. “They were a real energetic group and they asked excellent questions,” he says. “I felt a good connection with them.” Dodson moved into administration after completing his master’s degree at Cal State Hayward in 1995. Having served on various school committees, he says it was a natural evolution to become a principal. One of his long-term goals is to be the superintendent of a K-8 school. In that vein, Dodson is embarking on a seven-month course at the Superintendents Leadership

Academy in Sacramento. His wife Ann is also a principal, at Morello Park Elementary in Martinez. They live in Walnut Creek with their 16-year-old daughter. Dodson enjoys sports, including softball and waterskiing. He’s the current president of the Diablo Waterski Club.

walk on, the lender will probably want it to be repaired before they’ll be willing to loan on the property. Some buyers prefer to buy a property “as is,” even if it does have damage by wood pests that needs to be corrected. If the damage isn’t obvious to a lender’s appraiser and there’s no reference to a termite inspection or related work in the purchase contract, the lender usually won’t require a termite clearance. For example, the master bathroom may have a failed shower pan that has led to dry rot. If you’re planning to redo the master bath, you may prefer that the seller not have the work done. The seller might agree to credit you the amount of the termite work, or lower the sale price by an equivalent amount. If you do accept a credit in lieu of having repairs completed by close, make sure that you follow through and have the work done. Having termite work done

during the course of a sale can be problematic if your home requires a lot of work. This is particularly true if the real estate market is active and contractors are in high demand. If you sell to a buyer whose lender requires a termite clearance, your closing could be delayed if the work can’t be done quickly. Your best bet is to order a termite inspection of your home before you put it on the market. Review the inspection report with your real estate agent to determine what, if any, work you should complete before marketing your home. A termite clearance may not be required to sell your home, but it may enhance its salability. To a buyer, a termite clearance is like a clean bill of health.

TRANSITION AT MIDDLE SCHOOL

Cooper has mixed feelings about leaving her job – and home – in Clayton. “I’ve been part of the Clayton community for so long, as a resident, a teacher and an administrator, so it’s going to be a big change for me,” Cooper says. “Diablo View is an incredible school, and it was very hard for me to leave,” she adds. “But I do feel it’s in a good place, and I have every confidence that Patti will do a fabulous job.”

Meanwhile, changes are also in the works at Diablo View Middle School. In a whirlwind week in July, former principal Michelle Cooper got married, moved to Alamo and accepted a new position as principal at Iron Horse Middle School in San Ramon. Diablo View vice principal Patti Bannister is in charge at the Clayton school during the search for a new principal.

COME MEET

THE

Lynne French is the broker/owner of Windermere Lynne French & Associates and a Clayton resident. For any real estate needs or questions, contact her at 672-8787, Lynne@LynneFrench.com or stop in at 6200 Center St. in Clayton.

AUTHORS

Free event

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356 Mt. Washington Way — New Listing! Bring your imagination and hand work for this 4bed/2 bath 1956 sq ft. fixer upper in Dana Hills. Bring us an offer... we will work with you!

112 Mount Whitney Way – Updated throughout. 4 bedrooms 2 bath Dana Hills Beauty. Single Level w/ new windows, granite, and more! New price: $728,900

1021 Pebble Beach Drive – The Crown Jewel of Clayton. 5,100 square feet quality custom home on the Flagship Peacock Creek Lot. Includes Oakhurst Country Club Membership. Offered at $2,150,000 20 Mount Rushmore Place — Single level beauty!

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4 bedroom 2 baths on near ¼ acre lot. Remodeled kitchen and more.

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LYNNE FRENCH

clearance. In this era of consumer awareness, most buyers require a current termite inspection before they’ll agree to buy a home. However, a termite clearance is not always part of the agreement. Whether a termite clearance is required to close a home sale depends on the buyer’s lender and on the terms of the agreement negotiated between the buyer and seller. Buyers who purchase a home using a low down payment, firsttime buyer mortgage program may be required to provide the lender with a termite clearance on the home they’re buying before the lender will fund the loan. In this case, the sale can’t close without a termite clearance. Even when buyers use conventional financing, the lender is likely to require a termite clearance if the property is in a state of disrepair, particularly if hazardous conditions exist. For example, if a deck has dry rot to the point that it’s dangerous to

August 24, 2007

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer .com

Page A7

Tapestry’s summer tour takes their joyful sound to England New gourmet kitchen with granite countertops. New dual pane windows.

25 Clark Creek Circle, Clayton

Only $479,000

Marsh Creek Park Villa’s largest plan at 1,457 sq. ft. with 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, formal dining and breakfast nook. Great setting, located on a quiet circle with views. Large master suite has vaulted ceilings. Also included: central air conditioning, a wood burning fireplace, two-car garage and a brick patio yard ideal for small pet or BBQ entertaining.

KNOWLEDGE

For this and others, call Pete.

SERVICE

PETE LAURENCE Broker-Owner, Realtor, GRI

1511 Treat Blvd. #100, Walnut Creek, CA

INTEGRITY

RESULTS

Office (925) 939-7920 Fax (925) 939-1939 VM 24 hr (925) 940-2777

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BEV BRITTON Clayton Pioneer

Carol Smith fondly recalls her recent performance in Midsomer Norton, England, with the musical group Tapestry. “They were such an appreciative audience,” says the Clayton resident. “We just sort of fed off their energy, and I think we did our best performance there.” The local paper agrees, calling it “a truly splendid evening” with music “the likes of which haven’t been heard for a long time.” While in England, the 28 musicians performed four concerts featuring a variety of styles – from a tribute to Cole Porter and selections from “South Pacific” to Mozart’s “Alleluia” and the traditional Irish folk song “Danny Boy.” “I think the people of England are used to having classical, serious programs,” Carol notes. “And, of course, we have fun with our music and that really came across to the audiences. I can’t tell you how many people came up afterward and talked about our enthusiasm.” Clayton resident Cindy Krausgrill directs Tapestry, a joint project of the Canto Bello handbell ensemble and the women’s choral group Heartsong. Other Clayton residents on the 10-day tour were Laurie Boyle, Judith Hall, Carylon vanEssen, Dale Scovill and Dianne Werner. Proceeds from the shows benefit Isubilo, a charity that helps children and families with AIDS in Zambia. So far, Tapestry has raised $14,833 for Isubilo, collected at concerts here and in England.

Photo courtesy of Tapestry

DIRECTOR CINDY KRAUSGRILL leads the Tapestry singers and handbell choir in a stunning performance in Midsomer Norton, England.

“They are building a school for these children with AIDS, and they are going to use the funds we provide to furnish the new school,” Carol reports. This is the second time Carol has traveled abroad to share her music and her goodwill. In 2003, she traveled to Bosnia with Canto Bello. In addition to performing at the music festival in Sarajevo, the group spent two weeks volunteering at a youth house. This time around, however, there was time to play tourist – including a visit to Windsor Castle, Leeds Castle, Stonehenge and a production of “Billy Elliot” at the Victoria Palace Theatre in London. Coming on the tour as a substitute bell ringer, Dianne calls the experience “fabulous.” She particularly enjoyed their time in York and Bath. “On our own, we toured the Museum of Costume in Bath and we had a guided tour of the Roman Baths,” she says. “And of course, there was Bath Abbey and then York Minster

Abbey, which was gorgeous.” Dianne’s husband Dale has been with Canto Bello for many years and as the only male in the group, he tends to ring the larger bells. Fortunately for this tour, he and the other bell ringers didn’t have to worry about getting their bells safely overseas. Through a connection Carol had made while living in London in the early ’90s, the musicians were able to borrow bells and chimes. “This was a major timesaver, because a lot of the bell cases are overweight for the airlines, and it’s very difficult to travel with them as far as the weight and them getting broken,” says Carol. Overall the tour went smoothly, and Carol says the 48 people in the group got along splendidly. And the trip strengthened the ties within the group of musicians. “At rehearsals, we don’t always have time to get to know each other real well, but this is a terrific group of people,” says Carol. “This group permits us to share our love of music with everybody in the community.”

Page A8

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

Consider taking omega-3 to help reduce the risk of stroke AMANDA COPENHAVER

SENIOR MOMENTS Health issues are one of the greatest concerns seniors face today. As medical innovations continue to take place at lightning speeds, it is important that we remain educated and up-todate about these helpful advances that may help us live longer and healthier lives. An area of critical concern to seniors is the risk of stroke. During a stroke, a blood clot forms in the brain and leads to a

lack of oxygen to the brain. This allows for grave damage to occur to the blood vessels. Post stroke victims then run the risk of damage to certain regions of the brain and, in many cases, this leads to areas of paralysis. Recently, medical studies have stressed preventative methods to reduce the risk of stroke. One popular option is the consumption of omega-3 fatty acids and oils. Omega-3s are a form of polyunsaturated fat important to overall health. The best source is fatty, cold-water fish such as herring, mackerel, salmon and tuna. The American Heart Association (AHA) states: “Evidence of fish oils’ protec-

tive powers is so strong that the AHA now urges everyone to eat at least two small 3-ounce servings of fish a week.” This is normally recommended for most people, primarily senior citizens, facing normal heart risk and not for women who are pregnant or for children as these fish may contain pollutants. Should consumers not wish to increase fish intake or for those who do not like fish, an alternative is at least 2 grams of fish-oil pills a week pending physician approval. Additionally, plant oils such as canola or flax seed oils can deliver adequate supplements of omega-3 acids. These acids have

proven to reduce blood pressure as well as blood clotting. The discovery of the benefits of fish oil came about when medical researchers awakened to the fact that people who consumed fish frequently suffered fewer heart attacks and died of heart disease at a lower rate than people who rarely or never consumed fish. Moreover, omega-3s have been said to decrease signs of depression and assist in uplifting one’s mood. Latest studies conducted by the University of Pittsburgh’s Behavioral Medicine Program have shown

August 24, 2007

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Turkey, from page A1 transported to the Golden State about 100 years ago for gaming, but you need a license and an upland game bird stamp to hunt them, according to the California Department of Fish and Game. The range of wild turkeys in California has grown exponentially in the last 10 years, and humans seem to be the culprits. Some inadvertently augment the population, while others directly proliferate this wave of turkeys. “Some homeowners can’t resist feeding them. That’s when trouble begins. A few stray visitors soon become a flock of permanent residents that have lost their natural fear of humans,” states the California Fish and Game “Keep Me Wild” campaign. “The number of predators are less prevalent, such as cougars, bobcats and mountain lions, and these turkeys have found our neighborhoods a good habitat to thrive,” adds Sherrill Cook, director of external affairs for the Lindsay Wildlife Museum. Clayton is no exception. Wild turkeys can mass in groups up to 60 and frequently abound at 25 or more. “It is like a parade,” exclaims Gary Napper, Clayton’s city manager. They are no longer reticent

and seem to be interested in the happenings inside homes, even at the most intimate and candid moments. “I was taking a shower, and I looked out my window into the backyard and there were two big turkeys staring at me. I couldn’t believe it. The turkeys were peeping toms!” says Deb Mullins, a Dana Hills resident. While perusing backyards, garages and street corners, the turkeys may transmit insidious material. “We have not found any harmful virus or disease in wild turkeys, but all wild animals carry diseases that can be transmitted to humans and pets, so use caution when dealing with turkeys,” says Susan Heckly, a staff member at the Lindsay Museum. The California Department of Fish and Game has enumerated ways of eradicating turkeys from your vicinity. Turkeys eat insects, grains and seeds, so put away bird feeders when turkeys are present. You can also install fences and automatic sprinklers or get a dog. Some residents consider the turkeys a nuisance, while others are indifferent, but there is a constituency of interested onlookers. “It is neat to see the wildlife,” says Mayor Bill Walcutt, a Dana Hills resident. “I was watching a

and providing a sense of wellbeing. In addition, massage can help provide temporary relief of chronic pain due to an injury or illness. If you are receiving medical care for an illness or injury, a doctor should be consulted to see if massage is proper. I know that a lot of us get tight necks and shoulders. This can be caused by stress, tension and even using the computer or driving. A massage of the neck and shoulders can relieve that tightness. This can lead to a reduced number of tension headaches

and possibly that irritability that we feel. And who doesn’t feel better after a good night’s sleep? I’ve even had people fall asleep during a massage. So if you have stress symptoms, need a good night of sleep, have aches, pains or headaches, massage may provide temporary relief that is drug-free. Remember that a massage therapist is not a doctor and should never diagnosis a problem.

flock of 25 stroll down my street.” Neither the mayor nor the city manager has received complaints concerning the turkeys. Many residents snap photos and look with amazement as the turkeys stroll through their yards and streets. But it is important to respect the wild animals, especially during certain seasons. “The male turkeys get particularly aggressive during mating season, and all wild animals have a propensity to react aggressively to humans,” says Heckly. The Lindsay Museum currently is home to nine young wild turkeys who have strayed from their parents, and they also receive injured adult turkeys who

have been hit by cars. While the omnipresent turkeys enjoy the hospitality of Clayton residents during the summer season, they may become scarce when November looms. “I wonder if they will be brave enough to stick around for Thanksgiving,” Walcutt jokes. Anyone concerned about safety issues, interested in hunting regulations or licensing or seeking general information should contact Clayton city officials at 673-7300, the Lindsay Museum (www.wildlife-museum.org or 935-1978) or the California Department of Fish and Game (www.keepmewild.com, 916-6536420).

For more information, contact David Godsoe at 673-0686.

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August 24, 2007

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer .com

‘Nunsense Jamboree’ may not be heavenly, but it’s got the right spirit

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The nun who taught me to play piano sure didn’t have the rhythm that graces Sister Kim in “Nunsense Jamboree.” Kim Vetterli’s jubilant music provides the perfect backdrop for the Willows Theatre Company’s knee-slapping, high-stepping cabaret performance. The musical revue revolves around Sister Mary Amnesia (Alexandra Kaprielian), who has just recorded her first country album. Her religious entourage is touring with “Sister Amnesia’s Country Western Nunsense Jamboree,” featuring a “Hee Haw” set complete with a stuffed rooster atop the barn and

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CLAYTON VALLEY GARDEN CLUB Pioneer garden columnist Nicole Hackett will be the guest speaker at the Sept. 12 meeting of the club. The topic will be geraniums and pelargoniums, in conjunction with her recent column “Not your grandma’s geraniums.” The meeting is at 7 p.m. at Diamond Terrace, 6401 Center St. AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF UNIVERSITY WOMEN

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The Clayton AAUW invites the community to the annual complimentary Membership Luncheon on Saturday, Sept. 15. They will gather at 11:30 a.m. at the Concord United Methodist Church, 1645 West St., Concord. After a salad luncheon, Kathy Barrett from the Diablo View Orchid Society will present a fun and informative presentation. The group also will hear about the experiences of the three Diablo View Middle School girls who were the recipients of Science Camp scholarships this summer. The Clayton Valley High School student who received last year’s AAUW scholarship will also be in attendance. Please invite a friend and RSVP to JoAnn Caspar at 672-7680 or Marcia Hart at 827-9540.

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Sister Amnesia flaunting a gold lamé cape and red cowboy boots. It’s a bit hokey at first, but after an audience participation game of bingo during intermission, it all seems to make perfect sense and people are settling back for a rollicking good time. Well, we would settle back if our chairs weren’t so uncomfortable and our table wasn’t so wobbly. Still, the evening was a welcome respite from perhaps one too many nights on the couch watching “Star Trek: The Next Generation” on DVD. (We’re on Season 6, Disc 2.) For me, the highlight of the show is Sister Robert Anne (Deborah Del Mastro), who displays both the musical and comical chops to guide this silly bunch of singing nuns – and one Franciscan father. Del Mastro brings out her New York best in “Growing Up in Brooklyn” in Act II. Sister Mary Wilhelm (Barbara McFadden) and Sister Mary Leo (Jennifer Erdmann) join their blessed cohorts for

Photo courtesy of the Willows Theater

SISTER MARY AMNESIA (Alexandra Kaprielian) takes center stage during “Nunsense Jamboree.” Her religious following includes, from left, Russ Lorenson, Barbara McFadden, Deborah Del Mastro and Jennifer Erdmann.

“You’re a Nun,” which evokes the spirit of the original “Nunsense” – seen years ago at Centre Concord. Father Virgil Manly Trott (Russ Lorenson) rounds out the cast of five and comes into his own as he describes a high school crush in “The Delta Queen” and flits about in a curly

Club News

CONSTRUCTION BATHROOMS KITCHENS DOORS WINDOWS

Page A9

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blond wig in “Mini-Pearls of Wisdom.” The preview audience spanned the generations from old school to elementary school. And while the kids may not have understood some of the racy jokes and celebrity references, they knew enough to clap along and enjoy the ride.

Stroke,

The shopping spree took place 7:30-8 a.m. at the Clayton Valley Kmart. Volunteers included members of the Pleasant Hill and

Clayton Valley/Concord Sunrise Rotary clubs, along with the East Bay Escrow Association and a local Corvette Club.

Men of a certain age form friendly bonds through SIRs BEV BRITTON Clayton Pioneer

For the Sons in Retirement, it’s all about the camaraderie. “I enjoy the companionship of men in my same age group,” says Clayton resident Bill Schoonover. “We have the same values, the same likes and dislikes.” Schoonover, a retired project manager for McKesson, joined John Muir Branch 19 of the SIRs three years ago mainly to participate in the bowling and golf outings. His buddy, Bob Everett of Clayton, is currently the club’s bowling chair. Milton Momita of Clayton also joined the group for the activities. “I’ve met a lot of people from different professions and walks of life. It’s fun,” says the retired pharmacist from Bristol-Myers Squibb. For retired real estate agent Bob Mattson of Clayton, “retirement was a whole new life.” He joined the SIRs a few years ago,

also on the encouragement of a friend. In addition to mingling with fellows of his generation, Mattson enjoys the varied speakers at the monthly meetings at Oakhurst Country Club. In August, SIR Larry Swindell of Moraga kept the crowd chuckling with his story, “My Misadventure with Ronald Reagan.” The retired journalist wove a clever story about his interactions with Reagan in 1966, when the actor was turning to politics and the governorship of California. According to club president James Willey of Concord, the men’s group is devoted to the promotion of the independence and dignity of retirement. The branch of 132 members continues to grow, with new members being sponsored by current SIRs. The SIRs meet the first Thursday of the month at Oakhurst. For more information, contact Carl Sisson at 6726418.

from page A8 that increasing the gray matter in the brain leads to structural brain changes directly affecting mood and behavior. According to the Senior Journal’s Website, “The University of Pittsburgh researchers discovered that participants who had high levels of long-chain omega-3 fatty acid intake had higher volumes of gray matter in the areas of the brain associated with emotion arousal and regulation such as the right amygdale and hippocampus.” In the October 2003 issue of the American Journal of Preventative Medicine, it was stated that “omega-3 fatty acids would have about eight times the impact of distributing automated external defibrillators or AEDs.” Although fatty acids seem to play a winning hand in preventing risks associated with stroke, depression and heart disease, one should research both contents in fish species and obtain a physician’s approval relating to oil consumption. Consumer reports.org is a helpful Internet site that consumers can use to identify safer fish selection and their contents. Amanda Copenhaver is Marketing Director for Aegis of Concord. Send comments or questions to amanda.copenhaver@aegisliving.com

Page A10

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

August 10, 2007

Here’s hoping advanced classes are worth the effort

NICHOLS LANDSCAPE Boyce Nichols - Owner - Clayton resident

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MICHELLE TROSCLAIR

STUDENT REPORTER I have news that’s so exciting I absolutely have to share it with someone. Today, I finally finished my summer homework for next year’s AP/Honors classes. I reluctantly signed up for five AP/Honors classes for my junior year. Why in the world would I do this to myself ? The answer is quite simple. For once during my high school experience, I actually would like to be challenged. To be honest, I’m not even

that great of a student. Nor am I trying to imply that I’m some sort of genius because that’s not the case either. I am simply saying that it’s been my experience that high school tends to be more academically accommodating for the under-achievers as opposed to students who have some desire to be in a productive learning environment. I’ve never been too stellar at math, but if my addition is correct, I believe that it was only possible to take one honors class during my freshman and sophomore year combined. Although I’m not positive of the reasoning behind this, to be rather blunt, I don’t really think it

School News CLAYTON VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL The first CVHS Parent Faculty Club meeting will be at 7 p.m. Sept. 6 in the school library. All CVHS parents, guardians and interested community members are welcome to attend. The PFC is always looking for volunteers for executive board

and committee chair positions. Meeting attendance is not mandatory to taking on a lead role in helping your child’s school, but please try to come for the first meeting. Also, be sure to join and support the PFC by paying your membership fee.

MT. DIABLO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL The school is selling the 2008

should matter. Even regular classes aren’t nearly as rigorous as they should be. Extra grade point or not, if I have to sit through a seven-hour long day of school, I should at least be able to say that I learned something. I understand that not all students are interested in taking advanced classes. But if others have the choice to take easier courses, then it’s only fair for other students to have the same opportunities to the contrary. I’m trying to avoid going off on even more of a tangent, so everything put aside, I’m really quite thrilled to be able to sit in a room with intellectuals who

Greater East Bay Entertainment Books to enrich and improve technology while supporting school needs and improvements as a whole. The sale runs Aug. 27 to Sept. 13, and books are $25. Order out of town books at www.entertainment.com and enter account No. 850830. Or you can have one right away by e-mailing marydm64@ yahoo.com. Buy direct and save the $5 shipping cost.

have a common interest in mind. With that said, maybe junior year will turn out to be the hardest year of high school. My fingers are crossed – summer homework or not. Michelle Trosclair is a junior at CVHS and is an editor and writer for The Talon, the school newspaper.

We live in an area where many enjoy being in the outdoors. We hike, bike and horseback ride in these beautiful hills surrounding us. Unfortunately, every now and then, a person or animal gets bit by a tick from brushing against low plants. Ticks are small, wingless bugs that have eight legs and are related to spiders and mites. Ticks feed on the blood of animals, birds and humans. They are incapable of flying or jumping, so someone must come in direct contact with the tick to be bitten. The bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi is the Lyme diseasecausing organism that is endemic to the Northeast, midAtlantic, north central states and Pacific Coast. The bacteria live in black-legged deer ticks. Meanwhile, wood and dog ticks cause Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. An individual may not realize that a bite has occurred until a rash and flu-like symptoms develop. If you do notice a tick on the skin, remove it immediately and gently with tweezers by grasping it as close to the skin as possible and pulling straight up until it releases its hold. Avoid pulling too quickly, or

DEBRA GOETTSCH

YOUR HEALTH you will tear the body away from the mouth. If this occurs, try to remove the embedded parts as if removing a splinter or seek medical attention for compete removal. Do not twist or squeeze the body as this might release infected fluids into the bite site. Once the tick is removed, thoroughly wash the bite site with soap and water. Individuals may freeze the tick in a plastic bag for later scientific identification if flu-like symptoms and bulls-eye rash develop, which are indicative of Lyme disease. The flu-like symptoms of fever, headache, myalgias (muscle aches), arthralgias (joint aches) and fatigue are often mild and vague but may be severe enough to cause lingering discomfort. Unfortunately, there is

no test that can definitively detect active Lyme disease in the human body. Tests available today detect infection-fighting antibodies, which can take weeks to form. There is currently no vaccine available. If the bite site becomes red, warm and swollen, or begins draining a purulent discharge, seek prompt medical attention. Antibiotics are usually required. The typical reaction is a small red bump that improves within a few days without treatment. Prevention is the key. When out in the hills, wear long sleeves and pants of light color (so ticks are more noticeable), high socks and a hat. Use an approved tick repellent on skin and clothes, for example 35 percent DEET. Kids should use 10 percent DEET. Stay on marked trails and avoid low brush. After returning from the outdoors, remove clothing and inspect skin and clothes for ticks. Ticks often linger before biting. Shower off the DEET and shampoo hair while inspecting the scalp. Treat pets for fleas and ticks.

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August 24, 2007

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

Dillard, McEwan make for great summer reading

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BOOKS

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Charlotte Clifford Realtors With 28 years of real estate sales experience Clifford Realtors will provide you with reliable, knowledgeable, and attentive service when buying or selling your home. At Clifford Realtors, we offer you ALL the services available from any of the big companies, combined with the personal touch that only a one-on-one local agency can provide without all the overhead. You won’t feel like you are just another client lost in the shuffle and you won’t get “passed” over to an assistant ever! Your needs are important to us, and as your AGENT we will be with you every step of the process, from the first Call to the Close of Escrow.

Let us make you our #1 Client Call Bill Calkins at 673-9164 Clifford Realtors is a proud sponsor the CVLL Minor A Reds.

Page A11

www.ehome4you.com bill@ehome4you.com

Helping People Find Their Way Home!

Here comes a first - two reviews for the price of one! I read Dillard’s book first, and when I finished the McEwan title, several books later, I knew I had to link the two. We all have our favorite writers and Annie Dillard is one of mine. I will read anything she writes: novel, poetry, criticism, you name it. “The Maytrees” (216 pages, Harper Collins), a love story set in Provincetown, Mass., is her latest effort and right up there with her best. Dillard uses the coastal setting at the tip of Cape Cod as a backdrop and subtext for this moving story of love and its surprising consequences. Lou and Toby Maytree meet and fall in love not long after WWII is ended. Their relationship is founded on a deep friendship, abundant respect and healthy sex. Their married life takes place among a small circle of close friends, including artists, writers and other nonconformists drawn to the Cape. Lou and Maytree (never called Tobey) have a son, Petie. Petie becomes a part of their evenings on the dunes. “Star-

watchings-with-child were now a moral imperative.” Just as nature changes with the seasons, Dillard’s characters change with the years. Lou’s response to her husband’s and a good friend’s betrayal is as unique and mysterious as the seaside dunes. Lou remains in Provincetown to raise her son alone, turning to her natural surroundings for solace and understanding. What sustains her is patience and the ability to never reject the love she and Maytree shared. How this works, as they grow old, is the crux of Dillard’s story. “On Chesil Beach” (203 pages, Doubleday), Ian McEwan’s latest novel, is also a love story. The setting is England in the early sixties, just before the sexual revolution. Edward and Florence “were young, educated, and both virgins on this, their wedding night, and they lived in a time when a conversation about sexual difficulties was plainly impossible.” How’s that for an opening sentence? McEwan’s prose is tight, direct and expansive, all at the same time. We meet the newlyweds as they self-consciously sit down to dinner in their bridal suite at a Chesil Beach hotel. They are young and very innocent. For readers over sixty, bells

will go off in all directions. By the time the couple leaves the table for the bedroom, we know from flashbacks, which detail their growing up and their courtship, that trouble awaits them. Edward, though sexually inexperienced, expects that now, on their wedding night, Florence will happily shed her prior reticence. The writing is superb. We know more about their virginity than either bride or groom and we know the love and respect they dearly feel for each other may not be enough. Beneath Florence’s shyness masks a revulsion and fear of having sex. Unlike Dillard’s couple who are keenly aware of the nature of their love, Edward and Florence belong to a world in which nature, including human sexuality, is stifled by social constraints. When Florence, still fully clothed and on the bed with Edward, finds herself feeling pleasantly aroused, we hold our breaths, hoping this young couple might make it. The moment is fleeting, and before Edward

can make sense of things, Florence is off the bed, out the door and racing for the beach. Edward finds her almost cradled in the curve of a fallen tree on the beach. “She was wedged comfortably in the angle of a branch, feeling in the small of her back, in the massive girth of the trunk, the residual warmth of the day.” Seeming to draw strength from this natural setting, she responds to Edward’s rage with brutal honesty. How their love, which is not connected to anything larger than themselves, leads them to make the decisions they do, is the crux of McEwan’s story. I’ve never recommended two books at one time, but these two titles should be read within a month or so of each other. It doesn’t matter which is read first. Both stories have a brilliance all their own and what each illuminates is remarkable and true. Sunny Solomon is the BookLady and manager of Clayton Books in the Clayton Station. She holds an MA in English and Creative Writing from San Francisco State University. Sunny is a poet and loves to “talk books.” Reach her with questions or comments at 673-3325.

Niche marketing hits the target on the Web

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Optimizing your Website is crucial in today’s environment, especially with the level of online competition. A great way to the top is through niche markets. The main point, however, is that you must be optimized to appear within the top ranks of search engines. Finding a niche will allow you to capture highly qualified search traffic that is looking specifically for what you have to offer. Focusing your optimization on a particular niche inside your overall business can help get you to the top of a particular market. Instead of trying to compete with a broad market, such as “cameras,” go after a particular niche inside the over-reaching category, like “action photography” or “specialty lenses.” This may seem like the long way to the top, but if you can bring traffic to your site via a niche you can continue to find and build on other internal niches. Furthermore, if your product or service is too similar to a competitor’s, price will always be

an issue. When price is your only point of comparison, the existing brands will win every time. Targeting a niche market is a great way to avoid these issues and make your site stand out. Niche marketing can be extremely cost-effective by allowing you to pinpoint your ad dollars to a select demographic. Imagine you have a product that is just right for sports action photographers. You can run ads that target terms like “action lenses” or “mid-range lenses” and not try to tackle the whole camera market in one gulp. By finding niches within your business, you can reduce the risk of advertising and increase its effectiveness. Before you start marketing your niche, research your competition. Start by doing a Google search using terms you think buyers will use to find your product or service. Then select the top 10 results in your search and carefully study the keywords and phrases used in them. Look at their ads, their

promises, uniqueness and expertise. Analyze the words and phrases used. What kind of features do they offer? Are they publishing a monthly newsletter? Are they doing direct marketing? Sometimes I’ll collect all the keywords and phrases from the top sites and put them in a spreadsheet and use that as a guide to adding more keywords to my site content. When approaching a new niche market, it’s imperative to speak their language. Make sure you include your market’s “hot buttons” and as much expert language as possible. This expert knowledge is picked up by Google search spiders and influences your ranking. If all you’re going to do is list product and price, your site will be like all the others. You’ve got to represent yourself as an expert as much as possible. People who discover your expertise will trust you and return to the site time and again. Some good ways to spread expert verbiage is by adding sec-

PAT MOSCA MINDING

YOUR BUSINESS tions on tips and tricks. Tutorials also keep people coming back and they’re a great way to ad expert word content that is easily read by search engines. I know it sounds like a lot of work, but over time it will move you to the top of that Google search and increase traffic. Remember, content is king on the Internet. Pat Mosca is the owner of Fly Media. He can be contacted at (925) 437-2318 or by email at flymedia@ pacbell.net.

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Page A12

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

August 24, 2007

At the Movies

A financial plan as

Austen fans will appreciate Hathaway’s Jane ecstasy to despair and back again in its two, fast-paced hours. The greatest deficit of the script is the sometimes choppy transitions between the scenes, as though there just wasn’t time to properly complete one idea before moving on to the next.

pled by Julian Jerrod’s direction and the speed of Anne Hathaway’s speech, shows a solid understanding of the Austen canon. Most importantly, “Becoming Jane” adheres to the reality of Austen’s novels. While

JEANNA ROSS

AT THE MOVIES As a serious Austenite, the moment I saw the first glimpses of “Becoming Jane,” I was hooked, yet wary. The majority of Jane Austen’s life is shrouded in mystery for several reasons. She never wrote about herself in an autobiographical sense. She did, however, write an excess of letters to all her acquaintance. Unfortunately, when she died, in order to prevent just this sort of prying, her sister Cassandra destroyed much of the evidence of her private thoughts. As such, we must glean our facts from the remaining tidbits and the experiences of her characters. From this debris, Kevin Hood and Sarah Williams attempt to recreate the influences that fashioned one of the greatest writers of the English language. The good news is that their efforts are effective. The story spans the emotional range from indignation to

James McAvoy and Anne Hathaway star in “Becoming Jane.”

However, it is forgivable, as the authors’ passion and knowledge about this most beloved literary figure is obvious in every word. The timeline is shortened, with Austen’s three suitors appearing together, rather than over the factual six years. Personalities she would borrow for her work come and go, if one knows where to look for them. Every word Jane spouts about her writings, while tram-

regarded as a writer of romance, all of the stories and this film can be summed up in a line spoken by Mrs. Austen: “Affection is desirable. Money is absolutely indispensable.” Within “Becoming Jane,” we see characters who would marry for love without money, characters who would marry for money without love, characters who have both, characters who have neither and characters who wish for both. Finding a place where the two can co-exist later

becomes the mission of her characters. The performances by the supporting cast are uniformly excellent. Maggie Smith’s Lady Gresham, James Cromwell and Julie Walters as Mr. and Mrs. Austen and Anna Maxwell Martin as Cassandra Austen will be familiar to any “Pride and Prejudice” fans, as their relationships directly informed the creation of the Bennett family. However, it is the performances by Hathaway and the consistently wonderful James McAvoy as Tom Lefroy that are essential to the success of this picture. They are touching without delving into absurdity; their passions are played out with the same style of intellectual sense that Jane’s autobiographical characters themselves display. Meanwhile, Jerrod allows us to decide how we feel about this star-crossed affair, rather than overwhelming us with the right and wrong of the (mostly) truelife story. I give “Becoming Jane” my second-highest compliment: While not completely enamored, I was certainly not disappointed. Jeanna Ross is an English teacher at Clayton Valley High School and a free lance writer. She regularly contributes to the Pioneer. Send comments to her at movies@claytonpioneer.com.

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‘Hot Rod’ deserves a few laughs for its attempted stunts and stints NATALIE BUDESA

THE

MOVIES

If “Napoleon Dynamite” or Will Ferrell are any clue as to which direction comedy was heading, “Hot Rod” proves that a new age of comedy has dawned. That is, to take outrageously stupid scenarios and milk them for all they’re worth. So if you happen to find yourself in the theater watching a deluded stuntman crash and burn again and again for laughs … you might as well laugh. Rod Kimble, played by “Saturday Night Live” regular Andy Samberg, hates his stepfather. Therefore, he takes every opportunity to try to prove himself by beating up

said stepfather, Ian McShane. Yet when the stepfather’s life depends on a pricey transplant, Rod decides to raise the huge sum to save him. Why? So he can have the honor of doing in his stepfather himself. Thus Team Rod is born, in which Rod sports a moustache and is joined by a flank of oddball friends (Jorma Taccone, Bill Hader, Danny McBride) to pull off complicated stunts, without any sense or safety checks. The more he fails, the more he is convinced that he can jump 15 buses to raise the cash for his stepfather. Rod also hopes to utilize his stuntman persona to attract his neighbor, Denise (Isla Fisher), whose amiable personality is the only normal one of the bunch. I was pleasantly surprised when I left the theater, and my

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prediction is most people will plot, Samberg barely makes it, feel the same – or despise the giving us a Rod Kimble with gall of comedians everywhere. unrelenting motivation but yet It’s the differa character with ence between whom it’s hard watching Rod to relate. fall down a When Rod rocky cliff over and his stepfaand over, tumther finally bling, somerduke it out saulting and across several spinning, and backyards, it laughing with Adam Samburg in ‘Hot Rod’ doesn’t matter each new angle, whom you are or thinking the rooting for – cast went too far to stop the just laugh. There will be no plot for a “cool beans” remix- stopping the onslaught of like rap. I laughed and scoffed quoted lines from this movie, at either scene but still was able so I’ll be willing to believe “All to hope for the best when Rod great men have moustaches!” finally soared over those 15 for now. buses. Natalie Budesa is 17 years old Anyone familiar with direcand is a senior at CVHS. She plans tor Akiva Schaffer could comto be a screenwriter and author. Send pare the movie “Hot Rod” to a your comments to movies@claytonjumble of SNL stints. As for pioneer.com

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The drawing will be held on Sunday, Sept. 16th, starting at 6 p.m., and will continue until all 500 tickets – sold and unsold – have been drawn. St. Demetrios reserves the right to extend the final entry and drawing date. Proceeds to benefit the Building Fund for the Community Center – St. Dionysios on Church grounds.

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August 24, 2007

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

Page A13

Summer can sizzle with salsa trace its roots to the Incas of Peru since they are linked to the domestication of tomatoes and chilies. We know for sure that the Spanish encountered salsas among the Aztec and Mayan people of Mexico and Guatemala. Indeed, that’s how the condiment came by its name. Salsa is “sauce” in Spanish. Many think that salsa is only made for chips, but that greatly undervalues its fine flavors and versatility. From a culinary perspective, salsa is a condiment, not unlike “relish,” a word used in French cuisine. It is destined to add flavor to foods and is mostly served in uncooked form. Its popularity in the United States has grown so much in the

LINDA WYNER

FOOD

FOR

THOUGHT

Tomatoes are ripening on vines and chilies are greening up, so it’s time to start thinking about salsa. Salsa is a native product of the Americas. Some historians

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last 20 years that salsa now outperforms ketchup as a preferred condiment. The basic American recipe for salsa calls for tomatoes, chilies and other spices. It is a healthy addition to a balanced diet because it is low in calories and contains little or no fat. Many of the ingredients contribute vitamins and minerals, such as vitamins A and C and potassium. Chilies are desirable for the flavor and texture they impart to fresh salsa. Most traditionalists favor the serrano chili because of its uniform flavor, but Tex-Mex or Cal-Mex aficionados use jalapeños. A chipotle provides a hot, smoky flavor, while guajillo provides a milder heat and ancho a very mild flavor with almost a fruity note. To enhance the fla-

vors, spices such as garlic, black or cayenne pepper, cilantro, cumin and oregano are added to the salsa. Most salsas include onion and experimentation such as adding black beans or corn can be successful. Replacing tomatoes with tomatillos provides a wholly different taste experience. Sweet salsas are gaining ground. These newer blends use fruit to mellow the spiciness of salsa. Pineapple, mango, papaya, citrus and raspberries all blend nicely with chilies, onion, cilantro and spices. They pair well with fish and mild roasted meats like pork and chicken. SALSA FRESCA 1 lb. tomatoes, seeded and diced ½ c. minced onion

1 garlic clove, minced 1 jalapeño, minced 1-2 T. chopped cilantro, to taste 1 tsp. fresh chopped oregano (or ½ tsp. dried) 1 lime, juiced 1 T. olive oil Salt and pepper to taste Combine all ingredients and serve with chips, or atop a freshly grilled quesadilla or your favorite roast meat or fish. ROASTED TOMATO SALSA 6 Roma tomatoes 1 T. olive oil 1 medium onion, coarsely diced ½ dried chipotle chili (rehydrated) Broil tomatoes until skin is blackened. Cool and coarsely chop. Heat the oil in a skillet and add onion. Cook until deeply colored and caramelized. Place the chile, half of the tomatoes and half of the onions in a blender and puree. Add to remaining ingredients and add salt to taste.

½ t s p . dried oregano 1-2 serrano or jalapeño chilies (to taste), minced 1 T. cider vinegar Salt and pepper to taste Combine ingredients and chill for 2 to 3 hours. Taste and add additional vinegar, salt or pepper if needed. PEACH-MANGO SALSA 1 fresh mango, diced 2 medium peaches, diced 2 cloves garlic, minced 2 T. fresh ginger, grated ¼ c. fresh basil, chopped 2 serrano chile peppers, minced ¼ c. fresh lime juice Salt to taste Combine all ingredients and add salt to taste. This salsa should be refrigerated about 2 hours before serving to allow flavors to blend.

BLACK BEAN AND CORN SALSA 1 can prepared black beans, rinsed and drained ½ c. fresh corn kernels ½ c. jicama, finely diced 2 tomatoes, seeded and diced ½ c. red onion, diced

Linda Wyner is an accomplished chef and “foodie.” She recently opened her kitchen store in Pleasanton and the cooking school will open soon. Watch the Pioneer for details. Direct your suggestions or questions to lwyner@claytonpioneer.com

From mini-golf to paintball, it’s all family fun respectively. “It’s amazing how many people paintball,” says Jim. So much so that he plans on adding a fourth field, which will surely be a draw for advanced players. “I want to make an official 100 by 180 turf field, official regulation for the pros.” Jim gets help from his three sons, who grew up around these parks. Jim has 16 other employees at Golf-N-Games and 14 on the paintball courses. “These are great family fun and we’re the only game in town,” he says proudly. He has become a staple in the Antioch community, voted to the Board of Directors of the Chamber of Commerce and is 2008 president-elect for the Antioch Delta Rotary Club. “Antioch is growing and growing but still keeping the family-oriented town,” he says. That bodes well for his two businesses. In between the public service and family-entertainment business, Jim likes to ride his Harley. This weekend, take the family over the hill for a high octane game of mini-golf or paintball.

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When it comes to recreation in the East Bay, Jim Warrenburg has done it all. He’s owned Pixie PlayLand in Concord, worked festivals across the Bay Area and has now “drifted” into the Antioch family fun scene. Jim owns and operates GolfN-Games Family Fun Center, which contains two 18-hole miniature golf courses, an expansive indoor arcade and rock wall, six batting cages and a unique drifting Go-Kart course. But Jim did not stop there. He partnered to own Antioch Paintball Park, boasting several courses over six acres and a grandstand for spectators. The two facilities are just a short jaunt over the hill from Clayton and are a great way to spend a fun afternoon with the family. Golf-N-Games was a rundown facility in 2004, and Jim “put some TLC in the place, added the rock climbing wall and new go-karts, landscaped and revamped the indoor facility.” The four-acre grounds has become a popular place for the whole family, no matter the age. “Recently, we rented the

Justin Bedecarré/Clayton Pioneer

JIM WARRENBURG

KEEPS FAMILIES HAPPY and entertained with

his Golf-N-Games mini-golf course and Antioch Paintball Park.

place for a 60th birthday party,” says Jim. “They had a great time!” The park is geared to ages 9 to 20, with the oval drifting track, batting cages with pitches up to 70 mph and the challenging miniature golf course. They can accommodate individual families, large groups, birthday parties and sports teams. The attendance has doubled since Jim took over in 2004, and he has more plans to keep numbers rising. “I want to add a full restaurant on the premises,” says

Jim. The family fun center currently has a snack shack in the arcade area. Jim decided to invest even more in family entertainment with the Antioch Paintball Park on the Antioch Fairgrounds, along with elementary school teacher Max Bridges. “We provide lots of shade, grandstands, nice restrooms, showers and a food trailer.” The paintball facility is open Friday through Sunday with recreational, x-ball and speedball fields, increasing in difficulty

For more information, visit www.golfngames.com or call 7545100.

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Page A14

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

August 24, 2007

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Single Story with fantastic court location! 4 bedrooms, 2 baths, approx 1926sq ft & 2 car garage. Open floor plan with neutral decor. Recent Updating & Upgrading throughout featuring dual pane windows, tile floors, 2” blinds, new paint, light fixtures and more! Living room features vaulted ceiling, hardwood floors, recessed accent lights, and large walk in guest closet. Formal dining room off kitchen with upgraded crown moulding. Updated/Upgraded kitchen features granite slab counters, 18” tile floors, oak cabinets with built-in wine rack, pantry style cupboard with pull out drawers, free standing stainless oven/range and microwave. Spacious master suite with sliding glass door to patio and upgraded light fixture. Private pool size lot with custom brick accented stone insert patio’s, enclosed refreshing spa, paved side yard with shed and RV/Boat parking. $675,000

Tucked away in Walnut Creek’s Lakewood Neighborhood! 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, approx. 2,161sf, with inside laundry. Open living room with vaulted wood-beam ceiling, Pergo floor, cozy fireplace and slider leading to redwood deck with gorgeous views. Formal dining room with French door to kitchen. Optional downstairs family room or rumpus room with half bath and slider leading to covered patio. Large bonus room with private exterior access. Updated/upgraded gourmet kitchen featuring slab granite counters, newer stainless appliances, custom cherry cabinetry, recessed lights, sunny sky light, garden window and breakfast nook. Large master suite with walk in closet and slider leading to deck. Private park-like yard with beautiful mature trees, flowers and meandering garden paths. $949,000 DANA HILLS!

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Clayton Market Update

Highly Desirable Single Story!

nestled in a serene court setting adjacent to greenbelt & miles of walking trails! 4 bedrooms, 2 baths, approx. 1,740sf, inside laundry & 2 car garage! Parquet entry extends into cozy family room with slider to courtyard. Neutral décor, 2” blinds & new carpet throughout! Updated gourmet kitchen features gorgeous granite tile counters, parquet floors, bay window eating nook with hillside & wooded views. Living room offers a stone fireplace with raised hearth. Dining area with elaborate chandelier & slider to deck! Spacious master suite with dual closets. Awesome totally private lot boasts plenty of room for a pool & features a great trellis covered redwood deck with built-in bench seating & relaxing spa with wooded & Mt. Diablo views. Sprawling lawn, lots of trees, ornamentals, roses & large side yard! $705,000

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Provided by George Vujnovich of Better Homes Realty ADDRESS 121 Forest Hill Drive 506 Suisun Ct. 81 Mt McKinley Ct 251 Stranahan Circle 1423 Indianhead Way 5896 Herriman Drive 232 Stranahan Circle 403 Hummingbird Pl 11 Tiffin Ct 1885 Eagle Peak Ave 5709 Pine Hollow Rd 8014 Kelok Way 131 Joscolo View 205 Roundhouse Pl 156 Mount Etna Dr 414 Hummingbird Pl 3015 Windmill Canyon Dr 115 Forest Hill Drive 1500 N Mitchell Canyon Rd 1786 Indian Wells Way 179 Brandywine Place 5930 Wallace Drive 1509 Tara Court 410 Wawona Lane 3401 Coyote Circle 62 Weatherly Drive 1155 Peacock Creek Drive 372 Blue Oak Lane 514 Raven Place 20 Ohlone Lane 17 Long Creek Circle 50 La Honda Court 160 Mt Etna Dr 812 Chert Pl 1055 Feather Circle 923 Arrowhead Terrace 1403 Indianhead Way

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SALE DATE

BED/BATH

8/15/07 8/15/07 8/10/07 8/6/07 8/3/07 8/1/07 7/31/07 7/31/07 7/30/07 7/26/07 7/25/07 7/25/07 7/25/07 7/24/07 7/24/07 7/20/07 7/19/07 7/18/07 7/17/07 7/17/07 7/13/07 7/5/07 6/29/07 6/29/07 6/29/07 6/29/07 6/28/07 6/26/07 6/26/07 6/22/07 6/21/07 6/20/07 6/20/07 6/20/07 6/19/07 6/15/07 6/12/07

2748 1991 1740 1650 1355 1653 1650 1877 2213 2313 1632 2894 2053 1904 1442 1561 2053 3307 1728 1749 4100 2179 1549 3005 1554 1781 4100 3454 2053 1877 966 2390 1442 1939 1638 1904 1145

4/2 3/2.5 4/2 3/2.5 3/2.5 3/2 3/2.5 3/2.5 4/2 4/2.5 4/2 4/3 3/2 3/2.5 3/2 3/2 3/2 4/2.5 4/2.5 3/2.5 5/3.5 4/2.5 3/3 4/3 3.2.5 3/2.5 6/3.5 5/3.5 3/2 3/2.5 2/2 4/2.5 3/2 3/2.5 3/2.5 3/2.5 2/2

CLAYTON PIONEER August 24, 2007

Section B

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

Page B1

Savor Seattle’s bright spots, but not all is pleasant

JEANNA ROSS

TRAVEL TALES Seattle presents a strange familiarity to visitors from the Bay Area. Large body of water? Check. Historical relationship to the Gold Rush? Check. Popular fish markets? Towering buildings with spectacular views? Sports teams with spiffy stadiums? Check, check and check. I spent a lovely three days in the heart of downtown Seattle. My home base was the Roosevelt, a tiny boutique hotel surrounded by two shopping malls, a massive arcade, popular restaurants and two movie theaters. The rest of the streets in the vicinity held live theaters, high-end retail stores and (literally) a coffee shop on every corner. There are several distinct neighborhoods to explore, the most obvious being the Seattle Center, home to the Space Needle. However, since the center is quite a hike from the rest of downtown, the city – in order to create access during the 1962 World’s Fair – kindly constructed an efficient monorail that covers the distance quickly and easily for a mere $2. The Seattle Center is a land of contrasts. The Space Needle – constructed for the same World’s Fair – is one of the most recognizable structures in the world. A trip to the top is worth every penny, with stunning views of Puget Sound and Mount Rainier, as well as the

Photo by Jeanna Ross

LAKE UNION

FROM THE

SPACE NEEDLE on one of those postcard perfect, blue-sky days

educational materials and explanatory viewing screens (which would have been incredibly handy atop the Tour Eiffel). The Seattle Center also plays host to the Experience Music Project, an interactive museum that details the influence of popular music (particularly those from the Pacific Northwest) on American culture. Interested in learning more about Nirvana? Hendrix? HipHop? Or, at the moment on touring exhibition, Disney? Try the EMP. The Frank Gehry-designed building is also home to the one and only Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame. SFM hosts traveling exhibits, like the current film costume display, while also featuring permanent exhibits that showcase memorabilia from both written and

hen you live in a place as exciting and beautiful as the Clayton Valley area, it’s hard not to be excited for each new day,” Lynne French says. “From the energy of the city to the natural setting of the country, there’s always something to keep me on the go.”

“W

Lynne brings this positive energy and love for the Clayton Valley to her long-running career as a real estate professional.

visual sci-fi works. It’s a Trekkie’s paradise. The list of organizations that find a home in the Seattle Center goes on: Seattle Repertory Theatre, Pacific Science Center, Seattle Children’s Museum, Seattle SuperSonics … and yet the location is riddled with fairground children’s rides and shoddy midway games. What has the potential to be a gorgeous hub of art and culture, like San Diego’s Balboa Park, is cheapened by a desire to earn a buck. There are other delights to Seattle, however, and those much closer to my home base. Pike Place, located on Elliot Bay, is a Seattle institution. A century old next month, this internationally renowned market is home to perform-

Always focused on your needs throughout your home purchase or sale, she does whatever it takes to help you make the most of your opportunities. With Lynne and her team as your guides, you can Discover the Possibilities in Clayton Valley real estate. Her intimate knowledge of the area and dedication to your goals ensure your success when buying or selling a home. Give her a call today!

(925) 672-8787 www.LynneFrench.com Lynne@LynneFrench.com 6200-E Center St. Clayton, CA 94517

ers, farmers, craftspeople and restaurants that create a unique flavor. On a summer morning, nothing beats a basket of freshly picked Bing cherries. One cannot pass up a visit to the Pike Place Fish Market to watch crowds gather four deep to watch the goofballs who run the joint toss “SOCKEYE!” salmon across the platform. Once one can drag themselves away from the shouts and laughter of the market, the calm Waterfront District offers shops and restaurants (mostly seafood), as well as beautiful views of the bay, while bridging the gap between the Pike Place Market Historical District and the Pioneer Square Historical District. I was surprised at how unkempt

Pioneer Square seemed. The brick shops were filled with art galleries, bars and the occasional hotel, but with the exception of the Gold Rush museum (a storefront akin to Old Sacramento) and the Underground Tour (which literally takes patrons under ground to view Seattle’s hidden past), there isn’t much. There’s a pretty waterfall garden, but historic Occidental Park has been pretty much been taken over by the transient populations. Even the beautiful Pioneer Square Pergola needs a facelift. Oddly, this forgotten park is directly in the footpath of three major Seattle venues. One must cross Pioneer Square to reach Safeco Field (home of the Mariners), Seahawks Stadium and the connecting Exhibition Center. Perhaps the bars do their job attracting the moving populations for pre-game/concert draughts, but after the delights of San Diego, it was strange to face the emptiness of Seattle. That said, I did find the most fantastic pre- and post-game hangout at F.X. McRory’s Steak, Chop and Oyster House, distinguishable by its half-baseball awning. Home to America’s largest bourbon collection and the best steak I’ve ever eaten, it’s a great tailgate party in the making. Likewise, the Pyramid Brewery cashes in on the area’s slip-up by offering pre-game festivities across from Safeco. All in all, downtown Seattle seemed much more geared toward residents than tourists. And with all the hiking, boating and golfing to be done in the surrounding region, maybe it makes sense. My next trip to Seattle will certainly be a little more nature-based. Jeanna Ross is an English teacher at Clayton Valley High School and a free lance writer. She regularly contributes to the Pioneer. Send comments to her at movies@ claytonpioneer.com.

Page B2

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

August 24, 2007

Clayton Sports Dana Hills takes City Meet in tight contest JUSTIN BEDECARRÉ Clayton Pioneer

The Dana Hills Swim Team has won every Concord City Meet since 1992 except one, stringing together four in a row coming into the 2007 City Meet. So it was no surprise to see the Clayton team on the podium holding the championship trophy again this year. However, merely delineating the winners and closing the books on another Otter win does not dignify the historic finish and justly add to the Clayton swim team’s already prolific history at Concord Community Pool. The final day of the meet proved to be a nail-biter, with Dana Hills edging Springwood by merely 8.5 points, concluding the closest City Meet finish since 1983, when Springwood beat Forest Park by 3.5 points. That was two years before Dana Hills entered its first City Meet. The history between Dana Hills and Springwood delves even deeper. In 2002, Springwood became the only team to win a City Meet other than Dana Hills in the last 16 years. Springwood beat Dana Hills in eight of the 12 relay races down the stretch on Aug. 12, but the Otters did enough to topple their long-time rival with 932 points to Springwood’s 923.5 in the A division. Ygnacio Wood came in a distant third with 653.5. Forest Park won the B division with Dana Hills second, beating Ygnacio Wood by 4 points to round off the top three. Clayton’s other entry among the nine teams, Oakhurst Country Club, finished seventh in A division with 218.50 points and eighth in B division with 119 points. Dana Hills relied on strong performances from their 155 swimmers, who entered 454 events. Nikki Palmer accumulated 27 points to win the Mayor’s Award for 11-12 girls A division and her counterpart for the 1112 boys, Jared Deely, equaled her points to win 11-12 high point honors. Ryan Haley of the 11-12 boys B division took high point with 18 points. Patrick Keane captured the Mayor’s Award for 15-18 boys A division, earning 24 points toward

Photo by Joern Weigelt

DANA HILLS

SWIMMER

DEREK ANDERSON

OF THE

13-14

BOYS launches off the blocks for the 50-yard backstroke winning the race and earning nine points for the Otters, a

half point more than Dana Hills won the entire Concord City Meet over Springwood.

the Otter victory. Just as the Mayor’s Award winners led the Otters to victory with individual accomplishments, the 11-12 girls A division dominated their age group to ensure an Otter team victory. The girls finished with four out of the top five finishes in IM, five out of the top eight in the 50-yard free and fly (Palmer in first) and seven out of 8 in the 50 back – with Bailey Rogers leading the pack with a time of 33.00. The girls 11-12 200-yard medley relay of Palmer, Megan Schussman, Rogers and Samantha Boeger won with a time of 2:07.00. The Dana Hills girls 11-12 200 free relay of Palmer, Boeger, Sonny Schmidt and Rogers captured another win in the waning events Sunday to push the Otters toward another championship. Several other Dana Hills swimmers finished first in final events. Alina Weigelt won the girls 7-8 100-yard individual medley A division in 1:30.60. Jennie Stucker won both the girls 15-18 100 IM B division in

1:13.81 and the 100 free in 1:04.37. Mali Tehaney, girls 910, beat the field in the 50 free B division in 35.71. Katie Goodspeed won the girls 13-14 50 free B division in 30.03. Jenna Stelzner swam the 1314 50 free A division in 26.47 and 50 breast in 33.56, winning both. Niklas Weigelt continued his stellar season by winning the 6 & under 25 free A division in 18.99. Justine Trimble won the girls 9-10 50 butterfly A division with a time of 33.84 and Justin Weiss, 7-8 boys, finished first in the 25 fly in 19.33. The Otters boys dominated fly in the B division with Kyle Dugan, 9-10, Ryan Dugan, 1112, and Jared Siegrist, 7-8, win-

ning. Kelsey Carrigan won the 15-18 100 breast B division in 1:21.71. Alex Brown beat the girls 6 & under 25 breast A Division field with a time of 28.91. Bailey DeSchane, 7-8 girls, won the 25 breast A division in 22.44. Derek Anderson won the boys 13-14 50 back A division in 27.97. Girls 6 & under 100 free relay of Gabi Mancini, Brooke Johnson, Alex Brown and Spencer DeSchane also won. Oakhurst entered 62 swimmers in the City Meet and had outstanding performances by several swimmers. Blake Daniel won the 9-10 50 free B division in 39.85. Hannah Zodikoff, girls 7-8, won the 25 free B division

in 20.42. Megan Morimoto of the girls 6 & under 25 fly B division took first in 37.31. The boys 7-8 100 medley relay team of Bill Ralston, Mitchell Longman, Max Silverberg and Chad Treppa recorded a time of 1:22.43 to win the race. William Morimoto,

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Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

Page B3

Clayton Sports Tennis pro at Oakhurst rates high nationally BEV BRITTON Clayton Pioneer

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Oakhurst Country Club’s tennis professional Calvin Thompson is celebrating his highest national rankings to date. In this year’s U.S. Professional Tennis Association (USPTA) rankings, Calvin is No. 2 nationally for men’s 35 and over doubles and No. 3 for singles. Calvin, 38, has been the tennis director at Oakhurst for eight years and competes in national tournaments as well as prize money tournaments in Northern California. At last year’s USPTA national championships in Las Vegas, the unseeded player reached the semi-finals in singles and the finals in doubles. In both draws, he knocked off the No. 2 seeds. He hopes to play in the tournament again next month in Florida. “It’s on clay courts, which are not my favorite surface,” says Calvin, who prefers hard courts. “But I played some pro circuit tournaments in Europe and Portugal on clay.” If he goes to Florida, he plans to double again with Tomas Brinkoff, who is teaching at Silver Creek Country Club in

Tamara Steiner/Clayton Pioneer

CALVIN THOMPSON rallies with juniors coach Rick Ortega (off camera) at Oakhurst Country Club in Clayton.

San Jose. Calvin first encountered Tomas last September at a tournament at the Olympic

Club in San Francisco, where Tomas beat him in the singles finals.

They decided to pair up for the nationals in Vegas, playing together without even one practice session beforehand. “He’s real fiery, and we’re both aggressive,” Calvin says. “We complement each other really well. It felt like we’d been playing together a long time.” Last fall, Calvin and Tomas knocked off the No. 2 seeds and then beat the head pros of Pebble Beach in a tough match, 6-1,1-6, 7-6. They lost the finals to the No. 1 seeds, Anders Erickson and Pat Serret of Texas. Calvin again faced Tomas in the singles competition and lost 7-5, 6-2. “I think if I’d won that first set, I might have taken it,” says Calvin. “It’s tough playing against a friend.” Calvin starting playing tennis competitively at age 11. “My mom played tennis, and my grandfather played tennis at Harvard,” he says. “I liked baseball a lot, but I also liked the individual sport.” He played college tennis at Cal State Long Beach before playing professional tournaments in Portugal. He started teaching in Laguna Beach and was head pro at the University Club of Palo Alto before coming to Oakhurst.

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three golds – in the under 18 girls singles, under 18 girls doubles and for the under 18 girls team representing California. Her brother, David, 15, garnered the bronze for both under

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Amateur Athletic Union Junior Olympics table tennis medal winners, siblings David and Stephanie Chow hone their skills in the garage of their Dana Hills home.

18 boys doubles and under 18 boys team. The two started playing pingpong with their dad Jonathan at the Concord Table Tennis Club in Pleasant Hill. Now that their game is at the tournament level, they travel into San Francisco to practice with coach Masaaki Tajima at the Sunset Table Tennis Club. “He’s a better player than our old coach,” David notes. “And our old coach would only teach us the strokes, but he actually plays with us and that helps a lot.” Although Masaaki calls David the stronger player of the two siblings, he credits Stephanie with having the drive necessary to be a champion. “Stephanie is at the top of my class,” he says. “She’s not the best player I’ve ever coached, but she’s certainly the most dedicated and that is why she got where she is today.” With a current rating of 1984 (out of 2800), Stephanie was the top rated girl at the national competition. David’s currently at 1935. “You can have a bad day and go down a bunch of points in just one day,” Stephanie reports. Despite the stress, however, she’s quick to add that she enjoys competing. “I like it because pingpong isn’t a very big sport, so you know a lot of the people there,” she says. “Even though you compete against them, they’re still your friends when you’ve finished.” The two practice 12-15 hours a week, either at the clubs or in their own garage with dad. David is a sophomore at Berean Christian High School in Walnut Creek, while Stephanie is a home-schooled senior. She hopes to attend a college with a strong table tennis team but says that isn’t her top priority. With Stephanie only a year away from moving out, it isn’t clear where David’s game will go next. The two often BART into San Francisco for the fivehour sessions, and he’s not sure he’s ready to make that commitment on his own.

Page B4

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

August 24, 2007

Clayton Sports

Q plea uestion se c s or on co (92 tact R mme n 5) 3 a 81- ndi An ts, 065 dru s 9

Home tournament brings out best in MDSL teams RANDY ROWLAND Clayton Pioneer

Mt. Diablo Soccer League, a Concord/Clayton based competitive club, completed the 5th annual MDSL Summer Classic on Aug. 11-12. The tournament hosted class I teams in the U12U15 divisions for both boys and girls. Games were played at Boatwright Sports Complex, Clayton Valley High School, Ygnacio Valley High School and Newhall Park. MDSL teams compete in the U9-U19 age groups in District IV of the California Youth Soccer Association. MDSL teams are comprised mostly of players from Clayton and east Concord. This year, the league will field

35 teams. Teams are chosen at tryouts in March and April. Ten MDSL teams participated in the Summer Classic. Tournament scoring is based on points accrued for wins, ties or losses as well as goals scored and shutouts. Five MDSL teams won the championship, and another was a finalist. The MDSL Azzurri U13 boys were defeated 2-1 in the finals Sunday afternoon. Standout Azzurri players were Clayton residents Kellen Simons and Ryan Snyder. The U14 boys MDSL Earthquakes completed their great run with a 3-0 championship game win against Napa United. The Earthquakes scored 21 goals in the tournament, only conceding 4. They defeated the Dublin United Nomads 6-0 and

the SSJ Earthquakes 9-1 on Saturday. The U15 United boys began the weekend by defeating Arsenal 5-1. Their next two games, against Cosmos and SRSC, were 2-0 wins that left them undefeated going into the championship. In an intense battle, the United boys prevailed 1-0 against a very strong Aztecas United team. It was the second time in two weeks the United boys won a tournament championship. The weekend of Aug. 4-5, United traveled to San Luis Obispo, where they defeated Aztecas from Paso Robles, also by a 1-0 score. Players who had outstanding games for United included Clayton residents Jeremy

See MDSL, page B5

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THE MDSL ARSENAL U13 GIRLS after taking the 5th Annuanl MDSL Classic tournament by going undefeated and winning the final against Los Gatos 4-0. Back row from left to right: Assistant coach Mark Tkachenko, Assistant coach Dave McCorkell, Grace Livingston, Jasmine Bandayrel, Yumaya Young, Callie Goodman, Melanie Hines, Marianna Rumpf, Michaela Maes, Jocelyn Amable, Coach Dean Weisz. Front row from left to right: Amanda Klekar, Marissa Merrigan, Gabriella Tracy, Natalie Savarino, Kendall Imrisek-Kawalkowski, Nicolle Boschetti, Hilary Buchanan, Ashly Dickinson, Kelly Loftus

Eagle Academy the place for young baseball enthusiasts JUSTIN BEDECARRÉ Clayton Pioneer

Whether you want to be the next professional baseball player emerging from Clayton or simply hope to keep busy after school, Eagle Baseball Academy reaches out to local youths interested in improving their skills and knowledge. This extra-curricular baseball program is run by Clayton Valley High School head coach Casey Coakley and assistant coach Josh Almond. They uti-

lize all the CV baseball facilities, including indoor batting cages, ball pens and a state-of the-art field to enhance basic skills and create a greater love for the game. They offer a wide range of clinics and accommodate players of all skill levels. In its third year, the Eagles Baseball Academy attracted 70 kids for Summer Camp, and they are now accepting registrants for the Fall Skills Program beginning Sept. 10. The academy stresses basic

skills of hitting, pitching, fielding and throwing, adapting the drills to beginners and advanced players. They facilitate a community atmosphere by inviting CVHS players to help with the camp along with professionally trained coaches. “We want to better kids’ knowledge of baseball, generate a positive feeling for the game and put our school in a positive light in the community,” says Coakley.

See Baseball, page B5

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Looking deeper into the Dow If you listen to the radio, read the newspaper, watch the news on television or surf financial sites on the Internet, you’re sure to come across mention of what transpired in “the market” for that day. Although there are now dozens of alternatives, the Dow Jones Industrial Average (known as the Dow) is the oldest and most well-known market indicator. It is the most commonly cited and followed stock market index in the world today. When the media refers to “the market,” they are often referring to the Dow. The Dow is an index of 30 blue chip American stocks selected and maintained by the editors of the Wall Street Journal. They also maintain and review the Dow Jones Utility Average and the Dow Jones Transportation Average to gauge the economy in those sectors. Companies are typically chosen for their excellent reputation, demonstrated growth, accurate sector representation and interest to a large number of investors. Stocks currently included in the Dow are 3M, American Express, Coca-Cola, General Electric, General Motors, Proctor & Gamble, Wal-Mart and Walt Disney. To maintain a sense of continuity, changes to the composi-

MURELEEN BENTON FINANCIAL SENSE tion of the Dow are rare. However, modifications do occur in the event of an acquisition or other major change to a company’s core business. Investors believe that by tracking the growth of many large companies, they can get a general idea of how the market as a whole is performing. When you hear that the Dow closed up 40 points today, it simply means that it would cost $40 more than it would have cost at yesterday’s close to buy those stocks. The Dow is computed by taking the average price of the 30 stocks and dividing that figure by a number called the divisor. The divisor is determined by weights placed on all the stocks and is adjusted often to compensate for the effects of stock splits and mergers. The Dow stocks are unique

in that they are price weighted rather than market-capitalization weighted. This means companies with higher share prices are given more weight in the Dow average than companies with lower share prices. Therefore, the fluctuations in one component’s share price may have a larger or smaller impact on the index value than an equal change in share price of another component. There are a couple of major difference between the Dow and other well-known market barometers, such as the National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations (NASDAQ) and Standard and Poor’s 500. Most other indexes weight their stocks by market capitalization – price multiplied by outstanding shares. The S&P includes 500 stocks, while there are about 4,000 on NASDAQ. Despite these differences, the Dow’s long-term historical performance is highly correlated to both broader market indexes and the overall U.S. market. However, most investors view the more extensive indexes as a better indicator of the market. So is the Dow’s measure a milestone or meaningless? The Dow has been making headlines recently for breaking the 14,000 mark for the first time. While it’s true that nice round numbers

tend to generate buzz, the number really holds more emotional than monetary value. It is important to remember that these averages reveal the general health of stock prices as a whole. When the economy grows, the prices of stocks as a group tend to rise. When the economy is doing poorly, the prices as a group tend to fall. The Dow averages represent the tendencies in the market as a whole. The actual numbers are just notches on a measuring stick. Although the Dow is an excellent measure for comparing what is happening today to what happened yesterday, beware of using fluctuations in the Dow to predict specific market changes. Consider consulting a financial planner to discuss your individual situation and the financial complexities of investing in the stock market.

Mureleen Benton is a Certified Financial Planner. Call her with questions at 685-4523 This information is provided for informational purposes only. The information is intended to be generic in nature and should not be applied or relied upon in any particular situation without the advice of your tax, legal and/or your financial advisor. The views expressed may not be suitable for every situation. Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc., Member NASD and SIPC, part of Ameriprise Financial, Inc.

Baseball, from page B4 Several CV players have become professional baseball players, including Jimmy Gilbert of the Los Angeles Dodgers, Adam Elliot of the New York Mets and Sam Carter of the San Diego Padres. Clayton Valley has been a stalwart in the North Coast Section high school playoffs in the eight years Coakley has been on the staff. While they have a reputation for competition and success, Coakley and his crew still aim to create a fun atmosphere for all baseball players to thrive. “We want the kids to be

active and have fun. We want to keep the kids in the game as long as possible,” he says. Coakley is pleased with the response from the academy and the good retention of participants year-in and year-out. Camps include fall after school, summer camps, fundamental two-day camps during winter and spring break, small group batting and fielding clinics, and individual pitching, hitting and fielding lessons year-round. For more information, visit www.Eaglebaseballacademy.com or email claytonbaseball@hotmail.com.

MDSL, from page B4 Williams, Jeff Jones, Michael Stupka and Austin Rubino. On the girls side, the U13 MDSL Arsenal kicked off Saturday with a 1-1 tie against Los Gatos Cats. Standout players included Clayton girls Yumaya Young in goal and Michaela Maes with the equalizer just minutes from time. In their second game, Arsenal defeated Humboldt Havoc 2-0. Clayton defenders Marissa Merrigan and

Amanda Klekar stood out, and Clayton midfielder Hilary Buchanan had an outstanding game. A 0-0 tie against Livermore Elite advanced Arsenal to the championship, where they again faced Los Gatos. The team was more than ready this time and handily defeated their opponent 4-0. Merrigan and Klekar again proved to be impenetrable on defense as

Head Coach Casey Coakley and Geoff Byrnes instruct the Summer Camp participants on the Clayton Valley High School baseball field.

they recorded another shutout. Last weekend, the Arsenal girls tested their mettle against Southern California teams by traveling to the Santa Barbara Summer Cup. The U14 girls Velocity continued their fine early season form by going undefeated in four games. They did not concede a goal the entire weekend in winning the MDSL tournament for the second time. Last weekend, the Velocity girls also traveled to Southern California to compete in the West Coast tournament.

The U15 Shock girls won their first tournament of the season by coming out on top in a five-team bracket and going undefeated over the weekend with 3 wins and one tie. They defeated WCC Alliance 6-0, with Clayton resident Ali Carozzi netting a hat trick in that game. They beat 92 Roadrunners 2-1 and the Lodi Navigators 3-1 in their next two games. With only a tie needed to secure the championship, the Shock girls tied Walnut Creek United 0-0 in an exciting and fast-paced final game.

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Page B6

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

August 24, 2007

Careers as a seamstress, model, singer, teacher, minister all part of her history

COLLEEN ELWY

SHARING HISTORY Mary McManus is a ball of energy. With her volunteer work, making friends at Diamond Terrace and enjoying her new surroundings in Clayton, she can hardly sit still. Mind you, Mary is 92 years old and very young at heart. Born in New York City and involved in quite a long list of

careers in her lifetime, Mary is most proud of her work in fashion. “I had been widowed with two young sons and needed a way to support myself and my boys,” Mary shares. “I was working for the Singer Sewing Company and had started several sewing classes for Girl Scouts and minority women. But the boss was taking all the credit for the extra work I was doing. So I quit and went into business for myself and became a French couturier.” With a bolt of cloth, Mary’s sewing magic could create lovely evening and cocktail gowns that she also designed. “Women would come to me with their expensive designer dresses also and I would adjust them so that the dresses

Photo courtesy of Mary McManus

A JOB AS A SEAMSTRESS AND DESIGNER led to a career as a fashion model when Mary McManus was in her forties.

looked completely different,” unteer work. It not only recogMary says, smiling at the mem- nized Mary’s dedication to volory. “And they would tell each unteer services but also her other that the dresses were service to her community and from a designer, but actually country with distinction. In addition, Mary was given they came from me. I did this the Gold Award from the for years.” Mary’s fashion career path White House for demonstratcontinued after her second ing outstanding character of marriage, when she was America and helping strengthen our country. singing professionally at “I like to help people the McAllister Hotel and they are always in Florida. She saying that I am an wanted to improve inspiration to oththe way she preers,” says Mary. sented herself “And I tell them and joined the that you just have C o r o n e t to keep busy. If M o d e l i n g you stay busy, then Agency. It is you are not old.” there where she Mary was married found her true pasto her first husband sion in life, becomand love of her life, ing a model in her 40s. MARY MCMANUS Spencer Chandler, for 10 years before he “I became one of their top models and was a passed away from kidney cantraveling sales model for the cer. Both of Mary’s sons inherBettina dress line,” Mary states ited this disease and are also proudly. “They gave me a deceased. She was married to modeling job presenting their her second husband, Anthony evening cocktail clothes for McManus, for more than 40 salesmen or others who owned years. Even through the tough a dress shop.” She often received com- times in her life, Mary continments about her youthfulness ued to push for opportunities as a model in her 40s. “I sent and careers that she felt were my son some of my modeling waiting for her. These include photos when he was in the becoming an elementary service and his friends asked if teacher, counseling young peothe girl in the picture was avail- ple, being a minister and teachable for a date. My son had to ing ceramics. Living in Clayton for just laugh and tell them, ‘Why of two months now, Mary has course not, that’s my mom!’ ” Life for Mary has held already set up a “Krafty incredible losses, including Korner” group at Diamond both her parents before she Terrace. She knits and crowas 12. She cared for her chets, and volunteers at the younger brother and sister Pleasant Hill Senior Center while living with relatives. She and at a florist in Walnut believes that this is why she Creek. Smiling over the pasbecame extremely involved in sions in her life, Mary says: volunteer work for various “Every opportunity that is organizations throughout her there with an open door, I peek in.” life. One of the most significant If you are a senior living in awards Mary received was the Clayton, or know of a senior that would President’s Council on Service like to share their life story with the and Civic Participation Clayton Pioneer readers, please contact Volunteer Service Award for Colleen Elwy at 672-9565 or at more than 4,000 hours of vol- colleensbyline@aol.com.

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Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

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Dogs are highly social ani- when you wake up and when mals, and being with their you’ve been home for awhile, human pack is a necessity for but make coming home a low survival. Most get used to stress non-event. When you being alone, but some have leave the house, just leave. Don’t let Scout be clingy. trouble or exhibit signs of Have her pracseparation anxitice “stay’ while ety. you go to anothAccording to er room. Then Susan Furukawa, praise her calmly animal welfare when you return director at the to the room in Animal Rescue which she Foundation stayed. (ARF), not all Dogs get betlonely behaviors ter at anything indicate the dog ELENA BICKER they practice. has separation issues. Scout PAWS AND CLAWS Grab your keys and calmly leave may bark, whine for a few minor chew merely because she is bored. utes, then return. Increase the However, if she has separation time away by five to 10 minanxiety, she may also howl, soil utes and mix up the durations inside or attempt to escape so it doesn’t become predictable. After a week of sucwhile you’re gone. The difference is that she cess, work up to an hour, then will be anxious, panicked or a few hours. Crate train your dog. Scout severely depressed as you prepare to leave. A dog with this will feel safer in a small, secure type of distress often franti- den. Teaching her to settle cally scratches at doors and down in her crate will give her windows trying to find you, a place to relax. You should tears up walls, trembles, pants not continue to confine Scout to a crate if she’s injuring heror paces. It can seem like Scout is self trying to escape. Your good-byes will be punishing you for leaving, but the truth is she hasn’t learned boring, but you can leave Scout with a special chew toy, how to adjust. Separation anxiety is often triggered or increased by a traumatic event or household change, such as divorce, change in the family’s work schedule, thunderstorm or a move to a new home. Some behavior may have an underlying medical issue, so you may want a veterinarian to examine Scout. For severe cases, Scout may need a combination of behavior modification and drug therapy. If Scout’s symptoms are mild to moderate, here are some things you can do to help her learn to cope or to prevent this type of anxiety. Make your departures and arrivals dull and low-key. You can make a big deal of Scout

such as a Kong filled with yummy treats and sealed with peanut butter. This will help condition Scout to associate something great with something that used to be stressful. A Kong or similar safe toy will also provide her with something to focus on and expend

mental energy. And finally, exercise Scout before you leave. A tired dog is a good dog. Elena Bicker is the Executive Director of Tony La Russa’s Animal Rescue Foundation. She can be reached at (925) 256-1ARF (1273)

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Clayton Pioneer â&#x20AC;˘ www.claytonpioneer.com

August 24, 2007

Clayton Community Calendar PLEASE SUBMIT YOUR CLAYTON COMMUNITY CALENDAR EVENTS BY 5 P.M. SEPT. 5 FOR THE SEPT. 14 ISSUE. FAX TO 672-6580 OR E-MAIL calendar@claytonpioneer.com EVENTS & ENTERTAINMENT Through Oct. 2 Patty Cakes @ Clayton Community Library 11 a.m. Tuesdays. Story time for babies up to 3 year olds. Child attends with caregiver. 673-0659. Clayton Community Library, 6125 Clayton Road. Through Oct. 4 Picture Book Time @ Clayton Community Library 11 a.m. Thursdays. Story time for 3-5 year olds. Child may attend without caregiver. 673-0659. Clayton Community Library, 6125 Clayton Road. Aug. 24 Blood Drive @ Postal Annex, Clayton Station Shopping Center 11 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. Pint for a pint. Donate blood and receive a coupon for a free pint of ice cream. For information or to schedule your donation appointment please contact Julia or Joe Aguilar at 672-8900. Donors must have verifiable identification to donate. Postal Annex, Clayton Station Shopping Center, 5433 K Clayton Road, Clayton. AUG. 24 Century 21 Diablo Valley Realty/Clayton Valley Sunrise Rotary Golf Tournament @ Diablo Creek Golf Course The tournament benefits Easter Seals of the Bay Area, the We Care Center for Children autism project and the Rotary Foundation. Call 682-4663 for tickets. AUG. 25, SEPT. 22 Clayton Historical Society Walking Tour @ Downtown Clayton 10 a.m. Meet in front of the museum, 6101 Main St. The free, guided tour takes about 1 hour, 30 minutes and is about 3/4 mile. Wear comfortable shoes. Call the museum at 672-0240 or Dick Ellis at 672-4753. Aug. 28, 29 & 30 College Planning Seminar @ Local Libraries Aug. 28, Ygnacio Valley Library, 2661 Oak Grove Road, Walnut Creek, Aug. 29, Clayton Community Library, 6125 Clayton Road, or Aug. 30, Danville Library, 300 Front St. Tuesday and Thursday classes are from 6:15 to 7:45 p.m. The Wednesday class in Clayton is from 7:15 to 8:45 p.m. The free workshops are taught by Sean Connors of Peregrine Lending and Alexis Alekna, an expert on paying for college. They are co-authors of "How to Give Your Child a Four-Year College Education Without Going Broke." To reserve a seat, call 888-210-2606. Aug. 31-Sept. 29 Peter Pan @ Lesher Center for the Arts, Walnut Creek The Diablo Light Opera Company presents the classic musical, Peter Pan, the story of a boy who just didn't want to grow up. Directed by Daren A.C. Carollo, the show stars Brandy Collazo as Peter Pan, Tom Reardon as Captain Hook and Rena Wilson as Wendy. For show times or to buy tickets ($17-$38), call 943-7469, purchase online at www.dlrca.org or go to the Lesher Center box office, 1601 Civic Drive, Walnut Creek. SEPT. 1 Labor Day Derby and Classic Car Show @ Downtown Clayton 9 a.m.-3 p.m. If you have kids age 7-16, you won't want to miss the annual Labor Day derby and car show. Kids race for free and get a T-shirt if they register before Aug. 26. Pick up a registration form at the Clayton Community Church office, 6055 Main St., or visit www.claytoncc.com. SEPT. 8 Hospice of the East Bay Benefit @ Scotts Restaurant, Oakland Comfort for Kids, a program of Hospice, will be the beneficiary of "A Harvest of Friends" wine-pairing dinner. John Sasaki, of KTVU-TV will be Master of Ceremonies, hosting the silent and live auctions, cocktails, dinner and dancing. The dinner will pair specially selected wines from Raymond Vineyard & Cellar with each course. Comfort for Kids, provides in-home pain control and symptom management for young patients with life-limiting illnesses, and emotional, spiritual, bereavement, and practical support for the entire family. Tickets are $80 per person. For more information, or to make a reservation, please call (925) 887-5678 or visit www.hospicecc.org. SEPT. 11, 18, 25, OCT. 2, 9 The Art of Retirement @ Loma Vista Adult Center, Concord 7-9 p.m. The course is five weeks in length and costs $18 for people 55plus. Course units include how to keep the money you have, activities, health, travel, long-term-care insurance, volunteering vs. working part-time, and more. Upon the completion of the course, students should know themselves better in light of their quest for a successful, meaningful retirement. People of all ages and situations are welcome. Call (925) 937-1530 for registration information. Loma Vista Adult Center, 1266 San Carlos Ave. Concord. For more information on the class, please call instructor George Fulmore at (925) 686-6916. OCT. 20 Clayton Valley Kitchen Tour 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Self-guided tour of six new and remodeled home kitchens in

Abbey Carpet & Contra Costa Floors 1170 Burnett Ave., Ste. E, Concord

Visit our showroom M-F 9-5; Sat. 10-4 Evenings by appointment

the Clayton Valley area. The event is sponsored by the Clayton Valley Woman's club. Proceeds from the tour will benefit local charities and scholarships. Tickets are $25 in advance or $30 at the door, or send a check payable to Clayton Valley Woman's Club directly to: Clayton Valley Kitchen Tour, c/o Kathy Olson, 5459 A Roundtree Place, Concord, CA 94521. Maps and brochures will be available at the Clayton City Hall Courtyard, 6000 Heritage Trail. Please call 672-1696 for tickets and information.

CLUBS & ORGANIZATIONS AUG. 25, SEPT. 8, 22 Scrabble Club @ Carl's Jr. 11 a.m.-4 p.m. second and fourth Saturdays. Come down and play a game of Scrabble. All ages and skill levels. Prizes and contests. $2 to play. Carl's Jr., 1530 Kirker Pass Road, Clayton. AUG. 26, SEPT. 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 Alcoholics Anonymous Meeting @ Clayton Community Church 7-8 p.m. AA Big Book Study every Sunday night. 673-9060. Clayton Community Church, 6055 Main St., Clayton. AUG. 28, SEPT. 4. 11. 18. 25 Kiwanis Club of Walnut Creek 12-1:30 p.m. every Tuesday. All are invited to check us out and be our guest for lunch. Call Sam Totah at 941-1536. Massimoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Ristorante, 1604 Locust St., Walnut Creek. AUG. 28, SEPT. 11, 25 Clayton Valley Woman's Club @ Holy Cross Lutheran Church 9:30 a.m. coffee; 10 a.m. meeting the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month. Call Joyce at 672-3850 or Sheila at 672-7947. Holy Cross Lutheran Church, 1092 Alberta Way, Concord. AUG. 30, SEPT. 6, 13, 20, 27 Weights Watchers Meeting @ Contra Costa Farm Bureau Building 10 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. Thursdays. Weekly Weight Watchers weigh-in and meetings. Call 800-326-8450, x 2023. Contra Costa Farm Bureau, 5554 Clayton Rd., Concord. AUG. 30, SEPT. 6, 13, 20, 27 Rotary Club of Clayton Valley Concord Sunrise @ Oakhurst 7 a.m. every Thursday. Meeting includes breakfast and usually features a speaker. Visit www. claytonvalleyrotary.org or call Chuck Graham at 6897640. Oakhurst Country Club, 1001 Peacock Creek Dr., Clayton. Aug. 30 Clayton Community & Business Association @ Oakhurst Country Club 6:30 p.m. This is a great place to meet fellow Claytonites and become involved in some of the ongoing events that CBCA sponsors. Cost of the dinner is $24. Reservations need to be called in at 672-2272 by noon on Aug. 28. Oakhurst Country Club, 1001 Peacock Creek Dr., Clayton. SEPT. 2 Knitting Club @ Concord Library 2-4 p.m. the first Sunday of the month. Have you noticed that knitting is all the rage? Join the group and get creative. 646-5455. Concord Library, 2900 Salvio St. SEPT. 4 Knights of Columbus @ St. Agnes Church Hall 7:30 p.m. the first Tuesday of the month. We look forward to seeing our brother Knights at the general membership meeting of the Knights of Columbus Concord Council 6038 of Concord and Clayton. St. Agnes Church, 3478 Chestnut St., Concord. SEPT. 6 Sons in Retirement Meeting (SIRS) @ Oakhurst Country Club 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. the first Thursday of the month. SIRs is dedicated to promoting the independence and dignity of retired men and has no initiation fees or dues. The only requirement, other than being a man who is retired from his primary employment or career, is attendance at the monthly luncheons. Oakhurst Country Club, 1001 Peacock Creek Dr., Clayton. For more information, call Carl Sisson, 672-6418. SEPT. 9 Concord Mystery Book Club @ Concord Library 2:30-4 p.m. All mystery readers are invited to participate and explore a different genre each month. Group meets the second Sun. of the month. Concord Library, 2900 Salvio Street, Concord, 646-5455. SEPT. 10 Valley Stitchers Guild @ Faith Lutheran Church, Pleasant Hill 10 a.m. The Guild begins its 40th year celebration Sept. 10. The featured speaker will be Mary Manzo, a fiber-artist from Saratoga. Faith Lutheran Church, 40 Woodward Lane, Pleasant Hill. Yearly dues $25, this meeting, $5. For more information call Marie at 925-947-5817. SEPT. 12 Clayton Valley Garden Club @ Diamond Terrace 7 p.m. The Clayton Valley Garden Club was formed to bring together people with a common interest in gardening. This month's program will be pre-

sented by Nicole Hackett, the Clayton Pioneer's Garden Girl. Geranium and Pelargoniums are familiar and simple plants that can be grown and enjoyed by all. Come by to see and hear about a plant family so common even your grandmother grew them. Plant samples are available for sale after the presentation. Stay for refreshments after the presentation. Stop by and see what we are all about. Call Jeff at 672-7579 for info. Diamond Terrace, 6401 Center St., Clayton. SEPT. 12 Newcomers' Club of Walnut Creek Kick-Off Coffee/Brunch 11 a.m. The Walnut Creek club welcomes prospective members to a KickOff Coffee/Brunch. Meet new friends and learn about fun activity groups we offer, like Bay Area excursions, book discussions, golf, tennis, bridge, etc. To RSVP, call Ann Smith, 925-930-9427. SEPT. 12 Creekside Artists Guild Meeting @ Clayton Community Library 7p.m. All levels and all art forms are welcome! Join this unique group of eclectic artists that meet the second Wednesday of each month. Hear the details on the upcoming fall event, workshops and local gallery. "We provide an environment for all artists to inspire, create, educate and prosper". Questions? Arlene Kikkawa-Nielsen (925) 673-9777 or nielsenjanc@aol.com. Visit our website: www.creeksideartists.org. SEPT. 15 AAUW Clayton Chapter @ Concord United Methodist Church 11:30 a.m. AAUW extends a cordial invitation to the community for the annual complimentary Membership Luncheon. After a salad luncheon, Kathy Barrett from the Diablo View Orchid Society will present a fun and informative presentation. We learn about the experiences of the 3 Diablo View Middle School girls who were the recipients of Science Camp scholarships this summer. The Clayton Valley High School student who received last year's AAUW scholarship will also be in attendance. RSVP to JoAnn Caspar at 672-7680 or Marcia Hart at 827-9540. Concord United Methodist Church, 1645 West Street, Concord. SEPT. 20 Veterans of Foreign Wars Meeting @ Concord Veterans Hall 6 p.m., with meeting beginning at 7 p.m. the third Thursday of the month. All veterans of foreign wars are invited to attend. The VFW is here to support eligible veterans and their families. Wives and daughters of eligible veterans are invited to join the Ladies Auxiliary. Veterans Memorial Hall, corner of Colfax and Willow Pass Road, Concord. SEPT. 26 Blue Star Mom Meeting in Concord 6:30 p.m. the fourth Wednesday of each month. Blue Star Moms is a support and service group for those serving in all branches of the Armed Forces. 676-3654.1792 Elmhurst Lane, Concord.

BUSINESS & GOVERNMENT AUG. 28, SEPT. 4, 11, 18, 25 County Board of Supervisors @ County Administration Building 9 a.m. Tuesday mornings. www.co.contra-costa.ca.us or 335-1900. County Administration Building, 651 Pine St., Room 107, Martinez. AUG. 28. SEPT. 11, 25 Clayton Planning Commission @ Clayton Community Library 7 p.m. the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month. www.ci.clayton.ca.us or 673-7304. Clayton Library Meeting Room, 6125 Clayton Road. SEPT. 4, 18 Clayton City Council @ Clayton Community Library 6 p.m. the first and third Tuesdays of the month. Agendas posted at City Hall, 6000 Heritage Trail. Clayton Community Library Meeting Room, 6125 Clayton Road. SEPT. 10 Clayton Trails and Landscape Committee @ Clayton Library 7 p.m. the second Monday of the month. Clayton Community Library Meeting Room, 6125 Clayton Road. SEPT. 13 Clayton Community Services Commission @ Clayton City Hall 7 p.m. the second Thursday of the month. Clayton City Hall, 6000 Heritage Trail.

SCHOOLS AND EDUCATION SEPT. 6 Parent Faculty Club Meeting @ Clayton Valley High School (CVHS) 7 p.m. This is the first PFC meeting of the 07/08 school year and will be held in the school library. All CVHS parents, guardians and interested community members are welcome to attend. The PFC is looking for volunteers for Executive Board and Committee Chair positions. Meeting attendance is not mandatory to take on a lead role in your helping your child's school, but please try and come out for the first meeting, and be sure to join and support us by paying your membership fee.Clayton Valley High School, 1101 Alberta Way, Concord.

August 24, 2007

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

Page B9

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As part of their 50th Anniversary Jubilee Year, St. Bonaventure’s celebrated a Founders’ Day Mass on August 17. Some 40 original members of the parish filled Endeavor Hall where they at attended Sunday Mass during 1957-58 until the Clayton Road church was completed. The original parishioners celebrated their first Mass as St. Bonaventure’s Catholic Community at Endeavor Hall on August 18, 1957. In his opening remarks, Fr. Richard Mangini assured the festive group that this time they would not have to take down the

chairs and put them away after Mass. Fr. Mangini said the first part of the Mass in Latin “for old time’s sake.” The Catholic Mass was celebrated in Latin until 1965 when the Second Vatican Council ordered that the Mass be celebrated in the language of the locals. Rather than sitting in the traditional pews, the founders celebrated the Mass at flower festooned tables set with photos of the original church and Fr. Matthew Carolan, the parish’s first priest. The celebrants enjoyed brunch on the patio at the close of the Mass.

CHORAL CAMP SINGERS IN CONCERT AUG. 26

The Clayton Pioneer’s “Music Notes” columnist

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Young singers from St. Bonaventure’s Catholic Community attended a two week Joy of Singing Choral Camp in early August. The campers will join the other St. Bonaventure choirs in a celebratory concert on Sunday, August 26 at 3:30 p.m. in the church to be followed by a dessert social and bake sale. For information on the children’s choir, call Choir Director, Barbara Wolpman at 465-4468.

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ST. BONAVENTURE CHURCH Religious diversity is in the forefront of the news and is affecting us in nearly every aspect of our lives. It is no surprise, considering that a recent study determined that there are more than 1,800 religions in America today. Recognizing this and the value of knowledge, Father Tom Bonacci, developed the Interfaith Religious Project with the intention of making a significant contribution to interfaith peace, love understanding and respect. The project offers short seminars on religions from India, the Middle East, the Far East and America and the rise of fundamentalism. Father Tom will be coming to St. Bonaventure for a fourweek presentation, “The World Religious Experience and the Religions of India.” The program will be a combination of instruction, dialogue and sharing. It will include practical suggestions and perspectives for developing a gentle, compassionate and peace-making spirituality responsive to the real situations of daily life. The program will be offered 7-8:30 p.m. Fridays Sept. 7, 14, 28 and Oct. 5 in the chapel at St. Bonaventure, 5562 Clayton Road, Concord. The Sept. 7 discussion will be “The Religious Experience of Humankind,” followed by “The Family of Religious Experience Known as Hinduism” on Sept. 14 and “Buddha and Buddhism” on Sept. 28. The final presentation is “The Possibility for Practicing Intrafaith Spirituality.” For more information, call 672-5800. CLAYTON COMMUNITY CHURCH A new message series, “Battling Life’s Giants – The Life of David,” begins Sept. 2. Join us and hear how David’s life offers hope to all. David shows that devotion doesn’t mean perfection and that God loves us in spite of our

weaknesses and can do extraordinary things through ordinary men and women whose lives are devoted wholly to him. On Saturday, Sept. 1, the church will gather 6:30-8 p.m. at the Clayton Library, 6125 Clayton Road. Services will also be at 9 and 10:45 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 2, at the library. On Sept. 9, services return to the regular times and location 9 and 10:45 a.m. Sundays at Diablo View Middle School, 300 Diablo View Lane. For more information, call 673-9060. ETERNAL LIFE LUTHERAN CHURCH To begin the new year of Sunday School and Bible Study, the church will host a Sunday School Fall Kickoff on Sunday, Sept. 8. Sunday School is held 10-11 a.m. for children age 3 and up. Each session includes a Bible story, activities and take-home materials. It is in opportunity for children to grow in their young faith and knowledge about the savior. Parents and adults are invited to attend the adult Bible Study held at the same time. This is also an opportunity to grow in faith and knowledge of Christ in an informal setting, with opportunities to ask questions, share concerns and apply God’s word to everyday issues. A study of the Gospel of John, using the video “The Gospel of John” as a basis, will continue through September. Bible study is also held at 7:15 p.m. Wednesdays. In September, the Wednesday group will begin a study called “The Kingdom of God: God in Action.” Eternal Life’s regular Sunday worship is at 11:15 a.m. at 5554 Clayton Rd., Suite 1B, Concord. Eternal Life is a member congregation of the WELS. For more information, call 524-0295 or visit www.EternalLifeLutheranChurch.org.

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Page B10

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

Plant basil for fresh, bright flavor container for foliage interest, or plant alone. Install directly into the ground and don’t be shy about the amount of sun you give Pesto Perpetuo. This herb needs 4-5 hours of direct sun. Pesto Perpetuo can reach 18-24 inches tall and wide. The light green leaves are edged in cream, and they are fabulous NICOLE HACKETT to add to any pasta, light-colGARDEN GIRL ored meat or vegetable dish. Try this variegated variety Basil is back on the scene wherever you feel the urge to this season, and it’s beautiful. add sweet basil and wow your This culinary herb has made its friends. Ocimum basilicum is the mark as more then an ingredient in Italian cuisine. Basil has most common basil found at many unique varieties that can nurseries and garden centers. be enjoyed in containers, gar- We call this variety sweet basil. It is easily one of the most dens and on windowsills. Proven Winners has intro- popular and widely grown duced a variegated variety of herbs in the world. This familbasil this year called Ocimum iar ingredient to Italian cooking originatcitriodored in India, um Pesto Pakistan and Per petuo. Thailand. This mouthS w e e t ful of a basil works word truly well in vegmakes a etable, herb great addiand flower tion to any gardens. Mix Clayton in a containValley garer with other den. You edibles, will not includes believe how pansies, interesting snapdragons this annual or nasturlooks, or tium. how fragrant S w e e t the foliage basil needs is. Better yet, PESTO PERPETUO to have its this basil is f l owe r s tough. It’s multi-stemmed and pinched back consistently dense with leaves. Touch and through the season. If you enjoy. Your hands and the area allow it to flower, seeds will around the Pesto Peretuo will follow, and the plant will die be rich with the familiar sweet after the seed is spread. African Blue Basil is a basil smell. Mix this herb in a

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ORNAMENTAL AFRICAN BLUE BASIL

sterile variety of basil that you can allow to flower. Spikes of pinkish purple may stand 1216 inches tall above this annual, which reaches 3-4 feet tall. Plant the African Blue in a large pot or in the ground near the home, sheltering from the cold. This is another eye-appealing basil, with thick green stems streaked with maroon. The small leaves have maroon veins and undersides. African Blue basil is ornamental but has great culinary appeal. This basil has a camphor scent and works mixed with vinegars on salads of all sorts. Use small quantities in cooking, because this basil is very pungent. Cuban Basil is a smallleafed variety whose foliage is always tender. Cuban basil is a vigorous-growing annual, easily reaching a shrubby 1-foot tall and wide. More tolerant of cooler weather, this selection will extend your fresh herb season longer than other basil varieties. Both the African Blue and the Cuban basils need only 2-3 hours of direct light. They also

are easily started from cuttings. Take a moderate-sized branch and place in a bud vase in a bright window. Change the water every day, and before you know it, you will have roots long and healthy enough to transplant to a small pot. Harvest all basil from the top, removing one third of the branch. Always cut at the intersection with new growth when using to cook. This will keep the original plant energized and producing. Basil as a family likes a rich, organic soil when installed in a container or in the ground. Avoid using fertilizer with this herb; add a handful of compost when you think your plant needs a boost. Basil may sound common, but as you can see, there is quite a selection to experiment with and enjoy. You will be thrilled by all the potential uses of this garden herb. Nicole is the Garden Girl at R&M Pool, Patio, Gifts and Garden Contact her with questions, comments or suggestions at gardengirl@claytonpioneer.com

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