AUG 30 Clayton Pioneer 2013

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August 30, 2013

Scores, atmosphere prove charter is working PEGGY SPEAR Clayton Pioneer

That cheering you’re hearing isn’t coming from the new black-turfed football field at Clayton Valley Charter High School, but somewhere usually a lot more restrained: the administration offices.

For CVCHS Executive Director David Linzey, his staff, teachers and students, the school’s recent state test scores are something to cheer about, tangible proof that the risky and somewhat controversial move to become a charter school is working.

As the school settles into its

second full year as a charter, the test scores aren’t the only indication that something really special is going on – but they are a firm measuring stick of the school’s success, Linzey says.

“I’m just giddy,” he says of CVCHS’ estimated score of somewhere between 829 and 834 in the Academic Perfor-

mance Index – a growth of more than 60 points over the 2011-12 score of 772. (Official API scores have not yet been released.)

So what has changed?

If you ask Neil McChesney, the English teacher-turnedDirector of Administrative Services at the school, the change is

“like night and day.”

“It’s almost a different school,” says McChesney, who along with Pat Middendorf, spearheaded the charter campaign back in 2011. “Basically, we wrote in the charter that we wanted academic rigor and relevance, and that makes a difference in the classroom. The

teachers now have the right tools to make learning relevant.”

TEACHER TRAINING Indeed, one area that has flourished over the past year has been in staff development – training for teachers.

See Test

Scores, page 9

Unique Friday Night Lights opening game: Champs Clayton Valley, De La Salle meet JULIE PIERCE

MAYOR’S CORNER

School starts, be smart It’s back-to-school time, so please drive carefully out there.

The kids are excited and getting used to the new routine; they can dart out in front of a car in a flash. Please put down the cell phones, take your time, be respectful of the neighborhood and everyone will get where they are going safely.

While we’re talking about back-to-school safety, many families are leaving side garage doors or back doors unlocked for children when they return after school. The bad guys know this and when no one answers the front door, they come in another one that you have left open.

See Mayor, page 5

Jason Rogers

CLAYTON VALLEY CHARTER HIGH SCHOOL TRAVELS TO THE SOUTHWESTERN EDGE of Concord to meet rival De La Salle this Friday evening in the opening weekend of high school football. Former league rivals, the teams haven’t met since 2006. Among the most highly-touted and heavily-recruited linemen in the game are seniors Justin Rogers (79) of Clayton Valley Charter and Sumner Houston (54) of De La Salle. Both teams were 2012 North Coast Section champions.

JAY BEDECARRÉ Clayton Pioneer

Last March Clayton Valley Charter High School football coach Tim Murphy was quite excited when he announced that

a planned fall road trip to Las Vegas had fallen through and instead his Eagles were going to drive 4.7 miles to meet crosstown rival De La Salle High in the season-opening football game Aug. 30.

Although they are two of the five high schools playing football in Concord, the Eagles and Spartans will not have faced each other since 2006 until they battle this Friday evening.

Last year was a big one for

Clayton revs up for Labor Day Derby PEGGY SPEAR Clayton Pioneer

Gentlemen – and ladies – start your engines. Er, feet.

The 10th annual Great Labor Day Derby and Car Show will

Bob Sansoe

roar through downtown Clayton this Saturday, Aug. 31.

Children ages 7 to 14 can drive soap box derby cars to race down a ramp along Main Street for a chance to win a trophy.

More than 250 racers are expect-

KIDS WILL BE RACING SOAPBOX-STYLE CARS down Main Street while at the other end of town, more than 300 classic cars will be on display at the 10th annual Labor Day Derby and Car Show this weekend in downtown Clayton.

What’s Inside Around Town . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Book Review . . . . . . . . . . . . .8

ed take the challenge, cheered on by a crowd of more than 1,500 excited family and friends in what has become one of Clayton’s most popular family events.

The kids start on the ramp at east end of Main Street, and gravity propels the cars down the race course. The street is lined with bales of hay, and comes in handy when a driver veers off course, sometimes with many tears and lots of frustration.

The derby runs concurrently with the Classic Car Show. More than 300 cars will be shown and judged for Custom Design, Restored, Retros, Foreign, Muscle and Rods, from vintage 1900s to 2013. The Car Show is free to enter and tee-shirts and goody bags will be given to the first 300 entrants.

This annual Labor Day weekend event is presented by Clayton Community Church and began as the brainchild of Pastor Classified . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 Club News . . . . . . . . . . . . .15 Community Calendar . . . . .14 Concord Beat . . . . . . . . . . . .7 CVCHS Reporter . . . . . . . . .9 Design and Décor . . . . . . . .17

Shawn Robinson after experiencing a similar event in Southern California.

“It’s great fun,” says event coorganizer Peggy Bidondo. “It’s so great to see the car designs, and how excited the kids get when they’re racing.”

The cars are standard Soap Box Derby cars, and are sponsored by local businesses and organizations. Every child is given a helmet to wear, as well as driving lessons before taking off, Bidondo says.

There will also be jump houses, face painting, music, games and refreshments. More than 60 volunteers will also be on hand to make sure the event runs smoothly, Bidondo says.

The first race takes off at 9 a.m.

For more information contact Mike Fossan at mike@fossans.com or Peggy Bidondo at pbidondo@ pacbell.net.

Directory of Advertisers . . . . .5 Doctor’s Orders . . . . . . . . . . .6 Fashion Over 50 . . . . . . . . .17 Garden Girl . . . . . . . . . . . . .18 Pets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13 Police Report . . . . . . . . . . . . .8

both teams as De La Salle won its fourth straight State Championship and 21st consecutive North Coast Section title in what turned out to be the final season for legendary coach Bob Ladouceur. Clayton Valley began

a new era last fall after the retirement of long-time coach Herc Pardi by winning its first-ever NCS title and then falling just short of going to the State finals See Friday

Night, page 10

Arrests in robberies calm shoppers’ fears Local residents are resting a bit easier after Concord Police arrested two suspects in connection with four robberies in and around a popular strip mall on Clayton Road and Ygnacio Valley Road.

Last Thursday police arrested 57-year-old Richard T.

French and Charles C. Curry, both of Concord, on suspicion of armed robbery at the Sally Beauty Supply and the Yogurt Shack on Aug. 17 and Pet Food Express and The UPS Store on

See Arrest, page 8

Police nab suspect in brazen Monday morning burglary An Oakley man is in jail after police say he burglarized a home on Bettencourt Drive in Clayton on Aug. 12 and then ran from police.

About 10 a.m. the resident heard a knock on the front door.

Thinking it was a salesman, she didn’t answer, but watched out

Real Estate . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10 Sports Shorts . . . . . . . . . . .12 Sports Talk . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11 Tech Talk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 Teen Reads . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9

the window as she saw a man, later identified as Luis Padilla, go around the side of her house. His car was parked in front of her home.

She took down the license number and a description of the

See Burglary, page 8

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Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

August 30, 2013

Around Town Hannah Newton to marry Nate Mellum

Pioneer Travels

‘People’ choose hometown pair at 4th annual CBCA rib cookoff The professional judges declared Glenn Carson’s 3BBBQ ribs number one at the 4th Annual CBCA Rib Cookoff earlier this month, but the People’s Choice award went to Meat Hustle team Sean Connors and Steve Rainwater.

The annual event has quickly become a community favorite that brings competitors back year after year. Gregg Ferrell, who took top honors in the first competition in 2010 was back for his fourth run at the trophy.

Over 500 attended the event which was held Aug. 10 in the courtyard at the Clayton Club Saloon in downtown Clayton.

Geller, Clayton Police Chief Chris Thorsen (seated), John Aszklar, Keith Haydon and CCC Church Pastor Shawn Robinson.

First place winners, CBCA president, Keith Haydon (center) presents the First Place trophy to Glenn Carson (left) and Scott Burtken.

Steve Rainwater and Sean Connors take home the Peoples Choice trophy and a year of bragging rights.

BRIAN COSTELLO

Pictured, clockwise from top right: Clayton Club owners Cindy and Steve Barton; First tier judges Steve Lane, Neil McChesney, Bob Steiner, Howard

Brian Costello turned 50 this year and to celebrate, he hiked to the 14,505 ft. summit of Mt. Whitney. He took us along on the 22-mile round trip and we’re here to tell you, with 6,100 vertical feet of elevation, it’s a CLIMB not a hike.

We started at midnight with just a headlamp for light and reached the summit at sunrise.

And while all the flatlanders down below were baking in the triple digits, we were freezing at 35 degrees.

But the view of the Eastern Sierras and the Owens Valley was worth the steep, rugged climb. It took us 6.5 hours to get back down where we capped of the day with a well earned bacon cheese burger and a beer at the Whitney Portal store.

HANNAH NEWTON AND NATE MELLUM

Hannah Newton of Clayton will marry Nate Mellum on Sept. 21 in Chico. Coffee lovers will remember Hannah as the popular “singing barista” at Peet’s Coffee before she moved to Chico to attend Chico State University.

The two became engaged this summer in Lake Tahoe at a romantic dinner on Sand Beach.

Hannah graduated from Chico in May with a degree in nutrition and dietetic science

and is currently serving an internship at a hospital in Reno, Nev. She plans to become a registered dietitian. Hannah is the daughter of Tamara and Phil Newton of Clayton.

Nate is currently a student at the University of Nevada where he is studying to become a nurse practitioner. His parents are Stacy and Amy Mellum of Reno.

The couple will live in Reno after the wedding.

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August 30, 2013

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

Page 3

City qualifies as a HeartSafe Community Clayton’s heart just keeps getting bigger.

That’s due in part to the 56 residents who recently participated in CPR/ Automatic Exterior Defibrillator (AED) training at the Clayton Library, which helped designate Clayton as a HeartSafe Community.

Under the training of the Clayton Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), the city surpassed the goal of 850 points under HeartSafe guidelines.

A HeartSafe Community is a community where all elements of the Chain of Survival are in place and there is a focus on improving the cardiovascular health of the citizens. This improves the chances that anyone suffering a cardiovascular emergency (heart attack, stroke or sudden cardiac arrest) would have the best possible chance for survival.

The HeartSafe program began in March of 2013, partly

CERT TRAINER PAM DODSON INSTRUCTS Rotarians Frank Westphall, Bob Huck, John Wolfe (center) and Bob Sundberg in hands-only CPR as part of Clayton’s HeartSafe Community program.

in response to the partial closure of Fire Station 11. CERT leaders have taken the lead in training community members in CPR and AED use.

After the fire station services were cut, city leaders realized it was more important than

vices. She’s been assisted by local firefighters, emergency medical response personnel from American Medical Response and trained Clayton CERT members.

Besides the classes at the library, training sessions have been held for the local Rotary Club and at the recent Clayton Family Faire in June at The Grove. Training has also been provided for local Homeowner Associations, and a session is scheduled for the local AAUW in October.

Their next public training sessions will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. Sept. 16 and 25 at the

library.

Since the spring of 2007 more than 200 Clayton residents have taken the 20-hour CERT program. The last couple of years they have held twohour training sessions at the library covering the basics of emergency preparedness. Also, fire suppression classes have been offered at Endeavor Hall.

Training sessions are held every couple of months.

For more information on CERT or to sign-up for a CPR/AED training class, call the CERT Hotline at 925-673-7355 or visit the CERT website at claytoncert.org.

s t r e c n o C he Gro Saturdays

6 to 8:30 p.m.

At the Gazebo in The Grove

Set up chairs and blankets on the lawn after 4 p.m.

erts c n o c Last season of the g up! comin August 31

The Chicago Tribute Authority

ever for residents to be trained in Hands Only CPR and the use of an AED. The training sessions have been under the direction of Pam Dodson, RN, Prehospital Care Coordinator with Contra Costa Emergency Medical Ser-

This upbeat tribute band plays the music of the greatest hit bands of the last 45 years.

Sept. 14

East Bay Mudd This 10-piece cover dance band with a powerful 4-man horn section, will keep you on your feet asking for more.

‘Opa!’ Greek Festival opens Sept. 13

It’s time to say “Opa!” again.

St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church is preparing for the

35rd Annual Contra Costa Greek Food & Wine Festival, Sept. 13, 14 and 15.

The popular event draws Greeks and Greeks-for-a-day from throughout the Bay Area.

The highlight of the festival is the food, prepared by “Yiayias,” the Greek grandmothers who prepare authentic food with fresh ingredients right on the church premises. There are also booths selling other freshlymade Greek specialties like gyros and Loukoumades (tasty

Clayton

$399,000

Thursday Night Concerts In the Grove

Greek doughnuts).

Besides the food, there are Greek wines to taste, dancing to enjoy, and games and attractions for children. There is also a selection of Hellenic arts, crafts and jewelry for sale.

7 – 8:30 p.m.

Sep. 5 Mamaluke (Pop/Rock)

The festival runs Friday, Sept. 13 from 5 to 11 p.m., Saturday, Sept.

14 from noon to 11 p.m., and Sunday, Sept. 15 from noon to 8 p.m. St. Demetrios is located at 1955 Kirker Pass Rd. in Concord. For more information, visit ccgreekfest.com.

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Sep. 19 PHDs (R&B/Rock) For more band info, go to www.cityofclayton.org.

Chairs and blankets may be set out after 4 p.m. on concert days.

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Page 4

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

August 30, 2013

Roddy Ranch to become new regional park

PEGGY SPEAR Clayton Pioneer

The great land-use tug-ofwar over Antioch’s Roddy Ranch is finally over.

To the delight of hikers and nature lovers in eastern Contra Costa County, the East Bay Regional Park District in June acquired 1,885 key acres of open space for a new regional park for $14.2 million.

The acquisition is a huge victory for environmentalists, and caps years of grappling between potential developers who sought a high-end development, and those who wanted to preserve the land.

“This acquisition is extremely important to the creation of Deer Valley Regional Park,” said Robert Doyle, the district’s general manager, calling the move a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”

The 1,885-acre property is located along Deer Valley Road in the City of Antioch and in the adjacent unincorporated

area of Contra Costa County to the south of the city, an important parcel that open space enthusiasts have eyed for years.

“It will allow us to create a whole new park. Plus, it ties in with the other land acquisitions we’ve made in East Contra Costa to create a huge wildlife corridor,” district board director Ted Radke said after the June deal was reached.

Along with the new park the district plans a regional trail that would connect Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve to Round Valley Regional Preserve.

“The property is a beautiful, picturesque level valley flanked by prominent ridgelines on both sides,” Doyle said. “It will offer a great opportunity for the public to experience nature and see wildlife at its best.”

The property is home to threatened and endangered species including the tiger salamander and California redlegged frog. The East Contra

LEIGH KLOCK

Costa County Habitat Conservancy has designated the majority of the property as a high priority for acquisition and protection due to its significant habitat for protected species.

The 230-acre Roddy Ranch Golf Course was not included in the purchase, and neither were other parcels of 280 acres total that are owned by either the Roddy Family or McCauley Investments.

“The Roddy Family are prominent and long-time ranchers with a vision to see this property enjoyed by future generations rather than be developed,” Doyle said.

Up to 90 percent of the purchase price will be funded in partnership by the East Contra Costa County Habitat Conservancy with grants from the California Wildlife Conservation Board and a private foundation. The park district’s Measure WW land acquisition and capital funding bond, approved by voters in 2008, will pay for the balance.

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August 30, 2013

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

Mayor, from page 1 We’ve had several of this type of break-in; even one when the resident was at home. Fortunately their inside door to the garage was locked and the bad guy couldn’t get all the way in, but it was scary.

The Clayton Police caught the bad guy and retrieved the resident’s keys and purse that were left in the car in the garage, but it could have been so much worse.

P.O. Box 1246 6200 Center Street, Suite H, Clayton, CA 94517 TAMARA AND R OBERT S TEINER , Publishers TAMARA S TEINER , Editor P ETE C RUZ , Graphic Design P EGGY S PEAR , Copy Editor J AY B EDECARRÉ, Sports PAMELA W IESENDANGER , Administration S TAFF W RITERS : Denisen Hartlove, Pam Wiesendanger, Peggy Spear

We remember Jill Bedecarré - Her spirit is our muse

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MORE SAFETY Clayton CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) helped organize a great National Night Out in two neighborhoods. Many people were trained on how to perform Hands-only CPR. This is a skill we all need to have. It’s surprisingly easy to do with the correct instruction and it could help you save a life. CERT has several opportunities for this training. See the article on page 3 of this issue of the Pioneer for details.

Total circulation of the Clayton Pioneer is 15,500. Papers are delivered to households in ZIP codes 94517, 94518 and 94521.

In Clayton, all papers are delivered Every Door Direct by the US Post Office. We cannot start or stop individual addresses.

All Concord delivery is by carrier and delivered twice a month on a Friday morning. To stop delivery for any reason, call the office at (925) 6720500 or email circulation@claytonpioneer.com.

If you are NOT receiving the Pioneer, please check the distribution map on the website. If you live in the shaded area and are not receiving the paper, please call us or send an email to circulation@claytonpioneer.com.

If you are not in the shaded area, please be patient. We will come to your neighborhood soon.

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As always, you can contact me by email at JPierce@ci.clayton.ca.us. Let me know what you think!

SUBSCRIPTIONS To subscribe, call the office at (925) 672-0500. Subscriptions are $50/year and are not pro-rated for mid-year stops.

Business Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Rising Moon Marketing & Public Relations . . . . .672-8717 Construction and Trades Appliance Repairs by Bruce, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-2700 Belfast Plumbing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .457-5423 Burkin Electric . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-1519 Diablo View Construction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .822-5144 Gary’s Home Repair . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .787-2500 Iron Horse Concrete . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .595-3951 Steffan Smith Construction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .914-0497 Tipperary Construction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .216-2679 Dining and Entertainment Clayton Club Saloon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .673-0440 Five Guys Burgers and Fries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-6030 Johnny’s Deli & Café . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-1203 Oakhurst Country Club . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-9737, ext. 205 Events City of Clayton – Concerts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .673-7300 Pacific Coast Farmers’ Market . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .825-9090 St. Demetrios – Greek Festival . . . . . . . . . . . . . .676-6967 Financial, Insurance and Legal Services Held, Chris – Morgan Stanley Smith Barney . . . .930-3815 Littorno, Richard – The Law Office of . . . . . . . . .432-4211

Classified

Mingham, Pete – Guild Mortgage Company . . . .906-8166 Prosperitas Wealth Management . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-7700

GARDENING SERVICE

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Flower Gardening

by Nicole Hackett Perennial, ornamental, rose and container care. Keep your garden in flowers this year with monthly fertilizing and pruning visits.

Email for consultation or details.

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Getting you out and about.

Local mom, active in the community, offering non-medical and practical help: shopping, errands, salon, doctor visits.

Transportation included. Seniors About Town, Terri Gerow at 3305090.

FOR LEASE

TUTORS NEEDED

Clayton Furniture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .686-2299

Diablo Valley Literacy Council, English tutors. Must attend all three training classes: Sept. 28, Oct. 1, Oct. 5. $15 fee for training and materials. Go to dvlc.tripod.com, call 685-3881 or email dvlc4esl@gmail.com.

Interiors Panache . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-7920

HELP WANTED

Waraner Bros. Tree Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .831-2323

Office and retail space for lease in Historic Clayton City Center: Village Oaks Center, 6200 Center St., Clayton. Call Nick Adamson at (408) 371-8770, ext. 21.

Computer Tech Growing business has position for onsite pro computer tech in Contra Costa County. Must have experience in Windows and Mac OS, network repair and troubleshooting. ComputersUSA! 672-9989.

Independent Living, Assisted Living and Memory Care Private and Companion Studios Restaurant-style Dining Sun-filled Courtyards and Private Patios

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DuRee, Daniel – The Law Office of . . . . . . . . . . .210-1400

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DERBY DAY This Saturday is the great Labor Day Soapbox Derby and car show on Main Street, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. It will be great fun for the whole family – come on down.

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Every neighborhood should have a Neighborhood Watch plan as well. It’s a great way to get to know your neighbors, know who is supposed to be in the neighborhood and who looks out-of-place. We held a meeting in our neighborhood and it was great fun to get to know the folks who have recently moved in, exchange emergency contact information and see how the children have grown. Next up is an end-of-summer barbecue to keep those friendships going.

Page 5

Professional & Caring Staff 24 hours a day

Scheduled Transportation & Concierge Service

Life Enriching Activities

Housekeeping and Laundry Services

Merchandiser P/T retail merchandiser service magazines in area retailer, $10 an hour. Apply at www.apply2jobs.com/tng.

Requisition ME4005. Questions: Call (770) 943-3419.

Sorensen, David – Wells Fargo . . . . . . . . . . . . . .296-3086 Van Wyck, Doug – State Farm Insurance . . . . . .672-2300 Funerals Ouimet Funeral Home . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .682-4242 Groceries Doorstep Farmers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .349-4568 Home and Garden Diablo Lawnscape . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .381-3757 Nichols Landscape . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-9955 Refresh Pool Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .286-8601 The Floor Store . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .969-9890 The Maids . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .798-6243 Utopic Gardens . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .524-0055 Waraner Tree Experts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .250-0334 Mailing Services The UPS Store . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .689-6245 Optometry Foresight Optometry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-4100 Pet Services Cat Hospital of Clayton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-2287 Monte Vista Veterinary Hospital . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-1100 Pittsburg Pet Resort . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .432-7387 Rodie's Feed and Pet Supply . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-4600 Real Estate and Mortgage Services French, Lynne – Windermere Real Estate . . . . . .672-8787 Geddes-Sinclaire, Christine – RE/MAX Realty . .286-7593

Come join Mazzei Realty!

Currently interviewing and hiring new and experienced real estate agents. Call 693-0757 for details.

Real Estate Agents Be Successful! Lynne French is expanding and interviewing for a few agents. Call her today 6728787.

VOLUNTEERS

Call Juliana today for complimentary lunch & tour.

Remember to ask about our move-in specials.

(925) 798-3900 1081 Mohr Lane Concord www.courtyardsatpinecreek.com

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Howard, Don – Better Homes Realty . . . . . . . . . .408-3184 Klock, Leigh – Coldwell Banker . . . . . . . . . . . . . .212-5593 Landgraf, Linda – Prudential . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .876-0311 Laurence, Pete – RE/MAX Realty . . . . . . . . . . . .890-6004 Lopez, Stephanie – Coldwell Banker . . . . . . . . . .932-7329 Mazzei, Matt – Mazzei Realty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .693-0757 Stojanovich, Jennifer – Better Homes Realty . . .567-6170 Vujnovich, George - Better Homes Realty . . . . . .672-4433 Recreation and Fitness

Help Fight Hunger Anna Chan – AKA: The Lemon Lady needs your help! Weekly commitment appreciated. For more info and contact numbers, go to thelemonlady.blogspot.com.

Clayton Valley Bowl . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .689-4631

Clayton Historical Society Museum. Greeters needed for two hours per month from 2-4 p.m. Wed. or Sun. Summer volunteers needed 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. on Sat. and 6 – 8 p.m. Wed., through August; 4 – 6 p.m. on concert Saturdays. Call 672-0240.

Courtyards at Pine Creek . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .798-3900

Clayton Community Library Needs volunteers. Minimum age 13. Minimum commitment is 6 months. Some training provided.

Contact: Arlene at 673-9777 or nielsenjanc@aol.com.

Net Solutions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-6029

Earthquake Arabians . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .360-7454 Levity Fitness Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-2995 Senior Services Chateau on Broadway . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .686-1700 Diablo Senior Homes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .360-2936 Montecito – Oakmont Senior Living . . . . . . . . . . .852-6702 Services, Other 1-800-Junkster . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .800-586-5783 ComputersUSA! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-9989

Travel Travel to Go . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-9840

Page 6

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

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County hires consultant to evaluate fire and emergency medical service levels TAMARA STEINER Clayton Pioneer

“Contra Costa Fire Protection District is going broke.”

This message was clearly and bluntly delivered by County Administrator, David Twa at a Town Hall meeting in Clayton last week.

“ConFire is burning through reserves at $12 million a year. At this rate, it will be bankrupt by 2016,” Twa said.

The 2008 real estate market crash cost the district more than $32 million a year in lost property tax revenue. At the same time, cost of health insurance and pension benefits were going up. A $75 stop-gap parcel tax, designed to slow the bleeding, was rejected by the voters in 2012. This “perfect storm” resulted in the partial or complete closing of four stations in the last year – Clayton’s Station 11 among them – with more closures to come.

Recently enacted pension reform only affects those hired

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after Jan. 1 of this year, says County Supervisor Karen Mitchoff. “We won’t see the savings from this for several years.”

The district expects to receive a $10 million grant from the Department of Homeland Security this year which will fund 27 positions and keep three stations open. But the grant only lasts for two years.

Assuming there is no lottery jackpot in the immediate future, the district must come up with a way to meet the safety needs of the public at a price it can afford.

The county has hired Fitch and Associates, an outside con-

sulting firm, to come up with a five-year plan that will keep the district operating until revenues go back up.

Fitch and Associates held three Town Hall meetings last month in Lafayette, Pittsburg and Clayton where they asked for public comment on the study.

Many attending felt the Clayton meeting was pointless.

“We needed to do this,” said Mitchoff after the meeting. “But people want to comment on solutions, not the problem.”

Clayton resident John Manzeck says the meeting was “just for show” and did not

address some of the critical issues like how Emergency Medical Service (EMS) calls could affect crews available for fire response.

More than 74 percent of all calls that come into the fire department are EMS calls. A critical element in the study is how to cover the medical calls and still have adequate resources for fighting fires. The consultants are looking at the EMS issues in a separate study.

The county is expected to have a draft of the CCFPD study ready for public comment by January 2014 and the EMS study

by February 2015.

Physician has mixed feelings about health care expansion When I am at a gathering and someone finds out I am a physician, they inevitably ask how I feel about healthcare reform.

I typically tell them that reform is here now, whether I like it or not. I opine on ACOs and bundled payments. And by the time I reach Medicaid expansion and insurance exchanges, they either have a glassy-eyed look or are actively working out a way to ditch me.

This is good for me, because I am truthfully not sure how I feel about Medicaid expansion and insurance exchanges. As a doctor, I know I’m looked at as something of an expert in this area. But I don’t yet feel able to explain the impact to patients, much less curious laypeople. And with nearly half of the states expected to opt out of the Medicaid expansion – or leaving exchanges to the federal government – others clearly share my doubts.

On one hand, I like the idea of expanding coverage, as it allows folks to access primary care and get vaccinations, health screenings and the like. As an Emergency Department doctor, I like knowing that my patients are insured so I can arrange for outpatient follow-up once they’ve been stabilized. Expanded coverage also means that emergency physicians are more likely to be paid for our services, since uninsured patients are guaranteed care in the ED under EMTALA. However, I’m still concerned on a number of fronts.

For one thing, there will still be 29 million uninsured people after the Affordable Care Act goes into effect. Depending on the path of immigration reform, undocumented immigrants may remain ineligible for Medicaid and the exchanges for 15 years or longer.

DAVID BIRDSALL, M.D.

DOCTOR’S ORDERS Another concern: where will we get the primary care doctors and community resources to care for millions of newly insured folks? By 2015, our country will be short 30,000 primary care providers, and there are few incentives for physicians to enter the field. Many medical school students now graduate with more than $300,000 in debt. Why would they go into primary care where they would make as much as some nurse practitioners, master plumbers and the like (without the 300K debt)?

Then there’s funding. In California, Gov. Jerry Brown has made a “bold” proposal that would deny millions to counties once the expansion and exchanges kick in Jan. 1. His logic: now that folks are insured, there is less need for state support. On top of that, he is pushing to decrease MediCal reimbursement by 10 percent – despite the fact that California’s reimbursement rate is among the lowest in the nation.

The exchanges themselves face a tough road. While it is terrific that Covered California has brought Kaiser, Blue Shield, Anthem and 10 other insurers on board, other states offer far fewer choices. How will they keep rates down with so little competition?

Plus, the success of exchanges

hinges upon recruiting young, healthy people to drive down premium costs. But I am not convinced people in this demographic – who are likely to see a rise in their premiums – are eager jump in the exchange pool. If too many opt to forgo insurance and pay the penalty, the exchanges will be devastated. They will mostly be covering people with significant healthcare needs, and premiums will skyrocket.

So what I tell patients and partygoers is the truth – I just don’t know. We need to do something as a country to fix our broken health care system. Medicaid expansion, exchanges, ACOs, bundled payments, value-based purchasing and the like may be answers, but even healthcare prognosticators disagree on what we should do and how.

At a recent conference I attended, a speaker described our country’s attempts to implement the Affordable Care Act as “throwing a bunch of things at a wall and seeing which of them will stick.” I was equally shocked and comforted by this statement. Shocked that someone would actually admit it, but comforted because it mirrored my own thoughts.

We don’t know the right answer to the healthcare conundrum, but we are doing our best to figure it out. We should be honest with each other about that.

David Birdsall, MD, is the Regional Director for CEP America in the California East Bay and Washington State and he serves on the Board of the Muir Medical Group IPA. Dr. Birdsall previously was the Medical Director of the John Muir Medical Center Emergency Department and Chief of Staff at the John Muir Medical Center Concord Campus. Email questions or comments for him to mdbirdsall@aol.com

August 30, 2013

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

Driving businesses to thrive in Concord

RON LEONE

CONCORD BEAT Small businesses drive our economic engine and are vital for Concord’s financial health.

Although governments don’t create jobs, they can either create a climate where our businesses thrive, or they can create obstacles that may stifle economic growth.

With this slow economic recovery and the high unemployment we have suffered for the past few years, it is important for the city to be as business friendly as possible. Luckily, Concord recognizes this, and

has unanimously passed a business friendly pledge that sends a message – both internally throughout our organization and externally throughout our business community – that the City of Concord will go out of its way to support our business community.

Here are some of the ways we are putting deeds behind the words of the pledge: We are working to cut the red tape. With our city manager and staff, we are making our city’s permit center into a helpful concierge center. We recently updated Concord’s Developmental Code (which hasn’t been done in 50 years) so that it mirrors our city’s General Plan.

This is now helping to streamline the process to make it easier and faster for citizens and businesses to get building permits.

We are reevaluating out business fees. All cities have business fees to recover their city’s costs for particular services.

However, it is important that

these fees be as competitive as possible. In the next few months we will be studying our business fees and making adjustments if needed.

Council members are playing a role in business groups and associations. To demonstrate support for our business community, my colleagues on the council and I have attended many Concord Small Business Association and Todos Santos Business Association meetings.

We’re also very involved with the Concord Chamber of Commerce and the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce events, including most of Concord Chamber’s ribbon cutting businesses grand openings.

We patronize our businesses.

To establish better business-city relations, we’ve paid goodwill visits to our current businesses.

We’ve met with each of our 17 new auto dealerships to help encourage them to form an association to help promote Concord as the “Car Capital of

the East Bay.” We have developed a new street signage program to help identify our auto district.

We work to get sponsorships and donations. Even with the loss of our Redevelopment Agency, we were able to attract corporate sponsorships and public donations to save our summer Music in the Park Series which helps support our Todos Santos Downtown Business District. We’re also working with our hotels to form a hotel business infrastructure district so that we can advertise Concord as a place of destination.

Concord’s city council and its city staff are lucky to have such a vibrant partner in our local businesses. It’s our job to help make them as strong as they can be.

Ron Leone, a Concord city councilman and former mayor, welcomes comments and questions.

Call him at (925) 680-1776 or ronaldleone@comcast.net.

Page 7

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There’s hope for distressed sellers and buyers

LYNNE FRENCH

REAL ANSWERS Q. I am contemplating selling my home as a “short sale” because even after this seller’s market I am still upside down on my house. I am not in default on my payments but they are getting nearly impossible to make.

My wife lost her job. My goal is to own a less expensive home some day. How long will I have to wait before our credit is good enough to qualify? By the way, a loan modification didn’t work because my current home is now too expensive.

A. There is big news from FHA. There used to be a twoyear seasoning period after a short sale to buy another home; now short sellers (people who sell their homes for less than they owe) can get FHA financing right after a short sale if they keep their payments current throughout the short sale process.

In the recent past banks were more likely to accept a short sale proposal if a borrower stopped making payments.

This is no longer true.

The major criterion for the loan is that you must buy down in price. That only makes sense.

If you couldn’t afford your current priced home, a lender won’t lend to you to get you in the same mess. Of course your credit won’t be affected much in a situation like this.

And, at this time, I want to remind anyone thinking of a short sale, forgiveness of the short amount (for tax purposes) will expire Dec. 31 of this year.

Q. I have bought property in the past and have always been allowed a “stated

income” loan. I am selfemployed and it is hard to prove my income. My wife and I want to buy a house and we have 20 percent down and have a good credit score. We also have many assets. Is something like this still possible?

A. I have referred your question to our loan affiliate, JVM Lending.

Jay Vorhees, broker/owner of JVM, advised that there are a few lenders that could work in this realm if you have substantial assets, even if you have little income or income that you can’t prove easily.

The lender can amortize you net assets after purchase for 30 years (or age 85, whichever is less) at a rate of 5 percent, for instance. The monthly figure they come up with is considered your “effective income.” If this is enough to qualify for the payment, they will lend to you.

There are two other options for borrowers who cannot provide sufficient income documentation: A “Pledged Asset” Loan and “Hard Money” or Private Money, but the rates and fees for these loans are very high

North Concord BART increases parking In the next few weeks, patrons of the North Concord BART station on Port Chicago Highway will see some changes before they ever get on the train.

Within the next few weeks work crews will be expanding the reserved parking area, adding spaces just west of the bus loading zone at the station.

The reserved area is for customers who buy permits online in advance, and increased demand has made the changes

necessary. The new area will be marked with yellow “Reserved Parking” signs.

Carpool parking spaces will be moved to the far western area of the upper parking lot and will be marked with pink “Carpool Parking” signs.

The Daily Parking areas will be moved to the lower parking lot.

As always, any vacant carpool or permit spaces are open to all users after 10 a.m. on

weekdays and all day on weekends.

For more information about BART’s parking programs or to purchase a Single Day, Airport/Long-term or Monthly permit, visit BART.gov/parking.

Riders can get BART Service Advisories (BSAs) on their phone.

To sign up for BSAs, visit bart.gov/advisories or call 511 to get up-to-date service information.

(average of 4 to 5 points, and rates close to 11 percent).

So you see it is much more difficult to get what also used to be called “Easy Qualifier” loans, but not impossible for some.

Send your question and look for your answer in a future column. Email Lynne@LynneFrench.com. French is the broker/owner of Windermere Lynne French & Associates. Contact her at 672-878 7or stop in at 6200 Center St., Clayton.

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Page 8

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

August 30, 2013

Book Review

‘TransAtlantic’ is a magical historical journey SUNNY SOLOMON

FOR

THE

BOOKS

Irish writer Colum McCann, now living and teaching in New York City, has created something magical in his latest novel, TransAtlantic (Random House; June 2013). At the novel’s end, the elderly great-granddaughter of the primary female character eavesdrops as a young mother reads to her children. The old woman thinks to herself, “There isn’t a story in the world that isn’t in part, at least, addressed to the past.”

It is no small feat for this gifted author to take us both backward and forward in time, from the first transatlantic flight from Nova Scotia to Ireland in 1919, then back even farther, to the ship-bound transatlantic journey of Frederick Douglass to begin his 1845 abolitionist speaking tour in Ireland. Among the people he meets is a servant girl who

will herself travel across the Atlantic to reach the shores of New York before Douglass returns home. In 1998 the Atlantic is crossed again, this time by jet, bringing U.S. Senator George Mitchell to Belfast in a last-ditch effort to help bring peace to that troubled city. Then we step back once more to the story of the servant girl who made her way from New York to Missouri, then east again and finally into Nova Scotia, Canada; then again, across the Atlantic until the story ends in the very cottage described in the author’s brief prologue before the telling begins.

The magic is the seamlessness with which McCann reminds us, through his characters and their actions, of the human need for identity in both person and place, and the peace required for both to flourish.

The story begins not only with the first transatlantic flight, but with a letter entrusted to Arthur Brown, one of the two heroic aviators. The letter, written by a female journalist from Nova Scotia, is addressed to a family in Ireland. Is the letter delivered?

Before we ever find out, McCann takes us back to the Ireland of

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1846, a land much impoverished but willing to support the American anti-slavery movement.

Frederick Douglass, the now world-famous African American orator, activist and fugitive slave

There I was, minding my own business, and I get a call from Linda M, one of our favorite customers, who always has interesting computer issues.

She told me that all of a sudden her computer was running slow and wanted to know what happened and how to fix it. I offered some suggestions, and then I went to work.

I started up a Windows XP computer, started browsing the Internet, and well, she’s right, it is slow. So slow, in fact, I decided to tinker with it and see what problem could be, as it seemed out of the ordinary. My first thought was infections. Virus and malware infections can sap performance on even the most powerful computer. But, this problem affected both her computer and mine – they couldn’t be infected with the same virus, could they?

The average computer can’t tolerate virus or malware infections. Nearly one-half of installed computers still run XP and Internet Explorer 8. These computers simply can no longer handle the load that anti-virus programs place upon them. Defensive programs have become enormous and take more resources to run than XP computers can provide.

The results show my test XP system did have some minor errors, but no infections that would cause the type of lethargic response I was getting from IE8. IE is secure because Microsoft has piled layer after layer of security features into it.

Over time, this slows your

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browsing experience. Frankly, IE8 is old and was never designed for this much of a security load, and simply can’t handle the burden any longer.

But still, why were both XP systems acting so sluggish? Why not just use Chrome or Firefox? Short answer: Security.

Would you believe the issue is not entirely an Internet Explorer problem? What I found was an East Bay area malfunctioning AT&T Internet backbone. Although, AT&T is reluctant to admit Internet outages or slowdowns, this was the case and it contributed to the problem. A corrupt or wayward Internet connection will slow your entire computer down. A slow connection will affect your computer’s overall performance.

To test your Internet connection, use a speed test like the one from Speakeasy.net (now known as MegaPath). Go to speakeasy.net/speedtest/ and select San Francisco, CA as your location and watch the gauges. Make note of it as a baseline. Next time your computer slows down, run a check and compare it to your baseline.

Computers still running Windows XP are obsolete; there is no fix for IE8 or XP. It is time for a visit with your local computer expert. While on the subject, please, don’t go to a big box store and buy whatever is on the shelf as you are really doing yourself a disservice and could do much better with expert help.

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P O L I C E A C T I V I T Y FOR TWO W E E K S ENDING AUG 22, 2013 ACCIDENTS: None.

ARRESTS: Aug. 10, 12:50 a.m. Kirker Pass Rd./Concord Blvd. A 28year-old Pittsburg male was arrested for DUI; probation violation after being stopped for Vehicle Code violations.

Aug. 11, 5:52 p.m. Marsh Creek Rd./Diablo Pkwy. A 31year-old Pittsburg male was arrested for being under the influence of a controlled substance; driving without a license after being stopped for Vehicle Code violations.

Aug. 12, 1:39 a.m. Kirker Pass Rd. A 28-year-old Clayton male was arrested for possessing a controlled substance; possessing controlled substance paraphernalia; probation violation after being contacted by officers on patrol.

Aug. 12, 10:46 a.m. Bettencourt Dr. A 32-year-old Oakley male was arrested for burglary - residential; evading a peace officer with wanton disregard for safety; possession of a controlled substance; possession of

Still, the crime spree in and around the usually quiet Clayton Valley Shopping Center unnerved residents and business owners alike – especially those who had been targeted.

“I’m happy that nobody got hurt,” says Tricia Tamura, who owns the UPS Store. “You want to know that you would take the

Burglary, from page 1

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vehicle and called 911. While on the phone, she heard Padilla trying to enter the kitchen from the garage.

Before police arrived, Padilla took off in his car with the woman’s purse, which she had left on the seat of her car in the garage.

He led Concord and Clay-

TECH TALK and application testing immediately to ensure you deploy before end of support.”

R.I.P., XP. William Claney is an independent tech writer and former owner of Computers USA in the Clayton Station. Email questions or comments to will@claytonpioneer.com.

Police Activity Report

Arrest, from page 1 Aug. 21. French was additionally wanted under a $100,000 felony fraud warrant in another city.

No one was injured during any of the robberies, and no shots were fired. After the first robbery, Detectives from the Concord Police Major Crimes Unit took over the investigation and began pursuing several leads.

WILL CLANEY

ton police on a chase through Pittsburg and Antioch, tossing out the woman’s keys and wallet along the way. Padilla allegedly ditched the car in Antioch, but police were able to find him through DMV records.

Thanks to several Good Samaritans, says Clayton Police Chief Chris Thorsen, all of the

burglary tools; probation violation after officers responded to a call for service.

Aug. 17, 11:30 a.m. Clayton Rd./Schenone Ct. A 27year-old Discovery Bay male was arrested for driving while license suspended for DUI after being stopped for Vehicle Code violations.

Aug. 19, 3:59 a.m. Ygnacio Valley Rd./Clayton Rd. A 30year-old Hayward male was arrested on a warrant after being stopped for Vehicle Code violations.

Aug. 19, 6:37 p.m.

Oakhurst Dr./Yolanda Cr. A 28year-old Clayton male was arrested on a warrant after being contacted by officers.

BURGLARIES/THEFTS: Aug. 9, Tara Ct. Theft – Vehicle.

Aug. 12, Bettencourt Dr. Burglary – Residence.

Aug. 12, 5400 Clayton Rd. Grand Theft – Commercial.

Aug. 19, Shell Ln. Petty Theft.

Aug. 19, Kirker Pass Rd. Petty Theft.

VANDALISM: Aug. 12, Pine Hollow Rd. Vandalism.

safe route.” Tamura says her employee stepped back from the cash register; the suspect grabbed the money after showing a gun and then left the store.

Anyone with information about these crimes is urged to contact Det. Pardilla at the Concord Police Department at 925-603-5922.

Those wishing to remain anonymous can call the tip line at 925-6035836.

woman’s belongings were recovered.

Her keys were found by an Antioch woman out for a walk.

She picked up the keys and left a note on the telephone pole with her phone number. Police called the number and recovered the keys.

Padilla has a long history of prior felony arrests, Thorsen said.

August 30, 2013

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

Games not to blame for sicko’s actions

ROBBIE PARKER

CVCHS REPORTER In recent decades, the amount of violent subject matter in the media has dramatically escalated.

According to a 2010 television broadcasting survey, the average American will witness at least 200,000 acts of aggression on TV before age 18.

This topic is particularly relevant for today’s youth, considering television, Internet and video games are the most popular teenage entertainment.

In the wake of more recent violent tragedies, the national spotlight focused primarily on regulation of firearms. Law

Books, from page 8 and those they love. As intricate and disparate as each story is, under McCann’s straightforward writing, they come together almost tenderly. That 1919 attempt to connect people across continents continues today, and if you read the Internet carefully, you will most often see women behind the petitions and movements to relieve human suffering.

Sunny Solomon is a freelance writer and head of the Clayton Book Club. Visit her website at bookinwithsunny.com for her latest recommendations or just to ‘talk books.’

enforcement and government officials, however, have turned their attention to the video game industry – suggesting violent games were the powder keg fueling these sadistic acts.

Following the dark, disastrous day at Sandy Hook Elementary School last December, lawenforcement discovered the shooter, 20-year-old Adam Lanza, had sick obsessions with violence. In Lanza’s home, police discovered detailed plans of the incident as well as thousands of dollars worth of violent video games. According to police reports, Lanza frequently participated in online death-matches in the popular first-person shooter game “Call of Duty.”

Upon the release of these details, the National Rifle Association made a controversial claim, suggesting virtual weapons were more harmful to society than real ones. After directly blaming the video game industry for the massacre, the NRA received furious criticism from both the scientific community and gun control

from any gaming session with an overpowering urge to harm or kill. I have never found myself struggling to distinguish the difference between simulation and reality. I go about my day normally, I respect others, and I refuse to inflict physical damage to anyone in the slightest. Engaging in virtual scenes of violence has yet to damage the “young, impressionable-psyche” of anyone I know.

Perhaps one’s propensity for violence is determined by preestablished morals and personality traits. Yet the media will refuse to accept this ideology. Unfortunately, there will always be extremists, wielding methods of destruction to inflict violence upon others. For any tragedy that occurs, the video game industry will be a vulnerable scapegoat.

Hopefully in the future, perpetrators will be held accountable for their actions, and the rest of the world can enjoy another game.

Robbie Parker is a junior at Clayton Valley Charter High School. Send comments to Robbie@claytonpioneer.com

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‘Hopeless’ shows where truth lies

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TEEN READS “Would you rather know the truth that makes you feel hopeless, or keep believing the lies?”

In “Hopeless” by Colleen

Test Scores, from page 1 “We’ve had more professional development in the past year than in the past 10 years combined,” McChesney says.

He himself taught a workshop this summer on using technology in the classroom, and Linzey brought 25 teachers and administrators to Model Schools conference.

Plus, the teachers have “the right tools” to be successful, including laptops, digital projectors and “smart boards.”

“I use a surgeon analogy,” says Linzey. “Why use a scalpel when you can use a laser?”

Both credit the new “Zero Failure” policy, which allows students to take after school classes and Saturday School to learn a lesson, and avoid a failing grade.

“We’ve cut our failure rate in half,” Linzey says.

But besides academic success,

advocates. Representatives from the association specifically named popular games such as “Call of Duty,” “Grand Theft Auto,” “Bulletstorm” and “Mortal Kombat” as a “shadow of corruption” over the American people. While this theory has been scientifically rejected by more than 20 studies, it has turned many American consumers against the game industry.

As a teenage male, I have engaged in my fair share of violent video games. Like many of my peers, I have spent countless hours in front of a television screen or a computer monitor sitting motionlessly for marathon lengths. Whether I was pulverizing waves of zombies, gunningdown terrorists or wreaking havoc with rocket-propelled grenades, committing merciless acts of brutality were fundamental player actions. In many ways, clobbering or blasting in-game opponents evokes a primal instinct – a fight-or-flight response.

Yet I have never walked away

Page 9

many parents, teachers and students say that it is what’s going on outside the classroom that is making the most difference.

“It’s like a different school,” says parent Megan Kommer. She should know. Besides serving as board president of CVCHS she has three daughters who attend – and one who graduated in 2012, the year before the charter took effect.

“The campus is clean – there is a sense of pride that wasn’t there before,” she says. “And there is an atmosphere of respect. Before, when I would come on campus there would be altercations, fights even, on the school grounds. You don’t see that anymore. It’s now a conducive place for learning.”

She says that while highly academic students are still doing well, most of the positive

Hoover (Self-published, Dec. 2012), that is the one question 17-year-old Sky Davis keeps asking herself after she meets Dean Holder, a guy that radiates trouble. Dean is determined to barge into Sky’s life, whether she likes it or not. She does whatever she can to avoid him but it’s pretty hard to do that when he’s there whenever she turns around.

But once Dean reveals the truth about his past to Sky, she realizes that everything she has heard about him has been a complete lie and that he has had a rough life. But not nearly as rough as Sky’s.

Soon after they both reveal

their true colors to each other, Sky and Dean decipher their deeply troubled pasts together and find out just how bad things are and how they were separated for 13 years before seeing each other again. Sky finds out that everything that anyone has ever told her are lies and her ability to trust anyone will be damaged forever.

I read this book cover to cover in just a couple of days.

“Hopeless” by Colleen Hoover is one of the best books I have ever read.

changes can be seen in the average and below-average students. “The school isn’t letting kids slip through the cracks anymore. “ She also has seen a huge jump in parent involvement, and a parent survey taken last spring shows a whopping 100 percent of responders see the school heading in the right direction.

school, but now the teachers make it more relevant. They seem happier, too.”

Farr says that of course there are some naysayers, but that “those are the kids who would be negative anyway. Every high school has them.”

Even critics of the charter plan are praising Linzey and the positive changes he’s brought to the school.

“I was opposed to the Clayton charter for funding reasons, as last year it cost other schools in the district. But this year, that won’t happen,” says Northgate High Principal John McMorris.

“In fact, I’m very impressed with the charter and Dave Linzey. The school has a great positive energy, the facility looks great and I believe they are doing things we should look at and possible do in our district.

Clayton has a new positive energy and dynamic people who are making the school a great place for their students.”

MODELING GOOD BEHAVIOR Kommer attributes that to the change in leadership at the top, and Linzey says he just models what he expects of his students. “The other administrators and I are always out at lunch, getting to know the students, seeing what’s going on. And we will pick up trash along the way. It shows that we are all one community here, and we need to respect it.”

And they are, if you listen to most students. “All my friends are really happy with the changes,” says junior Julie Farr.

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Emily York is a freshman at CVCHS.

The Way We Were In this circa 1914 photo, Cary Phelps “Cap” Mitchell, a member of one of Clayton’s pioneer families – Mitchell Canyon, Mitchell Rock both bear the family name – proudly shows off his horses on a not yet paved Main Street in front of the Eagle Saloon.

In the photo, at the west end of Main Street the first Mt. Diablo Elementary school is barely visible on “School Hill.”

Photo courtesy Clayton Historical Society

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Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

August 30, 2013

Sports Eagles, Spartans tie in 2004 starts another De La Salle streak JAY BEDECARRÉ Clayton Pioneer

Retired Clayton Valley High football coach Herc Pardi figures his teams played against De La Salle coach Bob Ladouceur more than anyone.

Pardi ‘s Pittsburg and Clayton Valley squads won once and tied once in 16 games with Hall of Fame coach Lad’s Spartans.

In most cases a coach on the losing side of a 1-14-1 head-to-head record would not want to relive those matchups.

However two of the games played significant roles in two of the more famous streaks ever in high school football.

Everyone remembers Pardi’s Pittsburg team defeated De La Salle in the 1991 North Coast Section championship game that was the precursor to the 151-game winning streak De La Salle went on following that game. Not nearly as many recall the 17-17 tie between Clayton Valley and De La Salle in 2004.

That game is the last time DLS failed to defeat a Northern California team. It came six games after “The Streak”

ended for De La Salle in Washington and finished off the worst run of form for the Spartans in over 30 years as they lost three and tied two of their first seven games. Even under those circumstances De La Salle rebounded with six consecutive victories to win the 2004 NCS championship.

The teams met at De La Salle on Oct. 22, 2004. CV was coming off a 28-27 loss to Ygnacio Valley while DLS had routed Liberty in Brentwood 55-7 the previous week. DLS seemed to be in control of a close game but Clayton Valley junior Robert Lorenzi blocked a punt in the fourth quarter, his classmate Sam Faleafine recovered it and Tommy McDevitt kicked a game-tying field goal for the Eagles. When time expired in the fourth quarter there was a certain amount of confusion in the stands and in the radio announcers’ booth as to a potential overtime. The coaches knew the game ended in a tie however.

Clayton Valley’s team and fans felt they had “won 17-17” while many DLS followers felt they “lost the tie game.”

Photo courtesy Clayton Valley Charter High School

RIGHT-HANDED QUARTERBACK MATT GORGEN rolled to his left and hit Corey Miller for a 33-yard touchdown pass in 2004 when Clayton Valley and De La Salle tied 17-17, the last time the Spartans failed to defeat a team from Northern California. Gorgen went on to pitch for Cal Berkeley and has been in professional baseball since 2008. Guard Josh Vigil (66) blocked DLS’s Cameron Brasier (56) to give Gorgen time to throw the TD pass.

Pardi mentions quarterback Matt Gorgen, his twin brother Scott Gorgen, Jesse Hunt, Jimmy Mares, Corey Miller, Jason Poltl, Nick Culum and Vinnie Levine as game stand-

outs. Both head coaches credited the late CVHS defensive coordinator Jerry Coakley for a great game plan. Inside linebackers Culum and Levin had 17 and nine tackles, respectively.

Friday Night, from page 1

Jason Rogers photo

AS A JUNIOR TANNER WRAA (18) SCORED 10 TOUCHDOWNS while averaging 32 yards per pass reception and seven yards per rush for Clayton Valley Charter football. With the trio of Joe and Mike Protheroe and Jesse Medrano all gone from the Eagles backfield senior Wraa figures to play a key role for CVCHS this fall. He’ll receive a real baptism of fire against a De La Salle team this Friday with one of the most highly-touted defenses in the state. Wraa is reportedly being looked at by Ivy League colleges as a future collegian.

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when Murphy’s team lost to Oakdale 27-24 in the inaugural State Regional Bowl Game last December.

This season it’s De La Salle with a new headman on the sidelines as 33-year-old Justin Alumbaugh has taken over for Ladouceur and finds his team ranked #1 in the country. Nothing like a little pressure for the new coach! To sum up the Ladouceur era that began in 1979, his Spartan teams won 29 NCS championships while losing 25 games and drawing three.

His win total was 399.

Clayton Valley and DLS first played football against one another in 1986 in the NCS 3A semi-finals and then met 13 more times in league play. In 2004 the Concord schools drew 17-17 (see story page 10), the last time De La Salle failed to win a game against a Northern California opponent. That’s the only time DLS hasn’t prevailed over the Eagles and many of the games were not very close. Of course few others were defeating De La Salle with Ladouceur in charge.

Veteran high school football journalist Mitch Stephens of

MaxPreps cannot recall a season opening game pitting two section champions from the same city against one another. Murphy says, “It’s how it should be with the Section champions— from the same city—playing one another.”

Alumbaugh and Murphy both lost outstanding players from last year’s championship teams and will be looking for new starters to join returnees to make their respective 2013 seasons successful.

Clayton Valley embraced Murphy’s wing gun offense last year to rack up 12 wins in 14 games along with Diablo Valley Athletic League and NCS titles.

Running backs Joe Protheroe and Jesse Medrano carried the offense engineered by Protheroe’s younger brother Mike Protheroe at quarterback.

All three are missing from the Eagle backfield as Joe Protheroe and Medrano are off to college and Mike Protheroe is no longer at CVCHS. Now quarterbacking the Eagles is transfer Gabe Taylor, who last played two years ago as a sophomore at College Park.

Junior running back Miles Har-

On offense, Poltl gained 125 yards on 11 carries, including a 77-yard TD run, while Matt Gorgen scrambled before hitting Miller for a 33-yard scoring pass in the back of the

rison had a big season on the Eagles junior varsity last year and figures to take the lion’s share of the carries in the runoriented offense. Senior Tanner Wraa is being touted as an allaround two-way threat. Kristen Mamea, who returns to CV, Ben Davis and Zack Dominguez will also be factors on offense.

Two-time all-DVAL lineman Justin Rogers is a Pac-12 recruit and will be joined by returning standouts Max Connor, Brenden Crabbe, Dylan Jue and Jax Carter on the line that opened the holes for the offensive fireworks to take place last fall.

Murphy’s no stranger to DLS. As the head man at Ygnacio Valley High in Concord from 1996-2000 he played his next-door neighbor in 1999 and 2000. Both times Ygnacio was very competitive with De La Salle for a half—actually leading 7-6 in 2000—before the likes of Kevin Simon and D. J. Williams took over in the second half. Murphy was successful at YVHS, winning the NCS 3A title in 1999 and three straight league titles but he was facing a De La Salle team in those years that was in the midst of its historic 151-game winning streak.

De LA Salle has won the last

end zone for the other CV touchdown.

The Clayton Valley-De La Salle football rivalry began with pre-season scrimmages three years in a row between the Concord schools in 19781980 when CVHS was a perennial contender in the powerful DVAL and De La Salle was a struggling football member of the Catholic Athletic League.

In the first scrimmage the Eagles outscored the Spartans by 10 or 11 touchdowns to none. The next year 24-yearold Ladouceur took over as DLS head coach and the next two scrimmages were a different story and much more physical affairs.

It wasn’t until 1986 that the schools played an official game and that came in the semifinals of the North Coast Section playoffs. De La Salle won 24-6 en route to their third section title in a row. The Concord schools began an intense rivalry with league games from 1988-92 and 1996 (Pardi’s first year at Clayton Valley) through 2000. By then DLS was playing a partial league schedule so the

See

Eagles DLS, pg. 12

four CIF State Open Bowl Games—as well as being mythical national champions again in 2012 in various polls—and carries a 26-game winning streak into Friday’s match.

Alumbaugh lost graduated seniors like State Player of the Year Michael Hutchings, Victor Egu, DJ Moffitt and Tiapepe Vitale but the cupboard is never bare on Winton Dr. Quarterback Chris Williams will have Das Tautalatasi to carry the ball behind a line that features Sumner Houston and Larry Allen Jr., son of the recent Pro Football Hall of Fame lineman, along with Drew Sullivan, sophomore Boss Tagaloa and Kahlil McKenzie, son of the Oakland Raiders general manager.

The game kicks off at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Owen Owens Field in Concord following a 5 o’clock JV game.

Clayton Valley will have an unanticipated additional week before its second game. The matchup with Castlemont of Oakland has been moved back to Sept. 13, originally a bye week for the Eagles. The extra time will give the Eagles a chance to celebrate an historic victory or learn lessons from a loss. Then again, maybe the teams will tie—again.

August 30, 2013

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

Page 11

Sports

Northgate looks to reach NCS in competitive DVAL Following their best season since 1994, Northgate High football looks to surpass their record success from last year.

With wins over Concord High and Las Lomas, the Broncos reached the NCS semifinals in 2012 and finished with an overall record of 10-3 (4-1 in DVAL play).

Now the 2013 season has arrived, and a large portion of the varsity squad has graduated. Coach Justin Lowell looks to his 18-player senior class to lead the way to an NCS title.

“Jake Smith and Eric Haynes are definitely are our leaders and strengths on this team,” says Lowell. “Our strengths are our returning seniors who have experience from last season, guys like Steven Cuneo, Jeremy Lee, Tyler Modlin and Nick Mastelli, and we look to carry on this tradition of succeeding. I think with that experience we can take a shot at the league title.”

Led by running back Haynes, who has 1,187 career rushing yards and 13 touchdowns at the varsity level, Northgate boast a quick, yet powerful running game.

Last season, the Broncos ran in 45 touchdowns so watch for them to continue that pattern. Defense though, is the foundation of this squad. Last season in a DVAL game against Concord, Northgate

MDSA U10 United Elite boys win back-to-back soccer titles It’s been a fruitful August for the MDSA under 10 boys United Elite soccer team, winning back-to-back championships in Dublin and San Rafael while collecting medals in one event and trophies in the other.

United Elite took the Dublin Shamrock Tournament with four consecutive wins.

They started play in their bracket by beating Mustang SC 9-3 and BUSC 6-2 and then in the semifinals outscored Lamorinda FC 5-1.

In the bronze division final, a rematch with Ballistic United, Keegan Boustead, Ryan Morimoto and Ryan Ross each scored a pair of goals in a 6-1 victory.

MDSA United Elite won its second consecutive tournament the following weekend at the fifth annual Premier Challenge in San Rafael. Despite losing a 4-3 game to Ross Valley, victories over Mustang 5-0 and Central Marin Arsenal Black 3-1 put the MDSA squad in the final against the host team, Central Marin Arsenal White.

In the championship game, United quickly fell behind 1-0.

Keegan Boustead evened the score when he intercepted an errant Central Marin pass and shot it over the keeper’s head into the goal. In the second half, Ross gave United the lead off a Morimoto corner kick assisted by Hunter Bock.

United withstood several attacks in the waning minutes for a 2-1 decision and its second championship in as many weeks.

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SENIOR JAKE SMITH (left) checks his wristband playbook before last year’s Battle of the Creek against Las Lomas.

Smith had 401 receiving yards with 5 touchdowns last season.

held the Minutemen to zero points in the second half in a 28-20 win. Look for defensive ends Cuneo and Jake Smith to hold down the fort on defense.

“This season looks bright,” says senior quarterback Kyle Austin. “We have a great group of guys and we are all looking forward to playing this season.

If we all stay healthy, hopefully we’ll be playing more than

10 games this year.”

Yet a team isn’t complete without strong special teams, which is where former College Park Falcon Sam Dale comes into play. Dale, after serving his mandatory month-long delay for transferring schools within the DVAL, hit 29 of his 32 kick attempts last season.

Look for him to knock down many more placekick attempts

this year as he starts his first full season.

As the DVAL continues becoming more and more competitive, the Broncos outlook towards the season remains the same as last year.

“I’m not going to talk about our chances at NCS or anything,” says senior Jake Smith. “We’re just going to take every game as it comes and get after it.”

Northgate may have a smaller senior varsity class, but the team acts as a family, serving and looking after each other. “Everything we do, we do it for our team. To represent our brothers of 2013,” senior Stephen Wolf adds.

Backed by a loyal 12th man – the energetic student cheering section that wears “12th Man” tee-shirts – Northgate has a realistic opportunity to make a statement in NCS. The Broncos kick off their season at Hayward this Friday.

Highlighted games include the Battle of the Creek at Northgate against Las Lomas Sept.

20 before finishing the regular season by hosting Clayton Valley Charter Nov. 8.

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Ivar Laanen is a senior at Northgate High School. The “Dutch speaking, German born man with a Swedish name” has a passion for journalism and enjoys turning events and ideas into stories freshly printed in newspapers. Contact him at ivar@claytonpioneer.com.

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JAY BEDECARRÉ Clayton Pioneer

New Clayton Valley Charter High School athletic director Amber Lineweaver found herself looking for a trainer this summer after Achilles Walker took a position at his alma mater, California High School of San Ramon. With the clocking ticking before the mid-August start of the school year Lineweaver was pleased to have an excellent array of candidates. After two rounds of interviews Toral Desai has been hired to fill the athletic trainer post for the Eagles.

The new trainer has degrees from the University of the Pacific (Bachelor of Arts in Sports Science), Southern California (Doctor of Physical Therapy) and Central Oklahoma (Masters in Athletic Training) and brings athletic training field experience with the NBA D-League Tulsa 66ers, United States Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs and Bishop McGuinness (Oklahoma City) and De La Salle high schools. She also worked at Muir Orthopaedic Specialists in Walnut Creek for two years.

Desai is a member of the American Physical Therapy Association, National Athletic Trainers Association and Iota

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Jason Rogers photo

CLAYTON VALLEY CHARTER HIGH SCHOOL HAS A NEW ATHLETIC TRAINER and Toral Desai (right) has jumped right into her job working with fall sports teams. She taped senior Ruben Vega for football practice as the Eagles prepped for their season opener against #1 ranked De La Salle this Friday.

Tao Alpha for academic excellence.

She received an academic grant for a research study through Central Oklahoma titled “The Effects of Plyometric Exercises on Vertical Jump in Male and Female Basketball Athletes.” New CV basketball coaches Eric Bamberger and Paul Kommer will probably want to grab a copy of the study before they begin training this fall.

Lineweaver reports that

Desai, an Orinda resident, will be teaching two periods of sports medicine at CVCHS as well as tending to the needs of nearly two dozen Eagles teams and the hundreds of boys and girls taking part in those programs.

It’s ironic that after serving as the De La Salle assistant trainer during the 2010 football season that her first official game for Clayton Valley will be this Friday against the Spartans.

license# 783799, B, HIC

Page 12

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

August 30, 2013

Sports

Dana Hills finishes with 3 County records, high-point awards JAY BEDECARRÉ Clayton Pioneer

Dana Hills Swim Team capped another excellent rec swim season by setting three meet records, having three highpoint swimmers and taking fifth place overall at the 53rd annual Contra Costa County Swimming Championships in Lafayette.

The Boland sisters, Ryanne (9-10) and Molly (6 and under), joined Sara Abele (15-18) as high-point in their age group as the Otters were one of three teams with a trio of high-point winners. Dana Hills was fifth in team scoring for the second consecutive year as Crow Canyon Country Club won its ninth straight County Meet championship with Round Hill, Blackhawk and Orinda placing ahead of DHST. Forest Hills and Springwood of Concord were 12 in Division III at the meet.

The 11-12 Dana Hills boys also left their mark on the County Meet. Anthony Trimble won the 11-12 50-yard backstroke in 27.82, breaking a meet record set in 1983, nearly 20 years before he was born. Trimble also was third in the 100 individual medley, edging his brother Jackson who took fourth. The Trimble brothers formed half of the two Otter 1112 relays that won county titles,

Photo courtesy CSK Photography

NICK BAZAN has been a member of the Dana Hills Swim Team for a number of years and at the team’s season-ending awards night he was given a very special honor. Bazan is the first recipient of the Dylan Mitchell Spirit Award which was named in honor of the Otters swimmer and student coach who was killed this May in a traffic accident. Paul and Julie Mitchell were given a replica of the plaque presented to Bazan, who served this year as a coach as well as swimming for the team in the 15-18 age group. He led the cheers for four-year-old Alex Lahanas at the recent city meet.

both in meet record time. The quartet also included Niklas Weigelt and Clayton Seastrand.

They swam the 200 freestyle relay in 1:42.89 (nearly two seconds under the old mark) and the medley relay in 1:57.51.

New DHST head coach John Tsubota summed up 2013, “This year has been a great opportunity and challenge. The success of this team was due to the hard work of my staff of coaches, parents, swimmers and the support I received from the parent board. I am very proud of the team and the well rounded success we achieved. The Concord City Meet was the highlight of our season. We dedicated the meet to Dylan Mitchell who we tragically lost this year. The swimmers stepped it up and swam their way to a first place finish in the A division and a second place finish in B division. I am proud to be a part of a team/family that values all swimmers!”

Molly Boland was first at County in the 25 free and butterfly, both in Otter team record times. Ryanne Boland was first in the 50 free and second in the 100 IM. The 17-year-old Abele, a mainstay for the Clayton Valley Charter High School water polo team this fall, was first in the 100 breaststroke and 100 IM. Abele

Photo courtesy Dana Hills Swim Team

RYANNE (LEFT) AND MOLLY BOLAND OF DANA HILLS SWIM TEAM each earned high point honors at the 53rd annual Contra Costa Swim Meet. Ryanne in the 9-10 and her sister in six and under were joined by Sara Abele (15-18) as the Otters team took fifth for the second year in a row against the top rec swim programs in the county.

was the only Otter swimmer to place in the top eight in a breaststroke final at County Meet.

Abele, Nikki Palmer, Gabby Brown and Abbie Kubota won the 15-18 200 medley relay while Abele, Palmer, Kubota and Kayla Conger were second in the free relay. Palmer was fifth in the 1518 high-point scoring in her final meet for the Otters with a second in the free and third in the fly.

Other top individual performances landed Otters Anthony Trimble third, Jackson Trimble seventh and Sean Thomas

(13-14) seventh high-point.

Other DHST swimmers to grab top six finishes were Isabella Smardzic, Niklas Weigelt, Jenna Ewert, Alina Weigelt, Sean Thomas, Joe Snyder, Colton Seastrand, Alex Brown, Shawn Boland and Conger. The 9-10 girls were third in the medley relay and fourth in the free relay.

The 11-12 girls were sixth in medley and fourth in free. The 13-14 girls were seventh in the medley relay while the DHST 1314 boys were fourth in the medley and fifth in the free relays.

Diablo FC 96 Blue girls win gold at Stanford Summer Classic

Are you ready for some football?

TYLER LEHMAN SPORTS TALK It’s back. The hard-nosed, gritty, smash-your-mouth-in sport we all know and love is about to start its regular season: pro football.

While many teams around the league look very strong, there is also a lot of buzz currently for Bay Area football teams, the Oakland Raiders and the San Francisco 49ers. There has been praise, as well some negative outlooks for both teams as they cut down their rosters in the preseason and prepare for the regular season.

Let’s talk about the Raiders first, because the 49ers will be the only team being talked about in a positive light at all this season in the Bay Area.

Unfortunately, after seeing only a couple preseason games, the Raiders look like they are in for a long year. It’s no lack of effort on their part though.

General Manager Reggie McKenzie has been given the monumental task of rebuilding a franchise in shambles. He addressed their pitiful secondary this off-season, signing Charles Woodson and Tracy Porter, and drafting corner back D.J. Hayden with their first overall pick. Upgrading the secondary is fantastic, but it left little improvement for the defensive line.

The Raiders defensive line will be the downfall of their defense this season. Without a solid pass rush, all those great corners they signed are almost useless. When opposing quarterbacks drop back to pass against the Raiders, and if they have an average offensive line, they will have a long time to throw before they feel pressure, and that puts pressure on the Raiders’ defensive backs to

Eagles-DLS, from page 10 Concord schools only met in even numbered years from 2000 to 2006. NCS realignment put DLS into the East Bay Athletic League and CV in the DVAL in 2008 and they are in different playoff divisions so Friday’s matchup has been seven years in the making.

Pardi’s second game with Ladouceur was the most famous as it came in the 1991 NCS championship game. His Pittsburg Pirates had lost to DLS 28-16 in the league season but won 28-20 at the Oakland Coliseum on the 50th anniversary of Pearl Harbor — Dec. 7, 1991 — ending a 34game Spartan winning streak.

Pardi remembers that evening just as vividly as the tie game 13 years later. “It was the

feeling of an entire community coming together and seeing it through. I can still see the faces of my family, the team’s family and the long-time Pittsburg fanatics. Quite frankly, it was one of the greatest sports moments in a city rich in sports tradition.”

DLS used that upset 1991 defeat as an impetus to begin their 151-game national record winning streak that ran through the end of the 2003 season, inspired two books and now a motion picture. It is the last time they failed to defeat a Northern California team, a span of 236 games. Coach Tim Murphy’s 2013 Clayton Valley Charter team can dream of making their own history this Friday.

cover for long periods of time.

The Raiders will have to scheme lots of blitzes into their game plan to help out the weak defensive line they currently have.

The 49ers will be Super Bowl contenders this year, as long as they can stay healthy.

Already their receiving corps is a bit of a mystery, with the injury to Michael Crabtree’s right Achilles. Things should be fine though, considering they still have Anquan Boldin, who they traded for over the offseason, and they also have some younger receivers they can rely on. It will be interesting to see how Quinton Patton does in his first NFL season, as the 49ers have high praise for his receiving ability. The biggest area of concern for the 49ers going into this season is actually their back-up quarterback position.

Colin Kaepernick has proven he can be a very good quarterback in the NFL. As long as he stays healthy he should have a great season. If he gets hurt though, the entire 49er team is in for a world of hurt because that means backup Colt McCoy must fill his shoes, and McCoy has looked terrible in the preseason, being unable to read defensive schemes and therefore throwing interceptions.

Barring serious injuries the 49ers will definitely get into the playoffs. But the Raiders just need to keep rebuilding for the future.

Tyler Lehman is a sophomore at Diablo Valley College and a 2012 CVHS graduate. He plans to major in journalism and wants to be a sports writer. Email your comments or questions to Tyler@claytonpioneer.com.

Sports Shorts VINCE BUHAGIAR MAY MISS SAN JOSE STATE

ST. BONAVENTURE CYO

FOOTBALL SEASON

St. Bonaventure CYO cross country is beginning its third season as runner train for the fall meet schedule. The program is open to boys and girls in 2nd8th grades in the St. Bonaventure attendance area. Cross country is a short, family-oriented season with practices Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 5:30 p.m. Parents are encouraged to run too.

Meets begin in late September on Friday evenings with the Oakland Diocese meet in midOctober. The team meets at Newhall Park by the big oak tree. Signups are taken online at stbonaventurecyo.com.

Clayton Valley High grad Vince Buhagiar may miss the entire season after sitting out pre-season workouts with an undisclosed shoulder injury.

The senior all-Western Athletic Conference inside linebacker is on the Rotary Lombardi Award Watch List that identifies players to watch for post-season collegiate football honors. He was second on the team with 89 tackles and had three sacks while starting every game at inside linebacker.

Buhagiar started all 13 games as a true freshman in 2010 and was the team’s leading tackler in his collegiate debut in the season opener at defending national champion Alabama.

He was the WAC defensive player of the week after last season’s 40-20 win over Colorado State.

CROSS COUNTRY STARTS

CLAYTON VALLEY FALL YOUTH BASEBALL PROGRAM BEGINS SEPT. 10 Clayton Valley Charter High School baseball coaching staff and players are offering a fall instructional program Sept. 10-

Photo courtesy Diablo FC

When a team starts with a pair of draws their chances of winning a weekend tournament are pretty long, but coach Steve Shott’s Diablo FC 96 Blue girls did just that recently en route to the U17 silver championship of the Stanford Summer Classic in Palo Alto. After drawing both Saturday games Diablo FC 96 Blue beat the San Francisco Seals Supernova 96 2-1 in the semi-finals to earn a rematch with San Carlos United Sapphire for the championship. The teams drew the previous day but this go-round Diablo FC won the title game 2-1. Both of their victories came via penalty kick shootouts.

Diablo FC 96 Blue includes, front row from left, Korissa Lewis, Emily Bettencourt, Nina Galvan, Cynthia Hartmann, Megan Copeland, Tara Schueller, Kendall Stoudt; back row, Kyra Trowbridge, Melissa Motta, Colleen Donoghue, Maddi Lehmer, Emily Parish, Lindsay Mondloch, Paige Farber and Paige Patterson. Not pictured, Blake Balfrey.

Nov. 14. The 10-week, 30-hour program focuses on the skills necessary to be a successful player including batting, fielding, pitching, catching and base running. Sessions are held Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4-5:30 p.m. at the Clayton Valley Varsity Baseball Facility for boys and girls ages 5–13. Contact Eagles head coach Casey Coakley at casey.coakley@claytonvalley.org or (925) 285-9417 with questions.

FALL YOUTH, ADULT PROGRAMS COMING TO CLAYTON GYM

Fall leagues are taking signups now for All Out Sports League programs through Clayton Community Gym including new dance and cross country programs. Adult softball (ages 18 and older) begins Sept. 8 and youth volleyball league (8-16 years-old) starts Sept. 14. There are different deadlines for each program. A basketball clinic for girls and boys 6-16 is on Tuesday evenings through Sept. 10.

For complete information, visit alloutsportsleague.com.

ST. BONAVENTURE CYO BASKETBALL TAKING SIGNUPS ONLINE

Signups for boys and girls in second through eighth grades for the St. Bonaventure basketball CYO program are being taken online at stbonaventurecyo.com. For more information call 672-5774. Mandatory player evaluations will be Sat., Sept. 7, at Clayton Community Gym.

SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES SOCCER SCHOOL IN CONCORD THIS FALL

The San Jose Earthquakes of Major League Soccer are holding their Regional Development School fall session at Boatwright Fields in Concord on Fridays from Sept. 13 through Nov. 1.

Girls and boys 5-10 years of age are eligible for the school which brings professional coaching experience and guidance to youth soccer players of all skill levels. Brazilian World Cup and Olympic player Tafa heads the teaching staff. For more information visit the Earthquakes Youth Alliance Partner’s website at diablofc.org.

August 30, 2013

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

Page 13

Separation anxiety can be a real doggie downer

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• Damaging or destroying items within the home, particularly near exits from the house (or car, yard or dog crate, if left in one of those); • Repeated escapes from the yard.

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PET PALS Dogs love their humans, and it’s not uncommon for them to get scared when they are left alone.

Dogs with separation anxiety believe that it’s not safe when no humans are present. Anyone who has experienced anxiety, in even its mildest form, knows how debilitating, scary and overwhelming it feels. When a dog that has separation anxiety is left alone, the dog experiences these same feelings. Prolonged exposure to these feelings can lead to chronic stress, which is associated with a wide variety of mental and physical ailments. Separation anxiety is simply not healthy for any dog.

They express their anxiety in one or more of the following ways: • Continuous barking, whining, and/or howling; • Eliminating in the house, dog crate, or car;

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Failure to address this serious condition is potentially harmful to your dog’s health, can lead to trouble with neighbors and law enforcement due to noise issues, can lead to thousands of dollars in replacement and repair costs, and can lead to the loss of your dog. Many guardians of dogs with separation anxiety simply take the approach of never allowing the dog to be left alone, particularly if the dog is small. Although this relieves the dog’s immediate anxiety, it is not a long-term solution for this ailment.

Many dogs with separation anxiety chronically make noise while left alone. This often leads to nasty notes and phone calls from neighbors. Neighbors also may call police or animal control officials to complain about it.

This can lead to costly citations, court costs, and even the

removal of your dog by authorities.

Dogs with separation anxiety can also cause major damage to property through excessive elimination, chewing, scratching, or digging. A single dog with separation anxiety can cause thousands of dollars in damage in a matter of a few hours when left alone. Dogs (including small dogs) with separation anxiety have been

Rumi and Bluebell are ARF’s Stars

RUMI

Rumi, 3, is a busy, perky little man with a busy agenda. He is a regular Indiana Jones, an adventuresome go-getter who will explore the world for toys and exciting smells! This spunky and entertaining little man would benefit from a home with a sense of humor where his antics will be appreciated. A Basic Manners or Small Dog Manners class would be a great way to polish him into a little gentleman and help him start his new life with his best paw forward.

The adoption fee for adult dogs is $225 and includes 60 percent off one 7-week dog

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training session.

Eight-year-old Bluebell is one adorable girl who is looking for a quiet/calm family to share her love with. She likes gentle pets and will chirp for your affection. She would appreciate a calm, quiet household. Bluebell prefers a home without small children.

Bluebell’s adoption fee has been prepaid by a generous donor.

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Sue Skiff is the author of “How to Have a Well-Behaved Dog,” and the owner/operator of Silver Lining Pet Services, a company which provides dog training and pet sitting services. Learn more at www.silverliningdogtrain.com or www.silverliningpetsitting.com. Email her at information@silverliningdogtrain.com.

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Would you like to be part of the heroic team that saves the lives of rescued dogs and cats? Can you share your talents to connect people and animals? ARF volunteers are making a difference! For more information see our website, www.arf.net, or call 925.256.1ARF.

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Meet your forever friend at Tony La Russa’s Animal Rescue Foundation, 2890 Mitchell Drive, Walnut Creek, during adoption hours: Noon to 5 p.m.

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known to destroy doors and door frames, window coverings, furniture, floors, carpets, sprinkler systems, fences, dog runs and crates, car upholstery, and many other costly items. Taking steps to cure a dog’s separation anxiety can potentially save huge amounts of money.

Many dogs with separation anxiety will do anything to escape from their house or yard when they are left alone. Often they succeed. Once they get out, their continued anxiety can lead them to wander far from home, or to run anxiously, in whatever direction they think their guardians have gone, without stopping. Either of these can lead to a dog becoming lost, injured, killed, or (at the very least) picked up by authorities.

Allowing a dog to live with separation anxiety is not worth the potential loss of your dog.

Next column: Steps you can take to eliminate separation anxiety.

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Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

August 30, 2013

Community Calendar PLEASE SUBMIT YOUR CLAYTON COMMUNITY CALENDAR EVENTS BY 5 P.M. SEPT. 4 FOR THE SEPT. 13

IN CLAYTON Aug. 31 Derby and Car Show Clayton Community Church’s 10th Annual Labor Day event. Kids 7 – 14 race derby cars down Main Street. Car show and parade.

9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Main Street, Clayton. Free. Register at claytonderbycarshow.org.

Aug. 31, Sept. 14 Concerts in the Grove 6-8:30 p.m. Grove Park, downtown Clayton. Free. For a complete concert series list, see Page 3.

Sept. 5, 19 Thursday Concerts in the Grove Featuring local talent. 7-8:30 p.m. Grove Park, downtown Clayton. Free.

Sept. 7, 14 Farmers Market 8 a.m.-12 p.m. Saturdays. Diablo Street between Main and Center streets, downtown Clayton. Music: Sept. 7, Tony de Grassi; Sept. 14, Paul Anderson. pcfma.com/clayton.

First Thursdays Oakhurst Business Network Meets first Thursday of the month for social hour. Hosted hors d’oeuvres, cash bar. 5 – 7 p.m. Oakhurst Country Club, 1001 Peacock Drive, Clayton. oakhurstcc.com.

IN CONCORD Thursdays through Sept. 12 Music and Market Thursday night live music and farmers market. Market 4-8 p.m.; music 6:30-8 p.m. Todos Santos Plaza, downtown Concord. Free.

Music: Sept. 5, The Mashtones; Sept. 12, Evolution. cityofconcord.org.

ON THE MOUNTAIN Mount Diablo Interpretive Association programs listed are free with the exception of park entrance fee. Go to mdia.org and click on Events Calendar for more information.

Aug. 31 Tarantulas Learn about the hairy spiders that roam the mountain at this time of year and meet the Visitor Center tarantula. Then take a walk to see if you can find any. 6 – 8:30 p.m. Meet at Mitchell Canyon Visitor Center. Reservations required.

Check the website for more tarantula hikes. Reservations are required and fill up fast.

EVENTS & ENTERTAINMENT Aug. 30 Summer Concert Lure of the South Pacific. 6:30 p.m. Montecito, 4756 Clayton Road, Concord. Free. Reservations required. Call Michaela at 692-5838.

Aug. 30, 31 Les Miserables in Concert Presented by Cinestage Theatre Company. Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek. $30-$35. lesherartscenter.org. 943-7469.

Sept. 6 – 28 “Shrek the Musical” Diablo Theatre Company brings the hilarious story of everyone’s favorite ogre to life on stage. Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek. $49-$53. lesherartscenter.org. 9437469.

ISSUE. ITEMS MUST BE SUBMITTED BY EMAIL TO

Sept. 6 – Oct. 12 “Ella the Musical” Exhilarating new musical that weaves myth, memory and music to tell the uplifting and poignant story of one of the greatest jazz vocalists of all time. Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek. $37-$64. centerrep.org.

943-7469.

Sept. 7 “Message in Progress” Exploration of the role of the messenger in Indian literature and Hindu mythology. Performed by the Nava Dance Theatre. 3:15 p.m. Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek. $30-$100. lesherartscenter.org. 943-7469.

Sept. 19 – Oct. 13 “Pygmalion” A brilliantly witty reworking of the classical tale of the sculptor who falls in love with his perfect female statue. Butterfield 8 Theatre at Cue Productions Live, 1835 Colfax St., Concord. $8$12. b8company.com.

Sept. 20, 22 “Charlotte’s Web” A beautiful, knowing play about friendship. El Campanil Theatre, 602 W. Second St., Antioch. $10-$15. elcampaniltheatre.com.

Sept. 20 – Oct. 4 “Without Purchase” A fun, new mystery play by local playwright David Evan Harris performed by Onstage Theatre. Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek. $10-$23. lesherartscenter.org. 9437469.

Sept. 21 The Bronx Wanderers This five-person group takes the biggest hits of the 1950s and 1960s to a whole new level. 8 p.m. El Campanil Theatre, 602 W. Second St., Antioch. $23-$25. elcampaniltheatre.com.

Sept. 23 Concert The Contra Costa Chamber Orchestra performs. 7:30 p.m.

Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek. $10$30. lesherartscenter.org. 943-7469.

CHURCH Sept. 6 Baha’i, interaction, fellowship and discussion. Topic: “Bye, Mzungu!, A Memoir of a Californian in Uganda.” Speaker: Author Janice Lever. 7:30 p.m. Free. For directions, call 6726686.

FUNDRAISERS Thru Aug. 30 Backpack Campaign 11th annual back-to-school backpack program by the Clayton Business and Community Association. Provide backpacks (no red or blue) for any grade (K through 12) and/or supplies. Contact Sue at 672-2272 or Joan at 672-6710.

Sept. 7 Moonlight on the Mountain Elegant dinner, live and silent auctions, live music and dancing to benefit the care of Mount Diablo. 4 – 10 p.m. Mount Diablo’s China Wall. $250 per ticket. savemountdiablo.org.

Sept. 15 Caboose Ride Clayton Historical Society’s chartered caboose rides the rails through Niles Canyon to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the

calendar@claytonpioneer.com

groundbreaking for the First Transcontinental Railroad and to raise money for the museum. 12:30 p.m. Niles Canyon Railway, 5550 Niles Canyon Road, Sunol. $15-$20. Space is limited.

Reservations required. Contact Steve Lane at 672-8325.

AT THE LIBRARY The Clayton Library is at 6125 Clayton Road. Programs are free unless otherwise noted. claytonlibrary.org or 673-0659.

Tuesdays, Sept. 10 – Nov. 26 Patty Cakes Story time for babies to 3-year-olds. Child attends with caregiver.

11 a.m.

Wednesdays Book Buddies A volunteer will read stories for children 3 and older. 1 - 2 p.m.

Call in advance.

Thursdays, Sept. 12 – Nov. 14 Picture Book Time Story time for 3- to 5-year-olds. Child may attend without caregiver. 11 a.m.

Sept. 9 Clayton Library Book Club Sunny Solomon leads the discussion of “Flight Behavior” by Barbara Kingsolver. Open to anyone who would like to join. 7 p.m.

Sept. 16, 25 CERT Emergency preparedness information and hands-only CPR and Automatic External Defibrillator instruction. 7 – 9 p.m.

The Concord Library is at 2900 Salvio St. ccclib.org or 646-5455.

Sept. 9 Mock SAT Essay Practice Get inside strategies, write practice essay and get a score. 7 – 8:30 p.m. Registration required.

Sept. 14 Mock ACT Exam Take practice test and receive score. Bring calculator and two #2 pencils. 10 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. Registration required.

Sept. 16 Blue Devils Come see demonstrations by the Blue Devil color guard and musician, then try it for yourself. 7 – 8 p.m.

Sept. 19 Wiggle and Giggle with Liz Mac Have a blast and dance to music. Children ages 2 - 4. 12:30 – 1 p.m.

GOVERNMENT 1st and 3rd Tuesdays, except Sept. 3 Clayton City Council 7 p.m. Hoyer Hall, Clayton Library, 6125 Clayton Road. 6737304 or ci.clayton.ca.us.

2nd and 4th Tuesdays Clayton Planning Commission 7 p.m., Hoyer Hall, Clayton Library, 6125 Clayton Road. 6737304 or ci.clayton.ca.us.

1st, 2nd and 4th Tuesdays Concord City Council 6:30 p.m., Council Chamber, Concord Civic Center, 1950 Parkside Dr.

Meeting dates and times for local clubs and organizations are listed at claytonpioneer.com. Click on ‘Links’

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August 30, 2013

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

Page 15

Club News

Pedal the mountain at Mountain hike sets priorities for Scouts annual cycling challenge

Sam McCuskey

BOY SCOUT TROOP 262 and friends stop to rest on a 10,262- foot ridge during their recent fly fishing trip. From left seated: Bobby McCuskey, Andrew Pesmark, Charlie Pesmark, Danny Condon and Rob Pesmark. Standing, from left: Dave Wullenweber, Tony Thongurai and scoutmaster Dan Condon.

Members of Boy Scout Troop 262 took some friend along on their one-week, 50mile fly fishing trip in the Golden Trout Wilderness in the Sierra Nevada in late July. They braved thunderstorms and uncharted terrain to test their courage, perseverance, team work, first aid and survival skills.

It was the culmination of a series of hikes in the Bay Area and working on their fly fishing merit badge.

The Scouts caught and released most of the fish, but each scout also kept one to clean and cook.

“One of the highlights was watching the rhythm of the Scouts changing day to day. The priorities became to think about where the next stream was to fill water bottles,” Dan Condon, scoutmaster says. “Gone was all the clutter of life.”

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Oakhurst’s Chef John Evans to do cooking demo at the Clayton Valley Woman’s Club Sept. 10 meeting

CHEF JOHN EVANS

Oakhurst Executive Chef John Evans will demonstrate how to make a fall risotto at the Sept. 10 meeting of the Clayton Valley Woman’s Club. The public is invited to watch, taste and take home the recipe.

The Clayton Valley Woman’s Club meets at 10 a.m. on the second Tuesday of the month at Holy Cross Lutheran Church, 1092 Alberta Way, Concord.

For more information, call 672-9448 or go to claytonvalleywomansclub.org.

Bicycle fans can get their wheels rolling at the annual Mount Diablo Challenge on Oct. 6.

Considered the East Bay’s “Best Uphill Bike Ride,” the Mount Diablo Challenge is a great event for cycling enthusiasts. Riders of all ages are wel-

come to compete on any type of non-motorized cycle.

In addition to offering the traditional ride-climbing 3,249 feet in 11.2 miles that this year’s Tour of California pros followed, cyclists will have the option of choosing the less demanding Junction Wave course for the first year ever.

The Junction Wave is a great option with about half the climb at 6.5 miles with a 1,578 elevation gain.

Prizes will be awarded to participants at a family- friendly summit party, complete with food and beverages. Proceeds benefit Save Mount Diablo in its mission to preserve, defend and restore the Diablo. To register or for more information, visit SaveMountDiablo.org or call 925-947-3535.

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Page 16

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

August 30, 2013

Savor some sizzling summer squash DEBRA J. MORRIS Pacific Coast Farmers Market

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Don’t just train your muscles.

Train your movements.

Break out from your old routine and ask about TRX Suspension Training® the bodyweight exercise that trains your body for how you move in life.

SELECTION AND STORAGE Pick zucchini that is the smallest you can find, unless you are going to stuff it, because large sized squash will have coarse, stringy flesh and large seeds. It should have a bright, smooth skin (dull skin is a sign of old age), with stem ends that are fresh and green. Zucchini should also be firm and plump without any soft spots or pitting,

and fairly heavy for its size or it may be dry and cottony inside.

Varieties that are supposed to have dark green skin shouldn’t show any sign of yellowing.

Zucchini should be kept cool – but not cold – with good humidity.

Wash zucchini well to remove the grit, and then trim the ends. Once the ends are trimmed, it can be sliced or shredded, as zucchini does not need to be peeled or seeded unless it is oversized, has a thick skin or large seeds.

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Fresh summer squash is at its peak this time of year.

Zucchini is a very popular vegetable, grown by many farmers and by home gardeners. A very prolific plant, zucchini can be used in breads, sautéed on the grill, baked in casseroles, and stir-fried with other vegetables and meats. J&M Farms and Kai Fresh have a nice selection of summer squash, including zucchini.

ZUCCHINI SALSA 1 green zucchini, cut into 1/4 inch dice 1 tsp. minced fresh basil leaves 1 yellow zucchini, cut into 1/4 inch dice 1 tsp. minced fresh parsley leaves 1 small red onion, minced 2 garlic cloves, minced 1 Serrano or Jalapeño chili, stemmed/minced 1 large ripe tomato, peeled, seeded, minced Juice of one lemon Freshly ground pepper 2 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil 1 tsp. kosher salt Combine the zucchini, onion, garlic and jalapeno in a medium bowl and toss. Add the tomato, basil, parsley, lemon juice, olive oil and salt and toss again. Taste and season with black pepper. Let rest at room temperature for 30 minutes before serving. Use immediately or store, refrigerated, for up to three or four days. Makes 2 cups.

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The Pacific Coast Farmers’ Market Association (PCFMA) celebrated its 25th anniversary on Aug. 12 with an open house at its headquarters in Concord.

“Our 25th anniversary is a chance to commend producers and showcase farmers’ markets as a whole,” John Silviera, director of PCFMA, says.

Market sponsors, food vendors, elected officials, media and PCFMA employees were among the attendees.

Festivities included food vendors with free samples, door prizes, a mobile farmers’ market, Caribbean steel drum music by InSteel, office tours, drinks, small bites, cooking demonstrations by Cookin’ the Market and an anniversary photo exhibit.

On Sept. 16, PCFMA will host a private luncheon event at the Stanislaus County fairgrounds to celebrate with farmers and food vendors that participate in PCFMA farmers’ markets.

Most markets already celebrated the anniversary with consumers this season.

Clayton and Concord’s market celebrated with 25 cent deals, free tote bags, free cupcakes and entertainment. The new Saturday market at Sunvalley Mall held a combined grand

GUESTS

CHOOSE FRESH PRODUCE from the Freshest Cargo Mobile Farmers’ Market at Pacific Coast Farmers’ Market’s 25th anniversary open house. Fresh Approach, a sister organization of the Pacific Coast Farmers’ Market Association, picks up fresh produce from local farmers at farmers’ markets and delivers those products to neighborhoods that do not currently have access to them.

opening and 25th anniversary celebration on July 27.

Statistics from the U.S. Department of Agriculture this month indicate that the number of farmers’ markets across the country grew 3.6 percent from 7,864 in 2012 to the current number of 8,144. California is the state with the highest num-

ber of markets at 759.

The Pacific Coast Farmers’ Market Association has been in operation since 1988. It is the state’s largest operator of certified farmers’ markets with over 70 weekly markets in the Bay Area. Certified farmers’ markets offer only California-grown products sold directly to con-

sumers by the farmers that grow, nurture and harvest the crops.

For more information about PCFMA, call (800) 949-FARM or go to pcfma.com. For more information about Fresh Approach, call (925) 771-2990 or go to freshapproach.org.

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Page 17

Master the art of bedroom decorating details will make you feel the most comfortable, as well as what design details will make you feel like you’re a million miles away from the dirty dishes in your kitchen sink.

JENNIFER LEISCHER

DESIGN & DÉCOR If I had to pick just one living space within a home that I enjoy designing the most, it would have to be the master bedroom. From luxurious bed linens to specialty furnishings, the master bedroom is an opportunity to create a private, luxurious setting just for you.

When designing your master bedroom, think beyond the mattress and box springs. Really determine what functional

THE BED FRAME The bed is typically the main focal point of a bedroom, so make sure it’s a focal point worth viewing. If you have the ceiling height, maybe consider a four-poster bed, or maybe you’re drawn towards a beautifully carved wooden or upholstered headboard with a decorative nail-head trim. Another more modern approach, is a platform bed where the mattress sits directly on the platform frame. From overall mattress height to under-bed storage, really take the time to search out a frame that suites your needs best, not just the pretty design details.

JUDITH MARSHALL

FASHION OVER 50 The one thing all designers have in common this fall is glam – super luxurious materials, accents of fur and sequins and

STORAGE Bedside tables, chests of drawers, pop-up TV chests, armoires to either store clothing or the TV—bedrooms need to

jackets. A monochromatic look is a fresh answer to the usual allblack. Just stay away from ketchup and red wine. The peplum won’t die, so hop on the bandwagon. You’d be surprised at how a ladylike peplum can define your waist or add curves to a boyish figure. And if your waist is one of your best features, you’ll be happy to know that bigger belts are in for fall. The wide-cinched

See Fashion, page 18

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sheets, with a coverlet and duvet folded at the end of the bed, along with a few pillows for sleeping and a few pillows for decoration, is very attractive, creating a wonderfully comfortable and tailored-looking bed.

Fall into luxury this season high shine. These looks aren’t for wallflowers or those who hesitate at the slightest touch of glimmer. But it helps that all the gloss is balanced with streamlined silhouettes, making most everything wearable.

Stand-out trends include statementmaking outerwear. It’s time to experiment with various colors, lengths and textures. Take a chance on winter white. Choose weather-appropriate staples such as chunky knits, jeans and

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have storage, and the more storage you have, the better. Space is sometimes a challenge in a bedroom, so it’s okay to expect more from your furniture than its sole purpose. For example, you don’t have to have a pair of side tables and a chest of drawers. Consider two chests of drawers that double as bedside tables. Bed frames, mattresses and box springs seem to be increasing in height, so a chest of drawers at 30- 36-inches high is probably the perfect height for a bedside table.

BED LINENS The most “lived in” spaces are probably the kitchen and the bathroom. I would also add “bed” into this category.

Although not a room by definition, it is a space that we use daily. So, splurge just a bit and purchase bedding that will hold up to routine washings and provide nightly comfort. Hotel bedding is always a great way to go.

The look of classic heavy white

LIGHTING I’ve spoken about lighting before, breaking it down into three main categories; general, accent and task. Lighting is just as important in a master bedroom as it is throughout the rest of your house. Consider a wonderfully decorative chandelier, flanked by recessed lights on a dimmer. Bedside lamps for reading and decorative lamps sitting on secondary pieces of furniture, such as chests of drawers or fireplace mantels, all add to the ambiance of a bedroom, creating a peaceful and relaxing atmosphere.

Jennifer Leischer is the owner of J. Designs Interior Design based in Clayton. Contact her with questions, comments and suggestions at jenna@j-designs.com.

tival s e F e g n Fri Sept.

The Best 6 - 21 of Edgy, Independent Theatre Triskaideckaphobia: 13 Consumer Tragedies, one of the 36 shows at this year’s Fringe Festival.

EXIT Theatre

$5-10 per show 156 Eddy St., 2 Blocks from Powell St. BART, 3 blocks from Union Square For info, contact SF Fringe (415) 673-3847;

www.sffringe.org

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Page 18

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

August 30, 2013

Dress up your garden with ornamental features

NICOLE HACKETT

GARDEN GIRL There is more to a garden than ornamental shrubs and

flowers. A garden needs to have ambience. Ambience can be achieved by adding benches, birdbaths, statuary, garden jewelry or fountains to the setting.

This is how your garden gets it personality.

A bench placed in the garden gives the area a destination. This is where the garden lover pauses to have a seat and gaze upon the flowers. Garden lovers can create a setting around their bench.

Stepping-stones can be set below the bench and adorned with creeping thyme or

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campanula. An ornamental tree can be planted behind the bench to provide dappled shade. The opportunities for creativity are endless.

Birdbaths are an excellent way to create vertical interest in a garden. The selections of birdbaths have come a long way throughout the years, and it is easier than ever to choose something that reflects your personality. Birdbaths are both decorative and functional in a garden.

Our wild birds enjoy bathing in the fresh water of a birdbath.

When placing your birdbath, accent the piece with low laying plants like veronica Georgia Blue and Nepeta Walker’s Low. You don’t want to bury your birdbath in too much foliage where neighborhood cats can hide.

Statuary in the garden has many meanings. To some it may be a concrete figurine that is religious or whimsical, to others it might be an ornate urn, or a metal rooster. Statuary can be another component of the garden where one can become expressive.

When garden lovers poke picks of colorful glass flowers within their garden beds, or hang a painted butterfly plaque on the fence, those pieces are considered garden jewelry. They are the pieces that dress-up the garden. Garden jewelry makes great gifts for those people you know that love to play in their gardens.

Water features are a very desirable element in a garden setting. Garden fountains can provide many kinds of water sounds from the gentle babbling sounds of water to the heavy traffic-blocking sounds.

Fountains are another garden element where individually is expressed. When considering a fountain, know where you are going to put it before you go shopping. Do you need one that can be enjoyed from all the way around? Are you looking for a wall fountain? A corner fountain? There are fountains for

most every application. When choosing a color, always pick a stained finish rather than paint.

Pick a color that contrast with the background. Fountains created with many tiers seldom trickle evenly, so keep that in mind if you are a perfectionist.

Express yourself in your landscape and create a garden.

Fashion, from page 17 look can also do wonders for creating an hourglass figure.

In a season where the clothes are grabbing the spotlight, accessories are much more subdued. Gone is the notice-me hardware on shoes and bags (thank goodness) and in its place is a quiet, classic functionality. Bags are structured and sleek. The fitted

stocking boot is one of the sexiest, yet most wearable trend,s along with the anklestrap, from ballerinainspired to chunky platforms.

Make-up, too, is quieter, with rich wine-hued lips and pale slate-grey eye shadow replacing over-the-top creations of the past.

A couple of runway trends

Introduce décor elements, a bench, birdbath or a fountain.

These points of interest will make your areas more peaceful and inviting.

Nicole is the Garden Girl at R&M Pool, Patio, Gifts and Garden. Contact her with questions or comments at Gardengirl@claytonpioneer.com

that I predict won’t take off are elbow-length gloves and capes.

While I love the idea of the elegance an opera glove exudes, I can’t see many women actually wearing them. And as for a cape, well, I think we should leave them to the superheroes.

Live long and pester!

Judith Marshall is the author of “Husbands May Come and Go but Friends are Forever.” Send comments to Judith.Marshall@att.net.

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