DEC 08 Clayton Pioneer 2006 by Pioneer Publishers

Enter the Clayton Home Decorating Contest See Page A4

PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID CLAYTON, CA PERMIT 190

IT’S YOUR PAPER www.claytonpioneer.com

December 8, 2006

925.672.0500

Tree lighting ushers in the holida ys JILL BEDECARRÉ Clayton Pioneer

DAVE SHUEY

MAYOR’S CORNER It’s no joke, I’m outta here Wow, how the year has flown! As you read this column, the coup will already have taken place and a new mayor will have been installed in my place. OK, it will not be a coup but rather the natural yearly rotation among the council, but it will still be weird to give up the middle seat and the gavel. (Who knows, maybe I will k eep the gavel.) In any event, it was fun representing the city, and I enjoyed being ma yor. So thank y ou to the council, staff and city for their support. In light of my last column, I present the top fi ve reasons to be thankful y ou ha ve a new mayor: 5. The new mayor is out of diapers. (OK, mixed bag on that one. I always joke with the rest of the council about my “relati ve” youth, but they sa y I am a kid. Hence the joke.) 4. The new ma yor’s wife will now g et all the questions , not my wife. (See my March column for reference.) 3. No more parenthetical references in the column that weren’t that funny. 2. No more fear of a la wyer running the city. 1. Other cities no long er mock us for having “Mayor Shoe.” OK, it w ould not be a column of mine if I did not mention the fact that w e have to do better on recycling! Come on folks, we can all take more time to se parate our w aste. Your recycling should dw arf your regular w aste. Do it for future generations and for the simple fact that if we don’t improve, I will most lik ely ha ve to

See Mayor, page A7

What’s Inside SECTION A

Around Town . . . . . . . . . . .A2 Clayton Cares . . . . . . . . . . . .A3 Obituary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A4 Home Deco Entry . . . . . .A4 Classified Ads and Director y of Advertisers . . . . . . . .A5 Upcoming Events . . . . . . . .A6 Letters to the Editor . . . . . .A6 Real Estate . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A7 Tea for You . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A8 School News . . . . . . . . . . . . .A9 Your Health . . . . . . . . . . . . .A9 Food for Thought . . . . . . .A10 Financial Sense . . . . . . . . . .A10 Travel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A12 Club News . . . . . . . . . . . . .A13 Garden Girl . . . . . . . . . . . .A15 Weather Words . . . . . . . . . .A15

Tamara Steiner/Clayton Pioneer

MDES CHOIR DIRECTOR, CHRISTINE BILLINGSLEY, and more than 100 chorus members led the crowd in a carol sing.

Council and friends bid Laur ence a fond farewell JILL BEDECARRÉ Clayton Pioneer

Whether y ou came to Oakhurst Country Club on Nov. 17 to roast or toast outg oing Councilman Pete Laurence, you didn’t walk away disappointed. Several hundred of Laurence’s friends , family, fans and colleagues ar rived that evening to praise, honor and say goodbye to the man whom many people affectionately refer to as “Mr . Clayton.” Throughout the night, whether the 16-year council v eteran was roasted or toasted, one theme rang true: Laurence’s dedication is “all for the good of Clayton.” The evening’s master of ceremonies, city manag er Gar y Napper, kept the prog ram rolling – ac knowledging Laurence for his 16 years of service from 1990-2006 but

insisting that it’ s really in the dash betw een the years where most of Laurence’s accomplishments lie. During his ter ms of office, the city w ent through a metamorphosis with a population increase of nearly 4,000. There was new construction, including the post office , fire station, Diamond T errace senior housing center and some 1,500 new homes in Oakhurst. The Clayton Comm unity Librar y and historic reno vations throughout to wn, including Endeavor Hall, are some of Laurence’s proudest moments . Several speak ers mentioned Laurence’s key role in stopping a deal to build a garbage dump on the outskir ts of Clayton off Marsh Creek Road. The do wntown cloc k at the

See Laurence, page A14

Tamara Steiner/Clayton Pioneer

AMONG THE GIFTS TO RETIRING COUNCILMAN PETE LAURENCE was a replica of Clayton’s iconic downtown clock donated by Laurence in his parent’s memory.

Young musicians proud new members of orchestra JILL BEDECARRÉ Clayton Pioneer

The Sena vsky sisters of Clayton have a lot more in com-

mon than just family ties . Christina, 12, and V alerie, 10, are both excellent students, they like to ski and they lo ve to pla y music. It’s the music connection

SECTION B

Hiker’s Haven . . . . . . . . . . . .B1 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .B2 Paws and Claws . . . . . . . . . .B5 Holiday Gift Guide . . . . .B6 On the Net . . . . . . . . . . . . . .B8 Crossword Puzzle . . . . . . . . .B8 Dining Around . . . . . . . . . . .B9 Community Calendar . . . . .B10 Church News . . . . . . . . . . .B11 At the Movies . . . . . . . . . . .B12 Music Notes . . . . . . . . . . . .B12

There’s something special about Cla yton’s hometo wn tree lighting ceremony that brings hundreds of local residents bac k for more each year. Families huddled tog ether to w ard off the evening chill, smiling faces ev erywhere y ou look, and y oung c hildren bouncing up and do wn with excitement. Last Saturda ys’ 16th annual event had all the trimmings of a small town event and more. It all star ted on the ste ps of the Clayton Museum where more than a hundred c hildren from the MDES Chor us belted out some old time fa vorites and a few contemporary versions of Christmas carols like the beautiful Will Santa Come Thr ough with soloist Kiana Mason. Mayor Da ve Shuey paid tribute the city’ s police de partment and the Cla yton Comm unity and Business Association who sponsor this event each year. The man of the hour finally appeared and Santa, a.k.a Bill Jacobus, led everyone down Main Street to light the town tree.

Tamara Steiner/Clayton Pioneer

CHRISTINE SENAVSKY, violin, and her sister Valerie, French horn, are preparing to perform in their first YASO concert this month.

that is noteworthy. Both have been acce pted to the prestigious Y oung Ar tists Symphony Orc hestra (Y ASO), an inde pendent m usical g roup founded and directed b y Stev e Accatino, who is also the director of instrumental m usic at Ygnacio Valley High School. The fact that they are younger than the orc hestra’s minimum ag e mak es their accomplishment even more special. Most of the m usicians in YASO are from the eighth grade through community college age. When the girls w ere ask ed to audition for Y ASO, they knew full well it might not be a match because of their ag e, explained their dad, Steve. However, their talents overrode the age requirement. Christina and V alerie pla y the piano , violin and F rench

horn. Christina pla ys violin for YASO and French horn for the Diablo View Middle Sc hool Band. Valerie plays horn in both YASO and the Mt. Diablo Elementary Sc hool Band, and she is a stand-in for hor n in the Diablo View band. Both bands are directed b y Carl K aiser, who celebrates his 22nd year with the Mt. Diablo School District. “The girls are very talented and hard-w orking, which is a g reat combination. They also have a lot of support at home,” says Kaiser. Although shor t in stature , Valerie is self-confident and definitely not audience-shy, says her dad. “She has zero stage fright,” he adds. She ev en fills in at the Diablo V alley Colleg e Philharmonic Orc hestra, where the first c hair French hor n was

YASO W INTER CONCERT

2:30 p .m. Sunday, Dec. 10, Los Medanos Colleg e R ecital Hall, Pittsburg Free admission once her teac her. “She really is fearless, always ready to ste p forward and play,” adds Kaiser. Christina is also not afraid to perform in front of an audience. “She’s most comfor table when she pla ys the violin, ” her dad notes . Christina has a special bond with her violin, a restored 1890 Ger man Stradivarius that w as handed down to her by her grandfather, who also played. Their dad taught both girls

See Musicians, page A7

Page A2

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

December 8, 2006

Around Town

Woman’s Club offers all things handmade for the holidays Kailee Marie takes her place in the Newberry family The Cla yton V alley Woman’s Club donned their Christmas apparel once ag ain to present their wonderful holiday boutique at the Cla yton Community Librar y No v. 1719. Hundreds of homemade items were for sale from beautifully-decorated ser ving plates to scarves, dolls and ornaments. According to club member Peggy Arundell, all proceeds go to local c harities, particularly women’s and c hildren’s org anizations that often can ’t g et funding. Money from the boutique sale also g oes to local scholarships for g raduating seniors.

Jill Bedecarré Clayton Pioneer

Clayton Woman’s Club members Nancy Domingo, Dell Kimble, Sheila Driscoll and Dee Yount.

Reading isn’t un-bear-able for Kevin Kemple Kevin seemed to think so , as Six-year-old K evin K emple mal, like w ell-known c hildren’s took time out of his busy sched- character Paddington, than to an he breezed through a Paddington adult. Bear stor y with ease . Kevin’s ule to come and read to overall comment about Paddington Bear at the prog ram w as: “I the Cla yton like to read.” Community Librar y Kevin, the Nov. 16. youngest of four The program was Kemple c hildren, was designed b y librar y adopted from R ussia. assistant J udy He is in the first g rade Matthews to encourat Mt. Diablo age young readers to Elementary Sc hool. test their reading His parents Leah and skills in a relaxed setChris ha ve li ved in ting. According to Clayton for fi ve years , Matthews, it is often less intimidating for Tamara Steiner/Clayton Pioneer along with brothers Shawn, 14; Justin, 12; young c hildren to Kevin Kemple reads to Paddington Bear as part of the and Brendan, 10. read to a stuffed ani- Library’s young reader’s program.

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ED LIST T S JU

$729,980 Clayton Regency Woods – 4BD/2.5BA home nestled into the Mt. Diablo landscape! F ormal li ving room adjacent to great room w/dining area & kitc hen w/new f looring. Serene location at the end of the road with quick access to trail system. Pri

$715,000 Concord The Cr ossings – Remodeled in all the right places! 4BD/2.5BA w/decorator paint in li ving room, neutral décor in family room & a master bedroom w/balcony . Court location close to pool, tennis & greenbelt.

Pri

Santa a.k.a. John Sharapata couldn ’t wait to tell ev eryone about his new year -round holiday and par ty superstore in Cla yton Valley Shopping Center which celebrated its g rand opening Sat. Nov. 24. Santa and his merry band of elves piled into a red wooden sleigh on Ygnacio Valley and Cla yton Roads and w aved to passersb y who braved the crowds on one of the busiest shopping days of the year. There w ere plenty of ooohs and aaahs as shoppers visited the Christmas room at Seasonal R eflections filled with hundreds of ornaments, lights and pre-lit trees.

Jill Bedecarré/Clayton Pioneer

LENNOX BENTON

For more Around Town turn to page A4

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Concord $624,500 Kirkwood – This one sparkles! Gorg eous 3BD/2B A has fresh paint, lustrous hardwood flooring & beautiful updated kitchen w/granite. Refreshing pool & jacuzzi in backyard, perfect for entertaining.

Clayton $599,980 Dana Ridge – Wonderful 4BD/2.5 B A home with fresh decorator paint, lovely Spanish tile f loors and bright open kitc hen/family combo with w et bar. Back patio gives access to huge park-like wooded greenbelt.

Santa invites shoppers to visit Seasonal Reflections

Bailey Carpenter, John Sharapata (Santa), Andrea Bowman and Nick Perona

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Lennox J oseph Benton arrived October 26 w eighing in at 7 lbs. 1 oz. His parents are Scott Benton and Emmanuelle Beauregard of Montreal, Canada. Lennox joins older brother Hendrix in the Benton household. Proud g randparents are Joe and Mureleen Benton of Clayton

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$1,399,980 Clayton Horse Property, Clayton – Two very private, updated homes on 10 acres , close to mountain trails w/Mt. Diablo views! Main house 4BD/2.5B A w/g ourmet kitchen. Guest house 2BD/1B A. Huge yard, pool, Cabana & 4-stall horse set-up.

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New baby Lennox joins Benton clan

KAILEE NEWBERRY

Kailee Marie Newber ry arrived on the scene happy and healthy on Oct. 13 w eighing in at 8 pounds , 2 ozs . and 19 ¾ inches long. She is the first c hild for J on and Ashley Newber ry of Concord. Grandparents, Terry and Diane Newber ry reside in Clayton.

$875,000 Concord Clayton Border – Fantastic 3BD/3B A on 5 serene acres w/marble entry & kitchen is newly renovated light & bright! A unique proper ty featuring 3-zone HV AC, laundry, attic storage, 4-car garage and In-law unit.

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Clayton $899,980 Morgan T erritory – Perfect horse set-up w/2 acres , barn, tack room & arena. 2 beautiful upscale homes, one rebuilt new w/spacious office. 1.60 Useable Acres adjacent is a great piece of land to expand your ranch and is reduced to $299,980.

Clayton $599,980 Downtown Clayton – Unbelievable price for Stranahan! Disco ver y our dreamhome with this 3BD/2.5BA. High ceilings & o ver 1,600 s .f. - bright, fresh, new! Walk to downtown Clayton & access to bike and hiking trails.

ED LIST T S JU

$1,069,000 Clayton Peacock Creek – Bright & open w/loads of upgrades this 4BD/ 2.5B A in Clayton's premier neighborhood is a winner. Huge g ame room, 3 car g ar. + room for R V parking on either side of the pool size lot. Private yard & views.

December 8, 2006

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

Page A3

Clayton Cares

Ed tips his hat to breast cancer research

Hospice tree a shining tribute

Christmas is traditionally a time for gi ving and these Claytonians have found meaningful w ays to gi ve--to charities, to children, to those less for tunate. Their gifts of time and treasure help to make someone a little happier on Christmas morning and ease pain and hardship for many .

Children’s World gathers warm coats for the needy Clayton Children ’s W orld Learning Center, in partnership with One Warm Coat, is sponsoring a “Holida y Coat Dri ve” in an effor t to collect winter coats and jackets for local c hildren and adults . All coats donated during the ev ent will be gi ven to Lo ve a Child Mission Homeless Shelter and distributed to comm unity members in need of a w arm coat. If you ha ve any clean, usable coats and jac kets y ou can donate , please bring them to the Clayton Children’s World

Learning Center , 6095 Main Street, on Thursday, December 14 from 6:30 to 8:30 p .m. and enjoy a winter celebration that will include hot cocoa, goodies and a life-size sno wman to entertain the children. Coats of all shapes and sizes are needed, especially children’s sizes. “The Cla yton Children ’s World is so proud to suppor t such a w orthy cause ,” said Center Director Barbara Owen. “The Holida y Coat Dri ve is a wonderful oppor tunity for our children to lear n about the value of giving.”

Tamara Steiner/Clayton Pioneer CLAYTON TOTS, KATIE HARKNESS AND KIERAN MOSS, of Children’s World Learning Center sort coats for the One Warm Coat drive.

Ed Moresi is getting into the giving spirit with two programs. As you enter Ed’s Mudville Grill on Marsh Creek Road, you can’t miss the two toy bins set up for the Toys for Tots Collection by the United States Marines . You can deposit any unwrapped gift into the bin and rest assured that your gift will mak e into the

Tamara Steiner/Clayton Pioneer

MAYA DROMLEWICZ pulled the switch to light up this year’s Hospice Tree in the Clayton Station.

It was lights on once again at Clayton Station on No v. 15, when the Hospice tree lit up the sky with white lights . The tree honors lo ved ones touc hed b y debilitating disease and Hospice and P alliative Care of Contra Costa. Clayton resident and local realtor Kim Dromlewicz chaired the ev ent, after seeing an ad requesting a leader . He thought it w ould be a nice w ay to give back to the community. The ev ent drew a larg e crowd, with many coming to hear the Mt. Diablo Elementary School Chorus under the direction of Christine Billingsley . Honorary guests w ere on hand to recognize the Hospice tree , including Cla yton Ma yor Da ve Shuey, who read a proclamation declaring November as Hospice

Month. Other guests came to remember lo ved ones . Karen Introcaso and her sister J acki Thompson were honoring their mom and J acki’s 15-year -old son, Matthew, who died of cancer. Jo Cundith of Hospice spoke of the need for v olunteers as w ell as donations through the Hospice of Contra Costa F oundation. Cundith then recited the countdown and young Maya Dromlewicz turned on the switc h. Refreshments were ser ved cour tesy of Safeway and Starbucks. Since 1977, Hospice has improved the quality of life for more than 12,000 seriously ill patients, regardless of their ability to pay. Along with traditional in-home care , Hospice offers

specialized programs like Anna’s Program, Comfort for Kids and the Br uns House facility . For more infor mation, visit www.hospicecc.org.

JACKI THOMPSON AND KAREN INTROCASO remember Jacki’s son, Matthew.

ED MORESI

hands of a child in need during the holiday season. In the middle of the restaurant y ou’ll notice a beautiful pink baseball cap with the famous breast cancer pink ribbon inscribed on the side . The hat sells for $20 and all proceeds will be donated to the A von Foundation for Breast Cancer and the Avon walk July 7-8. Catherine Carlson, Clayton resident and cancer sur vivor, is thrilled about the program. “We are luc ky to ha ve someone lik e Ed in our community who cares about the comm unity and the cause.” Says Carlson.

More Clayton Cares on Page A6

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Page A4

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

December 8, 2006

Obituary

Around Town It’s beginning to look a lot lik e Christmas all ar ound the town Under w arm, sunny skies and despite a noticeable absence of snow, Clayton Business and Community Association members tur ned out in force to spread Christmas c heer throughout the to wn. In shor t sleeves and sunglasses , the CBCA crew, under the direction of Diane F arley, hung snowflakes and wreaths , strung pine g arland and decorated the downtown the Saturda y before Thanksgiving. Neighborhood children stopped by to help and City Maintenance Super visor, John Johnson, grabbed the high honor of placing the star atop the tree. The decorations ha ve been donated o ver the years b y the CBCA, said member Susan Fossan. Four years ag o, the group donated the life-sized Nativity Scene which sits on private proper ty next to Cla yton Community Churc h. “Joseph’s been banged up some and lost a little hair,” said Marty Koll as he scattered fresh ha y around the

Tamara Steiner/Clayton Pioneer

MAINTENANCE SUPERVISOR JOHN JOHNSON puts the finishing touches on the city tree. manger scene. “but, overall, it’s held up pretty well.” By next Christmas , the park will be finished and the g roup has already met to discuss new decorations. “We want a theme throughout the whole to wn,” said Susan F ossan, “and w e already have a budget for it.”

Santa stops at R & M

Tamara Steiner/Clayton Pioneer

CBCA’S DIANE FARLEY welcomed the assistance of Clayton kids, Brandon Truesdell, 10, and Jessica Law, 12, who stopped by to help decorate the town tree.

SANTA BRAVED THE CROWDS to spend some time at R&M during their special holiday festivities which included a visit and photo with Santa. Pictured above are Linda Landgraf with grandchildren, Jude, Kian, and Finn; Santa, grandson Jack, daughter Michele Connors, and Kari. Jude, Jack and Finn were visiting from Dana Point. Michele, Kian and Kari live in Clayton.

Enter the Clayton Pioneer’s 2006

Holiday Home Decorating Contest

Juanita J. Shearer 1920 – 2006

Juanita J . Shearer died on for a n umber of years in her Nov. 16 of complications from Clayton precinct. Juanita w as a hip replacement surgery. member of the W alnut Creek Juanita w as bor n in Church of Christ. Her Tulia, Texas, on Feb. 7, hobbies included 1920. She w as the sewing, knitting, youngest of five raising African viodaughters bor n to lets, cooking and Adam and Annie canning, playing Julch. Juanita cards and domiwas raised on noes, creating the family far m u n i q u e in Tulia. Christmas gifts She met the and follo wing love of her life , the San Cecil Shearer of Francisco 49ers. Plainview, Texas, Juanita will while attending colalways be rememlege at West Texas A bered for her T exas & M in Cany on in charm, shinning per1940. They w ere marsonality, infectious ried on No v. 16, 1941, JUANITA SHEARER smile, quick wit and and str uggled through the her enjoyable sense of humor. tough times of World W ar II Juanita is sur vived b y her while li ving in Memphis and beloved husband of 65 years , San Antonio . They mo ved to Cecil; sons and daughters-inAmarillo, Texas, where they law Chris and Madaline Shearer raised their sons , Chris and of Half Moon Bay, and Carroll Carroll. In 1956, Juanita and her and Sandra Shearer of family mo ved to Concord and Oklahoma City; grandchildren relocated to Clayton in 1962. Jill, Sarah, Joanna, Danielle and Juanita w orked as a bookAdam Shearer; and sister keeper for Double XX Brands Elnora Car ruth of Dalhart, Meats in P acheco and Texas. Montgomery W ards in W alnut A graveside service was held Creek. She also enjoyed serving Nov. 20 at Oakmont Memorial as a v olunteer election officer Park in Lafayette.

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Parade of Lights

List & sell your home for

* 3.5%

Homes’ exteriors will be judged on Originality and creativity, attractive use of light and color, creative use of non-lighting decorations and overall effect.

First, second and third place winners will each receive a Winner’s Plaque to place on their front lawn and will be featured in the December 22 issue of the Clayton Pioneer.

Judges: John Sharapata, owner of Seasonal Reflections; Alise Lacosse, owner of Applause Staging and Interior Design and Bob Steiner, copublisher of the Clayton Pioneer.

Judging will be on Thurs., Dec. 14 Deadline for entry is Tues., Dec. 12 by 5 p.m.

All entries will be included in the Parade of Lights So that everyone in Clayton will have time to drive by and enjoy the decorated homes before Christmas, all entries will be listed by address and neighborhood in the December 22 issue of the Pioneer.

Please enter my home in the Clayton Pioneer’s 2006 Home Decorating Contest

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December 8, 2006

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

Page A5

Classified FOR SALE

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HELP WANTED

Help Wanted for Holidays Part time server over 18 years old, able to work weekdays and weekends. $8 hr. plus tips. Apply in person to Pam at Englund's Tea Cottage in Clayton Station. Community Services Commissioner The City of Clayton is now accepting applications for Community Services Commissioner, term limit June 2006 through June 2008. Presently one Commissioner position and one Alternate Commissioner position are vacant. The Community Services Commission is an advisory body to the City Council, responsible for recommending user fees and policies for

use of City facilities and sponsored community activities. The Commission meets the second Thursday of each month at 7 p.m. and helps coordinate community events such as Fourth of July celebration, Clayton Cleans Up, and the New Years Eve celebration. The stipend is $75 per month (when a meeting is held).

Perennial Garden Design by Nicole Hackett AKA The Garden Girl Personal consultations regarding plant choices, placement, identification, fertilizing and maintenance. Spring is just around the corner. Call or email for information and pricing. 925-673-1746 (leave message) gardengirl94517@yahoo.com.

Management and Sales Seasonal Reflections Holiday Decorations Store at 5434YgnacioValley Road is hiring for positions in store management, sales, and phone customer support. Fax resumes to 925-672-2314 or email guest.service@seasonalreflections.com.

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VACATION RENTAL

VOLUNTEERS WANTED

Trails and Landscape Committee Members. City Council of Clayton seeks applicants to fill two appointed positions on the “Trails and Landscaping Committee.” The purpose of this citizens Committee is to advise the City Council and City Manager on maintenance, improve-

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needs and help you use your home to put some extra money in your pocket for the holidays!

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Greeter Clayton Historical Society Museum needs a greeter the second Sun. of each month from 2 - 4 p.m. Training is provided. If interested, call 6720240, email claytonmuseum@sbcglobal.net or visit the museum between 2 and 4 p.m. on Wed. or Sun. The Clayton Community Library is seeking to fill the following volunteer positions: (All positions require a minimum age of 13 years and a 6-month commitment. Training will be provided). Scrapbook Historian - to document the many interesting activities the library provides to the community using newspaper clippings, event photos, flyers, etc., Will be put on display at the annual March library birthday celebration. Shelver - to shelve and sensitize books...must be detail oriented (Tues. between the hours of 10am-2pm, Wed. 3-5pm, Sat. 11 a.m.-1 pm & 2-4 pm). Shelf Reader - to ensure the correct placement of books on the library shelves...must be detail oriented and familiar with the Dewey decimal system. Tutor/Homework Helper to work one-on-one with local students in our community. You choose the age range, subjects, remedial or light help, and days/times. Office Assistant - handle filing, word processing, create flyers, volunteer database input on Microsoft Access, assistance with meetings/programs. Contact: Arlene @ 673-9777 or email: akikkawa@ccclib.org.

PIONEER INFO HOW TO PLACE A CLASSIFIED AD

Holiday events sold out last year, so call for your tickets today!

www.EnglundsTeaCottage.com

ment and financial matters related to the 1997 Citywide Landscape Maintenance District. For applications and more information, Clayton City Hall, 6000 Heritage Trail, 6737300, ljackson@ci.clayton.ca.us.

Classified rates per insertion: Non-profit: $12 for first 30 words, $.20 eac h additional word Individual/non-commercial: $18 for first 30 w ords, $.30 each additional word Commercial: $48 for first 30 words, $.40 eac h additional word To place y our classified ad over the phone , call the office at (925) 672-0500 betw een 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Mon.-Fri. Or, you ma y fax y our typewritten ad and credit card information to (925) 672-6580 All classifieds m ust be paid for in adv ance b y credit card (Master Card or Visa) We will not accept any ad that discriminates on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, nationality, family status or disability. The Cla yton Pioneer reserves the right to reject any advertising w e believ e is unsuitable.

LET US KNOW

Weddings, engagements, anniversaries, births and deaths all w eave tog ether as part of the fabric of our community. Please let us kno w of these important events. We ask only that the announcement be for a Cla yton resident. You will find the appropriate for m for your announcement on our Website. Attach your photo to the form. Also on our W eb site are forms for submitting Community Calendar items and press releases for your organization.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

The Cla yton Pioneer w elcomes letters from our readers. As a general rule, letters should be less than two double spaced pages and submitted at least one w eek prior to publication date. Letters concer ning current issues will ha ve priority . We may edit letters for length and clarity . All letters will be published at the editor’s discretion. Please include y our name , address and daytime telephone number. We will not print letters from “anonymous.” E-mail y our letter in a Word Document to tamara@claytonpioneer.com. Letters MUST be submitted via E-mail.

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

AND

R OBERT S TEINER , Publishers

TAMARA S TEINER , Editor J ILL B EDECARRÉ , Assistant Editor and Display Advertising P ETE C RUZ , Graphic Design B EV B RITTON , Copy Editor and Feature Writer B ETH N EUDELL , Administrative Assistant

Directory of Advertisers

Abbey Carpets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .686-9901 Acupressure for Health . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .674-0767 Aircloud Wireless Internet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .260-4119 Applause Staging and Interiors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-7701 Barta Chiropractic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .682-4941 Bella Mia Spa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .680-7792 Benton, Mureleen - Ameriprise Financial . . . . . . . . . . .685-4523 Beautique Beauty Supply and Salon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-0405 Burkin Electric . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-1519 Calkins, Bill - Charlotte Clifford Realtors . . . . . . . . . . . .673-9164 Carol Keane and Associates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .937-5200 Clayton Business and Community Association (CBCA) .672-2272 CD Federal Credit Union . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .825-0900 Cegielski Jewelers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .682-2855 Clark, Robert C., D.O. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .969-7530 Clayton Fitness and Tanning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-2010 Clayton Historical Society . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-1865 Clayton Home Inspection Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-9405 Clayton Mind and Body Connections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .673-0686 Clayton Sports Cards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-8445 Clayton Valley Bowl . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .689-4631 Clayton Valley Frameworks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-6066 Clayton Valley Medical Group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-6744 Clayton Valley Presbyterian Church . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-4848 Clayton Valley Shell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-3900 Clayton Valley Villa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-8401 Clean Cleaner Carpets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .383-1253 Cleary, Joe - Home Loan Experts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .497-5270 Computers USA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-9989 ComUnity Lending . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-5363 Concord United Methodist Church . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .685-5260 Cookies by Design . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .256-1137 Cruise Adventures Unlimited . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .935-7447 Dan and Dave's Cat Boarding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .524-0652 Denim & Lace . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .524-0345 Diamond Terrace Senior Retirement Living . . . . . . . . . .524-5100 Donna's Gifts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-2440 Dromlewicz, Kim - Century 21 Diablo Valley Realty . . .682-4663 Eagles Peak Realty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .465-0435 Englund's Tea Cottage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-8327 Eternal Life Lutheran Church . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .524-0295 Fantastic Sams . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .682-8580 Flannery, Patty - Diablo Realty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-0541 French, Lynne - Windemere Real Estate . . . . . . . . . . . .672-8787 Galaxy Nail Spa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .676-8668 Garaventa, Les - American Financial & Tax Services . .676-3400 Gesinee's Alterations Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .687-1347 Gourmet Subs and More . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .673-5550 Help You Sell Real Estate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .680-4950 Highfill, Lynne - Coldwell Banker . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .932-7335 HomeEquity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .673-9737 Hudak, Jim - Pianist and Composer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .673-7293 Insite Design . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .689-6460 JJ Hawaiin BBQ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .673-8686 Joanna's Designs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .673-8911 Kelly Marshall Garden Design . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .914-0327 Laurence, Pete - Better Homes Realty . . . . . . . . . . . . .939-7920 Lampo, Allen - John Hancock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .680-0822 La Veranda Restaurant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .524-0011 Lenox Homes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .284-0415 Lisa's Hot Dogs & Burritos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .687-7527 Littorno, Richard - Attorney at Law . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-6463 Lopez, Stephanie - Coldwell Banker . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .932-7329 Main St. Nail Studio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-4975 Mary's Pizza Shack . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .938-4800 Mazzei Auto . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .757-5600 Melanie's Gifts & Interiors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-0207 Mike's Auto Body . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .689-1739 Monte Vista Veterinary Hospital . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-1100 Moon, Steven Dr., Chiropractor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .682-8400 Morucci, Kim - Intero Real Estate Services . . . . . . . . . .280-8563 National Energy Rebate Fund . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .800-957-4544 Neptune Society of Northern California . . . . . . . . . . . . .944-5100 Nichols Landscape . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-9955 Nuchols, Alicia - Premier Home Loans . . . . . . . .691-5070 X 323 Oakhurst Country Club . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-9737 x 210 Ouimet Funeral Home . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .682-4242 Paulson, Steve - KTVU Fox 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .673-5761 Postal Annex + . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-8900 Quantum Pain and Stress . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .459-8595 Rahimzadeh, Helen - Coldwell Banker . . . . . . . . . . . . .932-7375 R&M Pool, Patio & Gardens . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-0207 R.E. Carpet Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .595-8623 Roberta Claire Photography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .625-1123 Robin's Nest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-4600 Robin's Ranches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-7323 Rocco's Ristorante & Pizzeria . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .947-6105 Schaefer's Painting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .260-6065 Seasonal Reflections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-4425 Smith Bernal Roofing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .216-6461 Sposito, Stephanie - Coldwell Banker . . . . . . . . . . . . . .932-7334 Steffen, Tim - Better Homes Realty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .890-4407 St. John's Episcopal Church . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-8855 Stone Tree Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .798-2094 Straight Line Imports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .335-9801 Swint, Brad - Team Funding Group . . . . . . . . . . . .627-1400 X 12 The Maids . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .798-6243 The Royal Rooster . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .216-8744 The UPS Store . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .689-6245 Tipperary Construction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .216-2679 Travel Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .304-5000 Van Fleet, Josie - Intero Real Estate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-4333 Van Wyck, Doug - State Farm Insurance . . . . . . . . . . . .672-2300 Vintage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .352-6303 Vujnovich, George - Better Homes Realty . . . . . . . . . .672-4433 We the People . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .246-0370 Williams, Mike - Williams Properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .260-5363 Wooden It Be Nice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .673-5595 Zekco Watch Repair . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .689-2470

Page A6

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

Clayton Cares CBCA gets in the holiday spirit of giving

MDES fourth graders adopt a family for the holidays Miss Promessi and her fourth grade class at Mt. Diablo Elementary are g etting into the spirit during this season of giving. The class and their families have adopted a family in need. The students star ted b y making a Thanksgiving card and sending it to the family along

with a full Thanksgiving feast. Next they will g ather a holiday dinner, gifts for all six family members along with a Christmas tree to put them under. To help the class help this family in need, contact Sharon McNulty at 673-9333 or sharonmcnulty123@hotmail.com.

AND

WENDY LOWE sort gifts for CBCA’s Rudolph’s Tree

The Cla yton Business and Community Association (CBCA) cares a lot about the community and spends hours during the holida y season preparing gift baskets for needy families. Rudolph’s T ree, formerly Adopt-a-Family prog ram, has grown so m uch that c hair Joan Culver put tog ether a committee to handle all of the tasks . Sue White, Wendy Lowe, Cindy Haydon and Jean Wondra assisted Culver in orchestrating a program that helped nine families and six org anizations with gifts, food items , household necessities and, of course sw eets, for the holiday feast. According to Culv er, all CBCA members came to the rescue – taking time to purc hase gifts and goodies for the families.

“They ha ve big hear ts,” Culver says of CBCA members. “Out of 185 tags , there w ere only two left.” CBCA members brought their wrapped gifts to the Dec. 2 holiday par ty at Diamond Terrace, and the committee went to w ork preparing baskets for the families and org anizations. Monies from the F estival of Trees also benefited the program. “The need is endless . We work so ev eryone g ets something,” Culver says. Organizations that benefit from CBCA’s Rudolph’s Tree programs include St. Bonaventure’s, Meals on W heels, Bay Area Crisis Nurser y, We Care , Crossroads education prog ram for pregnant teens and W esley Youth Homes.

533 Park Highlands #60 – contemporary and completely remodeled townhome with $360,000 beautiful granite counters, stainless appliances, & custom closets through out!

rice New P

Upcoming Events VISIT SANTA AND HAVE DESSERT WITH MRS. CLAUS-DEC . 9 Don’t miss this one oppor tunity to visit with Santa and enjoy some desser t with Mrs. Claus. The event takes place Sat. Dec. 9 from 11 a.m. to 2 p .m. at the Clayton Comm unity Library. Families will enjoy prizes, goodies, and a free photo with Santa as a keepsake. Donation is $1 and c hildren 12 and under are free . This ann ual Christmas ev ent is sponsored b y the Clayton Business and Community Association. CLAYTON COUNTS DOWN-DEC , 31 Celebrate New Year’s Eve with the whole family this year at the annual Cla yton Counts Do wn alcohol-free celebration at the Clayton Community Gym. Families will enjo y, games and acti vities for all ag es, crafts and delicious food and snac ks. It’s all possible through the g enerous suppor t of sponsors and v olunteers. The event sponsored by the city and the YMCA begins at 6:30 p .m. and ends at 10 p.m. For more information or if you would like to volunteer call the Clayton City Clerk, Laci Jackson at 673-7300.

Tamara Steiner/Clayton Pioneer

CINDY HAYDON

December 8, 2006

MDES

FOURTH GRADERS

and their families adopt a family in need.

Legault nets 2,850 pounds of turkey for Food Bank Local R eal Estate Brok er, Tom Legault has just completed his 18th ann ual turk ey dri ve to benefit the Contra Costa/Solano County F ood Bank. This year’s event generated over 2850 pounds of turkeys. Tom collects money and turkeys from friends , relatives and business associates , matching all donations with his o wn. In the beginning he collected just a few turkeys, then he filled the car tr unk with them. Now, the event has g rown so big that

the food bank sends out a larg e truck to pick up them up. The food Bank distributes the collected food to local churches, soup kitchens, and to individuals in need. “It’s a small way to give back to the community that has supported me so w ell throughout my 24 year real estate career,”says Tom. If you would like to donate to Tom’s effor t, call him at the Clayton Valley branch of Kropa Realty, 925-672-2815.

Letters to the Editor Dear Editor: Lt. Jerry No vakovich VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars) Post 1525 thanks the people of Clayton for suppor ting our Veteran’s Da y Buddy P oppy Program held on V eteran Da y Weekend. Their suppor t will assist local Veteran’s in need and special V eteran in need programs. Special thanks to Safew ay at Clayton Station and Alberstons for permitting the Post to set up our Buddy Poppy Stations. Again, thanks Cla yton, this is a great community. - Richard ‘ Pete’ Loechner Commander, Post 1525

Dear Editor I w as happy reading that Dave Shuey won most votes for a seat in the City Council. Though a strang er in far away (Northern) Ger many I should like to cong ratulate him. Your funny yet serious columns in the Cla yton Pioneer w ere simply g reat, Mr. Shuey and so—thank y ou v ery m uch for them and all the best for y ou. - Gesche Marcks from Mölln, Germany

Send y our comments or questions to us at info@claytonpioneer.com

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$425,000 360 Fall Circle – Sparkling with extra large lot and new interior finishes!

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$579,900

$795,000 2447 Kaiser Way – palatial 5 bedroom 4 ½ bath with professional landscape & interiors

2331 Minaret – 4 bedroom 2 bath in excellent College Park location.

$524,500

$849,000 972 Oak St. – best location in Clayton. Seller will work with buyer’s reasonable offer! 4 bedroom, 2 bath plus den!

2327 Camelback – Best value in Mira Vista Hills!

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Thank you to everyone who donated to the Contra Costa Food Bank. You really make a difference.

Clayton’s Preferred Real Estate Team

925.932.7375 Helen

925.932.7329 Stephanie

homes@helenandstephanie.com

Construction is underway on Lenox Homes new residential community of sought after “Single Story” homes on spacious 13,000 + sq. ft. lots. Now is the time to move up to a dream home with no stairs and a yard that is designed for great outdoor living. These four and five bedroom Lenox Homes offer all the amenities and features you ever dreamed of having. The array of custom features include: Spacious floor plans 10 ft. ceilings Gourmet kitchen with granite countertops Maple cabinetry Elegant master bedroom and bathroom Many more extras Early home buyers have the opportunity to personalize their new home from a wide selection of options and upgrades. Thinking about remodeling your current home? Call our sales office first and discover what the possibilities are in a new Lenox Home. W e will be happy to send you more information.

Call (925) 284-0415 or go to www.lenoxhomes.net Broker Cooperation

December 8, 2006

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer .com

Stay informed to avoid anxiety during home sale or purchase

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lbahramnia@yahoo.com

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Home for the holidays? Give yourself a gift – make the sofa look like new – replace the drapes for a cozy Holiday evening with friends. Want table runners and napkins to match the décor for the real designer look. Then look no further.

Call Joanna at (925) 673-8911 Clayton Resident

The thought of

holiday

shopping got you down? Can’t find the right size or color? Tired of Karate chopping your way through crowds?

We have the perfect answer. Surprise your loved ones with

A GIFT CERTIFICATE FOR A CRUISE

Owners Valerie O’Connell (Clayton resident, 28 years) & daughter Colleen O’Connell

CST 2074362-40

We represent all cruise lines!

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Serving all cruise lines since 1987

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www.cruiseadventuresunliminted.com

REAL ESTATE It’s natural to feel anxious when you buy or sell a home. As a buyer, you don’t want to overpay. As a seller , you don’t want to sell too low. The best way to relieve your anxieties is to be proacti ve throughout y our real estate transaction. While it’s tempting to fall into a “wake me when it’s over” mode, you need to sta y involved. Only y ou can mak e the important decisions that will affect the course of your home purchase or sale. Unless y ou ha ve real estate expertise and a lot of free time, you’ll need to rely on various real estate professionals – including real estate ag ents, mortgage lenders and home inspectors . Hire the best team of professionals you can find. One of the best ways to find good people to

Specialist in Ranch and Country Properties. Thinking of selling? Robin’s Ranches web page gets more than 6,000 viewings a month

work with is to ask for refer rals from friends and colleagues who bought and sold recently. Let your team know that you want to be k ept w ell-informed during the course of your working relationship . This means that y ou w ant to kno w about problems as soon as possible . Some professionals think they’re doing their clients a favor b y insulating them from bad news . This can ha ve neg ative consequences if you find out too late about a problem that could ha ve been cor rected if you’d only known about it. Homebuyers and sellers often feel o verwhelmed b y the amount of paperwork in volved in a real estate transaction. Ask for adv ance copies of the important documents y ou’ll need to sign, such as the purchase ag reement and mor tgage documents. This w ay, you can read and understand them before you have to sign them. You should k eep copies of all transaction-related documents. If there is anything in

the documents that y ou don ’t understand, ask your real estate professional for an explanation. Hire exper ts if you ha ve complicated tax or leg al questions that are outside the area of expertise of your real estate agent or mortgage lender. Your purc hase contract should include conting encies designed to protect y ou. Most contracts include conting encies for financing, inspections and title review. Don’t remove these contingencies until you’re confident that they ha ve been satisfied. If you’re a buyer and choose not to protect y ourself with conting encies, you should understand that y ou might risk losing y our de posit if you do not go through with the transaction. Most buyers mak e a g ood faith de posit when they enter into a contract to buy a home . Your contract should specify what happens to the de posit if the sale is not completed, or if contingencies are not satisfied. More and more, homebuyers

Mayor, from page A1 harangue y ou via “special columns” in the Pioneer. If you want me out of the paper , do your part. Speaking of future g enerations, remember that y ou too have options to g et y our kids out of the house and mak e them someone else’ s problem for a few hours. The YMCA has lots of programs for kids (and some for adults too , so you can get y our spouse/significant other out of your hair as w ell). Go to www .mdrymca.org to find out times and register for some great programs. Meanwhile, Clayton V alley Little League is signing up kids for next year’s season. With the help and g enerosity of the CBCA and Cla yton V alley sports/boosters, the league has redone its minor and major field and is looking for a g reat new season. Sign up at Holy Cross Churc h (1902 Alber ta Way, near the high sc hool) from 10 a.m. to 4 p .m. Dec. 9 and 6 to 7:30 p.m. Dec. 14. You can check on tr y-out dates and other infor mation at www.cvll.org. We can alw ays use new kids and v olunteers to help coach, umpire, keep score, etc. On to speeding in Cla yton! Yes, the No. 1 complaint we get is about speeding. Well, we have already passed last year’ s n umber of citations gi ven, with 1,401 vs. 1,281 in all of last year. But w e are not draconian (m y wife hates when I use that word, but I love it!), and 46 percent of our traffic stops result in cita-

www.robinsranches.com Are you looking for that perfect horse set-up?

Page A7

Concord, 1931 Ayers Road 1.37 acres in unincorporated Concord! Zoned for horses. Build your own estate or build 2 homes & reap the rewards. Approved plans for 4,100 sq. ft. 2-story home. Foundation has been poured. Includes 1923 farm house currently being remodeled & 3 old barns. Close to shops and schools.

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and sellers are using the Internet to help them buy and sell homes. Internet adv ertising is not regulated, so don ’t rely exclusively on the infor mation you obtain on the Inter net. Always v erify critical infor mation independently. Be dilig ent about seeking answers to ev ery question y ou have about the proper ty y ou’re buying before you complete the transaction. This includes ha ving the proper ty thoroughly inspected. Keep a transaction log or diary of events that occur during y our home purc hase or sale, including a record of important phone conversations. Be realistic about the process. Real estate transactions are rarely hassle-free , so there are bound to be unanticipated frustrations along the w ay. But the end result is worth it. Lynne F rench is a r ealtor with Windermere Real Estate and a Clayton r esident. F or any r eal estate needs or questions contact her at: Phone (925) 672-8787 or E-mail: Lynne@LynneFrench.com

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tions and 74 percent are gi ven a tongue-lashing and ster n admonition. (So, how many of you caught that math? It is really 54 percent, so the total equals 100 percent. See, government works!) Ever w ant to be J ames Bond? Well, in response to 9/11 and hurricane Katrina, the government wants cities to pre pare to help themselv es in the ev ent of another catastrophe lik e terrorist acts , natural disasters , communist ag gression (oops , that w as in m y speec h to the military) and out of control weddings (more lik ely in Clayton), to name a few . Thus, the Citizens Emerg ency Response T eam (CER T) program in Cla yton will help manage emergencies for the first 72 hours to a w eek or more , until coordinated g overnment response can be implemented. OK, you won’t be J ames Bond after your training, but you will be able to help , so contact City Hall and get your training. In closing, I gi ve y ou three quotes and y ou can decide ho w they apply. Abraham Lincoln once said: “It has been my experience that folks who ha ve no vices ha ve very few virtues.” Mark T wain said: “Few things are harder to put up with than a good example.” And Oscar Wilde said: “Some cause happiness wherever they g o; others whenev er they go.” I am lea ving. Email me at shuey@rankinlaw.com.

Musicians, from page A1 to play piano, and he also coaches Valerie on the F rench hor n. Christina tak es pri vate lessons on the violin. On any gi ven da y in the Senavsky household, music is a major par t of the daily routine. The girls practice just about ev ery da y, including a three-hour practice with YASO ev ery Monda y. Add in practice sessions for the school bands and the D VC Philharmonic and trips to and from perfor mances and y ou have a sc hedule that mom Katie describes as “hectic .” Christina and Valerie also find time to be acti ve members of the Girl Scouts and are currently in volved in a fund-raising project for the holida ys. The 50-member Y ASO is

preparing for a winter concer t to be held at 2:30 p .m. Sunday, Dec. 10, at the Los Medanos College Recital Hall in Pittsburg. The free concer t will feature selections from Brahms , Rossini, John Williams , Verdi and an ar ray of Christmas music. The orc hestra is sc heduled to g o on tour in Europe this year and is under consideration to par ticipate in the midEurope Festival in the A ustrian Alps. Four other y oung Cla yton musicians perfor m with YASO: flutist Elizabeth T ooley, violinists Vaso Rahimzadeh and Alex Compumanes and pianist Justin Beutel. For more information on YASO, visit www.YASO.info.

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Page A8

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

A Christmas tea for you and me PAM BARNETT

TEA

FOR YOU

Christmas is just about as unselfish as a holiday can get. It gives more than it tak es ev ery year, leaving in its wake a whirlwind of parties, people and presents. These g ood times imprint themselves on our memories like snapshots , allowing us to recall the spirit of joy and generosity that Christmas seems to bring out in everyone. Not only is the season one for spiritual renewal, it is also a time to renew old ties . In a world where we tend to drop in and out of each other’s lives as our busy schedules dictate, taking time for tea with friends this month is the perfect way to reconnect. Whether y ou are contemplating having loved ones o ver to your home for a tea party, or meeting a group of friends at a tearoom, there is something about teatime that encourag es

us to stop and sa vor the moment. It is one of the few rituals that is both relaxing and refreshing. It rejuv enates our spirit and allo ws us to escape the holida y stress descending upon us. Teatime also pro vides a wonderful oppor tunity to tr y some teas of the season that aren’t readily available throughout the rest of the year . The delectable fragrances of orange spice, candy cane or cinnamon apple are hard to resist. You’ll remember the smooth taste of chocolate-covered c herry or pumpkin spice for months to come. Imagine sitting near a w arm fireplace with the soft lights of the ev ergreen glo wing nearb y. A china teapot in a lo vely holiday patter n sits ready to fill your delicate cup with an aromatic Christmas blend of cranberry and orang e. Or perhaps you are cozily curled up at one end of the couc h while y our oldest and dearest friend sits at the other , sipping ging erbread tea laced with milk and nibbling

a pumpkin spice scone. Whether it is pausing to reflect by oneself, or g athering with g ood friends , there is no better season than this . Alice M. Pharo wrote about Christmas teatime: “It is tenderness for the past, courage for the present, hope for the future. It is a fer vent wish that every cup ma y o verflow with blessings rich and eternal.” I’ll bet as y ou are reading this, a friend or loved one came to mind that could probably use a few hours to relax o ver a holiday tea just as m uch as you could. Why not tak e this time to reconnect and enjo y the company of someone who just may need it more than y ou know? Please see Englund’ s T ea Cottage ad on pag e A5 for a complete listing of their special Christmas Tea events. Pam Bar nett w as an Eng lish major in colle ge and a teacher befor e becoming co-owner with Sally Englund of Englund’s Tea Cottage in the Clayton Station. Email her at Pammbarnett@aol.com

Holiday visits provide opportunity to evaluate your older relatives It’s the time of year when relatives y ou ha ven’t seen all year converge on y our house , or invite you to theirs. While you may expect brothers and sisters to resor t to their old sibling ri valries and parents to tell their grown kids to put on their coats, there’s one thing y ou may not expect: the realization that parents and g randparents are becoming less able to function ph ysically and/or mentally in their daily lives. Maybe Mom has become so arthritic that she can ’t pre pare her traditional holida y stuffing anymore. Maybe Grandpa can ’t remember something y ou told him 15 minutes ago. While these things can be depressing, you can tur n y our concern into action b y actually using this time to assess ho w to help your loved ones in the coming year. NUTRITIONAL NEEDS: One of the signs that y our loved one may need inter vention is a noticeable loss of weight (they may be de pressed or forg etting to eat). Meals on W heels and senior centers offer many options to mak e health y eating easier and more enjoyable. EYESIGHT AND HEARING: If either seems more compromised than in the past, perhaps it’s time to g et them tested for updated

eyeglass prescriptions or hearing NEED IT Sometimes life can aids. feel overwhelming. If holiday TRANSPORTATION: Is y our stress becomes so difficult that loved one less capable of driving you find you are having trouble safely? Perhaps ar ranging anoth- doing daily tasks, or that prober mode of transportation lems are affecting your relationships with friends and family, through neighbors or a medical you should consider seeking service would help. professional counseling. Asking HOME MODIFICATIONS: There are many devices a vailable for help is never a sign of weakto help older people remain inde- ness or failure, especially in situpendent and safe in their homes: putting larg er grips on their coffee m ugs; tacking do wn rugs to prevent tripping; having sturdy railings and bars installed in bathrooms , stairways, etc. for them to hold onto; Be alert to physical or behavioral changes in your amplifiers for aging relatives during holiday visits. their phones , and larg er print v ersions of ations too difficult to handle books, crosswords, prescription alone. You can find help at labels, phone numbers, etc. www.unitedbehavioralhealth.co Expecting the signs of aging m. Click on “News & in your loved ones, and using the Research,” then “Resources” to holidays as an oppor tunity to connect you with the wide help them can tur n your holiday ranges of services and informaexperience into a real gift for the tion you need. both of you in the coming year. Finally, SEEK HELP IF YOU Source: ARA Content

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Page A9

Hyphy Movement shouldn’t be celebrated on campus You probably w ouldn’t expect a high school to sanction a sc hool-wide ev ent where students are encourag ed to “g o dumb.” But if you thought that, then you haven’t been to one of Clayton V alley High Sc hool’s Homecoming Rallies. I’ve never been a fan of the Homecoming Rally . Hearing hundreds of students frenzied into a mob mentality to the point where all they can chant is “Go home freshman” can g et boring and re petitive after , say, five seconds . Then the freshmen retor t brilliantly with a chant of “Go home seniors.” If only it w eren’t ag ainst sc hool policy to actually g o home , because that w ould g reatly improve the day. After this brainless exchange goes on for a few min utes, the fall spor ts teams g et to r un

around the gym for their 15 seconds of fame. Well, almost all the teams. Then the lights dim, and for 20 min utes or so , the varsity football team is called out, one-by-one. Apparently being on a football team is reason enough for 2,000 students to celebrate y ou. And, of course, cheers of “Go home freshman” dot these perfor mances. But I dig ress. All of those events happened again this year, along with one extra thing the Hyphy Movement. The Hyph y Mo vement, which urg es people to “g o dumb” and “ride the yello w bus,” was the theme of this year’s rally . To mark this mass celebration of stupidity, the rally literally featured a mini yello w bus with the words “Go dumb” written on the bac k. After all,

School News CLAYTON VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL The ClaytonArts Academy Drama T roupe will perfor m “Pride and Prejudice” on Dec . 13, 14 and 15. Jon Jory created the stag e adaptation from the Jane A usten no vel. Junior Brittany Kasdan is directing this timeless tale of the Bennet sisters. The play also features many of the Cla ytonArts Academ y

students at Cla yton Valley High School. The production starts at 7 p.m. each night, and the cost is $5 at the door. Clayton V alley High School Athletic Booster s Club is hosting its 13th ann ual Crab F eed & A uction on Saturday, Jan. 13. The ev ent begins at 6 p .m. at Centre Concord. This is a major fundraiser, which directly bene-

the best place to encourag e “going dumb” would obviously be a school. But “g oing dumb” isn’t all that the Hyph y Mo vement encourages. “Thizzing,” or using the drug Ecstasy, is popular within the Hyph y culture . “Ghost riding the whip” is another popular stunt, which involves putting a car in neutral, then w alking alongside it. According to police re ports, at least eight people ha ve died this way. I’m a liber tarian when it comes to drug laws, and if people want to use Ecstasy in their free time , I don ’t care . As for “ghost riding the whip ,” I don’t mind what people do in their free time , as long as they are aware of the potentially lethal consequences and no innocent bystanders get hurt. fits all athletic prog rams at CVHS. Tickets are on sale $50 at the sc hool or online at www.cvhsboosters.org. For more infor mation or to donate an auction item, email crabfeed@cvhsboosters.org. The Society f or International T ravel is taking applications for a trip to Athens and R ome in A ugust 2007. Parents and students are w elcome to register . E-mail rossj@mdusd.k12.ca.us for more information.

DEIRDRE RUSCITTI

CVHS REPORTER However, for a rally that reflects the entire CV population, celebrating the Hyph y Movement is ridiculous. It is not the role of a school to sponsor stupidity and dr ugs, yet the administration let it occur. After witnessing m y fello w classmates writhe on the f loor like they w ere in some sor t of sexual seizure during the “Thizzle Dance ,” I w as embarrassed to be a Cla yton V alley student. At least I’ll be g raduating at the end of the year. For comments or questions contact Deirdre at CVHS@claytonpioneer.com MT. DIABLO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Mt. Diablo Elementar y School families and friends earn more than $20,000 a year for the school just b y registering Safeway Club Cards through Escrip. By shopping through EScrip’s Online Mall, you can earn more money for Mt. Diablo Elementar y Sc hool while completing y our holida y shopping. A percentage of your purchase will automatically be donated to the school. For more information, visit escrip.com.

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Imagine the dilemma faced by a junior high student with poor posture . He can ’t stand up straight and has stooped shoulders. The only solution he is given is a back brace that loops around his shoulders and pulls them bac kward. It hur ts to wear it and it is visible under his cloths . This treatment for poor posture seldom w orks and is resisted by the patient. Now imagine an alter native way to treat the same problem, using one or more strategies that naturally correct posture. There are four major physical causes of stooped posture and rounded shoulder in young people: a shor t leg; poor foot and ankle posture; inadequate muscle development; and scoliosis. The causes are found in older people as w ell, because the problems of youth do not necessarily go away as we age. The first three causes are easily treated. Scoliosis is more complex.

Scoliosis is a sidew ays bending of the spine. For people who ha ve a slight scoliosis ,

DR. ROBERT CLARK

YOUR HEALTH the cause ma y be a shor t leg, flat foot, tipped ankle or a combination. Osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) and the appropriate cor rective device will mak e a g reat change. In sev ere scoliosis , it may be necessar y to consider implanted m uscle stim ulators, braces or surgery. Short leg is treated with a heel lift inside the heel cup or

attached to the outside heel of the shoe. Problems of the foot and ankle are treated with arc h supports, heel w edges or a combination as appropriate. These problems in volve only side-to-side c hanges or differences in body posture . However, the body reacts in all directions to a single direction abnormality. Poorly dev eloped posture muscles require more acti ve treatment, using muscle specific ex ercises to “w ake up” and build the undeveloped muscles. In this endeavor, a knowledgeable fitness trainer is a g reat help. Trainers who can create a custom prog ram usually w ork in the smaller , independent facilities rather than the c hain fitness centers. We have met a great trainer, Mike Quinata. He is affiliated with the Cla yton Fitness Center and will w ork with y ou in your home. For some of our patients working with him, we have devised custom ex ercises

and stretc hes to targ et critical needs. In all cases , OMT is a k ey part of the treatment because heel lifts and other or thotics are not simple “set it and forget it” strategies. The body has adapted to the posture caused by the shor t leg or altered foot/ankle posture . Without OMT to help the body change, it will fight the c hanges that the devices should cause . Proper alignment of the body, along with good joint mobility, helps the process go faster and easier. If there is more than one cause for poor posture , you need to treat them all. Treatment of each element will improve the situation, but it requires a comprehensive treatment strateg y to g et the best results. Dr. Clark is an osteopath with offices in Concor d. He can be reached for questions at (925) 9697530 or email him at osteopathywithdrbob@yahoo.com

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Page A10

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

December 8, 2006

Cassoulet: A stew by any other name As the da ys shor ten, people tend to slow down a bit to savor the colors and f lavors of fall. Stews, casseroles and soups top the list of comfort foods with hearty, nourishing f lavors that people around the w orld enjo y this time of year. The classic F rench dish cassoulet (cass-ooo-LA Y) has a rich heritag e. At its roots , it’s a peasant dish from southwestern France. Just about anything edible w ent into the pot, which simmered day in and day out on the French farmstead. It wasn’t uncommon to find homes where cassoulet bubbled away literally for years , with daily additions of new items as steaming dishes were served up. Some food historians sug gest that cassoulet deri ves from the Hebrew c holent, a dish prepared and simmered in adv ance to eat on the Sabbath. It is said that cassoulet saved a countr y. For more than 100 years, the residents of Castelnaudary were under sieg e by the English. Stores of food were dwindling, so the F rench made a gigantic ragout from the beans and v arious meats they could collect. Supposedly, this nourishment spur red the French to vanquish the English. Despite the national c harm of the cassoulet, many versions exist. One pundit commented that a 100 years ag o, one could interview 50 far mhouse wi ves

and find 51 recipes for the dish. Whole towns and regions claim their own version of cassoulet is authentic. France ev en legislated the humble dish. By la w, it m ust contain 30 percent pork (sausage meets this requirement, but not if it’s Strasbourg sausage), duck or goose confit (a preserved dish) and 70 percent beans, plus stoc k, herbs and other flavorings. The F rench also ha ve regional traditions for breaking the crust that for ms on the cassoulet. In Castelnaudary, it must be brok en sev en times , while eight is customary in Toulouse. Building a traditional cassoulet requires an investment of time. One must first prepare the duck or g oose meat b y baking two legs and thighs for sev eral hours in a lo w o ven until the meat is v ery tender and falls away from the bone . Rehydrated white beans are simmered with 1 pound of skinless pork belly (uncured bacon), a peeled car rot, half an onion, several g arlic clo ves, some thyme and rosemary. Half of the beans go into the baking dish. This is topped b y a filling of cooked, chopped sausage, fowl and ra w c hopped vegetables (tomatoes , carrots, onions and g arlic), then the remainder of the beans tops the dish. Reserved w ater from the bean soak is poured up to the top

of the beans. The dish is baked in a low oven for two hours. The crust that for ms on the cassoulet is then brok en and pushed into the top la yer. This continues for up to 12 hours . Breadcrumbs drizzled with olive oil and toasted in the oven finish the dish. However, a ser viceable cassoulet can be pre pared in just a couple of hours. SIMPLIFIED CASSOULET 2 lbs. boneless pork shoulder , cubed 1 lb. skinless, boneless chicken thighs, cubed 1 lb. smoked sausage, cubed 5 strips bacon 2 16 oz. cans white beans 5 cloves garlic, chopped 2 c. chopped onions 1 c. chopped carrots 1 c. chopped celery 1 can chicken broth ½ c. white wine 1 can diced tomatoes 2 Tbsp. tomato paste 1 tsp. dried thyme ½ tsp. chopped rosemary ½ c. breadcrumbs ¼ c. butter or olive oil Combine tomatoes , tomato paste, wine and broth and set aside. Cook bacon in oven-proof dish. Remove and reserve bacon. Brown the meats in bacon fat. Add remaining ing redients except breadcr umbs and pour tomato mixture o ver all. Bake in a 300 deg ree oven for about an

How to get the most from deferred annuities ALLEN LAMPO

FINANCIAL SENSE It is possible to defer a deferred annuity for too long. Many people buy defer red annuities to supplement their retirement income . Most ann uities are contracts in whic h the buyer contributes a lump sum and, in retur n, receives regular payments. With a defer red annuity, payments begin at a later date – usually at retirement. The attraction of annuities is that ear nings are tax-defer red until withdra wals are made . Unlike qualified retirement plans that defer tax es, such as 401(k) plans, annuities generally have no limits on the amount of money that can be invested. In addition, an ann uity typically pro vides income for life, ensuring that the annuitant will not outli ve his or her retirement savings. However, people who sa ve and plan ahead enough to ha ve a defer red ann uity often reac h

retirement and find that they have enough income to li ve comfortably and don’t need the annuity. They decide , instead, to pass it on to their heirs . Some annuities end payment when the ann uitant dies . In other cases , annuities can be passed on as a lump-sum pa yment based on the cur rent dollar value of any unpaid units, or with guaranteed pa yments for a set number of years. Unfortunately, one g eneration’s tax defer ral can be the next g eneration’s tax headac he. An ann uity is subject to both income and estate tax es when the ann uitant dies . This ma y erode the v alue of the ann uity by up to 75 percent. While the estate tax ex emption is increasing, it is scheduled to drop back to $1 million in 2011, so it is worth planning to a void estate taxes. Using a tec hnique called annuity maximization, an annuity can be lev eraged and sheltered from tax es when it is passed on to the next g eneration. There are two ways to lever-

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age an ann uity: by using the funds to purc hase a single premium immediate annuity (SPIA) or by taking withdrawals. Using the ann uity to purchase a SPIA pro vides a steady stream of income that is gifted to an ir revocable life insurance trust (ILIT) using ann ual exclusion gifts . The tr ust then uses the funds to purc hase a life insurance policy on the life of the annuitant. This transaction ma y ha ve risks and costs associated with it. Consult your financial advisor for more infor mation. It is also essential that tr ust documents be drafted properly , so be certain to retain an attorney who is familiar with tr usts and who understands income and estate tax laws. Failure to do so could result in adv erse tax treatment of trust proceeds. A por tion of the SPIA distribution will be retur n of principal, which is not subject to income tax. The balance will be included in the ann uitant’s ordinary income.

See Financial, page A15

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hour (pork should be tender). Transfer half the beans and ½ c. of the cooking liquid to a food processor and blend until smooth. Add bac k into cassoulet and top with ½ c . buttered breadcrumbs. Bake another 45 min utes, or until a g olden crust forms. Serve with a g ood cab-merlot blend, and you have a hea venly dish.

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Happy Holidays

Whether buying, selling or refinancing when you’re calling this number, you’re calling the right number Linda Miller

Realtor, Loan Consultant

5354 Clayton Rd, Suites B1 & B2, Concord phone: (925) 765-4765 673-9737 ll fax: (925) 798-2100 email: email: lmiller@homequity.us lmiller@homequity.us ll www.homequity.us www.homequity.us

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Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer .com

Page A11

From cozy residence to pizza, the little house at Main and Diablo has m uch to tell PAM WIESENDANGER Special to the Pioneer

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Some facts to ponder the next time y ou are enjo ying dinner at Skipolini’s Pizza Garden: The property w as the site of Rhine’s Store until it bur ned do wn. The current building was originally the home of Dolly Murc hio and it became the P ost Office in the 1940s. The tradition of sawdust on the f loor beg an with the Country House antique store that was open for business there in the early ’70s. The cor ner of Main and Diablo streets in Clayton is rich in history. Charles Rhine owned it in the late 1800s , and his store carried ev erything from food to hardware. Rhine’s Store w as a two-story building, with the mercantile on the first floor and living quarters on the second. The store was sold to Hans Rasm ussen in the early 1910s and re portedly burned down in later years. In 1937, Delores “Dolly” Murchio retur ned to her hometown of Clayton to be postmaster. The Post Office w as located in T at’s Place (the old Cla yton Hotel), where the Cla yton Community Churc h cur rently stands. Dolly’s brother , Frances “Tat,” owned the hotel. (Some reports indicate her brother , George, actually o wned the hotel.) When T at sold the hotel to Randall “Chubb y” Humble to become the Pioneer Inn in 1947, Tat built Dolly the home across the street. Dolly was one of 14 children of Dominic and J ulia Murc hio, who emig rated from Italy . They were mar ried in 1879 and settled on 480 acres of land at the end of Mitchell Cany on R oad. Eventually, they o wned 4,000 acres.

Dolly helped the family b y doing the cooking, cleaning and sewing until she w ent to high school and business colleg e in Oakland. She w as mar ried and later di vorced after the death of her only daughter. When Dolly retur ned to Clayton in 1937, the postmaster

hell is Skipolini’ s?” and g racious customers who w ould bring different guests each week to get the word out about the delicious pizza and family atmosphere. Skipolini’s g ot its name from Lester’s c hildhood nic kname of Skip, which stuck with him as an adult. At a party prior to the busi-

sawdust on the f loor for atmosphere. She fondly remembers walking down the hill after school at Mt. Diablo Elementary to go to the antique store and g et a treat from the candy jar. In 1974, Lester “Skip” Ipsen rented the building from Nan Wallace to open Skipolini’ s. Skip

Photo courtesy of the Clayton Historical Society

THIS

PHOTO OF

SKIPOLINI’S

BUILDING

was paid according to the number of “cancellations,” or letters that went through the office . Dolly’s niece, Clayton resident Iola Grady, recalls that residents would be sure to bring their Christmas cards to Dolly so she w ould receive credit for the cancellations. Iola says there w as no mail delivery at that time , only post office boxes. In 1953, Josephine Bloc hing took o ver as postmaster and the Post Office c hanged locations three more times before settling into its current location. In the late 1960s and early ’70s, the Countr y House took over the building for an antiques and arts/crafts business. Margaret Hara, daughter of business par tner A udrey K owalick, says the antique store w as the first to put

was taken circa 1965 when Main Street was a quiet country street.

had no background in food ser vice, but he “alw ays w anted to open a pizza place.” He gutted the living quarters, added pizza ovens and opened for business. Skip’s was successful from the start, although he had “a tremendous amount of free advertising” from the late Dr . Don R ose, a deejay in the early years . Dr. Don publicized the leg end of the “Prego” pizza when his wife went into labor after eating this pizza laden with 13 meats , vegetables, spices and cheese. Since then, the Prego pizza has been featured in many publications as w ell as television and w ord of mouth. Just last month, another expectant mother went into labor after eating the Prego pizza. Other adv ertising effor ts included ads sa ying “W here the

ness opening, Skip admitted he did not have a name for the pizza place. He and friends beg an tossing around different names. Once he decided he wanted the name to sound Italian, Skipolini’s w as born. In 1984, Skip bought the property from W allace. He expanded the patios and eventually the business when his son Kent joined him to r un the business . Kent star ted the deli very ser vice, opened the Antioc h location and later the W alnut Creek location. Skip retired in 1995, and Kent has owned the business since 1994. The cor ner of Main and Diablo has historically been a gathering place for the community – whether to buy y our g roceries, pick up your mail, purchase an antique or enjoy a great pizza.

Check out these great gift ideas from the Clayton library and the Historical Society The Clayton Community Library Foundation has several holiday gift suggestions. You can buy a bric k, which will be installed along the w alkway leading to the librar y from Clayton R oad. The cost is $55 for three lines of engraving, 20 characters per line . Forms are available at the librar y or at www.claytonlibrary.org. Gift cards can be supplied. Buy A Book is also a vailable as a way to honor or memorialize someone. Fiction books can be purchased for $25 or non-fiction for $50. Other gift items include a membership in the Cla yton Community Library Foundation

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at $10 for an indi vidual and $15 for a family , as w ell as sev eral higher categ ories. This is a gift that any librar y/book lo ver is sure to appreciate . Membership forms are available online and at the library. New this season is a book bag in hea vy-duty red can vas with white printing and log o. The bottom is gusseted and stands easily for filling . These bags are a bargain at $10. “Clayton Cooks …” is a collection of favorite recipes , including some b y local celebrities suc h as Greg g and J oan Manning, Joan Culv er, Susan Fossan and Skip Ipsen. Cost is $5.

T-shirts whic h spor t the 94517 log o are a vailable for both adults and c hildren in red and blue. Cost is $14 for adults and $10 for children. All proceeds from sales of the above items g o to purc hase new materials for the Cla yton Community Library. The Clayton Historical Society invites y ou to gi ve the gift of history this holida y season. Your suppor t benefits the operation of the m useum and the preservation of Clayton’s history. Yearly rates are $15 per individual, $25 per couple; senior and student dues are a mere $5. Life memberships are a vailable for a one time cost of $200.

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Members recei ve the Cla yton Chronicles publication and a 10 percent discount on most m useum gift shop items. Images of America – Clayton, a book produced b y the Cla yton Historical Society , portrays the history of our town for its first 100 years. As we enter our 150th year since J oel Cla yton platted the to wn in 1857, this book makes an appropriate gift. The price is $20 and all proceeds benefit the Society and Museum. See ad this page. The m useum, located at 6101 Main Street, is open Wednesdays and Sunda ys from 2 – 4 p .m. and by appointment (672-0240 or 672-1865).

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Page A12

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

December 8, 2006

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Virginia, named for the Virgin Queen Elizabeth I, was one of the original thir teen colonies. Its heritag e, four hundred years and some c hange later, is still apparent in its architecture, its tourism, and on every road sign one sees. I spent the T hanksgiving holiday exploring w estern Virginia, as far south as Williamsburg and as far north as Washington D .C. At first, this quiet urban area seemed to contain little to entice , but the further I dug, the more treasures I unearthed. Richmond boasts many extensive m useums, including the Science Museum of Virginia, the Children ’s Museum of Richmond and the Virginia Museum of Fine Ar ts. Seasonal exhibits abound, including a display of Russian F abergé eg gs from the reign of the Romanovs. Washington D .C. holds many tourist attractions, including the various museums of the Smithsonian, the presidential monuments and the Capitol building, but I was lucky enough to take in those sights on a family trip years ag o. Instead, I wanted to explore a little on m y own. Bracing myself for driving in the city , I w as delighted to find the city – at least on a Monday after noon – incredibly

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grand (faux) English fo yer of the librar y. Then I w as led on a tour b y an ancient docent. The Folger librar y stac ks are not available for common per usal, however; those who wish to utilize the resources m ust mak e application to the g overning board. Next stop w as the National Gallery of Art, where Monet’ s “Japanese F ootbridge” and “Woman with a P arasol,” Rembrandt P eale por traits of George W ashington and the gallery of ballet-themed w orks by Degas captured central focus, possibly even over an exhibition of prints and dra wings b y Rembrandt.

MT. VERNON, home of George Washington, is just a short drive from Washington D.C. simple, no more taxing than the average jaunt through do wntown W alnut Creek. The g reat dilemma, however, was the shocking lack of available parking, particularly on Capitol Hill, where I planned to visit the Folger Shak espeare Librar y. Apparently it’ s the new theor y to encourag e people to use the public transit system (m uch like Berkeley’s philosoph y), but it does mak e it incon venient for the occasional driver. Once street parking w as acquired, I spent a mor ning browsing an exhibit on Renaissance writing tools in the

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Exhausted from ar tistic scrutiny, I bra ved the ev ening traffic and found m yself in picturesque Georg etown where I discovered the secret to Washington D .C. shopping on M Street and Wisconsin Avenue. It w as lik e stumbling onto Union Square in San Francisco – every imaginable store lined the streets, from usual mall fare to specialty shops and cafes. I w ound up m y da y trip in Alexandria, which bills itself as “the fun side of the Potomac.” Nestled below the busy highway, fairy lights decorate the trees and ev en those places whic h

should justifiably ha ve been “casual dining” throw caution to the wind and ser ve g ourmet bites on trendy plates (with, of course, prices to match.) The highw ay system in Virginia is extensi ve and complex, but I found that m y directions, printed from Y ahoo! before I left, were accurate in every respect, quite a refreshing change from m y Great Lak es excursion last summer . Traffic can become hea vy during the usual r ush hours , but it only became tr uly loathsome on the Washington D .C./ F redericksburg corridor. After making that post-dinner mistak e, I v owed never to lea ve the city at 6 p .m. again. There are a few toll roads that caused a poc ketbook crisis, but they w eren’t to be a voided without becoming sev erely lost, so I soldiered on. With names lik e Ric hmond, Williamsburg, and Georg etown, it’s easy to forg et that this state was the bir thplace of revolutionaries. However, their tastes were impeccable: I spent one rainy after noon enfolded into Elizabethan manor life at Agecroft Hall, a 15th-centur y Tudor home that w as transported plank by plank to Virginia to become a family home. After the death of the original o wner, it was con verted into a public museum. A brief video beg an the visit, before a docent took charge of the half-hour tour that examined manor life in Renaissance England. Not nearly satisfied with m y living histor y lesson, I visited Mount V ernon, the home of George Washington, located just south of Washington D .C. on the glistening P otomac Ri ver. The plantation itself is a pastoral heaven. The house is eleg ant, even b y toda y’s standards , with rich fur nishings and eleg antly carved woodwork. The view of the P otomac from the bac k veranda is priceless . The outbuildings and g ardens are their

own individual exhibits and children scamper across meado ws, arms outstretched to attempt to pet mules, sheep, pigs, and oxen. A se parate path leads to the shops, the educational center containing several films and the museum relics, a food court, and the more subdued Mount Vernon Inn R estaurant. Three miles down the road, only open seasonally, is the Grist Mill and Distillery. My final stop along the historical road w as Colonial Williamsburg, the carefully reconstructed villag e in whic h visitors purc hase a da y pass to access exhibits , living histor y reenactments, crafts examples and lectures about early American life. Costumed participants roam the streets; shops sell period to ys and w ares; restaurants ser ve food pre pared from authentic recipes . It is an immersion experience lik e none other. And if that w asn’t enough, the J amestown Settlement and Y ork Victor y Center is only a few miles do wn the road, presenting colonial life from the perspecti ve of the involved par ties: white settlers , Powhatan nati ves, and African slaves. Back in the tw enty-first century in time for de parture, Richmond International Airport is one of the few to ha ve fully incorporated a free wi-fi system throughout all common areas . Before de parture, I w as able to check my email from one of the many moder n restaurants that fill the terminal. Two years ag o, I spent the Fourth of July w alking the Freedom T rail in Boston and marveling at the w orks of our forefathers. Similarly, what better w ay to spend T hanksgiving than by remembering the lives of those first colonists who risk ed everything for a c hance to be free and the man who established the first official Thanksgiving in 1789?

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December 8, 2006

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer .com

Page A13

Club News

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CLAYTON BUSINESS AND COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION In January, longtime Clayton resident Mik e F ossan will pic k up the gavel as president of the Clayton Business and Community Association (CBCA). Originally for med as the Community Business and Professional Association for the benefit of the do wntown merchants, the club today has a much broader base and attracts members from the comm unity at larg e. The club raises thousands eac h year from the Ar t and Wine F estival, a g olf tournament and Oktoberfest. The money g oes to benefit local schools, scholarships, the city and a wide variety of charities. However, Fossan believ es too many residents are unaware of all that the CBCA does . “A lot of people think the city of Clayton does all the do wntown decorations,” he sa ys. “In fact, the CBCA donated all of the decorations and members put them up each year.” Fossan wants to see a higher comm unity profile for the organization. “When people hear CBCA, I want the kind of recognition they g et when they

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CLAYTON HISTORICAL SOCIETY At the No vember potluc k dinner and ann ual business meeting, elections were held for the Cla yton Historical Society board of directors. Serving in 2007 are: President J anet Easton, First Vice President Car men F rank, Second Vice President Barbara Allen, Treasurer Sally T urner, Secretaries Barbara F ogerson and Sheila Driscoll, and Directors Sue K elson, Frances Kendall, Peggy Ar undell, Don Kendall, John R ubiales, Mary Wacker, Mark Mallicoat, Mary Spryer, JoAnn Caspar and Renée Wing. For more information about the group, call 672-0240 or visit www.claytonhs.com. AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF UNIVERSITY WOMEN The Cla yton and Concord American Association of University W omen is sponsoring a speech contest for girls in grades 11 and 12. The girls must attend a high school in the Mt. Diablo district. The deadline for application is Dec . 8. The topic is “Education as the Gatew ay to Women’s Economic Security .” The speech must be an original work, lasting 4 ½ to 5 ½ minutes. The competition will tak e place on J an. 27 in the Oak Room of the Cal State East Bay Campus. The three top winners will receive $150, $100 and $50. A videotape of the winning

KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS Students have until Jan. 25 to submit entries for the ann ual Substance Abuse Poster Contest sponsored b y the Knights of Columbus, Concord Council 6038, serving Cla yton and Concord. Use art to show why it is not cool to use any for m of drugs or alcohol. For more infor mation, contact Claire T ryon 6738564 or g reyeototo@sbcglobal.net.

MIKE FOSSAN

say Chamber of Commerce or Kiwanis,” he says. Fossan, a man ufacturer’s sales re p, joined the CBCA in 1985. He ser ved as the club’ s president in 1987 and 1988. Fossan and his wife Susan moved to Cla yton in 1978 and

all three of their children went to local sc hools. They ha ve three g randchildren. Susan Fossan doubles as Mrs. Claus at the CBCA ’s ann ual “Desser t with Mrs. Claus.” For more infor mation about the CBCA, call 672-2272.

speech will be submitted to the East Ba y District, where winners will go on to the state competition. Three finalists will then be selected to present their speeches at the Califor nia AAUW convention. The first meeting with the speech coach will be 10 a.m. to noon on Dec . 9 at the Cla yton Community Librar y, 6125 Clayton Rd. The second meeting will be 7-9 p.m. Jan. 8 in the library’s Story Room. For more infor mation or an application, call Jeanne Boyd at 672-3672 or email msbooks2@comcast.net.

CLAYTON VALLEY/ CONCORD SUNRISE ROTARY The Cla yton V alley/ Concord Sunrise R otary Club received an a ward for Best Newsletter at the No v. 2 meeting. Editor Georg e Bro wn accepted the a ward and g ave special thanks to re porters Ra y Casso, Steve Weir, Jeff Rondini and Mark Deven. The g roup’s next meeting will feature a visit from district governor Candy Pierce . The meeting begins at 7 a.m. Dec. 14 at Oakhurst Countr y Club. For more information on the group, v i s i t www.claytonvalleyrotary.org.

CLAYTON VALLEY WOMAN’S CLUB The Clayton Valley Woman’s Club will hold its ann ual Holiday Lunc heon and Installation of Officers at 11:30 a.m. Dec. 12 at Oakhurst Country Club. Ladies First, directed b y Chris Emigh, is pro viding the entertainment. The select barbershop g roup is comprised of high sc hool students and has taken top honors at festi vals throughout the W est and in Washington, D.C. The program will begin promptly at noon, so guests are asked to be seated by that time. Regular monthly meetings of the CVW C are held on the second and four th Tuesdays of the month. They will resume on Jan. 9. For more infor mation about the org anization, call Joyce at 672-3850 or Sheila at 672-7947.

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Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

December 8, 2006

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Main Street, which Laurence donated in memor y of his parents, stands as a memento to the outgoing councilman ’s family ties to a city he served. “It’s near and dear to his hear t,” said Councilwoman Julie Pierce, who helped plan Laurence’ s farew ell party along with city clerk Laci Jackson. Pierce presented Laurence with a miniature re plica of the downtown cloc k made b y the same company that designed the original one . “We appreciate your g enerosity to the city of Clayton,” she told Laurence. The crowd was amused by a barrage of clever and cor ny gifts, including a street sign named Pete Laurence Way celebrating Laurence’s special way of getting things done. Former city manager Ric h Hill to yed with Laurence’s unique ability to agree to disag ree. “Laurence is so independent that he becomes suspicious when someone agrees with him,” Hill said. Several people brought along Laurence’s fa vorite food items , like a can of Budweiser and a box of sugar-coated doughnuts, which he taste-tested through the course of the ev ening. Sherie, his wife of 36 years , defended his dietary digressions:

“Put him in a pair of tight black jeans and he still looks pretty good.” His notorious debates with the council o ver the years weaved their w ay into a few of the ev ening’s roasts , especially Laurence’s contentious exchanges with Councilman Bill Walcutt. And some of his ideas, which seemed lik e good ones at the time, added to the ev ening’s revelry. For example, he wanted to mak e Marsh Creek R oad a one-way thoroughfare betw een Clayton R oad and Diablo Parkway. Laurence was intent on slowing do wn the East County speeders who cut through to wn daily on their w ay to Ygnacio Valley Road. Former chief of police Pete Peterson personally witnessed the trial r un to test the lane closure one chilly December morning. “I never saw so many onefinger salutes in m y life . To Pete’s credit, he bac ked away,” Peterson said, laughing. Accolades followed the oneliners and w ere contagious . Sandy Williams eloquently read Laurence’s biog raphy, Capt. Andrew Hig gins of the U .S. Marines gave him a personal military sendoff and Ma yor Da ve Shuey thank ed Laurence for

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Pictured clockwise from upper left: 1. Sherie and Pete Laurence 2. May or Da ve Shuey and City Community De velopment Dir ector Jeremy Graves 3. Skipolini’ s founder Skip Ipsen and wife, Linda 4. Debra Gonsalves 5. Clayton’s first may or, Bob Ho yer and wife, Eldora 6. Phyllis and John Gackowski (left) with Clayton P olice Chief Dan Lawrence (far right) and wife, Sandy 7. City Manager Gar y Napper and wife, Kim 8. Councilwoman Julie Pierce 9. Sandy Williamson

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mentoring him in his early da ys on the council. Laurence’s oldest daughter Alana said it best when she spok e about her father’ s devoted militar y and council careers. “When some people call you Mr. Clayton, it truly fits. You are the best of the best.” But it w as the humorous power point presentation gi ven by Concord’s Vice Ma yor Mark Peterson that brought do wn the house, with his T op 10 reasons Why P ete Laurence is R etiring from the Cla yton City Council. No. 1: Heard Wal-Mart ma y be coming to to wn and w anted to be the first to apply as W alMart’s official greeter.

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DOC# 415-0005

OPPORTUNITY

Licensed by the Department of Corporations under the California Residential Mortgage Lending Act.

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free free estimates estimates

Declan Woods 925.216.2679 Specializing in Bathrooms and Kitchens

General Contractor

Noel O’ Meara 925.518.0821

Recommended by “Realtor of the Year” Lynne French

Clayton Resident

license# 783799, B, HIC

There's still still time time for for There's Independently owned and operated

Beautiful Clayton

t Intero, we begin Rancher on a 12,000 and end each day square foot Lot! with one goal: to proHome features include: 3 bedrooms, vide our clients with 2 ½ baths, formal livthe finest customer ing room, separate service available in family room and forreal estate. Every mal dining room. The Intero real estate proaddition upstairs is fessional is guided by currently being used as an exercise room and an of fice, but this space can be used as a fourth bedprinciples of trust, respect and integrity. room. Just think of the possibilities. Attic space available too. Beautiful hard-

wood floors and Wilson-Art Floors, upstairs has wall to wall carpeting. Spacious updated kitchen with brand new appliances which are included in the sale of this very special home. Sunny Master Bedroom Suite. Great curb appeal as well as sprawling back yard. No need to go to the park. It’ s in your own back yard. Gorgeous inside and Out!

A Top Producer Working for You Since 1989

JOSIE VAN FLEET 925-672-4333

Broker/Owner

Recipient of Intero’s Chairman Circle Award 22 year resident of Clayton

www.CallTheVanFleetTeam.com

A Time For Christmas A fresh, contemporary collection of Christmas music by Clayton's Joyce and Santiago Martinez and Roxanne Pardi, featuring the lovely and original "Angel of God." A perfect stocking stuffer or a great gift for yourself. To order, call

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December 8, 2006

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer .com

Page A15

Yuletide camellia–a perfect holiday stunner NICOLE HACKETT

GARDEN GIRL The camellia called Yuletide is the unspok en f lower of the season. This stunning, earlyblooming camellia mak es its debut in late No vember and pleases the g rower’s eyes through New Y ear’s and beyond. Yuletide has single , brilliant fiery red blooms centered with bright yello w stamens . The foliage is medium-sized and has a dee p, dark g reen color year round. Yuletide is one of the most popular camellias . The enormous red f lowers mak e this evergreen easily recognizable to many g ardeners. Yuletide’s upright habit mak es it a fine background plant, and it’s often

used as a li ving suppor t to a home to co ver foundations or to fill windowless walls. Yuletide can reach 8 feet tall and wide, so placement under a windo w is not recommended. Opt for morning sun for this and most camellias . Place along the east or northeast wall. Companion plants are easily found. Coprosma is a plant family refer red to as the mir ror plants. They are a g roup of evergreens that reach only 2 to 3 feet tall and slightly wider. Many of the mir ror plants are v ariegated, and such a contrast would complement the Y uletide without too much competition. A cream and g reen v ariegation would be an awesome companion. Flowering perennials would accent this ev ergreen as well. Aquilegia hybrids are commonly called Columbine. This perennial has a g raceful, fairyshaped f lower and a springtime bloom. Soft colors and pastels are readily available in single and double forms. If you are a hot color lo ver, keep you eyes open for the Red

Star Columbine. This stunner has bright red outer petals with a yellow center . Helleborus orientales is an evergreen perennial that has dark wine, chartreuse green or white winter blooms that w ould look g reat with the Yuletide camellia. Anemone W hirlwind is a late-blooming perennial that will flower Se ptember through November, extending y our blooming season. Astible is a plume f lower of purple that stands 1 ½ to 2 feet tall with fern-like lea ves. A combination of Bergenia and Campanula murlis would be an ex cellent groundcover beneath Yuletide. You can also use Y uletide along a mostly shaded fence line. This versatile plant can be trained or purc hased as an espalier. Used as a fence accent; it will take up the fence but not the area along the fence. Patio trees are an ex ceptional w ay to enjo y the Y uletide camellia. The plant has g reat height, without all the width of a bush that size . Patio trees can be used in containers or in the

YULETIDE CAMELLIA

ground. There is room to decorate with other textures and flowers. When planting a camellia in a container , use a v essel with considerable width because the roots of the camellia are shallow and wide . Plant in w elldrained potting soil ric h in organic matter . Container

’Tis the season for tule fog Tule fog is one of the many winter w eather phenomena w e experience in the Cla yton area. Although it is m uch more common in the Sacramento and San Joaquin v alleys, there are some winter mornings here when you can barely see y our hand in front of your face. A friend of mine calls the fog “g ray soup,” an appropriate name. The name tule fog originated because it is most common in low-lying valley areas, where tule grass w etlands are found.

Technically, tule fog is classified as a radiation type fog because it forms when the g round cools and radiates heat into space. Tule fog usually for ms on the first or second clear night after it has rained. When high pressure builds o ver Califor nia after a winter storm, winds tend to be weak and a strong temperature in version dev elops. (Inversion means a la yer of warm air o ver a la yer of cooler air.) Inversions signify very stable

This satellite photo shows a Central Valley tule fog episode.

atmospheric conditions, and the cool moist lo wer la yer of air does not mix upw ard easily . High pressure usually means clear skies, so at night radiation easily escapes to the atmosphere. This allows the temperature of the cool moist la yer of air near the surface to fall below the dew point, and a thic k layer of fog forms. Under these conditions , a fog layer can form from the surface to more than 1,000 feet. Many da ys, the fog is so thic k that the sun’s rays are not strong enough to ev aporate, or bur n off, the fog. This is partially due to the shor tness of the winter days and the relatively low angle of the sun. If high pressure and lo w wind conditions contin ue for a period of time, tule fog episodes ma y last for w eeks. This often occurs in California’s Central V alley. Daytime and nighttime temperatures are nearly the same during these episodes. It is not uncommon for fog-shrouded areas to record mor ning lo ws near 40 degrees and da ytime highs near 45 degrees. During tule fog e pisodes, driving becomes extremely dangerous. Visibility can become less than 100 feet, and c hain reaction pileups are v ery common on Interstate 5. A few years ago, more than 40 cars and trucks were involved in a pileup in which five people died. Long-lasting tule fogs are not as common in coastal valley areas lik e Cla yton. This is partially due to wind circulation

& a t Vis it Sa n

t r e s s e D y enjo us a l C . s r with M ry ibra at the Clayton L . 9 ec D , y a d Satur m. . p 2 1 1

Prizes, Goodies Candy Canes, FREE Photo

Admission $1 or donation Free for children 12 and under Children must be accompanied by an adult CHRISTMAS in CLAYTON is hosted by the elves of the CBCA (Clayton Business & Community Association.) CBCA: 672-2272

plants rely on the g ardener for their n utrients, because their roots cannot w ander to find what’s needed. So feed diligently. Yuletide is often sold as a cone in the Christmas season. The familiar shape looks g reat on a porch or entry. The camellia is a hardy selection and will

last for many years , making it a far better purchase than a poinsettia for y our welcoming plant by the front door . You can add spring and summer blooming perennials or annuals at the base of your cone-shaped Y uletide for the rest of the year. Camellias need feeding with a food containing acid from the time that the plant finishes blooming until mid-summer . Then tw o to three feedings of 0-10-10 should be applied in September, December and February. A thick layer of mulch should be pro vided during spring to help keep roots cool in the summer. Almost ev ery g arden has a place for the Y uletide camellia. Whether y ou ha ve a w oodland garden, oriental or for mal g arden, Yuletide will blend in and complement your surroundings. Nicole is the Garden Girl at R&M Pool, Patio and Garden Contact her with questions, comments or sug gestions at

gardengirl@claytonpioneer.com

Financial, from page A10

WOODY WHITLATCH

WEATHER WORDS generated b y Mt. Diablo and partially due to our proximity to the coast. Meteorologists pa y close attention to predicted wind flow patterns to forecast c hanges in the fog patter n. If light winds from the east dev elop, the cold valley fog will be pushed o ver the Diablo hills and into the Clayton Valley. When that happens, be prepared for up to several days of very cool weather. Fortunately, Mother Nature provides a mechanism for dissipating the tule fog . As the next winter stor m approac hes California, wind f low will be strong enough to scour the fog from the valleys. If you can’t wait for the next storm, just tak e a dri ve to the top of Mt. Diablo. You will ascend abo ve the fog la yer and into the warmer air of the temperature inversion. On some fog gy da ys, it will be as m uch as 20 deg rees warmer at the top of the mountain than in the fog gy v alley. Make sure y ou tak e y our camera. A photo of the fog from above can be quite spectacular. Woody Whitlatch is a meteorologist with PG &E. Email y our questions or comments to clayton_909@yahoo.com

Another w ay to lev erage the ann uity is to tak e withdrawals from the existing annuity and gift a por tion to the ILIT equal to premium payments for a life insurance policy. Any additional income may be spent or gifted to the trust. Most companies allo w distributions from an ann uity after a certain number of years without penalties or sur render charges once the ann uitant reaches ag e 59½. Distributions before that ag e may be subject to a 10 percent penalty. Check with the ann uity company for more information. In either case , the use of life insurance in an ILIT is a strategy that can reduce or eliminate estate and income taxes, in addition to withdrawal restrictions , and, in some cases, distribution penalties. Other advantages of maximizing the ann uity by using it to purc hase life insurance include: Tax-deferred accum ulations. Cash v alue inside of a life insurance policy grows income tax-deferred. However, if the life insurance policy is classified as a modified endo wment contract, loans and withdrawals ma y be subject to income tax. Income tax-free death benefit. In addition to being free from estate tax es, the death benefit of a life

insurance policy o wned b y an ILIT passes to the heirs free from income taxes. Tax-favored distributions . Distributions from a life insurance policy are income tax-free up to the cost of the policy . However, if loans or withdrawals tak e place before the insured turns 59½, they may be subject to a federal tax penalty . Loans and withdrawals from life insurance reduce the policy’ s cash v alue and ma y cause the policy to lapse , which may ha ve adv erse income tax consequences. Take care in establishing an ILIT. Since it is irrevocable, an ILIT cannot be changed in any way once it is created. Given the options , owners of deferred ann uities who want to pass along the maximum amount to their heirs should look into whether maximizing their ann uity is right for them. Those who w ant to maximize the amount they pay in tax es should lea ve their deferred annuity just the way it is. Allen Lampo is an agent for John Hancock Financial Network. If you have comments or questions , please call him at 925-681-4438 or email alampo@jhnetwork.com. This material is for infor mational pur poses only . Although many of the topics pr esented may involve tax, legal, accounting or other issues, neither John Hancock Life Insurance Company and its affiliated companies, nor any of its agents, employees, or registered representatives are in the business of offering such ad vice. Indi vidual inter ested in these topics should consult with their own professional advisors to examine tax, legal, accounting or financial planning aspects of these topics.

Tis the season to be shopping at Melanie's Gifts & Interiors

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· 672-0207

Page A16

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

December 8, 2006

georgevujnovich.com

Trust your home to

GEORGE VUJNOVICH , Broker Helping friends, neighbors and newcomers buy and sell their homes since 1979

Spectacular “Lassen” model!

nestled at the end of a quiet court with views of hills, opens space & city lights. 4 bedrooms, plus an upgraded loft, 2.5 baths, approx. 3,162sf, 2 fireplaces & 3 car garage. Upgrades include: laminate wood, tile & carpet floors, dramatic light fixtures, thick baseboards, designer paint colors & cabinet treatments! Gorgeous gourmet kitchen features slab granite counters, breakfast bar & center island. Separate formal dining room with upgraded columns. Huge master suite with fireplace & jetted tub! Private professionally landscaped lot features an exposed aggregate patio, nice lush lawn area, many trees & colorful flowers.

$899,000

CLAYTON/CONCORD BORDER - RARE .75 ACRE LOT!

Distinctive custom home on a private lane! 4 bedrooms, 2

baths, approx. 2,378sf. 3 downstairs bedrooms, second floor master suite/wing with separate retreat/sitting room, spacious suite & huge master bath featuring a jetted tub with hillside & wooded views, lar ge separate stall shower & lar ge walk-in closet with extensive closet or ganizer system. Large formal living room with marble fireplace. Gourmet kitchen features custom solid oak cabinets, tile counters & island upgraded stainless steel appliances. Enchanted park-like setting featuring vibrant & sweeping landscape, various pathways with foot bridges crossing over seasonal “Galindo” creek that meanders through property. Many secret & reflective garden spots. Refreshing pool with lar ge aggregate patio. An irreplaceable must see setting.

$1,095,000

RARELY AVAILABLE OAK WOOD ESTATES!

One of a kind–Absolutely Exquisite Custom Home in a

Tel: (925) 672-4433 6160 Center Street, Suite E, Clayton 94517

WINDMILL CANYON AT OAKHURST COUNTRY CLUB!

EAGLE PEAK AT OAKHURST COUNTRY CLUB!

D STE I L T JUS

Each Office Is Independently Owned & Operated.

ING D N PE

remarkable 1.57 acre setting surrounded by hills, oak trees & Mt. Diablo as a backdrop! 3 bedrooms, plus a bonus room, 3.5 baths, approx. 3,840sf, 2 fireplaces & a 3 car garage! State-of-the-art gourmet kitchen boasts slab granite counters with tumbled limestone backsplash, “Dacor” double ovens, 5-Burner gas range, warming drawer & microwave, “Fisher -Paykel” double drawer dishwasher & “Franke” sinks. Custom fireplaces in study & great room. 300+ bottle wine room with refrigeration system. Gracious master suite features a luxurious master bath boasting heated tile floors, two person shower, and built-in dressing area, separate lavatory with bidet, large walk-in closet & additional closet. Sensational lot features extensive professional landscape & hardscape offering a dramatic 42ft lagoon pool with “Pebble-Tech” finish & beach entry, double waterfall feature & a separate built-in spa with arbor .

$2,000,000

Mortgage Market Update Conforming $417,000 or less

Jumbo $417,001 and up

30 year, fixed for 3 . . . . . . .6.125% 30 year, fixed for 5 . . . . . . .6.125% 30 year, fixed for 7 . . . . . . . .6.25% 30 year, fixed for 10 . . . . . . .6.25% 15 year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6.125% 30 year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6.375%

30 year, fixed for 3 . . . . . . .6.375% 30 year, fixed for 5 . . . . . . .6.375% 30 year, fixed for 7 . . . . . . . . .6.5% 30 year, fixed for 10 . . . . . . . .6.5% 15 year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6.125% 30 year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6.625%

Large Single Story “Keller” model! tucked away at the end of a quiet

D STE I L T JUS

court backing to oak studded open space. 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, approx. 2,053sf. Upgraded marble floors extend from entry into formal dining room. Tile kitchen open to family room with upgraded marble tile fireplace. Spacious master suite with retreat. Neutral colors & décor throughout. Extensive use of natural slate in front & rear yard hardscape. Private rear lot features lots of mature trees, lawn area & patio, plus a relaxing spa. $715,000

JEFFREY RANCH!

Pristine single story rancher! with Mt. Diablo views. 4 bedrooms, 2 baths, approx. 2,088sf, inside laundry & 3 car garage. Many upgrades & updating including: New roof/gutters, heating/ac, dual pane windows/sliders, flooring, paint & light fixtures! Formal living & dining room. Eat-in kitchen opens to family room with brick fireplace. Master suite features slider to trellis covered deck. HUGE .31 acre lot boasts a sparkling in-ground gunite pool with built-in spa, extensive redwood deck, lawn area, wide assortment of roses & flowers. Great green house for the avid gardener & big side yard! $719,000

Clayton Market Update Provided by George Vujnovich of Better Homes Realty ADDRESS 608 Julpun Loop 1735 Indian Wells Way 1048 Pebble Beach Dr. 3305 Coyote Circle 380 Blue Oak Lane 1848 Eagle Peak Ave 1068 Mitchell Canyon Road 1130 Peacock Creek Drive 4301 Coyote Circle 20 Mt. McKinley Court 129 Mt. Etna Drive 705 Condor Place 503 Raven Place 7018 Molluk Way 428 Zinfandel Circle 436 Grenache Circle 115 Samuel Court 928 Kenston Dr 809 Chert Place 1293 Shell Circle 1451 Yosemite Circle 1163 Moccasin Ct 7026 Molluk Way 179 Mountaire Pkwy 3016 Windmill Canyon Dr 518 Mt. Dell Dr 336 Mt. Washington Wy 1820 Eagle Peak Ave 5861 Caulfield Drive 320 Saclan Terrace 239 Jeffry Ranch Place 329 Ahwanee Lane 54 Marquette Ct 821 Savignon Ct 1016 Tiffin Dr 52 La Honda Ct 19 Barcelona Wy 31 Nottingham Pl 38 Jalalon Pl 315 Windmill Canyon 5155 Keller Ridge Dr 632 Julpun Loop

PRICE $605,000 $599,000 $1,005,000 $465,000 $950,000 $787,000 $675,000 $1,129,000 $539,000 $739,980 $499,200 $455,000 $675,000 $775,000 $850,000 $865,000 $864,000 $995,000 $505,000 $595,000 $700,000 $641,000 $859,000 $700,000 $640,000 $575,000 $730,000 $775,000 $835,000 $637,900 $725,000 $975,000 $680,000 $795,000 $816,500 $825,000 $800,000 $890,000 $670,000 $640,000 $769,500 $660,000

SALE DATE

11/28/06 11/17/06 11/14/06 11/09/06 11/08/06 11/08/06 11/08/06 11/02/06 11/01/06 10/31/06 10/28/06 10/20/06 10/17/06 10/13/06 10/13/06 10/12/06 10/11/06 10/2/06 09/29/06 09/28/06 09/26/06 09/22/06 09/13/06 09/08/06 09/08/06 09/07/06 09/07/06 08/31/06 08/31/06 08/31/06 08/31/06 08/24/06 08/23/06 08/23/06 08/22/06 08/16/06 08/15/06 08/14/06 08/11/06 08/10/06 08/10/06 08/03/06

1,749 1,749 1,048 1,252 3,008 2,313 1,494 3,185 1,554 1,919 1,442 1,026 1,877 2,674 2,391 2,391 2,334 3,048 1,235 1,709 1,566 1,639 2,542 1,600 1,493 1,658 1,740 2,313 2,050 1,749 1,810 2,944 1,568 2,052 1,815 2,390 2,324 2,262 1,939 1,501 2,313 1,904

BED/BATH 3/2.5 3/2.5 5/2.5 2/2.5 4/3 4/2.5 3/2 5/3.5 3/2.5 4/2 3/2 2/2 3/2.5 4/3 4/2.5 4/2.5 4/3 5/4 2/2 3/3 3/2 3/2.5 4/2.5 3/2 3/2 3/2 4/2 4/2.5 4/2 3/2.5 4/2 4/2.5 4/2 4/2.5 3/2 4/2.5 5/2.5 4/2.5 3/2.5 3/2 4/2.5 3/2.5

CLAYTON PIONEER December 8, 2006

Section B

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

Page B1

Hike of the Week

elevation g ain the first da y, I thought it would be best to k eep the mileage to a minimum to give ourselves an auspicious star t. That’s because 3,700 feet is serious elevation g ain in a mere 6.5 miles, not to mention that eac h of us car ried 60-plus pound packs. The six hours w e spent hiking to Stewart’s Camp came with a hea vy price but also rew ards that were well worth the price of admission. The trail begins as a wide and w ell-manicured fire road. It doesn’t switch back and forth as most trails do in this area but instead tak es the most direct and straight route possible, which made me very thankful for my trekking poles. Boyd’s Camp is the first water stop and campsite on the trail, about 2 miles from the Del Valle Trailhead. We topped off our water and pushed on. As w e made our first descent into Williams Gulc h, we pic ked up a moist and mostly shaded, singletrack trail that cut back and forth up “Big Bur n” enroute to Schlieper Rock (el. 3,080). The first official stop of the day w as at Sc hlieper R ock for a much-needed lunc h break. Named for F red Schlieper, a silversmith at R owell Saddler y in the 1940s, this popular stopping spot provides a great place to eat lunch and fantastic views of Mt. Diablo and the Livermore Valley. As w e contin ued our ascent, landmarks such as Pear Orchard, Johnny’s Pond and Murrieta Falls were milestone trail markers that made the seemingly endless uphill battle w orth the energ y expended. With the fall season setting in and the rains a month or so away, all creeks were empty. Unfortunately that left Mur rieta Falls as dr y as m y w ater bottles after a day of hiking. During the rainy season, Murrieta F alls sends w ater cascading 110 feet down to the v alley floor, making

Beautiful vistas await on Ohlone trail

KEVIN PARKER

HIKER’S HAVEN In order to share all the details, scenery, backcountry experiences and other events surrounding m y 21-mile Ohlone Wilderness Regional Trail hik e, I have c hosen to break the ar ticle up into two parts. Based on g eneral ph ysical condition, time allotted and mileage per da y, we decided hiking the trail beginning at Del Valle and finishing at Sunol R egional Park was the best fit for our hiking parameters. The Ohlone Wilder ness Trail comprises 28 miles of hiking trails through remote and beautiful lands linking Del V alle Regional P ark, Ohlone R egional Wilderness, Sunol R egional Wilderness and Mission P eak Regional Preserve. All these parks are close to Cla yton, and on a three-day trip in early October , we sa w just a handful of other hikers the entire time. You can hik e the Ohlone Wilderness T rail via a series of day hik es, but as far as P arker family traditions g o, we (m y brother, my dad and I) decided backpacking was the only w ay to go. I spent a few w eeks researching trip aspects suc h as elev ation gain, mileage, trailhead star t/end points, hiking directions , campsites and water sources. No one said it better than outdoorsman and writer T om Stienstra: This hik e is a “buttkicker.” That is the one piece of

information I failed to mention to my dad or brother as w e made some last-minute adjustments on our backpacks at the Lichen Bark Picnic Area T railhead (elev . 750 feet). A few mandator y pre-trip preparations included bac kcountry campg round reser vations, dropping a car at our exit point in

Sunol, overnight parking per mits and an Ohlone Wilder ness Regional T rail P ermit/Map – all of which can be obtained from the East Ba y R egional P ark District, Del V alle and Sunol Parks. The map is v ery detailed, with profile maps , general r ules and trail distances, elevations and descriptions.

DAY 1: DEL VALLE, LICHEN BARK PICNIC AREA TO STEWART’S CAMP Distance: 6.5 miles Elevation gain (ascent): 3,700 feet Trail markings: 10 out of 10 Scenery: 7 out of 10 Difficulty: 9.5 out of 10 Due to a colossal amount of

Photo by Kevin Parker

DESCENDING

INTO

WILLIAMS GULCH on the tough, but rewarding Ohlone Wilderness Trail

it the tallest w aterfall in the East Bay. Just past Mur rieta F alls, as the trail meanders on a g radual uphill, we made our first night’ s destination to Stew art’s Camp . Although nothing spectacular in terms of amenities, the camp has water, a restroom and some f lat areas to pitc h a tent. With tired legs and the simple satisfaction of finishing the first da y, we gathered around the water spigot like some kind of backcountry ritual to the w ater g ods. Although not mandator y, I suggest using a w ater purifier or tablets for all drinking water. The da ys and especially the nights w ere unseasonably w arm for early October . My g oose down slee ping bag and sev ere weather g ear w ere definitely overkill for what felt lik e a summertime campout in the bac kyard with little more than a sheet and some shorts. As I drifted off to slee p mostly from exhaustion, I couldn’t help but smile because we still had two days left on the trail.

Tune in next time for P art 2 of the Ohlone W ilderness Re gional Trail. Send questions or comments to hiker@claytonpioneer.com. O HLONE W I L D E R N E S S R E G I O N A L T RAIL Trailheads: Del Valle Regional Park, Sunol Regional Wilderness and Mission Peak Regional Preserve Difficulty: Extremely strenuous Distance: 21 miles Getting There: To get to Del Valle, take the N. Livermore exit off 580. North Livermore becomes South Livermore and then Tesla Road. Turn right onto Mines Road and follow to park entrance.

“What I love most about the Bay Area is that I discover something new every day. The possibilities are truly endless. From the past-paced city life to the abundance of outdoor activities, there’s always something to keep me excited for each day.”

rom the Bay Bridge to the foothills of Mt. Diablo, the East Bay Area is quite simply one of the most diverse places in the world to live. Whether you’re talking about the various landscapes, where opportunities lie around every corner, or the wide array of people, all looking to make the most of every moment, it’s a truly great place to call home. Just ask L ynne French. A longtime resident of the East Bay Area

and successful local real estate professional for over a decade, she knows what makes this area special. That’s why she works so hard to help others make the most of their unique opportunities here. Whether you are buying or selling, Lynne French is your best resource in the unique and of ten (925) 672-8787 complex East Bay real estate mar- www.LynneFrench.com ket. Give her a call or visit her Lynne@LynneFrench.com Web site today and make the most out of your East Bay Area real estate experience! 6200-E Center St.

Clayton, CA 94517

Page B2

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

December 8, 2006

Clayton Sports Young hockey player is always at home on the ice DEANNA MERRIGAN Special to the Pioneer

For Ow en O’T oole, a Mt. Diablo Elementary third-grader, playing hoc key in the “Shark Tank” was a dream come tr ue. Owen’s team, the T ri-Valley Blue Devils Mite X, played an exhibition scrimmag e during period breaks of the San J ose Sharks g ame vs . the Pittsburgh Penguins on No v. 4. It w as a sell-out cro wd of about 18,000 fans at the HP Pavilion. “It w as fun, because y ou almost never get to pla y in that big of a crowd,” Owen says. The Mite X is the co-ed, 8and-under competitive traveling team in the T ri-Valley Blue Devils league . Kids from inhouse leagues throughout Northern Califor nia spent a weekend in Se ptember tr ying out for the Mite X. Only three kids from Owen’s in-house team were ask ed to join. He w as thrilled to be selected. Owen and his family decided to pla y for the Blue Devils in Dublin even though he also was asked to pla y for the Oakland Bears, another local hoc key league. According to Susan O’Toole, Owen’s mom, the inhouse league in Dublin is g reat. “Dublin’s prog ram is highly respected, and we already knew a few people in the prog ram,” she says. “The Dublin facility is smaller (than the South Ba y facilities), but they ha ve g ood coaches.” It takes a lot of commitment from kids and their families to play competiti ve hoc key. Practices are tw o times a w eek in Dublin. Games are ev ery Sunday from October through March and usually in volve traveling throughout Nor thern California. The Mite X pla y league

games in places lik e Dublin, Vacaville, San Jose, and Fresno. Some tour naments are held in Los Angeles. In addition to the travel, purchasing hoc key equipment can also be expensive. Owen wears a helmet with a mask and mouth guard, a c hest protector , a cup, shorts with built-in leg protectors, elbow pads, hockey socks, a team jersey and skates. He must also “dress up” when his team arrives for g ames. This involves a suit and tie for the older kids or an embroidered sweat suit for the Mites. But those families and kids who tr uly love the spor t say it’s worth it. “They learn a lot about game strateg y and spor tsmanship and respect for the game as well,” says Susan. “It’s not cheap, but for the money y ou get a long season with tons of games, tournaments. And the friendships the kids build in the locker room are invaluable.” She also explained that hockey is a g reat spor t for kids , “especially for ones who lik e to be in the action all the time … It is the best cardio w orkout, and the constant drills and skating practice ha ve really strengthened Owen’s legs for soccer and built up his endurance.” Owen’s parents w ere hockey fans before he was born, and he was named after an ex-San J ose Shark, Owen Nolan. He w as born in January and it was hockey season, so it was a natural fit for his parents to name their son after one of their favorite players. Even as a bab y, hockey w as always his fa vorite spor t. Early birthday and Christmas presents were often hockey-related. “I really lik e pla ying hoc key,” says Ow en, who has a hockey-themed bedroom with signed memorabilia and hockey

team mementos. There is more to the life of this 8-year-old boy than hockey, however. He is also in volved in other spor ts, including pla ying soccer and baseball locally . His mom says he does well in school and still finds time to enjo y reading and math. Anyone interested in pla ying

hockey is encouraged to sign up with the T ri-Valley Minor Hockey Association. According to the Website, their objective is to “pro vide a quality hoc key experience for our pla yers b y encouraging par ticipation from the families involved in the program.” They also note that through their dedication to

youth hoc key, they are the largest club in Nor thern California. The Oakland J unior Hockey Club also offers bo ys and girls hockey and signups are welcome anytime during the season. “The in-house program is a non-contact prog ram suitable for the beginning hockey player with no

hockey bac kground,” states their Website. “A primary objective of the prog ram is to ha ve fun while lear ning the essential skills to play ice hockey.”

For mor e infor mation about youth hoc key pr ograms, visit www.tvmha.org or www .norcalyouthhockey.com.

We have new “QUBICA-AMF” scoring

Call about

Daytime Senior Leagues

Digital Thunder Glow Bowling Fri. 4pm to 6pm, 10pm to 1am - Sat. 10pm to 1am

$1.50 Nights - Monday through Thursday, 9pm to midnight - $1.50 games

Freaky Funday on Sundays 5pm to midnight - $5 cover charge gets you $1-games, shoes, hotdogs, soda’s and small beers.

925.689.4631

visit: claytonvalleybowl.com

Clayton Valley Bowl

5300 Clayton Road Concord, CA

Photo courtesy of Don Smith/San Jose Sharks

OWEN O’TOOLE, a third grader at Mount Diablo Elementary played in an exhibition scrimmage in the San Jose Sharks “Shark Tank” during the San Jose Sharks vs. Pittsburg Penguins game on Nov. 4.

COMING SOON

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December 8, 2006

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

Clayton Sports Cheer squad undefeated in statewide competitions

Page B3

The Clayton Connection for all your financial & real estate needs Tim C. Steffen Broker / Owner Better Homes Realty TimSteffenRealEstate.com

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$789,900 CLAYTON VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL’S and Dance Championships. DEANNA MERRIGAN Special to the Pioneer

Clayton Valley High School’s competitive c heer squad remains undefeated after placing first in the school division at the Ultimate State Cheer and Dance Championships on No v. 12 in San Jose. After recei ving the highest score in the sc hool division, the squad ear ned the Grand Champion title . To become Grand Champions , they beat out six teams. The CVHS squad consists of seven seniors: Lacey Collaro , Jessica Hawthorne, Holly Kelly, Laura Louc his, Marissa McKillip, Alicia Newton and

COMPETITIVE CHEER SQUAD

Megan Stone. There are six juniors: Alex Adams , Melissa Bradbury, Lindsey Caldera, Lindsay Guttry, Lauren Milligan and Alison V olga. Also on the team are sophomores Danielle Bebo, Danielle Connor and Margaret Frevele and freshmen Michelle F ranco and Shelb y Newton. Jessica Mikk elson stepped in and lear ned the routine in one da y, helping the squad compete after a c heerleader w as sidelined with an injury. These talented girls comprise the JV and v arsity g ame squad c heerleaders. They practice on Mondays for the competition squad and on T uesdays for the g ame squad. Practices

began in August and will continue until April. Tryouts for the competition squad were held during a threeday clinic in May. The girls spent the first tw o da ys lear ning a cheer and a dance. The final day, they perfor med what they learned in front of a panel of judges. They w ere also allo wed to sho wcase other talents , such as tumbling and flexibility. The c heer squad is coac hed by Angie Amo , a 2002 CVHS alum, and advisor, Jenete Kline. The g roup attends about one competition a month. The squad hopes to defend their national c hampion title at the USA Nationals in Anaheim in March.

Sports Shorts

Clayton resident, Mike Rose, has been in business for over 34 years and has always provided quality repair with excellent customer service!

CYO T rack and Field registration is on January 11, 2007 from 7-9 p .m. at St. Bonaventure Church. Please contact Gw en at (925) 673-1129 for more infor mation. A birth certificate is required for new participants.

Submit Sports Items Online

SEVEN LOCATIONS TO SERVE YOU!

You can no w submit competition results , ideas for stories, nominations for Athlete Spotlight and Sports Shorts on our Website. Go to www.claytonpioneer.com. On the left side of the page, under “Sports Items” you will find links to the proper for ms.

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Securities products and investment advisory services offered through Les A. Garaventa Jr., and David Lucas, registered representatives and investment advisory associates of Ameritas Investment Corp., (AIC) 5900 O Street, Lincoln, NE 68510 (800) 335-9858 (AIC is not associated with American Financial & Tax Services)

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Page B4

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

Clayton Sports

December 8, 2006

Serving Contra Costa for 25 years

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925-383-1253 THE UNDER 12 GIRLS SOCCER TEAM, THE RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS, TOOK FIRST PLACE in the 2006 AYSO Area 2C Tournament of Champions November 18-19 in Pleasant Hill. The Mount Diablo Soccer Association (MDSA) team, coached by Russ Lo and Larry Elms, had a fantastic season and placed first in their division during the regular season.

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DEANNA MERRIGAN AND CHRIS SNYDER Special to the Pioneer

Several Mount Diablo Soccer Association (MDSA) Under-10 Girls soccer teams scored big during the A YSO Tournament of Champions (TOC) on Nov. 19. The Lightning Strik es, coached b y Chris Sny der and Andrea Searle , took second place in a tough c hampionship g ame ag ainst the reigning c hampionship team from Stockton. At the star t of the g ame, Cassie Snyder sent a shot into the net to gi ve the Strik es a boost and put a scare into Stockton, who had gi ven up only two scores in the tournament. By halftime, the Strikes were down 3-1 and could not get closer. At game’s end, they had their first loss in 23 games and a second place finish. Up until this season finale , the Lightning Strikes had won the League , the Diablo Cup and had 16 shutouts in their 22 games. Their season record was an impressive 18-0-4. The Mount Diablo Crushers, coached b y Chris Haley and Sharon McNulty ,

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TWO MDSA UNDER-10 GIRLS TEAMS, the Lightning Strikes and the Mount Diablo Crushers played each other in the semi-finals during the AYSO Tournament of Champions.

made the semi-finals after being unbeaten in their f light. They had three shutouts against teams from Pleasant Hill/Martinez and Concord. The Cr ushers met the Lightning Strikes in the semifinals. By g ame’s end, Julia Stalker had scored a g oal for the Cr ushers, and Hannah Mazolewski and Emily Wright each scored a goal for the victorious Lightning Strikes. The

Crushers and Lightning Strikes had pla yed each other four times this year – twice during the regular season, once in the Diablo Cup Finals and once in the League Championship Tournament. Two other under -10 girls teams also did w ell in the TOC. The Tigers, coached by Ken Ballard, were 2-1 in their bracket, only losing to the eventual champion. The Pink

Panthers, coached b y Ric k Purser, finished their season with a win in their brac ket. The Area 2C T ournament of Champions is an A YSOsponsored tour nament that pits representative teams from each region in Area 2C to determine the area c hampions. MDSA is based in Clayton/Concord and w elcomes children ages 4 to 18.

The experts at Clayton Valley Frameworks will assist you in all the aspects of framing, from memory shadow boxes, photo collages, preservation framing, to simple poster framing. We have frames for every budget.

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we will create a one-of-a-kind masterpiece just for your décor.

Need a mirror but can’t find that special size that fits your space? We can custom order and frame your mirror as well as deliver and install. You will not find this level of customer service anywhere else.

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December 8, 2006

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

Dan

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People these da ys are dreaming bigger than e ver when it comes t o their retirement. As an Ameriprise f inancial advisor , I belie ve people who writ e do wn their dreams are much more likely to achieve them. That’s why I am proud to offer the Dream Book,SM a tool designed to help you identify and envision your life goals. With the Dream Book, we can map out where y ou want to go, and thr ough sound financial advice, figure out the best way to get you there. Because there’s no be tter w ay t o star t disco vering possibilities, unlocking y our passions and articulating a vision for your future.

To get started, call me at (925) 685-4523 today. Mureleen Benton CFP® 5356 Clayton Rd., Suite 211 Concord, CA 94521 925-685-4523

Page B5

JULIE BOND

PAWS

AND

CLAWS

My last column w as devoted to breed selection based on your lifestyle and li ving situation. Now that y ou have deter mined the breed and sex of the dog you are interested in, it’s time to move to the purchase. Breeders adv ertise in newspapers, in the classified sections of dog magazines, at pet supply stores and in v eterinary offices. Breeders can also be located on the Internet. Some breeders are actually fanciers who are extremely involved in the promotion of their particular breed on the dog show circuit. These indi viduals may also be in volved in rescue work and dog legislation. Fanciers are tr uly interested in maintaining the quality and integrity of their breeds. Whether y ou acquire y our dog from a breeder , fancier, shelter or pet store, you must be a proactive consumer. Visit several breeders and compare their facilities and ho w the puppies are being raised. Puppies should be view ed with their mothers present. Set up interviews where you can visit with both parents of the litter. Ask for references and contact other people who have purchased dogs from these breeders. Visits these o wners and see their dogs. Carefully review your buyer’s contract. If you are acquiring a purebred, non-show quality puppy, the breeder ma y require you to neuter the animal prior to sexual maturity . The breeder doesn’t w ant y ou breeding this dog and perpetuating characteristics they feel should not be passed along. If you purchase a show quality dog, the breeder ma y w ant the option to take the dog from you and show it, as well as use it

in future breedings . Therefore, you cannot neuter your puppy. Ask for a “lemon clause ,” a stipulation that if the puppy has a cong enital problem (hip dysplasia, cataracts, deafness, etc.), you can retur n the pup for either another pup or y our money back. Be sure to ha ve the puppy evaluated b y y our v eterinarian for the above medical problems, as w ell as o verall health. This doesn’t mean you don’t trust the breeder, you just don ’t w ant to become attac hed to a dog with serious, and potentially expensive, medical problems. Many breeders will include a clause that states that if for any reason y ou are unhappy with your purchase at any time , or if you can no long er care for y ou dog, you can retur n the dog to them. These breeders don ’t want their dogs tur ning up abandoned at shelters. The breeders y ou visit will also be ev aluating you. You will have to answ er their questions regarding y our reasons for choosing their breed. They may even want to visit your home to check its suitability. Don’t be put off by this par t of the process;

the breeder w ants to mak e sure your family is a g ood match for their dog. If you are acquiring a dog from a pet store, it is particularly important to evaluate the reputability of the facility and where they recei ve their dogs . Many puppies in pet stores come through animal brok ers who acquire the pups from puppy mills. These puppies are often unhealth y, physically and behaviorally. Make sure that the puppy you purc hase is health y and well-adjusted by taking it to see a v eterinarian immediately . Again, read y our contract carefully. If you have your heart set on acquiring a rescue dog or shelter animal, be pre pared to do y our homework. Get to kno w the animal better b y taking it away from the shelter or foster home and evaluating its beha vior. Try a test r un at y our house with your family. Get as m uch bac kground information as y ou can on the dog. Why w as it gi ven up for adoption? W hy w as it rescued from a previous o wner and put in a foster home?

Always have any new animal from a shelter or rescue situation thoroughly ev aluated b y your veterinarian before exposing your family or other pets to this newcomer. A new dog is an in vestment in time and money . Do y our research before y ou ev er hold that first little wig gly bundle of fur. Know your limitations and requirements and stick to them. Then y ou will be less lik ely to be sw ayed b y the opinions of others. My comments are only meant as an outline. You should prepare many questions of your own and also be ready for the questions that will be ask ed of you. I realize that many people don’t ha ve the time our resources to do this kind of research. Contact y our v eterinarian or a behaviorist who specializes in breed counseling . They will be more than happy to help you find that perfect canine companion. Julie Bond is an animal beha viorist. Address your pet questions to her at P .O. Bo x 21552, Concord, CA, 94521 or you can e-mail her at K9Freud@aol.com.

A dinner date with your dog With the holida ys approaching, many of us will be scrambling to decorate , cook and shop . This could mean w e unwittingly neglect our pets during this hectic time b y skipping some w alks and playtime. It’s g ood for y our health and well-being, as well as your

dog’s, to tak e a break and spend some quality time together. Consider ha ving a meal with y our dog while enjoying some of the winter sunshine. You can rejuv enate your spirits and remind y our dogs just ho w special they are by taking them to a dogfriendly establishment.

The follo wing restaurants welcome dogs on their outdoor patios: Skipolini’s Pizza in Clayton; Chow, 53 Lafayette Circle, Lafayette; Shelby’s, Theatre Square , Orinda; and Pacific Ba y Coffee Co ., 1495 Newell Ave., Walnut Creek. –Julie Bond

Penelope and Triscuit are ARF’s Adoption Stars PENELOPE Six-month-old Penelope is a shy but sw eet little girl, who’s looking for a patient, gentle family that will open their hearts to her. The adoption fee for Penelope is $100. Come fall in lo ve with Penelope and her fabulous feline friends at ARF . Visit our Web site , www.arf.net, to lear n more about adding a cat to your family, or call (925) 256-1ARF.

PENELOPE

TRISCUIT Nine-month-old Triscuit is a pla yful and active boy. He will thrive in an acti ve home with plenty of mental and ph ysical stimulation The adoption fee for T riscuit is $200 and includes the first six training courses. Bring ev eryone who will li ve with Penelope or Triscuit – including any canine family members for T riscuit – to meet them at Tony La Russa’s Animal R escue Foundation, 2890 Mitchell Dri ve, Walnut Creek, during adoption hours: 3 to 7 p .m. Thursday and F riday, Noon to 4:30 p .m. Saturday and Sunda y. Visit www.arf.net or call (925) 256-1ARF for more information.

TRISCUIT

Would you like to be par t of the heroic team that sa ves the lives of rescued dogs and cats? Can y ou share y our talents to connect people and animals? ARF v olunteers are making a difference! F or more infor mation see our W eb site , www.arf.net, or call (925) 2561ARF.

Page B6

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

For the Holidays you can have your centerpiece and eat it too www.cookiesbydesig n.co m

beauty supply & salon

(expires 12/22/06)

Try the new Spa Sister line of products. Sugar body scrubs and creams, lotions and soaps. Perfect to pamper yourself or for a gift.

Notary, Fax & Shipping Services

925-524-9901

purchase of $50 or more

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“I only feature products that I’ve used and recommend.

Clayton Mind & Body Connections

Holiday Special 5 sessions for $300

Dec. 16 & 23 Gift Certificates

(great as stocking stuffers)

Discounts on all services. Special Certificate for 2-half hour massages and mini facial $45 These two days only.

Gift Certificates Available Sun & Mon Call 674-0767

(925) 673-0686 website www.mind-andbody-connections.com

Sharoll Gilbert for appointment

Transform holiday stress into gratitude for the season

ake the stress out of your holiday shopping this year and avoid the crowded major department stores. Everything you need is right here in Pioneer Territory including retailers who care about customer service. Read on for some great ideas to get you started on your Christmas list. Make sure you tell our advertisers that you saw their ad in the Clayton Pioneer. Happy Shopping.

Seasonal Reflections

Now Open 1030 Diablo St. across from Skip’s

925-672-2025 Sara Skow Clayton Resident

8:30 am - 5:00 pm

Tues. - Sat.

This big, bright, beautiful, brand new holiday and party superstore is now open in Clayton Valley Shopping Center. One step inside and it’s pure magic. There’s a year ‘round Christmas room with wonderful custom lights, top brands like Dept. 56, Polonaise, Mark Roberts, Fabriché, Kurt Adler, Thomas Kinkaide and Christopher Radko, and decorations to trim every inch of your home, inside and out. The rest of the store is filled with party decorations for all holidays imaginable from Valentine’s Day and July 4 to Easter and St. Patrick’s Day. And there are hundreds and hundreds of light sets for every occasion. Clayton resident and owner John Sharapata has always loved Christmas and holidays. He admits he loves the Clayton area and felt that there was a demand for a local holiday and party super store that residents could enjoy all year round. Stop by and welcome John and his staff to the area or call Seasonal Reflections at 672-4425.

Clayton Sports Cards

17th anniversary

Red dot sale 20% OFF Unautographed framed pictures. Bobble heads, McFarland & sports figures. Nascar scale models. Other items as marked. Good through 12/21/06

5439-D Clayton Rd., Clayton,

672-8445

Donna’s Gifts Find a special place in your home for Snow Village Ball

Quality Gifts and Collectibles

30th anniversary limited edition

now at Donna’s Gifts Dept. 56 for Holidays, Special days & Everyday

672-2440 Clayton Valley Shopping Center

15% Off Storewide excludes certain collectibles exp. 12/24/06

David Wall, 925-672-0516

672-8900 5433 Clayton Rd., #K, in the Clayton Station shopping center

Services Provided: Packaging & shipping UPS, FEDEX, DHL, CAL Overnight & U.S. Post Office

Key Making Mail boxes Notary Copying / Fax

Shop Pioneer Territory for

At 1007 Oak Street, Clayton

Holiday Shopping in downtown Clayton Gifts Holiday Home décor Stationary

925-672-0405

Hair stylist,

Offer expires 12/22/06

Acupressure for Health

5439 A Clayton Road, Clayton

certi signi fied loan ng ag ents

Julia Aguilar, owner

Clayton Station

Donna Taber

Clayton Station, 5433A Clayton Rd.

$2.00 off UPS or Fed Ex Shipping

“The most complete source of beauty supplies to the public”

owner

Deborah & Anthony Nork

10% off

Beautique

December 8, 2006

There’s a sports fan on everyone’s Christmas list and Clayton Sports Cards in Clayton Station is the place to go. The sports specialty store is filled to the brim with sports memorabilia and Linda Mieczkowski is always on hand to help answer questions about vintage cards and specialty items. If you are looking for stocking stuffers, you can’t miss with the large array of vintage and new baseball and football cards. In fact Linda boasts the largest selection of player cards in the area. In recognition of Clayton Sports Cards 17th anniversary Linda is offering a Red Dot sale and 20 percent off certain items. You’ll also find a wonderful selection of sports figurines and bobble heads. For those special golf fans, take a look at the autographed photo of Anika Sorentam, the famous golf shot of

Ben Hogan in the 1950 U.S. Open and the framed flag of the British Open in 1995 signed by Arnold Palmer. For the baseball aficionados, the autographed photo of Barry Bonds and his 500th homerun is a sure hit. Stop by now and stock up for the holidays or call Linda at 672-8445 to check on the availability of your favorite sports items.

Beautique This small specialty store should be at the top of your list. Beautique in the Clayton Station across from Blockbuster offers quality beauty products for everyone on your list. Owner Donna Taber endorses all of her in-store products and personally uses many of them. There’s Alterna, S Factor, Pureology, OPI, REDKEN and a wonderfully-scented pumpkin shampoo that will turn heads when you walk down the street. The store décor is warm and inviting and often features one of Donna’s beautiful handmade quilts, a hobby she has when she’s not busy at the store. Donna is always available to personally answer any questions you have about her product line. She also offers gift certificates and can suggest great ideas for holiday gift baskets. Stock up now before the holiday rush. If you’ve got several holiday parties on your calendar, be sure to make an appointment with hair stylist David Wall located in Beautique for that special “do”. Call him at 672-0516 or Donna at 672-0405.

Clayton Mind and Body Connections and Acupressure for Health The holidays can be stressful and Clayton Mind and Body Connections can help you through this hectic time. David Godsoe celebrates his sixth year in business with a wonderful, relaxing salon on Oak Street in Clayton. He offers facials, hair removal, body treatments and a variety of spa packages including hot stone, Swedish, deep tissue and reflexology. He and his talented staff also feature massage therapy for pregnant women and sports fans. Appointments are available Tues.-Sun. with late evening sessions on Wed. and Thurs. Give David a call and treat yourself, family and friends to an inviting spa package. Acupressure for Health is now available at Clayton Mind and Body Connections. Sharoll Gilbert is offering a holiday special that includes five sessions for $300.

She also has gift certificates which are great for stocking stuffers. Acupressure Therapy involves pressing specific points on the body to relieve pain, reduce stress and promote general good health. Sharoll is available for appointments on Sunday and Monday. Sharoll Gilbert is a graduate of the Acupressure Institute and has studied Reiki, therapeutic touch and cranio sacral. Her style of therapy incorporates all of these modalities along with an intuitive approach to bodywork, facilitating the release of energy blocks along the body-mind-spirit continuum. She has spent many years helping clients find the answers to their health challenges and encouraging them to be in tune with their body and its natural healing process. For more information or to make an appointment call 674-0767.

Cegielski Jewelers Tucked away in an intimate and elegant shop off Clayton Road across from Mountain Mike’s Pizza is Cegielski Jewelers. Owner and master jeweler Anna Cegielski combines originality, uniqueness and quality craftsmanship in a wide variety of classic and contemporary exquisite jewelry designs. Anna guarantees excellent customer service and expertise in the selection of diamonds, colored stones, precious gems, pearls, watches and gold chains. Her beautiful collection has something for everyone’s budget, taste and personality. If you are looking for a one-of-akind piece, Anna will help design something special for you or a loved one. Cegielski provides onsite repairs and refurbishing while you wait. Call Anna at 682-2855 and schedule an appointment in time for the holidays. The local jewelry store accepts Mastercard and VISA for customers’ convenience.

Robin’s Nest Robin Thomas, owner of Robin’s Nest, invites you to experience a one-stop shopping for the holidays. It’s easy at Robin’s Nest inside Rodie’s on Marsh Creek Road where you’ll find a gift item for everyone on your list. Robin is quick to point out that she has many new items including the full line of Willow Tree and a new item in the collection called Generations. Robin features sunglasses, a fun line of jewelry including, magnetic jewelry, spa items and soaps and a wonderful neck pillow filled with Lavender.

If candles are on your list, take a whiff of the Olde South Candles reasonably priced at $12.99. Robin’s Nest has hundreds of stuffed animals, adorable kid’s backpacks, Laurel Burch tote bags and leather purses. A great stocking stuffer is the Tavern puzzles which are great for holiday parties and family gatherings. When you find that perfect gift, Robin’s Nest has a full line of greeting cards, including cards by local artist Teresa Peters to put the finishing touches on that special package. Stock up on the Denali blanket—the blanket everyone will fight over. Definitely put Robin’s Nest on your shopping list. There’s plenty of parking and the scenery is wonderful. Call Robin today at 672-4600 if you have any questions.

Main St. Nail Studio There’s no better time to pamper yourself than the holidays. And there’s no better place to take the stress away than Main St. Nail Studio in downtown Clayton. Grace Pruett offers gift certificates for the holidays which make great stocking stuffers. She also specializes in manicures, pedicures, gels and acrylics. For the woman on the go, especially during the holiday season, Grace offers pink and while nails using two different colors in gel or acrylic. Nails are shiny and polish isn’t necessary, allowing more time to shop. Main St. Nail Studio is a cozy salon where you can say goodbye to the busy world outside, at least for an hour or so. Call Grace now at 672-4975 and schedule your appointment now before the holiday rush.

The Royal Rooster Clayton resident Sara Skow invites you to wake up with The Royal Rooster on your mind and prepare for a unique shopping experience in downtown Clayton. This new boutique is now open at 1030 Diablo Street featuring unique gifts and French country accents. You’ll find candles, soaps, art work, small furniture, occasional tables, baker’s racks and great stocking stuffers at this intimate shop designed for the sophisticated shopper. Sara has designed her boutique to be family-friendly where children are invited to shop with mom or dad or play in Cup O Jo’s playroom next door. Stop by and say hello to Sara or call her at (925) 6722025.

December 8, 2006

Holiday Décor & Nativity Scenes

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

Page B7

SHOP FOR THE HOLIDAYS!

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Great Holiday Gifts Cookies by Design You can have your centerpiece and eat it too when you shop at Cookies by Design. The store’s beautiful cookie bouquets would enhance any table setting and best of all, you can share the cookies when dinner is done. Cookies by Design offers great holiday decorated bouquets for Christmas and New Year’s Eve with festive bows and red and green decorations. Owners Deborah and Tony Nork moved to Clayton Station next to Safeway awhile ago and are enjoying serving the Clayton and Concord community. They feature bouquets for just about every occasion from Father’s Day and graduation to Get Well wishes and Birthdays. Tony and Deborah will also personally design a cookie bouquet for your own special needs. A cookie bouquet is a great gift for the holiday. Order now before the holiday rush. Call Deborah and Tony at 524-9901.

Computers USA Everyone has a computer on their Christmas list, right? This year shop at the right place for all your computer needs. Computers USA in Clayton Station is one-stop shop-

ping, says owner Will Claney. There’s no need to endure the stress of the “big box” stores when you can shop at Computers USA with all the top brands and customer service that makes shopping convenient and fun. Best of all, parking is a snap. Will and his staff go way beyond just the sale. They are there to help you network, upgrade, repair and maintain your new computer. Get your orders in early for sweet deals in silver and black like the Pentium Core Duo: $799.95 for single core and $1499.95 for dual core. Call 672-9989 and ask for Will or anyone on his staff.

Postal Annex If owner Julia Aguilar’s smile doesn’t get you into her store, her mail services and supplies will. You’ll be glad you ventured into Postal Annex+ in Clayton Station for all of your needs from packaging and shipping to notary, faxing and key making. Postal Annex handles UPS, Fedex, DHL, CAL, Overnight and U.S. Post Office. Her greeting cards are wonderful, featuring cards by Leanin’ Tree and Blue Mountain. Cards by a Clayton artist add a nice local touch to the offerings. Julia is currently offering $2 off UPS or Fed Ex Shipping.

Avoid the holiday rush and mail your packages early. Call Julia at 672-8900 and she’ll be glad to answer any questions.

Donna’s Gifts Everywhere you look at Donna’s Gifts at Clayton Valley Shopping Center near Clayton Valley Frameworks, you’ll find something that makes your eyes sparkle. The popular Dept. 56, Snow Villages, Precious Moments and Boyd’s Bears are all family favorites Christmas lighted houses, Willow Tree Angels and San Francisco Music Box Company are well represented with displays that get you into the holiday spirit. Donna’s Gifts is offering a 15 percent off coupon for the holidays. Call Donna’s Gifts 672-2440 to reserve that special collectible piece for holiday entertaining.

Melanie’s Gifts and Interiors You won’t want to miss a great sale at Melanie’s Gifts and Interiors. Customers can look forward to 20 percent off Christmas items from Dec. 15-24 and 40 percent off Christmas items from Dec. 26- 31. Melanie’s Gifts and Interiors is your destination for a host of special gifts

and items for the home. Tablescapes are the focus of many holiday family celebrations and your home will be right in style with distinct collections, accent pieces and decorative candles. Luxurious pillows and throws and beautiful dish and platter collections from Seasonal Fruits, Tuscan Traditions and American Heritage will brighten up any festive occa. Melanie and Nicole and their entire staff are always on hand to offer friendly suggestions and decorating tips. It’s all part of the customer service that you’ll find in this wonderful specialty store in R&M Pool Patio and Garden off Marsh Creek Road in Clayton. Call Melanie at 672-0207 and ask about her special collections.

Vineyard Shopping Center As you drive down Clayton Road, make sure you find time to turn into the Vineyard Shopping Center. Parking is a breeze and there’s a variety of stores to meet all of your needs. Bring your packages and notary documents to The UPS Store and let owner Tricia Tamura help you with your “to do” list. The store is spacious and the staff is friendly with a lot of expertise to help you get your gifts delivered on time, safe and sound. While you’re at The UPS store you have access to a new color copier, cards, postal materials, fax machines and more. Call Tricia at 689-6245 if you have

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any questions. After you mail your packages, walk next door and say hello to Prabha Jadia who has been the owner of Zekco Watch Repair & Sales for the past 20 years. If you are having trouble with that favorite watch and need some repair work done, Zecko is the place to go. If someone on your list is asking for a new watch, Prabha can help you select one from a variety of styles and brands. She’s offering 25 percent off Citizen, Pulsar and Seiko watches. Zekco also has Skagen watches for sale plus watch bands, batteries and gift articles. If you have a question about watches call Prabha at 689-2470. Make time for yourself and pay a visit to Fantastic Sams, also at the Vineyard Shopping Center, for a great hair makeover. Manager Teresa Muti and owner Aaron Brinker welcome walk-ins only to Fantastic Sams where a full service

salon awaits you. Services include waxing, cut, color and highlights and the prices are affordable. “We cater to the whole family and all haircuts come with complimentary shampoo,” says Teresa. The salon features hair products such as Paul Mitchell, Biosilk and Matrix as well as their own brand. Fantastic Sams has 10 chairs and there’s rarely a wait, but head in early to avoid the holiday rush. Call Sue at 6828580. By now, you are probably starving and Lisa’s Hot Dogs & Burritos is the perfect place to satisfy your hunger. The restaurant has been at the Vineyard for over 20 years and it is known not only for its scrumptious hot dogs and burritos but also for a truly classic potato salad. Owner Simon O’Sullivan offers indoor and outdoor seating and a variety of specials including tacos, nachos and salads.

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Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

The truth about urban legends Urban leg ends, those tales that are widely pur ported to be true, are the bane of my inbox. I often receive emails that w arn about dang erous consumer products or tell stories that seem too good to be tr ue. What’s a Net surfer to do?

MARK FREEMAN

THE

NET

Luckily, Snopes.com offers a solution. Run b y husband and wife team Da vid and Barbara Mikkelson, the self-proclaimed Urban Legends Reference Pages offers hundreds of articles that analyze and determine the validity of urban leg ends, old wives’ tales and other interesting topics. The site’ s home pag e lists articles b y categ ory, such as “Rumors of War” or “Risqué Business.” Snopes’ handy search bar allows users to look up specific legends, if they’re not sure of the category. Unlike the anonymous

ACROSS

1- African antelope 5- Sudden pains 10- Member of a largely Middle Eastern people 14- Ireland 15- Belief involving sorcery

authors of urban leg ends, Snopes backs up its claims with research. This is hear tening when faced with messag es that are shoc king or designed to cause fear. Here are some examples , along with Snopes’ true/false verdict: Police ha ve disco vered guns disguised as cell phones. An email talks about authorities in Europe finding cell-phone guns and warning people about the possible dang er. The message comes with a shor t video clip that sho ws one of these guns in action. Snopes’ verdict: True. While police ha ve found suc h weapons, Snopes disco vered they are neither mass-produced nor a vailable in the United States. Snopes quotes an official from the U .S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firear ms who sa ys that concealed weapons are nothing new . “As technology prog resses and becomes more prev alent, disguised w eapons will c hange to mirror that.” Terrorists are buying UPS uniforms. An email claims “there has been a hug e purchase, $32,000 w orth, of UPS unifor ms on eBa y over the last 30 da ys. This could

represent a serious threat as bogus dri vers can drop off anything … with deadly consequences.” Snopes’ verdict: False. An email from UPS explains that the alleg ation is ridiculous . While there were some cases of UPS uniforms being offered on eBay in the past, the company made sure that they w ere quickly remo ved from the auction site. On the f lip side, Snopes can be used to test the v alidity of inspirational stories spread o ver the Inter net. While these tales of heroism and faith tr y to make people feel better , the Mikkelsons refer to suc h stories as “glurg e” – meaning that the truth behind these sw eet tales can leave a bitter aftertaste. Here are some examples and the Snopes’ verdict: National Geographic magazine ran an article about a mother bird who sacrificed herself to pr otect her chicks fr om a f orest fir e. The story tells how the loving mother refused to abandon her babies, even in the face of death. Snopes’ verdict: False. In an email to Snopes , National Geographic explains that the magazine never reported such a story and that suc h beha vior

Crossword Puzzle 16- Roundish projection 17- Tirade 18- Collection of Hindu aphorisms 19- Small yeast cake 20- Run-down theater 22- To embroider

Solution for 11/17 Crossword

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DOWN

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“doesn’t ring true” of birds anywhere. A struggling newborn was helped by the healing hug of her twin. An email explains that one of the twin sisters w as not expected to live, but the healthier of the two “threw an ar m over her sister in a endearing embrace” and the bab y’s heart and temperature stabilized. Snopes’ verdict: True. “As glurgirific as it m ust sound, this is actually a tr ue stor y,” reports Snopes. The two girls were born in a Massachusetts hospital, and one of them had serious problems. The event described actually happened, and a photo of the healing hug circulated in Life and Reader’s Digest. In the Internet age, it’s often difficult to tell if something is true. Snopes’ goal is to tak e the mystery out of urban leg ends and deli ver the tr uth – bac ked up b y facts and researc h, not hollow w arnings and false emails. Mark Freeman is a graduate of De La Salle High School and a freshman at Saint Mar y’s College in Moraga. He plans to study economics and cur rently writes for the school paper. Questions/comments can be sent to mfreeman543@gmail.com.

5- Postulate 6- Adjoin 7- Open mesh fabric 8- Clothes 9- Acute 10- Deficiency in pigmentation 11- Highway 12- French clergyman 13- Endure 21- Filled pastry crust 23- Money paid 26- Awkward boors 27- Suspension of breathing 28- Ran swiftly 29- Shrub of the cashew family 30- Fragrance 31- Longed 33- Overturn 34- Governs 35- With cunning 37- Lair, often for wild animals 38- Naught 41- Employ again 42- Small guitars 47- Make hard 49- Guy's partner 51- Mails 52- Storage center 53- "____ the night before Christmas ..." 54- Shout in derision 55- Sea eagle 56- Antiaircraft fire 57- Entrance 58- Air-filled rubber hoop, become fatigued 59- Otherwise 60- Colored 63- Japanese sash

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Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

La Veranda Café Northern Italian Cuisine in downtown Clayton Fresh soups, salads, antipasti, pizza and pasta Dinner and lunch daily Brunch on Sunday Children’s menu and take out service available

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Page B9

Dining Around Take a break from the holiday frenzy and treat yourself to a leisurely, scrumptious brunch at LA VERANDA CAFE at the coner of Marsh Creek Road and Center Street. Try one of the traditional, tried and true brunch favorites, like Joe’s Special—a scrumptious mix of sausage, spinach and eggs, or the Eggs Benedict, which will delight you with its smooth and satiny Hollandaise. Or, opt for a light and luscious Chicken Piccata, a chicken breast sauteed in white wine with lemon and capers or a gentle salmon with a light cream sauce. Salads will include fresh fruit and the personal favorite of many La Veranda fans, the Insalata Della Reina...baby greens with walnuts and gorgonzola tossed with balsamic vinegar and olive oil Sunday breakfast traditionalists can order their favorite eggs, omelets or buttermilk pancakes from the menu. All this is offered at $18 per person, $9 for children 612 and free for children under 6. Price includes champagne or sparkling cider, choice of fresh fruit juice, dessert and coffee. Brunch is served from 10 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. La Veranda is open daily for lunch and dinner and serves a Northern Italian menu of pasta, pizza, chicken, veal and fish starting at $8.50 for Bruchetta with olive oil, fresh tomatoes, garlic and basil. For reservations for brunch, lunch or dinner, call 524-0011.For reservations for brunch, lunch or dinner, call 524-0011. For authentic Hawaiian barbeque, bring your hungry family to JJ HAWAIIAN BBQ in the Clayton Station where everyone will find something wonderful on the menu.

JJ features more than a dozen chicken dishes from Teriyaki Chicken (grilled boneless chicken brushed with a mouth-watering house Teriaki sauce) for $5.95 to a big Shrimp and BBQ Chicken Combo loaded with fried shrimp and BBQ chicken for

style” or “Panini” style and all calling for nothing but the freshest ingredients. Her menu is also “vegetarian and vegan friendly.” All subs are oven baked and all Paninis are grilled. For the meat lover in you try the Tri-Tip House Special—

Mary’s Pizza Shack serves up a delicious array of their legendary pizza and Italian dishes with both a luncheon and dinner menu. Mary’s loves families so bring the kids. Pizzas range from $7 for a small Napoletana to $20.50 for the large Mary’s

Tamara Steiner/Clayton Pioneer

AFTER AN EVENING OF CHRISTMAS SHOPPING, take a break and and treat yourself to dinner, or take the family out for Sunday brunch, at La Veranda, located at the corner of Marsh Creek and Center Streets. only $6.75. But JJ’s isn’t just about chicken. For the fish lover, there’s a marinated, lightly breaded Mahi-Mahi for $6.45 or Garlic Shrimp and Curry Shrimp, each $6.95. If you’re asking “where’s the beef,” look no further than JJ’s Hawaiian BBQ Beef (grilled slices of tender, marinated beef) or the Hawaiian BBQ Beef Short Ribs (tender beef shorts marinated in their special BBQ sauce and grilled to perfection.), each only $6.45. The menu also includes several succulent pork dishes, hamburger steaks and, what some say is the national dish of Hawaii, Grilled Spam Moco served with gravy and two eggs. All meals are served with steamed white rice, macaroni salad and vegetables. Brown rice, noodles or green salad are available on request. For your next party, be sure to check out the Party To Go Menu with chicken, beef and fish combos to feed from four to 20. So, for a taste of Hawaii at a table in Clayton, make JJ Hawaiian BBQ your next stop for a family dinner or a quick lunch. JJ is located in the Clayton Station neat the Safeway store. Telephone 673-8686. This is not your kid’s sub, and there’s nothing ordinary about the gourmet sandwiches served up at the new G O U R MET S U BS AND MO R E. Owner, Sadie Rangel, had something special in mind when she opened her new sub shop next to the Shell station at Clayton Road and Ygnacio. First, the menu – you’ll find no less than 25 different sandwiches, served either “sub

oven roasted trip tip served au-jus with provolone for $5.99. If you’re super hungry, size up to $7.99. And the list goes on…Chipotle Cheese Steak, Chicken Parmigiano, The Blue – oven roasted or smoked turkey breast, ham, bacon, avocado all topped with a blue cheese dressing. Or, how about a turkey breast with cranberry sauce and cream cheese. Panini lovers can have their sandwich with garlic, Cesar or ranch spread or basil, black olive and sun dried tomato pesto…all homemade. If you’re watching your carbs, dig into one of Sadie’s garden fresh salads. Try an Oriental Chicken Salad of grilled chicken breast with an Oriental dressing or an All American Albacore Tuna salad. All dressings are homemade. At this end of Clayton Road’s “fast food row,” this family owned and operated eatery is a welcome respite from MSG and deep fried “stuff.” Priced from $1.99 for a cup of homemade soup to $7.99 for the biggest Tri Tip Special, Gourmet Subs is as good for your wallet as it is for your health. Located at 5415 Clayton Road at the corner of Clayton Road and Ygnacio, Gourmet Subs is open Mon.-Sat. from 10:30 a.m. until 8:30 p.m. Closed on Sunday. Don’t be misled by the name of this delightful family restaurant just over the hill in in the Citrus Marketplace. MARY’S PIZZA SHACK is definitely NOT a shack, and you can find a lot more on the menu than just pizza-although the pizza is a fine choice, indeed.

Combination. A pasta lunch will run you $7.25-$9.25; dinner $10.75-$13.25. Keep Mary’s in mind when planning your holiday get togethers. Special party trays will cover your whole dinner from appetizers to desserts, leaving you with plenty of time to enjoy the party. If you’re looking for more than trinkets and socks for your Christmas stocking, Mary’s holiday gift cards will take care of everyone on your list. A little more on the casual side and a great place to take the kids is ROCCO’S RISTORANTE at 2909 Ygnacio Valley Road in Walnut Creek. Voted the best pizza in the Bay Area by a Contra Costa Times Reader Poll, Rocco’s serves up a killer house specialty. The Dominator, piled high with pepperoni, salami, mushrooms, ham, linguica, sausage and onions, is not for the faint of heart. At $19.97, this large pizza will feed a small army. Rocco’s also has several choices of classic Italian pasta, homemade minestrone and several salads. All pasta dishes are served with fresh bread. Top your pasta dinner off with a glass of wine and you’re well fed and satisfied for well under $20 (tax and tip included.) Rocco’s opens every day at 11 a.m. And, ROCCO’S SPORTS BAR is now open. With a full bar, 12 big flat screen TVs and LIVE MUSIC, sports fans might just think they’ve found heaven. And for those who need a little break from sports, check out the beautiful fresh water aquarium behind the bar. See you at Rocco’s.

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Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

December 8, 2006

Clayton Community Calendar PLEASE SUBMIT YOUR CLAYTON COMMUNITY CALENDAR EVENTS BY 5 P.M., DEC. 13 FOR THE DEC. 22 ISSUE. FAX TO 672-6580 OR E-MAIL calendar@claytonpioneer.com EVENTS & ENTERTAINMENT THROUGH DEC. 20 Twin City Display @ Clayton Museum Display features Clayton's "twin city" of Buxworth, England. The museum will be closed Dec. 21 through Jan. 6, reopening January 7 with a yearlong tribute to Clayton's Sesquicentennial.. Clayton Museum, 6101 Main Street, Clayton, 672-0240. DEC. 8 - 10 Woman in Mind by Alan Ayckbourn @ DVC Uproariously funny, perceptive and heartbreaking, this is a story of the parallel lives of a middle-aged English housewife, trapped in a stifling marriage to a clergyman and slowly going mad. After a collision with a garden rake, she creates her perfect dream family in her mind and finds herself weaving in and out of the two worlds, losing touch with reality and living more and more in her imagination. DVC, Arena Theatre, 321 Golf Club Road, Pleasant Hill. DEC. 8, 9 Disney's High School Musical @ CTA Crossroads Theatre This is the Bay Area premiere of the latest Disney hit adapted for the stage. The musical showcases more than 20 of the Bay Area's finest young performers and tells the story of the school's basketball star and the president of the science club, two students worlds apart who secretly decide to audition for their school's musical. It’s a decision that turns both their worlds and their school on its head. A holiday treat for the whole family. Tickets are $20 regular, $18 seniors/students, $14 for groups of 10 or more. CTA Crossroads Theatre, 1277 Boulevard Way, Walnut Creek, CA. 944-0551, Box Office 944-0597. DEC. 9 Saturday Matinee Movies @ Clayton Community Library 2 p.m. Watch G-rated gems at the Clayton Community Library. Movies perfect for kids or the entire family. No registration required. See library for a listing of the movies being shown. 673-0659, Clayton Community Library, 6125 Clayton Road, Clayton. DEC. 10 Contra Costa Library Fundraiser @ Barnes & Noble Bookstores 9 a.m. - 11 p.m. Do your holiday shopping and benefit the CCC Library at the same time. Bring a voucher to one of the following Barnes & Noble locations and a percentage of the cost of books purchased will be donated to the Contra Costa County Library for the purchase of books for the Library's children's collection. Vouchers are available at all CCC Libraries or on the Library's homepage at http://ccclib.org. Barnes & Noble store locations include Pleasant Hill, 552 Contra Costa Blvd. and Walnut Creek, 1149 S. Main St. 673-0659, Clayton Community Library, 6125 Clayton Road, Clayton. DEC. 10 Concord Mystery Book Club @ Concord Library 2:30 - 4 p.m. All mystery readers are invited to participate and explore a different genre each month. Group meets the second Sun. of the month. Concord Library, 2900 Salvio Street, Concord, 646-5455. DEC. 11 Diablo Valley Masterworks Chorale @ St. Stephens Catholic Church 7:30 p.m. The Chorale, under the direction of Richard Kamprath, will present "What Sweeter Music", a program of great Christmas choruses of Handel's Messiah, through the profound music of Bloch's Sacred Service. Donation at the door. For more information, call 925 228-3293 or 925939-3826. St. Stephens Catholic Church, 1101 Keaveny Ct., Walnut Creek. DEC. 12 Clayton Knitters @ Clayton Community Library. 3 - 5 p.m. Old hand at knitting or just starting? Come join like-minded folks for an afternoon at the library. Clayton Community Library, 6125 Clayton Road, 673-0659. DEC. 13 Classic Movie Night @ Clayton Community Library 6:30 p.m. A scientist discovers a formula to render him invisible. But, unable to cope, he becomes a murderer. Clayton Community Library, 6125 Clayton Road, 673-0659. DEC. 14 Buchanan Field Master Plan and Noise Study Community Mtg. @ Crowne Plaza Hotel, Concord 7 p.m. The topics covered will be the Implementation Plan for the Master Plan, including capital improvement program project list, cost estimates and phasing plan, additional noise alternatives, several land use recommendations and a list of recommended noise mitigation alternatives. Crowne Plaza Hotel, 45 John Glenn Drive, Concord. DEC. 16 Saturday Matinee Movies for Children @ Clayton Community Library 2 p.m. Jim Henson and his famous Muppets make their debut in The Muppet Movie. Kermit the Frog and Fozzie the Bear set out for Hollywood in order to make it big. G-rated, 94 minutes. No registration required. Clayton Community Library, 6125 Clayton Road, 673-0659.

New vehicle donation rules apply

The deduction rules for donating a vehicle to charity have been tightened. If the charity sells the vehicle you donate, you may deduct the sales price – which is usually far less than “blue book” value. If the charity keeps and uses the vehicle, they must provide you with an estimated value for your deduction. New IRS Form 1098-C is to be used to report and substantiate vehicle contributions.

700 Ygnacio Valley Rd., #360 Walnut Creek, CA 94596 Carol@carolkeanecpa.com (925) 937-5200 (925) 937-5202 fax www.carolkeanecpa.com

DEC. 31 Annual Clayton Counts Down @ Clayton Community Gym New Year's Eve family party. Family and kids activities in an alcohol free environment with refreshments, food, games and prizes. For more information contact the Gym/YMCA at 889-1600. Clayton Community Gym, 700 Gym Court.

CLUBS & ORGANIZATIONS DEC. 5 Knights of Columbus @ St. Agnes Church Hall 7:30 p.m. General membership meeting of the Knights of Columbus Concord Council 6038 of Concord and Clayton is the first Tues. of the month. We look forward to seeing our brother Knights there. St. Agnes Church, 3478 Chestnut Street, Concord. DE.C 7, 14, 21, 28 Rotary Club of Clayton Valley Concord Sunrise @ Oakhurst 7 a.m. Meets every Thurs. for breakfast meeting that usually features a speaker. www. claytonvalleyrotary.org Chuck Graham 689-7640. Oakhurst Country Club, 1001 Peacock Creek Drive, Clayton. DEC. 7, 14, 21, 28 Weights Watchers Weekly Meeting @ Contra Costa Farm Bureau 10 a.m.and 5:30 p.m. Weekly Weight Watchers weigh-in and meeting on Thurs.. 800-326-8450 x 2023.Contra Costa Farm Bureau, 5554 Clayton Rd., Concord. DEC. 11 Clayton Valley 4-H Club @ Farm Bureau Hall 7:15 p.m. 4-H is open to youth ages 5 - 19 and adults. Projects in small and large animals, leadership, community service, 4-H camp, conferences and fairs. Learn new skills including cooking, photography, arts/crafts etc. Contact Candy Hogan at 925- 969-1325 for more information. Meetings held on the second Mon. of the month Sept. - June. Farm Bureau Hall, 5554 Clayton Rd. Concord. DEC. 11 Stroke Support Group of Contra Costa County @ John Muir Medical Center 7 p.m. Join stroke survivors, caregivers and health professionals as they discuss issues, challenges and suggestions for living with stroke. Monthly guest speakers provide important information about the rehabilitation process. Meetings held the second Mon. of each month, are free and open to the public. For more information contact Ann Dzuna at 925-3766218. John Muir Medical Center, 1601 Ygnacio Valley Road, Walnut Creek. DEC. 12 Concord Chamber of Commerce Good Morning Concord Breakfast @ Crowne Plaza Hotel, Concord 7:30 a.m. Peter Wilson, Dean CSU-East Bay Concord Campus, Dr. Helen Benjamin, Chancellor CC Community College District, and Gary McHenry, Superintendent Mt. Diablo Unified School District will speak about the "State of Education." $15 for Chamber members $25 nonchamber members. Register online @ www.concordchamber.com. Crowne Plaza Hotel 45 John Glenn Drive, Concord. DEC. 12. 19, 26, Kiwanis Club of Walnut Creek 12 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. Meetings every Tues. All are invited to check us out and be our guest for lunch. Massimo’s Ristorante, 1604 Locust St., Walnut Creek. For more information call Sam Totah, 941-1536. DEC. 12, 26 Clayton Valley Woman's Club @ Holy Cross Lutheran Church 9:30 a.m. Regular monthly business meeting starts with coffee, the meeting begins at 10 a.m. CVWC is a non-profit, non-denominational service organization that is open to all women interested in charitable work in the Clayton Valley community. Meetings are held on the second and fourth Tuesday of the month. For more information, please call Joyce at 672-3850 or Sheila at 672-7947. Holy Cross Lutheran Church, 1092 Alberta Way, Concord. DEC. 13 Clayton Valley Garden Club @ Diamond Terrace 7 p.m. The Clayton Valley Garden Club meets the second Wed. of the month. Every meeting has an informative program concerning some aspect of gardening. Garden lectures will resume in Feb. The Club maintains the flowers on Daffodil Hill, the planters on Main Street, and the raised garden beds at the Library as well as other civic projects. Anyone interested in gardening is welcome at our meetings. Call Jeff at 6727579 or Barry at 827-9540 for information. Diamond Terrace, 6401 Center Street, Clayton. DEC. 13 Creekside Artists Meeting @ Clayton Community Library 7 p.m. Come join this unique group of eclectic artists that meet the 2nd Wed. of each month. If you like, bring your artwork for review...all levels and all art forms are welcome! "We provide an environment for all artists to inspire, create, educate and prosper." Call Arlene Kikkawa-Nielsen at (925) 673-9777, or email akikkawa@ccclib.org with questions.

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DEC. 17 VFW Christmas Meeting and Dinner @ Oakhurst Country Club 12 p.m. Veterans, Post 1525 will be holding their annual Christmas Dinner after the Dec. 17 meeting. Music will be provided by the Blue Star Singing Moms. Remember, to bring a new, unwrapped toy which will be donated to a local church for distribution to needy children. All Veterans are invited to attend, however tables are limited so make your reservation now. Contact Quartermaster Paul Carroll (925) 672-2660 or, Commander Pete Loechner (925) 682-6533 for more information. Oakhurst Country Club, 1001 Peacock Creek Drive, Clayton. DEC. 19 Concord Chamber of Commerce Women in Business Networking Group @ Malaya Center 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Holiday Celebration with an open house. Reserve your spot online at www.concordchamber.com. The Malaya Center, 395 Civic Drive Suite C, Pleasant Hill. DEC. 21 Veterans of Foreign Wars Meeting @ Veterans Memorial Hall, Concord 6:30 - 7 p.m. is get acquainted time, 7 p.m. meeting. VFW meets the third Thurs. of the month. All Veterans of foreign wars are invited to attend. The VFW is here to support eligible Veterans and their families. Wives and daughters of eligible Veterans are invited to join the Ladies Auxiliary. Meetings are held at Veterans Memorial Hall, corner of Colfax and Willow Pass Road, Concord. (925) 255-3449. DEC. 21 Concord Chamber After Hours Business Mixer @ Concord Hilton 5:30 p.m. Bring lots of business cards. Hilton Concord. 1970 Diamond Blvd., Concord. DEC. 27 Blue Star Mom Meeting in Concord 6:30 p.m. Small group Blue Star Mom meetings held the fourth Wednesday of each month. Blue Star Moms is a support and service group for those serving in all branches of the Armed Forces. 1792 Elmhurst Lane, Concord. Call 676-3654 for information.

BUSINESS & GOVERNMENT DEC. 5, 12, 19, 26 Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors Meeting @ County Administration Building 9 a.m. County Board of Supervisors holds regular weekly meetings Tues. mornings. Open to the public. www.co.contra-costa.ca.us 335-1900. County Administration Building, 651 Pine Street, Room 107, Martinez. DEC. 5, 19 Clayton City Council Meeting @ Clayton Community Library 6 p.m. City Council meets on the first and third Tues. of the month. Open to the public. Agendas posted at the following locations: City Hall, 6000 Heritage Trail, Clayton, Ohm's Bulletin Board, 1028 Diablo St., Clayton, Clayton Community Library, 6125 Clayton Rd., Clayton. DEC. 11 Landscape District Meeting @ Clayton Community Library 7 p.m. Because Measure M was voted down in 2005, the Landscape District will expire in June 2007. There will be no funds available for irrigation or maintenance of public landscape when that occurs. The public is invited to join us for these very important meetings. Clayton Community Library, Library, 6125 Clayton Road, Clayton. DEC. 12, 26 Planning Commission Meeting @ Clayton Community Library 7p.m. City of Clayton Planning Commission meets 2nd and 4th Tues. of month. Open to the public. www.ci.clayton.ca.us 673-7304, Clayton Library Community Room, 6125 Clayton Road, Clayton. DEC. 14 Clayton Community Services Commission Meeting @ City Hall 7 p.m. City of Clayton Community Services Commission meets 2nd Thurs. of month. Open to the public. www.ci.clayton.ca.us 673-7304, Clayton City Hall Conference Room, 6000 HeritageTrail, Clayton.

SCHOOLS AND EDUCATION DEC. 7 Parent Faculty Club Meeting @ Clayton Valley High School Library 7 p.m. Meet Principal, Gary Swanson, and learn more about CVHS. If you have a topic you would like to see on the agenda, please contact President Melinda Moore at 672-0930 or e-mail melindammoore@yahoo.com. Clayton Valley High School, 1101 Alberta Way, Concord.

NO FUNDS AVAILABLE FOR CLAYTON PUBLIC LANDSCAPE Watering, Pruning and Trail Maintenance will Cease AFTER June 30, 2007

WHAT SHOULD WE DO? PLEASE JOIN US AT The Trails and Landscape Committee Meeting MONDAY, December 11, 7 pm Clayton Library Meeting Room

December 8, 2006

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

Clayton Valley Presbyterian Church 925-672-4848 1578 Kirker Pass Road Join us for fellowship and holiday celebration Sundays: 10:30 Service & Sunday School (child care provided)

Christmas Eve: 4:30 p.m. Family Service 11:00 p.m. Candlelight Communion with Choir

www.cvpresby.org

Are you ready? Join us in getting ready for Christmas with Family and Fellowship that Focuses on Jesus Christmas for Kids – Happy Birthday, Jesus! Dec. 16, 10am Advent soup suppers (6pm) & Evening Prayer (7:15pm) Dec. 13 & 20

10 am Sunday School & Bible Class, 11:15 am Worship

Bible-based & Christ-centered worship, education & fellowship

5554 Clayton Rd., Concord (in the Farm Bureau building) (925) 524-0295 William Kant, Pastor

www.EternalLifeLutheranChurch.org Member of WELS (Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod)

CONCORD UNITED METHODIST CHURCH presents

CAROL SING December 9, 7 p.m. Oglesby Hall Featuring the Chancel Choir, Youth Choir, Ladies First from Concord High, and Houseblend. refreshments served

Tapestry weaves its way through England to benefit AIDS or phans ROBIN FRIEDMAN Special to the Pioneer

Clayton resident Cindy Krausgrill is on a mission to save the c hildren of the world, one song at a time. Several years ag o she combined the talents of the Canto Bello Handbell Ensemble with the W alnut Creek United Methodist Churc h Choir to form a new m usical g roup, Instruments of Peace. Their mission w as to perfor m in Bosnia to help benefit c hildren at the Sarajevo Youth House. Now Krausgrill is combining Canto Bello with the popular local w omen’s c hamber c horus Heartsong, and tog ether they will be touring in the United Kingdom next summer under the name Tapestry. They will be singing and ringing at a number of venues in England to raise money for Isubilo, a UK-registered c harity in Zambia ser ving those affected b y HIV/AIDS. Isubilo provides help with home-based care, medical and dental centers, hospice care and family suppor t for children who have lost their parents to AIDS. Tapestry consists of 29 performers from all o ver the Ba y Area, as w ell as Sonoma, Napa

Under the direction of Cindy Krausgrill, Heartsong, a women’s chamber group and Canto Bello, a handbell choir have combined to form a new group known as Tapestry. The group will be touring the UK next summer to raise money for Zambian children affected by HIV/AIDS. and Lincoln. Seven Clayton residents are in the g roup: Laurie Boyle, Judith Hall, Dale Scovill, Carol Smith, Carylon V an Essen, Diane W erner and Krausgrill. “While there’ s help needed everywhere, we lear ned that Zambia has the highest proportion of AIDS or phans in the world. With so many T apestry members being parents and grandparents, aunts and uncles, it w as just natural that w e would all g et behind this opportunity to use our talents doing something w e absolutely

ST. BONAVENTURE’S CATHOLIC CHURCH The musical group Vintage will present a free holiday concert at 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 10, in the church.

Kay Rossi PhD, a clinical psychologist and marriage and family therapist. Dr. Rossi is on the faculty of JFK University, works for John Muir Health and has a private practice. She

1645 West Street, Concord For more information call Marilyn at (925) 685-5260

Vintage will appear in a free holiday concert at St. Bonaventure’s on Dec. 10 at 3 p.m. The harmonic trio features Clayton residents Santiago Martinez, Joyce Martinez and Roxanne Pardi. They will be performing songs from their Christmas CD, including the original songs “Angel of God” and “Holly.” The Family Life Ministry and Women’s Christian Fellowship are presenting a workshop on Communicating Healthy Boundaries on Tuesday, Dec. 12 at 7:30 p.m. in the chapel. The featured speaker is Dr.

ETERNAL LIFE LUTHERAN CHURCH Eternal Life Lutheran Church continues its Advent evening prayer services on Dec. 13 and 20. The theme is “In Thy Dark Streets Shineth – A Journey through Advent.” Each service begins with a soup supper at 6 p.m., followed by the devotional service at 7:15 p.m. All are invited for an evening of family and fellowship focusing on Jesus. All children of the community are invited to a birthday party for Jesus, 10 a.m. to

specializes in addictions and family issues and is a popular speaker with great insights and wisdom. Don’t miss this evening to insure healthy boundaries and thus promote a memorable holiday season for you and your family. St. Bonaventure’s is located at 5562 Clayton Road, Concord. CLAYTON COMMUNITY CHURCH Clayton Community Church is sponsoring at all-church Christmas Banquet at 5 and 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 10, at The Clayton Pioneer’s “Music Notes” columnist

Jim Hudak Pianist and Composer For bookings and performances:

Join us at 9:00 for “Bible Study with Emily Dickinson.”

Centre Concord, 5298 Clayton Road. “Uncle Phil’s Diner” is a dinner served in the setting of a ’50s diner. Englund’s Catering will provide the meal for the interactive musical event. The dinner is free, but reservations are required. Call 673-9060 to reserve a spot. The church will hold a Christmas Eve gathering at 10 a.m. Dec. 24, featuring a great drama that conveys the best of Christmas. Evening candlelight services will be at 5 and 7 p.m. There will be a special family gathering at 5 p.m. with fun activities for kids and parents. The church meets at Diablo View Middle School, 300 Diablo View Lane. CROSSROADS COVENANT CHURCH Crossroads Covenant Church will hold a Christmas Eve candlelight service at 7 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 24. The church is at 5353 Concord Blvd., Concord. For more information, call 798-5905.

Clayton’s own

8:00 a.m. - Traditional service 10:00 a.m. - Contemporary service

love, to benefit c hildren who have v ery few adv ocates in their li ves,” says Krausg rill. She’s been a member of Heartsong for 27 years and Canto Bello for 10 and is no w director of both. “I think all of us are looking for a concrete w ay to mak e a difference, however small, in the lives of at-risk c hildren ev erywhere,” says Krausgrill. “This is our attempt to do that, and we invite the comm unity to join us in our efforts.” To help build a wareness of their upcoming m usic mission

to England, Tapestry will be performing a public holida y concert on 7:30 p .m. Friday, Dec. 8, at St. Andrews Presbyterian Church, 1601 Mary Dr., in Pleasant Hill. The program will feature holida y music from classical to popular, sacred to secular. Admission is free, but donations for the Isubilo benefit tour will be g raciously accepted. For more information on Tapestry and upcoming concer ts, call Cindy Krausgrill at 672-7751 or e-mail ckrausgrill@earthlink.net.

Church News

Concord United Methodist Church

Sunday Morning Worship

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Visit our Website www.jhudak.com E-mail jimmydak@pacbell.net Piano CD’s available on his Brainstorm Records label

Call Or Write:

Brainstorm Records P.O. Box 488 Clayton, CA 94517 (925) 673-7293

noon on Saturday, Dec. 16. The party will include Bible stor ytime, songs, craft and activities that will teach children about the birth of Jesus. The program is free. Eternal Life will have a Christmas worship service at 11:15 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 24. Eternal Life is a member congregation of the WELS. The church is at 5554 Clayton Rd., Suite 1B, Concord. For more information, call 524-0295, email EternalLife@wels.net or visit

www.EternalLifeLutheranChurch.org.

CONCORD UNITED METHODIST CHURCH Concord United Methodist Church is having a Carol Sing at 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 9, in Oglesby Hall, 1645 West St., Concord. The Chancel Choir, CUMC’s Girls Chorus, will provide the music. Ladies First from Concord High School also will perform. Refreshments are free. KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS The Knights of Columbus, Concord Council #6038, is sponsoring its 8th annual California State Essay Contest. The contest is open to all Catholic students in grades 4-12. Winners will receive $50 to $100 savings bonds at council and regional levels, along with special certificates. Entry deadline is Feb. 2. For more information, contact Claire Tryon at 673-8564 or email greyeototo@sbcglobal.net.

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Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

December 8, 2006

Time is irrelevant but well-spent in ‘The Fountain’

JIM BRIGGS

THE

MOVIES

Writer/director Dar ren Aronofsky sa ys “T he F ountain” is the film he’ s w anted to mak e since he star ted making mo vies. It tackles a lot of questions in 96 minutes, one of the biggest being the tagline: What if you could live forever? “Death is a disease ,” Tom says to Dr . Guzetti (Ellen Burstyn). “There’s a cure , and I

will find it.” He does and lives for another 500 years (arguably) and has the rings on his ar ms to pro ve it. In fact, rings become a visual metaphor, but I didn’t see it until the second viewing. Tom g ets what he w ants but remains unhappy , and who can blame him? Eter nal life seems like an awful idea. Making his sixth screen appearance of 2006, Hugh Jackman plays Tomas, a conquistador during the Spanish inquisition; Tommy, a moder n-day medical researc her; and T om Creo, a 26th century hairless cosmonaut, traveling in his pajamas via a giant bubble to Xibalba, a distant nebula wrapped around a dying star. Rachel W eisz pla ys Queen Isabel of Spain, who sends Tomas to find the tree of life;

and Izzi, Tom’s terminally ill wife in the present who’ s writing a book also called “T he Fountain” about the searc h for the tree of life during the Spanish inquisition (among other things); and … tak e a dee p breath … a tree accompanying Tom to what the

Mayan’s thought of as hea ven. Kind of. She also appears to cosmonaut T om as a T arkofskien reminder of regret. Izzi tells a stor y about a man who had a tree planted o ver his grave and as his body decomposed, he became one with the

Photo courtesy of JackmanLanding.com

HUGH JACKMAN

STARS

as a Spanish conquistador in The Fountain.

tree and with the birds who ate from it. Izzi tells this stor y from a hospital bed to a tearful T om, making it especially potent and unsettlingly relevant. The idea of death creating life resonates throughout the film. “The F ountain” is the first film in six years from Aronofsky, who created the mar velously troubling “R equiem for a Dream” and “Pi. ” Despite it’ s bizarre and often difficult str ucture, “The Fountain” also pac ks an emotional punch. In two scenes, we see the fear of death disappear – which by its very nature is bittersweet. Tom is a tragic character; he’s a victim of his own decisions. In an effort to help Izzi, he understandably spends a lot of time doing medical researc h but as a result has very little time to spend with her. And it only tak es him 500 years

to figure it out. Typical. We often discuss films in terms of whether cer tain moments w ork, themes, decisions by as director or actors, etc. “The F ountain” joins films lik e “Mulholland Drive,” “Weekend” and “Videodrome,” in which the plot itself becomes a source of discussion – prompting questions of reality vs. metaphor vs. other. What most ag ree on, though, is that “The Fountain” is a visual masterpiece. If you’ve seen “T he Fountain,” I’d lo ve to hear y our thoughts, as there is m uch more to discuss here. Jim Briggs is a composer and music teacher. He has a BA in Jazz Composition from the Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA. He writes film reviews for online magazine Dissolver (www.dissolvermagazine.com). Send comments to movies@claytonpioneer.com.

Randy Newman – American treasure JIM HUDAK

MUSIC NOTES Being a m usic critic has never appealed to me, so when I do write a music review, it’s positive. This review is more lik e superlative. That’s ho w impressive Randy Newman ’s w as during his No v. 12 concer t w as at the El Campanil T heatre in Antioch. Antioch has taken a big ste p forward in creating an attracti ve downtown area by restoring the El Campanil, which used to present v audeville sho ws and

movies in the ’20s . It’s a w onderful v enue, offering concer ts, plays and films , and is w ell worth the 20 to 25 min ute drive from Clayton. The waterfront location and beautiful interior are especially appealing. With a capacity of 700, it’s larg e enough to attract some big name acts but small enough to pro vide an intimate setting for viewing and listening. Newman burst onto the pop music scene in the late ’60s and has always been a one-of-a-kind artist. Defying pop m usic convention, he w as singing about social issues and big otry, on top of a bed of understated piano chops, when rock and roll was at its peak. In fact, Three Dog Night had a No . 1 hit with the Newman-penned song “Mama Told Me Not T o Come” in 1970.

Newman’s “hits” would come later and only in a limited sense. His g reatest success has come from composing film scores for dozens of movies. Randy Newman is one of the few ar tists in popular m usic who can be called a master at his craft. His lyrics tak e the listener to places rarely explored, with content right out of history books or the librar y. Southern racial injustice and evil politicians are among his fa vorite topics. But he doesn ’t limit himself to literary subjects. He also tackles contemporary issues. In “My Life Is Good, ” he addresses wealthy parents who refuse to believe that their child in private school is wreaking ha voc with his classmates , among other things. Newman also gi ves his

unique spin to relationships , occasionally sho wing a sur prisingly sensitive side. For this concert, he rendered tw o of his classics, “Marie” and “Old Man,” both illustrating his dee p insights into the human condition. Obligingly, Newman performed his tw o major hits , “Short P eople” and “I Lo ve LA,” to the delight of the soldout crowd. Counting a 15-min ute intermission, the concert lasted 2 ½ hours. Seldom does a solo performer capti vate a cro wd for that long. But Newman had the audience hanging on to ev ery word and note. Newman comes without hype, and it’ s refreshing . Wearing jeans and tennis shoes , he sits infor mally at the concer t grand piano , sprinkling tidbits

of wisdom and humor betw een songs. Some of his commentary smacks of more than a little frustration at the foibles of his fellow human beings , but he tempers the cynicism with larg e doses of humor – m uch of which is self-deprecating. Most of the audience doesn’t notice Newman ’s amazing skill as a pianist. The listeners tend to focus on the lyrics and the stories within each song. But underneath are piano pla ying skills rarely heard in contemporary m usic. Subtle right hand trills and dee p, unusual c hords anchored b y a solid left hand lend color to the songs. Similar to George Gershwin, Newman mix es elements of jazz, classical and ragtime , with rhythmic inflections to keep the melodies interesting. In an era where pure ar tistry

RANDY NEWMAN

and talent has become difficult to find in popular m usic, seeing Newman entertain was a special treat. If you g et the c hance to see him perfor m, do so . But don’t wait too long. He’s turning 63, and this tr ue American treasure won’t be around forever. If you don’t get the chance to see him li ve, invest in some of his recordings. Jim Hudak’ s Music Notes column appears r egularly in the Pioneer . Contact him at jimmydak@pacbell.net. His piano music CD’ s ar e a vailable fr om his Web site at www .jhudak.com or at amazon.com.

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Concord

Gorgeous updated home, 3 Bedrooms, 2 Bathrooms, 1,219 SF, All New Kitchen Including All Appliances, Dual Pane Windows, Family Room With Fireplace, Landscaped Front and Back Yards, 2 Gar Garage, Washier and Dryer Included.

3 Bedrooms, 1 Bath Remodeled Kitchen, Brand New Appliances, Fully Remodeled Bathroom, Gorgeous Front and Back Landscaping with Wonderful Abundance of Fruit Trees, Large Beautiful Stamped Concrete Patio, Extra Wide Driveway, New Roof, Large and Inviting Lot.

3 Bedrooms, 2 Baths, 1,288 SF. This Charming Home is on Quiet Street in a Great Neighborhood. Dual Pane Windows, Dual Brick Fireplace, Huge Landscaped Backyard Includes Play set, Stone Patio, Great for Entertaining. Close to Shopping and Starbucks and Schools.

4 Bedrooms, 2 Baths, 1,919 SF., Well Maintained, Kitchen Updated w/attached Family Room, Large Lot with Backyard and Possible RV Parking on Side. Formal Dining Room, Close to Mt Diablo State Park

Dana Farms

Paradise Pleasant Hill

! Just Reduced

len Elderwood G

1238 Roanwood Way

Sell Fast! Save Money

$460,000

unity Gated Comm

$650,000

934 Hamilton Drive

$895,000

Concord

Pleasant Hill

3 Bedrooms,2 Bath, 1,855 SF, 4 Bedroom Option or Formal Dining Room, Elegant Wood Parquet Entry, Vaulted Ceilings, Inviting Family Room with Fireplace, Opens to Covered Deck with Built-in BBQ, Classic Tile Roof, Large 12,230 SF Lot with Private Yard with Many Varieties of Fruit Tress which Combine to Produce Fruit all Year Round, 12 Years of Concord’s Most Popular Schools.

4 Bedroom, 3 Bath, 2,167 SF Step inside this gorgeous tri-level home and you Will Never want To Leave. Located on the End of Quiet Street, Wonderful Decks and Back Yard with Beautiful Gardens Including a Hot Tub, Gourmet Kitchen and Upgraded Appliances.

1295-A Kenwal Rd

$305,000

174 Glenview Drive

$868,900

Concord

Martinez

2 Bedrooms, 1 Bath, 915 SF. New Paint Throughout, New Wall to Wall Carpeting and Upgraded Linoleum, Updated Kitchen with New Counter Tops, Appliances Included, Dual Pane Windows, Vaulted Ceilings Recessed Lighting, Central Air and Heat, Indoor Laundry Closet, Washier and Dryer Included, Community Pool and Club House.

4 Bedrooms, 2.5 Bath, 2,243 SF. This home has it all. From Beautiful Marble Entry to the Tranquil Gardens, This Home is perfect for Entertaining, Includes Formal Dining and Living Areas, Gourmet Kitchen, New Lighting thou-out, Surround Sound, Located in Pleasant Hill School District.

You Could Save $27,050! By selling your home with Help-U-Sell instead of with brokers who charge a 6% commission* (the savings are based on a home selling for $600,000).You can select from many fine real estate professionals.Why not choose one that will also save you money when you sell? *Commissions are negotiable and not set by law.

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