DEC 22 Clayton Pioneer 2006

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from all of us at the Pioneer

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IT’S YOUR PAPER www.claytonpioneer.com

December 22, 2006

925.672.0500

Holiday homes light up Cla yton JILL BEDECARRÉ Clayton Pioneer

In the tr ue spirit of friendly neighborhood competition, 13 Clayton homes vied for the chance to be named the ‘best dressed’ house in the city in the Clayton Pioneer’ s 2006 Holida y Home Decorating Contest.

Residents dec ked their halls with a m yriad of colored and white lights , wooden figurines , trees, moving deer , snowman, polar bears and plenty of snowflakes and lollipops . The most popular decoration this year was the variety of Christmas inflatables from mo ving carousels to Santa globes and Christmas Trees.

The judges, Alise Lacosse, of Applause Staging and Interior , John Sharapata of Seasonal

BILL WALCUTT

MAYOR’S CORNER He is out, I am in Let me star t off by saying it is an honor to ser ve Cla yton once ag ain as ma yor. We ha ve some w onderful oppor tunities and some hug e c hallenges facing us next year.

Former Mayor David Shuey started his last column with this statement: “It is no jok e, I’m outta here .” Well that is not entirely tr ue. I guess Will Rogers was right when he said: “If you ever injected tr uth into politics, you’d have no politics.”

David, the kid, (you kno w you are g etting old when y ou start calling someone that is 40 years old a kid) is out of the mayor’s job, but he is still on the City Council. As a matter of fact, he recei ved the highest number of votes in the November election, followed by new comer Hank Stratford.

Welcome bac k Da vid and w elcome Hank.

I believ e the most difficult task facing me is g oing to be writing the ma yor’s column for the Cla yton Pioneer ev ery tw o weeks and follo wing for mer Mayor Shuey, who did an excellent job of making politics funny.

I think most people w ould agree that politics is not funny. I would ev en g o out on a limb and sa y that it ma y be a little boring, but Da vid manag ed to keep it funny and light ev en when he talk ed about me .

Thank y ou v ery m uch Da vid for this challenge and your service to the comm unity for the past 12 months . But mak e no mistake about it, I intend on boring y ou with a little more facts and figures.

This is g oing to be an

See Mayor, page A8

What’s Inside SECTION A Around Town . . . . . . . . . . .A2 Classified Ads and Director y of Advertisers . . . . . . . .A5 Obituary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A7 Upcoming Events . . . . . . . .A9 Real Estate . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A9 Club News . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A9 Garden Girl . . . . . . . . . . . .A10 Movie Reviews . . . . . . . . . .A11 Hiker’s Haven . . . . . . . . . . .A12 Clayton Cares . . . . . . . . . . .A13 School News . . . . . . . . . . . .A13

SECTION B

Cookie Contest Winners . .B1 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .B2 Gray on Golf . . . . . . . . . . . .B3 Paws and Claws . . . . . . . . . .B5 Financial Sense . . . . . . . . . . .B5 Holiday Gift Guide . . . . .B6 Church News . . . . . . . . . . . .B8 Sharing History . . . . . . . . . . .B9 Community Calendar . . . . .B10 Dining Around . . . . . . . . . .B11 Crossword Puzzle . . . . . . . .B11

Tamara Steiner/Clayton Pioneer

FIRST PLACE HONORS IN THE PIONEER’S HOME DECORATING CONTEST go to the McLaughlin Family at 214 Mountaire Circle. There’s so much to see at this home, a photo can’t capture it all. At right, Santa arrests the grinch and saves Christmas for all time.

See Homes, page A3

Walcutt sees exciting year ahead for downtown TAMARA STEINER Clayton Pioneer

Tamara Steiner/Clayton Pioneer

OUTGOING MAYOR, DAVE SHUEY, passes the gavel to new mayor, Bill Walcutt as the City Council reorganizes for 2007.

The Cla yton City Council underwent its ann ual reorg anization last w eek as Bill W alcutt assumed the ma yor’s seat from outgoing ma yor Da ve Shuey .

Gregg Manning w as elected vice mayor, Hank Stratford w as sworn in and P ete Laurence ste pped down after serving 16 years on the council. Shuey w as reelected in November and will ser ve another four years on the Council.

“It’s tough to follo w Da ve,” said Walcutt in his first remarks as mayor. “He can mak e politics funny, and politics really isn ’t funny…a lot of it’s pretty boring, really.”

With sev eral do wntown projects cur rently scheduled for completion next year , Walcutt is looking forward to sev eral ribbon cuttings. On Dec . 9, Longs Dr ugs broke g round on the new store next to Diamond Terrace; the Oak Center building across from Endeavor Hall should be complete by the fall and w ork has begun on the remodeling of the Villag e Market whic h has been closed since a fire sev erely damag ed the building in January 2004.

“But the most ex citing of all,” said W alcutt to a round of applause b y the pac ked room “is that w e’re g oing to ha ve a do wntown park.”

However, all is not ribbon cuttings and a w alk in the park next

Longs breaks ground for new store JILL BEDECARRÉ Clayton Pioneer

On the heels of the new store in the Cla yton V alley Shopping Center , Longs Dr ugs recently broke ground for a new 14,000 sq. ft. store on the corner of Center Street and Cla yton Road.

The tw o stores are only a couple of miles apart representing Longs effor ts to pro vide convenient ser vice to its customers. “We respect that our customers lead busy lives. We try to be as convenient as possible,” says F erra Levin, spokeswoman for Longs Drugs.

“We star ted as a comm unity pharmacy and w e tak e pride in the communities we serve. That’s part of what we do,” she adds.

Brian McAndrews , Longs vice president-real estate , says Longs mak es ev ery effor t to work with indi vidual comm uni-

ties. “The Cla yton store is oneof-a-kind,” he states.

That philosophy shows in the architecture of the new Cla yton store, with its western focus and

use of stone and masonry.

Dave J ohnson and R obert Lyman of Johnson Lyman Architects of Walnut Creek were excited about w orking on the

Longs project in Cla yton. “The guidelines are very well-written,” says J ohnson, who researc hed

See Longs, page A8

Chris Martin/Longs Drugs

Clayton City Councilmen Bill Walcutt, Pete Laurence, Dave Shuey and Gregg Manning, Longs Drugs VP of Real Estate, Brian McAndrews, developer Jack McGuire and Councilmembers Julie Pierce and Hank Stratford.

year. The city faces the serious issue of the expiration of the Landscape Maintenance District unless it is renew ed by the v oters next June.

And finances are always a challenge, Walcutt added. “With the state raids in recent years , we’ve had to defer a lot of things and you can only defer so long before you lose your assets.”

This w on’t be the first time Walcutt has commanded the gavel.

First elected in 1990, he served for three years, two years as councilman and the third year as ma yor, before his emplo yment required him to mo ve out of the area for several years . He w as elected to the council ag ain in 2000 and reelected in 2004.

Early April opening planned for market TAMARA STEINER Clayton Pioneer

Construction is , at long last, underway on the Villag e Market.

Reopening is targ eted for the first of April, weather per mitting.

The do wntown mark et has been closed since a fire in January 2005 gutted the upstairs.

Farmers Insurance initially denied the loss claim and o wner Sam Sandhu sued to reco ver his losses. Farmers settled with Sandhu in 2005.

The remodel plans call for a modern, updated mark et fronting Main Street and a deli with inside seating opening onto Center Street.

“We’re really ex cited,” said Gary Hood, project manag er.

“With the park and the store , it’s coming together nicely.”

Page A2

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

December 22, 2006

Around Town

Santa and the Mrs. make personal appearance

City employees honored at dinner

Laura Hoffmeister w as gi ven the “Outstanding Ac hievement Award” by City Manag er Gar y Napper at the city’ s ann ual Christmas party at Endea vor Hall on Dec. 14.

“She has a passion for ser vice and a passion for excellence,” said Napper as he presented a framed print entitled “P assion” to Hoffmeister.

The police de partment also

honored three of their o wn. In secret ballot v oting by their peers , Reserve Officer R uss Eddy was named V olunteer of the Y ear, Susan Burdett was voted Employee of the Year (non-sworn personnel) and Ric h Enea, Jr. was named Officer of the Year for the second consecutive year.

Enea is quic kly dev eloping a regional re putation for being tough on dr unk dri vers, said

Lawrence. “Of the 53 DUI arrests made this year , Enea made 28 of them. He sho ws ‘toughlo ve’ to visitors and the community.”

SUSAN BURDETT

Justin Gray has a baby sister CHIEF LAWRENCE AND RICH ENEA

Tamara Steiner/Clayton Pioneer

Standing: Ryan Morimoto, Melinda Morimoto, Elves Jessica Weston and Allison Purser, Moss Morimoto; Seated: Mrs. Claus, Megan Morimoto, Santa and Will Morimoto

Megan Morimoto woos Santa at her special breakfast.

Not many families can boast about their very own private session and sumptuous breakfast with Santa and Mrs. Claus during the holida y season.

The Morimoto family , however, is the exception.

On Dec. 9, parents Moss and Melinda and their three children, Ryan, Megan and Will, spent nearly an hour with Santa, his elves and Mrs . Claus at the Clayton Community Library discussing ev erything from who is the fastest reindeer to how Santa knows everyone’s name.

The Morimotos w ere the winners of the private visit with Santa at the Mt. Diablo Elementary Sc hool spring auction. They w ere g ranted some

special time with Santa and Mrs .

Claus before the ann ual desser t with Mrs . Claus ev ent, sponsored b y the Cla yton Business and Comm unity Association.

According to President Mik e Fossan, this year’ s ev ent drew more than 500 people.

The Morimotos didn ’t ha ve to worry about crowds and long lines. They had their photo taken with Mr . and Mrs . Claus and then sat down to open gifts and c hat with Santa. Two-yearold R yan just smiled the entire time and occasionally g ave a wave to Santa. Will, 8, made sure Santa knew that his wish list included video g ames, and Megan, 5, wouldn’t let g o of Santa’s hand.

LAURA HOFFMEISTER

Some holiday horsin’ around at Diamond Terrace

Paul and Heather Gra y are proud to announce the bir th of their daughter J enna Shea on Nov. 28. She weighed in at 8lbs, 4oz. and w as 19 and one-half inches long . Jenna joins her two-year-old brother J ustin Ryder in the Gra y household.

Grandparents Eric and Sharon Sundin, Cheryl Gray and Da ve and Carol Gray live in Clayton.

Tamara Steiner/Clayton Pioneer

Diamond Terrace residents, Marjorie Scott, Dottie Bor nemann and Inge Hanewald accept holiday greetings from George. George was one of four horses who visited Diamond T errace with their owners Dec. 15 as par t of a holiday g reeting from the Mt. Diablo Trail Ride Association. Following the horses’ visit, the Concord High School Ladies First serenaded the residents with Christmas Carols .

JENNA GRAY

More Around Town, page A4

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December 22, 2006

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

Homes, from page A1

Page A3

Clayton’s Parade of Christmas Lights Jeffry Ranch 7 Nottingham Place

Dana Hills 214 Mountaire Circle 510 Mt. Davidson Court

Off Mitchell Canyon Road 5836 Mitchell Canyon Court 5837 Mitchell Canyon Court 5842 Mitchell Canyon Court 5848 Mitchell Canyon Court 928 Kenston Drive 28 Herriman Court

2nd place winner 5836 Mitchell Canyon Court Reflections and Bob Steiner , Clayton Pioneer , rated eac h home indi vidually and tallied their scores at the end of the evening. Homes were judged on originality, creativity, attractive use of light and color , creative

use of non-lighting decorations and overall effect.

One judg e w as impressed with lighting design, while another pointed out the original touches that made some displays stand out. Another judg e

While not in the top three, each of the homes below had something quite special about their decorations. Clockwise from top left: Don’t miss the carolers gracing the front of 5837 Mitchell Canyon Ct.; An angel heralds guests’ arrival at 32 El Molino Dr., A snowman and reindeer sparkle in the night at 4021 Hummingbird and 5842 Mitchell Canyon Ct. proclaims “Peace” to all who pass.

All photos on this page by Roberta Claire Photography, www.robertaclaire.com

liked the singing carolers .

However it was the sheriff ’s car with the w aving Santa, the snowman on the second stor y veranda and the beautifully decorated w alkway to the McLaughlin home at 214 Mountaire Circle that captured the judges fancy.

Leanna, Kevin, Matt (16) and Haley McLaughlin (13) were the first place winners for the 2006 contest. “We all put our heads tog ether and came up with the displa y this year ,” says K evin. “Everyone in the

family had something to add, ” he adds. The McLaughlins usually ha ve an old car as par t of their display, but this is the first time they used a Highway Patrol car. Kevin explains that the grinch wasn’t caught at the time of the judging but he was added to the display the next day.

Second Place winners w ere Susan and Mic hael Smith at 5836 Mitchell Canyon Ct. Susan loves sno wmen and made sure her displa y g ave the Christmas characters their rightful place on the front la wn. Michael, also known as Mic key, likes the inflatable Mic key Mouse . The Smiths had a lot of help with their displa y from their son, Michael and daughter -in-law

Regency Woods 31 Weatherly Drive 32 El Molino Drive 114 Samuel Court

TAMARA STEINER Clayton Pioneer

Peacock Creek, Oakhurst 121 Hummingbird Way

Maria.

Vince and A ugusta K elly who li ve at 5848 Mitc hell Canyon Cour t took third place with their beautiful light display, penguins, snowman, and Charlie Brown figures . Augusta especially lik es the Noel sign and beaded trees . Clayton residents since 1978, the Kellys and their neighbor, the T ompachs, were one of the first families to decorate their homes for Christmas on their cour t and it soon caught on.

The Pioneer recei ved four entries from residents of Mitchell Cany on Cour t. “We didn’t think of it as a competition. We do it because I lo ve Christmas,”Augusta says.

3rd place winner 5848 Mitchell Canyon Court

Police step up anti-DUI efforts December is traditionally a month for celebrations . “Eat, drink and be mer ry” goes the Biblical phrase. But in a countywide crac kdown ag ainst dr unk driving, Clayton police advise revelers to eat rather than drink unless they w ant to end up spending Christmas in jail.

“Over the limit? Under arrest” is the catch phrase for the Avoid the 25 campaign, a regional effor t that hits hard ag ainst drunk dri ving during the holidays. The “25” refers to the county’s 25 la w enforcement agencies.

This year, Clayton is hosting the month-long event, which got underway on Dec . 6. According to Cla yton P olice Chief Dan Lawrence, more than 150 officers from the 25 police ag encies in Contra Costa County par ticipated in a countywide w arrant sweep. Lawrence gave the opening pe p talk to the officers and Sgt. Tim O’Hara gave the supervisor’s briefing.

The officers were then divided into teams of four and w ent out into the four cor ners of the county to ser ve outstanding DUI warrants. By the end of the evening, 52 outstanding warrants were ser ved, including one in Clayton.

Warrants can be issued for such violations as failure to appear in court after a DUI citation, failure to pa y fines or to complete cour t-mandated programs after arrest.

The Avoid the 25 campaign will also in volve ste pped-up use of sobriety checkpoints.

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Page A4

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

Around Town

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Tamara Steiner/Clayton Pioneer

RACHEL AND AL SIEVER

Rachael Siev er and her father, Al, light the first candle of the Menorah to mark the first ev ening of Hanukkah on Dec. 15. The Menorah is at the north end of town near the Christmas tree and can be seen from both do wntown and Clayton Road.

Hanukkah means “rededication” and commemorates the rededication of the T emple in Jerusalem after its desecration by foreign forces.

The nine-branched Menorah

is a symbol closely associated with the J ewish holida y of Hanukkah.

After the destr uction of the Jewish temple in J erusalem, there was only enough oil left to fuel the eter nal f lame for one day. Miraculously, the oil burned for eight da ys whic h w as enough time to g et new oil as well as finish rebuilding the Temple.

The ninth candle in the center of the Menorah is used to light all the other candles.

Submit your wedding announcements, births, anniversaries and other Around Town items from our Website at www.claytonpioneer.com

Jill Bedecarre/Clayton Pioneer

CITY MANAGER GARY NAPPER shows fifth graders at Mt. Diablo Elementary School the proposed layout for Clayton’s new downtown park during a class tour of city hall.

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“If we have such a tight budget, how can we afford a park and a blue store?” Brenden Crabbe, a fifth-grader at Mt. Diablo Elementary Sc hool, asked City Manager Gary Napper during his class’s recent tour of city hall.

It w as all par t of teacher Diahnn Goldsmith’ s attempt to bring city g overnment ali ve for her students . “It gi ves them a sense of how the Constitution translates into local g overnment and encourag es them to g et involved and to understand the issues,” she says.

Goldsmith has been a teac her in the Mt. Diablo School District for 15 years and has taught fifth grade at Mt. Diablo for the past three years. “I love government,” she says.

Her hands-on approach to the fifth-grade cur riculum on g overnment and the Constitution has helped students understand the relationship between city expenses and tax es. For example , Napper asked the students if they

knew ho w the soccer , baseball fields and park are maintained and who pa ys for it. “It’s a connect-the-dots experience ,” Goldsmith says.

Many of the fifth-g raders were curious about do wntown construction. “What’s happening to the blue store? W hen will the park be finished? W hen can w e run and play in the water?” A few were well-versed in the city’ s history and founder Joel Clayton.

While Napper talk ed about city planning, taxes and career opportunities in city government, another group of students got up close and personal with the police department and happenings behind the scene.

Prior to the city hall tour , Goldsmith took a g roup of students to the T uesday night City Council meeting . Four students spoke on wh y they believ e kids should be a par t of government.

They also witnessed the changing of the guard at the annual reorganization meeting, where Bill Walcutt was installed as Cla yton’s new ma yor and Greg g Manning as vice mayor.

Winter semester begins Jan. 15, 2007

Sievers mark the start of Hanukkah

MDES fifth graders get a close look at City Hall JILL BEDECARRÉ Clayton Pioneer

December 22, 2006

December 22, 2006

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

Page A5

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Internet Customer Service Seasonal Reflections Holiday Decorations Store at 5434YgnacioValley Road is hiring an in-store, internet customer service phone representative. Full time position, Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Compensation based on experience. Fax resumes to 925-672-2314 or email guest.service@seasonalreflections.com.

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 evens 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).

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matters related to the 1997 Citywide Landscape Maintenance District. For applications and more information, Clayton City Hall, 6000 Heritage Trail, 673-7300, ljackson@ci.clayton.ca.us. Please return completed application to the City Clerk by 5 p.m. Fri., Oct. 27.

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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, improvement and financial

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5434 Ygnacio Valley Road, Ste. 130 in the Clayton Valley Shopping Center on the Washington Blvd. side.

PIONEER INFO HOW TO PLACE A CLASSIFIED AD

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 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 Dromlewicz, Kim - Century 21 Diablo Valley Realty . . .682-4663 Eagles Peak Realty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .465-0435 Easy Storage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-3476 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 Bridal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .687-1347 Gourmet Subs and More . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .673-5550 Help You Sell Real Estate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .680-4950 Highfill, Lynne - Coldwell Banker . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .932-7335 Holy Cross Lutheran Church . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .686-2000 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 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 Music Together . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .360-3298 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 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 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. Bonaventure Catholic Church . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-5800 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 Williams, Mike - Williams Properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .260-5363 Wooden It Be Nice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .673-5595 Zekco Watch Repair . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .689-2470

Page A6

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

December 22, 2006

Clayton homes hit by holiday crime wave - don’t let it happen to y ou CHIEF DAN LAWRENCE Clayton Police Department

Historically, during the holiday season most affluent community police de partments re port a dramatic increase in the n umber of thefts, including residential burglaries.

During this holida y season nearly a dozen homes in Cla yton have been burglarized b y one or more thieves.

As a result of some luck and good in vestigative w ork b y Clayton police officers , we ha ve been able to identify a possible suspect who resides in a neighboring comm unity. We believ e this person is responsible for some of these burglaries, as well as residential burglaries in other communities.

We are w orking with sev eral neighboring police de partments

(as w ell as the State P arole Department) in order to dev elop and collect enough evidence so that the responsible person(s) is brought to justice . We are also trying to locate the stolen property so that it can be reco vered and returned to victims.

In addition to the recent rash of burglaries, several households have been victimized by thiev es who steal Christmas packages off Chief Dan Lawrence of the front porch where recently deli vered pac kages ha ve been left b y UPS , FedEx, DHL, and US Mail services.

We ha ve increased the n um-

ber of “eyes” in the comm unity by aler ting the v arious deli veries service companies about this crime problem. Their dri vers have been asked to report all suspicious acti vity they obser ve while making deliveries.

Although the City of Clayton remains one of the “safest” cities in whic h to reside , you m ust remember that criminals are busy this time of year, so please help us out by taking the proper safety precautions before leaving home.

Make sure you…

Create the illusion that you are home by using timers on lights, radios, TV Remove messag es from y our answering m achines daily so the “beep” is short Leave shades/drapes open to give an “everyday” appearance while away Lock the g arage door into the

Avoid the crowds, shop locally at

house. Don’t rely on y our garage door opener for security Stop deli veries of your mail/newspapers, or ask a trusted neighbor or friend to collect your mail or newspapers Call the Cla yton P olice Department at 673-7350, Monday through F riday, from 9 a.m -5 p .m. to send extra patrols to y our home while away.

ALWAYS re port suspicious activity in your neighborhood.

We cannot guarantee that you won’t become a crime victim.

However, if you adhere to these basic safety tips all year long y ou will g reatly lesson the c hance of becoming victimized.

Please call the police de partment or the P olice Chief , 6737350, if you ha ve questions or suggestions for additional crime prevention strategies.

City reviews options for landscape ballot TAMARA STEINER Clayton Pioneer

The City Council met in joint session with the T rails and Landscape Committee (T&LC) on Dec . 11 to review options for the next landscape district ballot measure.

The Landscape Maintenance District will ter minate in J une 2007 and, unless v oters pass a new measure in June, all funding for Cla yton’s landscaping will dry up.

A proposal to renew the district failed at the polls last year .

Measure M w ould have provid-

ed an ann ual assessment of $365, up from $122, for current and defer red landscape maintenance and a re placement of the city’s irrigation system. Measure M also w ould ha ve included funding for the downtown park.

This year, voters approved a separate district for funding the park operation, removing the park as an issue in considering funding for citywide landscaping.

The committee presented the council with fi ve options based on ser vice lev els, with estimated ann ual assessments ranging from $157 to $309. The

council w ants to k eep the new assessment under $200.

While the higher ser vice levels had some attraction, Councilman Da ve Shuey w as not in fa vor of the higher assessments they would require.

“It doesn’t have to look lik e the Chelsea f lower g ardens in England,” he said. “I don’t think we can do m uch more than triage with a cost of living adjustment.”

The council also w as in agreement that the new district would have to operate on a “pay as we g o” basis and not on the issuance of bonds and that the

term should be a minim um of 10 years.

The committee will meet again on J an. 8 at 7 p .m. in the meeting room at the librar y.

They are scheduled to present a final recommendation to the council on Jan. 16. Language for a ballot measure m ust be submitted to the county b y Mar. 9 in order to make the June ballot.

The T&LC and city officials encourage Cla yton residents to attend the meetings and v oice their questions , concerns and opinions.

For more infor mation, call City Hall, 673-7300.

25% off all clothing Happy Holidays

5458 Ygnacio Valley Rd. Ste. 20 Clayton Valley Shopping Center, 925-524-0345 Sherrill O’Brien www.denimlace.com

Purchase 4 traditional half-hour Massages and get the fifth one FREE Gift certificates make great stocking stuffers

That’s only $32 for each massage!

Bella Mia Spa

Located inside Mavericks Sports Club Non-members welcome

5294 Clayton Rd., Concord

680-7792

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

ice $775,000 r P w Ne Wow, incredible price, must go.

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

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

ns Greetings o s a e S

from Helen and St ephanie Clayton’s Preferred Real Estate Team

925.932.7375 Helen

925.932.7329 Stephanie

homes@helenandstephanie.com

December 22, 2006

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer .com

NEW HOPE FOR NECK AND LOW BACK PAIN! ble 86% Incredi rate success gery! t Sur Withou

Pain Free Treatment for:

Herniated Discs Disc Protrusion Bulging Discs New or Chronic Pain Neck or Low Back Pain If you have been suffering then call now for a 24/7 toll-free recorded message at 1-800-929-5696. Or go to www.beatthepainreport.com.

Call Dr. Moon today for a FREE DRX exam at 925-682-8400!

Only one color per style will be sold for your event

Page A7

New T-shirt, museum exhibit mark 150th birthday MARY SPRYER Special to the Pioneer

If you bought a car in California betw een 1998 and 2000, it’s lik ely that y our license plate said “Sesquicentennial – 150 years” in red letters across the bottom. The state had the plates made as par t of California’s three-year sesquicentennial celebration.

The celebration highlighted three historical ev ents that took place 150 years before: The 1848 discovery of gold, the Gold Rush in 1849 and Califor nia’s statehood in 1850.

In 1857, just nine years after gold w as found at Sutter’ s Mill, Joel Clayton planned and drew a map of the town of Clayton and filed it with the county offices. In 2007, Clayton is celebrating its 150th birthday.

To kick off our sesquicentennial year, the city-sponsored New

FREE matching garter with purchase!

Happy Holidays from Robin’s Ranches

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

Specialist in Ranch and Country Properties.

Thinking of selling?

Robin’s Ranches web page gets more than 6,000 viewings a month

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.

Reduced to $899,000

Concord, 5332 Myrtle Drive Welcome to the neighborhood! This lovely home has been remodeled within the last year. Large lot, beautiful home. Parklike back yard, covered patio plus deck off the master.

Grand views of Mt. Diablo! 4 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, formal dining. New roof in 2005.

Two-car garage.

$729,000 for more pictures of these ranches go to www.robinsranches.com

Robin’s Ranches

Kropa Realty Walnut Creek, CA

(925) 672-7323 / 550-2383 Full Broker Co-operation on all Robin’s Ranches listings

robin@robinsranches.com

announces The service of the month for our patients for the month of December:

Winning sesquicentennial design submission by Max Marcil

as well as histor y of the Clayton Valley and the native people who lived here.

Look for Cla yton’s other sesquicentennial ev ents during the upcoming year . Many of Clayton’s regularly sc heduled events, such as the Ar t & Wine Festival, Fourth of July P arade and Oktoberfest, will ha ve a sesquicentennial twist to commemorate Cla yton’s first 150 years.

Mary Spryer is the curator at the Clayton Museum, 6101 Main St.

Obituary

Doris Jean Mann Allen Feb. 23, 1954 – Dec. 3, 2006

JANET EASTON Special to the Pioneer

2368 Concord Blvd., Concord, CA

Years ev ent, “Clayton Counts Down” held at Diablo View Middle School gym, will have its annual T-shirt imprinted with the official sesquicentennial design.

Clayton V alley High Sc hool student Max Marcil designed the T-shirt. Max won the design contest held in No vember and is scheduled to recei ve his prize from the city on Jan. 2, preceding the City Council meeting.

Jeannette Rapica voli will receive an award for her secondplace design. Kyle Langford will be honored for third, and J ake Turrin and Sara K ommer will receive honorable mentions.

On Sunda y, Jan. 7, the Clayton Historical Society Museum will open a year -long special sesquicentennial exhibit entitled: “Clayton, A Town Rich in Histor y.” The g rand opening of the exhibit will be from 1 p.m. until 4 p .m. and will feature a look at Cla yton’s past 150 years

Doris Allen passed a way after a long illness on Dec . 3 in Concord. Married for 21 years , she lea ves behind the lo ve of her life , her husband Mic hael Allen. She w as with her c hildhood sweetheart for 26 years.

A fourth-generation resident of Contra Costa County , Doris is descended from the pioneering families of Frank, Stockfleth and Wilkie , who came to Cla yton in the 1800s.

Born to Charles and Willmetta F rank Mann, Doris had an idyllic c hildhood and enjo yed her position as “the baby” of the family. Doris g raduated from Mt. Diablo High Sc hool in 1972 and made her career with California Casualty Insurance in W alnut Creek.

Her peac hes and cream complexion and her gorgeous blonde curls made her a standout throughout her life. She relished the hunting, target shooting and fishing trips she shared with Mic hael and their numerous friends.

Doris had a k een sense of humor, a quic k wit and a sparkling personality. She had a kind and loving heart and a soft spot for animals. As a child, she demonstrated the desire to sa ve

animals, even once taking in a chicken she named Stanley . She served as a v olunteer for Community Concer n for Cats (CC4C) throughout her adulthood.

Creative b y nature , Doris crafted many beautiful things

DORIS ALLEN

over the years . She enjo yed counted cross-stitc h and beading. The gifts she made for others are treasured.

Besides her husband

Michael, Doris is survived by her mother, Willmetta Frank Mann, a nati ve of Clayton; her sisters, Charmetta Mann of Clayton and Alice Mann Stew art (James) of Santa R osa; nieces, Nicole Mann Gaines (Matt) of Oklahoma, Kimberly Moses (Paul) of Martinez and Meg Mann P ettit of Santa R osa; nephew, Wayne Bennett of Susanville; her aunts, Carmen Frank of Clayton and Wilda Farrar of El Sobrante; mother- and father -inlaw, Myron and J ean Allen of Concord; sister-in-law, Debra Allen of Concord; b r o t h e r - i n - l a w, Stephen Allen of Pittsburg; and dear family friends Bill and Linda Mar tin of Mountain Ranch.

She is predeceased b y her father, Charles Mann in 1996, and her brother , Stuart Mann in 1972.

Doris beamed a ra y of sunshine upon all those with whom she had contact during her lifetime .

Memorial contributions may be made to the J uvenile Diabetes Research F oundation, 120 W all St. 19th f loor, New Y ork, NY 10005. Doris supported stem cell research and if you do too , please write to your legislators.

As per her wishes , no f lowers should be sent and no ser vices will be held.

Holiday Tea Events Sunday 12/24

Complimentary Blood Pressure Check

Now op 7 day en a wee s k!

Christmas Eve Tea at 11 a.m. or 1 p.m.

An elegant holiday tea by candlelight!

offered Monday through Friday from 1 to 4 p.m.

Sunday 12/31

New Years Eve Tea at 11 a.m. or 1 p.m.

If you are not a patient of Clayton Valley Medical Group and would like to become one, please contact Sue at (925) 6744 x14

1520 Kirker Pass Road, Suite A Clayton, CA

(925) 672-6744

Open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Appointments are available

Escape the noisy football games with a relaxing teatime!

Sunday 1/21

aking Now t g evenin for tions reserva s and dinner ! parties

Soup-er Bingo at 3 p.m.!

Enjoy a delicious lunch and a chance to win hundreds of dollars in prizes!

Englund's Tea Cottage

www.EnglundsTeaCottage.com

672-TEAS (8327)

5433 L Clayton Road

Page A8

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

December 22, 2006

Wild pigs ravage Clayton yards BEV BRITTON Clayton Pioneer

While P aul and J ane Beretz were escorting their dinner guest to the door one ev ening, Paul encountered a feral pig – ha ving his o wn dinner par ty in their front yard.

“He was rooting about 4 feet from our front door ,” says Jane, who lives in the Blac k Diamond development at Oakhurst. “We ran out and he w ent r unning down the street.”

Pigs ha ve been tearing up dozens of lawns in the area since early December . The noctur nal animals eat almost anything they come across – n uts, berries, carrion, roots, tubers, refuse, insects, small reptiles, even young deer. If surprised or cor nered, they ma y become aggressive.

Jane Beretz says the pigs look like something out of the cave of Lascaux in F rance. “They are gray and hair y and they ha ve tusks.”

The animals are also making a mess around the 6th hole at Oakhurst Countr y Club . Golf course super visor Del Fitc hett

Photo by Paul Beretz

WILD PIGS MADE SHORT WORK of Paul Beretz’ front yard. The feral pigs have been rooting up lawns all over Clayton and can be aggressive if cornered.

and his crew ha ve been cr uising the course at night, trying to spot the culprits. “I dri ve m y car out there with the lights on, just to scare them off,” he says.

“It just seems to be sno wballing, like maybe they’re telling their friends ,” he adds with a laugh. “Luckily, they ha ven’t g ot to our greens or tees.”

While the pigs are making appearances in the dead of night, wild turk eys ha ve been rampaging through R egency Meado ws

Mayor, from page A1 exciting year for Cla yton. We have a lot of good things going, and I will ha ve the pleasure of many g roundbreakings and ribbon cuttings.

We are finally going to have a downtown. We ha ve all been talking about this for a long time, and it is finally coming tog ether.

A big thank y ou g oes to the entire City Council, the Planning Commission and city staff for all their indi vidual and collecti ve efforts to bring this tog ether.

Here are some of the highlights: Our new Longs Dr ugs across from the fire station should open in late summer . It will ser ve as an anc hor for the east end of historic downtown.

On the w est end of historic downtown, across from Endeavor Hall, we should cele-

brate the opening of the Oak/Center building in late fall.

This will be a two-story building consisting of mixed-use retail.

In the middle of town, we should have the long-awaited reopening of the Villag e Mark et by early summer . I think most of you know it as the blue store, but when it reopens it will be brown, so I guess w e are g oing to have to rename it.

And last, thanks to the g enerosity of our Cla yton v oters, we are g oing to ha ve a Downtown P ark. A big thank you to the Cla yton v oters. You have gi ven us the directi ve to deliver a quality park and maintain it at a level that will make us all proud. You can be assured we will not disappoint you.

All of this will ser ve as the

Longs, from page A1 the Town Center Specific Plan in the design of the Long’ s building.

Johnson is also the architect for Oak Center , a mix ed-use building in do wntown Cla yton scheduled for completion next year. And he has w orked on a variety of Longs stores that required specific arc hitectural guidelines to enhance a particular theme within the city.

The Clayton Longs will feature a dri ve-through phar macy and a parking lot behind the building. Travelers on Cla yton

Road will see the building exterior as they dri ve by, instead of a pa ved parking lot filled with cars. There will also be a deceleration lane from Clayton Road for traffic traveling eastbound.

According to J eremy Graves, Clayton’s comm unity development director, Longs is scheduled to open b y Labor Day. McAndrews is a little more cautious with his predictions, because constr uction crews are at the mercy of the weather for the next few months.

about 7 a.m. They sit on cars , lawns and roofs and tear up planters. One resident said the turkeys hang around her Chinese Pistache trees, eating the berries.

So, what’s a har ried homeowner to do? According to Lynn Christ of the Cla yton P olice Department, residents need to contact the county Ag riculture Department or state Fish and Game. Or, if the animal is dead, county Animal Control Ser vices.

Clint Gar rett, a w arden with

catalyst w e ha ve been looking for to g enerate interest and attract additional high-quality development to our historic downtown.

In closing, (I am sa ving the challenges for another issue) let me sa y that Cla yton is still one of the best places in Califor nia to live and raise a family, thanks to all the hard w ork of our former City Councils , our cur rent council, our commissioners, our community v olunteers and our very dedicated and professional city staff. I look forward to serving you as ma yor over the next 12 months.

Let me lea ve y ou with this thought: “It’s astonishing ho w politicians nev er sa y anything, yet alw ays insist they’ re being misquoted!” (Author unknown) If you ha ve any question, concerns, comments or advice, please send me an email at wrwalcutt@aol.com.

Graves has nothing but praise for the Longs team, including dev eloper J ack McGuire. “The project has moved forw ard v ery smoothly.

They (Longs) are tr ue professionals. They hire quality people who get the job done,” says Graves.

Longs will be the first major retailer in do wntown Cla yton and is expected to g enerate $36,000 in annual sales tax revenue. The local dr ug retailer is one of four projects scheduled for the downtown area, including Oak Center , Grove P ark and a municipal parking lot.

s a m t s i r h C y Merr

Fish and Game , says the de partment can issue a de predation permit to have the animals exterminated. After obtaining a permit, Fitchett said li ve animals traps w ere set out on the Oakhurst g olf course on Dec .

15.

However, Christ notes that a depredation per mit doesn ’t supersede city la w. In other words, you can ’t g o all bac kwoods and shoot the pig just because he dug up y our prized camellia.

For mor e infor mation, call Fish and Game at 1-707-944-5531 or visit www .dfg.ca.gov. The county Ag Department is at 646-5250.

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Page A9

Sellers should complete their home repairs before listing After years of living in a home, it’s easy to fall into a habit of overlooking home maintenance. Problems often don’t get fixed until a major disaster, like a roof leak in the middle of a monsoon.

Deferred home maintenance can become a problem, however, when y ou decide to sell. Most buyers w ant homes they can mo ve right into without ha ving to mak e a lot of repairs. Sellers need to decide before they put their home on the mark et whether to fix deferred re pairs or lea ve the work for a future buyer.

Usually sellers who have the time, money and inclination will do better on the sale of their home if they fix problems before they list it for sale . A home that is in mo ve-in condition appeals to a broad audience of prospective homebuyers. First-time homebuyers and buyers with busy lifestyles often won’t consider buying a home that needs a lot of work. They haven’t the time or experience to deal with the problems.

The listings that are in the best condition are in the highest demand. They can attract serious attention from more than one buyer . If multiple offers occur, the price sometimes g ets bid up . Regardless of whether there are m ultiple offers , a house that is in g ood condition will usually sell more quic kly than one that needs w ork. And a quic k sale often results in a

selling price that is close to the list price.

Sellers who don ’t mak e needed re pairs before putting

LYNNE FRENCH

REAL ESTATE their homes on the mark et may have difficulty selling, depending on how much work is needed. Because fix er-upper homebuyers make up a small por tion of the homebuyer market, there will be less o verall interest in the proper ty than there w ould be in a similar proper ty that is fixed up.

If your home needs a lot of work, it could tak e a long time to sell and it might sell for considerably less . Usually the longer a listing sits on the market, the lower the ultimate selling price.

Selling a home that needs a lot of work could dela y the closing if the buyer’ s lender requires that the w ork be completed as a condition of granting the mortgage.

One homeo wner sold a

home that needed about $25,000 of repair for ter mite and dr y rot. The buyer’s lender said the w ork had to be completed by close. The buyer and seller both wanted a quick close.

But the job w as extensi ve, and combined with inter mittent delays due to rain, it took about two months to complete the work.

Most sellers can ’t afford to fix everything that’s wrong with their home before listing it for sale. It’s impor tant to prioritize to make sure that your money is spent on re pairs that will ha ve the most positi ve impact on prospective buyers.

Call a kno wledgeable real estate ag ent for a consultation.

Complete a w alk-through of your home with the ag ent, with pen and pad in hand. List all the improvements the ag ent suggests you complete before selling. Then ask him or her to order the list in ter ms of most and least impor tant. Then ask how m uch difference it will make in terms of selling price if you complete none, some or all of the recommended repairs.

The amount of time and money y ou ha ve usually determines ho w m uch w ork g ets done.

The CBCA donated $10,000 to the Clayton Valley Little League.

The money w as used to reno vate the pla ying fields, which were in dire need of repair.

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ROTARY CLUB OF CLAYTON VALLEY/CONCORD SUNRISE The inter nationally acclaimed Harlem Ambassadors will be visiting the area for a game at 7 p .m. April 15 at Diablo V alley Colleg e in Pleasant Hill. For the local event, the Ambassadors have partnered with the Rotary Club of Clayton Valley/ Concord Sunrise to help raise funds for inter national and community programs.

The Harlem Ambassadors offer a unique brand of basketball, featuring high-f lying slam dunks, dazzling ball-handling tricks and hilarious comedy routines. Ladè Majic, the queen of show bask etball, is the creative force behind the success of the Ambassadors . In her ninth season as the Ambassadors pla yer/head coach, she contin ues to spread laughs and a positi ve messag e for kids.

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Dear Editor, I just w anted to sa y thank you for y our help with g etting the w ord out for the ann ual food drive for Cub Scout P ack 262. When all w as said and done w e collected o ver 200 bags of food from the Oakhurst comm unity. for the needy T he kids had a ball and the families of Clayton really stepped up to the plate!

I w ould lik e to request a “Big T hank Y ou” from Cub scout 262 to the to wn of Clayton be placed in the Clayton Pioneer , if possible.

I’m not sure how to do it but to just sa y THANK Y OU FOR YOUR SUPPORT! Thank you again for all your support and for what y our paper does for our community!

– Mitzi Hyland

Upcoming Events

CLAYTON COUNTS DOWNDEC , 31 Celebrate New Y ear’s Ev e with the whole family this year at the ann ual Cla yton Counts Down alcohol-free celebration at the Cla yton Comm unity Gym. Families will enjoy, games and activities for all ag es, crafts and delicious food and snac ks.

It’s all possible through the generous suppor t of sponsors and volunteers. The ev ent sponsored b y 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 Cla yton City Clerk, Laci Jackson at 673-7300.

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Page A10

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

December 22, 2006

Climbing to the top as a tree trimmer

Thief ducks out on these five birds The T welve Days of Christmas took on a new reality last w eek when thiev es heisted four dead duc ks, one live duck and one po wer tool from a pic kup on Golden Eagle W ay, reports Cla yton Police Chief Dan Lawrence.

The ducks were recovered later that day on Easley Drive.

The li ve duc k w as still ali ve and the dead ones w ere still dead.

All w ere tur ned o ver to county Animal Ser vices, who contacted the o wners of the five golden birds (la, la, la).

The po wer tool is still at large.

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Start the year off with garden maintenance January is right around the corner, and it’s time to resolv e that this will be the year that we are g oing to tak e g reat care of our yards and g ardens. This is the year that w e are actually going to fer tilize as recommended, prune when needed and re-v amp and re-plant tired landscapes.

Lawn care is impor tant in

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trust in m y kno wledge,” Stone says. “It took me a long time to gain that knowledge.”

Stone lik es to think of his job as an ar t, from the ability to scale a tall tree to the careful pruning, trimming and in some cases remo val of a tree . “It requires a skill that tak es years to master,” he says.

On any gi ven da y, rain or shine, Stone uses ropes, saddles, chainsaws, pruning equipment and a lift truck. Despite the danger involved, he’s never suffered any major injuries . In fact, the more c hallenging the job , the better.

Stone enjo ys the hands-on aspect of his job, especially the removal of a tree. “I do all the work myself,” he adds.

He wants to keep his company small, allowing him to be present at ev ery job and a vailable to his clients on a da y-today basis.

When he’ s not climbing trees, Stone enjoys weekend geta-ways with his wife , Darlene.

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Knowing what it tak es to be a professional tree trimmer creates a whole new respect for the person who c hooses suc h a career. For Ric hard Stone of Stone Tree, it’s a passion that he loves to pursue on a daily basis .

He’s devoted nearly 30 years to the job , working his w ay up from a ground man to a climber to ev entually o wning his o wn company, Stone Tree.

During those years , he learned ev erything he could about the business, acquired his contractor’s license and became a member of the Inter national Society of Arboriculture and an ISA certified arborist.

In the 1980s , while some tree pr uners practiced hac king and other damaging tree pr uning methods, Stone operated his business with expertise and dignity. “My customers put a lot of

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January. We need to apply a lawn food with a pre-emerg ent to control crab g rass, fox tail, goose g rass poa ann ua and other ann ual w eeds found in turf grass. Although your lawn may not sho w signs of weeds now, this pre-emergent product will prev ent the w eed seeds from germinating in the spring.

Crab grass was a huge problem during the warm spring and summer of 2006, so it’s best to remedy the problem before it actually exists . Try to g et y our product applied before Valentine’s Day, because a couple of warm days may begin the germination process earlier than you realize.

For g ardeners with deciduous fr uit trees, now is the time to apply a copper fungicide or dormant spray. This application is impor tant in the prev ention of peach leaf curl and fire blight, just to name tw o.

Flowering pear trees need to be sprayed no w for fire blight.

Combine the fungicide with a product called g rip to mak e sure that the liquid really stic ks to the branc hes. Grip should also be used for the peac h and nectarine trees.

The J anuary application is important, but y ou will also need a follo w-up application right about the time that y ou notice tight f lower buds on the trees. You must apply the cop-

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GARDEN GIRL uct as y ou will shor ten y our flowering time, perhaps experience bud drop and definitely kill off potential fruit.

For homeowners with roses and crape m yrtles that suffered from powdery mildew this past summer, spray copper fungicide at this time . Second applications will also be needed in late February or early March.

Cut deciduous fr uit and shade trees to shape in J anuary.

Thin out the branches on fr uiting trees to allow air circulation and light penetration. Shade trees may need “stray hairs” cut back to match the more consistent growth of the tree.

If your tree is too larg e for you to pr une safely , call an expert. A properly trimmed tree

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looks great, and regular maintenance is less costly than drastic cuts every 6 to 10 years.

Summer-blooming, deciduous shr ubs lik e w eigelia and spirera will need tw o-thirds of their old w ood cut do wn.

Woody ev ergreen salvias will need a major haircut this month as well.

If you are not sure of the maintenance of your perennials, bring b y a sample of the plant for more personalized advice.

Installing winter blooming annuals will mak e the dismal days g o b y faster . Consider cyclamen and primrose in shady places. Add pansies and violas to sunny spots . If you need a little height in y our g arden, plant snapdrag ons, stock or Iceland poppies for g reat color.

As alw ays, plant ann ual color with a high nitrog en soil conditioner.

Don’t forg et to bait for snails during the winter months.

One night of feeding and y our plants may be all g one.

This is g oing to be a g reat garden year . Let’s g et dir ty!

Happy gardening.

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December 22, 2006

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer .com

Page A11

At the Movies

Patty Flannery

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GOT SPACE?

There are some things redeemer to be born.

Sunday school or picture Bibles Surprisingly, the strong est never quite deli vered. Director character is Oscar Isaacs as Catherine Hardwicke most likely Joseph. You know, the carpenter understood this when she set who … helped Mar y raise Jesus. out to con vey the stor y behind This mo vie cer tainly redefined the figurines who peacefully sit his character in a way more relatbeneath Christmas able to humans . trees at this time After all, he is usualof year. ly only compared to In “T he the immaculate Nativity Stor y,” Mary and the “savior Nazareth is a of the world.” harsh to wn with In the dream hard labor , taxes when Gabriel tells and undesirable Joseph that Mar y is marriages. telling the tr uth Although J oseph about her conce pNATALIE BUDESA tion, Gabriel sho ws takes care to glance at Mar y AT THE MOVIES up just before (Oscar nominated Joseph raises a stone Keisha Castleto par ticipate in a Hughes) ev ery time she passes , crowd victimizing Mar y. For Mary quietly a voids him. When Joseph to acce pt Mar y w as to Mary’s father betroths Mar y to accept the responsibility of him, she is less than pleased – a fathering God’s son on Ear th a fine personage of adolescence. weighty task indeed.

However, that’s as far as a Who knew ho w dramatic promise for an inno vative direc- finding a place to sta y when tion g oes. The ang el Gabriel Mary is about to deli ver actually appears to remind us of the could be? An anxious J oseph familiarity of the stor y being knocks at doors , then shouts , told. There is hardly room to eventually car rying Mar y to a add teen angst when there is a small cave to gi ve birth. Yet the

Oscar Isaac (left) as Joseph and Keisha Castle-Hughes (right) as Mary in this story of the birth of Jesus directed by Catherine Hardwicke.

realism quickly turns to the ethereal, as the bright star of Bethlehem shines through an opening onto the newbor n and his parents. Surely nothing illustrates Christmas as m uch as this scene.

“He is for all mankind, ” Mary says to the admiring she pherds. A beautiful conce pt, though this alone puts J esus through some of the hardest of tests. But that’ s another stor y, which Mel Gibson has made sure got its screen time.

For Christians, “The Nativity Story” provides a refreshing

glimpse of why Christmas is celebrated. However, this film does not add enough insight bey ond the Bible’ s w ords for it to be rather interesting to others.

And I w ould not bring the kids, either. If it’s painful for them to sit through Sunda y school, this movie will not bring any new rev elations. Although “Happy F eet” down the hall could work wonders.

Natalie Budesa is 15 y ears old and a sophomore at CVHS. She aspires to a career as a cinemato grapher. Send y our comments to movies@claytonpioneer.com

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There are films that seem to make themselves. Brilliant writers create memorable characters and moving plots, which studios clamor o ver to option, hiring ingenious directors and talented actors who are beg ging for the roles.

Then there are mo vies lik e “The Holiday.” I wonder whose fault it is that I was subjected to such drivel.

Was the script alw ays that inane? Were the actors offered insane amounts of money to help them o vercome their hesitations about signing up for such a piece of garbage? Did the studio bosses simply hope

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that the romance-star ved public would g o see whatev er w as placed before them so they could mak e bac k their in vestment before the opening w eekend reviews smashed its pathetic hope of survival?

There are few romantic comedies out there recently , since Nora Ephron seems to have lost her ability to write anything worthwhile, so I was looking forward to this. I’m angry at how bad this film was.

Kate Winslet, with the exception of “Titanic,” is always endearing. Jude Law shows consistent promise , particularly in this role that casts him as more

than simply the lad-about-town. crushing, “Oh, I know ...”

And ev en J ack Blac k sho wed a To mak e matters w orse, soft underbelly that could ha ve Nancy Meyers’ script favors the catapulted him out of the 14Diaz stor yline, and the Winslet year-old bo y fan story is left sadly base. Cameron Diaz underdeveloped. has rarely been Seriously, why worth w atching, but bother to use our with those three to four-time Oscar support her, I hoped nominee? I w as that ev en she might left w anting to rise to the occasion. claw Diaz’ s eyes Wrong, wrong – out for boring me so wrong. to tears, when w e The plot had could ha ve been incredible potential. watching Winslet JEANNA ROSS Two w omen trade gleam.

AT THE MOVIES All the one-linhouses for Christmas follo wing ers are courtesy of disastrous breakups. As alw ays, our leading men, while the psymen inter vene and romance chological ev aluation is ensues. Surrey, England, and Winslet’s arena. What pur pose Los Ang eles seem lik e perfect Diaz played in this film, besides locations for beautiful scener y bland blonde, is still beyond me. and girly pleasures . Nope. The And this w ent on for more locations aren ’t used at all, than tw o hours . By the end, I except the occasional mention was seething. of the Santa Ana winds (though Don’t g o. Save y ourself. If I g ot the distinct impression necessary, watch it on video that it was windy during filming, later and comment about how it so they had no c hoice but to wasn’t all that bad (no w that create additional lines to mak e your expectations ha ve been sense of it). drastically lo wered), but please Even when the inevitable don’t spend y our hard-ear ned decisions ha ve to be made , the cash at the box office. logical solutions nev er seem to occur to anyone. The dialogue is incredibly banal, particularly in Jeanna Ross is an Eng lish the scenes in volving Diaz, who teacher at Clayton V alley High is apparently incapable of doing School and a fr ee lance writer . She anything ex cept twinkling her regularly contributes to the Pioneer . pretty eyes and smiling at La w Send comments to her at before uttering another soulmovies@claytonpioneer.com.

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Page A12

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

December 22, 2006

With main ascent behind us, spirits soar at Ohlone

KEVIN PARKER

HIKER’S HAVEN OHLONE WILDERNESS REGIONAL TRAIL PART 2 This article reflects the second of a two-part series about the Ohlone Wilderness Trail. In the last issue , I wrote about Del V alle to Stew art’s Camp.

DAY 2: STEWART’S CAMP TO SUNOL BACKPACK CAMP Distance: 10.5 miles Elevation gain: 1,800 feet Hiking time: 6 hours, 15 min.

I w as a wakened b y the sounds of, well nothing, as the gentle glow of the morning sun

Descending into Sunol

began to fill the shaded areas around Stew art’s Camp . I w as sore from a fairly difficult hik e on the first day of our trip, but my 34-year -old body quic kly forgot the pain as w e g athered around the camp sto ve for hot tea, bagels and oatmeal.

For me, the very essence of camping in the bac kcountry is the company y ou k eep. Idle moments around a camp sto ve eating breakfast, sharing accounts of what was seen the previous da y and the camaraderie of hiking from star t to finish as a team are a w orthwhile bonus to the backpacking experience.

We brok e camp mid-mor ning and took Greenside Trail up past Blue R ock, back to ward the Ohlone Wilderness Trail. A careful examination of the trail map the previous night had given me some g ood infor mation on the distance and elev ation we would tackle today. The first leg of our trip pro vided a huge elev ation g ain in a shor t distance, but what we lacked in distance on Da y 1 w ould be made up for on Da y 2 – with 10.5 miles to cover.

The layout of the trail was a lot more g radual in ter ms of ascent than yesterda y, but the first few hours of hiking reflected a steady uphill climb as w e made our w ay to ward Rose Peak. Since this section of trail is not near a trailhead, we saw only one other person – a “volunteer trail patrolman” named Jed. He was well-versed in local wildlife , native plants and g eocaching as w ell as a great source of information about the Ohlone Wilder ness in general.

We stopped for lunc h at Rose Peak. At 3,817 feet, it’s a mere 32 feet lo wer in elev ation

Photos by Kevin Parker

HIGH

ON A RIDGE,

Sky Camp is the perfect place to watch the sunset.

than Mt. Diablo (3,849). Living in the shado ws of Mt. Diablo my entire life made it hard to believe that there w as another mountain in the area that w as anywhere near the same height.

Rose Peak proved to be a fantastic lunc h spot, with panoramic views , trees for shade and a place of such beauty it w as difficult to lea ve after we finished lunch.

We contin ued past R ose Peak and beg an the first lengthy descent of the hik e as we follo wed Buc kboard T rail, one of my favorite sections of trail during our trip .

Throughout the da y, we w ere given n umerous oppor tunities for wildlife viewing – including a bobcat, alligator lizards and even a small snak e. Highlights

during this por tion of the hike were Mid R oad Trail and Goat Rock, which is a gig antic roc k formation not easily matc hed in these parts.

As we finished another long and rew arding da y of hiking, we landed at our next destination Sunol Backpack Camp.

The camp is very spread out and contains six or sev en campsites. Some are closer to bathrooms and w ater, but w e chose Sk y Camp , what I consider to be the best mo ve of our trip.

A trip to the bathroom or nearest w atering hole is about 20-minutes round trip , but Sk y Camp’s location is w orth any and all effor t expended. The camp is perched high on a ridge overlooking the entire Sunol

of trails that took us past Cer ro Este (el. 1,720) and due north of the Little Yosemite Area, which put us onto McCorkle T rail.

With miles of hiking completed on predominately fire roads for the past tw o da ys, McCorkle Trail w as a breath of fresh air .

The single-track trail meandered back and for th, dropping more elevation with every turn.

A quic k tur n onto Cany on View Trail and eventually Indian Joe Nature Trail were a nice way to end our trip as w e approached the tr usty F ord Explorer park ed near the P ack Station Cor ral in Sunol. Packs were dropped, arms raised and high fives were given repeatedly as we congratulated one another on a job well done.

In retrospect, I couldn ’t think of a better w ay to do this hike – unless we spent one more day on the trail and finished at Mission Peak. However, I’ll save that for another ar ticle. Until then, enjoy the outdoors.

Regional Wilder ness and is the perfect spot to catc h a sunset.

We manag ed to pitc h three tents in the small campsite and spent the rest of the ev ening telling stories and smiling about another day of great adventure.

For more information on this hike or other outdoor experiences , contact Ke vin at hiker@claytonpioneer.com.

DAY 3: SUNOL BACKPACK CAMP TO SUNOL VISITOR CENTER Distance: 3.7 miles Hiking time: 2 hours Our final morning was spent eating pancak es while w atching the sun blanket the Sunol Valley floor. We all knew the final da y was do wnhill ex cept for a few small hills , so spirits w ere high as we were close to our g oal of 21 miles.

We left Sunol Bac kpack Camp, descending down a series

O HLONE W I L D E R N E S S R E G I O N A L T RAIL , PART 2 Trailheads: Del Valle Regional Park, Sunol Regional Wilderness and Mission Peak Regional Preserve Difficulty: Extremely strenuous Distance: 21 miles Getting There: To get to Sunol, take I-680 south past Pleasanton and exit Calaveras Road/Hwy. 84 just past Sunol. Turn left on Calaveras Road and proceed for 4 miles to Geary Road, which takes you to the park.

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December 22, 2006

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer .com

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Page A13

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Helen Rahimzadeh and Ste phanie Lopez, Coldwell Banker’s dynamic duo, made time to think of others during the holida y season. As par t of their ann ual thank y ou lunc heon ev ent for family, friends and colleagues , Helen and Stephanie ask ed everyone to bring canned food items for the Contra Costa County F ood Bank. By the time the lunc heon w as o ver, several bins w ere overflowing with Jill Bedecarre/Clayton Pioneer goodies for Santa, Stephanie Lopez, Helen Rahimzadeh and those less for tufriend, Sharon McNulty. nate.

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School News

Home for the holidays?

Give yourself a gift – make the sofa look like new – replace the drapes for a cozy Holiday evening with friends.

Brownie Troop shares the holiday spirit with sick children Clayton Brownie Troop 1875 headed by co-leader Robyn Rivera brought some holida y c heer to John Muir Medical Center on December 13. The girls sang holiday songs in the pediatric unit, the lab waiting area and the main lobby of the hospital. The girls wore festive holiday aprons which they decorated. They also distributed holiday goody bags to the pediatric patients that they put tog ether themselves.

Back row: Brigit Hyland, Kaylee Grossi, Allison Barber, Lauren Rivera, Natalie Golden. Front row: Molly Fitzsimmons, Sarah Verderame, Kasey Kreske, Katie Sovik and Caroline Tarantino

Audience plays a role in ‘Big Bad’ If you’d like to be part of the jury that decides if the Big Bad Wolf is guilty or innocent, you’ll want to mark y our calendar for 7:30 p.m. Jan. 10 in the Diablo View Middle Sc hool multi-purpose room.

The seventh and eighth g rade students of the drama elective class will perform “Big Bad,” a play about the trial of the Big Bad Wolf in the Enc hanted Forest. Actors portray a variety of characters, like Little Red Riding Hood, the Three Little Pigs, a shepherd and the Bo y Who Cried Wolf, who testify as witnesses and the audience is the jur y.

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Hoedown,” directed b y Christine Billingsly, on Dec. 7 and 8. More than 100 students in the four th and fifth grades participated.

Pictured abo ve, from left: Kiana Mason as Mrs . Claus with Hunter F arrand as Santa, Haylee Roden as R udolph, Samantha Shuey as R oadie V alet, Max Burmeister as T ex Glitter , Maxwell R enner as Y oakum and Duncan Bradley as Dwight.

CLAYTON VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL Clayton V alley High Sc hool Athletic Boosters Club is hosting its 13th ann ual Crab F eed & Auction on Saturda y, Jan. 13. The event begins at 6 p .m. at Centre Concord. This is a major fundraiser, which directly benefits all athletic programs at CVHS. Tickets are on sale $50 at the school or online at www .cvhsboosters.org. For more infor mation or to donate an auction item, email crabfeed@cvhsboosters.org.

The Society for Inter national Travel is taking applications for a trip to Athens and R ome in August 2007.

E-mail rossj@mdusd.k12.ca.us for more information.

Miranda Case is Grandmother Hood, with Jennifer Goddard as Little Red Riding Hood, Zoey Dow as Fairy Godmother and Processing Attorney, and Troy Carlson as Sydney Grimm, the reporter.

“The kids are so excited and so enthusiastic about the production,” says instructor Donna Davis.

Thirteen-year-old Le Quan Woods enjoys the drama class and has two roles in the production, as one of the three pigs and the attorney for Big Bad. “You lear n to g et over your fears, plus it gives students a lot to do,” says Woods.

Twelve-year-old Alex Tate agrees. She plays the younger judge, and likes to act because “y ou can be any c haracter that you want to be .” The ev ening’s ev ent will also feature Adam Adler on piano.

“Big Bad” is the culmination of the drama semester course , which w as dev eloped in response to a demand for more ar ts offerings at the middle school. The class includes work with skits, improvisation and monologues as w ell as discussions on the history of drama and careers in the dramatic ar ts. Davis is directing the play along with Randi Adler.

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Page A14

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

December 22, 2006

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ING D N PE

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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.

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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 4 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.

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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, lar ge walk-in closet & additional closet. Sensational lot features extensive professional landscape & hardscape of fering a dramatic 42ft lagoon pool with “Pebble-Tech” finish & beach entry, double waterfall feature & a separate built-in spa with arbor .

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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 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6.25%

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 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6.0% 30 year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6.5%

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

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Clayton Market Update Provided by George Vujnovich of Better Homes Realty ADDRESS 9001 Elk Drive 1880 Eagle Peak Ave 120 Mt. Etna Dr 5227 Keller Ridge Drive 1743 Indian Wells Way 608 Julpun Loop 1735 Indian Wells Way 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

PRICE $745,000 $775,000 $495,000 $860,000 $611,000 $605,000 $599,000 $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

SALE DATE

SF

12/06/06 12/05/06 11/28/06 11/28/06 11/28/06 11/28/06 11/17/06 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

2,237 2,467 1,627 2,843 1,749 1,749 1,749 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

BED/BATH 4/2 4/3 4/2 4/3 3/2.5 3/2.5 3/2.5 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

CLAYTON PIONEER December 22, 2006

Section B

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

Page B1

Chocolate, ginger and plenty of sugar delight Cookie Contest judges LINDA WYNER Clayton Pioneer

It was a nice dr y night on Dec. 7 as Clayton tur ned out for the Pioneer’ s third annual Cookie Contest.

Thirty cookie entries w ere submitted from J unior Bak ers (ag es 6-12), Teen Bakers (13-19) and Master Bakers (20 and up).

Judges Bob Ho yer, Sgt. Scott Dansie and Officer Tim Marc hute of the Cla yton P olice De partment, Zoe Managuerro, Carol Gra y, Cookies By Design’s Debra Nork and y ours tr uly bravely attac ked the tables g roaning with all of the entries . After carefully explaining to Cla yton’s finest that this was a cookie (not doughn ut) judging event, things went quite smoothly.

An hour later , following some w onderful music by Clayton’s Vintage and a visit from old St. Nick, the winners were announced. Rumor has it that the judges all had to reco ver from their sug ar high the next morning.

The w onderful thing about Christmas cookies is that they bring

together friends and families and forg e new traditions. Paige Anderson and her assistant Stefano Padoan are no ex ception.

“Paige and Stefano ha ve been best pals since Stefano w as bor n,” Paige’s mother writes. “They have been waiting a long time to bak e tog ether for the cookie contest. They had some traditional family cookie recipes to c hoose from but wanted to pick a special cookie that w as all their o wn. They c hose Chocolate Cookie Bark because it w as easy and kid-friendly . It will be our newest holiday tradition.”

Lorraine Henney , winner of the Master Bak er f light, says her Ging er Snap recipe came from her mother -inlaw in Omaha and has been passed down several generations.

“It just wouldn’t be Christmas without them, ” says Lor raine. “We usually double the recipe and put the extras in the freezer. They are best ser ved from the freezer with a tall, cold glass of milk.” (The Pioneer judg es thought they tasted just fine at room temperature.)

Fortunately for Pioneer readers, our winners all agreed to share their recipes.

Here’s to creating y our o wn holida y memories!

JUNIOR BAKER FIRST PLACE PAIGE ANDERSON, 10

Tamara Steiner/Clayton Pioneer

Judges Tim Marchute, Scott Dansie and Debra Nork tackle the daunting task of finding the “cookie of all cookies.”

CHOCOLATE COOKIE BARK 20 creme-filled c hocolate sandwic h cookies 2 2/3 c. white chocolate OR semisweet chocolate chips 1 tsp. vanilla extract (use with semisweet chips, only) Line a 9-inc h square baking pan with w axed paper and coat with nonstick spray. Pour the sandwic h cookies into a larg e bo wl and break with a wooden spoon. Melt the c hips in the

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

“W

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

(925) 672-8787 www.LynneFrench.com Lynne@LynneFrench.com

microwave according to the packa g e direct i o n s. ( I f u s i n g semi-sweet chips, add the extract after the chips ha ve melted.) Quic kly fold in the cookie pieces with a spatula.

Scrape the mixture into the prepared pan and spread to ½-inc h thickness. Refrigerate until solid, about one hour. Remove the bark from the pan and peel off the w ax paper . Cut and serve.

TEEN BAKER FIRST PLACE ALI ROBERTS, 13 CHIPPY CHEWY CHOCOLATE DECADENCE BITES 1/3 c. butter or margarine 1½ c. graham cracker crumbs 1 2/3 c. (10 oz. package) Reese’s Peanut Butter chips, divided 1½ c. sweetened coconut flakes 1 can (14 oz.) sweetened condensed milk Glaze: 1 c. semi-sweet chocolate chips 1½ tsp. shortening (do not use butter, margarine or oil) Heat oven to 350. Place butter in 13 x 9 x 2-inc h baking pan. Heat in o ven until melted. Remove pan from o ven and sprinkle g raham crac ker cr umbs evenly o ver butter. Press do wn with a fork. Layer 1 cup pean ut butter c hips over the crumbs. Sprinkle coconut over peanut butter c hips. Layer remaining ? cup peanut butter c hips over coconut.

Drizzle sw eetened condensed milk evenly over top.

Always focused on your needs throughout your home purchase or sale, she does whatever it takes to help you make the most of your opportunities.

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6200-E Center St.

Clayton, CA 94517

Clockwise from top: Chocolate Cookie Bark, Chippy Chewey Chocolate Decadence Bites, Ginger Snaps Bake 20 minutes or until lightly bro wned.

Drizzle with chocolate glaze (See recipe belo w).

Cool completely and cut into bars. (Makes about 48 bars.)

For glaze: Put c hocolate c hips and shortening in microwave-safe bowl and microwave a t high (100%) for one minute. Stir. If necessary, microwave at high an additional 15 seconds at a time, stirring after eac h heating, just until chips are melted when stir red.

MASTER BAKER FIRST PLACE LORRAINE HENNEY GINGER SNAPS ¾ c. butter ¾ c. shortening 2 c. sugar 2 eggs ½ c. dark molasses 4 c. sifted all-purpose flour 2 tsp. baking soda

2 tsp. cinnamon 2 tsp. cloves 2 tsp. ginger 1 tsp. salt Combine dr y ingredients in a se parate bowl. Reserve.

Using an electric mixer, mix together butter , shortening and sug ar thoroughly. Beat in eg gs and molasses .

Gradually add the dr y ing redients to the sug ar mixture . Cover and refrig erate overnight.

Using a small scoop , make small balls. Roll in sug ar and freeze for approximately half an hour before baking. Bake at 375 for 8-10 min utes. (For a chewier cookie, bake a little less time.)

For the rest of the winning recipes,

See Cookies, page B12

Page B2

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

December 22, 2006

Clayton Sports CVHS wrestlers bring home medals at JV tour nament Behmlander, junior Dean Farley is a wrestler to w atch after placing third in the New ark Memorial Ironman Duals.

“He is filling some big shoes, in re placing a Nor th Coast champion. But I expect him to go dee p in tour naments and even bring in some medals ,” said Behmlander.

The Cla yton V alley Eagles look forw ard to hosting the Clayton Valley Invitational varsity tournament in January. It’s the largest tour ney in Nor thern California, with about 30 teams from Califor nia and Nev ada expected to participate.

Over the past three years , it has become one of the toughest one-day tour naments in California. Last year , 34 state qualifiers from the past year wrestled in the tour nament. It’s sure to be another c hallenging yet fun experience for the wrestlers and an enjo yment for the spectators to watch.

Although wrestling is both physically and mentally demanding, most kids continue to wrestle throughout their high sc hool years and beyond if they’ve had a positive experience.

Behmlander has been coaching since he g raduated from Clayton in 1989. He’s been at CVHS for six years, the last two as head coac h. He hopes to “become a positive influence on some y oung man or w oman’s life, just lik e m y coac hes w ere for me . It is g ratifying to see someone succeed at something you taught them.”

DEANNA MERRIGAN Special to the Pioneer

Eight Cla yton V alley High School wrestlers ear ned medals as the Eagles hosted more than 20 California teams at the junior varsity wrestling tour nament on Dec. 9.

Three medals w ere for first place, three for second and tw o for third. All eight medal winners were freshmen.

Holden Nakam ura, Dylan Mitchell and Ev an Goodric h have been at the top of their brackets in most, if not all, of their tour naments this year .

Drew Farley, Adam Lee, Jordan Winslow, Zach Bang ert and Pablo J ara ha ve all finished in the top four in ev ery tour nament so far.

Wrestling on the high school team requires practice , stamina and tec hnique. During the December-March season, the JV and varsity squads have challenge matc hes ev ery w eek in which the athletes compete for 14 varsity spots. There are about 50 wrestlers on the squad.

The teams practice during the w eek and attend tour naments three Saturda ys a month.

Sometimes, the wrestlers ar rive at sc hool for tour naments at 6 a.m. and may not get home until 6 or 8 p.m.

For freshman Colton Rogers, the experience at the recent JV tournament was worth the commitment to the spor t. Senior Michael Mur ray w as helpful to Colton during the JV tour na-

photo by Deanna Merrigan

WITH STRENGTH, DETERMINATION AND SHEER WILLPOWER, the CVHS JV and Varsity wrestling teams took on the Pittsburg High squad Dec. 13.

Pictured above is 152 lb. JV wrestler, Kyle Coverdale (on top) and an unidentified member of the Pittsburg team. With about 50 CVHS students on the Eagles team, it has become a very popular high school sport.

ment, coaching and training him as needed. It’s an example of how the CVHS wrestling team is supportive of each other, rather than being competitive.

“The prog ram impresses me,” said Colton’s mom, Laura.

“This is the only spor t I kno w

where the upper classmen help and train the y ounger kids …

It’s a g reat oppor tunity for the freshmen to g et to kno w the upper classmen.”

Colton enjo ys wrestling so much he is considering focusing on training for wrestling during

the summer.

Also notew orthy is the fact that there are six girls on the wrestling team this year , more than ev er before . During the recent JV tour nament, four females wrestled against males.

Linda Yadao has alw ays had

some success ag ainst the bo ys.

Adriana Camarena wrestled a male in her first tournament this year, and she got a pin and nearly won another.

Many wrestlers on the squad should do w ell this season.

According to Coac h K yle

CVHS Varsity beats alumni in lacrosse MICHELE HILL Special to the Pioneer

Clayton V alley High Sc hool boy’s lacrosse team held their first alumni game on Nov. 24. Alumni players from the 2004, 2005 and 2006 g raduating classes par ticipated in the game, playing against the current varsity players.

The v arsity team w on 10-6, with Anthony Solla scoring 7 goals. Justin W histen scored 2 goals with 2 assists , and Sean Hill had 1 goal and 1 assist.

For the alumni team, Chris Morrisey, class of ’06, scored 4 goals with 2 assists . Cody Clausen (’05) scored 1 g oal, while Matt Dini (’06) scored 1 goal with 3 assists . Dini is currently pla ying on the Saint Mary’s Colleg e lacrosse team in Moraga. Jeremy Widen, Casey Martin, Paul Bor rell, Brandon Davis, Kevin Louc his and Addison R osenblatt also pla yed on the alumni team.

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Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

Clayton Sports Hole in one and low net for Mik e Metz at the M&M Tahoe Classic

Page B3

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Great Yard Photo courtesy of Mike Banducci

Front Row: Mike Metz, Jay Polshuk, Mark Smith, Freddie Hunziker, Captain James Harris Wickware, Roger Mazza, Captain Kevin Allen, Chris Cozort, Steve Johnson and Mike Banducci. Back Row: Jim Westemeyer, Sean Lally, Rob Sheffield, DDS., Joe Medrano, Jim Linck and Mark Riley.

their Tahoe vacation homes.

The group was snowed on as they played during Friday’s round at Coyote Moon while Saturda y’s round, at Old Greenw ood, was highlighted b y a hole-in-one scored b y Mik e Metz using his nine iron on the 157 yard seventh hole. Not only did he score the ace with the same nine iron he used for his first hole-in one some 3,378 da ys earlier , but he was also w earing the same R yder

Twenty Cla yton residents , all members of Oakhurst Countr y Club, recently traveled to the nor th shore of Lake Tahoe to compete in the fifth ann ual “M & M T ahoe Classic” golf tournament.

The “M & M Classic , a “just for fun” competitive tourney, was organized b y Mik e Banducci and Mark Riley, who also provided the accommodations for the tw o teams, captained b y K evin Allen and J ames Har ris Wic kware, in

DAVE GRAY GRAY ON GOLF Who w ould ha ve thought 150 years ag o in a little club maker’s shop somewhere in Scotland, that w e w ould be adjusting screws in our dri ver heads today?

Or that a hand-held batter y device would give us the exact yardage we need to get onto the green. And that a pair of golf shoes could be air pressure adjusted to help cor rect weight transfer in our backswings.

First let’s do the math, then look at this new tec hnology logically.

Mrs. Claus asks y ou if you’ve been g ood little bo ys and girls all year . Well, of course y ou ha ve. And because you have been suc h a g ood little Bog arts, eating all y our Mighty Casey’ s in one hand without putting them do wn (remember, if you have to put

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cup golf shirt on both occasions.

Kevin Allen ’s team w on the event and has “bragging rights” until next year’s tour nament.

Mike Metz w on lo west net, the most impro ved a ward w as gi ven to Chris Cozor t, Rookie of the Year honors went to Captain James Har ris Wic kware and his team, and Captain K evin Allen was this year’s MVP ... most valuable player.

Submitted by Mike Banducci

Scrooge has spoken: Mere money won’t improve your golf game them do wn, the Casey wins), you ask Mrs . Claus to buy y ou the T aylor Made R7460CC bomber driver for $400 and the Sky Caddy for $500. Throw in the Nike Air Lifts for $210, and the total, with tax is $1,200 and change.

OK, we’ve done the math, now let’ s be logical. You had better ha ve that DeW alt screw gun c harged up for the dri ver, because an hour on the dri ving range ma y not be enough adjusting time for that two fairway slice of yours.

Sky Caddy? Oh yeah, this bad boy can not only pinpoint your yardag e to within a centimeter on a frog’ s butt, it can also screw up your mind so fast that y ou w on’t kno w whic h of your fine wedges to hit.

That little balance problem in the backswing, yeah, looking like Shamu thrusting out of the water for that 15-pound salmon. Grasshopper … let us see reason.

It’s m y belief that if your handicap is abo ve 12, you

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shouldn’t be hitting a dri ver.

You should be using a three wood off the tee . It’s m uch more forgi ving, stays in pla y and y ou’re only a few yards shorter.

And unless y ou’re a touring professional who can hit y our seven iron to a targ et the size of Fido’s dog bo wl, that Sk y Caddy is only g ood for Rudolph’s Christmas Eve trip.

Now, practice barefoot, with your feet close together. It does wonders for your balance.

Of course, my four th recommendation w ould be to tak e a series of lessons from y our local teac hing professional for about $400.

That conce pt would save you $800.

So, old Scrooge has spoken.

And since I’m the most logical teaching professional on the face of this earth, please have a blessed holiday season – and a logical 2007 in g olf.

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Dave Gray is a teaching professional at Diab lo Cr eek Golf Course in Concord. E-mail y our questions or comments to him at sports@claytonpioneer.com

DEDICATED TO SERVING CLAYTON To all citizens who supported me for

Do you know about today’s mortgage programs?

Clayton City Council:

Thank You!

To all of Clayton: Best wishes to you and your families for a happy holiday season!

I look forward to seeing you at the 12th annual CBCA Art & Wine Festival May 5 & 6, 2007

Jim Diaz Integrity - Experience Leadership

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Page B4

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

Clayton Sports B-Ballers triumph at Turkey Shootout JOHN LAZAR Special to the Pioneer

The the Cla yton B-Ballers , an MVP Flight team, took home the championship title from the 5th Annual Turkey Shootout in a three day tournament Nov. 2426.

Their first win w as a hard fought g ame ag ainst Santa Maria at the Tice Valley Gym in Walnut Creek. With this win, the Clayton B-Ballers adv anced to the championship division.

The second round w as played at Foothill Middle School in W alnut Creek ag ainst St. Isadore. The winner of this game w ould adv ance to the championship g ame and the BBallers really ste pped it up to a great victor y ag ainst a v ery talented team.

In the c hampionship g ame the Cla yton B-Ballers w ere up against the Flight Elite Blue Team and the B-Ballers w ere

The Cla yton V alley J unior PeeWee F alcons football team won the Diablo V alley Y outh Football Conference (D VYFC) Turkey Bo wl on No v. 25, defeating the San Leandro Crusaders at Antioc h High School.

With a final score of 20-12, the Falcons capped off a spectacular, undefeated season.

MDSL SOCCER Mount Diablo Soccer League (MDSL) is offering a winter soccer academy for players interested in training at a higher level. MDSL Academy is

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Photo courtesy of John Lazar

CLAYTON B-BALLERS from left: Anthoni Napori, Brian Carbajal, Alki Hantziantonakis, Alex Gonzalez, Coach Gamma Gonzalez, Julian Tiongson, Lucas Lazar, Sam Ho, Rubin Carbajal and Coach John Lazar.

victorious to tak e the Championship to Clayton.

The Cla yton B-Ballers

To win the T urkey Bo wl, they first w ent head-to-head with Napa in the quar terfinals and w ere victorious with a score of 13-0. They continued their winning streak and defeated Antioc h in the semi-finals with a score of 31-19. In the end, the Jr . PeeWees had an impressive season with a 12-0 record.

For fifth-g rader Zac h Dominguez, playing fullbac k and r unning bac k for the

makeover b y celebrity designer Michael Moloney . The promotion runs through Feb. 28.

The shop that collects the most NB A wrappers from opened pac ks will win the makeover, while the top 10 r unners-up will be awarded an NBA pizza party for the store and its customers. In addition, there will be an NB A promotion that will give consumers a c hance to win prizes. Clayton Sports Cards is also r unning an in-store con-

Sports Shorts LITTLE LEAGUE BASEBALL Challenger Little League Baseball for kids with any type of disability is star ting its 16th season. There is no cost to pla y and uniforms are provided. The goal is to smile and ha ve fun.

Disabled kids 6-22 years old can signup for the 2007 season. Call Jim Brophy 685-1801 for information or to sign up.

40 YEARS

general contractors

belong to the Nor thern California inde pendent league , MVP Flight, a year around pro-

gram for kids 6-18. For more information, contact Coac h John Lazar, 672-3416.

Falcons w as a lot of fun. “It was a wesome that I scored all those touc hdowns this season, and our team had a g reat season. 12 and 0 baby!” said Zach, who scored 18 touc hdowns during the regular season.

The Jr. PeeWee team, made up of 8- to 10-year -olds from Clayton and East Concord, practiced three to fi ve times a week at Cla yton V alley High School. They pla yed Saturda y morning g ames ag ainst other teams in the D VYFC. The season ran from A ugust until the Saturday after Thanksgiving.

Many kids tr y out for the Falcons teams , but only 35 places are a vailable on eac h squad. Some of the kids are in their second or third year of playing.

Head coach Doug Brig ance has been coaching for 22 years, 13 of those with the Jr .

PeeWees.

According to Brigance, football “builds character. It is controlled ag gression, not craziness.”

He also notes that since it takes about a year to lear n the techniques and skills needed to play g reat football, practice is all about learning to do it properly. “If you want to be able to compete in high school, it’s best to play youth football,” he said.

Brigance believ es the core people and staff that he w orks with are the key to an outstanding team. Most of his coaching staff has been w orking with Brigance for many years and they ha ve a lot of coaching experience outside of the Jr .

PeeWees.

The Clayton Valley Athletic Association (CVAA) Falcons is an all-v olunteer league .

Equipment is pro vided for players and m ust meet strict recertification standards .

Families also par ticipate in fund-raising acti vities to help defray some of the costs.

“They ha ve a v ery g ood experience and they lear n ho w to play football,” said Brigance.

Clayton Sports Cards vies for NBA makeover Clayton Spor ts Cards in the Clayton Station shopping center has qualified to participate in the NBA’s Hobb y Shop Mak eover Promotion.

Clayton Spor ts Cards is one of 32 shops throughout the country that will par ticipate in a wrapper redemption promotion and have a chance to win a shop

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The Clayton Valley Junior PeeWee Falcons is made up from 8-10 year olds from Clayton and East Concord.

DEANNA MERRIGAN Special to the Pioneer

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Jr. PeeWee Falcons finish season undefeated DEANNA MERRIGAN Special to the Pioneer

December 22, 2006

test to collect the most wrappers.

“Remodeling a hobb y shop represents a unique design opportunity for me ,” said Moloney. “It’s impor tant for a store to be an appealing and shopable place for customers .

I’m looking forw ard to w orking with the NB A to create suc h a space for the winning hobb y

shop.”

Clayton Spor ts Cards o wner Linda Mieczk owski is ex cited about the possibility of winning the $50,000 mak eover. “They’d put in new car pet, new paint, shelves, whatever it needs.”

She’s planning a big bask etball par ty for her customers shortly after the holidays to promote the project

Submit Sports Items Online

You can no w submit competition results , ideas for stories, nominations for Athlete Spotlight and Spor ts Shor ts on our W ebsite. Go to www .claytonpioneer.com. On the left side of the pag e, under “Spor ts Items” you will find links to the proper for ms.

open to pla yers ag e 6-12 and runs from January 7thFebruary 25. For more information, please contact Brian Voltattorni at #925.212.8460 or bvoltattorni@mdslsoccer.org or visit our w ebsite at www.mdslsoccer.org.

CVHS VOLLEYBALL Clayton Valley High Sc hool has openings for Bo ys V arsity and J unior V arsity V olleyball Coaches. Begin in J anuary.

Email resume to P at Middendorf – PM258@aol.com.

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Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

Consider pets when making holiday plans

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Page B5

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The holida ys can be fun to share with y our pets , especially with visiting family and festi vities. It’s also impor tant to k eep your pets safe during this time of activities and excitement.

Carolyn Goodric h, intake technician at the Animal Rescue Foundation, has some tips for keeping pets out of harm’s way during the holiday season.

The hustle and bustle of holiday visitors and par ties can be stressful for y our pets . It’s important to monitor pets for signs of stress and create a quiet retreat a way from cro wds so they can relax. Pets are also more lik ely to escape and become lost with all the comings and goings, so be sure your pets ha ve proper identification or are microchipped.

Many of the holida y treats we enjo y can be unhealth y for

pets. Poultry bones can splinter and lodge in the throat or stomach. Fatty or fried foods, eggnog and onions can mak e pets ill, and c hocolate and alcohol can cause fatalities . Remember to keep candy and lefto vers out of reach.

The same applies to gift wrap, ribbons and bows, as they can cause upset stomac hs and create intestinal blockages.

Decorating y our home for the holidays is another fun w ay to g et in the spirit, but care should be taken to protect y our pets. Poinsettias, mistletoe and holly ber ries can be to xic if ingested. All v arieties of lilies are toxic to cats and should be kept out of reach.

Hang indoor lights so y our pets don ’t become tangled.

Consider an anti-chewing deterrent for the wires to discourag e

nibbling and unplug lights when you leave.

Live and ar tificial trees can cause a multitude of hazards for pets. Consider placing the tree in a room with doors that can be closed. Use a flat, wide base and cover the stand so pets can ’t drink stagnant w ater. Fresh citrus peel around the tree base may deter cats from climbing.

Avoid hanging tinsel, edible or glass or naments and pic k up unused ornament hooks.

If you are considering adopting a pet during the holidays, remember this time of year can be stressful for any new pet. Keep your home as calm as possible and avoid hosting large gatherings. Maintain y our normal routine and pro vide extra time in y our sc hedule to help your pet adjust.

While w ell-intended, giving

ELENA BICKER

PAWS

AND

CLAWS

pets as gifts at any time of year is not a good idea. Pets received as gifts often end up in shelters after the holidays. You may want to give a gift certificate to a local shelter or rescue g roup instead, as this allo ws the recipient to select the perfect pet at the right time for them. Many g roups also acce pt donations to sponsor an animal in the name of a friend or loved one.

Finally, make sure y ou ha ve veterinary co verage in case of emergencies. Call 1-888-4264435 for the ASPCA poison control hotline.

Elena Bicker is the Executi ve Director of Tony La R ussa’s Animal Rescue Foundation. She can be r eached at (925) 256-1ARF (1273)

Copper and Fromage are ARF’s Stars

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C o p p e r Fo u n d a t i o n , loves to pla y 2890 Mitc hell and be petted, Drive, Walnut but appreciates Creek, during a slo w adoption approach. She hours: 3 to 7 likes to meet p.m. Thursday new people , and F riday, and does w ell Noon to 4:30 with most other p.m. Saturday cats. and Sunda y.

The adopV i s i t tion fee for www.arf.net or Copper is $100. call (925) 256Fromage is 1ARF for a sensiti ve and more infor magentle fello w. tion.

He will thrive in Would y ou COPPER FROMAGE a quiet home like to be par t of with a predictable routine and will bene- and includes the first six training coursthe her oic team that sa ves the li ves of rescued es. fit from extensi ve socialization. dogs and cats? Can y ou shar e y our talents to Bring ev eryone who will li ve with Adopters should ha ve prior experience connect people and animals? ARF volunteers living with Chihuahuas or other sh y Copper or Fromage including any canine are making a dif ference! For mor e infor mation family members for dogs – to meet them see our W eb site , www .arf.net, or call (925) dogs.

The adoption fee for Fromage is $200 at T ony La R ussa’s Animal R escue 256-1ARF.

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There are many loan products in the mor tgage industr y, and it is a g reat thing for consumer to have so many options.

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Telemarketers call us and send junk mail promising the lowest rate and best prog ram, likely per petuating the confusion. And as the industr y has grown, it has become even more evident that people just w ant someone whom they can tr ust.

As a mor tgage consultant, I hear one question o ver and over: “What’s y our rate?”

Invariably this question is referring to the 30-year , fixed-rate loan. With all of the adv ertisements promising low start rates, low APR, 100 percent financing, no documentation, low documentation, bad credit, good credit, consumers ask about rates because they need to star t the conversation somewhere.

Obviously rates are important, but when was the last time your bank or mor tgage consultant said, “My 30-year fix ed rate is 2 percent. Where do you want to sign?”

For the most part, lenders all have the same pricing . If you look in the paper or g o online, there isn ’t m uch difference in the mortgage rates for a 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage. Also, if the average life of a mor tgage loan is four years, then why are we so obsessed with the 30-year rate?

We all w ant security in our lives, in our jobs, in our families and in our finances – and of course in our mor tgage pa yment. So the security of the long-term fixed rate is ob viously appealing . But it ma y not always be the best loan for y our needs.

Despite ev eryone asking about fixed rates, adjustable rate mortgages (ARMs) became popular during the refinance boom. Was it the fact that these products gave people options or was it a combination of inflated housing prices and poor education b y mor tgage consultants and banks?

The ARM loans come in too many shapes and sizes to co ver in one article, but one product I have found to be misunderstood and look ed upon unfairly is the option ARM. This loan usually comes with four pa yment options: the star t rate or minimum payment, the interestonly pa yment, the 15-year pa y-

ment and the 30-year payment.

The adjustable par t of the loan is just that. The loan’s rate adjusts according to the index it uses. There are many indices that lenders use , and studying the history of each can be valuable when choosing a loan.

It is also impor tant to note that cer tain lenders are no w offering fix ed ter ms with pa yment options . There is ev en a 30-year, fixed-rate loan with four payment options a vailable.

Not only do you get the flexibility of payment options, you get the security of a 30-year fix ed rate.

The minim um rate on the option ARM loan is what I call a partial interest pa yment. This payment option allo ws the borrower to pay less than the interest o wed and defer the difference onto the principle . This process, known as neg ative amortization, is used for a v ariety of reasons.

However, many bor rowers were taking on these loans without the full understanding of negative amor tization and a lot of them w ere first-time homebuyers. They w ould pa y the minimum ev ery month and wonder why their principle w as going up. Their mor tgage consultant did not explain to them that the star t rate is merely an option.

Why w ould any one w ant to pay that minimum payment and

See ARM, page B8

Page B6

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

$2.00 off UPS or Fed Ex Shipping

certi signi fied loan ng ag ents

(expires 1/12/07)

Notary, Fax & Shipping Services

Julia Aguilar, owner

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

dea

G

tI f i G s a m t is reat Chr

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

Try the new Spa Sister line of products.

Sugar body scrubs and creams, lotions and soaps.

Perfect to pamper yourself or for a gift.

Clayton Station

owner

Donna Taber

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

5439 A Clayton Road, Clayton

925-672-0405

Hair stylist,

David Wall, 925-672-0516

Last Minute Shopping in downtown Clayton Gifts Holiday Home décor Stationery Holiday Merchandise

Sale

Special Holiday Hours: Sunday 11-5 pm 1030 Diablo St.

Save 30% Dec. 22-24

across from Skip’s

Save 40% Dec. 26-31

8:30 am - 5:00 pm

s y a d i l o H Happy

925-672-2025 Tues. - Sat.

Manicures, pedicures

Images of America— Clayton

more than 20 years experience individualized nail care acryllic, gels, fiberglass, pink & whites

A pictorial of local history produced by the Clayton Historical Society $20. All profits benefit the Clayton Museum.

Available at the Clayton Museum, 6101 Main Street Museum Hours: Wed. & Sun., 2-4 p.m. and by appointment.

$10 off new set $5 off fills

New clients only. Expires 1/13/07

Grace Pruett, (925) 672-4975 6064 Main St., Clayton

Call 672-1865

Beautique

beauty supply & salon

December 22, 2006

in the Frontier Hair Salon

Shop Pioneer Territory for 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.

T

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 instore 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.

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-ofa-kind piece, Anna will help design something special for you or a loved one. Cegielski provides on-site repairs and refurbishing while you wait. Call Anna at 6822855 and schedule an appointment in time for the holidays. The local jewelry store accepts Mastercard and VISA for customers’ convenience.

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 bodymind-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.

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.

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

Clayton Historical Society For the history buffs on your list, the Clayton Historical Society is offering Images of AmericaClayton. This interesting book produced by the Clayton Historical Society portrays the history of Clayton for the first 100 years. The book costs $20 and all proceeds benefit the Society and the Museum. The Clayton Museum is also offering memberships at $15 per individual per

year, $25 per couple, $5 for seniors and students.

Life memberships are $200. Call the Museum at 672-0240 or the Society at 672-1865.

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 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 occasion. 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.

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 22, 2006

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

Ring in the New Year with some Cookie Cheer!

Transform holiday stress into gratitude for the season At 1007 Oak Street, Clayton

Acupressure for Health

Clayton Mind & Body Connections

Holiday Special 5 sessions for $300

Dec. 23 Gift Certificates

(great as stocking stuffers)

Discounts on all services.

Special Certificate for 2-half hour massages and mini facial $45 Open 1 - 5 p.m. Dec. 24.

Gift Certificates Available Sun & Mon Call 674-0767 Sharoll Gilbert for appointment

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

Page B7

www.cookiesbydesig n.co m Deborah & Anthony Nork Clayton Station, 5433A Clayton Rd.

®

925-524-9901

Half price balloon bouquet with $25 pur chase

(reg. $9.95)

Offer expires 1/31/07

Great Holiday Gifts Food for Thought For the food lovers and wannabe chefs this holiday, here’s a great book idea: Food for ThoughtMusings on the History and Uses of Food. The author Linda Wyner is the food writer for the Clayton Pioneer and shares many of her amusing and informative food columns with readers.

Wyner recently opened Pans on Fire, a new cooking and kitchen store in Pleasanton. Visit www.pansonfire.com for more information.

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 onestop shopping, 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.

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 6724975 and schedule your appointment now before the holiday rush.

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.

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 color copier, cards, postal materials, fax machines and more. Enjoy free hot cider and candy canes.

Call Tricia at 689-6245 if you have 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 hav-

ing 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

Christmas CLEARANCE

Melanie's Gifts & Interiors At R&M Pool, Patio and Gardens Distinct collections Accent pieces for the for tablescapes kitchen and dining room Luxurious pillows & throws Decorative candles, Finely woven tapestry stands and holders wall hangings

40% off all Christmas items (12/26/06 through 12/31/06)

6780 Marsh Creek Road, Clayton

672-0207

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.

(closed Mondays) Call Sue at 682-8580.

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.

Page B8

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

December 22, 2006

CONCORD UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

Clayton Valley Presbyterian Church 925-672-4848 1578 Kirker Pass Road

presents The singing sensations

Join us for fellowship and holiday celebration

Mixed Company January 6, 2007, Oglesby Hall This group has a repertoire of music from jazz to show tunes, soul to oldies.

Sundays: 10:30 Service & Sunday School (child care provided)

Christmas Eve:

Tickets

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

Adults . . . . . . . .$10 Students . . . . . .$5 and Families . . .$25

www.cvpresby.org

For more information please call (925) 685-5260 or (925) 672-4328

Church News

Concord United Methodist Church

1645 West Street, Concord

St. Bonaventure’s celebrates golden anniversary next year

ST. BONAVENTURE’S was founded in 1957 with a gift of five acres from the Rose family, one of the area’s early settlers.

four more acres, so two acres were purchased from Carlos and she generously donated two additional acres.

On June 26, 1957, Archbishop John Mitty of San Francisco appointed Father Matthew Carolan as the first pastor and named the new parish St. Bonaventure. The first Mass was celebrated Aug. 18, 1957, in the historic Clayton Hall (now Endeavor Hall).

Parishioners met there for more than a year, until a church and rectory were constructed on the present site at 5562 Clayton Road. The first Mass in the new church (now identified as the Large Hall) was celebrated on Christmas Eve 1958.

In 1962, the Diocese of Oakland was created and St. Bonaventure became part of the new diocese. A contemporary church building seating almost 800 people was constructed and dedicated in 1985.

Now under the direction of Father Richard Mangini, a native of the area, St. Bonaventure is known for its vitality of spirit and its outreach to those in need both locally and internationally.

For more information, visit www.stbonaventure.net/jubilee.s html or call 672-5800.

KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS The Concord Knights of Columbus presented a check to the St. Peter Martyr School annual Holiday Stars project.

The Holiday Stars garners sup-

ARM, from page B5 benefit you.

So the next time y ou r un into someone in the mor tgage business, if you really w ant to mess with his or her head, ask: “What loan prog ram do y ou

ETERNAL LIFE LUTHERAN CHURCH Eternal Life is offering g reeting card “recycling.” Anyone is welcome to drop off greeting cards they have received for Christmas or birthdays.

Members of Eternal Life’s Lutheran Women’s Missionary Society will prepare them to be used for prison ministr y.

Drop cards off at the Contra Costa County Farm Bureau building, 5554 Clayton Road. A collection box will be in the front entryway after Christmas.

Or call 524-0295 to have them picked up.

Eternal Life Lutheran Church is at 5554 Clayton Rd., 1B, Concord. Sunday School and Bible Study are at 10 a.m., with Sunday worship at 11:15 a.m. Bible study is also held at 7:15 p.m. Wednesday. For more information, call 524-0295 or visit www.EternalLifeLutheran Church.org.

BAHA’IS The Baha’is of Clayton are extending an invitation to a talk and an evening of fellowship.

The subject of the talk is: “Which is right -Science or

have to meet my financial needs, both in the shor t ter m and for my long-ter m g oals? I’m really looking for someone I can trust, you know…. a trusted advisor.”

Joe Cleary is a home loan expert with World Sa vings and a Clayton resident. Email questions and comments to jcleary898@worldsavings.com

Religion? Do religious and scientific truths agree?” The speaker is Henry Miller.

The program starts at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 5, with a period of interfaith devotions, followed

by Miller’s presentation. The event will be held at the Toloui residence in Clayton. For more information and directions, call 672-6686.

The Baha’is also offer interfaith devotions at Diamond Terrace in Clayton. Everyone is welcome the first Sunday of each month for devotional readings and prayers from various religious traditions. Feel free to bring your own favorite readings or prayers. Music and refreshments provided.

The next devotional meeting will be at 11 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 7, in the Movie Room at Diamond Terrace, 6401 Center St. CONCORD UNITED METHODIST CHURCH Directly from Yale University, the singing sensations Mixed Company will be having a concert at 7 p.m. Jan. 6 at Concord United Methodist Church. This group has a repertoire of music from jazz to show tunes, soul to oldies.

Tickets are available through the church, at 1645 West St. For more information, call 685-5260 or 672-4328.

Sunday, Dec.

24th

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)

1092 Alberta Way Concord, CA 94521 (925) 686-2000

Invites You to Join Us in Worship this Christmas Season Schedule of Services: Christmas Eve Candlelight Service Sunday, Dec. 24 at 7:00 p.m.

Christmas Eve Masses Sunday, December 24 3:00 p.m.

Early Childhood Pageant and Children's Choir Children's Christmas Pageant and Children's Choir

7:00 p.m.

Midnight

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

The Congregation of Holy Cross Lutheran Church

Christmas Day Service Monday, Dec. 25 at 9:00 a.m.

(925) 672-5800

Christmas Day Masses Monday, December 25 8:00 a.m.

10:00 a.m.

12:00 noon (Spanish)

e Catholic C r u nt om e v a

ity un

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

Each celebration includes carol singing and Holy Communion.

2006 CHRISTMAS SCHEDULE

at 11:15 a.m.

a traditional message in a non-traditional setting

Lessons and Carols Children’s Service Christmas Eve with Choir

Send your church news of general interest to churchnews@claytonpioneer.com

5:00 p.m.

Join us this Christmas for a Service of Lessons and Carols

Christmas Worship Sunday, Dec. 24 9:00 a.m.

5:00 p.m.

10:00 p.m.

m

defer interest? P erhaps it is someone with seasonal income , or a salesperson or someone who is self-emplo yed (contractors, small business owners) and has income with peaks and v alleys. It could be a landlord with flaky tenants , or someone who is bor rowing 6 or 7 percent against their home during the holiday shopping season v ersus 20 percent on a credit card.

These types of borrowers like options . They lik e their home to work for them and not vice versa.

What se parates y our loan from y our neighbor’s is not so much the rate, but what kind of education they recei ved from their mor tgage consultant.

Rates will g o up and do wn, but if you are open to lear ning about all of your mor tgage options, you might be sur prised by the results and ho w they can

port for the Bay Area Crisis Nursery in Concord and g ets the school children and their families involved in a community Christmas helping-hand program. The funds will purchase clothes needed for children ages 2 to 5 who stay at the nursery.

S t.

ST. BONAVENTURE CATHOLIC CHURCH will celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2007. The parish will begin its celebration at 9 a.m. Jan. 14, with the first Mass of commemoration with Bishop Allen H. Vigneron and Bishop Emeritus John S. Cummins.

The jubilee festivities will continue throughout the year with additional Mass celebrations, trips, a parish retreat and social events.

It all started in the 1890s, when Clayton Valley was a bustling social center where miners came to Clayton from the Somerville and Nortonville mining communities. In the early 1950s, the Rose family, one of the early settlers, saw the need for a Catholic church to serve the approximately130 Catholic families residing in the Clayton area. Their parish was then Queen of All Saints in downtown Concord.

On Feb. 2, 1953, Minnie Rose gave a five-acre parcel to the Archdiocese of San Francisco to establish a parish.

The gift was conditional on the archdiocese undertaking construction of a church within five years. Annie Carlos, one of Rose’s children, prepared petitions showing that a new parish was needed and presented them to the archdiocese. In 1957, ground was broken and the dream came true.

However, the parish needed

5562 Clayton Road, Concord

December 22, 2006

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

Page B9

Hazel Kersch followed her heart and took to the skies Hosking Associates, Inc. Kim Dromlewicz,

a Merry Have nd Christmas a ay a happy holid

direct (925) 324-7072 Kim@homes4ewe.com Mówie po Polsku

The Clayton Pioneer’s “Music Notes” columnist

Clayton’s own

Jim Hudak Pianist and Composer For bookings and performances:

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

UÜ|Çz|Çz çÉâ à{x uxáà Éy uxtâàç Professional Nail Salon For Men and Women e're proud to welcome you to our beautiful new nail spa.

W

With professionally trained, experienced nail technicians, the highest quality products, and excellent customer services, we welcome you to experience our wonderful selection of nail care services, facials and waxing in a comfortable and relaxed atmosphere.

Second Anniversary Special Offers

FREE Manicure

with any Pedicure Mon. - Thurs. only

1 coupon per customer. Cannot be combined with any other offers.

Exp. 1/12/07

COLLEEN ELWY

B.S.E.E., M.B.A., Realtor®

Concord 4436 Clayton Rd, Suite G Across from FoodMaxx

(925) 676-8668

$5 off

any service over $25 Mon. - Thurs. only

1 coupon per customer. Cannot be combined with any other offers.

Exp. 1/12/07

SHARING HISTORY Following our hear t’s desires may be a cliché, but for Hazel Kersch, 89, this has been a way of life.

Delighted to share her story as we sit down together, Hazel hands me her f light logbook from the 1960’s. “I wanted to learn how to fly by myself and I g ot my private pilot’s license in 1963, ” says Hazel. “There was something in me that w as fascinated about f lying and I wanted to do that m yself.

Personally, I don’t know of any other w omen who ha ve their license, even now.”

As a c hild, Hazel had seen stunt flyers at air sho ws standing on the wings of planes and doing aerobatics that are no longer done toda y, but she always lo ved the thought of flying. “I w as quite adv enturous and I w ould g o with boyfriends in their planes while they would do stunts and dips,” smiles Hazel.

“And I w as never afraid.”

Born in an adobe house in Eastern Colorado , Hazel li ved with her parents and four siblings until she w as 4 ½ years old. It was then that her family mo ved to Den ver in a co vered w agon. Hazel’s lo ve of learning star ted at an early ag e when she attended sc hool and was the star pupil. “I just loved learning ev erything, but math was one of my fa vorite subjects. The teacher would have me stand at the front of the classroom and all the students would give me math problems to figure out and I w ould add them up really fast, ” states Hazel. “Learning has alw ays been my passion.”

During the De pression Hazel’s dad continued his work for Union Pacific Railroad, but times were very difficult. That

Photos courtesy of Hazel Kersch

A FEARLESS HAZEL KERSCH knew from an early age that flying would be her passion. didn’t stop Hazel’ s desires for obtaining her teenag e g oals.

“After sc hool I w ould pic k berries to ear n money for the shoes or clothes I w anted. My mother was also ill, so I helped with the animals and milk ed the g oat as they told her she needed that kind of milk.”

Hazel also points out that things w ere busy during those times, but in different w ays from toda y. “We had to w ork as kids, but also our parents let us grow up pretty free and easy considering ev erything. We would g o out in the neighborhood to pla y ball and no one ever missed coming home on time for dinner.”

After g raduating from high school, Hazel did bookkeeping work and later met her first husband J ohn P atrick. After

HAZEL KERSCH

marrying, they mo ved to California, then Arizona.

Doing fur ther w ork in accounting for Standard Oil, Hazel also started flying on her own in a tail dragger plane. “It was kind of an old WW I plane with a little wheel on the bac k end of it. At the time, that was the only kind of plane they had,” says Hazel. “Later on I flew sev eral different kinds of Cessna planes and I w ould meet up with g roups at old abandoned airfields and ha ve lunch with ev eryone. I w as always the only w oman pilot there though.”

Married for almost 36 years, Hazel and J ohn had a son and daughter. Family adv entures took place with camping, fishing, hunting and w ater skiing often. Hazel also lo ved to write poetr y about wherev er they w ere g oing or things she saw along the way. After John’s passing, Hazel later remar ried Lincoln and they traveled quite a bit tog ether, including Morocco, Spain and England.

Eventually, Hazel came to Northern California to be closer to her c hildren and now has five g randchildren and four great g randchildren. Having moved to Diamond T errace just this year , Hazel pla ys bingo, still writes poetr y and also is in volved in her c hurch glee club.

When ask ed what sug gestions she might share with younger people , Hazel smiles , “I have never been one to gi ve advice, but I think y ou should follow y our hear t and do the things that are impor tant to you. Follow y our passions no matter what they are . You might not succeed, but at least you tried.”

If you ar e a senior li ving in Clayton, or know of a senior that would like to share their life story with the Clayton Pioneer r eaders, please contact Colleen Elwy at 672-9565 or at colleensbyline@aol.com.

Also located in San Ramon: 130 Sunset Dr., (925) 866-0666

“HomEquity was a great choice!”

“Over the years, Greg Farrand of HomEquity has done several refi’s for us, sold our home and secured the financing for our new home. Greg has truly been a tremendous resource!

His communication, follow up and negotiation skills place him at the top of his profession. HomEquity’ s commitment, integrity and genuine care make them a pleasure to work with. Best of all, they saved us $9,487 on the sale of our home!”

- Dave Shuey,

Buyer, Seller, Refi client, Clayton

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Page B10

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

December 22, 2006

Clayton Community Calendar PLEASE SUBMIT YOUR CLAYTON COMMUNITY CALENDAR EVENTS BY 5 P.M., JAN. 3 FOR THE JAN. 12 ISSUE. FAX TO 672-6580 OR E-MAIL calendar@claytonpioneer.com EVENTS & ENTERTAINMENT 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. Door prizes, crazy hat context. Volleyball and basketball games, family movies, giant inflatable slide and board games. Final event will be the Noisemaker-Flashlight Parade. Bring pans, wooden spoons, noise makers and flashlight. Free tshirt to the first 300 kids. For more information contact the Gym/YMCA at 889-1600. Clayton Community Gym, 700 Gym Court.

JAN. 9 - FEB. 27 Patty Cakes Story Time @ Clayton Community Library 11 a.m. Tuesdays. Story time for babies to children 3 years old. No registration required. 673-0659. Clayton Community Library, 6125 Clayton Road.

JAN. 9 Amateur Radio Classes @ Salvation Army Center 7 - 9 p.m. The classes will run for 12 weeks, hosted by the Salvation Army's SATERN unit and taught by members of the Mt. Diablo Amateur Radio Club.

The General Amateur Radio Theory course is open to anyone wishing to obtain a ham license or upgrade from Technical Class to General Class. To register, contact Lauren Styles at WA6CIE@arrl.net. Salvation Army Center, 3950 Clayton Road, Concord.

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. 26, JAN. 2, 9, 16, 23 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. , 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 Tues. 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. 27 Blue Star Mom Meeting in Concord 6:30 p.m. Small group Blue Star Mom meetings held the fourth Wed. 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.

JAN. 9 - FEB. 12 The Art of Retirement @ Loma Vista Adult Center 7 - 9 p.m. The course is five weeks in length and costs just $18 for people 55-plus.The topic for Jan. 9 is a course overview. What is Retirement?; Who Retires and When? Who are the Students, and why are they here? People of all ages and situations are welcome. For class information call George Fulmore at (925) 686-6916. Call (925) 937-1530 for registration information. Loma Vista Adult Center, located at 1266 San Carlos Ave, Concord.

JAN. 2 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.

JAN. 10, FEB. 14 Pajama Story Time @ Clayton Community Library 7 p.m. Beat the bedtime blues with stories, songs and a craft at the library.

The whole family is invited to pajama story time. You can wear your comfy pajamas and bring your favorite stuffed animal too. The theme Jan.. 10 is Penguins on Parade. Registration is required. 673-0659. Clayton Community Library, 6125 Clayton Road.

JAN. 3 Self Help for the Hard of Hearing @ Walnut Creek Methodist Church 7:30 p.m. This SHHH meeting will be open Captioned and the speaker will be Lisa Lamson, Audiologist for the Cochlear Corporation. We meet on the first Wed. of the month. Contact Bob at shhhbob@sbcglobal.net with questions. Walnut Creek Methodist Church, Education Building in the rear parking lot at 1543 Sunnyvale Avenue, Walnut Creek.

JAN. 11 - MAR. 1 Picture Book Time @ Clayton Community Library 11 a.m. Thursdays. Story time for children 3 to 5 years old. . No registration required. Child may attend without caregiver. 673-0659. Clayton Community Library, 6125 Clayton Road.

JAN. 8 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.

JAN. 13 East Bay Regional Park Presentation @ Clayton Community Library 2 p.m. Beverly Lane and Jim Townsend will present an overview of the East Bay Regional Park District and all that it has to offer residents of the Clayton area. The presentation will include making trail connections from Clayton to nearby regional parks such as Black Diamond and Clayton Ranch. 6730659. Clayton Community Library, 6125 Clayton Road.

JAN. 17 6:30 p.m. Classic Movie Night @ Clayton Community Library Young rich and obsessed with death, a young man finds himself changed forever when he meets a lively septuagenarian at a funeral. Clayton Community Library, 6125 Clayton Road, 673-0659 JAN. 20 Saturday Movie Matinees @ Clayton Community Library 2 p.m. Two dogs, one a pampered cocker spaniel and the other a freedom loving mutt with a heart of gold, share thrilling adventures. 6125 Clayton Road, Clayton.

CLUBS & ORGANIZATIONS DE.C. 21, 28, JAN. 4, 11, 18 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. 21, 28, JAN. 4, 11, 18 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. 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.

JAN. 8 Stroke Support Group of Contra Costa @ 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 925-376-6218. John Muir Medical Center, 2540 East Street, Concord.

JAN. 10 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 672-7579 or Barry at 8279540 for information. Diamond Terrace, 6401 Center Street, Clayton.

mornings. Open to the public. www.co.contra-costa.ca.us 335-1900. County Administration Building, 651 Pine Street, Room 107, Martinez.

DEC. 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.

JAN. 2, 16 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.

JAN. 11 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.

JAN. 25 CBCA (Clayton Business & Community Assoc.) Meeting @ Oakhurst 6:30 p.m. Monthly dinner meeting, last non-holiday Thurs. of the month.

Reservations due by Tuesday noon prior, 672-2272. John Rubiales, President. Oakhurst Country Club, 1001 Peacock Creek Drive, Clayton.

SCHOOLS AND EDUCATION JAN. 4 Parent Faculty Club Meeting @Clayton Valley High School 7:00 p.m. If you show your child that you care about their school, your child will care too. Together we can make a difference! The meeting will be held in the school library. Clayton Valley High School, 1101 Alberta Way, Concord.

JAN. 10 Parent Faculty Club Meeting @ Diablo View Middle School 7 p.m. Meeting to be held in the school library. All parents welcome. Diablo View Middle School, 300 Diablo View Lane, Clayton.

JAN. 16 Parent Faculty Club Meeting @ Mt. Diablo Elementary 7:00 p.m., Multi Use Room. Make a difference in your child's education. For items to be included on the agenda, contact Stacey Wickware 673-1999, the5wicks@sbcglobal.net or Kristy Smith 673-1795, kristinsmith@ yahoo.com, PFC Co-Presidents. Childcare is available. Watch website for details. http://www.mdusd.k12.ca.us/mountdiabloelementary/.

Seasons Greetings from

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JAN. 10 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.

JAN. 14 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.

BUSINESS & GOVERNMENT

greetings from Kobi and Jack

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DEC. 26 Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors Meeting @ County Administration Building 9 a.m. County Board of Supervisors holds regular weekly meetings Tues.

Robert C. Clark, D.O. 3243 Clayton Rd., Concord

925-969-7530 Visit our showroom M-F 9-5; Sat. 10-4

1170 Burnett Ave. Ste. E Concord

686-9901 Fax: 686-2106

December 22, 2006

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

JJ Hawaiian BBQ

Reasonable prices— Special party menus

La Veranda Café

Dine in or take out Experience the taste & scents of the Islands Hawaiian BBQ chicken

Grilled and boneless marinated in our Hawaiian BBQ sauce

Hawaiian BBQ Beef Short Ribs

Crispy breaded chicken fillets with Katsu sauce

Fresh soups, salads, antipasti, pizza and pasta Dinner and lunch daily Brunch on Sunday

Many Island favorites to savor

Children’s menu and take out service available

OPEN 7 DAYS 5435-A Clayton Rd.

Free 16-0z drink with any entrée

b k E ne su Buy o untain drin d sub FRE n o and f t the seco e and g 2/07

Coming Coming Soon Soon

Tacos Tacos & Burritos Burritos

exp. 1/1

Northern Italian Cuisine in downtown Clayton

Chicken Katsu

Tender beef short ribs marinated in our special BBQ sauce and grilled to perfection

Page B11

For reservations call

5415

(925) 524-0011 6201 CENTER ST. CLAYTON

in in Clayton Clayton Station Station

673-8686

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Crossword Puzzle ACROSS

Solution for 12/8 Crossword

Across 1- Examine, search 5- Brass wind instrument 9- Yellowish brown 14- Sled 15- Small blemish 16- Papal seal 17- Off-Broadway theater award 18- High hair style 19- Pertaining to the small intestine 20- Guitarlike instrument 22- Intervene 24- Free from bias 25- Established by law 26- Straight downhill ski run 29- High-school freshman 31- Garlic-flavored mayonnaise 32- Printed volume 33- Cow or doe 36- Hotel offering overnight accommodation 37- Ore refinery 40- Remuneration 41- Levi's rival

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

42- Wight or Man 43- To talk, usually in a pompous manner 45- Like some gum 47- Having a specified gait 48- Withdraw 51- Dynamic beginning 52- Unity 54- Parts of feet 58- Light wood 59- Previously 61- Potpourri 62- Showy action 63- Cry out 64- Manipulator 65- Scarf fur 66- Affectedly dainty 67- Shrivelled, without moisture

DOWN

1- Slovenly person 2- Castro's country 3- Not fer 4- Necessary 5- Trouble, slangily 6- Higher 7- Person, slangily 8- Molecular component 9- Dwells 10- Obdurate 11- Sheep cry 12- Overjoy 13- Ran swiftly 21- Fertile area in a desert 23- Elicit 26- Travel on water 27- Motion picture 28- Sharpen 29- Absurdity 30- Routine 32- Of the highest quality 33- Petty quarrel 34- Detest 35- Checked out 38- Floating bombs 39- Lion sounds 44- Very funny 45- Monthly 46- Think 47- Kind 48- Judges' garments 49- Put into law 50- String quartet instrument 51- Passageway 53- Faction of a group, of ten religious 55- Otherwise 56- Pillar 57- Annoyed 60- Uncooked

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 6-12 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 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 GOURMET SUBS AND MORE. 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 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—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.

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.

Page B12

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

Cookies, from page B1 JUNIOR BAKER SECOND PLACE RYAN COLLANTON, 10 GINGER COOKIES

2½ c. flour 2 tsp. ground ginger 1 tsp. baking soda ¾ tsp. ground cinnamon ½ tsp. ground cloves ¼ tsp. salt ¾ c. margarine, butter or shortening 1 c. sugar 1 egg ¼ c. molasses 2 Tbsp. sugar Preheat over to 350. Combine f lour, ginger, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves and salt in a bowl and set aside. In a large mixing bo wl, beat marg arine, butter or shortening with an electric mix er on low speed for 30 seconds to soften.Gradually add in the sugar. Beat until fluffy.

Add eg g and molasses and beat well. Stir the dr y ingredients into beaten mixture.

Shape the dough into 1½-inc h balls (about 1 heaping tsp . each). Roll in 2 Tbsp. of sugar. Place about 2½ inc hes apart on ung reased cookie sheet. Bake about 10 minutes, until light brown and still puffed. Do not overbake. Let stand two minutes. Transfer to wire rac k and cool. Makes 24 cookies.

JUNIOR BAKER THIRD PLACE JOSHUA WARZECHA, 11 CHRISTMAS SURPRISE COOKIES

1½ c . firmly pac ked light bro wn sugar ? c. Crisco 1 Tbsp. water 1 tsp. vanilla 2 eggs 1½ c. all-purpose flour ? c. unsweetened baking cocoa ¼ tsp. salt 2 c. semi-sweet chocolate chips 1½ c. chopped walnuts 3 c. dark chocolate chips

Heat o ven to 375. Place cooling racks or foil on counter top to cool cookies.

Combine bro wn sug ar, shortening, water and vanilla in a large bowl. Beat at medium speed of electric mix er until well blended. Beat eg gs into creamed mixture.

Combine f lour, cocoa, baking soda and salt. Mix into mixture at lo w speed just until blended. Stir in semi-sw eet chocolate chips and chopped walnuts.

Drop rounded tablespoonfuls of dough 2 inc hes apar t onto ung reased baking sheets. Bake 7-9 minutes or until cookies are set. Do not o verbake.

Remove cookies to foil or cooling racks to cool completely.

Melt dark c hocolate c hips. Once smooth, dip top edg e of each cookie into c hocolate and place onto w ax paper to dry.

TEEN BAKER SECOND PLACE LAUREN WARZECHA, 13 HOLIDAY CHEER COOKIES

1 c. butter (2 sticks) 1 c. brown sugar 1 c. granulated sugar 2 eggs ¾ c. unsweetened cocoa 1 tsp. vanilla 3-5 larg e candy canes brok en into small pieces 2¼ c. flour 1 pinch salt 1 pinch baking soda 1 c. dark chocolate chips 1 c. white chocolate chips Preheat oven to 375. Combine butter, eggs and v anilla in a bo wl. Add both sug ars and cocoa. Place f lour in another mixing bo wl. Stir the baking soda and salt into the f lour. Add flour mixture to the sug ar mixture a quar ter cup at a time.

Place 1 Tbsp . of cookie dough 2 inches apart on cookie sheet. Bake 1012 minutes. As soon as they come out of the oven, stick bits of candy cane on top. Serve with cocoa or milk.

TEEN BAKER THIRD PLACE CRISTINA PRATT, 14 CRISTINA’S MINT SURPRISE

2¼ c. all-purpose flour 1 tsp. baking soda 1 tsp. salt 1 c. (2 sticks) butter, softened ¾ c. granulated white sugar ¾ c. packed brown sugar 2 eggs 2 cups (12 oz. package) Nestle Toll House semi-sw eet c hocolate morsels 1 pac kage Ghirardelli 60% cacao semi-sweet chocolate chips 2 squares of semi-sweet baking chocolate 2 Tbsp. mint extract

Preheat o ven to 375. Combine flour, baking soda and salt in small bowl. Beat butter , granulated sug ar, brown sug ar and v anilla in larg e mixer bowl. Add eg gs one at a time , beating well after each addition. Gradually beat in flour mixture. Grate in the squares of baking chocolate.

In a separate bowl, mix both bags of chocolate c hips with the mint extract.

Stir in morsels. Drop by rounded tablespoons onto ung reased baking sheets .

Bake 9-11 min utes or until g olden brown. Let stand for 2 minutes. Remove to wire racks to cool completely.

MASTER BAKER SECOND PLACE LIZ ROBERTS

December 22, 2006

Preheat oven to 350. Spread pecans out in a baking pan. Bake until pecans are lightly toasted, about 10 min utes.

Pour from pan into a bowl and let cool.

In a food processor, combine toasted pecans , cranberries and 2 Tbsp . flour. Whirl until mixture is finely ground. Set aside.

In the larg e bo wl of an electric mixer, combine butter , sugar and orange peel. Beat on high speed until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, beating w ell after eac h addition. In another bo wl, stir tog ether 3 cups of flour, the baking powder and salt. Add to butter mixture along with cranberrypecan mixture. Beat just until blended.

Gather dough into a ball. Wrap in plastic wrap and chill at least 3 hours, or up to a da y. When ready to bak e, preheat o ven to 375 deg rees. On a w ellfloured board, roll dough out to ¼-inch thickness. If dough crac ks or splits while rolling, use your fingers to patc h it together. Cut dough out using a 2½to 3-inc h star cookie cutter . Transfer stars to ung reased baking sheets . Reroll dough and re-cut as needed to use all.

Bake until stars are just barely g olden on the edg es, 7-9 minutes. Transfer cookies to a rack to cool completely.

Pour c hocolate c hips into a microwave-safe bowl. Heat on 70 percent po wer for 45 seconds until c hips are smoothly melted. Stir to blend.

With the tines of a fork, drizzle or flick chocolate over cookies. Let stand until chocolate has hardened. Serve or package airtight up to 2 days.

MASTER BAKER THIRD PLACE SERENA CHOW

CRANBERRY-PECAN BISCOTTI BARS

¾ c. pecan halves ½ c. dried cranberries 3+ c. flour ½ c . unsalted butter at room temperature ¾ c. sugar 1 Tbsp . finely g rated and minced orange peel 2 large eggs 2 tsp. baking powder ½ tsp. salt 4 oz. white chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.

Beat butter and sug ar in larg e bowl until w ell blended. Beat in eg gs and extract. Add flour, cocoa powder, baking powder and salt and beat until w ell blended. Form dough into 1-inch balls.

Place 2 inches apart on prepared baking sheets. Flatten balls slightly to 1½-inc h rounds.

Bake cookies until edg es begin to firm but center still appears soft, about 13 minutes. Cool on sheets for 15 minutes. Transfer cookies to racks and cool completely. Sprinkle with po wdered sugar for festi ve presentation. (From Bon Appetit magazine, 12/2000) Because I am fond of the arcane and delicious, I wanted to mention that one of the entries in our cookie contest this year w as P otato Chip Cookies .

Several judges loved the texture and flavor and it was a close contender.

Karen McDonald writes that the recipe came from her mother and w as written on the bac k of an envelope so old and bro wn with ag e that it’s falling apart.

JEAN’S POTATO CHIP COOKIES 1 lb. butter 1 c. sugar 1 tsp. vanilla 3¼ c. flour 1½ c. potato chips (crushed) Preheat oven to 300. Cream together butter, sugar and v anilla. Slowly add in flour. When mixed, add potato chips.

Bake for 15-20 min utes. Dust with powdered sugar and decorate with colored sugar crystals.

MINT CHOCOLATE COOKIES SERENA CHOW 2 c. flour 1 c. unsweetened cocoa powder 1 tsp. baking soda ½ tsp. salt ½ tsp. baking powder 1 c. unsalted butter 1¾ c. sugar 2 large eggs ¾ tsp. peppermint extract

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I worked in the Escrow and Title field for a number of years and had the opportunity to meet many of the top agents in the industry. I would without hesitation list my agent among them.

He was efficient and professional, and kept me updated constantly.

Matthew went over and beyond my expectations.

Thank you, Matthew, for making this such a wonderful experience.

Your client for life, -Zina Docto

1965 Seward Drive

$429,000

View Outstanding

923 Arrowhead Terrace

$675,000

rivacy Charm and P

100 Suntree #105

$339,950

Pleasant Hill

Pleasant Hill

Clayton

Pleasant Hill

2 Bedrooms, 2 Baths, 1,154 SF, Master Bath with New Granite Countertops, Floor and Glass Enclosed Shower, Breakfast Bar, Formal Dining Room, Wood Burning Fireplace, Attached 2 Car Garage, Extra Large Deck Across the Back, Large Private Lawn Area, Laundry In Garage.

2 Bedrooms, 1 Baths, 924 SF. Spacious 5,100 SF Lot, Large Private Landscaped Backyard, Elegant Living Room with New Custom Redwood & Travertine Tile Fireplace, New Tile Flooring in Kitchen and Dining Area, Dual Pane Windows, Full Sized Laundry, Alarm System.

3 Bedrooms & 2 1/2 Baths, 1,904 SF Beautiful Panoramic View, Master Bedroom with His and Her Closets, Light and Bright Living Area with Spectacular Views, Vaulted Ceilings, Gorgeous Hardwood Floors Throughout Kitchen and Dining Room, Separate Laundry Room, Just Steps from the Pool Area and Playground. Don’t Miss this one!

1 Bedroom, 1 Bath, 888 SF, Great Single Story, Very Private in Back Location, Dual Pane Windows, 1 Car Garage, and 1 Space, Inside Laundry, Patio Off Master, Walking Path to Pool, Pets Allowed, Close to Shopping, Schools.

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00 Saved $25,2 SOLD! Seller

4041 St Andrews Way

$422,000

2321 Saxon Street

$384,900

1747 Lemonwood Dr

$550.000

5722 Lewis Way

$674,000

Antioch

Martinez

Concord

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.

2 Bedrooms 1 Bathroom 984 SF , Hardwood Floors Under Carpet, Refrigerator, Island with Cabinets, Gas Cook top, Washier and Dryer, New Sealed Deck, 5 Bright and Cheerful Skylights.

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

PENDING

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len Elderwood G

1238 Roanwood Way

Sell Fast!

Save Money

$554,950

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.

3050 San Miguel Court

$739,500

174 Glenview Drive

$851,500

Concord

Martinez

3 Bedrooms, 2.5 Bathrooms, 1.871 SF. Open Floor Plan, Grand Entrance to Living Room, Granite Counter Tops, Double Ovens, Gourmet Kitchen, Timed Sprinkler System, Wood Burning Fireplace, Spacious Laundry Room, Extra Attic Storage, Beautiful Views from Back Yard, Two Car Garage.

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.

You’re Paying How Much To Sell Your Home?

LOW FEES HAPPY CUSTOMERS!

Visit our office at 4918 Clayton Road