FEB 23 Clayton Pioneer 2007 by Pioneer Publishers

PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID CLAYTON, CA PERMIT 190

IT’S YOUR PAPER www.claytonpioneer.com

February 23, 2007

925.672.0500

Arts event showcases local talent BILL WALCUTT

MAYOR’S CORNER City needs your help, especially on July 4th We need v olunteers for the Community Ser vices Commission and the F ourth of July Parade. Clayton’s charm comes from the many comm unity-based events that occur during the year. Due to the small size of the city staff and v ery limited financial resources , volunteerism is a critical par t of our ability to ser ve the comm unity. If you have ever considered volunteering, this is an ex cellent way of giving back to the community. First, let me talk about the Community Ser vices Commission (CSC). The commission consists of five v oting members, one non-voting alternate member and one non-v oting student member . We currently ha ve openings for tw o voting members , one alter nate member and one student member. Before y ou ask, there is absolutely no truth to the rumor that w e suppor t the R obert Copeland theory: “To get something done, a committee should consist of no more than three people, two of whom are absent.” All kidding aside , this is a great commission with fantastic people and w e need to g et it back up to full capacity . The commission meets monthly and is responsible for forw arding recommendations to the City Council pertaining to the use of public facilities and org anizing community events. Their 2007 W ork Plan includes tw o ev ents, Clayton Cleans Up and the F ourth of

See Mayor, page A8

What’s Inside

Tamara Steiner/Clayton Pioneer

YOUNG MIYA

BEGAN PAINTING TO EASE THE SYMPTOMS

JILL BEDECARRÉ Clayton Pioneer

Young Miya w as stric ken with Parkinson’s disease 10 years ago and ev entually had to quit her job as a n urse. Without any formal training, she beg an to paint using oils on can vas and was sur prised at the result. “I thought, ‘This is pretty g ood,’ ” Miya recalls. From that da y on, she has never stopped pursuing her ar t form. Miya will be one of many local ar tists who will demonstrate their indi vidual ar t for ms

SECTION A Around Town . . . . . . . . . . .A2 Upcoming Events . . . . . . . .A3 Letters to the Editor . . . . . .A4 Classified Ads . . . . . . . . . . . .A5 Directory of Advertisers . . .A5 Two for the Show (new) . . .A7 Club News . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A8 From the Chief . . . . . . . . . . .A9 Real Estate . . . . . . . . . . . . .A10 At the Movies . . . . . . . . . . .A11 So, Anyway . . . . . . . . . . . . .A12

SECTION B

Garden Girl . . . . . . . . . . . . .B1 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .B2 School News . . . . . . . . . . . . .B4 CVHS Reporter . . . . . . . . . .B4 Financial Sense . . . . . . . . . . .B5 Church News . . . . . . . . . . . .B6 Tea for You . . . . . . . . . . . . . .B6 Tax Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .B6 Community Calendar . . . . . .B7 Music Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . .B8 Crossword Puzzle . . . . . . . . .B8 Paws and Claws . . . . . . . . . .B9 Food for Thought . . . . . . .B10

associated with her Parkinson’s Disease. Now she spends several hours every day at her easel.

at the four th ann ual Creekside Arts Celebration Marc h 2-4 at the Clayton Community Library. The Clayton Community Library Foundation (CCLF) is sponsoring the event. Friday’s preview is from 5 to 8 p .m., Saturday’s “Meet the Authors and Ar tists” begins at 10 a.m. and ends at 6 p .m., and Sunday’s “Meet the A uthors and Musicians” is from 1 to 5 p.m. Miya paints primarily landscapes with vi vid use of color. She has also experimented with self-portraits and religious ar t. Her art is displayed on every wall of her Cla yton home and her

family room is her studio . “My favorite painting is of the Virgin Mary,” she says. Miya is g rateful for her ability to paint because it helps ease her depression from P arkinson’s disease. She devotes many hours each day to her paintings and is currently teaching an ar t class at St. Bonaventure’s Church. Clayton resident Leslie Mathie, a c hemist at the Lawrence Li vermore Laboratory, comes home eac h day to bags of mosaic tiles and endless projects that nourish her creative side. For the past 10 years , Mathie

has dev eloped her ar t, creating everything from handcrafted birdhouses to g arden ar t, wall hangings and beautiful v ases with intricate tile designs. “It’s v ery relaxing and provides an outlet for me apar t from the technicalities of my day job,” says Mathie , who will gi ve live demonstrations of her work at the w eekend ar ts celebration. A member of the newly-formed Creekside Ar tists Guild of Clayton, Mathie is ex cited about the upcoming celebration, which offers budding ar tists an opportunity to explore their ar t for ms with others. “A lot of people are

creative, and they don ’t kno w what’s available to them in their community,” says Mathie who devotes about 10 hours eac h week to her art. “The tec hnical aspect of mosaic ar t is most c hallenging,” she sa ys, from the hand cutting of tiles to the adhesi ves used in the process. Mathie is a member of the Society of American Mosaic Ar tists and has tra veled to Italy, where she took special classes in the art form. “This w eekend, I’d lik e

See Arts Event, page A9

Downtown park project g oes out for bid TAMARA STEINER Clayton Pioneer

Over a dozen g eneral contractors g athered at the do wntown park site last w eek for a pre-bid conference with the project manag er and city officials. The project manag er, John Croswhite of The Zahn Group , a San F rancisco Constr uction Management fir m and City Engineer Ric k Ang risani met with contractors who ha ve expressed an interest in bidding on the project to g o o ver the city’s requirements. So far , the city has sent the bid pac kage to 25 contractors . City Manag er Gar y Napper is

not sur prised at the n umber of firms interested in the project. “I’m pleased that the contractors recognize the unique design and layout …it’s not the typical g rass and trees park,” he said. With that many contractors interested in the park, Councilwoman J ulie Pierce expects the bids to be very competitive. “Who wouldn’t want to work in Cla yton?” she ask ed. Although the parcel is small, just over an acre , the project is a complicated one. The many different types of materials called for in the design, the cur ving pathways and the public restrooms can all present constr uction challenges. Plans include a g azebo fully wired to ser ve as a g randstand

and a park-wide sound system with speakers on each light pole, a water play structure and tables with g ame board tabletops . The Council will review the merits of all-weather turf for the whole park system at a special study session on Feb. 20 at 6 p.m. At the Mar . 20 meeting, the Council will a ward the contract and vote on the acquisition of a life size bronze sculpture b y artist Gary Lee Price. “This is a fantastic project, a real g em,” says Croswhite . “I’m taking it on as m y o wn project and I’ll make sure this park is the pride and joy of Clayton.” Construction is expected to begin the first of April with a park dedication on the Labor Day weekend.

Tamara Steiner/Clayton Pioneer

City Manager Gary Napper (foreground), and City Engineer Rick Angrisani (facing camera) wrap up a meeting with contractors interested in bidding on the park project.

Page A2

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

February 23, 2007

Around Town Scott Newlin and Alison Mur ray wed in beach ceremony

Alison Murray and Scott Newlin married last July on San Diego’s Coronado Island.

Alison Mur ray of Concord and Scott Newlin of Clayton married on Coronado Island, San Diego on July 16, 2006. The w edding ceremony w as barefoot on the beac h with steel drummers, followed b y a rece ption the Island Club , North Island, Naval Air Station, Coronado for a buffet dinner and dancing. The bride w ore a white satin strapless g own with white calla lilies and tuber roses . Her attendants w ore fuc hsia tea length spaghetti strap dresses. The bride’s parents, Bob and Alice Murray of Concord were in attendance as w ere the bride’ s grandparents, Alice and Bill Szehner of Walnut Creek. The groom’s parents , Dee and Gar y Neuner of Clayton and Scott and Laurie Newlin of Chicago, as well as the groom’s grandparents, Victor and Delores Massone of Mountain View and J ack and Lucille Newlin of Naperville, Illinois w ere present. Guests came from as far as Vermont. Alison was attended by Maids of Honor J oanna Neely and

Melissa W atkins. Her bridesmaids w ere A ubree Dahl, Jen Lindsey, Maya Freeman, and junior bridesmaids Ashley McNulty and Casey Adams . The f lower girl was Kelly Adams. Scott’s best men w ere J ason Russo and Gar rett Freeman. His groomsmen w ere Christopher Szehner, Michael Mur ray, Scott Cromer, Chris Gavin, and junior groomsman K evin Adams . The ring bearer was David McNulty. The g room g raduated from Clayton V alley High Sc hool in 1996 and is cur rently enrolled in Paramedic School. Alison graduated from Cla yton V alley High School in 1999, San Dieg o State University in 2004 and St. Mary’s College in 2005. Alison teaches fourth grade at Ayers Elementar y in Concord. Scott is an Emerg ency Medical Technician with American Medical R esponse in Contra Costa County. The couple honeymooned on the F rench Polynesian Island of Moorea. They live in Clayton.

New grandbaby for the Manzecks

John and Linda Manzec k welcomed new bab y g randdaughter K asey Alisa (7 lbs . 10 oz and 20 inc hes tall) on December 8 in Prescott, Arizona. Kasey lives with her parents Kristen and J .D. Hogue on the rim of the Grand Canyon where J.D. is head wrangler for Grand Canyon concessionaire Xanterra Corp.

Camellias make a colorful backdrop for tea at the museum Chuck and Elaine Ev ans, Lil Fic htenkort, Bob Hoyer and Janet Easton. Typically more at home on a ranc h that The w eather cooperated beautifully for at a tea table , Martin the Camellia Tea at the Clayton Museum on Easton w as undauntFeb. 11. More than 80 people enjo yed the ed b y the silv er and camellias and camaraderie throughout the china. “I pour diesel afternoon. fuel into my tractor all The first tea was held in 1974, before the the time . Pouring tea Clayton Historical Society even had a musewas pretty easy.” um. That function honored the descendants Volunteers bak ed of Clayton’s pioneering families. delicious cookies to Those who poured at this year’s tea were serve with the punc h, all in attendance at that first tea, which was coffee and tea. Many held at the Dic kerson residence in Morg an growers pro vided the Territory. Pourers included Mar tin Easton, JANET EASTON beautiful camellias JANET EASTON Special to the Pioneer

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that ador ned the m useum. Edith Mazzei’ s and Bob Ehrhart’s prize-winning specimens deserve special note. The tea became an impromptu family reunion, when Willmetta Frank Mann, Lois Bigelow, Ruth Big elow Sto well, Charles Harris, Kent Har ris, Alice Mann Stew art, Charmetta Mann, Marie F rank Larson and Karen Larson Sutherlin ar rived. They are descendants of the Stockfleth, Bigelow and Frank families – who all came to Clayton in the 1800s. At right: Wilmetta Mann, 93 and her daughter Charmetta Mann are decendents of early Clayton settlers.

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February 23, 2007

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

Page A3

Around Town

Golden Anniversary for Fitzgeralds

GAIL

AND

DON FITZGERALD celebrated 50 years of marriage with a cruise to Hawaii.

Don and Gail Fitzg erald celebrated their 50 year w edding anniversary on January 19 with a dinner hosted b y their children at the Duc k Club in the Lafayette Park Hotel. The couple contin ued the celebration a few days later with a fifteen da y cr uise to the Hawaiian Islands. Don and Gail first met on October 1, 1956. Don had just returned home from ser ving three years in the Marine Corps at the end of the Korean conflict. It was love at

first sight. They mar ried on January 19, 1957 at Ascension Church in Nor th Tonawanda—three months and 19 da ys after they first met. During Don ’s 30 year career with 3-M Company, the couple lived in Rochester, NY, St. Paul, Minn., Fountain Valley, California and finally , San Francisco. They ha ve four c hildren, Kimberly (P am) Fitzg eraldWermes, Kathleen (J ames) Burkin, Kevin (Dana)

Fitzgerald and Kyle Fitzgerald. They ha ve fi ve g randchildren – all nati ve Califor nians— Rosalie, Tyler, Sean, Emily and Adam. Don retired from 3-M in 1986 and now works part time at Oakhurst Country Club. He is in volved with the Cla yton Business and Comm unity Association and T he Wellness Community in W alnut Creek. Both Don and Gail are acti ve members of St. Bonaventure’s Catholic Church.

Clayton Books celebrates grand opening with authors and illustrators The new Cla yton Books in Clayton Station celebrated its grand opening the w eekend of February 10-11 with authors , illustrators and a vid readers of all ages. “It w as a taste of things to come,” says o wner J oel Har ris. Harris recently rescued the local bookstore, formerly Bonanza Books, when it w as about to close down. The g rand opening had all the ambiance of a small to wn book store where readers got up close and personal with local authors and enjo yed meeting the owners and staff . Joel plans to have more author signings as well as special events and parties to celebrate new releases. On July 20 at 8 p .m. Joel is planning a Har ry P otter par ty celebrating the new release, The Deadly Hallows 7 with a magic show, contests and prizes . Harris is also planning to host local book clubs. Some of the authors that came to sign books at the grand

opening included Cla yton resident and c hildren’s author , Christine Mitc hell; mystery writer Ann P arker, children’s authors/illustrators Lou Fancher and Stev e J ohnson, Robert and Daniel San Souci,

children’s authors; biographer, Ginger W adsworth, Anne Homan, author of “The Morning Side of Mount Diablo,” and Mike Foley, bicycle author.

Jill Bedecarre/Clayton Pioneer

CLAYTON BOOKS OWNER JOEL HARRIS WITH MYSTERY WRITER ANN PARKER. Parker was one of several authors signing books at the store’s grand opening.

Girl Scouts visit police de partment Daisy Girl Scout T roop 1374 recently toured the Clayton P olice De partment. After their tour of the office , the girls g ot a close up view of a police car from P olice Services Aide Stev en Moeller . The girls are lear ning the Girl Scout Promise and La w, and this field trip tied in with the portion of the Girl Scout La w “Respect Authority.”

What’s happening Around Town?

Stunning views from ridgeline lot above Marsh Creek Road

Upcoming Events

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2-4. Friday ev ening’s ev ent will include an ar tists preview from 5 to 8 p .m. and a perfor mance by Celtic harpist, Anne Sackman. On Sat. from 10 a.m. to 6 p .m., there will be ongoing sales and demonstrations as w ell as performances by the CVHS Ar ts Academy. Sales will continue on Sunda y with perfor mances b y local professional musicians. Last year’s event provided a g reat oppor tunity to raise public awareness about the local watershed. This year , nature appreciation ev ents include a nature hike and photo contest. For more infor mation call Arlene Kikka wa-Nielsen, Community Events Coordinator, CCLF at 673-9777 or e-mail akikkawa@ccclib.org

The slopes of this property guarantee permanent unobstructed views in all directions. An additional comparatively modest three acre level building lot at the lower 750’ elevation is included.

This 2,400' + home in Regency Meadows has four bedrooms. One bedroom could be a convenient centrally located home office. 2 ½ baths include a huge master bath and a hall powder room. Formal dining and large family room.Triple car garage means plenty of hobby shop space. Home is vacant for easy showing and quick move in.

Long-standing commitment to community, family and customer service

Martin Easton

The 4th ann ual Creekside Ar ts Celebration is just around the cor ner promising an enter taining weekend of both visual and perfor ming ar ts. The free event celebrates the library’s 12th anniversary. Sponsored by the Cla yton Community Librar y Foundation (CCLF), the celebration will feature local celebrity guest author , wildlife educator and writer for the Contra Costa Times newspapers , Gary Bogue . Well-known illustrator Chuc k T odd will be on hand along with local musicians and participation from local schools. The new Creekside Ar tists group has attracted many new ar tists who will also be selling and demonstrating their artforms. This year’s event is set for the weekend of Mar.

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Page A4

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

Letters to the Editor A reader speaks

Dear Editor I just wanted to let you know how m uch I enjo y y our paper and the g reat local co verage. Each issue , I look forw ard to reading T he Garden Girl and Tea For you, especially. Gardening and g oing to tearooms are tw o of my hobbies and both of these columns are so helpful and enjoyable to read. Having gone to many tearooms, I feel so for tunate to ha ve one right here in our home to wn! Every time I g o to England’ s Tea Cottag e the o wner, Pam, is so friendly and takes the time to talk with us about tea and answer our questions. I also really lik e the mo vie reviews. Rarely do I ag ree with the critics on TV or the national mo vie reviews . It’s g reat to have the opinion of people like me who will gi ve an honest opinion. Thank y ou ag ain for an excellent newspaper! – Mary Sue Broughton Ed. And, thank you, Mary.

More on downtown church land purchase Dear Editor, Mr. Lawrence’s rebuttal of parts of my letter in suppor t of the land purchase by CCC didn’t address the main points. He sa ys that a do wntown park will bring “additional downtown commercial development”, a statement I ag ree with completely. A beautiful park - not a money g enerating entity in it’ s own right - will gi ve a business owner another reason to consider opening shop in Cla yton, as it attracts people do wntown. Additionally, the classic car nights bring people do wntown during the week. I myself own a

couple of classics and bring them downtown as often as any on these ev enings. Visitors and owners come to see the cars but then also patronize do wntown businesses. Why can ’t the same logic be applied when it comes to 650 people attending w eekly functions downtown? The fact that “ev ery city council member” has supported the g oal of the T own Center Specific Plan for the last 30 years could explain wh y it is taking so long for businesses to finally come to Clayton and open shop. The land at issue could stand bare for another 30 years if there isn’t some flexibility in this plan. I have g reat respect for P ete and think he was a fabulous public servant. I just wanted to clarify my thoughts from a previous letter since it seems that it didn ’t express them cor rectly the first time. – James Gamble Dear Editor: I have been reading about the proposed dev elopment do wntown in respect to the purc hase of land and plan for dev elopment by the Clayton Community Church. In my opinion this will do nothing for the residents of Clayton as a whole. Clayton has a v ery limited amount of space a vailable to generate a commercial tax base . A significant amount of space has been dedicated to a soon to be developed park. It is m y understanding that the proper ty owner who wished to dev elop this proper ty w as being required b y the Planning Commission to create a tw o story retail/commercial space . Good job Planning Commission if this is true. This planning to maximize the space available and create for the

City of Clayton some additional annual income w as a ste p in the right direction. It is m y understanding that because the dev eloper did not want to mo ve in this direction that he has decided to sell the property. The thought that the Clayton Community Churc h, with knowledge of these requirements, has decided that they do not need to comply with a requirement for tw o-story commercial really ir ritates me . It should ir ritate the City Council and the Planning Commission because it simply sa ys that they do not believe that it per tains to them. I ha ve read that the c hurch will plan for some commercial. The commercial business identified actually sounds lik e an extension of the c hurch acti vities and not commercial for the City of Clayton. What if these businesses do not w ork? W hat will keep the church from taking over this space also for their church activities? They w ant to w ork a deal with the Cla yton Children ’s World for parking on Sunda y and I assume whenev er they would need the parking for one of their ev ents. The c hurch as well as any developer needs to be able to accommodate their people. Where do y ou see c hurches in the area being built with no parking for ser vices? No where. Take a look at what the new church out in Byron has done . They have a hug e area for parking. This is the responsibility of the c hurch and not the City of Clayton. The Planning Commission needs to take a stand on this and should g rant no ex emptions. I do not believe there is a need for the c hurch to tak e o ver the

downtown area ev ery time there is a c hurch ev ent. This is the downtown Cla yton Business Area and not the Cla yton Community Churc h g rounds. It is odd that a c hurch with suc h grand plans to basically build their own city now has to dev elop on a postag e stamp of their prior plans in do wntown Clayton. I also understand that one of our City Council members is a member of this church. I would expect that this person or these people should be v ery neutral in any of the decisions being made about this c hurch. This is an obvious conflict of interest. The fact that this or these Council Members did not kno w about this move and did not share the plans with the Planning Commission or City Council is very suspect and will definitely stay on my mind at the next election. Bottom line is that Cla yton needs commercial buildings to generate rev enue. A c hurch will not. What have they brought to the City of Clayton since taking over the Stag ecoach? T he Clayton City Council and Planning Commission need to deny the dev elopment of a church complex on Main Street. They need to mak e the decision and not mak e it a public v ote decision. This decision is v ery simple and should not cost the City of Clayton the cost of voting. The City Council and Planning Commission have been voted in to mak e decisions and not pass them on to a v ote. Please do not allo w this property as w ell as the Cla yton downtown to be tur ned into a Clayton Comm unity Churc h complex. If you do, you will be giving these people the complex they wished to build themselv es at the cost to the City of Clayton. – Mike Neer

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Clayton

Concord

3 Bedrooms, 2 Bath, 1,653 Private Lot 12,000 SF, Gleaming Tile and Hardwood Floors, Attractive New Color Schemes, Elegant Formal Living Room with Rose Garden Window, Formal Dining Room, Inviting Family Room with Fireplace, MT Diablo View, 2 Car Garage!

3 Bedroom, 2.5 Bath, 1,607 SF Vaulted Ceilings Throughout home, Tranquil Gardens, This Home is Perfect for Entertaining, Includes Family Room w/Brick Fireplace, Located on a Quiet Street at the end of a Cul-de-sac, Close to Shopping and Transportation.

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

February 23, 2007

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

Page A5

Classified WORK WANTED

Caregiver. Excellent caregiver, Clayton resident, wants to work locally to save $$$$ on gas. Excellent references. Call Noelle Watt, 925-672-0124.

HELP WANTED

Part Time Notary. Notary wanted for shipping/mailbox store. 20 hours per week. $9.00/hour plus notary bonus. Call 497-1003. 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

Animal Rescue. Great homes only, please!

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).

SERVICES

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

PETS

Pet Sitting. Peace of Mind Pet Services. Spring break is coming up. Need help with your pets? Call local resident Linda Pastor at 6729781 or 202-8781. Licensed, insured, and bonded. Reasonable rates, Clayton area.

VACATION RENTAL

Cabin in Blue Lake Springs (Arnold, CA). Sleeps 6, fully remodeled, quiet, use of recreation facilities. $150/night, $950/week. Call Kevin Parker @ (925) 383-9430 or http://www.vrconnection.com/ parkerpaw.

Romanian Puppies for Adoption. Puppies for adoption, available Feb. 26. Rescued from the country of Romania. Please call Nancy at 925672-5908 or www.romaniananimalrescue.com. $100 tax deductible donation supports Romanian

LY party store in the N O e h area w, t o N Mention this ad for a FREE

beaded shamrock necklace with $15 purchase.

has everything you need to celebrate

St. Patrick’s Day

John Sharapata, Owner & Clayton Resident

Huge selection of Irish - themed lights partyware, balloons and decorations

Mon - Thu 9 - 7, Fri & Sat 9 - 8 5434 Ygnacio Valley Road, Ste. 130 in the Clayton Valley Shopping Center Closed Sun 672-4425 on the Washington Blvd. side. visit our online store: seasonalreflections.com

These four and five bedroom Lenox Homes offer all the amenities and features you ever dreamed of having. The array of custom features include: Spacious floor plans from 2,980 sq. ft. 10 ft. ceilings, crown molding & radius corners Gourmet kitchen with granite countertops & maple cabinetry Elegant master bedroom & bathroom Many more extras Delivery Spring 2007 Early home buyers have the opportunity to personalize their new home from a wide selection of options and upgrades. Thinking about remodeling your current home? Call our sales office first and discover what the possibilities are in a new Lenox Home. Open Monday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. and Thursday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information :

Kirker

Pass

Ygn aci o

e Tr

Rd. ley al

Cal State Univ. Hayward extension

CLAYTON Pine

Holl

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Pine Hollow Estates

Mi tch ell Ca ny on

Broker Cooperation

Ba ile

Call (925) 672-3230

yto

The Clayton Community Library is seeking to fill the following volunteer positions: (All positions require a minimum age of 13 years and a 6-month commitment. Training will be provided). Scrapbook Historian - to document the many interesting activities the library provides to the community using newspaper clippings, event photos, flyers, etc., Will be put on display at the annual March library birthday celebration. Shelver - to shelve and sensitize books...must be detail oriented (Tues. between the hours of 10am2pm, Wed. 3-5pm, Sat. 11 a.m.-1 pm & 2-4 pm). Tutor/Homework Helper - to work one-on-one with local students in our community. You choose the age range, subjects, remedial or light help, and days/times. Office Assistant handle filing, word processing, create flyers, volunteer database input on Microsoft Access, assistance with meetings/programs. Contact: Arlene @ 673-9777 or email: akikkawa@ccclib.org.

PIONEER INFO HOW TO PLACE A CLASSIFIED AD

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

LET US KNOW

Construction is underway on Lenox Homes new residential community of sought after “Single Story” homes on spacious 13,000 + sq. ft. lots. Now is the time to move up to a dream home with no stairs and a yard that is designed for great outdoor living.

Cla

Greeter. Clayton Historical Society Museum needs a greeter the second Sun. of each month from 2 - 4 p.m. Training is provided. If interested, call 672-0240, email claytonmuseum@sbcglobal.net or visit the museum between 2 and 4 p.m. on Wed. or Sun.

To place your 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 may fax your typewritten ad and credit card infor mation to (925) 672-6580 All classifieds must be paid for in adv ance b y credit card (Master Card or Visa) We will not acce pt any ad that discriminates on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, nationality, family status or disability . The Cla yton Pioneer reser ves the right to reject any advertising we believe is unsuitable.

New “Single Story” Executive Homes from $1,184,900

or go to www.lenoxhomes.net

VOLUNTEERS WANTED

The City of Clayton is looking for volunteers to work indoors on designated projects, general office help, and records management, including scanning of City documents. If you are interested in offering a few hours a week to help improve your community please contact the Volunteer Coordinator or apply online at www.ci.clayton.ca.us .

Weddings, engagements, anniversaries, births and deaths all weave together as part of the fabric of our community. Please let us kno w of these impor tant events. We ask only that the announcement be for a Cla yton resident. You will find the appropriate for m for y our announcement on our W ebsite. Attach your photo to the for m. 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 g eneral r ule, letters should be less than tw o double spaced pages and submitted at least one week prior to publication date . Letters concer ning cur rent issues will have 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 da ytime tele phone number. We will not print letters from “anonymous.” E-mail your letter in a W ord Document to tamara@cla ytonpioneer.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 D EANNA M ERRIGAN , Sports 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 Butterfly Life . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-4238 Calkins, Bill - Charlotte Clifford Realtors . . . . . . . . . .673-9164 Carol Keane and Associates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .937-5200 CCMT - Guys and Dolls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .943-7469 CD Federal Credit Union . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .825-0900 Clark, Robert C., D.O. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .969-7530 Clayton Books . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .673-3325 Clayton Fitness and Tanning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-2010 Clayton Home Inspection Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-9405 Clayton Mind and Body Connections . . . . . . . . . . . .673-0686 Clayton Valley Bowl . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .689-4631 Clayton Valley Medical Group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-6744 Clayton Valley Presbyterian Church . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-4848 Clayton Valley Shell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-3900 Clayton Valley Villa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-8401 Computers USA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-9989 ComUnity Lending . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-5363 Cruise Adventures Unlimited . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .935-7447 CTA Crossroads Theatre . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .944-0597 Dan and Dave's Cat Boarding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .524-0652 Denim & Lace . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .524-0345 Diamond Terrace Senior Retirement Living . . . . . . .524-5100 Dromlewicz, Kim - Century 21 Hosking Assoc. . . . .682-4663 DVSC Tryouts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .229-3872 Easton, Martin - Liberty Homes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-4569 Easy Storage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-3476 Eternal Life Lutheran Church . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .524-0295 Flannery, Patty - Diablo Realty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-0541 French, Lynne - Windemere Real Estate . . . . . . . . .672-8787 Galaxy Nail Spa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .676-8668 Cha-aum Couture of Gesinee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .687-2070 Ginochio, Gina - Rath Realty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .827-9820 Help - U - Sell Real Estate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .680-4950 HomeEquity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .673-9737 Hudak, Jim - Pianist and Composer . . . . . . . . . . . . .673-7293 Insite Design . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .689-6460 Jazzercise . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-7025 Joanna's Designs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .673-8911 Kelly Marshall Garden Design . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .914-0327 Laurence, Pete - Better Homes Realty . . . . . . . . . . .939-7920 Lampo, Allen - John Hancock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .681-4438 La Veranda Restaurant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .524-0011 Lenox Homes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .284-0415 Littorno, Richard - Attorney at Law . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-6463 Main St. Nail Studio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-4975 Mazzei Auto . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .757-5600 Michael Dwyer & Sons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-3980 Mike's Auto Body . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .689-1739 Miller, Tom - CPA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .354-1385 Monte Vista Veterinary Hospital . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-1100 Moon, Steven Dr., Chiropractor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .682-8400 Morucci, Kim - Intero Real Estate Services . . . . . . .280-8563 National Energy Rebate Fund . . . . . . . . . . . . . .800-957-4544 Nationwide Real Estate Investments . . . . . . . . . . . .777-1920 Nature's Creations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .800-624-2188 Neptune Society of Northern California . . . . . . . . . .944-5100 Nichols Landscape . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-9955 Nickerson, Glenna - Diablo Funding Group . . . . . . .227-0100 Nuchols, Alicia - Premier Home Loans . . . . .691-5070 X 323 Oakhurst Country Club . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-9737 X 217 Ouimet Funeral Home . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .682-4242 Paulson, Steve - KTVU Fox 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .673-5761 Postal Annex + . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-8900 Preschool and Parenting Fair . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .939-6466 Quantum Stress and Pain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .459-8595 R.E. Carpet Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .595-8623 Reed, Ruth - Remax Accord Real Estate . . . . . . . . .260-6731 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 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 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-2025 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 Vujnovich, George - Better Homes Realty . . . . . . . .672-4433 Williams, Mike - Williams Properties . . . . . . . . . . . . .260-5363 Wooden It Be Nice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .673-5595

Page A6

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

February 23, 2007

Wandering Romanian animals find a caring soul

GOT SPACE?

JILL BEDECARRÉ Clayton Pioneer

The photos of starving dogs are difficult to view . Stories about how dogs are poisoned and abused are tough to hear. With no one to care for them, they roam the streets and are left to fend for themselv es. The overpopulation of dogs and cats in Romania is a serious problem, with appro ximately 16,000 stray animals in the city of Galati alone. Eleven-monthold Anna Marie could ha ve been one of the casualties if it weren’t for the work and rescue efforts of Nancy Janes. Founder of Romania Animal R escue Inc . (RAR), Janes was working in Galati on behalf of the org anization Nancy Janes rescued Anne Marie from certain death when she came across a puppy on the streets of Galati, Romania. that was struck by a car and left to die on the side of the road. Europe. However, the real cities care about their pets , but The dog was partially paralyzed work of the non-profit org ani- they are too poor to pa y for with a broken back. zation is its spa y, neuter and their care . Others just don ’t Janes brought the puppy release prog ram that is know that animals should be back to her ranc h in the Mt. designed to curb the overpopu- kept in the home or bac kyard, Diablo foothills off Marsh lation of unwanted animals in not on the street, explains Creek Road, where she current- Romania. Janes. ly resides with sev eral other “We cannot tur n the tide of RAR began when Janes and Romanian rescues . Janes fitted overpopulation until we reduce two friends embarked on a hikAnna Marie with a wheeled cart the g rowth rate of the stra y ing trip to Romania. They were that suppor ts the dog’ s hind population. Spaying and neuappalled b y the hundreds of legs and bottom as she propels tering can limit the n umber of dogs and cats r unning loose in herself forward with her tw o animals bor n the city, with no food or profront paws. The into already tection. “I came bac k feeling dog wears a diao v e r c r o w d e d guilty and at first, I w anted to per and has to kennels,” Janes move to Romania,” she says. be cleaned says. Instead, she rolled up her daily. “She’s the She is espesleeves and beg an to build an sweetest dog cially ex cited animal shelter in Galati. Janes’ I’ve ev er seen, ” about their efforts took on a life of their says Janes. work with Dr . own. She w as able to solicit Emma is I l e a n a funds for an Inter national another dog Gheorghita, a Veterinary Ex change prog ram, who w as for tuveterinarian in as w ell as for countless spa ys nate enough to Galati who and neuters . She has attracted capture J anes’ offers pain-free interest from the U .S. heart and landspay and neuter Humane Society, the Mayhew ed in the laps of services to all Home in London, which has a Cla yton fami- Julia Aguilar and her Romanian street and supported animal w elfare for ly last year. Julia Rescue pup, Emma. guardian ani120 years , and P et F ood Aguilar of Postal Annex in mals. RAR covers her expenses Express, an independent retailClayton Station met Janes when and is looking to hire sev eral er with special adoption proshe came into the store for more v ets to w ork with grams. business. When Aguilar recent- Gheorghita. In addition, Janes Janes is cur rently on a 10ly lost a dev oted dog named would lik e to pro vide transday trip to Romania, where she Diamond, her other dog portation for the animals from will meet with Gheorghita to Crystal w ent into a dee p the street to the clinic. determine what the g reatest depression. Janes promised Last year , RAR spa yed and needs are . She’ll spend time at Aguilar that she w ould bring neutered appro ximately 800 RAR’s shelter and the city’s dog back a puppy for her from dogs and cats in Galati and pounds and will visit with Romania. more than 200 in Arad, Galati’s mayor. Crystal and Emma are no w Romania. Janes hopes to When J anes lea ves best friends and Aguilar recent- increase that n umber to 4,000 Romania, she is often comfortly helped Janes with a fundrais- this year. ed by a few luc ky canines that ing project in San Francisco. Jane’s enthusiastic personal- she is able to crate and car ry Although Janes often brings ity has opened the doors to back to the United States . “It back puppies to the United many oppor tunities that suphelps with my depression, havStates after a trip to R omania, port animal w elfare in ing to lea ve so many dogs her adoption effor ts are only a Romania. “When I retur n to behind,” says Janes. small part of the work she does Galati, the local people hug me However, her greatest comon behalf of the out-of-control and w elcome me ,” Janes sa ys. fort is the realization that more dog and cat population in cities Over the years , she has dev el- than 1,000 dogs and cats throughout Romania. oped a strong rappor t with the weren’t bor n because of the Janes founded RAR in 2003 residents, educating them about spay, neuter and release proafter working a couple of years the proper care of animals and gram through RAR. in Galati building an animal the availability of the free clinFor more information on RAR, shelter, which has been named ic. visit www.romaniaanimalrescue.com. one of the best in Easter n Most people in R omanian

Call EASY STORAGE Clayton, CA We deliver, you fill, we pick up. Free quotes and telephone consultation

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Your home is where my heart is Ruth Reed RE/MAX Accord

Clayton

$489,980

Well-maintained, spacious, 3 bedroom, 2.5 bath home - 1,378 s.f. Fresh interior paint, baseboards and covering, retextured ceilings. Remodeled guest & master bathrooms. Dining area, central heat and air, enclosed patio with beautiful trees. Two car attached garage and amenities including clubhouse, greenbelt and pool with wonderful Mt. Diablo and valley views.

Come take a peek at this wonderful home! D EDUCE

When it’s time to inspect, call the experts If you're looking for professionals and excellent service, call on Roger and Lori. They have assisted many clients of America First, and we have always had 100% satisfaction. Their knowledge and service is beyond comparison!

d by wne o y l l Loca

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Easy Diablo living - convenient to hiking, biking and shops Charming 2 bedroom, 1 bath home. Large, flat yards with patio and space for a hot tub One car attached garage with opener Carpet over hardwood floors. Cozy woodburning fireplace in the living room

ED REDUC Lori Hilts-Galvin & Roger Galvin

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Please visit our Website at www.ClaytonHomeInspection.net

Looking for a good location? This is it. Steps away from BART Ruth Reed (925) 283-9200 (office) Realtor ruthreed@remaxaccord.com

(925) 260-6731 (cellular) (925) 297-0300 (fax)

February 23, 2007

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer .com

PAINTING

Because the Finish Counts (Cell) Spe

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Priced @ $1,075,000 For more information contact:

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Rath Realtors

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JILL BEDECARRÉ TAMARA STEINER

TWO

FOR THE

SHOW

“Guys and Dolls” first opened on Broadw ay on November 24, 1950. It ran a record breaking (at the time) 1,200 perfor mances and has maintained a secure position on the short list of America’s all time g reat m usicals for more than half a century. Based on the Damon Runyon shor t stor y, The Idyll of Miss Sarah Br own, “Guys and Dolls” is set in the sleazy New York underworld in the 1940s where snappy , eccentric characters speak line after line of stilted R unyonesque slang and good and evil battle it out o ver the dice of the crap g ame and the bibles of the Save-A-Soul Mission. As the sho w opens , we find Nathan Detroit, slick but lovable gambler, searching for a place to hold the next “Oldest Established Permanent Floating Crap Game in New York.” Nathan is joined b y his adoring, also permanent, fiancé, Miss Adelaide who , for 14 years , has been w aiting for a w edding ring and a little house in the country. Nathan neg otiates a location for the g ame and only needs $1000 to secure it. Chronically empty of pocket, Nathan bets on what he thinks is a sure thing—that the smooth talking Sk y Masterson, a fello w g ambler who claims he can “g et any doll” would never in a million years convince the lo vely and irreproachable Sa ve-A-Soul missionary Sarah Bro wn to fly with him to Ha vana for drinks and dinner . $1000 for Sky if she g oes; $1000 for Nathan if she doesn’t. And it all comes to a happy , if predictable, end. The libretto of “Guys and Dolls” is a collaboration of the team of Jo Sw erling and Abe Bur rows who deli ver a fast paced and v ery funny script and tw o undeniably sentimental lo ve stories .

Frank Loesser’ s beautifully written m usic perfectly matches the lyrics with the slang in the comic numbers as well as gi ving us sev eral sublimely lyrical ballads. Contra Costa Musical Theatre’s production of the beloved m usical cer tainly lives up to its legendary accolades. As the show opens, the audience is immediately caught up in the fev erish activity of the New Y ork streets--raucous g amblers betting on anything and everything, gossipy, gumsnapping sho w girls and a drum-banging, trumpet-blaring missionar y band out to capture the nearest sinner. Directed b y J ennifer Dennison P erry, CCMT’s “Guys and Dolls” at the Lesher Theater is really good. While all of the principal roles were handled by strong, talented perfor mers, the tw o

Audience members fought back the urg e to sing along with the melodic and memorable tunes . It’s tough to be quiet and sit still for “ A Bushel and a Peck,” and “If I Were a Bell.” Choreographer Mic hael Sloan did an outstanding job with the fast-paced dance routines that in volved synchronized mo ves, ballroom technique and remarkable staging. Technically, the sho w works. Sets w ere c hanged with nar y a thump , the lighting w as right and the sound was mercifully free of the problems that ha ve plagued some of the company’ s past productions. Every line and every lyric was clearly audible. Singers and orchestra were in perfect harmony. All in all, the sho w is a stunner and guaranteed to send you home singing.

Photo courtesy of CCMT

leading ladies are tr uly standouts. Terry D’Emidio as the brassy sho wgirl, Miss Adelaide, has a voice that hits the mark with ev ery beat. With superb comedic timing and perfect econom y of movement, she dazzled the audience with “ Adelaide’s Lament,” and brought home one incredible n umber after another. Meghann May, who played Sarah Bro wn, was delightful as the conser vative missionary who par tied hardy in

row. He nearly brought the house do wn with a high octane “Sit Do wn, You’re Rockin’ the Boat.” Costuming b y Melissa Paterson w as sho wy, savvy and stylish, especially the gamblers’ multi-colored plaid suits and fedoras and the glitzy attire in the Hot Bo x Dolls show routines. The sets w ere just as impressive taking the audience from Times Square and the Save-A-Soul Mission to a nightclub in Havana and back to the sewers of New York.

“Guys and Dolls” plays through Marc h 17 in the Hoffman T heater at the Lesher Center for the Ar ts in Walnut Creek. Call (925) 943-SHO W (7469) for sho w times and ticket information.

Jill Bedecar ré is Display Ad Manager and Assistant Editor of the Pioneer and T amara Steiner is Editor and Pub lisher. They will sometimes be of one mind on a show and sometimes not.

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Havana with g amblin’ love match, Sky Masterson. With her ric h, melodic v oice she took command of the stag e in the dramatic ballad, “I’ll Know.” The two male leads , while not quite as strong as the women, still turned in decent and polished perfor mances. Noel Anthony , the only Actors’ Equity member of the cast, paired nicely with Meghan Ma y in their duet “I’ve Nev er Been in Lo ve Before.” He also deli vered a whopper of a performance of “Luck Be a Lady.” Joel R oster w as eng aging and likable as the fast talking, somewhat desperate Nathan Detroit. Of particular note w as Scott Strain in the role of Nicely-Nicely J ohnson, a robust, pudgy g ambler who could belt out a song and dance lik e there’ s no tomor-

TERRY D’EMIDIO AND JOEL ROSTER as Miss Adelaide and Nathan Detroit in CCMT’s “Guys and Dolls” now at the Lesher Center for the Arts in Walnut Creek.

CST 2074362-40

Schaefer’s

Page A7

Specializing in Bathrooms and Kitchens

General Contractor license# 783799, B, HIC

Noel O’ Meara 925.518.0821

Recommended by “Realtor of the Year” Lynne French

Clayton Resident

Page A8

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

Get the Straight Line stor y on natural stone pieces are ev er the same . So it’s important that clients tak e an active par t in their kitc hen or bath remodel, explains Fox. When y ou ask Cla yton resiWorking with natural stone dent Ric k F ox wh y clients choose his granite business over requires ong oing comm unicathe competition, he immediately tion throughout the course of a responds: “There’s a g ood, particular job . Fox sa ys it’ s important to educate clients warm feel about us.” Co-owner Steve Neal, also a about color and texture v ariations, product gradations, design Clayton resident, agrees and notes the impor tance of trust and installation tec hnique. “We always use A g rade natural that dev elops when clients are stone, which is top of the line,” given realistic expectations right from the star t. “We are straight- Fox adds. “Everyone has a contractor forward about timelines , quality horror stor y,” says Neal, “and and budgets,” Neal says. “This is we don ’t w ant to be one of an intensely people-oriented them.” business.” Fox and Neal make sure that Straight Line Impor ts, locatthey are alw ays present at the ed in Martinez, has been specialjobsite. “I have rarely met a cusizing in g ranite, marble, limetomer who’ s pic kier than w e stone and travertine for 11 years. are,” Neal says. Fox and Neal are g eneral conClayton resident Vic ki tractors and are exper ts in the Robinson sa ys that the Straight fabrication and installation of Line staff “did an ex cellent job kitchen and bath and w ere v ery countertops, fireprofessional” places, bath and “I’ve rarely met a when installing shower encloher g ranite customer who’s pickier sures and v anity kitchen countertops. than we are.” tops. “You can ’t They a re detail-oriented, Steve Neal, even see the seams,” she says. making sure that Straight Line J o h n even the smallest Gugliamo notes Imports aspect of the job that the company is done with prewas easy to w ork cision. “We invite with, especially when it came to clients to personally inspect their picking out a style and color and granite slab at our facility and making sure it matched the temthen ag ain in their o wn home plate for their countertops. with our templates,” Fox says. Gail Har rera would definiteWith natural stone , there are ly use Straight Line ag ain when inherent variations in color and physical proper ties and no tw o she’s ready to do some more

February 23, 2007

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GREAT CURB APPEAL 3 Bedroom, 1 Bath, 1,346 sq.ft. Craftsman built home. Spacious living room and dining room, built-in china cabinet, a basement and boat/RV parking. Picket fence, walk to shops and park. Tamara Steiner/Clayton Pioneer

RICK FOX

AND

STEVE NEAL, co-owners of Straight Line Imports.

remodeling. She hired F ox and his crew to install g ranite countertops in her kitc hen and w as impressed with the work. “There w ere no visible seams,” Harrera says. “They did a g reat job .” Liz and P eter Coleman of Clayton w ere impressed with the timeliness of their job . “Straight Line did everything they could to minimize the disr uption to our house,” Liz says. Straight Line has a diversified staff of professionals who are experts in ev ery phase of the business. “We have an unprecedented lac k of turnover in the business,” says Neal. According to F ox, there’s a core g roup of workers that has been with them from the begin-

ning and they set a high standard for the newcomers. Their motto is “no slackers allowed.” In addition to their successful natural stone business , Straight Line Impor ts offers whole house remodeling with a specialty in kitc hen and bath. “We handle everything from the design stag e to constr uction,” Neal says. When Fox isn’t on the road helping people with their granite and natural stone decisions , he enjoys v olunteer w ork. He is a past president of the Boosters Club at Cla yton V alley High School and w as a founding member of the Mt. Diablo Soccer League. See ad this page.

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CLAYTON VALLEY WOMEN’S CLUB Sgt. Shelley Crain of the Clayton Police Department will be the speak er at the F eb. 27 social meeting . She will share information on women’s safety while at home , traveling or shopping. Guests are invited to attend. The meeting will begin

at 9:30 a.m. with coffee at Holy Cross Lutheran Churc h, 1092 Alberta W ay, Concord. The program begins at 10 a.m. The g roup meets on the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month. For more infor mation on the club , call J oyce at 672-3850 or Sheila at 672-7947.

Mayor, from page A1 July P arade. The commission also ser ves as liaison betw een the City Council and the community. Just think, you would be able to tell the City Council monthly what the comm unity thinks of them. However, if that doesn ’t motivate y ou to sign up , I am sure this will. We also give you a $75 stipend for eac h monthly meeting you attend. Now, if you really wish to

become a comm unity hero, you can volunteer for the F ourth of July Parade. This is Clayton’s signature family event of the year. Even though I ha ve been criticized for sa ying this , I see this parade as a Nor man Rockwell classic ev ent. It features all the c hildren and y outh from our community, with their decorated w agons, bicycles, strollers, scooters and ev en the family dog. I must say, it is very

Nothing says high-end like natural stone For countertops, bar and vanity tops, bath and shower enclosures and fireplaces

personally rewarding to be par t of such a g reat patriotic ev ent where ev eryone is ha ving so much fun and is free to the public. The Comm unity Ser vices Commission is responsible for putting on this ev ent, however, they cannot do it without y our help. It is not too early to put your name on the volunteer list, because the CSC has already starting planning and they will need a bunc h of volunteers for the day of the event. Volunteer assignments include barricade and street clo-

8 p.m. The cost is $50, with a table for 10 available for $450. Proceeds will be used for community ser vice projects , including the purc hase of dictionaries for third-g rade students, the U .S. Map Stencil project and Adopt-a-Sc hool program. For reservations, call 258-0502. Submit your club news items on our website, www.claytonpioneer.com.

sure setup, decorations, parking control, crowd control, parade lineup, parade flow control, first aid/lost and found, kiddie land, (directing council members to their cars so they don ’t fight over the Mustang) and, of course, cleanup. Now that you cannot wait to sign up to serve your city, all you need to do is send me an email and I will g et y ou the paper work. Or y ou can g o the city’ s Website at www.ci.clayton.ca.us. If you ha ve any question, concerns, comments or ad vice, please send me an email at wrwalcutt@aol.com.

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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.

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

We are THE area experts in the fabrication and installation of natural stone Owned and operated by Clayton residents, Rick Fox and Steve Neal

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Club News

CONCORD ROTARY The club’ s Endo wment Spring Fling takes place in the “Scottish Highlands” this year. The ev ent will be at the Concord Hilton, 1970 Diamond Blv d., beginning with cocktails and a silent auction at 5:30 p .m. March 31. Dinner will be served at 7 p.m. There will be Scottish dancers and bag pipe pla yers, plus a live auction and raffle at

February 23, 2007

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer .com

Page A9

What is a provisional driver’s license?

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We offer massages, facials, herbal wraps, salt scrubs, waxing. Call (925) 673-0686 or check out our website www.mind-and-body-connections.com Appointments available Tuesday through Sunday. ift CertiG ficate Evening appointments Wednesday and Thursday. av s for a ailable ll s

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Simply, it is a dri ver’s license issued b y the Califor nia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to persons betw een the ages of 15 ½ and 18 years old that carries some restrictions. These newly licensed dri vers are inexperienced and are prohibited from driving a vehicle at night, between 11 p .m. and 5 a.m. the next mor ning. In addition, there is a passenger restriction for the first year of a provisional license . That means the provisional driver may not ha ve passenger(s) under 20 years of age in their v ehicle during this first year unless accompanied by a licensed dri ver 25 years or older. Given that inexperienced drivers statistically are in volved in the most traffic collisions , the legislati ve intent is to sa ve lives There are ex ceptions to

DAN LAURENCE

FROM

THE

CHIEF

every r ule and the legislature allows the follo wing exceptions when reasonable transpor tation is not a vailable and it is necessary for the pro visional licensee to dri ve. A note is required to explain the necessity and the date when the dri ving necessity will end. A medical necessity . The

note m ust be signed b y a physician. A school-authorized activity. The note must be signed by the sc hool principal, dean, or his/her designee. An employment necessity. The note m ust be signed b y the emplo yer to v erify employment. An immediate need of a family member . The note must be signed by the parent or legal guardian. An emancipated minor . No documentation is needed. The dri ver m ust ha ve proof of financial responsibility (SR 1P) in lieu of parents’ signatures. The provisional driving law and restrictions w ere put into effect so that y oung dri vers could dev elop g ood dri ving habits and skills without the

distractions a carload of friends or siblings can cause . Next month I will pro vide some infor mation about ho w the DMV monitors the pro visional licensee. Note: The into xicated person, who w as the subject of a search a couple of weeks ag o, walked into the police de partment the next da y and apologized for his neg ative beha vior the night before . As y ou ma y recall the Cla yton officers searched with the assistance from a CHP helicopter and a K9 officer Pittsburg in order to find this injured person. His apology w as acce pted and appreciated. Dan Lawrence is Clayton’s Police Chief. Please send questions, comments or topics you’d like to see covered to DanL@cpd.ci.concord.ca.us

Arts Event, from page A1 people to not only simply observe what they see but to actively engage through interaction,” says Arlene Kikka waNielsen, community ev ents coordinator for the arts celebration. She hopes the free public event will inspire people to “g o home and try it on their own or take a class … create a song, poem or stor y, take a photo , paint a picture , plant nati ve plants or create their o wn wildlife habitat.” Throughout the w eekend, the Creekside Arts Celebration will feature ar t for sale , live demonstrations b y ar tists, authors and m usicians with a special focus on en vironmental education. There will be guest appearances b y wildlife educator Gar y Bogue, illustrator Chuc k T odd and Linda

Wyner, author of “Food for Thought” and food editor for the Clayton Pioneer. Music perfor mances include Cla yton V alley High School’s Clayton Arts Academy and the Mt. Diablo Elementary School c hoir, the Filipiniana dance troupe , Celtic har pist Anne Sac kman, the East Ba y Brass Co . and T arantulas J ug Band. Nature enthusiasts will enjoy the v ariety of education tables hosted b y Nati ve Bird Connections, Friends of Mt. Diablo Creek, EarthTeam, Mt. Diablo Astronomer’ s, Clayton Pumpkin F arm, Mt. Diablo Interpretive Association and Mt. Diablo Beekeepers. Last year’s event pro vided a great opportunity to raise public awareness of our local w ater-

Tamara Steiner/Clayton Pioneer

LESLIE MATHIE will demonstrate mosaic art at the Creekside Arts Celebration, March 2-4 at the Clayton Library.

shed, and this year w e are featuring a nature w alk and photo opportunity, explains Nielsen. The ev ent is something for the entire family to enjo y, she says. “I in vite ev eryone who attends the ar ts ev ent to view and obser ve the process , ask

Clayton Families Finding yourself overwhelmed by bills before the holidays?

questions and then tr y it out.” Proceeds from the ev ent g o to the librar y’s wildlife habitat, environmental education programs and related materials. For more infor mation, call Nielsen at 673-0659.

In the Clayton Station New Owners and Clayton residents

Joel and Christy Harris

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Page A10

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

What do to after home listing expires LYNNE FRENCH

REAL ESTATE Last year, three months w as more than enough time for homes in many areas to sell and even close. But now listings are expiring unsold, leaving sellers wondering what to do next. It’s possible that the 90-da y term of the listing ag reement was unrealistic , given cur rent market conditions in the area. Sellers of expired or soon-tobe-expired listings should ask their agent to provide a printout from the multiple listing ser vice showing all the sales of somewhat comparable proper ties in the area. Make sure the data includes the n umber of days the listing was on the mark et, from list date to pending date and from listing to closing . A listing is pending when the sellers ha ve accepted a purchase offer. You ma y disco ver that y our expectations w ere out of line with the market, because it’s taking more than three months to sell most homes in y our area. If that’s true, and if you’re satisfied with the mark eting service your agent has pro vided, extend the listing agreement. Sellers ma y find g oing forward that the most professional and successful real estate ag ents

initially will require more than a 90-day listing. Some sellers blame their agents when listings expire unsold. There are cer tainly some ag ents who don ’t understand marketing or how to provide high-quality service to their clients. But before firing y our agent, ask for a summar y of all the mark eting the ag ent has done on your behalf. Most professional ag ents keep their clients up-to-date on their mark eting effor ts. If you decide to renew with y our agent and y ou ha ven’t been receiving weekly updates, make sure that y ou recei ve them in the future. The most common reason a listing expires unsold is that it’ s overpriced for the mark et. To sell in toda y’s market, you need to be realistic about the lik ely sale price of your home . Wishful thinking doesn ’t sell a home. One reason to hire a real estate agent is for accurate pricing infor mation. Unfortunately, there are ag ents who will tell you what y ou w ant to hear about the expected market value of your home rather than what the market indicates is an appropriate value. Carefully selecting a real estate agent is more critical in a soft mark et than when listings virtually sell themselves. Be sure to find an ag ent who is candid, reputable and skilled at mark et-

ing. Sellers who disco ver that their homes don ’t sell because their real estate ag ents misled them about the price should find another ag ent who understands the impor tance of honesty and professionalism. More often, the seller is the source of a high list price . It ultimately could do more har m than good if you overprice your home. If the list price is too high, it makes no sense to extend the listing with y our cur rent ag ent or change to a new one without adjusting the price . Overpriced listings that sit on the mark et too long get stale in buyers’ and agents’ minds. Your listing becomes the W hite Ele phant that can’t be sold. You can erase that stigma by selecting a new “priced-to-sell” price. The expiration of a listing is also a g ood time to see if there have been any other impediments to the sale , such as a difficult sho wing procedure or tired decor. Correct these obstacles before you bring your home back on the market, so that they don’t contin ue to hinder the sales effort. Lynne F rench is the broker/owner of Windermere Lynne French & Associates and a Clayton resident. F or any r eal estate needs , contact her at 672-8787, email Lynne@LynneFrench.com or stop in at 6200 Center St. in Clayton.

Save time with an org anized office Here’s a statistic that will startle y ou into action. According to a recent Office Depot survey, the average business professional loses 90 hours – or more than tw o full workweeks – a year due to disorganization. Thankfully, there’s a solution to help y ou deal with the overflowing piles and outdated files. It is an easy-to-accomplish five-day office mak eover plan that has been dev eloped b y Stephanie Winston, organizational advisor for Office Depot. Best if all, it’s sw eatfree, and doesn ’t require any heavy lifting. “All it takes is a few clear-cut systems and a dose of consistency to trim y our in-bo x and perform a ‘nip and tuck’ on the ever-bulging files in y our office,” says Winston. By following her advice and using the simple solutions in the Office Depot Fi ve-Day Office Makeover Plan, anyone can maintain an orderly w orkspace.

Highlights from the plan include: Toss It: Get org anized by tossing unneeded papers. To help keep confidential information private, protect your information b y shredding sensitive paperw ork. A shredder lik e the Ati va diamond-cut shredder shreds documents, credit cards and CDs into tiny , unusable pieces. Create a Master T o-Do List: Winston sug gests creating a centralized, master to-do list eac h w eek, from which you can pull 10 to 12 daily tasks. Whether you use an electronic or paper-based organizer, carry y our list with you so action items can be added and crossed off upon completion. Organize Y our Files: To group related files together, Winston sug gests creating broad file names v ersus very specific titles . For example, if “Acquisition

Targets” is the general title, then label each manila folder with the indi vidual company names. Less “T axing” Taxes: Start tax preparation early to eliminate last minute tax filing stress. You should store receipts, W2s and interest statements in a single place to prepare for tax filing . To assist indi viduals who prepare tax retur ns personally, look for products lik e TurboTax that can guide you through the proper steps of tax preparation. Log Expenses R egularly: Seasoned road w arriors are vigilant about recording every expense. “When on a trip, it’s easy to forg et little expenses suc h as mor ning coffee or a ser vice tip,” said Winston. She recommends carrying an en velope to store all tra vel-related expenses. Courtesy of ARA Content

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3 Bedroom 3 Bath, plus Office, Could be 4th Bedroom. 3 Car Garage, Rarely Available Single Level Home, on Spacious Lot. Fully Landscaped, and W alking Distance to Miwok Park. Built in 2002, this Gorgeous Home Features Distressed Hardwood Floors, Slate Tile Floors, OverSized Eat-in Kitchen with Island & Breakfast Bar.

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Reservations required 925.672.9737 X. 217

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

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For your horses there is a 9 stall barn with a center breezeway. All stalls have Dutch doors with outside paddocks. 1 foaling stall with paddock. HUGE tack and feed room. 3 large pastures and 1 small pasture all with automatic waterers.

Thinking of selling? Robin’s Ranches web page gets nearly 8,000 viewings a month

Oakdale, California There is 3,150 square feet of living space with plenty of room for your horses. 3 bedroom and an office or 4th bedroom. PLUS there is an area to build a second home, minimum of 2,500 square feet. This property is on a quiet cul-de-sac but only minutes from downtown Oakdale.

Ranch is fenced and cross-fenced with pipe and non-climb wire. There is also a 50 foot round pen. AWESOME well gets 50 GPM and ranch has a seasonal pond (or can be kept full by well). This ranch is a terrific horse set-up or use it for any of your needs.

Motivated sellers have reduced the price from $1,950,000. to $1,650,000. Shown by appointment only For more pictures go to WWW.ROBINSRANCHES.COM

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February 23, 2007

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

Page A11

At the Movies

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With finesse, Keaton and Moore keep film afloat

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traits of the leading ladies. Even the w ell-preserved Stephen Collins , Daphne’s eventual love interest, appears far too late and speaks only when absolutely necessary. In what seems to be a deliberate plot b y director Michael Lehmann (“T he Truth About Cats & Dogs”)

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In “Because I Said So ,” Diane K eaton’s h ysterical matriarch Daphne dogmatically takes it upon herself to g et her last daughter mar ried – with an A ustenian sense of urgency. No matter that Milly , played by a burgeoning Mandy Moore, is a perfectly happy and successful caterer . No matter that Daphne herself has a f lourishing bak ery business (though more cakes seem to fly through the air than are ever eaten). All that matters is the settlement of the daughter, as though being unmarried still car ried 19th centur y connotations of rejection and inherent misery. Even with this implausible (I hope) plot, the ten uous threads that hold this storyline together are laughably inane. It reads lik e a romantic comedy , yet none of the suppor ting characters are remotely dev eloped enough to for m “the funny sister” or the “lo vable suitor.” They each boast only a handful of lines, almost all designed to dra w out fur ther

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MANDY MOORE, LAUREN GRAHAM, DIANE KEATON ding drama in "Because I Said So."

and writers K aren Leigh Hopkins and J essie Nelson (“Stepmom”) to beat the message over the audiences’ heads, obvious emphasis is placed on the shared traits betw een mother and daughter. But how many times do I need to watch them simultaneously rear ranging furniture before I Get It? Every time the title phrase is mouthed, it seems to be a deliberate nod to the audience: “See, this is why they named it! Aren’t we clever?”

AND

PIPER PERABO whip up some wed-

complete with closed eyes and hand motions. I cringed. Milly didn’t sho w any suc h compunction. Yet for all m y g ripes, this film is not hor rid. Keaton and Moore, both w onderful actresses in their o wn rights , play w ell off each other and their scenes together are snappy and hear tfelt (with the exception of the above). Their interactions are the only thing that keeps this stor y alive, and they work w ell in the restrict-

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consciences. As I imagine w as strategically planned, I and every other tw enty-something female in the audience left feeling like a heel for ever daring to tell m y long-suffering mother to mind her o wn beeswax. In that reg ard, the film achieves its goal. Jeanna Ross is an Eng lish teacher at Clayton V alley High School and a fr ee lance writer . She regularly contributes to the Pioneer . Send comments to her at movies@claytonpioneer.com.

Now you know

Dan Rosendich

Q: Why do ships and aircraft in trouble use "ma yday” as their call for help? A: This comes from the French w ord m'aidez –meaning "help me" – and is pronounced "mayday." Q: Why is someone who is feeling great "on cloud nine"? A: Types of clouds are numbered according to the altitudes they attain, with nine being the highest cloud If someone is said to be on cloud nine , that person is f loating w ell abo ve w orldly cares. Q: Why are zero scores in tennis called "love"? A: In F rance, where tennis first became popular , a big, round zero on scoreboard looked like an egg and was called "l'oeuf," whic h is F rench for "egg." W hen tennis w as introduced in the United States , Americans pronounced it "love."

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ing confines of their script. The supporting cast – what we see of them, anyway – is pleasant and they perfor m their limited roles with adorable enthusiasm. “Because I Said So” is a film on a mission, which it pursues with admirable tenacity for 102 min utes of guilty

AT THE MOVIES

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Plot points – pluc ked from thin air with no moti vation – are deli vered with g ravity b y major c haracters and immediately acce pted b y the other players. In one hor rid scene , Daphne asks Milly what an orgasm feels lik e and without any cursor y refusals , Milly launches into her explanation,

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Page A12

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

The Lord of the Flies makes a 7-10 split An abor ted attempt to g et them to sit still long enough to watch a movie. They lasted about 20 minutes. An abor ted attempt to g et them to eat dinner. Several “Lord of the Flies” moments, including: 1. An organized pillow fight in the living room. I sa y org anized because w e allo wed this to tak e place in the only room larg e enough to not sustain any damag e. I don’t count any of the boys in that not sustaining damage assessment. 2. A g ame where all the bo ys line up in the hallway. One would then race do wn the hall, only to be stopped shor t b y “Cody,” who was hiding behind the w all and swinging a larg e pillow into their path, effectively clothes-lining the runner. Retiring to the bedroom about 10 p .m. after star ting their “g oing to slee p” video. Returning a shor t time later to find that they’ d mo ved the three-piece sectional couc h into the middle of the

room and turned it into a for t. The bo y coming into our room about 11:30 sa ying he w as hung ry, giving him some pretzels in a Ziploc bag with instructions not to mak e a mess , finding crushed pretzels in slee ping bags and all over the floor in the morning. Boy’s cousin, Cody, waking us up at midnight to say that boy’s mouth was bleeding. Apparently this w as caused b y bo y brushing his teeth a little too vig orously. Me, thankful that he w as at least br ushing his teeth. Boy and his cousin a wake by 6:30 a.m., waking everyone else by 7. Making pancakes for six boys at 7:05 a.m. Thanking God that his bir thday comes but once a year. Happy Birthday, Tony. We love you and hope you that you had a g reat day. Clayton resident, Joe Romano, is a family man, a free-lance writer for hire and the Pioneer’s “all around funny guy.” E-mail him at jromano01@yahoo.com

JOE ROMANO

SO ANYWAY The bo y recently celebrated his 9th birthday. In honor of the day, we were honored with the presence of five extra 8- to 10-year-old boys ... for 24 hours. At the time of this writing, I am still recovering. But allow me to share with you a few of the birthday highlights: Two g ames of “speed” bowling at Clayton V alley Bo wl. The bo ys disco vered a new way to put power behind the ball – running down the handicap access ramp to build up speed. We had to put a stop to this ... eventually. A trip to Ly dia Lane Park in an attempt to w ear them out b y allo wing them to run roughshod over city property instead of private property, namely my house.

February 23, 2007

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Christine Mitc hell w anted to let her older adopted daughter kno w ho w many cherished times their family had ahead of them tog ether. So, the Cla yton resident wrote and illustrated her first book, “Welcome Home , Forever Child: A Celebration of Children Adopted as Toddlers, Preschoolers and Beyond.” “We started out as a foster family to our daughter and shor tly afterw ard, we w ere able to adopt her when she w as 4 years old,” Mitchell sa ys. “But when w e look ed for books that spok e about an adopted child past infancy, it was very hard to find something to share with her . So I decided to write about the things I w as feeling that were important for us and what w e looked

We didn’t watch you learn to crawl, or give you your first bouncy ball. We didn’t share your first big grin, or see your baby teeth come in. Although we’ve missed some things, it’s true, we’ve got a lifetime now with you. So much to lear n, so much to do; we will share many firsts with you.” According to Mitchell, more than 30,000 children are adopted eac h year betw een the ages of 1 and 5. She believ es c hildren’s books is one area that has not k ept pace with the trend of older adoptions.

“You were past diapers, bottles, and cribs.

See Adopted, page A13

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forward to sharing with her o ver the years to come.” The book features a family of cat characters of different colors , reflecting appearances often found in both domestic and inter national adoptions . The cat parents express excitement at welcoming their new c hild. While they ac knowledge that they missed significant milestones , they know they will mak e many new memories together as a family. Mitchell has two daughters, one natural born and one adopted. “I w anted to write something that would reassure an adopted c hild that they would alw ays be with their family ,” she says. “And the book shows that the parents promise to love the child forever.” That point is illustrated in this passag e:

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February 23, 2007

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

Page A13

The bride-to-be is Gesinee’s business

Patty Flannery Realtor

Clayton Resident since 1979

serving all your

Real Estate needs Call me

Tamara Steiner/Clayton Pioneer

voicemail: 925.975.5255 residence: 925.672.0541 email: granyflany@hotmail.com

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Gesinee Van Atta in her store on Concord Blvd. where 3,000 wedding gowns wait for their brides. The store also prom dresses and evening gowns.

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Gesinee Van Atta is living her dream, one store at a time . Owner of Gesinee’s Bridal on Concord Boulevard in Concord, she recently opened an alterations shop in a newly remodeled store across the street. On Marc h 1, Gesinee will host the g rand opening of Chaaum Couture, an exclusive bridal salon on Willo w P ass R oad in Concord. The store features a select roster of upscale designers, such as Cymbeline , Stephen Yearick, Eve of Milady and Gesinee’s own bridal collection. Her dream began close to 30 years ago, when Gesinee opened a clothing design, tailoring and alterations store on Cla yton Road in Concord. From a small 600 sq. ft. store to her 8,500 sq.

ft. full-service salon sho wcasing approximately 3,000 w edding gowns, Gesinee has worked hard to offer customers the complete bridal experience. The spacious and eleg ant store features dresses for bridesmaids, mothers, flower girls , prom, pageants and special occasions, along with a host of accessories from shoes and jew elry to tiaras and v eils. Alterations are handled b y exper t seamstresses in a 4,000 sq. ft. boutique-style salon, where customer ser vice is considered top priority . Clients who are interested in ex clusive bridal fashions can visit the exquisite collections at Cha-aum Couture, Gesinee’s new est addition to her bridal offerings. Gesinee recalls acquiring a love for dress design when she was just 3 years old. “I lo ved sketching, drawing and sewing. I love fashion,” she says. “It’s the

only thing I knew.” The long-time Cla yton resident is passionate about pro viding a memorable experience for the bride-to-be and her family . She regrets the fact that her own wedding party was small. “There were five in my wedding party -the groom, the bride, the pastor and two witnesses.” She believ es that w eddings are a v ery impor tant par t of someone’s life . For that reason, Gesinee gets personally involved with her client’ s special da y. “I want to help fulfill ev ery girl’ s dream,” she adds. An exper t in the bridal business, Gesinee employs a kno wledgeable staff of 40 sales associates. “Everyone here feels as if they are helping a friend, and it shows,” Gesinee says. She notes that one w all in the salon is devoted to a Hall of Fame with a list of staff who received special

recognition from clients. Recently, Gesinee recei ved a thank y ou from an elated mom who praised sales associate Kendra McMurty. “She took her time, never made us feel r ushed and made m y daughter feel special. The selection of dresses was incredible, the atmosphere, lighting, chairs, large mirrors were so appreciated.” Another bride-to-be praised the staff for their undi vided attention. “When I w asn’t sure the dress was THE DRESS, literally everyone in the store, including Gesinee herself , came o ver and g ave feedbac k. I felt w elcomed and comfor table around everyone.” Besides making sure that the bride’s da y is memorable , Gesinee is sensiti ve about her client’s indi vidual needs and budget requirements. Her bridal salon has four se parate de partments, with dresses star ting at under $1,000 to top-of-the line gowns featured at Cha-aum Couture. Gesinee’s car ries sizes 0-40 and has recently created a new de partment for plus-size women. “All w omen can look beautiful, especially on their wedding day,” says Gesinee. The w ell-known designer hopes to move forward with her business, focusing on her new Cha-aum couture line. She’s been featured in national bride’ s magazines, and her line is sold in bridal boutiques across the country. Her husband, Dan, is also involved with the business and has helped Gesinee with her store openings and da y-to-day operation of the bridal salon. When she’s not at the salon or sewing mac hine, Gesinee enjoys relaxing at home in Clayton with her husband, three birds and a fish. She loves football and trips to her homeland. Thailand. See ad this page.

Adopted, from page A12

1030 Diablo St. across from Skip’s

925-672-2025 9:00 am to 5:00 pm

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Mitchell recently signed her book at the new Cla yton Books. In addition, she had an opportunity to talk about the book at P arents Da y at Concord High School. “Some people bought books for their o wn adopted child, and some bought them for friends who adopted older children,” Mitchell reports. She will also be doing a presentation Marc h 16 at Diablo V alley Colleg e’s Parenting Seminar , which caters to foster or adoptive parents. This ev ent will be at the Berkeley Marina Double T ree Inn. Mitchell will be bac k at Clayton Books at 1 p.m. March

24. She will share her experiences of adoption and her inspiration for the book, along with signing “W elcome Home, Forever Child.” She is also w orking on several other manuscripts that deal with adopting older children. “I am a strong adv ocate of older child adoption and encourag e families interested in adopting older c hildren to visit m y Website and find out more about the resources available to them,” Mitchell says. “It’s such a special part of our lives.”

For mor e infor mation, visit www.geocities.com/forever.child1 or email Mitchell at forever.child@hotmail.com.

Tamara Steiner/Clayton Pioneer

CHRISTINE MITCHELL

Independently owned and operated

t Intero, we begin and end each day with one goal: to provide our clients with the finest customer service available in real estate. Every Intero real estate professional is guided by principles of trust, respect and integrity.

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Located on the Concord/Clayton border, this is great opportunity and lovely, lower end unit. The sellers have meticulously maintained this home. Upgrades include granite counter tops, laminate flooring, wall to wall carpeting and new baseboards. Spacious floor plan with large master bedroom and walk-in closet. Kirkwood 2 is a very desirable complex and close to everything you need: Community swimming, tennis and lovely greenbelts as well as shopping, transportation and great schools. Don’ t forget the biking and walking trails. Cute, clean and Move-In Ready!

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Clayton

Listed for: $824,000

an exclusive bridal salon Ribbon cutting March 1 at 1 p.m. Join us for refreshments and salon tour.

LOCATION! LOCATION! LOCATION!

Lovely Home Features 4 Bedrooms, 2.5 Baths. Home with new tile front entry. Formal living room and dinning rooms. Tile kitchen with island. Seperate family room with gas burning fireplace. Gorgeous Pool with waterfall! Views of Mt. Diablo quiet court location in Desirable Regency Meadows.

Please RSVP by Feb. 26th

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Page A14

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

February 23, 2007

georgevujnovich.com

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

Each Office Is Independently Owned & Operated.

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

BLACK DIAMOND AT OAKHURST COUNTRY CLUB!

PEACOCK CREEK AT OAKHURST COUNTRY CLUB!

Stunning “Summit” model! located in a quiet court setting with awesome Mt. Diablo views! 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, approx. 1,991sf, inside laundry & 2 car garage. Twoway fireplace shared by living & family rooms. Separate formal dining area. Spacious gourmet kitchen features tile counters & center island. Magnificent view lot of fers a custom decking, brickwork & patio, arbor features 10’ Roman pillars, upgraded landscape lighting, lovely rose & fern gardens. $634,500

Exquisite “Belvedere” model on pr emium view lot! nestled in a quiet court. Decorator ’s showplace features 5

bedrooms plus a den, 3.5 baths, approx. 4,100sq ft & rare 4-car garage. Downstairs bedroom with full bath. Extensively upgraded throughout featuring 16” tile floors, custom window treatments, ornate lighting fixtures, designer paint, central vacuum & extensive closet or ganizer systems. Gracious living room with fireplace & dramatic formal dining room. Chef ’s dream gourmet kitchen offers commercial grade appliances, granite tile counters & island, maple cabinetry & spacious pantry. Enormous great room with impressive two-way granite tile fireplace & walk around bar . Lavish master suite boasts a large “Trex” deck balcony offing sensational views! Remarkable private oasis lot backs to open space with Mt. Diablo, canyon & ridgeline views & features a spectacular freeform pool with raised spa boasting a stacked stone backdrop featuring a cascading waterfall, custom outdoor kitchen & lush $1,495,000 professional landscape.

EAGLE PEAK AT OAKHURST COUNTRY CLUB!

Fantastic “McKinley” model!

ING D N PE

on a prime view lot overlooking hills, city, valley & beyond! 4 bedrooms, 3 baths, approx. 3,005sf, 2 fireplaces & 3 car garage. Desirable downstairs bedroom & full bath. Gourmet slab granite kitchen, spacious family room with brick fireplace. Gracious master suite of fers a two-way fireplace & sitting area with sweeping views. Private lot features a deck great for entertaining.

WINDMILL CANYON AT OAKHURST COUNTRY CLUB!

Large Single Story “Keller” model!

ING D N PE

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

NG I D PEN

Spectacular “Lassen” model! nestled at the end of

a quiet court with views of hills, opens space & city lights. 4 bedrooms, plus an upgraded loft, 2.5 baths, approx. 3,162sf, 2 fireplaces & 3 car garage. Upgrades include: laminate wood, tile & carpet floors, dramatic light fixtures, thick baseboards, designer paint colors & cabinet treatments! Gorgeous gourmet kitchen features slab granite counters, breakfast bar & center island. Separate formal dining room with upgraded columns. Huge master suite with fireplace & jetted tub! Private professionally landscaped lot features an exposed aggregate patio, nice lush lawn area, many trees & colorful flowers. $899,000 JEFFREY RANCH!

Pristine single story rancher!

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

ING D N PE

Mortgage Market Update Conforming $417,000 or less

Jumbo $417,001 and up

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

30 year, fixed for 3 . . . . . . . .6.25% 30 year, fixed for 5 . . . . . . . .6.25% 30 year, fixed for 7 . . . . . . .6.375% 30 year, fixed for 10 . . . . . .6.375% 15 year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6.25% 30 year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6.5%

$939,000

Clayton Market Update Provided by George Vujnovich of Better Homes Realty ADDRESS 7 Mt. Wilson Way 115 La Encinal Ct 11 Mt. McKinley Ct 501 Condor Place 1043 Kenston Drive 5475 Tara Drive 1056 Pebble Beach Drive 158 Regency Drive 1337 Shell Lane 15715 Marsh Creek Road 1445 Yosemite Circle 1114Oakwood Circle 1541 Haviland Pl 4405 Coyote Cir 7024 Molluk Way 3105 Windmill Canyon Dr 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

PRICE $475,000 $895,000 $760,000 $515,000 $805,000 $460,000 $1,125,000 $700,000 $519,000 $1,447,600 $690,000 $1,850,000 $472,000 $430,000 $650,000 $670,000 $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

SALE DATE

2/08/07 1/31/07 1/24/07 1/24/07 1/19/07 1/11/07 1/10/07 1/04/07 1/02/07 12/29/06 12/29/06 12/28/06 12/22/06 12/20/06 12/15/06 12/14/06 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

1,378 2,428 1,981 1,595 1,800 1,313 3,620 2,032 1,355 4,125 2,493 3,840 1,256 1,026 1,816 1,816 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

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

CLAYTON PIONEER February 23, 2007

Section B

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

Page B1

It’s time to feed g rass, mulch and get rid of weeds

NICOLE HACKETT

GARDEN GIRL If you mix a little rain with a lot of sunshine, what do y ou get? Weeds. Weeds ha ve been sprouting up all o ver our Cla yton V alley yards and g ardens. Where there are bushes , there are w eeds. Where there are plants and flowers, there are more w eeds. Even in our container g ardens, we find weeds. I would like to say that I have all the time in the w orld to g o out and manually pull the weeds from m y yard, but that is certainly not the case . Like most people, my da ys are full of work, kids and life . Pulling weeds is a luxur y I cannot afford. By the time I do ha ve time, either m y knees or bac k may not let me. So, I use pre-emerg ents and herbicides, topped off with a thick la yer of mulch to sn uff out any remaining weed seeds. Pre-emergence products stop the g ermination of weed seeds. When used properly, they are very effective and often the only w ay to g et rid of certain problem w eeds, such as crabgrass. Pre-emergents can be

applied to yard or g arden planting beds , as w ell as y our la wn. Products are found in both granular and concentrate for ms. Using a pre-emerg ent this late in the season will not be as successful as when applied in January, but few er w eeds are definitely better then more . Lawn food is sometimes paired with a pre-emerg ent because healthy g rass is better able to protect itself against the in vasion of weed seeds. Think bac k to last year’ s lawn g rowth. If you cannot recall ha ving too many w eeds rambling through y our sod, a dose of iron is recommended at this time to g reen y our la wn back up, followed by an application of lawn food. Iron Plus is an ex cellent vitamin for y our lawn and g arden. It’s made of iron, sulfur and a handful of other micron utrients. Use no w

OXALIS

to re pair the yello wing caused by the extreme cold. This product is also highly recommended for y our roses , acid-loving shr ubs, boxwood and citr us, to name of few. There is no need to apply a weed and feed product at this time of year, because the broadleaf weeds are not acti ve. If your la wn suffers from a broadleaf weed invasion, featuring any clover, dandelion, oxalis or r unaway o rnamental stra wberry, you ha ve the option at that time to use a concentrated product in the lawn that will not hurt the grass. Weed W hacker is a selecti ve broadleaf weed control for residential turf. A little g oes a long way, and overusing the product will not cure the problem any faster. Read the label for the dosage and y ou will see results within three to four weeks. To treat areas of your la wn with broadleaf weeds, use a DSO weed killer that is for mulated with the most popular lawn w eeds in mind, namely dandelion, spurge and o xalis. Use directly in the la wn if you have a problem area vs . a problem lawn. Planting and g ardens beds are another popular place for weeds to thri ve. Grassy blades and clo ver-like lea ves are sprouting up , and their g rowth is fi ve times faster than the other perennials in the beds . Depending on the invasion, you may c hoose to spot treat with herbicide or use a concentrated formula. As with y our la wn, it is late in the season for pre-emergence

DANDELION

to be totally successful. But you should definitely use them during the months of January and August. Concern is a newer brand on the mark et that sells itself as a natural pre-emerg ent. Or y ou can stick with one of the older selections, like Amaze or W eed Preventer II. When considering herbicides, there are a lot of weed and g rass-killing products a vailable. Kleenup is m y product of choice for larg e and small yard weed control. This herbicide is found tw o w ays, ready-to-use and a concentrate. The ready-touse container is handy and easy to apply. The blue, non-staining

dye helps y ou see where y ou spray. The concentrate is potent, but the directions are easy to understand. Apply herbicides when rain is not in the immediate forecast. The product will need to sit on the blades of the w eeds for 24 hours to be effective. Mulching is a fantastic w ay to snuff out weeds before they begin. A thic k la yer of mulch will dark en the seeds of the weeds. Therefore, they cannot sprout. Once the w eeds are killed off this season, add mulch to your yard and garden beds. There are many beneficial reasons to use mulch. Each year, I talk about the curb appeal that

mulch can provide. It has always been the finishing touc h. Never mind that is breaks down slowly, enriching the soil, holding in moisture and insulating the plant roots. Typically, I speak about micro blac k bark and shredded red cedar c hoices. This year , I am focusing on par tial to 100 percent core mulch. Core mulch is a c hunky, brownish red bark that comes from the coconut. Aqua Mulc h has been a vailable for a handful of years. This organic m ulch is brought to us by Sier ra Org anics, a premium mulch company . Aqua Mulc h

See Garden Girl, page B5

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

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Page B2

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

February 23, 2007

Clayton Sports Basketball player is good at making his point DEANNA MERRIGAN Clayton Pioneer

CLAYTON VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR CHRISTIAN ROJAS passes the ball to a teammate during the February 13 game against Ygnacio Valley High.

The Cla yton V alley Eagles Varsity basketball team is currently in four th place in the Ba y Valley Athletic League (BV AL). An impressi ve accomplishment in itself, but equally remarkable is that Christian R ojas, a senior on the team, is cur rently second in scoring in the league , averaging 15 points per g ame. During the second half of the season, according to his father , Julio Rojas, “other teams star ted employing special defenses just to stop him…” His accomplishments are exciting. He has had extraordinary g ames of 27 points (Casa Grande), 25 (San Ramon), 24 (Pittsburg), 24 (Deer V alley), 21 (Ygnacio V alley) and 21 (Concord). He has made the alltournament team in the Concord tournament and in the Northgate tournament. Christian w as the MVP and team captain on his freshman bask etball team, and also the MVP and team Captain on his JV basketball team. Playing since he w as four, his father, Julio w as an inspiration. “By the time Christian w as 13, I could no long er beat him in our one-on-one g ames,” said J ulio. “He has impro ved so m uch because he has alw ays pla yed against men who pushed him and helped teach him.” Recently accepted to Brigham Young Uni versity, Christian will pursue his education full-time , and may try to “walk on” the basketball team if things w ork out. His bask etball role models are Steve Nash, Jason Kidd and Kevin Garnett. As he looks forw ard to his future, Christian has enjo yed his time at Cla yton Valley, “The past two years of Varsity bask etball have been m y favorite moments.

A couple of special g ames include our team last year beating Tennyson, the number one seed, in the playoffs,” he said. “No one expected us to win, but we went into their house with a pac ked gym and beat them.” “Our senior night g ame this year was also big for me . I had a pretty big g ame and our team won, we had a lot of fun just going out and pla ying one last time in our g ym” Christian recalled. “It w as a g ood w ay to close with Terrell Woodall who is the only teammate that I played all four years with, and the rest of the seniors . This whole season has been pretty special.” With the regular high sc hool basketball season coming to an end, the Cla yton V alley Eagles

have a g ood chance to be in vited to the Nor th Coast Section pla yoffs. “This w ould be a g reat accomplishment for a team that had only one retur ning star ter (Christian) and only one other player (T errell W oodall) that played varsity last year,” said Julio. Coach Troy Sullivan concurs, “All in all w e have had a successful year. We lost all but tw o players from last years’ NCS semifinal team …But in spite of that we ha ve scrapped our w ay to some wins and hopefully , an opportunity for postseason.” As bask etball season winds up, keep an eye out for Christian on the volleyball courts. He is an all-league performer in volleyball, and is the setter on the Cla yton Valley Varsity team.

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Sports Shorts DANA HILLS SWIM TEAM Open House – Sunday, March 11, 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Dana Hills Cabana, 296 Mountaire Circle, Clayton. Open House and Registration Information. Returning families can reserve their spot by registering online beginning February 23 through March 9. www.danahillsotters.com For more information contact: Rob Schussman (925) 672-1714 YEAR-ROUND SWIM TEAM New Masters Swim Team with

Serge Victor conducting morning practices at Oakhurst Countr y Club. Anyone who is older than 25 may participate. Practices begin very soon. Contact Serge for any details. There is no previous competitive swimming experience necessary. Swim just to get in shape or even prepare yourself for Masters swim meets. Contact: (925) 672-9737 ext. 207 or Swimwithserge@comcast.net.

Submit Sports Items Online

You can now submit competition results , ideas for stories, nominations for Athlete Spotlight and Spor ts Shorts on our W ebsite. Go to www .claytonpioneer.com. On the left side of the pag e, under “Sports Items” you will find links to the proper for ms.

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Page B3

As the 2007 tournament season begins, the Clayton Valley Jr. Eagles Baseball Club is ready to ‘pla y ball’ The Cla yton V alley Jr . Eagles Baseball Club , based out of Clayton has announced the roster for the 2007 Clayton Valley Jr. Eagles 14U AAA USSSA Tournament Team. The Club has a strong re putation of teaching and w orking within the abilities of each and every player and will compete in the USSSA hardball double A and T riple A di visions of

together through the fall of 2006 to be ready to compete in this new season ahead. They had many accomplishments b y competing in tournaments all around the state and in the nationals tour naments of world series berths. Most of the pla yers ha ve played together through their younger da ys. For some of them they have been together 6-7 years. This Club team has

took the g ame v ery seriously each and ev ery time they played,” said coac h Deic her. “What they lear n in the tournament g ames is ho w w e build our practice plan. Most practices can be boring and the same old stuff coming from a y ounger players’ eyes. We tr y to gi ve them a little mix and something new they all can learn from. It also gets them to see and ev aluate in

attending other schools. Coach Deic hler stresses , “We are preparing the players for high sc hool ball. We’re teaching them respect, responsibility, fundamentals and mec hanics of the g ame. All of this they will need to compete at a higher level.” The team this year will kick off their 2007 tour nament season on the w eekend of February 24 in F remont

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THE CLAYTON VALLEY JR. EAGLES BASEBALL CLUB starts a new tournament season. The 2007 roster is announced. Back row: Asst. bench coach Kelvin Crews, Jordon Burger, Peter Stoiber, Salomon Cazares, Drew Crider, Jeff Doran, Darrian Matthews, Andrew Deichler, Manager & Head coach Dave Deichler. Front row: Tyler Crews, Blake Simons, Sean Flannery, Sam Bouquin, Kyle Callan & Derrick Bizicki.

Northern Califor nia and Nevada. In early 2007, the 14U team has w orked hard to g et an early star t to pre pare for the coming new season. They have had the help of Clayton Valley High Sc hool and it’ s baseball prog ram with head coach Casey Coakley . The Eagles w ere able to pla y a series of fall g ames in 2006 on the 60/90 field dimensions at the major league level and had use of their facilities during the week. “I stressed to m y pla yers after the 2006 season that strength and conditioning was going to be a key to their success in 2007 and practicing and pla ying on a larg er full size field in the off season as w ell,” said manag er Dave Deichler. After finishing the 2006 tournament season and ranking sev enth o verall in the state as 13s, they worked hard

been together 2 years. The Jr. Eagles is made up of all 8th graders and the boys are from the sur rounding cities of Clayton, Concord, Walnut Creek and Pittsburg. “The key to success at the tournament lev el star ts with chemistry. You can only teach to what their ability will allow at this age, but if they want to play tog ether as a team w ell, that’s what mak es them winners and they will find a w ay to win and ac hieve their results,” added Deichler. For most of the pla yers last year it was a true learning experience. By not pla ying during the w eek and par ticipating in league g ames they understood what it tak es to prepare for long w eekends of tournament play and it w as a true test of the mental part of playing baseball. “Playing o ver 270 innings and 55 g ames, my guys w ere scrappers, fighters and tr uly

their o wn eyes tr uly what their strengths and w eaknesses are.” Last year the team qualified for a W orld Series ber th to compete in Canton, Michigan, but decided to sta y at home to g ain more experience and to compete at a local level. “These boys have no fields to water, no fields to maintain or no burg er and fries to sell. They travel locally and sometimes out of state and pla y against teams that w ant to “win” as bad as they do . It’s really that simple ,” said Deichler. “The competition is highly competiti ve and it takes a tr ue player that treats his baseball career to their highest priority.” Most of the bo ys on the team will pla y next year in high sc hool tog ether, many playing at Cla yton V alley. Some will pla y ag ainst eac h other because they will be

and finish pla ying in late J uly with, hopefully, a qualifying berth and a trip to the w orld series in Kingspor t, Tennessee. They will pla y in Fremont, Elk Grove, Turlock, San J ose, Salinas/Monterey, Manteca, Carson City , NV and a special trip to P eoria, Arizona where they will pla y on the diamonds of the Seattle Mariners and San Diego P adres facilities whic h is a “dream” for all y oung baseball players. As the tour nament season gets underw ay, the Cla yton Valley Jr . Eagles Baseball Club is sure to ha ve a lot of fun while enjo ying and working hard at the g ame they love. For more infor mation on the club visit the team w ebsite at www .eteamz.com/jreagles or Cla yton V alley Jr . Eagles 1157 Rock Creek Way, Concord, CA 94521. Dave Deichler and Deanna Merrigan contributed to this stor y

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Page B4

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

School News MT. DIABLO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Kindergarten r egistration dates ha ve been set. Registration pac kets will be available on April 16 in the office, 5880 Mt. Zion Dr . Kindergarten Orientation Night for parents will be April 24; time to be announced later. Kindergarten registration will be May 1. MDES will host its 7th annual Benefit Auction, “Hollywood Nights,” 5-11 p.m. Saturday, April 21, at Centre Concord. Donations are w elcome. Thank y ou to “Best Picture” sponsor, IMC Integ rated Insurance Ser vices. For more information about the ev ent, call Kim Lally at 672-0270 or Denise Stephens at 672-8510. CVHS

DRAMA AND MUSIC

CVHS Drama and Music present “Seussical the Musical,” featuring the Cat in the Hat, Horton the Ele phant, the Wic kersham Brothers , Gertrude McFuzz, Amazing Mayzie, Jojo and the W hos, Sour K angaroo, Yertle the Turtle and many other Dr . Seuss favorites. The pla y will be presented at 7 p .m. March 1, 2, 8, 9 and 10 in the Multi-Use R oom, 1101 Alber ta W ay, Concord. Tickets are $5 at the door . The annual Music In Our Schools Month concer ts begin in the Mt. Diablo Unified Sc hool District on Monday, March 5, at CVHS .

The month-long celebration is part of the nationwide recognition of the impor tance of music education. The March 5 concert will be at 7:30 p.m. in the gym and will feature m usic students from Mt. Diablo and A yers elementary sc hools, Diablo View Middle School and CVHS. On T uesday, March 6, Clayton Valley will host a concert featuring students of Highlands and Silv erwood elementary sc hools, Pine Hollo w Middle School and CVHS. For more infor mation about these free concer ts, contact Mundy Viar at ClaytonBands@aol.com or 682-7474, ext. 3125. The Society f or International Travel is taking

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applications for a trip to Athens and R ome in A ugust. Parents and students are w elcome to register . E-mail rossj@mdusd.k12.ca.us for more information.

DIABLO VIEW MIDDLE SCHOOL DVMS presents the ann ual Guest Ar tist Concer t, featuring the Diablo View Symphonic and Jazz Bands and the Jambalaya Jazztet. The concert begins at 7 p .m. Wednesday, Feb. 28, in the Multi-Use R oom, 300 Diablo View Lane. Admission is $10. Tickets can be purc hased from any Symphonic Band or Jazz Band member or b y calling 672-0898.

“Fiesta De Los Niño’ s” is the theme of this year’s annual auction. Proceeds from the auction will g o to wards the completion of our new est building, Cauchi Hall. All are invited to attend this ev ent on Saturday, March 3rd at T he Silvio E. Garaventa Sr. Center at Carondelet High Sc hool. Dinner is follo wed by live and silent auctions and an ev ening of dancing until midnight. Doors open at 5:30 to preview auction tables. Tickets are $45. per person and can be purchased b y contacting the school office at 689-3990. Clayton r eaders w ant to know what’s happening in your school. Send news of your e vents, special pr ojects, awards, fundraisers, etc. to schoolnews@claytonpioneer.com

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Turning 18 is really no big deal after all

DEIRDRE RUSCITTI

CVHS REPORTER As of now, this column is better and more impor tant, because it is written b y an adult who can impar t the pearls of wisdom that can only be acquired with age. Turning 18 is considered a big deal in the life of a teenager. Just the da y before , you are a juvenile, incapable of judgment or reason. But as soon as that clock hits midnight, you’re responsible for y our o wn life . It’s an ex citing moment, even if it is arbitrary. I recently turned 18 in one of the most interesting places to become an adult: Reno. At midnight, I decided to see what changes adulthood brought. In Reno, because there are a lot more things that suddenly become leg al, the da y seemed

more full of possible acti vities than it probably w ould ha ve in Clayton. However, I w as v ery surprised to disco ver that most, if not all, casinos, are for ages 21 and up. I tried venturing into one of them, camera in hand (I had part of a photo assignment I needed to do), but just manag ed to look through the door . It was very interesting, and very shiny. Now that I’m bac k in Clayton, the c hange seems less significant. I still ha ve to g o to high school and li ve at home . I am ex cited about being able to clear m y o wn absences at Clayton V alley, though, instead of having to use the g erminfested phone in the office and hope one of my parents has a cell phone on. I also registered to v ote. (I was considering becoming a member of the F ree Soil P arty, which was a popular anti-slavery party in the 1850s and 1860s , but since that would rule out primary v oting, I opted for the Democrats.) I bought a lotter y ticket, and, if the rules of probability hold tr ue, I wasted a dollar. And as soon as I v enture to the mall, I can g o do wn all the aisles in Spencer’s Gifts. However, many of the activities bloc ked off from minors don’t seem that appealing .

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Cigarettes, not so m uch (I happen to lik e m y lungs). Pornography, no. At least I’m a woman, so I don’t have to register with the Selecti ve Ser vice. Being eligible for a draft w ould put a damper on any sort of festivity that adulthood brings. Even one of the most infamous changes that accompanies 18, being charged as an adult for a crime , sometimes is used on people under 18. Perhaps 18 doesn’t seem like such a big deal because it is a middle child. It has two younger siblings, 16, which lets y ou

drive, and 17, which lets you see R-rated mo vies (although it’ s not lik e ag e is usually a hindrance for g etting into mo vies, anyway). Twenty-one looms in the future , kind of like the greener g rass on that hill o ver there that you can’t quite reach. In the midst of all these other dates, 18 doesn’t stick out as m uch as I thought it w ould. Oh, well. At least I’m not tur ning 50.

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Page B5

Late-in-life parents need to balance savings plans

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Namely, what do y ou w ant t o do in the y ears ahead? Ma ybe join the P eace Corps? Mak e y our own mo vie? Star t a ne w business, perhaps? Or maybe you’re not even sure. As an Ameriprise financial advisor, I am proud to exclusively offer the Dream Book.SM It’s a guide to help y ou figure out what e xactly you want to do in the y ears ahead, and it’s the per fect starting point for us to develop a financial plan that can help get you there.

So call me at (925) 685-4523 today or stop by our office for a complimentary copy of the Dream Book . Mureleen Benton CFP® 5356 Clayton Rd., Suite 211 Concord, CA 94521 925-685-4523

Over the past 25 years, people increasingly ha ve postponed having children to focus on their careers and other pursuits. The birth rate for women between 40 and 44 has more than doubled since 1981, according to a 2006 re port from the National Center for Health Statistics. Today, more families are trying to balance w ork with raising c hildren and, at the same time , navigating the shores of retirement while still facing the rapids of parenthood. Retirement, with its potential for diminishing income , combined with the expenses of having c hildren at home or in college can present real c hallenges. But with careful planning and the help of a qualified financial advisor, active parenting in your 40s and 50s doesn ’t have to mean putting off retirement until your 80s. Reports about the rising cost of tuition ma y tempt y ou to commit a significant par t of your sa vings for y our c hild’s education. But it is impor tant to consider y our o wn retirement before or along with your child’s education. You can g et loans or financial aid for a college education, but y ou can ’t for retirement. Due to rising life expectancies, you may need to fund your retirement for up to 30 years .

So, consider contributing the maximum to y our retirement plans before funding education savings v ehicles suc h as Coverdell accounts or 529 plans. Older parents ma y find this particularly helpful, because withdrawals from IRAs and 401(k)s after age 59½ are taxed but can be made without penalty, and IRA funds can be used for colleg e tuition without penalty ev en before then. Money in 529 plans can only be used for college. That said, funding a retirement plan only for education is probably not the best choice. It is best to meet with a financial professional who can discuss the benefits and restrictions of various colleg e and retirement savings options. Another benefit to sa ving for retirement first is the fact that retirement plans are not counted when deter mining your family’s eligibility for federal financial aid. Therefore, the more y ou tilt assets to ward these accounts, the g reater the possibility y ou ma y qualify for grants or lo w-interest student loans. The death of one or both parents is a possibility older parents should tak e seriously , particularly if their children are young. Protecting y our family in this situation requires tw o essential ing redients: insurance and a will. Consider purc hasing adequate life insurance to re place potential lost income until your children are 22. Also, think

about purc hasing disability insurance, particularly if you have many w orking years ahead, as well as long-term care insurance, if you are nearing retirement. These policies can help ensure that y our c hildren will ha ve the resources to sta y on course if you die , have to stop working or need to li ve in a nursing home. A will is something ev eryone should have. For older parents, it’s essential that y our will names a leg al guardian should both parents die before the children are 18. While difficult to think about, a proper will can mean the difference between children with a chance to fulfill their dreams and those who ma y ha ve to mak e lifechanging compromises. If you are collecting Social Security retirement benefits and still have children at home, the g overnment will kic k in a little extra. Each unmar ried child under the ag e of 18 can receive up to half of what you receive, up to a household maximum of 180 percent of your benefit. If you receive $19,000 per year from Social Security , for example , that could tur n into $34,200 if you ha ve tw o children. When having a child later in life, you ma y need to reset some of your retirement expectations. This may mean putting off retirement for a few years , but not forev er. Even an extra year or tw o on the job can make a big difference , particularly at the end of your career when you are lik ely to be mak-

ing a higher salar y and, therefore, contributing more to your 401(k) and other sa vings accounts.

“Retirement, with its potential for diminishing income, combined with the expenses of having children at home or in college can present real challenges.” Mureleen Benton When retired people ha ve children at home , they ma y need to mak e spending tradeoffs. Will their extra money g o toward a vacation or riding lessons? How about a new car or tennis camp? A spending plan can help y ou prioritize these decisions. A qualified financial advisor can help y ou devise a plan, evaluate y our insurance needs and sta y on trac k for your o wn retirement without short-changing y our c hildren’s aspirations.

Mureleen Benton is a Cer tified Financial Planner . Call her with questions at 685-4523 This infor mation is pr ovided for infor mational purposes only. The information is intended to be generic in natur e and should not be applied or relied upon in any particular situation without the advice of your tax, legal and/or your financial advisor. The views expressed may not be suitable for every situation. Ameriprise Financial Ser vices, Inc., Member NASD, part of Ameriprise Financial, Inc.

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retains w ater and rejuv enates the soil, as well as insulating the plants’ roots from temperature extremes and drought. Aqua Mulch maintains ex cellent porosity, providing ample o xygen to the root zone. This product holds nine times its weight in water, with a high ability to deli ver w ater when needed. For optim um results, use Aqua Mulc h heavily, keeping la yers six inc hes deep. Place it in areas of concern and v alue. Your hea vyblooming perennials, citrus and roses will lo ve some at their drip lines, as well as y our container g ardens, if not for the weed prev ention but for the water conservation. Mulch Bloc k w as introduced this year . When mix ed with w ater, this remarkable

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product mak es tw o cubic feet of spreadable mulch. The price is more appealing for larg er areas of yard. The benefits of this product are m uch the same, and the w ater-holding capability is fabulous. This product is g reat mixed with soil during plantings, used in hanging baskets and containers as w ell as for top dressing on existing g arden areas . The weeds will be smothered and the g round will be better hydrated. Spring in nearing and g etting the hard w ork out of the way will be rewarded. Nicole is the Garden Girl at R&M Pool, Patio and Garden Contact her with questions, comments or suggestions at

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Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

Church News BAHA’I The Baha’is of Clayton invite everyone to a lecture and ev ening of fellowship. Pamela Car r will discuss “Hope for Humanity T hrough Spiritual Reconstruction.” She ser ved at the Baha’i World Centre in Israel for 10 years and currently w orks as a data analyst at Mills College. The prog ram star ts at 7:30 p .m. Friday, March 2, with a period of interfaith devotions, followed by Car r’s presentation. The event will be at the T oloui residence in Clayton. For more infor mation and directions, call 672-6686. INTERFAITH DEVOTIONS AT DIAMOND TERRACE The Baha’i offer interfaith devotions the first Sunda y of each month at Diamond Terrace. There are dev otional readings and prayers from various religious traditions. Feel free to bring y our o wn fa vorite readings or pra yers. Music and refreshments provided. The next dev otional meeting will be at 11 a.m. Sunday, March 4, in the Mo vie Room, 6401 Center St.

ETERNAL LIFE LUTHERAN CHURCH All are invited to three midweek Lenten services, on Feb. 28, March 14 and Marc h 28. Services will begin at 7:15 p.m., preceded by soup suppers at 6 p.m. This year’s Lenten theme is “Behold the Hidden Glor y of the Cross .” Amidst the suffering and sadness on Calv ary that first Good F riday, there w as also reason to be joyful and to celebrate. Eternal Life Lutheran Church is at 5554 Clayton Rd., 1B, Concord. Sunday Sc hool and Bible Study is at 10 a.m. Sunday worship is at 11:15 a.m. Wednesday Bible study is at 7:15 p .m. For more infor mation, call 524-0295 or visit www.EternalLifeLutheranChurch.org. CLAYTON VALLEY PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH A fi ve-week Lenten Bible study begins at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 28. Call the office for location. A Maundy T hursday Seder meal and communion will be held at 6:30 p .m. April 5. Services on Easter Sunda y, April 8, will be at 6:30 and 10:30 a.m. The Y outh Group meets 6:30-8 p .m. Tuesdays. A W omen’s Suppor t Group is

SPRING HAS ARRIVED at

held at 7 p .m. the first and third T uesdays. A Women’s Bible study is at 7 p .m. the second T uesday and 7 p .m. the second Wednesday. The Men ’s Discussion Group meets at 8 a.m. Fridays. Sunday ser vices are at 10:30 a.m., with school and c hildcare provided. The church is at 1578 Kirk er P ass R oad. For more information, call 672-4848. ST. MATTHEW LUTHERAN CHURCH All people of faith are invited to attend A World Day of Prayer on Friday, March 2. Coffee and registration begin at 9:30 a.m., with the prog ram and pra yer ser vice at 10 a.m. A free-will offering will be recei ved. World Da y of Prayer, dating bac k to 1927, is a w orldwide mo vement of many faith traditions who come tog ether to observe a common day of prayer each year. This year’s prog ram, “United Under God’s Tent,” was written b y women of Paraguay and is sponsored by Church Women United of Contra Costa County. The program will be led by the new vice-president, Rev. Diana Barkley. The c hurch is at 399 Wig et Lane in Walnut Creek. For more infor mation, contact Barkley at 947-5999.

Everything I know, I learned over tea If teacups could talk, my house would be brimming with conversation. My house is full

PAM BARNETT

TEA

FOR YOU

of cups that I ha ve inherited, received as gifts or purc hased for myself. Each one has a history, and each one is precious to me. Often, the idea of a tea party brings bac k memories of quiet times shared with a friend or

family member. You see, it’s not the tea or the teacups themselves that speak to the soul with suc h a satisfying messag e of serenity and friendship . It’s what happens when w omen make a place in their life for the ritual of sharing. So many things in our li ves can be done without really being there – without being mentally and emotionally tuned into the people around us. But when we sit and ha ve tea with someone , we are offering ourselv es. We are saying that for the next few minutes, I will listen to y ou and we will share a connection. It’s important to bother with the little extras that feed our soul and n urture our senses . The calmness of tea is ideal for getting to kno w someone new , for patc hing up a misunderstanding or suppor ting one another in bad times.

What’s in our cup is ir relevant. It’s the spirit of the tea party that fills hearts to the brim with joy. Humans are beautiful and breakable, like china teacups, yet we are also strong and resilient. Unlike my cups, we can heal and grow and move beyond disaster. We can reach out to one another in courage and comfort. Friendship involves risk and courage; maybe there is someone y ou’d lik e to g et to kno w better. Perhaps a neighbor is going through a hard time . Tea gives us reason to reach out and extend a hand of friendship. Don’t miss a moment of such beauty . Rejoice in simply being alive and tak e the time to savor some tea stee ped with kindness. You’ll be glad you did. Here’s a recipe to complement your tea.

February 23, 2007

FRIENDSHIP SCONES 2 cups all-purpose flour 2 tsp. sugar 1 tsp. salt 1 T. baking powder 1 cup heavy cream

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

follow the risen Christ by studying His Word to live God's love through service to others to nurture our church family to accept all who enter our doors to tell others about God’s grace Patricia Stout, Pastor

Sundays 10:30 a.m.

www.cvpresby.org

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Though 2006 is history, you can still do some things to cut your 2006 tax bill. Among the possibilities: (1) Make a deductible 2006 IRA contribution before April 17. (2) If you’re in business, contribute to a SEP , a simplified retirement plan for smaller businesses. (3) See us to ensure making the best tax elections, finding every available deduction and credit, and not overreporting income on your 2006 return. We’re here to help you keep your taxes as low as possible.

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

Preheat o ven to 425. Sift together dr y ing redients. Gradually add enough of the cream to for m a soft dough. Knead lightly on a f loured board. Roll out to ½ to ¾ inc h thickness. Cut into shapes with a sharp knife or cookie cutter. Place on ung reased baking sheet, leaving half inch of space around eac h one . Bake 10-12 minutes, or until golden brown. Pam Bar nett w as an Eng lish major in colle ge and a teacher befor e becoming co-owner with Sally Englund of Englund’s Tea Cottage in the Clayton Station. Email her at Pammbarnett@aol.com

Congress passes last-minute tax law In the final hours of its 2006 session, Congress passed legislation that extends sev eral popular tax breaks for individuals and businesses. On Dec. 20, President Bush signed the T ax R elief and Health Care Act of 2006. The late passag e of these tax changes will cause a short delay in IRS processing of 2006 returns, since the ser vice m ust update its computers for the new provisions. Here’s an o verview of the extended tax breaks. The optional itemized deduction for state and local sales tax es w as reinstated for 2006 and 2007. The deduction can be tak en in lieu of deduct-

CAROL KEANE, CPA

TAX TIPS ing state and local income taxes. This is a break for taxpayers who li ve in states without income tax or for those who pay more in state and local sales tax es than income tax es. Taxpayers can k eep receipts or

use IRS tables for the sales tax deduction. The deduction for higher education tuition and fees had expired at the end of 2005, but the la w extended it for 2006 and 2007. This deduction can be tak en whether y ou itemize or not. It’s kno wn as an “above-the-line” deduction. There are income limits that apply. Teachers who buy classroom supplies with their o wn money can tak e a deduction of up to $250 for 2006 and 2007. The researc h business tax credit is reinstated for 2006 and 2007. The w ork oppor tunity and welfare-to-work tax credits also are extended for 2006. In

2007, they will be combined into one credit. The 15-year recovery period for cer tain leasehold and restaurant improvements is extended through 2007. The law also extends certain tax breaks for energy conservation through 2008 and mak es several changes to the r ules for health savings accounts. Congress is expected to pass more tax legislation in 2007, so be sure to g et an update before y ou mak e personal financial and business decisions throughout the year. Carol Keane is a Cer tified Pub lic Accountant in W alnut Cr eek. Email her at carol@carolkeanecpa.com.

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

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

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

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

February 23, 2007

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

Page B7

Clayton Community Calendar PLEASE SUBMIT YOUR CLAYTON COMMUNITY CALENDAR EVENTS BY 5 P.M., FEB. 28 FOR THE MAR. 9 ISSUE. FAX TO 672-6580 OR E-MAIL calendar@claytonpioneer.com phy, 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.

EVENTS & ENTERTAINMENT MAR. 16 - APRIL 1 A Bright Room Called Day by Tony Kushner @ Diablo Valley College Set in the last days of the Germany's Weimar Republic, the play follows a group of artists and activists as they watch their country gradually descend into the Third Reich. Bright Room charts the ascension of the Nazi party through the seemingly insulated life in middle-class living rooms, illustrating what happens when intelligent people sit by idly during times of crisis. Tickets $10 - $13. Call box office at 6874445, Diablo Valley College, Performing Arts Center, 321 Golf Club Road, Pleasant Hill MARCH 21 Who Was John Marsh? @ Clayton Community Library 7 p.m. Bob Gromm, a member of the John Marsh Historic Trust, will present a history of John Marsh and the Marsh House. John Marsh was an important pioneer of Contra Costa County. Spend an evening learning about local history. 673-0659, Clayton Community Library, 6125 Clayton Road, 673-0659. MAR. 24 5th Annual Brady Bunch Dinner ALS Assoc. Benefit @ Elks Lodge, Walnut Creek 6:00 p.m. Annual spaghetti dinner to benefit ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease) patients and their families. DJ, win a cruise to Mexico, silent auction and raffle. Moving one step closer to curing this devastating disease - together we do make a difference. Cost is $25.00. For tickets or info call or email 925-672-7249, info@bradybunch4als.com www.bradybunch4als.com and/or www.alsabayarea.org. Elks Lodge 1475 Creekside Dr. Walnut Creek. MAR. 29 7th Annual Bookies Award Dinner @ Lafayette Park Hotel 6 p.m. No host reception, 6:45 p.m. dinner. A celebration of books and the people who love them, the book awards dinner benefits Project Second Chance, the Contra Costa County Library's adult literacy program. This year's special guest author is Lolly Winston, author of NY Times bestsellers "Good Grief," and "Happiness Sold Separately." Tickets are $50 and include admission, dinner, dessert and Rosenblum Cellars wines. Tickets are on sale at Fremont Bank, 1735 N. Bdwy., Walnut Creek, or by calling 510-723-5810. Silent auction. After party coffee at Lafayette Book Store with 20% of all book sale proceeds being donated to Project Second Chance. Lafayette Park Hotel, 3287 Mt. Diablo Blvd., Lafayette.

CLUBS & ORGANIZATIONS MAR. 8, 15, 22, 29 Rotary Club of Clayton Valley Concord Sunrise @ Oakhurst 7 a.m. Meets every Thurs. for breakfast and usually features a speaker. www. claytonvalleyrotary.org Chuck Graham 689-7640. Oakhurst Country Club, 1001 Peacock Creek Drive, Clayton. MAR. 8, 15, 22, 29 Weights Watchers Weekly Meeting @ Contra Costa Farm Bureau 10 a.m.and 5:30 p.m. Weekly Weight Watchers weigh-in and meetings on Thurs. 800-326-8450 x 2023. Contra Costa Farm Bureau, 5554 Clayton Rd., Concord. MAR. 11, 18 Alcoholics Anonymous Meeting @ Clayton Community Church 7 - 8 p.m. AA Big Book Study, every Sunday night in the meeting room at Clayton Community Church, 6055 Main Street, Clayton, 673-9060. Mar. 11 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, 6465455. MAR. 12 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, photogra-

Mar. 12 Stroke Support Group of Contra Costa County @ John Muir Medical Center - Concord 7 p.m. Join stroke survivors, caregivers and health professionals as they discuss issues, challenges and suggestions for living with stroke.The speaker will be Eileen Nevitt, LCSW. She will discuss transitions from the hospital. She will be joined by Chris Rose Franks, MPTA discussing eldercare services. For more information, contact Ann Dzuna at 925-376-6218. Meetings are free and open to the public. John Muir Medical Center - Concord Campus, John Muir Medical Center, 2540 East Street, Concord. MAR. 13, 20 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. MAR. 13, 27 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. MARCH 14 Meeting of the Creekside Artists @ Clayton Community Library 7p.m. Join this unique group of eclectic artists that meet the 2nd Wednesday of each month. If you like, bring your artwork for review...all levels and all artforms are welcome! "We provide an environment for all artists to inspire, create, educate and prosper." Questions? Arlene Kikkawa-Nielsen (925) 673-9777or akikkawa@ccclib.org MAR. 14 Clayton Valley Garden Club @ Diamond Terrace 7 p.m. The Clayton Valley Garden Club meets the second Wed. of the month. The Club maintains the flowers on Daffodil Hill, the planters on Main Street, and the raised garden beds at the Library, and other civic projects. Anyone interested in gardening is welcome at our meetings. Call Jeff at 672-7579 or Barry at 827-9540 for information. Diamond Terrace, 6401 Center Street, Clayton. Mar. 15 Veterans of Foreign Wars Meeting @ Veterans Memorial Hall, Concord 6 p.m. Meeting begins. at 7 p.m. 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. MAR. 21 Ygnacio Valley Republican Women @ Oakhurst County Club. 10 a.m. meeting, 12 p.m. lunch. The cost for lunch is $20. YVRW meets the 3rd Wed. of the month. Go to www.yvrwf.org for information. Oakhurst Country Club, 1001 Peacock Creek Drive, Clayton. MAR. 28 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. APR. 1 Knitting Club @ Concord Library 2 - 4 p.m. Have you noticed that knitting is all the rage? Join the group and get creative. Club meets the first Sun. of the month. 6465455, Concord Library, 2900 Salvio Street, Concord. APR. 3 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. APR. 4 Hearing Loss Assoc. of America @ Walnut Creek Methodist Church 7:30 p.m. 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. APR. 5 Sons in Retirement Meeting (SIRS) @ Oakhurst Country Club 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. Meetings are the first Thurs. of the month. SIRs is dedicated to promoting the independence and dignity of retired men and has no initiation fees or dues. The only requirement, other than being a man who is retired from his primary employment or career, is attendance at the monthly luncheons. Meetings are the first Thurs. of the month. For more information about joining SIRs, Branch 19, call Al Brunner at 687-0594. Oakhurst Country Club, 1001 Peacock Creek Drive, Clayton.

BUSINESS & GOVERNMENT MAR. 29 CBCA (Clayton Business & Community Association) Meeting @ Oakhurst 6:30 p.m. Monthly dinner meeting, last non-holiday Thurs. of the month. Reservations due by Tuesday noon prior, 672-2272. Mike Fossan, President. Oakhurst Country Club, 1001 Peacock Creek Drive, Clayton. MAR. 13, 20, 27 Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors Meeting @ County Administration Building 9 a.m. County Board of Supervisors holds regular weekly meetings Tues. mornings. Open to the public. www.co.contra-costa.ca.us 3351900. County Administration Building, 651 Pine Street, Room 107, Martinez. MAR. 13, 27 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. MAR. 20, 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 City Hall, 6000 Heritage Trail. Clayton Community Library, 6125 Clayton Rd., Clayton. APR. 12 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 Heritage Trail, Clayton.

SCHOOLS AND EDUCATION MAR. 14 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. MAR. 20 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 6731795, kristinsmith@yahoo.com, PFC Co-Presidents. Childcare is available. Watch website for details. http://www.mdusd.k12.ca.us/mountdiabloelementary/. APR. 5 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.

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Page B8

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

February 23, 2007

Brian Wilson concert a bit of history

JIM HUDAK

MUSIC NOTES Last time , I wrote about Pete T ownshend, Neil Y oung and Brian Wilson, three pop music icons whose leg acy and stature has g rown o ver the years. As luc k w ould ha ve it, Wilson performed at the beautifully restored P aramount Theatre in Oakland on J an. 28, just days after that column w as written. We’d w anted to c heck out the P aramount since its recent renovation, and this was a good opportunity. Its bright mar quee first grabbed our attention as we ascended onto Broadw ay from the BART station belo w. Upon entering the lobb y, we knew w e were visiting someplace special. One can feel the grandeur of a b ygone era throughout the theater, built in 1931. Art deco set the tone for eleg ance. Tasteful furniture, paintings and

ACROSS

1- Raced 5- Monetary unit of India 10- Fall 14- Roof overhang 15- Vocally 16- Relaxation 17- Beekeeping 19- Silage storage tower 20- Stories 21- Fifth letter of the Greek alphabet 23- Where some vets served 25- Speak 26- Ella specialty 29- Ethereal 31- Seashore 35- On in years 36- Leg or arm 37- Disreputable 38- Gives slack 40- Without interruption 41- Infuriate 42- Monetary unit of S. Africa 43- Mined mineral 44- Monetary unit of Lesotho 45- Fencing sword 46- It transforms carbon dioxide into oxygen 47- Render weaponless 49- Fish eggs 51- Lodger 54- Stage play 58- Earthen pot 59- Monitor 63- Decree 64- Mindlessly stupid 65- Roofing item 66- Golfer's "watch out!" 67- Investigate closely 68- Consumes

DOWN

1- Senate position 2- Father 3- "The ___ Dead", classic horror movie 4- Respectable 5- Comrade 6- High-pitched 7- Acknowledgment of debt 8- Pledge 9- Proficient 10- Desiring 11- Fencing piece 12- Capital of Norway 13- Unskilled laborer 18- Country bordered by Canada and Mexico 22- Unit of time 24- Lobster state 25- Metro area

color combinations are w ellplaced throughout, even before you actually w alk into the seating area. Sipping on a pre-concer t cocktail, we w ere caught up in the anticipation of a magical evening to come. Wilson didn ’t disappoint. Performing his 1966 album “Pet Sounds” in its entirety , he also mixed in lots of other Beac h Boys songs , including vir tually all of the hits and several, lesserknown masterpieces. His outstanding, 10-piece band w as the k ey to the performance. Utilizing the perfect combination of veteran session musicians and y ounger pla yers with tons of talent and energ y, these guys roc ked, harmonized and played the ar ray of musical instruments so vital to Wilson ’s vision and ar rangements. The band traded instr uments frequently and seamlessly, obviously well-rehearsed. History w as made on this night, for tw o reasons . First, it was announced that this tour ending perfor mance w ould be the last time the “P et Sounds” album would be performed live. Secondly, Al Jardine, one of the original Beac h Bo ys, joined the band onstage for vocals and some rhythm guitar. Because of ongoing strained relations

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BRIAN WILSON between Wilson and Mike Love, the other sur viving Beac h Bo y, chances of a “three-fifths” of the original band reunion are slim – making J ardine’s appearance significant. The 64-year -old Wilson looked a bit w eathered and worn. With all the recent touring and responsibilities of being bandleader, composer and arranger, he likely will w elcome some time off to rec harge his batteries. But after all he’ s been through, from leg al battles to drug abuse and mental illness, it was just nice to ha ve him bac k among us. Several standing ovations erupted over the course of

the evening, as we all seemed to recognize that we were watching a bit of pop/rock history in the making. Wilson, who’s been compared to Mozar t, Beethoven, Gershwin and Cole P orter as a giant of music composition, can still sing, play and conduct a first-rate band to a sold-out crowd of 3,000 happy fans . That’s cause for celebration. Jim Hudak’s Music Notes column appears r egularly in the Pioneer. Contact him at jimm ydak@pacbell.net. His piano music CD’s ar e a vailable fr om his W eb site at www .jhudak.com or at amazon.com.

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Crossword Puzzle 26- Mends a shoe 27- Doppelganger 28- Enhance 30- Printer's measures 32- Participant 33- Beach locale 34- Native American tent 36- Fable 37- Hermit 39- Soak 40- Not for a Scot 42- LP speed 45- Off-course 46- Cylindrical 48- Sponsorship 50- Lyric poem 51- Box office hit 52- Potpourri 53- Banned apple spray 55- Capital city of Western Samoa 56- Dissolve 57- Greek god of war 60- The 19th letter of the Greek alphabet 61- Conclusion 62- Lock opener

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February 23, 2007

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Page B9

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ELENA BICKER

PAWS

AND

CLAWS

With ong oing reminders of the dang ers associated with being o verweight, many people start off the new year with an exercise and diet resolution. Those extra pounds pose the same life-threatening risks for our four -legged canine friends, 60 percent of whom are also overweight. Excess w eight places a dog at risk for any number of health problems , including cardiovascular disease , respiratory issues and joint/sk eletal disorders. Knowing ho w to recognize the signs of obesity and take cor rective action is important. If you think Max might be o verweight, visit your v eterinarian to lear n how to bring back quality and extra years to Max’s life. Certain breeds are more susceptible to obesity, such as basset hounds , dachshunds and Labrador retriev ers. While some dogs ma y g ain

weight more easily, it doesn’t mean they m ust become overweight. Maintaining a healthy body w eight requires careful attention to the amount of food and exercise Max receives. To get Max star ted on his way to his new slender self , use a measuring cup when serving his meals . No more guessing, because this simple habit can mak e a noticeable difference. If Max’s food is gradually reduced, he w on’t even notice. Also, don’t forg et to follow the “tric ks for treats” rule. Treats m ust be ear ned, so no more free snac ks. Ask Max to perfor m an acti vity before rew arding him with a biscuit. Ask him to fetc h his favorite to y, perform sit and down drills or pla y hide and seek. Anything that encourages movement equals calorie burning. Finally, create a w orkout program for y ou both. Dogs don’t ex ercise on their o wn, but Max will gladly join y ou in an acti vity that looks lik e play. Find a fun acti vity in which y ou can par ticipate alongside Max. The Animal R escue Foundation (ARF) offers an assortment of canine fitness opportunities at its W alnut Creek shelter. Paws 4 Fitness is a canine fitness class focus-

To help your dog slim down and stay fit, find a fun game that you both can play.

ing on helping dogs reg ain their f lexibility, lose pounds and inches, and increase their strength and o verall condition. ARF’s F reestyle class is a unique dance program dedicated to coac hing the human-dog team to lear n dance mo vements while developing a jo yous m usical bond. Both classes are perfect for overweight, senior or

rehabilitating dogs. For a complete listing of ARF classes , visit www.arf.net/Resources/train ing/descriptions.html. Elena Bicker is the general manager of Tony La R ussa’s Animal Rescue F oundation. She can be reached at (925) 256-1ARF (1273)

Penelope Cruz and Smurfette are ARF’s Adoption Stars

PENELOPE CRUZ

Penelope Cr uz is a sweet, social girl who lo ves just about ev eryone she meets. She also lik es to snuggle and it’ s r umored that she’ s quite the c hatter box. Smurfette is a lo ving Golden R etriever/Shepherd mix who is full of wags and kisses for her new family .

“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!”

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She bonds v ery quic kly to her new family members and will require a home where someone is home much of the day. The adoption fee for Smurfette is $200 and includes the first six training courses. Bring ev eryone who will live with P enelope or

SMURFETTE

Smurfette – including any canine family members – to meet them at T ony La Russa’s Animal R escue Foundation, 2890 Mitc hell Drive, Walnut Creek, during adoption hours: 3 to 7 p .m. Thursday and F riday, Noon to 4:30 p .m. Saturday and Sunday. Visit www.arf.net or call (925) 256-1ARF for more information.

Would you like to be part of the heroic team that saves the li ves of rescued dogs and cats? Can y ou share your talents to connect people and animals? ARF volunteers are making a difference! F or more infor mation see our W eb site , www.arf.net, or call (925) 256-1ARF.

Page B10

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

Food a festive part of Chinese New Year celebration

FOR

THOUGHT

The ann ual celebration is also called the Spring F estival, an occasion mark ed b y special foods, symbolic acts and traditional festi vities. One of the key ev ents is a family feast where g enerations are honored. Food alw ays pla ys an important role in Chinese culture, and the New Y ear dinner is no ex ception. It m ust be well-balanced with many meats and fish. Fish means abundance and ev en in inland areas of China where there w ere no fish, people w ould car ve fish out of wood. Fruit baskets are frequently given as gifts during the Spring Festival. Apples (safety), peaches (long evity), oranges (good wishes) and pomeg ranates (fer tility) are often exchanged.

February 23 thru March 31 The Rocking 60’s Musical Soap Opera Michelle Pond, Nephi Speer, Leah Tandberg-Warren & Elizabeth Tremaine

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PORK RIBS

FOOD

Preview Thurs. Feb. 22, 4 8pm, $2

Starring

Each year , the Chinese Lunar New Y ear marks the start of a two-week celebration of family, harmony and rejuvenation. The tradition dates back more than 4,000 years and coincides with the second new moon after the winter solstice. This year is the Year of the Boar, one of 12 symbols of the Chinese zodiac. People born in the Year of the Boar are said to possess traits suc h as g reat honesty and lo yalty, with a thirst for knowledge.

LINDA WYNER

February 23, 2007

Certain traditional foods are commonly seen on g roaning tables , including nian g ao (the stic ky Lunar New Y ear cake), jim dui (sw eet potatoes and red bean paste rolled in sesame seeds and fried), lo bak gao (a dish of radishes or turnips, sausage, dried shrimp and shitak e m ushrooms), candied melon (symbolizing health), lychees (for strong families) and noodles (symbolizing long life). A small plate men u suits a New Year celebration, in keeping with the belief that the more items that are ser ved, the more blessings one recei ves. Here are some recipes if you would like to mark the event in your home.

SWEET AND SPICY PORK RIBS 3 lbs. pork loin back ribs ¾ c. orange marmalade ¾ c. soy sauce ¼ c. dry sherry 3 clo ves g arlic, mashed or minced ½ tsp. minced ginger ¼ tsp. dried red pepper flakes Combine all ing redients except pork ribs . Separate ribs into indi vidual pieces. In a plastic bag or larg e dish, combine ribs and three-fourths of the marinade . Refrigerate ribs for at least one hour (preferably overnight). Preheat oven to 350. Drain ribs and discard marinade . Bake ribs in foillined pan, covered, for one hour. Increase o ven temperature to 400. Remove co ver and CHINESE ZODIAC CALENDAR drain off any fat in

the dish. Baste with reser ved marinade and roast for 10 minutes. Turn ribs and baste again, then roast for another 5 minutes. Serve hot or at room temperature. FIRECRACKER SHRIMP ¼ c. black bean garlic sauce ½ tsp. dried red pepper flakes 2 T. soy sauce 1 T. dry sherry or rice wine 1 T. minced fresh ginger 2 T. cornstarch 2 tsp. sesame oil 1 ½ pounds larg e shrimp , shelled and deveined 2 T. rice bran oil or canola oil 1 medium onion, halved and sliced ½ red pe pper and ½ yello w pepper, sliced ½ c. chicken broth 2 green onions, thinly sliced Prepare sauce by combining first sev en ing redients. Set aside. In hot wok or frying pan, add rice bran oil or canola and stir in shrimp . Stir fr y for 2 minutes. Add onion and pe pper slices and contin ue to stir fry for 2 min utes. Add sauce and c hicken broth and stir fr y another 2-3 min utes, until sauce thic kens. Serve with green onion as a g arnish. FULL MOON PASTRIES ½ lb. ground pork 1 T. rice bran oil or canola oil 1 tsp. cornstarch ? tsp. five-spice powder ¼ c. Trader Joe’s or other stir fry sauce ½ c. chopped green onion 2 sheets puff pastry, defrosted 1 egg beaten with 1 T. water Heat oil in skillet and add ground pork. Sprinkle with cornstarch and five-spice powder. Cook until no pink remains. Add stir fry sauce and heat through. Remove from heat and add g reen onion.

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Preheat oven to 400. Cut 16 rounds (3-inch diameter) from each sheet of puff pastry. Brush rounds with egg mixture to edges and fill each with 1 T. of the pork mixture (centered in middle). Cover with another round and press edg es fir mly together. (A fork can be used for sealing and decorati ve effect.) Bake 12-15 min utes on ungreased cookie sheet until golden brown. Serve warm. Linda W yner is an accomplished chef and “foodie.” She r ecently opened her kitchen stor e in Pleasanton and the cooking school will open soon. W atch the Pioneer for details. Direct your sug gestions or questions to lwyner@claytonpioneer.com

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