PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID CLAYTON, CA PERMIT 190
IT’S YOUR PAPER www.claytonpioneer.com
January 26, 2007
925.672.0500
One more try for Landscape District TAMARA STEINER Clayton Pioneer
City not getting rich from property taxes Statistics show that b y now, most of us ha ve brok en our New Y ear’s resolutions , and I am no exception. I just cannot seem to sta y away from Home De pot. I am, however, still loc king m y car and loc king the g arage door into the house. Now, let’s talk about our favorite subject – tax es. Last month, we all had the jo y of paying our proper ty tax es. As you wrote out that c heck to the County Tax Collector, you were probably sa ying to y ourself (among other things that I cannot print) that this is a lot of money going to the city. Well, it w ould be if it all went to city . However, more than 95 percent of it goes to the school district, the county and the state. Clayton only gets 4.29 percent of the proper ty tax es you pay. So, if your ann ual proper ty tax bill is $8,500, the city only receives $365 a year from you to provide city ser vices. Of course, this contributes to the total amount of property taxes collected for the entire city , which is about $1.5 million annually. Of our $3.7 million General Fund budget for 200607, property tax rev enue is about 40 percent of the total. The rest of the revenue comes from other tax es and fees , including sales tax. Our larg est budg et expense is for police services, about $1.7 million annually. As you can see, the amount of money the city receives from proper ty tax es is less than the cost to r un the
Landscape Maintenance: How much do we want?
Shrubs
Irrigation
Mowing
Trees
Weed Control
Trails
Open Space
The new standards. At $197 a year, it strikes a balance between the two.
tion and maintenance . That measure passed with a comfor table margin. The T rails and Landscape Committee (TLC), a citizen ’s oversight committee created b y the City Council after the failure of Measure M, went back to the drawing board early last year to draft a new set of standards and budget for another r un at the polls. At the J an. 16 council meeting, city manag er Gar y Napper presented the new measure . It provides for a standard of care that is less ambitious , therefore, less expensi ve than that proposed by Measure M. With an ann ual budg et of $850,000, the new district will be able to maintain the city’ s landscaping at an adequate level, run the fountain for holida ys and special events and begin to c hip away a t the desperately needed replacement of the city’s outdated irrigation system. The new district will ha ve a 10-year ter m, and the ann ual parcel tax of $196.77 will be tied to the Consumer Price Index with a 3 percent per year cap . Should the new measure fail at the polls in June, there will be no money to w ater and w eed and the city will ha ve no c hoice but to turn off the water and let it all die. A public hearing on the proposed new Landscape Maintenance District is set for 7 p.m. Feb. 20 in the Librar y Meeting Room. The proposal, the budg et and staff reports relating to the proposal are on the city’ s Website at www.ci.clayton.ca.us.
Pete Cruz/Clayton Pioneer
California trailblazer, George Cardinet, dead at 97 Cardinet had died during the night. Known as the “Father of the California T rail System, ” George Cardinet Jr ., founder Cardinet w as nationally kno wn of the Califor nia Horsemen ’s and honored for his w ork on Association and tireless cr usader behalf of the Califor nia Riding for the state’ s trail system, and Hiking T rail, the P acific reached the end of his trail in Crest Trail and the 900 mile San Mexico last week. Juan Bautista De Anza trail. Cardinet w as in Mexico City In 1976, Cardinet led a trail with long time friend and colride from Nog ales, Arizona, on league, Nancy DuP ont for the the Mexican border , to San wedding of DuPont’s daughter. On F riday mor ning, Jan. 19, Francisco to raise a wareness and DuPont called for Cardinet at his garner suppor t for the trail hotel for breakfast. When he which follo ws the route of the failed to answ er, she notified Spanish explorers who settled the Ba y Area. Congress estabhotel staff . When they entered lished the trail as a National the room, they found that TAMARA STEINER Clayton Pioneer
SECTION A
SECTION B
Flowers
The current level of care. At $127 a year, it’s not enough.
What’s Inside
Travel Tales . . . . . . . . . . . . .B1 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .B2 Gray on Golf . . . . . . . . . . . .B2 Tea for You . . . . . . . . . . . . . .B4 Financial Sense . . . . . . . . . . .B4 Paws and Claws . . . . . . . . . .B5 Church News . . . . . . . . . . . .B6 Community Calendar . . . . . .B7 Music Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . .B8 Tax Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .B8 Crossword Puzzle . . . . . . . . .B9 Food for Thought . . . . . . .B10
Fertilizing
The level of care proposed by Measure M. At $365 a year, it was too expensive, said the voters.
See Mayor, page A7
Around Town . . . . . . . . . . .A2 Letters to the Editor . . . . . .A4 Classified Ads . . . . . . . . . . . .A5 Directory of Advertisers . . .A5 CVHS Reporter . . . . . . . . . .A6 School News . . . . . . . . . . . . .A6 Real Estate . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A8 Tech Talk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A9 From the Chief . . . . . . . . . .A10 Garden Girl . . . . . . . . . . . .A10 At the Movies . . . . . . . . . . .A11
failed to net ev en 50 percent of the votes — far shor t of the 67 percent needed to pass. Last No vember, the city spun the park off from landscaping in a se parate measure that created a Comm unity Facilities District funded b y a tiered parcel tax for park opera-
Source: City Maintenance Staff
MAYOR’S CORNER
Two years ago, the city made the first attempt to re place the expiring district. Measure M on the No vember 2005 ballot proposed an ann ual parcel tax of $365, of which $15 was to be for maintenance and operation of the do wntown park. Voters soundly rejected the measure . It
Levels of Care
BILL WALCUTT
Clayton residents will once again vote on whether or not to pay for the city’ s landscaping when a ballot proposal creating a new Landscape Maintenance District (LMD) with an ann ual
parcel tax of $196.77 goes to the voters in June. The current LMD, created in 1997, will sunset in June. Unless voters appro ve a new district, the city will ha ve no money to maintain the landscaping along the public roadw ays and medians or for trails and open space .
Photo courtesy of the Cardinet family
George Cardinet in the Sierras sometime between 1990 and 2000.
Historic Trail in 1990. Certainly one of California’s most famous equestrians , Cardinet’s life-long lo ve affair with horses began when he was a high school student w orking for a pac k outfit in the Stanislaus National Forest. Son of the founder of Cardinet Candy Company, maker of the famous Uno bar, Cardinet was bor n in San F rancisco in 1909. He w orked in the family business until he retired. The business was sold in 1978. In 1939, he bought a 600acre cattle ranch on Pine Hollow
See Cardinet, page A3
Clayton family takes over local bookstore JILL BEDECARRÉ Clayton Pioneer
Aiming to rescue the only bookstore in the Cla yton area, Joel and Christy Harris ha ve opened Cla yton Books in the Clayton Station next to Safew ay. Formerly Bonanza Books , the new store will g radually spor t a fresh look. The Har ris family , long-time Cla yton residents, plans to raise the bar on the new bookstore – making it an integ ral part of the comm unity. “We plan to make some g ood c hanges, not drastic ones,” says Joel. Clayton Books will continue to offer used and new books . However, the
inventory will feature new titles , more children’s classics, one of Joel’s specialties, and a collection of rare books not available elsewhere. Residents will ha ve an oppor tunity to meet the new owners on Feb. 10 and 11. The w eekend ev ent will include refreshments, specials and sale items. The Harrises are looking forward to hosting a series of special ev ents, including a g ala g rand opening in the spring and a Har ry P otter par ty introducing the soon-to-be-released “T he Deadly Hallows,” with movie props and memorabilia. In an effor t to become a g athering place for book lo vers of all ag es,
Clayton Books will have appearances by local authors. They will sign books, do a selection of readings and talk about their latest literary contributions. The Har rises also plan to host local book club meetings and coordinate their in ventory with required reading lists from area sc hools. “It will become a new level of bookstore,” says Joel. Given Joel’s background, it comes as no sur prise that he ste pped up to the plate to sa ve the local bookstore . Joel has been collecting books since he w as 10 and hosted the Cla yton Children ’s Book and Ar t Sho w at Mt. Diablo
See Bookstore, page A3
Tamara Steiner/Clayton Pioneer
Joel and Christy Harris are the new owners of Clayton Books
Page A2
Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com
January 26, 2007
Around Town Sam Skidmore weds Blair Keller
ate of Brigham Young Uni versity. She will receive her Masters in Public Administration from Brigham Young in April. After the ceremony friends and family g athered at the LDS c hurch a c r o s s from Cla yton Valley High for a luncheon. Later that ev ening, the couple was feted at a rece ption at Endeavor Hall where the bride appeared in a tea length, satin dress with a brown sash. Her attendants wore knit tops Photo courtesy of the Skidmore Family with brown polkaMR. AND MRS. SAM SKIDMORE dot skir ts. The groom w as in a Sam Skidmore of Clayton brown suit with blue tie and the and Blair K eller of Bainbridge groomsmen w ore bro wn cardiIsland, Washington, exchanged gan sw eaters with robin ’s eg g vows in a ceremony at the blue ties. Mormon Temple in Oakland on The wedding cake, created by December 30. Clayton resident Sue F aina, was Sam graduated from Cla yton tiered with white fondant decoValley High Sc hool in 2000. rated with acorns and blue flowAfter serving a two year mission ers. The rece ption w as catered in Spain for his c hurch, he by Derry Englund. attended Brigham Y oung At the end of the ev ening, University and will g raduate this the couple de parted under a April with a Bachelor of Science canopy of sparklers for a tw o in Mec hanical Engineering . His night sta y in San F rancisco to parents are Kristi and Da vid welcome the New Y ear, before Skidmore of Clayton. heading to Mendocino for the Blair is the daughter of remainder of their honeymoon. Robert and K aren K eller of The couple will live and work Bainbridge, Washington. She is a in Provo, Utah while completing 2000 g raduate of Bainbridge their degrees. High Sc hool and a 2005 g radu-
Bill and Donna Cook celebrated their 50th w edding anniversary on December 22, 2006 with a family dinner par ty for 14 at La V eranda Café. The Cooks mo ved to Cla yton in 1998 follo wing Bill’s retirement from Chevron. Shown in the photo with Bill and Donna are son Bill Jr ., and daughters Sharon Ly ons and V alerie Parrish.
THE COOK FAMILY
Phyllis Novakovich receives Gold Star banner SHERIE LAURENCE Special to the Pioneer
On January 11 the local Blue Star Moms held a tw o day g athering for Califor nia’s statewide Gold Star Moms and families at the Marine’ s Memorial Club in San Francisco. Gold Star families are those who have lost loved ones in combat on behalf of our countr y while the Blue Stars are the ones who ha ve cur rent lo ved ones in harm’s way. The g athering brought the grieving families tog ether in honor of their lo ved ones and focused on recent casualties in the War on T error. However, it also included three presentations of the Gold Star banner to mothers of those from the Vietnam era who had not yet received their banner . It w as an emotional and somehow healing ceremony. Those who ha ve recently lost lo ved ones w ere surrounded by those who understood their loss and g ave aching hearts comfort. All who attended were moved by the tables that filled the room and contained displa ys of each and every lost soldier.
Catalanos welcome new son Tuija Catalano , a Cla yton Planning Commissioner , and her husband Mark g ave bir th to Eric Johannes on Nov. 28. He w eighed in at 6 lbs . 4 ozs. and was 18 ½ inches long. Eric is now little brother to three-year old Hanna.
Phyllis Novakovich with Commander Pete Loechner (right) of local VFW Post # 1525 which is named after Jerry. Phyllis’ escort for the evening was Vietnam veteran Jerry’s best friend, Pete Laurence (left).
Clayton lost three y oung soldiers in the Vietnam W ar, Jerry Novakovich, Ronnie Pimentel and P aul Coe . At this ev ent, Clayton Gold Star mother Phyllis No vakovich, whose son
Lt. Jerry No vakovich w as killed in action in Vietnam February 9, 1968 on his 22nd bir thday, was presented her Gold Star banner in this second ann ual remembrance gathering.
Upcoming Events
30TH ANNUAL CAMELLIA TEA FEB. 11 Combine a soothing cup of tea and a beautiful collection of colorful camellias and you have the perfect recipe for a wonderful Sunday afternoon event. The 30th ann ual Camellia Tea at the Cla yton Historical Museum on F eb. 11 from 1-4 p.m. honors descendants of Clayton’s Pioneer families and features a displa y of Edith Mazzei’s spectacular and rare collection of camellias. Other members of the historical society will also sho w their g arden variety. Chairperson Barbara Allen has in vited society members who attended the first Camellia Tea and is looking forward to an afternoon of sharing stories, sipping tea and admiring the lovely flowers. The museum is located at 6101 Main Street in Cla yton. For more information call 672-0240.
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Cooks celebrate Golden Anniversary
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Concord $579,980 Central Concord – Custom touc hes incl. paint, baseboards, crown molding & dual panes w/co verings. 3BD/2BA w/spacious Florida room, large yards w/auto sprinklers & storage. Great curb appeal w/a court location.
January 26, 2007
Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com
Page A3
DVMS students take performance honors in Atlanta JILL BEDECARRÉ Clayton Pioneer
Photo courtesy of CAE
An exuberant Zoe Manoguerra struts her stuff in a scene from “School House Rock.”
Cardinet, from page A1 Road at the foot of Mt. Diablo. It was here that he beg an blazing the dozens of trails that crisscross what is no w Mt. Diablo State Park and where he resided until his death last week. The ranch included the winery that is now the Clayton City Hall and the city’ s w alking trail between the librar y and Ly dia Lane P ark w as named in his honor. Cardinet was still riding w ell into his nineties , said his son George Cardinet, III. “He w as 97 and subject to those infir mities of age that come whether or not you want them,” he said. “But under neath those , he w as really doing remarkably well.” He is sur vived b y his son and daughters Maureen Casteel and Mic hele Tomasulo. He has 13 g randchildren and 15 g reat grandchildren.
Cardinet’s w i f e , Margaret, died in 1992 and son, Owen, died last year. At press time, funeral George Cardinet a r r a n g e at retirement ments w ere party for Pete pending, but Laurence in November 2006 had tentatively been set for a rosar y on T hursday evening, Jan. 25, with the Mass on Friday morning, Jan. 26 at St. Bonaventure’s Catholic Churc h, 5562 Clayton Road, Concord. To confir m date and time , call Ouimet Brothers Funeral Chapel 682-4242 or St. Bonaventure’s, 672-5800.
Two Cla yton thespians from Diablo View Middle Sc hool (DVMS) brought home top honors for their performances at the Broadway J unior T heatre Festival in Atlanta. Zoe Manoguer ra, 13, and Christo Lopez, 12, traveled to Atlanta J an. 12-15 to perfor m with 1,200 other y oung students from as far away a s P anama, Germany and New Y ork. Manoguerra perfor med excerpts from “Sc hoolhouse R ock Li ve! Jr.” with 25 cast members of the Civic Ar ts Education J unior Theatre Company of Walnut Creek (CAE). The talented g roup ear ned the coveted title of Outstanding
Production, the highest a ward presented at the festi val. They were ask ed to perfor m for the entire competition. CAE director Nina Meehan credits the festi val with gi ving students an oppor tunity to meet other young ar tists from around the world. Lopez entered the competition with sev en members of the DramaMama theater g roup, an after-school prog ram at D VMS, and was named Hardest Working Male Actor . The judg es cited Lopez for his “impeccable comedic timing” and his ability to stand out in a “sea of women.” He played the role of Scott in “Dear Edwina. ” “I w as a nerd who became a cool guy,” he says of his performance in Atlanta.
Lopez has been acting for several years and recently secured one of the top male leads, Ryan Ev ans, in the DramaMama production of “High School Musical” at Diablo View in May. He became interested in acting in elementar y sc hool and also performed with his church’s theater group. The seventh-grader loves to perform and it shows, says P atti Pratt, founder and director of DramaMama. “He’s an incredible actor with natural ability,” she sa ys. “If he gets focused, he could mak e a career out of it.” Although Lopez has a long way to g o before he c hooses a career, he’s planning to contin ue
See Performers, page A9
Special Reading Club at librar y in February The Cla yton Comm unity Library is offering an oppor tunity to read and win a prize during the month of February. The program is open to c hildren in kindergarten through second grade.
Reading records will be available at the Information/Reference Desk at the library beginning Feb. 1. Children in the R eading Club who read at least 28 books of their choice will receive a cer-
Bookstore, from page A1 Elementary Sc hool for six years. When he heard a r umor that Bonanza Books was shutting do wn and mo ving its inventory to the Walnut Creek location, Joel approac hed the owner and worked out a deal. “Joel couldn ’t stand the fact that the bookstore w as closing its doors,” says Christy.
Clayton Families Finding yourself overwhelmed by bills before the holidays?
“Within a few days, we owned the store.” Joel, an estate planning attorney by trade, handles the purchasing and event planning for Cla yton Books while Christy, an a vid reader , works at the store . Sunny Solomon from Bonanza Books is manager. “Change is alw ays g ood.
tificate and an oppor tunity to choose a prize from the treasure box. On “W acky W ednesdays,” Feb. 7, 14 and 21, children can enter their estimate of how many g old fish are in the fish
bowl. Each g oldfish re presents a book read b y a reading club member. On Feb. 28, a prize will be awarded to the child with the closest estimate.
For mor e infor mation, call the library at 673-0659.
Joel will bring new life to the bookstore,” says Solomon, who believ es that Cla yton Books will beat the competition with customer ser vice. The Har rises ag ree, adding that the human touc h will make the difference . “If you need help finding the right book for y our special y oung reader, we can help,” says Joel. “We can order anything – new, used, rare – from anywhere in the world.”
Recycle this paper
Bonanza Books is now
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Joel and Christy Harris
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Page A4
Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com
Letters to the editor Readers weigh in on CC Church land purchase Dear Editor At the risk of seeming to disparage Number One in the triumvirate of God, Motherhood, and Apple Pie , I am writing to voice my opposition to the use of property in Downtown Cla yton for a church facility. (I have just read the lead article in the January 12 issue of the Clayton Pioneer.) I am not opposed to this church, or to any c hurch. My wife and I believ e in c hurches and regularly attend one right in Clayton. We have lived in this wonderful little city for nearly 15 years, and we have watched the do wntown area slo wly struggle toward achieving a balance betw een commercial and public v enues, all the while maintaining its small-town feel. We are pleased with the success of the to wn’s existing restaurants and shops , balanced with the P ost Office , the Museum, the Library, Endeavor Hall, and the soon-to-come Do wntown Park. The c hurch, with its proposed use of 1.7 acres smack in the do wntown, will upset the balance between tax-generating and tax-ex empt proper ties. It will sit on the most v aluable land left in Do wntown Clayton and obliterate the city’ s best chance for raising sales and property tax es to fund what Clayton needs for its g eneral upkeep. My wife and I v oted for the Downtown P ark, knowing full well that it will probably cost more than has been anticipated to k eep it up o ver the years . And those costs will be bor ne by Cla yton taxpa yers, along with the costs for lighting, landscaping, police….you know the litany. Our hope at the time of voting for the P ark, as w ell as supporting other amenities – improved landscaping for the whole city, improved trails, etc. - w as that Cla yton’s leadership would find a w ay to bring new businesses to the Do wntown. Therefore, we w ere hear tened to hear of the plans for a new retail facility behind Hair By Jim. Great idea - new shops and tax revenue, too! A win-win for all of us. But gi ving up this prime land next to the old Stag ecoach – the best land left in town - for a non-tax-rev enue-generating facility will deal the city a devastating economic blow. It’s not easy for me to write this letter, as I ha ve some v ery dear friends who are members of the c hurch in question. Nevertheless, someone needs to speak out for all the rest of the families in Clayton. I would
ask P astor R obinson and his congregation to reconsider the decision to purchase the land. I would ask P astor R obinson to return to his wider vision for a larger c hurch facility , rather than settling for what he admits to be a second c hoice for him. (Not to mention it being a bad choice for all the rest of us.) The P astor kno ws that God does w ork in m ysterious w ays, and that perhaps this is the time for patience and ref lection on Mr. Robinson’s part. I would ask the members of the Cla yton City Council and City Manag er Napper to deny , regretfully, the use of this land for a church – whether by zoning, calling for a city-wide referendum, or whatever means are available. I’m no real estate exper t, but I w ould ask the Council to look carefully at the reasoning behind the seller’ s willingness to par t with the proper ty for a price that Mr . Napper feels is below market value. From all I can tell, the church in question has done good w ork in the comm unity and is ser ving its cong regation well. The pastor and his f lock deserve our commendation. But w anting to build their church in Do wntown – no , it’s the wrong place and an unfair burden on the rest of us. Sincerely yours, Gary Carr Clayton Dear Editor Did y ou sa y do wntown or ghost town? How is that tw o acres , or over 20 percent of the do wntown proper ty en visioned for commercial dev elopment g ets sold without the City Council or City Manager knowing about it? Combine this with the downtown park proper ty and now you have one third of the available acreage excluded from commercial consideration. I ha ve nothing ag ainst the Clayton Comm unity Churc h; they w ere proacti ve while City leaders clearly were not. But it’s hard to believ e that dev elopment of a downtown church — mixed use or not — is in the best interests of the City at large. It is cer tainly contrary to all the g rand visions for a vibrant downtown the City Council has been espousing for so many years. David Ruiz Clayton, CA Dear Editor Your ar ticle on the Churc h
buying do wntown parcel w as disappointing to me . In m y experience as a 19 year resident of Clayton, I’ve seen some great comm unity functions b y Clayton Comm unity Churc h. The soapbo x derb y, the mo vie nights in the summer , hot chocolate and don uts after the tree lighting to mention just a few. Also, you highlighted all the dissenting v oices but I believe their are many many residents of Clayton who ha ve a different opinion. As a past business o wner in do wntown Clayton I can attest to ho w difficult it is to get people to shop there. There has been a plan for at least 15 years to impro ve the downtown with retail but they can’t g et any businesses to buy into the plan. Also an office building was put up some years ago on the cor ner of Center and Marsh Creek. How m uch revenue does the city really g et from a business license and some property tax. Not much. I believe this c hurch will come up with a plan that will both benefit the community, the current establishments and put some revenue in the city coffers also. The restaurants in to wn should be thrilled as they will be pac ked out ev ery Sunda y after the ser vices and thr u the week as the building is used for several functions. Also the little coffee shop that has been struggling to g et people in and stay alive will most lik ely prosper. Those are just a few of my thoughts on the new c hurch downtown. Patti White Clayton Dear Editor The short sightedness of City Manag er Gar y Napper among others to the Cla yton Community Churc h purc hase of land adjoining their existing property w as v ery telling . It seems the CCC knows just how Clayton w orks and k ept their cards close to the v est as they knew the City would be biased against them, doing what they could to stop them from purchasing the land. A neighbor and I discussing this subject recently noted irony in the following: Skip Ipsen saying he doesn’t think do wntown Cla yton is a place for a c hurch and that it “doesn’t add to the financial gain of existing retailers” is absurd! The business he founded utilizes the CCC Church parking lot across the street for which parking is available daily and whic h is used to host classic car ev ents on Wednesday evenings from April through No vember, attracting thousands of people a year to downtown Cla yton - and to Skipolini’s pizza restaurant. The City considering a variance for a 100% build out of the lot with no added parking across from Endea vor Hall
ONLY party store in the ar e h t ea w, o N
is h ypocritical as now Napper brings the issue of parking up concerning the Church property. About 15% of the Clayton population attends CCC and many of those cong regants own businesses in to wn. Gary Napper adds “their dream doesn’t mesh with OUR vision for the do wntown”. CCC does great things for Clayton and the surrounding comm unity, they are a very positive influence on the y oung people in to wn and my family and I ha ve attended several of their events over the last three years though w e are not members. Clayton city officials lik e to promote the small to wn effect of Clayton and a do wntown church would be a vital par t of a vibrant do wntown. Mayor Walcutt waxes reminiscently of a “Nor man R ockwell” feel downtown but doesn ’t think a downtown c hurch that traditionally occupies a space on Main Street USA fits in Clayton. Meanwhile, the city sells off property for a Longs Dr ugs. Now there is no sizable parking lot for city ev ents suc h as the Art & Wine F estival, Oktoberfest, Fourth of July etc. which the city is so eag er to promote. We in Diablo Villag e take up the slack several times a year as it is, with cars parked in front of our houses , blocking driveways and having beer bottles and trash to clean up afterwards. Residents I have spoken to are NOT looking forward to our neighborhood becoming an even larger parking lot for these events. An operator of a successful e-commerce w ebsite has as a general r ule that the long er a visitor spends on a site , the more likely he is to purc hasing something. The same can be applied here, 650 visitors downtown on a Sunday and also during functions w eekly, create an opportunity for do wntown businesses suc h as restaurants and coffee shops, as well as the Village Mark et to capitalize on that traffic. It seems only Sam Sandhu g ets it when he sa ys “anything that increases foot traffic is good”. What w e don ’t need is a bunch of single-faceted antique-type shops that sell a few items a w eek and close after 3 months or redundant businesses such as three coffee shops and two delis downtown. It will be interesting to see if City officials seize this opportunity to do what’ s good for Clayton. J Gamble Clayton Submit y our letter to the editor on this or any other subject from our W ebsite at www.claytonpioneer.com or email to tamara@claytonpioneer.com
Sat. Jan. 27,
9 am-12 noon Pleasant Hill Community Center 320 Civic Dr., Pleasant Hill (off Taylor, 2 blocks west of Sun Valley Mall)
FREE EVENT
Robert C. Clark, D.O. 3243 Clayton Rd., Concord
925-969-7530
We have all the balloons & partyware for your Super Bowl XLI party
has everything you need to celebrate
Valentine’s Day Huge selection of Valentinethemed partyware, stuffed animals, balloons, lights, decorations & gift wrap.
Full Service Auto Care FOREIGN Call for d kup an c i p e e r f delivery
all types of mechanical repairs and computer diagnostics on most vehicles.
FREE Brake Inspection John Sharapata, Owner & Clayton Resident
Mon - Thu 9 - 7, Fri & Sat 9 - 8 5434 Ygnacio Valley Road, Ste. 130 in the Clayton Valley Shopping Center Closed Sun on the Washington Blvd. side. visit our online store: seasonalreflections.com
$54.50 value Clean and adjust all four brakes, inspect brake hydraulics* (*Valid if brake work is done at this location.) exp. 2/9/07
DOMESTIC
We perform 30K 60K 90K factory maintenance.
Corner of Clayton Road and Kirker Pass Road
Mention this ad for a
FREE Mylar Balloon with $10 purchase.
January 26, 2007
Smog Check
Official Smog Te st Repair S and tation
925 672-3900
Oil Change Includes under hood inspection
$10 off $24.95 (plus certificate) coupon valid for most cars
exp. 2/9/07
(regularly $29.95) coupon valid for most cars
exp. 2/9/07
Our professionals are here to serve you: Amir, Jameson, Jeff & Ray (back) Alex, Peter & Gary (front)
January 26, 2007
Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com
Page A5
Classified HELP WANTED
Internet Customer Service Seasonal Reflections Holiday Decorations S tore at 5434YgnacioValley Road is hiring an in-store, internet customer service phone representative. Full time position, Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Compensation based on experience. Fax resumes to 925-672-2314 or email guest.service@seasonalreflections.com
Community Services Commissioner. The City of Clayton is now accepting applications for Community Services Commissioner, term limit June 2006 through June 2008. Presently one Commissioner position and one Alternate Commissioner position are vacant. The Community Services Commission is an advisory body to the City Council, responsible for recommending user fees and policies for use of City facilities and sponsored community activities. The Commission meets the second Thursday of each month at 7 p.m. and helps coordinate community evens such as Fourth of
July celebration, Clayton Cleans Up, and the New Years Eve celebration. The stipend is $75 per month (when a meeting is held).
FOR SALE
English Bulldog Puppies. Male and female English Bulldogs puppies available. The puppies are AKC registered with champion bloodlines and will come with a pedigree, microchip, vet check, health certificate, and a one year guarantee against congenital defects. All shots and wormer included. Gor geous wrinkles, nice rope across the nose, massive bone structure, compact and muscular. The puppies available now are $500 each. For more information please contact drsmithbreeder@yahoo.com.
SERVICES
Greeter. Work your own hours. Represent your city (Concord, Walnut Creek, Lafayette, and Dublin) and local businesses by welcoming new homeowners. Paid per visit. Incentives offered. Call (925) 944-0488.
Pet Sitting. Peace of Mind Pet Services. Away on business or vacation? Working late? Call local resident Linda Pastor at 672-9781 or 2028781. Licensed, insured, and bonded. Reasonable rates. Serving Clayton area. 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.
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 h t t p : / / w w w. v r c o n n e c t i o n . c o m / parkerpaw.
2368 Concord Blvd., 2368 Concord Blvd., Concord Concord, CA
VOLUNTEERS WANTED
Trails and Landscape Committee Members City Council of Clayton seeks applicants to fill two appointed positions on the “T rails and Landscaping Committee.” The purpose of this citizens Committee is to advise the City Council and City Manager on maintenance, improvement and financial matters related to the 1997 Citywide Landscape Maintenance District. For applications and more information, Clayton City Hall, 6000 Heritage Trail, 673-7300, ljackson@ci.clayton.ca.us. Please return completed application to the City Clerk by 5 p.m. Fri., Oct. 27. 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. The Clayton Community Library is seeking to fill the following volunteer positions: (All positions require a minimum age of 13 years and a 6month 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 (T ues. between the hours of 10am-2pm, 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 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 Construction is underway on Lenox Homes new residential community of sought after “Single Story” homes on spacious 13,000 + sq. ft. lots. Now is the time to move up to a dream home with no stairs and a yard that is designed for great outdoor living. These four and five bedroom Lenox Homes offer all the amenities and features you ever dreamed of having. The array of custom features include: Spacious floor plans 10 ft. ceilings Gourmet kitchen with granite countertops Maple cabinetry Elegant master bedroom and bathroom Many more extras Early home buyers have the opportunity to personalize their new home from a wide selection of options and upgrades. Thinking about remodeling your current home? Call our sales office first and discover what the possibilities are in a new Lenox Home. W e will be happy to send you more information.
Call (925) 284-0415 or go to www.lenoxhomes.net Broker Cooperation
LET US KNOW
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 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 Cleary, Joseph - Home Loan Experts . . . . . . . . . . . .497-5270 Computers USA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-9989 ComUnity Lending . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-5363 Cookies by Design . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .524-9901 Cruise Adventures Unlimited . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .935-7447 Dan and Dave's Cat Boarding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .524-0652 Denim & Lace . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .524-0345 Diamond Terrace Senior Retirement Living . . . . . . .524-5100 Dromlewicz, Kim - Century 21 Hosking Assoc. . . . .682-4663 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 Gesinee's Bridal Salon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .686-6444 Help You Sell Real Estate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .680-4950 HomeEquity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .673-9737 Hudak, Jim - Pianist and Composer . . . . . . . . . . . . .673-7293 Insite Design . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .689-6460 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 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 Music Together . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .946-2990 National Energy Rebate Fund . . . . . . . . . . . . . .800-957-4544 Nature's Creations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .800-624-2188 Neptune Society of Northern California . . . . . . . . . .944-5100 Nichols Landscape . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-9955 Nuchols, Alicia - Premier Home Loans . . . . .691-5070 X 323 Ouimet Funeral Home . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .682-4242 Paulson, Steve - KTVU Fox 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .673-5761 Postal Annex + . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-8900 Preschool and Parenting Fair . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .939-6466 Quantum Stress and Pain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .459-8595 R.E. Carpet Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .595-8623 Roberta Claire Photography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .625-1123 Robin's Ranches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-7323 Rocco's Ristorante & Pizzeria . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .947-6105 Schaefer's Painting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .260-6065 Seasonal Reflections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-4425 Smith Bernal Roofing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .216-6461 Stone Tree Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .798-2094 Straight Line Imports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .335-9801 Swint, Brad - Team Funding Group . . . . . . . . .627-1400 X 12 The Maids . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .798-6243 The Royal Rooster . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .216-8744 The UPS Store . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .689-6245 Tipperary Construction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .216-2679 Travel Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .304-5000 Van Fleet, Josie - Intero Real Estate . . . . . . . . . . . .672-4333 Van Wyck, Doug - State Farm Insurance . . . . . . . . .672-2300 Vujnovich, George - Better Homes Realty . . . . . . . .672-4433 Williams, Mike - Williams Properties . . . . . . . . . . . . .260-5363 Wooden It Be Nice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .673-5595
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Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com
Students need more advanced classes to be ready for colleg e Applying to colleg e is a stressful ev ent for ev eryone. Before the No v. 30 deadline for Uni versity of California and Califor nia State University sc hools, and ag ain around the deadlines for private sc hools in early J anuary, a collecti ve anxiety attac k descends upon high sc hools across the country. However, those applying to colleg es from public schools ha ve more to w orry about than the Common App and CSS Profile. College admissions ha ve gotten more competiti ve, and, in an attempt to k eep ahead, many pri vate high schools, as well as some public, have upped the number of Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB) and honors classes. This, in tur n, increases student GPAs. At a writing camp I attended at Sarah La wrence College last summer , one of the students went to a sc hool that offered 15 or so languages, including Latin, Russian and T agalong. At Clayton V alley, if you don ’t want to tak e Spanish, French or American Sign Languag e, you’re out of luck. You might be able to tak e a class at Diablo Valley Colleg e, if you
can make it past the w aitlists, the red tape and the commute. It’s not only foreign language classes that can be a challenge. Public sc hool students g enerally don ’t ha ve equal access to honors and
offers classes lik e AP Studio Art and Utopian Literature. It w ould be nice if the public suppor ted education to the extent that pri vate schools do , by offering an equal education for those who can ’t foot $12,000 per year high sc hool tuition bills , disagree with the religious studies most pri vate sc hools require or both. While it is not tr ue in all cases, the overarching truth is that it is becoming harder and harder for public sc hool students to get accepted into the elite colleg es. Although private sc hool students comprise 23 percent of all high schoolers, Ivy League schools admit an average of 43.3 percent of their students from private high sc hools, according to the Princeton Review. If every student is to have an equal c hance of attending college, whether the colleg e be in the Ivy League , a community college or anything in between, then public sc hools need to offer more adv anced classes. This will not only help students g et in b ut help them succeed once they g et there.
DEIRDRE RUSCITTI
CVHS REPORTER AP classes , compared with most private schools. Clayton Valley doesn ’t offer any IB classes, whereas some high school students ha ve the option of earning an IB diploma. That means all of the work done in the last tw o years of high sc hool is at an extremely advanced level, culminating in a series of exams and research papers. A CV student applying to the same colleg e as a Carondelet student is m uch less lik ely to be acce pted. Carondelet, for example ,
Contact Deirdre at CVHS@claytonpioneer.com
School News CLAYTON VALLEY HIGH The Cla yton Valley Combo, a jazz combo re presenting Clayton Valley High, will be featured at the second ann ual Traditional J azz Youth Band Festival at the Sacramento State University campus on Feb. 10. The ev ent is affiliated with the Inter national Association for J azz Education. It is cosponsored b y the Sacramento Traditional J azz Society and Sacramento State Uni versity Jazz Studies program in cooperation with the T rad J azz Educators Netw ork. It is the only ev ent of its kind in the United States and will feature about 20 bands from all over the country and Canada. The Cla yton V alley Combo is comprised of students enrolled in the sc hool’s J azz Ensemble, directed b y Mundy Viar. For their first exposure to Trad J azz, the band is pla ying arrangements b y Scott Sproxton. Participating bands will be evaluated b y w ell-known jazz
players and be given suggestions about ho w to impro ve their understanding and ex ecution of Trad Jazz. The event r uns from 8 a.m. to 5 p .m. in Capistrano Hall. A $10 fee also co vers the ev ening Showcase and A wards Concer t from 7 to 9 p .m. Tickets will be available at the door during the day in the Capistrano Hall lobby and at the Music R ecital Hall ticket window beginning at 6:30 p.m. For more infor mation, e m a i l youthbandfest@sacjazz.org, visit www.sacjazz.org/youthfestival/ or call (916) 372-5277. The Society for International T ravel is taking applications for a trip to Athens and R ome in A ugust 2007. Parents and students are welcome to register . E-mail rossj@mdusd.k12.ca.us for more information.
MT. DIABLO ELEMENTARY Tickets are on sale for the Big Kahuna Luau and Talent Show, set for 5-9 p .m. Friday,
January 26, 2007
NEW HOPE FOR NECK AND LOW BACK PAIN! Pain Free Treatment for:
ble 86% Incredi rate success gery! t Sur Withou
Herniated Discs Disc Protrusion Bulging Discs New or Chronic Pain Neck or Low Back Pain If you have been suffering then call now for a 24/7 toll-free recorded message at 1-800-929-5696. Or go to www.beatthepainreport.com.
Call Dr. Moon today for a FREE DRX exam at 925-682-8400!
Open at 11 a.m
., 7 days a week
Banquet Rooms Patio Dining
Rocco’s New Sports Bar NOW Open
Locally owned by Rocco Biale & family
Full Bar Available
17 Draft Beers
Team Parties
New Menu Items COMING SOON
Corporate Catering
2909 Ygnacio Valley Rd. at Oak Grove Rd. in Walnut Creek (925) 947-6105 • Fax (925) 947-6106 • www.roccospizzeria.com Feb. 9, in the Mt. Diablo Elementary Multi-Use Room. This is an opportunity to dazzle the Mt. Diablo community with y our talents , or to enjoy other talented MDE performers. The ev ent will be catered b y JJ’ s Ha waiian Barbecue of Clayton. Cost is $8, and reservations are required. For more infor mation, visit http://www.mdusd.k12.ca.us/ mountdiabloelementary/LuauT ickets.pdf or email lisayork@comcast.net. The sev enth ann ual school auction will be April 21 at Centre Concord. The theme is Hollywood Nights. The ev ening of dining, dancing and pok er is sure to be an early sell-out, so w atch for the tic ket sale date . This year’s executive sponsor is IMC Integrated Insurance Services. For more infor mation or to make a donation, contact Kim Lally at 673-1124 or Denise Stephens at 672-8510.
WANTED! Gas & Electric Customers For No Interest Home Improvement Loans Products Covered
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Beautiful 4 Bedroom, 2.5 Bath, completely updated and remodeled, with huge landscaped backyard & RV Parking. $2,250 per month. Available NOW.
Join us for our Thursday Socials at 4pm.
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www.diamondterrace.net
Kimberly Morucci (925) 280-8563 “Living at Diamond Terrace makes me feel at ease and that I am home.”
– Tudy Routman, 94
kmorucci@interorealestate.com www.kimmorucci.com Recipient of Intero Executive Circle Award Member of Intero’s Top 10% Producers Clayton resident & ranch property owner.
ing to the Mar Com in February! ket Incredible New Construction in the Hills above Walnut Creek. Spectacular Custom Home with Au pair Set up, on Half Acre lot with Views. Call for More Information.
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January 26, 2007
Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer .com
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Page A7
JILL BEDECARRÉ Clayton Pioneer
For Lisa F errari, coming to work at Bella Mia Spa reminds her of her first da y on the job . She remembers ho w ex cited she w as to g et star ted in her profession and to help clients feel revitalized. Seventeen years later , nothing has c hanged. “My w ork comes from the hear t,” she says. “Everyone here is connected; it’s like a family.” Bella Mia Spa is designed to treat the whole person. Lisa employs eight licensed therapists with specialties in manicures, pedicures, facials, waxing, micro der mabrasion, body treatments suc h as m ud, cellulite solution and herbal wraps, along with per manent make-up and spray tanning. Lisa is a cer tified massag e and reflexology therapist focusing on Swedish and deep tissue massage. She also offers acupressure, hot stone therapy and other traditional masseuse work, as w ell as pac kages lik e “Girlfriends’ Day Out, ” which includes a 40-min ute massag e, sports facial and spa pedicure. When Lisa meets a client, she tak es time to g et to kno w the person. Are there any special medical needs? Does the client ha ve any expectations?
Jill Bedecarré/Clayton Pioneer
LISA FERRARI, OWNER OF BELLA MIA SPA, is a licensed massage therapist specializing in deep tissue and Swedish massage.
What type of massage is best suited for that particular client? “People here are our guests. We treat a client’ s mind, body and spirit,” says Lisa.
Mayor, from page A1 police department. Clayton doesn ’t g enerate huge amounts of sales tax revenue, nor do w e ha ve all the problems that g o along with them. We will continue to operate within an extremely tight balanced budget, with very little
extra money at the end of the year. We will also contin ue to pursue ev ery oppor tunity to maximize our sales tax base in our two commercial centers. You are pro vably wondering why I am boring y ou with all this tri via (if you are still reading). Well, residents continue to tell me that Clayton should have tons of money with all the property taxes the residents are paying and this is m y first official “myth buster.” As Will R ogers once said: “Be thankful w e’re not g etting all the g overnment we’re paying for.”
Local resident Lynne French ag rees. “It’s difficult to find a g ood, deep tissue masseuse, and Lisa is one of the best, ” says F rench. “She’s
Now for some free stuff: Did you know that Allied Waste Services pro vides tw o free cleanups per year? Cleanups can be used to discard up to 2 cubic yards (appro ximately 32 g allon bags) of extra trash and items that are too larg e for g arbage carts. To schedule a cleanup, call Allied W aste Ser vices at 6854711. You can also sc hedule a pickup online at http://a wsccc.com. So, if you ha ve been reluctant to do wnsize your blue car t because of an occasional spik e in your weekly garbage, this may be the answer. If you ha ve any question, concerns, comments or advice, please send me an email at wrwalcutt@aol.com.
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also g ood at altering the massage to meet your needs.” Because F rench’s husband, Danny, has a problem with his legs and feet, Bella Mia adjusts the massage accordingly. Conveniently located on the second f loor of Maverick’s Sports Club off Clayton Road, Bella Mia is a spacious, yet cozy spa with a tranquil atmosphere. There is children’s day care provided through the club . However, the spa operates as its o wn entity and y ou don ’t have to be a member of Maverick’s to enjo y the spa’ s services. Lisa has designed an in viting salon with a ric h color scheme and lighted candles . Clients can begin to relax ev en before their treatments begin, she explains. Four rooms are dev oted to massage therapy, and there are separate areas for manicures and pedicures. Bella Mia offers Dermalogica and Imag e products. Lisa is proud of her ItalianAmerican heritag e. She has been mar ried to Da vid Benedict for 12 years and cherishes time with family while hoping to g ain more visibility for her spa in the future . For more infor mation, visit www.thebellmiaday.com. See ad, this page.
And, now you know... Q: Why is shifting responsibility to someone else called “passing the buck"? A: In card games, it was once customary to pass an item, called a buck, from player to pla yer to indicate whose tur n it w as to deal. If a player did not wish to assume the responsibility , he would "pass the buc k" to the next player. Q: Why do people clink their glasses before drinking a toast? A: It used to be common for someone to tr y to kill an enem y by offering him a poisoned drink. To prove to a guest that a drink w as safe , it became customary for a guest to pour a small amount of his drink into the glass of the host. Both men would drink it sim ultaneously. When a guest trusted his host, he would then just touc h or clink the host's glass with his o wn. Q: Why are people in the public eye said to be "in the limelight"? A: Invented in 1825, limelight was used in lighthouses and stage lighting by burning a cylinder of lime whic h produced a brilliant light. In the theatre , performers on stag e "in the limelight" w ere seen b y the audience to be the center of attention.
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Page A8
Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com
January 26, 2007
New feline Country Inn is the cat’s meow JILL BEDECARRÉ Clayton Pioneer
One of her clients calls her the Cat W hisperer for her heroic effor ts to transfor m a wild, feral cat named Gadg et into a lo vable, family pet that often demands lap time. Other clients who w orked with Denise Eberle at the Cat Hospital of Clayton for the past seven years claim that she knows the name of every client and their beloved feline. At home or at w ork, Denise is nev er far from a menagerie of critters that defines who she is and what she does . Now, her dream of owning her o wn cat boarding facility is a reality. Dan and Da ve’s Countr y Inn opened a few weeks ago at Denise’s home on a hillside off Marsh Creek R oad. “It w as something I alw ays w anted to do,” she says. The Countr y Inn is designed to mak e cats feel comfortable and lo ved while their owners are away, explains Denise. She’s w orked hard to create a home a way from home for the four -legged boarders. Cats enjo y spacious suites, each with a bench perch to tak e in the spectacular views, soft bedding, extra large litter pans and night lights.
There’s ev en soothing music and kitty-themed videos for cats who need extra stim ulation, along with bottled water. How about video and photo email for y ou to c heck and see just ho w m uch fun Whiskers is ha ving at the Country Inn? Playtime is definitely the cat’s meow, with ramps, perches, tunnels, toys and cat-friendly fur niture. Denise frequently offers her lap for some serious cuddle time, especially for the senior visitors. Another special feature at Dan and Da ve’s is a con venient pick-up and delivery service for the Clayton area. “I just want to make things easier for people and their pets.” It’s no sur prise that Denise has finally created her o wn business with the primar y focus on the care of cats. Since she was 15, Denise has worked with all kinds of animals in boarding k ennels, veterinary hospitals, grooming facilities and pet stores . During her seven-year stint at the Cat Hospital, she rescued many of the cats that are no w per manently a part of her family. Her roster of felines include Dan and Dave, the business’ namesakes. She refers to her home as a hobby/sanctuary far m with chickens, rodents, a g oose,
goats and a rabbit. However, it’s the cats that ha ve captured
understanding for cats Denise says.
,”
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LYNNE FRENCH
REAL ESTATE The price a buyer will pa y for a home de pends on many factors, including market conditions, interest rates, the size and condition of the proper ty and the property location. The land that a residence sits on also affects the property’s value. You might assume that the larger the piece of land, the more a buyer will pay for it. But when it comes to land v alue, bigger is not always better. The utility of a lot can outweigh the impor tance of its size. For example, a house situated on a large piece of property that is v ery stee p might sell for less than a similar house on a f lat lot. Homebuyers often prefer proper ties that allo w for easy indoor -outdoor li ving and provide level areas for c hildren, pets and g ardening. A steep lot
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Tamara Steiner/Clayton Pioneer
DENISE EBERLE RELAXES IN ONE OF THE FELINE SUITES with Dan and Dave. The suites are spacious with comfortable bedding.
her hear t. “I ha ve many animals on the little far m, but I have a g reat fondness and
For more information, see the ad for Dan and Dave’s Country Inn on Page B5.
More than just its size g oes into determining a lot’s value also can create a maintenance headache. Homes on sloping lots can sell for a premium, however, if there are other compensating factors -- like a secluded setting or a magnificent view. A critical factor in lot v aluation is the size and c haracter of typical lots in the area. In a subdivision where all the homes are on f lat lots , the ones with the largest, usable yards usually command the highest prices . Homes that are located on lots that are smaller than what’s typical for an area often sell for less. One homeo wner whose home w as on a lot that w as small for the neighborhood had a hard time selling ev en though she hired a decorator to stag e the proper ty inside and out. The lot w as about 3,500 sq. ft. smaller than the other lots in the neighborhood. So, even though the home w as w elllocated and had considerable charm, buyers discounted its price because of the small lot
B.S.E.E., M.B.A., Realtor®
and minimal yard. The impor tance of lot size depends on what prospecti ve buyers want. Buyers with small children usually w ant sizable level yards that are easy to get to from the house . Busy professionals with no c hildren often prefer small yards or dec ks because they require less maintenance. Price range also plays a part. In the higher price rang es, the concept of owning land becomes an issue , so buyers usually w ant big ger lots . In expensive neighborhoods , buyers often pa y a premium price for a home on a larg er than average size lot. A larg e mansion with minimal land can be difficult to sell. It’s wise to consider the resale potential of a proper ty before y ou buy it. Ask y our agent what buyers are typically looking for in y our area. You may find that homes with lo wmaintenance lots and a sense of privacy are in the highest demand. In this case , lot size is
not that important. But, a home that’s on a substandard lot ma y be difficult to sell in the future if buyers percei ve this to be a defect. Buying a property that has a defect is all right as long as it suits your needs and you realize that y ou ma y ha ve to discount the price when y ou sell. To make sure that y ou aren’t overpaying for an atypical proper ty, ask your agent to give you information about comparable properties with similar lot utility that have sold recently. Market conditions enter into the equation. When the in ventory of homes for sale is lo w and buyer demand is high, buyers are usually willing to mak e more concessions than they would in a mark et where there is an abundance of inventory. The inventory in our area is still quite abundant. Lynne F rench is a r ealtor with Windermere Real Estate and a Clayton resident. F or any r eal estate needs or questions contact her at: Phone (925) 672-8787 or E-mail: Lynne@LynneFrench.com
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Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com
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The long-a waited release of Microsoft Vista, a new operating system (O/S), and Apple’ s iPhone promise to c hange the world – not minimally enhance it as past improvements have. Microsoft introduces Aero Glass within Vista, offering a unique perspective on the w ay a user views and uses a computer . iPhone combines and unifies telephones, multi-media and the Internet in unique w ays to bring a tr uly new experience . I w ant one. Call it prog ress or call it ev olution, revolution or inspired efforts, but don’t call it foreseen, because the new g eneration of gadgets has sur passed all expectations. We all kno w technology marches on to the steady dr umbeat of advancement: evermore power, smaller devices and increasing functionality. But this year’s crop of technological doodads is really sur prising. I w ant one. Microsoft has matured as a company, and it no w appears that visionaries are fir mly at the tiller of this behemoth company. Usually I sug gest waiting for the first ser vice release or a load of bug fixes before running out and buying a new O/S. This time, it’s different. Microsoft has tak en its time to get this product right the first time. And, boy, is it ever cool. The new Aero Glass feature in Vista (for Windo ws) mak es the screen glide into view. It creates a better w orkspace with fewer buttons b y sho wing only the options needed for the current operation (focus). Unneeded items are g racefully hidden out of view rather than being “g rayed-out” as in past versions. The experience is a wesome, but it comes at a price . Your existing computer probably isn ’t up to the c hallenge of the new
O/S, even if you recently purchased it with the idea or the promise that it was compatible. I strongly recommend you do not try to upgrade your old computer (even those less then 1 year old) to Vista because y ou won’t meet the requirements to mak e Aero Glass w ork. (Yes, you will
Dan Bettencourt
see a Vista screen, but you won’t have Aero Glass .) Although the computer you just purchased has a free upg rade to Vista, it’s false to believe it meets the new hardware requirements to r un it correctly. Aero Glass needs a special graphics card with 128MB of RAM, 2Gb of main RAM and more if you plan on doing video editing or r unning Media Center (now bundled with Vista). It needs a Core 2 Duo processor – that’s tw o CPUs on one die (in
from page A3
performing at the middle sc hool and hopes to take drama courses in high school and college. “I loved performing and getting feedback at the festi val,” he says. “I even g ot to meet the creator of ‘American Idol.’” His favorite role thus far w as Dodg er in “Oliver Twist” in a Mt. Diablo Elementar y School production. A petite dynamo who will g raduate from eighth g rade this year , Manoguerra is not a newcomer to the theater scene . She’s been performing for the past three years with stints in suc h pla ys as “Cinderella, ” “James and the Giant P each,” “Aladdin” and “Fiddler on the Roof.” “I like my fellow actors, the plays and the whole experience,” she says.
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one c hip pac kage) because the processing requirements are massive. It needs SA TA hard drives spinning at 7200 RPM, with at least 80GB of space so you can feed the CPUs and all that memory quickly. It also requires a motherboard with at least an Intel 945G
WILL CLANEY TECH TALK
The new Apple iPhone is an MP3 player, an Internet browser, a phone and a video capture and display player.
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Page A9
chipset. This is the traffic cop for your entire system, moving data bits from the hard dri ves to memory and CPU and bac k again. Without the cor rect hardware requirements, Vista will not reveal itself . For all y ou AMD owners … Good luck. Now the bad news, computer costs will be g oing up . The increased hardware requirements necessitate a bump in pricing to get it right. RAM prices are climbing quickly, as manufacturers str uggle to produce enough
Besides just being fun, acting has helped her in other aspects of her life . “I’m more confident in myself,” she notes. Manoguerra also attended the inter national festi val in 2005 with CAE, which danced a way with the Best Choreog raphy award for the company’ s production of “Dear Edwina Jr .” The budding actress hopes to pursue drama at Cla yton V alley High School. The Broadway Junior T heatre Festival is in its third year and is a di vision of Musical Theatre Inter national, which sho wcases young performers from elementar y through high sc hool. Participants at the festi val are asked to present ex cerpts from classic and contemporary m usicals adapted for y oung performers. Local theater groups must apply to participate in the festi val and are in vited to attend the three-day competition based on the show being performed, the group and the lev el of experience of the performers. All the theater groups compete for a top award.
RAM to meet the needs of Vista. The good news is maybe you don’t need a computer after all. Maybe you need an iPhone. Kudos to J obs, Apple and crew. You folks are mesmerizing, and iPhone is inspired. I can ’t find the w ords to describe y our brilliance. At the last Mac W orld Expo, Jobs introduced the iPhone – the all-in-one phone appliance that is an MP3 pla yer (m usic), an Internet bro wser with “pinc h” and, of course, a phone and a video capture and display player. Music files in MP3 and iP od music files , video files and images are do wnloadable and playable, and soon there will be broadcast “like” TV. It’s a phone with all the cool features. But the thing that caught m y attention more than any other was the way it works on the Internet. You can bro wse a “regular” Web page, not one especially formatted for small devices lik e on all the other (no w obsolete) PDAs. Use your fingers (or buttons) to pinc h the screen or widen it, zoom into a section of the page, make the text larg er or smaller, capture imag es or sa ve files. It’s a real Web browser, and I want one. Here’s m y sag e advice . Toss all y our old equipment and buy this stuff instead. Forget about the hole in y our c heckbook, because you’re going to like these new features so m uch you really won’t mind. Will Claney is the owner and operator of Computers USA! in the Clayton Station. Contact him at 925-672-9989.
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Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com
January 26, 2007
It’s time to put down that phone w hile driving The Pioneer welcomes Clayton Police Chief Dan Lawrence to its pages in a r egular column that will appear in the second issue of the month. Please send your questions, comments or topics you’d like to see cover ed to DanL@cpd.ci.concord.ca.us
DAN LAURENCE
FROM
THE
CHIEF
We li ve in a society that revolves around automobiles . The use and o wnership of the automobile is considered a necessity as w e g o about our daily lives. I’m cer tain that all of us consider ourselv es g ood dri vers, as we observe other drivers exhibiting poor dri ving skills . Much of the “bad” driving we see on a daily basis is the result
of someone using a cell phone while driving. More than lik ely, you ha ve witnessed the car just ahead slowing down for no apparent reason, or drifting o ver to the curb and then quickly adjusting back to the center of the traffic lane . When w e are finally able to pass the car , we observe the dri ver holding what appears to be a cell phone next to their ear while rapidly moving their lips. As a result of Gov. Schwarzenegger signing SB 1613, the abo ve-described activity will become a violation of California law effective July 1, 2008. Section 23123 (a) of the California Vehicle Code will state: “A person shall not dri ve a motor v ehicle while using a wireless tele phone unless that telephone is specifically designed and configured to allow hands-free listening and talking and is used in that manner while driving.” The first violation will result in a $20 fine; each subsequent violation car ries a $50 fine . These violations are infractions with no points on the dri ving record. This section does not apply to someone making an emergency call to the police ,
And, now, here are a couple of highlights from last w eek’s closed case file…
were both on acti ve probation for theft and shoplifting. While Officer Ric h Enea w aited with the potential suspects , O’Hara went to Safeway to quickly look at the store’s surveillance tapes. The pictures clearly sho w the rear seat passeng er taking fi ve packages of meat and lea ving the store without pa ying for them. He was arrested without incident. The DA filed burglary charges ag ainst the rear seat passenger. Case closed.
Steak thief doesn’t get far: On T uesday ev ening, Jan. 16, Clayton PD’ s Sgt. Tim O’Hara sa w a car g oing the wrong way on Kirker Pass Road near Safew ay. The v ehicle pulled into the V alero g as station at Kirker Pass and Clayton Road where O’Hara caught up with the driver. While talking with the driver of the vehicle, O’Hara noticed five packages of rib eye steaks next to the man in the bac k seat. No one in the car knew how the meat g ot there ev en though the steaks w ere v ery cold to the touch. O’Hara had seen the vehicle coming from the direction of Safeway and noted that the driver and bac k seat passeng er
They w ere just hor sin’ around: At about 7 on the morning of Jan. 15, Oakhurst Country Club staff reported that two wild stallions were eating the putting g reen near the maintenance yard. A half hour later , a horse owner residing on Mor ningside Drive called in to re port that two of her horses had “jimmied” the loc k on the cor ral gate and escaped. Officer Sha w (still in training) was able to figure this one out. He called the horse o wner and requested that she retriev e her horses from the g olf course, which she did. The putting g reen did not need mowing on Monda y. Case closed.
fire or other emerg ency care provider. Even though this la w will not be effecti ve for another 18 months, we should adapt our driving beha vior accordingly. I wonder—when it will be unlawful to eat a c heeseburger, read the newspaper or put on make-up while driving?
Recent freeze may have caused damage This month, Clayton Valley endured a freeze that lasted long enough to tr uly damag e some of our plants , shrubs, vines and citrus. Some foliag e of less-established vines has tur ned blac k; the outer leaves of our citrus is lifeless and limp; and the angel’s trumpet shr ub has defoliated and the tips of the stems seem to be dying . All of this is a result of the contin uous frigid temperatures that belted Northern Califor nia o ver a week. Now our yards and g ardens need some tender care , mixed with a dose of patience to pull through and become ready for spring and summer. First, resist the temptation to cut frost-damag ed plants . Removing lea ves and stems now is premature , because the likelihood of more harsh weather is great. Your trees and shrubs need their entire framework, regardless of the condition, to protect the roots of the plant. Continue to water your yard and g arden. Frost deh ydrates plant material, and w atering is your simplest and most efficient freeze defense. Don’t forget to water your lawn. Without
the rains to rely on, you ma y need to w ater tw o to three times a week. Contemplate feeding y our garden with a water-soluble fertilizer, low in nitrog en. Our plants are feeling do wn, and fertilizing will enable our shrubs, vines and citr us to defend themselves. The middle n umber on a fertilizer bottle focuses on root strength. The roots are the heart of the plant. The last number on the fer tilizer label concentrates on plant tolerance to fight off disease and pests , like an imm une system for the plant. A strong immune system makes the plant or shr ub more tolerant to all its nemeses . Consider using a fish-based fertilizer rather than a synthetic food. Spread mulch now. Whether you lik e the c hunky look of patio bark or the micro decorative colored bark, it is all g ood for your plant roots. Layer 3 to 4 inc hes of mulch for a nice protective blank et around the base of all y our shr ubs, vines and plants – whether they suffered frost damage or not. A decorative top dressing is another effective way to protect plant roots. This product looks
NICOLE HACKETT
GARDEN GIRL more like great dirt, and it’s perfect for people who do not lik e traditional bark. Keep spra ying the plantprotecting products that are available. Cloud co ver should be in y our g arden pantr y b y now. It helps gardeners seal the stems and lea ves of plants to keep in the moisture . Frost, heat and ex cessive wind rob plants of moisture. Apply to all plants, damaged or not. Treating the garden takes little time . Concentrate on the foliage and the stems instead of the soil. This is a plant sealant, not a fertilizer. Check on damag ed plants regularly to look for signs of life. Look past the damag ed foliage and check the stems for
new g rowth. Once baby leaves appear, you’ll kno w that y our plant is w ell on its w ay to repairing itself. Spray new g rowth with cloud co ver and feed ag ain. Wait until late February or early March to begin cutting y our plants. We w ant to mak e sure that we are out of the woods as far as freezing w eather g oes before exposing tender new growth to the elements. Each plant will ha ve to be cut differently , depending on the type and condition of the plant. Ask questions before cutting to ensure that y ou mak e the correct choices. Some tropical selections will need the most patience . Give them until June to come out of the dark. If you see no signs of life by then, remove and discard the plant. Weather lik e this does not happen often, so planting what we love to look at is w orth the risk. This is just one minor setback in the world of gardening. Nicole is the Garden Girl at R&M Pool, Patio and Garden Contact her with questions, comments or sug gestions at
gardengirl@claytonpioneer.com
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Offer expires 1/31/07
La Veranda Café Northern Italian Cuisine in downtown Clayton Fresh soups, salads, antipasti, pizza and pasta Dinner and lunch daily Brunch on Sunday Children’s menu and take out service available
For reservations call (925) 524-0011 6201 CENTER ST. CLAYTON
Pamper yourself and a loved one for Valentine’s Day
Clayton Mind & Body Connections e is Spac d. it lim e
At 1007 Oak Street, Clayton
Feb. 10 & 17: A one-h hour massage and foot soak for two for just $140.
Enjoy a complimentary glass of wine or non-alcoholic beverage, snacks and take home a box of chocolates for each Gift Certif of you. Call (925) 673-0686. i availacates www.mind-and-body-connections.com ble
Acupressure for Health
for servicall es
Acupressure CranioSacral Reiki
Call Sharoll Gillbert at (925) 674-0767
Cruise Adventures Unlimited Serving all cruise lines since 1987
The art of travel. The art of good living.
Ultra luxury cruises All inclusive with gratuities included All suite accommodations 296 to 382 guests Complimentary beverages served Open seating dining
Voyages at 50% Discount April 9 - Alexandria to Athens - 10 days April 30 - Bridgetown to Barcelona - 16 days May 2 - Athens to Monte Carlo - 9 days May 5 - Alexandria to Rome - 11 days May 24 - Monte Carlo Roundtrip - 8 days June 7 - London to Copenhagen - 11 days June 7 - Istanbul to Rome - 15 days June 8 - Rome to Monte Carlo - 7 days June 15 - Rome to Barcelona - 7 days
Owners Valerie O’Connell (Clayton resident, 28 years) & daughter Colleen O’Connell
(925) 935-7447 1610 Locust St., Walnut Creek
www.cruiseadventuresunliminted.com
announces The service of the month for our patients for the month of January:
Finally, a fixed rate loan with wiggle room.
Complimentary Screening for Depression offered Monday through Friday from 1 to 4 p.m. If you are not a patient of Clayton Valley Medical Group and would like to become one, please contact Sue at (925) 6744 x14
Joseph Cleary joseph.cleary2@wachovia.com 2151 Salvio St., Ste. A2 Concord, CA
925-497-5270 Member Clayton Business & Community Association.
1520 Kirker Pass Road, Suite A Clayton, CA
(925) 672-6744
Open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Appointments are available
Local resident for more than 30 years.
CST 2074362-40
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January 26, 2007
Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com
Page A11
At the Movies 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.
A
JUST UNPACK YOUR BAGS!
Listed for: $224,900
Located on the concord/clayton border. Upgraded kitchen with new granite counter top. Breakfast bar, Dining nook, Fresh paint, Ceiling fans, Beautiful laminate floors and baseboards. Great Location. Close to transportation. This home is move-in ready!
Concord
EXECUTIVE LIVING AT ITS BEST! This very special home features two master bedroom suites, one upstairs and one downstairs, a total of 5 bedrooms and 4 full bathrooms, formal living room and dining room and a family room with a gas fireplace. The sellers have put approximately $80K in builder upgrades that include: ceramic tile flooring, carpeting, cabinetry, light fixtures and security. Other features: reverse osmosis, fire alarm system and sprinklers and security system. Beautiful kitchen cabinetry and upgraded appliances are more wonderful features this special home has.
Listed for: $799,000
A Top Producer Working for You Since 1989
JOSIE VAN FLEET 925-672-4333
Broker/Owner
‘Invisibles’ pleasing to the youthful eye Remember those sometimesscary and sometimes-cute troll dolls, with the colorful, wispy hair? Well, they live underground and they’re called Minimoys. In “ Arthur and the Invisibles,” Arthur finds their world and appropriately shrinks down to size, fluffy hair and all. In this film set in the 1960s , Arthur has the kind of perfect childhood existence that is just
When Ar thur’s g randmother faces eviction, as most 10-year old adv enturers w ould do , Arthur takes it upon himself to find his g randpa’s hidden treasure among the Minimoys. The shining factor of the movie is the underg round world of the Minimoys (it’s even fun to say). Arthur literally transcends into a different w orld, retaining only the v oice of his for mer
Recipient of Intero’s Chairman Circle Award 22 year resident of Clayton
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George Schultz Keeping Nature Green...Naturally
From left, Betameche (voiced by Jimmy Fallon), Arthur (Freddie Highmore) and Princess Selenia (Madonna) in Luc Besson’s “Arthur and The Invisibles.” waiting for adv enture. There is the spacious home for location, enchanting bedtime stories for inspiration and an attic of artifacts for disco very. And then there is Arthur played by Freddie Highmore, who can surely handle a computer animated, trolllike species after bra ving the world of Tim Bur ton’s Willy Wonka.
resemblance. What a kid ma y sum up with a simple “cool” only scrapes the surface when a f lying battle ensues betw een the minions of the evil Maltazard and the Minimoys under Princess Selenia. I was still busy concentrating on the detailed strands of Selenia. I guess y ou could sa y that the fresh style of computer
NATALIE BUDESA
AT
THE
MOVIES
animation fulfilled m y idea of cool. Director Luc Besson m ust have understood the short attention span of children, although it is a fault of the mo vie. Arthur brandishes a sword from a stone, a clear T.H. White/King Arthur reference, but the metaphor is never carried through. In another scene, a pit stop leads Ar thur and his friends to a dance club with none other than Snoop Dogg to provide entertainment. The new millennium seems to have brought a need to clutter children’s mo vies with pop culture and celebrity v oices best used elsewhere . I w ould ha ve enjoyed a Minimo y dance club without Snoop Dog g sho wing up. It cer tainly fell f lat on the silent kids , but then ag ain, the movie had already moved on to a new plot turn. An otherwise r ushed stor yline managed to remain in vision, thanks to its fresh look and an adorable Freddie Highmore. He can car ry his o wn without the celebrity status , pulling off raucous white hair better than any Minimoy I ha ve ever seen. That is, ever since they c hose to become visible for the big screen. Natalie Budesa is 15 y ears old and a sophomor e at CVHS . She aspires to a car eer as a cinemato grapher. Send y our comments to movies@claytonpioneer.com
Key performances make ‘Scandal’ noteworthy
CA Pest Control Business License #06086 & Insured
JEANNA ROSS
AT THE MOVIES “Notes on a Scandal” is the second film about improper student/teacher relations to open recently. The other is the film version of the wildly successful Alan Bennett play, “The History Boys.” Both are set in middle-class England and are told primarily from the perspecti ve of the teachers. They both contain obvious homosexual o vertones and are written b y a ward-winning authors . Which mo vie is more effecti ve is neg otiable, depending on how dark one likes the landscape, but “Notes” easily wins my vote. The screenpla y, by a wardnominated author P atrick Marber (R emember 2004’ s “Closer”?), is a master piece of suspense, while “Histor y Bo ys” seems to idly w onder whether anything will come of the dalliances. The tw o lead perfor mances in “Notes” are scintillating (and already basking in the award nominations, as is Marber). Instead, the bo ys of “History” fussed and talked shop. Even the suppor ting roles in “Notes,” although drastically underused, are memorable in their intensity. The societal reactions, the student interactions and the destr uction of relationships are haunting. The title of “Notes on a Scandal” refers to the diaries kept b y the film’ s antag onist, Barbara, about the indiscretions of colleague and friend Sheba Hart. When Sheba begins an affair with a student, played with
Cate Blanchett and 5-time Oscar winner, Dame Judi Dench star in “Notes on a Scandal” directed by Richard Eyre
frightening, stalker-intensity b y 17-year-old new comer Andrew Simpson, Barbara uses the knowledge to manipulate their tenuous and unsatisfactor y friendship. With the film clocking in at a mere 98 min utes, each moment is shrouded in a c hest-clenching anxiety as w e watch Judi Dench (a fi ve-time Oscar nominee still challenging herself at ag e 72), play the blac k wido w spider to Cate Blanc hett’s delicate but flighty gypsy moth. Blanchett is no strang er to the attention she will recei ve for this role. One of her two Oscar nominations was for the role of Elizabeth I – the same role in the same year for which Dench won her one statue. Bill Nigh y gi ves a blissfully understated perfor mance as Sheba’s ignorant husband. Nighy may be familiar as the aging rocker in “Lo ve Actually ,” as Davy Jones in the last installment of “Pirates of the Caribbean” or as Philip the ste pfather in “Shawn of the Dead.” The actor crams myriad emotions into his allotted time slot.
His two explosions are so out of character for his sweet, laid-back Richard that he ser ves as a thermometer for ho w far the situation has spiraled out of control. If he has lost his top, watch out. As always, Dench is a priceless gem. Placed in such company, she seems an unstoppable force of nature. When helmed by such a prestigious stage director as Richard Eyre, she has endless possibilities . Eyre directed her to an Oscar nomination for her por trayal of Alzheimer’s patient “Iris” in 2001, and this outing will probably be her ticket to nomination No. 6. Whether r uling the roost as the shar p-toothed M in the James Bond series (and “Pride and Prejudice” and “T he Importance of Being Earnest”) or stretc hing her wings as the villain, Dench’s contribution to the theatrical landscape can never be underestimated. Jeanna Ross is an Eng lish teacher at Clayton Valley High School and a free lance writer . She r egularly contributes to the Pioneer . Send comments to her at movies@claytonpioneer.com.
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Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com
January 26, 2007
georgevujnovich.com
Trust your home to
GEORGE VUJNOVICH , Broker Helping friends, neighbors and newcomers buy and sell their homes since 1979
PEACOCK CREEK AT OAKHURST COUNTRY CLUB!
Each Office Is Independently Owned & Operated.
Tel: (925) 672-4433 6160 Center Street, Suite E, Clayton 94517
EAGLE PEAK AT OAKHURST COUNTRY CLUB!
Just listed! Fantastic “McKinley” model!
Exquisite “Belvedere” model on pr emium view lot! nestled in a quiet court. Decorator ’s showplace features 5
on a prime view lot overlooking hills, city & valley! 4 bedrooms, 3 baths, approx. 3,005 sf, 2 fireplaces & 3 car garage. Beautifully updated & decorated. New carpet, designer paint colors & custom window coverings. Desirable downstairs bedroom & full bath. Formal dining & living rooms. Gourmet granite kitchen opens to spacious family room with fireplace. Gracious master suite offers a cozy fireplace & sitting area with sweeping views. Spacious professionally landscaped lot offers privacy, a deck for entertaining & picture perfect views of hills, city & valley below. $939,000
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 $1,475,000 professional landscape.
WINDMILL CANYON AT OAKHURST COUNTRY CLUB!
Large Single Story “Keller” model!
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!
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 JEFFRY RANCH!
Pristine single story rancher!
with Mt. Diablo G views. 4 bedrooms, 2 baths, approx. 2,088sf, inside launDIN N dry & 3 car garage. Many upgrades & updating including: E P New roof/gutters, heating/ac, dual pane windows/sliders, flooring, paint & light fixtures! Formal living & dining room. Eat-in kitchen opens to family room with brick fireplace. Master suite features slider to trellis covered deck. HUGE .31 acre lot boasts a sparkling in-ground gunite pool with built-in spa, extensive redwood deck, lawn area, wide assortment of roses & flowers. Great green house for the avid gardener & big side yard! $719,000 CLAYTON/CONCORD BORDER - RARE .75 ACRE LOT!
ING D N PE
Distinctive custom home on a private lane!
4 bedrooms, 2 baths, approx. 2,378sf. 3 downstairs bedrooms, second floor master suite/wing with separate retreat/sitting room, spacious suite & huge master bath featuring a jetted tub with hillside & wooded views, lar ge separate stall shower & large walk-in closet with extensive closet organizer system. Lar ge formal living room with marble fireplace. Gourmet kitchen features custom solid oak cabinets, tile counters & island upgraded stainless steel appliances. Enchanted park-like setting featuring vibrant & sweeping landscape, various pathways with foot bridges crossing over seasonal “Galindo” creek that meanders through property. Many secret & reflective garden spots. Refreshing pool with large aggregate patio. An irreplaceable must see setting. $1,095,000
Mortgage Market Update Conforming $417,000 or less
Jumbo $417,001 and up
30 year, fixed for 3 . . . . . . .6.375% 30 year, fixed for 5 . . . . . . .6.375% 30 year, fixed for 7 . . . . . . .6.375% 30 year, fixed for 10 . . . . . . . .6.5% 15 year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6.25% 30 year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6.375%
30 year, fixed for 3 . . . . . . . . .6.5% 30 year, fixed for 5 . . . . . . . . .6.5% 30 year, fixed for 7 . . . . . . .6.625% 30 year, fixed for 10 . . . . . .6.625% 15 year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6.375% 30 year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6.625%
Clayton Market Update Provided by George Vujnovich of Better Homes Realty ADDRESS 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 7026 Molluk Way 179 Mountaire Pkwy 3016 Windmill Canyon Dr 518 Mt. Dell Dr 336 Mt. Washington Wy
PRICE $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 $859,000 $700,000 $640,000 $575,000 $730,000
SALE DATE
SF
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 09/13/06 09/08/06 09/08/06 09/07/06 09/07/06
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 2,542 1,600 1,493 1,658 1,740
BED/BATH 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 4/2.5 3/2 3/2 3/2 4/2
CLAYTON PIONEER January 26, 2007
Section B
Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com
Page B1
Musical theater just the ticket during New York getaway
JEANNA ROSS
TRAVEL TALES In the middle of a California Arctic freeze , the best place to escape to is … New York City? That’s right, with record low temperatures in Califor nia, the Big Apple settled do wn in the mid-50s, just right for a w eekend excursion to Broadway. After a fi ve-hour, red-eye flight Friday night, I was a little blurry-eyed coming out of the terminal at JFK and anticipating the worst – a frigid trip on the infamous su bway system to m y hotel in Times Square . However, I w as sur prised with the incredible ease of the system. The ter minals are w elllabeled, with passages simple to navigate. And there w ere actual human beings at the sub way ticket mac hines to offer assistance. (BART, take notes!) Following the signs to Manhattan, I was off. I’ve visited Times Square before, so the usual directional confusion was alleviated, but the experience is still o verpowering. My early ar rival missed the bulk of the foot traffic , but by midafternoon, it w as in full swing with people everywhere. The noise of a slew of
Times Square has achieved the status of an iconic world landmark and has become a symbol of its home city. human adv ertisers (mostly gi ving away passes to stand-up comedy sho ws) filled the ears . Yellow cabs of every v ehicle type crowded the streets , and a rainbow of flashing, moving advertisements featured ev erything from “Charlotte’s Web” to
Target. Chain restaurants line the strip – the Oli ve Garden, McDonalds, Applebee’s, EPSN Zone – but a cornucopia of gastronomical variety exists just off the beaten path. I sampled delicately roasted c hicken at St.
Andrew’s, shrimp and steak at the View (with a 360-deg ree revolving panoramic of New York City for dining enter tainment), fish and c hips at O’Lunney’s Times Square Pub and pasta at the famous theater destination Sardi’s.
Of course, the most intriguing reason to visit Times Square is not the tourist shops and adv ertisements, but the ever-changing cycle of Broadway shows that haunt the 39 professional theaters . Given the sad state of American the-
ater, I’d actually seen 19 of them already – between touring shows, revivals and films . Two more films , “Hairspray” and “Mamma Mia, ” are in production. However, I was able to find four new m usicals and spent most of the w eekend with m y eyes glued to some of the most intriguing perfor mers to g race our country’s stages. Of course, celebrity sightings are a requisite par t of the New York experience . Enroute back to my hotel the first night, I spied a radiant Julianne Moore emerging from the Music Bo x theater, where she is star ring with Bill Nighy in “The Vertical Hour.” I didn’t hound her for an autograph, though I did snap a discreet photo with m y camera phone. Thank g oodness for threeday w eekends, for I spent the entirety of Martin Luther King’s birthday retur ning to the airport, sitting for tw o dull hours in JFK, then boarding the sixhour flight home. What a horrid airport (or at least the American Airlines ter minal). Between the last-minute gate changes and the single restaurant selling w aterlogged hot dogs, it was not quite the smashing conclusion I had anticipated. But, after a f lawless excursion, I couldn ’t hope for continued perfection. Instead, it was just time to laugh and sit back with a good book to wait it out. 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.
When it comes to buying or selling a home in the East Bay Area, trust Lynne French to connect you with your dreams with her distinctive brand of real estate service.
L
6200-E Center St.
Clayton, CA 94517
(925) 672-8787 www.LynneFrench.com Lynne@LynneFrench.com
ynne French is making connections everyday as one of the East Bay Area’s leading real estate professionals. Connections with her clients and their families on a truly personal level. Connections within her industry to give her clients the most comprehensive home buying and selling services. Connections between her clients and their unique dreams. Lynne’s approach is straightforward. By listening to you and your family
throughout the process and focusing all of her energy on your specific goals, she goes above and beyond to help you Discover the Possibilities and make the most of your unique opportunities. Give Lynne French and her team a call or visit her Web site today and discover for yourself what the East Bay Area’s “French Connection” is all about—personalized service, expert guidance and unsurpassed dedication to your needs.
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Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com
January 26, 2007
Clayton Sports
Clayton Valley defeats Carondelet in tight soccer match
Deanna Merrigan/Clayton Pioneer
The sweet taste of victory: CVHS varsity girls soccer team celebrates after defeating Carondelet. DEANNA MERRIGAN Clayton Pioneer
Oh, the thrill of an eng aging matc h-up. The ex citement was palpable during the Clayton Valley-Carondelet v arsity w omen’s soccer g ame on Jan. 7.
The two strong teams w ere battling for the top spot in the league. At halftime , Clayton Valley w as do wn 1-0, but the Eagles k ept dri ving with persistence and determination. Just minutes into the second half, Karin Volpe scored a goal
for the Eagles with a strong shot from the left forw ard position. Samantha Walker g ot the assist. The score w as no w tied 1-1. Not to be outdone , the Carondelet Cougars kept pushing to g et bac k their lead. A
strong Eagles defense , led b y Christine Coleman, Sarah Shaw, Kestrel Colomb , Noelle Preuss and g oalkeeper Lauren Vance, offered few oppor tunities and held off the Cougars. Next, midfielder Kristen Elms lobbed the ball into the
Dave’s short, but accurate approach
DAVE GRAY GRAY ON GOLF Playing situations often demand a less than full swing. As shots are made approaching the g reen, direction is the primar y g oal. To accomplish this , you should feel a more compact, con-
trolled action through the upper body while maintaining greater stability in the lo wer body. The whole posture of the body is lowered, the stance narrows and the ar ms for m an inverted triangle with the shoulders as the base . This triangle moves in a more per pendicular action, yet the feel at impact is crisp. The length of the back and forward swing v aries with the distance required. On the majority of shots, the tempo remains as consistent as possible. A simple w ay to compare the length of backswing to the distance produced is to imagine
a large clock behind the g olfer. Your head is at 12 o’clock, with the feet and ball at 6. A swing from 7 to 5 o’clock would send the ball 15 to 20 yards . From 8 to 4 o’cloc k, it would go 20 to 40 yards . And from 9 to 3 o’clock, it tra vels 40 to 60 yards. All of these swing lengths require us to put more w eight at address on our forward foot, the foot closest to the targ et. Also, we do not shift our weight to the bac k foot. This automatically puts us in an impact position. The hands are slightly ahead of the ball at address and remain in this leading position throughout the approac h
swing. The target hand, the one closest to the targ et, leads the swing forw ard and is not passed by the rear hand. When done properly , the club face will extend do wn the targ et line. I’ve said it before, and you’ll hear me sa y it ag ain and ag ain. Wherever the back of your left hand g oes in y our swing, so goes your club face. So practice these tips and approac h y our short g ame with confidence and accuracy. Dave Gray is a teaching professional at Diab lo Cr eek Golf Course in Concord. E-mail y our questions or comments to him at sports@claytonpioneer.com
net behind the Carondelet goalkeeper when she came out of the box. The fans and spectators were on their feet. In the end, the Cla yton Valley Eagles beat defending Bay V alley Athletic League (BVAL) champs Carondelet 2-1
Please let our Advertisers know you saw them in the Clayton Pioneer Karaoke in the Lounge Tuesdays starting Jan. 30
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January 26, 2007
Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com
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The Pioneer -- It’s your paper!
Clayton Sports
Clayton
Youth basketball season in high g ear
Fitness & Tanning
e t m u r o o f s work
“Frank tailored a program to meet my needs at this stage of my life... It’s working and it’s affordable.” - Gail Fitzgerald
Circuit Training Tanning Personal Training State of the art equipment
Gail with owner, Frank Lagau
925-672-2010 1516 Kirker Pass Road (Located in the Clayton Station)
Hours: Mon. - Fri. 5am - 10pm Sat. 7am - 5pm Sun. 8am - 5pm
Frank Lagau, owner, C.P.T. Mike Quinata, C.P.T.
DEANNA MERRIGAN Clayton Pioneer
For some kids , basketball season doesn ’t g et here fast enough and then is o ver too quickly. It’s the height of the Catholic Y outh Org anization (CYO) bask etball season, and the playoffs are in sight. Only a few games remain in the regular season, before the top teams adv ance to the pla yoffs with hopes of the coveted championship troph y. It’s too early to tell whic h teams will take the top spots , but the anticipation is great. Many bo ys and girls in the Clayton comm unity w ant to learn to pla y bask etball for recreation, exercise or to pla y competitively. The East Diablo CYO bask etball league provides a fun, fast-paced opportunity for kids of all ag es to experience the thrill of the perfect la y up or the shot that is “nothing but net.” For Clayton kids in grades 3 to 8, St. Bonaventure is the place to pla y CYO. About 400 boys and girls cur rently pla y there. In the East Diablo CY O,
teams from St. Bonaventure play other local parishes , most of which are in the East Ba y. The regular bask etball season star ts in October with tr youts and the first practices are usually in November. The season wraps up in early to mid-February, with playoffs after that. St. Bonaventure relies on volunteers to do the coac hing and administration. For bo ys and girls in the community who want to lear n the spor t, the CYO prog ram presents some great opportunities. Joe Essa yan, a sixth-g rader at Diablo View Middle Sc hool, plays for the St. Bonaventure Hotshots. He hopes his team has a shot at the pla yoffs. His parents , Phil and Chris Essayan, love being spectators . They w atch their kids’ games and also attend local high school g ames quite often. “It’s fast-paced, lots of action, very physical and with the y outh games, usually over in an hour or less ,” Phil explained. Many Clayton families lik e the Essayans return each season to play again.
See Basketball, page B5
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CLAYTON VALLEY PONY BASEBALL The tr yout dates for CV Pony Baseball are J an.27-28. Bronco pla yers (11-12 year olds) tr y out those dates from 10 a.m. – noon. Pony pla yers (13-14 year olds) tr y out from noon - 2:30 p .m. All tr y outs are held at the T esoro spor ts complex, 1776 Ar nold Industrial Way in Concord. For additional infor mation please visit the CV P ony w eb site at
www.cvpony.org. MDSL (M OUNT DIABLO SOCCER LEAGUE) Tryout dates ha ve been set for boys and girls U9-U14 Class 1 and Class 3 competitive teams. Sun., Feb. 25 at Cla yton Valley High School. Tryouts for both boys and girls. Tue., Feb. 28 at Boatwright Field. Tryouts for boys only. Thur., Mar. 1 at Boatwright. Tryouts for girls only.
Deanna Merrigan/Clayton Pioneer
JOE ESSAYAN (left) and CYO Hotshots teammate hone rebounding skills during practice
Sun., March 4 at Boatwright. Tryouts for both boys and girls. Times ha ve not yet been confirmed. Field locations subject to c hange due to inclement
weather. Please c heck the MDSL w ebsite at www.mdslsoccer.org for updated information.
Submit Sports Items Online You can now submit competition results, ideas for stories, nominations for Athlete Spotlight and Spor ts Shorts on our Website. Go to
www.claytonpioneer.com.
On the left side of the page, under “Sports Items” you will find links to the proper for ms.
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Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com
Relishing an afternoon tea at sea I recently retur ned from an eight-day cr uise to Mexico aboard the Norw egian Star with m y husband Duane and our business par tners, Derry and Sally Englund. After an extremely busy year and a half in business as Englund’ s T ea Cottage, we w ere looking forward to some R&R. We w ere eag er to ha ve someone w ait on us for a change and figured the eleg ant Afternoon T eas w e ha ve
“There is something about sitting at an elegantly set table by a window in their or nate dining rooms that instantly causes you to relax.” Pam Barnett
shared aboard other cr ships was just the ticket.
uise
After f lying to LA, having the airline lose some of our luggage, taking shuttles and finally making it through the boarding process, we were certainly looking forw ard to a relaxing cuppa’ and some afternoon treats. Our inquiries led us to the buffet area, where we were told tea w as being ser ved. To our surprise, a plate of sandwiches consisting of cold cuts on hoagie rolls a waited us in the buffet line, along with a basket of teabags, mugs and a hot water dispenser . We helped ourselves and sat at a long cafeteria-style table amongst a few other bewildered tea drinkers. Before you think me a “tea snob,” I m ust tell y ou that I have always been impressed by Afternoon Tea onboard ship. I have found that the Princess cruise line does the best job. There is something about sitting at an eleg antly set table by a windo w in their or nate dining rooms that instantly causes you to relax. The gentle movement of the ship beneath
you, the cr ystal c handeliers above y ou and the beautiful guitar or piano m usic surrounding you make it an expe-
PAM BARNETT
TEA
FOR YOU
rience to remember. A mere glance at your tuxedoed waiter seems to send him scurrying toward you, ready to pour a finely brew ed Darjeeling from a silv er pot with his white-glo ved hands . Another formally attired waiter appears with a silv er platter of creatively g arnished fing er sandwiches on homemade breads. Tasty fillings of salmon mousse, pear with g orgonzola
and seafood salad beckon your taste buds. Next came a platter of warm raisin scones served with silver tongs . A dollop of jam and Dev onshire cream w ere a nod away. Never did my china teacup get half empty without the attenti ve ser ver refilling it as I gazed out at the ocean. Finally, a desser t car t of homemade pastries ar rives. Flaky Napoleons , fresh fr uit tartlets and c hocolate tr uffles that would melt in your mouth help me to forget the cares and worries of daily life. For me, Afternoon Tea on a beautiful cr uise ship is one of life’s g reat pleasures . And, when done right, there’s nothing better left to do but head back to y our cozy cabin for a nice nap.
January 26, 2007
NICHOLS LANDSCAPE Boyce Nichols - Owner - Clayton resident
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ALLEN LAMPO
FINANCIAL SENSE Knowing what not to do is the first step toward improving long-term investment performance. Here’s a look at some common investment mistakes. Gambling instead of 1 investing. Some in vestors try to “time” the market, buying stoc ks when they think prices are going to rise and selling when they think prices are going to fall. The w orld’s best professionals cannot accurately time the mark et consistently . Neither can you. Not di versifying suf fi2 ciently. Many factors can cause a business to suffer a reversal of fortune. If all of your money is in vested in that company’s stoc k, you will suffer when the company does. If, conversely, only a small amount of your money is in vested in a company whose stoc k implodes, you will barely notice the loss. Your por tfolio should be diversified to include stoc ks, bonds and cash equi valents. Your stock and bond holdings should also be di versified.
five- to sev en-year timeframe when they in vest in stoc ks. It may take that long for the stock market to run through a typical cycle, during which the mark et goes up and down. Failing to in vest r egular6 ly. Unless y ou in vest a set amount regularly, you will likely put off investing altog ether. Then you won’t have enough to live off of when y ou w ant to retire. Failing to take advantage of tax-advantaged investing. Employees toda y can in vest more than ev er in tax-advantaged retirement plans, IRAs, Roth IRAs and tax-advantaged colleg e sa vings plans. Tax-advantaged in vestment allo ws more of your money to w ork for y ou, because there is no taxation until withdrawals are made. Buying “hot” stocks. 8 “Hot” stocks can be found anywhere – in financial newsletters and on television, in y our email and in y our fax machine. However, by the time you read about them, they may no longer hot. Not cutting y our losses. 9 It’s g ood to in vest longterm, but that doesn ’t mean holding on to a bad investment
7
Allen Lampo is an agent for John Hancock Financial Network. If you have comments or questions , please call him at 925-681-4438 or email alampo@jhnetwork.com.
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indefinitely. If an in vestment turns out to ha ve been illadvised, sell it and move on. Failing to seek pr ofes10 sional help. If you don’t invest for a li ving, you are probably not a ware of everything that is happening in the market. Letting a professional handle y our in vestments and help plan y our finances ma y save you a lot of money longterm. Over time , investors are likely to mak e many mistak es, no matter how careful they are. Perhaps the worst mistake they can make, though, is not learning from other people’ s mistakes.
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Avoiding common investing er rors can produce long-term dividends Stock investments may include large-cap, mid-cap and smallcap stoc ks; value and g rowth stocks; and domestic and international stocks. Mutual funds pro vide added di versification, because the average fund is in vested in many stoc k or bonds at any given time. Not o wning stock. Some 3 people refuse to in vest in stocks, because they think they are too risk y. Not in vesting in stocks can be m uch riskier , because your portfolio may not be properly di versified. Past performance is no guarantee of future retur ns, but historically, stocks ha ve pro vided the best long-term retur ns of any investment. Failing to plan. Wealth 4 doesn’t come naturally. You have to plan for it. Start b y identifying your financial g oals and determine what it will cost to achieve them. Based on your investments and what y ou plan to save in the future, figure out what rate of return y ou will need to achieve your goals. Investing shor t-term. It 5 takes time for in vestments to g row in v alue. Investment professionals typically advise that in vestors ha ve at least a
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When the days grow shorter and the w eather gets colder, it’s important to remember that your pets ma y need extra care . The main thing to do is to k eep your cats indoors and your dogs indoors as much as you can. Susan Furukawa, animal welfare director at the Animal Rescue F oundation (ARF), offers the following tips. Provide y our pet with a warm place to lie do wn and sleep, away from drafts . Try placing the pet’s bed off of the cool floor. Senior and y oung animals are more susce ptible to the impacts of cold climates , so monitor them and k eep them comfortable. Puppies do not tolerate the cold w ell, making housetraining a bit more difficult during the winter . If this is the case , paper-train y our pup inside for no w. If your dog is sensitive to the cold due to ag e,
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illness or breed type , take him outdoors only to eliminate. Conditions suc h as ar thritis are ag gravated b y the cold. If your pet suffers from this or a similar condition, discuss with your v eterinarian ho w to minimize the weather’s impact. Dogs and cats may need a bit more food in the winter, as they use energ y to sta y w arm. However, don’t increase their intake so m uch that they become o verweight. Exercise and pla y are still impor tant to keep blood flowing and muscles toned. Outdoor cats sometimes sleep under the hoods of cars to keep warm. If there are outdoor cats in your neighborhood, bang loudly on the car hood before starting your engine to gi ve the cat a chance to escape and avoid injury. If your dog has shor t fur , she ma y g et cold when out on
JINGLE BELLS Jingle is a spunk y little 11-w eek-old kitten who will mak e a toy out of just about anything. She’s quite the talk er, and also loves to stick her tongue out at y ou. The adoption fee for Jingle Bells is $125. TOFU PUP Eight-month-old T ofu Pup is an energ etic young dog. He will thrive in an active home with plenty of mental and ph ysical stim ulation.The adoption fee for T ofu Pup is $200 and includes the first six training courses. Bring everyone who will live with Jingle Bells
14 California Ave Suite D Pleasanton (925) 600-1739
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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.
TOFU PUP
or Tofu Pup, including any canine family members, to meet them at T ony La R ussa’s Animal Rescue Foundation, 2890 Mitchell Drive, Walnut Creek, during adoption hours: 3 to 7 p .m. Thursday and F riday, Noon to 4:30 p .m. Saturday and Sunda y. Visit www.arf.net or call (925) 256-1ARF for more infor mation. Would you like to be part of the heroic team that sa ves the li ves of rescued dogs and cats? Can y ou share y our talents to connect people and animals? ARF v olunteers are making a difference! For more information see our Web site, www.arf.net, or call (925) 256-1ARF.
Basketball, from page B3
So call me at (925) 685-4523 today or stop by our office for a complimentary copy of the Dream Book .
St. Bonaventure’s CY O league is one of several opportunities for y outh to pla y basketball in the Clayton/Concord community. The Concord/ Clayton YMCA has a y outh basketball prog ram for beginning and intermediate players.
Mureleen Benton CFP® 5356 Clayton Rd., Suite 211 Concord, CA 94521 925-685-4523
walks. Consider buying her a coat or sw eater. Furukawa’s 75pound dog has v ery shor t fur and shi vers when it’ s cold or drizzly. When w earing a c hild’s sweatshirt, he is quite comfor table. A dog’s paws can get dry and tender when the ground is cold. Wipe off your dog’s paws when he comes in from outside. Some dog o wners buy their dog booties for hiking on rough surfaces or for cold w eather. You can introduce y our dog to the booties indoors and make it fun by rewarding him with affection or treats the first few times y ou put on the booties. More dogs are lost during the winter than during any other season, because they can lose their scent and become confused or scared during stor ms. Make sure y our dog is alw ays wearing an ID tag . Micro-chipping helps , in case an ID tag
Jingle Bells and Tofu Pup are ARF’s adoption stars
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Page B5
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According to YMCA published material, games are coached b y parent v olunteers and are refereed b y YMCA staff. All practices and g ames are pla yed for one hour on Saturdays, and g ames are scheduled by the YMCA at the Clayton Community Gym. The YMCA program runs from Jan. 20 to March 10. The Concord/Cla yton YMCA also has an adult league for those who wish to hone their passing, dribbling and shooting skills . It is an eightweek season that meets once a week for games. For kids who w ant to pla y
year-round or in addition to CYO or the Y , there are other options. The MVP Flight and Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) leagues are considered competitive or tour nament leagues . According to its Website, “The MVP Flight Bask etball Program is dedicated to the development of youth bask etball in Nor thern Califor nia. Our prog ram offers kids ag es 6-18 years old from all communities w ell-organized camps , tournaments and leagues in a fun and safe en vironment.” Often, extensive travel is necessary. Because of the many opportunities to play basketball in the Cla yton comm unity, many teens contin ue to pla y
ELENA BICKER
PAWS
AND
CLAWS
gets lost. Antifreeze and coolant are poisonous and can be fatal for dogs and cats . Be sure to thoroughly clean up any spills from your v ehicle and don ’t allo w your pets to g et near areas where these substances ma y be on the ground. Remember that winter affects y ou and y our pets similarly. Your pets will benefit from your extra effor ts to k eep them comfy and cozy. Elena Bicker is the Executi ve Director of Tony La R ussa’s Animal Rescue Foundation. She can be r eached at (925) 256-1ARF (1273)
Save your pet’s life with county first aid class If you’ve ever worried about what you would do if your pet were bitten b y a snak e, poisoned, hit b y a car or str uck with any n umber of other life threatening emerg encies, Contra Costa Animal Ser vices has a course for you. A P et First Aid and CPR Class, open to all Contra Costa County residents , will gi ve y ou the critical infor mation y ou need to save your pet’s life in an emergency. You will lear n ho w to administer medications , recognize an emerg ency, perform CPR and gi ve first aid, stock a first aid kit and treat common problems requiring immediate attention. The four hour class will be offered on Feb. 28 and Mar. 21 at Contra Costa Animal Services, 4800 Imhoff Place, Martinez. Cost is $52. To reserve y our spot or for more information call 925-335-8340.
during high school. For a lot of these kids , it’s a w ay to k eep playing the spor t they’v e enjoyed for many years . For others, it’s a new spor t to lear n and love. One thing is clear : Playing basketball is popular for both kids and adults alik e. With so many oppor tunities to pla y, Clayton is a great place for basketball enthusiasts. For mor e infor mation on local basketball oppor tunities contact: YMCA, 925-889-1600, www.mdrymca.org; St. Bona venture CYO, www .stbonaventurecyo.com; MVPFlight Bask etball, www.mvpflight.com, 510-604-9992; AAU National Headquarters, 407934-7200.
Page B6
Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com
Church News St. Bonaventure’s begins Jubilee year with special Mass CHRISTA FAIRFIELD Special to the Pioneer
Hundreds of parishioners filled the 9 a.m. Mass at St. Bonaventure Catholic Churc h on J an. 14, as Bishop Allen Vigneron and Bishop J ohn Cummins helped launc h the church’s Golden Jubilee Year. Baptism and the beginning of our lives in J esus Christ w as the
theme of the liturg y. To begin the celebration, parish staff and Parish Council members car ried in the g reat banner of St. Bonaventure, patron of the parish. They w ere follo wed b y charter members , the parishioners who built the first c hurch and the second church, and then families who had recently baptized their c hildren and newly baptized adults.
Each g roup brought larg e pitchers of water for the baptism pool. Vigneron blessed the water, which w as used later in the profession of faith and sprinkling of water. “We are a people baptized into J esus Christ, ” the bishop said, commenting on the Gospel story of Jesus tur ning the w ater into wine. “It invites all of us to be vessels to be filled by the new
Photo courtesy of St. Bonaventure’s
BISHOP VIGNERON, CENTER AND BISHOP JOHN CUMMINS, Church in a special Mass to begin their Jubilee year.
RIGHT, JOIN THE CLERGY
of St. Bonaventure’s Catholic
wine of Jesus Christ. May y our water here be tur ned into the wine of the spirit.” At the end of his homily , Vigneron presented the parish with a small beautiful icon of the Miracle of Cana. The c hoirs of the 9 and 11 a.m. services combined with the children’s choir to pro vide wonderful m usic for the da y’s w orship. Blue, purple and yellow balloons decorated the front of the church. About half of the 34 charter members still living in the parish were present. George Cardinet, 97, sat in the v ery last ro w. (Mr. Cardinet passed away last Friday. See story on front page.) The liturgy featured a sterling silver and gem studded ciborium that the Cardinets had donated in memory of her parents. Cummins, who spok e at the conclusion, pointed out the special vitality and spirit of community that has always thrived in St. Bonaventure parish. He also noted that St. Bonaventure w as the first Concord parish to regularly celebrate Mass in Spanish. The Mass ended with the hymn “I Will Celebrate; I Will Celebrate.” A rece ption continued in the parish hall until noon.
January 26, 2007
Clayton Valley Presbyterian Church 925-672-4848 1578 Kirker Pass Road Patricia Stout Pastor
Raymond S. Campton Parish Associate
Linda Regan Pastor Emerita to follow the risen Christ by studying His Word to live God's love through service to others
Sundays 10:30 a.m.
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Christie McMan us, the new deacon at St. John’s Episcopal Church, is hoping to further the church’s outreach programs. McManus sees her role as a link betw een the needs of the world and the resources of people in local c hurches and communities. She w ants to w ork with the existing outreac h programs of St. John’s: the Christmas gift prog ram for needy families, the support of a local family shelter and the backpack project for lo wincome children. In addition, McManus wants to w ork with people in the church and in the Cla yton community to increase our a wareness and response to the cr ying needs of the world. McManus, who w as ordained a deacon in 1996, is also president of the nondenominational, non-profit
organization Midwi ves on Missions of Service. In December, she and her team visited Sierra Leone and began a project under the countr y’s Ministry of Health to train traditional bir th attendants in isolated rural areas of the country. “I see my work in Africa and my ministry at St. John’s as perfect complements,” she says. “I am personally dra wn to Sier ra Leone because it is the poorest country in the w orld, with the worst infant and mater nal mortality rates. “But the w orld is full of needs, beginning in Clayton, and this parish is filled with a passion for social justice and a desire to fill needs where they find them, ” McManus adds . “Providing sc hool supplies for kids in Contra Costa County or for traditional bir th attendants in Sierra Leone – it’ s all par t of the Gospel.” McManus has bac helor’s degrees in histor y, education and theological studies. She pre-
CLAYTON COMMUNITY CHURCH
Dads are in vited to bring their sweetheart daughters to the Daddy Daughter Dance on Saturday, Feb. 10, in the Diablo Valley Middle Sc hool Gym. The event, sponsored b y the Cla yton Community Church, will be from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. The cost is $10. This ev ening out with y our daughter includes a DJ pla ying all of your favorite dance music, delicious desser ts and a professional picture of you and y our sw eetheart. Register at the Cla yton Community Churc h office on Main Street or call Debbie Bluth at 827-9090.
viously ser ved at St. James Episcopal Churc h in San Francisco. In 2005, she retired from PG&E, where she had been lead director of Regulatory Relations. McManus lives in San F rancisco
Clayton Station
Donna Taber
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ST. BONAVENTURE CATHOLIC CHURCH
In the spirit of St. Bonaventure, Brother Bill Shor t of the Franciscan Sc hool of Theology in Berk eley will address a three-ste p movement toward God in pra yer. Jan 29-31 from 9:45-11:15 a.m. and again from 7:30-9 p .m. 5562 Cla yton R oad, Concord. This retreat will set the tone for the church’s Golden Anniversary celebration.
ETERNAL LIFE LUTHERAN CHURCH
A new Bible Study , “Called to T estify: The First Christian Witnesses,” is being held at 7:15 p .m. Wednesdays at 5554 Cla yton Rd., 1B, Concord. The studies will contain discussions and an audio dramatization of a first person account of someone impacted b y Jesus’ birth, miracles and ministry. Sunday School and Bible Study are at 10 a.m., with Sunday worship at 11:15 a.m. For more infor mation, call 524-0295 or visit www.EternalLifeLutheranChurch.org. Drop off your used greeting cards for recycling. Members of the Women’s Missionar y Society will pre pare them for prison ministr y. Drop cards off at the Contra Costa County F arm Bureau building, 5554 Clayton Road. Or call 524-0295 to have them picked up.
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The deduction rules for donating a vehicle to charity have been tightened. If the charity sells the vehicle you donate, you may deduct the sales price – which is usually far less than “blue book” value. If the charity keeps and uses the vehicle, they must provide you with an estimated value for your deduction. New IRS Form 1098-C is to be used to report and substantiate vehicle contributions.
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with her domestic par tner, Patricia R oss, who is also an Episcopal deacon. Between them, they ha ve fi ve adult c hildren and eight grandchildren. Rev. Jim Stickney is Pastor of St. John’s.
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January 26, 2007
Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com
Page B7
Clayton Community Calendar PLEASE SUBMIT YOUR CLAYTON COMMUNITY CALENDAR EVENTS BY 5 P.M., JAN. 31 FOR THE FEB. 9 ISSUE. FAX TO 672-6580 OR E-MAIL calendar@claytonpioneer.com EVENTS & ENTERTAINMENT THROUGH FEB. 12 The Art of Retirement @ Loma Vista Adult Center 7 - 9 p.m. The course is five weeks in length and costs $18 for people 55plus. The topics for 02/06 include activities, volunteering, travel, retirement andrelocation stories. 02/12 topics include senior power, happiness in retirement, avoiding future shock, and graduation. For class information call George Fulmore at (925) 686-6916. Call (925) 937-1530 for registration information. Loma Vista Adult Center, located at 1266 San Carlos Ave, Concord. THROUGH FEB. 27 Patty Cakes Story Time @ Clayton Community Library 11 a.m. Tuesdays. Story time for babies to children 3 years old. No registration required. 673-0659. Clayton Community Library, 6125 Clayton Road. THROUGH MAR. 1 Picture Book Time @ Clayton Community Library 11 a.m. Thursdays. Story time for children 3 to 5 years old. . No registration required. Child may attend without caregiver. 673-0659. Clayton Community Library, 6125 Clayton Road. JAN 26 - FEB. 18 Some Enchanted Evening: The Songs of Rodgers & Hammerstein @ Diablo Valley College Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. Sundays at 2:30 p.m. Some Enchanted Evening is a celebration of songs from many of the greatest musicals of all time: Carousel, Cinderella, Oklahoma, Flower Drum Song, South Pacific and Sound Of Music. The songs of Rodgers & Hammerstein have become an integral part of our everyday lives. This stunning collection of compositions reminds you of why Rodgers & Hammerstein are our most beloved composer and lyricist. Tickets $12 - $15. Call the box office at 6874445. Diablo Valley College Performing Arts Center, 321 Golf Club Road, Pleasant Hill. JAN. 28 "An Inconvenient Truth" @ Diamond Terrace 4 - 7 p.m. Please join us to view the recent documentary "An Inconvenient Truth." If you have heard about this film, but haven't yet had the opportunity to see it this is your chance. Following the movie will be a discussion to promote individual awareness, action and initiative in making positive choices to help ourselves and our planet. The event is free. Refreshments will be served. Diamond Terrace, 6401 Center St. JAN. 31 Classic Movie Night @ Clayton Community Library 6:30 p.m. In an oppressive future, a fireman whose duty is to destroy all books begins to question his task. Clayton Community Library, 6125 Clayton Road, 673-0659. FEB. 6 Just for Teens Craft @ Clayton Community Library 4 - 5 p.m. “Have a Heart” crafty Tuesday. Teens make a heart shaped coin purse using duct tape. Registration Required. Clayton Community Library, 6125 Clayton Road, 673-0659. FEB. 7 Numbers Don't Lie @ Clayton Community Library 7 - 9 p.m. An effective accounting system is key to a successful business. Presented by Zachary Sahar, C.P.A., Capital Tax and Accounting. Topics include how accounting glues parts of a business into a whole, building a professional accounting system with a small budget and using accounting reports to help owners manage their business. Clayton Community Library, 6125 Clayton Road, 673-0659. FEB. 10 Daddy Daughter Dance @ Clayton Community Gym 6:30 - 9:30 p.m. The theme is Sweetheart Ball. Dads - join us and bring your Sweetheart daughter to the Daddy Daughter Dance. The evening includes a DJ playing all of your favorite dance music, delicious desserts, and a professional picture of you and your Sweetheart. Please register at the Clayton Community Church office on Main Street or call Debbie Bluth at 827-9090. This is great opportunity to spend some special time with your daughter. $10.00 per person. This dance is open to everyone in Clayton and Concord. Clayton Community Gym, 700 Gym Court. FEB. 11 Clayton Historical Society Camellia Tea @ Clayton Historical Museum 1 - 4 p.m. The Clayton Historical Society is hosting its 30th annual Camellia Tea at the museum. Tea, coffee, punch and cookies will be served. There is no admission charge but donations are welcome. Children accompanied by adults may attend. Call 672-0240 for more information. Clayton Historical Museum, 6101 Main Street.
returning at approximately 5:30 p.m. Cost is $26. Checks and reservations must be received at Diamond Terrace by Feb. 1. Diamond Terrace Retirement Community, 6401 Center Street, 524-5100. FEB. 21 Solar Energy 101: Making Electricity from the Sun @ Clayton Library 7 - 8:30 p.m. NorCal Solar Energy Assoc. will present a workshop for home and business owners considering investing in solar energy. The workshop will cover the basic technologies, the economic and environmental benefits, and how to move forward with your solar project. Clayton Community Library, 6125 Clayton Road, 673-0659. FEB. 24 Teacher/Certificated Staff Recruitment Fair @ Alhambra High School, Martinez 8:30 a.m. - 12 p.m. The Contra Costa County Office of Education (CCCOE) is presenting thefair, at which representatives from all 18 school districts in Contra Costa County, as well as the CCCOE will be on hand to talk to perspective employees. Counselors from local colleges will be on hand to discuss their school's teaching credential programs for new teachers, as well as re-entry teachers. Alhambra High School, 150 E. Street, Martinez.
CLUBS & ORGANIZATIONS JAN. 28, FEB. 4, 11, 18, 25 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. JAN. 30, FEB. 6, 13, 20, 27 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. FEB. 1, 8, 15, 22 Rotary Club of Clayton Valley Concord Sunrise @ Oakhurst 7 a.m. Meets every Thurs. for breakfast that usually features a speaker. www. claytonvalleyrotary.org Chuck Graham 689-7640. Oakhurst Country Club, 1001 Peacock Creek Drive, Clayton. FEB. 1, 8, 15, 22 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. FEB. 1 Sons in Retirement Meeting (SIRS) @ Oakhurt Country Club 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.. Meetings are the first Thurs. of the month. SIRs, which is dedicated to promoting the independence and dignity of retired men, 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 6870594. Oakhurst Country Club, 1001 Peacock Creek Drive, Clayton. FEB. 6 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. FEB 7 Hearing Loss Assoc. of America @ Walnut Creek Methodist Church 7:30 p.m. The speaker will be Polly Gorin. Polly runs the Gregory Gardens pre-school for deaf and hard of hearing children in Pleasant Hill. This will be an open captioned meeting, very informative for anyone who has a child with a hearing problem. 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. Feb. 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, 646-5455. FEB. 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, photography, arts/crafts etc. Contact Candy Hogan at 925- 969-1325 for more information. Meetings held on the second Mon. of the month Sept. - June. Farm Bureau Hall, 5554 Clayton Rd. Concord.
FEB. 14 Pajama Story Time @ Clayton Community Library 7 p.m. Beat the bedtime blues with stories, songs and a craft at the library. The whole family is invited to pajama story time. You can wear your comfy pajamas and bring your favorite stuffed animal too. Registration is required. 673-0659. Clayton Community Library, 6125 Clayton Road.
FEB. 12 Stroke Support Group of Contra Costa County @ John Muir Medical Center - Walnut Creek 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-Walnut Creek Campus, 1601 Ygnacio Valley Road, Ball Auditorium located in the basement Walnut Creek.
FEB. 21 Casino Trip to Jackson Rancheria from Diamond Terrace 9:30 a.m. bus will depart from Diamond Terrace Retirement Community,
FEB. 13, 27 Clayton Valley Woman's Club @ Holy Cross Lutheran Church 9:30 a.m. Regular monthly business meeting starts with coffee; the meeting
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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 6727947. Holy Cross Lutheran Church, 1092 Alberta Way, Concord. FEB. 14 Creekside Artists Meeting @ Clayton Community Library 7 p.m. Special Valentine’s Day Meeting. Come join this unique group of eclectic artists that meet the 2nd Wed. of each month. If you like, bring your artwork for review - all levels and all art forms are welcome! "We provide an environment for all artists to inspire, create, educate and prosper." Call Arlene Kikkawa-Nielsen at (925) 673-9777, or email akikkawa@ccclib.org with questions. FEB. 14 Clayton Valley Garden Club @ Diamond Terrace 7 p.m. The Clayton Valley Garden Club meets the second Wed. of the month. Every meeting has an informative program concerning some aspect of gardening. Garden lectures will resume in Feb. The Club maintains the flowers on Daffodil Hill, the planters on Main Street, and the raised garden beds at the Library, as well as other civic projects. Anyone interested in gardening is welcome at our meetings. Call Jeff at 672-7579 or Barry at 8279540 for information. Diamond Terrace, 6401 Center Street, Clayton. Feb. 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. FEB. 21 Ygnacio Valley Republican Women @ Oakhurst County Club. 10 a.m. meeting, 12 p.m. lunch. Speaker to be announced. YVRW meets the 3rd Wed. of the month. Go to www.yvrwf.org for information. Oakhurst Country Club, 1001 Peacock Creek Drive, Clayton. FEB. 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.
BUSINESS & GOVERNMENT JAN. 30, FEB. 6, 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 335-1900. County Administration Building, 651 Pine Street, Room 107, Martinez. FEB. 6, 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. FEB. 8 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. FEB. 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. FEB. 22 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. John Rubiales, President. Oakhurst Country Club, 1001 Peacock Creek Drive, Clayton.
SCHOOLS AND EDUCATION FEB. 1 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. FEB. 13 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. FEB. 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 673-1795, kristinsmith@yahoo.com, PFC Co-Presidents. Childcare is available. Watch website for details. http://www.mdusd.k12.ca.us/mountdiabloelementary/.
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Page B8
Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com
January 26, 2007
DVDs show why musical icons remain icons JIM HUDAK
MUSIC NOTES Since becoming a member of Netflix, the online D VD rental company, I’ve gone from a casual mo vie fan to one who devours and enjo ys lots of movies. With so many mo vies and DVDs available on virtually every topic, it’s no w onder that the m usical icons of the w orld have jumped on the DVD bandwagon. Most major ar tists ha ve at least one D VD out, and many of those artists and bands ha ve several D VDs a vailable to rent or to buy. Today, I’ll focus on three music icons: Brian Wilson, Pete Townshend and Neil Y oung. They gained most of their fame through their respecti ve bands , the Beac h Bo ys, the W ho and Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young, but they’v e all enjo yed impressive solo careers as well. These are three popular artists who’v e sur vived the vagaries of the m usic business for more than 40 years . Not only are they still g oing strong, but they’v e added tw o more
generations of fans. Go to their concerts, and you’ll see a cro wd of devotees aged 7 to 70. Let’s explore wh y these three, and a select few others from the same era, have earned such high and lasting praise in the world of pop music. First of all, Wilson, Townshend and Y oung g ot started at a time when m usic was practically religion to those in their (and m y) ag e g roup.
BRIAN WILSON
There was nothing quite as special as buying a new album with a clever, artsy cover (we’re talking vinyl records here, not tapes or CDs, and certainly not digital
downloads) and taking it home for that first spin. Setting aside the better par t of an hour and getting lost in the m usic while dissecting the contents and meaning of that album co ver was a ritual that was hard to beat for young people back then. But the k ey really w as the music, especially if the lyrics were relevant and poignant. The total sensor y experience w as unparalleled. It brought tog ether the audio and intellectual stimulation that g oes with hearing good music and also ser ved as a reference point for li ving our lives as we grew up. These guys had it figured out. Or, more accurately , they were lear ning as they w ent along, like we were, and expressing their angst, doubts, joys and exuberance in their m usic. It was a time of innocence that still rings true. When Townshend wrote and sang about Tommy (The Pinball Wizard), or Wilson enraptured us with “Good Vibrations” or Young searched for a “Hear t of Gold,” we w ere listening . And we still are , along with our c hildren and sometimes their c hildren, too. We’re still looking for answers, and many of us are still
donee c haritable org anization, showing the name of the donee, the date and the contribution amount. A taxpayer may also use other reliable written records as proof that show the donee’s name , date and the amount donated. But the burden of proof is on the taxpa yer to establish reliability. For cash contributions of $250 or more , a taxpayer must obtain a written comm unication from the charity indicating the name of the c harity, the date the donation w as made and the amount of the contribution. The written comm unication m ust state whether the organization pro vided any goods or ser vices in consideration (in whole or par t) for the cash contributed. The written communication must also include a description and g ood-faith estimate of the value of any g oods or ser vices (including intangible religious benefits) provided by the donor organization from the cash donation. And it m ust be received before the date y ou file the return. Property or non-cash contribution requirements can be summarized into the follo wing categories: less than $250, from $250 to $500, $500 to $5,000 and more than $5,000. For non-cash donations less than $250, ample proof would be a receipt with the name of the donee, the date, location of the contribution and a descrip-
tion of the proper ty. A receipt is not required when it is impractical to obtain one, but a taxpayer should maintain written records of contributions containing the abo ve infor mation. Non-cash donations of $250 to $500 are similar to the requirements for cash donations ex ceeding $250, which requires a written acknowledgement from the qualified org anization that lists the name of the donee, the date, location of the contribution and a description of the proper ty with its fair mark et v alue (FMV). The taxpayer should document the FMV ev en though it is not required to do so. A donor can claim a deduction for a v ehicle’s FMV of $500 or less using the requirements abo ve. For v ehicles donated with a FMV g reater than $500, form 1098-C needs to be attac hed to the donor’ s return. A v ehicle’s FMV c haritable deduction is limited to the gross proceeds recei ved by the donee from the sale of the donated vehicle. This is reported on for m 1098-C b y the donee for the donor’s record. Non-cash donations of $500 to $5,000 require the donee’s written ac knowledgement, along with filing for m 8283 with the tax retur n. Additional records that are required include the manner and date of acquisition of the property and the donor’ s
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hard-wired to find guidance in music and song. On D VD, you can see rare old footage, interviews and performances that took place bac k in the da y. To mak e it really interesting, all three of these artists are still around, and y ou can g et their updated perspectives on life, music and their ar t after all these years. It has been nothing shor t of a personal e piphany to see ho w
See Music, page B9
New IRS rules for proof of charitable contributions If you itemize deductions on y our tax retur n, you can generally deduct both cash and non-cash c haritable gifts up to certain limits of your adjusted gross income . Section 1217(a) of the P ension Protection act of 2006 includes detailed and more complex rules for taxpayer’s cash, property and v ehicle donations made after A ug. 17, 2006. Prior la w allo wed taxpa yers to bac k up their donations of money with personal bank registers, diaries or notes made around the time of the donation. Those types of records are no longer sufficient. Contributions are deductible in the year made . Only donations to a “qualified organization” recognized b y the IRS are deductible . They include religious , charitable, educational, scientific, literary and prev ention of cruelty to children or animals. The IRS Publication 78, available online and at many public libraries , lists most organizations that are qualified to recei ve deductible contributions. Churches, synagogues, temples, mosques and g overnment ag encies are eligible to receive deductible donations , even though they often are not listed in Publication 78. Proof of a cash contribution less than $250 can be a cancelled c heck or a receipt (including a letter or other communication) from the
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TAX TIPS adjusted basis of the proper ty. If information on the acquisition date and/or basis is not available, a taxpayer will not be denied the deduction if a justifiable explanation note is attached to their retur n. In addition to the donee’ s acknowledgement and records described for non-cash donations of $500 to $5,000, a qualified appraisal of the proper ty is also required for donations of more than $5,000 that is not publicly traded stoc k. The donor m ust attac h a complete appraisal summar y to the return on for m 8283. The appraisal needs to be signed and dated b y both the donee and a qualified appraiser . Special rules apply for privately held securities and ar twork. A taxpa yer who fails to receive and maintain adequate records of their charitable contributions faces the prospect of losing the deduction, in addition to receiving various penalties. A CPA can pro vide v aluable assistance to a taxpa yer and help ensure their g enerosity is properly rew arded with a tax savings.
Tom Miller is a CP A and a resident of Clayton w ho pr ovides tax ser vices. He can be contacted at 354-1385 or at tac.light@gmail.com.
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Music, from page B8
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Jim Hudak’s Music Notes column appears r egularly in the Pioneer. Contact him at jimm ydak@pacbell.net. His piano music CD’s are available from his Web site at www .jhudak.com or at amazon.com.
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Treat yourself to a w eekend of pure delight. Pick three of your personal fa vorite m usical icons, and do an Internet search for what DVDs they might have available. If you’re not a Netflix or Bloc kbuster online member , you might be able to find the DVDs at a local video store . Then, you too might come to fur ther appreciate what it takes and what it means to remain a musical icon. It’s a fun and w onderful w ay to spend a weekend, and it will bring y our musical heroes back to life.
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Page B9
ACROSS
1- Manipulator 5- "Loser" musician 9- Distress signal 12- Talk irrationally 13- Isolated 15- Habit 16- Greek god of war 17- Toil 18- Very small quantity 19- 16th president of the U.S 21- Russian novelist 23- Toward the mouth 24- Performed 25- Was merciful to 28- Blood condition 33- Wearies 34- Spanish dessert 35- "Give that ____ cigar!" 36- Some 37- Jargon 38- Large container 39- Obstacle 41- Unit of power 42- Itty-bitty 44- Good-looking 46- Vessel for burning incense 47- Suffer 48- Narrow strip of wood 49- Holy 53- Social outcasts 57- Taverns 58- Cinder 60- Small combo 61- Dairy product 62- One who cries "uncle"? 63- Rhythmic swing 64- Wield 65- Repose 66- Consumes
27- Of Nordic stock 28- Winged 29- Pious platitudes 30- Rescues 31- Silly 32- Lustful deity 34- Ruse 37- Tumid 40- Polish seaport 42- Drop of water expelled by the eye 43- Qualify 45- Make a lap 46- Dry red table wine 48- Glasses, briefly 49- Fool 50- Natural blue dye 51- Inwardly 52- Primordial giant in Norse myth 54- Type of song, to be sung solo 55- Sword handle 56- Drunkards 59- Fuzzy buzzer
Solution for 1/12 Crossword
DOWN
1- Russian range 2- Dress often worn by Hindu women 3- Level 4- Copy music 5- Simple song 6- Gnu cousin 7- Male swan 8- Gnarl 9- Smoke deposit 10- Not fooled by 11- Remain 14- Wearing 15- Sagacity 20- Minerals 22- Cover 25- Hiding place 26- Flipper
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Page B10
Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com
January 26, 2007
Go bananas and enjoy America’s favorite fruit Today, India and Brazil are the largest pro-
Whether it’s on y our morning cereal, eating it out of hand as a snac k or blending it into bak ed goods, Americans consume more than 25 pounds of bananas a year on average. Almost all of them are Cavendish bananas , even though there are hundreds of varieties found around the world. (My favorite is the apple banana grown in Hawaii.) Banana cultivation most likely originated around Mala ysia, and they became a staple in Southeast Asian and Indian cuisines. Alexander the Great brought bananas to W estern culture after disco vering them during his conquests on the Indian subcontinent 2,300 years ago. The official introduction of the banana to the American public didn ’t occur until the Philadelphia Centennial Exhibition in 1876, although sailors had been sneaking them in from the Caribbean for decades.
ducers of the fr uit, with more than half of the commercial production controlled by Chiquita and Dole. Bananas don ’t g row on trees. They are instead the fr uit of an herb – granted, a very tall herb stalk (up to 25 feet high). A cluster or bunc h of bananas (which g rows sk yward, by the way, not do wn) is called a “hand” and eac h banana is known as a “fing er.” The fr uit may ha ve recei ved its name from the Arabic ter m for finger, “banan.” Bananas actually ripen best off the stalk. If it’s not picked, it becomes cottony as it ripens and splits out of its skin. It is the deg ree of ripeness of the fruit that deter mines its best use in food. As they ripen from green to yello w, the starc h in bananas tur ns to sug ar. Green and g reen-tipped bananas are best for cooking in savory dishes. Fully yello w bananas are
best for snac king or adding to cereal or salads. When the fr uit starts to become bro wnspecked, it’s time to add it to baked goods. The traditional beer of the Masai in K enya and T anzania is made from bananas and cereal grains l i k e sorghum. B e e r actually marries quite w ell with bananas in breads, but to me, rum is the ultimate alcohol accompaniment. Bananas F oster, banana r um cake, fried bananas rolled in coconut and served with a spicy rum sauce … yum! Since most Americans use bananas in sweet dishes, I’d like to sug gest tw o sa vory recipes for you to try.
Combine dates and vinegar; set aside. Preheat oven to 400. Season pork with salt, pepper, cumin and coriander and sear in hot fr y pan with 1 to 2 tsp . oil. Brown evenly on all sides . Transfer pork to baking sheet or dish and o ven roast to 150 degrees inter nal temperature (about 12-15 minutes). In fr ying pan used to brown the pork, add butter and onion. Saute until light golden brown. Add spices and stir until frag rant; remove from heat. When pork is done, remove from the o ven and let rest 10 minutes before car ving. Meanwhile, reheat onion mixture, add dates and c hopped banana and cook until bananas begin to soften, about 7 to 8 minutes. Carve the pork on the bias and ser ve with c hutney, garnished with sliced mint or basil
leaves. THAI FISH CURRY WITH MANGO AND BANANA 1 g reen banana (or plantain), thinly sliced 1 tsp. salt 1 tsp. curry powder 1½ c. coconut milk 2 Tbsp. yellow curry paste 1 Tbsp. nam ploc (fish sauce) 1 tsp. light brown sugar 1 lb. mahi mahi, cubed 1 small mang o, peeled and sliced 1 large jalapeno, thinly sliced 12 basil or Thai basil leaves Simmer banana slices in ½ cup of water with the salt and curry po wder for 10 min utes; drain and set aside. In w ok or larg e sauce pan, heat ½ cup of the coconut milk with the cur ry paste until fragrant. Add fish sauce and sug ar and simmer a few min utes until
LINDA WYNER
FOOD
FOR
THOUGHT
the sauce begins to darken. Add remaining cocon ut milk, fish and jalapeno . Simmer, stirring occasionally, until fish is cooked through (about 5 to 7 min utes). Add banana, mango and basil lea ves and ser ve o ver jasmine rice. Linda Wyner is an accomplished chef and “foodie.” Direct your suggestions or questions to lwyner@claytonpioneer.com
Glasbergen Chuckles
PORK TENDERLOIN WITH BANANA CHUTNEY 2 pork tenderloins (12-16 oz. each) 1 to 2 tsp. rice bran or canola oil 1 tsp. cumin powder ½ tsp. ground coriander Salt and pepper ½ c. chopped dates ¼ c. apple cider vinegar 1 Tbsp. butter 1 onion, finely chopped 1 clove garlic, minced 1 Tbsp. grated fresh ginger 2 tsp. mild curry powder ½ jalapeno, minced 1 tsp. brown sugar 1 banana, cut into half-inc h pieces Mint or basil lea ves for g arnish
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4918 Clayton Rd., Concord, CA 94521 (925) 680-4950 etting Tahoe Like S
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Priced to Sell
3600 Northwood Unit E
$315,000
Pleasant Hill
Concord
Clayton
Concord
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4041 St Andrews Way
$422,000
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5722 Lewis Way
$674,000
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Concord
Concord
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174 Glenview Drive
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Concord
Martinez
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