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January 30, 2004
925.672.0500
Early morning fire causes $60,000 in damage to the Village Market BY TAMARA STEINER Clayton Pioneer
Jill Bedecarre / Clayton Pioneer
FIREFIGHTERS WORK TO extinguish the flames that gutted the upstairs rooms of the Village Market
A fire swept through the upper rooms of the Village Market in the early morning hours on January 16 causing an estimated $60,000 damage. store owner, Sam Sandhu and his son, Johnny, arrived to open just before 7 a.m. to find the store full of smoke. Sam Sandhu climbed the stairs at the back of the store to turn on the lights. As he pushed the upstairs door open, he could see smoke and flames. He reported the fire at 7:05 a.m. Captain Ben Smith of the Contra Costa Fire Protection District and the crew of Clayton’s Engine 11 were the first to arrive on the scene just a block and a half from the fire station. According to Captain Smith, the upstairs was fully involved and the heat was intense as the fire rapidly advanced. The fire was extinguished in less than an hour. Standing at the front doors, Sam Sandhu gazed into the eerie, dark store. “We just washed all the bottles,” he said, quietly. The last of the Christmas decorations still hung on the front facade. The downtown store has been owned and operated by the Sandhu family since purchasing it in 1990 from Don and Carmen Williams, long-time Clayton residents. The Williams’ built the store in 1978. The cause is still unknown. According to Randy Champion of the Contra Costa County Fire Protection
Few faces in Clayton are more recognizable than that of Dan Ashley, ABC-TV, Channel 7 Weekday News Anchor. Ashley brings the national and local news into Bay Area homes twice a day, at 5 and at 11 p.m. Locals will also recognize him as Clayton's 4th of
July Parade Grand Marshall and official "Christmas Tree Lighter." Dan Ashley, came to ABC7 from an affiliate in Charleston, North Carolina. He had been in California covering the Loma Prieta earthquake in 1989 and "fell in love" with Northern California. He'd considered several other opportunities before tak-
ing the Channel 7 spot, including both Chicago and New York. But, raising a family in a big city held little appeal. "New York, that's the top," he mused. “As I stood in Times Square, looking up at Rockefeller Center, I thought about the kids and knew I just wasn't ready to change our lives that drastically." In 1995 the San Francisco job opened up and The Ashley family, Dan, wife Spalding and sons Parker and Bennett, moved west. They spent four days house hunting in the East and South Bay, and when they got to Clayton, "it seemed familiar," said Dan. "It looked like home." I arrived at the Ashley home in Oakhurst for our midday interview to be greeted by the aroma of roasting lamb. Spalding cooks early for the family and Dan takes dinner to work, "so he doesn't have to eat Lean Cuisine every night,"
Tamara Steiner / Clayton Pioneer
See Ashley, page 4
ABC CO-ANCHORS, Dan Ashley and Jessica Aguirre
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OWNERS Sam Sandhu (foreground), and son Johnny row or to see how the family was faring,” said Hood. It isn’t known yet, when the store will re-open. “But Sam wants everyone to know that the little blue store will be back—bigger, better and beautiful,” said Hood.
City seeks input on sales tax extension
To ABC’s Dan Ashley, Clayton looked likehome BY TAMARA STEINER Clayton Pioneer
District, “It’s not unusual for fire investigations to take a week or more to complete. We want to be as thorough as possible. For a situation like this, there can be other agencies involved and we have to gather all of the information. It all takes time.” Gary Hood, friend and spokesperson for the family, says that the Sandhu family has been overwhelmed by the community concern and support. “Sam wants to thank everyone who called or came by to express their sor-
JULIE PIERCE MAYOR’S CORNER The Clayton City Council will be considering and commenting on the alternatives for the extension of the Measure C half-cent sales tax for transportation at its meeting on February 3. The extension will be put before the voters of Contra Costa in November 2004. As Clayton’s representative to TRANSPAC, the central county transportation planning committee, and the current Chair of the Contra Costa Transportation Authority (CCTA), I want to hear what Clayton voters have to say about transportation priorities for the proposed extension of this local sales tax. State and federal funding is projected to be severely limit-
ed in the next 25 years. You can help the CCTA address future traffic congestion by participating in the process to continue the existing Measure C sales tax. A 20 year extension, if successful, would provide an estimated $1.6 billion in flexible transportation funds to improve Contra Costa’s highway, transit, pedestrian and bicycle network. Since 1988, the current Measure C has funded important transportation projects such as the extension of BART to Pittsburg/Bay Point, improvements to I-680, Highways 4 and 242, transit services for the elderly and persons with disabilities, local streets and roads, bicycle and pedestrian trails, and countywide transportation planning. The cities and county receive 18% of the current measure
for local transportation improvements. Extending the Measure C sales tax is important to continue local funding for local streets and roads, transit services and to pay for important transportation projects, such as extending BART further into East County, widening Highway 4 east out to Antioch, widening the Caldecott Tunnel, improvements to the I-680/Hwy. 4 interchange, adding new bus and rail service and improving our bicycle and trail system. To help craft the new measure, the CCTA has prepared three alternatives for modifications to the Measure C Expenditure Plan and Growth Management Program. Two recently released documents, the Draft Countywide
See Mayor, page 13
It’s time to win! Read the ads carefully. Hidden in three different ads is a tiny version of the Clayton Pioneer logo (see above) and a code. Find the clock and be the first to call or e-mail the Pioneer with the code and the name of the ad, and WIN $10 CASH! e-mail clock@claytonpioneer.com, or mail, P.O. Box 1246, Clayton, CA 94517
Page 2
Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com
January 30, 2004
Around Town
25th wedding anniversary for Mike and Barbara Wall Mike and Barbara Wall recently celebrated 25 years of
Rotary News
marriage with a trip to L’Auberge Resort and Spa in
The Clayton Valley /Concord Sunrise Rotary Club hosted its holiday party AFTER Christmas allowing time for Rotarians and their guests to bring their “worst” gift to share and exchange at the festivities. Winners of the worst gift were Roger and Jane Ritts, pictured at left, who brought a case of individually wrapped popcorn balls given to the couple on Christmas Eve. The couple won a Harry and David cookie jar which Jane hopes to keep full of only healthy snacks! The local service club which meets
Morgan Territory - Country living, gated contemporary custom 3548 sq. ft., 5 bedroom 3 bath tri level home on approx. 5 acres2 stall barn and Tack room. Master bedroom with Sauna/Jetted tub and freestanding wood burning fireplace. On the main floor is enhance with a massive deck area completely enclosed. $869,980
Del Mar, California. The Clayton couple was married on
Thursday mornings at Oakhurst Country Club is actively involved in a host of benevolent ventures including a Twin Club exchange with Rotarians in San Felipe. Rotarians are soliciting donations of eyeglasses, sports equipment, computers and clothing to the exchange club in Mexico for the needy in the area. Other areas of service are devoted to local youth, hospitals, library, schools, scouts, sports organizations and on the international level through the Rotary Foundation.
Romania Animal Rescue, Inc. is holding a fund-raising golf tournament at Oakhurst Country Club in Clayton on April 26. The $160 entry fee, includes a lunch, prizes, raffle, awards dinner, auction, green fee, cart rental and tee gifts. Proceeds are to help the
Regency Woods - This beautiful single story rancher has been updated throughout you will find 3 spacious bedrooms, 2 ½ baths. Outside enjoy the wonderful views from 3 sides, this home backs to open space, neighbors only on one side. $559,980
6200 Center Street,Suit E Clayton, CA. 94517
Rescue’s mission is to promote animal care and welfare in Romania. To sign up for the tournament or for more information on the Romania Animal Rescue, call 925-672-5908, or email romaniadogs@joimail.com.
Regency Woods - Court location, updated and upgraded Rancher 3 bedroom 2 baths with great curb appeal. Inside this home you will find fresh paint throughout, Pergo flooring, family room with brick fireplace, modern light fixtures throughout and indoor laundry room and more. Enjoy the low maintenance landscaped yards, pool and spa, close to walking trails, schools and downtown. $569,980
“2003 Realtor Of The Year!” East Bay Business Times
Antioch - 3 bedroom, 21/2 bath, end court location, totally updated $379,980
Pending
troop and “where ever else we are needed,” said VFW trustee John Teel. Money is raised through poppy sales and donations to the VFW. Pictured from left: Chuck Arden, VFW trustee, John Teel, Post vice-commander, Major Clayton Gardner, Salvation Army, Ming Hanson, Post commander, Nelson Baker, VFW trustee.
Lynne French
Eagle Peak - Largest model and one of the best view lots! $910,000
Lynne@LynneFrench.com Clayton Resident
Romania Animal Rescue, Inc. in their efforts to send UC Davis veterinary students to Romania in July to work with local veterinarians in a spay/neuter program for stray street dogs. Students will also work with local veterinarians in that country to care for animals. Romania Animal
Regency Woods - Charming 4 bedrooms, 2 full baths with an inviting master suite that has Anderson Sliding door that opens to deck and spa. Formal dining and living rooms, family room with brick fireplace, gourmet kitchen with Cherry finished cabinets, Corian countertops, double oven and Hardwood floors. Beautiful landscaped yard with covered patio, wine storage and wonderful Mt Diablo. $619,980
Dana Hills - 4 bedroom 2 ½ bath, RV parking, large lot, updated kitchen $559,980
Black Diamond/Oakhurst - Wonderful duet Horseshoe model at the end of the cul de sac has 3 bedrooms, 2 ½ baths, master bedroom with walk in closet, kitchen with pantry, tile counter and floors. Just steps away from the heated pool, spa and sports court. $459,980
Last week, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post 1525, donated $500 in cash to the Concord Salvation Army. The money will be used to feed and clothe the needy, said Salvation Army Major Clayton Gardner. In 2004, the VFW’s giving program includes $3000$4000 donations to community service organizations, needy veterans organizations, the local boy scout
Golf tournament to benefit exchange student program
Coming Soon!
Pending
VFW donates $500
November 24, 1978 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Birch Run, Michigan. In 1943, Barbara’s parents were married in the same church. Mike and Barbara first met at a school dance at the beginning of their junior year at Eastern Michigan University in Ypsilanti, Michigan. After college, both went their separate ways. Barbara began teaching first grade and Mike finished a residency in Hospital Administration at Yale. After his residency, Mike drove across country to a new job in California. As he neared Michigan, he stopped to look up his old friend, Barbara. The two began dating, mostly long distance. In September 1978, Mike proposed by telephone and they were married two months later. They settled in California following the wedding, moving to Clayton in 1983. Mike and Barbara’s son, Robby, is a student at the Academy of Art College in San Francisco where is majoring in computer animation.
(925) 672-8787
Pending Regency Meadows - 5 bedrooms, 3 full baths with an inviting master bedroom suite with 2-way fireplace. You will find a guest bed and bath on the main floor, gourmet kitchen and indoor laundry. Located in the Bucolic Creek Area with wonderful views of Mt Diablo. $ 669,980
Pending Chaparral Springs @ Oakhurst Country Club, spacious 2 master bedrooms, 2.5 baths with gourmet kitchen with Oak Cabinets, Tile Counter tops, dining room area overlooking backyard patio and designer paint throughout. $ 409,980
Happy Valentine’s Day
Pending Black Diamond @ Oakhurst Country Club 3 spacious Bedrooms with an inviting master bedroom suite, 2.5 baths and formal dining and living room. Family room opens out to a covered deck and spa. This lot has the best views of Mt. Diablo and Golf Course. $569,980
From THE LYNNE FRENCH TEAM From left Julie Clairmont, Heather Gray, Sharon Sundin, Angelique Stone, Lynne and Danny French, Ruth Reed, Julie Dunn and Jeff Gillett.
January 30, 2004
Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com
Enter the Pioneer’s essay contest We believe that young people give great thought to current issues and events. And we believe that they understand the problems facing our nation and world. And we believe they offer innovative and creative problem solving. In our Presidents’ Day Essay Contest, Clayton students from all grade levels and all schools have the opportunity to tell us what they would do if they were “President for
vate or parochial school. Writer of the winning essay will receive a check payable to their school for $100 to spend as the student directs. The winning essays from each school will be published in our February 13 issue. Essays must be at least 250 words and no more than 650 words, typewritten and submitted electronically as a Word or Word Perfect attachment to an e-mail sent to essays@claytonpioneer.com, or on a CD or diskette. Essays must be submitted by 5 p.m., Wednesday, February 4 Essays will be judged by on Dan Ashley, ABC7 News and the Clayton Pioneer staff, on the following: Quality of ideas and clarity of expres-
Page 3
IT'S A DOG'S WORLD & CATS RULE at
Concord Feed
Abraham Lincoln sion, creativity and composition and style (including grammar, spelling and punctuation) Please be sure your entry includes your name, address, telephone number, school and grade. GOOD LUCK!
Bring this coupon for $5 off
any 33lb.
bag of dog food or larger Expires: 02/13/04
George Washington a Year.” The contest is open to students, K-12, who are residents of Clayton. Judges will choose one winning essay and an honorable mention from Mt. Diablo Elementary, Diablo View Middle School, Clayton Valley High School and a pri-
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P.O. Box 1246 6200 Center Street, Suite F Clayton, CA 94517 Office: 925.672.0500 Fax: 925.672.6580
EXPERIENCED AND AFFORDABLE TUTOR. Have been working in special ed/resources for the past four years. I have a BA in liberal studies and can tutor kindergarten through 6 grade. Rate is $15/hr for Clayton residents only. Available 7 days/week. 672-4693; kinagolf@sbcglobal.net
925.825.9530 also in: Pleasant Hill: 228 Hookston Road
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ONE WEEK AT LUXURY RESORT on the beach in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Sleeps 4. Available Feb. 23 through Mar. 1, 2004. $500. Call (925) 672-8182
PERENNIAL GARDEN DESIGNS and Consultations, by Nicole Hackett, aka Garden Girl. Plant the right perennials in all the right places. Add curb appeal and interest. Together, we can create a magazine beautiful garden. Call or email for price or to schedule appointment. GardenGirl94517@aol.com, (925) 408-7792, voicemail
A112
Tamara and Robert Steiner, Co-Publishers Tamara Steiner, Editor Jill Bedecarre, Assistant Editor; Display Advertising Jay Bedecarre, Sports Karen Laible, Church News Rafi Hashemi, Graphic Design JoAnn Ricks, Copy Editor Lee Muller, Administrative Assistant
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over the phone. Or, come by the office at 6200 Center Street, Suite F, Clayton between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Rates are $12 for 30 words and 20 cents for each additional word. Classified deadline dates are printed above. The Clayton Pioneer will not accept any ad that discriminates on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, nationality, family status or disability. We reserve the right to reject any advertising we believe is unsuitable. All classified ads must be paid for in advance.
HOW TO PLACE AN AD Go to our Web site, claytonpioneer.com. Click on the Classified Advertising tab on the left side of the page. Complete the form to submit your ad. Mail a check for the number of insertions to P.O. Box 1246, Clayton, CA 94517. Or, call the Clayton Pioneer, 925-672-0500 to place your ad
LET US KNOW Weddings, engagements, anniversaries, births and deaths all weave together as part of the fabric of our community. Please let us know of these important events. We ask only that the announcement be for a Clayton resident. You will find the appropriate form for your announcement on our Web site. Also on our Web site are forms for submitting
Community Calendar items and press releases for your organization.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR The Clayton Pioneer welcomes letters from our readers. As a general rule, letters should be less than two double spaced pages and submitted at least one week prior to publication date. Letters concerning current issues will have priority. We may edit letters for length and clarity. All letters will be published at the editor’s discretion. Please include your name, address and daytime telephone number. We will not print letters from “anonymous.” You can also e-mail your letter to tamara@clayton pioneer.com
GEORGE VUJNOVICH, Broker 6160 Center Street, Suite E, Clayton 94517
Tel: (925) 672-4433; Fax: (925) 672-4424
Each Office Is Independently Owned & Operated.
georgevujnovich.com Clayton Market Update Provided by George Vujnovich of Better Homes Realty
ADDRESS
24 Eastbrook Court 226 Jeffery Ranch 11 Mt. McKinley Court 5195 Keller Ridge Drive 1027 Pebble Beach Drive 34 Long Creek Circle 9 Herriman Court 5015 Keller Ridge 1202 Bridlewood Court 46 Long Creek Circle 805 Condor Place
PRICE
$
584,000 506,000 639,980 680,000 919,000 326,000 580,000 485,000 844,000 375,000 359,950
SALE DATE
01/14/04 01/14/04 01/08/04 01/08/04 01/06/04 01/06/04 01/05/04 01/02/04 12/31/03 12/30/03 12/22/03
SF
2056 1850 1981 2542 3335 966 1905 1710 3300 1378 1252
BED/BATH
4/3.5 3/2 4/2 4/2.5 4/2.5 2/2 4/2.5 3/2.5 4/3.5 3/2 2/2.5
ADDRESS
913 Arrowhead Terrace 8012 Kelok Way 51 Mt. Tamalpais 219 Round House Place 321 Mt. Palomar Place 101 Hurd Place 80 Nottingham Place 5614 Bettencourt Drive 25 Barcelona Way 411 Hummingbird 139 El Portal Place
PRICE
539,950 719,000 599,000 489,000 635,000 650,000 525,000 627,330 640,000 $ 622,000 769,980
SALE DATE
12/18/03 12/18/03 12/15/03 12/10/03 12/05/03 12/05/03 12/04/03 12/04/03 12/03/03 12/02/03 12/02/03
SF
1939 2843 2619 1939 2694 2115 1850 2479 2324 2467 2428
ADDRESS
BED/BATH
3/2.5 4/3 4/2.5 3/2.5 5/2.5 4/2.5 3/2 4/3 4/3 4/3 4/2.5
1077 Feather Circle 1755 Indian Wells Way 50 La Honda Way 6 Long Creek Circle 1813 Yolanda Circle 916 Arrowhead Terrace 6031 Golden Eagle 1206 Easley Drive 5171 Keller Ridge Drive 882 Diablo Downs Drive 590 Mt. Dell Drive
All information contained herein is deemed reliable but not guaranteed
PRICE
502,000 374,000 665,000 325,000 588,000 470,000 719,000 485,000 649,000 $1,150,000 445,000
SALE DATE
12/01/03 11/26/03 11/26/03 11/21/03 11/21/03 11/20/03 11/20/03 11/19/03 11/14/03 11/14/03 11/13/03
SF
1703 1235 2390 966 2398 1939 2854 2188 2,843 3,630 1,926
BED/BATH
3/2.5 2/2 4/2.5 2/2 5/2.5 3/2.5 4/3 4/2.5 4/3 4/4.5 4/2.5
Page 4
Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com
Senior Center celebrates The new Concord Senior Center will be celebrating its one year anniversary in May. The Center offers a variety of programs including adult education, arts and crafts classes and games. Seniors can also book trips through the travel club. One of the best deals going is a monthly concert series. For just $5 per person, the whole family (all ages welcome) is invited to attend these Sunday afternoon events. On Jan.18, the concert was "Old Time" songs. Diamond Terrace resident, Maggie Silva, says "the Senior Center is beautiful and the music is good. I liked the jokes they told, too." Mary Jacops added, "It reminded me of the good old days." The Senior Center offers many benefits to the community. They run the CC Café, a noon mealtime program related to Meals-on-Wheels. Besides nutritional value, getting together for meals outside of the home is an important social event for seniors. Keeping ourselves "going" as
Ashley, from Page 1
NAOMI GARY SENIOR MOMENTS we age often means we need to keep relationships growing. As we age we lose friends to disease and death, it is imperative that we continue to make new friends. When a spouse dies, a widow has the option of staying in her home alone and isolated…or she can have a network of friends at a community center ready to help her through the grieving process. Clayton residents should know that the Concord Senior Center represents our area for social and nutritional programs for seniors. Don't hesitate to call for more information about all of their great events and programs for people of all ages. Contact the Center at 925671-3419. For a listing of events, go to www.cityofconcord.org
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smiles Spalding. Dan was already dressed for work–camera ready in suit and tie. We gathered in the living room, joined by Molly, the family's Wheaton Terrier. It was a rainy day and Spalding had flipped the switch on Molly's dog door–the mud outside was to stay outside. But Molly had an agenda, and it involved the living room carpet. Fifteen minutes into the interview, Dan was down on his perfectly tailored knee with a spray bottle of something "guaranteed to remove stain and odor," goodcheerfully scrubbing away. With the housekeeping chore and Dan's private talk with Molly finished, we settled down to some serious conversation. I asked him if he thought there was merit to the frequent criticism of television news as being more entertainment than reporting and analysis. “There's no doubt that USB Today and "news magazine" shows have put pressure on the networks,” he said. "Certainly we've made concessions to making it entertaining. We package the information in a way to make it palatable and presentable. Viewers expect the graphics and the split frames." And there are severe time constraints. Things have to move fast. To illustrate, he contrasts the coverage of the View Name war with that of Iraq. During the View Name war, it was two or three days before war coverage was aired. There was time to think about it, to write about it and to ready the presentation. “In Iraq, we are live on the battlefield. Reporters are covering the action as it happens. It's not a show. It's real and it moves fast.” "Some days, there's just more stuff to cover than we're able to cover," he said. "I think we get more credit than we deserve...and more blame." "We (as reporters) have a front row seat to some really amazing events," says Dan, shifting to a more personal viewpoint. "We are live on the scene of major world events. How fortunate I have been to be present and a part of these things – both the good and the bad. Recalling the events of Columbine, Dan says "I was on a plane to Denver within two hours of the shooting and I just didn't want to go. But, in a strange way, it was a rewarding experience. I was amazed at how kind the people were and how gentle the media was in the midst of the tragedy. Even in the darkest moments, there was a some kind of positive spirit. People were trying to gain some under-
standing. It wasn't easy, but it was a growing experience. I didn't want to overanalyze my feelings, but I knew I would be a better reporter and a better person for having been there." I asked him if there was a story he didn't cover live, but wished he had. "I didn't cover Ground Zero," he said. He hasn't been to New York since 9/11, but, like all of us, he remembers the attacks and the days following with brutal clarity. "I was restless the night before," he remembers, adding that he isn't a particularly superstitions or intuitive person. "I kept having a feeling of dread–like there was going to be an earthquake." He got up briefly at 6 a.m. (9 a.m. in New York), walked around the house, got a drink of water and went back to bed. "Jessica (co-anchor, Jessica Aguirre) called me a little while later, crying, ‘they're gone, the towers are gone.' That was another day I just didn't want to go to work." Our experiences are the same as everyone else's, he explains. Only there's no escape–no kind of mental break. "By Sunday, I was just so profoundly sad. I hadn't had a minute to really feel anything. When I walked into church, there was a big American flag hanging at the front and we sang ‘God Bless America.' I was overcome by sobbing." With so much happening so fast, who decides what is "news" and what to say about it? On Monday, Jan 19, I followed Dan around the studio as he prepared for the 11 O'clock News. It was a "hot" news night – John Kerry had just won the Iowa primary
DAN ASHLEY ly write their own material. "People would be very surprised to know how much we write," Dan explains. "Nothing comes out of our mouths that we don't want to say." When he isn't anchoring the news, Dan often is behind the scenes doing research and writing more in depth coverage of current events. An award winning journalist, he has been recognized by the Radio and Television News Directors Association of Northern California for Best Newscast, 60 Minutes and Best Newscast, 30 Minutes. He has won the prestigious DuPont Columbia and the Edward R. Morrow Awards for his work in investigative reporting. He is proudest of his story on Mumia Abu-Jamal an African American journalist on death row for killing a police officer. The case is an explosive one and
Photo courtesy Jessamyn Photography
THE ASHLEY FAMILY, Bennett, Dan, Spalding, Molly and Parker and there was a lot to say. That was the obvious lead story, and was covered primarily out of ABC in New York. Other local stories included the UC student who had died of meningitis that day, a new machine that per-
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forms CPR and a lighter piece on Tiny Tim, a one-pound dog. Story count for a given program comes from the combined effort of the news team–reporters, writers, the producers and the anchors. But, the anchors actual-
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Dan took some heavy criticism from some of Abu-Jamal's supporters. "We did a good job on this story," Dan said. "In this business, if you aren't raising a stink, you aren't doing your job." When he isn't raising a stink
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in the newsroom, Dan is probably playing golf. With a single digit handicap, Dan plays a couple of times a week, mostly at Oakhurst. "If I could get on the course at midnight, I would," he laughs. A tall, wholesome, good looking man with laughing eyes and a wide, warm smile, Dan is described universally by his friends and colleagues as "the nicest guy you'll ever want to meet." Friend and golf pro, Dave Gray, describes Dan as "the most genuine person you'll ever meet. What you see is what there is." During a few minutes at the studio, with Dan out of earshot, co-anchor Jessica Aguirre says "I guess this is where I'm supposed to tell you all bad stuff. Well, there isn't any. He's really a nice guy and he'll do anything for you, even hang wallpaper." A few months before, Jessica was astounded at the outrageous bids she was getting from paper hangers to run a border around her daughter's small bedroom. "Dan said, ‘no problem–I'll do it.' So, on our dinner break we went to my house and while I cooked dinner, he threw an apron over his suit and put up the border. We were back in time for the evening news." She adds, "I think we all get along so well because we're all very family oriented." A true southern gentlemen and a man of traditional values, Dan was born and raised in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, the oldest of four children. His father is a retired physician and professor and his mother, a homemaker. Dan attended schools in Chapel Hill, graduating from the University of North Carolina with bachelor degrees in both English and Speech Communication. He met his wife while both were students at UNC. Also raised in the south, Spalding, lovely and gracious, is woman who is comfortable in her own skin. She knows what she's about, and she likes it. "I'm first a wife and mom," she says with confidence. She is also an accomplished singer, adds Dan. Spalding is a soprano with the worship band at St. Matthews Presbyterian Church in Walnut Creek where they are members. "I don't know how she gets up in front of all those people to sing," Dan says with admiration. "I would rather go on global television and ad lib for an hour than do what she does." Spalding also holds a BA in speech, but her work was primarily in radio. After they graduated, they worked their way across the country. "We'd stop in some town and look for jobs. He'd interview with the TV stations and I'd hit the radio stations. He had much better luck than I did, she smiles." They have two boys, Parker, 12 and Bennett, 10. Both boys attend Tabernacle School in Concord. So, what's next for the Ashleys? I ask. Where to from here? Dan thinks for a minute. "I might want to go to New York someday, but not now. My job gives us a unique position in the community. It's fun and a privilege to do the things I get to do–the July 4th parade, the Christmas Tree Lighting. I think we'd be perfectly happy right here for the next 20 years." Spalding agrees.
January 30, 2004
Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com
Page 5
Interviewing 101: a front line report So I just returned from my first job interview in 7 years. I DEFINITELY need to practice my hoop jumping skills. In today’s corporate world the folks who decide if you’re worthy are typically A) Human Resources and Regional Vice Presidents, B) located in such hot destination spots as Munster Indiana, and C) have, in most cases, recently volunteered to take part in a frontal lobotomy/Nazi cloning experiment. Phase One of the process begins with the telephone interview. This can be difficult because of the inability to read body language and facial expressions. However, you are also free to conduct the interview “au natural” or give the interviewer the finger, or both. Be creative and have fun with it. Providing you do not come across as a babbling idiot, curse too often, and have at least SOME of the qualifications they’re looking for, chances are you will move on to Phase Two—the “Face to Face” interview. Prior to the actual interview
you’ll be asked to complete a “personality” test, so that HR can get a better idea as to “who you are.” If, upon completion, you are met by office security, you can assume that you are not the right candidate for the job. Thank you for playing; please exit stage left. If deemed sufficiently sane you will move on to the face to face portion of the interview. You MUST get past this person if you are to advance to Phase Three. By “get past” I do not mean that you employ a haymaker and a knee to the groin. No, here is where you must IMPRESS them with your winning smile, witty demeanor and if all else fails your qualifications. For the sake of argument and this column, let’s assume that the choice is between you, the babbling idiot and the homicidal maniac, and YOU are chosen to move on to Phase Three, “The Home Office Visit”. Now believe me when I say the home office will NOT be located anywhere one might actually CHOOSE to visit. Again, expect to end up somewhere
JOE ROMANO
SO, ANYWAY like Omaha, Nebraska, Junction City, Kansas or Concord, California. Former residents of these cities quit whining. You know I’m right. You moved didn’t you? The home office trip is when you really get to shine and where you’ll have the opportunity to impress the top brass. In order to test your mettle they will fly you in late on the night before your interview with instructions to attend a 7 a.m. breakfast meeting. Here you will be peppered with ostensibly chitchat type questions, when in fact they’re trying to determine how functional you
are in the morning. Your meeting with the Human Resource person will be presented as the feel good portion of the interview. Don’t be fooled. They are actually trying to gauge how much of a legal liability you might become. A word of advice, off color jokes, while typically a great ice breaker, do not go over well with the HR staff. In fact, most HR folks I’ve encountered have completely lost their ability to laugh; afraid they’ll be accused of inappropriate mirth. No home office visit would be complete with out the panel interview. Here you will sit across the table from anywhere between 4 and 400 executives who will derive great pleasure in asking you why in the name of all things holy they should even CONSIDER hiring a worthless piece of cow dung like you? This is a trick question because as we all know in places like Omaha, Nebraska, cow dung is considered a form of currency. Just smile politely and sprinkle whatever response you can muster with terms like “win-win” “mission statement”,
“shared values”, “buy in” and “team work”. Clearly, they’ll see you’ve got the right stuff. In the end the decision to hire you will come down to just one thing, were you less “cow dung-like” than your competition? This is very subjective so my advice is not to sweat it. Be yourself, enjoy the free trip and
rack up a huge expense tab thereby proving to them that you are unquestionably “Executive” material. Joe Romano is a Clayton resident, a family man and the Pioneer’s “all around funny guy.” E-mail him at jromano02@yahoo.com
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Astrological lost and found? “I know it hasn’t been stolen. It’s at the house in Berkeley or somewhere at the ranch where I spend most of my time now. But I’ve been looking for it for several months with no success. Can you help me find my camera?” This client was asking a “Horary” question. Horary is a branch of specialized astrology, and has its own set of rules one must follow very precisely to do it correctly. I noted the time of her question and told her I’d get back to her. A horoscope chart is a mirror of a moment in time. It accurately reflects that moment, whether the moment is the birth of a baby, an animal, an event or even a question. When you apply the correct set of rules to the chart, you get correct answers. I constructed a chart based on the time this question was asked, followed the rules meticulously and came up with these results: The camera can be found, but it is well hidden, perhaps with things covering it or has fallen behind or between something. It is located in the north east area of the house where you spend most of your time (the ranch) It is with some other things. Perhaps some tools or electrical items and its in a dark place or with old things, maybe some junk. When the client returned to her ranch, she went to the north east area of the house, into a closet (dark place where old stuff is kept) and found the camera, tucked behind some old clothes, near her vacuum cleaner (electrical tools or equipment) and some tools—just as the chart had indicated. It is a closet where she usually only puts old clothes she no longer wears, and other “stuff” she’s not using, but isn’t ready to discard. She wasn’t accustomed to keeping her camera there. Sometimes the chart indicates that the article is no longer recoverable. In one case the client had moved three times, and hadn’t
JANET BOWMANJOHNSON
ASTRO TALK
seen the article since the first move. The chart indicated it would not be found. In another case, the client had recently been out of the country. The chart for the lost article was surrounded by travel indicators and stated very clearly that the article was long gone. While disappointing, this is
still informative. It can be particularly disappointing if you were set on finding the thing, or as in one case, the item missing was a cat. The chart indicated the cat was a long way from home and had been hurt or killed. The indicators for a return were unfavorable. Based on the chart results I believe the cat is dead. That’s difficult to tell a client. What’s exciting is the potential for this branch of astrology and the ways it’s currently being used. Successfully applied, it can locate missing people. The chart is drawn for the time the person was reported missing. The chart evidently indicates whether or not the person is still living; it gives a description of their location (hilly, near water, etc.), the direction in which they moved (or were moved) and sometimes the approximate distance. Again, a find is not guaranteed, just information that may not be available anywhere else, and perhaps that can lead to closure if not to a
happy reunion. Wow, what an incredible tool, Astrology! Next time: Retrograde Mercury, a time for what?
Janet Bowman Johnson, MA, PMAFA is an accredited astrologer with more than 30 years of experience. Questions and comments about this column are encouraged. Contact Janet@astro-insights.com or call Astrological Insights at 925-673-0658.
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January 30, 2004
Clayton Community Calendar PLEASE SUBMIT YOUR CLAYTON COMMUNITY CALENDAR EVENTS BY 5 P.M., FEB. 2 FOR THE FEB. 13 ISSUE. FAX TO 672-6580 OR E-MAIL calendar@claytonpioneer.com
BUSINESS & GOVERNMENT FEB. 3, 17, MAR. 2, 16 Clayton City Council Meeting @ Clayton Library 7pm. City of Clayton City Council meets 1st & 3rd Tuesday of month. Open to the public. Clayton Library Community Room. www.ci.clayton.ca.us 673-7304 FEB. 3, 10, 17, 24 Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors Meeting 9 a.m. County Board of Supervisors holds regular weekly meetings Tuesday mornings. Open to the public. County Administration Building, 651 Pine Street, Room 107, Martinez. www.co.contracosta.ca.us 335-1900 FEB. 4 Deadline for Clayton Pioneer Advertising in February 13 Issue Last chance to place advertising or to submit a calendar listing for February 13 issue of the Pioneer. www.claytonpioneer.com Jill Bedecarre 672-0500 FEB. 10, 24, MAR. 9, 23 Clayton Planning Commission Meeting @ Clayton Library 7 p.m. City of Clayton Planning Commission meets 2nd & 4th Tuesday of month. Jan. 27 meeting will be a joint meeting with City Council to discuss Goals and Objectives for 2004. Open to the public. Clayton Library Community Room. www.ci.clayton.ca.us 673-7304 FEB. 12, MAR. 11 Clayton Community Services Commission Meeting @ City Hall 7 p.m. City of Clayton Community Services Commission meets 2nd Thursday of month. Open to the public. Clayton City Hall Conference Room, 6000 Heritage Trail. www.ci.clayton.ca.us 673-7304 FEB. 13 Free Rose Pruning Principles @ R&M Pool, Patio & Gardens 10 a.m. & 3 p.m. Free Rose Pruning Clinic gives hands-on instruction. Bring your favorite bypass pruners. Covering hybrid tea, tree, climbers, carpet & shrub rose pruning techniques. R&M Pool, Patio and Gardens, 6780 Marsh Creek Rd., Clayton. 672-0207 FEB. 18 Deadline for Clayton Pioneer Advertising in February 27 Issue Last chance to place advertising or to submit a calendar listing for February 13 issue of the Pioneer. www.claytonpioneer.com Jill Bedecarre 672-0500 FEB. 26, MAR. 25 Clayton Business & Community Association Meeting @ Oakhurst 6:30 p.m. Monthly dinner meeting on last non-holiday Thursday of month. Reservations due by Tuesday noon. Oakhurst Country Club. Ed Hartley 672-2272 APR. 3 Fertilizer & Soil Presentation & R&M Pool, Patio & Gardens 10 a.m. Fertilizer and Soil Presentation by Industry Expert Tom Priest. Informative rundown on fertilizers & soils for the garden. All questions will be answered. Presentation repeated on May 1. R&M Pool, Patio and Gardens, 6780 Marsh Creek Rd., Clayton. 672-0207 JULY 4 Fourth of July Parade Volunteers Needed 7 a.m.-5 p.m. In order to keep the annual parade tradition going, Clayton needs volunteers to help the day of the parade. If you or your organization can help sometime between the hours of 7 a.m.-5 p.m. please contact Rhonda Basore, Clayton City Clerk, 673-7304.
CLUBS & ORGANIZATIONS FEB. 5, 12, 19, 26 Rotary Club of Clayton Valley Concord Sunrise @ Oakhurst 7 a.m. Meets every Thursday for breakfast meeting that usually features a speaker. Oakhurst Country Club. www.claytonvalleyrotary.org Chuck Graham 689-7640 FEB. 5, 12, 19, 26 Weights Watchers Weekly Meeting 10 a.m., 5 & 6:30 p.m. Weekly Weight Watchers weigh-in & meeting on Thursday. Prospective members welcome. Contra Costa Farm Bureau, 5554 Clayton Rd., Concord. 800/326-8450 x2023
Thursday of the month. Reservations due by Tuesday noon. Oakhurst Country Club. Ed Hartley 672-2272 FEB. 27-29 St. Bonaventure Annual Men’s Retreat @ San Damiano 7th annual retreat sponsored by Men’s Spiritual Network at St. Bonaventure Catholic Community will include Roman Catholic themes but is open to all men who seek a weekend of spiritual growth, prayer & reflection with Fr. Mark Wiesner. San Damiano Retreat Center, Danville. www.stbonaventure.net/msnretreat Rich Gierak 6730504 FEB. 28 AAUW Monthly Meeting @ Diamond Terrace 12 p.m. Clayton Branch of AAUW will be hosting monthly meeting as a joint luncheon with Concord Branch. Annual Educational Foundation Luncheon. Diamond Terrace, 6401 Center St. Dee Totman 672-6420 MAR. 12 AARP Chapter 524 Meeting & Speaker 1:30 p.m. will have as a guest speaker Dr. Anne Steiner who will talk on Beyond Limits: Freedom with Chronic Illness. The meeting will be at the Pleasant Hill Senior Center, 233 Gregory Lane in Pleasant Hill. The meeting Starts at MAR. 22 AAUW Monthly Meeting @ Diamond Terrace 7:30 p.m. Clayton Branch of AAUW will be hosting monthly meeting. “Art and Meditation” will be presentation topic. Public is invited. Diamond Terrace, 6401 Center St. Dee Totman 672-6420
EVENTS & ENTERTAINMENT JAN. 30, FEB. 6, 13, 20, 27 Digital Thunder Bowling @ Clayton Bowl 4-6 p.m. Digital Thunder Bowling on Friday afternoons for kids includes music, lights and bumper lanes. Clayton Valley Bowl. 6894631 FEB. 6 MDSL Crab Feed @ Zandonella’s Restaurant 7 p.m. Mt. Diablo Soccer League hosts Crab Feed as fund-raiser for additional trainer expenses to work with MDSL players. Zandonella’s just celebrated its 10th anniversary & will provide first-class atmosphere and meal. Raffle with great prizes & other fun events. Zandonella’s Restaurant, 2222 Golf Club Rd., Pittsburg. Ian Brodie 672-3532 FEB. 8 Pet Vaccinations @ Yardbirds 10:45-11:15 a.m. Dogs and cats can get all their vaccinations from a mobile clinic. Yardbirds, 5400 Ygnacio Valley Rd. www.yolanovet.com 672-2790 FEB. 13 World Changing Events Captured on Film @ CSU Hayward Concord 7-8:30 p.m. Jim Forsher, CSU Hayward Communications professor & award-winning documentary filmmaker, presents this look at first 6 decades of 20th century and the greatest events of the day which were seen for the first time in newsreels. Free admission. CSU Hayward Concord Campus, 4700 Ygnacio Valley Rd., Concord. www.ccc.csuhayward.edu 602-6772 FEB. 14 Diamond Terrace First Anniversary & Valentine’s Day 3:30-5 p.m. Help Diamond Terrace celebrate First Anniversary in Clayton and Valentine’s Day, too! Refreshments & entertainment. Free admission and public invited. Diamond Terrace Senior Retirement Living, 6401 Center St. 524-5100 FEB. 15 Clayton Historical Society’s Camellia Tea 1-4 p.m. Clayton Historical Society has its annual Camellia Silver Tea to honor pioneer families of Clayton. Enjoy tea, coffee & cookies. Check out new museum Clayton History exhibits and beautiful camellias locally grown and cut. Children welcome when accompanied by an adult. Admission free, donations accepted. Clayton Museum, 6101 Main St. www.claytonhs.com 672-0240
FEB. 5, MAR. 4 Sons in Retirement Monthly Meeting @ Oakhurst 12 noon. Sons in Retirement John Muir Branch 19 holds its monthly meeting on 1st Thursday of month. Oakhurst Country Club. 6726418
FEB. 17 President’s Day Social @ Diamond Terrace 4:30-5:30 p.m. Are you the president of your club, school or other organization? Join us as we honor all things presidential on U.S. President’s Day. Diamond Terrace Senior Retirement Living, 6401 Center St. 524-5100
FEB. 10, MAR. 9 Clayton Valley Women’s Club Luncheon @ Holy Cross Church 11 a.m. Clayton Valley Women’s Club meets 2nd Tuesday of month. First meeting of new year includes annual Prayer Service followed by enchilada lunch. Holy Cross Lutheran Church, 1092 Alberta Way, Concord. Mary Tarantino 798-3152
FEB. 20-MAR. 13 My Fair Lady @ CTA Crossroads Theatre, Walnut Creek Thurs.-Sun. 8pm, Sat. matinee 2pm. The World’s Greatest Musical by Lerner and Loewe is the standard by which all musicals are measured at acclaimed CTA Crossroads Theatre. 1277 Boulevard Way, Walnut Creek. www.ctacrossroads.org 944-0597
FEB. 13 AARP Senior Fair 1:30 p.m. AARP Chapter 524 presents AARP Senior Fair, all of the AARP resources in one room. Pleasant Hill Senior Center, 233 Gregory Lane, Pleasant Hill. Fred Nelson 451-1292
MAR. 3 City of Clayton’s 40th Anniversary Clayton became a city in 1964 and festivities marking the anniversary will be held. Clayton City Hall Conference Room, 6000 Heritage Trail. www.ci.clayton.ca.us 673-7304
FEB. 18, MAR. 17 Ygnacio Valley Republican Women Monthly Meeting 11:15 a.m. The Ygnacio Valley Republican Women meet the third Wednesday of the month and feature a speaker talking about hot topics in the political and national affairs arena. Optional lunch at 12:15. Oakhurst Country Club. www.yvrwf.org 838-2182
MAR. 19 Clayton Valley High Jazz Dinner Dance & Silent Auction 6:30-9:30 p.m. CVHS Music Boosters hold 7th annual Jazz Dinner Dance & Silent Auction. The event includes catered dinner, live music by the jazz and stage bands, including guest soloists, dancing & silent auction. To order tickets contact Wendy Lowe 672-0284. Clayton Valley High School. www.mdusd.k12.ca.us/claytonvalley 682-7474
FEB. 26, MAR. 25 Clayton Business & Community Association Monthly Meeting @ Oakhurst 6:30pm. Monthly dinner meeting on last non-holiday
APR. 23 Historical Society Annual Spring Pot Luck 6 p.m. Clayton Historical Society annual program & pot luck. Odd Fellows Hall, Cowell Rd., Concord. www.claytonhs.com 672-0240 APR. 24 Clayton Cleans Up 9 a.m.-12 noon. Together we can keep Clayton Clean. Organize your neighborhood, scout, church or other civic group. Individuals welcome. Bring your trimmers and gloves. Help trim plants & pick up litter. Contact Dana Deely at 672-8645 for more info or to sign up. City of Clayton. www.ci.clayton.ca.us 673-7304
SCHOOLS & EDUCATION FEB. 2 Vocabulary Instruction Strengthens Comprehension @ CSU Concord 4-5:30 p.m. Shira Lubliner, CSU Hayward professor of teacher education, discusses vocabulary & comprehension which are two of 5 components of reading instruction designated as essential by “No Child Left Behind,” educational reform bill signed by President Bush. Dr. Lubliner will share methods utilized in the study & discuss importance of findings. Free admission. CSU Hayward Concord Campus, 4700 Ygnacio Valley Rd., Concord. www.ccc.csuhayward.edu 602-6772 FEB. 3, 10, 17, 24 Patty Cakes @ Clayton Library 11 a.m. Story time for children up to 3 years on Tuesdays. Clayton Library. www.cclib.org 673-0659 FEB. 5, 12, 19, 26 Picture Book Time @ Clayton Library 11 a.m. Story time on Thursdays for children 3-5 years who may attend without parents. Clayton Library www.cclib.org 673-0659 FEB. 7 Clayton Valley Athletic Boosters Crab Feed & Auction 6 p.m. 9th annual crab feed benefiting Clayton Valley High School Athletic Boosters as they support CVHS sports teams. Celebrity MC and CVHS graduate Sam Williams of the Oakland Raiders. Dinner, auction, raffle, music. Tickets at Mudville Grill, Skipolini’s Pizza & Diablo Foods meat dept. Clayton Valley High School. www.mdusd.k12.ca.us/claytonvalley Laurie Warner 676-9521 FEB. 11 USA Patriot Act: Liberty & Security at War Lecture @ CSU Concord 2-3:30 p.m. Emily Stoper, CSU Hayward professor of political science, discusses USA Patriot Act. President Bush defines the “war on terrorism” as a war for liberty against “the enemies of freedom.” Yet very soon after Sept. 11, 2001, he signed USA Patriot Act, which significantly reduces liberties protected by Bill of Rights. CSU Hayward Concord Campus, 4700 Ygnacio Valley Rd., Concord. www.ccc.csuhayward.edu 602-6772 FEB. 19 Captain Underpants Fun-O-Rama @ Clayton Library 3:30-4:30 p.m. Action, thrills and “laffs” with Gary T and his PoetTree plus a visit from Captain Underpants himself! For kindergarten & older children. Registration required. Clayton Library www.cclib.org 673-0659 FEB. 25 Lewis and Clark Revisited Lecture @ CSU Hayward Concord 7-8:30 p.m. Greg MacGregor, CSU Hayward professor emeritus of art, retracing route of Lewis & Clark’s expedition (1804-06) using best research available, often returning to original campsites and views as seen by the explorers. His amazing photographs will be shared as well as quotes from the expedition journals. Free admission. CSU Hayward Concord Campus, 4700 Ygnacio Valley Rd., Concord. www.ccc.csuhayward.edu 602-6772 FEB. 29 Benefit Crab Feed at Linguini’s 6 p.m. Chris Hurd suffered serious injury during 2003 high school football season & his friends are holding benefit crab feed. Hurd spent 3 years at Clayton Valley High before starting his senior year last fall at Antioch High. CVHS and Antioch High football players & cheerleaders will be helping. Oakland Raider great Art Thoms, current Raider Sam Williams and ex-San Francisco 49er Dan Colchico on hand. Colchico is guest chef. Raffle, auction, gourmet crab dinner. Linguini’s, 1508 Kirker Pass Rd., Clayton. 672-6868 MAR. 10 Where is Genetic Research Taking Us Lecture @ CSU Concord 2-3:30 p.m. Diane Beeson, CSU Hayward sociology professor, discusses social implications of genetic testing. Developments in reproductive research & technology (reprogenetics) have fueled major policy debates on issues such as embryo research, inheritable genetic modification & human cloning. Dr. Beeson has addressed the social implications of genetic testing since the 1970s and has done postdoctoral research at UCSF & Stanford. CSU Hayward Concord Campus, 4700 Ygnacio Valley Rd., Concord. www.ccc.csuhayward.edu 6026772 MAR. 18 You Make a Difference Awards @ Mountain View Elementary School 7:30 p.m. MDUSD Community Advisory Committee for Special Education hosts awards night for teachers, students & community members whose service to the special education student population stands out significantly at their school site. Nomination forms available in office at each MDUSD school site. Anyone may nominate a teacher, student or community member who works to support MDUSD special education students. Nomination deadline Feb. 12. Mountain View Elementary School, 1705 Thornwood Dr., Concord. www.mdusd.k12.ca.us 682-8000
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January 30, 2004
Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com
Page 7
Hikers’ Haven The Falls Loop Trail
BY KEVIN PARKER Special to the Pioneer
I want to officially wish everyone a Happy New Year and what a better way to do it than my first official “Hike of
KEVIN PARKER
AVID OUTDOORSMAN the Week” for 2004. I have finally broken down and purchased a GPS, so hopefully I can be more accurate with time, distance and elevation gain for future hikes. The Falls Loop Trail is one of the most popular hikes on Mount Diablo. If you do a search on the Web, quite a few articles have been written about this little gem of a hike as well. However, being a Clayton local, I have thrown in a few twists that make this hike all the better. In order to see the falls, I recommend hiking this series of trails in the late winter or early spring. Once the rains subside, some of the falls can become non-existent until the next rain. Luckily, we were blessed with a beautiful
Sunday in early January, which opened the gate for summer-like weather and a spectacular view of a half dozen waterfalls. Be prepared for muddy conditions in Donner Canyon this time of year. But remember muddy boots equal outstanding waterfalls in Diablo Country. Begin hiking on Donner Canyon Road and make a left onto Hetherrington Trail, just past the remnants of the old Donner Cabin. Hetherrington Trail joins back up with Donner Canyon Road, so either route will get you there, but Hetherrington Trail is far superior in terms of scenery and trail conditions during the rainy months. Once you reach Donner Canyon Road, continue up a steep hill towards the Donner C a n y o n / M e r i d i a n Ridge/Cardinet Oaks Junction. Consider the hike thus far a warm-up of sorts, but don’t despair, the falls will soon reveal themselves. You now have a choice to make regarding which direction you want to hike the actual falls loop. It seems like most hikers veer left onto Cardinet Oaks Trail and complete the loop in a clockwise direction. I recommend making a right onto Meridian Ridge Road and heading counterclockwise. With most hikers trekking in the opposite direction, you will have less crowding on the trail in your hiking direction. Furthermore, I prefer to hike uphill on muddy and unstable trails.
Photos courtesy Kevin Parker / Clayton Pioneer
FALLS LOOP TRAIL, heading down Either direction, however, will provide a challenging and exhilarating experience. After a short uphill climb
on Meridian Ridge Road, you will reach an easy-to-miss single-track trail called Middle Trail. This path winds its way through a maze of thick brush and moist vegetation which ultimately exposes a series of
canyons, ridges and views of Mt. Olympia and North Peak. Veer left onto Falls Trail at the next junction and continue over Donner Creek as you reach your first waterfall of the hike. The next mile of hiking reveals 3-4 additional waterfalls depending on the amount of water from recent rains. The falls in Wild Oat Canyon are by far the most spectacular. Almost all of these waterfalls can be seen from the trail and various lookout points located adjacent to the Falls Trail. There is evidence of trails which lead up to the base of some of the waterfalls, but I highly recommend staying on the main trails. By doing so, you will avoid getting ticks and support the Park Rangers’ constant efforts to preserve these areas. As the Falls Trail winds its way downhill through a series of switchbacks and heads you in the direction of Cardinet Oaks Road, you can stop to
enjoy more views of Mother Nature’s treasures. The striated rock formations in this area are hard to miss and, according to Ranger Nielsen, are classified as part of the Franciscan Complex (greenstone, chert, greywacke and shale). There are many places where you can take a lunch break along this trail. The most preferable vistas can be found along the Falls Trail. Once you reach Cardinet Oaks Road, make a right toward Wassermann Trail. Most hikers will be heading left on Cardinet Oaks, but make sure you turn right. A few minutes of hiking will reveal Wassermann Trail, which is a single-track trail that leads you back in the direction of the trailhead. By descending back into Donner Canyon via this route, you will be taking the road less traveled. Wassermann drops down into various microclimates of vegetation, wooded groves and green meadows as you skirt the hillside high above the floor of Donner Canyon. Follow Wassermann to Lower Donner Trail as you steadily lose elevation and gain breathtaking scenery. Follow Lower Donner to Bruce Lee Trail which eventually links back up with Hetherrington Trail just prior to the wooden bridge creek crossing. Donner Canyon Road will take you back to the Regency Gate Trailhead and you will have officially completed the waterfalls loop. I would like
to thank fellow Claytonites: Wanda & Steve Schendel, Mike Teague and Krista
FALLS LOOP, waterfall Parker for joining me on this hike. Remember to tread lightly and be courteous to others while on the trail. Now, go take a hike! For information on the preservation of Mt. Diablo visit www.savemountdiablo.org For comments on this article, or suggestions for future hikes, contact Kevin at kaypee@sbcglobal.net Hike of the Week: Falls Loop Trail Trailhead: Regency Gate (end of Mountaire Parkway or Regency Drive) Distance: 4.8 miles Difficulty: Moderate Duration: 3.0 hours Elevation Gain: 1200 ft +/Best time to hike: Winter or Early Spring (especially after a heavy rain)
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206 Condor Way, Clayton A beautiful two story home located in a quiet cul de sac on the fourth fairway. Many features accent this home including: 3 bedrooms, 2 ½ baths, plus den upstairs, 1,911 sq ft of living space, formal dining, tile counters, island in kitchen, wood laminate flooring, cozy fireplace, views of golf course and hills, brick patio, side yard access, low maintenance yards, (front maintained by HOA) walk to community pool. $559,000
2195 Overlook Dr. Walnut Creek This unique home has views of Mt. Diablo and is approximately 3,864 sq ft of living space. Many extras accent this home including: living room with cozy brick fireplace and built in BBQ, zoned M-3 multi family, two separate full kitchens, 3 separate living areas could be "in law" units, game room upstairs with wet bar, fireplace and gorgeous views, ceiling fans, large unfinished room could be master suite, sparkling pool and hot tub, dog run 50x20, RV/boat parking in a secluded central location. $825,000
One of a kind in a wonderful location! Many features accent this lovely home, including: a wet bar, cozy brick fireplace, master suite with large bath including a jet tub, dual head shower, glass blocks, slider to back deck, tile counter tops, newer appliances, trash compactor, formal dining & living rooms, wood laminate flooring, skylights in hall bath, spa that flows into sparkling pool, lovely landscaped yards with fruit trees & flowers, covered deck, RV/boat parking and much more! $625,000
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1282 Peregrine Ct. Concord Better than new in Monticeto! Many features accent this lovely home including: 4 bedrooms, 3 full baths, 2,632 sq. ft of living space, cathedral ceilings, tile floors in the family room and kitchen, neutral carpeting, 1 bedroom and 1 full bath downstairs, dramatic staircase, island in kitchen, built in desk with lighting under cabinets, gas cook top range, inside laundry, built in microwave and oven, fireplace with tile, close to playground and community pool. **Washer/dryer/refrigerator are negotiable** $675,000
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5013 Star Mine Way, Antioch Spacious 5 bedroom home with 3 full baths, 3,131 sq ft, vaulted ceilings, formal dining and living areas, marble entry with dramatic staircase, cozy fireplace, large family room, tile kitchen counter tops, island in kitchen, huge master bedroom with large walk in closet, large fenced backyard, possible pool site, three car garage in a nice quiet neighborhood. $525,000
Coming Soon 239 Pebble Beach Lp, Pittsburg 1812 Paul Lane, Concord 14 Nottingham Cir. Clayton 133 Fruitwood Common, Brentwood 5008 Keller Ridge Dr. Clayton
Page 8
Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com
January 30, 2004
There’s no place like home Real estate, mortgage loans and home improvement
Create your own “Romantic Garden” A garden can be one of the most romantic places. Ornamental trees breaking up the sunlight, perfuming the air with their sweet blossom scent. Grandiflora roses reaching for the sun, with their multiple
blooms on each stem, create a lavish backdrop. A medley of color dresses the pathway, yarrows of all shades wait for their butterflies, piles of soft catmint resemble pillows of periwinkle and spikes of deep-blue
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delphinium look cool and alluring standing over the contrasting yellow carpet roses. Fences, arbors and pergolas covered in vines of clematis and climbing roses add tranquility, making the garden a special place. Position a bench for two among the perennials at the end of a pathway planted with herbs. This is the beginning of your romantic garden. After choosing a section of your yard, you’ll need to address the soil and water issues. Side yards make great romantic garden settings. Using your neighboring fence and the side of your home, you can establish the beginning of some privacy. Ornamental trees add height and dappled shade. Upright, vase shaped trees such as the Watermelon Red Crepe Myrtle will eventually block neighboring windows with out taking up so much width. Reaching heights of fifteen feet tall and eight feet wide, this crepe myrtle will block a second story window, with little chance of root invasion. Weeping Flowering Crabapple Trees are an excellent choice for adding unusual width to your tree. Growing twelve feet tall, the ornamental crabapple has arching arms that may reach twelve feet wide. They carry spring blooms of reds, pinks and white, depending on
NICOLE HACKETT
GARDEN GIRL
the variety. Each blossom is large and awesome. Both choices are excellent planted close to the fence, creating a wall for your garden. If one is using a side yard for a Romantic Garden, you must plant both sides of the area. This would be a great time to use those lovely Grandiflora Roses. Taller by nature, roses such as Queen Elizabeth, or Cherry Parfait are excellent choices in our hot, dry climate. Roses need six hours of direct sunlight to be all that they can be. Given the reflective conditions planted along side of your home, a rose is a heat hardy choice. Grandiflora roses reach heights of five feet tall and four feet wide. They have multiple blooms on each stem and vigorous growth with abundant, con-
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tinuous flowering all season long. Choose large-flowered roses, a variety with many petals and huge round blooms. Your rose choices may be enjoyed on the plants as well as indoors in your favorite vases. Roses make lovely bouquets, bringing beauty inside with their alluring fragrance. By using the side yard to create your Romantic Garden, you can easily see where you need to fill in the blanks. You have trees to your right and some roses to your left. Naturally, you desire something to plant in-between what you have, something establishing layers to your garden. Repeat plantings gives the garden continuity. Maybe you will choose more roses planted inbetween your ornamental trees, or depending on the sun or lack there of, consider planting bigleafed hydrangea bushes. Large once established, these summer bloomers perform well in our climate. Clusters of deep pinks or cool blue sophisticated blooms will top the round fivefoot tall by five-foot wide bushes. Hydrangeas are romance. Once you have some substantial base plants in place, it’s time to decide on a destination for your romantic garden. Will it be a bench for two, a tranquil fountain to add ambiance or even a gazing globe? Lead up to your destination with a paving stone that suits your style. Finish the pathway with creeping thyme planted in between the stepping stones. As the thyme fills in, you’ll notice the pink flower and the herb scented aroma when crushed. A border separating the pathway from the perennials can also be laid. You may prefer a stone border; others may like the look of a living border. Plants such as Acorus Ogon, Armeria m. Bloodstone, Hidecote lavender, all make an excellent border. Plant three armerias for each of the lavender, then add two Acorus grasses to complete this combination. The armeria
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blooms early spring and is evergreen; the lavender grows the widest and that’s why we only need one. It’s summer-blooming with a delicate fragrance and the Acorus acts as the contrast with its bladed foliage and acid-yellow color: what an awesome grouping. Repeat this grouping as you go down your path, the continuity will flow right down to your destination. Behind your pathway border, some perennials are needed to add to the dimension of your garden. These choices will also disguise the bare legs of your grandiflora roses. The Achillea family performed wonderfully all last year in our hot, dry sun. You have several color choices, such as Rosea, Lavender Beauty and Paprika, a deep-red selection. The everblooming clusters of flat flowers reach two-feet tall, two-feet wide, making yarrow easy to place and great to enjoy. Yarrow attracts butterflies and makes a great cut flower. Delphiniums are excellent spring to early summer bloomers. They have tall, spiking blooms that are showy and dramatic. Verbascum is another killer perennial in colors of salmon, pinks and yellow spikes; it flowers from early summer to mid fall and is easy to grow and unique to the eye. Geranium Ann Folkard and Johnson’s Blue balance out all the spiking-perennials with their round, scalloped leaves, and soft magenta and blue blooms. All summer long you can enjoy these geraniums. Then savor their fall color. These geraniums are hardy to the annoying bud worm and the frost. There are many more perennials to choose from, Veronica, Scabiosa and Daylilies just to name a few; I could go on all day. One more item that may make your romantic garden special is the idea of an entry to your garden. If using your side yard for your romantic garden, place an arbor at its entry. Several companies make nice arbors of wood and metal, depending on your taste. Most will run you about $300 or a little less. Some have gates, and that’s cool too. Consider the structure as you choose a vine to cover the arbor. Clematis combined with a climbing rose is a very romantic idea. Climbing Iceberg, a hardy, long-blooming rose can be mixed with the Clematis Jackmanii or Madame Julia Correvon to make a match made in heaven.
Walnut Creek. Great Area, 1/2 acre lot. Cute older home, needs some work, but LOTS of POTENTIAL. Million dollar + homes in neighborhood. Call for more info.
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January 30, 2004
Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com
Page 9
There’s no place like home Real estate, mortgage loans and home improvement
Forced to make a move? What is a relocation package? Moving is a disrupting experience. But imagine being told by your employer on Friday that you need to report to a new job on the other side of the country in just one week. Fortunately, many employees who work for large corporations receive a relocation package of benefits from their employer along with their transfer orders. In a hot job market, some workers who are recruited away from a current employer are able to negotiate relocations benefits as part of their new employment contract. What sorts of benefits are included in a relocation package? Although the specifics differ from one company to the next, the benefits often include: assistance with financing a home purchase in the new location, help with all or part of your closing costs on the new home, reimbursement for inspection fees, help with closing costs on the home being sold and a guaranteed buyout of that home if it isn’t sold within a certain time. With a guaranteed buyout, the company who’s transferring an employee arranges to buy the employee out of his home at a certain price. Or, the employer may contract with a third party relocation company who arranges for the corporate buyout. Either way, the transferees are assured that they will have the equity from the home they’re leaving and relief from those mortgage payments so that they can make the move in a timely fashion and with as little disruption as possible.
these names to your relocation coordinator. Relocation companies are often affiliated with real estate brokers who market their relocation properties. However, transferees are usually allowed to list their home with any real estate agent initially, as long as that agent agrees to sign the listing over to the relocation company at any time. This gives the transferees an opportunity to sell their home for more than the buyout price. Some relocation packages include a bonus to transferees who successfully sell their own home. Buyers of relocation properties should be aware that negotiating the purchase of a relocation property is often handled differently
LYNNE FRENCH
REAL ESTATE
When the real estate market is slow, a corporate buyout can be a huge benefit. Not all transferees are thrilled with corporate buyouts. A common complaint is that the buyout price is too low. To arrive at a buyout price, the relocation company hires two or three appraisers to complete appraisals of the property. These appraisals are usually averaged to come up with the buyout price. Like refinance appraisals, buyout appraisals are often on the conservative side. If the appraisals are too high and the house ultimately sells for lower than the buyout price, the employer or the relocation company will lose money. Since your buyout price is dependent on the strength of the appraisals, make sure that your relocation company hires appraisers who are knowledgeable about your local market. The relocation company may give you a list of acceptable appraisers and ask you to select two. Ask a local real estate agent whose opinion you trust to look at the list and tell you who are the best appraisers. If the agent doesn’t recommend any on the list, ask him or her to recommend several appraisers to you. Submit
from an ordinary home sale. The seller may actually be the relocation company. In this case, a representative of the relocation company will have to sign all sale-related documents. This can take more time than usual. The relocation company might insist on an “as is” sale. If so, be sure to have the property thoroughly inspected before buying it. Lynne French is a realtor with Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage and a Clayton resident.
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Page 10
Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com
January 30, 2004
Clayton Sports
Falcon cheerleaders head to Vegas SPECIAL TO THE PIONEER The Clayton Valley Athletic Association Falcons team bus leaves Clayton Valley High School this Wednesday for an overnight trip with 19 girls and their families headed to the bright lights of Las Vegas. There, the CVAA Falcons Cheerleaders National squad will take part in the JAMZ National Cheer & Dance Competition in the Performing Arts Theater at the Aladdin Resort next Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 7-8. They will be competing in Division III Performance Cheer (nonmount), Showcheer and Stunt Group categories, hoping to match the Falcons’ 2002 performance when they won a National Championship. Over 2000 cheerleaders take part in JAMZ Nationals. This past year was another terrific season for the Clayton Valley Athletic Association youth cheerleading squads, better known as the Falcons. After cheering their football teams to victories in the regular season and playoffs, the Falcon cheerleaders did some competing on their own and all four squads received “superior” scores at regional cheerleading competitions that qualified them for the Nationals for a fourth consecutive season. Now, 19 young Falcons cheerleaders, ages eight to 13, are going to Las Vegas for the Nationals. They are Alex Adams, Amber Artru, Madeline
Day, Brittney Dinelli, Lindsay Guttry, Jessica Henry, Arielle Hudson, Amanda KimbleSmith, Arissa Kirwin, Caitlin McCluskey, Alex Mentz, Jessica Mikkelson, Cassie Phelps, Kayla Sawyers, Rebecca Snapp, Amanda Turpen, Allison Volga, Christine Walsh and Amelia Zankich. In their past three trips to the JAMZ Youth Cheer & Dance Nationals, the Falcons have proven themselves to be among the best of the best in youth cheerleading. Traditional Performance Cheers (no music or stunting, just sharp moves and loud voices) are the Falcons specialty and earned them the firstplace finish in 2002 with no less than second place in 2001 and 2003. The Falcons also compete in the Showcheer category (music and stunts allowed) and, even though they don’t compete in this category during the regular season, the Falcon have still managed to finish fourth (out of over a dozen competing squads in Division III) at each of the last three Nationals. The success of Falcon cheerleading is due not only to “the boundless talent, energy and enthusiasm” of the girls themselves, but also to their dedicated, skilled coaching staff. During the regular season, the Falcon are led by CVAA Cheer Coordinator Betty Stone and her staff of 20 adult and junior coaches. According to Stone, “It’s amazing what you can accomplish with volunteers. Everyone works really well
together as a team, not just the cheerleaders, but the coaches and parents as well.” Falcon cheerleaders have a rigorous training schedule that includes stretching, warm-up and conditioning drills along with learning all the basics of cheerleading motions, chants and formations. They are divided by age and ability into four squads, limited by conference
Two young “Mascots”, ages five to seven, are assigned to each squad for a maximum total of 88 cheerleaders each season. Signups for the Falcons begin each March with a clinic followed by tryouts in April. If there are less than 20 signed up for a squad, all participants make the team, assuming that they are prepared to make a commitment to do their best for the squad.
part to the growing popularity of cheerleading and the continued success of the Falcon cheer program. Between tryouts and the August 1 start of the season, conference rules prohibit cheerleaders practicing together as a squad, so they work on fundraising, uniform fitting and physical conditioning. In August, practices are two hours every evening, Monday
CLAYTON VALLEY ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION FALCONS (aka Diablo Valley Falcons) National Competition squad is off to Las Vegas next week. From left (top row) Christine Walsh, Amber Artru, Rebecca Snapp, Arielle Hudson, Allison Volga, (third row) Amelia Zankich, Caitlin McCluskey, Brittney Denelli, Lindsay Guttry, Cassie Phelps, Jessica Mikkelson, Medeline Day, Kayla Sawyers, (kneeling, clockwise) Jessica Henry, Alex Adams, Alex Mentz, (sitting) Amanda Turpen, Arissa Kirwin and Amanda Kimble-Smith. rules to 20 girls each. The Jr. Peewee division is for eight to 10 year-olds, Peewees are nine to 11 year-olds, Jr. Midgets are 10 to 12-year-olds and Midget division is for 11 to 14 year-olds.
Tryouts with qualified, impartial judges from outside CVAA are necessary if there are more than 20 signups for any given squad. This has been the case for the past several seasons, due in large
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through Friday. After the start of school and the first football game in early September, practices are cut back to two hours, three nights a week. There are games to cheer every Saturday into November including playoffs and Turkey Bowl championship game. The Falcons first cheerleading competition is in midSeptember at the Walnut Festival Twilight Parade, where they compete against local high school squads and other youth groups in the Yell Leaders category. The Falcons showed their strength here and earned a fifth consecutive first-place finish in the parade last September. In October, the regional cheer competitions take place on Sundays at Paramount’s Great America in Santa Clara and Six Flags Marine World in Vallejo. The Great America competition is a warm-up for the Falcons, where they get to compete for the first time against other talented cheerleaders from throughout
Northern California. Then at Marine World they put the polish on their routines and going allout to get that valuable “superior” score that will earn them the much-coveted invitation to the JAMZ Nationals in Las Vegas. The Falcons final regular season competition is at UC Davis, where they compete for pride, bragging rights and individual trophies against the other 15 cheer organizations in the Diablo Valley Youth Football Conference. This year, the Falcons “Midget” division cheerleaders proved themselves to be the very best that day, with a first-place finish in the Performance Cheer category. As she has done the past four seasons, Coordinator Stone held firm and promised that the Falcons could go to Nationals after the end of the regular season if all four squads qualified. They all qualified with high marks, so the task of assembling a National Cheer Competition squad was at hand. Unlike most other cheerleading organizations, the Falcons do not hold tryouts or hand-select an “allstar” squad for the Nationals. Instead, Stone insists that all squads be qualified for Nationals so that all Falcon cheerleaders are guaranteed an opportunity to compete. Since the Nationals are scheduled outside the regular season, conference rules do not allow the use of their regular season “Clayton Valley Falcons” name for any competition. Thus “Diablo Valley Falcons” was chosen for the Nationals. As she has done for the past three seasons, regular season Falcons Midget squad head coach Nanette Bonte is head coach of the Diablo Valley Falcons. When asked why she volunteers over and over again as a Falcons head coach, Nanette says, “It just makes me happy to see the girls so happy! I’m always amazed to see how good these girls can really be when they just learn to work hard and work together.” Nanette’s assistant coaches for the Nationals this year will be her husband and regular season assistant Brent Bonte. Also assisting will be Leilani Linan and Betty and Don Stone. As with past Falcons Nationals squads, it’s the junior coaches that are the real talent of the coaching staff. Ashley Arata, Lauren Caldera, Danielle Linan, Teresa O’Donnell and Megan Stone are all former Falcon
See Falcons, page 11
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January 30, 2004
Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com
Page 11
Clayton Sports Youth sports activities Local youth soccer, track, swimming, softball and baseball tryouts, clinics and crab feeds are aplenty, giving youngsters a variety of sports activities to choose from this winter and spring. St. Bonaventure CYO Track Starting Up St. Bonaventure CYO Track practice begins Monday, Feb. 2, at 5 p.m. at Clayton Valley High School. Boys and girls in second through eighth grades living in the parish boundaries may join. Children compete by grade level and gender. There are no trials and everyone takes part in meets. Call coach Joe Sullivan at 969-0207 with any questions. Dana Hills Swim Team Signups The Dana Hills Swim Team Otters have registration for the 2004 recreation swim season scheduled at the Dana Hills Cabana on Mountaire Parkway on Wednesday, Mar. 10, from 7-9 p.m. and Sunday, Mar. 14, from 1-4 p.m. Dana Hills won the 2003 Concord City Swim meet, their 11th title in the past 12 years. Boys and girls three to 18 years of age with lots or no swimming experience at invited to signup. Youngsters can join the Otterpups instructional program. For further info. call Karen Goodshaw 672-2053 or visit www.danahillsotters.com. Clayton Valley High School Crab Feed & Auction Clayton Valley High School Athletic Boosters host their ninth annual Crab Feed and Auction on Saturday, Feb. 7, at 6 p.m. in the large gym at the school. CVHS grad and
Oakland Raider defensive end Sam Williams is the special master of ceremonies. Tickets are available at Skipolini’s Pizza, Ed’s Mudville Grill and the meat department of Diablo Foods on Concord Blvd. There will be an auction and music besides the always delicious crab dinner with all proceeds supporting the athletic program at Clayton Valley. Call 6723344 or email cvhscrab@go.com to reserve your tickets. Clayton Valley High School Track & Field New coaches Joe Sullivan and Dan Sandoval have announced that Clayton Valley High School track practice will begin Monday, Feb. 9. All boys and girls at CVHS are invited to signup in advance or come out to the track after school on the first day. Students are encouraged to participate as there are no “cuts” from the CVHS track and field program and the sport offers a variety of running, throwing and jumping events. Clayton Valley Little League This Sunday, Feb. 1, at 11 a.m. Bob Ralston, former major leaguer and current varsity baseball coach at Clayton Valley High School, will host a clinic for all CVLL coaches at the high school. Bob has taken the Eagles team to the North Coast Section finals at the Oakland Coliseum the past two years and is great at offering new skills to use with a youth team. Registration forms and lots of information on Clayton Valley LL are available online at www.cvll.org. Benefit Crab Feed at
CVHS soccer Both the Clayton Valley High School boys and girls soccer teams are in the stretch drive of their seasons trying to secure return trips to the North Coast Section playoffs with a strong finish in the Bay Valley Athletic League. The Eagles girls team of coach Pat Middendorf has reached NCS playoffs two consecutive years after winning the BVAL championship in 2002 and taking second last year. This season, they are currently in a battle to catch-up to first-place Carondelet while staying ahead of third-place Deer Valley. During the first half of the BVAL double round-robin schedule the Eagles fell 2-0 to Carondelet despite controlling large portions of play and drew 1-1 with Deer Valley. It is likely the BVAL will get only one or two berths in NCS so CV must try to draw away from Deer Valley (they met the Wolverines Tuesday after press deadline) and preferably defeat or draw with Carondelet in their rematch next Thursday, Feb. 5. CV compiled a non-league record of 6-2-3 so they need to score almost all wins through the balance of BVAL play to impress the coaches who vote for at large teams in NCS at the annual seeding meeting Feb. 15. NCS playoffs run Feb. 18-28. Injuries and illness have taken their toll on the Eagles. Playmaker Challyn Rollins tore her Achilles tendon three weeks ago and is in a cast for at least a couple more weeks. Center fullback Michelle Ojima has been out with a deep bruise and sprain in her foot and the injury has not improved. The flu also swept through the team with 13 players out for a minimum of one week each. “It’s hard to get our momentum going. The players find themselves playing a different position every week to fill in the empty places. It is the hardest working team I have coached at CV. Despite the bad luck, the team has heart and may still sur-
prise everyone,” says Middendorf. On the boys side, coach Chris Colao’s team had an excellent non-league campaign with seven wins and three draws in 12 games. They were consolation champions of the Winter Soccer Classic in December for the second successive season. BVAL play has proved tougher as the Eagles won only three of their first eight games with three draws and a pair of losses on the slate. Two likely victories this week would bring them to 5-2-3 entering the final four games of league play in early February. In 2003, three BVAL boys teams were selected to NCS so the Eagles need to challenge Pittsburg and Ygnacio Valley for the runner-up position behind De La Salle to ensure a return trip to the playoffs. The
Linguini’s Chris Hurd suffered a serious injury during the 2003 high school football season and his friends are holding a benefit crab feed on Sunday, Feb. 29, at Linguini’s Restaurant in Clayton. Hurd spent three years at Clayton Valley High before starting his senior year last fall at Antioch High. CVHS and Antioch High football players and cheerleaders will be helping at the crab feed. Oakland Raider great Art Thoms, current Raider Sam Williams and exSan Francisco 49er Dan Colchico will be on hand. Colchico is serving as guest chef. Tickets are $45. There will be a raffle and auction in addition to the gourmet crab dinner. For more information and to purchase tickets call Linguini’s at 672-6868. MDSL Tryouts Scheduled All players in the Concord/Clayton area with a desire to play soccer at a higher level of skill are encouraged to try out for Mt. Diablo Soccer League competitive teams. Plans are to add new competitive teams in 2004 and all players are welcome to participate in tryouts. Visit www.mdslsoccer.org to see specific information for each age group. If you have additional questions, please contact Ian Brodie at ibrodie@astound.net or call 672-3532. MDSA Spring & Coed Soccer Registration Mt. Diablo Soccer Association is having registration for spring soccer for under 6 through under 14 boys and girls at Mavericks Sports Club Eagles have three shutouts in league action but recently gave up nine goals over a three-game stretch. Colao credits the Eagles with a never-say-die attitude that has seen them score late in several games to secure victories or ties when it looked like they would
in Concord on Thursday, Feb. 5, 6-8 p.m. and Saturday, Feb. 21, 2-4 p.m. Parents are now able to pre-register their children via the web at www.eayso.com. In addition, MDSA is now registering boys and girls ages 14-19 (under 16 and under 19 teams) for SpringCoed program. This is a fun, exciting program designed for older kids. Players can register on www.eayso.com or call 825GOAL. MDSL Hosts Crab Feed Mt. Diablo Soccer League will host a Crab Feed Fri., Feb. 6, at Zandonella’s Restaurant, 2222 Golf Club Rd. in Pittsburg. Dinner will be at 7 p.m. after no-host cocktails at 6. Zandonella’s just celebrated its 10th anniversary and will provide first-class atmosphere and a wonderful meal. This event is a fund-raiser for MDSL and proceeds will be earmarked for additional trainer expenses to work with MDSL players. There will be a raffle with great prizes and other fun events. Tickets are $40 each (tax deductible). If interested in attending, email Ian Brodie at ibrodie@astound.net or 6723532. DVSC Soccer Tryouts Diablo Valley Soccer Club will be holding tryouts March 1-11 for boys and girls of all soccer skill levels ages seven to 14 years (born August 1, 1990July 31, 1997). DVSC will be having teams with professional trainers in all age groups from under 6 through under 19. March tryouts are for U8 through U14 age groups. DVSC has Class 1 and Class 3 teams in every age group. For more information call 229DVSC or go to www.dvsc.com. DVSC Super Y-League
be denied points for their efforts. Mark Roberts, Marc Avanessian, Luke Madera, Joseph McInerney, goalie Paul Roccanova, Felix Luna, Ryan Colao and Josh Ober have played key roles for the Eagles.
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Falcons, from page 10 cheerleaders who have moved on to high school and all but one of them are also Clayton Valley High School cheerleaders. Former CVHS and Falcon cheerleader Ashley Bonte has again choreographed the cheer routine for Nationals. Together, these teenage coaches create and teach the cheer routines and bring with them a huge bundle of talent, energy and enthusiasm that is a big part of the Falcons’ success. Practice sessions for the Falcons National squad are long and intense, lasting up to three hours for two or three evenings each week and as long as eight hours on several Saturdays and Sundays from Dec. 1 up to competition in February. For more information on the Diablo Valley National Cheer squad, please contact Betty Stone at 595-0672 or Nanette Bonte at 673-9004. To learn more about Clayton Valley Athletic Association Falcons Youth Football and Cheerleading, visit their website at www.cvaafalcons.com. Signups for the 2004 football and cheerleading squads will be held in late February and March.
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Tryouts DVSC Super Y-League tryouts for boys and girls born in 1985 through 1991 will be held Feb. 21-29 in Concord. Super Y-League is the highest level competitive youth soccer program in the United States. DVSC has the only full Super Y-League program in Contra Costa County. DVSC teams have competed in the Super YLeague National Championships the last two years. Professional trainers coach the five DVSC boys teams in Under 14 through Under 19 age groups and four DVSC girls teams in the U14 through U17 age groups. For more information on Super YLeague, call 229-DVSC or go to www.dvsc.com. Softball Umpires Needed Concord Softball Umpires is looking for individuals interested in becoming slo-pitch softball umpires. CSU serves adult softball leagues in Concord, Walnut Creek and Antioch. New and experienced umpires can now signup. Training is provided for new umpires in USSSA. For more information call John McKinley at 6892700.
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Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com
January 30, 2004
Eggplant insanity- another myth debunked About this time of year, globe-shaped Italian and long Japanese eggplants are widely available and well-priced in local markets. Americans see only a few of the numerous types of this versatile vegetable. Thai varieties come in interesting colors and shapes: bunches of green ping-pongsized orbs, green, striped and light purple tennis ball shapes and white "turtle eggs." Native to South Asia around Myanmar (Burma) and eastern India, the eggplant has been cultivated for several thousands of years. Spreading west through Arabia and North Africa, it reached Spain with
the Moors at the end of the Dark Ages. It was soon revered for its properties as a love potion: some people even call it a "sexual" plant. They are easily differentiated-males have a round dot scar at the blossom end while females have a dashshaped scar-and males have fewer seeds. Although the Mediterranean cultures believed eggplants were "apples of love," most of Northern Europe feared their link to the deadly nightshade family (like tomatoes and potatoes). They called it Mala insana or "mad apple," because it was believed that eating eggplant would make a person
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insane. Only Americans call it "eggplant." In France and Britain, they are "aubergine" (aw-burgeen). In the fifth century, Chinese women fashioned a dye from eggplant to stain their teeth. When polished, it made the teeth shine like silver. Thomas Jefferson supposedly grew eggplant at Monticello around the beginning of the 19th century. In the U.S., it remained largely an ornamental plant as late as the 1950's. According to the U.S.D.A., Florida is the largest domestic producer of eggplant, but Mexico exports twice as much into the U.S. One pound of egg-
wise, and salt and drain in a colander for 30-60 minutes. Rinse and pat dry. Remove eggplant from skins, leaving a little less than ½" to form the "shoe." Brown onions, garlic and meat in oil. Add eggplant and and sauté for 5 minutes; drain if necessary. Add tomatoes, parsley, oregano, salt and pepper. Bring to a simmer and cook 15 minutes until thickened. Fill the "shoes" with the meat sauce. In large baking dish (or two, if needed), divide remaining sauce, placing "shoes" on top. Top each "shoe" with breadcrumbs and cheese. Bake at 350° F for one hour or until eggplant is very tender. Caponata Sicilian-style Eggplant Stew 3 eggplants (1 lb each), cut into ½" dice Salt 2 Tbsp olive oil 1 onion, thinly sliced 2 sticks celery, diced 1-8-oz can tomato sauce 3 Tbsp red wine vinegar 2 sweet peppers (red and yellow preferred), seeded and thinly sliced 2 cloves garlic, minced 1 Tbsp capers, small or
chopped if large ¼ c green olives, pitted and sliced 2 ounces anchovy fillets 2 Tbsp pine nuts Sprinkle diced eggplant with salt and drain in a colander for 30-60 minutes; rinse and pat dry. Sauté onion and garlic in olive oil until soft add celery and cook another 3 minutes. Add eggplant and cook another 3 minutes, stirring gently. Add tomato sauce and cook until just absorbed by vegetables. Add vinegar and cook for 2 minutes. Add peppers, anchovies (rinsed and sliced into thin strips), capers and olives. Cook for 3 minutes. Transfer mixture to baking dish. Bake covered for 45 minutes at 350°F. Add pine nuts and bake another 15 minutes. Serve lukewarm or cold; dish is more flavorful if made a day in advance. Linda Wyner is an attorney in Walnut Creek by day, and an accomplished chef and “foodie” by choice. Direct your suggestions or questions to
lwyner@claytonpioneer.com
Beauty is an inside job They say that beauty is only skin deep. Well, "they" are partially right. A person who presents a beautiful package to the world is certainly a pleasure to behold. On the other hand, haven't you ever known someone who, at first glance was a total looker but when you to get to know them a little better, you discover that the contents did in no way match the glossy cover? That beneath one thin veneer was another thin veneer? That kind of beauty is skin deep. However, we're talking about the other kind, the real deal. Haven't you also met someone who was rather plain at first appearance: average weight, regular height, hair, eyes, skin, but after you got to know them their attraction-factor seemed to grow exponentially and they radiated a sort of inner glow?
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plant yields about 3 to 4 cups chopped, with about 25 calories to the cup. Marinated, stuffed, grilled, fried and roasted-in stews, kabobs or casseroles-eggplant is tremendously versatile. It picks up flavors easily; it's often combined with tomatoes and onions (such as in ratatouille) with such spices as basil, bay, garlic, oregano, marjoram, thyme and allspice. Its major flaw is that it can absorb too much oil and give off too much water. Many recipes call for slicing, salting and draining eggplant before use. Melitzanes Papoutsakia (Eggplant Shoes) 2 onions, chopped 3 cloves garlic, crushed 1 lb ground turkey or beef 1 Tbsp canola or olive oil 1 Tbsp dried oregano 1-16-oz can tomatoes ¼ c fresh chopped parsley 3 medium eggplants (1 lb each) ¼ c dry breadcrumbs ½ c grated parmesan or hard Greek cheese salt and pepper to taste Halve the eggplant length-
This is true beauty. They also say that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Although they may not be the picture of perfection, we still love our children, our spouses, our sibs, even total strangers on the street. After all, we live in a culture that worships celebrity, youth and what we are conditioned to believe is beautiful. Who hasn't sighed over Brad Pitt or George Clooney? (Oops, maybe that's just me.) But the point is, we admire and even envy the physical characteristics of perfect strangers, but we judge ourselves like the supreme court of charm. You get a blemish; you curse it although chances are in your middle years, that oily skin is going to be the reason you don't get the wrinkles that your oilchallenged sisters do. You have curly hair, you straighten it; straight-as-a-stick hair, you perm it. I've met few people who are immune to this kind of thinking, it is as common as the common cold. Believe me, even the beautiful people aren't perfect enough to sell, un-retouched. Every Brad, George and Jen out there works out for hours a day to remain svelte, probably haven't eaten so much as a luscious, fragrant waffle in years, and yes, they do get waxed, buffed, nipped and tucked religiously to maintain that beautiful picture we so love to admire. And as if all that work
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wasn't enough, magazine's cover photos are often airbrushed to perfection: so that ever lovely-as-she-is Beyonce is so flaw-free that even she might not recognize herself staring back from the grocery counter magazine rack. So if beauty is more than about perfectly porcelain skin, snowy white teeth, thick, perfectly-coifed hair and a figure that Elle MacPherson would envy, it must mean that those of us who haven't won the genetics lottery still stand a chance at being considered beautiful. Right? Absolutely, positively, without a doubt, right. Beauty is truth, truth, beauty. The good news is that we all have the opportunity to be gods and goddesses in our own right. The bad news is that there is no magic bullet. You actually have to do the work. Okay, so here is Cynthia's prescription for a more fabulous you in 2004. First of all, appreciate yourself for who and what you are; learn to value your unique attributes, wiry hair, flat back porch and all. Then, and this may seem well nigh impossible, take care of what nature has given you. Rest. Drink 8-10 glasses of water daily. Religiously. Surrender the latte addiction in favor of five helpings of fruit and veggies every day. Move your body if you can-physical well being is a gift, as anyone lacking that gift will tell you. And last but not least, guild the lily. Treat yourself. Get a facial. Wax your brows. Buy that outfit you've been oogling. Take a long weekend and breathe, really breathe. Feel your heart beat
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LOOKIN’ GOOD and your blood pound and realize that you're worth it, just as you are. It's okay if you're not perfect. Some Native American cultures deliberately weave a flaw into their works of art to give evil spirits an escape route. Famous makeup artist Bobbi Brown finds each person's imperfection and makes that the focal point of that person's personal beauty-sense. So you have flaws? Celebrate them, embrace them and even work your booty off to erase them, if that's what makes you happy. It isn't about perfection, it's about process and if you're truly committed to the practice of selfimprovement, you know that true beauty is an inside job. Cynthia Gregory holds a master's degree in fine arts and is a California licensed esthetician. She combines the surprising aspects of teaching English at Solano College and practicing esthetics at Permanent Solution, in downtown Clayton, and can be reached for comment at ceegregory@aol.com.
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Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com
Religion The Pioneer wants to know what is happening in your parish, congregation, temple, synagogue, mosque or other place of worship. Tell us about your ministries, upcoming activities or notable members. Send your news items to religion@claytonpioneer.com, or mail to Religion, Clayton Pioneer, P.O. Box 1246,
KAREN LAIBLE
Clayton, CA 94517. Karen Laible is the pastoral associate at St. Bonaventure Catholic Church and has been a Clayton resident for nine years. She has a Master’s Degree in Social Work from the University of Illinois and a Master of Arts in Pastoral Ministry from Holy Names College.
St. John’s welcomes all who come to its doors Nearly forty years ago two branches from an old five-acre walnut orchard alongside a bumpy two-lane Clayton Road were strapped together to form a cross and Saint John’s Episcopal Parish came into existence. St. John’s is part of a rich heritage of many centuries of Christian worship. The Episcopal Church is the American branch of the Anglican Church, which has its roots in the Church of England. The Episcopal Church came into existence as an independent denomination after the American Revolution. The word “Episcopalian” is from the Greek word “episcopos,” meaning “bishop.” The Episcopalian Church is, indeed, a church led by bishops. The modern day bishops are believed to be the spiritual successors of the first apostles, and the spirit of God is passed down from generation to generation in the Church. The local diocese of the Episcopal Church (known as the Diocese of California) consists of five counties in the Bay Area; the cathedral for this diocese is Grace Cathedral, on Nob Hill in San Francisco. As a church that is truly both catholic and protestant, the Episcopal Church finds a balance in combining the traditions of both “styles” of Christianity. The Church maintains a focus on the authority and importance of scripture while also treasuring the rich heritage of the sacraments. From its humble beginning forty years ago, St. John’s has grown into a vibrant, active parish of about 120 families. The Reverend John Bennison has been the rector at St. John’s since 1982. Fr. John, as he is known to parishioners, has a doctoral degree in Religion from the School of Theology, in Claremont, California, and has been ordained as an Episcopal priest for 30 years. In addition to his “parish family,” Fr. John is married and has two children. The Episcopal Church is known for its acceptance of
diversity and its policies of inclusion. St. John’s upholds this tradition by welcoming all those who come to its doors. St. John’s is a “neighborhood church” since many people are not Episcopalians when they first come to the church. Fr. John describes the parish as a place where everyone can be “known, accepted and loved” without fear of judgment or exclusion. The parish is very family oriented, from its worship services on Sundays to its program of religious education for all ages levels. All living things are honored at St. John’s. At an annual Blessing of the Animals service Fr. John blesses the children’s pets. Any child without their own pet is provided a cricket
band led by Fr. John himself on guitar. Religious education classes are held at 9 a.m. between the two services. The parish is involved in two major outreach programs every year. Through the Backpack Project that takes place in the fall, parishioners provide backpacks and school supplies for about sixty children in Contra Costa County. The Adopt-a-Family Project at Christmas time served about forty-five people this year. St. John’s receives names for these projects through local social service agencies. The parish also participates in larger outreach programs through the diocese. St. John’s began what has become the first affiliate of Habitat for Humanity in Contra
Photo courtesy St. John’s Episcopal Church
(traditionally, for good luck) to name, bless and release. Every Sunday morning, St. John’s has two worship services. The 8 a.m. service is the more formal, traditional service which uses old English language. At the 10 a.m. service, contemporary language is used; music is also a part of the 10 a.m. service. Once a month, the 10 a.m. service is even more contemporary and includes folk music with a
Costa County. Since its beginning a dozen years ago, Habitat has provided housing for countless families in the area. The logo for St. John’s parish that can be seen at its location on Clayton Road consists of a Canterbury Cross, surrounded by the words worship, sharing, learning, caring. These four words truly seem to epitomize life at St. John’s.
Children’s Center honored Clayton Valley Presbyterian Church honored the eleventh anniversary of their Children’s Center at Sunday Worship on Jan. 25. The Children’s Center opened in 1983 after the Contra Costa Children’s Council reported that there was a two year
Clayton woman receives Woodrow Wilson Award
SANDY TESCH gives measles vaccine to Gambian children At the 2003 annual convention of the American Red Cross in Indianapolis, Clayton native, Sandy Tesch, received the Woodrow Wilson Award—the highest award a volunteer youth can receive. It recognizes enduring and significant volunteer contributions by young people to their communities and to The Red Cross. Sandy was commended for her vision and coordination of the Red Cross Club on campus at the University of California, Berkeley, where she is a junior, majoring in psychology. There is only one Woodrow Wilson award given annually. It has been more than 20 years since the award has been given to a Californian. She was accompanied to Indianapolis by her mother, Lois Easton Henley, her sister Paula Tesch (both of Clayton), her Aunt Susan Ellison and family friend, Sharon Ryan. Since high school, Sandy has been instrumental in the production of the Red Cross Leadership Development Conference held in the Bay Area. Sandy is a peer education counselor for HIV/AIDS. She currently represents the Red Cross Bay Area Chapter on the National Youth Council. In December, Sandy flew to Gambia, Africa to participate in the Measles Initiative to vaccinate Gambian children against measles. The team vaccinated
Mayor, from page1
DURING THE ANNUAL “BLESSING OF THE ANIMALS” Father John Bennison presents Erin Halbrecht (middle) and Samantha Tuohey (right) with a cricket to bless and release. (Name and whereabouts of the cricket are unknown.)
waiting list for child care for children of working parents. Existing buildings were renovated and the first program opened on Jan. 17, 1983. The Center was licensed for 24 children, preschool age to kindergarten. Soon after opening, the school began offering a pre-
school half-day program. By 1985, enrollment had reached 30 children. In March 1992, the Children’s Center began their After-School Program with 19 children. Currently, the Center is licensed for 63 children and has a staff of nine teachers.
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Comprehensive Plan and the Draft Environmental Impact Report present these alternatives and discuss their potential benefits and limitations. Your feedback is essential to the Authority as we develop the final proposal to address the diverse needs of Contra Costa. Copies of the draft plans can be downloaded from the website at www.ccta.net and are also available at the library. CCTA staff will be presenting an overview of the programs at the February 3rd, 7pm meeting of the Clayton City Council. I encourage Clayton residents to come and share your opinions on the alternatives and submit comments. A central county workshop will also be held on February 19th at the Pleasant Hill Council Chambers. If you can=t come to the meetings, please feel free to send your comments or call me at City Hall. We really want to hear what you think!
747 Gambian children and provided other health services. In February, Sandy will attend the National Youth Council Measles Initiative Global partners meeting in Washington, D. C. The global partners consist of the Red Cross, Centers for Disease Control, World Health Organization, United Nations and UNICEF. Their purpose is to enlist the support of Congress to support the measles initiative. Sandy is a sixth generation resident of Clayton. She was the fifth generation to attend Mt. Diablo Elementary School and a third generation life member of the Clayton Historical Society. Sandy graduated from
Clayton Valley High School with honors, one being the “Altair” award for service. Sandy’s grandfather, Martin Easton, with whom she resides in Clayton says, “I’d like to think that Sandy is a ‘chip off the old block’ but in reality, that’s not true. I’m proud of her successes and she’s done it all by herself.” Donations to the Measles Initiative program can be made through Sandy at sandy01@berkeley.edu. For general donations to the Red Cross, donate online at www.bayarea-redcross.org. Mail donations to American Red Cross Bay Area Chapter, 85 Second St. 8th Floor, SF 94105.
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Page 14
Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com
January 30, 2004
February is national dental awareness month Are you reluctant to cuddle with your dog or cat because of bad breath? Have you noticed your pet is favoring softer foods, not eating dry food? Does your pet have periodic diarrhea or just seems under the weather? If so, these could be signs of dental disease. Between 60 and 80 percent
of all pets over the age of three have periodontal disease and need immediate dental care. The overall health of your pet can seriously be affected by neglected oral hygiene. The bacteria found in the mouth, which causes bad breath, can result in seriously diseased teeth and gums. From the
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This workshop is for you if:
D you intend to launch 2004 with absolute clarity and focus D you desire to have your own personal road map to powerfully direct yourself to your most successful year D you want to boldly and confidently step into total alignment with what matters most to you in life DYou are ready to declare that 2004 will become your best ever
mouth, the same bacteria can travel to and infect the intestines (causing periodic diarrhea), liver, kidneys and heart, which can result in premature deterioration of these vital organs. During February, most veterinarians will be promoting pet dental health with dental discounts ranging from free dental exams and other special offers. If you have been putting off pet dental care, this is good time to call our office or the veterinarian of your choice to learn more about dental care for your pet. During an exam, your veterinarian will check your pet's teeth, gums, and mouth for signs of dental disease, including: bad breath, yellow or brown teeth, red, inflamed gums, broken, loose, or missing teeth and sensitivity around the mouth The doctor will also examine the general health of your pet. Because general anesthesia is needed for a thorough teeth/gum examination and cleaning and for advanced dentistry such as extractions or root canals, lab tests will be recommended before the procedure to check your pet's overall health. The lab tests can be done a couple days before or the same day of the
dental cleaning. The dental cleaning will be a day procedure. Most veterinarians will ask to have your pet fast for 12 hours; and then you will drop off your pet at the clinic early in the morning. At Monte Vista Veterinary Hospital, we will start with a pre-anesthetic injection of a cocktail consisting of pain medication, sedative and heart stabilizing drugs. Once this tranquilizes your pet, one of our Registered Veterinary Technicians (RVT) will place an intravenous catheter for fluid administration and anesthetic induction. An endotracheal tube will be placed into the trachea and your pet will be maintained on oxygen and isoflorane gas anesthesia. This is one of the safest forms of anesthesia. Throughout the procedure we monitor heart and respiratory rates as well as blood pressure. Our RVT then takes on the role of a dental hygienist. The RVT will examine and chart dental disease as well as take dental x-rays, paying particular attention to "hidden" problems under the gum line. Then your pet's teeth are cleaned with an ultrasonic scaler to remove plaque and tarter. Following this, one of our doctors reviews the x-rays and examines the mouth. At this point any advanced proce-
The Best Year Yet teleworkshop is by phone and includes a Web based tool to make tracking your 2004 Plan fun and easy. To register, go to www.BeaconQuest.com/byy/teleseminar TM
Dory Willer A cheerleader for your soul
473-4899
Candy Bouquet of Clayton
dures will be done such as gum surgery, extractions, or root canals. The RVT then finishes by polishing all tooth surfaces, rinsing with disinfecting solu-
DR. MARYBETH RYMER PAWS AND CLAWS tion, and applying a fluoride polish and tooth sealant. When appropriate, antibiotics will be given before and after to prevent infection. Pain controlling medications will be given as needed through recovery including when your pet goes home. Two weeks after the dental cleaning, we will schedule a dental re-check. During the exam, the mouth is assessed for healing and our veterinarian will discuss your pet's oral health. An individualized home care program will be developed depending on both you and your pet's needs and life styles. Recommended care includes brushing teeth, feeding a diet with dental benefits, and use of dental treats. Your veterinarian will recommend future dental re-checks. The frequency of dental cleanings, which can range from six months to several years, depends on your pet's chewing habits, age, breed, diet and home dental care. A major part of home care is brushing your pet's teeth. This can significantly improve oral health. You should brush your pet's teeth at least three times per week, while daily brushing is ideal. Follow these steps for a successful start: Begin working with your pet's mouth. Choose a conven-
ient time when your pet is relaxed. For the first few days, hold your pet as you normally do when petting it. Slowly lift your pet's lip and gently massage the teeth and gums with your finger. Start with the front teeth and begin rubbing back teeth a few days later. End with praise and a healthy treat. Introduce pet toothpaste. After your pet accepts this handling, wrap a cloth or gauze around your finger, add pet toothpaste and gently rub your pet's teeth and gums. Many pets love the malt or poultry flavors of pet toothpaste and they consider it a treat. Begin by using a pet toothbrush. Your veterinarian can provide a finger brush or pet toothbrush. Place a small amount of pet toothpaste on the pet toothbrush. Gently raise your pet's lip and place the brush against an upper tooth. With a slow circular motion, gently brush one tooth and the adjoining gum line. Each day increase the number of teeth you brush. Be careful not to go beyond your pets comfort level. Increase brushing until you spend about 30 seconds of brushing per side. After each session, reward your pet with praise and a healthy treat. If you have questions about brushing your pet's teeth or products, contact your veterinarian. If you are unable to brush, some hospitals like Monte Vista Veterinary Hospital will offer a Toothbrush Club. For a small monthly fee, you can bring your pet in as often as you like our technician to brush the teeth. Preventive care can get rid of bad breath, help you maintain your pet's oral health and add years to your pet's life. So, call your veterinarian to set up a February dental health exam. Dr. Marybeth Rymer, D.V.M can be reached at Monte Vista Veterinary Hospital, 1488 Washington Blvd., Concord. 672-1100.
A delicious alternative to flowers Come visit our store: z Come see the “Unbelievable Apple” from Grand Avenue Chocolates z Come taste our “Valen-ticious” specials z Come in for free samples of our chocolate bark candy We can also send your Valentine a low-ccarb bouquet. Just ask
Candy Bouquet In the Clayton Station 5433 F Clayton Road Clayton
10% off bouquets of $35 or more, offer expires 2/14/04
925-6672-66818 we see your need for life insurance growing every day.
we live where you live.
™
Senior R etir ement Li ving
Honoring Our Elders
“I never dreamed I’d ever be this happy again.” -Wilma
“Diamond Terrace gave my mom her life back!” -Wilma’s Daughter, Ramona
“My daughter heard how lovely it was. When I saw it I fell in love with it! My view is delightful and the staff is so nice to me.”
As your family grows, so does your need for protection. And nobody can help you provide that protection like me, your State Farm agent. See me today.
Doug Van Wyck, CLU ChFC Lic.# 0586396 6200 Center Street Suite A Clayton, CA 925-672-2300
-Lora LIKE A GOOD NEIGHBOR, STATE FARM IS THERE.®
(925) 524-5100
6 4 0 1 C e n t e r St r e e t , C l a y t o n , C A
statefarm.com® State Farm Life Insurance Company (Not licensed in NY or WI) State Farm Life and Accident Assurance Company (Licensed in NY and WI) Home Offices: Bloomington, Illinois P02229
05/02
January 30, 2004
Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com
Page 15
Rents starting at $1,675* *for qualified applicants
Newly built on the cusp of Clayton Valley, Áegis of Concord’s resort-like setting is the perfect place to call your new home. Complete with all the amenities usually found only at luxury hotels, Áegis provides independence, comfort and total peace of mind.
Come tour Contra Costa County’s finest senior living community, call today for an appointment. ■
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Located on Clayton Rd., between Treat Blvd. and Ygnacio Valley Rd. RCFE Pending
Marketing Showroom Now Open Mon-Fri 9am-5pm Sat 10am-3pm Please call for an appointment or stop by
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Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com
January 30, 2004
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 1801 N. California Blvd. • Walnut Creek, CA 94596
(925) 672-8787 www.LynneFrench.com Lynne@LynneFrench.com
ynne French is making connections every day 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.
GEORGE VUJNOVICH,
Broker
(925) 672-4433
Each Office Is Independently Owned & Operated.
6160 Center Street, Suite E, Clayton 94517 georgevujnovich.com
PEACOCK CREEK AT OAKHURST COUNTRY CLUB!
CHAPARRAL SPRINGS AT OAKHURST COUNTRY CLUB!
OAK HOLLOW AT OAKHURST COUNTRY CLUB !
Just Listed! Beautiful Nantucket Model! 4 bedrooms 2.5 baths, plus bonus room plus library , apx. 3620 & 4 car garage ! Extensive upgrades thru out the home including custom hardwood floors in the living and dining room. Spacious family room with separate playroom or library. Gourmet kitchen with an abundance of maple cabinets and walk in pantry. Upgraded tile floors, counters & island with built in breakfast bar. Backyard features sparkling pool and spa with automatic cover. $899,900
Just Listed !Prime golf course lot! 3 bedrooms, 3 baths apx. 1709 sq ft. inside laundry and 2 car garage. Upgraded hardwood floors in entry and kitchen. Kitchen also features tile counters and new oven/stove & dishwasher. Spacious master suite. Private yard has views of Mt. Diablo, hills & golf course. $ 485,000
Just Listed! Gorgeous home with views of Mt. Diablo! 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths approx. 1651 sq. ft. This home features neutral carpet and décor, security alarm, new Pergo flooring in laundry room and kitchen. Kitchen also has an abundance of maple cabinets, tile counters and large slider to backyard. Quiet, private setting. $499,900
OAK HOLLOW AT OAKHURST COUNTRY CLUB!
PEACOCK CREEK AT OAKHURST COUNTRY CLUB!
PEACOCK CREEK AT OAKHURST COUNTRY CLUB !
G DIN N E P
Just Listed! Immaculate home! Views of Mt. Diablo! 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths apx 1651 sq.ft. Home features inside laundry, beautiful neutral décor and berber carpet thru out. Large eat in kitchen with tile counters ,maple cabinets and hardwood floors. Larger private backyard with aggregate patio and lawn area..Walk to downtown,pool and trails. $ 499,950
D SOL
Prime ridgeline view lot backs to open space overlooking canyon, rolling hills & oak trees. 4 bedrooms, 2.5 baths plus den office. Approx. 3,335sf, inside laundry & 3 car garage! Immaculate & extensively upgraded! Extended 18" tile floor entry, upgraded & extended lighting package. Window coverings include: Silhouettes, plantation shutters & wood blinds. Premium neutral carpet & pad. Family room with fireplace & built-in speakers. Gourmet kitchen with 18" tile floors & color coordinated tile counters. Downstairs master suite with jetted tub. Rear den balcony offers views of hills, canyon & oaks. Front balcony offers unobstructed panoramic views to Delta & beyond! Professionally landscaped level lot features aggregate patio, fountain, outdoor speakers & lighting plus an array of colorful flowers & ornamentals. $919,000
ING D N PE
Beautiful single story home ! 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, approx. 2680 sf, 3 car garage, home has extensive upgrades including wet bar in familyroom, dramatic fireplace and skylights. Gourmet kitchen with Corian countertops, and upgraded tile floors. Spacious master suite. All this in a private quiet setting. $825,000