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July 8, 2006
925.672.0500
Small town Fourth delivers a big bang JILL BEDECARRÉ Clayton Pioneer
If you w ere among the thousands who lined Main Street in downtown Clayton last Tuesday, you w ere tr uly in “Clayton Country.” The warm and fuzzy feel of Clayton’s traditional homegrown July 4th celebration w as everywhere…residents g reeting each other, friends walking arm in ar m, smiles on c hildren’s faces and canine critters out for a morning stroll. The phrase “Cla yton Country” was coined sev eral years ag o b y resident P eggy Bidondo as she experienced Clayton’s o wn brand of the Independence Day celebration. Former Cla ytonian and parade emcee , Dan Ashley , Channel 7 News Anc hor, used the phrase last year when he witnessed the sea of kids that traditionally kick-off the parade festivities. This year’ s ev ent stood b y tradition with the Star Spangled Banner, sung b y Cla yton
DAVE SHUEY
MAYOR’S CORNER We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men ar e created equal, that they ar e endowed by their Cr eator with cer tain unalienab le Rights, that among these ar e Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. Ok, how many of you read the abo ve and thought once again what a brilliant and evocative writer I am? And how many of you realized those w ords were from the Declaration of Independence? F or those that missed it, please sign up for the nearest summer sc hool. Interestingly, most w omen tell me that all men ma y be equal See Mayor, page A8
THIS PHOTO OF DOUG HARTFELT’S MODEL T TRUCK, which won first place in the pioneer’s july 4 photo contest, was taken by Memory Woodard. See Page B1 for the rest of the winning entries.
See July 4, page A3
Fire makes short work of weeding in downtown “Grove” TAMARA STEINER Clayton Pioneer
Tamara Steiner/Clayton Pioneer
What’s Inside SECTION A Around Town . . . . . . . . . . .A2 Directory of Advertisers . . .A5 Real Estate . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A6 Food for Thought . . . . . . . .A7 Tech Talk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A9 Weather Words . . . . . . . . . .A11 Club News . . . . . . . . . . . . .A12 Sharing History . . . . . . . . .A13 Garden Girl . . . . . . . . . . . .A14
SECTION B
July 4 Photo Contest Winners . . . . . . . . . .B1 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .B2 Travel (New) . . . . . . . . . . . . .B5 Tea For You . . . . . . . . . . . . .B6 On the Net (New) . . . . . . . .B6 Tax Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .B7 Church News . . . . . . . . . . . .B7 School News . . . . . . . . . . . . .B7 Paws and Claws . . . . . . . . . .B8 Dining Around . . . . . . . . . . .B9 Crossword Puzzle . . . . . . . . .B9 Community Calendar . . . . .B10 At the Movies . . . . . . . . . . .B11 Hiker’s Haven . . . . . . . . . . .B12
CLAYTON MAINTENANCE WORKER SANDRO ARIAS heads off flames as firefighters arrive at the small grassfire in the “Grove.” The fire was started accidentally by another city worker mowing weeds.
Downtown Cla yton w as hit by fire for the second time in a month last w eek when f lames took about half of the corner at Main and Marsh Creek Road. On June 3, the loading dock and receiving area of the Clayton Post Office w ent up in f lames. That fire, believed to be arson, is still officially under investigation. The one acre , known as the “Grove” for the stand of eucalyptus trees that once co vered the lot, is earmarked for a downtown park. The fire star ted around 2:15 p.m. and was set off by a spark from the tractor being used to mo w the g rassy lot in preparation for the J uly 4 celebration. “We were mowing the weeds down to minimize the fire danger on the F ourth of July,” said Assistant to the City Manag er Laura Hoffmeister with a more than a touch of irony.
Clayton police c hief Dan Laurence and Officer Tim Marchute w ere do wntown on another unrelated call when the fire star ted. “The maintenance worker first tried to put it out, but it became too much for him. He ran to us for help and w e called it in, ” said Laurence . “It was an accident,” he said, “could have happened to anyone.” Clayton resident Yvette Berry was dri ving b y about 2:20 p .m. when she sa w smok e coming from under the trees along the east side of the lot. “This was a man trying to stomp it out,” said Berry “so I pulled o ver and called Cla yton P olice who connected me with dispatc h and they said they were on their way.” Concord fire units responded because, according to firefighters on the scene, the personnel from Station 11 at the cor ner of Clayton Road and Center Street were in training. The fire burned for about 15 minutes.
Teens count on Hollywood to get mor e kids reading BEV BRITTON Clayton Pioneer
Through the T een Advisor y Group, some y oung Cla yton residents are aiming to make the library more teen-friendly. The g roup’s g oal for teen movie nights should be fulfilled this fall. The idea is to g et students ex cited about reading b y showing films based on novels. TAG members ha ve suggested titles suc h as “Pride and Prejudice,” “The Princess Bride” and “T he Count of Monte Cristo ,” along with the always popular “Har ry P otter” and “Lord of the Rings” series. “Personally, I think it should be just watching the movies and not a discussion g roup,” says
TAG member Kirsten Spr yer. “Otherwise, they’ll g et tur ned off – it’ s kind of like sc hool then.” Spryer, a new g raduate of Clayton V alley High Sc hool, also pitches in with shelving and sensitizing books at the librar y. “I volunteer here because I lik e doing this sor t of thing,” she says. “It’s kind of relaxing to just get the books put away.” Library staff member Marietta Leffner sa ys students who volunteer at the library may have a ste p up on their studies . “I think it’ s a g ood pre paration for college,” she says. “This way, they already have the knowledge to do basic research.” TAG members point to the library’s expanded teen section
as another way to draw in youth. “The librar y has a lot of regulars,” notes Sarah Sc hmidt, an upcoming junior at Cla yton Valley. “But a lot of people just come in when they ha ve to . Instead of sitting home and watching TV, they should come here and find something to do.” To that end, the librar y’s Summer R eading Prog ram has added a teen categ ory along with the traditional program for younger readers. The teen program, for those in sixth through 12th g rades, runs through A ug. 21. Participants reading at least 20 hours recei ve a prize pac kage. See Teens page A15
photo by Terry McCade
These teens find time on a busy Saturday to help out at the library. From left, Sarah Schmidt, Phyllis Smith, Emily Italiano, Ambrey Holloway, Kirsten Spryer and Sarah Agronow
Page A2
Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com
French Team participates in Community Service Day
Around Town Tryons celebrate 40 years
Claire and Idonna Tryon celebrated their 40th w edding anniversary this last Easter Sunday. The two met in April 1964 in Garden Gro ve, California after Claire retur ned from an 18 month tour of duty in K orea, Vietnam and Cambodia. Idonna was a teac her li ving in Long Beach at the time. They married at St. Anthony’s in Long Beach on April 16, 1966. They have four children, Valletta, Christine, Patrick and V eronica and six g randchildren, Michael,
Lynne and Danny French clean house at the Pittsburg Family Center as part of the annual Windemere Community Service Day.
Lynne F rench and her Windemere R eal Estate T eam traded in their computers and cell phones for sho vels and hedg etrimmers and successfully landscaped pla y areas and entr y w ays of the Pittsburg Family Center last month. Each J une, every Windemere office par ticipates in Comm unity Service Day when more than 8,000 Winder mere associates and team members in the West work with charities of their choice to make a difference in their communities. The next job was to thoroughly org anize the huge piles of donations stored in the basement of the facility. All members of the Lynne French Team also donated funds to purc hase household items suc h as shampoo, lotion, towels, sheets, and pots and pans. At day’s end they met with one of the directors to discuss ho w the Team could continue to provide support; perhaps by organizing a food drive or planning a mo vie night for the children living in the transitional homes. For more information on Community Service Day projects, or to help, call 673-2189.
Daisy Troop bridges to Brownies
Matthew, Sammy, Alex, Ashlyn and J aiden. They ha ve li ved in Clayton and Concord since 1980. Idonna has taught at St. Peter Martyr School in Pittsburg for 26 years. Claire is retired and v ery active in y outh prog rams in Contra Costa County and the Knights of Columbus. The couple looks forw ard to another 40 years together.
Historical Society gathers for BBQ Tamara Steiner/Clayton Pioneer
July 8, 2006
Members of the Clayton Historical Society and their families and friends climbed the mountain recently for a BBQ at the Mt. Diablo Trail Ride Association g rounds. Over 50, young and old, gathered on June 24 for swimming, ping pong, horseshoes and a cribbage tournament. Dick Ellis donated sev eral birdhouses for door prizes . He crafted the birdhouses from w ood salvaged from the old bar n on High Street that was torn down to mak e w ay Photo courtesy of Janet Easton for the new Susan Easton Ellison and Richard Spryer com- Mitchell Creek subpete vigorously in the day’s cribbage tourna- division planned ment while Cheyenne Scharff looks on. for downtown.
Front Row: Hanna Thompson, Emma Skow, Cammy Bazan, Samantha Tuohey. Middle Row: Jadyn Harris, Maddy Webster, Sarah Cook, Gillian Hummer, April Edelen, Leila Dodson. Back Row: Leaders: Sara Skow and Lisa Bazan
After a fun and exciting year of learning and exploring the world around them, Clayton’s Daisy Girl Scout T roop 776 “bridged” to Brownie Girl Scouts in a ceremony performed Tuesday ev ening, June 27, on the bridg e in Ly dia Lane P ark. Leaders Sara Sk ow and Lisa Bazan g ave a shor t presentation on the twelve “Lear ning Petals,” which re present the different par ts of the Girl Scout Promise and La w. The girls ear n a petal when they complete a project or an assignment—for example , a purple petal for “respecting m yself and others” and a rose-colored petal for “making the world a better place.” The celebration w as complete with bro wnie sundaes . One young brother of a Daisy Scout g rappled with the conce pt of his sister turning into an (edible) Bro wnie, while the big question on Sarah Cook’s mind was simply “will w e get to sell cookies next year?” In the true nature of Scouting, as a completion to their “bridging,” these new Bro wnies will eac h ha ve to do a few good and decent things o ver the summer for their families “without being asked,” announced Lisa Bazan, who then clarified that “just being nice to your brother doesn’t count.” For more information regarding troops in Cla yton, contact the troop org anizer at juliekinsey@comcast.net.
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"The Lynne French Team" (L-R): Julie Clairmont, Jim Bartneck, Ruth Reed, Inge Yarborough, Danny French, Heather Gray, Lynne French.
July 8, 2006
Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com
Page A3
Around Town
More Fourth of July in Clayton Country July 4,
from page A1 resident Kelly Nielsen. There was not a single Clayton child at home that mor ning. It seemed they were ALL in the parade . Kids were on bikes, scooters, in wagons and on foot waving and smiling . (Although one pooped out youngster actually slept the whole ride down Main Street.) There w ere so many kids that Ashley had to assure the cro wd that they weren’t circling the block. “We just have this many kids in Cla yton,” he said. From the politicians and comm unity organizations to the Model T F ords and equestrian teams , the hour long parade star ted ev eryone’s da y with a real hometo wn celebration that drew applause and c heers all along the parade route. There were also lots of full tummies and ra ves for the pancak e breakfast served up hot and delicious b y the Rotary Club of Clayton Valley/Concord Sunrise. For some families , it was their first Clayton Parade, others like the Stratton family ha ve been coming ev er since their 19 year -old son, Brandon, was born on July 4. Volunteers, make it all happen, according to Laura Hoffmeister , Assistant to the City Manag er, with duties that rang ed from parking and parade monitoring to manning booths , and setting up and cleaning up. While volunteers provided the manpower, a long list of sponsors g ave financial backing. Photos by Tamara Steiner Clayton Pioneer
Nicolette Medrano , 7, and J acob P auline, 9, stand with Cla yton P olice Chief Dan Laurence in front of this restored 1971 Plymouth Satellite police car . The Satellite was the first Clayton police car . and purc hased used from the Contra Costa Sheriff ’s De partment in 1972. Nicolette and Jacob were rode with the c hief as the restored car led off the parade. The two Mt. Diablo Elementary students w on the ride when their parents each bid $500 for the honor at a recent MDES fundraiser.
Mayor Dave Shuey with daughters Katherine (on lap) and Samantha
DAN ASHLEY Enjoying their first ever, Clayton 4th are parents Greg and Shelley Davis and daughters Justine and Meagan.
Rick, Tracy, Lauren, Brandon (Born on the Fourth of July) and Zach Stratton.
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Page A4
Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com
July 8, 2006
New artists group looks forward to gallery space downtown BEV BRITTON Clayton Pioneer
When y ou g ather a dozen or more creati ve people in a room, the energ y lev el star ts to rise . Soon the ideas are flowing at a rapid pace. Such w as the case at the June meeting of the Cla yton Creekside Ar tists, where proposals rang ed from a glossy arts mag azine to a W eb site promoting the artists’ works. But the cur tain really rose when Cla yton dev eloper Uzoma Nw akuche offered gallery space in the retail/office building planned across from Endeavor Hall. “We ha ve all of you local artists, and w e ha ve all this wonderful w ork. How do w e have some sor t of gallery to showcase this w ork?” he says while talking through his concept with the g roup. “We have Ar t and Wine and Oktoberfest, but that’ s not enough. There has to be something exciting happening downtown.” While admitting he doesn’t know the “mec hanics” of how suc h a g allery w ould operate, he told the g roup he would speak to the arc hitect about his idea. “What I’m thinking is to find enough space to w alk in and out … a narrow gallery is what I’m thinking about, ” Nwakuche sa ys. “And w e could use the common areas , too.” Clayton photog raphers Keith and Teresa Peters were among the artists cheering the proposal. “We g et a lot of
hits on our W eb site from people who w ant to come to our gallery, rather than tr ying to c hase us do wn at ar t shows,” Keith P eters sa ys. “This is g oing to g o a long way for us.” The dev eloper believ es many of the shop o wners also w ould be amenable to showing local ar t on their walls. According to Nwakuche, the g round f loor will include a steakhouse , a bagel/coffee shop , an ice cream shop, a g ourmet tak eout and a dr y cleaning dropoff site. That proposal, however, raised red f lags for ar tist Rhu Bigay. “You put y our stuff in a bag el shop, it’s not secure ,” Bigay says. “What we need is a dedicated g allery just for us – where it’s all locked up.” “It’s a w ork in prog ress,” Nwakuche responded. “I’m very flexible. The object is to have a Cla yton theme , and what better w ay to re present that than our ar tists?” As they a wait the do wntown gallery space, the artists are utilizing the Cla yton Library‘s walls as a sho wcase. In late J une, the g roup hung several new local w orks – all of which are for sale. INSPIRING STORIES The Creekside Ar tists alliance w as for med this spring as an outgrowth of the annual art show at the library. “Part of the reason w e are formalizing this g roup is so we can get the recognition we need,” says Cla yton resident Arlene Kikkawa-Nielsen.
Tamara Steiner/Clayton Pioneer
MARY SNYDER VIDEOTAPES nature photographer Elaine Billeter in the gardens behind the Clayton Library. The Creekside Artists are preparing a series of short videos to run on Comcast.
To that end, KikkawaNielsen is w orking with Comcast to g et promotional clips on the cable access channel. She recr uited Mar y Snyder to film eight vignettes of local artists. “It star ted off as straightforward, one-minute videos ,
but when we began interviewing the ar tists, we w ere v ery interested in their creati ve process,” Snyder says. “What w e w ere tr ying to get w as not just the end result. We w anted to kno w what inspired them to do this particular ar tform,” says
Kikkawa-Nielsen. “So many people w ant to do these ar tforms, but they’re afraid. We want to sho w them that it’ s not that hard. They can do this.” In one video , photographer Elaine Billeter shares her transformation from scientist to ar tist. While working on a degree in biology, she learned to dev elop and print blac k and white imag es from an electron microscope. “The imag es are so highly magnified, they come out in black and white patterns,” she says. “Sometimes, I would sit there and g et lost in what I was doing.” After buying a house and beginning a g arden, Billeter took her ar t out of the laboratory. “I kind of developed a dual passion for hor ticulture and photog raphy,” says Billeter, who is sho wn crouching in the f lowerbeds behind the Clayton Library in Snyder’s film. Snyder g raduated last month from the Ar ts Academy at Cla yton V alley High School and is heading to Santa Monica Colleg e. Rebecca Olson, a film major at Diablo V alley Colleg e, is taking o ver editing the Comcast project. “We showed a few films to the artists at the last meeting, and they w ere quite pleased, ” says Kikka wa-Nielsen. “They are really interested in doing this.” SHOW AND TELL Group members also share their ar tistic visions at
the meetings . Works on display at the J une meeting ranged from Gisele Kirschbaum’s silk scarves and paintings to Don Kilpatric k’s picture story. “I am sev erely visually impaired I can ’t see any detail,” Kirschbaum says, “so everything is loose and impressionistic.” Kilpatrick’s “g raphic novel” tells the stor y of a man and his scooter through brightly colored paintings . “I’m painting on plyw ood, book covers – whatever I can find,” says Kilpatric k, whose artwork will be his thesis at Syracuse Uni versity. “But I also want to have a show and have it hung in a g allery setting.” Irene Helm talks about the creativity behind her ship at sunset, a w atercolor of deep browns and vibrant orang es. “It’s a painting that took me two to tw o and a half hours to do. It’s one of those paintings where y ou’re not in control. It just gets done.” Seema Mahboob also relates a stor y about giving in to her craft. “I tried to become loose in m y painting style. I did this without really sketching anything,” she sa ys of her w atery g rotto. “I just laid the paint do wn and let it go.” The Cla yton Creekside Artists meet at 7 p .m. Wednesday, July 12, in the Story R oom of the Cla yton Library. For more infor mation, call 673-9777.
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July 8, 2006
Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com
Page A5
Directory of Advertisers
Classified HELP WANTED
Mother’s Helper. Work at home mom needs help with infant. 3040 hours per week. Willing to hire two people to share job. Call for interview, 672-8380. City of Clayton Needs Commissioners. Community Service Commissioners ($75/ month stipend). If you would like information about these openings please visit City of Clayton’s website at www.ci.clayton.ca.us. Or contact Rhonda Basore, City Clerk, at 925-673-7304.
VACATION RENTAL
email claytonmuseum@sbcglobal.net or visit the museum between 2 and 4 p.m. on Wed. or Sun.
Cabin in Blue Lake Springs (Arnold, CA). Sleeps 6, fully remodeled, quiet, use of recreation facilities. $150/night, $950/week. Call Kevin Parker @ (925) 383-9430 or www.vrconnection.com/ parkerpaw.
VOLUNTEERS WANTED
Greeter. Clayton Historical Society Museum needs a greeter the second Sun. of each month from 2 - 4 p.m. Training is provided. If interested, call 672-0240,
The Clayton Community Library Foundation is currently seeking to fill the following volunteer positions: Shelver - (min. age 13 years) to shelve and sensitize books in the library. Will train, day/time is Tues.10 a.m. -2 p.m. or 2 – 6 p.m. and Sat.10 a.m. –1 p.m. Shelf Reader - (min.age 13 years) to read the library shelves in order to ensure the correct placement of books...must be
Walking partner needed for gentleman recovering from operation. Five days a week. Hourly wage. 672-7050.
P.O. Box 1246 6200 Center Street, Suite F Clayton, CA 94517 Office: 925.672.0500 Fax: 925.672.6580 TAMARA
AND
R OBERT S TEINER , Publishers
TAMARA S TEINER , Editor
CPR First Aid Training. CPR instructor specializing in AHA and ASHI training, call Kevin at 925-383-9430, lukehollywood@gmail.com.
J ILL B EDECARRÉ , Assistant Editor and Display Advertising B ILL WAGONER , Sports Editor P ETE C RUZ , Graphic Design B EV B RITTON , Copy Editor and Feature Writer
Perennial Garden Design by Nicole Hackett AKA The Garden Girl. Personal consultations regarding plant choices, placement, identification, fertilizing and maintenance. Spring is just around the corner. Call or email for info and pricing. 925-6731746 (leave msg) gardengirl94517@yahoo.com.
B ETH N EUDELL , Administrative Assistant
has moved from Clayton Valley Shopping Center to Chestnut Square in Concord, just off Clayton Road on Chestnut Ave. near King’s Donuts
STUDY GROUP
Readers of The Urantia Book will start a new study group this spring. The group will meet in a downtown Clayton café. New and seasoned readers will explore the book by topics. The group will decide the time (hour and day). Email urantian@mac.com or call 925-672-4689 and ask for Tery.
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HOW TO PLACE A CLASSIFIED AD
$529,000
To place y our classified ad over the phone , call the office at (925) 672-0500 betw een 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Mon.-Fri. Or, you ma y fax y our typewritten ad and credit card information to (925) 672-6580 All classifieds m ust be paid for in adv ance b y credit card (Master Card or Visa) We will not accept any ad that discriminates on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, nationality, family status or disability. The Cla yton Pioneer reserves the right to reject any advertising w e believ e is unsuitable.
LET US KNOW
Weddings, engagements, anniversaries, births and deaths all w eave tog ether as part of the fabric of our community. Please let us kno w of these important events. We ask only that the announcement be for a Cla yton resident. You will find the appropriate for m for your announcement on our Website. Attach your photo to the form. Also on our W eb site are forms for submitting Community Calendar items and press releases for your organization.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
The Cla yton Pioneer w elcomes letters from our readers. As a general rule, letters should be less than two double spaced pages and submitted at least one w eek prior to publication date. Letters concer ning current issues will ha ve priority . We may edit letters for length and clarity . All letters will be published at the editor’s discretion. Please include y our name , address and daytime telephone number. We will not print letters from “anonymous.” E-mail y our letter in a Word Document to tamara@claytonpioneer.com. Letters MUST be submitted via E-mail.
Abbey Carpets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .686-9901 Accent Counter Tops . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .432-0570 Advanced Voice and Data, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .681-2800 Applause Staging and Interiors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-7701 All Loving Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-0752 Apronstrings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .798-7621 Aqua Pro Pool & Chemical Service, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . .673-7000 Asemi, Hamid - State Farm Insurance . . . . . . . . . . . . .726-0154 Benton, Mureleen - Ameriprise Financial . . . . . . . . . .685-4523 Burkin Electric . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-1519 California Reverse Mortgage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .899-3511 Calkins, Bill - Charlotte Clifford Realtors . . . . . . . . . . .673-9164 Candy Created Bouquets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-6818 Carol Keane and Associates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .937-5200 CD Federal Credit Union . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .825-0900 Clayton Family Dentistry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-0110 Clayton Fitness and Tanning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-2010 Clayton Home Inspection Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-9405 Clayton Valley Bowl . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .689-4631 Clayton Valley Shell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-3900 Clayton Valley Medical Group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-6744 Clayton Valley Villa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-8401 Clean Cleaner Carpets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .383-1253 Clip n Clean . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .676-9355 Computers USA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-9989 ComUnity Lending . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-5363 Cookies by Design . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .256-1137 Cruise Adventures Unlimited . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .935-7447 Dana Hill Care Home . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .286-6884 Denim & Lace . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .524-0345 Diamond Terrace Senior Retirement Living . . . . . . . . .524-5100 Dromlewicz, Kim - Century 21 Diablo Valley Realty . .682-4663 Eagles Peak Realty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .465-0435 Englund's Tea Cottage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-8327 Eternal Life Lutheran Church . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .524-0295 Fashion Cleaners . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .524-9005 Festival Opera . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .943-7469 Flannery, Patty - Diablo Realty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-0541 French, Lynne - Windemere Real Estate . . . . . . . . . . .672-8787 Galaxy Nail Spa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .676-8668 Garaventa, Les - American Financial & Tax Services .676-3400 Gourmet Subs and More . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .673-5550 Help You Sell Real Estate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .680-4950 Highfill, Lynne - Coldwell Banker . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .932-7335 Hudak, Jim - Pianist and Composer . . . . . . . . . . . . . .673-7293 Joanna's Designs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .673-8911 Kelly Marshall Garden Design . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .914-0327 Ladies Workout Express . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .405-8888 Laurence, Pete - Better Homes Realty . . . . . . . . . . . .939-7920 La Veranda Restaurant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .524-0011 Lela's Hair Salon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-2000 Lerner Eye Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .685-1130 Littorno, Richard - Attorney at Law . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-6463 Lopez, Stephanie - Coldwell Banker . . . . . . . . . . . . . .932-7329 Mazzei Auto . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .757-5600 Merrigan, Deanna - Team Mount Diablo Realty . . . . . .890-0430 Mike's Auto Body . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .689-1739 Mingham, Pete - Elite Financial . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .906-8166 Model A Cabinets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .673-0827 Monte Vista Veterinary Hospital . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-1100 Dr. Steven Moon, Chiropractor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .682-8400 Moore, Wendy - Alain Pinel Realtors . . . . . . . . . . . . . .570-5187 Morucci, Kim - Intero Real Estate Services . . . . . . . . .280-8563 Neptune Society of Northern California . . . . . . . . . . . .944-5100 Nichols Landscape . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-9955 Northgate Gardening . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .944-8711 Nuchols, Alicia - Premier Home Loans . . . . . . .691-5070 X 323 O'Hara's Martial Arts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-7438 Ouimet Funeral Home . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .682-4242 Pasta Primavera . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .687-5300 Postal Annex + of Clayton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-8900 Rahimzadeh, Helen - Coldwell Banker . . . . . . . . . . . .932-7375 R&M Pool, Patio & Gardens . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-0207 Ray's Hideaway . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .246-8684 Roberta Claire Photography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .625-1123 Robin's Ranches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-7323 Rocco's Ristorante & Pizzeria . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .947-6105 Schaefer's Painting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .260-6065 Skin Care by Trina . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-2000 Smith Bernal Roofing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .216-6461 Smith, Miriam - MEGA Life and Health Insurance Co. 270-5671 SPA'tique . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .437-1712 Sposito, Stephanie - Coldwell Banker . . . . . . . . . . . . .932-7334 Steffen, Tim - Better Homes Realty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .890-4407 Steve Youse Painting and Decorating . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-6945 St. John's Episcopal Church . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-8855 Stone Tree Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .798-2094 Straight Line Imports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .335-9801 Swint, Brad - Team Funding Group . . . . . . . . . . .627-1400 X 12 Talmadge, Brad - Home Loan Experts . . . . . . . . . . . . .759-8971 The Maids . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .798-6243 The Pool Shark . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .408-7585 The UPS Store . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .689-6245 Tipperary Construction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .216-2679 Travel Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .304-5000 Tullis, Shanan - Team Mount Diablo Realty . . . . . . . . .286-1268 Van-Fleet-Bronson, Intero Real Estate Services . . . . .672-4333 Van Wyck, Doug - State Farm Insurance . . . . . . . . . . .672-2300 Vujnovich, George - Better Homes Realty . . . . . . . . .672-4433 We the People . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .246-0370 What's My Home's Value.com . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .286-9489 Williams, Mike - Williams Properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . .260-5363
OAKLEY
CLAYTON
SOLD
1291 Shell Circle
WALNUT CREEK
FOR SALE
PIONEER INFO Classified rates per insertion: Non-profit: $12 for first 30 words, $.20 eac h additional word Individual/non-commercial: $18 for first 30 w ords, $.30 each additional word Commercial: $48 for first 30 words, $.40 eac h additional word
SERVICES
Dog Walking/Sitting. I am a recently retired female, 55 with 3 dogs friendly to people and other dogs. $10 a trip to feed your dog or cat. $15 includes walk. Sitting in my Mt. Diablo home, $12/day. 925-672-8122.
familiar with the Dewey decimal system. Tutor - (min.age 13 years) to tutor one-on-one or give homework help at the library to local students in our community. You choose the age range, subjects, remedial help or light homework help, and the days/times. Call Arlene at 673-9777, e-mail akikkawa@ccc.lib.org.
$629,000
SOLD
475 Vinewood
$567,750
1315 Peralta Rd. . . . . . .Pacifica . . . . . . . .$859,950 . . . . . . . .for sale 1188 Palamino Ct. . . . .Tracy . . . . . . . . . . .$500,000 . . . . . . . .for sale 233 N. Santa Rosa . . . .Los Banos . . . . . .$349,000 . . . . . . . .sale pending
*3.5% - ( 1% to Eagles Peak Realty - 2.5% to Buyers Agent )
www.EaglesPeakRealty.com 925-708-1046
Drs. Steve Kaplan and Jana Tomsky would like to announce two new additions to our practice Andrew Andrew Kelly, Kelly, PA-C PA-C
Dr. Steve Kaplan
Andy moved with his family to the Clayton area from the East coast. He is a father of three small children and enjoys camping and skiiing. Andy has practiced as a Physician Assistant for 9 years joining Clayton Valley Medical Group in July of 2005
1520 Kirker Pass Road, Suite A Clayton, CA (925) 672-6744
Debra Debra Goettsch, Goettsch, PA-C PA-C
Dr. Jana Tomsky
Debbie moved to the Clayton area from Southern California with an intial emphasis on emer gency medicine working at various local emer gency departments. She also has experience in women’s health and nutrition. She is a mother of two small children and enjoys tennis and traveling. Debbie has been a Physician Assistant for 12 years.
Open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Appointments are available
Page A6
Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com
July 8, 2006
What if I find defects in my new house after closing? It’s no fun to mo ve into your new house and find that something’s wrong with it. Perhaps the o ven doesn ’t work, or the roof leaks in the first hea vy rain. What do y ou do? First, ask y ourself if the defect w as something y ou actually knew about before closing. Memories can fade quickly. Sometimes, the reality or enor mity of a problem doesn’t sink in until you live in the house for a while. For example , suppose there’s standing w ater in the basement during the first heavy rainstor m after y ou move in. You’re shocked at the amount of flooding, but when you review y our house purchase file, you find a disclosure from the sellers stating that the basement f loods in hea vy rains. You w ere forew arned about the problem. But let’ s sa y y ou look in your transaction file and find no mention of a drainag e problem at all. Sellers are supposed to disclose all kno wn material defects to buyers . A
material defect is one that would affect the buyers’ decision to buy or the price they’ d be willing to pa y. In this case , you might ha ve a legitimate legal claim ag ainst the sellers . Their agents could be liable as well if they knew about the problem but failed to infor m you about it. Real estate agents have a duty to disclose what they know. If neither the seller nor the ag ent knew about the problem, you will not be able to collect damages. The inspectors might ha ve liability if they failed to discover defects y ou hired them to find. It’s a good idea to use a house inspector who has errors and omissions insurance that can help pa y such a claim. But be aware that most house inspectors attempt to limit their liability. These limitations v ary, but the limit could be as low as the amount of the inspection fee (usually several hundred dollars). Check the contract you signed with the inspector at the time the inspection w as done — a liability limitation will proba-
LYNNE FRENCH
REAL ESTATE bly be included there. Problems that dev elop in new homes ma y be co vered under a contractor’s warranty. Even if the contractor didn ’t give y ou an explicit written warranty on w orkmanship, state law may provide protection. New appliances , systems (like heating, air conditioning or plumbing) and roofing materials ma y be co vered b y manufacturers’ warranties. If the builder g ave you a Home Warranty Plan from a third party, this ma y co ver the defect. However, there are
exclusions to co verage, and the homeo wner often has to pay a deductible amount. Minor problems in older homes ma y be co vered b y a Home W arranty plan, if one was purc hased. Again, there are limitations and ex clusions from co verage, and a deductible may apply. In most cases , you’ll w ant to tr y to g et the defect fix ed without having to go to court, which can be expensi ve and time consuming. Start by documenting the problem. Call in an inspector or licensed contractor with exper tise to diagnose the problem and gi ve a bid for repair or replacement. Mail a copy of the diagnosis and bid to the sellers and their real estate brok er. Write a letter to accompany these documents explaining the problem. Offer to resolv e the issue amiably . If this doesn ’t work, call y our attor ney for advice. You may decide to use small claims court if the problem will be inexpensive to fix. A statute of limitations may apply, which sets a leg al
time limit for making a complaint, so raise the issue with the par ties y ou suspect to be responsible as soon as it’s discovered.
Lynne F rench is a r ealtor with Windermere Real Estate and a Clayton r esident. Contact her at: Phone (925) 672-8787 or E-mail: Lynne@LynneFrench.com
Schaefer’s PAINTING
Because the Finish Counts (Cell) 10%
260-6065
bpaintingdog@sbcglobal.net
Any o or e full int ff erio for P xteri r o io men neer re r job ad ti exp. on this ers, 8/1 8/0 ad 6
Bryan Schaefer Clayton resident since 2000
Licensed Bonded Insured Lic. #708321
Dan Rosendich
Randy Glasbergen
W
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Go
od
t s y It’s alwa
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ight time for tea r e h
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Englund's Tea Cottage The perfect place for lunch! Sip one of 20 different fresh & fruity iced teas while enjoying:
Artichoke bisque soup with chicken croissant sandwiches Fresh fruit salad topped with berry sorbet Apple, chicken & glazed walnut salad Quiche w/ fresh fruit (or cup of soup) and scone Mediterranean or Oriental Chicken salad PLUS MUCH MORE!
able for Tickets now avail EA! July 16 BINGO T and Come our browse and op gift sh ibles collect
Pro Estate
1351 Yosemite Circle $729,000 Featuring 4 bedroom 2 baths, this sparkling bright and clean home has hardwood floors and new appointments throughout! Near 1/3 acre landscaped and beautiful lot, enjoy meals al fresco from your spectacular outdoor cabana complete with full built in fireplace and barbeque. A Clayton dream home!
per ty
928 Kenston Dr. $1,069,000 Opportunity for New Buyer! Back on the Market— Spectacular Custom Mitchell Canyon Estates Home built by Skinner. Estate offers five bedrooms including true master suite w/loft, balcony, awe inspiring views of Mt Diablo Ridge, amazing rear yard with pool/cabana, upgraded thruout & more— Call for private showing.
ING
pa
S Pool/
PEND
30 Mountaire Place $834,950 Spectacular single level with beautiful pool and views! Don’t miss this 4 bedroom 2 bath plus den. Located in quiet cul-de-sac near cabana & walking trails.
1391 Yosemite Circle $729,000 Gorgeous 3 bedroom home with great room, near 1/3 acre property and beautiful sparkling pool! Entertainer’s dream. Incredible value!
ING
ING
PEND
PEND
1049 Kenston Dr. $949,000 Clayton - Custom 4 bedroom 2 bath with formal living room, dining room, heart of the home gourmet kitchen & great room. Sparkling pool & hot tub with lawns, gardens, & more! Your search for the perfect Clayton home is over!
4307 Coyote Circle $585,000 Wonderful open floorplan boasting 3 bedrooms 2.5 baths. Enjoy the resort setting & views of the 7 th fairway at Oakhurst Country Club. Fabulous privacy & serenity!
Also for sale
5433 L Clayton Road (in Clayton Station)
672-TEAS (8327) www.EnglundsTeaCottage.com Closed Mondays
Clayton’s Preferred Real Estate Team
925.932.7375 Helen
914 Arrowhead Terrace, Clayton – 3/2.5 Duet Lowest Price Ever $605,000 972 Oak Street – 4/2 , walk to downtown $899,000 3574 Halifax Way – 3/1.5 1,350 sq.ft. Great 1st time buyer $504,500 1740 Claycord Avenue – 4/2, 1800 sq.ft. coming soon fixer only $575,000 2327 Camelback Dr. – 4/2.5, 10,000 sq ft lot— only $572,500
925.932.7329 Stephanie
homes@helenandstephanie.com
July 8, 2006
Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com
Page A7
The Pioneer -- It’s your paper! “If you want to buy or sell a home in 10 years call us!” “But...if you want to buy or sell a home today, then call our Dad!”
Eggs. Scrambled? F ried? Poached? Boiled? T he possibilities are almost endless and w orthy of at least a tw o-part series (okay, okay, I shall spare y ou a year-long version).
925-673-9164 Bill Calkins
Clayton Resident & Neighbor
AN EGG BY ANY OTHER BIRD
Helping People Find Their Way Home!
Ask about our Special Programs for Buyers & Sellers
When speaking of eggs, we Americans typically think c hicken eg gs, right? Not sur prising then that w e produce some 90 billion eg gs a year! Elsewhere around the world, though, duck, quail and g oose eg gs are widely available. Asian cooks, in particular, are par tial to quail eg gs and these dimin utive delicacies are gaining a foothold (foodhold?) in upscale restaurants around the U.S. Don’t r ule out ratite eg gs though (no , these are not what you might think they are-they are ostrich, rhea or emu eggs). While generally sold for their use in crafts, it is possible to acquire these monsters for the dinner or breakfast plate . A single ostric h egg is equi valent to 18 to 24 chicken eg gs and ser ves 10-12 people, so it isn’t well suited to a Sunday mor ning breakfast for the typical American family with 2.1 children. Although y ou ma y nev er hard-cook an ostrich egg, I must share with y ou some cooking pointers. You m ust boil that puppy (start with cold water) for two hours. When it’s done, take a hammer or something similar and crac k the shell. If you can find them, ostrich eg gs tend to
retail for around $30 to $40 each, so they’re not easy on the budget. BACK TO THE CHICKEN EGG Returning to the more conventional chicken egg—domesticated c hickens date bac k in human history about 2,500 years. It is estimated that there are some 200 c hicken breeds in the world. If you want a white eg g, look for a breeding hen with white feathers and white ear lobes (didn’t kno w they had ear lobes, did y ou?), while bro wn eggs come from red-feathered chickens with (y ou guessed it) red-colored ear lobes . Nutritionally, white and bro wn eggs are indistinguishable but brown eg gs are pricier if for no other reason that red c hickens are much larger so more food is required to produce brown eggs. About a year ago, I picked up an 18-count car ton of eggs at Costco and found that all of them w ere all double-y olked. Such eggs are seldom distributed to the public because screening procedures tend to interce pt them before they mak e it to the market. Even rarer is the occasional egg with no yolk, although it’s a boon to folks cutting bac k on their c holesterol consumption. SIZE MATTERS Speaking of Costco, you can almost always pick up 18 eggs (or more) at a considerable discount over smaller stores . Costco eg gs
are “Extra Larg e,” meaning that a dozen must weigh about 30 oz. at a minimum. Most recipes, particularly those measuring baking recipes b y w eight and not v olume, use larg e eg gs. In addition
LINDA WYNER
FOOD
FOR
THOUGHT
to the “Jumbo” size, you can also find Pee Wee eg gs which weigh in at 15 oz. per dozen. Researchers have found that the older hens tend to lay larger eggs than their younger counterparts. IS IT FRESH? Eggs when refrig erated have a shelf life of several w eeks beyond their pack date. It’s actually preferable to use a w eek-old egg for boiling rather than a fresher one because the shell tends to stick to younger eggs. How can you find out if your egg is fresh? Fill a pan with enough water to cover the egg(s) you are g oing to test. If the eg g remains submerg ed, it’s quite fresh. If it bobs one end up , it’s still quite edible. If the egg floats
up on its side , it’s time to toss it and buy some fresher specimens. An eg g f loats because the air space in the shell expands , and the fresher the eg g, the smaller the air space. THE HARD BOILED FACTS What if you boiled up some eggs and forg ot to mark them boiled? Ho w can y ou tell them from the uncook ed ones? Spin ‘em. That’s right. Spin the egg on the counter top. If the eg g is hard-cooked, it will spin ev enly, but if it’s uncooked, the egg will wobble. There are many w ays to boil an eg g, and eac h proponent swears b y their for mula. Me? I put a cold eg g in cold w ater, bring to a boil, boil 15 min utes, then immediately transfer to an ice bath. I happen to think the cold w ater shoc k reduces the green sulfur-iron ring around the yolk. Other cooks will bring a pot of water to a full boil, add the eggs, cover, remove from heat, and let them stee p in the hot water for about 15 to 20 minutes. A cooling down period is almost always recommended b y cooks . Next time , we’ll look at a tad more tri via and then sev eral interpretive recipes to see if we can agree that eggs really are “the cement that holds the castle of cuisine together.” Linda W yner is an attor ney in Walnut Cr eek by day , and an accomplished chef and “foodie” by choice. Direct your suggestions or questions to lwyner@claytonpioneer.com
Terrific home on huge Clayton lot! his home has it all with 3-
T car garage, beautiful Pool &
Spa, Granite Kitchen, 4 bedrooms, Tile Roof and a huge level yard! Complete your dreams by putting in your own sportcourt, a 5 car garage/ workshop, or your seperate in-law unit for loved ones! See it before it Sells at only $897,000!
Million Dollar Views of Mt. Diablo! ave your own private shang-rila backyard resort! Unobstructed views of our state park over your own lake-like swimming pool, a hot-tub, garden area and RV parking, all with total privacy on a quiet Clayton Court. With this comes a 2,341 sq ft 2-story home with Monier tile roof, a $100,000 gourmet granite kitchen, and an oversized master suite with it's own private viewing deck! Only $879,000!
H
Oakhurst living in the lower $800's his 4 bedroom, 3 bath has formal dining, family room, an island gourmet kitchen, wet-bar, bay windows, a downstairs bedroom and full bath, delightful yard and waterfall, and is ready to Sell! Call today!
T
Knowledge, Service, Integrity, Results PETE LAURENCE
Office: 939-7920 Fax: 939-1939 VM 24 hr: 940-2777
Broker-Owner, Realtor, GRI
1511 Treat Blvd. #100, Walnut Creek, CA 94598
Page A8
Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com
July 8, 2006
Dust flies as CV Shopping Center continues extensive renovations
Est.1972
Smith & Bernal
Roofing
JILL BEDECARRÉ Clayton Pioneer
While the new Longs Dr ugs at Cla yton V alley Shopping Center mak es final pre parations for its g rand opening in late August, Regency Centers , the center’s developer, is still on the hunt for a g rocer to occupy the soon-to-be v acant spot left b y the old Long’s store. According to Brian Mirkovich of Colliers International, leasing ag ent for CV Shopping Center , “We’re looking for another g rocer and we’re open to all ideas ,” he says. “If Whole Foods approached us, we’d pursue that.” Originally, Nob Hill w as to occupy the 59,000 square foot building next to Longs , but the deal fell through sev eral months ago. Longs is still planning to have a drive-through phar macy. Farra Levin, community spokesperson for Long’ s, says that they are looking forw ard to ser ving the health and wellness needs of the Clayton/Concord community. Construction dir t and dust will continue to f ly in July at the center as a major demolition begins of several buildings no w anchored by Dollar Tree, includ-
Reroofs Repairs All Types Tile repairs Wood shake Tar and gravel Gutters Inspections Ventilation
Repair Specialists Same day response
(925) 672 0138
Free estimates
Tamara Steiner/Clayton Pioneer
LONGS DRUGS GETS READY FOR AN AUGUST GRAND OPENING at CV Shopping Center while construction and landscape upgrades continue throughout the center.
ing the old Guadalajara Restaurant and the space formerly occupied b y V alley Lounge, Clayton Hair Works and some of the smaller businesses in the w alk-way around the corner. The g oal, according to Mirkovich, is to create a thoroughfare connecting one side of the center with the other and providing direct access to Ygnacio Valley Road. Eventually more stores will be added to the current roster as REg ency continues to solicit a di versified mix of high end retail. Despite rumors that Outback Steakhouse might be added the
Mayor, from page A1 but all w omen are superior . Apparently, I need constant reminders of this fact. In honor of Independence Day (and because I know my last column w as fairly boring), I thought I w ould gi ve y ou some fun information about our country. Knowing that the British had a price on their heads , 56 men signed the Declaration. John Hancock commented, “The British ministr y can read that name without spectacles; let them double their reward.” I am fairly certain that of our current City Council, Pete most resembles Mr . Hancock. Samuel Adams signed it probably nev er knowing he w ould g et more fame from a beer made centuries later. Incidentally, 24 of the signers were lawyers. You decide whether that was good or bad. How many of you can name the original 13 colonies? I will make you look it up or ask y our fifth g rader if you don ’t kno w. Now, do y ou kno w whic h stars represent which colonies? T rick question—no star on the f lag is specifically representing any one state. The F ourth of July w as declared a leg al holiday in 1941. Before that, everyone who celebrated had to call in sic k. The Pledg e of Allegiance was not written until 1892. Prior
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to that, rumor has it that ev eryone had to gi ve a secret handshake. The “under God” part was not added until 1954 during the Cold War. By the w ay, I heard that the grave of Karl Marx is just another comm unist plot. Alas, you probably ha ve to be o ver 35 to get that joke and over 50 to find it funny. How about facts about our First President. For enter tainment Georg e W ashington enjoyed raff les, lotteries, card playing, fox hunting, duck hunting, fishing, cockfighting, horse racing, boat racing, and dancing . Wow, look at that! Ag ain, that most resembles Councilman Pete. Washington was commander of the first U.S. “navy,” consisting of four ships. There was a proposal at the Constitutional Convention to limit the country’s standing army to 5,000 men. Washington sarcastically ag reed with this proposal as long as a stipulation w as added that no invading ar my could n umber more than 3,000 troops! George also g ave the shor test inauguration speech in American histor y, only 133 words long. Don’t you wish today’s politicians could be as brief ? As for the cherry tree, I wonder if GW ev er ask ed his dad, “How can I g row up to become president if I nev er tell a lie?”
list of restaurants at the center , Mirkovich said that the deal will likely not happen. However, he did indicate that another freestanding restaurant is planned for the space adjacent to Guadalajara near W ashington Blvd. but no potential clients were named. Plans for the building once occupied b y Consignment Treasures is , as Mirk ovich describes, “up in the air” and will be affected b y the new anc hor grocery store and any additional parking needs that arise. Despite parking and dri ving inconveniences at CV Shopping
Center, construction is mo ving forward. Guadalajara recently opened in a new free-standing restaurant with three dining rooms, three cooking bays and a full bar. Tachi J apanese Cuisine and Sushi Bar recently joined its new neighbors P eet’s Coffee , Denim and Lace , Pick Up Stix and Althea Cor rin Salon and Spa in an 8500 square foot building bordering Clayton Valley Road. Weekends at the Cottag e moved to a new site near the new Quiznos, and Pet Food Express has settled into new space next to Washington Mutual.
Finally, do y ou think that when they ask ed Georg e W ashington for his ID that he just whipped out a quarter? I like this one. There was initially a question as to ho w to address the President. The Senate proposed that he be addressed as “His Highness the President of the United States of America and Protector of their Liberties.” The compromise was to use “President of the United States.” I proposed something similar when I became Ma yor but the compromise w as they would not laugh when they said “Mr. Mayor.” Small victories! How about I address some City stuff now? I send a w arm and hear tfelt thank y ou to Planning Commissioners Glenn Miller and Ben Jay who have finished their terms and are moving on to g reener pastures . Glenn has ser ved four ter ms and both have she pherded Cla yton through many impor tant projects and ha ve given their blood, sweat and tears for our betterment. Thank you! Last but not least, let us all thank our Comm unity Ser vices Commissioners, Deborah Meylan, Casey Cline , Barbara Dwyer, Mike Williams , Alden Foster and Andy Siver, Assistant to the City Manag er Laura Hoffmeister and all the other generous volunteers who helped put on another g reat 4th of July Parade (ok, since I am writing this before the Parade I am mak-
ing an educated [no jok es here please] guess that it will once again g o off without a hitc h). Talk about tireless effor t — these people w ere awesome and deserve all our thanks. I will lea ve y ou with this thought: If the opposite of “pro” is “con”, is “Cong ress” the opposite of “progress?” Have a great week! Email me at shuey@rankinlaw.com.
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Page A9
Customer service is number one priority for new owner of Clayton Valley Shell JILL BEDECARRÉ Clayton Pioneer
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Tamara Steiner/Clayton Pioneer
Amir Hatambeiki loves the small town atmosphere in Clayton
Amir also believ es that Shell strives to rise abo ve customer expectations. “Be friendly , be reasonable, be honest and y ou have a win/win situation, ” he explains. His station at the cor ner of Kirker P ass R oad and Cla yton Road has been ser ving the
up, smog, transmission, brakes and air conditioning ser vices, diagnostic and factor y ser vice maintenance. The station also sells batteries and tires. Gas prices are v ery competitive, explains Amir. If you pay a little more at the Shell pump it has to do with the detergents, he
says. Shell’s deterg ents in the gasoline are 400 percent of the minimum required b y the state which means a cleaner engine and less maintenance , he explains. However it’ s the customer service at Shell that stands out. Amir is alw ays a vailable to answer questions or to pro vide transportation for customers when their car is in the shop . Long-time employees know customers by their first name and all technicians are ASE certified. According to Amir , the industry is very complicated and very competiti ve. He and his staff work hard to explain car problems in a language that customers can understand. Amir has high aspirations for Clayton V alley Shell. He hopes to impro ve his customer base and give back to the community when he can. Amir has already made donations to the Cla yton Valley Little League and CBCA’s Oktoberfest and he looks forward to attending the J uly 4th parade. “I am open to any sug gestions from residents and customers. I’m happy to have some feedback,” Amir says.
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One of the most impor tant goals for the new o wner of Clayton Valley Shell is to provide the best possible customer ser vice. Amir Hatambeiki purc hased the g as station less than a year ago and has spent the time g etting to kno w his emplo yees and his customers. He refuses to be an “absentee o wner.” “This is the only business that I have. I’m right here , six da ys a w eek,” he says. He brings to the business a wealth of knowledge of the automobile industr y and 30 years experience in the field in both Iran and the United States . He holds deg rees in business and physics and has traveled the world throughout his career. However it w as the small town feel of Clayton that interested him. “Residents are v ery proud of their community. They love to w ork with eac h other ,” he says. Manager Jeff Sudman agrees. “I love the people here,” he says. “They are really down to earth.”
Jeff, who joined the Shell staff in February, believes that Cla yton Valley Shell offers something special to its customers . “You’re a person here ,” Jeff says. “At a dealership, you’re a number.”
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“rat’s nest” of cords, connectors and plugs. There are also other wireless devices, like printers and hard drives. You can mo ve about your home or office and print from anywhere. If you don’t have a wireless router, you could just use y our neighbor’s. Let’s sa y y ou don ’t have the Inter net, but you have a wireless laptop or notebook. All you have to do is searc h for wireless “hot spots” and connect to any unsecured wireless connection. If you need something printed, just push the print button and y our neighbor’ s wireless printer star ts the print job . I’m sure they won’t mind. But wait, there’s more. Let’s say you don’t have enough disk space for all those songs y ou’ve pirated. No problem, just use the neighbor’s hard dri ve, after all its wireless and they w on’t mind. Just think ho w clueless they will be when the F ed’s arrive to bust them for illeg al downloads or content. Here’s another bon us. Perhaps y ou don ’t ha ve y our own “content,” like credit card or Social Security n umbers. Again, just use the neighbors . You could actually park in front
of anyone’s home or office and tap into their accounts and “order up.” You could have that “Hog” or new boat on order before you know it. The adv antages of wireless are truly bountiful. But if you’re not the gi ving type or just lik e your pri vacy, perhaps y ou should c heck into “securing” your wireless netw ork – before your bounty becomes someone else’s. Setting up wireless security is straight-forw ard. Log into your router and look for wireless security. It will protect your network, the printers and peripherals on the netw ork from pr ying eyes . Security, in effect, locks y our netw ork so only y ou or those who y ou invite can use it. Enable wireless security and choose either the WEP or the WAP security method. I prefer WEP for home netw orks as it works with most lo w priced or value systems as w ell as the higher priced models. WAP is usually far more secure, but it can sap the power of your router and o verwhelm some notebooks – causing them to not connect to the Internet or ha ve inter mittent problems. Some notebook
WILL CLANEY TECH TALK models simply don’t have WAP built into their wireless receivers. Next, choose the encryption key bit strength. The encryption key scrambles or codes y our data at the router and makes the data unreadable unless the receiving computer has a cor responding (matching) key. The cor responding k ey decrypts the data and mak es it readable ag ain. Sixty-four bit encryption is g ood, but 128 bit is better. Be sure to take note of the encr yption k eys the router generates. You will need one of these keys when y ou log on to your router after a reboot. Now you can truly relax and enjoy the benefits of a wireless world, safe in the kno wledge that your data will remain y our data and the Inter net y ou pa y for is your Internet. Will Claney is the owner and operator of Computers USA! in the Clayton Station. Contact him at 925-672-9989.
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Page A10
Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com
July 8, 2006
Clayton women hope to bring suicide and depression “Out of the Darkness”
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Two Cla yton w omen will take their personal experiences on the road, walking 20 miles “Out of the Darkness” to raise money for suicide prevention. Theresa Azev edo and her daughter, Alicia, have committed to raising at least $1000 each to benefit the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) in an overnight w alk in San Francisco on July 22-23. Both women have very personal motivations for the w alk. Three years ag o, Alicia, then a sophomore in high sc hool, plunged into a deep depression lasting nearly a year , during which time suicide w as nev er far from her thoughts. “There w ere times that I didn’t think I w ould ev er feel happy ag ain,” she said. Alicia just finished her freshman year at Chico State where she is majoring in n ursing. After emerging from her o wn dark year, Alicia disco vered that suicide is a leading cause of death among y oung people , second only to m urder and accidents. “Unfortunately,” says Alicia, “depression, suicide and most mental illnesses are still a stigma in society today. I am walking for all teens and y oung adults who are affected b y depression and those who are afraid to get help.” Theresa Azev edo recalls Alicia’s de pression as a “dark time” for the family. “Our family rallied around her,” she said, “but there w as so little information. This walk is so symbolic—-Out of the Darkness.” Theresa will also be car rying the memor y of August
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673-9990 MOTIVATED BY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE and the loss of a close friend, Alicia and Theresa Azevedo will walk 20 miles in an overnight walk to raise money for suicide prevention and depression awareness.
million people mak e a suicide attempt eac h year and that every 18 minutes someone dies by suicide . Untreated de pression is the leading cause of suicide. More than 20 million people suffer from depression each year. “The Overnight is a unique event that brings together family members, friends and lo ved ones that have been touched by suicide or depression and gives participants a po werful w ay to heal, raise a wareness of the problem of suicide and help others by raising funds needed for suicide prev ention,” said Robert Gebbia, executive director for AFSP Theresa and Alicia ha ve
begun training with long w alks around Cla yton. “We’re g oing to star t taking some nighttime walks,” said T heresa. “So, if you see us walking along Marsh Creek in the dead of night, know that w e aren ’t coming from the Cla yton Club , we’re training,” she laughs. For more infor mation or to support T heresa’s and Alicia’ s efforts with a donation, go to www.theovernight.org. Net proceeds from the Out of the Darkness Overnight will benefit the American F oundation for Suicide Prevention, to fund research, education, survivor and awareness programs - both to prevent suicide and to assist those affected by suicide.
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Moosbrugger, a Cla yton man and close friend who took his life in J anuary. Moosbrugger suffered from debilitating depression for o ver 20 years . His widow, Maureen, wants to bring the issue of depression into the light and notes that “although a person ma y be smiling and g enerous lik e August was on the outside, they could be tor tured within. I hope this w alk brings a wareness to the fact that w e nev er know what someone ma y be struggling with and that w e should be kinder and more loving to one another.” In the U.S. suicide is a serious national health problem. It is estimated that close to one
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SUICIDE: RISK FACTORS AND WARNING SIGNS R ISK F A C T O R S Psychiatric Disorders: At least 90 percent of people who kill themselves have diagnosable and treatable psychiatric illnesses such as major depression, bipolar depression or some other mental illness. Past History of Attempted Suicide: Between 20 and 50 percent of people who kill themselves had previously attempted suicide. Genetic Predisposition: Family history of suicide, suicide attempts, depression or other psychiatric illness. Neurotransmitters: A clear relationship has been demonstrated between low concentrations of the serotonin metabolite 5-hydroxyindoleactic acid (5-HIAA) in cerebrospinal fluid and an increased incidence of attempted and completed suicide in psychiatric patients. Impulsivity: Impulsive individuals are more apt to act on suicidal impulses. Demographics: Men are three to five times more likely to commit sui-
cide than females. Elderly Caucasian men have the highest suicide rates.
SUICIDE CRISIS A suicide crisis is a time-limited occurrence signaling immediate danger of suicide. Suicide risk, by contrast, is a broader term that includes the above factors such as age and sex, psychiatric diagnosis and past suicide attempts. The signs of crisis are: Precipitating Event: A recent event that is particularly distressing such as loss of loved one or career failure can trigger a suicide crisis. Intense Affective State: Desperation (anguish plus urgency regarding need for relief), rage, psychic pain or inner tension, anxiety, guilt, hopelessness, acute sense of abandonment. Changes in Behavior: Be alert to such statements as, “My family would be better off without me.” Sometimes those contemplating suicide talk as if they are saying goodbye or going
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away. Actions ranging from buying a gun to suddenly putting one’s affairs in order. Deterioration in functioning at work or socially, increasing use of alcohol, other self-destructive behavior, loss of control, rage explosions. Suicide can be prevented. While some suicides occur without any outward warning, most do not. Prevent suicide among loved ones by to learning to recognize the signs of someone at risk, taking those signs seriously and knowing how to respond to them. The emotional crises that usually precede suicide are most often both recognizable and treatable. For more information on depression and suicide prevention, visit the Website for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention., www.afsp.org. If you or someone you know is in crisis, you can receive help from the Contra Costa Crisis Center Crisis Hotline at 1-800-833-2900.
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Page A11
Beware, Clayton is rattlesnake country LAURA HOFFMEISTER Special to the Pioneer
Clayton is located in snak e country. Both the common gopher snak e and rattlesnak e can be found throughout the area. Although similar at first glance, there are big differences between the tw o. The most important, of course, is that rattlesnakes are poisonous.
problems as they often hide out of the w ay and are content to be left alone . Rattlesnakes lik e rodent bur rows, rock piles , or rocky areas for a den. They especially like to rest at the bottom of tall g reen g rasses in spring. In summer they mo ve to cool shady areas suc h as along fence lines , under roc ks and foundations, and in or at the
young are poisonous . They will often strik e re peatedly and can put out more poison than an adult. Rattlesnakes don ’t alw ays rattle before striking . Humans are frequently struck by a rattler when they catc h him b y surprise…a small c hild rolling around in tall g rass, for example. Rattlesnakes usually see us before w e see them. They are
poke their dens or burrows with sticks. If a rattlesnake bites, it will leave tw o puncture w ounds from the fangs . Young snak es may mak e smaller marks that are harder to detect. Most symptoms include immediate swelling, a tingling sensation, and nausea. The tissue around the wound will turn a dark blueblack color.
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The two differ somewhat in appearance, as w ell. The rattlesnake has a somewhat flat triangular head, an elliptical eye , and rattle buttons at the end of its tail. The gopher snake has a rounded head and round eye , no rattle buttons , and is not poisonous, although it will often mimic the tail shak e and hiss of a rattlesnake to protect its territory. Most occur rences with rattlesnakes do not result in any
“Summertime, and the li ving is easy…” a fa vorite song from many years ag o begins. Here in Clayton, we have summer pretty easy; many mild after noon temperatures with cool, breezy nights. As a matter of fact, many of us ha ve settled here because of the weather. Dangerous summer season weather occurs in many other parts of the world. The destruction from last year’s hurricanes is fresh in our memories. Just a few years ago, thousands died from a record heat w ave in Europe . Tornadoes seem to be a regular feature on the nightly news reports in the south and Midwest. Although w e seem to be immune from many for ms of destructive w eather in our corner of the world, deadly weather conditions are as close b y as the nearest street or parking lot. That is because any parked vehicle can become a death trap, and the victims are usually y oung children left behind b y parents , friends or caretak ers. The sad fact is that since 1998, nearly 300 young children have died in the
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deaf but can pick up the vibrations caused by walking feet. They coil for protection but can reac h out only from onethird to half their body length. In snake country the best thing is to keep your eyes open and to use caution, wear closed shoes , and thic k soc ks. Do not sit down or reac h into areas without checking first. Remember— their color blends with their surroundings, so look carefully. Do not tr y and catc h snakes or
United States from hyperthermia gerous lev els? J an Null, a Ba y (heat strok e) after being left Area meteorologist, recently peralone in park ed vehicles, five so formed a study of temperature far in 2006. Deaths from vehicle rise in enclosed cars . He conhyperthermia are not limited to ducted 16 different tests on days days with extremely hot temperwhen the outside air temperature atures, since some ha ve been ranged from 72 deg rees to 96 recorded with outdegrees. His results side temperatures show some amazas lo w as 70 ing statistics; interidegrees. or air temperatures Vehicle interiors rise an a verage of heat up rapidly 19 deg rees in 10 when parked in the minutes, 34 degrees sun. Solar radiation in 30 min utes and easily penetrates a 43 deg rees in an vehicle’s windo ws, hour. which are almost Null also contransparent to the WOODY WHITLATCH ducted tests with a sun’s shor twave window crac ked radiation. The WEATHER WORDS open and found shortwave energ y very little differwarms the objects that it strik es ence in results. Also, the test car inside a v ehicle, which heats the was equipped with a medium surrounding air b y conduction grey interior. Vehicles with darkand con vection. The interior er interior colors w ould lik ely gives off long w ave radiation, heat up even more quickly. which does not totally pass bac k A recent ar ticle in Injury through the v ehicle’s windo ws Prevention magazine examined and contributes to further warm- the circumstances behind c hild ing of the air trapped inside. hyperthermia fatalities . Review How quic kly can the air of 171 fatalities sho wed the folinside a v ehicle heat up to danlowings statistics:
Some people are allergic to snake bites , which mak es the symptoms w orse b y causing breathing problems. If bitten, a person should always call 911 immediately . While waiting for medical help , keep the bite area lo wer than the hear t, minimize movement, and sta y calm. Apply pressure 2-4 inc hes abo ve the bite (between the bite w ound and the hear t) to slo w the f low of poison into the blood stream.
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39 percent - Child “forg otten” by caregiver 27 percent - Child pla ying in unattended, unlocked vehicle 20 percent - Child intentionally left in vehicle by adult 14 percent - Circumstances unclear It w ould seem that all c hild hyperthermia deaths are preventable. As a parent or caregi ver, be sure to account for all children under y our care when y ou leave a vehicle. Always lock your car, not only to prev ent theft, but also so y oung c hildren cannot enter it to pla y. As a citizen, do not ignore c hildren y ou see left alone in vehicles. Many states already ha ve la ws that prohibit leaving c hildren unattended in vehicles. Remember also that pets are v ery susce ptible to hyperthermia if left in a v ehicle, even if the windows are cracked. If you would like more information on the subject of hyperthermia, please g o to http://ggweather.com/heat/.
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Find the joy in Shakespeare in Cal Shakes Merry Wives of Windsor JEANNA ROSS Special to the Pioneer
In a year created to dra w in new audiences to the Br uins Amphitheatre, the Califor nia Shakespeare T heater 2006 season features a doc ket of comedies with fantastical designs to delight g randparents, parents and their Shakespeare-suspicious
liberties w ere tak en with the script (I checked – the shark and octopus w ere new), but none except the most string ent purist objected. The cast w as superb , particularly Ron Campbell as the mischievous F alstaff and Anthony Fusco as the twitc hy, suspicious Master Ford. The stor yline w as typical Shakespeare – lo ve, lust, the
Seattle R ep Ar tistic Director Susan Ott directing the new piece, “Restoration Comedy” by Am y Freed (author of the 2002 A CT production, “The Beard of Avon,”) r unning J uly 5-30. The controversial comedy “T he Merchant of Venice” plays Aug. 9 to Se pt. 3, then Ar tistic Director Jonathan Moscone will close the season with “As You Like It,” with music composed b y Gina Leishman, Sept. 13 to Oct. 15. For those making their first excursion to the Orinda pla yhouse, some w ords of warning. The theatre is outdoors and can be ex cruciatingly cold, so dress accordingly. Blankets are a vailable, but tr y to bring y our own, since it is highly unpleasant to be caught without one. Food is welcome in the auditorium, so make an evening of it and bring a picnic dinner . Finally, shows are selling out, so purc hase tic kets early online at http://www .calshakes.org or b y calling the bo x office at (510) 548-9666. Prices range from $15 to $57. Check out special perfor mance da ys, including lower-priced previews, pre-show coc ktail par ties, complimentary wine tastings , family days, behind-the-scenes tours , artist discussions, post-show DJ parties and g ourmet dinners . Free, informative grove talks are held onsite 45 min utes before each sho w in the lo wer g rove. Parking is free , but if the Gateway Boulev ard exit becomes o vercrowded, a free shuttle r uns from the Orinda BART station star ting 90 minutes before show time. Shakespeare w as meant to be seen on the stage, not to be read in a stuffy classroom. For 32 years , the California Shakespeare Theater has been bringing the Bard to life for millions of grateful patrons . Join them this summer in celebrating the magic of live performance.
Hugh Evans (Geoff Uterhardt), Shallow (Spencer Stephens), Dr. Caius (Danny Scheie) and Master Page (Liam Vincent) in Cal Shakes Merry Wives of Windsor
children alike. The first sho w of the season, “The Merry Wives of Windsor” opened Ma y 31 in a flurry of brilliant colors, cartoon sound and F oley effects , and a cast of puppets that would make “Sesame Street” salivate. This was not Zefferelli’s Shakespeare. From the wheeled stic k-figure Slender to the marionette Fairy Queen, puppet designer John Ludwig used visual irony and a wide rang e of styles to sculpt his incredible creations . Alongside human actors , one quickly forg ot the interactions were between blocks of wood or piles of fabric as their black-clad handlers disappeared before our eyes. The pace was quick and the action constant. No Cliffs Notes were needed to understand the plot, though a program synopsis was provided just in case . A few
marrying off of an unwilling daughter to vile suitors , and the chance to cuc kold the foolish oaf. The story is jovial under the worst conditions , but when the daughter in question w as a stic k who dropped rose petals from her skir t and the fool w as so large he (literally) took up half the set? Pure delight. “The Mer ry Wi ves of Windsor” is silly, a production to entertain Shak espeare’s strident lower-class audience as m uch as his high-bro w, upper-class ro yal patrons. Associate Ar tistic Director Sean Daniels has continued his tradition of finding the joy in Shak espeare, reintroducing this ever-surprising playwright to those who believ e themselv es immune to his charms. The season will contin ue this month with the recently-retired
Club News CLAYTON VALLEY/CONCORD SUNRISE ROTARY The Cla yton V alley Sunrise Rotary will hold its sev enteenth annual c harity g olf tournament on Mon., Aug. 7 at Oakhurst Country Club . The tour nament fees are $195 per person, $750 per foursome , and includes course fees, cart, tee prizes, raffle tickets, mulligans, lunch and dinner. Sponsorships are also a vailable from $50 to $5,000. Checkin begins at 10 a.m., followed by lunch and a shotgun star t at 12:30 p.m. After the tournament, guests are in vited to a no-host cocktail reception and silent auction, dinner and tour nament awards. The registration deadline is July 24 and is subject to a vailability. For more infor mation about the tour nament, please call: Barbara Langsdale , (925)
671-0777, ext. 13; or e-mail: rotarygolf@gmail.com. Over the last 17 years the Clayton V alley Sunrise R otary has raised o ver $100,000 for local sc hools and org anizations. This year’s tournament will benefit W e Care Ser vices for Children, a pri vate, nonprofit agency dev oted to ser ving special needs c hildren, birth to fi ve and their families in Contra Costa County since 1960. Proceeds from the ev ent will also benefit the R otary Charitable Fund. Locally, the Cla yton V alley Sunrise Rotary sends high school juniors to leadership camp , supports the “Ev ery 15 Min utes” substance abuse program, works with the Mon ument Crisis Center and funds many y outh service org anizations. On Sat.
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If you have a c hance to c hat with Brad Talmadge about a specific loan or refinancing opportunity, don’t be sur prised if you find yourself talking about hobbies, work and family v acations. While Brad can gi ve exper t advice on specific loans , he also likes to look at the “big financial picture.” As a W ealth P ortfolio Manager for World Savings, Brad is knowledgeable about a v ariety of programs--fixed and adjustable loans , low rates and quick approval processes. He also has the ability to analyze a client’s financial worth with sound recommendations on creating a por tfolio specific to a client’ s needs . Brad will want to kno w what types of loans a client is committed to . Are the rates competitive? What will a client’ s financial w orth look like in fi ve or ten years? Is there an interest in a v acation home or second property?
In looking at our li ves and those around us, Rudy Feldman’s heartfelt words are a messag e to us all. “The w orld has c hanged from when I w as young and w e
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“Most people need guidance when it comes to mortgages and home loans,” says Brad. There is a lot of misinformation out there , he adds . “Getting a loan is easier no w, but it’s also easy to be misled. ” Brad is there to mak e sure clients get the right infor mation at the right time to mak e the right investment. His company, World Savings, prides itself on pro viding up-todate infor mation on purc hases and refinancing opportunities and the more popular loan prog rams with multiple payment options or interest only payments. The company also offers free consultations. “It’s a fantastic company, like one big family,” says Brad. Building a tr ust with clients is what W orld Savings is all about, explains Brad. “We’re here to manag e clients through a course of time,” he adds. A graduate of Clayton Valley High Sc hool, Brad g rew up in the Cla yton/Concord area and now lives in Brentwood with his
Jill Bedecarré/Clayton Pioneer
BRAD TALMADGE
wife Annemarie, who teaches at De La Salle High Sc hool. As a college student, he became interested in the financial industry while he w as emplo yed b y Wells Fargo Bank in the equity line de partment. He’s commit-
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Respect for others takes high priority with Rudy Feldman
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really need to star t caring about each other ag ain. It all comes down to respecting one another,” says Rudy with a strong conviction in his voice. Born and raised in San Francisco, this octog enarian’s beliefs stem bac k to his c hildhood memories. “I can remember during w artime where w e would g et our news from the movie theaters w e attended. And one da y they sho wed pictures of Germany and the J ews being rounded up . Believe it or not, people w ere sitting there clapping to see this happening to
the Jews,” Rudy solemnly shares. “I will always remember that and it had a great effect on me.” At ag e 18 R udy w as drafted into the Air Force and served for three years , half of that time being in Europe during W orld War II as a radio operator on a carrier plane. “Our main job was flying gasoline for the tanks that were fighting. As a radio operator I used radar for na vigational purposes, but not for detecting enemy planes .” Rudy contin ues, “I was very fortunate during m y time there as I nev er even had a scratch from the war.” When the w ar ended, Rudy’s good fortune continued when he was able to help f ly those from forced labor camps back to their home countries and F rench POW’s back to Paris. Rudy then spent time on the ships taking troops bac k to the United States to g et ready to fight J apan. “They w anted to have entertainment on the ships for the troops, so they got a band together and since I played saxophone, I ended up being in the band,” states Rudy. When he retur ned to the states, Rudy met his wife Mar y when both of them were working for a men ’s clothing company. Rudy laughs that it w as predicted b y a family friend that their mar riage w ould nev er last. But this year they will celebrate their 58th w edding anni versary. They have three c hildren; James and Rachelle living in Califor nia and their y oungest daughter Lynne who passed away.
In addition, they ha ve been blessed with three g randchildren and four great grandchildren. After his children were born, Rudy found that w orking one job was not enough. So he began selling shoes during the ev ening after w ork. and ev entually became a full time shoe salesman. “I w orked for 40 years and then in 1992, the da y after Christmas, my boss came in and said ‘Well, tomorrow is our last day of work. We are closing, ” Rudy’s despair of those times showing. “For two years follo wing that I w as doing so many applications for other jobs. But I was g etting no where ev en with all of those years of experience because I was at an age where no one cared or wanted me to work for them anymore.” “Then one da y I sa w in the newspaper that the Cla yton
RUDY FELDMAN TODAY
COLLEEN ELWY
SHARING HISTORY Library w as looking for v olunteers. I ended up helping unload books and tag them for the opening of the librar y and ha ve been v olunteering there for the past 11 years no w,” smiles Rudy. “I never dreamed that I would be a librarian so to speak. To tell you the tr uth, if I had kno wn that it w as suc h a pleasure to work in a librar y as it is here in Clayton, I w ould ha ve star ted a lot sooner than I did. It’s a v ery pleasant job to do. I have worked with many different g roups of people being in retail all those years, but nothing compares with how nice the people are there .” It brings us bac k to ho w Rudy star ted our c hat tog ether about people sho wing they care . “I ha ve alw ays look ed at a human being as a human being first. We all have the same par ts, but they are interc hangeable,” Rudy ref lects. “But if I were to tell y oung people one thing, I would sa y please don ’t judg e each other. Respect one another for who you each are, because in many ways we are all the same.” If you ar e a senior li ving in Clayton, or know of a senior that would like to share their life story with the Clayton Pioneer r eaders, please contact Colleen Elwy at 672-9565 or at colleensbyline@aol.com.
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Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com
July 8, 2006
Perennials add big color to g ardens
NICOLE HACKETT
GARDEN GIRL Long, narrow strips of soil along a fence or under a g rouping of windows next to the home are g reat locations for potential horizontal g ardens. Horizontal g ardens are respectively called colorful perennial borders and are among the most successful ways to display several perennial v arieties by layering using the length of the g arden rather than the width. Achieving this is easy when you know what plants to c hoose, how to la yer them and what their needs are . Full sun with lots of reflective heat is not a problem when the plants are hardy to all that the Cla yton Valley has to offer. The horizontal perennial g arden has a look of balance. Certain elements need to be considered when beginning your design. Balance of plant height will play a role in the f low of the g arden. Use the home’ s windows as a guide for the high and lo w p l a n t s . Perennials need to be planted in a way that does not bloc k the sight from the windows, but rather accents them. It is nice to see the blossoms from the house, so do not cover the whole windo w. The sections of house without windows are great for planting taller plants. When using a fence as the background for a perennial g arden, install one tall plant per fence section, placing the perennial in the center of each panel, or perhaps use the post as the guide for the taller plants . Once you ha ve decided ho w many taller plants you need, the rest is easy. Every tall plant needs a medium one on eac h side and a small one toward the front. Each medium perennial installed needs a smaller plant, and the
small plants ma y need a g round cover to complete the la yering look of the garden. Begin planting from left to right. This may sound confusing, but it is really simple once y ou stand outside and really take a look. Now, let’s talk about g reat, hardy, summer tolerant, longblooming perennials . We will start with the taller plants . This is where g ardeners ma y mak e mistakes, as they ma y forg et to take into consideration a plant’ s width as well as its height. Today, we are focusing on the supermodels of the g arden, the tall and thin perennials . Salvia Indigo Spir es has been a favorite of mine for many years. This long blooming perennial has basil shaped g reen lea ves that edge the square stems . The indigo blue spiking f lowers appear in mid- to late-Ma y and may stretc h themselv es 8-10 inches long, and sometime longer. This perennial will k eep blooming as long as there is enough heat to cook up the blossoms. Eventually, the Indigo
GERANIUM MAGNIFICUM
Spires Salvia will reach 4 feet tall and 2-3 feet wide. Cut this plant back hard sometime in late February or early Marc h for renewed growth. Dahlia hybrids also ma y be used as the tall plants of the garden. This perennial blooms in late June and k eeps on tr ucking through most of September when deadheaded. With few exceptions, Dahlias can reac h 4 feet tall and almost as wide . Their impressive, dramatic flowers will make you appear to be a Master Gardener, when in reality any w eekend w arrior can grow such beauties. Leonotis is a dark orang e
whirl of two-lipped flowers that pretty as the flower. in theor y resemble the tail of a Moonshine y arrow is the lion. This evergreen perennial is best bloomer out of the family exceptionally long blooming, without a doubt. This perennial easily f lowering past Hallo ween will stand a solid 2 feet tall and and sometimes through just as wide . Flat yellow flowers Thanksgiving. Leonotis ma y top icy g rey foliag e from late reach 5-6 feet tall, yet only about April though Se ptember with one-third as wide , great for tall regular deadheading . Butterflies pieces of house. The humming- can’t resist the yello w landing birds lo ve the pads of the sweet f lower of blossom. Pair the lion’s tail. this selection Mediumwith a dark er sized perennials tall for conare the ones that trast of color are needed to and f low of accent the tall height. ones. As with Smallerthe Dahlia with sized perenniits late-season als that w ould bloom, the compliment medium installathe medium DIASCIA FLYING COLORS tion should be a plants in y our TRAILING RED heavier spring horizontal garbloomer, and den include not reach higher than ½ of the Diascia, nemesia, some of the tall selections’ overall height. smaller salvias or g aillardias. Great spring-blooming mediDiascia and nemesia are ums are the penstomen, hardy becoming more commonly geraniums and moonshine found in all types of garden cenyarrow. ters. Choose the color that is Penstomen attractive to you personally. With comes in many this plant, is w ould be hard to colors to accent make a mistak e. The F lying the taller plant. Colors Collection of Diascia Most years b y and the Sunsation Collection April, pen- of Nemesia are the families that stomen is I would look out for and liberalalready showing ly c hoose de pending on the off its trumpet- color that the border needed. shaped f lowers Salvia is a huge family of plants, in just about and sev eral ha ve g reat g rowth any color y ou habits that w ould satisfy y our could desire . needs. Salvia sylv estris May Penstomen acts Night was the perennial of the like an ev er- year a couple of years back, and green, but really it is still rockin’ the garden. This appreciates a perennial reaches only 1 foot tall heavy pr uning and about double as wide. Spikes in late February of dark pur ple appear from or early Marc h. spring though fall with regular This promotes deadheading. This plant complifresh, more ments yellow, pinks and reds. manageable Gaillardia is another perenstems. nial that bloom spring through When I sa y fall. This hot colored plant has hardy g erani- flowers that are mostly in the ums, you prob- red, orange and yellow combinaably picture tions. Plant Gaillardia Goblin that f leshy, or Fanfare with dark er colors common plant for contrast. These butterf ly that y ou see in lovers will be highlights of the hardware store horizontal g arden. Superbenia, garden centers . However, the the newer proven winner hybrid family of geranium is v ast with verbenas, are also a great considmany members . The ones coneration for installation in y our sidered hardy have no trouble in new g arden. They satisfy the the frost because of their winter groundcover need and the small dormancy. Geranium Rozanne need as well. would mak e an ex cellent mediAs always, install high impact um to a hot-colored tall, such as plants with premium soil the leonotis . The scalloped amendment that is rich in organshaped leaves almost resemble a ic matter , and w ater regularly . fern, yet this tough plant can Cut back expired blossoms and take ev ery bit of our full sun. enjoy. Don’t let the dainty blossom fool you. The simple blue flower piles to 2 feet or more , all while Nicole is the Garden Girl at looking soft and simple . R&M Pool, Patio and Garden Geranium ma gnificum has a Contact her with questions, comments dark pur ple f lower and broad, or suggestions at GardenGirl94517@yahoo.com textured lea ves that are just as
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Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer .com
Page A15
Community pitches in to keep library lively PEOPLE HELPING PEOPLE As president of the Librar y Foundation from 1989 to 1995 and ag ain star ting in 2005, Atkinson has helped guide the successful v olunteer prog ram. But she also gi ves credit to the library staff. “They all really v alue volunteers and are willing tion and mysteries. “I like to read to w ork with most everything,” she says. them, which Chesterman says her favorite isn’t alw ays volunteer moments come when the case ,” she she can interact with librar y says. “It’s a users. “It mak es me feel really really g ood good to help people find what team. I hope they are looking for,” she says. they value our For Chester man, the time input – w e spent with her fello w volunteers certainly v alue ALWAYS LOOKING FOR MORE is a bon us. “We’ve had staff the fact that Working as an emplo yee of come and go, but the volunteers they put up the Library Foundation, Clayton seem to stic k around,” she says. with us.” resident Arlene Kikka wa“I’ve met some w onderful peoLibrarian Nielsen has been coordinating ple, and it’s just a lot of fun. We a s sistant For library volunteer Joan Chesterman, the camavolunteers since 1998. “It was a share our hobbies and our lo ve M a rietta raderie with her fellow volunteers keeps her smiling good matc h,” she sa ys of the for books.” Leffner sa ys throughout her Wednesday shifts. job, “because they w ere looking she admires A POPULAR PLACE for someone who w as in volved the dedication of the volunteers. Friday,” he notes . “It tak es a Chesterman has watched the in the community.” “Without them, this librar y while to catch up.” library’s collection expand since According to Atkinson, would not sur vive. We lean on For the Larwoods, volunteerits infant years . “We ha ve so Kikkawa-Nielsen dev otes far them hea vily,” says Leffner , ing at the librar y is a family many more books – and not just more than the 40 hours a month whose days in Clayton date back affair. His daughter Janet helped books, but books on tape , for whic h she g ets paid. “If to the bookmobile. for four years before graduating, DVDs and CD“I, for one , love the v olunand son J ohn joins his ROMs.” teers,” Leffner sa ys. “You also dad on Saturdays. Holmsen sa ys he learn a lot from them – from According to has seen the requests their experiences and bac kLarwood, summer is for books from ground.” especially difficult other branches g row Hansen-Smith, who came because the number of e x p o n e n t i a l l y. here in 2004 from the main student volunteers falls “When we first startlibrary in Pleasant Hill, also off dramatically. “The ed doing it, the numthrows the spotlight back on the shelves g et more and ber of books Clayton community. more out of order and involved w ould fill “Besides the big v olunteer stuffed to the brim, ” half a length of a support here , the Cla yton he sa ys. “I can tell cart,” he re ports. Library has a wonderful place in from the state of the “Now, it’s increased the local comm unity,” she sa ys. shelves there is not to eight times that.” “It’s really a center of activity for enough people there According to the community – a place where during the w eek Chesterman, the everybody can come and assemeither.” computer area has ble.” More tutors also also become a more For more infor mation are high on the list of integral par t of the about volunteer opportunities library needs . “We’ve library. That’s where at the librar y, call Arlene had o ver 40 kids on volunteer Ra y Dod Kikkawa-Nielsen at 673-9777 the w aiting list. We Computer tutor Ray Dod helps patron Cindy Twitchell comes in. The semiduring one of his volunteer shifts at the Clayton Library. can’t seem to fill the or email her at retired c hemist has akikkawa@ccclib.org. demand because it’ s a been helping patrons things interest her – and a lot of free ser vice that w e pro vide to use the computers since shor t- things do – she really puts her Photos by T amara Steiner , the comm unity,” Kikkawaly after the librar y opened. time into it,” Atkinson says. Clayton Pioneer Nielsen says. Although he’ s seen a Kikkawa-Nielsen sa ys the
While ther e ar e signs of wealth thr oughout Clayton – fr om the granite counter tops to the BMWs, the city itself is low-budget. The staf fs at City Hall, the librar y and the P olice Department all rely on volunteers to hel p keep things running smoothly. In the last issue, the Pioneer looked at some of the local residents who “clock in” down at City Hall. In the July issues, we’ll focus in on the multitudes who converge on the library to pitch in on a weekly basis along with those w ho answer the call to ser vice with the Police Department. In talking with these volunteers , a common theme rings thr ough – it’s all about making this great community we live in even better. BEV BRITTON Clayton Pioneer
“We contacted ev ery v olunteer group in town and every city department,” Atkinson sa ys. “We g ot a lot of community ownership for the project.” To staff the 44 hours of operation, the librar y has a fulltime clerk, a 32-hour a w eek branch manager, three assistants with 20 hours each and two student assistants who w ork a total of 19 hours . Volunteers fill in the g aps – shelving, sensitizing
Clayton resident T ed Holmsen g rew up during the Depression and w as taught never to thro w anything out. So it’s no sur prise that the librar y volunteer’s favorite task is mending the audio-visual materials. “I get great satisfaction from repairing them and retur ning them to circulation, ” says Holmsen, who puts cassettes in new cases , splices brok en tapes and fix es damaged CDs and DVDs. He star ted volunteering when the library opened more than 10 years ag o to save a spot for his wife, Claire, for when she retired. “Then I got hooked,” he sa ys with a chuckle. The Dana Ted Holmsen repairs, replenishes and restocks in his volunteer position with the Clayton Library. Hills couple books, compiling books requestnow v olunteers tog ether on Thursdays. They are just tw o of ed at other branc hes, repairing the 127 people who v olunteered books and offering their services as tutors. at the library in 2005. Clayton resident J oan According to Clayton branch Chesterman has been volunteermanager K aren Hansen-Smith, one-third of all the librar y v ol- ing since shortly after the library unteer hours in the county are in opened. “I use the librar y all the Clayton. “Of all the branc hes, time and used to use the bookwe ha ve the big gest v olunteer mobile that came around, and so program. Our v olunteers gi ve I was grateful to ha ve a librar y,” close to 8,000 hours of library the Dana Farms resident said. Chesterman, a for mer services a year,” she says. teacher, says she enjoys processA CALL TO SERVE ing new c hildren’s books so she The bevy of volunteers is no can see what is a vailable for her accident. When Cla yton resigrandchildren and her daughter , dents Joyce Atkinson and Jeanne who teac hes elementar y sc hool. Boyd lobbied to g et the librar y Chesterman’s own reading tastes built, they promised the county run from self-help books to fican ample supply of volunteers.
decline in the n umber of patrons who need help , he still keeps busy on his W ednesday shifts – especially with one-on-
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one tutoring sessions. “The y ounger g eneration may need help , but they don ’t know it and they don ’t want it,” he says with a smile. These days, most of his clients are retirees looking to keep up with children and grandchildren via e-mail. He tells of a recent tutoring session in which he helped a resident find his daughter’ s W eb page at a uni versity in Ireland. “He couldn’t wait to get home to show it to his wife.” Dod w as inspired to v olunteer at the librar y as a tribute to his late wife , Anne, a teac her who died in 1991. “I thought there w ould be something here to keep my mind occupied, ” he says.
volunteer g roup is g
through a transition, as the original helpers are aging. Volunteer Da vid Larw ood says more helpers are alw ays needed on Saturda ys. “The morning shift gets a lot of work, because the librar y is closed on
oing
Teens, from page A1 The youth volunteers will be putting in extra hours this summer to help organize the reading program. For teen readers, Spryer and Schmidt both recommend books b y Georg e Orw ell – “1984” and “ Animal F arm.” “Just as Long as W e’re Together” by J udy Blume is Phyllis Smith’ s top pic k, while fellow v olunteer Emily Italiano is reading “Go Ask Alice ,” the anonymous diary of an addict. “It’s about a teenage girl, and I can really relate to her ,” says Italiano, who will be in the
eighth g rade at Diablo View Middle School in the fall. Italiano just star ted v olunteering at the librar y and is awaiting placement in the tutoring prog ram. “I lik e w orking with little kids ,” she says, echoing a sentiment shared b y many of the teen volunteers. Since January, TAG member Sarah Agronow has been tutoring a second-g rader. Agronow, who will be a sophomore at Clayton Valley, also enjoys interacting with y ounger kids as a counselor at St. Bonaventure’s bible camp.
Smith, an upcoming CV sophomore, helps with the library’s kids prog rams, such as story time and crafts, along with shelving and sensitizing books. Ambrey Holl oway, who just completed eighth g rade at Diablo View, says she is glad she joined T AG. “I heard about it and thought it might be fun, ” she says. “I’m enjoying it.” The Teen Advisory Group is accepting applications for the 2006-’07 board. Teens 13 to 18 years old are invited to apply by Aug. 25. For more infor mation, visit the librar y or call J udith Matthews at 673-0659.
Walnut Creek, Saranap Area
Kimberly Morucci (925) 280-8563 kmorucci@interorealestate.com www.kimmorucci.com Recipient of Intero Executive Circle Award Member of Intero’s Top 10% Producers Clayton resident & ranch property owner.
This Adorable 2 bedroom, 1 bath Condo features Light Oak Laminate Flooring, Newer Carpet, Fresh Paint, & Balcony Overlooking the Pool Situated on the Top Floor. Great Commute Location, near Hwy’s 680 & 24, and Downtown W alnut Creek.
Offered at $399,950.
Concord Condo, Clayton Border, PENDING 1815 Concord Blvd. #C. Completely Redone 2 Bedroom, 2 Bath, 2 Car Garage. Great Area, Spacious 2 Story with New Carpets, Paint & Appliances including Washer, Dryer & Refrigerator. Offered at $415,000.
Walnut Creek office, 1280 Civic Dr., Suite 200, Walnut Creek, CA 94596 (925) 280-8500
Page A16
Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com
July 8, 2006
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&2 car garage. Upgraded laminate wood floors throughout first floor! New carpet & neutral décor throughout! Living room with soaring ceiling. Formal dining room. Gourmet kitchen features tile counters, island & breakfast nook opens to family room with fireplace & wet bar . Spacious master suite with walk-in closet, oversized soaking tub & separate stall shower. Private yard offers a covered patio, maturing trees & flowers. Walk to community park. $789,500 WINDMILL CANYON AT OAKHURST COUNTRY CLUB!
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10th fairway with course , Mt. Diablo & surrounding hillside views! 4 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, approx. 2,313sf. Lots of custom builtin including media center in family room & night-stands/book shelves in bedrooms. Spacious family room with fireplace & wet bar . Kitchen features tile counters & floors. Spacious master suite overlooks golf course. Private backyard with various patio area, lawn & views of golf course. $819,000
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Custom Built Sensational Single Story 3 bedrooms plus a den, 2.5 baths,
approx. 2,700sf, 2 fireplaces & 3 car garage! Extensively upgraded throughout! Den with French doors. Chef’s kitchen boasts upgraded tile floors, granite counters, oversized center island, maple cabinets & pantry . Spacious family room features custom media cabinets, wet bar & granite tile fireplace. Enormous master suite offers a sitting area & bath featuring a Jacuzzi jetted tub & huge walk-in closet. Professionally landscaped level lot of fers the utmost priva$1,049,000 cy & features an exposed aggregate patio, lush lawn & cascading waterfall with pond
Clayton Market Update
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Mortgage Market Update
Conforming $417,000 or less (no points)
Jumbo $417,001 and up (no points)
30 year, fixed for 3 . . . . . . .6.625% 30 year, fixed for 5 . . . . . . .6.625% 30 year, fixed for 7 . . . . . . . .6.75% 30 year, fixed for 10 . . . . . . . .7.0% 15 year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6.75% 30 year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7.125%
30 year, fixed for 3 . . . . . . .6.625% 30 year, fixed for 5 . . . . . . .6.625% 30 year, fixed for 7 . . . . . . .6.875% 30 year, fixed for 10 . . . . . .7.125% 15 year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6.75% 30 year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7.25%
32 Jalalon Place 1291 Shell Circle 5640 Southbrook Dr 4021 Hummingbird Wy 1328 Shell Lane 1126 Peacock Creek Dr 1450 Yosemite Cir 811 Coachman Pl 739 Black Point Pl 5013 Keller Ridge Dr 121 Gold Rush Court 407 Wawona Lane 1941 Eagle Peak Ave 610 Julpun Loop 5612 Frank Place 5016 Raven Way 746 Bloching Circle 3036 Windmill Canyon Dr 74 Nottingham Pl 1425 Indianhead Way 1296 Easley Drive 1415 Greystone Lane 20 Mt. Wilson 904 Arrowhead Ter 301 Meredith Ct 316 Mt. Washington Wy 5915 Wallace Dr 3505 Coyote Circle
PRICE $524,000 $625,000 $775,000 $839,00 $539,000 $1,265,000 $695,000 $1,100,000 $862,000 $729,000 $824,900 $918,000 $595,000 $649,900 $863,000 $799,000 $899,000 $745,000 $889,000 $580,000 $815,000 $620,000 $530,000 $655,000 $849,950 $815,000 $834,000 $482,500
SALE DATE
SF
06/25/06 06/23/06 06/23/06 06/17/06 06/15/06 06/09/06 06/08/06 06/08/06 06/06/06 06/05/06 06/02/06 05/26/06 05/25/06 05/25/06 05/18/06 05/17/06 05/17/06 05/16/06 05/12/06 05/11/06 05/02/06 04/30/06 04/28/06 04/28/06 04/28/06 04/26/06 04/19/06 04/19/06
1,235 1,709 1,986 2,315 1,430 3,820 1,804 2,450 2,164 1,639 2,171 2,505 1,554 1,991 2,398 2,053 2,325 1,877 2,088 1,430 2,116 1,891 1,378 1,939 2,011 2,619 2,095 1,252
BED/BATH 2/2 3/3 4/2 4/2.5 3/2.5 4/2.5 3/2 4/3 5/3 3/2.5 4/2.5 3/2 3/2.5 3/2.5 4/2.5 3/2 4/2.5 3/2.5 4/2 3/2.5 4/2.5 4/2.5 3/2.5 3/2.5 4/2.5 6/2.5 3/3 2/2
CLAYTON PIONEER July 8, 2006
Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com
July 4 Photo Contest W inners First Place, 12/Under wins $50
Second Place, Adult wins $75
Allison Barber, Age 7
Franklin Mason
It was really tough, but we did it. We picked six winners from over 100 entries. We congratulate all of our winners and send a great big “THANK YOU” to everyone who entered. Second Place, 12/Under wins $30 Tyler Sun, 11
Section B
Third Place, Adult wins $20 Ron Wetzel
Third Place, 12/Under wins $50 Robert Johnson, 12
Page B1
Arson suspected in string of Morgan Territory fires
TAMARA STEINER Clayton Pioneer
“Arson Caused Fire,” scream the w ords from the bright red posters nailed to the po wer poles ev ery so often up and down Morgan Territory Road. In the last eight w eeks, there has been a rash of grassfires, eight to be exact, in the Morgan Territory Road area. The first of the recent string of fires w as late in the ev ening of May 21, when a fire in Cur ry Canyon destro yed an R V, two travel trailers and a pickup truck. On J une 28 tw o se parate fires burned about four acres on Marsh Creek, south of Morgan Territory, and about a quar ter
acre on Morgan Territory Road. The fires are occur ring at random times both da y and night and are deemed “suspicious,” said Battalion Chief Rob Van W ormer of the Califor nia Department of Forestry (CDF) Sunshine Station on Marsh Creek Road. “The fires are suspicious in nature because there’ s a rash of them,” said Van Wormer. “We’re focused and pa ying attention, ” he assured. Residents of the area are urged to be vigilant and to report any suspicious beha vior to the Arson Hotline at 1-800468-4408, or CDF Sunshine Station at 672-6400.
(925) 672-8787 www.LynneFrench.com Lynne@LynneFrench.com
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rom the city to the country, the East Bay Area is a place full of surprises. Just ask longtime resident and local real estate professional, Lynne French. For her, it provides the ideal setting for some of her favorite hobbies, which include golf, hiking, jogging and horseback riding. “I discover something new here every day,” Lynne says. “That’s why I take such great pride and joy in helping others make the most of their real estate opportunities in the East Bay Area.” With her straightforward determination and in-depth knowledge
of the local home market, Lynne has guided many East Bay residents to excellent results. She is backed by a team of skilled professionals, including her husband, Danny, a former general contractor, giving her unique insight into every aspect of your home. When it comes time to buy or sell a home in the East Bay area, Lynne French is the ultimate guide. Her experience, care and energy will make your move a complete success. Give her a call today and Discover the Possibilities in the local real estate market.
Page B2
Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com
July 8, 2006
Clayton Sports Clayton Tanner embarks on professional baseball career BILL WAGONER Clayton Pioneer
Clayton T anner of Oakhurst, a left-handed pitc her from De La Salle High, signed a professional baseball contract with the San F rancisco Giants on June 20. On the heals of Nick Moresi’s contract with the Houston Astros on J une 8, the signing puts an ex clamation mark on the end of a 15-year drought since Damon Mashore signed with the Oakland Athletics back in 1991. The Giants tabbed Cla yton with their third round selection, #89 overall, in the June 6 Major League Baseball amateur draft. The 6-2, 185-pound southpaw went 9-2 his senior season with the Spar tans, with a 1.48 ERA. In less than 70 innings , Clayton str uck out 101 batters while w alking only 18 – a phenomenal 5.6 strik eout-to-walk ratio. “We are very grateful,” mom Kim Zocchi said just a few days after the draft, “for ev erything that is happening in our li ves.” At the time , Clayton Tanner and his family w ere still sor ting out the options. He had v erbally committed to taking his baseball skills to Pepperdine Uni versity on a baseball sc holarship. Now he was faced with deciding between the P epperdine Waves of Malibu and the prospect of pitching for his hometo wn Giants. Clayton w as bor n in Monavale, Australia, and the family mo ved bac k to the U .S. when he w as only about six months old. Growing up in Concord, Clayton attended Tabernacle sc hool through the eighth g rade and pla yed in the Concord American Little
CLAYTON TANNER
League system. As a 13-year old, he mo ved into the Cla yton Valley P ony League prog ram and contin ued with NorCal
Photo courtesy of Kim Zocchi
CLAYTON TANNER, dealing for the De La Salle Spartans in April game action, was selected as the #89 pick overall in the MLB draft and signed with the SF Giants on June 20th.
Baseball during his high sc hool summers. The family mo ved to Clayton shor tly after he star ted at De La Salle. A LATE BLOSSOMING PITCHER “I didn ’t become a serious pitcher until m y junior year ,” Clayton sa ys, just prior to embarking on his pro baseball career. “I was an outfielder and started pitching a little more m y sophomore year , on the junior varsity. I didn ’t lik e it so m uch because they w ouldn’t let the pitchers hit.” “I threw 78-82 (mph) as a sophomore,” he sa ys of his velocity, “and 84-86 as a junior , then in the 88-92 rang e my senior year.” A four -pitch guy (fastball, curve, slider, and c hangeup) who admits to being a big Barry
Zito fan, Clayton kno ws his approach to hitters will c hange at the professional level. “In high school,” he says, “I could get away with the fastball as my strikeout pitch. But with a good hitter , it’s probably the curveball. I’m g onna ha ve to work on slotting up and hitting the spots. My slider and changeup will be a k ey. My cur veball isn’t lik e Zito’ s, but it’ s pretty good. I like my slider a lot.” “It’s been a real roller -coaster ride,” Clayton admits. “All the excitement before the draft and after the draft tr ying to decide whether to pursue m y dream of going pro or g o to P epperdine and pursue the pro route in three years.” “We thought it might be in the four th-seventh rounds ,” Zocchi sa ys of their expecta-
tions going into the draft. “That was kind of what the word was out there . Through the whole process, since Easter , two or three scouts ha ve been coming over every week.” “It’s not only can he pla y baseball,” Zocchi continues, “but how well-rounded is he? With the full ride to Pepperdine, would he sign, was a k ey for the scouts . It was a v ery confusing process . It was not an easy decision.” The da y Cla yton g raduated, May 21, he informed his mother that he’d decided to g o into the draft seriously. “Clayton w as on the phone with his advisor,” Kim recalls of draft day, “when we saw the #89 pick come up on the inter net. It was very thrilling. It brings chills and tears to m y eyes just thinking about it. The da y it hap-
pened, we were just w alking on air. He’s wanted to be a professional baseball pla yer since he was six… and now he is one.” “He is absolutely thrilled, ” Zocchi says. “My son figured it all out… the decision w as always his . A hometo wn team, as a mom, I was thrilled. When he g ets to the next lev el, he might be in San J ose (the Class A San Jose Giants affiliate in the California League)… that would be fantastic!” “Being drafted b y the Giants,” Clayton admits , “was like a dream come tr ue. Part of the negotiations with the Giants is that I’m g oing to be able to skip the Arizona Rookie League and g o straight into shor t-season Single-A in Oreg on, which is the same spot that I’ d go out of college.”
DAY ONE AS A PRO BALLPLAYER Clayton reported to the Class A Salem-K eizer V olcanoes on Saturday, June 24, coinciding with the team’s home opener . In the short-season (76-g ame schedule) Northwest League , Clayton will be manag ed b y for mer Giants catcher Steve Decker. The Giants sur prised Kim the night of the signing, at AT&T Park, with news that she was invited to join Cla yton during his first few days in Salem. “I w as absolutely thrilled, ” she recalls . “I g ot to meet his host family and see the ballpark. He’s g oing to be tak en better care of there than here! She cooks, does their w ashing, and they even have a car to use. Two other kids from the team are staying with them, including a roommate from Boston.” Zocchi dropped her son off at V olcanoes Stadium on the 24th then w atched from the stands while Cla yton was introduced alongside his teammates on opening night. The Volcanoes defeated the Boise Hawks, 6-1, to r un their earlyseason record to 8-1. The next da y, she w alked into the park and noticed a table set up with Clayton’s name on it, preparing him for his first autograph session. “Just another one of those feelings that I can ’t describe ,” she sa ys. We definitely are blessed and v ery g rateful. We will always appreciate it.” Clayton is slated to thro w a few bullpen sessions before moving into the star ting rotation, which should happen no later than the first w eek of July. Initially, he’ll be limited to three then fi ve innings , with strict pitch counts. “Things are star ting to return to nor mal,” mother Kim says. “Clayton’s brothers are so proud and suppor tive of him. Nathan (15, entering his sophomore year at Cla yton V alley High), Weston (14, a freshman at De La Salle this fall), and I will be g oing up for about a week to catch games around the end of July or early August.”
July 8, 2006
Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com
Clayton Sports CVLL teams advance to Tournament of Champions BILL WAGONER Clayton Pioneer
Clayton Valley Little League divisional c hampions adv anced to the District 4 Tournament of Champions in single-elimination action that began June 24. Four teams out of seven divisions, two each softball and baseball, reached the TOC Championship game.
National b y a 21-4 score at Pittsburg. Game two saw the A’s take a 4-3 victor y o ver Lafa yette on June 26 at Lafa yette’s home park, setting up a semifinal meeting against Continental. The A’s continued their road mastery, winning their third consecutive g ame at an opponent’s diamond, trouncing Continental by a 21-1 final.
Page B3
The Clayton Connection for all your financial & real estate needs
26, by a 10-4 final, to end the Braves pursuit of a District 4 title. LITTLE LEAGUE GIRLS SOFTBALL – AAA D IVISION/ MINORS (AGES 8-12) Clayton V alley’s entr y, the Thunder, hosted Walnut Creek on June 26 and pulled out a 6-5 win to advance to the title game two da ys later ag ainst Antioc h
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Bill Wagoner/Clayton Pioneer
THE MAJOR DIVISION ASTROS, managed by Chris Snyder (standing, second from left), were one of seven CVLL division champions to advance to the 2006 District 4 Tournament of Champions.
LITTLE LEAGUE BASEBALL AA D IVISION/MINOR B (AGES 8-11) The CVLL Nationals , managed by Kyle Coffey, pulled off a triple pla y and then needed a bases-loaded triple in extra innings for a walk-off 21-20 win in their opener o ver East Antioch at Concord American fields. Second round action saw the Nationals deadloc ked at 9-9 against Concord American at their host field when the g ame was suspended due to darkness. The g ame was resumed tw o days later and the Nationals put up six r uns to win, 15-10, then prepared to star t the regularlyscheduled g ame. CVLL scored early and often to eliminate Antioch West, 15-3, to advance to the TOC Championship game. Results were not available as of this publication deadline. LITTLE LEAGUE BASEBALL AAA D IVISION/MINOR A (AGES 9-12) Clayton V alley’s Minor A champions, the Pat Smith managed A ’s, rode a close pla yoff victory o ver the R eds to advance to the TOC. In g ame one of the tour nament, the A’s routed Pittsburg
The three wins positioned the A ’s for a J une 30 TOC District 4 c hampionship g ame. Results were not a vailable as of this publication deadline.
West, also at Clayton Valley. Mike Morano’ s squad ran into a for midable opponent, with Antioc h winning the crown, 22-0.
LITTLE LEAGUE BASEBALL MAJOR DIVISION (AGES 10-12) Chris Sny der’s Astros put together a second half winning streak that vaulted them into the CVLL c hampionship g ame against the Reds, winners of the first half . The Astros w on that matchup, 3-2, to adv ance as division champions. In g ame one of the TOC , CVLL fell behind 3-0 ag ainst Concord American before rallying to tie and added two more in the bottom of the fifth to squeak out a 5-3 win. Round tw o sa w a tough Antioch West Pirates team ride superb pitc hing and a First inning homer un to a 1-0 shutout and bring the Astros season to a close.
LITTLE LEAGUE GIRLS SOFTBALL – M AJOR DIVISION (AGES 10-12) David Cooney’ s CVLL Thunder took their first tw o games, 14-3 o ver Pittsburg and 15-5 o ver East County , to advance to the J une 28 title game ag ainst Antioc h W est in Walnut Creek. Antioch proved, as they did in the lo wer di vision, the strength of their program with a 10-0 shutout for the title. SENIOR LEAGUE GIRLS SOFTBALL (AGES 13-15) The CVLL T hunder, managed by Robert Warner, hosted their first g ame at Cla yton Community P ark and w ere on the shor t end of an 18-4 score against Martinez.
JUNIOR LEAGUE BASEBALL (AGES 13-14) Alan Hatc her’s Bra ves of Clayton V alley knoc ked off Continental, 16-4, to advance to the second round of the TOC. Host Albany prev ailed on J une
Congratulations to all of the Clayton V alley Little League division c hampions, managers, coaches, and parents. Age group all-star tour nament pla y star ts July 6 to conclude the 2006 Little League season.
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Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com
July 8, 2006
Clayton Sports DVSC Black Pearl 90 wins State Cup BILL WAGONER Clayton Pioneer
The Diablo V alley Soccer Club Blac k P earl 90, with tw o players from Cla yton, captured the Califor nia Y outh Soccer Association North State Cup to advance to the U .S. regional tournament. Clayton locals Gar rett Biel and Har jan Cheema are k ey players on the 15-under elite squad that has ev olved from a “B team” to regional recognition in just two short years. The D VSC Blac k P earl 90, with pla yers bor n in 1990, systematically marc hed through a field of 66 teams to win the CYSA Nor th State Cup . On May 6, at R obertson P ark in Livermore, the Blac k P earl 90 captured the U15 championship with a 2-1 win o ver the Santa Rosa United Gold 90 Cosmos. En route to the title , the Black Pearl 90 eliminated the #8 seed from Sacramento , the #1 seed from El Dorado in the quarterfinals, the #7 seed from Redwood City in the semifinals , and then dispatched the #2 seed from Santa Rosa in the finale. As the tw elfth D VSC team to adv ance to the USYSA F ar West Regionals, the Blac k Pearl 90 tra veled to Boise , Idaho for contests ag ainst other w estern states champions. Coach John Badger, with his fourth State Cup c hampionship, went into the Boise regionals with sights set on a first-ever trip to the National US Y outh Soccer Championship tour nament. The Black Pearl 90 prevailed over the Oreg on state c hampions on Monda y, June 19, 2-0, then follo wed that victor y the next da y b y knoc king out the Idaho c hampions, 2-1. On Wednesday, the locals blank ed New Mexico, 1-0, to advance to the quarterfinals. “The boys were controlled,” Badger recalls , “and, basically, got the results w e needed. They did their job and g ot out of the group in first place.” On to the quar terfinals, the furthest either D VSC or Coac h Badger ha ve adv anced, against the 15U champions of Arizona. “We had a little lac k of concentration,” Badger says, “in the
Sports Shorts The Cla yton V alley Jr . Eagles Baseball Club, a competitive tournament baseball org anization, is looking for interested and qualified players betw een the ag es of 13-14 for the 06/07 seasons. Interested pla yers should contact David Deichler @ 672-3368 or jreagles@hotmail.com or visit us at www.eteamz.com/jr-eagles
together, the newer players with the other pla yers. No eg os, per se… a unique g roup that pla ys together as a team.” Garrett’s brother Mic hael, now 30 and li ving in Chicag o, had his own fling with soccer at a y oung ag e. As a 10-year old, his soccer team tra veled to China on a friendship mission, playing g ames in Shanghai, Beijing, and Hong Kong. Brother Matt, entering his junior season at the Uni versity of Arizona, is a Pac-10 standout distance swimmer.
photo courtesy The Biel Family
Clayton’s Garrett Biel fights for the ball in DVSC competition play.
final fi ve min utes of the first half and first five minutes of the second half . We had 3-4 g ood looks to score and really didn ’t get off a decent shot from in close.” “They w ere pla ying longballs into our box,” he says, “and we str uggled clearing the ball away and gave up two goals.” Down 2-0 early in the second half, the Black Pearl 90 were faced with yet another hurdle. “One of our center bac ks got a red card for a foul, ” Badger explains , “and w e w ent down to 10 pla yers with about 20 min utes to g o. Every time they g ot the ball, Arizona w as launching the ball long. We went to 3-2-4, kind of a crazy system, and kept pressing, pressing, and pressing.” Black Pearl 90 finally scored with about six minutes left in the game, to cut the deficit to 2-1, and then scored ag ain in the final min ute to tie it and send the match into overtime. “It w as pretty ex citing,” Badger recalls. “The boys played their hearts out. I’m very proud of them.” “We w ere v ery tired g oing into 30 min utes of overtime,” Badger says with fatigue just six days later . “OT, pressing, chasing the g ame, playing hard, down a player, and trying to g et it to penalty kic ks. In the last minute of overtime, another ball came in, we just str uggled to clear it, and they ev entually knocked it in… game over.” “The pla yers all felt that w e were pla ying a better g ame of soccer. We w ere in the g ame, even though the score w asn’t in our favor.” AN ORIGINAL BLACK PEARL 90 Garrett Biel of Dana Hills is one of only two boys from the original Blac k P earl 90, formed
in 2000 as the U10 DVSC Atlas. Prior to committing to soccer at age eight, Garrett also pla yed CYO and AA U bask etball, swam for Dana Hills , and w as active in gymnastics. At 5-6 and 120 pounds , Garrett w as captain of his De La Salle High freshman soccer team this past school year. “We w ere undefeated, ” Garrett sa ys rather matter -offactly of his DLS freshman team. “With a lot of graduating players, I’m hoping to make varsity next year.” On making it to the F ar Western Regionals, Garrett says, “bonding with the guys in Boise was a great experience.” “We were feeling really g ood about it, ” Garrett recalls g oing into the quar terfinals ag ainst Arizona. “We prepared well with our training and what we ate. We played our hearts out.” “John did a really g ood job of teaching us the tactical points of soccer,” Garrett sa ys of Coach Badg er. “Spreading the field, closing do wn on defense , opening up on offense . The team works as a team v ery well, without any one key player.” “He’s a hard-w orking midfielder with a lot of skills,” Coach Badg er says in retur ning the compliments. “Garrett often starts and a lot of times he plays more of a defensi ve role in a game where we have a lead. He’s always giving his all.” “Work ethic is a strength, ” Badger continues, “and defending in the midfield. Garrett wins a lot of loose balls, a lot of second balls , and he does a g ood job org anizing… a bit of a leader on the field.” Parents T oni and Mik e Biel accompanied the team to Boise. “It w as ex citing to see the level of play in Boise ,” Toni says. “The boys have really jelled
ANOTHER CLAYTON CONNECTION Harjan Cheema, at 6-1, is one of the tallest Black Pearl 90 players. Parents Manjit and Anoop Cheema are o wners of Dryclean USA in Cla yton Station and li ve near the Concord Pavilion. Harjan pla yed junior v arsity at Cla yton V alley High as a freshman and varsity last year as a sophomore. The team fell just short of qualifying for the NCS tournament. He beg an pla ying soccer at age fi ve, moved into the competitive ranks at 12 with a Walnut Creek club , and just completed his second season with the Black Pearl 90. A right ankle injur y at the beginning of the DVSC season put Har jan on the shelf for a while and then, just prior to the semifinals of the State Cup , he injured his left ankle playing volleyball. “My o wn stupidity,” Harjan says. “I missed the first couple ‘SuperY’ games of the season. I’m a little r usty now, but pretty much good to go.” “I tried not to think about the ankle during the regionals ,” he continues. “ C o a c h moved me into some different spots. It w as pretty interesting. We came up a little short. It HARJAN was a g ood CHEEMA fight.” “Harjan pla yed his best (since the end of the high school season) in the tour nament,” Coach Badg er recalls , “which is a g ood sign. When he’s health y, he’s v ery comfor table with the ball, a good passer, he’s confident having the ball on his feet and fairly strong in the air. He’s been pla ying defense and becoming more of a midfielder for us.” “A lot of these kids w ere playing ‘class three’ soccer just a few years ag o,” Badger closes . “They simply needed an opportunity to pla y at a strong er level.” Currently in the midst of their USL Super Y -League season, the D VSC Blac k P earl 90 have another targ et in their sights – winning this league will earn a ber th in Florida for the North America Finals in November.
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Page B5
Don’t underestimate the charm of Chicago The wonders of the California coast are familiar to most: the golden hills, the crashing w aves, the winding r oads, the mountain pines, even the loving grin of Mickey Mouse. But what about the summer attractions of the r est of the countr y? The r est of the world? W hat about humid nights chasing flic kering fir eflies? What about r ushing r oller coasters w hile scr eams fill the air? What about island escapes? Follow me this summer as I brave the humidity, the constr uction z ones and the landloc ked pleasur es enjoyed by our compatriots in America’s Midwest. JEANNA ROSS Special to the Pioneer
Chicago, the center of civilization for the Midw estern states, is one of the most underestimated destinations in the travel canon. After its 21st century facelift, the city has become a hub for y outh, vitality and culture. There are tw o points of entry into Chicag o: Midway and O’Hare airports. Neither is directly in the midst of the cultural hub , but the elev ated trains, known as the “El, ” run frequently toward the city center. (The w aiting time during
rush hour is a mere 7.5 minutes between trains .) All trips cost $2, regardless of length or distance traveled, making the ticketing process simple and user friendly. A w ord to the wise:
Within the Loop , there are six major theatres pla ying anything from the “Broadw ay in Chicago” national touring musicals to the pla ys of the regional houses . In addition, smaller companies abound. The most enjo yable par ts of the city are the open-air, free public spaces in the clean, wellkept business center . The city celebrates its heritag e as an artistic center b y maintaining America’s larg est outdoor sculpture gallery, with works by Kerney, Calder, Chagall and Picasso, among others . The Popout Map has the sculptures marked by number and set into
the museum is its collection of Impressionist and P ostimpressionist paintings and sculpture. Do not leave without seeing master pieces b y Caillebotte, Van Gogh, Monet, Manet, Picasso, Degas and Seurat. For those anxious to dispense with their hard-ear ned funds, the Magnificent Mile offers a wide selection of chain stores, but be forew arned that almost ev ery store in this and the State Street shopping district are a vailable in Concord, Walnut Creek or Union Square in San F rancisco. The ex ceptions are Bloomingdale’ s and
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pack lightly. Most of the train tracks are up a stee p f light of stairs, and many stations do not have elev ators. There are four major spor ts teams based in Chicago – baseball’s White Sox and Cubs, the NFL’s Bears and the NBA’s Bulls - and all stadiums are accessible b y the El. The experience of visiting Wrigley Field, home to the Chicago Cubs , is exhilarating, with its bloc ks of sports bars and souvenir stands. If you can only catch one of these teams, support the historical Cubs. I recommend the P opout Map series, since they fit into a back poc ket and cost a mere $6.95 at most bookstores . Pick your hotel based on the things you wish to see . The cultural areas are centered in an area known as the Loop , as defined by the path of the El trains . The Loop is the most popular destination, which also makes it the most expensive. The hottest spot is the P almer House Hilton, which boasts that Chicago was built around it, so it is the literal “hear t” of the city. If you decide to sta y elsewhere, pop into the lobb y to gape at the Beaux Ar ts ceiling.
a Loop map for easy access. Millennium P ark w as dedicated to the city in 2004 and is a testament to the lasting inf luence of Chicago ar t and arc hitecture, from the enor mous Frank Gehr y-designed m usic pavilion (with free concer ts through the summer) to Anish Kapoor’s liquid-mercur y inspired “Cloud Gate” (otherwise kno wn as “the Bean”). How appropriate, then, that the park rests next to the Ar t Institute of Chicago and across the street from the Chicag o Architecture Center , which offers a two-hour cruise on the Chicago Ri ver or guided w alking tours of the city’s architectural highlights. For ar tisans, the Ar t Institute of Chicago is an obvious choice. But even for those not traditionally inclined, the Institute mak es a w onderful way to while away a n afternoon. Catch the famous highlights: the T horne Miniatures Room, the Ar ms and Ar mor gallery and the American gallery featuring Hopper’ s “Nighthawks,” Wood’s “American Gothic” and the creepy Iv an Albright collection. The primary attraction of
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the incredible American Girl Place, a m ust for any one who ever ev en glanced at the catalogue (especially the doll hair salon!). In the same Nor th River locale, you’ll find a w onderful selection of restaurants, from the typical c hains to the man-friendly W eber Grill Restaurant. There are a few Chicago mainstays: Giordano’s for stuffed-cr ust dee p-dish pizza, The Cor ner Bak ery and Potbelly Sandwic h Works. For a less extra vagant (or discer ning) experience , head o ver to Navy Pier for tourist kitsch and elephant ears (like flat churros my favorite carnival treat.) A trip to Chicag o could probably be spread out through a w eeklong sta y, including elements lik e the Museum of Science and Industry or the views from the top of the Sears Tower, but we covered the basics in a threeday weekend. One quick warning: Watch out for the weather. Humidity is an exhausting, sticky sur prise if you aren ’t used to it, but it’s quickly overcome b y a foot-dunk into the Millennium P ark w ading stream alongside the lunc hing Chicago natives.
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Page B6
Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com
Some things you wanted to know about tea and weren’t afraid to ask PAM BARNETT
TEA
FOR YOU
“The first cup of tea moistens my lips and throat, The second shatters m y loneliness, The third causes the wrongs of life to gently fade away, And the four th purifies m y soul.” - Chinese proverb
Dear Readers, The following ar e some questions I ha ve r eceived fr om r eaders of this column. Happy r eading and have a Tea-riffic day! Dear Pam, I am planning on in viting seven friends o ver for a tea party at my home. Can you tell me what equipment I will need? Any other advice w ould be greatly appreciated. Paula R.
Dear Paula, Before opening our tear oom, my friend Sally Eng lund and I hosted a number of at-home tea parties. While it entails a good bit of preparation, it can be a lot of fun for you and your guests. If you don’ t ha ve enough teacups for the eight of you, it is fun to ask guests to B.Y .O.C.S (Bring Y our Own Cup and Saucer). Guests can then share an interesting fact about where it came from, why it is special, etc. Y ou’ll also want to ha ve the appr opriate number of plates, utensils , w ater glasses and other tab le setting items. If you are having a themed tea party, be sure to reflect this in your invitation. F or example , a Mad Hatter’s Tea may have hat shaped invitations that ask guests to come in their fa vorite topper ; your decorations or center piece may r eflect this, as well. In addition to the above mentioned items, you will want to have the following:
Teapots (at least one for each type of tea served) Loose leaf tea and infusers (bag tea will suf fice, but is less flavorful) A co zy or tea pot w armer to keep the tea hot A sugar bowl containing sugar cubes and tongs A pitcher of milk (not cr eam, that’s for coffee!) A dish of lemon slices and a small fork A small dish of honey and a dipper or small spoon Food serving utensils Jam, lemon curd, De von or clotted cream and spreaders for scones A pr etty tab lecloth or placemats with cloth napkins Trays or plates of finger sandwiches, scones and desser ts, as well as any other food items you wish to include A tea party is a wonderful way to spend time with friends. Be sure to plan ahead, pr epare w ell, and above all, enjoy yourself.
Dear Pam, I alw ays thought that tea should be brew ed for about three min utes, but a friend recently told me that different teas require different brewing times. Can you explain? Tony P.
Dear Tony, Your friend is cor rect. W hile most black teas require about three to four minutes to stee p, ther e ar e other teas that require more or less time. F or example , gr een teas should only be steeped about one to two minutes or they can become bitter. W hite teas , how ever, tak e longer to r elease their full fla vor and need about fi ve to se ven minutes.
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Why should we bother about blogs? When J ustin Hall star ted posting details about his life on the Inter net in 1994, few realized the implications . Hall, dubbed the “founding father of personal blogging” by the New York Times , would launc h a revolution. Eleven years since Hall’s blog star ted, there are now blogs on subjects from politics to pizza, with names ranging from AMillionMonkeys to Zero Ascension. Yet many people are still m ystified as to what a blog is or wh y they g et suc h coverage. Some may wonder if
WHAT IS A BLOG? A W eblog, or “blog” is essentially a journal updated on the W eb. Some blogs are focused on a par ticular category like politics, while others are more general, describing a person’s da y-to-day routine . The term “blog ging” refers to updating this jour nal periodically. Many blogs allo w other people to comment or re ply to
A quick internet search revealed 88 blogs from Clayton and the surrounding area.
Time magazine is wasting space when it dev otes a section to notable blogs or why celebrities feel they should post their thoughts online . By examining the Blog osphere, it is possible to understand wh y blogs ha ve such appeal.
Map/search.aspx.
The follo wing are some basic questions people ha ve about blog ging and its importance:
posts, thus making the blog interactive instead of a onesided journal. WHO BLOGS? Many people assume that blogging is unique to the under-25, computer friendly
MARK FREEMAN
ON
THE
NET
set. Yet a quick Internet search reveals that blogs are written by people of all ag es, from preteens to octog enarians. Bloggers come from v arious walks of life: Pundits, authors, realtors and cat lo vers all put their thoughts online . According to technorati.com, a blog trac king site , there are more than 41 million different blogs. As this sho ws, blogging has universal appeal. HOW DO I FIND BLOGS? A quic k Google searc h for “blog” yields more than 2.4 billion results. Technorati, as previously mentioned, is a g ood place to searc h for blogs on specific topics , as w ell as see what the most popular blogs on the Inter net are. Google offers a blog ging searc h tool at http://blogsearch.google.com/ . Finally, for those who might be interested in searc hing for blogs in their area, FeedMap.net allo ws users to find blogs b y their location at http://www.csthota.com/Blog
WHY SHOULD I BLOG? Blogging is the answ er for people who w ant to express their thoughts to the w orld. Because of the vastness of the Internet, an ordinar y blog ger can appeal to millions of readers who share that person ’s ideas or values. Columnists like Arianna Huffington and Andrew Sulli van ha ve found success on the Inter net b y appealing to a specific readership. Technorati lists Huffingtion’s W eb site , The Huffington P ost, as the 10th most popular blog on the Internet. Blogging is simple. All bloggers need to do is write what they w ant to sa y, and with a click of the mouse , they can post it on the Inter net. Web sites such as blog ger.com, livejournal.com and type pad.com can help y ou g et star ted. Most blogs are free and v ery easy to set up. Blogging is a safe , convenient w ay to acquaint y ourself with the Internet and learn more about the people who inhabit the Blogosphere. Good luc k and happy blogging! Mark Freeman recently graduated fr om De La Salle High School and will be attending St. Mar y’s College of California in the Fall. He plans to study Economics and write for the school paper . Questions/comments can be sent to mfreeman543@gmail.com
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Livermore, 6990 Collier Canyon 100 + acre ranch & home (Danville/ Pleasanton border). This horse facility has everything. $1,895,000
Pen d
ing
(925) 672-7323 / 550-2383 Full Broker Co-operation on all Robin’s Ranches listings
–Arliss Harmon
Retirement Community
Castro Valley,
10330 Crow Canyon
9.1 Acres. Fantastic horse training facility.
If you are a BUYER looking for a ranch, country property or land, Robin can help you too!
Robin’s Ranches
“After living alone for 10 years, Diamond Terrace seems like heaven— a huge, beautiful family to be a par t of.”
Kropa Realty Walnut Creek, CA
robin@robinsranches.com
Come to our Open House
every Thursday 12-4
Come in soon for a personal tour! Call Today (925) 524-5100 6401 Center Street Clayton CA 94517 www.diamondterrace.net
July 8, 2006
Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com
How the new tax law could affect you
We can help with personal care, respite care, light housekeeping, transportation, meal preparation & catering personnel.
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Caregivers/CNA’s House cleaners Catering servers Party/kitchen helpers
our peace
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A R EFERRAL AGENCY
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fax: 9 2 5 . 6 7 2 . 2 6 9 4 mobile: 925.457.0954
P.O. Box 688, Clayton, CA
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925.672.0752
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call for a free assessment ra
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web: alllovingcare.com
As a “micro-church” we offer... a small, friendly and family-like atmosphere for building relationships with Jesus & fellow Christians Check us out anytime, especially on our Friends & Family Day, July 16th
10 am Sunday School & Bible Class, 11:15 am Worship
Bible-based & Christ-centered worship, education & fellowship
The T ax Increase Prevention and Reconciliation Act, signed on May 17, provides benefits if you’re subject to the AMT or are an in vestor, business owner or IRA holder . The new la w is less g enerous when y our kids ha ve unearned income or if you work abroad. HERE’S AN OVERVIEW: Alternative minim um tax (AMT). The la w increases AMT exemptions for 2006. If you’re mar ried filing jointly , the amount y ou can use to reduce taxable income for AMT pur poses is $62,550 ($42,500 for singles). In addi-
(925) 524-0295
tion, you can apply nonrefundable personal credits such as Hope scholarship and lifetime lear ning credits to offset the AMT in 2006. Investors and business owners. Increased Section 179 asset expensing ($108,000 for 2006) is allowed through 2009, and reduced rates on long-ter m capital g ains and di vidend income (15 percent for the highest brac kets) will remain in place through 2010. Roth IRA con versions. Starting in 2010, you’ll be able to con vert a traditional IRA to a R oth no matter the amount of your adjusted gross income. You’ll still have
to include the con version amount on y our retur n and pay the tax, but y ou can spread that amount o ver two years for con versions made in 2010. The kiddie tax. In the past, when y our c hild under age 14 had interest, dividends, capital gains and other unearned income o ver a specified amount ($1,700 for 2006), you w ere g enerally required to pa y tax on that income at y our rate . At 14, your c hild could file a se parate retur n and pa y tax at what w as typically a lo wer rate. Under the new la w, beginning with 2006 tax returns, your child’s unearned
CAROL KEANE, CPA
TAX TIPS income o ver the specified limit is taxed at your rate until age 18. Working abroad. Changes include indexing the foreign earned income ex clusion (raising the maxim um ex clusion to $82,400 for 2006) and a limitation on the foreign housing exclusion. Carol Keane is a Cer tified Pub lic Accountant in W alnut Cr eek. Email her at carol@carolkeanecpa.com.
Church News
5554 Clayton Rd., Concord (in the Farm Bureau building) William Kant, Pastor
Page B7
www.EternalLifeLutheranChurch.org Member of WELS (Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod)
CLAYTON COMMUNITY CHURCH July Mo vie Nights : Hang out with us this summer at Clayton Comm unity Churc h. Every F ri. night in J uly see a movie in our parking lot in downtown Cla yton. Movie begins at dusk (8:30 p .m.). Enjoy refreshments from our Clayton sponsors. Bring a comfortable c hair or blank et to share with friends. Third Ann ual Clayton Community Great Labor Day Derby is Sat. Sep. 2 from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Mark your calendar for a da y of fun and family enjo yment as kids aged 7-16 race official Soap Bo x cars do wn Main Street, Clayton. There will also be refreshments , inflatable bounce houses and slides, and a professional race car and dri ver where kids can g et their picture taken. The contact for sponsors is Mik e F ossan at 672-1949 or msfossan@sbcglobal.net. The contact for registration is P eggy Bidondo at 672-9708 or pbidon-
do@pacbell.net. We meet for w orship ev ery Sunday at 9 and 10:45 a.m. at Diablo View Middle School. CROSSROADS COVENANT CHURCH Annual Day Camp is planned for J uly 17-21. The theme is Nar nia – li ve the adventure. It is a one w eek morning camp 9 a.m. to noon. Kids 3 years old to g rade 5 are welcome. Call the church to register. 798-5905 ext. 201. Ask for Laurey. Come and disco ver what the light is all about. Everyone is welcome. Crossroads Co venant Church is hosting its second annual car sho w A ug. 19. The Lee Har vell Classic Car Sho w will r un from 5:50 p .m. until sunset. All makes and models of cars and motorcycles will be welcome. No entr y fees . Free BBQ, music and pla y area for kids. If you would like to sho w your car or motorcycle , please call Aaron for infor mation at
798-5905 ext. 204. Sunday schedule: Fellowship at 10 a.m., worship at 10:30 a.m. ETERNAL LIFE LUTHERAN CHURCH Eternal Life Lutheran Church will host a Friends and Family Day on Sun. July 16. It will be a da y of celebration and thanksgiving for the blessings of friends and family and for brothers and sisters in Christ. All are in vited for the family Bible hour at 10 a.m., worship at 11:15 a.m., and a picnic lunch at 12:30 p.m. The lunch will be followed b y picnic g ames and activities for all ag es including a treasure hunt. All acti vities will be held at the Contra Costa County Farm Bureau building at 5554 Clayton Rd. Eternal Life’s regular Sunday schedule is Sun. school and Bible study at 10 a.m. and worship at 11:15 a.m. Eternal Life Lutheran Churc h is located at 5554 Clayton Rd., Suite 1B (the Farm Bureau building), in
Concord. Eternal Life is a member congregation of the WELS. Please call 524-0295, or visit the church w ebsite at www.EternalLifeLutheranChurc h.org. HOLY CROSS LUTHERAN CHURCH Delta drive to Locke: Back by popular demand - the scenic drive through the Delta to the old to wn of Locke and the renowned restaurant “ Al the Wop’s.” The restaurant features New Y ork Steak with jars of peanut butter and jelly to be used either on the steak or on the piping hot F rench bread. Invite a friend and join the Nifty Fifty Seniors of Holy Cross on Tues. July 25 and enjoy the vistas of the Delta offered from atop the T witchell Island lev ees and the historic to wn that time forgot. Meet at the c hurch at 10 a.m. - lea ve promptly at 10:15 a.m. Lunch at 11:30 a.m. Sign up sheet posted in Social Hall.
School News MT. DIABLO ELEMENTARY The student council’s annual Entertainment Book sale will start in A ugust. These are the new 2006/2007 books. You can pre-order y ours at mar ydm64@yahoo.com. The books are $25 eac h and the proceeds will benefit the sc hool’s computer updating project, assemblies, library needs , and m uch more. Call Mar y Del Monte at 672-5723 if you have questions.
CLAYTON VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL Attention parents . The CVHS w eb store is coming soon. Do you want to avoid the long cashier line at w alk-thru? All items purchased at walk-thru will soon be available at our new web store . Watch for the link titled “w eb store” on our w eb site www .mdusd.k12.ca.us.claytonvalley. The CV Athletic Booster s Club Fifteenth Ann ual Golf
Spark creativity
Tournament (formerly the CVHS Books and Balls Golf Tournament) will be Mon. Aug. 21 at the Oakhurst Countr y Club. Registration is from 11:30 a.m. – 12:45 p.m., shotgun start at 1 p .m. Contests for hole in one, longest drive, and closest to pin. Call F red R oper at 5484451 with questions. Plan ahead for fall 2006. The CV fall production will be “Inherit the Wind, ” by J erome Lawrence and R obert E. Lee.
Auditions will be in Se ptember with perfor mances in early November. Read the pla y and watch the mo vie over the summer. School begins on A ug. 28 with w alk-thru registration for 10 – 12 g rade students on A ug. 22 from 7 – 11 a.m. and 1 – 5 p.m. Freshman walk-thru will be on A ug. 23 from 7 – 9 a.m. Freshman orientation begins at 9:30 a.m.
Bay Arts
Encourage imagination
Custom Children’s Murals Victor Sanchez Seth Ahonen 925 323-9323 bayartsforyou@yahoo.com
4820 Burgundy Drive Oakley, CA
(925) 625-1123 e-mail: contact@robertaclaire.com www.robertaclaire.com
Ask about our Wedding Special
Custom murals for home or business
We also specialize in custom portraits
Page B8
Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com
July 8, 2006
Summer safety tips for your pets As I write this on the first day of summer, the temperature is reac hing 100 deg rees. This brings to mind the many summertime hazards we can experience with our pets.
MARYBETH RYMER,
PAWS
AND
DVM
CLAWS
Most concer ning is heat exposure. A short stay in the car while y ou quic kly r un into a store or pla y a F risbee g ame in the midda y sun can become a life threatening experience. In a recent press release , Eric Weigand, DVM and president of the Califor nia Veterinary Medical Association, offers this fact: “On a warm day of 85 degrees, temperatures can soar to 102 deg rees inside a
vehicle within 10 min utes, even if parked in the shade or with partially opened windo ws. Pets left in v ehicles for only a few minutes can suffer from heat exhaustion, heat strok e, brain damage, or even worse, they can die.” CVMA offers these tips: Never lea ve a pet unattended in a par ked car , not even “for a min ute” or on mild days in spring and fall. Leave pets at home with plenty of water in a non-tip dish. Limit pet exercise to cooler hour s in the mor ning or evening since nor mal body temperature for dogs and cats is higher than for humans . Be especially sensiti ve to pets who have hea vy coats or are older , very young, overweight, or ill, as well as those with sn ub noses who cannot pant efficiently. Stay clear of areas that may ha ve been spray ed with insecticides or other chemicals. Ingesting just a small amount of plant food, fertilizers or insecticides can cause health problems and might even be fatal for your pet. Carefully consider taking
pets to cr owded summer events or fairs. Loud noises and large groups, coupled with heat, can be stressful and dang erous for pets. Hot w eather increases the risk of mosquito, flea and tic k bites, which can be fatal in cats and dogs. Check with y our veterinarian for heartworm prevention medication and recommendations for a f lea and tic k control program. If your pet sho ws signs of heatstroke, you m ust lo wer its body temperature right away. Move the animal into the shade or an air -conditioned area. Apply ice pac ks or cold to wels to the head, neck and c hest, or immerse it in cool, not cold, water. Encourage y our pet to drink small amounts of cool water or lick ice cubes, then call your veterinarian immediately. RATTLESNAKE BITES Rattlesnake bites pose another g reat dang er this time of year. The newbor n snak es, yet to lear n the fine-tuning of envenomation, can inject a large amount of venom. A mature snake has learned to control the
amount with eac h bite de pending on the size of potential prey. Dogs are usually bitten around the head and legs . The hemotoxic venom disr upts the blood vessel crating dramatic sw elling of the bite area. Red blood cells are destro yed, and the clotting system breaks do wn. leading to internal bleeding, shock and death. Head and nec k bites are more lethal since the sw elling can block breathing. Owners are usually aler ted by a frantic yipping from their dog weather on a hike or playing in the bac k yard. Look for tw o small fang marks on y our pet’s skin. Attempt to see if there is a snake in the area, but if swelling starts, seek immediate veterinary care. Try to k eep the dog calm, and if there is time , grab an ice pack and gently hold it over the bite. Once at y our v eterinarian’s, initial pain medication will be given along with intra venous fluids for blood pressure support. Injections will be gi ven as needed. Of most importance is antivenin, if given within the
See Paws, page B11
Gifts that TASTE as GOOD as they LOOK www.cookiesbydesig n.co m Deborah & Anthony Nork Clayton Station, 5433A Clayton Rd.
925-524-9901
®
Professional pet grooming salon for dogs and cats Self-service pet wash available
Tues - Sat, 8-5 Experienced staff with more than 20 years of service
est. 1978
Adjacent to Hollywood Video
925-676-9355 4375 Clayton Rd. Unit K Concord owner & Clayton resident Grace Carson & her dog, Blue
Dog’s life not so bad at Park’s June work party LINDA PINDER Special to the Pioneer
The Cla yton K-9 Coalition held a work party at the dog park on F riday, June 16 to spread newly deli vered piles of chips and m ulch. With many hands pitching in, the work w as completed within an hour and a half. In addition, the w orkers installed a new and impro ved bulletin board and w atered the trees that w ere planted last fall. The work par ty included Linda Pinder, Mary Buscaglia, Carlene and Gil Visperas and their dogs Katie and Spencer; John Burgh, Ray and R ochelle Cunningham and their dog R usty; Gary Dankowski and his dogs Sv en and Ollie; and Randy (didn’t get
his last name) and his dog Buddy. While the humans w ere spreading c hips, watering trees and installing the bulletin board, the dogs kept cool with a dip in the dog gie w ading pool that is brought out for w ork par ties during hot w eather. Sven and Ollie didn ’t w ait for an in vitation to swim…they jumped right in. Thank you to everyone who came out to help , particularly Gary who had no idea there was a work par ty – he just stopped by to enjo y the park with his dogs, but pitched in immediately and worked until we were finished for the day. There’s still more to do , however. So, on your next visit
Featuring a wide selection of
children’s boutique clothing SPRING SALE on selected items 5458 Ygnacio Valley Rd. Ste. 20 Clayton Valley Shopping Center
925-524-0345 Sherrill O’Brien www.denimlace.com
SVEN AND OLLIE supervise at the Dog Park’s June work party
to the dog park, if you notice a pile of chips and rakes or shovels nearby, please take 10 or 15
minutes to spread just a little bit. For more information about the park call 672-9710 or 672-7815.
Benny Goodman and Sweet Georgia Brown are ARF’s adoption stars
SWEET GEORGIA BROWN
SWEET GEORGIA BROWN Five-year-old Sweet Georgia Brown is a fun-lo ving lab who loves everyone she meets and is full of liveliness and energ y. She will thrive in an active home
BENNY GOODMAN
with plenty of physical exercise. The adoption fee for Sw eet Georgia Bro wn is $200 and includes the first six training courses.
The Clayton Pioneer’s “Music Notes” columnist
Clayton’s own
BENNY GOODMAN Thirteen-week-old Benny is very playful and confident. He’s outgoing and is not afraid of a new adventure. He is loves to be the center of attention, is always
the first to greet you at the door, and loves to cuddle. The adoption fee for Benny is $125. Bring everyone who will li ve with Benny or Sw eet Georgia Brown – including any canine family members for dogs – to meet them at T ony La R ussa’s Animal R escue F oundation, 2890 Mitc hell Dri ve, Walnut Creek, during adoption hours: 3 to 7 p .m. Thursday and F riday, Noon to 4:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Would you like to be par t of the heroic team that sa ves the lives of rescued dogs and cats? Can y ou share y our talents to connect people and animals? ARF v olunteers are making a difference! F or more infor mation see our W eb site , www.arf.net, or call (925) 2561ARF.
Jim Hudak Pianist and Composer For bookings and performances:
Visit our Website www.jhudak.com E-mail jimmydak@pacbell.net Piano CD’s available on his Brainstorm Records label
Call Or Write:
Brainstorm Records P.O. Box 488 Clayton, CA 94517 (925) 673-7293
Was it “ruff” saying goodbye this morning? Apronstrings Pet Sitting
CA N
HELP
M IDDAY D OG WALKS P ET C ARE IN YOUR HOME WHILE YOU TRAVEL
925.798.7621 Kimsits@ASTOUND.NET
HAPPILY SERVING CLAYTON FOR MORE THAN 15 YEARS
w ww.apronstringsonline.com
July 8, 2006
Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com
Gourmet Subs delivers toasty, tasty fare
ul y 1 1 J g n d Openi
Gran
Vegan & Vegetarian friendly 5415
JILL BEDECARRÉ Clayton Pioneer
550
ext Rd. (n n o t y a l
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3-5 67 ) l l e h S
mention this ad for
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FREE fountain soda & chips with any sand wich or salad pur chase exp. 7/21/06
joy An Italian En Fe
ast at Ou r
Mon. – Thurs. Co zy P fé 11:30 a.m. – 9 p.m. asta Pr avera Ca im Fri. 11:30 a.m. – 10 p.m. Sat. 12 noon – 10 p.m. / Sun. 4 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Fine Italian dining with an extensive menu • Weekend Special - grilled steaks • Gourmet desserts and fine wine s Very reasonable prices
Page B9
4425-F Treat Blvd. Concord, CA 94521
687-5300
www.pastaprimaveracafe.com
La Veranda Café Northern Italian Cuisine in downtown Clayton Fresh soups, salads, antipasti, pizza and pasta Dinner and lunch daily Brunch on Sunday Children’s menu and take out service available
For reservations call (925) 524-0011 6201 CENTER ST. CLAYTON
If you’re in the mood for a tasty toasted sub sandwic h with fresh ing redients and enticing combinations , you might w ant to stop b y the new Gour met Subs and More next to the Shell gas station on Clayton Road (where Blimpie used to be). Owner Sadie Rang el-Nazzal is a Cla yton resident who wanted to offer residents something different. In addition to the o ven-baked subs , the local eater y features g rilled P aninis with homemade spreads and pesto, vegan and vegetarian entrees suc h as a humm us plate and falafel, salads, soups and homemade desserts. Subs and Paninis range in price from $4.99 to $7.99. Coming soon is a selection of smoothies, fresh fr uit and v egetable juices, milk shakes, malts, and domestic and impor ted beer . Gourmet Subs features a wide v ariety of sandwiches from the T ri-tip House Special Gourmet Subs owner Sadie Rangel-Nazzal Champagne Brunch-the old are many of your breakfast favorites right off the old brunch menu. You’ll still find the tried and true Joe’s Special--a scrumptious mix of sausage, spinach and eggs. And the Eggs Benedict will still delight with its smooth and satiny Hollandaise. But there will be a few surprises, as well. Look for a light and luscious Chicken Piccata, chicken breast sauteed in white wine with lemon and capers or a gentle salmon with a light cream sauce. Salads will include fresh fruit and the personal favorite of many La Veranda fans, the Insalata Della Reina...baby greens with walnuts and gorgonzola tossed with balsamic vinegar and olive oil And those Sunday breakfast traditionalists will still be able to order eggs, omelets and buttermilk pancakes from the menu. All this is offered at $18 per person, $9 for children 6-12 and free for children under 6. Price includes champagne or sparkling cider, choice of fresh fruit juice, dessert and coffee. Brunch is served from 10 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. La Veranda is open daily for lunch and dinner and serves a Northern Italian menu of pasta, pizza, chicken, veal and fish starting at $8.50 for Bruchetta
Dining Around If you want a special place to dine, you might want to stop by PASTA PRIMAVERA at the corner of Clayton Road and Treat Blvd. in Concord. The dining room is charming with dark cherry wood chairs and tables and mirrored back wall. The menu is sure to please the most discriminating palate from the ardent pasta lover to the fresh fish and salad lovers. The Linguine with garlic and mushrooms in virgin olive oil will arrive at your table piping hot and smelling absolutely delicious and is sure to become the personal favorite of many. The cream of broccoli soup has a perfect texture and flavor that will live long in your memory. Another favorite is the seafood salad featuring shrimp and scallops on a bed of spinach in a warm lemon Dijon sun-dried tomato dressing. Prices are very reasonable which make Pasta Primavera a perfect choice for any occasion. There’s something new and something old on the table at downtown Clayton’s LA VERANDA CAFE. The new is their all inclusive Sunday
Live music ev e Saturday nig ry ht
and Italiano to the T eriyaki Chic ken and Albacore Tuna Melt. The tri-tip and hot pastrami are definitely favorite choices, says Sadie. Customers also enjoy The Blue, oven roasted or smoked turkey breast, ham, bacon and avocado with homemade blue cheese dressing. After taking an in ventory of Clayton Road’s fast food offerings , Sadie felt that Clayton needed a restaurant that offered quality food and health y ing redients. She wanted to reach all types of customers from children and teenag ers to adults . Her previous deli experience in San F rancisco where she perfected her toasted subs , has ser ved her w ell. “The response has been incredible ,” she says. “So many customers tak e the time to thank me for bringing Gour met Subs to the area.” If you w ould lik e to ha ve Sadie bring Gourmet Subs to y our home or office for a birthday par ty or celebration, she does offer catering services. You can also call ahead and order by phone for a more convenient way to have lunch when you’re in a hurry. with olive oil, fresh tomatoes, garlic and basil. Pasta dishes range from $9 for Penne All’arrabiata to $11.75 for Spaghettini Frutti di Mare. For reservations for brunch, lunch or dinner, call 524-0011. A little more on the casual side and a great place to take the kids is ROCCO’S RISTORANTE at 2909 Ygnacio Valley Road in Walnut Creek. Voted the best pizza in the Bay Area by a Contra Costa Times Reader Poll, Rocco’s serves up a killer house specialty. The Dominator, piled high with pepperoni, salami, mushrooms, ham, linguica, sausage and onions, is not for the faint of heart. At $19.97, this large pizza will feed a small army. Rocco’s also has several choices of classic Italian pasta, homemade minestrone and several salads. All pasta dishes are served with fresh bread. Top your pasta dinner off with a glass of wine and you’re well fed and satisfied for well under $20 (tax and tip included.) Rocco’s opens every day at 11 a.m. And, ROCCO’S NEW SPORTS BAR is now open. With a full bar and 12 big flat screen TVs, sports fans might just think they’ve found heaven. And for those who need a little break from sports, check out the beautiful new fresh water aquarium behind the bar. See you at Rocco’s.
Crossword Puzzle
Open at 11 a.m
., 7 days a week
Banquet Rooms Patio Dining
Rocco’s New Sports Bar NOW Open
Locally owned by Rocco Biale & family
Full Bar Available
12 Flat Screens, 16 Draft Beers,
Team Parties
Watch all the games
Corporate Catering
8-10 out of market major league baseball games per night
2909 Ygnacio Valley Rd. at Oak Grove Rd. in Walnut Creek (925) 947-6105 • Fax (925) 947-6106 www.roccospizzeria.com
Solution for 6/16 Crossword
ACROSS
1- Great quantity; 5- Basic; 10- Practical joke; 14Whimper; 15- Foe; 16Russian range; 17- Plastic or liberal, e.g.; 18- Venomous snake; 19- Capone’s nemesis; 20- Drowsy; 22- Begin; 24Incense gum; 25- Rash; 26Indian instrument; 28- Leases; 32- Traditional passed-down knowledge; 35- Hill insect; 37- Pull out by the roots; 38Japanese sash; 39- Lapwing; 41- Coloring material; 42- Break from work; 45- Wood sorrel; 46- For fear that; 47- Lower portion of the small intestine; 48- Presidential battleground state; 50- Tree; 54- Escapade; 58- Long period of time; 61Desecrate; 62- Sheltered, nautically; 63- Viscid; 65- Dash; 66- Demeanor; 67- Extremely; 68- Routine; 69- Harbor; 70Streamlined; 71- Simmer
DOWN
1- Sudden convulsion; 2- Having curls; 3- Change; 4- Merit; 5- Group of birds; 6- Black bird; 7- Photographic tone; 8Rephrase; 9- Song part; 10- Cade; 1 1- Neighborhood; 12- Gone by; 13- Otherwise; 21- 21st letter of the Greek alphabet; 23- Diamond cover; 25- Long luxuriant hair; 27- Back of the neck; 29- Protuberance; 30- Playthings; 31- Let it stand; 32Positions; 33- Ancient Greek coin; 34- Widespread; 36- Snake eyes; 37- Mormon state of western USA; 40- Image; 43Resplendent; 44- Expel gas or odor; 46- Casual shoes; 49- Frozen water; 51- Old Ethiopian emperor; 52- Waggish; 53Engage in histrionics; 55- Guide; 56- Overjoy; 57- Continue a subscription; 58- Light source; 59- Potpourri; 60- ___-dowell; 61- Aborigine of Borneo; 64- Before
Page B10
Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com
July 8, 2006
Clayton Community Calendar PLEASE SUBMIT YOUR CLAYTON COMMUNITY CALENDAR EVENTS BY 5 P.M., JULY 12 FOR THE JULY 21 ISSUE. FAX TO 672-6580 OR E-MAIL calendar@claytonpioneer.com EVENTS & ENTERTAINMENT THROUGH AUG. 4 YMCA Summer Gym Club @ Clayton Community Gym Do you need some time to shop or are you looking for a safe place for your children to play? The YMCA is excited to provide your children with fun filled afternoons during the summer months. Afternoon activities are arts and crafts, movies and gym games. For children entering grades one through four. Cost is $7 per day for Clayton residents, $9 per day for nonresidents. Concord/Clayton YMCA, 925-889-1625. THROUGH AUG. 30 Clayton's Classic Cars Display @ Clayton Historical Museum Wednesdays 2 - 4 p.m. and 6 - 8 p.m. and Sundays 2 - 4 p.m. Photographs and memorabilia of old Clayton cars or cars belonging to current Clayton residents are on display. Many old license plates are shown. Clayton Historical Society Museum, 6101 Main Street, Clayton, 672-0240. JULY 11 Story and Puppet Craft with Judy @ Clayton Community Library 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. Hear a story and learn how to make your very own puppet. Recommended for kids in grades K - 3. Registration required. Clayton Community Library, 6125 Clayton Road, 673-0659. JULY 11, AUG. 8 Clayton Knitters @ Clayton Community Library 3 - 5 p.m. Are you an old hand at knitting or just starting? Come join likeminded folks for an afternoon at the library. Clayton Community Library, 6125 Clayton Road, 673-0659. JULY 12 Duct Tape Madness @ Clayton Community Library 2 - 4 p.m. Workshop for middle school and high school students. Clayton Community Library, 6125 Clayton Road. 673-0659. JULY 17 AND AUG. 14 Adult Classes to Connect with Children @ Lindsay Wildlife Museum 10 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. If you have ever thought about making a real difference in the life of a child, this is an opportunity. Lindsay Wildlife Museum is offering, for the first time, a mini class for adults. Docents will show you how to teach children to make a connection with California wildlife. A behind the scenes tour will be included. $6 for members, $8 for non-members. To register call 935-1978 Ext. 413. Lindsay Wildlife Museum, 1931 1st Avenue, Walnut Creek.
chair to enjoy this casual presentation of opera. For more information visit www.festivalopera.com or contact Roberta Emerson at publicity@festivalopera.com JULY 24 - 28 AND AUG. 7 - 11 YMCA 1/2 Day Art Camp @ Clayton Community Gym Join us as we learn various art skills through fun sessions and games using everything from paint to clay. For kids entering grades 1-4. Concord/Clayton YMCA, 889-1625. JULY 26 Bingo Game Night at Clayton Community Library 7 - 8 p.m. Play bingo and win great prizes. Recommended for kids in grades 2-6. Registration required. Clayton Community Library, 6125 Clayton Road, 673-0659. JULY 26, 27 Water World and Marine World Adventure Camp @ YMCA Leave your parents behind and experience our two day six flags extravaganza. For kids entering sixth through eighth grade. Call Delise Young, Program Director Concord/Clayton YMCA, 889-1625. JULY 29 Free Dog Wash @ Concord Feed 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Dog wash, nail clipping, raffle, prizes, food, and trainer all on site for free. Concord Feed, 5288 Clayton Road, Concord. AUGUST 2 Resources for Independent Living @ Clayton Community Library 5:00 p.m. Bryan Balch, Executive Director of Independent Living Resource, will talk and take questions about services available for residents with disabilities in Contra Costa and Solano counties. Clayton Community Library, Community Room, 6125 Clayton Road, 673-0659. AUG. 7 Clayton Valley/Concord Sunrise Rotary Golf Tournament @ Oakhurst Country Club It's tee time for the Clayton Valley Sunrise Rotary’s 17th annual charity golf tournament. Tournament fees are $195 per person and $750 per foursome and include course fees, cart, tee prizes, raffle tickets, mulligans, lunch and dinner. Registration for the event is due by July 24. For more information about the Charity Golf Tournament, please call: Barbara Langsdale, (925) 671-0777, ext. 13; or e-mail: rotarygolf@gmail.com. See Club News in this paper for more information.
Jul. 18 - Aug. 10 Patty Cakes and Picture Book Time @ Clayton Community Library Patty Cakes - 11 a.m. Tuesdays, story time for birth to 3 years. Picture book time - 11 a.m. Thursdays, child may attend without parent. For 3 to 5 years. No registration required. 673-0659, Clayton Community Library, 6125 Clayton Road, Clayton.
AUG. 9 Rafting Adventure Camp @ YMCA Join the YMCA and ride the rapids on this exciting one day trip to the South Fork of the American River. This Class III fourteen mile trip starts off gently and builds up to non-stop excitement. This rafting trip is the most popular run on the American River. For kids entering sixth through eighth grades. Call Delise Young, Program Director Concord/Clayton YMCA, 889-1625.
JULY 18 Identify Your Customers and Competition @ Pleasant Hill Library 7 - 9 p.m. Use the library database ReferenceUSA as a marketing resource. Construct a useful search strategy for sales and marketing and identify potential customers. Bring floppies or a USB device. To register, call the Contra Costa Small Business Development Center at (925) 646-5377 or email cjensen@contracostasbdc.com, subject line: name of workshop. Pleasant Hill Library, 1750 Oak Park Blvd., Pleasant Hill, CA
AUG. 10 Floppy Eared Doggy Dear Stories & Craft with Mrs. L @ Clayton Community Library 11 a.m. You’ll want to “flea” to these “tails” and crafts. Recommended for three to five year olds. Registration required. Clayton Community Library, 6125 Clayton Road, 673-0659.
JULY 19 - 20 YMCA Gym Sleep Over @ Clayton Community Gym 7 p.m. Wed. - 9 a.m. Thurs. All you need is a sleeping bag and a pillow. The YMCA will provide the rest. We will have a movie room, pizza, and plenty of snacks. You can race your friends on our inflatable obstacle course, challenge them to a board game or play any kind of gym game you can think of. End the night with a sleep over with all your friends on the gym floor. For children entering grades 4-6. $40/Clayton residents, $50/non-residents. Concord/Clayton YMCA, 889-1625. JULY 22 Seventh Annual Concert in the Hills Series @ Cal State East Bay Concord Campus Gates open at 6 p.m., opening act at 7 p.m., main act at 8 p.m. Don Neely & the Royal Society Jazz Orchestra continues the summer series, bringing big band sound and traditional jazz. Admission and parking are free. Go to www.concertinthehills.com or 925-602-8654 for more information. Cal State East Bay, Concord Campus, 4700 Ygnacio Valley Road at Campus Drive in Concord. JULY 22 Mt. Diablo Mountain Bike Adventure Camp @ Clayton Community Gym Calling all mountain bike enthusiasts. This one-day camp is for you. This camp will begin with a one hour class filled with great tips to help master the mountain, and will include a segment on nutrition. Following the class, campers will be taken on a fun and exciting ride on the trails of Mt Diablo. The only thing the camper are required to bring is a Mt bike and helmet that fits and an attitude that fits. For kids entering grades 6 - 8. Concord/Clayton YMCA, 889-1625. JULY 23 Opera in the Park @ Civic Park, Walnut Creek 6 p.m. Festival Opera will present its free summer concert – Opera in the Park. This showcase of Festival Opera talent, features singers from the upcoming production of Don Giovanni. Bring a dinner picnic and a lawn
AUG. 12, 13 50th Annual Summer Festival @ Japanese Cultural Center Admission is free. There is parking available at Woodside Elementary School with a free shuttle to the Festival. Japanese dance and Taiko drum performances; Kendo, Judo, Japanese flower arrangement and brush painting demonstrations, bonsai and Japanese flower arrangement exhibits. Japanese food including teriyaki beef, teriyaki chicken dinners, tempura, sushi, udon (noodles), gyoza (Japanese pot stickers). Japanese American Religious and Cultural Center at 3165 Treat Boulevard in Concord. AUG. 14 - 18 YMCA 1/2 day Junior Engineers Camp @ Clayton Community Gym Campers will design and construct bridges, assemble 3-D puzzles and even build an igloo. A trip to the famed Golden Gate bridge will be included as part of this camp. Grades: entering 4th - 8th grade. $175. Concord/Clayton YMCA, 889-1600. AUG. 19 The Lee Harvell Classic Car Show @ Crossroads Covenant Church 5:50 p.m. until sunset. Crossroads will be hosting its second annual car show. All makes and models of cars and motorcycles will be welcome. No entry fees. Free BBQ, music and play area for kids. If you would like to show your car or motorcycle, please call Aaron for information at 798-5905 ext. 204.
CLUBS & ORGANIZATIONS JULY 9, 16, 23, 30 Concord Mystery Book Club @ Concord Library 2:30 - 4 p.m. All mystery readers are invited to participate and explore a different genre each month. Concord Library, 2900 Salvio Street, Concord, 646-5455. JULY 11, 18, 25 Kiwanis Club of Walnut Creek 12 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. Meetings every Tues. All are invited to check us out and be our guest for lunch. Massimo’s Ristorante, 1604 Locust St., Walnut
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Creek. for more information call Sam Totah, 941-1536. See Club News for more information. JULY 11 Knights of Columbus @ St. Agnes Parish Hall 7:30 p.m. Concord Council 6038 of Concord & Clayton holds their monthly meeting the first Tues. of each month. Monthly officers meeting is the last Tues. of each month at St. Agnes Parish Hall, at 7:30 p.m. We look forward to seeing our brother Knights there. St. Agnes Parish Hall on 3966 Chestnut Ave, Concord. JULY 12 Clayton Valley Garden Club @ Diamond Terrace 7 p.m. The Clayton Garden Club meets the second Wed.of the month at Diamond Terrace. Every meeting has an informative program concerning some aspect of gardening. The speaker this month will be Brian Utting of Full Bloom and Bloom Fusion Florists of Concord. Brian will be teaching and demonstrating floral arranging. Raffle tickets will be sold for Brian's floral arrangement creations. Anyone interested in gardening is welcome at our meetings, Diamond Terrace, 6401 Center Street, Clayton. Call Jeff at 6727579 or Barry at 827-9540 for information. JULY 13, 20, 27 Weights Watchers Weekly Meeting @ Contra Costa Farm Bureau 10 a.m.and 5:30 p.m. Weekly Weight Watchers weigh-in and meeting on Thurs.. 800-326-8450 x 2023.Contra Costa Farm Bureau, 5554 Clayton Rd., Concord. JULY 13, 20, 27 Rotary Club of Clayton Valley Concord Sunrise @ Oakhurst 7 a.m. Meets every Thurs. for breakfast meeting that usually features a speaker. Feb. 16 is the Annual Valentine's Day breakfast. Members can bring their spouses/partners/sweethearts for a program that celebrates affection and romance. www. claytonvalleyrotary.org Chuck Graham 6897640. Oakhurst Country Club, 1001 Peacock Creek Drive, Clayton. JULY 26 Blue Star Mom Meeting in Concord 6:30 p.m. Small group Blue Star Mom meetings held the 4th Wednesday of each month. Blue Star Moms is a support and service group for those serving in all branches of the Armed Forces. 1792 Elmhurst Lane, Concord. Call 676-3654 for information. JULY 27 CBCA (Clayton Business & Community Association) Meeting @ Oakhurst 6:30 p.m. Monthly dinner meeting, last non-holiday Thurs. of the month. Reservations due by Tuesday noon prior, 672-2272. John Rubiales, President. Oakhurst Country Club, 1001 Peacock Creek Drive, Clayton. AUG. 3 Sons In Retirement @ Oakhurst Country Club 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. SIRs, which is dedicated to promoting the independence and dignity of retired men, has no initiation fees or dues. The only requirement, other than being a man who is retired from his primary employment or career, is attendance at the monthly luncheons. For more information about joining SIRs, Branch 19, call Al Brunner at 687-0594. Oakhurst Country Club, 1001 Peacock Creek Drive, Clayton.
BUSINESS & GOVERNMENT JULY 11, 18, 25 Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors Meeting @ County Administration Building 9 a.m. County Board of Supervisors holds regular weekly meetings Tues. mornings. Open to the public. www.co.contra-costa.ca.us 335-1900. County Administration Building, 651 Pine Street, Room 107, Martinez. JULY 11, 25 Planning Commission Meeting @ Clayton Library 7p.m. City of Clayton Planning Commission meets 2nd and 4th Tues. of month. Open to the public. www.ci.clayton.ca.us 673-7304, Clayton Library Community Room, 6125 Clayton Road, Clayton. JULY 12, AUG. 9 Clayton Valley Garden Club @ Diamond Terrace The Clayton Valley Garden Club was formed to bring together people in our area who have a common interest in gardening. Our club motto is: "Life begins the day you start your garden." We meet on the 2nd Wednesday of the month at Diamond Terrace at 7 p.m. We hope that you will join us. Diamond Terrace, 6401 Center Street, Clayton. Call Jeff at 672-7579 or Barry at 827-9540 for information. JULY 13 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. www.ci.clayton.ca.us 673-7304, Clayton City Hall Conference Room, 6000 HeritageTrail, Clayton. JULY 18 Clayton City Council Meeting @ Clayton Community Library 6 p.m. City Council meets on the first and third Tues. of the month. Open to the public. Agendas posted at the following locations: City Hall, 6000 Heritage Trail, Clayton, Ohm's Bulletin Board, 1028 Diablo St., Clayton, Clayton Community Library, 6125 Clayton Rd., Clayton.
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Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com
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Page B11
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Crossword Puzzle Tournament in Stamford, Conn. A lifetime puzzle-solv er and the only person in the world with a deg ree in enigmatology (the study of puzzles and puzzle constr uction), Shortz has been baffling delighted puzzlehounds in the Times since 1993. Shortz also quizzes weekly callins on NPR’s Will Shortz, crossword puzzle editor for the W e e k e n d New York Times is the subject of Wordplay. E d i t i o n Sunday and Hill) will enter tain ev eryone edits the new daily g ame who does the Sunda y New obsession, Sudoku. Nearly as fascinating is York Times Crossw ord crossword creator Merl Puzzle in pen – including Reagle, who conjures a puzmyself. Geeky bey ond g eeky, the zle from a blank grid. In and around this creation we meet film focuses solely on the New York Times crossw ord famous puzzlers , from Yankees pitc her Mik e puzzle and its fanatics (no mention of other American Mussina to former President Bill Clinton. Daily Sho w crosswords, let alone the host Jon Stewart may be the uber-cryptic puzzles in the single most enter taining London Times). solver, shouting c hallenges The tw o focal points of the 94-minute film are NYT to Shor tz even as he attac ks crossword editor Will Shortz the grid. When Merl’s puzzle is finally completed and and the 2005 American Spelling bees, now crossword puzzles – it’ s R evenge of the Nerds , documentary style. If you like doing crossword puzzles, you’ll love this film. “Wordplay” (currently at the CineAr ts in Pleasant
appears in the Times , we watch these celebrity crosshounds solve it. Gradually, the not-sofamous emerg e as the real stars – the brilliant y oung student, the nerdy guy , the perpetual r unner-up, the baton-twirler, the family guy – all of whom will be pitted against the cloc k and eac h other during the AMCT. The tour nament visually resembles a science-fiction convention at first – gleeful reunions, bizarre clothing and hats, strange songs – but when R ound 1 begins , it’s everybody in a cube , scribbling. (The tournament consists of seven elimination rounds, and the final three solving the same puzzle in front of everybody in 15 minutes or less .) T he v ery close heat r un b y three participants adds an unexpected level of suspense. Clues and bo xes fill in throughout the film alongside the solv er; ridiculously easy ones at first, growing gradually harder to solv e, leading up to the heartbreaker in the c hampionship round that causes so m uch anguish that the audience in the theater cried out when one character made a mental
JANE MAILANDER
AT
THE
MOVIES
stumble. The soundtrac k is amazing – original music provided by Vic Fleming and P eter Golub – and I w as disappointed not to find a CD for sale anywhere. Jane Mailander is a secretary and a freelance writer . She’s written movie r eview and short stories and appears for 10 seconds in the film “Trekkies 2.” Email her at movies@claytonpioneer.com.
WORDPLAY Directed by: Patrick Creadon Written By: Patrick Creadon, Christine O’Malley Rated: PG Currently at CineArts in Pleasant Hill.
Puccini and Mozart kick off opera season Festival Opera announced that its 15th anniversary season will include new productions of Giacomo Puccini’s Tosca in FESTIVAL OPERA TOSCA by Giacomo Puccini plays July 8, 11, 14, and 16, 2006 DON GIOVANNI by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart plays August 12, 15, 18, and 20, 2006 See Website at www.festivalopera.com for performance times. Both operas will be sung in Italian with English supertitles. Tickets range in price from $36 to $100. Call 925-943-SHOW to order. All performances will be at the Dean Lesher Regional Center for the Arts in Walnut Creek.
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1999 debut. In honor of Mozart’s 250th bir thday, Festival Opera presents a fascinating production of Don Giovanni, the stor y of the infamous Don J uan. The staging conce pt, developed by artistic and music director Morgan, will be brought to life with the assistance of Heather Carolo . Morgan will also conduct. Baritone Brian Leerhuber , returning as Don Gio vanni, is joined by a stellar cast of young singers also retur ning to the Festival Opera stage. “Festival Opera is pleased to be opening its 15th anniversary season with Tosca, an opera whic h 10 years ago successfully set the company on the path to its
Paws, from page B8 first few hours . Antibiotics are used to prev ent secondar y infections. Blood transfusions may or may not be needed. Rattlesnake v accines are available for high-risk dogs. This vaccine will not prevent your dog from reacting but may help delay the reaction until y ou can g et to a veterinarian. Visit this Web site for good information on prevention of bites and snake proofing your yard. www.anapsid.org/rattlers/index.html
KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR HAZARDS
After all our rains and lush grass g rowth, there are a larg e number of foxtails on our hillsides. These g rass seeds will adhere to y our pet’ s fur and migrate into any orifice as w ell as burrow into the skin creating abscesses. Keep y our dog’ s fur trimmed shor t, pull up and discard the w eeds in y our yard, avoid letting y our pet r un through fields if possible, and
current ar tistic lev el, and pairing it with Mic hael Morgan’s timely vision of Don Gio vanni,” said Helen Sheaff, executive director for Festival Opera. “These tw o productions will be a w onderful re presentation of the level of artistic creativity and innovation w e ha ve built over the past 15 years.” Festival Opera is the largest regional opera company in the East Ba y. Founded in 1991, it is considered a sho wcase for young American sing ers, directors and conductors . For cast lists , artist photos , synopses, and additional information on the company and its productions visit Festival Opera’ s W ebsite, www.festivalopera.com. comb out its coat after exposure. Also be a ware that antifreeze, ethylene glycol, is very poisonous . Only a small lick can cause deadly kidney toxicity. Keep your pets away from an o verheated car or drips in your garage or driveway. I hope y ou and y our pets have a w onderful and health y summer b y k eeping these hazards and prev entions in mind during your outdoor activities. Marybeth Rymer, DVM, can be reached at Monte Vista Veterinary Hospital, Concord. 672-1100
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July and Mozar t’s Don Giovanni in August. Tosca will feature the company debuts of soprano Othalie Graham, tenor Robert Breault and stag e director Beth Greenberg . Festival Opera’ s ar tistic and music director Mic hael Morgan mak es his opera stage director debut in Don Giovanni, with baritone Brian Leerhuber in the title role. Puccini’s Tosca embodies a rang e of passions – lo ve, jealousy and rev enge – and includes some of opera’s most familiar arias , Te Deum, Floria, Amore! and O dolci man, among them. Tosca will be conducted by Ari P elto, who retur ns to Festival Opera follo wing his
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Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com
July 8, 2006
Hike of the Week
Trailhead:
Mt. Diablo State Park – Dan Cook to Summit T rail marked accordingly with signs and cones . Proceed left to the trail that r uns along the barbedwire fence and within a few hundred feet mak e a right onto a
temporary trail that reconnects you back to the Dan Cook Trail. Continue on as y ou forge deeper into the w ell deser ved shade and the ev entual crossing of
Dan Cook Creek via a tr usty wood bridge. As y ou mak e an immediate right onto Summit T rail, which was the original stag e coac h
KEVIN PARKER
HIKER’S HAVEN It is no secret that Mt. Diablo is held in high reg ard when it comes to my affinity for the outdoors. I have spent most of my trail-time hiking in and around the Nor th Side of Mt. Diablo, the side nearest to Clayton. For this week’s column I took a small road trip via South Gate R oad to explore another side of Mount Diablo I knew existed, but ha ve not afforded myself the luxur y of becoming more familiar with until now. Summer solstice has passed and the da ys are g etting long er. After-work acti vities can no w extend m uch fur ther into the evening. I couldn’t have picked a better set of trails to kick off my adventure as I officially w elcomed summer. The Dan Cook T rail begins immediately from South Gate Road as a meandering singletrack, which heads directly up Dan Cook Cany on through thickets of gold foliag e. This particular day was hot — around 95 degrees as I left my vehicle in the distance. I w as sur prised to see so many wildf lowers spread out along the trail as I progressed upw ard through a progression of differing plant life zones. Hot and dr y fields , lush canyon bottoms and botanical looking gardens all were present within the first 25 min utes of hiking. Due to the hea vy winter rains, part of the Dan Cook Trail has been washed out and is
Kevin Parker/Clayton Pioneer
DAN COOK TRAIL
road to the summit, enjoy the shade because a fairly steady and aggressive climb to Rock City is about to begin. This portion of trail is mostly fire-road made up of dirt, gravel and Eocene sandstone, all of which add to an interesting visual mak eup for the trail. Within minutes, you are catapulted up through Dan Cook Cany on and are able to enjoy views of Green Valley and Short Ridge in the distance. The higher elevations of this canyon also provide a great opportunity for inter mittent breezes , which along with plenty of water, kept me cool on an otherwise extremely hot day. Summit T rail ev entually makes it way up to Rock City via Live Oak Campground, which is well stocked with amenities such as restrooms, shade and some of the most spectacular picnic spots I ha ve ever seen. Imagine sitting under a shady tree on a hot da y, enjoying some late afternoon snac ks with R ock City’s sandstone rock sculptures as y our bac kdrop. I w as utterly and totally satisfied with my surroundings.
Pedestrian gate at side of South Gate Road (parking is limited) Difficulty: Moderate Elevation Gain: 1,000 feet Getting There: Exit Diablo Road from 680 Freeway in Danville. Follow signs to Mt. Diablo Park Entrance. Trailhead is located off South Gate Road past first series of highway switchbacks just inside the park boundar y
With limited time before sunset, I decided to tur naround and head bac k do wn Summit Trail as I rapidly descended back into Dan Cook Cany on. However, for those with more time and a hung er for adv enture, I suggest a side trip to Wall Point, Fossil Ridg e or Lo wer Rock City. Hopefully, I ha ve n udged a few of you to seek out what lies beyond on what I lik e to call “the other side of Mt. Diablo.” Next time y ou ha ve a min ute, pick up a trail map (Mt. Diablo State P ark - Fifth Edition) and look at all this wonderful mountain has to offer both near and far from this g reat town we call home.
For more information on this hike or other outdoor experiences , contact Ke vin at hiker@claytonpioneer.com.
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