JUL 19 The Pioneer 2024

Amit Elor, Kara Kohler look to burnish area’s medal legacy at Paris Olympics

Amit Elor, just five years removed from winning a high school state wrestling championship for College Park, will be competing in her first Summer Olympics Aug. 5-6 as a wrestling gold medal contender while Clayton’s Kara Kohler will be in her third Games in Paris starting July 27 as one of America’s rowing team medal hopefuls.

Each local woman is competing at the highest level of her sport and are now part of the Olympic legacy created by nearly two dozen athletes with connections to Concord, Pleasant Hill and Clayton.

Including Elor, a dozen athletes who live, went to school in the area or trained with local clubs have been on Summer or Winter Olympic teams and half of those, including Kohler, have reached the podium to receive a cherished Olympic medal.

Incredibly, Kohler earned her bronze medal in quad sculls at the London Olympics on Aug. 1, 2012, the same day her fellow Clayton resident Kristian Ipsen also won bronze in threemeter synchronized diving.

The chart on Page B1 has a list of the local athletes and their years competing along with medals won. All of them trained and/or went to school locally except for 1960 Olympic pole vault champion Don Bragg, who lived many of his retirement years with his wife Theresa in Clayton. In 2010 they went to Rome for the 50th reunion of those Olympics.

Unsurprisingly, 15 of the local Olympians were in water sports—swimming, diving, water polo, synchronized swimming and rowing. Skier Daron Rahlves, who grew up Clayton, would be the 16th if you count snow skiing as simply competing on frozen water.

All these Olympians represented the United States except swimmer Niko Lahanas, a De La Salle graduate, who swam for Greece in the 1988 Seoul Games.

ELORISWRESTLING SENSATION

Elor missed her chance to take part in the 2020 United States Olympic Trials by a day. She was born Jan. 1, 2004, one day after the cutoff to meet the minimum age requirement to compete at the Tokyo Olympics, which were not held until 2021 due to the pandemic.

It was the winter of 2019 as a freshman at College Park High when she easily won the California state wrestling championship, winning all 36 of her matches. In the 150-pound weight class she pinned every North Coast Section and State

See Medals, page B1

In the 21st Century local athletes have reached the Olympic medal stand on

and

Council OKs 183 affordable units on former Nazarene church site

CHARLEEN EARLEY Correspondent

A stalled 183-unit, multifamily rental project will move forward after the City Council gave unanimous approval to construction – amidst statemandated requirements and the increasing need for affordable housing.

The Ashbury, by developer Rick Judd Commons, will be located at 1650 Ashbury Dr. It will feature a six-story building with studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom units on five stories of living space, plus 99 parking stalls, a fitness gym, two podium courtyards, a clubhouse and a leasing office.

Based on a Feb. 9, 2023, Design Review Board staff report, the developer proposes landscaping adjacent to the building around the perimeter of the 1.81-acre rectangular parcel, currently owned by Church of the Nazarene. The project includes demolition of the former church’s vacant chapel and gymnasium.

The city rezoned the property for Downtown Mixed Use in 2012, and it’s part of the Transit Village near BART.

CONCERNS ABOUT DOWNTOWN SATURATION

At previous meetings, councilmembers rejected the project by stating it would negatively

impact the community by concentrating too much affordable housing in the central business district.

Mayor Edi Birsan said he

voted in favor at the June 24 special meeting because of the risk of violating state mandates on

The highest court in the land may have given law enforcement the green light to start issuing citations to those living on the streets, but Central Contra Costa County officials and police departments aren’t expected to make any immediate changes in their approach to the homeless. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled June 28 that cities can ban people from sleeping and camping in public places. In a 6-3 decision, the justices overturned lower court rulings that deemed it cruel and unusual under the Eighth Amendment to punish people for sleeping outside if they had nowhere else to go.

The high court’s ruling came down in a challenge by Grants Pass, Ore., which like other cities along the West Coast is wrestling with increasing numbers of homelessness. The decision prohibits homeless people from sleeping in public places even when adequate shelter is unavailable.

‘NOTHING HASCHANGED’

In the wake of the decision, Pleasant Hill Mayor Matt Rinn expressed his council’s intent to take some time to understand what effects the ruling may have before deciding what actions, if any, may be appropriate.

“At this time, nothing has changed,” said Pleasant Hill spokesman Geoff Gillette. “If the police department receives a complaint about an unhoused individual, they will respond and make contact with the individual. They will work to resolve the situation and connect the individual with resources through the Contra Costa County Health Department’s Coordinated Outreach, Referral, Engagement (CORE) program.”

Concord Mayor Edi Birsan echoed sentiments voiced by his Pleasant Hill neighbors in response to the ruling and the

Driving range murals scoring aces with patrons

DAVID SCHOLZ Correspondent

If Sydney Bader’s interpretation of the nearby East Bay hills and a heron adds a few additional yards for golfers whacking golf balls at the Skylinks at Buchanan Fields Golf Course, all the better.

More than anything else, Bader, 25, of Concord, hopes the mural – one of more than two dozen that thus far have replaced the gray walls dividing the bays at the driving range –simply brings patrons some happiness.

“As adults, we rarely stop and look around,” said Bader. “It’s the children that see those little things and they fill themselves with joy.

“You don’t know how it is going to affect someone,” she continued. “If it just makes them smile and reminds them

of something good, then that’s what I hope it brings.”

‘WHERE ART AND SPORT INTERSECT’

For Kiwi Hollis, who took over ownership of Buchanan Fields last October, the murals have added a vibrant and artistic touch to the driving range, making it a unique and engaging environment for everyone who visits.

“The involvement of local artists, players and the wider community has been particularly rewarding, as it has further highlighted the awesome sense of community and creativity that we’re trying to integrate back,” he said.

The idea of dressing up the bays came from a conversation Hollis had with one of the local diehards. What

See Homeless, page 5 See Ashbury, page 5 See Murals, page 5

Photos courtesy Kohler family, USA Artistic Swimming and Dobratz family

several occasions. Clockwise from left, Kara Kohler and Kristian Ipsen won bronze medals on the same day at the 2012 Summer Olympics, each Clayton athlete among the youngest in their sport in London; Melissa Seidemann, a College Park High grad, played a key role for the 2012, 2016

2020 gold medal-winning American water polo teams; Erin Dobratz and her Walnut Creek Aquanuts teammate Tammy Crow DeClerq (not pictured) helped the USA to bronze in synchronized swimming.

David Scholz

Concord resident Sydney Bader works on her mural alongside one done in the style of Piet Mondrian on the driving range at Buchanan Fields.

City of Concord

First rejected, then approved, The Ashbury will be a sixstory building on the former site of Church of the Nazarene in downtown Concord.

DAVID SCHOLZ Correspondent

JAY BEDECARRÉ The Pioneer

Trends and insights into the local housing market

As we navigate the everchanging housing market landscape, recent trends indicate both challenges and opportunities mirroring broader national patterns. Mortgage rates and market response. Mortgage rates have been declining over the past few months, which has encouraged a slight uptick in market activity. Lower rates are making home purchases more feasible for buyers, and this has led to an increase in both new listings and prices. The median listing price has moved up slightly, reflecting a more active market with growing buyer interest. Inventory and seller activity. Clayton, Concord and the surrounding areas have all witnessed a rise in new listings, paralleling national trends where seller activity has increased by 10.8% year-overyear. This is significant as it suggests homeowners are feel-

ing more confident about listing their properties, possibly spurred by decreasing mortgage rates. Active inventory has also notably increased, providing more options for potential buyers.

Pricing dynamics. Despite the rise in inventory, home prices in the area remain relatively high, consistent with the national trend of higher prices per square foot. This has been a result of limited overall

housing supply, a legacy issue from the pandemic period. However, the increase in smaller, more affordable homes has helped maintain a balanced market, especially beneficial for first-time buyers. Time on market and pricing adjustments. Homes in our area are spending slightly more time on the market compared to last year. This trend provides buyers with more time to make purchasing decisions, potentially leading

to more thoughtful and competitive offers. Additionally, there has been an uptick in price reductions as sellers adjust their expectations to align with current market conditions. This shift indicates a more balanced negotiation landscape and can present opportunities for buyers to secure properties at more favorable prices. Future outlook. Experts expect our housing market to stabilize further as mortgage

rates continue to adjust and more sellers enter the market.

Buyers can look forward to a wider selection of homes, although they may still face competitive pricing. The continued increase in inventory is a positive sign for the market’s health, potentially easing some of the upward pressure on prices. These trends are reflective of the national housing market as analyzed by Realtor.com, highlighting a

gradual shift toward a more balanced and accessible market for both buyers and sellers. For more detailed insights and weekly updates on national housing market trends, visit Realtor.com’s economic research section or contact me directly at jennifer@bhrbroker.com.

Jennifer Stojanovich is an owner/broker with Better Homes Real Estate.

Man arrested after Canesa deli owner stabbed outside Clayton shop

Clayton deli owner John Canesa is recovering after being stabbed outside of his restaurant about 1 p.m. June 25.

According to his wife Priscilla, Canesa was stabbed six times outside Canesa’s Brooklyn Heroes in the Town Center at Oak and Main St. When police arrived, they arrested 45-year-old Peter Kerns of Concord. Emergency services transported Canesa who was alert and talking to John Muir Medical Center.

Priscilla said Kerns, a customer at the time, was acting erratically and confronting workers and customers. Eventually, Canesa stepped outside of his deli and got in a fight with Kerns.

Priscilla acknowledges that the scene took a personal turn when Kerns verbally assaulted their teenage daughter. “The customer was very aggressive and antagonistic toward my daughter

Gianna, who was taking orders from the front window,” she said.

Priscilla says Kerns was causing a large disturbance and harassing everyone in the area. “He was also yelling into the deli at John and being purposefully disruptive to our customers and place of business,” she added, noting that Kerns’ actions led to a tense moment for everyone involved.

The incident culminated in the altercation in which the 44-year-old Canesa was stabbed.

A public records search showed that Kerns was arrested at least once before but offered no information on what led to his arrest in that case.

Canesa’s Brooklyn Heros moved from Concord to its Main St. location in 2012. The deli was closed for several days while Canesa was at home recovering. They reopened July 2 with normal business hours, 11 a.m.-2 p.m.

Tamara Steiner photo

Canesa’s deli was closed for several days following a violent altercation between the owner and a customer.

Rossi fiercely dedicated to California politics, warts and all

In the intricate, noisy, drama-filled world of California politics, there is a political strategist known for her unwavering work ethic, unyielding principles and compassionate nature – plugging away behind the scenes making sense of it all.

Peers, clients and friends universally describe Mary Jo Rossi as going “all in,” whether she’s running a campaign, raising her daughter or keeping you company in the hospital.

She has “integrity with an amazing work ethic,” says Jeremy Carlson, who was her executive assistant for six years.

“She’s the best person I’ve ever worked for,” he says. “She was schooled by the Old School Dems in Sacramento. She’s hardnosed with a heart of gold.”

CHANGINGTHERHETORIC

Raised in San Diego, Rossi got her start in Sacramento politics in 1982. A recent college grad with a bachelor’s in political science, she went to work as chief of staff in Assembly Speaker Willie Brown’s office. While with Brown, she spearheaded campaigns for Assembly candidates all over the state without computers, Internet or cellphones

“We had no fax machines or email. We sent everything by Greyhound.”

Since 1988, she has been the driving force behind Concordbased Rossi Communications, where she works with such familiar names as Assemblymember Tim Grayson, county Supervisors Federal Glover and Candace Anderson as well as police officer associations, businesses and developers.

Rossi misses the politics of the ’80s. “Sacramento was really trying to get s**t done. Peo-

ple didn’t hate each other. They talked to each other,” she laments.

She lays much of the blame for ineffective government at the feet of term limits and district elections.

“Term limits really screwed the system up,” she groans. “It’s transferred too much power to the unelected lobbyists who have been around the longest. This has made the elected officials “more reactive to special interests.”

The result: “Sacramento is missing the context and historical perspective provided by experience.”

MISPLACEDPRIORITIES

District elections have further mucked up local politics, she says. Designed to be inclusive, they had the opposite effect by limiting the field.

“Some districts can’t find anyone to run – or it’s always only the incumbent.”

She is highly critical of politicians who don’t know what their constituents want.

In the last Concord City Council election, she recalls seeing several voter surveys citing public safety and homelessness as top concerns. Yet no one running for council named either as a priority.

“Mental health was their priority. But you can’t focus on mental health when you have someone living in a tent behind the Hilton,” she says.

“Houston should be our model. Houston has focused on permanent housing, not hotel rooms. Their first choice was not to pour more money into (the problem). It was to find permanent housing,” she explains.

“This county has spent $123 million in four years, and what do we have to show for it? Nothing.”

Meanwhile, the Concord candidates all supported the Concord Naval Weapons Sta-

baths, and 3865 sq ft. Main-floor primary and ensuite. Stunning upgrades and top-of-the-line finishes. This is an entertainer's delight and a haven for wine enthusiasts. Stunning panoramic views of Mt. Diablo & the Limeridge Hills to enjoy from multiple decks, porches, and windows. Billards room, wine cellar, hot tub, owned solar, & 3 car garage on .95 acre lot. $1,469,000.

tion development. But Rossi calls them too small-minded for a project of that size.

“This is a huge opportunity, and it’s time to think outside the box,” she says. “They want to be everything to everyone. But you can’t have everything you want. I don’t get everything I want.”

She calls it’s unrealistic to expect “25% affordable housing, a wall-to-wall project labor agreement and 100- to 200foot open space buffers.”

A WINNINGATTITUDE

Her disdain for district elections and term limits comes from a fundamental belief that decisions should always stem from principle, not special interests or emotional impulses. This attitude garners her unwavering respect and loyalty from clients like Grayson and Glover. Both say she is every inch the professional but is “in it to win.”

Always straightforward and sometimes blunt, Rossi claims: “I can get anyone elected to local office.”

That posture has brought her a fair amount of criticism,

with detractors noting she will do anything to win.

“They’re right,” says Rossi, who clarifies that she aims her spear only at what is in public record or the opponents’ claims – not at the person. “If it is issue related and out there, then it’s fair game. You have to show the contrast with your candidate.”

Politics is often described as a blood sport. In a field largely dominated by men and where ruthless is the rule of engagement, some liken Rossi to a barracuda.

“But ruthless is how powerful, tenacious women get things done. I see that as a compliment,” says Anderson, who’s both a client and a friend.

FOCUS ON THE HOME FRONT

Over her 44-year career, Rossi was used to handling 25 to 30 campaigns at once. But at 66, she wants more time for the things that make her uniquely Mary Jo.

This election cycle, she is working only with a handful of political action committees on their independent expenditure

campaigns. She’s also finding time to launch a new political column for the Pioneer that will debut next month.

At her core is her relationship with her daughter, Bella Colarusso – a testament to her resilience, love and unwavering support as a single mother.

Raising Bella while working and running a household was her biggest life challenge.

“Sometimes I would get home late and sit in the driveway for 15 minutes just to have that time to myself. Often, I’d go three months without a day off.”

Bella’s growth into a successful physician assistant working with critically ill children and the legacy of love and values Rossi instilled speak volumes about the depth of their bond and Rossi’s dedication to family.

For many years, she and Bella shared the family home with Lulu and Theo, two rescue mini pigs who had their own room painted turquoise with a farm motif and frequently slept with their humans.

With Bella now working at

St. Jude Children’s Hospital in Memphis, Theo and Lulu are at Goatlandia Farm Animal Sanctuary in Sebastopol waiting for a time when Bella can move them to Memphis. Rossi visits them in Sebastopol about every other month. Her only roommate now is a tiny Yorkipoo named Olive.

A ‘QUIRKY’ SENSE OF STYLE

When it comes to food and fashion, “there is nothing subtle about Mary Jo,” says close friend Karen Mitchoff, a former county supervisor. Her tastes are “quirky.” Petite and blond hair with her signature black and white checkerboard glasses. She favors designer Betsy Johnson – known for whimsical designs that reflect Rossi’s supreme self-confidence and overarching sense of fun.

When Rossi isn’t working or visiting Bella in Memphis or Theo and Lulu in Sebastopol, she’s likely in the garden tending her herbs or in the kitchen chopping them for her famous tomato sauce. She developed her culinary skills in Italy, where she attended seven different cooking schools.

While many were bored senseless during the pandemic, Rossi’s friends were watching her cooking videos. Against a black and white checkerboard backsplash in her Concord kitchen, she made tomato sauce, breakfast casseroles and pesto with humor and aplomb.

“She kept us entertained and laughing,” Mitchoff says. And well fed. Rossi may be cutting back on her workload, but she is a long way from retiring. She still has things to do and more to learn. She’s making good use of AI and streaming. “I can find you and send you ads … it’s the way,” she notes. For Rossi, there are still frontiers to conquer. And more pesto to make.

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Horse lover's dream located within the private gated Concord Mt. Diablo Trail Riders Association at the base of Mt. Diablo. The club spans over 200 acres with direct access to the State Park. Stunning views from this single story 4 bed, 2 bath, plus 2 bed/1 bath, possible ADU and detached office. Spacious great room with wood burning stove. Owned solar and chicken coop on nearly one-acre parcel. Community pool, clubhouse, riding arenas, round pen, camping with stalls, Hunter Jumper Course. Large detached garage and workshop. $889,000.

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3133 Morgan Territory Road, Clayton

1585 Lower Trail Road, Clayton

Tamara Steiner

Beyond politics, Mary Jo Rossi enjoys spending time in her Concord kitchen – even posting cooking videos during the pandemic.

TAMARA STEINER The Pioneer

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Diablo Japanese American Summer Festival returns

The Diablo Japanese American Summer Festival, a cherished local tradition, will celebrate its 65th year on July 27 and 28 at the Diablo Japanese American Center, located at 3165 Treat Blvd. This festival, known for showcasing Japanese American culture, promises a vibrant weekend filled with food, art, and performances.

Festival-goers can look forward to a variety of traditional Japanese foods, including tempura, chicken teriyaki, beef teriyaki, sushi, gyoza, udon, and shave ice. The ever-popular tempura booth makes a welcome return this year. Additionally, the festival will offer baked goods, hot dogs, beer, and soft drinks, catering to diverse tastes.

The event features performances from the renowned Sonoma and Tatsumaki Taiko groups and the Hanayagi dancers, adding rhythmic excitement to the festival. Other cultural highlights include bonsai displays, ikenobo (flower arranging), calligraphy, kendo (Japanese swords), and judo demonstrations.

A free shuttle service from Ygnacio Valley High School will be available for attendees, ensuring easy access to the festival. Eric Tamichi, this year’s festival chairperson, emphasized the community spirit behind the event. “The preparation activities are all managed by our dedicated volunteers, reflecting our club’s commitment to preserving and sharing Japanese culture,” said Tamichi.

The Diablo Japanese American Club’s president, Karen Sakata, expressed her enthusiasm for the festival’s return after the pandemic. “Since the pandemic, I think a lot of people have really missed the festival,” Sakata said. She noted the importance of such events in maintaining cultural connections and honoring traditions, including the Japanese custom of Obon, which honors ancestors and the deceased.

The festival’s roots trace back to the early 20th century, with the Tamori family playing a pivotal role in establishing the Japanese cultural presence in Concord. Kumetaro Tamori, who immigrated from Fukuo-

ka, Japan, in the late 1800s, and his descendants contributed significantly to the local community, including the establishment of the Concord Japanese language institute, now the Diablo Japanese American Center. Despite challenges during World War II, including internment and property issues, the community’s resilience ensured the continuation of their cultural heritage. The summer festival, launched in 1957, has become a vital fundraiser and a cornerstone of cultural celebration in Concord. Today, the center remains a vibrant hub for Japanese culture, offering language classes, cooking courses, flower arranging, judo, and other traditional activities. The summer festival continues to be a highlight, drawing visitors from across the Bay Area to celebrate and enjoy the richness of Japanese American culture.

For more information, contact Eric Tamichi by email at ehtamichi@gmail.com or call 925822-2633.

Rotary HOME team gives seniors a friendly helping hand

VINCE MARTELLACCI Correspondent

Local seniors aren’t as alone as they might think. Rotary’s HOME Team has their back.

The team goes into the homes of senior citizens for small repairs and handyman work. Seniors who might not have anyone to help take care of the little things around the house can always reach out to the HOME Team and receive free assistance.

Rotary is a global nonprofit with chapters across America and the world. The HOME Team coordinates its work through Lamorinda Village in Lafayette. “Our purpose is to provide the support and connections that will help us remain in

our own homes as we get older,” according to Lamorinda Village’s website.

The nonprofit runs several programs locally to give back. They make Christmas boxes for the unhoused and art boxes for disadvantaged children, along with bigger projects like a car donation program.

WEEDINGOUT

ADMINISTRATIVEFEES

Rotary member Mary Kemnitz way key to launching the car donation initiative.

“That was a program we started about 10 years ago with the Clayton Valley Rotary. My husband and I owned an auto repair shop, and we always had

See Rotary, page 6

Vince Martellacci

Bob Huck, a Rotary HOME Team member helps seniors with repairs, with conversation on the side

New emergency psychiatric unit focuses on youth in crisis

DAVID SCHOLZ Correspondent

A unit committed to serving the emergency psychiatric needs of youngsters is now operating in its own quarters next door to the Contra Costa County Regional Medical Center.

The Contra Costa Youth Crisis Stabilization Unit (CSU) will serve children ages 6 to 17 for the first 24 hours of a diagnosed psychiatric emergency. It opened June 24 at 25 Allen St. in the same building as Miller Wellness Center. The county contracted with

Not to ruffle any feathers, but it is time to speak of bird flu.

Avian influenza A (H5N1), bird flu and H5N1 bird flu are the three terms for several viruses that mainly target birds.

Pacific Clinics to support the new unit. Pacific Clinics also provides behavioral health, social services, substance use treatment and wellness programs through its Salvio Street outpatient facility in Concord.

“Pacific Clinics’ expertise and experience in running a Youth CSU for Santa Clara County make them a great partner to serve the youth in Contra Costa County,” said Dr. Stephen Field, medical director of Behavioral Services for Contra Costa Health Services (CCHS). The desire for a designated treatment space separate from

adults also experiencing mental health crises was one impetus for CSU’s creation. But critical issues related to mental health and substance use by youth that were exacerbated by the isolation and anxiety from the COVID-19 pandemic further prioritized this need.

“It became more apparent that the very idea of treatment ‘space’ was needed to keep our community safe and healthy –both physically and emotionally,” Field said.

Psychiatrists, registered nurses, licensed vocational nurses, licensed psychiatric technicians,

clinicians and crisis intervention specialists will make up the facility’s full-time, 23-member staff. They will help patients with crisis intervention, mental health assessment, medication assistance and therapy. Staff will also offer alcohol and drug screening services, case management and peer support.

“The goal is to stabilize the unit’s patients and connect them with mental health services without requiring inpatient hospitalization,” CCHS said in a statement.

County health officials don’t expect any adverse impact on

Pacific Clinic’s existing facility. In fact, they see the Concord site as an asset to provide administrative support and space if needed.

“The new unit further expands our continuum of care to meet clients where they are at, and provide help when they need it most,” said Field. “Our continuum of care includes serving the child and teen population with psychiatric care through our clinics, schoolbased programs, full-service partnerships (FSPs), A3 crisis response team, the new Youth Crisis Stabilization Unit and

referral to inpatient psychiatric care.”

There were 1,072 admissions in 2023 for pediatric psychiatric patients at the regional medical center, according to CCHS. Most of the youth patients were adolescents and teens with depression and were at risk of suicide.

A grant from the California Health Facilities Finance Authority (CHFFA) funded $2.8 million in construction and startup costs as part of the unit’s annual operating budget of $4.4 million.

Officials tracking spread of bird flu to humans

H5N1 made its debut in geese in China in 1996 and was resourceful enough to make its way into the human population of Hong Kong the following year. Scientists reported an aggressive new variant of H5N1, referred to as Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), among European wild birds in 2020.

Officials first detected HPAI in the United States in January 2022 in aquatic, backyard and commercially raised birds. It recently made the jump to cattle – bringing it squarely into the limelight.

As of this writing, four

Ashbury, from page 1

affordable housing requirements. “The concerns I had were met in regard to the amount of money that was going to be spent in total on the project,” he noted.

The city must now accept the developer’s request to receive up to $90 million in state financing to cover construction and operational costs. Funds will not come out of city taxpayers’ money. Despite approving construction, Birsan still has mixed feelings.

“The concern that we do not increase stress on low-resource areas is valid,” he said. “We recently went through a review process called the Affirming Affordable Housing Plan, which specifically called out the need to spread affordable housing around the city.”

Rick Judd Commons team members say the plan creates affordable housing for people with the fewest options. Nick Griffin, director of asset management, said the demand for affordable housing in Concord is high.

“Our market study for the project, undertaken for financing applications a few years ago, found that affordable multi-family properties in Concord had 99.9% occupancy,” said Griffin.

STATE SHORTAGE OF AFFORDABLEHOUSING

When the council vetoed construction of the Ashbury months earlier, councilmem-

bers quickly realized the state requirements for affordable housing and moved a motion forward to approve it.

“The state mandates – via the Housing Element – the number of housing units a jurisdiction needs to build from 2023-2031, and it requires the number of affordable units, too,” said Griffin. “All jurisdictions are woefully underbuilt, and I imagine Concord is, too. If I’m not mistaken, Rick Judd Commons is the first affordable housing property built in Concord in 20 years.”

The need for affordable housing goes beyond Concord’s borders.

“The housing crisis is a regional one, and the shortage of affordable housing across the Bay Area, as well as the state, is well documented,” added Griffin.

Birsan feels the same way about the importance and demand for affordable housing.

“We need housing that is more than just affordable under the current governmental standard,” said Birsan. “We need great housing at the lowest cost possible, not just the highest that the market can bear. How to do it is the big question. Currently, systemically, the only method we have is government vouchers and subsidies for construction and operational costs.”

CREATING ‘WELL-ROUNDED COMMUNITY’

As manager and organizer for EBASE (East Bay Alliance

Murals, from page 1

emerged was a shared desire to enhance the aesthetic appeal of the driving range and create a more inviting atmosphere.

“We wanted to transform our 50 bays into something more than just a place to practice golf, and the idea of simply painting it one monotone and bland color really didn’t align with what we thought we could do with the space. We envisioned it as a community hub where art and sport intersect,” Hollis said.

LOOKING BEYOND THE LANDSCAPE

Completion of her mural fulfills an artistic passion for Bader that often plays second fiddle to teaching her third graders at Stoneman Elementary School in Pittsburg. She was turned on to the chance to let her artistic juices flow by her fiancé, who works for TaylorMade and had business at Skylinks and also played the course.

“(Hollis) is looking to make the place more lively and have a warmer feel to it,” she said. “I

dairy workers have contracted the disease from exposure to affected cows. Two experienced only eye symptoms that mimic conjunctivitis. At least one of the others presented with respiratory symptoms. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is closely monitoring the situation and believes the current risk to public health is low.

“In the short term, there is very little threat,” said Yale School of Medicine infectious disease professor Scott Roberts. “In the long term, in the coming years or decades, however, I’m much more concerned.

for a Sustainable Economy), Betty Gabaldon said the Ashbury will have a positive impact on the community.

“I work downtown and see several new market-rate developments boasting luxury living,” said the Concord resident. “The real negative impact on downtown is the lack of affordable housing, which has forced more and more of my Concord neighbors to become unhoused. Concord needs more affordable housing in its neighborhoods and downtown.”

The nonprofit EBASE works to advance economic, racial and social justice by building a just economy, based on good jobs and healthy communities.

“It is essential to the wellbeing of families who are currently stressed out and working multiple jobs to keep a roof over their heads,” Gabaldon said. “Affordable housing creates a more diverse and well-rounded community – where our teachers, grocery store workers, childcare providers and our seniors and those on fixed incomes can all afford to stay in our city.”

Griffin believes a home is considered “affordable” if the household pays about 30% of its income toward rent and utilities.

“Our region’s housing costs have outpaced local incomes for several years, and not enough new housing was developed in the past decade to meet current demand,” said Griffin. “The housing crisis is a complex problem. Building new, affordable housing is a critical component of the solution.”

got drawing and was able to reserve a spot to paint.”

Bader is channeling the street art of Oakland in her work at the golf course.

“I wanted to make it my own and respect the culture and appreciate the culture while incorporating my own artistic abilities,” she said. “I personally enjoy animals and landscapes.”

For inspiration, she imagined what the space would look like if there weren’t a golf course or city.

“It’s all from my mind,” she said of capturing the landscapes common throughout Contra Costa County.

“And, I wanted to add the

There has been a mortality rate of 50% in the almost 900 people around the world who have been infected with bird flu between 2003 and 2024.”

While this is disquieting, there is no need to panic.

Roberts believes there are an unknown number of cases of mildly or completely asymptomatic people who have not sought treatment, which would bring down that 50% death rate. He further noted that the percentage would lower significantly if and when an effective

Homeless,

importance of the relationship forged with CORE, as well as contributions from independent community groups such as GROW and Hope Solutions. Birsan noted that Concord experienced a 28% decrease in homelessness during the 2024 pointin-time-count.

“In the post-SCOTUS decision, we will continue to operate to expand our approaches building on successes and experiences so far, with our council adopting a grant program in August that will make approximately $5 million of one-time funding available to local non-profits and service agencies to implement the strategies within the city’s Homeless Strategic Plan – in short to enhance services to our unsheltered community and help transition individuals and families into temporary or permanent housing,” Birsan said.

He suspected that going forward the ruling may provide a little more power to the notice of movement when implemented in response to encampments.

Meanwhile, Concord Police are maintaining the status quo in regard to the homeless.

“Currently, we are reviewing the ruling and evaluating our overall approach to ensure we meet the needs of all members of our community,” said Lt. Renee Williams of the Bureau of Community Operations.

Likewise, county officials don’t foresee any big changes in their approach.

vaccine became available.

Another difficult component of this flu is that officials are now detecting it in new animal species. Aside from cattle, they have observed sporadic infections in certain wild mammals in North America beginning in 2022.

“It’s natural to wonder if it’s only a matter of time before this virus is able to spread among humans,” Roberts added.

Here are some ways to minimize the possibility of exposure

from page 1

to bird flu: Watch but don’t touch wild birds.

If a bird appears ill or is deceased, report it.

Consume only pasteurized milk products if you prefer them to plant-based milks. Cook poultry thoroughly. That is protective beyond bird flu.

Always maintain excellent hand hygiene. Please send comments and question to Nathalie Montijo at newwavenightingale@gmail.com.

Horn believed that localities that are already engaging in services to address housing insecurity will continue to do so. However, he worries that the court’s decision gives license to those who have decided not to address this issue to criminalize the behavior, instead of seeking incentives to solve the problem.

VARIED OPINIONSON RULING

John Paul Horn, assistant professor and graduate coordinator in the Department of Social Work at Cal State University East Bay, expressed “disappointment” with the ruling.

“I think it criminalizes a group of people who are experiencing some pretty substantial challenges to their wellbeing. Criminalizing the behavior of ‘sleeping outside,’ especially when the services are lacking or potentially coercive, is just a proxy for criminalizing a status,” Horn said.

In the Grants Pass case, Horn noted the only service provider required all those who received services to attend church, a practice which might be seen as coercive and indicative of seeing poverty or homelessness as an issue of moral failing.

Gov. Gavin Newsom seemed to applaud the decision, saying it removed the “legal ambiguities” that for years had tied the hands of local officials and limited what measure they could take to protect the safety and wellbeing of their communities.

Citing the challenging issue that homelessness represents for many cities, Horn said “Gov. Newsom is walking a delicate line of acknowledging that diversity of opinions on the homelessness crisis in California.”

“Contra Costa Health remains focused on evidencebased solutions to help end homelessness in Contra Costa County,” said spokesman Karl Fischer. “We don’t anticipate the ruling having any effect on our CORE outreach services or other programs that support county residents who are experiencing homelessness.”

heron because we are lucky to see them,” Bader noted, citing the presence of two that occasionally hang out on the grounds.

For Bader, the experience expanded the audience from the friends who have seen her work in acrylic and watercolor.

“It’s a cool opportunity to have my art in a permanent place,” Bader said.

FROM ‘BLAND’ TO ‘COOL’

The reception to the artistic contributions has been overwhelmingly positive, like that voiced by Pittsburg resident Lee Sulen who recently came out to hit a bucket.

“I think they are cool,” he said, noting it was an improvement from previous visits to the driving range when “it was bland.”

Sulen’s thoughts echoed other responses from patrons who lauded the beauty of the diverse array of subjects and images that artists have volunteered to design and paint on the gray bays.

Susan Noack, out to hit balls with her son Will, who was home from college, praised the efforts of those who contributed their time and talents to enrich the grounds.

“They are not a distraction,” she said.

“Choosing to penalize rather than offer services is going to create a migration of people experiencing housing insecurity from localities where it is criminalized to those where it is not,” said Horn.

“This will create a strain on the areas that have elected not to criminalize housing insecurity and behavior associated with it, which, in turn, could lead to more and more places eventually criminalizing the behavior as they become overburdened with a social problem that is not easy to solve,” he continued.

Horn noted the most pressing problem among the public is a lack of understanding about homelessness.

“Most people have a very limited depiction of who is homeless and why. There is an observable disproportionality of people experiencing homelessness and housing insecurity: people of color, LGBTQ+ people, people living with mental illness and those reentering from jail or prison are the most affected groups,” he said. “The causes for their homelessness can be very different from group to group, and this approach of criminalizing their experience invests no resources toward actually solving the problem.

“I see this (ruling) creating more problems in the long run than just the issue it tries to solve,” Horn added.

Hollis sees the murals as a platform for artists to showcase their work and for the community to enjoy a diverse range of artistic expressions.

“By featuring artwork from all these amazing Bay Area artists, we aim to highlight more of the rich cultural tapestry of our community,” he said. “We want our community to feel a sense of pride and belonging when they see the murals, knowing that they are part of a community that values and supports the arts while enjoying a fun driving range for them, their friends and families.”

NATHALIE MONTIJO NEW WAVE NIGHTINGALE

Obituaries

Giuseppe (Joseph) Messina

Joseph Messina, a longtime resident and restaurateur of Clayton, passed away peacefully at home on June 11.

He was a native of Palmi, Calabria, Italy, and first left to perform mandatory service as a nurse in the Italian Navy, stationed in Livorno, Taranto and Venezia.

After trying to find dairy work in Switzerland, he returned south to Palmi. His parents soon arranged for Peppino, not content to be a farmer, to meet his future wife, Domenica (Millie) Piccolo, and they married in 1959.

Millie, a naturalized U.S. citizen, sponsored her new husband to come to America. Together, they worked in her parents’ restaurants, Santina’s in San Mateo and Napoli Pizzeria in Vallejo.

When the Piccolos returned to Italy in 1963,

Joseph and Millie bought Napoli from them. The couple built a successful clientele, which included a multitude of lonely submariners based at nearby Mare Island. In 1969, the family, now with three daughters, returned

James R. Hoopes

Sept. 12, 1941 – June 18, 2024

Formerly of Concord

James R. Hoopes passed away on June 18. He was born on Sept. 12, 1941, in Altoona, Penn., to the late James W. and Audrey J. (Melcher) Hoopes.

Jim served with the U.S. Navy. He later moved to Delaware, spending 20 years there before heading out West to California. Jim worked for more than

30 years for Sears department stores, retiring in the 1990s. The former Concord resident moved to Arizona to be closer to his son Matt as his health began to fail.

He is survived by two children, Heather Hoopes and Matthew Hoopes; three grandchildren, Kaylee, Kyle and Kota; and three great grandchildren. Services were held June 29 in Altoona.

to Palmi in time to see the moon landing on TV. After a year, Joseph returned to the United States after the local Mafiosi threatened to kidnap his children.

Back in Vallejo, he engaged in building three houses before deciding to start another restaurant. Due to a non-compete agreement with the owners of Napoli, and with Melo’s Pizza, established by his brother-inlaw, Carmelo, in Pleasant Hill, Joe and Millie searched further afield and found a parcel on Kirker Pass Road. They petitioned the city of Clayton for a permit to build a small commercial center, initially anchored by a new pizzeria called Peppino’s.

The late hours of the Concord Pavilion were a big draw for Peppino’s, and they even delivered dinner to the stars in their dressing rooms. In 1985,

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Alzheimer’s Association.

they sold the restaurant to friends Giuseppe and Pina Prinzivalli and then completed construction of two more buildings in Pavilion Plaza. In “retirement,” Millie became a Realtor-broker and sold homes far and wide, lastly for Alain Pinel. Joseph was a lifelong soccer player and enthusiast and decided to coach a girls’ team in Clayton. They built their Italian-style villa on Peacock Creek Drive.

After Millie died in 2005, Joseph moved to his final home on Pebble Beach Drive.

He traveled to Mexico, Australia and Europe, and enjoyed escorting family from abroad around California. In 2019, he finally returned to his native Palmi, with his daughters, and witnessed the famous La Varia festival, which he had not seen since he was a boy. Now recognized by UNESCO, it draws people from around the world. As his health declined, he continued to follow the calendar of festivals from Palmi on YouTube.

And he continued to dabble in stock – but only in Tesla, then a local car company that he insisted on visiting in Fremont. In 2014, he bought the first Tesla in his neighborhood, in competition with a friend’s Maserati. Both cars were Italian red.

Peppino is survived by three daughters, two grandsons, and all his Piccolo sisters-in-law and brothers-inlaw, including Gaetano, also of Melo’s Pizza. He is also survived by his sister-in-law, Teresa, who, with Joseph’s late brother Rocco, owned Italia Pizzeria in Vallejo.

Ronnie Carroll Peterson

June 19, 1940 – May 28, 2024

Ronnie Carroll Peterson, 83, of Concord passed away May 28, 2024, after a long battle with dementia.

He was born on June 19, 1940, in Butterfield, Mo., and moved to California as a young boy, eventually graduating from Pacifica High School in West Pittsburg. Ronnie married his devoted wife, Linda Westbrook, on Dec. 29, 1962. Their marriage of 61½ years was a testament to their enduring love and commitment through thick and thin. Together, they raised three children: Monica, Shannon and Ronn. Ronnie was a proud Grampsie to Madeline and Mason Guasch and Caroline and James Cabral, who were the lights of his life. Each one was his favorite. His love for his grandchildren was evident to all who knew him – probably his most talkative moments – and he cherished every moment spent with them. He loved attending each game and performance.

He also shared a close friendship with his brother, James Peterson. Ronnie had a 42-year

Gerald ‘Jerry’ Cabral

Nov. 12, 1962 – June 21, 2024

It saddens our family to announce that Gerald “Jerry” Cabral, 61, of Rio Vista passed away peacefully on June 21, 2024. Jerry was surrounded by family and close friends for the entirety of his struggle with PSP to prolong his life and find joy.

He was born Nov. 12, 1962, at Alta Bates Hospital in Berkeley. Jerry’s reverence for family and close friends was a testament to his unwavering love of life. If you knew Jerry, then you knew how special he was. He was deeply kind, superiorly funny and as smart as they come.

He was a committed and fiercely protective husband to his beautiful wife, Dawn. Their deep love and friendship were obvious to all who witnessed them together. His bond with

his brothers was unbreakable, full of love and never-ending support. And his close friends were as dear to him as family. Jerry truly was one of a kind. Being raised in Concord by Jan and Kent Cabral alongside Kevin and James gave Jerry a deep loyalty to the Bay Area and all it has to offer. Jerry was a proud member and participant of this community. He attended Concord High School. Jerry was always socially aware and concerned with the struggles of his fellow man. This view led him to UC Santa Cruz, where he graduated with a degree in political science. Jerry was proud to be a Banana Slug, a Schmidthead and a die-hard liberal. Jerry was always current on the happenings of society and the world, and others often sought out his view.

For much of his career, Jerry worked in the printing industry – following in his father’s footsteps. Jerry later went on to work for Contra Costa County’s social services programs. He was also a proud volunteer of First Tee, Contra Costa.

Jerry’s legacy will continue to live in the hearts and thoughts of those fortunate enough to have known him.

His kindness, love, support and quick wit will forever be cherished and likely stay very much alive in his family and the close friends he adored.

He is survived by his devoted wife, Dawn Cabral; mother, Janice Cabral; brothers, Kevin (Shannon) Cabral and James (Lisa) Cabral; and many beloved nieces, nephews, aunts, cousins and in-laws. He was preceded in

career at Tosco Refinery (now Marathon Refinery), where he worked from age 16, when it was Phillips 66, and retired in 1998 as assistant fire chief. All his friends and colleagues in the industry respected his dedication and hard work.

An aficionado of nice cars, Ronnie spent many joyful hours driving Corvettes in his younger years, and Porsches in his later years. He also loved “tinkering” on cars and could fix almost anything with his skilled hands. He enjoyed dirt bike riding and hunting trips with his brother and friends, but he never actually brought anything home.

Ronnie’s legacy is one of a quiet spirit, stubborn strength, love and dedication to family, and an unyielding integrity. He was a heroic first responder who will be deeply missed by his family, friends and all who knew him.

Ronnie is survived by his wife, Linda; children, Monica (Michael) Guasch of Martinez; Shannon (Kevin) Cabral of Concord and Ronn of Concord; grandchildren, Madeline and Mason Guasch and Caroline and James Cabral; and brother, James Peterson. He was preceded in death by his parents, Josephine (Sanders) and Reid Peterson; and sister, Karen Beck.

Per his wishes, no services will be held. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Ronnie’s memory to Alzheimer’s research. Rest in peace, Ronnie, our dear Pops, Grampsie, husband and friend. Your memory will remain forever in our hearts, and you will never be forgotten.

death by his father Kent Cabral in 2019. In lieu of flowers, the family encourages donations to Cure PSP (www.psp.org) so more research can be done to cure this disease, or to St. Jude’s (www.stjude.org/promotion/impact-givingpm.html). The family plans a Celebration of Life 11 a.m.-3 p.m. July 26 at Lone Tree Golf Course, 4800 Golf Couse Road, Antioch. Hawaiian attire is welcome.

Rotary, from page 4

cars that the owners wanted to donate,” says Kemnitz.

She and her husband found that with some car donation nonprofits, proceeds went more to administration than giving back to the community. That’s what makes Rotary’s program different.

“We don’t have any administrative fees except for the CPA that does our taxes once a year,” Kemnitz says. “We’ve brought at least $1.2 million into Rotary since it started in 2014.”

The funds have helped programs like the HOME Team continue to do what it does best.

Kemnitz says HOME Team repairs include “replacing light bulbs, changing smoke alarm batteries, fixing leaky faucets,

repairing damaged or torn screens, fixing doors, resetting blown fuses, adjusting handles and drawer poles, that type of thing.” She says the program is so important to seniors because “they can’t do it on their own. A lot of seniors have limited income, so they need assistance and help with their repairs.

“A lot of the seniors don’t have family members that they can call,” she adds. “They’re pretty much out there on their own.”

Vital visits HOME Team members also spend some time chatting with the seniors, which helps fight off the loneliness that can be all too common in old age.

“They love the fact that somebody’s coming into their home that they can talk with and visit with. They like the company,” says Kemnitz. Joan Donofrio has been a member of Rotary for 10 years and was a HOME Team volunteer. But now well into her 80s, she has found herself relying on the HOME Team.

Donofrio agrees that sharing conversation is just as important as the repairs themselves. “They just wanted to talk,” she says of the people she helped. “So the men would go off and do the work and I had the easy part. I filled out paperwork and we talked and chatted about their lives, and that was really so wonderful.”

Talking with the seniors meant a lot to Donofrio as well.

“I was so happy to share my sto-

ries with them. You know, you can never talk enough about yourself.”

But for Donofrio, life has come full circle. She recently had the HOME Team come to her house to fix it up.

“They said they would send somebody to my house and asked what I needed to have done. I told them what I needed, and then they came over,” she reports of the process. However, it wasn’t the home repair that made Donofrio’s day. “You know what? All I wanted to do was talk with them, too. Life is lonely,” she admits. It’s an admission that should make a lot of us feel less alone.

For more information, call 888204-5573 or visit their website at www.rotaryhometeam.com.

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TAMARAAND R OBERT S TEINER Publishers

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Concord is cool in so many ways

KEVIN CABRAL CHAMBEROF COMMERCE

As temperatures soar this time of year, finding ways to stay cool becomes a top priority.

Whether you’re seeking a refreshing dip in the pool, a thrilling adventure or a relaxing indoor retreat, Concord offers a variety of options to beat the heat.

Even though I have lived in the same two square miles

for the majority of my life, the first week of July was a tough one. But it gave me the idea to share some of the “cool” businesses here in Concord.

For adrenaline seekers, Hurricane Harbor provides the ultimate cooling experience with water slides, a lazy river and water-based activities. Families can enjoy a day of excitement and relaxation amidst the summer heat.

To escape the heat indoors, visit Veranda’s Luxe Cinema or Brenden Theatres in downtown Concord. Catching the latest blockbuster while enjoying a Slurpee, adult beverage or refreshing treat offers a cool experience away from the outdoor heat.

Of course, nothing beats the heat like ice cream. Stop by Cream in downtown for a delicious, handcrafted ice cream sandwich to cool down on a hot day. Or hit up one of the many fine creameries all

over Concord. Adults can quench their thirst at local breweries. A cold beer from award-winning breweries like Epidemic Ales and Side Gate Brewery hits the spot. Enjoy a refreshing brew in a family-friendly atmosphere to unwind and cool off.

Families can head to Clayton Valley Bowl or Drive Simulations, allowing you to compete and hone your skills in air-conditioned environments. These and many others are perfect for escaping the heat while enjoying quality time with loved ones.

With more than 25 parks, Concord provides ample opportunities to enjoy nature in the shade. Head to Hillcrest Park for a game of disc golf or a relaxing BBQ under the trees, making the most of the shaded areas to stay cool outdoors.

Whether you prefer

splashing in pools, taking part in thrilling adventures, indulging in sweet treats or relaxing indoors, Concord offers a diverse range of activities to beat the heat. Embrace these local hotspots to stay cool and make the most of summer in Concord. Don’t let the summer sizzle stop you from having fun. Discover what Concord has to offer today.

And when you are shopping and eating out, be kind to the people serving you and spend your money in a Concord ZIP code when you can. Businesses and organizations interested in learning more about the Concord Chamber of Commerce can visit the chamber’s website at www.concordchamber.com.

Contact the chamber in person at 2280 Diamond Blvd. Suite 200, Concord, or call 925-685-1181.

It’s snake season clear into October

Like us, snakes came out to bask in the sunshine this spring. But don’t forget: snake season lasts as long as it is warm … that means into October.

The Mt. Diablo region is home to several beautiful snakes, all of which are important to our ecosystem – including the rattlesnake. Others include whip snakes, gopher snakes, king snakes and garter snakes. Some even eat other snakes.

People can mistake a gopher snake for a rattlesnake since both have a diamond pattern and both tend to be brownish, with some variations in color within each species. The gopher snake is much more slender with a narrow head, whereas the rattlesnake tends to be somewhat stout for its length and has a fat, diamond-shaped head as well as a rattle at the tail end (surprise!).

To add to the confusion, gopher snakes sometimes shake their tails to appear more ominous if they feel threatened.

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The Northern-Pacific rattlesnake is the only venomous species in our region. If you are out with your dog, it is important to keep an eye out for rattlers and, ideally, help your dog avoid these snakes. Tips include using a shorter leash, avoiding tall grasses (this helps keep ticks away as well) and paying close attention to where your pups are placing feet and noses. Another consideration is avoidance training, so dogs learn to be repelled by the snake rather than drawn to it out of curiosity or prey drive.

When you live in an area that rattlesnakes call home, make sure you have fencing that doesn’t allow a snake to enter your yard, if possible. Smaller mesh fencing can help fill in holes at the bottom of wood fences that don’t touch the ground to keep your pets (and the snakes) out of harm’s way. Keeping snakes out is

great, but not always possible. Maintaining a tidy and trimmed yard, especially where dogs, cats and humans might be walking, is helpful since snakes often hide under plants and bushes when it gets a little warm for them in direct sun. Cleaning areas around bird feeders is also important so as not to attract snake snacks, like rodents.

Watch where you step if it is dark out as snakes may settle in at dusk on warm pavement near homes.

If your pet does get bitten by a rattlesnake or even if you think it might have been, immediate veterinary care is important. Rattlesnake bites cause severe pain, swelling, bruising and necrosis (dying off of skin in the area of the bite). The systemic effects can be serious, hitting multiple organs including the kidneys, liver, nervous system and heart. If the animal is bitten near its face or neck, the swelling can cause difficulty breathing.

Though rattlesnake bites can be fatal, with good and timely veterinary care, death from snake bites is rare. Sometimes there is enough local damage to require ongoing care, including surgery to close larger wounds.

The vet will assess the severity of damage and systemic effects of the venom. Occasionally a bite can be minor, such as if it goes through the lip and very little venom is injected into your pet. Other times, and seemingly more often with younger rattlers, the snake injects a large amount of venom with the bite – causing more extensive local and systemic damage.

Typically, the vet will perform lab work to evaluate the severity of systemic signs, including a complete blood count with cytology to look at red blood cell appearance. Affected red cells (echinocytes) look spiny like a sea urchin due to the venom’s effect on the red blood cell surface. Sometimes this is how veterinarians can be sure the patient has a snake bite vs. other trauma if a no one witnessed a snake bite. Chemistry analysis can assess kidney and liver function, which can often be affected, as well as a check of blood clotting times, heart injury markers, blood pressure, etc.

Generally, vets treat pets with IV fluids to help with clinical signs of systemic

Clayton Worsdell

Although rattlesnake bites can be fatal, with good and timely veterinary care, death from snake bites is rare.

shock and low blood pressure, as well as to help flush toxins from the body. Pain medications are extremely important, as rattlesnake bites tend to be very painful. Vets sometimes give antibiotics or antihistamines to prevent secondary infections and allergic reactions. Therapeutic laser can help lessen severity of the wound, ease local pain and enhance healing.

Antivenin is a product made from horse serum that helps neutralize rattlesnake venom in the body. Vets can administer it intravenously to try to lessen the symptoms and help get the pet out of crisis more quickly.

Antivenin can be pricey, but vets generally believe it helps if given in the first four hours after the bite.

Antivenin can sometimes cause allergic reactions during administration or occa-

sionally later in a form called serum sickness. Most of the time, allergic reactions are self-limiting and improve with briefly stopping administration and restarting more slowly. A rattlesnake vaccine is available, though data has not been clear on its benefits and risks. Therefore, veterinarians’ opinions can differ on its use. If one chooses to use the vaccine for a pet, many vets recommend an annual booster in areas where rattlesnake bites are common.

Micki McCabe, DVM, DACVIM, FAAVA, is a longtime Clayton resident. The recently retired local veterinarian has an interest in internal and integrative medicine. Email questions and comments to drmccabevet@gmail.com

MICKI MCCABE BEING PET SMART

From the desk of...

Never forget: Art and history will outlast us

Art and history will never rise to even the top 10 of a city’s budget items. Yet, 200 or 1,000 years from now, that is what people will recall of us.

The painting on the chapel in Rome, the Last Supper in Milan or the statues of the Qin Dynasty will speak to the future people of who and what we were.

In Concord, we recently created a series of murals in the downtown area. Spreading out from there, artists painted utility boxes in the city. I can imagine a distant future where a museum has a box cover as a display, with the folks appreciating the artwork and wondering what all those wires inside were about.

One of Concord’s more interesting art displays is much older. A free cup of coffee with a Danish as my guest awaits the first person to identify the location of the cement wall relief of an outdoor scene shown in the accompanying photo.

As mayor, I instituted the Mayor’s Art Gallery outside the mayor’s office that displays both general items from adult residents as well as student efforts from each of the categories of elementary, middle and high school. There are two time periods, with the first ending April 30 and the next one starting in September with a probable date of Oct. 30.

We can combine history with art, as in our statue of Don Salvio Pacheco that has a plaque describing the founder of the city. I can imagine someone from another planet trying to figure out what it says 1,000 years from now.

I also piloted a “Historic Minute” at City Council to remind people of what went on before now and help tie us together with those who built the foundation of our community. I have advocated that we provide 10 historic markers with the story of various areas

and people. Who was Black Bart, or where was the electric rail station, or the airfield in the middle of the current city that inspired the city ordinance in the 1930s prohibiting people from parking their planes in their backyards?

Even if art and history will not make it to the top 10 expenses, we need to always

support them in some way so that we remain more than just a set of houses and roadways with names of mysterious origins. Let art and history be thought of as our memo to the future on who and what we are. Claim your prize at EdiBirsan@gmail.com.

Still time to enjoy Clayton’s Concerts in The Grove

Our 17th annual Concerts in The Grove season is off to a great start.

The entertainment has been excellent, and the attendance has also been very good.

The season opened with Leo Vigil and the Rockin’

After two years, Pleasant Hill Library has become a community hub

This month we are celebrating two years with our new Pleasant Hill Library, a building which I feel is the jewel of the city.

Our library has long been a gathering space for members of our community, but with the opening of the new structure in 2022, it has reached new heights both in what it provides to the city and its engagement with our residents.

The road to getting this new library was a long one. After 60 years, the former library site had reached the end of its useful life and was in need of numerous repairs and upgrades. Rather than continue to invest in the failing building, the city decided to look at the possibility of creating something new. In 2014, the city formed a Library Task Force to explore what elements would be needed to create a library that would meet the evolving needs of the Pleasant Hill community.

The task force toured other libraries throughout the area, gathering information and looking at what could be incorporated into the new

As we emerge from the recent heat wave and still have two more months of summer, now is a great time to ensure that your home is fire safe. A fire can ignite quickly when temperatures rise, and vegetation and brush dry out. Let’s start with the inside of your home. First, check your smoke alarms to ensure they are working properly. It’s advised to have smoke alarms in every sleeping room and outside each separate sleeping area. Every level of your home should have at least one smoke alarm. If you need smoke alarms,

design. At the same time, the City Council moved forward with seeking a half-cent sales tax to fund the new building. Voters approved the tax in 2016.

The new site would be on five acres of land donated by Contra Costa County, on Monticello Avenue.

The planning process for the library welcomed participation from many residents through scoping sessions, Town Hall meetings and more. Finally, in 2020, construction on the new facility began, and thousands attended the Grand Opening on July 30, 2022. It was an

amazing day filled with music, food, projects and tours of the new facility.

Since that time, the Pleasant Hill Library has not only met all expectations, it has exceeded them – becoming the premier library in Contra Costa County. According to the library’s annual report, in 2023, the library welcomed 271,520 visitors, and issued 6,448 new library cards. There were 359,270 items checked out of the library, 28% more than the next busiest branch and double the average library in our county. And this number doesn’t even include the 138,000 e-books checked out during that time.

The library has also become a hub of creativity and imagination through its programs and areas like the Maker Space. More than 50,000 people attended 548 events at the library in 2023. Events ranged from reptile shows to author visits and the annual Tinkers and Thinkers Day.

Residents were able to experience new things like learning to crochet, creating 3D models or finding out about animals at the 4-H

Farmfest.

Senior community library manager Patrick Remer continues to be one of the most popular storytellers in the area, in addition to bringing a high level of creativity, joy and fun to all of the programs at the library. We are lucky to have him and his hard-working staff to bring all of these programs to life.

The building itself is a thing of beauty: bright, open and airy with plenty of space for people to relax and enjoy their latest literary find. It bears little resemblance to libraries of old, choosing instead to invoke a sense of community, fun and play. It is inviting, while also offering something for everyone –from children to seniors.

If you haven’t had an opportunity to check out the Pleasant Hill Library, I can’t recommend it strongly enough. It took a great deal of city and community effort to get this amazing facility built. Having spent time there myself, I can tell you it was well worth the wait.

Contact Matt Rinn at Mrinn@plesanthillca.org.

Take action to comply

with fire safety guidelines

you may qualify for the Smoke Alarm Assistance Program through the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District (ConFire). The program provides free installation of a smoke alarm for senior citizens over 60 or disabled citizens of any age who own their own home. ConFire will provide a minimum of one to a maximum of three complimentary smoke alarms per household. You can find more information at www.cccfpd.org/publiceducation.

Second, prepare the exterior area around your home or property through creating defensible space and weed abatement. Defensible space involves clearing or reducing all vegetation, debris and other flammable materials that may slow the spread of fire. Beyond your home or struc-

tures, you should mow weeds and flammable vegetation and remove them from the entire property. Weeds, including all sagebrush, dry grass and brush, should have a maximum height of 3 inches.

For small neighborhoods or communities working to address weed abatement together, ConFire encourages neighbors to utilize resources from the Firewise USA Program. This provides a structured approach to help neighbors in a specific area organize, get guidance, and take action to enhance the fire resistance of their homes and community.

Third, report fire hazards. The weed abatement deadline for the county has passed, and the hope is that all property owners are aware of the fire prevention ordinances. But if you notice that a property is a

fire hazard, you can submit a complaint to ConFire at www.cccfpd.org/exterior-hazard-complaint. ConFire investigates all exterior fire hazard complaints throughout all the cities in District 4 (Concord, Pleasant Hill, Clayton and Walnut Creek) and the unincorporated areas.

As a lifelong advocate for public safety, I encourage everyone to prepare their properties and communities by following these tips for fire season to protect their loved ones and the community. For more information about the fire code, the complaint process or community programs, visit www.cccfpd.org.

Ken Carlson is Contra Costa County District IV supervisor. Email questions or comments to SupervisorCarlson@bos.cccounty.us or call his office at 925-655-2350.

Horns, then R.W. Smith and the California Cowboys, and Mixed Nuts on June 22.

The performance scheduled for July 6 featuring Strange Brew was canceled due to the extreme heat. It has not been determined if we will reschedule the show at the end of the season, or possibly schedule it for next year. We will keep you posted.

Be sure to join us at The Grove park for one of the remaining four concerts at 6 p.m. July 20, and Aug. 3, 17 and 31. The band schedule is available on the city website at claytonca.gov.

To continue celebrating Clayton’s 60th anniversary, the community enjoyed a wonderful July 4th that started with the Clayton Valley Rotary Pancake Breakfast at Endeavor Hall. Then, everyone was entertained by the annual July 4th Parade, with Ed Moresi as grand marshal. All in attendance had a great time celebrating Clayton’s 60th anniversary and Independence Day. We did not have a council meeting on June 18, but the City Council continues to interview candidates for city manager. We will keep you posted on our progress. Again, as your mayor, I will continue to work hard to maintain Clayton’s small-town charm and character while running an open and transparent local government. You can reach out to me directly with any questions or concerns at 925-673-7316 or JimD@claytonca.gov. I look forward to working with you. And remember to keep hydrated and find a cool place.

Improving healthcare for Californians

TIM GRAYSON 15TH ASSEMBLY DISTRICT

Since my election to the Assembly, I’ve fought for policies that will help ease the financial strain on hardworking California families.

From ending perpetual cycles of debt created by predatory loans to protecting families from unjust evictions and unconscionable rent increases, I have looked at how we can help individuals who are struggling to afford to live in the only communities they’ve ever called home.

No one should have to make a choice between paying bills and receiving the healthcare that they need to live a happy, healthy life. Tragically, we know that people are being forced to face this choice every day. Unfortunately, healthcare costs continue to rise while access to healthcare providers gets harder.

In Sacramento, I have worked to help pass measures to improve healthcare access and affordability across the state. Last year, I supported policies to improve health outcomes for all Californians. I helped pass important measures to lower copays and

deductibles on Covered California plans (SB 101), keep hospitals at risk of closure open with cashflow loans (AB 112) and increase Medi-Cal provider rates (AB 118). Approximately 35% of the state’s population is enrolled in Medi-Cal, the state’s insurance program for low-income individuals. For many years, low reimbursement rates for providers have limited how many of these patients can be seen while still breaking even on costs. By supporting policies that increase Medi-Cal reimbursement rates, we can improve patient access to healthcare.

I was also proud to support California becoming the first state to expand healthcare access to all residents regardless of immigration status. This is expected to help 700,000 people obtain healthcare, including critically important preventative care, which helps to remove strain from our hospitals.

Of course, there is no healthcare without the dedicated individuals who work in the industry. Last year, I supported raising the minimum wage for healthcare workers. In order to achieve quality patient care, we need a workforce that is paid well and treated fairly. We also need to address our healthcare workforce shortages, which is why I’ve supported legislation to help increase access in underserved communities.

I have also authored and co-authored measures that

See Grayson page 9

JIM DIAZ CLAYTON MAYOR

EDI BIRSAN CONCORD MAYOR

MATT RINN PLEASANT HILL MAYOR

KEN CARLSON COUNTY SUPERVISOR

If you are the first to name the Concord location of this cement wall relief, Mayor Edi Birsan will buy you a coffee and a Danish.

CVCHS removes interim tag from Executive Director Bill Morones

JAY

Bill Morones has had a diverse career in education but if he were charting a course for his future when he was Ygnacio Valley High School principal from 2010 to 2012, serving as executive director of Clayton Valley Charter would have been at the very bottom of his expectations.

In those years Morones was a vocal opponent of the effort by Clayton Valley High teachers to have the Concord school leave the Mt. Diablo Unified School District and become a charter school. Morones was among many opposing the conversion who said it would cost his school and others funding which would be taken from the district coffers if the charter was approved.

The charter conversion drive was successful, and Clayton Valley Charter began as a charter high school at the start of the 2012-13 school year. At the same time, Morones moved into the MDUSD administrative office as director of secondary education (middle, alternative and high schools). Among his duties, superintendent Nellie Meyer assigned him to be the district liaison with the new charter since MDUSD owned the school property and facilities.

That assignment meant Morones and CVCHS founding executive director Dave Linzey met informally, usually at a Starbucks, on a regular basis. Over that time Morones saw the charter school go through a tumultuous period with many of the conversion leaders, both teachers and new administrators, leaving the school after clashing with Linzey’s management.

Morones came to appreciate how CVCHS was operating as a school with an expanding student body that required the school to hold a lottery every year to manage the applications which outstrip the school’s classroom capacity.

This year’s incoming student body will number about 2350, which has been a stable figure for several years with waitlists for all four classes. Morones took an administra-

When teachers were leading the effort to convert Clayton Valley High to a charter school in 2011-12, Ygnacio Valley High principal Bill Morones was among the more vocal opponents, fearing it would cost his school and others in the MDUSD funding. Fast forward to this June and Morones was recently approved as the executive director of Clayton Valley Charter after serving in the role in an interim capacity since last fall.

tive position at Clayton Valley Charter for the 2017-18 school year and is starting his eighth school term there next month. That means Morones served under all his executive director predecessors: Linzey (2012-18), Bob Hampton (interim summer 2018), Jim Scheible (2018-2021) and Dave Fehte (2021-2023).

Fehte took over for Scheible on an interim basis in March 2021 as the school was coming out of the COVID-19 period of remote and hybrid learning. His interim tag was removed a year later. When principal Jeff Anderson left early in the 202122 school year Fehte’s ED position was combined with the principal’s job, as it still is today.

Fehte departed CVCHS last fall and relocated to Southern California and the governing board appointed Morones to the position on an interim basis. At its recent June meeting the board approved a two-year contract for Morones to serve as executive director. His salary is $240,000.

NOW ITISHIS ‘DREAMJOB’

Morones calls this his “dream job.” He says, “I love my job, the students, staff and school community.”

His teaching career included schools in Hayward, Fremont and Danville, where he still lives today and draws stares at the gym and around town wearing his CVCHS gear.

While teaching in the San Ramon Valley Unified School

from page 8

District he got his administrative credential and was an administrator there and in Gustine, Antioch, Elk Grove and Newark, where he won a principal of the year award in 2008.

He also found time to coach football at Saint Mary’s College before the program was abandoned after the 2003 season. His love of sports is matched by the Concord school’s large athletic and PE departments. Last summer CVCHS finally added a weight training building adjacent to the football, soccer and lacrosse field after using a group of classrooms for many years. Because of the disruption in education during the pandemic all charter school accreditations were extended three years. CVCHS was approved by a single vote of the County Board of Education in January 2020 for its second five-year renewal after its initial approval to leave the Mt. Diablo Unified School District to operate as a public charter school in the summer of 2012 and initial five-year renewal in 2014.

The CVCHS charter renewal was originally due to be reviewed during this 202425 school year, but the COVID extension means it will run through June 2028. Morones says, “I’m laser focused on preparing for the renewal process which will be no later than the fall of 2027.” By then the school will also go through a WASC review.

Photo courtesy CVCHS

BEDECARRÉ The Pioneer

Don’t rush to the garden hose just because it’s hot out

Hot weather puts many garden lovers into panic mode. They instantly arm themselves with the garden hose and prepare to water their beloved roses, perennials, vegetables and lawns. Depending on the heat, they may perform this watering ritual mistakenly twice or three times a day.

Some garden lovers don’t realize that over-watering roses, perennials and flowers during

the hottest part of the day is far more harmful to your plants than some dry, or wilted leaves. I always tell garden lovers who inquire about watering that I water each plant thoroughly once in the morning. My philosophy is that just because the leaves look dry and the flowers tired, the plant doesn’t always need another drink. I place a moisture meter into the soil and check to see if the soil is actually dry. Often, it’s not. In that case, you should not re-water. I then explain to the customer that they too would look dry and wilted if they were standing in the hot sun all day.

Watering should be done as early as possible. This way your plants have enough stored up energy to face the day. Water deeply, from the bottom of each plant. Avoid the urge to mist your plants’ foliage. Water on the leaves becomes reflective

and encourages leaf burn.

Adding a thick layer of mulch or soil conditioner throughout your landscape beds and borders helps reduce evaporation from the soil, keeping plants cooler during the heat. When applying, keep the mulch from piling up at the base of the plants.

Look for a product with ground mulch combined with a touch of chicken manure. Mas-

importance to you, the prince and the director, I want to ask: Are you important, too?

important to them. But I am and I can prove it.

You see, I received an email inviting me to participate in liberating some money locked up in Ukraine. Can you believe it, they chose me to help? How could I refuse when she asked

But before I prove my

nicely? Besides, I am going to be rich.

This is what she said:

“Hello Beloved, I know it will be a great surprise reading from me today but consider this as a divine intervention, okay.”

See I told you I was important. In fact, I’m divine.

After that opener, I began to laugh because I knew what was coming next. And, my friends, it came in abundance.

She continued: “I am presently writing you from Ukraine because of the ongoing Crisis between Ukraine and Russia. I want to entrust my money $15.5 million US dollars to your care for safety …”

Not only am I important and divine, I am trustworthy, too.

This scam is a twist on the Nigerian prince con. One of the oldest fraud schemes in his-

ter Nursery and EB Stone have such products, so finding those ingredients is easy. Master Nursery calls it product Gold Rush, and EB Stone has Bumper Crop and Soil Booster. Extreme heat and sun are a true test to how hardy and sunloving some of your plants are. If your plants exhibit leaf damage to the point that their leaves are crunchy, you need to remove the damaged leaves. In

some extreme cases, you will have to cut the plant back some.

After any type of pruning, give your plants a dose of water-soluble fish emulsion. It’s mild and will help your plants slowly regrow.

Lawns also need some extra care during the summer. Keep your lawns tall to shade the roots, protecting them from drying out.

If you haven’t had your lawn aerated in years, now would be the time. Aeration allows the water to penetrate deeper into the soil, rather than running off. Once aerated, spread a thin layer of compost or a soil conditioner on the lawn area. This adds nutrients naturally.

Resist fertilizing, because it will make your lawn grow fast. Expending that energy will increase your lawn’s need for

tory, it even predates the Internet. According to NordVPN, “The Nigerian prince scam is a phishing (email) attack when swindlers reach out to potential victims and promise a large sum of money in return for some help. Victims are usually asked to make an advance payment or share their personal details to get their reward. The Nigerian prince scam is also known as advance fee fraud or 419 fraud,

referring to the Nigerian Criminal Code section dealing with swindling.”

In a nutshell, a supposedly wealthy individual poses as a businessperson in trouble. They need your help because they have temporarily lost access to their money. They may give you a great backstory, appealing to your kindness.

Next comes the drop: If you send them just a token of your gratitude, they will share their wealth with you. Wow, how lucky can a guy get?

After they get your money, usually Bitcoin or some other untraceable currency, they are gone. Vanished. They want you to believe them. Lines like “Give me your word that you will not betray my trust …” are designed to delay your response time until you can no longer communicate with them.

more water. Water your lawn in the early morning at intervals of 4-5 minute cycles, and repeat three times. This way, your grass can absorb the water that it’s given.

Vegetable plants will often wilt at the end of a hot day, especially the large leaf cucumber and squash. Just because the leaves wilt doesn’t mean they need to be irrigated. Even during the hottest days, I’ll still skip 1-2 days between waterings. At this point, my plants are very established and the roots have spread. Overwatering vegetable plants can be the start of viruses. Use a moisture meter to make sure you water when it’s needed at the root.

No one can prevent you from falling for this sob story. If you engage with someone like this, no one can help you. The three-letter institutions we have to protect us, like the FBI, simply can’t save you. And the bank from which you took the money? Tough luck, no help there either.

So, think about it: How important do you feel?

Now go do the right thing and delete unsolicited emails.

If you have doubts about an email you receive, pop-up messages saying you need to buy McAfee antivirus or website information that you don’t recognize, just ask us before you click. It’s free at 925-672-9989.

William Claney is an independent tech writer and former owner of Computers USA in the Clayton Station. Email questions or comments to willclaney@gmail.com.

NICOLE HACKETT GARDEN GIRL

Overwatering your roses can lead to a host of issues from root rot to fungal infections.

WILL CLANEY TECH TALK

Local women honored for overcoming life obstacles

Soroptimist International of 24-680 Walnut Creek recently awarded Benedicta (last name withheld by request) and Lesieli Pom the Live Your Dream award and Carolyn Jackson the Toni Pera Woman of Achievement award.

The Live Your Dream award supports women who are the primary financial providers for their families. Benedicta, a married mother of two, balances full-time work and study while supporting her family. The award will help cover her school expenses at Contra Costa Medical Career College, where she is pursuing a medical assistant and phlebotomy certificate with the goal of becoming a registered nurse.

Pomale, a single mother of three with another child on the way, has faced domestic violence and divorce. She is studying child development at Los Medanos College and plans to start a bachelor’s degree in social work at U Mass Global University in January 2025. Her goal is to become a clinical social worker.

The Toni Pera Woman of Achievement award, named in honor of a founding club member, assists women who have faced economic and social barriers. Jackson, a single mother whose older son was murdered in 2021, is attending Diablo Valley College with plans to transfer to a four-year college for a bachelor’s degree in counseling. The award will help her pay for tutoring for her child and start an emergency savings plan.

Founded in 1921 in Oakland, Soroptimist International is a global volunteer movement dedicated to empowering women and girls through education. The 24680 Walnut Creek chapter annually funds these grants to help improve lives. For more information, visit www.soroptimist24-680.org or email siof24.680@gmail.com. Please consider donating to support their programs.

Seed oils are a good source of

Remember, fat isn’t a dirty word. Fats aid in cell growth, nutrient absorption and contribute to the feeling of fullness that signals your body to stop eating. Last year, there was a good article on the Cleveland Clinic website under the title “Seed oils: Are they actually toxic?” It identifies seed oils that are commonly used, and over-used, in restaurants: Canola oil (also known as rapeseed oil). Corn oil. Cottonseed oil. Grapeseed oil. Soybean oil. Sunflower oil. Safflower oil. Rice bran oil. Peanut oil. Typically, these oils are well processed and have a long shelf life. Because they are inexpensive, cooks often use them for deep-frying French fries in burger joints and for just about anything you order at the county fair. They lead to chronic inflammation of tissues in the body as they’re digested. Most seed oils are refined, which can mean bleaching and deodorizing.

In India, where almost all

dishes are fried in oil, there are scientists who believe the country has high rates of diabetes and heart disease because of the overuse of seed oils.

It’s OK to use the bad oils in moderation in home cooking, where you’re controlling the amount used. But even better choices are avocado oil and extra-virgin olive oil. I use avocado oil in sauteing and baking. I lean toward organic, extra-virgin olive oil for dressing salads. “Virgin” means the olive oil is unprocessed.

Remember that you the public have influence in making educated food choices. It’s consumer power. If you insist on healthy seed oils on restaurant menus or in grocery aisles, those businesses will sit up and take notice.

Use good oils in the granola recipe below.

HOMEMADE GRANOLA

2 c. organic rolled oats (quick, thick or gluten-free)

1½ c. raw nuts (almonds, pecans, cashews, walnuts, hazelnuts, pistachios)

1 c. pumpkin seeds or sunflower seeds (a combo of both is nice)

½ tsp. cinnamon

½ tsp. cardamom or nutmeg

½ tsp. salt

½ c. unrefined or virgin oil like coconut, avocado or olive oil

½ c. maple syrup

1 tsp. vanilla

Optional:

¼-½ c. mix of seeds (chia seeds, hemp seeds, flax seeds, sesame seeds, poppy seeds)

1 c. flaked, unsweetened coconut (use big flakes, not grated)

1 T. orange zest

1 c. dried fruit (cherries, craisins, figs, chopped mango, currants, chopped apricots, raisins)

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Line rimmed baking sheets with parchment paper. Combine dry ingredients (except dried fruit) in a big bowl. Pour in oil, maple syrup and vanilla. Add orange zest if desired.

If the mixture seems dry, add just enough oil and maple syrup (in equal portions) to lightly coat all ingredients. Spread out on one or two baking sheets and bake 10 minutes on middle or lower oven rack. Stir the granola and flatten out gently with the back of a spatula and rotate the pan. Bake 10-15 more minutes or until golden and fragrant. All ovens are different, so check often to avoid scorching.

Let cool completely on the counter before breaking it apart, to ensure good “clusters.” After it has completely cooled, break the granola apart and add dried fruit if desired.

Store in airtight container or jar. This granola will last a couple of months.

Cindy Gershen is a culinary teacher and the chef-owner for 40 years of Sunrise Bistro and Catering in Walnut Creek. Send your questions and comments to cindymgershen@gmail.com.

CINDY GERSHEN FARM TO TASTE

Contributed photo

Field Day showcases the power of Ham radio’s reach

Amateur radio, aka Ham radio, is as personal as it is communal, and both were on display as part of the annual Field Day hosted by the Mt. Diablo Amateur Radio Club (MDARC) June 22 and 23 at Olympic High School.

The setup resembled a tailgate party or weekend campout in Yosemite. Diehards and their spouses came with their RVs and trailers, camping tables and chairs, additional tents to provide cover and, of course, food and drink to combat sunny conditions approaching 100 degrees that would test even the heartiest amateur radio enthusiasts as they set up gear in the parking lot along Salvio Street.

MDARC president Larry Bradley described Ham radio as appealing to a diverse group of people from many different backgrounds and experiences.

“We have the tinkerers, those that like to serve in public service and those that participate in contests that expand the globe in making radio contacts with fellow Hams,” he said.

RADIOKEY TO FAMILYHISTORY

Martinez resident Pete Harris, 78, recalls being fascinated by how voices managed to come through a wooden radio box in the days before TV. But beyond those boyhood memories of listening to Howdy Doody, the Lone Ranger and Big John and Sparky, his appreciation for the power of radio was cultivated in how it impacted the lives of his Jewish parents during World War II.

“My parents escaped from Croatia (Yugoslavia) suddenly one night as the Nazis took over the country,” he said. “They escaped into Northern Italy on a German-controlled

Amateur Extra, expand on those permissions and knowledge of electronics, antennas, safety and propagation.

Half of all licensed Hams in the United States find that the Technician level is so much fun and meets their communication needs that they stay at that level.

Field Day saw four new Technicians, including one youth, one new General and two new Amateur Extra Hams, according to event chair Larry Loomer.

Barb Whysong. “Being active with the club has helped me expand my social network after retirement, and I’ve become interested in some of the scientific aspects of Ham radio, particularly propagation of signals and solar activity,” she said. “I don’t have a math or electronics background, but I still enjoy the hobby.”

INCORPORATING MORSE CODE

train with false Catholic baptism records provided by my dad’s good friend.”

Short-wave radio was the one resource – albeit illegal –that citizens used to track Nazi movements and learn where the front lines were. After finally reaching Southern Italy during a three-year odyssey from 1941-1944, his parents were able to come to America after the war ended and start a new life.

Today, Harris shares his love of Ham radio with his four grandkids, ages 9 to 19, when he visits them in San Antonio. He sets up his portal antenna that allows them to communicate with folks thousands of miles away, including those living in Brazil.

HONING THEIRSKILLS Harris convened with dozens of other MDARC members for the Concord event that showcases how attendees keep up skills in case of an emergency, compete for points with other organizations around North America to see which can achieve the most contacts over the two days, and lastly, have fun with their fellow amateur radio operators.

Mike Warren of Pittsburg, who has been licensed since

1978, noted an interest in his youth with electronics and science and taking things apart to know “how things work” as leading to involvement in amateur radio.

Ham radio is the most powerful communications service available to private citizens anywhere on – and above – Earth. Licensed operators can use the radio airwaves at no cost, other than the price of their equipment and license.

As part of the event, individuals who had taken classes through the local club could test for their licenses. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) grants a license after the operator passes a test demonstrating knowledge of Ham radio operating rules and procedures, electronics, signal propagation (atmospheric effects on radio signals), safety and equipment.

“It’s a license to learn,” said Bradley, citing the virtue of “keeping us old guys active and stimulated.”

THREE LEVELS OF ACHIEVEMENT

There are three license levels. The first level, Technician, gives the operator many permissions on the airwaves. The next two levels, General and

The Mt. Diablo club holds classes and testing throughout the year, and there is no age requirement for obtaining a license. The interest in Ham radio has extended to Scouting, offering merit badges for studying for a license or learning some of the skills needed to operate as a Ham, along with programs in area schools.

MDARC has many other activities during the year, including hosting a three-day Western Regional convention in San Ramon in October. Members also lend their time and skills as volunteers providing safety and communication services at public service events such as running and biking races, reports treasurer

Along with exposing the public to the latest Ham technology, Field Day also reminded the community of its origins through Morse Code, or Continuous Wave (CW), with finger- and foot-operated devices on hand to try.

Until 2007, understanding of Morse Code was integral to the first stage of licensure.

While seemingly archaic in today’s high-tech world, “people-intensive” Morse Code has enjoyed a resurgence, according to Roland Williams of Martinez. The longtime proponent is affiliated with Long Island CW Club that teaches Morse Code.

Each successfully matched contact using CW/Morse Code earned two points. Those achieved using digital or FT8, in which a computer does the decoding, garnered two points. Voice, or signal sideband, gave a Ham operator one point per contact.

MDARC member Trevor Raty, who helped develop and run the contest/radio operations side, said they achieved 493 total contacts – broken down as 182 with CW/Morse Code, 62 digital/FT8 and 249 voice. Raty didn’t expect a high placement nationally, as “band conditions were pretty poor, and we ran into some technical issues.”

Despite the challenges, Raty still regarded the two-day outing as a positive and productive experience.

It was one of the three modes MDARC members used during the weekend event as they competed against other clubs across the country, said Dick Wade, the club’s outreach coordinator.

“Field Day isn’t just about the contest; it’s about getting out and trying to operate in conditions you’re not used to, and to demonstrate what is possible,” said Raty, a license holder since 2002 and currently an Extra class. “I personally learned some new troubleshooting tips and Morse Code setups.

“Everyone learns something from these events,” he added, “from operators on how to work the radio in unfamiliar conditions, new Hams wanting to work HF (high frequency) and the public leaning what we do.”

Loomer hopes the public saw that Ham radio isn’t just about talking to other people around the world.

“We need to emphasize that we train for providing emergency communication wherever it is needed by the community,” said Loomer. “There is a saying: When all else fails, Ham radio is there.”

Contributed photo

Larry Loomer, KI6LNB, whosits on the Mt. Diablo Amateur Radio Club Board of Directors as the MDARC Emergency Coordinator, stands with Concord Councilmember Carlyn Obringer.

David Scholz

Roland Williams of Martinez is a member of the Long Island CW (Continuous Wave) Club, which teaches Morse Code.

DAVID SCHOLZ Correspondent

SPORTS & LIFESTYLE

July 19, 2024

Meet opponents with her two championship matches ending in 15 and 20 seconds, respectively.

Her older sister Ronny had won an unofficial state championship for College Park about a decade earlier before female high school wrestling was fully sanctioned and organized by CIF. When she was just three or four years old Amit loved to tag along to her teenage brother Orry’s wrestling matches. He competed for three years on the College Park wrestling team, placing eighth and third in the CIF State Meet as a heavyweight.

Any disappointment Elor felt on missing out on Tokyo has been taken out on her opponents as she won eight world championships from 2021-23 including senior worlds the last two years while she was still eligible to compete in U20 and U23 divisions. While winning those gold medals Elor had a 29-0 record with 17 technical falls, seven pins and outscored her 29 opponents 251-9.

Elor is competing at 68 kilograms in Paris, nearly nine pounds lighter than her regular weight class. Her punishing style utilizes a two-on-one and an underhook to win matches.

KOHLER’S 3RD OLYMPICS MASKS RIO DISAPPOINTMENT

After being the youngest rower in the London Games at 21, Kohler, a four-time All-America and NCAA champion at Cal, was bitterly disappointed when she was not selected to any American boat for the 2016 Rio Games. Her fellow Clayton bronze medalist Ipsen did represent the USA in Rio, taking fifth in the three-meter springboard and then retiring from the sport that he competed in since he was six years old as a record-setting diver at De La Salle High and Stanford. Kohler took a short hiatus

from rowing after being passed over in 2016 and decided the only way to ensure her participation in rowing events for the USA was to become a single sculler where all such decisions were determined on the water by racing.

She quickly established herself as the preeminent American single sculler, winning bronze at the 2019 World Championships and was named USRowing’s female Rower of the Year.

The Clayton Valley High grad qualified for Tokyo where she was ninth after a bad start in the semifinals cost her qualifying for the medal finals by less than one second.

She has continued her domination of single sculls in our country through the Olympic Trials and will begin her Paris racing July 27, the official opening day of the Games with the finals set for Aug. 3. To reach the medal stand the 33-year-old will compete in four 2000-meter races over eight days.

For many additional photos and information on local Olympians, visit PioneerPublishers.com. The Pioneer in Paris will have reports and photos from Sports Editor Jay Bedecarre in Paris starting July 30 on our website.

Presented by Kelly McDougall

Spectacular mountain views from every window. 40 acres of seclusion and privacy, mostly surrounded by park land. Home is over 6000 sq ft with 5 bd, 5 ba, office, expansive bonus room, craft & exercise rooms. Pool. Sports Court. Additional gated shop (approx. 10,000 sq ft) with 3 bays & fully appointed 2 bed, 1 bath ADU. Offered at $2,850,000

Photo courtesy USRowing

Kara Kohler was the youngest rower at the 2012 London Olympics and now 12 years later the 33-year-old from Clayton is in her third Summer Games representing the USA in single sculls which she has dominated in America through two Olympic cycles.

Photo by Tony Rotundo courtesy USA Wrestling

Amit Elor’s meteoric rise in international women’s freestyle wrestling makes her a strong gold medal contender in Paris at 68 kg. The former College Park High and MDUSD student has amassed eight world championships since 2021.

The Pioneer will be at the Summer Olympics!

Follow the Pioneer in Paris starting July 30 when sports editor Jay Bedecarre and three of his family members begin their Summer Olympics journey in the City of Lights.

Bedecarre will be attending track and field, water polo, soccer, rowing, wrestling, beach volleyball, swimming and basketball competitions through Aug. 10. He will be paying special attention to local athletes rower and 2012 bronze medalist Kara Kohler (July 27-Aug. 3) and wrestler Amit Elor (Aug. 5-6).

Their European adventure will continue to Dublin, Ireland and London, England. The group will be attending the opening 2024-25 season English Premier League game with Arsenal hosting Wolverhampton Wolves Aug. 17 at London’s Emirates Stadium before heading back to the USA the following day.

You can see the Pioneer in Paris Olympic stories and photos on our website PioneerPublishers.com or you can get a daily reminder email by signing up on : https://follow.it/concord-clayton-pioneer?action=followPub

Athlete Spotlight

Alexis Steffensen

Age: 14

Team: Forest Park Swim Team

School: Clayton Valley Charter High

Sports: Swimming

When Alexis Steffensen showed up at the Forest Park Swim Team as a fouryear-old she was a ball of energy in and out of the pool reports long-time Flyers coach Jeff Mellinger. He says it wasn’t until Alexis was about 11 that she realized how good of a swimmer she could be. Since then, she has been posting winning race after winning race. Last weekend she was high-point swimmer while breaking two meet records at the East County Invitational. At the upcoming Concord City Swimming Championships she will try to repeat as 13-14 high point winner. Coach Mellinger says, "Alexis has an innate desire to compete. She sometimes second guesses her abilities, but never shies away from a challenge. Inside she knows she is a hard worker and carries loads of talent. She continues to improve and amaze those who get to

watch her swim."

Mellinger has been coaching Forest Park since 2000 but his star swimmer’s family predate him at the club by five years. Alexis’ mother and two of her Hadley family siblings were on the team starting in 1995 for about 10 years. In 2014 the young Alexis joined to reignite her family’s connection with Forest Park. Based on her performances the last few years she may have a handful of medals from the upcoming city and county meets that close out the summer recreation season when Steffensen starts at Clayton Valley Charter next month after finishing her eighth-grade year this spring at Pine Hollow Middle School.

The Pioneer congratulates Alexis and thanks Athlete Spotlight sponsors Dr. Laura Lacey & Dr. Christopher Ruzicka who have been serving the Clayton and Concord area for over three decades at Family Vision Care Optometry. laceyandruzicka.com.

Do you know a young athlete who should be recognized? Perhaps he or she has shown exceptional sportsmanship, remarkable improvement or great heart for the sport. Send your nomination for the Pioneer Athlete Spotlight today to us at sports@pioneer.publisherscom

How I fell in love with the Olympics

I can remember when I first was aware of the Olympics and how I’ve been enamored with the games ever since!

This month I am headed to France with our youngest child Jared and his new bride Monica and my brother Bill to spend nearly two weeks at the Paris Olympics. This is my third Summer Olympics after also going to the 1984 Los Angeles and 2008 Beijing Games.

This pilgrimage to Paris, in our family’s ancestral home of France, took shape a couple years ago when Monica and Jared had only been dating for a while and several other family members expressed interest in going.

In May 2023 the Olympics held a lottery for potential ticket buyers to get in the queue for tickets. We won three or four spots and Bill and Jared went to work getting tickets. We have ended up with three days of medal competition in Bill and Jared’s favorite sport, track and field. Plus, women’s water polo Monica’s lifelong sport to this day featuring the all-conquering American women.

In addition, we have tickets to women’s basketball, beach volleyball, swimming and women’s soccer. We’ll most likely catch the men’s marathon on our last day in Paris.

I’m still trying to finagle media passes to single sculls rowing with Clayton’s Kara Kohler in the first week of the Olympics and the wrestling events Aug. 5-6 with our local gold medal favorite Amit Elor.

As you might guess, the Olympic Committee isn’t giving tickets away. One ticket to each of those eight sessions is setting us each back over $2200 with prices ranging from $32 for soccer in Lyon to $525 for the final big medal day of track and field. Thankfully we have free lodging in Paris by my sister-in-law Claire’s best friends who are fleeing the Olympic madness.

DREAM TRIP TO BEIJING

Fourteen years ago, I spent five magical days with my bother Tom in Beijing at the 2008 Olympics. He took me as his plus one when one of his company’s partners who were affiliated with major Olympic sponsor Lenovo invited him and guest.

Not only were all the accommodations, meals and tickets complimentary but they also arranged tours and trips to the Great Wall, Forbidden City and Summer Palace. On the competition side we saw beach volleyball, field hockey (for the first and only time in my life), track and field, diving (we bought those tickets from a scalper), gymnastics and swimming.

We got to see Usain Bolt, Michael Phelps, our own Natalie Coughlin, Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh Jennings and myriad other athletes from

around the world.

My first Olympic experience was in 1984 when Los Angeles hosted the Olympics that 14 Soviet allies boycotted.

The first event I attended then was actually in the Bay Area. I bought a $16.50 ticket to Stanford Stadium to watch the US shut out Costa Rica 3-0 in men’s soccer. I could have left out the word “men’s” since women’s soccer wasn’t added to the program until 1996 in Atlanta.

Brothers Tom and Bill, fresh after getting his MBA from UCLA, joined me later for a couple of days viewing track and field in the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, also the site of the 1932 games and will be again in 2028. We saw Carl Lewis, Flo-Jo, Daley Thompson, Jackie JoynerKersee and Mary Decker’s fall.

It was also the best Los Angeles ever had to offer due to the incredible leadership and organizational skills of Peter Ueberroth, which won him the Time Magazine Man of the Year Award.

OLYMPIC TRIALS

EXPERIENCES

Besides attending those Games I’ve also been professionally involved in four United States Olympic Trials and the

2002 Torch Relay which came through Concord en route to Salt Lake City.

The City of Concord and our non-profit California International Sports Foundation won bids and hosted the 1988 and 1996 Olympic Boxing Team Trials although we had to move the ’96 Trials to Oakland because the expansion of the Concord Pavilion wasn’t completed in time that summer. We also hosted the 1992 and 1996 USA Greco Roman Wrestling Trials due to the efforts of legendary local coach Bill Martell.

In 2016 my brother Bill spent two weeks at the US Track and Field Trials in Eugene, Ore-

gon and I caught the second half of that meet with him.

WHERE ITALLBEGAN

Back in 1960 I watched one of the final days of the Squaw Valley Winter Olympics on black and white TV at the Concord Blvd. home of a classmate from Queen of All Saints School, Mike Ellis. Then when the Summer Olympics rolled around I was on a school bus coming back from an outing in Golden Gate Park when I heard one of my favorites, John Thomas, only got the bronze medal in the high jump, losing to a pair of Soviet athletes during the height of the Cold War.

Ever since then I would get ready for the Games by scouring through Olympic preview issues of Sports Illustrated and, in recent times, online, which has been a blessing and curse to my enjoyment. With 24-hour news and the internet it is virtually impossible to settle in at night for a four-hour network encapsulation of that day’s events, since you already know the outcomes of the games, races and matches.

The Bedecarre family can hardly wait for 2028 when three generations of our family can gather in Los Angeles for another Olympic feast.

City Meet back in Concord Community Pool July 26-28

The 57th Concord Swimming Championships are returning to Concord Community Pool this month when 10 teams and 1,108 recreation swimmers competing after a strong effort from several local swim teams pulling together after long-time hosts Springwood Swim Team did not field a team this year.

Springwood parent Brienne

Hertzfeldt stepped up to be the meet director after both Springwood and Vista Diablo Dolphins announced they are not having teams this year. Those two Concord teams date back to the beginning of the meet in 1967 when Concord Community Pool opened. With Springwood Swim Team no longer managing the administrative duties Hertzfeldt had to reach out to the other local clubs to take on added responsibilities. First off was

finding a site as the desire was to return to Concord Community after the last three city meets were held at Northgate High School in Walnut Creek. There were a number of issues around finalizing the rental contract with the City of Concord, primarily concerning insurance. Rick Spardaro of Walnut Country Swim Team and Neal Meyer of Dana Hills worked with city staff and finally

See City Meet, page B4

College Park wrestling team wins top state academic honor

Jay Bedecarré (left) was the guest of his brother Tom, CEO of international ad agencyAKQA for a five-day all-expenses paid visit to the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing.

Photos courtesy Bedecarré family.

passes

from Bedecarré’s trip to the Beijing Olympics in

Photo courtesy College Park High Athletics

JAY BEDECARRÉ The Pioneer

Local high schools honor 2023-24 athletes of the year

This spring the local high schools honored their athletes of the year, recognizing students who had excelled in their chosen sports during the 202324 school year.

CARONDELET

Cougar Athlete of the Year Keshia Vitalicio. The senior’s outstanding achievements throughout the year set her apart. She was voted the East Bay Athletic League Most Outstanding Player while leading the Cougars basketball team to an impressive CIF State, NorCal Division 1 runner-up finish. She earned allBay Area News Group first team honors. She served as a two-year captain for the Cougars and will continue her basketball career at Lehigh University.

COLLEGE PARK

Female Athlete of the Year Katheryn Isherwood was honored after earning team MVP awards and serving as team captain in both lacrosse and soccer after three years on both varsity teams. The scholar athlete also ran cross country for one year. She was a two-time all-DAL first

team lacrosse.

Male Athlete of the Year

Matthew Northrup was twotime DAL wrestling champion and last winter placed seventh at NCS. He never missed a practice or training during the regular season senior year and recorded a 42-9 record this past season while having a 3.9 GPA.

Falcon Award Mariah McCoy for exemplary service and dedication to College Park Athletics

CLAYTON VALLEY CHARTER

Male

Athlete of the Year

Daniel Martinez earned first or second-team all-DAL honors the past two years in both cross country and track help-

ing the Ugly Eagles to the NCS meets in both sports.

Athlete of the Year

Female Ashtyn Hosler was three-time first team all-DAL golf and was also part of three shooting sports for the Ugly Eagles: trap, sporting clays and skeet. She earned 13 varsity letters during her career at CVCHS despite missing some freshman sports in the pandemic.

Irvine Scholar Athlete

Male Angel Gonzalez - Football

Irvine Scholar Athlete

Female - Katie DarganiStunt Cheer

Eagle Award Leadership

Fernando Perez - Track

Bruce Iversen Memorial Award Derek Covert - Basketball

FootballAward Manny

Serna

Pete Lawerence

Wrestling Scholarship Award Steven Marin II

Matt Nolen Memorial

Baseball Award Dylan

Cesario

Mark of the Year Female, tie, Molly Gray Diving and Abbi Cooper Wrestling

Mark of the Year Male

Diego Castaneda - Swimming

CONCORD

Female Athlete of the Year Jasmine Diaz was part of the sideline and stunt program all four years as an outstanding, admired teammate and quiet leader. She was first team all-DAL stunt as a senior as well as team MVP. She was also her East Bay Club STUNT 2023 Most Improved and the school’s 2023 Sideline “Toughest Cheerleader” and best base.

Male Athlete of the Year

Monte Beam was an integral part of the Concord football and track teams throughout his high school career although he

missed his freshman track season due to Covid. His sprint relay team was together for three years and were undefeated and league champs during their sophomore year in the frosh-soph division. He was a four-year starter on varsity football and was team captain and all-DAL first team as a junior and senior.

DE LA SALLE

Athlete of the Year Alec Blair was selected from among 34 student-athletes nominated by their coaches across 13 sports. Still a junior, Blair is a highly rated professional baseball prospect and one of the top basketball recruits in the country. He averaged over 18 points and five rebounds per game while shooting 54% from the field. His efforts earned him the San Francisco Chronicle’s Contra Costa/TriValley Regional Player of the Year title and EBAL, Cal-Hi Sports and NorCal Preps Player of the Year. Additionally, he was a first team selection by Bay Area News Group, AllState and Cal-Hi Sports. He is currently ranked number 30 in the nation for basketball in the class of 2025 by 247 Sports. In baseball he batted .373 with a .472 on base percentage and is ranked 22nd for the class of 2025 as a Major League Baseball prospect.

MT. DIABLO

Female Athlete of the Year Makayla Powell earned all-DAL honors as a junior and senior helping her Red Devils team into the NCS and Nor Cal playoffs both years.

Male Athlete of the Year Herschel Turner smashed the school’s football record book that goes back 100 years with an incredible senior season. Turner is headed to Utah State this fall

See Honors, page B4

High school sports are readying for start of busy 2024-25 fall season

Local high schools begin the 2024-25 term in less than a month and that means that athletes and teams are gearing up for fall sports with the first official practices on Aug. 12, several days after Mt. Diablo Unified School District schools are back in session.

The Diablo and East Bay athletic leagues will be holding their second season of girls flag football after a smashing success debut last year. North Coast Section will hold its first-ever girls flag football playoffs Nov. 12-14. Carondelet is the only local school not fielding a flag football team continuing to have its rugby team in the fall.

This is the beginning of a new NCS alignment cycle for the 2024-28 setup with the only significant local change seeing Clayton Valley Charter football back in the DAL after five years in the EBAL.

Adding back the Ugly Eagles in what is now a 13team DAL football schedule prompted the league to split into three divisions. The Mountain and Valley divisions

will have four teams each with the first-place team in each division playing Nov. 8 for a DAL automatic NCS berth.

The five-team Foothill Division champion will also get an automatic NCS spot with CVCHS renewing its rivalry with Campolindo.

FALL SPORTS

Cross Country (Boys & Girls)

DAL Center Meet #1 Sept. 25

(Hidden Valley Park, Martinez)

DAL Center Meet #2 Oct. 30 (Newhall Park, Concord)

DAL Championships Nov. 9 (Hidden Valley Park, Martinez)

EBAL Championships Nov. 9

(Newhall Park, Concord)

NCS Championships Nov. 23

(Hayward High School)

CIF State Championships Nov. 30 (Woodward Park, Fresno)

Flag Football DAL Jamboree Scrimmage Aug. 24 (Alhambra High, Martinez)

DAL League Games Sept. 4 –Oct. 30

DAL Playoffs Nov. 2 (Benicia High)

NCS Playoffs Nov. 12 & 14

Football Non-League Games start Aug. 30

DAL League Games Sept. 6 –Nov. 8

EBAL League Games Oct. 11 – Nov. 8

NCS Playoffs Nov. 15-30

NorCal Regional Championships Dec. 6-7

CIF State Bowl Games Dec. 13-14

Golf (Girls)

DAL League Matches TBA

EBAL League Matches Sept. 3 – Oct. 17

DAL League Championships Oct. 21

EBAL League Championships Oct. 21

NCS Division II Championships Oct. 28

NCS Division I Championships Nov. 4

NorCal Championships Nov. 11

CIF State Championships Nov. 20

Tennis (Girls)

DAL League Matches Sept. 10 – Oct. 24

EBAL League Matches Sept. 14 – Oct. 26

DAL Division Championships Week of Oct. 28

EBAL Championships Nov. 711

NCS Team Championships Nov. 12-16

NCS Singles/Doubles Championships Nov. 18-19

NorCal Team Championships Nov. 19-23 (Folsom)

CIF State Team Championships Nov. 30 (Fresno Pacific University)

Volleyball (Girls)

DAL League Games Sept. 17Oct. 17

EBAL League Games Sept. 10 - Oct. 22

DAL Playoffs Oct. 22-26

EBAL Championships Oct. 24-26

NCS Playoffs Oct. 29 – Nov. 9

NorCal Championships Nov. 12-19

CIF State Championships Nov. 22-23 (Santiago Canyon College, Orange)

Water Polo (Boys & Girls)

DAL League Games Sept. 25 – Oct. 30

EBAL League Games Sept. 15 – Oct. 31

DAL Division Championships Oct. 31 - Nov. 2

NCS Playoffs Nov. 6-16

NorCal Tournament Nov. 1923 (Sacred Heart Prep, San Francisco)

Athlete Spotlight

Gianna Kougios

Grade: Senior School: Clayton Valley Charter High Team: Dana Hills Swim Team

Sports: Swimming, Water Polo

Since the age of seven, Kougios has been making a splash in both her athletics and academics as she excelled in swimming as well as club leadership, internships and in the classroom. Kougios first swam on the Oakhurst Swim Team and eventually landed on the Dana Hills team where she is completing her final season this summer.

At Clayton Valley Charter, Kougios participated on the varsity swim team all four years and the JV water polo team. During her high school career, she received all-Diablo Athletic League honors three times. Her sophomore year in 2022, her medley relay team placed ninth in the fastest CVCHS times, which they surpassed this spring while setting the all-time best Ugly Eagles mark. Kougios also qualified for the North Coast Section meet three years in a row and made top five in all her events at the DAL Championships her junior year.

Coach Niki Rodriguez says, “Gianna is without question one of the hardest working, sweetest and most dedicated kids I've ever had the pleasure to coach. She is one of the most consistent swimmers I have ever seen. . .Gianna is one of those kids I am going to miss so much.”

Kougios associates her swimming ability with the skills she learned from dance and gymnastics as a

child. Outside of the pool, Kougios excels in the classroom, earning a 4.13 GPA. She was a part of the CVCHS Engineering Academy and the California Scholarship Federation. She was also the cochair of volunteering in the Senior Women Club where she organized a Breast Cancer Awareness Walk-A-Thon. During her junior summer, Kougios was the first high school intern hired by the Walnut Creek architectural firm AVELAR and she is interning there again this summer in preparation for her college courses. She is looking forward to attending the University of Arizona in the fall to major in architecture and hopefully join a swim team.

CVCHS student journalist Corinne Jeandheur wrote this Spotlight.

The Pioneer congratulates Gianna and thanks Athlete Spotlight sponsors Dr. Laura Lacey & Dr. Christopher Ruzicka who have been serving the Clayton and Concord area for over three decades at Family Vision Care Optometry.

Do you know a young athlete who should be recognized? Perhaps he or she has shown exceptional sportsmanship, remarkable improvement, or a great heart for the sport. Send your nomination for the Pioneer Athlete Spotlight today to sports@pioneerpublishers.com.

KESHIA VITALICIO CARONDELET

HERSCHEL TURNER MT. DIABLO HIGH

REBECCA FLETCHER NORTHGATE

DANIEL MARTINEZ CLAYTON VALLEY CHARTER

KATHERYN ISHERWOOD COLLEGE PARK

JAY BEDECARRÉ

ASHTYN HOSLER CLAYTON VALLEY CHARTER

Honors, from page B3

and leaves behind rushing and scoring marks that will likely never be approached with 43 touchdowns (all but one rushing) and 3027 years from scrimmage on only 177 carries, averaging 17 yards a carry and 275 yards per game. He helped propel the Red Devils to the North Coast Section playoffs. With his rushing total among the national leaders Turner was tabbed all-state first team by MaxPreps. He was selected Diablo Athletic League Foothill Division offensive MVP and was named to the all-Bay Area News Group first team and

was all-Metro first team chosen by the San Francisco Chronicle’s Mitch Stephens.

NORTHGATE

Female Eric Griffin Memorial Award Rebecca Fletcher is the first female wrestler to win this award at Northgate after earning firstteam all-DAL honors at 118 pounds moving her on to the NCS championships.

Male Eric Griffin Memorial Award Roland Anderson was honored for his football and basketball team performances.

Swimming, from page B2

got a policy with coverage and language acceptable to the city so that the meet could go on as planned July 26-28 in its home in the beginning years of the meet and then since 1996 until scheduling conflicts and the pandemic stopped it from being held in Concord this decade.

Pleasant Hill Dolfins, Walnut Country, Gehringer Park, Dana Hills and Oakhurst of Clayton, Forest Park, Ygnacio Wood, Bishop Estates are returning teams along with newcomers Martinez Community Swim Team and Solar Swim Sea Monsters of Antioch complete the 10 clubs taking part.

DOMINIQUE KING LEANIN WITH LOVE

Q. How can I start a conversation about taking over power of attorney for my aging parents without coming across as ageist or dismissive of their autonomy? – Naveena

A loving approach to obtaining power of attorney

your parents’ ability to manage their finances, increasing forgetfulness or difficulty making sound decisions. While there’s no specific age for these changes, it’s important to prepare before the need arises.

ensuring their wishes are respected and their affairs handled efficiently. Having someone they trust to make decisions can prevent potential issues, such as financial mismanagement or legal complications.

life they’ve built, ensuring they understand your actions are out of love and concern for their well-being. Remind them that needing assistance is a natural part of aging and does not diminish their value or the respect you have for them.

The City Meet schedule includes the individual medley and 50 freestyle for the 15-18 age group on Friday evening starting at 5 p.m. with butterfly, freestyle and medley relays on Saturday. The meet concludes Sunday with breaststroke, backstroke and free relay. Admission is free and the Saturday and Sunday meets start at 8:30 a.m.

The season-ending Contra Costa County meet is the weekend after City Meet Aug. 2-3 at Acalanes High in Lafayette.

Dana Hills has won the last three Division I County Meet championships in highly contested battles with runner-up Rancho San Miguel of Walnut Creek. The two teams have finished 1-2 three times in a row.

DHST will be seeking its 31st Concord City Meet championship since the Otters won its first A Division title in 1992. Gehringer Park hopes to repeat as B Division winners. The Gators also won the coveted 2023 team sportsmanship award.

Steinbeck references add another layer to ‘Tahoe Rescue’

It must be summer: Todd Borg’s private detective, Owen McKenna, is back in one of his most captivating cases ever. As fans of the McKenna mystery thrillers know, Borg whets our appetites with the first death (there’s always more than one) swiftly occurring in a brief prologue. “Tahoe Rescue” wastes no time in placing the reader next to the driver as she swerves her car from an oncoming vehicle. Her car leaves the switchback road, above Emerald Bay, Lake Tahoe, taking a series of horrifying vehicular somersaults before crashing into trees.

The mysterious crash and the victim’s last thoughts showcase Borg’s finesse at thrilling action. And that takes only two pages.

From that “accidental” death, we are introduced to McKenna’s sympathetic, possible client, a young woman, Livvy Parr, who has “a feeling” based on emails recently received, that her life is in danger.

Borg quickly connects Livvy to a prior client the faithful reader will easily remember. All the McKenna mysteries stand on their own, but it is a clever ploy on Borg’s part to give a nod to the past, which adds to the depth of a reader’s connection to McKenna.

The young woman happens to be the private secretary of the earlier car crash victim. Livvy doesn’t believe the crash

was an accident. Until then, Livvy lived in her own apartment within the Tahoe mansion of the dead woman. The emails are threatening and demand she leave.

McKenna’s sleuthing begins before taking the case. The fun part of the Tahoe mysteries is the wealth of information the reader acquires in between terrific chase scenes, clandestine plots and enough bad guys (and gals) to sink a ship. In this case, a pirate ship.

Before long, the mystery unfolds, involving a worldfamous cosmetics company, the fractured family of the company’s founder, an FBI investigation of stolen art, a Tahoe sailboat offering theatrical pirate cruises, Central American gangs moving in on L.A. gangs’ Tahoe territory and John Steinbeck’s first novel, “Cup of Gold,” a story of piracy written while working as a young man at Lake Tahoe. That novel may hold the code needed to solve the murders, and the delivery of stolen art.

No McKenna mystery is complete without Spot, his loveable Harlequin Great Dane. Spot takes a big bite out of “Tahoe Rescue,” getting to sink his teeth into one or two bad guys. McKenna’s girlfriend Street, a professional entomologist, is also present, providing just enough heart to keep the romance going for another round.

If this is your first Tahoe mystery, you will be introduced to members of local law enforcement, who never hesitate to call on McKenna for help, counting on his experience as a retired San Francisco police detective.

My experience as a Borg fan is to recommend “Tahoe Rescue.” I’m now reading “Pot of Gold” to find that code.

Visit Sunny Solomon’s website bookinwithsunny.com for her latest recommendations or just to ‘talk books.’

A. As parents age, roles often shift, and children may need to take on more responsibility. One significant decision is taking over power of attorney. This transition can be challenging without appearing ageist or dismissive of your parents’ autonomy. Here are some thoughts on approaching this delicate topic with respect and compassion. Understanding the signs. Recognizing when it might be time to discuss power of attorney is essential. Signs include noticeable changes in

Initiating the conversation. Starting the conversation about power of attorney can be daunting. Approach the topic from a place of love and concern, rather than as a critique of their abilities. Emphasize that your primary goal is to ensure their well-being and help them manage their affairs smoothly. Use “I” statements to express your concerns, such as “I’ve noticed you’ve been a bit forgetful lately, and I worry about you managing everything on your own.” Allow your parents to disagree, give feedback and discuss timelines.

Highlighting the benefits. Explain the advantages of having a power of attorney in place. It provides peace of mind for both them and you,

Involving them in the decision. Discuss the different types of power of attorney – financial and healthcare – and what each entails. Make it clear that this is about planning for the future and that they have a say in whom they choose for this role.

Seeking professional guidance. Involving a neutral third party, such as a lawyer or financial advisor, can be helpful. Professionals provide an objective perspective and can explain the legal and practical aspects of power of attorney, which might make your parents more receptive to the idea.

Respecting their dignity. Above all, respect your parents’ dignity throughout this process. Acknowledge their past achievements and the

Moving forward together. Taking over power of attorney is not about taking control away from your parents but rather about working together to ensure their future is secure. By approaching the conversation with empathy, respect and a clear understanding of the practical benefits, you can ease the transition and support your parents in this new stage of their lives. Patience is key. Be well; you are worthy.

Dominique King is a wife, mother, lifestyle blogger and avid long-distance runner. Email questions and comments to her at leaninwiththekings@gmail.com.

New digs for Isla but top quality still a hallmark

When Victor and Sonia Rodriguez opened Isla in 2020, it appeared the restaurant had little chance for success.

Between the COVID pandemic, their lack of experience in the trade and a location with virtually no foot traffic on Clayton Road, the couple faced an uphill battle.

But survive they did, thanks to excellent food and personal service. Word of mouth endorsements spread about Isla’s menu featuring seafood from the Baja region of Mexico. While many other restaurants shuttered, they prospered.

The origin for the success of Isla is rooted in the island of Isla Navidad, Mexico, where Sonia grew up. Her dad Filiberto was a fisherman who caught lobster, red snapper, shrimp and other seafood from nearby waters, At home, their diet featured ceviche, grilled fish and locally sourced foods adapted to Mexican tastes. Sonia has been able to replicate this cuisine in their Concord restaurant.

After three years, their six tables remained busy as did a brisk take-out trade. In late June, they moved their business to 2118 Mt. Diablo St. They filled the site where the well-regarded Canasta Restaurant was located, and Isla’s customers soon checked out the new digs.

Fortunately, the quality of the food has remained high at the larger facility, which can accommodate 30 tables for indoor and outdoor dining.

We started our meal with

an order of homemade chips and guacamole. Served with Isla’s fresh green and red salsa, this is a great way to begin the dining experience.

We then ventured to their ceviche. Not being fans of tilapia, we selected the shrimp and octopus combination. The lime juice and peppers merged perfectly, and those at my table consumed every morsel. If a smaller portion is desired, the ceviche can be procured in a tostada or burrita format. Following our appetizers, we ordered the quesabirria. This consisted of slowcooked beef brisket folded into a corn tortilla. The whole taco was then dipped into a rich peppery consommé, then grilled to perfection. Served with a side of the broth for dipping, this was one of Isla’s best menu items.

I also enjoyed the Isla taco featuring medium rare flap steak, guacamole and salsa covered with a grilled shrimp. For me, this was culinary heaven. We didn’t try the Mexican staple of rice and beans, but they can be found on the more traditional part of Isla’s menu. Other favorites

are the chilaquiles verdes, carne asada and the fajitas. They also have a wide selection of nachos and torta sandwiches. I look forward to trying them on future visits.

Noteworthy is Sonia’s mole sauce, which she makes from scratch using Mexican chocolate as a base. Its complex flavors pair well with the rice that accompanies the dish. Her chile relleno, made to order, is among the best rendition of this Mexican specialty around. Items like pozole soup, whole snapper and the octopus platter also help separate Isla from many other eateries along Concord’s famed Taco Trail.

At the new location, Isla has obtained a liquor license for serving beer and wine. We enjoyed their margarita cocktail, which pairs well with spicy foods. They also feature house-made fruit drinks along with a refreshing cucumber concoction.

Children are welcome, with a kids’ quesadilla appealing to the younger set.

While I was dining at Isla, Sonia made a fresh strawberry, Jello, coconut and condensed milk treat enjoyed by all ages. Their Mexican flan is a fine way to conclude a satisfying meal. It remains to be seen if Isla’s menu will translate well to the larger venue. Sonia, who prides herself on supervising every dish they make, is confident they will not let their patrons down. And Victor proclaims: “It is our desire to please our customers. Nothing to us is more important.”

Located at 2118 Mt. Diablo St. in Concord, Isla is open 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Tuesday-Wednesday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Thursday-Saturday and 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Sunday. Closed Mondays. Reservations can be made at 925375-1483.

Rich Eber is a local journalist and long time resident of Concord. He covers topics from politics to gourmet food. Contact him at richeber9@gmail.com.

SUNNY SOLOMON BOOKIN’ WITH SUNNY

Rich Eber

Sonia and Victor Rodriguez take pride in the Mexican specialties at Isla, now open in downtown Concord.

RICHARD EBER TASTE & TELL

THE ARTS

Local theaters offer one-act plays, plus soap opera drama

Onstage Theatre continues its “Off the Shelf and on the Stage” one-act festival through July 28.

The festival brings seven new plays to light at the Campbell Theater, 636 Ward St., Martinez.

The featured plays encompass a wide variety of topics, including Rom Watson’s “Randall & Ward Attend the Theatre,” director JanLee Marshall; Bridget Grace Sheaff’s “Lighted Fools,” director Annie Potter; Jacquie Priskorn’s “Good Morning, Miriam,” director JanLee Marshall; Jim Maher’s “Annabel Lee,” director Jim Maher; Christine Benvenuto’s “The Female Gaze,” director Alan Cameron; C.C. Cardin’s “Fishing,” no director listed; and Lewis Black’s “In Between Songs,” director Eddie Peabody.

For tickets, call 925-3509770 or go to www.campbelltheater.com.

On June 9, Pittsburg Theatre Company lost more than 40 years of history when fire destroyed their warehouse. In addition to accepting donations to help the company get back on its feet, they will pres-

ent a benefit concert, “The Phoenix Project: Rising from the Ashes,” July 27 at the California Theatre, 351 Railroad Ave., Pittsburg. A reception starts at 6 p.m. with drinks and hors d’oeuvres, followed by the 7:30 p.m. concert. Tickets are priced at $25 and $65.

To help the company rise from the ashes, go to https://pittsburgcommunitytheatre.org.

Synergy Theatre dives into daytime TV with “Spontaneous Soap: An Improvised Daytime Drama.” Running through July 28 at Walnut Creek’s Lesher Center,1601 Civic Dr., the show is based on the early days of daytime

drama.

“It’s when the soaps were sponsored by products such as dish and laundry soap – hence the name,” explained showcreator/director Lynn Shields. “Our show takes place in the small town of Beaver Pines in the year 1960. Just like scripted soap operas, it’ll be filled with scandal, intrigue, sex, romance, villains and dramatic pauses to die for.”

According to Synergy artistic director Kenn Adams, the performances will be like actu-

al soap operas – with each of the eight performances picking up exactly where the previous show left off.

“Each show will have its own exciting twists and revelations inspired by audience suggestions,” said Adams. You might want to catch more than one show so you can see how the story evolves. For tickets, call 925-943-7469 or go to www.lesherartscenter.org.

The Orinda Starlight Village Players will perform

Shakespeare’s witty, romantic comedy “Much Ado about Nothing” July 19-Aug. 10 at the Orinda Community Center Park amphitheater, 28 Orinda Way.

Love is in the air as troops return home from war, along with lots of mischief as the story of “Much Ado” unfolds. Patrick Atkinson and Venee Call-Ferrer direct. For tickets, call 925-5289225 or email info@orsvp.org.

Ghostlight Theatre

Ensemble’s teens are busy this summer, having just finished a run of “A Chorus Line” and readying the musical “Footloose” for 2 and 6 p.m. July 20.

Not to be outdone, the group’s regular theater program presents Monty Python’s “Spamalot” Aug. 2-11. Full of heroic knights and damsels in distress, the musical pays tribute to the motion picture “Monty Python and the Holy Grail.” The cast includes Jasmine Alejo (Lady of the Lake), Liam Cody (Lancelot) and Chris Fallows (King Arthur).

Both “Footloose” and “Spamalot” perform at the Edna Hill Theatre, 140 Birch St., Brentwood. For more information and tickets, go to https://ghostlightte.org.

Sally Hogarty is well known around the Bay Area as a newspaper columnist, theatre critic and working actress. She is the editor of the Orinda News. Send comments to sallyhogarty@gmail.com

Sculptor breaking boundaries at age 97

At 97, sculptor Michael Rizza continues to inspire the art world with his unwavering dedication to creativity and his call to “get out of the envelope and do your own creations.”

Born and raised in Manhattan, Rizza’s early life was a testament to the formative power of art and family.

From a young age, Rizza was captivated by art. Tagging along on the New York subways with his older brother, Angelo, he found safety and inspiration in the bustling city. His brother, a talented artist in his own right, introduced him to a world of artistic possibility.

By age 10, Rizza was already training at the Leonardo da Vinci Art Studio and later gained entry, alongside his brother, to the prestigious High School of Music and Art.

As a young adult, Rizza worked in an architectural business in New York, where his passion for three-dimensional forms began to take

way into galleries and into the hands of appreciative collectors. Rizza’s work is showcased in various Bay Area galleries, including Blackhawk Gallery in Danville, JOR Fine Art Gallery in Clayton and Valley Art Gallery in Walnut Creek. His story is a powerful reminder that true artistry transcends physical limitations and that passion, dedication and the courage to innovate are the hallmarks of a remarkable creative life.

“As you get more involved, you create more, and you’ll get better,” he says.

Italian American Museum and Davis Symphony Hall in San Francisco have featured his work. These exhibitions have not only highlighted his talent but also expanded his audience, allowing more people to experience the profound impact of his art.

At 97, Rizza approaches his work with the same fervor and dedication. “I don’t have much time left, but I want to

finish the work I’ve started,” he says, a sentiment that underscores his unwavering commitment to his craft. Rizza’s legacy is one of artistic brilliance and a deep, enduring love for the art of sculpture.

Julia O’Reilly Is the owner of JOR Fine Art Gallery in Clayton. Email comments to her at joreillyfineartgallery@gmail.com

shape. His move to Louisville, Ky., in 1960 marked a significant transition in his life. There, he supervised the construction of high-rise buildings, crafting stairs and entrances that would become his architectural signature. It was also in 1960 that Rizza took his first sculpture class, igniting a lifelong passion. Years later, Rizza honed his skills at Diablo Valley College in Pleasant Hill – creating his first masterpiece “Jana.” It started as a ceramic, then a bronze, 3-foot-high sculpture that became his favorite piece. Over time, he reimagined “Jana” through modern technology, including a 3D print and a massive terrazzo version weighing 170 pounds that was

recently bought by collectors in Arizona.

The Rossmoor resident’s artistic journey has been one of constant evolution and adaptation. Despite facing significant challenges, including legal blindness and severe hearing loss, he continues to produce stunning sculptures. Furthermore, he can no longer sculpt on his own and requires assistance from collaborators to carry out his artistic vision.

Once known for working with pieces weighing more than 90 pounds, he now focuses on smaller works, typically 20-30 pounds. With the help of his sons, who assist in transporting his sculptures, Rizza’s creations still find their

Rizza’s creative endeavors extend to designing the innovative game U-Sculpt, which invites players to engage with the sculpting process in a playful and educational manner. Art enthusiasts and critics alike have enjoyed his book that delves into his artistic philosophy and showcases a wide range of his work.

He often says that each of his pieces carries a unique message, resonating deeply with those who are sensitive to the language of art. Rizza’s birthstone sculptures on display at JOR Fine Art Gallery encapsulate the essence of each birthstone, creating a personal and evocative experience for viewers.

Over the past five years, prominent venues such as the

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Michael Rizza’s exquisite stone sculptures are a testament to his lifelong dedication to mastering the artform.

Tony Jonick

Hero (Ariella Folks) and Claudio (Wolfie Lewandowski) appear in Orinda Starlight Village Players’ “Much Ado About Nothing” July 19-Aug. 10.

Julie Stein

Lynn Shields is Olivia “Olive” Oyl, Beaver Pines’ powerful banker with a mysterious past in Synergy Theatre’s “Spontaneous Soap: An Improvised Daytime Drama” through July 28 at the Lesher Center.

SALLY HOGARTY STAGE STRUCK

JULIA O’REILLY ARTFUL INSIGHTS

A primer on how musicians bottle

Recording and releasing music has never been easier. You can record music today, and it can be accessible to people around the globe within days or even hours.

In this two-part piece, I hope to help musicians – or parents of younger musicians – navigate the process of recording and releasing music in the digital era. Perhaps it will inspire musicians with no recorded works to take the plunge or guide those struggling through the process to reevaluate their method.

Your budget will likely dictate how you approach recording, mixing and mastering your work. If you have a couple thousand dollars to work with, you could rent some studio time, pay

for a good mix and then hire someone else to master it. If you’ve only got a few hundred bucks, you’re likely restricted to some form of at-home recording and/or producing. Both are viable options worth exploring.

RECORDINGATHOME

The DIY approach requires a home studio built around some digital audio workstation (DAW) software. There are plenty of options for DAWs. I asked Professor Doug Michael, the Music Lab coordinator at Diablo Valley College, to weigh in:

“Logic Pro is popular ... so is Ableton. They’re both good. Logic Pro is more traditional, whereas with Ableton you get an experimental and creative side. If you’re writing pop tunes, then Logic is the way to go. If not, maybe a little more adventurous, Ableton is amazing.”

Other popular DAWs include Pro Tools, Reaper and Cubase. Prices for DAW licensing range from less than $100 to about $1,000. Read up on options to see what’s right for you.

It’s best to run your DAW on a dedicated computer with a lot of memory. Don’t

skimp on RAM or storage space; you’ll need plenty of both to avoid performance issues.

For the hardware, you can acquire a decent audio interface for a couple hundred bucks or less. The Focusrite Scarlett is currently the most popular choice for novice athome recording artists, but an array of options are available at Guitar Center or Sweetwater.com at comparable rates.

With your DAW, computer and audio interface, you have established the core of your studio. However, depending on what you’ll be recording, you may want to consider purchasing nice microphones and/or investing in some soundproofing for your recording space. If you plan to do your own mixing, opt for quality monitors or high-end headphones.

As you can see, even this “affordable” route can really add up. But if you plan to

need someone who knows how to operate this stuff proficiently. That may very well be you, but keep in mind that doing the work of a recording engineer requires a different kind of mind space than that of a performing musician. Doing both simultaneously can be frustrating and exhausting and sometimes can compromise your output.

In other words, it’s OK to admit that you’re not a recording engineer, aren’t interested in learning the field or simply want a less stressful experience with the recording process. If that sounds like you, your money would better be spent on time at a studio than on building your own.

RECORDINGIN A PROFESSIONALSTUDIO

record a lot over the years, it’s worth the investment and will save you in the long run. Often overlooked with athome recording is that once your studio is set up, you still

As with all specialty work, leaving it to the professionals when you can afford to is just good sense. When you go the professional route, you’re paying to record in a room that was specifically

designed for sound-recording, with expensive equipment that you don’t need to understand and skilled professionals to ensure everything goes right.

All you have to do is play your music. That said, arrive well-rehearsed and ready to get some good takes.

The Bay Area is home to many acclaimed recording studios as well as lesser established (and often cheaper) outlets, all easily found online. Most studios offer an array of services. You can simply capture some quality takes to mix elsewhere. But if you want to leave with a finished product, many studios also offer professional mixing and mastering.

Many people in the sound recording industry recommend having your final mix mastered by someone who wasn’t involved in the mixing. More on that in Part 2.

Contact Dave Hughes at MrDaveHughes@gmail.com.

Photo by Dave Hughes Audio interfaces are essential for home studios, but they don’t need to be elaborate or expensive. This 7-inch wide

four inputs (two on back) and

Self portrait by AK Jameson

Some recording artists rely entirely on professional recording studios for their output, while others are more comfortable working in their home studios.

HUGHES