JUN 16 Clayton Pioneer 2006 by Pioneer Publishers

Nick Moresi signs with Astros See page B2

PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID CLAYTON, CA PERMIT 190

IT’S YOUR PAPER www.claytonpioneer.com

June 16, 2006

925.672.0500

CCC picks site for new worship center DAVE SHUEY

MAYOR’S CORNER Break out the badges-- Dansie is promoted to sergeant Congratulations to Clayton’s newest serg eant, Scott Dansie , who was sworn in June 6 at City Hall. His wife , children and extended family were all present in a w onderful ceremony that was shor t and sw eet o wing to no elected official making any speeches. Whew! Dansie has been with our Police – De partment for six years and went through a vigorous examination process to obtain his new rank. (Contrary to rumor, it was more than just buying the c hief a doughn ut and telling him ho w g reat he looks.) See Mayor, page A11

Tamara Steiner/Clayton Pioneer

LED

PASTOR SHAWN ROBINSON, members of Clayton Community Church visit the Marsh Creek site for the new worship center. Russelman Dri ve in Cla yton. Campaign to raise money for a excitement o ver finally estabhome. JILL BEDECARRÉ Only min utes before at their new c hurch netted nearly $2.7 lishing per manent roots in the “Although the campaign fell Clayton Pioneer Sunday worship session, several million. community was contagious. short of the $4.5 million needed hundred members of Clayton And so they came as a group Pastor Sha wn R obinson to purc hase the land from They dro ve do wn Marsh Community Churc h had been to see the site of the proposed describes the site as “a sanctuCreek R oad b y cara van to an See Church, page B6 told that the Next Ste ps Capital church for the first time . The ary,” a place his people can call empty, 18.85 acre lot off IN PRAYER BY

Eric Barney is Pioneer’s King for a Day Uncle Sam wants you – TAMARA STEINER Clayton Pioneer

EVAN AND ERIC BARNEY

What’s inside SECTION A

Around Town . . . . . . . . . . .A2 Letters to the Editor . . . . . .A4 Classifieds and Directory of Advertisers . . . . . . . . . . . .A5 Real Estate . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A6 EcoFocus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A7 CVHS Graduates and Awards . . . . . . . . . . . .A8, 9 CVHS Reporter . . . . . . . . .A10 School News . . . . . . . . . . . .A10 Music Notes . . . . . . . . . . . .A13 Food for Thought . . . . . . .A14 Garden Girl . . . . . . . . . . . .A15

SECTION B

Hiker’s Haven . . . . . . . . . . . .B1 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .B2 Financial Sense . . . . . . . . . . .B5 Church News . . . . . . . . . . . .B6 Club News . . . . . . . . . . . . . .B7 Paws and Claws . . . . . . . . . .B7 Community Calendar . . . . . .B8 At the Movies . . . . . . . . . . .B10 Dining Around . . . . . . . . . .B11 Crossword Puzzle . . . . . . . .B11

Evan Bar ney, 7, submitted the winning entr y in our Father’s Da y King for a Da y contest. His hear tfelt tribute to his dad, Eric, won ev eryone’s heart. We had 17 entries and pic king a “winner” was a tough assignment. Five of us at the Pioneer read ev ery essa y independently and pic ked our tw o favorites. Even though Ev an’s essay tur ned up on ev eryone’s list, we w ould eac h be hard pressed to say exactly why. “It tug ged at the hear tstrings,” said our Assistant Editor, Jill Bedecarre. “It had a real emotional pull,” said our g raphic ar tist, Pete Cruz, himself the father of a six year old. For me? It plain old made me laugh out loud, several times, as I wiped away a stray

tear here and there. Evan will be a second grader at Nor th Creek Academ y in Walnut Creek where math is his favorite subject. Evan is alw ays up for a wrestling match with his dad on the living room f loor. Eric usually wins because “I tic kle him to death,” he said. Eric’s “King for a Da y gift basket contained some pretty nifty “dad stuff,” all donated by our lo yal adv ertisers. R & M Pool, Patio and Garden donated a gift certificate for $50, Clayton Valley Shell says “bring your car in for a free oil c hange,” and Chad can take his dad and a few friends for pizza at Rocco’s with a gift cer tificate for $50. After pizza, they can all g o bo wling with six free g ame cards from Clayton Valley Bowl. Jim Frazier of Hair b y Jim in do wntown Clayton invites Eric to come in See King, page A12

Arson suspected in Post Office fire TAMARA STEINER Clayton Pioneer

A fast spreading fire caused an estimated $100,000 in damage to the Cla yton P ost Office in less than 26 min utes the morning of Sunday, June 3. Postal emplo yee Daniela Minor w as re porting for w ork shortly before 11 a.m. when she found the doc k and recei ving area in the bac k of the P ost Office engulfed in f lames. She reported seeing sev eral kids with skateboards r unning from the scene. Seven units and 21 firefighters responded, said Contra Costa Fire Protection District (CCFPD) Battalion Chief Dave See Fire page A12

to volunteer on July 4 BEV BRITTON Clayton Pioneer

Although 8,000 to 10,000 people are planning to g ather downtown on the F ourth of July, only a few ha ve v olunteered to help org anize the event. “It’s like the whole to wn of Clayton comes out, plus some out-of-towners,” says Laura Hoffmeister, assistant to the

Clayton city manager. “And that is the problem with g etting volunteers. If you’re not in the parade, then y ou w ant to be watching the parade.” Hoffmeister is urging residents to consider v olunteering in order to k eep this popular event r unning smoothly . Especially needed are parking attendants, volunteers for See Volunteers, page A12

Clayton Pioneer July 4 Photo Contest

Attention Shutterbugs!

Get ready, get set, GO for the Clayton Pioneer’s Fourth Annual July 4 Celebration Photo Contest. Each individual may submit up to three photos, but only one of those photos can win a prize. Photos must be printed 3” x 5”, 4” x 6” or 5” x 7”, and must have been taken

during this year’s July 4 Celebration in downtown Clayton.

On the back of each photo, print your name, address, phone number and whether you are entering as an adult (o ver 12) or a child (12 and under.) Drop your prints off at the Clayton Pioneer office by 8 p.m. on Tuesday, July 4. Please do not e-mail photos. Judging will take place that night, July 4. Late entries cannot be considered. CASH PRIZES Adults: First Place, $100; Second Place, $75; Third Place, $50. Under 12: First Place, $50, Second Place $30; Third Place $20. Winning photos will appear in the July 8 issue of the Clayton Pioneer.

Tamara Steiner/Clayton Pioneer

Arson is suspected in this fire, which caused major damage to the dock and receiving area of the Clayton Post Office.

Page A2

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

Around Town

Clayton police run Special Olympics torch into Clayton

June 16, 2006

Bob and Sherry Mazza married 25 years Bob and Sher ry will celebrate their 25th w edding anniversary on J une 27. They were high school sweethearts at Mt. Diablo High Sc hool, from which they both g raduated. They mar ried at Queen of All Saints in Concord on J une 27, 1981. Bob and Sher ry ha ve three sons, Anthony, Chris and Nick,

and have lived in Clayton for 17 years. They are v ery acti ve in the bo ys’ sports acti vities. Bob coaches in both the JV football and baseball prog rams at Clayton Valley High School and Sherry is the President of Clayton V alley F alcons Y outh Football Prog ram. They r un their business, Mazza Masonr y, together.

Tamara Steiner/Clayton Pioneer

Clayton Police Services Aide, Michael Diehl, Chief Dan Lawrence, and Officers Richard McEachin and Rich Enea carry the Special Olympics torch into downtown Clayton.

Clayton Police raised $2,315 for the 2006 Special Olympics at their annual Tip-A-Cop dinner at Ed’ s Mudville Grill on June 3. Every year , police officers and support staff wait tables at Ed’s for tips to raise money for the Nor thern Califor nia Summer Games. On Wednesday, June 6, the

Clayton PD car ried the Special Olympics torc h from Cla yton Station to Ed’ s where it w as handed off to the Concord Police Department. The final leg of the Torch Run will tak e place the w eekend of June 9 in Berk eley. Special Olympics athletes from all o ver Nor thern Califor nia will come tog ether to compete

in aquatics, bocce, tennis, track and field and volleyball. Some 1000 deter mined Special Olympics athletes , many o vercoming tremendous personal c hallenges, will sho w their remarkable courag e and share their unwavering spirit as they compete ag ainst their peers. At this ev ent the athletes and their families are able,

for tw o da ys, to forg et about the c hallenges they face on a day-to-day basis and instead, relish in their victories. If you would like to donate to the Special Olympics , call Susan Burdett at the Cla yton PD, 673-7350 or visit the Special Olympics W ebsite at www.sonc.org.

Sheri and Bob Mazza, pictured at their wedding in 1981, will celebrate 25 years on June 27.

$735,000 Clayton Diablo Ridge – Beautiful 3 bedroom, 2.5 bath home on a cour t location bac king to Oakhurst fairw ay. Master bedroom on 1st f loor, eat-in kitc hen, living room and great room with fire place. The large covered deck with wet bar is ready for enter taining!

$849,980 Clayton Dana Hills – 4 bedroom, 3 bath home with eleg ant living & dining rooms , amazing upg raded g ourmet kitchen w/pantr y and built-in g ranite breakfast nook. Adjoining is a family room w/fire place & doors to freshly landscaped yard, including pool & spa.

Clayton $799,980 Jeffrey R anch – Updated 4 bedroom, 2 bath home w/fresh paint, dual pane windows & a master bedroom w/built-in cabinetr y. Kitchen w/g arden windo w, vaulted ceilings & sk ylights. Large yard w/pool & gazebo, a finished 3-car garage and storage.

$624,980 Clayton Oakhurst Duet – 3 bedroom, 2.5 bath with g reat floor plan has dramatic ceilings & pristine rooms . Master suite, gourmet kitc hen w/nook & pantr y, living room w/fireplace. Near comm unity pool & spa in Blac k Diamond. Landscaped yard w/deck.

$669,980 Clayton Windmill Canyon – Private, cul-de-sac location on this single-story 3 bedroom, 2 bath home . Elegant g reat room has soaring ceilings , fireplace, and for mal dining. ¾” hardwood f loors throughout and an eat-in kitc hen. Plush grounds & patio.

Clayton $839,980 Regency Woods – 4 bedroom, 2.5 bath + an office on the 1st f loor. Formal dining, living room w/v aulted ceilings & family room with fireplace. Gourmet kitchen has skylights, garden window & hardwood floors. Parklike yard, pool & spa with views.

Clayton $829,980 Dana Hills – Wonderful 4 bedroom, 3 bath family home close to comm unity amenities & trails leading to Diablo State P ark. Tranquil views from the spacious master bedroom. Family room w/wet bar & fireplace & a 1st floor guest room with bath.

Clayton $879,980 Ironwood @ Oakhur st – Premium view lot! 5 bedroom, 3 bath with larg e kitchen & sunny breakfast nook next to family room w/fire place. Grand spiral staircase leading to bright master suite with his/her closets and a balcony with views.

Lynne offers FREE Professional Staging with all her listings Clayton $829,980 Regency Meado ws – New car pets throughout this 4 bedroom, 2.5 bath home on a cul-de-sac . Master suite w/ soaking tub & walk-in closets, formal dining & living rooms w/v aulted ceilings & a g ourmet kitc hen. Great backyard w/deck and landscaping.

June 16, 2006

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

Page A3

Around Town

Bettina Perez and Gino Bush to marry next year

‘71 Satellite to enjoy rebirth as Clayton’s first cop car

Tamara Steiner/Clayton Pioneer

Dave Johnson and Chief Dan Lawrence unload the ‘71 Satellite that will undergo restoration.

“All About Jack” comes to town “All About J ack” brought laughter to Endea vor Hall recently when P oison Apple Productions came to town. A collection of five original one act pla ys based on famous Jacks from fair y tales and n ursery rhymes were perfor med by Horizon’s Home Sc hooling Program (MDUSD) students , along with others, in a fun-filled production. In this scene from “The Jack Clinic,” Old Mother Hubbard facilitates g roup therapy and a safe place to rev eal one’ s tr ue feelings about the famous J acks we ha ve all heard so m uch about in our lives.

Tamara Steiner/Clayton Pioneer

From left to right are Emily Spellman, Katie King, Cameron Harris and Caitlin Westemeier.

This 1971 Plymouth Satellite is not just a sw eet memor y for yesterday’s teenag ers. The first cop car in Cla yton w as a ’71 Satellite purc hased used on J uly 1, 1972 from the Contra Costa County Sheriff's Department. Police Chief Dan La wrence and a host of other car buffs are hard at w ork restoring this old ’71 into a re plica of Clayton’s first cop car. Many hands are at w ork on the project. Dave Johnson located the car in Burbank and trailered it to Los Medanos Colleg e where students in the automotive program did the engine w ork necessary to g et the car in r unning condition. According to Chief Lawrence, the goal is to have the car finished and spit shined in time for the July 4 parade. “Don’t hold y our breath, ” he laughs , “but cross your fingers. The project is financed b y private donations, not city funds, assures Lawrence.

GINO BUSH AND BETTINA J. PEREZ

Bettina P erez and Gino Bush announced their engagement last December in Christmas cards sent to friends and family. A for mer Cla yton resi-

New grandbaby for the Millars

Tarin Grey Millar-Camp was bor n April 25. Tiny, but mighty , Tarin w eighed in at 6 lbs . 8 oz. Her proud grandparents are Marsh and John Millar of Clayton. Her parents are Alison Millar Camp and John Camp. The Camp family cur

Tarin Grey Millar-Camp

rently

lives in Connecticut, but will be moving to P ortland, Maine next month.

dent, Bettina has w orked at the Long’ s Dr ugs in the Clayton V alley Shopping Center, and she and Gino both worked for Starbucks in the Cla yton Station for a time. They both li ve in Martinez. Not one to tak e “yes” for an answer, Gino proposed to Bettina twice…once in front of Longs during her lunc h hour and the second time , with a different ring, on a bluff in Santa Cruz overlooking the ocean. Bettina is the daughter of Joseph and Alice P erez and Teresa Barellano. Gino is the son of Robbie Bush of San Francisco. The pair will be mar ried next April 15 at the Pleasant Hill Community Center

What’s happening Around Town? Know someone that’ s getting mar ried? Graduating? Did you vacation somewhere interesting or celebrate an anni versary lately? Is there a new bab y in town? Have out of town guests? Send y our “ Around Town” news item to tamara@claytonpioneer.com, or g o online to www.claytonpioneer.com.

We Live, Work, Play & Invest in Pioneer Territory

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Page A4

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

June 16, 2006

City budget is lean, but balanced TAMARA STEINER Clayton Pioneer

Despite continued state takeaways, the coming fiscal year will see a balanced budg et for the city with no reduction in city services or employee layoffs. City Manag er Gar y Napper presented the city’ s proposed budget to the City Council at the regular council meeting on J une 6. “The stag gering fact for our small city is the contin uing amount of state budg et di versions w e are forced to contribute,” Napper said in his report. In the coming fiscal year , the state will g rab more than $729,714 from proper ty tax es that should be coming to the city. That amounts to 20 percent of the operating budget. “The City Council and our citizens can only imagine what good these local monies could be generating locally eac h year to improve the li ves and g eneral welfare of our city,” Napper said. The total budg et of $11,667,352 is do wn 30 percent from last year’s five-year high of $16,578,733, mainly because of a reduced capital impro vements allocation. The city relies on the Redevelopment Ag ency to fund

capital impro vements, but a big chunk of RDA money is no w going to retire bonds that are coming due. The g eneral fund budg et remains fairly f lat at $3,709,063, a 1.14 percent increase o ver last year. A slight increase in revenue from state pa ybacks of vehicle license fees was more than offset by increased liability insurance and a 47 percent increase in the contract with the county for animal control services. The city has looked at alter natives for animal control ser vices, but ev en with the increase , the contract with the county remains the most cost-effective, Napper said. According to Napper , the general fund budg et remains balanced, and the city has no plans to dra w on the $3.47 million general fund reserves. “This may sound like a lot of money,” said Councilmember Julie Pierce, “but we aren’t lush with our reser ves. If Ygnacio (referring to the cur rent stor m damage on Ygnacio V alley Road) had happened on Clayton Road, it w ould tak e the whole fund to fix it. One landslide can cost a million dollars.” While the g eneral fund is balanced, it is lean. “Each city department can minimally oper-

Letters to the Editor LIBRARY BOOK DONATIONS Dear Editor: Please keep on donating your used books to the Cla yton Community Library Foundation. In 2005, the value of books, CD’s and Videos donated, and placed on the shelv es of the Clayton comm unity Librar y were valued at $23,997. In addition the used book sales g ener-

ated $14,150 whic h in tur n was used to purc hase books and materials and pro vide programs at the librar y. Used book sales remain one of our more successful fund raising activities. To address Gary King’s concern about books in the dumpsters (Clayton Pioneer, June 2 issue), I w ould lik e to sa y that the books left over after the Clayton

ate its ser vices, with little breathing room for error or surprises,” said Napper. “Any unexpected … expenses in the coming 12 months will tilt the precarious balance and could require funding from the reserves.” The Landscape Maintenance District is not so health y. The district, formed b y v oters in 1997 for a 10-year ter m, will begin its final year in J uly. Annual revenues are expected to be $556,717, falling $48,410 short of covering expenses. The district will need to dra w that amount from reser ves, leaving only $58,462 in the bank in J uly 2007. A ballot measure to renew the district and boost the parcel tax from $122 to $365 a year failed miserably last No vember. The measure w ould ha ve paid for ong oing landscaping expenses as w ell as catc h up on $2.5 million in defer red maintenance. A new, 15-member oversight committee is looking at options for financing the city’ s landscaping after July 2007. Napper is budg eting $1.1 million for capital expenditures , down from $4.41 million last year. As was mentioned, several of the bond issues of prior

years will need to be retired in the coming year , reducing the amounts available for projects. Among the capital projects planned is the re placement of the old w ood retaining w all along Old Marsh Creek Road, at a cost of $320,000. To blend with the arc hitecture of the Stranahan and Greystone Estates entries, Napper plans to replace the wood with stone. There is $555,000 in the Downtown Economic Development Fund to assist with the economic revitalization of the downtown area. Projects here could include par tnering with building o wners to spr uce up building fronts, Napper said. Other capital projects include new do wntown entr y signs at the g rassy knoll at Oak Street and “Daffodil Hill” at the corner of Marsh Creek and Clayton R oad, completion of sewer connections for properties on Pine Hollo w R oad and $100,000 for slur ry sealing designated streets. The budget will come before the City Council for appro val at the J une 20 meeting . They will hear public comments before voting. The meeting is at 7 p.m. in the Comm unity Room at the Clayton Library.

Community Library Foundation sale were headed for recycling. On Sunda y of our 3-Da y Sale we sell books for half price. The last hour books are sold for $2 a bag full. Despite these bargains, not all of our books sell – many are out of date or in poor condition. In April, we made arrangements for two groups to pick up the lefto ver books that we did not put into storage. One did not sho w up and the other did not tak e nearly as many as we are usually able to pass on.

We are able to use the Community R oom with the understanding that w e lea ve it empty and clean on Sunda y. After a w eek of unpacking and organizing for the sale , and selling during the sale itself , the volunteers are exhausted, and Boy Scout T roop 485 helps us pack up. We do not have the time or space to store the unw anted books until someone decides to find a home for them.

See Letters, page A15

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TWO FOR THE PRICE OF ONE!

2 Houses on 1 Lot. Main House and Cottage Fully remodeled. Main house has 3 Bedrooms, 3 baths. Cottage has 1 bed room, 1 bath. Professionally landscaped yards, Private fenced in property with 2 separate entries.

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3 bedrooms, 2 baths and 1,344 Sq Ft of Living space. Many Upgrades. Private Landscaped front and back yards. Washer, dryer and refrigerator are includ ed. Move in ready!

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1 Bedroom, 1 bath lower unit. Upgrades include: new carpets, freshly painted, new light & sink fixtures. Large patio that backs to community pool, spa, fountains & waterways.

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3 bedrooms, 2 bath on large lot with tons of parking. Beautifully landscaped front yard. Tons of Curb appeal. Many Upgrades.

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June 16, 2006

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

Page A5

Directory of Advertisers

Classified HELP WANTED City of Clayton Needs Commissioners. Community Service Commissioners ($75/month stipend). If you would like additional information about these openings please visit City of Clayton’s website at www.ci.clayton.ca.us. Or contact Rhonda Basore, City Clerk, at 925-6737304.

SERVICES Perennial Garden Design by Nicole Hackett AKA The Garden Girl. Personal consultations regarding plant choices, placement, identification, fertilizing and maintenance. Spring is just around the corner. Call or email for info and pricing. 925-6731746 (leave msg) gardengirl94517@yahoo.com.

ation facilities. $150/night, $950/week. Call Kevin Parker @ (925) 383-9430 or www.vrconnection.com/parkerpaw.

VOLUNTEERS WANTED

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

The Clayton Community Library Foundation is currently seeking to fill the following volunteer positions: Shelver - (min. age 13 years) to shelve and sensitize books in the library. Will train, day/time is Tues.10 a.m. -2 p.m. or 2 – 6 p.m. and Sat.10 a.m. –1 p.m. Book Mender - (min.age 13 years) to handle detailed work mending worn books. Hours can be chosen between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Thurs. Shelf Reader (min.age 13 years) to read the library shelves in order to ensure the correct placement of books...must be familiar with the

TAMARA

AND

R OBERT S TEINER , Publishers

TAMARA S TEINER , Editor J ILL B EDECARRÉ , Assistant Editor and Display Advertising B ILL WAGONER , Sports Editor P ETE C RUZ , Graphic Design

STUDY GROUP

B EV B RITTON , Copy Editor and Feature Writer

Readers of The Urantia Book will start a new study group this spring. The group will meet in a downtown Clayton café. New and seasoned readers will explore the book by topics. The group will decide the time (hour and day). Email urantian@mac.com or call 925-672-4689 and ask for Tery.

B ETH N EUDELL , Administrative Assistant

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PIONEER INFO HOW TO PLACE A CLASSIFIED AD

Classified rates per insertion: Non-profit: $12 for first 30 words, $.20 eac h additional word Individual/non-commercial: $18 for first 30 w ords, $.30 each additional word Commercial: $48 for first 30 words, $.40 eac h additional word

P.O. Box 1246 6200 Center Street, Suite F Clayton, CA 94517 Office: 925.672.0500 Fax: 925.672.6580

Preschool Enrollment Clayton Community “BUSY BEES” preschool located on the Mt. Diablo Elementary School campus, is now enrolling for fall semester. Program for 3 and 4 year olds. M – F, 9 – 11:30 a.m. Please contact Nancy Haley or Joann Pini at 925-672-0388.

Dewey decimal system. Tutor (min.age 13 years) to tutor oneon-one or give homework help at the library to local students in our community. You choose the age range, subjects, remedial help or light homework help, and the days/times. Call Arlene at 6739777, e-mail akikkawa@ccc.lib.org.

ath

To place y our classified ad over the phone , call the office at (925) 672-0500 betw een 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Mon.-Fri. Or, you ma y fax y our typewritten ad and credit card information to (925) 672-6580 All classifieds m ust be paid for in adv ance b y credit card (Master Card or Visa) We will not accept any ad that discriminates on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, nationality, family status or disability. The Cla yton Pioneer reserves the right to reject any advertising w e believ e is unsuitable.

LET US KNOW

Weddings, engagements, anniversaries, births and deaths all w eave tog ether as part of the fabric of our community. Please let us kno w of these important events. We ask only that the announcement be for a Cla yton resident. You will find the appropriate for m for your announcement on our Website. Attach your photo to the form. Also on our W eb site are forms for submitting Community Calendar items and press releases for your organization.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

The Cla yton Pioneer w elcomes letters from our readers. As a general rule, letters should be less than two double spaced pages and submitted at least one w eek prior to publication date. Letters concer ning current issues will ha ve priority . We may edit letters for length and clarity . All letters will be published at the editor’s discretion. Please include y our name , address and daytime telephone number. We will not print letters from “anonymous.” E-mail y our letter in a Word Document to tamara@claytonpioneer.com. Letters MUST be submitted via E-mail.

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Page A6

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

June 16, 2006

Let’s get creative with seller financing In the early 1980s , interest rates sk yrocketed to 18 percent. This made it impossible for most homebuyers to qualify for a mortgage. During this period, seller financing--also called “creative financing”-- became popular. With seller financing, the seller of a proper ty acts as the lender for the buyer . The seller’s loan is secured ag ainst the property. The terms of the loan, such as the interest rate , due date and monthly payment, are negotiated between the buyer and seller. Today, we are enjo ying suc h low interest rates that most buyers g et new loans from institutional lenders. Most institutional mortgages are long-ter m loans , 10 to 30 years . This appeals to buyers who don’t want to worry about a loan coming due soon. Although not as common, seller-financing still has a place in today’s homes sale mark et. Recently a couple bought a home here in Clayton. The home needed a lot of work, which the buyers were willing to take on in exchange for a reduced price .

The seller ag reed to a lo wer price in exchange for a quick close. The buyers had a larg e cash do wn payment, so they were confident that they could qualify for a new institutional mor tgage to finance their LYNNE purchase ev en REAL though their current home hadn ’t sold. Unfortunately, it turned out that they didn’t qualify. Rather than let the deal fall apart, the buyers asked the seller to car ry the mor tgage for them until their other proper ty sold. The seller agreed. The buyers’ large cash do wn payment enabled the seller to pay off his existing mortgage on the property. This w as a critical aspect of the transaction, because the seller’ s existing loan included a “due-on-sale” clause. Home loans are typically made to indi viduals, but they’ re secured ag ainst the proper ty. A

Randy Glasbergen

“due-on-sale” clause entitles the lender to call a loan due when title to the property transfers to a new owner. If you ask a seller to car ry financing for you, make sure the due date on FRENCH the loan isn ’t too ESTATE short. In situations where the seller is car rying a temporar y loan until another proper ty is sold, it’s common to see a due date in as little as six months . The buyer’ s home in the above example sold quic kly and the seller was repaid within a few months. But real estate mark ets can turn for the w orse suddenly. Six months can pass by quickly if your home isn ’t ready to g o on the market immediately. Let’s sa y it tak es a few months to g et your home ready for sale and the mark et slo ws down during that time . It could take you long er to sell than y ou

anticipated. To be on the safe side, ask the seller to ag ree in advance to g rant y ou an automatic six-month extension of the due date if your home isn ’t sold in time. Sellers should a void making loans to buyers with lo w do wn payments (5 to 10 percent of the purchase price), particularly if a conventional lender tur ned down the buyers . In the abo ve example, the buyers had ex cellent credit and their do wn pa yment amount was approximately 50 percent of the purchase price. These buyers had a strong incentive to re pay the loan; otherwise they would jeopardize losing a larg e investment. The larger the do wn payment, the lower the risk.Sellers who carry financing should c heck the buyer’ s credit re port and loan application. Also, include a contingency in the purc hase contract for the seller to appro ve the buyer’ s financial documentation. Lynne F rench is a Realtor with Windermere Real Estate and a Clayton resident. Contact her at 6728787 or Lynne@LynneFrench.com.

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Page A7

Self-similarity and symbiosis are signatures of the universe In the four books of “Gulliver’s T ravels,” Gulliver finds himself in many strang e worlds. In the first tw o books, he is in Lilliput, the land of the tiny people, then Brobdingnag, the land of the giant people. In Lilliput, we are introduced to miniature v ersions of Gulliver and ourselv es. When we jour ney with Gulli ver to Brobdingnag, Gulliver, and b y association we, become the tiny people in the land of the scaled-up humans. The str ucture of our universe and life on ear th mirrors this type of nesting. From the tiniest subatomic par ticles to atoms, the elements, chemistry, stars and planets , geology, earth, life on ear th, ecosystems and our v ery biosphere , we uncover a nested repetition and sameness of elegance at all observation scales . All things follow the fundamental laws of physics, which w ere present from the beginning of creation. All the scales are self-similar but for their sizes , and all things eng age in symbiotic associations. Quarks cooperate according to the laws of physics and form sub-atomic par ticles (protons , neutrons, electrons), which cooperate with eac h other to form atoms and the elements . The elements cooperate to form simple to larg e and complex molecules. In similar fashion, these form simple bacterial life forms. These simple bacteria cooperatively associate to form the complex adv anced cells (protozoa and alg ae).

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Advanced cells org anized cooperatively into the multicellular org anisms that account for all the other life for ms on earth (fungi, all the simple to advanced plants and all the animals: sponges to corals , clams, worms, insects, giraffes, whales and humans). The multicellular organisms associated into populations of the same species . Different species organized into communities. Communities cooperating tog ether for med ecosystems (e .g., grasslands, tropical rain forests , coral reefs , salt marshes, mangrove systems), which make up our global biosphere. In all of this, the association of subatomic par ticles around the nucleus of an atom behave not unlike the planets around a sun, galaxies around other galaxies and bees around a hive. There is similarity throughout the uni verse dri ven b y adherence to the same fundamental laws. Regarding life on earth, perhaps the most amazing and awe-inspiring aspect of this is the fundamental shift from simple bacterial cells to the formation of the adv anced cell that led to m ulticellular advanced life for ms--including us. In previous columns, I have emphasized the impor tance of the connecti vity of the biotic and the abiotic w orld, and the symbiotic nature of how the universe and life on earth work. This symbiotic cooperation is born of competition and ev olution b y natural selection.

Most of the time, intense competition (for n utrients, food, habitat, etc.) g ets so draining for organisms that they are put at a life-ending disadvantage. Rather than extinction resulting from competition and aggression, a move to cooperation among interacting org anisms produced more fit individuals whom natural selection favors. The primiti ve ear th w as anoxic, that is it had no free oxygen in its atmosphere . The first bacteria were all anaerobic. In their competition for resources, those that could colonize areas without competitive bacteria present sur vived better. This w as accomplished b y bacteria that accidentally found themselves with pigment derived from their unique chemistry. The pigment protected them from the sun ’s ultraviolet light and, therefore, they could live near the ocean’s surface where there w ere no competitors. This pigment later allowed for the advent of photosynthesis (making of food from the sun’s energy). A b yproduct of photosynthesis w as o xygen g as release . This fundamentally c hanged the earth from an anoxic world to one with free o xygen. Oxygen w as to xic to most of the existing bacteria, and so it killed those that did not find refuge in the no w rare ano xic places (dee p trenc hes, shallow mud zones and the like). A few other bacterial species lear ned to tolerate and then enjo y o xygen. These

GERARD CAPRIULO

ECOFOCUS forms could produce food 30 times more efficiently with oxygen present than without. Some anaerobic bacteria learned to ingest other bacteria for food. Some of them could not digest this newfound food. In these situations, the ingested bacteria sur vived in their new home (the bacterial host) and fed the host while also k eeping it clean. This new colony of bacteria within bacteria became big ger and more prolific than any others --so m uch so that the relationships became per manent. This new colonial super -bacterial org anism became the first advanced cell. They g rew to dominate the earth for a time. Eventually, the adv anced cells themselves began to associate in colonies to form all the multicellular org anisms (g rasses to trees, corals to whales and humans) of earth. The descendents of those first adv anced cells are present in every one of the cells in the human body . Each of our cells contains bacterial DNA from that successful symbiotic association. So, in all tr uth, we are connected to all of life on ear th and even to the first quarks and atoms that sho wed up at the beginning of time. Gerard M. Capriulo , Ph.D., is the F letcher J ones Pr ofessor of Biology and Envir onmental Science at Saint Mary’s College in Moraga.

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Page A8

Mia Alessandro Acosta David Adalat Victoria Patrice Adan Alexander Jesus Adin Kallum Patrick Ahern Mahmood Ahmadi Zolaikha Ahmadi Mitzi Dalit Albano Gieve Hassan Ameli Jeremy Wayne Amo Ashley Shannon Arata Michael Theodore Arbour Marina Leonor Arevalo Rachel Ann Argo Jeffrey Paul Arnold Jr. Gabriela Arredondo Jorge Avila Layla Marie Azari Michael Joseph Azzarello Hashmatullah Bahaduri Brian Daniel Bailey Peter Curtis Bain Kristina Torreno Banas Kristina Alicia Banks Matthew John Barbero Ashley Nicole Barr Jacqueline Angelica Barrero Trevor William Lawrence Barrow Caitlin Elizabeth Bartley Christina Nicole Norville Benitez Jeremy Scott Bergeron Garrett Allen Billiet Kristen Keiko Bishop Sara Kay Bloodgood Paul Phillip Bockenkamp Kimberly Nicole Bolton Jacqulyn Louise Bone Paul Michael Borrell Nathan Douglas Bouse Scott William Bowen Andrea Katharyn Bradshaw Sarah Jeanne Bragg Robert Rodney Brown Jason Michael Bryan Graeme Atkinson Buchanan Amy Marie Buck Matt James Buckley Brienne Terez Buhagiar Seranda Nicole Burton Kayla Ann Butler Matthew Randall Byas Lauren Rachelle Caldera William C.J. Callahan Skyla Lace Nyle Camp Christina Marie Canesa Angela Christine Cardone Katrina Lorn Cariaso Brigitte Ashley Carlson Kelly Morgan Caro Adam Joshua Carp Jennifer Ann Caruso Ryan Michael Cassady Diana Carolina Castro Francis Padua Cerrado Whitney Rose Churchill Barrett Allen Clark Cynthia Rosanne Clark Jeremy Charles Clark Eric Curtis Clausen Andréa Marshé Clay Nicholas Gregory Clover Oscar Collazos Monique Concepcion John Barton Connors Hillary Rose Cormier Alexalyne Victoria Vingson Cosas Lisa Marie Cosso Jenna Lee Cotton

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

Laura Rebecca Covalt Iris Mitchelle Crandall Crystal Joy Csencsits Vincent Joseph Culum Kristen Yancey Cunningham Caitlin Lee Cutter Patrick Mohammad Dadnia Joclar Pinangay Dala Andrew Scott Dallmann Michael Guerin Davis Milton Leroy Davis III Andre Rose De Jong Amber Loren De La Cr uz Stephen John Deas John Matthew Del Bene Andrew Philippe DeocaresLengyel Sunpal S. Dhillon Matthew Louis Dini Kristina Marie Dolgin Ammon Joseph Doman Chelsea Alyss Dones Alexis Cole Dongallo Jeremy Andrew Dorado Brandon Dale Duckworth Jenna Marie Dudley Jacob Aaron Duncan Ryan Daniel Duncan Daniel Jeffrey Dwyer Ian Michael Dwyer Elaine Marie Ellison Rajiv Eluthesen Edgar Espinoza Christopher Thomas Fabbri Daniel Gianni Faina Anthony Thomas Fakoury Samuel Sammy Faleafine Matthew Edward Farley Jeffrey Gomez Farnden Megan Joelle Farr Kevin John Fennell Jady Marie Ferguson Tiffany Denea Ferriera Travis Blase Fico Nicholas Andrzej Fiutek Andrew Brian Flesher Thomas Edwin Fong Giovanni Joseph Fontana Michael Galen Foster Elise Michele Fox Angelo Vincent Fracasso III Dianne Peñaranda Francisco Justin Robert Frey Sean David Gager Sean Michael Gallagher Jason Owen Gardner Chase Lawrence Gibson Nataly Veronica Gil Benjamin John Gill Nicholas Edmund Goff Christopher Robert Gonzalez Ismael Ponce Gonzalez Calinai Leslie Goodwin Eric Kiyoshi Gosnell Meredith Anne Grcina Alyssa Jane Griffith-Utne Melissa Jane Grimmond Keaton Patrick Grove Courtney Marie Gunder Alejandro Gutierrez Ramon Gutierrez

Vanessa Paula Gutierrez Salma Habib Amanda Lee Hall Megan Amelia Hall Lindsey Anne Hansen Danielle Elizabeth Hansohn Rachael Lorraine Harris Kayla Krystina Hart Daniel Burton Hartnell Micaela Elizabeth Oliver Harvey Mohammed Tariq Hatefi Joseph Ray Hawbaker Whitney Rose Hawbaker Christina Lee Heinert RW Walter Henley Jennifer Carey Henricksen Joshua Jon Henry John Michael Hernandez Ashley Nicole Hill Sarah Evelyn Hill Christina Noel Hillman Kenneth Duane Hirashima Andrew William Hoedt Kelsey Rose Holt Courtney Elizabeth Hood Sean Matthew Hopwood Andrew Harold Horton Paulina Mishele Hudson Christopher Cong Huynh Sama Ibrahimi Mayo Inoue Marina Nicole Irby Amina Ismailzada Mark Kentner Jackman Abdul Ahad Jamali Shabana Jamili Martha Megumi Jimbo Cory Michael Jimenez Christina Renee Johnson Christopher Thomas Johnson Hailey Michelle Johnson Mackenzie Frost Johnson Travis Francis Johnson Willie Vondell Johnson Matthew James Jonathan Lila Ruth Jones Clark Taylor Jorgensen Kenneth Paul Joyal Evan Joseph Kearsley Laura Catherine Kidd David Anthony Kleczka Tori Denaye Kline Samantha Desirea Knapp Christopher Yoshio Charles Kobata Darik Philip Kobata Joseph Allan Krainik Alex Matthew Krasner Nicole Angelica Krup Mallory Joan Kuehner Matthew William Kullman Calvin Joseph Kyawmyint Bethan Ceris Lamb Whitney Lea Lamb Justine Rochelle Larmour Michelle Diane Lassen Chelsey Anne Lawson Max Michael Lazar Mary Ann Lenz Vincent Joseph Levine Christina A. Lewis Jeffrey Thomas Leyden Cheng-Tao Lin Joseph Capitana Lisondra Calvin David Lock Kyle Duane Lonestar Mario Alonzo Lopez Marissa Lourdes Lopez Robert Ray Lorenzi Zachary Benjamin Luczynski Felix Augusto Luna Matthew Manoguerra Katherine Elizabeth Marcil Mario Ernesto Marin Casey Alexander Daniel Mar tin

Jerami Mariko Martin Oscar Eduardo Martinez Richard Joseph Martinez Michael Raphael Martini Ankur Mathur Nicole Elizabeth Mattson Mario Maximiliano Ronald Lee Mc Coy Ashley Richelle Mc Donald Stephanie Anne Mc Euen Amber Marie Mc Kinley Casey Knight McMullen Kenneth Michael Medlen Sarina Ashley Medrano Gregory Dennis Meer Monique Mendez Drew Forbes Menez Danielle Christine Michelsen Sheida Nicole Mohebbi Troy Evyn Moldovan Angelo Aguilera Monje Marissa Lynn Moore Matthew Taylor Moore Christopher Matthew Olivan Morrissey Melissa Lynn Morrissey Melinda Dawn Mort Manov Vel Mudaliar Ami Kawai Mulligan Alison Michelle Myer Kushal Pankaj Naik Rachel Akiko Nakamura Brielle Denise Napper Mohammad Nasser-Zia Colter Jaymes Nattrass Ashley Anne Neal Amy Kristine Nebeker Gregory Andrew Neely Onna Adele Nelson Kim-Sa Dinh Nguyen Jared Davis Nielsen Jonathan Charles Nomura Devin Lyness O’Brien Teresa Leigh O’Donnell Joshua Jordan Ober Juan Diego Ochoa Alexandra Artomas Olivieri Jean Carlo Alexis Oviedo Ashley Suzette Page Zachariah Carl Pelz Skye Tyler Peterson Ryan Timothy Pfeiffer Dennis Huu Phan Kenneth Ryan Pike Hayden William Piper Adrian David Piwek Nicole Ann Ploetz Audrey Morgan Poignet Melissa Marie Polido Ashley Renee Powell Amy Rose Preut Ashley Marie Purdue Jenna Rose Quinonez Erik Douglas Rackwitz Syed Obaidur Rahman Diana Ivonne Ramirez Ryan James Reichhold Joshua Richard Reimann Logan Corbin Rex Chad James Reynolds Alicia Marcella Richardson Jessica Ann Richman Anne Ricks Felipe Rios Benjamin David Robinson Alexandra Lee Rodgers Taylor Katherine Rodgers Shannon Lynne Rolling Eric Daniel Rosado Christopher Rene Rosales Rene Omar Rosales Ashley Anne Rose Addison Ray Rosenblatt Stephen Robert Ross

June 16, 2006

Brittany Jeanene Rumsey Jack Callahan Rusk Michael Mathew Ruskofsky Micah Paul Sable Alexandra Christine Salazar Christopher Joseph Sanchez Doris Teresa Sanchez Kevin Donovan Sand Morgan Fay Sanders Darrell James Sanderson Cassius Caesar Sangco George Benjamin Santana Sara Singh Scanlan Trevor Joseph Scherz Christiane Schmidt Travis Jacob Schoenthaler Ricky Ismael Serratos Andrew Martin Shellhammer Kenneth Jung-Ho Shin Chad William Shipley Amanda Marie Sims Bhawdeep Singh Marinda Leigh Sivok Douglas David Slocum Abby Louise Smith Brian James Smith Dennis Wesley Smith Nicole Lyndsey Smith Sarah Michelle Snapp Mary Claire Snyder Mahnaz Soleimani Sean Keith Sorensen Teyler Curtis Sorenson Bryan James Sparks David Allen Spencer Kirsten Elizabeth Spryer Ashley Nicole Stephens Michael James Stewart Alexander Jacob Stoiber Nicole Marie Stupka Samantha Branan Suddaby James Robert Sugg Emily Marie Swanson James Anthony Switzer Arya Tabdili-Azar Jason Robert Tanseco Garrett Scott Thomas Victoria Brooke Thomas Alexandra Elizabeth Thornton Patrick Will Tillery Robert Christopher Tindall John Russell Tiongson Yvette Yasue Tomita Nicholas Ryan Tong Rex Francis Tongol Nancy Thi Tran Ashley Lynn Trapozzano Amy Amanda-Mae Treece Catherine Kelly Turner Trent Bruce Tweddale Curtis Akira Uemura Rachel Marie Van Vliet Kylie Van Wert Amy Lauren Vander Heyden Lindsay Candice Vanderstraeten David Jesus Vargas Mario Donovan Vargas Sara Marie Vatnsdal Jessica Eileen Venturi Joshua Stephen Vigil Paul Robert Viscogliosi Gina Michelle Volpe Daniel Leslie Waaland Jr. Jacqueline Christina Wall Martine Ashley Waraner Robert Lee Warren Stevie Joye Wasson Jennifer Lynn Watts Randall Lee Wells Paul Joseph White Jeremy Douglas Widen Beth Marie Wiesendanger Kiyo Elizabeth Wiesnoski Briana Diane Willsher Demetrice Thomas Wilson Ashley Marie Wong Mujitaba Yousofzai Samantha Ann Zachary Sophia Baining Zhang Vasiliy Alexandr Zherebnenko Ahmad Tameem Ziai Elizabeth Zuniga

June 16, 2006

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

Page A9

CVHS Class of 2006 Award Winners Acosta, Mia

California Scholarship Federation Sealbearer President’s Education Award Mills College Scholarship

Ahmadi, Zolaikha

Cutter, Caiti

California Scholarship Federation Sealbearer President’s Education Award

Dala, Joclar

Student Body Treasurer

Doman, Ammon

CVHS Department Award— Publications ETS Gear-Up Scholarship

CVHS Music Department Award

California Scholarship Federation Sealbearer

Arbour, Michael

CVHS Department Award—Special Education

Avila, Jorge

California Scholarship Federation Sealbearer President’s Education Award

Azari, Layla

Nova Southeastern University Scholarship

President’s Education Award Bank of America Certificate of Achievement—ClaytonArts Johnny Filbeck Memorial Scholarship

Senior Class Secretary/Treasurer

CVHS Department Award—Drama

Holt, Kelsey

California Scholarship Federation Sealbearer President’s Education Award Clayton Business & Community Assoc. Scholarship

Hudson, Paulina

Dorado, Jeremy

Eluthesen, Rajiv

Banas, Kristina

California Scholarship Federation Sealbearer President’s Education Award

Barrow, Trevor

CVHS Department Award— Industrial Technology

Heald College Scholarship California Scholarship Federation Sealbearer Matt Nolen Memorial Scholarship

Bartley, Caitlin

University of Colorado—Stacy Ojeda Memorial Scholarship

Bishop, Kristen

CVHS Service Altair California Scholarship Federation Sealbearer Azusa Pacific Scholarship Bank of America Certificate of Achievement—English Senior Women Silver Scholarship Student Body Vice President

Bryan, Jason Buck, Amy

California Scholarship Federation Sealbearer Bank of America Plaque Award— Science and Math Bank of America Certificate of Achievement—Social Science

Buhagiar, Brienne

California Scholarship Federation Sealbearer President’s Education Award Senior Women Gold Scholarship Sam Walton Community Scholarship

Callahan, William

President’s Education Award

Cariaso, Katrina

California Scholarship Federation Sealbearer

Carp, Adam

University of Nevada, Reno Scholarship California Scholarship Federation Sealbearer President’s Education Award CVHS Future Teachers’ Scholarship

Clark, Barrett

California Scholarship Federation Sealbearer

Cormier, Hillary

California Scholarship Federation Sealbearer California Scholarship Federation Sealbearer Senior Women Silver Scholarship

California Scholarship Federation Sealbearer

Krup, Nicole

Goff, Nick

University of Nevada, Reno Scholarship Youth Amateur Bowling Scholarship

Grcina, Meredith

California Scholarship Federation Sealbearer CVHS Department Award—Home Economics Bank of America Certificate of Achievement—Home Economics

Gutierrez, Ramon

CVHS Department Award— ClaytonArts Academy California Scholarship Federation Sealbearer President’s Education Award

California Scholarship Federation Sealbearer Brigham Young University, Idaho Scholarship

California Scholarship Federation Sealbearer President’s Education Award

Lenz, Mary

Bank of America Certificate of Achievement—Drama

Hansohn, Danielle

California Scholarship Federation Sealbearer

Levine, Vinnie

Menlo College Scholarship

Hartnell, Daniel

Marcil, Katherine

California Scholarship Federation Sealbearer Clayton Business & Community Assoc. Scholarship

California Scholarship Federation Sealbearer President’s Education Award National Merit Commended Scholar

Harvey, Micaela

California Scholarship Federation Sealbearer American Association of University Women Scholarship

Mathur, Ankur

California Scholarship Federation Sealbearer

Hill, Ashley

California Scholarship Federation Sealbearer Willamette University Scholarship CVHS Department Award—English California Scholarship Federation Sealbearer President’s Education Award Bank of America Certificate of Achievement—Music

lete and leader,” said Laurence. Robbie was on the wrestling team all four years at CVHS . He also played football all four years and competed in trac k and lacrosse for a year. Robbie’s fa vorite subject is math and he plans to attend Diablo Valley College in the fall for tw o years and then transfer to Cal State Chico where he will major in constr uction manag ement. He will work in constr uction with his father this summer . He has an older sister and tw o younger brothers.

CVHS Department Award—Art California Scholarship Federation Sealbearer President’s Education Award Graceland University Scholarship

Henry, Joshua

RONNIE MCCOY LANDS WRESTLING SCHOLARSHIP

Martin, Jerami

Martinez, Richard

Boise State University Scholarship

Michaela Harvey received a $1,000 scholarship from AAUW.

CVHS Grand Altair Award CVHS Department Award—Social Science California Scholarship Federation Sealbearer President’s Education Award National Merit Commended Scholar Bank of America Plaque—Liberal Arts Bank of America Certificate of Achievement—Spanish Chevron Reach Scholarship University of California, Berkeley— Alumni Leadership Scholarship Italian-American Club of Pittsburg Scholarship Diablo Valley Panhellenic Scholarship

Lamb, Whitney

Hansen, Lindsey

2006 CBCA SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS Rajiv Eluthesen . . . .Clayton Valley H.S. . . . . . . . . .$5,000 Sarah Hill . . . . . . . . .Clayton Valley H.S. . . . . . . . . .$4,000 Danny Hartnell . . . .Clayton Valley H.S. . . . . . . . . .$3,500 Ann Mason . . . . . . . .Berean Christian H.S. . . . . . . .$3,500 Clayton Tanner . . . . .De La Salle H.S. . . . . . . . . . . .$2,000

RONNIE MCCOY

Kobata, Christopher

Gager, Sean

Hill, Sarah

Bank of America Plaque—Fine Arts

California Scholarship Federation Sealbearer President’s Education Award Wells Fargo Team Member’s Scholarship

Heinert, Christina

Caruso, Jennifer

California Scholarship Federation Sealbearer President’s Education Award

Johnson, Christina

Habib, Salma

President’s Education Award

Hoedt, Andrew

Johnny Filbeck Memorial Scholarship

Fong, Thomas

Barr, Ashley

Ronnie McCo y recei ved the $2,000 P ete Laurence W restling Scholarship. “Ronnie’s a g reat young ath-

Hillman, Christina

Dongallo, Alexis

Albano, Mitzi

Cosas, Alexalyne

Clayton Women’s Club Scholarship Clayton Business & Community Assoc. Scholarship Biola University Scholarship CVHS Future Teachers’ Scholarship Masonic Lodge Scholarship Contra Costa Performing Arts Scholarship

CVHS SCHOLARSHIP ALTAIR CVHS Department Award— Mathematics National Merit Commended Scholar California Scholarship Federation Sealbearer President’s Education Award

McCoy, Ronald

CVHS Athlete of the Year Award Pete Laurence Wrestling Scholarship

McDonald, Ashley

California Scholarship Federation Sealbearer

McKinley, Amber

Rahman, Syed

Menez, Drew

Ricks, Anne

California Scholarship Federation Sealbearer President’s Education Award University of California, Davis Scholarship

Michelsen, Danielle

CVHS LEADERSHIP ALTAIR Student Body President California Scholarship Federation Sealbearer President’s Education Award

Monje, Angelo

California Scholarship Federation Sealbearer Bank of America Certificate of Achievement—Science Kaiser Volunteer Services Scholarship

Mulligan, Ami

California Scholarship Federation Sealbearer

Naik, Kushal

CVHS Department Award— Business California Scholarship Federation Sealbearer

Nakamura, Rachel

California Scholarship Federation Sealbearer President’s Education Award

Nebeker, Amy

California Scholarship Federation Sealbearer President’s Education Award

Nelson, Onna

California Scholarship Federation Sealbearer President’s Education Award

Nguyen, Kim-Sa

St. Mary’s College Scholarship

Olivieri, Alexandra

California Scholarship Federation Sealbearer

Oviedo, Jean Carlo

CVHS Department Award—Science California Scholarship Federation Sealbearer President’s Education Award Bank of America Certificate of Achievement—Communications Daughters of the American Revolution Good Citizen Award Rotary Club of Pleasant Hill Scholarship Rotary Club of Concord Scholarship University of California, Berkeley IDEAL Scholarship

Page, Ashley

President’s Education Award

Rolling, Shannon

California Scholarship Federation Sealbearer St. Mary’s College Scholarship

Rosales, Christopher

CVHS Department Award—Physical Education

Rusk, Jack

California Scholarship Federation Sealbearer President’s Education Award Bank of America Certificate of Achievement— Mathematics

Sivok, Marinda

Holy Names University Scholarship

Spryer, Kirsten

California Scholarship Federation Sealbearer Bank of America Certificate of Achievement—French

Stupka, Nicole

California Scholarship Federation Sealbearer President’s Education Award

Sugg, James Robert

Bank of America Certificate of Achievement—Art

Tabdili-Azar, Arya

California Scholarship Federation Sealbearer

Thornton, Alexandra

California Scholarship Federation Sealbearer

Tomita, Yvette

California Scholarship Federation Sealbearer

Van Vliet, Rachel

California Scholarship Federation Sealbearer

Vander Heyden, Amy

California Scholarship Federation Sealbearer President’s Education Award Irvine Scholar Athlete Award

Vanderstraten, Lindsey

CVHS Athlete of the Year Award

Vargas, Mario

President’s Education Award

Vatnsdal, Sara

California Scholarship Federation Sealbearer Senior Class President

Viscogliosi, Paul

CVHS Department Award—Foreign Language California Scholarship Federation Sealbearer President’s Education Award

California Scholarship Federation Sealbearer

St. Mary’s Scholarship

Pelz, Zack

Pfeiffer, Ryan

President’s Education Award Bank of America Certificate of Achievement—Business

Phan, Dennis

California Scholarship Federation Sealbearer Kaiser Volunteer Services Scholarship

Purdue, Ashley

Waaland, D.J.

California Scholarship Federation Sealbearer

Wells, Randy

Wiesendager, Beth

California Scholarship Federation Sealbearer President’s Education Award

Wiesnoski, Kiyo

California Scholarship Federation Sealbearer

Zhang, Sophia

California Scholarship Federation Sealbearer President’s Education Award

Senior Class Vice President

DANIELLE MICHELSEN RECEIVES LEADERSHIP ALTAIR AWARD Clayton resident Danielle Michelsen received the prestigious Leadership Altair a ward for Clayton Valley High Sc hool class of 2006. Her leadership skills w ere displayed throughout her high school career serving as the freshmen, sophomore and junior class president. During her senior year , Danielle w as the Associated Student Body President and a member of the Senior W omen club. This fall, she will attend UC Berkeley and is interested in pursuing studies in the area of business and life sciences. Despite her busy schedule as a CVHS student and leader , Danielle also ex celled in spor ts. She pla yed four years of basketball and was co-captain of the varsity team this past year . She won numerous a wards as a senior including Califor nia Sc holarship

California Scholarship Federation Sealbearer

Federation Sealbearer , President’s Education a ward and Student Body President a ward. Two years ago she was recognized as a sophomore princess and outstanding sophomore student. Her favorite subjects are spanish, chemistry, english and math. If Danielle’s face looks familiar to you, you probably have seen her at Ed’s Mudville Grill where she’s w orked for the past t wo years.

DANIELLE MICHELSEN

SARAH HILL WINS WOMAN’S CLUB SCHOLARSHIP Sarah has been a warded the Clayton V alley W omen’s Club Scholarship in the amount of $2,000. She is also the recipient of a CBCA Sc holarship in the amount of $4,000, a Califor nia Masonic Foundation Scholarship in the amount of $10,000, a CVHS Future T eachers Scholarship in the amount of $500, a Contra Costa Performing Arts Sc holarship in the amount of $100 and an academic scholarship in the amount of $6,000 per year from Biola University. During high school, Sarah participated in tw o years of varsity track and four years as par t of the CVHS Choir , touring to Seattle , Hawaii, and Boston. She also performed in sc hool plays and talent shows. She w as acti ve in her church as camp counselor for fi ve years and y outh leader. She competed in the Califor nia Music Educators Association the past

SARAH HILL

three years , receiving a Superior , Command Performance her senior year. She also competed in the National Piano Guild receiving superior ratings . Sarah is also a piano teac her herself currently teaching 26 students ranging from age 5 to 14. Sarah will be graduating with honors from CVHS with a GPA of 4.233. In the fall, Sarah will be attending Biola Uni versity in La Mirada, California to pursue a degree in education.

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

June 16, 2006

Reflecting on graduation

Cooler heads will soon prevail at Cla yton V alley High School. The Mt. Diablo Unified School District has appro ved heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HV AC) impro vements in classrooms and office space at sev eral sites, including Clayton V alley High. Work is expected to begin in the 2007’08 school year. The project is par t of Priority 2 of Measure C, a $250 million bond that district voters approved in 2002. “With Priority 2, we went back to the schools and ask ed: ‘What are

you preferences?’ ” says Sue Berg, senior administrati ve assistant to the superintendent. “Not all said air conditioning was next. Some were willing to live without that to ha ve something else.” The district also is taking advantage of matching funds from state Prop . 55, a sc hool construction bond. According to Berg, the district can’t afford to install air conditioning in every school. “So we’re starting small with those sites that fit the state’s eligibility criteria and those that are used for summer programs.” The initial cost will be $56.83 million, with $417,579 in ong oing costs coming from

School News 672-5723 if you have questions. CLAYTON VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL Summer Ar ts Pr ogram: The MDUSD is offering a summer ar ts prog ram for students currently in grades 6-9. Students will tak e tw o enric hment classes , choosing from show c hoir, band, string orchestra, guitar, dance, art, and

Brain Teaser Just before the end of the term four high school students were discussing their chances for cer tain g rades. The follo wing remarks contain the gist of their hopes and fears. Jack: We'll all get different grades. If I get

drama. The Summer Ar ts Program, which is free , will be held on the Clayton Valley High School campus from J une 26 July 25. Families may obtain the registration material at eac h middle school office, next to the summer sc hool material. In person registration will also be handled at Cla yton Valley High School on Friday, June 23, from 10 a.m.-2 p .m. For more information, contact Mr. Mundy Viar at 682-7474 x 3125, or at ClaytonBands@aol.com.

an A, then Lucy will get a D. Jean: If Lucy gets a C , then Jack will g et a D. Jack will get a better g rade than Paul. Lucy: If Jean doesn't get an A, then Jack will get a C. If I get a B, then Paul won't get a D.

Answer: Jack, Jean, Lucy and Paul received B, A, D and C, respectively

MT. DIABLO ELEMENTARY The student council’s annual Entertainment Book sale will start in A ugust. These are the new 2006/2007 books. You can pre-order y ours at mar ydm64@yahoo.com. The books are $25 eac h and the proceeds will benefit the sc hool’s computer updating project, assemblies, library needs , and m uch more. Call Mar y Del Monte at

the General Fund. As additional state funding becomes a vailable, HVAC improvements will be installed at other schools – including Mt. Diablo Elementary in Clayton. “It’s alw ays been a g oal at both of these sc hools,” says Clayton resident Melinda Moore, who is the president of the Parent F aculty Club (PFC) at Clayton Valley. “We think that it w ould improve student lear ning,” Moore adds . “At the high school lev el, it’s been quite a hindrance – especially with kids having to pass the high sc hool exit exam.” Working with the Mt. Diablo PFC, Moore was instru-

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For comments or questions contact Deirdre at CVHS@claytonpioneer.com

CVHS to get air conditioning in 2007, with MDES in next phase of upgrades BEV BRITTON Clayton Pioneer

y ng

It’s summer – the moment some ha ve been looking forward to since the sc hool year started last fall. The swimsuit-clad da ys of leisure and slee ping in until 2 have begun. I’ll admit I’m not going to miss w aking up at 6 in the morning. This summer will be v ery different for me , though, Until now, summer w as merely a reprieve, a c hance to catc h up

be from Cla yton Valley or elsewhere. Onna, Salma, Ben, Ken, Martha, Rachel, Ami, Rex, Katherine, Nick and others whom I ha ven’t mentioned, either because of a lac k of space or m y lackluster memor y, I will miss you. Although I don ’t feel qualified to offer any advice to the recently graduated, perhaps others can. “Watch out for No . 1,” says Rodney Dang erfield’s c haracter in “Bac k to Sc hool,” when advising the g raduating class on what to do. “And try not to step in No. 2!”

CVHS REPORTER

Their g raduation is bittersweet for me . In a w ay I feel selfish, because I hope that m y graduating friends w on’t go too far away, so we can k eep in touch bey ond ar tificial vir tual communication. And yet I know that when I graduate, I’ll probably be leaving – perhaps separating m yself from m y cur rent location by thousands of miles, a state border or even a country. So I can definitely understand the need for this year’ s seniors to get away. Salma Habib, who is brilliant enough to ha ve graduated years ago, perhaps explained it best, in simple terms: “I’m ready to go.” I would like to take this time to sa y g oodbye to the g raduating Class of 2006, whether they

ind of m

DEIRDRE RUSCITTI

on slee p, before the onslaught of work returned in the fall. Although I will not be g raduating, I will be w atching many of my friends as they walk onto the stag e at the Concord Pavilion, receiving the piece of paper that symbolizes four years of work. It is also the piece of paper that will allo w them to pursue futures that they ha ve long sought and deser ve. After all, anyone who can survive four years of high sc hool while maintaining a semblance of sanity has my respect. This is the first year that graduation has really affected me. Although I knew people who w ere g raduating in previous years, this time some of my best friends will be leaving.

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Page A10

mental in g etting air conditioning in the librar y and computer lab there four years ag o. The elementary school also has air conditioned kindergarten classrooms as well as the new portables completed this school year. With previous Measure C funding, the elementar y school’s electrical capacity w as expanded to accommodate a new HVAC system. In her role with the Cla yton Valley PFC , Moore has been looking into getting AC for the library and m ulti-use room there. “But no w, we can focus our funds on academic things for the sc hool,” she sa ys with enthusiasm.

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June 16, 2006

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

Mayor, from page A1

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So, if you get pulled over by our new est serg eant, compliment him on his shiny new badge and y ou might escape a ticket. But understand that y ou probably won’t, since he has to fill his tic ket quota at the new sergeant rate . (City manag er’s note: There are no ticket quotas in Clayton, so relax. Your ticket is because y ou w ere speeding, not because y ou w ere luc ky driver No. 100.) On to some more important, if not as ex citing, matters. The City Council recently discussed our ann ual city budg et, which continues to be balanced despite all the rising costs and state tak e-aways. Kudos to our staff, City Manag er Gar y Napper and Finance Manag er Merry P elletier for a g reat job keeping the red pen capped and only using the black one. As par t of our discussion, we were given a sobering inventory of our deferred facility and infrastructure maintenance. For those who don ’t speak g overnment, that means all the stuff we should be doing to maintain our existing facilities but don ’t have the money or manpower to do right now. I took a course in government doublespeak so I

something that falls within another fund’s domain. We ha ve an estimated $4.5 million in deferred maintenance projects. This includes appro ximately $200,000 for our librar y, $350,000 for our comm unity park, $10,000 for Endea vor Hall, $30,000 for City Hall, $50,000 for our do wntown, $110,000 for AD A sidew alk ramps, $1.8 million for street repavements (over the next fi ve years), $100,000 for stor m drainage system clearance and $50,000 for creek bank stabilization. I did not bring this to y our attention just to sober y ou up , but to illustrate another budg et issue facing our city . We sometimes hear that the city has lots of money and can tak e funds from somewhere else to pay for other things people want. For example, people wonder why we don’t just take the funds for the maintenance of a downtown park from somewhere else in the budget. The answer is we can’t. This is wh y, on the November ballot, we are proposing a special tax district that cannot be tak en away by t he state or used for some other purpose. For just less than $17 a year for a residential parcel, we are ensuring that w e can build and maintain a beautiful do wntown showcase park that will be the centerpiece of a vibrant do wntown. If you don ’t believ e me (say it ain’t so Joe), then I invite you to come do wn to City Hall and examine our budget. I ha ve been long-winded today, so I will lea ve y ou with this r ule of government: For every action, there is an equal and opposite criticism. OK, for you jaded and cynical ones, how about this rule: To succeed in politics , it is often necessary to rise abo ve y our principles. Email me at shuey@rankinlaw.com and have a great week.

can translate quite w ell no wadays and am happy to help. Our pur pose w as to recognize and prioritize these projects for when, and a big if , the state stops taking away local revenue or adding unfunded local mandates. I know, more doublespeak. That means the state pushes costly mandator y programs or oblig ations onto local governments but does not gi ve us the money to r un those programs. For monetar y context, our General Fund revenues in 2001’02 w ere appro ximately $3.7 million. If adjusted based upon the consumer price index, that should ha ve meant a 2005-’06 budget of about $4.1 million. Our actual budg et for 2005-’06 was $76,000 less than in 2001’02. So we have had to continually adjust services and budgets to maintain our balanced budg et with shrinking revenues. Adding a wrinkle to these deferred projects is the fact that some can only be addressed b y specific sources of funding. Since I have already lost most of the readers, to make a long story short, we cannot tak e money out of one fund to pa y for

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Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

King, from page A1 for a “haircut with the w orks.” All of the gift cer tificates were presented in a g orgeous, cookie bouquet, custom designed for the King for a Day winning dad from Cookies b y Design in the Cla yton Station. Decorated cookies included a crown, a castle, a king, a sword and shield, a dragon and a treasure bag—-all not only beautiful to look at, but delicious as well. All of the essays were wonderful tributes to fathers. The Pearsall sisters–Emma, Briana and Olivia–each wrote of their father’s courage and self lessness after a serious car accident last year. Veronica and Shaina Smith, the daughters of Clayton’s Station 11 Firefighter , Ben Smith, honored their father’ s

bravery and community service, saying “…He risks his life everyday to sa ve others . He loves his job and he lo ves helping people.” And Chad Nyberg, 14, in his essay “Not Your Average King” says “Whether he is crowned or not, to m y brother and me , he will always be our king and the person we so dearly look up to.” Space prev ents us from printing all 17 essa ys, but w e want all of the fathers to kno w how honored they were by their childrens’ essays. So, here is a list of all the entries: Caitlen Abele, 16 Elise Canevascini, 13 Emma Carrico, 10 Natassia Coleman, 8 Elise Canevascini, 13

WHY MY DAD SHOULD BE KING FOR A DAY BY EVAN BARNEY

I believe my Dad should be crowned King for the Day because: He is special to me and I love him so much and he is the best father I ha ve had my whole life. If he died, I w ould cr y until I died. I w ould risk m y life for him even if it was dangerous. He is gr eat because he tak es me to r estaurants when I say please and when I cry he always comforts me. My dad r eally loves me. He tak es me to ice cream, he tak es me to m y friend’s house for F riday Movie night. I will love him for ever and ever. Dad shows me how to do ver y hard math pr oblems. He works hard so we can stay in this house for-

ever, even when I am a teenager and he is a grand pa. He makes me wood swords and shields and wood guns with his tools . He will build me a tr ee house when he gets the material. He is ver y special to me and if anyone insults him, I will be mad at them. And e ven when he is mad at me, I will still love him. And here is what Ev an has to sa y to his Dad on Father’s Day: Dear Dad, I hope you have a ver y nice Father’s Day. I’ll do whatever you want. So, if you e ver need me , I will help you. I will also gi ve you happy thoughts . I will also read to you and snug gle with you while you fall asleep. From Evan

Volunteers, from page A1 Kiddieland and help with crowd control – “making sure people don’t move lawn chairs out into the street and to keep the people in the parade moving.” Event org anizers also w elcome donations to help co ver costs. About a dozen local businesses ha ve already pitc hed in, but more money is needed to pay for the free Kiddieland, porta-potties and other supplies. “We do have to do fund-raising,” says parade registration chair Barb Dwyer, “and anybody who would like to keep this tradition g oing and impro ve it can donate. We car ry that money forward year after year , so that we can actually do more if we are able to raise enough.” In Cla yton, the da y begins with a pancak e breakfast at Endeavor Hall sponsored by the Clayton Valley Concord Sunrise Rotary. According to R otary member Al Mar tin, most of the group’s 50 members pitc h in, along with some spouses. About 400 people usually attend the breakfast, which includes sausage, juice and coffee. “We’ve got some guys who are pretty good cooks, so it’s a good breakfast,” Martin says. Food service begins at 7 a.m. Tickets are $5 adults, $3 for chil-

Andrew Freeman, 10 Chad Nyberg, 14 Briana Pearsall Emma Pearsall, 13 Olivia Pearsall, 6 Benjamin Robinow, 8 Natalie Savarino, 11 Karen Schussman, 13 Valerie Senavsky, 10 Christine Senavsky, 12 Shaina Smith, 13 Veronica Smith, 9 So, crowned or not, dads, you are all still kings in the eyes and hearts of your children. And we w ant ev ery father to kno w how valued, loved and honored they are. So, we will be sending each entrant a parc hment copy of their essay to present to their dad on Father’s Day. Happy Father’s Day to every dad out there from the staff and publishers of the Cla yton Pioneer.

dren 12 and under. The10 a.m. children’s parade has g rown tremendously in recent years – from a few hundred kids to about 1,000. “As (parade commentator) Dan Ashley sa ys, ‘They are airlifting in the kids from all o ver the county,’ ” says a laughing Hoffmeister. “But it’ s that real Norman R ockwell moment … with the kids , the dogs and the photo opps.” Children who want to participate should line up on Oak Street before 10 a.m. The 45minute stroll leads the main parade, which will have patriotic entries such as an Honor Guard and the Blue Star Moms. Arlene Kikka wa-Nielsen has organized the f loat for the Clayton Librar y for eight years . It’s a natural fit for Nielsen, who grew up in Souther n Califor nia and still g oes back every year to help build a f loat for the R ose Parade. Each year, the librar y f loat’s theme is tied to the summer reading prog ram. Anywhere from 60 to 90 people help w ork on it through various stages. “It’s a lot of creativity in a short period of time,” she says, noting that they recycle materials year after year . For example, a 10-foot drag on mor phed into

an allig ator, then tur ned bac k into a dragon “after some more plastic surgery.” For pre- and post-parade fun, Kiddieland will be open 8:30-9:30 a.m. and 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Local non-profit g roups will sell soft drinks , water and juice along the parade route , but the only food a vailable will be at the downtown restaurants. Although there’s been some sentiment to ward making the event long er, Hoffmeister sa ys the crowd always thins by 2 p.m. “The kids are hopped up on sugar, and it’ s hot and they’ re tired,” she sa ys. “When w e’ve had vendors in the past, they say it hasn ’t been w orth their time and effor t. They don ’t g et a return on their in vestment in such a short time period. “It’s a compact ev ent,” Hoffmeister adds . “The setup , takedown and clean up are all done that day.”

For mor e infor mation on volunteering with crowd control, parking or Kiddieland, call City Hall at 6737300. Tax-deductible monetar y contributions can be sent to Clayton 4th of July P arade, c/o City of Clayton, 6000 Heritage T rail, Clayton, CA 94517. Everyone is welcome to help build the librar y float or be in the parade with them. Sign-ups sheets can be found at the librar y.

June 16, 2006

Fire, from page A1 George. They had the fire out in less than 30 minutes. The fire started in the south corner of the dock and spread quickly up the w ood siding and into the main building. “When the firefighters g ot inside, the flames were five feet from the mail, ” George said. “They opened up the hoses on it and c hased it bac k out the way it came in.”

No mail w as lost and there were no injuries in the fire . According to CCFPD Public Infor mation Officer Emily Hopkins, the fire is being treated as “suspicion” and the actual cause is still under in vestigation. “This is a joint in vestigation with the United States P ost Office,” said Hopkins, “and the USPS in vestigators are acti vely

pursuing some good leads.” At press time, there had not yet been an ar rest. “We aren ’t prepared to release any details,” said J eff Fitch, USPS Public Information Officer . “This is still an ongoing investigation.” The building is o wned b y Ocean West in Scottsdale, Ariz., and is leased to the Post Office. Project manag er Mik e Greenwood is still w aiting for estimates and does not ha ve a completion date for repairs.

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Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer .com

It’s all in the family for Cla yton roofer

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Page A13

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If you’re dri ving through a neighborhood in Clayton or the surrounding area, all y ou ha ve to do is look up and y ou’ll likely find Nathan Smith. The Clayton resident spends a lot of his time on other people’s roofs , doing what it he does best; re roofing, including all types of roof repairs and gutter cleaning. His business , Smith and Bernal is rooted in family . Nathan’s dad has been in the roofing business for 35 years and his brothers are also involved. For the past 10 years , Nathan has dev eloped a solid business of his o wn; most of his new clients come from referrals and from adv ertising in T he Cla yton Pioneer . He does so m uch business in Clayton that he’ s known as the city’s roofer. “Clayton residents lik e to keep the w ork local, ” says Nathan. And he’s here to satisfy their wishes . His clients are impressed with the quality of his w ork, his prompt response and his eng aging personality . Thanks for being on time , is

what many of his clients tell him when he ar rives for a particular job; which tells you how important it is to be reliable and trustworthy in this business , explains, Nathan. Being a local guy, he can respond quic kly to any emergency and guarantees a same day response. He has spent the winter months helping clients with roof repairs, gutter cleaning, tar and g ravel and other maintenance and inspection jobs . “A leak is usually the first time a homeowner kno ws something is wrong, ” Nathan sa ys. He urges clients to act when a tile is cracked or missing or sc hedule a regular routine maintenance which sa ves a lot of time and money in the long r un. The summer season is a time for reroofing. Although Nathan installs all types of roofs, he highly recommends composite roofs whic h are vir tually maintenance free . Nathan stresses the need for homeo wners to locate a small problem before a costly re pair is assessed and to help with this, Smith and Bernal Roofing offers free evaluations. Nathan does all the work on the premises by himself. “I don’t have any employees. That way I don’t have to w orry about any-

Tamara Steiner/Clayton Pioneer

LOOK

UP,

and you’re likely to see Nathan Smith working on a roof.

one else’s work. It’s quality control. I bid on the job and sho w up to do the work,” he says. “I lo ve the roofing business,” says Nathan. He especially lik es the feeling that he g ets when he’s able to solve a homeowner’s roofing problems and winds up with a satisfied customer. Since he’d rather be up on the roof doing what he loves to do , the paper w ork is his challenge. But he g ets it done and his business is thriving.

Nathan is busy , sometimes six days a week. The only thing he’d like to promote in his business is to expand his list of annual maintenance c hecks for homeowners. “It could be a big savings for m y customers ,” he adds. Nathan is mar ried to Jennifer and is the proud father of a four-month old bab y boy, Brayden. When he’s not on the roof, he’s in the w ater enjoying all types of water sports.

Oakland Bass player offers a most inspiring performance Four bass players each played a 40-min ute set to a sold-out house on “Solo Bass Night, ” held Ma y 17 at the F reight and Salvage Coffee House in Berkeley. This is not a review of the concert. Rather, it’s a commentary on the a wesome displa y of talent and commitment b y the show’s headliner , Michael Manring of Oakland. The leg endary m usician has taken the conce pt of solo bass playing to heights previously unknown. Without his g roundbreaking effor ts in dev eloping the idea of a solo bass , there

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MUSIC NOTES by the performance. Manring co-designed one of the bass guitars he w as pla ying, using un usual tuning lev ers that allow him to quic kly and accurately c hange tunings frequently during a song. But bac k to that “dev otion” thing. It was so pleasantly ironic to hear Manring talk in his soft, unassuming v oice betw een songs. He w as visibly touc hed

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didn’t disappoint. As good as his playing was, what was even more striking w as his approac h to his music. It was reverential. As he closed his eyes and played, it was almost like being in church. The combination of his commitment and devotion to his music was palpable. Which isn ’t to sa y his w as a soft, meandering set of music. His first song contained ag gressive, pulsating rh ythms and syncopations, and the sound w as BIG. Partly as a result of the wonderful sound system at the Freight and par tly because of Manring’s technical and electronic expertise, the notes filled every fiber of being in the listeners – who w ere thoroughly capti vated

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would ha ve been no “solo bass night” in the first place. For the record, the first three bassists were all v ery g ood players and each was unique. Dave Grossman opened the show, playing a long, classical piece. He w as follo wed b y J eff Schmidt, who combined sophisticated tec hnique and un usual tunings for a dazzling displa y of bass playing. Jean Baudin had a n umber of his fans in the cro wd, worshipping his pla ying and c harismatic personality as he pla yed on an oversized instrument that had 11 strings (most basses ha ve four strings). All three pla yers were engaging. But it w as Manring whom most of us came to see , and he

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that such a nice crowd turned out to hear what he described as “weird bass m usic,” going so far as to describe himself as the “ambassador of weird.” When y ou think about it, to be able to tra vel the w orld as he does, playing a style and type of music that’ s far remo ved from the m usical mainstream, is quite astonishing. Part of what enables him to do so is his total commitment to his art. He believes in the power of music, and it’s refreshing to see. Now, more than a w eek after the concert, the evening still resonates. That room full of glorious sound, from one man on one instrument, continues to radiate inside m y psyc he. I also hold a mental picture of a man small in stature but larg e in spirit, eyes closed, at one with his music. Thank you, Michael. I needed that.

Jim Hudak’ s Music Notes column appears r egularly in the Pioneer. Contact him at jimm ydak@pacbell.net. His piano music CD’s are available from his Web site at www.jhudak.com or at amazon.com.

Page A14

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

Pepper is indeed all it’s cracked up to be Pepper, that blac k g rit that makes us sneeze and fires up the palate, has a long and interesting history. It still g rows wild in its native Kerala state in southw est India but w as spread throughout South and Southeast Asia thousands of years ag o b y Hindu colonists . Pepper w as one of the early commodities

LINDA WYNER

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sought b y Europeans . Arab traders had a monopoly on pepper for hundreds of years before the Greeks and R omans discovered its source . It once traded ounce for ounce with gold. In the Middle Ag es, pepper was used to season and preserve meat, as w ell as mask odors of rotting meat. Peppercorns were used in trade and for debts and rents. The Greeks traded v ast amounts of silver for black pepper, much to the c hagrin of local treasuries.

other spices played in medicine. In Indian A yurvedic medicine, black pe pper is used to treat digestive disorders, coughs and colds and help reduce inflammations. In Western medicine, black pepper is used as an anti-fungal and for its anti-o xidant properties. Black, green and white pe ppers are all fr uits of the Piper nigrum bush. The difference comes from their har vest date and processing . Pink pe ppercorns come from an entirely different plant and ha ve different flavor c haracteristics that are best suited for fr uit dishes and desserts. Brazilian pe pper berries are sometimes confused with pink or red pe ppercorns, but they can cause allergic reactions and can be to xic in larg e quantities. Although there are more than 100 types of Piper plants, the tw o principal v arieties are Tellicherry and Malabar . Harvested while still g reen, the berries are sun-dried or blanched and dried mec hanically. As the outer la yer dries out, the c haracteristic dark crinkly skin develops. White pepper, which is more widely consumed around the world than blac k, is fully matured when har vested. Once picked, it is soak ed for a w eek and dried in the sun to allo w it to dev elop the cream y white color. Green pe ppercorns are har-

Ann Garber/Evalu8.org

STEAK AU POIVRE

In the 12th century London, a guild of wholesale pe pper merchants w as established. They ev entually merg ed with spice traders and in the 15th century, they became the Grocers’ Company which exists to this day. Some of these merchants had simple apothecaries , reflecting the role pe pper and

vested while still immature and either brined or dehydrated. Szechuan pepper is a reddishbrown ber ry unrelated to the Piper plant. This popular ing redient in Chinese cuisine is one of the ingredients in five-spice powder along with star anise , fennel, clove and cinnamon. Pepper is mark eted in its

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whole state as well as cracked or ground. Whole peppercorns are superior because they hold their flavor and essential oils far longer – some sa y up to three years. Given the v ast ar ray of pepper mills a vailable these days, there’s hardly any ex cuse for not grinding your own when a recipe calls for it. Steak au poi vre is a classic French preparation While there are many v ersions, some quite complex, the following is a simple pre paration once y ou ha ve the ingredients on hand. STEAK AU POIVRE 4 6 oz. to 8 oz. tenderloin beef fillets 2 Tbsp. whole peppercorns ½ tsp. salt 1 Tbsp. olive oil 1 Tbsp. butter 2 Tbsp. minced shallots 2 Tbsp. brandy ½ c. heavy cream Place whole pe ppercorns in a large frying pan. Cover with a thin dishtowel and cr ush with a mallet or bottom of smaller frying pan. The g oal is to create large c hunks of pepper, not a fine dust. Sprinkle the fillets with salt and press both sides of the meat into the cr ushed pe pper to create a cr ust. In cast iron or other hea vy frying pan, heat oil and butter together. Add steaks and allo w to bro wn and cook for 3 to 4 minutes. Turn and repeat. If needed, finish steaks to the desired doneness in a 350 degree oven while preparing the sauce. For the sauce , saute shallots in the pan drippings . When slightly colored (not bro wned), carefully deglaze the pan b y adding the brandy . (If desired, the brandy can be ignited to burn off most of the alcohol.) Add cream and bring to a simmer for a few min utes until of desired consistency. Serve as an accompaniment to the steaks.

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GREEN PEPPERCORN STRAWBERRY SAUTE 1 small bask et stra wberries, hulled and halved 2 Tbsp. sugar 2 Tbsp. butter 2 Tbsp. orange juice 1 Tbsp. lemon juice 2 Tbsp. orange liqueur 1 tsp . brined g reen pe ppercorns Heat hea vy-bottomed sauce pan and add sug ar, stirring until melted and slightly caramelized. Add butter , juices and liqueur and simmer until reduced and thick. Add stra wberries and whole peppercorns. Simmer for 2 minutes and serve over vanilla ice cream or pound cak e (or both). Linda W yner is an attor ney in Walnut Cr eek by day , and an accomplished chef and “foodie” by choice. Direct your suggestions or questions to lwyner@claytonpioneer.com

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Kimberly Morucci (925) 280-8563 kmorucci@interorealestate.com www.kimmorucci.com Recipient of Intero Executive Circle Award Member of Intero’s Top 10% Producers Clayton resident & ranch property owner.

This Adorable 2 bedroom, 1 bath Condo features Light Oak Laminate Flooring, Newer Carpet, Fresh Paint, & Balcony Overlooking the Pool Situated on the Top Floor. Great Commute Location, near Hwy’s 680 & 24, and Downtown W alnut Creek.

Offered at $399,950.

Concord Condo, Clayton Border, PENDING 1815 Concord Blvd. #C. Completely Redone 2 Bedroom, 2 Bath, 2 Car Garage. Great Area, Spacious 2 Story with New Carpets, Paint & Appliances including Washer, Dryer & Refrigerator. Offered at $415,000.

Walnut Creek office, 1280 Civic Dr., Suite 200, Walnut Creek, CA 94596 (925) 280-8500

June 16, 2006

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer .com

At any given time, a daylily’s beauty awaits

Now Showing

xciting 4 bedroom 3 bath Oakhurst beauty with 2,467 square feet on a quiet street. The popular Larson Plan with a bedroom and full bath downstairs is ideal for an in-law or office! Enjoy dramatic ceilings, bay window, wet-bar, and a fully landscaped yard with privacy and its own babbling brook! Priced to sell at only $849,000. Call Pete to get in line now!

Knowledge, Service, Integrity, Results Office: 939-7920 Fax: 939-1939 VM 24 hr: 940-2777

PETE LAURENCE Broker-Owner, Realtor, GRI

1511 Treat Blvd. #100, Walnut Creek, CA 94598

Professional Nail Salon For Men and Women

e're proud to welcome you to our beautiful new nail spa. You will find our highly trained staff to be experienced in all phases of nail care and enhancement, facials and waxing. In pursuit of the utmost in cleanliness and comfort, we are pleased to offer LaFleur spa chairs, the latest in cleanjet no-pipe technology. Our goal is to pamper you in a spa-like environment so that you feel relaxed and rejuvenated every time you visit.

UÜ|Çz|Çz çÉâ à{x uxáà Éy uxtâàç $10 off

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Exp. 7/8/06

Concord 4436 Clayton Rd, Suite G Across from FoodMaxx

(925) 676-8668

$5 off

any service over $20 Concord salon only. 1 coupon per customer. Cannot be combined with any other of fers.

Exp. 7/8/06

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

Reem mood deelliinngg R Deecckkss D Ovveerrhhaannggss O Wiinnd doow wss//D Doooorrss W C r o w n M o l diinngg Crown Mold diinngg SSiid m TTrriim

free free estimates estimates

Declan Woods 925.216.2679 Specializing in Bathrooms and Kitchens

Page A15

Noel O’ Meara 925.518.0821

Recommended by “Realtor of the Year” Lynne French

Clayton Resident

General Contractor license# 783799, B, HIC

Daylilies are the striking summer beauties of the garden. The strap-like foliage arches and bends to ward the g round. Flower stalks rise , resembling sturdy pedestals supporting picture-perfect lily shaped f lowers of all sizes and colors. Hemercallis is the family name for the da ylily. It comes from tw o Greek w ords, one meaning beauty and the other day. Each blossom lasts only a day, but keep in mind that there are many f lower buds on eac h flower stalk and many stalks in each plant clump. Daylilies are a perfect perennial for all of the Clayton Valley area to enjo y. This family is available in a rainbow of colors, sizes and shapes , blooming from late spring through autumn. Daylilies sur vive with little care in a wide range of climates. They are suitable for all kinds of landscapes, from countr y cottage to T uscan. Daylilies are drought-resistant and almost disease and insect free , not to mention v ery adaptable – surviving full sun to par t shade . Container or g round g rown, daylilies are a hot g arden addition. When selecting a site for you daylilies, look toward the sun. At least six hours of sun is needed, just like a typical rose. Some daylilies are evergreen, others deciduous. Some may be dwarf in size and others ha ve bold bicolor blooms . All are worth g rowing. Evergreen daylilies are the most desired as

NICOLE HACKETT

GARDEN GIRL

STELLA D'ORO

many gardeners do not like winter-dormant plants. Scarlet Orbit is a stunning, brilliant red daylily. With maturity, the blossoms will near 6 inches wide . This v ariety stands 30 inches when blooming and is great incor porated with poolside g ardens or mix ed with some simple Stor m Cloud Agapanthus. Big Gold is a gutsy g olden orange knockout. The petals of this selection are thic k and robust, almost w et-looking, making them another g reat poolside or pondside introduction. Surround the Big Gold Hemercallis with some Pur ple Superbenia for an a wesome combination. Cranberry Baby is an evergreen as w ell as a dw arf selection of daylily. This one-footer has ruffled wine color blossoms, smaller in size but profuse in

Letters, from page A4 Over the years n umerous people ha ve made sug gestions as to where WE can tak e the books. No one is anxious to come select and pac k up books as w e are closing do wn. Any public ser vice org anization or non-profit is w elcome to tak e the books and pass them on. However, we do not ha ve the volunteers or the time to r un them all over the county. I hope this letter answers any questions about the disposition of donated books . Keep those donations coming in. Did y ou kno w that Cla yton Community Librar y is the fourth busiest librar y in Contra Costa County? Joyce Atkinson, President Clayton Community Library Foundation MEMORIAL DAY SERVICE Dear Editor, Lt. Jerry No vakovich VFW Post 1525 gi ves special thanks to the Cla yton comm unity for supporting two of our activities. Donations recei ved during

the Buddy P oppy Prog ram will be used in our area. Special thanks to Alber tsons and Safeway Stores for per mitting the P ost to set up our Buddy Poppy Stations. Community attendance for the Memorial Da y Ceremony exceeded our expectations . The Post ac knowledges the City of Clayton and the Clayton Pioneer in suppor ting the Ceremony honoring America’ s F allen Hero’s. Thanks Clayton Richard “Pete” Loechner Commander VFW Post 1525 Dear Editor Memorial Da y Ceremonies in Clayton were very well done and well attended. Each of the speakers, save one , closely adhered to the purpose of honoring those who had ser ved their countr y and those who had died in that ser vice. The keynote speaker, Retired Army Major General Daniel Helix, gave an inspiring historical account of our countr y’s

bloom. What this selection lacks in size, it makes up for in abundance. There are other g reat dw arf daylilies to consider . Stella D’ Oro has been enjoyed for years. This bright yello w bloomer reaches 12 inches tall and slowly grows wider , making a g reat accessory for ornamental stones and pathw ays. This plant can really take the intense heat. Purple D’ Oro is a new er daylily for collector g ardeners. The reddish pur ple flower adds a calming effect when installed with Gaillardia F anfare. Look closely at the Pur ple D’ Oro to notice the yellow throat and ruffled edges. This deciduous plant is gorgeous. During the winter months , both of the Stellas fall aslee p. But no w orries – they come back with the early heat of spring. many conf licts. He pro vided short but very poignant descriptions, beginning with the Revolutionary W ar up to an including the situation in Iraq. It w as also refreshing that the ceremony w as k ept v ery brief, despite the string of political speakers. At the same time , it w as unfortunate that one speak er was unable to confine his comments to reflections on our fallen comrade’ s. While his expressed political views ma y have been shared b y many in the audience , they w ere inappropriate and de precated the ceremony. Mike Callahan Clayton Resident Dear Editor, Just thought y ou’d lik e to know that some neighborhood teamwork stopped a fire at a Diablo Downs home. It w as about 6:50 pm on Sunday evening, May 28, and I was w alking m y dog on Mt. Etna…As I came up to the ridge I saw that there appeared to be a fire right up next to the side of the house . It could

Happy Returns is a softer , canary yellow dwarf daylily, and Coming Up R oses has ruffled rose pink flowers and tolerates a little more shade. The deciduous v arieties of Hemercallis are the most ex citing, as far as the blooms g o. Tiger Time PP 12,445 is a new selection that is a stunner . The 3-inch orang e f lowers ha ve a reddish zoning in the center . The impact that eac h blossom makes is outstanding. Selma Timmons is a full, broad-textured daylily with apricot/orange colored flowers with a nar row pink central stripe . This plant is an ex cellent rebloomer. August F lame has f lower stalks that reac h 3 to 4 feet tall. Red F lame flowers are centered with a dramatic yello w orange blotch. Golden Ze bra is a stable variegated da ylily. Green lea ves with wide creamy white borders are accented with soft orang e flowers on a 12-inch tall plant. When designing y our areas , plant colors in masses and spot occasional contrasting colors . Use a premium soil conditioner and protect from snails. Nicole is the Garden Girl at R&M Pool, Patio and Garden Contact her with questions, comments or suggestions at GardenGirl94517@yahoo.com

have been someone bur ning some la wn trimmings , but I didn’t see any people in the yard. I ran to the nearest house that had someone at home…and they called 911. I went bac k to k eep an eye on the fire and w ait for the fire fighters to show up. A few min utes later , Dave Kreissel w as passing b y and asked if the smok e w as from someone’s BBQ. I told him no, and that 911 had been called. He took action and climbed down the hillside . Grabbing what he could find, he used a BBQ lid to scoop w ater out of the pool to douse the f lames. I could hear the hiss of the water meeting the f lames all the w ay up where I stood. When the fire tr uck ar rived, the folks from 156 Mt. Etna directed them do wn to (the fire.) W hen the police and the fire tr uck ar rived the fire had been stopped...Thanks to some neighborly teamw ork the fire didn’t g et any far ther than the side of that house. Lisa Lampo Mt. Dell Drive

Gather round the grill for a Happy Father’s Day

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the place for fine gifts, patio & garden furniture, spas, barbeque islands & aquality nursery.

ld r o w l fu r e d n o w e th to Welcome of your own backyard Pool, Patio & Gardens Family owned since 1983

6780 Marsh Creek Road, Clayton

· 672-0207

Closed Mondays

Page A16

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

June 16, 2006

georgevujnovich.com

Trust your home to

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

Each Office Is Independently Owned & Operated.

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

KELLER RIDGE AT OAKHURST COUNTRY CLUB!

WINDMILL CANYON AT OAKHURST COUNTRY CLUB!

“Kirker” model on a quiet court with views! 4 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, approx. 2,313sf &

Stunning on a pr emium view lot!

overlooking un-obstructed views of valley to Delta! “Serenade” model with 4 bedrooms, 3 baths, approx. 2,894sf, 2 fireplaces & 3 car garage! Extensive upgrades: Cherry wood floors, plantation shutters, wood blinds & window trim. Gourmet granite tile kitchen with custom cabinet treatment & slate floors. Expanded family room with fireplace. Spacious master with balcony offer panoramic views to Delta! Ptivate lot features extensive custom hardscape & patio, lawn area & views. $959,000

2 car garage. Upgraded laminate wood floors, neutral carpet & window coverings. Living room with views of hillside. Tile gourmet kitchen opens to family room with marble fireplace & wet bar . Roomy master suite offers panoramic views of valley & city below . Private yard features a custom elevated deck with built-in seating & planters, lawn area & assortment of roses. $799,000

PEACOCK CREEK AT OAKHURST COUNTRY CLUB!

Custom Built Sensational Single Story 3 bedrooms plus a den, 2.5 baths, approx.

2,700sf, 2 fireplaces & 3 car garage! Extensively upgraded throughout! Den with French doors. Chef’s kitchen boasts upgraded tile floors, granite counters, oversized center island, maple cabinets & pantry. Spacious family room features custom media cabinets, wet bar & granite tile fireplace. Enormous master suite of fers a sitting area & bath featuring a Jacuzzi jetted tub & huge walk-in closet. Professionally landscaped level lot of fers the utmost privacy & features an exposed aggregate patio, lush lawn & cascading waterfall with pond $1,089,500

Fabulous Custom Home on a prime ridgeline view lot! backing to open space with

commanding views of oak dotted hills-canyons & ridgeline! 5 bedrooms + den, 3.5 baths, approx. 3,850sf, 2 fireplaces & 2 car garage. Grand scale entry. Downstairs guest suite with private bath. Elegant living & banquet size formal dining rooms. Huge gourmet granite kitchen with 18” tile floors. Spacious family room with a slate tile fireplace. Luxurious master suite offers balcony overlooking exhilarating views! Private lot features an expansive random stone patio & lawn area that blends into open space. $1,250,000

FALCON RIDGE AT OAKHURST COUNTRY CLUB! Former “Candlelight” model on one of the Best view lots in Oakhurst! 3 bedrooms plus a den, 3 full ING D N baths, approx. 2,836sf, 3 car garage & inside laundry. PE Ridgeline lot in a quiet cul-de-sac setting overlooks commanding un-obstructed views of city , valley , hills, golf course to Delta & beyond! Formal living & dining rooms. Downstairs den. Upgraded flooring including hardwood & marble, neutral décor & custom window coverings. Gourmet kitchen features corian counters, center island, hardwood floors & an abundance of upgraded Euro cabinets. Spacious family room with upgraded fireplace. Enormous master suite offers enchanting views! Private fabulous view lot of fers a patio, lush lawn area & a magnificent array of flowers, plants & ornamentals that provide year round beauty & color! $1,029,000

WINDMILL CANYON AT OAKHURST COUNTRY CLUB!

Meticulously maintained “Kirker” model! 4 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, approx. 2,313sf &2

car garage. Upgraded laminate wood floors throughout first floor! New carpet & neutral décor throughout! Living room with soaring ceiling. Formal dining room. Gourmet kitchen features tile counters, island & breakfast nook opens to family room with fireplace & wet bar. Spacious master suite with walk-in closet, oversized soaking tub & separate stall shower. Private yard offers a covered patio, maturing trees & flowers. Walk to community park. $789,500

Clayton Market Update

KELLER RIDGE AT OAKHURST COUNTRY CLUB!

Spectacular setting backs to open space! “Serenade” model is 5 bedrooms + den, 3

baths, approx. 3,079sf, 3 fireplaces & 3 car garage. Desirable 1st floor bedroom. Upgraded tile flooring, carpet/pad & decorator paint. Gourmet tile kitchen with pantry. Family room with tumbled stone fireplace. Romantic master suite with fireplace & views of open space. Private paradise lot features a sparkling pool with spa & waterfall, aggregate patio, prof. landscape & nature fence allowing backyard to flow into open space. $995,000

PENDING PROPERTIES

Chaparral Springs . . . . . . . .$539,000 Peacock Creek . . . . . . . . . .$1,095,000

ING D N PE

Peacock Creek . . . . . . . . . .$1,150,000 Peacock Creek . . . . . . . . . .$1,200,000

Mortgage Market Update

Conforming $417,000 or less (no points)

Jumbo $417,001 and up (no points)

30 year, fixed for 3 . . . . . . .6.375% 30 year, fixed for 5 . . . . . . .6.375% 30 year, fixed for 7 . . . . . . . . .6.5% 30 year, fixed for 10 . . . . . .6.625% 15 year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6.375% 30 year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6.75%

30 year, fixed for 3 . . . . . . .6.375% 30 year, fixed for 5 . . . . . . .6.375% 30 year, fixed for 7 . . . . . . .6.625% 30 year, fixed for 10 . . . . . . .6.75% 15 year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6.5% 30 year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6.75%

ING D N PE

Provided by George Vujnovich of Better Homes Realty ADDRESS 121 Gold Rush Court 407 Wawona Lane 1941 Eagle Peak Ave 610 Julpun Loop 5612 Frank Place 5016 Raven Way 746 Bloching Circle 3036 Windmill Canyon Dr 74 Nottingham Pl 1425 Indianhead Way 1296 Easley Drive 1415 Greystone Lane 20 Mt. Wilson 904 Arrowhead Ter 301 Meredith Ct 316 Mt. Washington Wy 5915 Wallace Dr 3505 Coyote Circle 15 Clark Creek Cir 130 Mt. Shasta Court 377 Blue Oak lane 4775 Morgan Territory 202 Falcon Place 20 Ohlone Lane 1111 Peacock Creek Dr 232 Jeffry Ranch Pl 1338 Shell Lane 1224 Bridlewood Ct

PRICE $824,900 $918,000 $595,000 $649,900 $863,000 $799,000 $899,000 $745,000 $889,000 $580,000 $815,000 $620,000 $530,000 $655,000 $849,950 $815,000 $834,000 $482,500 $520,000 $749,000 $1,111,724 $975,000 $789,900 $749,000 $1,150,000 $815,000 $545,000 $1,041,000

SALE DATE

06/02/06 05/26/06 05/25/06 05/25/06 05/18/06 05/17/06 05/17/06 05/16/06 05/12/06 05/11/06 05/02/06 04/30/06 04/28/06 04/28/06 04/28/06 04/26/06 04/19/06 04/19/06 04/17/06 04/14/06 04/14/06 04/13/06 03/31/06 03/30/06 03/30/06 03/30/06 03/29/06 03/28/06

2,171 2,505 1,554 1,991 2,398 2,053 2,325 1,877 2,088 1,430 2,116 1,891 1,378 1,939 2,011 2,619 2,095 1,252 1,457 1,919 3,162 2,753 2,313 1,877 3,599 2,005 1,367 3,615

BED/BATH 4/2.5 3/2 3/2.5 3/2.5 4/2.5 3/2 4/2.5 3/2.5 4/2 3/2.5 4/2.5 4/2.5 3/2.5 3/2.5 4/2.5 6/2.5 3/3 2/2.5 3/2.5 4/2 4/2.5 4/3 4/2.5 3/2.5 4/2.5 4/2.5 2/2.5 5/4.5

CLAYTON PIONEER June 16, 2006

Section B

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

Page B1

Beautiful beaches, friendly people and tequila sandy beac hes, 80 deg ree ocean water and enough breathtaking scenery to mak e y our eyes blur . The resor t combined ex cellent scenery with wide open spaces and literally no one else around.

KEVIN PARKER

HIKER’S HAVEN Oh, Mexico It sounds so simple I just got to go The sun’s so hot I forgot to go home Guess I’ll have to go now – James Taylor

The reservations were set, the bags pac ked, flights confir med. With passports in hand and pale white bodies primed for a solid seven da ys in the sun, we took off from SFO on a direct f light to Puerta Vallarta, Mexico. This was our first family vacation, and tra veling with a 1-year old south of the border proved to challenging at times. But when the smoke cleared, the adv enture, relaxation and an up-close and personal look at this countr y was the mission we had accomplished. Bahía de Banderas (Banderas Bay) is an area in Mexico that encompasses all of the locations described in this ar ticle. Visiting every town, beach and all points in between within Banderas Ba y would take weeks, possibly months. However, I hope y ou g et some enjoyment from hearing about a few places I have highlighted. Our home base w as Ranc ho Banderas, a timeshare resor t about 40 miles nor th of Puerto Vallarta. Think beautiful white

SAYULITA With a population of about 3,000, the small fishing villag e of Sayulita is situated on one of my favorite stretc hes of beach. It has become a favorite destination for surfers from all o ver the world. The zócalo (main plaza or square) is an upbeat and w ellmaintained g athering place . Activities include surf camps, boogie-boarding, shopping, eating, fishing/snorkeling tours, kayaking, bicycling and even drinking beer in the shade if that is your thing. As w e strolled around to wn, it became obvious that this town has evolved into a hipster’s paradise. Put away your dictionary, I’ll translate that last sentence for you. Although the to wn’s roots are as a fishing villag e, many of the original stores and shops have been replaced with Internet cafes and crafty shops . Distant sounds of Bob Marley can be heard around every corner. The mood w as festi ve and good vibes could be felt from every direction, as people from

the last 50 years into a w orld famous tra vel destination, hosting millions of visitors ev ery year. Although areas of Puerto Vallarta are dominated b y luxury

can all be found here not to mention many local families and residents who help to mak e the malecon suc h a focal g athering place. It w as a special treat to see tourists and locals blending tog ether to enjoy the many activities, shops, restaurants, bars and other attractions, which are too long to list. My recommendation w ould be to wander off the main road and follow one of the many cobblestone streets that will tak e y ou to places lik e Pipi’ s for w orld-class margaritas and Café de Olla for the best authentic food in to wn. (Don’t let the line turn yo u away ; it Kevin Parker/Clayton Pioneer is worth the wait.) SAYULITA BEACH, MEXICO You can ev en mega-resorts, most of PV has quick glance around will remind catch a bullfight on W ednesday you this is indeed Mexico . Some managed to maintain a pleasant nights, November through May. highlights include Don P edro’s feel. Locals help gi ve the area a AGAVE LEYVA for eats (It’s owned by a success- sense of community. When is the last time you visMost of our visit w as spent ful c hef who mo ved from ited a family-owned, 100 percent on and around the malecon Seattle. Order the m ussels and agave tequila operation? W hile puttanesca.); Papa’s P alapa’s, (boardwalk). This beautifully driving through the to wn of designed boardw alk r uns along Lunazul and Sininen for surfMazcales and the confusing the coast, dissecting the ocean shop items; Ojo de V erdano for from n umerous shops , restau- matrix of dirt roads and brokengreat local ar ts, instruments and jewelry; Tia Adriana’s B&B; and rants, art g alleries and bars . down cars , I w as sure w e w ere lost. I honestly could not figure Dozens of sculptures from local even El Camerón Camping, out wh y any one w ould w ant to artists can be found spread out complete with beac hside locale visit Agave Leyva. along the malecon, and they are and grassy sites. But after meeting F rancisco worth an extra look. Leyva and g etting a first-class PUERTO VALLARTA Street ar tists, a health y par ty What was once a quaint seaeducation on the making of scene, fish taco stands , vendors side village has transformed over and ev en helado (ice cream) – tequila from a family that has all walks of life and geographical locations cong regated near the crystal blue water. Do not despair , though, this town has not lost its identity . A

BAHÍA

DE BANDERAS, MEXICO

Travel Time: 3.5 hours (by plane) Time Difference: 2 hours ahead Average Temp.: 84 degrees (May/June) Trip Tip No. 1: Bring plenty of sunscreen Trip Tip No. 2: Rent a car, as there is much to see off the beaten path

been doing it since the 1930s , believe me I was all ears. The process involves harvesting the blue ag ave pineapples , which are the center core of the plants. Each ag ave plant m ust grow seven to 10 years before the pineapple can be har vested. Once the plants are cut, they let them bleed out and then cook them in a roc k pit for 72 hours . After cooling, each agave pineapple is smashed with an arc haic log and rope contraption. Then each pineapple is rung out and its juice is k ept in w ood bar rels. A series of three bar rels is used during this process. They are left to ferment naturally with bacteria and finally fired in a copper k ettle tw o different times . They ultimately yield 5 liters of pure and clear 100 percent ag ave tequila per each two agave pineapples. The process tak es about six months and is perfor med b y hand, as it has been for the last three g enerations of the Leyv a family. We tasted the four types of tequila made during this process , and m y fa vorite b y far w as the

See Hiker, page B12

“What I love most about the Bay Area is that I discover something new every day. The possibilities are truly endless. From the past-paced city life to the abundance of outdoor activities, there’s always something to keep me excited for each day.”

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

and successful local real estate professional for over a decade, she knows what makes this area special. That’s why she works so hard to help others make the most of their unique opportunities here. Whether you are buying or selling, Lynne French is your best resource in the unique and of ten (925) 672-8787 complex East Bay real estate mar- www.LynneFrench.com ket. Give her a call or visit her Lynne@LynneFrench.com Web site today and make the most out of your East Bay Area real estate experience! 6200-E Center St.

Clayton, CA 94517

Page B2

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

June 16, 2006

Clayton Sports Nick Moresi selected in third round of MLB draft

NICK MORESI

to a 15-0 final month record in May. He w as selected to the WAC All-T ournament T eam and the NCAA Fuller ton Regional All-Tournament Team. Final numbers show that he started 43 of Fresno State’s 63 games and turned his early woes into a season-ending .303 a verage, with a .351 on-base percentage and .394 slug ging. “We’ve maybe missed 5 to 6 games in the past three years , with tour naments and all, ” says his dad. “We miss St. Patrick’s Day, because that’ s the busiest day of the year at the restaurant.” AWAITING THE DRAFT Driving home from the Fullerton tour nament with the MLB draft just a da y away, Ed and Ste phanie decided to stop off in F resno. The mor ning of the draft at Nick’s condo, five of the Bulldogs players with a shot at g etting drafted g athered for breakfast with their girlfriends.

Photo courtesy of Ed Moresi

Nick Moresi has put Clayton back on the professional baseball roadmap. The Houston Astros selected Nic k in the third round of the 2006 Major League Baseball first-year player draft on June 6. He is the son of Mudville’s Ed and Stephanie Moresi. As the No . 99 overall selection in the draft, Nick is no w alongside just a handful of Clayton natives to be drafted b y an MLB team. Three of those were from the same Mashore family. Nick grew up in Clayton and

attended Mt. Diablo Elementary and Diablo View before g raduating from De La Salle in 2003. He hit well over .400 in his junior and senior seasons , while earning BVAL All-Star honors. Dad coac hed him throughout Little League and P ony, but then, Ed admits, “I tur ned him over to better coac hes than I could ev er be when he g ot to De La Salle.” Herc P ardi, Clayton V alley High football coac h and Bob Ralston’s pitc hing coac h during the 2003 season, recalls how difficult it w as pitc hing ag ainst Nick in high school. “As a pitching coach, Nick was the toughest out in the league,” says Pardi.

A BIG HIT IN FRESNO At Fresno State, Nick put up remarkable n umbers his first two seasons. He was selected to the Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American team and, as a sophomore, hit .352 (four th best in the WAC). Nick finished his second year in the league’ s top five in hits and home runs – and the centerfielder was awarded a Golden Glove award as the top defensi ve pla yer on the Bulldogs. Coming into the 2006 campaign, Nick w as the preseason odds-on fa vorite for W AC Player of the Year. However, he injured his left hand during the 2005 Cape Cod summer league

and the discomfor t led to surgery to remove a portion of the hook of his hamate bone in November. This past F ebruary, a second surg ery w as required to remo ve the entire hook of the hamate. “It’s the first time he’ s ev er been injured, ” Ed explains . “Nick missed out on about 300 at-bats and his swing was a little out of sync.” Losing strength in his bottom hand cost some power output, but Nick came bac k with a vengeance to hit o ver .400 during the final month or so of the season. Durable do wn the stretc h, Nick helped lead the Bulldogs

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See Moresi, page B3

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TO HOUSTON, FOR NOW It wasn’t a foreg one conclusion that Nic k w ould sign as it depended on what round he went. He did sign on June 8, Ed reports. “He’s ex cited to be a Houston Astro.” Nick will likely be assigned to either Houston ’s rookie ball in Greenville, Tenn., or the SingleA in Lexington, Ky. He should be suiting up for his first professional game in a few weeks.

FITNESS & TANNING

Clayton's Nick Moresi, hitting at Fresno State's Beiden Field, was drafted as one of the top outfielders in the nation and signed with the Houston Astros on June 8. BILL WAGONER Clayton Pioneer

“They w ere pla ying cards ,” Ed says. “They all didn’t want to be sitting in front of the computer w atching the draft and almost forgot what they were all there tog ether for . They w ere being little boys again.” Then Nick got the call from his ag ent. A couple of rounds later, another Fresno State player got the call. Then another. “Kind of a domino effect, ” Ed recalls. “I haven’t seen Nic k that ex cited in a long time . I don’t think his feet ha ve hit the ground yet.” It w as a banner da y for Fresno State , with a record six players drafted. Five of them were at Nick’s condo when they got the news. “We w ere hoping Oakland or San Francisco, of course, and we’re friends with Matt Nerland (Giants director of scouting and Clayton resident), ” says Ed. “Nick g ot so many phone calls from scouts on Monda y night, inquiring that if we take you in this position, will you sign? W e had no clue until w e g ot the call.”

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June 16, 2006

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

Clayton Sports Tiffany Cerruti

Page B3

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PIONEER ATHLETE SPOTLIGHT

Other Favorite Activities: Art, Swimming

YOUNG COMPETITOR EXCELS IN CYO TRACK “They k ept telling me I’m fast,” says 9-year old Tiffany Cerruti, “so I w anted to do track … and I just star ted loving it.” The Queen Of All Saints third-grader found a new sport this spring that car ried her to the CYO track championships. Following stints with soccer , peanuts baseball (CVLL “teeball”) and CY O bask etball, Tiffany responded to the encouragement of her friends to g o out for the track team. Throughout a handful of practice meets and an early May sectional meet, Tiffany was nearly unbeatable in the 50-meter and 100meter sprints . Best times were 8.12 and 15.94 seconds , respectively. She finished second once in the 100m, “by a split second, ” father Ron recalls. Tiffany captured the top spot in both ev ents during the

TIFFANY CERRUTI sectional meet. In the Ma y 13 Oakland Diocese finals , Tiffany went up ag ainst much stronger competition. In a field of nine finalists from throughout Contra Costa and Alameda counties , she placed third in the 50m and four th in the 100m. Coach Christie R obinson heaps praise on the young sprinter. “Last season, we didn ’t have any qualifiers for the championship m e e t , ” Robinson says of the relatively small Q AS track program. “This year we had a few, and Tiffany’s third place ribbon was the best of all of our athletes.” Robinson recalls Tiffany’s first meet. “She was so ex cited about winning her first place ribbons. Her dad was out of town and her dog

ate the ribbons … w e worked frantically to g et those replaced before he returned.” The Queen of All Saints track team practiced at Mt. Diablo High, with Saturda y meets at Diablo Valley College – the site of the diocese finals. Over the course of the season, Tiffany also participated in the softball thro w and often anchored the 4x100 relay. According to her father , Tiffany is alw ays singing and playing m usic. “She puts on pretend roc k concer ts in her room.” She recently perfor med “Start of Something New” (from the Disney c hannel’s “High School Musical”) in her school talent show. In preparation for next season, Tiffany expects to train with big sister Kimberly whenever possible . Entering her freshman year at Carondelet in the fall, Kimberly plans to use cross-country as a conditioner for the lacrosse team. Tiffany hopes to stretc h out a little more next year , adding the 200m to her CY O track repertoire. “I made a lot of new friends on the trac k team this year,” Tiffany recalls , “and I want them all to come out for track next year. I miss them.”

The Clayton Pioneer spotlights a local y outh athlete from our circulation area in the second issue each month. If you are a coach or an administrator and would like to nominate a young person (under 20 years of age) for the R occo’s Athlete Spotlight, please send infor mation to sports@claytonpioneer.com or fax to 672-6580. Nomination deadline for our July 21 issue is Sunday, July 9.

Moresi, from page B2 “The top five picks are flying to Houston for photo ops and a formal signing ceremony before taking batting practice at the big league park, ” says Ed. “He’s gonna have a blast.” With so m uch emphasis on pitching in the early par t of the draft, along with premier high school pla yers, there w eren’t many outfielders taken ahead of Nick. “He’s been a highly touted

outfielder for some time no w,” his dad adds. “It’s shown that he works real hard at his craft to be one of the top outfielders in the nation.” At 6’5”, Nick has a long g ait and ag gressively covers a lot of ground in centerfield. Arriving at Fresno State three years ag o, he brok e the 60-yard dash record of former big league speedster Tom Goodwin.

“He’ll do whatev er it tak es to catch the ball,” Ed says. According to his dad, Nick has wanted to be a baseball player since he w as a little bo y. “When he g ot to De La Salle and star ted g oing through the ranks, we w ere hearing praise . Things lik e, ‘This kid is pretty special,’ ‘Once he fills out’ (He still hasn’t filled out yet at 6’5” and 185 pounds .) and ‘He has intuitive things that y ou just can’t teac h, especially his outfield skills.’ ”

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Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

Clayton Sports First Tee makes golf more than a game I w ould lik e to share m y experiences with First T ee, a program that c hanges y oung lives. I am in volved with the program at Diablo Creek Golf Course in Concord. Individual responsibility , respect, integrity and confidence are among the traits that can help a y oung person on the road to success . Unfortunately, these traits are often missing in the c haracter dev elopment of young people today. It is not because our y outh have rejected these v alues, but rather they ha ve not had the opportunity to be taught these lessons in an eng aging w ay. Sports are a traditional w ay for teaching such lessons. Golf not

DAVE GRAY GRAY ON GOLF only teaches positive life lessons but also demands respect and honesty. After all, it’s a game in which there are no officials to call a foul. Only the pla yer kno ws if the score handed in is cor rect.

It’s a g ame with histor y and traditions that invite the wonder of the young and old alike. This fun g ame is nev er perfected – even Tiger Woods is looking for improvement. It is also a g ame where the raw beginner can play a competitive match with a seasoned expert. First T ee’s mission is to impact the li ves of young people around the world by creating affordable and accessible facilities primarily serving those who have not had exposure to the game and its positive values. I tell ya folks , I am amped after ev ery session with these young people because I see the happiness of their ac hievements. They reac h g oals about

which they had doubts . This great g ame can mak e a believ er out of anyone, because it teaches values used in our lives. I hope we all can be remembered as people of honesty and humble integ rity because w e associated ourselv es with the game of golf – the g ame of a lifetime. For more infor mation on First Tee, call 686-6267 or visit www.diablocreekgc.com. Dave Gray is a teaching pr ofessional at Diab lo Cr eek Golf Course in Concord. E-mail y our questions or comments to him at sports@claytonpioneer.com

photo courtesy of Laurie Carp

CLAYTON’S ADAM CARP in AAU basketball action for the Lakeshow team – an elite squad assembled from players with Clayton Valley High, San Ramon Valley High, Monte Vista, Dublin, and Foothill.

Tournament of Champions. As a 10-year -old right-handed pitcher, Adam led his Cla yton Valley Little League squad into the TOC . At CVHS , freshman

Sports Shorts CVAA YOUTH FOOTBALL SIGN UPS START JUNE 9 Signups for ages 8-14: 6-8 pm; June 17: Country Waffles in the Clayton Station, 10 – noon; June 22: Aladinos Pizza 6-8 pm. Practice star ts A ug. 1. Visit our W ebsite for practice and game sc hedule. www.cvaafalcons.com or call 927-7377. CLAYTON VALLEY YOUTH FOOTBALL CAMP Camp r uns from J une 26 through 30. Fundamentals and Techniques of Football. Open to boys g rades 5-9. CVHS, 1101 Alberta Way Concord. Herc PardiFootball Camp director , Jerry Coakley- Asst. Camp director. Camp practice time 9 am-2 p.m. Camp F ees: Two se parate checks for $125 and a $75 deposit

for equipment made out to “Clayton V alley F ootball” (refunded on the last day of camp with the retur n of the equipment). Fees include instr uction, camp, practice, practice jersey , trainer and camp ev aluation. Camp f lyers are a vailable at the Clayton Valley High School Main Office during sc hool hours, 925682-7474 x 3115, and at Garaventa Accountancy Cor p., 3573 Clayton Road, Concord. CVHS S COREBOARD SPONSORS NEEDED The Cla yton V alley High School Athletic Boosters Club and CVHS Baseball team are seeking corporate sponsorships for a new scoreboard at the sc hool. CVHS currently does not ha ve a scoreboard for baseball g ames.

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and JV baseball w ere a higher priority than basketball. Adam didn ’t star t pla ying basketball until the fifth g rade, for the St. Bonaventure CY O team. After sitting out his

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eighth-grade bask etball season, he played on the freshman team his first year at CV and sophomore season in junior varsity. In three of his four years of Businesses or indi viduals interested in donating towards this worthy cause will be acknowledged accordingly. Company sponsorships may also ha ve the option of advertising on the scoreboard. If you are interested in information or sponsoring this endeavor, please contact Tim Br uno at timpbruno@yahoo.com or Bob Banks at president@cvhsboosters.org YMCA S UMMER SPORTS LEAGUES Three in One Lea gue: The Mt. Diablo Region YMCA has a League that includes flag football, basketball and soccer . The summer fun begins with f lag football. Continue your skills with scoring opportunities on the bask etball court and finally, spend Saturdays on the soccer field. Grades 2-8. Summer Bask etball League: Dribble, pass and shoot your way into the YMCA’s basketball league. Grades pre-k-8. Tee ball: Introduce y our c hild

high sc hool bask etball, Adam was acknowledged as the “most improved” player on his squad. His junior season included the remarkable 65-64 o vertime win over De La Salle that brok e the Spar tan’s 57-g ame winning streak. “The greatest game I’ve ever been a par t of ,” Adam recalls . “It w as doing all of the little things right.” The Cla yton V alley Eagles finished the recent season at 1910, good enough for second place in the BV AL behind De La Salle. In the NCS Division II postseason, CV knoc ked off their first two opponents on the road before g etting eliminated in the semi-finals – a g ood showing for a ninth seed. In barely two months, Adam will step up to Di vision I collegiate basketball and the buzz of playing in R eno’s 12,000-seat Lawlor Ev ents Center . The UNR Wolf Pack is coming off a 27-6 W AC Championship season and top 20 national ranking. to America’s past time and join them on the field while they lear n the basics of baseball. Grades pre-k-1. For all Y outh Spor ts Leagues: July 8 – Se pt. 2, Early Bird F ees: Clayton R esident - $85, nonClayton Resident - $107. Fees after June 13: Clayton R esident-$100, non-Clayton Resident-$128. Summer 1/2 day Sports Camps : Super Spor ts Camp: Get it all in fi ve da ys. Basketball, football, baseball, soccer and bocce will be some of the exciting activities in this w eek of fun. Grades: entering 1 – 6. Camp dates: June 16-23, and July 3-7. Basketball Camp: For basketball pla yers of all lev els. Grades: entering 1–8. Camp dates: June 26-30 and July 7-21. Volleyball Camp: Fun camp focused on skill development, fun and friendship . Grades: entering 4–8. Camp dates: July 10-14 and July 31-Aug 4. For more infor mation or to register, call 889-1625.

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Adam Carp will be taking his basketball skills – and his 6-7 frame – to new heights in a few months. The Dana Hills resident and 2006 Cla yton Valley High g rad is heading to the Uni versity of Nevada, Reno. The UNR W olf Pack has committed to Adam as a walk-on for the 2006-’07 season, with the expectation that he’ll be red-shirted. He will w ork out regularly with the team but will not suit up for g ames. That w ay, he retains the year of playing eligibility. Adam has crank ed up his workout regimen to include a high-protein diet in addition to his almost-daily g ym sessions . He’s added 15 pounds since the end of basketball season. At 185 pounds, though, he’s still looking to fill out his basketball frame. “He w as tall ev en in preschool,” his mom Laurie recalls.

“I had to remind the teac hers that he was only 4 years old.” According to his mom, “Adam was a baseball guy forever.” She notes that he once hurled a perfect g ame in the

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The Cla yton Bocce Federation rolled out its 2006 opening da y on J une 4 at Newhall P ark in Concord. The Bocce Ball Center on T urtle Creek R oad has been home to the Cla yton league on Sunda y nights since the inaugural season in 2002. “We turned down teams this year,” reports league president Ed Har tley. “This was our first year with a waiting list.” The league , which is more than 50 percent Cla yton residents, has filled out with 16 teams and 160 pla yers. Twelve of those teams retur ned intact, with the remaining four teams having but a few spots to fill. The entire league had less than 10 openings. “It’s something that couples can do,” Hartley says. “About 80 percent of our members are couples. The average age of our players, easily, is in their 50s.” While there is no minim um age, the league has seen pla yers as y oung as 12. “Our oldest member this year is 86, ” notes Hartley. Roger W underling, capos (captain) of the Bocce Buzzards, will tell y ou straight out: “If you lik e competition, it’ll get the juices g oing.” But Hartley emphasizes that it’s a collegial g ame. “We’re competitive yet v ery collegial. It’s a v ery social atmosphere , with excellent sportsmanship.” COURTS IN CLAYTON? The Ma y 24, 2005, story in the San F rancisco Chronicle began: “Lock y our doors. Hide

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the kids, and round up the pets . Bocce is coming to Clayton.” The article was carried as far away a s t he E ast Coast and Hawaii. John Madden ran with it on his KCBS radio segment that morning, noting the public hearing to be held that ev ening over concerns of rowdy behavior. The new bocce cour ts in Clayton, on the v acant lot behind City Hall, are inc hing toward becoming a reality . The city, through the Redevelopment Agency, is funding the planning process. “We’re at the final stag e of the planning process ,” reports Hartley. The site plan is being finetuned to comply with all of the conditions set for th b y the Planning Commission. The Clayton Bocce F ederation will provide tw o sets of additional plans, for landscaping and lighting. “Then we can go out and get bids,” Hartley continues, “to get it costed out to deter mine ho w much money w e need to raise . Financing will be all through private donations. We will have the ability to phase the construction, with eight lighted courts, benches, tables and arbors.” PLAY PLANNED FOR WEEKNIGHTS

The Cla yton Bocce Federation plays a 16-w eek season, including tw o rounds of playoffs. All matches begin at 6 p.m. on Sundays. The Concord Bocce F ederation has Monda y through Friday evenings already

2006

SEASON,

with husband Don (second from right)

PREVIOUS CHAMPIONS (WITH CAPOS NOTED): 2005 – Members Only (Jim Middendorf) 2004 – Bocce Buzzards (Roger Wunderling) 2003 – Downtown Bocce (Ed Har tley) 2002 – I Vincitori (George Sabbagha)

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Won Lost

Downtown Bocce . . . . .3 . . . . . .0 . . . . . . .37 . . . . . .24 I Vincitori . . . . . . . . . . .3 . . . . . .0 . . . . . . .36 . . . . . .19 Bada-Bang . . . . . . . . . . .3 . . . . . .0 . . . . . . .36 . . . . . .16 Springwood Rollers . . . .3 . . . . . .0 . . . . . . .36 . . . . . .15 Bocce Buzzards . . . . . . .3 . . . . . .0 . . . . . . .36 . . . . . .15 Bocce Warriors . . . . . . .2 . . . . . .1 . . . . . . .30 . . . . . .33 Bocce Amici . . . . . . . . .2 . . . . . .1 . . . . . . .29 . . . . . .27 Bada Bing . . . . . . . . . . . .2 . . . . . .1 . . . . . . .25 . . . . . .28 Cannoli Rollers . . . . . . .1 . . . . . .2 . . . . . . .33 . . . . . .30 Bocce Bolas . . . . . . . . . .1 . . . . . .2 . . . . . . .28 . . . . . .25 Sunshine Squad . . . . . . .1 . . . . . .2 . . . . . . .27 . . . . . .29 Members Only . . . . . . . .0 . . . . . .3 . . . . . . .24 . . . . . .37 Empty Nesters . . . . . . . .0 . . . . . .3 . . . . . . .19 . . . . . .36 Italian Delights . . . . . . .0 . . . . . .3 . . . . . . .16 . . . . . .36 Meadow Maulers . . . . . .0 . . . . . .3 . . . . . . .15 . . . . . .36 Bocce Rollers . . . . . . . . .0 . . . . . .3 . . . . . . .15 . . . . . .36 24 . . . . .24 . . . . . .442 . . . . .442 committed at the Newhall P ark courts. The Cla yton cour ts will allow the league to shift pla ying times to Monda y through Thursday. Twenty-six court slots will be a vailable for league pla y, accommodating a maxim um of 52 teams with 520 par ticipants. With about 25 percent of the current members tied to the Clayton Business and Community Association, the club’s sc hedule is coordinated around the Ma y Ar t & Wine Festival and traditional summer holiday breaks.

Existing parking should be abundant, at City Hall, the library, around the Keller House and throughout do wntown Clayton. The new cour ts will also be open for public pla y and occasional tour naments. The Concord Bocce F ederation will manage regular g rooming of the cour ts, with a combination of water, raking and rolling. According to Har tley, bocce offers the friendliest for m of competition. “The noise y ou hear from the bocce cour ts is laughter … people having fun.”

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Page B6

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

Church, from page A1

Tamara Steiner/Clayton Pioneer

PROPERTY

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Clayton resident Mik e Temps, “we’re within striking distance,” says Robinson. He hopes to raise a lot more by the end of summer, when the final v ote to purchase the land g oes before the cong regation. “We’ll do whatever it takes,” he adds. Operations director Brad Carter ag rees but notes that there will still be some contingencies and hurdles . “We have to tak e them one da y a time,” Carter says. The next step is to go back to the c hurch leadership and review the c hurch’s financial assets. Discussions could entail the sale of the community center downtown. Once the land is purchased, the process of annexation to the city begins and should tak e about tw o years ,

explains R obinson. The new worship center and other proposed buildings are expected to open their doors within five years. The buildings ma y require another capital campaign in three years. “We’re all v ery ex cited,” says Laura Gar tside, who came to look at the site with her husband and four c hildren. She sa ys her family is very in volved because of the church’s youth programs. “This is a big da y for us ,” says cong regation member Rory Moran. Temps said he’s had multiple offers on the land o ver the years , but Cla yton Community Churc h w as the right fit. “I’d rather ha ve a c hurch here than a bunch of homes,” Temps sa ys. “They will be

good stewards of the land.” new facility. The worship cenRobinson calls T emps a ter will incor porate a per“straight shooter .” “I feel forming ar ts facility with a very g ood about the par tner- stage, theater-style seating for ship,” Robinson adds. 800, big screen televisions , a From a handful of sup- gathering area, infant room porters in 1996 to more than and break out areas or class700 members who cur rently rooms for m usic, drama and attend ser vices eac h w eek, dance. Clayton Comm unity Churc h The site will also be home continues to grow. In addition to a g ym and acti vity center , to o wning the do wntown children’s adv enture land, community center , Robinson prayer chapel and parking. rents Diablo View Middle Although design plans School for the tw o Sunda y have not been for malized, services. Robinson hopes to tak e “The school has been very advantage of the natural conkind, but it’ s nev er been a tours of the land with its permanent home ,” he sa ys. mature trees , beautiful vistas “We’re getting too big.” and hillside setting. He admits that the effor t He describes the center as to set up and tak e do wn inviting, refreshing, userequipment at the sc hool each friendly and fun. “This is a Sunday is labor -intensive. church for the unc hurched,” Robinson jokingly talks about Robinson explains. his pastor fantasy when tak e Thus far, the capital camdown simply means tur ning paign experience has been off the lights. humbling for R obinson. When he looks bac k, he “People are c hanging their thinks about the impact his retirement plans and gi ving church has had on the comsacrificially,” he sa ys. “We’d munity. “We’ve changed lives. better do this right.” Marriages ha ve been healed, Robinson has enlisted the families restored and people help of a huge and diversified have found meaning and pur- support team that will co ver pose,” he sa ys. “This is a the day to da y aspects of the place of hope.” project from finances and Dr. Michael P atrick and hospitality to student acti vihis wife Dorothy love the fact ties and special events. that the Clayton Comm-unity This frees up R obinson to Church has alw ays been so do what he does best. “My welcoming to them. “It’s been role is to continue to minister a life-altering experience ,” he to the people ,” Robinson says. says. After all, he explains , Robinson also talks about people are more impor tant the mo vie nights , soap bo x than buildings. derby, kids adv enture camp and 9/11 service. With his community center located in the heart of downtown Clayton, he also has witnessed a real craving for the arts in Clayton. All of these accomplishments will mak e CHURCH MEMBERS Michael and Dorothy Patrick their way into the say CCC has been a “life altering” experience

Church News CLAYTON COMMUNITY CHURCH July Movie Nights: Hang out with us this summer at Clayton Comm unity Churc h. Every Fri. night in J uly see a movie in our parking lot in downtown Cla yton. Movie begins at dusk (8:30 p .m.). Enjoy refreshments from our Clayton sponsors . Bring a comfortable c hair or blank et to share with friends. Family Adv enture Camp: “Not just y our kids Adventure Camp.” Bring your whole family and in vite y our friends to join us for fi ve evenings of drama, music, games and acti vities that are geared to wards ha ving fun and bringing y our family closer tog ether. The camp

runs from J uly 9 - 13 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the Cla yton Valley Pumpkin Farm. Cost is $20 for eac h family member (3 years old and abo ve). This is primarily for families with at least one c hild in K-5. For more info contact J ohn Wright at 673-2101. Third Ann ual Clayton Community Gr eat La bor Day Derby: The derby is Sat. Sept. 2 from 9 a.m. – 3 p .m. Mark y our calendar for a da y of fun and family enjo yment as kids ag ed 7-16 race official Soap Bo x cars do wn Main Street, Clayton. There will also be refreshments , inflatable bounce houses and slides, and a professional race car and driver where kids can g et

their picture tak en. The contact for sponsors is Mik e Fossan at 672-1949 or msfossan@sbcglobal.net. The contact for registration is P eggy Bidondo at 672-9708 or pbidondo@pacbell.net. We meet every Sunday at 9 and 10:45 a.m. at Diablo View Middle School. CROSSROADS COVENANT CHURCH Annual Day Camp is planned for J uly 17-21. The theme is Nar nia – li ve the adventure. It is a one w eek morning camp 9 a.m. to noon. Kids 3 years old to grade 5 are welcome. Call the c hurch to register. 798-5905 ext. 201. Ask for Laurey . Come and

discover what the light is all about. Everyone is welcome. INTERFAITH DEVOTIONS AT DIAMOND TERRACE Please join us on the first Sun. of each month for interfaith dev otional readings and prayers from various religious traditions. Feel free to bring your own favorite readings or prayers. Music and refreshments pro vided. Music and refreshments are pro vided. The next dev otional meeting will be on Sun. July 1 from 10 – 11 a.m., downstairs, in the movie room.

Send y our chur ch news of general inter est to chur chnews@claytonpioneer.com

CONCORD UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

Family Adventure Camp

Vacation Bibl e School, Arts in Ministry

Clayton Community Church

& Come ate p i c i part

presents the musical

‘I AM A PROMISE’

Schola rs are ava hips ilable

June 19 - June 23 5 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. Dinner at 5 p.m. Parents are invited. Children must be 3 years & up $30 for one child $10 for each additional sibling. The play will be presented June 23.

Bring Pa s d i K ere h world W r i e h t

o int

rents

Join us July 9th-13th from 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.

At the Clayton Valley Pumpkin Farm

For Amazing Music and Drama, Great Activities and Games

concordumc.org For More Information or a Registration form

Please Call John Wright, Children’s Director, 673-2101

June 16, 2006

In an age of skepticism, we believe that God is at work in the sacraments of Holy Baptism and Holy Communion

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

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

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

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

June 16, 2006

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

Club News Creekside Interpretive Area site for Girl Scout pr oject

Mary Malko teaches Girl Scouts to identify insects in creek water.

Nine Girl Scout troops from the Concord-Cla yton Diablo Shado ws Girl Scout Assn., GS Save the Bay and the Clayton Librar y F oundation

participated in a ser vice project and educational ev ent at the Clayton Library on June 3. The project included weeding and defining the Califor nia

Native Plant Garden that is located behind the librar y. They used cobble stones donated by Cemex, of Clayton Quarry to define eac h plant and the total garden area. They learned what a w atershed is , what plants g row native in the Mt Diablo Creek watershed and what plants were introduced by settlers and are in vasive to the area. They tested the w ater in the creek and studied the tiny aquatic insects they found. Lisa Anich and Mary Malko from Friends of Mt. Diablo Creek, and Sylvia Chatagnier (D VMS) were instr umental in teac hing the girls. Scout T roops par ticipating were 547, 3903, 754, 1649, 1578, 1895, 2554, 1899, 2839, and 2339.

Page B7

BLUE STAR MOMS The local Blue Star Moms are pre paring donation pac kages to be mailed to troops the beginning of July. They are accepting monetar y donations to help defray the mailing costs of the pac kages. Please send donations to Blue Star Moms , P.O. Box 2537, San Ramon, CA 94583. For more infor mation, visit bluestarmoms.org. CLAYTON VALLEY/CONCORD SUNRISE ROTARY The Clayton Valley Sunrise Rotary will hold its 17th ann ual c harity g olf tournament on Mon., Aug. 7 at Oakhurst Country Club . The tour nament fees are $195 per person, $750 per foursome , and includes course fees , cart, tee prizes, raffle tickets, mulligans, lunch and dinner . Sponsorships are also available from $50 to $5,000. Check-in begins at 10 a.m., followed by lunch and a shotgun star t at 12:30 p .m. After the tour na-

Volunteers have a vision to aid Zambia donate time , skills and equipment to provide the latest eye care and surg ery in the dev eloping nation of Zambia. Kemp, an RN , used to work for Dr. James T ysinger in his Califor nia Eye Clinic in Antioc h. He is one of the founders of IVV. Likando Lisulo , the housekeeper at the IVV dor mitory in Zimba, Zambia, dreams of becoming a n urse and has applied to tw o n ursing sc hools. Working par t time as a house-

BETH NEUDELL Clayton Pioneer

Two re presentatives of International Vision V olunteers talked about their w ork in Zambia, Africa, during a May 22 presentation at Diamond Terrace Retirement Community. IV volunteer Chuck Graham is a member of the Cla yton Rotary, and J ean K emp is the daughter of a Diamond Terrace resident Beth Hildebrand. Founded in 1994 b y tw o ophthalmologists, IVV is dedicated to reducing blindness in the world’s poor who don’t have access to eye care . Volunteers

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keeper, she g ets paid $3 a da y when IVV staff visits. Not much to li ve on, let alone sa ve for school. Graham saw an oppor tunity for Lisulo at the IVV clinic . There w ere many pairs of

donated glasses that needed to be classified, but no money to pay any one to do it. Graham arranged for one of the visiting nurses to train Lisulo to use the lensometer, a mac hine that reads the prescription of the glasses. The Cla yton R otary Club had given Graham $500 for his trip, so he g ave that to the IVV clinic to pay her $85 a month to do this work. “Money well spent for a future n urse in Zambia, ” Graham sa ys. “She will mak e a great n urse, and it is g ood that we can help her.”

For mor e infor mation, visit www.internationalvisionvol.org.

ment, guests are in vited to a no-host cocktail reception and silent auction, dinner and tournament a wards. The registration deadline is J uly 24 and is subject to a vailability. For more infor mation about the tournament, please call: Barbara Langsdale , (925) 6710777, ext. 13; or e-mail: rotarygolf@gmail.com. This year’s tournament will benefit W e Care Ser vices for Children, a pri vate, nonprofit agency devoted to serving special needs c hildren, birth to five and their families in Contra Costa County since 1960. Proceeds from the event will also benefit the R otary Charitable Fund. CLAYTON VALLEY WOMAN’S CLUB Clayton V alley W oman’s Club honored the recipients of the 2005-06 donations at a

Gear up for your dog days of summer Summer brings warm weather, BBQs, family vacations – and opportunities to spend extra time with our furry friends. According to Sara Cunningham, dog training coordinator at the Animal R escue Foundation (ARF), there are many campg rounds and hotels that allo w Fido . So wh y not include him in y our summer retreat. Help Fido feel comfortable in the new place b y bringing his crate along with lots of toys to keep him occupied. Having a familiar sleeping area will make it feel like a home away from home. Bringing bottled w ater for your pooch can be beneficial as

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PETUNIA Two-year-old Petunia is a sweet girl who w ould enjoy a quiet home . She’s a little shy at first, but once she gets to kno w y ou, she blooms into an affectionate bundle of love. The adoption fee for Petunia is $100. ELEANOR RIGBY One-year-old Eleanor Rigby is a v ery smar t and attentive girl. She is a natural for dog sports like flyball

ELEANOR RIGBY

or agility , but also enjo ys snuggling and relaxing with her family. The adoption fee for Eleanor Rigb y is $200 and includes the first six training courses. Bring ev eryone who will live with Petunia or Eleanor Rigby – including any canine family members for dogs – to meet them at Tony La R ussa’s Animal Rescue F oundation, 2890 Mitchell Dri ve, Walnut

luncheon May 23. Attending were representatives from Cambridg e Community Center , St. Vincent de P aul F ood P antry, Blue Star Moms , NAMI – Contra Costa, Friends Outside in Contra Costa, Clayton Historical Society , Concord Historical Society , Clayton Community Library and Sarah Hill, a senior at Cla yton Valley High Sc hool and this year’ s scholarship a ward winner . Each of the recipients spok e of the difference the contributions make to their efforts. The Cla yton V alley Woman’s Club is a non-profit organization that ser ves the Clayton/Concord comm unity with donations of time and money. For more infor mation about the club , please call Joyce at 672-3850 or Sheila at 672-7947.

Creek, during adoption hours: 3 to 7 p.m. Thursday and F riday, Noon to 4:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunda y. Visit www .arf.net or call (925) 256-1ARF for more info. Would you like to be part of the heroic team that saves the li ves of rescued dogs and cats? ARF v olunteers are making a difference! For more infor mation go to www .arf.net, or call (925) 256-1ARF.

Professional pet grooming salon for dogs and cats Self-service pet wash available

Tues - Sat, 8-5 Experienced staff with more than 20 years of service

est. 1978

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925-676-9355 4375 Clayton Rd. Unit K Concord owner & Clayton resident Grace Carson & her dog, Blue

ELENA BICKER

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water from a new source ma y upset his system. Always car ry pictures of your dog when y ou travel, along with up-to-date vet records and y our v et’s contact information. In case of an emergency, your vet may be able to assist you in finding care. Other fun ideas for y ou and your pooc h include g oing on hikes and swimming at local beaches and lak es – but v erify that they are dog-friendly first. On hik es, keep y our eyes open for wild critters and avoid poison oak, poison i vy and fo x tails . Always obey leash laws, have lots of water for y our pooc h, bring yummy treats to reward Fido for good behavior and remember to clean up after your dog. Summer does bring out some unw anted guests, such as fleas and ticks. Your vet can recommend the best prev entative medication for your dog. When the heat star ts to rise, turn on a sprinkler in y our yard and ha ve some fun with y our dog. Not only will Fido cool down, you’ll ha ve a g reat time watching him pla y in the w ater. Wading pools are another w ay to help him stay cool and a great way to give an outdoor bath. Use the summer to try a new dog sport, such as agility or f lyball. Taking classes tog ether is one of the best w ays to bond with y our dog and an ex cellent way for the entire family to spend time tog ether. What could be more fun than w atching Fido jump o ver hurdles and run through tunnels while the kids are on the sidelines c heering him? When having fun with y our dog this summer , remember that the heat can be hazardous . Always pro vide lots of fresh water for Fido . When Fido spends time in y our bac k yard, supply a comfor table area with shade such as a dog house or a dog run. Scenic car rides are relaxing, but remember to bring Fido in a secure crate or use a dog car harness to strap him safety. Temperatures can rise quickly inside a car , even when the windows are left open, so never leave Fido inside a car on a hot summer da y – not ev en for a few minutes. Elena Bicker is the general manager of Tony La R ussa’s Animal Rescue Foundation. She can be r eached at (925) 256-1ARF (1273)

Page B8

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

June 16, 2006

Clayton Community Calendar PLEASE SUBMIT YOUR CLAYTON COMMUNITY CALENDAR EVENTS BY 5 P.M., JUNE 28 FOR THE JULY 8 ISSUE. FAX TO 672-6580 OR E-MAIL calendar@claytonpioneer.com EVENTS & ENTERTAINMENT THROUGH JUNE 22 Patty Cakes and Picture Book Time @ Clayton Community Library Patty Cakes - 11 a.m. Tuesdays, story time for birth to 3 years. Picture book time - 11 a.m. Thursdays, child may attend without parent. For 3 to 5 years. No registration required. 673-0659, Clayton Community Library, 6125 Clayton Road, Clayton. THROUGH JUNE 24 CTA Crossraods Theatre presents Quadrille @ CTA Crossroads Thurs. - Sat. 8 p.m., Sat. matinees 2 p.m. Script and Story by Melynda Kiring Preheat the year 1835. Mix a baker and a nobleman together gradually until romance blossoms. Gently add a sweet young lady into the mix. Sprinkle in a pinch of frustrated love, and then add a dash of hero rushing

JUNE 29 Identify Customers and Competition Using ReferenceUSA @ Pleasant Hill Library 7 - 9 p.m. Topics include saving money using the library database ReferenceUSA as a marketing resource, constructing a useful search strategy for sales and marketing and identifying potential customers within a radius of your location. Speaker is Valerie Zito, Library Specialist for Business, Contra Costa County Library. Hands on computer use. Limited space. Bring floppies or a USB device. Pleasant Hill Library, 1750 Oak Park Blvd., Pleasant Hill. JULY 11 Story and Puppet Craft with Judy @ Clayton Community Library 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. Hear a story and learn how to make your very own puppet. Recommended for kids in grades K - 3. Registration required. Clayton Community Library, 6125 Clayton Road, 673-0659. JULY 11 Clayton Knitters @ Clayton Community Library 3 - 5 p.m. Are you an old hand at knitting or just starting? Come join likeminded folks for an afternoon at the library. Clayton Community Library, 6125 Clayton Road, 673-0659. JULY 12 Duct Tape Madness @ Clayton Community Library 2 - 4 p.m. Workshop for middle school and high school students. Clayton Community Library, 6125 Clayton Road. 673-0659.

Photo by Jon McNally

Megan Briggs & Melynda Kiring in CTA’s world premiere of Quadrille in to save the day. Bake at 350 degrees for the length of one duel. Quadrille is a delicious tale featuring romance, secrets, plots, secret plots, good food, bad food, heroic duels, and plenty of perfectly prepared corn muffins. Bon Appetite! Tickets are $28, $25 for seniors, $22 preview. www.ctacrossroads.org, 925-944-0597, CTA Crossroads Theatre, 1277 Boulevard Way, Walnut Creek. THROUGH AUG. 30 Clayton's Classic Cars Display @ Clayton Historical Museum Wednesdays 2 - 4 p.m. and 6 - 8 p.m. and Sundays 2 - 4 p.m. Photographs and memorabilia of old Clayton cars or cars belonging to current Clayton residents are on display. Many old license plates are shown. Clayton Historical Society Museum, 6101 Main Street, Clayton, 672-0240. JUNE 19 How a Marketing Plan Can Make You Money @ Contra Costa Small Business Development Center 7 - 9 p.m. Topics include how to set business and personal goals, how to come up with a marketing strategy, and how to implement your marketing strategy. Randall Shores, Consultant, Contra Costa Small Business Development Center is the presenter. Please reserve by contacting the Contra Costa SBDC: (925) 646-5377 or e-mail cjensen@contracostasbdc.com, subject line: name of workshop. Contra Costa Small Business Development Center, 2425 Bisso Lane, Concord, CA 94520 JUNE 19 - AUG. 4 YMCA Summer Gym Club @ Clayton Community Gym Do you need some time to shop or are you looking for a safe place for your children to play? The YMCA is excited to provide your children with fun filled afternoons during the summer months. Afternoon activities are arts and crafts, movies and gym games. For children entering grades one through four. Cost is $7 per day for Clayton residents, $9 per day for nonresidents. Concord/Clayton YMCA, 925-889-1625. JUNE 21 Jeremy the Juggler @ Clayton Community Library 7 - 8 p.m. The program is for teens but older elementary students are welcome. Registration is not required. Clayton Community Library, 6125 Clayton Road. 673-0659. JUNE 21, 28 Fitness with Fred @ Diamond Terrace. 11:45 a.m. - 12:45 p.m. Fred is a teacher with the Mt. Diablo Adult Education Program and the class is open to all. Diamond Terrace Senior Retirement Living, 6401 Center Street, Clayton, 524-5100. JUNE 24 Seventh Annual Concert in the Hills Series @ Cal State East Bay Concord Campus Gates open at 6 p.m., opening act at 7 p.m., main act at 8 p.m. Tom Rigney and Flambeau, Hot Cajun Fiddler and his Fiery Band opens the summer concert series. Admission and Parking are free. Go to www.concertinthehills.com or 925-602-8654 for more information. Cal State East Bay, Concord Campus, 4700 Ygnacio Valley Road at Campus Drive in Concord.

JULY 22 Mt. Diablo Mountain Bike Adventure Camp @ Clayton Community Gym Calling all mountain bike enthusiasts. This one-day camp is for you. This camp will begin with a one hour class filled with great tips to help master the mountain, and will include a segment on nutrition. Following the class, campers will be taken on a fun and exciting ride on the trails of Mt Diablo. The only thing the camper are required to bring is a Mt bike and helmet that fits and an attitude that fits. For kids entering grades 6 - 8. Concord/Clayton YMCA, 889-1625. JULY 22 Seventh Annual Concert in the Hills Series @ Cal State East Bay Concord Campus Gates open at 6 p.m., opening act at 7 p.m., main act at 8 p.m. Don Neely and the Royal Society Jazz Orchestra. Admission and Parking are free. Go to www.concertinthehills.com or 925-602-8654 for more information. Cal State East Bay, Concord Campus, 4700 Ygnacio Valley Road at Campus Drive in Concord. JULY 24 - 28 YMCA 1/2 Day Art Camp @ Clayton Community Gym Join us as we learn various art skills through fun sessions and games using everything from paint to clay. For kids entering grades 1-4. Concord/Clayton YMCA, 889-1625. JULY 26 Bingo Game Night at Clayton Community Library 7 - 8 p.m. Play bingo and win great prizes. Recommended for kids in grades 2-6. Registration required. Clayton Community Library, 6125 Clayton Road, 673-0659. JULY 26, 27 Six Flags Water World and Marine World Adventure Camp @ YMCA Leave your parents behind and experience our two day six flags extravaganza. For kids entering sixth through eighth grade. Concord/Clayton YMCA, 889-1625. AUG. 7 Clayton Valley/Concord Sunrise Rotary Golf Tournament @ Oakhurst Country Club It's tee time for the Clayton Valley Sunrise Rotary’s 17th annual charity golf tournament. Tournament fees are $195 per person and $750 per foursome and include course fees, cart, tee prizes, raffle tickets, mulligans, lunch and dinner. Registration for the event is due by July 24. For more information about the Charity Golf Tournament, please call: Barbara Langsdale, (925) 671-0777, ext. 13; or e-mail: rotarygolf@gmail.com. See Club News in this paper for more information.

CLUBS & ORGANIZATIONS JUNE 18, 25, JULY 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 Concord Mystery Book Club @ Concord Library 2:30 - 4 p.m. All mystery readers are invited to participate and explore a different genre each month. Concord Library, 2900 Salvio Street, Concord, 646-5455.

The Clayton Pioneer’s “Music Notes” columnist

Clayton’s own

Jim Hudak Pianist and Composer For bookings and performances:

Visit our Website www.jhudak.com E-mail jimmydak@pacbell.net Piano CD’s available on his Brainstorm Records label

Call Or Write:

JULY 19 - 20 YMCA Gym Sleep Over @ Clayton Community Gym 7 p.m. Wed. - 9 a.m. Thurs. All you need is a sleeping bag and a pillow. The YMCA will provide the rest. We will have a movie room, pizza, and plenty of snacks. You can race your friends on our inflatable obstacle course, challenge them to a board game or play any kind of gym game you can think of. End the night with a sleep over with all your friends on the gym floor. For children entering grades 4-6. $40/Clayton residents, $50/non-residents. Concord/Clayton YMCA, 889-1625.

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JUNE 21 Ygnacio Valley Republican Women @ Oakhurst Country Club Meeting at 10 a.m., program at 11 a.m., lunch at 12 p.m. Lunch is $18. YVRW is a non-profit club that meets the third Wed. of the month. Marianne Haydon, President of the California Federation of Republican Women will speak on Republican issues of today. The public is invited. RSVP to Barbara Allen at 672-5061 by Mon. Apr. 17. E-mail www.yvrwf.org for additional club information. Oakhurst Country Club, 1001 Peacock Creek Road, Clayton, CA. JUNE 20, 27, JULY 4, 11, 18, 25 Kiwanis Club of Walnut Creek 12 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. Meetings every Tues. All are invited to check us out and be our guest for lunch. Massimo’s Ristorante, 1604 Locust St., Walnut Creek. for more information call Sam Totah, 941-1536. JUNE 22, 29, JULY 6, 13, 20, 27 Weights Watchers Weekly Meeting @ Contra Costa Farm Bureau 10 a.m.and 5:30 p.m. Weekly Weight Watchers weigh-in and meeting on Thurs.. 800-326-8450 x 2023.Contra Costa Farm Bureau, 5554 Clayton Rd., Concord. JUNE 22, 29, JULY 6, 13, 20, 27 Rotary Club of Clayton Valley Concord Sunrise @ Oakhurst 7 a.m. Meets every Thurs. for breakfast meeting that usually features a speaker. Feb. 16 is the Annual Valentine's Day breakfast. Members can bring their spouses/partners/sweethearts for a program that celebrates affection and romance. www. claytonvalleyrotary.org Chuck Graham 6897640. Oakhurst Country Club, 1001 Peacock Creek Drive, Clayton. JUNE 27 The Clayton Valley Woman's Club @ Holy Cross Lutheran Church 9:30 a.m. coffee, 10 a.m. meeting. Regular monthly meetings are held on the second and fourth Tuesday of the month. Anyone interested in attending or learning more about the Woman's Club, please call Joyce at 672-3850 or Sheila at 672-7947. Holy Cross Lutheran Church, 1092 Alberta Way, Concord. JUNE 28 Blue Star Mom Meeting in Concord 6:30 p.m. Small group Blue Star Mom meetings held the 4th Wednesday of each month. Blue Star Moms is a support and service group for those serving in all branches of the Armed Forces. 1792 Elmhurst Lane, Concord. Call 676-3654 for information. JUNE 29 CBCA (Clayton Business & Community Association) Meeting @ Oakhurst 6:30 p.m. Monthly dinner meeting, last non-holiday Thurs. of the month. Reservations due by Tuesday noon prior, 672-2272. John Rubiales, President. Oakhurst Country Club, 1001 Peacock Creek Drive, Clayton. JULY 11 Knights of Columbus @ St. Agnes Parish Hall 7:30 p.m. Concord Council 6038 of Concord & Clayton holds their monthly meeting the first Tues. of each month. Monthly officers meeting is the last Tues. of each month at St. Agnes Parish Hall, at 7:30 p.m. We look forward to seeing our brother Knights there. St. Agnes Parish Hall on 3966 Chestnut Ave, Concord. JULY 12 Clayton Valley Garden Club @ Diamond Terrace 7 p.m. The Clayton Garden Club meets the second Wednesday of the month at Diamond Terrace. Every meeting has an informative program concerning some aspect of gardening. The speaker this month will be a parent from Diablo View Middle School. She will be talking about a student garden project. Last month, our club members planted flowers in the planter boxes on Main Street. Take a look, they are blooming! Anyone interested in gardening is welcome at our meetings.Diamond Terrace, 6401 Center Street, Clayton. Call Jeff at 672-7579 or Barry at 827-9540 for information.

BUSINESS & GOVERNMENT JUNE 20, 27, JULY 4, 11 Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors Meeting @ County Administration Building 9 a.m. County Board of Supervisors holds regular weekly meetings Tues. mornings. Open to the public. www.co.contra-costa.ca.us 335-1900. County Administration Building, 651 Pine Street, Room 107, Martinez. JUNE 20, JULY Clayton City Council Meeting @ Clayton Community Library 6 p.m. City Council meets on the first and third Tues. of the month. Open to the public. Agendas posted at the following locations: City Hall, 6000 Heritage Trail, Clayton, Ohm's Bulletin Board, 1028 Diablo St., Clayton, Clayton Community Library, 6125 Clayton Rd., Clayton. JULY 13 Clayton Community Services Commission Meeting @ City Hall 7 p.m. City of Clayton Community Services Commission meets 2nd Thursday of month. Open to the public. www.ci.clayton.ca.us 673-7304, Clayton City Hall Conference Room, 6000 HeritageTrail, Clayton. JUNE 27, JULY 11, 25 Planning Commission Meeting @ Clayton Library 7p.m. City of Clayton Planning Commission meets 2nd and 4th Tues. of month. Open to the public. www.ci.clayton.ca.us 673-7304, Clayton Library Community Room, 6125 Clayton Road, Clayton.

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June 16, 2006

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

Spring is here ! Want a fresh new look, new spring colors? How about a bright, new home. Re-do the dining room drapes & the table runners. Re-upholster the old sofa with fabulous new fabric for a fresh look for spring.

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Anderson Family shows rare form coping with daughter’s Rett Syndrome BEV BRITTON Clayton Pioneer

Alice Anderson is the consummate caregiver. For the last 19 years , she’s nurtured daughter Amanda, who suffers from R ett syndrome and has limited mobility and no v erbal skills . Along the way, she and husband Stev e added three more c hildren, Charlie, Jessica and Jason. Anderson’s mother , Greta McGowan, has li ved with the Clayton family since 1982. In recent years, she has been confined to a wheelchair after losing both legs to diabetes. And for the last four years , Anderson has been a special education assistant at Diablo View Middle School. “I m ust be one of those Type A personalities , where I can’t sit still, ” she ref lects. “When I’m not busy , I don ’t know what to do with m yself. I’m not good at relaxing. “It’s not lik e I w ant to be a caregiver all the time . It g ets exhausting,” she adds. “But w e don’t kno w any different. It’s been a par t of our li ves for so long now.” According to the International R ett Syndrome Association, the neurodev elopmental disorder begins to sho w in infancy or early c hildhood. It is caused b y a m utation in the MECP2 gene on the X chromosome. Rett is seen almost ex clusively in females , from all racial and ethnic groups. ‘SOMETHING WASN’T RIGHT’ As Anderson tells the stor y of Amanda’s reg ression from a “normal” baby, she g ently strokes her daughter’ s hair . Amanda lets out occasional moans and f lails her ar ms, her only ways to comm unicate, and Anderson tries to figure out what she may need. “Right no w, I’m g oing to guess that she is tired, ” Anderson sa ys as she lifts the 62-pound Amanda onto the couch and begins to softly r ub her back. Amanda has tw o metal rods in her bac k since scoliosis surgery in 2001. She also w ears ankle braces to aid her mobility. “When she was younger, she walked all over the place. But it’s hard for her no w,” Anderson says. “The long er w e k eep her on her feet, the better. It’s easier for me.” The Andersons noticed “something w asn’t quite right” when Amanda was about a year old. “She star ted doing autistic things, like wringing her hands . At 15 months, she stopped saying her bab y words,” Anderson recalls.

Tamara Steiner/Clayton Pioneer

AFTER A LONG DAY AT SCHOOl for both of them, Alice Anderson shares some quiet time with daughter Amanda in their Clayton home. “She w ent from a happy baby to cr ying all the time . She was a v ery, very ir ritable c hild until she was about 8.” After the diagnosis , the Andersons collected “ev ery piece of paper we could” about the disease. “But there w asn’t a lot,” she notes. “Knowing ho w much researc h they’v e done , I know they still ha ve so far to go.” Amanda is part of a study at Children’s Hospital in Oakland that is charting symptoms at different age levels. Due to the rarity of Rett syndrome, very little is known about long-term prognosis and life expectancy. LOOKING FOR ANSWERS In late Ma y, the couple attended a San F rancisco conference sponsored b y the International R ett Syndrome Association. One seminar offered key infor mation for the Andersons, as they cope with new issues as Amanda enters adulthood – from ho w puber ty affects the anti-seizure medication to conservatorship. Meanwhile, Concord residents Al and Coralla Accurso learned about m usic appreciation, aquatic prog rams and nutrition at the conference . Their 44-year -old daughter Marisa was diagnosed with R ett eight years ago. “It w as v ery infor mative,” Coralla Accurso sa ys of the conference. “We didn ’t ha ve anything a vailable for us 40 years ag o. But I feel w e ha ve done a g ood job – just doing what comes naturally.” For years , doctors didn ’t know exactly ho w to categ orize Marisa. “Profoundly handicapped w as what they said. They were leaning to ward cere-

bral palsy,” says Accurso. After Marisa’ s diagnosis , a Kaiser doctor refer red them to Anderson for advice and moral support. “She’s a sweetheart and so hard-working,” Accurso says. Once when the Accursos were visiting the Andersons, Amanda suffered from a seizure. “It’s frightening when you see a child convulsing and turning blue,” says Accurso. “But Alice handled it really well. We noticed how well she was taking care of Amanda.” HELP WHEN IT’S NEEDED The Andersons and the Accursos both rely on the Regional Center of the East Bay, which pro vides ser vices and suppor t for the dev elopmentally disabled. According to case manag er Erica Robertson, Amanda qualifies for 720 hours of respite care a year . “It’s based on individual need. That’s an ex ceptional amount,” she reports. Robertson w orks with clients 10 to 22 years old. “For Amanda’s age group, one of our main jobs is to pro vide educational adv ocacy,” she sa ys. “I attend all the meetings at school and guide them through the legalities of special education.” Until she is 22, Amanda will attend school at Ygnacio Valley High School through a county program. These da ys, Amanda is w orking with a computer program that offers visual stimulation. Clayton resident Debbie Kumpel also pitc hes in to help the Andersons . As a Caring Hands v olunteer, she has been shopping and visiting with McGowan for the last two years. “The idea is to help k eep seniors in their homes .

Sometimes they just need someone to talk to or to g et out of the house for a bit, ” says Kumpel. “Greta’s just the sweetest thing. She has a really g ood spirit. I just lo ve her , and I’v e become like family to her.” Caring Hands asks for a tw o to four hour commitment eac h week from the v olunteers. “It takes suc h a little bit of your time, but you get such a big payoff,” Kumpel sa ys. “My spirits are lifted after I see her.” Anderson is quic k to relate her appreciation for K umpel. “Today, my mother called me right when I w as leaving school and needed g roceries. I told her I didn’t have time and it w ould just ha ve to w ait,” she sa ys. “Then Debbie called and she could get them. Thank you!” Anderson pauses , unable to put that o verwhelming feeling into w ords. “After I w ent bac k to work, with Amanda and the other kids and m y mother , it was … oh, my g osh,” she sa ys with a sigh. Robertson calls Anderson an “unbelievable” caregiver. “She is so org anized. She is probably the only one I kno w who has binders and binders of paperwork just on Amanda, ” Robertson says. “The Andersons are amazing. All her siblings care for Amanda,” she adds . “I think Amanda has a wonderful life.” For mor e infor mation on Rett syndrome, visit www.resttsyndrome.org or call 800-818-RET T. There will a training session for new Caring Hands volunteers on July 21 in W alnut Cr eek. F or details about the Caring Hands pr ogram, visit www.johnmuirhealth.com or call 952-2999.

Visit our showroom M-F 9-5; Sat. 10-4 Come in to Abbey and see our extensive selection of har dwood and laminate at our All About Floors Sale! When you’re looking for Fashion, Style and Comfort, Come Home to Abbey Carpet.

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Page B10

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

At the Movies

Break-up wins with honesty “The Break-Up” is the stor y of the demise of a relationship. Within the first 15 min utes, we see Gar y (Vince V aughn) and Brooke (Jennifer Aniston) meet, fall in lo ve o ver the opening credits and then pla y out the event that becomes the stra w that broke the camel’s back. The next 90 min utes are a parade of head g ames, antagonism and crac king facades that tumble through every dead relationship ev eryone I kno w has ever experienced. I am unsure whether m y affection for this film is based on the fact that it mir rors many of my friends’ current romantic lives or because it is m y w orst

so that he is no long er the person with whom she fell in lo ve? The film’ s stars ha ve been the object of much tabloid speculation due to a relationship spawned on-set, which creates more press for a film than is healthy. Thus, I was prepared for disappointment. But the tension of “The Break-Up” held m y focus from the first dinner-party scene, in part because the highly paid stars shared the limelight with a brilliant supporting cast. Vaughn’s longtime co-star , Jon Favreau, plays the quick-witted buddy , while J oey Lauren Adams pla ys Maddie , Brooke’s best friend with the perfect family and situational advice .

VINCE VAUGHN AS GARY and Jennifer Aniston as Brooke share the limelight with a brilliant supporting cast in “The Break Up”

nightmare pla yed out in Technicolor, but “T he BreakUp” hits the nail directly on the head at every turn. The basic problem is typical romantic comedy: She w ants him to c hange from the person he is to the person with whom she desires to cohabitate . Perhaps he once was perhaps he can be ag ain, but where is the line betw een helping him become a more sensitive human being (to all the people in volved in his life) and altering his nature

Vincent D’Onofrio , Jason Bateman, John Michael Hig gins and J ustin Long round out the coterie of hilarious performances. Even Ann-Margaret makes a cameo as Brooke’s mom. My only real jeer about this film is that Aniston and Vaughn, each in their mid-to-late 30s, are too old for this stor y of a childless unmar ried couple in their first purc hased condo , with post-collegiate star ter jobs. The problem is easily remedied, though, by never mentioning the

NATALIE BUDESA

THE

MOVIES

“The Last Stand” implies a conclusion to the X-Men trilogy, as m uch as I did not w ant that to be tr ue. The new director , Brett Ratner, has a wide rang e of multifaceted characters to w ork with, claws and all. But he g ets in a r ush to bring about a resolute ending to which the excellent first tw o movies have been building. A “cure” for the m utant gene is introduced to the w orld, drawing a contro versial line amid the m utants those who want to be rid of their mutantitis and those who have accepted it as part of their being.

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AT THE MOVIES incongruence, casting suppor ting players in the same age range and li ving in a Chicag o apar tment they w ould nev er ha ve been able to afford on their salaries. The secret of this film is its sincerity. Usually, I lea ve breakup films w ondering why people don’t sa y what they think. Or why they create relationship with incompatible mates or li ve with significant others they know nothing about. “The Break-Up” covers all the bases , and still w e cannot pig eonhole the destruction with an ob vious label. It is just that level of intimacy that makes this story so terrifying, because it is their bond that allows them to strike where it will cause the most dev astation. “The Break-Up” is exactly as it appears – an often comedic but sensiti ve look at the pain that tw o people in lo ve can cause eac h other if oblivious selfishness is allo wed to r un rampant. “The Break-up” is rated PG13.

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What a Difference a Day Makes Community Service Day is June 16.

Jeanna Ross is an Eng lish teacher in the Pub lic Ser vice Academy at Clayton V alley High School. Send y our comments to movies@claytonpioneer.com.

Mutants familiar and old take ‘the last stand’ in a borderline X-Men 3 A second stor yline rev olves around the mutants still mourning the loss of Jean Grey. Little do they kno w (but any one with a faint familiarity with the comics saw it coming), Jean will return stronger than ever. However, a dor mant po wer within her, the Dark Phoenix, is unleashed, letting her tap into unbeatable force . The X-men, especially W olverine, fear that the real Jean never came back. The two stor ylines compete for attention, not ser ving enough justice to either. Meanwhile, the moti vated characters who carried us to this movie aren ’t really there anymore. Instead, a m ultitude of characters from the comics make an appearance, where they complicate the plot more than help it. No matter ho w impressi ve Angel looked in the trailer with his bright pair of wings, he had no purpose other than for show. Nightcrawler isn ’t ev en in the movie, replaced by the new man in blue, Beast. Hugh J ackman and Sir Ian McKellen shine as alw ays in

June 16, 2006

their roles of Wolverine and Magneto, respectively. They showed plenty of emotion, as the “last stand” really does bring them to their breaking points . Not ev eryone sur vives, leading to tear jerkers or the confused shock of “Oh, so soon?” Fighting dominated the movie more than the c haracter appeal I had w anted. Buckling down to finish nasty business , main characters were moved to the sidelines in what should have been their finale. The add-ins will fur ther delight or fr ustrate nitpic ky comic devotees, but it’s easily a summer bloc kbuster that can satisfy most. I’m borderline, but my ex citement hasn ’t g one out just yet. Jackman has supposedly signed on to a spin-off of Wolverine. But he’ll need an extra cla w to accompany “Xmen 4.” X-Men 3 is rated PG-13

Contact your independent insurance agent.

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At Windermere, we believe in giving back to the communities where we live and work. That’s why we created “Community Service Day,” an annual event where more than 8,000 Windermere associates skip work for a day to spruce up city parks, schools, playgrounds and senior centers. Windermere’s Clayton office will assist Shelters, Inc. in landscaping and organizing properties for homeless families in our area.

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Drs. Steve Kaplan and Jana Tomsky would like to announce two new additions to our practice

Natalie Budesa is 15 y ears old and a sophomore at CVHS. She aspires to a career as a cinemato grapher. Send y our comments to movies@claytonpioneer.com

Andrew Andrew Kelly, Kelly, PA-C PA-C

Dr. Steve Kaplan

Andy moved with his family to the Clayton area from the East coast. He is a father of three small children and enjoys camping and skiiing. Andy has practiced as a Physician Assistant for 9 years joining Clayton Valley Medical Group in July of 2005

1520 Kirker Pass Road, Suite A Clayton, CA (925) 672-6744

Debra Debra Goettsch, Goettsch, PA-C PA-C

Dr. Jana Tomsky

Debbie moved to the Clayton area from Southern California with an intial emphasis on emer gency medicine working at various local emer gency departments. She also has experience in women’s health and nutrition. She is a mother of two small children and enjoys tennis and traveling. Debbie has been a Physician Assistant for 12 years.

Open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Appointments are available

June 16, 2006

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

Dining Around

Photo courtesy of Anis Maamari

La Veranda is offering and all-inclusive Sunday Champagne Brunch with many of your breakfast favorites.

There’s something new and something old on the table at downtown Clayton’s LA VERANDA CAFE. The new is their all inclusive Sunday Champagne Brunch-the old are many of your breakfast favorites right off the old brunch menu. You’ll still find the tried and true Joe’s Special--a scrumptious mix of sausage, spinach and eggs. And the Eggs Benedict will still delight with its smooth and satiny Hollandaise. But there will be a few surprises, as well. Look for a light and luscious Chicken Piccata, chicken breast sauteed in white wine with lemon and capers or a gentle salmon with a light cream sauce. Salads will include fresh fruit and the personal favorite of many La Veranda fans, the Insalata Della Reina...baby greens with walnuts and gor-

gonzola tossed with balsamic vinegar and olive oil And those Sunday breakfast traditionalists will still be able to order eggs, omelets and buttermilk pancakes from the menu. All this is offered at $18 per person, $9 for children 6-12 and free for children under 6. Price includes champagne or sparkling cider, choice of fresh fruit juice, dessert and coffee. Brunch is served from 10 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. La Veranda is open daily for lunch and dinner and serves a Northern Italian menu of pasta, pizza, chicken, veal and fish starting at $8.50 for Bruchetta with olive oil, fresh tomatoes, garlic and basil. Pasta dishes range from $9 for Penne All’arrabiata to $11.75 for Spaghettini Frutti di Mare. For reservations for brunch, lunch or dinner, call 524-0011.

If you want a special place to dine, you might want to stop by PASTA PRIMAVERA at the corner of Clayton Road and Treat Blvd. in Concord. The dining room is charming with dark cherry wood chairs and tables and mirrored back wall. The menu is sure to please the most discriminating palate from the ardent pasta lover to the fresh fish and salad lovers. The Linguine with garlic and mushrooms in virgin olive oil will arrive at your table piping hot and smelling absolutely delicious and is sure to become the personal favorite of many. The cream of broccoli soup has a perfect texture and flavor that will live long in your memory. Another favorite is the seafood salad featuring shrimp and scallops on a bed of spinach in a warm lemon Dijon sun-dried tomato dressing. Prices are very reasonable which make Pasta Primavera a perfect choice for any occasion. A little more on the casual side and a great place to take the kids is ROCCO’S RISTORANTE at 2909 Ygnacio Valley Road in Walnut Creek. Voted the best pizza in the Bay Area by a Contra Costa Times Reader Poll, Rocco’s serves up a killer house specialty. The Dominator, piled high with pepperoni, salami, mushrooms, ham, linguica, sausage and onions, is not for the faint of heart. At $19.97, this large pizza will feed a small army. Rocco’s also has several choices of classic Italian pasta, homemade minestrone and several salads. All pasta dishes are served with fresh bread. Top your pasta dinner off with

a glass of wine and you’re well fed and satisfied for well under $20 (tax and tip included.) Rocco’s opens every day at 11 a.m. And, ROCCO’S NEW SPORTS BAR is now open. With a full bar and 12 big flat screen TVs, sports fans might just think they’ve found heaven. And for those who need a little break from sports, check out the beautiful new fresh water aquarium behind the bar. See you at Rocco’s. Don’t be mislead by the name of this delightful family restaurant just over the hill in in the Citrus Marketplace. MARY’S PIZZA SHACK is definitely NOT a shack, and you can find a lot more on the menu than just pizza--although the pizza is a fine choice, indeed. Mary’s Pizza Shack serves up a delicious array of their legendary pizza and Italian dishes with both a luncheon and dinner menu. Mary’s loves families so bring the kids. Pizzas range from $7 for a small Napoletana to $20.50 for the large Mary’s Combination. A pasta lunch will run you $7.25-$9.25; dinner $10.75-$13.25.

Page B11

La Veranda Café Northern Italian Cuisine in downtown Clayton Fresh soups, salads, antipasti, pizza and pasta Dinner and lunch daily Brunch on Sunday Children’s menu and take out service available

For reservations call (925) 524-0011 6201 CENTER ST. CLAYTON

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Mon. – Thurs. Co zy P fé 11:30 a.m. – 9 p.m. asta Pr avera Ca im Fri. 11:30 a.m. – 10 p.m. Sat. 12 noon – 10 p.m. / Sun. 4 p.m. – 9 p.m.

Fine Italian dining with an extensive menu • Weekend Special - grilled steaks • Gourmet desserts and fine wines Very reasonable prices

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Crossword Puzzle

ACROSS 1- The closest one to us is the sun; 5- Fluff, as bangs; 10- Thick slice; 14- Crescent-shaped figure; 15Royal; 16- Additional; 17- Rectangular pier; 18- Fragrant resin; 19- In the sac k; 20- Mattress of straw; 22Squeeze; 23- Tasteless items, junk; 24- Cereal g rass; 25- An acrostic; 29- Do-nothing state; 33- Raucous sound; 34- Word that can precede bodied and seaman; 36- Inert gas; 37- Monetary unit of Japan; 38- Scoff; 39- Ag ency of the United Nations; 40- Wise; 42- On or to wards the Mediter ranean, for example; 43Grecian architectural style; 45- Spire; 47- Make right; 49- Fish eg gs; 50- Taxi; 51- Shy; 54- Delirium; 60Drug-yielding plant; 61- Capital of South Korea; 62- Ripped; 63- Join lips; 64- Salk's conquest; 65- Melody; 66- Compass direction; 67- Concerning; 68- Couldn't find DOWN 1- Smack; 2- "Chicken of the sea"; 3Word that can precede w ar, biotic and climax; 4- Real-estate dealer; 5- Ag reement; 6- Long fish; 7- Matures; 8- Identical; 9Biblical high priest; 10- Impro ve in appearance; 11- Roundish projection; 12Son of Zeus in Greek m ythology; 13Places to sleep; 21- Narrow path for walkers, cars or ships; 22- Comrade; 24- River which empties into the Baltic Sea; 25- Vast chasm; 26- W edge; 27- Extent; 28- T he house of a parson; 29- Pertaining to the small intestine; 30- Ri ver that f lows through Paris; 31- Lik e salt; 32- Put into law; 35- Honey insect; 38- Cut-price retail event; 41- Most strang e; 43- Oil-ric h Islamic theocracy neighboring Iraq; 44Pertaining to an orbit; 46- Seed vessel; 48Spotted wildcat; 51- Grasp; 52- Bones found in the hip; 53- Rock clinging plant; 54- Unskilled laborer; 55- Gap; 56Undoing; 57- Bull; 58- Coloured par t of the eye; 59- Chair; 61- Mineral spring

Solution for 6/2 Crossword

Page B12

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

June 16, 2006

City volunteers enjoy being part of a friendly team While there are signs of wealth throughout Clayton – from the granite countertops to the BMWs, the city itself is low-budget. The staffs at City Hall, the library and the Police Department all rely on volunteers to help keep things running smoothly. This week, the Pioneer looks at some of the local residents who “clock in” down at City Hall. In the July issues, we’ll focus in on the multitudes who converge on the library to pitch in on a weekly basis along with those who answer the call to service with the Police Department. In talking with these volunteers, a common theme rings through – it’s all about making this great community we live in even better. And if that’s a sentiment you share, a volunteer opportunity is just waiting around the corner – at this year’s Fourth of July celebration. BEV BRITTON Clayton Pioneer

When Elena Munoz mo ved to Clayton 13 years ag o, she felt “lonely and empty.” The Mexican immig rant didn’t speak m uch English, and the lack of public transpor tation brought her fur ther isolation. Through her v olunteer w ork at City Hall, however, she has gained confidence, enhanced her English skills and, most importantly, found a sense of community. “I feel lik e a family with them,” Munoz says. “They all say ‘Hola¡ ¿como estás?’ when I walk in.” Munoz beg an v olunteering for the city 11 years ag o, after hearing the call for F ourth of July v olunteers. These da ys, she helps in the city office on a regular basis on F ridays and whenever else she is ask ed. Her assignments range from making copies and stuffing en velopes to planting flowers. But she doesn’t really want to talk about that. What she w ants to say – o ver and o ver – is ho w grateful she is for the suppor t she’s received from the city staff , especially from City Clerk Rhonda Basore. “She’s tak en m y hand and tried to w alk with me ,” Munoz says of her continued struggle to

speak English f luently. “She’s also helped me to not be shy, like I was before.” “They are willing to do whatever I asked them to do ,” Basore says of the volunteers, “and they always show up on time. It allows me to do other things, because it’s a one-person staff.” PRAISE FOR THE STAFF Munoz admires how the staff works as a team. She also notes that no one complains about cramped offices and outdated equipment. “I w ould lik e the residents here to really pay attention – these people are really w orking hard to make this place better,” she says.

Fellow v olunteer Merle Hufford ag rees with Munoz’ s assessment of the staff ’s dedication, calling them “a ter rific group” that works tirelessly. “With the resources that w e have, which are fairly minimal, they do as much as I could imagine that they could do ,” says Hufford, who has been the v olunteer city treasurer since 1997. The Clayton resident took on the treasurer’s job after retiring as an inter nal auditor at Chevron. He works with the city’ s finance manager, Merry P elletier, and City Manag er Gar y Napper to audit financial records , authorize payments and o versee the city’ s

investments. I feel like that makes it more “I see myself as a sepapersonal.” rate pair of eyes – especialThat coziness car ries ly as it applies to cash, ” he over to her new cul de sac . says. “With Merry, I review After li ving in Califor nia her journal entries – just to since the ’50s, “I feel like I’m give her another lev el of back in the Midw est,” she confidence. And hopefully, says. “The neighbors look it’ll save the auditors some out for y ou. They’re not time to see that an indenosey – they’ re just v ery pendent person has examnice.” ined these figures.” Munoz points to the Pelletier v alues city’s New Year’s celebration Hufford’s input as a as another example of com“watchdog.” Because of munity spirit. “The city the small size of the city makes it possible and opens staff, Pelletier often holds the doors for the community overlapping roles – such as to celebrate like a big family.” signing c hecks and hanShe encourages others to dling the cor responding volunteer and become a part journal entries. of the small-to wn experi“If I didn ’t ha ve him, ence. Tamara Steiner/Clayton Pioneer I’m sure the auditors would “They don ’t kno w what ERLE HUFFORD’S FINANCE BACKGROUND MADE HIM write up something of con- AMPERFECT they are missing if they don’t FIT as city treasurer. The Clayton resicern. It’s important to keep dent has held the volunteer post since 1997. volunteer. If people could these things se parate,” she realize the change they could says. make,” she states emphatimonth stint helping out at the Walnut Creek Senior Center . cally. “They meet new people FINDING COMMUNITY “Basically, I’m v ery social, ” she and they can feel so g ood about Pelletier, who has worked for says. “I like people and I like to talk helping other people . It’s so the city for fi ve years, enjoys the with them. I usually open a conbeautiful to feel that something is close-knit atmosphere at City getting accomplished.” versation – that’s my personality.” Hall. “We can be friends outside For more information about volunLike the other volunteers, she of work. I lo ve that sense of teer oppor tunities with the city of touts the friendly atmosphere at community,” says the 20-year City Hall. “It’s a small office, and Clayton, call 673-7300. Clayton resident. “There’s a real positi ve feel about the en vironment do wn there,” says Hufford, who sees the same attitude in the comm unatural 100 percent agave tequila OTHER TRIP HIGHLIGHTS nity at large. “People take a lot of Bucerias – a small to wn with (Raicilla Mismaloya). This is not pride in li ving here – and there’ s lime and salt, slam it down tequi- local f lavor and seaside restaugood reason for that.” la, but rather fine sipping tequila. rants. Seeking to disco ver just what Punta de Mita – eat at We liked this tequila so much, makes the city tic k, Bernadette Marisco’s Tino’ s and mak e sure we ended up buying three botKane offered to help at City Hall tles. You can only get this tequila to order a Spanish coffee. after moving here from Concord Playa Destiladeras – eat with if you visit the Leyv a F amily last year. She works with Basore Home in Mexico or someho w the locals at this beac hside locaon W ednesdays, spending most talk me out of one of my bottles. tion. of her time scanning city docuThis w as one of those side ments into the computer. For more information on this hike or trips that ended up being a The retiree has also v olunother outdoor experiences , contact Ke vin favorite, with a bit of history and teered with Hospice for six years at hiker@claytonpioneer.com. some serious local undertones. and recently completed an18-

Hiker, from page B1

Tamara Steiner/Clayton Pioneer

CLAYTON RESIDENT ELENA MUNOZ stuffs envelopes at City Hall during one of her Friday morning shifts. “They inspire me to be a success,” Munoz says of the city staff.

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