JUN 26 Concord Pioneer 2015

Inside

IT’S YOUR PAPER www.concordpioneer.com

From the desk of...

June 26, 2015

925.672.0500

Apartment complex planned for vacant corner to bring new vitality to downtown

TIM GRAYSON

MAYOR

Concord is more than its budget Serving as the mayor of one’s city is a humbling experience. The job is demanding, complicated, time-consuming, at times frustrating, but always rewarding. I think a lot about our budget, trying to make sure it’s balanced. The basic point about a budget is that what isn’t in the document will not be funded. Our completed budget is about the size of a medium city’s telephone directory. You are aware of the many functions of a municipal government so I won’t mention sewers, streets, parks, recreation or public safety.

There are many other aspects of what makes up a city.

What fills me with pride about Concord is that there are many

See Mayor, page 7

Rendering courtesy SVA Architects

A NEW FIVE-STORY APARTMENT COMPLEX — CONCORD VILLAGE — is planned for the eastern rim of downtown, which the city and developers envision will bring about 400 new residents to the city. It is geared toward commuters and millennials, with smaller living spaces and rents, but luxury amenities.

PEGGY SPEAR Concord Pioneer

Plans are underway for a huge new apartment complex just east of Todos Santos Plaza — the largest in the city — that will jumpstart Concord’s down-

town development and bring a new generation of residents to the bustling heart of the city.

The new Concord Village will be located on a 2.3-acre lot bordered by Salvio Street, Willow Pass Road, East Street and Port Chicago Highway. The five-story, 231-unit complex

proposes contemporary architecture, high-end amenities and wraps the residential units around six floors of parking. It will boast a mix of studios, onebedroom, two-bedroom and “creative studio” units — micro units measuring 400 square feet — with about 3,000 square feet

of amenity space, including a mail center, bike shop and fitness studio for tenants.

It is also within a short hike of the downtown BART station, which is in line with the city’s downtown plans for residential and mixed-use development.

“I look at Concord as a path

of progress,” said Andrew Schwisow, project manager of Nicholson Development, the company which bought the three parcels comprising the lot.

See Concord Village, page 13

Remembering the Port Chicago disaster JOHN T. MILLER Correspondent

JULY 17 MARKS THE 71ST ANNIVERSARY the munitions explosion at the Port Chicago Naval Base that killed 320 sailors. The public is invited to a remembrance ceremony on July 18.

From the desk of...

CARLYN OBRINGER

PLANNING COMMISSION

July 17 will mark the 71st anniversary of the munitions explosion at the Port Chicago Naval base that rocked the tiny town and sent repercussions clear to Washington in undoing racial segregation in the military.

Little noted in modern textbooks, the Port Chicago munitions explosion and subsequent mutiny was an important historical event of unparalleled consequences.

Many Bay Area residents

know the Port Chicago Highway exit from Highway 4, but few know the history of this proud little town that provided countless tons of ammunition to both World War II and the Vietnam War efforts.

The 1944 explosion claimed 320 lives and wounded more than 400. The casualties represented the single largest loss of life on American soil during World War II. The blast hit a 40mile radius, with about 10,000 verified damage claims — mostly broken windows — from as far as Vacaville, Petaluma,

Brentwood, Rio Vista and Belmont. More serious structural damage and severe injuries occurred in a smaller radius, including parts of Solano County and central Contra Costa.

Authorities recovered 80 bodies, but could only identify 30 of them. Cleanup crews found boots with feet in them and gloves with severed hands.

The SS Quinalt Victory was blown to bits and scattered at least 600 yards away, while no trace of the SS E.A. Bryan

See Port Chicago, page 5

Urban farming comes to North Concord Years before Concordians began watering their lawns with recycled water, Dr. Carolyn Phinney was planning an urban farm. Upon learning in 2010 that the Bay Area’s sanitary districts daily dump millions of gallons of treated waste water into Greater Bay Area waterways, and that every sanitary district is surrounded by buffer land, she began investigating the possibility of developing an

urban farm in the North Concord/Martinez area.

“It became clear to me that we can’t use our water just once,” says Phinney. “We have to recycle it and reuse it. The highest and best use for reusing it is agriculture. That’s because the treated water comes back from the Sanitary District high in nitrogen and phosphorous

See Farming, page 7

The view of the AgLantis hydroponic greenhouse on the Sanitary District property from Highway 4.

The urban farm is set to be producing in about two years.

Courtesy AgLantis

Concord Celebrates 4th of July Concord’s July 4 weekend begins Friday night with a special California Symphony Independence Day Spectacular at the Concord Pavilion.

After a 13-year hiatus, the California Symphony returns to the Pavilion with patriotic favorites, movie theme songs, Broadway tunes and a George M. Cohan medley. Concord Mayor Tim Grayson will narrate the James Beckel’s “Liberty for All,” and for the grand finale, the thrilling Tchaikovsky’s “1812 Overture.”

Performance starts at 8 p.m.

Gates open at 7. Buy tickets at Livenation.com, Ticketmaster.com or charge by phone at 1-800-745-3000.

See July 4th, page 3

Inside Calendar . . . . . . . . . . . .18 Community . . . . . . . . . . .2 From the desk of . . . . . . .7 School News . . . . . . . . .16 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10 Performing Arts . . . . . . .19

Page 2

Concord Pioneer • www.concordpioneer.com

COMMUNITY

In Brief...

Docent Volunteers needed The Concord Historical Society is looking for docents for the Galindo Home and Gardens. The home is open every Sunday from 1 to 4 p.m. at 1721 Amador St., Concord.

Docents have a good time and meet many interesting people from all around the Bay Area and beyond.

Volunteer with people who share the same interest in Concord's rich history. For more information, go to concordhistorical.org or call Gloria Matson at (925) 685-5658.

Crime Prevention for Concordians The Concord Police Department Code Enforcement Unit is hosting two crime prevention classes for homeowners, property owners, and business owners.

Using a strategy called Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED), you will learn how to maintain your property to improve the quality of life, and reduce crime and the fear of crime in your neighborhood.

Class size is limited to 80 people per session, and attendance is free.

Class location is Centre Concord, 5298 Clayton Rd in Concord, from 6- 7:30 p.m.

If there is enough interest, more classes will be scheduled in the future.

Register online for July 21 at http://whoozin.com/T9QTHF-9E4N; for Aug. 11, register at http://whoozin.com/PJ6F7U-RYDA.

Continued next page

Opening day of baseball season for Concord’s Junior Giants saw the non-profit team get richer by $14,000.

The donation came from the East Bay Golf Assoc., the hosts of the annual Mayor’s Golf Tournament. Each year, the green fees from the tournament are donated to the Jr. Giants and the First Tee Golf Program.

The Concord Junior Giants is a free, noncompetitive, coed baseball program for under-served youth ages 713. Working together with local agencies, families and volunteers, Junior Giants reaches into communities and offers youth a chance to learn the basics of baseball during the summer while also discovering the importance of self-

Planning Commissioner Tim McGallian, Councilman Ron Leone, Mayor Tim Grayson, Councilman Edi Birsan, Planning Commissioner Carlyn Obringer and Monument Impact’s Ana Villalobos at the Jr. Giants Opening Day ceremonies.

esteem and respect.

The Junior Giants operates through Monument Impact.

For more information about Jr. Giants, go to sfrgmonument.sportssignup.com

award at the school’s annual Senior Awards Ceremony June 2. Shin has been accepted to the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena.

Shin aspires to learning the skills needed to visually ANGELA communiSHIN cate her ideas. After graduation she plans on opening a business centered totally on the design of products and ideas that will be of interest to a wide range of audiences.

Family-owned Dolan’s Lumber has been named California Assembly District 14’s Small Business of the Year.

Dolan’s Lumber has been a family owned business dedicated to providing the best products at affordable prices since the early 1900s, with locations in Concord, Walnut Creek, Burlingame and Pinole.

Send Community News items to Sue and Frank Snyder of Concord stopped in Hilo to catch up on local news. They just happened to have both Pioneers in their suitcases. Photo is at Rainbow Falls on their 15-day Hawaiian cruise in April.

Better Homes BRE#00933393

George Vujnovich,

1900 Shadywood Court – Concord

5230 La Corte Bonita – Concord

Immaculate & Spacious home located on a large lot! 4 bedrooms, 2.5 updated baths, approx.

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Diablo Ridge at Oakhurst Country Club! Pristine “Summer” model!

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Jennifer Stojanovich Lifelong Clayton/Concord Resident

(925) 567-6170, jenstojanovich@yahoo.com

www.jenniferstojanovich.com

1341 Shell Lane – Clayton

Cal BRE #01446062

Don and Emily Howard,

Father/daughter team

Don, Realtor-Associate, Clayton Resident Emily, Realtor-Associate

(925) 408-3184

(925) 408-1871

Donald.kent.howard@gmail.com

howard.emily05@gmail.com

S OL D

Chaparral Springs at Oakhurst Country Club!

Impeccable "Willow" model! with desirable down-

1007 Feather Circle – Clayton

Diane and Bill Hayes Realtor-Associate, Clayton Residents,

(925) 890-4701, Dianemariehayes25@yahoo.com

Oak Hollow at Oakhurst Country Club! Desirable “Santa Fe” model! 4 bedrooms,

SO LD

homesbydianehayes.com

2.5 baths, approx.

1886sf. $665,000

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ADDRESS

PRICE

Limeridge Drive . . . . . . . $900,000 Meadowbrook Dr . . . . . . $464,000 Wisteria Way . . . . . . . . . $525,000 Smoke Tree Ct . . . . . . . . $760,000 Marietta Ct . . . . . . . . . . . $755,000 Broadmoor Ave . . . . . . . $365,000 Cowell Road. . . . . . . . . . $486,000

SF . . . . .3343 . . . . .1190 . . . . .1729 . . . . .2418 . . . . .2764 . . . . .1154 . . . . .1534

BED/BATH SALE DATE . . . . . .4/2.5 . . . . . . .6/17/15 . . . . . .3/2 . . . . . . . . .6/12/15 . . . . . .3.2,5 . . . . . . .6/12/15 . . . . . .5/3 . . . . . . . . . .6/9/15 . . . . . .4/3 . . . . . . . . . .6/5/15 . . . . . .3/2 . . . . . . . . . .6/3/15 . . . . . .3/2 . . . . . . . . .5/31/15

ADDRESS 1922 3901 1013 1070 2585 4145

Beautifully updated single story rancher on a HUGE level approx. .46 acre lot! tucked away at the

end of the court, backing to creek with RV parking.

4 bedrooms, 2 baths, approx. 1407sf. Rural Country feeling yet located in the center of town. Gorgeous updated gourmet kitchen boasts slab granite counters, honey maple shaker style cabinets & stainless steel appliances. Updated baths boats extensive use of slab granite, tumbled tile and river rock!

Upgrades include: Dual panes, thick baseboards, light fixtures & deco paint. Extensive RV/Boat/Toy Parking, 2 storage sheds.

Backyard features patio area & composite deck, large lawn area, play structure, fruit trees & raised garden beds!

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4 Clark Court – Concord Spacious Single Story nestled in a private court! on a Huge lot! Built in 1988. 4 bedrooms, 2 baths, approx. 1881sf., inside laundry & 3 car garage plus abundant RV parking! Combined formal living and dining room. Family room boasts a vaulted wood beam ceiling & wood burning stove. Eatin country kitchen. Approximately .29 acre lot features mature redwoods, semi wrap around gated composite deck, large storage shed and room to roam! $625,000

201 Falcon Place – Clayton

stairs bedroom and full bath! 3 bedrooms, 3 baths, approx.

1709sf with inside laundry & 2 car garage. $540,000

howardhomeseastbay.com Cal BRE #01846446 & Cal BRE#01938441

Include write up and high-resolution photo.

Assemblywoman Susan Bonilla presented the Dolan family with Assembly District 14 Small Business if the Year award.

With Bonilla is Colleen Dolan, Gene Dolan and Patrick Dolan.

3505 Coyote Circle – Clayton

cell: (925) 348-5700 georgevujnovich@sbcglobal.net

Broker-Associate,

Editor@ConcordPioneer. com

Broker, Clayton Resident

(925) 672-4433

provided by Better Homes Realty

Two local high school seniors received $500 scholarships from The Michelangelo D’Onofrio Arts Foundation.

Courtney Von Savoye, a 2015 Concord High School graduate, received the award at her school’s annual Senior Awards Ceremony May 23. She will be attending Brigham Young University this fall where she will major in illustration and pursue a career in art.

Angela Shin, a 2015 Northgate High School graduate, COURTNEY received her VON SAVOY scholarship

Dolan’s honored by Assembly District 14

Aloha from Hilo

Each Office Is Independently Owned & Operated.

1233 3101 2639 4409 4720 2735 3724

D’Onofrio Foundation honors two art students

Mayor’s Golf Tourney nets Jr. Giants $14k

Helping friends, neighbors and newcomers buy and sell since 1979

Concord Market Update

June 26, 2015

Windmill Canyon at Oakhurst Country Club!

Gorgeous “Larson” model!

4 bedrooms, 3 baths, approx. 2467sf.

Desirable downstairs bedroom & full bath.

Updated gourmet kitchen features slab granite counters & stainless steel appliances. Updated lighting, flooring, baseboards, crown molding & designer colors! Beautifully landscaped private back yard is designed with entertaining in mind with multiple patios, lush lawn area and vibrant landscape! $795,900

PRICE

Baxter Court . . . . . . . . . . $580,000 Clayton Rd #17 . . . . . . . $229,000 Modiva Drive . . . . . . . . . $473,750 Mohr Lane #11 . . . . . . . . $300,000 E Olivera Road. . . . . . . . $465,000 Joan Avenue . . . . . . . . . $490,000

SF . . . . .2187 . . . . .1038 . . . . .1376 . . . . .1379 . . . . .1244 . . . . .1689

BED/BATH SALE DATE . . . . . .3/2 . . . . . . . . .5/29/15 . . . . . .2/1.5 . . . . . . .5/28/15 . . . . . .3/2 . . . . . . . . .5/26/15 . . . . . .2/2 . . . . . . . . .5/22/15 . . . . . .4/2 . . . . . . . . .5/21/15 . . . . . .4/2 . . . . . . . . .5/18/15

June 26, 2015

Concord Pioneer • www.concordpioneer.com

Page 3

Masonic Temple en route to becoming museum KARA NAVOLIO Correspondent

Saving Concord’s historic Masonic Temple from demolition was just the first step in a long process to return the building to its prior eminence in Concord.

Led by the Concord Historical Society and project manager Chuck Gabrysiak, the transformation of the 1920s-era Masonic Temple into the Concord Museum and Event Center is underway.

On May 26 Gabrysiak presented an update to the Concord City Council. Since the building was moved from its original location in May 2013 to its current spot next to the Galindo House and Gardens, it has received work to the foundation, earthquake retrofitting, and a new well and tank house. The Historical Society also spent some time refining the site plan and exploring how the building is to be used.

In early May the Historical Society submitted their application for a building permit, and on

Tamara Steiner/Concord Pioneer

CONCORD HISTORICAL SOCIETY VOLUNTEER, CHUCK GABRYSIAK oversees the renovation of the Masonic Temple building and is taking great care to preserve as many architectural features of the old building as possible while meeting current building code requirements.

June 12 it was granted. According to Gabrysiak, they can now prepare to have the rough plumbing and electrical put in. This is all part of Phase 1 which includes interior restoration, new win-

July 4th, from page 1 Independence Day gets rolling in earnest on Saturday morning with the Concord Police Association Sixth Annual Stars & Stripes 5K Run and Walk starting at 8 a.m. on Todos Santos Plaza in Concord. Proceeds from the event benefit both the Monument Crisis Center and Bay Area Crisis Nursery.

The association is preparing for more than 800 participants this year running or walking the 3.1-mile route. The $30 entry fee includes a goody bag with freebies, gift certificates, coupons, a Brenden Theatres movie ticket

for each 5K participant and a race T-shirt with a patriotic design for those who register by July 1.

Prizes valued at $120 go to the top male and female finishers and all kids the Kids Fun Run receive a patriotic finisher’s medal. The registration deadline is July 3 online at starsandstripesrun.com.

Concord-Diablo Rotary Pancake Breakfast will be dishing up breakfast from 7 to 11 a.m. for $5 at Todos Santos Park near the start/finish line on Salvio Street.

After breakfast, line up along for the annual July 4 Parade which begins at 10 a.m. at Mt. Diablo

dows, fire sprinklers and electrical equipment for the stage.

The project will include five phases in total. Phase 2 will see a parking lot built behind the Galindo House. Phase 3 will include

High School and winds through the downtown. On the Grandstand this year are ABC7 anchor Dan Ashley and Concord native, former KPIX anchor Ann Notarangelo.

At 4 p.m., it’s back to MDH for the July 4 Festival, presented by the Todos Santos Business Association. Food, music, and activities keep everyone busy until the TSBA Fireworks Show at 9 p.m. The TSBA fireworks show replaces the popular Calvary Temple’s three-day “Singing Flag” celebration at the Dave Brubeck Park which ended its 25-year run in 2014.

hardscape, an entry terrace, and ADA access. Phase 4 calls for a three story addition to be built on the back side of the current building and includes a kitchen, offices for the Historical Society and shelving for artifact storage. Phases 5 and 6 will include a gazebo, landscaping and irrigation.

The society plans to host a Grand Opening/Dedication in October 2016. A date has been chosen to accommodate guest musician Chris Brubeck. Brubeck is the son of Dave Brubeck who grew up in Concord and, as a 12year old, played in the original Masonic Temple building. They hope to have Phases 1-3 complete by then.

When all phases are complete, hopefully by 2017, the first floor and gardens will be available to the community for rental for events such as weddings and other community uses. The second floor will house the Concord History Museum and offices for the Historical Society.

The main obstacle, as Gabrysiak explained, is funding.

The Historical Society is completely volunteer-run and depends on donations and grants for the project to succeed. The total project cost is estimated at

$1.5 million. At the May 26 City Council meeting Gabrysiak asked the city if there were any funds available to help with the renovation. All the city council members were supportive of the society’s efforts to preserve Concord’s history but did not commit any funds at this time.

Councilman Edi Birsan’s stance on the project was echoed by all the council members.

“Community is built around a shared and known history. I see the importance of history as part of the fabric of a city. I would entertain the idea of direct funding. The idea that a city should be involved in its history is a nobrainer,” Birsan said.

Concord residents interested in helping can make taxdeductible donations at www.concordhistorical.org, and residents can also sign up to receive newsletters or to volunteer. They are also seeking items for their first annual Dinner and Auction that will take place on Oct. 17, 2015. Contact Vivian Boyd at 925-818-2312 if you have items to donate for the auction.

To learn more about Concord’s rich history, visit concordhistory.com.

$475,000

Park Pavilion — Priced to sell 3 bedroom, 2 bath home with solar heating. This 1441 sqft beauty offers fresh paint and carpet, low maintenance yards & a front patio. Conveniently situated near shopping & restaurants.

Concord

City seeks new Treasurer The city of Concord is taking applications for City Treasurer. This is an appointed position to replace retiring City Treasurer, Tom Wentling.

Applications will be accepted through July 2, 2015 at 5 p.m. Eligible applicants must be a registered voter, 18 years of age or older, a US Citizen, and a resident of Concord For more information, go to the city’s website at www.concord.ca.us

St. Bonaventure church offers grief workshop St. Bonaventure church offers grief workshop Six-week grief workshop planned at St. Bonaventure Saint Bonaventure Catholic Community is offering another six-week workshop beginning in July for those who have experienced the death of a loved one.

The Healing the Heart Grief Ministry offers a safe place to express grief and begin healing after the loss of a loved one.

The next grief workshop is July 28 from 7:30 to 9 p.m. at Saint Bonaventure, 5562 Clayton Road, Concord. The program is free, but registration by July 17 is required. Call (925) 686-4870 or email healingtheheart@stbonaventure.net to register.

ONCE COMPLETE, THE BUILDING will house a major event center, meeting rooms and Historical Society offices.

COMING SOON!

Concord

In Brief...

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Morgan Territory — 4BD/3.5BA 3,689 sq.ft.

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Peacock Creek — Luminous 4BD/2.5BA 3,307 sq.ft. boasts charm and elegance on a picturesque setting. Gourmet, garden-view kitchen with family room. Back yard is entertainers delight with outdoor kitchen/BBQ grill, built-in spa and breath-taking panoramic views

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Sun Terrace – Lovely 4 Bedroom, 2 Bath Home with 1285 sq ft. Close to Shopping, Freeways and BART for Easy Commute.

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Page 4

Concord Pioneer • www.concordpioneer.com

June 26, 2015

Spray Park open despite rocky start GEORGE FULMORE Correspondent

www.PulseOfConcord.com Take two minutes make your voice heard

Weigh in on local issues Find out what people are asking The questions are neutral The summaries are neutral Have a topic or question for a future Pulse? Email EdiBirsan@gmail.com DISCLAIMER: To the extent The Pulse of Concord reflects, suggests or implies a viewpoint, it is not intended or represented to be the viewpoint of the Concord City Council, the City of Concord, or city staff or officials (living, dead or undecided). Nor was this survey or the results created, distributed, tabulated, evaluated or analyzed by the Concord City Council, the City of Concord, or its staff or officials. Finally any placement of shoe leather in one’s mouth is most likely the fault of Edi Ersalesi Birsan – or whatever other variation on that theme may be in vogue, acting as an individual(ist).

Ad paid for by Edi Ersalesi Birsan

The Meadow Homes Spray Park in Concord got off to a bit of a rough start this summer.

Signage was out of date, since changes had been made due to the drought. Finding out when the park was open or not open was mostly by word of mouth. Then, at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, June 17, the water suddenly turned off in this first week of summer, leaving about 80 children and adults with many questions.

Will the water come back on? Why did it go off ? Is there someone to call?

With the afternoon temperature at about 95 degrees, these were questions being exchanged in a cement park with little shade. The water was not to come back on that day.

The next morning, a tem-

porary sign on one entrance to the park read “Spray Park Closed.” The sign was soon removed. Water started to flow at 11:45 a.m.

But many users of the park say that operational problems were frequent last summer and that communications about when the park was or not open were not good.

Program Manager Christophe Roke of the Concord Parks and Recreation Department is more optimistic. He says that the water will be flowing, as advertised, on a consistent basis this summer. “It is a recirculation system,” he said. “If anything is

925.682.6003

more than 10-20 times all summer. He confirms that summer hours of operation are noon to 6 p.m., seven days per week.

If a park user does have a problem, Toke suggests calling the Hotline number, 925-6713366, option 5, which connects to a live person, or allows callers to leave a message. The signage, at the park reads, “The Spray Park may be closed at any time, due to weather, maintenance, or any other operations issue.”

Meadow Homes Spray Park, which opened in June 2012, is located near the intersection of Detroit Ave. and Sunshine Dr.

By the numbers, Hispanic voter turnout is down in recent elections

EDI BIRSAN PULSE OF CONCORD

Licensed and insured • Lic #533-293 Member of IPSSA • Concord Resident

out of whack, the system shuts down, automatically.”

Per Roke, things that can stop the water from flowing include a gummed-up filtration system and/or a chemical imbalance in the water. He said that users of the park need to know that any dirt or other materials that flow down the drains, other than in the shower area, go straight to the filtration/recirculation system.

The Public Works Department normally fixes problems, but if a problem is identified after work hours, a contractor service will be called.

Roke hopes that the system shuts down, unexpectedly, no

More than 2,500 years ago, an Athenian turned up for the first vote in a “democracy.” It would become totally clear to him looking around the great plaza that democracy was not the rule of the majority but the rule of those who showed up.

This was not lost on the

Athenians who imposed a “quorum” rule of 6,000 voters required of the 50,000-plus eligible citizens to vote on various issues. In the course of their development they used penalties as well as rewards to get their quorum and attendance up, but success was never really consistent since they kept trying different things. The era of Alexander the Great ended the issue of voter turnout and reduced the necessary “quorum” number to ONE. We have that same problem here today. In the November 2014 General Election for governor and other office holders, a mere 48 percent of voters turned out in Contra Costa County. Within the county, that was broken up by place of birth as follows:

LEIGH KLOCK

California: 46.1 percent New York: 65.4 percent Philippines: 42.7 percent Mexico: 35.1 percent So not only is the overall voter turnout down, but within that depressing turnout those who elect to speak show great variations.

Every state in the country where people emigrated to California (and had at least 1,370 voters) had a higher turnout than native Californians. Hispanic population turnout hovered around the Mexican number with 37.7 percent from El Salvador and 35.8 percent from Nicaragua, but the number of countries of orgin contributing helped to divide the numbers to less than my cut off of 1,370.

See Pulse, page 5

STEPHANIE LOPEZ

Realtor®, DRE#01874255

Realtor®, DRE#01370548

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NEW

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June 26, 2015

Concord Pioneer • www.concordpioneer.com

Page 5

Pulse, from page 4

Port Chicago, from page 1 could be found.

Dean McLeod, a local historian who did extensive research into the event, said, “The government’s investigation into causes was superficial. The port had to get back to work. Questions remain as to the cause of the explosion, ranging from conspiracy theory to sabotage.”

The official cause of the disaster, listed as faulty handling of the weapons, is certainly understandable. The enlisted men and the officers were poorly trained in the handling of explosives.

Competition between divisions in poundage loaded during a shift took precedent over safety.

A curious aftermath to the blast, according to McLeod, was the government investigation: “They seemed more interested in the effects of the explosion, rather than the cause.”

The disaster allowed the Manhattan Project to measure the kind of damage that could be done by a blast. Capt.

William Parsons, chief ordnance officer of the Manhattan Project, was immediately on the scene to investigate the effects.

Some wondered if perhaps the explosion was not an accident, but rather a test of an experimental port-busting weapon under study by the Manhattan Project.

Another unconfirmed theory maintains that a torpedo-carrying Japanese mini-sub found its way through the bay, as was done at Pearl Harbor.

THE MUTINY Whatever the cause, however, the disaster led to mutiny charges of African-American sailors who refused to continue loading the munitions, and a serious examination of racism in the Navy.

Known as the Port Chicago 50, these African-American sailors represented the largest case of mutiny in the history of the Navy.

After helping in the cleanup and seeing the horrific damage done by the blast, the AfricanAmerican sailors from Port Chicago were transferred to Mare Island. On Aug. 9 they were told to report to duty. The overriding fear of another blast permeated their thoughts.

Of the three divisions assigned to load munitions that day, 258 out of 328 sailors refused, citing fear as their reason. The dissenters were loaded onto a makeshift prison on a barge and held there.

Steve Sheinkin, who chronicled the events in his book “The Port Chicago 50,” reported that Admiral Carleton Wright addressed the dissenters two

Image in the public domain

UNSAFE HANDLING LED TO A DISASTROUS MUNITIONS EXPLOSION AT PORT CHICAGO on July 17, 1944, which killed 320 sailors, most of them African-Americans, and led to the biggest mutiny in the history of the Navy. Photo is of the Port Chicago Pier looking south.

days later, telling them that their actions were considered mutinous and the penalty, during wartime, could be death by firing squad. At that point, 214 went back to work, leaving 44 behind.

Eventually, 50 sailors (half of them teenagers) refused to load ammunition. They did not refuse work, but requested any other assignment or changes in the current procedures. The trial began Sept. 14 on Treasure Island. To this day, it remains the largest mutiny trial in the Navy’s history. They were all found guilty, sentenced to 15 years of hard labor in prison and dishonorable discharge from the Navy.

Even after the war was won, the case put considerable pressure on the Navy. Thurgood Marshall presented an appeal; Eleanor Roosevelt followed the case and members of Congress called for an investigation.

After a little over a year at Terminal Island, all 50 were released and given assignments aboard ships. In 1948, President Truman’s historic order ended segregation in the military.

THE EVOLUTION OF PORT CHICAGO The name Bay Point was first used as far back as the 1850s and described its primary geographic feature, a spit of land that juts into the Suisun Bay. The name was officially changed to Chicago in 1931, but was soon amended to Port Chicago after objections from the U.S. Postal Service.

When World War II broke out, the Navy had to expand Mare Island. McLeod stated, “Most of the Bay Area cried

‘not in my backyard,’ but Port Chicago welcomed the Navy with open arms.”

The closing of the Coos Bay Lumber Company in 1932 resulted in the town losing 75 percent of its jobs. The Navy brought prosperity back to Port Chicago.

The key value of the area included a deep-water port and two transcontinental railroads that passed through. Its relative small population and lack of industrial activity also added to its worth as a shipment location. In 1942, the Navy claimed 576 acres of the shoreline.

Two years later, however, the explosion changed everything. The blessing turned to a curse.

A REUNION The residents who gather for a reunion picnic on the last Saturday of July each year recall when, at the height of the Vietnam War, the Navy served eviction notices and announced it would raze the town. What the residents didn’t know, and the Navy couldn’t tell them, was that the base had become home to top-secret development of nuclear weapons and they needed more of a buffer zone.

The National Park Service offers guided 1.5 hour tours of Port Chicago Naval Magazine throughout the year on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 1:30 p.m. Not all dates may be available, and reservations must be made two weeks in advance online or by phone at 925-2288860 ext. 6520.

For more information on the history of Port Chicago and the surrounding regions, go to the baypointhistoricalsociety.com.

Port Chicago Memorial Events Two events will be held in July to commemorate the Port Chicago disaster.

Join the National Park Service and the Friends of Port Chicago National Memorial to honor the 320 men who lost their lives. Visitors are invited to attend the ceremony at 10 a.m. on Saturday July 18, 2015 at the site of the catastrophe, which occurred on July 17, 1944 at Port Chicago Naval Magazine in Concord. This annual event is a rare opportunity for friends, family, and others interested in the Port Chicago disaster and its aftermath to join together in a day of remembrance.

As the event will be held on an active military base, visitors must have a security check. Visitors age 17 and under must

Remember that these are the percent of registered U.S. citizens able to vote. If we were to break it down by age group regardless of place of birth, we would find that the millennials have roughly the chance to vote equal to their age with 18-yearolds in the year of their first election having a spike equal to the turnout of 24-year-olds, with those age of 20-21 having the all time lowest turnout.

The county numbers carry on to the City of Concord and we found that when it came to the Special Election in March for State Senate we had the following turnout by place of birth: California: 22.7 percent New York: 35.6 percent Philippines: 22.1 percent Mexico: 14.9 percent It should be noted, and may be a surprise to many, that in Concord, when it comes to place of birth, those from the Philippines comprise the largest

be accompanied by an adult, but do not need to provide the information below. When reserving a spot, please be ready to give the following:

acknowledgement from NPS staff.

• First Name, Middle Name, Last Name • Date of Birth • E-Mail or Mailing Address • Daytime Phone Number • State issued driver’s license number (and the state which issued the ID)

Meanwhile, former residents of Port Chicago will hold their annual picnic on July 25 from noon till 4:30 p.m. at Ambrose Park, 125 Memorial Way, Bay Point.

Many of these same residents have gathered every year since the Navy took over the town in 1969 and evicted all the residents.

Reservations are required and must be made by July 6, 2015.

To make a reservation, please leave a voicemail message at 925-8380249 x 6520 or email thaddeus_shay@nps.gov.

Your reservation is confirmed when you receive

For more information about the event, please visit www.nps.gov/poch.

For information, contact co-chairs Nancy Colchico at 925-8251239, or Marcia Lessley at 925- 458-0896. There is a $5 charge for the picnic, and a raffle is held to help offset costs.

The time is NOW

minority of the voters by nation: 1,653 registered voters compared to 1,232 for Mexico.

Once again New Yorkers dominate the non-Californian state contribution at 1,305 voters.

When it came to the final run-off in May between State Senate candidates Susan Bonilla and Steve Glazer, there was about a base increase of 4 percent in all groups, so native Californians were up to 26.5 percent.

Clearly there is a problem in getting the immigrant Hispanic population out to vote.

When it comes to local government, as my favorite saying goes, “They are either listening to you or to someone else, so what is it going to be?” Silence never moved a politician and voting is speaking.

Send comments to EdiBirsan@astound.net, or visit www.PulseOfConcord.com.

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Relay luminarias remember and honor Relay For Life of Concord wants to pack the track with glowing luminaria bags and supporters at the Luminaria Ceremony, 9 p.m. on July 11 at Todos Santos Plaza in Concord. The ceremony is part of the Relay For Life fundraiser walk for the American Cancer Society that lasts for 24 hours beginning at 10 a.m. on July 11.

Relay For Life supports those who are fighting cancer, honors those who have survived and remembers those who have lost their battles. The Luminaria ceremony begins at dusk on Saturday with illuminated white paper bags

Relay participants decorated luminarias last year with items such as photos, words and stickers.

lining the track. The bags are decorated by anyone who would like to be part of the ceremony and are in honor or memory of some-

one affected by cancer. Walkers hear from guest speakers before making a silent, reflective lap around the track.

“For you, whose memory we honor tonight,” said last year’s speaker. “This light represents the love we share. It still burns for others to see, but it burns brightest in our hearts and in our souls.

You were and always will be a part of us. Though we do not see you, we know you are with us.”

Purchase and decorate luminaria bags at the event for $10 or go to relayforlife.org/concordca to purchase and personalize bags in advance.

For more information about the Luminaria Ceremony or Relay For Life of Concord, send an email to kealoha.pomerantz@cancer.org.

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Two Monument-area parks get nod PEGGY SPEAR Concord Pioneer

With Concord’s motto being “Where Families Come First,” nowhere is that as evident as in its abundance of parks. But many local outdoor play spaces have fallen into disrepair, with residents complaining of lighting, broken play structures and other safety concerns.

After the Concord City Council heard a report earlier this spring that called for $16.7 million of upgrades to local parks, the city told residents it is committed to providing as much support as possible to making parks a priority.

Two of those parks, Ellis Lake Park and Meadow Homes Park, will get a fresh infusion of funds if a local coalition of residents — most from the Monument area — have their way.

After members of the Central County Regional Group packed two recent city council budget workshops, the city council asked city staff to come up with a way to pay for the improvements at the parks. According to the city’s estimates, new restrooms at Ellis Lake would cost $320,000; a new play structure at Meadow Homes would cost $325,000 and expanding the playground equipment at Ellis Lake would cost $275,000.

Plans would also address lighting and other safety concerns.

The coalition is made up of representatives from Contra Costa Health Services, Monument Impact, Central County Regional Group, Healthy and Active Before 5 and First 5 Contra Costa. It has been meeting with community members and city representatives since Oct. 2013, and clad in bright blue teeshirts, they have made their own impact at many city council meetings promotiong their own parks need assessments.

Participants filled out surveys ranking the parks according to their needs in regards to maintenance, safety, play equipment, accessibility, transportation access and amenities. Seven Parks were seen as needing the most improvements: Baldwin, Cambridge, Concord Community Park, Ellis Lake, Meadow Homes, Rick Seers and Ygnacio Valley Park. Of the seven parks, Ellis Lake and Meadow Homes received the lowest scores, and were deemed to have the most

favorable impact on the Monument community if they were improved.

“Our priorities are safety, equipment, bathrooms and functional clean water fountains,” says Rhea Laughlin, community engagement program officer for First 5 Contra Costa. “This has been a unique effort that is community driven, backed by robust community organizations. We found in our work that most of the Monument community would like to see improvements at Ellis Lake Park first.”

Earlier this month, the coalition sent a letter to the city asking for restrooms, a new toddler lot and a play structure for older children, new lighting, a barrier of stones or landscaping around the lake’s perimeter, water fountains and seating at Ellis Lake.

Concord resident George Fulmore argued that the priority should be on Meadow Homes

Park, since that is often overcrowded and needs improvements such as new playground installations. But other community members argued that it is overcrowded only because parents are worried about the safety of Ellis Lake Park.

The funds to improve the parks could come from $750,000 already earmarked to improve water quality projects at city park ponds, as well as about $360,000 from Measure WW, an East Bay Regional Parks bond.

The city will also explore other grant possibilities with the community groups, but it is the aim of the coalition to see the improvements get started in the 2015-16 fiscal year.

“This will mean a lot to the community,” said Ana Villalobos of Monument Impact. “As you know, many residents of the Monument area rely on walking because they don’t have trans-

portation. To be able to walk with their children to safe park is a priority.

“We are just happy to bring the community back to the parks,” she said.

In its report released early in May, Santa Clara-based Verde Designs looked at the full scope of Concord’s parks’ infrastructure, including fences, landscaping, asphalt paving, walkways, exterior lighting, play structures, buildings, sports fields and irrigation systems.

The bulk of the $16.7 million —$16.4 million — would need to go to landscaping needs, including upgrading the aged irrigation systems and to controlling gophers and other pests.

There isn’t a plan, however, to secure funding for the projected $30 million the city will need to make capital replacements in the parks over the next 20 years.

First 5 gets grant to aid in early detection of developmental delays PEGGY SPEAR Concord Pioneer

Children suffering from speech problems, behavioral challenges and autism will get a boost thanks to a $5 million grant awarded to First 5 Alameda County and First 5 Contra Costa to ensure that developmental delays are identified and treated early in childhood.

The Thomas J. Long Foundation has awarded the grant to help expand Help Me Grow, a national model that promotes early detection of development delays in young children, and ensures timely access to needed services.

Currently, 70 percent of developmental delays are undetected until children reach kindergarten, resulting in missed opportunities for children to receive intervention services shown to be most effective earlier in life.

“One in four young children is at risk for a developmental delay, yet current systems to identify delays are inadequate. Only 28 percent of California children receive developmental screening,” said Mark Friedman, CEO of the

Thomas J. Long Foundation, about the effective method recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics to flag developmental problems early.

“This grant will help more East Bay children get back on track before starting school, which down the road can reduce costs to education and health systems.”

The funds will be used to train more pediatricians and childcare providers on a developmental screening tool that checks children’s developmental progress.

Screening will be prioritized for low-income children and those in non-English-speaking households. Funds will also be used for an awareness campaign for parents about the importance of early screening and how to access it.

“Children with moderate delays have the same challenges as children whose difficulties are more severe,” said Sean Casey, Executive Director of First 5 Contra Costa. “The difference is that they don’t have the access to free intervention services the state is mandated to provide. Many children then fall further behind.

With the Long Foundation grant, we’ll be able to provide those children with the timely and effective services they need to improve their development.”

His counterpart in Alameda County agreed. “The optimal time to detect and address concerns is in the first three years, when children’s brains are still forming and are most receptive to intervention,” said Janis Burger, CEO of First 5 Alameda County.

“Early detection and treatment services can vastly improve developmental outcomes for children with special needs and prevent further progression of delays.”

As screening services are expanded, it is anticipated that more children will be identified with moderate delays not serious to qualify for state-funded intervention services, yet still be in need of help. To fill this gap, funds will also be used to provide one-on-one and group support for those children and to teach parents how to address their child’s needs.

For more information, www.firstfivecc.org.

visit

Where to go for LOCAL news For fast, on-the-spot coverage of the latest police action, traffic jams, emergency information and chat, social media and local blogs are often good sources of breaking news.

For in-depth coverage of local news, readers turn to their independently owned community newspapers. With news that people care about – local politics, schools, sports, events and stories about their friends and neighbors, the community newspaper is social media the old fashioned way.

To find out what is happening in neighboring cities, check out these community newspapers: Clayton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Clayton Pioneer . . . . . . . . . . .claytonpioneer.com Concord . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Concord Pioneer . . . . . . . . . .concordpioneer.com Pleasant Hill, Martinez . . . . . . . . . .Community Focus . . . . . .ourcommunityfocus.com Lafayette, Orinda and Moraga . . . .Lamorinda Weekly . . . . . . .lamorindaweekly.com San Ramon, Danville, and Alamo . .Valley Sentinel . . . . . . . . . . . . .valleysentinel.com

June 26, 2015

Concord Pioneer • www.concordpioneer.com

From the desk of ...

Page 7

Directory of Advertisers Beauty and Pampering Kumar, Pam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .325-7203

Your feedback is essential to good service

GUY SWANGER

POLICE CHIEF I generally receive a few emails after one of my articles appear in the Pioneer. First, thank you for reading the articles and especially for reading the Pioneer. Second, I do appreciate feedback. And third, one of last

month’s emails helped me write my article this month.

This resident said his car broke down on Concord Boulevard and his friend came to help push it out of the road. But the car was just too heavy and needed to be pushed out of the roadway by an officer (push bars were used). A second police officer came by and gave this person a ride home. The email was signed, “Satisfied Customer.”

Last month’s article was on customer satisfaction. One of my last lines in the article read, “There are methods and signals that one can use to measure customer satisfaction.” Receiving emails such as the one above is a

Farming, from page 1 which provides non-fossil fuelbased fertilizer.”

In July 2014, the Central Contra Costa Sanitary District Board voted to lease 14.8 acres of district land to AgLantis, Phinney’s non-profit organization, for $1 a year, for the purposes of 1) growing produce for distribution to local schools and the nearby Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano, and 2) educating local students about the nuts and bolts of urban farming.

After more than a year of fundraising, Phinney outlined her vision for the Contra Costa Sanitary District Sustainable Farm at the May 8 kickoff, as a means by which to reduce the cost of food production, the major types of carbon pollution associated with transporting produce from distant farms, along with nutritional poverty in Contra Costa County.

“Currently, the Food Bank only receives small quantities of

nutrient-rich foods like kale, lettuce or red peppers,” she explains. “It costs schools 35 cents a day to feed a student a piece of pizza, but a dollar to feed a child a salad. We want to develop a sustainable, predictable, large supply of lowcost produce to the Food Bank and local schools to provide nutritional options to students and families.”

Phinney also views the Farm as a way to create green jobs in Contra Costa County. “We need to move more produce production into urban areas,” she explains. “The further that produce has to travel to get to market, the less nutritional value it has upon arrival and the more energy that is used to transport it.”

The Farm recently received the donation of an Agra Tech solar light greenhouse where Phinney plans to offer twice weekly classes on hydroponic farming, beginning in July, to

signal. But there are others.

I recently met with a group of residents from one of our local neighborhoods. They were bringing to my attention a constant and probably unsafe situation. A resident was parking a large vehicle (such as a boat or RV) in the driveway and would move it only after receiving a visit from Code Enforcement. It would then be parked in the street, creating a safety hazard due to the small cul-de-sac. It would then be moved after a visit from Parking Services. What frustrated the residents was the solutions offered by the police department appeared to them to be “a silo” answer and did not

“It costs 35 cents a day to feed a student a piece of pizza, but a dollar to feed a child a salad...”

Carolyn Phinney, PhD

AgLantis students in grades 3-12. The classes will also cover topics such as the Global Food System, Our Local Foodshed, Growing Vegetables, Wildlife and Insects, and the Fundamentals of Plant Sciences.

“Every type of science and engineering happens on a farm.

Kids who live in an urban environment don’t have the opportunities to learn science that kids who grow up on a farm do, to do natural problem solving,” explains Phinney. “This is an amazing opportunity for the community to help students learn how to be real world,

meet the resident’s expectations.

It was a good meeting and I believe the residents brought forward a concern that they were not satisfied with our response.

Every business that deals with product and/or service delivery should be paying attention to these signals. Feedback can come in writing, phone calls and in person. They can come after a police contact (arrest, detention, ticket, some form of assistance) or even an article. I guess what I am saying is, I appreciate the feedback.

Guy Swanger is Concord’s Chief of Police. Send questions or comments to ContactCPD@cityofconcord.org.

hands-on problem-solvers, while developing critical creative problem solving skills.” Members of the public are invited to sponsor a student for $100.

More information can be obtained by calling 925-2539500 or by emailing SustainableFarm@comcast.net.

Phinney anticipates that in two years produce will be growing via the hydroponic greenhouse and on the Central Contra Costa Sanitary District buffer land. She emphasized, however, that there is no other place in the country where food is being produced on sanitary district property. “We’re providing a model of how we can move some of our agriculture into urban areas, a model for healthy, fresh, sustainably produced, local produce and education for the community.

The sooner we can make this happen, the better.”

Carlyn Obringer chairs the City of Concord Planning Commission.

Carlyn resides in Concord with her husband, Justin, and dog Crystal.

Contact her at carlyno@yahoo.com.

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Mayor, from page 1 opportunities for families to be active together. That’s my focus for this brief message.

Back for the summer is our popular Music in the Park Series on Thursday evenings at Todos Santos Plaza and the Tuesday Night Blues at the same venue, both evenings with a 6:30 p.m. starting time.

In addition, we have more than 25 city parks with a variety of different capabilities: an Olympic size swimming pool, with a new aquatic obstacle course; a Spray Park at the Meadow Homes Park, with other facilities soon to be added; parks devoted to children’s play structures; tennis, basketball, softball, Bocce Ball, picnic and BBQ grills, dog parks, areas to run, jog, walk and bike; Pix-

ieland children’s amusement park, a nature study center, nature walks and a skateboard park—don’t forget to wear your helmet.

The Concord Historical Society has done a great job in restoring the Galindo House and other historical homes.

They are working on restoring the Masonic Lodge, an important part of Concord’s early history. See page 3 in this issue of the Concord Pioneer for an update on the progress of this undertaking.

Golf is available at the cityowned Diablo Creek Golf Course. There is a Family Camp and Youth Camp at Camp Concord (visit www.campconcord.org.)

The Concord Library is

loaded with programs for all ages. If being outdoors is not your thing, the Concord Parks & Recreation Department hosts online courses ( w w w. e d 2 g o . c o m / c o n cordleisure).

Also, the Concord Senior Center has programs ranging from dancing, yoga, Zumba, to arts and crafts.

If all the activity tires you, take in a movie at one of the only drive-in theaters in the Bay Area. Or, cool off at one of Brendan’s plush theaters. I’m told that in the early days, before A/Cwas standard for homes, people used to go to the movie house to cool off since it had air-conditioning.

If you’d like to get out of town, but still stay active, you can bike on the Iron Horse Trail, ride or climb to the top of everybody’s mountain: Mt. Dia-

blo. Did you know that children can fly free on Saturdays during the summer at the Buchanan Field Airport? Or many of our residents take their visiting guests for a ride on BART. Yes, there’s a lot more to our city than just the budget. And believe it or not, the best is yet to come. I’ve just completed two visits, one to Austin, Texas, and another to southern California to see first-hand the product of those who are competing to be our Master Developer for the vacant land that was once the Concord Naval Weapons Station. Our goal is to make sure that the family comes first in providing facilities that are unique and unmatched in our county. That is our goal and we will keep faith with the great citizens of Concord.

Contact the mayor at CityCouncil@cityofconcord.org

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Page 8

Concord Pioneer • www.concordpioneer.com

June 26, 2015

Budget paves way for safer streets, other transit fixes PEGGY SPEAR Concord Pioneer

Traffic signals, street repairs, utility pole relocations and ramp improvements may not seem like the sexiest of city projects, but they are the sort of things that make the city of Concord run more smoothly.

If you haven’t noticed, many upgrades to the city’s infrastructure were completed in the 2014-15 fiscal year, and Concord hopes that with grants and city funds, improvements will continue in 2015-16.

Deputy City Manager Jovan Grogan unveiled the proposed $17.6 million 16 Capital Improvement Budget/Transportation Improvements/Information Technology budget at the June 9 budget hearing, which includes $9.3 million from grant revenue and $8.3

million in local funding.

Among the new projects planned are a citywide bridge repair and construction program; replacing pool coverings at Concord Community Pool; replacing lights at the Willow Pass Park Field; an analysis of the city’s golf course infrastructure and deferred maintenance conditions; and improving the water quality at city park ponds.

However, some of those pond improvement funds may be diverted to aid in improvements at Ellis Lake and Meadow Homes Parks. (See story page 6.)

The budget also calls for continued improvements on Wren Avenue to Walnut Avenue as part of the city’s Complete Streets Program, a sidewalk installation on Salvio Street, and other street improvements.

There are still some projects the city would like to address,

but are as yet unfunded: a new restroom and concession facility at Willow Pass Park, and continuing the Complete Streets Program on Farm Bureau and Oak Grove Roads.

The IT repairs and improvements in the budget call for replacing the city-wide document management system that will preserve Concord’s vital records; continuing to automate tracking and managing public works projects; and fully funding a police department law enforcement management sys-

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infrastructure repair, in order to help the city attract new developments and businesses that will add revenue to the city’s coffers.

In the past year, the city has completed several major projects, including installing a traffic signal at the westbound ramps of Arnold industrial Way and Highway 4; several street repairs; improvements at the Clayton Road and Schenone Court intersection; the relocation of utility poles on Concord Blvd.; and ramp improvements throughout the city, among other projects.

There are also several major projects still under construction, such as improving the intersection at Clayton Road and Treat Blvd. to add a new left-turn lane; improving the movable partitions and wall coverings at Centre Concord; continuing the Farm Bureau Safe Routes to Schools project; pedestrian and bicycle improvements on Detroit Avenue; Cowell Road safety enhancements; and adding decorative archways to the entrances of Todos Santos Plaza.

Local ladies competed for Queen in Pow Wow celebration CAROL LONGSHORE

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tem. The budget also calls for installing necessary computer equipment with city records and other vital information at a location in Rocklin, CA, in case of an earthquake or other disaster in Contra Costa County.

The budget also calls for replacing 25 obsolete and broken parking garage security cameras at the city’s two downtown garages.

Sewer projects were not discussed at this budget workshop.

City council members have underscored the importance of

The story of the Pow Wow Queen is quite interesting.

The Improved Order of Red Men was the originator of the Pow Wow. This Order of men stemmed from the Society of Red Men in l813, when a group of men came together in historic Fort Mifflin near Philadelphia. These men were a part of the Sons of Liberty, who opposed the tea tax in l773. It was then they had disguised themselves as Mohawk Indians and dumped 342 chests of English Tea overboard, therefore becoming a part of history known as the Boston Tea Party.

They first were known as a secret patriotic society promoting liberty and defying the tyranny of the English Crown. In l834 the name was changed to the Improved Order of Red Men and they shifted their path a bit and opposed federal welfare programs, waste in govern-

ment and communism.

Out in California in l907, the 45 original Concord members named their Order the Wahoo Tribe No. 194. After World War II, life in Concord was idyllic.

It was vibrant and bustling and yet still had that small town feel.

The community was solid and close and there was strong civic pride.

The first Pow Wow Parade was in August l950. The Improved Order of Red Men, Wahoo Tribe No. 194, loved to drum and would walk up and down the streets drumming.

Interestingly, the Blue Devils Drum and Bugle Corp grew from them.

The townspeople would follow and they would go in and out of the many bars in Concord with the queen candidates, called Pocahontas, selling tickets. The girl who sold the most tickets won the crown. The money they raised would go to government projects and community needs.

The Pow Wow would go on for three days and the entire community would participate. It included a parade full of floats,

THESE YOUNG LADIES, CIRCA 1950, were competing to be the Pow Wow Queen of Concord. (If anyone recognizes these girls, let the Pioneer know.)

horses, marching bands and cars.

By the end of the 1950s, as Concord kept growing and changing, the Pow Wow left along with the fading Improved Order of Red Med, Wahoo Tribe No. l94.

By the l970s the national Order began supporting the struggles of the Native Ameri-

cans and in 1974 eliminated the clause that said it was open only to whites, which many felt was a turning point for the Order.

Carol Longshore has been a Concord resident since 1950. She is a community leader and current president of the Concord Historical Society. Send comments and suggestions for future topics to editor@concordpioneer.com.

925-676-7177 x15 Registration deadline, July 15 Register at

www.fpcconcord.org/vbs.htm

Support safety on all Concord streets

Joe Ronco/Owner 925-872-3049 jaroncoconstruction.com

35 years Clayton/ Concord resident

KENJI YAMADA BIKE CONCORD

Bike Concord will soon submit a letter to the City of Concord in support of strong policies in the Bicycle, Pedestrian, and Safe Routes to Transit Master Plan. The Master Plan, currently being developed by the city with community input, will shape our city’s bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure for years to come.

In embarking on the Master Plan process, the city has committed to a future vision of bicycling and walking as safe,

mainstream modes of transportation in Concord. For this vision to be realized, the design of our streets must support it. Whether a busy commercial street or a neighborhood side street, every street has destinations and should be part of the network. If our community aims to encourage active transportation, people walking or bicycling should not be consigned to side streets, and every street can be a complete street that is attrac-

tive and welcoming to all.

Bike Concord asks for your support in urging the City to adopt policies that will eventually make bicycling and walking into safe options for any trip in Concord. Please sign our letter at: letter.bikeconcord.org, or visit our free bike repair tent at the Thursday Todos Santos Farmers Market and sign it in person.

Several other community

See Bike Concord, page 9

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June 26, 2015

Concord Pioneer • www.concordpioneer.com

Page 9

BUSINESS Chamber cuts the ribbon for two new businesses

P.O. Box 1246 6200 Center Street, Suite H, Clayton, CA 94517 TAMARA AND R OBERT S TEINER , Publishers TAMARA S TEINER , Editor P ETE C RUZ , Graphic Design P EGGY S PEAR , Copy Editor J AY B EDECARRÉ, Sports Editor PAMELA W IESENDANGER , Administration, Calendar Editor S TAFF W RITERS : Peggy Spear, Pamela Wiesendanger, Jay Bedecarré

C ORRESPONDENTS : Cynthia Gregory, Patricia Romero, Kara Navolio, John Jackson, John T. Miller

PIONEER INFO CONTACT US

MELISSA REA

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE The City of Concord declared June 3r SHELTER, Inc. Day to celebrate their move from Martinez to a larger facility in Concord. See story this page. To learn more about

Mayor Tim Grayson flanked by city representatives and members of the Artist’s Den, cuts the ribbon on the organization’s new location at 1913 Salvio St.

SHELTER, Inc., visit their website http://shelterinc.org/, or visit their location at 1333 Willow Pass Rd., Suite 206.

The Artist’s Den allows those with developmental dis-

abilities to creatively express themselves through paintings, drawings, sculptures and more, while providing them with life and work skills. To see the wonderful pieces, visit the Artist’s Den at 1913 Salvio St. in Con-

cord, or visit them online at www.futures-explored.org.

For more information on becoming a member of the Concord Chamber of Commerce, please visit www.concordchamber.com or call (925) 685-1181.

SHELTER, Inc. gives a hand up to end homelessness SAMANTHA BERGUM Correspondent

Members of the Contra Costa community gathered June 3 to celebrate local nonprofit SHELTER, Inc.’s move to a new office off of Willow Pass Road in Concord.

SHELTER, Inc. employees and volunteers showed excitement about their new space, having cleaned and painted it themselves, with the help of donations from local businesses. More importantly, their new location will make them more accessible to the more than 6,000 people they assist each year through their mission to prevent and end homelessness.

Board Member Breanna Ford is a SHELTER, Inc. success story.

After her husband lost his job and a difficult pregnancy kept her out of work, Ford found her family unable to pay the rent and facing eviction. “We went through different shelters, but they were not like SHELTER, Inc. They were basically emergency housing, but it wasn’t really goal-oriented, where you were going to be able to start looking for work.” Ford’s husband called SHELTER, Inc., and the family was placed in

emergency housing in Martinez.

Eventually the family was moved to transitional housing, a temporary housing service where families pay rent equal to 30 percent of their adjusted monthly income and SHELTER, Inc. covers the rest. Ford and her family were able to get back on their feet.

SECOND TIME AROUND Then things took a turn for the worse for Ford. She and her husband divorced, forcing her and her sons to stay with her mom. Once again without housing, Ford called SHELTER, Inc. “To come back a second time, that was tough for me, because now I was back with no husband, no job. I had my boys, but I was

Bike Concord, from page 8 organizations have already added their names to the letter: First 5 Contra Costa, Juvenile Hall Auxiliary of Contra Costa County, Monument Crisis Center, Monument Impact and Sustainable Contra Costa. We will be happy to add the names of any other interested organi-

zations or individuals. The letter will be submitted to the city

by July 24.

In addition, a crucial opportunity for input to the Master Plan is coming up. The second of three Master Plan Community Workshops, hosted by the city, will focus on

on welfare. It was a struggle for me. I set this goal that I was going to finish school. I was going to find a job. I was going to do all these things and we were going to get permanent housing.”

Ford went back to school to finish her Associate’s degree in criminal justice and SHELTER, Inc. connected her with a job developer to help her find work.

“I had a security background before and I wanted to try and work in a hospital again doing security. I think it was my second or third meeting with a job developer and I had already found a job and had been hired.”

Ford went on to complete her Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice and now serves on SHEL-

policy. It will be held at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, July 30, at Centre Concord, 5298 Clayton Rd. Please attend if you can.

Bike Concord members will be there, easily identified by our pins. We will be glad to chat with you and hear your thoughts on how to achieve safety and convenience for non-motor users of Concord’s streets.

TER, Inc.’s Board of Directors.

She calls SHELTER, Inc. a miracle for her family. “They went the extra mile for me and my kids.

They provided so much help. I’m glad they’re here.”

The nonprofit, founded in 1986 out of a county task force on homelessness, seeks to prevent and end homelessness in Contra Costa’s low-income residents by “giving a hand up, not a hand out.”

Funded by grants, private donors, corporations and foundations, SHELTER, Inc. provides its clients with rent assistance and housing combined with case management, counseling, job training and education in an effort to make them self-sufficient.

“When they come to us, we take all,” says Executive Director Tim O’Keefe. “We don’t do it by necessarily giving them housing, but by giving them other resources that help them become self-sufficient. Just giving somebody a house doesn’t end their homelessness… You’ve got to get the self-sufficiency before you can give somebody a house or an apartment.”

Tel: (925) 672-0500 Fax: (925) 672-6580 Tamara Steiner editor@concordpioneer.com Send Ads to ads@concordpioneer.com Send Sports News to sports@concordpioneer.com Send School, Club and Calendar Items to newsandcalendar@concordpioneer.com

The Clayton Pioneer and the Concord Pioneer are monthly publications delivered free to homes and businesses in 94517, 94518, 94519 and 94521. ZIP code 94520 is currently served by drop site distribution. The papers are published by Clayton Pioneer, Inc., Tamara and Robert Steiner, PO 1246, Clayton, CA 94517. The offices are located at 6200 Center St. Suite H, Clayton, CA 94517 LET US KNOW Weddings, anniversaries, births and deaths all weave together as part of the fabric of our community.

Please let us know of these important events. We ask only that the announcement be for a resident in our home delivery area. Submit on our website and be sure to attach a JPG photo that is at least 3 MB. Also on the website are forms for calendar items, events & press releases.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Both Pioneer newspapers welcome letters from our readers. As a general rule, letters should be 175

words or less and submitted at least one week prior to publication date.

Letters concerning current issues will have priority. We may edit letters for length and clarity. All letters will be published at the editor’s discretion.

Please include name, address and daytime telephone number. We will not print anonymous letters. E-mail your letter to editor@concordpioneer.com.

Letters must be submitted via Email.

CIRCULATION The Concord Pioneer is delivered monthly to 30,000 homes and businesses in 94518, 94519 and 94521. Papers are delivered by carriers for ABC Direct around the last Friday of the month. To stop delivery for any reason, call the office at (925) 672-0500 .

If you are NOT receiving the Pioneer, please check the distribution map on the website. If you live in the shaded area and are not receiving the paper, please let us know. If you are not in the shaded area, please be patient. We will come to your neighborhood soon.

The Clayton Pioneer is delivered

by US Mail to 5,500 homes and businesses in 94517 around the second Friday of the month.

SUBSCRIPTIONS To subscribe to either the Clayton Pioneer or the Concord Pioneer, call the office at (925) 672-0500.

Subscriptions are $35/year for each paper, $60/year for both.

To learn more about SHELTER, Inc., visit shelterinc.org

Bike Concord is an organization of local residents working to make bicycling a safe, convenient transportation option in our community.

Kenji Yamada is a Concord resident and works with Bike Concord.

He does not own a car and gets around Contra Costa County exclusively by bicycle. Contact him hajenso@gmail.com

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Page 10

Concord Pioneer • www.concordpioneer.com

June 26, 2015

SPORTS Local schools name athletes of the year JAY BEDECARRÉ Concord Pioneer

After an exciting 2014-15 school year that saw three teams from the two local leagues emerge as the state’s best, 15 seniors and one junior have received special recognition as their school’s athletes of the year.

BEREAN CHRISTIAN Connor Antonson – First team all-Diablo Valley Athletic League in soccer and volleyball, he led the Eagles to the CIF Northern California volleyball playoffs for the first time in school history. He also had a 4.07 grade point average. He earned eight varsity letters in four years.

Madi Nortune – An allDVAL performer in cross country, soccer and track, Nortune is the school record holder in the 800 meter run. She accumulated 10 varsity letters in four years while compiling a 3.68 GPA in the classroom.

Lizzy Pintarich – She was given the Eagle Award for Athletic Excellence for a graduating senior who excelled during their entire high school career. She earned 12 varsity letters over four years in cross country, basketball and track. She also served as a class officer every year and was selected as the most inspirational person in all three sports. She got all-DVAL mention this year in track and cross country.

CARONDELET Christina Chenault – The outstanding athlete is going to Columbia University in the fall after a four-year career on the Cougars track and field team.

She recently won the long jump at the Golden West Invitational against the nation’s top jumpers. She played varsity basketball as a sophomore and junior on Carondelet NCS championship teams. She was third in the state in the triple jump, fourth in the long jump and third as a part of the 4x400 relay. She holds school records in both jumps, 200 meters and the 4x100 and 4x400 relays.

CLAYTON VALLEY CHARTER Jon Allen - He was first-team all-DVAL in both basketball and baseball this year. He was the DVAL basketball MVP as a jun-

ior. He was an all-league honoree three years in basketball and twice in baseball. The centerfielder batted .359 this year. The high-scoring forward wore #15 while helping the Eagles to winning seasons in both sports.

Hailey Pascoe – She capped her record-breaking career at CVCHS as the unanimous girls athlete of the year selection. Pascoe was a four-year varsity basketball player who was league MVP as a junior and senior and leaves with the school single season and career scoring records headed to Division I Lehigh College. She earned all-DVAL honors every season of her high school career. The Eagles won their third consecutive DVAL championship and advanced to the NorCal tournament for the fourth time in five seasons. Pascoe played three years of varsity volleyball but skipped the fall sport this year to prepare for her senior basketball season.

CONCORD Josh Wiens – The senior earned first-team all-DVAL honors in football and baseball on Minutemen teams that both earned berths in NCS playoffs.

The CHS football team went all the way to the 2014 NCS championship game with Wiens at linebacker. He was 3-1 as a pitcher and batted .339 on the baseball squad. He was two-time varsity letterman in both sports.

Kalesita Manoa – The dual sport standout helped the Minutemen varsity volleyball and softball teams for the past three years. Manoa was a two-time allDVAL infielder helping the Minutemen to the 2013 NCS Division II championship. She also was volleyball all-DVAL libero this past fall. She played on five NCS teams for Concord over three years.

DE LA SALLE Nathan Cervantez – He became the first-ever Spartan wrestler to reach the NCS wrestling finals four consecutive years. This season he went on an incredible run winning 23 of 24 matches to sweep the EBAL and NCS titles for the third time and then went on to the CIF state finals taking the silver medal at 126 pounds among the 850 schools in California. He finished

Andrew Leonard Ygnacio Valley High

Sita Manoa Concord High

Madi Nortune Berean Christian High

Jon Allen Clayton Valley Charter High

38-9 overall against top state and national level competition. He won the Clayton Valley and Mission San Jose Invitationals.

every fall and winter sports season at Mt. Diablo High on the Red Devils volleyball and basketball teams, earning three varsity letters in each sport. This year she also found something to do in the spring when she joined the first MDHS track and field team in five years. With very little coaching assistance she took up the shot put and discus events and placed in the top five at the DVAL Championships to earn a spot in both disciplines at the NCS. Alofaki received all-league notices over her career in both volleyball and basketball.

MT. DIABLO Andrew Lyle – The Mt. Diablo wrestler made four consecutive trips to the NCS championships, earned this year with a runner-up finish in the DVAL meet at 154 pounds. His father Glenn had died unexpectedly right after the Red Devils football season ended. Lyle was a three-year varsity football team captain in addition to his four years in wrestling. Away from athletics he has belonged to Jr. ROTC for his four years in high school and part of the Sport Med Program at MDHS. He has already enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and reports to basic training this month.

Liz Alofaki – She was busy

NORTHGATE Floyd Armenta – He capped off his high school wrestling career with a third straight DVAL championship and then went to the semi-finals of the NCS championships. He was also first-team offensive lineman

Andrew Lyle Mt. Diablo High

Hailey Pascoe Clayton Valley Charter High

Ariana Whitmarsh and Kia Howell Ygnacio Valley High

for the Broncos NCS football team. Northgate reached the NCS playoffs the past two seasons as he earned all-league honors both years. Since he couldn’t stand to sit out a season, he also played on the Broncos lacrosse team.

Rebecca Dong – The Broncos Eric Griffin female award winner is DVAL pole vault champion Dong who also placed in the 400 meters at the league meet. She advanced to the NCS track meet finishing in the top 10. She also was first team allleague soccer for the Broncos, leading them to the NCS playoffs where they lost to eventual champion Miramonte.

YGNACIO VALLEY Andrew Leonard – The only junior to be award the athlete of the year, Leonard is a three-sport letterman. He was the starting

quarterback in football, shooting guard in basketball, and one of the best track and field athlete in the DVAL. Andrew high jumped 6’0 and was a member of the DVAL championship 4x400 relay team.

Ariana Whitmarsh – She played volleyball, soccer and lacrosse. She was named DVAL first team in soccer and lacrosse.

In soccer Whitmarsh was named honorable mention all-NCS. In lacrosse, she led the area with 84 goals and helped YVHS to a first-round NCS win against Sonoma Academy.

Kia Howell – The senior three-sport athlete lettered in volleyball, basketball and lacrosse this year. Kia earned 12 varsity letters during her four years at YVHS. Incredibly she played varsity water polo, volleyball, cross country, basketball, track and lacrosse in her career.

Spring sports local all-league high school players Swimming & Diving DVAL Boys First team–Eric VanBrocklin, Stanley Wu, Mason Tittle, Max Bottene (Northgate). Second Team– Robbie Parker, Cameron Brandt, Ryan Levy, Anthony Vines (Clayton Valley Charter), Colin English (Berean Christian), Lloyd Tate (NG). Honorable Mention– Niklas Weigelt, Jerron Miller (CVC),Anthony Dulay (NG), Evan Stanziano (Concord).

EBAL De La Salle Boys First Team–Forrest White, Jackson Gabler, Dominic Dalpaiz, O’Connell, Iannaccone, Neufeld, Benko; Second Team–Dalpaiz, Jake Simpson, Rosselli, Knoflick, Cannon, Driscoll.

DVAL Girls First Team–Natalie Doan, Danielle Arauzo, Tatum Turetzky, Emma Smethurst, (NG), Taylor Fair (BC). Second Team– Erica DuLong, Lily Stagner, Kristen DeLong, Kayleigh Rohrbach, Kayla Conger, Abbie Kubota, Julia Wickware, Brooke Johnson (CVC), Melissa Schoell, Bridget Struck (NG). Honorable Mention– Madison Blumer, Daniella Sugijanto (NG), Emily Morgan, Mickayla Sayre (Con).

EBAL Girls Carondelet First Team–Samantha Coloma, Ransom, Anderson, Sprague, Carr, Madelyn Murphy, Malorie Han; Second Team–Santos, Adamson, Harrington, Honorable Mention-Carr, Madigan.

Boys Golf DVAL First Team–Daniel Schaefer; Zang, Achaekzai (NG), Murray (Con). Second Team–Tyler Blazer (CVC), Garrison, Ricafrente (NG). Honorable Mention-Medrano, Smith (CVC), Orozco (NG), Schmidt (Con).

EBAL Boys De La Salle First Team-Josh McCarthy; Second Team–Cole Houghton, Cade Mayer.

Boys Tennis DVAL First Team–Amadeo Ashe-Ramirez, Leonard Markiwiecz, Peter Master (NG), Colin Ridgley (Mt. Diablo), Matt Osterkamp, Dylan Kies (CVC). Second Team–Connor Brueheim, Timothy Jensen, Abdullah Safeer, Aldric Sangalang (Con), Ben Smith, Donovan Hunter, Daniel Castro (CVC), Zaryab Farooq, Gustavo Padilla (MD), Andrew Miller (NG). Honorable Mention–Aaron Lim, Devyn Ortega, Danny Nguyen (MD), Isaac Marcus (Con), Paul Marquez, Spencer Smith (CVC).

EBAL De La Salle First Team– Marcus Ferreira; Second Team–Danny Nomura, Bebarta, Trinks.

Track & Field DVAL Boys First Team–Jordan Velasquez, Kahlil McKenzie, Jeff Williams (CVC), Andres Reynoso (Con), Ross Deniston (BC), Ryan Mandich, Nick Makrakis, Joe Malott (NG). Second Team–Nathan Jaggers, Aiden Jackman, Mykelle D’Tiole, DJ Newell, Alex King, Javi Balderamos (CVC), Marqel McCoy, Tobin Bolter (BC), Dylan Alves, Laurence Seabrook (NG). Honorable Mention–Jake King, Dylan White (CVC), Jesie Guzman (Ygnacio Valley), Peter Master, Peter Michiels, Josh Alegria (NG), Conner Votaw, Elijah Skinner (BC).

EBAL Boys De La Salle First Team–Isaias De Leon, Roc Johnson, Jonathan Harvey, Second Team–Cain Levers, Austin Sanchez.

DVAL Girls First Team–Tisi Alatini, Amber Booth, Brianne Newell, Sophia Villa, Katie Rangel, Diwa Esco, Jessica Johnson (CVC), Jessica Dong, Rebecca Dong, Megan Coyle, Jessie Boucher, Sonja Chesnutt (NG), Kaylee Chaffey (BC), Rylie Pearson, Juliana Pichardo (Con). Second Team–Jade Davis, Claire Olsen, Ericka Schaefer, Kiersten Fouts (CVC), Alexandra Converse, Madi Nortune (BC), Megan Chappell (NG). Honorable mention–Kelly Osterkamp, (CVC), Jasmine Watt (BC), Imogen Drummond, Lola Bamberger (NG), Raven Mendez, Kennedy Fuller, Victoria LopezTapia (Con).

EBAL Girls Carondelet First Team–Christina Chenault, Julianna Ruotolo, Second Team–Stephanie Opene, Katie Kern, Mikayla Scott; Honorable Mention–Avery Avina.

Hudgens (BC), Brian Wright (NG), Dylan Parisi (Con), Martin Lopez, Alexandro Lopez (YV), Jason Kreske, Scott Meylan, Connor Bruan (CVC). Honorable Mention–Drey Avizenis, Chris Gotz, Will Batz (BC), Billy Ralston, James Biles, Robert Towne (CVC), Elizur Ita-Haber, Hector Mendoza, Matt Tortolani (YV), Eric Huang, Nick Simmons, Ian Villers (NG), Nate Jenkins, Mateo Sandoval (Con).

EBAL De La Salle First Team–Michael McAdoo, Chris Williams, Andrew Schatz, John Velasco. Second Team–Justin Hooper.

Honorable Mention–Henry Alms, Alex Ross, Austin Dondanville.

Boys Volleyball DVAL MVP–Chris McDonough; First team–Connor Antonson, Anthony Baker (BC), Parker Burr (Con), Jackson McDonough, Breacon Richards (NG). Second Team–Zach Hanson (CVC), Dean Lewis (NG), Omar Ortega (YV), Matt Zamolo (BC). Honorable Mention–Joseph Ambas (YV), Chris Neely, Frank Stringer (CVC), Jarel Zapanta, Trever Rivera (Con). John Tabones (NG).

EBAL De La Salle First Team–Bailey Militar, Scott Ficken; Second Team– Darius Monsarrat-Ford, Ryan Byrne; Honorable Mention–Tommy Cunnie.

Lacrosse DVAL Boys First Team–Brent Tovrea (CVC).S Second Team–Mitchell Longman (CVC), Will Bitner, Johnathan Madden, Matthew Huang (NG). Honorable Mention–Dakota Harman, Ben Coppa (CVC), Nick Kellum, Brian Morris (NG).

EBAL Boys De La Salle First Team–Mitch Olinger; Second Team–Brooke Rideau, Conor Maloney, John Perlitie; Honorable Mention–Eric Morgan, Ben Allen, Jackson Thuma.

DVAL Girls First Team–Lauren Valla (NG), Arianna Whitmarsh (YV). Second Team–Cameron Adams (NG), Page Anderson (CVC).

Honorable Mention–Koryna Boudinot, CC Cuneo (NG); Melissa Cox, Celine Jusuf (CVC), Kia Howell (YV).

EBAL Carondelet Girls First Team–Corinne Lafayette; Second Team– Amanada Barton, Katie Kuptz, Meghan Harrington; Honorable Mention–Abby Catermole, Mia Maloney.

Baseball DVAL First Team–Mosiah Liu, Kevin Clancy (NG), Jonathan Pluth, Josh Wiens, Wesley Vickers, Aaron Byrd, Patrick O’Shea (Con), Daniel Glorioso (BC), Clayton Duff (YV), Jack O’Leary, Ryan Milligan, Jon Allen (CVC). Second Team–Casey Schwitters, Greg

Softball DVAL MVPs–Athena Golling (pitcher) and Tia Uyehara (BC); First team–Elvia Alvarado, Kaitlyn Van Motman, Morgyn Wynne, Juliana Pichado, Aleya Rath (Con), Alyse Butterfield, Taylar McCullough (BC), Morgan Batesole, Hannah Drajkovich (NG), Sophie Wheeler, Kimiko Zapanta (CVC). Second Team–Tyce Miranda, Cheyenne Harman (CVC), Luch Decker, Jaz Hanley (NG), Haley Robertshaw, Molly Kolander (BC), Sita Manoa, Sarah Clifton, Jenny Morgan (Con), Brittany Pew, Celeste Foster (YV).

Honorable Mention–Lauren Teague, Meliza Umanzor (YV), Melisa O’Driscoll, Gabriela Tapia (MD), Payton Buccellato, Lauren Simitz (NG), Nikki Mason, Cami Cohen (CVC), Sadie Whatley, Amy Reichhold (BC).

EBAL Carondelet First Team–Sierra Blair; Second Team–Keleva Salt, Giovy Webb, Taylor Blair; Honorable Mention–Mackenzie Miller.

June 26, 2015

Concord Pioneer • www.concordpioneer.com

the DVAL Championships and earn a spot in both disciplines at the North Coast Section meet. She was one of two Red Devils to reach NCS for the once proud Mt. Diablo track and field program. Alofaki was also honored as the school’s female athlete of the year. Mt. Diablo is getting a new football and soccer turf playing surface this summer and a new synthetic track that Heisinger hopes will give the program a further boost. Alofaki received all-league notices over her career in both volleyball and basketball. She is going to Diablo Valley College this fall but will be back on her high school campus helping coach the girls volleyball squad.

Athlete Spotlight Liz Alofaki Class: Senior School: Mt. Diablo High Sports: Volleyball, Basketball, Track & Field Each year Liz Alofaki filled her fall and winter sports calendar at Mt. Diablo High on the Red Devils volleyball and basketball teams, earning three varsity letters in each sport. This year she also found something to do in the spring when coach Nik Heisinger put together the first MDHS

track and field team in five years. Heisinger didn’t have a throws coach but one of the school’s teachers attended a few practices to give Alofaki some instruction as she took up the shot put and discus events.

And all she did was place in the top five at

The Concord Pioneer congratulates Liz and thanks Athlete Spotlight sponsors Dr. Laura Lacey & Dr. Christopher Ruzicka who have been serving the Clayton and Concord area for 25 years at Family Vision Care Optometry. www.laceyandruzicka.com Do you know a young athlete who should be recognized? Perhaps he or she has shown exceptional sportsmanship, remarkable improvement or great heart for the sport. Send your nomination for the Pioneer Athlete Spotlight today to sports@concordpioneer.com.

2 DVAL schools are the best in California swimming and baseball where they may hookup again in Pac 12 baseball.

JAY BEDECARRÉ Concord Pioneer

TRACK & FIELD Carondelet’s Christina Chenault helped the Cougars to a ninth-place tie at the State Meet in Clovis with third place in the triple jump and fourth in the long jump. The Cougars 4x400 relay was third with Chenault the only senior in the quartet along with Avery Avina, Kelley Murphy and Julianna Ruotolo.

Senior Kahlil McKenzie of Clayton Valley Charter was 10th in the shot put at the State Meet, Jonathan Harvey of De La Salle was ninth in the 300M hurdles while Northgate’s Joe Malott made the pole vault finals.

The 2014-15 high school sports season drew to a close with Northgate boys swimming and College Park baseball earning the ultimate in California prep sports.

The two Diablo Valley Athletic League teams were the best in the state, matching De La Salle’s CIF football championship last December, giving the area quite a haul of No. 1 honors.

SWIMMING & DIVING Northgate became the first state championship team from the DVAL since the local league’s current setup in 2008. The Bronco boys repeated as North Coast Section swimming and diving champions last month at Concord Community Pool and then went on to make history in Clovis at the first-ever CIF State swimming and diving championship meet.

The Broncos actually won the state meet by nearly twice the margin (59 points) they had over San Ramon Valley at NCS (32).

De La Salle was third at Section and fourth at the State meet. California became the last state in the nation to hold a state championship in the sport.

Northgate’s 200 medley relay team of Mason Tittle, Stanley Wu, Max Bottene and Calvin Kirkpatrick opened the meet with a victory and their 400 free relay quartet with Eric VanBrocklin replacing Wu won the meet’s final event to cap the Broncos historic accomplishment.

Carondelet’s Madelyn Murphy won an individual State title with a victory in the 100-meter butterfly, reversing her loss to Acalanes’ Brittany Usinger at NCS. VanBrocklin was just edged in the 500 freestyle at State finishing second. Dominic Dalpiaz of De La Salle (100 free) and the Spartans 400 freestyle relay were also runners-up.

Photo by Phil Walton courtesy SportStars magazine

JOE DEMERS capped his incredible high school baseball career pitching the College Park High Falcons—-recently named California baseball team of the year— to the North Coast Section Division I championship over defending champion De La Salle. DeMers played 110 games over his four years, winning the DVAL MVP award every year while compiling a pitching record of 44-5 and batting .382. DeMers was named 2015 California high school player of the year while having a 13-1 pitching record and .447 batting average. He’s an infielder when not pitching.

BASEBALL College Park’s Joe DeMers, named the State player of the year, pitched the final six innings as College Park won the NCS Division I baseball championship 5-2 over defending champ De La Salle at St. May’s College. The Falcons were DII titlists in 2014 after College Park had lost in the semi-finals of the tournament when DeMers was a freshman and sophomore.

Winning the NCS title over perennial power DLS also earned the Falcons the State baseball team of the year award from CalHiSports. They were the first East Bay team to receive the honor in 32 years

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since El Cerrito in 1983. The win over the Spartans and other victories over Section champs St. Francis and Elk Grove were key factors in gaining College Park the mythical title.

DeMers and his team lost a non-league showdown with De La Salle southpaw Justin Hooper in a late-season pitching duel at Cal Berkeley on sold out Evans Diamond, handing DeMers his first loss since last March. The highly-anticipated pitching rematch in the NCS finals didn’t take place with Hooper sitting out the game due to soreness in his left elbow.

Hooper is headed to UCLA and DeMers to Washington

BOYS GOLF De La Salle won the NCS Division I qualifier and the Tournament of Champions before the Spartans were seventh at the NorCal Championships, failing to make the field for the State finals.

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The Warriors — champions of the world once more

TYLER LEHMAN SPORTS TALK After 40 long years, the Golden State Warriors are NBA Champions once more. The Dubs defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA Finals in six games, coming back from a 2-1 deficit in the series.

The formula for success in the Finals was the same as it was all year for the Warriors: an open-minded Steve Kerr and his coaching staff, a deep roster and an unselfishness amongst teammates rarely seen in today’s NBA. Going down 2-1 in the Finals was a blow to the Warriors. LeBron James looked unguardable and even a hobbled Cavs squad without injured allstars Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love was managing to pull out wins.

To mix-up the tempo, Kerr went to a small ball lineup in game four with Draymond Green as the center. The Warriors went on to win that game and the next two to earn the Larry O’Brien NBA Championship Trophy with the playing style of true Warriors.

The idea of sizing down to a 6 foot 7 inch center during crunch time in the NBA Finals was risky. Green gave up six inches to the Cavaliers behemoth pivot Timofey Mozgov.

The decision to go small in game four is what makes Kerr an amazing coach. He is humble. He understands how to win in this league. He takesthe advice of every member of his

LACROSSE De La Salle reached the semifinals of the Division I boys playoffs after wins over Rancho Cotate and Oak Ridge. The Spartans lost to Amador Valley of the EBAL 12-2 in the semis. San Ramon then won the title 9-5 over crosstown rival Monte Vista.

staff, even if it’s just a video analysis intern.

The small ball lineup of the Warriors was only possible due to the depth and versatility of their bench. Last year, the Warriors were a mess in the playoffs without center Andrew Bogut, who played fantastically during the first three rounds of the playoffs this year, but was relegated to just three whole minutes total in the last three games of the Finals.

The Warriors didn’t need Bogut because they have so many quality players on the roster, it’s just insane. Andre Iguodala and David Lee are both former all-stars and they came off the bench all season. They were both pivotal in the Finals, especially the Finals MVP Iguodala.

In the press conference after clinching the NBA Title, Green called Iguodala a “pro’s pro.”

Iggy came off the bench the entire season, but startedthe last three Finals games. He almost single-handedly turned this series around. His defense on LeBron was outstanding and he averaged 16.3 points and four assists in the series.

Iguodala is the first-ever player to not start a single game in the regular season and win the Finals MVP. Iggy winning the award is an overall testament to the Warriors season. They have a superstar in regular-season MVP Steph Curry, but there are so many other great and talented players on their roster. The best part for the Warriors is that they are still young.

It might be presumptuous to say, but we could soon be looking at an NBA dynasty on our hands here in the Bay Area.

Tyler Lehman is a junior at San Francisco State University and a 2012 CVHS graduate. He is majoring in print/online journalism and wants to be a sports writer. Email your comments or questions to tyler@concordpioneer.com.

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SOFTBALL Concord teams have been a major factor in NCS Division II softball this decade but this year Concord High lost its opener and Carondelet fell in the quarterfinals. Alhambra won its second straight title in the finals over Redwood.

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BOY’S VOLLEYBALL De La Salle lost the NCS Division I title match in four sets to No. 1 seed Der Valley. The Spartans were then eliminated in the opening game of the Northern California championships by Whitney.

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Concord Pioneer • www.concordpioneer.com

Concord native Domenic Mazza drafted by World Champion Giants

Alumnus AJ Kuhle takes over De La Salle basketball from legendary coach Frank Allocco JAY BEDECARRÉ Concord Pioneer

Photo courtesy UCSB Athletics Communications

Clayton Valley High grad and Concord native Domenic Mazza was selected in the 22nd round of the Major League Baseball draft by the World Champion San Francisco Giants. The junior lefthander was one of seven pitchers on his UC Santa Barbara team to be drafted. Overall, 10 Gauchos were picked, the second most of any college. Mazza was an invaluable part of the UCSB pitching staff this season, serving as a midweek starter, spot starter and key reliever. He completed the season with a 6-1 record, 2.69 ERA and 72 strikeouts over 79 innings. Having added significant velocity to his fastball in the offseason while maintaining one of the best change-ups around Mazza earned his draft selection. There is no word yet if he will sign a pro contract or come back for his senior year at UCSB. Mazza made headlines while still at CVHS when he finished second as a 16-year-old in the Re/Max World Long Drive Golf Championship. He turned down the $70,000 second-place prize money in order to retain his amateur status and eligibility. His cousin Chris Mazza was drafted by and signed with the Minnesota Twins in 2011.

June 26, 2015

De La Salle High School named AJ Kuhle, a 2000 graduate of the Concord school, head basketball coach this month following the surprise announcement that Frank Allocco was leaving his post of 18 years to join the University of San Francisco basketball staff.

Since 2007, Kuhle has been an assistant coach at the University of Denver.

Prior to that he was an assistant coach at his alma mater, Air Force Academy, from 2004-07 and junior varsity head coach at the Academy in 2004-05.

Kuhle becomes the fifth head coach of the Spartan basketball program.

According to De La Salle athletic director Leo Lopoz, Kuhle defined what it means to be a student athlete in both high schools at De La Salle and at the Air Force Academy. “His Division 1 coaching experience along with his work ethic and integrity make him a perfect fit for our program and I am confident he will make a major impact both within and outside of the De La Salle community,” said Lopoz.

Kuhle said, “My family and I are very excited to be joining De La Salle. Not only is Concord home for me, but the tradition and success that the Spartans have built makes this an incredible opportunity. I know about the great home court advantage in the Spartan Gym, which is a testament to the students, fans and the 6th Man. There’s an unbelievable commitment to excellence athletically and academically at De La Salle.”

NEW CARONDELET AD After a national search that generated more than 100 applicants from throughout the country, Caitlin Lawson was named director of athletics at Carondelet. A 2005 graduate of the all-girls Concord school, Lawson was heavily recruited by colleges to play volleyball. She chose Pepperdine and was a four-year member of Wave NCAA teams and was on the West Coast Conference Commissioner’s Honor Roll every year.

She comes to Carondelet from Bentley School in Oakland, where she most recently served as the K-8 athletic director. Prior to Bentley, she worked at Archer School for Girls in Los Angeles as the assistant AD. Lawson holds a Bachelor’s degree in political science/journalism from Pepperdine and a Master’s degree in teaching/social studies from the University of Southern California.

Lawson replaces retiring long-time athletic director Gleam Green who was in the position since 2000.

Carondelet also announced the hiring of Kellie Elliott to its athletic department team in an advisory capacity. Elliott will be using her 20 years’ experience in professional, collegiate and Olympic management positions to help position the Cougars athletic program for the next 50 years.

She has served as chief operating officer of the UC Berkeley Alumni Association, director of university conferences and events division for

CAITLIN LAWSON NEW CARONDELET HIGH ATHLETIC DIRECTOR

Yale University, deputy director of athletics for Florida State and San Jose State and project manager for the Stanford department of athletics. In addition, she worked as regional operations manager for the 1996 Summer Olympic Games in Atlanta and senior general manager for the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City.

Elliott is already conducting an athletics department audit ot its 26 teams and will be helping to develop an athletics strategic plan with Lawson that will include essential market data and innovative opportunities to guide Carondelet athletics priorities and programming.

Pair of Diablo FC U15 teams State Cup finalists

Photos courtesy Diablo FC

DIABLO FC 99 GIRLS

MISS OUT ON ANOTHER

STATE CUP

DIABLO FC 99 BOYS

TITLE

Diablo FC 99 girls beat some stiff under 15 competition on the way to becoming CYSA State Cup finalists. Coach Zach Sullivan’s team captured its group with a 2-1 win over CV Crossfire (#3 in NorCal), 4-0 shutout of West Coast (#15) and a 2-2 draw vs. Santa Clara Sporting Green (#1). In the semi-finals Diablo FC posted a 3-0 victory over rival California Magic (#6) to advance to the final vs. Santa Clara Sporting. This time the top seed beat Diablo FC 2-0 as the local girls were denied a chance to win a repeat State Cup title. The Diablo FC 99 and 98 girls went to the Avalanche Invitational Showcase in Utah earlier this month with the 99 girls losing the championship game in a shootout. Diablo FC 99 includes, front row from left, Payton Mannie, Gabby Hair, Katie Christman, Amanda Zodikoff, Emily Kaleal, Marianna Giovannetti, Carly Agostino; top row, coach Zach Sullivan, Kylie Schneider, Unknown Player, Janet Lopez, Kaytlin Brinkman, Susanna Garcia, Cassie Bizicki, Sam Gotz, Santana Merryfield, Stephanie Neys and Soso Jones. Not pictured, Alexandra Diaz.

Sports Shorts 20TH RED DEVIL CLASSIC GOLF TOURNAMENT FRIDAY The 20th annual Red Devil Classic golf tournament is this Friday at Diablo Creek Golf Course in Concord. Contact Lou Adamo louadamo@gmail.com or Ralph Vallis rv76667@aol.com to play golf or attend the dinner. The event benefits Mt. Diablo High School student athletes and promotes academic success.

LOSE FINALE IN SHOOTOUT

A heartbreaking loss in the penalty kick shootout denied Diablo FC 99 boys the NorCal Premier State Cup gold championship recently at Consumes River College near Elk Grove. The team, coached by St. Mary’s College assistant coach Charlie Campbell, earlier this season won the Mustang Boys Stampede Gold Tournament. Diablo FC 99 beat Placer United Black 4-1 in the quarter-finals and Winchester SC Guerrero 3-1 in semis to setup the finale with ACC Mavericks.

The teams battled through 80 minutes of regulation time and two overtime periods still in a scoreless draw. ACC then took a tense shootout tiebreaker 5-4. The team includes, front row from left, Ross Gruen, Corey Alford, Fabian Munoz, Ryan Roo, Pedro Hernandez, Armando Fajardo, Roman Fernandez; back row, Diablo FC director of coaching Brian Voltattorni, Lucas Rodriguez, Ahmed Alani, Ryan Redman, Eric Ochoa, John Fuentes, Jason Stockwell, Leonardo Villarama, Tyler Hanson, Jonathan Gonzalez and Hugo Ramirez. Not pictured, coach Campbell and players Tim van der Waart van Gulik and Sebastian Hansen.

DE LA SALLE COACH, NORTHGATE AD GET AWARDS

FINAL BASEBALL CAMP AT CLAYTON VALLEY NEXT WEEK

At the recent California Coaches Association annual banquet Northgate High School athletic director Steve Chappell was named California AD of the year. De La Salle’s John Pelster was the NorCal cross country coach of the year. His 2014 North Coast Section champion Spartans have won four of the past five NCS titles. Chappell’s Northgate High made history this year with its boys swimming team winning the firstever State swimming championship after taking consecutive NCS titles the past two years.

Clayton Valley Charter High School coach Casey Coakley has put together a staff of current CVCHS coaches and players as well as Eagle alumni to provide baseball instruction to youngsters 6-13 years of age at the school. The summer baseball camp will consist of instruction in the fundamentals of hitting, throwing, fielding, catch play and other aspects of the game. The final summer baseball school session will be held next week, June 29-July 2. Each daily session runs 9 a.m.–12 noon.

Fee is $120. To reserve a baseball school spot or to get more information email casey.coakley@claytonvalley.org.

IPSEN FINISHES 6TH WITH PARTNER AT WORLD SERIES

CONCORD COBRAS YOUTH FOOTBALL SIGNUPS OPEN

Kristian Ipsen and his new synchro partner Sam Dorman finished sixth in the men’s three-meter at the FINA Diving World Series in Merida, Mexico last month. The duo will be representing America in the event at next month’s World Championships in Russia. De La Salle grad Ipsen will also be competing individually on the one-meter springboard in Russia. He just missed a third USA team berth in the 3M springboard.

The FINA World Championships will be the first opportunity for countries to secure berths for the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio. Diving at the World Championships is July 25- Aug. 2.

Concord Cobras are members of the DYSA NorCal Youth Football and Cheer League. The Cobras football and cheer squads are in a league with Suisun City Titans, Oakland Jr. Raiders, Antioch Spartans, San Francisco Warriors and Pittsburg Jr. Pirates. Registration for fall league is now open to boys and girls 5-14 years for cheer and football at concordyouthfootball.com.

CLAYTON VALLEY CHARTER SCHEDULES FINAL NON-LEAGUE FOOTBALL GAME VS. MONTE VISTA Clayton Valley Charter went all the way to the State Division II Bowl championship football game in December and coach Tim Murphy has set up a tough non-league schedule this fall starting with the opening game at reigning State Division I champion Folsom. The Eagles had previously announced other games at Tracy and home to perennial NCS power James Logan of Union City and North Bay standout Cardinal Newman of Santa Rosa at Gonsalves Stadium. The final non-league game was recently set at home for Oct. 2 against EBAL power Monte Vista of Danville, which won the 2001 and 2002 NCS 3A championship and then moved up to Division I where they have missed the Section playoffs only one time since.

FOOTBALL OFFICIALS ASSOCIATION SEEKS NEW MEMBERS If you’ve ever thought you might want to learn more about football from the real inside the Contra Costa Football Officials Association can teach you. CCFOA provides officials for local high school and youth games along the I-680 and Hwy. 4 corridors. They are looking for new members for the upcoming fall season. Training is provided with two new member evening sessions a month starting this month. For more information visit ccfoa.com.

DIABLO FC FALL REC SEASON TAKING SIGNUPS Diablo FC is holding its fall rec league Sept. 1 through Oct. 20 in Concord at Newhall Park. Training for boys and girls under five, U7 and U9 age groups with parent coaches and professional Diablo FC staff is on Tuesdays with games on Saturdays Sept. 12-Oct. 24. Early bird registration with a $25 discount runs through July 15. For more information and schedule visit diablofc.org.

LAST DAY FOR DISCOUNTED CONCORD AYSO FALL LEAGUE FEE IS JUNE 30 Discounted registration for Concord AYSO fall league is being offered through next Tuesday, June 30. Starting July 1 the fee is $145.

Girls and boys 4-18 can register. Visit concordayso.org or email rec@concordayso.org.

MDSA FALL LEAGUE SIGNUPS ACCEPTED THROUGH SUNDAY

JR. EAGLES YOUTH FOOTBALL, CHEER ORGANIZATION SIGNUPS JULY 12

Boys and girls 4-18 years of age wanting to play in Mt. Diablo Soccer Association fall league can register for guaranteed placement until this Sunday. After that date players will be placed on wait-list. Fall league play begins in August when all registration closes. Families are requested to sign up for volunteer duties to help the organization offer its AYSO program. For complete information visit mdsoccer.org.

Clayton Valley youth football and cheer teams are now known as CVAA Jr. Eagles. Online registration for the upcoming fall football and cheer teams is open with in-person registration on Sunday, July 12, at Mountain Mike’s Pizza on Clayton Rd. 12 -3 p.m. Visit their new website cvaajreagles.com for more information.

June 26, 2015

Concord Pioneer • www.concordpioneer.com

Food politics can put a bad taste in your mouth

CINDY GERSHEN

KEEP

IT

CLEAN

We often see on TV famous athletes and artists doing commercials for energy drinks or fast food chains, such as LeBron James and his McDonald’s commercial. Let’s be realistic — many of them just do it for the money.

Their strict diets do not allow them to eat fast food. In order to perform well and be healthy, they need to eat healthy and nutritional meals. What they are doing it is not ethical, it is materialistic. They give the impression that people could eat fast food and be healthy, when in reality things aren’t like that. We are always told “everything in moderation.”

According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “during the past 20 years, there has been a dramatic increase in obesity in the United States and rates remain high. More than

one-third of U.S. adults (34.9 percent) have obesity.” The number of fast food restaurants has increased all over the U.S., especially in many low income communities.

How do we balance capitalism and the free market if your product potentially harms others, especially when in the end we pay for it through high medical and insurance costs?

There are guidelines for sugar consumption and transfats (recently acknowledged by the FDA as not safe to eat and must be removed from food in the next three years) in our food and just changing these two things in our diet can make a difference. In the case of sugar, you can find it in processed food… just read the labels, look for the grams.

The fast food industry counters that jobs will be lost if we start labeling where the sugar is on processed food. SB203 (which would have established the SugarSweetened Beverages Safety Warning Act) did not pass because it was stated that “many low income people can lose their jobs because these are the only jobs they can get and they need to have the cheap food in order to survive.”

This thought process only

limits what we feel a person in poverty is capable of accomplishing and ultimately does not allow for full transparency all consumers deserve. Offering healthy food options also requires a workforce.

It is similar to when we began educating consumers about smoking. They were allowed to make their own decision of what they were willing to do for their own health or not.

Maya Angelou once said, “When people know better they know better.” Obviously, we need more education on what is healthy. What the medical community is saying is “healthy food is prevention.” It can prevent many chronic diseases and actually save money. Diabetes alone costs the state at least $24.5 billion in total health care expenses and lost productivity.

When did we as a society put money before health and personal responsibility? We cannot afford to be ignorant when it comes to our health.

Page 13

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Add local causes to estate plan Estate planning is an unfortunate necessity in our lives. For most people, they select children or other family members as their sole beneficiaries without much further thought. However, if there are causes in your community that you are passionate about I encourage you to consider leaving a small part of your estate to support those causes and leave a meaningful local impact.

Based on my experience dealing with trust administrations and distributions there are a number of reasons to consider leaving a small gift to a local cause that you already support.

MINIMAL IMPACT TO HEIRS Because there are generally multiple beneficiaries, any small amount left to support a local cause results in a very small impact on the inheritance of any one beneficiary. Say for example that a person passes away leaving an estate worth $600,000 and three adult children beneficiaries.

Each child will receive $200,000.

Now think about if that person left one percent of their estate to a local cause they support. That

DANIEL DUREE

ESTATE PLANNING would leave six thousand dollars to the local nonprofit. To most local groups that is a very substantial amount and can have a large impact on accomplishing their mission.

Six thousand dollars can feed and educate a lot of children, save a lot of animals, conserve a lot of open space or increase access to the arts for a lot of people. That $6,000 can change multiple lives.

At the same time, receiving $198,000 instead of $200,000 for the beneficiaries in probably not going to make a major difference in their life.

Concord Village, “It’s where everyone is moving, as rents in San Francisco and Oakland get out of reach.”

He says he and SVA Architects, who are designing the building, envision a hotel-like “luxury” experience but for a more affordable price than what is offered in those urban centers.

“It’s a shift in how millennials are living,” he says. “Smaller living spaces with more gathering spots, and all the luxury of a high-end city apartment but for less.”

He says it is too early to say how much rents will be.

FITS SPECIFIC PLAN The project is in line with the city’s downtown specific plan, although there will not be retail establishments on the ground floor.

“There is a lot happening in Concord right now, and we want to be part of that change,” said Schwisow. “You can feel good about adding more affordable housing and contribute to the downtown look and feel,” he said.

from page 1

“Too often developers come in and try to create a city around their development. We’re confident that Concord Village will be a property that conforms to the city of Concord.”

Besides the mail center and fitness center, the complex will sport courtyards, gathering areas with large kitchens, a bocce ball court and a rooftop deck with a sun trellis, fire pit and outdoor kitchen amenities. The size of the units ranges from 400 square feet to 1,042 square feet with six different floor plans.

“We envision this will bring about 400 people to the downtown area, which will enhance the restaurants and night-life already there,” Schwisow said. He also said that with the complex’s proximity to BART, the developers hope to minimize traffic congestion and add to the city’s “walkability” plans.

While the building is in line with the Downtown Specific Plan, there are still some issues the developer will need to

BENEFICIARIES ARE OLDER In the vast majority of cases, “children” are at least in their 50s or 60s when the last surviving parent passes away. I recently had a client I assisted whose son was born in 1940. The client is in great health and her son is 75. We should all be so lucky but the reality is that now children beneficiary’s lives are often well established by the time they receive any inheritance and the impact of that gift has less of an effect on their lifestyle or financial stability.

Of course not everyone has a local cause they are passionate about and there are often family needs that clearly take precedence.

If, on the other hand, there is a local cause that you support and your family has already been provided for, consider leaving a small part of your estate to that cause to create a meaningful and lasting impact on your community.

Daniel DuRee is a licensed attorney whose practice focuses on estate planning. He may be reached for questions or comments at Daniel@DuReeLaw.com or 925210-1400. address, says Concord Senior Planner Ryan Lenhardt. Meanwhile, the proposal will go in front of the Planning Commission July 1, and there will be other opportunities for community input.

“The project will certainly make a statement, for sure,” Lenhardt says. “Still, there are some issues that need to be resolved before they can make a formal application to city.”

One of those is parking, in that Concord Village is 32 spaces short of what the city requires for a project its size.

“The developers have options, such as seeking a variance, adding more parking, or paying the city to add more spaces,” he says.

Other issues include the location of trash pick-up, and how BART will respond to a project its size.

The location was originally three parcels, two which have been cleared out with the third — the closed US Bank building — to be cleared soon. If the project passes the all the board reviews and completes the EIR, building can begin in the fall of 2017 or the winter of 2018.

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Page 14

Concord Pioneer • www.concordpioneer.com

June 26, 2015

No slowing down for this Concord nonagenarian poet CYNTHIA GREGORY Special to the Pioneer

Sylvia Berek Rosenthal is a prolific writer. And it’s no wonder, as Rosenthal, a resident at Oakmont at Montecito who will turn 92 this August, has had plenty to write about. Her latest book, “Marry Me With Marigolds,” is a delicious collection of poems that reads like the spicy narrative of an interesting life. The genesis of “Marry Me with Marigolds” began when Rosenthal won First Prize in the 2010 Benicia Annual Love Poem contest.

The writer strongly resembles someone’s smart and jolly Nana, with her shock of white hair, large blackframed glasses, bright floral silk jacket.

She smiles gleefully. “It felt so nice for an old lady to win with a love poem,” she says about the contest.

Rosenthal didn’t begin writing poetry until she was 75, an age when people tend to be outspoken with their truths.

The poetry in this collection reflects a whole lot of truths, as it was written in the 15 years between 1997 and 2012.

Many of her poems are funny and downright irreverent. Some are rich and tender. In all, her personal voice rings true. In the poem called “Maid in America,” she speaks of how her parents met.

My mother was born in Detroit.

You can’t get any more American than that Can you?

When she turned seventeen she met my father.

He spoke Yiddish and Polish She spoke only English.

They had no trouble.

Pillow talk worked just fine.

When she turned eighteen They celebrated by getting married.

One year later World War One Began.

In the book’s namesake poem, “Marry Me With Marigolds,” Rosenthal uses language in a way that is both playful and evocative: Marry me with marigolds Tempt me with your tenderness Covet me with coriander Chocolate and Cloves Favor me with foxglove Gather me with the garden’s garland Circle me with summer squash Sesame and Sage Woo me with water lilies Nurture me with nutmeg Pamper me with peppers Red green and Gold And I will stroke Your balding head Bake you babkas Cook you cabbage Pat your pot belly If you will only Marry me with marigolds.

Rosenthal may live in Concord, but to hear her speak, you know she is pure New York, where she was a grade school teacher and guidance counselor. Her husband, George, was a ceramicist and artist.

For years they lived something of a bohemian lifestyle, sojourning back and forth between New York to San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. After a time, the Rosenthals moved to San Antonio, Texas, to shorten the commute between San Miguel and the states.

It was when the couple lived in Texas, that Sylvia discovered poetry. Her husband had broken his shoulder and was recovering from surgery and she had tired of being his nurse. “I decided to take a writing class at the San Antonio branch of Texas University and the only two courses available were poetry and a

Phillips’ unique novel celebrates love language

CYNTHIA GREGORY

FOR

THE

BOOKS

Helen Phillips’ novel, “and yet they were happy” (Leapfrog Press; May, 2011) is not your conventional story. To be more precise, it isn’t a novel so much as it is a collection of themed flash fiction narratives woven deftly together to create something akin to impressionist art. You simply have to let the beauty of Phillips’ prose wash over you and enjoy the ride.

If we were going to assume that there is a linear timeline here, we could say that it is the story of two people who meet, fall in love and marry. In some cases these two are a somewhat familiar Biblical Adam and Eve, managing life in a dystopian future (probably) American city. In other cases theirs is a story unfolding in an alternate-universe past. The themes are what drive the storyline. The themes have names like “the floods” and “the envies” and “bride” and “haunting” and the stories themselves are prose poems.

Phillips writes about love, but her language is spare instead of sentimental. In Envy #4 she writes: “Those who achieve even five minutes of such perfection — mediated or no — deserve our envy. The world is a humid and difficult place, and we are so often exhausted, and love is strange, and arrives in stops and starts.”

And she speaks volumes by what she leaves out of the story. She trusts the reader to connect the dots of meaning, and the effect is delicious. For instance, in Bride #2 she writes: “There are whales in these waters, whales with hearts the size of cars and heartbeats loud enough to be

heard two miles away. Naked in the gray water, the bride goes under and listens for whale heartbeats. They find her there.

They give her tea, put her to bed, swathe her in white, place lilies in her hand, and send her down the aisle toward an altar framed by two slender white-barked trees.”

Lest the reader fall into a dreamy illusion that love conquers all, in Drought #2 she gives us: “The empty granaries are lined up tidily like the toys of a foolish, anxious child. I don’t tell them that these dry streambeds show up in my dreams; I fly unsteadily above white dust where water ought to run, imagining a trickle of dirty water, followed by a torrent, followed by fishes, brown speckled gold, green algae flowing like a girl’s hair, a boat made from a leaf, someone dozing, someone whispering Come here!”

If love is a strange and complicated language, Phillips delivers an emotional mythology that puts the hopes, desires, disappointments and pleasures into a seeming context. Isn’t life in fact, like that? Life is the place where Bob Dylan and Jack Kerouac, Persephone, Anne Frank, and Charlie Chaplin all coexist improbably. Life is where floods and family and fragile hope give us meaning.

In Helen #2, Phillips writes, “You know that song ‘Lay Lady Lay’? Bob Dylan wrote that song about me. There was no brass bed. It was just a mattress on the floor of someone’s uncle’s house. But we were young, and could easily imagine brass beds. I was eighteen. I was twentyfive. I was thirty-three. I was a sympathetic waitress.”

In Phillips’ world, we are all sympathetic waitress and there is something completely reassuring in that fact. If you love poetry, read this book. If you love an unreliable narrator, read this book. If you’re looking for a great read that is simply unlike anything else out there, this book is calling your name.

Cynthia Gregory is a North Bay nonprofit leader, writer of short fiction, and author of a blog. Email comments and questions to Editor@ConcordPioneer.com

Tamara Steiner/Concord Pioneer

SYLVIA ROSENTHAL PREPARES TO READ from her book at a book signing event on June 20. The 92-year-old began writing poetry when she was 75.

business writing course,” she explains. “I wasn’t going to write letters, so poetry it was.” In San Antonio, Sylvia became deeply involved with local writing and

poetry communities. In San Miguel, she wrote columns for the Atencion and El Independiente newspapers.

Her first book, “Mrs. Letsaveit,” is the

collected body of these columns, mainly food literature essays very much in the style of Sonoma County’s M.F.K. Fisher.

The cover of “Mrs. Letsaveit” features a close-up photograph of some of her late husband’s ceramics. The direct and humorous essays filed between the covers of the book are redolent of a happy home as Rosenthal describes her life in Mexico through a series of narratives about cooking and eating food. “Think of it as recipes through a filter of ‘Like Water for Chocolate,’” she says, referencing the 1989 best-selling book by firsttime novelist Laura Esquivel. In “Mrs. Letsaveit,” Rosenthal writes about making bagels, corned beef, Mandelbrot and other family favorites in Mexico, far from New York – or Texas style grocery stores.

An avid reader and writer still, Rosenthal is a member of the San Miguel PEN and San Antonio Poets; she is now involved in writing and poetry groups in the Clayton/Concord Area.

Is her work fact or fiction? “I like to think of poetry is a piece of the truth, but not all of it.”

Rosenthal’s books are available on Amazon.

Scariest thing in ‘Poltergeist’ may be lack of suspense In cinema, sometimes less is more.

Suspense can be heightened by tightening up a film’s editing, removing excess plot threads and trimming characters. That is exactly what is wrong with the horror genre today. Gil Kenan’s “Poltergeist” remake lasts 93 minutes. Tobe Hooper’s 1982 original runs 120. That extra 27 minutes of story development is what’s missing from Kenan’s film.

Certain horror films are “slow burns”; a limited amount of scares are shown early on as the film builds up the tension until the final 15-20 minutes of payoff.

“Poltergeist” (2015) is not one of those.

The original movie spent the first third of the film letting the family settle into the house and only experience the occasional random dish flying across the room.

In the new film, Sam Rockwell plays Eric who has just moved with his wife Amy (Rosemarie Dewitt) to a new house with their three children. Within minutes of moving in, the youngest, Madison (Kennedi Clements), begins talking to imaginary closet people. Soon after, the middle child, Griffin (Kyle Catlett), finds a convenient storage space full of scary

clown dolls — perfect for the fraidy-cat who has to sleep in the attic. Of course, his parents do not believe his ramblings at first. Later they realize something is wrong with their house.

The oldest child, Kendra (Saxon Sharbino), babysits while Eric and Amy go to a dinner in which Eric may be able to further his career. However, the dinner does more to cheaply further the plot. In random conversation, Eric discovers the house he purchased may be built on a cemetery. Concurrently, the children are at home getting into sticky situations.

Kendra almost gets eaten by the basement floor, Griffin almost gets eaten by a tree and Madison gets eaten by her closet.

From here, while relying on clichéd frights, the film mostly just follows the plot of the original. The one exception is a bland ghost hunter, Carrigan Burke (Jared Harris), taking the place of the psychic Tangina (Zelda Rubenstein).

Early on in the film, Kendra happens to be watching a show about ghost hunters. Later on, Amy goes to her old college to talk with the resident professor of the supernatural. The professor just

JEFF MELLINGER

SCREEN SHOTS happens to not only personally know Burke, host of the ghost hunter show, but they were formally married to each other.

Besides being a huge plot contrivance, this creates unnecessary banter during what should be the most suspenseful part of the film. Burke is not an interesting character. It is not even clear how or what he does once he goes to the “here but not here” to talk down the spirits.

Despite a few jump scares and an admirable acting job by the three children, “Poltergeist” falls flat. Sam Rockwell seems to be the most uninterested father of children-in-peril in cinema history. Yet it is Kenan’s decision to try and cram the whole story into 93 minutes that ultimately dispossesses this Poltergeist. CJeff Mellinger is a screen writer and film buff. He holds a BA in Film Studies and an MFA in film production. He lives in Concord.

Email him at Editor@ConcordPioneer.com.

Dressing dandy through the decades dence. Printed jeans are trending. Mix texture and print. Show off your beautiful skin in a bare-backed dress. Be bold.

SUSAN SAPPINGTON

CLOTHES UP How many times have you read a guide on “What to wear in your 30s, 40s, 50s…? Dazed and confused? In this article, I hope to clear some of the confusion on how to dress for our age.

I would like to put a different spin on that and have you consider your lifestyle and what stage you are in your personal fashion evolution. There is no right or wrong way to dress in each decade. We all age very differently and ultimately our lifestyles, energy and personal identity are ways we create our individual fashion.

However, there are some overarching phases we go through that deeply influence our wardrobe needs and our clothing choices.

IN YOUR 30S This is your time to be bold, explore fashion and develop your personal style.

There really are no boundaries. Everything, including short, very fitted silhouettes to vivid prints and interesting textures are yours for the taking. Your 30s are the time to try it all. Enjoy wearable art pieces, and large prints with confi-

IN YOUR 40S Flexibility and versatility are both key here. Chances are, you are balancing a busy family schedule and work life. Please do not let that keep you from looking stylish. Invest in classic styles in neutral colors. You are more than likely dressing on the run, so create interest with a vibrant scarf, colorful or metallic show and/or textured handbag. Purchase that ultimate shawl and little black dress.

Those are a MUST for everyone’s closet.

Olive is the neutral this season. Purchase an olive jacket that will be your goto jacket which can be worn with dresses, slacks, jeans, and even skirts. Add bold stripes to jazz up your classic pieces under your Army jacket (remember the inside/outside line concept from former articles). Be flexible and versatile.

IN YOUR 50S Felling sexy and beautiful is what your 50s is all about. At this point, your kids are growing up and your social life is starting to return. This is an exciting time of your life. It’s time to indulge yourself while looking and feeling sexy. Find a new edge to your look. By this time, you understand your style and know how to show off your best features. Invest in pieces that do just that. Investing in a well-fitted flattering leather jacket is a MUST in your 50s. A soft taupe brown color flatters so many skin tones. This is the time for you to have fun with fashion.

Buy beautifully designed pieces that can be worn in a multitude of ways. While

you are investing in your wardrobe, do NOT overlook the all-important goodies underneath that can make or break your look. Your undergarments are the key factor that will get the “girls” looking great in all your clothes. The right shapewear is also a very important addition to your wardrobe. Be sexy AND beautiful.

IN YOUR 60S Feel confident in your 60s. Your style is now well defined and you know which features are holding up and which need to be featured. Invest in quality pieces that make the most of your assets. Go for the soft fabrics that move with your body.

Balance the proportions of your top with your bottom by wearing flowing tops and fitted bottoms. Invest in a statement jacket that will go with a basic pant or skirt.

Update your dresses periodically, so you have something that you feel beautiful and confident in when a special occasion arises unexpectedly. Remember, good undergarments continue to be a must.

Show off those legs. You know you still have it going on. Be confident.

How exciting to know that we can look and feel beautiful throughout the stages of our lives. I would not have believed that I would be dressing better in my 50s than at any other time in my life.

“I think women in America are so hung up on comfort, they walk around in clothes like they’re going to the gym…if you dress well, you will get people to sit up and take notice.” – Charla Krupp, author of “How Not to Look Old” Susan Sappington is the Area Development Manager and Wardrobe Consultant for ETCETERA Clothing of New York. Send comments to susan@etcstyles.com.

June 26, 2015

Concord Pioneer • www.concordpioneer.com

Page 15

There’s life after dark on Mt. Diablo

MIKE MARCHIANO

MOUNTAIN MIKE Come out and join a docent from the Mount Diablo Interpretive Association for an evening stroll along Mitchell Canyon.

These easy night hike adventures offer an opportunity to explore the park after hours and after everyone else has gone home.

A night hike holds many expectations but the real fun is the

possibilities of its many surprises.

Since the hike starts before dark there is the pleasure of seeing and hearing birds such as the acorn wood pecker, the western blue bird or the ash throated as they settle in for the night. The remnants of late spring wild flowers are still visible along the trail and the night blooming soap plan open wide, giving the illusion of small dancing fairies.

Other common sights might include the last evening soaring of swallows as they sweep down over ponds and creeks snatching mosquitoes and gnats out of the air. As the last rays of sunlight disappear it almost seems that these aerobatic birds morph into leather winged night creatures as they are replaced in the sky by canyon bats and little brown bats. These too will sweep the air eating thou-

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SAVVY SENIOR Summer is definitely my favorite time of year. However, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the elderly are more prone to heat stress than younger people for several reasons.

The elderly, aged 65 and older, do not adjust well to sudden changes in temperature.

They are more likely to have a chronic medical condition that changes normal body responses to heat. The elderly are also more likely to take prescription medicines that impair the body’s

Heat exhaustion is a milder form of heat-related illness that may develop after several days of exposure to high temperatures and inadequate or unbal-

“If you are one of our customers, you are protected against the virus attacking your computer,” said Chris Stuart of ComputersUSA. “However, you may not be protected against the router hack,” he continued.

Your computer can’t detect the DNS change because it is occurring in your router, and your computer thinks everything is okay. No anti-virus will activate to protect you.

DNS is the phone book of the Internet. It takes names like www.shopcusa.com and converts it to a string of numbers that computers understand.

Your router links you to the website you want with these computer numbers. What this Trojan does is change the DNS phone book in your router to one that directs you to other infected sites, or spoofs the appearance of your regular site.

Your computer does what it is told and gives up all your secret information. Beware, everything seems fine and you may not know you’re infected.

Here’s how you know if you are subject to the problem as most people are. Check your router log in. Does your router log in with “admin” and “password” or other “default” and generic setting? If so, you are going to get hit. But don’t worry, it’s an easy fix.

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sands of small flying insects throughout the night.

Although rarely seen, twilight creatures include deer, coyote, raccoons, fox and bobcats. As you walk the paths and roadways you will pick up the red reflected eyes

of the poor will, a night-flying bird as it sits on the ground and you will hear its gentle call through the canyon. You may

See Twilight, page 22

anced replacement of fluids.

Warning signs vary but may include: • Heavy sweating • Paleness • Muscle cramps • Tiredness • Weakness • Dizziness • Headache • Nausea or vomiting • Fainting • Skin may be cool and moist • Pulse rate may be fast and weak • Breathing may be fast and shallow Prevention tips include drinking plenty of cool, nonalcoholic beverages. If you are limited in your fluid intake or are taking diuretics ask your physician how much you should

drink while the weather is hot.)

Rest. Take a cool shower, bath or sponge bath. Seek an air-conditioned building. Wear lightweight clothing. Remain indoors in the heat of the day. Do not engage in strenuous activities. If you or a friend exhibit any signs of heat stroke or heat exhaustion seek medical attention immediately.

Let’s all make sure we watch out for each other so we will have a happy, healthy, summer season.

Christine Kogut is a marketing director for the Concord Senior Citizens Club. She has lived in the area for 40 years and formerly worked for the Contra Costa Times.

To find out more about the Concord Senior Center, call (925) 6713320 or see the city’s website at concord.ca.us

DNS virus can hijack Internet router Don’t be alarmed but your router is being hacked and the thieves can see and hear everything you do on the Internet.

They may control your Internet connection right now, and you don’t even know it. This attack is not a typical virus that can be removed by a good virus scanner like AVG or McAfee, but don’t be alarmed, there is an easy way to fix this problem, and “presto” it’s gone.

Home and business routers for both PC and Macs, smartphones users and anything connected to your router (baby monitors, r e f r i g e r a t o r s, alarm systems, wireless printers, etc.) are under attack; this attack redirects your router to other hacked and infected web sites. “Cybercriminals have developed a webbased attack tool to hijack routers on a large scale when users visit compromised websites or view malicious advertisements in their browsers,” according to techworld.com.

The attack replaces Dynamic Name Service (DNS) addresses with its own, directing your router to visit compromised sites and try to infect you further. The compromised site may look like your regular bank site.

Beware if your password “fails” on this site, as your bank accounts are at risk.

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Heat stress can cause many problems for the elderly ability to regulate its temperature or that inhibit perspiration.

Heat stroke is a serious heatrelated illness that may cause death or permanent disability if emergency treatment is not provided. Heat stroke occurs when the body becomes unable to sweat or cool down. Warning signs vary but may include: • An extremely high body temperature (above 103°) • Red, hot and dry skin (no sweating) • Rapid, strong pulse • Throbbing headache • Dizziness • Nausea

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WILL CLANEY TECH TALK The potential for loss is enormous and the prevention is fairly easy and we give you the steps here: First you must know your IP username and password. That is the name you used to sign up with Comcast, AT&T, Astound (now called Wave), etc.

Second, you need the username and password to your router.

Third, reset your router, reinstall the DNS addresses, setup wireless security, and install a new router user name and secure password. Presto. Done.

While the fix is easy, it is time consuming to be sure. But it’s easy because all you are really doing is getting rid of generic login names and passwords.

Does it sound too complicated for you to do? A competent IT/tech person will be happy to assist you on a remote help session to verify if you have the issue and to fix most of them.

Some routers will require an onsite visit to fix. Please, fix this now.

William Claney is a professional computer consultant and technical writer. Will is the CEO of ComputersUSA!. Send comments to Editor@ConcordPioneer.com

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Concord Pioneer • www.concordpioneer.com

June 26, 2015

SCHOOLS New principal brings “creating team” talent to CVCHS Jeff Eben begins a new chapter in his professional life next Wednesday when he assumes his role as the first fully-dedicated principal of Clayton Valley Charter High School.

The Central Valley native was selected from a broad field of candidates after interviewing with 15 CVCHS stakeholders (teachers, administrators, board members and parents) for the position after it was decided that Executive Director Dave Linzey’s dual role as executive director and principal would be split.

Linzey said he’s been discussing hiring a principal with the governing board for the past two years. The move allows Linzey to concentrate on his duties as superintendent of the charter school district, board chairperson Ted Meriam said.

Eben brings three decades experience as an elementary and high school educator, principal and administrator in California

and Wisconsin. His career includes a stint as Fresno’s deputy mayor and CEO of the Fresno Convention and Visitors Bureau.

The new position and its $135,000 salary will have a minimal budgetary impact as it replaces the administrative slot vacated by Neil McChesney early this year. There is about a 12 percent difference in the two salaries.

Meriam adds, “We are excited to select Jeff Eben. I cannot imagine a better outcome for our school community. Jeff brings a wealth of experience and is committed to the wellbeing of our students and their academic success. This is the best management structure to support [our] teaching and instruction.”

Most recently Eben was principal of Case High School in Racine, Wisconsin. He took over a consistently under-performing urban school and was given the 2013 Distinguished Educator Award by Phi Delta Kappa for his success there.

He was then hired for an

administrative role in the Racine Unified School District but took leave to return to Southern California last summer to deal with a medical condition. That situation was resolved early this year and he was ready to get back to work when he saw an online posting for the Clayton Valley Charter job. Eben immediately applied.

Linzey contacted him during the initial screening process and was “excited about [Eben’s] depth of principal background.”

JEFF EBEN, new principal at Clayton Valley Charter HS.

TURNING

MISFORTUNE TO WINS

Eben was a star athlete in Clovis when he was injured in a water skiing accident his junior year that left him paralyzed. His high school football line coach, Jack Bohan, visited him in the hospital the day after his accident and every day after. Rather than ask the scared and heartbroken 16-year-old “how are you?” the coach would say to Eben “how many wins have you had today?”

Years later that became the title of Eben’s inspirational autobiography. He’s also written leadership and children’s books.

Eben steps into the principal’s office after a tumultuous year of strife and conflict at the teacher/administrative level following Linzey’s May 2014 firing of administrator and charter school founder Pat Middendorf.

Undaunted by the challenge, Eben says “I’m really comfortable about ‘creating team’. I’m not at all intimated or afraid of team building in any climate.”

He adds that he’s coming to a school that’s “doing well” in academics, music, athletics and many other areas.

YVHS’s Puente Program celebrates first class of graduating seniors GEORGE FULMORE Correspondent

On a Friday evening near the end of May, approximately 300 parents and community supporters attended and honored the first class of seniors in the four-year Puente Program at Ygnacio Valley High School.

The program originated at Chabot College, where a professor there observed many students dropping out, apparently because they were not prepared to do college-level work. Student Services Coordinator Socorro Lomas and others at Ygnacio Valley High School thought that the program might work even better at the high school level. It began at YVHS in the fall of 2011.

“This program has been successful here because it is a group effort,” said Lomas. “We get good support from the administration, and we are lucky to have had excellent teachers.”

The students register for Puente as their English class in the ninth- and 10th-grade years.

Those in the program also gather for other activities during school times. They are encouraged to maintain good grades and also to do community service. The program offers field trips to colleges and universities, as well as to art museums and other cultural events. Students

and parents also learn about how to apply for college scholarships and grants.

At the ceremony, each graduating student was asked to make remarks, including to announce what college or university they would be attending in the fall. Most are headed to one of the local community colleges, as preparation for transferring to a four-year institution. But more than onethird of the graduates will be going directly to a four-year college. Most made their presentations both in English and in Spanish.

Lomas visits feeder schools to YVHS each year, encouraging applications to the program. At the celebration, names were read of more than 30 incoming freshman who will join the Puente Program next year.

There are between 25 and 35 students in each class level.

Reading and writing are stressed in the program, especially in grades nine and 10.

Work is also assigned over the summer. Highlighted in the celebration brochure was that 100 percent of the Puente seniors have passed the California High School English-Language Arts test. The graduation rate for those in the program is running at 97 percent.

One of the Puente seniors, Julia Quintero, maintained a 4.0 grade average. Another senior,

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STUDENT SERVICES COORDINATOR SOCORRO LOMAS helps students prepare for college through Ygnacio Valley High School’s Puente program. Most graduates go to community college, but more than one-third will attend a 4-year college this fall.

Ana Castro, gave 270 hours of community service during just her senior year, and 386 hours over the course of her high school career.

The program’s mission is to encourage students to enroll in college following their high school graduation, then to earn college degrees, “and to return to their communities as leaders and mentors to future generations.”

Lomas thanked the families

of the students for their support of the program. “This is a family thing,” she said. “We appreciate all the support that you families have given these students through the years.”

Lomas, who was born in Mexico, grew up in South San Francisco. She attended San Mateo Jr. College, then California State University, East Bay, before receiving her masters at Chapman University.

In preparation for his interview he researched Clayton Valley Charter online and contacted a couple educator friends in the Bay Area and was very impressed with what he found and heard. He learned that Tim Murphy and two other members of the coaching staff from his former high school, Clovis East, are at CVCHS but he didn’t contact them before his interview.

Eben is proud of his time at Clovis East. The Fresno State grad was assigned the task of building the school “from dirt,” hiring the staff and leading the school for its first several years.

Eben will be in Linzey’s current campus office so that stu-

dents, staff and faculty will have clear access to the new principal.

Linzey says he and Eben are “in harmony philosophically” and both are strong proponents of school reform.

Linzey’s new office location, possibly off campus, is yet undetermined.

The executive director will be concentrating on his superintendent role that includes budgeting, curriculum development, special education, community relations, governing board liaison, legal services, assessment coordination (transition to Common Core), facilities, staff and administration professional development and mentoring.

Clayton Valley Charter reaches agreement in Title IX complaint JAY BEDECARRÉ Concord Pioneer

Clayton Valley Charter High School is making adjustments to its sports facilities and programs to comply with complaints filed against the school in December 2013 that it was in violation of Title IX by not providing equal opportunities and facilities for its female athletes.

The central focus of the complaint filed by the Legal Aid Society and California Women’s Law Center concerned inequities in the CVCHS baseball and softball programs impacting female student athletes. The softball fields on the school campus are shared by Eagles softball teams and Clayton Valley Little League. Limited availability of the fields for high school softball and the quality of the facilities compared to the school baseball complex were at the crux of the complaint.

CVCHS governing board chairperson Ted Meriam explained that the settlement had two main components. The school has, or shortly will have, remediated all the facility issues for female athletes, and secondly the school agreed to pay the complainants’ legal fees. The Title IX lawyers made claims for “several hundred thousand dollars” in fees but the figure was ultimately reduced to $85,000.

The Legal Aid Society and California Women’s Law Center stated that “school officials have agreed to improve and maintain equitable athletic facilities for girls and boys; offer additional girls’ athletic teams; increase outreach to girls to participate in sports; and provide additional Title IX training to its coaches and administrators.”

The settlement is thought to be the first of its kind in the nation involving a charter

school and serves as a guidepost for Title IX compliance in the charter school setting.

The Title IX lawyers said that “once notified of the issues, Clayton Valley Charter sought to work with the claimants’ counsel to address concerns and make facilities improvements while implementing best practices.” As a conversion charter school, CVCHS inherited its campus from Mt. Diablo Unified School District, which operated the facility until July 1, 2012. According to Executive Director David Linzey, “most, if not all, of the facilities issues pre-existed the conversion.”

A press release from the claimants also said, “Clayton Valley denied any violation of Title IX and is committed to a course of action to promote and develop female athletics. This settlement represents an amicable resolution of the disputes between CVCHS and the claimants.”

Improvements made by MDUSD through its Measure C bond measure program and the school have made significant changes since that time.

Because of a dispute between CVCHS and MDUSD concerning the annual pro rata share fee owed the district for the charter school’s use of the facilities, the final Measure C projects (primarily improving the girls locker room) have been put on hold by the district until the payment dispute is resolved.

The charter school board also approved funding construction of a $1.6 million new turf field on campus that will be used by school teams, PE classes and local community youth groups. The project is also on hold pending the negotiations since MDUSD has to approve all school facility changes.

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June 26, 2015

Concord Pioneer • www.concordpioneer.com

PETS

Weighty issues of feeding your dog

DEBBIE DEMELLO

PET PALS Dogs love to eat. According to the latest veterinary surveys, more than 40 percent of America’s pet population is overweight.

As your loyal friend gains weight and appears to be fat and happy his insides are starting to feel the effects of the extra weight. Soon he will start to become less active and sleep

more. As middle age approaches, your dog may start to develop lameness problems and getting around may become difficult. There may also be a greater likelihood of diabetes, respiratory and heart problems. A lean dog is a dog that can age gracefully and will enjoy running and other activities well into his senior years.

If your dog is overweight he is taking in more calories per day than he needs. To you, his guardian, your dog may look great but that doesn’t mean he isn’t carrying extra weight.

Knowing the ideal weight for your dog can be hard to determine. When feeling your dogs ribs there should be a thin layer of fatty tissue covering them.

You should be able to feel the ribs without effort. Also if your dog’s appears square shaped

with no waistline definition he is probably crossing the line into obesity.

There are for typical settings that lead to obesity. Your dog may be a “nibbler.” He nibbles throughout the day and doesn’t really eat much. This pet has a bowl full of food and eats whenever he is hungry. Because the bowl is so full it looks like the dog is barely eating so sometimes scraps from the dinner table go into the bowl and the dog eventually eats most of the meal. Then the bowl gets filled again. The nibbler’s total calories intake is excessive and he gains weight.

Then there is the “beggar.”

The beggar won’t do anything without a treat. This dog has learned that the more noise and fussing he makes the more likely he will be rewarded for this

Cupid and Roxy are the ARF stars

CUPID

Cupid is an active, affectionate boy who likes toys, snacks, and cuddling in laps. He 1 1/2 and very sweet and social. He would love to be your new wingman for adventures like hiking, romps on the beach, and cozy snuggles on the couch after a long day of playing. We recommend Cupid take a Basic Manners class where he can learn polite ways of seeking creature comforts in life. He currently weighs 60 pounds.

Cupid’s adoption fee has been prepaid by a generous

ROXY

donor.

7-year-old Roxy tends to be a little more cautious at first, but once she’s comfortable she’s a real sweetie. She is suitable for a first time cat guardian. Roxy must be an indoor only cat.

Roxy’s adoption fee has been prepaid by a generous donor.

Meet your forever friend at Tony La Russa’s Animal Rescue Foundation, 2890 Mitchell Drive, Walnut Creek, during adoption hours: Noon to 6 p.m.

Wednesday & Thursday, Noon to 7 p.m. Friday, and Noon to

behavior. The owner finally gives in to keep the dog quiet and the dog sees the food as a reward. In effect the owner is training the dog by rewarding his behavior. It turns into a game but the dog’s health may suffer if obesity is the result.

Your dog may be the “good dog.” He is such a good dog you never want him to be hungry.

This dog becomes overweight because the owner’s sign of affection for their dog has become focused on feeding.

Usually everyone in the home is giving a treat to the dog and before you know it the dog has had a lot of treats throughout the day. The owners are loving the dog to death. The owner’s method of showing affection should be directed more toward physical activity than feeding.

Think fetch not food.

Another setting is the “gourmet dog.” The gourmet dog just refuses to eat certain foods. This dog has trained his owner to feed him foods like chicken, liver, cookies, ice cream, etc.

Although most table scraps are fine to feed, this dog has been given a choice of what he wants to eat and has chosen people food over dog food. The gourmet dog usually overeats because he isn’t getting a proper balance of nutrients plus everything tastes so good there is a reward factor in eating. The solution to this is easy. You choose the meals, not the dog.

Next time: how to help your dog lose weight.

Debbie DeMello is a dog trainer and owner of Who’s Training Who in Walnut Creek. Contact her at debdemello@aol.com

Page 17

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6 p.m. Saturday & Sunday. The primary caretaker must be present to adopt. ARF also encourages kids 16 and younger and canine family members (dog adoptions only) to be present during the adoption process.

Would you like to be part of the heroic team that saves the lives of rescued dogs and cats? Can you share your talents to connect people and animals? ARF volunteers are making a difference! For more information see our website, www.arflife.org, or call (925) 256-1ARF.

See the rare and wild at Lindsay’s ‘Summer of Cats’

KANIKA (LEFT), A YOUNG BLACK LEOPARD AND KAMUA, a cheetah, are among the rare wild cats visiting the Lindsay Wildlife Experience in Walnut Creek this summer.

All other shows are open to the general public with paid admission at the door on the day of the event. There is limited space so arrive early because admission to the show is not guaranteed and tickets will be distributed on a first-come firstserve basis.

Other Summer of Cats events include: Feline Fine: Art of Cats II, June 6 through August 31 (Wednesdays through Sundays) — A traveling exhibit of 50 new paintings and sculptures by leading artists who specialize in the subject of cats, including domestic breeds and wild cats, in a variety of styles ranging from photo-realism to painterly

impressionism, feline fantasy art and computer generated graphics.

SaturDay of Cats, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, June 20 — Cat activities, face painting, arts & crafts; cat adoptions from the Animal Rescue Foundation.

Family Friday Cat Night, 6 to 8:30 p.m. , Friday, June 26 — Families can meet and greet animals, learn about bats, star gaze, and purchase treats from the Street Dog Food Truck and more.

See website for admission prices.

Lindsay Wildlife Experience is located at 1931 First Ave., Walnut Creek, adjacent to Larkey Park. For more information call 925-935-1978 or visit www.lindsaywildlife.org.

For more information please contact CST #2033054-40

Get up-close to some of the world’s most amazing cats during “Wild Cats at Lindsay Wildlife” this summer. This unique event brings rare cats to Lindsay three days this summer: July 1, 25 and Aug. 22.

Barbara and Rob Dicely of the North Bay-group Wild Cat Conservation and Education Fund (WCE&CF) are making this event possible by bringing their cat ambassadors to Lindsay.

Lindsay members will get the first chance to see the wild cats during “Wild Cat Wednesday,” a one-hour program at 10:30 a.m.

July 1. Members will get an exclusive look at an endangered Fishing Cat that the rest of the public will not see during the second program of the day at 1:30 p.m.

Other wild cats set to strut their stuff include a cheetah, an ocelot, a Geoffrey’s Cat and a young black leopard.

This is all part of Lindsay’s Summer of Cats—Felines: Fierce and Friendly! that celebrates both wild and domestic cats.

Online free pre-registration is required for the 10:30 a.m. July 1 members only show. Register at www.lindsaywildlife.org/eventcategory/special-events/

Ph: 925.672.9840

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Page 18

Concord Pioneer • www.concordpioneer.com

June 26, 2015

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Tuesday June 30, 4-6 p.m.

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CALENDAR PLEASE SUBMIT YOUR COMMUNITY CALENDAR EVENTS BY 5 P.M. JULY 15 FOR THE JULY 24

IN CONCORD Pavilion Concert Schedule The Concord Pavilion is located at 2000 Kirker Pass Road, Concord. theconcordpavilion.com. Shows start at 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted.

July 3 July 7 July 9 July 15 July 18 July 21 Aug. 4 Aug. 7 Aug. 14 Aug. 26 Sept. 6 Sept. 19 Sep. 20

California Symphony, 8 p.m.

Smashing Pumpkins and Marilyn Manson Van Halen and Kenny Wayne Shepherd Chicago and Earth, Wind and Fire Sublime, 6 p.m.

5 Seconds of Summer The Boys of Zummer Idina Menzel The Pink Print Tour Slipknot KBLX Hot Summer Night, 4 p.m.

Chris Brown Counting Crows

ISSUE. ITEMS MUST BE SUBMITTED BY EMAIL TO

ON THE MOUNTAIN Mount Diablo Interpretive Association programs listed are free with the exception of park entrance fee. Go to mdia.org and click on Events Calendar for more information.

newsandcalendar@concordpioneer.com

July 26, Aug. 8 Belly Dance Performed by Salimpour School. 7:15 p.m. Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek. $15. lesherartscenter.org.

943-7469.

July 3 Common Poorwill Bird Walk Hike in White Canyon. 7 p.m. Meet at Mitchell Canyon Trailhead.

Reservations required: blkittiwake@yahoo.com.

EVENTS & ENTERTAINMENT Thru June 27 “Anything Goes” As the SS American heads out to sea, two unlikely pairs set off on a course to true love. Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek. $37-$63. centerrep.org.

FUNDRAISERS 2nd and 4th Sundays Pancake Breakfast Veterans of Foreign Wars serve breakfast to the public: Eggs, pancakes, sausage, beverage. 8 – 11 a.m. VFW Post 1525, 2290 Willow Pass Road, Concord. $5, $3 children under 12. vfwpost1525.org.

June 26 Golf Tournament

Ruth Bancroft Garden transforms into an outdoor art gallery. 1552 Bancroft Road, Walnut Creek. $8-$10. ruthbancroftgarden.org.

Fundraiser by Red Devil Golf Classic Committee for Mt. Diablo High School. 11:30 a.m. lunch; 1 p.m. shot gun start. Diablo Creek Golf Course, 4050 Port Chicago Highway, Concord. $155. For more information, contact Ralph Vallis at rv76667@aol.com or Lou Adamo at louadamo@gmail.com.

Tuesdays year round. 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Todos Santos Plaza, downtown Concord. cityofconcord.org.

July 9, 23, 30 Summer Sounds

June 27 Baking for a Cure

Tuesday Nights in July Blues Series

Outdoor summer concert series. 5:30 – 7 p.m. Outside plaza, Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek. Free. lesherartscenter.org. 943-7469.

Tuesdays Farmers’ Market

Some of the best blues in the Bay Area. July 7, Delta Wires; July 14, David Landon; July 21, Alvon Johnson. 6:30 – 8 p.m. Todos Santos Plaza, downtown Concord. Free. cityofconcord.org.

Thru July 19 Sculpture in the Garden

June 26 – 27 “Elton: The Sing-Along” Presented by the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus. Nourse Theater, 275 Hayes St., San Francisco. $25-$60. sfgmc.org.

Thursdays Music and Market Thursday night live music and farmers’ market. Music: July 2, Fahrenhyte 5150; July 9, Zepparella; July 16, Tribute to Johnny Cash; July 23, Long Train Runnin’. Market 4 – 8 p.m.; music 6:30 – 8 p.m. Todos Santos Plaza, downtown Concord. cityofconcord.org.

3rd Sundays Antique Faire Antiques, collectibles, handmade arts and crafts. 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Todos Santos Plaza, downtown Concord. Free admission. concordantiquefaire.com.

Thru June 27 Art Show The aRt Cottage features Nudes, artwork created by colleagues who appreciate the body as a beautiful landscape. 2238 Mt. Diablo St., Concord. Free. artcottage.info.

July 4 Celebration Pancake breakfast, Stars and Stripes 5K fun run/walk, parade, festival, fireworks. Events start at 7 a.m. Todos Santos Plaza, downtown Concord. $30 race; $5 breakfast. For more details, go to starsandstripesrun.com and concordjuly4th.com.

July 23 Mayors’ Healthy Cookoff Mayors from Contra Costa County and chefs from their cities compete to prepare the best healthy meal. 4 p.m. Todos Santos Plaza, downtown Concord. wellnesscitychallenge.org.

IN CLAYTON Saturdays thru Sep. 19, except July 4 Farmers’ Market 8 a.m. – 12 p.m. Diablo Street between Main and Center streets, downtown Clayton. pcfma.com/clayton.

July 2 Thursday Concerts in the Grove

July 3 Independence Day Spectacular California Symphony pops concerts return to the Concord Pavilion with a patriotic program. 8 p.m. 2000 Kirker Pass Road, Concord. $10-$25. californiasymphony.org.

July 10 Young Actors Studio Showcase Final showcase of summer acting program filled with songs from Broadway shows presented by The Ballet School. 7 p.m. Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek. $12. lesherartscenter.org. 943-7469.

This opera features both lighthearted comedy and heroic grand opera. Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek. $20-$88. festivalopera.org.

July 11 Improv Vacation Presented by Act II Improv. 8:15 p.m. Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek. $15. lesherartscenter.org. 943-7469.

July 17 – Aug. 2 “Hello, Dolly!”

Matchmaker Dolly Levi takes a trip to Yonkers, New York. Allan E. Jones Performing Arts Center, 850 Second St., Brentwood. thebrentwoodtheater.org. 513-3863.

July 18 Chevron Family Theatre Festival A day of affordable, high quality family entertainment. 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek. $5. lesherartscenter.org. 943-7469.

July 21 Summer “Pops” Concert

July 4 Pancake Breakfast and Parade

Performed by Walnut Creek Concert Band. 7:30 p.m. Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek. $14-$17. lesherartscenter.org. 943-7469.

July 4, 18 Saturday Concerts in the Grove July 4, Plan B; July 18, Loose Blues. 6 – 8:30 p.m. Grove Park, downtown Clayton. Free. cityofclayton.org.

July 10, 17 Moonlight Movies July 10, “Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day;” July 17, “Big Hero 6.” Bring a lawn chair, blankets, invite friends and neighbors and join us at sunset for a surround sound spectacular evening. Activities begin at 7:30 p.m. Movies start at 8:45 p.m. Clayton Community Church, 6055 Main St. Free admission. claytoncc.com.

June 29 Dine and Donate Mary’s Pizza Shack will donate 20 percent of all sales to Relay For Life Clayton. Must present flier when order; download at relayforlife.org/claytonca. 2246 Oak Grove Road, Walnut Creek. Contact Lorraine at lorraine.henney@comcast.net.

July 12 Pooches and Pals Picnic Fundraiser for NorCal Poodle Rescue. 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. Lafayette Reservoir, 3849 Mt. Diablo Blvd., Lafayette. $20. Reservations required by July 8. norcalpoodlerescue.net.

July 18 Dine and Donate Dairy Queen will donate 20 percent of all sales to Relay For Life Clayton. No flier needed; put receipt in Relay bucket. 4463 Clayton Road, Concord. Contact Lorraine at lorraine.henney@comcast.net.

AT THE LIBRARY

July 10, 12 “Ariadne auf Naxos”

The Relyks. 7 - 8:30 p.m. Grove Park, downtown Clayton. Free. cityofclayton.org.

The day begins with the Clayton Valley Sunrise Rotary pancake breakfast at 7 a.m. at Endeavor Hall, 6008 Center St., followed by the parade down Main Street at 10 a.m. Breakfast: $6 adults; $4 kids. No registration for Kiddie Parade. Register for main parade at cityofclayton.org.

Bake sale by Relay For Life Clayton. 8 a.m. – 12 p.m. Starbucks, Clayton Station. Contact Michelle Treshler at mrtres94@aol.com or Gigi Pishny at gmpishny@mmm.com to donate baked goods.

July 25 Don Friesen Comedy. 8 p.m. California Theatre, 351 Railroad Ave., Pittsburg. $17-$20. pittsburgcaliforniatheatre.com. 427-1611.

July 26 Concert Don Neely and the Royal Society Jazz Orchestra. 3 p.m. El Campanil Theatre, 602 W. Second St., Antioch. $25-$27. elcampaniltheatre.com.

July 26 Ella & Frank Vocalist Mazella Houston pays tribute to Ella Fitzgerald and Steven Powell remembers Frank Sinatra. 2 p.m. California Theatre, 351 Railroad Ave., Pittsburg. $13-$17. pittsburgcaliforniatheatre.com.

427-1611.

The Concord Library is at 2900 Salvio St. Programs are free unless otherwise noted. See full schedule of events at ccclib.org or 646-5455.

July July July July July July

2 6 9 10 21 23

Master Gardeners and Composting, 6:30 p.m.

Marble Roller Coasters, 7 p.m.

Music of the didgeridoo, 2 p.m.

Reptile Rendezvous, 2 p.m.

Learn to play Minecraft. Register in advance. 3:30 p.m.

Meditation, 6:30 p.m.

The Clayton Library is at 6125 Clayton Road. Programs are free unless otherwise noted. See full schedule of events at claytonlibrary.org or call 673-0659.

June 27 June 29 July 6 July 6 July 9 July 13 July 13 July 13 July 14 July 15

SAT/ACT Test, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Fun Days, 2 – 3 p.m.

Fairy Tale Engineering. Register in advance. 1 p.m.

SAT vs. ACT Review, 6:30 – 8 p.m.

Rhyme and Rhythm of Animal Sounds, 4 p.m.

Clayton Knits, 1:30 – 4 p.m.

Clayton Library Book Club, 7 p.m.

Hums, Strums and Worldwide Drums, 7 p.m.

The Art of Henna, 2 p.m.

Top Interviewing Tips, 6:30 p.m.

GOVERNMENT 1st, 2nd and 4th Tuesdays Concord City Council 6:30 p.m., Council Chamber, Concord Civic Center, 1950 Parkside Dr. cityofconcord.org.

1st and 3rd Wednesdays Concord Planning Commission 7 p.m., Council Chamber, Concord Civic Center, 1950 Parkside Dr. cityofconcord.org.

Meeting dates and times for local clubs and organizations are listed at concordpioneer.com. Click on ‘Links’

June 26, 2015

Concord Pioneer • www.concordpioneer.com

Page 19

THE ARTS

Summer is super for outdoor theater

SALLY HOGARTY

STAGE STRUCK One of the lovely things about living in the East Bay is the wonderful weather that allows patrons to enjoy live theater outdoors (or bocce ball at Clayton’s great court). Of course with our changeable climate it’s always a good idea to dress in layers just in case that summer fog decides to roll in.

A good old-fashioned theatrical experience a waits at the Orinda Community Center Park where the Orinda Starlight Village Players perform. This family-run troupe opened its season

with an Agatha Christie gem “Black Coffee,” which closes with an 8:30 p.m. performance on July 4. Thanks to this tenacious company you can enjoy a fun theatrical experience and maybe see the fireworks from Moraga while you try to figure out, along with Hercule Poirot, who poisoned the atomic scientist. Suzan Lorraine directs a large cast of popular local actors.

“People are really enjoying the show,” says Starlight’s Jill Gelster. “Ken Sollazzo is doing a brilliant job as Poirot.”

“This is a great place to get your feet wet in community theater, so do come play with us,” invites Lorraine.

Shows are at 8:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday with a Sunday performance at 4 p.m. on June 28 and one Thursday performance at 8 p.m. on July 2. For ticket information or information on the group, call 925-5289225 or go to www.orsvp.org.

Another favorite outdoor venue is Orinda’s Bruns

Photo Kevin Berne

Tristan Cunningham, Sean San José, Sarah Nina Hayon, and Adrian N. Roberts star in California Shakespeare Theater’s Life Is a Dream, directed by Loretta Greco.

Amphitheater where California Shakespeare Theater has recently upgraded their café and added a full-service bar. Just closing an innovative production of Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night,” the company opens Nilo Cruz’s brilliant adaptation of Pedro Calderon de La Barca’s “Life is a Dream” on July 8. The tale of a young prince imprisoned by his father at birth because of a prophecy brings an exciting urgency to this mythic, poetic play where reality and dreams collide.

Surrounded by colorful flora and fauna as well as inventive artwork, the amphitheater features comfortable seating and many areas to enjoy a picnic.

The show runs through Aug. 2.

Call 510-548-9666 or go to www.calshakes.org.

The Chevron Family Theatre Festival returns with all the excitement you would expect from this treasured annual event. Presented by Chevron and produced by the Diablo Regional Arts Association, the low-cost day of non-stop theater, dance and musical performances takes place both inside and outside Walnut Creek’s Lesher Center for the Arts from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on July 18. This year’s festival includes Popovich Comedy Pet Theater, which features 30 trained animals. Popovich, a fourth generation circus performer, and his animals combine physical comedy, balancing and acrobatics for a funfilled show.

The day also includes Alex Ramon Magic, Fantasy Forum

Actors Ensemble, Na Mamo No’eau Polynesian dancers, San Jose Taiko Drummers, and Mother Goose. In addition, youngsters can create their own puppets and have their faces painted. Costumed characters such as Cinderella, Snow White and more will also circulate throughout the day.

For more information, call 925943-SHOW or go to www.lesherartscenter.org.

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

Bailie Anne Simpson as Lucia Amory and James Frankle as Richard Amory in Orinda Starlight Village Players’ production of “Black Coffee.”

PCT offers slate of summer classes

POPOVICH,

A FOURTH GENERA-

TION CIRCUS PERFORMER,

is one of the many entertainers at the annual Chevron Family Theatre Festival

Festival Opera returns to Walnut Creek with comedy ‘Ariadne auf Naxos’ The acclaimed East Bay regional opera company, Festival Opera, returns to the Lesher

Center for the Arts in Walnut Creek for this summer’s delightful comedic opera, “Ariadne auf

CATHERINE MARTIN

Naxos” (“Ariadne on Naxos”).

This “opera within an opera,” with music by Richard Strauss, features both lighthearted comedy and heroic grand opera, as two different performing troupes compete for the attention of a wealthy patron. The catch: the two acts must perform simultaneously so a fabulous pyrotechnics display can conclude the evening as promised. Ariadne and her fellow singers must perform their serious opera, now including the saucy comedy troupe’s antics. Bringing together slapstick comedy and consummately beautiful music, the opera’s theme of the struggle between high and low art is as relevant today as it was

when the opera was first presented, in 1912.

Featured artists include Othalie Graham as the Prima Donna (Ariadne), Robert Breault as Bacchus, Shawnette Sulker as Zerbinetta, Catherine Martin as The Composer and Kirk Eichelberger as the Music Master. It is conducted and directed by Michael Morgan.

The opera will be sung in English and German with English supertitles.

Performances of “Ariadne auf Naxos” will be at 8 p.m. Friday, July 10 and 2 p.m. Sunday, July 12 at the Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Drive, Walnut Creek.

For more information and tickets, visit www.festivalopera.org.

With summer now in full swing, Pittsburg Community Theatre is preparing to host its second annual Audition Workshop. This multiple-day workshop will teach the basics of auditioning, including proper etiquette, resumes, monologues, cold reads, song selections, dance basics and more.

All workshops are being held at the Pittsburg Library Community Room at 80 Power St. in Pittsburg. Two separate sessions are designed to accommodate students ages 7 through 12 on July 11 and 18. Teens and adults will meet for four sessions on July 11, 18, 25 and Aug. 1.

PCT is also hosting a Young Writers’ Workshop Aug. 10 at the Pittsburg Arts Academy, 351 Railroad Ave. in downtown Pittsburg.

Young writers will learn the basics of writing a story and script and these one-acts written will be used in the acting workshop this fall.

The Student Director’s Workshop is for teens ages 15 through 18 who want to learn all the basics of directing. They will direct one of the many one-acts during the fall. The director’s workshops are Aug. 22 and 29 at 75 Atherton Circle in Pittsburg.

Call 925-439-PLAY (7529) for times and to reserve your seat for any of these workshops. A donation of $5 (or more if you like) for each session is appreciated but not required.

Also, PCT will hold an Ice Cream Social Season Kick-off and Fundraiser from 1 to 4 p.m.

Sunday, Aug. 23 at Church of the Good Shepherd Hall, 3200 Harbor St. in Pittsburg. Tickets are available for $10 through Eventbrite.com or at the Railroad Book Depot.

For more information regarding all these events, visit www.pittsburgcommunitytheatre.org or call 925-439-7529.

Oakhurst Country Club Celebrate the spring with a new membership at one of the area's best country clubs.

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Membership Includes:

Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day July 10

Big Hero 6 July 17

When the Game Stands Tall July 24

Monster’s University July 31

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$150 • Access to our beautiful clubhouse with amenities such as a fully stocked pro shop with TENNIS TENNIS special member pricing $75 $75 • Formal and casual dining and a private members' lounge • Yearlong calendar of social activities, dining events, and golf & tennis tournaments • Access to our Junior Olympic-sized swimming pool and state-of-the-art fitness center and childcare facilities.

Contact us today to take a private tour of the club and join us for lunch, on us.

Call Susie at (925) 672-9737, ext. 205 or email directorofsales@oakhurstcc.com.

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Page 20

Concord Pioneer • www.concordpioneer.com

Rochellez

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Interest in succulents is soaring. Folks are captivated by this group of intriguing, droughtloving, evergreen and fabulously easy-to-grow plants. Many have found themselves spellbound and are continuously adding to their collections. They peruse nursery shelves in search of a distinct echeveria or unique sempervivum. They scrutinize four-inch pots of senico and crassula seeking the most desirable variegations and color hues.

Succulents are all the rage, and once you grow one, you’ll want to grow them all.

Echeveria is a very large group of succulents and one of the most recognizable. Their leaves create rosettes of fleshy green, gray, gray-green or edged depending on the selection. This is a medium-size succulent, growing wider than tall. Echeveria Holly Gate is a large, fast growing succulent. It has bluishgreen foliage that is tipped in pink. Echeveria Debbie has misty blue rosettes that take on a pink hue during the cooler months. Black Prince is one of the darkest echeveria with chocolate colored leaves. All echeveria bloom. They have slim stems that hold droopy Sempervivum is another rosette shaped succulent. This family’s rosettes are bound very tight. Sempervivum are mostly green with margins and streaks of color. Maturing plants spread from offsets (sempervivum

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babies) that cluster around the parent plant, and root. Offsets can also be removed, shared and replanted. This type succulent is also a medium sized grower.

The Senecio family is made up of mostly trailing members.

Senecios are available in green selections, gray and almost white. The most popular member of this family is Senico rowleyanus, commonly called String of Pearls. Recently, the Senecio Blue Chalkstick has made its way in to our Clayton landscapes as a ground cover.

Senecio Blue Chalkstick is winter hardy and makes an excellent contrast to black bark.

Crassula has both upright and trailing family members. If you’ve ever grown a Jade plant, then you’ve grown a Crassula.

Crassula is a very large family, some look like Jade plants, and many don’t. Crassula Princess Pine is a fabulously unique member of this family. Crassula Perforata variegate has creamcolored leaves with a light green margin touched with soft pink at the tips. This selection is hard to find and worth the search.

Sedum, Aeonium, Rhipsalis and Graptosedum are all fabulous. Sedum is available as medium growers, uprights and drapers. They come in a large assortment of colors, including char-

Sedumphotos.net

CRASSULA TOM THUMB VARIEGATA

treuse. Aeonium makes a great vertical succulent. Aeonium atropupurea has dark purpleblack leaves that are positioned in a rosette shape. With maturity, this Aeonium will grow a small trunk. Rhipsalis makes a nice cascading succulent. Some selections are covered in hair, and the plant can look like ocean coral. Graptosedum is a hybrid succulent. This selection is a trailing plant with some body.

Educating ourselves about succulents is like learning a different language. Many of their names are long, and hard to pronounce. Unlike some other plants in the garden, succulents have very few needs. Succulents don’t like to be overwatered.

This recipe is a favorite with farmers market customers who come by the info booth to pick up some of the fresh and simple recipes we offer.

DEBRA MORRIS Pacific Coast Farmers Market

Sweet yellow, white and bicolor corn is the star of summer picnics and barbecues.

There’s nothing better than sitting down to a big crisp ear of sweet summer corn on the cob.

Grilled or boiled, corn on the cob is a real treat that’s hard to top for flavor, freshness and just plain deliciousness. Corn is now available at your local farmers’ market through early August.

Corn has a long and varied history and it wouldn’t exist if it weren’t for the humans who developed it. Corn as we know it does not grow in the wild. It was developed from a grass called teosinte. Most people think of corn as a vegetable, but it’s really a grain. Scientists believe that corn was developed by the native peoples living in central Mexico more than 7,000 years ago. Also known as maize, the natives throughout North and South America eventually depended on maize for most of their diet. Corn spread throughout the Americas and was discovered by explorers from

Europe who had never seen corn. There are numerous varieties of cultivated corn now.

The Bay Area is known for sweet Brentwood corn, some of the best and sweetest corn available. This year corn arrived early because of the drought and the warm weather, but the flavor is still amazing. Grill, roast, boil – whatever you do, get your hands on some Brentwood corn and enjoy its crisp, sweet flavor.

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They want to dry out completely between watering. Succulents don’t require regular fertilizer.

They seldom need pruning.

Aside from some early spring mealy bug and aphid, succulents fairly pest free.

You must protect succulents from heavy rain and frost. Frost cover tents can really come in handy from December through March.

Consider succulent combinations in your next container grouping, or planting bed. You too may be come spellbound with all this plant family has to offer.

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GRILLED CORN WITH CHIPOTLE LIME BUTTER 4 ears fresh corn, husked 2 Tbsp. butter, softened 1/4 tsp. freshly grated lime zest 1 tsp. lime juice 1/2 tsp. minced chipotle chile in adobo sauce plus 1/4 tsp. adobo sauce, or 1/4 tsp. ground chipotle pepper 1/2 tsp. kosher salt Preheat grill to high. Wrap each ear in foil. Place on grill and cook, turning frequently for 10 minutes. Remove from the grill and let stand in foil while preparing butter.

Combine butter, lime zest, lime juice, chipotle chile in adobo sauce, (or ground chipotle pepper) and salt. Carefully unwrap the corn and serve with the butter.

The Concord Farmers Market is in Todos Santos Plaza Tuesdays and Thursdays. See ad page 9 for hours.

June 26, 2015

Concord Pioneer • www.concordpioneer.com

Page 21

Picture the perfect wall for artwork FREE ESTIMATES JENNIFER LEISCHER

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DESIGN & DÉCOR You’ve just returned home from a visit to a local portrait studio. Your prize, for a morning spent with your family in a cozy 10-foot by 10-foot studio, is a lovely, framed family portrait. Before the hanging of this object on the wall becomes a line item on the “honey-do” list, you decide to seize the moment and find a home on one of the many walls in your home yourself.

Before your outing today, you had the perfect spot in mind, above the mantel in your living room, but now that you have the framed photo in front of you, you’re rethinking the placement. Maybe it would be better in the dining room? Or the entry? Over the master bedroom bed? Hmmm.

The physical act of hanging a framed piece or art is usually a pretty basic task, but placing art in a living space is just as important as selecting a sturdy family room sofa upholstery.

PUBLIC VS. PRIVATE VIEWING A family photo, a water color you purchased at the Art & Wine festival, a group of dogs playing poker: Oh where or where should these pieces hang? Artwork is so very personal. It delights and inspires, makes you reminisce and pon-

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der, and sometimes cry and laugh all at the same time.

There is no such thing as good or bad artwork in the eye of the beholder, but, there is something to be said about what should be placed where. A family portrait in the powder room? That’s maybe not the best location for viewing, but instead, consider a focal wall within your living room or a bookcase in your family room.

A cheerful watercolor in the laundry room? Maybe, but what about a dark hallway that needs some color and life? A group of dogs playing poker?

Let’s circle back to this one.

Some artwork is meant for the masses, and some artwork is best suited to be viewed on a more personal level. At a minimum, art should be appropriate to the design aesthetic of a living space and the level of sophistication and understanding of its viewer.

HAVE A PLAN OF ATTACK When hanging, or re-hanging, artwork, it’s good to have

a plan. For example, if you’re looking to create a collage wall, spend a good amount of time collecting the anchoring pieces: a metal garden gate that you will flank with black and white photography, sailing flags that you’ve been collecting for your home office that will be organized with sepia toned pencil sketches of yachts, or your children’s artwork that you’ve had transferred onto stretched canvas that will be hung in the playroom, along with all of their school photos.

Instead of placing random pieces of art here and there, consider the location that will be receiving this artwork. Is the wall big enough for all your goodies? Do you have enough space to walk around the wall if you are using pieces that protrude? This may sound a little tedious, but having a plan, when working with so many parts, can be the difference of success or pulling your hair out.

Clayton Resident

Jennifer Leischer is the owner of J. Designs Interior Design based in Clayton. Contact her with questions, comments and suggestions at jenna@j-designs.com.

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Page 22

Concord Pioneer • www.concordpioneer.com

June 26, 2015

Fish and Chips, the ‘Cod’mother of British food For those lucky enough to travel to London, a must do is to in a pub drinking a pint while partaking in fish and chips, the national dish. For over 150 years the British, through social change and a few wars, have enjoyed this simple yet satisfying treat.

While “chippies,” as they are known in Britain, can be found locally, few restaurants serve them on regular basis. This is likely because the smell of frying fish permeates a large area and the use of oil in preparing foods is discouraged by the health conscious who prefer less grease in their diets In our neck of the woods,

RICHARD EBER & WHITNEY FLORES TASTE AND TELL fish and chips are most often found in restaurants close to the Pacific and are typically served with French fries, coleslaw, tartar sauce and fresh lemon. How-

ever, in some parts of the world the tartar sauce and coleslaw are nowhere to be found, and all the attention goes to the fish alone. We are lucky in Concord to have a couple of good fish and chip options to choose from.

Scousers Fish ‘n Chips at 4375 G Clayton Rd. near Treat Blvd. prides itself on serving authentic British fish ‘n chips, using a family recipe that is known only to owner Kevin Moran. The only thing Kevin will reveal about his concoction is that no beer is in his batter.

Each order is made fresh beginning with fresh Icelandic cod, specifically the loin portion

which is the thickest part of the filet. The fish is then coated in Kevin’s proprietary mixture and fried until golden brown. Thickcut French fries, or “chips,” come with each order, but mushy peas can also be ordered if you’re looking for a more traditional British meal.

Another good version of fish and chips can be found on the menu of E.J. Phair Brewing Company on Todos Santos Plaza in downtown Concord.

According to their general manager Chris Wheeler, “this is an excellent accompaniment to the wide selection of craft beers we feature.”

Unlike other versions of this classic dish where fish fillets are dredged in a flour mixture and dipped in a light egg/milk wash, E.J Phair prepares theirs with a Japanese twist, placing the cod in a tempura batter utilizing Ditsy Blond Ale for liquid and then coating them in panko bread crumbs before placing in a fryer for 2-3 minutes.

The end result is light and full of flavor leaving the fish moist on the inside. E.J. Phair serves this simple lunch masterpiece with fried potatoes, homemade cole slaw, tartar sauce and a lemon wedge for those who prefer citrus to the traditional

malt vinegar the British have embraced over the years.

FISH & CHIPS RECIPE We recommend using cod fillets for this recipe but other fish can be substituted. You will need about 8 pieces. Buy it fresh at 99 Ranch or Seafood City.

Another good source is Trader Joe’s.

For the batter: 1 C flour ½ C milk ½ C water 1 Tblsp. baking powder 1 tsp. fresh lemon juice 1 tsp. honey Salt and other seasonings to taste

Twilight, from page 15 even hear the call off the great horned owl or clicking in the sky as the “ghostly” and silent barn owl glides over the grasslands looking for an unsuspecting gopher or vole. Often the sound of silence is heard and then it can be interrupted by the distant howl of a coyote.

Along the road a variety of

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insects and other arthropods may be seen along with the western toad hopping along and hoping to make a meal out them.

The highlight of the evening may be when the docent asks everyone to turn off their flashlights and then turns on an ultraviolet or black light, shining it along a rocky outcrop. What

Whisk ingredients together until smooth. Add more water if needed.

Rinse the cod and pat it dry.

Season with salt and pepper.

Dip the fish fillets into the batter and fry in hot vegetable oil until golden brown, turning once for even cooking. Serve with your favorite sides – fries, coleslaw, or mushy peas.

Rich Eber is a local columnist for the blog Halfway to Concord and a selfdescribed “foodie.” He teams up with daughter, Whitney, a Concord native, student, and avid cook and taster.

Email comments or questions to editor@concordpioneer.com

appears are local forest scorpions, glowing in the dark. Biologists have not figured out what cause this phenomenon but for a firsttime observer it is a bit of a thrill.

Although the forest scorpion does have a stinger to use in selfdefense, its weak venom has no effect on humans.

Go the Mount Diablo Interpretive Associations website and sign up for one of these twilight adventures offered throughout the summer.