MAY 11 Clayton Pioneer 2007 by Pioneer Publishers

See new Home Improvement Guide Section B

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May 11, 2007

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Editorial

Landscaping - dead or alive? Voters to decide TAMARA AND BOB STEINER Clayton Pioneer

BILL WALCUTT

MAYOR’S CORNER

Three cheers for community spirit. We had a very successful Clayton Cleans Up event again this year, with more than 200 community volunteers on April 28. It is rewarding to see so many people willing to give their time to help spruce up our little town. Volunteers collected more than 180 bags of trash and trimmings all around town. This is a great community service project for individuals, families or groups. I do not believe there is any other city in California as fortunate as we are to have so many residents who take pride in their trails, parks and landscaping. One of the nice things about this event is you can select the area where you want to work. A lot of people pick up their garage bags at City Hall and head for their favorite park or trail or back to their own neighborhood. This works out well because a large area of the city gets a little more tender-loving care. After all the work is done, there is a great BBQ at noon. A big thank you goes out to all the volunteers and all the sponsors. We could not do it without you. It was a very busy weekend for volunteers, because June 27 was the kick-off rally for Measure B, the landscape maintenance tax on the June 5 ballot. Many residents turned out to show their support for Measure B and volunteer their time. The next day, volunteers were out all over town distributing fliers, talking to residents and putting up signs. In addition, the Clayton Community Library Foundation held its annual Book Sale, and

See Mayor, page A9

On June 5, Clayton voters will have one last opportunity to save Clayton’s front yard. If passed, Measure B will replace the current Landscape Maintenance District which is due to expire on June 30. If defeated, there will be no money to water and weed Clayton’s flowers, trees, bushes and trails

and everything will die. Last year, voters rejected a proposal that came with a price tag of $ 365 per year. Too much, they said. So, the Landscape Committee went back to work. They trimmed the standards and came up with a revised parcel tax of $197 a year. The city’s landscaping MUST be funded through a special district tax. There is NO money in the general fund to pay for it.

Clayton’s annual operating budget is $3.4 million a year with half of that, about $1.7 million, going for police services. Clayton is currently spending about $600,000 on landscaping, far less than what’s needed for even a moderate level of care. There is no possible way the city can fund landscape maintenance from the general fund. Without a replacement tax, the city will have no choice but to turn off the water

bare dirt flower beds will depress a home’s value, it stands to reason that streets lined with dead bushes, sidewalks and trails overgrown with weeds and bare dirt medians would give the city a whole lot less “curb appeal,” dragging down Clayton’s home values. This June, voters will again be asked the question, “Clayton’s landscaping—dead or alive?” Please vote “yes” on Measure B. Keep Clayton green.

Heidi Ashworth is this year’s Queen TAMARA STEINER Clayton Pioneer

Tamara Steiner/Clayton Pioneer

MARY ASHWORTH (LEFT) AND MOM, HEIDI ASHWORTH in their Clayton home. Mary’s essay “Queen of My Heart” was the winning entry in the Clayton Pioneer’s “Queen for a Day” Mother’s Day essay contest

A Diablo View Middle School student wrote the winning essay in our Mother’s Day Essay Contest. Mary Ashworth, 12, had no trouble convincing the judges that her mother, Heidi, should be named Queen for a Day in this year’s contest, winning for her mother a huge bouquet of flowers and a host of gift certificates for local goodies. Turn to page A6 for a full rundown of the prizes. “My mom does a WHOLE lot more than just bake me cookies every week,” Mary writes. Indeed, this stay at home mother of Mary, Michael, 17 and Peter, 5 homeschools Michael who has cerebral palsy and learning disabilities. Herself a writer, Heidi recognizes Mary’s talent. “I thought her essay was wonderful and showed her personality. It was really sweet of her to do that.” Heidi’s husband of 21 years, Roy, is an elementary school teacher at Shore Acres School in Bay Point. A former executive,

See Queen, page A6

Art and Wine was business as usual Historical Society’s annual Garden Tour raises over despite downtown construction JILL BEDECARRÉ Clayton Pioneer

What’s Inside SECTION A Around Town . . . . . . . . . . . .A2 From the Chief . . . . . . . . . . . .A4 Classified Ads . . . . . . . . . . . . .A5 Directory of Advertisers . . . .A5 Mother’s Day Essays . . . . .A6 Reader’s Forum . . . . . . . . . . .A7 Letters to the Editor . . . . . . .A7 Real Estate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A8 At the Movies . . . . . . . . . . . .A9 Food for Thought . . . . . . . .A10 For the Books . . . . . . . . . . .A10 Weather Words . . . . . . . . . .A11 On the Net . . . . . . . . . . . . .A11 Financial Sense . . . . . . . . . .A12 Crossword Puzzle . . . . . . . .A12 Sharing History . . . . . . . . . .A13 Club News . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A13 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A14 Clayton Calendar . . . . . . . . .A16 Paws and Claws . . . . . . . . . .A17 Church News . . . . . . . . . . . .A18 School News . . . . . . . . . . . .A18 Your Health . . . . . . . . . . . . .A19 Garden Girl . . . . . . . . . . . . .A20 Hiker’s Haven . . . . . . . . . . .A21 SECTION B Home Improvement Resource Guide

and let everything die. That Clayton is a very desirable place to live is no secret to those of us who live or work here, or to those who wish they did. A house in Clayton costs more than in neighboring Concord or Pittsburg. And notwithstanding the current slowdown in the market, Clayton real estate holds its value. If a front yard of dead trees and shrubs, a weed filled lawn and

Tamara Steiner/Clayton Pioneer

ARTIST, JAMES WOO takes advantage of a lull in sales to work on a painting at Art and Wine last weekend.

The Clayton Business and Community Association (CBCA) knows how to bring enthusiastic people to downtown Clayton. All they needed to do was make sure the weather was right, the wine was flowing, the food was cooking, the music was swinging and all 140 vendors were in place. Despite the wind on both days, the local organization did just that last weekend for the 12th annual Art and Wine Festival. It was an exciting event bringing neighbors together to enjoy good food and wine and a myriad of arts and crafts items including fine art. Chairman Joe Medrano said it took a village to run the festival, and help came in from all sectors of the community from CBCA volunteers and committee chairs to police, city officials and residents. This year’s event was a little more challenging due to the ongoing construction on the park, Village Market and Longs Drugs However the CBCA rose to the challenge and created a variety of additional parking lots throughout the city where bus service ran each day, every 15 minutes.

$14,000 for the museum JILL BEDECARRÉ Clayton Pioneer

With the sun shining bright and the flowers smelling sweet, more than 500 people came to enjoy the Clayton Historical Society’s 15th annual Clayton

Gardens Tour, Apr. 28 and 29. “It was the best we had so far,” says Chairman Joann Casper saying the entire event raised about $14,000. Casper noted that this year the event was changed from

See Tour, page A4

Tamara Steiner/Clayton Pioneer

Art and Nancy Westman’s Eagle Peak Ave. garden shows what can be done with a small space.

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Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

May 11, 2007

Around Town Clayton Cleans Up polishes up city for Art and Wine A funny thing happened on the way to the dumpster at this year’s Clayton Cleans Up day. While combing the trails for trash during the annual event on April 28, Mike Dillinger came across a pillow case stuffed with a big jewelry box. The jewelry had been heisted from a Clayton home in a burglary the night before. Clayton police were able to reach the owner and the woman and her jewelry were reunited that morning. Less exciting than jewelry but more useful for the task at hand was the big plastic wading pool the Girl Scouts of Troop 163 fished out of the creek and used to haul their many bags of collected trash. Susan Campbell found an iPod MP3 player. Sadly, it was broken. You just never know what you are going to find in the creek if you look long enough. There were Boy and Girl Scouts earning service hours, families, groups of friends and city employees—some 200

City Clerk Laci Jackson (right) persuaded her friend, Lindsay Vanoli, to come help Clayton spruce up.

turned out to fill bright orange bags with all manner of trash. This was the first Clayton

Cleans Up for Clayton City Clerk Laci Jackson. “Isn’t this the coolest thing ever?” she

exclaimed as she and her friend, Lindsay Vanoli, held up their orange bags.

Library book sale generates $7,143

Tamara Steiner/Clayton Pioneer

Ruth Olson, Library Foundation member, loads up a bag of books for Chris Santa Maria (standing), Ryan, 4, Rosie, 7 and Molly, 9. The family will donate their books back to the library after they’ve finished reading them.

Tamara Steiner/Clayton Pioneer

The morning’s efforts earned Girl Scouts in Troop 163 2 ½ service hours each toward their Silver Award.

Diamond Terrace find benefits charity Finders keepers, right? Nope. Not this time. Over a year ago, Nellie Courso of Diamond Terrace found a stamp collection behind some books in the Diamond Terrace library. Bob Davidson, also a Diamond Terrace resident, and stamp aficionado, catalogued the stamps in the collection and determined the value to be at least $300. Despite efforts to locate the owner, the stamp book went unclaimed and the finders elected to give the collection to a charity. So, in a special ceremony last month, they handed the stamp collection over to Sue Howell, Donor Development Officer for Habitat for Humanity. Howell says they will sell the collec- Sarah Bauer, Cay Van Scoy, Nellie Courso, Bob tion and use the proceeds to further the orga- Davidson,Sue Howell, Donor Development Officer for Habitat for Humanity nization’s homebuilding efforts.

JOYCE ATKINSON Special to the Pioneer

The Clayton Community Library Foundation Used Book Sale grossed $7,143, which will be used to purchase materials for the library. For the April 27-29 sale, 85 volunteers spent eight days moving, sorting, stacking and selling the many cartons of used books. The Boy Scouts of Troop 464 and their families helped move the books into the Community Room. They then returned the tables, leftover books and equipment to storage when the sale ended. A Books for the Barrios volunteer picked up some of the leftover books, and they will distributed to schools in impoverished areas. The Used Book Sales is one of the library’s major fund-rais-

ers, enabling the foundation to generate $83,399 from a variety of sources in 2007. Of that, $25,613 represents the value of in-kind materials (books, tapes, CDs, DVDs) that were donated for book sales but were instead diverted into the library collection. The Library Foundation spent $50,369 on library support, while also providing $2,243 for programs and special events. The foundation gave $12,525 for the library’s Volunteer Program, including the volunteer coordinator’s salary, insurance and several parties for volunteers. Volunteers are what make the library great. If you would like to get involved, the Library Foundation board meets at 7:30 p.m. the third Wednesday in the Story Room of the library.

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ynne French is making connections everyday as one of the East Bay Area’s leading real estate professionals. Connections with her clients and their families on a truly personal level. Connections within her industry to give her clients the most comprehensive home buying and selling services. Connections between her clients and their unique dreams. Lynne’s approach is straightforward. By listening to you and your family

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May 11, 2007

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

Page A3

Around Town Kristina Rich and Scott Busch to marry Bruce and Robin Busch formally announced the engagement of their son, Scott, to Kristina Rich at a party at their Clayton home on April 21. Kristina is the daughter of Teri Rich of Lathrop and John Rich of Valley Springs. The couple became engaged on Dec. 22. Kristina graduated from East Union High School in Manteca in 1997 and Cal State University Stanislaus with a BA in English in 2001. She received her single subject teaching credential from

Stanislaus in 2002. Kristina is currently working on her Masters in secondary education curriculum and instruction at Cal State Stanislaus. She teaches English and is the AVID Program Coordinator at Sierra High School in Manteca. Kristina is the granddaughter of Willa and Joe Habiger of Lathrop, and her sister is Andrea Rich of Turlock. Scott graduated from Clayton Valley High School in 1996 and Wyoming Technical Institute in Laramie, Wyoming.

Spring has sprung at the Pumpkin Farm Clayton Valley Pumpkin Farm hosted their annual Spring Open House event April 28 and May 5. Owners David and Sharon Osteen invited families and groups from all over the Bay Area to join them on the farm off Marsh Creek Road in Clayton to learn about the garden, bugs, plants, worms, composting and more. Pictured: Two-year old Carter Voerge from Pittsburg gets a helping hand from Sharon Osteen as he learns the proper way to plant a seed.

He is a diesel mechanic at TEC of California in Oakland. Scott is the grandson of Robert and Donna Carroll of Hidden Valley Lake, Bill and LaVonne Busch of Concord and the sister of Jennifer Harriman of Pittsburg. Kristina and Scott will be married on Sept. 29 at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Concord with a reception to follow at the Blackhawk Museum in Danville. They are making their first home in Martinez.

Neiths celebrate 65th wedding anniversary Donald and Francis Neith of past 30 years. Donald is well Clayton celebrated their 65th known for his business skills, wedding anniversary on May 2. operating wrecking yards in Just 19 and 17 years old when Concord and Martinez. Francis they married on May 2, 1942 in is known for her humor and Waterloo, Iowa, the two truly hospitality. Their children will demonstrate commitment. be honoring them with a stay at Donald and Francis have Cache Creek Resort. nine children, 19 grandchildren, 17 great grandchildren and 3 greatgreat grandchildren. They came to California in 1948, living in Pittsburg until they bought their first home in Pleasant Hill, where they raised their family. They have lived in Clayton for the FRANCIS AND DONALD NEITH

SCOTT BUSCH AND KRISTINA RICH

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Clayton teen Kelsey Purser will appear in the Civic Arts Education’s Teen Theater production of “Working” this month. Based on Studs Terkel’s oral histories of working life, “Working” explores the life experiences of a waitress, office manager, brick layer, factory worker, and many other voices not often heard. Even for the lowliest laborers, Terkel found, work was a search, sometimes successful, sometimes not, “for daily meaning as well as daily bread.” The talented teens at Civic Arts Education make these people come alive through monologues, songs, and dance in this unique musical experience. A new program for the serious high school student actor (ages 14-18), Teen Theater is an ensemble-based program that builds skills and musical theater

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Kelsey Purser to appear in Civic Arts production

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technique while working on full-length productions. Directed by Nina Meehan with musical direction by Kevin Weinert, “Working” runs at the Lesher Center for the Arts Knight Stage 3 at 7:15 p.m. on May 25 and 26 with a matinee at 2:15 p.m. on May 26. Tickets are $11-13. Call 925-943-SHOW for reservations.

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Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

May 11, 2007

New RV parking rules take effect May 17

DAN LAURENCE

FROM

THE

CHIEF

As summer sets in, many Clayton residents will be pulling out their recreational vehicles for their vacation plans.

In the past, residents could park their RVs on the public street in front of their homes for up to 72 hours while preparing for trips. However, this practice becomes illegal on May 17, unless the RV displays a valid temporary parking permit issued by the Clayton Police Department. After many residents complained about RV parking in their neighborhoods, city staff brought this issue before the City Council. Although the previous 72-hour City Municipal Code section was intended to address long-term parking of RVs, the reality was that some RV owners appeared to have “worked the

system” and took advantage of infrequent reporting by neighbors. This led to long-term RV parking on city streets that was difficult for the police department to effectively monitor. The City Council publicly discussed the issue of RV parking on city streets during four different meetings. The council accepted public comment, including from several RV owners who provided valuable suggestions. The council believes that the new ordinance balances the needs of RV owners and neighbors and will provide the police department with an effective

City seeking patriotic volunteers LAURA HOFFMEISTER Special to the Pioneer

As a Fourth of July volunteer, you can help make sure that the downtown comes alive with lots of red, white and blue. The ever-popular Kiddie Parade is the highlight of the festivities, featuring children with their decorated wagons, strollers, scooters, bikes and tricycles and, of course, the family dog. In addition, the parade features lots of floats and other community participants. The three-member Community Services Commission is in charge of the parade. However, they need volunteers to ensure that the event occurs again this year. Most of the help is needed the day of the parade in the following areas: Setting up of barricades and street closures.

Decorations. Parking control. Crowd control. Parade line-up. Parade flow control. First Aid and Lost and Found. Clean-up. If you or your organization can help anytime between 6 a.m. and 3 p.m. on Wednesday, July 4, call Laci Jackson at 673-7304 or email LJackson@ci.clayton.ca.us. The city also needs monetary donations to cover the costs of this event, especially the Kiddieland. Send tax-deductible donations to the Clayton 4th of July Parade, City of Clayton, 6000 Heritage Trail, Clayton CA 94517. Anyone interested in being in the Main Parade (not the Kiddie Parade) needs to submit an application to the Community Services Commission. Due to the popularity of the parade and limited downtown space, the

number of applicants will be limited. In order to provide a safe environment, applicants with vehicles will need to provide proof of insurance. All entrants will be restricted from tossing candy or using water squirt devices. Applications and deadline info will be available in mid-May at www.cityofclayton.org. The Fourth of July will begin at 7 a.m. with a pre-parade Pancake Breakfast at Endeavor Hall, provided by the Clayton Valley Sunrise Rotary Club. The streets will be closed to traffic and parking, so you need to park outside of the downtown area and walk in. Or better yet, leave the car at home and walk downtown. Laura Hoffmeister is the assistant to the city manager. Contact her at 673-7350 or lhoffmeister@ci.clayton.ca.us.

enforcement tool. Some of the major points are: Public RV parking is prohibited, except by permit. Temporary parking permits will be issued by the Clayton Police Department at no cost to residents during regular business hours, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Temporary parking permits will be issued for a period of up to 72 hours before a trip and up to 72 hours at the end of a trip. The goal is to issue Temporary Parking Permits via the city’s Website, www.cityofclayton.org. However, until tech-

nological issues can be worked out, parking permits can be obtained by calling the police department at 673-7350. Guests of Clayton residents may stay in their RVs in front of their host’s home with a valid parking permit for up to 10 days. The fee is $25. Enforcement will be complaint-driven, and warnings will be issued for first-time violators. Repeat violators will receive a citation. Dan Lawrence is Clayton’s Police Chief. Please send your questions, comments or topics you’d like to see covered to DanL@cpd.ci.concord.ca.us

Dana Hills man arrested after a scuffle with police A Dana Hills man was arrested recently on a laundry list of charges including theft and battery on a police officer. On April 21 around 7 p.m., a witness saw a young man, riding a child’s scooter and stealing mail from mailboxes in the Mountaire neighborhood where he lived. The witness notified police who found the 18-yearold man still in the neighborhood. He appeared intoxicated, said Sgt. Scott Dansie and the scooter he was on was stolen. He was uncooperative and struggled with police. When officers attempted to put the

suspect in the police car, he spit on Dansie. This was not the man’s first experience with the police, said Dansie. He has a juvenile record. The suspect was booked at the Martinez jail on charges of theft, possession of stolen property, battery on a police officer, resisting arrest and public intoxication. The mail and the scooter were all recovered and returned to their owners.

Tour, from page A1 Friday and Saturday to a Saturday and Sunday weekend tour which brought more people out in the fresh air to enjoy five beautiful local gardens and home interiors. The garden party at the residence of Ivana and Dale Satre was also successful with about 110 partygoers, while the annual Garden Club plant sale raised over $1,000. There was a good variety of gardens on the tour,” says Casper. Almost all of the gardens showcased a water feature to cool the hot summer air while some gardens offered a bit of the whimsical including the 300 golf balls on display in the Westman garden. This same garden sported an entrance with carved concrete called “Birdhouse Alley” which has become a showcase for Nancy’s collection of birdhouses in this country-style design which backs up to Oakhurst. One of the most popular stops on the tour was the Mangini Ranch with its historical buildings, aromatic garden and interesting buildings. The granary held almonds and walnuts which were the main cash crops for many years, and the barn houses a family of screech owls. Everyone enjoyed seeing the newest Mangini Vineyard, “Sterling Albert wines. All proceeds from the Gardens Tour benefit the operation of the Clayton Historical Society and museum.

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May 11, 2007

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

Classified RETAIL SALES

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Office Personnel/Sales Support Help wanted - Office personnel and sales support for Gesinee’s Bridal. Call Sara at 925-686-6444.

PETS Pet Sitting Memorial Day is approaching. Traveling? Don't forget about your pets. Call local resident Linda Pastor at 672-9781 or 202-8781.Licenesed, insured, bonded. Reasonable rates.

SERVICES Perennial Garden Design by Nicole Hackett AKA The Garden Girl Personal consultations regarding plant choices, placement, identification, fertilizing and maintenance. Spring is just around the corner. Call

Vacation Rental Cabin in Blue Lake Springs (Arnold, CA). Sleeps 6, fully remodeled, quiet, use of recreation facilities. $150/night, $950/week. Call Kevin Parker @ (925) 383-9430 or http://www.vrconnection.com/parkerpaw.

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

The Clayton Community Library is seeking to fill the following volunteer positions: (All positions require a minimum age of 13 years and a 6month commitment. Training will be provided). Shelver - to shelve and sensitize books. Must be detail oriented, various days and hours. Lead Tutor - To help with matching the student requests with the tutors and other related administrative duties in our Tutoring Program. Must have excellent skills in dealing with the public, all age levels and in group settings. Schedule is flexible. Tutor/Homework Helper - to work one-on-one with local students in our community. You choose the age range, subjects, remedial or light help, and days/times. Office Assistant - handle filing, word processing, create flyers, volunteer database input on Microsoft Access, assistance with meetings/programs. Contact: Arlene @ 673-9777 or email: akikkawa@ccclib.org.

Advertise in the Pioneer IT WORKS. Call today to place your ad in the next issue. 672-0500

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Tamara Steiner tamara@claytonpioneer.com Jill Bedecarre jill@claytonpioneer.com Beth Neudell beth@claytonpioneer.com Deanna Merrigan sports@claytonpioneer.com Send ads to ads@claytonpioneer.com Send Sports News to sports@claytonpioneer.com Send Club News to clubnews@claytonpioneer.com Send Religion News to churchnews@claytonpioneer.com

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HOW TO PLACE A CLASSIFIED AD Classified rates per insertion: Non-profit: $12 for first 30 words, $.20 each additional word Individual/non-commercial: $18 for first 30 words, $.30 each additional word Commercial: $48 for first 30 words, $.40 each additional word To place your classified ad over the phone, call the office at (925) 672-0500 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Mon.-Fri. Or, you may fax your typewritten ad and credit card information to (925) 672-6580 All classifieds must be paid for in advance by credit card (Master Card or Visa) We will not accept any ad that discriminates on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, nationality, family status or disability. The Clayton Pioneer reserves the right to reject any advertising we believe is unsuitable.

LET US KNOW Weddings, engagements, anniversaries, births and deaths all weave together as part of the fabric of our community. Please let us know of these important events. We ask only that the announcement be for a Clayton resident. You will find the appropriate form for your announcement on our Website. Attach your photo to the form. Also on our Web site are forms for submitting Community Calendar items and press releases for your organization.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

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

AND

R OBERT S TEINER , Publishers

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

PIONEER INFO

$10.00 off

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

D EANNA M ERRIGAN , Sports B EV B RITTON , Copy Editor and Feature Writer B ETH N EUDELL , Administrative Assistant

Directory of Advertisers Abbey Carpets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .686-9901 A Clayton Window Washer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .914-0508 Acupressure for Health . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .674-0767 Accent Countertops . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .671-2886 Aegis of Concord . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .692-5838 All Bright Electric . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .673-5900 Aircloud Wireless Internet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .260-4119 Andrus, Randi - Keller Williams Real Estate . . . . . .381-0659 Applause Staging and Interiors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-7701 Bell, Glen - Keller Williams Real Estate . . . . . .510-333-4460 Bella Mia Spa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .680-7792 Benton, Mureleen - Ameriprise Financial . . . . . . . . .685-4523 Beautique Beauty Supply and Salon . . . . . . . . . . . .672-0405 Bill's Ace Hardware . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .825-4100 Burkin Electric . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-1519 Butterfly Life . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-4238 Calkins, Bill - Charlotte Clifford Realtors . . . . . . . . . .673-9164 Cartridge World . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .673-3500 Carol Keane and Associates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .937-5200 CD Federal Credit Union . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .825-0900 Chic'z on the Go . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-877-933-6644 Clark, Robert C., D.O. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .969-7530 Clayton Books . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .673-3325 Clayton Financial . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .673-5470 Clayton Fitness and Tanning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-2010 Clayton Mind and Body Connections . . . . . . . . . . . .673-0686 Clayton Valley Bowl . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .689-4631 Clayton Valley Frameworks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-6066 Clayton Valley Medical Group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-6744 Clayton Valley Presbyterian Church . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-4848 Clayton Valley Shell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-3900 Clayton Valley Villa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-8401 Computers USA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-9989 ComUnity Lending . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-5363 Contra Costa County Fair . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .779-7916 Cruise Adventures Unlimited . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .935-7447 Dana Foods . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .609-7789 Dan and Dave's Cat Boarding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .524-0652 Denim & Lace . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .524-0345 Diamond Terrace Senior Retirement Living . . . . . . .524-5100 Dromlewicz, Kim - Century 21 Hosking Assoc. . . . .682-4663 Easton, Martin - Liberty Homes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-8552 Easy Storage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-3476 Englund's Tea Cottage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-8327 Eternal Life Lutheran Church . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .524-0295 Flannery, Patty - Diablo Realty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-0541 French, Lynne - Windemere Real Estate . . . . . . . . .672-8787 Gesinee's Bridal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .686-6444 Golden Gate Satellite TV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .686-5959 Hadox, Paula - Kropa Realty . . . . . . .1-800-283-5075X 1003 Hatley Handyman Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .680-8554 Help - U - Sell Real Estate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .680-4950 Hudak, Jim - Pianist and Composer . . . . . . . . . . . . .673-7293 Insite Design . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .689-6460 Kavanaugh, Mike Re Max Accord Real Estate . . . . .383-6102 Kelly Marshall Garden Design . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .914-0327 Laurence, Pete - Better Homes Realty . . . . . . . . . . .939-7920 La Veranda Restaurant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .524-0011 Littorno, Richard - Attorney at Law . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-6463 Lopez, Stephanie - Coldwell Banker . . . . . . . . . . . . .932-7329 Marchione, Terry - Eagles Peak Realty . . . . . . . . . .465-0435 Michael Dwyer & Sons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-3980 Mike's Auto Body . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .689-1739 Monte Vista Veterinary Hospital . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-1100 Moon, Steven Dr., Chiropractor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .682-8400 Morucci, Kim - Intero Real Estate Services . . . . . . .280-8563 National Energy Rebate Fund . . . . . . . . . . . . . .800-957-4544 Nationwide Real Estate Investments . . . . . . . . . . . .777-1920 Nature's Creations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .800-624-2188 Neptune Society of Northern California . . . . . . . . . .944-5100 Nichols Landscape . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-9955 Nickerson, Glenna - Diablo Funding Group . . . . . . .227-0100 Nuchols, Alicia - Premier Home Loans . . . . .691-5070 X 323 Nu Image Painting & Decorating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-1777 Oasis Christian Fellowship . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .934-1244 Ouimet Funeral Home . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .682-4242 Peregrine Lending . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .627-2564 Postal Annex + . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-8900 Quantum Stress and Pain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .459-8595 Rahimzadeh, Helen - Coldwell Banker . . . . . . . . . . .932-7375 R&M Pool, Patio & Gardens . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-0207 R.E. Carpet Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .595-8623 Reed, Ruth - Remax Accord Real Estate . . . . . . . . .260-6731 Roberta Claire Photography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .625-1123 Robin's Ranches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-7323 Rocco's Ristorante & Pizzeria . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .947-6105 Skylark Equestrian . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .516-5942 Smith Bernal Roofing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-0138 Sonset Flowers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .685-8200 Sorelle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-3500 Sparkle Pools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .260-5025 Stone Tree Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .798-2094 Straight Line Imports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .335-9801 The Home Depot . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-2790 The Maids . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .798-6243 The Royal Rooster . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-2025 The UPS Store . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .689-6245 The Window Works . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .689-1930 Tipperary Construction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .216-2679 Van Wyck, Doug - State Farm Insurance . . . . . . . . .672-2300 Vujnovich, George - Better Homes Realty . . . . . . . .672-4433 Williams, Mike - Williams Properties . . . . . . . . . . . . .260-5363 Wooden It Be Nice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .673-5595

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Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

Mother’s Day Essays THE QUEEN OF MY HEART BY MARY ASHWORTH

Is there anyone in your life who always puts other people first? If so, does that person bake you cookies every week? Does he or she ever tuck you in at night? Think about whom you can always rely on to help you in your time of need. I know someone who understands everything that goes on in my life. Although I may not think so at the time, she always knows how I’m feeling about that bully who called me a name, or that girl who tries to steal friends away from you, or even that guy who is so mean to everyone, but he thinks he’s so mature. She knows. She is the allseeing, nice-treating, never-beating Heidi Ashworth! My mother is always there for me and my other siblings. She enjoys making dinner and baking dessert, decorating the house is actually fun with her around, and yard work may still be difficult, but she’ll be there to tend to your weed-pulling wounds!! I love my mom more than the everlasting sun!!! She brought me into this world, and sometimes I don’t understand, but I know that I need to do everything I can to make her life a little more pleasant. She makes mine a WHOLE LOT better, and I need to show my gratitude for her. She definitely deserves that! My beautiful mother also deserves a great, relaxing girls’ day out. My mother means SO much to me!! She also helps a variety of people who aren’t even related to her! Therefore, a lot of other people besides me look up to her as well. My mother, Heidi Ashworth, has it SO very hard sometimes, and she deserves the BEST from me. My mother does a WHOLE lot more than just bake me cookies every week, MORE than tuck me in at night, MORE than call

Queen, from page A1

the principal to do something about that horrible bully!! She LOVES me, and I love her . . . THAT is why my mom is the best mom I could EVER ask for!!!

of a bad nightmare. I would always have to go to go wake her up. Even when I woke her up she wouldn’t mind and she would put me back to sleep… - Ryan Dugan, 12

Mary’s essay won the contest, but she wasn’t the only one to sing mom’s praises. Read on to find out what other Clayton kids have to say about their moms.

…She has been the shoulder I cried on when my boyfriend and I broke up and when my friends and I were fighting. She has truly been my best friend the past 11 years and I think it’s time I show her how much I care about her and how big of a role model she is for me. Just her independence alone and the battles she has fought say enough. She has always been there for me and I know (she) will never leave. - Katy Donofrio, 17

Everything my mom has done for me is shown through the person I have become. She has spent 18 years shaping me into the confident, smart, strong, woman that I am now... As I go off to college, I want her to know that I love her and that even though we look nothing alike*, she will always be my mom. (*Alli Hom is adopted) - Alli Hom, 18 …My mom is a full-time college student getting her Masters’ Degree online. She is working so hard on her class work just so she can improve and make our lives better. She works until around two o’clock in the morning and gets us at six-thirty to get ready for work. Her job is hard and she needs to be pampered… - Robbie Parker, 10 … My mother deserves this more than any other mother I know. All day she slaves away, cleaning up messes I made, bringing me to school, and helps me with my homework, even when she doesn’t want to or is busy. Even when we fight I know she loves me, and I always want to cry when we fight... - Maris Degener, 8

My mom is caring, interesting, and has a great sense of humor… She always takes care of all of us, no matter what. When there is a mother who can take care of four and still have enough energy to crack a joke here and there, you know she deserves to have a day off and be pampered… - Celeste Purzycki, 12 My mother is the absolute best mother in the whole wide world…She cooks the most delicious meals. For example, her famous Aunt Penny’s White Sauce Macaroni and Cheese. And, oh, her cleaning is fantastic. Our house is always kept in tip top shape. (These) are some of the many reasons my exquisite mother should be Queen for a Day… - Sara Poston, 11

…My mom has a great smile, so she wants to make me smile. When my mom laughs, she makes me laugh. I really always have a great time with my mom. My mom has fun and plays with me. She really is the best. I love my mom out of this world... - Adriana Bruzzone, 9

Our mom…is the best! She cares for us, she is loving. Every time we get hurt she is there for us. When we get scared she hugs us…when we have issues, she can help us with them and helps us understand them…This is our mom! Isn’t she just AWESOME!!!!!!! - Ryan, Ethan and Justin Doig

…I still remember when I was young I would wake up in the middle of the night because

Happy Mother’s Day to all the AWESOME moms from all of us at the Clayton Pioneer.

Roy quit the corporate world for the classroom several years ago in order to give more time and attention to Michael. Playtime is important to Heidi and trips to Santa Cruz, train rides for the boys in Sacramento and frequent nights out at the movies are high on the family’s priority list. “I knew she was going to enter the contest and I encouraged her because of the opportunity to get published,” Heidi says, “but I wasn’t allowed to read it.” Well, Heidi, you can read it now. The complete text of Mary’s essay and excerpts from the other entries appears above.

A big THANK YOU from the Pioneer to all of the merchants who so generously donated the prizes for our “Queen for a Day” Contest Sonset Flowers for the Queen’s bouquet The Royal Rooster for a crystal bracelet by Swarovski Roberta Claire Photography for a $250 gift certificate Beautique in Clayton Station for a $25 gift certificate Bella Mia Spa, for a Facial by Earline, a $65 value Clayton Books in Clayton Station for a $20 gift certificate Clayton Mind and Body for the Signature Sampler, $99 value Englund’s Tea Cottage for “Tea for Two,” a $50 value La Veranda Café for a $50 gift certificate R & M Pool, Patio and Garden for a $50 gift certificate

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May 11, 2007

Q plea uestion se c s or on co (92 tact R mme n 5) 3 a 81- ndi An ts, 065 dru s 9

Explore Clayton’s newest INTERACTIVE website. View the community calendar, post free classified ads and sign up for the free monthly e-newsletter.

at w w w . c l a y t o n 4 U . c o m

I want to invest in real estate, but not in California. Where should I go?

It’s no secret that the California real estate market has cooled. But the Southern states are HOT right now. And we aren’t talking about the weather. Take a look:

Real Estate Appreciation in the Last 12 Months SF/Oakland Bay Area . . . . . . . DOWN 9% Nashville, Tennessee . . . . . . . UP 12.5% Raleigh, North Carolina . . . . . UP a whopping 21.9% Come to a FREE Seminar and find out why so many business publications and industry experts agree that the South is experiencing undervalued real estate prices, explosive growth and a strong, growing, diverse economy. Hear from a Tennessee real estate broker just why the South is the place to invest.

When: Where:

Wed., May 30, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. Heald College Conference Center, 5130 Commercial Circle, Concord.

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May 11, 2007

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer .com

Reader’s Forum Property values ride on Measure B Like a lot of folks in town, my friend Kathy, has her house on the market. She’s had a lot of interest. She says that the buyers have been spending as much time looking around the outside of her house as they have been on the inside. She tells me that the prospective buyers are admiring not just her yard, but also the view that she has of the trails

and of the open space around her house. In essence, they have been evaluating not only Kathy’s landscape, but Clayton’s public landscape, as well. So much of what we enjoy in Clayton as residents and identify with as homeowners, we take for granted. Just as we assume that Mt. Diablo will always tower above us, many of our neighbors assume that trees and shrubs will always dot our public roadways, and that our

Letters to the editor More on CCC land purchase How exciting! We walked to town today and you could feel the energy from all the construction, remodeling, etc. going on. The Village Store, the park, and the new restaurant will all contribute to an invigorating downtown. We applaud you on the decisions you have made which have moved this process along. That being said, we need to let you know we are not in favor of allowing ANY church in the downtown area. We have such a limited space. It isn’t right for one group to have such a huge share of this limited area. Our opinion has nothing to do with the church itself; we would feel the same way if it was our church. We think it is important to keep our downtown as a diverse business community catering to all of our citizens. We urge you to be very thoughtful to the needs of all of

Clayton as this “hot” topic moves through the process. Gary and Bonnie Boswell In regards to the Clayton Community Church property in downtown Clayton being a financial set back, the community is misinformed in my opinion. This land has been vacant for years. If the city needs the tax base why has it not sold it to a business years ago? I agree the city needs money. Clayton Community church will bring in revenue through its congregation using our town’s business. Please realize this church gives to our town over and over. Daniel Sullivan

Not happy with RV rules I’m disappointed to see the Clayton City Council discriminate against RV owners in town. There is a 72 hour time limit for parking your vehicle on the street that is already a law. So, nobody in Clayton should be

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CCYO Hospice join forces to benefit pediatric program

wonderful trails system will forever be maintained. Unfortunately, it is not that simple. Funding for Clayton’s public landscape will end in June when the current Landscape District expires. If the current Landscape District is not replaced, overgrown weeds will flourish, and dead shrubs and trees will eventually line our public roadways. The District NEEDS to be replaced with a new one on June 5. Clayton’s public landscape reflects how we value our properties, our businesses and our community.

That’s why hundreds of local residents and business owners, including the Clayton Business Community Association endorse Measure B.

storing thier RV’s on the street. If there is an individual problem, the Clayton PD can certainly enforce current law. How big of an issue is this really? I’ve seen two other RV’s in town besides my own, one is stored out of town and one is parked in the owners driveway. I store my RV at Rodies. They close at 7 pm. Once this law passes, I must make sure to get home from any trip in time to unload the RV and get over to Rodies before they close. If there’s an accident, I get a flat tire, or any one of a hundred issues than can delay a traveler, and I don’t get home in time, well, what should I do? I can’t park on the street, I can’t park in my townhouse complex, I can’t take it to Rodies, I’m stuck. And, with one phone call I’m getting a citation. Perhaps allowing a 24 hour grace period would be a better solution. This allows an RV owner to arrive home later in the evening, park overnight, then unload the next day. Common sense instead of blantant discrimination should be the rule of the day. Joe Soo

Clayton women gather to focus on the future

Let’s maintain Clayton’s property values by saving its landscape. Please join us and vote, “Yes” on MEASURE B on June 5. Candace Bass Assistant Treasurer Yes for Measure B Committee

To find out more, please contact Dan Richardson, Chairman , YesforMeasureB@comcast.net

JUDY RANIERI Special to the Pioneer

The women of Ohio invite the women of the world, from the day-old babies to our most senior elders, to gather on May 13 to save the world. Across the country, women will be gathering for the world’s children and grandchildren and for the seven generations beyond them. They dream of a world where all children have safe drinking water, clean air to breathe and enough food to eat. A world where they have access to a basic education to develop their minds and health care to nurture their growing bodies. A world where they have a warm, safe and loving place to call home. A world where they don’t live in fear of violence – in their home, in their neigh-

For a second year, the Contra Costa Youth Orchestra (CCYO) will present its “Kids Helping Kids” concert to benefit Comfort for Kids, the pediatric program of Hospice of the East Bay (formerly Hospice and Palliative Care of Contra Costa). The concert will be held at

borhood, in their school or in their world. If you share this dream, please gather for five minutes of silence at 1 p.m. (local time) on May 13 in your local park, schoolyard or any place you deem appropriate. In Clayton, a few women are planning to stand in Black Diamond Plaza, by the trail entrance. Invite the men and boys who you care about to join you. Bring bells to ring to signify the beginning of the five minutes of silence and to ring again at the end. During the silence, please think about what you individually and we collectively can do to attain this world.

For more information or to register your commitment to the project, visit www.standingwomen.org.

7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 29, at the Lesher Center for the Arts in Walnut Creek. Musical selections will please all ages. A highlight of the concert will be the performance of Prokofieff ’s Peter and the Wolf, which will be narrated by Bob MacKenzie of KTVU Channel 2. In addition, John Williams’ Indiana Jones, Aaron Copland’s Rodeo, and Leroy Anderson’s Blue Tango will be featured. Afterwards, refreshments will be served. Regular Admission: $15, Seniors: $12 and Youth (17 and under): $10. Tickets can be ordered by calling (925) 943-7469. Comfort for Kids, the pediatric care program of Hospice of the East Bay (formerly Hospice and Palliative Care of Contra Costa), provides pain control and symptom management for young patients with life-limiting illnesses, and emotional, spiritual, bereavement, and practical support for the entire family. All medically qualified children from Contra Costa, Alameda, San Francisco and Southern Solano Counties are accepted into the Program, regardless of the ability of their families to pay for services. Begun in 1995, Comfort for Kids ensures that families remain together at home during the course of their child’s illness. For information, please call (925) 887-5670 or visit www.hospiceeastbay.org.

Ryan Spangler Meat department manager Favorite meat: Chicken breasts Ryan’s Citrus Grilled Chicken

o f e v e n t s - S a t ur d a y M e l u ay 1 S c he d 2 9 a.m. . . . . . . . . . . .Curious George 10 a.m.-noon . . . . .Children’s Time: Daniel San Souci, Robert D. San Souci, Elisa Kleven, David Schwartz and Jim Lamarche

Noon . . . . . . . . . . . .Terri Farley 1 p.m. . . . . . . . . . . .Kathryn Reiss

1:30 p.m. . . . . . . . . .Brian Frazer “Hyper-Chondriac” Show 2 p.m. . . . . . . . . . . .Greg Kihn & Brian Frazer 3 - 5 p.m. . . . . . . . . .Mystery hour: David Skibbons, Ann Parker, Hailey Lind and Deborah Grabien

4 p.m. . . . . . . . . . . .Curious George

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Fresh rosemary sprigs Garlic head Olive oil Fresh lemon juice Fresh lime juice Lemon, thinly sliced Lime, thinly sliced Boneless, skinless chicken breasts Salt and pepper to taste

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Harris Ranch Beef

freshest fish in town produce to please a deli to dazzle

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Baby back ribs $4.99 / lb.

with coupon expires 5/25/07

Dana Foods-If you care what you eat. It’s worth the 10-minute drive down Concord Blvd.

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Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

May 11, 2007

Consider seller financing as a money-saving option LYNNE FRENCH

REAL ESTATE Seller financing occurs when sellers loan money to buyers as a part of a property sale. The property being sold is usually used as security for the loan. The benefit to a buyer is that sellers usually don’t charge loan origination fees, called points. (One point is equal to 1 percent of the loan amount.) Buyers with only a 10 percent down payment will find an additional benefit if they can find a seller who will provide a loan for 10 percent of the purchase price. This would permit the buyer to get an 80 percent loan, rather than a 90 percent

loan, from a conventional lender. Eighty percent conventional financing is less expensive than 90 percent financing in terms of the points charged, the interest rate on the loan or both. Also, most 90 percent loans require Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI) to protect the lender if the buyer defaults. This is an additional charge that is bypassed if the buyer only needs to borrow 80 percent or less of the purchase price from a lender. A buyer might find it easier to qualify for financing with a seller than with a conventional lender, but this won’t always be the case. Most sellers will want to scrutinize a buyer’s financial status, including a credit report, just as a lender would. A purchase contract that provides for

seller financing will usually give the seller the right to approve or disapprove the buyer for the loan. There are disadvantages to seller financing. In this market of extremely low interest rates, you’ll probably find conventional financing available at interest rates lower than most sellers will be willing to accept. Another disadvantage is that most sellercarry loans have shorter due dates. Thus, the deadline for repaying the entire loan is shorter than conventional loans. But if the buyer is getting a new first loan from a conventional lender, the lender will require that the seller carry the second loan for at least five years. Most conventional loans are fully amortized, which means they are paid off in full over the

Big incentives during May for commuters to use public transport Commuters who drive alone to work are being encouraged to use public transit to access BART instead of driving, as parking in BART lots is limited and BART expects higher ridership than usual. During the month of May, commuters who use BART instead of driving alone to work can receive a free $100 BART pass. Access the BART station via public transit to receive your free $100 BART pass plus two weeks’ worth of bus passes.

Parking at BART is limited. Other access options include: Bike to BART, get dropped off, or carpool to the station. Also during May, commuters traveling on Interstate 80 can Ride the WestCAT Lynx Express bus to San Francisco and receive a month’s worth of free passes. Ride the AC Transit Transbay Bus and receive a free a monthly pass. Ride the Capitol Corridor train and receive a free monthly pass. Sign up to receive a free

pass on line at www.511contracosta.org/transit.html or call (925) 407-0355. 511 Contra Costa is a public agency that helps commuters find alternatives to driving alone and assists local businesses in developing commutefriendly work environments. This program is funded by the Bay Area Air Quality Management District’s Transportation Fund for Clean Air, as well as the ½ cent sales tax approved by voters in Contra Costa County in 1988.

Patty Flannery Realtor

Clayton Resident since 1979

serving all your

term of the loan. Seller-carry loans, however, are rarely fully amortized. Some have interestonly payments or a large (balloon) payment due at the end of the loan. The property may have to be sold or refinanced at that time in order to repay the sellers. The obvious candidates for owner financing are seniors who own their homes clear of any loans. If they’re selling in order to trade down to a retirement home, there may even be a tax incentive for them to carry financing. Seller-carry loans can be treated as installment sales for tax purposes, which allows for the seller to spread tax on gain over the term of the sellercarry loan. Carrying a loan at a reasonable interest rate might also provide attractive income to a seller whose income is fixed. In this case, the seller might not want to be paid off early and may request that the loan include a prepayment penalty. To make sure that you’re not paying an over-inflated price in exchange for seller financing, make your purchase offer contingent upon the house appraising for the purchase price. If you’re applying for a new conventional first loan and the seller is carrying a second, the lender or loan broker will order an appraisal. If the seller is carrying a first loan, you’ll have to order an appraisal yourself.

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May 11, 2007

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer .com

At the Movies

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11 Critical Home Inspection Traps To Be Aware of Before You Put Your Home Up for Sale Clayton/Concord – According to industry experts, there are over 33 physical problems that will come under scrutiny during a home inspection when your home is for sale. A new report has been prepared which identifies the eleven most common of these problems, and what you should know about them before you list your home for sale. Whether you own an old home or a brand new one, there are a number of things that can fall short of requirements during a home inspection. If not identified and dealt with, any of these 11 items could cost you dearly in terms of repair. That’s why it’s critical that you read this report before you list your home. If you wait until the building inspector flags these issues for you, you will almost certainly experience costly delays in the close of your home sale, or worse, turn prospective buyers

Page A9

away altogether. In most cases, you can make a reasonable preinspection yourself if you know what you’re looking for, and knowing what you’re looking for can help you prevent little problems from growing into costly and unmanageable ones. To help home sellers deal with this issue before their homes are listed, a free report entitled “11 Things You Need to Know to Pass Your Home Inspection” has been compiled which explains the issues involved. To hear a brief recorded message about how to order your FREE copy of this report, call 1-800283-5075 and enter ID #1003. You can call any time, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Call NOW to learn how to ensure a home inspection doesn’t cost you the sale of your home.

‘Fuzz’ a seriously funny cop flick JANE MAILANDER

‘SHAUN OF THE DEAD’ CO-STARS NICK FROST PEGG team-up again for ‘Hot Fuzz.’

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his historic Clayton Valley Ranch Home was the central heart of the 400+ acre George Cardinet Ranch, whose lands have since been developed as parts of Clayton Valley Highlands, Pine Hollow Estates, Seven Oaks, Live Oak and the Hayward State college campus. First built in 1901, according to County Records, with added portion since. Recent roof, plumbing, foundation work, clear termite and fresh paint make this period home ideal for the right family wanting to update and expand it into their own estate on a secluded and level .58 of an acre. Legal horse set-up.

For this and others, call

PETE LAURENCE Broker-Owner, Realtor, GRI

5301 Pine Hollow Road (Private Lane)

Historic ranch home, 4 bed plus den, 2 bath Victorian living room, den and formal dining with 10’ ceilings, 1,580 sq. ft. Detached barn & stables, backs to horse trail connected to Mt. Diablo foothills. Forested, fenced yard with new Trek-Deck. Office (925) 939-7920 Fax (925) 939-1939 VM 24 hr (925) 940-2777

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Mike Kavanaugh

SIMON

place where underage kids in the town’s single pub passes for a crime wave. Angel’s fish-out-of-water dealings with his new police precinct – especially his copfilm fanatic partner Daniel (Nick Frost) – and the eccentric locals take on a sinister edge when convenient “accidents” start leaving a gruesome trail of corpses. As in “Shaun,” the humor in “Fuzz” has the sharp underlying ring of truth. Its subject matter is simply taken to sidesplitting extremes that are not that hard to imagine. In “Shaun,” for example, it takes a long time for Shaun to realize that the dead-faced people on the bus are zombies rather than normal commuters. In “Fuzz,” a farmer whose thick accent requires an interpreter, a heavily armed vicar and a rogue swan make perfect sense. So does the climactic

Mayor, from page A1

Featuring fabulous 4 course meals

iano p e v i L ! music

“Hot Fuzz” does for cop films what “Shaun of the Dead” did for zombie films – which is entirely appropriate, since the same team of director, writers and actors made both. “Fuzz” is a comedy that’s gorier than many horror films. Its story calls to mind “Seven Samurai,” “Chinatown,” Clint Eastwood spaghetti Westerns, “Serpico,” the short-lived Fox TV series “Bakersfield PD” and “Beverly Hills Cop,” among others. Oh, and like “Shaun,” it’s hilarious. Type-A+ career cop Nicholas Angel (Simon Pegg, who also co-wrote the screenplay) is an embarrassment to his London precinct. He’s too good, inadvertently showing up his fellow officers, so he’s given a promotion and packed off to the comatose, quintessentially English village of Sandford in Gloucestershire, the kind of

AND

Just Listed

the Clayton Valley Garden Club held the annual Garden Tour. Community volunteers staff both of these fundraising events. It is impressive to know that all four events were occurring at the same time – and staffed with volunteers from the community. Just think of all the volunteer hours that it takes to organize all these events, let alone staff all of them at the same time. This is volunteerism above and beyond the call of duty. We are so lucky to have so many dedicated people willing to give their time for the benefit of the whole community. Now onto a different subject: Please be diligent about bringing in your three solid

waste containers (blue, brown and green carts) on trash collection day. Even though these carts are attractive, they loose their appeal after they sit out on the curb all week long. According to Clayton Municipal Code Section 8.04.110, the containers cannot be placed at the curb for collection earlier than noon the day before collection and shall be removed no later than 10:00 p.m. the day of collection. Let me end with some trivia. Did you know that everyday in America, 30 million used water bottles are tossed away? In 2004, only 15 percent of all bottled water containers were recycled. You can do your part by making your blue cart (for trash) smaller than your brown

THE

MOVIES

battle scene straight out of a Godzilla movie. Neighborhood Watch captains who take their jobs too seriously might be offended by the film, but more likely they’ll howl as loudly as I did at the realistic portrayal of all those big frogs in such a tiny pond. “CSI”-style jump cuts and blurry photos don’t look nearly as impressive when applied to graffiti taggers and shoplifters. A basic understanding of English ways and humor would probably aid American moviegoers in appreciating the humor in “Hot Fuzz” (not a problem for this Anglophile, who recognized one actor from “The Vicar of Dibley”). But if you liked “The Full Monty” and the Wallace and Gromit films and you’ve seen at least one over-the-top cop film (or you loved “Shaun of the Dead”), you’ve got all the grounding you need to enjoy “Fuzz.” And if you look very quickly, you may see “Shaun” fan Peter Jackson in a cameo.

Jane Mailander is a secretary and a freelance writer. She’s written movie review and short stories and appears for 10 seconds in the film “Trekkies 2.” Email her at movies@claytonpioneer.com. cart (for recycling). Reducing your trash cart size can also save you money. For details, contact Allied Waste Services at 685-4711 or at www.awsccc.com. And here’s another: Which saves more energy, turning off your faucet or turning off your lights? Running your faucet for five minutes is equivalent to running a 60-watt light bulb for 14 hours. (Source: WaterSense, U.S. EPA) Remember: “People will accept your ideas much more readily if you tell them Benjamin Franklin said it first” (David H. Comins). So, just to let you know, most of what I write comes from Benjamin Franklin. (Just kidding.) As always, if you have any questions, concerns, comments or advice, please send me an email at wrwalcutt@aol.com.

Just Listed

“Your Neighbor for over 20 years”

925-383-6102 mkavanaugh@ remaxaccord.com

17 Jacobs Court

4081 Golden Avenue

1,080 acres adjacent to State Park

Set back off Clayton Road this 2 bedroom 2 bath condominium has all the amenities of units costing thousands more. This small 18 unit complex boasts a pool, spa and security gate. Unit #17 is an upstairs end unit with vaulted ceilings, wood burning fireplace, inside laundry and one car garage with one more assigned space. The kitchen overlooks a large sunny deck with enclosed storage room. Last unit sold went for thousands more.

Fantastic 3 bedroom 1 bath home on an almost 10,000 square foot lot. All the work is done. From the beautiful bamboo hardwood floors in the living room and hallway to the updated kitchen with granite counters and stainless steel appliances. Other updating includes new heat & air conditioner, water heater, roof, landscaping, baseboards, crown molding, 6 panel doors, redwood deck and garage door opener. There is a detached garage/workshop with over 700 square feet. All this and plenty of room for your RV and boat.

Nestled at the end of a quiet canyon off Morgan Territory Road sits this fantastic country estate situated on 3 parcels totaling 1080 acres. The upper 560 acre parcel is adjacent to Mt. Diablo State Park and offers a variety of outdoor activities. The lower parcels, totaling 520 acres, are in a gentle canyon and feature a 3,000+ square foot custom home built beside a seasonal creek. There is plenty of acreage for vineyards, orchards and grazing land. Most of the lower 520 acres is also surrounded by Mt. Diablo State Park. Don’t miss this rare opportunity to own a piece of Mount Diablo.

Offered at

$339,000

Offered at

$529,000

Offered at $16,665 per acre

Page A10

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

May 11, 2007

Hot oatmeal is fine, but it really shines in sweets

“The oat is the Horatio Alger of cereals, which progressed, if not from rags to riches, at least from weed to health food.” – Waverley Root ?Food (1980) I live in one of the 80 percent of U.S. households that has oatmeal in its cupboards. However, I don’t prepare any of the more than 350 million bowls of hot oatmeal eaten each year in this country. Despite all the milk, sugar, raisins, butter or banana, I just find it, um, too grueling an experience. Oats may be the first cultivated grain, dating back some 9,000 years in China. The ancient Greeks were known to make porridge from oats. Oatmeal has a long history in Scottish society, because the grain is better-suited than wheat to the short, wet growing season. Oatmeal is made from groats, or what’s left of the grain after the hull has been removed. Old-fashioned oats are groats that are steamed and rolled but not cut. Quick oats are groats cut into two or three pieces, then steamed and rolled.

In Scotland, oatmeal is created by grinding oats into a powder and then graded as coarse, pinhead and fine. The Scots use oats in baking (think oatcakes and bannock), a coating for cheese, an ingredient in Highland black pudding or Outer Hebridean white pudding (puddings are sausages) and traditional porridge. In America, Quaker Oats was the first breakfast cereal to receive a registered trademark. Quaker Oats are international, too. If you are in Malaysia, ask for Chop Orange Tua. Or when in parts of South America, ask for the “oats of the little old man.” If you have some time on your hands one day, you might like to confirm that an 18ounce package of Quaker OldFashioned Oats contains about 26,000 rolled oats. Vermont holds the distinction of having the highest per capital consumption of cooked oatmeal. A favorite preparation is soaking steel-cut oats overnight in water, salt and maple syrup, then boiling the mixture for upwards of a half an hour with spices and serving it with cream or milk and butter. Oats are considered superior to wheat in healthfulness and nutrition. Beyond complex carbohydrates and fiber, health benefits include oatmeal’s ability to lower blood cholesterol. In the 1800s, English brewers added oatmeal to beer. Oatmeal stout was heralded as a

remedy for most ailments and in particular as a tonic for nursing women and sickly children. In the late 1990s, the FDA permitted oatmeal and oat bran manufacturers to claim that it might reduce the risk of heart disease. In the United States, cookies and other baked goods are the most common non-cereal usage for oatmeal. I like these sweet treats in particular. RASPBERRY STREUSEL BARS 1 ½ c. oats (quick or oldfashioned) 1 ¼ c. flour ½ c. firmly packed brown sugar 3/4 c. melted butter 1 c. fresh or frozen raspberries 1/3 c. strawberry preserves 1 tsp. all purpose flour ½ tsp. grated lemon peel Heat oven to 350. Mix together oats, flour, brown sugar and butter until crumbly. Reserving 1 cup for the topping, press oat mixture into the bottom of an ungreased 9-inch square baking pan. Bake 13-15 minutes, or until light golden brown. Cool slightly. In medium bowl, gently combine remaining ingredients. Spread over the baked crust and top with the reserved oat mixture. Bake 20-22 minutes or until light golden brown. Cool completely, then cut into bars. CHEWY OATMEAL-RAISIN COOKIES 1 c. butter ¾ c. firmly packed brown sugar ½ c. granulated sugar 1 egg 1 tsp. vanilla 3 c. oats (quick or old-fash-

LINDA WYNER

FOOD

FOR

THOUGHT

ioned) 1 tsp baking soda ½ tsp. salt 1 tsp cinnamon ½ tsp. nutmeg 1 c. raisins Heat oven to 375. Cream together butter and sugars. Add egg and vanilla. Combine dry ingredients and add to butteregg mixture. Add oats and raisins and stir well. Drop by rounded tablespoons onto ungreased cookie sheets. Bake 8-9 minutes for a chewy cookie or 2-3 minutes longer for a crisper product. It is said that the author Samuel Johnson (an Englishman) disparagingly referred to oats as “a grain which in England is generally given to horses, but in Scotland supports the people.” His biographer, James Boswell (a Scot), reputedly replied: “Which is why England is known for its horses and Scotland for its men.”

SUNNY SOLOMON

FOR

THE

BOOKS

The Year of Magical Thinking By Joan Didion The Year of Magical Thinking is one of those books that I would recommend to

of her own heart and mind. Life changes fast. Life changes in the instant. With those stark words, Didion is once again the premier American writer. She brings a most personal journey so close to home, that any reader touched by similar loss will meet themselves in this book. It is her book; it is our story. Sunny Solomon is the BookLady and manager of Clayton Books in the Clayton Station. She holds an MA in English and Creative Writing from San Francisco State University. Sunny is a poet and loves to “talk books.” Reach her with questions or comments at 6733325.

20 Mount Rushmore Place — 4 bedroom 2 baths on near ¼ acre lot. Single level with remodeled kitchen and more. Offered at $699,000

1021 Pebble Beach Drive – The Crown Jewel of Clayton. 5,100 sf custom built home on the flagship Peacock Creek lot includes Oakhurst Country Club Membership. Offered at $2,150,000

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925.932.7375 Helen

925.932.7329 Stephanie

Beautiful Clayton country home

ay 20 M ., m . p

112 Mount Whitney Way – 4 bedrooms 2 bath Dana Hills Beauty. Single Level w/ new windows, granite, and more! Offered at $745,000

Linda Wyner is an accomplished chef and “foodie.” She recently opened her kitchen store in Pleasanton and the cooking school will open soon. Watch the Pioneer for details. Direct your suggestions or questions to lwyner@claytonpioneer.com

“Magical Thinking” at top of must read list almost anyone. When push almost forty years lifts this book comes to shove, however, it’s from a rightfully expected sadhard to say exactly why. You ness to a rare level of commight not expect a book about a pelling insight. woman’s year of grief over the At the same time she deals loss of her spouse to be at the with her husband’s death, she top of your must read list, but must also cope, now alone, with this book is the her daughter, exception. Quintana’s critical It is, to some illness. How does degree, exactly she manage? She that—a journal of turns to what she profound mournknows best— ing and grief. Joan words. She turns to Didion’s honest medical reference approach to her books, Websites, most intimate letters, etiquette responses to the books, friends, sudden death of memories, and JOAN DIDION her husband of always, the language

156 Mount Etna Drive – Sparkling 3 large bedrooms 2 bath single level updated with spa and views! Offered at $539,900

surrounded by stunning Mount Diablo Hillside and Canyon views. Privacy with the conPRICE REDUCTION veniences and comforts we $1,399,500 all enjoy. This spacious 5 Bedroom, 3 Bath Craftsman home is perfect for enter13960 Marsh Creek Road, taining guests. Extensive redClayton wood decks and patio areas surround a swimming pool that includes a waterfall backdrop as part of the gorgeous terraced landscaping. There’s also a Guest House built above a large garage with a bedroom, bath and its broker own kitchen. This definitely has the potential of becoming an office with its own workshop. 1.6 acre Keller Williams Realty property includes areas for (510) 333-4460 (Cell) potential additions, possibly to (510) 528-4500 (Office) include horses or RV parking.

Open House

Glen Bell,

For more information, visit:

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May 11, 2007

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

Man-made clouds may affect climate

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

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

WOODY WHITLATCH WEATHER WORDS

Donation rules are tightened

Of the billions of dollars worth of noncash donations made to charity each year, almost half are donations of used clothing. A 2006 law has made the rules for deducting such donations much stricter. Now you can claim a deduction only if the donated clothing is in “good” condition. The same rule applies to donations of household items such as furniture, electronics, appliances and linens.

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Over the last several months I’ve discussed clouds and how they form. In the layer of air closest to the earth (the troposphere), water vapor is always present. On cloud free days, the air is not saturated, that is, the relative humidity from the surface of the earth to the top of the troposphere is not 100 percent. However, the potential for cloud formation always exists. Most clouds form as a result of physical processes that involve lifting and cooling of air. Both of these processes can cause air to become saturated. When that happens any excess water vapor condenses and visible cloud droplets form. There

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Page A11

is, however, one very common type of cloud that is not formed in this manner, these clouds are called contrails. The name contrail is a contraction of the words ‘condensation trails’. These cirrus-like clouds form in the exhaust left behind by jet aircraft. Contrails form when hot humid air from jet exhaust mixes with cold air in the upper troposphere. The physical mixing process is very similar to the phenomenon we have all experienced on a cold day when we exhale and see our breath. Not every jet flight creates a contrail. If the air is near saturation (relative humidity is near 100 percent), just a little additional moisture from a jet exhaust can result in cloud formation. If the air in the jet’s path is relatively dry, not enough moisture is released in the exhaust to create a contrail. Contrail formation is most common when the jet stream winds are weak and laminar (smooth). In the photo above, note that the width of the contrails is similar across the horizon, a sign of light and laminar upper level winds. When jet stream winds are somewhat stronger the contrails will fan out before dissipating. Recently contrails have been

UCLA Dept. of Atmospheric and Ocean Sciences

FAMILY OF CONTRAILS

in an evening sky.

studied to determine if they have a role in climate change. Scientists had an unusual opportunity to study the effects of contrails on the temperature structure over the continental United States when all commercial jet flights were grounded for three days after September 11, 2001. Results of a study of the contrail-free days published by David Travis (University of Wisconsin-Whitewater) indicate that contrails can suppress both daytime highs (by reflecting sunlight back to space) and nighttime lows (by trapping heat radiated by the earth). In other words, contrails can have both cooling and warming effects on the earth’s atmosphere.

Another study suggests that reducing nighttime jet flights could help mitigate global warming effects since the nighttime clouds redirect outgoing long wave radiation and heat the air. Since the sun isn’t shining, nighttime contrails do not block incoming radiation, and have no cooling effects. Contrails are an example of man-made clouds. Besides being lines in the sky, they give us an indication of jet stream wind and humidity conditions. Contrails may also contribute to climate change, and scientists are currently studying the net effects of these clouds. Woody Whitlatch is a meteorologist with PG&E. Email your questions or comments to clayton_909@yahoo.com

Michael O. Reilly - Clayton resident

925-672-1777

OFF

regular pricing on any complete interior/exterior painting present coupon after estimate expires June 7, 2007

Nu Image

Internet radio rocks music lovers I was disappointed when KFRC abandoned its oldies format last year, because I couldn’t hear those songs on the air anymore. Then I discovered Internet radio. Unlike its broadcast counterpart, Internet radio features thousands of stations and can be played anywhere you have an Internet connection. With so many choices, it’s easy to find music that fits your niche. I found stations that played Disney soundtracks, calming jazz tunes and even KFRC-style music. While finding a song you like on normal radio can be like searching for a needle in a haystack, using Internet radio is like flipping through a jukebox that holds your personalized tunes. I tested three different Internet radio services that don’t force you to download outside software. My favorite, Pandora (www.pandora.com), is different from sites that give you millions of results after you instigate a search. Instead, Pandora asks you upfront what kind of music

you’re interested in and then zeroes in on your style. After registering on the site, which takes about a minute, a box asks you to name a song or artist. Pandora then analyzes the “genes” in your selection – everything from melody and lyrics to vocal harmony – and brings up songs that match your taste. The results are striking, as Pandora is very accurate with its selections. When I searched for the Beatles, I thought Pandora would do what most other sites do – find artists who matched the same genre. However, the site found songs that closely matched the Fab Four’s unique style. Each song that Pandora plays features the artist name and album, as well as thumbs up/thumbs down buttons. These buttons help you steer Pandora closer to your musical niche. If a song matches your style, simply click the appropriate button. You can also find these options by clicking the “Guide Us” button located under the current song.

MARK FREEMAN

THE

NET

Perhaps the best part about Pandora is that when you find a song you like, you can buy it directly from iTunes or Amazon.com. The second Internet radio service, Live365 (www.live365.com), lets people find the music they want by searching thousands of usercreated radio stations. At Live365, you can listen to stations dedicated to a certain genre or artist. I searched for the Beatles and found 728 stations. Clicking on the yellow speaker next to a station’s name launches a separate window that plays the music. To find the best-sounding stations, I clicked the “Audio” column on the right side of the page. This displays stations that play songs at CD level quality. The higher the number, the better. A station

See The Net, page A13

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Page A12

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

May 11, 2007

Disability insurance a valued protection Between the ages of 35 and 65, your chance of being unable to work for 90 days or more because of a disabling injury or illness is far greater than your chance of dying. Many people don’t think about where the money will come from to pay for food, the mortgage and all the other costs of living should they become disabled and unable to work. We buy life insurance to protect our

DOUG VAN WYCK FINANCIAL SENSE

families from financial loss resulting from death, but we don’t consider disability income insurance to protect ourselves and our families from financial loss resulting from an inability to work. Your employer may provide some sick pay or disability benefits. Social Security sometimes provides long-term benefits, starting after the sixth month, for people with permanent or

indefinite disabilities. Both employer and state benefits are typically short-term. Social Security benefits, while longterm, have been curtailed in recent years. Add up the benefits you could receive under the above programs. Look at Civil Service, Veterans Administration or

See Financial, page A15

Day of pampering for mom

European Facial and traditional 3/4 hour massage - $110

Located inside Mavericks Sports Club Non-members welcome www.thebellamiadayspa.com

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Crossword Puzzle ACROSS 1- "___ grip!" 5- Goddess of fertility in Roman mythology 8- Willing 12- Rowing implements 13- Scoff 15- Shot, briefly 16- Ridge over the eye 17- Earth 18- Primordial giant in Norse myth 19- Not divisible 22- Mined mineral 23- Incredibly powerful mythical bird 24- Put down 26- Probably 29- Method 31- Latin king 32- Fiend 34- Strange and mysterious 36- Drag 38- Cowboy display 40- "Give that ____ cigar!" 41- Regular course 43- Reckoning 45- Small drink, young child 46- Composed 48- Vassals 50- Acting part 51- Covered vehicle 52- Mineral spring 54- City in SE Tennessee 61- Bits of thread 63- Mistake 64- Hit with an open hand 65- South American Indian 66- Board for nails 67- Ailments of body or society 68- Quick look 69- Ocean 70- Garage event

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May 11, 2007

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

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Call to nursing was stronger than her love of music Caring, compassion the Army and became a and a great sense of specialist in preventative humor shine from medicine. “That started Virginia Highsmith as our travels throughout the 92-year-old remithe world, where we lived nisces about being a in many of the Union woman ahead of her states and then in times and becoming a Southern France,” says nurse in the 1930s. Virginia. “I became an RN at Her compassion and that time after three nursing background were years of training,” used again later, when she Virginia says with a and Roy and their four laugh. “But I think now sons moved to Okinawa. for my age, RN means Virginia calls it the high‘rusty nurse.’ ” light of touring with the Born in Indiana in Army. 1915, Virginia was raised “They needed reconmainly by her grandparstruction so badly ents, who gave her many because of the fighting cherished memories. with Japan. So my hus“They had a wonderful band was sent there to set library in the house and up things for the Public were very well read. My Health and Welfare,” grandmother insisted Photo courtesy of Virginia Highsmith Virginia says. “I was very that I get a higher educa- VIRGINIA HIGHSMITH AT HER NURSING SCHOOL gradua- involved with the tion,” says Virginia. “And tion, St. Luke’s Hospital, 1935. International Welfare although I had a chance Club there, and I assisted to go on a scholarship for music, Virginia remembers when peni- setting up a small Lighthouse for there was a calling inside of me cillin didn’t even exist. “We did the Blind where the clients to do something in the humani- have aspirin for pain. But in became active in arts and crafts those days, we mainly had hot work.” ties and I chose nursing.” Virginia shares two reasons pads and good nursing care Virginia also taught medical she believes influenced her deci- around the clock,” she says. terms in English to the nurses, sion. Her mother died from ill- “During the Depression, people along with conversational ness when Virginia was only 3 were going hungry and I English at the high school there. remember we would keep the years old. After they returned to the Shaking her head, she adds: patients in the hospital for a long United States, Roy worked at the “Would you believe when I was time and on high caloric diets to Presidio for six years before young, I had my tonsils taken help them. retiring. They were married for “It was a rough time, but we 63 years, and Virginia has eight out right on my grandparents’ library table? Two surgeons lived through it,” she adds. “I grandchildren that make her came to our home to do that, was making $65 a month, and smile with every mention. and my grandmother gave me that was considered pretty good She enjoys playing the organ the ether. I figure I didn’t want money.” and has been researching her After meeting Roy while he genealogy as a member of the anyone else going through was in medical school, she got Daughters of the American something like that again.” married toward the end of the Revolution. Having moved Medicine has come a long Depression. Roy volunteered for often in her life, Virginia came to way since the early 1900s, and

The Net, from page A11

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that plays at “CD 128k” will sound better than “CD 64k.” A downside to Live365 is that the music is occasionally interrupted by commercials. However, the commercial breaks rarely exceed a minute. The final site I tested was Yahoo’s Launchcast, ( h t t p : / / r a d i o. y a h o o. c o m ) . Launchcast allows users to listen to specific radio stations created by Yahoo, as well as create a “custom” radio station from Yahoo’s artist catalog. While Launchcast is easier to navigate than Live365, it lacks the site’s variety. It provides many generic stations, but specific stations like “1960s Rock” and “Modern Jazz” are subscription only. Yahoo’s customized radio stations also paled in comparison to Pandora, as they focused more on contemporary artists. Unfortunately, smaller Internet radio sites like Pandora

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and Live365 may not exist much longer unless Congress acts. In early April, the government’s Copyright Royalty Board voted to increase royalty rates on Internet radio providers by 300 to 1,200 percent. Such a move would easily bankrupt smaller sites. Live365 and Pandora encourage people to write to Congress about the issue. Their efforts might be working. On April 26, the Internet Radio Equality Act (H.R. 2060) was proposed to reverse the Royalty Board’s decision. I intend to write a letter to my representative on the issue, because I don’t want to have a unique industry (and my oldies music) disappear. Mark Freeman is a graduate of De La Salle High School and a freshman at Saint Mary’s College in Moraga. He plans to study economics and currently writes for the school paper. Questions/comments can be sent to mfreeman543@gmail.com.

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“My only regret is not finding Diamond Terrace sooner. It took three moves in five years before I found the perfect community for me.”

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COLLEEN ELWY

SHARING HISTORY Diamond Terrace just four months ago. “For so long, I traveled all over the world and you don’t always know where home is and you hardly know where you belong many times,” she says in her warm and caring way. “But now, I know the answer is right here at Diamond Terrace, where everyone is so wonderful to me.” Seems that when you give as much TLC over the years as Virginia has, the sentiments and compassion come back around to you.

Colleen Elwy/Clayton Pioneer

Virginia Highsmith in her Diamond Terrace home

If you are a senior living in Clayton, or know of a senior that would like to share their life story with the Clayton Pioneer readers, please contact Colleen Elwy at 672-9565 or at colleensbyline@aol.com.

Club News CLAYTON BUSINESS AND COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION The CBCA meets the last Thursday of the month. The May meeting begins at 6:30 p.m. May 31. Cost of the dinner is $24. Call 672-2272 by noon on May 29 to make a reservation. If you want to know what is happening in Clayton, attend the meetings and get involved. It is a great way to meet fellow Claytonians. The non-profit organization sponsors the Art & Wine Festival, the Clayton Classic and Oktoberfest and does the Christmas decorations downtown. CBCA also makes donations to many causes, including the gazebo in the new downtown park. The Clayton Classic will be

held at Oakhurst Country Club on Monday, June 4. There is still time to get together a foursome. Call 6722272 to make a reservation. CLAYTON VALLEY WOMAN’S CLUB The club will present a Festival of Tables and Fashion at 11 a.m. May 19 at Holy Cross Lutheran Church, 1092 Alberta Way, Concord. Club members and guests will model fashions by Chico’s. There will also be tickets for various prizes. All proceeds benefit the Clayton Valley Women’s Club scholarships and donations too the community. Tickets are $30 and include lunch catered by Rick’s on Second. For reservations, call Doris Maguire at 672-1696.

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Page A13

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Page A14

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

May 11, 2007

Clayton Sports

Black Pearl takes State Cup in tight match DEANNA MERRIGAN Clayton Pioneer

The Diablo Valley Soccer Club (DVSC) Black Pearl 90 boys defended their State Cup championship on April 28 at Robertson Park in Livermore. The team celebrated a 1-0 victory over the Mustang Strikers. Coach John Badger’s Under 16 boys survived the 53-team bracket to earn their second consecutive title and a return trip to the Western Regionals June 18-24 in Las Vegas. Black Pearl 90 reached the quarterfinals of the U15 Western Regionals last year after capturing their first State Cup trophy. Clayton resident and center midfielder Garrett Biel knew the championship game would be exciting. “Mustang is always a good game,” he says. “We beat them once in league and they beat us once in league, so I knew it would be a close game.” Early on, the Mustang had most of the possession. “We started off slow. Our nerves caught up with us,” says Biel, a sophomore on the varsity team at De La Salle. But as the game continued, Black Pearl began to establish their offensive presence and

Photo courtesy of DVSC

DVSC BLACK PEARL 90 successfully defended their State Cup Championship in a 1-0 victory over the Mustang Strikers.

dominated play over the last hour of the game. Their goal came early in the second half off Jaysen Dyal’s free kick from the left side of the Mustang goal. Ryan Quigley ran onto the ball and poked it into the net. For the balance of the game,

DVSC created several more scoring chances and withstood Mustang offensive thrusts that primarily came via set pieces off their numerous free kicks during the last half hour of the game. Goalie Anthony Ahedo made a number of acrobatic saves for

Black Pearl. Badger utilized his entire roster on a very hot afternoon in Livermore. Holding midfielders Dyal and Adrian Rincon, center backs Quigley and Edwin Valesquez and attacker Arnol Arceta stood out with their play,

as did Ahedo. Overall, Black Pearl 90 boys outscored their seven State Cup opponents 24-3. Harjan Cheema credits his teammates’ focus for the victory. Playing together as a team and having trust in one another

is a key component of the team’s success, he says, calling the team “a family.” “I really like the team. We trust each other and get the job done,” says Cheema, a varsity player at CVHS. Working up to the big game was “intense,” he adds, noting that many games in the State Cup tournament were close. Most had 1-0 scores, and the semi-final game ended with penalty kicks. DVSC, featuring players from Concord, Clayton and surrounding communities, now has 12 State Cup championships. This is the 15th year in a row DVSC has had a team reach at least the semi-finals of State Cup. DVSC had at least two teams in the semis all those years, except for 1998. Since its founding in 1991, DVSC has had 21 teams (11 girls and 10 boys) reach the State Cup championship game and 42 teams (22 boys and 20 girls) reach at least the semifinals of the ultimate competition in CYSA North. DVSC has had teams make the State Cup finals eight of the past nine years. For information on the club, visit www.dvsc.com or call 229-DVSC.

CVHS squad takes first in international competition DON STONE Special to the Pioneer

The Clayton Valley High School varsity cheerleading competition squad completed their 2006-’07 season with a sensational first-place finish at the Aloha International Cheer and Dance Competition in Honolulu. The two-day competition, held at the scenic Waikiki Shell outdoor amphitheater in March, featured some of the finest cheer and dance teams from the United States, Australia, New Zealand, Mexico and Canada. The 18 CVHS cheerleaders were treated like royalty during their stay at the luxurious Sheraton Waikiki Princess Hotel. The team also went on a guided tour of Honolulu and the Pearl Harbor Memorial, along with shopping and sunbathing. They even received an impromptu serenade on the beach from the touring Stanford University men’s chorus. The team won a paid bid to the competition after earning the highest overall score at the regional competition in San Jose on March 3 and 4. In that event, the Eagle cheerleaders exhibited near-perfection in their mid-

performance pyramid and throughout their high-energy and well-polished routine. Out of the dozens of teams competing in all divisions at the Golden State Spirit Associationsponsored Super Six event, the Clayton Valley squad had the top score after the first two rounds. The final round featured only the six highest scoring teams from all divisions. At stake was the paid bid to the Aloha Internationals. The CVHS team screamed, squealed, hugged, cried and jumped for joy when Clayton Valley High School was announced as the grand champions. In eight competitions this season, the Eagle cheer team earned six first-place finishes, one second place and one fourth place. The fourth-place finish was at the huge USA Cheer and Dance Nationals in Anaheim, where they competed against 22 top high school teams from throughout the western United States. All season, the Eagle cheerleaders proved that quality beats quantity by practicing for only two hours at a time, one night each week since September.

Photo courtesy of Don Stone

LED BY HEAD COACH JENETE KLINE and instructed by assistant coach Angie Amo, the Eagle cheerleaders pictured are Alex Adams, Danielle Bebo, Melissa Bradbury, Lindsey Caldera, Taryn Colao, Lacey Collaro, Danielle Connor, Margaret Frevele, Lindsay Guttry, Jessica Hawthorne, Holly Kelly, Laura Louchis, Marissa McKillip, Lauren Milligan, Alicia Newton, Shelby Newton, Megan Stone and Ally Volga.

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May 11, 2007

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

Page A15

Clayton Sports Alana Laux

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anxiety,” she says. “I had no confidence in myself or my abilities.” After a soccer injury that year, Alana decided to hold off on track until she entered her senior year. At the beginning of the season, she looked forward to the challenge of making the State Meet. “Every day I think about this being my last year, and having had injuries the last two years, I feel like it is my time to shine,” she said last winter. “I work extra hard to achieve this goal, and I am willing to work even harder.” As the season progressed, however, Alana had some setbacks. “I competed in the

CVHS senior Alana Laux is a star both on and off the track. She is one of the fastest, most dedicated runners in the Bay Valley Athletic League. Battling several injuries, which would sideline a less single-minded athlete, Alana has been determined to race her way to victory this track season. She was undefeated as a freshman at Clayton Valley. During her first year of track, she won first place at North Coast Section, advancing to the Meet of Champions. “I clearly remember that day. I was overwhelmed with

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Disability may be defined in different ways. Ask your insurance agent how it is defined in any policy you are considering. Benefits can begin anywhere from the first day to six months or more after the onset of disability. The longer you choose to wait, as a rule, the lower your premium. Benefits can be paid for as little as one year or until the

age of 65 (under some circumstances, to age 72). The shorter the benefit period, the lower your premium. This isn’t necessarily a good place to save money, however, since you are more likely to need income replacement in the event of a long-term disability. A long waiting period and a long benefit period usually work out best from a cost/benefit perspective. Benefits are usually limited so that income from all sources (including this policy) totals no more than 60 to 70 percent of your gross salary. This limitation is offset, however, by the fact that benefits are generally tax-free (assuming you pay the premiums, not your employer).

Stanford invitational recently but performed poorly. My hamstring injury continues to be a hindrance…” she says. She also missed a week of training while doing mission work in New Orleans. But she’s not giving up. “I feel that with my hard work ethic and competitive manner, I only need time before I become a speed demon,” she says. Alana recently placed first in the 100 at a meet at Liberty High School. Her coach, Dan Sandoval, is proud of her, saying her “courage and determination” are unparalleled. Although Alana hasn’t had the results she would have liked during the track season, she made an impression with her determination to push herself to achieve her goals. “I am a very competitive person. In everything I do, I do it to my best ability. I have always been trying to prove to myself just how far I can actually go,” she says. “It’s as if nothing can permanently hold me back. My will to succeed is stronger than anything.”

x3115 press 5. Fundamentals and techniques of football taught by the CV coaching staff. Cost $125 and a $75 deposit for equipment. FULL CONTACT camp. Brochures can be picked up at CVHS front office Call camp director Herc Pardi for questions. Deadline is June 11. CV JR. EAGLES, 14U The Clayton Valley Jr. Eagles 14u team has qualified

Policies can cover disability resulting from accident or sickness or both. Your best bet is a more inclusive policy to cover the worst possible situation. Some policies include costof-living adjustments, raising benefits to keep pace

Favorite subject: Sciences and language Favorite sport: Soccer and track Favorite athletes: Marion Jones and Florence Griffin Joyner Favorite music: Reggae, hip hop Leisure activities: I love to travel and paint. I like designing things, especially on shoes, clothing.

The Clayton Pioneer spotlights a local youth athlete from our circulation area in the second issue each month. If you are a coach or an administrator and would like to nominate a young person (under 20 years of age) for the Rocco’s Athlete Spotlight, please send information to sports@claytonpioneer.com or fax to 6726580. Nomination deadline for our June 8 issue is Sunday, May 27.

for the World Series. We are looking for qualified players with tournament or high school experience between the ages of 14-15 (as of 4/30) for the remainder of the season and the World Series trip. Contact David Deichler 6723368 or jr_eagles@hotmail.com or visit us at www.eteamz.com/jreagles.

with inflation. Renewability provisions vary. Ask your insurance agent for specific information. Doug Van Wyck is a Certified Financial Consultant and a State Farm agent. You can reach him at 672-2300.

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Page A16

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

May 11, 2007

Clayton Community Calendar 16PLEASE SUBMIT YOUR CLAYTON COMMUNITY CALENDAR EVENTS BY 5 P.M., MAY 16 FOR THE MAY 25 ISSUE. FAX TO 672-6580 OR E-MAIL calendar@claytonpioneer.com EVENTS & ENTERTAINMENT THROUGH MAY 20 Moliere's The Imaginary Invalid @ Diablo Valley College Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m., Sundays at 2:30 p.m. Moliere's classic satire about an eccentric, wealthy man crippled by severe hypochondria. Tickets are $10-$13, box office (925) 687-4445. DVC Performing Arts Center, 321 Golf Club Road, Pleasant Hill. MAY 11 Contra Costa Miner and Gem Society @ First Presbyterian Church, Concord 7:30 p.m. Presenter Ken Whitlatch of Martinez will describe his adventures in search of underwater deposits of jadite, vesuvanite, gold and other precious gems. The Contra Costa Mineral and Gem Society meets the second Friday of the month. First Presbyterian Church, 1965 Colfax Street, downtown Concord. MAY 11, 12 Alice in Wonderland @ The Lesher Center for the Arts May 11 (9:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 7 p.m.) and May 12 (2 p.m., 7 p.m.) Follow Alice down the rabbit hole in Civic Arts Education's Junior Theatre production of this beloved family classic. 32 young performers between the ages of 9 and 15 have a ball with Carroll's joyous celebration of zaniness. Tickets are $11-13. Call 925-943-SHOW or go online to www.dlrca.org for ticket reservations. Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Dr, Walnut Creek. MAY 12 Tee ball League @ Clayton Community Gym May 12 - July 7, Saturdays. Introduce your child to America's favorite pastime and join them on the field while they learn the basics of baseball. This league is for children in preschool through first grade. Divisions are separated by grade. All games and practices are held at the Clayton Community Gym. For more information or to register call 925-889-1600 or email lrookstool@mdrymca.org. MAY 12, 26 Scrabble Club @ Carl's Jr. 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. Come down and play a game of Scrabble. All ages and skill levels. Prizes and contests.$2.00 to play. Club meets the second and fourth Sat.of the month. This Sat. professional players will put on exhibition, playing several players at once. Carl's Jr., 1530 Kirker Pass Road, Clayton. MAY 15, 22, 29 Travel Log @ Diamond Terrace Retirement Community 10 a.m. Presented by Kit Livingston from Mt. Diablo adult education. Join us for a cultural study of travel, including music and art history. This class will cover several destinations of interest. Classes are free. Questions? Call 5245100. Diamond Terrace Retirement Community, 6401 Center St. Clayton.

Johanna Sindelar, Soprano, Janet Campbell, Mezzo Soprano, Miriam Abramowitsch, Contralto, Brian Thorsett, Tenor and John Minagro, Bass. Contact: DVMC 925 228-8690 or 925 228-3293. Lfayette-Orinda Presbyterian Church, 49 Knox Drive, Lafayette.Tickets are $15 in advance and $18 at the door. For reservations call the DVC Box Office at 925-6874445. MAY 23 Greening Your Small Business @ Clayton Community Library 7-9 p.m. Presented by April Capil, Green M.B.A., Sustainability consultant. Learn practical, easy to implement strategies to save your business time and money. Reduce your environmental impact. Give your business a marketing edge. Ensure your longevity in the marketplace. Reservations recommended. Contact the Contra Costa SBDC (925) 646-5377 or email cjensen@contracostasbdc.com. Clayton Community Library, 6125 Clayton Road, Clayton. (925) 673-0659. MAY 25 Memorial Day Observation @ Clayton Flag Pole 10 a.m. All are welcome, join VFW Clayton Valley Post 1525 at Clayton's Memorial Flag Pole Monument as we honor those who have fallen so that we may be free. Pete Loechner, Commander, (925) 255-3449. JUNE 1 Canto Bello Handbell Ensemble and Heartsong @ Walnut Creek United Methodist Church 7:30 p.m. Touring under the name Tapestry, the two groups are raising money for Isubilo, a Zambian charity serving children whose lives have been affected by HIV/AIDS. The program features a wide variety of music from traditional to popular, sacred to secular. Admission is free but donations for a benefit tour in England will be accepted. Questions? Call Cindy Crausgrill at 672-7751. Walnut Creek United Methodist Church, 1543 Sunnyvale Ave., Walnut Creek. JUNE 2 Clayton Police Department's Tip-A-Cop for Special Olympics @ Ed's Mudville Grill 5 - 9 p.m. Enjoy dinner at Ed's while the Clayton Police Officers and police staff help wait tables! All donations collected during the event will go towards the Northern California Special Olympics. Ed's Mudville Grill, 6200 Center Street, Clayton.

CLUBS & ORGANIZATIONS MAY 13 Concord Mystery Book Club @ Concord Library 2:30 - 4 p.m. All mystery readers are invited to participate and explore a different genre each month. Group meets the second Sun. of the month. Concord Library, 2900 Salvio Street, Concord, 646-5455.

MAY 16 Springtime Stories and Crafts @ Clayton Community Library 7 p.m. Hear stories about springtime and make beautiful paper flower bouquets. For all ages. To register, please call Clayton Community Library at 673-0659. Clayton Community Library, 6125 Clayton Road, Clayton.

MAY 13, 20, 27, JUNE 3 Alcoholics Anonymous Meeting @ Clayton Community Church 7 - 8 p.m. AA Big Book Study, every Sunday night in the meeting room at Clayton Community Church, 6055 Main Street, Clayton, 673-9060.

MAY 16, 23, 30 Shaping the American West @ Diamond Terrace Retirement Community 2 p.m. Class will be instructed by Jim Gallagher from Mt. Diablo Adult Education. It will start with the migration from the east through the United States to the formation of the (wild) west. Classes are free. Questions? Call 524-5100. Diamond Terrace Retirement Community. 6401 Center St. Clayton

MAY 14 Clayton Valley 4-H Club @ Farm Bureau Hall 7:15 p.m. 4-H is open to youth ages 5 - 19 and adults. Projects in small and large animals, leadership, community service, 4-H camp, conferences and fairs. Learn new skills including cooking, photography, arts/crafts etc. Contact Candy Hogan at 925- 969-1325 for more information. Meetings held on the second Mon. of the month Sept. - June. Farm Bureau Hall, 5554 Clayton Rd. Concord.

MAY 16, JUNE 26 Orientation to Volunteering @ Lindsay Wildlife Museum 6:30 - 8 p.m. Lindsay Wildlife Museum, the Bay Area's oldest wildlife education and rehabilitation center, needs volunteer docents to teach children in their classrooms and help museum visitors learn about nature. The orientation classes are free. Please call 925-627-2944 or visit www.lindsay wildlifemuseum.org to enroll or for more information. MAY 17, 18 The Return of the Glass Slipper @Mt. Diablo Elementary 7 p.m. Presented by the fourth and fifth grade chorus, the play shares the magic and wonder of wishes come true in a fairytale favorite, when Cinderella meets her Prince Charming. Tickets are $5 and available at the door. Mt. Diablo Elementary, Multi-Use Room 5880 Mt. Zion. MAY 19 Kids Night out @ Clayton Community Gym Bring the kids to the Clayton Community Gym for an evening of fun while you have a night out on the town worry-free, knowing they are in a safe and friendly environment. Children will enjoy crafts, games, movies, snacks and dinner. For more information or to register call 925.889.1600 or email lrookstool@mdrymca.org. MAY 19 Diablo A's Car Club Show @ Diamond Terrace Retirement Community 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. Come and see these vintage Model A Ford cars! Tom Burns & his Harmonica Harmoneers will perform at noon. This is a free event and all are welcome to attend. Questions? Please call 925-524-5100 Diamond Terrace Retirement Community, 6401 Center St. Clayton. MAY 19 Diablo Valley Masterworks Chorale @ Lafayette-Orinda Presbyterian Church 8 p.m. The Diablo Valley Masterworks Chorale and Orchestra under the direction of conductor, Richard Kamprath, will perform Johann Sebastian Bach's "Mass in B Minor". The 80 voiced Chorale will be joined by soloists

The Clayton Pioneer’s “Music Notes” columnist

Clayton’s own

Jim Hudak Pianist and Composer For bookings and performances:

MAY 14 The Stroke Support Group of Contra Costa County @ John Muir Medical Center, Concord 7-9 p.m. Jeffrey Beard, Certified Personal Trainer, will speak about "Personal Training: Rehabilitation." For more information, contact Ann Dzuna at 925376-6218. Meetings are free and open to the public. John Muir Medical Center-Concord Campus, 2540 East Avenue, Concord. MAY 15 Concord Chamber of Commerce Women's Networking Group at Rocco's Ristorante & Pizzeria 11:45 a.m. Bring lots of business cards. $20 for Chamber members, $30 for non - Chamber members. Networking networking, networking. Register online at www.concordchamber.com. Rocco's Ristorante & Pizzeria, 2909 Ygnacio Valley Rd. Walnut Creek. MAY 15, 22, 29, JUNE 5 Kiwanis Club of Walnut Creek 12 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. Meetings every Tues. All are invited to check us out and be our guest for lunch. Massimo’s Ristorante, 1604 Locust St., Walnut Creek. For more information call Sam Totah, 941-1536. MAY 16 Ygnacio Valley Republican Women @ Oakhurst County Club. 10 a.m. Lunch is $20.00. Please phone Barbara Allen at 672-5061. YVRW meets the 3rd Wed. of the month. Oakhurst Country Club, 1001 Peacock Creek Drive, Clayton. MAY 16 Concord Chamber of Commerce Joint Business After Hours Mixer @ Heald College & Conference Center 5:30-7:30 Heald College & Conference Center 5130 Commercial Circle, Concord.

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MAY 17 Veterans of Foreign Wars Meeting @ Veterans Memorial Hall, Concord 6 p.m. Meeting begins. at 7 p.m. VFW meets the third Thurs. of the month. All Veterans of foreign wars are invited to attend. The VFW is here to support eligible Veterans and their families. Wives and daughters of eligible Veterans are invited to join the Ladies Auxiliary. Meetings are held at Veterans Memorial Hall, corner of Colfax and Willow Pass Road, Concord. MAY 17, 24, 31, JUNE 7 Rotary Club of Clayton Valley Concord Sunrise @ Oakhurst 7 a.m. Meets every Thurs. for breakfast and usually features a speaker. www. claytonvalleyrotary.org Chuck Graham 689-7640. Oakhurst Country Club, 1001 Peacock Creek Drive, Clayton. MAY 17, 24, 31, JUNE 7 Weights Watchers Weekly Meeting @ Contra Costa Farm Bureau Building 10 a.m.and 5:30 p.m. Weekly Weight Watchers weigh-in and meetings on Thurs. 800-326-8450 x 2023. Contra Costa Farm Bureau, 5554 Clayton Rd., Concord. MAY 19 Clayton Valley Woman's Club Second Annual 'Festival of Tables and Fashion @ Holy Cross Lutheran Church 11:00 AM. Fashion persentation by Chico's of Walnut Creek, Tickets for a wide array of beautiful baskets and gift certificates available for sale at the event. All proceeds benefit Clayton Valley Woman's Club projects including the Concord and Clayton Historical Societies, the Clayton Community Library, as well as scholarships and donations.Tickets are $30.00 and include a luncheon to be catered by Rick's on Second, Antioch. For reservations or more information, please call Doris Maguire at 672-1696. Holy Cross Lutheran Church, 1092 Alberta Way, Concord. MAY 22 Clayton Valley Woman's Club @ Holy Cross Lutheran Church 9:30 a.m. .Coffee, 10 a.m. Meeting. Meetings are held on the second and fourth Tues. of the month. Garden Girl Nicole Hackett of R&M Pool, Patio and Gardens will speak. She knows which plants grows best in our climate. For more information, please call Joyce at 672-3850 or Sheila at 672-7947. Holy Cross Lutheran Church, 1092 Alberta Way, Concord. MAY 23 Blue Star Mom Meeting in Concord 6:30 p.m. Small group Blue Star Mom meetings held the fourth Wed. of each month. Blue Star Moms is a support and service group for those serving in all branches of the Armed Forces. 1792 Elmhurst Lane, Concord. Call 676-3654 for information. MAY 31 CBCA (Clayton Business & Community Association) Meeting @ Oakhurst 6:30 p.m. Monthly dinner meeting, last non-holiday Thurs. of the month. Reservations due by Tuesday noon prior, 672-2272. Mike Fossan, President. Oakhurst Country Club, 1001 Peacock Creek Drive, Clayton. JUNE 3 Knitting Club @ Concord Library 2 - 4 p.m. Have you noticed that knitting is all the rage? Join the group and get creative. Club meets the first Sun. of the month. 646-5455, Concord Library, 2900 Salvio Street, Concord.

BUSINESS & GOVERNMENT MAY 15, 22, 29, JUNE JUNE 5 Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors Meeting @ County Administration Building 9 a.m. County Board of Supervisors holds regular weekly meetings Tues. mornings. Open to the public. www.co.contra-costa.ca.us 335-1900. County Administration Building, 651 Pine Street, Room 107, Martinez. MAY 15, JUNE 5, 19 Clayton City Council Meeting @ Clayton Community Library 6 p.m. City Council meets on the first and third Tues. of the month. Open to the public. Agendas posted at City Hall, 6000 Heritage Trail. Clayton Community Library, 6125 Clayton Rd., Clayton. MAY 22, JUNE 12, 26 Planning Commission Meeting @ Clayton Community Library 7p.m. City of Clayton Planning Commission meets 2nd and 4th Tues. of month. Open to the public. www.ci.clayton.ca.us 673-7304, Clayton Library Community Room, 6125 Clayton Road, Clayton.

SCHOOLS AND EDUCATION MAY 10 Parent Faculty Club Meeting @ Clayton Valley High School 7:00 p.m. Clayton Valley High School Parent-Faculty Club General Meeting will be held in the school Library. For agenda details, contact PFC President Melinda Moore, 672-0930. MAY 15 Parent Faculty Club Meeting @ Mt. Diablo Elementary 7:00 p.m., Multi Use Room. Make a difference in your child's education. For items to be included on the agenda, contact Stacey Wickware 673-1999, the5wicks@sbcglobal.net or Kristy Smith 673-1795, kristinsmith@yahoo.com, PFC Co-Presidents. Childcare is available. Watch website for details. http://www.mdusd.k12.ca.us/mountdiabloelementary/.

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Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

Page A17

For pet safety, keep posted on recalls MARYBETH RYMER,

PAWS

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DVM

CLAWS

For the last few months, pet owners and veterinarians have struggled to decide which foods to give our pets. We have all felt the panic, thinking that we innocently fed our pets toxic food. As new foods are added to the recall list each day, our confusion mounts. Veterinarians were barraged with calls at the first reports of the recall. We struggled to get the information we needed to convey to our clients. But with the help of

the American Veterinary Medical Association and the Veterinary Information Network, we were able to access up-to-date information. However, we still do not have an accurate count of how many pets have been affected or died. The cause of the recall is centered on the substance melamine. This cyclic amino compound is used to make plastic laminates such as Formica and plastic utensils. Melamine is also used as a flame retardant and a non-protein nitrogen source for fertilizer. There is controversy as to whether melamine is the toxic agent or simply a marker for other toxins, such as cyanuric acid. This acid has also been found in the contaminated samples of food and in urine and tissues of affected cats. Cyanuric acid is a chlorine

stabilizer in swimming pools. It appears there are very few pet food lines not affected. The most complete list to check is at www.AVMA.org. The contaminated wheat gluten was used in foods from November 2006 through March 2007. Melamine has also been found in rice protein concentrates and corn gluten in South Africa. Pets can be affected within one to 12 hours after ingesting the food. Initial signs include vomiting, lethargy and loss of appetite. The kidney is the primary organ affected, with the toxin causing damage to the microscopic tubules. We initially saw very sick cats and dogs with acute renal failure. But over time, we have seen animals with mild renal insufficiency

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developing over days to weeks after ingestion. This may be a function of how healthy the pet’s kidneys were before toxin exposure. Cats have been more affected than dogs. With supportive care, most pets recover from this insult. If you suspect your pet ingested any food on the recall list, be sure to save the food and labels to confirm exposure and for possible testing. Contact your veterinarian for an examination and lab work. The recommended tests are complete blood cell count, full blood chemistry profile and a urinalysis. Dilute urine is the earliest abnormality seen. As the tubular damage in the kidney progresses, there may be high levels of white and red blood cells as well as renal cells in the urine. More than 75 percent of the kidney function is lost, and the urea nitrogen and creatinine blood values will elevate. In severe cases of renal damage, phosphorus and calcium levels also rise. Globular yellow crystals may appear in the urine. Other diagnostic tests include X-rays and ultrasounds. UC Davis offers melamine testing for food and urine. This assay costs $100 for California residents. Your local veterinarian can help arrange this if needed. There is no antidote. Supportive treatment for renal disease is recommended. If your pet ate contaminated food and has normal blood values, be sure to recheck blood every three to four weeks for a few months to rule out slowly progressive disease. In cases with only dilute urine,

the treatment is a low-protein prescription diet, such as Hills K/D, Purina NF and Royal Canin Renal, with follow-up blood work on a weekly basis. Fluid therapy should be started when blood values are elevated. Your veterinarian will recommend whether these fluids can be administered subcutaneously (under the skin) or intravenously in the hospital. Oral medication to control vomiting, boost potassium and lower phosphorus may be added. Melamine is thought to be excreted over a few days, but we do not know the long-term affects. After appropriate diagnostics, more than 50 percent of the pets tested are sick with other unrelated diseases. The big question is what to feed our pets in the face of constant recalls. Check the labels and avoid foods with wheat gluten, rice protein concentrates and corn gluten, especially if the company cannot guarantee they have investigated their sources. Many clients have elected to cook their own pet food. Veterinarians are concerned that the published generic recipes are not balanced for long-term use. Dogs and cats have different supplement requirements than humans. Calcium and phosphorus are needed in the right ratio to support bone health. Without taurine supplementation, cats will develop blindness and heart disease. Homemade diets are laborintensive and costly. So analyze the recipe you are considering using. Remember that onions, garlic, grapes, raisins and choco-

late are toxic to animals. Avoid fatty meats that may set off pancreatitis, an inflammation of the pancreas causing vomiting and diarrhea. Also steer clear of baked goods sweetened with xylitol, a liver toxin to cats and dogs. After two months, review your homemade diet and pet’s needs with your veterinarian. If you feel the need to cook, consult the following Websites recommended by veterinary specialists and researchers. At www.balanceit.com, you can generate a recipe that is calculated for easy use with pre-made supplements for a fee. If you type in the promo code VIN, you will receive one free recipe compliments of the Veterinary Information Network. The www.petdiets.com site offers basic diets for healthy pets. Check with you veterinarian for any modifications. The nutritional service at UC Davis also offers complete nutritional consults for a fee. Call 530752-1387. Raw diets are controversial. Most vets do not recommend them due to concerns about harmful parasites. There is also significant risk of salmonella and E. coli exposure to pets and families due to improperly prepared and handled raw foods in the kitchen. We all are distraught about this undue risk to our beloved companions. If we stay calm and informed, we should be able to prevent additional harm.

Marybeth Rymer, DVM, can be reached at Monte Vista Veterinary Hospital, Concord. 672-1100.

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The adoption fee for Hess is $200 and includes the first six training courses. Your pet’s primary caretaker and children 16 and younger need to be present for the adoption. Meet O’Toole and Hess at Tony La Russa’s Animal Rescue Foundation, 2890 Mitchell Drive, Walnut Creek, during adoption hours: 3 to 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday, Noon to 4:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Visit www.arf.net or call (925) 256-1ARF

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 Web site, www.arf.net, or call (925) 2561ARF.

Page A18

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

Leadership Prayer Breakfast marks National Day of Prayer

Tamara Steiner/Clayton Pioneer CCC Pastor Shawn Robinson, city councilman Hank Stratford and Father Richard Mangini, pastor of St. Bonaventure Catholic Commuity,( anxious to remove his patch from cataract surgery) joined about 50 other community leaders, educators and church personnel who attended the CCC breakfast in honor of National Prayer Day.

Community and city leaders, educators and pastors came together last Thursday, May 3 to celebrate the National Day of Prayer at Clayton Community Church CCC in downtown Clayton. Hosted by CCC’s pastor Shawn Robinson, Clayton YMCA and St. Bonaventure’s Catholic Community, the morning prayer breakfast featured community prayer, guest speakers and music by St. Bonaventure’s Jenny Matteucci and Daniel Lockert. Speaker Susan Bonilla, County Supervior, District IV spoke about faith and public service with an emphasis on coming together in unity and Bonilla’s own personal journey with faith and her work in the public sector. “We live in a nation where we can be heard,” she says and “we are always looking for reconciliation, unity and peace.” Father Richard Mangini of St. Bonaventure focused on knowing God’s will-a door to prayer calling for all churches to come together and celebrate ecumenically. The morning prayer service was followed by an evening ecumenical service at St. Bonaventure. Jill Bedecarre, Clayton Pioneer

May 11, 2007

Clayton Valley Presbyterian Church 925-672-4848 1578 Kirker Pass Road Mission Statement to

follow the risen Christ by studying His Word to live God's love through service to others to nurture our church family to accept all who enter our doors to tell others about God’s grace Patricia Stout, Pastor

Sundays 10:30 a.m.

www.cvpresby.org

Arlene Kikkawa-Nielsen honored for Library service The Walnut Creek Stake of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints recently recognized Clayton’s Arlene Kikkawa Nielsen for her “Service Over and Above Recognition” (S.O.A.R.) award. S.O.A.R. is dedicated to recognizing individual service in the community through art, music and recognition. The volunteer coordinator for the Clayton Library Foundation since 1998, Arlene oversees the 127 volunteers who provide close to 8000 hours of library services a year for the community. She started the Student Mentoring Program which allows high school students to bond with younger students as they tutor or mentor them. She applied for and received a grant from the First 5

Program, which was used to create an interactive preschool program known as the Butterfly release project. She is a member of the Friends of Mt. Diablo Creek and has helped with creek sampling, watershed education activities in local schools and in creating a California Native Planting garden. She is the event organizer for the Annual Library Birthday celebration for which she helped to establish the Creekside Arts Celebrations, which have brought together many local artists and naturalists. She established the Creekside Artist Guild which is a group of local artists who are working on promoting the arts in Clayton with a goal of establishing a local art gallery. Other activities she has been involved in include Odyssey of the Mind,

Honorees, Dave and Sheila Rowntree, Melanie English, Arlene Kikkawa Nielsen and Rick Hutchins of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

the Clay Valley Library’s 4th of July parade entry, Diablo Valley Japanese-American club and the Rose Parade. Other recipients were Melanie English of Walnut

Creek, Founder and Director of TAPS, a parent and teen service group; Dave and Sheila Rowntree of Concord, organizers and leaders of a Boy Scout troop for disabled boys.

Church News CLAYTON COMMUNITY CHURCH The church hosts its 11th annual All-Church May Banquet, 5:30-7:30 p.m. Sunday, May 20. Round up your friends and family for an old-fashioned Western barbecue dinner under the wide open sky in downtown Clayton. Englund’s Catering will provide dinner. To RSVP, call Jennifer at 673-9060. ETERNAL LIFE LUTHERAN CHURCH Members of the Women’s Missionary Society attended a mission rally at Peace Lutheran Church in Santa Clara on April 21. Seminary student Adam Gawel spoke of his mission work in China and Hong Kong. The women’s mission group recently completed assembling and sending more than 400 used devotion booklets to WELS Prison Ministries. They also are finishing preparing used greeting cards to be sent to Prison

Ministries and used in mailings next Christmas. Thank you to the community for donating hundreds of used greetings cards for the ministry. Eternal Life Lutheran Church invites all to its midweek Bible study, at 7:15 p.m. Wednesdays. This spring, a video study called “The Service Zone” is being used to discuss and motivate serving the Lord and those around us through our everyday activities and vocations. The church is at 5554 Clayton Rd., Suite 1B, in Concord. For more information, call 524-0295 or visit www.EternalLifeLutheranChurch.org.

ST. JOHN’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH Tapestry, a choir conduced by Cindy Krausgill, will sing several settings of sacred music at the 10 a.m. worship on Sunday, May 20. Included in their program will be the African-American spiritual “Steal Away,” arranged by Brian

School News DIABLO VIEW MIDDLE SCHOOL Seventh-graders Daniel Kerr, Ted Hall and Nikolas Tham participated in the UC Berkeley

Science on April 28. Eighth-grade science teacher Sylvia Chatagnier was their coach. The boys built their car, Lil’ Buddy, in just a few weeks. It was named for the fuzzy red, white and blue mascot/driver glued to the front. All cars required a 3-watt solar panel as the energy source. Their car won their first heat and came in third and fifth in subsequent heats. It was always reliable and never jumped Nikolas Tham, Ted Hall (holding Lil’ Buddy) and off of the guide wire Daniel Kerr or failed to finish. Several faster cars Society of Women Engineers 12th annual Junior Solar Sprint broke down before the finish line Challenge. The event was held in or detached from the guide wire the plaza of the Lawrence Hall of and ran into other cars.

Trant. Tapestry will also sing Psalm 150, the last of the Psalms of David, which celebrates the variety of musical instruments used in the praise of God. In addition, they will perform “The Prayer of the Children” and “Shine on Us.” Tapestry is preparing for a trip to England this summer, where the choir will sing in several historic sacred places. St. John’s Church is at 5555 Clayton Road in Clayton. For more information, call 672-8855 or visit www.saintjohnsparish.org. SALVATION ARMY COMMUNITY CHURCH The church is hosting the Salvation Army’s New York Staff Band, a world-class, all-brass band. The concert begins at 7 p.m. May 14, which is the first day of National Salvation Army Week. The event is free, though an offering will be taken to support the church’s work around the world. Lil’ Buddy was even used as a rescue car when another car stalled and couldn’t complete the race. The Diablo View students were awarded medals for thirdplace overall in speed and design. DVMS plans to have more teams next year. Contact Chatagnier for more information. *** The final productions of “High School Musical” will be at 7 p.m. May 11 and 3 and 7 p.m. May 12 at the school, 300 Diablo View Lane. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.dramamamaproductions.com. *** Thirty-two students from Diablo View Middle School and Clayton Valley High School participated Sat., Mar. 31 in the Solo and Ensemble Festival at Hercules High School. Adjudicators judged and rated the performances from Fair, Good, Excellent, Outstanding, to the highest rating of Outstanding with Command Performance. Three of the DVMS students won medals for the high-

The church is at 3950 Clayton Road, Concord. For more information, call 676-6180 or visit www.salvationarmyconcordca.org. OASIS CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP Ken Mansfield, former manager of the Beatles, will make two appearances at the church. The events include a 25-minute video documentary on the Beatles and Mansfield’s life, followed by a 30minute testimony and 20 minutes or more in a question and answer session with the audience. The programs begin at 2 and 7 p.m. on Saturday, May 19, at 2551 Pleasant Hill Road, Pleasant Hill. Tickets are $15. For more information, call 934-1244.

What’s happening in your place of worship? New pastor or choir director? Special projects? Active ministries? Send your news of community interest to churchnews@claytonpioneer.com

Bible Study for all ages @ 10am Worship @ 11:15am Wed.: Bible Study @ 7:15pm

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

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

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

Coming to Oasis Christian Fellowship in Pleasant Hill: Ken Mansfield, former manager of the rock group The Beatles! What was it like to be the manager and personal friend of John, Paul, George and Ringo, The BEATLES? Meet and talk with K en Mansfield. Hear the fascinating story of Ken’s life with, after and beyond The Beatles. A beautifully produced 25 minute video documentary on the Beatles and Ken’s life followed by a 30 minute testimony and a 20 minute or more question and answer session with the audience.

Two appearances: Saturday May 19th at 2pm and 7pm Ticket prices: $15 per person General Admission Please call 925-934-1244 for more info Oasis Christian Fellowship 2551 Pleasant Hill Road, Pleasant Hill

Kristen Paetz, Kayla Pedrani, Meghan Walsh perform their trio at music festival

est honor: Josh Warzecha, 6th grade, a clarinet solo; Heather Raymond, 7th grade for a tenor saxophone solo and Kayla Pedrani, 8th grade, for a clarinet solo. These students will participate in the State Solo and Ensemble Festival in Sacramento on Sat., May 12. MT. DIABLO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL The fourth and fifth grade chorus presents “The Return of the Glass Slipper” at 7 p.m. May 17 and 18. The musical will be in the multi-use room at the school, 5880 Mt. Zion. Tickets are $5 and available at the door.

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May 11, 2007

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

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When you walk into the osteopathic offices of Dr. Robert Clark on Clayton Road in Concord, you might wonder if you are in the right place. There are no white coats, no sterile waiting chairs with stacks of magazines and no formal reception area where you feel like a number instead of a person. What you do experience is a warm, inviting atmosphere with comfortable chairs, photos on the walls, colorful décor and a place that allows you to relax and be receptive to the treatment you need. Clark, a doctor of osteopathy, and his business partner and wife, Patricia, are always there to greet you, talk about your ailments and discover the proper osteopathic care to help you feel better. With more than 30 years experience in osteopathic medicine, Clark thinks of himself as a “body mechanic, a fender and body man for humans.” His practice, which focuses on therapy based on manipulation of bones and muscles, aligns itself with non-conventional approaches to care or alternative medicine. “We get many clients who come to as a last resort for treatment. They’ve tried pills, sup-

plements, even surgery in some cases but still need help,” says Clark. “They are looking for something different.” His approach is a personal one. Patients get Clark’s undivided attention, beginning with a 90-minute discussion and review of a patient’s medical history. From there, they discuss symptoms and a treatment plan. “It’s not always about fixing things but quality of life,” Clark explains, referring to a patient whom he made comfortable while waiting for hip replacement surgery and then treated after the surgery for pain management. Over the years, he’s treated dancers and athletes with injuries and patients who have experienced some type of trauma. He recalls a waitress who fell at work and suffered from a neck injury and headaches. After working with Clark, the waitress was eventually able to do away with pain medicine and live a normal life. “When she came into my office recently, she didn’t look a day older than when she first came for treatment 18 years ago,” Patricia recalls. The patient told Clark, “Thank you for giving me my life back.” These statements from patients are what keep Clark passionate about his practice, along with the fact that when

Jill Bedecarre/Clayton Pioneer

DR. ROBERT CLARK D.O. and wife, Patricia in their Concord office.

someone responds positively to his treatment, it makes him feel better as well. Clark is currently featuring a new SpineMed Therapy, a nonsurgical treatment for degenerative discs, herniated discs, slipped discs and sciatica that has an 86 percent success rate. His career has alternated between teaching and practicing, with numerous honors to his credit. He was recently promoted to editor of the AAO (American Academy of Osteopathy) Journal. He is a published author in the journal and former editor of the Cranial Academy Newsletter. Clark is a 1977 graduate of

the Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine and completed his rotating internship at Davenport Osteopathic Hospital. He joined the faculty at the Ohio University College of Medicine in 1978 as an assistant professor of family medicine/osteopathic principles and practice. The dedicated professional takes one weekend out of every month to travel to Southern California to treat former patients. When he’s not practicing osteopathic medicine, Clark delves into woodworking and model trains.

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Clayton Station

5439 A Clayton Road, Clayton

owner

Page A19

925-672-0405

Take precautions against poison oak

DEBRA GOETTSCH

YOUR HEALTH Between hiking, mountain biking, gardening or simply strolling along a wilderness path, we expose ourselves to the wonderful greenery that makes the Bay Area special. But beware – poison oak is lurking out there, waiting to cause a rash called contact dermatitis. Poison oak thrives throughout California and is characterized by leaves with three to five veined, shiny green leaflets. The leaves turn a deep red in autumn.

Robert C. Clark, D.O. 3243 Clayton Rd., Concord

925-969-7530

Exposure to any part of the plant – root, stem, leaves, flowers or the berry – may cause skin irritation ranging from a mild rash to severe itching, redness, swelling and weeping lesions. The oily sap does not dissolve in water, making it difficult to wash off. It may remain on clothes as well. If exposed, remove your clothes as soon as possible and wash exposed areas with soap and cool water. Warm water may enhance sap penetration. Wash clothes a few times

before wearing them again. The severity of the rash depends on one’s sensitivity, the amount of exposure and which body parts are affected. A rash may appear anywhere between 30 minutes to two weeks after exposure, but it normally within five days. Scratching the rash and touching other body parts may contaminate other areas of the body. Thick-furred pets are better protected, but people can still contract poison oak from pets. If exposed, bathe pets in cool

WESTERN POISON OAK

water with regular pet soap. Treat your rash with overthe-counter options such as topical hydrocortisone creams and oral antihistamines. See a doctor if any of the following has occurred:

Severe swelling or trouble breathing. A rash covering more than one-quarter of the body. A rash on the face, lips, eyes or genitals. A rash that begins oozing a cloudy yellow fluid, with or without a fever

Prevention is the key to avoiding poison oak. Learn to recognize the plant. When in suspected areas, wear long sleeves and pants. Keep your pets on leashes and don’t allow them to run through unknown shrubbery. Debra Goettsch is a Physician’s Assistant at Clayton Valley Medical Group. Reach her at (925) 672-6744.

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announces The service of the month for our patients for the month of May

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

Page A20

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

May 11, 2007

Bio beds are a natural way to treat stormwater JILL BEDECARRÉ Clayton Pioneer

If you’ve tuned into the media lately, you have probably heard the radio commercial where a young male teen tries to educate his mom on the value of taking the family car to a car wash. He argues that when he hand washes the car in the family driveway, pollutants like grease,

Francisco Bay and the Delta. While homeowners are asked to voluntarily protect our environment, local developers are now mandated to do so. The San Francisco Regional Water Quality Control Board, a state agency, began to implement new permit requirements in 2005. They now require cities and counties to make sure that new development and redevelopment projects com-

developer as a “forerunner” in its response to the new state mandates for clean water. “They embraced the concept and ran with it,” Hoffmeister says of Lenox Homes, which has built its Bay Area reputation on small, infill projects constructed in the heart of cities. The executive community of eight homes off Pine Hollow Road has become a business model for a solution to

Tamara Steiner/Clayton Pioneer

BIO INFILTRATION BEDS at Pine Hollow Estates are naturally integrated into the existing landscape. oil and soap enter the storm drains and pollute the local creeks. The car wash, on the other hand, distributes water through the sewer system. Mom eventually applauds her son for his newfound interest in environmental education. Advertising campaigns like this one are frequenting the airwaves in an attempt to educate homeowners about pollution and the little things that we can do at home to protect our creeks, San

ply with new regulations for storm water runoff at project sites. “To improve water quality of our creeks and Bay, it’s necessary to find low-cost, natural ways to treat water and prevent erosion,” says Laura Hoffmeister, assistant to the city manager and Storm Water Program manager for the city of Clayton. As storm water manager, Hoffmeister works with local developers like Lenox Homes, developer of Pine Hollow Estates in Clayton. She describes the local

runoff, preventing erosion and clean water at construction sites that create or replace 10,000 sq. ft. of impervious surfaces or hardscapes. “We’ve had busloads of engineers, city planners, inspectors come to look at the project,” Hoffmeister reports. “For a little guy, it’s tough,” says Dan Freeman of Lenox Homes, referring to their building style versus some of the bigger developers in the area. After months of research and trial and error, Lenox chose to

install bio infiltration beds throughout the community. “The key things were to reduce the water flow and clean it,” Freeman states. The beds vary in size and mesh with the regular landscaped areas throughout the new home community. Each home at Pine Hollow Estates has one bed; some homes have more. “We thought at the time, if we can do it right, I think we have the problem solved,” Freeman says. Filled with a custom soil mix, the beds essentially take in water runoff at the site and treat the water by removing pollutants like sediments, nutrients, metals, oil and grease. The water then percolates into the soil. These elements break down quickly by natural microorganisms in the soils and the plants use in photosynthesis, thus there is no soil contamination as the water soaks into the soil. Secondary benefits include volume and flow reduction. Lenox hopes to create a homeowners association to periodically check the beds to ensure they work as designed. This data is then provided to the city, which must report annually to the state agency on their effectiveness. The HOA proposal is expected to go before the Clayton City Council on May 15. If mandates are not followed or the beds not properly maintained, the city could be fined by the state agency, explains Hoffmeister. According to Freeman, the city approached his company two years ago and asked them to devise a plan for storm water runoff. Even though all aspects mandated by the state weren’t a requirement at the time, Freeman said his company “could see what was coming and decided to embrace the concept instead of fight it.” While potential homebuyers at Lenox Homes had some initial

concerns about the infiltration beds and the additional cost of the homes, they soon saw it as a positive thing, explains Freeman. As buyers are educated on the process, the reaction now is “wow.” It makes people feel good about doing their part, he adds. As other builders like Lemke Construction and Discovery Builders come into Clayton to build on the limited land left for new home construction, the new mandates will apply, explains Hoffmeister. However, each developer has a unique solution to the problems. For example, Lenox’s next project in downtown Clayton, Mitchell Canyon Place, will take a different turn in response to water quality. They will utilize a landscape swale area for drainage and treatment. “The method used is not a blanket solution,” says Freeman, “but customized proj-

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NICOLE HACKETT

GARDEN GIRL Something dramatic is happening in the garden this spring. The once looked-over gray foliage perennials and evergreens are looking dynamite. Gorgeous gray foliage is exploding all through the nurs-

If foliage alone is not really your thing, add some white flowers. White blossoms mixed with gray foliage become the base for a twilight garden or a moon garden. During the evening, when the light is low, your contrasting dark foliages fade into the shadows, and the light gray leaves and white blooms shine. Dusty Miller is a gray foliage plant that is easy to find. This evergreen can be purchased just about anywhere, including hardware and drug stores. Planted in a grouping, it can be enjoyed from miles away. The leaves are so gray, they look white. If you remove the plant’s yellow flowers, you will keep

this evergreen neat and tidy. Plant in full sun. Several Dusty Miller cousins have been introduced the past couple of years, so look around for the one that suits you. Artemisia is another popular family. You may have experimented with Powis Castle or the perennial called Silver Mound. These selections are fabulous alone but even more successful paired with a blooming plant with white flowers. The white rose called Iceberg is easy to find and can withstand heat and sun. Iceberg is a floribunda-style rose that will reach 4-5 feet tall and wide. This rose has multiple blooms

See Garden, page A21

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Gray and white make gardens pop ery, adding contrast with the more common light and dark green leaves. The seldom appreciated but gorgeous grays are making their way into Clayton Valley yards and gardens. When planting gray foliage, consider the environment where it is to be installed. Gray foliage needs to be supported by contrast. Plant behind a stretch of lush green grass, or surround your gray plants with a dark border of boxwood or euonymus. A garden of gray planted beneath red foliaged Japanese maples or as a foreground to the dark purple leafed Sizzling Pink Loropedalum would be highly successful, and the contrast of foliage will be thrilling. Placement really matters.

ect by project.” What and how Lenox builds in a community affects the personal lives of the employees, Freeman notes. “We are a family business and hands-on builder. That’s our identity,” he says. “We’ve definitely done something right here.” Along with concern for storm water quality, Lenox is also going “ green” at its new home communities – from materials to energy conservation. “It’s what the market is looking for,” he says. Hoffmeister expects the green movement to blossom in the foreseeable future. “We will definitely see more state mandates for businesses as well as homes,” she says. “Luckily green is now a popular issue and there are lots of challenges ahead, so maybe more people will also embrace these concepts.”

Kristy Williams (Clayton Hygienist), Carmen & Don Williams (previous owners of the Village Market) and Mike Williams , Clayton Real Estate Pro

Direct no. (925) 672-MIKE

Foreclo s update ure list d 5/11 /07

May 11, 2007

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

Page A21

When in Monterey, walking is king KEVIN PARKER

HIKER’S HAVEN I seem to have this knack for stumbling upon trails, parks and hiking opportunities that I do not expect to show up on any of my travel plans, destinations or itineraries. Case in point was a recent family trip down to the Monterey Peninsula. My original thought was to write about destinations such as the Monterey Bay Aquarium, Cannery Row and 17 Mile Drive, but as my trip evolved over the weekend, I revised my ideas and will share something totally different. The getaway weekend was put into action after I rented a beach cottage in Pacific Grove from www.craigslist.org. The owner bragged about a nearby location called Lovers Point. Based on the fact that the purpose of the trip was to celebrate my wife’s birthday, it seemed like a perfect spot. Upon arriving in Pacific Grove on an early Friday afternoon, we were anxious to stretch our legs after the car ride and decided to immediately check out Lovers Point. It was a five-minute walk from the cottage. Lovers Point Park is a wellmanicured community park that provides views of absolute beauty in every direction. Native flora and fauna rich in color,

PERKINS PARK AND LOVERS POINT IN MONTEREY

with the backdrop of Monterey Bay, make this an easy place to just sit and enjoy the view. Sandy beaches, peculiar rock formations, volleyball and water sports such as scuba diving and surfing make this a popular destination for locals and visitors alike. We even witnessed a small wedding ceremony while enjoying the park on a late Saturday afternoon. The city of Pacific Grove has a lot to offer visitors. A few must-see items include the historic downtown, local restaurants, inns, shops and my personal favorite, outstanding

Garden, from page A20 on each stem and looks great in the garden or in casual flower arrangements. Powis Castle has fern-like foliage that adds a feminine touch to the base of the rose.

Do not underestimate the growth of this Artemisia. Expect 2-3 feet tall and 4 feet wide. If that size is too great, Silver Mound or David’s Choice are both excellent grays to consider.

parks. Perkins Park, named for Hayes Perkins, who planted the first pink ice plant, is a small park that runs the waterfront from Lovers Point Park to the Esplanade. The well-maintained hiking trails are landscaped with a “magic carpet” of pink ice plant and many other varieties of local plant life that kept my camera at the ready along every inch of this trail. With each turn, I discovered another park bench and vista point that seemed more beautiful than the one I had just left. Memories of this park will be etched in my

mind for a long time to come. If you travel in the opposite direction from Lovers Point Park, toward Monterey, you will find yourself on the Coastal Trail. This regional shoreline trail system is a multi-use trail that provides miles of paved road for bicyclists, roller-bladers and pedestrians. Sections of the trail have both paving for bicyclists and compacted sand/dirt for those on foot. This is a popular trail linking Pacific Grove to Monterey and beyond. We enjoyed the trail so much that we used it as our main artery of travel that week-

end. No car rides, parking lots or traffic jams, just wide open trail with miles of shoreline to enjoy and the cool breeze from Monterey Bay reminding us this was indeed a hiker’s utopia. We only used a portion of the trail during our weekend stay, but for those with the time and preferably a bicycle, you can ride the entire 29 miles. Every corner we rounded afforded fantastic coastal views and many shoreline access points to look at tide pools or watch the local wildlife. I have hiked all over Northern California, and this

Helen Von Stein is a variety of lamb’s ear that seldom blooms. Those who have planted and enjoyed lamb’s ears already know of their likely success. This plant thrives just about everywhere. Consider installing in a half a day’s sun. The large, fuzzy, basil-shaped

leaves stay low and add texture to the ground. Delphinium belladonna white would add a cottage appeal to the texture of the lamb’s ear. Variegated white and green iris will also bring vertical appeal. The periwinkle bloom is a welcoming side effect and is defi-

nitely enjoyable. Verbascum is another spiking family of cottage-style perennials. They will keep blooming through August. The wooly Mullen has a large fuzzy white leaf and yellow flower. Remove the bloom if it is not your thing. Gardeners craving gorgeous grays in the shade also have good choices. Jacob’s ladder is a hardy perennial that has interesting, variegated foliage. The green leaves edged in white are a sight to see. Stairway to Heaven and Bris d’ Anjou are two varieties that can be found at premium garden centers. They both have clumping growth and will bloom light, true blue flowers in spring. Consider planting Jacob’s ladder surrounded by sweet woodrift, another perennial groundcover that has dark green, lobed leaves and simple white flowers. To add some summer flowers, try the shrub PeeGee Hydrangea or Hydrangea paniculata. This deciduous shrub blooms July and August, easily reaching 5-6 feet tall and

HIKE OF THE WEEK: Monterey Bay Coastal Trail, Pacific Grove and Monterey sections Distance: 4 miles roundtrip Difficulty: Easy Scenery: 10+ on the beauty scale area, specifically along the Coastal Trail, is one of the most beautiful I have ever seen. I cannot put my finger on one specific item that stands out, but it seems as if nature has come together in some type of synergistic spin cycle to provide a place to touch all of the senses. The time we spent hiking along the shoreline was definitely the highlight of the trip, but it wouldn’t be fair if I didn’t mention some other mustsee activities: Monterey Bay Aquarium. Get there early for smaller crowds and more animal activity. (www.mbayaq.org) Asilomar State Beach. (www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id =566) Old Fisherman’s Wharf in Monterey. Cannery Row in Monterey. 17 Mile Drive ($9 toll) Point Pinos Lighthouse, the oldest operating lighthouse on the West Coast. For those looking for a relaxing weekend that offers a chance to unwind and revitalize the soul, follow my lead and you’ll stumble onto to some of the goods. For more information on this hike or other outdoor experiences, contact Kevin at hiker@claytonpioneer.com.

HELEN VON STEIN LAMB’S EAR

wide. Train as a tree and use the Jacob’s ladder and sweet woodrift beneath to complete the garden area. Expanding our color palette allows us more enjoyment in our yards and gardens. Group some grays together and you may like what you see. Nicole is the Garden Girl at R&M Pool, Patio and Garden Contact her with questions, comments or suggestions at gardengirl@claytonpioneer.com

DUSTY MILLER

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Page A22

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

May 11, 2007

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Impeccable “Willow” model!

on a premium golf course lot situated on the 15th hole with Mt. Diablo views! 3 bedrooms, 3 baths, approx. 1,745sf, inside laundry & 2 car garage! End unit with open floor plan & neural décor. Upgraded gleaming hardwood floors in living room, dining room & downstairs bedroom/den. Living room with vaulted ceiling, cozy fireplace & views. Separate dining area. Tile kitchen with eating area. Roomy master suite with sweeping golf course views. Cozy/private yard features a trellis covered brick trimmed aggregate patio with lush whimsical landscape & serene golf course setting. $579,000 PEACOCK CREEK AT OAKHURST COUNTRY CLUB!

Beautiful “Baccarat” Model! ! backs to open space with 5 bedrooms, 3.5 baths, approx. 3,266sf & rare 4 car garage! Upgrades throughout include: Neutral carpet, 13” tile floors, 2” wood blinds with box valances & designer paint colors! Living room with soaring ceiling. Formal dining room features a custom ceiling medallion, chair rail & view of open space. Downstairs bedroom with full private bath. Gourmet kitchen with cherry cabinets including a built-in recipe desk, tile floors, counters & center island, spacious pantry & large eating area that opens to family room with built-in speakers & fireplace with raised hearth & custom mantle. Huge master suite looks out to open space, offers 2 walk-in closets, large stall shower & oversized soaking tub. Large private pool sized lot features an aggregate patio with trellis cover, cus$1,039,000 tom BBQ island, elevated observation patio, rolling lawn area, lots of roses & flowers!

Clayton Market Update Provided by George Vujnovich of Better Homes Realty ADDRESS 103 Gold Rush Ct 505 Suisun Ct 303 Windmill Canyon Pl 3607 Coyote Cir 569 Mt. Dell Dr 9 Barcelona Way 215 Round House Pl 1471 Indianhead Cir 633 Mt. Olivet Ct

PRICE $665,000 $589,000 $687,730 $525,000 $540,000 $843,000 $605,000 $570,000 $849,000

SALE DATE

4/20/07 4/19/07 4/18/07 4/13/07 4/12/07 4/12/07 4/11/07 4/06/07 4/06/07

2,171 1,939 1,877 1,554 1,423 2,324 1,001 1,709 2,261

BED/BATH 4/2.5 3/2.5 3/2.5 3/2.5 3/2 4/2.5 3/2.5 3/3 4/2.5