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November 22, 2013
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Common Core standards will change the way students learn PEGGY SPEAR Clayton Pioneer
[EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the first in a series of articles about how Common Core State Standards will affect Clayton Valley-area students.] A new way of teaching is barreling down into California classrooms that has educators scrambling, parents puzzled, and unwary students at the forefront
of what is being described as an educational revolution. When Common Core curriculum hits local schools next year, gone will be cursive writing, traditional math tracks and some classic literature. But in its place, supporters hope, will be a new style of teaching that will raise U.S. students’ “accountability” at an international level, and teach critical thinking skills some say colleges are craving.
“We absolutely support the new Common Core State Standards,” says Clayton Valley Charter High School Executive Director David Linzey. “ The advantages for all students is that they are going to have access to a more rigorous and relevant curriculum. The previous California State Standards focused more on breadth of knowledge by testing students on a high number of standards for each content area.
The new CCSS were developed to be fewer, clearer, and higher.” PROCESS WAS FLAWED The Common Core movement launched in 2008, when some educators and politicians, concerned about dismal achievement among U.S. students, put forth the idea is to “modernize” education and share state standards. Forty-five states and the District of Columbia will share
K-12 goals, which include more relevant lessons and higher critical thinking skills, and in return receive funding from President Obama’s federal “Race to the Top” initiative It sounds like manna from Heaven, but across the country, opponents of Common Core are increasing in number, decrying everything from the actual material being taught to the way Common Core was approved and
implemented. Northgate High School mom Lisa Ackerman is an unofficial leaders of the anti-Common Core movement in Mount Diablo Unified School District, and she says that from the very beginning there was something wrong with the process. “Politicians would like you to
See Core page 3
Wide gulf remains between MDUSD and teacher demands DENISEN HARTLOVE Clayton Pioneer
JULIE PIERCE
MAYOR’S CORNER
Giving thanks for our close-knit community As we look forward to the holidays, my thoughts turn to how fortunate we are to live in such a caring and beautiful community. What makes our neighborhoods and community so special? We are more than a collection of houses planted side by side on a street. Clayton is a place where people connect with each other. Residents know who’s who and recognize familiar faces. We embrace our commonalities and appreciate our diversities. We
See Mayor page 9
Fire issues addressed at Town Hall meeting
Rochelle Douglass, Rochellez Photography
BOTH SIDES IN THE LATEST MDUSD MDEA DISPUTE NAMED THE PASSAGE OF PROP 30 as the reason the District has funds to increase their employees' compensation. The District however questions how far the funds can stretch to ensure all employees reap the benefits.
TAMARA STEINER Clayton Pioneer
Although it looks pretty black, the grasses are already beginning to sprout in the areas charred by the recent Morgan Fire. The fire, which started on Sept. 8, burned 3,111 acres, much of which had not seen fire in over 100 years. The blackened hillsides and downed trees have many residents concerned about runoff and mud slides during the rainy season. Representatives from CalFire, the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), Mt. Diablo State Park and Save Mount Diablo met with locals at a Town Hall meeting on Nov. 6 at the Clayton Library to answer questions. “The fire was a fairly moderate burn and nature will repair itself if left alone,” said Rich
It was a familiar sight to many on a recent Wednesday evening in front of the Mt. Diablo Unified School District offices: Teachers and parents crowded outside a Board of Education meeting, angrily shouting union slogans, waving signs and demanding increases in teacher compensation, while district negotiators and board members stared worriedly back. The rancor between union negotiators and MDUSD’s bargaining team has been ongoing. Previous negotiations between Mt. Diablo Education Association and the district relating to compensation and furlough days have resulted in impasses between the parties. Sacramento-based Public Employment Relations Board has been forced, like an annoyed parent, to mediate the disputes again and again. Currently, MDEA teachers are given $3,300 in compensation annually towards medical See MDUSD page 6
50 years...can it be? TAMARA STEINER Clayton Pioneer
John Fitzgerald Kennedy May 29, 1917 – November 22, 1963
Today marks 50 years since the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. For the past month, TV specials, magazines and newspapers have relived, recreated and remembered the 1000 days of “Camelot” and the horror of that day in Dallas. What have we learned in the past 50 years? Are we smarter? Are we more prepared? What did we lose? What did we gain. How would the world be different today if he’d lived? Would there have been a 9/11?
See Fire page 3
What’s Inside Around Town . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Book Review . . . . . . . . . . . .19 Classified . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 Club News . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
Community Calendar . . . . .16 Concord City Beat . . . . . . . .8 Design and Décor . . . . . . . .15 Directory of Advertisers . . . . .5 DVMS Reporter . . . . . . . . . .6 Food for Thought . . . . . . . .20 Garden Girl . . . . . . . . . . . . .19
Get Up & Get OutHoliday . .17 Shopping Guide . . . . . . . . .10 Letters to the Editor . . . . . . .6 Pets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15 Performing Arts . . . . . . . . . .18 Police Activity Report . . . . . .5 Resal Estate . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
WWKD? What would Kennedy do? We can’t timetravel and the dead can’t speak. We can only speculate thoughtfully, read and re-read his words carefully and act deliberately. Fifty years sounds like a long time – a half a century. But, it still seems so fresh. I was 17 in 1963 and in love with a sandy-haired man who looked me in the eye and told me it was not only possible to be better than we are, it was expected of us. He told me the world was bigger than I thought. He told me to question and search -- to ask what I could do for my Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 Sports Talk . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13 Sports Shorts . . . . . . . . . . .14 Tech Talk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15 Teen Reads . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 Teen Speak . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 The Pocket Parent . . . . . . . .6
country. He told me to strive and to never stop thinking. He said education was the answer to peace and that we would go to the moon. He said ideals came before ideas.He spoke to the world. He spoke to me. I heard him. And I still believe. Inside are four personal reflections on the assassination of President Kennedy, all by someone who was a young adult in 1963. Each of us remembers differently. But, we all remember …and we still cry. Turn to page 7 for more JFK photos and remembrances.
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Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com
November 22, 2013
Around Town City Council honors respectful students
Veterans honored at Diamond Terrace event
BOY SCOUT DAVID LLATA SERVES DINNER to veteran Scott Waterhouse and his wife, Karen, at a recent Veterans Day dinner at Diamond Terrace.
Veterans were in the spotlight earlier this month at a special Veterans Day dinner at Diamond Terrace. Boy Scout Troop 484 and a Girl Scout from Troop 31895 performed the Flag Ceremony and served dinner with the help of students from the CVCHS Public Service Academy. “It was a very touching evening simply meant to show our appreciation for our veterans,” said Diamond Terrace Administrator, Ellen Diamond. “Most of our residents are themselves veterans.”
Scouts give a hand to Toys for Tots
Students keep on Doing the Right Thing Eight local students were honored by the Clayton City Council at the Nov. 5 meeting as part of the continuing “Do The Right Thing” community wide initiative. The program emphasizes six traits important to character development and rotates them throughout the year. These eight students were all nominated by their teachers for showing great respect to their teachers, peers and parents. Students nominated from Mt. Diablo Elementary were Kaden Rose and Sophia Carcamo; from Diablo View Middle School – Elijah Stolarz and Nicholas Charbonneau; and from CVCHS-Malcolm Pratt, Hailey Pascoe (not present at the meet-
LOCAL STUDENTS RECEIVED DTRT CERTIFICATES OF RECOGNITION from Mayor Julie Pierce at the Nov. 5 meeting: Standing in front: Kaden Rose, Sophia Carcamo; Behind: Marissa Espinosa, De’Angelo Cabuloy, Mayor Pierce, Malcolm Pratt, Nicholas Charbonneau, Elijah Stolarz.
ing), De’Angelo Cabuloy and Marissa Espinosa. The program has been enthusiastically embraced by the city, the schools and the police department. Each school
designs their own programs around the rotating traits. In January, the emphasis will shift to Kindness, followed by “Selfdiscipline, Integrity, Courage and Responsibility.
Riveras celebrate 50 years together Al and Christine Rivera, long-time Concord residents and members of St. Bonaventure’s Catholic Church, celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on Nov. 9. The two met at a Catholic singles club in Oakland and were married in St. Cornelius Church in Richmond, Calif. They have two sons and two grandsons. Al served in the armed forces in WWII and worked for most of his career at Transamerica Title. Christine worked for the Richmond Fire Department before the marrying Al and becoming a full time homemaker. They celebrated their anniversary at a family dinner earlier this month and are enjoying their retirement by traveling and visiting with family and friends.
CADETTE TROOP 31227 AND BROWNIE TROOP 32501 used their teamwork skills to sort toys with volunteers for the Toys for Tots program at the Marine Corps building in Concord. The toys are given as Christmas gifts to local children in need. Coordinator Staff Sgt. Brendan Ludington on the right thanked the troops for their service. (Front): Madeline Schmitt, Sarah Kindorf, Ally Ibbeson, Mattea McClosky, Savanah Handler, Molly Sielman. (Back): Jayna Regehr, Samantha Handler, Emma Cuddy, Sophia Zuniga-Miller, Cassidy Baumann, Piper Christensen, Chloe Pearson.
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November 22, 2013
More Around Town
Alice and David Isakson celebrate Golden Anniversary
David and Alice Isakson will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary on Dec. 1. The couple will renew their vows at St. David’s Episcopal Church in Pittsburg where they were married and celebrate at a reception with details recreated from their wedding day. Family members will use carefully preserved memories and records to duplicate the menu and recreate their original wedding cake. Several members of their wedding party will be there to share in the celebration. David and Alice have lived in Clayton since 1976. They both grew up locally and graduated from Pittsburg High School. David owns a civil engineering and land surveying company in Walnut Creek. They have two daughters and nine grandchildren.
Concord
Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com
Core, from page 1 think that it was a collaborative process, but the groups who came up with Common Core aren’t elected officials,” she says. The movement was developed by the National Governors Association and the Council of Chief State School Officers, two lobbying groups, with support from such places as the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. New testing of Common Core standards will all be done on computers. Ackerman also decries the small window parents and other concerned parties had to understand and approve the new standards. The state adopted the plans in a small two-month window in November-January of 2009-10. Also of concern was the fact that Common Core calls for a nationwide database of all students that can be accessed by anyone. “This is a safety issue for me,” she says. She also fears that by looking “deeper” rather than “wider,” students will not get access to important learning materials, such as the classics in literature. “And some of the books that are on the
approved list aren’t appropriate for high school sophomores,” she said. “They’re too adult.” But at this point, the district is still working out the exact books that will be used, and it is possible many will be biographies, or articles read on e-readers. TEACHING THE ‘REAL WORLD’ Technology is a huge aspect of Common Core, and Ackerman is worried that the cost of adding new equipment such as ereaders — and the training involved for teachers in all areas of the curriculum — will cripple an already cash-strapped district. District officials queried still don’t have a firm analysis on what switching to Common Core will cost the district, or how much federal and state money will be available. In fact, the only sure thing about Common Core right now is that students will no longer take STAR tests next spring; instead, certain grade levels will be tested on different subjects, and a sampling of students at each school will take online tests that mimic
Fire, from page 1 Casale, conservation specialist with the NRCS. “The hardest thing for people to do is nothing.” he said. “But sometimes, nothing is best.” However, the east-facing slope on North Peak is bare down to Perkins Canyon. And residents along hard-hit Morgan Territory Road are concerned about mudslides when the heavy rains hit this winter. Crews have cut divots in the vulnerable areas to keep runoff from cascading straight down, Casale explained. He advises property owners to keep culverts and creek beds clear of debris and to
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use silt fences, loose straw and slashed sandbags in erosion areas. “Don’t spread black plastic over the ground and beware of ‘schlocks’ that want to sell you ‘wax sprayers’ and other ‘junk’ you don’t need and won’t work,” Casale warned. “We are already seeing huge leaf drops,” he noted. “Don’t disturb them. They protect the soil and encourage regrowth.” Casale does not recommend reseeding, which only gives surface stability, not slope stability. The fire was relatively “cool burning” so there isn’t much “white ash” over the soil. Growth in the areas is already
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future Common Core testing. But all of that isn’t deterring education leaders like Linzey and MDUSD Superintendent Nellie Meyer from embracing the new model. “As with any transition to new curriculum, there will be a learning curve for teachers in the classroom,” Linzey says. “We are supporting our teachers in this transition with extensive professional development. We believe in the purpose and focus of the Common Core State Standards, which is to better prepare students with 21st century skills of higher level thinking and literacy. They are based on research on how students learn best and what’s needed to prepare them for college and work.” Linzey and Meyer cite several key areas where Common Core will be beneficial: • Fewer, clearer, and higher standards, so content can be taught to a greater degree of depth using more critical thinking and then expecting effective application of knowledge to realworld situations. • They are aligned with college and work expectations, so that all students are prepared for starting. Damage from bulldozer lines has been backfilled and spread with organic matter, said CalFire Battalion Chief Mike Marcucci. Grazing would not have helped prevent the Morgan Fire, said Seth Adams of Save Mount Diablo. Grazing only helps control grassland. The Morgan Fire burned dense woodlands. Controlled burns may be a good way to limit fuel on the mountain, especially the west side, said State Park spokesman, Dave Matthews. But staff and resources are limited, he said, and air quality is always an issue. For information on erosion control, call the Natural Resources Conservation Service, (925) 672-4577. For information on fire safe landscaping, go to diablofiresafe.org.
Clayton
Page 3 Common Core resources The California Dept. of Education: cde.ca.gov/re/cc/ The Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium (In the process of designing/developing the new Common Core assessments): smarterbalanced.org Contra Costa County Office of Education Common Core resources: cccoe.k12.ca.us/edsvcs/cccs_main.html Californians United Against Common Core: CUACC.org Common Core website: corestandards.org
success upon graduating from high school. “Colleges are really the tail that wags the dog,” Meyer says. • They are internationally benchmarked, so that all students are prepared for succeeding in our global economy and society. • The research and evidencebased. “The benefits are that students will be better prepared for college and the careers of the future,” Linzey says. “Additionally, teachers will be encouraged to go into greater depth in their lessons and
make greater and more relevant application to student’s lives.” If all this sounds puzzling, you’re not alone. Actually implementing Common Core will be a major undertaking, and Meyer and Linzey say parents should familiarize themselves with all the aspects of the curriculum — the good and the bad (see Sidebar for a list of online resources). Like any new thing, it’s not going to be easy,” Meyer says of implementing Common Core. “That’s just the nature of change.”
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1938 Holly Creek Place, Concord New Construction – 4BD/3.5BA with stunning custom craftsmanship from the stone pillared extended porch to the light-filled open rooms with the latest designs and tones. A fantastic kitchen, huge master suite, and views to Mt. Diablo. Huge, landscaped lot to enjoy! Cal BRE#01329100
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Page 4
Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com
November 22, 2013
This year will be our tenth annual Christmas Cookie Contest and your chance to stir, bake and taste up a storm of those sweets that bust the diet and send us over the moon.
Deadline for entry is Dec. 10
So, dust off the cookbooks and dig out Uncle Bud’s sugar cookie recipe, bake a few practice rounds & enter our contest.
Judging Party is Dec. 12, 6:30 p.m. in the Clayton Library Community Room. Be there for live music and caroling led by Clayton’s Van Liew family with games and crafts for the little ones and photos with Santa. Recipes and photos of winners will appear in the Dec. 20 issue.
Clayton Pioneer’s
2013 CHRISTMAS COOKIE CONTEST ENTRY FORM Please fill out a separate form for each entry.
Name (Please print) Address (Must reside in the Pioneer Distribution area 94517, 94518 or 94521) Phone Number Email address Name of Recipe
Master Baker (16+) Junior Baker (Ages 6-15)
Contestant agrees to being photographed at the competition. Recipes used from published books must identify source. Signature
Your age____
Parent's Signature (for Junior Bakers)
Mail your entry to: the Clayton Pioneer, PO Box 1246, Clayton, CA 94517; or drop off at our office at 6200 H Center Street, Clayton. If the office is closed, slip it through the mail slot.
Deadline to enter is 5 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 10
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November 22, 2013
Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com
Police Activity Report
P.O. Box 1246 6200 Center Street, Suite H, Clayton, CA 94517 TAMARA AND R OBERT S TEINER , Publishers TAMARA S TEINER , Editor P ETE C RUZ , Graphic Design P EGGY S PEAR , Copy Editor J AY B EDECARRÉ, Sports PAMELA W IESENDANGER , Administration S TAFF W RITERS : Denisen Hartlove, Pam Wiesendanger, Peggy Spear
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ARRESTS: Nov. 1, 12:16 a.m. Kirker Pass Rd./Clayton Rd. A 30-year-old Concord male was arrested for DUI, driving while license suspended; probation violation. Nov. 5, 3:50 p.m. 5400 Clayton Rd. Two 18-year-old males from Martinez were arrested for fraud: solicit for charitable/religious purposes. The suspects were soliciting funds in Clayton Station near the Walgreens for a fictitious basketball team so they could travel to a tournament. Officer Shaw saw them and noticed the name of the team. Officer Shaw made an arrest in a similar case involving the same team name a year ago. He investigated further, ultimately making an arrest in this case.
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Nov. 12, 11:44 a.m. Oakhurst Dr./Indian Wells Way. A 41-yearold Antioch male was arrested for driving while license suspended.
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BURGLARIES/THEFTS: Nov. 4, Yolanda Cr. Grand Theft. Nov. 6, 6700 Marsh Creek Rd. Burglary – Commercial. Nov. 6, Arrowhead Ter. Petty Theft. Nov. 6, Verna Way. Burglary – Vehicle. Nov. 8, Rachel Ranch Ct. Burglary – Vehicle.
Financial, Insurance and Legal Services DuRee, Daniel – The Law Office of . . . . . . . . . . .210-1400 Littorno, Richard – The Law Office of . . . . . . . . .432-4211 Sorensen, David – Wells Fargo . . . . . . . . . . . . . .296-3086 Travis Credit Union . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .888-698-0000 Van Wyck, Doug – State Farm Insurance . . . . . .672-2300
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have a passion for community journalism. Assignments are made on a freelance basis. Writers must be local (Clayton or Concord residents), and have a polished, lively and interesting style. Send two short writing samples — a straight news story and a feature or profile to tamara@claytonpioneer.com. Include contact information and a cover letter.
Flower Gardening by Nicole Hackett Perennial, ornamental, rose and container care. Keep your garden in flowers this year with monthly fertilizing and pruning visits. Email for consultation or details. Gardengirl94517@yahoo.com.
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HELP WANTED Computer Tech Growing business has position for onsite pro computer tech in Contra Costa County. Must have experience in Windows and Mac OS, network repair and troubleshooting. ComputersUSA! 672-9989. Sales Associate Rodie's Feed & Pet Supply is looking for an animal-loving, team player with excellent customer service skills. Shifts 2-3 days per week; 8.5 hours. Contact Nicole for more information: nicole@rodiesfeed.com or 672-4600. Come join Mazzei Realty! Currently interviewing and hiring new and experienced real estate agents. Call 693-0757 for details.
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VOLUNTEERS NEEDED Help Fight Hunger Anna Chan – AKA: The Lemon Lady needs your help! Weekly commitment appreciated. For more info and contact numbers, go to thelemonlady.blogspot.com. Clayton Historical Society Museum needs a greeter for two hours per month from 2-4 p.m. Wednesdays or Sundays. Call the museum at 672-0240 and leave your name. Clayton Community Library needs volunteers. Minimum age 13. Minimum commitment is 6 months. Some training provided. Contact Arlene at 673-9777 or nielsenjanc@aol.com.
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Nov. 11, 2:29 a.m. Clayton Rd./Mitchell Canyon Rd. A 22year-old Pittsburg male was arrested for DUI.
Nov. 6, 2:19 a.m. Clayton Rd./Lydia Ln. A 23-year-old Concord male was arrested for DUI; resisting arrest.
News & Feature Writers The Clayton Pioneer is looking for news and feature writers who
Classified
Directory of Advertisers Construction and Trades Appliance Repairs by Bruce, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-2700 Belfast Plumbing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .457-5423 Burkin Electric . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-1519 Diablo View Construction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .822-5144 Gary’s Home Repair . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .787-2500 Iron Horse Concrete . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .566-8666 Steffan Smith Construction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .914-0497 Tipperary Construction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .216-2679
Police Activity for two weeks ending Nov. 14, 2013 ACCIDENTS: Nov. 7, 3:50 p.m. Clayton Rd./Duncan Dr. Nov. 8, 8:08 a.m. Mt. Teton Ct./Mountaire Cr.
Page 5
Meals on Wheels is looking for volunteer drivers one day a week between 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Make a tremendous difference to seniors in your community. Contact Sharon Fitzgerald at 932-8607 or sfitzgerald@mowsos.org today!
Funerals Ouimet Funeral Home . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .682-4242 Groceries Doorstep Farmers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .349-4568 Home and Garden Diablo Lawnscape . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .381-3757 Interiors Panache . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-7920 Refresh Pool Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .286-8601 The Floor Store . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .969-9890 Utopic Gardens . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .524-0055 Waraner Bros. Tree Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .831-2323 Waraner Tree Experts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .250-0334 Optometry Foresight Optometry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-4100 Pet Services All Paws Dog Walking Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .332-8856 Cat Hospital of Clayton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-2287 Monte Vista Veterinary Hospital . . . . . . . . . . . . . .276-5744 Pittsburg Pet Resort . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .432-7387 Rodie's Feed and Pet Supply . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-4600 Real Estate and Mortgage Services French, Lynne – Windermere Real Estate . . . . . .672-8787 Geddes-Sinclaire, Christine – Alain Pinel . . . . . .286-7593 Howard, Don – Better Homes Realty . . . . . . . . . .408-3184 Howard, Emily – Better Homes Realty . . . . . . . .408-1871 Klock, Leigh – Coldwell Banker . . . . . . . . . . . . . .212-5593 Landgraf, Linda – Prudential . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .876-0311 Laurence, Pete – RE/MAX Realty . . . . . . . . . . . .890-6004 Lopez, Stephanie – Coldwell Banker . . . . . . . . . .932-7329 Mazzei, Matt – Mazzei Realty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .693-0757 Stojanovich, Jennifer – Better Homes Realty . . .567-6170 Vujnovich, George - Better Homes Realty . . . . . .672-4433 Recreation and Fitness Levity Fitness Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-2995 Senior Services Chateau on Broadway . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .686-1700 Montecito – Oakmont Senior Living . . . . . . . . . . .852-6702 Services, Other 1-800-Junkster . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .800-586-5783 ComputersUSA! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-9989 Net Solutions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-6029 Travel Travel to Go . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-9840 Holiday Guide Bella Mia Spa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .680-7792 Clayton Business and Community Association . .672-2272 Clayton Furniture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .686-2299 Dana Hills Crafters Fair . . . . . . .shaunamaffei@gmail.com Earthquake Arabians . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .360-7454 Lehmer’s Concord Buick GMC . . . . . . . . . . . . . .344-4205 Nichols Landscape . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-9955 Super Holiday Boutique . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Maids . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .798-6243 The UPS Store . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .689-6245 Walker, Becky – Nails . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .640-8995
Kindness Do the Right Thing
Page 6
Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com
Editorial
Letters to the Editor
Second Amendment rights and rational gun control both possible In the Oct. 25 issue, the lead sports story was “Eagle-eyed CV senior earns marksmanship honor.” We ran the story because we value and celebrate all in our community who are skilled and outstanding at what they do. We do not see a talented young teenager with her rifle and medals as promoting a gun culture. Guns appropriately belong on the shooting range. Skeet shooting, target shooting and duck hunting, while perhaps distasteful to some, are not a
slippery slope to mass killings with high-powered automatic assault weapons. Sensible, enforceable gun control laws are not incompatible with second amendment rights. We can achieve both with rational debate, balance and common sense. We again congratulate CVCHS senior, Quincy Winship, on achieving what only 121 others in the United States have achieved: the Triple Distinguished Expert Award from the National Rifle Association of America. We are proud of the story and we are proud of Ms. Winship. Tamara Steiner Editor and Publisher
In a Letter to the Editor in the last issue, Ray Spence took exception to our story on marksmanship champion, Quincy Winship. Our readers answer. Never in my more than seven decades have I ever been compelled to write the editor of a newspaper, but I feel strongly that someone must rebuke the editorial written by Ray Spence on November 11. I am neither for nor against gun control, but to demonize an obviously talented young Clayton girl because someone is so ill-informed about her sport or her accomplishments is disheartening, to say the least. As far as the Pioneer not recogniz-
November 22, 2013
ing “academic achievements,” anyone who had taken the time to read the article in completion would note that Quincy Winship is a Scholar Athlete and a member of the California Scholastic Foundation. When my boy went to Clayton Valley High, that meant a 4.0 grade point average. [Your] excellently written article of October 25 of the young girl marksman…is an inspiration…This article should not have been put in the Sports Section; it should have run on the front page. “Doc” Martin
paper cover to cover pretty much each issue when it arrives. I cannot for the life of me figure out why you chose to print the letter from Ray Spence regarding Quincy Winship. Why would you allow someone to tear down a young woman like this? I don’t see this as an ad for “pro-gun” or the NRA. If he had read the article thoroughly, he would see that she is also a great student and performs much needed public service. Mr. Spence should read your paper more carefully, there ARE quite a few articles regarding many students’ academic achievements. Michael West
I am a local resident residing in Peacock Creek. I read your
[Mr. Spence’s] letter emoted highly exaggerated phrases like
“pro gun culture,” “disturbing,” “never,” “nonsense,” [and] was “disturbing” to me. Perhaps [he] is not aware that a “pro gun culture” is more commonly known as our country’s Bill of Rights? Or the statement “Our future does not lay in teenagers learning how to shoot guns” was in the very same paper that heralded the heroism of our Veterans who fight, you know, with guns? I believe young people should learn to protect themselves, especially women. Perhaps one day, because of [Quincy Winship’s] interests, she’ll be that sharp shooter that keeps a dignitary, or a small child, safe from someone who SHOULDN’T have a gun, but does. Allison Snow
Can schools rid themselves of ‘bad’ teachers? ROBBIE PARKER
TEENSPEAK Most people who enjoyed the 1984-hit, The Karate Kid, will remember old Mr. Miyagi’s infinitely wise one-liners. When not dishing out impromptu martial art lesions to teenage boys, he offered bits of Eastern philosophy and iconic wisdom. In fact, one of the most
famous movie quotes of all time sprang from Mr. Miyagi’s own instruction: “No such thing as bad student, only bad teacher.” Even though the movie is two decades old, this quote is particularly applicable to today’s world. If students cannot take the blame for poor performance, then does the fault lie in the hands of the teacher? Most graduates of the public school system will admit that they, at one time or another, were the victim of a “bad” teacher. Whether “bad” signifies incompetence, stringency or apathy, is much more personal. There is the teacher who
is the drill sergeant in the Marine Corps, who believes each student must be sufficiently broken in order to build up back up. On the other hand, there is the teacher who attempts to lecture, but lack of control over the class results in educational anarchy. Even the teacher who relies solely upon packets and videos to cover the lessons can seriously inhibit a student’s education. Regardless of the situation in individual classrooms, the California schools continue to scrape rock bottom. Economic hardship is clearly visible in our schools, and yearly student performance remains a hit-and-
miss. Conversely, Clayton Valley Charter High is bucking the trend. Student performance has only increased, and construction on campus is a visible reminder of the school’s fiscal health. Thanks to the school’s teachers in particular, CVCHS can now compete on the academic playing field. Although Clayton Valley’s constantly improving scores are the products of its hardworking teachers, every school has a few dark stains on its record of educators. While the Charter certainly brought many changes to the school, one I was pleased with was the promise to remove inadequate teachers without
‘Beautiful Disaster’ gives way to hope Abby Abernathy is your ideal image of a flawless teenage girl. She gets good grades, stays away from parties, and doesn’t do anything that would risk ruining her picture-perfect personality and revealing her troubling past. In “Beautiful Disaster” by Jamie McGuire (Atria Books; August 2012), as Abby begins college with her best friend, America, she meets Travis Maddox, an alcoholic fight club champion. After they accidentally become friends,
EMILY YORK
TEEN READS Abby and Travis made a bet that she gradually lost result-
ing in her moving in to his apartment for one month. Even though Abby was already in a relationship, something about Travis reeled her into his grasp. Sooner or later, the two fell unconditionally in love with each other. While overcoming jealousy and some skeletons in their closets, Abby and Travis learn that you can’t go back in time and fix what you broke and that sometimes the only way to survive is to stop hoping.
In my opinion, “Beautiful Disaster” by Jamie McGuire is a more intense version of the “Twilight” series by Stephenie Meyer. A captivating yet not too earnest novel about forgetting the past and anticipating the future. This is a powerful book that takes a lot of integrity to read, but once you understand the concept, you will wish that it was a trilogy.
PETE CALDWELL
THE POCKET PARENT
MDUSD, from page 1 benefits (the total amounts to closer to $4,754.84, including dental and vision, according to a Contra Costa Times analysis of the benefit figures). The union’s current demand is for Kaiser single-person medical coverage to be entirely paid by the District, an amount estimated to be $7,300, as well as a 7 percent pay increase. The District’s last and best counter-offer in the negotiations that began last April is still short $2,382.24 from the union’s demand.
Concord City Councilman Ron Leone was present at the rally. “It does impact our community, by making sure we attract – and retain – the best teachers,” he said, of the union demand. Leone has firsthand knowledge. His daughter grew up in MDUSD schools, and having gone on to get her own teacher credential, considered working for the district. However, due to current pay scales, including the lack of health care coverage, he said, she took a posi-
Removing an incompetent employee from the average workplace has never been controversial; yet when it comes to firing potentially inadequate teachers, a frenzy of debate erupts. Nevertheless, I believe CVCHS made the most appropriate and beneficial decision. In any occupation, employers replace those who cannot fulfill performance expectations with those who can. Why should there be a separate standard for teachers? Students who are willing to learn deserve the best education possible. Robbie Parker is a junior at Clayton Valley Charter High School. Send comments to Robbie@claytonpioneer.com
DVMS sees red in anti-drug week
Emily York is a freshman at CVCHS.
SAHIL KOTTAL DVMS REPORTER
Kids can learn how to be creative Q. My husband and I are looking for an opinion on how to help foster our child’s creativity. He tends to think you’re either that kind of person or not, and I think there are things one can do to help creativity grow. Thoughts? A. I think your husband may be right in one sense; with a few notable exceptions, history’s most innovative thinkers came out of families and environ-
requiring district sanction. However, the actual enactment of this notion failed to impress me. Last school year, Clayton Valley employed a handful of teachers who were less than desired by students. In one instance in particular, students drafted a non-official petition to have a teacher fired. During this time, it was exceedingly common to hear students protest and criticize certain teachers. In the end, the school responded to collective student demands, and replaced teachers unable to uphold the motto of “rigor, relevance, and relationships.” Whether a school decides to retain or dismiss a teacher remains a questionable issue.
ments where they were uniquely creative. Something other than their environment and experience helped shape their brilliance, something a bit more mysterious. Basically, we don’t know how to create a Curie, or an Einstein or a Picasso. We would if we could. That said, there are a multitude of studies that show that certain approaches to looking at problems tend to train children
to become more creative in their approach to the next problem. This can be trained. Family culture plays a big part as well. What does your child do when he or she is bored? If the go-to response is passively experiencing media (TV, Internet) I think there will be consequences down the road in terms of cognitive agility.
See Parent, page 8
Halloween has just passed last week, and while everyone was still putting out decorations and finding costumes, Diablo View Middle School was celebrating a different occasion. Red Ribbon was this occasion and students were going all out. Red Ribbon Week is a week where students promise to stay drug and tobacco free. This is an important time in kids’ lives because most drug and tobacco addictions start at an early age. This also means students can earn points for their class team by dressing out and showing their spirit for their school.
tion in Antioch instead. MDEA members were joined at the rally by parents and members of other district employee unions, including Teamsters Local 856 and the Classified School Employees Association (which includes interpreters, campus supervisors, and physical education assistants). CSEA President Annie Nolen pointed out that at least one of their employees, after paying taxes and health benefits for her family based on district benefit plans, receives no actual take-home salary. Their union is currently in
the midst of negotiations with the district as well. “If they get a 7 percent raise, we want 7 percent,” she said. Although the parties’ numbers don’t seem far apart, the tone of negotiations may be a driver of the impasse as well. According to MDEA President Guy Moore, the district’s last and best offer was given to the Contra Costa Times before he received it, despite district assurances that off-the-record negotiations would remain confidential. “There is deep distrust in the district towards management,” he said. “They run the
organization like there’s a time warp, a 1940s management versus labor organization.” District counsel Deb Cooksey, however, insisted at the most recent board meeting that the negotiators have been acting in good faith, and that prior to publicizing the District’s most recent offer, the information was transmitted to MDEA Executive Director Mark York. Remarkably, in spite of the rhetoric and the remaining gap in numbers , the district agrees with its teachers – and other employees seeking further coverage of benefits – that an
Monday the students were given wristbands to wear throughout the week. The wristbands say “The best me is drug and tobacco free.” On Tuesday was neon day and the motto was “We’re too bright for drugs.” Wednesday was crazy sock day and the motto was “Rock-it and sock-it to drugs.” Thursday, as it was Halloween, and students wore costumes to school. The motto for Thursday was “Hocus pocus, drugs are not on our focus.” Finally, Friday was wear red day. This too showed that kids are above the influence of drugs. The motto of the day was “Don’t let drugs twist your mind.” This annual event a great way to get kids to not do drugs. If you or your child would like to learn more about staying away from drugs please visit www.justthinktwice.com. Sahil Kattal is a student at Diablo View Middle School with a strong interest in journalism.
increase in compensation is in order. “There are a lot of people in this district that can’t afford to work here, “said Cooksey at the meeting. “The question is, we have to figure out what to do with all that money that benefits all the groups.” Newly-hired District Superintendent Dr. Nellie Meyer summarized the parties’ positions, characterizing the conflict as resulting from impatience on both sides. ”I don’t think it’s ill will on anyone’s part,” she said. “Just a decision to fix things.”
November 22, 2013
Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com
Page 7
Reflections on the assassination of President John. F. Kennedy The “torch” that was passed to a new generation with JFK’s inaugural address did not end with the eternal flame that marks his grave at Arlington. But equally, his assassination delineated two different ages in our American life and psyche. It was that “9/11” moment for what would become the tumultuous sixties, where everything was subsequently seen and understood with a far more sober reality. The American war in Southeast Asia begun under JFK would eventually be repudiated. The civil rights movement begun during JFK’s brief term in the White House would make significant strides; despite the assassinations of Bobby and Martin. Neil Armstrong would step foot on the moon, but that giant leap for humankind would otherwise elude us. The world went completely mad for a day in November, 1963, at the hands of a deranged ideologue with a gun. The flame has not gone out, but our violent history repeats itself with numbing regularity, while the hope and struggle continue. John Bennison, Wordsnways.com I was 14 and a student at a Catholic high school in Elyria, Ohio, a small city a bit west of Cleveland. Our 7th period Latin class was interrupted by a loud speaker announcement from the principal. President Kennedy was shot and injured in an assassination attempt in Dallas. The father of my good friend in that class was Elyria’s mayor. The mayor and his family had hosted the Kennedy family on a campaign stop a few years earlier. I remember thinking how bad my friend must be feeling. After school we headed to the local downtown restaurant hang out, the Paradise Restaurant. In that era portable transistor radios were omnipresent. By that time it was confirmed that Mr Kennedy was dead. Walking through downtown all kinds of rumors were flying about. One specific one was that the killer was caught in a theater and “torn limb from limb.” I’m sure we were numb sitting and staring at our lemon cokes and gravy fries that day. Many were crying. The restaurant was run by an older immigrant couple from Greece, Harry and Dorothy Zahars. If we got rowdy, Harry would stand up on one of the tables and give us a heavily-accented lecture on how he expected us to behave! It was not unusual, then, for us to see Harry climbing up to his perch that day. His message that day was clear; even in the hardest times we have to remain strong... especially the young people. That night I didn’t think I’d ever get to sleep. It was snowing outside. Lying in my bed watching the flakes flutter by the street light, I wondered if it was the end of the world It wasn’t. Woody Whitlatch I was 20 at the time and married. I have tried to reflect on the assassination and what it all means and words largely escape me. I watched the two PBS specials last night and it refreshed the anger, the sadness and all the emotions in between from that time. It was my mother’s birthday but as you might imagine there was no celebration. I remember the country pulling together for a time, just like after 9/11. Watching the PBS special I reflected on the Cuban Missile Crisis – a big “what if Kennedy hadn’t been president” moment. I think you will agree journalism has changed since Kennedy was president. At one time, there was a “gentleman’s” agreement that a politician’s private life was private. Today if the president’s fork is on the wrong side of his plate, it’s reported. If it’s not there Photoshop will put it there. Rich Leuck Just a few weeks ago I had an opportunity to visit the JFK Presidential Library in Boston. It was a destination that has been on my bucket list for some time. While the historical documents and photos were displayed beautifully, it was the sound of his voice in each exhibit that brought back vivid memories of those days of Camelot. It was a chilling reminder of what we had lost. I am glued to the television this month with all of the documentaries remembering his life and death. It was a sobering time and I don’t know if we will ever really find out all the details of that fateful day and how different our world would now be. Peggy Bidondo
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Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com
November 22, 2013
City jazzed to honor Brubeck with Concord’s ‘Official’ song was born on Dec. 6, 1920 in Concord and attended Willow Pass Grammar School. Like his father, Brubeck had planned to become a rancher. He went to the College of the Pacific (now the University of the Pacific) in 1938, with the intention of majoring in veterinary medicine, but due to his interest in music, that changed. He graduated in 1942 and was drafted by the Army, where he served (mostly as a musician) under Gen. George S. Patton in Europe. At the time, his Wolfpack Band was the only racially integrated unit in the military. In an interview for Ken Burns’ PBS miniseries “Jazz,” Brubeck talked about playing for troops with his integrated band, only to return to the U.S. to see his black bandmates refused service in a restaurant
RON LEONE
CONCORD CITY BEAT In recognizing the world renowned jazz artist and Concord’s native son Dave Brubeck, I proposed at the Nov. 12 city council meeting that we designate the signature song “Take Five” as the City of Concord’s official song. Dave Brubeck was highly revered as a jazz musician. He
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in Texas. Brubeck had a career that spanned almost all American jazz since World War II. He formed The Dave Brubeck Quartet in 1951 and was the first modern jazz musician to be pictured on the cover of Time magazine (Nov. 8, 1954). He has performed at the White House and in concerts all over the world. He is the recipient of four honorary degrees, the BMI Jazz Pioneer Award, and the American Eagle Award, presented by the National Music Council. He helped define the swinging, smoky rhythms of 1950s and ‘60s club jazz. He has written a number of pieces that have become jazz standards. The influential album “Time Out,” was released by the quartet in 1959, and was the firstever million-selling jazz LP, and is still among the best-selling jazz albums of all time. The album featured his musical masterpiece, “Take Five” (in 5/4 time) which became the quartet’s signature theme and even made the Billboard singles chart in 1961. Concord Boulevard Neighborhood Park was the birth place of jazz performances in Concord dating back to 1969 with the first Concord Summer Festival, later known as the Concord Jazz Festival. Dave Brubeck’s participation in the early years of the Concord Jazz Festival between 1969 to 1974 contributed to impetus for building the Concord Pavilion. Concord Boulevard Neighborhood Park has since been renamed the Dave Brubeck Park in honor of the many accomplishments jazz artist Brubeck has achieved over the years.
Parent, from page 6
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Requiring that things your child does always be done in an orderly, and expected way also tends to tamp down any potential creative expression. It’s fine – and important – to have clear behavioral limits. It’s not so great to impose limits on thinking. Also hard for some folks is to let their child be a little weird. If your best response to “Why can’t I … “ is “It’s just not what people do,” you might want to be even more thoughtful about your discouragement. I encourage you to Google “How to help your child become a more creative thinker” for the studies I mentioned, and more details suggestions. Basically, though, the fact that you’re even having this conversation speaks well of your child’s chances. Pete Caldwell, MS, MFT is the Mental Health Director for We Care Services for Children. He teaches counseling courses at CSUEB in addition to maintaining a private practice.
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Brubeck died when he was almost 92 in 2012. Currently the City of Concord does not have an official tune. However, I believe making “Take Five” Concord’s official
song would be a great way to honor one of our greatest Concord native son. The response on the council was very positive, so we will get things hummin’ along soon.
Ron Leone, a Concord city councilman and former mayor, welcomes comments and questions. Call him at (925) 680-1776 or ronaldleone@comcast.net.
Concord Pavilion surprise: Live Nation remains in charge JAY BEDECARRÉ Clayton Pioneer
To the surprise of many, it appears the Concord City Council will approve an agreement with concert promoter Live Nation to continue operating the city-owned Sleep Train Pavilion in 2014 and for many years beyond. The matter is slated to be on the council agenda on Tuesday, Dec. 10, a week after the annual council reorganization will likely see Vice Mayor Tim Grayson voted in as mayor for a two-year term. Live Nation announced last week that premium seat tickets to a July 29, 2014 concert at the Sleep Train Pavilion in Concord featuring Journey, Steve Miller Band and Tower of Power are now on sale. Concord Director of Community and Recreation Services Joan Carrico explained that Live Nation had to make a commitment on the Journey package prior to the city concluding negotiations on a new contract. In the event Concord chooses another Pavilion operator, the July 29 event will be a
“one-time rental” by Live Nation. Carrico acknowledged that Live Nation and the city are hopeful of reaching an agreement that would extend the contract that first went into effect between Live Nation predecessor Bill Graham Presents and Concord in 1985. Live Nation took over full operation of the venue on Kirker Pass Road in 2000 and has renegotiated the contract with the city three times, most recently in March 2011. There has been both public and political dissatisfaction with meager Pavilion concert offerings in recent years. Live Nation has presented only 11 shows in each of the past three seasons, leading to speculation that another operator would get the opportunity to run the Pavilion when the current contract ends in December. Ironically, former Pavilion booking agent Nederlander Concerts was rumored to be making a strong push to secure the contract. It appears three companies, including Live Nation, made presentations to the city. Carrico says that the city will
be announcing some “exciting new things” for the Pavilion in the new deal. Since 2003 there have only been three years with as many as 20 concerts at the venue and only once in the past five years have there been more than 11 Pavilion shows. Annual attendance has been under 100,000 each of those years. In August, while discussing the process for securing a new Pavilion operator’s contract, Mayor Dan Helix was adamant that the city “can’t assume any risk” in meeting its annual financing payments (about $500,000) and he was “very enthusiastic about re-invigorating the Pavilion and returning the facility to a vibrant community asset.” Helix says negotiations have been “better than we expected” and he thinks the public will be “very happy” when a new agreement is formalized and specific plans, including the number of shows at the Pavilion, are announced Dec. 10. It remains to be seen if Live Nation will meet those goals as they start their 15th season in full charge of Pavilion scheduling.
Highlands student wins holiday pin contest
Photo courtesy city of Concord
AMANDA DAHLGREN AND CONCORD MAYOR DAN HELIX
Highlands Elementary fifthgrader Amanda Dahlgren received a high-five and a certificate from Concord Mayor Dan Helix at last week’s city council
meeting after she created the winning design in Concord’s 2013 Holiday Pin contest. The pins will be handed out at Concord’s Tree Lighting Celebration on Dec. 7. Because the event falls on Pearl Harbor Day, this year’s pin features the beacon on Mt. Diablo that is lit every year to commemorate the WWII attack on Pearl Harbor. This is the 15th year for the contest, which drew more than 100 entries, said city staff member Florence Weiss. “People have collected these pins for years.” Councilwoman Laura Hoffmeister has all 15 of them on a scarf that she wears to the event each year, said Weiss. The festivities begin at 4 p.m.
when Santa and the elves arrive aboard a bright red fire truck. They will hear children’s holiday wishes from 4 to 6 p.m. At 5 p.m. the music begins, with performances by community and school choirs followed by the Mayor’s SingAlong and the official tree lighting. Todos Santos Plaza is located in downtown Concord on Willow Pass Road between Mt. Diablo and Grant streets. For more information about downtown events, visit concordfirst.org or call the downtown hotline at 925671-3464.
Winter Camp teaches art and science of recycling As friends and families come together this Thanksgiving, Mt. Diablo Recycling is offering a fun, free way to educate your loved ones about the value of recycling at its first ever Winter Camp. The free Winter Camp sessions will take place from 10 a.m. to 1noon on Tuesday, Nov.26 and Wednesday, Nov. 27at Mt. Diablo Recycling, located at 1300 Loveridge Rd. in Pittsburg. The session, which are for all ages, will include interactive education about the 5 R’s —Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Respect the Earth and Recover — as well as compelling information about the increased impact we all have on the environment each holiday season. For example, the Environ-
mental Protection Agency reports that the volume of household waste in the U.S. increases 25 percent, or about 1 million extra tons, between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day. Attendees will also have the opportunity to take a tour of the 90,000-square-foot Mt. Diablo Recycling facility, including the “Big Blue” recycling machine and “Big Wall-e” the baler. The Winter Camp further includes a holiday reuse arts and crafts project that will be made on-site to take home. Project choices include a holiday ornament made out of reusable items, a bottle cap and tin can snowman, or recycled paper holiday cards. To sign up for one of the
free camp sessions, contact Mt. Diablo Recycling’s Adriana Medina by phone at 925-7712721 or you can send email to Adriana@Garaventaent.com. Mt. Diablo Recycling is one of the largest, state-of-the-art recycling centers in Northern California. It is part of the East Bay area’s oldest locally-owned waste management company, Garaventa Enterprises. Garaventa Enterprises offers state of the art waste management facilities and superior services and currently serves the areas of Concord, Pittsburg, Brentwood, Discovery Bay, Oakley and Rio Vista. For more information about Mt. Diablo Recycling visit mtdiablorecycling.com.
November 22, 2013
Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com
Page 9
Don’t put sale on hold for holidays Club News
LYNNE FRENCH
REAL ANSWERS Q. My home has been on the market for six weeks. With the holidays coming up, could you help me decide if I should take it off now and put it on after the first of the year? A. Homes sell anytime during the year. The biggest argument against keeping your home on the market during the holidays is that it is downright inconvenient. Most people have a hectic schedule with parties, houseguests, etc. Keeping a home in showing condition is a hassle. One way to minimize the disruption is to set up a modified showing schedule. It can be
shown by appointment or only available to show when it is convenient for you. There are many advantages in keeping it on the market during the holidays, especially this year. Interest rates are a big factor that can work in your favor. They are still the lowest they have been in over 50 years. When interest rates are low, and if there seems to be no threat that they will raise quickly, buyers become complacent. They don’t feel pressure to buy now. That is NOT the case now. There are so many indicators that may occur that will spike the rates up quickly, such as inflation. We know this will occur, we just don’t know when. Higher rates will lower prices because the buyer won’t be able to buy as much. This is the time for buyers to lock in their rates and make their purchase. Another reason to keep your home on the market is there will be less competition from other home sellers. Granted, there will be fewer buyers looking for homes in December compared to the spring and summer months. However, those buyers out looking in the winter are serious buyers not casual look-
Mayor, from page 1 share events of the day, celebrations and sorrows. Whether we form close friendships or remain casual acquaintances, we are bonded with each other in this beautiful space. Historically, town streets were one or two lanes wide and laid out on a grid. There were frequent cross streets and paths providing access to anywhere one needed to go. Houses were built with large
front porches. Garages were less prominent. Kids played together in the front yards or in a nearby field. Over the years our lives have become busier and our work takes us further from home. Kids play their games at regional sports fields. We enter and leave through attached garages instead of front doors. We may go days or weeks without even seeing our next-
ers. It only takes one buyer to make a sale. Even if home prices increase most buyers realize that they will do better to buy at a slightly higher price with a low interest rate. The forecast is that when interest rates increase they will go up sharply. Homes also look pretty and inviting during the holidays. Q. In this holiday season, where are some of the houses we see in the classic holiday movies? A. At RISMEDIA.com I found some movies where the homes definitely co-star with the actors. One in 2006, “The Holiday,” with Kate Winslet and Cameron Diaz, has the two swapping homes for the holiday season to get away from their troubles. The home Diaz swaps into is a quaint cottage in the English countryside. Winslow, however, takes over the swanky abode located in the small, affluent city of San Marino, California. The 10,324 -square foot mansion has nine bedrooms, five bathrooms and a large pool also featured in the film. It last sold in 1998 for $3,250,000. door neighbors. It’s easy to feel less connected to each other. While the physical environment has evolved, it’s still our residents who make our community special. School, church activities, scouting, youth sports, service groups and local events bring people together around common interests. In Clayton, volunteers run our local July 4th Parades, Art & Wine Festival, Okoberfest and summer Concerts in The Grove, which are sources of civic pride and city-wide community. Bringing that sense of connection to a
In 2003 the controversial “Bad Santa” was a favorite for Billy Bob Thornton fans. Thornton plays a Grinch of a mall Santa who robs the mall after hours. He befriends a troubled kid and takes up residence in his house while the parents are out of town. The stuccostyle home featured in the film is in the West Hills, California. It was last listed at $1 million and has panoramic city views, a custom infinity pool and is 4,100 square feet. In 1990 “Home Alone” was the booby-trapping holiday favorite. Macaulay Culkin’s character Kevin McCallister shared most of the screen time with the picturesque house the family called home. The actual house sits quietly on a tree-lined street in Winnetka, Illinois. It was built in 1920 with five bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths and 4,243 square feet of living space.
Send your question and look for your answer in a future column. Email Lynne@LynneFrench.com. French is the broker/owner of Windermere Lynne French & Associates. Contact her at 672-878 7or stop in at 6200 Center St., Clayton.
neighborhood with people of different ages, occupations, schedules and interests requires motivation and enterprise. Neighborhood groups can meet in groups to walk together, meet in a driveway for block parties or BBQs. National Night Out gets our neighborhoods together in August to exchange contact information and talk about Neighborhood Watch. Fall activities and winter holidays offer occasions for neighborhoods to gather for parties or potluck suppers.
Concord RotaCare Clinic and East Bay FPA Team-Up in Fundraising Effort
Concord Rotarians Rita Corbinook and Larry Sly accept FPA donations for the Concord RotaCare Clinic and the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano where Sly is the executive director.
The Concord RotaCare Clinic, one of 11 completely volunteerdriven health clinics of RotaCare Bay Area, was the recipient of a $2,000 donation by The East Bay Chapter of the Financial Planning Association (FPA) following their Third Annual East Bay FPA Golf Tournament and Fundraiser. RotaCare Concord, originally launched and supported by the Rotary Club of Concord, received a donation equivalent to 750 flu vaccinations from The East Bay FPA. Although the donation can be used in any way RotaCare deems important, Rita
Corbinook, administrative director for RotaCare Concord, says “This donation, along with RotaCare’s new mobile health care vehicle, will allow the organization to help even more people this flu season.” Donations were also made to The Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano Counties and The Salvation Army of Central Contra Costa County.
Our neighborhood tries to gather several times a year. We chat about how the kids have grown, who’s in what class at school, about work and sports, who needs help in the neighborhood and how we can help. It’s only a few hours, but everyone leaves feeling closer and more connected. Last month, we carved pumpkins together. December brings the cookie decorating contest, where everyone competes for bragging rights. The spring egg hunt is another group activity and
there are smaller get-togethers throughout the year. What does your neighborhood do together? On Dec. 7, at 6 p.m., our community will again gather in The Grove. The children’s choir will sing and we’ll welcome Santa to light our tree. Traditions like these build our community and make Clayton such a special place to live. Happy Thanksgiving!
The Concord RotaCare Clinic is supported solely through locally-based philanthropy. For more information, go to rotacarebayarea.org.
As always, you can reach me at JPierce@ci.clayton.ca.us. Let me know what you think.
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Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com
November 22, 2013
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Earthquake Arabians Nothing speaks “love” quite as sweetly as that special bond between horse and rider. Earthquake Arabians helps the rider build confidence, pride and the understanding of the responsibilities involved with horses whether it is the rider’s first time in the saddle or they dream of competing at the National level. See ad this
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Nichols Landscape As the owner and operator of Nichols Landscape, established in 1979, I create beautifully sculpted yards suited to a homeowner’s taste and budget. When we are on your job, it is our only job. We specialize in custom design that includes pavers, night lighting, drip irrigation, decks, arbors, lawns and retaining walls. See ad this page. NicholsLandscape.com
The Maids Time is valuable and trust is priceless. That is the philosophy Clayton residents and owners of The Maids built their business over the last 18 years. The Maids uses an exclusive 22-step Healthy Touch Deep Cleaning System
performed by a team of cleaning professionals. They also use premium, environmentally-safe products. The Maids backs their service with a 100% satisfaction guarantee. Give them a call to see why they are “referred for a reason.” Maids.com
Super Holiday Boutique The holiday season’s largest shopping extravaganza is the Fourth Annual Super Holiday Boutique indoors at Centre Concord on Sunday, Dec. 8. Get special, one-ofa-kind holiday gifts and stocking stuffers for family, friends and colleagues from 100 vendors. Free holiday arts and crafts activities that children can make and give as presents. Free entertainment, Santa photo opportunity and holiday gift bag. Benefiting the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano and Contra Costa Suzuki
Strings music mission to Honduras. ConcordHolidayExpo.com
Becky Walker at Permanent Solution Happy Holidays! Give the gift of pampering during this busy season – to you, a friend or a loved one. Becky at Permanent Solution is ready with tons of holiday colors and sparkle Gelish to make your fingers and toes festive. She is available Tuesday through Saturday for manicures, pedicures and gift certificates. (925) 640-8995
Clayton Furniture There’s no place like home for the holidays and Clayton Furniture has everything to make that home comfy, cozy and inviting. One of the oldest furniture businesses in Contra Costa, the store is family owned and operated since 1988. Clayton
HOLIDAY GIFT IDEAS
Saturday Saturday Dec. Dec. 7, 7, 6 6 p.m. p.m. You’re You’re invited invited
TRUCK & SUV ACCESSORIES FOR WORK & PLAY
Clayton Tree Lighting Meet at the Gazebo for Christmas Music by MDE School Choir
Bedrug™ Truck Bed Liner $360
GM Skid Resistant Bedliner $276
Hard Folding Tonneau Cover Starting at $696
DVD Dual Headrest System Starting at $1596
UWS Low Profile Tool Box Brite Finish $332
Hood Protector Smoke or Chrome Starting at $76
Follow Santa down Main Street for the countdown Join friends and neighbors for hot cider and donuts at Clayton Community Church
Factory Roof Racks Starting At $136
Underseat Storage for Full Size Trucks $160
4” Round Assist Steps in Chrome or Black Starting At $480
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Color Match Grilles Select Colors $380
6” Rectangle Assist Steps in Chrome or Black Starting at $520
Clayton Business & Community Association Go to claytoncbca.org or call (925)
672-2272
Bring a new, unwrapped toy for the
for membership information,
Toys for Tots drive
1905 Market Street, Concord CA (925) 344-4205 Prices Subject to Change -Pricing Valid Thru 12/31/13
November 22, 2013
Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com
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Lehmer’s Concord Buick GMC Low Prices. Premium Customer Service. Since 1928.
Welcome to Lehmer’s Concord Buick GMC. Since 1928, Lehmer’s has provided outstanding customer service to the entire Bay Area. Whether you are looking to purchase a new or pre-owned vehicle, seeking auto parts or service, we invite you to experience our state-of-the-art facility and award-winning hospitality. We are the Bay Area's oldest franchised General Motors dealership and service all GM brands, including Cadillac, Chevrolet and Saturn. We look forward to seeing you; stop on by! Lehmers.com
Bella Mia Spa Where Life is Beautiful Come let us pamper your body, mind and spirit in our luxurious, Italianesque day spa. Customized European Facials include cleansing,
Page 11
For more information, contact Shauna: shaunamaffei@gmail.com
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exfoliation, partial massage, extractions and moisturizer. Massage therapy and spa body treatments are of the highest quality and tailored to your needs. Additional beauty treatments are available. bellamiaspa.com
Community Carol Sing The 19th Annual Carol Sing at Concord United Methodist Church on Dec. 7 is a family affair—in every way. Doug Emigh, director of music at the church, started this popular community event to give area families the opportunity to come together to sing Christmas carols with the church’s Community Orchestra and choirs. Son Christian and his wife Elizabeth Emigh direct two of the choirs appearing, Ladies First and the CVCHS Women’s Ensemble. Both are choir directors at local schools and both sing with the San Francisco Symphony Chorus Please bring a new, unwrapped toy for the Marines’ Toys for Tots program. Local Marines will be on hand to accept toy donations. Remember the camera for pictures with Santa one hour before each show. Performances are at 3:30 and 7 p.m. Admission is free. Concord United Methodist Church is located at 1645 West St., Concord. For more information, call 685-5260.
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Page 12
Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com
November 22, 2013
Sports League champion Eagles, Broncos move on in NCS playoffs could handle. The teams rotated touchdowns through the first half with the Falcons leading 22-20 and then scored the first TD after intermission for a 2920 lead. Quarterback Kyle Austin threw a 23-yard scoring pass to Nick Mastrelli after College Park failed on a fourth down play deep in their own territory. The team then took the lead on Haynes’ fourth touchdown run before Austin sealed the win with a scoring toss to Matt Huang.
JAY BEDECARRÉ Clayton Pioneer
Undisputed Diablo Valley Athletic League football champion Clayton Valley Charter High School and runner-up Northgate are playing this week in the quarterfinals of the North Coast Section Division 2 playoffs after using their highpowered offenses to score opening-round victories last Friday. Clayton Valley began defense of its NCS D2 title from 2012 with a lopsided 62-7 win over San Lorenzo. The Eagles raced to a 27-0 lead in the first quarter and eased to its fourth straight section playoff victory. CVCHS (10-1) is seeded second in this year’s playoffs behind top seed and undefeated Casa Grande (11-0) of Petaluma. Northgate entered the playoffs after losing to Clayton Valley 56-28 in the final DVAL game that gave the Eagles an outright league title. The Broncos found themselves in a rematch with DVAL school College Park in the NCS opener. Then coach Justin Lowell’s team fell behind the Falcons 29-20 in the third quarter. Northgate righted its ship and scored the game’s final three touchdowns for a 41-29 victory. This Friday evening Clayton Valley will host Las Lomas (6-4) of Walnut Creek in the quarterfinals. The Eagles and Knights met in the unforgettable 2003 NCS 3A finals that ended with Las Lomas winning 37-36 in
EAGLES CLINCH REPEAT TITLE
Jason Rogers photo
Clayton Valley Charter junior running back Miles Harrison (3) used the blocking of Paul Farr (77) and Ben Davis (16) to rush through a gaping hole in the San Lorenzo defense as the Eagles romped to a 62-7 win in their opening NCS playoff game last Friday at Gonsalves Stadium. Harrison scored four touchdowns on only nine carries in the victory.
triple overtime. Northgate (9-2) faces third seed Miramonte (9-2) in Orinda on Saturday. Matadors quarterback Drew Anderson has thrown for over 30 TDs this season. Xavier Crawford took the opening kickoff 85 yards for a TD and coach Tim Murphy’s Eagles were on their way to an easy NCS win, exceeding 60 points for the fourth time with its explosive wing-gun offense. As usual, junior runningback
Miles Harrison led the way with two TDs in the first quarter while finishing up with four touchdowns on only nine carries, just one after halftime. Harrison’s first year on varsity now shows him nearing 1500 yards rushing with 30 TDs total. The Eagles had two forfeit wins this year and Harrison only played sparingly in other games (2 carries vs. Ygnacio Valley and five vs. Tennyson) and most of the Eagle games featured a run-
ning clock in the second half with lopsided scores. Seniors Shane Morris, Crawford and Chris Freeman all scored rushing TDs for CVCHS against San Lorenzo. During the season 18 players have reached the end zone for the Eagles. BRONCOS RALLY FOR WIN Eric Haynes has been the bulwark for Northgate’s offense but saved his biggest rushing day of the season for last Friday
when the team needed him most. Haynes had four touchdowns and 263 yards as the Broncos needed to rally for its first NCS win. College Park and Northgate played each other in the next-to-last regular season DVAL game and a 28-point second quarter led the Broncos to a comfortable 49-14 win. The playoff game did play out similarly as College Park took the lessons from the first game and gave Northgate all it
Clayton Valley won its second-ever back-to-back league football title and the first since 1974-75 with the 56-28 win over Northgate, which would have tied for the crown with a victory over CVCHS. Harrison had his top performance of the year while rushing for 295 yards and five touchdowns. Four of his TDs came after halftime as he singlehandedly outscored Northgate for the game. Haynes found the sledding tougher in the DVAL showdown as he gained 94 yards on 24 carries and scored one touchdown. Quarterback Austin was picked off twice in the game after suffering only one interception (against 13 TD passes) in nine previous games. The Broncos also lost three fumbles and the five turnovers were critical in killing Northgate drives
See Playoffs, page 13
Clayton Valley shocks Northgate for DVAL volleyball title JAY BEDECARRÉ Clayton Pioneer
Clayton Valley Charter rebounded from a gut-wrenching first-set defeat to upset regular-season champion Northgate High School in the finals of the Diablo Valley Athletic League girls volleyball tournament earning the Eagles an automatic berth in the North Coast Section playoffs. At NCS, however, it was the Broncos who advanced further before losing to No. 3 seed Carondelet in the quarterfinals. The Eagles and Broncos battled through an epic first set in the league championship match that Northgate won 26-24. Rather than wilt after that setback, the Eagles rolled off three
straight impressive set wins, 2519, 25-14 and 25-20. Hailey Pascoe had 20 kills and five blocks while Kayla Taylor had 15 kills and school record holder Sarah Williams fed 36 assists for the winners. Northgate was led by Jade Lee with nine kills and two blocks, Kelly Markham with seven kills, Emma Herman with six kills, Lacey Reisinger with 26 assists and Julia Pelletier made 10 digs. Northgate put that defeat behind them at NCS when they met Washington of Fremont. The Broncos were seeded sixth in Division 2 but lost a tight twopoint first set before rattling off three straight set wins for the opening-round victory. They met their close rivals Carondelet
in the quarters. Clayton Valley was not as fortunate in the section playoffs as they were swept by Montgomery of Santa Rosa in three sets. The No. 10 Eagles, also in D2, finished the year at 20-14 overall. It was the school’s first appearance in NCS since 2010. The all-league team included Herman and Lee from Northgate and Taylor and sophomore Jessica Stratton of Clayton Valley on the first team. Pulotu Manoa of Concord was the MVP. Second-team honors went to sophomore Mollie Sanregret of Northgate and Pascoe while Meghan Stark of Northgate and soph Williams of CVCHS were honorable mention. Taylor was all-DVAL for the third successive year.
BOERIU TENNIS MVP AGAIN Sophomore Ana Boeriu of Northgate was again named the DVAL MVP while her teammates Maria Krasilnilov, Kristina Lencesova, Anna Ostrovsky and Shannon Markiewicz were each first-team all-league. Mackenzie Collins, Julia Hoessl, Kimi Nakagawa, Neha Sharma and Katie Shimizu were second team and Alexa Tanoto honorable mention. Chloe Kim of Clayton Valley Charter was also a first-team selection. On the second team from CVCHS were Madison Daniel, Rose Peterson and Maria Sparvoli. Preet Nijjar and Dalia Anwar were honorable mention. League champions Northgate entered the NCS team championships as the 10th seed and were eliminated in the first
round as Ostrovsky at No. 4 singles was the only Bronco to win in a 6-1 loss to No. 7 seed Redwood. Boeriu lost a three-set match at No. 1 singles. The NCS singles and double championships were earlier this week with Boeriu in singles and the doubles team of Markiewicz and Nakagawa represented Northgate. Daniel and Peterson were in the doubles draw from Clayton Valley. NORTHGATE POLO TEAMS ADVANCE IN NCS Northgate’s water polo teams both advanced in NCS tournament play before being eliminated while Clayton Valley Charter’s boys and girls each lost close opening-round games. The Northgate boys were
seeded fifth in Division 2 and advanced to the section semifinals before losing 4-3 to top seed Alhambra. The Broncos drew a first-round bye in Division 2 and then edged No. 4 Tamalpais 8-7 in the quarterfinals. They finished the season at 15-13. Clayton Valley boys lost to Amador Valley of Pleasanton 12-10 in Division 1 and ended with a 16-9 season record. In the girls tournament No. 8 Clayton Valley fell to No. 9 Deer Valley 10-7 in their first Division 1 game and had a 1311 overall record. Northgate girls were seeded sixth in D2 and doubled up San Marin 14-7 in the first round. The Broncos then lost 11-5 to Sir Francis Drake and finished off the year with a 14-14 record.
MDSA World Cup concludes by crowning fall champions
Photos courtesy MDSA
Costa Rica lost the first game of the tournament but came roaring back to sweep the rest of their games with capped by a 4-2 win over team Poland in the championship final of the U10 girls MDSA World Cup. Costa Rica includes, lying from left, Grace Turner, Kennedy Covalt, Kate Conception; middle row, Hannah Shin, Ashlyn Albert, Ellianna Guerra, Sophie Menard, Sophia Sinclaire, Melia Fabriquer, Emma Howe; back, coaches Debbie Espinosa & Chris Turner.
After a slow start the Scotland Spiders finished fall season with nine straight victories, including seven in the MDSA World Cup leading to the U10 boys championship. The World Cup finale saw Scotland beat Argentina 5-1. The team includes, front row from left, Ryan Ross, Ethan Alden, Alejandro Martinez, Clayton Blodgett, Logan Cantu; back row, coach K.C. Ross, Camden Grah, Scotty Seppala, Killian Pollock, Jayden Broome and JT Parker.
Team Italy lost only once in the regular season and, as the top seed, swept through six more games to win the MDSA World Cup for U12 boys. Despite their glossy record the World Cup championship game went to overtime before Italy beat the Czech Republic 2-1. Italy team includes, front row from left, Matthew Loui, Abdullah Saleh, Jason Woodling, Joe Course, Josh DuLong, Cole Feuer; back row, coach John Jatoft, Luke Taylor, Jarod Jatoft, Marc Sandoz, Rance Taylor, coach Eric Sandoz, Chase Graves and Tyler Loui.
November 22, 2013
Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com
Page 13
Sports Team injuries slow down Bay Area pro quarterbacks TYLER LEHMAN SPORTS TALK Fall is coming to a close as the chills of winter begin to seep in. Along with the coming of winter, the NFL regular season is wrapping up, as it is now past the halfway point of the regular season. Both the Raiders and 49ers have had interesting seasons in their own ways, but one thing they share is the fact that they both have third-year quarterbacks starting for them, and both of these quarterbacks are facing certain struggles. Although Terrelle Pryor and Colin Kaepernick may not look to be proficient enough at the quarterback position, there are many valid reasons to explain
why they have had some struggles this season. Terrelle Pryor, the starting QB for the Oakland Raiders, has rather unimpressive numbers so far this season. As of Nov. 13, he has a quarterback rating of just 30.7. He has thrown five touchdowns to go along with 10 interceptions, and has a 58.9 percent completion percentage. When looking at just pure numbers, Pryor looks absolutely terrible. But what the numbers don’t tell you is that he has had one of the most jumbled offensive lines in the NFL. The Oakland Raiders have had a different offensive line for nearly every game this season because of injuries. With no offensive line stability, Pryor literally has to run for his life out of the pocket because he never gets ample protection. Teams have adapted to his tendency to want to roll out and throw to his right,
and they are now forcing to his left where he is less efficient. If the Raiders can give Pryor some offensive line stability his numbers would be much better, because he has shown some flashes of big play ability in the past. Along with Pryor, Kaepernick has struggled at time this season, but for different reasons. This season Kaepernick, the starting QB for the San Francisco 49ers, has a QBR of 64.8, which is respectable. He has nine touchdowns and six interceptions on the year, to go along with a 56.4 percent completion percentage. The best game Kaepernick has had so far this season was against the Green Bay Packers, where he threw for more than 400 yards and torched the Packer’s defense in the opener. After his amazing performance against Green Bay, Kaepernick has been scuffling a bit, and
this is most likely due to his lack of wide receivers. The 49ers have absolutely zero deep threat without Michael Crabtree, who tore his ACL in the offseason. Kaepernick has a cannon arm, but he hasn’t been able to let it rip deep down field because he currently doesn’t have the weapons necessary to do so. Bay Area Quarterbacks have had their fair share of struggles this season. Once Kaepernick gets a healthy Michael Crabtree, and Terrelle Pryor gets a healthy offensive line, both quarterbacks will start to play at a much higher and efficient level. Tyler Lehman is a sophomore at Diablo Valley College and a 2012 CVHS graduate. He plans to major in journalism and wants to be a sports writer. Email your comments or questions to Tyler@claytonpioneer.com.
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6 local high school athletes sign college letters of intent in early signing period JAY BEDECARRÉ Clayton Pioneer
The early national letter of intent period opened last week and six local high school seniors formalized their college commitments. Riley Shaw of Carondelet and Justin Nuval of De La Salle joined four Clayton Valley Charter seniors—-Cat Buenrostro, Taylor Thorsen, Garrett Nelson and Grant Meylan—-in signing their letters last Wednesday on the opening day of the signing period that ended Nov. 20. Thorsen transferred to CVCHS a year ago and continued her domination of Diablo Valley Athletic League 50- and 100-yard freestyle swimming events. She won DVAL titles in both events as a freshman and sophomore at Berean Christian and picked right up for the Eagles last spring when she was the only CV girl to make first-team all-DVAL with the entire rest of the all-league swimmers from Northgate. Thorsen was then sixth in the girls 50 free and 12th in the 100 free at North Coast Section. The daughter of Clayton Police Chief Chris Thorsen is headed to University of Hawaii. When asked why she chose the Rainbow Warriors, Taylor Thorsen said there’s a “family-oriented feel to the team and, it’s Hawaii!” Sean Reilly, a 2008 CV grad, swam four years for Hawaii through 2012.
Jay Bedecarre photo
CLAYTON VALLEY CHARTER HIGH SCHOOL HELD A NOONTIME CEREMONY last Wednesday to honor four Eagles athletes who committed to colleges for fall 2014. The Eagles continuing their sports careers at four-year schools are, from left, Cat Buenrostro, Garrett Nelson, Grant Meylan and Taylor Thorsen.
Softball player Buenrostro is moving in the opposite direction for college as she will be attending Ohio Valley University in Vienna, West Virginia. Buenrostro is going to the small private Christian school (enrollment 501) because of the 9 to 1 student to teach ratio and “because they made the best financial offer.” She was a late-season call up to the powerful Eagles team that finished second at NCS last spring. The coaching staff is counting on her hitting and versa-
tility at second base and catcher to help this season’s team that was senior-laden last season. She also plays for the NorCal Diehards club softball team. Nelson and Meylan got a double dose of acknowledgement for signing. After the noontime ceremony in the girls gym for all four CVCHS athletes, the two members of coach Casey Coakley’s baseball team were also honored that afternoon on the baseball diamond with 100 people on hand including family, teammates,
students, coaches and supporters. Their moms signed the NLI papers after the players to make everything official as Nelson heads off to Long Beach State and Meylan to Santa Clara, joining a long list of former Eagles in college baseball. Meylan was a first team allDVAL outfielder for the Eagles while Nelson has been second team all-league two years in a row as CVCHS baseball continues to among the top prep programs in the Bay Area. Goalkeeper Shaw of Clayton helped Carondelet to the quarterfinals of the NCS playoffs this fall and is headed to Big West power UC Irvine to continue her water polo career. Shaw was a four-year starter for the Cougars and had 21 saves in their last win, a victory over Ukiah in the NCS opener. They were eliminated in the quarters by top-seeded Campolindo. Shaw also formerly swam for the Dana Hills Swim Team. Clayton’s Nuval will conclude his high school golf career next spring when De La Salle seeks its third Northern California championship in four years. The Spartans and Nuval claimed winner’s medals in 2011 and 2013. He’s going to compete for Chico State, one of the top Division II golf programs in the country (ranked No. 6 recently).
Playoffs, from page 12 and fueling the high octane CVCHS offense. Clayton Valley completed only one pass (51 yards to Tanner Wraa) while Austin was 20 of 31 for 194 yards. In the game Northgate was outgained 444359. Northgate scored 28 points twice this season, losing both times to Concord and Clayton Valley. They were over 30 in all nine of their victories. Miramonte scored at least 35 in eight of its nine wins so there figures to be offensive fireworks in their NCS quarterfinal.
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Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com
November 22, 2013
Sports Northgate’s Michelle Lawrence steers Colorado State to NCAA IVAR LAANEN Clayton Pioneer
The collegiate athletes of Northgate’s class of 2013 spread around the nation to show their new schools why they were considered some of the best at their
alma mater. No one though, is representing the Broncos at a national level like Michelle Lawrence of Colorado State University. Lawrence stars as the outside hitter for the Rams’ volleyball team, ranked 10th in the NCAA.
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From the small gym on Castle Rock to the Moby Arena in Fort Collins, boasting more than 8,000 seats, Lawrence has come so far her name reads occasionally on the ESPN bottom ticker. The journey to Colorado provided an enormous change of scenery for Lawrence, immediately finding herself near the spotlight of America, but not for sports. California longs for precipitation heading into the end of November. Colorado, on the other hand, went through an intense series of rain storms that caused major floods and triggered evacuations. Just a little more than a month after her arrival, Lawrence witnessed the state battle against the storm, although it didn’t hit Fort Collins as hard as other cities. “CSU wasn’t affect by the flood much,” Lawrence said, “ School was shut down because of professors not being able to get on campus due to floods, but besides that, our community made efforts to help other communities who were greatly affected by the flooding.” Like the weather in Colorado, the Northgate alum is raising a storm on the court. She starts as a freshman, and has become one of the leaders on the undefeated squad. “Right now we’re 10th in the nation and 19th for RPI so we’re hoping to go far in the NCAA
Photo courtesy of Colorado State University
MICHELLE LAWRENCE stars as the outside hitter for the Colorado State University Rams’ volleyball team, ranked 10th in the NCAA.
tournament,” Lawrence said on behalf of the team. “This team had great potential and we’ve already proved that. This year was supposed to be a ‘rebuilding’ year for our volleyball program and we proved all speculators wrong. Right now we’re one of two teams left in Division 1 who’s undefeated. Basically we’ve beaten all odds, so think that’ll be in our advantage during the NCAA tournament.” Lawrence’s performance is
not going unnoticed by her coach Tom Hilbert. “Historically every time a team exceeds its season’s expectations there is usually an unexpected performance from an outlying player,” says Hilbert. “In our team’s case that is Michelle Lawrence. We knew she was talented but we never expected her to play with such great maturity this early in her career. We would not be where we are without her.” The Mountain West Conference, consisting of 11 schools
including Boise State and Hawaii for volleyball, is a major step up from the DVAL where Northgate plays now. Her play may be as significant for the Rams as it was for Northgate, but the nerves of going out on the hardwood before thousands of people are unimaginable “I played the first game of the season in front of 3,000-plus fans and it was one of the most nervewracking experiences of my life,” Northgate’s former top scorer admitted. “CSU is one of the top teams in the nation for fan attendance. Right now on average I think we have about 3000-4000 fans per game.” Lawrence won over the Rams faithful on Nov. 5 when she grabbed a famous Colorado rivalry by the horns. In a conference game at neighboring Wyoming, Lawrence took the reigns from the Cowgirls, and steered the Rams out of a set deficit to win it in four sets. “In what we call ‘the Border War,’ I led my team with 19 kills, which is a personal record of mine,” Lawrence said. “It was a really neat experience.” As Northgate volleyball heads into the NCS playoffs, Colorado State is in search of their first National Championship, and in the front of the pack is Lawrence. “I feel like Northgate volleyball helped make me the volleyball player I am so I definitely represent Northgate,” she says.
Eagles frosh classroom exploits come along with undefeated football season JAY BEDECARRÉ Clayton Pioneer
Clayton Valley Charter freshman football coach John Fouts is justifiably proud of his young Eagles’ undefeated 10-0 record this fall, however the headman is even more excited about the player’s performance in the classroom. Fouts says that of the 70 players on his team less than a dozen had under a 3.0 grade point average on the most recent progress reports. “It’s great to see kids taking the classroom as seriously as the football field, and I think it speaks to the character of this team. I think you can expect great things to come from this group... maybe even CVCHS’s first state football title.” On the field the Eagles looked very much like their varsity brothers, racking up six games over 50 points including the last three of the season as they rounded out an undefeated schedule in style. The team began the regular season with a 22-8 win over traditional power Pittsburg. Fouts said the game “was key in building belief and character on this team.” The Eagles rushed for 341 yards, while holding Pittsburg to only 94 yards total offense. The toughest outing for Clayton Valley came in the third
Photo courtesy Clayton Valley Charter High School
CLAYTON VALLEY CHARTER FRESHMAN FOOTBALL compiled an undefeated 10-0 record this fall and the team, cheer squads, coaches and parents got to celebrate following the season-ending 59-0 win over Northgate which completed the undefeated season and a Diablo Valley Athletic League championship.
game against Freedom when the Eagles forced a fumble with under two minutes to play and then drove 60 yards for the winning touchdown with eight seconds left in a 19-14 victory over the Oakley school. Again similar to the CVCHS varsity, the game against hometown rival and second place Concord High was a wild 58-42 affair. Clayton gave up 16 points from turnovers to the Minute-
men and trailed 42-34 after three quarters before scoring the game’s final 24 points and ending the win with a time-consuming drive for the clinching score in the last minute. Concord posted an opponent’s season high 292 total yards against CV while the Eagles gained 474. Overall the Eagles went 10-0 and matched the varsity with an undefeated Diablo Valley Athletic League championship. They
Sports Shorts FALL YOUTH, ADULT PROGRAMS COMING TO CLAYTON GYM A variety of programs at Clayton Community Gym are taking signups now through All Out Sports League. Winter youth basketball league Dec. 28-Feb. 15 is now taking signups for players 4-16. Youth hip hop and jazz classes are every Monday for 5-16 year-olds. Zumba classes are Wednesday and Friday at 6 p.m. Blaze AAU basketball (Dec. 21) and Blaze travel baseball tryouts for 11u-12u (Jan. 4) are coming up. Registration for 2014 spring basketball academy and t-ball is open. For complete information on all the programs, visit alloutsportsleague.com.
FALCONS NATIONAL CHEERLEADING FUNDRAISER NOV. 24 AT TART OUTLET The Clayton Valley Falcons cheerleading squad is raising funds for a trip to Las Vegas nationals. The squad will receive 20% of all sales from 3-6 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 24, at Tart Outlet, 2304 Willow Pass Rd. (across from Q-Zar). Call (925) 6891343 for more info or visit cvaafalcons.com.
outscored opponents 465-123 while averaging 426 yards of total offense and defensively holding opponents to only 136. Joining Fouts on the coaching staff are assistant head coach Chad Linderman plus Mike (Poppy) Linderman and Ernie Acebo. The Eagles junior varsity of coach Michael Dominguez had a glossy 8-2 record with their only losses coming to De La Salle and College Park.
CLAYTON VALLEY FALCONS POKER TOURNAMENT FUNDRAISER DEC . 7 Proceeds from a Saturday, Dec. 7, poker tournament will benefit the Clayton Valley Falcons cheerleaders travel to national team competition in Las Vegas. The tournament will be at Clayton Library. Doors open at 6 p.m. with a silent auction, raffle, dinner, beer and wine before the tournament starts at 7:30. For more information call Kelli Brigance at (925) 260-8304 or visit cvaafalcons.com.
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES SOCCER ACADEMY RETURNS IN JANUARY San Jose Earthquakes of Major League Soccer and Diablo FC are holding the 13th annual Winter Soccer Academy on Mondays and Thursdays Jan. 16-Feb. 27 under the lights at Willow Pass Park in Concord. Girls and boys 5-10 years of age and all skill levels are eligible for the Academy, which brings professional coaching experience headed by St. Mary’s College men’s head coach Adam Cooper and Brazilian World Cup and Olympic player Tafa. For more information visit the Earthquakes Youth Alliance Partner’s website at diablofc.org.
November 22, 2013
Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com
Page 15
The great indoors better for cats ELENA BICKER
PET PALS Whether you have a kitten that delights you with boundless
energy as she races around the house, or a sophisticated adult cat who appreciates a sunny spot to nap and a gentle scratch behind the ear, it is your job to provide a safe environment for your feline friend to flourish in. There are benefits in having your cat be indoor-only. Cats who spend time outdoors are
more susceptible to injury and disease, often requiring more medical attention than indoor cats. Surprisingly, this can even affect their lifespan — the average lifespan of an indoor cat is approximately 18 (or more) years, while outdoor cats usually live to be 6- to 10-years old on average.
Clayton Dog Park gets a raise from Rodie’s Bob and Sarah Rodenburg (center and right) present a check to Susan Sappington (left), president of the Clayton Dog Park, for raffle proceeds from their Dog Behavior Seminar. A Rodie’s Dog Behavior Seminar on Nov. 10 did more than just teach owners to understand dog psyche, it also raised over $1,000 to help the Clayton Dog Park pay its bills. In a raffle that was open to the public, the grand prize of a teeth whitening worth $400 was donated by local dentist, Todd Loftin.
Aside from lifespan, keeping your cat indoors has other advantages. Fights with other cats, traffic, exposure to feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) and feline leukemia, getting lost or trapped, exposure to rabies, ringworm or other diseases (which are transmittable to humans), and exposure to fleas, ticks and other parasites are just a few of the risks you can completely avoid by keeping your cat inside. Free-roaming cats also hunt lizards, birds, and rodents, no matter how recently or well they have been fed. Protect your local wildlife by keeping your cat away from their habitat. You can easily provide entertainment and enrichment for your cat while keeping her safe and happy indoors. Cat perches and trees are an excellent way to provide your cat with safe climbing opportunities. Install in front of a window and your cat can enjoy observing the out-
side world. Cats are dedicated bird watchers by nature, so placing a bird feeder near the window will give her plenty of entertainment from her perch inside. Interactive toys like wands with feathers, bells or shiny materials are another feline delight. Regular play sessions will not only keep her fit, but will deeply strengthen your bond. (Be sure to put these away once playtime is over to be sure kitty doesn’t ingest any of the materials.) Other fun, inexpensive enrichment items for cats can include empty paper bags, wine corks, balls of paper, drinking straws and empty wooden spools. Your cat can have a rich, complete life indoors, with added health and safety.
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Of all the holidays that we celebrate throughout the year, Thanksgiving is my personal favorite. There’s just something about this holiday that makes me warm and fuzzy inside. From getting family and friends together, to decorating the house with autumn colors and accessories, Thanksgiving is not just a holiday, but a lovely time of year. If you’re hosting Thanksgiving at your home this year, it’s time to move away from warm and fuzzy thoughts and get down to business. Just like any other get-together, there are certain things you need to check off on your to-do list. Is your home Thanksgiving ready? Yes you have your menu organized, but what about the holiday décor?
TABLE-TOP DÉCOR For some of us, a big part of Thanksgiving is the festive dining table décor. If you need inspiration for your table top décor, you can find it just about anywhere. Many retail stores have their windows dressed for the upcoming holidays, as are their catalogues and websites. As I’ve discussed before, you probably have more things at your fingertips than you realize; greenery from your front and backyards, table linens that don’t necessarily match, but have coordinating colors and/or patterns, and an eclectic mix of dishes and glasses that make for a very home-y and “handmade” Thanksgiving. The key to dining table décor is not to spend your holiday budget on fine China and crystal, but rather use what
PUT THE KIDS AND GRANDKIDS TO WORK
It’s always fun to treat yourself to a few new holiday accessories. Maybe a new pillow or throw here and there, rust colored hand towels in the powder room, a few baskets to hold firewood in the family room. But consider putting your kids or grandkids to work for some homemade décor. Have them go on the search for buckets of acorns to be used as vase fillers, have them collect great big dried oak leaves and pile them high in a wooden trough to sit on the fireplace hearth, or give them
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DINING TABLE AND CHAIRS Sometimes it would be nice if our dining tables could just magically lengthen to the size we need to seat all of our guests. If you’re expecting more guests than what your dining table can accommodate, consider making the table longer…much longer. Don’t be shy, folding tables are your best friend in this scenario. Just for a day, consider moving your living room or family room furniture into the garage to make way for a dining table that will seat everyone comfortably. Your chairs do not have to match. In fact, the more random the chairs, the more fun and conversational the table becomes. There’s something really special about being able to seat everyone at one table. The more the merrier!
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Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com
November 22, 2013
Community Calendar PLEASE SUBMIT YOUR CLAYTON COMMUNITY CALENDAR EVENTS BY 5 P.M. NOV. 26 FOR THE DEC. 6 ISSUE. ITEMS MUST BE SUBMITTED BY EMAIL TO calendar@claytonpioneer.com
IN CLAYTON Dec. 6 - 31 A Heart for Christmas Christmas Light Display. Walk through a winter wonderland of lasers, snow machines and over 15,500 lights on one acre of property. 5 – 9 p.m. Weekends 5 – 11 p.m. 1185 Pine Lane, Clayton. info@aheartforchristmas.com. Dec. 7 Annual Caroling and Tree Lighting Downtown festivities. Carriage rides 4:30 – 6:30 p.m. Caroling, followed by Santa, tree lighting and refreshments starting at 6 p.m. Grove Park to Main and Oak Streets, Clayton. Free. Clayton Business and Community Association 672-2272. Dec. 12 Clayton Pioneer Cookie Contest Bake a batch of your best Christmas cookies. Live music and Santa at the judging party. 6:30 – 8 p.m. Clayton Library, 6125 Clayton Road. Free. Register by Dec. 10. Clayton Pioneer 672-0500. Dec. 14 Dessert with Mrs. Claus Prizes, party favors. Bring camera. Children must be accompanied by an adult. 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. Endeavor Hall, 6008 Center St., Clayton. Donations appreciated. Clayton Business and Community Association 672-2272. Dec. 15 Christmas Home Tour Self-guided tour of six homes in Clayton beautifully decorated for the holidays. 12 – 7 p.m. Rain or shine. Starts at Clayton Museum, 6101 Main St. $30. Proceeds benefit the Clayton Historical Society. claytonhistory.org. Call 672-7680 or email museum@claytonhistory.org. First Thursdays Oakhurst Business Network Meets first Thursday of the month for social hour. Hosted hors d’oeuvres, cash bar. 6 – 7:30 p.m. Oakhurst Country Club, 1001 Peacock Creek Drive, Clayton. oakhurstcc.com.
IN CONCORD Tuesdays Farmers’ Market Tuesdays year round, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Todos Santos Plaza, downtown Concord. cityofconcord.org. Thanksgiving thru Christmas Mr. Xmas See 50,000 lights celebrating 35 years of creative holiday light decorations at Mr. Xmas’ house. 5208 Olive Dr., Concord. Dec. 7 Tree Lighting Santa, entertainment, Mayor’s sing along and tree lighting. 4 – 7:30 p.m. Todos Santos Plaza, Willow Pass Road between Mt. Diablo and Grant Streets, Concord. concordfirst.org. 6713464. Dec. 9 Hospice Tree of Lights Annual ceremony. 5:30 p.m. John Muir Medical Center parking lot, East Street and Almond Avenue, Concord. Donations accepted. Hospice of the East Bay. 887-5678.
ON THE MOUNTAIN Mount Diablo Interpretive Association programs listed are free with the exception of park entrance fee. Go to mdia.org and click on Events Calendar for more information. Dec. 21 Winter Solstice Saunter Celebrate the shortest day of the year by hiking up one of Mount Diablo’s shortest satellite spurs, Twin Peaks. 9:30 a.m. – 2 p.m. Meet at Mitchell Canyon Visitor Center. Reservations required. Save Mount Diablo programs listed are free unless otherwise noted. Go to savemountdiablo.org and click on Activities/Guided Hikes for more information. 947-3535. Dec. 7 DiRT Day Join the Diablo Restoration Team in seeding native grasses and planting in the creek floodplain, working on the pathway leading around the property and weeding at the Marsh Creek 4 restoration site. 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. Meet at 3240 Aspara Drive, Clayton. Registration required. Contact George Phillips at gphillips@savemountdiablo.org or Jim Cartan at jcartan@savemountdiablo.org; 947-3535.
EVENTS & ENTERTAINMENT Thru Nov. 23 “Don’t Dress for Dinner” Here comes the brilliant sequel to Center REP’s hilarious and stylish sold-out hit, “Boeing-Boeing.” Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek. $33-$52. centerrep.org. 943-7469. Thru Nov. 23 “Underneath the Lintel” Captivating solo drama performed by David Strathairn. American Conservatory Theater, 415 Geary St., San Francisco. act-sf.org. (415) 749-2228.
Nov. 22 – 23 “XXMAS” Presented by Smuin Ballet. Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek. $70. lesherartscenter.org. 943-7469. Nov. 22, 24 “Pinocchio” The beloved wooden puppet comes to life in this colorful, musical version of Carlo Collodi’s classic. El Campanil Theatre, 602 W. Second St., Antioch. $8-$12. elcampaniltheatre.com. Nov. 23 A Salute to the Eagles Hotel California accurately recreates the music and mystique of The Eagles experience. 8 p.m. El Campanil Theatre, 602 W. Second St., Antioch. $25-$27. elcampaniltheatre.com. Nov. 23 Perceptions Tony Jones presents the ultimate audience participation comedy show. 7:15 p.m. Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek. $20-$40. lesherartscenter.org. 943-7469. Nov. 24 Acting Out Contra Costa Chamber Orchestra performs, featuring Jonathan Knight on the trumpet. 7:30 p.m. Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek. $10-$30. lesherartscenter.org. 943-7469. Nov. 29 – Dec. 1 “Story of the Nutcracker” Performed by Contra Costa Ballet. Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek. $23-$33. lesherartscenter.org. 943-7469. Nov. 29 – Dec. 7 “A Grand Night for Singing” Diablo Theatre Company presents this revue showcasing the music of Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein featuring songs from every Broadway musical written by the award winning pair. Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek. $47-$49. lesherartscenter.org. 943-7469. Dec. 3 Holiday Concert Your seasonal favorites performed by the Walnut Creek Concert Band, plus guest appearance by the United States Air Force Travis Brass. 7:30. Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek. $14-$17. lesherartscenter.org. 9437469.
FUNDRAISERS Nov. 24 Holiday Faire Fundraiser sponsored by Clayton Valley Charter High School Parent Faculty Club. Raise money for the students while having fun holiday shopping. Sounds of the season by student choir and band. 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. CVCHS, 1101 Alberta Way, Concord. For more information, go to cvchspfc.com. Nov. 30 Holiday Vendor Fair Handmade goods, purses, candles, jewelry. Swag bags to first 100 attendees. Proceeds donated to Mt. Diablo Elementary School Parent Faculty Club. 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. Oakhurst Country Club, 1001 Peacock Creek Drive, Clayton. For more information, contact Mechele Fong at msfong@comcast.net or 330-2385. Dec. 7 Holiday Craft Fair Fundraiser sponsored by Ayers Elementary School Parent Teacher Association. Multiple vendors, hand made items, raffles and food. 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. Ayers, 5120 Myrtle Drive, Concord. For more information, contact ayerspta@gmail.com. Dec. 14 Toy Drive CVCHS Men’s Lacrosse team is collecting new, unwrapped toys for children ages 11 and under for the Bay Area Crisis Nursery. 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. The gazebo at Grove Park, downtown Clayton. For more information, contact Ben or Tracey Morse at 207-0382. Dec. 15 The World of Webber A cabaret tribute to the songs of Andrew Lloyd Webber benefiting the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano. 2:30 p.m. Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek. $25$30. lesherartscenter.org. 943-7469.
AT THE LIBRARY The Clayton Library is at 6125 Clayton Road. Programs are free unless otherwise noted. claytonlibrary.org or 673-0659. Tuesdays thru Nov. 26 Patty Cakes Story time for babies to 3-year-olds. Child attends with caregiver. 11 a.m. Wednesdays Book Buddies A volunteer will read stories for children 3 and older. 1 - 2 p.m. Call in advance.
Dec. 6 – 7 Once Upon a Christmas A delightful and colorfully narrated holiday ballet that features Santa, his Elves and all the Toys in the Workshop. Performed by The Ballet Joyeux. Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek. $20-$25. lesherartscenter.org. 943-7469.
Dec. 3 Paws to Read Learn to read by reading aloud to a dog. Grades 1 – 5. Registration required. 4 or 4:35 p.m.
Dec. 6 - 8, 13 - 15 “Aladdin Jr.” The story of the teenage Cleopatra who is magically transported into the 21st century. California Theatre, 351 Railroad Ave., Pittsburg. $10-$20. pittsburgcommunitytheatre.org. 439-7529.
Dec. 11 Holiday Dance Around the World Join Nicola Clay for dances and games from around the world celebrating the season. Fun for the whole family. 6 p.m.
Dec. 6 – 15 North Pole Revue Christmas family show presented by CCT, Inc. Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek. $14.50. lesherartscenter.org. 943-7469.
The Concord Library is at 2900 Salvio St. ccclib.org or 6465455.
Dec. 6 - 28 “A Christmas Carol” True to the spirit of Charles Dickens’ timeless story of redemption with a playful sensibility to his rich language. American Conservatory Theater, 415 Geary St., San Francisco. actsf.org. (415) 749-2228. Dec. 7 Cash Tribute Show Featuring James Garner delivering the Man in Black’s music with conviction, accuracy, sincerity and honesty. 8 p.m. El Campanil Theatre, 602 W. Second St., Antioch. $25-$27. elcampaniltheatre.com. Dec. 7 Holiday Concert Diablo Women’s Chorale performs Home for the Holidays. 3 p.m. Mt. Diablo Unitarian Universalist Church, 55 Eckley Lane, Walnut Creek. $10-$15. diablowomenschorale.org. Dec. 8 An East County Christmas The Summerset Singers, an East County Senior Chorus, performs Christmas music favorites and an original composition by Nancy Bachmann. 3 p.m. El Campanil Theatre, 602 W. Second St., Antioch. $5-$15. elcampaniltheatre.com. Dec. 9 Holiday Concert Sing along to holiday favorites performed by the Walnut Creek Chorus. Reception follows. 7:30 p.m. Trinity Lutheran Church, 2317 Buena Vista Ave., Walnut Creek. $10-$12. 935-3360. Dec. 14 Holiday Concert Oakland East Bay Gay Men’s Chorus sings holiday classics as well as African, spiritual and gospel-style music. 7:30 p.m. Clayton Valley Presbyterian Church, 1578 Kirker Pass Road, Clayton. $5-$25. oebgmc.org.
Nov. 23 Computers and Technology If you need help with your mouse, come to our house. Dropin assistance to learn how to use computers, smart phones and tablets. 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. Additional dates and times offered. Check library calendar. Nov. 25 Stargazing Look at the moon close up with telescopes and learn about meteorites and the solar system with Mount Diablo’s Astronomical Society. 7 p.m. Dec. 6 - 8 Book Sale Hardcovers $1. Paperbacks $.50. Children’s books $.25$.50. Fri. 1 – 8 p.m. Sat. 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Sun. 1 – 4 p.m. $3/bag.
GOVERNMENT 1st and 3rd Tuesdays Clayton City Council 7 p.m. Hoyer Hall, Clayton Library, 6125 Clayton Road. 6737304 or ci.clayton.ca.us. 2nd and 4th Tuesdays Clayton Planning Commission 7 p.m., Hoyer Hall, Clayton Library, 6125 Clayton Road. 6737304 or ci.clayton.ca.us. 1st, 2nd and 4th Tuesdays Concord City Council 6:30 p.m., Council Chamber, Concord Civic Center, 1950 Parkside Dr. cityofconcord.org.
Meeting dates and times for local clubs and organizations are listed at claytonpioneer.com. Click on ‘Links’
November 22, 2013
Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com
Page 17
Put the Palisades on your spring hiking list “It’s like Christmas every Tuesday” -A happy Doorstep member Sign up today.
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As winter starts to settle in, and we look hopefully to snow in the Sierras, I am missing backpacking. One of my favorite areas to trek to during the chilly months is Palisades in the John Muir Wilderness. Starting at Big Pine California, take Glacier Lodge Road, which follows the valley of Big Pine Creek to where this splits into two branches, beneath some of the highest peaks in the Sierras including 14,242 foot North Palisade, the fourth tallest in the state. Ahead lie over a dozen glacial lakes, numerous cascades, crags, cliffs and granite outcrops, plus several glaciers, one of which – Palisade — is both the southernmost in the U.S. and the largest in the Sierra Nevada. This area contains some of the Sierra’s most stunning scenery. It is a Mecca for climbers, ice climbers and backpackers. Two routes from Big Pine Creek trailheads are the north and south fork trails. I have only explored the North Fork trail since I love lakes and this trail offers nine of them. The North fork trail, beginning at 7,800 feet, zigzags through a slope of sage, Manzanita, and Jeffrey Pine before it reaches Second Falls and follows along the creek to
r awing o f o ll Ca te sh va pri Sharon Anderson
AT 11,100 THE GORGEOUS SAM MACK MEADOW IS A POPULAR CAMPING SPOT at the base of some of the higher peaks in the Palisades. Here the water has a turquoise tint that shows up in lakes downstream due to glacial grinding of the rocks.
its headwaters. The flowers in early summer are abundant along the path leading into the canyon. At four-and-a-half miles you will reach First Lake at 9,900 feet, with the highest lake, Seventh Lake at eight miles and 11,210 feet. Hiking First through Seventh Lake up the canyon north of Mount Sill, this trail offers views of Temple Crag, 12,999 feet, and the Palisade Glacier. Several of the lakes are filled with bright turquoise water, characteristic of glacial activity; the color results from light diffraction by suspended rock particles created by the grinding action of glaciers high above from where the water originates. You will even pass a stone cabin built by movie actor Lon Chaney in 1929, while walking through a forest of lodgepole pine.
Following the main trail will take hikers past First, Second and Third Lakes and on to Seventh Lake. I made base camp at Second Lake, the largest, where finding a level spot off the beaten trail was not easy. I had good luck fishing all the lakes and caught my first Golden Trout at Fifth Lake, where I found out that my dog likes to fish as much as I do. We ended up playing keep away with the fish, but that’s another story! Hiking toward the Palisade Glacier I emerged above tree line at Sam Mack Meadow. Sam Mack is in a small valley carpeted by thin grass and large boulders with a small stream flowing across, and fed by an unseen lake further up the mountain. The valley is ringed on three sides by high, snow capped rugged cliffs. It was
breathtaking and spiritual. I had planned to stay more than three days but the handle on the water filter broke by an overzealous operator. Disappointed, I boiled enough water in between rain showers for the hike out the next day and was counting my blessings that I was able see this incredible country. To get there, head east over your favorite Sierra pass — Carson, Sonora and Tioga Passes will all take you to Hwy. 395. Go south on 395 through Bishop. At Big Pine. turn right on W. Crocker St. which turns into Glacier Lodge Rd.. Follow for 11 miles to trailhead for the North and South Fork trails. Sharon Anderson is a Clayton resident and lifelong hiker. This is the second of a four-part series on hiking in the Sierras.
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Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com
November 22, 2013
Performing Arts
Onstage Theatre finds permanent home at the Campbell SALLY HOGARTY Special to the Pioneer
Saws buzz and hammers pound away and the smell of disinfectant and carpet cleaner fills the air as a small army of volunteers readies the Campbell Theater, 636 Ward St. in Martinez for its new tenants – the Onstage Theatre Company. As it celebrates its 35th season, Onstage will now have a place to call home. Previously at the Old Schoolhouse in Pleasant Hill for most of those 35 years, the company has been performing at numerous venues since structural damage at the Schoolhouse building forced its closure in Oct. 2008. “The Pleasant Hill Park and Recreation Department was wonderful,” says Onstage artistic director and founder Helen Means. “They tried so hard to find us a new space but nothing materialized.” During the interim, Onstage
performed at Cue Productions Live in Concord and the Lesher Center for the Arts in Walnut Creek. “The people at Cue and the Lesher were great. But, it’s not the same as having your own space,” says Mark Hines, longtime member of the Onstage Theatre. “You can’t store your props, and you can only be there at certain times. It just never felt like home. At the Campbell, we can be working on sets at 1 a.m. if we want.” Free parking in Martinez Renting space at venues such as the Lesher also posed financial problems for the small company. “When we had inexpensive rehearsal space, we could make a go of it,” Means says. “But that wasn’t always the case. It just became too expensive for us. Many of our former season ticket subscribers live in Pleasant Hill and Martinez, and they didn’t like driving to Walnut Creek and paying for parking so we also lost a good part of our support base.”
Sally Hogarty
THE ONSTAGE THEATRE COMPANY READIES THE CAMPBELL THEATER in Martinez for a Dec. 8 open house. (L-R) John Allred, Randy Nott, Jennifer Brown Peabody, Ryan Terry (on ladder), Mark Hines and Helen Means.
According to Hines, the company began negotiating with the City of Martinez, which holds the lease on the Campbell Theater, in Oct. 2012. “When we found out that the Willows Theatre would be leaving, we started making inquiries,” he says. “The city has
been great. Mayor Ron Schroder and his team have not just been cooperative but enthusiastic about wanting something in this space for the local community.” Means hopes that the Martinez location will also appeal to past supporters who didn’t follow the company to
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‘Grand Night’ celebrates Rogers and Hammerstein As a holiday treat, Diablo Theatre Company offers up the delightful “A Grand Night for Singing,” a romantic, entertaining revue of music by Rodgers and Hammerstein, the duo who created songs that are standards of musical theater and American popular culture. The show will run Nov. 29 through Dec. 7 at Walnut Creek’s Lesher Center for the Arts. “Some Enchanted Evening,” “Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin’,” “Hello, Young Lovers,” “If I Loved You,” and “Maria” are just a few of the songs from landmark Rodgers and Hammerstein musicals — “South Pacific,” “Oklahoma!” “The King and I,” “Carousel” and “The Sound of Music” — that are featured in this Tony Award–nominated revue. A cast of five will bring these works to life through innovative arrangements that take the form of a ballroom dance send-up performed to “Shall We Dance,” a sultry Andrews Sisters version of “I’m Gonna Wash That Man Right Out-a My Hair,” and a jazzy “Kansas City” from “Oklahoma!” With a nod to its cabaret origins, this production of “A Grand Night for Singing,” will be presented in the intimate 297-seat Margaret Lesher Theatre at the Lesher Center. Terry Barto directs and choreo-
Walnut Creek and Concord. “There’s plenty of free parking at the Campbell, and we’re keeping our ticket prices low,” she says. “We’re also going to have lots of fun, inexpensive events taking place that will appeal to a wide range of people,” adds Hines, who along with Babette Bilger will manage the Campbell Theater. “Helen will continue to do what she’s always done, run the Onstage Theatre while Babette and I deal with the overall facility,” he explains. “We’re not trying to do things to gain national attention. We’re a community theater – a spot where local people can not only come and see things but also perform and hone their craft.” One of the groups that Hines hopes to have back at the Campbell is Esses Productions.
The company has a prestigious list of entertainers including Broadway stars that it currently presents at venues in Pleasanton and Antioch and, previously, at the Campbell. “Their concept fits in beautifully with what we’re trying to do,” Hines says. “They have a wonderful kid’s show plus professional comedians and singers.” Additionally, Hines and Bilger have been talking with Women of Experience, a company that produces plays about women of a certain age. “We also hope to work with local schools and offer a student playwriting contest. We have so many ideas such as poetry slams, open mic nights, and a vaudeville-type event similar to ‘America’s Got Talent,’ Hines says. “Our goal is that on any given Friday or Saturday night, locals can just come downtown, have dinner and then come see something at the Campbell that’s fun, short and really inexpensive.” 35TH SEASON While Hines and Babette ready the facility and book other events into the Campbell, Means is busy planning Onstage’s 35th anniversary season. “We’re still finalizing the shows, but we’ll start with our popular ‘Christmas Belles’ Dec. 12 through 15,” says Means. “This holiday farce involves the antics of the three Futrelle Sisters in the small town of Fayro, Texas. Their hilarious misadventure-filled Christmas Eve is guaranteed to bring much laughter and joy to your world.” David and Amy Sedaris’ play “The Book of Liz” follows
See Onstage, page 20
Fantasy Forum brings back ‘Biggest Gift’ for Christmas
DIABLO THEATRE COMPANY brings a host of Rogers and Hammerstein favorites to the Margaret Lesher theatre in “A Grand Night for Singing” opening Nov. 29
graphs, and Brandon Adams serves as vocal and music director. Favorite Bay Area theater veterans make up the cast: Noel Anthony, Michael Scott Wells, Elise Youssef, Tielle Baker and Nicole Frydman. The Lesher Center is located at 1601 Civic Drive, Walnut Creek. For tickets and show times, call 925943-SHOW (7469) or visit www.lesherartscenter.org or www.diablotheatre.org.
Did you send your letter to Santa? Then why has he not received it? No letters - No Christmas. Join the fun and laughter as Tucker the Elf and the toys set out to save Christmas in “The Biggest Gift, an original family friendly musical
that encourages audience participation from all ages. “The Biggest Gift,” plays Dec. 19-22 at the Lesher Center in Walnut Creek. The non-profit Fantasy Forum Actors Ensemble is a Walnut Creek based organization that brings family-friendly entertainment to the young and young at heart. Tickets to “The Biggest Gift” are $14. For show times or to buy tickets, call (925) 943-SHOW (7469); or go to www.leshercenter.org, or at the Lesher Center box office. For more information on Fantasy Forum, go to www.fantasyforum.org
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November 22, 2013
Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com
Page 19
Even bare, these trees are amazing
NICOLE HACKETT
GARDEN GIRL As the leaves on the trees around the Clayton Valley change color and fall to the ground, the bare branches are still beautiful to look at. Coral Bark Japanese Maple, Crape Myrtle, Variegated Red Twig Dogwood and Harry Lauder’s Walking Sticks are all as stunning naked in the winter as they are in full foliage during the growing season. Coral Bark Japanese Maple is formally called Acer palmatum “Sango Kaku.” This fantastic Japanese maple is very hardy in our Clayton Valley soils and climate. It thrives in full to afternoon sun, and can reach 15-feet tall and wide. During the growing season crisp green leaves cover this of maple’s best features, its striking coral colored bark. In the fall the leaves turn yellow, and that’s when the coral bark really begins to take center stage. When the final leaf falls, the Coral Bark Japanese Maple becomes quite a focal point. Place an up light
beneath this deciduous upright tree for night interest. Crape Myrtle trees and shrubs are Clayton Valley staples. We already admire the Crape Myrtle’s flower, drought tolerance and fall color, but what some may not notice is their fabulous bark. As a Crape Myrtle matures, its adolescent bark peels away exposing a dark, cream color, smooth wood. You can place your hand on the trunk and pet the bark, it’s so smooth. Variegated Red Twig Dogwood shrubs are not as common in Clayton Valley gardens and landscapes although they should be. The are amazing in a bright, filtered sun location. This shrub has a basil shaped, creamy-white leaf with a margin of olive green. In the autumn after the foliage falls the Variegated Red Twig Dogwood shines in any garden bed. This shrub grows with multiple stems from the base of the plant forming rays. These rays show a deep red throughout the winter. In a garden setting, surround your Variegated Red Twig Dogwood with red and white cyclamen for the winter months and hellebores for the spring months. The combination would be awesome. Harry Lauder’s Walking Sticks are very unusual, and a unique find in any garden or nursery. It is surprising that is it so rare, since it is very Clayton Valley-friendly. Harry
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Lauder’s Walking Stick is a deciduous shrub that has twisting, corkscrew shaped twigs and branches. This shrub looks much more interesting without its leaves. Harry Lauder’s Walking Stick is formally called Corlyus contorta. Once mature, this slow growing shrub will be anywhere from 8- to 10-feet tall. Install in a sunny to part sun location.
Harry Lauder looks stellar in a large, glazed container. When the seasons change, there is always something to look forward to in the landscape, you just have to know what to plant. Nicole is the Garden Girl at R&M Pool, Patio, Gifts and Garden. Contact her with questions or comments at Gardengirl@claytonpioneer.com
Photo from growingwisdom.com
CORAL BARK JAPANESE MAPLE IN WINTER.
Book Review
Dazzling Chinese children’s tales delights all ages
SUNNY SOLOMON
FOR
THE
BOOKS
“Chinese Fables” by Shiho S. Nunes (Tuttle Publishing; February, 2013) is a picture book treasure for both the mind and eye. In today’s global economy, it is increasingly important to better understand other cultures, especially those of the East. Nunes, a native of Hawaii, has gathered a collection of stories that I suspect are as much fun for the adults reading out loud as they are for the children to whom they’re being read. Most of us grew up with “Aesop’s Fables,” but these Chinese tales, although certainly
filled with wisdom, lack something familiar. These fables do not come with a moral, that instructional end piece ensuring the reader will get the point. They do, however, come with great humor, the price paid for the human condition of being, well, human. The characters are almost always people, not animals, proving humans do not always require stand-ins. I’ve read and reread “Chinese Fables,” enjoying it more each time. The illustrations by LakKhee Tay-Audouard are refreshingly captivating and as whimsical as the tales they illustrate. These are not pictures of Chinese people as we in the West might imagine them. The art work is “inspired by Chinese folk art,” and the pencil and wash drawings, originally done on bamboo rag paper, have not lost their beauty on the printed page.
In addition to the fine illustrations, the publisher has eliminated formal type. The stories appear as if written by hand, a device that is subtly appealing. Even more appealing is imagining the conversations that might follow after reaching the end of each story. In one fable, a city falls to its enemies and a wealthy man returns to his great house to take away a huge and treasured bronze bell before looters can claim it. The bell is too heavy. He does not trust his family or friends to help him, certain that they, too, will want the bell. The man thinks. He decides to use a sledgehammer to take the bell away in pieces and sell the metal to start a new fortune. With the first whack of the hammer, the sound is so loud the man “nearly jumped out of his skin. He dropped the sledgehammer and wrapped his arms
around the bell to silence it.” He thinks again, this time deciding to use rags to muffle the sound. He stuffs the rags in his ears and continues to strike the bell. End of story. The moral? I think what remains is a lesson in critical thinking. There are some animals: monkeys that belong to a poor elderly man, a cat in need of a name, and a mother tiger and her cub who come upon two temple monks. That particular story has a meaning within the meaning. “Chinese Fables” is a wonderful introduction to some of the differences between East and West. It makes me wonder what it might have been like for young people in the West to have read Aesop without any moral admonishments. “Chinese Fables” is here in the nick of time. Sunny Solomon is a freelance writer and head of the Clayton Book Club. Visit her website at bookinwithsunny.com for her latest recommendations or just to ‘talk books.’
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Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com
November 22, 2013
Try a little brine with your turkey this year
Every year I’m asked what’s the best way to prepare the Thanksgiving turkey. There are so many choices from slow roasting for hours or deep frying or cooking up Turducken. My first recommendation is brining. There’s no better way to ensure a juicy flavorful bird in my way of thinking. Brining is the soaking of turkey in a sugar and salt solu-
into the meat. A turkey will weigh more after brining because it absorbed the liquids. You can buy prebrined turkeys, but of course you’re paying for all that “water weight.” If you typically buy a Butterball or many other commercial turkeys, even many house brands of turkeys, you’ll see that they are injected with up to 8 percent of liquid consisting of “natural flavorings and other ingredients.” That’s not a typical brine but it has essentially the same effect. The fresh or fully defrosted turkey should be fully cleaned out before brining. Remove the neck and gizzards, and trim the tail and wing tips if you tend to not roast them. Be sure that the brine is really cold before you put the turkey in it and that you keep it cold throughout the
tion laced with various aromatics like herbs, peppercorns, orange peel, etc. You can easily make your own brine but most grocery stores and specialty shops (like Pans on Fire in Pleasanton) carry brine mixes this time of year. The chemical process of osmosis takes place as the brine is absorbed by the turkey, replacing some its own juices, and the flavors are carried
DEBRA J. MORRIS Pacific Coast Farmers Market
the slopes at the snow park, and meet the new theater company at the Campbell.
Kiwifruit is now at your farmers’ market. Sweet little orbs of deliciousness filled with healthy vitamins and minerals, they’re perfect for salads, fruit tarts and just eating out of hand. They’re great added to plain yogurt or made into a “salsa” for chicken or fish. Kiwifruit owes its name to a bird, native of New Zealand, named “kiwi,” and actually in many regions of Europe, North America and South America, kiwifruit is generally referred to as “kiwi.” Nutrition-wise,
For tickets to “Christmas Belles,” call 925-518-3277. For more information about the Onstage Theatre at the Campbell, go to www.facebook.com and type in Martinez Campbell Theater or email Hines at mark@campbelltheater.com. The company plans to have a website up by the end of November.
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Be sure to keep your prep area spotlessly clean—be sure to sanitize your work area, faucets, sinks, cutting boards, knives, etc. that you used when preparing the raw turkey to avoid contamination of other foods Turkey needs to cook to the proper temperature, so be sure to have a reliable meat thermometer on hand (161 degrees in the breast when it’s in the oven, and it will come to 165 degrees when it rests a while; 171 degrees in the thickest part of the thigh; again, it will come to 175°F when resting). Watch out for stuffing. Internal stuffing needs to come to 165 degrees, which is hard to do and keep the white meat from becoming overcooked. If you must, use a stuffing bag, then take it out and finish the stuffing in a pan in the oven. I
LINDA WYNER
FOOD
FOR
THOUGHT
stuff my turkey with onions, lemon, apple and herbs which are then discarded after the bird’s roasted, leaving a wonderfully perfumed meat to enjoy. Happy Thanksgiving! Linda Wyner, a local attorney and foodie, owns Pans on Fire, a gourmet cookware store and cooking school in Pleasanton. Direct your suggestions or questions to lwyner@pansonfire.com
Tangy kiwifruit livens up salads, salsa
Onstage, from page 18 the Christmas show. Directed by Edwin Peabody, the outrageous comedy about cheese balls, among other things, runs Jan. 31 through Feb. 15. While the rest of the season is still being finalized, Means says the summer will include a one-act play festival. Hines and Means encourage the public to stop by their open house scheduled to coincide with the Martinez Snow Festival on Dec. 8. Participants can enjoy breakfast with Santa Claus, take a turn sliding down
brining process. (An ice chest is great for this, but be sure to use a food-safe brining bag.) Figure on brining a turkey about one hour per pound. Longer is really not better so overnight is just about right. Some recommend rinsing the bird after the brine (I tend to do that), but in any event, pat it dry before preparing it for cooking. I always have the turkey at room temperature before cooking (so 30 minutes or so should do it). This helps promote even cooking because the colder thicker muscles will resist the heat far longer and will not cook as quickly as the rest of the bird. Here are a couple of other pointers: You should rest the turkey for 30 minutes after cooking so the juices will redistribute throughout the bird, then carve
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kiwifruit contains about as much potassium as bananas, and also contain 1.5 times the recommendation for Vitamin C. It is also rich in Vitamins A and E. Look for firm, unblemished fruit, and don’t worry about the size; smaller kiwifruit taste just the same as larger ones. When it comes to flavor, size doesn’t matter. Press the outside of the fruit with your thumb. If it gives to slight pressure, the kiwifruit is ripe. If it doesn’t give to pressure, it’s not ready to eat. They’ll keep for several days at room temperature and up to four weeks in your refrigerator. If you want to speed up the ripening process, place it in a
vented plastic bag with an apple or a banana and leave it out on the counter for a day or two. It should ripen right up. KIWIFRUIT WITH SMOKED SALMON California Kiwifruit peeled and sliced 2 oz. smoked salmon slices ¼ cup Black olives whole 1 Tbsp. Capers ½ cup Watercress Romaine lettuce leaves Radicchio leaves 1 Tbsp. Extra virgin olive oil Pinch salt Pinch Pepper On a large plate or serving tray place lettuce leaves, radic-
chio leaves and watercress flat on tray. Place salmon slices, kiwifruit slices atop leaves. Drizzle olive oil on top of salmon. Scatter olives and capers around tray. Refrigerate for 30 minutes. Season with salt and pepper as desired.