NOV 25 Concord Pioneer 2016

From the desk of...

Blue Star Moms remember three Concord high alums lost in combat

New buses use wireless energy to charge on the road

I was honored to participate as Concord’s representative, and as board chair of County Connection, on the inaugural ride of a new type of bus earlier this month.

County Connection unveiled four Gillig all-electric buses that will charge while on routes as well as overnight through inductive charging. No electric cord is needed to charge. Inductive charging works wirelessly as a receiver from the bottom of the bus lowers to come close to a disk embedded in the roadway to

See Mayor, page 8

Grayson cruises to Assembly victory while Obringer, Birsan take City Council race

The Concord City Council will have a new look next month when they welcome one new member and replace another, as Councilman Tim

Grayson won a spot in the state Assembly.

In a hard-fought battle between two Democratic candidates, Grayson defeated Mae Torlakson handily – 61 percent to 38.3 percent – for the state’s 14th district seat.

humbled by the confidence

shown me,” Grayson said. “I owe it to a very supportive team, most of all my wife and two children.”

Carlyn Obringer, celebrating with husband Justin at the El Rancho on Monument Blvd., was the front runner in the race for city council with 28 percent of the votes. Obringer, who is completing a term on the planning commission, will focus on economic development and bringing jobs to Concord.

Torlakson, the wife of state Superintendent of Schools Tom Torlakson, was supported by the Contra Costa County Democratic party. Many residents and local officials believed the controversy surrounding Grayson’s Concord Naval Weapons Station actions would make it an easy victory for her. (Companies connected with Lennar Urban, ultimately chosen to develop Phase 1 of the CNWS, were accused of improper lobbying by contributing to Grayson’s campaign – money the then-mayor ultimately gave back.)

But buoyed by a San Francisco Chronicle endorsement and campaigning on Torlakson’s relative inexperience in government, Grayson leapt to an early lead on election night and never looked back.

“I am overwhelmed and

WITHAJUBILANT “THUMBSUP,” CONCORD COUNCILMAN TIM GRAYSON with son Joe, wife Tammy and daughter Cassy, celebrates an easy win over fellow Democrat Mae Torlakson for the District 14 State Assembly seat. Grayson’s victory leaves a vacancy on the council likely to be filled by appointment at the December meeting.

In an interview from his Assembly orientation in Sacramento, Grayson said he wants to push forward three main issues: jobs creation and economic development in the East Bay; fiscal responsibility, specifically dealing with the state’s unfunded liabilities; and helping curb the number of out-of-state students accepted to California state colleges and universities when qualified instate applicants are rejected.

Meanwhile, Concord planning commissioner and civic volunteer Carlyn Obringer topped six other candidates for one of two open spots on the City Council. She earned 28 percent of the vote, followed by incumbent Edi Birsan, who was reelected with 21.5 percent.

Obringer replaces Dan Helix, who is retiring from the council after six years.

“I was greatly honored to receive the most votes on Nov. 8,” Obringer said. “I take very seriously the trust the people of Concord have placed in me and look forward to working with the community and my fellow council members to make decisions in the best interest of the people of Concord over the next four years.”

She says she takes the voters’ trust seriously. “Public service is a way of life for me and my husband, Justin. I look forward to continuing to volunteer in the community as a much as possible while balancing my new roles and responsibilities as a council member.”

Her three main priorities will be ensuring that law enforcement has the resources

to maintain public safety; boosting economic development and tackling blight; and the redevelopment of the Concord Naval Weapons Station.

“As the largest city in Contra Costa County and a socioeconomically diverse community, it is not surprising that Concord has challenges in the area of public safety,” she said. “We face gang activity, an increase in petty crime related to passage of Prop. 47 and ongoing issues with the homeless individuals who reside in Concord. Time and again, Concordians list public safety as their primary concern. It’s critical that the City Council approves a budget each year that ensures the Concord Police Department has the necessary resources to address these difficult issues, while at the same time, the city grows its economic development pie so that we can meet our other critical obligations.”  She noted that Concord

Just inside the entrance of Concord High School stands a black granite stone in honor of three former students. Sgt. Gabriel Guzman, Cpl. Mick Bekowsky and PFC Scott Barnett were all three killed in combat during Operation Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom.

On Nov. 9, family members, alumni, local officials and community members gathered in the Concord High courtyard to dedicate the monument in a somber and moving service.

The monument is the first of 12 planned by the Contra Costa Blue Star Moms; one for each of the local high schools that lost a former student in the conflict.

The inspiration for the project came in 2004 when Loretta Masnada read in the paper that Cpl. Mick Bekowsky had died in Iraq.

See Monument, page 9

Tree Lighting and

residents are tired of spending two-plus hours a day commuting to jobs outside the city. “I want more of those jobs to be located in Concord. Already, I have had success as a planning commissioner helping businesses relocate to downtown Concord, and I am eager to continue to serve as an economic development ambassador as a council member.”

Obringer calls the CNWS redevelopment a once-in-alifetime opportunity for the region. “As a council member, I will do everything within my power to get a CSU or UC campus with a polytechnic focus, an accompanying research laboratory and light manufacturing, offering worldclass educational opportunities and sustainable jobs, on that property so we can stop outsourcing our children’s education to other counties.”

See Election, page 9

Along set for Dec. 3

Sing

Concord will usher in the holiday season with the traditional Tree Lighting and Mayor’s Sing Along beginning at 4 p.m., Dec. 3 in Todos Santos Plaza with a new city tree and updated decorations.

The city’s “Charlie Brown” tree has seen its last string of lights. The scraggly little tree has been replaced with a full and lush new Western Red Cedar, a tree more suited to the park’s soil conditions. The new tree will eventually grow to 70 feet, said Justin Ezell, Concord’s maintenance director. The tree sits on a pedestal in a high-visibility spot on the Willow Pass side of the Plaza. Along with the new tree, the Plaza will see new decorations and lights around the perimeter and on the new archway entrances.

The festivities begin with Santa’s arrival at 4 p.m. School choirs, local dance groups and community entertainment begins at 5, followed by Mayor Laura Hoffmeister leading the holiday singalong.

LAURA HOFFMEiSTER MAYOR

Tamara Steiner/Concord Pioneer

JOAN BEKOWSKYSITSNEXTTOASTONEMONUMENTERECTEDBYTHE BLUE STAR MOMS at Concord High School to memorialize her son and two other CHS alumni who were killed while serving in the United States Armed Forces. The monument is the first of twelve planned for other area high schools.

Photos by Tamara Steiner/Concord Pioneer INCUMBENT EDI BIRSANWASEASILYREELECTED to a second term on the Concord City Council. Birsan, often at odds with fellow council members, is an outspoken advocate of a directly elected mayor and favors some kind of rent stabilization measure.

TAMARA STEINER Concord Pioneer

PEGGY SPEAR Concord Pioneer

Rotary flips for community service

Members of the Rotary Clubs of Concord and Concord/Diablo got up very early on Nov. 5 to serve breakfast for 100 volunteers at a CERT Training Day held in downtown Concord.

The Rotary Clubs of Concord and Concord/Diablo sponsor charitable projects in the community and worldwide. Both of these clubs are very active and meet at the Crowne Plaza in Concord. For membership information, email beri@kaspercpa.us

Holbrook neighbors gather for BBQ

Contra Costa Discovery Day final local event for Assemblywoman Bonilla

In spite of dicey weather over 1000 students and parents came out to Cal State East Bay’s Concord Campus on the Halloween weekend for the second annual Contra Costa Discovery Day, a free handson showcase of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) presented in partnership with the Bay Area Science Festival and over 20 organizations and exhibitors. This was the final District event hosted by Assemblywoman Susan Bonilla, who termed out of office this year. Arlene

Mt. Diablo High alumni give back to their alma mater

Holbrook Heights neighbors were not quite ready to say goodbye to summer when October rolled around. A neighborhood “block party” gave them one last excuse to “hang out” at the pool.

Six Holbrook families organized the get-together on

Oct. 23 for BBQ and visiting when their HOA “flaked out” on a planned Labor Day party.

“This BBQ demonstrates that community is not about an HOA,” said Holbrook resident, Chuck Olson. “It’s about everyone being good neighbors and coming togeth-

er as one.”

Holbrook Heights is one of the oldest neighborhoods in Concord. The North Concord neighborhood was developed in the early 1950s and was home for many returning WWII veterans.

Courtesy of Mt. Diablo High School

MT. DIABLO HIGH SCHOOLPRINCIPAL LIANE CISMOWSKI (third from left) was at the school’s homecoming football game this fall to receive two checks from proceeds of the Red Devils Golf Classic held every June. Head coach Derek Clements (second from left) accepted a $1000 check to assist his football program while alumnus Danny Brown (left) and Ralph Vallis, a member of the school’s Athletic Hall of Fame, also presented a $2000 check for scholarships to deserving MDHS graduates.

At the end of the past school year, Alejandra Rosas-Gomez and Jesus Garcia each received $750 Hart Fairclough Collegiate Scholarship Awards which are sponsored by Susan Fairclough and Mt. Diablo Hall of Fame.

Molina (left) in photo from The Gardens at Heather Farms

demonstrated and offering tastings of fruits and vegetables to Hailey Loving (right) of Concord. Three-year-old Maya

and five-year-old brother Brayden Shen (in hat) with their mom Hilary listened to Molina’s discussion of the apple.

Jay Bedecarre photo

From left: Rotarians Richard Andrus, Guy Bjerke, Tina Akins, Beri Kasper, Eric Maldonado, Wendee Williamson, Michael Barrington, Pete Wilson, Pete Baldacci, Lee Koellermeier, Greg Grassi and David Miller.

CV High principal-coach

Belluomini honored by Class of 1966

Local arts leaders honored by county supervisors

Residents can bring holiday cheer to seniors

The Clayton Valley High School Class of 1966 recently held its 50th Reunion and took the occasion to make a presentation to long-time administrator and coach Ralph Belluomini (second from left). Belluomini was part of the two-man coaching staff with Pat Murphy for the 1958 Eagles junior varsity football team when the Concord school first opened and didn’t have a senior class or field a varsity football team. He was principal of CVHS twice for two years each from 1969-71 and then again in 1996-98. Over the years was also an administrator at College Park Pleasant Hill high schools and at the Mt. Diablo Unified School District office. His final full-time job was as superintendent of schools for the Fremont Unified School District. After his retirement he filled in as an interim administrator at various schools, such as CVHS.

The holiday buzz is hard to miss in the city of Concord – unless you’re an isolated senior who isn’t able to take part in the festivities. That’s where Be a Santa to a Senior comes into play.

Tess Locsin of Home Instead Senior Care worked with Avis Connolly, director of the Concord Senior Center, to bring the gift-giving program to Concord in 2009. The city’s Commission on Aging came on board in 2011. The three groups partner with local non-profits, businesses and any residents who want to help give gifts.

Concord was well represented last month at the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors with two recipients of the 2016 Arts Recognition Award from the Arts and Culture Commission of Contra Costa County. KidFest producer Jay Bedecarre (second from left) and Solo Opera founder and artistic director Sylvia Amorino (right) were honored by the Supervisors. Bedecarré is the producer of Bay Area KidFest and marketed Concord Pavilion events for nearly three decades. Amorino founded Solo Opera 16 years ago and during the ensuing years has brought opera to audiences around the Bay Area. Awards chairperson Liz Wood (left) and District IV Supervisor Karen Mitchoff were on hand for the presentation in the Board Chambers in Martinez. Both Wood and Bedecarre are graduates of Queen of All Saints School and Mt. Diablo High.

Norm Van Brocklin represented the Class of 66 in presenting Belluomini, who was their head varsity football coach as seniors, with a clock-plaque and signed football. The ball was signed by the current Ugly Eagles coaching staff and football players from the reunion class. On hand with the honoree from his family were, from left, his son Paul Belluomini, his wife Janice and his daughter Lynn. Paul Belluomini is a member of the CVHS Athletic Hall of Fame.

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Recipients include seniors in board and care facilities and nursing homes, as well as residents of the Heritage senior apartments and those served by Meals on Wheels, Senior Outreach Services and the C.C. Cafe in Concord.

“Last year, we provided gifts for 300 seniors,” said Mel Lee, chair of the Commission on Aging. “Some seniors in board and care have families, but sometimes these are the only gifts they get.”

This year, those in board and care will receive blankets, scarves and gloves. Last year, the group provided portable radios.

Lee works with local Boy Scout troops to have the boys deliver the gifts to board and care centers. “It is giving back to the community,” he noted. “It’s a good feeling that we are getting the youth involved.”

To participate in the gift-

giving, residents are invited to pick up an ornament gift tag, purchase a gift and return the unwrapped gift along with the tag. The Commission on Aging is also seeking donations of wrapping paper, tissue paper, gift boxes, ribbon and refreshments for a gift-wrapping party.

•Trees with ornament gift tags are available through Dec. 11 at:

•Min’s Kitchen, 3505 Clayton Road.

•Minamoto, 4305 Clayton Road.

•Concord Civic Center, Wing A, 1950 Parkside Dr.

•Concord Police Department, 1350 Galindo St.

•Curves for Women, Suite C, 2962 Treat Blvd.

•The Old Spaghetti Factory, 1955 Mt. Diablo St. (Nov. 25-Dec. 11).

According to Locsin, Home Instead Senior Care launched the gift program in 2003 and it is now practiced

nationally. Locsin is customer service manager of the Walnut Creek office of the company, which provides in-home care services for seniors.

“Every senior that has a wish list – all of them – will be fulfilled,” she promised.

This year, 18 residents at Stonebrook Healthcare Center in Concord will receive gifts as part of the program. Activity director Valerie McDaniel compiles the wish lists.

“It can be anything they can’t go out and get themselves: lipstick, diabetic candy, CD players for books on tape, pajamas, clothing, shoes,” McDaniel said. “I dress up like Mrs. Claus, and I have a cart that I decorate like a sled. I bring the gifts to their rooms, and I help them open them. The residents are thrilled –they’re just thrilled.”

For more information on donating, contact Avis Connolly at the Concord Senior Center at 925-6713419 or avis.connolly@cityofconcord.org.

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LOCAL SCOUTSHELPWRAPGIFTS for Concord’s seniors at last year’s gift wrapping party.

Concord BART station redesign moves forward

The BART Board of Directors voted to award a $3.2 million contract for a major makeover of the Concord station.

The redesign will improve pedestrian and bicycle access, add energy-efficient lighting and provide a more prominent drop-off zone. Work is scheduled to begin in February, taking an estimated nine months. A combination of Prop 1B, Measure J and BART funds will help finance the project.

“The primary purpose is making it easier for riders when they come out of the station, orienting them down Grant Street, which will be an improved corridor leading to Todos Santos Plaza and downtown businesses,” said Joan Ryan, a city of Concord planner. With more people coming on BART to downtown events, such as the farmers market and

musical offerings, Ryan said the improvements “will help these folks find their way more easily.”

The BART redesign will include new landscaping with a tree-lined environment, kiosks to help direct users, improved crosswalk treatments and new street furnishings, such as benches and containers for trash

and recycling. New lighting fixtures will improve visibility. The fixtures will have the capability to hold banners, which the city will use to welcome visitors and promote community activities. Additional room will be allocated for taxis, Lyft and Uber, along with “kiss ’n’ ride” dropoffs. Orientation of the bus

loading and unloading zones will remain the same.

Ryan said the makeover would fit in nicely with the Downtown Corridor Plan, called Complete Streets, that the City Council adopted in September. “The plan is to improve the approach to BART on several major streets,

adding bicycle lanes, widening and improving sidewalks and adding lighting,” she said.

Complete Streets is currently unfunded, but the city has applied for regional and state grants under the Active Transportation Program and hopes to fund by the end of the year.

“Developing the plan to enhance the Concord station plaza was a true team effort with the city of Concord,” said BART board vice president Gail Murray. “We collaborated with the city on the overall design and the selected lighting fixtures.”

Speaking on behalf of Bike Concord, a volunteer organization of Concord residents, Kenji Yamada said: “We appreciate BART’s attention to bicycle security, as well as their coordination with adjoining city projects.”

However, he voiced concern over a lack of separation between bicycle and pedestrian traffic on the station grounds, and a weak connection to the

designated bicycle route on Mesa Street. He hopes this can be addressed.

“The city of Concord has been exemplary in its detailed responses to community input on the Downtown Corridor Plan, and Bike Concord hopes to develop a similar relationship with BART in the near future,” Yamada said.

Separate from this project, BART has plans for the Concord station to get a locked bicycle facility for 120 bicyclists. Meanwhile, the city is proceeding with funded Downtown Concord Bicycle Lane improvements, which include restriping and installing Class II bike lanes and bicycle detection at signals on Grant Street and Oakland Avenue, improving bicycle access to and from BART. The project also calls for paintbuffered lanes on Concord Boulevard and Clayton Road between Sutter and Grant streets. Construction is anticipated next summer.

Opportunities on various Concord boards, commissions

The Concord City Council is recruiting members for several boards and commissions.

Forms are available at www.cityofconcord.org/BCApplications. Applications must be received at the city clerk’s office by 5 p.m. Friday, Jan. 6.

The Board of Appeals needs three members and two alternates for four-year terms ending February 2021. The board meets as needed to interpret state law and California Building Standards Code pertaining to construction standards for the city. Appointees must be knowledgeable of the Concord Construction Code

and applicable local ordinances. They may not be city employees.

The Personnel Board is seeking three members, two for fouryear terms ending February 2021 and one for a term ending February 2019. The board acts in an advisory capacity to the City Council on personnel matters and meets as needed.

The Planning Commission needs three members for fouryear terms ending February 2021. The commission meets at 7 p.m. the first and third Wednesdays of each month.

Members receive a small stipend per meeting. Members are

expected to develop and maintain a long-range comprehensive General Plan of the Concord planning area, review developments, tentative subdivision maps, use permits and rezoning applications.

The Design Review Board is seeking two design professionals for four-year terms ending February 2021. The board reviews the design of any development for which design review is required by city ordinance and any matter referred by the Planning Commission, zoning administrator or planning manager. Members meet at 5:30 p.m. the second and fourth Thurs-

days of the month and receive a small stipend per meeting.

The Concord Pavilion Community Outreach Committee needs four members for two-year terms ending February 2019. The committee provides guidance to the pavilion general manager on outreach efforts to attract applications from local schools, cultural organizations and the community to bring additional community events to the pavilion to expand the use of the venue beyond the concert season.

The Commission on Aging is seeking four members for two-year terms expiring June

2019 and two members for four-year terms expiring June 2021. Members identify, improve and develop services and opportunities for senior citizens. They are asked to attend and participate in Contra Costa Advisory Council on Aging subcommittees to identify the unmet needs of senior citizens and evaluate the effectiveness of existing programs and laws. Commission on Aging members must be residents of Concord holding no other office in the city. At least 51 percent of the members must be older than 60. Meetings are at 1:30 p.m. the third

Wednesday of the month.

The Concord/Pleasant Hill Health Care District Grant Committee needs one member for a two-year term expiring June 2019 and one member for a four-year term expiring June 2021. Members are required to review funding requests and advise the City Council on the allocation of Concord Pleasant Hill Health Care District funds. All members must be residents of Concord who hold no other office in the city and shall be representative of the general public and the religious, racial, age, gender, disabled and ethnic groups in the city.

Marsh Creek area property among new parkland acquisitions

The East Bay Regional Park District is expanding its parkland by 466 acres with a Marsh Creek area purchase, along with two parcels near Antioch and Byron.

In cooperation with the East Contra Costa County Habitat Conservancy, the park district acquired the 76-acre Hanson Hills ranch on the eastern slopes of Mt. Diablo. It will become part of the future Deer Valley Regional Park, extending the park’s southern boundary to Marsh Creek Road.

The park district bought the land from Save Mount Diablo for $730,000, its appraised fair market value. The habitat conservancy contributed $547,500, and Measure WW funded the remainder.

“This beautiful property will be a tremendous asset for generations of East Bay residents,” said Diane Burgis, a park district board member. “It’s also a critical part of the Marsh Creek watershed. We’re thrilled to be able to protect this ecologically sensitive area forever.”

The Hanson property encompasses canyons and ridges covered with blue oak forests and native grasslands, as well as a seasonal stream that drains to Marsh Creek. The ridgetops provide panoramic views of Mt. Diablo, the Marsh Creek corridor and Morgan Territory Regional Preserve.

The Hanson children, all in their 80s, remember fishing for steelhead with their grandfather in Marsh Creek, just

across the road, and camping out on warm nights atop the tallest hill. It was important to the family that the land they love so dearly be protected forever.

The area is home to eagles, hawks, coyotes, mountain lions, deer, foxes and other species. The acquisition secures important land links that provide habitat for a number of special status species, including the California redlegged frog and Alameda whipsnake.

“With this transaction, not only have we preserved essential wildlife habitat and ensured the protection of a strategic parcel that can later support outdoor public recreation and education, but we have also generated funds to protect more lands around Mt. Diablo,” noted Ted Clement, executive director of Save Mount Diablo.

BLACK DIAMOND EXPANSION

Meanwhile, a 191-acre parcel expands the Black Dia-

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mond Mines Regional Preserve in Antioch. It completes the northern gateway and entrance to the park and bring the park’s total acreage to 8,482. The Arata and Moller families previously owned the ranch. The park district is buying it from the Antioch Unified School District for its appraised fairmarket value of $306,000.

Funding includes a grant from the state Department of Parks and Recreation Habitat Conservation Fund, Measures AA and WW and proceeds from a property sale near Anderson that was donated to the district in 1970.

“This important acquisition is the culmination of a 30-year effort by the park district to secure the entryway into beautiful Markley Canyon, the major access route into Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve,” said Liz Musbach, chief of land acquisition for the park district.

The final purchase is 199

See Parkland, page 7

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THE 76-ACRE HANSON HILLSPROPERTY was recently acquired by EBRPD. This critical wildlife corridor will be land-banked for a future Deer Valley Regional Park.

CAROLYN JONES Special to the Pioneer

Concord combats domestic violence in strong ways

Concord – the largest city in Contra Costa County – has seen just one murder this year. While other cities around the county may envy that statistic, there is one glaring detail. It was a domestic violence homicide.

On average, nearly 20 people per minute are physically abused by an intimate partner in the United States. During one year, this equates to more than 10 million women and men. One in three women and one in four men have been victims of some form of physical violence by an intimate partner within their lifetime, according to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence. Concord is certainly not alone in experiencing this epidemic. But through a couple of unique programs, Concord is fighting back – and seeing positive results.

“Domestic violence is serious anywhere,” says Lt. Robert Zywicki of the Concord Police Department’s Special Victims Unit. “It doesn’t matter if you are low-income or upper-middle-class, it is not unique to any one area of town. And we take it very seriously.”

In his midyear report to the City Council in August, Chief Guy Swanger reported that during the first six months of 2016, of 1,183 total SVU reports, 462 were domestic violence-related. The number of those reports has gone up, which Swanger and Zywicki see as a good thing.

“It’s encouraging because more people are feeling comfortable reporting these cases to the police,” Swanger told the council.

The police are attacking domestic violence cases on two fronts: in their response to calls and through the community’s 18-month-old Family Justice Center.

PREVENTINGHOMICIDES

The Concord Police Department received a grant in 2014 to implement the Lethality Assessment Program (LAP). The grant also includes STAND! For Families Free of Violence, along with the Brentwood and the Richmond police department. Homicide prevention is the ultimate goal of the grant and research.

LAP is an evidence-based response to intimate partner homicide. It assumes that if a situation is predictable, it is preventable. By putting a victim immediately in touch with an advocate like STAND! at the time of responding to an incident, it will bring down the chances of another incident –and perhaps even a homicide, Zywicki said.

Research shows that in 28-35 percent of victims, the homicide or attempted homicide was the first act of violence. More than 45 percent of perpetrators were arrested in the year prior to the homicide. Only 4 percent of abused victims used a domestic violence hotline or shelter within the year prior to being killed by an intimate partner, he said.

LAP asks the victim 11 questions at the time police respond to an incident. If the victim answers yes to any of the three immediate questions, that triggers protocol and makes them in “high danger.” If they answer yes to four or more of the remaining eight questions, the officer calls STAND! and provides them with the victim’s information.

The office then asks the victim to speak to an advocate then and there. If the victim does not want to speak to the advocate, the officer will obtain a safety plan from STAND! and provide it to the victim. The officer will ask the victim if they still do not want to talk to STAND! If they say no, the call is completed. If they change their mind, then STAND! goes over the safety plan as well, offers services and gives the victim references for help.

For the victim’s safety, calls to STAND! are made from an officer’s phone or a phone the department purchased for this use.

EMPOWERINGVICTIMS

CPD’s previous response during a domestic violence call was to hand the victim an envelope containing resource information cards. There was no attempt to get the victim to speak with an advocate.

“Also when we administer the LAP and tell them they are in danger, we ask them to talk to an advocate although we don’t make them,” Zywicki says. “We explain they are in danger of being killed. By asking, we are empowering the victim to take the first step.”

In the past, Zywicki estimates that 5-10 percent of victims reached out to an advocate. “Now, looking at the

numbers, it appears around 74 percent of those deemed ‘high danger’ spoke to an advocate,” he reported.

Zywicki says there is no way to know if they have prevented a homicide. But he recounts a case where a victim was screened as in “high danger,” and she worked with STAND and the CPD investigator to stay away from the suspect. The suspect had a history of gun violence, and the CPD investigator was in the process of getting a court order to remove firearms.

“Ultimately the suspect killed himself, and we can only assume he did so because the victim had left him,” Zywicki says. “It has been our experience that if a suspect is suicidal, they can be homicidal. We have no proof LAP prevented it, but we certainly made it clear to the victim that people in her situation had been killed.”

BUILDING COMMUNITYTRUST

From October 2015 to October 2016, there were 527 LAP screens. Of those, 299 were seen as “high danger” victims, and 222 victims immediately spoke with STAND! Advocates. Fifty-five victims went into services, such as shelters, counseling, group sessions or court liaisons.

One such service is Concord’s Central County Family Justice Center. Nestled in an accessible, open courtyard of

EYE ON CONCORD

Todos Santos Plaza, it’s been a successful tool to help fight domestic violence. It houses 19 on-site partners, such as STAND!, to help in legal cases for the community, especially domestic violence cases. It also connects with 13 off-site partners that can help. These include law enforcement, legal services, housing and food aid, and especially safe places for a domestic violence victims and their children to stay.

Susun Kim, executive director of the FJC, believes more domestic violence cases are being reported because victims are informed about assistance they can receive through the center, and that they trust the police to help them.

“It shows a community trust and knowledge that they will be taken care of and be safe,” Kim says.

She says that the FJC is a true “community center,” and not just a “safe-house.” Its accessible location and comfortable environment are inviting and help victims feel safe. Besides onestop referrals and help, the center offers several programs to help victims get on their feet and, in many cases, thrive.

One is a fellowship given to domestic violence survivors in partnership with the West County Family Justice Center in Richmond, which Kim also oversees. The program allows about a dozen people at a time to work together, not only dealing with their issues sur-

rounding domestic violence but making a positive impact in return.

Cynthia Altamirano is one of those women. The domestic violence and rape survivor also suffers from multiple sclerosis, which impacted her teaching career. With a women’s studies and religious studies majors from Saint Mary’s College, Altamirano is working with Cornerstone Church in Livermore to create smaller, “pop-up” churches throughout the county.

Others in her program are using their skills to develop projects such as a Spanish-language mentorship program for school age kids and helping make the Richmond Family Justice Center as aesthetically accessible and inviting as Concord’s.

“These programs are all structured to help raise people up to combat interpersonal violence against women,” Altamirano says.

She is quick to sing the justice center’s praises. “The FJC has been my lifeline since my illness,” Altamirano says. “It makes women stronger and more knowledgeable to stand up for themselves.”

Like Zywicki, she acknowledges that domestic violence can strike anyone, anywhere. “No matter how much money you make, it doesn’t matter. Many people are scared to stand up for themselves,” she says. “But it’s your safety that matters. We want to be your safe place.”

City election doesn’t further Latino community’s causes

The election for the Concord City Council is over, and the two top vote-getters are Carlyn Obringer and Edi Birsan.

While both are good, qualified people, neither represents the interests of the residents and businesses in the Monument community.

Birsan comes closest. He lives in the Monument and knows the streets, businesses and many of the people. He has done some good things for the Monument and has been a loyal supporter and participant in the Monument Democratic Club.

But Birsan’s supporters and responsibilities are citywide. He is not about to concentrate his political efforts on Monument issues. This is to his credit, for the most part.

Obringer has served as chair of the non-profit Monument Impact. This is good. But, I see Obringer as being very careful. She does not seem to speak out

on controversial issues, and I don’t believe she will be an aggressive political leader when it comes to Monument improvements or issues.

Pablo Benavente and Gloria Casillas, two Latino candidates, were also on the ballot. Casillas is relatively new to Concord and lives in the Monument. She participated in candidate forums but did not pay to have a statement in the Voter Guide. She received 2,805 votes, as of this writing. Benavente was raised in Concord and has been politically active for a year or so. He seldom speaks at City Council meetings or makes the local news. He received 3,139 votes, so far.

Of the approximately 42,000 votes cast in the City Council election, only about 15 percent went to the two Latino candidates. This community is about 40 percent Latino, so something is definitely wrong with this picture.

There may not be any gains for the Latino community in the

near future, unless someone is determined to represent the community at City Hall on a regular basis – and with the intention of running in 2018. If that doesn’t happen, the Latino community may be in a real squeeze in Concord. With little or no voice on the council for its fights on rent hikes, lack of parking, debris in the streets and other issues, things could only get worse.

While the influx of families from Afghanistan, Russia and Asia is creating a vibrant, multicultural community, I believe Latinos will continue to be a majority – with the hubs around Cambridge and Meadow Homes elementary schools. Eso es lo que hay is one of my favorite sayings in Spanish: It is what it is. Not much more can be said at this point, unless someone out there has something to add.

George Fulmore is a frequent contributor to the Pioneer. Send comments to monumentdems@aol.com

GEORGE FULMORE Commentary

EDI

With the recent election causing hyperbole to break out everywhere, we need to take a step to calm ourselves.

I know four Donald Trump voters fairly well. Note that I said Trump voters – not supporters. Two of them are in the “Anyone But Hillary” camp and, in fact, one supported Bernie Sanders. Another is a hardcore Republican who would vote for Genghis Khan if he had an R after his ballot designation. The other is simply anti-status quo and saw Clinton as a continuation of Obama, whom he did not like.

None of these people are racist, sexist or anti-gay. They

Taking the hostility out of post-election talk

overlooked and ignored Trump’s abrasive and tactless expressions and do not take him serious on those extreme comments. Therein lies the hope for the future: If those extremes were put into action, they would be among those who would object.

We need to remind ourselves that we are “one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.” We need to take to heart our pledge for tolerance and concordance in dealing with one an other and not allow the tempers of others or the missteps of youth to further fracture our communities.

The local elections also brought out negative narratives that bear little relationship to reality, and we have to be able to accept facts that may change our perceptions and emotional responses.

We are challenged by different opinions and perceptions of liberty and justice, but we have to remember a

fundamental bedrock of politeness and neighborliness. We can disagree without being disagreeable. We can have a clash of ideas without screaming, threatening or demonizing one another. We can and will put the concord

in Concord.

If you want to sit down and talk about it, I am never far away from a Peet’s Coffee.

Send comments to EdiBirsan@gmail.com or 510-812-8180 or visit www.PulseOfConcord.com

Parkland, from page 5

acres that will expand the boundaries of Vasco Hills Regional Preserve as well as Byron Vernal Pools Regional Preserve. The Coehlo Machado family sold it for $1.5 million, its appraised fair-market value. Funds came from the East Contra Costa County Habitat Conservancy, Contra Costa County and NextEra Conservation.

“It’s exciting to protect so much open space in eastern Contra Costa County,” said Burgis. “These properties provide a wonderful opportunity

for the public to explore, see wildlife and learn about the history of the area.”

The East Bay Regional Park District is a system of public parks and trails in Alameda and Contra Costa counties established in 1934. It includes 120,000 acres in 65 parks, with more than 1,250 miles of trails for hiking, biking, horseback riding and nature learning.

The three new properties will be land-banked and closed to the public until land use plans are completed.

County board votes down petition for charter tech academy in Concord

The county Board of Education’s 4-1 vote rejecting the petition to start Clayton Valley Charter Technology Academy in Concord would seem to end that effort. But recent history might tell a different story.

The three most recent charter schools to open in this area all met with defeats before local school boards before they were ultimately successful in getting governmental approval. Clayton Valley Charter High School (2012), Contra Costa School of Performing Arts (2016) and Rocketship Futuro Academy (2016) are all now operating with more than 2,500 students in grades 1-12 enrolled at the free public charter schools.

County staff recommended that the tech charter’s “fatally flawed” petition application be turned down. At the Nov. 9 county board meeting, Mt. Diablo Unified School District board president Cheryl Hansen spoke in support of the staff report and urged a no vote on the petition.

Former county trustee Richard Assadoorian is one of the CVCTA petitioners and made the presentation to the county board at the public

meeting. Assadoorian also serves on the governing board for CVCHS, whose executive director, Dave Linzey, is another petitioner. The tech charter academy is planned for 1,200 students in grades 6-12 at a site across from the Concord Pavilion.

“We are disappointed that (the county board) failed to consider the merits of the Clayton Valley Charter Technology Academy based upon the growing needs of our students, the importance of creating 21st century job skills to compete in the global marketplace and addressing our underserved student communities,” Assadoorian said.

“We remain confident to put the needs of our students first and focus all public schools to thrive for excellence rather than accept complacency,” he added. “Charter schools simply provide innovation and opportunity to move education forward from good to great. We will continue to explore all options to deliver a new world-class educational approach for our young, eager and enterprising students.”

The petitioners say that the county board’s vote “simply delays an important decision to address what’s in the best interest of our students.” The peti-

tioners have not announced their next step.

However, they have an advocate in retired Pleasant Hill attorney Carol Hehmeyer.

“The decision of the four trustees to deny the application of the petition for the Clayton Valley Tech Charter without making very specific findings concerning their detailed presentation in their petition and in the accompanying explanation as to the benefits of their charter being countywide, and also without receiving any procharter or even neutral charter legal advice, was very upsetting and very sad,” she said.

Hehmeyer, who worked in the San Francisco and Contra Costa district attorney offices, has been an advisor to Jeff Belle, the lone trustee to vote in favor of the petition. She has started an effort to find candidates to run against two board incumbents, Mike Maxwell and Christine Deane, who will be facing voters in 2018.

The longest tenured member of the board, Pamela Mirabella, was handily defeated for reelection by Fatima Alleyne the day before the charter vote. Mirabella had campaigned to continue her 28 years on the board. Hehmeyer says the new trustee “is bril-

liant and will fight for the students.”

The other trustee to vote against the charter, Daniel Gomes, is 102 votes ahead of Vikki Chavez in a tight threeway race that is awaiting final vote tallies. Gomes represents District 3, which includes Concord and Clayton.

CVCHS began its effort to convert from MDUSD to a charter school in September 2011. A series of MDUSD board votes rejected the charter, but the county board approved the conversion in early 2012 and the charter opened that fall.

The school district and county both turned down an application by Rocketship for a charter elementary school in the Monument Corridor in Concord. The state Board of Education approved Rocketship’s petition in March this year and they opened this fall in temporary quarters on the Ayers Elementary School campus in Concord as they seek a permanent location in the Monument area.

The county and MDUSD turned down the School of Performing Arts’ petition before it eventually won county approval in the summer of 2015 and opened in Walnut Creek this fall.

is a thoughtful and considerate act that your loved ones will truly appreciate. A death in the family is difficult enough without the added burden of making arrangements at the last minute.

The holidays, when families are together, are a good time to talk about your family’s future.

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JAY BEDECARRÉ Concord Pioneer

BIRSAN PULSEOF CONCORD

From the desk of ...

New councilwoman reflects on planning process

After serving on the Concord Planning Commission for nearly five years, I am honored to be elected to the Concord City Council.

There are many Planning Commission accomplishments that bring me pride, including banning Fast Auto and Payday loans and hookah lounges as permitted uses and helping to draft and recommending approval of Concord’s first Bike and Pedestrian Master Plan.

In 2014, the commission held a four-hour public hearing to determine if a car/auto title loans business is a permitted use within the city. It became clear that the applicant’s intention was to take advantage of individuals who do not have access to the traditional banking system and to make a profit by charging a high rate of interest.

The commission found that car/auto title loan businesses are not like any permitted listed use in the Development Code and recommended that such busi-

nesses be prohibited in the city –a recommendation that the City Council ultimately codified.

In 2015, the commissioners voted unanimously in favor of a resolution that included the prohibition of hookah lounges as a permitted use within the city. A hookah lounge is a business where patrons share flavored tobacco from a communal hookah, a tobacco pipe with a long, flexible tube that draws smoke filtered through water in the base.

A widespread misconception holds that hookah smoke is less harmful than cigarette smoke, since the smoke passes through water before being inhaled. However, research shows that hookah users may even be at higher exposure to carcinogens than cigarette smokers because they inhale more deeply, puff more often and smoke for longer periods of time as a form of socialization. By banning all future hookah lounges, the commission sent a message that Concord is committed to the health and well-being of its residents.

After the City Council adopted the Complete Streets Policy in December 2012, it was determined that the next step was to prepare a citywide Bicycle, Pedestrian and Safe Routes to Transit Plan. The goal was to provide a blueprint for expanding Concord’s bicycle and pedestrian network to promote safe alternative modes of transportation and help position the city

for future funding for bicycle projects and roadway improvements benefiting the cycling community.

To help guide the development of the plan, I served on an Advisory Committee formed in March 2015. The Planning Commission held several hearings to solicit public input and strengthen the draft plan. The City Council adopted the final plan and incorporated it into Concord’s General Plan this past September.

These are just a few examples of the Planning Commission’s accomplishments during my tenure. I was honored to be a part of the team making these policy recommendations on behalf of the city.

School district reaches out to homeless youth

Alliance. This represents a 7 percent increase from the previous year and more than double the number of homeless students in 2006-’07.

In the Mt. Diablo Unified School District, there were 502 homeless students in the 2015’16 school year – a 20 percent increase from the previous year. We are committed to addressing barriers to educational success for homeless students.

of school.

MDUSD’s Homeless Outreach Program for Education (HOPE) is beginning its annual HOPE for the Holiday campaign, working to grant the “wishes” of homeless youth and their families. HOPE serves families in Bay Point, Concord, Walnut Creek, Pleasant Hill, Clayton, Clyde and parts of Martinez.

ca.schoolloop.com/news/. We recently were surprised by a donation of $5,000, given by a generous anonymous community member.

More than 1.3 million students were homeless during the 2013-’14 school year, according to a report by America’s Promise

Research shows these students experience significant academic, social and socio-emotional challenges and that being homeless is associated with lower school achievement and increased risk of dropping out

Some of the students’ wish list items are as simple as warm clothing, shoes that fit or toiletries. To help grant a wish, donate a grocery or department store gift card or provide a taxdeductible monetary donation, please visit http://mdusd-

During this season of giving and appreciation, I’m reminded of the quote “No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.” I thank this wonderful community for its kind help supporting local homeless youth and their families.

While sharing the holiday spirit with family and friends, it is also important to recognize that some of our neighbors may be experiencing this time of year quite differently than us.

Many families in our community work very hard to barely make ends meet, and they may not have funds for gifts, holiday feasts, or even warm clothing and bedding. There are many opportunities in which to volunteer, both with time and donations. Here is a snapshot of some of the opportunities available in our community.

SHELTER, Inc. works to prevent and end homelessness for low-income residents of Contra Costa County by providing resources that lead to selfsufficiency. SHELTER created an Adopt-A-Family program to ensure that families positively experience the holiday season despite their struggles. Families sign up with their case managers to participate in the program, which allows other families in the community to “adopt” them

for the holidays. Donors receive a family profile, gift ideas, name, age, gender, sizes and a few practical gift ideas for each family member. Donors drop off gifts at the main office, wrapped and labeled with family member’s names. SHELTER also has opportunities for families or groups to cook and serve meals at their family shelter in Martinez. To participate, call 925335-0698.

Volunteer Emergency Services Team in Action Programs (VESTIA), a 501(c)(3) organiza-

Mayor, from page 1

process the charging of the batteries.

The embedded roadway disk does not affect medical devices, cell phones or other wireless devices. The specially designed receiver transfers the electricity to the batteries. The disk receives electricity via a hook up to the electric grid (PG&E).

This pilot program received $5.4 million in federal and state grant funds to implement. The four busses are in use on the downtown Walnut Creek to Walnut Creek Bart Station route. This area was selected for the pilot due to the ability to provide

the electric charging technology and because the route was short. The pilot will allow County Connection and its partners to determine if this technology is feasible in other areas of the system and elsewhere in the state and country.

It’s the first bus of its kind in the Bay Area to use WAVE technology to charge the bus, extending the range of the bus in service as well as the life of the batteries. With in-route charging and topping off the batteries every few runs, a bus can stay in service longer before returning to the bus yard for full

tion, provides supplemental support to needy individuals and families known to the Contra Costa County Employment and Human Services Department (EHSD). All services are provided through client referral by EHSD. Our office will be volunteering with the Holiday Helpers Warehouse, a VESTIA program. It’s a wonderful way to support families in our community. VESTIA provides gifts of warm clothing, toys, books and food to families in need throughout Contra Costa County, all through referral from county social workers. Many of the families are in the process of starting their lives over from the recession. They are building new careers and establishing financial stability, so they do not have additional resources to provide gifts and new clothing at the holidays. If you would like to donate or volunteer, call 925521-5060.

It’s time again for the annual Counties Care Holiday Food Fight. This is the 13th year that

charging.

This project sets the stage for a second project that County Connection will begin to work on in 2017, when four diesel busses will be replaced with four more electric Gillig buses. Federal funds will cover these next four buses.

The all-electric busses will help reduce carbon emissions, thereby improving air quality. An additional benefit is they are much quieter and provide a smoother ride.

County Connection will use the experiences to see how to effectively deploy more electric buses in other areas. Depending on funding opportunities, future California air emission requirements for transit buses and how

employees of Contra Costa and Solano counties compete to raise funds to help achieve the Food Bank of Contra Costa County and Solano’s goal of working to end hunger. I encourage all residents to support the Food Bank. One way to give is by joining me at a Holiday Open House, 4-6 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 14, in my office at 2151 Salvio St., Suite R, Concord. We will be collecting monetary donations in support of the Food Bank. Reusable bags will be available for a $5 donation. Food donations are also welcome. RSVP by Dec. 7 a t SupervisorMitchoff@bos.cccou nty.us or 925-521-7100. To make a donation to the Food Bank, visit https://donatenow.networkforgood.org/foodbankccs.

With your help, I am confident that we will truly make a difference to those in need in our community.

fast electric bus technology progresses, County Connection could operate even more electric buses in the future.

The technology of charging electric batteries in buses inductively could spread this method to light-duty trucks and cars. Then, users of electric cars will be able to charge while in use to extend the ability to travel between full chargings.

Coupled with the autonomous vehicles being tested in Concord and San Ramon and the emerging drone technology, we could be using “Jetsons” style transportation. And all this technology is emerging in our backyard.

Contact the Mayor at lmhoff@comcast.net.

Dr. Nellie Meyer is Superintendent of Schools for MDUSD. Email questions or comments to meyern@mdusd.org

DR. NELLiE MEyER MDUSD SUPERINTENDENT

KAREN MiTCHOFF COUNTY SUPERVISOR

Karen Mitchoff is Contra Costa County District IV supervisor. Email questions or comments to karen.mitchoff@bos.cccounty.us

Carlyn Obringer is a member of the City of Concord Planning Commission. Professionally, she focuses on California education issues as an Education Policy Analyst. Carlyn resides in Concord with her husband, Justin, and dog Crystal. Contact her by email at carlyno@yahoo.com.

CARLyN OBRiNGER PLANNING COMMISSION

Appraisals are tricky for home buyers

LyNNE FRENCH REAL ANSWERS

Q. We are having a problem with the appraisal on a home we are selling coming in at the offered price. Why don’t appraisers just figure out the price per square foot?

If they did that our appraisal would have come in higher than the offering price.

A. There are several approaches to appraisals on a home that an appraiser might use, but cost per square foot isn’t one of them. When a home is being built, a builder figures their building costs on a per square foot basis. When it is resold an appraiser uses criteria from previous sales.

The smaller the home, the higher the price per square foot is. The value of the land and the location, or premiums such as a view, add to the value of the home. Think of it this way: a 1,200-square-foot home which

has a kitchen, three bedrooms, two baths, a living room and a dining area sold for $380 a square foot, or $456,000. If a 1,800-square-foot home, down the street, with the same amount of beds and baths, a living room and a dining room also sold for $380 a square foot it would go for $684,000. Anybody can see that is too much. Nobody would pay that much for the additional air space. The larger home would have to sell for much less per square foot.

Q. My husband and I are getting up in years and are thinking of downsizing. We have a large two-story home. The stairs are killing us. The cost of maintaining a home, where we use just a few rooms, is hard to afford. Any tips on how to proceed?

A. Now that you are starting to think about moving, you can start the process by getting rid of things that you are not using or won’t be able to take to a smaller home. After living in your home for many years you are bound to have accumulated far more possessions than you need. One benefit of paring down early is that your home will show much better when it is on the market. If you are having trouble figuring out how you will even start scaling back, you can hire someone to help you. There are peo-

Monument, from page 1

Although she was not yet a military mom, Masnada felt felt strongly that something should be done to remember the young soldier. Her older son was a CHS graduate and her younger son was still a student there, and the connection ran deep.

Fast forward to early this year when she met Cpl Mick Bekowsky’s mother Joan, and the idea for the monuments took hold. By this time, Masnada’s son Tony Noble, a 2006 CHS graduate, was on active duty with U.S. Marines and

Masnada was a Blue Star Mom.

Masnada met with Carol Prell, president of the Contra Costa Blue Star Moms Chapter 20 and the plan to place a monument in each of the schools was put into motion.

When requests for participation went out to the schools, Concord High was the first to respond. “This is a true marriage of community and school,” said principal Rianne Pfaltzgraff, addressing those assembled. “I like doing things with the community. And I like it that we were first.”

Election, from page 1

She says a four-year public university would create livingwage, white- and blue-collar local jobs that make it easier to both live and work in Concord.

“I also plan to propose to my fellow council members that we convene a blue ribbon task force of regional education, business and technology leaders to chart a course to bring this vision to fruition,” she said.

Regarding rent increases, a volatile issue in the city, Obringer chose not to comment for this article, citing a Nov. 29 City Council meeting – before she takes her seat –that will look at the issues of rent control ordinances. She did not want to be seen as unduly influencing the process. But she said during her campaign that she was against rent control ordinances in Concord.

ple who specialize in helping organize and plan a move. Once you choose a realtor to assist you they can give you a referral.

Many seniors and movedown buyers are looking for a smaller house with one level, in a safe location, convenient to shopping and transportation. They are often interested in reducing their overall costs to have money left over to fund retirement. One thing that can be a challenge is the fact that they might find themselves in competition with first-time buyers. There is frequently a higher demand for smaller, lower priced homes, especially single story, than a higher priced home. Please realize that the price per square foot will be much higher than for a larger home. When you buy a home half the size of the one you are selling don’t expect it to sell for half the price. There are subdivisions for 55+ residents. Of course in these homes you won’t be competing with first time buyers.

Anybody that is buying and selling a home, including movedown buyers, wonders whether to buy or sell first. If you sell first you will know exactly how much money you have to work with, but you may worry about finding the next home. If you buy first, you might worry about selling your current home. Many seniors are in a position to buy first,

When Masnada’s son, Tony, still on active duty and recently promoted to staff sergeant heard of the project, he asked to speak at the dedication. Noble’s words were eloquent and emotional.

“I never met Sgt. Guzman, Cpl. Bekowsky or PFC Barnett, at least not in the literal sense. But I knew them,” he said. “I knew them because I’ve been where they have been. And I have done what they have done.”

“I have fought, sweat, laughed and cried alongside them for the last nine years,” he said, choking back tears. “We served at different times,

or have enough equity in the home after years of appreciation, to take out an equity line to buy the next house. If this feels too uncomfortable to you, an alternative is to sell your current home and put your things in storage, and live in a temporary rental, perhaps in the same area you want to buy, until the right house comes along. Before you put your home on the market, make sure that your realtor has shown you enough homes for you to be confident that you will find what will work for you when your house does sell.

To soften the stress of navigating this move you might consider the tax advantages. If you have lived in your home for two out of the last five years, you and your husband are forgiven up to $500,000 of the capital gain you realize on the sale. If you live in Contra Costa County, you can transfer your property taxes to your new home if you move to another home in Contra Costa County, as long as the sale price of the new home is the same or less than the current home. You can consult with the tax assessor to see in what other counties you can transfer taxes. Please hire a trusted realtor early on to be your guide.

Lynne French is on vacation this week. This article is reprinted from the March 13, 2013 issue of the Clayton Pioneer.

but they are my family. They are my brothers.”

Joan Bekowsky, Guzman’s mother Shelley Tucker, his two sisters Heidi and Anni, and Barnett’s sister, Bekkie were among those attending.

The Blue Star Moms is open to mothers and fathers who have or have had children serving in the armed forces. The Contra Costa Chapter is one of 200 chapters in the U.S. Each memorial costs about $5,000 and the Blue Star Moms are seeking donations to fund the project. To donate or for more information, contact Masnada at Loretta@bluestarmoms.org, 925.686.3944.

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Birsan has been a proponent of some type of rent control ordinance and led the campaign on the council to have the issue heard by the housing and economic committee.

The man who was introduced to the council four years ago as a “gadfly” by then-Mayor Helix has been a sort of lone wolf during his council tenure. But he appealed to enough voters to fuel his reelection.

“It’s great to be reelected, especially by a larger percent than voted for me last time,” he said, adding that he was concerned about low voter turnout in the city.

He says he looks forward to working with Obringer, knowing that they will clash on some issues and be in accord on others.

Birsan said he will continue to push for several issues,

Clayton Fair Properties

including having a directly elected mayor, a defined rotation for vice mayor and reinstating police substations in the city. He also favors body cameras for police, as well as putting cameras on major highway entrances to the city.

And he will push to have a marijuana dispensary in Concord, now that California passed legislation to legalize the drug. “I don’t want our residents going to Oakland or Pittsburg for that,” he said.

Birsan will also advocate for another controversial issue; having the next runner-up automatically fill a vacancy on the council providing he or she received at least 70 percent of the next higher candidate’s vote. Kumar came in third with 81 percent of Birsan’s votes which would award him the open seat. Kumar received 17.5 percent of the total votes cast.

Birsan says that Grayson will likely officially resign on Dec. 5, just a day before the new council members are sworn in. By law, the city must

replace the council member within 60 days. If his proposal is rejected, Birsan expects the council to take applications for a new council member within the month and appoint someone.

The council can accept Kumar, appoint someone else or ask for an application process. Any of those options would take three votes of the four-member board. Birsan said he does not think there will be a special election for the open seat.

He also believes strongly that the city should “Put concord back in Concord,” finding ways to come together after a grueling national election that has split the country.

“We need to respect each other’s differences, and try to be in concordance with one another,” he said.

The other council candidates were Hope Johnson, 14.7 percent; Pablo Benavente, 7.5 percent; Gloria Casillas, 6.2 percent; and Eduardo Manuel, 4.1 percent.

(925) 685-0324

ROBERTS

Bike Concord and Monument Impact are sponsoring the second annual Tamale Fest & Bikes on Saturday, Dec. 3. The event is a fundraiser for the nonprofit Community Bicycle Shop (CBS), which is expected to launch in Concord next year. The festival will be 3-6 p.m. at the Keller House, 1760 Clayton Road. Homemade tamales and holiday beverages such as champurrado will be offered.

Bike Concord fundraiser to benefit community bike shop

Riders can purchase decorative holiday bicycle lights and use them on a group “slow” ride through the neighborhood, ending up at Todos Santos Plaza for the city’s tree lighting. The festival also features raffle items and a visit from Santa on his cargo bike. Bike Concord has been steadily working on the CBS for a couple years. It will be a nonprofit space where skilled

Sponsored Content

volunteer bicycle mechanics will teach residents – both youth and adults – how to do bicycle maintenance.

The group will use the CBS to store donated bicycles to be fixed for inexpensive sale or donation to those who need them and cannot afford a new bicycle. Adopt-A-Family Bikes, based in Danville and Alamo, is already doing this work each holiday season. Bike Concord

volunteers will be assisting them throughout November and December 2016. Purchase festival tickets in advance at TamaleTix.BikeConcord.org.

Maryam Roberts is a member of Bike Concord, a volunteer organization of residents working for safe, convenient and enjoyable bicycling in our community. Find out more at BikeConcord.org.

Research shows new lung cancer treatment options

screening annually for three years can detect lung cancer early and, as a result, decrease the risk of lung cancer death by 20 percent.

Now the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has agreed to cover the cost of CT screening in patients 5577 who have a 30 “pack-year” smoking history and who have quit within 15 years. This is an exciting advance in early detection and prevention.

rearrangement.

Doctors are also learning about resistant pathways, which is when these medications stop working. Medicines that fight the resistant pathways have emerged, such as Osimertinib for patients with T790m EGFR mutation.

Through early screenings and advanced medication options, strides are being made in lung cancer treatment.

Lung cancer occurs in about 225,000 U.S. patients and causes more than 160,000 deaths per year. It is the most common cause of cancer death in both men and women in the United States, and smoking is the most important and controllable risk factor. Other risk factors include a history of radiation exposure, environmental toxins, lung condition such as pulmonary fibrosis and genetic factors.

Until recently, screening for lung cancer was not widely used. The National Lung Screening Trial compared a CT screening with a chest X-ray for individuals who are heavy smokers. It found that CT

Lung cancer treatment involves a team approach, including the patient, primary care physician, pulmonologist, thoracic surgeon, medical oncologist and radiation oncologist. Previously, chemotherapy was the only approach for advanced lung cancer. Now we have an improved understanding of what drives cancer growth.

Some patients may have a “driver mutation” in their cancer, which is a molecular pathway that stimulates cancer growth. If we know that information, doctors can target drugs to treat the cancer –yielding safer and more effective treatment. Oral targeted medications approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for lung cancer include Gefitinib, Erlotinib or Afatinib for patients with EGFR mutation and Crizotinib for patients with ALK

Cancer immunotherapy is used to stimulate immune responsiveness to treat cancer. It helps the immune system to detect cancer as foreign and work to eradicate it. The FDA has recently approved immunotherapy drugs Nivolumab and Pembrolizumab to treat advanced lung cancer.

When Nivolumab was compared with Docetaxel (chemotherapy) in squamous cell patients, one-year survival rate was 42 percent vs. 24 percent with chemo. Other immunotherapy drugs are in clinical development. There are also clinical trials looking at immunotherapy combined with other immunotherapy drugs, chemotherapy, targeted therapy or radiation. Doctors eagerly await the results and hope they will greatly improve treatment of lung cancer.

Chen is a medical oncologist and hematologist with Diablo Valley Oncology. She has extensive experience in treating lung and gynecologic cancers and sees patients in Pleasant Hill, Rossmoor and San Ramon.

Seriously, the time is now for the move to Windows 10

upgrade grace period could be revoked at any time.

My advice to owners of computers with the older OS is to make the switch before the new year. If you are a business owner with software that is not compatible with Windows 10, now is the time to research substitutes if your existing software company doesn’t offer an upgrade or patch for Windows 10.

until your computer needs critical help.

I think Windows 10 is a great operating system – the best OS Microsoft has ever built. It is far better at security than previous versions. Geeks will tell you that there are better operating systems, but what do they know?

Microsoft will no longer offer Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 for sale to computer makers or to the general public.

It’s the company’s all-out effort to move its entire PC and tablet market to a more secure and modern operating system: Windows 10.

Like it or not, Windows 10 will be Microsoft’s only PC and tablet operating system (OS) going forward. PCs with the older systems will still qualify for a free upgrade to Windows 10 through a qualified computer repair service. But this

If you are a die-hard and must keep Windows 7, I suggest you rush out and buy a copy today a shove it into a drawer for emergency. If your existing computer with Windows 7 fails, you could load your emergency copy onto the replacement PC. This might extend your usage by a year or so.

But, here’s the rub: New computers will begin to migrate away from Windows 7 features, meaning that the new computer you buy may not even respond or recognize Windows 7.

If you need help moving from an older PC or tablet, seek help from a professional.

It will be far less expensive to take this step now than to wait

You may not realize it yet, but in a year or so you’re going to want Microsoft Hololens –the augmented reality known as VR. Only Microsoft Windows 10 will be able to support this at a reasonable price for most users. Alternatives known as Oculus Rift will be available, but at a much steeper price.

Mark my words, Hololens will emerge as the leader in VR. And you’re going to want it.

So quit fighting change and embrace it. I’ve heard all the arguments for keeping Windows 7. Sorry, discussion over. Move on. “It’s dead, Jim.”

MARyAM

BIKE CONCORD

GIGI CHEN, M.D.

As Bones says: Jim, let it go;it’s dead

CLANEy TECH TALK

Many Concord residents remember buying meat from Fritz’s. Everyone knew his smiling face and caring attitude.

He would also cut and package the local hunters’ game, already dressed, of course. The hunters gathered to talk about their adventures and compare stories.

Englunds carries on family tradition

Fritz Englund joined the Army as a young soldier in WWII. When Pearl Harbor was bombed, he left Minnesota and his Swedish family for basic training in L.A. He went home after the service and met Evelyn, a young woman who had lost her husband in the war. They married in l946 and had four children, three born in Minnesota and the fourth in California.

The young couple moved to Concord in l952, and Fritz worked as a butcher for Quality Market in Pittsburg. They lived in Benicia for three months while waiting for their house to be finished in Con-

cord Estates. Evelyn raised Diane, Derry, Brian and Brodie, while supporting Fritz as he changed jobs from Quality Market to PX Market by Monte Gardens on Willow Pass Road.

By l969, he had saved enough money to start his own business by El Monte. He proudly hung the sign, and the neighborhood welcomed him with open arms. He was the best butcher this side of the Mississippi. Sons Derry and Brian worked with him.

Fritz died at the age of 96 in 2015. Although the Clayton Road store is closed, Englund’s Catering proudly carries his

name and the dream of a small family business serving the community.

“He was sharp as a tack until the end, and he’s the reason I do what I do,” says Derry, who owns Englund’s Catering.

“It’s always been a family mystery why they gave their children Irish names when they were Swedish,” Derry adds with a laugh.

Superintendent reviews MDUSD’s progress

After three years at the helm of the Mt. Diablo Unified School District, Nellie Meyer points to successes with graduation rates, college acceptances and community communication.

Meyer attributes today’s 85 percent graduation rate to the addition of counselors, recovery labs that give students a second or third opportunities to pass a class and the reinstatement of summer school.

“We have brought back 50 counselors and developed ongoing monthly training for them,” she says. “We’ve also improved graduation rates, and the number of students who apply to universities and colleges.”

Another goal has been to increase communication.

“With community meetings and a speaker series, we’re on an upward trend,” she reports. “Employees and communities are working better together.”

Her achievements at one of the Bay Area’s largest school district come as no surprise. Her previous assignment was deputy superintendent of K12 programs with San Diego Unified, the second largest district in the state and nearly four times as big as MDUSD.

Meyer began here in August 2013, after spending her entire career in San Diego. She taught middle and high school social science, history, algebra and English language learners before becoming a vice principal, then principal at Clairemont High School.

“I spent practically my whole life in the San Diego district,” says Meyer, who attend-

ed San Diego schools from kindergarten to high school graduation. She also holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology, a master’s degree in administration and a doctorate in education – all from San Diego State.

Meyer says there’s much that she misses in San Diego, but “this opportunity allowed my family to move from one beautiful place to another.”

Meyer’s mother and father were teachers, as is her husband, Marty, who is now semiretired. Their daughter Georgia plays water polo and lacrosse at College Park High School in Pleasant Hill, and their son James is a junior at UC Irvine.

Her experience with the

diversity of San Diego helped her understand the challenges of educating second language learners. According to MDSUD communications specialist Ursula Leimbach, there are more than 50 different home languages in the district. Second language students make up about a quarter of the population.

“Our goal is to have 100 percent of our ELs graduate on time, with the proficiency needed to succeed in postgraduate endeavors,” Leimbach says.

For Meyer, other goals include “continuing to increase student achievement, spotlighting positive things going on so others can replicate them, and improving the envi-

ronments on our campuses.”

With $38 million remaining on the existing bond for facility improvements, the district is prioritizing schools’ needs. “When you come to a place that’s beautiful, you feel better. You feel uplifted,” says Meyer.

The superintendent acknowledges challenges such as teacher shortages, instability of funding and people’s perception of the district. “People need to see how far we’ve come,” she notes. “It’s a new culture with a new way of doing things.

“There’s the perception we’re still doing business the old way,” she adds. “Our customer service and service to our students have come a long way.”

Meyer is impressed with how hard teachers and staff are working. “Teachers have embraced sharing ideas and learning about new technology, so students can use them as tools to learn,” she says.

Michael McAlister, in his third year as principal of Northgate High, praises Meyer’s leadership. “It’s rare you find a professional who can have a vision supported by data-driven decision-making, balanced with a heartfelt humanity,” he says. “Her leadership has provided the district with a good place for kids to learn.”

Any given day includes a full schedule. This morning began with a meeting at Ygnacio Valley High with the International Baccalaureate program, lunch at the district office judging Halloween outfits, then a meeting about the reopening of Holbrook Elementary. She would ordinarily

Cutting out sugar a brilliant idea

I’ve suspected for years I was addicted to sweets, but I didn’t take the warning signs seriously. I always hid a stash of candy somewhere in the house, reasoning it was to keep everyone else from eating my goodies. After all, I deserve a treat once in a while. Commercials for desserts make me immediately respond like one of Pavlov’s dog.

ence and it’s being published on a daily basis by the top universities, funded by the National Institutes of Health … showing a relationship that is so powerful between sugary, fatty, salty food combinations and their strong association with addiction. Sugar plays on the reward centers of the brain and causes the same highs and withdrawals as illegal drugs.”

have had more meetings, but this day she went home to her family for Halloween.

Meyer recently returned from Washington, D.C., where she accepted a Blue Ribbon School award for Strandwood

Elementary – one of a handful of schools in California to win.

“It’s been wonderful to see decisions made that have a positive impact on our students and community,” she says.

Insight on year-end estate planning

•Retirement or retirement of your spouse.

•Receipt of a large gift or inheritance.

•Sale of a business interest.

•Changes in federal or state income tax or estate tax laws.

Examine the critical components of your estate plan, including key legal documents. A quick perusal might take 15 minutes or even less.

I love anything sweet, and so do a lot of seniors.

In our prime, we have 10,000-15,000 taste buds. By about age 70, people have lost as many as two out of three of their taste buds.

Sweet is the first taste we’re exposed to as humans.

Infants are instinctively programmed to prefer sweet flavors, including breast milk and formula.

But what finally woke me up, literally, was when I had no sweets in the house one night and the chocolate-flavored Ex-Lax was calling to me. Recent research estimates more than 8 percent of women ages 45 to 64 could be considered food addicts.

“What we’ve been able to find is that food addiction is real,” said Dr. Pam Peeke, author of “The Hunger Fix.” “We now have credible sci-

Sugar addiction is not currently listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Health Disorders, but some medical experts believe that it should be classified as an addiction.

“It’s processed and boxed foods which are ‘laced’ with sugar that lead to addiction,” Peeke said. “I don’t see anybody going in the corner and doing apples or trying to score an apple. Instead what I see is the manufactured, refined,

processed foods in the big boxes and bags that are causing the big problems.”

Consumers are compelled to continue purchasing these products because of the added sugar. This is a successful marketing ploy at our expense, so be sure to read the labels.

I am currently purging sugar from my diet. The first three days were tough, but I found the rewards were great. I feel sharper, have more energy, think more clearly and sleep better.

In preparing for a new year, take time now for a quick estate plan review.

You should have already made certain estate planning provisions this year to protect the interests of your heirs and minimize potential estate tax liability. But that doesn’t mean you’re in the clear.

You can’t just fill out the paperwork, lock up the documents in a file cabinet or safe deposit box (or store them electronically) and forget about it. Consider your estate plan to be a work in progress.

The plan should be reviewed periodically to ensure that it still meets your main objectives and is up to date. You could also be affected by life events that should be reflected in your estate plan.

Here are some life events that could require a change:

•Marriage or divorce.

•Birth or adoption of a child, grandchild or greatgrandchild.

•Death of a spouse or another family member.

•Illness or disability of yourself, spouse or another family member.

•Child or grandchild reaches the age of majority.

•Child or grandchild has education funding needs.

•Death of the person named as guardian for minor children in your will, your executor or trustee of trust.

•Changes in long-term care insurance coverage.

•Taking out a large loan or incurring other debt.

•Sizeable changes in the value of assets.

•Sale of your principal residence or a second home.

•Significant promotion at work or change in job circumstances.

If you have minor children, you can designate in your will a guardian to care for them should you die as well as making certain other provisions –such as creating trusts to benefit teenagers. Upon your death, the executor named in the will assumes responsibility for administering the estate.

Your durable power of attorney authorizes someone to handle your affairs and health-care decisions if you’re disabled or otherwise unable to act. Typically, it’s coordinated with a living will and other health-care directives. The power of attorney expires upon your death.

A living will spells out your wishes concerning life-sustaining measures in the event of a terminal illness. It says what means should be used, and not used, but it doesn’t provide legal authority for anyone to speak for you. For this reason, it may be coupled with a health-care power of attorney.

Although a letter of instruction isn’t legally binding, it can be as important as the others – if not more so.

The letter may provide an inventory and location of assets; account numbers for securities, retirement plans and IRAs and insurance policies; and a list of professional contacts that can help your heirs after your death. It may also be used to state personal preferences, such as funeral arrangements.

Don’t put off an estate plan review any longer. Identify the items that should be changed and arrange to have the necessary adjustments made when 2017 arrives.

Photo courtesy Concord Historical Society

After several years working for local butchers, Fritz Englund opened his shop in El Monte in 1969. Now closed, the family business carries on through son Derry’s Englunds Catering.

CAROL LONGSHORE YESTERYEAR

Carol Longshore has been a Concord resident since 1950. She is a community leader and current president of the Concord Historical Society. Send comments and suggestions for future topics to editor@concordpioneer.com. Richard A. Littorno is an attorney specializing in estate planning. He has offices

RICHARD LITTORNO INSIGHTON ESTATE PLANNING

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

JOHN T. MILLER Correspondent

NELLIE MEYER

S P O R T S

Eagles, Minutemen blanked in Section playoffs

Clayton Valley Charter and Concord high schools were in their accustomed place last weekend competing in the North Coast Section football playoffs but both local schools were eliminated in shutout losses while crosstown Concord power De La Salle sailed into another Section finals appearance.

CVCHS losing to 24-time defending NCS champion and top-seed De La Salle in the first-ever NCS Open Division playoffs wasn’t as surprising as the 28-0 final

score. The Ugly Eagles had been to the State Bowl Championship game the past two years in lower divisions and ended this season with a 9-2 record.

Concord was the third seed in Division II, which didn’t include the Minutemen’s recent playoff nemesis, Clayton Valley Charter. Concord (7-5) rolled over Hayward 53-6 in its playoff opener before being upset 17-0 by No. 6 Granada of Livermore last Saturday in Concord.

For DLS their berth in a Section championship game is something quite familiar. In fact, the Spartans (10-1) have been in the NCS finals 33 years in a row. Their opponent next Friday, Dec. 2, at Dublin High School is undefeated Freedom of Oakley (11-0), which is in its firstever Section championship game. Freedom beat league rival Pittsburg last Saturday 55-35 in the other Open semi-final.

Clayton Valley Charter football has had a different personality this year after generally relying on coach Tim Murphy’s wing-T offense to swamp opponents in the past four years. That approach earned the team two State championship game berths, three Northern California Regional Bowl Game appearances and a trio of NCS titles, the first in the school’s history.

CONCORD HIGHJUNIORQUAR-

TERBACK NICK NUNEZ (2) and his teammates were stifled in their NCS quarterfinal game last Saturday against Granada, losing 17-0 to the Livermore school and denying the Minutemen a chance for a third straight appearance in the Division ii finals.

This year it was the Eagles physical, swarming defense that led the way to nine wins in 10 games, including three shutouts, before they ran into DLS.

Against De La Salle the Eagles offense controlled the ball with 33 more plays from

scrimmage but frustratingly turned the ball over on downs at the Spartans 14, 26, 24 and 23-yard lines, two of those on tight measurements.

De La Salle’s star junior running back Kairee Robinson found the end zone four times while running for 189 yards including a 49-yard touchdown on the first play from scrimmage and a 50yard TD later in the first

quarter. “De La Salle made three big offensive plays that made a big difference,” Murphy said.

The CVCHS coach added, “It was a good, clean game from opening kickoff to the post-game handshake. There were very few penalties and only one turnover [DLS lost a fumble]. It was a class act playoff game.”

Murphy said his Eagles

lacked team speed against the physical Spartans defense. “After we lost [senior running back] Akeal Lalaind to injury early in the season we became a more physical running team with young backs.” He says most likely his fastest back was QB Zia Rahmany but Murphy didn’t like him running too much due to a history of injuries.

Justin Alumbaugh’s De La

Salle team has two weeks between NCS games to solve a Freedom offense led by Bay Valley Athletic League MVP Ronnie Rivers, who was nearly a one-man wrecking crew against Pitt. The senior scored six touchdowns while rushing for 299 yards to put him over 2100 yards on the season.

See Playoffs, page 17

Local soccer teams enjoy Halloween weekend tournaments

Photos courtesy MDSA

MT. DIABLO UNITEDWONTHEUNDER 11 GIRLS DIABLO FC KICKOR TREATTOURNAMENT. Before the Sunday final was cancelled due to heavy showers, the local AySO team ended with the most points among 12 teams for first place. To make the weekend even better they also won the U11 girls costume contest as Dr. Seuss’ Things. The MDSA 06 team includes, front row from left, Mandy West, Emery Stephens, Julia Pauline, Julia Lovelace, Gianna Cota, Kate Bullis; middle row, Temi Okeowo, Lilly Foskett, Morgan Grove, Layla Solis, Katelyn Calderon, Renata Salerno, Anja Perreira, Natalya Modawar; back row, coaches Dylan Perreira and Matt Stephens.

Photo courtesy Diablo FC

DIABLO FC UNDER 12 BOYSWEREVOTED BEST COSTUME in their U12 division at the 18th annual Halloween Kick or Treat Classic. The “Skeleton” Diablo FC 2005 team coached by Brian Voltattorni includes, from left, Andres Leroux, Andy Arriaga, Will Van Voorhis, Cameron imberg, Luis Esteban, DJ Hanley, Raul Arana, Jose Ortiz, Humberto Sanchez and Samuel Moreno. Not pictured, Angel Ruiz. in the tournament the team had one win, one draw and one loss.

MDSA ELITEUNDER 13 GIRLS PHOENIX were champions in the 2004 Girls Division of the Creek Cup Bronze Edition Octoberfest. The team include front row from left, Mipo Okeowo, Emma Howe, Morgan Perkins, Katelynn Brown, Sydney Mendelson, Nyah Akoni; back row, coach Heidi Brown, Princessa Barragan, Sarandon Kamrud, Rachel lloyd, Julia Stranko, Sophia Menard, isabella Veran, Sophia Sinclaire, Laine Moraes, Hawah Opeyany, Kaitlyn McNevin and coach Chris McNevin. Not pictured, Kelsey Macaulay.

MDSA BOCA JUNIORSUNDER 14 BOYS scored 15 goals and didn’t give up any to win the White Division of the U14B San Ramon FC Boo Cup Tournament. The team includes, front row from left, Anthony Montoya, Christian Nomellini , Riley Claunch, Bakari Johnson, Jason Zimmer, Omar Popal; back row, coach Luano Nomellini, Michael Boyle, Logan Gonzales, Marques Wirth, Sebastian Ledezma, Evan Hunter, Davin Fabrizio, Aidan Nolan and coach Robert Helena.

Jason Rogers photos

DE LA SALLEDEFENSIVEBACK NOAH WILLIAMS (35) flew through the air to break up a pass to Clayton Valley Charter sophomore wide receiver Dre White (2) in the Open Division North Coast Section football playoffs last Friday at Owen Owens Field in Concord. The Spartans shutout CVCHS 28-0 behind four touchdown runs by Kairee Robinson. The Ugly Eagles controlled the ball but failed to get into the end zone.

Athlete Spotlight

Robie Moore

Grade: Senior

School: Mt. Diablo High Sport: Football

Second-year head football coach

Derek Clements didn’t hesitate when asked for a nominee for the Pioneer’s Athlete Spotlight. He immediately suggested Robie Moore, explaining that Moore’s accomplishments extend beyond the football field. Moore scored nine touchdowns, gained almost 900 yard as the primary pass catcher for the

Red Devils and also rushed for over 300 yards when playing as a running back. Before the end of the season he filled in for an injured teammate at quarterback. He also punted, was second on the team in tackles, had four interceptions as a free safety and returned kickoffs and punts. Those exploits earned him all-Diablo Athletic

League honors at wide receiver. “He was the most dynamic player on our team,” the coach said. “As a junior Robie had some maturing to do and did just that this season. He went from being a talented athlete to a talented leader on the field and in the classroom.” He recently got his fall report card with all A’s and one B. “Last year we had two varsity players with a 3.0 or higher GPA. This year we had 11 players at 3.0 or higher and one at 4.0.” Moore wants to play college football and is concentrating in the classroom to improve his overall GPA before graduation.

The Concord Pioneer congratulates Robie and thanks Athlete Spotlight sponsors Dr. Laura Lacey & Dr. Christopher Ruzicka who have been serving the Clayton and Concord area for 25 years at FamilyVision Care Optometry. www.laceyandruzicka.com

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

Clayton Valley Charter teams win five fall championships in first DAL season

The new Diablo Athletic League was setup for its 12 schools to compete in separate Foothill and Valley conferences for each sport. The concept is to try and achieve competitive balance for teams based on results in recent years in the former Diablo Valley and Diablo Foothill athletic leagues.

Based on the inaugural DAL fall sports competition Clayton Valley Charter High School has to be pleased with the new setup. Five CVCHS teams won DAL fall sports championships. The football team was crowned Foothill Conference champs while the Eagles girls water polo and tennis squads along with both cross country teams were all Valley Conference titlists. The Foothill Conference contains the top-ranked teams based on results from the past two years for the schools that

YVH football coach Puentes resigns

YGNACIO VALLEY HIGHFOOTBALLCOACH Phillip Puentes is leaving the school after five years in charge of Warriors football. Senior lineman Jovanny Ceballos (54) broke his collarbone in the eighth week of the season but Puentes said “he unselfishly never missed a practice.”

Concord Pioneer

Phillip Puentes resigned following the fall season as head coach of the Ygnacio Valley High School varsity football team after spending the last five seasons in charge of the Warriors, taking them to the North Coast Section playoffs in 2014 and 2015.

“I have been very fortunate to have been head coach at Ygnacio Valley. I feel we have done a lot of good to help our student athletes push themselves farther than they thought they could,” Puentes said after announcing he was stepping down following a 2-8 season in the new Diablo Athletic League.

Photo by Chris Ruzicka courtesy CVCHS cross country

CLAYTON VALLEY CHARTERCROSSCOUNTRY won every competition from frosh to varsity in the Foothill Conference of the new Diablo Athletic League to claim both the boys and girls

previously were in DVAL and DFAL while the Valley Conference has the balance of DAL schools.

GIRLS VOLLEYBALL

Clayton Valley went to North Coast Section Division II playoffs as the seventh seed. The Eagles took the first set against Livermore before losing three tight sets to bow out of the tournament.

DAL Foothill champion Campolindo defeated Carondelet 3-0 in the quarter-finals and went on to take the section championship, Campo’s first since 2012. Carondelet beat Alameda 3-0 in the first round.

Alhambra, Miramonte and Acalanes from the DAL Foothill Conference made it to the NCS Division III semifinals. With Miramonte advancing to the final before losing to Marin Catholic.

Berean Christian reached the quarterfinals of Division V beat beating Upper Lake 3-1.

Head-Royce eliminated the Eagles and went on to claim the NCS championship.

GIRLS TENNIS

Clayton Valley Charter went a perfect 10-0 to win the DAL Valley Conference. For the second year in a row an Eagles doubles team took the league title. Dalia Anwar and Tracy Nguyen were doubles winners. Last year, Anwar and Glynnalyn Ajero won DVAL doubles.

Anwar and Nguyen lost to a Monte Vista team at NCS Division I while Northgate’s Antonia Bazulin and Raquel Aguilar lost to the eventual NCS doubles champs from Albany.

Nichole Markiewicz fell 7-5 in the third set to Christian Wang of Dougherty Valley in NCS singles first round.

In the team competition CVCHS was blanked by top seed and NCS champion Monte Vista 7-0 in the opening

Clayton Valley Charter’s Tim Murphy coached Puentes when he was a lineman at Clovis East High School. Murphy led YVHS to the 1999 NCS 3A East Bay championship and accepted an offer to return to the school in the spring of 2012 before changing gears and going to Clayton Valley, which presented an opening for Puentes.

Murphy said his former player "did things right there at Ygnacio Valley and taught them real-life lessons. He has made better kids out of those athletes."

On that note Puentes said, "I believe our departing seniors will go out and conquer life. They understand what adversity is and how to overcome it. I wish we would have won more games and brought a championship home, but like life,

accomplishing those things is not easy. I do feel like we gave our players a strong academic foundation and that influence pushed many of them to reach a 3.0 grade-point average. I think this has instilled a belief in our players that they can accomplish anything if they put their mind to it."

Of the eight YVHS losses this year, seven were to NCS teams who all made the postseason Section playoffs. The two victories were over Las Lomas and Mt. Diablo.

In the NCS Division III playoffs the previous two season Ygnacio had the misfortune of drawing Campolindo High of Moraga in the first round, losing both times to the eventual Section and Northern California champs. Campo won the State title in 2014.

“My wife has been unselfish for five years allowing me to live out a childhood dream of mine. As I turned 30 this year I felt it was fair to give back and move back home to Fresno as we plan to start a family,” Puentes said.

Ygnacio Valley athletic director Mark Tran said, “Coach Puentes did many positive things for the students, staff, school and community during his five-year tenure at Ygnacio Valley High School. He helped to increase school moral and Warrior pride. We wish him well in his future endeavors.”

Tran said he expects to have the coaching search completed before the school breaks for the holidays at the end of the year.

MDSA World Cup dedicated to late coach Chris Turner

round.

Acalanes won the DAL Foothill Conference title and reached the second round of the NCS tournament.

Berean Christian’s Ava Miller qualified for the Division II singles tournament.

CROSS COUNTRY

Sophomore Rayna Stanziano of Concord and junior Dylan White of Clayton Valley Charter will be in Fresno’s Woodward Park this Saturday for the CIF State cross country championships as the local runners make a return appearance at the season finals meet.

NORTHGATEGIRLSGOLFWENTUNDEFEATEDINTHENEW DIABLO ATHLETIC LEAGUE Coach Nancy Akins marshaled her team to an undefeated DAL Foothill Conference title and a berth in the North Coast Section Division i championship tournament. Dymphna Ueda of Concord was the low scorer for the Broncos at NCS. Ueda, Gia Feliciano and Skye Mingming were first-team all-DAL. The league champion Broncos were Feliciano, Serena Billeci, Mingming, Samantha Ricafrente and Ueda.

Stanziano was fifth at last Saturday’s NCS meet in Hayward. She was the second DAL runner to finish the Division III race behind third place Isabella Chao of team champion Campolindo.

See DAL Season, pg 15

The eighth annual MDSA World Cup this fall was dedicated to Chris Turner, a 47-year-old coach in the local AySO program who passed away from cancer Sept. 5. The league said, “Coach Chris was a passionate and dedicated soccer coach and he made soccer fun for many MDSA players through several years of coaching in the fall, spring, select and elite programs. He is remembered fondly by all that were ever on the pitch with him.” MDSA says support for the Turner family can be made through a GoFundMe site set up to benefit his wife Christie and daughters Kelsey and Grace. Turner was a graduate of Clayton Valley High School. The website is www.gofundme.com/2n8mthuq.

Photo courtesy Northgate High School

championships. The Eagles boys varsity includes, front row from left, Paris Ruiz, Michael Cox, Dylan White, JJ Perez, Matt Hyland, Branden Bizicki and Floyd McCluhan. The CVCHS girls team included, back row from left, Cassie Bizicki, Sarah Verderame, Natalie Ruzicka, Kelly Osterkamp, Jessica Hevener and Angie Dubnoff. Not pictured, Serena Connel.

Photo courtesy Carondelet High School

CARONDELETSOPHOMORE YEALIMI NOH of Concord was medalist at the North Coast Section golf championships helping the Cougars to a repeat trip to the State finals.

Photo by Chris Ruzicka CONCORD HIGHSOPHOMORE RAYNA STANZIANO is headed to her second straight CiF State cross country meet after taking fifth in the Division iii NCS meet last Saturday.

JAY BEDECARRÉ Concord Pioneer

JAY BEDECARRÉ

Jay Bedecarré

JACOB SAMUELS SPORTS TALK

The Golden State Warriors started this season coming off the best regular season in NBA history. They also suffered one of the worst blown series leads in the NBA Finals. No matter how good their 73-9 record was, last season will not be remembered the way Steph Curry and company wanted.

Winning the last game this season is what the Warriors will now try to change.

This campaign will show the guts and heart that the team has. It will not be easy, even with the addition of superstar Kevin Durant.

This year’s start is already not the same as last’s, which began with 24 straight wins. This time around they got beat badly on opening night at Oracle Arena in Durant’s home debut against the San Antonio Spurs and a few games later against the improving Los Angeles Lakers.

The Warriors were thought to be highly susceptible to the same struggles the Miami Heat had in LeBron

Warriors hope for different final result this season

James’ first year there. The Miami “Big Three” of James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh faltered to a 9-8 record in the opening weeks that season. The Heat then meshed winning 21 of their next 22 games.

The Warriors however bypassed the “adjustment” period, having already won nine of their next 11 games since their opening day loss to San Antonio.

While there are more potential early-season “hazards” to look for when watching the two-time defending Western Conference champion Dubs, the Warriors are most definitely a lock to return to the postseason. A real life “Dream Team” made up of four allstars and two MVPs is starting to look like an unstoppable force of nature. In addition, the once inexperienced Warriors could be heading into May (and hopefully June) with one of the most playoff-tested rosters in the league.

Without a title however the Warriors will have another disappointing season, no matter what else they do. All of this leads to one commonly misused phrase: “championship or bust.” If there’s a time where this phrase is fitting, it is with the 2016-17 Golden State Warriors.

My prediction: The Warriors inevitably regress from their legendary record last season to the tone of 65-17. It is still more than enough to have home court advantage throughout the playoffs. This

year, the Dubs don’t waste it, winning game seven at Oracle to take the title back from Cleveland.

OTHERMUSINGS:

MVP - Russell Westbrook

Rookie of the Year - Joel Embiid Biggest threat to GSW in West - Oklahoma City

Thunder

Darkhorse NBA team to watch - New York Knicks

Biggest threat to Cleveland in East - Washington Wizards

Teams, athletes form Clayton Valley High Athletic Hall of Fame Class of 2017

BEDECARRÉ

The Clayton Valley High School Athletic Hall of Fame has announced its Class of 2017 that will feature five teams, seven athletes, one coach and a community member. The honorees will be inducted next May 19 at Shadelands Art Center in Walnut Creek.

Long-time aquatics coach Dennis Bledsoe will be inducted along with two teams he coached: North Coast Section champion 1994 girls swimming team and 1994 league champion girls water polo titlists.

The other teams to be installed in the school’s hall are the 1972 NCS champion wrestling team coached by Glen Scrimger and Bill Nelson, Diablo Valley Athletic League championship 1960 baseball team coached by Vic Petreshene and coach Larry Fogelstrom’s NCS finalist 1978 softball team.

CLAYTON VALLEY HIGH’S 1978 SOFTBALLTEAM won the Diablo Valley Athletic League regular season and playoff championships and finished second to Montgomery in the first North Coast Section softball playoffs. The Eagles won three straight in NCS before falling 6-1 in the 3A finale. The team and Sharon york will be inducted in the CVHS Athletic Hall of Fame next May as part of the Class of 2017. Already in the hall from this championship team are Karey Sheehan, Kellie Ruiz and Starry Suttich. The team includes, front row from left, Sue Gietzen, Sheehan, Kelly Domgaard, Ruiz, Suttich, Julie McDonald, Paula Hobson; back row, coach Jack Bailey, york, Kathy Tarascio, Gina Kaai, Erin Lyons, Val Charles, Carol McElhare and head coach Larry Fogelstrom.

Tryouts

for the Blaze 2017 basketball teams are coming up in Clayton!

• 2nd-8th graders on December 11th, 2016

• 9th-12th graders on March 4th, 2017

Visit www.blazetravelball.com for more information or to register

The athletes being installed are Doug Balough (Class of 1969) wrestling, Mike Emry (1974) cross country and track, Leo Rowland (1987) football, soccer and tennis, Ryan Salazar

(1999) wrestling and diving, Sharon York (1980) volleyball and basketball, Katie Beck (1995) volleyball, water polo, swimming and track and Heather Wallace (1996) cross country and track.

Sports Shorts

CONTINENTAL LITTLE LEAGUE

NOWTAKINGREGISTRATIONONLINE

Husband and wife duo Matt and Michele Hill who helped jumpstart the school’s lacrosse program and served in a number of volunteer capacities will be inducted as the Community Leadership honorees.

The first CVHS Hall of Fame class was inducted as part of the school’s golden anniversary in 2008. This is the fifth class to be honored. Tickets for the dinner will be on sale soon.

JUNIOR OPTIMISTANNOUNCEBASEBALL, SOFTBALLSIGNUPS

Junior Optimist Baseball/Softball League is accepting 2017 registration for ages 4-15 for boys JOBL and Babe Ruth baseball and girls 4-14 for softball. There are also year-round travel team opportunities for Patriot baseball and Glory/Lady Liberty softball teams. For more information call Sheryl Dron at 827-0763, Adrienne Warren at 686-0673 or visit joblconcord.com.

CVCHS SEEKINGCOACHESFORSPRINGSPORTSTEAMS

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

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

Continental Little League for boys and girls baseball and softball is now open for online player registration for ages 4-17. The 2017 season runs from Feb. 1- June 1. Players must live within the league boundaries. Cost is $185 per player and $10 less for “peanut players” ages 4-5. Online registration and more information is at continentalbaseball.com.

ST. BONAVENTUREGIRLSWIN OAKLAND DIOCESE

CROSSCOUNTRYTITLE

St. Bonaventure’s girls 3-5 grade girls cross country team won the Oakland Diocese CYO championship this fall. Abby Schauman was third overall in a field of 183 runners. Zoe Lahanas was fifth and Skylar Bennett sixth to give St. Bonnies the championship. The team’s fourth runner Violet Barbosa took 20th overall to help the local runners edge out runnerup St. Patrick of Rodeo-Hercules.Samantha Schauman was fifth in the 6-8 grade girls race as St. Bonnies took sixth among 22 teams.

DIABLO FC SOCCERTRYOUTSCOMINGUPIN JANUARY

Diablo FC will be holding tryouts for its 2017 competitive teams Jan. 21- Feb. 5 for under 8 through under 11 (birth years 2010-2006) age groups. The U12-U14 (birth years 2005-2003) competitive team tryouts will be Feb. 13-27. Under 15 and older team tryouts will be in May after spring league games conclude. Visit diablofc.org to get more information and signup for Winter Academy clinics and tryouts.

CARONDELETGIRLS JV WATERPOLO’SSTELLARSEASON

INCLUDESTOURNAMENTTITLE

Carondelet’s junior varsity water polo team were overall champions of the annual Delta Shootout Tournament in Brentwood as a highlight of a 20-2 season. Freshman Marissa Ennis scored the tournament winning goal on the assist from Gigi Baldacci over California High 7-6 in sudden death overtime. Carondelet JVs lost only to San Ramon Valley and Miramonte by a goal.

CLAYTON VALLEYHOLIDAYYOUTHBASEBALLCAMP

ACCEPTINGREGISTRATIONS

DEC . 19-20

Doug Van Wyck CLU ChFC, Agent Insurance Lic. # 0586396

Center St. Ste. A Clayton, CA 94517 925-672-2300 www.dougvanwyck.com

I thank you for your continued business.

Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family. Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there.® CALL ME TODAY

Clayton Valley Charter High School baseball coaching staff and players is holding a Christmas holiday baseball camp Dec. 19-20. The camp is for ages 6-14 focusing on the skills necessary to be a successful player including batting, fielding, pitching and throwing. Sessions are held from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. at the Clayton Valley Varsity Baseball Facility in Concord. Contact Eagles head coach Casey Coakley at uglyeaglebaseball@gmail.com with questions or to register.

MDSA SPRINGLEAGUEREGISTRATIONBEGINS DEC . 15

Registration opens Dec. 15 for Mt Diablo Soccer Association’s 2017 Spring season. The program is open to boys and girls under 5-U19 divisions. The older divisions are co-ed teams. Games start mid-March. MDSA AYSO Region 223 serves Clayton, Concord and surrounding communities. For more details and to register visit mdsoccer.org.

Clayton Valley Charter co-athletic director Eric Bamberger announced several open coaching positions for spring sports teams at the Concord school. Open spots include varsity boys and girls swimming and diving, junior varsity and frosh girls lacrosse, varsity badminton (new sport) and varsity girls rugby. Interested persons should send a resume and cover letter to eric.bamberger@claytonvalley.org. Call Bamberger with any questions at 682-7474 ext. 3162.

BREAKFASTWITH SANTA DEC . 18 BENEFITING

NORTHGATE ATHLETICS

The Northgate High School athletic department is hosting a Breakfast with Santa at Boundary Oak Golf Course on Sunday, Dec. 18. The event will include an all you can eat breakfast, visit with Santa and hug one of Santa’s elvesand take family or silly friends pictures with a beautiful winter holiday backdrop. The breakfast is from 8 a.m. – 12 noon. Cost is $5 per person.

WALNUT CREEK AQUANUTSPRESENT 2NDANNUALHOLIDAY

SHOW DEC . 3

The athletes and coaches of the Walnut Creek Aquanuts Synchronized Swimming Club present their 2nd annual Holiday Show on Saturday, Dec. 3, 12 noon and 2 p.m. The holiday show featuressynchronized swimming routinesto favorite Hanukkah songs, Christmas carols and Kwanzaa tunes. Their will be pictures with Surfin’ Santa, sweet treats andwarm drinks. Tickets are $10 with children five and under free. Visit aquanuts.org to purchase tickets.

CLAYTON VALLEY LITTLE LEAGUETAKINGPLAYER REGISTRATIONSONLINE

Registration for Clayton Valley Little League is now open for the spring 2017 season. Baseball programs for players ages four to 15 and softball for girls six to 16 are both open for registration. Tryouts are in January. The CVLL program includes a Challenger Division for players with disabilities and special needs. Players must reside within the CVLL boundaries. Go to cvll.org for complete information and to register. Families who sign up by Dec. 2 receive a $40 early bird discount per player.

REGISTRATIONOPENFOR ALL OUT SPORTS LEAGUES PROGRAMS , TRYOUTS

Winter programs including basketball offered by All Out Sports Leagues in Clayton are taking registration now online. Tryouts for Blaze AAU boys and girls basketball will be held Sunday, Dec. 11, for grades 2-8. For complete information on All Out Sports programs, visit alloutsportsleague.com.

Photo courtesy Clayton Valley Charter High School

JAY

Concord Pioneer

10 local athletes commit to college for next fall

Jay Bedecarré photos THREE CARONDELETSTUDENT-ATHLETES signed national letters of intent to play collegiately beginning next fall. Golfer Alexis Browne (left) is going to Lehigh University, softball player Niaja Nolan (middle) signed with Howard University and swimmer Delaney Sprague commited to Xavier University. Four-year letter winner Browne helped her Cougars team to berths in the 2015 and 2016 State championships while maintaining 4.0 GPA. Nolan picked up her first softball at the age of 13 and has competed for the Concord Lady Hawks and California Riptide traveling fast-pitch teams. Howard, her dream school, is No. 1 historically black college in the country. Sprague achieved Scholastic All-America honors twice and qualified for Junior Nationals in the 200 breaststroke.

DAL Season, from page 13

Carondelet took sixth in the DIII team standings, two places ahead of Northgate. Laura McFarland and Kelsey Dempsey were 13th and 14th for the Cougars. Clare Schumann, Liz Richards, Emma McCarthy and Heather Scheibley were other scorers for Carondelet. Jessie Boucher was the leading Northgate runner in 11th place with Isabelle Antolin, Katrina Kohlmeyer, Nichole Markiewicz and Lark Chang-Yeh in the points for the Broncos.

Campolindo won the girls DIII meet with Las Lomas fifth. Miramonte won the DIV girls championship.

In Division II girls College Park was fifth and Clayton Valley Charter ninth. Kelly Osterkamp was the top Eagles runner in 27th place with Cassie Bizicki, Sarah Verderame, Alex Martinez and Jessica Hevener scoring for CV.

De La Salle missed the State Meet by one place, taking fourth at NCS DII. Spartan senior Isaias De Leon won the Section title with a 15:06 time. Teammates Connor Livingston, Taylor Ellis and Harrison Fisher were all in the top 25. Luke Giusto and Omar Kuleif were next for DLS.

White was eighth and JJ Perez 22nd with Michael Cox, Matt Hyland and Paris Ruiz the other Eagles NCS scorers.

Campolindo boys won the Division III team title with Northgate seventh and Concord 19th. Omar Kabbani and Michael Wheeler of NG were top 15 with teammates Connor Kugler, Wyatt Abranches and Michael Lizzarago also scoring.

In Division V Berean Christian’s Terra Bolter was 11th in the girls meet and Ben Stame 14th in boys.

Clayton Valley Charter head coach Anthony Munch had to be pleased with the results of the first DAL season as his varsity, JV and frosh-soph boys and girls squads were all undefeated in matchups with Valley Conference schools through the DAL center meets and league championship.

White was third overall and Perez 10th at the league meet taking 1-2 among varsity boys in Valley Conference. The Eagles won the league meet to take the Eagles into North Coast where the boys finished seventh in Division II.

WATER POLO

Clayton Valley’s girls water polo team won its first league championship since 1999 with an undefeated 6-0 Valley Conference league mark and 18-5 overall record.

The team was eliminated from NCS 9-4 by California of San Ramon in the Division I opening round. Five DAL teams were in the 16-team field including Foothill champs Miramonte, Las Lomas and

SIX DE LA SALLE HIGH SCHOOLATHLETES formalized their commitments earlier this month to play for six colleges in five states around the country. The athletes signing their national letters of intent were, from left, John Burke (Rutgers lacrosse), Ryan Cole (Notre Dame baseball). Jackson Gabler (Cal diving), Cullen Kafka (Oregon baseball), Daniel Nomura (Villanova tennis) and Milton Vrionis (St. Mary’s baseball). Cole was a .425 htiting outfielder while Vrionis and Kafka were pitchers last spring for California’s No. 2 ranked Spartans NCS champion baseball team.

Campolindo all in the Section semi-finals. Miramonte lost 8-7 to San Ramon Valley in the NCS finals.

Acalanes was No. 1 NCS seed in DII and backed that up with the Section championship. Third seeded Caron-

delet lost 7-6 to Drake in the semi-finals. Concord and Alhambra were also in the DII bracket. Eight DAL girls teams were in the playoffs.

In the boys NCS playoffs Foothill champs Miramonte won another DI title 12-10 over arch-rival Campolindo. De La Salle lost 10-8 to Campo in the quarter-finals. Valley

Conference winners College Park, Northgate and Las Lomas were also in the DI field. Alhambra was in DII to complete seven DAL boys teams at NCS.

GIRLS GOLF

Defending NCS champions Carondelet were second this year to league rivals

Dougherty Valley while sophomore Yealimi Noh of Concord was the Section medalist, shooting a four under par 68 at Chardonnay Golf Club in American Canyon, earning the Cougars a return trip to the State tournament.

At Red Hill County Club in Rancho Cucamonga Angela Bagasbas was 12th

Photo courtesy BCHS BEREAN CHRISTIAN HIGH SCHOOLSENIOR Taylor Fair of Concord is headed to Catawba College in North Carolina. She holds four Berean swimming records in the backstroke and relays. She will major in music in college. She is also a member of the Walnut Creek Aquabears USA Swimming program.

and Noh 14th at State. Carondelet’s squad at NorCals and State was Bagasbas, Annika Borrelli, Alexis Browne, Courtney Gaoiran, Noh and Carissa Wu. DAL Foothill Conference champs Northgate and Valley Conference winners Alhambra were also at NCS, as were Miramonte and Acalanes.

This FREE, one-hour doctor presentation on what you can do to reestablish normal blood glucose levels NATURALLY, will be hosted at the Harvest House Health Food Store, Saturday afternoon @ 1 p.m.

Saturday Dec. 3, 1 p.m.

Harvest House Health Food Store

2395 Monument Blvd., Concord 925-407-0888

You must reserve a

Concord High

Student march an exemplary protest

Concord High School students met in the quad during brunch on Nov. 10 as a part of a peaceful protest of the presidential election results. The small protest quickly transformed into an unexpected student walkout.

About 200 students walked out the CHS gates and joined nearly 500 Ygnacio Valley and Mt. Diablo students in a walk down Concord Boulevard. They safely proceeded through Concord and Pleasant Hill, displaying their political views as they moved along the streets to College Park.

CHS students faced criticism for both walking out on their education and for an altercation that occurred once they reached College Park. While I don’t condone skipping class or violence, I do value the courage it takes to stand up for your beliefs.

Carondelet honors 5 students

Carondelet High School took the occasion of three of its student athletes committing to college earlier this month to also spotlight five girls for their academic achievements. The students are, from left, Samantha Maguire, Emily Groth, Hannah Allen, Olivia Pereira and Mikayla Scott.

Rianne

My peers exemplified how we can peacefully respond to issues. While some students may have joined simply to skip class, I value the ones who walked out because of their beliefs.

In times like these, it’s important to express how we feel through love not hate, through uniting not fighting, through peace not violence. Although we may disagree about a policy or an election, we are always entitled to how we feel. What matters is how we express it.

I’m proud that students at CHS and other high schools found a peaceful way to stand up for their values.

Aasim Yahya is a sophomore and student body vice president. He has a passion for basketball and plays on the school team. Send comments to editor@concordpioneer.com

Concord High bands march to success

Maguire, the only junior among those honored, is the Pioneer Student Researcher. She was rewarded for her academic performance during a 12-week summer program working with Dr. William Fairbrother, associate professor of biology at Brown University and other high school students from around the world. Groth and Allen are

Mt. Diablo High

Explaining Title I to school community

Because Mount Diablo High School is a Title I school, students benefit from the national program to distribute funding to schools and school districts with

a high percentage of students from low-income families. Each school served under Title I must convene an annual meeting to inform parents of

National Merit Scholar Commended Students, an academic competition for high school

the school’s participation and to explain the requirements and the right of parents to be involved in those programs.

More than 200 people attended the MDHS Title I meeting on Oct. 13. The families and staff enjoyed a delicious dinner from Del Valle Mercado and wonderful performances from the JROTC Color Guard, Red Devil band and flag squad.

Administrators presented, in both English and Spanish, the Title I requirements, the school’s participation in the Title I program, and explained the district parental involvement policy, school parental involvement policy and schoolparent compact. Copies of

students who enter the National Merit Program.

Olivia Pereira is a National Hispanic Recognition Scholar, which is an award given to 5,000 of the highest-scoring Hispanic/Latino high school students in the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test.

Scott received the Daughters of the American Revolution Good Citizen Award given to high school seniors from each D.A.R. chapter who exemplify the core values of dependability, service, leadership and patriotism, the cornerstones of the organization.

these documents are available at http://mdhs.mdusd.org/.

One of the highlights was the presentation of awards from each of the five academies. Teachers and administrators gave the awards to outstanding students at each grade level.

I am proud to report that at the end of the first quarter, more than 40 percent of the students are on the Honor Roll (3.0-3.5 GPA) or the Principal’s Honor Roll (3.5-4.0). The students are making strides toward accomplishment of our vision statement: We graduate students prepared for college, career and civic responsibility.

Send comments and questions to editor@concordpioneer.com

Clayton Valley Charter High

Alyssa Arino CVCHS CORRESPONDENT

For the third time in four competitions, the Concord High School Minutemen Marching Band and Auxiliary Units took first place in the fall season.

The prizes came at the Walnut Festival in Walnut Creek, the Santa Cruz Band Review and now the Grape Bowl Classic in Lodi.

In addition, the Percussion Line scored in the low- to mid80s (out of 100) this year –higher than ever. They also won second place at the Santa Cruz Band Review.

Yoga helps students go with the flow

Sweep arms overhead. Fold over. Half lift. Fold. Rise up. Reconnect. These are the poses for Half Sun Salute, a simple yoga flow.

The Auxiliary Unit, individually, also scored in the low- to mid-80s and took first place at the Walnut Festival.

Drum major Jeremy Sullivan had the greatest success of all this season. He not only won first place in two of four competitions, but he scored a 99 in the last event. This is the highest score for a drum major in the history of Concord High.

Send comments and questions to editor@concordpioneer.com

Clayton Valley Charter High School offers yoga as a physical education elective, and the class is wildly popular. Every day, more than 40 yoga mats are spread out in the sizable yoga room. The students stretch, meditate and flow, giving their bodies and minds to the practice of yoga.

The mental benefits of yoga are straightforward: reduction of stress, anxiety and depression, improved brain function and higher concentration. But the truth goes deeper – and differs from person to person.

“When we do our harder practices, our bodies are telling us to stop the entire time. And that’s an example of mental and physical stress,” says Jenna Ebert, the yoga teacher at CVCHS. “That’s why a lot of people do yoga: to learn how to manage that stress, how to react to it. To change the way your brain thinks.”

Yoga challenges the mind. Students who feel beaten down by the pressure of maintaining the right GPA and the stress of seemingly impossible deadlines can enter a yoga studio and learn how to cope.

“You learn to not tell yourself, ‘I can’t do this, I’m not strong enough,’ ” says Ebert. “You transform that thought

process to know that you can do this and you are strong enough.”

The lessons don’t disappear once students leave the mat. The concepts of balance, control and strength plant themselves in the mind.

“One of the key tenets of yoga is the idea that what we practice on our mats will carry over into our lives,” says Maris Degener, a yoga teacher and Clayton Valley alumni. “The patience, self-care, compassion and sense of self-efficacy we learn in our yoga practice will eventually become a part of who we are.”

Mental health problems are

Match-Up, College Logo Day or the College Fair, campus activities are sponsored to engage, encourage and inspire our students to dream about the possibility of attending a college of their choice.

a growing epidemic in our population, with an estimated one in five adolescents struggling with a diagnosable mental illness. Yoga can help young people during this difficult developmental stage.

“Yoga is one of the few practices I’ve found that truly centers around building your sense of self and invites you to become your own advocate and support,” says Degener.

Alyssa Arino is a sophomore at CVCHS and has written for the school newspaper. She is on the school’s cross country team. Send comments to editor@concordpioneer.com

Patrick Gaffney CVCHS PRINCIPAL

Baseball great Yogi Berra once said, “If you don’t know where you’re going, you might end up someplace else.”  It’s certainly a true adage for those who fail to plan.

At Clayton Valley Charter High School, we go to great lengths to ensure that all students are prepared for success after high school.

Our Guidance Department

supports our students’ academic, vocational, personal and social needs. We work with each student to identify college and career objectives, to take courses required to graduate and to have the knowledge and skills necessary to be successful in the 21st century.

November is College Awareness Month. Whether it’s Poster Signing Day, College Mascot

Getting students to think about careers and life goals is important, but just as important is having them consider what interests them and how these interests could connect to 21st century careers. Through programs such as AVID and Naviance, our counselors and teachers provide the groundwork for college and career research, resume building, job application workshops, work permit information, public speaking for interview skills, organizational skills to help students succeed later in life and character development to excel

in college and their professions. Other College Awareness Month activities include our college and career guest speakers program. This month, female students heard from Darrick Martinez, a Bank of America vice president specializing in global financial crimes and compliance. Martinez shared internship opportunities and financial awards specifically designed to inspire female students interested in computers and technology.

With so many distractions life has to offer, College Awareness Month is designed to focus our students on the vast array of college possibilities and provide the knowledge and skills to set students on a pathway to college and explore a career of their dreams.

Send comments and questions to editor@concordpioneer.com

Aasim Yahya

Liane Cismowski MDHS PRINCIPAL

Online programs, counselors help students prepare for college

Black cats take center stage at adoption event by Community Concern for Cats

BILLIE CUMMINGS

Pioneer

Community Concern for Cats is building on shoppers’ enthusiasm for Black Friday sales by creating Black Saturday/Sunday pet adoptions Nov. 2627.

Black and black/white cats may be adopted for $50, less than half the usual fee of $125 for kittens and $100 for adults one year and older. Regular fees apply to cats of other colors.

The adoption event will be 1-4 p.m. at Pet Food Express in Lafayette and Pleasant Hill as well as Walnut Creek Petco.

“Although black cats are often the sweetest and most charming in the cat world, the public tends to overlook them,” says Gemma Osendorf, the group’s presi-

dent. “Colorful cats are more eye-catching, leaving our black beauties unadopted week after week. This event will give them a chance to shine.”

The fee includes spay/neuter, FVRCP vaccines, deworming, flea meds and a microchip. All the cats are fostered and raised in homes, where the family sees each cat’s personality and can help visitors select one or two that fit their lifestyles.

Community Concern for Cats is an all-volunteer cat rescue non-profit, the oldest one in Country Costa County.

To see some of the cats, visit communityconcernforcats.org or Community Concern for Cats on Facebook.

Ferris Bueller and Coraline are the ARF stars for November

likes petting and attention. She also really enjoys playtime with wand toys.

The adoption fee for a cat is $75.

Meet your forever friend at Tony La Russa’s Animal Rescue Foundation, 2890 Mitchell Drive, Walnut Creek, during adoption hours: Noon to 6 pm Wednesday & Thursday, Noon to 7 pm Friday, and Noon to 6 pm Saturday & Sunday.

Four-year-old Ferris

Bueller is a delicate, graceful, gentle, loving, social and wants-to-be-in-your-lap kinda dog. He will need a patient

approach while he acclimates to his new home, his new twolegged friends, and a new neighborhood.

The adoption fee for dogs

Playoffs, from page 12

If the Falcons need any more incentive than winning their first Section title, they can look at the last time Freedom came up against DLS in the 2011 playoffs when the Spartans won 70-7 in the quarter-finals. All the Falcons have to do to succeed is become the first team north of Fresno to defeat DLS in its last 280 games against NorCal opponents dating back to the 1991 NCS championship game.

A De La Salle win will likely put them into an 11th straight State Bowl Game while Freedom would probably be matched against a NorCal team in a Regional Bowl Game.

M INUTEMEN ’ S SILVERLINING

Concord coach Mark Bywater saw his team fall in the quarterfinals after reaching the DII finals the past two years, losing to Clayton Valley each time. Had the Minutemen defeated Granada and advanced to the semifinals this weekend they would have been promoted to Division I next season based on three-year NCS playoff results.

Next fall quarterback Nick Nunez is expected to return for his fourth year on CHS varsity, third as the starter. Concord figures to once again be among the top DII teams rather than being

is $250 and includes a discount on the first six-week session of a manners class.

One-year-old Coraline is a beautiful young tabby girl who

promoted to DI, which under the new playoff arrangement has no path for its playoff winner to advance past NCS.

R EGULAR - SEASONRESULTS

NCS made a big change in its football playoff format this year by introducing an Open Division of four teams. Clayton Valley Charter, which won three of the past four Division II NCS championships, earned the fourth and final coveted spot in the Open Division awarded from a six-member NCS selection committee joining DLS, Freedom and Pitt.

Clayton Valley Charter won the inaugural Diablo Athletic League Foothill Conference title over Campolindo of Moraga. The Ugly Eagles prevailed 50-15 in the

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

league finale to run their unbeaten league streak over 5+ years to 27 games. By beating Campo in the firstever game between the two schools, Clayton Valley ended the Cougars 34-game league undefeated string that went back to November 2010 for their last league loss.

De La Salle cemented its top seed in NCS Open by taking care of previouslyunbeaten Monte Vista 45-17. The loss dropped the Mustangs out of the top four and into Division I where they are the No. 1 seed.

FERRIS BUELLER CORALINE

Special to the

This holiday, theater-goers can count their blessings

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas as local theater companies busily prepare their holiday treats.

Lafayette’s Town Hall Theatre offers “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever” Dec. 3-17. Based on the bestselling young adult book, the comedy follows a couple putting on the annual Christmas pageant. They are forced to cast the Herdman kids, who most people in town believe are “absolutely the worst kids in the whole history of the world.” While the Herdmans bring a bit of chaos to the pageant, they also bring a kind of magic and fun. “The

Herdmans remind us that Christmas is not just a date on the calendar that requires a schedule of meaningless tasks to unfold, but that it is a time for change, acceptance and inclusion,” says director Lynda Divito. “It is a time to reflect on all the beauty that surrounds us and the love we give and receive. It is a time to soak in the good fortune that has been bestowed upon all of us. It is a time for peace.”

Sounds like something we could all use about now.

Produced as a 50-minute play with one intermission, “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever” makes a great show to introduce young audience members to theater – especially since many young people are also in the cast. For tickets, call 925.283.1557 or go to the website at www.townhalltheatre.com.

What would the holidays be without the marvelous Fantasy Forum Actors Ensemble performing its annual show, “The Biggest Gift.” For more than 30 years, this family-friendly the- ater company has been entertaining and enriching the youngest of theater-goers.

One of my favorite things about this company is how the performers, in full costume, mingle with the young patrons before the show. At a performance of “Cinderella,” one of the wicked stepsisters started talking to the 7-yearold next to me – saying how she was sure the prince’s slipper would fit her. The diplomatic youngster just nodded and smiled, but once the stepsister had moved on, she turned to me and said: “I don’t think she’ll get her wish.”

“The Biggest Gift” doesn’t have any wicked stepsisters, but it does have Tucker the elf. It seems that Santa hasn’t received any letters from children this year. No letters means no Christmas, so Tucker joins with the toys to find the letters and save Christmas.

Audience participation is encouraged. If you’re lucky (and of a certain age), you might even sit on the stage with the performers.

The show runs multiple times during the day and evening Dec. 15-18 at Walnut Creek’s Lesher Center for the Arts. Call 925-943-SHOW or

go to the website at www.lesherartscenter.org.

Center Repertory Company once again lights up Walnut Creek’s Lesher Center for the Arts with its annual production of “A Christmas Carol,” Dec. 8-18. Each year, director Scott Denison adds more color and special effects to bring the story of Ebenezer Scrooge to life.

Michael Ray Wisely

returns to portray the old curmudgeon, with Kerri Shawn as Christmas Past, Jerry Lee as Christmas Present and Jeff Draper as the ghost of Marley.

It’s a spectacle not to be missed as Scrooge learns the true meaning of Christmas. Call 925-943-SHOW or go to www.lesherartscenter.org.

Pittsburg Community Theatre presents the musical revue “Home for Christmas” at 2 p.m. Dec. 17 at the California Theatre in downtown Pittsburg. Favorite Christmas songs performed by various local groups will get everyone into the holiday spirit. For tickets, call 925.427.1611 or go to www.pittsburgcaliforniatheatre.com.

Looking ahead, Onstage Theatre is soliciting scripts for its one-act play festival in June. Original works running 25 minutes or less must be sent to Helen Means by the end of January. Three sets of five to six plays will be performed for seven days over two weekends.

Works should be sent to One-Act Festival, Onstage Theatre, 950 Escondido Ct., Alamo, CA 94507. For more information, call Means at 925.518.3277.

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

Christmas ghosts coming to the Geary

Icons in Transformation

Over 100 paintings by Russian artist Ludmila Pawlowska plus traditional icons from Vassilevsky Monastery in Russia

Show shared by St. Michael and All Angels-Concord, 2925 Bonifacio Street and St. John’s-Clayton, 5555 Clayton Rd.

11-Feb 17, both churches. Thursdays through Sundays,

Returning for its 26th year, Contra Costa Ballet presents the Bay Area’s most familyfriendly production of The Nutcracker. For one weekend only, join Clara and her beloved nutcracker-turnedprince on a magical journey among giant mice and toy soldiers into the deliciously delightful Candy Kingdom.

Contra Costa Ballet brings The Nutcracker to life in this fes-

tive production filled with colorful costumes, whimsical sets and an array of talented, young dancers. This one-hour performance is an elegant introduction to the holiday classic.

Fri., Sat., and Sun, Nov. 2527 at the Lesher Center for the Arts. For performance times and ticket info, , or go to lesherartscenter.showare.com or you can call 925.943.SHOW.

Consider adding a theater trip to San Francisco to your holiday celebrations.

The Dickens classic, “A Christmas Carol,” opens Nov. 25 at the American Conservatory Theatre’s Geary Theatre in San Francisco. Featuring legendary Bay Area actors James Carpenter as Ebenezer Scrooge, Ken Ruta as the Ghost of Jacob Marley and a lively cast of dozens, the beloved A.C,T. production

Captain Grammar Pants

runs through Dec. 25. Delightful music, gorgeous costumes and those deliciously spooky ghosts, the Bay Area’s favorite holiday tradition stays true to the heart of Dicken’s timeless story of redemption and brings a playful sensibility his rich language.

For performance times and ticket information, call the A.C.T. Box Office, 415.749.2228 or go to www.actsf.org.

To PATRONIZE is to act like a grown-up to a child; to CONDESCEND TO is to speak at a lower level as if the person were stupid. Think of the root words: PATRON (Latin, “father, protector”) and DESCEND (Latin, “climb down”). Each of the root words carries the extended meaning within. One of the reasons we grammar guardians either make or destroy friendships is that we risk sounding patronizing when we correct someone’s grammar. A patronizing statement might be “Surely you learned the distinction between its and it’s in second grade!” A condescending statement would be “Ah, to be young and stupid and not know its and it’s.”

Stu Selland

TOWN HALL THEATREPRESENTS “THE BEST CHRISTMAS PAGEANT EVER” with (L-R) Megan Crane, Brody Ziegler, Nate Hacohen and Hannah Hacohen as the dreaded Herdman children.

Kevin Berne

MICHAEL WILESRETURNSAS BOB CRATCHIT shown here with Edison Gould as Tiny Tim in last year’s production. This year Gould, who has outgrown the role of Tiny Tim, plays the young Scrooge with Brayden Bautista Toy as Tiny Tim.

Kevin Berne

JAMES CARPENTER (center) is back again this year as the irascible Ebenezer Scrooge in A.C.T.’s production of Charles Dickens “A Christmas Carol” at the Geary in San Francisco Nov 25-Dec. 25

‘Nutcracker’ still sweet in any size

Sean Williams is a professor of ethnomusicology at The Evergreen State College in Olympia, Wash. She is currently working on a Captain Grammar Pants book. Follow her regular postings on Facebook.

Mondays

Off the Grid

CA L E N DA R

Dec. 1 – 17

IN CONCORD

Rotating lineup of food trucks. 5 – 8 p.m. 2151 Salvio Street. offthegridsf.com.

Tuesdays Farmers’ Market

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

Dec. 2

Holiday Gift and Craft Fair

Unique, hand-crafted gift items and baked goods. 9:30 a.m. –2:30 p.m. Concord Senior Center, 2727 Parkside Circle, Concord. 925-671-3320.

Dec. 3 Tree Lighting

Santa, entertainment, Mayor’s sing along and tree lighting. Santa arrives at 4 p.m. Todos Santos Plaza, downtown Concord. cityofconcord.org.

Dec. 3 - 4

Super Holiday Boutique

Special one-of-a-kind holiday gifts and stocking stuffers. Holiday arts and crafts, free Santa and Olaf photo opportunity. Canned food donations benefit Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano. Dec. 3, Pleasant Hill; Dec. 4, Concord. Free admission. superholidayboutique.com.

Dec. 3, 4, 10, 11, 14, 17, 18

Galindo House Holiday Tours

Tour historic Galindo house decorated with holiday charm. Sponsored by Concord Historical Society. Weekends 1 – 4 p.m.; Wednesday 6 – 8 p.m. 1721 Amador St., Concord. $3. concordhistorical.org.

Dec. 12

Tree of Lights

Tree lighting for Clayton and Concord by Hospice of the East Bay. 5 – 6:30 p.m. John Muir Medical Center parking lot, East Street and Almond Avenue, Concord. Donations accepted. 925-8875678.

Dec. 3

IN CLAYTON

Annual Caroling and Tree Lighting Downtown festivities. 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 925-672-2272.

Dec. 10

Dessert with Mrs. Claus

Prizes, party favors. Visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus. 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 925-6722272.

Dec. 11

Christmas Homes Tour

Self-guided tour showcasing five homes decorated for the holidays. 12 - 6 p.m. Benefits Clayton Historical Society. Begins at Clayton Museum, 6101 Main St. $30 in advance; $35 at the door. Bonus home and party from 6 – 8 p.m. for additional $20. For tickets and more information, call 925-567-6079 or email museum@claytonhistory.org.

ON AND AROUND 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.

Nov. 25

Three Canyons Hike

An autumnal outing on the north side of Mount Diablo. 10 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Meet at Mitchell Canyon Trailhead.

Nov. 25

Thanksgiving Weekend Hike

The stores will be hectic, so come walking with us. 10:30 a.m. –1:30 p.m. Meet at Mitchell Canyon Visitor Center.

Nov. 26

Thanksgiving Weekend Hike

Celebrate Thanksgiving by going on this rugged, hilly, five-mile hike. 9:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. Meet at Mitchell Canyon Visitor Center.

Dec. 18

Winter Solstice Saunter

Join us as we search for signs of the season. 10 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. Meet at Mitchell Canyon Visitor Center. Reservations required: mtdiablohiker@gmail.com.

EVENTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Nov. 25 – 26

“Sister Robert Anne’s Cabaret Class”

One-woman show of songs from “Nunsense.” Brentwood Senior Activity Center, 193 Griffith Lane, Brentwood. $9-$26. thebrentwoodtheater.org. 925-513-3863.

Nov. 25 – 27

“The Nutcracker”

Presented by Contra Costa Ballet Company. Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek. $35.lesherartscenter.org. 925-943-7469.

Nov. 26

“Motown Holiday Revue”

Featuring Top Shelf. 8 p.m. El Campanil Theatre, 602 W. Second St., Antioch. $25-$27. elcampaniltheatre.com.

Nov. 29

Holiday Concert

Presented by Walnut Creek Concert Band. 7:30 p.m. Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek. $17.lesherartscenter.org. 925-943-7469.

“Welcome to Little Fork, Rene Lundstrom”

A play of courage, honesty and acceptance. B8 Theatre Company, 2292 Concord Blvd., Concord. $20-$25. brownpapertickets.com.

Dec. 2

Holiday Improv

Presented by Funny Bone Productions. 7:45 p.m. Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek. $15.lesherartscenter.org. 925-943-7469.

Dec. 2 – 3

“Once Upon a Christmas”

A delightful narrated holiday ballet by The Ballet School Ballet Joyeux. Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek. $12-$27.lesherartscenter.org. 925-943-7469.

Dec. 2 – 4

Handcrafted Holiday Sale

Center for Community Arts gathers handmade ceramics, glass, jewelry, paintings, textiles and more from artists and students for sale. Fri. 5 – 9 p.m. Sat. 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Sun. 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Shadelands Art Center, 111 N. Wiget Lane, Walnut Creek. Free admission. communityarts.org.

Dec. 3

“Handel’s Messiah”

Presented by the Brentwood Community Chorus. 7:30 p.m. El Campanil Theatre, 602 W. Second St., Antioch. $12. elcampaniltheatre.com.

Dec. 3

“Home for the Holidays”

Presented by the SF Gay Men’s Chorus. 3 and 7:30 p.m. Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek. $30$40.lesherartscenter.org. 925-943-7469.

Dec. 4

Piano Recital

Presented by The Ballet School. 3:15 and 5:15 p.m. Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek. $12.lesherartscenter.org. 925-943-7469.

Dec. 6

Prostate Health Talk

Dr. Stephen Taylor and Dr. Parminder Sethi discuss prostate health issues. 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. Walnut Creek Library, Oak View Room, 1644 N. Broadway, Walnut Creek. Reserve space by calling 925677-5041, ext. 272.

Dec. 8 – 18

“A Christmas Carol”

Brimming with music and dance, love and laughter, spectacular special effects and scary ghosts. Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek. $27-$49. centerrep.org.

Dec. 9

“Improv on Ice”

Presented by Trapped in a Rumor. 8:15 p.m. Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek. $15.lesherartscenter.org. 925-943-7469.

Dec. 9 – 11

“IMpossible”

Family-friendly magic show. Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek. $20-$25.lesherartscenter.org. 925-9437469.

Dec. 9 – 18

“Christmas Caroled”

A unique take on a holiday musical that revisits TV Christmas specials of the 1960s with a twist. 2 p.m. Delta Gallery of the Arts, 2485 Sand Creek Road, Brentwood. Free. thebrentwoodtheater.org.

Dec. 10

“Xerox’s From The Improv Party”

Presented by Trapped in a Rumor. 8:15 p.m. Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek. $15.lesherartscenter.org. 925-943-7469.

Dec. 11

‘A Very “Follies” Holiday!’ Presented by The Golden Follies. 2 p.m. El Campanil Theatre, 602 W. Second St., Antioch. $12-$25. elcampaniltheatre.com.

Dec. 15 – 18

“The Biggest Gift”

Join the fun and laughter as Tucker the elf and the toys set out to save Christmas. Presented by Fantasy Forum Actors Ensemble. Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek. $14.lesherartscenter.org. 925-943-7469.

Dec. 16 – 18

“The Nutcracker”

Performed by The Ballet Company of East County. El Campanil Theatre, 602 W. Second St., Antioch. $16-$20. elcampaniltheatre.com.

Dec. 17

“Home for Christmas: A Musical Revue”

Packed full of your favorite Christmas songs performed by various groups from around Pittsburg. 2 p.m. California Theatre, 351 Railroad Ave., Pittsburg. $10-$25. pittsburgcaliforniatheatre.com. 925-427-1611.

Dec. 20

“An Irish Christmas” Superb music-making, dancing and singing. 7 p.m. California Theatre, 351 Railroad Ave., Pittsburg. $30-$40. pittsburgcaliforniatheatre.com. 925-427-1611.

Dec. 20 – 21

“Peter and the Wolf”

Presented by the California Symphony with guest Rita Moreno. Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek. $42$72.lesherartscenter.org. 925-943-7469.

Dec. 2

CHURCHES AND RELIGION

“Festive Favorites from Our Filing Cabinet”

Christmas concert by Tapestry vocal and hand bell ensemble. 7 p.m. Clayton Valley Presbyterian Church, 1578 Kirker Pass Road, Clayton. Free will donations accepted. tapestryringersandsingers.org.

Dec. 2 – 3

“The Light of Christmas”

A Christmas musical. 7 p.m. Bethel Baptist Church, 3578 Clayton Road, Concord. Free. 798-7470.

Dec. 3

Annual Carol Sing

Concord High and Clayton Valley Charter High choruses and HouseBlend Quartet perform; church orchestra plays for audience participation. 7 p.m. Concord United Methodist Church, 1645 West St., Concord. Free admission; bring a toy for Toys for Tots. concordumc.org.

Dec. 10

“Fairy Tales, A Holiday Concert”

Presented by the Oakland East Bay Gay Men’s Chorus. 7:30 p.m. Clayton Valley Presbyterian Church, 1578 Kirker Pass Road, Clayton. $10-$25. oebgmc.org/tickets.

Dec. 10

“Pop! Goes the Season”

Kick off the holiday season with a mashup of old and new holiday songs presented by the Diablo Women’s Chorale. 2 p.m. Hillside Covenant Church, 2060 Magnolia Way, Walnut Creek. $10-$22. diablowomenschorale.org.

Dec. 10 – Feb. 17

“Icons in Transformation”

Exhibit of contemporary and traditional icons. Gala opening Dec. 10; $25. brownpapertickets.com. Exhibit opens Dec. 11: Thursdays through Sundays from 4 – 8 p.m. at both St. John’s Episcopal Church, 5555 Clayton Road, Clayton and St. Michael’s, 2925 Bonifacio St., Concord. Free admission; donations accepted. saintjohnsparish.org; saintmichaelsconcord.org.

Dec. 16 – 17

Nativity

A Christmas drive-through with live nativity scenes. 6 – 9 p.m. Bethel Baptist Church, 3578 Clayton Road, Concord. Free. 7987470.

SCHOOLS

Dec. 2 – 11

“The Laramie Project”

A breathtaking theatrical collage. Diablo Valley College, 321 Golf Club Road, Pleasant Hill. $16-$21. dvcdrama.net.

FUNDRAISERS

2nd and 4th Sundays

Pancake Breakfast

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

Dec. 3

Open House - Art and Craft Sale

Handcrafted gifts available for purchase. Chat with students at work. Benefits Mt. Diablo Adult Education. 9:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Pleasant Hill Education Center, One Santa Barbara Road, Pleasant Hill. Free admission. 925-937-1530.

Dec. 18

Breakfast with Santa

Breakfast and photo opportunity with Santa. Benefits Northgate Athletic Department. 8 a.m. – 12 p.m. Boundary Oaks Golf Course, 3800 Valley Vista Road, Walnut Creek. $5. For more information, email nhsad@mdusd.org.

AT THE LIBRARY

The Concord Library is at 2900 Salvio St. Programs are free unless otherwise noted. See full schedule of events at ccclib.org or 6465455.

Dec. 3: Crafters Swap Meet, 12 p.m.

Dec. 5: Help, Health and the Holidays, 6:30 p.m.

Dec. 9 – 11: Used Book Sale, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Fri. and Sat.; 1 – 3:30 p.m. Sun.

Dec. 15: Concord Book Club, 6:30 p.m.

The Clayton Library is at 6125 Clayton Road. Programs are free unless otherwise noted. See full schedule of events at claytonlibrary.org or call 925-673-0659.

Thru Nov. 30: Flowers Art Exhibit

Nov. 28: Clayton Knits, 1:30 p.m.

Nov. 30: Board Game Night, 7 p.m. Registration required.

Dec. 1: Winter Stories and Craft, 4 p.m. Registration required.

GOVERNMENT

1st, 2nd and 4th Tuesdays

Concord City Council 6:30 p.m., Council Chamber, Concord Civic Center, 1950 Parkside Dr. cityofconcord.org.

1st and 3rd Wednesdays

Concord Planning Commission 7 p.m. Council Chamber, Concord Civic Center, 1950 Parkside Dr. cityofconcord.org.

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

Rehashing Knox travails not as engrossing as ‘13th’

Unless it’s the latest from Michael Moore, you won’t be seeing a documentary at the local multiplex. The best chance to see one these days is via DVD or streaming.

Netflix is now producing its own documentaries, including “Amanda Knox,” which details her life during and after her infamous murder trial, and “The 13th,” a candid look at race relations and the American prison system. Both are interview-style and provide mostly one-sided views.

“Amanda Knox,” directed by Rod Blackhurst and Brian McGinn, starts with a recap of Knox’s life in Italy and her arrest for the murder of her roommate, Meredith Kercher. Portrayed by the media as a “drug-fueled sex murderer,” Knox finds her credibility is tarnished before any trial can even begin. Along with her

JEFF MELLiNGER SCREEN SHOTS

new boyfriend, Raffaele Sollecito, and Rudy Guede, she is presumed guilty.

The directors interview obnoxious journalist Nick Pisa and borderline sexist prosecutor Giuliano Mignini. Pisa was smack in the middle of everything and admits that he shamelessly promoted rumors of Knox’s promiscuousness, leading to her ferocious damning by the Italian people.

When the film discusses Guede’s criminal past, it casts

major doubt on the prosecution’s insistence that Knox and Sollecito are guilty. Mignini intensifies that doubt by claiming it was easy to convict all three. It’s clear that Mignini is from a different era and has a serious misunderstanding of the modern American woman. The directors convinced me that Mignini and Pisa share culpability.

In “13th,” Ava DuVernay uses a loophole as a jumping off point to tell how the American prison system has never allowed African-Americans to truly be free. The 13th Amendment states: “Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime … shall exist …”

In the 1970s, President Richard Nixon took a hard stance on drug-related crimes, and the prison population began to skyrocket. As the film

‘Midnight’ explores isolation, introspection

Control was no longer available to enforce it, the astronauts continued to adhere for the most part.”

moves forward in time, more presidents are shown cracking down on drug crimes and increasingly harsh sentences are delivered. DuVernay (“Selma”) presents interviews and statistics

that are blunt and staggering. How can America have 4 percent of the world’s population, yet 25 percent of its prisoners? The film also leaves a stain on the corporations that profit endlessly from prison labor. What politician has the moxie to stand up and convince numerous corporations to forgo billions of dollars?

Near the end, to great sobering effect, DuVernay uses real footage of many of the recent unarmed black men killed by police. Scenes of blacks in the 1960s being beaten and firehosed are interspersed with blacks being shoved and threatened at protests and political rallies in

2016. Behind it all is cringeinducing audio of Donald Trump calling for a return to “the good old days.” Knox has been acquitted twice yet wonders if she’ll ever be left alone. While it’s a good film, “Amanda Knox” was not necessary. But as civil unrest inches closer to 1968 conditions, “The 13th” could not be more relevant.

“Amanda Knox”: B-; “The 13th”: A.

Local artist responds to reality through abstract art

There is something strange and dazzling about Lily Brooks-Dalton’s debut novel, “Good Morning, Midnight.”

The novel is a weaving of parallel tracks. The first narrative is from Augustine (Augie), a jaded and circumspect researcher at the Arctic Circle who has refused to evacuate the station – and who will likely reach his life’s end there. There is an unnamed crisis occurring in the outside world, one in which he has no interest in participating.

“He wanted to be remembered. Yet here he was, seventy-eight years old, at the top of the Arctic archipelago, on the rind of civilization … having come to the terminus of his life’s work.”

The second narrative is from a space research station returning from exploring the moons of Jupiter. Sully, the communications officer, is in charge of relaying information to and from Mission Control. Problematically, there has been an “event” on Earth, and there are no longer transmissions emanating from Earth.

“Time means very little in deep space, but she roused herself anyway. The regimen that Mission Control had prescribed for the crew of the Aether spacecraft was precise, down to the minute, and although Mission

Both adrift, both coming to what may be the natural conclusion of a lifetime’s work, each manages conflicting feelings of loss and hope in nearly complete isolation. Sully and Augie take stock of their lives thus far, lamenting the loss of a future while assigning narrative to regrets accumulated over a lifetime.

As a scientist, Augie built an impressive career. However, as a human, he has failed to comprehend the nuance of love, relations and community.

He chose work over the messy complications of family and partnership, and it isn’t until his final days that he takes time to wonder if he made the right choices.

Sully spends her time thinking about her daughter. What kind of mother leaves her child for a two-year space odyssey? She never knew her own father, whom she presumes was a scientist like her mother. She knows her mother loved her and that she was displaced when her mother married her stepfather and gave birth to twins.

In space and returning to home base without knowing exactly what awaits is its own brand of hell. The Aether must move forward and return to Houston. Though the journey may be pointless, there is no alternative.

“It was time to turn her attention back to Earth – not the Earth

she’d left, the Earth she was returning to. The long months of retrospection and grief, thoughts of people she’d left, people she’d lost were too heavy for her to carry anymore. She had been looking backward long enough. Now, finally, she gave herself permission to look forward.”

Life is funny that way. When you’re isolated –whether you’re in deep space or surrounded by thousands of miles of wilderness – you have more time to consider your humanity. All that space doesn’t make the passing of time any easier.

“Good Morning, Midnight” has an excellent heart of exploration at its center. If you’re up for the adventure, I highly recommended it.

Gregory is an award-winning writer and blogger. Her book, “Journaling as Sacred Practice: An Act of Extreme Bravery,” is available on Amazon. Email comments and questions to editor@claytonpioneer.com

Pat Calabro had no idea how important art would become in her life until she retired from her career as a systems analyst. “I decided to go back to college and art classes were part of the curriculum for my certification in graphic design and printmaking. I never thought I wanted to be an artist. Drawing didn’t come naturally to me and I didn’t have an appreciation for traditional or figurative art. But I realized I felt a connection to abstract art. It made sense because I’ve always tried to differentiate myself from the herd.”

After experimenting with different mediums, Pat settled into acrylics and digital. “After many years working with computers, learning Photoshop was very exciting. I sometimes use it to manipulate or enhance scans of my acrylic paintings, then I print them on a new piece of canvas to frame.”

She also likes to use Photoshop to make more intentional design choices, like changing the ratio or adding texture.

“Digital art often feels freer flowing than painting,”

she says. “I just let color and shapes happen onscreen. I’m torn between two lovers; I adore the textures of surfaces and paints, but I also love the ether of digital. My art in either medium is spontaneous and struggles for individuality. It’s my emotional response to reality.“

Pat is currently working on a piece that reflects how she feels about the current political climate. “I just needed to throw color on the canvas without a plan. It took on a rather foreboding purple haze, like before a storm,” she notes. “Then shapes and shadows began to evolve into something more recognizable - a body of water and an empty harbor. The imagery evokes a darkness, a feeling of dread.”

Creating art from an emotional place can be a good thing, Pat says. “My emotions allow me to play with random colors and effects. As soon as the imagery becomes mean-

ingful to me, I know I’m done.”

“But the downside of working without a plan is that I sometimes end up with too much intensity, so I need to tone down areas to make natural places for the eye to rest. I do work hard at good composition, which is what gives you a sense of what’s happening in the piece. It’s what draws you in and makes you feel something.”

Pat feels tremendous gratitude as an artist. “I have this amazing opportunity to live a second life through my art.“

Pat Calabro lives and creates in Pacheco. Some of her work is on display at TJ’s Café, 3210 Pacheco Blvd., Martinez and at Selway Fitness Studio, 2647 Pleasant Hill Rd., Pleasant Hill.

Lisa Fulmer is a mixed media artist, a small business marketing consultant, and president of the Concord Art Association. Visit ConcordArtAssociation.com for inspiration and information.

Oakhurst Country Club

CyNTHiA GREGORy FORTHE BOOKS

Jeff Mellinger is a screen writer and film buff. He holds a BA in Film Studies and an MFA in film production. He lives in Concord. Email comments to editor@claytonpioneer.com.

LiSA FULMER ARTSIN MOTION

“EXCALIBUR” BY PAT CALABRO is among the local artist’s abstract works on exhibit at TJ’s Cafe in Martinez.

Urgent care center can ease holiday hassles

•Experiencing a deep cut from broken glass while washing holiday dinner dishes.

•Getting a sprain or fracture while working on roof lights.

•Wishing you hadn’t grabbed the falling carving knife.

•Enduring a painful burn from grabbing a pot or spilling hot liquid.

•Catching the flu from guests.

Dr. Armando Samaniego

With winter settling in and family and friends gathering for the holidays, avoiding a visit to the ER should be on your to-do list.

ARETHESEFAMILIAR HOLIDAYMEMORIES?

•Missing holiday dinner because congestion turned into pneumonia.

Long waits and missed family time can dampen the holidays. But about 70 percent of visits to the ER can be handled at a setting like STAT MED Urgent Care. While working in Bay Area emergency rooms for many years, I saw patients endure extended wait times this time of year –in addition to the expense of a visit to the ER.

STAT MED is prepared for advanced care as well as basic levels of care such as stitches, strep tests or year-end physicals. And STAT MED offers online check-in. It’s an alterna-

tive to the ER that offers exceptional care and an outstanding experience, so you can feel better sooner.

With doctors on-site seven days a week and all holidays, along with X-rays and labs, STAT MED Urgent Care can diagnose and treat whatever is urgent to you. Almost all insurance plans are accepted. The Pleasant Hill location is near Sunvalley Shopping Center.

Samaniego is the chief medical officer at STAT MED Urgent Care. For more information, call 925-234-4447.

As the weather becomes crisp, garden lovers crave the seasonal hues of winter. They add white, reds and blues to beds, borders and containers.

White flowers hugging the ground and cascading out of containers create the illusion of snow, which is an appealing winter effect. Simple white alyssum is a garden center staple that has clusters of tiny snowy flowers with a sweet fragrance. Install this six-pack plant along a walkway. White bacopa is an excep-

tional evergreen with small, simple flowers. It’s a fabulous cascading plant, so encourage it to grow over the rim of an urn or glazed container. Pansies and violas are wonderful winter annuals. Their happy faces continue to smile during the coldest of nights. Both are available in white, reds, blues and combinations. They do best where they can enjoy some winter sun. Plant 4-inch containers within garden beds or include in perennial container combinations for extended flowering. Fertilize every couple of weeks to encourage consistent blooms. Use a water-soluble product for faster results. Stock is a fabulous vertical-growing winter annual that’s available in many colors, including white, wines,

reds, lavenders and pinks. During the early morning hours, stock is very fragrant. Install in the center of a container and surround with

ornamental cabbage for a wintery color spot. Cyclamen is a favorite for entryways and shady gardens during the winter. This bulb

is a winter-blooming perennial available in many colors, from lavender (not blue) to wine, red and white. One of the best features of cyclamen is that it returns each year. When spring begins to warm, cyclamen goes to sleep. But it returns in late fall, once the weather chills again.

Flowers are fabulous, but touches of foliage can also satisfy winter botanical cravings. Cone- or pyramidshaped evergreens are great additions to a garden, and their shape becomes a seasonal feature during the winter. Euonymus is fantastic in a planter or flanking an entry area. It has moderate growth, which means it’ll need monthly shearing during the growing season.

Boxwood grows slow and may only need annual shaping. Dwarf Alberta spruce is a conifer that does well in our climate and naturally grows pyramidal. Both cypress and spruce have family members that can help quench winter landscape desires. Blue spruce has bright blue needles that look amazing during winter.

Gardens, containers and landscapes can be as interesting during the winter months as in the spring. With some attention, you can have blooms all year long.

Changing seasons doesn’t have to mean switching out your entire closet for a new wardrobe. But it does mean it’s time to add a few pieces to update your look as we head into the cooler months.

Here are some good additions:

Velvet and suede: These touchable fabrics are hot this year. Soft and supple, these materials will give you comfortable structure. Your ensemble will move easily, but you will still stand out with causal style. While a velvet dress or skirt makes for a high-impact evening look, I’m endorsing velvet for daytime, too. Layered over a snug turtleneck, a velvet blazer looks bookish in the chicest way, while floralembroidered velvet pants would elevate the most basic cashmere sweater. I like the idea of mixing it with other textures, too: denim, crisp cotton, leather, you name it.

Lace-up accents: Done right, this trend is sophisticated without being “too tied up.” The trend takes its nod from the ’70s. In a discreet, refined way, these accents allow you to create a neckline or skirt slit that is completely your own. If you’re not into

showing much cleavage, layer a lace-up shirt over another shirt. It keeps you warm, and it still looks good. You don’t need a necklace with this style because it’s pretty busy already.

Metallic: It’s not just for end of year celebrations. Break out metallic pieces long before the party circuit you will travel in December. Metallic is all about statement jewelry, specifically large hoop earrings and chain-link pieces that are enjoying a resurgence. Many of the charismatic, bold pieces create just as strong a presence as the clothing.

Fur: Be it faux or the real

thing, fur will offer comfort and warmth well into those blustery winter months. The key is to choose pieces that are perfect for your frame. If you’re petite, consider a shawl or scarf. If you’re tall, go for full coverage with a jacket. Colored fur is trendy, but these are not your grandma’s pelts. They still come in tasteful black or brown, however, designers have worked in a rainbow of hues from pastel pink to cobalt blue.

Feminine menswear: Suits create a fabulous silhouette, but they can be too manly. Choose one that honors the menswear styling through the basic cut and lines but also

offers a feminine appeal from the fabric and embellishments. Make sure you don’t look as if you stole your outfit from Dad’s closet. Top off an everstylish white shirt with a strong, masculine jacket for a classic and cool look.

If you need help understanding what trends look great on you, let me help you and your significant other with all your style needs.

More than 150 paintings by internationally known Russian artist Ludmila Pawlowska will be displayed in Concord and Clayton for ten weeks, Dec. 11 through Feb. 17.

The exhibition will be shared between two local churches, St. Michael and All Angels in Concord and St. John’s in Clayton. In addition to Pawlowska’s contemporary icon paintings, the exhibition will include traditional icons from the Vassilevsky Monastery in Suzdal, Russia.

Pawlowska, a Russian native who now lives in Sweden, encourages viewers to make their own interpretations of her modern, threedimensional artwork, some of which are painted onto wood panels nearly ten feet tall. The images are inspired by centuries-old icons that are a key component of the Orthodox Christian Church.

The artist incorporates elements that help reveal another-worldly dimension. Some have windows that reveal other images. Others feature searching eyes, or have mirrors to bring the viewer into the art.

The exhibit has been around the world. More than 100,000 people saw it during a threemonth stay in Brussels, and over 70,000 were drawn to it in Dublin. Attendance is similar to that enjoyed by the King Tut exhibit several years ago in San Francisco.

On its current U.S. tour, the exhibit has been in churches from Seattle to Cincinnati. This will be its only Bay Area appearance, with its next stop in San Diego.

The 150-plus “Icons in Transformation” exhibit will be divided between St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church, 2925 Bonifacio

Street in Concord and St. John’s Episcopal Church, 5555 Clayton Road in Clayton. Exhibit hours are 4 –8 p.m., Thur, through Sun. and by appointment. Admission is free, but donations will be gratefully accepted. 925-890-7839, www.stjohnsparish.org; www.stmichaelsconcord.org.

A Gala Opening Party is scheduled for December 10 at St. Michael’s. Tickets for the Opening are $25 and include refreshments, music by a Diablo Valley College choir and the chance to meet the artist.

Mushrooms are key to Earth’s natural

The rainy season also brings with it many species of a muchmaligned organism we call mushrooms, or “toadstools.”

When I was young, I believed these “poisonous plants” grew from some sort of seed or mold each year and were a danger to my garden. Nothing could be further from the truth.

MARCHiANO MOUNTAIN MIKE

As we move from autumn into winter, many seasonal changes take place. Fields that were golden brown begin to turn green, deciduous trees lose their leaves, and creeks and ponds begin to slowly fill. Many animals migrate to warmer climates, hibernate or go into some other form of dormancy, wintering as eggs or pupa stage.

Mushrooms are actually the fruiting body of a plant that grows underground all year long. The mushrooms we see are the equivalent to the apple on an apple tree. Like the apple, they contain the “seeds,” actually spores, to produce the next generation.

The actual “plant,” or mycelium, is a threadlike structure that in some species may cover hundreds of acres and be thousands of years old. Some fungi play the important role of decomposers of organic material,

but far more fascinating is the role played by the larger group of mycorrhizal fungi. Ninety percent of green plants form a symbiotic relationship with these mycorrhizal fungi, sharing nutrients and water as well as sending

communications from one plant to another. These threadlike organisms absorb more water for their host plant than its own root system can accomplish. They break down and dissolve nitrogen, phosphorous, iron and

Radicchio: Bring on its bitter best

Though it looks like a head of red lettuce, radicchio is related to the chicory plant. It has a peppery, pleasingly bitter flavor that works well with mild salad greens.

While often mistaken for red cabbage, its heads are smaller and the leaves are thinner than cabbage. Used extensively in Italy, radicchio is becoming popular here.

Radicchio rosso looks like a round head of cabbage, while Treviso radicchio is elongated. It is mostly used in salads but also holds up well and tastes delicious when grilled, roasted or wilted in pasta dishes. Grilling on high heat lessens the bitterness and brings a nutty flavor.

First Generation Farmers of Knightsen or Hall’s Organic Farm in Salinas will most likely have radicchio this winter. Look for crisp leaves with no wilting or browning. Radicchio can keep under refrigeration for one week, and the leaves should be rinsed before use. It

turns brown quickly, so chop and add to salads as soon as you can.

COUSCOUSWITH ROASTED GRAPES , CELERY ROOT AND RADICCHIO

1 c. Israeli couscous, cooked al dente

1 tsp. grated lemon zest

2 T. lemon juice

Olive oil to taste

Quality vinegar to taste

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

1 lb. oven-roasted grapes*

Healthy strategies for holiday eating

When I attended the World Parkinson Congress in September, the sold-out sessions were about nutrition and its impact on the disease.

The conference in Portland, Ore., featured researchers and presenters from all over the world, plus breakout sessions on things such as stem cell research, deep brain stimulation, the latest drugs and the impact of exercise like boxing and bike riding on the brain. My husband was diagnosed with Parkinson’s four years ago, so it was important to learn about the forecast for the future.

The leading experts say our food system is a big cause of the problem. They blame processed food filled with refined sugar and additives, along with the lack of fiber. I believe 75 percent of all diseases are caused by lifestyle choices, and food is a choice.

They suggested a few things to help slow down the progression of Parkinson’s, and I think it’s a good idea for all of us:

•Eat no more than 50 grams of protein a day.

•Reduce red meat.

•Eat free-range or organic poultry.

•Work toward a plant-based diet by increasing beans and nuts.

•Eat greens, greens, greens –and all your vegetables.

•Opt for whole grains and forget the bread.

•Use fresh fruit – no juicing.

•And the big one: Let go of sugars, artificial sweeteners and all chemicals/additives.

During the holiday season, most people set their health aside and prepare to gain 3-5 pounds (if they’re lucky). But there are other options.

First off, don’t skip breakfast. Try two eggs scrambled with kale, spinach, peppers and sliced oranges. Or hot oatmeal with berries and chopped nuts.

For a quick, on-the-go breakfast, mix raw oats, bananas and full-fat yogurt the night before a busy day.

For lunch, pack lots of greens, leftover cooked vegetables, chickpeas and nuts. Splash with a good oil and a squeeze of lemon juice.

For a family dinner, opt for a baked potato with steamed broccoli, cheddar cheese and ground turkey, a green salad and chopped apples.

One small celery root, skin removed and thinly sliced into batons (or a tender, inner stalk of celery)

4 outer leaves of radicchio, cut into thin ribbons

Cook couscous according to package instructions. Whisk lemon zest, juice, olive oil and vinegar. Season with salt and pepper. Toss with couscous, roasted grapes, celery root and radicchio leaves; season with salt and pepper. Serve at once.

*To roast grapes, preheat oven to 350 degrees. Toss the grapes with olive oil, salt and pepper and place on a medium hotel pan. Roast until the skins are blistered and some of the grapes have started to leak juice. Cool before incorporating grapes into the salad.

other tightly bound nutrients.

In turn, the green plant supplies carbohydrates to the fungi that it has formed through photosynthesis.

The vast mycorrhizal fungi underground acts like a network, linking roots of different plants. This internet not only transfers water and nutrients but also picks up on impending threats of pest attacks or toxins in the soil and conveys a message to susceptible plants how best to build up immunity or fight it off. The fungi will also share information between plants on how best to resist disease.

Messages are even carried between mature trees and saplings, with the mature tree supplying nutrients to the sapling as needed. This communications has been found to be between divergent species. There is even a “dark side”

to this natural web. Some plants have learned to use it to “steal” food and water from other plants.

We are only scratching the surface of understanding this unique communication system. Once again, the amazing secrets of nature are unfolding slowly and we are finding out how much we don’t know. The intricacies and the inter-relationships in all ecosystems are proving to be far more complex and interconnected than we ever thought.

The next time you see a little mushroom sprouting up in your garden or in the woods, remember how important that mycorrhizal natural internet is to all other living organisms.

CiNDy GERSHEN FOOD MATTERS

If you have parties on your schedule, eat something light before you go. Try cheese and sliced apples, a few almonds or string cheese. At the party, skip the appetizers and have a spritzer of soda water with wine and a squeeze of lemon or lime.

If you are hosting a party, serve roasted turkey or chicken, grilled, poached or roasted vegetables, whole-grain pilaf or oven-baked sweet potatoes, green salad with lots of raw vegetables, hummus, sliced fruit, cheeses and nuts. I always put out the food when people arrive and let them eat whenever they’re hungry.

For dessert, make warm apple or pear crisp with oatmeal and butter topping and plain, full-fat Greek yogurt on the side.

Recipe from PCFMA Cookin’ the Market Recipe Collection.

MiKE

Mike Marciano

The edible candy cap is the visible part of this mushroom plant that grows underground all year

DEBRA MORRIS Pacific Coast Farmers Market

The Concord Farmers Market is in Todos Santos Plaza Tuesdays & Thursdays.

Cindy Gershen is Chef/Founding Owner of Sunrise Bistro & Catering in Walnut Creek, Mount Diablo High School Sustainable Hospitality Pathway teacher, founding board member of the Wellness City Challenge and co-author of “The Fat Chance Cookbook.” Contact her at cindymgershen@gmail.com

Photo courtesy Pacific Coast Farmers Market POPULARIN ITALIANCOOKING, RADICCHIO is coming into its own in this country.

JENNiFER LEiSCHER DESIGN & DÉCOR

cabinetry supplier, whether you are starting from scratch or adding new doors and drawers to exist-

ing cabinet boxes. Always do the extra leg work – from big box stores to custom cabinet shops –to understand the pros and cons of a specific style. Consider

bringing your contractor into the cabinet discussions to fully understand the whole cost.

First, you need to know about face frame construction.

Framed cabinet boxes use a face frame consisting of vertical and horizontal trim that covers the cabinet box opening. This is the most traditional construction

type for cabinetry. Frameless is just that, the boxes have no trim. This construction is more specialized and modern. Within these two construction categories, there is a second door tier: partial overlay, full overlay and inset.

Partial, or standard, overlay cabinet doors are mounted on the cabinet box face frame, covering the cabinet box opening and partially covering the finished face frame. The face frame is visible, breaking up the cabinet door layout.

A full overlay door follows this same design idea, but the cabinet door completely overlays the cabinet box opening and the finished face frame. The idea is that your cabinet doors and drawer faces make up the surface of your cabinetry, not the face frame of the actual cabinet boxes.

Inset cabinet doors are fitted inside the actual face frame in a precisely sized opening. This sort of design requires a higher level of craftsmanship, which

Two-time Concord Olympian looks to her future

Mariya Koroleva spent most of the past decade training up to 10 hours a day as she tried to reach and then stay at the pinnacle of American synchronized swimming. Her efforts paid off with two trips to the Summer Olympics representing her adopted country in the duet competition.

Her first Olympics were in 2012 in London, and she returned this year to the 31st Olympiad in Rio. The 26-year-

old was born in Russia and moved to Walnut Creek in 1999, when her dad took a high-tech job. Now at home in Concord, she has retired from competitive swimming after 17 years and is looking ahead to the next phase of her life.

She recently joined U.S. Olympians and Paralympians at the White House for her second visit hosted by President Barack Obama. When she was introduced with her duet partner Anita Alvarez, the president made an arm motion that a synchro swimmer might make and

asked Koroleva where her nose clip was. “It was kinda cool,” she said.

The athletes also got to meet First Lady Michelle Obama and Vice President Joe Biden. Koroleva has resumed some coaching duties with the Walnut Creek Aquanuts, her club since she was 9 and her mom found the club from a flier that was handed out at her elementary school. She is also working for Dick’s Sporting Goods’ Team USA program, which gave her the opportunity to earn some money while training by working

at the Pleasant Hill store.

She hopes to soon complete the final two classes she needs to earn her master’s degree in sports management at University of San Francisco. She graduated from Stanford after being a four-time collegiate All-America. She is looking at career opportunities in her sport and also in sports marketing and sponsorships. She would prefer to stay in the area near her parents, boyfriend and younger brother Ivan, who started this fall at UC Berkeley after graduat-

ing from Northgate High.

Koroleva and her London Olympics partner, Mary Killman, took 11th in the duet. The Concord swimmer trained intensely for Rio. Her goal with Alvarez was to improve that result to put America in a better position for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

“We were very happy with all three of our swims,” Koroleva said of Rio. “I’d say we surpassed our goals by taking 9th overall. It’s definitely our highest score ever, by a lot. In the last year, we moved up three spots –

could increase your cost.

Once you’ve determined cabinet door and drawer style, you can have a little fun with the design of the cabinet doors and drawers. Shaker, flat panel, raised and recessed panels, headboard, rope and beaded edging, mitered construction … and the list of accoutrements continues.

There are many different door designs, and it’s easy to get caught up in the pizzazz of it all.

If you’re not sure what you like, check out online resources or grocery newsstands to research cabinetry. Look at photos of finished kitchens and bathrooms and consider what worked and what didn’t work, or what looks dated.

Before selecting doors, consider if the style will stand the test of time. Something classic and timeless with clean lines should be at the top of your list.

Leischer is the owner of J. Designs Interior Design based in Clayton. Contact her with questions, comments and suggestions at jenna@j-designs.com.

which is kind of unheard of in synchro, to do that in one year. So we’re really proud of ourselves and happy with the way everything went.”

JAY BEDECARRÉ Concord Pioneer

Photo courtesy USA Synchro MARIYA KOROLEVA

INCHOOSINGCABINETDOORS make sure the doors you chose will not only look beautiful in your new kitchen or bath, but will function well in the total design.