IT’S YOUR PAPER
Bier and polka, das ist gut
www.claytonpioneer.com
October 9, 2015
925.672.0500
Dave Shuey
MAYOR’S CORNER
Drought endangers Clayton trees
While the city is actually in the process of “winterizing” Clayton by cleaning our storm drains and gutters in advance of the meteorologist guaranteed 100 percent-certain El Nino, there is a real concern about drought damaged trees falling. This is not just in Clayton, as there have been several deaths attributed to drought stricken trees falling on people in other parts of the state. We did have an oak fall recently at the Lydia Lane Park and it just reinforced that we all need to be very careful with our safety. So, if you see a dangerous condition, please let us know so we can keep our city safe. In that vein, I want to remind people that we can’t fix it if we do not know it is broken. If you see graffiti, vandalism, broken sprinklers or safety issues while out enjoying our award-winning trails or just hanging out in town, please let us know. Go to our website at www.ci.clay-
Tamara Steiner
BACK FOR THEIR 12TH YEAR AT THE CLAYTON OKTOBERFEST, THE INTERNATIONALS, joined by townsfolk and officials, usher the keg down Main Street to the Biergarten tent where Councilmen howard Geller and Keith haydon kicked off the annual event in a shower of suds. By all accounts, last weekend’s event was a stunning success. Mounted by the Clayton Business and Community association, the Oktoberfest annually pours upwards of $70,000 into the clubs coffers to be sent back into the community in the form of scholarships and donations to schools, civic See Mayor, page 6 beautification projects and support for those in need of a hand up. For membership info, go to www.claytoncbca.com or call (925) 672-2272. Meetings are held the fourth Tuesday of the month at Oakhurst Country Club.
Clayton women spark clean air business in Guatemala
A YOUNG GUATEMALAN WOMEN may soon be preparing her meals with cleaner, safer liquid petroleum gas supplied Gente Gas, the brainchild of Clayton woman, Christina espinosa. PEGGY SPEAR Clayton Pioneer
It’s hard to imagine that something as innocent as cooking meals could be deadly, but in Guatemala, 15 residents die every day in the country by cooking with wood fires. A “staggering” 9.6 million people are affected by Household Air Pollution (HAP), which is
What’s Inside
Around Town . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Arts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15 Community Calendar . . . . .14 Directory of Advertisers . . . .7 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10 School News . . . . . . . . . . . .8
why Clayton resident Patricia Espinosa is strongly promoting her daughter Christina’s new business, GenteGas. It’s not just parental pride. It can really save lives. Christina, a University of the Pacific graduate, is now living in that Latin American country, trying to bring the idea of using liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) to the masses through her new business. “When I was studying at UOP, I applied to participate in the Clinton Global Initiative University (CGIU) conference,” Christina says. “There everyone has what is called a ‘commitment to action,’ which is focusing on
resolving some global issue. I had read a bit on the health impacts of cooking with wood and thought that I would apply to CGIU with an idea to resolve the health impacts.” Since she was studying Spanish in Guatemala, she decided to focus her efforts there. But as she did some research, she says she felt the solutions she was looking at weren’t going to make a big enough impact in the health of residents. “I was really bothered by that and it felt shameful to promote something that didn’t have a strong enough impact,” she says. “One day I was sitting with my mentor, Charley Ansbach, and we just started talking about how designing and trying to make a stove and fuel for ‘the poor’ was a little frustrating and that if we wanted to really save lives then how come we weren’t converting more people to gas?” From that day on she began to study how much of an impact converting to LPG would have, and found that more than 90 percent of the people she surveyed would want to convert to gas. “Very few initiatives existed on a global scale to help people switch from cooking with wood to gas. So that’s
basically how we got started ... talking to the people and figuring out how to make it work.” It seems like a great idea. Cooking smoke is the fifth
worst threat to public health in America and wood fuel is used the developing world. by 94 percent of rural houseGuatemala has the highest holds, Patricia Espinosa says. percentage of disease attributSee Clean Air, page 3 able to solid fuel use in Central
Family and community mourn passing of Don Fitzgerald TAMARA STEINER Clayton Pioneer
On the night of September 19, the lives of two stalwart Claytonians came to an end. At just about 10:30, the majestic oak that stood watch for several hundred years over what is now Lydia Lane Park came crashing down across the creek – a thunderous end to a long, enduring watch. Just minutes later, but with much less noise, Donald Edward Fitzgerald quietly breathed his last, ending an equally enduring life as a husband, father, friend and community leader. “A man that showed us all how to do it,” said Father Richard Mangini, pastor at St. Bonaventure’s Catholic Church where Don had served
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the U.S. Marines straight out of high school when he was just 17. He served in Korea near the end of the conflict and finished out his service stationed in Hawaii. After his discharge, he returned to New York where he met Gail, who would become his wife of 58 years. They were married just three months and 19 days after they met. “We never looked back.” By 1978, they had four children and moved to Clayton. They joined the Clayton Business and Professional TAMARA STEINER/CLAYTON PIONEER Association, the predecessor GAIL AND DON FITZGERALD on to the present day CBCA and began a long career of comvalentine’s Day, 2006 munity service. In 1995, after on the Parish Council and in the pair attended several festitoo many ministries to count. vals around the area, Don Don was born in 1935 in Buffalo, New York. He joined See Fitzgerald, page 2
For more info, attend a Community Information Meeting • Oct. 12, Pleasant Hill Library, 7 p.m. • Oct. 13, Pittsburg Library, 7 p.m. • Oct. 14, Walnut Creek Library, 7 p.m. • Oct. 15, Concord Library, 8 p.m.
Or go to cocospa.org or call (925) 690-8600
Postal Customer ECRWSS PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID CLAYTON, CA 94517 PERMIT 190
Page 2
Around Town Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com
Goat painter raises money for medical costs
A Clayton 7-year old is on the verge of making the art world shake in their feet, er, hoofs. Little Buddy Van Goat is quite the artist-in-residence at Doodleton Ranch in Clayton. Once destined for a dinner plate somewhere, the fourlegged artist is now venturing into the cut-throat world or art sales, all in hopes of defraying the cost of his life-saving weekly Adequan injections for his arthritis. While his motto is “will paint for banana chips,” Little Buddy is much more than a hack painter. The goat has
Budapest to Bucharest…..
learned how to do many different tricks — mainly because he is very food motivated — and has great dexterity with his lips and mouth. Using the clicker training method, Little Buddy has learned to pick up a Frisbee, pull a toy, pick a rabbit out of a hat and, of course, paint. If you are interested in an original, framed Little Buddy Van Goat painting for $30, and help with his arthritis medication costs, contact katherinepalau@hotmail.com. You can even let Little Buddy know your favorite colors.
until we started the Clayton Pioneer that I began to understand just how deep was his reach. Just as the roots of that old oak held fast for centuries against storms, earthquakes and fire, Don stood strong up to every challenge—including cancer—with an enduring spirit. He never let illness define him. As he fought his own battles with cancer four different times, he served as support and inspiration to others as president of the board of the
neighbors Marilyn Wollenweber and Jim Whitfield were among several Claytonians visiting Eastern Europe this summer. They began their cruise on July 26 in Prague. Their river cruise took them to Budapest where they Frank and Linda Fribley caught up on local news with and their Easley Estates their Clayton Pioneer.
tion of their 40th wedding anniversary. Pictured from left: Ronnie Ferguson, John and Diane West, former Concord residents now living in England, Michael and Liz Stewart and Dennis Ferguson.
Contra Costa Crisis Center and a volunteer with the Wellness Center, now Cancer Center, in Pleasant Hill. Don shone with a bright light. Regardless of how he might be feeling at the moment, he connected with whoever he was speaking to. No matter how my day was g o i n g , whenever I saw Don, it got better. D o n ’ s Don Fitzgerald at profession- Memorial Day al career Services in 2013.
included 25 years as an account executive with the 3M Company. Early in their marriage, he also served with the Air Force National Guard for three years. Don is survived by Gail, his children Kimberly Fitzgerald-Wermes and her partner Pam; Kathy Fitzgerald Burkin and her husband Jim; Kevin and his wife Dana and Kyle Fitzgerald; five grandchildren, two great-grandchildren and his sister Linda Savage. Memorials may be made to the St. Bonaventure’s Food Pantry, the Faith Formation Program or to Hospice of the East Bay.
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George Vujnovich,
Clayton neighbors down the Danube
Budapest was a popular destination this summer. Among those Claytonians traveling in Eastern Europe were Ronnie and Dennis Ferguson who joined family and friends for a Viking River Cruise in celebra-
Helping friends, neighbors and newcomers buy and sell since 1979
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Clayton travels around the world
Galls in Prague
Fitzgerald, from page 1
decided Clayton needed its own Art and Wine. He and Gail and a group of locals met with an event consultant who told them they would need several thousand dollars to start and could expect to lose money for at least three years. Ignoring this advice, Don and his committee went ahead with practically no money and a few volunteers. With just 25 vendors, that first Art and Wine netted $20K. Although I had known Don for many years, it wasn’t
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PE N D I NG
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PRICE
5213 Keller Ridge Dr . . . . . . $755,000 42 Eastbrook Ct . . . . . . . . . . $645,000 8036 Kelok Way . . . . . . . . . . $905,000 5205 Keller Ridge Dr . . . . . . $905,000 1856 Eagle Peak Ave. . . . . . $777,500 4940 Morgan Territory Rd . . $886,695 22 Long Creek Circle . . . . . . $455,260
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After a long day of touring the City of Prague and Safreeds in Munich the surrounding area in the Czech Republic, Jim and Carol Riley, Bill and Sylvia Gall of Clayton and Tom and Anne Sparks of Concord took some time out to enjoy a glass of wine and catch up on all the hometown news in the Pioneer. The theme of the trip was “Castles and Capitals” which featured a land tour and a seven day river cruise down the Danube. All three couples were celebrating wedding anniversaries led by the Sparks (51 years), the Riley’s (48 years) and the Gall’s (46 Bill and Brenda Safreed years). spent some quality time in a Munich biergarten last month Please send your events where they caught up on local with photo for Around news and practiced for the Town to Tamara@ Oktoberfest back home. ClaytonPioneer.com
708 Anizumne Ct. – Clayton
(925) 672-4433
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October 9, 2015
Super “Spring” model at Diablo Ridge! right out of a decorator magazine! 2 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, approx. 1252sf! Stunning updated Slab granite kitchen & sleek updated baths. $429,000
BED/BATH SALE DATE ADDRESS . . . . . .3/2 . . . . . . .9/30/15 . . . . . .4/3 . . . . . . .9/15/15 . . . . . .4/3 . . . . . . .9/15/15 . . . . . .6/3 . . . . . . .9/15/15 . . . . . .3/2.5 . . . . . .9/11/15 . . . . . .5/2 . . . . . . .8/31/15 . . . . . .3/2.5 . . . . .8/28/15
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206 Condor Way . . . . . . . . . . $695,000 204 Round House Place . . . . $570,000 5020 Raven Way. . . . . . . . . . $689,000 112 Crow Place . . . . . . . . . . . $825,000 3503 Coyote Circle . . . . . . . . $390,000 5860 Clayton Rd . . . . . . . . $1,075,000
Windmill Canyon at Oakhurst Country Club! $777,500
SF
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BED/BATH SALE DATE
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October 9, 2015
MiKe MarCianO
MOUNTAIN MIKE
Bats: creatures of the night, Dracula’s alter ego, an ingredient in a witch’s brew, or a vampire that will suck the life from a person? These creatures are unjustifiably feared and persecuted. The truth about bats is even more fascinating. Bats are the only flying mammal; they are the only true flying vertebrates besides birds. They are not flying rodents. In fact, bats belong to their own order, Chiropterans, which is more closely related to primates than rodents. They are not blind; in fact many have very good vision. They do not attempt to tangle in
Go batty for these nocturnal neighbors Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com
woman’s hair; in fact they are great at avoiding contact with people. They are not great spreaders of rabies. Land dwelling mammals such as skunks, fox, coyotes, squirrels, etc., are far more likely to spread the disease. Bats do fly in the dark by using echo location, similar to sonar. They emit a high frequency sound at 200 per second. Using this method of locating prey they can capture up to 500 flying insets in an hour — one every seven seconds. All North American bats are insectivores, making them a top candidate for best controller of insect pests. They eat thousand of mosquitoes, moths, flies, beetles and other insects in an evening. Species such as the Pallid Bat will also hunt on the ground and in shrubs, capturing spiders, scorpions, potato bugs, beetles and numerous other crawling insects. Because of
Clean Air, from page 1
FORMER CLAYTONIAN, CHRISTINA ESPINOSA aims to bring clean burning gas to Guatemala, reducing the health hazards of cooking over wood fires.
their increased metabolic rate caused by flight, bats need to consume more than half their weight every night.
NIGHT LIFE Bats are primarily nocturnal, although they can also be seen flying at dusk and dawn. Depending on the species, bats roost during the day in old buildings, barns, sheds, caves, mines, under bridges and overpasses, rocky out-crops, in trees, under tree bark and tree cavities or other well protected spots. Here is a list of the most common bats found in Contra Costa County: The Brazilian Free-tail Bat,
GenteGas’ mission is to reduce the entry costs of clean burning gas stoves and fuels as well as provide income generating opportunities to women with the purpose of eradicating toxic smoke and the associated diseases and death, Christina says. To help get the business off the ground, Christina in August started an Indiegogo crowd-sourcing campaign of $15,000 to help fund the business. Each “campaigner” designs a perk that donators can claim to support the campaign — and all perks are food related. Some include Guatemalan meals, cookbooks, and other food packages.
which is commonly found around buildings and city street lights at night as well as in agricultural areas were it feeds on a wide range of insects with a strong preference for moths. The Pallid Bat, already mentioned, is decreasing in numbers at this time, due to habitat destruction and the use of pesticides. Our only true ground feeder, this bat is extremely beneficial to farmers and gardeners. The big Brown Bat, with a wing span up to 16 inches, is one of our largest bats and eats many agricultural pests, consuming its body weight each night. The smaller California Myotis is a bat of wet areas, creeks, rivers, wet lands, ponds etc and favors large numbers of mosquitoes, moths and other fling insects. The little brown Myotis, a migratory species, is one of the longest-lived local bats, over 30
Christina, who has lived in Guatemala since 2010, says she is now devoted to bringing safe cooking and energy resources to her adopted country — as is Patricia, who travels down to Guatemala frequently to see her daughter and help with the new business. “Guatemala is an easy place to fall in love with,” Christina says. “The country is beautiful and the people are welcoming. Surely a place everyone should visit.” And feel safe, thanks to effort’s like Christina’s. For more information on GenteGas’ crowd-sourcing campaign, visit http://igg.me/at/gentegas.
years, and is also a beneficial insectivore. The little Canyon Bat is the smallest local species. Flying at low elevations it sweeps the air for pesky insects. Its body is approximately three inches and is wing span may reach eight inches. The Townsend Long-eared Bat is a cave or mine-dwelling bat that is diminishing very
Mike Marciano is a naturalist with the Mt. Diablo Interpretive Association. Contact him at mmarchiano@gmail.com
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Concord
quickly in California because of habitat disturbance and is therefore a species of special concern. Each of these bats is uniquely adapted to a niche in the environment.
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Page 3
$450,000
Willow Walk — Two story home featuring 3 Bedrooms 2.5 Baths at 1,326 sq. ft. Upgraded with Laminate floors, plantation shutters, and crown molding throughout. Beautiful fireplace located in the living room. Kitchen has tile counters, gas range cooktop stove and island. Located in the great Willow Walk community which has close proximity to Downtown Concord.
Concord
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Bursting with Potential — Cozy single story 3 bedroom 2 bath home with beautiful hardwood flooring throughout. Kitchen has electric stove-top stove. Built-in tile fireplace in the living room. 2Pane windows and 2 car garage. Large backyard comes with enclosed covered patio. Conveniently located home to shopping, restaurants & schools.
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$739,980
Ayers Ranch — Designer touches throughout this remodeled 2 bedroom, 1 bath ranch-style home. Living room with custom fireplace, built in cabinets and laminate floors. Beautifully updated gourmet kitchen with granite counter tops, farm sink & island. Large laundry room. Huge flat lot with 3/4 acre park-like yard & BBQ area. Private well water used for home and irrigation. Dual-pane windows, recessed lighting & ceiling fans.
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Morgan Territory — 4BD/3.5BA 3,689 sq. ft. custom showcase home featuring a wine cellar and a 5car garage. This spectacular home has a Chef ’s Dream Gourmet kitchen with cherry-wood cabinets, granite/ quartz counters, wolfe range. Porcelain floors throughout main level. Panoramic views of Mt. Diablo & surrounding hills.
Concord
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Bishop Estates — Fabulous semiupdated single story with in-law/au pair. 10 min. to BART. 3 bedroom /3bath, 2 master suites, 1 full & 2 mini kitchens, office—1930sf. Elegant dining & living room; spacious kitchen/family room combo with island, gorgeous moldings, and dual pane windows. 1 bedroom/office with mini kitchen, hall bath & outside entrance. 2nd master-suite + kitchen taken off garage. Inge Yarborough, (925) 766-6896
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Concord
$579,980
Loaded with Potential — Good looking single story home, great location with views of hills. Don’t miss this 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom that is close to the community park. Hardwood flooring throughout with spacious living room. Family room features built in brick fireplace. Large private backyard with a covered patio. 2 car garage with work bench.
Clayton
$509,000
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Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com
Club News Clayton Woman’s Club
call Aleta Huck at (925) 672- members are always welcome. 9448. For membership information, call Sheila at (925) 672-7947. NOVEMBER MEETING For more information about Chef John Evans from the the club, go to claytonvalleyOakhurst Country Club is the womansclub.org. guest speaker at the monthly meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 10 at Oakhurst. The meeting starts at 10 a.m. followed by a cooking class at 11:15 a.m. with Chef John complete with recipes and a meal after. The cost is $22. Guests are welcome. Please contact Kathy FRAN HAHN, adopt-a-School chairwoman, and Connie Olson by Nov. 2 at (925) 524Weimar, CvWC president, show a sampling of the donated 0641 for information and to school supplies. reserve a place for the cooking class and meal. Oakhurst The Clayton Valley and publisher of the Clayton Country Club is at 1001 PeaWoman’s Club has donated Pioneer and Concord Pioneer cock Creek Drive, Clayton. school supplies for six consec- newspapers. Her topic is David utive years to Silverwood Ele- or Goliath – Who will survive The Clayton Valley mentary School in Concord. in print? Steiner will talk about Woman’s Club, affiliated with CHEF JOHN EVANS from At the club’s Sept. 8 meeting, the competition for news the General Federation of Oakhurst Country Club conmembers donated close to between tablets, the smart Women’s Clubs, started in 1973 ducts a cooking class at the $600 worth of school supplies. phone and the printed word. and is dedicated to meeting the november meeting. Items included rulers, pencils, Who will survive in the end? needs of the community. scissors, notebooks, paper, Everyone is invited to join Members meet the second crayons, art supplies, erasers, the club at 10 a.m. for their Tuesday of each month, tissue and copy paper. regular meeting and at 11 a.m. except July and August, at Saint to hear this interesting take on John’s Episcopal Church, 5555 Join the Second Annual OCTOBER MEETING a topic all are wondering about. Clayton Road, Clayton. New Veterans Day 5K/10K Tamara Steiner is the guest Run/Walk starting with a cerespeaker at the monthly meeting FALL FUNDRAISER mony at 8:15 a.m. on Saturday, OCT. 24 on Tuesday, Oct. 13 at Saint Nov. 7 at Hillcrest Park in Mike Spellman and Ella John’s Episcopal Church in Concord. The event is presentClayton. Steiner is the editor Wolfe take the audience on a ed by the Contra Costa Blue musical excursion making Star Moms to raise awareness them laugh, reflect and imagand show support for local vetine during “Songs from a erans and raise money to supSuitcase” from 3:30 to 6:30 port active duty service perp.m. on Saturday, Oct. 24, at sonnel, promote patriotism, Diamond Terrace for the assist veterans’ organizations Clayton Valley Woman’s Club and assist in homeland volunannual fall fundraiser. The teer efforts to help America club presents a delightful remain strong. afternoon of music, appetizThis professionally-timed, ers and desserts. Proceeds 6.2 mile (10K) and 3.1 mile benefit select community (5K) Run/Walk is a flat course charities and scholarships. route. All registered particiDiamond Terrace is at 6401 pants receive a short-sleeved Center St., Clayton. Admission TAMARA STEINER discusses event T-shirt if registered by is $25. Reservations are the future of print news at MIKE SPELLMAN AND ELLA Oct. 30 and a dog tag finisher’s required as seats are limited. the monthly meeting in WOLFE will perform at the medal. Dri-fit shirts are availFor reservation information, October. annual fall fundraiser. able for pre-registered partici-
NANCY E. BENNETT ELLARD PLACE, CONCORD
This contemporary home is conveniently located near restaurants, shopping, and the Concord Pavilion. Sitting on nearly one-half acre, this 2,071 s.f. home is spacious and light with 4 bedrooms and 2.5 baths. The yard is like a park—large and private with mature trees complete with a large deck and a hot tub off the Master. Over $40k in updates with new paint, carpet, flooring and lights throughout. The kitchen features new granite counters, subway tile backsplash, recessed lighting, stainless steel appliances, freshly painted cabinets, a garden window, and eat-in kitchen. Formal dining and living rooms; vaulted ceilings and so much more. Bathrooms updated with new granite, fixtures, lighting and vanities. Off-street RV/boat parking and plenty of lawn space for parties, puppies and play! Offered at $642,000
Other Homes For Sale — Call me for more information
COMING SOON Kaski Ln., Concord
Lovely Crossing Home! Singlestory, 1,366 sf ranch home with open floorplan with kitchen/ dining/living rooms adjoined as one. 3 bedrooms/2 baths. Kitchen has $30K in recent upgrades: quartz counters, tile backsplash, recessed lighting, dark wood cabinets, and spacious island. Perfect for entertaining! Call Nancy for price
320 Grapevine Place, Pleasant Hill
Updated 2-bedroom, 2-bath, 2-story, 1,133 s.f. townhome has bonus den/office. New carpet/paint. Updated kitchen has granite counters and subway tile backsplash. Vaulted bedroom ceilings & new balcony in back. Close to Iron Horse trail & shops! Offered at $474,000
4 beds, 2 baths single story, cool mid-century feel on large lot next to open space!
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4 beds, 2.5 baths, almost 2,900 s.f. Updated 2-story with pool! Private showing only ASAP. Call Nancy for price.
With more than 72 homes sold this year, we’ve helped another 11 families buy or sell their homes in just the last month too – how can we help you and your family with real estate today?
Nancy E. Bennett, The Bennett Team #1 Realtor in Concord #1 Team, Keller Williams East Bay Agent Leadership Council, Mentor, Faculty Member and Top Producer
FALL ART EXHIBIT, MONTHLY MEETING AND CALL FOR ARTISTS Come view the Creekside Artists Guild fall art exhibit at the Clayton Community Library this season. Artwork is displayed throughout the library. Pieces are on sale by owner with contact information next to each display. Renaye Johnson, newly appointed library art display liaison, showcased more than 20 paintings with the help of several new local artists. The guild’s next meeting on Oct. 14 features a fall art review and Halloween-themed appetizers. The public is welcome to attend and join all activities. The guild also has a call for art for new artists for the Oct. 24 exhibit change at the guild’s mini gallery at Cup o’ Jo’s in
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Scenes range from the serene countryside, such as this painting, “early Spring Mt. Diablo” by Maria Ley, to the stormy ocean, a favorite haunt or a plump cluster of grapes.
Clayton. Creekside Artists Guild meetings are held on the second Wednesday of the month at 7 p.m. in the Clayton Community Library, Story Room, 6125 Clayton Road, Clayton. For more info, send email to creeksideartsfest@gmail.com.
pants prior to Nov. 2 for an additional $7. A parent or guardian must be present with children under 18 to register and sign a release form. Prizes are awarded to the top three male and female finishers in both races and for top male and female veterans in both races. Refreshments are provided before and after the race. The registration fee is $30 before Oct. 18 and $35 after; deadline is Nov. 5. Register online, by mail or in person. Register in person to get $5 off the entry fee through Nov. 2 at run for the Blue Star Moms Road Runner Sports in Con- in the veterans Day 5K/10K cord or Sports Basement in run/Walk on nov. 7 at hillWalnut Creek. Last minute reg- crest Park in Concord. istration is available for $40 at early packet pick up at Road starting at 7 a.m. To register Runner Sports from 4 to 7 and for more information, go p.m. on Nov. 6 and on race day to ccbluestarmoms.org.
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Quarry operators propose to dig deeper and longer
October 9, 2015
TAMARA STEINER
Clayton Pioneer
Neighbors of the Clayton Quarry who were hoping that mining operations at the Mitchell Canyon site were nearing an end are kicking up dust over a move by CEMEX Corporation to amend the terms of their current use permit. The company wants to extend operations down another 200 feet and leave the lake in the pit open when mining operations end, instead of filling it in as originally required. The lake would provide water storage for flood control and fire suppression. CEMEX is also proposing changes to the original revegetation plan which calls for planting trees on the benches
Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com
rising above the pit. Trees are impractical and unsafe, says CEMEX. In a handout given to neighbors at an open house on Sept. 16, CEMEX says planting trees “on existing quarry benches has proven neither safe nor practical.” Access is difficult and the benches are solid rock — there is no soil up there. Even if they could get them to grow, CEMEX says the roots could fracture the rock and imperil slope stability. Instead, they propose to restore the area with native grasses and shrubs “where it is safe, practicable and consistent with an end use of water storage to do so.” Neighbors of the quarry are not the least bit happy about the potential extension. Nor are they happy with the current quarry operations.
Dennis Weil, who lives in Diablo Downs across from the quarry, says CEMEX is not controlling the dust and frequently begins work earlier than the agreed weekday start time of 6 a.m. Kris Lavezzoli lives on Widmar Court, adjacent to the quarry, and says the stockpiles are expanding at an alarming rate. “When we moved here in 1994, we couldn’t even see the quarry, now the stockpiles are huge and nearly to the road.” She also says that, “The air quality is terrible and all the trees, houses, everything is covered with thick dust. It’s a health issue. “And they are starting earlier and earlier,” she said. “On Saturday, they started up at 6:15 a.m.”
The heavy truck traffic on Mitchell Canyon has long been a deep concern, says Weil. In an email, he says “The continuation of a stream of trucks on the narrow Mitchell Canyon Road that intersects with children crossing at Mt. Diablo Elementary is a danger to the children…and to bikers and joggers. It is fortunate no injuries have occurred.” Many of the residents who moved to the area in the past 15-20 years were assured by their realtors and, says Lavezzoli, the City of Clayton, that the quarry permit would sunset around 2002-03. The potential extension to 2046 is out of line with current conditions, she says. “What was appropriate 60 years ago when there wasn’t
Developer candidate accused of wrongdoing PEGGY SPEAR Clayton Pioneer
Was one of the City of Concord’s biggest decisions in decades tainted? That’s the question that has dogged city officials for two weeks, and will hopefully be answered on Oct. 15, when the city council meets to select a Master Developer for the Concord Naval Weapons Station — just two weeks and a lot of drama after its originally scheduled date. After years of negotiations, city meetings and public input, the city of Concord was finally ready to take perhaps its biggest step of the process to develop the shuttered Navy base, a $6 million endeavor that calls for building up to 12,272 housing units and 6.1 million square feet of commercial space on about 2,300 acres. But then, a meeting on Sept. 29 to select either Catellus Development Company or Lennar Urban was postponed after Catellus alleged that Lennar had engaged in improper lobbying, including using former San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown — once a Lennar advisor and who selected the company to develop the massive Hunters Point Shipyard project — to influence the council’s vote. Catellus also stated in its five-
page letter to Concord City Manager Valerie Barone that they were concerned that a staff report with recommendations had been withdrawn, and that Lennar did not follow the guidelines of the selection agreement. The accusations follow in the footsteps of another complaint brought to light by Catellus earlier in the summer: that companies and organizations associated with Lennar had contributed to the campaign coffers of Concord Mayor Tim Grayson, who is running for State Assembly. Lennar’s public relations firm G.F. Bunting & Co., the company’s engineering firm on the Concord project, Engeo, and Steven Kay, president of Golden Gate Global, each made $4,200 donations to Grayson’s campaign, the maximum allowed. Once the contributions came to light by Catellus — who said it was alerted by a “concerned citizen” of Concord — Grayson returned the donations. Grayson also said that he met with Brown, but only to discuss his run for the Assembly seat currently held by Susan Bonilla. “I wanted to get input from the man who held the speaker’s post longer than anyone,” Grayson said. “At no point did we discuss either
Lennar or Catellus.” Still, the issues added up enough to concern Catellus President Ted Antenucci. “We sent the letter to express our concerns, and to make sure the selection process was as transparent as possible,” he told The Pioneer. “We just wanted some answers to these questions.” Lennar rebuffed any suggestion of wrongdoing. “Lennar has not engaged in any discussions, negotiations or lobbying prohibited under its agreement with the City, and has prohibited its consultants from doing so,’’ Kofi Bonner, president of Lennar Urban, said. “Lennar has full confidence that the city has engaged in a fair and thorough process. We are sorry to see that Catellus has chosen to smear the City of Concord in an apparent last-minute desperate act aimed at sabotaging the selection process.’’ Some city council members did not take the last-minute accusations well, either. “I do not appreciate a company coming in and giving me five pages of legal B.S. and whining and threatening and telling me what I can do. This is the guy you want to be in bed with for 20 years?” Councilman Edi Birsan said in an article in the Contra Costa Times. “As far as I’m concerned,
Catellus has shot themselves in the foot. I still haven’t made up my mind, but this did not help Catellus at all.” Birsan later softened his tone, telling the Pioneer that “I did not take kindly to the accusations against the mayor, the council and the staff.” He said he was not approached by anyone from Lennar to lobby for their selection, nor was viceMayor Laura Hoffmeister approached, she said. While Lennar called Catellus’ letter a last ditch effort to smear the competitor, the original staff report did not indicate that it recommended one developer over the other. Instead, it contained analysis of both the strengths and weaknesses of each developer relevant to the project, and left it to the council to ultimately make the decision. “That’s why we’re elected,” said Hoffmeister. The meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 15, at the Concord Senior Center, 2727 Parkside Circle and will be televised live on Concord Cable TV channels 28 (Comcast), 29 (Astound) and 99 (AT&T U-verse). For more information and to see Catellus’ letter and the original staff report, visit the city’s website at www.ci.concord.ca.us.
Page 5
anything out here isn’t appropriate now,” she says. The application is currently under California Environmental Quality Act review by the Contra Costa County Office of Conservation and Development. According to Dominic Aliano, spokesman
for Supervisor Karen Mitchoff, the CEQA process is long and complex. It is likely to be several months before the first public hearing. To read the full proposal and to sign up for updates, go to www.cemexclaytonquarry.com.
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a report on progress so far... and plans for the future of Clayton valley village
Thurs. Oct. 22, 7 p.m.
Clayton Community Library Hoyer Hall, Everyone Welcome!
Info at www.claytonvalleyvillage.org
More Club News
CBCA learns how to ‘fireproof ’ Clayton GARY CARR Special to the Pioneer
Clayton residents have the opportunity to help keep the community safe from wildfires, if they can band together to help fireproof their immediate surroundings, according to Cheryl Miller, coordinator with the Diablo Firesafe Council, Miller’s presentation to the Clayton Business and Community Association on Sept. 24 was timely, due to the recent
wildfires raging in Northern California and the current drought. Miller passed out pamphlets, including one entitled. “Will Your Home Survive When the Embers Arrive?” She also provided an informative chart of which common landscape plants are good fire retardants, and which are dangerous fire-spreaders. “Friendly” plants include lilies of the Nile, fortnight lilies, jasmine and western redbud. “Foes”
Clayton Community Library Fall Used Book Sale set for Oct 15-18
Stock up on or donate recent book releases and old favorites to the Clayton Community Library Foundation Fall Used Book Sale on Oct. 16 through Oct. 18. Most books are $1. Children’s books are 50 cents. Books are half price on Sunday with a $3 per bag special from 2 to 4 p.m. Friday, Oct. 16 is a members-only preview. Memberships can be purchased at the door. The cost for an individual is $10, a family membership is $15 and a contributing membership is $30. The used book sale is Friday, Oct. 16 from 4 to 7 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 17 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday, Oct. 18 from 12 to 4 p.m. The Clayton Community Library is at 6125 Clayton Road, Clayton. For more information, go to claytonlibrary.org.
include Manzanita, juniper, broom, and of course, blue gum eucalyptus. She said that neighbors getting together to help “fireproof ” their neighborhoods is a great opportunity for Clayton, and said that funding is available for such groups through the Diablo Firesafe Council. For more information, visit www.diablofiresafe.org.
In other CBCA news, the association heard the reports of three Diablo View Middle School girls who attended “Tech Trek Camp” at Sonoma State University. Their participation in the week-long science camp is sponsored by the Clayton Branch of the AAUW, and CBCA annually provides funds to help send three seventhgrade girls from the school to attend camp. This year’s trio, Alison Ewing, Lauren Utne and Serena Connel, recounted their adventures in creating robots, working at a wildlife center and taking courses in physics and astronomy. Finally, Howard Geller provided a summary on Concerts
in the Grove. This was the eighth year in the series, with a total or 82 concerts. Geller praised Diablo Valley Ranch as “our savior,” explaining that the concerts couldn’t go on without the help from DVR volunteers. For more information visit www.claytoncbca.org. Serving Northern California for Over 30 Years
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For many concert-goers, it was “One Hell of a Nite” at the Sept. 19 Chris Brown concert at the Concord Pavilion. Contra Costa Fire and American Medical Response units treated about 12 people at the notorious singer’s concert, raising concern among many Clayton and Concord residents about safety. But according to Concord Police, there were no arrests, and despite the usual traffic woes before and after the concert, it was “a fairly smooth night,” according to Concord Police Lieutenant Nicholas Gartner. The following night’s Counting Crows concert ended the Pavilion’s 2015 season, which saw more concerts than in past years, thanks to a new agreement between the City of Concord and Live Nation. But the medical emergencies at Brown’s concert and a fight at a Nicki Minaj concert on August 14 marred what some called a great resurgence in the level of topnotch entertainers playing at
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Get ready to open those books. The seventh annual Clayton Reads takes place from Oct.1 to Nov. 14. The program is a part of the Contra Costa Library’s “One City, One Book” program. The idea behind this program is to encourage community members to focus on reading one book, and join book discussions and programs or presentations related to the book. “Maisie Dobbs” by Jacqueline Winspear is this year’s choice for Clayton Reads. Beginning Oct. 1 and continuing while supply lasts, readers may pick up a free copy of the book at the Clayton Library. The Clayton Community Library Foundation, sponsor of the program, only asks that readers pass the book along to another reader when finished. There will be a variety of programs related to the Clayton Reads book and World War II, including a “Sisters in Crime” mystery writers panel; a World War I feature movie; a mystery program for teens featuring a Sherlock Holmes movie; a Code Busters program for kids with author Penny Warner; and a book discussion. The book is a mix of mystery, war story and romance
set in WWI-era England. Maisie starts as housemaid, becomes a university student, a wartime nurse and ultimately a private investigator. Her first case starts as a simple marital infidelity case in postwar England. The case evolves, ties to World War I and to the impact of the war on soldiers and civilians. Winspear was born and raised in England. Following higher education at the London’s Institute of Education, she worked in academic publishing, in higher education and in marketing communications in the UK. She emigrated to the United States in 1990, and while working in business, Winspear started fulfilling a life-long dream to be a writer. She has contributed articles to journals of education and women’s magazines. “Maisie Dobbs” is her debut novel and the first in a series of now 11 books featuring Maisie. Winspear’s interest in World War I and its aftermath started in childhood. Her grandfather was severely wounded and shellshocked at the Battle of Somme and his health was affected for the rest of his life. As she grew up, her curiosity about the war deepened. Her interest is in the experiences of ordinary people on the battlefield as well as the home front. She is continuously researching the
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show. If additional public resources are needed, like at the Brown concert, it is the responsibility of the promoter, Live Nation, to cover the bill. The medical emergencies at the Brown concert were mainly alcohol-related, and cases of dehydration. “It was a busy night for ConFire and the paramedics, but it was mainly due to irresponsible drinking behavior,” he said. In fact, he said the Concord Police, at the request of Brown’s security team, worked hard to mitigate any violence that has marred many of the singer’s other concerts, including a shooting at a San Jose show and a gang melee at a show in New York. Just recently, it was reported that the singer may not be welcomed in Australia for scheduled concerts there. The celebrity website TMZ reported an immigration official saying, “People need to understand if you are going to commit
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domestic violence and then you want to travel around the world, there are going to be countries that say to you, ‘You cannot come in because you are not of the character we expect in Australia.’” In 2009 Brown pled guilty to beating up his then-girlfriend, singer Rhianna, and since then has been a magnet for violent behavior. Meanwhile, Nicki Minaj’s August show ended early as a brawl broke out in the audience that included chair throwing and concert-goers being pepper-sprayed by security. Still, the events of those two concerts aren’t dampening the enthusiasm for next season, which will open with Janet Jackson’s Unbreakable World Tour on Thursday, May 19, 2016. Despite multiple phone calls and emails, Live Nation representatives did not respond to requests for comments for this story.
This year’s Clayton Reads takes on romantic mystery KAREN HANSEN-SMITH Special to the Pioneer
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the Pavilion. However, there were reports on local blogs of closing the nearby shopping centers at Ygnacio/Kirker Pass and Clayton Roads after the Minaj and Brown concerts, but that was due to traffic management more than safety issues, according to Clayton Police Sergeant Richard McEachin. “We didn’t want cars using the parking lots as traffic thruways,” he said. McEachin said that Clayton does not have jurisdiction over the Pavilion, and only responds when mutual aid is necessary, and that was only due to traffic management. Lt. Gartner said that the “fire and brimstone” accounts on local blogs were largely unfounded, and that “all in all, it was good season at the Pavilion.” He says that the police department prepares for traffic and other possible safety issues in advance, depending on the day of the concert and nature of the
October 9, 2015
ton.ca.us and click the feedback button and let us know. Clayton Kudos: On the good deed front, congratulations again to the Clayton Community Church for its annual Labor Day Derby and Car Show. Another tremendous success bringing fun to our families and this year they were able to get enough donations from those in attendance to provide 200 school backpacks and supplies to kids in Syria. Bravo. And the Relay for Life event at Mt. Diablo Elementary in August was a tremendous success, raising more than $88,000 to fight cancer. With some amazing testimonials and survival stories, lots of first-time camping in town, music, fun and lots of walking, it was another showcase
time in which her books takes place. For Winspear, “the war and its aftermath provide fertile ground for a mystery, offering a literary vehicle for exploring the time. Such great social upheaval allows for the strange and unusual to emerge and a time of intense emotions can, to the writer of fiction provide ample fodder for a compelling story, especially one concerning criminal acts and issues of guilt and innocence.” “Maisie Dobbs” was a national bestseller. It received both the Agatha Award and the Macavity Award for best first novel. For more information about the programs, pick up a flyer at the library or visit www.guides.ccclib.org/onebook/ clayton or www.claytonlibrary.org
and running these leagues that bring more than 100 people downtown each night. As the season winds down, teams are trying to stay within striking distance of the playoffs. Trash Talk: Reminder, keep recycling more and dumping less trash. Use less plastic bags. In honor of Relay for Life and the fight against cancer: “Turn your face to the sun and the shadows fall behind you” (Maori Proverb) and “I have heard there are troubles of more than one kind, Some come from ahead and some come from behind, But I’ve bought a big bat, I’m all ready you see, Now my troubles are going to have troubles with me!” (Dr. Seuss).
of what makes this city great. Congrats. Atta Boys: Our maintenance department has thought outside the box and worked with the Contra Costa Water District to place water from their reservoir onto the grass at our North Valley Park. The district has to keep their water “fresh” and so they have to drain and refill, and this used to just go down the drain. Now, it is going on our park to try and keep it somewhat green. Way to think outside the box guys. Bocce Biz: The Fall Bocce League season is coming down the home stretch and another shout out to the Clayton Business and ComSend questions and comments munity Association and for the mayor by email to Skipolini’s Pizza for building shuey@rankinlaw.com. and maintaining these courts
October 9, 2015
Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com
P.O. Box 1246 6200 Center Street, Suite H, Clayton, CA 94517
TAMARA AND R OBERT S TEINER , Publishers TAMARA S TEINER , Editor P ETE C RUZ , Graphic Design P EGGY S PEAR , Copy Editor J AY B EDECARRÉ, Sports PAMELA W IESENDANGER , Administration, Calendar Editor
El Niño promises heavy winter rains
S TAFF W RITERS : Peggy Spear, Pamela Wiesendanger, Jay Bedecarré
C ORRESPONDENTS : John Jackson, Kara Navolio, Patricia Romero, John T. Miller
We remember Jill Bedecarré - Her spirit is our muse
PIONEER INFO CONTACT US
Tel: (925) 672-0500 Fax: (925) 672-6580 www.ClaytonPioneer.com
Tamara Steiner tamara@claytonpioneer.com Send ads to ads@claytonpioneer.com Send Sports News to sports@claytonpioneer.com Send Club News to clubnews@claytonpioneer.com Send School News to
schoolnews@claytonpioneer.com LET US KNOW Weddings, engagements, anniversaries, births and deaths all weave together as part of the fabric of our community. Please let us know of these important events. We ask only that the announcement be for a resident in our home delivery area. Submit on our website and be sure to attach a JPG photo that is at least 3 MB but not bigger than 6MB. You can also mail or bring your print to the office and we can scan it for you. Also on the website are forms for calendar items, events & press releases. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Both Pioneer newspapers welcome letters from our readers. As a general rule, letters should be 175 words or less and submitted at least one week prior to publication date. Letters concerning current issues will have
priority. We may edit letters for length and clarity. All letters will be published at the editor’s discretion. Please include name, address and daytime telephone number. We will not print anonymous letters. E-mail your letter to tamara@claytonpioneer.com. Letters must be submitted via E-mail.
CIRCULATION as of Sept. 2014 Total circulation of the Clayton Pioneer is 5,500 to ZIP code 94517, all delivered by US Mail to homes, businesses and post office boxes. We cannot start or stop delivery to individual addresses. This must be done directly through the Post Office. The Concord Pioneer is delivered monthly to 30,500 in Concord by carrier. Papers are delivered once a month on a Friday morning near the end of the month. To stop delivery for any reason, call the office at (925) 672-0500 or send an email to circulation@claytonpioneer.com. If you are NOT receiving the Pioneer, please check the distribution map on the website. If you live in the shaded area and are not receiving the paper, please call us or send an email to circulation@claytonpioneer.com. If you are not in the shaded area, please be patient. We will come to your neighborhood soon. SUBSCRIPTIONS To subscribe, call the office at (925) 672-0500. Subscriptions are $35/year for each paper, $60/year for both.
WOODY WHITLATCH WEATHER WORDS
It’s official! According to a mid-September advisory from the National Weather Service, El Niño conditions have developed in the tropical portions of the central and eastern Pacific. Long-range weather forecast models predict that this El Niño will intensify during the next several months and possibly be one of the strongest of the last 150 years. This should be very good news for drought-stricken California. Since 1950, five El Niños have been categorized as strong (1957-58, 1965-66 and 1972-73) or very strong (1982-83 and 1997-98). Weather records from San Francisco indicate above normal winter rainfall followed four of these events. The two very strong events resulted in winter rainfall totals over 160 percent of normal for the Bay Area. Southern California seems to have an even better chance for a wet winter this year. Above normal rainfall followed all five recent strong El Niño events at Los Angeles, with more than 200 percent of annual rainfall during winters following the very strong El Niños. El Niño is part of an interconnected atmospheric and
Plan early for your long-term care
RICHARD LITTORNO INSIGHT ON
ESTATE PLANNING
Nothing can throw a monkey wrench into an estate plan like incurring long-term care (LTC) expenses. These expenses — for nursing home stays, assisted-living facilities, home health aides and other care — can quickly deplete funds you’ve set aside for retirement or to provide for your family after your death. A LTC insurance policy can offset these costs, but the premiums can be expensive — especially if you wait to purchase it at or near retirement age. One potential source for funding LTC insurance premiums is a total or partial tax-free exchange of an existing life insurance policy or annuity contract. ROAD TO TAX-FREE EXCHANGES
For many years, Internal Revenue Code Section 1035 has permitted taxpayers to exchange one life insurance policy for another, one annuity contract for another, or a life insurance policy for an annuity contract without recognizing any taxable gain. (Sec. 1035 doesn’t permit an exchange of an annuity contract for a life insurance policy.) In the late 1990s, the U.S. Tax Court approved partial tax-free exchanges, finding that these exchanges satisfy the requirements of Sec. 1035. A
partial exchange might involve using a portion of an annuity’s balance or a life insurance policy’s cash value to fund a new contract or policy. In order for the transaction to be tax-free, the exchange must involve a direct transfer of funds from one carrier to another. The Pension Protection Act of 2006 expanded Sec. 1035 to include LTC policies. So now it’s possible to make a total or partial tax-free exchange of a life insurance policy or annuity contract for an LTC policy (as well as one LTC policy for another). Keep in mind that, to avoid negative tax consequences after making a partial exchange of an annuity contract for an LTC policy, you must wait at least 180 days before taking any distributions from the annuity. UNDERSTANDING THE BENEFITS
A tax-free exchange provides a source of funds for LTC coverage and offers significant tax benefits. Ordinarily, if the value of a life insurance policy or annuity contract exceeds your basis, lifetime distributions include a combination of taxable gain and nontaxable return of basis. A taxfree exchange allows you to defer taxable gain and, to the extent the gain is absorbed by LTC insurance premiums, eliminate it permanently. Consider this example: Tim, age 75, is concerned about possible LTC expenses and plans to buy an LTC insurance policy with a premium of $10,000 per year. He owns a nonqualified annuity (that is, an annuity that’s not part of a qualified retirement plan) with a value of $250,000 and a basis of $150,000, and Tim wishes to use a portion of the annuity funds to pay the LTC premiums. Under the annuity tax rules, distributions are treated
as “income first.” In other words, the first $100,000 he withdraws will be fully taxable and then any additional withdrawals will be treated as a nontaxable return of basis. To avoid taxable gain, Tim uses partial tax-free exchanges to fund the $10,000 annual premium payments. In an exchange, each distribution includes taxable gain and basis in the same proportions as the annuity: In this case, the gain is ($100,000/$250,000) times $10,000, which equals $4,000. Thus, each partial exchange used to pay LTC premiums permanently eliminates $4,000 in taxable gain. Partial tax-free exchanges can work well for standalone LTC policies, which generally require annual premium payments and prohibit prepayment. Another option is a policy that combines the benefits of LTC coverage with the benefits of a life insurance policy or an annuity. Typically, with these “combo policies,” the death or annuity benefits are reduced to the extent the policy pays for LTC expenses.
PRESERVING YOUR WEALTH According to the “Genworth 2015 Cost of Care Survey,” nearly 70 percent of people over the age of 65 will require some level of LTC service. LTC insurance can be an effective way to protect your nest egg against LTC expenses and preserve it for the next generation. And a taxfree exchange can be a costefficient strategy for funding LTC premiums. Discuss your options with your estate planning advisor.
Richard A. Littorno is an attorney specializing in estate planning. He has offices in Walnut Creek and Pittsburg. Send your questions to Richard@LittornoLaw.com.
oceanic circulation pattern. During El Niño conditions, largescale winds that normally blow from east to west across the tropical Pacific Ocean slacken, and sometimes even reverse direction. This allows warm ocean waters in the western equatorial Pacific to drift eastward. Atmospheric wind patterns associated with the warm waters also moves eastward across the Pacific toward South America. Warmer sea surface temperatures are highly correlated with atmospheric convection storm development. The eastward shift of atmospheric energy in the tropics often has a wet weather signature for our state. The convective energy generated by the warm water enhances the strength of the subtropical jet stream. When properly aligned, this jet can act like a conveyor belt and deliver storms and moisture our way. The most common yardstick used to determining the strength of an El Niño is called the Oceanic Niño Index (ONI), a comparison of current sea surface temperatures to normal values. ONI statistics are calculated for a 3,500 mile-wide region midway between Indonesia and Chile (see figure). This area, known as Niño 3.4, has north and south boundaries five degrees above and below the equator. To be classified as an El Niño, an ONI of 0.5C warmer than the 30-year normal must be exceeded for at least five consecutive three-month periods. Three consecutive three-month ONI index values at or above 1.5C shifts the El Niño category to strong. A similar period of ONI values 2.0C or greater defines the very strong category. It is important to note that although strong recent El Niños have preceded rainy winters in California, the small sample size means there is not a statistically significant correlation between the two events. Another caveat is that one wet winter will not end California’s prolonged drought. Usually a list of top weather stories consists of recent significant events that are either record-breaking or environmentally damaging. The top weather story in recent months, a potentially wet California winter in response to a strong El Nino, is different. This time it is the forecast of future weather conditions that is getting a lot of attention. Note: The National Weather Service issues El Niño status reports each month. They are broadcast online at: www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/analysis_monitoring/enso _advisory/ensodisc.pdf. Woody Whitlatch is a retired meteorologist from PG&E. Email your questions or comments to clayton_909@yahoo.com
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Schools
Page 8
Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com
Tech expansions part of MDUSD plan
We are pleased to report a smooth start to the 2014-2015 school year. Over summer, we worked hard to prepare for the new year with positive results. Our district and board continue to focus on our goals: College and Career readiness, Parent and Community Engagement and Professional Learning. We are continuously improving. We are in the second year of Common Core Standards implementation of the state mandated standards in English Language Arts and Mathematics. This year we will expand to include Science. The new Science standards include real world problem-solving in topics such as engineering, health, and environmental concerns.
In order to reach our goals, schools will receive greater access to technology this year. Our board approved the purchase of technology and technology support staff. Our teachers have embraced technology as a tool to engage their students. Our technology team worked hard to upgrade buildings and infrastructure necessary for this growth. We know that technology will be used in the workplace in nearly all careers. Lastly, we have added some new team members to our staff. Please check out our district website to see a list of our new site and central office leaders. You can find more information at www.mdusd.org. Our team
October 9, 2015
Performing Arts Charter starts enrolling students
NELLIE MEYER
MDUSD
SUPERINTENDENT
stands ready to support each and every school as we make this our best year yet. I want to thank the Concord community for supporting our students and school district. Our partnership will help each student reach their full potential.
Dr. Nellie Meyer is Superintendent of Schools for MDUSD. Email questions or comments to meyern@mdusd.org
The curtain is rising on the Contra Costa School of Performing Arts (SPA), a new, tuition-free, public charter school set to open in the fall of 2016 in Concord, serving sixth through 12th graders. Organizers say that the school will combine a “rigorous” academic program with “unparalleled” performing arts conservatory training. “SPA is a unique and exciting educational opportunity for our community,” says SPA founder and principal Neil McChesney. “Finally, Contra Costa can have access to a specialized secondary arts and academic program to meet the needs of our diverse and abundant student talent.” SPA will include:
College and career preparatory education with a focus on 21st century skills through project-based learning and an artsintegrated curriculum. For example: graduation requirements for SPA are equivalent to the minimum eligibility (“a-g”) for UC and CSU admissions. “This is a higher bar than any high school in our region,” McChesney says. “We believe all students can achieve excellence with the right environment, time and support.” Pre-professional performing arts training in one of four Conservatories: Theater, Dance, Music (vocal and instrumental), and Production & Design, with access to premier performance venues including the Concord
Pavilion for exhibiting the student’s talent and engaging the community in an arts culture renaissance. After its approval by the Contra Costa County Board of Education in July, the SPA team has been planning and preparing for its opening next August. It has already begun preliminary enrollment for students. The school will be accepting students in grades 6 through 10 for year one (2016-17). For more information about SPA, including how to enroll your student, visit our www.cocospa.org, call 925-6908600, or attend one of the upcoming community information meetings: See front page ad for schedule.
lost their homes and pets to this fire. I know I would be devastated to lose my home, pets or family members. Diablo View Middle School’s leadership class, as well as Mount Diablo Elementary, has organized a fundraiser called the “Valley and Butte Project” to help people in need and to remind people to be grateful. They are collecting many items to send to the families affected. The idea originated from Clayton resident Nikki Hockenberger, who contacted DVMS leadership teacher Mrs. Ruff about coordinating efforts with the leadership class. MDE and DVMS will be collecting non-perishable foods items such as canned foods, cereal, peanut butter and baby foods, as well as toiletries such as, shampoo, soap, deodorant, toothbrushes and toothpaste, feminine products and diapers. They will also be collecting clothing items, such as socks and underwear of all sizes, and sheltering items, such as sleeping bags, towels, blankets and tents. In addition, the collection of pet
supplies and food for dogs, cats, rabbits and chickens, including crates, hay and cat litter/boxes are needed. Leadership students will be collecting all of the items from the students’ homeroom classes on Monday, Sept. 28, through Friday, Oct. 16. If you are not a student or parent of Mount Diablo Elementary or Diablo View Middle School and would like to donate, please contact Mrs. Ruff for more information at ruffj@dvmiddle.org. “No gesture is too small when done with gratitude,” says Oprah Winfrey. We should all express more gratitude for the things we have, and for the people in the Valley and Butte fires, who would be grateful for our support. “So, let’s help the residents of Valley and Butte and ‘Do the Right Thing!’” says Mrs. Ruff.
enth and eighth grade classes. As you can see, the PFC is invaluable to assure the best education for our students. This year we have had a good first response in support of our school. Nonetheless, it is so important that we increase participation in order to maintain PFC-supported programs, as well as continue to bring more innovative technology and classroom enhancements. Parents support us in different ways. Diablo View received a $1000 donation from Macy’s, Sun Valley Mall and Safeway in their “Sunvalley Gives Back” program. We were one of the
top three school who were awarded the $1000. Sept. 9 was our Back to School Night where we had a full house of parents navigating themselves around campus, following their child’s daily schedule. Besides our returning staff, parents had a chance to meet some new members of our staff. Steve Slater is our new vice principal. In the classroom, we have Chelsea Ridenour, sixth grade math and science; Sky Nakano, sixth and seventh grade English/history Core; Ken Anthony, seventh grade English/history Core; and Jenny Rose Jimenez, Spanish and world cultures.
spring’s test are in. Results for individual students will be mailed home by mid-October. Schoolwide results for MDES as well as all schools in California are available online through the California Department of Education at www.caaspp.cde.ca.gov. Speaking of student success, reading may cause some children to groan, but it is an essential skill for achievement in school. By third grade students should be reading to learn, not just learning to read. Children who read a lot become better readers. Children who read a lot learn to love reading. You can help your
child by creating a print-rich environment. Have books and magazines around that are ageappropriate for them. Point out interesting stories or articles to your children. Talk about the books you read with them at night before bed. Discuss the stories and the characters, what happens in the story and why. Most of all make reading together a fun activity. Remember that as little as 15 minutes a day can make a difference in your child’s reading skills.
The importance of building character Schools help out with fire victims
DAVID LINZEY VOYAGE OF THE EAGLE
good behavior and academic performance. Our teaching and administrative staff utilize training from the Character Counts program. Freshman Transition Week provides guidance associated with social media and Internet responsibility. Sophomore Challenge Day features conversations and activities emphasizing trust, confidentiality and caring for our community. And, each year, CVCHS partners with the City of Clayton to present “Do The Right Thing” recognition program. All of these positive experiences afford our students the opportunity to become better citizens. Last week, I was honored to read a letter from a visiting James Logan High School coach. He took the time to commend our school community for the character he observed at our home football game: “Coach Murphy, I just wanted to drop you a note and let you know how impressed I was with your football program on Friday night. Since moving to the Bay Area about two months
We’ve often heard “character matters” expressed in rallies, sermons, and the media. But what does it really mean? As a school leader, my motto has been: “We will prepare students to become firstclass citizens with a world-class education.” Here at CVCHS, I believe the goals for educating our students are two-fold: academic and character. If we are creating really smart students who are bad people, what is the benefit? Similarly, what is the benefit of developing exceptional students who are not academically prepared to engage meaningfully in the world with rewarding careers? We need both: smart kids who are compassionate, tolerant, honest, selfless, generous, courageous, respectful, responsible and trustworthy. One of the primary reasons I became an educator was to make a difference in society by helping parents raise great kids who make our community strong. I take great pride that our students are good, decent and compassionate people who have caught our school’s misPATTI BANNISTER sion to be “first-class citizens.” DVMS PRINCIPAL Here at CVCHS, there are numerous role models and Diablo View Middle School activities where students learn has had a great start of a new core values and develop posischool year. We welcomed 702 tive, personal traits. Our coachstudents and everyone has setes hold athletes accountable for tled into their classes. As I begin
ago, I’ve been extremely discouraged with the lack of sportsmanship, school spirit and class in most of the football programs that I have seen in the area. Your entire PROGRAM is top-notch. Your players handled themselves in a first class manner, something I can’t say the same for some other programs. When you could have run the score up the 50 points at the end, you took a knee and showed a lot of class the entire night. I just wanted to let you know that you run a class program and admire what you’re doing.” This example of sportsmanship, school spirit and class is the mission for all our staff and students, whether it is in athletics, music, drama, academies or clubs. We are preparing our students to become firstclass citizens and to be people of character. Let us always model the characteristics we want our students to emulate.
NATALIE PURSCHE
DVMS CORRESPONDENT
What are you grateful for today? We should all express a little more gratitude for the many blessings we enjoy. I mean, just up north both the Valley and Butte fires devastated thousands of acres of land and many homes. Both fires burned over 150k acres, 475 residences and 2300 structures destroyed, with an additional 140 structures damaged. In addition to the fire David Linzey is executive direc- damage there were six civilian tor of CVCHS. Contact him fatalities, including four firefighters and one civilian injury. With David.linzey@claytonvalley.org the damage many families have
Natalie Pursche is in the seventh grade at Diablo View Middle School. She is an avid reader, enjoys writing, and loves to spend time with her friends and family. Send comments to natalie@claytonpioneer.com.
Parent support helps DVMS start strong my 12th year at Diablo View, I am again so thankful to be able to work every day with such amazing students, staff and parents. The state’s funding formula gives us limited funds and the excellent quality of education at Diablo View would not be possible without the tremendous support we get from our Parent Faculty Club. Our walk-thru for seventh and eighth graders and Camp Diablo View for our sixth graders and new seventh and
eighth graders demonstrated this support, as we had a good response to the PFC fundraisers of a “Dollar a Day” and the Academic Boosters. These donations go directly to benefit classroom instruction, technology improvements, school activities including the school garden, Odyssey of the Mind, Smart Start, band equipment, teacher supplies, student and parent assemblies, Career Day and our “Do the Right Thing” character education in conjunction with the City of Clayton. The Academic Booster donations also enable us to reduce classroom size in math for sev-
IRENE KEENAN MDES PRINCIPAL
School has been back in session for a month and student life has picked up where it left off at the beginning of last summer. Students are settling in to new classes and with new teachers. They are looking forward to a brand new year of learning. CAASPP results from last
Read to children for school success
Email comments/questions to keenani@mdusd.k12.ca.us
October 9, 2015
Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com
Calories not the only answer to weight control Eat less, exercise more. Calories in, calories out. Burn them or store them. What is wrong with these statements? I will try to explain why a calorie is not a calorie and how the food industry — and I mean industry — is all about making money, not building a healthy, vibrant person. So let’s start with, why do we eat? 1) To fuel our brains and nervous systems so our bodies can function properly, think quickly, respond to life — things like stress and pressure from outside of us. Things we can’t control. 2) To build and repair our bodies so we can work, make love, have fun … you get what I am saying. To give us a good quality of life. 3) Because we like food, it should taste good and give us pleasure. We use food to celebrate, and come on, we eat three times a day. It is at the center of our life, not just for us but for all
living creatures. We eat to live. When we eat fresh, real WHOLE food, not juiced food, we thrive. It’s truly the fountain of youth. So why do we get so sick? Doctors know 75 percent of all diseases can be prevented or reversed with a diet change. Why are we not listening? It’s not about cutting down the calories, it’s about changing the food from less processed fiber and sugar to fresh and REAL food. Fiber is the key. And not added cereal fiber but real whole
food. What’s so great about fiber? It slows the absorption of sugar, adds bulk to the diet, which, by the way, helps you feel full longer and feeds the good bacteria in your gut. Carbohydrates are the not the enemy, they are your first line of defense. I had struggled with my weight and health for years, from one crazy diet to another, always trying to control the amount I ate and balancing the exercise. Never once did a doctor ask me what I was eating. “Increase exercise, decrease your calories.” Limiting sugar or processed food was considered safe and a way to count calories. In fact, the food industry is our partner as they have made it easy with low-fat, low- calorie meals. But are they the best on the road to health? Remember Metrocal? How about Aides candies? Or, just drink hot water and it fills you up. My doctor told me to try that when I was 16. The diet industry grew and so did I. I never knew
that when your body released insulin it stored the excess blood sugar (glucose) as fat and once it is stored as fat it can never be changed back to glucose. So when I cut calories I always felt tired. Fiber is our friend and helps protect the absorption of sugar into our blood stream. We need glucose to run our body, but it needs to be a slow amount or our blood sugar rises, which causes a chain reaction: Our body releases insulin, which in turn causes our cholesterol to go up. Don’t believe fad diets. Just eat smart. For more on this, view YouTube UCTV’s “The Skinny on Obesity” by Dr Robert Lustig.
the $12.5 million rebate from the State of California to repay unfunded mandates. Second, another $500,000 will come from the hospitals in our area; if that money does not become available, the county will not put up its $500,000. Third, the $1 million pilot program will provide preventive health care to 3,000 individuals. This doesn’t cover the population described above, but it’s a start. Fourth, the county must treat any individual who comes into our Emergency Room, and the cost by that time is much more expensive , so I see this as a fiscally-sound way to be a good steward of county resources while at the same time providing preventive health care to individuals who otherwise wouldn’t receive it — and thereby possibly become a public health concern to the rest of the population.
And fifth, and what I consider the most important, it is the right thing to do. I have received a few negative telephone calls and emails indicating that tax dollars should not be used to address the needs of undocumented individuals. The situation facing our nation today around immigration must be solved at the federal level. I, however, must deal with real concerns here at the local level. Let me give you a personal example, and I hope you can relate it to your own lives: I have a weak respiratory system and must be careful during flu and cold season. Where someone else may be able to fight off those airborne germs, I am more likely to end up with the sniffles. I can deal with that, but I have a very close friend who has survived a transplant. (Not to mention our own Supervisor Federal Glover, who is also a transplant survivor.) These individuals
must be extremely careful not to come in to contact with anyone who could compromise their immune system. All one needs to do is reflect on the recent measles outbreak in Disneyland to see how easily communicable diseases are transmitted without any one of us being aware that it is happening. The reality is there are individuals living in our communities who are undocumented. Some have lived here for years, and many of them perform jobs that help keep our economy going. We can debate the merits of these facts, but the bottom line to me is assuring the public’s health to the extent I can and doing that in the most fiscallyresponsible way possible. That is why I voted to support Contra Costa Cares.
CINDY GERSHEN
FOOD MATTERS
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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 gershenc@mdusd.org
Why I support Contra Costa Cares
KAREN MITCHOFF
COUNTY SUPERVISOR
The Board of Supervisors has voted four-to-one to support Contra Costa Cares, a oneyear pilot program that will help those who are low income but do not qualify for MediCal but can’t afford Covered California, the program under the Affordable Care Act, and undocumented individuals. I wanted to share with you why I support this program. First, the $500,000 share from the county is coming from
Karen Mitchoff is Contra Costa County District IV supervisor. Email questions or comments to karen.mitchoff@bos.cccounty.us
Go the max when planning backyard Q. We are buying a house that is new construction. What should we be sure to include in the backyard for our own enjoyment as well as future sale? I get transferred quite a bit. A. Current owners and future buyers of a home these days have a continuing love affair with their backyard. It LYNNE FRENCH has become an extension of the home’s living space. REAL ANSWERS Create a colorful garden such as an herb garden with a Nightscape the yard with variety of plants and trees that lights highlighting gathering are drought-resistant. spaces for entertaining after
Advertorial
dark. Also highlight important areas of the yard such as trees or planting beds. Shade areas of the yard with overhangs, gazebos and retractable awnings to give you flexibility to enjoy when you have full sun overhead. Have a water feature such as a fountain to help you connect with nature. They project a tranquil sound that most people enjoy. Have a portable fire pit or fireplace to extend the time during the year that you can enjoy the yard.
Put in an outdoor kitchen — it is often the center of family life in the summer. It can be as elaborate or scaled down as your budget allows. And remember, when you sell your home, staging the backyard is a must. Send your question and look for your answer in a future column. Email Lynne@LynneFrench.com. French is the broker/owner of Windermere Lynne French & Associates. Contact her at 672-8787 or stop in at 6200 Center St., Clayton.
STAT MED expands to Pleasant Hill/Concord Studies show as many as 70 percent of Emergency Room visits are not life-threatening and can be treated in an urgent care setting with appropriately trained physicians, says Dr. Armando Samaniego, an Emergency Medicine specialist. That is one of the reasons Dr. Samaniego founded STAT MED Urgent Care. Following the success of its first location, opened in 2014 in downtown Lafayette, STAT MED is now expanding its communityfocused practice to Pleasant Hill and Concord on the corner of Contra Costa Blvd. and Sunvalley Blvd. “Our goal has been to provide a more advanced level of immediate care along with the outstanding healthcare experi-
ence that patients deserve,” says Dr. Samaniego. That is why STAT MED is staffed only by ER-trained professionals, making it uniquely able to handle diverse medical needs: routine care as well as more severe injuries or illnesses, and everything in between. “Overwhelmingly positive and consistent feedback from our patients has confirmed we are meeting that need for immediate care without having to go to an ER, which can be traumatic in and of itself – regardless of the severity of the injury,” says STAT MED’s Dr. Allan Drabinsky. “I am delighted we can deliver ER-quality care in a calm, comfortable, private environment, where clients can
avoid the chaos, crowds, long waits and higher costs of a typical ER visit.”As healthcare reform continues its transformation, Dr. Samaniego notes that ERs will only become more crowded and more expensive. Though not every healthcare need is an emergency, many patients may still require immediate attention. STAT MED is equipped to deliver a full range of medical care with no appointment or referral required. Online registration is available to expedite your visit, though walk-in wait times are typically minimal. Patients can expect to have one-on-one time with the physician and access to lab tests and X-rays performed on-site, allowing
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Sports
Page 10
Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com
October 9, 2015
CV football ready for run to 4th straight DVAL title JAY BEDECARRÉ Clayton Pioneer
Clayton Valley Charter High School’s football team will be favored in each of its five Diablo Valley Athletic League games as the Ugly Eagles look to extend a 17-game league winning streak that dates back to the tail end of the 2011 schedule and runs through three straight DVAL championship seasons. Coach Tim Murphy’s team navigated its toughest-ever nonleague schedule with four wins in five games. The Eagles lost their opener to returning Division I state champion Folsom 27-26. The Bulldogs have won five more games and stand 6-0, ranked behind only De La Salle in NorCal rankings. Last Friday the Eagles rallied from a 17-7 deficit to edge previously-undefeated Monte Vista of Danville 21-17, holding the Mustangs scoreless in the second half. Quarterback Luis Ramos put the Eagles in front for the first time with a leaping one-yard TD with 5:01 left in the fourth quarter. The winning touchdown drive began when Ja’ron Jackson intercepted a pass in his end zone, thwarting a Monte Vista drive. The Clayton Valley defense finished off the victory with three straight sacks of MV. After holding the visitors on downs
the Eagles made two first downs and then ran out the clock to ensure the victory. Following completion of its non-league schedule Murphy says Joe Nguenti, Justin Roper, Ryan Fisher and Jack Miller “have stepped up big time, more than expected.” He adds, “Guys we expected like Ray Jackson, Ramos, Angel Quesada, Jake Peralta and Jamel Rosales have been outstanding, like we knew they would be.” CVCHS starts defense of its league title on the new turf field at Mt. Diablo (1-4) this Friday. Concord and Northgate each have 3-2 non-league records while Ygnacio Valley is 2-3. College Park is winless in five games after firing new coach Joe Tenorio four games into the season and asking Bill Kepler to return to the sidelines for the balance of the year. Kepler had stepped down after 26 years as the Falcons head coach after last season. Last year was unprecedented for local high schools as all five Concord schools—Concord, Ygnacio Valley, Mt. Diablo, Clayton Valley Charter and DLS—plus Northgate and Berean Christian were in the five-tiered North Coast Section playoffs in the same year. This year there will be 13 state championship divisions so a number of local teams may have a shot at postseason play.
Jason Rogers photo
TACKLE ANGEL QUESADA (63) LEADS THE BLOCKING FOR QUARTERBACK LOUIS RAMOS (21) for the Clayton Valley Charter High varsity football team. The two-way players have been identified by head coach Tim Murphy as key cogs for the Ugly Eagles as they continue defense of their NCS championship.
SPARTANS, EAGLES NO. 1 De La Salle lost its opener in Texas but the Spartans have run off four consecutive victories to
maintain its spot in CalHiSThe Spartans lost in Texas ports.com rankings as No. 1 in due to a number or mistakes and California Division I and that pattern has continued even CVCHS is first in DII. as they have run off four wins.
champions. This led to a scholarship at Weber State in 1969 where he played guard, tackle and tight end on the offensive line. He played in 1971 as a senior at Chico State for the Far West Conference champion Wildcats. He was honorable mention all-West Coast and played in the Camellia Bowl against Boise State.
Lee Grichuhin the Red Devils were undefeated in DVAL play and 11 players hit over .300 that season. The year before they were league cochamps with Las Lomas but went one step further in ’59. Mt. Diablo won 11 DVAL championships between 1956 and 1966. Iversen was just four years removed from his Stanford undergraduate days when he began coaching at MDHS. His 1959 team was put into the school’s Sports Hall of Fame in 2010. Liggett, Piscovich, Adams and Brown are also previous MDHS Hall of Fame inductees.
Last week they won at Granite Bay 37-0 despite losing five turnovers. They have outscored their last four opponents 167-39.
MDHS announces Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2015 JAY BEDECARRÉ Clayton Pioneer
Co-chairs Lou Adamo and Al Hagerstrand have announced the results of voting for the Mt. Diablo High School Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2015, which includes four athletes and one coach. They were chosen from a field of 25 nominees including teams, coaches and athletes. Ron Walsh, Mike Connors and James “Buddy” King from the 1960s and Joe Nelms from the 80s are the athletes and Bruce Iversen is the coach who garnered enough votes to comprise the 12th class of Sports Hall of Fame inductees for the area’s oldest school. Reflective of their eras all four athletes were multi-sports performers with Connors “only” playing two sports while the others were threesport standouts. Mike Connors (1967 foot-
ball and swimming) A four-year varsity letter winner in swimming Connors capped his career as DVAL butterfly champion in 1967. He also played two years of varsity football. He went on to get all-Golden Gate Conference honors two years at Diablo Valley College including for the 1968 league football
BRUCE IVERSEN (1956-59 BASEBALL COACH) Long-time high school sports observers remember the late Bruce Iversen as the successful Clayton Valley High basketball coach for several decades. Before CVHS even opened he was making his mark at Mt. Diablo. His 1959 baseball team is considered as perhaps the greatest in school history. With standouts such as Jim Liggett, Ron Lichti, Dwain Adams, Marty Piscovich, Tom Brown, Chuck Midland, Dennis Treadway, Bud Peebles, Bill Stone and
BUDDY KING (CLASS OF 1969 FOOTBALL, WRESTLING AND BASEBALL) Buddy King was DVAL lineman of the year as a senior after getting all-league recognition on offense and defense. King was named to both the Contra Costa-Alameda and North-South Shrine All-Star
games. The Concord Transcript named him a member of the 1960s All Decade Team. He won the P. J. Kramer Award in 1969. He was a two-year varsity MDHS athlete in football, baseball and wrestling. King attended Clemson University in South Carolina on scholarship and played offensive guard from 1970-72 for Tigers football. JOE NELMS (1983 FOOTBALL, BASKETBALL AND BASEBALL)
Nelms was a versatile three-sport athlete for the Red Devils who went on to Cal Berkeley where he played three years for the Golden Bears, earning all-Pacific 10 football honors as a senior in 1988. He was drafted in the 11th round by the Chicago Bears and played in a pre-season NFL game. He was a Red Devils three-year letterman in basketball and two years each in football and baseball. He was football defensive player
Fall sports teams into league schedules BRUCE IVERSEN
as local teams and athletes search for strong results that will qualify them for North High school fall sports in Coast Section competition the Diablo Valley and East Bay which leads to state finals in athletic leagues are underway some sports. JAY BEDECARRÉ Clayton Pioneer
CROSS COUNTRY At the Ed Sias Invitational in Martinez Clayton Valley Charter was fourth and Northgate eighth in large school boys with Carondelet ninth, North-
gate 10th and CVCHS 11th in large school girls. Clayton Valley boys came back the next weekend for ninth at the De La Salle Invitational while Northgate boys won the Artichoke Invitational last weekend. DVAL has three Wednesday center meets—the last two Oct. 7 and Oct. 14— with all seven schools taking part each week on the same course. The DVAL championships are on Halloween at Hidden Valley in Pleasant Hill to qualify for NCS in Hayward on Nov. 21. The State finals are Nov. 28 in Fresno.
GIRLS GOLF Northgate won the DVAL championship and tournament a year ago led by freshman medalist Dymphna Ueda and the Broncos figure to be strong Photo courtesy Carondelet High School again with Ueda leading the ALEX BROWN WAS IN GOAL as Carondelet won the California Capital Challenge tournament way. Surprising newcomer Colchampionship in Roseville recently. The freshman from Clayton had nine saves in the finals lege Park and Clayton Valley as the Cougars shut out host Woodcreek 9-0. Her classmate Aly Bamberger scored a goal Charter figure to battle for secin the final and semi-final games.
ond place with the Falcons holding an edge now. Senior Rebecca Walsh is a four-year veteran and was first team all-league thelast two years for CVCHS. Sophomore Reyna Khalilieh is currently ranked #2 while senior Arlethe Said gained varsity experience last year. Joining them on Eagles varsity are sophomore Jessica Payne and juniors Jordan Ray, Jaylyn Arviola and Morgan Christensen. That quartet was on JVs last year and is new to the pressure of competition but coach Jen Moore is optimistic that “they will find their inner tiger.” Northgate, CVCHS and Carondelet all made the NCS Tournament of Champions in Division I last fall with Cougars expected to top the EBAL this fall after getting off to an undefeated 10-0 start.
See Fall Sports, pg 12
RON WALSH
of the week and captain of the basketball team his senior year. He garnered first-team all-league honors in each sport. He was also drafted twice by the Kansas City Royals baseball team.
RON WALSH (1966 FOOTBALL, BASKETBALL AND BASEBALL) The team captain and catcher for the 1966 DVAL championship baseball team under coach Steve Bordi, Walsh was a three-year letter winner in baseball and two each in football and basketball. He was selected to play on the Contra Costa All-Star football team and was allDVAL and all-Eastbay in baseball as a senior. He won the P.J. Kramer Award in 1966. He went on to play for the Hall of Fame 1966 Diablo Valley College football team which lost only once, to City College of San Francisco led by O.J. Simpson. His DVC football career was interrupted by service in the U.S. Marine Corps in Vietnam. The honorees will be inducted into the Hall of Fame Nov. 7 at Zio Fraedo’s in Pleasant Hill. Tickets at $50 for the dinner are on sale by calling Adamo at (925) 212-9332 or mailing payment to MDHSSHOF c/o Larry Prosper, 3718 Hillsborough Dr., Concord 94520. Proceeds from the event help fund the girls and boys sports program at Mt. Diablo.
October 9, 2015
Sports
Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com
Page 11
Tryouts for the Blaze 2016 club teams are coming up in Clayton! • Girls Club Volleyball: 10u - 18u. Nov. 8, 11am-2pm
• Boys AAU Basketball: 9u - 17u. Dec. 6. See site for times
• Girls AAU Basketball: 11u - 15u. Dec. 6. See site for times
Athlete Spotlight
Grade: Senior
School: CVCHS
Sports: Footall and Track & Field
Ever since he was a little kid starting to play sports Jake King was destined to become a hard-working player. For the last four years, his spirit and talent has been integrated into Clayton Valley Charter’s football and track and field programs. King knew that football was a sport that “would put [me] in the right direction.” He says, “It’s fun playing with the friends I grew up with” when
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he participates in Ugly Eagles football as a fullback. “In a way, it’s like you're battling your friends,” stated King. Coach Tim Murphy says, “Jake is a dream kid; his maturity, toughness, commitment, work ethic and being an example to others is as good as it gets.” After he spent his freshman year winning the Coach’s Award on the CVCHS frosh team he’s been on varsity for three seasons of league championship teams. He works at Jimmy John’s and likes to hang out with his friends and family. He plans on studying criminal justice in college and hopes to keep throwing discus and shot put, both events he took third in at league meet last spring. And King has accomplished
Photo by Ersun Erdem courtesy CVCHS
this after losing both his parents, his mother a few years ago to breast cancer. CVCHS student journalist Celine Herrera contributed to this Spotlight. The Clayton Pioneer congratulates Jake and thanks Athlete Spotlight sponsors Dr. Laura Lacey & Dr. Christopher Ruzicka who have been serving the Clayton and Concord area for 25 years at Family Vision Care Optometry. www.laceyandruzicka.com Do you know a young athlete who should be recognized? Perhaps he or she has shown exceptional sportsmanship, remarkable improvement or great heart for the sport. Send your nomination for the Pioneer Athlete Spotlight today to sports@claytonpioneer.com.
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Diablo FC 03 under 12 boys came in second at the 9th annual San Francisco Classic Pro-Am Beach Soccer tournament. The local team lost to the San Juan Lightning Crash 7-5 in the finals of the 5v5 event. Each team has four field players and a goalkeeper. Diablo FC won three consecutive teams to reach the finals including a 5-4 win over their fellow DFC 03 team (split into two teams for the SF Classic). The team includes, front row from left, Jonathan Wence, Jack Simpkins, Ryan Aiken, Taj Vuong, Ryan Morimoto, Jacob Oledan, Logan Gonzales; back, coaches Zbysek Rychtecky and Brian Voltattorni. Not pictured, Andre Vojtenyi.
Domenic Mazza back in Arizona with Giants team for Fall Instructional League JAY BEDECARRÉ Clayton Pioneer
DOMINIC MAZZA
Clayton Valley High grad Domenic Mazza has been busy this summer and fall starting his pro baseball career since signing a contract with the World Champion San Francisco Giants in early July. He’s now in Arizona for the fall instructional league with the Giants team. After negotiating a contract with Giants brass without using an agent Mazza was sent to play for the Giants in the Arizona Rookie League. He pitched for the Giants seven times in Arizona and ended with a 3-0 record. He was going to celebrate his 21st birthday in Arizona with his family, who came down to see him pitch but the game was rained out. Before he could play another game there the left-handed pitcher got a call and was told to report to the Salem–Keizer Volcanoes, a Giants short season Class A affiliate in the Northwest League. He pitched three times in the last week of the Volcanoes season including in a NWL playoff game against eventual league champions Hillsboro Hops. Nine Volcanoes alumni were on the 2014 World Series-winning Giants.
Overall Mazza threw 27 innings in 10 pro games with an earned run average of 1.67 while giving up just 20 hits. The CVHS 2012 grad was selected in the 22nd round of the Major League Baseball draft. A junior at UC Santa Barbara he was one of seven pitchers drafted from his Gauchos team. Mazza made headlines while still at CVHS when he finished second as a 16year-old in the Re/Max World Long Drive Golf Championship. He turned down the $70,000 second-place prize money in order to retain his amateur status and eligibility to pitch for his high school and then college teams. He has two cousins making their own athletic marks after graduating from Clayton Valley. Chris Mazza was drafted by and signed with the Minnesota Twins in 2011 and pitched this summer for the Jupiter Hammerheads, a Class A Advanced affiliate for the Miami Marlins. His younger brother Nick Mazza this fall was assigned jersey number 43 by Sacramento State football, a unique honor which remembers former Hornet John Bloomfield. Co-captain Mazza will wear the jersey for the entire 2015 Hornets season.
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Sports
World Champion Golden State Warriors add legendary point guard to Nash staff The World Champion Golden State Warriors keep getting better and better as an organization. As the team got ready for its training camp this month legendary point guard Steve Nash signed an agreement with the Warriors to be a parttime development consultant. Nash played 18 years in the NBA with three different teams and won two MVP awards. The Canadian is also famil-
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TYLER LEHMAN SPORTS TALK
Although Curry has an MVP title and championship ring, he can still learn a great deal from Nash. Nash was always a smart player and the most important thing he can start to teach Curry is discipline and patience. One of Curry’s greatest strengths can sometimes be his weakness, which is the ability to heave circus shots well behind the three-point line and have them go in. At times last season Curry had a tendency to heave up a lot of bad threepoint shots. When he made them it was astonishing, but when he didn’t all it took was one look at head coach Steve Kerr pulling his hair out to learn that Curry needed better shot selection. That’s where Nash comes in. In his career, Nash had a field goal percentage of 49 per-
cent. He was an assassin on the court. He poked and prodded for the slightest opening, and then sprung for an easy shot. Curry can make crazy circus shots, which is why he is so amazing, but imagine what he could do if he took smarter shots? That’s not to say Curry should stop playing his game, but it might do him some good to rely on his teammates when he gets double teamed. The Warriors are an extremely deep and talented team so Curry has numerous weapons at his disposal to pass to. Klay Thompson is a lightsout three-point shooter and Harrison Barnes rains down corner 3’s effortlessly. Curry is already an amazing player; he has an MVP trophy to attest to that. But he still has room to improve and Nash has the ability to unlock more game-breaking potential in Curry. The Warriors begin defense of their NBA title at home Oct. 27 against the New Orleans Pelicans.
Tyler Lehman is a senior at San Francisco State University and a 2012 CVHS graduate. He is majoring in print/online journalism and wants to be a sports writer. Email your comments or questions to tyler@claytonpioneer.com.
Sports Shorts WINTER PROGRAMS OPEN AT ALL OUT SPORTS LEAGUES
Winter programs are now open for signups in Clayton offered by All Out Sports Leagues. Youth basketball signups are taking place with the league starting Jan. 9. Thanksgiving and Christmas break basketball clinics for boys and girls in first through 10th grades are also accepting signups. Blaze competitive team tryouts for baseball, basketball and girls volleyball are upcoming later this year. For complete information on All Out Sports programs, visit alloutsportsleague.com.
DIABLO FC POKER
NIGHT FUNDRAISER THIS FRIDAY
Local competitive soccer club Diablo FC will hold a fundraising Poker Night this Friday, Oct. 9. There will be a 6 p.m. dinner and gaming starts at 7 o’clock at Pleasant Hill Community Center. The poker tournament following the tri-tip and chicken dinner will have gift certificate
October 9, 2015
New name, new colors for Clayton Valley Jr. Eagles
Photo courtesy Clayton Valley Junior Eagles
Nine-year-old twins Kaden and Haley Rose model the new red, white and blue uniforms for the Clayton Valley Junior Eagles football and cheer teams. Kaden Rose plays on the youngest CVAA scout team while his sister Halley cheers on the pee wee level. The five Clayton Valley football teams, playing under their new Junior Eagles name, visit the Martinez Bulldogs this Saturday. This Sunday the Jr. Eagles cheer squads are at the annual Six Flags Discovery Kingdom Cheer Competition in Vallejo. President Dave Cooney reports that 228 kids are taking part in the program this year including 67 cheerleaders ages 5-14.
Fall Sports, from page 10
The DVAL Championship prizes up to $500. For more information or to sign up meet is Oct. 19 after dual matches conclude next week. visit diablofc.org. NCS Division I qualifying meet DIABLO VIEW is Oct. 26 and the DI championships Nov. 2 at Boundary PART OF NEW MDUSD Oak in Walnut Creek followed MIDDLE SCHOOL the next two weeks by the NorSPORTS PROGRAM Diablo View Middle Cal (Nov. 9 in Salinas) and State School and Concord schools (Nov. 16 at Poppy Hills in PebEl Dorado, Oak Grove and ble Beach) championships. Pine Hollow are participating GIRLS TENNIS in the new nine-school sports Northgate has been the leagues through the Mt. Diatennis powerhouse in the blo Unified School District. DVAL for many years and NicAlso taking part are schools hole Markiewicz is the new from Bay Point, Pleasant Hill No. 1 for the Broncos. Clayton and Walnut Creek. The afterschool program features soc- Valley and College Park should cer (Sept.-Oct.), kickball vie for second place. CVCHS has its largest (Nov.-Dec.), basketball (Jan.group of girls tennis players March) and flag football ever with over 30 on new head (April-May). The after school coach Sayed Anwar’s squad. district-sponsored program is He notes that many “have only free to students including bus recently picked up the tennis transportation provided by racket so my expectations are the district. To participate that we will grow and get betboys and girls sign and submit a permission slip to their ter every day.” Seniors Maria Sparvoli, school. For more info visit Erin Wardle and Glennalyn mdusd-ca.schoolloop.com/ Ajero along with junior Dalia mssports. Anwar are the top four Eagles CONCORD HIGH SEEKING netters. He adds that rather than a player the team’s biggest VARSITY WRESTLING , loss from last season is departBOYS TENNIS COACHES Concord High School is ed head coach Brian Corbett looking for head varsity who went to another school to wrestling and boys tennis teach this fall. College Park, CVCHS and coaches. Athletic director Carondelet all made NCS team Megan Coddington says the tournament last year. coaches receive a stipend. DVAL dual matches run Candidates must fulfill until Oct. 22 with the league MDUSD fingerprinting, have meet Oct. 27-29 hosted by Mt. current TB test, be First Diablo before NCS team and Aid/CPR certified and comindividual championships in plete NFHS or ASEP princiNovember. ples of coaching and NFHS concussion courses. Send GIRLS VOLLEYBALL resume to Coddington at Northgate (semi-finals), coddingtonm@mdusd.org. Carondelet (quarter-finals), CLAYTON PLAYER HELPS Clayton Valley and College WALNUT CREEK 99 BOYS Park all advanced to NCS last year. The Broncos figure to WIN CHAMPIONS CUP Clayton native Ryan Roos win the league crown again this and the 99 boys from Walnut year with College Park and Creek Soccer Club won the Clayton Valley next in line. Jess Stratton is a four-year Champions Cup in Ripon at varsity performer and senior the end of September. After captain for CVCHS. Juniors a loss and a tie in the prelimErika Schaefer and Tori Klock inary rounds WCSC beat Balare in their third years on varsilistic in the semifinal 4-1 and ty. Shelby Pastorini transferred Almaden 3-0 in the champito the school last year and new onship game. head coach Sebastian Sheehan
says she’s been ”a great addition to our team.” He also lauds her classmate Mia Mudaliar for “running our offense. She sets the tone of the game.” His new players this year include Starr Aven, Coco Alvarez and Madison Downs, all juniors. DVAL double-round robin continues until Nov. 3. The NCS championships run Nov. 11-21.
WATER POLO The DVAL added Hercules, Pinole Valley and St. Patrick/St. Vincent of Vallejo to join College Park, Northgate, Concord and Clayton Valley Charter for a seventeam water polo league. Northgate and Clayton Valley are favored to reach the girls finals. Northgate boys were second at the De Anza Tournament and CVCHS was runner-up at the James Logan Tournament. In their first matchup this year the Northgate boys beat Clayton Valley 12-11. CVCHS boys fourth-year coach Nick Ballew has a much improved team “with a lot to prove. We hope to make the league championship this year as we finished third last year,” the coach says as he returns almost all starters from last year. Scott Meylan, Ben Robinow, Ryan Levy and Anthony Vines are all seniors looking to lead the team. Max Silverberg and Jacob Coppa look to contribute big this year. Returning starter Cam Brandt is also a solid player while the goalie position will be by committee with Matt Fryer and Donovan Hunter sharing duties. DVAL matches for boys and girls water polo continue through Oct. 21 before the league tournament Oct. 27-31 at Northgate’s new pool. NCS tournaments for boys and girls run Nov. 4-14. Last year Carondelet, Concord, College Park, Northgate and Clayton Valley all reached NCS girls tournament while Northgate (DII finalists), College Park and De La Salle were in the boys section playoffs.
October 9, 2015
‘A Cafecito Story’ is a rich, bold brew
Sunny Solomon
FOR
THE
BOOKS
Heads up, readers. Summer is gone, fall is here, goblins are next, then the really big bird, and then — yes, it’s time to think of shopping for all those holiday books. Quite by accident I came across what I think may be the all-time gift book for any occasion. Shortly before I retired and our beloved Clayton Books closed its doors, we hosted author Julia Alvarez. Alvarez read from her award winning novel “Return to Sender” (reviewed in the Pioneer in January 2011). She brought along copies of an earlier book, “A Cafecito Story.” It wasn’t until a couple of weeks ago that I came across the “Cafecito” book. After recently reading George Eliot’s wonderful but vast (800-plus pages) “Middlemarch,” Alvarez’s slender volume just about screamed, “Read me!” Global warming, world trade: now is the perfect time to read it. “A Cafecito Story” (Chelsea Green; Bilingual edition, June, 2002) is illustrated in woodcuts by famed Dominican Republic artist Belkis Ramirez. The dust jacket is eye-popping. The story is deceptively simple. An American man, raised on a Nebraskan farm, dreams of following in his family’s footsteps, but by the time he is ready for college, everything has changed for small family farms. A counselor suggests he teach. “Putting books in his students’ hands was not all that different from sowing seeds in
a field. Still, something seemed to be missing from his life.” Alvarez, with amazing deftness, moves us through Joe’s life as the world around him changes, including a failed marriage and a deep yearning for something more. Sipping his coffee while searching the Internet, he sees a travel ad for the Dominican Republic, “the land Columbus loved the best.” His destination is a gated beach resort closed from the natives. By day three, Joe knows this is a mistake and not the vacation he expected. Outside the resort gates he wanders into a village barra for a small cup of rich coffee, where the owner tells his fortune from coffee grounds left in his cup. The woman sees “mountains” and a new life for him. He then travels to the mountains where family coffee bean growers are losing ground to mega farming corporations, much like his own family in Nebraska. Joe stays on the mountain, living with a host family who teach him about the ecology and careful steps necessary for successful coffee bean farming. In return, Joe teaches the family and their neighbors how to read and write. Joe is not the only one who learns what it takes to produce fine coffee beans; we learn as well. Joe returns to the States, meets a kindred spirit and both return to the mountains of the Dominican Republic where they successfully introduce fair trade farming to their friends. “A Cafecito Story” is the perfect gift when given along with a pound of the very finest free trade coffee you can find, a gift that tastes as good as it reads. Sunny Solomon is a freelance writer and head of the Clayton Book Club. Visit her website at bookinwithsunny.com for her latest recommendations or just to ‘talk books.’
Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com
Pets
Taking the bite from mouthy puppies
elena Bicker
PAUSE
FOR
PETS
Roly-poly puppies are irresistibly cute, but need to be taught proper manners so they can blossom into respectful canine citizens. One common puppy behavior that needs to be addressed early on is mouthing. Puppies have a strong need to bite and chew, so eliminating this behavior altogether is not possible. Instead, teach your puppy proper “bite inhibition.” Puppyhood is the ideal time for a dog to learn to inhibit their bite – or, not to hurt you with their teeth. They begin to learn it almost immediately after birth with mom and their littermates – puppies quickly understand that if they bite too hard, “good stuff ” goes away, whether it be mom’s milk or playtime with their brothers and sisters. Once your puppy comes to live with you, it is essential he keeps developing his bite inhibition and learns to use his mouth gently with people. During this time, you need to focus on getting him to gentle down his bite so he uses little to no pressure. At first, focus on only the worst cases of mouthing. As he progresses into a gentler bite, you can begin to work on eliminating mouthing or nipping. A wonderful training plan for teaching bite inhibition is the four R’s: Remove, Repeat, Reinforce and Redirect. Remove attention from
your puppy when he gets mouthy by immediately stopping paying attention to him. This might involve even physically leaving the room your puppy is in. Remember that by doing this, you are “ending the fun” by removing something he desires – time with you. Once he is calm again, you may reengage him. Reinforce soft mouthing with “Ouch and Remove.” If your puppy gives a hard bite that actually hurts, say “Ouch!” as if he has just caused you pain, and immediately remove your attention. When your puppy begins to demonstrate a softer, more inhibited bite, shower him with enthusiastic praise and keep playtime going. Repeating your training frequently is the best way for your puppy to learn. Patience is essential in this phase as you monitor your puppy for small amounts of progress. It will take many repetitions of “Ouch and Remove” before your puppy begins to put together the big picture. Over time, your feedback to softer bites will help puppy build positive associations with a gentler mouth. Redirecting is key during times when your puppy is highly aroused and more likely to bite hard. “Ouch and Remove” can be less effective during those times, so opt to play a game of tug or give him his favorite chew toy, helping him learn that toys are an appropriate outlet during his crazy puppy moments. Redirecting is an especially important skill when children are around. Children should be coached to offer puppy a toy instead of squealing and running away – a game most puppies can’t resist.
Depp’s Whitey shows a ‘Black’ soul
film works even if you already know Bulger’s story. Johnny Depp, 30 years into his career, is at the top of his game. Perhaps he has found a renaissance of sorts a la Matthew McConaughey. Let’s hope Depp continues choosing to do films such as this, just without the scary contacts. A-
Jeff mellinger
SCREEN SHOTS
Sixty seconds into Scott Cooper’s film “Black Mass,” Johnny Depp gives the most frightening close-up in his long movie career. Annoyed at the actions of an associate, Depp sneers and his eyes dart back and forth. Depp plays notorious gangster James “Whitey” Bulger. Beneath the thinning, slicked-back hair, disfigured teeth and ice-blue, “dead eye” contacts, it’s sometimes hard to tell that it really is Johnny. Depp’s transformation into this menacing, larger-than-life figure is amazing. Cooper films the gritty, late 1970s/early80s streets of south Boston in subdued, dark tones. Even when empty, these streets are scary. The supporting cast is full of well-known actors who do a fine job buoying the film when Bulger is offscreen. “Black Mass” is the best true-crime drama in many years. Besides the dreadful “Pirates of the Caribbean” films, Johnny Depp hasn’t played the starring role in a successful film since 2005’s “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.” With a string of failures including “Mortdecai,”
“Transcendence,” “Dark Shadows,” “The Lone Ranger” and “The Tourist,” Depp has starred in one poorly reviewed film after another. “Black Mass” changes that. Depp gives perhaps his best performance. Even friends of the real Whitey Bulger said Depp “is Whitey.” Bulger is a very complex individual. He is fiercely loyal to his neighborhood and his family. Depp finds the heart in the middle of a black soul during scenes with Bulger and his son. Bulger is somehow able to separate family from his wicked lifestyle. The film is told from the perspective of several of Bulger’s lieutenants, picked up by the FBI and now turning on their former boss. Rory Cochrane, in particular, gives a stellar performance as Bulger’s right-hand man, Steven Flemmi. Besides Bulger, the film focuses on FBI Agent John Connolly (Joel Edgerton), a childhood friend of Whitey’s. Connolly convinces his fellow agents that allowing Bulger to “inform” on the mafia of north Boston would be a smart
Page 13
With a bit of patience and practice, your puppy will learn the basics of bite inhibition and be well on his way to successful adulthood.
Elena Bicker is the Executive Director of Tony La Russa’s Animal Rescue Foundation. She can be reached at (925) 2561ARF (1273)
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Clayton Community Calendar
PLEASE SUBMIT YOUR COMMUNITY CALENDAR EVENTS BY 5 P.M. OCT 28 FOR THE NOV. 6 ISSUE. ITEMS MUST BE SUBMITTED BY EMAIL TO calendar@claytonpioneer.com
IN CLAYTON
Oct. 26 Start Smart Program
Elena Noble, Start Smart facilitator for the American Association of University Women, speaks about progress for this program in Contra Costa County. Start Smart grew out of the 2005 nationwide AAUW WAGE Project. Start Smart is designed to enlighten graduating college women about the gender wage gap and salary negotiations for the purpose of receiving equal pay for equal work. 7:30 p.m. Diamond Terrace, 6401 Center St., Clayton. Free. For more information, call Jeanne at 672-3672.
IN CONCORD
Mondays Off the Grid
Rotating lineup of eight food trucks; live music from local musicians. Food trucks 5 – 9 p.m.; music 6 – 8 p.m. Grant Street between Salvio Street and Willow Pass Road, Concord. offthegridsf.com.
Tuesdays Farmers’ Market
Tuesdays year round. 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Todos Santos Plaza, downtown Concord. cityofconcord.org.
3rd Sundays Antique Faire
Antiques, collectibles, handmade arts and crafts. 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Todos Santos Plaza, downtown Concord. Free admission. concordantiquefaire.com.
Oct. 10 – 11 Icing with the Stars
Contra Costa Cake and Sugar Art Society Cake Show and Competition. Open to the public. All levels of expertise welcome for competition. 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Sat.; 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. Sun. First Lutheran Church, 4000 Concord Blvd., Concord. $5; children 4 and under are free. Entry forms at cccsas.org. Email questions to cccakeandsugarart@gmail.com.
ON THE MOUNTAIN
Mount Diablo Interpretive Association programs listed are free with the exception of park entrance fee. Go to mdia.org and click on Events Calendar for more information.
Oct. 18 The California Tarantula
Come have a close encounter with these fascinating and totally harmless spiders. 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Summit Museum.
Save Mount Diablo programs listed are free unless otherwise noted. Go to savemountdiablo.org and click on Activities/Guided Hikes for more information. 947-3535.
sparkling program of hidden classical music gems. 2 p.m. Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek. $33. lesherartscenter.org. 943-7469.
Oct. 15 – 17 “The Magic of Merlin”
Join young Arthur as he discovers the magic of Merlin. Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek. $14. fantasyforum.org.
Oct. 16 – 17 “Z is for…Zombie!”
Get ready for Halloween with this hysterical improvised comedy from Synergy Theater. 8:15 p.m. Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek. $15. lesherartscenter.org. 9437469.
Oct. 16 – 25 “Brighton Beach Memoirs”
Bittersweet memoir that evocatively captures the life of a struggling Jewish household. Resurrection Ministries, 1275 Fairview Ave., Brentwood. $8-$20. thebrentwoodtheater.org.
Oct. 17 Comedy
Performed by Marc Yaffee. 8 p.m. California Theatre, 351 Railroad Ave., Pittsburg. $18-$21. pittsburgcaliforniatheatre.com. 427-1611.
Oct. 23 The Great Pumpkimprov
Presented by Trapped in a Rumor Improv. 8:15 p.m. Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek. $15. lesherartscenter.org. 943-7469.
Oct. 23 – Nov. 7 “Cherry Orchard of the Living Dead”
An uproarious horror romp. Onstage Theatre at the Campbell Theatre, 636 Ward St., Martinez. $12-$18. live@campbelltheater.com. 518-3277.
Oct. 23 – Nov. 8 “Into the Woods”
Tony Award-winning masterpiece weaving together beloved fairy tales about wishes, family and the choices we make. Diablo Valley College, 321 Golf Club Road, Pleasant Hill. $11-$21. dvcdrama.net.
Oct. 23 – Nov. 21 “Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike”
Madcap Chekhovian mash up. Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek. $33-$53. centerrep.org.
Oct. 24 Improv Spooktacular
Presented by Ready or Not Improv. 8:15 p.m. Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek. $15. lesherartscenter.org. 943-7469.
Oct. 24 Tribute to Johnny Cash
Performed by James Garner. 2 and 8 p.m. El Campanil Theatre, 602 W. Second St., Antioch. $25-$27. elcampaniltheatre.com.
Oct. 24 Hanson Hills Hike
A short, steep hike of SMD’s newest property. 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. Meet at Park and Ride lot on Peacock Creek Drive, Clayton. To register and for more information, contact smdinfo@savemountdiablo.org.
EVENTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Thru Oct. 10 “Tenderly”
Triumphant musical about legendary Rosemary Clooney. Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek. $37-$63. centerrep.org.
Thru Oct. 11 The Who’s: “Tommy”
Presented by OMG, I Love That Show! Productions. Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek. $39. lesherartscenter.org. 943-7469.
Thru Nov. 22 “Monstress”
Exploring the resilience of a community struggling to find a home in the ever-shifting sands of the American dream. Strand Theater, 1127 Market St., San Francisco. $35-$95. act-sf.org.
Oct. 9 – 11 “Moon Over Buffalo”
Madcap comedy. California Theatre, 351 Railroad Ave., Pittsburg. $10-$25. pittsburgcaliforniatheatre.com. 427-1611.
Oct. 9 – Nov. 7 “The Full Monty”
Heartwarming, upbeat comedy performed by Contra Costa Musical Theatre. Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek. $45-$60. lesherartscenter.org. 943-7469.
Oct. 11 “Hidden Treasures”
Diablo Symphony Orchestra kicks off its 53rd season with a
Oct. 27 Awards Breakfast
Join community leaders to honor awardees. Sponsored by Monument Impact. 7 – 9 a.m. Pleasant Hill Senior Center, 233 Gregory Lane, Pleasant Hill. $50. monumentimpact.org.
Oct. 30 – Nov. 15 “Urinetown”
A side-splitting send up of greed, love and revolution in a time when water is worth its weight in gold. Performed by Clayton Theatre Company. Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek. $35. lesherartscenter.org. 943-7469.
Nov. 7 “The Official Blues Brothers Revue”
The only duo in North America sanctioned by Dan Aykroyd and Judith Belushi to don the official hat and sunglasses and walk in the legendary footsteps of Jake and Elwood Blues. 8 p.m. California Theatre, 351 Railroad Ave., Pittsburg. $49. pittsburgcaliforniatheatre.com. 427-1611.
Nov. 7 - 8 “Russian Riches”
Performed by Contra Costa Chamber Orchestra. 2 p.m. Nov. 7, El Campanil Theatre, 602 W. Second St., Antioch. $7-$15. elcampaniltheatre.com. Nov. 8, Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek. $10-$30. lesherartscenter.org. 9437469.
Nov. 8 Concert
Brad Hogarth makes his debut as music director and conductor of the Contra Costa Wind Symphony. 7:30 p.m. Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek. $25. lesherartscenter.org. 943-7469.
CHURCHES AND RELIGION
Oct. 18 “Tribute to Dave Brubeck”
Performed by Bay Area musicians Joan Cifarelli and Zac Johnson and jazz combo JaZ. 4 p.m. Clayton Valley Presbyterian Church, 1578 Kirker Pass Road, Clayton. $15 suggested donation. cvpresby.org.
Oct. 31 Harvest Festival and Trunk or Treat
Families are invited to join the fun at the Clayton Community Church. Come in costume with a bag for goodies. Games, raffle, refreshments. Prize awarded for best decorated vehicle trunk. 1:30 – 4:30 p.m. 6055 Main St., Clayton. Free. To reserve a spot for a vehicle in the Trunk or Treat or for more information, send email to: monica.stein@claytoncc.com.
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.
Oct. 17 Auction/Dinner
Help the Concord Historical Society complete the Concord Museum and Event Center. 5 – 9 p.m. Concord Senior Center, 2727 Parkside Circle, Concord. $50. concordhistorical.org.
Oct. 17 Swinging on a Star
Live music by students, dinner and auction benefiting Clayton Valley Music Boosters. 5 – 10 p.m. Shadelands, 111 N. Wiget Lane, Walnut Creek. $30. claytonbands.org.
Oct. 23 Fall Festival
Haunted house, rock wall, air jumpers, pet rides, games, food. Open to the community. Benefits the students and staff at MDES. 4 – 8 p.m. Mt. Diablo Elementary School, 5880 Mt. Zion Drive, Clayton. Free admission. For more information, contact mdemarquee@gmail.com.
Oct. 24 Two-Bit Auction and Dinner
Dinner, entertainment, auction, dessert raffle hosted by Soroptimist International of Diablo Vista. 6 p.m. Back Forty Texas BBQ, 100 Coggins Drive, Pleasant Hill. $50. Contact Jan Townsend at 827-1050 or Karen Jameson at 858-8611 by Oct. 16 for tickets.
Oct. 25 Plant Sale
Fall Native Plant Sale Extravaganza to support annual Bringing Back the Natives Garden Tour. Six nurseries. 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. For locations and more information, go to bringingbackthenatives.net.
AT THE LIBRARY
The Clayton Library is at 6125 Clayton Road. Programs are free unless otherwise noted. See full schedule of events at claytonlibrary.org or call 673-0659.
Thru Oct. 27: Guess the weight of the pumpkin Thru Nov. 14: Clayton Reads Oct. 12: Clayton Library Book Club, 7 p.m. Oct. 12, 26: Clayton Knits, 1:30 p.m. Oct. 16 – 18: Used Book Sale, 4 – 7 p.m. Fri.; 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Sat.; 12 – 4 p.m. Sun. Oct. 19: College Financial Planning, 7 p.m. Registration required. Oct. 21: Code Busters, 4 p.m. Oct. 28: “Maisie Dobbs” book discussion, 7 p.m. Oct. 29: Autumn stories and craft, 11 a.m. Registration required. Nov. 1: World War I feature movie, 2 p.m. Nov. 4: “Sisters in Crime” mystery writers panel, 7 p.m. The Concord Library is at 2900 Salvio St. Programs are free unless otherwise noted. See full schedule of events at ccclib.org or 646-5455. Oct. 10: Bicycle Theft Prevention Workshop, 10:15 a.m. Registration required. Oct. 13: Art Demonstration, 12 p.m. Oct. 17: El Dia de los Muertos Altar Building, 1 p.m. Oct. 29: Financial Education Workshop, 6 p.m.; 7:30 p.m. in Spanish Oct. 31: STEAM activities, 12 p.m. Registration required. Nov. 4, Dec. 2: Art Journaling, 1:30 p.m. Registration required.
GOVERNMENT
1st and 3rd Tuesdays Clayton City Council
7 p.m. Hoyer Hall, Clayton Library, 6125 Clayton Road. 6737304 or ci.clayton.ca.us.
2nd and 4th Tuesdays Clayton Planning Commission
7 p.m., Hoyer Hall, Clayton Library, 6125 Clayton Road. 6737304 or ci.clayton.ca.us.
Meeting dates and times for local clubs and organizations are listed at claytonpioneer.com. Click on ‘Links’
October 9, 2015
Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com
chaefer’s S Urine, zombies and bare bottoms just
Performing Arts
the beginning of 2015/16 season Sally HogarTy
melynda kiring (Princess Puffer), nicole Thordsen (rosa Bud) and Ted Zoldan (John Jasper) in “The mystery of edwin Drood”
STAGE STRUCK
The young but energetic Clayton Theatre Company is taking its next show on the road, so to speak, as it will present “Urinetown” Oct. 30 through Nov. 15 at Walnut Creek’s Lesher Center for the Arts. The satirical musical takes place in a Gotham-like city where residents are dealing with the effects of a 20-year drought. Water is so precious that private toilets have been banned and people must pay to use the public facilities. “With our on-going drought in Northern California, it seemed like the perfect time to do this show,” says Roxanne
JARUSHA ARIEL AND BURTON THOMAS star in the satirical musical ‘urinetown’ at the lesher center, oct. 7-24 CTC
FAVORITES
Pardi, who co-directs with LaTonya Watts. For tickets to “Urinetown,” call 925-943SHOW or go to www.lesherartscenter.org. Meanwhile, residents can help out the theater company while enjoying good food and drink at the same time as Ed’s Mudville Grill, 6200 Center Street in Clayton, will donate 20 percent of the proceeds from its sales on Oct. 13. Just present the flyer, available at www.claytontheatrecompany.com, to help the company’s upcoming production of “Urinetown.” Pittsburg Community Theatre goes for high comedy to start its new season. Ken Ludwig’s “Moon Over Buffalo” takes place in the 1950s, where aging actors George and Charlotte Hay run a small theater company. As George’s dalliance
mike kirwan
JASON THOMPSON AND DEBORAH HUACO star as george and charlotte Hay in Pittsburg’s ‘moon over Buffalo’ at the california Theatre oct. 9-11.
Stu Selland
with a young ingénue threatens to derail their marriage, they learn that movie producer Frank Capra will come to their theater looking for the lead actors in his next film project. Total craziness ensues. The show runs at 8 p.m. Oct. 9 and 10 and at 2 p.m. Oct. 11 at the California Theatre, 351 Railroad Ave., in Pittsburg. Barbara Halperin-Jacobs directs. The cast features Jason Thompson, Deborah Huaco, Sarah Katsuleres, Jason Best, Roberta Tibbetts, Chris Price and Michael Wilson. For tickets, priced $1025, go to pittsburgcaliforniatheatre.com. Contra Costa Musical Theatre literally “grins and bares all” with its production of the blue collar musical “The Full Monty” at Walnut Creek’s Lesher Center Oct. 9 through Nov. 7. Starring the wonderful Noel Anthony as Jerry, the show chronicles six unemployed steelworkers so desperate for cash that they present a strip show to make money. Wonderful music, witty dialogue and some great visuals make this another must-see. For tickets, call 925-943-SHOW or go to www.lesherartscenter.org.
Fantasy Forum Actor’s Ensemble brings “The Magic of Merlin” to the Lesher Center Oct. 15, 16, 17. Multiple performances each day will thrill youngsters ages five to 11 as well as adults as this multi-talented group of performers brings King Arthur’s court alive. Colorful costumes, interactive performances and original music make this a wonderful way to
introduce youngsters to live theater. Some lucky audience members even sit on the stage and interact with the performers. For tickets, call 925-943-SHOW or go to www.lesherartscenter.org. Lafayette’s Town Hall Theatre, 3535 School Street, turns into a bawdy music hall as it presents five-time Tony Award winning musical “The Mystery of Edwin Drood” by Rupert Holmes. The fast-paced whodunnit takes place at the turn of the century as a group of actors decide to solve, resolve and conclude Charles Dickens’ unfinished masterpiece, “The Mystery of Edwin Drood.” Just to add a bit more fun, the audience decides what the ending will be each night. The show runs Oct. 3 through 24. Call 925-283-1557 or go to www.townhalltheatre.com. Onstage Theatre is having
NOEL ANTHONY takes the lead as ‘Jerry’ in ccmT’s ‘The full monty’ at the lesher center, oct 7-24.
lots of fun with its parody of Anton Chekhov’s “The Cherry Orchard.” Playwright Troy Heard has taken Chekhov’s characters and put them in his new comedy “Cherry Orchard of the Living Dead,” running Oct. 23 through Nov. 7 at the Campbell Theater, 636 Ward Street, in Martinez. “This should be a pretty funny show,” says artistic director Helen Means. Zombies running around Chekhov’s cherry orchard? Sounds like fun. For tickets, call 925-518-3277. Sally Hogarty is well known around the Bay Area as a newspaper columnist, theatre critic and working actress. She is also the editor of the Orinda News. Send comments to sallyhogarty@gmail.com
American classic, new contemporary work on the playbill at A.C.T.
“Ah, Wilderness!” by American playwright Eugene O’Neill, is the tender portrait of a sensitive teenage poet whose experience of first love leads him into the raptures of romantic poetry and the pain of heartbreak. As the Miller clan prepares for their Fourth of July celebrations, their idealistic, literaturequoting 16-year-old son, Richard, is struggling with what it means to be young and in love. As Richard’s attempts to sow his wild oats intersect with smalltown gossip, hilarious misunderstandings ensue. Full of the vibrant nostalgia of first love and other youthful discoveries, “Ah, Wilderness!” is a humorous portrait of a family’s attempts to stay united in the midst of growing pains. “Ah, Wilderness!” plays at the Geary Theater, 415 Geary St., San Francisco, Oct. 14 through Nov. 8. Meanwhile, at the new Strand Theater on Market St, “Monstress” plays brings two one-act plays adapted from the short stories of San Francisco author Lysley Tenorio. “Monstress” tells of contemporary Filipino-American life in California. A vibrant array of characters
checkers rosario (Sean San José), a horror film screenwriter, and his leading lady and girlfriend, reva gogo (melody Butiu), plan their next film in Presenting . . . the monstress, now playing at a.c.T.’s Strand Theater.
strives for personal transformations that are seemingly impossible, wonderfully moving, and distinctly theatrical. The infamous headline-making eviction of Filipino residents from San Francisco’s International Hotel in the 1970s sets the background for Philip Kan Gotanda’s stirring “Remember the I-Hotel,”
which illuminates the dangers of love that crosses forbidden territories. Sean San José’s retelling of the title story “Monstress” moves us from the streets of Manila to the Bay Area, where a B-movie director has been seduced by the opportunity to work with a shady American filmmaker. An evening of song and story about love and family, hope and indifference, triumph
and failure, “Monstress” explores the resilience of a community struggling to find a home in the ever-shifting sands of the American dream. Directed by Carey Perloff, “Monstress” plays at the Strand Theater, 1127 Market St., San Francisco, through Nov. 22.
The Diablo Symphony Orchestra will open its 53rd concert season at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 11 at the Lesher Center for the Arts in Walnut Creek with Hidden Treasures, a sparkling program of classical music gems featuring guest conductor Bryan Nies. These little-known classical selections are brought together to create a fulfilling musical palate. Four Scottish Dances is a collection of tuneful, evocative melodies originally com-
posed in 1957 for the BBC Light Music Festival by British composer Sir Malcolm Arnold. Lovers of the symphonic genre will find much familiar about the Symphony in D by Juan Crisóstomo Arriaga, the “Spanish Mozart.” The “Fantastic Scherzo” by Czech composer and violinist Josef Sukis a brilliant, good-spirited orchestral work. Additionally, cellist Daniel
For performance times and ticket information for both shows, go to ACT-sf.org or call (415) 749-2228.
Diablo Symphony kicks off new season
See Symphony, pg 16
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How do you like them apples?
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Owners Dustin & Kim Waraner Contractors Lic #879423 Arborist Lic WE-7372A
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Every year when bins of fall apples hit the farmer’s markets, I hear Matt Damon’s voice in “Good Will Hunting” asking, “How do you like them apples?” As an historical aside, Damon did not originate that saying; John Wayne used it in “Rio Bravo” and it probably dates back to the first use of grenades during World War I. But back to apples: there are more than 7,000 named varieties around the world, but you can get confused just by looking at the six or seven ones typically
found locally, especially if you hail from other parts of the country. I remember fondly munching away on Macouns and Empires on a crisp fall day in Massachusetts, neither of which resembles in size, flavor or character anything local, even at Apple Hill (east of Placerville). What you should consider when cooking with apples is how firm and tart is the fruit. You need a firm apple to make a pie or anything that bakes more than half an hour. By the same token, you want a tender apple for muffins, pancakes, or sauces because they get soft with shorter exposure to heat. Apple flavor focuses on tartness and sweetness. An acidic or tart apple is best for rich desserts, as well as savory dishes, whereas sweeter apples pair better with delicate desserts, salads and cheeses. What are some of our local choices? For firm-tart apples try Granny Smith, Winesaps and Pippins. (Pippins are harder to find but worth the effort.) For firm-sweet apples, try Cameo, Honeycrisp, Jazz and local Mut-
sus. For tender-tart apples for sauces and eating out of hand, look for Gravensteins and McIntoshes, and for the tendersweet apple lover head for the Fuji and Gala bins. There are apples that bend the rules, such as the Pink Lady, which has both sweet and tart notes. It’s yummy in savory as well as sweet dishes. You might enjoy this delicious soup adapted from a Cooking Light recipe which uses a veggie similar to a carrot.
APPLE-PARSNIP SOUP Serves 8
2 Tbsp, olive oil 1 cup chopped onion 2½ cups chopped, peeled and cored Pink Lady apples (about 1 lb.) 1 Tbsp. curry powder (mild) 1½ tsp. grated fresh ginger 1 tsp. ground cardamom 1 garlic clove, chopped 3 ½ cups chopped, peeled parsnip (about 1½ lbs.) 4 cups low-sodium chicken broth 1 cup apple cider Salt and pepper to taste ¼ cup heavy cream, sour
October 9, 2015
linDa Wyner
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
cream or crème fraiche
Heat oil in a soup pot over medium heat and add onion, cooking until tender. Add the apple, curry powder, ginger, cardamom and garlic and cook another minute, stirring. Add the parsnip, broth, and cider. Bring mixture to a boil then reduce to a simmer for 30 minutes or until parsnip is tender. Purée the soup in batches until smooth; season to taste with salt and pepper and top each soup bowl with a teaspoon or so of the cream. Want more information? Try Amy Traverso’s book, “The Apple Lover’s Cookbook.” It’s a great reference for apple descriptions and recipes. Linda Wyner owns Pans on Fire, a gourmet cookware store and cooking school in Pleasanton. Send suggestions or questions to lwyner@pansonfire.com
Pucker up for persimmons PERSIMMON SALSA
DEBRA MORRIS Pacific Coast Farmers Market
925.348.5609
Nick Eisenbart
Owner/Service Provider Concord resident
Full service, chemicals, cleaning, equipment replacement, crack repairs Serving all of Contra Costa County for 15 years Including Marsh Creek, Morgan Territory
Known as the divine food in Japan because it’s so sweet, the persimmon is an orange to orange-red fruit about the size of an apple with four prominent, large, papery leaves at the crown. It has a very thin, smooth, delicate skin that bruises easily if not handled with care. The persimmon is one of the sweetest of all fruits when it’s ripe. Although there are hundreds of varieties, only two principal types are well known here; Hachiya and Fuyu. The Hachiya which is incredibly sweet when ripe is full of mouth-puckering tannic acid. The Fuyu, a newer variety, has had the tannic acid bred out. The Hachiya persimmon is a beautiful acorn-shaped fruit about the size of a medium peach. At one time 90 percent of the persimmons sold in the United States were the Hachiya variety; now they only account for approximately 20 percent. As the fruit ripens, the skin dulls and takes on the texture of a water balloon. The astringent tannin evaporates and the fruit becomes sweeter with an apricot-like flavor, although some liken the flavor to plums or even pumpkins. Fuyu persimmons, now representing almost 80 percent of the persimmon market, are squatter and rounder than the
4 small or 3 medium-size firm but ripe Fuyu persimmons, peeled, cut into 1/2-inch cubes 2 tablespoons minced white onion, rinsed, drained 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon fresh lime juice 1 tablespoon minced fresh basil 2 teaspoons minced seeded Serrano chile 2 teaspoons minced fresh mint 1 teaspoon minced peeled fresh ginger
Hachiya. The color is a yelloworange and not as brilliant as the Hachiya. It almost looks like a miniature pumpkin or perhaps a slightly flattened tomato. Unlike the Hachiya, the Fuyu can be consumed immediately. It is crisp, lightly sweet and crunchy, like a Fuji apple. Mix persimmons, onion, California persimmons are lime juice, basil, Serrano chile, available from September to mint and ginger in small bowl. November, with the bulk of Season salsa to taste with salt them harvested in October. and pepper. Makes 1-3/4 cups.
Symphony, from page 15
Reiter will perform Ottorino Respigi’s “Adagio con Variazioni” a piece in which Respighi brings together the form and complexity of the Classical and the Baroque periods, with the sweeping emotionality of the Romantic era. The DSO is a central Contra Costa-based community orchestra celebrating its fourth season under the leadership of Music Director Matilda Hofman. The orchestra performs five concert sets a year, as well
as additional concerts and events through its Outreach Program. Tickets to the Lesher Center concert can be ordered through the DSO website, www.diablosymphony.org, by calling the Lesher Box Office at 925-943-SHOW (7469), by going online at www.LesherArts.org, or at the Lesher Center Box Office. For more information about the DSO, visit the website at www.diablosymphy.org.
October 9, 2015
Hands-off gardeners love California natives
Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com
nicole HackeTT
GARDEN GIRL
Garden lovers have been expressing their desire to know some more about California Native plants. They are enticed by the understanding that California Native plants require less water, no fertilizer and naturally thrive in our climate. California Native plants shrubs and trees are widely available and becoming more mainstream. But, just like any group of plants, some are more desirable than others are. Here is a list and descriptions of several California Natives that are worthy of your plantscape, whether you have a Mediterranean, traditional, hillside, rock garden or poolscape application. Salvia clevelandii Alan Chickering is a fabulous California Native sage. This evergreen has aromatic gray foliage, and displays whirls of two-lipped shaped periwinkle flowers May through December. In full sun this sage will reach four-feet tall and wide. Salvia clevelandii is extremely attractive to hummingbirds, honeybees and butterflies. Plant this native sage on a dry hillside, or along a hot fence line. This evergreen needs very little summer water, and doesn’t need any fertilizer. You will have an easy time finding this California Native, it is often available. There’s a great looking penstemon that is also a California Native. Penstemon heterophyllus has stunning blue trumpet-shaped flowers and
nicole Hackett
A SUN-LOVING NATIVE, Penstemon has stunning blue trumpet-shaped flowers. dark green leaves. Spikes of flowers can reach two-feet tall and wide. Penstemon heterophyllus is sun loving. It also contrasts nicely with black micro bark. Arbutus Marina is a showstopper in a focal spot of your Concord landscape. This evergreen naturally grows like a multi-trunked tree, although you can find it trained as a tree. Arbutus “Marina” has dark green leaves and cinnamon-colored bark that peels with age, so the trunk of this California Native is very interesting. Sporadically throughout the season, small pink flowers dangle from the branches, above the foliage. The flowers are hummingbird attractive. After flowering, the Arbutus “Marina” produces a small, red fruit that the birds adores. Use the multi-trunk shape of the Arbutus “Marina” on a slope or hillside. Install the standard tree shape along property lines, or for privacy around a pool. Manzanita is the most easily identified California
Native. We are already used to seeing the planted in meridians along our streets and public landscapes. Incorporate manzanita into your landscape by using some of the more available selections such as Emerald Carpet, Dr. Hurd or Howard McMinn. The Emerald Carpet is a woody ground cover that will reach eight- to 12-inches tall and five- to six-feet wide. Give Emerald Carpet the room that it needs to mature and you’ll be pleased with its performance. Dr. Hurd is a large growing manzanita. You will find this selection at a nursery and it will look like a shrub, but eventually it could reach 15-feet tall and wide. Howard McMinn matures to a smaller size, about four- to six-feet tall and wide. All of the manzanita have deep green foliage and lovely mahogany colored bark. Buy your manzanita small for a better plant. California Native plants have their own rules for survival. They would rather be planted by bird or wind then
Page 17
by man. So if you choose to install California Natives, and you lose a couple, it’s expected. They don’t want to be planted in rich, amended soil. They hate extra water, but may need some to get started, but just not too much. California Natives do not like drip-systems. Be especially careful with your summer water and put away the fertilizer. Install a native where it can grow naturally, without pruning or controlling. Using California Natives in your landscape is great, but you will really have to be a handsoff gardener.
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•Retaining Walls •Drainage •Low Voltage Lighting
925-672-9955
www.nicholslandscape.com Lic. 542812 Fully Insured
Boyce Nichols - Owner Clayton Resident
Nicole is the Garden Girl at R&M Pool, Patio, Gifts and Garden. You can contact her with questions or comments by email at Gardengirl@claytonpioneer.com
A Floral nce Experie
Nicole is the Garden Girl at R&M Pool, Patio, Gifts and Garden. You can contact her with questions or comments by email at Gardengirl@claytonpioneer.com
Flowers for all occasions
Mitzie Richardson Richardson Mitzie
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ACTIVE LISTING
513 Falling Star Dr. Martinez
$495,000
3 bed, 2.5 bath Approx. 1572 sq.ft. Listing agents: Matt Mazzei/Kyle Garcia
Paula Johnstone Broker Associate DRE# 00797857
PENDING
925-381-8810 heypaula10@gmail.com l
1417 Bel Air Dr. Concord $285,000
2 Bed, 1.5 Bath, Approx. 1122 sq.ft. Listing agent: Rula Masannat l
5143 Sutherland Dr. Concord
$535,000
3 Bed, 2.5 Bath + Den, Approx. 2021 sq.ft. Listing agent: Paula Johnstone
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50 Carquinez Scenic Dr. Martinez
$760,000
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3822 Shasta Cir. Pittsburg
$254,900
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Fourplex unit, 2 Bed, 1 Bath Listing agent: Paula Johnstone
DRE# 01923757
415-310-2905 rulawithmazzei@yahoo.com
3 bed, 1.5 bath Approx. 1053 sq.ft. Listing agent: Matt Mazzei
SOLD
40 Carquinez Scenic Dr. Martinez
Fourplex unit, 2 Bed, 1 Bath. l
Rula Masannat Sales Agent
$760,000
Agent: Paula Johnstone
415 Bay Crest Dr. Pittsburg
$295,000
3 bed, 2.5 bath Approx. 1643 sq.ft. Agent: Paula Johnstone
mazzeirealty.net Clayton residents since 1959
925-693-0757 (Main)
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Matt Mazzei, Jr. Broker/Owner DRE# 01881269
925-766-6745 mazzeirealty@yahoo.com
6160 Center St. Suite #C, Clayton
925-693-0752 (Fax)
Page 18
Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com
October 9, 2015
Wed yourself to these easy improvements
Jennifer leiScHer
DESIGN & DÉCOR
Home. It’s where we tuck in on a rainy day. It’s where we cook and entertain for friends and family. It’s where we meticulously create living spaces that make us happy, both aesthetically and functionally. Home is where one can just “be.” But, if I’m being honest, when I’m home and feeling tucked in, especially on a rainy day, my eyes start to wander. I start inspecting my accessories, scrutinizing my window treatments, envisioning new paint colors and dreaming of different furniture layouts. Suddenly, I start to see room for improvement, room for change. Nothing drastic, but perhaps a mini facelift?
For more information please contact
925.672.9840 travel-2-go.com Ph:
Clayton Station Shopping Center 5439 Clayton Road (Suite F) - Clayton, CA
*Offers and fares expire 12/31/15. All fares are per person in U.S. dollars, valid for residents of United States and Canada, based on double occupancy (unless otherwise noted), for new bookings only and may be withdrawn at any time. OLife Advantage amenities are subject to change. OLife Advantage free shore excursions vary by voyage and exclude Oceania Choice, Oceania Exclusive and Executive Collection. Voyages up to 9 days receive 3 free shore excursions; 10-12 days receive 4 free shore excursions; 14+ days receive 5 free shore excursions. Free Internet is one per stateroom. Not all promotions are combinable. 2 for 1 and Special Offer Fares are based on published Full Brochure Fares; such fares may not have resulted in actual sales in all suite and stateroom categories and do not include optional charges as detailed in the Guest Ticket Contract, which may be viewed, along with additional terms, at OceaniaCruises.com. “Free Airfare” promotion does not include ground transfers and applies to coach, roundtrip flights only from the following airports: ATL, BOS, CLT, DCA, DEN, DFW, DTW, EWR, HNL, IAH, IAD, JFK, LAX, LGA, MCO, MDW, MIA, ORD, PHL, PHX, SAN, SAV, SEA, SFO, TPA, YOW, YUL, YVR, YYC, YYZ. Oceania Cruises reserves the right to assign gateways based on availability for JFK, LGA and MIA. Airfare is available from all other U.S. and Canadian gateways for an additional charge. Any advertised fares that include the “Free Airfare” promotion include all airline fees, surcharges and government taxes. Airline-imposed personal charges such as baggage fees may apply. For details visit exploreflightfees.com. Additional Terms & Conditions apply for Grand Voyages; for details visit OceaniaCruises.com/terms. Oceania Cruises reserves the right to correct errors or omissions and to change any and all fares, fees and surcharges at any time. Ships’ Registry: Marshall Islands. JUN15159
add a ‘pop’ of color to a room with accessories
sectional that may provide a bit more seating, what about purchasing lounge chairs or a love seat that complements the sofa and rounds out the conversational space? Or consider changing your wall color to create a different, more exciting backdrop to your existing furniture. Whatever newly inspired design direction works best for your living space, work SOMETHING OLD, with the old and slowly, add SOMETHING NEW It’s always exciting to pur- some new. chase a new piece of furniSOMETHING BORROWED ture, add a new accessory or An antique faire lounge paint a living space a different color. These simple activ- chair that looks stunning in ities can truly give a living your master bedroom, a side table that was built by your space a whole new life. More often than not, bring- great grandfather, a vase from ing a living space up to date the 60’s that has all the right with furnishings is more about colors for your powder room complementing the pieces you that you found on eBay — have, instead of starting from nothing feels better than findscratch. For example, perhaps ing the right accessories or that you have a wonderfully large perfect piece of furniture to fit sofa in your family room. that specific spot in your While comfortable and cozy home, and when a bit of histofor your immediate family, ry is tied to that special piece, when it comes to social gather- it’s like you hit the jackpot. The ings, you don’t really have addi- key here is finding pieces that tional seating to offer your are eclectic and unique, someguests. Instead of purchasing a thing that the masses can’t nec-
essarily buy off the shelf. An unusual bauble, a lamp with an unexpected base or a festive collection of vintage leather books add color, texture and interest to your existing furnishings.
SOMETHING BLUE Blue may not be your favorite color, but the idea of having a consistent accent color throughout your home is an interesting way to always be surrounded by a color that makes you happy. Consider accessories on table tops, art displayed above fireplace mantels, tassels hanging from chests of drawers, all in your color of choice. Or, if you’re feeling more adventurous with your color of choice, consider a mosaic powder room floor, or maybe, a major investment piece, like a uniquely colored kitchen range. The colors, the accent locations, are endless.
Jennifer Leischer is the owner of J. Designs Interior Design based in Clayton. Contact her with questions, comments and suggestions at jenna@j-designs.com.
Wally’s Rental Centers It’s a New Day at Wally’s
Under New Ownership
It’s a brand new day at Wally’s where you’ll find everything you need to plan your holiday party and clean up your fall leaves
Party and Special Event Rentals
• Tents and canopies • Tables and chairs • Linens, china and glassware • Staging equipment • Dance Floors • Catering equipment
We believe good service is good business
See website for complete catalog
Visit our showrooms
CONCORD 4286 Clayton Road (925) 685-1030
See our website for a complete catalog of equipment and party and event items
Equipment and Tool Rentals • Blowers • Hedge Trimmers • Rototillers • Water Pumps • Chain Saws • Trailers
See website for complete catalog
PITTSBURG 2150 Piedmont Way (925) 432-1600 Family Owned & Operated Clayton Resident
www.wallysrentals.com
Est. 1946