SEP 12 Clayton Pioneer 2014

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It Wor ks

IT’S YOUR PAPER www.claytonpioneer.com

East County Fire parcel tax vote called off after ballots sent out

Put y ou & list r ‘sticky n en to ote’ Call C the phon here er la 925- yton Pionee ing. r 672

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September 12, 2014

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Silver Oaks Estates clears first hurdle with conditional OK on environmental study TAMARA STEINER

Clayton Pioneer

Bad data leads to wrong assessments

Silver Oaks Estates, a 59unit residential development proposed by Clyde Miles Construction/A.D. Seeno Company for the 14-acre Yolanda Estate, also known locally as the Hurd Ranch, has been given an environmental clean bill of health by the city of Clayton provided certain conditions are met. The property runs along Oakhurst Blvd. between the golf course and Lydia Lane Park.

The development, consisting of 52 two- and three-story condo town homes and seven single family homes received a Mitigated Negative Declaration in compliance with the California Environmental

TAMARA STEINER

Clayton Pioneer

East Contra Costa Fire must reissue some 44,000 ballots already mailed to East County property owners for a special election to fund fire service because the assessments were calculated incorrectly, Fire Chief Hugh Henderson announced last week.

The assessments were based on faulty and incomplete data received from two county agencies.

According to East County Fire board member Stephen Smith, the data received from Contra Costa County Fire did not include correct placement of fire hydrants for an estimated 3,000 parcels across the district.

Nor was the data from the Contra Costa County Global Information Systems (GIS) office

See Parcel Tax page 8

Clayton Pioneer goes monthly with this issue Beginning with this Sept.

12 issue, the Clayton Pioneer goes to a monthly publication schedule. Readers will continue to receive the paper in their mailboxes. Publication dates for the rest of the year are Oct. 10, Nov. 7 and Dec. 12. Please see the website for a schedule of deadlines.

On Sept. 26, the brand new Concord Pioneer debuts with free home delivery to 28,000 residents in Concord.

ON SEPT. 23,

57-UNIT SILVER OAKS RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT planned for the old Yolanda Estate/Hurd Ranch in Clayton will go to the Planning Commission for public comment on the environmental of the project.

THE

Courtesy of the city of Clayton

See Silver Oaks, page 8

Are YOU prepared for the next big quake?

Many take disaster preparedness more seriously after Napa shaker PEGGY SPEAR Clayton Pioneer

When the 6.0 Napa Earthquake rumbled through northern California on Aug. 24, it woke up more than scared Bay Area residents. It also jarred awake those sometimes buried fears of, “Am I prepared?”

For many Clayton and Con-

cord residents, sadly, the answer is “No.” “We aren’t ready for a major disaster,” says Herb Yonge, and he should know. As Operations Director for Clayton’s Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), he helps out first-hand in local emergencies, as well as trains residents in disaster preparedness, CPR and other lifesaving activities.

CERT was established in Clayton in 2006, offering two to three trainings each year since then. Currently there are 175 trained CERT members in the city of Clayton.

Break out the lederhosen– it’s that time of year again GARY CARR Special to the Pioneer

It’s fall, so that means Clayton’s gala Oktoberfest returns for its 11th year of Bier, Wurst and joyful Gemütlichkeit. The festivities take over Main Street in downtown Clayton from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 4 and from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 5.

Back for their 11th year is the ever-popular little German band, The Internationals, “the guys who put the Oom in ‘Oom-pah.’”

“The Internationals are one of the premier Oktoberfest THE INTERNATIONALS WILL BE BACK for the 11th time at the annual CBCA Clayton Oktoberfest, Oct. 4 and 5.

See Oktoberfest, pg 8

What’s Inside Around Town . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Behind the Badge . . . . . . . . .9 Classified . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 Community Calendar . . . . .14

Design & Décor . . . . . . . . . .18 Directory of Advertisers . . . . .5 DVMS Correspondent . . . . .12 Estate Planning . . . . . . . . . . .9

But lately, Yonge has seen the number of residents volunteering to become certified dwindle. In addition, he suspects that only between 5 and 10 percent of the local population is truly prepared to withstand disasters.

Rich Veal, a Clayton CERT instructor, agrees. But in a strange way, the Napa quake was fortuitous, because both men suspect there will be an uptick in the number of residents seeking to become prepared.

After CCCFPD Station 11 closed in Clayton last year, more than 30 residents came out for hands-free CPR and AED atraining, Yonge said.

See Disaster Prep, pg 7

ALFIE BONDOC AND MELANIE ASLIN, a Registered Nurse from Contra Costa County Health Services, give an unidentified participant CPR instruction at the Concord Safety Fair Sept. 3 in Todos Santos Plaza.

Charter school board turmoil boils over with report findings JAY BEDECARRÉ Clayton Pioneer

The end of the last school year was anything but “normal” at Clayton Valley Charter High School with a controversy that ultimately led to the termination of administrator and governing board member Pat Middendorf. Heated public meetings, allegations against executive director Dave Linzey and charges flying over the internet were followed by the Food for Thought . . . . . . . .17 Garden Girl . . . . . . . . . . . . .16 Mayor’s Corner . . . . . . . . . . .3 Obituary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 Performing Arts . . . . . . . . . .15 Pets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13

summer break and a successful start to this school year.

Then last week all the wounds were reopened with the announcement that findings from Oracle Investigations Group exonerated Linzey and led to the Sept. 5 resignation of board chairperson Tom Branich over his role in the issues last school year.

In some respects those two matters took a back seat to the board’s actions regarding teacher and board member Police Report . . . . . . . . . . . .9 Real Estate . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10 Sports Shorts . . . . . . . . . . . .11 Teen Reads . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 Voyage of the Eagle . . . . . .12

Amber Lineweaver. The Oracle findings made “material allegations against Lineweaver” which prompted the non-conflicted members of the board (newlyelected chairman Ted Meriam, past chairperson Megan Kommer, retired teacher Dick Ellis and parent member April Winship) after a special closed board meeting Sept. 2 to call on her to “immediately resign.”

Once Lineweaver refused

See CVCHS turmoil, pg 4

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Page 2

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

September 12, 2014

Around Town Traditional 9/11 flags up at Station 11

High speed finish to annual CCC Derby More than 2000 turned out for the annual Clayton Commu-

nity Church Labor Day Derby and Car Show.

New to the fleet this year was the Clayton cop car, donated by Clayton police officers.

The car, equipped with red light and siren, was popular with the spectators as it raced down Main Street. Here, the car is in a photo finish with the Clayton Club Saloon car, all recorded by Clayton Club owner Steve Barton.

The event drew more than 250 kids who raced the cars, most donated by local businesses, down Main Street. Some got to the finish line first; others were stopped short by a bale of hay.

New !

Openings

Every year since 2002, the firefighters of Station 11 have set 343 small flags in the grass in front of the station to remember each of the firefighters and law enforcement officers lost in the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001. This year, retired CCCFPD Battalion Chief Dave George (left) led the work party that included Lon Johnson, Matt George, Brian George, Frank Penaloza and Capt. Gil Caravantes.

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Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

Page 3

Concord woman keeps music alive, wins Jefferson Award PEGGY SPEAR Clayton Pioneer

Joan Miller was just 7 years old when those around her realized she had a gift. “I loved to play piano, and my mom said it was because I could play and sing at the same time.”

Miller has made it her life’s work to keep making music — and to make sure there is music in the lives of those around her. In August, the Concord woman was honored with the prestigious Jefferson Award for her work to keep instrumental music and choral classes alive in the Mount Diablo Unified School District.

For the past five years, Miller has served as president of the non-profit Mount Diablo Music Education Foundation, the organization formed to raise awareness and funds to combat cuts that hit MDUSD music classes hard in the recent budget crisis.

But her support started earlier than that, back in the early 2000s when her daughter was a student at Walnut Acres Elementary School in Walnut Creek, and the district began to eliminate elementary instrumental classes.

“We organized other parents and even the students, and fought hard to keep music alive in the classrooms,” Miller said. “I just did what any mom would do.”

It was a battle she continued to fight, and in 2009, when the MDMEF was formed, she was the natural choice to lead it.

“Joan has been a dynamo in her efforts to sustain music classes for our kids,” says Foothill Middle School music teacher Kirk Wetterholm. “She spearheaded early efforts to keep music in the schools, organizing parents and students — who even played at board meetings. Throughout it all, it’s never been about her.”

Miller was never a music

JOAN MILLER

teacher in the district, but kept her love of it alive by participating in local theater and music groups.

She is a piano teacher and a vocal coach.

“Music is my passion,” she says. And it shows in her work with MDMEF: “We’ve never turned down a grant request,” she says. “Whether it’s buying instruments or helping fund an after-

school program.” Most recently, the foundation funded the purchase of guitars for a new class at College Park High School in Pleasant Hill.

And both she and Wetterholm say they have been able to see the fruits of their labors. When MDMEF helped fund the Foothill Jazz band five years ago, it started the career of the awardwinning group from Northgate High School that just took top prize at Monterey Jazz’s New Generation Festival.

The foundation also sponsored and paid for members of the California Symphony to perform for more than 2,300 fifth graders, and along with the City of Concord, has hosted the annual All Area Music Festival, featur-

ing instrumental and vocal students from the district’s elementary, middle and high schools. “[The foundation] is like one big family,” Miller says. “We all support each other.”

“Music is a lifetime skill, a gift to young people from their parents, and their schools.”

The Jefferson Awards are a Nobel Prize for public and community service, stemming from the American Institute for Public Service, which was created in 1972 by Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, U.S. Senator Robert Taft, Jr. and Sam Beard. The Jefferson Awards are presented at a national and local level. Here in the Bay Area, they are co-sponsored by KPIX Channel 5.

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For info on next year’s summer concert series, visit www.cityofclayton.org.

World Wide Wine Tasting Saturday, September 27

Responsibility at core of government

HANK STRATFORD

MAYOR’S CORNER It seems like just a few weeks ago we could see summer on the horizon coming towards us and now we are beginning to see it in our rear view mirror.

As my time on the Clayton

City Council winds down I find myself feeling a little nostalgic. I am going to miss serving the community.

One of the early lessons I learned serving on the city council was that everything seemed to be more complicated than I expected. Seldom could a decision be made or a project worked on without a dozen issues to consider or a dozen hoops to jump through. At first I wondered how anything got done.

With time I started to see the reason behind all the complications. Now when I drive through a community that is poorly maintained and private properties look bad, I am more appreciative of good government. What may

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seem like an intrusion on property rights often ends up keeping our neighborhoods looking nice and preserving our home values.

Clayton’s character initiative, Do the Right Thing, is focused on “Responsibility” this month.

Responsibility is at the core of local government. Cities are responsible to act in the best interest of its citizens. The challenge is that what is best for one citizen may not be the best for another.

I think our city has done a good job at doing the most good for the most people. I am proud to live and serve in Clayton.

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Page 4

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

September 12, 2014

CVCHS turmoil, from page 1 to do so the board publicly issued “a laundry list of concerns” that they hoped would prompt her resignation so as not to “further harm your reputation and the reputation of the school.”

Among the Oracle findings were that “Lineweaver was acting in a manner that is detrimental to CVCHS because she is seemingly using her power as Board members to carry out personal agendas…. (A) Middendorf and Lineweaver ‘engineered’ the removal of Kommer from the Board President position, and (B) Lineweaver stated ‘Little League needs to be gone’ from CVCHS because [Clayton City Councilman and Clayton Valley Little

League board member Dave] Shuey is ‘a horrible person’ and ‘evil.’”

Kommer was the first board president. Branich was elected by a 5-4 vote last Feb. to the position with Middendorf, Branich and Lineweaver all voting for the new president. Meriam was elected vice chair 5-4 over Lineweaver at the same meeting.

The little league and CVCHS got into a controversy last winter over use of the fields the local youth baseball organization has built and maintained on the school site for the past 40 years. The school’s softball teams also use two of the fields for their games and practices and ten-

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sion over that shared use had brewed for a long time before simmering over this year.

This Monday Lineweaver told The Pioneer, “The results of the investigation are clearly biased and unsubstantiated. I was never even interviewed by Oracle in regards to the complaints against me. I will not resign from the Board. I have one agenda - the well-being of CVCHS students, teachers, parents and community. I will continue to stand up for what's right in spite of any bullying or harassment.” Lineweaver is the school’s athletic director in addition to being a classroom teacher.

Meriam says Oracle’s work is “closed.” The firm will be paid $33,000 for services since May when the board directed its outside law firm, Young, Minney & Corr, to hire Oracle to investigate a series of complaints from administrators and teachers. The board has yet to act on aspects of the report dealing with charges made against other school employees. Meriam explained that Linzey would be the one to take any disciplinary action against CVCHS employees based on report findings.

Lineweaver’s board term runs through the end of 2015.

The terms of Meriam, Kommer, teacher Christine Reimer, Ellis and classified staffer Diane Bailey end in December.

An election committee was to be discussed at the regularlyscheduled board meeting Wednesday evening.

The board is next scheduled to meet Oct. 8. For all board agendas, minutes and public reports visit www.claytonvalley.org.

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Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

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

We remember Jill Bedecarré - Her spirit is our muse

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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Both Pioneer newspapers welcome letters from our readers. As a general rule, letters should be 250 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 Email.

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 28,000 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 email 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.

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William E. Amstein March 5, 1927 – August 20, 2014 A memorial will be held from 3 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Sept.13, at the Dana Hills Cabana Club for William “Bill” Amstein, 87, who died Aug. 20 while in Hospice care at the Brun’s House in Alamo.

Bill was born and raised in Chicago by his parents, Ann and William. After graduating from Lane Tech High School, he entered the U.S Navy at the end of World War II, at the age of 17. Many of his favorite stories are from his time traveling in the South Pacific at the end of the war. Upon return, Bill married Elizabeth Ann Koenig, also from Chicago, in 1955. They were married for more than 59 years and had three daughters.

After being honorably discharged, Bill began a long career in the insurance business working for Fireman’s Fund. In 1975, he and his family moved from the Midwest to Clayton. Bill took an early retirement from Fireman’s Fund and began working at Nationwide, where he worked until a second retirement several years later. After retirement, Bill volunteered at

the Clayton Library, a perfect fit as he was an avid, life-long reader and learner. He especially loved seeing the young families visit the library with their children.

Bill enjoyed many friendships over the years from all of these periods in his life.

Throughout Bill’s life he had many varied interests ranging from cycling to ham radio, classical music to crossword puzzles, photography to history. He was an enthusiastic lover of animals, especially dogs. He was most famously known by the residents of Dana Hills for his many walks through the neighborhood with his beloved dog, Joey.

Bill is survived by his wife Liz, his daughters Lisa, Melissa and Peggy, his sons-in-law Tim Tougas, Peter Sovocool and Josh Sheridan, and his grandchildren, Katie and Abbie Tougas, Natalie and Noah Sovocool and Owen, Stella and Henry Becket Sheridan.

The family asks that those who attend the memorial bring their dog and share a story.

CORRECTION TO BOOK REVIEW In the August 29 of the Clayton Pioneer, the book review in the For the Books column was credited incorrectly. Todd Borg’s “Tahoe Ghost Boat” was beautifully reviewed by our own Book Lady, Sunny Solomon.

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For Lease Office and retail space for lease in Historic Clayton City Center: Village Oaks Center, 6200 Center St., Clayton. Call Nick Adamson at (408) 371-8770, ext. 21.

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Page 5

Directory of Advertisers Automotive Clayton Valley Shell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-3900 Beauty and Pampering Sport Clips Haircuts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .673-5686 Business Services Rising Moon Marketing & Public Relations . . . . .672-8717 Construction and Trades Appliance Repairs by Bruce, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-2700 Belfast Plumbing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .457-5423 Burkin Electric . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-1519 Diablo View Construction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .822-5144 Gary’s Home Repair . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .787-2500 Schaefer’s Painting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .260-6065 Tipperary Construction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .216-2679 Dining and Entertainment Clayton Club Saloon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .673-0440 Oakhurst Country Club . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-9737 Subway . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .693-0621 Events City of Clayton – Concerts . . . . . . . .www.cityofclayton.org Greek Festival – Saint Demetrios . . . . . . . . . . . .676-6967 Pacific Coast Farmers’ Market . . . . . . . . . . .800-949-3276 Oktoberfest – Clayton Business and Community Association . . . . . . . . . . . .672-2272 Financial, Insurance and Legal Services DuRee, Daniel – The Law Office of . . . . . . . . . . .210-1400 Littorno, Richard – The Law Office of . . . . . . . . .432-4211 SAFE Credit Union . . . . . . . . . . .800-733-7233, ext. 2772 Travis Credit Union . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .888-698-0000 Van Wyck, Doug – State Farm Insurance . . . . . .672-2300 Funerals Ouimet Funeral Home . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .682-4242 Groceries Doorstep Farmers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .349-4568 Home and Garden Clayton Furniture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .686-2299 Diablo Lawnscape . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .381-3757 Interiors Panache . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-7920 Just Floors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .681-4747 Nichols Landscape . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-9955 R & M Pool, Patio, Gifts & Gardens . . . . . . . . . . .672-0207 The Floor Store . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .969-9890 The Maids . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .798-6243 Utopic Gardens . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .524-0055 Waraner Bros. Tree Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .831-2323 Waraner Tree Experts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .250-0334 Mailing Services The UPS Store . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .689-6245 Optometry Foresight Optometry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-4100 Pet Services Monte Vista Veterinary Hospital . . . . . . . . . . . . . .276-5744 Peace of Mind Pet Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-9781 Pittsburg Pet Resort . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .432-7387 Rodie's Feed and Pet Supply . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-4600 Real Estate and Mortgage Services French, Lynne – Windermere Real Estate . . . . . .672-8787 Hayes, Diane and Bill – Better Homes Realty . . .890-4701 Howard, Don – Better Homes Realty . . . . . . . . . .408-3184 Howard, Emily – Better Homes Realty . . . . . . . .408-1871 Hudson, Cait – Coldwell Banker . . . . . . . . . . . . .451-6844 Klock, Leigh – Coldwell Banker . . . . . . . . . . . . . .212-5593 Landgraf, Linda – Prudential . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .876-0311 Laurence, Pete – RE/MAX Realty . . . . . . . . . . . .890-6004 Lopez, Stephanie – Coldwell Banker . . . . . . . . . .932-7329 Mazzei, Matt – Mazzei Realty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .693-0757 Stojanovich, Jennifer – Better Homes Realty . . .567-6170 Vujnovich, George - Better Homes Realty . . . . . .672-4433 Recreation and Fitness Anytime Fitness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-6700 Earthquake Arabians . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .360-7454 Senior Services Courtyards at Pine Creek . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .798-3900 Diamond Terrace . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .524-5100 Services, Other ComputersUSA! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-9989 Net Solutions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-6029 Recycling Center & Transfer Station . . . . . . . . . .473-0180 Travel Travel to Go . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-9840

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Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

September 12, 2014

Clayton Community Church hosts annual service day JOHN JACKSON Clayton Pioneer

On Oct. 18, an army of more than 150 Claytonians will band together to spend the day Building Bridges — among other things — as a follow-up to last year’s wildly successful community service project sponsored by the Clayton

Community Church.

While “building bridges” may itself be more of a figure of speech, the volunteers will build symbolic bridges by helping families in need, through a series of home projects including weeding, painting and distributing children’s books.

Coordinator Ed Cleland says that the church was

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astounded at the response to their first Building Bridges campaign in 2013. “This is one of the things that is quite remarkable,” says Cleland.

“Approximately 300 people attend the church on a regular basis. Last year, 150 turned out to serve at Building Bridges.

We were just blown away and our hope is that it will be bigger than last year.”

According to Cleland, the project’s vision is to bring help and service to “anyone who has a need.” There is no charge to those who receive service.

The project is put into action by volunteers performing home maintenance, taking care of needed yard work, moving furniture, cleaning gutters and making repairs.

Last year, the variety of needs serviced were of all types and kinds. For instance, a group of teenagers used their day to replace the dirt in several garden beds at the Diamond Terrace Community Center.

The project included a metal screen to keep gophers from coming up through the dirt.

Another group went to the home of a woman who is homebound because of illness.

“We had about 12 people that went there,” says Cleland. “We did a lot of yard work, we repainted her deck, and we did

MARISA CARDONE, AMANDA GIACOMELLI AND TREVOR MALONE, all volunteers from Clayton Community Church repaint the deck of a homebound local resident last year during Building Bridges, a community service project. The program is seeking volunteers and projects for this year’s effort on Oct. 18.

some work on the inside of her home.”

At yet another home, a military veteran received new toilets, a new yard sprinkler system, refreshed garden beds, and a fresh coat of exterior house paint.

Building Bridges began as an outreach of San Ramon Presbyterian Church nearly 14 years ago and when one of the

pastors from Clayton Community went to work at San Ramon Presbyterian, the word spread. The two churches quickly began to collaborate, to ascertain how the event could successfully work in the Clayton area and help people in practical ways by meeting simple needs. Planning and organization was put into place for the 2013 event and it went

Give blood, get a haircut The American Red Cross is partnering with Sport Clips Haircuts for the “Saving Lives Never Looked So Good” promotion at participating locations.

Through the month of September, all presenting blood and platelet donors at Red Cross blood drives and blood donation centers will receive a coupon for a free haircut at participating Sport Clips Haircuts throughout the month of September.

Donors will receive their coupon in a “thank you” email from the Red Cross about seven days after their donation date.

The “Saving Lives Never

Looked So Good” promotion will emphasize the importance of giving blood and thank Red Cross donors, hopefully encouraging more people to make a lifesaving donation.

Visit www.redcrossblood.org to learn more about giving blood or platelets and to schedule an appointment to donate.

For full details on our promotion, visit www.redcrossblood .org/sport-clips Most healthy people who are 17 years of age (or 16 with parental consent) and weigh at least 110 pounds are eligible to donate blood to the Red Cross.

Donors who are 18 and younger must also meet specific height

and weight requirements.

The Red Cross encourages people who are in good health to donate so that hospital patients have the blood and platelets they need to make a full recovery. Blood is needed to help treat a variety of patients including accident victims and individuals undergoing surgery and cancer treatment.

Blood can be safely donated every 56 days. Platelets can be given every seven days – up to 24 times a year.

Currently, there are more than 1,200 Sport Clips locations across the country. For locations visit www.SportClips.com.

Captain Grammar Pants If DESERT and DESSERT weren’t so very different from each other in their meaning, it wouldn’t be quite so funny to see one used in place of the other. They aren’t even pronounced the same way; desert has an emphasis on the first syllable, while dessert has an emphasis on the second syllable. Dessert’s second syllable is often spoken firmly and with enthusiasm! Alas, from a student paper we have “I couldn't keep my hungry eyes off the desert table.” I bet those eyes had quite an adventure, all on their own, wandering around in the sand. On the other hand, the joy of being at a “dessert oasis,” which I once saw posted at a gallery, would be incomparable.

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

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An incumbent and two challengers will face off for two open seats on the Clayton City Council this November.

Current council member and mayor Hank Stratford will not run again. Vice-mayor David Shuey will seek a fourth term.

Shuey is an attorney and a graduate of Clayton Valley High, Stanford University and UC Santa Clara Law School.

Keith Hayden is a retired attorney and currently serves on the Clayton Planning Commission.

Alyse Smith is a student studying for a career in city planning. She currently serves on the city’s Trails and Landscape Committee.

The candidates’ interviews and position statements will appear in the Oct. 10 issue of the Clayton Pioneer.

The AAUW will sponsor a Candidates Night at the Clayton Library on Oct. 27 at 7 p.m.

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off seamlessly. Now, after completing Building Bridges once, Clayton Community Church feels that this annual service day is here to stay.

For this year’s big day, the projects are still being compiled and reviewed by the church. Cleland says that painting, window replacement and yard work are all considerations for the Oct.18 schedule.

He also says that the church is actively looking for both projects to work on and volunteers for the service day. “We will have projects for all ages to participate in,” he says.

To volunteer or submit a project to Building Bridges, contact Ed Cleland at edandfrance@gmail.com.

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Page 7

Disaster Prep, from page 1 The Napa Quake was also lucky in terms of timing, as September is National Preparedness Month, and there are several activities geared to helping people, including a free Disaster Preparedness and Handsfree CPR event scheduled for Sept. 16 at the Clayton Library.

(See sidebar.)

But both Yonge and Veal are quick to say that Clayton isn’t alone in lacking emergency preparedness. They quote a national survey that says only one in 10 Americans are truly prepared for a disaster, be it an earthquake, flood, hurricane, fire or some other event that can cause emergencies.

“The number one reason people say they are not prepared — or why they don’t need to be prepared — is that they say, ‘Well, my neighbor is prepared,’” Veal says. “That’s not a good enough reason on many levels. What if your neighbor is in San Francisco and the bridge goes down again, or something like that?

Both men also stress that

disasters aren’t limited to earthquakes, as there are many types of things that can happen, and too often people don’t want to think the worse.

The two have given many training presentations to local organizations, including schools. “Some schools are better prepared than others,” Yonge says. “Not only do kids have to be prepared to shelter there up to 72 hours, so do the teachers. Be sure you have everything you need, such as medication.”

He urges parent clubs to work with their schools to make sure students have the appropriate emergency kits on site, with food and water enough for three days.

While disaster preparedness is short class, and teaches such things as using a fire extinguisher appropriately and knowing where the gas and water shut-offs are at home, the regular CERT classes are much more extensive. The six-week courses are conducted with the Concord’s CERT program, and

Basic Emergency Kit • Water — one gallon of water per person per day for at least three days, for drinking and sanitation; • Food — at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food; • Battery-powered or hand-crank radio and a NOAA weather radio with tone alert and extra batteries for both; • Flashlight and extra batteries; • First-aid kit; • Whistle to signal for help; • Dust mask to filter contaminated air and plastic sheeting, and duct tape to shelter in place; • Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties for personal sanitation; • Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities; • Manual can opener for food; • Local maps; • Cell phone with chargers, inverter or solar charger.

The time is NOW

Upcoming Safety Events Sept. 17 - Handsfree CPR Training and Disaster Preparedness, 7 to 8:30 p.m. at Clayton Community Library. Free

CERT VOLUNTEERS Ken Rishell (seated) Dorothy Ziolko and Gina Scheer use “Rescue Roxie” to teach earthquake safety at the Concord’s Safety Fair.

run twice a year, Veal says.

Once someone is CERTtrained, they can don the special CERT vest, which allows them on site during various emergencies, such as last year’s Morgan Fire on Mount Diablo, Yonge says.

“We were called on by the Clayton Police to help out with logistics in housing and feeding people and animals, and supporting the firefighters. All it took was one phone call, and we rallied the troops.”

EMERGENCY NEEDS So what is needed most in an emergency? Yonge says the first thing families should do is have a disaster plan: practice fire drills and communication.

“If phones are down in a disaster, make sure you pinpoint someone out of the area that everyone will contact to check in.

Also, have a meeting place, both near your house in case of fire, like out at mailbox, or further away if you are separated by an earthquake and can’t get home, like a local parking lot.”

He also stresses to have a plan for family pets.

Veal says another important item to have on hand is a “gobag,” a bag packed with threedays worth of clothes, sundries, water, snacks and medication.

“Keep three on hand — in your house, at work and in your car.

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You never know when you’ll need it.”

Also, both Yonge and Veal say to get to know your neighbors. “Not only can you help each other out in an emergency, but it’s important to know their habits. Know when their cleaning crew comes in, for instance, so if you see suspicious people around your neighbor’s house on the wrong day, you can report it.”

There is a lot to remember in preparing for emergencies, but Yonge says there are many resources available to get up to speed. Besides the Disaster Preparedness and Hands-free CPR class offered at the library, residents can visit the CERT website at www.claytoncert.org,, the Concord site at www.ConcordCERT.org, or the national website www.ready.gov, which offers tips on disaster preparation.

PAYING FOR AN EARTHQUAKE One other fear that the recent rumblings up in Napa unearthed for local residents is how to pay for damage if an earthquake strikes home. Literally.

According to the California Earthquake Authority, earthquake insurance among homeowners has dropped from 33 percent in 1996 to just 10 percent today, despite the fact that insurers are required to offer an earthquake package as part of their homeowner and renters policies.

Clayton State Farm agent Doug Van Wyck estimates that only about 10 percent of local residents own earthquake insurance, but that his office has fielded calls almost every day since the Napa quake inquiring about it.

“Many people see it as a big expense, but the thought of not having it if your house is knocked off its foundation is very scary,” he says.

In the Bay Area, earthquake insurance premiums can range anywhere from $700 to $2500 or more per year, depending on the deductible. Van Wyck says rather than worry, homeowners — and renters — should use the handy tool on the California Earthquake Authority’s website, www.earthquakeauthority.com.

“You can enter in the size of your house, ZIP code, number of stories among other things, and the website will offer up a list of policies available from participating insurers, such as Allstate, State Farm and Farmer’s, among others,” he says.

The deductible is where the premiums change, he says. For instance, if you have a one-story home in Clayton or Concord priced around $300,000, you can choose a 10 percent deductible, or $30,000, at a higher premium.

A 15 percent deductible of $45,000 would charge a lower premium.

He also says that there is

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affordable renter’s insurance for quakes for as low as about $130 per year.

Still, he says many people have an “I don’t think it will happen to me” mentality about it, and that if it does, many people say they will rely on state or federal aid.

“But earthquake insurance also brings peace of mind,” he says. “You can avoid all the hassle and red tape that usually goes along with disasters. It also may mean the difference, if you are forced out of your home, between staying at a motel for awhile and sleeping in a Red Cross Shelter.”

Ultimately, purchasing earthquake insurance may not be as affordable a disaster preparation as putting together a safety kit, but it’s about the same thing.

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Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

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SAVE THE DATE

Q. There is no way I can buy another property without selling my current one.

Are the sellers accepting offers contingent on the sale of a buyer’s property?

A. It seems that the home sales market is slowing down lately. If it slows down enough for properties to stay on the market a long time a seller might consider an offer contingent on you selling your home. Another way to look at a contingency is for you to put your home on the market contingent on you finding a home of your choice before you would accept an offer. Your buyer would have to wait until you find a house. There should be a deadline for you to find a house on this type of contingency. Two weeks to 30 days are common.

Let’s review what a home sale contingent offer is. It is an offer you make on a property that is contingent on you

LYNNE FRENCH

REAL ANSWERS selling your home. You, the buyer, will include a contingency form stating that if your home sells you will buy their home as long as the escrow on your home closes. A seller’s agent will look at your home to see how saleable it is. Is it priced right for the condition and location it is in? If your home doesn’t sell, your good faith deposit will be returned.

Considering these things most sellers would prefer a non-contingent offer. It’s less risky.

To construct an attractive contingent offer, you probably won’t be able to negotiate the price much. In the contingency form you also would give the sellers an escape or release clause. These are usually 72 hours but can be more or less.

That means that the seller will keep their home on the market after they accept your offer and if they get another offer that they want to accept, they will send you a 72-hour notice to perform. If you are able to qualify to buy their house without selling yours, you must show them the proof of funds.

Maybe an offer will come in within the 72 hours and you can remove the home-sale contingency. In this case make sure that it is still contingent on your house transaction closing. This should be agreed upon when you first write the

offer. If your offer is contingent on the close of your home, make sure you don’t accept an offer that is contingent upon another house selling.

On the other hand, if a buyer of your home accepts a contingency from you for you to find a replacement property for a period of time you might have to negotiate a price that favors the buyers because of the uncertainty for them to be able to buy your property.

These type of home purchases should include much guidance from your realtor and lender. But they can be done.

Send your question and look for your answer in a future column. Email Lynne@LynneFrench.com. French is the broker/owner of Windermere Lynne French & Associates. Contact her at 672-878 7or stop in at 6200 Center St., Clayton.

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Parcel Tax, from page 1 updated to show correct road mapping for 7,000 parcels within district. Without the updates, some 10,000 parcels were assessed too low— some as low as $37 instead of $103—causing 32,000 parcels to be assessed too high.

The board was left with no choice but to stop the process while the data is corrected, recalculate the assessments and reissue the ballots, probably in early November.

The error was discovered when a board member checked the assessment on his ballot against the consultant’s data and found it to be much lower than expected. A further check by district staff revealed the extent of the error.

“I am angry, embarrassed, furious that this situation happened,” said board president Joel Bryant.

“This is going to cost the district,” said board member Cheryl Morgan. “The county certified the data. I want culpability. Someone needs to pay for this.”

The data is collected from multiple agencies, Smith explained in an email to the Pioneer. ConFire gets hydrant locations from the water districts, of which there are four major ones and several smaller ones, making verification of data complicated and prone to error.

The roads mapping is even more complex, Smith said.

That database depends on input from developers, contractors and local agency engineering and development departments.

“We’ve barely scratched the surface on what happened,” Smith said. “We’ve identified a limited set of areas where the problems took place and the focus for verification can be on those areas rather than the entire District,” he explained.

The fix is expected to take 6-8 weeks, putting the new ballots out sometime in late October or early November, right about the time the funds from the federal SAFER grant run out.

The District has been bleeding money since 2008 when the Recession knocked property tax revenues down about 40 percent. Two years ago, a ballot proposition that would raise property taxes in the district failed to get the required two-thirds vote. A special benefit assessment district will pass with only a simple majority of the property owners receiving the benefit.

The district closed the Brentwood station last month and is on a timeline for closing the Knightsen station in November.

Marsh Creek and Morgan Territory residents are relatively safe for the time being. East County contracts with CalFire to staff the Marsh Creek Sunshine Station all year.

Quality Act as long as the creek, wildlife and woodlands are protected.

The developer must keep 8 ½ acres as open space which includes a required 6 ½ -acre Habitat Conservation Easement with specific protections for red legged frogs and raptor nests. The remaining two acres are green belt and recreation areas.

The project calls for the removal of 118 of the 302 trees on the property. The developer must submit an acceptable tree replacement plan before the city will approve the project.

Currently, the only historic buildings on the site are a few outbuildings and a bath house that were part of the original Yolanda Estate. The historic home burned down in 2009.

All of the buildings will be demolished and removed.

The town homes will be located at the east end of the

property nearest the Oakhurst golf course. The seven single family homes will have a gated entrance at the end of Lydia Lane.

The town homes will run from 1,155 to 1,320 sq. ft. with 24 of them backing up to open space. Six of the town homes are set aside for low and very low income in compliance with the city’s affordable housing mandate.

The single family homes will sit on lots ranging from 4,785 to 9,500 square feet.

The public will have an opportunity to weigh in on the environmental report at a public hearing on Sept. 23 and for 30 days following the hearing. The Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration is available on the city’s website at ci.clayton.ca.us. The Public Hearing is Sept. 23 at 7 p.m. at the Clayton Community Library.

Oktoberfest, from page 1 bands in the U.S. and consider Clayton’s Oktoberfest as one of their favorites,” says longtime Oktoberfest volunteer Ed Hartley.

Central to any Oktoberfest are the food and libations.

German bier will flow, along with wine and cider. Wienerschnitzel, sausages, hot pretzels, and, of course, sauerkraut, will be available at the Food Court.

Back again is the popular Sardine Family Circus, an acrobatic troupe who will perform throughout the weekend. They wowed Clayton last year, as they have been amazing the crowds at Pier 39 all year.

The many arts and crafts booths will display early holiday gift ideas, including, jewelry, paintings, photographs, and an array of unique items.

For the kids, it’s glitter tattoos, face-painting, hot dogs, and lemonade. For the dogs, strategically placed water dishes.

Again this year, the Paul Maurer Show brings popular carnival rides. The carnival opens a day in advance of Oktoberfest, Friday, Oct. 3 at 6 p.m. On Saturday, Oct. 5, rides are open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and on Sunday Oct. 6 from 11a.m. to the close of the festival.

Tickets for the carnival

rides will be presold at $10 for 20 coupons and will be available at the following downtown Clayton merchants: Ed’s Mudville Grill, Hairs the Place, The Royal Rooster, and Skipolini’s Pizza. At the event ticket prices go up to $20 per 24 coupons.

One welcome addition to festival this year will be a shuttle service to downtown from outlying lots, says event cochair Mary Ann Lawrence.

Oktoberfest is sponsored and overseen by the Clayton Business and Community Association. Along with the Art & Wine Festival, Oktoberfest is CBCA’s major fundraiser. This year’s co-chairs are Lawrence and Marilyn Schmidt. Both have worked with the event for many years.

Without the help of hundreds of volunteers from all over the community, none of the fundraising events could happen, says Gregg Manning, CBCA President. Proceeds from CBCA fundraisers go to support local community projects. Volunteers are always needed, Manning points out.

For information on getting involved, or about Oktoberfest or the carnival in general, call CBCA at 925-672-2272 or visit www.claytonoktoberfest.com.

September 12, 2014

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

Driving and texting: It’s a 3000-pound bullet CHRIS THORSEN

BEHIND

THE

BADGE

If you were at the local shooting range and the person next to you firing a handgun was having an animated and passionate conversation on his/her cell phone, would it make you nervous? Would it concern you if you peered into the cockpit of an airliner and found the pilot watching a movie while taking off or landing? If you were being prepped for surgery, would you be worried if the anesthesiologist was texting his fantasy football league members

just as he was about to put you under?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, I have one more for you. Is it good judgment to operate a 3,000-pound machine traveling 60 feet per second (40 mph) on a roadway while pedestrians and others are sharing the road with you?

I’m guessing that put in these terms, most of us will agree it’s a bad idea. But most of us don’t associate driving our car and talking on the phone or texting with “operating a 3,000-pound machine while traveling 60 feet per second.”

We have become so comfortable with driving, many of us (me included) have forgotten what an awesome responsibility we have to protect those

around us.

When fully aware and focused, the average person takes about a 2.5 seconds to perceive a threat, and respond to it. As an example, when driving, it takes the average person about 2.5 seconds to see a hazard and apply the brakes of their car. At 40 miles per hour, that car will travel about 150 feet before it begins to slow. That’s half of a football field! If you’re texting, talking on the phone or are in some other way distracted, imagine how much further you may travel before taking evasive action.

I write this with the realization that I am guilty as charged. I have used my phone while driving and I have sent

Page 9

Help your child learn 80% of what a child learns in school is presented visually.

texts. “But I was only on the phone for a second, and it was really important.. My excuse does not hold water! As I drive the streets of our community, I constantly see residents “making a quick call” or “sending just one quick text.”

I ask you to join me, I have committed to stop! If I need to make a call, I will use a hands-free device. If no device is available, I will pull to a safe location at the side of the road and send my texts or have my conversation. Please join me in making the roads a safer place for all of us.

Give your child the advantage that comes from good vision. Schedule a comprehensive eye examination in our office today!

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Chris Thorsen is Clayton’s chief of police. For questions and comments, call him at (925) 673-7350.

Tips for funding your Revocable Trust A revocable living trust is an invaluable estate planning tool for both spelling out who will receive your property while also avoiding the scourge of the probate process. However, if a revocable living trust is not properly funded, it may end up being essentially useless. This begs the question, “What does proper funding of a revocable trust entail and how do I know if this was done for my trust?”

Funding a revocable trust means transferring legal title of the asset into the name of the trust. Depending on the character of the asset this will take a variety of different forms.

Here are a few different common asset types and how to ensure that they are properly transferred into your living trust.

REAL ESTATE Real estate is the asset most likely to cause problems in estate planning and end up stuck in probate. Real Estate

must be transferred into your living trust by grant deed, either during the initial purchase or via subsequent written instrument. Often, people will transfer their house into their living trust when they create the trust, but later move and forget to have the title company put the new property in the trust. This is very common and requires probate to eventually distribute the property.

SAVINGS ACCOUNTS , BROKERAGE ACCOUNTS , CDS A savings account, brokerage account, or CD must similarly be titled in the name of the trust in order for the trust to function properly and keep the assets out of probate. An account or CD is titled in the name of your living trust by the institution where the account or CD is held. You must inform the institution that you want the account held in your living trust and give

Police Activity Report POLICE ACTIVITY FOR TWO WEEKS SEPT. 4, 2014 ACCIDENTS: Aug. 22, 12:08 a.m.

Center St. Sept. 4, 8:30 a.m.

Marsh Creek Rd./Gym Ct. ARRESTS: Aug. 22, 10:25 a.m.

5400 Clayton Rd. A 51year-old transient male was arrested on a warrant; for possessing narcotic controlled substance; possessing unlawful paraphernalia; possessing/etc. hypodermic needle/syringe; possessing drugs without a prescription; probation violation.

Aug. 23, 12:44 a.m.

Keller Ridge Dr./Falcon Pl. A 36-year-old Clayton male was arrested for disorderly conduct: alcohol.

Aug. 23, 4 p.m. El Camino Dr./Carolina Dr. A 49-year-old Concord male was arrested for possessing tear gas weapon; probation violation.

Aug. 25, 2:19 a.m.

Kirker Pass Rd./Olive Dr. A 31-year-old Pittsburg male

ENDING

was arrested for driving without a license; warrant.

Aug. 26, 12:23 a.m.

Mt. Shasta Pl. A 23-yearold Clayton male was arrested for under the influence of a controlled substance; possessing controlled substance paraphernalia.

living trust. This is done with transfer of ownership forms.

them a “certificate of trust” transfer document that should have been included in your estate plan package. The institution will then put title to the account in the name of the trust. When this is done your account statements will have the name of the trust as the account holder.

IRA, 401(K) Any tax-deferred accounts deal with succession via beneficiary forms and are therefore not transferred into the trust.

A trust may, however — depending on the circumstances — be named as a beneficiary. There are important tax considerations in this area and you should talk to a tax professional regarding your particular circumstances.

Because of the importance of keeping your living trust funded, you should periodically check to make sure that no assets have been left out. A little bit of effort now can save a lot of time, money and inconvenience someday down the road.

LLC OF SMALL CORPORATION INTEREST An LLC membership or shares in a privately held corporation must also be transferred into the name of your

Daniel DuRee is a licensed attorney whose practice focuses on estate planning. He may be reached for questions or comments at Daniel@DuReeLaw.com or 925210-1400.

Aug. 26, 11:19 p.m.

1500 Kirker Pass Rd. A 23-year-old Clayton female was arrested on battery on peace officer/emergency personnel/etc.; disorderly conduct: alcohol.

Sept. 1, 1:42 a.m.

Indian Wells Wy. A 23year-old Pittsburg male was arrested for disorderly conduct: alcohol.

DANIEL DUREE ESTATE PLANNING

Aug. 29, 7:30 a.m.

Mountaire Pkwy. A 54year-old Concord male was arrested for being an unlicensed driver.

Aug. 29, 12:45 a.m.

Mt. Washington Wy. 23year-old Clayton male arrested on a warrant.

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Page 10

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

September 12, 2014

Sports CV teams feature many fresh faces this fall by his younger brother Jackson Ballew, a high school and college all-America.

League matches for boys and girls water polo are scheduled Oct. 8, 15 and 22 before the DVAL tournament Oct. 29Nov. 1 at College Park.

JAY BEDECARRÉ Clayton Pioneer

Clayton Valley Charter High School teams filled spots last fall in North Coast Section tournaments for girls golf and volleyball, boys and girls water polo and cross country plus football.

This year, many of those teams face rebuilding challenges as they’ve lost many talented graduating senior players.

The coaches of these CVCHS teams have high expectations in Diablo Valley Athletic League play and are looking to more their teams and athletes on to NCS. Only boys water polo coach Dennis Bledsoe and girls golf coach Jen Moore have been coaching Eagle teams for more than three years.

CROSS COUNTRY Anthony Munch is in his second year at cross country coach and he has contrasting situations with his boys and girls teams. “The boys are rebuilding after a solid season that saw many four-year varsity athletes graduate. Our girls’ team wasn’t hit nearly as hard with graduations and should be one of the top teams in the area after they get a few races behind them.”

Heading the boys lineup are junior Sayed Opeyany, second team all-league last year, and senior Sam Givens, one of the top varsity runners from last season. They are the only returners from last year’s squad that finished second in DVAL

Photo by Chett Bullock

NATALIE RUZICKA (2678) was fourth at the DVAL meet as a freshman, earning first-team all-league honors. This year the soph is leading the way for the Clayton Valley cross country team.

and beat every team at least once. The biggest loss was DVAL MVP runner-up Danny Condon, who finished his senior year winning the 1600 and 3200 meters at league in track.

The girls’ team has three allDVAL harriers back in sophomores Natalie Ruzicka and Sarah Verderame plus senior Lindsay Mondloch. The girls’ team lost Kyra Ortiz (1st team

all-DVAL) and Lauren Wardle to graduation, as well as Sarah Carrico to school band commitments.

Joining boys varsity are Anthony Maytum (winner of the DVAL Frosh-Soph race last year), Michael Cox, Geo Fonseca, Brandon Clement and newcomer JJ Perez.

A number of talented runners joining the girls’ team

include Lynette Cox (third in DVAL Frosh-Soph), Claire Olson (second in DVAL FroshSoph), Molly Fitzsimmons and freshmen standouts Kelly Osterkamp and Olivia Villa.

Munch has assistant coaches Shaun Guest, Brandon Enriquez and Jessie Beronilla to help the two squads competing for league honors with three trimeets in October and the

Diablo FC girls honor former teammate at Jenna Betti Memorial

Photos courtesy Diablo FC

DIABLO FC 00 WON THE UNDER 14 PREMIER DIVISION at the inaugural Jenna Betti Memorial Tournament last month which honored the club’s popular player who was killed in a tragic accident in March. The 00 team includes, front, Ally Carroll; front row from left, Mackenzie Tobin, Kylie Zentner, Anissa Gomez, Sidney Atchison, Carly Scharff, Alicia Perez, Jordan Gregory; back row, Savannah Boone, Chrystina Heuerman, Julia Hagedorn, Colette Rick-Cardinale, Holly Gallagher, Jordan Sweeney, Jessie Verderame, Fiona Valdillez and coach Scott Alexander. The team defeated San Ramon Azuri 01 2-1 in the championship game.

Diablo FC 02 won another summer championship with a 3-0 U12 title game shutout of Heritage Havoc after losing the Betti tournament opener to the same team. Diablo FC 99 tied for the U16 Premier championship on points but was moved to second place on a tiebreaker. Diablo FC 97 was runner-up in U19 flight.

DIABLO FC 01 BLUE GIRLS WON THE UNDER 13 SILVER DIVISION at the inaugural Jenna Betti Memorial Tournament last month. The team includes, front row from left, Cydney Walker, Courtney Silva, Kenzie Cummings, Chloe Ormond, Jessica Oledan, Hanako Helton; back row, coach Makaila Griggs, Farah Anwar, Madelyn Jarrett, Abby Halstead, Grace Wenger, Emma Wilcox, Sarah Grigsby, Allie Heinz, and assistant coach Aaron Silva. Not pictured, Olivia Patterson and Vanessa Castrillo. The team precisely reversed the score from earlier in the weekend with a 3-1 win over Vacaville United Xtreme 01 in the championship game.

DVAL championships Nov. 1 at Hidden Valley in Pleasant Hill to qualify for NCS in November.

GIRLS TENNIS Brian Corbett stepped into the Eagles girls tennis coaching slot during the 2013 season.

With that experience behind him he sees 2014 as “a year of opportunity. We lost some major firepower, but many girls have improved over the summer and came to practice hungry to move up. Many will be getting their first taste of a higher level of competition, but I expect them to respond well to that challenge.”

His top returning singles players are senior Preet Nijjar, junior Maria Sparvoli and soph Dalia Anwar. Junior Erin Wardle emerged as No. 1 singles player in the pre-season. Also pushing for slots on the singles ladder are juniors Katie Essayan and Alexa Kallas plus senior Ciera Cathcart. Three doubles teams will also be selected.

Corbett’s squad is minus five seniors from last year: Chloe Kim, Rose Peterson, Madison Daniel, Andrea Partida and Trisa Nguyen.

Northgate has been the powerhouse in the DVAL for many years and the Eagles head coach expects the Broncos to excel again with CVCHS competing with College Park for second place. DVAL dual matches run until late October with the league meet Oct. 28-30 before NCS team and individual championships in November.

Fellow history teacher Sayed Anwar is the assistant coach with Corbett.

BOYS WATER POLO Nick Ballew’s boys feel short of the 2013 DVAL championship game by two goals and he is looking to rectify that shortfall this year despite losing five stalwarts from last year including two-time DVAL MVP Jack Brown and his classmates Grant Meylan, Kenny Cuneo, Jordan Tate and goalie Max Renner.

In order to reach the DVAL finale on Nov. 1 the Eagles will turn to the only returning starter senior Tanner White, junior Scott Meylan who scored 35 goals a year ago and another senior, Liam Calkins, who the coach expects to blossom this year with more playtime.

Sophomore Cameron Brandt has earned a starting spot and senior Ryan Nejad looks to contribute as a starter also.

Ballew will be joined on the deck in his third year in charge

GIRLS WATER POLO Bledsoe has been in charge of CVCHS girls water polo since its advent and he’s rarely had to replace five of six starters as he is this season, similar to the boys team predicament.

All-league goalie Katie Van Tuyl and field utility player junior Katie Kommer are his returning letter winners and are joined by other varsity returnees Kayleigh Rohrbach, Emily Rabbitt and Cambria Rojas. Moving up from the JVs are Hannah Taylor, Bailey Reading, Sara Brumfield, Maddy Sorensen, Kimi Svoboda, Hannah Kommer, Sabrina Callahan, Tera Zuniga-Miller, Caitlin O’Leary, Melissa Olson, Aleyah Muhlestein and Katie McDonald.

Incoming freshman Rebekah Reynolds rounds out the team.

The large influx on varsity is due to the graduation of allDVAL standouts Sara Abele, Sara Johnson, Kimi Anderson, Vanessa Parham and Quincy Winship.

Bledsoe says he expects his new varsity players “will work very hard and have a great attitude.”

Lindsay Struemph is assisting Bledsoe.

GIRLS VOLLEYBALL Clayton Valley has a new volleyball coach, Rich Feldmann, but five returning players to give the new coach a solid foundation. Setter Sarah Williams was all-league honorable mention while leading the team in assists.

She is joined by senior classmates Briana Kearney (middle hitter) and Morgan Giacobazzi (opposite).

Junior Jessica Stratton (libero and outside hitter) was firstteam all-league libero. A pair of sophomores, Ericka Scheafer (outside hitter)and Tori Klock (middle hitter), gained valuable varsity experience as freshmen.

Feldmann has nine new varsity players but he is still looking to compete for league title and qualify for NCS. “While we are a young team with only six returning varsity players, I expect we will compete for the DVAL league championship and qualify for NCS. The newcomers include many of last year’s JV players who lost only one match in league.”

Among the newcomers are Shaina Steinberg, Mia Mudaliar, Kiana Smith, Taylor Sproul and Shelby Pastorini, a junior transfer. Kayla Caton, Kate Zuecher, Alisa Guevara and Ariel McCammy have also garnered varsity positions.

All-league standout Kayla Taylor graduated and senior Hailey Pascoe is concentrating on basketball.

I expect the league to be competitive again this year with strong competition coming from Northgate, Concord, and College Park. Berean Christian also looks strong this season and will likely compete for one of the four DVAL playoff spots.

Feldmann has Diana Lauritsen, Sebastian Wilson and Streeta Farrell on the Eagles coaching staff.

FOOTBALL Coach Tim Murphy has finished his two-game suspension for holding summer practices before the approved start date.

He’ll be back on the sidelines this

See CV Teams, page 12

September 12, 2014

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

Page 11

Sports Play Healthy, Eat Healthy

Oakland CYO honors Claire Tryon with track & field lifetime achievement award JAY BEDECARRÉ Clayton Pioneer

Local resident Claire Tryon was recently honored for his 33 years of service to the Oakland Diocese CYO track and field program with the organization’s Lifetime Achievement Award.

Known in track and field circles as “Pops” Tryon, he began participating in 1981 when his family moved to the area from Phoenix. New neighbors John and Sandy Reinig asked Tryon to start a track program for Most Precious Blood Parish (now St. Francis of Assisi) in Concord. He agreed and started with eight athletes: three from the Reinig family, two each from the Tryon and Saam families and one from the Cooks.

The Most Precious team grew by leaps and bounds with three coaches becoming 13 and the St. Francis team growing to 168 athletes in 1996, when Tryon handed over the head coaching job to assistant head coach George Francis.

Tryon had been selected as the new Oakland Diocese Section One Track Coordinator in 1994 and needed to devote all his time to that position. When Tryon assumed the duties of league coordinator there were about 768 athletes in 12 parishes. Now the Section One league has grown to over 1400 athletes in second through eighth grades

Photo courtesy Oakland CYO

Claire Tryon (right) was recently honored for 33 years of service to the Oakland Diocese CYO track and field program with the organization’s Lifetime Achievement Award. Granddaughter Jaiden Lucas (left) from Holy Rosary Parish was designated to present the award.

at 21 parishes and, he adds, “hopefully two new parishes for 2015 season.”

Tryon says, “I’ve been blessed with such dedicated and committed leaders that have been with the program for as little as seven years to as many as 45 years. I am not sure what I would have accomplished if not for the expert assistance of my

Sports Shorts CV SEEKS 2015 HALL OF FAME NOMINATIONS Clayton Valley High School Athletic Hall of Fame committee is accepting athlete nominations for the 2015 induction class until Oct. 3. This will be the fourth class for the Hall, which began during the school’s 50th anniversary year in 2008. Individuals can nominate student athletes for the Hall of Fame. The requirement is that the nominee was a CVHS grad in the years 1959-2004 and was all-league in at least one sport. Nomination forms can be picked up at the high school office. If you have any questions contact Herc Pardi herc_pardi@hotmail.com or Dee Billeter at deebilleter@yahoo.com. The induction takes place next May 16 at Centre Concord.

ST. BONAVENTURE CYO BASKETBALL SIGNUPS FINISHING UP Online registration will be active until Sept. 11 for St. Bonaventure CYO for all boys and girls grades 2 through 8. Late fees will be assessed after Sept. 11. All registration is being done online at stbonaventurecyo.com. If you have any questions, please contact Tim O’Hara at 672-5774. Most practices are at Diablo View Middle School and games are played locally. The season runs from September through February with postseason playoffs.

WINTER BASKETBALL REGISTRATION OPENS FOR ALL OUT SPORTS LEAGUES Winter youth basketball programs at Clayton Gym including a camp Nov. 24-27 and league play are accepting applications now.

Winter youth volleyball signups are coming soon. For complete

assistant coordinator Tim Chavez of Holy Rosary Parish.”

He also thanked Clayton’s “expert MIS director Gil Llacuna for automating so much of our stats.”

Joe Sullivan guided the St. Bonaventure track and cross country programs for many years. “Claire has dedicated a large part of his life to CYO.

information on all alloutsportsleague.com.

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After having coached CYO for close to 20 years myself between track, basketball and cross country I have worked closely with Claire. He is all for the children under our guidance.

A well-deserved honor,” Sullivan said of his colleague.

Last year there were 117 coaches in the program. Tryon stated that the award he received was due to the committed coordinators, coaches, parents and, most of all, youth. “Without them all, there would be no program.” There is a seven-word saying that is used by Tryon to each and everyone in the program: Thank you for all that you do.

Tryon said it was very humbling to receive the lifetime achievement award and to have one of his granddaughter’s, Jaiden Lucas of the Holy Rosary team, make the presentation.

“My wife [Idonna] and I have been blessed with 14 grandchildren and two great grandsons who we hope will also be track athletes of the future.”

Also during his time with track Tryon served as basketball coach for St. Francis boys and girls teams for 10 years.

Tryon will be turning over the reins as section one track coordinator to Francis as he did in 1996 with the coaching position. Francis and Tryon will work closely for the next two years to make the transition as smooth as possible.

Clayton

programs,

visit

PICKLEBALL IS COMING TO CONCORD Already very popular in Arizona and other parts of the country, pickleball is a racket sport that combines elements of tennis, table tennis and badminton. It’s played with two to four players on a court about half the size of a tennis court with wooden paddles and a plastic whiffle ball. One of the fastest growing sports among adults of all ages, pickleball is especially popular with young adults and adults nearing or in their retirement years. To receive information on upcoming pickleball clinics and leagues in Concord visit teamsideline.com/concord or call 671-3423.

CLAYTON PIONEER WANTS TO HEAR YOUR SPORTS STORY We get plenty of information from local high schools, sports leagues and clubs. What we don’t hear about so often are from our neighbors who are competing below that radar screen. There are Claytonians who are participating in sports and recreational endeavors that we don’t normally hear about but we’d like to tell their stories too. If you know of someone—-or even if you are that someone—-let us know what you’re doing and perhaps we’ll find it something our readers would love to read about!

If you’re running, jumping, hiking, biking, swimming, skydiving, bowling, golfing or participating in any of dozens of other sports and recreational activities let us know. Give us a brief rundown and your contact information and we might be in touch with you. It’s as simple as sending an email to sports@claytonpioneer.com.

Clayton Valley Charter football players unite in haircuts and hair coloring

Photo courtesy CVCHS football

Clayton Valley Charter has started its football season with a pair of non-league victories.

Head coach Tim Murphy and his staff introduced the idea of a Visual Sacrifice of Solidarity for the team this fall and the players embraced the idea of getting Mohawk haircuts or coloring their hair in the red, white and blue school colors. Junior Isaias Padilla took care of about 30 players and one coach. Murphy says, “To me stuff like this is what makes high school football fun and things players talk about 10 and 20 years from now. Winning games are great but doing things like this with your brothers is what high school football is all about. Every kid either shaved their head or colored it. Every player did something.“

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Page 12

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

How to survive middle school

CVCHS Music Boosters ‘Harvest Moon’ evening set for Oct. 11 at Shadelands The Clayton Valley Music Boosters’ annual dinner and auction fundraiser is at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, Oct.11 at the Shadelands Art Center. This year’s theme is “Harvest Moon” offering a fun-filled evening with a five-course dinner, raffle, silent and live auctions and the highlight of musical entertainment provided by the Clayton Valley Charter High School Band and Orchestra students.

Harvest Moon is the major fundraiser for the school’s music program this year and will ensure its ability to pay for instruments and uniforms, plus this year’s road trip to perform on stage at Disneyland in the spring. The trip includes instruction and creating a professional recording. Mimi Tho, sophomore and musician, says, “I have never been on the Disneyland trip, but my friends say that recording music in Disneyland’s

studio is fun and I am really excited.”

Music Boosters’ funds ensure a vibrant music program benefitting both CVCHS and the local community. The marching band performs at every home football game each fall. Combined bands will participate in Walnut Creek’s Twilight Parade, the CVCHS Homecoming parade, the band’s annual Music-a-Thon through Clayton and volunteer at Clayton’s Oktoberfest.

The Shadelands Art Center is at 111 N. Wiget Lane, Walnut Creek.

Tickets are $30 each or $225 for a table of eight and include dinner and one drink. Discounts available until Sept. 20. For more information and to buy tickets, go to claytonbands.org.

Organizers are still seeking donations and sponsors for the event. Please contact musicboosters@claytonvalley.org for more information.

CV Teams, from page 10

Photo by Jay Bedecarre

CLAYTON VALLEY CHARTER’S TENNIS TEAM is looking for a top finish in the DVAL this fall. Singles players, from left, Erin Wardle, Dalia Anwar and Maria Sparvoli plus Preet Nijjar (not pictured) will be leading the Eagles through league play and hopefully to the NCS tournament.

Friday when the Eagles travel to Santa Rosa for a preseason clash with Cardinal Newman, (1-1).

The Eagles won the Honor Bowl in Loomis 55-7 over Carson City and then defeated Tracy 28-21 last Friday in the home opener. They return to Gonsalves Stadium next Friday hosting Independence of San Jose hoping all the stadium renovations will have been completed. They begin DVAL play Oct. 10.

The Clayton Valley running game rolled early in the season with Miles Harrison leading the way.

CVCHS has six transfers from four different schools who are still awaiting word on their eligibility to play this season or sitting out prescribed waiting periods. The most high profile, of course, is the nation’s No. 1 high school recruit, Kahlil McKenzie, who transferred with his younger brother Jalen from De La Salle in June. The older McKenzie has been ruled ineligible all season by NCS Commissioner Gil Lemmon. The McKenzie family has said they will appeal the ruling, which stated the student moved for “athletic reasons.”

September 12, 2014

ALISON EWING

DVMS CORRESPONDENT A few days ago I was reading an article that was meant to tell

students how to survive middle school. I got to about the ninth paragraph and gave up because there was no advice that was actually helpful. So, I went to the real students and asked for their advice.

Sophia Andrews, seventh grade says, “Don’t do your homework at the last minute. It never benefits you; it just builds up and causes a lot of stress, worrying and tears.”

The second tip is from Eric Abbett, also in seventh grade.

He talked about surviving daily life in middle school. “Fitting in isn’t very hard at Diablo View, but you have to go out there and be yourself.”

Middle-school students really worry about what teachers they would get and have for the whole year. “There really are no bad teachers,” Eric said. “The only reason some students dislike a teacher is because they take action when you’re disrespectful.”

I agree with Sophia and Eric.

Stress, fitting in and teachers are a big part of life in middle school and by remembering what Sophia and Eric said, middle school will come a lot easier.

Of course, there are always some problems, but if you try your best, people are willing to help.

Alison Ewing is in the 7th grade at DVMS. Email comments and questions to alison@claytonpioneer.com

Words can hurt more than actions

DAVID LINZEY VOYAGE OF THE EAGLE I have often admired those extremely positive people who seem to always have a pleasant disposition, a smile or a friendly comment to share with others.

Being a positive influence on those around us seems to be a gift that some have and that character trait causes them to stand out from the crowd.

I love my job of serving high school students and their parents. As a result of working with kids for the past 30 years I have become an observer of student behavior. I can honestly assert that the communication students’ display has become more and more negative over the years. I attribute this to the media they listen to and observe on television. You will notice that much of the communication on television shows is mostly about put-downs and making fun of others. These negative comments are rewarded with canned laughter. I have seen this same behavior become the norm for teen interactions and adult interactions.

The negative interactions, cutting remarks, and “making

fun of” are always at someone else’s expense, of course. But that is not what is focused upon. It is the humor in the put-downs. The complaining and the criticizing. Unfortunately, it seems that that has become common place in society.

On the other hand, we all enjoy compliments, encouragement, praise and feel-good conversations. The positive folks in our lives are “worth their weight in gold.” They make a difference in our daily lives. One psychologist said we need at least 12 hugs a day for optimal emotional health. Author Virginia Avery, author of “Categories: Using Your Speaking Power,” suggests it takes seven compliments to overcome the effect of one criticism.

The power of our words is incredible. We all know the children’s rhyme that goes like this: “Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me.” Well that simply is not true. The power of words can be far more damaging and lasting than sticks and stones.

Because words can crucify our souls. We must learn to be generous with praise and careful with our criticism.

Don’t get me wrong. Kids need to be corrected, for sure!

But how we do that makes all the difference. Fill their hearts with praise and dole out correction and criticism like a careful surgeon. We have the power to heal or the ability to kill a child’s soul with our words. And believe it or not, adults also react similarly to praise as well

as to gossip, slander and criticism.

Each of us has power with words – written or spoken. We need to use that power to build up one another and make healthy friendships, work environments and home lives.

Let’s choose to be positive influences in the lives of those we touch. It may be different kinds of communication than

we are used to, but let’s give it our best effort. Habits are hard to break, that is for certain. But how we communicate to and about others is perhaps one of life’s most important habits to create.

David Linzey is executive director of CVCHS. Contact him David.linzey@claytonvalley.org

New science building opens for Diablo View

This year’s sixth grade students at Diablo View Middle School will be the first to attend class in the new science and math building. The project, financed from the $348 million Measure C bond passed in 2010, connects the science and math building with the library and includes two large classrooms and a prep room. The classrooms, each of which seat 37 students, are equipped with lab facilities and state-of-the art overhead projectors.

‘Love Letters’ to departed bring teen new life

EMILY YORK

TEEN READS

It started off as an English assignment to write a letter to a dead person. They could either be famous or someone personally involved in your life. Nothing monumental; just a letter.

Well, it turned into something much more than that for Laurel. In “Love Letters To The Dead” by Ava Dellaira, Laurel writes letters to all kinds of dead people: Alan Lane, Amy Winehouse, Amelia Earhart, even Kurt Cobain,

but she doesn’t do anything with them. She just keeps them hidden away in her notebook.

The letters give entryways into things Laurel has gone through and reawakens some disturbing memories. From recently losing her sister, May, to starting at a new high school where no one knows who she is, Laurel’s experiences start molding her new image and make her question her everyday life.

Will Laurel be able to take on the challenge of her new

everyday life, or will she crack under the pressure, just like her sister?

Dellaira does a wonderful job at tapping into the modern day teenager’s mind and putting together a puzzle consisting of heartbreak, betrayal, family and trust.

Emily York is a sophomore at CVCHS. Look for her TeenSpeak column in future issues. Email her at emilyyclaytonpioneer.com

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September 12, 2014

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

Mating march crawls up Mount Diablo

Club News CV Woman’s Club swings into fall with the ‘Blue Stars’ MIKE MARCHIANO

MOUNTAIN MIKE

Clayton Valley Woman’s Club will present an Afternoon of Appetizers and Desserts with Swingin’ Blue Stars singing songs from the 1940s and 1950s.

The Swingin’ Blue Stars singers all have sons, daughters or other family members that are veterans of the U.S. Military.

The event is from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. at Diamond Terrace, 6401 Center St., Clayton. Tick-

ets are $20. Reservations are required as space is limited.

Contact Aleta Huck at (925) 672-9448.

The Clayton Valley Woman’s Club meets at 10 a.m. on the second Tuesday of the month, except July and August, at Holy Cross Lutheran Church, 1092 Alberta way, Concord.

Guests are welcome to attend meetings and social events. For more info, go to claytonvalleywomansclub.org.

Garden Club readies for 2015

Page 13

This year’s tarantula mating season on Mount Diablo and surrounding foothills is winding down and so are the lives of this year’s breeding males.

The females have returned to their burrows from which they will hunt at night and hide in the daytime. (She may live up to 25 years.)

In spring she will knit a silk pillow case and lay several hundred eggs. For approximately 30 days the mother tarantula will protect her brood, holding the silken egg sack off of the ground deep in the burrow. On warm, dry, spring days she will carry it to the surface and lay it in the warm sun, turning it periodically as the ultra-violet rays of the sun warms it and kills any bacteria that may be trying to invade it.

As the eggs mature she will slash a small opening in the sac and out will crawl hundreds of tiny pinhead-sized white spiderlings. Within the first week these little specks will molt (shed their out exoskeleton) for the first time and then quickly disperse. Those that stay face their first of many fatal confrontations. Baby spiders are predators just like their parents and will immedi-

ately start hunting for a meal of comparable size to them.

First on the menu may be a slow-moving sibling.

For those who escape this first threat, they will travel a few feet up to several hundred yards, finding a new home or hiding place. Avoiding hungry birds, lizards, toads, small mammals and other predacious spiders and insects (including the Tarantula Wasp) becomes as important as finding food of their own. Spiders can subsist on a single meal for a long time (often up to several months) but the amount of food found will have a profound effect on their growth rate and size.

The tarantulas that are able to eat regularly and avoid being someone else’s meal will grow faster and reach maturity within three to four years, other will take up to six years and some may finally hit adulthood at eight years of age. Only one or two out of the original several hundred will reach this milestone.

Adult female tarantulas have now built silk-lined burrows 12 to 18 inches deep that they cover with a silken netting and often hide with dirt and debris.

During their growth both the male and female tarantulas have molted numerous times as they grow but in his final year the male sheds out of his skin for the last time and two little hooks or claspers have

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formed on the “elbow” of his front legs. These are used to hold the female tarantula’s fangs while mating. With this sign of his maturity he now begins the late summer and early fall ritual of finding a silk-covered burrow occupied by a receptive female with whom to mate and propagate the species. He will tap at the entrance of her burrow and if she responds by exiting he will quickly (30 seconds to three minutes) mate with her and then wander off in search of another amorous affair. She returns to her burrow for the winter and prepare for her family in spring.

Thru Sept.

20

Animal Love, one of 35 shows at this year’s Fringe Festival.

EXIT Theatre

Mike Marchiano is a Bay Area native who grew up in the shadow of Mount Diablo. He is a teacher, naturalist and volunteer with the Mount Diablo Interpretive Association.

$5-10 per show

156 Eddy St., 2 Blocks from Powell St. BART, 3 blocks from Union Square For Info, contact SF Fringe

(415) 673-3847 www.sffringe.org

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Call Linda Pastor at 672-9781 for details Clayton Resident. Licensed. Bonded. Insured. PSI member.

It’s all about the plants at the Clayton Valley Garden Club planting party. Members Barbara Hill, Carin Kaplan, Debbie Eistetter, Linda Shubin and Linda Hughes propagate cuttings to nurture into plants for the club’s 2015 plant sale.

Marsh and Flower are the September ARF adoption stars

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Church News

Exotic Pets Welcome!

CLAYTON VALLEY CHURCH Clayton Valley Church in Concord supplied 282 students with school necessities at its Back 2 School Give on Aug. 23.

Church volunteer Marge Oliveri helped set up supplies the night before. “It’s like Christmas Eve with all the packages finally wrapped and under the tree—ready for the kids to burst in,” Oliveri says.

Students lined up with parents on Saturday morning to receive school supplies for the coming year. Among the items were 150 backpacks, 285 notebook binders, 570 packs of notebook paper and two-pocket holders. Supplies were donated by the church families and supplemented by church funds.

Recipients commented, “What a great way to love your community.”

This is the sixth year of the giveaway. It started when the church noticed the rising cost of school supplies for the average family. “Many of our young families and neighbors were finding it more difficult to provide basic supplies for their kids for the coming school year. We have continued this effort because the need has not diminished, but has actually increased over time,” Senior Pastor Chris Oliveri says.

Clayton Valley Church is at 5430 Michigan Blvd., Concord. For more information, go to claytonvalleychurch.com.

MARSH

FLOWER

5-year-old Marsh is a big huggable Teddy Bear, and he loves people who can give him lots of cuddly time. His active and energetic personality will fit well into any household that can give him enriching play time; In addition, Marsh will love lots of outdoor activities and will be a great hiking and jogging partner. He currently weighs 73 pounds.

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

primary caretaker must be present to adopt. ARF also encourages kids 16 and younger and canine family members (dog adoptions only) to be present during the adoption process.

Would you like to be part of the heroic team that saves the lives of rescued dogs and cats? Can you share your talents to connect people and animals? ARF volunteers are making a difference! For more information see our website, www.arf.net, or call 925.256.1ARF.

5-year-old Flower is an outgoing purring machine and actively solicits lots of petting and attention. Once she gets to know you, she will roll over for a gentle tummy rub. A real sweetie! She is suitable for a first time cat guardian.

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

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

Josie Van Fleet, Owner & Operator (925) 432-PETS (7387) 671 Willow Pass Road #6, Pittsburg

PittsburgPetResort.com

Page 14

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

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Clayton Community Calendar PLEASE SUBMIT YOUR CLAYTON COMMUNITY CALENDAR EVENTS BY 5 P.M. OCT. 1 FOR THE OCT. 10 ISSUE. ITEMS MUST BE SUBMITTED BY EMAIL TO calendar@claytonpioneer.com

IN CLAYTON Saturdays thru Oct. 25, except Oct.4 Farmers’ Market Music: Sept. 13, Angel the Harpist. Sept. 20, Apryll Gilbert. Sept.

27, Tony DeGrassi. 8 a.m. – 12 p.m. Diablo Street between Main and Center streets, downtown Clayton. pcfma.com/clayton.

Sept. 13 Saturday Concerts in the Grove 6 – 8:30 p.m. Grove Park, downtown Clayton. Free. For a complete concert series list, see Page 3.

Sept. 16 Concert Performance by Matsiko World Orphans Choir. 4 p.m. Diamond Terrace Main Dining Room, 6401 Center St., Clayton. Free admission. Merchandise for sale supporting the tour and orphanages.

524-5100.

Oct. 3 - 5 Oktoberfest Sponsored by the Clayton Business and Community Association.

Music by The Internationals, biergarten, food, arts and crafts, carnival. 6 – 10 p.m. Friday, carnival only. 11 a.m. – 8 p.m. Saturday.

11 a.m. – 6 p.m. Sunday. Downtown. Free admission. claytonoktoberfest.com.

Oct. 8 – 12, 16 – 18 “A Trip Down Broadway” Musical revue. Endeavor Hall, 6008 Center St., Clayton. claytontheatrecompany.com.

IN CONCORD Tuesdays Farmers’ Market Tuesdays year round, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Todos Santos Plaza, downtown Concord. cityofconcord.org.

Sept. 20 Car Show The Lee Harvell Classic. Family fun. Barbecue, music, cars. 4:30 p.m. Crossroads Church, 5353 Concord Blvd., Concord. Free. www.crossroadschurchweb.org.

Sept. 24 Blood Drive City of Concord and Red Cross host a community blood drive. 9:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. Willow Pass Community Center, 2748 E. Olivera Road, Concord. To schedule an appointment, call (800) 733-2767 or go to redcrossblood.org, sponsor code: Concord. For more information, contact Margaret Romiti, Concord Emergency Services, at 671-3184.

Oct. 12 Taste of Monument A festival of fun and international foods. Discover the community and many businesses in the area. 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. Erickson Road off of Monument Boulevard, Concord. See Monument Businesses on Facebook.

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.

Sept. 14 Tarantulas Continuous presentation and live tarantulas with Michael Marchiano. 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Summit Visitor Museum.

EVENTS & ENTERTAINMENT Thru Sept. 21 “Dogfight” Depicting three young marines on the eve of their deployment to Vietnam. Recommended for audiences 17 and older. Presented by OMG I Love that Show Productions. Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek. $35. lesherartscenter.org. 943-7469.

Thru Oct. 5 “Life Could Be A Dream” A 1960s doo-wop musical. Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek. $37-$66. centerrep.org.

band through a passionate combination of music. 8 p.m. California Theatre, 351 Railroad Ave., Pittsburg. $15.50. pittsburgcaliforniatheatre.com. 427-1611.

Sept. 21 California Symphony Performs an opening night spectacular. 3 p.m. lecture. 4 p.m. concert. Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek. californiasymphony.org.

Sept. 22 “Pastures of Heaven” Live The Walnut Creek Library Foundation brings to life characters from John Steinbeck’s book of the same name. 7:15 p.m. Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek. $14. lesherartscenter.org. 943-7469.

Sept. 26 – 27 Brian Copeland Sept. 26: Not a Genuine Black Man. Sept. 27: The Waiting Period.

8:15 p.m. Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek. $20-$35 per show or $55 for both; code word: genuine. lesherartscenter.org. 943-7469.

Sept. 27 Contra Costa Chamber Orchestra Performs masterpieces from past and present. 7:30 p.m. El Campanil Theatre, 602 W. Second St., Antioch. $7-$15. elcampaniltheatre.com.

Sept. 27 Theatrical Hula Performed by the Na Akua Wahine. 2 and 8 p.m. California Theatre, 351 Railroad Ave., Pittsburg. $25. pittsburgcaliforniatheatre.com. 427-1611.

Sept. 28 Contra Costa Chamber Orchestra Performs masterpieces from past and present. 2 p.m. Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek. $10-$30. lesherartscenter.org. 943-7469.

Sept. 28 Crescendo – Brunch with the Boys San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus season preview and fundraiser.

12 p.m. Four Seasons Hotel, 757 Market St., San Francisco. $150 and up. sfgmc.org.

Oct. 2 – 5 “The Hound of Baskervilles” Gripping tale about the curse of the Baskerville family and the fiendish hound which stalks its members. California Theatre, 351 Railroad Ave., Pittsburg. $10-$25. pittsburgcaliforniatheatre.com.

427-1611.

Oct. 3 It’s the Great Pumpkimprov!

Presented by Trapped in a Rumor Improv. 7:45 p.m. Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek. $12-$15. lesherartscenter.org. 943-7469.

Sept. 19 – 20 Craft Supply Sale Craft supplies for all seasons. Proceeds benefit church’s general fund. 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. Rooms 1 and 2, Concord United Methodist Church, 1645 West St., Concord. concordumc.org.

Sept. 26 “CLUE-DUNNIT? – The Musical” Hilarious, original story presented mystery dinner theatre style.

Benefits church’s music ministry & theatre’s orchestra. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Church of the Good Shepherd, Father Dabovich Hall, 3200 Harbor St., Pittsburg. $30. pittsburgcommunitytheatre.org.

Sept. 29 Golf Tournament St. Agnes annual golf tournament and raffle. Check in at 9 a.m.

Shotgun start at 11 a.m. Discovery Bay Golf Course, 1475 Clubhouse Drive, Discovery Bay. $175. Register by Sept. 25. Forms at school office or email stagnesdevelopment@gmail.com.

Oct. 11 Backyard BBQ Dinner, live music, auction. Proceeds benefit Joe Gamez’s “My Liver Hates Me” fund. 5 – 10 p.m. 1945 Jameson Court, Concord. $50.

Contact Chad Olson at colson013@gmail.com to buy tickets or go to youcaring.com/joegamez to donate.

Oct. 11 Harvest Moon Dinner and auction with entertainment by CVCHS instrumental music students. Proceeds benefit the instrumental music program.

6:30 p.m. Shadelands Art Center, 111 N. Wiget Lane, Walnut Creek. $30 each or $225 for a table of eight. Discounts available until Sept. 20. For more information and to buy tickets, go to claytonbands.org.

AT THE LIBRARY The Clayton Library is at 6125 Clayton Road. Programs are free unless otherwise noted. claytonlibrary.org or 673-0659.

Tuesdays thru Nov. 18 Patty Cakes Story time for babies to 3-year-olds. Child attends with caregiver.

11 a.m.

Thursdays thru Nov. 20 Picture Book Time Story time for 3- to 5-year-olds. Child may attend without caregiver. 11 a.m.

Sept. 17 CERT Learn hands-only CPR, use of an automated external defibrillator and emergency preparedness information. 7 – 9 p.m.

Oct. 3, 5 “James and the Giant Peach” A magical journey of fantasy and adventure. El Campanil Theatre, 602 W. Second St., Antioch. $8-$12. elcampaniltheatre.com.

Sept. 17 The Tarnished Golden Years A talk about the most common and vexing problems facing aging seniors by author Wendy Harrison. 3 p.m.

Oct. 4 Street Corner Renaissance This quintet breathes new life into doo-wop music. 8 p.m. El Campanil Theatre, 602 W. Second St., Antioch. $25-$27. elcampaniltheatre.com.

Sept. 27 SAT/ACT Practice Test For high school students. Registration required. 10 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.

Oct. 5 Enchantment Season opener by Diablo Symphony Orchestra. 2 p.m. Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek. $12-$28. lesherartscenter.org. 943-7469.

Oct. 11 Comedy Maureen Langan, featuring Mike Capozolla and hosted by Priya Prasad. 8 p.m. California Theatre, 351 Railroad Ave., Pittsburg. $17-$20. pittsburgcaliforniatheatre.com. 427-1611.

Sept. 12 – 13 Black Diamond Follies Seniors who dance like Vegas showgirls. California Theatre, 351 Railroad Ave., Pittsburg. $15-$20. pittsburgcaliforniatheatre.com.

427-1611.

Oct. 11 Heritage Day Experience the natural, historical and archaeological aspects of Marsh Creek State Park and the John Marsh Stone House. Tours, food and entertainment, presentations. 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Free. johnmarshhouse.com.

Sept. 13 Jeff Applebaum and Friends Comedy showcase featuring the best and talented young comics. 8 p.m. California Theatre, 351 Railroad Ave., Pittsburg. $17-$20. pittsburgcaliforniatheatre.com. 427-1611.

Oct. 11 – 12 “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” Musical comedy celebrating the mania of competition as six misfits compete for the spelling bee. El Campanil Theatre, 602 W. Second St., Antioch. $13-$15. elcampaniltheatre.com.

Sept. 15 Open Rehearsal Diablo Women’s Chorale welcomes new members and gears up for December concert. 7 – 9 p.m. Saint Matthew Lutheran Church, 399 Wiget Lane, Walnut Creek. Contact Mary Sorenson at marysorenson2@gmail.com to schedule informal audition. diablowomenschorale.org.

Oct. 16 – 18 “Legend of Banbury Cross” Presented by Fantasy Forum Actors Ensemble. Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek. $14. lesherartscenter.org. 9437469.

Sept. 20 Rolando Morales Acclaimed guitarist, composer and recording artist leads his stellar

FUNDRAISERS Sept. 13 Plant Sale Refresh your garden with new, drought-tolerant, flowering plants in the colors of fall. 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. Markham Regional Arboretum Society Nursery. 1202 La Vista Ave., Concord. 681-2968.

Oct. 17 – Nov. 15 “Bye Bye Birdie” A musical theatre classic; satire done with the fondest affection by the Contra Costa Musical Theatre. Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek. $12-$44-$54. ccmt.org.

Oct. 1 – Nov. 3 Clayton Reads Featuring “The Book Thief” by Markus Zusak. Pick up a free copy at the library while supplies last. Return or give it to a friend when done. Flier available with related programs and discussions.

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

Sept. 18 College Admission and Financial Aid Workshop EdMD Financial Strategies helps parent and student navigate the process of successful college applications and financial aid. 6:30 p.m.

Sept. 22 Ron Shoop Book Talk Ron Shoop of Random House talks about books, featuring current and choice book selections as well as recommendations for book groups. Book sale and raffle. Proceeds benefit Project Second Chance. 6:30 p.m.

GOVERNMENT 1st and 3rd Tuesdays Clayton City Council 7 p.m. Hoyer Hall, Clayton Library, 6125 Clayton Road. 673-7304 or ci.clayton.ca.us.

2nd and 4th Tuesdays Clayton Planning Commission 7 p.m., Hoyer Hall, Clayton Library, 6125 Clayton Road. 673-7304 or ci.clayton.ca.us.

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

September 12, 2014

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

Page 15

Performing Arts

CenterREP’s ‘Dream’ brings 60s faves to the Lesher stage SH-BOOM! Meet Denny and the Dreamers, a fledging doo-wop singing group preparing to enter the Big Whopper Radio contest with dreams of making it to the big time.

Trouble comes in the form of Lois, who arrives to put some polish on the boys.

Denny falls in love, Wally falls in line, Eugene falls apart, and the trouble doubles when handsome heartthrob Skip enters, played by Derek Keeling, star of Broadway’s Grease and NBC’s “You’re the One That I Want!” to send things spinning.

The ‘60s hits say it all: “Fools Fall in Love,” “Tears On My Pillow,” “Runaround Sue,” “Earth Angel,” “Stay,” “Unchained Melody,” “Lonely Teardrops,” and “The Glory of Love.”

“Life Could Be a Dream” plays Wed-Sun at the Lesher Center, 1601 Civic Drive, Walnut Creek through Oct. 5. For times and ticket information, go to www.CenterREP.org’ call 925.943.SHOW (7469). Tickets are available at the Lesher Center Box Office, Barnes & Noble in Walnut Creek and the Walnut Creek Library.

FREE ESTIMATES

TIM HOMSLEY AND DEREK KEELING in “Life Could Be a Dream,” playing at the Lesher Center through Oct. 5.

Witty ‘Clue-Dunnit’ set to stump audiences in Pittsburg The world premiere of “Clue-Dunnit? The Musical” will be performed one night only on Friday, Sept. 26, at the Church of the Good Shepherd

in Pittsburg. This fundraising event supports music opportunities in the community.

“Clue-Dunnit” is a hilarious original story, written and per-

STARS 2000 auditions set for ‘West Side Story’ As it enters its 23rd season, STARS 2000 Teen Theatre Company, the premier youth performing arts company in the East Bay, begins a new venture as an independent performing arts company, having broken off from Diablo Theatre Company this past summer.

“The hallmark of the company — bringing high quality musical theater experiences to teens and young adults throughout the Bay Area — remains the same,” says Diane Kamrin, the awardwinning director of STARS 2000.

This fall STARS 2000 will hold auditions for the iconic American musical, “West Side Story.” Called the world’s greatest

love story, the musical follows Tony and Maria, two idealistic lovers from warring new York street gangs. Their struggle to survive in a world of hate, violence and prejudice remains one of the most relevant musical dramas of the past 50 years. The musical offerings include “Maria,” “Somewhere” and “America.”

Recent STARS 2000 productions include “Thoroughly Modern Millie,” “A Chorus Line” and “Hairspray.”

Auditions for “West Side Story” will be from Sept. 20 to Sept. 30 with performances in January.

For an audition appointment, email Kamrin at dkstars2000@yahoo.com.

formed by a cast of accomplished actors and singers.

Presented in the style of mystery dinner theater, the show also features parodies of Broadway musical favorites intertwined into the plot that investigates of the murder of Mr. Boddy, a wealthy gentleman.

Based on the Parker Brother’s game “Clue,” audiences will see all the usual colorful suspects, as Mrs. Peacock, Miss Scarlet, Professor Plum, Colonel Mustard, Mr. Greene, and of course, Mrs. White. Audiences

See Clue, page 18

Broadway revue kicks off 2014-15 CTC season Take “A Trip Down Broadway” next month without leaving town in Clayton Theatre Company’s fall production opening Oct. 10.

In this musical revue, the heroine travels from Broadway to Chicago to France, stopping at a spelling bee and Avenue Q before returning to Broadway.. The show features songs from over 20 Broadway musicals with an original script by CTC directors Roxanne Pardi and LaTonya Watts.

The large cast features many local performers, some new faces and some returning from CTC’s previous productions of “The Robber Bridegroom” and “The Night of January 16.”

“A Trip Down Broadway” runs Oct. 10-12 and Oct. 16-18, at Endeavor Hall, Clayton. A special VIP ticket package includes preferred seating, a drink ticket, a concession ticket, and a cameo walk-on part in the show. Purchase tickets at brownpapertickets.com. For more information go to claytontheatrecompany.com.

Lawn & Plant Installation Paver Patio & Walkway Retaining Walls Drainage Low Voltage Lighting

925-672-9955 www.nicholslandscape.com Lic. 542812 Fully Insured

Boyce Nichols - Owner Clayton Resident

Page 16

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

September 12, 2014

Mow down your ‘lawn-focused’ landscape NICOLE HACKETT

GARDEN GIRL Clayton Valley landscapes are evolving rapidly. Folks are changing out their traditional “lawnfocused landscape” for the more responsible, water-efficient perspective. Removing the grass is becoming increasingly fashionable in our neighborhoods.

Properly placed and layered plant material creates successful landscapes for these water-efficient situations.

Many in the Clayton Valley are choosing to design/install for themselves. Here are a few tips to consider: Properly placed and layered plant material is the key phrase when considering a water-efficient landscape. Shrubs, ornamental grasses, ground covers and perennials have the tendency to grow, and sometimes their growth can mature farther than the description listed on a plant’s tag. It is easier to add to a landscape, rather than remove overgrowing shrubs or ornamental grass. Drive through surrounding neighborhoods and look for installations that you may be considering. This way you can see how tall or wide some plants can become.

When layering plant material for water-efficient landscapes, consider how the landscape will look from each vantage. Stand at the curb and look towards the landscape. Look at the area from the driveway. Stand at the entry and look back at the landscape, or out through a window. You’ll need to think about how the landscape is viewed by every possibility. This is important so that each plant has the opportunity to be appreciated.

Some plants are evergreen, some lose their leaves and others go dormant. Knowing each plant’s behavior will help you with your plant placement. Deciduous focal point plants should have some evergreen support. For example, if you were going to install a multi-trunk, summer blooming Crape Myrtle, you should think about adding evergreen plants material such as Euonymus Emerald Gaiety or

Grevillea Low Form. Springblooming ground covers and shrubs like Ceanothus, and Raphelopsis need to be paired with summer blooming accents like trailing Lantana and Tuecrium majoricum. As you choose plants keep the flower-calendar in mind.

This way your landscape doesn’t flower all at once. Some waterwise plant selections have thorns, like the popular Barberry. Try to not plant shrubs with thorns near your walkway or curbside.

Ornamental grasses are to be considered “focal point” plants and should not be overused. Also the selections of ornamental grasses with plumes are mostly winter dormant (they turn brown and dry in the winter). They can also grow larger than expected, and possibly reseed, so keep these tips in mind.

We are approaching one of the best times of the year to plant.

Autumn is right around the cor-

REPLACE THIRSTY “LAWN-FOCUSED” LANDSCAPING with layered, drought-resistant shrubs and trees.

ner, and it is a textbook great time to install foundation plants and trees. New installations love that our soil is still warm and the evenings are cool. Not to mention the potential for rain that is drawing near. If the idea to replace your “lawn-focused landscape” with a water-efficient landscape appeals to you, contact the Contra Costa Water District. They are

offering a rebate program for residential, commercial and municipal customers. The process is very simple and easy to navigate. You can download information form their website at www.ccwater.com/conserve Nicole is the Garden Girl at R&M Pool, Patio, Gifts and Garden. Contact her with questions or comments at Gardengirl@claytonpioneer.com

Onions are a cook’s best friend DEBRA J. MORRIS Pacific Coast Farmers Market

What would cooking be like without the aromatic and flavorful taste of onions? As Julia Child once said, “It’s hard to imagine civilization without onions.” Onions are not only flavorful, but they’re also good for us. Along with being low in calories, they also have purported antibacterial qualities. In fact, it’s said that primitive man rubbed its pungent juices on his body for protection. Even today, some folks swear that onions prevent baldness!

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million pounds of onions per day during the late summer, early fall harvest. Onions come in many colors, flavors and sizes.

It takes about six months for an onion to go from seed to harvest. Once it’s time for picking,

the tops are shredded. Then the onions “dry out” in the field for a day. Finally, the bulbs are pulled from the ground and they’re ready for market.

When buying onions, choose those that are heavy for their size with dry, papery skins, and that show no signs of spotting or moistness. Avoid onions that are soft or sprouting. Young onions are sweeter than old ones. They should have absolutely no smell. If they do, they are probably bruised somewhere under the skin and are ready to throw away. Store onions in a cool dry place with good air circulation for up to three months.

EASY GRILLED ONIONS 2 large white or yellow onions 2 Tbsp. real butter 2 Tbsp. brown sugar Peel onions. Cut in big halfinch rings. Place on a large piece of aluminum foil – large enough to fold foil around onions to make a package. Dab bits of butter over onions and sprinkle with brown sugar. Fold foil over onions and seal edges. Place on the grill for about 15 to 20 minutes. Use as a side dish or burger topping.

You can also apply the same idea with other vegetables. Add mushrooms, carrots, summer squash or other veggies.

September 12, 2014

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

Little chilies pack big flavor punch

LINDA WYNER

FOOD

FOR

THOUGHT

This time of year, I’m jonesing for what I believe are the best chiles in the world: Hatch chiles from the little town of Hatch, New Mexico. The Hatch Valley stretches along the Rio Grande and just like in wine-growing regions of the world, the soil and growing conditions create a terroir that contributes to the flavor of the chilies.

When mature, the pods can be harvested while green (more common) or red. Usually mild to medium hot, some varieties like the Big Jim can be much spicier than your typical jalapeño. Stores like Sprouts in Walnut Creek take some of the guesswork out of your selection by grading their Hatch chiles as hot, medium or mild. Medium is my cup of tea.

Native to the Americas, Hatch chiles are part of the nightshade family, whose familiar relatives include tomatoes, potatoes and eggplant. One medium-sized green chile pod has as much Vitamin C as six oranges and when dried, one teaspoon of red chile powder has the recommended daily allowance of Vitamin A. Throughout the Southwest, and especially in New Mexico and Texas, roadside roasters

spring up in commercial parking lots and private driveways alike.

I recall driving into Santa Fe one late summer day some years back and suddenly my eyes started to water. A few moments later, half a dozen huge drum roasters filled with green chiles came into view with folks lined up by the dozens to pick up their hot chiles by the binful.

Festivals abound and chile cookoffs are in full swing about this time.

Here are a couple of winning recipes I’m going to try out this year:

pumpkin seeds and Hatch chiles and set aside. In a microwave, melt the chocolate in a microwave safe bowl in 30 second increments until melted, stirring thoroughly between microwaving. Stir in half of the nut mixture. Spread the chocolate and nut mixture onto the prepared baking sheet. Top with remaining mixture; sprinkle with salt. Chill in refrigerator until hard. Break into pieces.

HATCH CHILE-PEACH SALSA Adapted from Austin North Lamar Hatch Chile Festival Makes about 4 cups 3 cups chopped peaches (6 small or 4 medium), about ¼inch diced

eer for Pio n rs e d rea

HATCH CHILE CHOCOLATE BARK From Dallas Lovers Hatch Recipe Contest Serves 1 (but if you must share, then maybe 4) ½ cup salted pistachios ½ cup dried cherries or cranberries, chopped ½ cup pumpkin seeds, toasted ½ Hatch chile pepper, finely chopped 1 tsp. Kosher salt 1 lb. bittersweet chocolate (at least 64 percent cocoa solids), evenly chopped Line an 11x17-inch baking sheet with parchment paper.

Combine pistachios, cherries,

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Remodeling Specialist Kitchens Bathrooms Windows Mouldings Decks Siding Painting interior & exterior Kevin Schmidt, Clayton Resident Family Owned and Operated license 962284

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Linda Wyner owns Pans on Fire, a gourmet cookware store and cooking school in Pleasanton. Send suggestions or questions to lwyner@pansonfire.com

f f O % 0 1

3 bedroom, 2.5 bathroom, 1,650 sq.ft.

Gently stir together ingredients in a small bowl and let sit at room temperature for about an hour (up to two hours; refrigerate if longer). Excellent with grilled pork or as a topping for baked Brie.

L SPECIA

ACTIVE LISTINGS

2 to 3 roasted Hatch green chilies, finely chopped 1 to 2 Tbsp. yellow onion, diced Dash of salt 1 Tbsp. chopped cilantro 1 tsp. lime juice

925-766-6745 mazzeirealty@yahoo.com

6160 Center St. Suite #C, Clayton

925-693-0752 (Fax)

Page 17

Schaefer’s PAINTING

Interior & Exterior Popcorn Ceilings

Re a neady for this w lo sum ok mer ?

Sheetrock, Texture Cabinet Refinishing

Bryan Schaefer Clayton Resident License #708321

(925) 260-6065

Family Trade since 1936

Page 18

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

Floor Sample Fountain Sale Beautiful collection of water-wise plants

Fall into some autumn cleaning

Sup local port b Shop usiness Clay ton

R&M is the place for:

Sales, repairs & supplies of all pool equipment

Fine outdoor furniture and fire pits

Fountains & statuary

A quality plant nursery

Experienced, knowledgeable staff

JENNIFER LEISCHER

DESIGN & DÉCOR As summer leaves us with a sun-kissed tan, a few deflated pool toys and a bunch of annuals that have lost their blooms, it’s time to come back inside and assess your home. I don’t know about you, but come the end of summer I feel like I need to refocus; instead of tending to my flower pots and outdoor furniture, the inside of my house becomes relevant again. It’s usually time for a throughout cleaning and revamping of furniture and accessories. We put so much time and effort into selecting and purchasing our home furnishings, make sure to take care of these purchases with the same enthusiasm.

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If you look in your cabinets, under you bed, or in your guest room closet, I bet you have more accessories than you think. Sometimes, freshening up the decor in your living room or family room just takes a little repurposing of your existing accessories. This could be as easy as switching out family photographs in existing frames, putting some of your coffee table books back in the bookcase and displaying a new

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grouping, or maybe just putting your collection of baubles in storage for awhile.

Cycling through your accessories is a great way to keep t h i n g s looking fresh and displaying things that are important to you and your family, but not wearing out their welcome by displaying things year after year.

CLEAN THE FURNITURE Furniture needs TLC from time to time, so why not make an appointment with your furnishings for cleansing. Leather furniture should be dusted as well as wiped down with a conditioner to keep the leather looking and feeling lush.

Casegoods (bookcases, cabinets, tables, chests) should also be wiped down from Summer grime. Instead of a oily spray cleaner, consider using a fine mist of just plain water and an old, plain (no logos or embroidery) tee-shirt to wipe the mist and dust away. And for upholstery, consider bringing in a service to clean your upholstery safely, so as not to damage fabric or cushion insets.

Sometimes even a trip to the dry cleaners for cushions or accent pillows can help wake things up and get rid of the wrinkles.

LET THE LIGHT IN Let’s be honest, when was the last time you cleaned your windows, inside and out?

Windows get dirty, real dirty.

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Cal BRE License #01504011

8863 Marsh Creek Rd. in Clayton

On the outside it’s the harsh elements of our super hot Clayton sunshine and sometimes windy and (fingers crossed) r a i n y weather.

And on the inside, the windows don’t get as dirty, but the dust and grime does collect — on our windows, our window sills and casements, and our window treatments.

Blinds, woven shades or drapery panels are dust magnets. So care for your windows as you normally would, but also take time to fluff and dust your decorative window treatments.

Window treatments of any style are not inexpensive, so be sure to take time to keep window treatments looking as chic as the day you installed them.

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.

Clue, from page 15 will delight in unusual twists and turns which entertain and involve the guests in asking the inevitable question of “WhoDunnit?”

The murder mystery is directed by the multi-talented Dianna Schepers, who has helmed many memorable shows with the Pittsburg Community Theatre (PCT), an all-volunteer company. Funds raised will benefit the Church of the Good Shepherd’s Music Ministry and PCT’s Orchestra Fund. This fund will help support the PCT performance of “Into the Woods” at the California Theatre in February/March, 2015.

“Clue-Dunnit? The Musical” will be performed at Father Dabovich Hall, Church of the Good Shepherd, at 3200 Harbor St. in Pittsburg.

Tickets are $30 per person, and include dinner, hot beverages and show. There will be a special dessert auction and donation wine bar.

Tickets are available at the Church of the Good Shepherd office and Railroad Book Depot, 650 Railroad Ave, Pittsburg, or online at www.pittsburgcommunitytheatre.org. For more information, call 925-437-PLAY (7529).

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