SEP 22 Clayton Pioneer 2006 by Pioneer Publishers

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www.claytonpioneer.com

September 22, 2006

925.672.0500

Clayton ready for downtown rebirth

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m eras my ed nt of ns,

IT’S YOUR PAPER

TAMARA STEINER Clayton Pioneer

DAVE SHUEY

MAYOR’S CORNER Firehouse tribute a moving memorial I want to thank our local firefighters for the stirring and wonderful tribute to 9/11 and firefighters in g eneral that they do every year on the front la wn of the firehouse. Too often, our memories fade and we forget the past. This yearly tribute reminds us about the threats w e face in the w orld and the need to remain vigilant. More impor tantly, it ser ves to reminds us ho w v aluable life is and who the real heroes in life are (Hint: It is not Barry Bonds). Great job guys , and I hope you keep it up year after year as our own eternal flame. Quick quiz: What is the most talked-about item in this ma yor’s column? And the answ er is: Recycling. I kno w some of you are sick of me talking about recycling. On the other hand, I have heard from many of you (Yes, I swear I ha ve heard from more than one person) that y ou ha ve changed your ways and are recycling more. However, for some reason, our total recycling rates are static or down in some months . Some people don’t like my phrase: “Is your brown can bigger than your blue can?” but that doesn’t really matter as long as eac h of us makes a strong er effor t to increase our recycling and decrease our trash. End of sermon (for this column). Now, I ha ve a few ma yoral See Mayor, page A8

Corrections

In the last issue , Clayton’s incorporation date w as incorrectly stated as 1974 in both the Mayor’s Corner and the George Abbot obituar y. The City w as incorporated in 1964. Also, council candidate , Hank Stratford’ s first name is Ross, not Russ.

What’s Inside SECTION A

Around Town . . . . . . . . . . .A2 Upcoming Events . . . . . . . .A4 Classified and Directory of Advertisers . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A4 Real Estate . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A6 Letters to the Editor . . . . . .A6 At the Movies . . . . . . . . . . . .A8 Financial Sense . . . . . . . . . . .A9 School News . . . . . . . . . . . .A10 Food for Thought . . . . . . .A11 Garden Girl . . . . . . . . . . . .A12 Tea for You . . . . . . . . . . . . .A13 Theater Review . . . . . . . . . .A13

If all g oes as hoped, downtown Cla yton will become a bustling little burg in the next couple of years. Several projects are in the w orks that will bring both people and money to the downtown area. A major k ey to this revitalization is the proposed one acre “Grove P ark” at the cor ner of Main and Marsh Creek. When voters g o to the polls in

November, they will decide the fate of the long-a waited park once and for all. In 2000, Clayton voters gave a big “thumbs up” to the park, but a bigger “thumbs down” on a companion measure whic h would ha ve funded the operation and maintenance. In 2004, operation and maintenance funding w as included in the $365 ann ual tax proposed b y Measure M to renew the Landscape Maintenance District whic h is

ed by a tiered parcel tax. A full one third of the park maintenance and operation will be paid for b y Cla yton businesses and the rest by residents. Businesses in the do wntown core area will pay $221.05 annually per quar ter acre . The tax drops to $96.92 per quarter acre for businesses outside the core area suc h as Safew ay (whic h owns their o wn proper ty) and the Clayton Station. Residents will pay $16.39. The measure ties any

increases to the Consumer Price Index with a 3 percent cap. “Worst case is that it increased three percent ev ery year,” said City Manag er Gar y Napper, “that’s still only $21.37 a year.” Downtown businesses appear to be wholehear tedly behind the new proposal. Anise Maamari of La V eranda sa ys “we’ve been w aiting for fi ve years for the park. We’ll do whatever needs to be done to See Rebirth, page A7

Canine companions give life to the disabled JILL BEDECARRÉ Clayton Pioneer

When Cla yton resident Kathy Carr was admitted to the hospital recently, her dog Seila moped around the house lik e a lost soul. “She didn’t know what to do,” Carr says. So Seila tag ged alongside Kathy’s husband, Gary, looking for someone to lo ve and something to do. When Car r retur ned home , Seila couldn ’t w ait to g et bac k to w ork – doing what she w as trained to do as a ser vice dog. Seila hails from Canine Companions for Inde pendence (CCI), a non-profit org anization headquar tered in Santa Rosa. She became Carr’s devoted guardian just fi ve months ago. Carr suffers from m ultiple sclerosis, a disease that attac ks the central ner vous system – specifically the brain, spinal cord and optic ner ves. Her disease is slowly progressing, causing problems with m uscle control, strength and balance . Carr uses a w alker and cane to g et around during the day and relies on her faithful companion, Seila, to help k eep her acti ve and independent. If Carr drops her glasses , Seila retrieves them. If a phone rings across the room, on command Seila will fetc h the phone so Carr can answer the call. The 2 ½-year-old lab mix opens and shuts cabinet doors and responds to a total of 50 commands. “She’s an amazing animal, ”

says Carr, who depends on Seila not only for da y-to-day assistance but for the constant companionship. Carr also k eeps busy reinforcing Seila’ s training on a daily basis. Before she applied to CCI, Carr was slowly losing her selfworth. A career w oman in a CPA fir m for almost 20 years , she was forced to quit her job as her disease prog ressed. “It w as my definition,” she says of her work, which ev entually led to Carr being in c harge of the firm’s comm unication de partment. Carr super vised her o wn staff and tra veled frequently . “Not being able to w ork w as difficult. All m y self-worth w as wrapped up in my job.” Carr filled the void by volunteering for an MS suppor t group in Oakland and a local Meals on W heels prog ram. When she could no long er volunteer, she felt helpless. “I am a people-oriented person, and socializing w as becoming difficult for me . I was feeling lik e I had nothing to offer , that I was a burden,” she recalls. “I would lie in bed and cr y.” Despite the fact that her husband w as “so suppor tive and so non-judgmental, ” Carr felt isolated. In response to a friend’s request, she applied to CCI for a dog and was accepted for the tw o-week team training course at the national headquarters in Santa Rosa. During those two w eeks, Carr w orked with about six dogs and ev entually was matched with Seila. Tamara Steiner/Clayton Pioneer

See Canine, page A7

Kathy Carr looks to service dog, Seila, for companionship as much as for assistance.

Knights honor Enea for community ser vice TAMARA STEINER Clayton Pioneer

SECTION B

Hiker’s Haven . . . . . . . . . . . .B1 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .B2 Tech Talk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .B4 Community Calendar . . . . . .B5 Dining Around . . . . . . . . . . .B6 Crossword Puzzle . . . . . . . . .B6 Eco Focus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .B7 Music Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . .B7 Club News . . . . . . . . . . . . . .B7 Church News . . . . . . . . . . . .B8 Pet Page . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .B9 Travel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .B10

due to sunset next year. Measure M w ent do wn in f lames and with it went the park. The City already has the $1.3 million needed to build the park but, until there is a guaranteed source of funding for operation, maintenance and re placements, the City Council has steadfastly refused to mo ve ahead with construction. In the No vember election, the park measure will be on the ballot as Measure O. If it passes, park maintenance will be fund-

Tamara Steiner/Clayton Pioneer

From left: Knights of Columbus Field Agent Brian Oliver, Clayton Police Chief Dan Lawrence and honored Clayton officer Rich Enea Jr.

With his slight build and youthful face, he may look like a college kid, but don’t be fooled. Clayton Officer Ric hard Enea Jr. is a barracuda when it comes to drunk drivers. With more than 100 DUI arrests to his credit in his shor t 2 ½ years on the Cla yton force, Enea is the de partment’s “highest producer,” says Police Chief Dan Lawrence. The Knights of Columbus honored Enea, 26, earlier this month for his outstanding service to the comm unity. He w as nominated by his peers for the award, which w as presented b y

Lawrence. “He has recently made some very good arrests on suspicious persons driving around Cla yton during the v ery early mor ning hours,” said La wrence. “These people frequently w ere dri ving stolen vehicles, involved in burglaries and w ere people on parole with w arrants for their arrest. “As a result of his productivity and his friendly personality ,” Lawrence contin ued, “he w as voted by his peers to be Clayton Police Department’s best officer at present.” Law enforcement is in Enea’s blood. His father , Sgt. See Enea, page A4

Sports Editor Needed

The Pioneer is looking for a new Sports Editor. This is a paid position requiring approximately 10-15 hours per issue (twice a month.) The successful candidate will be thoroughly plug ged in to the Cla yton area spor ts scene, preferably be a Clayton resident and will ha ve g ood writing skills. A computer and a high comfor t lev el with email and Word are necessary. Send a co ver letter with y our qualifications and a writing sample (a couple of paragraphs is fine) to tamara@claytonpioneer.com. Put Sports Editor in the subject line . Call 672-0500 for more information.

Page A2

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

September 22, 2006

Around Town

John Jawad celebrates 80th birthday with friends and family Long time Cla ytonian, John J awad, celebrated his 80th birthday at the Discovery Bay Countr y Club on Se pt. 9. Nearly 100 friends and family members sat do wn to a filet mignon dinner while J ohn “worked the room,” introducing ev eryone b y name and recalling some special stor y about each. Among the friends from Clayton w ere Cla yton’s first mayor and first lady , Bob and Eldora Ho yer; Skipolini’s founder Skip Ipsen and wife Linda, and I n g r i d Hempell who owned La Cocotte French restaurant on Main Street. “Of all the parties INGRID HEMPELL I’ve had in

BOB AND ELDORA HOYER

JOHN AND BONNIE JAWAD

my life , this w as the best, ” John said. John has li ved in Cla yton

since 1965. He is probably best kno wn for the Pioneer Inn Restaurant on Main Street,

which he owned from 1961 to 1991. The building w as originally a stag ecoach stop and is

Clayton sisters debut in ‘Thoroughly Modern Millie’ Two Clayton sisters will be kicking up their heels in the Diablo Light Opera Company’s production of “Thoroughly Modern Millie,” the Broadway hit opening Oc. 6 for 21 perfor mances in Walnut Creek. Hannah and Marcella Newton por tray friends of “Millie” in the sho w, which is based on the popular movie with the same name. The show will be presented in the Dean Lesher Regional Center for the Arts. Both sisters are making their debut with the company , but they aren ’t newcomers to the world of theater. Marcella, 19, and Hannah, 16, both began perfor ming in m usicals at ag e 8,

Clayton

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Clayton

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Morgan T erritory – Perfect horse set-up w/acreag e, barn, tack room & arena. 2 beautiful upscale homes , one rebuilt new w/spacious office. Enjoy Mt. Diablo views.

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Westwood – Seller may carry a 2nd! Great curb appeal on this 4BD/3BA home w/1,739 s.f. Open floorplan w/guest bed & bath on the main f loor. Gazebo, deck and spa!

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The Crossings – A Must-See, this 5BD/3BA w/over 2,500 s.f. is remodeled to please w/g ranite in kitc hen, hardwood floors, 2 fireplaces & tile entry. Deck & hot tub in back.

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the minim um ag e for a home-sc hooled theater company their mother , Tamara, who has appeared in local m usicals, helped start. All members of the Newton family , including another sister and three brothers, are singers, musicians and performers. “Performing in any w ay, shape or form, but especially in m usical theater where I can use m y talents of singing, dancing and acting, is m y passion and great hobby,” says Marcella. It’s a passion shared by Hannah. For ticket information, call (925) 9437469. Submitted by Bob Rezak.

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Clayton

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Concord

Morgan Territory – 1.75 Useable Acres adjacent to newly listed horse proper ty. Great piece of land at an amazing value. Take advantage of this wonderful opportunity!

Diablo Ridge – Premium Oakhurst Golf Course property w/3BD/2.5BA. Light & bright open floorplan w/master bedroom on the 1st f loor & downstairs laundry.

Garaventa Oaks – Motivated Owner tak es pride in this 4BD/2.5BA on a beautifully landscaped corner lot. Tons of updates including paint, dual panes & roof 2 years new.

Visit the Lynne French booth at Oktoberfest & enter to Win a $1K Gas Card!

Photos by Tamara Steiner

LINDA AND SKIP IPSEN

Newborn Charlotte is dubbed “Lucky Seven” Weighing just a hair over five pounds and 19 ½ inc hes tall, Charlotte Caroline (C .C.) Seven arrived on A ug. 30 after a long and difficult pregnancy , including a stay in the ICU. C.C., dubbed “Lucky Seven” by the nurses, beat the odds and parents J eremy and K ate breathed a sigh of relief. Mom and Dad realize that C.C. is a precious gift to be c herished, said grandparents, Shannon and Jim Seven of Clayton.

CHARLOTTE SEVEN

C.C. and her parents li ve in Oakland.

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LI UST

now occupied b y the Cla yton Community Church. John and his wife Bonnie , split their time betw een their homes in Clayton and Las Vegas. John still works full time for Placer Title.

$1,199,980

Clayton

$794,980

Clayton

$649,980

Concord

Morgan Territory – 20.49 Acre Lot Appro ved & Ready for Building- Engineered building site has w ell w/2 5,000 gal. tanks, 8.5 GPM pump & fire h ydrant.

Dana Hills – Wonderful family home has 4BD/3B A & over 2,100 s .f. Guest bed & full bath on the lo wer level. Serene location backing to Mt. Diablo State Park.

Kirkwood – $5K Seller Credit! 3BD/2BA w/8500 s.f. lot & 2,052 s.f. of updates & upg rades incl. baths & f looring! RV Prk/Outdoor toy storage. Backs to Oakhurst Golf Course.

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Chapparal Springs – You will love this 3BD/3BA town home that shines! One full bedroom & bath do wnstairs. End unit with views, backing to Oakhurst Golf Course.

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Downtown Clayton – Bright, fresh, new! 3BD/2.5B A has high ceilings, loft area and over 1,600 s.f.. Landscaped lot, cul-de-sac location that backs to trail.

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Turtle Cr eek – Plush la wns sur round this 4BD/2.5B A w/frml. dining & living rooms & Oak hardw ood floors. Stunning curb appeal & entr yway. Large 3-car garage.

September 22, 2006

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

Page A3

Around Town

Donna Taber stitches quilt for Br east Cancer Awareness October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month when w e are encouraged to tak e c harge of our o wn breast health with

annual mammograms and regular self exams. At other times during the year hundreds of thousands of women and men

touched b y breast cancer , survivors and their friends and family and others dedicated to eradicating this disease , will

Tamara Steiner/Clayton Pioneer

Donna Taber honors her best friend with specially designed “pink ribbon” quilt.

walk or run millions of miles to raise money and a wareness for the cause. Donna Taber, owner of the Beautique Beauty Supply and Salon in the Cla yton Station, came up with her o wn, unique way to honor a friend while raising money for breast cancer research. Donna’s best friend, Dee Simons , was the previous owner of the Beautique . She died of breast cancer in A ugust 2004 An accomplished quilter , Donna has created a lap size, all pink quilt designed around the well kno wn pink ribbon breast cancer symbol and pieced of fancy dress fabrics . During the month of October, every $5 donated will qualify for one chance to win the quilt. The drawing will be on No v. 1 and 100 percent of the donations will g o to the Susan G . Komen Foundation. Beautique is located at 5439, Ste. A, Clayton R oad in the Clayton Station. For more information, call 672-0405.

Jim and Lillian Passaglia celebrate 50 years together Jim and Lillian Passaglia celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on Aug. 5 in the bac kyard of their Clayton home . Fr. David La wrence of St. Bonaventure’s blessed the couple’s marriage and a party for friends and family followed. Jim and Lillian met at a high school dance in San F rancisco and were married on Aug. 4, 1956. Their daughter, Jeanette and husband Bob Mundy li ve in Concord. Daughter Annette Passaglia lives in Martinez. They ha ve tw o g randsons, Michael and Steven Passaglia. The Passaglia’s in 1956.

JIM AND LILLIAN PASSAGLIA

Nikki Damele and Dave Ryan exchange vows

MR. AND MRS. DAVE RYAN

Nikki Damele of Clayton and Da ve R yan of Concord exchanged wedding vows on July 8 at the Green V alley Countr y Club. Bride and g room are 1997 graduates of Clayton V alley High Sc hool. Nikki is a 2002 graduate of Sonoma State and her husband, Dave g raduated Chico State that same year. Attendants included Brook e Damele, Lindsay Shafer , Leslie Krnich, Cassie W urtz, Jennifer Comeau, Kristen O’Neill, Liana Hashimoto and K endall Coffee. Groomsmen w ere Neil McChesney, Tony Damele, Mike Ryan, Mike W urtz, Eric Bec k, Quang Phan and Jason West. The bride’ s dress w as i vory strapless Anjolique with v ertical ribbon and vertical beading. The dress laced up the bac k and had a four -foot train. Nikki w ore crystal jew elry and a tiara and her g arter was made out of the lace trim of her mother’s w edding dress . The attendant’ s dresses complimented the

bride’s g own with apple g reen satin faced taffeta designs and three different tops for the seven attendants. They car ried g reen, white and eg gplant bouquets with their initial, rhinestone charms handing from them. Dinner at the Green V alley Country Club included filet of beef and c hicken breast with spring salad, fresh v egetables and pasta. The wedding cake was decorated with fresh flowers and the same v ertical lines as on the bride’s dress. The couple toasted with goblets from the g randparents’ 25th wedding anniversary. The bride designed and made many of the w edding fa vors including biscotti in triangle origami bo xes. She also made the guest book. The w edding cake table had photos of the couples’ parents cutting cak e at their own weddings. The g room’s g randparents and sev eral other special guests flew in from New J ersey for the wedding.

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ENHANCE MILEAGE with Fuel Injection Service

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Official Smog Test and Repair Station

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Page A4

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

Upcoming Events CLAYTON KITCHEN TOUR Local homeowners will share their lo vely kitc hens with the public when the Cla yton Valley Woman’s Club presents its fourth Kitc hen T our on Sat., Oct. 21. The self-dri ving tour includes six new or remodeled kitchens, each with its o wn distinctive decorating style . Cochairwomen, Jeanne Groschwitz and J oan R eed, promise that tour par ticipants will ha ve an opportunity to view v aried countertops, cabinet styles and appliances and, undoubtedly, will pic k up sev eral ideas that they can use in their own homes. The one-da y tour begins at Clayton City Hall Cour tyard where maps and broc hures will be available. Check in begins at 10 a.m. and ends at 2:30 pm. Homes will close promptly at 4 p.m. Walking is required on the tour and pri vate homes are not handicap accessible . Tickets are required for any one par ticipating in the tour , including children, with the ex ception of infants in a front-pack. Tickets are $25 in adv ance and $30 on the da y of the ev ent and are available b y calling (925) 6721696. The Clayton Valley Woman’s Club is a nonprofit org anization that serves the Clayton/Concord community. Club member’ s fundraising efforts in 2005 benefited Cambridg e Comm unity Center, St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry, National Alliance for the Mentally Ill of Contra Costa, Friends Outside in Contra Costa, Blue Star Moms , Clayton Community Librar y Foundation and Cla yton and Concord Historical Societies . The Woman’s Club is an active group

of nearly 100 w omen who are working together to mak e a difference in their comm unity. Meetings are held on the second and four th T uesday of each month at Holy Cross Lutheran Church, 1092 Alber ta W ay, Concord. OKTOBERFEST If the toe-tapping sounds of The Inter nationals g ot y ou dancing in the street last year , get ready for plenty more oompah tunes at the third ann ual

www.aquapropool.com on Sat., Sept. 30 from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sun., Oct. 1 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. The parade down Main Street is set for Sat., at 1 p.m. with the k eg tapping b y Clayton’s ma yor Da ve Shuey slated for 1:30 p.m. You w on’t w ant to miss Oktoberfest’s new additions this year including Marcus , a street performer who will delight audiences with his sho w in the plaza during the two-day festival as w ell as tw o after noon performances b y Ba varian dancers

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THE INTERNATIONALS

Oktoberfest. You can once again ride the Merry-Go-Round or twirl around and around on the Tilt-A-W hirl at the car nival which opens F riday, Sept. 29 from 5 to 10 p.m. Advance ticket sales (whic h are discounted) for the car nival are cur rently available at Aladino’s Pizza, Ed’s Mudville Grill, Skipolini’s, Rodies and La Veranda. Pre-sale tickets are $10 for 25. Tickets at the ev ent are $15 for 20. Carnival acti vities contin ue Sat. from noon to 10 p .m. and Sunday, noon to 8 p.m. Oktoberfest will fill the streets with g reat m usic and mouth-watering Ger man fare

DAVID AND SHARON OSTEEN, owners of the Clayton Valley Pumpkin Farm and Christmas Trees, invite everyone to visit beginning Oct. 1.

Enea, from page A1 Richard Enea, retired from the Clayton police de partment last year, his mother w as a Community Services Officer for both the Concord and Antioc h police de partments and his sister is a dispatc her for the Sheriff ’s Office. Enea Jr. grew up in Cla yton and g raduated from Cla yton Valley High School in 1998. He

September 22, 2006

graduated from Los Medanos College and the P olice Academy. After g raduating, he went to w ork for a shor t time for the Sausalito P olice Department before joining the Clayton force in 2004. The Knights of Columbus is a Catholic men ’s org anization. Each year , they recognize the area’s outstanding officers and

in the tent on Saturda y. A special perfor ming bird sho w is part of the fun on Sunday afternoon. Sponsored by the Clayton Business and Comm unity Association, Oktoberfest is expected to dra w thousands of people to do wntown Cla yton for the three-da y ev ent. For more infor mation call the CBCA at 672-2272. IT’S PUMPKIN’ PICKIN’ TIME Starting October 1, The Clayton V alley Pumpkin F arm and Christmas T rees will kic k off the Hallo ween season with the official opening of the farm on Marsh Creek R oad. Along with the wide v ariety of pumpkins and the popular trac kless train, the farm is featuring a new third bean pot for toddlers with 3,000 lbs. of lima beans, a farm scramble map with prizes and a secret garden plant n ursery and landscape. Families will enjo y the far m animals and the ar ray of fall decorations for the home. There is also barbequed food on the w eekends at the Plumpkin P antry. The far m is open daily from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. and playland is open daily from 9 a.m. to dusk. For more information on Pumpkin Farm activities call 672-5198.

Call today for a personal tour and complimentary lunch

(925) 524-5100

Retirement Community

firefighters with a special Mass and luncheon. This was the first year that the Cla yton P olice Department participated. Other honorees included Corporal. Marty R yan of the Contra Costa Sheriff ’s Department, Officer R obert Arroyo of the Califor nia Highway P atrol, Capt. Edward L. Macumber of the Contra Costa Fire District and Detective Ollie Sansen of the Concord Police Department.

It’s the small town atmosphere 6401 Center Street Clayton CA www.diamondterrace.net

“Life here is pleasant thanks to the helpful staff and friendly residents. Being a long time resident of this area, I especially enjoy maintaining my lifestyle while remaining so near my family and friends.” Mary Carter Smith

CLAYTON VALLEY PUMPKIN FARM and CHRISTMAS TREES Providing family fun & learning to the Clayton community since 1980

Visit the barn for a complete selection of fall decorations for inside & outside. Everything you need to carve a pumpkin!

als ar e Our farm anim to see you. always happy

OCTOBER

on! s a e S 7 0 0 2 6 he 200 t r o f m r a F e Garden Plant t e r c e S p New to th a M arm scramble nd Landscape

Toddlers Bean Pot for ird bean pot in

a th We now have with Playland filled in pk m ed the Plu rv se lima beans re 3,000 lbs. of ur years and for children fo Along their families. younger and ts this other bean po with our two of s. tal to 9,000 lb brings the to beans!

map and the Using a farm , hunt for clues provided ous farm letters at vari spell out a landmarks to e puzzle is word. Once th turn the completed, re e! map for a priz

Open Every Day October 1st - 31st, 9 am to 8 pm Playland: daily daily 99 am am till till dusk dusk Playland:

1060 Pine Lane, Clayton, CA 94517

(925) 672-5198

We showcase more than 25 varieties of gourmet quality pumpkins, squash and gourds.

Nursery a

ur yard righten up yo B e! er h is ll Fa h exciting new and patio wit your old ll plants plus fa of s ie et ri va ts. lable in 4” po favorites, avai ction of le se a h lled wit fi ts po er rg La as well. ts are for sale an pl l u rf lo co

Barbequ ed food availa on week ends at t ble he Plumpk in Pantr y

www.cvpumpkinfarm.com

Just 2 miles East of Downtown Clayton off Marsh Creek Road

Buy One Ride, Get One Free* On our popular "trackless" train *Train operates weekdays 3pm - dusk & weekends 9am - dusk Limit one per household. Valid with coupon thru Oct. 31, 2006.

September 22, 2006

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

Page A5

Classified FOR LEASE

HELP WANTED

Concord - Excellent location, 507 sq. ft. in professional office building; move-in ready, ample parking area. Lease. Contact Maureen (925) 685-0324.

Sports Editor for the Clayton Pioneer. Part time, 10-15 hours per issue which is published twice a month. Candidate must be thoroughly connected with the Clayton area sports scene and have a high comfort level with Word and Email. Some photography skills would be helpful. Clayton resident preferred. Email cover letter and writing sample (two or three paragraphs) to tamara@claytonpioneer.com, or call the office at 672-0500 for more information.

SERVICES Perennial Garden Design by Nicole Hackett AKA The Garden Girl Personal consultations regarding plant choices, placement, identification, fertilizing and maintenance. Spring is just around the corner. Call or email for information and pricing. 925-673-1746 (leave message) gardengirl94517@yahoo.com.

City of Clayton Needs Commissioners Community Service Commissioners ($75/month

stipend). If you would like additional information about these openings please visit City of Clayton’s website at www.ci.clayton.ca.us. Or contact City Clerk, at 925-6737304. VACATION RENTAL Cabin in Blue Lake Springs (Arnold, CA). Sleeps 6, fully remodeled, quiet, use of recreation facilities. $150/night, $950/week. Call Kevin Parker @ (925) 383-9430 or http://www.vrconnection.com/ parkerpaw. VOLUNTEERS WANTED Greeter Clayton Historical Society Museum needs a greeter the second Sun. of each month

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from 2 - 4 p.m. Training is provided. If interested, call 672-0240, email claytonmuseum@sbcglobal.net or visit the museum between 2 and 4 p.m. on Wed. or Sun. The Clayton Community Library is seeking to fill the fol-

lowing volunteer positions: (All positions require a minimum age of 13 years and a 6-month commitment. Training will be provided). Scrapbook Historian - to document the many interesting activities the library provides to the community using newspaper clippings, event photos, flyers, etc., Will be put on display at the annual March library birthday celebration. Shelver - to shelve and sensitize books...must be detail oriented (Tues. between the hours of 10am-2pm, Wed. 35p.m., Sat. 11am-1pm & 2-4pm). Shelf Reader - to ensure the correct placement of books on the library shelves...must be detail oriented and familiar with the Dewey decimal system. Lead Tutor - to coordinate and match the tutors/homework helpers with student requests. Tutor/Homework Helper - to work one-on-one with local students in our community. You choose the age range, subjects, remedial or light help, and days/times. Office Assistant handle filing, word processing, create flyers, volunteer database input on Microsoft Access, assistance with meetings/programs. Contact: Arlene @ 673-9777 or email: akikkawa@ccclib.org.

PIONEER INFO HOW TO PLACE A CLASSIFIED AD

Classified rates per insertion: Non-profit: $12 for first 30 words, $.20 eac h additional word Individual/non-commercial: $18 for first 30 w ords, $.30 each additional word Commercial: $48 for first 30 words, $.40 eac h additional word To place y our classified ad over the phone , call the office at (925) 672-0500 betw een 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Mon.-Fri. Or, you ma y fax y our typewritten ad and credit card information to (925) 672-6580 All classifieds m ust be paid for in adv ance b y credit card (Master Card or Visa) We will not accept any ad that discriminates on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, nationality, family status or disability. The Cla yton Pioneer reserves the right to reject any advertising w e believ e is unsuitable.

LET US KNOW

Weddings, engagements, anniversaries, births and deaths all w eave tog ether as part of the fabric of our community. Please let us kno w of these important events. We ask only that the announcement be for a Cla yton resident. You will find the appropriate for m for your announcement on our Website. Attach your photo to the form. Also on our W eb site are forms for submitting Community Calendar items and press releases for your organization.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

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

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

AND

R OBERT S TEINER , Publishers

TAMARA S TEINER , Editor J ILL B EDECARRÉ , Assistant Editor and Display Advertising P ETE C RUZ , Graphic Design B EV B RITTON , Copy Editor and Feature Writer B ETH N EUDELL , Administrative Assistant

Directory of Advertisers

Abbey Carpets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .686-9901 Accent Counter Tops . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .432-0570 Advanced Voice and Data, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .681-2800 Aircloud Wireless Internet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .260-4119 All Loving Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-0752 Apronstrings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .798-7621 Applause Staging and Interiors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-7701 Aqua Pro Pool & Chemical Service, Inc. . . . . . . . . .673-7000 Asemi, Hamid - State Farm Insurance . . . . . . . . . . .726-0154 Benton, Mureleen - Ameriprise Financial . . . . . . . . .685-4523 Burkin Electric . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-1519 California Reverse Mortgage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .899-3511 Calkins, Bill - Charlotte Clifford Realtors . . . . . . . . . .673-9164 Carol Keane and Associates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .937-5200 CD Federal Credit Union . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .825-0900 Clayton Family Dentistry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-0110 Clayton Fitness and Tanning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-2010 Clayton Home Inspection Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-9405 Clayton Valley Bowl . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .689-4631 Clayton Valley Frameworks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-6066 Clayton Valley Medical Group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-6744 Clayton Valley Pumpkin Farm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-5198 Clayton Valley Shell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-3900 Clayton Valley Villa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-8401 Clean Cleaner Carpets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .383-1253 Cleary, Joe - Home Loan Experts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .497-5270 Computers USA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-9989 ComUnity Lending . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-5363 Concord United Methodist Church . . . . . . . . . . . . . .685-5260 Cookies by Design . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .256-1137 Cruise Adventures Unlimited . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .935-7447 CTA Crossroads Theatre . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .944-0597 Dance Connection Performing Arts Centre . . . . . . . .676-5678 Denim & Lace . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .524-0345 Diamond Terrace Senior Retirement Living . . . . . . .524-5100 Dromlewicz, Kim - Century 21 Diablo Valley Realty .682-4663 Eagles Peak Realty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .465-0435 Fashion Cleaners . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .524-9005 Flannery, Patty - Diablo Realty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-0541 French, Lynne - Windemere Real Estate . . . . . . . . .672-8787 Galaxy Nail Spa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .676-8668 Garaventa, Les - American Financial & Tax Services676-3400 Gourmet Subs and More . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .673-5550 Help You Sell Real Estate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .680-4950 Highfill, Lynne - Coldwell Banker . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .932-7335 HomeEquity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .673-9737 Hudak, Jim - Pianist and Composer . . . . . . . . . . . . .673-7293 Joanna's Designs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .673-8911 Kelly Marshall Garden Design . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .914-0327 Ladies Workout Express . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .405-8888 Laurence, Pete - Better Homes Realty . . . . . . . . . . .939-7920 La Veranda Restaurant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .524-0011 Lela's Hair Salon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-2000 Lenox Homes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .284-0415 Littorno, Richard - Attorney at Law . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-6463 Lopez, Stephanie - Coldwell Banker . . . . . . . . . . . . .932-7329 Los Chivos Taqueria Restaurant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .680-0914 Mazzei Auto . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .757-5600 Mike's Auto Body . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .689-1739 Model A Cabinets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .673-0827 Monte Vista Veterinary Hospital . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-1100 Dr. Steven Moon, Chiropractor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .682-8400 Morucci, Kim - Intero Real Estate Services . . . . . . .280-8563 NBS Insurance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .673-1845 Neptune Society of Northern California . . . . . . . . . .944-5100 Nichols Landscape . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-9955 Nuchols, Alicia - Premier Home Loans . . . . .691-5070 X 323 Ouimet Funeral Home . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .682-4242 Pasta Primavera . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .687-5300 Paulson, Steve - KTVU Fox 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .673-5761 Rahimzadeh, Helen - Coldwell Banker . . . . . . . . . . .932-7375 R&M Pool, Patio & Gardens . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-0207 R.E. Carpet Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .595-8623 Roberta Claire Photography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .625-1123 Robin's Ranches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-7323 Rocco's Ristorante & Pizzeria . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .947-6105 Schaefer's Painting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .260-6065 Skin Care by Trina . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-2000 Smith Bernal Roofing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .216-6461 Sposito, Stephanie - Coldwell Banker . . . . . . . . . . . .932-7334 Steffen, Tim - Better Homes Realty . . . . . . . . . . . . .890-4407 St. John's Episcopal Church . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-8855 Stone Tree Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .798-2094 Straight Line Imports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .335-9801 Swint, Brad - Team Funding Group . . . . . . . . .627-1400 X 12 The Maids . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .798-6243 Tipperary Construction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .216-2679 Travel Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .304-5000 Van Fleet, Josie - Intero Real Estate . . . . . . . . . . . .672-4333 Van Wyck, Doug - State Farm Insurance . . . . . . . . .672-2300 Vujnovich, George - Better Homes Realty . . . . . . . .672-4433 Weekends at the Cottage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-0744 We the People . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .246-0370 What's My Home's Value.com . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .286-9489 Williams, Mike - Williams Properties . . . . . . . . . . . . .260-5363 Wooden It Be Nice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .673-5595

Page A6

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

Purchase contracts can have an escape clause An escape clause, also called a release or “kick out” clause, is a clause in a purc hase contract that gives the sellers the opportunity to cancel the contract under cer tain conditions . An escape clause is most commonly found in purc hase contracts that are conting ent upon the sale of the buyers’ property. Let’s say the sellers accept an offer that’s contingent upon the sale of the buyers’ home. The contract allo ws the sellers to continue to mark et their home until the buyers remo ve their sale conting ency. If the sellers receive a satisfactory offer from

Letter to the Editor I wish to sa y thank y ou to the dri ver of the red Cadillac , license number 4CHU466 who, on A ugust 30, 2006, was so rude as to pass four to five waiting cars on the left side of a two lane street (Oak Street) and proceed to Center Street at the approximate speed of 40 to 50 mph in a 25 mph zone as the children were about to cross the street. There w ere at least fi ve other people who sa w this as well and a police re port w as made. There is one g ood thing about all this in that no one was killed or injured. - Ben Ross Crossing Guard

Submit letters to the editor on our website at www.claytonpioneer.com

another buyer while the release clause is in effect, they can accept that offer in bac kup position subject to the collapse of the first offer. The sellers then notify the first buyers that they ha ve the time period specified in the contract (often 72 hours, but it’s negotiable) within whic h to remove their sale conting ency. If they remove the contingency during this time period, they stay in contract and proceed with the purc hase. If they can’t remove the conting ency, they must release the sellers from the contract so that the bac kup offer can be elevated to primary position. In this case, the first buyers’ deposit is returned to them. When you hear that a listing is sold “pending release ,” this means the sellers have accepted an offer that contains a release (or escape) clause . The sellers can c hallenge the buyers to either remo ve the condition in question or step out of the deal,

if another buyer comes along with an offer that’ s acce ptable to the sellers. Agents often shy away from showing buyers listings that are “pending release.” They assume it’s futile , because surely the first buyers will perfor m if they’re gi ven notice that the sellers ha ve acce pted another offer. In some cases, the first buyers will perform. But if the buyers don ’t ha ve the financial means to go ahead with the deal without having their house sold, this might be a “pending release” property to consider. Make sure that y our ag ent exposes you to all the potential listings for sale in y our price range and neighborhood. If you’re ha ving difficulty finding one y ou lik e, be sure to ask if there are any proper ties that have been sold subject to an escape clause. If a pending release property suits y our fancy, find out as much as possible about it. For

Volunteers needed for Oktoberfest The Cla yton Business and Community Association (CBCA) is seeking volunteers to work at the third ann ual Oktoberfest, to be held Sept. 30 and Oct. 1 in do wntown Clayton. The ev ent features a li ve German-style band and other

entertainment, arts and crafts for sale , a car nival, and wine and beer booths . The jobs being assigned include pouring beer and wine , plus selling tickets. If you’d lik e to be par t of the fun, contact Jim Sev en at 672-7598.

Construction is underway on Lenox Homes new residential community of sought after “Single Story” homes on spacious 13,000 + sq. ft. lots. Now is the time to move up to a dream home with no stairs and a yard that is designed for great outdoor living. These four and five bedroom Lenox Homes offer all the amenities and features you ever dreamed of having. The array of custom features include: Spacious floor plans 10 ft. ceilings Gourmet kitchen with granite countertops Maple cabinetry Elegant master bedroom and bathroom Many more extras Early home buyers have the opportunity to personalize their new home from a wide selection of options and upgrades. Thinking about remodeling your current home? Call our sales office first and discover what the possibilities are in a new Lenox Home. W e will be happy to send you more information.

Call (925) 284-0415 or go to www.lenoxhomes.net Broker Cooperation

September 22, 2006

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REAL ESTATE instance, when did the sellers accept the offer? If it’s a relatively new contract, there’s a good c hance the buyers w on’t have had sufficient time to satisfy the conting ency in question. If the contract w as accepted months ag o and the buyers still ha ven’t been able to remo ve their conting ency, the sellers might be g rowing impatient and could be rece ptive to another offer. If the first buyers’ contract is contingent upon the sale of another proper ty, find out if that property has sold. If not, do the first buyers ha ve the financial means to complete the sale without ha ving their other property sold? A “kick out” is not restricted to those situations where the buyers have another property to sell in order to complete the purc hase. A release clause can be used for any contingency, as long as the buyers and sellers are ag reeable. For instance , if the buyers’ offer contains an un usual contingency, such as the buyer receiving a transfer that’ s not yet appro ved, the sellers might want to include an escape clause that will remain in effect until the transfer comes through. Lynne F rench is a r ealtor with Windermere Real Estate and a Clayton r esident. F or any r eal estate needs or questions contact her at: Phone (925) 672-8787 or Email: Lynne@LynneFrench.com

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September 22, 2006

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

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help the City g et the park. ” Maamari plans to add more outdoor seating next year and hopes to help bring concer ts to the park. While Randall Gardner of Clayton F amily Dentistr y does not expect to see an increase in business due to the park, he is still enthusiastically in fa vor of the tax. “It’s strictly aesthetic ,” he said. “Property v alues will increase because of it…maybe we can g et another F armer’s Market to come in.” Other projects slated for the downtown area include the reopening of the Villag e Mark et, the new Longs Dr ugs at Center and Cla yton R oad and the Oak Center retail and office building going in at the cor ner of Oak and Center. Construction on the Villag e Market reno vation and remodel

Canine, from page A1 The two-week team training is the culmination of 18 months with a puppy raiser and an additional six months of advanced training at one of the five CCI campuses. Dogs are trained to work as ser vice dogs , hearing dogs, skilled companions or facility dogs. More than 600 puppies are trained eac h year through CCI, and about 200 go on to work as service dogs, according to Robb Ollett, CCI regional ex ecutive director. CCI uses purebred golden retriev ers, Labrador retrievers and a cross betw een the two. Founded in 1975, CCI is the fourth larg est assistance dog training org anization in the nation. CCI is funded by private contributions, gifts, grants and ongoing fund-raising . Clients

Clayton 4 bedroom plus den, 2 large baths. This downtown beauty is located in one of the most highly desirable neighborhoods. Don’t miss us on Sept. 14 for our 1 st ever Twilight Preview!

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is expected to begin b y the end of September, said Project Manager Gar y Hood. The market was badly damaged by fire in January 2004. Repairs w ere delayed because of litigation with F armer’s Insurance . The claim w as ultimately settled in favor of owner Sam Sandhu last October. Plans for the market call for a completely updated, upscale, modern look, said Hood. “What’s different in the store? It will be bigger, better, with all the latest equipment—coffee bar , modern, beautiful. Everything will be bar coded,” he said. The new mark et will ha ve a deli or a sandwic h shop whic h will face Center Street and tw o upstairs offices , both of which are tentatively leased. Groundbreaking on the new Longs is expected in early

925.932.7329 Stephanie

homes@helenandstephanie.com

are not charged for the dogs. “The heart of our organization is our v olunteers,” says Ollett, noting that puppy raisers play an impor tant role in the ongoing success of CCI. The volunteers tak e in a puppy at eight weeks old and spend about 18 months training, including obedience skills , classes and socialization. Puppy raiser Helen Wirfel, a Dana Farms resident, has been working with CCI for 15 years and has raised eight puppies for the organization. “It becomes a part of your life,” she says. “I do it for the love of it.” Wirfel admits that gi ving back the dog after 18 months of bonding is “v ery hard. ” However, she fills the v oid b y immediately raising another puppy. She tur ned over her last

Page A7 October, said City Manag er Napper. The store is expected to open in April 2007. Clayton businessman Uzoma Nwakuche is expecting final approval for his 14,000 square foot, two story Oak Center commercial building by mid October. The public hearings begin at the September 26 Planning Commission meeting. “Based on how the study sessions w ent we should g et appro val in tw o or three sessions ,” said Nw akuche. “Everyone was happy with what we have. There doesn’t seem to be anything major.” The w estern-themed Oak Center building will ha ve retail on the g round f loor and offices upstairs. “We’re definitely g oing to ha ve a restaurant, ” said Nwakuche. Plans also include a coffee, bagel and smoothie shop, a dr y cleaners drop off , an ice cream and candy stor y and a gourmet food take out and delivery store . There will also be a

small ar t g allery whic h Nwakuche is making a vailable at no cost to the Creekside Ar ts Association for local ar tists to exhibit their work. Tenants already signed on for office space include City Engineer, Rick Ang risani who will be taking about 2500 square feet. Nwakuche is also hopeful that the park measure will pass . His plans include extending his wireless Internet service to cover the park, offering free Inter net access to park users. Adding to this commercial mix is a Mitc hell Creek Place , a nine home development planned by Leno x Homes on the parcel at High and Oak Streets , behind Endeavor Hall. Public hearings began on this project on Se pt. 19. Approval is expected within a few w eeks and constr uction will begin next spring with a completion date projected for early 2008.

dog in Marc h to CCI and currently cares for a retired CCI canine named Idgie. “It’s so rew arding to see a dog y ou raised help someone else,” says Lor na O’Connor , puppy program manager for the Northwest Region. “Dogs make a big difference in people’ s lives.” Seila has c hanged Carr’s life, giving her more inde pendence and control. “When I w alk the dog, I’m in c harge” she sa ys with confidence. She feels safe and comfor table with Seila close b y. And when Car r tra vels, she tak es Seila along. “It’s so much fun to travel with Seila. I enjo y the reaction of other people. She is so adaptable.” Another Cla yton resident, 13-year-old Zach Hom, has Ray as his faithful companion. Zach, who w as diagnosed with cerebral palsy when he w as an

infant, depends on Ray for companionship. Paul is the canine companion for Benjamin Moeller , who was born with spina bifida. The 14-year-old has been in a wheelchair since he w as a toddler . Similar to Zac h and Ra y’s relationship, Ben and P aul are par t of a skilled companion team where a parent is always present with the child and dog. “Although P aul does not attend sc hool with Ben, all the kids at Diablo View Middle School in Cla yton kno w who Paul is,” says Ben’s mom, Jean. Oftentimes, it’s hard for people to come up to someone in a wheelchair and begin a con versation, she explains. “Ben is very social and P aul helps break the ice,” Jean says. For more infor mation on Canine Companions for Independence visit caninecompanions.org.

Page A8

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

September 22, 2006

Schaefer’s

At the Movies

Stellar performances keep ‘Hollywoodland’ interesting

In “Hollyw oodland,” the mysterious drama of the entertainment business is laid out in grand Technicolor – with all its sordid colors revealed. It’s a familiar stor y, one in which our 21st centur y, tabloidobsessed society rev els. There’s the one-hit w onder who could never reach beyond that f leeting moment of fame, and the c hild star who follo wed a life of debauchery after no one w ould pay to see them shed their bab y fat. However, these stories, which normally populate the airw aves of VH1, E and reality TV, have a back-story. A struggle defines the artist. It’s a cr y for help released into the v oid that can only be answered with satisfying w ork, while society contin ues to pigeonhole and ignore – alw ays reaching out for the new est and cutest, avoiding change at all cost. The sordid ending of actor George R eeves is unfamiliar to

the majority of my generation. I never saw him play “Superman,” and the only face I can associate with the name is the jovial Stuart Tarleton in “Gone With the Wind.” But it doesn ’t matter , because I remember the rise and fall of copious other talents who ceased to shine after their days as a cultural icon were through. The stories are the same. Make no mistak e, “Hollywoodland” is an inde pendent film in both style and script. The audience needs to concentrate to follow the tangled w eb of possibilities, and there is no satisfying ending to placate the masses. Director Allen Coulter tak es his time unfolding this stor y as only an infor med, intelligent audience can tolerate . His cast, headlined b y Hollyw ood underdogs, supports this rolling tension well, though by the end, the lack of resolution does star t to fray the nerves. There is no real star in this

film. The ensemble w orks closely tog ether, bouncing betw een flashbacks and present-day 1959, sometimes ev en shedding the space-time bar rier and ste pping into the other’s world. Reeves is portrayed by an oftmisunderstood Ben Aff leck, in what we can only pra y will be a return to the intellig ent roles in which he has made his mark in the past (lest we forget that this is the man who co-wrote “Good Will Hunting”). His femme fatale is the sensuous Diane Lane , who has shown her sparkle in romantic comedies (“Under the T uscan Sun”) and here reminds us that delicate sheaths sometimes conceal deadly weapons. Adrien Brody is the detecti ve who insists upon asking the right questions of the wrong, dangerous people . He contin ues his streak of well-crafted, “real” guys that sim ultaneously break the heart while dog gedly accom-

PAINTING

Because the Finish Counts (Cell) JEANNA ROSS plishing the task at hand. The three major pla yers are supported by a handful of standout perfor mances, each b y an actor that looks incredibly familiar but who can’t be immediately named: the impeccable Bob Hoskins, serene Molly P arker, adorable Zac h Mills , steely J oe Spano and befuddled J effrey DeMunn. With all that talent, “Hollywoodland,” named for the original white letters that o verlooked Los Ang eles, is an acting lesson on celluloid.

NATALIE BUDESA come easy either . Laura Ramsey plays Sarah, the typical blonde there to react to all the cree py things. The nemesis , Chase (Sebastian Stan), charms the girls at first with his c hivalry. He performs w ell as the man y ou’d most w ant to a void on a dark night. The driving force of the film, or what attempts to dri ve it, are the special effects. A car shatters and reassembles itself , icky spi-

Mayor, from page A1 rants. First, for those of you who use our w onderful comm unity park (My y oungest daughter can apparently swing long er than my patience for pushing her lasts), we need y our help in k eeping it maintained. We ha ve a g reat, spongy r ubberized matting system under our pla y str uctures as a safety feature . Unfortunately, someone k eeps tearing at it and creating v oids in the surface (I suspect bored teen-ag ers, having been one in my youth). This damage not only undermines the safety features but is unsightly and tak es significant time and expense to re pair. This comes right out of our budg et and has to be balanced by offsets

in other areas , so it can impact other services. So when y ou are up there , keep an eye out and discourag e any sort of vandalism and report it when y ou see it. Your help is appreciated. Second, we all are a ware of the w onderful trail system that meanders throughout our city . I have received several complaints about one aspect of these trails and as someone who walks these trails regularly (Ag ain, my youngest can apparently last longer on her tricycle pushed b y dad than m y patience for pushing), one discordant item to the beauty of these trails is significant amounts of pet droppings

ders crawl just about everywhere and w arlock combat in volves blasts of invisible force that must be po werful based on the distance it sends its unluc ky enemies. Yet the main reason for the PG-13 rating comes from the accompanying roc k m usic. The Book of Damnation, serving as a bible to the boys, must have read: “Ye shall fight with g reat force , power, magic and alw ays … in step with the beat of rock music.” The m ythical name “Ipswich” is cer tainly not as familiar as the dark tales of the standard v ampires and w erewolves. Any signs of a potentially ric h histor y are only seen in snatches, as c haracters f lip through ancient books . The lack of foundation makes any thrill or interest in the bo ys’ troubles barely penetrate our minds.

Maybe they should ha ve toned down the rock music to fit in more meaningful moments. Because the intrigue does not translate to its full capability , the film is reminiscent of a shor t witchcraft novel written at a preteen reading lev el. Director Renny Harlin should ha ve known his competition, such as “Harry P otter,” “Buffy” and “Charmed,” because the magical genre has been done before to a greater degree. That preppy boarding sc hool clearly in vested m uch of its money in fog mac hines bey ond every corner, but sometimes that isn’t enough to create enduring chills.

(be it dogs, cats, hamsters, mountain lions , ostrich, etc.) on the side of the trails. I know we are all g ood about picking up after our pets on the street, but it would be great if we could use the same dilig ence on our trails. Please? Finally, it is time for all of us to g ear up to mak e a difference and v ote in No vember. Make sure y ou are registered at y our current address . You can g o to , among others , www.cocovote.us or www .smartvoter.org to find information for registration and issues. We ha ve some impor tant state, county and local issues, and it doesn’t seem right for any one to complain after the fact if they don’t v ote in the first place . So get infor med and v ote early and

often (Oops , that is for m y Chicago column) in November. In par ting, I lea ve y ou with this thought. They sa y that Christopher Columbus w as the first politician. When he left to discover America, he didn’t know where he w as g oing. When he got there, he didn’t know where he w as. And it w as all done on someone else’s dime. On a more cerebral front, an unknown person once said: “Never forg et, we judg e others by their actions , but w e judg e ourselves by our intentions.” Have a g reat week and email me at shuey@rankinlaw.com. Editing note – My last column had a typo indicating the date of 1974 for the first council. It w as ob viously 1964 w hen w e w ere incor porated. Typos happen. Sorry.

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Natalie Budesa is 15 y ears old and a sophomor e at CVHS . She aspires to a car eer as a cinemato grapher. Send y our comments to movies@claytonpioneer.com

Model A Cabinet Company is a family-owned & operated business. Owner Scott Carlson, a Clayton resident for the past decade, brings over 20 years of general contracting & cabinet making experience to his craft. Scott will personally measure & build your cabinets to fit your individual style & needs.

Design and remodel / contracting services are available as needed. Contact Scott Carlson to arrange for a free estimate

925.673.0827 925.765.2178 cell Model A Cabinet Company is a licensed General Contractor in the state of California and is fully insured and bonded. Lic. #818588

When it’s time to inspect, call the experts For a first class home inspection, I recommend Clayton Home Inspection Services. Roger and Lori Galvin are the very BEST and do a great inspection, give excellent service and a full detailed written report to you quickly. Give them a call, you’ll be glad you did!

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Jeanna Ross is an Eng lish teacher at Clayton V alley High School and a fr ee lance writer . She regularly contributes to the Pioneer . Send comments to her at movies@claytonpioneer.com.

‘The Covenant’ holds no lasting spell

You w ould think a tale of modern-day warlocks would offer more than a male cast of photogenic y oung adults . Sure, “The Covenant” could ride on their looks for a g ood hour , but ev en their brooding faces str uggle to retain any of the movie’s magic. The “Sons of Ipswich” are four descendants from five families of warlocks dating bac k to the Salem witch trials. Their lineage gi ves them limitless po wer (they attend an expensi ve-looking boarding school), but life isn’t as spellbinding as it would seem. The energy of their powers is addictive and ages the body, forcing them to ex ercise control. Caleb (model-lik e Stev en Strait) does not plan on premature wrinkles anytime soon or the addiction of the po wers to g et out of hand – until the m ysterious nemesis shows up. Asking girls out does not

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Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

Page A9

The emotional stages of retirement

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MURELEEN BENTON FINANCIAL SENSE The first w ave of the 78 million baby boomers tur ns 60 this year . According to the Census Bureau, baby boomers will turn 60 at the rate of over 7,000 ev ery da y and 330 ev ery hour in 2006. But this ag e group’s large numbers won’t be the only factor that distinguishes its old age; baby boomers are expected to enjo y long er life expectancies and more years in retirement than any previous generation. While long evity has many benefits, there are c hallenges, too. Some boomers are uncertain about what they’ll do during their long retirements while others are concer ned about their future financial security. If you’re nearing retirement, you may w onder what the future holds for you and what you can do to mak e y our retirement experience everything you want it to be. A new researc h study, The New Retirement Mindscapesm, gives a first look into how baby boomers ma y emotionally and psychologically experience retirement and rev eals key factors for a successful, happy retirement. The sur vey w as conducted in A ugust of 2005 with 2,000 people ag e 40 to 75 by Ameriprise Financial in collaboration with Ag e W age, a leading mark et authority on Baby Boomers , and Har ris Interactive, a leading mark et research fir m kno wn for the Harris Poll.® The study disco vered that retirement is a complex emotional process made up of five distinct stag es, similar to other well-known life stag es, such as pregnancy or g rieving and loss. The fi ve emotional stag es include: STAGE 1: IMAGINATION (15 to 6 years prior to retirement) – Although retirement is still years away in this phase, people have very positive views about it and often begin en visioning what they w ant and ho w they might g et there . During this

STAGE 5: RECONCILIATION (16 or more years after retirement) – This stage is marked by increased contentment, acceptance and personal ref lection. While there are lo wer levels of depression (5 percent), some people (22 percent) report feelings of sadness as they confront end-of-life issues. By kno wing and understanding the stag es of retirement ahead of time, you can avoid some of the potential letdowns and tak e adv antage of opportunities to plan and prepare. The Empo wered Reinventors, one of the profiles identified in the Reorientation stag e, stand out from the other g roups as role models because of their higher levels of fulfillment, planning, preparation and w ealth in retirement. The study sho wed that twice as many Empowered Reinventors had a written financial plan and 92 percent reported “enjoying retirement a great deal.” The New R etirement Mindscapesm study demonstrate that planning and pre paration for retirement can help give people the po wer to reinvent themselves and o vercome unexpected obstacles . Across the board, the people in the survey who w ere working with an advisor reported being more fulfilled, more financially prepared and more optimistic . Having a written financial plan also had a positi ve impact on retirement satisfaction. Planning for retirement is a complex process that in volves understanding y our v alues and dreams as w ell as financially preparing to ac hieve them. To ensure that y our retirement lives up to y our expectations , begin establishing a plan as early as possible . Consider working with a qualified financial planner who can help y ou envision y our retirement lifestyle and create a financial plan for funding it.

Mureleen Benton is a Cer tified Financial Planner. Call her with questions at 685-4523 Ameriprise Financial Ser vices, Inc., Member N ASD, par t of Ameriprise Financial, Inc.

Annual Cruise Fair slated for Sept. 23 Cruise Adv entures Unlimited is hosting its ann ual Cruise F air on Sat. Sept. 23 from 11a.m. to 3p.m. during the Walnut Creek Fine Arts Festival. It’s an oppor tunity to meet cruise line re presentatives from such cr uise lines as Princess ,

stage, people expect to feel enthusiastic (77 percent), happy (88 percent) and empowered (65 percent) in retirement. STAGE 2: ANTICIPATION (5 years prior to retirement) – As retirement dra ws closer , this phase is a time of great excitement and hopefulness with 80 percent sa ying that they “will be able to ac hieve their dreams in retirement.” However, in the year or two prior to retirement, worries and anxiety star t to mount, with 22 percent sa ying that they expect to feel a sense of loss after their working years are over. STAGE 3: LIBERATION (Retirement Da y and one year following) - T his is a time of great ex citement, enthusiasm and relief that lasts about a year with 78 percent of people saying they are enjoying retirement a g reat deal. But, similar to a honeymoon, the feeling of liberation is often shor t-lived as a new reality begins to set in. STAGE 4: REORIENTATION (2 to 15 years after retirement) - During this phase, people discover that retirement is often more challenging or just different from what they expected. Health and financial w orries often w eigh more hea vily than anticipated and some experience feelings of emptiness (49 percent), worry (38 percent) and boredom (34 percent). Four distinct experiences w ere uncovered in this phase: Empowered Reinventors (19 percent) are the most proactive about retirement planning and most apt to view retirement as a time of new adv enture (70 percent) and empowerment (56 percent). Carefree Contents (19 percent) are content to simply adjust to a less frantic lifestyle without the stresses of work and multiple responsibilities. Uncertain Sear chers (22 percent) are still tr ying to figure out what to mak e of this time in their life and re port mix ed feelings about retirement. Worried Str ugglers (40 percent) did little planning and preparation for retirement and are experiencing w orry, boredom and sadness.

Regent, Royal Caribbean, Crystal, Celebrity, Holland America, Carnival, Cunard and Windstar. Cruise Adv entures are offering a w eek-long sale from Sept. 23-Sept. 29 with special prizes and amenities the day of the cruise fair. The festivities

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Page A10

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

September 22, 2006

MDES to lose treasured teacher Don’t be a victim. CHRISTY HARRIS Special to the Pioneer

Stunned students at Mt. Diablo Elementar y Sc hool recently lear ned that popular second grade teacher, Jo Currier of Clayton, will be mo ving to Michigan in the near future .

The retur n to her home state was prompted b y a significant promotion for her husband Jeff, who works for Dow Chemical. Mrs. Currier spent most of her elev en years in Cla yton at Mt. Diablo Elementar y Sc hool where her positive, caring style and sparkling personality made

her a fa vorite among teac hers, staff and students . At the beginning of every sc hool year excited and disappointed parents w ould compare notes about whose c hildren w ere assigned to Mrs . Currier’s class. She will be sorely missed by our community.

DVMS seeks Film Festival entries

Diablo View Middle Sc hool students are in vited to submit their original, three-minute (or shorter) videos or D VDs directed b y, filmed b y, written b y or featuring DVMS students. The Shor t Film F estival is sponsored by the P arent Faculty Committee. Rules and submis-

sion for ms are a vailable in the school office . Films with attached submission for ms ma y be left in the silv er bo x in the office. Entry deadline is Oct. 1. Each student may submit one original film or music video. Films must be appropriate for student viewing as deter mined by DVMS

staff committee members . Top films will be pic ked b y an independent committee and screened at lunchtime in mid-October and may be made into a DVD. For more infor mation, contact Meg an K ommer at k ommer@sbcglobal.net or P am Hall at PamandLeonHall@aol.com.

School News CONTRA COSTA COUNTY LIBRARY OFFERING FREE HOMEWORK HELP Free online tutoring is no w available to students from expert online tutors. Students in g rades 4 - 12 and beginning colleg e never ha ve to be stumped b y a tough homew ork assignment again. Live homew ork help , an online tutoring ser vice from Tutor.com, connects students with exper t tutors in math, science, social studies and English via the Inter net, seven da ys a week from 1 - 10 p.m. The service, which is also a vailable in Spanish, is accessible from home or office computers and at all Contra Costa County comm unity libraries. Log on to the Contra Costa County Librar y’s W eb site at http://ccclib.org; enter their library card number, grade level, and the subject in which the student needs help . Students are immediately connected to a tutor in an online classroom. Students and tutors can review specific homework questions, as well as subject-specific conce pts using features such as controlled chat, an interactive white board, and shared Web browsing in the online classroom. Tutors and students can type math equations using a special math tool, share educational W eb sites and much more for a rew arding learning experience . All tutors are cer tified teac hers, college professors, professional tutors or graduate students from across the country. For more infor mation about Live Homew ork Help contact your local comm unity librar y or go online at http://ccclib.org./ MT. DIABLO ELEMENTARY MDES’ 2007 Entertainment Book can be ordered online through F ebruary 2007. Go to fundraising.entertainment.com. Enter #850930 for the sc hool code. You can also e-mail mar ydm64@ yahoo .com to c heck availability on hand.

CLAYTON VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL Clayton V alley High Sc hool needs y our help . 120 adults are needed to suppor t Challeng e Day, a prog ram that focuses on stopping the alienation, violence, teasing and bullying that is an unfortunate par t of the sc hool experience for many students . Through a v ariety of games and community building acti vities students are gi ven a unique opportunity to see themselv es and the people around them through a new set of eyes. Ninth grade students will par ticipate in one of four Challeng e Da ys being held Oct. 2, - 5. As a follow up to Challeng e Da y, freshmen will w ork with a mentor in the 10, 11 or 12 g rade who will provide suppor t throughout the year. For more infor mation about Challeng e Da y visit www.challengeday.org. 30 adults are needed for each daily session. To v olunteer please contact REAL (respect ev eryone and learn) T eam Leader and parent, Jill Collaro at jcollaro@aol.com or by phone at 687-3352. The CBCA (Clayton Business and Comm unity Association) is giving Cla yton V alley High School $18,000 for the purc hase of much needed new computer equipment for the librar y. CVHS is in the process of upgrading computer equipment throughout the school. Last spring the Parent Faculty Club held the first ann ual Cinco de Ma yo fundraiser which raised over $24,000 for the purchase of new computers for classrooms. The PFC expects this year’ s Cinco de Ma yo fundraiser to raise enough money for contin ued computer upgrades at the school. NATIONAL LIBRARY CARD SIGN-UP MONTH September is National Library Card Sign-up Month and the Contra Costa County Library wants to remind parents, educators and students that a library card is the most important school supply of all.

Children who are read to in the home and who use the library perfor m better in sc hool and are more lik ely to contin ue to use the librar y as a source of lifetime learning. A Contra Costa County Library card gi ves y ou access to over 1.3 million items , including books, magazines, DVDs, CD’s, audio books and videos, electronic databases and eBook collections, as well as offering a v ariety of programs and acti vities for children, teens and adults . For more infor mation on ho w y ou can sign up for a librar y card, including ho w to g et immediate access to our electronic collections and ser vices, or to find out about library programs, go online at http://ccclib.org or visit y our local community library. POSTER CONTEST The Annual Substance Abuse Poster Contest sponsored b y the Knights of Columbus Concord Council, is in full swing. This is a good time to start designing your poster for the Ann ual “R ed Ribbon Week,” which is the third week of October. Posters m ust be 11” x 17,” in color or charcoal. If done in c harcoal it m ust be covered. Age g roups are 8-11 and 12-14 in tw o categ ories, “drug” or “alcohol. ” There will be a competition betw een schools for the c hance to re present the Concord Council and progress to the Oakland Diocese Chapter competition. Winners advance to state and international competition. Concord Council 6038 had tw o state winners in 2005-06 and w as in competition at the Inter national lev el. Trophies will be a warded to the winners at the sc hool, council and chapter levels. Cash awards at the state and inter national levels. Use art to show why it is not cool to use any form of drugs or alcohol. For more infor mation contact Claire T ryon, Knights of Columbus, Youth Director and Poster Chair man 925-673-8564 or at g reyeototo@sbcglobal.net. The contest deadline is J an. 25, 2007.

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4297 Morgan Territory Road

Mike Williams broker/owner

Clayton resident since 1972

(925) 260-5363 1520 Kirker Pass Road, Suite A Clayton, CA

(925) 672-6744

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

$1,199,950

6200 Center St. Ste. 220, Clayton

www.TheClaytonRealtor.com

September 22, 2006

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

Let’s have S’More summer

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Let’s walk through YOUR space and focus on YOUR vision Kelly Marshall Garden Design in a one-on-one consultation. Then, I’ll create your dream... 925.914.0327 from beginning to end.

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An eclectic collection of gifts, holiday & home decor & accessories.

Have an old-fashioned fall & Halloween Autumn scented McCalls Country Candles, vivid harvest wreaths and pumpkins, vintage Halloween witches, jack-o-lanterns and black cats, whimsical signs, lanterns and much, much more! New Location now between Dominos & Airbrush Shop, facing Ygnacio Valley Rd. Clayton Valley Shopping Center

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5434 Ygnacio Valley Road. #270 Concord, CA (925) 672-0744

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Fall is upon us The holidays and relatives will follow soon! Time to change the drapes and reupholster the sofa with great new fabrics

Call Joanna at (925) 673-8911 Clayton Resident

Page A11

California has plenty of late summer and fall camping spots , and for nearly 80 years , S’Mores have been the campfire dessert du jour. It looks as though the S’Mores tradition beg an with the Girl Scouts. The recipe first appeared in the 1927 Girl Scout handbook “Tramping and T railing with the Girl Scouts .” The name is an abbreviation of “some more” – as in “gimme some more.” The three main ing redients graham crac kers, marshmallows and milk c hocolate – are readymade and ev erything is easy to assemble. Although c hocolate and marshmallows have a long history and ha ve been the subject of prior columns , graham crac kers are an American invention of the mid-19th centur y. Presbyterian minister Sylvester Graham touted his recipe as a health food, and “graham bread” was part of a diet designed to suppress “unhealth y carnal urg es.” (He also thought that ketchup and mustard brought about insanity.) These da ys, mass-produced graham crac kers ha ve far more sugar, honey or other sweeteners, and cinnamon is used to appeal more broadly to the snac k craving of Americans. Graham flour is from whole wheat, with a lot of the fiber retained. Other wheat f lours also are used, but they yield different f lavors and textures. In fact, some “g raham crackers” have no g raham f lour at all. If you lik e to bak e, S’Mores are not hard to mak e. The basic recipe couldn ’t be simpler , but variations abound.

CLASSIC S’MORES 4 long greenwood twigs 16 large marshmallows 16 pieces milk chocolate 8 graham cracker squares Over open fire , roast marshmallows (two at a time) on twigs until toasty bro wn but not charred. Carefully remo ve from the twig and place tw o marshmallows on one g raham crac ker square. Top with tw o c hocolate pieces. Cover with second g raham cracker square and squeeze down, making a sw eet, gooey sandwich. To personalize y our S’Mores, drizzle some caramel syr up over the marshmallo ws before topping with the g raham crac ker square, or add a thin slice or tw o of banana. There’s an old S’Mores jok e that girls put the c hocolate on graham crac kers, toast the marshmallows and put the marshmallows on the c hocolate to melt it, while bo ys eat the chocolate, eat the marshmallo ws and throw the graham crackers at other boys. That beha vior w ouldn’t be condoned in some of the tony New Y ork restaurants offering table-side hibac hi and S’Mores fixings these da ys. In Ashland, Ore., one restaurant uses locally made org anic Dag oba chocolate in its S’Mores. Even if you’re not a camping aficionado or it’s raining on a getaway we ekend, try one of these recipes: INDOOR S’MORES Same ing redients as abo ve, but omit twigs and campfire. On a paper plate (or micr owave-safe plate covered b y a paper to wel),

arrange four g raham crac ker squares. Top with a small handful of semi-sweet c hocolate pieces and tw o larg e marshmallo ws. Microwave on high for 10 to 15 seconds or until the marshmallows just begin to puff . Remove from micr owave and top with second g raham crac ker square . (Caution: If you o vercook, you run the risk of the marshmallows exploding and w allpapering the inside of your micr owave with little bits of icky, sticky white stuff.) OVEN S’MORES 16 Ritz crackers ¼ cup smooth peanut butter ½ cup semi-sw eet c hocolate chips 32 mini-marshmallows Preheat oven to 300 deg rees. Thickly spread pean ut butter on eight of the crac kers and top with a few c hocolate c hips and four mini-marshmallo ws. Bake for about four min utes or until marshmallows have softened and browned. Remove and top with reserved crackers. S’MORES PIE 1 pre pared g raham crac ker crust 1 6- to 7-oz. jar marshmallow creme 1 4-oz. package instant chocolate pudding 2 cups milk 1 cup chocolate shell topping 2-3 graham crackers Spread the marshmallo w creme on the cr ust. (You ma y need to warm it just a little in the microwave t o m ake i t s preadable.) In a se parate bowl, prepare the chocolate pudding according to the pac kage instr uctions and spread o ver the marshmallo w

JILL BEDECARRÉ Clayton Pioneer

Jill Bedecarré/Clayton Pioneer

Neptune Society’s Ironda Long brings her knowledge and compassion to help families through the emotional time following a loved one’s death

ices offered b y the Ne ptune Society. “Many people toda y want cremation, ” she sa ys. “Cremation will always be about $1,000 less than a traditional burial.” The society offers its o wn 60-foot scattering yac ht, the Naiad, for sea scattering ser vices with or without the family in attendance. Services are performed near the Golden Gate Bridge for up to 60 people . The neo-classical San Francisco Columbarium is available for families who prefer a permanent memorial, while the Chapel of the Chimes R ose Garden in Santa R osa offers a garden setting.

FOOD

FOR

THOUGHT

creme. Top the pudding with the chocolate shell topping. Crumble graham crac kers o ver topping before it sets . Refrigerate a minimum of one to two hours before serving. Linda W yner is an attor ney in Walnut Cr eek by day , and an accomplished chef and “foodie” by choice. Direct your suggestions or questions to lwyner@claytonpioneer.com

What’s your Thanksgiving story?

Last year , I reminisced about the traditions , foibles, fun and recipes dev eloped over years of Thanksgiving celebrations in my household. This year , I’d lik e readers to contribute their stories , traditions and recipes. Brief anecdotes and ev en longer contributions (no more than 500 w ords) will be reviewed. If accepted, your submission will be published in the No v. 17 issue of the Pioneer . Please email me at

lwyner@claytonpioneer.com

School program needs business volunteers to talk to kids about work

Neptune Society offers dignified alternatives to traditional burial Clayton resident Ironda Long has spent the last 20 years helping families in crisis o ver the death of a loved one. As the Walnut Creek Branch director of the Neptune Society of Northern Califor nia, Long deals with the o verwhelming effects of dying and death on families. “It’s really rewarding to lift some of the burden and take away the stress,” she says. While most of us sh y a way from working in an environment where sadness and loss is prev alent, Long faces eac h new da y with compassion, knowledge, expertise and confidence. “Here, there is no pressure and there are plenty of choices,” she explains. The Ne ptune Society w as founded in 1973 and has ser ved tens of thousands of people over the years . With its emphasis on simplicity and dignity in funeral arrangements, the society offers families an affordable alter native to traditional burials. The Society owns and operates its o wn crematories with highly-trained employees and offers an opportunity for families to pre-plan and pre-fund their own cremation. “We tak e families do wn the pathway and tr y to remain calm and focused,” says Long. That pathw ay focuses on cremation and the v arious serv-

LINDA WYNER

Families can also opt for traditional memorial ser vices and certain religious customs . “Whatever you need, we’re here to serve,” says Long. For the W alnut Creek branch, one of 12 in Nor thern California, Long hand-pic ks each staff member. She requires a unique balance of compassion and administrative prowess. She admits the combination is hard to find but cr ucial to the w ay her office is managed. “You ha ve to be caring and compassionate, detail-oriented and ha ve ex cellent administrative skills,” Long notes. See ad page B8 or visit www.Neptune-Society.com.

KAPOW, which stands for Kids and the P ower of Work, returns for the eighth year to the Mt. Diablo School District. Business volunteers are needed to expand this program with its simple yet powerful philosophy - reach children when they are young to help prepare them for the 21st Century workplace. KAPOW is a nationally acclaimed program designed to inspire and educate elementar y school c hildren about w ork, and operates through par tnerships among businesses and schools. KAPOW’s professionally designed cur riculum allo ws business v olunteers to easily enter a second or third g rade classroom for one hour eac h month during the sc hool year to discuss their w ork; how math and English is used on the job; why problem solving and teambuilding is impor tant; and why it is impor tant to succeed in school. Interested in joining in the KAPOW fun? Please contact us as soon as possible , Felicia Olivieri, KAPOW Coordinator, at (925)676-9695 or piba@aol.com.

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Page A12

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

September 22, 2006

Revamp your yard with fall plantings

NICOLE HACKETT

GARDEN GIRL As the weather cools and the days become slightly shor ter, the g ardening bug bites our Clayton V alley residents . Yet again the planting begins , with most of the same enthusiasm as when spring fever hits. Autumn planting is the new spring. The only difference is that plants installed during spring are c hosen with f lower color as a main motivator. After the bare winter , gardeners cra ve f lowers. But the motivation of the fall g ardener is the promise of establishing the root, without promoting any real top g rowth. This creates more surging g rowth when spring rolls around again. Major plant installations are often done this time of year. We have helped sev eral homeo wners update their curb appeal recently by removing tired landscapes and gi ving sug gestions for new foundation plants , ornamental trees and staple perennials. Revamping a front yard gives the homeowner an oppor tunity to re-establish the bones and framing of the home and its assets. Since most neighborhoods and homes ha ve their own style , it is a g reat idea to carry around a photo of the front yard and its planting areas to recei ve personalized sug gestions. This will sa ve v aluable time and make your plant shopping less confusing. Front yards need a balance of plants. You must have deciduous plants suppor ted b y ev ergreens. Framing windo ws and entryways has to be considered, as well as focusing on leaf and flower color. Trees also need to be care-

fully planned. They are the greatest decision for the homeowner, because they are usually the most expensi ve installation. They will g row the larg est and cost the most to remo ve if the wrong c hoice is made , so choose wisely. In our climate, a lot of trees do well. Most trees installed b y Clayton Valley residents will be of the deciduous nature , meaning they will loose their lea ves. The trees are classified by shape, with the U-shaped trees g row-

tree to create an island around the trunk. This will help prevent the c hance of lawn mo wer or weed-eater damage to the trunk. Rounded-head trees include the ev ergreen called Tristiana Elegans, with its oli ve-type leaves and mahog any, peeling bark and m y personal fa vorite, Chinese Pistache variety Keith Davey. It has the most dramatic , reliable fall color a vailable, considering our mild winters. Both of these trees w ould look g reat in the center of the

THE BUTTERFLY FRIENDLY Lantana is a staple in Clayton gardens

ing taller than wide. This shape is an ex cellent framing or proper ty line tree . The R aywood Ash and redleafed Flowering Plum are two popular U-shaped selections . One is v alued for the fall color and the other for the spring flower, and both are g reat in Clayton Valley gardens. Canopy-shaped trees ha ve large heads that ev entually can be used for shade . This tree would be installed in the center of a larg e landscape , allowing room for the head to g row. The Chinese Ev ergreen Elm is an ex cellent, fast-growing canopy tree . If installing in your lawn area, remove the grass from around the base of the

lawn or topping a ber m. Consider a round tree selection if your home is a single story or elevated from the curb. Ornamental trees to consider are Crape Myr tles, Japanese Maples and Weeping Flowering Cher ries. All are desirable for shape , fall color or f lower po wer. They provide little initial shade but are valued for their beauty. Foundation plants are the shrubs of the landscape . They develop shape and define planting beds, walkways and borders. The homeowner is usually looking for evergreen plants to fulfill their foundation plant requirements. Comprosma, commonly called the mirror plant , has

Randy Glasbergen

shiny foliag e made up of an unusual v ariegation. Some leaves are green and cream, others are pink and g reen. This flexible-stemmed shr ub can help soften harsh corners. Loropedalum is a fring eflower plant. This evergreen has an un usual g rowth style , with more shape and drama than most ev ergreens. Small, round leaves can be g reen, burgundy or bi-color. Flowers are found in spring and again in fall. They are fringe-shaped white or pink, depending on the selection. Viburnum compacta is a basic landscape foundation plant with a sturdy , broad, green leaf and familiar, flat, white f lowers. This plant is ex cellent for framing beds under windows. Staple perennials are the handful of basic plants that provide a blast of color. Mexican sage is a Cla yton Valley garden standard. The g ray foliag e grows tall during the summer’ s heat, and the pur ple spiking flowers last long through winter. Sea Lavender is another recognizable selection. Lettuce-like, base foliag e is topped with stems suppor ting dark pur ple, broccoli-shaped f lower clusters tipped with white . This plant is ever-blooming but shor t-lived. You can enjo y them for fi ve to six years, then replace. Lantana is another staple perennial, with trailing or bush varieties, purples, yellows, bicolors or white. They are all colorful, heat-loving and butterf lyfriendly. Of course there are other selections to consider , so y ou need to see what appeals to you. As always, install plants with planting mix or soil amendment, dig sizable holes and remo ve sticky clay. Fall plantings should include a root-stimulating fertilizer and a top dressing of mulch. Take before and after photos of your landscape . That w ay, you can really appreciate y our curb appeal. Nicole is the Garden Girl at R&M Pool, Patio and Garden Contact her with questions, comments or sug gestions at gardengirl@claytonpioneer.com

Dan Rosendich

“If you want to buy or sell a home in 10 years call us!” “But...if you want to buy or sell a home today, then call our Dad!”

925-673-9164 Bill Calkins

Clayton Resident & Neighbor Helping People Find Their Way Home!

Ask about our Special Programs for Buyers & Sellers

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Call us for all your woodworking needs - kitchen cabinets, complete remodels, refacing, home offices, & bathrooms. “We are very pleased with the results and quality of workmanship of our cabinets. Bob willingly worked with us to incorporate our personal needs and ideas into the over-all design.” -Ben & Carol Shuey

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At Intero, we begin and end each day with one goal: to provide our clients with the finest customer service available in real estate. Every Intero real estate professional is guided by principles of trust, respect and integrity.

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· 672-0207

September 22, 2006

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer .com

Now through Oct. 28

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Performances

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Page A13

Red Hatters face 50 and beyond with style and wit “Old age is no place for sissies .” – Bette Davis What star ted out six years ago as fi ve friends g etting dressed up for after noon tea has created an enor mous org anization of more than 600,000 members in all 50 states , plus tw o dozen foreign countries . The Red Hats are here – and their ranks are growing by the day. On any gi ven week, you can see them strolling into Englund’s Tea Cottage, wearing red and pur ple as their symbol. Shoppers stop and stare as the feather boas, huge red hats and bright pur ple g owns as they float by like royalty. Each chapter boasts a queen, usually w earing a tiara as she leads the parade inside for the monthly meeting over afternoon tea. Once inside, the ladies find a table set for them with special Red Hat dishes . Plates, cups, saucers and teacups emblazoned with red hats and pur ple boas adorn each place and are also for sale in the gift shop. Each g roup has a name – and the crazier , the better . There’s the Red Hat Hotties, the Scarlet Ladies and the Fabulously Frumpy But Friendly Fanatics, to name a few. Founder Sue Ellen Cooper , the “Exalted Queen Mother” as she is fondly kno wn, is as sur-

PAM BARNETT

TEA

More than 600,000 over 50 women don sometimes outlandish red hats as a symbol of growing old with fearless abandon.

prised as any one at ho w quickly the R ed Hat frenzy has spread. “Women in our culture are petrified of getting older ,” says Cooper. “I decided, as I g ot older, that I w anted to be a funky old lady . It’s better to be funky than to be boring. “As a R ed Hatter, we’re saying, ‘We’re not dead. We’re not irrelevant. We are still useful, attractive and worthy.’ ” Cooper based her idea on one of her fa vorite poems , “Warning” by J enny J oseph. In the poem, the nar rator v ows that, as she ag es, she will w ear purple and a clashing red hat, and spend her pension on

brandy, summer gloves and satin sandals. “I shall go out in my slippers in the rain,” Joseph writes. “And pick the f lowers in other people’s gardens. And learn to spit!” Admittance to a R ed Hat chapter is g ained upon the 50th birthday. Although w omen 45 and older ma y join, they w ear lavender and pink to meetings until reaching 50. There are no written b y-laws or guidelines for the R ed Hat Society and there is only one rule: Have fun. Cooper does ha ve a mission statement, though. “We believ e that silliness is the comedy relief

FOR YOU

of life, and since w e’re all in it together, we might as w ell join red-gloved hands and g o for the gusto together.” The group’s founder says the overwhelming response and success of what star ted as a tea party for her girlfriends is evidence that w omen cra ve eac h other’s company and suppor t even more as they g row older. “Red Hatting is the tea parties we used to do when we were little. It’s the rec kless abandon we felt riding the mer ry-goround, or ho w w e used to feel like the world was such a beautifully happy place ,” says Cooper. “We can play dress up and drink tea and catc h up on all the silly things that happen to us from month to month.” So, next time y ou see those “kooky” ladies in red hats , remind y ourself that w e could all use a little fun, a cup of tea and some camaraderie in these crazy, busy lives we’re living. Pam Bar nett was an Eng lish major in college and a teacher before becoming co-owner with Sally Eng lund of Englund’s T ea Cottage in the Clayton Station. Email her at Pammbarnett@aol.com

CTA delivers high energy hit in Footloose TAMARA STEINER Clayton Pioneer

What happens when a street smart Chicago teenager, recently abandoned b y a father who went off “to find himself ,” is suddenly plunk ed do wn in a backwater, Bible-belt, laced up town r uled with an iron will b y the local preac her, and where dancing is actually ag ainst the law? He dances , of course. And, being a teenag er, he rebels , going toe to toe with the preacher, the principal and the town council. CTA’s current production of Footloose, the musical , opened last week with an energ etic and talented cast of singers and dancers who will make even the most ardent Mozar t fan fall in love with roc k. This is roc k music where y ou can actually understand the lyrics and recognize a melody line the second time you hear it. In the first few min utes of the sho w in a frenzy of song and dance, we are introduced to everyone in town. In the title song, we meet the kids on the street and in “On Any Sunda y” we meet the preacher and the to wnsfolk in

Photo courtesy of Jean-Francois Revon

CTA’s Footloose, the musical, has all the songs from the 1984 movie starring Kevin Bacon and several new ones created for the stage musical.

Bomont and see who will square off against who. Ultimately, in Bomont, the rules c hange, minds open, teenagers kiss , marriages are saved and ev eryone dances . Predictable? Y es, but nonetheless delightful and refreshing. CTA, now in its fifth season,

has consistently presented high Footloose quality theater and does not disappoint. Directed b y the company’ s artistic director , Claire Yarrington and making the most of a tiny theater , the cast and a five piece orc hestra deli ver an overall strong sho w. that will

have y ou w anting to “kic k off your Sunda y shoes” and “cut footloose.” Footloose plays T hursdays and F ridays at 8 p .m. and Saturdays at 2 and 8 p .m. Sept. 15 through Oct. 28. For tic ket information, call (925) 9440597.

Cruise Fair & One Week Cruise Sale Saturday, Sept. 23 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Visit our Cruise Fair during the Fine Arts Fair on Locust Street across from Regional Center for the Arts Special Prices & Amenities Meet the Cruise Line Representatives

One Week Cruise Sale Sept. 23 to Sept. 29

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CST 2074362-40

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WALNUT CREEK - NORTHGATE EQUESTRIAN CENTER. 3 Bedroom 2 Bath Updated Townhome Situated in Northgate Equestrian Center.Views of the Beautiful Sun-Filled Atruim from both the Living & Family rooms, Wine Cellar , 2 Car Garage, Built in Library,Desk & Entertainment Center, V Seperate Laundry/ Tack Room, with Outside Entrance. Redwood Deck with Builtin planters, Seating Area and Builtin Stainless Barbeque and Storage Center, with views of the Open S pace. No rear neighbors, backs to Shell Ridge Open S pace. HOA includes Pool, Tennis Courts, & Greenbelt. Extra Fees for Horse Boarding in the Barn, that include use of two turnout s, & Covered Arena. Don't Miss Out on This Opportunity to Enjoy Having it All !! Your Horse, Immediate Trail Access, & Walnut Creek Schools, All for an Unbelievable Price.

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Walnut Creek office, 1280 Civic Dr., Suite 200, Walnut Creek, CA 94596 (925) 280-8500

Page A14

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

September 22, 2006

georgevujnovich.com

Trust your home to

GEORGE VUJNOVICH , Broker Helping friends, neighbors and newcomers buy and sell their homes since 1979

Each Office Is Independently Owned & Operated.

Tel: (925) 672-4433 6160 Center Street, Suite E, Clayton 94517

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situated on a quiet court! 5 bedrooms + a den, 2.5 baths, approx. 3,820sf & 3 car garage. Diagonal laid tile floors in entry & kitchen. Upgrades incl: crown moulding, window trim, plantation shutters & wood blinds. Expanded family room with fireplace & media nook. Gourmet kitchen features tile counters & island with decorative accents, upgraded cabinets & pantry. Spacious master suite. Pool size private lot features expansive lawn area, vibrant professional landscape & custom salt washed patio with trellis cover. $1,069,000

open space! Open floor plan features 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, approx. 1,816sf. Large gourmet kitchen with tile counters, oak cabinets & pantry adjoins family room with fireplace. Formal living & dining room. Spacious master suite looks out to yard & open space. Professionally landscaped lot offers a patio, nice lawn area &a serene quiet setting. $695,000 PEACOCK CREEK AT OAKHURST COUNTRY CLUB!

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179 Mountaire Pkwy 3016 Windmill Canyon Dr 518 Mt. Dell Dr 336 Mt. Washington Wy 1820 Eagle Peak Ave 5861 Caulfield Drive 320 Saclan Terrace 239 Jeffry Ranch Place 329 Ahwanee Lane 54 Marquette Ct 821 Savignon Ct 1016 Tiffin Dr 52 La Honda Ct 19 Barcelona Wy 31 Nottingham Pl 38 Jalalon Pl 315 Windmill Canyon 5155 Keller Ridge Dr 632 Julpun Loop 1000 Panadero Way 109 Forest Hill Drive 2 Nottingham Circle 1824 Ohlone Heights 328 Ahwanee Lane 635 Mt. Duncan Drive 1049 Kenston Drive 303 Saclan Terrace 3405 Coyote Circle 365 Blue Oak Lane 202 Round House Pl 1391 Yosemite Circle 3905 Coyote Cir 711 Acorn Drive 235 Mountaire Pkwy 1131 Peacock Creek Dr 32 Jalalon Place 1291 Shell Circle 5640 Southbrook Dr 4021 Hummingbird Wy 1328 Shell Lane 1126 Peacock Creek Dr 1450 Yosemite Cir

PRICE $700,000 $640,000 $575,000 $730,000 $775,000 $835,000 $637,900 $725,000 $975,000 $680,000 $795,000 $816,500 $825,000 $800,000 $890,000 $670,000 $640,000 $769,500 $660,000 $725,000 $1,039,000 $780,000 $780,000 $1,198,000 $940,000 $940,000 $659,980 $495,000 $1,100,000 $610,000 $690,000 $455,000 $1,055,000 $885,000 $1,085,000 $524,000 $625,000 $775,000 $839,00 $539,000 $1,265,000 $695,000

SALE DATE

09/08/06 09/08/06 09/07/06 09/07/06 08/31/06 08/31/06 08/31/06 08/31/06 08/24/06 08/23/06 08/23/06 08/22/06 08/16/06 08/15/06 08/14/06 08/11/06 08/10/06 08/10/06 08/03/06 08/02/06 08/01/06 07/28/06 07/27/06 07/26/06 07/21/06 07/20/06 07/18/06 07/11/06 07/07/06 07/07/06 06/30/06 06/29/06 06/28/06 06/26/06 06/26/06 06/25/06 06/23/06 06/23/06 06/17/06 06/15/06 06/09/06 06/08/06

1,600 1,493 1,658 1,740 2,313 2,050 1,749 1,810 2,944 1,568 2,052 1,815 2,390 2,324 2,262 1,939 1,501 2,313 1,904 1,501 2,700 2,088 2,313 3,416 2,960 2,807 1,991 1,252 2,981 1,749 1,734 1,026 2,836 2,960 2,748 1,235 1,709 1,986 2,315 1,430 3,820 1,804

BED/BATH 3/2 3/2 3/2 4/2 4/2.5 4/2 3/2.5 4/2 4/2.5 4/2 4/2.5 3/2 4/2.5 5/2.5 4/2.5 3/2.5 3/2 4/2.5 3/2.5 3/2.5 3/2.5 4/2 4/2.5 4/3.5 5/3 4/2 3/2.5 2/2.5 4/2.5 3/2.5 3/1.5 2/2 3/3 5/3 4/2 2/2 3/3 4/2 4/2.5 3/2.5 4/2.5 3/2

CLAYTON PIONEER September 22, 2006

Section B

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

Page B1

Whitefish is a picture perfect spot for a family v acation thriving music scene. Mountain biking, hiking and even a walk in the trees are other epic opportunities to g et outside and enjo y some of Mother Nature’s best stuff. So whether y ou w ant to explore the local lakes or rivers, hike to the summit of Big Mountain (elev ation 7,000) or just hang out do wntown and relax with some of the locals , Whitefish pro ves that a to wn just under five square miles can provide enough oppor tunities for winter and summer enjo yment to k eep visitors coming back for years to come. Having spent time there during all four seasons , I personally guarantee this destination is a picture-perfect spot for your next family vacation.

KEVIN PARKER

HIKER’S HAVEN It has become a yearly pilgrimage for the P arker family to pac k up our g ear and head out to Montana for a weeklong adventure on a 90-acre ranc h between Missoula and Kalispell. With a prime location near Flathead Lake, this home base has pro ven to be an ex cellent spot to explore the outdoor recreational oppor tunities in northern Montana. In past years, I have written about kayaking on the Flathead River and a trip up to Glacier National Park, but I figured it was high time to visit the to wn of Whitefish. Located 55 miles south of the Canadian border, Whitefish is a ski to wn located adjacent to Big Mountain Ski R esort. The ski resor t has 11 lifts and 91 trails. It doesn’t see much in the w ay of crowds ev en on holiday ski weekends. So with tons of snow and an average January temperature of 15 to 30 degrees, this is definitely the place to be if winter sports are your thing. Summer in Whitefish, how-

For more information on this hike or other outdoor experiences , contact Ke vin at hiker@claytonpioneer.com

DESTINATION: WHITEFISH, MONTANA

Travel: Fly into K alispell (Glacier Park International Airport) Town F acts: Elevation, 3,033 ft. Population, about 6,500. Median Age, 37.3. Recreation: Skiing, boating, kayaking, golf, horseback riding, hiking, fishing, hunting, camping, biking, rock climbing and dozens more outdoor activities. For mor e inf ormation: Big Mountain Ski R esort, w w w. b i g m t n . c o m . Whitefish Chamber of Commerce, www.whitefishchamber.com. Whitefish W eather, www.wrh.noaa.gov.

Photos by Kevin Parker/Clayton Pioneer

KAYAKING

ON THE

FLATHEAD RIVER is only one of the many outdoor joys you can find in the Whitefish area.

ever, offers m uch more in the way of outdoor recreation – with trails , lakes and ri vers in and around the do wntown area. One of my favorite places within the city limits is Whitefish Lake. In an area kno wn as “city beach,” locals and visitors can swim, boat, kayak and just hang around the sandy beac h area. There is also a waterfront park with stretc hes of lawn, picnic tables and tons of trees that provide shade throughout the day.

The lak e is fed b y Swift Creek, Lazy Creek and Hellroaring Creek – all of which provide excellent fishing for cutthroat trout, rainbow trout, perch, pike and bass . Other lak es located within an easy drive of Whitefish include Flathead Lak e, Swan Lak e, Lake Bitter root and Ec ho Lake. The do wntown area is a series of square bloc ks, with Central Avenue being the focal point. A few fa vorite stops include MacKenzie River Pizza

Company (for a hear ty lunc h), Montana Coffee Traders (for a stiff cup of joe), Montana Tom’s (for a jar of huckleberry jam) and the Bulldog Saloon (for a cold one on a hot da y). When the snow melts at Big Mountain R esort, the blooming wildflowers reveal a hot list of summer adv enture acti vities. Most might not know that one of the best views of the jagged peaks of Glacier National P ark is actually from the summit of Big Mountain. This less-w orn trail is a secret

for hikers and bik ers searching for panoramic views without the cro wds in Glacier . The gondola and select c hairlifts run J une 17 to Se pt. 10 for those who w ant an easier w ay to the top. All of the trails rev eal wildlife, bear grass, wildflowers and leg endary huc kleberries, which can be pic ked from J uly into early Se ptember. Free “Summit Concer t F ridays,” complete with live music, good food and drink June 30 to Sept. 1, help suppor t W hitefish’s

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rom the city to the country, the East Bay Area is a place full of surprises. Just ask longtime resident and local real estate professional, Lynne French. For her, it provides the ideal setting for some of her favorite hobbies, which include golf, hiking, jogging and horseback riding. “I discover something new here every day,” Lynne says. “That’s why I take such great pride and joy in helping others make the most of their real estate opportunities in the East Bay Area.” With her straightforward determination and in-depth knowledge

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Page B2

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

September 22, 2006

Clayton Sports New courts, new coaches for CVHS girls tennis

Tamara Steiner/Clayton Pioneer

Standing from left: Christine Walsh, Stephanie Monterroza, Mandy Pike, Stacy Carlson, Celeste Piper, Aline Nava, Moriah Doman, Asya Tabdili, Liz Castel, Basma Khairy, Liz Wentling, Ally Tippery, Jessilynn Chaudoir. Kneeling: Captain Katie Chirco, Coach Suzanne Beck and Co-Captain Megan Roberson. BEV BRITTON Clayton Pioneer

After a year on the road, the Clayton Valley High School girls tennis team is happy to be bac k home – on six new courts on the Concord campus. “Because the cour ts were in such a state of disrepair, all 16 matches had to be pla yed away last year ,” says new coac h Suzanne Beck. “It’s a hug e disadvantage, and it’ s time-consuming.” “There w ere crac ks through all the lines and weeds growing – and they w ere crook ed,” team captain K atie Chirco recalls . “I’m really glad to ha ve the new courts for my senior year.” “Last year , they w ere tough to pla y on, ” adds co-captain Megan R oberson. “You feel more lik e a tennis pla yer here , and it really mak es you a better player.” According to athletic director Pat Middendorf, the fact that all the other teams g ot together last year and refused to pla y matches at CV was the fuel needed to g et the sc hool district’ s appro val of new courts. The Eagles girls team also w ent before the sc hool board to seek funding. The six cour ts w ere rebuilt from the g round up , including new fencing and a storag e facility, at a cost of $500,000. “They are really the nicest high sc hool tennis cour ts I’v e seen, ” says

Middendorf, who notes that the old cour ts really hadn ’t had any maintenance since the sc hool opened in 1958. In order to keep the courts in top condition, they will remain locked when not in use b y the school. “We’d like to ha ve them open for the public to play,” says Middendorf, “but that’s the only way w e can figure out to k eep the skateboarders out.” The players’ parents and the community at larg e also ha ve pitched in to help make this season a success . Team fund-raising, along with a $2,000 g rant from the Cla yton Business and Community Association (CBCA), helped purchased a ball machine, scorecards, balls, ball hoppers and tubes , visors, practice T-shirts and jump ropes. At the Se pt. 11 practice, the first with the ball mac hine, Beck used it to r un the girls through drills – while offering encouragements suc h as , “Wrap y ourself around that racquet ev ery time,” “I want you to attack that ball. This isn’t a matc h – g o for it!” and “Stay low. Stay focused. You’ll be a better pla yer because of this.” The Clayton resident is excited about taking on her first lead coaching position, after helping out with the JV team last year. “I love working with the girls. I love tennis. And I feel like I have time in my life to do this,” says Beck. Her experience comes

straight from the cour ts. She’s played adult league tennis with the United States T ennis Association (UST A) out of Oakhurst Countr y Club in Clayton for the last eight years and contin ues taking lessons from Oakhurst tennis professionals Calvin T hompson and Joe Sablan. She also has taught g roup exercise classes for many years at Chevron’s cor porate facility and at Mavericks, both in Concord. “I’m so ex cited about her , you can ’t believ e,” says Middendorf. “Our prog ram has

done a 180 deg ree tur naround since the moment she walked on the court.” Middendorf also calls new assistant coac h Ric k Or tega “top-notch.” Ortega coac hed the boys tennis team last year at Concord High, and this spring, he’ll lead the Eagles bo ys team with Bec k as his assistant. He also coac hed with the juniors program at Oakhurst this summer. Ortega w as una vailable for comment, but Bec k credits the Oakhurst program for the depth of her junior varsity team. “They

are v ery experienced and w ellread in tennis ,” she sa ys of the freshman players. “We have really established a strong link with Oakhurst, ” notes Middendorf , “and they’ll have a strong feeder prog ram for us.” For the first time , the Oakhurst girls 15 and girls 18 won the UST A’s East Ba y di vision this summer, earning berths

See Tennis, page B4

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September 22, 2006

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

Clayton Sports Katie Chirco Favorite Subject: English Favorite Music: I don’t really have a favorite – I like everything Favorite Food: Mexican Favorite professional tennis player: Andy Roddick Other activities: Just hanging out with my friends

PIONEER ATHLETE SPOTLIGHT TENNIS PLAYER PUTS A GOOD SPIN ON LIFE

Clayton resident K atie Chirco tak es her role as captain of the Cla yton V alley High tennis team seriously. “I want to help the coaches and the parents and just be a role model for the team, helping them impro ve their skills ,” she says with a sh y smile. Her good friend, co-captain Megan Roberson, agrees with that assessment of their responsibilities. Coach Suzanne Bec k believes Katie is a natural role model. “Katie is extremely mature for her years ,” Beck notes. “And she’s friendly with everyone.” Katie became interested in tennis in the eighth grade, after a friend encourag ed her to play. Her favorite stroke is her forehand, while she hopes to improve on the strength and

KATIE CHIRCO consistency of her ser ve this year. Calvin T hompson, the head pro at Oakhurst Countr y Club, says Katie has a great allaround g ame. “She hits w ell, with g ood top spin off both sides,” he says, adding that her net g ame has impro ved lately. “She’s not afraid to come in to the net in singles.” Thompson calls her a “fierce competitor,” but notes: “She’s just quiet about it.” “She’s a v ery competiti ve, yet team pla yer,” says Bec k. “She’s easy to w ork with and takes instruction well.” In addition to pla ying at CV and on the girls 18 team at Oakhurst, she also sometimes hits with her 29-year -old brother Scott. As to who wins:

“It’s a toss-up.” Katie, who is entering her fourth season of varsity tennis, prefers singles over doubles. “I like to be able to move around the cour t. I just think that it’ s easier to play singles,” she says. The 17-year -old Cla yton native also dives for the Eagles. Her favorite dive is a front one and a half. In her younger days, she participated in competitive gymnastics. With new coac hes Bec k and Ric k Or tega on board, Katie is optimistic that the tennis team will impro ve upon last year’ s fifth place ranking . “I think they are g oing to be really good for the team, and I think w e’re g oing to do w ell because of them,” Katie says.

The Clayton Pioneer spotlights a local y outh athlete from our circulation area in the second issue each month. If you are a coach or an administrator and would like to nominate a young person (under 20 years of age) for the R occo’s Athlete Spotlight, please send infor mation to sports@claytonpioneer.com or fax to 672-6580. Nomination deadline for our Oct. 20 issue is Sunday, Oct. 8.

Ketchup and divots go hand in hand DAVE GRAY GRAY ON GOLF Golfers of the uni verse…. Listen up. There is an e pidemic polluting our g olf courses, and it’s caused b y the thoughtless . It’s the old r ule of cause and effect. The cause? I wish I knew. The effect is on all who are thoughtful. All who are thoughtful and considerate of others; all who li ve their li ves demonstrating thoughtfulness

and respect for others; all who love the g ame because it oozes with honesty and courtesy. The e pidemic I mentioned earlier is the mess on the course after we have hit the ball. I wish I knew why divots are not filled and re placed; why sand traps are left un-rak ed; why ball marks on g reens are left unrepaired. Is it ignorance , or do we just not give a rat’s buttocks? Come on folks, for the love of a Mighty Casey; let’s star t cleaning up our messes. Here’s an analog y. It’s dinnertime at the kitc hen table . Your wife Mabel w ent to

Mudville’s with the kids . You’re on your own. So there y ou are. The w eenie y ou just boiled needs all the fixings on it, mustard, mayo, onions, and ketchup. But that plastic ketchup bottle is down to its last squir t. You shake it, twirl it, turn it upside down and fire that bad bo y at your wiener. Yep, we’ve all seen it, you’ve g ot enough k etchup splattered for the whole neighborhood to use . Even the parakeet took a hit! No w, here’s the punch line . Do y ou lea ve that mess for Mabel to find and

Page B3

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Page B4

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

September 22, 2006

It’s time for Office upg rades WILL CLANEY TECH TALK Has it been a while since you’ve purc hased Microsoft Office with W ord, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook or similar software? If you ha ven’t upgraded since Office 2000, you’re long o verdue. If you’re still r unning Office XP (Office 2002), it’s time to tak e a serious look at the cur rent state of the art systems. The technology world operates on its o wn, always-ticking, always-fast clock. Computer scientists, engineers, programmers and the ilk w ork 24/7 to bring you the latest and g reatest software. To them the w orld is on Internet time , like dog years , and sev en years can be a long, long time . If you ha ven’t upgraded since Office 2000, it’s been about 30 Inter net years since you’ve seen the light. With Microsoft Office 2007, each application component has a new user interface (UI) designed to mak e na vigating and using the softw are more intuitive. The first thing you will

notice is a new “ribbon” bar, replacing the familiar navigation (nav) bar. The nav bar holds items lik e File, Edit, View and for matting options like font, font size, paragraph and the like. The new ribbon bar is more contextual in nature. The ribbon c hanges editing tools as the focus of the information on the pag e changes. For example, if you are editing text on the pag e and y our cursor (focus) is in text, then text editing tools are more readily a vailable and tools used to edit g raphics are absent. If a graphic is inser ted on the pag e, then the text tools will be replaced with more g raphic functions. This c hange in focus allo ws the user to concentrate on what

is available to the job at hand. Since the familiar File , Edit, View, etc. names ha ve been removed from the ribbon, Microsoft re placed it with an “Office Button” that contains all these old fa vorites. This new UI is more result-orientated than previous versions. You also will note that the look and feel of each application tends to be more lik e the Internet. When g etting star ted with a document, you will see things lik e Home , Insert and Page La yout on a set of tabs. Using the tabs creates and modifies documents faster. For example, one can quickly c hange the margin spacing with three clicks, rather than the old six clic ks and eight k eystrokes. (If this doesn ’t sound more Internet-like to you, you’re

in serious trouble , ol’ timer. Why, I remember a time ropin ’ cows bac k in Sarag ossa, ’twas ott one, maybe ott two …) Early next year , Microsoft will be releasing a new operating system called Vista. Because of the w ay most people g ain user knowledge (i.e., trial and er ror), the adv ance lear ning time will be impor tant, imperative, key, essential, necessary, compulsory and cr ucial in lear ning new applications and getting familiar with their distinct design. So get started. One of the cool new features I lik e is the interacti ve screen preview. When you select a piece of text and scroll o ver differing fonts, you can see the results on screen as a preview of what the font will look lik e if you actually selected it. This saves time making font c hanges and reduces the need to select a font, reselect it and re place it with another until y ou’re satisfied. If it’s been a while since you upg raded y our computer systems, a new da wn is approaching on Inter net time . If you’re still r unning Office 2000 (released in 1999), take a deep breath and enter the 21st century. Will Claney is the owner and operator of Computers USA! in the Clayton Station. Contact him at 925-672-9989.

Tennis, from page B2 for here,” adds another player, as they all talk at once about the fun they had on the cour ts this past summer. Another freshman pla yer, Celeste Piper , made v arsity and is on Beck’s list of the players to watch this season. “She’s a great athlete and she plays bey ond her years – with her cour t a wareness and her strokes,” Beck reports. The No 1. doubles team of Asya Tabdili and M o r i a h D o m a n should also do w ell this New CVHS girls season, says the coac h. tennis coach, Suzanne Beck “They are

taking their game very seriously,” she says. “This early in the season, I can already see their game improving – and that’ s only going to get better.” The team w on their first match ag ainst Liber ty 5-2 on Sept. 5. The Eagles lost 0-7 on Sept. 7 ag ainst a tough squad from Carondelet. On Se pt. 12, they defeated Antioc h 4-3 and on Se pt. 14, they won all sev en Varsity lines against Pittsburg. Through her contacts at Oakhurst and in the community, Beck aims to improve team spirit with things lik e the new vibrant red visors and K-Swiss practice shirts. And Beck doesn’t just stand on the sidelines during practice. “I pla y with them. I think it’s really impor tant to g et out and hit with them.”

Golf, from page B3 clean up? Of course not! Because y ou lo ve her and are a responsible, thoughtful, and courteous husband, you take care of it. This little w eenie situation illustrates what I find on most golf courses I play. I’ve even seen it at a local countr y club, where members should be proud of

how their golf course looks. This game we play has rules. The USGA states in R ule 18, that when a pla yer’s ball is in play, if his par tner, or either of their caddies lifts or moves it, or touches it pur posely, (except with a club in the act of addressing it) or causes it to

Reem mood deelliinngg R Deecckkss D Ovveerrhhaannggss O Wiinnd doow wss//D Doooorrss W wnn M Moolld diinngg CCrroow diinngg SSiid m TTrriim

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She also believ es her o wn experiences on the cour ts helps her empathize with the pla yers. At the practice the da y before the Antioc h matc h, she advises the athletes to go into the match with open minds.

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move, the pla yer shall incur a penalty stroke. Have any of you ever had to hit a three w ood, 230 yards out of an un-repaired divot in the fairway? I guess you could foot w edge it out of the divot (whic h is c heating), or pray for a miracle. Golfers of the universe, this game we play has all the attributes our lives should witness for. If you sa y amen to this , let’s

start taking responsibility for our actions. I would rather walk off the g olf course kno wing that I had been a cour teous and respectful person to those behind me , than to ha ve shot the course record.

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September 22, 2006

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

Page B5

Clayton Community Calendar PLEASE SUBMIT YOUR CLAYTON COMMUNITY CALENDAR EVENTS BY 5 P.M., SEPT. 27 FOR THE OCT. 6 ISSUE. FAX TO 672-6580 OR E-MAIL calendar@claytonpioneer.com EVENTS & ENTERTAINMENT THROUGH SEPT. 30 Clayton's Classic Cars Display @ Clayton Historical Museum Wednesdays 2 - 4 p.m. and 6 - 8 p.m. and Sundays 2 - 4 p.m. Photographs and memorabilia of old Clayton cars or cars belonging to current Clayton residents are on display. Many old license plates are shown. Clayton Historical Society Museum, 6101 Main Street, Clayton, 672-0240. THROUGH OCT. 7 Footloose: The Musical @ CTA Crossroads Theatre Based on the 1984 hit movie, Footloose tells the story of a free-spirited teen, Ren, who moves to a town where dancing is outlawed. With the support of the teenagers in town Ren takes on small-town small-mindedness to shake up the community. An exuberant story of families, healing and dancing. CTA Crossroads Theatre, 1277 Boulevard Way, Walnut Creek, 925-9440597, www.ctacrossroads.org.

OCT. 18 Pajama Party "Mummy's Little Monster" Stories and Craft @ Clayton Community Library 7 p.m. Wear your snuggly jammies to this Halloween themed story and craft program. Recommended for 3 to 6 year olds. Registration required. 6730659, Clayton Community Library, 6125 Clayton Road, Clayton.

CLUBS & ORGANIZATIONS SEPT. 26, OCT. 3, 10, 17 Kiwanis Club of Walnut Creek 12 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. Meetings every Tues. All are invited to check us out and be our guest for lunch. Massimo’s Ristorante, 1604 Locust St., Walnut Creek. for more information call Sam Totah, 941-1536.

THROUGH NOV. 16 Patty Cakes and Picture Book Time @ Clayton Community Library Patty Cakes - 11 a.m. Tuesdays, story time for birth to 3 years. No registration required. Picture Book Time - 11 a.m. Thursdays, child may attend without parent. For 3 to 5 year olds. No registration required. 673-0659, Clayton Community Library, 6125 Clayton Road, Clayton.

SEPT. 26, OCT. 10 Clayton Valley Woman's Club Meeting @ Holy Cross Lutheran Church 9:30 a.m. coffee, 10 a.m. meeting. Plans for the upcoming Clayton Valley Kitchen Tour on Oct. 21 will be discussed. Clayton Valley Woman's Club meets on the second and fourth Tues. of the month. CVWC is a non-profit, non-denominational service organization. Local charities benefit from the donations of time and money made by the club's members. For information, please call Shirley at 672-1163. Holy Cross Lutheran Church, 1092 Alberta Way, Concord.

SEPT. 25 Docent Training @ Lindsay Wildlife Museum Join Lindsay Wildlife Museum as a docent and you can teach children about the wonders of nature. No experience needed - just an interest in helping people learn about the local wildlife. Volunteers make a difference. Training starts Sept. 25 and lasts six weeks. Please call 925-627-2444.

SEPT. 27, OCT. 25 Blue Star Mom Meeting in Concord 6:30 p.m. Small group Blue Star Mom meetings held the 4th Wednesday of each month. Blue Star Moms is a support and service group for those serving in all branches of the Armed Forces. 1792 Elmhurst Lane, Concord. Call 676-3654 for information.

SEPT. 27 Classic Movie Night @ Clayton Community Library. 6:30 p.m. A hard-drinking, gambling boxer tries to get one last bout while raising his son. Please contact the library for more information. Clayton Community Library, 6125 Clayton Road, 673-0659.

SEPT. 28, OCT. 5, 12, 19, 26 Weights Watchers Weekly Meeting @ Contra Costa Farm Bureau 10 a.m.and 5:30 p.m. Weekly Weight Watchers weigh-in and meeting on Thurs.. 800-326-8450 x 2023.Contra Costa Farm Bureau, 5554 Clayton Rd., Concord.

SEPT. 28 Buchanan Field Airport Master Plan Meeting @ Crowne Plaza Hotel 7 p.m. Noise Alternatives and Environmental issues to be discussed Possible alternatives to mitigate noise impacts associated with future growth, and current environmental conditions and mitigation measures for environmental conditions that may be impacted by implementing master plan recommendations. Crowne Plaza Hotel, 45 John Glen Drive, Concord. For more information: Please call Beth Lee (925) 646-5722 or www.buchananfield-byronairports.org.

SEPT. 28, OCT. 5, 12 ,19 Rotary Club of Clayton Valley Concord Sunrise @ Oakhurst 7 a.m. Meets every Thurs. for breakfast meeting that usually features a speaker. www. claytonvalleyrotary.org Chuck Graham 689-7640. Oakhurst Country Club, 1001 Peacock Creek Drive, Clayton.

SEPT. 28 Autumn Palettes Show @Gallery Concord The show opens Thurs., with a reception Fri. Sept. 29 from 5 - 7 p.m. Please join the Artists in Residence for an evening reception of art, wine, hors d'oeuvres and music by the classical quintet Mistral. New watercolors by featured artist, Victoria Chiofalo, colored pencil by Marcia Ritz, raku pots with natural elements by Gail Ruvalcaba and new work by the Artists in Residence will be on exhibit. Gallery hours are Thurs. through Sun. 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. Gallery Concord, 1765 Galindo, Concord, (925) 691-6140. Free parking behind the Gallery accessed from Clayton Blvd. SEPT. 30 Fall Plant Sale @ Markham Garden Center, Concord 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. All Proceeds from plant sales benefit the Markham Nature Park and Arboretum. Join MRAS or renew your MRAS membership at the sale and receive two free one gallon plants of your choice. If you are a member you will receive a free one gallon plant with purchase, this sale only. Markham Garden Center 1202 La Vista Avenue, Concord, CA. 925681-2968. www.markhamarboretum.org. markham.arboretum@gmail.com. SEPT. 30 Saturday Matinee Movies @ Clayton Community Library 2 p.m. Watch G-rated gems at the Clayton Community Library. Movies perfect for kids or the entire family. Watch clay-animation at its best. Just in time for the giant vegetable competition, Wallace and his dog try to hunt down a pesky veggie invader who’s eating up the neighborhood gardens. No registration required. See library for a listing of the movies being shown. 673-0659, Clayton Community Library, 6125 Clayton Road, Clayton. OCT. 10 Clayton Knitters @ Clayton Community Library 3 - 5 p.m. Old hand at kniting or just starting? Come join like-minded folks for an afternoon at the library. Clayton Community Library, 6125 Clayton Road, Clayton. OCT. 11 Mt. Diablo Creek Watershed Planning Group Meeting @ Farm Bureau Hall 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. Michael Wright, Concord Reuse Project Director, will provide an update on the city's planning process for the Concord Naval Weapons Station and how the Mt. Diablo Creek Watershed Planning Group can participate. Discussion will include recommendations on parks and trails. No charge. For more information, contact Jessica Hamburger, Contra Costa Resource Conservation District, 925-672-6522 x118, jessica.hamburger@ca.nacdnet.net, www.ccrcd.org. Farm Bureau Hall, 5554 Clayton Rd., Concord.

SEPT. 30 AAUW Membership Luncheon and Fashion Show @ Concord Methodist Church 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. Complimentary salad luncheon and fashion show sponsored by J Jill's store of Walnut Creek. This event will be an opportunity for prospective members, or anyone interested in learning more about the Clayton AAUW, to meet active members and learn about several interesting activities which will be included in the 2006-2007 programs. All graduates of two or four year colleges are warmly invited to attend this event. For all questions or to RSVP, please call Mary Ann Hayes: 925 672-4391 or Sheila Driscoll: 925 672-7947. Concord Methodist Church, 1645 West Street. Concord. OCT. 3, NOV. 7 Knights of Columbus @ St. Agnes Parish Hall 7:30 p.m. Concord Council 6038 of Concord and Clayton holds its monthly meeting the first Tues. of each month. Monthly officers meeting is the last Tues. of each month at St. Agnes Parish Hall, at 7:30 p.m. We look forward to seeing our brother Knights there. St. Agnes Parish Hall on 3966 Chestnut Ave, Concord. OCT. 5, NOV. 2 Sons In Retirement @ Oakhurst Country Club 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. SIRs, which is dedicated to promoting the independence and dignity of retired men, has no initiation fees or dues. The only requirement, other than being a man who is retired from his primary employment or career, is attendance at the monthly luncheons. For more information about joining SIRs, Branch 19, call Al Brunner at 687-0594. Oakhurst Country Club, 1001 Peacock Creek Drive, Clayton. OCT. 17 Newcomers' Club Founder's Day Luncheon Oakhurst Country Club 11:45 a.m. The Newcomers' Club of Walnut Creek, a social organization for women established in 1961, will celebrate its 45th anniversary with a Founders' Day Luncheon. The luncheon will feature floral designer Jennifer Hildalgo from Orchard Nursery of Lafayette as the speaker. If you have questions about the club and would like more information, please call Membership Chairperson Vinita Ramsay at (925) 465-4961. Oakhurst Country Club, 1001 Peacock Creek Drive, Clayton.

BUSINESS & GOVERNMENT SEPT. 25 Trails and Landscape Committee Meeting @ Clayton Community Library 7 p.m. Because Measure M was voted down in 2005, the Landscape District will expire in June 2007. There will be no funds available for irrigation or maintenance of public landscape when that occurs. The public is invited to join us for these very important meetings. Clayton Community Library, 6125 Clayton Road.

SEPT. 26, OCT. 3, 10, 17 Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors Meeting @ County Administration Building 9 a.m. County Board of Supervisors holds regular weekly meetings Tues. mornings. Open to the public. www.co.contra-costa.ca.us 335-1900. County Administration Building, 651 Pine Street, Room 107, Martinez. SEPT. 26, OCT. 10, 24 Planning Commission Meeting @ Clayton Library 7p.m. City of Clayton Planning Commission meets 2nd and 4th Tues. of month. Open to the public. www.ci.clayton.ca.us 673-7304, Clayton Library Community Room, 6125 Clayton Road, Clayton. OCT. 3, 17 Clayton City Council Meeting @ Clayton Community Library 6 p.m. City Council meets on the first and third Tues. of the month. Open to the public. Agendas posted at the following locations: City Hall, 6000 Heritage Trail, Clayton, Ohm's Bulletin Board, 1028 Diablo St., Clayton, Clayton Community Library, 6125 Clayton Rd., Clayton. OCT. 8 Concord Mystery Book Club @ Concord Library 2:30 - 4 p.m. All mystery readers are invited to participate and explore a different genre each month. Group meets the second Sun. of the month. Concord Library, 2900 Salvio Street, Concord, 646-5455. OCT. 11 Newcomers' Club of Walnut Creek Building support and friendship for women new to the area. Are you looking for a way to make new friends, participate in fun activities and get acquainted with Walnut Creek and the Bay Area? Newcomers' Club of Walnut Creek provides this and more. We meet the needs of our active and growing membership. We meet for a welcome coffee the second Wed. of each month. For more information contact: Mindy Carson at 279-2295, Carroll Brooks at 935-7887, or after September 1, Membership Chairperson Vinita Ramsay at 465-4961. OCT. 11 Clayton Valley Garden Club 7 p.m. The Clayton Garden Club meets the second Wed.of the month. This month the meeting is at the Arundell residence, 121 Samuel Court, 6732043. Every meeting has an informative program concerning some aspect of gardening. Hands-on meeting. Get your hands dirty making a hypertufa garden trough. This molded concrete container can be made in almost any shape using common objects as the mold. Join jus for a creative Evening. Anyone interested in gardening is welcome at our meetings, Call Jeff at 672-7579 or Barry at 827-9540 for information. OCT. 12 Clayton Community Services Commission Meeting @ City Hall 7 p.m. City of Clayton Community Services Commission meets 2nd Thurs. of month. Open to the public. www.ci.clayton.ca.us 673-7304, Clayton City Hall Conference Room, 6000 HeritageTrail, Clayton. OCT. 19 Veterans of Foreign Wars Meeting @ Veterans Memorial Hall, Concord 6:30 - 7 p.m. is get acquainted time, 7 p.m. meeting. VFW meets the third Thurs. of the month. All Veterans of foreign wars are invited to attend. The VFW is here to support eligible Veterans and their families. Wives and daughters of eligible Veterans are invited to join the Ladies Auxiliary. Meetings are held at Veterans Memorial Hall, corner of Colfax and Willow Pass Road, Concord. (925) 255-3449. OCT. 26 CBCA (Clayton Business & Community Association) Meeting @ Oakhurst 6:30 p.m. Monthly dinner meeting, last non-holiday Thurs. of the month. Reservations due by Tuesday noon prior, 672-2272. John Rubiales, President. Oakhurst Country Club, 1001 Peacock Creek Drive, Clayton.

SCHOOLS AND EDUCATION OCT. 5 Parent Faculty Club Meeting @ Clayton Valley High School Library 7 p.m. Come to the first CVHS PFC meeting of the school year. Meet the Principal, Gary Swanson, and learn more about CVHS. If you have a topic you would like to see on the agenda, please contact President Melinda Moore at 672-0930 or e-mail melindammoore@yahoo.com. Clayton Valley High School, 1101 Alberta Way, Concord. OCT. 11 Parent Faculty Club Meeting @ Diablo View Middle School 7 p.m. Meeting to be held in the school library. All parents welcome. Diablo View Middle School, 300 Diablo View Lane, Clayton. OCT. 17 Parent Faculty Club Meeting @ Mt. Diablo Elementary 7p.m. in the library. Make a difference in your child's education. Childcare is provided. PFC meets the 3rd Tuesday of the month, except December. For items to be included on the agenda, contact Stacey Wickware 673-1999, the5wicks@sbcglobal.net or Kristy Smith 673-1795, kristinsmith@yahoo.com, PFC Co-Presidents. Watch website for details. http://www.mdusd.k12.ca.us/mountdiabloelementary/.

The Clayton Pioneer’s “Music Notes” columnist

Clayton’s own

Gifts that TASTE as GOOD as they LOOK

Jim Hudak Pianist and Composer For bookings and performances:

Visit our Website www.jhudak.com E-mail jimmydak@pacbell.net Piano CD’s available on his Brainstorm Records label

Call Or Write:

Brainstorm Records P.O. Box 488 Clayton, CA 94517 (925) 673-7293

www.cookiesbydesig n.co m Deborah & Anthony Nork Clayton Station, 5433A Clayton Rd.

® 925-524-9901 $5 off purchases $25 or mor e (excludes delivery) Cookies by Design. one coupon per customer, expires 10/06/06

Page B6

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

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

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

Dining Around For some truly out of the ordinary Mexican food, think outside the taco and head down Clayton Road to LOS CHIVOS at the corner of Bailey and Clayton Road. Here you will find such hard to find delectables as Carne con Nopales. Nopales are prickly pear cactus pads—and delicious…not something you’ll find at your local fast food stop or drive thru. Owner, Gonzalo Barajas, wants everything he serves to be fresh, perfectly cooked and authentic. Take his Chicken Mole, for instance. “It’s real mole,” says Barajas. Some people consider mole, a flavorful blend of chili powder, nuts and (believe it or not) chocolate, to be the national dish of Mexico. The menu is extensive. You’ll find several choices of tacos, tortas, quesadillas, burritos and tostadas along with America’s national dish...the burger. If shrimp is on your list of favorites, look no further than Los Chivos where you’ll find all kinds of shrimp dishes-- shrimp in garlic sauce, shrimp in hot sauce, shrimp fajitas, breaded shrimp, shrimp burritos and shrimp quesadillas. But, save room for dessert. You’ll want to top off your meal with a smooth flan or Arroz de leche (Mexican rice pudding flavored with cinnamon and raisins) or one of several other choices. This is a bright, comfortable, “make yourself at home” place to eat. Or, order ahead for take out. Prices range from $1.25 for a taco to $7.95 and $8.95 for a complete meal with rice and beans. Located at 4787 A Clayton Road, Los Chivos is open Mon.Fri. from 9:30 a.m. (stop by for a breakfast burrito) until 8:30 p.m., and Sun. 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Phone 680-0914. This is not your kid’s sub, and there’s nothing ordinary about

the gourmet sandwiches served up at the new GOURMET SUBS AND MORE. Owner, Sadie Rangel, had something special in mind when she opened her new sub shop next to the Shell station at Clayton Road and Ygnacio. First, the menu – you’ll find no less than 25 different sandwiches, served either “sub style” or “Panini” style and all calling for nothing but the freshest ingredients. Her menu is also “vegetarian and vegan friendly.” All subs are oven baked and all Paninis are grilled. For the meat lover in you try the Tri-Tip House Special—oven roasted trip tip served au-jus with provolone for $5.99. If you’re super hungry, size up to $7.99. And the list goes on…Chipotle Cheese Steak, Chicken Parmigiano, The Blue – oven roasted or smoked turkey breast, ham, bacon, avocado all topped with a blue cheese dressing. Or, how about a turkey breast with cranberry sauce and cream cheese. Panini lovers can have their sandwich with garlic, Cesar or ranch spread or basil, black olive and sun dried tomato pesto…all homemade. If you’re watching your carbs, dig into one of Sadie’s garden fresh salads. Try an Oriental Chicken Salad of grilled chicken breast with an Oriental dressing or an All American Albacore Tuna salad. All dressings are homemade. At this end of Clayton Road’s “fast food row,” this family owned and operated eatery is a welcome respite from MSG and deep fried “stuff.” Priced from $1.99 for a cup of homemade soup to $7.99 for the biggest Tri Tip Special, Gourmet Subs is as good for your wallet as it is for your health. Located at 5415 Clayton Road at the corner of Clayton Road and Ygnacio, Gourmet Subs is open Mon.-Sat. from

Fresh ingredients Everything homemade

Out of the ordinary Uncommonly good Authentic Mexican Cuisine

A rent Diffe cial Spe Day! Every

September 22, 2006

Dine In or Take Out Mon - Sat: 9:30 am - 8:30 pm Sun: 9:30 am - 5 pm

• Gourmet desserts and fine wines Very reasonable prices

4787-A Clayton Road

10:30 a.m. until 8:30 p.m. Closed on Sunday. If you want a special place for lunch or dinner, you might want to stop by PASTA PRIMAVERA at the corner of Clayton Road and Treat Blvd. in Concord. The dining room is charming with dark cherry wood chairs and tables and mirrored back wall. The menu is sure to please the most discriminating palate from the ardent pasta lover to the fresh fish and salad lovers. The Linguine with garlic and mushrooms in virgin olive oil will arrive at your table piping hot and smelling absolutely delicious and is sure to become the personal favorite of many. The cream of broccoli soup has a perfect texture and flavor that will live long in your memory. Another favorite is the seafood salad featuring shrimp and scallops on a bed of spinach in a warm lemon Dijon sun-dried tomato dressing. Prices are very reasonable which make Pasta Primavera a perfect choice for any occasion. This Sunday, treat yourself to brunch at LA VERANDA CAFE. This all inclusive Sunday Champagne Brunch will tempt you with some old favorites including a unique take on the old tried and true Joe’s Special-a scrumptious mix of sausage, spinach and eggs. And the Eggs Benedict will delight with its smooth and satiny Hollandaise. But there will be a few surprises, as well. Look for a light and luscious Chicken Piccata, chicken breast sauteed in white wine with lemon and capers or a gentle salmon with a light cream sauce. Salads will include fresh fruit and the personal favorite of many La Veranda fans, the Insalata Della Reina...baby greens with walnuts and gorgonzola tossed with balsamic vinegar and olive oil And those Sunday breakfast traditionalists will still be able to order eggs, omelets and buttermilk pancakes from the menu. All this is offered at $18 per

person, $9 for children 6-12 and free for children under 6. Price includes champagne or sparkling cider, choice of fresh fruit juice, dessert and coffee. Brunch is served from 10 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. La Veranda is open daily for lunch and dinner and serves a Northern Italian menu of pasta, pizza, chicken, veal and fish starting at $8.50 for Bruchetta with olive oil, fresh tomatoes, garlic and basil. Pasta dishes range from $9 for Penne All’arrabiata to $11.75 for Spaghettini Frutti di Mare. For reservations for brunch, lunch or dinner, call 524-0011. A little more on the casual side and a great place to take ROCCO’S the kids is RISTORANTE at 2909 Ygnacio Valley Road in Walnut Creek. Voted the best pizza in the Bay Area by a Contra Costa Times Reader Poll, Rocco’s serves up a killer house specialty. The Dominator, piled high with pepperoni, salami, mushrooms, ham, linguica, sausage and onions, is not for the faint of

25- Fibbed 26- Official examiner 27- Close friend 28- Supplements, with “out” 32- Amazes 33- Gaze fixedly 35- Stage gig

4425-F Treat Blvd. Concord, CA 94521

687-5300

www.pastaprimaveracafe.com

at the corner of Clayton Road and Bailey

heart. At $19.97, this large pizza will feed a small army. Rocco’s also has several choices of classic Italian pasta, homemade minestrone and several salads. All pasta dishes are served with fresh bread. Top your pasta dinner off with a glass of wine and you’re well fed and satisfied for well under $20 (tax and tip included.) Rocco’s opens

every day at 11 a.m. And, ROCCO’S NEW SPORTS BAR is now open. With a full bar, 12 big flat screen TVs and LIVE MUSIC, sports fans might just think they’ve found heaven. And for those who need a little break from sports, check out the beautiful new fresh water aquarium behind the bar. See you at Rocco’s.

Vegan & Vegetarian friendly 5415

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Sundays

11am - 3pm

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., 7 days a week

Banquet Rooms Patio Dining

Rocco’s New Sports Bar NOW Open

Locally owned by Rocco Biale & family

Full Bar Available

12 Flat Screens, 16 Draft Beers,

Team Parties

Watch all the games

Corporate Catering

8-10 out of market major league baseball games per night

2909 Ygnacio Valley Rd. at Oak Grove Rd. in Walnut Creek (925) 947-6105 • Fax (925) 947-6106 www.roccospizzeria.com

DOWN

16- Traditional passed-down knowledge 17- Female sheep 18- Travellers 20- Aromatic wood 22- Least polite 23- Hunter

Fine Italian dining with an extensive menu • Weekend Special - grilled steaks

Family Owned and Operated

36- Outer edge 37- Curve 38- Agent, briefly 39- The most heavily populated continent on Earth 41- One tenth, usually 43- Capital of Fiji 44- Word of comparison 45- Printing widths 46- French fashion designer 48- Young male horse 50- Kingdom in the Himalayas 51- Morals 54- Fragrant resin 55- Having three sides 57- Apart 61- Cry out 62- San Antonio landmark 63- Record with a VCR 64- Tree frog 65- Ascended 66- Organs used for sight

1- Thought 5- Old sailors 10- Reveal indiscreetly 14- Action word 15- Braid

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Mon. – Thurs. Co zy P fé 11:30 a.m. – 9 p.m. asta Pr avera Ca im Fri. 11:30 a.m. – 10 p.m. Sat. 12 noon – 10 p.m. / Sun. 4 p.m. – 9 p.m.

680-0914

Crossword Puzzle

ACROSS

joy An Italian En Fe

1- Thin layer 1- “___ had it!” 2- Condensed moisture 3- Before 4- Gathering of pus in body tissue 5- Arachnids 6- Communion table 7- Den 8- Metal, often used as a container 9- Aseptic 10- Fluid sac in animals 11- The ___ Ranger rode a horse called Silver 12- Collective word for intellectual pursuits 13- Of the highest quality

19- Regret 21- Self-esteem 23- Pertaining to Jews 24- Hemoglobin deficiency 25- Coniferous tree 26- Unit of wght in gemstones 27- Components 29- Currency unit of Czechoslovakia 30- Cricket team 31- Flower-part 34- Spoil 40- Accessory 41- Communications satellite

42- Level of command 43- Fill to surfeit 47- Bustle 49- Wood sorrel 50- Hold responsible 51- Engrave with acid 52- Salver 53- Small mountain 54- Ages 56- Biblical high priest 58- Method 59- Primate with a short t ail or no tail 60- Affirmative answer

Solution for 9/8 Crossword

September 22, 2006

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

CD Federal Credit Union Serving our members with a smile since 1954

Joining is easy - Call Jenn Irwin at (925) 825-0900 ext. 314 today! 1855 Second St., Concord, CA 94519

Earn more with a Certificate – only $1,000 minimum deposit! See our rates at www.cdfcu.org

Old-Fashioned Service with Modern Technology

To understand our marine habitat, start at the bottom “The r eal w ealth of the nation lies in the r esources of the ear th – soil, w ater, for ests, minerals and wildlife. T o utiliz e them for pr esent needs while ensuring their preservation for future generations r equires a delicately balanced and continuing pr ogram ….” – Rachel Carson, from “Lost Woods” As I beg an to explore in m y last column, there is a cor nucopia of life forms and biological production in the coastal ocean waters of California. That

richness of life fuels the robust marine food web, leading to the success of the marine mammals and their shark predators in our waters. But just ho w and wh y does the cor nucopia come to be? Why is there so much biological production and what suppor ts its continuance? It all star ts with the process of bringing dee per, nutrientrich waters up to the surface in a process known as upwelling. To understand this phenomenon, we need to consider some

physics, then some c hemistry and finally the biological responses to the ph ysics and chemistry. To prepare you for this, try a little experiment at home . Fill your bathtub half full of water. Then attempt to push the w ater to one side of the tub – from left to right or right to left. Can y ou g et the job done? Try pushing faster and harder . Any luck? Your lack of success is a direct outcome of the forces acting on water and how the liquid responds to those forces.

GERARD CAPRIULO

ECOFOCUS The bathtub acts as a larg e restricting basin, whose boundaries constrain the w ater contained within. When y ou push the water, the liquid momentarily piles up on the side of the bathtub facing the direction of

See EcoFocus, page B9

We can no longer deny the dominance of digital music

Morning weather on KTVU-Fox2 Mon.-Fri., 5 a.m. to 9 a.m.

Steve Paulson Clayton resident srpwx@sbcglobal.net (510) 874-0150

JIM HUDAK

MUSIC NOTES

700 Ygnacio Valley Rd., #360 Walnut Creek, CA 94596 Carol@carolkeanecpa.com (925) 937-5200 (925) 937-5202 fax www.carolkeanecpa.com

Page B7

You k eep hearing about them, seeing advertisements for them and reading about them in the business and enter tainment sections of the newspapers . Digital downloads are no longer the future of the m usic business, they are the essence of the music business right now. Many of us are already there. We don’t claim to be exper ts in the field of digital music, but we know enough to recognize that while it’s essentially a movement fueled b y teens and 20-somethings, it’s already becoming an increasingly big ger par t of the lives of 40- to 60-somethings , too. Many people ha ve purchased iPods and loaded in a m usic library consisting of thousands of songs – all in a space about the

size of the palm of your hand. While w e contin ue to hold on to a collection of nearly 1,000 vinyl record albums and roughly 300 45-RPM “singles ,” we recognize that these records take up a lot of space. That’s the kind of thing that sends spouses into their “proper ty management” mode. Compared with the tiny space required to store digital music, it gi ves ev en the most ardent vinyl record collectors pause for thought. All songs on all the record albums in our house could be stored in a single iPod device , with lots of room to spare for … more m usic. The essence of technology is that the hardw are k eeps g etting smaller and the processing of information k eeps g etting faster. No better evidence of that exists than an iP od and a pair of headphones v ersus the old turntable, amplifier and pair of big speak ers setup . Not to mention the shelf space required to keep our records.

Despite the fact that CDs were a major, space-saving technological breakthrough in the late ’80s, they’ll be all but g one within the next few years . Collectors will hold on to them and y ou’ll find them in used record stores, but that’s about it. The beauty of an “album, ” whatever for m of media it’s in, is that the listener has roughly 45 min utes of music meant to be listened to in a sequential fashion. The single song do wnloads a vailable toda y, typically for 79 to 99 cents per song, negate the idea of an album as a concept or a connected listening experience. We believe there’ll always be a place for the “album, ” and already, digital download services suc h as iT unes, Rhapsody, Liquid A udio and others offer music lo vers do wnloads of an entire album as opposed to just individual songs . Many recording ar tists insist on that feature as a condition of signing up their m usic with the digital

download companies. Understandably, they cling to the notion that some music is best heard in an organized fashion, with the songs in the chronological order the ar tist wants them to be listened to as part of a connected whole. Do some Internet searching, and y ou’ll be stag gered at ho w many companies offer digital download music. Several of my older friends have bought iPods, and they g enerally lo ve them. Once y ou org anize all of your music into an accessible , personal librar y, the por tability of being able to tak e y our entire record collection with y ou is hard to beat. Sometimes, progress can’t be denied or stopped.

Walnut Creek Newcomers’ Club is to aid new female residents in making new friends and becoming familiar with the W alnut Creek area (including Cla yton, Pleasant Hill, Concord, etc.), the club is also dee ply in volved in helping others and gi ving bac k to the community. The Comm unity Outreac h members (one of many small activity g roups within the Newcomers’ organization) v olunteer in a v ariety of ways to help local c haritable g roups, including pre paring lunc h for the F resh Star t project, assembling emergency food boxes for Antioch Child Protecti ve

Services and par ticipating in a book drive for the Walnut Creek Library. On Oct. 28 and Nov. 4 the Club will par ticipate in the annual Quilting Bee held at St. Paul’s Episcopal Churc h in Walnut Creek to benefit the Bay Area Crisis Nurser y, and next spring w e will assemble Easter Baskets for the St. Vincent de Paul Society whic h benefits families in crisis. If you are new to the Walnut Creek area and w ould like more information about the W alnut Creek Newcomers’ Club, please contact our Membership Chair , Vinita Ramsey at (925) 4654961.

Jim Hudak’s Music Notes column appears r egularly in the Pioneer. Contact him at jimm ydak@pacbell.net. His piano music CD’s ar e a vailable fr om his W eb site at www .jhudak.com or at amazon.com.

Club News AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF UNIVERSITY WOMEN, CLAYTON BRANCH For the opening program for the 2006 fall season the AA UW will host a membership lunc heon and fashion sho w Se pt. 30 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p .m. at the Concord Methodist Church, 1645 West Street in Concord. A complimentary salad luncheon will be pro vided, and attendees will enjo y a fashion sho w sponsored b y J Jill’ s store of Walnut Creek. A shor t prog ram will feature the experiences of the recipients of Science Camp scholarships, and a young woman who received an AAUW scholar-

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ship will be presented. This event will be an opportunity for prospective members, or anyone interested in lear ning more about the Clayton AAUW, to meet acti ve members and learn about sev eral interesting activities planned for 2006 and 2007. All g raduates of two or four year colleg es are w armly invited to attend on Se pt. 30. For all questions or to RSVP , please call Mary Ann Hayes: 925 672-4391 or Sheila Driscoll: 925 672-7947. WALNUT CREEK NEWCOMERS’ CLUB While the pur pose of the

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Page B8

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

September 22, 2006

Church News CONCORD UNITED METHODIST CHURCH CUMC is sponsoring a mission to New Orleans , Nov. 4-11 to help recover/rebuild homes devastated by Hurricane Katrina and subsequent f looding. Work assignments will in volve anything from “mucking out” to inside work. If you would like to join the team or can provide financial support, contact Jim Scott at 925-459-2889 or scott2141@astound.net. CLAYTON COMMUNITY CHURCH Finding W holeness in a Br oken W orld - If you ha ve ev er been hurt, lied to, betrayed or abused, then you know what it’s like to live in a broken world. The problem is that most of us accept this defeated existence as the “nor m,” never believing we can find hope for a better life. Joseph’s story is one we can all relate to, betrayed by those he was closest to, a victim of his brother’s jealousies , Joseph’s life sho ws that y ou can o vercome difficult circumstances when y ou recei ve what you don’t deserve. Joseph not only overcame his tragedies, but he went on to help millions of others overcome their adversities as well. We meet every Sunday at Diablo View Middle School at 9 and 10:45 a.m. CLAYTON VALLEY PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH The San Francisco Presbytery met on Tue., Sept. 12 for the first time since the denomination ’s General Assembly passed ‘authoritative inter pretation’ regarding ordination standards last J une. The new guidance for ordination came out of a task force that met for four years, looking for ways to help the deeply divided denomination stay together despite conf lict on the issue of ordaining homosexuals. The Theological Task Force on P eace, Unity and Purity of the Church proposed maintaining the cur rent ordination standards, but allowing the local Presbyteries leeway in applying those standards to individual candidates. Clayton Valley Presb yterian Churc h has consistently sided with the option of affirming qualified candidates called to ser ve the church through ordination, regardless of race, gender, national origin, sexual orientation, age or disability . We are a w elcoming, open hearted, open minded, congregation that encourages all to leadership. “Lots of congregations say they w ant to include ev eryone, but this is a c hurch that tr uly li ves that commitment. ” stated P astor Patricia Stout Plymale, who also attended the meeting. Clayton V alley Presb yterian Churc h is located at 1578 Kirk er Pass Road in Clayton. Sunday services are at 10 a.m. CONCORD UNITED METHODIST CHURCH Concord United Methodist Churc h is holding Sunda y mor ning support groups. The first Sunday of each month the subject will be parenting and /or g rand parenting, the second Sunda y the subject will be a jour ney through g rief and loss, the third Sunda y will be finding freedom from addictions , and the four th Sunda y of each month the subject will be c hildren of aging parents. A new choir, drama, arts and crafts and recreation prog ram has begun. The prog ram is for ag es 3 – Kinderg arten, from 4:30 – 6 p.m., and for 1st – 6th g raders from 3:30 – 6 p.m. $1 each week for dinner. Registration is $30 for the year . For more infor mation call Marilyn at 925-685-5260. ETERNAL LIFE LUTHERAN CHURCH Are you looking for a midweek boost to get you through the week? Consider attending a midw eek Bible study. It can pro vide a faith lift to help y ou through the strain of work, school and family responsibilities and pro vide encourag ement through con versation with fellow Christians.

Eternal Life Lutheran Churc h in vites all to its midw eek Bible study on Wednesdays at 7:15 p.m. This fall the study is on the Book of Revelation. Attendees will lear n that this book is not impossibly mysterious and confusing as it is often portrayed, but rather, will see it as originally intended - a word of encouragement for Christians in difficult times. The hope is the study will provide encouragement for those living in difficult times, or going through a difficult w eek. All are invited. Give Pastor Will Kant a call for more information (707246-2233). Eternal Life’ s regular Sunda y sc hedule is: Sunday sc hool and Bible study at 10 a.m. Worship is at 11:15 a.m. Bible study is also held on W ednesdays at 7:15 p .m. Eternal Life Lutheran Churc h is located at 5554 Cla yton Rd., Suite 1B, in Concord. Please call 5240295, or visit the c hurch w ebsite at www.EternalLifeLutheranChurch.org for more infor mation. INTERFAITH DEVOTIONS AT DIAMOND TERRACE Please join us on the first Sunda y of each month for devotional readings and pra yers from v arious religious traditions . Feel free to bring your own favorite readings or prayers. Music and refreshments are provided. The next Dev otional meeting will be on Sun., Oct. 8 from 10 a.m. - 11 a.m. on the topic of Unity of Religion. Diamond Terrace Retirement Community, 6401 Center Street, Movie Room. ST. BONAVENTURE CATHOLIC COMMUNITY Café Bon Chat featuring F r. Tom Bonacci - Gather together for a rollicking good evening of learning and sharing in a delightful café atmosphere with other adults interested in g rowing together in faith. The topic is “J udas: Friend or F oe?” Doors open at 7 p .m.; program begins at 7:30 p .m. $5 cover charge (sug gested donation). Snacks and drinks will be a vailable. For more infor mation contact Sister Anne at 672-3899. Grief Workshop - The death of a loved one is unlike any other loss. Whether the death was sudden and tragic, or one with warning and preparation, the reality of death leaves most of us shocked, confused and sad. These feelings may linger for years. Grieving people need time and space to honor their grief. Your loss may be recent or it may be years ag o. Dandy Negrete and Alan Gaber and a team of peer ministers will facilitate a six w eek workshop to help y ou begin the healing process. The workshop will be Oct. 12 – Nov. 16, 7:30 – 9 p.m. in the St. Bonaventure Chapel. Please call 672-5800 to register or Candy Negrete at 672-2324 to obtain additional infor mation. Registration is required by Sept. 26.

Send your church news, announcements and upcoming church events to us at churchnews@claytonpioneer.com

Continues 5458 Ygnacio Valley Rd. Ste. 20 Clayton Valley Shopping Center

925-524-0345 Sherrill O’Brien www.denimlace.com CONCORD UNITED METHODIST CHURCH Come join us for these ongoing programs

Sunday Morning Support Groups

“Parenting and/or Grandparenting” . . . . . . . . . . .1st Sunday “A journey through Grief and Loss” . . . . . . . . . .2nd Sunday “Finding Freedom from Addictions” . . . . . . . . . . .3rd Sunday “Children of Aging Parents” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4th Sunday

Mid-Week Children’s Program

Choir, Drama, Arts & Crafts, Recreation Ages: . .3 years thru 6th grade Time: . .3 years thru K . . . . . . . . . . . . .4:30 - 6 p.m. 1st grade thru 6th grade . . . .3:30 - 6 p.m. Cost: . .$30 for the year; $1 each week for dinner Concord United Methodist Church

1645 West Street, Concord For more information call Marilyn at (925) 685-5260

Why do you read the Pioneer? “I look forward to reading your paper more than I do with the daily paper. It keeps me and my family informed with the local news, ‘the Clayton news.’ Keep up the great work!”

ANDREAS XIARI “Thanks again for your great newpaper! Clayton loves the Pioneer, and everyone always looks forward to each issue! what paper can claim that!?!”

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September 22, 2006

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

Counter-conditioning can change your dog’s bad habits

Was it “ruff” saying goodbye this morning? Apronstrings Pet Sitting

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Naturally, we don’t want our dogs to be g rowlers and for years w e’ve scolded R osco for growling, as this habit can lead to biting . These da ys though, dog beha viorists, trainers, and enthusiasts know that a dog will first put out a w arning before resorting to biting . Dogs will offer subtle comm unication. Perhaps their bodies will become “stiff ”. If this posturing goes unnoticed, the dog will probably growl. If the g rowling is ignored and the dog feels he has no where to f lee, he might attempt a more compelling warning, such as a hard bump with his nose or putting his open mouth on y our ar m, but without drawing blood. At this point, the dog has ob viously reached a v ery high lev el of stress. If none of these tactics work, he may end up biting and breaking skin.

Just think, when y our o wn stress factors aren ’t remo ved, you too can feel harassed and snap. Likewise, punishing Rosco for his growling is incorrect, as this will teac h him not to offer a w arning when he’ s stressed. Then he might become a dog who is lik ely to bite without warning. I ask ed Susan Fur ukawa, ARF’s Animal W elfare Director, how people can help their dogs o vercome stressful situations. Susan explained that if you hear R osco growl; make a mental note of what triggered his g rowling. If you can k eep these triggers at a distance , you can counter -condition him to the trig ger. Through counter conditioning, you slo wly teac h him to associate positi ve reinforcement (toys or treats) with the situation that has trig gered his stress. Here is an abbreviated

explanation of counter-conditioning. Let’s say Rosco is afraid of bicycles and growls at them. Start by allowing Rosco to see a bicycle from 100 feet away, and reward him with happy talk and high-value treats (i.e . small pieces of hot dog or cheese) for not reacting . Gradually mo ve the bike closer until the bik e is next to R osco, continuing to reward him with treats as long as he remains calm. Once Rosco remains relaxed next to the stationar y bicycle , move the bicycle 100 feet a way again. Have a friend ride the bike slo wly, continuing to repeat the “rew ards” process. Repeat this as many times as necessary, eventually ha ving your friend ride closer and increasing the speed of the bicycle. You and R osco will both be pleased when he learns that bicycles mean tasty treats are on the way.

ELENA BICKER

PAWS

AND

CLAWS

This process will take weeks or ev en months . If you mo ve too fast with this procedure , neither you nor Rosco will succeed. If you notice y our dog acting anxious at any ste p of this process, back up to where his body language indicates that he is comfor table. Remember, you are setting y our dog up for success – this isn’t a race. Dogs talk b y using their body language. By paying attention to what R osco is sa ying, you can help your canine friend overcome all the obstacles of life. Elena Bicker is the general manager of Tony La R ussa’s Animal Rescue Foundation. She can be r eached at (925) 256-1ARF (1273)

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FIDDLE FADDLE Three-year-old Fiddle Faddle is an active and intelligent girl. She loves everyone and is a natural for dog sports like flyball or agility. The adoption fee for Fiddle F addle is $200 and includes the first six training courses. Bring everyone who will live with Saffire or Fiddle Faddle, including any canine family members to meet them at Tony La Russa’s Animal R escue F oundation, 2890 Mitc hell Drive, Walnut Creek, during adoption hours: 3 to 7 p .m. Thursday and F riday, Noon to 4:30 p .m. Saturday and Sunda y. Visit www.arf.net or call (925) 256-1ARF for more information. Would you like to be par t of the heroic team that sa ves the li ves of rescued dogs and cats? Can you share your talents to connect people and animals? ARF v olunteers

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the push. This momentarily increases the w eight (mass) on that side , which then pushes down with more force. This creates greater pressure. As a result, the fluid flows to equalize the forces once ag ain. As the w ater on the surface is pushed, deeper w ater rises to

replace it. In other w ords, the water has been upwelled. Global ocean w aters mo ve for a few fundamental reasons . Most w ater on ear th mo ves because of its density (w eight per v olume) relati ve to other water. These density differences result from differential heating

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of the waters by the sun. Colder and/or saltier , heavier (denser) water sinks and pushes w armer and/or less salty , lighter w ater out of its w ay in an all-w aterinterconnected kind of way. In this way, water moves up, down and sideways. This type of action is responsible for the bulk of global water movement from the ocean ’s surfaces do wn to its deepest depths and sets up major deeper ocean currents. Water also moves due to tidal motions caused b y the g ravitational action of the moon and sun acting on the ear th, as a result of submarine earthquakes which cause tsunamis and as a response to the frictional forces caused b y wind (air masses) blowing over the ocean’s surface. This latter phenomenon, winddriven w ater mo vement, is responsible for m uch of the ocean’s surface w ater cur rents, the kinds sailors ha ve relied on throughout history. As with ocean w ater, atmospheric wind also results from the differential heating of the

earth’s surface b y the sun. The sun is ph ysically closer to the equator than the poles . Thus more heat enters the tropical latitudes than the polar ones . Hot air rises in the tropical latitudes and cold air sinks in polar and subpolar regions , setting up areas of high and low pressures. These pressure zones cause air masses to mo ve relati ve to each other , producing w eather. As air masses f low o ver w ater, they move it due to friction. During m uch of the year , winds blo w from the nor th to the south off California’s coast. Due to the earth’s spin, this prevailing wind direction forces water offshore . The coast acts as a boundar y, like our bathtub. As the water is forced offshore , it is re placed b y dee per, upwelled waters from below. These deeper waters are rich in nutrients, including nitrog en, phosphorus and iron. These and other n utrients, along with sunlight, are needed b y the microscopic algae and seaweeds of the ocean for photosynthesis and their growth. The infusion of the n utrients fuels massi ve algal production, which suppor ts equally impressive production of small planktonic animals . They, in turn, fuel massive production of fish and in vertebrates, which support high n umbers of marine mammals and their predators. All of this results in the development and maintenance of one of the most producti ve marine habitats on earth. Gerard M. Capriulo , Ph.D., is the F letcher J ones Pr ofessor of Biology and Envir onmental Science at Saint Mary’s College in Moraga.

Page B10

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

September 22, 2006

Awe inspiring Roman baths still a beautiful sight Americans often think of the United Kingdom in ter ms of romantic novels, fairy tales of jousting knights and faithless queens and distant images of craggy cliffs and hilltop castles. Much of that still exists, yet much has changed in this moder n country (which is smaller than the state of Oregon). Come with me as I explor e the bustling beauty of southern England. JEANNA ROSS Special to the Pioneer

London is an inordinately busy, bustling metropolis that has absorbed m uch of the surrounding suburbs . But a substantial jour ney do wn the motorway eventually spit me out into the picturesque landscape so featured in Jane Austen films. The belo ved 19th centur y author spent much of her life in this region. I did not attempt to dri ve. The British drive on the left and while it is easy to become accustomed to cars whizzing do wn the right-hand side, I kept catching my breath ev ery time it w as necessary to mak e a left-hand turn. In fact, the streets in London ha ve c heat codes for the tourists . Each curb is marked “Look Left” or “Look Right” with an ar row pointing the appropriate direction. However, I w as not in London anymore . One of the most popular cities of the area is the spa town of Bath, situated 99 miles from do wntown London. Built around the only

naturally occur ring ther mal spa in the United Kingdom, Bath was an immensely fashionable resort city during the 19th century. The R oman Baths remain an awe-inspiring sight, not only because they have been standing for thousands of years but because they have retained their subtle beauty. I took an audio tour of the location while admiring the w ay the cool, butter-colored limestone, smoothed b y millions of passing feet, shone in the morning sun. The Baths w ere once covered by a protective roof but are no w open to the elements . As suc h, the historically clear water no w boasts a la yer of vibrant g reen alg ae that lends fluorescent contrast to the monochromatic surroundings. Copious signs w arn visitors not to touc h the leaden w aters, but I w as still able to taste the bitter, hot, mineral water in the Pump R oom directly abo ve. Take my word, it is not a pleasant experience . I w ould ha ve been better off saving m y money and simply enjo ying the faces of those who went before

me in line. The Pump Room does offer a luscious (and expensi ve) dining opportunity, but I was in the mood for something more quaint. The best par t of Bath, at least for book nerds lik e me, is its ric h histor y. Napoleon III, Lord Nelson, Queen Charlotte and Sir W alter Scott all trod these cobblestones . Charles Dickens set m uch of his “Pickwick P apers” in these streets. The J ane A usten Centre focuses on the two novels set in Bath (“P ersuasion” and “Northanger Abbey”) with an exhibition, gift shop , guided tour and m y fa vorite, the Regency Tea Room. Apparently, cream tea – the one I think of involving scones , finger sandwiches, clotted cream and tea that requires a strainer – is also a tourist rarity in England, but I don’t care. It was a lovely setting and tasted divine. Once I finished the tw o major tourist attractions , I w as entertained b y the plethora of shops lining ev ery a vailable street. But the Regency architecture w as the most eng aging of sights. The R oyal Crescent and the Circus are eleg ant examples of apartment and to wnhouse living at its finest, while the ornate Abbey that stands adja-

STONEHENGE consists of a series of earth, timber, and stone structures that were revised and re-modelled over a period of more than 1400 years.

Photos by Jeanna Ross

THE ROMAN BATHS OF BATH were once covered by a protective roof but are now open to the elements and are covered with a layer of green algae. cent to the Baths features gloriently v ery expensi ve to mainStonehenge is not the only ous detailing. Best of all, gawk- tain) and the w ooly shee p dot“henge” in existence. The word ing is free. ting the horizon. means “circle ,” and there are If I had been in the mood for However, these sights could many of rock and timber in the more, my map provided an excel- not hold a candle to the sur real surrounding landscape. lent w alking tour of the sights . experience of viewing the Just how the roc ks arrived is But I’ d almost co vered ev ery- mighty Stonehenge. Walking up still in question, though their orithing – ex cept the Assembly the slope to the stones , it felt as gin has been traced to W ales. Rooms, so famous with past visi- though I had stepped into a cal- However, the incredible w eight tors, which have been con verted endar portrait. and size of the stones w ould to a Museum of Costume. The space is smaller than it have rendered them impossible On the way back to London, appears on film, but the rocks are to move such a distance with any the countryside provided ample just as imposing. I took an audio known technology of that time. viewing pleasure , with the boat tour pro vided b y English Personally, I like the mystery. floating leisurely through the Heritage that expounded on the In the next issue , we’ll trees do wn the ri ver Avon, the site’s histor y and possible explaexplore Windsor Castle , home hedges and stone w alls that nations for the for mation. I am to Queen Elizabeth II; continue replace the unsightly fences of partial to the calendar/religious on to the uni versity to wn of our o wn countr y’s far mlands, ceremony view point, though the Oxford and finally ending our the picturesque villages with the alien theory is highly entertaining. country ramble at Stratfordthatched roof cottages (apparIt is worthwhile to note that Upon-Avon.

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1 Bedroom, 1 Baths, 888 SF. Spacious, Great Corner Location. Alcove for Home Office, Dual Pane Windows, Inside Laundry, Nicely Landscaped, 1 Car Garage w/Additional Parking Space, Walk Path to Pool and Park, Close to Shopping, Schools, HWY, and DVC.

3 Bedrooms & 2 1/2 Baths, 1,904 SF Beautiful Panoramic View, Master Bedroom with His and Her Closets, Light and Bright Living Area with Spectacular Views, Vaulted Ceilings, Gorgeous Hardwood Floors Throughout Kitchen and Dining Room, Separate Laundry Room, Just Steps from the Pool Area and Playground. Don’t Miss this one!

4 Bedroom, 2 Bath, 1,917 SF, Kitchen Remodeled in 2004, Stainless Steel Appliances, Granite Counter Tops, New Paint Inside and Out, Remodeled Backyard with Spa, New Backyard Fencing, Walnut Creek Schools, Walk to Pool, Playground, and Park.

ership! Pride of Own

Days! Pending in 4

0 aved $10,05 Sold Seller S

0! aved $21,75 Sold Seller S

1609 Laverne Way

$674,900

4818 Boxer Blvd.

$440,000

1950 Altura Drive

$499,500

5071 Bonwell Drive

$595,000

Concord

Spacious 4 Bedroom, 2. Bath, 1,839 SF, This Beautiful home has Been Completely Remodeled. It has Tile, Hardware and Tile Flooring, Large Private Backyard with New Grass, Timed Sprinkler System, and A Wide Variety of Fruit Trees. Gorgeous Modern Kitchen, Dual Pane Windows Throughout.

3 Bedroom, 2 Baths, 1,075 SF. Private end unit with front and back patios, inside laundry, dual pane windows, 2 car attached garage, central heating & air, and community pool.

3 Bedroom, 1Bath 1,132 SF, located within minutes of downtown, close to parks, farmers market, restaurants and library. Cozy country kitchen with tile counters, and garden bay window. Hardwood floors, plantation shutters, fireplace and central heat, and updated bath. Just minutes away from Pixie Playland Amusement Park.

3 Bedrooms, 2 Baths, 1,400 SF. Owner wishes to carry the first trust deed. Below market terms, fixed rate, quick and easy to qualify. Low or no down possible. Large lot with separate out building, great for storage or workshop.

Paradise!

Turnkey!

! Just Reduced

0! aved $25,05 Sold Seller S

934 Hamilton Drive,

$929,000

2578 Hamilton Avenue

$473,800

Pleasant Hill

Concord

Gorgeous Tri-Level 4 Bedroom, 3 Bath, Located on the End of a Street. This Property Features a Gourmet Kitchen with Granite Counter Tops, a Formal Dining Room with Brick Fireplace, Views of Mt. Diablo, Cherry Wood Cabinetry, Hardwood Floors, Upgraded Appliances, Wet Bar, and Private Backyard with Redwood Deck and Hot Tub. A Lovely Home That Has Been Well Cared For.

3 Bedroom, 2 Bath, 1,256 SF Home with Expanded Master Suite, Modern Kitchen with Granite Counter Tops, New Appliances, and Maple Cabinetry, Living Room with Fireplace, All New Dual Pane Windows Throughout, New Carpet in Bedrooms and Living Room, Laminate Flooring in Kitchen and Dining Area, New Paint Inside & Out, New Gutters & Garage Door and 5 Yr. Old Roof.

1295-A Kenwal Rd

$330,000

1705 Greer Ave

$550,000

Concord

2 Bedrooms, 1 Bath, 915 SF. New Paint Throughout, New Wall to Wall Carpeting and Upgraded Linoleum, Updated Kitchen with New Counter Tops, Appliances Included, Dual Pane Windows, Vaulted Ceilings Recessed Lighting, Central Air and Heat, Indoor Laundry Closet, Washier and Dryer Included, Community Pool and Club House.

3 Bedrooms, 1 Bath, 1,072 SF. Newly updates kitchen with wood cabinets, gas range, disposal, microwave, and pantry. Dining area with patio doors leading to large patio. Additional patio adjacent to bedroom and garage. Single car garage with work bench, side yard access and dog run!

You Could Save $27,050! By selling your home with Help-U-Sell instead of with brokers who charge a 6% commission* (the savings are based on a home selling for $600,000).You can select from many fine real estate professionals.Why not choose one that will also save you money when you sell? *Commissions are negotiable and not set by law.

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