Sept 13 Clayton Pioneer 2013 by Pioneer Publishers

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September 13, 2013

Morgan Fire chars thousands of acres on Mt. Diablo

FIRE

TAMARA STEINER Clayton Pioneer

Photo by Tonya White

MT. DIABLO LOOKED LIKE AN ERUPTING VOLCANO ON SUNDAY NIGHT, SEPT. 8, as a fast moving wildfire spread from 400 acres to nearly 2000 overnight. By press time on Monday night, the fire had burned nearly 4000 acres, North Peak was charred, the summit of Mt. Diablo was threatened and the fire had spread northeast toward Russelmann Ranch Road. It was still only 20 percent contained.

Temperatures nearing 100 degrees coupled with a dry winter, off-shore winds and dense, bone-dry fuel set the stage for the biggest Mt. Diablo wildfire in 36 years. The fire started at the mercury mines on Morgan Territory Road on Sunday around 1:30 p.m. The cause is officially “under investigation,” but neighbors say it was sparked by someone target shooting. By 3 p.m. on Sunday, the fire, dubbed the “Morgan Fire,” had burned over 800 acres, threatening homes and power lines and forcing evacuations from Oak Hill Lane and Curry Canyon. AirCloud Communications which provides internet service to the Morgan Territory and Marsh Creek areas, lost electrical power to their communication equipment on North Peak around 11 p.m. Sunday night With the fire spreading fast, the critical issue was getting the horses and other large animals out of the area. By late Sunday

See Fire, page 4

Concord’s canine force tells some fierce tails DENISEN HARTLOVE Clayton Pioneer

JULIE PIERCE

MAYOR’S CORNER

Keep Clayton sparkling this fall September is half over and families have settled into their new fall routines. In Clayton, we take pride in the appearance of our town. How our community looks has a great deal to do with supporting our good property values. It’s also a big part of that warm, welcoming “ahhh” we all feel when we drive into our home town. As we put away the toys of summer, it’s a great time to take a look at how we can all improve the appearance of our neighborhoods. Indeed, living in Clayton carries certain expectations of property maintenance, including our own responsibility to eliminate dead landscaping and weeds from our yards – even in back yards, for both fire protection and appearance. Part of our neighborhood preservation responsibility includes the proper storage of RVs, boats, trailers, disabled and unlicensed vehicles behind a

See Mayor, page 7

Dogs are said to be man’s best friend. Renowned for their loyalty and devotion, a dog sticks with his master through thick and thin. But the six dogs of the Canine Division of the Concord Police Department and their handlers take the canine-human

bond just a little bit farther than that. On a recent Tuesday night, at an undisclosed location in North Concord, the sounds of a dog fiercely barking and men shouting elicited nary a glance from Concord Police Corporal Dan Sweany, who stood close by. In fact, the ruckus was his fault, as members of the wellregarded canine division

Sweaney heads practiced nearby. There, the dogs practiced locating guns and drugs, trailing suspects and lost children, and launching themselves at an officer who’d clearly drawn a short straw and was clad – in the 90 degree evening heat – in a heavy protective suit, a game that could be called “bring down the suspect.” As much fun as the dogs

Clayton siblings shoot for the big time with art film PEGGY SPEAR Clayton Pioneer

Photo courtesy of the Holmes family

MAKING MOVIES IS A FAMILY AFFAIR for photographerturned-filmmaker Jules Bianchi, left, shown here with twin sister Joy and brother Jeff Holmes. Their film, “Apocolypso,” is a finalist in Director Ron Howard’s Project Imagina10n.

What’s Inside Around Town . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Behind the Badge . . . . . . . . .6

Classified . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 Club News . . . . . . . . . . . . .13 Community Calendar . . . . .14 Concord Beat . . . . . . . . . . . .6 Design and Décor . . . . . . . .18 Directory of Advertisers . . . . .5

Most little brothers have trouble saying no to their big sisters, and Jeff Holmes was no exception when sis Jules Bianchi called in June to ask him help with an outlandish idea. Did he want to help her make a movie? Of course, Bianchi – who grew up in Clayton – is a wellestablished Oakland photographer now, and Holmes is a cinema arts student at Pacific Azuza University. So the request kind of made sense. Like the dutiful little brother he is, Homes called in some of his buddies, who were eager to work on a “real” project, and to Bianchi’s surprise, she suddenly had a crew.

See Movie, page 3 Garden Girl . . . . . . . . . . . . .18 Letter to the Editor . . . . . . . .7 Mind Matters . . . . . . . . . . . .13 Pets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13 Pioneer Photo Album . . . . . . .3 Real Estate . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

seemed to be having, the play was serious business. SNIFFING OUT STASHES Concord’s six-team division – down from nine due to budget cuts – handles an average of 75 calls per week. In addition to calls in Concord, the department pools resources with those of other cities. “San Ramon, Moraga, Oakland, Walnut Creek...” Sweaney ticked down the list of areas they’ve worked as the sounds of mayhem continued in the background. Other areas lend their dogs for jobs in Concord as well, including BART dogs who are specially trained to sniff for bombs. “We’re all fighting the same battle,” he said. Each of the officers had his own set of stories of stashes their particular dogs had found, or suspects they’d flushed out, and in a couple of cases, lost or wandering souls the dogs helped rescue. One incident Sweaney recalled, years ago, involved a panicked call the department had received from a parent. Their worst nightmare had happened: a back was turned for only a moment, a door left unlatched, and their 3-year old had disappeared, just like that. Police were called, and the division summoned. Scents were taken, and 45 heart-rending minutes later, the toddler was trailed to a nearby supermarket, to where he’d wandered on his own, and safely returned home. Other calls aren’t so benign.

Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10 Sports Shorts . . . . . . . . . . .12 Sports Talk . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11 Teen Reads . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9 Teen Speak . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 Voyage of the Eagle (NEW) 8

Photos by Jason Rogers

FIGO WORKS WITH HIS HANDLER and partner, Matt Switzer, as they run through exercises during the Concord Canine Division training

Officer Todd Nunn’s dog, Dantest – who travels with his own baseball-style trading cards to be given out to his adoring, often pint-sized, fan club – was called to a “drug sniff,” where he found significant amounts of drugs – and a gun – hidden behind the center console of a car. Officer Ollie Sansen’s dog is Ben, an unnervingly grinning, happy-go-lucky Belgian Malinois. Ben is specifically trained in narcotics detection, and

See Canine, page 4

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Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

September 13, 2013

Around Town 10th Annual Derby was all about cars

Sunny skies and mercifully comfortable temperatures brought kids and cars out in droves for the 10th annual Clayton Community Church Labor Day Derby and Car Show. About 2000 spectators lined Main Street while some 250 kids lined up early for a chance to race the little wooden cars down Main Street. Competition was stiff. “You’re goin’ down,” said one driver to another as they waited on the ramp for the start. “No, you’re goin’ down,” the other replied. “No, YOU are goin’ down.” Barely off the ramp, the two

collided and both racers “went down.” But, each would have a second chance a little later. At the other end of the street, 275 classic cars, sparkling and spit-shined, waited for the judges. By the end of the day. 33 of them would take home a trophy. Best in Show honors went

to Sal Nicolosi for his baby blue 1959 Chevrolet Impala convertible. Listed below are the derby winners from Saturday’s event. Photos from top left: A vigilant Pit Crew stands by for quick repairs. The crew checks out every car before the race. An eager racer climbs aboard for the heart-pounding race down Main Street Car Show Judging: The annual CCC car show is one of the biggest in the area, drawing more than 250 exhibitors. Clayton Community Church pastor and race announcer, Shawn Robinson The Derby race cars are all donated by local merchants. The kids race free in the annual event.

Derby Race Winners First Place Second Place Third Place

Age 11+ Reese Romero Shane Hopfner Pasquale Ancona

Age 9-10 Adam Stelchek Grace Turner Mattie La Venture

152 Joscolo View, Clayton

Age 7-8 Dalton Woest Drew Brennan Matthew Dias-Martin

Nicki van Vaerenberg engaged to Jordan Wells Nicki van Vaerenberg and Jordan Wells capped off a family vacation in Europe this summer with the announcement that they would marry on Sept. 14. The couple timed their announcement with a trip to Amsterdam to celebrate the 30th wedding anniversary of Nicki’s parents, Carol and Randy vanVaerenbergh. The engagement was a romantic surprise for Nicki who thought she and Jordan were simply going for a walk along the canal. Jordan had, however, prearranged a private tour at Museum Van Loom where he proposed in the garden. Later, the whole family celebrated with champagne aboard a private canal boat. Nicki is a Clayton resident. She graduated from Carondelet High and attended Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.

Jordon is the son of Jeff and Jody Wells of Ben Lomond, Calif. He graduated from Cal

JORDAN WELLS AND NICKI VAN VAERENBERG

Pioneer Travels

Thomas Cook took us along on an exciting vacation in the Midwest this summer. We started our journey with a trip to Chicago with aunts and uncles where we sampled the finest in Chicago deep-dish pizza, went to Cubs and White Sox games and visited the Art Institute. We ended up at Thomas’ grandpa and grandma’s in Indiana, where we are in their backyard camp equipped with zip line, tree house and replica teepee.

804 Chert Place, Clayton

Locals Andie Shipman, Judi Hersh, Carol Gurrad and Pat Allison cruised the Rhine and Main Rivers in Germany, Strassburg and France last month, stopping at the Eiffel Tower in Paris to catch up on news from home.

Andie, Judi and Pat are all friends from the Walnut Creek Newcomers Club. Carol went along “because someone else dropped out and they needed a fourth!”

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September 13, 2013

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CBCA gives ‘thumbs up’ to bocce funding At one of the biggest turnouts for a Clayton Business and Community Association meeting anyone could ever remember, more than 120 members packed the dining room at Oakhurst Country Club to give vigorous approval to help fund a bocce park in downtown Clayton. The proposed four-court park will sit on land owned by Skip and Kent Ipsen, founder and owner of Skipolini’s Pizza. The Ipsen family will donate $125,000 of the estimated $300,000 construction cost, with the remaining $175,000 coming from the CBCA. The Ipsens are making the land available, along with the

development funds, as a way of “giving back to the community” that has supported their business for decades, said founder Skip Ipsen. Skipolini’s will be undergoing a major remodel after the first of the year and the Ipsens hope to have necessary approvals for the bocce park in place by then so construction on both could proceed at the same time. CBCA president, Keith Haydon was jubilant at the vote. He calls the proposed bocce park a “win-win-win” for the city, the Ipsens and for the CBCA. The park is expected to bring upwards of 80 players to the town center during the typically

Movie, from page 1 Thanks to that rag-tag team of collegiate film students, an agreeable family, some ex-boyfriends and a creative vision, Bianchi’s 10minute short film “Apocolypso” was made – and is now a finalist in Academy Award-winner Ron Howard’s Canon’s Project Imaginat10n, with a shot at being one of the five films screened at the project’s prestigious short film festival. FAMILY AFFAIR The film is a poignant look at the power of love vs. fear set against the backdrop of a looming Y2K. But perhaps most poignant is the love that Bianchi and Holmes – and their entire family – put into the project. “I’ve always watched Jules in her photography, and helped her out since I was 8,” says Holmes, who produced the film. “This is just an extension of that.” Indeed, the two siblings were joined by Bianchi’s twin Joy, as

well as her mother Leonora and stepfather Neil Holmes, who still live in Clayton. “My mom helped feed the crew, and my step-dad drove everyone around,” Bianchi says. “I couldn’t have done it without them.” They also provided another major ingredient in the film: a location, as Bianchi was able to film some of the scenes at her parents’ house on Pine Road off of Marsh Creek Road. Although most filmmakers enjoy staying close to the excitement of Los Angeles and Hollywood, permits and fees can break an already shoestring budget. And “Apocolypso” was definitely on a shoestring budget. So Bianchi and Holmes decided to bring their crew to northern California, and Bianchi used a grocery store and book shop in her Oakland neighborhood to round out the movie’s locales. Besides her family, Bianchi

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Pioneer Photo Album

dead weeknights, benefitting downtown restaurants and merchants. “People have to eat and buy things and everything’s right here without having to get in the car,” noted Skipolini’s owner, Kent Ipsen. At the same meeting, the club voted to apply to the IRS for a change in tax exempt status from a civic organization to a 501 (c) (3) public charity, which would make contributions to the club tax deductible. Ed Hartley, chairman of the bocce committee, expects the club to recover at least $50,000 of the initial cost from donations. Ed Moresi, owner of Ed’s Mudville Grill and

Moresi’s Chophouse, offered a $25,000 donation for the naming rights of the first court. The park will require a usepermit from the city of Clayton. After the application is submitted, the planning commission will hold a public hearing before voting. The planning commission can approve the use permit if there is no appeal. An appeal would take the proposal to the city council for a final decision. The Ipsens hope to have the application ready to present in an informational form to the Planning Commission by the Sept. 24 meeting. Gary Carr contributed to this story.

called in favors from old friends to help with things like writing the screenplay, helping with the musical score and casting. “Jules had, like two or three ex boyfriends helping her out on this, as well as her current boyfriend,” Holmes says. “It was wild.” It took a frantic month of late-night shoots, re-shoots and “lots of laughs,” but “Apocolypso” was made. The siblings are waiting “on pins and needles” Bianchi says to hear if it made the final cut of five. “We didn’t want the film to look like we shot it in our backyard,” she says. “Which is ironic, because it was,” Holmes chimes in. The way the contest works, Howards posts still pictures on a website, and filmmakers are asked to use them as inspiration for a short movie. Bianchi said a photo of basement full of canned goods n which her hero in the film stocks in case of a Y2k-inspired apocalypse – reminded her of her youth. “We did have a basement like

that, and it was filled with canned fruits and vegetables,” she says. “But that was just where we stored things.”

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This visitor was briefly in our garden the afternoon of July 4. sitting on a hydrangea just off of Peacock Creek Drive. Photo was taken with a 250 zoom (full telephoto) at about 3.5 feet using a canon T2i. It posed for two photos and then went on its way. Paul Johnson

UFO over Clayton? Mike Harms of Clayton snapped this amazing shot of a lenticular cloud over Clayton. “It’s shape is due to wind and areas of differing atmospheric density,” he explained.

FUTURE CAREERS Bianchi, 41, says she doesn’t know if this is the start of a new career in filmmaking or just another fun project that “drew my eccentric and artistic family together.” Holmes, though, hopes to make filmmaking a career – and anyone who knows him knows that’s not farfetched. He is well-known in and around Clayton for his elaborate lighting displays. This project, he says, was “kooky, but wonderful,” in part because of the collaboration with his sister. “You have to know your boundaries when you’re working with family,” Holmes says. “It can be a trying experience, but it can also be the best experience.”

The Pioneer is proud to spotlight our readers’ photos. Email your photo in a high-resolution format to tamara@claytonpioneer.com with a description of the photo, where and when it was taken and a little about why you like it. Include your name and phone number. Then look for it in the next Pioneer.

To see “Apocolypso,” and other film festival finalists, visit the website at imagination.usa.canon.com.

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September 13, 2013

Fire, from page 1

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afternoon, SUVs and trucks pulling horse trailers joined the steady stream of fire trucks, bulldozers and heavy equipment lining Morgan Territory Road. The steep, rugged and densely wooded east side of Mt. Diablo presented huge challenges to fire fighters and equipment trying to gain access. The fire raged out of control through Sunday night, growing to 2000 acres by Monday morning. At 10 a.m., the fire was only 10 percent contained according to East County Fire Chief Hugh Henderson. The fire continued to grow Monday, spreading south toward San Ramon with the heaviest activity on the east side of Mt. Diablo above Curry Canyon and on the north edge of North Peak above Russelmann Road. According to CalFire Public

Information Officer, Dave Shew, more than 800 personnel from CalFire, CCCFPD, ECFPD and dozen other local fire districts were on scene. Two DC 10s were on the fire until late afternoon, when they were called to another major fire burning near Shasta. A Red Cross evacuation center set up at the Clayton Library drew mostly government officials and locals looking for information or just to connect with others. Most of the evacuees found lodging with friends or relatives in the area. Curry Creek resident Virginia Fraser came with her cat, Emma. She saw the black smoke and flames around 2 p.m. on Sunday and alerted her neighbors before leaving. “I thought it’d be a nice quiet day, sitting there reading the Sunday papers,” she said. “Then, boom – all this.”

As of 3 p.m. Monday, according to the CalFire incident website, the fire had burned 3,718 acres and threatened 100 homes and was still only 20 percent contained. Monday night when this paper went to press at midnight, the fire was still active. Earlier in the evening, flames flared up on Morgan Territory Road near the origin, jumping the road at one point and causing more evacuations. At press time, the CalFire site had not been updated since early in the day Monday. The CalFire media information office had no map showing the boundaries of the fire, active areas or containment lines, leaving residents in the fire zone dependent on local blog sites and social media for critical information. The last huge fire on the mountain was in 1977, when lightning sparked a fire that burned 6000 acres.

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Sansen’s voice took on an unmistakably proud tone, as he recounted a call they’d taken to help at a crime scene in Oakland, where Ben found three pounds of cocaine, potentially worth six figures, hidden in a stereo box. “You’re so proud of your dog when he does what he’s trained to do,” he admitted. LIFELONG BOND The training the dogs are given is no small matter. Priced at about $10,000 each, the division purchases each dog from Riverside-based Adlherhorst International. The company’s owners travel every few months to Europe, where they find dogs in Germany, the Netherlands and the Czech Republic. Bred and trained in many of the skills need-

ed for a life in law enforcement from the time they’re puppies, the dogs are then transported to the U.S. Police departments throughout the country send teams to Adlerhorst’s facilities where they test the dogs themselves – like scouts would professional athletes – before buying and bringing them home for further training with the officers with whom the dogs will be paired. “It’s a lot of repetition,” Sansen described. “We’re learning the quirks of the dog, learning the dog’s personality.” The teams work together for four years, at the end of which term, the officer is given the opportunity to adopt their canine partner – previously classified as city property – for $1. Most do, the bond between the two continuing through the dog’s retirement.

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Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

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Directory of Advertisers POLL WORKERS NEEDED P.O. Box 1246 6200 Center Street, Suite H, Clayton, CA 94517 TAMARA AND R OBERT S TEINER , Publishers TAMARA S TEINER , Editor P ETE C RUZ , Graphic Design P EGGY S PEAR , Copy Editor J AY B EDECARRÉ, Sports PAMELA W IESENDANGER , Administration

The Contra Costa County Elections Division is looking for civic minded people willing to serve as poll workers for the November 5, 2013 Election in the following cities: Antioch, Moraga and San Ramon. Bilingual (English/Spanish) workers are also needed. You must be a registered voter in California to qualify for a poll worker position.

S TAFF W RITERS : Denisen Hartlove, Pam Wiesendanger,

No prior experience is necessary. Procedure Training is by appointment only. Poll workers receive a stipend from $80 - $150 for serving on Election Day from 6a.m. – 9p.m.

Peggy Spear

We remember Jill Bedecarré - Her spirit is our muse

PIONEER INFO CONTACT US

Tel: (925) 672-0500 Fax: (925) 672-6580 Tamara Steiner tamara@claytonpioneer.com Send ads to ads@claytonpioneer.com Send Sports News to sports@claytonpioneer.com Send Club News to clubnews@claytonpioneer.com Send Church News to churchnews@claytonpioneer.com

Send School News to schoolnews@claytonpioneer.com

Send Classified Ads to classified@claytonpioneer.com

CLASSIFIEDS Classified rates per insertion: $48 for first 30 words, 40 cents each additional word Non-profit: $24 for first 30 words, 20 cents each additional word To place your classified ad over the phone, call the office at (925) 6720500 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Mon.Fri. All classifieds must be paid for in advance by 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 Clayton Pioneer reserves the right to reject any advertising we believe is unsuitable.

LET US KNOW Weddings, engagements, anniversaries, births and deaths all weave together as part of the fabric of our community. Please let us know of these important events. We ask only that the announcement be for a resident in our home delivery area. Submit on our website and be sure to attach a JPG photo that is at least 3

MB but not bigger than 6MB. You can also mail or bring your print to the office and we can scan it for you. Also on the website are forms for calendar items, events & press releases. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR The Clayton Pioneer welcomes letters from our readers. As a general rule, letters should be 250 words or less and submitted at least one week prior to publication date. Letters concerning current issues will have priority. We may edit letters for length and clarity. All letters will be published at the editor’s discretion. Please include name, address and daytime telephone number. We will not print anonymous letters. E-mail your letter to tamara@claytonpioneer.com. Letters MUST be submitted via E-mail.

We have a poll worker program for High School students called “Youth With A Vision”, in which students at least 16 years of age with a 2.5 GPA can serve as poll workers, receive a stipend and fulfill community service requirements. County and State employees are encouraged to apply as Inspectors. For information regarding these opportunities, call the Contra Costa County Elections Division at (925) 3357873 or email EO.Recruitment@vote.cccounty.us

Classified TUTOR Science and math tutor. B.S. Biology, M.S. Chemistry/Biochemistry and vast teaching experience elementarycollege. In- or out-home tutoring: I/II/Honors/AP Biology, Chemistry, Earth Science, Environmental, Physiology. Call Wren 864-2676.

GARDEN

SUBSCRIPTIONS

Flower Gardening by Nicole Hackett Perennial, ornamental, rose and container care. Keep your garden

To subscribe, call the office at (925) 672-0500. Subscriptions are $50/year and are not pro-rated for mid-year stops.

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in flowers this year with monthly fertilizing and pruning visits. Email for consultation or details. Gardengirl94517@yahoo.com

FOR LEASE Office and retail space for lease in Historic Clayton City Center: Village Oaks Center, 6200 Center St., Clayton. Call Nick Adamson at (408) 3718770, ext. 21.

TUTORS NEEDED Diablo Valley Literacy Council, English tutors. Must attend all three training classes: Sept. 28, Oct. 1, Oct. 5. $15 fee for training and materials. Go to dvlc.tripod.com, call 685-3881 or email dvlc4esl@gmail.com.

HELP WANTED Computer Tech Growing business has position for onsite pro computer tech in Contra Costa County. Must have experience in Windows and Mac OS, network repair and troubleshooting. ComputersUSA! 672-9989. Come join Mazzei Realty! Currently interviewing and hiring new and experienced real estate agents. Call 693-0757 for details. Real Estate Agents Be Successful! Lynne French is expanding and interviewing for a few agents. Call her today 6728787.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED Help Fight Hunger Anna Chan – AKA: The Lemon Lady needs your help! Weekly commitment appreciated. For more info and contact numbers, go to thelemonlady.blogspot.com. Clayton Historical Society Museum The Clayton Historical Society Museum needs a greeter for two hours per month from 24 p.m. Wednesdays or Sundays. Call the museum at 672-0240 and leave your name.

Walnut Creek Office:

Pittsburg Office:

3100 Oak Road, #100 Walnut Creek CA 94597 Phone: (925) 937-4211 Richard@LittornoLaw.com

2211 Railroad Ave. Pittsburg CA 94565 Phone: (925) 432-4211 www.LittornoLaw.com

Construction and Trades Appliance Repairs by Bruce, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-2700 Belfast Plumbing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .457-5423 Burkin Electric . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-1519 Diablo View Construction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .822-5144 Gary’s Home Repair . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .787-2500 Iron Horse Concrete . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .595-3951 Steffan Smith Construction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .914-0497 Tipperary Construction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .216-2679 Dining and Entertainment Clayton Club Saloon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .673-0440 Five Guys Burgers and Fries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-6030 Johnny’s Deli & Café . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-1203 La Veranda Café . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .524-0011 Oakhurst Country Club . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-9737, ext. 205 Events City of Clayton – Concerts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .673-7300 CBCA - Oktoberfest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-2272 Pacific Coast Farmers’ Market . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .825-9090 St. Demetrios – Greek Festival . . . . . . . . . . . . . .676-6967 Financial, Insurance and Legal Services DuRee, Daniel – The Law Office of . . . . . . . . . . .210-1400 Held, Chris – Morgan Stanley Smith Barney . . . .930-3815 Littorno, Richard – The Law Office of . . . . . . . . .432-4211 Prosperitas Wealth Management . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-7700 Sorensen, David – Wells Fargo . . . . . . . . . . . . . .296-3086 Van Wyck, Doug – State Farm Insurance . . . . . .672-2300

CIRCULATION Total circulation of the Clayton Pioneer is 15,500. Papers are delivered to households in ZIP codes 94517, 94518 and 94521. In Clayton, all papers are delivered Every Door Direct by the US Post Office. We cannot start or stop individual addresses. All Concord delivery is by carrier and delivered twice a month on a Friday morning. To stop delivery for any reason, call the office at (925) 6720500 or email circulation@claytonpioneer.com. If you are NOT receiving the Pioneer, please check the distribution map on the website. If you live in the shaded area and are not receiving the paper, please call us or send an email to circulation@claytonpioneer.com. If you are not in the shaded area, please be patient. We will come to your neighborhood soon.

Business Services Rising Moon Marketing & Public Relations . . . . .672-8717

Clayton Community Library Needs volunteers. Minimum age 13. Minimum commitment is 6 months. Some training provided. Contact: Arlene at 673-9777 or nielsenjanc@aol.com.

Funerals Ouimet Funeral Home . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .682-4242 Groceries Doorstep Farmers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .349-4568 Home and Garden Clayton Furniture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .686-2299 Diablo Lawnscape . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .381-3757 Interiors Panache . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-7920 Just Floors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .681-4747 Nichols Landscape . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-9955 Refresh Pool Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .286-8601 The Floor Store . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .969-9890 The Maids . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .798-6243 Utopic Gardens . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .524-0055 Waraner Bros. Tree Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .831-2323 Waraner Tree Experts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .250-0334 Mailing Services The UPS Store . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .689-6245 Optometry Foresight Optometry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-4100 Pet Services Cat Hospital of Clayton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-2287 Fluffy and Fido’s Adventures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .408-1622 Monte Vista Veterinary Hospital . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-1100 Pittsburg Pet Resort . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .432-7387 Rodie's Feed and Pet Supply . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-4600 Real Estate and Mortgage Services French, Lynne – Windermere Real Estate . . . . . .672-8787 Geddes-Sinclaire, Christine – RE/MAX Realty . .286-7593 Howard, Don – Better Homes Realty . . . . . . . . . .408-3184 Klock, Leigh – Coldwell Banker . . . . . . . . . . . . . .212-5593 Laurence, Pete – RE/MAX Realty . . . . . . . . . . . .890-6004 Lopez, Stephanie – Coldwell Banker . . . . . . . . . .932-7329 Mazzei, Matt – Mazzei Realty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .693-0757 Stojanovich, Jennifer – Better Homes Realty . . .567-6170 Vujnovich, George - Better Homes Realty . . . . . .672-4433 Recreation and Fitness Clayton Valley Bowl . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .689-4631 Earthquake Arabians . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .360-7454 Levity Fitness Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-2995 Senior Services Chateau on Broadway . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .686-1700 Montecito – Oakmont Senior Living . . . . . . . . . . .852-6702 Services, Other 1-800-Junkster . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .800-586-5783 ComputersUSA! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-9989 Net Solutions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-6029 Recycling Center & Transfer Station . . . . . . . . . .473-0180 Travel Celebrity Cruises . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .888-456-7887 Travel to Go . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-9840

Responsibility Do the Right Thing

Page 6

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

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We often receive calls regarding vehicles, RVs, boats and other items being parked on the streets or in the driveways of neighborhoods throughout Clayton. This month, I hope to briefly explain the rules pertaining to such items. First, it’s important to note that here in Clayton, we believe part of our job is to protect and, where possible, enhance the quality of life our residents enjoy. We typically deal with these matters on a complaint basis. When you call or notify the city with this type of complaint, a member of our staff will respond and attempt to resolve the issue. Pursuant to the California Vehicle Code, a car may be

CHRIS THORSEN

BEHIND

THE

BADGE

ment. Reports involving parking or vehicle storage on private property are handled by the code enforcement staff at the City of Clayton. You can report these matters by either calling the non-emergency police number at 925-673-7350 or by using the city website “Report a Problem” feature. You will find the link to this feature on the lower left corner of the city’s home page. Chris Thorsen is Clayton’s chief of police. For questions and comments, call him at (925) 673-7350.

6101 Center St. in Historic Downtown Clayton (next to the park) Sun-Wed 7-5 – Thur, Fri & Sat til 6

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With the excitement about the plans for the Concord Naval Weapon Station Reuse Area, there has been a lot of talk about developing the area around the North Concord BART station. In reality that development will take several years. However, through this enthusiasm we should not overlook the current downtown BART station area. There are underdeveloped and underuti-

lized areas near and surrounding our downtown. It is imperative that we create a vision so that future development will not be haphazard. Concord’s downtown is anchored by the city’s central plaza, Todos Santos park. It would be important to connect Downtown BART to Todos Santos. The opening up of Grant Street to make it more walkable, and reflecting the early Californian architecture, will be important to link the past to a vibrant future. In attempting to create a downtown that is a dynamic, safe and attractive place for families, businesses and visitors, we

have formed a Downtown Specific Steering Committee. We have a committee of 13 members and five alternates, including myself as chair, and including Vice Mayor Tim Grayson, planning commissioners, design review board members, local businesspersons and residents. We began meeting in June and should continue through October. Although all of our meetings are open to everyone, we’ve scheduled a community meeting on Oct. 7 to receive input from the general public. Enhancing the walkability of downtown will be essential to its success and strengthen our economy and augment our qual-

ity of life. Adding wide sidewalks and bike lanes, accompanied with traffic calming measures with more frequent bus service will encourage workers, residents and visitors to explore on foot and greatly reduce traffic congestion. Our Downtown Specific Steering Committee has been working on developing a plan to make downtown Concord a thriving, vibrant, walkable center of our community. Ron Leone, a Concord city councilman and former mayor, welcomes comments and questions. Call him at (925) 680-1776 or ronaldleone@comcast.net.

Concord police get grants to curb DUIs PEGGY SPEAR Clayton Pioneer

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in the driveway of your home. You may store these vehicles in designated parking areas on your property (such as if you have RV parking along the side of your house).The vehicle must be shielded by a legal, solid fence or other structure. For brevity, I have only paraphrased the municipal code sections. You may review them at your leisure by going to the City of Clayton web site at ci.clayton.ca.us. Click on the “Departments” tab. You can access the online version of the municipal code under the City Clerk section on the left side of the web page. Complaints involving vehicles parked on the street will be handled by the police depart-

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parked upon a public roadway for up to 72 hours without being moved. After 72 hours, the vehicle is subject to removal. When notified, we will tag the vehicle with a warning notice and return three to four days later to remove the vehicle if necessary. Pursuant to the Clayton Municipal Code (section 10.41), it is unlawful to store/park a boat, motorhome or other RV on the street. You may obtain a permit to park an RV on the street for the purposes of loading or unloading prior to and/or after a trip. Pursuant to the Clayton Municipal Code (section 17.76.010), it is unlawful to store a boat, RV or inoperable vehicle

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The streets of Concord will be a lot less friendly to intoxicated and distracted drivers thanks to almost $275,000 in traffic safety grants approved by the city council last week. The Concord Police Department was awarded $200,000 from the California Office of Traffic safety, and $74,920 from the UC Berkeley Safe Trans-

portation and Research Center, both designed to curb driving under the influence and other problems that are causing “significant number of vehicle traffic collisions, alcohol involved fatal and injury traffic collisions and traffic collisions involving pedestrians,” says Concord Police Officer Lyle Robles. The COT grant, awarded as part of a Selective Traffic Enforcement Program, will allow Concord police to con-

duct 12 Distracted Driving enforcement operations; target drivers using hand-held cell phones and texting; increase motorcycle safety enforcement operations in areas or during events with a high number of motorcycle accidents; increase DUI “saturation” points, especially during the winter holidays, and better target multiple DUI offenders. The grant will also allow for increased training of officers in field sobriety testing.

The UC Berkeley grant augments the COT grant, helping to increase the number of DUI checkpoints the city will hold in the next year. “We recognizes alcohol-related collisions, and DUI incidents are significantly higher during the winter holidays,” says Robles, and that most annual traffic safety grant funds are spent during this time. The two new grants will help extend the safety programs throughout this year and next.

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September 13, 2013

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

Home prices should level off in ‘14 ability and a more balanced inventory of homes for sale will cause home prices to even out more next year. I still feel that there will be some peaks and valleys in our housing recovery. A slowly improving job market and still historically small inventories of new and existing homes for sale (though the inventory is increasing) might prevent much of a decline in prices. Since prices are still quite a bit below their peak, I don’t really see a bubble happening like before. This year we have had the first double digit gain in percent of price appreciation in homes in seven years. I am looking forward to a “normal” market where homes appreciate a small percentage every year (1 percent to 6 percent).

LYNNE FRENCH

REAL ANSWERS Q. Do you think home prices will continue to increase for the rest of this year and next year? A. Economists with “CoreLogic,” a statistical firm, predict that rising interest rates, afford-

Q. What are some interesting facts you have gleaned from our crazy, ever changing housing market? A. The California Association of Realtors compiles interesting facts and statistics for their members. They call it “One Cool Thing.” I would like to share some of them with you.

Letter to the Editor Obamacare will improve health care system

1. In California the city with the most growth in housing permits from their lowest point was Riverside, at 21 percent. The least growth was Santa Cruz with 0.9 percent; San Francisco 2.3 percent growth – probably because there isn’t much room to build. Bakersfield was 12.1 percent, San Jose was 2.4 percent and Sacramento was 5.1 percent.

The column by Dr. David Birdsall on health care reform [Doctors’ Orders, Aug. 30] was insightful. As he pointed out, people without health care insurance need only to be “stabilized” at emergency rooms, before being sent off to seek further treatment elsewhere. They will not receive “followup” appointments, even if desired by the attending physician. And, in many if not most cases, they simply will not be able to pay for their expensive trip to the emergency room, a cost that can quickly reach tens of thousands of dollars. But I think the doctor’s concerns about what may be happening in states other than California, a possible future shortage of primary physicians, and the basic funding of reform, deflect the reader from the primary purpose of Obamacare: The best way to improve overall health care in our country is to increase the percentage of Americans with health care insurance. Pure and simple. Obamacare is NOT about or for the 85 percent of Americans who already have minimalessential-coverage for health care services. It IS about improving accessibility and/or affordability for the 15 percent or so who do not. Everything else, over time, will fall into place. We will look back, eventually, to appreciate the significant improvements to our overall American health care system due to the implementation of Obamacare. George Fulmore Concord

2. “The Ripple Effect” – For each home purchase approximately $60,000 of direct and indirect spending occurs in the economy. Home sales in this country generate more than 2.5 million privatesector jobs in an average year. They create jobs in remodeling, landscaping, lawn and pool service, furniture and appliances, home improvement and real estate services. The list goes on. 3. Now that the economy has begun to stabilize, people are ready to move into new homes. Five-point-four percent more households moved this year than last. An estimated 36.5 million people moved in 2012-up from 35.1 million in 2011. Fifty-four percent of people in the Western U.S. say they’re more comfortable purchasing a house today than any other time in the past five years. This is higher than any other region in the country. 4. Did you know that owning a home may help your children do better in school? Reading scores= 7 percent higher for homeowners; Math scores= 9 percent higher for homeowners; High school graduation rates = 25 percent higher for homeowners and College graduation rates =116 percent higher for homeowners. 5. Want the most bang for your buck when improving your home? Here are 10 projects that will yield the greatest return on investment once you are ready to sell. These are in descending order: 1. Garage

door replacement. 2. Siding replacement (vinyl). 3. Attic bedroom. 4. Window replacement (wood). 5. Window replacement (vinyl). 6. Major kitchen remodel. 7. Minor kitchen remodel. 8. Entry door replacement (steel) 9. Deck addition (wood). 10. Basement remodel. 6. Over the past 42 years, home prices have risen in California almost every year, and they’re back on the rise. History shows that homeownership in California is a solid longterm investment. Median price for single family homes in California: 1970=$24,640; 1980=$99,550; 1990=$193,770; 2000=$241,350 and 2010=$319,340. 7. The value of experience. When you are buying or selling a home, realtors have the experience you need to guide you through the process. According to a recent study, the typical “realtor” has 11 years of experience. Eighty percent of realtors have been practicing for six years or more. Broker-owners who sell property have a median of 20 years of experience. Repeat clients made up 20 percent of the average realtor’s business in 2012. Referrals from past clients made up 28 percent. Send your question and look for your answer in a future column. Email Lynne@LynneFrench.com. French is the broker/owner of Windermere Lynne French & Associates. Contact her at 672-878 7or stop in at 6200 Center St., Clayton.

Page 7

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Mayor, from page 1 side-yard fence or in a storage yard. On-street and driveway or front-yard parking of these vehicles is prohibited in Clayton. See more about the precise regulations in Police Chief Thorsen's column in this issue of the Pioneer. DERBY DELIGHT Thanks to the Clayton Community Church for another spectacular Labor Day Soapbox Derby and car show. A great time was had by all and there were lots of pictures of smiling kiddos on Facebook pages. What a fun event for families! CONCERT FINALES This Saturday will be the final night of our "Concerts in The Grove" for this season with a great band, East Bay Mudd, and next Thursday is the final concert for that series as well. The concerts have become the place to be on

those 10 Saturday evenings and five Thursdays of the summer. I want to thank my colleagues Howard Geller and Jim Diaz and their entire crew for their hard work – all volunteer – to present the concerts for our community. Part of that crew is the team from Diablo Valley Ranch who help with the set-up, take-down and park clean-up for every concert. We truly appreciate everything they do to help. I also want to thank you, our wonderful audiences, for your generous donations toward next year's concerts. As all who attend have heard, no concert funding comes from the city's budget. The concerts are entirely funded by our generous sponsors, the Clayton Business & Community Association, Republic Services (our garbage company) and you. We use your donations to help pay for the concerts for the following year. During the first nine

concerts this year you have contributed more than $16,000. That's nearly half of what it costs us to put on the series for the summer. What will the final season total be? I'll let you know next issue. As we circulate among the crowd collecting donations, Howard and I hear how much you enjoy them and which bands you like the best. We already have about half of the bands chosen for next year, including some long-time favorites and some new upand-coming ones, too. It's going to be another great lineup. As always, you can reach me at JPierce@ci.clayton.ca.us. Let me know what you think.

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Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

“It’s like Christmas every week” -A happy Doorstep member

New superintendent to take over MDUSD Sept. 23 PEGGY SPEAR Clayton Pioneer

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September 13, 2013

Dr. Nellie Meyer doesn’t look much like a kindergartner, but the new Mount Diablo Unified School District superintendent was the first to say she had a lot in common with those of the class of 2027. It was appropriate that Meyer was unanimously approved to lead the district on Aug. 28, its first day of school. “I see a lot of parallels in the work we will be doing with those kindergartners,” she quipped. The lighthearted atmosphere belied the combative road the board traveled to get to Meyer’s

appointment, following the firing of her predecessor, Dr. Steven Lawrence, last spring. Lawrence and several DR. NELLIE board memMEYER bers had a volatile relationship, and it chose not to renew his contract in April. Dr. John Bernard is serving as interim superintendent until Meyer officially takes over on Sept. 23. Meyer comes to MDUSD

from San Diego Unified School District, where she served as deputy superintendent of school support services. Thanking the board, Meyer said she looks forward to a fresh start for the district, building on what is already working and focusing on growth, collaboration and focus in addressing what isn’t. “I hope to push all of us in a new direction,” she said. She will earn $245,000 a year to lead the district, which encompasses 49 traditional schools sites and several other adult and special education programs. Her contract runs through June 30, 2016.

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That time of year has come again: the return to books, backpacks, homework and teachers. The usual routine for some is a new challenge for incoming students, especially when they do not understand a word of English. It is for these students that English Language Learner programs exist. Imagine entering your first year at a new school and not understanding anything your peers are saying. Of course, you would have learned a few words from watching television or going out somewhere, yet you have ultimately lived your whole life speaking a different language than the people with whom you share a classroom. How will you adapt? How will you learn? How will you make friends? These questions dominate the lives of many American students, especially considering that multilingualism has risen incredibly in the last 30 years.. The thousands of students who face this dilemma do not have to worry for long, since the sudden exposure to the English language in new academic community will push them to learn it rapidly. This is particularly true among children of elementary ages who can master a language

quicker than any teen or adult. Naturally, students who are discovering English for the first time will take a little longer to catch up in class, yet programs such as English Language Development and English as a Second Language help children succeed academically by providing individual help to improve their language skills. Moreover, these and other programs are prominent in high schools as well, and they have a rightful place among the variety of courses high schools offer. Needless to say, children will still learn the language faster than teens, yet these programs allow for adolescent students to hone their English language skills with the guidance of excellent teachers. With their help, the language barrier that prevents multilingual students from interacting with other students and understanding course material vanishes. These

programs and the exposure to English in school will help teenage students succeed in their academic lives. The public school system is responsible for offering English Language Learner programs for every student who requires it. American students are taught in English, so how can the students who hardly comprehend English be refused the opportunity to fully understand it? Multilingual students gain prominence in the American education system with every passing year, and thus it is important to keep these arguments in mind when trying to approach them and help them along their way to academic victory in the future. Liliana Hernandez is a Senior at Clayton Valley Charter High School. She loves to read and plans to pursue her interest in writing in the future. Send email to her at liliana@claytonpioneer.com

Clayton Valley Charter High School Homecoming Activities Clayton Valley Charter High School is celebrating Homecoming Week from Sept. 23 through 28. Clayton Valley students are celebrating with activities throughout the week on campus with spirit days, a rally and a dance on Saturday evening. Please join in on the fun at the Homecoming Parade at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 25 in downtown Clayton. Every class will be presenting their Homecoming royalty on each of their floats. Additionally, various clubs and sports teams will make an appearance.

On Friday, Sept. 27, join the CVCHS Eagles in the coronation of the 2013/2014 Homecoming King and Queen. Coronation is prior to the varsity football game against Skyline High School at 7 p.m. The football games and Homecoming pre-game festivities are at Clayton Valley’s Gonsalves Stadium. Come and support the Ugly Eagles. For further information, go to the Clayton Valley Charter High School website at claytonvalley.org.

Soaring scores just mean CVCHS can go higher

DAVID LINZEY VOYAGE OF THE EAGLE Remember this number: 836. The official Academic Performance Index (API) numbers for the 2012-13 school year have been released by the California Department of Education and our 62 point growth is incredible. How incredible you ask? CVCHS has the highest API growth for comprehensive schools (elementary, middle, and high) in Contra Costa County and the highest growth for large comprehensive high schools in the entire state of California. That’s how incredible. But what is the value of a 62 point jump? While the API measures academic growth based on standardized test results, it is a symbol for much more. This jump will have a ripple effect that will impact school spirit, college acceptance rates, community property values, attraction and retention of staff and students, and more. This data validates the charter vision; but it is not an end in itself, simply a high water mark on our journey from good to great. And there is no arguing now that we are headed for greatness. Clayton Valley High School had been stuck below the 800 level, resulting in the lowest possible ranking in the state similarschools band, since the creation of the API. So how did we finally break through this once unattainable goal? The simple answer is an unrelenting work ethic matched with a feverish sense of urgency. There is no single magic bullet; rather our achievement is the result of a combination of programs designed to produce “first class citizens with a world class education” – a phrase that has become a shared motto at CVCHS. To name a few things we did: • Implemented a guidance and counseling program with three academic counselors, one college and career counselor, one school psychologist, and one Dean of Students; • Developed quality academic intervention programs (summer school, Saturday Bridge to Success Program; after-school tutoring; credit recovery program online) and kept our library open five days a week;

See Scores, page 12

September 13, 2013

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

Page 9

Don’t say ‘eek’ when it comes to cooking leeks DEBRA J. MORRIS Pacific Coast Farmers Market

California is one of the most prolific supplier of leeks and scallions. Leeks look like overgrown scallions, but a single leek can be as thick as two-inches in diameter, or almost as thin as a scallion. Leeks have a crunchy texture when cooked, and a heartier flavor than scallions. They are used mostly in cooking, and are often braised. J&M Farms has wonderful organic leeks, scallions and a variety of other onions. Pick leeks with relatively straight bulbs that don’t exceed one-and-a-half inches in diameter, or they will be tough and woody. Never buy leeks that have wilted or torn green parts, or those that have been

trimmed, as it is a good indication that the leeks have been around too long. Store scallions and leeks away from odor-sensitive foods such as corn and mushrooms, which will absorb the odor of the onions. Remove any rubber bands and any damaged leaves and store in plastic bags in the crisper section of the refrigerator. They’ll both last up to five days. Leeks are notoriously sandy and must be washed thoroughly. First trim off the root and green tops, and then slit the leeks lengthwise. Rinse off the dirt between the layers under a running tap or wash the leeks in a tub of water while holding it firmly so it doesn’t fall apart. Leeks are usually cut crosswise into crescents before they are sautéed in butter or oil for a dish, but if they are to be roast-

EMILY YORK

TEEN READS In “Second Chance Summer” by Morgan Matson (Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers; Reprint May, 2013), Taylor Edwards’ family

f f O % 0 1

ed or braised, the two halves can be left intact. Scallions are prepared like leeks, except dirt and grit are not an issue. Trim the roots and the green tops and leave about an inch of green where it’s fairly light green. Then cut crosswise into thin slices. BRAISED LEEKS WITH SHALLOT DRESSING 6 large leeks, bulb and light green parts washed and cut into 1-inch strips 6 shallots 1 cup organic vegetable broth 1 Tbsp. Dijon mustard 2 Tbsp. coconut vinegar 1/4 cup olive oil salt & pepper to taste 2 Tbsp. fresh chopped parsley 2 Tbsp. coconut flour Toss leeks in 1 Tbsp. olive

Teen reclaims friendships and family in poignant ‘Summer’ spends about as much quality time together as the Hatfields and the McCoys. Everyone is always busy and they never have any time to spend together as a real family. But when Taylor’s dad is diagnosed with stage-four pancreatic cancer and has only four months to live, Taylor’s parents decide that the family will spend their last summer all together at their old lake house in the Pocono Mountains. Taylor’s dreading this vacation due to the drama that occurs while her family is enclosed together. But while being forced to bond with each other throughout the summer,

L SPECIA

they all rediscover how powerful a family’s love can be and what they’ve been avoiding all these years. Taylor is also reunited with two people who she spent the summer with in the Poconos when she was 12: her former best friend, Lucy, and her first crush, Henry. Taylor spends the season rekindling the friendships that she left behind and creating memories that will last her a lifetime. This book is an impeccable novel about reclaiming yourself and enjoying life while you have it. Emily York is a freshman at CVCHS.

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oil. Lightly brown on grill pan. Add broth and simmer on low heat for 20 minutes. Chop 4 shallots into 1/4” rings, toss in coconut flour and cook under broiler until crispy, 2-3 minutes. In a small bowl combine remaining shallots finely diced with mustard and vinegar, whisk in olive oil and salt and pepper. Place leeks on serving platter, drizzle with vinaigrette, sprinkle with crispy shallots and parsley. Makes 8 small servings.

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Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

September 13, 2013

Sports

Clayton Valley earns respect, DLS gets W JAY BEDECARRÉ Clayton Pioneer

It’s the rare exception in sports when a losing team moves up in the rankings but that’s exactly what happened to Clayton Valley Charter High School after they lost their season opener to De La Salle 3414 in a clash of defending North Coast Section football champions from Concord. Coach Tim Murphy’s Eagles have been stamped as favorites for the NCS Division II title after the team’s showing against the Spartans, who were debuting their first new football coach in 35 years. Justin Alumbaugh’s squad won the game but not before Clayton Valley gave his No. 1

ranked team all they could handle for much of the evening running off more plays but being shutout in the second half when the large lines of De La Salle started to wear down the Eagles. Murphy relished the opportunity to play DLS, which came into the year with 26 straight victories overall and 237 games without a loss to a Northern California team. Early in the game CVCHS went for a first down on fourth and short at their own 25-yard line, signaling their intent. Although the play failed the Eagles did not give up a touchdown then and eventually tied the game at 7 and trailed only 21-14 at the half following a touchdown

TIGHT END KRISTIAN MAMEA CAUGHT A TOUCHDOWN PASS late in the first half to bring Clayton Valley within 21-14 of De La Salle at halftime in the season opener that pitted NCS champs from last season. Later in the game Mamea injured his ankle and may be out up to six weeks, a big blow for the senior who also plays middle linebacker. Das Tautalatasi wraps up Mamea and Jevari Anderson (14) comes in to finish off the tackle for the Spartans, who won 34-14.

pass from transfer quarterback Gabe Taylor to Kristian Mamea, who injured his ankle later in the game and is apt to miss up to six weeks. Unheralded John Velasco stole the headlines with three rushing touchdowns and 187 yards from scrimmage for De La Salle. Junior Miles Harrison was almost as impressive in his starting debut for the Eagles running for 175 yards on 24 carries and scoring the team’s first TD of the year on a 10yard run. Tanner Wraa had nine tackles and was the CVCHS standout on defense. Dylan Jue had six tackles and stripped a DLS runner causing fumble that he also recovered in his first time ever playing inside linebacker. Murphy summed up the effort, “Overall the team played well considering how big and fast DLS is this year and the fact that we had 13 positions getting their first varsity start. We feel like if we stay healthy we should have a shot at another NCS title.” The Eagles began the season ranked 21st in the Bay Area but moved up to 18th despite the loss to DLS, which is No. 1 in NorCal and state polls as well as topping some national ratings. Several prep sports experts are now touting the Eagles as early-season favorites to defend their DII NCS title, which would likely place them into a Regional Bowl Game for the second year in a row. Clayton Valley had a bye last week due to a scheduling change and meets Castlemont of Oakland this Friday in the Eagles first home game at Gonsalves Stadium. Kickoff is at 7 o’clock. Following a road game next Friday at Independence in San Jose CVCHS celebrates homecoming Sept. 27 against another Oakland team, Skyline.

Four Aces at Oakhurst Four golfers at Oakhurst Country club have made holein-ones recently, including Clayton residents Rick Smith and Steve Greytak. Three of the four Oakhurst par 3 holes were aced in this recent rash of holein-ones. The 13th hole was aced twice with Don Nicolai of Alamo using a nine iron from

118 yards at the white tees and Renata Young of Walnut Creek using a gap wedge from the red tees at 86 yards. Smith aced the 11th hole from 181 yards using a five iron while Greytak used a seven iron from 145 yards on the eighth hole, according the PGA pro and Oakhurst Director of Golf Robert Barnes. Both those

hole-in-ones were from the gold back tees. Oakhurst’s other Par 3 is on the third hole is the longest at 185 yards from the championship tees. The course is a Par 72, 6,746-yard layout which was named “best New Course in Northern California” when it opened in 1990 by California Golf magazine.

Jason Rogers photos

TRANSFER GABE TAYLOR (12) THREW A TOUCHDOWN PASS in the final minute of the first half and “managed the offense really well for his first varsity start,” according to CVCHS coach Tim Murphy. Larry Ross (58) looks to tackle Taylor. De La Salle won the game between 2012 NCS champions from Concord 34-14.

Eagles grad Goff named Nevada basketball Director of Operations Clayton Valley High School grad Nick Goff was recently appointed University of Nevada men’s basketball Director of Operations. Goff returns to his alma mater after two years at South Dakota State. “I am very pleased to announce our new Director of Operations Nick Goff,” Wolfpack head men’s basketball coach David Carter said. “Nick was a former manager here at Nevada in 2011. He will be a great addition to our program.” Goff will handle travel, film exchange, oversee the Pack student managers, assist with scheduling and work with Nevada’s academic advisors and compliance department along with additional duties as assigned. He will serve as the coordinator for the Wolf Pack men’s basketball camps. “I’m very thankful for the opportunity to join the staff here at Nevada,” Goff said. “I’m excited to work alongside Coach Carter and the rest of the basketball staff that did so much for me during my time as a student manager. It is a great feel-

NICK GOFF

ing to be back in the Reno community and I look forward to contributing to the Wolf Pack Basketball program again.” Goff spent the past two seasons as a graduate assistant at South Dakota State where he handled many of the operations duties for the Jackrabbits. Some of his duties included coordinating travel and film exchange along with assisting in scheduling. He served as the camp coordinator for the SDSU men’s basketball camps. Prior to working at SDSU he

was a manager for the Wolf Pack basketball team for three seasons. During his time at Nevada he assisted in several aspects of the Nevada basketball program and worked the Pack basketball camps. In 2011 he received his bachelor’s degree in journalism with a minor in business from Nevada. He earned a master’s of science degree in sport and recreation studies from SDSU. Goff graduated from Clayton Valley in 2006. He was cut from the Eagles freshman team but persisted and eventually played for coach Troy Sullivan’s varsity as a senior, calling himself “more of the inspirational type than point guard.” His team included nine seniors and was led by standouts Adam Carp, Drew Menez and Johnny Del Bene. Goff ’s parents, Jerry and Eda, and his younger sister Amina still live in Concord. Amina is a 2008 CVHS grad. University of Nevada Media Relations Department contributed to this story.

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September 13, 2013

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

Page 11

Sports

Rest easy: Giants should be back in playoffs in 2014 TYLER LEHMAN SPORTS TALK It can be easily said that the San Francisco Giants have had one of the worst World Series follow-up seasons in the history of baseball. Although this may be true, it doesn’t signal the end of a powerful era for this team. There are several factors as to why the Giants struggled so much this year, and why they can easily make it back into the playoffs next season. First of all, they need to get healthy, which can happen for them next season. Angel Pagan, Ryan Vogelsong, Chad Gaudin, Santiago

Casilla, Pablo Sandoval, Matt Cain; what do all of these players have in common? They are all essential to the Giants success and have been on the disabled list for extended periods of time this season. Baseball is such a fascinating game because it is a marathon, not a sprint, and there will be bumps along the way in the regular season. Unfortunately for the Giants they fell into a pothole with how many injury problems they had this year. Their offense became stagnant, their defense struggled, and most of all their pitching fell apart due to numerous and lengthy injuries. Next season it will be a clean slate where all the Giants starters can be healthy. The Giants have also performed poorly this year due to fatigue. Before this season, the

Giants had gone to the World Series in two of the past three seasons, winning two championships in the process. When going deep into the playoffs, a team plays many more games than they anticipated with just a regular season. Fatigue can be easily seen in pitchers who are considered “work-horses,” and this is what happened to Cain this season. This isn’t to say that there haven’t been other problems with the Giants ace, but he has had to pitch over 50 innings in the post-season the previous three seasons alone. All these extra innings, and the fact that he goes deep into games, has obviously fatigued the man – the human body can only handle so much. With the Giants not going to the post-season this year, maybe Cain can get

enough rest to become his former self in the 2014 season. Getting rested and healthy are the keys for the Giants to become successful again. Almost all of their star players are still under contract for next year, so they will still have the nucleus for a playoff contending team. One more key thing the Giants must do is add to their bullpen depth, as this was a huge problem for them this season. The Giants have plenty of spending money so they can surely go out and get a few arms for the bullpen, and next season make a run at their third World Series in five years. Tyler Lehman is a sophomore at Diablo Valley College and a 2012 CVHS graduate. He plans to major in journalism and wants to be a sports writer. Email your comments or questions to Tyler@claytonpioneer.com.

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Kohler’s crew finishes out of the medals in World Championship finals JAY BEDECARRÉ Clayton Pioneer

The United States women’s quadruple sculls crew with Kara Kohler of Clayton finished fifth at the World Rowing Championship finals in Chungju, South Korea at the end of August. The USA quad had taken third last summer for the bronze medal in the London Olympics but was not a threat to medal in the World Championship final race. Megan Kalmoe (St. Croix Falls, Wis.), Esther Lofgren (Newport Beach, Calif.) and Susan Francia (Abington, Pa.) joined Kohler at the World Championships with the quartet accounting for five Olympic medals between them. In the finals the U.S. was never in a position to medal, starting in fifth place and falling into sixth before crossing the finish line back in fifth. Germany won in 6:41.86. Canada was second in 6:45.02 and Poland was third in 6:46.27. The American quad started the regatta by taking fourth in their preliminary race, forcing them to enter the repechage in order to gain a place in the sixboat finals. In the repechage (second chance) race the U.S. and Poland traded places three times over the first 1,500 meters – first Poland led, then the U.S., then Poland. New Zealand was back in third and apparently out of the running for the top two places. “I looked over once accidentally,” said Kohler, who with Kalmoe had won Olympic bronze in this same event last summer. “I saw that it looked

like they (New Zealand) were even and it was just like, we’ve got to go, we’ve really got to go.” And go they did, crossing the line second in a frenzied sprint, the result of which was a trip to the final. “I wasn’t shocked,” Kohler said. “I knew they were quick in the sprint.

We were just trying to hang on.” The Americans finished with eight overall medals at the World Championships in South Korea, the same total earned by Italy, Germany and Great Britain. Three-time All-America Kohler and six former Cal Bear

rowers competed in the World Championships. The Clayton woman will be starting her senior year at Cal this fall. This was her first World Rowing Championships in an Olympic event. US Rowing contributed to this story.

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New coach sets pace for CV cross country teams JAY BEDECARRÉ Clayton Pioneer

New Clayton Valley Charter High School cross country coach Anthony Munch will be introducing lots of new runners to his girls and boys varsity squads and hopes he can instill some of the success he had as a runner at his alma mater. Munch only competed in cross country as a senior but was part of the 1994 team that was so good it was inducted into the Clayton Valley Athletic Hall of Fame earlier this year. While he has no allusions that the same will happen this season he does hope to meld some strong returning veterans with other runners new to varsity and, in a couple cases, new to the school as freshmen. For the varsity boys Danny Condon was sixth last year at the league meet and is joined by fellow seniors Quentin Mclane, Kyle Metz and Ben Linzey and

junior Eduardo Wence as key returning runners. They will be joined by junior Sam Givens, who won the Diablo Valley Athletic League frosh/soph race, and also Sayed Opeyany and Josh Rosen, who were top 5 in frosh/soph. “There is a great amount of depth on the team that we haven't seen in years with the top eight all running very close in time. This is helpful in the way that if one runner has a bad race, his teammates can pick up the slack. The top four DVAL teams on the boy’s side were fairly closely matched last year and there should be some great head-to-head competition again this year,” Munch says. For the girls Kyra Ortiz, who was fourth in DVAL last fall, and sophomore Sarah Carrico head the returning runners. A pair of freshmen, Natalie Ruzicka and Sarah Verderame, has made a run for varsity positions along with junior Lindsay Mondloch in her first year run-

ning cross country. Munch sums up the girls side, “The varsity girls graduated two strong seniors (Rachel Preeg and Emma Schoenstein), but we are hoping that a few talented freshmen runners will develop to fill the openings. Kyra is a hopeful to qualify for the State Championships in November. She narrowly missed a spot last year and has shown a great deal of dedication preparing for the season. “College Park will be very strong again in their quest to return to the state championships.” Munch has a strong staff working with the cross county Eagles teams including Deborah Osteen (CV alumni and former head distance coach at University of Southern Mississippi), Brandon Enriquez (CV alumni, also track and soccer coach), Matt McCoy (CV class of 2013) and Shaun Guest (also coaches swimming at CVCHS).

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Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

September 13, 2013

Sports

Eagle polo teams expect tussles with Northgate for titles JAY BEDECARRÉ Clayton Pioneer

Senior standouts will be counted on to lead the Clayton Valley Charter High School girls and boys water polo teams this fall as the Eagles seek to win Diablo Valley Athletic League championships and advance in the North Coast Section playoffs. Veteran girls coach Dennis Bledsoe and second-year boys coach Nick Ballew each circle Northgate as their biggest rivals for DVAL honors. Fittingly, the two league favorites meet in the final week of the season at Concord Community Pool on Wednesday, Oct. 23, a week before the DVAL tournament begins at College Park. Jack Brown was co-MVP last year with senior Zach Loza of Northgate. Brown scored 104 goals and also led the Eagles in assists. Brown was honorable mention all-DVAL as a freshman, first-team all-league as a sophomore and then was MVP as a junior. His senior classmates Kenny Cuneo and Grant Meylan were also first-team picks last year while goalie Max Renner and Jordan Tate nabbed second-team recognition, as did soph Tanner White. All return to help Ballew’s team reach its goals of winning the league title after losing 8-6 to Northgate in the finals a year ago. The Eagles have missed

reaching the NCS playoffs only once (2008) since 2003 but advanced past the opening Section playoff round only in 2009. Cuneo scored 44 goals last year and “was a force on the team and is vital to our team’s success this year as he will be playing ‘Hole-D’ for the majority of the year,” Ballew adds. Tate led the team with 78 steals a year ago and has set out this year to break the school single-season steals record as a senior. Brown, Cuneo and Tate are tri-captains this year. The Eagles opened the season with lopsided wins over Liberty and Deer Valley. Northgate lost Loza and twotime first-team all-DVAL Alex O’Laughlin from the 2012 champions but has all-league performers Mason Tittle, Michael Wardle, Calvin Kirkpatrick and Brayden Levey back. Broncos coach Taylor Herman’s team has the credentials for a repeat title and another visit to the NCS Division II playoffs where they reached the semi-finals before falling to eventual champion Marin Catholic 13-8. EAGLES GIRLS REPLACING GRADS Three graduates from last year’s Clayton Valley Charter girls DVAL league champion team are playing college polo this fall but coach Bledsoe still has quality players returning to show the

Photo courtesy Clayton Valley Charter water polo

KIMMY ANDERSON (15) has earned all-league recognition the past two years and hopes to help her Clayton Valley Charter High School team to a league title as a senior this fall. She is one of three seniors, along with Sara Abele and Sara Johnson (8), giving coach Dennis Bledsoe’s team experience and leadership. Emily Rabbitt (11) also was in the pool as the Eagles defeated Liberty 15-7 in a preseason match.

way girls coming up from junior varsity in the quest for a league championship. Seniors Sara Abele, Noel Creamer, Sara Johnson and Kim Anderson will be looked to for leadership and strong play by Bledsoe. Abele was co-captain last year

and was co-leader in assists and steals while being named firstteam all-DVAL for a second time and third-team all-East Bay. Last year, Creamer was second-team all-league and her team’s most improved while Johnson was a co-captain, tied for most steals and made second-

Sports Shorts CLAYTON VALLEY FALL YOUTH BASEBALL PROGRAM NOW UNDERWAY

Clayton Valley Charter High School baseball coaching staff and players are offering a fall instructional program until Nov. 14. The 10-week, 30-hour program focuses on the skills necessary to be a successful player including batting, fielding, pitching, catching and base running. Sessions are held Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4-5:30 p.m. at the Clayton Valley Varsity Baseball Facility for boys and girls ages 5–13. Questions? Contact Eagles coach Casey Coakley, casey.coakley@claytonvalley.org or (925) 285-9417.

FALL YOUTH, ADULT PROGRAMS COMING TO CLAYTON GYM A variety of programs at Clayton Community Gym are taking signups now through All Out Sports League. Winter youth basketball league signups are now open for players 4-16. Youth hip hop and jazz classes are every Monday for 5-16 yearolds. Youth volleyball league (816 years-old) starts Sept. 14 for third to 11th graders. Blaze AAU basketball and club volley-

team all-DVAL. Anderson (2011 and 2012) and Katie Van Tuyl (last year) were honorable mention all-league. Quincy Winship is the other returning varsity player for the Eagles. Bledsoe expects Katie Kommer and Vanessa Parham to contribute to varsity after moving up

SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES SOCCER SCHOOL IN CONCORD THIS FALL

ball tryouts are coming late this year. There will be an adult coed softball tournament Nov. 3. For complete information, visit alloutsportsleague.com.

ST. BONAVENTURE CYO BASKETBALL TAKING SIGNUPS ONLINE

Signups for boys and girls in second through eighth grades for the St. Bonaventure basketball CYO program are still being taken online at stbonaventurecyo.com. For more information call 672-5774.

ST. BONAVENTURE CYO CROSS COUNTRY SEASON UNDERWAY SEPT. 20

St. Bonaventure CYO cross country begins Friday, Sept. 20, with an Oakland Diocese tuneup meet. The season concludes with the Diocese meet Oct. 18 at Joaquin Miller Park in Oakland. The program is open to boys and girls in 2nd-8th grades in the St. Bonaventure attendance area. Cross country practices are Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 5:30 p.m. The team meets at Newhall Park by the big oak tree. Signups are taken online at stbonaventurecyo.com.

The San Jose Earthquakes of Major League Soccer are holding their Regional Development School fall session at Boatwright Fields in Concord on Tuesdays through Oct. 29. Girls and boys 5-10 years of age are eligible for the school which brings professional coaching experience and guidance to youth soccer players of all skill levels. Brazilian World Cup and Olympic player Tafa heads the teaching staff. For more information visit the Earthquakes Youth Alliance Partner’s website at diablofc.org.

VINCE BUHAGIAR WILL SIT OUT SAN JOSE STATE FOOTBALL SEASON

CV High grad Vince Buhagiar will miss the entire football season after the San Jose State senior outside linebacker underwent surgery to repair a torn labrum in his right shoulder. Buhagiar was named to the all-conference team prior to this season. “The great news of that is we’ve got a veteran, proven three-year starter back at that position for 2014,” head coach Ron Caragher said. The senior will likely draw a medical redshirt tag in 2013.

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from JVs. Three-time first-team allleague player Casey Adams is now playing at UC Davis, Julia Arteaga is at DVC and first-team all-leaguer Taylor Ryle is at Cal State Long Beach. Also gone from the team are Michell Lutz and Bailey Rogers. The 2012 Eagles lost in the NCS Division I quarterfinals 8-7 to James Logan. Bledsoe has have been at CV coaching since 1966 except for two years when he tried college coaching at Cal and Fresno State. Head JV coach is Natalie Jennings, an all-league and all-East Bay player at CV who played collegiately at San Jose State. Assistant varsity and JV coach is Lindsay Allen Struempf. Northgate girls lost to Miramonte in the NCS DII quarterfinals a year ago. The Broncos finished second to CVCHS in league play but won the DVAL tournament last fall. Toughest hole to fill for Northgate coach Gab Flores is for graduated two-time DVAL MVP Lani Tittle. Also graduated are allleague players Kelly Carson, Natasha Williams and Megan McWard. Hannah Dillon will give a young squad senior leadership this season.

Scores, from page 8 • Embraced the Rigor/Relevance/Relationships framework; • Implemented instructional guides for the four core subjects with quarterly benchmark assessments; • Provided a professional development program – more staff training in one year than the last decade; • Hired a technology coordinator who implemented effective instructional software programs to support student learning; • Emphasized communication through a dynamic, informative school website including individual teacher sites, regular homework posting, and 24-hour response time on all emails and phone calls; • Focused on character education through the Freshman Transition program and the Link Crew program; • Engaged community support through local partnerships and a powerful parent volunteer program; • Improved school environment through revitalized athletic programs, clean and safe campus initiatives, upgraded maintenance and operations management, and evening and weekend security. The work began before any student stepped foot onto campus last year. The urgency with which we proceeded was due to that shared understanding that our kids’ futures were on the line. Educators must act in many ways like surgeons in the operating room – one wrong move, one minute too late and a life may be lost. This is the gravity of our work, a tone that is often missing in other schools. Today: 836, celebration, validation. Tomorrow: back to the surgeon’s table and the work at hand. We could sit back and rest on our laurels; but this is not what CVCHS is made of. The 836 score is not good enough. Join me in this regular article for a firsthand look at “The Voyage of the Eagle” to heights yet unseen in secondary education. David Linzey is executive director of CVCHS. Contact him David.linzey@claytonvalley.org

September 13, 2013

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

Page 13

Smart ways to stop school bullying STEPHANIE HO MIND MATTERS September is here and that means another school year is already in full swing, but it also means another chance for kids to be bullied. Unfortunately, bullying starts as early as preschool and it is pervasive; anywhere from 40-80 percent of middle school-age children admit to engaging in bullying behavior. The reality is that bullies often struggle with personal issues, low self-esteem and conflict at home – these kids develop aggression as a way to cope. But those who are bullied happen to share a lot in common with their tormentors in terms of underlying issues; they just become the victims rather than the victimizers. There is some good news

though – it is possible to help your children protect themselves from bullies. Here is what experts recommend: Model respect and compassion to your children. The best predictors of not being bullied are having high self-esteem and strong relationships at home. If you treat your child as you would like your child to treat others, then practice using positive guidance to change a child’s behavior rather than physical discipline, punishment or power plays. Help your child learn basic social skills. Model being confident with others; your children are watching how you handle situations. Teach your child how to introduce themselves, how to join a group, how to ask for a turn and give a turn, and how to invite someone to do something. Coach your child on how to handle a bully’s first attempts to tease. Remind your child that bullies thrive on getting a reaction out of their target; they feel more powerful when they can get a strong reaction out of the victim. Your child can use

assertive and non-defensive statements to make their initial stand. Here is some language that your child can use: “That’s teasing. Stop making fun of me.” “I want you to leave me alone.” For every comment made, respond with, “Really?”, “So?”, “You don’t say?” or “And your point is?” Also let your children know that it is okay to feel scared of bullies and not engage the bully at all. Children can ignore the bully by pretending the bully is

invisible, looking uninterested and walking away. In addition to helping your child learn how to deal with bullies, it is also crucial to know how to intervene when they see someone else being bullied. Studies have shown that bystanders who step up can cut bullying more than half the time and within 10 seconds! If your child sees someone being bullied, they can confront the bully by saying “That’s mean” and help the victim walk away by saying, “C’mon, let’s go” or they can deflect by standing next to

Stephanie T. Ho is a licensed psychologist. She has a private practice office in Walnut Creek and works at UC Berkeley. She can be reached at stephanie.ho.phd@gmail.com.

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Club News CLAYTON VALLEY WOMAN’S CLUB Join the Clayton Valley Woman’s Club for a fun evening on Sunday, Oct. 13, at the Oakhurst Country Club. Nohost cocktails are at 5 p.m. followed at 6 p.m. by dinner, dancing and entertainment by Dan Ashley and his band PUSH. There will be a raffle and silent auction. Proceeds go to local charities and scholarships. Dan Ashley is an award-winning television anchorman on ABC7. He is a popular figure in the Bay Area and very involved in the community serving on many boards. He raises money to send underprivileged children to a Lake Tahoe summer camp. A couple of years ago, Ashley did something outside of the box; he became the lead vocalist for PUSH. They perform classic and original rock at local concerts and events. The event costs $47.50 per person. Seating is limited, so make reservations early. The deadline is Oct. 1.

the victim, turning the victim away from the bully and walking them in the opposite direction by saying, “I’ve been looking for you” or “The teacher sent me to find you.” Lastly, it is important to remember to get adult help or call 911 if your child is worried about the imminent safety of themselves or another child in the face of a bully’s aggression.

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Oakhurst Country Club is at 1001 Peacock Creek Drive, Clayton. The club meets the second Tuesday of every month, except July and August. New members are welcome. For more information, call 6729448 or go to claytonvalleywomansclub.org.

5-year-old Panama is a happy-go-lucky gal who loves to play, go for walks, and cuddle with her favorite people. This smart dog is active and outgoing, and she will happily accompany you on any adventure, including camping, hiking, or a trip to the local coffee shop. Panama can be bubbly and energetic, but she also enjoys settling in for mellow, quiet couch time. Panama’s adoption fee has been prepaid by a generous donor. 17-week-old Plum is one cute little kitten who is full of herself! She is playful and outgoing and will surely bring you much laughter. The adoption fee for adult

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Meet your forever friend at Tony La Russa’s Animal Rescue Foundation, 2890 Mitchell Drive, Walnut Creek, during adoption hours: Noon to 5 p.m. Wednesday, 3 to 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday, Noon to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. The primary caretaker must be present to adopt. ARF also encourages kids 16 and younger and canine family members (dog adoptions only) to be present during the adoption process. Would you like to be part of the heroic team that saves the lives of rescued dogs and cats? Can you share your talents to connect people and

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CV GARDEN CLUB Clayton Valley Garden Club members Barry Hart, Ingela Nielson, Steve Lane, Diane Selmer, Linda Cruz, Dennis Kaump, Alyce and Ben Shikano, JoAnn Caspar, Robb Kingsbury and Nadine Findley brought the Pioneer along on an outing to beautiful Maple Rock Gardens in Newcastle, Placer County, for

tomato tasting and made a return visit to wonderful High Hand Nursery in nearby Loomis. The Garden Club meets at 7 p.m. on the second Wednesday of the month, February through November, at Diamond Terrace, 6401 Center St., Clayton. Visit their website at claytonvalleygardenclub.org.

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Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

September 13, 2013

Community Calendar PLEASE SUBMIT YOUR CLAYTON COMMUNITY CALENDAR EVENTS BY 5 P.M. SEPT. 18 FOR THE SEPT. 27

IN CLAYTON Sept. 14 Concerts in the Grove 6-8:30 p.m. Grove Park, downtown Clayton. Free. Last concert of the year. Sept. 14, 21, 28 Farmers’ Market 8 a.m.-12 p.m. Saturdays. Diablo Street between Main and Center streets, downtown Clayton. Music: Sept. 14, Paul Anderson; Sept. 21, Tony de Grassi; Sept. 28, Damond Moodie. pcfma.com/clayton. Sept. 19 Thursday Concerts in the Grove Featuring local talent. 7-8:30 p.m. Grove Park, downtown Clayton. Free. Oct. 4 - 6 Oktoberfest Sponsored by the Clayton Business and Community Association. Music by The Internationals, biergarten, food, arts and crafts, carnival. 6 – 10 p.m. Friday, carnival only. 11 a.m. – 8 p.m. Saturday. 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. Sunday. Downtown. Free admission. claytonoktoberfest.com. First Thursdays Oakhurst Business Network Meets first Thursday of the month for social hour. Hosted hors d’oeuvres, cash bar. 5 – 7 p.m. Oakhurst Country Club, 1001 Peacock Creek Drive, Clayton. oakhurstcc.com.

IN CONCORD Tuesdays and Thursdays Farmers’ Market Tuesdays year round, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Thursdays through Oct. 24, 4 - 8 p.m. Todos Santos Plaza, downtown Concord. cityofconcord.org.

ON THE MOUNTAIN Mount Diablo Interpretive Association programs listed are free with the exception of park entrance fee. Go to mdia.org and click on Events Calendar for more information. Sept. 14, 15, 21, 28, 29 Tarantula Trek Learn about the hairy spiders that roam the mountain at this time of year. Then take a walk to see if you can find any. Reservations required. Check the website for more tarantula hikes. Reservations are required and fill up fast. Sept. 15, Oct. 20 Tarantula Time It’s that time of year again when male tarantulas are out of their burrow roaming the hillsides looking for female tarantulas. Come and learn about the lives of these special creatures from naturalist Michael Marchiano in the Summit Audio Visual Room. 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. SAVE MOUNT DIABLO programs listed are free unless otherwise noted. Go to savemountdiablo.org and click on Activities/Guided Hikes for more information. 947-3535. Oct. 6 Mount Diablo Challenge This fun cycling event now offers course options for beginning and seasoned cyclists. Registration/fee required. Go to savemountdiablo.org and click on Mount Diablo Challenge.

EVENTS & ENTERTAINMENT Thru Sept. 28 “Shrek the Musical” Diablo Theatre Company brings the hilarious story of everyone’s favorite ogre to life on stage. Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek. $49-$53. lesherartscenter.org. 943-7469. Thru Oct. 12 “Ella the Musical” Exhilarating new musical that weaves myth, memory and music to tell the uplifting and poignant story of one of the greatest jazz vocalists of all time. Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek. $37-$64. centerrep.org. 943-7469. Sept. 19 – Oct. 13 “Pygmalion” A brilliantly witty reworking of the classical tale of the sculptor who falls in love with his perfect female statue. Butterfield 8 Theatre at Cue Productions Live, 1835 Colfax St., Concord. $12-$20. b8company.com.

ISSUE. ITEMS MUST BE SUBMITTED BY EMAIL TO

Sept. 20, 22 “Charlotte’s Web” A beautiful, knowing play about friendship. El Campanil Theatre, 602 W. Second St., Antioch. $10-$15. elcampaniltheatre.com. Sept. 20 – Oct. 4 “Without Purchase” A fun, new mystery play by local playwright David Evan Harris performed by Onstage Theatre. Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek. $10-$23. lesherartscenter.org. 943-7469. Sept. 21 The Bronx Wanderers This five-person group takes the biggest hits of the 1950s and 1960s to a whole new level. 8 p.m. El Campanil Theatre, 602 W. Second St., Antioch. $23-$25. elcampaniltheatre.com. Sept. 23 Concert The Contra Costa Chamber Orchestra performs. 7:30 p.m. Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek. $10-$30. lesherartscenter.org. 943-7469. Sept. 26 Mark Twain A reading of selected excerpts of Twain’s work. Butterfield 8 Theatre at Cue Productions Live, 1835 Colfax St., Concord. No admission fee; donations accepted. b8company.com. Sept. 29 Author Event Author Elizabeth Lonseth discusses “A Gradual Disappearance: The Journey.” 3 – 4 p.m. Montecito, 4756 Clayton Road, Concord. Free. Reservations required by Sept. 26. Call Michaela at 692-5838. Sept. 29 California Symphony Cabrera conducts Mozart and Dvorak. 4 p.m. Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek. $20-$65. lesherartscenter.org. 943-7469. Oct. 11-Nov. 10 “Tarzan, the Musical.” CCMT brings Edgar Rice Burroughs’ romantic story to the Lesher Center in Walnut Creek. For performance times and ticket info call (925) 943-SHOW or go to LesherArtsCenter.org. Oct. 13 Diablo Symphony Orchestra Eric Zivian performs on the piano. 2 p.m. Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek. $12-$28. lesherartscenter.org. 943-7469. Oct. 16 – 26 “The Robber Bridegroom” The Clayton Theatre Company is proud to present its first production, a rousing, bawdy Southern fairy tale. Preview Oct. 16 – 17. Show Oct. 18 – 26. Endeavor Hall, 6008 Center St., Clayton. $12-$18 at brownpapertickets.com. claytontheatrecompany.com.

CHURCH Sept. 14 Parking Lot Palooza Crafts, games, food and fun. Open to the public. 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. The Salvation Army Concord Community Church, 3950 Clayton Road, Concord. Free admission. salvationarmyconcordca.org. 676-6180. Sept. 15 Back to Church Sunday Sunday services and barbecue open to the public. 9:45 a.m. Sunday school; 11 a.m. worship; 12:30 barbecue. The Salvation Army Concord Community Church, 3950 Clayton Road, Concord. Free admission. salvationarmyconcordca.org. 676-6180.

FUNDRAISERS Sept. 14 Plant Sale Featuring California natives, succulents and hard-to-find perennials. 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. Markham Regional Arboretum Society Nursery. 1202 La Vista Ave., Concord. 681-2968. Sept. 22 Book Sale Hardcover and paperback books; fiction, nonfiction, cookbooks, beginning readers, self-help books, biographies and more. Proceeds go toward parking lot fund. 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. Holy Cross Lutheran Church, 1092 Alberta Way, Concord. 686-2000.

calendar@claytonpioneer.com

Sept. 28 Wine and Whiskers Fine wine and food tasting to benefit ARF’s life-saving programs. 8 p.m. Animal Rescue Foundation, 2890 Mitchell Drive, Walnut Creek. $80. arf.net.

AT THE LIBRARY The Clayton Library is at 6125 Clayton Road. Programs are free unless otherwise noted. claytonlibrary.org or 673-0659. Tuesdays thru Nov. 26 Patty Cakes Story time for babies to 3-year-olds. Child attends with caregiver. 11 a.m. Wednesdays Book Buddies A volunteer will read stories for children 3 and older. 1 - 2 p.m. Call in advance. Thursdays thru Nov. 14 Picture Book Time Story time for 3- to 5-year-olds. Child may attend without caregiver. 11 a.m. Sept. 16, 25 CERT Emergency preparedness information and hands-only CPR and Automatic External Defibrillator instruction. 7 – 9 p.m. Sept. 25 – Oct. 24 Library Pumpkin Come see our big pumpkin and guess its weight. The person with the closest guess without going over wins the pumpkin. Children 12 and under eligible to enter. The Concord Library is at 2900 Salvio St. ccclib.org or 646-5455. Sept. 16 Blue Devils Come see the Blue Devil color guard and musician demonstrations then try it for yourself. 7 – 8 p.m. Sept. 19 Wiggle and Giggle with Liz Mac Have a blast and dance to music. Children ages 2 - 4. 12:30 – 1 p.m. Sept. 21 Computers and Technology If you need help with your mouse, come to our house. Drop-in assistance to learn how to use computers, smart phones and tablets. Adults. 2 – 4 p.m. Sept. 25 Insiders Join this program for adults with disabilities. Events vary each week between arts and crafts, music and dance, playing games on wii and more. 1 – 2 p.m. Sept. 27 - 29 Book Sale Hardcovers $1. Paperbacks $.50. Children’s books $.25-$.50. Fri. 1 – 8 p.m. Sat. 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Sun. 1 – 4 p.m. $3/bag. Sept. 30 Bean Craft Let your imagination soar and create a masterpiece with beans. Children 5 – 11. 7 – 8 p.m.

GOVERNMENT 1st and 3rd Tuesdays Clayton City Council 7 p.m. Hoyer Hall, Clayton Library, 6125 Clayton Road. 673-7304 or ci.clayton.ca.us. 2nd and 4th Tuesdays Clayton Planning Commission 7 p.m., Hoyer Hall, Clayton Library, 6125 Clayton Road. 673-7304 or ci.clayton.ca.us.

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

September 13, 2013

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

Page 15

Classic mountain biking thrills in Downieville

KEVIN PARKER

HIKER’S HAVEN Rather than using my feet, this month’s excursion put me on two wheels for the annual Downieville Classic. With a tradition rich in gold mining dating back to 1849, Downieville was once known as

“The Forks” because of its geographical location (confluence of the Downie River and North Fork of the Yuba River). Today most the activities found in and around this area include off-road motorcycling, kayaking, hiking, gold panning, fishing, swimming and the best reason to come here: mountain biking. If you are a regular guy or gal who rides a bike for fun, my suggestion would be to stay away from Downieville around race time (usually held in August). Most towns would have shriveled up by now, but Downieville is lucky enough to be graced with some of the most scenic landscape and trails found anywhere. Downieville has two

shuttle companies that will drop you at Packer’s Saddle, which is the jump off point for the downhill. Don’t let the word “downhill” fool you. because while riding a bike down a hill might seem like a stroll in the park, this terrain is anything but friendly. In fact, most of the trails found in this region require strong hands, ultra quick judgment, keen balance, some guts and a full suspension bicycle. Our group of hall-pass holding soccer dads who needed a weekend away provided a perfect recipe of camping, cooking and biking. We stayed at Indian Valley Campground nestled along the Yuba River outside of Downieville.

BUTCHER RANCH CREEK Our first ride is what made Downieville famous, Butcher Ranch Creek. You drop like a bat out of hell through creeks and canyons, endless drop offs, tight turns and rock gardens. Butcher Ranch drops over 4,500 feet in elevation and when you link up with Third Divide and First Divide Trails, then I’d say you’ll have a tough time erasing your smile (dirt not included). PAULEY CREEK Pauley Creek shares many of the technical aspects of Butcher Ranch with the exception of the upper section, which is a fire road. I suggest this trail for two reasons: open country beauty

The Way We Were

STEVE LANE Special to the Pioneer

Before most Contra Costa families of school children had automobiles and school buses to bring them safely to – a luxury we take for granted today – most children either walked (sometimes for miles) or rode horseback, until the Toonerville Trolley came to town. In 1911, on Feb. 11, an electric railway known as the Oakland & Antioch (O&E) made its first run from Bay Point to Concord. Most all of the right of way of Concord’s first electric railway has become today’s BART trackage and overhead structures along the Port Chicago Highway. The coming of the O&E, and later names – The Oakland, Antioch & Eastern (OA&E), San Francisco & Sacramento (SF-Sac), and the Sacramento Northern (SN) railways provided clean-burning, safe, and

(mostly) reliable transportation to Central CC residents and businesses in the even more rural areas than those served by Southern Pacific’s Branch Line of the San Ramon Valley, with limited passenger service from 1891 to 1934. Freight operations ending in 1979. This former line is much of today’s Eat Bay Regional Park District’s Iron Horse Regional Trail. Nearly 60 years before the very first BART trains came to the “end of the line” in Concord in 1972 – these earlier, electric railcars of the O&E – SN rolled over much its successor’s rightof-way from Pleasant Hill to North Concord, then on to Bay Point, and as far north as Chico (making a ferry boat crossing over Suisun Bay to do so), and as far west as San Francisco, via the lower deck of the Bay Bridge. Many high school students in the more rural areas around Concord and Walnut Creek often rode these railcars to and

Clayton Historical Society

Toonerville Trolleys were early-day school shuttles

from school – to either Mt. Diablo High School in Concord, or San Ramon Valley High School in Danville, while college students rode the railcars to St. Mary’s College in Moraga, and the University of California, Berkeley. School students, regular commuters and the general public alike referred to these railcars as Toonerville Trolleys, mostly after the popular Fontaine Fox – Toonerville Trolley comic strips of the 1920s, and partly due to the condition of some of the older

railcars being used on the school commute lines. OA&E/SF-Sac and Sacramento Northern buses eventually replaced the loved and hated Toonerville Trolleys. Learn more about the Toonerville Trolleys and other railroads that ran through the Clayton and Diablo valleys at the Clayton Historical Society Museums current exhibit, “Railroads of the Clayton & Diablo Valleys, and Beyond…” The exhibit runs through Oct. 9. For more information, visit ClaytonHistory.org.

RYAN PARKER, ANDY HOSLER ing Downieville Classic

AND

KEVIN PARKER take on the challeng-

and solitude. The trail winds through endless meadows, heavy forest and the Sierras as your backdrop – and without the crowds. Stair-step descents and rollercoaster momentum down steep rocky sections are signature aspects of Pauley Creek. BIG BOULDER TRAIL The International Mountain Bike Association rates this trail as “epic.” Add in 1,700 feet of elevation loss in about two-plus miles on a rocky and narrow trail that hugs the better part of a mountain the entire way down, and you’ve found paradise on two wheels. This trail also offers some climbing and cross country riding prior to the downhill. Now

Watch out for gnarly tree roots and off-camber riding as you let gravity take over literally. SHUTTLE COMPANIES $20-25 per person per shuttle (45 minute shuttle from bottom to top) • Yuba Expeditions yubaexpeditions.com • Downieville Outfitters downievilleoutfitters.com • Indian Valley Campground reserveamerica.com Directions: Take Interstate Highways 80 & 49 (a three-plus hour drive from the Bay Area). For more information on this hike or other outdoor experiences, contact Kevin at hikershaven@claytonpioneer.com.

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Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

September 13, 2013

Performing Arts

CCMT Swings into the Lesher with Tarzan

CCMT’S “TARZAN, THE MUSICAL” is now playing at the Lesher Center in Walnut Creek. The show opens Oct. 11.

Children’s favorites are coming to life at the Lesher Center for the Arts this fall. Currently, Diablo Theatre Company is per-

forming “Shrek the Musical,” and in October, Contra Costa Musical Theatre gets into the swing of things with “Tarzan,”

the musical by Phil Collins and David Henry Hwang. “Tarzan” is based on the Academy Award-winning Disney film (1999) of the same name and the classic adventure story by Edgar Rice Burroughs. All of the songs from the Disney film are included in the stage musical, as well as many new songs written by Collins specifically for the stage version. They include the Grammy Award hit “You’ll Be in My Heart,” which also won the Golden Globe and Academy Award for Best New Song, “Two Worlds,” “Son of Man” and the wild “Trashin’ the Camp.” The Tony-nominated musical “Tarzan” began as a workshop in 2004 starring Mathew Morrison from television’s “Glee” and Laura Bell Bundy from Broadway’s “Legally Blonde.” It opened on Broadway on May 10, 2006 and ran for 486 performances, closing on July 8, 2008. This will be the first locallyproduced full-scale production

of “Tarzan” in the Bay Area, and will star James Royce Edwards in the title role. Edwards, who lives in San Diego, previously played the role in the 2010 U.S. National Regional Premiere in Utah. CCMT’s production will feature several characters flying across the Hofmann stage, utilizing the services of ZFX in Huntington Beach to make the special effects both safe and exciting. “It’s Tarzan, so of course we have to have him swing through the air, but in our production, the aerial stunts are used to enhance the storytelling, and not to simply be a spectacle,” said Scott Strain, one of the producers for the show. “Tarzan” runs Oct. 11 through Nov. 10 at Walnut Creek’s Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Drive in Walnut Creek. Tickets range from $45 to $54 (with discounts available for seniors, youth and groups) and are on sale now at the Lesher Center Ticket Office, by calling 925.943.SHOW (943-7469) or online at LesherArtsCenter.org.

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‘Ella, the Musical’ brings both old and new ‘magic’ to the Lesher CenterREP kicked off its 2013-2014 season this month with a jazzy tribute to Ella Fitzgerald. “Ella, the Musical” stars Yvette Carson and features more than a dozen of Fitzgerald’s signature hits, including “They Can’t Take That Away From Me,” and “That Old Black Magic.” The show runs through Oct. 12 at the Lesher Center in Walnut Creek. For more info, visit centerrep.org or call 925-943-SHOW (7469).

Fractured fairytale ‘Shrek’ oozes into Walnut Creek Everyone’s favorite upsidedown fairytale is lighting the Lesher Center stage as Diablo Theatre Company presents “Shrek the Musical,” a song-and dance-filled stage adaptation of the Oscar-winning DreamWorks animated film. For their 54th season, Diablo Theatre Company recreates the fantasy Kingdom of Far Far Away – with many hilarious, irreverent twists. This entertaining, family-friendly show features 19 songs including “Travel Song” and “I’ve Think I Got You Beat.” The songs come from Jeanine Tesori, who wrote the music, and David Lindsay-Abaire, who wrote the book and lyrics. “Shrek the Musical” also draws from a 1990 children’s book by famed New Yorker cartoonist William Steig. Like the first 2001 Shrek film, the musical stays true to Steig’s fractured fairytale vision where dragons are friendly, swamps are better than castles, and the true hero isn’t handsome or noble but a grouchy-on-the-outside, tenderon-the-inside ogre who is more or less content with himself and his life in a swamp. After “Shrek the Musical”

Photo by Mark Kitaoka & Tracy Martin

JERRY LEE STARS as the heroic ogre in CenterREP’s “Shrek, the Musical,” playing the Lesher Center through Sept. 28.

premiered in 2008 as the most expensive show ever produced on Broadway, it played for more than a year, earning much praise. “Shrek the Musical” performs through Sept. 28 at the Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Drive, Walnut Creek. For tickets and showtimes, call 925-943-SHOW (7469) or visit lesherartscenter.org or diablotheatre.org.

September 13, 2013

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

Page 17

Performing Arts

‘Bridegroom’ launches new local theater company For its inaugural production, The Clayton Theatre Company presents a rousing, bawdy Southern fairy tale, “The Robber Bridegroom.” Set in 18th century Mississippi, the musical is the story of the courting of Rosamund, (the only daughter of the richest planter in the county), by Jamie Lockhart, a dashing rascal and robber. The proceedings go very badly thanks to a case of double-mistaken identity. Throw in an evil stepmother intent on getting rid of Rosamund and a cast of hapless villains (including a bodiless head in a box) and you have a recipe for a hysterical night of theater. The local cast includes actors Hayley Herrera, Kelly Hansen, Yoni Bushell, Kayla Elway, and Mike Farnham, and musicians Santiago Martinez and Joyce Novicky Martinez, all from Clayton. Board members Leslie Howell, Stacey Wickware, and Beth Neudell, director Roxanne Pardi and set designer David Manogerra also hail from Clayton, director and choreographer La Tonya Watts is from Pittsburg, and board member Cara Bent is from Brentwood. Previews are Oct. 16 and 17, and performances run Oct. 18 through 26, all at Endeavor Hall. Tickets can be purchased at brownpapertickets.com. For more information about the show or to advertise in the program, visit the website at claytontheatrecompany.com or call 925-222-9106.

Shaw’s ‘Pygmalion’ meets his fair lady Can a Cockney flower girl be transformed into an English aristocrat? Henry Higgins thinks so, but Eliza Doolittle may have something to say about it in George Bernard Shaw’s delightfully witty “Pygmalion,” presented by Butterfield 8 Theatre Company Sept. 19 through Oct. 13 at Cue Productions Live in downtown Concord. A brilliantly witty reworking of the classical tale of the sculptor who falls in love with his perfect statue, “Pygmalion” is also a barbed attack on the British class system and a statement of Shaw’s feminist views. In Shaw’s telling, the phoneticist Higgins is the Pygmalion figure who believes he can transform Eliza, a Cockney flower girl, into

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DONALD L. HARDY AS HENRY HIGGINS and Becky Potter, Eliza Doolittle, perform in George Bernard Shaw’s 1912 classic “Pygmalion” at Cue Productions in Concord through Oct. 13.

a duchess at ease in polite society. The one thing he overlooks is that his creation has a mind of her own.

Clayton and Concord actors take center stage in Vagabond Players’ ‘Wagon Wheels A-Rollin’’

Dave Westphal

“Wagon Wheels A-Rollin’” opens Oct. 26 at the El Campanil Theatre in downtown Antioch. From left: Nathalie Archangel plays Ms. Sue Flay, “gorgeous, but with a rotten apple for a heart;” Wayne McRice plays Mr. Smiling Slade Claggett, the villain in this old-fashioned “hiss-boo” melodrama. Rita Hamlin appears as Virginia Hamm, card dealer and Bill Dietz as Wild Bill Hiccup. Call the theater at (925) 757-9500 for more information.

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“Pygmalion” remains Shaw’s most popular play, both delighting and scandalizing its first audiences in 1914 (swearing on stage!), and it became an Oscarwinning film in 1938. The play’s widest audiences know it as the inspiration for the wildly successful (and highly romanticized) 1956 musical and 1964 film, “My Fair Lady.” “Pygmalion” has transcended cultural and language barriers since its first production. The British Museum contains images of the Polish production; a series of shots of Higgins and Eliza in the first French production in Paris in 1923; and pictures of a fascinating set for a Russian production of the 1930s. It has been translated or adapted for such diverse languages as Marathi, Gujarati, Georgian, Hindi, Bengali, Papiamentu, and Turkish. The production is directed by company Artistic Director John Butterfield, and presented by special arrangement with Samuel French, Inc.

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Page 18

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com

September 13, 2013

Trees and shrubs spice up autumn planting

NICOLE HACKETT

GARDEN GIRL Autumn is the new spring…for planting that is. Our Clayton Valley fall is the perfect time to get outside and install foundation trees and shrubs. Considering a tree? Think about your needs before you shop. Are you trying to achieve shade, privacy, or seasonal color? If you know what you are want-

ing, you’ll have an easier time finding what you need. The Raywood Ash is a nice U-shaped shade tree with fabulous fall color. Keith Davey Chinese Pistache achieves a round shape as it matures. The fall color of the Keith Davey is a combination of brilliant scarlet and orange. Both of these selections will reach heights of 25- to 30-feet tall. Think before you install. Planting a shade tree along a fence line is not a great idea. Trees usually cost under a hundred dollars to purchase and several hundred to remove. Create privacy within your landscape using smaller evergreen trees. Photinia fraseri, Pittosporum tenuifolium, Laurus nobilis and Dodonaea viscosa are all sold in a tree shape. These evergreens all have predictable

growth, making them safe installations for privacy. They all can be installed near a fence line. The fact that the are already grown with a trunk gives the homeowner more initial height for faster privacy. Ornamental trees are the most fun. This category of trees is the one we plant for vertical interest. If you are craving spring flowering trees consider a flowering crabapple (Malus), sterile flowering plum (Prunus Purple Pony), or tulip magnolia tree (Magnolia soulangeana). For summer flowers crape myrtle and chitalpa trees are lovely additions. Avoid the flowering pear trees (Pyrus calleryana). They are highly susceptible to fire blight and are almost guaranteed to suffer from it in our area. Many shrubs thrive through-

out our local landscapes. Know what your needs are. This will help you make a short list of options. Do you need to accent a deciduous tree or camouflage an aging fence? Are you craving spring or summer flowers? What color foliage do you want? What is the sun exposure of the landscape where the shrubs are to be installed? Westringia Wynyabbie Gem, Phlomis fruitcosa and Salvia clevandii are all exceptional evergreen shrubs with seasonal flowers and gray foliage. They are landscape standouts for full sun near old fences and surrounded by dark mulch. Polygala, Rhaphiolepis and Loropetalum chinense, satisfy those needing green foliage and seasonal flowers in a full sun application. Looking for a shrub that changes

color? The family of Nandina has many members maturing to various heights and widths. As the weather cools, the Nandina family’s colors change to brilliant shades of orange and wine. Coprosma is another family of wonderful plants whose leaf color goes from nice to wow in the autumn. There are as many great shrubs available for those installing in the shade. Cestrum,

Choysia, gardenia and azalea are all seasonal blooming evergreen shrubs that thrive in our Claycord landscapes. They are easy to find and easy to grow. It is time to get planning your fall planting! Don’t let another autumn slip past you. Nicole is the Garden Girl at R&M Pool, Patio, Gifts and Garden. Contact her with questions or comments at Gardengirl@claytonpioneer.com

Do your homework before starting a design project The start of a new design project is always very exciting. The design possibilities are endless: a new, functional kitchen in place of your dated 1980s era kitchen, or an addition of 250 square feet for the home officeguest bedroom you’ve always wanted. Or maybe it’s time to celebrate your 20th, 25th or 30th anniversary with a master bedroom suite remodel. Whatever your project may be, it’s an exciting first step to formally decide to do it. But, now what? How do you begin? What happens next? There are a few things you can do to get the process moving along. Above all, the more

informed you are, the better. The main things are knowing to some extent a design direction for your project, how much you want to spend, having a general idea of materials, and finding professionals to work with you and guide you through the design process. Here are some tips that will keep you moving forward and closer to the end result:

excite you, color combinations that create your desired atmosphere, as well as interesting plumbing fixtures and lighting. Maybe you’d like to install a larger window over your bathtub, or install a TV behind your vanity mirror; looking through home magazines to familiarize yourself with new or traditional ideas is a great way to narrow down your wish list.

FIND YOUR INSPIRATION Flip through the pages of home magazines where you will find inspirational photos for your project. If you will be taking on a bathroom remodel, find examples of tile layouts that

GET TO KNOW YOUR PRODUCTS

The best way to familiarize yourself with pricing is to do your homework. Visit online home improvement sites and online retailers for broad infor-

mation and pricing. Also, take the time to stop by as many local home décor showrooms as possible. You will be able to see first-hand the materials you will be using for your project, as well as the varying price points.

to prepare yourself for the forthcoming bid. Talking with interior designers and general contractors can help you determine how to make the most out of your budget.

JENNIFER LEISCHER

PUT TOGETHER GET OUT THE CALCULATOR How much do you intend to spend on your project? If you are taking on a kitchen project, will you be demolishing the existing layout and starting from scratch, or upgrading the decorative or functional items like lighting, backsplash tiles and maybe an appliance or two? These two scenarios have very different price points so it’s best

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DESIGN & DÉCOR

If your project requires more than you’re prepared to do yourself, take the time to search out and interview a handful of interior designers and general contractors. Maybe you’ve come up with your own design, or maybe you still need guidance for your project. Whatever your design needs may be, put together a team of home professionals that will not

only do great work, but who will listen to your needs, help you to understand the process and above all, work within your budget. Jennifer Leischer is the owner of J. Designs Interior Design based in Clayton. Contact her with questions, comments and suggestions at jenna@j-designs.com

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