COMMUNITY
FOCUS ourcommunityfocus.com
APRIL 2018 Reaching Over 50,000 Homes & Businesses
IN THIS ISSUE: • EVERY 15 MINUTES • VAPING- WHAT TO KNOW • EARTH DAY AIMS TO END PLASTIC POLLUTION
PLEASANT HILL • CONCORD • MARTINEZ • LAFAYETTE • WALNUT CREEK
Julie Says
It’s Raining Opossums...
BY JULIE ROSS ...and baby squirrels, songbirds, owls, and hawks, to name a few. April 1 is the official start of the busy season at the wildlife rehabilitation hospital at the Lindsay Wildlife Experience in Walnut Creek, where I have happily volunteered for many years. The influx of wild patients, the majority of which are injured and orphaned babies, will continue through the summer and won’t slow down until September draws to a close. By year’s end, more than 5,000 animals will have been treated by the amazing staff and volunteers at Lindsay’s wildlife hospital with the ultimate goal of releasing them back to the wild, where they belong. We believe each of these engaging creatures deserves a second chance, and I know most of you agree. Providing optimal care
requires many hands and many dollars. Here are a few ways the community can help our wild neighbors: 1. Try to be a part of the solution, not a part of the problem. Check out the “Living with Wildlife” tips on the Lindsay website at www.lindsaywildlife.org. It is full of good advice such as waiting to trim your trees until November or December if at all possible to avoid inadvertently destroying an active bird or squirrel nest. Keep pet cats inside (build them an outdoor enclosed “catio” for enrichment if you can), and make sure your birdfeeders are clean to thwart the spread of disease. These tips will help keep wild animals out of the hospital in the first place -- a worthy goal. 2. Volunteer with us! It is rewarding -- you will not only work alongside some great people, but you will get to work with wildlife and learn a lot. Information for volunteering in the hospital and other de-
partments is also on the Lindsay website. 3. Visit the exhibit hall at Lindsay and meet non-releasable wild animal ambassadors like eagles, hawks, owls, snakes, opossums, and a porcupine for a truly inspirational experience. Check the website for daily activities. If you haven’t been here in a while, there are some exciting new programs, including “Porcupine Time” and “Flight School.” You will not be disappointed. 4. Consider joining us for a special event. There is a big one coming up the evening of Saturday, April 21, from 6:00 to 9:30pm. Lindsay’s annual “Faces of Wildlife” celebration has been a dress-up affair at a country club for the past several years. This year, “Faces of Wildlife” is landing back home with a less formal event held right at Lindsay Wildlife Experience in Walnut Creek. It’s a 21-and-over-only event, priced at $68 per ticket or $125 per
couple. The ticket price includes beer and wine, food truck offerings, dessert, and music spun by Mackswell. There will be a chance to meet exotic animals (kangaroos, anyone?) from 6:00 to 7:30pm, and Lindsay’s animal ambassadors will be around all evening. Check out the website for more information and buying tickets online. There are also sponsorship opportunities available that start at $1,000 and include additional guest experiences. Proceeds go toward funding Lindsay’s education and wildlife rehabilitation efforts. It promises to be a fun way to help our local wildlife -- hope to see you there! In the meantime, if you haven’t already, connect with Lindsay Wildlife Experience on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. You can reach Julie at julieakross@ comcast.net
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City News
30 Relay For Life
MISSION STATEMENT The Community Focus is a free, independent, monthly publication dedicated to highlighting the vibrancy of the local businesses and residents while strengthening and building connections within our community.
COVER:
In support of Earth Day 2018, Mara Hunn, Avery Seidenspinner and Hailey Reed sit atop blocks of recyclable plastics at the Concord Recycling Center. PHOTO BY: SusanWoodPhotography.com
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Crazy Chicken Lady
8 13 to
Senior Activities
31 New PH Police Chief
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6680 Alhambra Ave. Box #132 Martinez, CA 94553
925-335-6397
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by Teri Norbye
Meet Julie McCoy, who lives in Martinez and works as a realtor for RE/MAX. “I’ve been a realtor for 19 years, and I’ve been at RE/MAX for 15 of them.” Greatest challenge you’ve faced in your life so far? I was a single mom from 2006-2013. The hardest part about it was not having local family around, having to rely on friends, and having to find daycare whenever I absolutely needed to be somewhere. Fun facts about Julie: 1. I was born in Manhattan, New York, so I didn’t drive consistently until I was in college. 2. As of this August, I’ve lived in California longer than I’ve lived anywhere else. 3. I love snow sports, so I’m totally into Shaun White and the Olympics right now. 4. I’m a pescatarian, my daughter is a complete vegetarian, and my son is a complete carnivore, so mealtimes are always exciting. 5. I’m kind of a germaphobe; I’m obsessed with washing hands and cleaning. 6. One of my pet peeves is people who are habitually late. 7. I love volunteering. I wish that everybody would volunteer a portion of their time. It would make the world a better place.
Real Estate Trends
Should I Fix Up My Home or Sell As Is? BY NORMA FLASKERUD This is a timehonored question we hear SO often! The answer is “It depends.” We are often invited out to evaluate a property to help the homeowner decide what to do. The answer depends on the condition of competing inventory, whether it is a hot, cold or neutral real estate market, and the likelihood of return on the investment. Here are some tips that might guide you. We look at potential improvements and ask, “Will the buyer notice it and pay extra because of it?” For example, improving your home insulation will improve your quality of life but may not improve your sales price. Some buyers want to buy a fixer-upper but are generally looking for light cosmetic repairs
such as new paint, flooring, or updated light fixtures. If the house needs a lot of work, a flipper would be the ideal buyer. Buyers generally do not want to rebuild a foundation, move walls, or fix holes in walls. From years of experience, we know a buyer will underestimate the value of the house more than it would cost the seller to make repairs because the buyer has the hassle factor to consider. We enjoy counseling sellers and providing them with service providers to do the work we recommend. Most buyers want a move-in condition home. By not making repairs, the seller limits the number of buyers who may be attracted to the home. You must always weigh the cost of proposed improvements against the home’s market value sold as-is vs. after upgrades are completed. Keep the following list as guidelines for some basic fixes:
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• Patch holes/fix cracks in walls, ceilings (professional painters do this well). • Fix broken appliances, HVAC • Repair leaky faucets • Replace worn/stained carpeting and linoleum • Repaint walls as needed with a neutral color except white. (Our stager advises the color). • Replace broken window glass • Repair roof • Change outdated light fixtures and ceiling fans • Remove old drapes/window coverings Last, but not least, a kitchen or bathroom can be updated with a minor remodel; this consists of painting older cabinets a nice neutral color (stager recommended), and installing updated hardware. • Don’t forget the entry; flowers along the walkway and a new entry doormat go a long way in sprucing it up!
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Call the Flaskerud Team for all your real estate needs. Buying? Selling? Moving out of state? Call 925-338-2980 or email DonandNorma@gmail.com. PS: Save your money - we are raising funds again and will match donations for this year’s Fourth of July fireworks in Pleasant Hill. Looking forward to loads of donations! Call the Flaskerud Team at 925-3382980 for all your real estate needs or email DonandNorma@gmail.com. SPONSORED CONTENT
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925-338-2980 CalBRE #s — Don: 00971602, Norma: 00867031, Erik: 01891688 OURCOMMUNITYFOCUS.COM | APRIL 2018 | 3
Estate Planning
Estate Planning and Retirement Considerations for Late-in-Life Parents BY JEFFREY HALL, Elder Law Attorney Having children late in life is becoming more common, driven in part by changing cultural norms and advances in infertility treatment. Comedian and author Steve Martin had his first child at age 67. Singer Billy Joel just welcomed his third daughter. Janet Jackson had a child at age 50. But later-in-life parents have some special estate planning and retirement considerations. The first consideration is to make sure you have an estate plan and one that it is up to date. One of the most important functions of an estate plan
is to name a guardian for your children in your will, and this goes double for a parent having children late in life. If you don’t name someone to act as guardian, the court will choose the guardian. Because the court doesn’t know your kids like you do, the person they choose may not be ideal. In addition to naming a guardian, you may also want to set up a trust for your children so that your assets are set aside for them when they get older. If the child is the product of a second marriage, a trust may be particularly important. A trust can give your spouse rights but allow someone else -- the trustee -the power to manage the property and protect it for the next generation. If you have older children, a trust could, for
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example, provide for a younger child’s college education and then divide the remaining amount among all the children. Another consideration is retirement savings. Financial advisors generally recommend prioritizing saving for your own retirement over saving for college because students have the ability to borrow money for college while it is tougher to borrow for retirement. One advantage of being an older parent is that you may be more financially stable, making it easier to save for both. Also, if you are retired when your children go to college, they may qualify for more financial aid. Older parents should make sure they have a high level of life insurance and extend term policies to last through the college years. When to take Social Security is another consideration. Children can receive benefits on a parent’s work
record if the parent is receiving benefits too. To be eligible, the child must be under age 18, under age 19 but still in elementary school or high school, or over age 18 but have become mentally or physically disabled prior to age 22. Children generally receive an amount equal to one-half of the parent’s primary insurance amount (PIA), up to a “family maximum” benefit. You will need to calculate whether the child’s benefit makes it worth it to collect benefits early rather than wait to collect at your full retirement age or at age 70. To make a plan for late-in-life parenthood, contact your Estate Planning & Elder Law Attorney, Jeffrey Hall, CPA, JD at 925-230-9002, or visit his website at www.HallLawGroup.com.com for questions regarding Estate Planning and Medi-Cal Elder Law issues. Protect your assets and maintain your peace of mind. SPONSORED CONTENT
DO IT YOURSELF
A Spin on DIY Crazy Chicken Lady
BY REBECCA SEIDENSPINNER Let me set the record straight. I had no intention of becoming a crazy chicken lady. It just kind of happened. I stepped into the muddy yellow rubber boots covered in chickens easily. Now my house is covered in chicken decor, my cell phone holds hundreds of chicken photos, and I have dozens of colorful eggs -- and it’s not even Easter. We moved into the house that we rent in Martinez a few years ago. I absolutely love it and hope to buy it one day. It has a large garden area, and I was lucky enough to acquire a big chicken coop. The chicken coop sat out covered in weeds for the first year we lived here until spring arrived. I took the kids to visit the Concord Feed and Seed just to look at the baby chicks. Did I say just look? Well, we ended up bringing home seven baby chicks.
Before you take home those adorable feathered little birds, have everything ready for them. Baby chicks have to live under a heat lamp for about six weeks. They need a good sized container, bedding, chicken food, and fresh water. These supplies cost me about seventy-five dollars. Did I mention that baby chicks grow super fast? They can also fly fairly quickly, so a top on the indoor coop is a good idea. After about six to eight weeks, your lovely ladies are ready to go outside into the big coop. There are tons of pre-built chicken coops at the Concord Feed and Seed that range in a variety of prices, from a few hundred dollars to over a thousand dollars. If you’re handy, you can design and build your dream chicken coop yourself, or check out Craigslist. Now that you have moved your chicks outside, there are a few things you need to consider. They need protection. Chickens have quite a lot of predators such as foxes, raccoons, and even dogs. Make sure your
chicken coop is secure with chicken wire or a wire mesh enclosure. I lock my chickens inside the coop every night for safety precautions. Chickens also need access to food and clean water. Chickens are smart enough not to drink water with poop in it but not smart enough not to poop in the water. And they poop a LOT! Like, massive amounts. I have to go outside each morning and feed them and give them fresh water. I like to treat them to scraps of fruits and vegetables from the kitchen, and they love it! It takes chickens six to eight months before they start laying eggs. They need nesting boxes inside the coop to lay eggs. I buy a bale of hay and add fresh lavender and mint clippings to the boxes to make them smell good. Everyday I am so excited to check the coop for fresh eggs. Did you know that when a hen lays an egg she sings a song? Some mornings, I can hear my chickens singing songs from the coop, and I open the window to listen. Fresh
eggs are delicious. I have eleven chickens and get about thirty six eggs a week. I love to share them with family and friends. I recommend doing research about backyard chickens to make sure they will fit your lifestyle before making the commitment. Chickens make great pets. My favorite part was giving all of the lady hens Southern names like Henrietta, Beatrice, Penelope, Francis, Petunia and Luna. I have a fancy farmgirl chicken coop with an old chandelier swinging from the top in the middle. I collect the eggs in my yellow rain boots and my fluffy layers egg apron. I have rescued unwanted chickens from the other side of town and even dressed up as a chicken this past Halloween. Having my little backyard farm makes me happy. It’s hard work but rewarding and fun. Last month, when my landlord came over to visit and saw that my garden was overgrown with weeds, he said. “Why don’t you get a goat?” Stay tuned. This little backyard farm just keeps growing.
OURCOMMUNITYFOCUS.COM | APRIL 2018 | 5
Earth Day and Birthday Join the National Park Service annual celebration of both John Muir’s 180th birthday and Earth Day on Saturday, April 21, 10am to 4pm, at the John Muir National Historic Site in Martinez. This celebration, held rain or shine, features family-oriented outdoor activities, exhibits by national parks and conservation organizations, and live music, including a bagpipe band. Parking and admission are free. Visitors can enjoy self-guided tours of Muir’s historic Italianate Victorian home. Bring your kids, family, and friends for a refreshing outdoor experience celebrating our earth. Last year, over 2,700 guests attended this event. John Muir National Historic Site, located at 4202 Alhambra Avenue in Martinez, is open seven days a week from 10am to 5pm. Admission is free of charge. Free general parking and shuttle transportation will be available at Alhambra High School (Alhambra Avenue at “E” Street; follow the signs). For more information, please visit the John Muir Association website www.johnmuirassociation.org or the park website at www.nps.gov/jomu.
Agent 2000
An Unexpected Visitor On Sunday morning, February 18, Derek Knapp’s Agent 2000 office was hit by a car and severely damaged. Thankfully, the office was closed and no one was injured. The office is open while repairs are being made on the building. Call the office or stop by. If you stop by, please use the back door. Unfortunately, the waiting room area of their office is currently unusable. Once the actual construction starts, Agent 2000 may have to alter their office hours due to the noise involved with construction. At this time, they are probably about a month away from the start of construction. Derek Knapp and his office would like to thank all their clients, company underwriters and sales representatives who have called or emailed just to check in to see how they are doing. It means a lot to them. AGENT2000, a proud supporter of College Park High School’s Every 15 Minutes Program, is located at 3585 Clayton Rd, Concord, 925-827-0510.
People enjoying Earth Day exhibits at John Muir National Historic site.
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Every 15 Minutes
Interactive Program on the Dangers of Driving Under the Influence College Park High School was selected yet again to participate in the Every 15 Minutes program. This intense two-day event on March 20 and 21 reenacted the tragic and far-reaching effects of an alcohol related traffic collision that results in the loss of a teenager’s life. Unfortunately, this scenario plays out in real life almost every 15 minutes and accounts for a large percentage of the nearly 5,000 teenagers and young adults killed every year in this country. To demonstrate the all too frequent occurrence of teenage deaths from driving under the influence, officers extract roughly 35 students, one every 15 minutes, from various classrooms while announcing their death to fellow classmates. Once all the extractions have been made, the program begins with the student body witnessing a graphic display of a car accident with the arrival of emergency vehicles, life support helicopters, ambulances, sheriff, police and fire departments. “Victims” are taken to hospitals and the driver responsible for the accident is sent to jail. Throughout the day, personal visits from chaplains and officers delivering death notices are made to families of all the selected students and staff that take part in the event. To further demonstrate the loss of these “victims” they are sequestered overnight for a special retreat and have visits from chaplains, emergency services and speakers from CA Highway Patrol, M.A.D.D., and survivors from D.U.I col-
lisions. The following day a memorial service takes place in the gym where the student body witnesses families and friends mourning the loss of their loved ones and listen to speakers describing their own personal loss due to such collisions. The service is emotional and powerful and leaves a lasting impact on all those attending. This interactive experience is made possible only because of the committed parents, community partners, emergency services and staff at College Park High School who want to demonstrate the far reaching consequences drunk driving has on society in terms of lives lost, serious bodily injuries, emotional pain, and significant financial loss. Every 15 Minutes is coordinated by The California Highway Patrol in partnership with the Pleasant Hill Police Department, the Sheriff Department, Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, and a host of College Park High School students and parent volunteers. Funding for this program was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Various businesses and organizations throughout the community donate funds, food and supplies to help make this impressionable event a possibility. This program is available statewide but College Park High School is the only school in MDUSD that offers it every other year.
UNDERAGE DRINKING STATS NEARLY 1/3 OF ALL DRUNK DRIVING DEATHS HAPPEN TO PEOPLE AGES 16-20 THERE ARE ABOUT 10.8 MILLION UNDERAGE DRINKERS IN THE UNITED STATES 1 IN 6 TEENS BINGE DRINK AND ONLY 1 IN 100 PARENTS BELIEVE HIS OR HER TEEN BINGE DRINKS
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100 PARENTS OURCOMMUNITYFOCUS.COM | APRIL 2018 | 7
CITY NEWS
Mayor’s Message Pleasant Hill’s Finest All across America during the week of March 19, community leaders rode along with volunteer drivers for Meals on Wheels to deliver nutritious meals and visit with shut-in seniors. I had the honor of doing so in Pleasant Hill on March 20. My driver, May Shih, briefed me on each resident, their interests, and even the names of their pets. The seniors on her route clearly look forward to her visit, sweet smile and caring words. I was honored to help out and meet some wonderful individuals, grateful for the visit and the assistance provided to them. May Shih and the entire team at Meals on Wheels and their Senior Outreach Services are among Pleasant Hill’s finest. At the 47th annual Community Awards on March 27th, Pleasant Hill honored more of its finest residents, volunteers and businesses with 16 awards. Thirty-one nominees demonstrated the depth of community activism and volunteerism in Pleasant Hill. Here are some of the highlights of the event and award winners: The 2017 Citizens of the Year honor was bestowed on Allen and Sandy Vinson, who have lived in Pleasant Hill since 1976. They have been key members of the Pleasant Hill Fourth of July Commission for the past 12 years
and the Rotary Club for 15 years. Allen is also a member of the planning commission and a much appreciated photographer of community events and local landscapes. Laima Haider, an AP history teacher at College Park, won Educator of the Year. There were six nominees for this award – all excellent teachers and deserving of the recognition. Ms. Haider is known for her dedication and love of teaching. She inspires her students to think critically and learn about issues on a global level. Teen of the Year went to Ethan Tuey, a 12th grade student at College Park. Ethan serves as the president of the CPHS Interact Club and captain of the College Park Swim Team. He is a 7th year Pleasant Hill Teen Council member, current chair, and has contributed more than 600 hours volunteering for community events and fundraisers. Zachary’s Pizza, won Business of the Year. Led by the indomitable Kevin Suto, Zachary’s has become a mainstay eating establishment in our Downtown area. Employee owned and operated, Zachary’s not only makes great pizza, they support many local causes and organizations. The Mayor’s Award was given to Marian Woodard and John Matthesen of Rodgers Ranch Heritage Center.
Tim Flaherty, Mayor of Pleasant Hill
Marian and John started the urban farm about six years ago, and it has grown into a major teaching center and biodynamic garden where sustainable living classes are held frequently. The Cornerstone Award, given by the Pleasant Hill Community Foundation, was bestowed on my former colleague on the city council, David Durant. Aside from his service to our city as mayor and councilmember, David has always been a quiet contributor and supporter of the foundation and many other local organizations. A new award this year was Education Supporter of the Year, which was given to Jeff Eide by Councilmember Sue Noack on behalf of the Foundation
for Pleasant Hill Education (FPHE). Jeff is a longtime parent volunteer in Pleasant Hill schools and current president of the College Park Athletic Boosters Last but not least, I want to recognize Eric Hu, the city’s senior civil engineer, who was the recipient of the Community Plus Award, which goes to an employee of either the city or the Rec & Park District. Eric oversees many of the city’s capital improvement projects and has brought in over $30 million in grant funding for these projects over the past 11 years. For a complete listing of nominees and winners, please visit www.pleasanthillca.org/awards.
Chamber Calendar
April 12 - HYATT House Hotel - Chamber Business Mixer, 5-7pm, 2611 Contra Costa Blvd, PH April 18 - FREE Google Workshop: Intro to Online Marketing, 12-1:30pm, John F. Kennedy University, 100 Ellinwood Way, PH April 19 - PH Chamber Board Meeting, 8-10am, Location TBD April 19 - C2 Education Center Ribbon Cutting, 5-6pm, 100 Crescent Drive, Suite B, PH April 30 - Government Affairs Committee, 4:30-5:30pm, Back Forty Texas BBQ, 100 Coggins Drive, PH 680 Business Networking - 2nd & 4th Wednesdays & Thursdays, 8:30-10am, JFK University, 100 Ellinwoood Way, PH OFF THE GRID Food Trucks - Wednesdays, 5-9pm, Trelany Road, PH
Public Meetings
City Council Apr. 2, 16 City Hall, 100 Gregory Lane, Council Chambers, 7:00pm. Contact: 671-5229 2015
Civic Action Commission Apr. 4 City Hall, 100 Gregory Lane, Small Community Room, 6:30pm. Contact: 671-5229 Architectural Review Apr. 5, 19 City Hall, 100 Gregory Lane, Large Community Room, 5:00pm. Contact: 671-5209 Planning Commission Apr. 10, 24 City Hall, 100 Gregory Lane, Council Chambers, 6:30pm. Contact: 671-5209
Mark Ellinwood, Owner
ANTS • SPIDERS • MICE • RATS • FLEAS • 1 TIME SPRAY OK 8 | APRIL 2018 | OURCOMMUNITYFOCUS.COM
Traffic Safety Commission Apr. 10 City Hall, 100 Gregory Lane, Large Community Room, 5pm. Contact: 671-5229 Education Commission Apr. 25 City Hall, 100 Gregory Lane, Large Community Room, 7pm. Contact: 671-5229
CITY NEWS
Pleasant Hill City News LED Sign at City Hall The new LED Sign in front of the flagpoles at City Hall is activated and displaying a variety of messages about public meetings, city sponsored community events, and programs. Staff is still making adjustments to the timing and brightness of the displays.
Library Student Design Challenge Winners At the March 16 city council meeting, awards were presented to the winners of the new library student design challenge. The names of the winners, with teachers in parenthesis, are: •Logan Cairns, Wylie Oh, Benjamin Levy, James Agnost, and Nicholas Redfearn, 4th grade, Valhalla Elementary (Ms. Phillips) •Renata Gomez, Alyssa Ocampo, and Ashley Balleon Cassilla, 5th grade, Fair Oaks Elementary (Ms. Bornstein) •Nafise Adil and Bianca Baez, 7th grade, Pleasant Hill Middle School (Mr. Tod) •Ellie Schichnes, 8th grade, Pleasant Hill Middle School (Mr. Tod) •Anahita Javidi Parsijani, 8th grade, Pleasant Hill Middle School (Mr. Tod) “Although five exceptional designs are being recognized, every submission to this challenge helps inform the design for our new building as part of the larger community engagement process with all ages,” said Patrick Remer, community library manager at Pleasant Hill.
Pleasant Hill voters passed Measure K, a 20-year one-half cent transactions and use tax in November 2016 “to provide and maintain Pleasant Hill city services and facilities, including fixing potholes and repairing neighborhood and city streets; replacing the aging library, including space for after school homework and tutoring; creating additional walking and biking paths; maintaining storm drains; and other city services.” To ensure the city is receiving all of the revenue it is owed from the measure, the city entered into a contract with HdL, an auditing firm, for audit and information services. Total Measure K funds expended for FY 2017 were $36,743. The balance of Measure K funds received in FY 2016/17 is $758,687.
Civic Action Commission hosts 2nd Annual Senior Spring Cleanup Day Are you a Pleasant Hill resident aged 65 or older and need some light yard work done around the front of your home? The Civic Action Commission is partnering with the Commission on Aging and the Senior Center to reach out to seniors in the community who may need some help with clearing weeds, trimming bushes, and other landscaping work. The event is known as Senior Spring Cleanup Day and will take place on Saturday, April 21, from 9:30am to 1:00pm. Seniors who wish to participate in the event can call (925) 671-5229 or register online at www.pleasanthillca.org/cleanup. To make this event possible, the commission needs volunteers who can assist with the cleanup activities. If you are good with a rake and want to help some folks in need, then we need you! For more information or to pre-register for the event online, go to www.pleasanthillca.org/cleanup or email Martin Nelis mnelis@pleasanthillca. org.
City Appoints New Chief of Police
Measure K Update At the March 19 city council meeting, a report was presented by the Measure K Oversight Committee on Measure K transactions and use tax revenue and expenditures for fiscal year 2016/17.
NITY FO MU C M
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At the March 5 city council meeting, council approved establishing the Pleasant Hill Citizens Academy. Although details are currently being finalized, the academy could be held on four to five consecutive Thursday evenings in the fall. Each evening meeting would last approximately two to three hours, including a bus tour of the city hosted by Economic Development, Engineering, and Planning staff. The police department would also provide a tour of their facility one evening. Class time would consist of brief presentations on each department and hands-on activities for participants, if appropriate. Each councilmember would have an opportunity to participate in a ten-minute question and answer period on different evenings, and refreshments would be provided. “The idea is to roll it out and see how the response is, along with suggestions for a change in the program or agenda. I’m hoping it will be an ongoing program and fine tuned each time it’s presented,” said Mayor Flaherty.
CO
City Establishes a Citizens Academy
In March, the Pleasant Hill city manager appointed Bryan Hill as chief of police of the Pleasant Hill Police Department. Chief Hill assumes the position after being with the department since July 2015 and serving as interim police chief for the past three months. Chief Bryan Hill assumes the position with a complement of 42 sworn police officers, including six sergeants, two lieutenants, and 15 civilian personnel. Chief Hill will focus on providing the highest level public safety and ensuring an outstanding quality of life that allows residents and visitors to feel safe in our community. He will focus on maintaining and building community partnerships, utilizing best law enforcement practices, and employing the latest in innovations, technology, and strategic approaches to provide the community with a law enforcement service that is exceptional.
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CITY NEWS
Mayor’s Message Let’s Play Ball At a special meeting of the Martinez City Council, the license agreement between the city and the Martinez Clippers, LLC was approved. Professional baseball is coming to Martinez, and opening day is Thursday, May 31. The Martinez Clippers will host the Sonoma Stompers at the newly rebuilt Joe DiMaggio Fields at Waterfront Park. Game time is 6:30pm. This Martinez Field of Dream’s journey began in 2014, when the Pacific Association of Professional Baseball Clubs decided it wanted to expand
the league into the East and South Bay and approached Martinez through the Martinez Unified School District. I was invited to meet with the league’s representative, Corey Busch (former executive vice president of the San Francisco Giants); MUSD Trustee John Fuller; MUSD Athletic Director Pat Ertola; and my former colleague on the Martinez City Council, Tim Farley. Everyone was very excited about the possibility of professional baseball in Martinez. Over the next several weeks, we worked with the new team owners to meet their needs for field and conces-
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Rob Schroder, Mayor of Martinez
sion spaces. Unfortunately, that opportunity was a bit premature for Martinez since it would be several years before we would start upgrading Waterfront Park. The team held one tryout at Alhambra High School and found a home soon afterwards in Pittsburg. That team is now the Pittsburg Diamonds. In November of 2016, I received an email from Kevin Reilly. The email had the heading “Baseball in Martinez.” Kevin introduced himself as the owner of the Vallejo Admirals and asked if I was interested in meeting to discuss bringing professional baseball to Martinez. After missing the opportunity to bring a team to Martinez in 2014, I was excited at this second opportunity. The meeting lasted for several hours as we went over the expansion plans of the league, team operations, sponsorships, advertising, concessions, community involvement, and team ownership. With the help of Leanne Peterson, executive director of Main Street Martinez, we were able to reach out to Jeff and Paulette Carpoff and persuade them to be the new owners of the Martinez team. The next steps were to engage the city council, obtain support for the concept, and authorize city staff to work on the project. Over many months and scores of meetings, additional capital improvements were included in the already planned Waterfront Park project.
A large part of what makes a professional baseball team financially successful is the operation of concessions. The beloved Marty O has operated the concession stand at Joe DiMaggio Fields for decades, and the plan with the addition of a professional team was for Marty to continue operating the concessions for the three non-professional fields. The concession operation for the professional team would be under the control of the professional baseball organization. There remained the possibility that the owners could contract with Marty to operate concessions for the professional field, but before any discussions on that possibility occurred, Marty and his wife, Barbara, decided to retire and not exercise their option to continue to operate. Over the many years that Marty O operated at Joe DiMaggio Fields, he employed hundreds of Martinez teenagers, including my daughter, Sarah. He gave to and supported Martinez nonprofit causes and continues to be an icon in the downtown. I expect to see Marty greeting the Martinez community at many of the Martinez Clippers games this summer.
Public Meetings
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City Council Meeting Apr. 4, 18 City Hall, 525 Henrietta Street, 6-9pm. Contact: 372-3500 Zoning Administrator Meeting Apr. 4, 18 City Hall, 525 Henrietta Street, 4-6pm. Contact: 372-3500 Design Review Meeting Apr. 11, 25 City Hall, 525 Henrietta Street, 4-6pm. Contact: 372-3500 Planning Commission Meeting Apr. 10, 24 City Hall, 525 Henrietta Street, 7-11pm. Contact: 372-3500 For Confirmation Visit: www.cityofmartinez.org
CITY NEWS
Martinez City News Still Proud to be in the Top Five Martinez was one of just five finalists in the running for a $500k downtown revitalization from The Small Business Revolution -- Main Street, created by Deluxe Corporation. Although the ultimate winner was Alton, Illinois, the City of Martinez can be proud of making it to the top five small towns. Last November, after thousands of nominations from small towns throughout the US, Canada and Puerto Rico, Deluxe Corp. narrowed the field down to 20 towns in the running to be featured in Small Business Revolution – Main Street Season 3. Over the course of four months, Martinez went from one of the top 20 to the top 10 to finally the top 5 cities in the country. Last January, the Small Business Revolution team visited Martinez and brought a crew of experts to learn more about the town and its small businesses and how they would benefit from revitalization. The crew went on to visit the other competing downtowns throughout January. During this phase, communities were asked to rally and get active on social media by sharing photos, stories, and anecdotes about what they love about Downtown Martinez on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. In mid-February, the team narrowed the list to five finalists and the voting continued. The winner was announced in late February. As a reward for making it into the top five towns, Deluxe Corporation hosted a free small business marketing seminar on March 12. Their experts were on hand to share insights and suggestions to help small business owners run and market their businesses. Deluxe Corporation created the Small Business Revolution – Main Street to help those small businesses and small towns reignite the spark that drives them and keeps people coming back.
cial building with three tenants. A city parking facility surrounds the parcel, and it has been a longstanding desire of the city to acquire the Escobar property to complete ownership of the entire block for public parking. The project will consist of property acquisition, minor building demolition, and paving for surface parking. The city’s acquisition agent and the owner have spent several months negotiating the terms of the agreement and conducted environmental assessments. With this information in mind, the agreed upon price was settled at $560,000. The parking services fund will provide funding for the acquisition and related expenses. This is an enterprise fund dedicated to establishing and maintaining public parking in the downtown area. It is comprised of a capital account and a maintenance account. Public parking revenues generate the income for this fund, and the fund can only be used for parking related expenditures.
Downtown Clean-Up Day On Saturday, April 7, you can volunteer to help downtown sparkle! The event is from 8am -1pm, and there will be donuts, coffee, and a bar-b-que lunch for all volunteers. Sign up by calling Barbara at (925) 408-1338 or e-mail director@mainstreetmartinez.org.
Bay Area Craft Beer Festival The 2018 Bay Area Craft Beer Festival is at Martinez Waterfront on April 21, from noon to 4pm. There will be over 50 local breweries and over 100 beers to sample, including Home Brew! There will also be great live music, with returning favorite Native Elements on stage at 12:30pm and first timers Hot For Teacher, a Van Halen Tribute band, on stage at 2:30pm. You can also participate in cornhole tournaments, eat delicious food, and more. The Bay Area Craft Beer Festival is held at the Waterfront Park in downtown Martinez. Cost is $35 in advance and $45 at the door if not sold out. DD (designated driver) tickets are also available. There will be a free shuttle from North Concord BART that runs from 10am-8pm, so you have time to enjoy the downtown before and after the festival. The event is 21 years and over only.
Citizen of the Year Awards! The Citizen of the Year Awards is a special event that recognizes people and organizations for their outstanding volunteerism and commitment to the community. The event is on Saturday, April 28, 6-9pm, at the Masonic Hall in Martinez. RSVP required. Tickets are $55 per person or $500 for a table of ten (10). To purchase tickets, contact the Martinez Chamber of Commerce at (925) 228-2345 or email Julie@martinezchamber.com. The deadline to purchase tickets is Monday, April 23.
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CITY NEWS
Mayor’s Message Every two years, the Walnut Creek City Council develops our priorities - the council’s major areas of focus. These priorities aim to address some of the opportunities for progress the city is currently facing, including homelessness. As such, I am proud that this council continues to drive toward realistic responses to curb homelessness in our city. The city council recognizes that this is a regional issue for the Bay Area as cities deal with growing populations and an increasing cost of living. Like most cities in the Bay Area, and like many across the country, Walnut Creek is not immune to homelessness. Walnut Creek has a history of a small homeless population, and while there are many reasons for the increase in the past few years – realignment and rising
housing costs, amongst others – we as a community must realize that without investment in this issue, the problem will only continue to grow. Like many of you, my family has been directly affected. Community members following this issue at the council level know I have shared my own family’s experience on this topic. Like far too many in our society, my family’s story involves an individual engulfed in the drug epidemic. Rather than turning to family for assistance, he has turned to community programs and services to provide even the most basic of needs, like food, shelter, and showers. One such program is the Winter Nights Shelter, held at various congregations throughout Contra Costa County. The City of Walnut Creek has proudly
Justin Wedel, Mayor of Walnut Creek
partnered with the Trinity Center for the past few years. The staff and volunteers at the Trinity Center are true angels to these people in need. This program provides shelter for dozens of individuals, help with drug and alcohol dependency, and training programs that strive for permanent housing and jobs. Each year I volunteer at Winter Nights at my church, St John Vianney. My number one take away from this experience is that not all homeless situations are the same. Yes, some homeless individuals can be victims of their own choices – drugs, alcoholism, etc. – yet, many are no different than you or me. Families striving to make a good life for them-
selves while working full-time jobs struggle to get ahead. Pearl Buck stated, “The test of a civilization is the way it cares for its helpless members.” I believe we must continue to do more to give a helping hand to people in need. We - nonprofits, government agencies, the business community, and you - must find better ways to work together to assist people in need. Educate, engage, and volunteer. Every step helps.
Public Meetings
City Council Meeting Apr. 3, 17 Council Chambers, 1666 North Main Street, 6pm. Contact: 943-5819 Design Review Meeting Apr. 4, 18 7pm Council Chambers, 1666 North Main Street, 7pm. Contact: 943-5819
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TRUST AGREEMENT POUR OVER WILL GUARDIANSHIP TRANSFER OF REAL PROPERTY HEALTH CARE DIRECTIVE
Planning Commission Meeting Apr. 12, 26 Council Chambers, 1666 North Main Street, 7pm. Contact: 943-5819 Arts Commission Meeting Apr. 23, Council Chambers, 1666 North Main Street, 6pm. Contact: 943-5819 For Confirmation Visit: www.walnut-creek.org
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CITY NEWS
Walnut Creek City News New City Commissioners
At the March 6 city council meeting, seven new commissioners took the oath of office in front of the city council and audience members. The new commissioners are: Iasmine Abdennabi Klauber, Arts; Casey Case and Carlos Velilla, Design Review; Arthur Oller, Park, Recreation & Open Space; Steve Reiser, Planning; Jessica Thomas, Contra Costa Advisory Council on Aging; and Jasun Molinelli, Contra Costa County Library.
Gas Tax Hike to Benefit WC Last April, the state approved the “Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017 (also known as the “gas tax”) and passed Senate Bill 1 (SB 1). Walnut Creek may soon reap the benefits of this bill. The city’s public works department will soon announce the first project to be funded from the gas tax. A major rehabilitation project for Oak Grove Road tops the list, with paving work expected to get underway later this spring or in the summer. Traffic signal and ADA upgrades will be included, with more than a quarter of a million square feet of roadway getting repaved. Bike lanes will also be added in both directions. More details will be shared by the City of Walnut Creek in coming months regarding how the city is using tax dollars to improve local streets and roadways.
Downtown Garage Improvements in April The city is investing in creating a brighter and safer parking experience in all three downtown garages. LED lights will replace the existing light fixtures in the Lesher Center, South Locust, and Broadway garages. The upgrade to more efficient lighting will also save the city $55,000 in energy costs annually. The Lesher Center Portal will create a walkway from the Lesher Center Parking Garage to the Lesher Center so patrons can travel between the two structures without having to exit on Locust St. The Lesher Center Garage will be closed on April 9 and 10. The South Locust Garage will be closed on April 23 and 24. Parking will be limited throughout the garage through the end of April. Broadway Garage will be closed on May 7 and 8. Parking will be limited throughout the garage through mid-May. To find out more, visit www.walnut-creek.org/parking or email Carla Hansen, assistant to the city manager, at hansen@walnut-creek.org.
Authors Gala has Wonderland Theme Tickets to the 9th Annual Authors Gala on Saturday, April 28, are now available to purchase online. Enjoy an evening in “Wonderland” with 20 notable Bay Area authors, including Donia Bijan, Jason Fagone, Daryl Gregory, Christine Hyung-Oak Lee, Laleh Khadivi, Joyce Maynard, and Kevin Smokler. The “Mad Hatter Cocktail Party” begins at 6pm, followed by dinner. To ensure priority seating, visit the ticket website to make your reservation and author selections. Requests will be filled on a first-come basis, and reservation deadline is April 20 or until the event is sold out. All proceeds from the Authors Gala benefit essential programs, collections, and other needs for the Walnut Creek and Ygnacio Valley libraries. Please visit www.wclibrary.org/gala for ticket pricing and to make your reservations, find author bios, and view the silent auction preview. For further questions, call 925.935.5395.
Animals on Broadway On Saturday, May 19, join Tony La Russa’s Animal Rescue Foundation for the 18th annual Animals on Broadway, held at Broadway Plaza. People and pets are invited to share in the excitement of the day, which includes ARF’s fundraising pet walk, adoptions, rescue groups, dog wash, pet wellness fair, vendors, kids’ activities, demonstrations, and more. Sign up as an individual or with friends as a team to help raise $95,000 for animals in need at this one-mile walk. The fun continues
with Kid Zone activities, raffles, demonstrations, KOFY-TV Doggie Casting Call and Pet Wellness Fair, offering an array of health services for your best friend. ARF and other rescue groups will have furry friends of all sizes available for adoption. The pet walk begins at 9:30am, and the community festival is from 10am – 4pm. Register for the pet walk by going to www.arflife.org.
Heritage Eats Heads to the Plaza The Napa-based fast casual restaurant, Heritage Eats, is coming to Broadway Plaza. Fast Casual recently nominated Heritage Eats as one of the top companies in the fast-casual industry nationwide. The restaurant considers itself a “Fast-Fine food joint serving globally inspired wraps, salads, rice bowls, and sandwiches.” They are planning to open this summer next to Clarks shoe store, near Boudin Bakery.
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BIKE THE BRIDGES
Carquinez and Benicia-Martinez Bridges
& BREWFEST Featuring Craft Breweries
Saturday June 10, 2018 Martinez Waterfront Amphitheater
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SPORTS
Will’s Walk for Autism
Surf Cup Champs
Mark your calendars for Saturday, May 12. Will’s Walk For Autism is a 1 and 3 mile walk in Martinez that benefits programs for individuals and families with autism. The event starts and finishes at Morello Hills Christian Church in Martinez. On Wednesday evening, May 30, Will and Papa (which Will calls his dad) will present three scholarships to Alhambra High School graduates in Martinez who have helped special needs programs. The Mulder family would like to encourage and give thanks to those students who have a special heart for special needs kids and adults in the community. Working with special needs has proven to be beneficial to both students and the special needs community. Alhambra High School has a program in which students commit one year to helping in the special needs class. Students have helped Will type on an iPad, which resulted in Will typing and analyzing stories on his own before his graduation at Alhambra High School in 2016. The Will Mulders Foundation is planning to expand scholarships in the near future to other high schools in Contra Costa County. The foundation supports other causes that connect with the special needs community such as equestrian therapeutic horseback riding and Ainsley’s Angels, runners who push special needs individuals in race joggers. You can pre-register by going to www.teamwillpower.org or you can sign up the day off our event. Change I won’t to I will.
Diablo FC ‘05 Blue Girls were crowned Copita Surf Cup Champions in the San Jose tournament held on March 10 and 11. With only one goal scored against them in four games on a penalty shot in the box, the DFC 05 Girls swept the Red Stars, Monterey Bay, Dublin United, and Santa Rosa to clinch the Copita Surf Cup Championship in their bid for a coveted spot in this summer’s San Diego Surf Cup showcase event.
(LtoR) back row: Assistant Coach Adam Barrett, Erika Salazar, Kira Barrett, Amanda Monahan, Abigail Gee, Sasha Coester, Arlise Souza, Shelby Bonham, Lily De La Torre and Head Coach Daniel Rednic. Front row: Katie Kavanagh, Sydney Sopenoff, Emily Jimenez, Lizzie Pauline, Jackie Tamayo, Cassidy Baker, Mikka Sopenoff, Lilja Grant, and Jessica Kozlowski. Submitted by Colleen Gray.
Track Takes Home Trophies The College Park track team took home some serious hardware at the March 10th Tim Bruder relays held at Alhambra High School in Martinez. The Falcons cleaned up with mens varsity placing 2nd, womens varsity placing 5th, girls frosh soph placing 3rd and the the boys fosh soph taking home 1st place. Freshman Domas Placiakis set the stage in the opening race of the day by winning the open 1600 meters and setting a new meet record of 4:55.04. Congratulations Falcons.
Will and Peter Mulders at Team Willpower’s 5th consecutive Oakland Half Marathon
Beginning Volleyball Clinic Sign up now to participate in the three-hour volleyball clinic for boys and girls 8 years old and up to be held on Saturday, May 19, from 8:30am to 11:30am, in the Alhambra High School Gym. Cost is $35 if you register online through the Alhambra School Store before April 15. No previous experience required. Contact Coach Peter Crowley for more information and for late registration at 925-457-6010. 14 | APRIL 2018 | OURCOMMUNITYFOCUS.COM
ATHLETE SPORTS
Martinez Brickyard Run Come join the Martinez Brickyard run, a local tradition for the past 49 years, on Sunday, April 8. There is a unique “Brick” award for age group winners. The run benefits Alhambra High School Cross Country program and the Martinez Recreation Department. Check-in/registration starts at 7am and race starts at 8:30am. Participation fee for the race is $30 and includes a T-shirt and awards ceremony. Following the race, raffle prizes are available for all finishers! Final mail-in registration must be postmarked by April 5. Final online registration closes at 11:59pm on April 6. After this date, registration is available on race day. Register online at eventbrite.com for Martinez Brickyard Run OR mail check to Aggie Running Club, 4110 Canyon Way, Martinez, 94553. The course for the 4 and 8-mile race is “out and back” on Carquinez Scenic Drive and entirely on pavement with rolling hills. Threedeep awards will go to males and females in categories 12 & under, 13-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, and 70+.
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Volleying for a Win Northgate and College Park battled through four sets in their first league match of the season on March 27, at College Park. Northgate outplayed the Falcons 3-1. The Broncos host their next matchup on April 19 at 6pm.
JAKE EIDE
Jake Eide, College Park senior and team captain of the men’s varsity lacrosse team, has been selected athlete of the month by College Park Sports Leadership. Eide is a 4- year varsity player who displays dominance as both a midfielder and attacker making 22 assists and scoring 13 goals. Jake will be playing for Dominican College in the fall. Submitted by College Park Sports Leadership.
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SCHOOL NEWS
Jazz Band Makes History
When you’re a jazz performer, hitting the high notes is a must. Walnut Creek’s Northgate High School Jazz Band I, comprised of twenty-five musicians under the direction of Greg Brown, just hit one of their highest notes, making history at the Next Generation Jazz Festival (NGJF) in Monterey on March 10 as the first band in the festival’s 48-year existence to win the High School Big Band Division – or any division – for the fifth straight year. The win garners Northgate a performance on stage at the worldrenowned Monterey Jazz Festival in September. Northgate’s top-achieving set was one of over 150 performances at the competition, which annually attracts top bands from across the country. The High School Big Band Division typically includes several private arts’ schools, making public school Northgate’s dominance over the five-year run even more impressive. The lead-up to the event included a recording session at Platt Academy studio in Berkeley, where the band recorded its NGJF audition tape and spent long hours of rehearsal inside and outside of class. “Gate Sixty-Eight,” the closing song of their set, was composed specifically for Northgate by accomplished trombonist Francisco Torres, the musical director for Poncho Sanchez’s Latin Jazz Band and a member of Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band. Northgate’s Gate Sixty-Eight performance at NGJF brought hundreds in the audience to their feet in raucous applause. Anyone interested in seeing this band in action will have two opportunities in April and May to experience what Northgate calls their “party on the stage.” A spicy evening of Red Hot Latin Jazz, produced by Northgate senior and tenor saxophonist Cameron Wanser, takes place at 8pm on Saturday, April 14, at the Campbell Theater in downtown Martinez. Northgate’s Jazz Band I will be joined by Javier Cabanillas, Grammy award-winning conga player from Pacific Mambo Orchestra. AKA Macho, an eight-piece jazz combo of highly talented young musicians, will open the show. Tickets are $15, available at brownpapertickets.com, (800) 838-3006, or $20 at the door. Proceeds benefit Generations in Jazz Foundation, a local non-profit that supports community music activities for students and adults. “After all the pressure of competing in Monterey, we’re looking forward to cutting loose for a whole night of Latin jazz,” said Wanser, who originally pitched the idea for the concert to his teacher back in January for his senior project. “The best part about Latin music is it gets all our musicians playing on the stage at once,” he beams. “Everyone’s in the party!” A Yoshi’s jazz club performance in Oakland will feature Jazz Band I along with Northgate’s talented Jazz Band II during two shows, at 7pm and 9pm, on Monday, May 14. Tickets are $20 and available at yoshis.com.
Northgate High School Jazz Band students react in March to the announcement of their school’s unprecedented fifth-consecutive first place finish at the annual Next Generation Jazz Festival in Monterey, earning them national recognition. Photo by Scott Haney 16 | APRIL 2018 | OURCOMMUNITYFOCUS.COM
School Walkout Local Schools Participate BY SOPHIE CORBETT, Junior at Carondelet High School On Wednesday, March 14, several local high schools, including Alhambra, Carondelet, College Park, De La Salle, and Northgate, joined thousands of schools across the country and participated in the national school walkout, a protest against gun violence, particularly in schools. The walkout took place exactly one month after 17 students and teachers lost their lives in a school shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. Students walked out of class from 10am to 10:17am; each minute represented one of the seventeen victims. Students who participated did so to honor the seventeen lives lost and to call for gun reform laws. “Enough is enough,” said College Park junior Ana Perez. “I participated to stand for those students that don’t feel safe at school because guns are very easily obtained.” Students had signs and
wore orange to represent their support for stricter laws. “I think it’s time for our elected officials to start making changes to our current gun laws,” said Payton Martin, a junior at Carondelet. The walkout was completely student led and organized. “It’s really inspiring to see teenagers around the country step up and make their voices heard, and I’m glad that my school provided a safe space for us to be a part of this powerful movement,” added Payton. Students at Carondelet and De La Salle staged their protest on the sidewalks of Winton Drive, the street that connects the two sibling schools. Alhambra students poured onto their football field, and at College Park there was a school organized protest in addition to the student led walkout. Northgate even organized an entire week full of activities, including having discussions about mental health and writing letters to elected officials. While not every student chose to participate, all schools in the area saw a large turnout. It is evident that our local high school students are advocating for change and speaking up for what they believe in.
Legally Blonde: The Musical This lively musical by Heather Hach, Amanda Brown, and the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer motion picture follows Elle Woods, a spoiled, fashion-obsessed sorority girl from Southern California, as she gains admission to prestigious Harvard Law in the hopes of winning back her overly serious ex-boyfriend. Along the way she shows off her huge heart -- and surprising smarts -- and learns that “Being true to yourself never goes out of style.” CPHS producer and director Tony Gardner said he selected Legally Blonde because “College Park’s drama and choir departments have so many talented ladies this year, and this musical features numerous lead and supporting roles for females in order to showcase this talent.” The cast features: Katie Paredero as Elle, Tommy Lassiter as Emmett, Nick Oldenbourg as Callahan, and Maddy Novelozo as Paulette, as well as a large ensemble cast that will delight with exuberant song-and-dance numbers written by Laurence O’Keefe and Nell Benjamin. Performances are in College Park’s multi-use room on April 26 and 28, May 2, 3, and 4 at 7pm, with a matinee performance on April 27 at 3:30pm. Tickets available at the door. Cost: general admission $25; senior/child $15; CPHS student/staff $10; and matinee $10. Legally Blonde is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI. www.MTIShows. com.
Vaping: A Major Minor Issue
SCHOOL NEWS
What You Need to Know BY ALISON CLARY Since the 1960s, we’ve seen the iconic warning label, “The Surgeon General Has Determined That Cigarette Smoking Is Dangerous to Your Health.” The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services now says e-cigarette use, commonly known as vaping, is the latest threat to public health and has way surpassed conventional tobacco use among American youth. Because adolescents and young adults have brains that are still growing, they are especially vulnerable to nicotine and other toxic chemical exposure.
What is vaping? While the traditional cigarette is a small cylinder stick of finely cut tobacco rolled inside a thin sheet of paper that is smoked through combustion, e-cigarettes are smokeless, non-tobacco, electronic (battery-run) hand-held devices that produce flavored steam. The battery powered atomizer coil heats up an insertable pod of flavored “e-liquid” to create vapor, which the user inhales then exhales, hence the term “vaping.” There is no smoke and the user can “pull” with deep or shallow breaths. These devices are also called e-hookahs, vape pens, tank systems, and more. While there are many differences between conventional cigarettes and ecigarettes, both contain flavorings, chemical additives, and nicotine. The e-liquid used in e-cigarettes comes in different nicotine concentrations, but the amounts don’t always match the label, and even the nicotine-free version usually contains some nicotine. Innocuous sounding flavors available in e-liquids include buttered popcorn, caramel cheesecake, cinnamon, cotton candy, mango, mint, passion fruit, raspberry, and vanilla.
Why Do People Vape? People vape for a variety of reasons. E-cigarettes were originally created so adult smokers could wean themselves off traditional cigarettes while simulating smoking. And since vaping doesn’t involve smoke, flames, ashes, butts, or offensive odor, some view it as a less dangerous
and more socially acceptable alternative. Teens say they vape because they are curious about it, think it looks cool, and like the wide variety of flavors. Unfortunately, they also view vaping as “healthier” than smoking but do not cite e-cigarettes as a method for quitting conventional smoking. California teens in middle school and high school use e-cigarettes at double and triple the rate of conventional cigarettes but are also three times more likely to progress to traditional smoking a year after trying e-cigarettes. Vaping has grown dramatically in popularity, with the sharpest increase occurring between 2011 and 2015. Because the trend is only about 10 years old, longterm effects are not conclusive, however, exhaustive current studies support what we DO know – that inhaling toxic and addictive chemicals through vaping is becoming a new epidemic, and teenagers are particularly susceptible.
How is Vaping Dangerous? Although manufacturers will argue that e-liquids contain “approved food additives” like propylene glycol, which is widely found in food and cosmetics and may be safe to ingest and swallow, that doesn’t make them safe to inhale. When vaporized through the highly heated coil of the e-cigarette device, these additives don’t produce “harmless water vapor” but rather change into VOCs (volatile organic compounds), a class of toxic chemicals that includes acrolein, acrylamide, acrylonitrile, crotonaldehyde, and propylene oxide. Acrylonitirile, a man-made chemical, evaporates quickly and goes into making products such as plastic. Fruitflavored e-liquids produce a high amount of this known carcinogen. Some liquids contain heavy metals and silicates that cause inflammation in the lungs, exacerbate asthma, and decrease one’s immune response. A Harvard University study also discovered diacetyl in most of the eliquids tested. This is the chemical that became famous for causing “popcorn lung,” which appeared in workers who inhaled artificial butter flavor at microwave pop-
corn factories. Candy and fruit flavored e-liquids, commonly called “e-juices,” are particularly popular, so manufacturers are very shrewd in how they market these products to youth. As Dr. Mark Rubinstein, professor of pediatrics at University of California, San Francisco, says, flavors such as unicorn poop and bubble gum are clearly meant to target teenagers, not adults trying to wean themselves off traditional cigarettes. Incidentally, there is also danger from second-hand vapor. Airborne particles passively inhaled from vapor contain nicotine and toxic substances. Also, malfunctioning devices and over-charging the lithium-ion batteries in e-cigarettes have caused explosions and burns.
Why Are Teens More Vulnerable to E-Cigarettes? Nicotine is almost always found in e-juice, even when it’s supposed to be nicotine-free. It is an established fact that nicotine is harmful to human health. It is also extremely addictive and can be as hard to quit as cocaine or heroin. The toxic and addictive chemicals in e-cigs, including nicotine, have more durable and damaging effects on adolescent brains. The pre-frontal cortex is not fully developed until around age 25, and this is the area of the brain responsible for reasoning, judgment, controlling impulses and emotion, attention span, and mood. When you consider that yielding to impulses and taking risks are common traits within the teen population, the proliferation of e-cigarettes is not surprising.
JUULs One of the most popular e-cigarettes is JUUL, dubbed this generation’s “iPhone of e-cigs.” It resembles a thumb drive, so parents and teachers don’t always know what they’re seeing if their kids or students have them. Although the JUUL manufacturer says it is intended for adult smokers, this sleek, closed device can be charged from a laptop, is user-friendly, and has short-lived puffs of smoke, so students can use it discreetly, even during
class behind their teachers’ backs, without getting caught. Schools are on the lookout for “Juuling” and are confiscating these devices more and more. Although it is illegal to sell e-cigarettes and e-liquids to customers under age 21, minors can buy them easily online by merely checking the “I’m at least 21” box or having older friends purchase them for them. JUUL starter packs retail for $49.99 and contain four pre-filled cartridges, or pods, to sample: fruit medley, cool mint, crème brulee, and Virginia tobacco. Pods, which are brightly colored and resemble art supplies, cost between $14 to $19, and each pod is equivalent to a pack of cigarettes. As the popularity of e-cigarettes has grown, the cost has decreased and sales have skyrocketed. While cigarette TV ads were banned in 1971, ecigarette ads endorsed by celebrities are on the air, radio, Internet, and in print.
Conclusion Nicotine is addictive and carcinogenic. The adolescent brain is still growing and developing, which makes it particularly vulnerable to harmful substances. Even if you choose a lower or non-nicotine version of an e-cigarette, you will still get the harmful effects of heated aerosol from e-liquid. A good website for young adults is www.stillblowingsmoke.org. Many sources were used in researching this article, including California Department of Public Health, Office of the U.S. Surgeon General, and Centers for Disease Control. OURCOMMUNITYFOCUS.COM | APRIL 2018 | 17
SCHOOL NEWS
Carondelet’s Hall of Fame
Carondelet High School will induct its first-ever hall of fame class this month, recognizing the athletic and professional accomplishments of alumnae who attended the high school between 1993 and 2006. The members of the inaugural class are: • Jayne Appel-Marinelli ‘06, Basketball • Natalie Coughlin Hall ‘00, Swimming • Tiffany Roberts Sahaydak ‘95, Soccer • The 1996 Cross-Country Team To celebrate their accomplishments and honor their legacy, Carondelet will induct these phenomenal athletes into its inaugural Hall of Fame class at a special ceremony on Saturday, April 28. The ceremony will be followed by dinner and is open to all. The event takes place at the Carondelet Athletics Complex and Boundary Oak Golf Course in Walnut Creek. Tickets may be purchased at www.CarondeletHS.org/ HallofFame.
Eagle Scout Awards
Northgate High School seniors Jonathan Louie and Brendan Thio and juniors Rohith Moolakatt, Connor Akers, and Cameron Paloutzian have all earned the rank of Eagle Scout. All five built and completed projects that improved their elementary, middle or high schools and the community. They are from Boy Scout Troop 810, led by Scoutmaster Rob Risse. Submitted by Dorene Louie.
PHCF Grant Applications The Pleasant Hill Community Foundation has released its 2018 Community Grant application for public and nonprofit organizations in Pleasant Hill. The proceeds from the annual appeal held last fall are funding these grant awards. Any recreational, cultural or educational program that serves the residents of Pleasant Hill may apply. Grants Allocation Chair Betty Geishirt Cantrell states, “The foundation is again very proud to be able to provide this opportunity to organizations in our community that enrich the lives of the residents of Pleasant Hill through cultural, educational and recreational activities.” Applications may be downloaded from the foundation’s website at www. PHCommunityFoundation.org, where prior community grant recipients are also listed. Any questions may be sent to info@PHCommunityFoundation.org. The application deadline is April 2.
job & career fair FOR TEENS!
Don’t Miss your chance for a summer job!
Saturday, April 14 | 10am-2pm pleasant hill teen center 147 Gregory Lane, Pleasant Hill
• Meet with employers & apply for jobs • Bring a copy of your resume and dress in professional attire • FREE ADMISSION! Info? (925) 691-5645 | teencenter@pleasanthillrec.com
18 | APRIL 2018 | OURCOMMUNITYFOCUS.COM
Pictured (LtoR): Cameron Paloutzian, Brendan Thio, Jonathan Louie, Rohith Moolakatt, Connor Akers
Shell/MEF Logo Contest
The 16th Annual Shell/MEF Run for Education is Sunday, September 30. The 5k/10k Fun Run/Walk is a fundraising event that benefits all Martinez Unified School District Schools. The Martinez Education Foundation is seeking student designs for T-shirts and ads used to promote this event. The design should be in color (4 color maximum) and 8 ½” x 11” in size. Hand drawn or computer-generated art by current MUSD students will be accepted. Please include the following information on the back of your entry: name, grade, school, parent/guardian, parent email (preferred) or phone number. Entries are due to your school office no later than 4pm on Thursday April 19. The winner will receive a prize and be recognized at this year’s run. For questions, email martinezmef@sbcglobal.net.
ANNUAL
CAMPAIGN Be a Part of Progress – Donate Today for the Future of Our Community’s Schools
2018 CAMPAIGN
HOW YOU CAN HELP
Foundation for Pleasant Hill Education (FPHE) suggests a donation of $75 or more. Donations of all amounts are appreciated. FPHE’s ability to issue school grants is solely dependent on the support of the community.
WHY GIVE? STRONG SCHOOLS BENEFIT YOU!
Strong schools greatly benefit students. They also help increase property values as more homebuyers understand our community’s dedication to supporting local education. Businesses thrive and grow. Most importantly, strong schools enhance the future of our community.
HOW TO DONATE
Donate online at www.fphe.org or mail to FPHE, P.O. Box 23851, Pleasant Hill, CA 94523.
Since 2009, thanks to community support, FPHE has awarded over A QUARTER OF A MILLION DOLLARS in grants to our community’s 11 public schools.
HOW ARE DONATIONS USED?
FPHE HAS FUNDED:
Funds raised go to school grants issued in May 2018.
• Books for entire grade levels: reference, biographies, literature pieces, early readers. • Classroom equipment: maps, graphing calculators, DNA research tools, lab equipment, LCD projectors, interactive whiteboards. • Curriculum support items: math/science programs, “living history” programs, literature programs. • Items to support the arts: musical instruments/supplies, stage lighting and audio equipment.
LEARN MORE
To become a FPHE member or learn more about 2018 campaign events, email contact@fphe.org.
Be a Part of Progress - Donate Today at www.fphe.org or mail the coupon below. Questions? Email contact@fphe.org. Thank you for your commitment to education and our community.
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Please mail this coupon to: FPHE, P.O. Box 23851• Pleasant Hill, CA 94523 (Tax ID#: 26-2326345) • Please make check payable to FPHE Donations to FPHE’s 2018 Annual Campaign reduce the impact budget cuts have on the 11 Pleasant Hill public schools. Your donation directly benefits language arts, math, science and enrichment programs.
SPORTS
CPHS Principal Notable March Events JOSEPH G. ALVAREZ PRINCIPAL, COLLEGE PARK HIGH SCHOOL There are numerous and notable accomplishments of our students and faculty to share with you this month. I’ll start with a special shout-out to our theater performers who competed with over 1,200 students from across the state in performance and technical theatre categories this past weekend at the Ohlone College High School Theatre Festival. We sent 14 entries, and five earned spots as finalists! Elanor Cheek won 2nd place overall for her horror make-up design! Congratulations, Elanor and the other finalists and all who dared to dream and compete on such a large stage; it was a fantastic showing of our incredible talent at this school! The 47th Annual Pleasant Hill Community Awards took place on Tuesday, March 27. Our very own Laima Haider won Educator of the Year! Ms. Haider, who
teaches World History and AP US History and is an MDUSD alum, truly shows the passion and heart needed to support our Falcon student body. Every day, Ms. Haider demonstrates her belief that high schools are a gateway to a brighter future through academic advancement. We have 21 students from Germany as foreign exchange students. Our German teacher, Ms. Zehra Otus, has been the faculty sponsor for this great tradition. The students have attended classes, participated in our annual multi-cultural rally, and become a part of the Falcon community. We hope they continue that Falcon spirit back home in Germany. We hosted many future Falcons at our annual matriculation day recently. On this day, incoming freshmen students receive information on services, classes, and overall support to ensure a smooth and successful transition to high school. The future is bright because of our incoming student body; they were engaged and asking all the right questions. We also
AHS Principal
recently hosted our incoming freshmen parents and guardians and held an open house showcasing our fantastic teachers, courses, and programs. Families left the open house with a clear sense of happiness and anticipation about joining our Falcon family. Our students beautifully represented the many different cultures that make up our College Park community. We held a parent/guardian performance as well as two rallies that demonstrated our commitment to embracing and celebrating the individual gifts and differences we bring to our community. On March 14, students participated in and lent their support to the #ENOUGH nationwide school protest against gun violence in our nation’s schools and communities. Our students’ collective voice was clear and strong, and they represented themselves in an orderly and effective manner. I am truly supportive of our student body who showed how their voices can and will be heard. This was a day of remembrance
for the 17 people who lost their lives in the recent school shooting in Florida – one minute for each of the lives lost. This past Monday, March 19, our teachers were treated to a full day of professional development that included a very informative presentation on vaping trends occurring with our youth, a second presentation on the lasting effects and addiction from marijuana, and a final presentation on school safety and how we are best ensuring that student, staff and community at large can feel safe. It was an important and necessary conversation, and our teachers had much to contribute and think about. As we move into the spring, I look forward to a new season of first-rate performances from our choirs and spring musical, as well as a myriad of spring sports – baseball, softball, cheer, track & field, swimming, lacrosse, and boys’ golf, volleyball and tennis. We hope to see you in the audience at the fields and pool decks! Falcon up!
will have their work displayed at the Martinez Library. The Martinez Arts Association sponsors the art show. Mr. Heeb: The following Cabinet Making students participated in the Skills USA regional competition in San Jose last Saturday: Kris Leidich (SR), Aidan LaHonta (SR), Jason Exline (JR), and Danny Leidich (SO). Mr. Wheeler: Jacob Bower and Cole Kendall won 2nd place at the UTI Top Tech Challenge on Feb 10 in Sacramento. They won $7500 scholarships each and over $1000 in tools for the Alhambra High School Auto Shop! Ms. Salas: Our new Cybersecurity Club had two four-person teams (male and female) that competed in three rounds of the Air Force Association’s online Cyberpatriot competition. Both teams scored in the middle (gold) tier of all teams nationwide, with the girls edging out the boys in the final round. The following young ladies
have been selected by the National Council for Women in Technology as regional CA winners to receive the award for Aspirations in Computing: Fabiola Gallardo (9th grade) and Simarpreet Kaur (10th grade). Runnerup applicants were Dream Lopez (9th grade) and Madison Wilson (9th grade). Mr. Doigny: Alhambra hosted a job fair for students interested in pursuing a career in the “building trades,” and representatives from IBEW 302 (electricians), Plumbers and Steamfitters Local 159, Pile Drivers Local 34, Carpenters Local 152, Millwrights Local 102, and Conco Commercial Concrete all attended and presented job information to students from a variety of classes. One of our students even got a paid internship at Conco after the job fair. This semester we will be hosting another job fair, so if you think your company would like to send a representative, please contact Mr. Doppe or Mr. Doigny at mdoigny@martinez.k12.ca.us.
Good News at Alhambra High TOM DOPPE, PRINCIPAL, ALHAMBRA HIGH SCHOOL Good news! Do you need some of that? I know I do, so I asked the teachers to share some exciting accomplishments, both in and out of the classroom, from the past couple weeks. Certainly this list is only a taste, but I know you will be impressed by the students here at AHS, just as I am. Enjoy! Ms. Zapata: Students in my Spanish 3 classes are preparing presentations on the African diaspora and it’s positive impact on Latin American culture. Mr. Wiener: The amazingly talented cast of Alhambra’s spring musical, The Drowsy Chaperone, is deep in rehearsals. Mark your calendars for April 25-28 and prepare for a happy, funny show with great music and 20 | APRIL 2018 | OURCOMMUNITYFOCUS.COM
singers. Ms. Seto: Harambee Cultural Club successfully spread the love with Valentine grams; continue to knit and donate beanies to hospitals; and are currently orchestrating cultural dance performances for an upcoming rally, along with crafting leis for graduation. Mr. Reichert: Mock Trial won second place throughout the entire county and took home several individual awards, too. Ms. Gregory: AP kids are busy dissecting (pun intended) Frankenstein. All classes are being thoughtful regarding their peers in Parkland, FL, and seniors are finding their voices and realizing they can make a difference. Ms. Rideout: Public Health interns made lunch for residents at a local transitional housing site. Ms. Fuller: Alhambra Art students (Art 2, Art Survey, Digital Art 1, and Digital Art 2)
CENTRAL COUNTY HOMES
Estate Planning
Making Changes to Your Plan BY DANIEL DuREE Regardless of how well drafted your estate planning documents are, life changes inevitably require changes to your estate plan. The type of change and the document it affects determines how these alterations are made. Below are methods for making changes to the following estate plan documents. Living Trust Life changes that alter how you wish to distribute your assets or who you want to be in charge of that distribution involve the living trust. A living trust is changed by doing an amendment to the trust. An amendment is a separate document that will be attached to the trust and describes the changes that will be made. The downside to a simple amendment is that when you are gone, people will see the original trust as well as the change. So if you are making a change that may hurt feelings of a loved one (such as removing one child as successor trustee in favor of another), you can always do a restatement, which is basically a completely new version of the trust with the new terms. With a restatement, there is no evidence of what the original terms of the trust were. Will With a trust based estate plan, a pour-over will is generally used, which leaves everything to the trust. Because of this feature, if you are making a
What is Your Home Worth?
change in asset distributions, you do it through an amendment to the trust rather than changing the will. However, if you are changing who you wish to be in charge of your estate when you pass away, you should also change the executor of your will. A will is changed by creating what is called a codicil. It is similar to an amendment to a trust and is a separate document that is then kept with the will. Durable Power of Attorney or Advance Healthcare Directive If you wish to change who will be in charge of your financial, personal, or healthcare management should you become incapacitated, you will need to appoint a new agent under your durable power of attorney and/or advance healthcare directive. There is no amendment method to these documents, and new documents will be drafted. Remember, when making any changes to a will or a trust in which the same execution requirements apply, a trust amendment must be notarized and two independent witnesses must witness a will. If you have any questions about changes to your estate planning documents, please feel free to call my office. Daniel L. DuRee is a third generation resident of Contra Costa County and a licensed attorney practicing in Walnut Creek. He can be reached at (925) 2101400 or visit www.DuReeLaw.com.
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TRUSTS • WILLS • PROBATE OURCOMMUNITYFOCUS.COM | APRIL 2018 | 21
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John the Painter
For twenty-three years, John the Painter has beautified homes throughout the East Bay. John’s goals are excellence in the finished product and satisfied customers; referrals and repeat clients attest to the quality of his work. John stays on site with his crew, and his high standards have earned him the respect of other contractors who trust him and refer him
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to their clients. John is a full-service painting contractor specializing in interior and exterior painting for both commercial and residential clients. He removes acoustic texture from ceilings, and tapes and textures after repairs or new construction. John also stains and refinishes wood decks. John loves to fish, but he would rather be working on your home! If you have an upcoming project, call John the Painter, John McDonald, owner. Testimonials: I recently hired John McDonald’s painting company to paint the interior of our restaurant. I cannot express greatly enough what a pleasure it was to work with his company. Because of our hours of operation, I requested that the job be completed after we closed as to not disrupt the business day and was delighted when John said, “Absolutely. No problem.” The crew arrived at the agreed upon time promptly and they were efficient, quick and clean. Additionally, John’s bid was extremely reasonable! I highly recommend John McDonald as he is honest and reliable. Kelly Stephanos, Owner, Fat Maddie’s Grille, San Ramon Our family has used John the Painter for dozens of different projects since we’ve owned our home in Martinez. John pays attention to the details in the prep work and doesn’t overlook those little things that affect the finished product. Bonded • License # 775382
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He takes the responsibility for filling holes, sanding and caulking because, if not done well, the final results won’t meet his high standards. Aside from applying color to walls, he has: stained a custom mantle and painted custom cabinets, perfectly repaired a water damaged ceiling, painted interior trim and doors, repainted the exterior and refinished a sad old wood deck, which still looks great four years later. Most recently, John removed the acoustic texture from our very high vaulted ceilings. The job was made more difficult because of the many angles in the ceiling that weren’t properly edged by the builder and seams that were poorly taped. John and his crew took the extra time in repair and prep work so that the finished ceilings look gorgeous. He is the first person we call when planning any remodel, maintenance or repair work, and we confidently refer him to neighbors and friends throughout our area. Matilda F., Martinez My responsibilities at the Alta Bates Summit Foundation include the sale of property received via a bequest or as a gift to fund a charitable remainder trust.
Frequently, these properties require some painting to prepare them for a top dollar sale. Often, I have called on John for his painting services. He has always been most competitive in his pricing. Of equal importance, he and his crew have always been prompt, thorough and efficient in completing the project. Some jobs have been small and some have been quite large. In all cases, we have been very pleased with the finished product. I would recommend him without qualification. Richard O. Buxton, Vice President, Alta Bates Summit Foundation, Berkeley Dear John, I want to thank you for the beautiful paint job you did on my house. Thanks for having your men come and put back the door and lamp. I’m very grateful to be able to call on you to paint. Best regards, Eileen Dear John, Just an oh-so-quick-note to let you know I appreciate you being there Saturday and to thank you for painting my bathroom for me...more apple pies to come! Thanks John, Krisi
PAIR UP
Spicy Spring
Heat up Your Spring Meals BY MARIA TERRY I must admit, I’m a spicy girl. When I go out, I choose the spiciest dish on the menu. When I cook, I have a heavy hand with the crushed red pepper. I don’t love the watery eyes or runny nose, but there is just something about that rush of heat that brings out the flavor in food. Garlic is not my idea of spicy but is one of my favorite flavors. Green Garlic Dip uses garlic scapes instead of the garlic bulb. The scape is the flower stalk of the garlic plant. You can buy them in late spring labeled as green garlic. Although their season is short, they freeze well for later use. Garlic scapes are a little more peppery than the bulb, and when added to a dip with jalapeño, you get a big punch. It is perfect with your favorite vegetable dipper or chip and is a terrific way to start your evening off
with a bang. To counteract this level of spice, you should have a wine with sugar in it. An off-dry Prosecco immediately comes to mind. It is light, bubbly, and has just the right amount of sweetness to cool off your mouth. Dragon Noodles are exactly what they sound like -- spicy Asian noodles. This recipe is super easy to make and uses simple ingredients. If the egg in the dish is not enough protein for your meal, it can be a side dish for a protein entrée. As for the wine, again, you are looking for something off-dry. Riesling is great with Asian foods because its stone fruit flavors and tremendous acidity bring out the umami in the food. Rieslings are best when grown in cool climates and come in a range of sweetness. I love German Rieslings because they have a naming system that helps you know what you are getting. From drier to sweeter they are: Kabinett, Spätlese, Auslese, Beerenauslese, Trokenbeerenauslese, and Eiswein. Both
the Spätlese or Auslese levels work with this dish. For dessert, instead of continuing the spice assault, I chose a flavor that will knock your socks off without heat. Lemon Pudding Cake is sweet and tart with intense lemon flavor. To pair, choose a delicate sparkling wine called Moscato. Moscato is made from the Moscato Bianco grape in the northwest region of Italy. It is quite sweet and has a citrus and floral flavor that will complement the lemon flavor in the cake. So, go on. Pair Up! Maria Terry is a Certified Sommelier and Wine Educator in the San Francisco Bay Area. www.LaSommelierre.com.
Dragon Noodles
INGREDIENTS 8 oz. lo mein noodles or fresh fettuccine 4 tablespoons butter ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper 2 large eggs 2 tablespoons brown sugar 2 tablespoons soy sauce 2 tablespoons sriracha rooster sauce 2 handfuls fresh cilantro 2-3 sliced green onions DIRECTIONS Begin to boil water for the noodles. While waiting for the water to boil, prepare sauce. In a small bowl stir together brown sugar, soy sauce, and sriracha. Add noodles to boiling water and cook according to package directions (5-7 minutes). In a large skillet melt 2 tablespoons of butter over medium-low heat. Add red pepper to the butter as it melts. Whisk an egg in a bowl and add to melted butter. Stir gently and cook through. Once egg is done cooking, turn off heat. When noodles are tender, drain water and add them to skillet with cooked egg. Also, add prepared sauce. Turn heat on low to evaporate excess moisture and stir until everything is coated well with sauce. Sprinkle the sliced green onions and cilantro leaves (whole) on top and serve! Yield: 2 -4 Servings
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Green Garlic Dip INGREDIENTS 3 garlic scapes, cut into pieces 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro 2 tablespoons olive oil 1 tablespoon dry sherry Lemon, juiced 1/2 jalapeño pepper, seeded and coarsely chopped 1 cup sour cream Salt and black pepper to taste DIRECTIONS Place green garlic, cilantro, olive oil, sherry, lemon juice, and jalapeno pepper in a blender or food processor. Blend until pureed. Scrape into bowl and mix in sour cream until evenly blended. Season with salt and black pepper. Refrigerate before serving. Yield: About 1 Cup
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Lemon Pudding Cake INGREDIENTS Cake 4 eggs 1 package (2-layer size) yellow or butter cake mix 1 package (4 serving size) instant lemon pudding mix 3/4 cup water 1/3 cup vegetable oil Drizzle 1/3 cup lemon juice 2 cups sifted powdered sugar DIRECTIONS In mixing bowl, beat eggs until thick and lemon-colored. Add cake mix, dry pudding mix, water, and vegetable oil. Beat at medium speed for 10 minutes. Pour batter into an ungreased 10-inch tube pan with removable bottom. Bake cake at 350 F for about 50 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Grasping tube center, remove hot cake (still on pan bottom) from the pan. Combine lemon juice and sifted powdered sugar in a saucepan and bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Using a fork, prick many holes evenly in top of cake. Drizzle hot glaze over top and spread over sides of cake. Yield: 1 Cake
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OURCOMMUNITYFOCUS.COM | APRIL 2018 | 25
IN THE MIX
In the Mix with Kevin Scott Kroner
A Long-Time Pleasant Hill Resident and Quality Musician BY PAUL COTRUVO I always say I am the luckiest guy out there. I get to play music with some of the finest musicians in the area. But as I get older, it is not only important for me to play with like-minded and quality musicians but with great human beings. Kevin Scott Kroner embodies both those qualities. A long-time Pleasant Hill resident, Kevin has played keyboards and guitar with many local bands. He’s one of the original members of The Big Jangle, and I call him the utility man. On any given night, you may see him play keyboards, guitar, mandolin, harmonica, and you may even see him sing! (He may park your car, too) Kevin would never toot his own horn as he is very humble, but I think it’s time to get to know Kevin Scott Kroner. 1. How old were you when you first decided to be a musician, and was keyboard your first choice? I wish keyboards had been my first choice as I might be a lot better! I was in third grade when I decided to take up the trombone, which I played all the way through college. I liked it because it was loud! I also became a very fast runner to escape the bullies while carrying my horn home from school in my blue collar St. Louis neighborhood. Later, while in junior high, my dad bought me an electric guitar as a bribe to keep me
practicing the trombone. That was good because I found out girls liked guitar players better than trombone players, and I was able to get in a rock band with some of my friends. I had to take piano as a music major in college, and one of my professors told me I’d never be a musician! But once I got to play a friend’s Hammond organ and a Moog synthesizer, I was hooked on keyboards forever. 2. What was the name of your first Band? The Enterprise. 3. Who are some of your influences? On trombone, James Pankow from the band Chicago. On keyboards, my dad, who played organ at church. Brian Wilson, Keith Emerson, Greg Rolie, Elton John, and Booker T. 4. What have been some of the highlights of your career so far? Getting to play music has been the highlight of my entire life! I’ve met most of my friends either playing or enjoying music together. It has allowed me to connect emotionally and spiritually with life, better understand love, and deal with life’s pains. 5. What is your opinion of the local music scene? I find the local music scene to be very exciting! We have many venues that feature and promote live music, and it’s possible to find nearly any genre that you might enjoy. 6. If you were a song, what song would you be and why? If I were a song, I’d be John Lennon’s Imagine. I
have found great success by focusing my efforts on whatever I could imagine, and I believe the world could be a better place if we all applied the message of that song to our lives together. Thanks Kevin! There is an upcoming event that is near and dear to my heart. Cameron Wanser, a senior at Northgate High School, Walnut Creek, has undertaken a very interesting endeavor for his senior project. Cameron secured the Campbell Theater in downtown Martinez on Saturday night, April 14, for a “Hot Latin Jazz” concert featuring Northgate’s 23-member jazz big band, with Grammy Award winning special guest Javier Cabanillas of Pacific Mambo Orchestra sitting in. This is a unique event for the Campbell as they more commonly function as a playhouse. Kudos to the Campbell Theatre for supporting live music and working with local organizations
such as high schools. So let’s get out there and support our future musicians. These kids are changing the world! Quote of the Month: Rebellion without truth is like spring in a bleak, arid desert. -- Kahil Gabran
Paul’s Picks April 7: Brooks Lundy, Roxx on Main, 627 Main St., Martinez, 7pm April 13: Poison and Wine, Roxx on Main, 627 Main St Martinez, 7pm April 14: Sin Silver, Rocco’s Pizzeria, 2909 Ygnacio Valley Road, Walnut Creek, 8pm April 14: Lumberyard, Back Forty, 100 Coggins Drive, Pleasant Hill, 8pm April 20: PB & J, Armando’s, 707 Marina Vista, Martinez, 8pm April 21: Dirty Cello, Armando’s, 707 Marina Vista, Martinez, 8pm April 21: Big Jangle, WiseGirl, 1932 Oak Park Blvd., Pleasant Hill, 9pm April 28: Chris Cain Band, Armando’s, 707 Marina Vista, Martinez, 8pm April 29: The Sunday Paper, Armando’s, 707 Marina Vista, Martinez, 4pm OURCOMMUNITYFOCUS.COM | APRIL 2018 | 27
IN THE GARDEN
Springs Growing Bounty
Early Spring is an Amazing Month for Root Vegetables BY LESLEY STILES “April showers bring May flowers,” theoretically speaking, that is. Precipitation blessed the month of the Irish somewhat generously and rewarded us with blooms of all ilks to capture noses, eyes, and hopes that it is enough to stave off another drought, for this year anyway. Remaining hyper vigilant with conservation measures is a not so bad idea, and personally, I would love everyone to tear out their lawns and plant crops -- of food, that is. Installing a good irrigation system has potential to save bucket loads of water as well as cash while providing even, steady watering that plants thrive on. Legislation presently in front of California lawmakers gives tax breaks to water capture systems, much like tax breaks afforded to home solar systems. Wouldn’t it be cool if solar and rainwater capture systems were the
normal state of affairs? Chuck those bills out the window and eat like the queen herself. As usual, asparagus comes in on the tails of winter, lighting up April about halfway through the month. Amazing simply steamed and garnished with lemon oil and cracked sea salt or dolloped mayonnaise, asparagus is also fabulous cut up and sautéed with scramble eggs and cheese. However you assuage your asparagus wants, do it now before it slips quietly out of season until next year. Early spring is also an amazing month for root vegetables in soft, loamy soil to allow sugars to run crazy in beets and carrots. Rainbow hued carrots offer a colorful variety. Purple carrots are sweetly peppery while white are candy personified. Orange are still amazing, freshly dug and procured at market, while all three together explain the fascination of a ménage a trois. Vitamin A rich carotene colors orange carrots, while ancommunityfocus-ecomulch-ad-2014-8.pdf thocyanins color purple, and lycopene gives
10 CELEBRATING
YEARS
red ones their scarlet hue. Yellow can easily sculpt a quartet when called upon to even out a meal that utilizes earth-penetrating spears of sugar love. Black can be spicy for sure but definitely serve their purpose when called upon. Locally, carrots are in season year round and prefer cool weather, which encourages easy additions to spring and winter gardens. Creating with Carrots Carrots caramelize fiendishly well with onions and a heavy touch of butter and add brilliant fodder to any plate as a side. For addictive hash browns, grate as many colors as you can find and fry with sweet potato and chopped onion, then finish in a 350-degree oven for ultimate crunch. Grate carrots with apples and toss in toasted local walnuts, yogurt, and honey for a not-your-grandma’s version of Waldorf salad. Throw colorful big chunks of roots to roasting chicken along with potatoes, garlic, and onions toward the 1 8/29/14 12:46 PM end for a seasonal feast for the eyes as well
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as taste buds. Hit your farmers’ market and partake in the growing bounty of spring love presented especially for you Lesley Stiles is a graduate of the California Culinary Academy, sustainable caterer and school garden educator. Contact Lesley at lesleystiles@comcast.net, www. lesleystiles.blogspot.com and visit her new website: www.lesleystilesfoods.com.
Grilled Asparagus Salad This is my play on a classic French brassiere salad that usually incorporates lardons (chunks of cooked bacon), but is your choice whether or not to use. INGREDIENTS 2 pounds asparagus, washed and trimmed 2 pounds Winter Greens Mix from Trader Joes or a mix of mustard, Tat Soi, arugula, escarole, and frisee 4 eggs ½ teaspoon baking soda ½ teaspoon salt 2 tablespoons olive oil 1 cup cooked bacon chunks - optional Vinaigrette ½ cup olive oil 1 tablespoon honey 1 tablespoon chopped fresh tarragon ¼ cup Champagne or white wine vinegar Zest and juice of 1 lemon DIRECTIONS Bring a sauté pan of water to a boil and place ½ teaspoon of baking soda and ½ teaspoon of salt in water. Bring to a boil. Heat a grill or grill pan. Toss asparagus in 2 tablespoons olive oil and salt. Grill on hot pan or grill until soft, about 10 minutes. Set aside but keep warm. Prepare vinaigrette by placing all ingredients in a bowl and whisking together (or shake in a jar with a tight fitting lid). Season with salt and pepper. Place greens in large bowl and toss with vinaigrette and bacon, if you are using it. Place on large salad plates and lay 3 or 4 spears of asparagus on top of greens. Crack eggs one at a time into boiling water to poach. Remove with slotted spoon while still easy and soft, 3 to 4 minutes. Place eggs on top of asparagus. Season with salt and pepper and serve warm.
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Caring for Dori
All in a Days Work
BY DR. LOUISA ASSEO When we go to our physicians for wellness exams, many of us have blood work taken to screen for medical problems and assess our general health. This way, our physicians can detect problems early, which allows us to address these issues better. The same is true for our furry (and scaly) companions. As a veterinarian, I see the benefit of early detection of diseases and problems to my patients. I have always advocated screening for common problems in my patients, especially as they age. Our pets cannot tell us early in the course of a disease if they are not feeling well. It is only until later that they show us signs of emerging problems. For this reason, screening my patients is very important. I believe that good practices also start at home, and thus, I follow this rule with my own furry and scaly family members annually. This year, I found an unexpected problem in my beloved tabby cat, Dori. Her physical exam showed she was perfectly “healthy.” To my surprise, her blood panel showed a condition called hyperthyroidism. This condition causes weight loss, high blood pressure, heart disease, and kidney disease if left untreated. If treated, cats with hyperthyroidism can live full and healthy lives. Treatment consists of lifelong daily medication to regulate the disease. Alternatively, cats with hyperthyroidism can undergo a curative treatment involving an injection of radioactively labeled iodine, which selectively targets the abnormal thyroid cells and leaves the normal thyroid cells alone. Because of the radiation hazard, cats undergoing this treatment must be quarantined in a hospital equipped to handle this for several days. Once they return home, extra precautions are needed for a few weeks. Those that know my connection to Dori will understand how difficult it was to leave her alone in a strange hospital for days; however, I knew this was the
“Joyful and enthusiastic” is how Kathy Gaughan describes her dog, Jarli, when he is working his nose to find lost people. And why wouldn’t he feel joyful? He gets to be out in nature, chasing scents with his favorite human. But the real excitement for Jarli is what happens after the search, when he is permitted to play his favorite game: fetch the toy! While Jarli’s motivation may be about play, Kathy has more serious reasons for volunteering for this grueling work: “It helps the victim’s family have closure.” She and Jarli are on call 24/7, packed and ready for the time when someone is reported missing. Frequently these victims are lost hikers or people with dementia or autism. Despondent people can also become separated, particularly around the holidays. As soon as she gets a call about a missing person, Kathy begins strategizing her plan for the search. It takes skill
Being on the Other Side of Pet Care
best course of action for her. I wanted her “cured.” So we made the trek to the SAGE Centers for Veterinary Specialty and Emergency Care in Redwood City. I had to be a client. I had to leave my precious kitty. The technician was kind and professional, which helped ease my worries but not my dread of leaving her. She is now home. I am ecstatic to be reunited with my “kitten.” I am pleased with the choice to pursue a curative treatment. Time and again in my career, my own pets have taught me valuable lessons. This experience reinforced the benefit of screening testing. It also reminded me what it feels like to be on the other side of the exam room, to be a client. Having to trust in another to care for my cat as I would do is a good reminder that even if what my team and I do every day is “routine,” it is not routine to my clients and their pets. Keeping your companions happy and healthy takes more than skill and knowledge. It takes a team, compassion, and kindness. Dr. Louisa Asseo, owner of Oasis Veterinary Hospital, can be reached at (925) 954 – 8087, 6635 Alhambra Ave, Suite 100, Martinez, or visit oasisveterinaryhospital. com.
Search and Rescue Pup
and persistence to thoroughly cover an area, regardless of terrain or weather. Kathy and Jarli must stay alert and focused. Using topo maps, GPS, and a compass, searchers often have to navigate through rugged wilderness in harsh conditions. In spite of the difficulties, Kathy and Jarli seem called to this work. They are a team. Kathy sees herself as a strategist and sort of Sherpa for her dog; he has the special gift of scent, and her job is to support him. Both Kathy and Jarli have what is called “drive.” He is driven to follow his remarkable sense of smell, to please his human, and to get his favorite toy. Kathy is motivated by a big-hearted desire to be of service. She knows that even if the missing person isn’t located, the family can find some peace because they were supported by “many strangers and search dogs” at a time when they felt most afraid.
Oasis Veterinary Hospital proudly sponsors the
PET ADOPTION CONNECTION www.ourcommunityfocus.com OURCOMMUNITYFOCUS.COM | APRIL 2018 | 29
SENIORS
Hunger Action Day 2018
Join the Food Bank in Support of Building a Hunger-Free Community
BY CARLY FINKLE, Advocacy Manager at the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano Did you know that 1 in 8 members of our community turn to the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano each month? The Food Bank supports neighbors from all walks of life and in all corners of our community. Emergency food assistance is essential, but it isn’t enough. The Food Bank can’t solve the issue of hunger alone. We need YOU to join us in speaking out against hunger and advocating for policies to help eradicate it. Each year the Food Bank participates in Hunger Action Day, a statewide day of organizing to raise awareness of the issue of hunger and work toward real solutions. We join hundreds of passionate Californians to call on our elected officials to partner with us to end hunger and poverty.
Hunger Action Day is Wednesday, May 16. The Food Bank will rent a bus to Sacramento and fill it with Food Bank staff, volunteers, board members, food assistance recipients, community partners, and concerned neighbors just like you. On a daily basis, the Food Bank provides free nutritious groceries to seniors struggling to get by on fixed incomes, college students working toward their degrees, families trying to keep up with rising rents, and individuals who have lost their housing. We work with community partners, including senior centers, soup kitchens, school pantries, and churches to meet people where they are, but we know we still aren’t reaching everyone in need. That’s why we gather for a rally with anti-hunger advocates on the morning of Hunger Action Day in front of the capitol to hear from community leaders, elected officials,
and food assistance recipients about the urgency of ending hunger. We will finish the day by meeting directly with state elected officials that represent us in Contra Costa County to ask them to use their power to pass anti-hunger policies. Hunger Action Day on Wednesday, May 16, will be a full day of action. We typically leave the Food Bank in Concord at 7am and return by 5pm. In 2016, we brought a crowd of 15, and in 2017, we doubled that to a group of 30.
Could you help us double in size again to reach 60 this year? Mark the date in your calendar and RSVP this month to reserve your seat on the bus and guarantee a free lunch, snacks, and Hunger Action Day T-shirt! Please reach out to Carly Finkle, advocacy manager at the Food Bank, with any questions you may have or to confirm your attendance: cfinkle@ foodbankccs.org or 925-849-8361. See you there!
Pleasant Hill Senior Activities April 9 - Free Eye Screening 10am-1:30pm. Bring your current glasses. Those 55 & over may be eligible to receive FREE eyeglasses. Appointments required! Call (925) 798-8788. Limited appointments available. Sponsored by the Lions Center for the Visually Impaired. April 12 – Senior Scam Workshop 3:30pm. Designed to educate the senior community about scams and their red flags, tips on how to avoid these tactics, and resources to lower chances of becoming a victim. RSVP to secure your spot: (925) 798-8788. Sponsored by Carlton Senior Living. Presented by Better Business Bureau. April 17 - Taste of the Vine 4-6pm. Enjoy a taste of Italy with Italian wines and Italian food! Non-alcoholic beverages available. Sponsored by Carlton Senior Living. Tickets: $10 presale, $15 day of. May 4 - Laugh, Love and Learn 2018 Senior Live Well Forum & Free Vendor Fair 9:30am. A day full of uplifting speakers plus lunch. Come early for the free Ultimate Senior Resource Fair from 8:30am-1pm. Over 50 local vendors with free giveaways! 2018 Featured Speakers: Dick Callahan, The Voice of the Oakland A’s; NY Times best selling author Elizabeth Koehler-Pentacoff; and “The Right To Die Law,” presented by Susie Crandall, PhD. Tickets for speaker portion & lunch: $25 on or before 4/20, $35 after 4/20. Tickets available online, by phone, or at the Senior Center. 233 Gregory Lane, Pleasant Hill 925-798-8788
Martinez Senior Activities AARP Free Tax Preparation - Free tax preparation offered by Tax-Aide’s AARP. For TaxAide sites serving the Martinez/Pacheco area, call (925) 370-8770 or (925) 709-4525. For general information and other side locations call (925) 726-3199. Thursdays – Bingo 1pm. Open for sales at 12pm. $5 per pack. $30 guaranteed minimum prize for 10 regular games. Plus 3 warm up and half time. Special games (prize dependent upon sales). April 8 - Pancake Breakfast 8 -11am. This breakfast is open to the community and includes eggs, sausage, pancakes, orange juice and coffee. The delicious breakfast is $5.00 for adults and $3.00 for children under 10. 2018 Trip Preview: The locations of upcoming trips in June through December of 2018 include: Cache Creek Casino, Empire Mine State Historic Park, Oakland Zoo, Magic Bus Tour SF, Graton Casino, Silver Legacy Italian Festival, Fall Day Half Moon Bay, Colusa Casino Trip, Holiday Treats Trip and Holiday Show @ Sierra Rep. For dates and details visit the center or call (925) 370-8770. 818 Green Street, Martinez 925-370-8770 30 | APRIL 2018 | OURCOMMUNITYFOCUS.COM
Musicians Wanted
Amazing Race May 6
The Diablo Regional Concert Band is seeking musicians for several upcoming concerts. Those who play percussion, trombone, and bass instruments are especially needed. The Diablo Regional Concert Band is an ensemble of thirty volunteer musicians originally formed in 1910 as the Martinez Liberty Band at the Martinez firehouse. Practices are on Thursday evenings at 7pm at the Martinez Junior High School facility on 1600 Court Street in Martinez. Everyone who enjoys playing his or her band instrument is welcome to sign up at the Martinez Adult Education office. Concerts are scheduled in April, May, June, and July. For more information, call Cora Martens at (925) 451-6222.
The Foundation for Pleasant Hill Education (FPHE) invites you to join the 5th Annual Amazing Race of Pleasant Hill on Sunday, May 6, from noon to 3pm, beginning at Magoo’s Grill of Pleasant Hill, 1250 Contra Costa Blvd. Stop by for brunch before the start of the race! Based on the popular TV show, this fun event challenges participants of all ages with interesting clues and activities at various locations throughout Pleasant Hill (activities resemble those on the TV show Minute to Win It). Test your skills with activities suitable for all ages. Registration is $50 per team. Teams can consist of a family or a group of four or less. Learn more and preregister at www.fphe.org. Teams are encouraged to show team spirit with matching outfits. At 4pm all teams meet at Pleasant Hill City Hall, 100 Gregory Lane, to determine the winner. Teams and observers are welcome to sign up for brunch at Magoo’s Grill, 1250 Contra Costa Blvd., Pleasant Hill, 10am noon. Purchase tickets at www.fphe.org. The Amazing Race is co-sponsored by Magoo’s Grill of Pleasant Hill and the City of Pleasant Hill. Proceeds benefit this spring’s FPHE school grant program. Since 2009, FPHE has raised over $250,000 for the eleven Pleasant Hill public schools. To support FPHE, visit www.fphe.org or mail a check to FPHE, P.O. Box 23851, Pleasant Hill, CA 94523. FPHE is a volunteer-led, non-profit 501(c)(3) organization committed to working in partnership with the community to enhance the quality of education and provide enrichment opportunities for students in Pleasant Hill public schools. Questions regarding The Amazing Race can be directed to amazingrace@fphe. org, or visit www.fphe.org for more information.
Relay for Life of Diablo Valley Several area Relay For Life events have merged to form the Diablo Valley Relay For Life. This year’s event will be on July 28-29 at the Pleasant Hill Middle School track. The Diablo Valley Relay communities include Pleasant Hill, Concord, Walnut Creek, Clayton, Lafayette, Orinda, and Moraga. The Martinez Relay will be held separately on the same date. Relay For Life is the signature nationwide fundraising effort for the American Cancer Society. Across the country, many individual relays are merging into regional events to lower overhead and deliver “more money to mission.” Cancer research and cancer prevention education are key components of the ACS mission. The regional relay will also allow business sponsors to put their support behind just one event that covers their entire market area. “We are excited about the upcoming changes, which will bring together the collective energies of our Diablo Valley Relay communities and offer everyone a vibrant event that will be rich in enthusiasm and fellowship,” said one of the Diablo Valley Relay leaders, Ken Housfeld of Pleasant Hill. The relay is held from 9am Saturday to 9am Sunday and is not a run but rather an opportunity for everyone to walk the track at their own speed for as many laps as they wish. They may also participate in awareness-raising activities throughout the event. This is a public event that people of all ages and abilities may attend. Groups of people are invited to form teams now, raise funds in advance, and bring their cancer-fighting energy to the Relay site. For details about the Diablo Valley Relay, go to http://relayforlife.org/diablovalleyca; e-mail relayforlife.dv@yahoo.com, or call Ken Housfeld at 925-944-4898.
It’s Spring . . . Be Happy And keep your bunnies happy at Hillcrest Veterinary Hospital.
Zachary J. Anderson, DVM Terri Lamp, DVM Joseph A. Thibedeau, DVM 2211 Morello Avenue Pleasant Hill, CA 94523 925-676-1909 www.hillcrestvet.com
OURCOMMUNITYFOCUS.COM | APRIL 2018 | 31
Last Straw Competition
Sustainability Competition to Reduce Plastic Straw Usage BY CHLOE DE LANCIE, Crestwood Healing Center Sustainability Coordinator At Crestwood Healing Center, a residential mental health facility, Bay Area Green Business, and Pleasant Hill’s 2016 Green Business of the Year, we have made sustainability a priority for the past three years. Now we would like to help our community do the same and are very excited to announce our first community sustainability competition! In partnership with The Last Plastic Straw, a movement aimed at reducing plastic straw usage worldwide, we are asking local businesses to join us in reducing and, ultimately, eliminating our community’s straw consumption. We’re looking to raise awareness and encourage businesses to join the worldwide The Last Plastic Straw movement, pledging to either only provide straws upon customer request or discontinue the use and purchase of plastic straws altogether. This is important because the use of plastic
straws hurts our health and that of our coinhabitants on this planet. Straws account for approximately 100,000 marine animal deaths annually and are consistently in the top 10 articles of plastic pollution. Fortunately, we all have the power to help, consumers and businesses alike! Participating in our The Last Plastic Straw competition will not only be a way to contribute positively to a healthier community, but it is also good business. In a world with an increasing consumer trend toward sustainability, it is especially important that businesses incorporate a “greener” approach. Studies show that when a business participates in sustainability practices, employee recruitment and retention, employee job satisfaction, and positive opinions about a company and their management, all improve. As a bonus, you save money, too! Interested in making a difference? The competition begins May 1 and
#Ti
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concludes six months later, on October 1. The winning business will be determined by the largest average monthly straw purchase reduction and will receive a plaque and publicity in local newsletters honoring their achievement. If you would like to participate in our competition and join the hundreds of businesses nationwide to reduce plastic straw waste, please let us know as soon as possible! Not a Pleasant
Hill business? No problem, join us! Are you a consumer who would like to support the competition? See what you can do to help at https://thelastplasticstraw. org/volunteer/individual/. Please contact Crestwood Healing Center Sustainability Coordinator Chloe De Lancie with interest and questions. E-mail cdelancie@cbhi.net or call 925-9388050 ext. 14346.
White Pony Express White Pony Express (WPE), a volunteer-powered organization headquartered in Pleasant Hill, is pleased to announce that the California Air Resources Board has given WPE a grant of $115,000 to support its work in reducing greenhouse gasses through its food rescue program. In addition to ending hunger for many thousands of our residents, WPE’s work has reduced greenhouse gases by 11,528 metric tons over a four-year period. “WPE is very grateful for this generous grant,” said Gary Conner, executive director of WPE. “We will use the funds to expand our food rescue operations, which, in turn, will prevent more greenhouse gases from being generated. Each day, WPE’s trucks are sent to supermarkets, restaurants, and farmers’ markets to pick up 5,000 lbs. of fresh produce, milk, and deli meats that would otherwise go to landfill. The food is then distributed the same day, free of charge, to nonprofits that feed the hungry in Contra Costa County. Since its beginning, in 2013, WPE has rescued more than 6 million pounds of surplus food products for those in need. Without WPE’s rescue efforts, this food would be sent to the dump, creating greenhouse gases. Carol Weyland Conner, PhD, spiritual director of Sufism Reoriented, founded WPE in September 2013 when she was troubled that in a county of such abundance, scores of thousands were going hungry while food retailers were throwing out huge quantities of healthy, fresh food. Her idea was to create a food rescue program where this good, surplus food could be picked up directly from food retailers and delivered to local service organizations that serve those in need. Dr. Conner continues to serve as WPE’s advisor. For more information on WPE, visit www.whiteponyexpress.org.
SERVING
Brunch, Lunch and Dinner Karen Mitchoff County Supervisor, District IV #TinaTuesday goes to Washington. Ok, maybe not Washington, but I did get to go to our non-partisan County Board of Supervisors meeting and say a few words about #TinaTuesday. For this week's #TinaTuesday, I had the pleasure of sitting down with long-time chamber member and County Supervisor, Karen Mitchoff. Before I talk about what our County Board of Supervisors does (which is more than I actually knew), let me share with you a little of Karen's background and what lead her to where she is now.
Steve Van Dorn President & CEO, PH Chamber For this week's #TinaTuesday, I thought I would mix it up a bit and tell you all a little about our fearless leader Steve Van Dorn (President & CEO), and what lead him here to the PH Chamber of Commerce. Steve was born and raised in San Diego, California, attended San Diego State University and graduated with a B.S. in Business Management in 1982. Following graduation he spent 3 months in Japan on a paid internship with AIESEC (an International Business Cooperation that creates opportunities...
Lauren Jonas Diablo Ballet For this week's #TinaTuesday, I had the amazing opportunity to sit with Lauren Jonas, Artistic Director and co-founder of Diablo Ballet in Walnut Creek. First, let me give you a little background on Lauren. Lauren started taking ballet when she was just 6 years old. By the time she was a Senior in high school, she was determined to start on her dream of becoming a professional dancer, so she finished high school early and began the journey that brought her to where she is now.
Gerardo & Sandra Wence Wence’s Restaurant For this week's #TinaTuesday I had the pleasure of sitting down with chamber members Sandra and Gerardo Wence from the family-owned and operated restaurant, Wence's. If you've never been then you need to go! No, seriously you do!! They have the most amazing menu with so many choices, it will be hard for you to choose because you'll want it all. Let me start with a little background on Sandra and Gerardo. Sandra and Gerardo moved here from Mexico in 1992 with Gerardo's dream of wanting to someday own a...
To read the the full #TinaTuesday blog posts visit https://www.pleasanthillchamber.com/blog/tinatuesday-3580 32 | APRIL 2018 | OURCOMMUNITYFOCUS.COM
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Read My Mind
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Lincoln in the Bardo BY MICHAEL G. HARRIS, OD George Saunders’ long-awaited first novel, Lincoln In The Bardo, is all the rage. It’s getting all kinds of awards and critical acclaim. But it’s one of the most confounding books I’ve ever read and it’s a challenge to explain and review, but I’ll try my best. First of all, you need to know what “the Bardo” is. In Tibetan tradition, it’s a transitional state between death and rebirth. The book centers on Abraham Lincoln’s beloved son Willie, who actually died of typhoid fever at the age of 11. In this fictional account, Lincoln pays several visits to his son’s grave in the old Oak Hill Cemetery. From here, reality departs and we’re left with Saunders’ imaginings. Interspersing facts and fantasy, Saunders conjures up a strange “chorus of disembodied spirits to describe Lincoln’s visits, while babbling on about their own regrets and misplaced dreams.” Saunders even includes citations as he quotes a motley crew of ghosts through public records and newspapers who bemoan their own lives and deaths. The book is extremely hard to follow as Saunders cuts between his ghosts and the grieving president. I tried to read the book when it first came out last year. In fact, I tried several times and couldn’t get past the first few chapters. It is so disjointed that every page or two I had to go back just to remember which of the ghosts was talking. Saunders admits “People really struggle with the first 30 pages.” Unfortunately, I struggled with the entire book. I even listened to the audio version of the story to no avail. The language is often foul and the characters confusing and interchangeable. Although much of this book has been critically acclaimed, I did not enjoy it and cannot recommend it to anyone other than true literary aficionados. Good thing there are other recent
books to enjoy. Take, for example, astronaut Scott Kelly’s recent book about his life and year in orbit aboard the international space station, Endurance: A Year In Space, A Lifetime Of Discovery. Scott, the twin brother of fellow astronaut Mark Kelly, endured a year in space to help determine how the human body copes with long periods of weightlessness, as would be needed to send a man to Mars. I had the good fortune to hear Scott Kelly speak recently. He is truly an amazing guy. Not a very good student, Kelly admits that as a kid he would rather look out the school window at a squirrel climbing up a tree than listen to his teachers. But something amazing happened to him when he read Tom Wolfe’s 1979 book, The Right Stuff, the story of the original Mercury seven astronauts. This book turned Kelly’s life turned around. He now had a dream and a goal; he wanted to be an astronaut. He joined the Navy ROTC at college, became a Navy pilot, and then became a test pilot before being selected to be an astronaut. The book is inspirational in so many ways. Young people who are struggling in school or finding their way will find the encouragement they need to turn their lives around in Kelly’s story. And anyone interested in space exploration will find this book fascinating. And speaking of exploration, I also recommend Atlas Obscura: An Explorer’s Guide To The World’s Hidden Wonders, by Joshua Foer, Dylan Thuras, and Ella Morton. It’s a “curious and enthralling” guide to over 600 strange, marvelous, and intriguing places around the world. Discover the ultimate travel “bucket list” in this delicious book. You shouldn’t just read this book; you should savor every enchanting page!
Head & Neck Cancer and HPV
BY ARASH creased. HPV is the most common sexually MOHEBATI, MD transmitted infection, with an estimated 14 The American million people infected each year. In nine Cancer Society has out of ten HPV infections, the virus goes designated April “Head away on its own, but in other cases, the inand Neck Cancer fection can linger and lead to genital warts Awareness Month.” and cancer. HPV associated oropharyngeal These tumors occur in the oral cavity cancer has surpassed that of cervical cancer. (tongue, gums, or inside cheek), throat, Vaccines have been developed to larynx (voice box), nose, and sinuses. Hisprevent cervical, vaginal, and vulvar cancers torically, these cancers have been caused and might also prevent head and neck by excessive use of tobacco and alcohol; cancers by preventing an initial infection however, within the last 10 years, a newer with high-risk HPV types. Oral HPV is about risk factor has emerged – the human papiltwo times more common in men than it is in lomavirus (HPV). women, and HPV associated head and neck Head and neck cancers are typically cancers are more common in men. Vaccinasquamous cell carcinomas and account for tion of boys is essential, and the HPV vac3% of cancers in the United States. Sympcines currently on the market are strongly toms can include a lump or sore in the recommended for young women and men mouth that does not heal, a sore throat that in preventing infection and possible cancer. does not go away, difficulty swallowing, In recognition of Oral Head and Neck and a change in voice. Typical treatment inCancer Awareness, we are sponsoring an cludes surgery and radiation, with chemoeducational talk on April 11 at the Walnut therapy in the more advanced stages. Creek Library. To register, please call 925Heavy alcohol and tobacco use (including 677-5041. smokeless tobacco) cause at least 75% of Dr. Arash Mohebati is a board certified head and neck cancers. Some studies indigeneral surgeon who completed additional cate that at the time of diagnosis two-thirds in head and neck onco26th Annual Youthfellowship Talenttraining Show are already in late stage III and IV. by Rotary Club logicof surgery at Memorial Club ofKettering Pleasant Hill Sponsored Pleasant Hill Sloan In the United States, the incidence of Cancer Center. He practices with West Coast head and neck cancers caused by HPV has Surgical Associates in Walnut Creek and can Star Quest celebrates... increased, while head and neck cancers be reached at 925-933-0984. caused by alcohol and tobacco have deSPONSORED CONTENT
Star Quest 2018
Star Quest 2018 26th Annual Youth Talent Show Star Quest 2018
CK A B TO 80’S K CK A B C TO A B S ’ 0 8 TO 80’S Sponsored by Rotary Club of Pleasant Hill
Club of Pleasant Hill
26th Annual Youth Talent Show
by Rotary Club of Pleasant Hill Star QuestSponsored celebrates...
Club of Pleasant Hill
Star Quest celebrates... E
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Do you remember...
Raining Men I’m Walking on Sunshine Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go
Back to the Future Flash Dance Fame Xanadu on Roller Skates
Beat It THEGirls Just Want to Have Fun Do you remember... E TH DVC Performing Arts TheatreBack to the Future Raining Men
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Sat, April Sun, April 20 Golf Club Rd parking lot) I’m28 Walking on (Use Sunshine Flash Dance Fame Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go Xanadu on Roller Skates 7:00pm 2:00pm PleasantHillStarQuest.org Raining Men
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Tickets available I’m at: Walking on Sunshine Flash Dance Fame MORE Beat It $12.00 under Skates 18) in advance Wake MeOffice, Up Before You Go-Go INFO? Xanadu on($5 Roller Rec & Park District Girls Just Want to Have Fun 689 $15.00 ($10 under 18) at door -22 49 Community Center, and PH Police Station
Sat, April 28 7:00pm
Beat It OURCOMMUNITYFOCUS.COM | APRIL 2018 | 33 DVC Performing Theatre Girls Just WantArts to Have Fun Sun, April 20 (Use Golf Club Rd parking lot) PleasantHillStarQuest.org DVC Performing Arts Theatre (Use Golf Club Rd parking lot)
Sat, available April 28 Tickets at: MORE Rec 7:00pm & Park District Office, INFO? PleasantHillStarQuest.org 689 -2249 Community Center, and PH Police Station
2:00pm
Sun, April 20 $12.00 ($5 under 18) in advance 2:00pm $15.00 ($10 under 18) at door
BUSINESS DIRECTORY
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MAKE SOME PLANS
april 3
april 7
april 21
may 5
Pleasant Hill Garden Study Club
Paddle Smart
History Talk and Book Signing
Community Paper Shredding
The Polar Adventures of a Rich American Dame: A Life of Louise Arner Boyd. History talk and book signing with Dr. Joanna Kafarowski, 1-3pm, CoCo History Center, 724 Escobar Street, Martinez. RSVP is requested. Email mkting@cocohistory.org or call (925) 229-1042
Bring your papers to Alhambra HS parking lot, Alhambra and E St., from 9am-12pm. No need to remove paper clips etc. $5 per legal size box. A Martinez Rotary supported event, with proceeds donated to the community.
Monthly meetings. Nola Woods presents “Vector Risk in the Garden” at 7pm. Guests are always welcome and free. PH Community Center, 320 Civic Dr., PH. (925) 323-9314 or www.phgsc.com.
Learn techniques for safe boating in kayaks, canoes, and other paddle activities; risk & hazards; safety measures; how to select the craft for you; life jackets; and various strokes. Kayaking at Antioch Marina and Dow Wetlands follow seminar. Kayak rental fees apply. www.usps.org/localusps/sss-di.
april 3
april 14
april 21
may 5
Valley Stitchers & Fiber Artist Guild
Red Hot Latin Jazz
John Muir Birthday and Earth Day
Bag of Books Sale
Monthly meetings. Visitors are welcome to attend at $5/meeting and encouraged to join at any time. Youngmin Lee presents “Korean textile history and the Art of Bojagi - Korean Wrapping Cloths,” 10am12pm, Faith Lutheran Church, 50 Woodsworth Lane, Pleasant Hill, www.valleystitchersguild.com.
Northgate HS Big Band performs with Grammy award-winning guest percussionist Javier Cabanillas. Doors open at 7pm, music at 8pm. $15 at brownpapertickets.com or $20 at the door. Martinez Campbell Theater, 636 Wart St., Martinez.
Celebrate John Muir’s 180th birthday, Earth Day, National Park Service Centennial, plus the 72nd anniversary of the John Muir Association. Free. John Muir National Historic Site, 4202 Alhambra Ave., Martinez. johnmuirassociation. org.
Friends of the Martinez Library offer thousands of gently-used books and DVDs. Fill a grocery sack with your selections for $5. Money raised supports library programs,11am4pm, Martinez Public Library, 740 Court St.
april 3 & 7
april 14
may 6
Martinez CERT
Walnut Creek History Tour
Fiesta Nueva
Free Emergency Preparedness and Disaster Response training sessions scheduled for four Saturdays, 8am-1:30pm, beginning April 7, or six Tuesdays, beginning April 3, 6 -9:30pm. Go to martinezcert.org to register and for more information.
Enjoy a variety of Latin American inspired appetizers, beverages, and live salsa music while raising funds for The Gardens at The Heather Farm nonprofit programs, 2-5pm. For tickets and more details, visit gardenshf.org or call (925) 947-1678. 21 and over only.
The guided walking tour of downtown Walnut Creek is an easy 90-minute tour on city sidewalks that brings to life the early times of Walnut Creek. Meet at 9am at fountain in front of Il Fornaio, corner of Broadway and Mt. Diablo Blvd.
april 4
april 20, 21 & 22
april 21
may 12
PH Historical Society
An Evening of Live Radio Drama/Comedy
St. Paul’s Concert Series
Golden Gala
Two short drama/comedies with live sound effects. April 20 & 21 at 8pm, April 22 at 2pm. Martinez Campbell Theater, 636 Wart St., Martinez. Tickets $10. www.campbelltheater.com or call 925-350- 9770.
Monthly world-class performances at a donation-based, family-friendly admission price. April performance: Lino Rivera, pianist, “Altered States: Study of Variations,” 7pm, 1924 Trinity Ave., WC. stpaulswc.org.
april 7
april 20 & 21
april 24
may 12
Comedy Night
Lacrosse Yard Sale
Candidates Forum
Meals on Wheels Gala
CoCoComedy.com brings a night of comedy with headliner Jason Resler. Doors open at 7:15pm, showtime at 8pm. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased online at eventbrite. com. Martinez Campbell Theater, 636 Wart St., Martinez.
The College Park Men’s Lacrosse team holds their annual yard sale at 306 Brandon Court, Pleasant Hill, 8am-3pm.
A free public forum for candidates running for Contra Costa County District Attorney at the Lesher Center for the Arts in Walnut Creek, 5:30-7pm. The public will have an opportunity to ask questions of the candidates. Make reservations at http://bit.ly/2EWo7ZU.
Support the life-saving funds provided by the Meals on Wheels and Senior Outreach Services by attending the 50th Anniversary Gala at the Blackhawk Museums, 6-10pm, at 3700 Blackhawk Plaza Circle, Danville. Purchase tickets at www.mowsos.org.
Our next PHHS meeting is at Rodgers Ranch Heritage Center at 6pm. If you want something included on the agenda, please email DanaLynnM@aol.com.
Meals on Wheels and Senior Outreach Services 50th Anniversary Gala at the Blackhawk Museums, Danville. For details and tickets, visit mowsos.org/news-events/gala.
OURCOMMUNITYFOCUS.COM | APRIL 2018 | 35
FAMILY MEMBERSHIPS
$92 a month One time join fee $99 Bring this flyer in and have the join fee waived!
Pleasant Hill YMCA 350 Civic Drive Pleasant Hill 925 687 8900 idfymca.org
MEMBERSHIP INCLUDES: 1. Over 120 free classes per week: Zumba, Yoga, Pilates, Strength Training, Circuit and much more!
2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.
FITNESS FOR THE ENTIRE FAMILY
Stop by for a tour and workout for the first time free!
PURE MUIR Gala a celebration of East Bay open space
Weight Room Cardio Wing Four State of the Art Studios Outdoor Heated Pool Child Watch Outdoor Sports Court
Saturday, April 28th • 5-9 pm
John Muir National Historic Site Martinez, CA
Join Master of Ceremonies Doug McConnell for a celebration of East Bay open space! Enjoy music, gourmet dinner, wine and live auction. Learn more about what’s on the horizon. Purchase tickets at jmlt.org or 925.228.5040
Sponsored by