• APRIL 2013
Delivered to Over 40,000 Homes and Businesses
Bay Area Craft Beer Festival April 20th in Martinez. Photos courtesy Seán Lightholder.
• Craft Beer Festival..........................................page 5 • Martinez City News........................................page 9 • Interview with a Sommelier....................... page 13 • Mono Lake - Mystery and Intrigue........... page 15
• CP’s Cinderella Season.................................... page 17 • College Park Spring Schedules................ pages 18-19 • Spring and Summer Activity........................... page 21 • Wombo Combo................................................. page 31
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Page 2
April 2013
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emnant Flooring services the greater San Francisco Bay area and specializes in the sale and installation* of highly discounted remnant carpets. We are not a typical retail store with display samples. We only warehouse Special Purchase carpet rolls from the manufacturers. As a result, we can provide you savings which are typically well over 50% off standard retail prices. Discontinued Carpets from the Manufacturers Mill Over-Runs or Roll-Ends Special Buys or Manufacturer Imperfections All Rolls in Stock Please search our website by Price, Style, Size, Color or Fiber Type. All of our carpets are inventoried daily. If you don't find visit e s a r the product you're looking for today, check back tomorrow for fo Ple bsite ist e w our new inventory! te l our mple ory. o c a vent
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April 2013
JULIE SAYS
Brain Tests and Collective Nouns
Kit Livingston is a Pleasant Hill resident who, among other things, teaches mental fitness classes for older adults. Kit sent me a note saying they really enjoy a good word challenge. I thought I would pass along a couple of brain games that have been circulating around the Internet for Kit and the rest of you to test your mind power. Even if you have seen these before, they are worth a second look…. If you can read this out loud, you have a strong mind: Can you raed this? I cdnuolt blveiee that I cluod aulacity uesdnatnrd what I was rdanieg. Aocodrnig to rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it dseno’t mtaetr in what oerdr the ltteres in a word are, the olny iproamtnt tihng is that the frsit and last ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can still raed it whotuit a pboerlm. This is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the word as a wlohe. Azanmig, huh? Yaeh and I awlyas tghuhot slpeling was ipmorantt! And if you can read this, you have a strange mind: 7H15 M3554G3 53RV35 70 PR0V3 H0W 0UR M1NDS C4N D0 4M4Z1NG 7H1NG5! 1MPR3551V3 7H1NG5! 1N 7H3 B3G1NN1NG 17 WA5 H4RD, BU7 N0W, 0N 7H15 LIN3 Y0UR M1ND 1S R34D1NG 17 4U70M471C4LLY W17H 0U7 3V3N 7H1NK1NG 4B0U7 17. B3
By Julie Ross PROUD! 0NLY CER741N P30PL3 C4N R3AD 7H15. Could you read them both? Well, that just goes to show the phaonmneal pweor of the huamn mnid. In closing, I did want to pass along a few more collective nouns from the previous month’s “Bloat of Hippos” challenge. Here are some that Kit’s group came up with that are too good not to share: • A gossip of hairdressers • A clipper of bar-
bers • A snip of surgeons •A mess of slobs • An interlocking of jigsaw-puzzlers • A tangle of Christmas lights • An impatience of patients (in any doctor’s office!) • A hope of job applicants • A clutch of purses • An eagerness of students. Thanks, Kit – you obviously work with a clever bunch – a veritable “savvy of seniors!” Send comments to julieakross@comcast.net.
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Joe DiMaggio’s Joltin’ Joe Join Sons of Italy on Saturday, April 27, at the Shell Clubhouse (at Pacheco & Arreba in Martinez) for a polenta and sausage fundraising dinner with dozens of great raffle and door prizes! The event will raise necessary funds to complete the restoration of the twenty-two foot Chris-Craft runabout, Joltin’ Joe, once owned by Joe DiMaggio. Upon completion, the boat will be an historical and visual treat for the Bay Area. Joltin’ Joe was given to DiMaggio in 1949 by grateful New York Yankee fans during Joe DiMaggio Day at the Yankee Stadium. The boat was a state-of-the-art pleasure craft, built of gleaming mahogany and capable of hitting a brisk 33 mph. DiMaggio, born in Martinez on November 25, 1914, made his professional debut October 1, 1932, for The San Francisco Seals. Known as “The Yankee Clipper,” DiMaggio was purchased by the Yankees on November 21, 1934. DiMaggio, best known for a 56 game hitting streak, led the Yankees to nine titles during his thirteen-year career. DiMaggio donated The Joltin’ Joe to the City of Martinez, who turned it into an out-
door waterfront monument to its most famous son. In 2009, the Sons of Italy and the Martinez Carpenters Union Local 152 decided to combine forces to do fundraising and a restoration of the Joltin’ Joe. They hope to display treasured images captured by area residents and fans featuring Joe DiMaggio in or near the delta and waterways. These images are scarce, so the search is on. Through April 20, $30 tickets can be purchased at The White Rabbit Boutique, 529 Main St., the Martinez Marina Harbor office or the Mini Mart at 7 N. Court St. Friendship hour starts at 5:30pm and dinner at 6:30pm. For information or to submit DiMaggio images, visit www.TheJoltinJoe. com or e-mail info@TheJoltinJoe.com.
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Craft Beer Festival On Saturday, April 20, the Bay Area Craft Beer Festival returns to Martinez! From noon until 4pm, the beautiful Martinez Waterfront Park will be taken over by food, beer, and music lovers from across the Bay Area. Come out and sample beer from over 30 of the top microbreweries west of the Mississippi, and rock out to live music from Lumberyard and Petty Theft. Advance tickets are $35 and can be purchased online at www.bayareacraftbeerfestival.com, or at select outlets around the East Bay. Admission includes a commemorative glass, unlimited beer and cider tasting, and live entertainment. Designated driver tickets are available for $2. Tickets and ID are required for entry (all attendees must be 21 years and over.) Hand-crafted beer connoisseurs will have the opportunity to taste limited edition and specialty beers from a vast array of distinctive breweries that include: 21st Amendment Brewery, Ale Industries, Creek Monkey Tap House, Crispin Fox Barrel Cider, Drake’s Brewing, E.J. Phair Brewing Company, Firestone Walker, Her-
etic Brewing Co., Hoppy Brewing Co., Lagunitas, Lost Coast Brewing, Magnolia, Mendocino Brewing Co., Pacific Coast Brewing, Sierra Nevada, Speakeasy, Stone, Strike Brewing Co., Triple Rock, and many more! Free shuttles to and from the festival grounds will be available to and from North Concord BART, Best Western Martinez John Muir Inn, and downtown Martinez. Last shuttle leaves festival grounds at 7pm. We are conveniently located within a short walk of the Martinez Amtrak station as well. The Bay Area Craft Beer Festival is a rain-or-shine event. The Beer Fest is presented by Main Street Martinez, Inc. and benefits local non-profits. For additional information and to purchase tickets, visit www.BayAreaCraftBeerFestival.com. Main Street Martinez is a non-profit group dedicated to sustaining a sense of community through its various events held throughout the year and works to promote downtown small businesses. For more information, please visit www.mainstreetmartinez.org.
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April 2013
Real Estate Update
By Nathan Hitchcock the asking price with 20% down and short to call the numbers official, initial figures, contingencies across the board. Sounds as well as my very recent firsthand experipretty attractive, right? ences, lead me to believe that values have A day and a half later we received increased by at least that much again since the alarming results. In all, 68 offers were January 1, 2013. Don’t look now, but peak received. The winning bid, of an as yet values of 2006 are just around the corner. undisclosed amount, was “significantly over Interestingly enough, appraisal issues asking price” in cash, with a 10-day close are not slowing things down much. Typicaland no contingencies of any sort. It’s pretty ly, in rapidly increasing markets like these, hard for even a “strong” buyer to compete purchase offers for well over asking price with that. What about not-so-strong buyers tend to fall apart when the home doesn’t apwith smaller down payments? Well, I’ll let praise for the offered price. In essence, these you do the math. appraisal issues tend to have a calming effect This exceptionally competitive market on home values, forcing them to increase is resulting in rapidly increasing home pricmoderately over time. es. County wide, median values increased This time around, we have two facaround 25% in 2012. Although it’s a bit soon tors letting price increases run wild. One, appraisers are being very liberal with their valuations, confidently citing a robust and increasing marketplace in their apBy Car Care Council praisal reports. Two, those appraisers have With no end in sight for high gas pric- speed limits. a bountiful supply of all cash and nearly all es, consumers should take control of how • Avoid aggressive driving. Sudden stops cash sales to cite in their reports. Without they drive vehicles in order to get more and starts and rapid acceleration can dethe restraints of an appraisal contingency, miles per gallon. The Car Care Council, crease your vehicle’s miles per gallon. which is typically required with a financed an automotive consumer education group, • Check the condition of the gas cap. Appurchase, most are written well beyond recommends the following ways to drive proximately 17 percent of vehicles on the
California real estate never fails to keep me on my toes. Just when I think I’ve seen it all, I’m thrown a Barry Zito caliber curve ball. Just a few weeks ago, I thought our local market was as hot and as competitive as it was going to get. Consider my opinion changed. I now personally feel the market is as competitive as any period experienced during the boom years. How competitive? Just days ago I worked with a buyer who submitted an offer on a cosmetic fixer home in Martinez. Their prospects looked promising. The offer was for nearly $90,000 over
Drive Smart and Save
smart and save money: • Combine errands in one trip and get good directions before you head out to minimize driving unnecessary miles. • Lighten the load by getting stuff out of the car, including the trunk, with the exception of important emergency items such as a spare tire, flares, and a first-aid kit. Unnecessary items weigh the vehicle down, causing a decrease in gas mileage. • Stay within the speed limit and use cruise control when appropriate. Gas mileage usually decreases over 60 miles per hour (mph). Always observe posted
road have loose, damaged or missing gas caps, causing 147 million gallons of gas to vaporize every year. • To avoid wasting gas, don’t idle your vehicle when waiting. Go inside instead of sitting in long lines at drive-through windows. “We can’t control the price of gas, but we can control how we drive our vehicles and how much gas we use,” said Rich White, executive director, Car Care Council. For more information visit: www. nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mercury/carcareguide/
Call M-F 8am-5pm or scan the QR code below for an appointment
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what the comparable sales in the area would dictate as sensible, thus setting the harried pace of the market. A negative effect of this competitive market is rapidly plunging buyer morale. I never could have imagined a time when buyers with 20% down payments and the courage to write nearly six figures over list price would be in a weak negotiating position. So what’s a buyer to do? In short, either be patient or be aggressive. Anything in between is a futile effort. If you don’t have the financial means to be aggressive, stepping back and watching closely from the sidelines might not be such a bad idea. Or, if sitting it out as a spectator is not your nature, for your sanity’s sake, be patient while you write your offers and don’t get too emotionally involved in the outcome. Whatever your approach, eventually, I promise you, the cash buyers will dry up, inventory will increase, and the market will calm down. It always has, and it always will. Nathan Hitchcock can be reached at nathan@hitchcockrealty.com or (925) 8251100.
WE ARE NOT #1... AND WE ARE PROUD OF IT. Our goal is not to sell the most homes, it's to get YOU the most for YOUR home. That comes with quality, not quantity. Call or click today and experience the difference for yourself.
925.825.1100 • www.hitchcockrealty.com
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April 2013
Page 7
PLEASANT HILL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE Please verify schedule at www.pleasanthillchamber.com • 925-687-0700
4/5 – Ambassador Meeting – 8-9am. Pleasant Hill City Hall. 4/9 & 23 – 680 Breakfast Club – Tuesdays, 8:15–10am. Networking. For more information, contact Tracy Tamura: tracy@ tamurainsurance.com or call 925-639-8889. 4/11 & 25 – 680 Breakfast Club – Thursdays, 8:15–10am. Networking. For more information, contact Julie McCoy: Julie@ JulieMcCoy.com or call 925-980-8095. 4/17 – Social Media Workshop – 8-10am. Pleasant Hill City Hall Community Rm. To sign up, e-mail: megan@hoganmarketingandmedia.com.
4/23 - Ribbon Cutting & Open House – 4:30-6pm at Molly’s Caffe A’more, 6710 Alhambra #A, Martinez. 4/29 - Green Committee Meeting – 4-5pm. Back Forty Texas BBQ, 100 Coggins Drive, Pleasant Hill. 4/29 - Governmental Affairs Committee Meeting – 5:30–7pm. Back Forty Texas BBQ, 100 Coggins Drive, Pleasant Hill. CALENDAR SPONSORED BY
4/17 - Business Mixer – 5-7pm. Hosted by Sweet Tomatoes, 40 Crescent Dr., Pleasant Hill. RSVP to ann@pleasanthillchamber.com. 4/18 - Board of Directors Meeting – 7:459am. Pleasant Hill City Hall, Community Room.
MARTINEZ CHAMBER OF COMMERCE Please verify schedule at www.martinezchamber.com • 925-228-2345
For More Information Regarding Ambassador Meeting - If interested in attending, contact (925) 228-2345 or email info@martinezchamber.com. 4/11 – Chamber Mixer - Thursday, 5:30pm-7:30pm. Rankin Aquatic Center, 100 Buckley Street, Martinez. Great networking, food, fun, raffle prizes (bring a raffle prize & have your business announced!)
Since 1921
Keeping the Tradition
4/13 – Citizen of the Year Awards Dinner - Saturday, 6-9pm at the Martinez Event Center, 524 Main St., Martinez. We will be honoring citizens from the community for their contributions to the betterment of Martinez. For dinner tickets and more infor-
mation call the Chamber at 925-228-2345. 4/18 – Educational Series - LinkedIn 2013 - What’s New and What Matters to You, Presented by Robin Fox from 121:30pm. Doors open at 11:30. New Location: MUSD office boardroom, 921 Susana St., Martinez. FREE to Chamber Members, Non-Members, $20. Non-Members who join the Chamber will get $10 credited towards their membership. Lunch provided. RSVP required by 4/15 to the Chamber. Call or email: info@martinezchamber.com. 4/20 – Earth Day Celebration - 10am4pm at John Muir National Historical Site, 4202 Alhambra Ave, Martinez.
Ribbon Cutting
Martinez Furniture Co. Sofas and More
Connolly & Taylor Funeral Directors 925-228-4700
Tribute Videos Personalized Printing Memorial Websites 4000 Alhambra Ave.
Martinez, CA 94553
Photo by Richard Cash
Martinez Furniture Co. Sofas and More is a small business with good old fashioned values while being a complete furniture store that sells sofas, sectionals, tables, rugs, bedroom sets, mattresses, throw pillows, ottomans, lamps and wall art. Owners Bill Jordan and Kate James combine their talents and experience in real estate and high end retail management to provide quality products for the residents of Martinez and the surrounding cities. Along with Ashley Furniture, they offer a custom line named Jonathan Louis, known as a Macy’s product. They offer free local delivery and will pick up your old sofa or mattress too! Designers and homeowners are welcome at almost wholesale prices! Visit their showroom at 742 Arnold Drive, Ste. B, Martinez, http://www.martinezfurniture.com or call at 925-370-7636.
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Page 8
PLEASANT HILL CITY BUZZ
April 2013
Mayor’s Message
Michael G. Harris, OD, Mayor, City of Pleasant Hill The Foundation For Pleasant Hill Education “The Little Foundation That Could!” That certainly describes the Foundation for Pleasant Hill Education (FPHE). From its humble beginning in 2007 and the creativity of a few enterprising and hard-working parents, the Foundation for Pleasant Hill Education has grown into one of our city’s finest organizations. FPHE is now a thriving foundation that generates tens of thousands of
dollars annually to support Pleasant Hill schools and the students they serve. The FPHE’s mission is simple: The Foundation for Pleasant Hill Education shall work in partnership with our local community to enhance the quality of education and provide enrichment opportunities for students in Pleasant Hill public schools. And that’s exactly what they’ve done! Their mission was one of my inspirations for starting the Pleasant Hill Education Initiative. Along with the city’s Education Commission, FPHE has brought a new awareness to our local schools and how we as a community can
City News
Award of Appreciation
At the Pleasant Hill City Council meeting on March 4, an Award of Appreciation was given to Tim Flaherty in recognition of his service on the Pleasant Hill Planning Commission from 2010 to 2012 and on the Civic Action Commission from 2001 to 2012.
Buskirk Widening
A construction contract for the Buskirk Avenue Widening Phase II Improvements Project No. 09-12 was awarded to Ghilotti Brothers, Inc. The city engineer determined that Ghilotti Bros., Inc. was the lowest responsive and responsible bidder. The Buskirk Avenue Widening project will extend and realign the roadway south of the existing Crossroads Shopping Center intersection. Some key design features include: realignment of Buskirk Avenue with a new traffic signal at the Buskirk Avenue/ Clarie Drive intersection; a new traffic signal at the new Buskirk Avenue/Contra Costa Center southwesterly driveway access intersection; a new free sweeping 90 degree roadway curve and traffic island calming feature at the eastern section of Hookston Road north to the new Buskirk Avenue/Clarie Drive intersection; drainage improvements; and new pedestrian and bike facilities. These roadway improvements will provide access and accommodate the upcoming and future development of the Crossroads Shopping Center. The project will be paid in part by the Contra Costa Transportation Authority Measure J (MJ) Funds.
CAC Openings Remain
Two openings remain on the Civic Action Commission (CAC). The Commission provides recommendations to the city council on any and all subjects that improve the overall quality of community life. The commission organizes the Sunset by the Lake Summer Concert Series at City Hall. The concerts are held every other Sunday from 6:00pm to 8:00pm, beginning the Sunday of Memorial Day weekend. The CAC also organizes Community Service Day, normally held on the third Saturday in September. Community Service Day is a citywide event involving hundreds of community volunteers who work on city clean up and other projects within the community. CAC Chair Sheila Cotruvo has been on the commission since 2008 and said, “Being a member of the Civic Action Commission has been a very rewarding experience as it enables all of us to contribute in a meaningful way to the Pleasant Hill community through events such as Community Service Day, Summer Concert Series, and many other special events and programs undertaken by this fantastic commission. What I love is working with people who really care about our community and the families that live here!”
Joint Meeting
A joint meeting of the Pleasant Hill City Council and the Mt. Diablo Unified School District Board of Trustees will take place on April 15 at 6pm prior to the regular City Council meeting at 7:30pm (see article on page 9 for more information on this meeting).
make them better. Started five years ago by members of our Education Commission and concerned parents, this volunteer effort has grown to an organization of over 1600 members. Since its formal creation in 2008, the foundation has raised some $150,000 for local schools. Every public school serving Pleasant Hill students has benefited from their grant program. The grants have been used to improve technology, provide books, organize workshops, and help music programs, to name a few. The foundation and its efforts are certainly appreciated by our teachers and principals. In addition, they have enriched community spirit. One longterm donor commented, “It is fabulous to live in a community which is able to come together in support of our schools.” The foundation raises money primarily through its annual campaign. It also raises money and increases community awareness of education by putting on some really fun events, like an annual spelling bee, Dine Out for Education, restaurant walks, and A Night of Improv. Like any good organization, the foundation is not resting on its laurels. This year’s annual campaign hopes to raise $60,000 for ours schools and our kids. If you haven’t already donated, or would like to donate again, please visit their website at fphe.org and click on the “Donate Now” link. That’s what hundreds of Pleasant Hill households have already done. Please join them in supporting this worthwhile endeavor.
The hard-working board of directors and other dedicated supporters are developing additional programs to benefit our students. Plans for the future include more support for vital “STEM” education. Our country is far behind others in training our students in science, technology, engineering, and math, skills necessary for success in the 21st century. In celebration of their success and ongoing efforts to support Pleasant Hill schools, the foundation will be holding a 5th anniversary party the evening of Saturday, April 20. This event is both a fundraiser and dance party and will feature the rock ‘n’ roll music of FOG 5. Should be lots of fun! The Foundation’s 2nd annual Amazing Race of Pleasant Hill will be held on Sunday, April 28. You can get more information about both events and tickets at the Foundation’s website. As mayor, I’m pleased to say that the Foundation and its leaders have partnered with the Pleasant Hill Education Initiative, the community’s multi-year volunteer effort to enhance educational opportunities for Pleasant Hill students. As a resident, I have long supported the Foundation’s efforts on behalf of our students. Please join me in congratulating the Foundation for Pleasant Hill Education on the occasion of their 5th anniversary. Our city, our schools, and our kids have benefited greatly from their dedication and passion for education. FPHE truly is “THE LITTLE FOUNDATION THAT COULD!”
City Calendar of Events Architectural Review Commission April 4, 18 City Hall, 100 Gregory Lane Small Community Room, 5pm Contact: 671-5209
Education Commission April 24 City Hall, 100 Gregory Lane Small Community Room, 7pm Contact: 671-5229
City Council April 1, 15 City Hall, 100 Gregory Lane Council Chambers, 7:30pm Contact: 671-5229
Planning Commission April 9, 23 City Hall, 100 Gregory Lane Council Chambers, 7:30pm Contact: 671-5209
Civic Action Commission April 3 City Hall, 100 Gregory Lane Small Community Room, 6:30pm Contact: 671-5229
For Confirmation Visit: www.ci.pleasant-hill.ca.us
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April 2013
Page 9
Mayor’s Message
MARTINEZ CITY BUZZ
Rob Schroder, Mayor of Martinez
Have you ever waited for a bus not knowing if it would arrive on time, was just running late or was going to arrive at all? Well now Photo by Stahlberg you don’t have to wonder. If you have a smart phone, tablet or laptop, you can get real time information instantly through County Connection’s new Bus Tracker system. This system will tell you where every bus in the system is and when it will arrive at any given bus stop. You can customize it to update any particular route(s) and bus stop(s). Bus Tracker has been installed on all County Connection’s fixed route buses, and the software uses GPS location data to predict arrival times. Buses transmit their location every thirty seconds via the Sprint network enabling Bus Tracker to predict arrival times and make bus location information available
to the public on the web. All you need is access to the Internet to see where buses are on-route and when the next bus is predicted to be at your stop. The map view uses the familiar Google map as a base to show buses progressing along the transit routes. Riders can view the upcoming bus arrival times by selecting any bus stop in the system. This system is particularly helpful in a suburban area such as Central Contra Costa, where the bus does not arrive as frequently as in urban areas. It also allows County Connection customer service agents to see where the buses are and what the predicted time of arrival is so they can communicate that information to callers without Internet access. To use Bus Tracker, go to www.ccta. org or www.countyconnection.com and click the Bus Tracker button. You can browse estimated arrival times by route or bus stop, or see a map of selected routes and location of all buses on that
City Calendar of Events City Council Meeting April 3, 17 7-11pm Contact: 925-372-3500
Planning Commission Meeting April 9, 23 7-11pm Contact: 925-372-3500
Design Review Meeting April 10, 24 3-5pm Contact: 925-372-3500
Zoning Administrator Meeting April 3, 17 3-5pm Contact: 925-372-3500
Park, Recreation, Marina & Cultural Commission Check City Website for Date 7-11pm Contact: 925-372-3500
All City Meetings at City Hall, 525 Henrietta Street, Unless Otherwise Indicated. For Confirmation Visit: www.cityofmartinez.org
It’s a Sellers and Buyers Market! You need a Professional to get the best price for your home! You need a Professional to navigate your purchase in this market! I’m here for you and your Pets!
Suzanne Looker ‘Your Pet Friendly Realtor’
925.917.9070 suzanne.looker@pacunion.com DRE# 01440575
route. If you are a regular passenger of a specific route, it is best to personalize your Bus Tracker page for your specific needs. You can also set it up to receive alerts via text or email messages in case of accidents or other important information on your route.
If you need help navigating Bus Tracker or have any other questions about County Connection, please call customer services at 925-676-7500. PS: I have been a member of the CCCTA Board of Directors, representing Martinez, for 14 years.
City News
Community Groups Funding Program
The City of Martinez supports local non-profit organizations that serve the Martinez community. In 2007, the Martinez City Council adopted a “Community Groups Funding Program” and is now accepting applications from community organizations for the upcoming fiscal year, which starts July 1, 2013. Application forms and rules are available on the city website and at the city clerk’s office at 525 Henrietta Street. Please note that completed and signed applications for the 2013-14 fiscal year must to be submitted by Monday, April 15 to the city clerk’s office, or scanned and sent via email to mcabral@cityofmartinez.org. Applications will be reviewed by city staff, considered by the budget subcommittee and forwarded with recommendations to the city council. For the past two years, a total of $7,500 has been approved to support this program. Last year, a total of eleven local organizations were approved to receive community grants.
MDUSD School Board Member Seeking Meetings with City Councils
At the March 6 city council meeting, Mayor Schroder stated that Cheryl Hanson, president of the Mt. Diablo School Board of Trustees, is seeking a joint meeting of the school board and the city council to discuss concerns and establish a better relationship. Hanson has been reaching out to every city council in her district with the hope that these meetings take place before the end of the school year and with the eventual goal of meeting once a year to discuss items of interest. Hidden Valley Elementary is the one school in Martinez that is a part of the MDUSD. Hanson told the Community Focus she is scheduling these meetings because, “As a board member, I have yet to meet a city official, parent, or community member who is not deeply committed to the quality of their neighborhood schools and school district. All of them want their schools and students to be successful, and all of them want to be proud of their district. They are eager to lend their support and increase communication and collaboration. My goal is to help build our interrelationship and find ways to welcome their participation.” Hanson believes the individual school and school district can’t function effectively in isolation. Both entities need each other for the common purpose of assuring the success of the community of students in the school district. She explained, “My main objective is to strengthen partnerships with our cities and communities to support our students and expand their educational opportunities, to create a welcoming attitude and better customer service, and to increase pride in our school district.” She asked that each city council come up with 3-4 items for discussion at the upcoming meeting. Although the response to having these meetings has been positive, when asked what she has heard from city councils so far, she said, “Two of the biggest concerns I have heard is that we need to improve the perception of Mt. Diablo USD as a preferred place to live, work, and educate children and to improve district responsiveness and outreach to parents and community members.” There was a consensus among the Martinez City Council members to move forward with this meeting, to be held at a later date at Hidden Valley Elementary School.
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April 2013
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April 2013
Read My Mind © Book Reviews by Michael G. Harris, OD
Winston Churchill I’m a big history buff, especially the period around World War II. No single individual played a more prominent role during that period than Sir Winston Churchill. In my eyes, and those of countless historians, Churchill was the greatest hero of the 20th century. Many believe Churchill, by his sheer will, saved Great Britain and the rest of the world from the tyranny of Nazi Germany. He galvanized the British people through his riveting speeches and his perseverance. The range of his achievements is truly remarkable. Churchill spent 55 years of his 90-year life in public service. He published almost 10 million words. His speeches in Parliament and elsewhere are considered classics on how to inspire and influence people. As if that weren’t enough, he was a highly acclaimed artist and a man with a keen sense of humor. The latest book about his life, The Last Lion: Winston Spencer Churchill: Defender of the Realm, 1940–1965, is
the third and final volume of William Manchester’s comprehensive biography of Churchill. Author Paul Reid finished writing the book after Manchester’s death. It covers the last quarter-century of Churchill’s life in unbelievable detail. Thoroughly referenced with hundreds of source notes, it is a monumental piece of work for the most diligent Churchill aficionados. However, it’s over 1200 pages long. This tome is even more challenging to read since the print size seems to be that used in the New York City phone book! Rather than spending hours trying to digest this volume, I recommend Paul Johnson’s biography: Churchill instead. At 181 pages, it provides refreshing insights into this incredible leader. It traces his life from early childhood until his death, including his numerous overseas adventures and near brushes with death. It describes his triumphs and his defeats as a cabinet minister and Prime Minister. Most importantly, it portrays a truly cou-
rageous leader who always aimed high, valued hard work, never let mistakes and criticism get him down, and never held grudges. And he did all this with great joy and goodwill. What a role model for today’s leaders! Churchill’s astonishing insight is also revealed in two other recent bestsellers. Both are spellbinding accounts of the battle between the West and the Soviet Union to determine the fate of post-war Europe. Michael Dobbs’ Six Months in 1945: From World War to Cold War chronicles the period between February and August 1945, six months that changed the world dramatically. During these 6 months, President Franklin D. Roosevelt died, atomic bombs were dropped on Japan, World War II ended, and the Big Three (USA, Great Britain, and the Soviet Union) shaped post-war Europe. It was during this period that Churchill predicted the great rift between East and West and urged the USA not to trust the Soviets. Here again we
see Churchill’s genius in understanding world events and world leaders. On March 5, 1946, in the small town of Fulton, Missouri, Churchill declared, “an iron curtain has descended across the (European) continent.” Anne Applebaum’s book Iron Curtain: The Crushing of Eastern Europe, 1944-1956 tells in gruesome detail how the Soviet Union used bullying and murder to demolish democratic governments and install communist dictatorships throughout Eastern Europe. These two books recount the events and individuals who shaped the world in the latter half of the 20th century and beyond. Winston Churchill stands out as the only leader who accurately predicted the devastating events leading to the prolonged Cold War and the misery suffered by millions of Eastern Europeans under communism. One wonders what would have happened if other Western leaders had listened to Churchill and taken the advice of this sage and brilliant leader.
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Behind the Scenes with La Sommelierre By Alison Clary Our “Pair Up” columnist Maria Terry is always happy to share her experience and knowledge of wine. Maria pursued her interest in wine in earnest after her two daughters started growing up. As soon as she started courses at Las Positas College, she was hooked and was the first student to graduate with an associate’s degree in enology. What was the attraction? Maria enthused, “There is the biology of the vines, the chemistry of the production, the history and sociology of the cultures who produce it, the puzzling nature of pairing it with food, and the hedonistic pleasure of drinking it.” I asked Maria if the old rules applied: “Serve white wine with fish and red wine with meat.” To my relief, she answered, “The new rules are no rules. If it tastes good to you, drink it. That said, there are simple guidelines for getting started and creating successful pairings. Match the weight of the food to the weight of the wine. If you have
a heavy dish, you need a bold wine. Lighter dishes shine when they are not overpowered. From there, it is just fine tuning.” That made sense, but I thought it was clever to ask why people think red wines are superior to white wines. Maria drolly said, “Because they cost more.” She then explained, “Actually, red wines take longer to make and generally involve expensive barrel aging. They also have longer shelf lives, which allows for collecting, and collecting drives the price up for anything. The perceived value of red wine is higher than that of white because of the added complexity imparted by the flavors from the skin and barrel.” For clarification I asked Maria if age was the main difference between cheap wine and expensive wine. She emphasized “wine value is definitely no longer dependent on age. Historically, aged red wine had higher value because they needed time in the bottle to tame their high tannin content. But modern wine-
making techniques have responded to a consumer market that demands wine drinkability at an early age. Micro-oxidation is just one technique employed to reduce the level of tannin in red wines. Wines no longer need to be old to have soft tannins. Free market forces determine the price of a wine.” So it does come down to supply and demand. After moving from the Midwest, I developed a preference for California wine over, say, French wines. Here was my opportunity to ask a certified sommelier the difference between new world and old world wines. Maria explained that “as a general rule, new world wines are softer and more fruit forward and old world wines are higher in acid and earthier, likely because old world growing regions tend to be cooler and new world regions are warmer. Old world wines often utilize more traditional winemaking techniques (such as using native yeasts), and new world areas are more likely to try new techniques (such
as using modern yeasts).” Maria stated that lines are becoming more blurred as temperatures change and new ideas develop. I was interested in knowing what she thought of the new trends in wine from areas such as Australia. “The quality of wine from the entire world is growing by leaps and bounds. As new viticulture and winemaking techniques are adopted, better quality wines are created. Additionally, financial markets reward producers who create uniquely delicious products that are made in small quantities and find high demand.” What is the best part of Maria’s job? “Chatting with people who are enthusiastic about wine and enjoying it responsibly. Wine is fun.” I could have interviewed Maria for hours, but would have to be content for now to read her monthly column and take her friendly advice to “Go on, pair up!” Learn more about Maria Terry by visiting her website at www.LaSommelierre.com.
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California 4-H Celebrates100 Years
By Anthony Cannon and cooking;” 4-H has a vast array of In 2013, 4-H members across the state are celebrating the California 4-H projects including robotics, rocketry, veterinary science, meat judging, and Centennial by using their head, heart, consumer awareness. The largest club hands and health to create positive in the county is Lamorinda 4-H, with impacts in their communities, just as over one hundred youth involved in 4-H members have done for the past activities ranging from beef to cake 100 years. decorating. Members from Lamorinda The University of California 4-H 4-H are youth from Martinez, Orinda, Development Program is part of the Moraga, Lafayette and Pleasant Hill. Cooperative Extension system, with offices in every California county. The statewide 4-H program is powered by 17,000 local volunteers who receive training and support from professional staff in best practices for youth development. It is estimated there are one million 4-H alumni in California today who are industry leaders in agriculture, government, education and technology as well as philanthropic and engaged members of the community. Contra Costa County has eight community clubs with over five hundred active youth members. Our members are active in all levels, from local community activities to a youth who is a junior board member of the Mr. Crab (Anthony Cannon) and long time 4-H California Pork Producers. Long gone supporter Mr. Mangini at the Contra Costa 4-H are the days of “4-H is not all cows crab feed.
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Diablo FC offers players: All U15-U18 tryouts at Boatwright Fields, Concord • Unparalleled coaching staff with US
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Age Matrix
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4-H members proudly show the chickens they raised. Photo Lamorinda 4-H club photographers.
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April 2013
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Page 15
Historic and Beautiful 395 - A Town-by-Town Series Story and Photo by Christopher Vardas
Part 3 Mono Lake – Lake of Mystery and Intrigue After you rejoin highway 395 from Bodie, head toward Lee Vining to begin the steady climb a few miles to the highest pass, Conway Summit (8138 feet). At the summit, you will come upon Virginia Lakes Road which, if you crave tall trees and tall mountain peaks, climbs westward quickly up into the Inyo National Forest, past ranch land, pines and aspen. The road pretty much ends at the Virginia Lakes Resort and nearby campground. The resort sits next to a stunning lake view, serves food, and has a bear-proof entry door -- a trifecta of good entertainment. A haven for fishermen and hikers, the area is home to a complex of lakes and magnificent vistas of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Hwy 395 crests at its highest point at Conway Summit. Stop at the View Point to pause for a few minutes and grasp the magnitude of the scene. Tall peaks on the right rise up out of the desert like a New York skyline and descend to the left in a menagerie of basalt flows, craters, water and, if the sky is clear, a 100 mile view east to Nevada and south toward Mammoth Lakes. You are standing on a massive escarpment (land uplifted along a fault line). Below you, the highway meanders down
to a thin line that skirts both the edge of the mountains and the expansive lake. Just north of town there are two worthy stops: 1) the Mono Lake County Park with a near-level boardwalk through tall marsh grass and a close-up view of the “tufts” common around the lake’s edge, and 2) the new, modern visitor center, where you can stop to collect your senses, obtain valuable information about the lake and surrounding area, get a drink of water and peruse the exhibits and gift store for hiking maps, walking tours and information about the chemical processes that result in the eerie water and land formations (tufts) that surround much of the lake. The town of Lee Vining has a few motels, eateries, a small grocery, a gas station, and fishing and camping outfitters. There are a number of good campgrounds along Hwy 120 west up the Tioga Pass Rd. Take a well-deserved lunch break at Nicely’s just down from the must-stop-and-see Mono Lake Committee headquarters or head south to the Hwy 120 junction west to the Tioga Gas Mart and Whoa Nellie Deli. For many decades, Los Angeles has been diverting many of the water sources feeding the lake resulting in a dramatic drop in water level, increased salin-
ity and starvation of water sources serving vegetation and bird life in the region. A grass-roots organization called the Mono Lake Committee has used legal means and public support to help slow that effort by negotiating a devil’s compromise to help restore habitat and water sources before permanent and irreversible damage is done to the lake. Though the lake is slowly regaining fresh water, the battle to restore all water sources continues. Do stop by the Mono Lake Committee office/store front for further information. They have a great store full of art, books and exhibits. It is a worthy organization doing great work. The land surrounding Mono Lake is some of the most volcanically active on the continent. The best access to closely view the lake’s “tufts” is from an access point on the south side. Drive five miles south of Lee Vining on Hwy 395 to Hwy 120 East and then back toward the lake (there is good signage along the way). Tufts (tufa) are formed as the result of simple chemical processes involving limestone and evaporation of highly saline/alkaline water. If time only allows one stop, leave Hwy 120 East onto the easily driven dirt toward the lake and veer left to enjoy a great walking trail and informational signage to help you better understand the
processes involved. This is also the starting point for many of the ranger-led information walks conducted by the visitor center and Mono Lake Committee volunteers. Along the road on Hwy 120 East going toward the lake is a dirt road leading to Panum Crater. Beware, the road and hiking require good shoes on both your car and your feet and should be taken slowly. The road, like the trail, is loose gravel, dirt and sand. The reward is a great panorama of the surrounding landscape and, optionally, a chance to walk inside a small volcanic crater. In any desert hike such as this, bring lots of water, a widebrimmed hat, long-sleeved shirt, neckerchief (it gets windy in the afternoon) and sunscreen. Allow two-three hours to make this side trip. In his book Roughing It, Mark Twain declared the region “lifeless, treeless, hideous desert... the loneliest place on earth.” I hope you will see that the region teems with life. Because water is scarce, the plants are spaced further apart, the creatures are smaller, and life in general is more conservative to help assure it’s existence. Like most desert locations, you must get up-close and personal to appreciate it. View more of Christopher’s photos at www.VardasPhotography.com.
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Page 16
HOME TEAM
St. Catherine Wins Division
The St. Catherine’s CYO 8th grade boys national division basketball team battled it out on the court against a tough and talented St. Bonaventure team from Concord to win the CYO Tournament of Champions on Saturday, March 9, at Heritage High School in Brentwood. St. Catherine’s overcame a double-digit deficit in regulation play only to have St. Bonaventure tie it up on a buzzer beater. The game went into triple overtime and ended in sudden death on cool-headed consecutive free throws by Adan Cardenas. The scrappy St. Catherine’s group, made up of boys from four different middle schools, has gelled as a solid team; they’ve gained knowledge and have upped their level of play under coach Earl Goselin over the past three seasons. These 13 and 14 year-olds capped their CYO basketball careers in record style, going undefeated in league play and throughout playoffs, 15-0 for the season.
April 2013
Season Ticket By Chuck Nan Rebounding the basketball on both the ofAlhambra JV Girls Enjoy Sucfensive and defensive ends of the court was cessful Season, 9-3 in DFAL key to Alhambra’s success. With their solid 46-36 win over Campolindo on February 14, the Alhambra In addition to Hammer, no less than four other players notched 70-or-more junior varsity girls’ team finished the 2012boards. They included: Veronica Akolo 13 season in fine fashion. The junior Lady (136), Sam Whitworth (84), Cara DimercuBulldogs sported a notable 9-3 record in rio (72) and Bailey Surges (72). the always rugged DFAL, and 21-5 overall. Laurel Green led the team in 3-point The team was coached by Phil Raines and shooting accuracy with 33%. Ahmiya assisted by Kevin O’Leary. Sophomore Grace Perkins was selected Tyehimba was top from 2-point range with 47%. Alejandra Nejara was injured as the team’s MVP for the season as she led the club with 405 points (18.4 per game). In mid-season and missed much of the league campaign, but returned to score 15 points in addition, she was tops in assists and steals the final two games. despite missing three games due to injury. Given some lean years recently, the Freshman Lexi Hammer provided strong girls’ basketball program at Alhambra has scoring support (second with 183 points) a real sense of optimism in the coming and led the team in rebounding with 199. seasons. Many of these student athletes The statistical breakdown for the will be playing at the varsity level next year. Dogs’ season distinctly shows that their Congratulations! strength was in the paint, under the basket.
L to R: Thomas Peon del Valle (Martinez Jr. High); Jason Melgoza (Pinole Jr. High); Matthew Peon del Valle (Martinez Jr. High); Adan Cardenas (St. Catherine’s); Coach Earl Goselin; Oliver Armand, Anthony Goselin, Ben Coburn, Noah Hurley (all of Valley View Middle); and Leijan Legaspi (St. Catherine’s).
Top in Tournament
Congratulations to College Park mens volleyball program for taking first place in the UC Davis High School Volleyball tournament Saturday March 2. CP beat teams from San Francisco, Watsonville and Chico to make the finals where they faced St. Ignatius for the final victory.
Top Row (LtoR): Head Coach Phil Raines, Carlee Mercure, Lexi Hammer, Veronica Akolo, Sam Whitworth, Hannah Cole and Assistant Coach Kevin O’Leary. Middle Row: Ahmiya Tyehimba, Sinead Wiley, Cara Dimercurio, Bailey Surges, Paris Arditti and Laurel Green. Front Row: Brianna Rios, Grace Perkins and Alejandra Nejera.
Rams Win Championship
Pleasant Hill Middle School’s 8th grade basketball team won the Bay Area middle schools’ consolation championship. They competed against fifteen other schools, losing only one out of five games by just 3 points. Nick Lombardi was awarded All Tournament Player.
Top L to R: Coach Johnnie Tran (CP ‘06), Coach Peter Manguit, Justin Stokes, Matt Hutchison, Devin Humm, Steven Daily, Kevin Fortney, Nick Horton, Coach Steve Drevno (CP ‘07), and Coach Nick Kalustian (CP ‘08). Bottom row LtoR: Tim Bayaraa, Noah Fisher, Alex Kalustian, Nelson Fisher, Charles Liu. (Not pictured: Ben Tejada, Coach Kyle Willhite (CP ‘09) and Dipen Patel (CP ‘12).
Pictured L to R: Ian MacIver, Nick Lombardi, Luke Martinelli, Casey Bassler, John Fornbacher, DJ McInnis, Sean Rigley, Thomas Siebel and Will Knotz.
April 2013
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Page 17
Cinderella Season for CP Varsity Boys Basketball By Brad Jenson Congratulations to the College Park Boys Varsity Basketball Team! With a thrilling 93-90 win in overtime over the Dublin High Gaels, the Falcons are NorCal D2 Champions and advance to the State Championship game. Captain, point guard and 2012 league MVP Mikey Eggleton, and junior guard Sebastian Flores were the leading scorers with 22 and 23 points, followed by AJ Newell, 16, and Joe DeMers, 15. Senior guard Peter Schoemann drained a deep three pointer for the go ahead basket with under 8 seconds left in overtime, and then stole the ball at half court on the inbound play to secure the victory. The College Park gymnasium’s rafters will soon be overcrowded with banners at the rate the Falcons have been winning championships during the Battle Era. In the five years since Coach Craig Battle stepped onto the CP campus, the boys’ basketball program has been flying high, making its first appearance ever in the state tournament last year. Each year the program progresses further, building on the prior season. The 2012-13 team has followed the formula perfectly with highlights, victories and championships that will be the standard for seasons to come. An overall 26-5 record, undefeated Diablo Valley Athletic League championship, and a NorCal Division II Championship are the headlines for the season. Getting there has been sweet for Falcon fans. The Falcons served notice from the opening tip against Pinole Valley that the winning ways of the previous season would continue. Eggleton, along with sharpshooter Schoemann, swingman Tommy Acton, and lauded transfer AJ Newell provided valuable senior leadership for the young team. The squad built on early success, building a 10-4 record and a tidal wave of momentum going into the Diablo Valley Athletic League opener. College Park has been the league powerhouse over the past four seasons, but an undefeated record had not been earned during that run. A 25-point blowout against archrival Northgate heralded the fact that a team with six sophomores and seven upper class veterans would be looking to change that fact. The Falcons rolled through the DVAL, blasting opponents with a mixture
CP celebrating their NorCal Championship. Photo by TodGomes.com
of three-point barrages, unstoppable fastbreaks, and a bevy of defense schemes that kept opponents frustrated all season. The 12-0 record added another notch to the accomplishments of the season, but Falcons were about to soar to new heights as CIF sectionals and state playoffs began. The number five-seeded Falcons at their last home game got a North Coast Section victory against Livermore, which was enough to get CP through to the state tournament. Ironically, the opponent CP drew in that first round was Chico High, which had ended last season’s record run. Chico returned many key players from that roster and were heavy favorites against an 11th-seeded CP team that had to get out on the road for this difficult match-up. Down 17 at half, it seemed as though CP’s run would end as it had in the previous season. The second half began a run of exciting play that would not end for several games. The Falcon D stepped up and choked a hot Panther team into submission. Chico only scored 12 points in the second half while CP began to tickle the twine with midrange jumpers, 3-point bombs, and strong attacks to the rack. Falcon Nation had travelled strong to Chico, creating a frenzy that sparked the team to a 55-52 final score. The excitement of the first-round victory brought even more students, parents, boosters, and the community at large to the Mt. Eden gym in Hayward the next Saturday. Mt Eden was the number 3 seed in the NorCal playoffs and again was a prohibitive favorite against CP. That bubble was burst in the first quarter as the
Falcons jumped to an 18-5 lead. The score would tighten considerably, but the Falcons never lost the lead and held on for a 67-59 victory. Full-court pressure and a lightening quick pace of up-and-down action kept fans entertained. Noticeably, superior hoop fundamentals were on display by CP as they dictated the speed of play, sported a lockdown defense, and gashed Mt Eden as they slashed through the paint. CP is known for its 3-point shooting that is on display every night up and down the roster. The Mt Eden game saw several treys connect, but this would just be a warm-up for the semi-final game. The Falcons travelled on a Tuesday night to visit the St. Francis Lancers in Mountain View in the NorCal semi-final game. The CP faithful were present in force, taking over at least half the home team’s gym. The 3-ball was going to be the weapon of choice for teams as several dropped within the first sixty seconds after tipoff. For 32 minutes, fans were treated to an epic high school hoop tilt. Back and forth action with lead changes that seemed to occur on every possession had the gym rocking. Lancer shooters dropped 17 threes on CP over the course of the game. The Falcons answered each shot, with the final punctuation being a trey by Sebastian Flores as the shot clock expired and 13 seconds remained on the game clock. Falcon free throws and a Lancer 3 ended the scoring at 85-82 as the student section stormed the court. Professional games are 50% longer than a high school game, meaning the equivalent score of an NBA game would have been in the
mid-120s. The pace of the game, number of lead changes, and the high percentage of shots turned this game into an instant classic, but the Falcon’s road trip was not done yet. The Falcons traveled to Sleep Train Arena in Sacramento for the NorCal State Championship game to challenge the No. 1 seeded Dublin Gaels on March 16. A day before St. Patrick’s Day, the luck of the Irish was not with the Gaels, although they outsized College Park and brought a lot of theatrics to the floor. The Gaels’ dunks and highlight reel plays were not enough to slow down the feisty, disciplined, and eagle-eyed College Park boys. As the first quarter ended 16-13 for College Park, both teams were raining 3’s and running the floor. While Dublin was going for highlight reel plays, College Park was running their offense, playing stifling defense, and draining more shots. Senior Mikey Eggleton was a rock, making a steal and layup just before the halftime buzzer to give CP a 40-31 lead. Dublin made a run in the third quarter and pulled within six at the end of three. The Falcons were not to be closed on until late in the fourth quarter. With three starters fouled out of the game, the Falcon faithful were in shock as the game was tied and a free throw by the Gaels could win the game with 1.2 seconds left in regulation. But, it was not to be, although the Gaels got out to a 4-point lead in overtime. Junior Jack Corey and senior AJ Newell kept their composure, making clutch baskets and several free throws in overtime to set up Peter Schoemann’s game, winning three with under 10 seconds left. With the NorCal Championship victory, the team returned to Sleep Train on March 23 to battle the Redondo Seahawks in College Park’s first ever State Championship game. Though CP surged late in the 4th, a 54-47 loss ended the dream season for Coach Craig Battle and his team, but did nothing to dampen the pride of the Falcon crowd in purple and back home in Pleasant Hill. Brad Jensen is a married father of 3 kids, all who graduated from College Park. His son Jared played on the Varsity basketball team last year. Brad is a faithful Falcon fan!
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Page 18
April 2013
SPECIAL PULLOUT SECTION PROVIDED BY CP BOOSTERS
COURAGE • PRIDE • HONOR • SACRIFICE
SPRING SPORTS SCHEDULE
VARSITY LACROSSE
DATE 4/9 4/12 4/19 4/23 4/26 4/30 5/3 5/7
OPPONENT Bishop O’Dowd Piedmont Berkeley Clayton Valley Northgate Berean Bishop O’ Dowd Piedmont
SITE & TIME CPHS 5pm CPHS 5pm Berkeley 7pm CPHS 5pm Northgate 6:30pm CPHS 4:30pm Bishop O’Dowd 7:30pm Piedmont 7:30pm
GIRLS LACROSSE
4/9 4/12 4/19 4/23 4/26 4/30 5/3 5/7
Bishop O’ Dowd Piedmont Berkeley Clayton Valley Northgate Ygnacio Valley Bishop O’Dowd Piedmont
GOLF
DATE 4/2 4/11 4/16 4/23 4/25
OPPONENT Ygnacio Valley Concord Clayton Valley Berean Northgate
All matches 3:30pm
Bishop O’Dowd 3:30pm Piedmont 7:15pm CPHS 4:30pm Clayton Valley 5:15pm CPHS 4:30pm Ygnacio Valley 5pm CPHS 4:30pm CPHS 4:30pm SITE CCCC CCCC CCCC Boundary Oak CCCC
VARSITY BASEBALL
DATE 4/16 4/18 4/23 4/25 4/30 5/2 5/7 5/9 5/11 5/14 5/16
All games at 4pm except 5/11 at 2pm
SITE CPHS Northgate CPHS DVC Ygnacio Valley CPHS CPHS Clayton Valley CPHS 2pm Mt. Diablo CPHS
FROSH/SOPH BASEBALL
DATE 4/4 4/6 4/12 4/13 4/15 4/20 4/22 4/25 4/27 5/3
TRACK AND FIELD
DATE 4/17 4/24 5/1 5/ 8-10 5/17-18 5/ 24-25 5/31-6/ 1
OPPONENT Northgate Northgate Berean Christian Berean Christian Ygnacio Valley Ygnacio Valley Clayton Valley Clayton Valley El Cerrito Mt. Diablo Mt. Diablo
OPPONENT Clayton Valley Acalanes Heritages Cardinal Newman Freedom Northgate Northgate Benicia Logan Liberty
OPPONENT Berean & YVHS MDHS & Concord Northgate DVAL Championships NCS Tri Valley NCS Meet of Champions State Meet
SITE CPHS 4pm CPHS 10am, 1pm CPHS 4pm Cardinal Newman 11am, 2pm Freedom 4pm Northgate 10am, 1pm Northgate 4pm Benecia 4pm Logan 11am, 2pm Liberty 4pm
JV BASEBALL DATE 4/6 4/9 4/11 4/16 4/18 4/23 4/25 4/30 5/2 5/7 5/9 5/11
OPPONENT Acalanes Clayton Valley Clayton Valley Northgate Northgate Berean Berean Ygnacio Valley Ygnacio Valley Clayton Valley Clayton Valley El Cerrito
SITE Acalanes 10am Clayton Valley CPHS Northgate CPHS Berean CPHS CPHS Ygnacio Valley Clayton Valley CPHS CPHS 11am
All games at 4pm unless time already posted.
DATE 4/10 4/19 4/20 4/26 5/3
OPPONENT Clayton Valley Northgate CPHS Invitational Ygnacio Valley Concord
BOYS TENNIS DATE 4/9 416 4/18
OPPONENT Clayton Valley Mt. Diablo Northgate
All matches 3:30pm
SITE Clayton 2:15 CPHS 2:45 CPHS 3:30 CPHS 2:45 CPHS 2:45
SITE CPHS Mt. Diablo College Park
VARSITY SOFTBALL
DATE 4/16 4/18 4/23 4/25 4/30 5/2 5/7 5/9 5/14 5/16
OPPONENT Northgate Northgate Berean Berean Ygnacio Valley Ygnacio Valley Clayton Valley Clayton Valley Mt. Diablo Mt. Diablo
SITE CPHS Northgate CPHS Berean Ygnacio Valley CPHS CPHS Clayton Valley Mt. Diablo CPHS
Games at 4pm
SITE Ygnacio Valley CPHS Northgate Ygnacio Valley Granada HS UC Berkeley Buchannan HS, Clovis
SWIMMING
JV SOFTBALL
4/11 4/15 4/16 4/23 4/25 5/7 5/9
Games at 4pm
Liberty Northgate Northgate Berean Berean Clayton Valley Clayton Valley
CPHS CPHS Northgate Berean CPHS Clayton Valley CPHS
VOLLEYBALL DATE 4/9 4/9 4/10 4/11 4/11 4/16 4/16 4/17 4/18 4/23 4/26 4/27 4/30 4/30 5/2
OPPONENT SITE TIME St. Pats St. Vincent St. Pats / St. Vincents JV 5 Northgate CPHS JV 5, V 6 Las Lomas CPHS JV 5 Clayton Valley Clayton Valley JV 5 Berean Berean V6 Clayton Valley Clayton Valley JV 5 Ygnacio Valley CPHS V6 Campolindo Campolindo JV 5 Concord Concord JV 5, V 6 Clayton Valley Clayton Valley JV 5, V 6 Las Lomas Las Lomas JV 5 Alumni Game CPHS 12 Alhambra CPHS JV 5 Mt. Diablo CPHS (Senior Nite) V 6 Northgate Northgate JV 5, V 6
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April 2013
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SPECIAL PULLOUT SECTION PROVIDED BY CP BOOSTERS
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Page 20
HIGH SCHOOL HAPPENINGS
Second Round for CP Distinguished School
Earlier this year, College Park met the eligibility criteria and was invited to apply for the California Distinguished Schools Program. In March, members of the validation team visited the campus and went into the classrooms with student leaders as chaperones in order to validate data in the application. For three hours, the team spoke to staff members and students, and looked at student work, student data and other representations of student activity at College Park. Principal Paul Gengler said, “They talked with all types of people in formal and informal conversations and did interviews with representatives of every stakeholder group at the site and in our community. They met with four different groups of people: a group of 25-30 students; administration teams from CP; the district office community leadership including PTSA, PHEC, School Site Council, and business leaders; and teachers and classified employees that work at CP.”
The validation team will submit a report to the California Department of Education and the final step in the process will be validation of the application. The State Superintendent of Public Instruction will make an announcement of the 2013 Distinguished Schools shortly. “Overall they were very impressed with our students, staff, and community and how everyone works together for the benefit of all students. This would not have been the outcome if not for the hard work of Aline Lee, VP, who was in charge of the entire process, and the hard work and dedication of PTSA President Kathleen Strange and Vice President Tricia Li. Additionally, classified and certificated staff, and the many community members who gave up their time to represent their group and College Park were essential. This global team effort was brought together by our district, students, parents, and staff to celebrate College Park,” continued Gengler.
CP Gets Cooking The College Park Instrumental and Choral programs are producing their first CPHS cookbook to help raise funds for these programs at the high school. In the past few months, the cookbook team consisting of Mary Gray, Uni Ortegon Uribe, Keala Noske and Rochelle Douglass, worked to obtain recipes, submitted online, from the diverse CPHS community. The spiral bound, soft cover cookbook will be 5.5”x 8.5” and sell for $25 with all proceeds going to the CP Instrumental Music and Chorus programs. Recipes will range from appetizers, main dishes, soups/salads, desserts, or quick and easy meals. This is a great gift idea for a senior student as they head off to college in the fall--there will even be a recipe category called “Quick and Easy Dorm Food.”
Falcon parent Mary Gray raised the subject of a cookbook at an instrumental music boosters meeting several months back. “Many years ago Pleasant Hill Elementary did a cookbook for fundraising, and I thought we could do one for CPHS, bigger and better, because all the PH schools feed into College Park. What we’re hoping to do is to include everyone’s recipes in the College Park feeder-pattern and create this great cookbook, the proceeds of which will be split between instrumental and choral music. We plan to include photos and artwork of CP as well,” said Gray. You can preorder by going to the CPHS website: http://cphs.mdusd.org and clicking on the “Boosters Webstore” link on the home page. Cookbooks will be distributed in mid-May.
April 2013
Martinez Brickyard Run
The long-established and popular local sporting event returns to Martinez this month with a few changes. The East Bay Regional Park recently acquired Carquinez Scenic Drive from the County, and is currently working on restoring a 1.7-mile segment of Carquinez Scenic Drive - from the brickyard access road east of Port Costa to the Ozol ranger station - for pedestrian and bicycle use. As a result, they are not permitting access to that area further than 2 miles for the run. Brickyard Race Director Kevin Searls needed to shorten the course from the original 8 miles. “Not wanting to cancel this 44 year old Martinez tradition, I decided to just have the 4 mile version of this race (it will turn around at mile 2 before the road closes),” said Searls.
The race will be held, rain or sunshine, on Sunday April 7. Start time is 8:30am and registration can be done online at: www.martinezbrickyardrun. com or you can preregister on the day of the event starting at 7am. In keeping with tradition, the top 3 finishers in each age group will receive a “Brick Award”. Fees for the race are $25. The race will begin and end in front of the Rankin Park pool on Talbert Street, which will also be utilized as the registration and staging area. There is no parking in the lot at Rankin Park. You must park on the side streets near the Park. It will be run on pavement with rolling hills on scenic Carquinez Way. Proceeds benefit Alhambra High School Cross Country and the Martinez Recreation Department.
AHS Presents Xanadu
Don’t miss the fun as Alhambra High School Drama presents Xanadu, the musical! Xanadu opens Wednesday, April 17, and runs through Saturday, April 20, in the AHS performing arts building at 150 E Street in Martinez. Curtain is 7pm for all shows. Drama teacher Gerry Wiener said, “Our cast has about twenty-five performers, a rock band, and lots of techies.” The musical is described as: “Silliness is its own reward when Greek mythology slams into roller disco and MON-SAT 11-7
NOW OPEN!
a string of Olivia Newton-John hits.” Ticket prices: Students/Seniors: $8 presale and $10 at the door. Adults: $10 presale and $12 at the door. Kids 12 and under are $5. Pre-sale tickets can be purchased online from the Alhambra High School web store. If you do not have a student ID, use the 10-digit guest ID 9999999999. Tickets will also be available at lunch outside the high school library beginning Monday, April 8. Tickets go fast, so order online soon for the best seats.
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COMMUNITY FOCUS 2013
Spring and Summer Activity Guide
Irvin Deutscher YMCA The Irvin Deutscher Family YMCA has served the Mt. Diablo region with inspiring programs and supportive relationships since it was established in 1964. We are a true community center - dedicated to building strength in body and mind, fostering the healthy development of children, and strengthening the foundations of community. We are a one-stop health and wellness center for families and people of all ages. At the Y you'll notice we are guided by long-standing values of caring, honesty, respect and responsibility. We'll work with you to estabFor more information visit lish your personal goals for WWW.BGCDV.ORG creating healthy habits, one small or call 925-228-3896 step at a time.
We now have SUMMER CAMPS!
OPENING DAY
APRIL 21ST
s n o o n t o f o u r p. m. c o me jo i n u
Open house saturday april 20 Buena Vista Swim Club
Memberships Still Available For Summer 2013
s Quiet, relaxed, shaded laWN SETTING s ,Ifeguards on duty - Gated kiddy pool s Holiday Parties, BBQ and Picnic arEA s No swim team to interfere with pool access
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s New members receive (4) 30-minute private swim lessons s Private swim lessons open to non-members. Call Swim ,esson Director Wendy Helms (925) 639-6723 For membership inquiries Contact Kate Colebourn at 925-381-4677 197 Cortsen Road, PleasanT (ILL s WWw.buenavistaswimclub.org
DISCOVER. At Wild Times Summer Science Camp, your young naturalist will marvel, laugh and learn with new adventures every dayâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;live animal encounters, fun science experiments, games, stories and crafts. Weekly half-day sessions for ages 4â&#x20AC;&#x201C;12. Learn more and register today at
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April 2013
Every Day is Earth Day at Lindsay Wildlife Museum
By Deborah Rose, Lindsay Wildlife Museum Director of Communications This month, Lindsay Wildlife Museum museum camp weeks: June 24-28, July 8-12, $5 for children 2 -17; FREE for members Gary Bogue Talk/Brunch has some very special events where kids and July 22-26 and July 29-Aug. 2.) and children under 2. Go to http://wildlife Monday, April 15, 9:30am. Wildlife adults can connect with nature and wildlife. Live Animal Encounters museum.org or call 925-935-1978. Lindsay expert Gary Bogue will speak about “CreaMount Diablo Art/Photo Exhibit Meet our animal ambassadors includWildlife Museum connects people with tures of the Urban Wilderness (Your Back Friday, April 26, 5:30-7:30pm. A free, ing: Kin-tah the gray fox, eagles, hawks, wildlife to inspire responsibility and respect yard)” referring to wild animals that live owls, an opossum, native snakes and more. public reception opens the new Mount Difor the world we share. in and prowl, fly, and slither around your ablo: Visions & Vistas exhibit, and includes Observe their many fascinating and surpris- backyard, day and night—the coyotes, racing behaviors. Touch a gentle rat, guinea panoramic and close-up photos and paintcoons, skunks, opossums, owls, hawks, pig, hamster, or even a snake! ings, children’s art activities, and a live anihummingbirds, snakes, lizards and other mal encounter. Artists and photographers Ongoing Exhibits creatures that interact with you and have capture Mount Diablo’s ever-changing face, Every visit is a new experience. Find become a part of your life, often without from snowcapped to glowing at sunset. Ani- the queen bee among thousands of busy, you even knowing they are there. mals depicted include hawk, woodpecker, buzzy bees in Hive Alive! - a real, work Bogue is Curator Emeritus at the muowl, lizard and butterfly. (Entry to the muing honeybee hive. Watch through a oneseum, and was the daily Pet and Wildlife seum during the opening will be to the way window at Wildlife Hospital Behind Columnist for 42 years for Bay Area News Mount Diablo exhibit only.) the Scenes as hospital staff examine and Group’s Contra Costa Times. His talk is From April 25-September 2, entry to treat animal patients. At Raptors! test your sponsored by Lindsay Wildlife Museum AlMount Diablo: Visions and Vistas is free strength against a raptor’s grip. Soar like a liance. Tickets are $25 per person. Contact with general admission. The exhibit is cohawk over Mount Diablo virtually. Spread Penny Adams at 925-837-4046 or P.O. Box sponsored by Save Mount Diablo. (The your “wings” to see how your armspan 562, Diablo, CA 94528, or call the museum exhibit will not be open weekdays during compares to a raptor’s wingspan. at 925-935-1978. Visit Lindsay Wildlife Museum The museum is located at 1931 First Avenue, Walnut Creek, in Larkey Park. Ad Village Center for the Arts in Pleas- July, we are proud to offer an introducmission is $7 for adults; $6 for seniors 65+; ant Hill Introduces Toddler & Preschool tory summer camp that focuses on the Music Classes with Andrea Gaspari this performing arts, Camp Superstar! All children grades K-5 are invited to join April and a Super-Fun Performing Arts the Village Center for the Arts staff for Summer Camp this July, Camp Supera fun, no-experience necessary, sumstar! Are you looking for a fun, local class mer camp full of fantastic introductions to a variety of programs focused in muto engage your little one? Village Censic, arts & crafts, movement, theatre and ter is offering Andrea’s Musical Adventures classes starting the week of April 8! more! Campers will have so much FUN There is a variety of class times to choose creating within an all-inclusive, encouraging environment! from and even a special pajama class for those who like to boogie before bedtime. Campers can attend one session or all three! Session I: July 8-12 | Session II: Let’s Make Music is a wonderful July 15-19 | Session III: July 22-26 approach to learning music concepts and theory as well as math and language Times (campers can attend in the morning, afternoon or all day long!): 8:30amskills for children aged 18 mos. – 3 1/2 Noon | 1pm-4pm | 8:30am-4pm (exyears. tended care is available for additional Music, Piano and Me is a class for fee). children, aged 3 1/2 - 6 years old, that Call Village at 925-676-8400 or uses games, activities, singing and instrument play. Students learn to read and visit VillageCenterfortheArts.org to get write music as well as experience it from more information about any of our programs or to REGISTER TODAY! 1720 the inside out. It’s never too early to introduce your child to music; the benefits Linda Drive Pleasant Hill, CA 94523 are abundant! Call or visit Village Center today and ask us how you can start bringing music into your child’s life. Get ready for a super summer! This
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April 2013
Page 23
Prepare your Family for the Big Quake Last month’s article presented a likely scenario for a major earthquake on the Hayward fault: a major earthquake hits at 2:15 in the afternoon, you are at home ready to pick up the kids from College Park High School and Pleasant Hill Elementary, and your spouse is at work in Oakland. We’ll follow this same scenario through a series of articles on disaster preparedness. Absolutely, the most valuable asset in our lives is…our family. Having a plan that is prepared ahead of time and familiar to all family members can reduce the confusion and emotional impulsiveness that immediately flood our thoughts when we realize our family is in danger. Let’s look at some key elements of a Family Disaster Preparedness Plan. Should a disaster strike when family members are at home, insure they know the escape routes from your home – two routes per room. Don’t just talk about it; draw a floor plan with the escape routes. When disaster strikes, your family
By Jim Bonato, CERT Founder and Program Manager www.ready.gov. Being familiar with these account numbers, etc. -- and keep them may not be together. Identify assembly items will help get your loved ones back in a safe place. locations and how to get in touch with together and preserve that most valuable Make sure your pets are included in each other should you be unable to asset – family. your plan, and take the time to look at get there. Good examples of meeting locations might be the front yard of a IN FOCUS•IN FOCUS•IN FOCUS•IN FOCUS•IN FOCUS•IN FOCUS neighbor or a nearby park. Identify one out-of-state relative for all members to contact, as local lines of situations: long distance moves; assist An entrepreneurial desire has been may be clogged with emergency calls. ing seniors with downsizing; coordinatpart of Ken Waters’ character since That relative can keep every member ing complex moves with asset relocation; birth. He sold rocks so he could afinformed about everyone’s location and distribution and liquidation; and secure ford his first truck at age twelve, hiring situation. Keep quarters for pay phones commercial moves for IRS buildings, US his older brother to drive so he could or a prepaid phone card handy. Text deliver newspapers from the back. After Treasury, Department of Defense, law messages may get through even quicker. serving in the military, Ken began doing enforcement buildings and much more. Every family member should know Waters provides a free estimate moving jobs, charging just $90 regardwhen and how to shut off the utilities – and move consultation. Their written less of the job’s size. He established such gas, electricity, and water - to protect the proposal offers a customized move a solid cliental that, by 1975, Waters house. After your family, your home is plan with a guaranteed move price. No Moving and Storage was established. probably your next most valuable asset. Together with his wife Paulette and their surprise fees! Be familiar with the safety protocols If storage is your problem, they can five sons, the Waters family has created of your kids’ schools. Identify someone help with that as well. Their new facility a very successful and highly regarded to look out for the kids until you can get offers vaulted containerized storage and business in Martinez, with forty-eight to them. open warehouse space, and it is secured employees and over twenty moving Identify your most important with controlled access, sprinklers, video vehicles. Ken and Paulette Waters have records -- deeds, insurance policies, bank surveillance, alarms, on-site security and a longstanding reputation for providing a guard dog. quality service to both residential and Eighty percent of Waters’ business commercial customers for nearly forty is repeat customers and referrals. They years. have maintained an A+ rating with the An important aspect of the Waters’ Better Business Bureau for nearly forty extended family is their team of emyears, and Checkbook.org rates Waters ployees. Linda Gilmore serves as office manager and has coordinated operations Moving and Storage among the Bay Area’s top 5 moving companies. To for the past 28 years. Customers can count on friendly and knowledgeable as- learn more about their services, visit http://www.watersmoving.com or call sistance from the office, warehouse, and 925-372-0914. They are located at 37 the professional movers in the field. Waters has experience with a variety Bridgehead Road in Martinez.
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April 2013
In the Mix By Paul Cotruvo, Cover2Cover song, â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Parting Glass,â&#x20AC;? and Deirdre and her group did a â&#x20AC;&#x153;mash-upâ&#x20AC;? of The Fleet Foxesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; â&#x20AC;&#x153;White Winter Hymnalâ&#x20AC;? and the traditional â&#x20AC;&#x153;Down to the River to Pray.â&#x20AC;? These girls stole the show again and definitely set the tone for the evening. I hope this becomes a tradition for these concerts; it is comforting to know that the music scene is in good hands with this next generation of singers and musicians. The energy in the room exploded with great performances by Liz Lewis, The Ro-Duo, Cover Story and headliner Tender Mercies. Tender Mercies is a side project of sorts that includes two Counting Crows members -- Dan Vickrey on guitar and vocals and Jim Bogios on drums. Along with Patrick Winninham on guitar and vocals and Kurt Stevenson, they had the crowd up and dancing. Even though they had another gig, they stuck around and played a few encores. After this great set, the first surprise guest showed up: none other than the
I canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t believe we are already a quarter into 2013. Didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t I just take down the Christmas tree? But if this quarter is any indication of the local music scene this year, it will most likely be the best year yet! One of the highlights so far was the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Come Together 3â&#x20AC;? benefit on February 15, held at the new Pleasant Hill Senior Center. For those of you who have attended one of these shows in years past, this â&#x20AC;&#x153;plannedâ&#x20AC;? 3-hour event usually clocks in around 4-5 hours. And it always includes many surprise guests. This year was no exception. The show began with Fiona and Deirdre Nelis, two local teenagers who stole the show last year. For this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s show they put together two small a cappella groups. Fiona and her group sang a beautiful rendition of the Scottish/Irish
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great comedian, Johnny Steele. Since he grew up in Pittsburg, his commentary and observations of the suburbs had the crowd in the palm of his hands. A very funny surprise indeed. Dan Deshara performed next with another special guest, local musician Carlos Reyes, a world-renowned harpist and violinist. The duo pulled out some classic songs, including a crowd- pleasing version of Brittany Spearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;&#x153;Baby one more time.â&#x20AC;? Then Carlos decided to perform a few songs on his own. All I can say is that it was inspiring and mesmerizing and left the crowd standing on its feet. Not to be outdone, The Bell Brothers were next with their own brand of country and definitely got their â&#x20AC;&#x153;hickâ&#x20AC;&#x153; on. To close out the night, Jim Caroompas and the Sisters of Mercy wowed the crowd with their version of blues and Cajun music. Jim has one of the best voices in the area, and this night was no exception. The crowd was on its feet
wanting more. And this was just one night! I cannot say enough about this show. Every year the musicians bring their â&#x20AC;&#x153;Aâ&#x20AC;? game, and they do it all for free! I cannot wait until Come Together 4. Please find out where these musicians are performing and support them. We live in one of the finest areas for local talent. So what does the rest of the year bring? On April 20 The Bay Area Craft Beer Festival in Martinez will feature two incredible bands, Lumberyard and Petty Theft. On May 26, The Summer by the Lake Concert Series in Pleasant Hill begins with none other than Tender Mercies. Always a popular series, this year will be no exception with bands including the U2 Tribute Band, Zoo Station, East Bay Mudd and the always fun, Dave Martinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s House Party. Quote of the month: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Music is everybodyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s possession. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s only publishers who think that people own it.â&#x20AC;? - John Lennon
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April 2013
Page 25
PAUL’S PICKS FOR APRIL April 4: Chris Cain Band, Armando’s, 707 Marina Vista Martinez, 8pm April 7: Derek Rolando & Desert Chant, Armando’s, 707 Marina Vista, Martinez, 8pm April 11: Sin Silver, Rocco’s Pizzeria, 2909 Ygnacio Valley Road Walnut Creek, 8pm April 19: Super Diamond, Dan’s Bar, 1524 Civic Drive Walnut Creek, 10pm April 20: Lumberyard (12pm – 1:45pm) and Petty Theft (2:15pm-4pm); The Bay Area Craft Beer Festival, Martinez (www.bayareacraftbeerfestival.com) April 29: Caroompas Room, Armando’s, 707 Marina Vista Martinez, 8pm
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Page 26
THE GARDEN
April 2013
Tempting and Versatile Asparagus
Lengthening daylight paired with rising mercury conjures exciting images of eyepopping flowers, warmweather local produce, and scintillating scents of spring. Farmers’ markets are flush with seasonal fare that spills off tables and beckons salaciously to shoppers. Springtime officially arrived last month, ensuring that late spring fruits and our beloved asparagus will be in the Bay Area for a nice long visit. Long and smooth, thin or fat, stalks of asparagus in differing shades of green with tight purplish tips will not disappoint those eagerly awaiting its seasonal debut. As we see more and more friends’ and neighbors’ yards coming alive with chickens, I am reminded of my favorite way to welcome asparagus to my palate at first showing. Sauté small slices of asparagus in olive oil and green garlic until just opaque. Beg, borrow, steal or purchase some of those amazingly rich local eggs with the
By Lesley Stiles obscenely perky yolks. Softly scramble some white wine and chicken stock. Simjust soft and serve in a spring greens salad into sautéed asparagus with a nice grate of mer a little bit and embellish with a few with sliced oranges and toasted local alManchego and a few slices of snipped baby monds, dressed with good olive oil and rice drops of half and half. Puree and garnish chives to start a perfect spring morning and with several small spring peas sautéed with vinegar. Sauté copious amounts of sliced send anyone out the door smiling. finely chopped mint, creating astounding asparagus, green garlic and fresh shitake in Simply steaming asparagus in chickshades of greens found nowhere on a color olive oil, stir into creamy risotto, and garen stock, then draining and slathering in wheel, for a pivotal food moment. nish with Reggiano and spring herbs. butter can be nirvana. Alternately, getting Eating asparagus steamed out of Roast asparagus in a hot oven then fancy with heavenly, indulgent hollandaise the pot with a crack of sea salt, a luscious toss with lemon oil, salt and pepper. Shave sauce is always viscerally memorable. Assqueeze of Meyer lemon and a glass of lofeathery puffs of dry aged Gouda on top, paragus lends itself well to the grill lubed cal sparkling wine is the epitome of early sprinkle with chopped fresh oregano and a with a bit of olive oil and a few cracks of salt spring. We are indeed fortunate to reap the squeeze of lemon juice. and placed onto sizzling hot grills. The carbounty of local Brentwood and Stockton Slice into small pieces, sauté with amelized green sugars transform an entire asparagus. Mangia! green garlic, white wine and parsley, then day. Drizzle grilled asparagus with balsamic toss into hot pasta, and cream the dish with Lesley Stiles is a graduate of the Caliglaze and eat with your fingers. fornia Culinary Academy, sustainable cathrilling dollops of chevré folded in. Wrap fat stalks with good prosciutto terer and school garden educator. Contact Asparagus soup is as easy as sautéing then roast until the prosciutto gets soft and Lesley at lesleystiles@comcast.net, www. baby onions and a few pieces of sliced up supple; anticipate the awe-inspiring release lesleystiles.blogspot.com and visit her new green garlic in olive oil, then adding cut up of characteristically rich, salty juices minasparagus. Sauté for a few minutes and add website: www.lesleystilesfoods.com. gled into softening asparagus spears. Serve drizzled with lemon oil and shaved spring pecorino and hold on to the table as you This recipe is a favorite among the students when we cook on the College Park quad!! veer close to an intensely sensual swoon. Roast succulent pieces of asparagus until Ingredients:
Asparagus Quinoa w/ Green Garlic and Cremini Mushrooms
3 tablespoons olive oil 1 pound cooked quinoa 1 cup vegetable or chicken stock, heated 1 pound asparagus, sliced in ½ inch pieces 4 stalks of green garlic, cleaned and sliced
1 cups sliced cremini mushrooms 6 ounces of Reggiano Parmesan cheese 3 tablespoons chopped parsley Kosher salt and freshly grated pepper
Directions:
Heat olive oil in a deep sauté pan. Add green garlic and sauté for about 3 minutes until it begins to caramelize. Add the mushrooms and asparagus and sauté for 3 to 4 more minutes. Add a cup of stock and let it come to a boil. Simmer for a few minutes until asparagus turns bright green. Add quinoa and heat through. Season w/ salt and pepper and toss in parsley. Garnish w/ shaved Parmesan. Serves 4
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April 2013
Page 27
College Works Painting Intern
Hi, my name is John Vanni, Jr. (JJ) and I am a former Miramonte High School student who is currently studying at San Francisco State University. This past fall I was accepted into a College Works Painting (CWP) internship program that gives me the tools to run my own exterior house painting business in order to get managerial experience while still in school. College Works Painting at www.collegeworks.com is a nation-wide program that partners with Kelly-Moore Paints, so we get a good discount on their
high quality paint. Each intern sets certain goals to accomplish during his or her time with the program, and my goal is to get a 100% customer satisfaction rating for the summer of 2013. I view this internship as something more than just a managerial position. I am adding another level of experience in working with people, determining their needs and ensuring their satisfaction with the outcome. My experience in coaching kids and communicating with parents as a certified hitting instructor at
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Page 28
Cuts to Meals on Wheels
“Homebound elders in Contra Costa County will soon feel the pain of the socalled federal ‘sequester.’ An immediate funding reduction of $103,000 has been leveled against our local County Senior Nutrition Program, which includes the countywide Meals on Wheels Program,” reports Program Director Paul Kraintz. Forty percent of Meals on Wheels’ funding comes from government sources. The rest comes from individual donor charitable contributions, foundation grants and the program participants themselves, sources which have also declined significantly since the Great Recession began. The combined impact means as many as 200 fewer homebound elders will receive daily meal deliveries in Contra Costa County. Meals on Wheels’ volunteers and staff currently deliver 1,500 meals per day to
nutritionally at-risk homebound elders who have no other viable means of receiving nutritious daily meals. The program operates 80 meal delivery routes countywide. Another 650 daily meals are served to seniors in 17 senior and community centers throughout the county. Community contributions to Meals on Wheels of Contra Costa from individuals and charitable foundations subsidize some portion of virtually all of the 365,000 Meals on Wheels deliveries to homebound elders each year. Unfortunately, as community and participant contributions have slowed, the homebound elders seeking our help have increased. Donations to Meals on Wheels can be made by mail to Meals on Wheels of Contra Costa, PO Box 3195, Martinez, CA 94553 or via the website: www.mealsonwheelsofcontracosta.org.
Golden Notes Concert
April 2013
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Martinez Senior Activities 818 Green St. (925) 370-8770
4/8 - Trip Presentation 4pm. Join Collette Vacations and the Martinez Senior Center for a presentation slide show on the following trip’s: Northern National Parks – Friday, July 5 – Friday, July 12. Southern Italy with Sicily - Thursday, October 17 – Monday, October 28. A sneak preview of two trips for 2014: Inspiring Iceland and Tropical Costa Rica. Call or drop by the center if you have any questions or want a detailed brochure on these trips. 4/14 - Pancake Breakfast 8am – 11am. This delicious breakfast includes pancakes or toast, sausage, eggs, orange juice and coffee. Everyone is welcome. Cost: $3.50 for adults/$2 for children 10 and under. Handmade crafts, perfect for gifts, will be on sale during the breakfast. 4/24 - Round Table “Pizza Night” Fundraiser 11am-9pm. Help us achieve our goal to update and improve our center by participating whether you dine in or order by phone for pick up or delivery. (Don’t care for pizza? Anything on their menu works). • You must use the participating Round Table Restaurant located at 504 Center Ave. in Martinez and use the flyer created by Round Table Headquarters for this event.• Round Table will donate 20% of your total purchase to our center. (To receive credit for deliveries you must mention our fundraiser when ordering and include the flyer with your payment at delivery time).• Need a flyer or two? Call the center at (925) 370-8770 or drop by and pick one up. 5/24 - Contra Costa County Public Law Library. The county law library is an important source to know about for anyone needing up-to-date legal information. Carey Rowan, Director of the Law Library, will do a brief presentation about the library followed by a Q & A session. Come and learn more about this valuable community resource, not just for yourself, but also for your friends and family. Call the center office to register for this free informative presentation at (925) 370-8770.
Pleasant Hill Senior Activities 233 Gregory Lane (925) 798-8788
Pleasant Hill’s own senior choral group, the Golden Notes, will present their annual concert on Sunday, April 28 at 2pm in the Chateau Room of the Pleasant Hill Senior Center, 233 Gregory Lane. The chorus, consisting of 37 men and women, is directed by Dee Wood and accompanied by Margie Lynwood. Music for this concert will be popular songs from the 40’s, 50’s and the 60’s, and will provide opportunities to sing along, and even dance a few steps. Tickets are $7.00 and are available at the Senior Center and from chorus members. Tickets may also be available at the door if any seats are remaining. Refreshments will follow the concert. For more information, contact Dee Wood, 687-7053 or deenotes@earthlink.net.
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Thursdays - Dance for Joy – Fitness and Fun for Everyone! 2:30-3:15pm. A gentle dance class that can be done at your own level, with or without chairs. Class contains elements of jazz, ballet, belly dance, tap and some yoga. Improve your strength and flexibility plus mental agility. Come for fun and try it out. Class is held in PHSC’s new Dance Studio which looks out to the beautiful Pleasant Hill Park. First time trial only $5! Like it? Register for a session or drop in when you can for only $7/class. 4/12 - Taste of the Vine 4-6pm. Sip a glass of wine with friends and relax. A variety of red and white wines available plus light hors d’oeuvres will be served. Non-alcoholic beverages available. Sponsored by The Chateaus of Pleasant Hill. PHSC’s Dining Room. Tickets: $10, $15 at the door (if available). 4/19 - Vagabond Players Present “Last of the Red Hot Lovers” 1pm. Grab lunch before the play at our Chef’s Lunch (not included in ticket price,) then watch this awardwinning live theater group put on a show. PHSC’s Chateau Room. Tickets: $10, $15 at the door. 5/10 - “Laugh, Love and Learn” and Senior Resource Faire. This year’s theme is “The Best of California.” Speakers include Gary Crabbe, renowned photographer and owner of Enlightened Images Photography. His work has appeared in National Geographic, Time Magazine, and his book California Coast won best book of the year in 2001 by California Outdoor Travel Writers Association. Gary’s presentation will be a “Visual Journey through Northern California,” discussing his latest book Photographing California. Julio Lacayo, from the Dept. of Motor Vehicles will share driving tips for seniors. He served as DMV’s Senior Driver Ombudsman and interacted with many senior community centers and agencies as a “go between” to ensure treatment of senior drivers was fair and consistent with laws and regulations. Additionally, Kevin Weinberg, owner and executive chef of the Walnut Creek Yacht Club, will share his expertise in California cuisine. Kevin studied at the Culinary Academy and has over thirty years in the restaurant business. He was voted best chef by Walnut Creek Magazine in 2012. Register for event at the Senior Center or PH Rec office, at 147 Gregory Lane. Tickets: $30; $25 ages 60+.
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April 2013
Page 29
Recreation and Park Updates Teen Council Applications Due! Are you in middle or high school and looking for a great way to get involved in your community? The Pleasant Hill Recreation & Park District is now accepting applications for the 2013-2014 Teen Council. The mission of the Teen
Council is to plan, promote and implement programs and services for the areas teens. Teen Council is also a great way to volunteer at community events and serve in a leadership capacity. Applicants must live in or go to school in Pleasant Hill. Applications are available online at phteenscene.com and the deadline is
April 19. Pleasant Hill Rec is Ready for Summer… Are You? Spring will come and go quicker than you know, so the question is… are you ready for summer? Pleasant Hill Recreation & Park District sure is! If you haven’t received our Summer Program guide, be sure to stop by the District Office at 147 Gregory Lane and pick one up. Inside you’ll find everything you need for a fun and active summer. We have summer camps for every age. Here are just a few choices: • Preschool Camps: Ocean Adventures, Backyard Creatures, Make Believe Ad-
ventures, and Castle Tales. • Youth Camps: Lego Camp, Mad Science Camp, Animation Flix, Wildlife Habitat Explorations, and Spanish Immersion Camp. • Teen Camps: Teen Scene Extreme (includes trips!), Whitewater Rafting, Oakland A’s games, Sailing Trips, Rock Climbing, Trapeze Art Circus School, plus much more! • Other camps include Youth Sports Camps, Sewing Camp, Junior Lifeguard Camp & Water Polo Camp. For more information on all our Summer Camp opportunities, visit our website at www.pleasanthillrec.com or call (925) 682-0896. Take a Dip & Get Fit with Water Exercise! Don’t let the warm weather deter you from outdoor exercise. There are plenty of water exercise offerings through Pleasant Hill Rec & Park. Classes include Aqua Zumba, Water Walking, Water Blast, Water Aerobics and Swim for Fitness. Water exercise is a great low impact way to burn calories! Try one out and see what you think. For more information on class days and times, visit our website at www.pleasanthillrec.com or call (925) 682-0896.
Farmers’ Market is Back
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Page 30
April 2013
PHBA Opening Day 2013
Pleasant Hill Baseball Association’s (PHBA) annual Opening Day parade and games took place on Saturday, March 9, and was once again a huge hit amongst the players, families and local community. PHBA has been supporting the youth of Pleasant Hill, offering baseball and softball for 55 years. PHBA provides a league where every child plays as well as a more competitive traveling league for advanced players. The event began with a parade from Sequoia Elementary School to Pleasant Oaks Park (across from Pleasant Hill Middle School). The parade started promptly at 8:00 am and was led by the mayor and police chief. Family, friends, and supporters lined the parade route and cheered on the parade participants which included baseball and softball teams, antique and custom cars, a fire engine, police car, hay wagon, Boy Scout Color Guard and much more. Following the parade, there were opening ceremonies at the PHBA Sports Complex to ring in the new season. Baseball and softball games followed throughout the day, as well as a bar-b-que, batting cages, speed track pitching, slides, gladiator joust, bounce house, raffles and many more fun activities. There was something for everyone, and it was a great way to celebrate and start the 2013 season!
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2013 Sponsors and Advertisers of Pleasant Hill Baseball Association A Wee Change Aamco Walnut Creek All Out Baseball Appraisal Expediters Aspen Surgery Center Bank of the West Bella Oakes Stables Calloway Portable Shelters Chancellor Hotel on Union Square Chris' Discount Muffler & Brakes Cole Supply Co. Inc Concord Tow World Cottage Kennel Covey's Catering Curran Electric Dallimonti's Restaurant Denon and Doyle Disc Jockey Co Diablo Trophies & Awards Direct Line Tele Response Eames Hardware & Supply Environmental Packaging Inc Farmers Produce
Fast Signs Fire Fighters First Realty Frank Zablocki General Contractor Geopolis Spatial Solutions Gryco Sportswear Hunt Hale Jones Architects Impact Transportation John I. Cooper General Contractor / Consultant Karen Sullivan Kerns & Associates Industrial Products Lehmer's Concord Buick GMC Mark Rolandelli Construction Martin Orthodontics Michael E Huguet, DDS Family and Cosmetic Dentistry Mike Murphy Baseball MVP Sportscards Night Owl Pediatrics North Creek Church Pacific Utilities Supply
Papa Murphy's Pediatric Dentistry of Pleasant Hill Performance Pitching Pleasant Hill Grocery Outlet Pleasant Hill Police Association Premier Property Maintenance Rotary Club of Pleasant Hill Round Table Pizza Saint Mary's College Athletic Summer Camps Shawfloors.com Slow Hand BBQ Smartphonopoly St. Baldrick's Steele Electric The Bonney Law Firm The De Alba Family Triple Threat Academy Watson Electric, Inc. Webcor Builders Windermere - Diablo Realty Wing Stop
Thank you for your support of P.H.B.A.
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April 2013
Page 31
Quick! What Rhymes with Combo? It was mere minutes from the start of the live auction at College Park High School’s 2012 Musician’s Showcase and black-tie fundraiser at the Concord Hilton Hotel last October. Mason Johnson, 11th grader and alto saxophone player in the jazz ensemble, had to act fast. Attending the event was Johnson’s grandmother who told him she would be a serious bidder for a student jazz combo if they would perform at an upcoming dinner party at her Walnut Creek home. Johnson dashed quickly from the crowded ballroom to an even more crowded backstage area, where five fellow players enthusiastically embraced the sudden challenge. Rounding out the promptly named “Wombo Combo” were 12th grader Caleb Phair on trumpet, 11th grader Aaron Uribe on tenor saxophone, and 10th graders Mason Davis on drums, Brian Smith on bass, and Christian Wanser on piano. “We wrote the combo party offer on a scrap of paper, and handed it to the Need to buy or sell a home?
By Brockton Brennan
Wombo Combo is comprised of College Park High School students, (l to r): Caleb Phair, Aaron Uribe, Mason Johnson, Mason Davis, Brian Smith, and Christian Wanser.
auctioneer just in time,” recalls Wanser. None of the band members expected what happened next. “My grandmother won the bidding war and got us for a thousand dollars,” says Johnson. Wombo Combo was the smash fundraising success of the event. But, more importantly, the six student musi-
Over 480*reasons
cians (all of whom, Smith confesses, “eat lunch in the music room”) have now begun to reap the rich experiences and rewards of collaborating closely with band mates. “After our first few rehearsals for the dinner party, we starting feeling chemistry,” says Uribe. “We thought, ‘we should stick together and keep jamming.’” Jorge Jimenez, Director of Instrumental Music at College Park, agrees. “Some of the best learning oc-
curs when peers are just trying to figure it out. Wombo Combo is completely student-led by six of the strongest players in our program. They are staying after school up to four days a week, exploring and playing jazz together.” Jimenez added, “All this time practicing as a combo is in addition to their schoolwork. These are all high-achieving, very active students.” Active, indeed. Wombo Combo recently played to rave reviews at the auction-inspired dinner party where several music professionals were in attendance, including a trombone player who sat in with the band for a number. According to Phair, “We realized that we really can entertain an audience.” Now, it appears Wombo Combo will be getting another opportunity to do just that. “We’ve got a paid gig at The Ruth Bancroft Garden in Walnut Creek this spring,” beamed Davis. If you or an organization you belong to would like to book a jazz performance by Wombo Combo, please contact Mr. Jorge Jimenez at College Park High School at (925) 682-7670, extension 3230, or email jimenezj@mdusd.org.
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On March 15, the executive staff from the Pleasant Hill Nation’s Giant Hamburgers paid a surprise visit to a special employee, 79 year-old Rita Seaman. It was officially her last day serving and greeting customers, a job she has enjoyed for 34 years. Rita began working at Pleasant Hill’s original Nation’s, which was located further south on Contra Costa Blvd. some twenty years ago. Rita was greeted with balloons, flowers, cake and gifts and a special visit from her family. When asked what she will miss most from her job, she said, “The people and loyal customers I have known forever.”
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Cutting Edge Convalescing By Jaki Jones The Oak Park Convalescent Hospital and Rehabilitation facility in Pleasant Hill has received quite a makeover this year. Oak Park recently went from being managed by a management company to owner/operated under Grace Healthcare, both management and staff are eager to invite the community in to see the cozy and comfortable facility and learn about the multitude of services they provide to its short and long-term care residents. The building has been in the same location on Oak Park Boulevard since 1959 (some of you long time residents may remember the facade was an eye-catching Pepto-Bismol pink for many years) beginning with only 21 beds. Today, the facility is operating at just under 50 beds with 28 long-term residents. The impressive upgrades include a rehab gym with a new OmniVR, an exciting virtual rehabilitation therapy technique, similar to the Wii, where it recreates the patients’ movements in a 3-D, real-time interactive experience. It is designed to be fun and improve exercise participation, repetition and duration. In addition, a tool used to keep patients’ mentally active is the iN2L software (It’s Never Too Late), allowing patients and residents to easily use a touch screen computer and enjoy applications such brain exercises and puzzles, travel videos, music and karaoke, and even social networking opportunities like Skype and web cams, all in an effort to help them stay mentally active. Monique Stokes, Admissions and Marketing Director, is dedicated to changing the negative connotation of a ‘nurs-
ing facility’ and believes her facility is the way of the future. “In this community I think we are on the cutting edge. We have quality of care and a comfortable physical plant. It’s all the little things that make a difference when you’re rehabbing too. You want your creature comforts: good food-we cater to all specialty diets-- and daily activities to keep you entertained. When you’re feeling good, you’re going to do better.” The small facility allows the residents and staff to build trust and develop friendships. “Here you get to know the families and residents intimately and that would not be the case in a larger facility,” said Molly Jones. “We provide individualized care and are moving forward with what the community wants of us—excellent nursing care, a great facility, a large number of rehabilitation services and a place they feel comfortable in and can make their home short or long-term. Our goal is to get people better, stronger, and back into the community for as long as possible,” she said. Oak Park works directly with the local area hospitals, community physicians, future residents and/or families to coordinate short-term poste-acute rehabilitation stays. These stays can be set up prior to surgery or as soon as someone admits to the hospital. Oak Park also supports several community groups through education and outreach to the senior community. For long-term care placement it is recommended to start this process early as there is routinely a waiting list. For information or to request a tour, call 925- 935-5222.
April 2013
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April 2013
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Cancer Rehab Means a Better Quality of Life
Core Strength for Athletes, i.e. Pilates
By Jewel Johl, MD sue, fatigue, deconditioning or The concept of rehabilitaweakness, balance problems, tion has been widely accepted difficulty walking, weight in cardiac and pulmonary gain and decreased muscle care and in recovery from mass can benefit from early traumatic and orthopedic intervention in an oncology injuries, but few understand rehabilitation program. how important this concept At Diablo Valley Oncan be for cancer patients. cology, we have developed a Almost 70 percent of state-of-the-art Physical Therapy and Lifecancer patients report fatigue and overall style Center to meet the growing needs of deconditioning during treatment. Other cancer patients. Our lead therapist, Alison complaints include muscle atrophy and Taba, is a licensed physical therapist with decreased bone density, medication side special training in oncology rehabilitation effects, loss of stamina, balance problems and lymphedema therapy. Alison and and lymphedema. Currently there are our team of physical therapy specialists very few institutions and cancer centers provide cancer rehabilitation services to that offer formal oncology rehabilitaenable patients who have been diagnosed, tion services, and these services are often those undergoing treatment and survivors omitted from cancer survivorship proof cancer to improve their quality of life grams. and help them successfully integrate back An oncology rehabilitation program into society. should be designed to educate, support In addition to physical therapy, our and empower patients who have or have Lifestyle Center provides nutritional servhad cancer and to allow them optimal function and quality of life during and af- ices by Tinrin Chew, RD, who specializes in providing oncology specific nutriter their cancer treatments. The National tion counseling. Other services include Comprehensive Cancer Network’s guidelines say “rehabilitation should begin with group exercise classes and educational programs. Additional integrative health a cancer diagnosis and should continue services will be incorporated in 2013. even after cancer treatment ends.” Our Physical Therapy and Lifestyle Oncology specific physical therapists Center is the only one in the East Bay can help patients overcome physical obstacles during treatment and provide tools area and one of the few in Northern for independent participation in a plan to California to provide cancer specific rehabilitation services. Diablo Valley’s remain healthy and vibrant after treatPhysical Therapy & Lifestyle Center can ment. Patients who have lymphedema of any body part, restricted mobility, scar tis- be reached by calling 925-400-9570.
By Tonya Marie Amos, Aspire Pilates
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Core training is all the rage because of its deep strengthening and back pain management. The Pilates method, developed over ninety years ago by professional German boxer Joseph Pilates, sets the gold standard for core training. When adding this secret weapon to increase whole body strength, flexibility, balance, and injury prevention, athletes see a profound shift in their sport. Joseph and Clara Pilates’ work has been embraced by athletes of every sport, including Venus & Serena Williams, the New Jersey Nets, and closer to home, former SF Giant hottie Aubrey Huff and the UC Berkeley Golden Bears, who use Pilates as an integral part of their training. Specialized spring-resistant machines (reformer, trapeze table, etc.) enable multi-dimensional, dynamic strengthening that targets the body’s deep muscles that stabilize the joints. Pilates uses short reps, powerful eccentric (lengthening) muscle contractions, and flexibility interwoven with strength and balance, in addition to a focus on healthy body mechanics. Pilates uses an “inside out” approach to strengthening which creates new body awareness and an efficiency of movement that allows athletes to harness previously untapped power.
When training, an athlete’s body should be challenged dynamically by utilizing many alignments. Athletic movements are not simple or two-dimensional. This means that traditional bicep curls, push ups, and abdominal crunches don’t translate well into the multidimensional power, agility and injury prevention needed for hitting, tackling or tumbling (which require rotation or torsion in many planes with force). Add this to the speed increase that comes from accessing new power and flexibility, phenomenal Plyometric work, and correction of faulty body mechanics, and Pilates makes a perfect training regimen for athletes. It’s time that Pilates trickles down from professional and collegiate programs to our younger athletes. It profoundly transforms both an athlete’s body and mind, giving them that extra edge for a long, successful, and healthy career. Tonya Marie Amos is a fully certified Pilates instructor with over 1000 hours of training including advanced certifications in Movement Medicine, Scoliosis, Osteoporosis, Pre/Post Natal and Pilates For Golf. For more information, contact please call (925) 680-4400 or go to www.AspirePilatesCenter.com.
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April 2013
Calendar events 4/1 - 4/5 - Kitty Corner Spring Break. Come meet our cool cats during special open hours M-F, 11am to 3pm at our oneof-a-kind free roam shelter at 609 Gregory Lane, Pleasant Hill. For info on Kitty Corner or adoptions visit www.cchumane.org or call 925-279-2247 x 303 M-F 9 to 5 or after hours and weekends at 925-497-4883. 4/2 - Pleasant Hill Garden Study Club 7pm. Camellia Room, Gardens at Heather Farm, 1540 Marchbanks Dr., Walnut Creek. Speaker: Brad Gates, Growing Heirloom Tomatoes. Guests are welcome & free. Contact 925-944-4898, www.phgsc. com. 4/6 - Italian Catholic Federation Branch #13 annual Spaghetti & Meatball Family Fundraising Dinner; 5:30pm No-Host Cocktails, 6pm Dinner; St. Catherine of Siena Parish Hall, 604 Mellus Street, Mtz, (enter hall on Henrietta Street). Adults/ Seniors: $10; Children ages 5-11: $5; under 5: free with adult. Family Deal: 2 adults & 2-3 children: $25. Proceeds benefit scholarship and other programs. Tickets: 925-2292665. 4/12 – Teen Scene Concert 7pm. Teen Scene presents two College Park student bands, Magic Band of Misfits and 2AM. For all ages. $5. PH Teen Center, 147 Gregory Lane, Pleasant Hill. 4/13 - Mini Motorland Returns! 10am12pm. A unique track for electric ride-on cars, big wheels and tricycles at John Muir Amphitheater. Ages 2-5. $8. Fee includes driver’s license, fishing permit, library card and snacks. Visit the repair shop, doctor’s office, museum, library, flower shop and so much more! 4/16 - Making Informed Choices About Standard Care & Clinical trials 6–8 pm, with Robert Robles, MD. Learn about benefits and risks of standard treatments and clinical trials, how new cancer treatments are developed and approved, how to sort out myths from facts about clinical trials, and locate those in your area right for you. Dr. Robles is a medical oncologist with Diablo Valley Oncology/Hematology Medical Group. Cancer Support Community, 3276 McNutt Avenue, Walnut Creek, 925.933.0107. 4/17 - Society of American Magicians Assembly #112 meets the 3rd Wednesday of each month at 7pm. Open to all! Join us
this month and learn magic! Contact Fred at (925) 451-1292.
Forty, Phil Madruga 925-933-8061 and Ken Wombacher 925-687-0858.
4/17 - Community Bible Study Visitors Day 9:15-11:15. An interdenominational in-depth,weekly Bible study. All women and children are welcome. For information call Diane: (925) 370-7525; email dqmtzmom@aol.com, or visit www.communitybiblestudy.org.
4/27 – YMCA’s Healthy Kids Day 11am1pm. the Y’s national initiative to improve the health and well-being of families. Yoga for kids, Zumba, Family Relay, Bounce House, pool games and more! Mayor Michael Harris will lead a Family Fun Walk at 10:15am. Free giveaways and drawings for kids and parents. 350 Civic Dr., Pleasant Hill.
4/18 - Daylight Tours Cemetery Tours 10am-12pm. Adults only. A tour guide will introduce you to families with names you know and some you don’t. Learn about local war heroes personalities, politicians and a most creative caretaker. This tour is to enlighten, not frighten! Call 372-3510 to reserve, space is limited. Preregistration required. Donations will go to the Cemetery for improvements and the Martinez Historical Society. 4/19 - An Evening of Wine and Song 7-10:30pm. Featuring Sin Silver. It’s been 5 years since Sin arrived in California via Ireland. With such musical influences as Elton John, Billy Joel, Tori Amos and Irish folk, this piano bar show is not to be missed! Light hors d’oeuvres served, wine and beer for purchase. Proceeds to benefit the Senior and Teen Centers. 4/20 – John Muir Birthday - Earth Day Celebration 10am-4pm. Bring the family for fun filled activities and entertainment: music, fashion show, silent auctions, tours, cake and much more! Free. Food and beverages available for purchase. Info: www. johnmuirassociation.org. 4/25 – Dinosaur Dig 3:30 - 4:45pm. All kids love dinosaurs! Bring your junior paleontologist to Waterfront Park to dig for dinosaur bones and make fun dino crafts. Prehistoric punch & a dinosaur cookie and time on the playground are included. Space is limited to 20 children, preregistration is required: 372-3510. Ages: 3-6 years, $8 per child at Waterfront Park, North Court Street, Martinez. 4/27 – Annual Lions Club Poker Night 5-10pm. Join us for a Texas Hold’em tournament at Back Forty Texas BBQ, 100 Coggins Dr., Pleasant Hill. Have a good time, east some great food and raise money for charity. The $50 entry fee includes food and poker. Dealers will be provided at every table to assist and handle all questions. All skill levels welcome. 1st prize is $400. Tickets are available at Back
4/27- Document Shredding Fundraiser 1-3pm. This annual event is sponsored by Diablo Valley Oncology and raises money for the Cancer Support Community. Make a charitable donation, and ‘SHRED WORKS’ will shred your documents on the spot! California Cancer and Research Institute, 400 Taylor Blvd, PH, 925-6775041. 4/27 - Cruisin’ the Creek Car Show 10am-2pm. Creekside Church’s 5th annual. Bring cool cars, trucks and bikes. Awards for different categories. Great food, live music, giant inflatables, activities for kids and fun for the family! $25 to register car, truck or bike. Register: www. creekside.org under “events” then “car show”.
4/27 - The Catholic Community of Saint Catherine of Siena Parish 140th Anniversary 4:30pm. Liturgy, continuing with fellowship and celebratory adult dinner at 6pm. Tickets are $40 per person and may be purchased at the Saint Catherine Parish Office at 1125 Ferry Street, Mtz; School at 604 Mellus Street, Mtz; or by calling 925270-9830. Hospice of the East Bay is pleased to offer a variety of support groups and workshops for adults, children and teens experiencing grief after the death of a loved one. Classes offered at Hospice’s Administrative Offices: 3470 Buskirk Avenue; Pleasant Hill, 80 Eagle Rock Avenue, Suite A, Brentwood, and at Tony La Russa’s Animal Rescue Foundation: 2890 Mitchell Drive, Walnut Creek. Find the most current Bereavement Services calendar at: www. hospiceeastbay.org. Spring Fling April. Contra Costa Humane Society is collecting shoes all month long for ShoeBox Recycling. Bring your shoes to CCHS, 609 Gregory Lane, Ste. 210, Pleasant Hill and help us give shoes and animals a second life. For more information visit www.cchumane.org or www.shoeboxrecycling.com or call 925-279-2247.
For April Library Calendars go to ccclib.org.
FPHE’s UPCOMING EVENTS FPHE’s 5th Anniversary Celebration Join FPHE as they celebrate their 5th Anniversary on Saturday, April 20, from 8-11pm at Zio Fraedo’s Restaurant at 611 Gregory Lane. Rock the night away with a favorite local band, the FOG5! Tickets are $15 per person/$25 per couple and are available now at www.fphe.org. 2nd Annual Amazing Race of Pleasant Hill On Sunday, April 28 from noon to 4pm. This is a fun and interesting event for all ages that promises to keep you challenged! (Race is not based on speed.) Assemble your team (up to four people or a family) and be sure to join us this year! Show team spirit with matching hats, T-shirts, props – whatever! Registration is $50 per team. Pre-register now at www.fphe.org. The Amazing Race is sponsored by Magoo’s Grill of Pleasant Hill. Be a Part of Progress - Donate Today for the Future of Our Community’s Schools. Please donate at www.fphe.org or send check to FPHE, PO Box 23851, Pleasant Hill, CA 94523. Thank you for your commitment to education and our community. Email us at: generalinfo@fphe.org.
www.ourcommunityfocus.com
April 2013
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April 2013