December 2014 Community Focus by Community Focus

Pleasant Hill • Concord • Martinez • Lafayette • Walnut Creek • Pacheco

DECEMBER 2014 Reaching Over 40,000 Homes & Businesses

ourcommunityfocus.com

IN THIS ISSUE: • HOLIDAY CONCERTS & BOUTIQUES • GIVING VS. RECEIVING • LOCAL AUTHORS SPOTLIGHT

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Moving You On To Better Things

Annual Light Up the Night Family Fun Celebration in Downtown Pleasant Hill Santa is all set to arrive on December 3 to join in the many festivities in Downtown Pleasant Hill, including the lighting of a 25-foot decorated tree next to the Clock Tower Building on Crescent Drive at 6pm. Music, dance performances, and caroling will be on two stages in both of the Downtown plazas.

There will be free horse drawn carriage rides, and free cookies, hot chocolate and coffee. Families can have pictures taken with Santa and his merry elves and look out for Frosty, Rudolph, and other costumed characters. Don’t forget to search for the “Elf on the Shelf” at many of the Down-

town merchants, with lots of prizes to be won. A Crafts Fair begins on Crescent Drive at 4pm with wonderful gifts for the holidays on sale. The City of Pleasant Hill, Downtown Pleasant Hill, and the PH Chamber of Commerce jointly organize this event. For more information, call (925) 671-5229 or email mnelis@pleasanthillca.org.

Highlights • Pictures with Santa from 5-8pm. • Elf on the Shelf Treasure Hunt. • Tree Lighting at 6pm. • Free Horse Drawn Carriage Rides from 5-7:45pm. • Free Hot Chocolate, Coffee and Cookies. • Music, Caroling and Dance Performances on two stages from 5-8pm.

Like fashion? Want to support a worthy cause? Consider volunteering at 2nd Chance Boutique. This boutique raises money to support the nonprofit organization California Reentry Institute (www.2ndChanceBoutique.com). On December 11 and 21, you can support two great organizations. Bring a donation of a nonperishable food item to help Loaves & Fishes, and receive a 50% discount on any single item purchase in

the store. 2nd Chance Boutique provides its customers with a wide selection of new and gently used fashionable clothing, shoes and accessories for men, women and children. Whether you need something to wear to a party, a business meeting, or just hanging out, you will find it at our store, 4305 Clayton Road, Concord (on the corner of Clayton/Denkinger next to Safeway).

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Julie Says

Release Your Inner Monkey This Holiday Season BY JULIE ROSS Everything you need to know about living a full and happy life can be learned from wine labels, but only if you read the right ones. Fortunately, these labels (and the accompanying tasty beverages) can be found practically in our backyards. On a sunny October weekend, I sat on the patio of a converted horse barn in the Martinez hills at the Climbing Monkeys Winery (CMW). Adjacent to the patio were 2000 pounds of Cabernet Sauvignon grapes in fermenting vats, waiting to be transformed by the skilled chemistry and artful creativity of winemaker Marta Ashby. By now, these delicious grapes have been incorporated into expertly crafted red blends and bottled solo as – wait for the great name -- Super Cab-ifragilisticexpialidocious. (Sorry Mary Poppins, this is a

fantastic wine, even though the sound of it is something quite atrocious…) Like all CMW labels, a life lesson can be learned from the one on the back of a bottle of Super Cab. Here is an excerpt: “It’s OK to get out of your comfort zone. Feel the adrenaline and the blood rushing through your veins. It’s called living life, all those rules can wait….” And from the label on the PLAR (Party Like a Rockstar) Zinfandel, we get these words of wisdom: “It’s all about believing in yourself and knowing what you are capable of…leave the bad attitude at home and ride this roller coaster.” CMW is a family winery. Marta’s husband, Kevin, handles vineyard management and sales. As if this weren’t enough, Kevin is also “head cellar rat” (a job title I am thoroughly jealous of). Their son, Nicholas, who will take the winery into the future, is currently assistant winemaker and one of the cellar

rats responsible for behind-the-scenes work crucial to producing quality wines. Daughters Kristy and Lauren, along with future daughter-in-law, Nicole, are fellow cellar rats and brand advocates. To commemorate the marriage of Nicholas and Nicole next spring, a very special wine has been created, a “family blend” named Happily Ever After. The following lovely metaphor for marriage is from its label: “The family blend is a perfect blend of two strong varietals complementing, not overpowering, heightening the sensation of each other to another level. We perceive this state as Happily Ever After, the culminating moment when we know we have achieved utter bliss.” See what I mean about learning from wine labels? This is one marriage getting off on the right foot. But, wait. I almost forgot. You are probably wondering why the winery is called Climbing Monkeys. These people are avid rock climbers. When Nicholas

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was younger, Marta and Kevin marveled at how fast he climbed – just like a monkey. When it came time to apply for the license to operate the winery, the clerk asked for the name of their business. Name? They hadn’t thought about that. So, why not Climbing Monkeys? And the rest is history. You are invited to uncork your potential and release your inner monkey on Saturday, December 13, and Sunday, December 14, from 1 - 5pm, when the winery is open for tastings and sales to the public. Have a drink with Marta and Kevin, and pick up your holiday wine while you’re there. Check out their website at www.ClimbingMonkeys.com for directions and more info. Wine club memberships are available online and make a great holiday gift from a local family business. Thanks to travel pro Margaret Miner of VinoCruising for introducing me to CMW. You can reach Julie at julieakross@comcast.net.

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december 2014 • ourcommunityfocus.com

ONLINE: www.ourcommunityfocus.com

MISSION STATEMENT The Community Focus is a free, independent, monthly publication dedicated to highlighting the vibrancy of the local businesses and residents while strengthening and building connections within our community.

6680 Alhambra Ave. Box #132 Martinez, CA 94553

(925) 335-NEWS (6397)

INSIDE

Holiday Reading List

18 20

Giving vs Receiving

Holiday Happenings

Local Author Spotlight

Local Senior Activities

COVER: .............................................. Pleasant Hill Hospice Tree of Lights PHOTO BY: Susan Wood

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SUPPORTING OUR LOCAL

Proudly Sponsored by Les Schwab Martinez

ORGANIZATIONS

Martinez Kiwanis Selling See’s Candy

Selling See’s Candy is the primary fundraiser for this non-profit service organization. All proceeds benefit non-profit organizations that serve youth, the elderly and the needy as well as fund college and vocational scholarships awarded to Martinez students. Kiwanis has been a member of the Martinez community for over 85 years and currently has 64 members made up of professional people who wish to give back to their community by volunteering their talent, expertise and time. Collectively they donate over 2000 volunteer hours per year to the community and other non- profit organizations. YOU can help by supporting this worthwhile organization by purchasing See’s Candy at one of the following locations: • Les Schwab, 3800 Alhambra Ave., Martinez, M-F 8am-6pm and Sat. 8am-5pm. • Holiday Frolic & Snow Park celebration, downtown Martinez, December 5, 6 & 7. • Behind the Plate Clubhouse Grill, Nob Hill Shopping Center, Mtz.11am-7pm Call (925) 872-9840 or visit www.kiwanisofmartinez.org. for more locations and for additional information.

Focused on Foster Care

Mary Jane Harris, with Contra Costa County Children Services, and Pat Ensley, Direct Service Provider from Contra Costa County Independent Living Skills Program, spoke to club members at the monthly meeting of the Soroptimist International of Martinez. They gave an overview of the county’s foster care program, which is comprised of over 800 youth in either private foster care or group home care. Many of the youngsters involved in this system are there because of family circumstances which necessitate taking them out of the home environment. These youth need good role models and a connection to adult support to mentor them with life skill development. Social workers meet with the youth once a month in the home to assess the surroundings and care that the youth are receiving. The Independent Living Skills Program is a voluntary program that provides youth with a variety of workshops and activities designed to give them the skills and experiences necessary for a successful emancipation from the foster care system. Education, employment, budgeting, and meal planning and cooking are all part of life skills that these youth need to develop.

Toys for Tots By Al Boyce

The Alhambra Boosters would like to thank all who participated in the First Annual “Fill Up the Truck with Toys for Tots” drive at one of our football games this past season. If you were not able to attend that game, but want to help, you still can. For the 10th consecutive year, John and Jeni at Edward Jones Investment offer their office in Martinez as a drop off location for the Marines Toys for Tots program. We are asking for NEW and UNWRAPPED toys for children of all ages. Our outstanding Marines will distribute them to kids in need over the Christmas season. The toy drop off location is 608 Las Juntas Street, Martinez. We are accepting toys through December 18, between 9am and 4pm, Mon - Fri. Call (925) 370-0184 or email Jeni at jeni.waters@edwardjones.com for more information. Thanks for supporting the Toys for Tots program.

Pictured (LtoR) Mary Jane Harris- CCC Services, Stacy Lompa- President of Soroptimist of Martinez and Pat Ensley- CCC Services.

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ourcommunityfocus.com • december 2014

Home Inspection Tips Strategies for Buyers and Sellers BY GLENN ALLEN Before you buy or sell a home, it makes sense to have the home inspected by professional inspection companies. Next month, I will explain the many benefits of getting a “pre-sale” home inspection prior to putting your home on the market. If you are considering a home, there will come a time when you find one that looks right for your unique lifestyle, preferences, and needs. That said, a property can look ideal skin deep, but the condition not seen by the naked eye can be quite a different story. It is tempting to skip doing a complete battery of inspections, including home, pest, roof, chimney, and sewer lateral inspections. Big mistake. The most expensive purchase most people make is buying a home, so make sure you know about any issues before you

own it. My goal is for clients to know exactly what they are buying and avoid any surprises after they move in. Having the right information to make informed decisions avoids pitfalls and costly mistakes. You may think you have a good idea about the condition of a house just by walking through it yourself, but there are many other items to consider that require professional expertise. So, before coming to a final decision, consider some of the risks that an inspector with an experienced eye can see that you might miss. Some crucial items an inspector will look at include: foundation, wiring, plumbing, drainage, health and safety issues, and more. For the most part, inspectors look at the same things you do, but they know what to look for and they understand what items need to be fixed for the future of a home. Even the nicest looking homes for sale can hide potential health risks. One sinister and potentially harmful health issue to check for is house-

27 Tips to Drive Up the Sale of Your Home East Bay - Because your home may well be your largest asset, selling it is probably one of the most important decisions you will make in your life. And, once you have made that decision, you’ll want to sell your home for the highest price in the shortest time possible without compromising your sanity. Before you place your home on the market, here’s a way to help you to be as prepared as possible. To assist home sellers, a new industry report has just been released called, “27 Valuable Tips You Should Know to Get Your Home Sold Fast and for Top Dollar.” It tackles the important issues you need to know to make your home competitive in today’s tough, aggressive marketplace. With these 27 tips, discover how to protect and capitalize on your

most important investment, reduce stress, be in control of your situation, and make the most profit possible. Discover how to avoid financial disappointment or, worse, a financial disaster when selling your home. Using a common-sense approach, get the straight facts about what can make or break the sale of your home. You owe it to yourself to learn how these important tips will give you the competitive edge to get your home sold fast and for the most amount of money. To hear a brief recorded message about how to order your FREE copy of this report, call 1-800-597-9215 and enter ID 1237. You can call any time, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This report is courtesy of East Bay Residential Realty, BRE 01245396. Not intended to solicit buyers or sellers currently under contract. Copyright © 2013

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hold mold. Occurring naturally in dark and damp areas, the threat of mold requires a professional inspection because it can grow in areas you might not see just by walking through the house normally. Keep in mind that even inspectors have their limits, since some risks are beneath the surface or invisible to the naked eye. That’s why you might want to consider hiring an additional specialist. For example, environmental inspectors can address mold and asbestos, and a geotechnical or soil engineer looks at the soundness of the structure. At the end of the day, the final decision is up to you. Be well informed! The more information you have on a home, the better equipped you will be for making a final decision. A good inspection will catch things that the seller may not even be aware of. No one wants to buy a home only to realize they got more than they bargained for. The bottom line is that the more you know about

any home, the better prepared you’ll be for your final decision. As tempting as it can be to take a short cut and try to save some money, you must personally see to it that all the right items are inspected and tested. Rely on your agent to give you good advice and recommendations around this very important part of your real estate transaction. A thorough set of inspections before you seal the deal can save your billfold when it comes to money and heartache down the line. For additional information, go to www.TalkToGlenn.com. If you are looking for the most updated sales activity in your neighborhood, go to www.PleasantHillSalesReport.com or www.WalnutCreekSalesReport.com. We have the answers you are looking for! Glenn Allen, RE/MAX Real Estate agent, can be reached at glenn@TalkToGlenn.com, 925-709-1000 or visit www. TalkToGlenn.com.

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College Park Baseball

Team Honored with Invitation to National Tournament

eing the 2014 Diablo Valley Athletic League Champions, North Coast Section Champions, and CalHi Sports California D2 Team of the Year was just the beginning for the College Park High School baseball program. If they were under the radar before then, they are certainly on the map now. Returning eight of the starters from that championship team for the 2015 season has the Falcons poised for another championship run. But before that happens, they have some business to take care of in North Carolina. The National High School Invitational The College Park baseball team has been invited to participate in the National High School Invitational (NHSI) tournament, March 25-28, 2015, at the USA Baseball Training Complex in Cary, North Carolina. Sponsored by USA Baseball, Baseball America magazine, and the Town of Cary, the tournament features sixteen of the nation’s top high school baseball teams. The Falcons are the first team from Northern California ever to attend the event, and they are excited to have the opportunity to represent College Park, Pleasant Hill, and Northern California at this elite, national tournament. College Park Head Coach Andy Tarpley says the team can’t wait to compete against the nation’s best teams. “It’s such an honor to be the first team from NorCal to attend the NHSI, especially considering the monster talent that resides in our region of the state. Many schools may have two or three projectable players, but CP possesses the entire cast to make up a once-ina-century team. The entire program, including the incredibly devoted parents, hard working coaches, and super talented and smart players, are to be commended.” Having played on four USA Baseball National teams, CP player Joe DeMers is a USA Baseball veteran, but it’s really exciting for this pitcher to be heading back with his baseball team to the USA Baseball Training Complex he

The 2007 PHBA Condors team includes seven current CP Falcons: Trevor Larnach, Jeffrey Mitchell, Willie MacIver, Noah Burnham, Joe DeMers, JR Santiago and Chris Brown.

Falcons celebrating their NCS Championship win last year.

knows so well. “It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity, and the fact that I get to experience it with friends I’ve played with since I was seven is really amazing. I’m pumped.” In order to get to the tournament, the team has been fundraising since June. They are about half way to their goal and have several fundraisers planned. As the only high school in Pleasant Hill, they are turning to the Pleasant Hill businesses and community for support. They’ve held a poker tournament, started a letter campaign, and are hosting youth baseball clinics

and selling calendars, among other things. Visit the team’s website at www.collegeparkbaseball.net for more information on upcoming fundraisers or to make a donation online. About the College Park Baseball Team Seven of the CP senior players

signed their National Letters of Intent to play baseball at the next level during the NCAA early signing period: Chris Brown (UC Davis), Noah Burnham (UC Santa Barbara), Joe DeMers (University of Washington), Trevor Larnach (Oregon State University), Willie MacIver (University of Washington), Jeffrey Mitchell (UC Berkeley), and Nick Oar (Stanford University). When asked how he felt about signing with so many of his teammates, Jeffrey Mitchell shared, “Since we’ve all been playing together for so long, we’ve been pushing each other to reach this goal for a long time, and the fact that we could do it all together was really fulfilling.” Starting Out as PHBA Condors The majority of the CP players started their baseball careers playing for Pleasant Hill Baseball Association (PHBA). Seven of the returning seniors on the CP team played together on the Pleasant Hill Condors in 2007. Condors Head Coach Bruce MacIver said he realized these boys were special when they were ten years old. They played in the 10U USSSA Western World Series in Southern California not expecting much, but hoping to gain some good experience and have a fun baseball trip as the last hurrah of the season. Facing all of the Western United States’ and especially Southern California’s best club teams was daunting, but the Condors of Pleasant Hill battled hard and made it all the way to the championship game! They stunned the youth baseball community and set the bar high for themselves. MacIver used to address the team consistently with “our goal is to get you ready so you can play varsity baseball in high school.” Little did he realize that would not be the final stop in their baseball careers.

SUPPORT THE CP BASEBALL TEAM COLLEGE PARK HIGH SCHOOL is the first Northern California team EVER to play in the National High School Invitational. This is a HUGE honor and the team plans to make College Park and Pleasant Hill proud! Visit the team’s website at www.collegeparkbaseball.net for more information on upcoming fundraisers or to make a donation online. ourcommunityfocus.com • december 2014

City of Pleasant Hill

Mayor’s Message What if we had an election and no one voted? I have had an interest in government since I was a teenager. Initially, as part of my high school civics class, and later, because I just believed in getting out the vote during the election cycle, I volunteered in a number of local campaigns helping to energize voters and encourage them to vote. I have never been affiliated with a political party, but just follow the issues and candidates. Given my enthusiasm for the political process, I was disheartened that barely 46% of the registered voters in Contra Costa County cast a ballot in the November 4 election. As best I can tell, the voter turnout in Pleasant Hill was no better. I am not sure what can be done to address the collective apathy when it comes time to voting, and I wonder what we can expect in the future from our youth when they don’t see their parents participating and voting. I could wax nostalgic about going with one of my parents to the voting booth, and most of you now vote at your kitchen table. I would think a lesson about exercising the right to vote as the responsibility of every citizen is a lesson better taught at home by mom or dad while filling out the ballot, rather than a trip to the polling place (or you could do both!). If parents aren’t voting, what will our children do when it is their turn? My concern was alleviated a bit when, shortly after the election, I hosted the third grade class from Gregory Gardens Elementary School for a mock city council meeting in the Pleasant Hill City Council Chambers. I gently mentored Mayor Sienna and Councilmembers Gianni, Gwendolyn, Jameson and Stefano as they received public comment from their many classmates. The council then voted on several issues, including “Should students be allowed to wear Halloween costumes to school?” (which resulted in a surprising— at least to me – “No” vote) and “Should students learn cursive?” (Who knew stu8

dents were not learning cursive anymore?) After some compelling arguments for the skill, including “We need to learn cursive so we know how to write a check when we grow up,” and “If we don’t know cursive, we won’t be able to read the Declaration of Independence or what older people have written,” the student council voted to reinstate the teaching of cursive. These eight and nine-year-old students were bright and articulate, and I saw glimpses of the adults they would become. I left our meeting confident that, with continued encouragement and example, these kids might become active in the political process and fully exercise their right to vote at each opportunity to do so. I owe tremendous thanks to their teachers for arranging the event and preparing their class. What a great experience for the students—and for me.

My Thanks to You Over the past year as your mayor, in addition to all the work at City Hall and council meetings, I have had many memorable experiences representing the City of Pleasant Hill. For example, I have participated in the Contra Costa Mayors Conference. In October, Pleasant Hill was the host city for the conference, and I was pleased to showcase our Community Center to my fellow mayors. As mayor, I was presented with opportunities to experience the wonderful cultural diversity in Pleasant Hill. Did you know we have a Taoist Tai Chi Society? I didn’t until I was asked to speak at their first anniversary celebration. I also did not know Pleasant Hill is home to the Contra Costa Chinese School, where I was invited to visit their annual festival and meet the students, teachers and school president. I was privileged to pay tribute to the Class of 2014 at the College Park High School Baccalaureate and on Memorial Day to honor the sacrifices of members of the military at the foot of our beloved soldier’s monument. I thoroughly enjoyed invitations to your neighborhood barbecues

december 2014 • ourcommunityfocus.com

Tim Flaherty, Mayor of Pleasant Hill

and chatting with you at Off the Grid or just walking, dining and shopping around town. I met many new residents and business owners and very much appreciate the hard work of our Chamber of Commerce. I cut a fair number of ribbons and welcomed you to many community events. I

received your emails and phone calls and was pleased to be of some assistance in helping you seek solutions or connecting you to the appropriate city staffer. I sincerely thank you for the privilege of being your mayor this year. I had a great time.

Public Meetings Architectural Review Commission Dec. 4, 18 City Hall, 100 Gregory Lane, Small Community Room, 5pm. Contact: 671-5209 City Council Dec. 1, 15 City Hall, 100 Gregory Lane, Council Chambers, 7:30pm. Contact: 671-5229 Civic Action Commission Dec. 3 City Hall, 100 Gregory Lane, Small Community Room, 6:30pm. Contact: 671-5229 Planning Commission Dec. 9 City Hall, 100 Gregory Lane, Council Chambers, 7:30pm. Contact: 671-5209 City Hall closed December 24-25. For Confirmation Visit: www.ci.pleasant-hill.ca.us

Chamber Calendar

680 Business Clubs, Business Building Networking, meet twice monthly. Please call the Chamber office for more information. Wednesdays - Off the Grid Food Trucks 5-9pm. Trelany Road, PH. 12/3 – Light Up the Night in Downtown Pleasant Hill 4 - 8pm. 40 Crescent Drive, PH. 12/10 – Business Workshop 11:30am - 1:30pm. Pleasant Hill City Hall Community Room, 100 Gregory Lane, PH. Reservations needed. 12/11 – Business Mixer 5 - 7pm. Lucille’s Smokehouse BBQ, 486 Sunvalley Mall, Concord. 12/15 – Green Business Committee Meeting 4 – 5pm. Location: Daily Digital, 3440 Vincent Road, Suite I, PH. 12/24 – 1/2 – Happy Holidays! Chamber Office Closed.

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City News CERT Training Classes for 2015 Class #1 on Mondays: January 26, February 2, February 9, February 23, March 2 and March 9. All classes are 6 – 9pm at the Seventh Day Adventist Church Academy, 800 Grayson Road, Pleasant Hill. To sign up for the next class, visit http://www. ci.pleasant-hill.ca.us/forms.aspx?FID=69.

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Emergency Preparation Speaker Series Maria Duazo, hazardous materials specialist with the Contra Costa Health Services Department, will speak on common, but hazardous, chemicals and materials found in the home. How should these be stored? What is their shelf-life and how should they be disposed? Why can mixing them lead to toxic results? Seating is free but limited for each presentation. It is recommended that you reserve your seat for CERT’s speakers’ series by contacting Jim Bonato at 938-5433 or jbonato@aol.com. The series takes place December 18th, at 7pm at the Pleasant Hill Community Center, 320 Civic Drive.

Holiday Book Sale Friends of the Pleasant Hill Library will hold its pre-holiday book sale December 6, behind the library at 1750 Oak Park Blvd., 10am - 3:30pm, members can enter at 9:30am, entry is free. For more information, to volunteer, or in case of rain that day, contact fophlsale@gmail.com.

Golf Club Road Bridge Replacement Project The project contractor Bay Cities Paving & Grading and their subcontractors are currently working on Stage 2,which is primarily the removal and reconstruction of the north side of the Golf Club Road Bridge and approaching roadway. It is anticipated the northern portion of the (new) bridge will be opened for west bound traffic by late December 2014.

Sandbag Stations Pleasant Hill city staff has set up two sand bag stations at City Hall’s front parking lot and the northwest corner of the Community Center parking lot.

Take the Pleasant Hill Library Task Force Survey The Pleasant Hill Library Task Force was established by the city council in April 2014 to conduct a needs assessment and explore the feasibility of building a new community library. The Task Force has been meeting regularly and is hoping to get your feedback on what you would like to see in a new library facility. Please take this brief survey so that we can keep in contact with you and share information as we move forward. Visit the City of Pleasant Hill webpage at: www.ci.pleasant-hill.ca.us and click on “Library Task Force” on the right side. Scroll to the bottom of the page and find the link to the survey.

Reminder: Plastic Bag Ban The plastic bag ban goes into effect on February 4, 2015. Under the ordinance, all restaurants, grocery, pharmacy and retail stores in Pleasant Hill will no longer provide single-use, carryout plastic bags. Stores will be permitted to sell paper bags with handles, for a minimum of 10 cents for each bag.

PH Panther Tryouts Girls Competitive Travel Softball Spring/Summer Tryouts 12U 14U Saturday, December 6, 2-5pm • Pleasant Hill Middle School Pre-Register at PHBA.org

Serving the best pizza in Pleasant Hill comes naturally to us: fresh dough, real ingredients and quality service have made us the neighborhood pizza restaurant of choice since the 1970s. Our restaurants are family oriented and perfect for parties, sports teams and groups of all sizes. Planning a birthday party or special event? Give us a call, make a reservation and we’ll take care of the rest. Yes, we deliver open til close, all day long. Let Mountain Mike’s Pizza deliver to your door, or come on in for dine-in or take out! Open Mon-Thurs 11am-10pm, Fri-Sat 11am-11pm, and Sun 11am-10pm. Mountain Mike’s Pizza in Pleasant Hill, 1962 Contra Costa Blvd, Call us today (925) 363-3494.

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Leisa Christensen 925.699.6918 ourcommunityfocus.com • december 2014

City of Martinez PHOTO BY STAHLBERG

Mayor’s Message For the last several months, all of us have been enduring what many call the “silly season.” This is a time leading up to the November elections when elected officials are sometimes not quite themselves, and it seems as though local government slows down as the political rhetoric heats up. This season was particularly “silly,” with several candidates vying for city council and mayor. Now that all of the votes have been counted and the political graffiti and blight have been removed from our streets and roads, we can get back to the business of moving Martinez forward. The first order of business for the new council will be to set aside their personal and political differences and concentrate on the duties that have been entrusted to them by the people of Martinez. There are some hurt feelings and

personal grudges, but those need to be mended for the good of the community. One of the most important actions the new council will be taking is the hiring of a new permanent city manager. Martinez has been without a permanent city manager for over a year, and we have been running the city with a series of interim managers, all of which have done amazing work in a very difficult political climate. The search firm that we hired to recruit a city manager has developed a list of extremely qualified and talented candidates. The city council will be holding interviews on December 15 and 16. Our goal is to choose a candidate and make an offer before the holidays arrive. The next very important decision for the new city council will be the hiring of a permanent chief of police. In most

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cities, it is the city manager that hires the chief of police, but in Martinez the chief is an employee of the city council, as are the city manager and the city attorney. All other city employees work for these three individuals. It is my view that we should have a permanent city manager on board before we make a final decision on a chief of police. Now that the chief will be reporting directly to the city manager and not

the city council (a change the city council made a few months ago), the new city manager needs to be part of this very important decision. With the economy continuing to improve, we have a window of opportunity to accomplish many improvements in our community. Filling these two critical positions in our city government will allow us to get back to getting things done for Martinez.

Public Meetings

City Council Meeting Dec. 3, 17 City Hall, 525 Henrietta Street, 7-11pm. Contact: 372-3500 Design Review Meeting Dec. 10 City Hall, 525 Henrietta Street, 3-5pm. Contact: 372-3500 Planning Commission Meeting Dec. 9, 23 City Hall, 525 Henrietta Street, 7-11pm. Contact: 372-3500 Zoning Administrator Meeting Dec. 3, 17 City Hall, 525 Henrietta Street, 3-5pm. Contact: 372-3500 City Hall closed from December 24 through January 1, 2015 For Confirmation Visit: www.cityofmartinez.org

Chamber Calendar 12/5 - Martinez Holiday Light Parade. The parade starts at 6:30pm from Martinez City Hall and goes through Downtown Martinez. To register to participate call 372-3510. 12/5-12/7 - Martinez Holiday Frolic & Snow Park. Synthetic ice rink, snow park, kids games and crafts, Friday will feature the parade and Children’s Activities. For more information call 925-228-3577.

‘Your Pet Friendly Realtor’

I’m here for you and your Pets!

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12/11 - Chamber Holiday Party 5:30-7:30pm. Martinez Art Gallery, 630 Court St., Martinez. Cash Bar, Hors d’oeuvres and libations. 12/25-12/26 - Closed for Holidays 1/1/15-1/2/15 - Closed for New Years From our Chamber Office to You – Have a Safe and Joyous Holiday!!

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City News Need a Last Minute Gift? If you know someone who loves to shop or dine in Martinez, a Main Street Martinez gift card might be the perfect option! It can be customized and sent directly to the recipient. You can choose from preselected styles or upload you own photo! The card will be mailed to you or within 4-5 days of your purchase. You can see a list of participating businesses where you can redeem your card on the GiftCard web-

december 2014 • ourcommunityfocus.com

City of Martinez City News Continued

City News Continued

site, and more downtown businesses are added to the list each week. Give the gift of downtown Martinez and support local businesses! Visit www.MainStreetMartinez.org homepage for the link to purchase!

1973. The proposed development project will go before the Martinez City Council at the December 3 meeting.

Holiday Frolic, Light Parade, Snow Park, & Skating Rink

The East Bay Regional Park District opened the 1.7 mile segment of the San Francisco Bay Trail along the Carquinez Strait near Martinez. Just west of the Martinez City Limits, the old “Carquinez Scenic Highway,” between the Cemeteries and East Bay Regional Park District’s (EBRPD) “Nejedly Staging Area” and Port Costa, reopened on November 8. In a dedication ceremony, the segment was renamed the George Miller Regional Trail (part of the San Francisco Bay Trail) in honor of retiring U.S. Rep. George Miller in recognition of his contributions to the East Bay Regional Park District and his almost 40 years of public service. Although not open to automobile traffic, it now functions as a bike, pedestrian and equestrian trail. The trail was a part of the historic Carquinez Scenic Drive, however, it was closed to vehicles due to landslides in 1983. Work to stabilize the segment began in 2013. The newly opened trail provides a safe and accessible route between Martinez, Port Costa, and Crockett for pedestrian, bicycle and equestrian users and can be used for emergency access. It offers breathtaking vistas of the Bay and Carquinez Strait.

The annual Holiday Frolic weekend is Friday, December 5, through Sunday, December 7. The December 5 activities will be held along Court Street and include crafts, games, activities and costume characters. You can find a balloon artist, face painters, jump house, and giant board games along Main Street. Santa and city dignitaries will light the Tree of Spirit at 5:30pm. This year’s festivities include the addition of the Sequoia Middle School’s string orchestra. This talented group will provide the sounds of the season from 5:30-6 pm. The Children’s Light Parade will begin at 6:30pm and include the Alhambra 4 High School Band, local organizations, dance groups, 4-H groups and more. Vehicles, wagons, bicycles and people decked out in lights will lead Santa from Martinez City Hall to the Main Street Plaza. In addition, the American Red Cross will join the procession for the first time. The city has purchased 600 light wands for youngsters participating in the Children’s Light Parade. Parents need to register with Recreation to receive a light for their child(ren) To register, call Robin Agostino at 3723510. Additional events and festivities include the snow park, iceless skating rink, walk through snow globe, and of course, Santa. These activities begin at 1pm on Friday, December 5, and go through 5pm on Sunday, December 7. For more information, fees and hours, contact Main Street Martinez at 229-3577.

Letters from Santa Claus (Carte de Santa Claus) Every child loves to receive mail, and a letter from Santa Claus would be an extra special surprise! Santa’s elves will send a warm, friendly letter (with no special promises) approximately one week before Christmas. The letter includes information about Rudolph, elves at the workshop, and a holiday activity. Letters are also available for Spanish speaking children. Reserve a letter by calling the Recreation Department at 925-372-3510. You can also drop by the office at City Hall, 525 Henrietta Street. Santa’s helpers appreciate the donation of a ﬁrst class stamp per child. The last day to request a letter is Friday, December 12.

Snake Road Trail Reopens

Holiday Boutique The holiday boutique is at the old train depot in Downtown Martinez and presented by the Martinez Arts Association and local artisans. Gifts at the boutique are truly unique, handmade, and crafted with care. Open Wednesday-Sunday, beginning on December 5. Hours are Thursday and Friday, 4 - 8pm; Saturday, noon-8pm; and Sunday, 11am-3pm. For more information, visit www.MartinezArts.org.

Possible Development of Pine Meadows Golf Course At the November 12 planning commission meeting, the commission voted 6-1 to allow a proposed residential project at the site of the 50-year-old Pine Meadows Golf Course in Martinez. The 25.9-acre project site, which consists of a 9-hole golf course, pro shop and restaurant, is located on the southwest corner of the intersection between Vine Hill Way and Rolling Hill Way. The site currently has an Open Space & Recreation, Permanent General Plan Land Use Designation (OS/R) and Mixed Use-Open Space/Recreation Facilities Zoning Designation (M-OS/RF). The proposed project would require a General Plan Amendment to change the land use designation from OS/R to Residential. The proposed project would require a rezone from M-OS/RF to Residential. The development includes up to 99 single-family residential units. The project applicant, DeNova Homes, has submitted a preliminary landscape plan, grading and drainage plan, utility plan, storm water control plan, and a tree removal and demolition plan. Pine Meadows Golf Course was privately designed and built by James Coward and opened in 1966. The property was annexed into the city in 1970 with properties (Hidden Lakes Area) that were later developed into single-family homes. The area is predominately residential and the golf course is still owned and operated by the original property owner’s family. During the General Plan Amendment process in 1973 the property was designated Open Space/Recreation, Permanent as part of the Hidden Lakes Study Area. There have been no changes to the site’s land use designation since

Martinez Kiwanis Club

Annual Christmas Fundraiser Visit the Kiwanis Store Les Schwab Tires 3800 Alhambra Ave Martinez

Information: 925 872-9840 Behind the Plate Clubhouse Grill • Nob Hill Shopping Center, Martinez • 11am- 7pm

ourcommunityfocus.com • december 2014

Giving vs. Receiving Each year the Community Focus compiles a list of local organizations that provide services and caring for those in need of assistance over the holidays. Donations to these organizations have a direct impact on seniors, families and homeless individuals right here in our community. Donations needed range from gently used blankets, and clothing to food, cash and volunteers hours. Christmas for Everyone provides each person with a new gift and almost-new clothing, serves a traditional Christmas meal and provides entertainment for both children and adults. Food and a gifts can be delivered to the homebound upon request. Visit website or call for various donations sites. (925) 228-2233 www.christmasforeveryone.com Loaves & Fishes of Contra Costa feeds the hungry by providing free and hot nutritious meals at local dining facilities. 1985 Bonifacio Street, # 100, Concord, CA 94520 • (925) 687-6760 www.loavesfishescc.org Food Bank of Contra Costa & Solano works to end hunger and increase access to nutritious food for low-income individuals and families. P.O. Box 6324, Concord, CA 94524 Foster A Dream provides programs and resources that build the hopes, dreams and futures of Bay Area foster children and is a guiding source for successful transition into the adult world. 628 Escobar St. Martinez, CA 94553

(925) 228-0200 • www.fosteradream.org Salvation Army works towards “the advancement of the Christian religion of education, the relief of poverty, and other charitable objects beneficial to society or the community of mankind as a whole.” 3950 Clayton Road, Concord, CA 94521 (925) 676-6180 www.salvationarmyconcordca.org Catholic Charities East Bay works with youth, children and families to promote self-sufficiency, strengthen families and pursue safety and justice. 3540 Chestnut Ave. Concord, CA 94519 (925) 825.3099 • www.cceb.org Meals on Wheels of Contra Costa your cash donation will be used to help prepare and deliver a hot meal to an elderly senior that says, “You are not forgotten.” P.O. Box 3195, Martinez, CA 94553 (866) 669-6697 www.mealsonwheelsofcontracosta.org Meals on Wheels & Senior Outreach Services coordinates care for older adults (over 60) in Contra Costa who have a wide variety of needs. Their

six programs – Meals on Wheels, Fall Prevention, Home Care Referral, Friendly Visitors, C. C. Cafes, and Geriatric Care offer a full-service resource to seniors in need. Meals on Wheels and Friendly Visitors rely on volunteers to deliver hot meals to 700 homebound local seniors or to provide weekly one-hour visits to isolated seniors. 1300 Civic Drive, Walnut Creek, CA 94596 Ofc: (925) 937-8311, ext 133 www.mowsos.org Contra Costa Interfaith Housing provides permanent, affordable housing and vital support services to homeless and at-risk families and individuals in CC County. 3164 Putnam Blvd. Ste. C , Walnut Creek, CA 94597, (925) 677-0680 http://ccinterfaithhousing.org Monument Crisis Center offers nutritious food, resources and referrals to low-income individuals and families to help them become stable and secure. 1990 Market St. Concord, CA 94520 (925) 825-7751 www.monumentcrisiscenter.org

Shelter Inc. of Contra Costa rebuilds lives, one family at a time, by giving them a home, the skills and the resources to live the life they deserve. 1815 Arnold Drive, Martinez, CA 94553 (925) 335-0698 • www.shelterincofccc. org STAND for Families Free of Violence is a catalyst for breaking the multi-generational cycle of violence, promoting safe and strong relationships, and rebuilding lives. 1410 Danzig Plaza, Suite 100 Concord, CA 94520, (925) 676-2845 http://www.standagainstdv.org Winter Nights Shelter provides a clean, safe, and warm facility at night and a daytime services center during winter for homeless seniors and families with children. 1543 Sunnyvale Ave, Walnut Creek, CA 94597, (925) 933-6030. www.cccwinternights.org

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december 2014 • ourcommunityfocus.com

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100% Satisfaction Guarantee At Carlton Senior Living, fun times with friends are never far. Simply walk out your door and start enjoying the activities and lively conversation that Chateau on Broadway has to offer. Whether it’s toe-tapping live music or just a cup of coffee with friends, at Carlton Senior Living, your days are full of fun.

At Carlton Senior Living’s Chateau on Broadway you can enjoy your morning cup of coffee with friends – every morning! With a well-equipped coffee bar in the midst of a lively, activity filled community, you’re never far from friends, fun and of course – coffee! Visit the community, meet some new friends and enjoy a cup of java. When finding a senior living community, remember that the environment, activities and people are what make it a place you will call home. Please call today to schedule a visit, enjoy a complimentary Sunday brunch and reserve your new home.

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CarltonSeniorLiving.com ourcommunityfocus.com • december 2014

Read My Mind© Your Holiday Reading List

BY MICHAEL G. HARRIS, OD If you get time over the holidays to catch up on your reading, or you’re looking for the perfect gift, here are some books you should put on your holiday reading list. When film critic Gene Siskel asked Oprah Winfrey what she knew for sure, she was stumped. That question prompted her to write a monthly column in O magazine on this topic. Her book, What I Know For Sure, is a compilation of columns she’s written over the past 14 years. Full of wisdom and sage advice, this little book was a joy to read. Listening to the audiobook in Oprah’s own words is even better! Imagine you’re on the first manned space trip to land on Mars. Now imagine that the rest of the crew is forced to evacuate the planet and leave you

behind. Well, that’s what happens to Mark Watley in Andrew Weir’s bestseller, The Martian. Watley is the first person to walk on Mars. Now he may become the first person to die there. Because of a dust storm, he is stranded and unable to contact Earth or his shipmates to let them know he’s still alive. But Watley is no quitter. Through his ingenuity and perseverance, he manages to stay alive against unbelievable odds. The only question is: Can he be rescued before it’s too late? This combination thriller– sci-fi novel will keep you in suspense to the very end. The Roosevelts: An Intimate History by Geoffrey C. Ward and Ken Burns is a wonderful companion to the PBS series that chronicled the lives of three truly remarkable 20th-century heroes. We follow the lives and careers of Teddy, Franklin, and Eleanor through the good, the bad, and the ugly. Whether or not you’ve seen the TV series, you’ll find this

everything he’d ever tried. Yet, at the age of 32, he hit it big with his Dilbert comic strip. How to Fail at Almost Everything and Still Win Big is his story of grabbing success after a world of failures. Should be of interest to any Dilbert fan. Former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and her astronaut husband, Mark Kelly, are on a crusade for “responsible gun ownership.” Enough: Our Fight to Keep America Safe from Gun Violence documents their efforts to get Congress to find sensible solutions to gun violence while upholding the Second Amendment. They have a unique perspective for seeing both sides of the gun issue. Both gun owners, they experienced firsthand the tragic consequences of guns getting into the hands of the wrong people. Regardless of your side on this issue, you will find their story engaging and compelling. Happy holidays and happy reading!

Disabled Veterans Association: Fulfilling our Promises to the Men and Women who Served

Feeding the Hungry of our Community Food Bank of Contra Costa & Solano

We are dedicated to a single purpose: empowering veterans to lead highquality lives with respect and dignity. We accomplish this by: • Providing free, professional assistance to veterans and their families in obtaining benefits and services earned through military service and provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and other agencies of government. • Providing outreach concerning its program services to the American people generally, and to disabled veterans and their families specifically. • Representing the interests of disabled veterans, their families, their widowed spouses and their orphans before Congress, the White House and the Judicial Branch, as well as state and local government. • Extending DAV’s mission of hope into the communities where these veterans and their families live through a network of state-level Departments and local chapters. • Providing a structure through which disabled veterans can express their compassion for their fellow veterans through a variety of volunteer programs.

Hunger exists in every corner of our community and affects people of all ages, ethnicities, education levels and employment status. The economy may be getting better, but for far too many in our community that has not yet translated into an income level that can keep food on the table. The number of people to whom the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano provides food has increased more than 25% in the last two years. In fact, one in eight residents now rely on the Food Bank. Last year, because of amazing community support, the Food Bank provided the equivalent of 16 million meals to your neighbors in need; more than half of the food was fresh produce. With your help, the Food Bank can bring hope, relief and security to our neighbors struggling with hunger. To help feed a neighbor in need, contact the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano at www.foodbankccs.org or 855-309-FOOD.

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5% of Glenn’s net proceeds from each sale are donated to the local charity of his client’s choice. 14

book chock-full of wonderful photos and stories of a family that was at the center of American life and politics for almost half a century. This makes a great gift, especially for those who were alive when FDR was President. One of my favorite authors, Isabel Allende, has moved into a new genre with her latest bestseller, Ripper. Allende is best known for her books about heroines in Chile and Argentina. Her new book takes place in modern-day San Francisco and follows a group of misfits who play an online game called “Ripper.” They must use the skills they learned from the game to solve a series of real murders. Do these murders have a connection? Were they all committed by the same murderer, as in the original Jack the Ripper serial killings? It will take all the skills and talents of our intrepid sleuths to solve this series of crimes. Scott Adams has failed at almost

december 2014 • ourcommunityfocus.com

Alhambra’s NCS Run The Alhambra High School Bulldogs defeated the Petaluma High School Trojans, 34 to 14, in the first round of NCS playoffs at their home field Friday, November 14. This game was senior quarterback Josh Evans’ first game back after breaking his collarbone in early September. He healed just in time for playoffs, completing 19 of 21 passes for 273 yards, including four touchdown passes. The Bulldogs traveled to Marin Catholic-Kentfield for their second round match Saturday, November 22. The NCS run ended there with a 48-9 loss.

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CALL TODAY Pictured is junior tight end Josh Abraham receiving a 17-yard pass in the end zone. Photo by www.TODGOMES.com.

CP Tennis Congratulations to the College Park girls’ tennis team for a strong season. Erica Kemp was DVAL singles runner up, and the doubles team of Kayla Southwick and Maddie Winterich were the doubles runners up. Kristina Lecesova from Northgate defeated Erica Kemp of College Park in the DVAL Singles Championship 6-2, 6-0 to win the league championship and MVP honors for the season. The Berean Christian Doubles Team of Gabby Nobili and Gianna Nobili defeated College Park’s Kayla Southwick and Maddie Winterrich 6-0, 3-6, 6-3 to take home the doubles crown.

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Fantastic X-Country Season At the League finals held at Hidden Lakes Park on November 1, College Park proved a force to be reckoned with claiming four league titles; Girls Frosh/Soph, Girls JV, Boys JV and Boys Varsity. Boys Frosh/Soph took third and Girls Varsity took second. The runners battled local rivals and proved to be strong competitors. November 22, in the pouring rain at Hayward High School, the Varsity squads took NCS by storm, with the boys finishing 5th in their division, 10th overall, and girls finishing 4th in their division, 15th overall. Standout performances were by junior David Phair and freshman Chloe Beardsley. Both teams finished well ahead of league rivals, Northgate and Clayton Valley. Congratulations to all of the athletes for an exciting year.

Babiak Makes State BY CLAY KALLAM Martinez resident Sydney Babiak of Bentley School made history on November 18. She was the first athlete from the small Lafayette high school to participate in a state championship. Babiak, a senior, has been a force in North Coast Section golf since her freshman year and has competed around the country in summer tournaments, but getting to the California CIF girls’ golf championships was a tremendous achievement, even for golfers of her caliber. Bentley does not have a girls’ golf team, so Babiak must enter the Bay Area Conference girls’ tournament without

benefit of regular competition. She had to be one of the top eight golfers at the NCS Division II tournament, not just on one of the top few teams. She competed in the NCS Tournament and fired a 73 to move on to the NorCal championships, earning her spot at the state tournament in Southern California. Starting in February, Sydney will begin practice with the Bentley boys’ team, where she is the No. 1 golfer on a team that will be the favorite to win the Bay Counties League-East title. In the fall, Babiak will play golf at Yale, which is a tribute not only to her ability with a bag of clubs, but her success in the classroom as well.

2014 College Park Cross Country Team

Photo Credit Vincent Jurgens, Bentley School

Panthers Softball (LtoR) Kevin Orellana, Nick Chuman, David Phair, Coach Gil Llacuna, Paul Ramstad, Spenser Grinbergs, Noah Hurley, Jake Eide

The 14U Summer Panthers playing up in the inaugural Pleasant Hill Pink Panther Fall tournament, Oct 4-5, took 2nd in the Silver 18U championship, playing 4 consecutive games on Sunday to get there. The panthers are holding tryouts on December 6 at Pleasant Hill Middle School for their U12 and U14 teams. Visit PHBA.org for more information, or to register.

(LtoR) Selena Seliba, Emma Swanson, Brooklyn Aquilar, Julia Parks, Coach Gil Llacuna, Emily Dowey, Chloe Beardsley, Kelly Seto, Jamie Busby, Carrie Hunter

Front row, L to R: Olivia Cannizzo, Emily Vickers, Sydney King, Chloe Whiting. Back row, L to R: Victoria Plato, Sarah Miller, Fiona Walsh, Kailey Meyer, Elly O’Bryant, Tricia Leong, Abby Morris, Kaylie Stephens. Not pictured: Ally Carroll, Emily Howie.

december 2014 • ourcommunityfocus.com

DVC Polo Sweeps Regionals

CP Girls Water Polo

Congrats to the Diablo Valley College men’s and women’s water polo teams for sweeping the 2014 California Community College Athletic Association Nor Cal Regionals, both earning a #1 seed in the State Playoffs. The DVC men defeated No.2 West Valley, 15-14 in overtime, to earn the North title after losing to the same team in last year’s NorCal Regionals. The DVC women beat Foothill, 9-6, to win the women’s North title. Both teams traveled to Sacramento for the State Championship Tournament on November 21. The women’s team placed 3rd in State and goalie Shelby Sailing, a College Park graduate, was named a 2014 Northern California All American.

Congratulations to this year’s College Park Girls Water Polo team! The varsity girls placed second in DVAL, both in regular season play as well as in the league tournament, earning a spot in the NCS playoffs for the first time in four years. Under the direction of the new head coach, Lauren Seidemann, the players posted a 4-2 league record while placing third in the Chuck McCollum Sierra Shootout Tournament in Sacramento earlier in the season. JV had a great year as well, finishing up the season by placing second in the league JV tournament, collectively outscoring opponents 27-13 along the way.

College Park Girls Varsity Water Polo

Lightning Wins Tourney Lightning, Martinez Pleasant Hill Futbol Club’s U11 team, continued their strong debut season with a championship win at the DFC Kick or Treat tournament, October 2526. The weekend started with Halloween fun with the Lightning girls playing in ninja costumes on their way to 4-0 and 3-1 wins. The final treat was a hard fought championship victory, 4-1, over the Mill Valley Rockers. We wish Lightning great success as they move on to the Nor Cal State Cup tournament.

College Park Girls JV Water Polo

Dogs go to State Alhambra seniors Allie Timbrell and Michael Viano both qualified for the State Cross Country meet. Timbrell finished eighth in her race with a time of 18:45 and Viano finished 13th with a time of 16:25. Both will travel to Frenso to compete against the top runners in the state.

Back Row, L to R: Lucy Lamborn, Gabby Thomas, Emma Goth, Julia Gorham, Adiva Asefi, Lue Van Handel. Front Row, L to R: Claire Sawin, Ruby McCabe, Brenda Armenta, Makayla Clauson (guest), Claire Moran, Danielle Nelson. Coach Bruce Lamborn, Trainer Megan McFerrin. Photo by Lesley Honeyford.

Alhambra Girls Varsity Cross Country Team ourcommunityfocus.com • december 2014

Holiday Concerts

Start the Holidays Off With Two Spirited Performances

Holiday Boutique Handmade Gifts by Local Artisans that are Truly Unique and Crafted with Care Presented by the Martinez Arts Association

DECEMBER 5 - 21, 2014 Open Wednesday though Sunday Closed Monday & Tuesday

At the Old Train Depot in Downtown Martinez at the end of Ferry Street by the Railroad Tracks

BOUTIQUE HOURS:

Wed. to Fri. 11:30am to 1:30pm Thurs. to Fri. 4:00pm to 8:00pm Sat. 12noon to 8:00pm Sun. 11:00am to 3:00pm

MartinezArts.org

The Diablo Regional Concert Band performs their Christmas concert on Friday, December 12, at the Benicia Library (150 East L Street) at 7:30pm and on Sunday, December 14, at Grace Episcopal Church (130 Muir Station Road) at 2pm. Admission to both events is free, but donations are gladly accepted. The Diablo Regional Concert Band is a self-supporting, all-volunteer organization of 30 musicians under the direction of Cora Martens. It began in 1910 as the Martinez Liberty Band and has played at various venues this past year, including the Benicia Military Cemetery, Benicia Yacht Club, Benicia Veterans Hall, Martinez 4th of July Parade, Martinez Veterans Hall, Golden Gate Park Band Festival, and the Brentwood Community Center. The band practices on Thursday evenings in Martinez. Everyone who enjoys playing a band instrument is welcome to sign up at the Martinez Adult Education office. For more information, call director Cora Martens at (925) 451-6222. The Diablo Women’s Chorale presents “Holiday Sweet,” a luscious confection of seasonal and vintage pop music, Friday, December 12, 7:30 pm and Saturday, December 13, 2 pm, at Mt. Diablo Universalist Unitarian Church, 55 Eckley Lane, Walnut Creek. The holiday performance is directed by Mary Sorenson and accompanied by Stephen Evans. Advance tickets are $10 students, $16 general admission, and $20 premium seating at www.diablowomenschorale.org, or call 800.838.3006. Tickets purchased at the door will be $20 general admission and $10 for students.

5th Annual • Free Admission

• Holiday season’s largest indoor shopping extravaganza • Special one-of-a-kind holiday gifts & stocking stuffers • Free holiday crafts activities

(have the kids make their presents) • Free raffle ticket for each attendee • Free Santa photo opportunity • Holiday refreshments & goodies for sale • Free Holiday Goody Bag for first 200 families

Friday, Dec. 5, 5 - 8 p.m. ALSO Sunday, Dec. 7 11 a.m - 3 p.m. Centre Concord ORS D N VE COME WEL 18

Produced by Bay Area Festivals, Inc.

december 2014 • ourcommunityfocus.com

• Bring canned goods for Food Bank of Contra Costa Benefiting Thankfulness in California

Supporting all military personnel

Pleasant Hill Senior Center 233 Gregory Lane

Across from City Hall & Bed Bath and Beyond

www.SuperHolidayBoutique.com

Local Holiday Events Unique Gifts from Local Artisans December 1 - 24 See’s Candy sales by Martinez Kiwanis Purchase your holiday See’s candy at one of the following locations: Les Schwab Tires, 3800 Alhambra Avenue, Monday Saturday 8pm - 6pm (Saturdays ‘til 5pm); Holiday Frolic & Snow Park celebration downtown Martinez, December 5, 6 & 7. Visit www.kiwanisofmartinez.org or call 925.872.9840. December 5 - 7 Civic Arts Education’s Holiday Artists’ Market This year’s market includes more ceramics and will be our biggest ever! This is your chance to pick up one-ofa-kind artistic creations for yourself or for gift-giving, including functional and decorative ceramics, glass art, paintings, photography, printmaking, jewelry and textiles. Shadelands Art Center, 111 N. Wiget Lane, Walnut Creek, 5 - 9pm, Friday, 12/5: Opening Gala and sale with live music, hors d’oeuvres and an oppor-

tunity to meet the artists; 10am - 6pm, Saturday & Sunday, 12/6 & 12/7. December 5 - 21 The Martinez Arts Association in coordination with the City of Martinez, welcomes all to the 3rd annual Holiday Boutique, highlighting unique and handmade artwork by local artisans. The Old Train Depot, downtown Martinez at the end of Ferry Street. Opening day, Friday, 12/5 - 1pm; Wednesday - Friday (days) - 11:30am - 1:30pm; Thursday & Friday (nights) - 4:00pm to 8:00pm; Saturday - 12pm 8pm; Sunday - 11am - 3pm. December 5 - 7 5th Annual Super Holiday Boutique Friday, Dec. 5, 5 - 8pm, Pleasant Hill Senior Center, 233 Gregory Lane. First time in Pleasant Hill! Sunday, Dec. 7, 11am – 3pm at Centre Concord, 5298 Clayton Rd. Special one-of-a-kind holiday gifts and stocking stuffers. Free holiday

Church Services Grace Epsicopal Church Advent Services Sundays Nov. 30, Dec. 7, & Dec. 14 at 8am & 10am. Christmas Services Dec. 24, Midnight Mass at 10:30pm and Dec. 25, Christmas Day Service 10am. All are welcome! 130 Muir Station Rd., Martinez. Dec. 2, Christmas luncheon hosted by St. Christopher’s Guild, 11:30am; $12 per person. Call 925-348-6309 for information, tickets and/or to reserve a table. Hillcrest Church December 5, Family movie night: The Polar Express, 6pm. We will be decorating sugar cookies and serving pizza; December 24, Family Service & Pageant at 5pm. Candlelight Service at 11pm. Hillcrest Congregational Church, 404 Gregory Lane, Pleasant Hill, www.hillcrestucc.org. Christ Community Church of the Nazarene December 13 & 14, 6 - 8pm. Walkthrough live Nativity: The Journey to Bethlehem. The Journey to Bethlehem is a walk through live nativity that happens continually throughout the evening. We invite you to come experience animals and scenes from that first Christmas long ago. Free holiday refreshments will be served.

ADMISSION IS FREE!

December 13 & 14

Christ Community Church of the Nazarene 1650 Ashbury Drive, Concord (925) 685-4343

crafts activities and a free Santa photo opportunity. Benefiting Food Bank of Contra Costa and Thankfulness in California to raise awareness and respect of all military personnel. www.SuperHolidayBoutique.com December 6 - 7 Holiday Boutique at Rogers Ranch Saturday & Sunday, 10am to 4pm. Visit with Frosty the Snowman on Saturday and shop for unique and handmade gifts. www.RogersRanch.org. December 6 Christmas Boutique Join us on Saturday, 10am-2pm, for a day of shopping, baked goods and fun while supporting local crafters and home vendors. Faith Lutheran Church, 50 Woodsworth Lane, Pleasant Hill.

Celebrate the Season with Grace Episcopal Church

Dec. 21 at 10am Lessons & Carols Dec. 24 at 5pm Christmas Pageant and Children's Mass Dec. 24 at 10pm Christmas Eve Concert Dec. 24 at 10:30pm Christmas Eve Mass Dec. 25 at 10am Christmas Day Service Join us for special events throughout December, including: Advent Services, Christmas Luncheon, Diablo Regional Concert Band Winter Concert. Visit http://www.gracechurchmtz.org/ for dates and times.

Grace Episcopal Church 130 Muir Station Rd., Martinez

All Are Welcome

Christmas Boutique Saturday, December 6, 2014 • 10am - 2pm

Join us for a fun day of shopping for holiday gifts, crafts, baked goods, decorations and more. Support local crafters and business owners. Faith Lutheran Church 50 Woodsworth Lane in Pleasant Hill (925) 685-7353 www.welcometofaith.com ourcommunityfocus.com • december 2014

Princess Elsa * Talking Christmas tree * Holiday performances * Holiday Express train * Hands-on arts & crafts * Photos with strolling characters * Hot cocoa, treats and food court * Holiday marketplace * The big man himself, Santa Claus!

Join us for this F REE evening of holiday fun! For further details, call (925) 676-5200, or log on pleasanthillrec.com

is Back!

Wed., December 10 5:00-8:30 pm

Pleasant Hill Community Center 320 Civic Drive

Experience the Magic! * Frozen©-inspired wonderland with Princess Elsa * Talking Christmas tree * Holiday performances * Holiday Express train * Hands-on arts & crafts * Photos with strolling characters * Hot cocoa, treats and food court * Holiday marketplace * The big man himself,

Join us for this F REE evening of holiday fun! For further details, call (925) 676-5200, or log on pleasanthillrec.com

december 2014 • ourcommunityfocus.com

P L E A S A N T H I L L R E C R E AT I O N & PA R K D I S T R I C T ’ S

* Frozen©-inspired wonderland with

Holiday Festival

Experience the Magic!

is Back!

320 Civic Drive

Pleasant Hill Community Center

Santa Claus!

5:00-8:30 pm

is Back!

New Winter/Spring SPOTLIGHT Comate activities, games, and tennis drills. ing to Mailboxes Soon! Fee: $132/$117 (Dist. Res). Instructor: Get a jump-start on your New Year’s Joey Martinez. Call (925) 682-0896 to resolutions with a wide variety of fun, register. convenient, economical, and fabulous Jingle BellDecember Rock Holiday Dance Wed., 10 Party fitness and enrichment classes for the December 10, 7:30-9:30pm, 5:00-8:30 pm at the whole family. Registration begins DeSenior Center’s Chateau Room. Join AlPleasant Hill cember 8. Visit www.pleasanthillrec. berta Bagneschi’s ballroom Community Centerdance class’ com for details. holiday320 dance party! Everyone (16 yrs Civic Drive The Holiday Festival Is Back! FREE! & up) welcome. Free dance lesson inDecember 10, 5–8:30pm, at the NEW cluded. Bring hors d’oeuvre to share. Experience the Magic! Pleasant Hill Community Center, 320 $6 per person/ $8 per couple. * Frozen -inspired wonderland with Civic Dr. PHRec’s annual Holiday FesDolfin Tree Lot Now Open through Princess Elsa * Talking Christmas tree tival is back and better than ever. Get December 24 at the Winslow Cent* Holiday performances * Holiday Express into thetrain holiday spirit with a variety er Parking lot,characters 2590 Pleasant strolling * Hands-on arts & crafts * Photos with * Hot Hill Rd. of activities to delight whole Hours: Mon-Sat. 9am–9pm, Sun. 12:30cocoa,sure treats and food the court man himself, * Holiday marketplace * The big family. Santa MeetClaus! Princess Elsa in the FRO9pm. ZEN© - inspired kingdom. Chat with The Perfect Gift for Wine Lovers: A Join us for this F REE evening of holiday fun! our famous Talking Christmas Tree. Vino Vacation Cruise! For further details, call (925) 676-5200, or log on Enjoy youth holiday performances. PHRec and Vino Cruising present three pleasanthillrec.com Participate in arts & crafts. Ride the exclusive cruises for wine enthusiasts: Holiday Express Train. Take photos with California Coastal Cruise, Ameritage: strolling characters. Shop in holiday Four Rivers of Wine & History, and Page marketplace. Enjoy hot cocoa, sweet Mill Winery’s Alaskan Wine Cruise. For treats and food court. And visit the more info, visit http://tinyurl.com/ big man himself, Santa Claus. Our phrecvinocruises or call (925) 798-4747 generous sponsors and contributors: Ext 636. P L E A S A N T H I L L R E C R E A T I O N & PA R K This DISTR I C T ’ S With Water FitRepublic Services, Community Focus, Keep Fit Winter . PH Rotary Club, PH Lions Club, The Faness, Aerobics & Swimming ther’s House, PHBA, Sinful Bliss and the Heated pools. Flexible hours. Low downtown PH UPS Store. impact fun! Visit pleasanthillrec.com/ Breakfast with Santa (1–10 yrs with aquatics/waterfitness.html. parent) New Year’s Eve Celebration (21+ yrs) Live Music by Paul Cotruvo on SaturDecember 31 at the Chateau Room day, December 13, at the PH Senior (PH Senior Center), 233 Gregory Ln. Wed., December 10 Center’s Chateau Room, 233 Gregory Come dance your way into 2015 to 5:00-8:30 pm Lane, PH. Santa will take time off from the sounds of Cover2Cover! Let us Pleasant Hill his busy schedule to join you and your take care of your New Year’s Eve dinfamily for a morning of holiday cheer, nerCommunity plans as a VIP orCenter come just for the Drive breakfast, and live entertainment. Must dance 320 party.Civic No host beer, wine, and pre-register by 12/10. Two seatings cocktails. Visit pleasanthillrec.com for Experience Magic! tickets. available. Children under 12 months more details andthe to purchase are free and registration not required * Frozen Space-inspired is limited. Tickets available now. wonderland with Princess Elsa Talking Christmas tree * with a parent or sibling. Admission: VIP Ticket: $85, Dance Party Ticket: $50. Express * Holiday performances * Holiday $8.50/$7.50 (Dist. Res.). Celebrate the Holidays at Pleastrain * Hands-on arts & crafts * Photos with strolling characters * Hot Youth Winter Break Tennis Camp ant Hill Recreation & Park District cocoa, treats and food court * Holiday marketplace * The big man himself, (6–12 yrs) Planning a holiday party, big or small? Santa Claus! December 29 – January 2, 9am-12pm, PHRec has the perfect venue for your Join usSchool for this F REE evening holiday fun! at College Park High tennis holidayofcelebration. Contact Ryan HerFor further details, call (925) 676-5200, or log on courts, 320 Civic Drive (adjacent to riman, facilities coordinator at (925) pleasanthillrec.com Community Center parking lot). Keep 676-5200 or email him at rherriman@ your kids active over winter break! pleasanthillrec.com. Five fun-filled days of age appropri-

Wed., December 10

Holiday Festival

P L E A S A N T H I L L R E C R E AT I O N & PA R K D I S T R I C T ’ S

is Back!

Upcoming Events Festival and Activities Holiday

Holiday Festival

PH Rec & Park .

P L E A S A N T H I L L R E C R E AT I O N & PA R K D I S T R I C T ’ S

In the Garden

Eat Well & Create More Time with Friends & Family

BY LESLEY STILES As the holiday season approaches, it brings happy faces, cheery lights, and parties galore. Shivering carolers sing bright songs on their mission to rev up any scrooges out there. Olfactory senses kick in with wafting cinnamon among a

Sautéed Assorted Greens w/ Golden Raisins and Pine Nuts Seasonally, there are any number of amazing vegetables available at the farmers’ market. I am especially partial to winter red Swiss chard, lusciously sautéed with good olive oil, fresh garlic, and this year’s crop of golden raisins. This identical application works equally well with broccoli rabe and rappini, and never forget the ever-beautiful red Russian kale. Why not mix them all together and see what happens? These greens are the iron fists of the cold weather nutritional world. Their colors are all over the rainbow, and they are loaded with calcium, iron, and fiber, to name a few of their attributes. INGREDIENTS 1 bunch chard, washed and sliced thin 1 bunch red kale, washed and sliced thin 1 bunch dino kale, washed and sliced thin 1 bunch mustard greens, washed and sliced thin 3 cloves garlic, chopped ¼ cup dried grapes ¼ cup toasted pine nuts, walnuts or almonds, chopped 3 tablespoons olive oil 3 tablespoons veggie stock Salt and pepper to taste DIRECTIONS Heat olive oil in a sauté pan and add all the greens with the garlic. Sauté for 3 minutes and add the raisins, stock and nuts. Sauté for 5 minutes and season with salt and pepper. Serves: 5-6

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jumble of sweet and spicy, holiday scents. As ensuing madness lurks around every corner, take steps to command peace amidst the ruckus. Go for a walk and breathe deeply. Read a book for a few minutes in the middle of the day. Write a letter to a friend. Cortically switching energy from right to left brain takes away anxiety, calms your nervous system and can be done with as little effort as singing a song out loud, or as much as a yoga class. Holidays have a way of heaping on more tasks - mostly senseless when you think about them. Food plays an integral part of adding to the stress of the holidays too. Sugar, as we all know, can cause anything from weight gain to a massive hot flash. Eating right to avoid the quivering shakes of uneven blood levels is easy. Planning is key. Shop a farmers’ market, roast a bunch of stuff, make a soup, have salad ingredients at your finger tips and you are ready to rock and roll. As adoring eyes of family gaze upon a hot dinner on the table, just remember how satisfied you will feel after a nice meal, not to mention having leftovers for lunch. Invitations abound to all manner of celebrations, and most can be potluck. Take something you want to eat that can be made into a meal, like a nice quinoa salad with spinach and Fuyu persimmons or even just a big bag of Satsuma mandarins. There are several varieties of citrus available from local growers at the markets all winter, but Satsumas hold high status for their meltingly tender flavor, amazing capacity for holding juice, convenient seedless quality, and, most of all, their ease in peeling (so you can have four or five for a snack). These mandarins offer copious amounts of nutritious energy that won’t dip after ten minutes. Awesome all on their own, they are also yummy thrown into a spinach salad with crumbled feta and toasted walnuts. Create a tapenade by chopping Greek olives, garlic, oregano, olive oil, and orange peel, swanking up sautéed chicken breasts with wild rice pilaf. Smother cod filets with Satsuma segments, grated peel and sliced fennel, lube up with olive oil, and

roast till golden in a hot oven. Slide a segment or two into chilled vodka before sinking your pearly whites into chocolate dipped Satsuma mandarin slices. Use the cocktail theory at parties, except instead of having drinks tempered with a glass of water in-between, have a Satsuma between Christmas cookies or See’s candy pieces. As fog and wind sway through the valleys and inlets, get out and walk in it, feel it, and love watching it grow and disappear as the day ripens, giving your mind and body a work out. Spend less, be with friends and family more, and eat right this December. And if we can continue to get some more rain, life will be perfect in our valley. Happy New Year! Lesley Stiles is a graduate of the California Culinary Academy, sustainable caterer and school garden educator. Contact Lesley at lesleystiles@comcast.net, www.lesleystiles.blogspot.com and visit her new website: www.lesleystilesfoods. com.

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Pair Up

Chocolate Decadence BY MARIA TERRY Folks are always talking to me about chocolate and wine. They are two favorites, and people want them to go together. Unfortunately, most foods with chocolate ingredients are too sweet for wine. The wine ends up tasting bitter and sour. In honor of the holidays, and trying to find ways to get wine and chocolate together, I created an all chocolate dinner. This meal provides the deep flavors and smooth richness of chocolate, incorporated in wine friendly recipes. And, at the end of the meal, a final shot that tastes like a slice of German chocolate cake, yet has absolutely NO chocolate in it! Start off with something very pretty for your holiday table, White Chocolate Baba Ganoush sprinkled with red pomegranate seeds. This Mediterranean dip is perfect with one of the fantastic white wines from Greece. While there are many to

choose from, look for one made from the Malagousia grape. Malagousia originated in the region of Nafpaktos in western Greece. It is an especially aromatic grape that makes elegant full-bodied wines, with exciting aromas of exotic fruits, citrus, jasmine and mint. The bright acid and intense flavors are delicious with the Mediterranean spices. If you can’t find a Greek white, a dry Semillon will give you the body and acid you need to work with the rich texture that the white chocolate adds. Celebrate the dark side of chocolate with a hearty main dish of Cocoa-Rubbed Baby Back Ribs, and match it with a fullbodied California Zinfandel. The recipe includes a little brown sugar to balance the intense spices that gives these ribs tremendous complexity. Accordingly, choose a Zin with a tiny bit of sweetness in it. It will balance the slight kick of heat from the chili powder, ginger and garlic and is a welcome partner to the likely high alcohol and tannins that are commonly found in big California Zins.

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I could recommend a number of delicious chocolate desserts, but none would taste good with these dry wines. So, for fun, I found a recipe for a “sipping-shot ending” to this chocolate dominant meal. The German Chocolate Cake Shot is a blend of hazelnut liqueur and vodka that you drink with a sweetened wedge of lemon. Surprisingly, the flavor combination really tastes like the coco-nutty-chocolaty flavor of German chocolate cake. Think about it: all the benefits of chocolate cake without the tedium of slicing and chewing! Don’t believe it? Try it! So, go on. Pair Up! Maria Terry is a Certified Sommelier and Wine Educator in the San Francisco Bay Area, www.LaSommelierre.com.

German Chocolate Cake Shot INGREDIENTS 1 oz. hazelnut liqueur 1/2 oz. vodka 1 lemon, cut into wedges (seeds removed) White sugar for lemon DIRECTIONS In a shot glass, combine hazelnut liqueur and vodka. Coat a wedge of lemon with sugar. Suck the lemon wedge, and with the juice still in your mouth, drink the shot. Yield: 1 Shot

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White Chocolate Baba Ganoush

Cocoa-Rubbed Baby Back Ribs

INGREDIENTS 8 cloves garlic, unpeeled 4 medium eggplants, sliced in half lengthwise 1/3 cup fresh lemon juice 2/3 cup tahini 4 oz. white chocolate, melted and cooled 2 tbsp. finely chopped parsley 1½ tsp. ground cumin 1½ tsp. paprika Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste Pomegranate seeds, for garnish Toasted pita bread, for serving DIRECTIONS Heat oven broiler to 450°. Place garlic and eggplants, skin side up, on a foillined baking sheet; broil until tender and charred all over, about 20 minutes for garlic, and about 40 minutes for eggplant. Peel garlic. Seed eggplants, and scoop out flesh; transfer to a food processor with juice, tahini, chocolate, half the parsley, the cumin, paprika, salt, and pepper; puree until smooth. Transfer to a serving dish and garnish with remaining parsley and pomegranate seeds; serve with pita on the side for dipping. Yield: 2 1/2 Cups

INGREDIENTS 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder 1/2 cup light brown sugar 3 tbsp. ancho chili powder 2 tbsp. kosher salt 2 tbsp. granulated onion 1 tbsp. granulated garlic 1 tbsp. dried oregano 1 tbsp. dried mustard 2 tsp. dried ginger 2 tsp. ground cinnamon 1 tsp. ground allspice 2 racks (3 lb.) pork baby back ribs DIRECTIONS Mix cocoa, sugar, and spices together in a bowl. Rub ribs generously with spice mixture, and wrap in plastic wrap; refrigerate overnight.

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About two hours before you plan to serve the ribs, remove them from the refrigerator and allow the ribs come to room temperature. Heat oven to 375°. Place ribs in a shallow roasting pan; bake until tender, about 40 minutes. Increase oven to 450° and transfer ribs to a baking sheet with a wire rack; bake curved side up and flipping once, until browned, 15–20 minutes more. Cut ribs into individual bones to serve. Yield: 4-6 Servings

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In the Mix

The Most Important Job, The Soundman BY PAUL COTRUVO There is no one more important to any live event than the soundman. The sound engineer is responsible for making the band sound as good as possible to the audience. They are truly the unsung heroes of the music business. Luckily for us, we have Trevor Donaghu. He has been running sound in this area for as long as I can remember. It is an extremely hard job; he has to put up with the elements (105 degree temperatures), prima donna musicians, and sound ordinances. It’s a lonely job, and if the sound is great, he gets no attention, but if there are some problems, he gets all the flack. Trevor always rises above the fray and goes above and beyond. Normally, he will put in a 10-hour day for little money or even donate his time to worthy events. So let’s talk to this unsung hero: PC: How did you get interested in being a soundman? TD: I’ve been fascinated by music and the technology surrounding it since I was a kid. My dad and his brothers were into music and had great stereo systems, which I was forbidden to touch (of course, that made them even more intriguing). Mom was a metal sculptor, and we’d always be travelling around to arts and crafts festivals. They didn’t have kid leashes back then, so I’d spend all my time hanging around the stage, watching the bands and sound crew while mom and dad were manning our booth. In college I started DJ’ing and formed my own company (Dynamic Audio) in 1993. I received many requests to provide additional microphones and/or support for live performances at events, which caused me to expand the system to truly handle live sound for a full band. These days, live sound makes up the bulk of my gigs, but I still do several DJ gigs each year. PC: What is your favorite style of music to run sound for?

TD: I’ve done blues, country, jazz, classical, hip-hop, and even a bit of opera, and I love it all. I love the energy, talent, and dedication that the performers bring to the table, regardless of genre. However, I’d have to say that my favorite is rock ‘n’ roll. PC: Tell me about some of your favorite and most memorable gigs? TD: They’re all memorable in their own way, which is the main reason I keep doing this. However, there are a few that stand out, for both positive and negative reasons. In 2002, I was running sound for a production of Little Shop of Horrors at the Town Hall Theatre in Lafayette. An actor in a seat next to me suffered a massive stroke and passed before he made it to the hospital. The cast and crew met and decided to move ahead with the show despite the tragedy, and it ended up being a positive experience and remains one of my fondest show memories. In 2007, I was doing sound for Finding Stella at the Hard Rock Cafe in Harvey’s Lake Tahoe. Worst load-in you could imagine. It was snowing outside and I had to move gear up an elevator, to a service hallway, through the kitchen and up and down flights of stairs. It took four hours just to load in! On the other hand, I was still really jazzed about the gig. I was dating a girl who actually stuck around after working all day and helped wrap cables and load out. I knew I had a keeper. We celebrated our second wedding anniversary in August. These days, two of my favorite gigs each year are the Delta Blues Festival in Antioch and the Pleasant Hill Blues & Brews Festival. We get a whole day of great music performed by some incredible musicians who, by the way, are also extremely professional and polite. Everyone involved in these shows, from the musicians to the crew and other volunteers, is entirely about the music. How can you go wrong? PC: What is your opinion of the music scene here in Contra Costa? TD: I love it! We’ve got so much incred-

ible and diverse musical talent out here. Unfortunately, it’s getting more and more difficult to experience it all. During the warmer months, we’ve got great community events and but during the winter, there aren’t many places featuring live music. I’ve got to give kudos to places like Dallimonti’s, Armando’s, the Roundup, and Roxx on Main for continuing to support live music, and I wish more places would follow their example. I’d love to see a place out here, like Yoshi’s or the Fenix, offering a large variety of live music four or five nights a week. PC: If you were a song, what song would be and why? TD: Songs by Kenny Chesney and Jimmy Buffett talk about who and where I’d like to be. However, if I had to pick a song that best describes me as I am now, I’d have to say “Freewill” by Rush. It’s not even my favorite song by the band (I’m a big fan). But, I’m a big believer in personal responsibility and

self-determination. “Freewill” espouses the idea that everyone is responsible for their own life, as determined by their own choices, or lack thereof (“If you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice”). Happy Holidays everyone and get out there and support live music!

Paul’s Picks

December 6: Caroompas Room, Armando’s, 707 Marina Vista, Martinez, 8pm December 12: The Big Jangle, “Toys for Tot’s Benefit,” Jack’s Restaurant, 60 Crescent Dr., PH, 10pm December 13: Mic Gillette Band, Armando’s, 707 Marina Vista, Martinez, 8pm December 30: The Buzztones, Rocco’s, 2909 Ygnacio Valley Rd., Walnut Creek, 8pm December 31: Cover2Cover, Pleasant Hill Senior Center, 233 Gregory Lane, Pleasant Hill, 7:30pm December 31: Garageland Rodeo, Armando’s, 707 Marina Vista, Martinez, 9:30pm

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Local Author Spotlight The Community Focus Proudly Presents Four Local Authors Dennis Koller

Sondra Perry

Pleasant Hill novelist Dennis Koller’s newest thriller, Kissed By The Snow, spirals the reader through a satisfying slash and burn journey up the ascending echelons of international narcotraffick. The main character is former Navy SEAL Rob Kincaid who runs a private security agency that works under the radar, taking care of government jobs that wouldn’t exactly pass congressional oversight. After a Mexican drug cartel assassinates his father, Kincaid is thirsty for revenge and willing to take America’s long-running War on Drugs into his own hands. Driven by a clever plot to bring down a drug lord and, in fact, the entire economy of destructive drugs, Kissed By The Snow is a well-crafted mystery-thriller that is both fast-paced and seasoned with just enough techno-thriller hardware to add guy-spice. In a recent interview, Koller explained that he became a full-time writer rather late in life. “There came a point where I just couldn’t face another day commuting into San Francisco. My bank account has become decidedly smaller, but my satisfaction meter is off the charts. I live in a wonderful community, and little by little, my reputation as a writer of good, enjoyable mystery-thrillers has grown. I’m loving life.” Kissed By The Snow is available in print and eBook on Amazon or wherever fine books are sold. It is available in paper only on Koller’s eStore, where readers of the Community Focus can get $2.00 off the retail price of the paperback by using this discount code: QQKLNUEP.

Once a chef with a catering company and then a maker of handmade soaps, Sondra Perry now turns her talents toward writing children’s books. Becoming a stepmother of three has been the inspiration for writing Baby Carrots - Carrots of Wisdom for Little Ones. Including ten short tales from Henry the Great Blue Heron in the garden, where his critter friends play, laugh, and learn some of life’s lessons along the way, it’s a book that helps plant the seeds of kindness and an understanding of others. This is the first of three books that completes the Kids Carrots Book Series. Look for Crunchy Carrots out in 2015. For more information, visit www.KidsCarrotsBookSeries.com. Mrs. Perry has also published The Most Unusual Pet Ever: Henry Our Great Blue Heron and His Adventures, released in 2011. Visit www.HenryTheGreatBlueHeron. com. Connecting children to nature through these books is Sondra’s passion. She is active in the community, visiting classrooms and giving fun and educational readings and presentations to groups of all ages. Sondra can be reached at sondra.perry4@gmail.com. Books are available on the above websites, Wild Birds Unlimited, and on Amazon and Barnes and Noble. Sondra Perry lives in San Ramon with her husband, Lance.

Gretchen de la O

Tremors: Short Fiction by California Writers

Author Gretchen de la O of Pleasant Hill released her fourth full length novel, Prototype, an adult, romantic suspense story and the first book in The Possession Series. Set in San Francisco, Prototype is the progressive story of Lauren Matthews, a CIA agent whose choice to trust the wrong man sends her on a life-altering course that no one, not even the inventor of the prototype, expects. When Lauren meets the influential financier of the prototype, Alejandro Fernandez, she becomes tangled in a web of sex, love, deceit, and murder. Struggling to find a balance between selfpreservation and ethical responsibility, she truly understands her life is not her own. With the full scope of the prototype slowly possessing her, can she trust that Alejandro’s love will be enough to reawaken her soul and change her destiny? Mrs. De la O has traveled throughout the United States promoting her first books, The Wilson Mooney Series, and is excited to spend the next couple of months finishing Hindsight the second book in The Possession Series. Mrs. de la O, a computer lab instructional aide for the Mount Diablo Unified School District, has spent the last five years penning four full-length novels while raising her three boys. She is actively involved with the indie writing community and helps authors find their creative power. She owns, “Written and Ready,” an online blog aimed at helping people find their way to becoming empowered again. Visit her website for more details: www.gretchendelao. com. She can be reached at gretchen@gretchendelao.com. 24

december 2014 • ourcommunityfocus.com

A group of eight writers who meet at Grace Healthcare in Pleasant Hill, known as California Writers, have published Tremors, a collection of short stories. According to author Lynne Grant-Westenhaver, Tremors can be described as “short stories that bring imagery to the many aspects of living; twists and turns of real life drama and a personal touch of history.” Tremors the anthology was the idea of creative fiction teacher Janice de Jesus, MFA, who taught a weekly creative writing class. Author Sue Hummel says, “Janice gave us writing practice in every class. In her prompts, Janice suggested numerous topics that would allow us to leave the boundaries of our own lives, our community, even our country.” Author Doug Burgess is the resident council president who suffered a stroke in 2011 which paralyzed his right side. “I am a retired art director who could no longer do graphics, so I concentrated on writing stories of my family history instead. I started writing because I was tired of seeing too many family tree charts that gave only the life spans of my ancestors. I decided to write my stories of the Burgess family lore.” The authors are celebrating the anthology with a book-signing party on Sunday, December 7, 2-5pm, at Grace Healthcare, 1625 Oak Park Blvd. in Pleasant Hill. For more information, contact Sharon Lobato at 925-262-4272. The book can be purchased on line at lulu.com.

High Schools and Holiday Outreach Join With Our Local Schools to Help the Needy This Holiday College Park Holiday Outreach Each year the College Park PTSA organizes a “Holiday Outreach” program for those College Park families in need of extra help. Our plan is to provide each of these families with a Target gift card to assist in making their holidays special. Any donation amount will make a difference to these Falcon families. To make a donation online: collegeparkptsa.revtrak.net and go to Donation on the left side, then select Holiday Outreach to make a donation. To make a donation by check: Make check payable to CPHS/PTSA and write “Holiday Outreach” on the memo line of your check. You or your child can drop it off in the main office or you can mail it to: College Park PTSA/Holiday Outreach,

201 Viking Drive, Pleasant Hill, CA 94523. All donations are tax deductible and we would like to receive them by Friday, December 12, to be distributed before the holiday season. (Donations received after the holiday break will support our year round CP Outreach Program helping students in need. Donations for this program are accepted year round.)

Mitten Project & Canned Food Drive at AHS The Mitten Project and Canned Food Drive begin December 2 at Alhambra High School. Student leadership sponsors these programs in which families, individuals, clubs/sports team/ student groups decide to “adopt a family” to provide gifts during the holidays or canned food donations to help with a holiday meal for local families in our

On Campus Performing Arts & Holiday Feast College Park Music Cookbook Now Available! It’s finally here! The College Park Music cookbook, Recipes Straight From the Nest, is ready for your purchase! With 400 recipes from your favorite CPHS staff, student and parents along with color photos, it retails for only $25. These will make wonderful gifts and help raise funds for both College Park Instrumental Music and College Park Choir. Thank you for supporting College Park High School music! You can order online at https://squareup.com/ market/CPIMB. In your order notes, denote how you would like to allocate your proceeds: either to Instrumental Music Boosters, Choir Boosters, or shared equally by both. College Park’s WINTERFEST The annual celebration of visual and performing arts takes place on Wednesday, December 17, 6-9pm, in the CPHS Multi-Use Room. Art gallery opening at 6pm: jazz ensemble, jazz band, A Capella club and mixed choir performances starting at 7:30pm. Come see student photography, ceramics, art glass, paintings along with drama and video production. Admission is free. Student artwork will be on sale - an excellent gift idea! Upcoming CP Choir and Instrumental Music Concerts • Dec. 3 - Pleasant Hill Downtown Tree Lighting: Concert Choir • Dec. 12-13 - Candlelight Concert: Concert Choir, Treble Choir, String Orchestra and Symphony Orchestra. 7pm at St. Andrews Presbyterian Church. • Dec. 17 - Winterfest: Mixed Choir, Jazz Ensemble and Jazz Band. 7-9pm, College Park Multi Use Room.

community. In general, each person is given 3-4 gifts. If you would prefer to donate a gift card so leadership students can shop for the gifts, that works as well. We ask that presents, preferably gift wrapped, be dropped off to the school by Tuesday, Dec 9. For more information, contact Mrs. Griffin at mgriffin@martinezusd.net. Last year AHS was able to help 40+ local families with gifts and food

MDUSD’s Foster Youth Services & Homeless Outreach In the spirit of the holiday season, please consider contributing to a local foster youth or homeless child. There are children living near you who do not have stable housing, enough to eat, or parents in their lives. Life is a struggle, and they are doing their best to overcome trauma, stress, and hardship. We do all we can to support homeless students and foster youth, and we need your help. If you are looking for ways to make a real and lasting impact in kids’ lives this holiday season, please consider contributing to Mt. Diablo HOPE and Foster Youth Services. Below are ways that you can help: Donations of gift cards are greatly appreciated. Gift cards enable caregivers and youth to pick out and buy their own items, a luxury that many families live without. Gift cards from department stores (Target, Kohl’s, etc.) and grocery stores (Safeway, Albertson’s, Raley’s, etc.) can be dropped off at the front desk of Mt. Diablo Unified District Office, 1936

Carlotta Drive in Concord; mailed or dropped off at Mt. Diablo HOPE at 2730 Salvio Street, Concord, CA, 94519; or dropped off with the principal at all Mt. Diablo Unified schools c/o Mt. Diablo HOPE. Donations by check can be made payable to “Mt. Diablo HOPE.” We will send you a receipt for tax purposes. Please drop off or send contributions to: Elsa Dalpiaz & James Wogan, Mt. Diablo Homeless Outreach Program for Education (MDUSD HOPE), 2730 Salvio St., Concord, CA, 94519. Checks can also be dropped off at the front desk of Mt. Diablo Unified District Office, or dropped off to the principal of all Mt. Diablo Unified schools c/o Mt. Diablo HOPE. Donations can also be made by PAYPAL via www. mdusd.org. If you would like to “sponsor” an individual foster youth or homeless child for the holidays, please email Elsa Dalpiaz at hope@mdusd.org. We will send you a link to children’s holiday wish lists. If you have any questions, call: 925-6828000 ext. 3054. We are collecting new hoodies and sweatshirts for our homeless students and foster youth. New hoodies and sweatshirts can be dropped off at three locations: Mt. Diablo Unified District Office, 1936 Carlotta Drive, Concord; Willow Creek Education Center, 1026 Mohr Lane in Concord; and Mt. Diablo Homeless Outreach Program for Education (Mt. Diablo HOPE) 2730 Salvio St., Concord.

Focus Hits the Great Wall College Park High School 2011 graduate Erik Naccara is studying in Mainland China this semester through Norwich University. Recently, he visited the Great Wall while on a break from studying international relations in Xi’an, and he brought the Focus along on his adventure. If you are traveling, take the Focus along and send us a pic, we will do our best to put it in the paper. Happy travels! ourcommunityfocus.com • december 2014

Making History

Eight College Park Athletes Sign Letters of Intent

College Park held a rally November 13 to honor eight student athletes who signed their NCAA National Letters of Intent during the early signing period (November 12-19). Coaches, staff, parents and fellow students gathered to recognize the students’ contributions to College Park athletics and their commitment to the classroom. On the national level, only 6% of high school student-athletes are recruited and signed to NCAA colleges. These signees must show success in both the classroom and on the playing field. College Park celebrated eight such studentathletes, seven who were recruited to D1 colleges from one team, a first for College Park. Noah Burnham: Baseball for UC Santa Barbara; member of the 2014 NCS Championship team. Jeffrey Mitchell Baseball for Cal Berkeley; member of the NCS Championship baseball team, 2014 1st Team DVAL selection and scholar athlete. Emily Ortner: Swimming for University of North Dakota; record holder for the 220-yard Indi-

Pictured L to R: Nick Oar, Noah Burnham, Chris Brown, Trevor Larnach, Emily Ortner, Joe DeMers, Jeffery Mitchell and Willie MacIver.

vidual Medley and scholar athlete. Trevor Larnach: Baseball for Oregon State University; member of the 2014 NCS Championship team and 2013 & 2014 1st Team DVAL and 2014 1st Team All-State. Nick Oar: Baseball for Stanford University; member of the NCS Championship team, 1st Team DVAL and scholar athlete since

freshman year. Chris Brown: Baseball for UC Davis; member of the 2014 NCS Championship team, 2014 DVAL Pitcher of the Year and 2014 Louisville Slugger All-American 2nd Team. Joe DeMers: Baseball for University of Washington; member of the 2014 NCS Championship team, member of the USA National team,

2013 DVAL Pitcher of the Year, and 2012 & 2014 DVAL MVP. Willie MacIver: Baseball for the University of Washington; member of the 2014 NCS Championship team, 2014 DVAL 1st team selection and East Bay Honorable mention and an All American Honorable Mention in 2013. Information shared by James Keck, College Park Faculty

ing attention to what is happening in my community and the world and my great grandparents had a column, it’s kind of in my blood,” she declared. Over the course of the school year, Erika will don her red polo shirt with the Scholastic News Kids Press Corps logo and report on Bay Area news as well as people in her community who are giving back. She will also submit story ideas that interest her, such as “Google’s self-driving car,” she added. Ericka, who wants to be a speech pathologist when she grows up, likes to stay up to date with current events through CNN.com, Time Magazine, The Atlantic and National Geographic. McCabe and her team will provide tips on how to ask the right questions while on the scene and how to write a great

news or feature article. You can read Ericka’s upcoming articles on the scholastic website, www.magazines.scholastic. com.

Getting the Scoop Kid Reporter Erika Hazlett

BY JAKI JONES Last month, Pleasant Hill resident Erika Hazlett was selected to be one of 32 new kid reporters for Scholastic News Kids Press Corps, where she will cover news stories in the Bay Area for scholastic.com/kidspress, based in New York City and select Scholastic classroom magazines. She was chosen from over 200 applicants between the ages of 10-14 from around the country and around the world who submitted personal essays and original news reports about their communities. Erika submitted a winning story on an organization that has made a difference in her community. “I wrote about the AYSO (American Youth Soccer Organization) VIP program; it’s for kids with disabilities.” Ericka’s little sister, 26

who has autism, plays soccer for the organization. According to Suzanne McCabe, editor of Junior Scholastic magazine, what made Erika’s application stand out was that “she cares about children with learning disabilities. She seems very aware of the world around her and the needs of others, and we thought she would make a fantastic reporter because she is so attuned to the challenges that people face, and her interest is geared toward people making a difference in her community.” Erika’s grandmother, a former reporter, and her great grandparents who shared an economics column in the Washington Post inspired Ericka to give journalism a try. “Because my grandmother was a reporter, and she instilled in me the importance of pay-

december 2014 • ourcommunityfocus.com

12-year-old Erika Hazlett

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Featuring: Will Durst, Johnny Steele, Debi Durst, Michael Bossier, Mari Magaloni & Arthur Gaus.

ourcommunityfocus.com • december 2014

Check it Twice

Gift Giving

BY COLLEEN CALLAHAN December is hectic and cluttered. How can we possibly meet year-end deadlines, fit in all the shopping, holiday planning, and time with family? Oh, let’s not forget the property taxes! Was it Scrooge that selected the due date? For insurance agents, it has become “high season” with a variety of deadlines, annual reviews, and open enrollment meetings. We remind clients to schedule wellness visits, dental cleanings, and vision checkups. Use the benefits that are part of the health insurance plan. Remember, the deductible resets for most plans on January 1. If you have Covered California, make sure to update any changes you have had in earnings. If you have earned more than expected, it could impact your tax credit. Another important item to review

BY DANIEL DuREE Since it is December, I am going to talk about the (alleged) reason for the season; that’s right, everybody’s favorite topic is gift giving (and receiving). Although gift giving is less important in recent times than in years past (because of a larger estate tax exclusion), it can still be used as a tool in estate planning or as a tool to simply help other people. As I have discussed before, the 2014 federal estate tax exclusion is $5,340,000 per person. However, the taxable federal estate includes not only the net value of the property of the decedent, but also includes any lifetime taxable gifts made since 1977. Most of us will never need to worry about reaching that $5,000,000 plus estate bar, but politicians have been known to change their minds, and that number could very well come back down from the historically high level it is

Year End Checklists

is your beneficiary designation. Make certain it is current. If your employer offers a life insurance benefit, be certain that you have a beneficiary listed with the HR department. After making our list and checking it twice, is there ever time to reflect, enjoy or give thanks? One of the older retired priests at my parish in Pleasant Hill pauses for a moment of silence during the Mass, allowing us to give thanks for one thing. It is amazing how refreshing those brief few seconds can be for the cluttered mind. I turned 50 (can’t believe it) this year, and I am thankful for my husband and travelling companion. He helped me meet my goal of visiting all 50 states before turning 50. My 50th state was North Dakota, and we crossed the border with two days to spare! Colleen Callahan Insurance Services is located in Pleasant Hill. Contact her at 925-363-5433 or ccallahan@callahaninsurance.com.

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at today. For that reason, it is important to consider the types of gifts that are excluded from lifetime taxable gifts. The most well known exclusion is any gift to a qualified charity. A gift to a qualified charity is not taxable either while a person is living or as part of their estate if the gift is made at death through a will or a trust. Along similar public policy lines, there are also unlimited gift exclusions for any medical or educational costs paid directly by a donor. Another exclusion is the annual gift exclusion. In 2014, any person can give any other person $14,000 without the gift being taxable. In 2015, the exclusion is again $14,000. There is also a onetime aggregate gift exclusion amount that is equal to the estate tax exclusion of $5,340,000 in 2014. The annual exclusion also happens to be excluded from the onetime exclusion. The tax code once again amazes with its simplicity. By using an irrevocable trust, a person can also take advantage of these gift exclusions while still retaining control over the assets until a certain point in the future. By making gifts, we can not only support causes or people whom we believe in, we can also lessen the chances of having to pay estate taxes one day. Best wishes for a lovely holiday season, and a happy new year! Daniel L. DuRee is a third generation resident of Contra Costa County and a licensed attorney practicing in Walnut Creek. He can be reached at (925) 2101400 or visit www.DuReeLaw.com.

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Travel Trends

Celebrate Love

BY MARGARET MINER Every week, I talk to people who either love cruising or hate it -- even if they’ve never set foot on a cruise ship. The idea of cruising with a large group of people just doesn’t appeal to them. I understand. Recently, I was aboard the S.S. Legacy, an Un-Cruise Adventures’ replica of a turn of the century coastal steamer, which holds just 88 passengers and 34 crew. We cruised four rivers of the Pacific Northwest: the Willamette, Columbia, Hood, and Snake. The Un-Cruise Adventures’ staff is attentive, knowledgeable, warm, and pleasant; after just the first day, I was addressed by name, they knew my dining preferences, and they made sure I was having a great time. While Un-Cruise Adventures also offers active “adventure” vacations that feature great activities like snorkeling, hiking, kayaking and stand-up paddle boarding in Alaska, British Columbia, Mexico, Hawaii and the Galapagos, I chose this lower-key itinerary to experience historic Pacific Northwest river cruising. Our 7-night Legacy of Discovery journey took us back in time. Onboard historians and performers brought the stories of the river to life, as travelers enjoyed scenery changes from rainforest to arid desert aboard the comfortable S.S. Legacy. One of the most enjoyable aspects of this adventure is not the amazing itinerary, but the fact that everything is included in the fare. Everything.

BY TONYA AMOS The holidays are a wonderful time to celebrate our loved ones. Being mindful when choosing gifts can help those closest to us explore new paths to health and well being. Consider giving a well thought out gift certificate for a service your friends or family might not normally purchase for themselves. With a little thought, you can help bring them closer to their health and fitness aspirations. Here are some healthy ideas that make perfect gifts: • A loved one who complains about back pain may benefit from a gift certificate to a favorite chiropractor, acupuncturist, or Pilates studio. • A friend who talks about aching feet may love a foot massage or credit for a new pair of well-made shoes. • Someone who is concerned about weight may appreciate the first few months of a gym membership. • A loved one who is annoyed by shifting vision or squints to read may enjoy credit towards an eye exam or new glasses. • A friend dealing with a lot of stress or anxiety may benefit from a month of yoga, a meditation course, or a great massage to bring about some calm. • For someone navigating a health

A Twist on Traditional Cruising Unlike traditional cruises, there are no key cards to present for payment. If you would like to enjoy a cocktail, just step up to the bar and Jason will make you anything you’d like, from a classic Bloody Mary to an era specific throwback; he’s got you covered. There are no buffets here; breakfast, lunch, and dinner come plated and beautifully prepared. Do you have a specific dietary requirement or preference? Just let the staff know. Cooking for 88 people affords the chef a degree of unparalleled flexibility and creativity! Shore excursions are unhurried and fascinating, and focus on the beauty and history of the region. The coach drivers who escorted us from our ship to our excursions were with us each day in the same luxury coach! The pace and atmosphere were relaxed and casual: no formal nights, dress requirements or intrusive, must-follow schedules. Cruisers are free to experience and enjoy the journey as it suits each individual. As I sat relaxing in the lounge area amidst my fellow travelers, I couldn’t think of anything better. During the week I made new friends and experienced the historic Pacific Northwest, guided by a crew I felt I had known for years. It didn’t feel like a cruise at all; it felt like an extension of my home, friends, and family. Margaret Miner is the owner of VinoCruising, a full-service travel agency, and is a certified “Un-Cruise Adventurist.” She can be reached at mminer@ cruiseone.com.

Giving the Gift of Health

challenge affected by diet (i.e., diabetes or hypertension), a gift certificate for a personal chef that specializes in cooking classes for medical conditions can have a profound impact. • For the loved one who needs a total “reboot” to a healthier lifestyle, a down payment for a health retreat could cause a major shift in their approach to selfcare. Giving healthy gifts to those we love may create new habits that bring about permanent changes in their lives. And remember to include yourself in this spirit of giving; the holidays are a great time to start. Tonya Marie Amos owns Aspire Pilates Center in Concord. For more information, please call (925) 680-4400 or go to www.AspirePilatesCenter.com

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Dec. 7 - Clarinet Fusion Holiday Performance. Doors open 1:30pm/Buffet begins 1:45pm/Performance begins 2:30pm. This special holiday performance begins with a holiday party buffet with appetizers, wine and non- alcoholic punch. Cost: $11 members/ $13 non-members. Tickets must be purchased before the event. Call for availability. Dec. 14 - Pancake Breakfast with Santa. This delicious breakfast includes pancakes or toast, sausage, eggs, orange juice and coffee. Everyone is welcome. Cost is $4.00 for adults/$2.50 for children 10 and under. Handmade crafts, perfect for gifts, will be on sale during the breakfast. Bring your family and camera. Dec. 18 – Bingo. Christmas Special: $50 regular games & prizes. Dec. 31 - New Year’s Eve Bingo. Doors open at 5:30pm and games are 7-10:30pm. Join us at our “Early Bird New Year’s Eve Bingo Bash,” held at the Martinez Senior Center. You don’t want to miss the fun! Guaranteed $50 “pots” on all regular games; free daubers; prizes given out and sandwiches, chips and dessert served during break. Coffee will be available.

Pleasant Hill Senior Activities

Something to Give

Meals on Wheels & Senior Outreach

BY LEIGH SHUGHROU When we’re little, we’re taught to offer assistance to someone who is handicapped or disabled. I recently helped a sight-impaired gentleman and his service dog cross a busy intersection where construction work had altered the sidewalk and crosswalk signal. It felt great to help someone who was physically impaired. I learned this week that the feeling goes both ways. Meet Friendly Visitor Kelly McCarthy and her Meals on Wheels Senior Outreach Service’s (MOWSOS) Friendly Visitor companion, 75 year-old Anne Allen. Both are legally blind and have spent much of their lives helping others. “I contacted MOWSOS because I wanted someone to read to me”, says Anne. “You can imagine my surprise when I was matched with someone

who was also legally blind,” she adds with a giggle. Anne began suffering from macular degeneration over a decade ago and now sees only peripherally. Kelly, on the other hand, was born without sight and has been teaching Anne many things, including the use of an iPad. “Anne and I spend at least three hours a week with each other, and we always have a great time. I hope to do this work for a long time,” says Kelly. “When you can’t do the usual things, you lose your sense of identity”, says Anne. “Giving back makes me feel worthwhile. I’ve been grateful for many things in my life, and Kelly is at the top of that list. The Friendly Visitor program has been a life-saver for me.” To volunteer as a Friendly Visitor, contact Carol Louisell at clouisell@ mowsos.org or 925-954-8736.

233 Gregory Lane, Pleasant Hill 925-798-8788 Dec. 4 - TASTE OF THE VINE - Holiday Edition 3pm. Live music, wine, food, and holiday shopping! Premier Designs Jewelry will be donating a portion of proceeds to the Senior Center. Sponsored by the Chateau. $10 presale or $15 day of (based on availability). No refunds on tickets. Dec. 7 - Pancake Breakfast. All ages welcome, 8:30-10:30am. Enjoy a stack of pancakes or French toast, eggs, sausage, orange juice and coffee. Be sure to bring the young ones and make a special holiday craft. Adults (11+) $5; Children (5-10) $3; 4 & under: Free! Dec. 11 - CMP Series Presents: “What to Get the Senior Who Has Everything.” Learn practical tips on how to start much needed services for that senior who has everything but the care they need. Pre-register, space is limited. Sponsored by The Chateaus of Pleasant Hill. For details, call Dana Krider, care manager, at 798-8788. Dec. 18 - Holiday Concert “Jingle Bells” 6:30pm. $5 pre-sale, $8 day of concert. Clarinet Fusion will perform classical & popular holiday tunes. Doors open at 6:15pm, refreshments served before the show at 6:30pm, performance begins at 7pm. No refunds on tickets. Sponsored by Clarinet Fusion and Visiting Angels. Kelly McCarthy and her MOWSOS companion, Anne Allen.

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Disaster Preparedness

Can Your Business Survive a Seven Day Closure? BY JIM BONATO My past columns have almost exclusively focused on personal and family preparedness for a disaster. Over the next several columns, I’m going to broaden the emphasis towards business preparedness. Most large corporations have welldesigned emergency plans that have already been drawn up, and many practice their plans through regular company drills. At the other extreme, some small businesses are lucky if they have a first aid kit on hand. Let’s consider a couple of new disaster scenarios for a retail business on Contra Costa Boulevard and a light manufacturing company on Estand Way. On a Tuesday at 7:20am, a 7.1 mag-

nitude earthquake shakes the Hayward Fault. The duration and intensity of the quake shatters store windows, shakes products off shelves, topples file cabinets, breaks computer screens, and tumbles cash registers, card readers, and fax machines onto the floor. As a business owner, after you have determined that your family and home are safe, your interest turns to your business. After traffic delays, you arrive at your business as a looter dashes out of the building through an opening where your storefront window used to be, carrying an armful of your property. As you enter the building, your stomach churns, your heart sinks, and your head begins to throb as you see how devastatingly the quake scattered – and possibly shattered – your product and equipment everywhere.

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News media reports that PG&E expects power to be out in this area for between three days to a week. Will your business be able to survive a three to seven-day closure? What will the impact on your business be if the building inspector “red tags” your building? Will the interruption of cash flow impact your ability to make payments to your vendors or on your business loans? Will customers who are dependent on your product seek a source elsewhere because the quake impacted your ability to ship undamaged product? Are your employees going to be able to report to work and help with the cleanup and

your efforts to restore orderliness, or are they primarily focused with how badly impacted their families and homes are? What will you do with that truckload of supplies that was shipped from the East Coast last Friday and is expected to arrive this afternoon? Consider your answers to these questions over the next month. In January’s issue, we will begin the process of preparing small businesses to become resilient so they and their owners can survive a major disruption. Have a safe and happy holiday season! Jim Bonato is the Pleasant Hill CERT Program Manager

Finding Cancer Routine Blood Tests Help

BY KASRA KARAMLOU, MD CLL (Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia) is the most common form of leukemia. The majority of patients with CLL are diagnosed on routine blood tests, when they are noted to have an abnormally high white count with elevateda lymphocytes. The diagnosis can be made based on evaluation of the peripheral blood and usually does not require a bone marrow biopsy. Many patients with CLL are managed by what is termed “active surveillance.” This means periodic doctor visits with blood count checks and physical examination. Some patients can undergo such a followup for many years, as many older trials did not demonstrate an advantage in treating asymptomatic patients. There has been a recent interest in re-addressing this issue as therapies in the field have improved, and there are some data suggesting that some CLL patients with high-risk features may benefit from early intervention. What constitutes symptoms can vary in patients, but they are usually enlargement of lymph nodes and/ or spleen. Symptoms are associated with low blood counts and recurrent infections. Once a determination has been made that a pa-

tient requires therapy, many factors go into the choice of therapy. A patient’s age and other medical conditions usually dictate the choice of therapy. Initial therapy for younger and/or older fit patients usually combines chemotherapy with immunotherapy. Immunotherapy is a treatment that utilizes the individual’s immune system to fight against the cancer and also allows the chemotherapy to be more effective. For older patients and/or patients not fit for chemotherapy, one can consider “lighter” chemotherapy in combination with immunotherapy. There have been major advances in management of CLL over the last decade, with two novel drugs approved this year. The American Society of Hematology (ASH) conference is in San Francisco this month. Many new therapies and refinement of the older therapies will be discussed. Clinical trials offer an exciting option that can help us identify new therapies and also incorporate more effective therapies in the early management of the disease. Dr. Karamlou is a medical oncologist and hematologist with Diablo Valley Oncology and Hematology Medical Group. He has a special interest in the management and research of hematological malignancies (lymphoma, leukemia, MDS and myeloma) Dr. Karamlou practices in Pleasant Hill and Brentwood. 925-677-5041.

Achieving Goals Start Planning Now BY KEVIN ARNDT With new year right around the corner, it’s time to start planning your goals and the path you need to take to achieve them. The most effective method I have found for achieving goals for my clients and myself is the

SMART method. Even though this is the most common method and the one that is in most textbooks, it works. If you are unfamiliar with the term SMART, it stands for Specific, Measurable, Attainable,

NO JOB TOO SMALL FAMILY & LOCALLY OWNED MONTHLY SERVICE

Mark Ellinwood, Owner • PO Box 23774 • Pleasant Hill, CA 94523

ANTS • SPIDERS • MICE • RATS • FLEAS • 1 TIME SPRAY OK

Relevant, Timely. If you set your goals in line with this method, you will drastically increase your chances of reaching your goals. To get a little more in depth and give you a better understanding of SMART, I will briefly explain each part (even though it is mostly self explanatory). Specific: This is where you want to have as many details that relate to your goal as possible. The best way to do this is to ask yourself as many questions as you can. Some questions might be: What exactly do I want to achieve? Where? How? Why? What are the obstacles or limitations I could face? The more detail the better. Measurable: Break down as much measurable evidence as you can. This way, you can monitor progress throughout the process. Write down what you want to see, feel, and hear when you get there. Attainable: Is it realistic? Don’t set

yourself up for failure before you begin. Do you have the funds, time, or commitment to achieve your goal? Relevant: The main questions you want to ask yourself is: Why do I want to reach this goal? Do I have the skills and personality to achieve my goal (e.g., Do I have the drive to get only three hours of sleep a night for months on end?). Timely: People have more success when deadlines are attached to projects and goals. Set a deadline for yourself and stick to it. “Goals are dreams with deadlines.” ~Diana Scharf Hunt Get a jumpstart on your New Year’s resolutions. Create a plan of attack. Hold yourself accountable. Have people help you. And read your goals everyday. If you have a SMART plan, you will do it. Best of luck. Kevin Arndt is an athletic trainer at Forma Gym in Walnut Creek. You can reach him at Kevin@Formagym.com.

ourcommunityfocus.com • december 2014

Make Some Plans

See pages 18 & 19 for Holiday Boutiques and Concerts!

december

december 6

december 13

december 14

A Heart for Christmas

Library Book Sale

Breakfast with Santa

A Heart for Christmas 100% free Christmas show and musical light tour! 1185 Pine Lane, Clayton. Open Wed-Sun through Dec. 28. Visit AHeartForChristmas.com for showtimes and directions!

Friends of the Pleasant Hill Library Book Sale behind the library. 10am – 3:30pm. Members can enter at 9:30am. For more information, to volunteer, or in case of rain, contact fophlsale@ gmail.com.

Mt. Diablo Branch California Writers Club “Three Of Our Own” present “Top Ten Tips on Publishing.” Zio Fraedo’s, 611 Gregory Ln., PH. Check in 11:15, lunch at 12, speaker 1-2pm. $20/members, $25/guests. Reservations required by 12/10: Robin Gigoux at ragig@aol.com, or 925.933.9670. cwcmtdiablowriters.wordpress.com.

Join Santa for pancakes, sausages, scrambled eggs, juice and coffee, 8am-11am at the Martinez Senior Community Center, 818 Green Street. Adults $3.50, Children under 10 $2.00.

december

december 6

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december 17

East Bay Artists Guild

Emeritus College Annual Holiday Luncheon

Child Care for Saturday Shoppers

Society of American Magicians

11:30-1:30 in the food court on the DVC Campus. $25 tickets. Handmade items for sale. Reservations required: 925.969.4316. To sit with friends, please register together.

or enjoy some quiet time. Mtz City Hall Leisure Services will be providing Christmas crafts and activities and playground supervision at Nancy Boyd Park, 9am-3pm. Ages 4 – 11. $20 per child, pre-register at www.cityofmartinez.org or call (925) 372-3510.

Assembly #112 meets the 3rd Wednesday of each month at 7pm, Veterans of Foreign Wars, 1919 Wendell Lane, PH. Open to all! 925.451.1292.

december 2

december 7

december 13

february

Pleasant Hill Garden Study Club

Bedford Gallery “Jealous Curator”

Santa Crawl

How to Raise Your Own Chickens

Roger and Janie Chapin present English Gardens: A Virtual Tour. Guests welcome and free. 7pm at Pleasant Hill Community Center, 320 Civic Drive, PH. 925.944.4898 or www.phgsc.com.

Opening reception 3-5pm. An exhibition designed to tackle creative blocks that can inhibit us all, featuring contemporary art and art-making stations inspired by The Jealous Curator, popular art blogger and author. www. bedfordgallery.org

Come see the new exhibit at the Pleasant Hill Senior Center. Now through December, come view the fine art created by artists in our community, 233 Gregory Lane.

december 2014 • ourcommunityfocus.com

(MUST BE 21) Main Street Martinez, Creek Monkey Tap House and the Bay Area Craft Beer Festival present the downtown Santa Crawl from 2:30pm to 5:30pm. Sample hand-crafted beers from the Bay Area. More info at http://www. santabeercrawl.com/santacrawldetails.html.

Lafayette resident, Papa John Kiefer will offer free workshops on raising chicks, laying hen maintenance, and sustainable coop construction. Held in Lafayette on Sundays from 1-3:30 pm 2/8, 2/22, or 3/8. Reservations are required. Contact: jhkiefer@comcast.net.

Business Directory Local Qualit y You Can Trust!

Pleasant Hill

COLLISION

Collision Repair & Painting • Frame Straightening Insurance Claims • Glass • Customs

www.PleasantHillCollision.com • email phcollision@aol.com 925-939-1160 • 1581 Oak Park Boulevard • Pleasant Hill

BUCK CHESHIRE Happy Fun "LIVE" Music From the 50’s thru 80’s •

• Assisted Living Convalescent Homes • Hospitals

Buck Cheshire• 925-787-6149 www.buckshotozoneband.com

One Dog At A Time • Call for Same Day Appointments • Mon, Tue, Fri, Sat and Sun • 9am - 6pm and Some Evenings

• Drop in nail trimming Sunday & Monday's • Located in and Backed by Central Bark, Downtown Martinez

melonie jackson • 925-822-7858 821 Escobar St, Martinez

LEADING EDGE

PEST MANAGEMENT, INC. TERMITE SPECIALISTS Inspections, Eco-Friendly Treatments & Professional Repairs

800-471-5555

WWW.LEADINGEDGEPM.COM

Lic.#PR6202

Free Woodchip Mulch Free Estimate Free Delivery

cwtreeservice.com

Firewood for Sale Seasoned and Split Oak and Hardwood Mix Half Cords and Full Cords Call for Details

Tree Removal & Trimming Experts • Stump Removal Topping • Shaping Hedges & Shrubs • 40 Years Experience Lic. #724531 • Insured PL & PD worker’s comp.

Advertisers Antique Corner Aspire Pilates Center Bay Area Festivals, Inc. Bay View Yacht Charters Carlton Senior Living Christ Community Church City of Pleasant Hill Cold Stone Creamery Colleen Callahan Insurance Services Country Waffles Dasbiotics 3D Printing Déjà Vu Boutique

Diablo Valley Oncology EcoMulch East Bay Residential Realty Ellinwood Exterminators El Tapatio Faith Lutheran Church Flaskerud - RE/MAX Today Forma Gym Glenn Allen Team – RE/MAX Grace Episcopal Church Hagin’s Automotive Hammer’s Heating and A/C Hillcrest Veterinary Hospital Hire My Husband

Home Detailers Housekeeping Jack’s Restaurant & Bar Jennifer L. Martin D.D.S. Kobe Japan Law Office of Daniel L. DuRee Law Offices of Lauren Smykowski Les Schwab Tires Main Street Martinez Martinez Arts Association Martinez Kiwanis Club Maureen Ingalls - RE/MAX Accord Moulding Company Mountain Mikes Pizza Mt. Diablo Solano Oncology Group

My Thai Navlet’s Noni’s Pet Boutique & Grooming Pleasant Hill Chamber of Commerce Pleasant Hill Rec & Park Samuels Construction Senior Helpers Sears Home Services – Leisa Christensen Shell Western States Credit Union Suzanne Looker, Pacific Union International The UPS Store, Golf Club Rd Total Property Solutions Waters Moving and Storage Wence’s Restaurant

Winter Cleaning Special

12/31/14

ourcommunityfocus.com • december 2014

L ght Up The NIGHT! The NIGHT!

in Downtown Pleasant Hill

Join the merchants, City of Pleasant Hill, and Pleasant Hill Chamber of Commerce for a fun night of holiday lights, shopping, and of course, Santa!

Wednesday December 3 4:00–8:00pm Holiday Arts & Crafts Fair (starting at 4:00pm) FREE hot chocolate, coffee and cookies FREE Carriage rides FREE parking 25-foot Holiday Tree lighting at 6:00pm Costumed characters on Crescent Drive

including our special visitor, Olaf from Frozen!

“Elf on the Shelf”

Holiday Treasure Hunt Pick up your holiday treasure map, follow the highlighted stores, and see if you can find our Elf on the Shelf helpers that are hiding in the participating merchants!

Entertainment on Plaza near Pasta Pomodoro

and Downtown Plaza Stage (between Sweet Tomatoes and Jack's Restaurant)

will be non-p accepting food deorishable durin nations holidayg this event.

Located at Crescent Drive at Contra Costa Boulevard For more details call 800-762-1641 or 925-671-5229. Brought to you by Downtown Pleasant Hill, City of Pleasant Hill, and the Pleasant Hill Chamber of Commerce. 36

december 2014 • ourcommunityfocus.com

City of Pleasant Hill