AUGUST 2010
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COMMUNIT Y FOCUS
ANNIVERSARY
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August 2010
HEARD ON THE STREET
What was Your Best Vacation Ever?
“Oh gosh, my best vacation was taking a cruise to the Caribbean with my family.” -Dylan Carroll
“Going to Washington D.C. was my favorite trip because I got to go out of state. My brother Daniel won a writing contest and the prize was a D.C. trip. Our whole family got to go!” -Sean Rigley
“An Inland Passage cruise to Alaska with my husband was my favorite vacation because it was my last vacation I was able to spend with my husband. He passed away a year later.” -Jane Fuentes (Betsy Ross)
“ Going on day trips locally and finding all the neat places. There are so many fun things to do around the Bay Area.” -The Rinn Family
Advertise with us and reach over 30,000 homes and businesses. Check us out on the web at:
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When I say "good," you say "neighbor." Matthew Rinn, Agent Insurance Lic. #: 0F99232 Bus: 925-671-0222 Fax: 925-671-0309 Pleasant Hill, CA 94523 matt@myagentmatt.net
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August 2010 Confirm schedule at www.pleasanthillchamber.com
Pleasant Hill Chamber of Commerce
Schedule of Events
August 2010
8/6 - Ambassador Meeting 7:45 am-9am PH City Hall- Large Community Room 8/6 - No Brown Bag Lunch for July 8/10 - Ambassador Luncheon 11:45a-1:00p, La Tapatia 1802 Willow Pass Road, Concord RSVP: Ingrid@pleasanthillchamber. com 8/11 - Ribbon Cutting 5-7pm, Classical Homeopathy 5:00p – 7:00p, 43 Quail Court, #103, WC RSVP: celena@pleasanthillchamber. com 8/18 - August Mixer 5:30-7:30pm @ JACK’S Restaurant & Bar, 68 Crescent RSVP: celena@pleasanthillchamber. com 8/19 - BOD Meeting 7:45am – 9:00am Pleasant Hill City Hall- Large Community Room, 100 Gregory Lane
8/19 Ribbon Cutting 5:30-8:00 Web Savvy Pleasant Hill Wine Merchants 2685 Pleasant Hill Road, #D RSVP: Celena@pleasanthillchamber.com 8/21 - “Toast To Summer 2010” 6:00pm - 10:00pm Pleasant Hill City Hall *See details on back page
8/26 Ribbon Cutting 5:00pm Maxine Chan. Altera Signature Properties 6635 Alhambra Ave. #100, Martinez 8/27 - “4th Challenged Golfers Club” Grayson Woods Golf Course, 400 Gregory Lane, PH Check in/Lunch 11:45/Tee Time 1pm. RSVP: celena@ pleasanthillchamber.com 8/30 - Green Committee 3pm-5pm “Back Forty” 100 Coggins. 8/30 - GAC 5pm-6pm “Back Forty” 100 Coggins,
CALENDAR SPONSORED BY
A Toast to Summer By Charley Daly, CEO, P.H. Chamber of Commerce Think of a warm summer evening. contest. So mark your calendars now and prepare for the event of the sumImagine food that will make your taste buds go wild and wine from the finest mer! vines. Throw in music that will get you Part of the proceeds for this event singing and dancing by night’s end, will benefit the Pleasant Hill Comand you’ve landed yourself at the City munity Foundation which helps to Hall Lake. support the Pleasant Hill community On Saturday, August 21st, the through its grants. Chamber of Commerce is planning a For more information, contact the signature event that will feature all of Chamber at: 674-0700. Or check the the above and much more. Included Chamber web site at www.pleasanwill be a prime rib dinner from Tahoe thillchamber.com. Joe’s as well as the return of the martini
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CHAMBER NEWS
Blues and Brews Festival
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August 2010
JULIE SAYS
Woo Hoo! A Summer Contest! By Julie Ross
THANK YOU ADVERTISERS!
By the time August rolls around, some of us are coming close to scraping the bottom of our summer entertainment idea barrels. If you’re in this boat, don’t despair, for I have come to the rescue with a special summer contest just for you. There is even a fabulous prize for the winner. Read on. Here is the challenge: Put together as many words as you can from the letters in “Pleasant Hill.” You may use the letters as many times as they actually appear in “Pleasant Hill” to come up with your word list. For example, in order to be acceptable, a word may have only one “e”, but may use the letter “a” twice and contain as many as three of the letter “l”. Sorry, but there are further rules. Each word must have at least three letters, so no “as” or “in”. Your list may not include words from George Carlin’s “The Seven Words You Can Never Say on TV” skit. Your words must be “real” words – no cheating with weird made-up spellings like “easi” or “tean.” I was not born yesterday and will not be fooled.
The official dictionary of the Pleasant Hill Summer Word Contest is online at mydictionary.com. If you’re not sure about one or more of your words, go to the website and type it into the search bar at the top to check. It would be helpful, but not mandatory, to alphabetize your list or at least group words by initial letter so it’s easier for me to check for (don’t even think about trying to get away with it) duplicates. Is this contest thrilling? Well, not really, but it is inexpensive (free!) and probably will not cause heatstroke, an issue with many activities this time of year. As yet another plus, it might jumpstart the brains of you and your family members after what may have been an extended period of reduced activity. I will award the winner – the individual or group whose list contains the most acceptable words (see rules above) – a $50 gift card to Borders. Woo Hoo! (see headline above). Your entries must be received by August 20, 2010. In the unlikely event of a tie, one name from among the longest-list-submitters will be randomly drawn from an official paper bag with witnesses present. So what are you waiting for? To get you started, I’m going to give you two words as freebies – “pleasant” and “hill.” You’re welcome. Please e-mail questions, comments and/or your contest entries to julieakross@comcast.net. P.S. I have more than 70 words so far. Don’t let me win my own gift card back.
Matthew C. Rinn, State Farm Insurance The Moulding Company Tamura Insurance Jennifer L. Martin D.D.S. Senior Helpers Sport Clips Pleasant Hill Recreation & Park District Hitchcock Realty RKL Builders Diablo Trophy and Awards Aspire Pilates Center UPS – Virginia Hills Earth First Cleaning Sam Nisar, Wells Fargo Home Mortgage Tahoe Joe’s Hire My Husband A Wee Change Coldstone Creamery Downtown Pleasant Hill Pleasant Hill Chamber of Commerce Kobe Japan Pacific Coast Farmers’ Market City of Pleasant Hill
Pacific Computer Consultants Land Home Financial Services, Inc. Apollo Shuttle Scott Floor to Ceiling Dallimonti’s Smokin Okie’s El Tapatio Massés Café Milano Becky Xepoleas, Mary Kay Sunflower Massage Spa Air Seal, Inc. Matthew’s AAA, Inc. Home Expressions McHale’s Environmental Insulation Jim’s Auto Glass Payless Painting Christies for Kids Don & Norma Flaskerud - Re/Max CC Connection CA Cancer Research Institute Golden Foot Spa
Community Focus A Monthly Publication Elena Hutslar – Publisher/Editor Becky Coburn – Publisher/Editor Jennifer Neys – Publisher/Editor Trish Heaney – Graphic Designer Sarah Birdwell – Graphic Designer Debra Wilson – Graphic Designer
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Pleasant Hill Market • Pleasant Hill City Hall Pleasant Hill Senior Center • Pleasant Hill Library Mt. Diablo YMCA • UPS – Virginia Hills, Mtz. Chamber of Commerce (P.H. & Mtz.) Pleasant Hill Rec and Park (Civic Dr. & Gregory Ln.) Hyatt Summerfield Suites, Pleasant Hill
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August 2010
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Thank You to the Many Members of the Community Focus Family! By The Publishers This month marks our 1st anniversary, and the Community Focus would like to thank the many writers and advertisers who have supported and believed in the paper along the way. We are grateful to the readers who have sent their good wishes and encouragement in addition to content ideas and story leads to help make our first year a success. We hope that you continue to play an active roll. The Focus continues to grow and change. Beginning in September, the paper will be delivered to ALL homes and businesses in Martinez, and our new, enhanced website is designed to be an informative and valuable resource for the community. We hope you will make it your computer
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home page! We are indebted to our writers and columnists, many of whom have stuck with us since our launch last
August. Jessica Braverman, Contra Costa Humane Society (Lisa Myers, David Stegman and Chrissy Wilberg), Gina
Campo, Russell Carroll, Alison Clary, Charley Daly, Nicole Diestler, Tod Gomes, May Hanecak, Michael Harris, Rhoda Herald, Nathan Hitchcock, Jaki Jones, David Jordan, Doug Kaya, Adam Kondonijakos, Darrel Mitchell, Karen Mitchoff, Chuck Nan, Adam Nilsen, Julia Novak, Peter Paredero, Julie Ross, Denise Salamanca, Duncan Sandiland, Lesley Stiles, Maria Terry, R.L. Tinker, Helena Vardas, Julia Wessels (Frugal Find), Jessie Wusthoff, Finally, we want to recognize Trish Heaney, our innovative and consummate graphic artist, for putting our vision on paper on time every month. And a huge thank you goes out to Debra Wilson and Sarah Birdwell who jump in smiling every time we ask.
Make Our Community Focus Your Home Page Find all the information you need to navigate Our Community. • Weather • Local Business Directory • Place a Classified Ad • KTVU 2 Local & National News • Current Issue Online • Post a Community Calendar Event
• Traffic • Real Estate • Business News & Links • Recipes • Submit a Story • Community Resources & Links
• Local Movie Times • Sports • Archives • The Focus Columns • Seniors
www.ourcommunityfocus.com • Julie Says ...................................................page 4 • Real Estate Update ...................................page 6 • Senior Envy ..............................................page 9 • City Buzz ..................................................page 12
• Home Team ............................................. page 16-17 • Happy Hour Specials .............................. page 20 • Home Services Special Section ............... page 24 • Teen Scene ............................................... page 30
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August 2010
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Pleasant Hill Real Estate Update
T
he most important thing to do before selling your home‌ If you or a loved one is considering selling a home, this article is for you. It’s very easy to get caught up in the excitement (and fear) of selling your home, so it’s very important that you stop, breathe, and make sure you are not rushing into things. I’m going to skip the obvious and self-serving advice of finding a great Realtor. While I do feel that this is an important thing to do, this article focuses on a much less obvious item that most homeowners unfortunately skip: having your home professionally inspected. With most home sales, the buyer writes their offer with no formal information on the home’s condition, keeping their fingers crossed that nothing major will come up in the inspections. The result is numerous
got rent? Are you a landlord who is sick and tired of‌.
‌ chasing your tenants down for rent every month? ‌ having to deal with maintenance requests in the middle of the night? ‌ showing your home over and over again trying to find the perfect tenant?
By Nathan Hitchcock demands that the seller repair the deficiencies; or 3) The buyer demands the purchase price to be reduced accordingly. A much less stressful approach is to be proactive and have the home professionally inspected prior to putting it on the market. Any deficiencies found can RECENT PLEASANT HILL HOME SALES (6/1/2010 – 6/30/2010) Address Beds Baths Sq Ft Market Days List Price Sales Price Sales $/Sq Ft be repaired SINGLE FAMILY HOME by the 2160 AHNEITA DR 3 1 1042 7 $325,000 $335,000 $321.50 home458 ODIN DRIVE 3 2 1252 6 $339,900 $375,000 $299.52 172 HAZEL DR 3 1 1042 68 $398,900 $375,000 $359.88 owner if 284 NANCY LANE 3 1 1042 17 $380,000 $380,000 $364.68 desired, 101 DORIS 3 1 1042 9 $375,000 $383,000 $367.56 or just 143 MARGIE DR 3 1 1052 72 $399,000 $399,000 $379.28 disclosed to 196 HAZEL DR 3 2 1514 43 $449,000 $420,000 $277.41 99 DORIS DR 3 1 1042 5 $425,000 $425,000 $407.87 be “as is� to
sleepless nights for both the buyer and seller as they await the results. And if contentious issues do arise, which is typical, there are only a handful of outcomes that are likely, none of which will be very attractive to the seller: 1) The buyer outright cancels the escrow; 2) The buyer
164 ELDERWOOD DR 3 1853 ARDITH 3 705 SLATER AVENUE 3 506 PATTERSON BLVD 3 819 AUDREY CT 3 545 MAUREEN LN 4 25 GREENWOOD CT 3 517 MAUREEN LN 3 500 WESTOVER LANE 3 104 SAINT GERMAIN LN 3 155 JACKSON WAY 4 271 GLORIA DRIVE 4 7 DUFFY CT 4 173 LUELLA DR 4 35 SHETLAND LN 5 101 POSHARD ST 3 616 PASA TIEMPO CT 5 18 ELTON CRT 4 10 PILLON REAL 4 438 IRON HILL STREET 4 Totals: 28 Listings TOWN HOMES / CONDOS / DUETS 43 MASSOLO DR 2 340 ROCK CREEK WAY 2 9 ZURICH CT 2 51 MOZDEN LN 2 356 GRAPEVINE PL 2 7 FAIRWAY PLACE 3 11 MATISSE CT 3 Totals: 7 Listings
2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 3 3 2 2 2
2 2 2 2 2 2 2
1423 1107 1880 1569 1521 1475 1712 1597 1400 2018 2053 2100 1946 2097 2903 1987 3094 2711 2946 2384
973 1162 1215 1215 1133 1481 1726
10 26 12 9 14 25 73 7 29 7 9 11 52 47 12 25 37 320 28 0 35
$450,000 $429,000 $459,900 $464,900 $448,000 $494,000 $519,000 $499,000 $499,900 $549,000 $538,000 $565,000 $578,000 $586,000 $649,000 $625,000 $742,900 $749,950 $765,000 $850,000 $519,762
$440,000 $445,000 $455,000 $460,000 $470,000 $480,000 $495,000 $500,000 $500,000 $525,000 $540,000 $570,000 $570,000 $570,000 $615,000 $616,000 $714,900 $744,000 $745,000 $825,000 $513,282
$309.21 $401.99 $242.02 $293.18 $309.01 $325.42 $289.14 $313.09 $357.14 $260.16 $263.03 $271.43 $292.91 $271.82 $211.85 $310.02 $231.06 $274.44 $252.89 $346.06 $307
7 13 1 9 35 37 11 16
$209,000 $280,000 $299,950 $257,900 $329,950 $368,000 $429,000 $310,542
$205,000 $260,000 $275,000 $280,000 $318,000 $360,000 $425,000 $303,285
$210.69 $223.75 $226.34 $230.45 $280.67 $243.08 $246.23 $237
24/7 On Call Maintenance Tenant Screening & Placement Rent Collection & Accounting LOW RATES GUARANTEED!
(925) 825-1100 option 3 www.hitchcockrealty.com 1928 Contra Costa Blvd Pleasant Hill, CA 94523
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any prospective buyers. The inspections may cost you a few hundred dollars, but the peace of mind that is gained by the buyer and seller is well worth the expense. Nathan Hitchcock is the managing broker of Hitchcock Realty, a residential real estate brokerage and property management firm in downtown Pleasant Hill. He can be reached at nathan@hitchcockrealty.com or (925) 825-1100. Data contained herein was obtained from the CCAR Multiple Listing Service. Information is deemed reliable but is not guaranteed.
There’s Never Been a Better Time to Purchase or Refinance! ‡ Local Mortgage Banker in Business Since 1988 ‡ Always Competitve with Interest Rates and Loan Fees ‡ Personalized Customer Service
Call Land/Home Today:
Peter Paredero
Sr. Mortgage Consultant Cell: 925-787-8746 Fax: 925-887-6705 pparedero@lhfinancial.com 1855 Gateway Blvd., Suite 140, Concord, CA 94520 Not a commitment to lend. Dept of Real Estate, 916-227-0931. Equal Housing Opportunity Lender. Land/Home Financial Services Inc. DRE. #988341. NMLS #248082
August 2010
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BUSINESS NEWS
HomePath Financing
By Peter Paredero deal, huh? Well, yes, but your interest You don’t see very many loan I know getting motivated to take the This is a “call to action” to all you rate will be higher products these days that stray from first step can be difficult. An easy first Cliff Claven’s out there! depending on how high the norm. I remember in 2003 when step is to spend 15 minutes looking at “Ma” needs a break and you go with your loan to each morning I would get the “daily the HomePath website! Getting pro there are a lot of great value. I guess everything rate sheets” from our broker partners. opportunities! The condo active in buying real estate at this point in life is a trade off. One lender in particular had over might be the best decision you’ve ever shopper will be greatly HomePath, which 20 pages of loan products that they rewarded particularly made… you can access at www. offered. Curiously enough, back since HomePath will Peter Paredero is a Senior Morthomepath.com is a in ‘03 we where talking quite a bit finance those homes with gage Consultant for Land Home great place to hunt for about deforestation and the fact that fewer strings attached. Financial Services Inc. and has resided properties. There are many people our World’s lumber supply was in So, there you have it, another in Pleasant Hill since 1994. 925 787who have scored big using this site to jeopardy if we didn’t slow down our tool in your home buying tool belt. 8746. pparedero@lhfinancial.com consumption. Every day, a stack of rate purchase either an owner occupied sheets was thrown on my desk that was property or an investment property. It’s definitely worth checking out if at least 1/2” thick. Today’s rate sheets you want to find a legitimate bargain. are 2 pages… maybe 3 with a limited By Joyce & Jim Newport, Owners, Right at Home of Mt. Diablo On the website you’ll be able to see if amount of products available. Thirty or 15-year fixed, FHA, VA, CalPers and, the home qualifies for the HomePath money for a product or service. They Bernie Madoff-type ponzi frauds, financing described above and you’ll hidden in the back are the adjustable steal dignity, trust and self-esteem. foreign lottery ploys and work-ateven be able to learn about the rate mortgages (ARMs). So, the good Education and awareness are key home check cashing schemes are just news is that the end of “out of the box” HomePath Renovation Mortgage components of stopping scams and a few of the scams that have made which would allow you to make light financing has rejuvenated our forest! protecting our loved ones. headlines in recent years. Scams and renovations. Unfortunately, for the fraudulent business practices that Things to remember by This probably should not be the environment (good for homebuyers), intend to swindle can impact anyone StopSeniorScams.org: only way to conduct your home search; Fannie Mae created a loan program including the affluent and highly 1. If an offer sounds too good to be however it’s worth going to the site last year that added another page to educated, as well as the non-native true, it probably is. which will allow you to get e-mail our rate sheet called HomePath. It’s speaking, the poor and the elderly. In 2. When it comes to a “now or never” notifications on properties you may not only a loan product but also a way difficult economic times, scammers opportunity, choose “never.” be interested in viewing. You should for Fannie Mae to get their foreclosed continually search for 3. Keep account homes back into the hands of qualified be aware that 30 % of these properties new ways to deceive. numbers, codes and are purchased cash (mainly investors) buyers. HomePath financing is a Recently publicized passwords private. Be and many properties get multiple research-worthy option that allows scams include wary of giving any offers which will throw you out of the you to finance a Fannie Mae owned individuals posing as information out to HomePath financing option. The good home up to 97% loan to value. Here’s bank officials offering anyone over the phone news is that you may find just what the great part about the loan: there to refinance mortgages unless you initiated the you’re looking for and that HomePath is no appraisal necessary and NO or to confirm account call. will be available to you as an option. MORTGAGE INSURANCE. What a numbers via the 4. Shred bills, junk Internet or over the mail and receipts phone. before discarding Anyone with them. High School. Complete football schedule The College Park Falcons have two a phone, mail box, 5. Don’t be afraid can be found at www.collegeparkfootball. games under the lights at Diablo Valley internet access or front to report your com. Make sure to join the College Park College during the 2010 football season. door can be a possible Photo: Jamie Westdal Photograph experiences. If you Athletic Boosters to get your discount The first is September 3rd at 7:00 pm vs. www.jamiewestdal.com scam target. Scammers feel uncomfortable, tell card. Visit www.cphsboosters.com for Alhambra High School to kick off the understand that most people want a someone. more information. season. The second will be Homecoming “great deal” or desire to be wealthier Joyce and Jim Newport own the on October 15th at 7:00 pm vs. Northgate and more beautiful. Scams are often Right at Home office at 1800 Oak targeted to individuals with unique Park Blvd in Pleasant Hill. For more Russell Carroll is on vacation this month. He is spending some time in backgrounds and special needs, information, please call our office at Cooperstown, New York, watching baseball at the historic Doubleday Field including seniors. 925.256.HOME (4663). and no doubt getting a “taste” of the area at the Cooperstown Brewing Scam artists steal more than Company. But…that’s just how we see it.
Thwarting Scams
F.Y.I.
Under The Lights This Fall
PAID ADVERTORIAL
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August 2010
Hittin’ the Road By Denise Salamanca Gleaming dark wood, beautiful jewel-toned stained glass and highbeamed ceilings with woodcarvings surround me. Seated in a tiny chapel, I am overwhelmed by the beauty of the glowing Tiffany stained glass windows. I feel like I am back visiting castles in Europe, but I am actually inside St. Peter’s Chapel at Mare Island Historic Park in Vallejo. After reading about the Tiffany windows, I brought my parents with me to take a tour of Mare Island (www. mareislandhpf.org). My grandfather worked here and my father was in the Navy, so I thought it would be interesting. Little did I know how educational it
would be! Our guide, Barbara, a former teacher who more than once sternly warned us not to wander off, gave us a wonderful tour. Her knowledge of the 4,351 acre shipyard was impressive and she loved to answer questions. Give yourself at least 3 hours for the tour, as there is much to see and learn! David Glasgow Farragut founded the Mare Island Shipyard in 1854, and the Navy closed the yard in 1996. Dur-
ing that period, over 500 ships, including nuclear submarines, were built at this Naval shipyard. Mare Island’s first ship, the paddle-wheeled gunboat Saginaw, was launched before the Civil War in 1859, and its last ship, the nuclear submarine U.S.S. Drum, was launched in 1970 when our country was divided over the Vietnam war. Our tour included Alden Park which was scattered with unique weapons, the grand 10,000 square foot Yard
Commander’s Residence on Officer’s Row, the 25,000 square foot Artifact Museum and the dry docks along the waterfront of Mare Island Strait. I enjoyed all of our stops but the jewel of the tour was St Peter’s Chapel. You would never imagine the splendor inside this unassuming little chapel. Barbara walked us in and left the lights off so that we could experience the full effect. The chapel has 16 Tiffany windows, the largest collection under one roof west of the Mississippi. The colors and details are amazing and now I know why people come from around the world to view these windows! From the Gold Country to the Silicon Valley, we are surrounded by a plethora of historical places to visit in Northern California. We have dozens of parks, monuments and beaches that have their own story to tell us about our past. I encourage everyone to “hit the road” and explore these historical gems so that we can continue to preserve them for future generations.
Summer Care Tips for You and Your Pet Contra Costa Humane Society is an animal-welfare organization based in Pleasant Hill that aims to improve the quality of life for animals through programs and services that help prevent cruelty, relieve suffering, and advocate responsible and humane behavior. During the “dog days” of summer, did you know that the interior temperature inside a parked car can climb to 160ºF in just 10 minutes? California state law SB 1806, makes it a misdemeanor to leave an animal unattended inside a closed vehicle in any condition that could endanger the animal. In addition, a minimum fine of $100, imprisonment in a county jail, or both may be imposed on any violator. Beating the heat is extra tough for dogs because they can only cool themselves by panting and sweating through
By David Stegman, Executive Director, Contra Costa Humane Society don’t force exercise. On long walks, their paw pads. Heatstroke can come ing water in an anchored bucket or a rest often and take plenty of water. Hot on quickly and result in brain damage heavy bowl that won’t tip over. pavement can burn dogs’ paws; choose or death. Prevent your beloved canine • Be a “Watchdog” for dogs. Make sure shady, grassy routes. from heatstroke by following these that they have food, water, and shelter. • Trim heavy-coated dogs’ fur, but leave If you see a dog in distress, contact the precautions: authorities. • Never leave a dog in a parked car. Even an inch for protection against insects and sunburn. Following these simple steps can on a mild day, the temperature inside a • Keep your dog indoors. If he or she help save a life. For more informacar can reach 120ºF in 30 minutes. must stay outside for long, avoid the • If you see a dog in a car and in distion please contact the Contra Costa hottest part of the day. Provide shade, Humane Society at www.cchumane.org tress, take down the car’s color, model, water, and a wading pool. Keep drinkor call 925-279-CCHS (2247). make, and license plate number, have the owner paged inside nearby stores, READY TO ADOPT? and call local humane authorities or Ella is a 3-year old female police. If police are unresponsive or medium-haired gray & too slow and the dog’s life appears to white cat, is very, very be in imminent danger, find a witness friendly and purrs like crazy. Would be best for an adult (or several) who will back your assesshome. If you are interested ment, take steps to remove the suffering in adopting, please contact animal, and then wait for authorities to CCHS at (cchumane.org) arrive. where you can learn more • Don’t take your dog jogging—except about the animals and the on cool mornings or evenings—and adoption process.
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August 2010
Page 9
SENIOR ENVY
Come to The Senior Center Open House Hiking • Wine Tasting • Bridge • C.C.Cafe • Bunco • Softball • Horseshoes
openhouse
You are invited
Friday, August 20th
10am – Noon • Cost Free
Have you always wondered what happens at the Pleasant Hill Senior Center? Representatives will be available to answer questions on every activity, service, class, and sport the center has to offer. Don’t miss samples from the kitchen, chances to win door prizes, and an opportunity to see what you’re missing! Memberships are only $12.00/year and include a reduced fee for club activities, trips and events as well as a monthly newsletter. 233 Gregory Lane, Pleasant Hill 925-798-8788 Bocce • Travel • Boutique Workshop • Small Appliance Repair • Computer Lab
Our Hysterical Historian By Doug Kaya Pleasant Hill Senior Center’s Chef ’s child, born and raised in the Richmond for 27 years, was as a taxi-driver in district in the city, “…where Cable Cars San Francisco and Oakland. When he Lunch cashier, Building #2 Displaystarted, drivers were required to wear a Master, Mary Shockley Award recipient, climb halfway to the stars.” cap, tie and either a white or blue shirt. Gary is an 8-year veteran of Senior Sounds collating team member, Gary’s parents, Joseph and Eve, the National Guard and served as a two open-heart surgery survivor were also members of the PHSC. His Guided-Missile Crewman. Like his and last but certainly not least, club historian Gary Kraft. Gary was an only father before him, his main occupation, mother volunteered at the reception desk and was also the cashier for “Friday Soup” (now called Chef ’s Lunch). When she “retired” from that position, Gary stepped in and Call us at continues to do so today. Gary’s 677-2150 membership into the PHSC is unusual, to say the least. In October of 1990, his 50th birthday gift from his parents was membership to PHSC! Q Caring Companionship Q Alzheimer’s & Q Bathing & Dressing Dementia Care Q Walking Assistance Q Licensed, Bonded, Gary and the love of his life, Gwen, Q Light Housekeeping & Insured ® Q Medication Reminders Q FREE In-Home have been happily married for over Q Up to 24-hour Care Assessment 39 years and reside in Pleasant Hill. He first met Gwen when she babysat for Gary and his first wife. After his
divorce, they found they had the same interests and slowly gravitated toward each other. Their favorite song is “Unchained Melody.” Not the version by the Righteous Brothers most of us are familiar with, but an earlier version by Al Hibbler.
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PAST TO PLEASANT
August 2010
The Old Quarry
August Events in Downtown Martinez Martinez Peddlers Faire
By Adam Nilsen Driving on Old Quarry Road, that little road between Golf Club Road and Chilpancingo Parkway, the only thing even close to a quarry today are the bags of gravel in the garden department at the adjacent Kmart. But there was indeed a quarry there whose only
trace is its name. The rock quarry was once a prominent feature of northern Pleasant Hill, located just north of Diablo Valley College and Golf Club Road, and south of Pacheco. This scar in the land is now where the DVC Shopping Center is, with KMart, Safeway, and Round Table Pizza among the stores there today. Camelback Road was built to follow the lower left-hand boundary of the
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quarry, and Chilpancingo Parkway follows part of the upper boundary. Today’s Old Quarry Road slices through the left side of where the quarry was. I have called every local company that has anything to do with rocks or gravel, and nobody seems to know anything about the old quarry. Does anyone know anything about this quarry? Who operated it? What were they quarrying there? What was it made into? Do you have any recollection about it at all? If you contact me with information, it would rock my world. Sorry‌couldn’t resist that one. You can reach me at apnilsen@gmail.com or 510-238-3371 Adam Nilsen is a Pleasant Hill native and a history researcher at the Oakland Museum of California. He is the author of Pleasant Hill, a history of the community, available at local bookstores and through the Friends of Rodgers Ranch.
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Live Music! Blue Plate ys Restaurant Deals Tuesdsadays Blue Dot Deals Blue in the stores! Mini Farmers Market! Tuesdays Aug. 10th, 17th, 24th Mayors Healthy Downtown Martinez Cooking Challenge! New!
Please join us at "Spatz' Speakeasy" Casino Night on Friday, August 20, benefiting the Main Street Martinez Organization and the Downtown Veteran's Memorial Building. This is the premier of what we hope to be an exciting annual event. Get tickets now! nnual 12th A
Over 100 Cars, Trucks & Motorcycles Vendors • DJ • Live Music • Trophys • Prizes
Sat., Aug. 21st • 10am to 4pm DowntownMartinez
925-228-3577 www.MartinezMainStreet.org
925.945.0771 2835 Contra Costa Blvd. Pleasant Hill, CA Visit our online gallery at
www.scottftc.com
SALE! SALE! SALE! Act now and receive your Summer Savings
Facing north, the quarry is visible north of the horizontal Golf Club Road, across the street from DVC in 1961.
Community Service Day Pleasant Hill’s 6th Annual Community Service Day is on Saturday, September 25th. Projects range from sprucing up a neighborhood park or school to repairing bicycles and cleaning up creeks. Whether you sign up online or show up at Pleasant Hill Park on the day of the event, your morning will begin at 7:30am with a free pancake breakfast served by the Lions Club. Don’t forget to pick up a commemorative T-Shirt before you head
off to your project site. The Pleasant Hill Civic Action Commission organizes Community Service Day, and last year, more than 700 volunteers worked on 22 projects throughout the city! All projects for consideration should be submitted on or before September 10th. To signup online, visit: www.ci.pleasant-hill.ca.us and click on the “Community Service Day� link. For additional information, email Martin Nelis at mnelis@ci.pleasanthill.ca.us or call (925) 671-5229.
Save $500 on a Hunter Douglas purchase of $5000 or more! Hunter Douglas window fashions offer a variety of choices, with endless decorating possibilities in fabric, texture, color, style and specialty hardware systems. Ask us about the $1500 Tax Credit now! Sale exp. 9/30/10
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Page 11
Backyard Chickens By Gina Campo From growing your own organic fruits and vegetables to turning your backyard into a barnyard with chickens and even dairy goats, the trend toward suburban farming and sustainable living is something to cluck about. Not just for farmers with acres of land, more and more people in residential neighborhoods are taking to raising chickens, both as a source of organic eggs and for the novelty of it. Knowing where our food comes from is becoming increasingly important, as people want to turn away from industrialized food manufacturing. Aside from the nutritional and environmental benefits, it turns out that chickens are pretty fun to have around. “They are so cool to watch,” said Karen Bailey of Martinez. “It’s just fun having them; the kids like to hold them and learn about caring for them. They just cruise around during the day and go in their coop at night. They are so easy.” When asked how she decided raising
chickens was yard, Sharry right for her extols the family, Sharry pleasure of Chimienti of her new pets. Lafayette re“I love that my girls are sponded, “We getting a farmwould visit the like experience Concord feed and I love the store and see concept of the chicks. Afhaving fresh ter doing our Willow and Haley Chimienti tend to their flock of chickens. eggs to feed my research and studying up on it, we thought it would be family and share with friends and neighgreat for the family. We wanted the eggs, bors.” of course, but had no idea how attached The fresh, organic eggs come in a we would get to the chickens as pets. rainbow of colors, depending on the They are happy to see us and follow us breed of the chicken. The Araucana around the yard. They come running like chicken produces a bluish green shell, dogs. They are just beautiful to watch.” while most others lay brown eggs. The There are other benefits as well. The eggs are richer in flavor and the yolks are chickens love eating the leftover table darker in color, almost a bright orange, scraps, their waste is a great fertilizer and according to local chicken owners. they eat bugs in the yard. Between the cost of the chickens, With seven chickens of various their feed and building a coop to shelter breeds taking up residence in her backthem from predators like raccoons,
chicken owners don’t realize a cost savings from not having to buy eggs. But these backyard farmers enjoy having the birds around; the eggs are just a side benefit. “I love watching them give themselves a dirt bath,” said Sharry. “It keeps them clean, helps with pests and is so amusing to watch.” “I find them very relaxing to watch,” remarked Barbara Barton of Pleasant Hill. “The kids love handling them and showing them off to their friends.” Barbara was most surprised by the chickens’ social behavior. “I didn’t know how attached they would become to each other. They are always together and when they become separated, they crow until they are reunited.” When asked if she would recommend raising chickens, Sharry gushed, “I feel closer to nature now that I have chickens and we are a closer family because of them. It has changed our lives completely.”
Join us at the remaining concerts!
Free!
LIVE
On the lawn by the lake at
Music 6-8pm!
Pleasant Hill City Hall
Aug 8: Spin Out! Classic rock and rockabilly songs
Aug 22: Cover2Cover!! Music from five decades
Sep 5: Lava! Hot..hot... VERY HOT!!
Visit www.pleasanthillconcerts.com for all concert information. Showrooms also in Santa Clara & Milbrae
Thank you to all the sponsors who make the concerts happen! Casey Strand Chiropractor
Sheila’s May 30
Jun 27, Jul 11
Jun 13, Aug 22
Daycare Jul 25
Aug 22
Aug 8
Aug 22
Aug 22
Jul 18
May 30
Jun 27
Matt Rinn Agency
Sep 5
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Page 12
August 2010
CITY BUZZ
Local Measure Provides Funding for City Services By Martin Nelis, Public Information Officer, City of Pleasant Hill The City of Pleasant Hill Places Utility Users Tax Measure on November Ballot
The City of Pleasant Hill provides a number of important local services for community residents and businesses, including such programs as road maintenance and public safety. These local services help to enhance the quality of life in Pleasant Hill and ensure that all residents enjoy a safe, attractive, and well maintained community. Funding for these services, however, has declined in recent years. Local city services are funded by revenues from such sources as sales tax, property tax, hotel tax, vehicle license fees, and others. Sales tax revenue accounts for one third of the City’s general fund revenue and last year declined by 16%. In addition, vehicle license fees declined by 63%, building permit fees by 31%, transient occupancy tax revenue by 18%, business license fees by 9%, and property tax revenues by 8%. The State also took away almost $2 million of redevelopment funds from the City. In response to these revenue declines, the City has reduced the number of its employees by 20% and made cuts where possible while continuing to maintain the high level of services that businesses and residents have come to expect. However, without additional local funding, the current level of services will be difficult to sustain. To protect local services, the City
of Pleasant Hill has placed a local funding measure on the November ballot. If passed by voters, the measure will expand the local Utility Users Tax (UUT) to provide additional revenue for city services. Local Funding Measure Pleasant Hill currently has a 1% UUT on landline telephones. This rate is the lowest of any Bay Area city. The measure proposes a rate increase from 1% to 1.5% and will expand the UUT to cover communications (including long distance telephone and cellular phone and data services), cable TV, gas, electric, water and sewer services. Protecting City Services The current UUT provides approximately $189,000 per year to support local services. The proposed UUT measure would generate an estimated $1.02 million to support a number of important city services, such as: • Maintaining neighborhood police patrols and rapid emergency response times • Maintaining street resurfacing and pothole repair programs • Keeping the city clean, well main-
Local News By Rhoda Herald
New Toy Store Opens Downtown
The Toys“R”Us Express store on Crescent Drive in Pleasant Hill opened last month. A convenient location for people looking to find a selection of games, gadgets and perennial favorites, including dolls, action figures and educational toys to fit every budget. The store signed a 6-month lease with Downtown Pleasant Hill. Are You in Violation? If you are a resident of Pleasant Hill and are using goats or other farm animals to rid your backyard of weeds and other unwanted plants, you are in violations of City codes!
tained and free of litter and graffiti • Maintaining library hours and services Enhancing Local Control Every penny generated by the local UUT measure will stay within our community to support Pleasant Hill City services. The State cannot take away any of the funds. Annual audits and public reports will be mandatory, so local residents can be sure that all funds are spent appropriately. Average Cost per Household The proposed UUT rate would apply equally to all businesses and households in Pleasant Hill. To estimate the average cost, business owners and residents should calculate their total monthly utility costs for telephone, cable TV, gas & electric, and water services, then multiply that
number by 1.5%. This amount will be the average monthly cost of the UUT. For example, a household with total monthly utility bill costs of: • $400 would pay an additional $6 per month • $600 would pay an additional $9 per month • $800 would pay an additional $12 per month Exemptions from the UUT To help ensure the cost is not a burden to those living on a fixed income, the proposed UUT measure provides for specific exemptions, when available. Seniors facing financial hardship may be eligible to apply for a rebate or exemption. This is in addition to the exemptions already included in the CARE program through PG&E, and Lifeline Programs available for telephone and water service users. More details about the proposed UUT measure can be found on the City website at www.pleasant-hill. net/UUT. If you have any questions please contact Martin Nelis at mnelis@ci.pleasant-hill.ca.us or by phone at 925-671-5229.
For Confirmation Visit: www.ci.pleasant-hill.ca.us
City Calendar of Events Architectural Review Commission August 5, 19 100 Gregory Lane Large Community Room, 5:00pm Contact: 671-5259
Planning Commission Meeting August 10, 24 100 Gregory Lane City Council Chambers, 7:30pm Contact: 671-5259
City Council Meeting August 2,16 100 Gregory Lane Contact: 671-5267
Pleasant Hill Farmers’ Market August 7, 14, 21 & 28 Saturdays, 8am-Noon Crescent Drive (in front of Century Theatre) Downtown Pleasant Hill Contact: 825-9090
Civic Action Commission Meeting August 4 100 Gregory Lane Small Community Room, 6:30pm Contact: 671-5229 Education/Schools Advisory Commission Meeting August 25 100 Gregory Lane Large Community Room, 7:00pm Contact: 671-5229
Toast to Summer August 21 Courtyard at City Hall 100 Gregory Lane 6:00pm-10pm Cost: $85/per person. Tickets: www.pleasanthillchamber.com. Or call: 687-0700.
August 2010
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Page 13
What Do Teenagers Really Want from Parents? By Brian Thomas, Upper School Head, Bentley School, Lafayette, California happen in the beauty of the great outtips on the college process during the If you have ever listened to “A Prai- complain about the intrusions of their teenaged years. rie Home Companion,” you have heard parents and guardians and as much as doors. they seemingly give signals of wanting News reports and the disparaging Garrison Keillor’s signature tag-line: 3. Play a board game or do a puzzle toto be left alone, according to a survey terms “helicopter parent” or a new one, gether. One of the great pleasures that “That’s the news from Lake Wobegon, by the College Board (the folks who “bulldozer parent” seem to suggest that some parents report is playing a game where all the women are strong, all brought us the SAT test), children of some parents may be too intrusive. the men are good-looking and all the that they haven’t played since their the teenaged variety definitely want Yet, students say they want and need a children are above-average.” child was small. Remember to honor their parents to be in their lives. In fact, healthy level of involvement, which is In bedroom communities around the competitive and collaborative spirit nearly one-third of the students polled most important. the country, time seems to slow down in game playing. want parents to be more involved in Here are a few ways to engage your 4. Take a class at a local recreation a bit. Homes are chock full of love, their lives. Fifty-seven percent say that warmth, and understanding. Traffic teenagers: center. Teenagers love doing new their parental involvement is just right lights turn green just when you apthings and stretching themselves. Ex1. Share the books you are reading while only six percent said that parents proach them. Postal clerks are never plore a passion through a neighboring with them. Better yet, read a book in should be less involved. rude. And, nobody ever gets stressed. rec. center and feed it by sharing it with common. Some parents have started a What these figures suggest is that Like in Garrison Keillor’s ficbook club with other children aimed at your child. topics that may otherwise be difficult to 5. Take a long drive to a place you have tional town of Lake Woebegon, parents teens actually get a great deal from what parents have to give them. Teens discuss. Reading the same material is a never been. Plan a local day trip or want things to be close to perfect in report that they get advice from their great way to open the lines of commutheir lives—their communities, their even a trip far away. Exploring Caliparents about everything from what spouses, and especially their children. nication and give your teenagers what fornia history or the history of a region books to read to what courses to select But what do children want? The they need. you always wanted to know about is in school to what sports to play. Howanswer may surprise you. one way to get your teen out of his or 2. Take a hike together. By spending Children want their parents to be her comfort zone. ever, the most often reported advice time together on a trail, in the mouninvolved in their lives. As hard as that In the end, what matters the most that teens get from their parents is tains, or at the beach, you would be is to believe, it’s very much the truth. about college. Fifty-one percent of stu- surprised at how much you get to know is that you listen to what truly matters As much as teenaged children may about your teenager. Just let the silences most to them. dents say that their parents give them
Kids and Money Management Go Hand in Hand Have your kids ever asked questions about money that make you uncomfortable? For example, “How much money do you make? How much does our house cost?” A common gut reaction might be, “That’s not an appropriate question to ask an adult!” Our gut reaction (spoken aloud or not) is based on fear. Fear that we must reveal our money habits and ourselves to our kids. Fear they will judge us. Fear that others will judge us. Fear can also come from a lack of knowledge about the topic. You may feel as though you need to answer every question your child has about any subject in great detail. Stop that! It is not possible. For instance, if my 14-year-old math-wiz asked me a geometry question (which, by the way, he wouldn’t), I have no problem saying, “I don’t know.” But I’d follow up with, “Who do you know that can answer your question?” You don’t have to have all the
By Tracy Tamura, Tamura Insurance Services answers. Aligning yourself with finan• Give your children opportunities to earn money. cial professionals that you like and trust • Weigh the pros and cons together on can help fill the gaps in your financial each financial decision. For example, if knowledge. It’s their job to inform and they want a new electronic device, even educate, and your job to research their if you could buy it for them today, what track record and verify their results. do you want them to learn from the exWith the right financial team in place, fear will not be a factor for you. perience? If they ask, they will receive, or Did you know? if they ask and it’s a reasonable request, • The average financial literacy score for you will help them earn the resources high school students is an F . needed? • While 75% of adults say it’s important • Open a checking or savings account for them to give financial guidance to together. Go to the bank and let the children and teenagers, only 39% of bank staff explain the process directly to adults actually do . your child. Allow them to ask questions Fortunately, you have input on and don’t leave until all their questions whether your children fall in the perare answered. • Continue to work on all of the above centage of children who become finanthroughout their childhood! Consistcially literate or not; and the earlier you start the better. So, how do you actually ency is very important. accomplish this? This is not always an easy path to • Talk about money and the values that follow. Children may make unreasonguide your money decisions as an indiable requests and push. By staying on course and setting a good example, you vidual and as a family.
will be doing a great service to your child, your community, your country, and heck – the world! Financially savvy consumers drive a financially savvy economy. Now that’s a “win/win” for everyone. Here are some resources to help you along: • www.parentfurther.com • www.kidswealth.com • Asset Builder’s Guide to Youth and Money, by Jolene Roehlkepartain available on Amazon.com. 1.
Lewis Mandell, “The Financial Literacy of
Young American Adults, an Analysis of the JumpStart Coalition’s 2008 Biennial Survey” (2009), http://www.jumpstart.org/fileindex.cfm . 2.
Peter Scales, Peter Benson and Eugene Roe-
hikepartain, “Grading Grown-Ups: American Adults Report on Their Real Relationships with Kids” http://search-institute.org/grading-grownups-2000 (Minneapolis: Search Institute, 2001).
Tracy Tamura is a Life Insurance Specialist and Savings Coach.
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Page 14
CORKS AND FORKS
August 2010
Pair Up With La Sommelierre Maria Terry
Vegetarian BBQ I have many people in my life who choose not to eat meat. I believe that one can create delicious meals that focus on vegetables and no one even notices the meat is absent. Eggplant and mushrooms are frequently my protein replacements because of their dense texture and versatility.
Grilled Eggplant Crostini with Pine Nuts is an appetizer that can be made up ahead of time and does not require a fork, knife or serving utensil for service. The texture of the eggplant becomes soft as it grills and the pine nuts provide a crunchy counterpoint. Pinot Grigio has soft citrus and floral scents and is highly quaffable. It will go
Ceasar Cocktail Yield: 1 Drink INGREDIENTS 1 1/2 oz vodka fill with clamato juice 3 dashes Tabasco® sauce 3 dashes Worcestershire sauce
Spiked Watermelon INGREDIENTS 1 8-pound watermelon, peeled, cut into 1-inch pieces (about 16 cups) 1 cup fresh lemon juice 2/3 cup sugar 1/2 cup vodka 6 tablespoons crème de cassis Salt (opt.) 1/4 cup chopped fresh mint
DIRECTIONS Line the rim of a glass with celery salt. Over ice, add vodka, fill with clamato juice, then add the remaining ingredients. Garnish with a celery stick. Add more Tabasco sauce if desired.
Yield: 8 Servings DIRECTIONS Place watermelon in large bowl. Whisk fresh lemon juice and sugar in medium bowl until sugar dissolves. Whisk in vodka and crème de cassis. Add a pinch of salt if desired to bring out the flavors. Pour mixture over watermelon. Cover and chill at least 1 hour and up to 2 hours. Sprinkle with chopped fresh mint and serve.
Grilled Eggplant Crostini
Yield: 2 cups topping
INGREDIENTS 1 medium eggplant with skin, stem removed and sliced lengthwise into 4 strips 2 tbsp lemon juice 1 small shallot, thinly sliced and sautéed 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil 1/2 tsp sea salt, or to taste 1/3 cup thinly sliced fresh basil leaves 2 tbsp pan-toasted pine nuts Crostini: Slice a baguette in ¼” rounds. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle liberally with kosher salt. Bake at 275° for 15 minutes. DIRECTIONS Heat the grill over medium-high heat. Grill the eggplant 4 to 5 minutes per side or until lightly charred and cooked through. Meanwhile, combine the lemon juice, shallots, oil, and salt in a medium bowl. Cut each grilled eggplant slice into small bite-size pieces. Toss the eggplant with the dressing until just coated. Just before serving, stir in basil. Place one tablespoon of eggplant mixture on top of each crostini and top with pine nuts. Serve warm, cool or at room temperature.
with just about any light dish and this one is no exception. The Caesar Cocktail is a spicy, juicy drink. It will stand up to all of the usual accompaniments one finds with a burger: ketchup, mustard and even raw onion. Great big portobello mushrooms grill up perfectly and seem to be made for a hamburger bun. Just season the caps with a bit of oil, vinegar, salt, pepper and grill for five minutes on each side. Spiked Watermelon can be served as a side salad with the burgers or saved until the end of the meal. Include the alcohol when your guests are over 21 or leave it out altogether. The mint really is the
kicker in this recipe. So, go on. Pair Up! Maria Terry is a Certified Sommelier and Wine Educator in the San Francisco Bay Area. www.LaSommelierre.com
Pleasant Hill Cold Stone-925 288 0388
Limit one per customer per visit. Price Excludes Tax. Valid only at participating locations. No cash value. Not valid with other offers or fundraisers or if copied, sold, auctioned, exchanged for payment or prohibited by law. ©2010 Cold Stone Creamery, Inc. All rights reserved. PLU #49. Expires 02/12/2011.
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August 2010
Page 15
IN FOCUS•IN FOCUS•IN FOCUS•IN FOCUS•IN FOCUS•IN FOCUS
A Wee Change
The BUZZ about town
Now Open
Five Guys Burgers & Fries: Pleasant Hill now has what the rest of the country has been calling the BEST burger and fries they ever tasted. We’re not sure what their secret is, but here are some interesting facts: There are over 250,000 possible ways to order a burger at Five Guys…They use only fresh ground beef…There are no freezers in any Five Guys locations, just coolers…Nothing is ever frozen and they use only peanut oil and the menu is trans-fat free. Royale Image Day Spa: Whether it’s an air-brush tan, massage, facial, pedicure or trendy upscale accessories at their beauty boutique, come on over and spoil yourself! Located adjacent to Red Brick Pizza. Toys R Us Express: Located across the street from Hallmark, this store offers a unique selection of the latest and hottest toys for kids of all ages and at great values. Coming Soon Mazza Grill
Summer Entertainment Do you want to be entertained as you shop and dine downtown? Thursday: Jazz on the Plaza – 5:30pm – 8:30pm August 5th – Jack Pollard • August 12th – Linda Kosut August 19th – Trio Gadjo • August 26th – Jack Pollard Aloha Friday - Noon - 2:00pm Enjoy relaxing Hawaiian music by Fran Guidry.
Saturday Night Street Performers – 6:00pm till dark August 7th: Mitch Barrett (comedy, juggling & tight rope) www.grinnandbarrett.com August 14th: Dana Smith (comedy & juggling) www.danasmith.com August 21st: Jack Spareribs (pirate magic show) www.pirate4hire.com August 28th: Marcus Raymond (comedy, juggling & escape artist) www.marcusraymond.com Music on the Plaza The Black Pearl Project – 4:30-7:00; Augut 1st, 15th and 29th Ian Tattenham, Noon – 2:00; August 14th and 28th Farmer’s Market: Every Saturday from 8am - Noon
Website Facebook & Twitter Start a coversation on Facebook! http://www.facebook.com/DowntownPleasantHill Be sure to become a ShopStar member and be privy to insider deals and special offers.
www.ShopDowntownPleasantHill.com
Contributed by: Michelle Kaus, General Manager for Downtown Pleasant Hill
A Wee Change was started in 2004 by Pleasant Hill mom, Kim Crosby, with a desire to offer barelyworn, high-quality children’s & maternity resale clothing at a fraction of retail price. Focusing on a boutiquestyle with attention to organization, customer service, and cleanliness, the consignment store was an instant hit with Contra Costa families. As the store’s concept continually increases in popularity, there is always a waiting list for people wanting to consign their items, and there are currently 1,400 consignors who have sold items with A Wee Change. The store has won numerous accolades, including most recently, recognition in Bay Area Parent Magazine’s 2010 “Best of the East Bay” for both Maternity Clothing and Independent Children’s Clothing Store. In June of 2009, the shop moved just two doors down, more than doubling its space. We have added sections for teen girls and women featuring trendy styles and favorite brands such as Abercrombie, Lucky, Juicy and J.Crew. All clothing in the store is checked in detail for quality and styles are current, leading many people to ask, “Are these items used? Wow! They look so new!” In addition to clothing, the store features gently used toys, books, videos and baby gear. Safety is a major focus at the store, and all toys and gear are checked and logged for safety recalls, so buyers can rest at ease that the product they are purchasing is safe for their child(ren). A Wee Change also has a great selection of new toys, gifts, and handmade accessories, and is the only official Girl Scout Retailer in
the Central Costa County Region. A Wee Change is located in the Palos Verdes Mall near Lunardi’s Market on the border of Pleasant Hill and Walnut Creek. We are open 7 days a week: Sun-Mon 11-5 and Tues-Sat 10-6. Information on consignment and detailed directions can be found at www.aweechange.com.
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Page 16
August 2010
HOME TEAM
Trading Spaces By Chuck Nan Alhambra High School head varsity football coach Dave Silveira has announced that he will be stepping-aside after 28 seasons at the helm of the Bulldogs. During his tenure, Silveira won over 200 games (209-113-4, .647) guiding Alhambra and Arroyo (2 seasons). The new head coach is Alan Hern. Silveira, who is 55, will head “upstairs� and take over the role of defensive coordinator for Alhambra. Silveira began season to make 2009 his last as head coaching at Alhambra in 1982 after coach. serving as head coach at Arroyo for two Hern is an Alhambra graduate and years. Silveira, his teams and several indi- currently teaches at the school. He was a vidual players earned significant awards three-sport prep star in the late-80s beat the local, regional and state levels over fore he left Martinez to attend the United the years. States Naval Academy. Since his return, Silveira missed the final two games Hern has coached the junior varsity footof last season after suffering a mild ball team, been a varsity assistant and is stroke. Hern served as interim coach for an assistant coach for the baseball team. those two games. In a statement, Silveira He was a two-year starter at quarterback said he decided prior to the start of that under Silveira.
Hawks Land In Cooperstown
Photo Credit: Janice Kelso
The 12 year-old Pleasant Hill Hawks Baseball team proudly displays the Pleasant Hill flag after one of their recent victories in Cooperstown, New York. The Hawks went 6 - 3 in the week-long tournament against teams from all over the country. The Hawks finished 27th out of 103 teams. Pictured: Dylan Carroll, Sean Campbell, Tristan Webb, Tyler Kelso, Christian Powell, Alex Roy, Tyler Brackins, Spencer Louis, Jackson Louis, James Knepper, Patrick Guidi and Kyle Lofquist along with coaches Doug Seandel, Gary Powell and Russell Carroll.
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Panthers Win Big
The Pleasant Hill Panthers 14U fastpitch softball team went 6-0 in the PHBA Girls Softball Tournament over the weekend of July16, 17 and 18, scoring 70 runs and giving up only 6, to take the title. Earlier in the month, July 5th-10th, the team had an unforgettable week at The Cat Osterman Experience in Bellevue, Nebraska, battling against thirtysix teams from around the United States, Australia and Canada. Cat Osterman, the four-time AllAmerican from the University of Texas and starting pitcher for the 2004 and 2008 USA Olympic softball teams, has created a place for girls fastpitch softball players that mirrors the Cooperstown baseball experience that boys have been participating in for years. Newly opened in 2010, The Cat Osterman Experience is designed to be, â&#x20AC;&#x153;A place where girls can come and stay, and be totally immersed in the benefits of team building opportunities, healthy competition, and experiences they can reflect on and gain strength from for the rest of their lives. All while forging relationships theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be a part of forever.â&#x20AC;? - from Catsvillage.com. Patrick Monahan, Manager of the 14U Panther team, went to the PHBA Board of Directors last August with the proposal to put Pleasant Hill on the map for girls fastpitch softball. After signing a promissory note on a napkin, he began the process of building a team that could compete, recruiting twelve girls representing College Park, Las Lomas, Carondelet, and Northgate. Eight of these girls were varsity starters as freshman on their respective high school teams. And compete they did. Behind a stellar defense and a solid pitching
rotation, including Madison Monahan, Natalie Persson and Nicolette Soares, the Panthers gave up just 16 runs in 8 games, knocking off the Australian team along the way (W-Monahan). Their run came to an end in the Gold Championship bracket vs. the stingy Minnesota Irish falling short 3-1. The Irish went on to the title game losing 1-0 to Canada. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Take away one bad bounce and we face Canada for the crown,â&#x20AC;? reflected Head Coach Brian Humphrey. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The girls came to win it all but fell short. They came together as a team and will move forward united as one.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;There is no quit in this team,â&#x20AC;? added Asst. Head Coach Rich Persson. â&#x20AC;&#x153;They will be a force to be reckoned with moving ahead.â&#x20AC;? The pitching staff is guided by DVC pitching Coach Lori Grace. With over ten years experience as a softball pitching coach, she has worked with students from 8 to 18. All of her graduating seniors have gone on to different collegiate levels. The Panthers Roster includes, Madison Monahan, Danni Humphrey, Natalie Persson, Megan Lantsberger, Tailor Simpson, Jessica Walsh, Isabel Sanchez, Adrianna Chan, Lyrica Langlois, Katie Ochoa, Sara Cundy, and Nicolette Soares. Manager Patrick Monahan, Head Coach Brian Humphrey, Asst. Head Coach Rich Persson, and Pitching coach Lori Grace. The Panthers trip would not have been possible without the following sponsors: Pleasant Hill Baseball/Fastpitch Organization, Brian Humphrey Hitting Lessons, Nations Giant Hamburgers, Simpson Investigative Services, Berkeley Oral Surgery, Josephâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Lawn Mowers, All Out Baseball, The Wild Hog, Eric Christman, and Mary Everett.
August 2010
www.ourcommunityfocus.com
“Season Ticket” Sports
Page 17
HOME TEAM
By Chuck Nan The 2010 Spring Season for prep athletics was full of excitement and surprises as many locals left their mark in the DVAL and DFAL. In baseball, we saw senior Tommy Hogan toss a nohitter against rival Northgate. Just two weeks later, junior Robert Stephenson of Alhambra duplicated that feat versus Acalanes. Both young men earned the “Most Valuable Pitcher” award for their respective leagues.
College Park again dominated the track and field scene. Between the boys and girls program, the Falcons placed nearly two-dozen on the All-DVAL roll. The Falcons were also well represented in swimming, softball and lacrosse. Alhambra saw an even distribution of all-league selections across the board for spring. The softball team, which won the DFAL with an amazing 11-1 record, placed the most with seven young ladies
Spring All-League Sports Awards College Park Falcons Diablo Valley Athletic League (DVAL) Baseball Most Valuable Pitcher: Tommy Hogan Second-Team: Athan Koutsoubinas and Ethan Marsh Honorable Mention: Brandon Barisof and Tyler Basker Golf-Boys Most Valuable Player: Ramon Alejo First-Team: Austin Collier Second-Team: Gaelan Kerr-Koppel and Carlos Mena Lacrosse-Boys First-Team: Devon Bahady and Lucas Martinelli Second team: Zach Fry, Jeffery Smitheream Honorable Mention: Brian McWatters, Jake Gonzalez and Brett Bechter Softball First-Team: Keisi Chinen and Brittany Lloyd Second-Team: Kierra Willis and Julia Harrigan Honorable Mention: Laura Torres Swimming-Boys First-Team: Monty Randall
Alhambra Bulldogs Diablo Foothill Athletic League (DFAL) Lacrosse-Boys Second Team: Michael Trebino Lacrosse-Girls Second Team: Clarissa Sheff Honorable Mention: Taylor Transchel Volleyball-Boys First Team: Rich Manuli Second Team: Ryan Miller Honorable Mention: Evan Weiss Track & Field-Boys First Team: Zach Coniglio Second Team: Trevor Davis Honorable Mention: Alex Finn Track & Field-Girls First Team: Divine Adesida and
Honorable Mention: Connor Choiniere, Jason Hadsell, Matt Kennedy and Kyle Leung Swimming-Girls Most Valuable Player: M.E. Randall First-Team: Hannah Curran Second-Team: Hope Curran Honorable Mention: Jennifer Diggs and Kendall Stuscavage Tennis-Boys First-Team: Jason Finley Second-Team: Justin Briggs Track & Field-Boys Co-Most Valuable Player: Anthony Ortolan First-Team: Lunden Davis, Yuji Fujoka, Daivon Ballard, Jesse Voelkert, Jeff Bickert, Kevin Strongman, Adrian Cervantes, Keagan Brown and Souruch Aboutalebi Second-Team: Hiroki Butterfield Honorable Mention: Will Holland Track & Field-Girls Most Valuable Player: Jasmine Cunningham First-Team: Amanda Baker, Jessica Reed and Selena Gonzales Second-Team: Morgan Vlakancic, Shannon Knapp, Kelly Piol and Madelyn Lawrence Honorable Mention: Kendal Stuscavage, Parisa Broomand and Allison Hayes Praise Adesida Second Team: Savannah Wadsworth and Meaghan Yoeono Baseball Most Valuable Pitcher: Robert Stephenson Second-team: John Miller and Billy Krummen Honorable Mention: Alex Ward Softball Most Valuable Player: Nikki Gentile First-Team: Bella Gonsalves and Jenna Krummen Second-Team: Shannon De Vries, Taylor Hendrickson, Mariah Suitos and Jamie Higgins Golf-Boys First Team: Cameron MacGregor and Elliot Busichio Tennis-Boys Honorable Mention - Singles: Jon Elepan
being honored. Oshry Elor Impresses ESPN.com described College Park sophomore Oshry Elor as “Iron man 3” after his appearance at the recent Nike Oakland Football Combine. Elor also looked the part as the 15-year-old checked-in at 6-foot-3, 346 pounds. Built like a tank, Elor played on the College Park varsity in 2009 as a sophomore. He should be one of the highly-touted prospects to watch in the East Bay over the next two seasons. Elor had a 38-foot power ball throw and ran the 40-yard dash in 5.69 seconds. These are quite impressive marks for someone of his size and age. Elor is the 2010 DVAL and North Coast Section wrestling champion in the 285-pound class. He also earned an impressive 8th-
place at the state meet. Berean Lady Eagles The third-seeded Berean Christian Lady Eagles reached the championship game of the NCS Division IV softball bracket with their win at Clear Lake. Berean was led by catcher Alex McCullough of Martinez who was 2-for-3 with one run scored and an RBI. That was coupled with a stellar pitching performance by Jessie Griffith. After receiving a first-round bye, Berean beat No. 11 Marin Catholic in the quarter-finals. They then had to make the tedious 240-mile roundtrip trek to Clear Lake for the semi-final match-up.
Martinez Champions The local girls finished 3rd out of 15 teams from around Northern California in a 9-day tournament proudly hosted by Martinez Little League at Hidden Lakes Park. Martinez won 3 of 5 games; the two losses were by 1 run in the last inning. Gilroy came out on top and will represent Northern California at the
Western Regional in Vancouver, WA. The tournament represented a great effort by a vast number of volunteers from the Martinez community and Martinez LL was highly acclaimed for its fields, sportsmanship and hospitality during the entire event. Congrats to all!
Martinez 12U All Stars pictured after their District 4 Championship win. Bottom Row (L to R): Amber Jorgensen, Brianna Rios, Madeline Cervantes, Delaney Griffin, Kara Massey, Hannah DeWitt. Second Row: Braelyn Marti, Cara DiMercurio, Carley Johnson, Courtney Kelly, Sam Schoelkopf, Marissa Mohammed, Liberty Herr, Darren Johnson (Manager) Paul Kelly (Coach) Chip Griffin (Coach)
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August 2010
‘Smart’ Gardening and Climate-Appropriate Plants By Lisa Robinson, President of the Pleasant Hill Garden Study Club Our Bay Area is one of the best places on earth to enjoy the great outdoors, from visiting world-famous destinations to simply stepping into our own back yards. Many of us want to care for our gardens and green spaces with less water, fewer chemicals, and more reliance on climate-appropriate plants. The Pleasant Hill Garden Study Club regularly explores these gardening goals. Options for using less water include irrigating at night, using drip or soaker hoses where practical, and mulching. Free chips can be obtained from tree pruning companies and often can be found online at Craigslist. For efficient water usage – and greater gardening success – it’s wise to cluster plants in groupings of similar needs for water, drainage and sun or shade. Use of commercial fertilizer can be reduced by amending our nutrient-rich clay soil with homemade compost from yard and kitchen wastes.
very drought-tolerant and highly appropriate for our gardens. In addition to being adaptive to our climate, they have natural pest defenses, and they benefit indigenous wildlife. To help educate club members on California native and related specimens, the “Plant of the Month” segment is a monthly meeting feature. Highlighted natives have included Vitis californica ‘Rogers’s Red’ (a wild grape with colorful fall leaves), Salvia spathacea ‘Hummingbird Sage’, and Ceanothus gloriosus (often called the California lilac). Details on these and other featured plants can be found by going to the club’s website, www.PHGSC.com and clicking on the “Plant of the Month” tab. The Pleasant Hill Garden Study Club meets the first Tuesday of each month (except July) at 7 p.m. in the Pleasant Hill Community Center, 320 Civic Drive, Pleasant Hill. For more information, go to the website or call 925-944-4898.
Photo by Christopher Vardas: www.ccv.smugmug.com.
Garden club meetings have a wide array of “smart” gardening programs, such as adding color without relying on thirsty flowers, replacing conventional lawns with interesting grasses, incorporating beautiful edible plants and fruit trees to the garden mix, and installing systems to capture rainwater and greywater (recycled water from household shower and laundry drains).
Water conservation will always be a concern in our area, since we live in a “Mediterranean climate” of wet winters and dry summers. Comprising about 5 percent of the earth’s surface, this climate is found around the Mediterranean Sea, along the west coasts of California and Chile, and in small areas of Australia and South Africa. Plants native to all these areas are
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Drawn to the Cause in Martinez By Chuck Nan
Saturdays, 8am-12pm August 7 - The Farmers’ Market Chefs will be performing cooking demonstrations with tastings. August 14 - “Back to School Day” August 21 - “Public Safety Day” August 28 - Bike to the farmers’ market and receive $2 of Carrot Cash to spend in the market.
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Barista takes delight in personal artwork he calls “cups of Joe” If by chance you ever have to wait in line at the Starbucks coffeehouse located in the Nob Hill Shopping Center in Martinez, you may be treated to an art show -- although you may not even know it. In front of the latte machine, behind the glass partition, the ledge is lined with decorated coffee cups. The art is so detailed that it seems to jump off the cup. There are specific designs; they represent flowers, animals, cars, hobbies, favorite sports teams, family members, special destinations -- just about anything you can imagine. They are as individual as the customers. Barista Joe Cinelli, a life-long Martinez native and Alhambra graduate, has worked at the store for over two-years. One of his passions is drawing. Cinelli is so masterful at his craft that manager Alex Wright entrusts him do all of the special signage “art boards” for the store listing
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items such as the daily offerings and product specials. A while back, Cinelli started to doodle on a cup in the early morning hours when he opened the store. It wasn’t anything serious, he was just passing time. The lines were soon filled-in with color. Then he started to etch different designs to add “personality,” looking for variety in his works. He would keep them close to his work station and casually show some customers who appeared to be interested and appreciated the craft. Then interest spilled-over to his workmates. He designed art cups for each of his colleagues. In all, about 20 cups which were then displayed for the public to see. From there, the whole thing snowballed. One week before a high-level corporate visit by regional management, the district manager, Trish Brown, paid a visit. She was overwhelmed by what she saw and loved the concept. She had
to have one herself and commissioned Cinelli to draw one for the Aids Life Cycle event. Brown even hinted that Cinelli’s art may be produced in mass quantity in the future and featured on cups in stores. Until that time, Cinelli was doing artwork for no charge. He then had an idea and felt he could utilize his art for a worthwhile cause. So, he began a campaign to put his efforts to work for a charity and offered custom work. The charity was the Susan G. Komen for the Cure, the leader of the breast cancer movement. Cinelli’s “program” collected over $300.00 and Starbucks then matched the amount. The most challenging piece of work was a multi-cup marriage theme for a recently engaged co-worker. It included bride, groom, redwood trees, flowers, monks, industrial workers in action and Wikipedia. That one took him four hours to complete. Cinelli’s favorite project was a simple dolphin design. That was for a fouryear-old girl named Alani. Her father had made the request to Joe. When she received the cup, Alani did not let it out of her hands for an entire weekend. What’s next for Cinelli? Well, he would like to put his drawing skills to use in advertising design. He would like to work for an agency in their graphic design area. As meticulous as Cinelli is with his lines, he is equal to the task of documenting his work. The cups are available for view on his Facebook page. To get there, search in pages for “cups of Joe.” Every one of his pieces is showcased.
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August 2010
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THE GARDEN
Melon Mania! By Lesley Stiles Summer melons evoke visions of ancient Egyptian rulers daintily picking at juicy chunks while deciding the fates of civilizations. Melons date back centuries from the Middle East and deep summer is peak season for melons so sweet and fragrant they stop you in your tracks, forcing you to crack one open and slurp before you know what you are doing. To pick a good one, make sure that you can smell it before you put your sniffer to it. Drawing you to it with its tempting aroma when you are walking down an aisle at the farmers’ market is what it gets paid to do. Wafting scents stir up taste memories and pictures of fine Parma prosciutto and fresh, tantalizing mint creating one threesome you will not want to miss. Slice Ambrosia melon onto a plate in little fingers. Wrap some very thinly sliced prosciutto around the melon. Add a light summer blanket chiffonade of fresh mint. Drizzle some really good olive oil over the ménage trios cracking fresh black pepper to send the horses off and running. Frozen cubes of Sharlyn melon blended with tequila and lime produce a sublime margarita. Macerate chunks with crystallized ginger and vanilla bean lavishly draping over ice cream taking the Sundae to a new level.
Cold soups are crying to be tried out and added to your repertoire as well. With all these amazing melons coming into season there are a lot of choices here. Regardless of the type of melon, you can use pretty much the same method for any kind of chilled melon soup. First peel and seed the melon. Chop half and puree in a blender with a little bit of sparkling wine or water. Take about a quarter of the remaining melon and dice it and add it to the puree for some added texture. Save the rest of the melon for a cool snack later. Add some crème fraiche or plain yogurt to the puree. From here you can add any kind of fruit you desire to finish your joyous concoction. Sliced strawberries, blueberries or chopped nectarines are nice. You can also start to think about adding an herb such as mint or lavender to garnish. Watermelon is also great in smoothies. You can freeze it and use as ice so as not to water down the flavor. Same goes for strawberries and pineapple too. Put a cup of yogurt into a blender. It can be vanilla or plain. Add about a cup of cut up watermelon and a few whole strawberries. To make it a little sweeter, add a table-
spoon of your favorite jam. Add about a ¼ cup of orange juice and blend it up. This will make about 3 cups of smoothie. Gazpacho is another chilled soup that is very versatile and tasty. With the plethora of heirloom tomatoes in the market you can really have some fun. Peel, seed and dice your cucumber and add to pureed tomatoes. Add a little sliced scallions (white part) and chopped basil. Swirl
in chopped fresh avocado and garnish with a little crème fraiche. To add a different twist to your tomato soup, add some aforementioned melon or roasted and pureed eggplant and a generous drizzle of extra virgin olive oil. An easy favorite: Melon balls mixed into a summer fruit salad with grapes and berries. 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.
Watermelon, Basil & Feta Salad with Balsamic Vinegar This may sound nuts as a salad but you have to try it to taste how luscious basil and watermelon can be together. Adding the feta and balsamic even out the sweet, sour, bitter and salty flavors. One small watermelon will make enough salad for 10 to 12 people so you can double the recipe for a crowd. Ingredients: ½ of a small watermelon, peeled and cubed 20 basil leaves, sliced thinly ½ cup feta cheese, crumbled 3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar 3 tablespoons olive oil kosher salt Directions: Toss watermelon and basil in a bowl. Mix in vinegar and olive oil and lightly toss. Mix in feta and season with salt. Serves 6.
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American Iron Car Show Last year, Carol Guisto, a 37-year resident of Pleasant Hill, entered her 1952 Willys Overland in the Pleasant Hill Recreation & Park District’s annual American Iron car show. Many people have never seen a Willys or even heard of the WillysOverland Motor Company, so she is used to getting attention for her unusual car. The American Iron car show gives pre-1980s American-made car-judging a unique twist with its zany award categories, such as the car that was “responsible for the oil crisis” or the “best make-out car” The winners of these “creative” award categories are selected by spectators attending the show. So it was that Carol Guisto and her Willys Overland won the plaque for Best Beach Car in American Iron’s 2009 show. Willys cars were made by a company whose claim to fame came when they manufactured lightweight trucks for the War Department in the late 1930s. Later the Jeep became a brand in its own right, creating a group of dedicated car collectors. This summer on August 15, the American Iron car show for 2010 will be held in the parking lot at the Pleasant Hill Community Center, 320 Civic Drive. Up to 90 cars will be on display from 10 am to 3 pm. There will be a DJ playing upbeat music, coffee and pastries from A Wake Up Call, and delicious barbeque
from Maverick’s BBQ Catering. Pleasant Hill Recreation & Park District employee Pam Lischeske and her husband Eric, owners of a 1968 Mustang, came up for the idea for the show nine years ago. They continue to dream up activities to make the show different and fun for both spectators and car owners/ exhibitors. One of the latest features of American Iron is the Treasure Hunt. Eric Lischeske studies the cars on display and writes a series of clues to quiz and guide spectators to some of the unique features of the cars. American Iron also has conventional car show awards, which are judged by the exhibitors themselves. These trophy awards are presented for best of decade, one each for cars made in the 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s, and 70s; best interior, best
engine, best paint, and best of show. The day is filled with music, sunshine, and of course, viewing the beautiful machines that could, and still do, fulfill the American dreams. Admission to American Iron car show is free for spectators, and just $25 to enter a car (deadline, August 7.) For information and registration forms visit www.pleasanthillrec.com, or call the Pleasant Hill Community Center at 676-5200.
August 2010
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August 2010
Page 23
Play It Safe in the Sun!
Vitamin D and the Sun
By Myra Nissen, CCH, RSHom(NA) compresses without pressing or rubDespite our concerns about sun and skin cancer, sunlight on our skin is bing. Caution! Cold compresses or ice the best source of vitamin packs can damage burned D, essential for immune skin. support. Low vitamin D Oral remedies to conlevels have been linked sider: Belladonna is to such conditions as osuseful if symptoms came on quickly and the skin is teoporosis, MS, diabetes, hot and throbbing and /or and cancer. looks shiny red. BellaHow much sunlight? The exact amount of safe sun donna can also be helpful exposure depends on our for heat exhaustion or skin tone, the time of sunstroke. the year, and even the time of day. In Cantharis is good if the skin is red general, about 5-15 minutes, 3-times a with large blisters, feels raw and itchy. week is considered adequate. Morning This person may feel like their head or late afternoon is best. Avoid the hot- is heavy; they may be confused. Note: Cantharis is also beneficial for scalds test time of the day. and jellyfish stings. At other times of the day, wear a To find out how to use the remhat and long sleeves for sun protection. Find a sunscreen without harmful edies go to, “Too Much Sun?” http:// ingredients at http://www.ewg.org/ myranissen.com/blog/?p=632. 2010sunscreen. Best efforts don’t alI can help resolve conditions such ways prevent over-exposure to the sun. as sun allergies or extreme sun sensiHere are 3 of the many homeopathic tivity. I offer free 30-minute wellness remedies that quickly and naturally assessments. help restore parched skin. Call Myra Nissen, CCH, Calendula cream or tincture helps RSHom(NA), Nationally Certified soothe minor sunburn. I recommend Homeopath, 826.3858 for a free 30topical preparations without alcohol minute wellness assessment. www. or petroleum. These ingredients may MyraNissen.com. irritate. Gently apply cool calendula
By Gigi Chen, M.D. How do you balance getting enough Vitamin D from diet and oral supvitamin D if you are constantly wearing plements is the safest way to raise your sunscreen? Is it okay to levels, if you are deficient. spend some time in the The incidental exposure sun without sunscreen? that you get from the sun Vitamin D deficiency during daily activities is is a hot topic right now, usually enough for your partly because we’re still body to produce adlearning a lot about it. equate vitamin D levels. One indication that our You do not need to seek knowledge of vitamin D the sun or tan intentionis evolving is the recent ally to get enough vitachanges in the recommin D. If your levels are mended levels of vitamin D in the body. still low with incidental sun exposure, it is safer to get your vitamin D from diet Vitamin D deficiency can conand oral supplements. tribute to osteoporosis. It can also be Dr. Chen is a physician with associated with decreased immune function and bone pain. While vitamin Diablo Valley Oncology/Hematology D deficiency has been associated with Medical Group which is located in the certain cancers such as colon cancer, California Cancer and Research Instithere is currently not a proven “cause tute at 400 Taylor Blvd, Pleasant Hill. and effect” relationship. By contrast, The California Cancer and there is a definite cause and effect relaResearch Institute is a state-of-the-art tionship between sun exposure and skin facility with cutting edge technologies cancer. is the largest comprehensive, non-hosThere are 3 ways to get vitamin D in pital based cancer and blood disorder your body: treatment facility in Contra Costa 1. Vitamin D production from expoCounty. The center offers everything sure to the sun from medical oncology and hematol2. Diet that includes fatty fish, eggs, ogy, radiation, chemotherapy, and adand fortified products, such as milk vanced diagnostic imaging to clinical 3. Oral supplements trials and supportive services.
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“I am so angry with Rob, I could spit,” Jules said as she sat down. I asked, “What did Rob do or say that caused you to be so angry?” “He is not listening to what I am not saying,” Jules retorted. “Let me see if I understand you. You are angry with Rob because he is not listening to what you are not saying.” She said, “Yes. He is not listening to what I’m not…” She put her hand over her mouth and said, “Oh, my gosh. No wonder he is not listening. I am not saying what I need to say so that he can have a chance to hear me.” She solved her problem. We talked about talking and listening, the importance of saying what we
Talking and Listening
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August 2010
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August 2010
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Consumers & Businesses Need Each Other By Julia Wessels Everything was going well. Our jobs were it. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m not saying that businesses were secure and we had money in savings. We all being greedy or in any way overindulging know now how quickly things can change. Consumers expect to get a deal on eve- (in most cases). They were just doing busiSo how do consumers and businesses rything from car repairs to spa treatments. ness. Which brings me to another point: meet in the middle and find common Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the effect the current economy is having as a society, we had become full-fledged ground? We both have a bottom line: on all of us and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a good thing. The fact is consumers; we never questioned the price mouths to feed and bills to pay. Enter that for so long we didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have a say in what of an item until we could no longer afford Passbox â&#x20AC;&#x201C; a local East Bay company thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s we paid for services or products. Businesses it. Why didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t we do that sooner and save bridging the gap between a businesses need put the price tag out there and we accepted the difference? We were being idealistic? for customers and the consumerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s desire for a good deal on everyday expenses as well as .DLÂśV +HDOWK &DUH splurge treats. *ROGHQ IRRW VSD +RXU *ROGHQ IRRW VSD Passbox.com has a â&#x20AC;&#x153;Deal of the Dayâ&#x20AC;? 7KH EHVW PDVVDJH program that gives people a 48 hour â&#x20AC;&#x153;opportunity windowâ&#x20AC;? to buy a heavily *5$1' 23(1,1* discounted deal (up to 80% off) from a local business on the Passbox network. If you like the deal you can purchase and print %RG\ 0DVVDJH your voucher right away! Unlike many )RRW 5HIOH[RORJ\ group-buy sites, there is no minimum number of people who have to purchase 6ZHGLVK 'HHS 7LVVXH
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before the deal is active. As an added bonus and a great way to benefit a huge need in our community, 5% of purchases go back to local public schools. You choose the school by selecting from a drop-down menu during your transaction. Think about the power a PTA could put behind a fundraiser like this! Just a couple of weeks ago, Passbox offered a $75 Manicure and Pedicure at the Jellyfish Spa in the Blackhawk Plaza for only $30! Every week there are several deals of this caliber. Each member of the Passbox team lives right here in the East Bay. They are committed to helping local businesses and consumers connect, while giving back to schools in our community. Thinking outside of the box, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re able to find a common ground. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m passionate about supporting local businesses while also getting a great deal in exchange! For more on how to live frugally using coupons, where to find coupons, how to budget, and the dreaded meal planning, head on over to The Frugal Find @ www. thefrugalfind.com. I blog daily the best deals at the stores you shop at locally to save you time & money! I also teach Coupon & Frugal Living classes to help you Save More, Give more, and Live more! Julia Wessels @ The Frugal Find Julia@thefrugalfind.com
BECKY XEPOLEAS Independent Sales Director Creator: WOMEN OF INFLUENCE www.marykay.com/bxepoleas - (925) 947-2068
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August 2010
Calendar EVENTS Now-August 27th - Fridays on the Main - Cruise In & Live Music. 6pm9pm. Main Street Downtown Martinez. Classic cars, street rods, custom trucks, motorcycles and live music. For schedule visit: www.mainstreetmartinez.org. Now-September - Music and Market Series – Farmers’ Market and free music concerts in the Plaza. Thursday evenings, 6:30pm-8pm at Todos Santos Park, Concord. Now-September - The 1940s: Kilroy Was Here. Who was Kilroy and what does this all mean? This unique expression and graffiti appears to have originated with the U.S. servicemen of WWII through the Korean War. Current exhibit at the Martinez History Museum, 1005 Escobar St., Martinez. Hours: Tues. and Thurs., 11:30-3pm. First four Sundays 1pm-4pm. Call: 925-228-8160 or www. martinezhistory.org. Ongoing - The Martinez Animal Hospital has a Kitten Adoption Program. The Cost to the new owner is our cost of vaccines & spay/neuter. www.martinezanimalhospital.net. 8/7 – Summer Peddlers’ Faire – Summer has arrived and once again it’s time for the annual Martinez Summer Peddlers’ Faire. It is one of the largest outdoor antique shows in Northern California. Main Street, Martinez, 8am-4pm. 8/7 - The Third Annual Martinez Beaver Festival - A family event celebrating the relationship between our beavers, the community and the watershed. There will be music, environmental displays, tours, and children’s activities. Come learn about these famous stewards of Alhambra Creek. We promise you a dam good time! 11am-4pm, Beaver Park at Alhambra and Marina Vista streets. 8/8 & 8/22 – Sunset by the Lake – Live music on the lawn at Pleasant Hill City Hall. Bring dinner and enjoy live local bands. 6pm-8pm, FREE. 8/11 – Orientation to Volunteering at Lindsay Wildlife Museum- Opportunities abound at the museum. This class will provide information about the ways you can get involved in the work of the museum and how you can help wildlife.
6:30pm- 8pm, ages 18- Adult. Free, registration is strongly recommended. 8/20 – Pleasant Hill Senior Center Open House - Come meet representatives and learn about the activities held at the center, 10am-Noon. Free. More details on page 9. 8/13 & 8/27– Rock the Plaza – Live music, just bring a picnic meal and enjoy. 6pm-8pm at the intersection of Moraga Rd. and Mt. Diablo Blvd., Lafayette. 8/13 – Lost in Space at the Bay Area Discovery Museum- 5pm-8pm. One last chance to see Living In Space before it blasts off! Celebrate space travel with a retro evening of fun featuring 60’s grooves from DJ Mancub from 6:30pm7:30pm. Juggling, magic, contortions and more from 5:30pm-6:30pm. www. baykidsmuseum.org 8/14 – Pleasant Hill High Class of 1970 Forty-Year Reunion – Theme: Lordy, Lordy – How Did It Get To Be Forty?! Embassy Suites Hotel, 1345 Treat Blvd., Walnut Creek. 6pm-Midnight. Comfortable Attire. $75/each if paid by Aug. 13th. $85/each if paid at the door. Contact: Chris (Looney) Crecelius at 914-1740 or Alexis (Paschall) Friedhaber at 787-0839 with questions. 9/12 – East Bay Wedding Faire - For brides-to-be, fiancés, family, and friends. Discover wedding related businesses including photographers, bakeries, caterers, florists and more. 11am-4pm. Call: 228-3577. Martinez Event Center, 524 Main St., Martinez.
VOLUNTEERS Volunteers Needed to Greet and Assist Patients. Age 15 and above welcome. Two hour shifts M-F, 8am-4pm Community service hours eligible California Cancer & Research Institute. 400 Taylor Blvd. P. H. Contact 925-395-7630 or ca.cancer.institute.volunteer@gmail.com
YOUTH August- Rodgers Ranch Round Up. Experience life on a farm in the 1800’s and learn back to basics lifestyles; Churning butter, making ice cream, crafts and much more. Ages 7-11yrs. 2-day sessions- T&Th 9am2pm $50. Sessions Aug.3&5. Register at rodgersranch@yahoo.com or call 387-0158
REC & PARK
AT THE LIBRARY
8/6 – Garage Bands at the Lake. Check out local teen bands at the Pleasant Hill City Hall, 7pm. If you are a teen band interested in performing, call: 682-0896 or email: khunn@pleasanthillrec.com. 8/15 – American Iron Car Show. 10am3pm. Bring your pre-1980s American car and enter the competitions for Best Paint; Best Interior; Best of Decade; Best Engine; Car responsible for the oil crisis; Best make-out car; Best beach car. For more information, call Pam Lischeske: 676-5200. Free for spectators; $25 per show car. 8/20 – Friday Night Family Swim. 7pm9:30pm at the Pleasant Hill Aquatic Park, 147 Gregory Lane. $3.50-$4.00. PH Rec & Park Pre-School It is “back-to-school” season and time to register your child in Pleasant Hill Recreation & Park District’s award-winning pre-school program. The Recreation & Park District offers top-quality teaching for children 2 years 6 months through 6 years. Classes include indoor and outdoor activities that develop small and large motor skills, while language and concept imagery is developed through stories, circle time activities, and dramatic play. A variety of art media and creative music is an integral part of the program. For information on current openings, contact Eran Perera, Pre-school Director, at 676-5200, ext. 32.
8/4 & 8/11 - Story Time. 11:15am11:45am. This fun story time is tailored for the youngest crowd. Let your child develop early literacy skills naturally as we share songs and rhymes, bounce and tickles, and simple stories. Come join us for this light-hearted story hour just for tots ages 0 - 3. Summer session runs from June 16 through August 11. Pleasant Hill Library, 1750 Oak Park Blvd. 8/5 & 8/12 (Thursdays) – Preschool Story Time 11:15am -11:45am. Featuring stories and songs to tickle the funnybone and str-e-eetch the imagination, our stories will transport young children to a world full of fun. Pleasant Hill Library, 1750 Oak Park Blvd. 8/24 – Tips for a Greener Home – You can be a little more earth-friendly at home. Learn ways to be “green” at home. Presented by Jennifer Brennan, 6pm8pm, Pleasant Hill Library, 1750 Oak Park Blvd. Register by calling: 646-6434.
CLUBS 8/3 – Pleasant Hill Garden Study Club*8pm. Speaker: Gary Lawrence, Mt. Diablo Beekeepers, on “How to Attract Bees to Your Garden”. PH Community Center. 320 Civic Dr. Guests are welcome. www. phgsc.com. Call: 944-4898 *late start time for Aug. only. 8/10 – Pleasant Hill Library Book ClubSecond Tuesday of every month, 6:30 p.m. Free
All Proceeds To Benefit: THE WELLNESS COMMUNITY
DOCUMENT SHREDDING FUNDRAISER
Safeguard your personal information and protect against identity theft while recycling for our planet AND helping people fighting cancer in our community. Bring your old tax returns, business records, bank statements, cancelled checks, credit card statements, bills, receipts and other documents containing personal information to this community wide event.
Tell your friends & neighbors! ALL PAPER SHREDDED AT THIS EVENT IS RECYCLED! Saturday, August 7 • 9am–11am CALIFORNIA CANCER & RESEARCH INSTITUTE 400 Taylor Boulevard, Pleasant Hill - In Parking Lot$20 for FIRST Box, $5 Each Add’l Box (Standard Record Size Storage Box)
Sponsored By: Special Thanks To: SHRED WORKS
August 2010
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Fourth of July Fun
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Announcements Walnut Creek Elks Lodge Hosts Eagle Scout Court of Honor - Troop 1811
Walnut Creek Elks Lodge honors Louks Hendricks as outstanding local citizen with the Award of Eagle Scout the highest honor which can be awarded to a Boy Scout. Louks is the 22nd Eagle Scout in Troup 1811. He is a resident of Walnut Creek and is currently a sophomore at Chico State University. He has received 26 merit badges with a special project for Shelter, Inc. He directed 235 volunteer hours to get supplies for the struggling homeless. The event was unique with a special guest Jenny Papka from Native Bird Connections who brought an eagle to the event. Louks received the Elks Lodge certificate of achievement, and an American flag presented by Gerry Gouveia, ER and Ed O’Connell, Chapter Representative.
Patients’ Choice Award Goes to Local Doctor Tiffany Svahn, MD was recently awarded the Patients’ Choice Award for 2009, the second year in a row. More than 800,000 patient reviews and ratings were gathered, and this top rating is only awarded to a select few of the nation’s most beloved doctors. Patients rated Dr. Svahn in the following areas: bedside manner, the amount of time she spends with them, the courtesy of her staff, appropriate follow-up, and their overall opinion of her as a physician. Dr. Svahn is a medical oncologist who specializes in treating breast cancer. She practices at Diablo Valley Oncology/Hematology Medical Group which is located at the California Cancer and Research Institute in Pleasant Hill, California. Dr. Svahn also sees patients in her San Ramon office.
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August 2010
For High School, Consider eScrip and Athletics By Jaki Jones As you prepare to send your teenager back to school this month, remember that participating in a high school sport continues to be widely popular as well as beneficial for the student. During the 2009/2010 school year, approximately 816 College Park students took part in high school athletics as indicated in the chart below:
College Park Sports Roster 2009-2010 Season Football Boys/Girls Track Boys Soccer Boys/Girls Swimming Baseball Boys/Girls X-Country Boys Basketball Girls Volleyball Softball Girls Basketball Wrestling Boys Lacrosse Boys Volleyball Boys Tennis Girls Water Polo Girls Tennis Boys Water Polo Boys Golf
94 119 57 60 66 70 35 37 32 30 26 27 17 19 14 17 25 13
The numbers show how committed College Park is to athletics and its many programs. Unfortunately, the sports programs in the Mt. Diablo Unified School District continue to be in jeopardy and financial support is needed more than ever. There are two easy ways you can help preserve athletics as you head to the registration tables this month. Consider enrolling in the escrip program (see article below) and contribute to the United Mt. Diablo Athletic Foundation. The UMDAF is an organization dedicated to help recover the 1.2 million dollars that has been lost due to budget cuts by providing fundraising and financial support specifically for Mt. Diablo Unified school district high school athletics. Last year this foundation played a crucial role in bringing back athletics in the high schools and will
continue to do so this year. At the June 15th school board meeting, representatives from UMDAF presented their financial plan to support athletics for the 2010-11 school year. The Board approved the funding plan for next year with one change. UMDAF submitted a plan that reduced transportation and contribution fees for all of the teams and the Board approved all of these reductions with the exception of the football contribution. They said it would remain the same. The foundation also asked the school district to help pay the fees of students who qualified for free and reduced lunch and they declined (approximately $200,000). Pat Middendorf, UMDAF’s President, commented that “I think it is important to note that the 1.2 million the district previously provided
for sports was really only about half what it took to run the programs - the rest was raised by parents and booster clubs. We expect this year to be more difficult than last year to raise the million plus dollars because we do not expect to receive some of the big donations we got last year. We have to count on each family paying their fees and the whole community once again coming together to help make sure that sports continue in this district.” UMDAF’s fundraising contributed over $300K, which covered the costs to fund sports at College Park last year. Please also consider sponsoring an athlete, purchasing a t-shirt and attend the various fundraising events such as the upcoming 5K Run this October. All revenue raised by this organization is shared equally among the six high schools in the district, which will in turn reinforce the overall league. In working together we can keep the cheering loud, the stands crowded, and the school spirit high. Visit the UMDAF website at www. unitedmtdiabloathletics.org to learn more. Data gathered by UMDAF Secretary Kent Caldwell.
Free Money for Your Schools - Don’t Miss Out By R.L. Tinker If you currently have students in public school, you are already aware of how simple it is to take advantage of contributions made to schools through eScrip and Scrip programs. But even if you don’t have school-aged children, you can help funnel free money to the schools in your community. In bleak financial times such as these, we can’t let a single available resource go untapped. eScrip is an organization that partners with businesses to contribute a percentage of your purchases to the school of your choice. You don’t have to buy anything you wouldn’t normally
buy or spend an extra cent. Here’s how it works: • Go online to www.escrip.com and register your Safeway Club card and/or your debit/ATM card (if you’re a Lunardi’s shopper). • Select the school or booster program you would like your contribution to go towards. • When you swipe your Safeway card (or enter your phone number) or use your registered debit card at Lunardi’s, a percentage of your total monthly purchases go to the school. If you already have children in school, you may need to go online
to re-authorize your card or update the school your contribution is going toward. If your children are just starting school you can sign up when you register your student in August. It’s simple. It’s free. And it makes an impact. Here are two examples totaling over $23K of FREE MONEY: Valhalla Elementary: Net eScrip contribution from May 2009 through May 2010: $14,226.35 College Park Athletic Boosters: In May 2009, the eScrip program raised $298. In May 2010, the eScrip program raised
$863- due to increased participation. In total, The CP Athletic Booster eScrip program earned $9,226 in 12 months. The program currently has only a little over 50% participation. Just think of the potential! You decide – Elementary School, Middle School, High School Athletics, Band, PTSA … Register your card and tell them where to send the check!
August 2010
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Stage Door Summer is in full swing and the heat is on…Cool off those wallets with a little theatrical savings. Most companies will offer deeply discounted pricing when season tickets are purchased in advance. Diablo Valley College, for instance, offers admission to all five shows in their line-up for only $80. Berkeley Rep boasts a deal that gets you in for as little as $23 per ticket when three or more shows are purchased. You’ll get a year’s worth of pre-set date nights, a deal on pricing, plus you’re helping to support local bay area theatre, and well, it’s just the right thing to do in my defined, yet humble opinion. So, East Bay theatre lovers, purchase 2010-2011 season tickets to our local theaters. The line-ups are stellar, the prices are ripe and I urge you to
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THEATRE & THE ARTS
By Nicole Diestler support our area’s companies as they embark on mounting what promise to be fantastic productions. They will Diablo Valley College: Department of Drama move you to tears, create smiles and www.dvcdrama.net • Box office: (925) 687-4445 enliven your souls while entertaining Line-up: Cabaret • Fuddy Meers • Comedy Of Errors • Alice In Wonderland your eyes, ears, hearts and minds with The Last Days of Judas Iscariot their casts and crews. Oh, after four long acting-deprived Town Hall Theatre: Lafayette years, I have finally gained my tenure at www.TownHallTheatre.com • Box office: (925) 283-1557 DVC. This occurrence puts an end to Line-up: Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde • Scrooge: the Musical • The Glass Menagerie my vow of theatrical silence, as it were. Twelfth Night To end my theatrical celibacy, and with California Conservatory Theatre: San Leandro the permission of Actor’s Equity Aswww.cct-sl.org • Box office: (510) 632-8850 sociation, I will be making my East Bay Line-Up: The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee • Doubt: a parable theater debut, alongside my fantastic Almost, Maine • Same Time, Next Year • The Unvarnished Truth students in DVC’s production of Fuddy Meers. (I dare you to come throw a Berkeley Repertory Theatre: Berkeley tomato at me.) www.berkeleyrep.org • Box office: (510) 647-2949 Nicole Diestler is the Associate Line-up: Compulsion • The Great Game: Afghanistan • The Composer is Dead Professor of Acting and Directing at The Agony and the Ecstasy of Steve Jobs / The Last Cargo Cult Diablo Valley College. Deadline for Ruined • The Three Sisters • A new show for Rita Moreno submissions is the 1st Friday of each month for the following issue. Send Aurora Theatre Company: Berkeley information to stagedoor@pleasanwww.auroratheatre.org • Box office: (510) 843-4822 thillcommunityfocus.com. Line-up: Trouble in Mind • Palomino • Collapse The Eccentricities of a Nightingale • Metamorphosis
AUGUST - NOW PLAYING
Macbeth by William Shakespeare (Drama) Aug 18, 2010 through Sep 12, 2010. Curtain time(s): Fri-Sat 8PM; Tue-Thurs 7:30PM (8/18 & 8/19 8PM); Sun 4PM. Ticket Price: $20.00 - $65.00 Urged on by his wife and his own ambition, a Scottish nobleman plots to become king. Produced by: California Shakespeare Theater, www.calshakes.org. Box office: (510) 548-9666 Performed at: Bruns Memorial Amphitheater 100 Gateway Blvd. at Hwy 24, Orinda. Earth vs. Altair, Queen of Outer Space! Episode II, The Deadly Ray! (Comedy) By Daniel Dickinson. Directed by Dickinson. Jul 24, 2010 through Aug 22, 2010. Curtain time(s): Sat 8PM; Sun 2PM. Ticket Price: $10.00 - $15.00. The new, campy second installment of the Earth vs. Altair trilogy. Produced by: San Leandro, www.sanleandroplayers.org. Box office: (510) 895-2573 Performed at: San Leandro Museum/Auditorium 320/324 W. Estudillo Ave., San Leandro. Steel Magnolias by Robert Harling (Serio/Comic). Directed by Richard Robert Bunker. Jul 29, 2010 through Aug 08, 2010. Curtain time(s): Fri-Sat, 7/29 & 8/5 8PM; Sun 2PM. Ticket Price: $19.00 - $22.00. Truvy’s beauty salon in small-town Louisiana is the social nucleus for a close-knit circle of women. Produced by: Altarena Playhouse, www.altarena.org, Box office: (510) 523-1553. Performed at: Altarena Playhouse, 1409 High St. Alameda. Disney’s Aladdin by Alan Menken (Musical/Opera). Directed by Jennifer King & Amy Dalton. Aug 02, 2010 through Sep 05, 2010, Ticket Price: $19.00 - $33.00. A street urchin falls in love with a princess, but it’s going to take a magic genie to win her hand amongst all her rich suitors. Tickets at berkeleyplayhouse.org. Produced by: Berkeley Playhouse. Performed at: Julia Morgan Center for the Arts, 2640 College Ave. Berkeley.
2010 - 2011 LOCAL SEASON
Contra Costa Musical Theatre: Walnut Creek Box office: (925) 943-7469 Line-up: She Loves Me • Dracula • A Christmas Carol • Boeing-Boeing To Kill A Mockingbird • Blues In The Night • Becoming Britney The Lady With All The Answers
Friday Night Swims Love those long, warm Pleasant Hill summer evenings, but need a place to cool off? On August 20th, from 7 to 9:30 pm, the whole family can enjoy the refreshing, cool waters of the pool and Sprayground at Pleasant Hill Aquatic Park. Following the regular 1-5 pm public-swim hours, the pool will re-open at 7 pm for another two and a half hours. Join your friends and neighbors for the evening! The Aquatic Park consists of a 25-yard pool with two diving boards, the Sprayground, two picnic areas, and lawn area. Regular public swim rules and admission rates apply.
Pleasant Hill Aquatic Pk., 147 Gregory Ln. Under 2 yrs Free 2–6 yrs $3.50 7 and older $4.00 Seniors 55 yrs/older $3.50 Children 8 yrs/under must be accompanied in the water by a paying adult (18yrs or older)
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TEEN SCENE
August 2010
4-H Still Going Strong in Martinez By Gina Campo
Thomas Major of Martinez worked feverishly to manage his pig, Carnitas, around the arena during the showmanship competition at the Contra Costa County Fair in Antioch last month. At nine years old, Thomas was finally old enough to raise and show an animal at the fair after years of watching his older brother, Johnny, participate. The boys are following in their mom’s 4-H footsteps. As a girl growing up in the Alhambra Valley, Lynda Plummer-Major participated in the organization, raising lambs, hogs and dairy goats at her family’s Swett Ranch. So when the 4-H program was being promoted at John Swett Elementary, it was a natural choice for her sons. Although county budget cuts
have affected the program, forcing cancellation of the Youth Fair, where 4H members usually show and sell their livestock, the members are still able to present their projects at the County Fair. Kids show everything from chickens and bunnies to lambs and cows. The lessons are bountiful. “I learned you have to be a hard worker, work as a team and not give up,” Thomas commented. “I learned I can do things I didn’t think I could do, like showing my pig. It wasn’t as hard as I thought it would be.” Dominic Paulazzo of Martinez was new to 4-H this year, but will definitely continue. “It’s such a great experience,” said the 13 year-old. “You learn so much responsibility taking care of your ani-
Dominic Paulazzo and Johnny Major getting ready to show their hogs at the Contra Costa County Fair.
mal.” But knowing the final outcome of their animal makes it a little tough. “It’s hard in the end, selling them for food, but knowing these animals have such a better life than farmed pigs makes it a little easier.” The program started at the beginning of the 20th century as a way to keep public school education connected to country life through practical and hands-on learning. Over the years, 4-H has grown to include 6 million young people across America, learning leadership, citizenship and life skills.
Although 4-H and scouting share many of the same values such as community service, leadership, projects and teamwork, nationally, 4-H boasts more members than Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts combined. Both Thomas and Dominic say they would recommend the program to other kids. While Thomas enjoys the summer camp and hanging out with friends, Dominic likes learning about new things and participating in community activities. Summing up his first year in 4-H, Dominic reflects, “Raising my pig, Tugboat, was really hard work, but in the end I was proud because I learned so much and did a really good job.”
Johnny exercising his lamb
Adventure on the Seas Thomas and Carnitas at the Pereria Ranch in the Alhambra Valley where they raise the pigs.
Congrats Sequoia M.S. More than 125 Sequoia Middle School students entered their wood shop projects at this year’s Woodworking Competition. The event was sponsored by the Diablo Valley Woodworking Club and held at the Contra Costa County Fair on June 3rd. Awards were given to two local teens who participated in the Middle School Woodworking
division. Sequoia Middle students were prizewinners in two categories: Best Large Project, awarded to eighth grader Jessica Dean, for her wooden bar stool and Best Turning Project awarded to sixth grader, Hector Ibbera, for his baseball bat project. The Sequoia Middle School wood shop is lead by proud teacher, Mr. Stephen Willner.
Come sail the seas with the friendly co-ed crew of the S.S.S. (Sea Scout Ship) Sea Witch. The Sea Witch crew has activities galore. We go FREE to Infineon Raceway for the exciting NASCAR and Drag races. We have overnight weekend boat trips and an incredible 10 day summer fun cruise August 6-15th. We even meet up with other teen Sea Scouts from all over California! Our ship has computer navigation, GPS, Sonar, a kitchen, a water slide and even a DVD player. In September we’ll go camping and get FREE rides on seaplanes. In October we’ll be cruising to
Yerba Buena Island for Safety At Sea weekend with the Coast Guard. Come check it out! We meet year round Tuesdays 6:30pm - 8:30pm at the Sea Scout building, 225 N. Court St. Waterfront Park, Martinez and Saturdays 9-3pm at the ship. Sea Scouts is a non-profit youth maritime program which teaches leadership skills, seamanship skills, water safety, knot tying, weather, first aid, navigation, firefighting, engineering, engine repair, compass, radio communications and sailing. Only $15/year to join. For more information contact Rolf Lindenhayn at lindenhayn@ sbcglobal.net or 917-0573.
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August 2010
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SUDOKU PUZZLES
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August 2010
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