COMMUNITY
FOCUS
JANUARY 2017 Reaching Over 50,000 Homes & Businesses
ourcommunityfocus.com
IN THIS ISSUE: • A PEACEFUL PLACE TO PONDER • UPDATE ON THE TRANTHAMS • ALL LEAGUE ATHLETES
PLEASANT HILL • CONCORD • MARTINEZ • LAFAYETTE • WALNUT CREEK
Julie Says
Who Wants Noodles? BY JULIE ROSS If you can tell me what physical activity involves eggbeaters, paddlewheels, and happy frogs, chances are I see you a few times a week. And we are wet, sometimes chilly, but always working out with a smile. A few years ago, I liked to exercise three times a week at the Pleasant Hill YMCA. Each day, I moved the equivalent of an adult elephant using various weight machines, followed by a session on the treadmill watching music videos. (Usher and I would likely never have gotten together without VH1 at the Y.) After a shoulder injury put a damper on my weight lifting fun, I quit the gym and spent a long time relying on walking and hiking to keep in shape until I discovered the new love of my
life (no, not referring to Usher; that was years ago, only one song and I have completely moved on). I am talking about water aerobics, again at the Y. It’s a place where “Who wants noodles?” is not an offer of a high-carb snack but pool noodles, used in creative ways to stretch and strengthen muscles. There is a menu of moves, including “wooden soldier,” “rocking horse,” “pendulum,” the challenging “starfish,” and a fancy “wax on/wax off” move. (No exercise regimen is complete without the special lingo.) The outdoor pool at the Y is heated to a (usually) comfortable temperature, so the water classes are held yearround. Yes, even in January. Rain or shine. There are two morning classes plus one afternoon and one evening class offered every weekday and one morning class on Saturdays and Sundays. Each instructor has a different
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COVER:
Father and son at sunset. Arched bridge over Alhambra Creek at the Martinez Regional Shoreline. PHOTO BY: Joe Dallmann of Rising Sun Photography. More photos at www.risingsun.zenfolio.com.
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INSIDE
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City News
19 White Pony Express
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Family in Crisis
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23 Skinny Shrimp Scampi
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style and choice of workout music, from show tunes to classic rock. In addition to the regular water aerobics classes, there is a high-intensity interval water workout offered once a week for muscle building, as well as a deep-water class, where participants wear floatation belts and exercise suspended in the deep end of the pool, which makes for some tricky moves but is easy on the joints. The Pleasant Hill Y has undergone some major renovations since I went several years ago. Aside from the pool, there is a large gym with a truly impres-
sive amount of state-of-the-art workout equipment, a cross-fit gym (the one with the giant medicine balls and whatnot), spin classes, aerobics, Zumba, and something involving a darkened room with mats. Meditation? Adult naptime? Not sure -- you will have to come check it out for yourself. I’ll bet you have a New Year’s resolution that could have something to do with the YMCA. No time like the present to find a new love. Happy New Year! You can reach Julie at julieakross@ comcast.net
SMALL TALK WITH TERI by Teri Norbye
Meet Kellie and Peter Paredero. They’ve been married 21 years and live in Pleasant Hill with their two kids, Sebastian and Katie. Peter works for the Dudum Real Estate Group in Lafayette. When asked what they love the most about each other, they both said each other’s sense of humor. How did you meet? Kellie A fellow teacher I used to work with had gone to school with Peter and introduced us. Peter We went to see a fireworks show in San Francisco and I asked her out on a date at the show. Our first date was at the Roundup Saloon in Lafayette. Kellie And then we went out to dinner afterwards at the Hungry Hunter in Lafayette. How would you describe each other? Kellie He’s entertaining, a hard worker, and a good husband and father. Peter She’s fun, very happy, and extremely positive. What can be annoying about each other? Kellie Sometimes I’m too happy. Peter I can be a little pessimistic. New Year’s Resolutions? Kellie I never make them. I always say, enjoy each year, and just appreciate where you are. Peter To continue to have a happy and healthy family and keep enjoying my job.
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3
Estate Planning
Beware: Your Estate May Contain an Unnecessary Bypass Trust
BY JEFFREY S. HALL, MBA, CPA, ESQ. A once-popular estate planning tool may now cost families more in taxes than it saves. Changes in the estate tax have made the “bypass trust” a less appealing option for many families. If your estate plan includes one, you should reconsider its necessity because it could be doing more harm than good. When the first spouse dies and leaves everything to the surviving spouse, the surviving spouse may have an estate that exceeds the federal estate tax exemption. A bypass trust (also called an “A/B trust” or a “credit shelter trust”) was designed to prevent the estate of the surviving spouse from having to pay estate tax. The standard in estate tax planning was to split an estate that was over the prevailing federal exemption amount between spouses, and for each spouse to execute a trust to “shelter” the first exemption amount in the estate of the first spouse to pass away. In 2013, estate taxes changed dramatically and now very few people are subject to federal estate taxes. Currently, the first $5.45 million (in 2016) of an estate is exempt from federal estate taxes, so, theoretically, a husband and wife would have no estate tax if their estate
was less than $10.90 million. The estate tax is now also “portable” between spouses, accomplishing the same purpose as a bypass trust. This means that if the first spouse to die does not use all of his or her $5.45 million exemption, the estate of the surviving spouse may use the excess. One problem with a bypass trust is that the surviving spouse does not have complete control over all the assets in the trust. The surviving spouse’s right to use assets in the trust is limited and requires the filing of accountings and separate tax forms. Another problem is that a bypass trust can actually cost more in capital gains taxes than it saves in estate taxes. When someone passes away, his or her assets receive a step-up in basis. When an asset is in a bypass trust, it does not receive a step-up in basis because it is passing outside of the spouse’s estate. If the assets are sold after the surviving spouse dies, the spouse’s heirs will likely have to pay higher capital gains taxes than if the heirs had inherited the asset outright. To find out if your estate plan contains an unnecessary bypass trust or, perhaps, if you need one, consult with Jeffrey Hall, Esq. Call today to schedule a free 30-minute consultation with the Law Offices of Jeffrey Hall, Inc. at (925) 230-9002 or go to www.HallLawGroup.com. Offices in Pleasant Hill and Benicia.
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IN FOCUS
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Hammer’s Heating and Air Conditioning is a full residential service provider in the Bay Area. Our professional services include new equipment installations, repairs, replacements and maintenance. Proudly serving the needs of our clients for more than 25 years, Hammer’s Heating and Air Conditioning is committed to providing high quality services at competitive prices! Hammer’s Heating and Air Conditioning is owned and operated by Michael K. Hammer. You can feel confident that a professional with 35 years of experience in the industry will be your service provider. Mike’s father owned a heating and air conditioning business, and from the time Mike was 14 years old until he was in college, he helped his father over weekends and summer breaks, learning the tricks of the trade. After Mike got married, he decided to start up his own heating and cooling business and opened Hammer’s Heating and Air Conditioning in 1990. Today, he remains committed to personal services that include everything from major installations to minor repairs. All About the Hammers Mike and his wife Amy are blessed with three loving children. As a family, they love camping and spending quality time outdoors. Mike coached for 11 years with the CYO basketball team where all his kids played. He was also a VP board member for 5 years on the Martinez Little League and a member of the Sportsmen’s Yacht Club Commodore in 1992. Hammer’s Heating & Air Conditioning Services Bring comfort to your home with the right heating and air conditioning system. Don’t let the cold winter or summer heat get in the way of comfortable indoor living. We are dedicated to providing the highest quality at competitive prices! Licensed and bonded in the State of California, Hammer’s Heating and Air Conditioning will help you reach optimum home comfort. For inquiries, estimates or more information, contact us today at 925-229-2779. “There’s always a way to do every job.” - Mike Hammer, Owner and Operator
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COUNTY ASSESSOR’S Q & A Proposition 8 – Decline in Property Value
Information Brought to you by Gus S. Kramer, County Assessor’s Office The State Constitution allows the Assessor to temporarily lower the assessed value of property under certain conditions. These conditions are mandated by the State. The change (reduction) must reflect the market value of the property on the lien date, January 1. A reduction of the assessed value is determined by an analysis of sales of similar properties in your neighborhood. This analysis includes sales up to 90 days past the lien date as well as property listings. If you can provide sales and/or listing data you believe would support a reduced assessed value, please include that information in your request. Assessed values are only reviewable as of January 1 of each year. Any reduction under Proposition 8 to the assessed value is automatically reviewed annually as of the lien date to determine if market conditions indicate that the assessed value should be maintained, lowered, or increased. Unless there is a change in ownership or new construction, your assessment can never increase above the base year value plus the appropriate annual cost of living increase allowed by Proposition 13. If you do not agree with our opinion of the market value on the lien date, you have the right to file a formal appeal with the Assessment Appeals Board. The filing period is from July 2 to November 30. The deadline for filing appeals for Proposition 8 reductions is November 30, or 60 days from the date of a notification of changed assessment. Applications are available by writing to the Clerk of the Assessment Appeals Board, 651 Pine Street, Room 106, Martinez, CA 94553; or by calling (925) 335 1901.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Q. How do I request a review of the assessed value of my property? A. Write a letter or complete the form at right and mail it to the Assessor’s Office. Be sure to include your parcel number and daytime phone number. Q. Is the Assessor’s Office prevented from restoring my value at a rate more than 2% annually as provided under Proposition 13? A. No. Just as there is no limit to the amount of reduction, there is no limit to the amount being restored up to the protected Proposition 13 ceiling amount. Q. Do I have to request a review underProposition 8 annually? A. No. Once you have been granted a reduction under Proposition 8, your assessed value will be automatically reviewed by our office each lien date, and you will be
notified by letter of the result of that review each year that your property qualifies for a reduction. Q. What should I do if I disagree with the Proposition 8 value placed on my property? A. Contact our office at (925) 313-7400 and request a review of the Proposition 8 value and provide us with documentation to show why you disagree. If we still disagree, you have the right to file a formal appeal where you will present your reasons supporting your opinion of value before the Appeals Board. The Assessor’s Office will do the same. The independent Appeals Board will then determine the value after considering all the facts. Q. Why isn’t the reduction under Proposition 8 permanent? A. Proposition 8 reductions are temporary as mandated by State law. It is not a decision of the Assessor’s Office. Q. What will happen to my assessment if values start to rise? A. Here are examples of that situation (using the State determined inflation factor for all years concerned): Example 1: Property is purchased in 8/2005 for $800,000. In 2007 a reduction is made and the temporary value is $670,000. In 2008 the market improves and real estate values make a dramatic turnaround. Under Proposition 8 the law requires us to pick the lower of your factored base year value or market value and enroll that value on the lien date. For the fiscal year 2008 the market value of the property in this example is now worth $950,000. The factored base year value of the property would be $800,000 x 1.06121% = $849,968. The factor of 1.06121% was arrived at by compounding the State determined inflation factor over 3 years. Under Proposition 8 guidelines for the 2008 fiscal year, we would be required to raise your valuation to $849,968, which is lower than the market value of $950,000. In this example, your assessed value would be raised from $670,000 to $848,968 and you would no longer be under Proposition 8 review. Example 2: Using the same facts, except in 2008 your property is worth $825,000, we would raise your value to $825,000, which is lower than the factored base year value of $849,968. Again, the rule for any given year is to enroll either the factored base year value or the market value, whichever is lower. In this example, you would still be under Proposition 8 review as the market value of $825,000 is less than the factored base year value.
This information is a general overview of the law and is not meant to be relied upon as complete information. REQUEST FOR VALUE REDUCTION (PROPOSITION 8) PARCEL NO. OWNERS NAME: SITE ADDRESS: MAILING ADDRESS: WORK OR DAYTIME PHONE (8AM - 5PM):
( )
STREET
CITY
STREET
CITY
HOME PHONE:
( )
OWNERS SIGNATURE:
DETACH AND MAIL TO: GUS KRAMER, ASSESSOR, PUBLIC SERVICE SECTION, 2530 ARNOLD DR, SUITE 100, MARTINEZ, CA 94553 ourcommunityfocus.com • january 2017
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Family in Crisis
Update on the Trantham Family BY ALISON CLARY Last August, Community Focus published “Family in Crisis” after Matt Trantham of Martinez suffered a stroke and his wife, Angela, suffered a subarachnoid (brain) hemorrhage. Although Angela’s angiogram showed good results, Matt attends ongoing sessions with a gamut of health professionals. Costs for extensive specialized care are staggering, and insurance coverage dwindles at a steady rate. The paragon of patience, Angela confessed recently, “There are times I am filled with anger - asking why any of this happened to us - why us, what did we do to deserve any of this? And then, at the same time, we have this amazing community, wonderful friends, caring strangers and a loving family rallying around us - never ceasing in their love, support and generosity.” After a neurosurgeon at UCSF said Matt was a ticking time bomb for another, even more damaging stroke, he
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her “warrior husband” to no end. Still, she can’t help but remember everything Matt used to do: “to build, to fix, to create, to play and work, and roughhouse with the boys. I wish he could at least walk, or eat, or see, or didn’t have brain damage.” A swallow test in December did show
signs of improvement with thick liquids, and Angela said he might get to have a spoonful of mashed potatoes or pumpkin pie by Christmas. For more information on the Tranthams, or to make a donation of support, go to: www.paypal.me/TEAMMATT.
PH Community Awards Night The 46th Annual Community Awards Night is February 21 at the Pleasant Hill Community Center on Civic Drive. The event includes awards for Citizen of the Year, Business of the Year, Teen of the Year, Teacher of the Year, Mayor’s Award, several Green Awards, and others. If you would like to nominate a teacher, business, resident or organization for any of these awards, please complete the nomination form on the city’s website at www.pleasanthillca.org/awards. All nominations are due no later than Thursday, January 26. The nomination criteria are as follows: • Citizen of the Year Nominees must be at least a 5-year resident of Pleasant Hill and have made significant contributions toward improving our community. • Business of the Year Candidates must be in business for at least three years in Pleasant Hill and be a current member in good standing of the Chamber of Commerce. • Educator of the Year Nominees must be a teacher in Pleasant Hill for at least three years. • Teen of the Year Candidates must either live or go to school in Pleasant Hill and have a track record of volunteering in the community. • Green Business Award This award recognizes a company that has shown outstanding leadership in minimizing its impact on the environment and creating a sustainable future through conservation and waste reduction. • Green Community Award This award recognizes an individual or organization that has shown outstanding leadership in sustainability through education and activism in Pleasant Hill. For more information about the event or nominations, please email mnelis@pleasanthillca.org or call (925) 671-5229. Tickets for Community Awards Night are available through the Chamber of Commerce by calling 687-0700 or going online at www.pleasanthillchamber.com.
Martinez Regional Shoreline A Peaceful Place to Ponder If you need a little inspiration or space to contemplate a fresh start to 2017, the Martinez Regional Shoreline is a unique locale that fits the bill for solo reflection, time with a friend, or a spot to unplug and enjoy the outdoors with your family. It’s one of those places that drives home how fortunate we are to live in Contra Costa. East Bay Regional Park District operates the western section of the park, where three miles of trails offer peaceful walks through the grassy marsh along the picturesque shoreline, around ponds, and over creeks. Relax (or do yoga) on the lawn, pack a lunch, lounge in the picnic area, check out the boats harbored in the marina, and take in a cool view of the Benicia Bridge. The Killdeer/Duck Pond Loop Trail is just under a mile long. It starts in an accessible parking lot and leads
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out to the bay, with beautiful views of the bay on one side and a duck pond on the other. This trail has easy grades throughout and would be a good trail for users of all ability levels. Two graceful arch bridges cross over Alhambra Creek on your way through the marsh, a quiet area of the park that changes with the seasons. Its residents, including great blue herons and snowy egrets, come and go, and there are subtle changes in color and mood. Enjoy this experience independently along the Pickleweed Trail, or walk with others on a naturalist-led excursion, when available. When enjoying these trails, you’ll want to keep your four-legged companion on a leash; dogs are not allowed in the marsh. For detailed information about the park and trail information, visit http:// www.ebparks.org/parks/martinez. 1
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City of Pleasant Hill
Mayor’s Message On December 19, my term as mayor of Pleasant Hill came to an end. At that meeting we swore in our two incumbents, Tim Flaherty and Ken Carlson, and our new councilmember, Matt Rinn. At that time, the city council also elected a new mayor and new vice-mayor, Michael Harris and Tim Flaherty, respectively, to lead us through the coming year. 2016 was an exciting year. I was privileged to participate in many community events: Community Awards Night, July 4th festivities, Memorial and Veterans Day, Relay for Life, Wine, Women & Shoes, Blues and Brews, Art, Jazz and Wine, Hospice Tree Lighting, Light Up the Night, and many summer concerts! I participated in ribbon cutting ceremonies at JFK University, the new Golf Club Road Bridge, and the completion of the Geary Road Improvement Project. While we lost some local businesses, we welcomed many new ones: Orchard Supply, Urban Plates, WiseGirl Ristorante, and Organic Coup, to name a few (and I apologize for those I have missed). One of my focuses this past year was to improve relationships with local organizations. We established an Education
Task Force to work closer with the Mount Diablo School District. We are off to a good start but still have work to do. The same is true with respect to our partners in the Recreation & Park District. We have been working closely with them on possible new ball fields and a new library. I look forward to continuing that work. In addition, we welcomed new President and CEO of the Chamber of Commerce, Steve Van Dorn, and will continue to work closely with him on economic development opportunities. It has also been a great pleasure visiting a number of elementary schools. We held six mock city councils with the 3rd grade classes from Strandwood, Valhalla, and Gregory Gardens Elementary at City Hall as part of their coursework on government. It’s an educating and enlightening experience for all involved, including myself. Furthermore, we have had several students participate at our council meetings as Mayor for the Day, which is a great experience for the kids and an excellent fundraiser for their respective schools. One of the most important accomplishments of 2016 was the passage of Measure K. This half-cent sales tax, which takes effect
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Sue Noack, Mayor of Pleasant Hill
in April, will allow us to do significant work on our roads, sidewalks, and storm drains and finally get a new library built. We will be discussing many of the next steps in this process in the upcoming months. We look forward to the public’s input as we move forward with these exciting projects. I want to thank the Measure K campaign committee and the many volunteers who walked precincts. They put countless hours into the campaign and ensured its success. Finally, I want to thank the people of Pleasant Hill for their support. The staff at City Hall is superb. They don’t get enough
credit for the hard work they do, including our fantastic police department. The people of Pleasant Hill have been terrific, recognizing me on the street, in the grocery store, or at community activities. I appreciated the comments, questions, and suggestions and urge you to continue to participate in your government in this way. As city councilmembers, we are always striving to do what is best for our city, and your input is invaluable when making decisions that affect our community. Hope you all had a wonderful holiday and look forward to seeing you all in 2017.
Public Meetings Civic Action Commission Jan. 4 City Hall, 100 Gregory Lane, Small Community Room, 6:30pm. Contact: 671-5229 Architectural Review Commission Jan. 5, 19 City Hall, 100 Gregory Lane, Small Community Room, 5pm. Contact: 671-5209 City Council Jan. 9, 23 City Hall, 100 Gregory Lane, Council Chambers, 7:30pm. Contact: 671-5229 Planning Commission Jan. 10, 24 City Hall, 100 Gregory Lane, Council Chambers, 7:00pm. Contact: 671-5209 Commission on Aging Jan. 12 (MEETING CANCELLED) City Hall, 100 Gregory Lane, Small Community Room, 5pm. Contact: 671-5229 Education Commission Jan. 25 City Hall, 100 Gregory Lane, Community Room, 7pm For Confirmation Visit: www.ci.pleasant-hill.ca.us
Chamber Calendar Jan. 5 - i heart art Ribbon Cutting 5-7pm, 15A Vivian Drive, Pleasant Hill Jan. 6 – Ambassador Meeting 8:30-9:30am, City Hall Community Room, 100 Gregory Lane, Pleasant Hill Jan. 12 - Chamber Business Mixer 5-7pm, Pleasant Hill Courtyard by Marriott, 2250 Contra Costa Blvd., Pleasant Hill Jan. 19 - PH Chamber Board Meeting 8-9am, City Hall Community Room, 100 Gregory Lane, Pleasant Hill Jan. 19 - Joint Chamber Mixer with Concord 5-7pm, Dos Coyotes Border Café, 1975 Diamond Blvd., Suite B-150, Concord Jan. 26 - Mayors Breakfast & Board Installation 7:30-9am, Contra Costa Country Club, 801 Golf Club Road, Pleasant Hill 680 Business Networking - 2nd & 4th Wednesdays or Thursdays, 8-9am, JFK University, 100 Ellinwood Way, PH OFF THE GRID Food Trucks– Wednesdays, 5-9pm, Trelany Road, PH
City of Pleasant Hill
Pleasant Hill City News City Council Election Results Ken Carlson Tim Flaherty Matthew Rinn There were three seats on the city council being contested. Incumbents Ken Carlson and Tim Flaherty were re-elected along with newly elected Matthew Rinn, who won David Durant’s vacant seat. All three took their seats on the new city council on December 19. City Treasurer Mark Celio, ran unopposed.
Measure K – Transaction and Use Tax Yes 67.09% of the vote No 32.91% of the vote Measure K will enact a ½ cent transactions and use tax (sales tax) for 20 years, allowing the city to address infrastructure and service priorities that Pleasant Hill residents have indicated are important. The measure will generate an estimated $4 million each year in additional revenue for the city – money that cannot legally be taken by the state or other agencies. Measure K will establish a Citizens’ Oversight Committee to ensure that all voterapproved funds will be spent appropriately. Measure K will take effect April 1, 2017. The sales tax rate in Pleasant Hill will go from 8.25% to 8.75% on that date.
December was a Month of Giving Residents Helped the Homeless in Pleasant Hill In November, an account on GoFundMe, a fundraising website, was created by Pleasant Hill resident Deana Rabbach to help a homeless resident named Gary get back on his feet. Deana stated on the gofundme page: “Gary is a retired marine, rides a bike around town, and is basically an all around good guy that just fell into hard times. He’s been able to pick up gardening jobs here and there to make a little money but not enough to get him out of the cold this winter.” Approximately $1075.00 was collected in under a month. Deanna added, “The community support for Gary and the homeless in general has been more than I could have hoped for. With the help of a local church, a bank account will be opened for Gary so his money will be safe.” When Gary received his funds a week later, he said to Deana, “I am very grateful for the effort you put forth with the GoFundMe account for me. I would like to give back in some way - put up your holiday lights or something like that...” Deanna said, “My response was ‘I appreciate him wanting to give back, but sometimes it is nice just to give a gift without receiving anything in return. At least that’s what I’m trying to teach my 4-year old twins.”
The Spirit of the Holidays…In the Park The Jurow family of Pleasant Hill was in the spirit of giving in December. The family set up a GoFundMe account to brighten the holiday for a homeless man they met in 2014. On the website, Melanie Jurow tells the story of how they met Mike in Pleasant Hill Park on Christmas night two years ago and offered him a warm jacket. “We talked with Mike for a while and came to learn that he has a college degree from UC Santa Cruz and is well spoken. He had fallen on hard times and is now homeless.” They kept in touch with Mike and offered assistance where they could. Then, in December 2015, they came up with the idea of Christmas in the Park for Mike and his friends. “My family and I were looking for a way to help others in need. We ran into Mike again the week before Christmas. He was in the park with several other homeless men, his friends. We asked them if we could bring them dinner on Christmas night. They graciously accepted. On Christmas night we went back to the picnic table in the park. We set a nice table, lit a fire in the BBQ, and offered a warm Christmas dinner to all of them. Our two daughters also gave out presents to everyone there.
City News Continued They all got brand new sweatshirts, socks, hats, and gloves, and Mike got some new books too. Mike told us that it was the nicest and happiest Christmas that he could remember,” she added. The Jurow family continued the tradition last month. Their GoFundMe page raised over $1300.00 to go toward another warm Christmas dinner and gifts for Mike and other local homeless in Pleasant Hill Park.
Painting with a Twist Comes to PH Painters and wine lovers will soon be able to enjoy both activities simultaneously at Painting with a Twist, the nation’s largest paint-and-sip franchise, opening soon at 548 Contra Costa Blvd. in Pleasant Hill. The studio provides all the art supplies as well as a local artist who will host the session. Franchise owner-operator Dawn O’Connell told the Focus they expect to have a grand opening mid-January to the beginning of February. The company also connects with non-profits and operates two Painting with a Purpose events each month and gives 50% of the proceeds to the non-profits. “We would love for non-profits to reach out to us so we can begin to fill up our Painting with a Purpose events calendar! Our staff is usually heavily involved in the community as volunteers, students, marathon runners, and mommy bloggers,” said O’Connell. Visit www.paintingwithatwist. com/pleasant-hill/ for updates and information.
Turnover in Downtown There has been tenant movement of late in Downtown Pleasant Hill. With the closing of Golfsmith, abrupt closing of Pasta Pomodoro, the impending closing of Fleet Feet later this month, and even changes to Hallmark, the Focus reached out to Leasing Agent Joe Kuvetakis of John Cumbelich and Associates for a Crescent Drive update. Golfsmith filed for bankruptcy last September and was subsequently acquired via bankruptcy by Dick’s Sporting Goods last October. Dick’s has a family of businesses that could possibly utilize the space. “We are waiting to hear back on what Dick’s is going to decide to do with that site and whether or not we will be getting it back. They could potentially place a subsidiary (such as Golf Galaxy) into the Golfsmith space. It will either be backfilled or we have a number of candidates that are interested in that site,” said Kuvetakis. Pasta Pomodoro’s lease was up and the restaurant abruptly closed last November, but the space will not sit vacant for too long. “We are in lease with a very exciting local concept for that site. We saw an opportunity to support a more up and coming local fun concept that we think will be better for this center and the atmosphere in the end. It’s a Bay Area based company and completely different from anything we are doing there,” explained Kuvetakis. While Hallmark is still under lease, the retailer is looking to downsize. Both Hallmark and the leasing agency are looking at other possibilities within the downtown, including moving into a smaller space or reducing the square footage within their current 6,500 square foot space. Fleet Feet will be moving out at the end of January, and although the center is not officially under lease with another retailer, they are in “active negotiations,” and the space will most likely remain empty for a few months before any renovations or new tenant movement begins. Kuvetakis pointed out that recently many of the Downtown leases and options periods are up, accounting for a lot of the turnover. “This ownership group (UBS Global Asset Management) that took over a few years ago has really placed an emphasis on replacing the existing tenants when they run out of term or go out of business with a much higher quality replacement, and they continue to improve the downtown. That’s what we’ve been focused on and, of course, that takes a little bit more time,” he said. ourcommunityfocus.com • january 2017
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City of Martinez
Mayor’s Message As 2016 came to a close, I looked back over the accomplishments of the last year, and I look forward to 2017. After several years of interim city managers, we have had the good fortune of attracting Brad Kilger, one of the best and most seasoned city managers I have ever worked with. Brad came to Martinez from Benicia and has been at different levels of municipal management for over 40 years. He has brought his broad knowledge, experience, and likable personality to city hall. Over the last several months, he has brought stability and greater efficiency. The newest member of the Martinez City Council, Noralea Gipner, and long-time council member Mark Ross
took the oath of office on December 7. Debbie McKillop will be serving for the first time as vice mayor. I am excited about the new council and what I believe is our ability to work together and accomplish much over these next two years. The holiday season was a busy place in downtown Martinez with the lighting of the Spirit Tree, the Holiday Light Parade, Santa visiting with children and families in his house on Main Street Plaza, and the DC Solar Holiday Ice Rink. There is still time to enjoy the ice rink through January 8. When the ice rink is removed, the newly reconstructed parking lot #4 (Ferry and Escobar Streets) will be open
Rob Schroder, Mayor of Martinez
for use by the public. The parking lot has brand new pavement, curbs, lighting, and landscaping. The parking meters have been removed and replaced by a centralized pay station. Prior to reconstruction, the lot was in very poor shape and a safety hazard. Another major project that was recently completed is the new Berrellesa Street Bridge that spans Alhambra Creek from Berrellesa Street to the Amtrak overflow parking lot. This new bridge provides a vital second access to the Martinez Waterfront and Marina. Some have called the structure “a bridge to nowhere,” but I consider it a bridge to the future of the Martinez Waterfront. This $3 million bridge is key to the future development of the waterfront, and the planning process will begin in
early 2017. After promising the reconstruction of Morello Avenue and Center Avenue at Highway 4 for many years, Caltrans has finally approved the commencement of work. The approval was laborious and expensive to obtain, with several conditions placed upon the project. One such condition was to replace all of the non-compliant curb ramps, which has already been completed. To alleviate traffic congestion and detours, the paving work will be done at night and will start in a few months, when night-time temperatures are at tolerable levels. Finally, I would like to wish everyone a safe, healthy, and prosperous new year. I know that 2017 will be a great year for Martinez and Contra Costa County.
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City Council Meeting Jan. 4, 18 City Hall, 525 Henrietta Street, 6-9pm. Contact: 372-3500 Design Review Meeting Jan. 11, 25 City Hall, 525 Henrietta Street, 4-6pm. Contact: 372-3500 Planning Commission Meeting Jan. 10, 24 City Hall, 525 Henrietta Street, 7-11pm. Contact: 372-3500 Zoning Administrator Meeting Jan. 4, 18 City Hall, 525 Henrietta Street, 4-6pm. Contact: 372-3500 For Confirmation Visit: www.cityofmartinez.org
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City of Martinez
Martinez City News November Election Results Certified Measure D The Measure D Transaction and Use Tax was passed. The Measure required a 2/3 yes vote to pass. Yes - 71.95% with 12,765 voters. No - 28.05% with 4,977 voters. Measure D is a one-half percent transactions and use (sales) tax. One hundred percent of the revenues generated by the new tax will be allocated exclusively for Martinez to go toward road improvement and maintenance needs. For every $100 spent on taxable transactions (which do not include items such as grocery food or prescription medications), shoppers will pay an additional 50¢. The funds will allow the city to salvage some roads that have not yet structurally deteriorated to the point of requiring an extremely costly full depth replacement, and instead use less expensive slurry seals or other methods. The tax will go into effect no sooner than April 1, 2017, and last for 15 years.
Measure R – Martinez USD Bond yes 67.72% Bond no 32.28% Martinez Unified School District Superintendent CJ Cammack said in his December superintendent’s message, “The money from this general obligation bond will be the key to providing our staff and students with the type of learning facilities they deserve. In the coming months and years, I am looking forward to working through our facilities master plan with our community of stakeholders and our board of education to design the best possible responses to the various facility challenges we face. Along with passage of Measure D by the City of Martinez, our community will be seeing many tangible improvements over the next few years.”
County Board of Supervisors Incumbent Federal Glover defeated former Martinez City Councilmember AnaMarie Avila Farias for a seat in the 5th Supervisorial District.
City News Continued place internally,” she said. Newly elected Councilmember Noralea Gipner took her seat on the dais after her swearing in and said, “I decided to run for city council last year because I truly believed Martinez needed someone who would stand up for the common good. Someone who understands what WE want. Someone who is not afraid to ask questions and then go out there and find the answers.” As a newcomer on city council, she stated to the audience, “For the next many months, I’ll be reading a whole lot of manuals on many topics and will become extremely educated on how the city operates and who makes it operate, and I’m going to find out a way to teach you all the things I’ve learned to do. We have a lot of big jobs in front of us, starting with the general plan. We have roads to talk about, the downtown and the marina. What we require is unity and a common goal, and I think we have them both.” She urged everyone to regularly attend council meetings to find out what is really happening, not simply when there is a problem.
Shoreline Park Renamed At the December 7 city council meeting, Mayor Schroder announced that Shoreline Park has been renamed the Ted and Kathy Radke Martinez Shoreline Park. In 1978, Ted Radke was elected to the East Bay Regional Park District Board of Directors, a position he held until his retirement in 2014. He oversaw large expanses of parks, open space, habitat, and marshland preservation, including expansion of Briones Regional Park, the creation of Martinez Regional Shoreline, the creation of Carquinez Strait Regional Shoreline, Big Break Reserve, and the creation and expansion of the regional trail system. Kathy Radke passed away in 2011, and Ted passed away in 2016.
Iceberg Swim Start your new year with an icy dip at the Rankin Aquatic Center on January 7 at 9am. The pool is located at 100 Buckley Street. After the plunge, enjoy a hot cup of cocoa and have selfies taken with the polar bear. The event is free, and everyone is welcome to swim or cheer on the frosty swimmers. Don’t forget to bring a big fluffy towel and warm clothes.
City Council Results Mark Ross Noralea Gipner
Swearing in of City Officials Swearing in of elected Martinez city officials took place at the December 7 city council meeting. Deputy City Clerk Mercy Cabral swore in re-elected City Clerk Richard Hernandez. City Clerk Hernandez swore in re-elected City Treasurer Carolyn Robinson, newly elected Councilmember Noralea Gipner and re-elected Councilmember Mark Ross. Councilmember Debbie McKillop will be vice mayor.
Farias Acknowledged On behalf of the city council, Mayor Schroder read and presented to former Councilmember AnaMarie Avila Farias a proclamation for her community service as councilmember from November 2012 through November 2016, and proclaimed December 7 as AnaMarie Avila Farias Day. Farias spoke about her years of service to the City of Martinez, including service on the planning commission, parks and recreation, and her four years on city council. “It’s not a goodbye, it’s simply a new chapter to be able to give in a different way as I’ve done for so many years. I walk off this dais today very confident that we have strong leadership in ourcommunityfocus.com • january 2017
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City of Walnut Creek
Mayor’s Message LOOKING BACK— LOOKING FORWARD For most of 2016, I was mayor of one of the greatest cities in California - Walnut Creek. A good number of California cities use the council/city manager form of government. Under this form, the council serves as the policymaking board, analogous to the board of directors for a private company. The city manager is like the chief executive officer of a corporation. It is the manager’s job to implement the policies of the council and take responsibility for the day-to-day operations of the city. Cities that follow this form of government usually appoint one of the council members to assume the title of mayor. That person is like the chairman of the board.
It is up to the mayor to run the council meetings. The mayor works with the city manager to set agendas. With these responsibilities, the mayor frequently sets the tone about how the city is perceived by both the public and the employees. The mayor acts as the public face of the city, so when there is an event or issue in the city, the mayor is usually the one who responds to press inquiries and is available for interviews. In Walnut Creek, the mayor is responsible for producing the community’s ceremonies that honor the sentinels of our freedom at the annual Memorial Day and Veterans Day commemorations. The mayor proposes how our council subcommittees are populated and subject to ratification by the full council. When there is a constituent
Loella Haskew, Mayor of Walnut Creek
complaint, it is usually addressed to the mayor. The mayor can then respond on behalf of the city or, in some cases, forward the concern on to a staff person who is able to explain the situation and maybe even solve the problem. The mayor frequently represents the city in maintaining good relationships with neighboring communities and state legislators and, in some cases, will even meet with federal officials. It is a big job and one I undertook with a profound sense of history and responsibility. I also was terrified, concerned if I would be able to handle all the circumstances that could occur while serving. It turns out there were many moments to have fun, from being officially declared a V.I.P, to tossing pizza dough, tasting foods at new restaurants,
pouring wine for the chamber’s art & wine event, petting animals at ARF, and meeting so many, many wonderful people. The city also had some difficult decisions to make, including whether to support Trinity Center’s winter homeless program, approving changes with Carondolet High School’s acquisition of the former Valley Vista Tennis location, and trying to find a way to fund the muchneeded replacements at the Clarke Swim Center at Heather Farm Park. On December 6, I turned over the mayor’s responsibilities to Rich Carlston, who will do an extraordinarily great job of leading our city. It was a sad and joyful occasion for me. I thank everyone who made the past year so special. I thank Mayor Carlston in advance for all the work he is about to undertake.
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january 2017 • ourcommunityfocus.com
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City of Walnut Creek
Walnut Creek City News City Council Election Results Loella Haskew Kevin Wilk Justin Wedel
City Council Oath of Office Three city council members took the oath of office at the December 6 city council meeting: Kevin Wilk, Loella Haskew, and Justin Wedel. Kevin Wilk, the newly elected city councilmember, spoke to the audience about his pride in the city but also addressed it’s future challenges. “Walnut Creek is a jewel of the Bay Area,” he said. “We have to balance the desires of the long time residents along with the needs of the people who want to work or live here now. There are going to be some immediate areas that are going to need to be addressed, including the homeless situation and the ramifications of legalizing marijuana. I’d also like to see what we can do to bring new corporate high tech jobs to Walnut Creek so that our children have career opportunities to come back to after college. I’d like to see Wi-Fi in our downtown and parks; we should continue to be on the cutting edge of technology leadership for the future. I look forward to being part of the foundation to keep Walnut Creek the great community for the next generation and beyond,” he stated.
Carlston Selected as Mayor Rich Carlston was selected as the next mayor of Walnut Creek. In his remarks, Carlston expressed his appreciation for the work that former councilmember Bob Simmons had done for the betterment of the city. “He’s been a champion for green technology, for the environment, for the trails and open space. He has always been a very thoughtful and delightful person to work with.” He also noted the diversity of the city council and its most pressing problems. “One thing I’m committed to is to recognize the strength of that diversity and ensure that all opinions are discussed thoroughly and then decisions can be made. Through diversity of opinion you make better decisions. Our number one challenge right now is the replacement of a city manager. Also, we continue to have a shortage of housing for our workforce.” Carlston also mentioned parking as an important issue along with the clogged roadways and city’s greenhouse footprint.
Broadway Plaza’s Paid Parking Broadway Plaza’s controlled parking program will begin on Monday, January 9, 2017. The first three hours will be free, rather than the first two hours as originally planned, with no validation required. This change was made in response to the requests from many Walnut Creek residents to expand the window of free parking once the program starts. Once paid parking begins, garage users will pay $3 for the first hour of parking beyond the three free hours up to a $25 daily maximum. Broadway Plaza guest parking is available in the Main Street Parking Garage and in the South Broadway Parking Garages on both the Nordstrom and Macy’s sides, 7 days a week.
2017 Citizens Institute Registration for the 2017 Walnut Creek Citizens Institute is under way. Citizens Institute participants learn firsthand how their city works through tours, interactive exercises, and presentations by key staff and city council members. Discover opportunities to be involved with their local government. Cost is $25,
City News Continued payable on the first day of class. Anyone who lives or works in Walnut Creek (including unincorporated Walnut Creek) and has an interest in local government is invited to sign up for the Institute. Classes are designed for 30-35 students to encourage discussion, involvement, and interaction. The classes are popular and usually fill up fast! Classes will be seven Thursdays, 6:30 to 9:30pm, February 16 through March 30, with graduation on Saturday, April 1, at 9am. Some of the topics covered include: Understanding the Big Picture - Meet the mayor and city manager and explore the roles of government. Learn how the city council, commissions, and advisory committees work together; Money Matters: The Scoop on City Finances - Learn where the city gets its money and where the money goes; Enjoying Yourself in Walnut Creek - Learn about services that enhance quality of life. Take a backstage tour of the Dean Lesher Regional Center For The Arts and visit the Bedford Gallery. Learn about all the diverse neighborhoods in Walnut Creek. To register, visit www.ci.walnut-creek.ca.us/ and click on the “About Us” tab at the top. Click on “Community Resources and Programs” and then “Citizens Institute” on the left hand side.
Northgate Park Now Open Originally built in 1974, Northgate Park had become underused in recent years and was in need of a makeover. A ribbon cutting was held on December 8 to designate the makeover as complete, and the park is now open to the public. The new amenities include a sand volleyball court, picnic tables and benches, a renovated turf field for soccer or other activities, and a state of the art irrigation system (landscaping will be completed in the spring of 2017). Walnut Creek Public Works Department and Northgate High School were instrumental in making this happen. This 3-acre park is located between Northgate High School, Bowling Green Drive, and Castle Rock Park.
470-490 Lawrence Way Future Hotel Site The City of Walnut Creek owns the property at 470-490 Lawrence Way (2.26 acres, currently the Corporation Yard property). In September 2016, City Council reaffirmed its commitment to selling the property to a hotel developer by authorizing staff to pursue an accelerated RFP (request for proposal) process to market the sale of the site. Hotels provide economic sustainability and many beneficial fiscal impacts. The addition of a new hotel would improve the city’s general fund tax revenue diversification. In response to that call for bids, the city received five proposals and staff selected four developers (FPG, Intermountain, Lotus Hotels, and Tharaldson) to be interviewed by city council. Upon completion of the interviews, the city council will meet in closed session to provide direction to its real property negotiator regarding price and terms related to the sale of the property.
Public Meetings City Council Meeting Jan. 17 Council Chambers, 1666 North Main Street, 6pm. Contact: 943-5819 Design Review Meeting Jan. 4, 18 Council Chambers, 1666 North Main Street, 7pm. Contact: 943-5819 Planning Commission Meeting Jan. 12, 26 Council Chambers, 1666 North Main Street, 7pm. Contact: 943-5819 For Confirmation Visit: www.walnut-creek.org ourcommunityfocus.com • january 2017
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Frost Protection
Several Options to Keep Your Plants Warm this Winter BY SHANNON HOPKINS, RUTH BANCROFT GARDEN NURSERY MANAGER An early morning drive after a frosty night can be an interesting experience,
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especially if your neighbors are gardeners. Bed sheets, towels and other items hastily gathered from closets can be seen draped over tender plants in an effort to avoid frost burn. There are so many opinions on how to protect plants that it’s hard to sort the wheat from the chaff. So, what does work in our area? Let’s discuss some simple options from least to most effective. Natural elements: The use of large boulders in the landscape can create mini microclimates around your plants. The boulders are warmed by the sun and release that heat during the night. Unfortunately, the radiated heat is sometimes exhausted by the time the frosts begin. They do give excellent cover for roots, allowing plants to rebound after a good frost. Holiday lights: These do more than direct Santa to the chimney. (If you’re listening, fat man, I’d really like power tools this year.) Lights give off small amounts of heat that can be beneficial during a minor
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frost. If a frost is expected, leave the lights on until the sun makes an appearance. Frost cloth: Sheets and towels are ok, but if the local Homeowners Association comes knocking, you didn’t hear that from us. The key is to create an air gap and not rest the material directly on the plants as that will cause freeze burn. Use bamboo stakes to create a teepee or PVC
pipe to create a hoop. The best way to protect plants is with (actual) frost cloth. This can be purchased in degree ratings. We use and sell frost cloth, and when applied correctly, it protects plants down to the low 20s. Want to know more? Stop by and talk with our knowledgeable staff about how to protect your investment this winter.
Boys & Girls Club Crab Feed Boys & Girls Clubs of the Diablo Valley presents their 38th annual crab feed on January 14 at the Shell Clubhouse, 1635 Pacheco Blvd., Martinez, from 6-11pm. Tickets are $50 per person and include all you can eat crab, raffles, and no host beer and wine. Tickets may be purchased on-line at https://bgcdv.networkforgood.com/ events/1277-2017-annual-crab-feed. Not a fan of crab? No worries. We will also be serving chicken and pasta. The crab feed is one of four major fundraisers throughout the year to raise much needed funds to sustain programs for youth of the Diablo Valley. Research shows that Boys & Girls Clubs play a key role in reducing delinquency, increasing academic achievement, providing access to technology, developing career goals, and improving attitudes toward school. The Clubs provide a safe and supportive environment, fun activities, supportive relationships with peers and adults, increased opportunities to learn and develop, and recognition of achievement. Boys & Girls Clubs of the Diablo Valley
has been an integral part of the Diablo Valley community and surrounding area for almost 60 years, providing services to thousands of young people. Our mission is to enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens. The Club works collaboratively to fulfill our mission through ongoing partnerships with families, volunteers, educators, businesses, and community leaders to offer quality after-school and summer programs at little or no cost to families – a fact that sets us apart from other after-school programs. The Club is open after school Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, from 2-6pm, and Wednesday from 1-6pm. Programs include Character & Leadership Development, Education & Career Development, Health & Life Skills, The Arts, and Sports Fitness & Recreation. For more information about Boys & Girls Club programs or activities, please call 925.228.3896 ext.302 or visit our website at www.bgcdv.org.
In the Garden
The New Year Offers Colorful Choices BY LESLEY STILES Fortunately for us, we have an abundance of winter produce throughout Bay Area farmers’ markets and lots right here in Diablo Valley. Winter citrus is beyond abundant in January and begging to be zipped out of skin and shared. Satsuma mandarins are fantastic for healthy lunches and snacks, but citrus in our winter comes in so many varieties that it is difficult to leave farmers’ markets without bruising biceps to carry it all out. Blood oranges, tangelos, mandarins, honey tangerines, pommelos, and several varieties of grapefruit (not to mention tooth-achingly sweet, plain old oranges in several varieties, including Cara Cara) abound and beg to be taken to a nice home. A very fortunate friend of mine, upon returning from Paris, was so taken with red grapefruit sprinkled with brown sugar and brûléed, that she bought a blow torch to do her own. Aside from fruits, winter vegetables are at their peak of sweetness and busting out of their clothes with flavor (wait, that’s us.) Roasted beets sliced up with winter tangerine slices and lemon juice and sprinkled with toasted walnuts is a work of art for eyes as well as the tongue. Roasted winter vegetables are granted, by law, to adorn any foods known to mankind. By themselves, lovingly draped in olive oil and showered with sea salt and caramelized in a hot oven, said vegetables can be thrown into stews of any kind, polenta, risotto, and scrambled eggs, and over lettuce and spinach, wilting them as you grab a fork. Kiwis have also made their abundant Northern California harvest debut and make their own sweet, valleywide splash into salads and onto plates. Colored cauliflowers have taken over farmers’ market tables the past few years. Questions ricochet in minds regarding nutrition, if the color will stay after cooking, and whether they are genetically modified. While white cauliflower is the most abundant and oldest, dating back
to the 6th century and well known as a favorite of Pliny the Elder, orange cauliflower is gaining speed. Genetic modification plays no part in any of the brassicas, and orange, aka cheddar, cauliflower is actually a mutant that first showed up in a farmer’s field in Toronto, similar to the Cara Cara orange’s beginnings. Having 25% more Vitamin A than its white counterpart, the orange variety owes its hue to beta-carotene. Purple cauliflower owes its unnatural shades of lavender and lilac to the presence of anthocyanins, the same mineral that colors wine and rhubarb. This cauliflower is whitish inside but does retain some color after cooking. Green cauliflower is often known by and called Romanesco or broccoflower and has a nuttier, sweeter flavor than its colored siblings. Hot, roasted cauliflower is amazing and retains the color of its flowers. Cut into bite-sized pieces, toss in olive oil and fresh chopped garlic, shower with salt, and roast in a hot 450-degree oven for about 15 minutes. Sugars quickly surface under the heat and caramel ensues. Soups from the brassicas are delightfully simple yet stunning. Sauté cauliflower, onions, and garlic in olive oil until brownish. Add white wine and chicken stock to well and cover. Simmer till very soft and puree. Season with salt, pepper, and a dash of nutmeg. Serve with a gremolata of chopped parsley with lemon peel, garlic, olive oil, and salt. It’s always a welcome addition to the party of roasted winter vegetables and surprisingly nice as a salad tossed with yuzu or lemon juice and olive oil, finished with grated fresh pecorino. Color has appeared on golden, parched hills and ridges, and animals start to burrow out along trails, while late winter flowering bulbs adorn shell-shocked gardens. Spring bulbs are popping heads up, looking around like the veggie version of the rodent. Vegetable gardens should be producing lots of carrots, lettuce, and greens to be lovingly snipped and sweetly devoured. I recently discovered that instead of thinning carrots and beets one by one, you can snip the tops off
at the ground with small scissors. This action withers what is beneath, leaving room for others to get bigger as well as netting you a nice little handful of green tops and shoots to add to your salad. Peas should be climbing high on their fence or strings and sporting astounding white blossoms that morph into peas as you gaze on them. Winter peas sautéed with a bit of olive oil, mint, and garlic are simply sumptuous and something I could almost live on. Along with taking back our personal food systems, we may now find ourselves with time to actually exercise again. Once again, I have to get into my yoga mind and be indifferent to unfamiliar faces nervously taking up real estate in my spot on the studio floor. As clichéd as it may sound or actually is, this is a really good time of year for rebirth and reevaluation of your life, goals, and, yes, dreams. Definitely get a realistic resolution list together and carry out attainable tasks and visions for yourself and loved ones. Even though it is incredibly egotistical to think you can change anyone, your moods definitely can, so the better you are, the better your surrounding populations become by virtue of proximity to positive energy alone. Trust me, when you are happy, everyone is, and if they are not, it is easy enough to get out of their proximity or offer an orange and a walk to help them move into that side of the brain. Happy New Year everyone, and as usual….don’t forget to breathe. Breaking news! I am honored to have been invited to join the team of chef’s teaching various cooking classes at Back To the Table Cooking School in Lafayette. Go to the website for an amazing array of classes and dates to choose from. www.backtothetablecookingschool.com. Also The Farmers’ Market Lovers Calendar for 2017 will be available for delivery the week of January 10, 2017. Order at www.lesleystilesfoods.com or e-mail lesleystiles@comcast.net. Lesley Stiles is a graduate of the California Culinary Academy, sustainable ca-
terer and school garden educator. Contact Lesley at lesleystiles@comcast.net, www. lesleystiles.blogspot.com and visit her new website: www.lesleystilesfoods.com.
Citrus and Avocado Salad INGREDIENTS 1 pound mixed baby greens salad 1 orange, peeled and sliced 1 tangerine, peeled and sliced 1 large grapefruit, peeled and sliced 1 kiwi, peeled and sliced 1 large avocado, peeled and sliced 2 tablespoons olive oil 2 tablespoons lemon juice Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper DIRECTIONS In a salad bowl combine the lettuce with the citrus, kiwi and avocado, and lightly toss. Add the olive oil, lemon juice and salt and pepper to taste and toss lightly again. Serves 4
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Falcon Soccer Battle on the Pro Turf
The College Park mens varsity soccer team faced De La Salle on December 8 as part of the first annual High School Soccer Series at the Avaya Stadium in San Jose. The game was hard fought and resulted in a 0-0 finish. Jeremy Bedig, the new head coach for College Park varsity remarked, “This is a team that plays with a lot of joy and passion. They are selfless and fight for each other. I am so proud of the hard work they have put into this season. To tie a team with the skill that De La Salle has in such a big game is a testament to their selfless teamwork and hard work.” The High School Series, hosted by the San Jose Earthquakes, was held December 5 through 17 at Avaya Stadium. Men’s and women’s teams from fifteen local high schools in the Bay Area competed in the 11-game series on the field that serves as the home of the San Jose Earthquakes. Participating high schools included: Cal High, Carlmont, College Park, Cristo Rey, De La Salle, Del Mar, Evergreen Valley, Heritage, Leigh, Los Gatos, Monte Vista, Oak Grove, Overfelt, St. Francis CCC, and St. Ignatius. The schools competed in fully produced games that included a national anthem performance, school logos on the video boards, ball kids, and starting XI team photos. The event and parking was free for fans.
First Tee Awards Event The First Tee of Contra Costa held its annual Character Builder Awards at the Rossmoor Event Center in Walnut Creek on Saturday, November 12. Nine young participants and nine community leaders were recognized for their excellence in exhibiting The First Tee’s nine core values and nine healthy habits. John Scott Senz of Pleasant Hill and Concord High School was presented with the 2016 Integrity Award. The First Tee of Contra Costa is a non-profit organization that provides educational programs that build character, instill life-enhancing values, and promote healthy choices through the game of golf. It offers programming at five different golf courses in Contra Costa and Solano: Boundary Oaks, Walnut Creek; Buchanan Fields, Concord; Diablo Creek, Concord; Hiddenbrooke, Vallejo; and Lone Tree, Antioch, for juniors ages 5-17. For more information about the First Tee of Contra Costa, please visit: thefirstteecontracosta.org or call 925-446-6701.
First Tee of Contra Costa Character Builder Award Master of Ceremonies and ABC-7 anchor Dan Ashley, Integrity Award Winner John Scott Senz, and Hailey Salomone, Integrity Award presenter.
State Cup Champions Congratulations to the Diablo Futbol Club 05 Girls Blue Team on winning the state cup in the gold division over the December 10-11 weekend in Manteca. The team, led by Coaches Miguel Gonzales and Zach Pauline, beat the Roseville Strikers, 4-2. The team leapt out to a 3-0 lead behind two goals from forward Arlise Souza, with assists from forwards Lauren Gherlone and Katie Kavanagh, followed by a goal off a corner kick from midfielder Amanda Monahan. Goalkeeper Joey Kremin saved a PK late in the first half, and Souza scored the final goal in the fourth quarter with an assist from Gherlone. The team also had a strong finish, placing 2nd in their league. Falcon Sean Roarty heads the ball in the College Park and De La Salle soccer match up at Avaya Stadium. Photo by www.conrads-photography.com.
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january 2017 • ourcommunityfocus.com
(LtoR) Back row: Zach Pauline, Kira Barrett, Lauren Gherlone, Amanda Monahan, Gia Bessolo, Lizzie Pauline, Abby Gee, and Miguel Gonzales. Front row: Joey Kremin, Katie Kavanagh, Cassidy Baker, Arlise Souza and Erika Salazar. Submitted by Darcy Kremin.
All League 2016 * Fall Sports All League for College Park, Alhambra and Northgate High Schools
Cross Country - Boys Honorable Mention All-League Nick Chuman, CP
Cross Country - Girls 1st Team All-League Jessica Boucher, NG 2nd Team All-League Emily Orellana, CP, Kylie Tseng, CP, Chloe Beardsley, CP Isabelle Antolin, NG
Jaime Pitcher, CP, Becca Monroe, CP 2nd Team All-League Sammy Monroe, CP, Caragh Osborne, CP, Sarah Exner, AHS Honorable Mention All-League Kaelin Belschart, CP, Katie Christman, AHS
Water Polo - Boys Most Valuable Player All-League Coleman Carpenter, CP
Honorable Mention All-League Kelly Seto, CP, Julia Parks, CP, Katrina Kohlmeyer, NG, Sara Wheeler, NG
1st Team All-League Alex Philson, CP, Devin Hutslar, CP, Elijah Burnham, CP, Dylan Hammond, AHS, Nico Taliaferro, AHS
1st Team All-League Antione Robinson, CP, Adam Basker, CP, Forrest Steele, CP, Jackson Smith, NG, David Ma’ake, NG, Sean Garrigian, NG, Brian Moorhouse, NG, Gavin West, NG, Chris Mooser, NG, Asi Langi, NG, Lenny Castro, AHS, Mason Yaeger, AHS, Tyler Clemons, AHS
2nd Team All-League Ben Collins, CP, Adam Pakmon, AHS Tony Moore, AHS, Luke Brown, AHS
Football
2nd Team All- League James Stern, CP, Eli Dempsey, CP, Luca Gianini, CP, N Greene, NG, S Saluni, NG, N Mariero, NG, S Schulhaiser, AHS, M Shaffer, NG, D Blalock, AHS, C Smith, NG, J Fulp, NG, N Rucki, AHS
Golf - Girls CO - Most Valuable Player Hailey Salomone, CP CO-Most Valuable Player Jordan Davis, AHS
Honorable Mention All-League Jared Freet, CP, Aaron Sullivan, AHS
Volley Ball - Girls 2nd Team All-League Ali Silva, NG Honorable Mention All-League Adriana Vinogrado, NG, Kinsey Anderson, NG
Tennis - Girls 1st Team All-League Nichole Markiewicz, NG, Raquel Aguilar/Antonina Bazulin, NG 2nd Team All-League Jessie McCann, NG
1st Team All-League Jessica Caswell, CP, Kelsie Emkjer, CP, Claire Jensen, AHS, Julia Lloren, AHS
Honorable Mention All-League Euna Park, NG
2nd Team All-League Mia Li, CP, Sydney Cave, AHS, Julia Quontamatteo, AHS
School Abbreviations: College Park (CP) Alhambra High (AHS) Northgate (NG)
Water Polo - Girls 1st Team All-League Anna Bernard, AHS, Daria Dragicevic, AHS, Alyssa Mikesell, CP,
*Complete All League selections were not available at press time.
Coach of the Year
DVC Soccer Coach Cailin Mullins BY MATT SCHWAB DVC soccer coach Cailin Mullins has been selected as NSCAA National Coach of the Year for Division III Junior College Women’s Soccer. It’s an incredible accomplishment for a coach who guided the Vikings to a best-ever finish, No. 2 in the state. “It’s kind of hard to imagine,” she said Monday of the big award. “It’s certainly not something that you ever anticipate happening, even with the season that we had. It’s just a tremendous amount of pride. To think of a national award, it’s hard to kind of contemplate that.” She said she has appreciation for the team and the coaching staff, which also includes Alex Lobban and Julio Borge. Mullins’ honor follows the selection of Vikings sophomore keeper Katie McLaughlin (College Park HS) as National Division III Player of the Year. She is also an All-American, along with DVC freshman midfielder Vanessa Ruvalcaba (Pittsburg HS). Clearly, it’s been a whirlwind of a postseason after a very special season that included DVC’s first Big 8 Conference title and first advancement past round 2 of the region playoffs. DVC was 4-1 in the playoffs as the Vikings outscored five opponents a combined 13-3. The most memorable wins came against Delta, 1-0 in Round 3, and Santa Barbara 2-0 in the state semifinal. Now the awards are coming in fast and furious. Noelle Lemos was recently named Big 8 Offensive Player of the Year, and McLaughlin was Big 8 Defensive Player of the Year. Mullins was tabbed North Region Coach of the Year at the state banquet. “The excitement keeps coming at us,” Mullins said. “It seems like each day. Alex was selected as assistant coach of the
year through the NSCAA and Katie being the National Player of the Year. We keep getting email message after email message with very exciting news.” Mullins, a former Stanford assistant and ex-University of Maryland player, just completed her 16th season at DVC. A West Virginia native, she is a thoughtful presence, with a deep sense of the game and an ability to connect with her players. Mullins described the individual and team accomplishments as being “very special. It just kind of shows you the power of the team is very important. I tell the kids all the time, it’s always nice to have the individual acknowledgements, but it’s really the team that has enabled those to happen. This was certainly a very unified team that enabled us to experience the success that we’ve had.” McLaughlin had an incredible performance in Ventura, working a shutout in a 2-0 triumph over Santa Barbara in the state semifinal, and then making 17 saves in a 2-0 overtime loss to hard-pressing Cerritos in the final. “Katie was just a steady force back there throughout the season,” Mullins said. “She’s come so far in her communication and her organization of the defense. That was a big part of us conceding so few goals throughout the course of the season, as well as her goalkeeping ability.” McLaughlin didn’t have to make a ton of saves overall, but she delivered at the key moments with tremendous stops, including against Delta and Folsom Lake. “In the Cerritos game, she was the reason we made it that long,” Mullins added. “She took on so many shots in that game. Without her, it would have been a much different game.”
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CP Graduate in Need At the young age of 25, Jason Delessert, a 2007 College Park graduate, suffered kidney failure due to a hereditary disease called Alport Syndrome. Over the last two years, dialysis, daily medications, and reliance on a machine have been a way of life. Finally, a match was found. To save his life in October of 2016, Jason received a kidney from his only brother, Justin. As you can imagine, recovery from major transplant surgery is not an easy task. It requires hospital stays, an abundance of medications, biopsies, and hospital visits. Jason is slowly recovering, but due to limitations, he is unable to work. To make sure this transplant remains a success, Jason’s doctors have given him specific instructions – things we take for granted on a daily basis. Jason’s fiancé, Kristen, has been supporting both of them physically, mentally, and financially. Unfortunately, her income is not sufficient for Jason’s health insurance, rent, household bills, and current hospital/transplant/dialy-
Principal’s Corner Get Involved at College Park
Jason Delessert recuperating.
sis bills. Jason’s family is asking you to please consider donating to help get him through this final stage of recovery. You can donate by visiting Jason’s gofundme account at https://www. gofundme.com/jasons-new-kidney or just search for Jason Delessert on gofundme.com.
JOSEPH G. ALVAREZ PRINCIPAL, COLLEGE PARK HIGH SCHOOL “Welcome home” is something you often hear me say when greeting students, staff and community members, and it’s usually returned with a “thank you” or a smile. We all have the same mission for College Park High School, and that is to make it the best possible experience for everyone who crosses our front gate. One goal in my 90-day entry plan was for our community to be better informed of all the great happenings at CPHS, so this is the perfect opportunity to advertise our stellar website (cphs.mdusd. org/) and Twitter handle (@CPHSfalcons) to update you on all our great events and exciting news. This holiday season, I’d like to show my gratitude and appreciation for my students, staff, and community for making my transition the best it could be! Your overwhelming support, kindness, and overall helpfulness have made a very busy fall semester a fun one.
SUBMIT A STORY Have something to share? Deadline for submissions is the second Friday of each month. info@ourcommunityfocus.com
Sunday, January 29 at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, February 2 at 8 a.m.
The three things I ask of our entire student body are: • Get engaged in your education (come prepared each day to learn and ask questions) • Get involved (whether as an athlete, musician, vocalist, craftsperson or drama). Research shows you’ll have a more productive and fun experience in school the more involved you are. • Have a plan. When the going gets tough (as I assure you it will), what will you do? Where will you seek guidance? With regard to having a plan, we have a Wellness Center on campus. It houses four marriage and family interns supervised by a licensed clinician. Each clinician has a caseload of students they see on a regular basis, helping them be the best they can be during what may be the most trying time of their lives. Lastly, how can you get involved and share your great ideas with CPHS? We will be going through WASC (Western Accreditation for Schools and Colleges) in March. I will send out a survey to our community to see how we are doing with current initiatives and elicit feedback on our overall product. Please “follow” us on Twitter and our webpage as I will be posting the link for feedback very soon. I also will be holding regular “Cup of Joe With Principal Joe” visits. Please feel free to stop by and hear about all the great things happening at CPHS in greater detail and ask any questions you might have.
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january 2017 • ourcommunityfocus.com
Read My Mind
©
Get a Jump Start
Getting Old Ain’t for Sissies
Super Valentine’s Boutique Coming
BY MICHAEL G. HARRIS, OD As we celebrate the New Year and I approach a milestone birthday (50?), I realize more than ever that “getting old ain’t for sissies.” It requires courage, grace, grit, persistence, and optimism to fight off the “inconveniences” of aging. My body certainly isn’t what it was 30 years ago. The aging process has not been kind to me. There isn’t a single part of my body that hasn’t been affected. From the bottom up, I have bunions, back pain, bursitis, and baldness. (And those are just a few of my maladies that begin with “B.” I won’t bore you with the rest of my “alphabet soup” of ailments.) Fortunately, there are several recent books that have helped me come to grips with the aging process. Michael Kinsley’s Old Age: A Beginner’s Guide is just that: a handy guide on what we’re in for as our bodies start to fail us. It’s “irreverent, wise, and laugh-out-loud funny about living long enough for your organs to start to betray you.” Kinsley, who has Parkinson’s disease, and thus, has started the aging process earlier than most, answers the questions all baby boomers are likely to face if they live long enough. For example, “Is being alive all that desirable if you’re alive only in the technical sense?” Baby boomers are a competitive group. Since one in three boomers will develop dementia, the competition may not be about longevity but about dying before you “lose your marbles.” In the end, all you’ve got is “how you will be remembered after you die.” When you die, “all that will be left of you is people’s memory of you, which is to say, your reputation.” If you want to be remembered as a good person, try to be one now. As a wise person once said, “live your life like you’re going to die tomorrow,” because, unfortunately, one
Valentine’s Day comes early this year with the ultimate shopping experience at the free Super Valentine’s Boutique on Sunday, Jan. 29, in the elegant Hilton Concord Hotel. Shoppers will find special outfits and gifts for family and friends. The boutique hosts over 50 artisans, craft vendors, home-based businesses and commercial exhibitors. Unique clothing for women, teens and kids, makeup, jewelry, handbags, candles, soaps, candy, fashion accessories, coffee and tea, home goods, bath and body, kids’ toys and books, kitchenware and cooking products, baked goods, and so much more will be available. Leave time during your shopping to indulge in a relaxing (and free) chair massage, make memories in the Valentine’s photo booth, and enjoy demonstrations and workshops. Kids will want to spend time at the arts and crafts activities where they can make
day that will be true. Will boomers be remembered as worthy successors to “the greatest generation?” Only time will tell, but I hope so. In Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End, Atul Gawande uses the example of his father, a trusted surgeon suffering from a debilitating tumor, to explore “how the elderly can live better with age-related frailty, serious illness and approaching death.” What is the role of nursing homes, assisted living, and hospice for the frail elderly? While these types of facilities may keep the elderly safe and comfortable, are they really “assisting people to live?” Regardless of age or physical condition, people still want to have a sense of independence. They want and need to be an integral part of the decision-making process regarding their care, how they live, and even how they die. After all, it’s important to remember, “The ultimate goal is not a good death but a good life – all the way to the very end.” Perhaps no one found a better way to lead a good life fully lived than “the poet laureate of medicine” Oliver Sacks. Shortly after he learned that his cancer diagnosis was terminal, Sacks wrote Gratitude, a remarkable series of essays in which he “counts his blessings upon learning he’s face-to-face with dying.” He doesn’t focus on his illness and impending death but rather on “what is meant by living a good and worthwhile life, achieving a sense of peace within oneself.” Above all, he “loved and was loved.” Yes, getting old may not be easy, but this book is a precious gift to all of us who struggle to find meaning in our lives or a way to cope with the challenges of aging.
a Valentine gift for family and friends while parents are shopping. Attendees will receive a free raffle ticket for numerous prizes donated by boutique vendors. A donation of nonperishable food to the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano will earn the donor one raffle ticket for each item. And the first 250 shoppers through the door will receive a Valentine’s gift bag. The Super Valentine’s Boutique will be held indoors at the Hilton Concord Hotel, 1970 Diamond Blvd., just two blocks off Interstate 680 at Willow Pass Road. The event is open from 11am – 3pm with free admission and free parking. Interested vendors can email info@ bayareafamilyfest.com for information on exhibiting. Visit www.supervalentinesboutique.com for more information.
Free Admission & Parking ULTIMATE VALENTINE’S SHOPPING EXPERIENCE
Sunday, January 29 • 11am - 3pm Hilton Concord Ballroom, 1970 Diamond Blvd. Over 50 Vendors to pamper yourself and buy gifts for your Valentine’s. ❤ Free raffle with great Valentine’s prizes ❤ Free Chair Massage ❤ Free Photo Booth
Get Free $2 Sweetheart Buck Redeem this coupon at check-in for Sweetheart Buck that can be used as $2 toward the purchase of 1 item at the Super Valentine’s Boutique. 1 Sweetheart Buck per person attending Boutique. Good only Jan. 29, 2017. Cannot be redeemed for cash. Cannot be combined with any other Sweetheart Buck to purchase item. No copies or facsimiles.
www.SuperValentinesBoutique.com ourcommunityfocus.com • january 2017
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A Spin on Do It Yourself Creating with Chalk
BY REBECCA SEIDENSPINNER The holidays are finally over. Sigh. All the Christmas decorations are tucked away on the top shelf of the garage, and I just can’t help but feel like my home is missing something. I have a fabulous idea. I’m going to make a DIY chalkboard sign. I’m so excited! Chalkboard paint can turn almost any surface into a chalkboard. You can use it to paint a wall or even furniture. It comes in regular paint form and even a spray paint can version. Chalkboards have become very popular and are now used as menus in restaurants, decorative signs at weddings, and so much more. A chalkboard sign displayed in the home can hold an inspirational message for your family, a grocery list (take a picture of the sign with your phone and never lose your grocery list again), or weekly dinner menu. It can help you get organized too! You can use regular chalk or a
chalk marker and it wipes away easily. Tip: If you dip chalk in water and then apply it to the chalkboard, it will go on lightly but dry much darker. You can sharpen chalk with a pencil sharpener too. Here are the supplies you need to get started: An old picture frame with the glass, a piece of wood or even an old wooden window frame, chalkboard paint (not chalk paint; this is different than chalkboard paint), and a paintbrush. Paint the inside of the window or the glass portion of the picture frame. Be sure to use masking tape to tape off the outer part of the frame so paint doesn’t get on it. I like to apply two coats to ensure coverage. Let the paint dry, and you are ready to go! If you really want to get fancy, type in chalk fonts in the search bar on your computer. You will find tons of tips and tricks to inspire you to update your new chalkboard sign often!
Dr. Jim Beebee and the staff of Diablo View Veterinary Hospital would like to welcome Dr. Jill Oliveira, our new associate! We are a caring, full-service animal veterinary facility that provides comprehensive medical services for your companion dogs, cats, rabbits and pocket pets.
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ourcommunityfocus.com • january 2017
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Which Are Scarier? Fish Are Friends Animals or Teenagers
Mexican Caribbean Biosphere Reserve
BY EMMA MOLINARE, INTERPRETIVE PROGRAMS KEEPER AT LINDSAY WILDLIFE Some people say I have the scariest job at Lindsay Wildlife Experience. They don’t say this because I work with animals with sharp teeth and big claws. People tell me this because I work with teenagers – 56 of them to be exact. Lindsay Wildlife Experience has offered a teen program since the 1980s. Hundreds of teenagers are alumni and have gone on to work in careers as animal keepers, postdoctoral researchers, and museum exhibit managers. Presently, the Interpretive Guide Programs provides teenagers between the ages of 12 and 18 the chance to be modern day animal keepers. The interpretive guides are responsible for caring for Lindsay’s domestic animal collection and engaging the guests in educational presentations with our wildlife collection. Our interpretive guides clean the animals’ enclosures, make diets, create fun enrichment (toys for the animals), provide simple medical exams, and take them outside for exercise. The animals benefit from having this special care and are able to experience many novel situations. The teenagers also benefit from the program. The program teaches them many important skills such as record keeping, punctuality, and how to work with others. In the words of one of our veteran interpretive guides, “I have gained leadership skills by helping newer interpretive guides. Giving presentations on the floor
BY DR. LOUISA ASSEO There is nothing more peaceful than listening to waves lap against the seashore. I am an avid scuba diver, so the ocean holds a special place in my heart, and I am always in awe at the diversity and symbiosis present in every nook and cranny just under the surface. But this wonderful world is in constant danger of exploitation and destruction. One such place near and dear to my heart has made wonderful advancements in preserving the biodiversity of the oceans. The creation of the Mexican Caribbean Biosphere Reserve was announced just a few weeks ago! This project is designed to protect and limit further development along a good portion of the Caribbean coastline of the Yucatan peninsula, including a portion of the tropical forests adjacent to the shore. This will help provide a safe haven for close to 1,900 species of plants and animals and 500 species of fish. It will protect a large portion of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef, one of the world’s largest reef systems, and continue to protect precious breeding grounds and beaches for threatened sea turtles. But human impact on the oceans can be devastating even miles away from the coast. Conservation and protection of these amazing environments should extend beyond governmentprotected regions and factor into our everyday life choices. Did you know that disposable plastic shopping bags floating in the ocean look remarkably similar to jellyfish? Jellyfish are a delicacy for many sea turtles. When these “imposters” are ingested by hungry sea turtles, they can cause intestinal obstruction and make these magnificent animals become ill, facing starvation and death. More dangers of disposable plastic products exist too. For example, plastic
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improved my public speaking skills. I feel I grow as a person throughout each year as an interpretive guide.” In addition, the teens learn greater appreciation for the world around them. In a survey, the interpretive guides expressed having a greater respect and awareness of the natural world after volunteering at Lindsay. As one interpretive guide put it, “I am more aware of the importance of allowing animals to be left in their natural environment and educating the public on why we should keep these animals wild.” Another shared, “I now know more of the reasons why animals are becoming endangered. There is a lot more that one person can do to help than people would believe.” Teenagers get a bad rap. “Grown ups” complain that teenagers are constantly plugged into their phone, don’t like to go outside, and don’t care about the future. What the older generations may fail to notice is that these young minds are still being molded. The experiences they have in their teen years have a huge influence in shaping the adults they will become and the impact that they will have on their community. And while some people might think there is nothing more frightening than a room full of 56 teenagers, I disagree. Working with teenagers gives me the opportunity to mentor these children and help them to grow into confident, environmentally conscious, and successful young adults. And there is nothing scary about that.
january 2017 • ourcommunityfocus.com
rings from soda cans can lodge around fins and heads of fish or limbs and beaks of sea birds, causing wounds, strangulation, and starvation. Even our dining choices can impact our seas. Ironically, when it comes to seafood, there are not always plenty of fish in the sea. Many types of fish are overfished from our oceans, and fishing practices often inadvertently harm other species. How can you help? • Carry reusable shopping bags. • Minimize your consumption of disposable plastic in your every day life. • Cut plastic rings to help avoid entanglement. • Check out the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s source of sustainable seafood for better choices at www.seafoodwatch. org. As we begin this new year, I hope we can all resolve to be a bit kinder to our oceans by making a few small changes. Wishing you and yours a happy and healthy New Year! Dr. Louisa Asseo, owner of Oasis Veterinary Hospital, can be reached at (925) 954 – 8087, 6635 Alhambra Ave, Suite 100, Martinez, or visit oasisveterinaryhospital.com.
Oasis Veterinary Hospital proudly sponsors the
PET ADOPTION CONNECTION www.ourcommunityfocus.com
Providing Food
AAUW Soup Supper
BY STEVE SPRAITZAR AND FAYE DONAGHUE On December 8, the Rotary Clubs of Contra Costa presented a gift of a refrigerated Ford Transit 250 to Gary Conner, executive coordinator of White Pony Express (WPE), to help WPE with its vibrant Food Rescue Program. After Mr. Conner gave a speech to the Rotary Club in Pleasant Hill in 2014, the Club dedicated itself to raising $50,000 over the course of two years to buy this van. The enduring leadership and efforts of Jennifer Grossi, recent president of the Pleasant Hill Rotary, and the coleadership of Walnut Creek Rotary Club were instrumental in completing this fundraising drive. The van, which has been named “Jenni,” will help ensure that WPE’s express deliveries of fresh food continue at high standards to 70+ nonprofits in the county that provide food and meals to the hungry. Mr. Conner told those assembled, “With this gift you are uplifting the lives of those in need and doing a tremendous service to our county and to Pleasant Hill. Jenni enables us to ac-
BY JANET ANDRONIS, AAUW The Pleasant Hill-Martinez Branch of the American Association of University Women (AAUW) holds their annual Soup Supper with a presentation by retired DVC oceanography instructor Dianna Vanni Matthias. The public is invited to attend for $10. This is annual January event is presented with an international flavor. Dianna’s presentation, “Plastic Pollution Around Oceanic Islands,” covers her six summers spent as a volunteer on Midway Island in the Pacific Ocean. Since today’s oceans contain a large collection of plastic waste, Dianna has cleaned up plant and plastic pollution on the island for several years. She will show slides and describe her work. Dianna grew up in Martinez, went to UC Berkeley, and has a Master’s and PhD in Zoology. She has also done coral reef monitoring and bird banding. Come enjoy hearty homemade
Rotary Clubs Donate a New Van cept the new Whole Foods store as a seven-day a week food donor.” Every day, WPE sends volunteers to supermarkets, restaurants, and farmers’ markets where, in just over three years, they’ve rescued and delivered more than 4,000,000 pounds of fresh, nutritious excess food (equivalent to about 3,300,000 meals the hungry would have gone without). WPE has rescued highquality meat, dairy, eggs, produce, deli, and baked goods that would otherwise have been discarded and delivered it, usually within two hours of the donation. Its Food Rescue Program now picks up and delivers over 5,000 pounds of free food a day, seven days a week! There is an urgent need for volunteers to help WPE with its mission of eliminating hunger and poverty in Contra Costa County. For more information, go to www.whiteponyexpress.org or call 925-322-0604. And watch for “Jenni” as she does her work around Pleasant Hill and other communities!
Plastic Pollution Around the Ocean
soups, bread and butter, coffee, tea and desserts. Bring a soup bowl and soup spoon. Dinner starts promptly at 6pm to allow ample time for the presentation, which runs until 9pm. The AAUW is open to anyone with at least an associate’s degree. Our focus is on advancing equity for women and girls through advocacy, education, philanthropy, and research. Check out our local branch website at www. pleasanthill-martinez-aauw.org. Please RSVP by January 13 to Marge Munger at (925) 687-9773, or SarahJoy Haynes at (925) 372-9211.
Start 2017 In Style
With Hillcrest Veterinary Hospital
Celebrate “Dress Up Your Pet Day” on January 14 Pictured (LtoR:) Jim Bonato, Michelle Lacy (in back), Rotary President Anne Baker, Gary Conner (WPE Exec Coordinator), Jen Grossi, Sue Noack, Dick Marvin, Matt Rinn, Steve Van Dorn (behind), Tina Young, Joe Thibedeau (kneeling), Ken Jacobson, Karen Sakata, and Bob Lamson.
Zachary J. Anderson, DVM • Terri Lamp, DVM • Joseph A. Thibedeau, DVM 2211 Morello Avenue • Pleasant Hill, CA 94523 • 925-676-1909 • www.hillcrestvet.com
ourcommunityfocus.com • january 2017
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P L E A S A N T
H I L L
C H A M B E R
O F
C O M M E R C E
It’s Your Business.
Consumers are more likely to do business with a company if it’s a member of their local chamber of commerce.
Meet the 2017 Pleasant Hill Chamber Board of Directors! Executive Board
Thursday, January 26, 2017 7:30am - 9:00am Presented by:
Tom Guarino Chair PG&E
Joe Stokley Chair - Elect Stokley Properties
Julie McCoy Past - Chair ReMax Accord
Directors
Heather Schiffman Mike Robertson Secretary Treasurer Risk Concepts Insurance Contra Costa Assoc. of Realtors Brokers, Inc.
In Partnership with
$40.00
Connie Anderson Anderson Organizing
Yvonne Ceresa Edward Jones
Maria Dempsey JetSuiteX
Susan Hurl Repulic Services
Howard Jordan Jordan Consulting & Investigations
Bruce Jobson Jobson Group
Contra Costa Country Club 801 Golf Club Rd. Pleasant Hill, CA 94523 Purchase tickets here: http://www.pleasanthillca.org/mayortickets
Sponsored by: David Levien American College of Healthcare Trustees
Lauren Smykowski Chris Thomas Law Offices of Land Home Financial Lauren Smykowski
Jennifer Voss Voss Global Communications
Angela Warren Land Home Financial WiseGirl Ristorante Italian & Cocktails
Jim Wunderman Bay Area Council
Welcome New Members Steve Van Dorn President & CEO
De La Housaye & Associates, ALC Monarch Consulting Group East Bay Loyalty Dancing Hands Massage & Bodywork Pleasant Hill Dental Goodwill Industries of the Great East Bay Jr. Achievement of Northern California, Inc. Banc Home Loans/Bank of California
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David Armanini Leon Key Bruce Hunt Katie Walter Rosa Vega Linda Pratt Maggie Kelley-Bucci Bob Taylor
january 2017 • ourcommunityfocus.com
(925) 944-3300 (925) 286-4856 (866) 582-7670 (925) 378-8407 (925) 692-2010 (510) 698-7200 (925) 465-1068 (925) 357-6304
“Happy New Year! We are very pleased to welcome four new Board Members and our new Chair, Tom Guarino to our outstanding 2017 Board of Directors. With our Board’s leadership, membership support and our team’s hard work, 2017 will be another banner year for the Chamber of Commerce, City and Community. If you are not yet engaged with us as a member, don’t miss out on the excitement that is building for 2017. Call our office or email me today so we can share with you all the benefits you receive as a member of the Pleasant Hill Chamber of Commerce!”
91 Gregory Lane, Suite 11 • Pleasant Hill, CA 94523 • 925.687.0700
www.pleasanthillchamber.com
In the Mix
The Best of Those We Lost BY PAUL COTRUVO “Well, she was just seventeen…….” Happy New Year everyone! Yes, 2017 is here, the Year of the Rooster (cue “Maggie May” by Rod Stewart). A year that I hope brings everyone out to attend some shows. Amazing talent in our community that needs to be heard. But, I must admit, I’m so glad to see 2016 now in the rearview mirror. I can’t remember a year when more legendary musicians passed away, including: David Bowie, Prince, Keith Emerson, Greg Lake, Sharon Jones, Leon Russell, Leonard Cohen, Scotty Moore, Guy Clark, Billy Paul, Mose Allison, Merle Haggard, Dan Hicks, George Martin, Maurice White, Paul Kantner, and Glenn Frey. Basically, a collection of artists who made up the soundtrack of our lives from the last 50 years. But their music lives on through their recordings. And what huge catalogs they all have. I decided to make a list of some of my favorite albums for you to check out: 1) David Bowie’s last recorded album, Blackstar, is one of his best. Released two days before he passed away of liver cancer, it featured a more somber and jazz flavor. The songs definitely reflect a man who knew he was dying. Sometimes hard to listen to, as it is a very personal reflection, but a must buy. 2) Hard to pick my favorite Leon Russell album, but if you were going to listen to just one, I would pick his first solo record from 1970, Leon Russell. It
features, in my humble opinion, one of the finest songs ever written, “A Song For You” -- a classic. 3) Growing up in the Bay Area, I was totally influenced by the San Francisco sound, and one of the bands that stood out was Jefferson Airplane. As they have many great albums, my Paul Kantner pick is his first solo record, Blows Against the Empire, a concept album about a revolution to steal a starship and fly to a new home. Ok, remember, this was 1970. But if you want to get a taste of local music and hippies from this era, this is the album. It also featured many other great artists such as Jerry Garcia, Grace Slick, and David Crosby. 4) Prince has a huge catalog, and it is said that there are thousands of hours of unreleased songs, which I’m sure over the years we will be hearing. My must pick is Sign O the Times. This 1987 album had it all: 16 songs of soul, funk, rock, and pop. “Sign O the Times” and “Adore” are standout songs from this record, but not a bad one in the bunch. If you never have listened to Prince before, this is the one. 5) Emerson, Lake & Palmer were ahead of their time -- a progressive rock band that brought classical, jazz, and rock music together and featured the ever-present Moog Synthesizer. Hard to choose a favorite, but their debut album, Emerson, Lake & Palmer, from 1970, would be the one. It includes one of their biggest hits, “Lucky Man,” featuring Greg Lake on a beautiful vocal, and of course, Keith Emerson, on the infamous Moog Synthesizer solo at the end.
Paul’s Picks January 13: Lumberyard, WiseGirl, 1932 Oak Park Blvd., Pleasant Hill, 9pm January 14: Sin Silver, Rocco’s Pizzeria, 2909 Ygnacio Valley Rd., Walnut Creek, 8:30pm January 19: Jeff Magidson Blues Band, Armando’s, 707 Marina Vista, Martinez, 8pm January 21: Kymber Starmack, Roxx on Main, 627 Main St., Martinez, 7pm January 27: Tender Mercies, WiseGirl, 1932 Oak Park Blvd., Pleasant Hill, 9pm January 27: Melody Walker & Jacob Groopman, Armando’s, 707 Marina Vista, Martinez, 8pm January 28: Midnight Flyer, Roxx on Main, 627 Main St., Martinez, 7pm
6) Glenn Frey was another huge loss this year. So many great songs sung and written by this great songwriter. Just listen to the Eagles Greatest Hits album with songs such as “Take it Easy,”“Peaceful Easy Feeling,” and “Tequila Sunrise.” 7) George Martin? Beatles! Period. So thankful that even though these influential artists are no longer with us, we can continue to listen to their songs and be inspired. So, back to the future? 2017 promises to be an amazing year in our local community. Come Together on February
24 in Pleasant Hill, Rock the Casa at the Lesher Center in Walnut Creek on March 4, featuring Cheap Trick, and always great music happening at Armando’s in Martinez and WiseGirl in Pleasant Hill. And, for the first time in many years that I can remember in our area, so many pubs, restaurants, and community events are providing live entertainment. Let’s get out there and support our local artists and venues. Good for your soul! Quote of the Month: “Ring out the false, Ring in the true” ~ Alfred Lord Tennyson
Advanced Planning is a thoughtful and considerate act that your loved ones will truly appreciate. A death in the family is difficult enough without the added burden of making arrangements at the last minute. The holidays, when families are together, are a good time to talk about your family’s future.
The average funeral costs around $7500
Oakmont Mortuary is offering a 10% discount that could save you about $750 on Pre-Arranged Funeral Goods and Services until Dec. 31, 2016
Please call to arrange an appointment with Kate Lane
(925) 935-3311 • klane@stonemor.com
Oakmont Mortuary & Crematory 2099 Reliez Valley Road Lafayette, CA. 94549
“Thoughtful service within the means of all”
FD #875
ourcommunityfocus.com • january 2017
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Carr Ranch is Saved
PHOTOS BY ADAM WEIDENBACH
Watershed Land, Wildlife Habitat, and Open Space are Preserved
animals such as deer, American badger, John Muir Land Trust (JMLT) in partgolden eagle, and mountain lion. Its nership with East Bay Municipal Utility creeks and streams drain into the Upper District (EBMUD) announces Carr Ranch is San Leandro Reservoir, and from there, saved. The 604-acre cattle ranch adjacent into the homes of tens of thousands of to the Town of Moraga will be preserved East Bay families. Carr Ranch exemplifies as watershed land, essential wildlife habithe best of Contra Costa landscapes, an tat, and open space for public enjoyment. area known for some of the most beautiAn outpouring of donations from individful scenery in the region. Terrain varies uals, foundations, agencies and corporafrom hillsides and ridge tops to meadows tions reached the $7 million project goal and bottomlands, and diverse vegetaneeded to acquire the private property tion includes coastal live oak and riparian from the Carr family, who have owned the woodlands, coastal scrub, and annual land for over a century and have a strong grasses. desire to see it conserved. Contributing JMLT Executive Director Linus Eukel said, $4.5 million toward the purchase, EBMUD “We couldn’t have hoped for an outcome will hold title to the property, and JMLT that better serves the public’s need for will manage permanent public access permanent protection and access to this to Carr Ranch for light recreation such as spectacular natural landscape. This is a hiking, wildlife viewing, dog walking, and day of celebration for all Californians. Carr equestrian activities. Ranch is one of those rare properties that The undeveloped Carr Ranch propchecks every box on the conservation erty provides habitat for endangered CS Cake Ad February 2015.pdf 1 1/26/15 2:50 PM priority list.” reptiles and amphibians and for large
In a generation, John Muir Land Trust has become one of the leading forces for conservation in northern California. With 3,100 acres protected, many beautiful
places in the East Bay are permanently preserved for recreation, wildlife habitat, and spectacular scenic views. Learn more at www.jmlt.org.
Carr Ranch
201 5 Carr Ranch Southwest Pond
2015
Mark Ellinwood, Owner
ANTS • SPIDERS • MICE • RATS • FLEAS • 1 TIME SPRAY OK 26
january 2017 • ourcommunityfocus.com
Pair Up
Winter Down Under BY MARIA TERRY After a long, cold holiday season of heavy foods and red wines, I crave a light, refreshing meal with crisp, white wine. The wines that immediately come to my mind are the great white wines from down under. Australia and New Zealand make some of the best wines in the world. The fact that these countries are on the other side of the world, basking in the warmth of summer, makes these
Skinny Shrimp Scampi INGREDIENTS 1 tbsp. butter 2 tbsp. olive oil 1 shallot, peeled and thinly sliced 8 cloves garlic, minced 2 pounds raw shrimp (21-25 size), peeled and cleaned, with tails removed and patted dry 1 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes 1 tsp. salt 1 tsp. black pepper ½ cup chicken stock 1/3 cup white wine ¼ cup fresh lemon juice 1 tbsp. lemon zest Chopped fresh parsley (garnish) DIRECTIONS Heat butter and oil in a large sauté pan over medium-high heat. Add shallot and garlic and sauté for 2 minutes, or until fragrant, stirring occasionally. Add shrimp and immediately season (sprinkle) with crushed red pepper flakes, salt and pepper. Continue sautéing the shrimp with the garlic for about 3-4 minutes or until pink on both sides and no longer opaque. Remove from pan and cover with foil to keep warm. Add in the chicken stock, wine, lemon juice, and lemon zest, and stir to combine. Let the mixture continue cooking for an additional minute to boil down, then pour over shrimp. Garnish with fresh parsley. Yield: 4 servings
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wines seem even more appealing. Start your meal off with a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc paired with this Avocado Grapefruit Salad. NZ Sauvignon Blancs are some of the most fragrant and flavorful in the world. The zesty vinaigrette, silky avocado, and slightly bitter grapefruit each complements the wine in its own way. The grapefruit echoes the citrus flavors in the wine. The shallot and mint are bold flavors that won’t be overrun by the intensity of its flavor. And, finally, the tart vinegars stand up to the substantial acidity while the avocado provides a little fat to balance. New Zealand is known for its Sauvignon Blanc as Australia is known for its Chardonnay. The Aussies often let their Chards go “naked” by limiting wood contact and preventing the softening effect of malolactic fermentation. Of course, it is still the Chardonnay grape that is generally softer than Sauvignon
Kaffir Lime Custards INGREDIENTS 3½ cups heavy cream 1 cup sugar 2 kaffir lime leaves (available at specialty food stores or online) ½ cup plus 2 tbsp. fresh lime juice 2 teaspoons finely grated lime zest ¼ teaspoon salt Sweetened whipped cream, chopped mint and sea salt, for garnish DIRECTIONS In a medium saucepan, combine the cream with the sugar and kaffir lime leaves and bring to a simmer. Cook over moderately low heat, stirring occasionally, until the cream is slightly reduced, about 15 minutes. Whisk the lime juice into the hot cream. Strain the cream through a fine sieve set over a measuring cup. Stir in the lime zest and salt. Pour the cream into eight 6-ounce glasses and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, until chilled and set. Yield: 8 servings
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Blanc. It has a little extra body that is perfect with Skinny Shrimp Scampi. This scampi recipe has less butter than the classic, but it is just as flavorful. Plan to serve this with white rice and steamed asparagus - simple yet delicious with the savory sauce. A sweet ending to this meal is a
Avocado Grapefruit Salad INGREDIENTS 1 head butter lettuce 1 small bunch young spinach leaves 2 ruby grapefruit, sectioned 2 avocado, diced DRESSING 4 tsp. sherry vinegar 2 tsp. raspberry vinegar 1 shallot, finely diced ¼ tsp. salt 6 tbsp. olive oil 1 tsp. mint, finely chopped 2 tsp. chives, finely sliced Fresh ground pepper DIRECTIONS Whisk together the dressing. Toss the dressing with the greens, and then gently place the grapefruit and avocado on top. Sprinkle with pepper. Yield: 4-6 servings
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“sticky” wine paired with Kaffir Lime Custard. The folks in Australia refer to their white dessert wines as “stickies.” These late harvest, or botrytis-affected, wines have a honeyed texture that inspired this nickname. In Australia, the premier region for sweet winemaking is the Riverina. Its climate is ideal for growing botrytis-affected grapes (humid weather, immediately followed by a dry spell). Most dessert wines have aromas and flavors reminiscent of tropical, citrus, or stone fruits. They pair nicely with desserts featuring these same fruits. Kaffir lime leaves offer a unique a combination of lemon, lime, and mandarin orange aromas that subtly flavor the luscious cream. So, go on. Pair Up! Maria Terry is a Certified Sommelier and Wine Educator in the San Francisco Bay Area. www.LaSommelierre.com.
For the Home You’ve Always Wanted...Call Us Today
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ourcommunityfocus.com • january 2017
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Local SIR 2016 Golf Champs The local Sons in Retirement Branch #19, based in the Concord/Clayton/Martinez area, just announced the winners of its 2016 golf championship series and its separate match play competition. The series is an annual handicap flighted golf tournament, with each player combining the two lowest net NCGA scores posted across three designated rounds. The championship event was played at Lone Tree Golf Course in Antioch; the match play program was a separate, multi-laddered, lowest net tournament, played on a variety of East Bay courses throughout the year. Jerry Burton, branch #19’s golf program director, crowned this year’s winners at a special SIR luncheon at Guadalajara Grill in Concord. Each winner also received a special commemorative golf bag towel to proudly display. Sons in Retirement is an active men’s social group that hosts a variety of sport activities and social events throughout the year. For more details and membership info, go to www.sir19.org.
SENIOR CALENDARS SPONSORED BY: MICHAEL BRIONEZ
Your Neighborhood Realtor Looking for a single level home? Call Michael!
925-288-0477
michael@michaelbrionez.com
Martinez Senior Activities
818 Green Street, Martinez 925-370-8770 Free Tax Preparation for the 2017 tax season will be offered by Tax-Aide’s AARP sponsored program. The service, provided by the IRS certified tax counselors, will be available starting February 2017. Tax-Aide does not specify an income limit but the service targets low and moderate income taxpayers of any age with special attention given to seniors age 50 or over. Please Note: We will not take any appointments until Monday, January 9th, 2017. For general information and site locations other than Martinez Senior Center, call: (925) 726-3199. To complete tax return, bring the following to your appointment: Social Security Card or ITIN, W-2s, photo ID for tax payers,1098s and 1099s, other income and deductions and 2015 tax return. Jan. 8 - Pancake Breakfast 8-11am. This delicious breakfast includes pancakes or toast, sausage, eggs, orange juice and coffee. Everyone is welcome. Cost is $4.00 for adults/$2.50 for children 10 and under. Mar. 3 & 10 AARP Driver Safety Course 10am-2:30pm. Designed for drivers 50 and older to help update driving skills and knowledge of the rules and hazards of the road. Learn about normal age-related physical changes and how to adjust your driving, how to reduce chances of receiving a traffic violation, getting into an accident, or becoming injured. Sign-ups available in person one month prior to class date. Spaces are limited. A current driver’s license is required for sign–up. Payments made day of class. $15 for AARP Members and $20 for Non-AARP Members.
SENIOR CALENDARS SPONSORED BY:
Pictured (LtoR): Jerry Burton, Match Play Champion; Jack Jagoda, D Flight Champion; John Hayes, C Flight Champion; John Fernando, B Flight Champion; Bill Hockenson, A Flight Champion.
Bob Timbers Grab Bars & Handrails Expert Installation 925-360-1909
www.safeathomegrabbars.com
Pleasant Hill Senior Activities 233 Gregory Lane, Pleasant Hill 925-798-8788
PLAN INCLUDES:
TRUST AGREEMENT POUR OVER WILL GUARDIANSHIP TRANSFER OF REAL PROPERTY HEALTH CARE DIRECTIVE
LAW OFFICES OF
LAUREN SMYKOWSKI
1255 treat blvd. ste 300 walnut creek, ca 94597
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january 2017 • ourcommunityfocus.com
Where do you want to go in 2017? PHR&PD Travel Services offers a variety of exciting adventures for adults of all ages to take you where you want to go. All-inclusive land, air, & sea packages and 50+ day trips are available! Visit pleasanthillrec.com or call Cassie Eternal, travel coordinator, at (925) 771-7636. Jan. 10 - FREE Legal Clinic for Advance Health Care Directives, 1:30-4:30pm, PH Senior Center. Contra Costa Senior Legal Services teams up with the PHRec & Park District and members of CSAA Insurance Group Legal Division to provide FREE Advance Health Care Directives for seniors aged 60 and older who reside in Contra Costa County. No income limitations for this clinic. Please call the center to make appointment, or sign up at the front desk. Jan. 12 - FREE CMP Series presents: Aging in Place, presented by Hillendale Home Care. 2nd Thursday of each month, 2-3pm at the Senior Center. Space is imited, please reserve by calling center. Sponsored by Carlton Senior Living. Jan. 27 - Senior Center Annual All-You-Can-Eat Crab Feed Friday, 6pm, Senior Center, Chateau Room. Fresh crab, pasta, salad, garlic bread, and dessert. Dessert raffle and 50/50 split cash raffle. Purchase your tickets early, no tickets at door. All ages welcome. For tickets, call center. Feb. 9 – Valentine’s Dance 12pm, PH Senior Center. Live music from The Paul Fontes Band. Lunch will be served. Dance partner not required! Tickets: $15 pre-sale or $20 day of (based on availability). No refunds.
Practice Changing Hematology Updates BY ROBERT ROBLES, MD This year’s meeting of the American Society of Hematology (ASH), was less noticeable for blockbuster announcements than many potentially practice changing presentations. For patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), the use of Obinatuzumab (Gazyva) in combination with standard chemotherapy was superior to the use of the standard therapy with Rituximab (Rituxan) in prolonging the time CLL remains under control. Two studies demonstrated the use of Lenalidomide (Revlimid) as a maintenance therapy after completion of standard chemotherapy also delayed the progression of CLL, since CLL by nature is a chronic disease with relapses and remissions. The availability
of safe and well-tolerated therapies that prolong the interval between potentially more toxic therapies should be a welcome addition to the therapeutic armamentarium. Diffuse large B cell non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma is the most common subtype of non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. It is a potentially curable malignancy when treated with chemotherapy. However, since not all patients are cured, there has been continuous research to improve treatment results. A trial conducted in the U.S.A. compared standard chemotherapy, R-CHOP, with a more intensive and difficult to administer chemotherapy regimen called dose adjusted R-EPOCH. This trial showed the treatments to be equivalent. Although this trial did not show a benefit to any one treatment, the subtleties of why this result occurred are probably as important as the result of the trial. Regardless, the most important message from
JENNIFER L. MARTIN, D.D.S.
this trial is that more chemotherapy is not necessarily better. A better understanding of the subsets that make up the category we currently call diffuse large B cell non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma will hopefully allow more targeted therapies to be developed. A study from the University of Minnesota evaluated the safety and efficacy of new anticoagulants (Pradaxa, Eliquis, and Xarelto) in patients with cancer. The use of these new anticoagulants in patients with cancer has not been evaluated in a large number of patients. The study concluded these drugs appear to be safe and efficacious. Large studies
2015
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Specialist in Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics
NITY FO MU C M
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401 GREGORY LANE, SUITE 126 PLEASANT HILL, CA 94523 925.676.8485 FAX 925.676.0288 www.drjennifermartin.com
2015
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PROUDLY SUPPORTED BY THESE COMMUNITY SPONSORS Businesses Invested in the Community
evaluating the new anticoagulants to confirm their safety and efficacy are ongoing. Robert Robles, MD is board certified in medical oncology and hematology. He practices with Diablo Valley Oncology & Hematology Medical Group, located at the California Cancer and Research Institute in Pleasant Hill, and he also sees patients in San Ramon. Dr. Robles has a special interest in treating hematologic cancers, lymphomas, and blood and clotting disorders. For more information, call 925-677-504 or visit www.dvohmg.com.
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Pleasant Hill Chamber of Commerce Pleasant Hill Rec & Park Ruth Bancroft Garden Safe At Home Samuels Construction Senior Helpers Shell Western States Credit Union Susan Wood Photography Urs Threading Waters Moving and Storage Wence’s Restaurant
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january 21
Ice Skating in Martinez
ARF’s Stars to the Rescue
Comedy Festival
Book Launch Party
Main Street Martinez and DC Solar present the DC Solar Downtown Holiday Ice at Ferry Street and Marina Vista Ave. Available for private events. For hours, prices and information, visit www.DowntownHolidayIce.com.
Join Tony La Russa and ARF for this year’s star-studded show, featuring former Saturday Night Live member Kevin Nealon, Huey Lewis & Friends, and many more. 7pm at the Lesher Center. (925) 943-SHOW or www.lesherartscenter.org.
At San Francisco comedy clubs, SF Sketchfest mixes national headliners, local favorites, and up-and-coming groups for a variety of sketch, improv, stand-up, and alternative comedy. www.sfsketchfest.com
Join Richard L. Wren, 91-year-old local mystery author for the launch of his fifth novel, Joshua: Judge & Jury, 4-8pm at the Winslow Center, 2590 Pleasant Hill Road. He will talk about his books and starting a writing career late in life.
now - january 18
january 7
january 30
Walnut Creek on Ice
Iceberg Swim
Pleasant Hill CERT
Walnut Creek Downtown and Walnut Creek Chamber of Commerce present Walnut Creek on Ice, back for its 12th season, now through 1/18. For hours and information, go to www. iceskatewalnutcreek.com.
Brriiing some excitement to your new year with an icy dip at the Rankin Aquatic Center, 100 Buckley Street, Martinez. Post frigid plunge, enjoy a hot cup of cocoa and have selfies taken with the polar bear. Free event.
7-night FEMA-based classes, Mondays beginning Jan. 30, 6-9:30pm, at Mt. DiabloSilverado Council, Boy Scouts office, 800 Ellinwood Way, Pleasant Hill. Information: (925) 938-5433 or www.pleasanthillcert.org.
january 3
january 14
february 1
Pleasant Hill Garden Study Club
Sustainable Living Workshop
Breast Cancer Update 2016
Meeting with speaker Ernesto Sandoval, director, UC Davis Botanical Conservatory. Guests are always welcome and free. PH Community Center, 6:30pm. 925-323-9314 or www.phgsc. com.
Bounty From Your Garden: Fruit Trees 101. Learn how to select rootstock, choose varieties, and prep, plant, prune, and maintain fruit trees. 10am-12pm, Pittsburg Environmental Center, $20. Info and registration at www. sustainablecoco.org/workshops.
Dr. Tiffany Svahn, a breast cancer specialist, will give an overview of new research presented at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium. Space limited, register: 925-6775041 x272. 6:30-8:30pm at Cancer Support Community, 3276 McNutt Ave., Walnut Creek.
january 5 - 8
january 9
january 14
february 11
Auto Show in San Jose
Join Women’s Chorale
Surf & Turf Crab & Tri-Tip Feed
Valentine’s Aloe Tours
Manufacturers display electric cars, concept vehicles, luxury models, and event celebrities’ cars at the Silicon Valley Auto Show in the San Jose convention center. Test drives available. Discount tickets $11. www.svautoshow.com
Love music? Looking to step up and sing? Join Diablo Women’s Chorale! Auditions January 9 in Walnut Creek. Call Nancy (925) 899-5050 or read more online at www.DiabloWomensChorale.org/join-us.
The Ruth Bancroft Garden’s Aloe Day Tours, an all-day event, focuses specifically on the garden’s dramatic aloe collection, 10am-3pm, with tours at 10am and 12pm. Hot beverages, mimosas and sweets. Members: $50/couple; non-members: $65/couple. 1552 Bancroft Road, Walnut Creek. www.ruthbancroftgarden.org
Join the Walnut Festival Association for crab, tri-tip, salad, pasta and garlic bread. No host beer/wine bar, raffle tickets and a silent auction. Pleasant Hill Senior Center, 233 Gregory Lane. Visit www.thewalnutfestival.org. for tickets.
january 6
january 12
january 18
february 19 & march 5
ARF’s Comedy Night
Free Legal Clinic
Chicken Workshops!
Join Tony La Russa and ARF for a hilarious night of comedy benefiting ARF’s programs, 7:30pm at the Lesher Center. Comedy Night features acclaimed comedians Larry “Bubbles” Brown, Maureen Langan, Kabir “Kabeezy” Singh, Patrick McDermott, Jill Maragos, and Johnny Steele. (925) 943-SHOW or www.lesherartscenter.org
Contra Costa Senior Legal Services, City of Concord, & AIG’s Legal Division offer Advance Health Care Directives for seniors aged 60 and older. 9:15-11:30am, Concord Senior Center, 2727 Parkside Circle, Concord. Call (925) 6713320 to sign up for your private appointment.
Annual Soup Supper with AAUW At 6pm we serve hearty soups and desserts followed by a local oceanographer’s presentation. St. Andrews Presbyterian Church, Pleasant Hill. $10, RSVP at (925) 372-9211 by January 13.
Papa John Kiefer will offer workshops in Lafayette on “How to Raise Your Own Chickens.” Topics include raising young chicks, laying hen maintenance, and sustainable coop construction. Free! Reservations required. Email jhkiefer@comcast.net.
ourcommunityfocus.com • january 2017
31
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january 2017 • ourcommunityfocus.com