COMMUNITY
FOCUS ourcommunityfocus.com
JANUARY 2018 Reaching Over 50,000 Homes & Businesses
IN THIS ISSUE: • WELCOME TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD • NEW EAGLE SCOUTS • FALL ALL-LEAGUE
PLEASANT HILL • CONCORD • MARTINEZ • LAFAYETTE • WALNUT CREEK
Green Hills are Beckoning Get Outside and Enjoy Our Bountiful Open Spaces
In case you’ve missed it, the hills and open spaces that surround us are emerald green and gorgeous! It’s hard to resist the lure of trails that wind over enchanting creeks and up through the oaks, rewarding hikers with stunning views. And there’s no better prescription for purging the overindulgence and lethargy we tend to allow ourselves during the holidays. With the number of open space stewards in Central Contra Costa, there’s no shortage of resources for planning your hikes. You can stick to old favorites or unearth a new trail every time you head out. With 6,255 acres and numerous trailheads, Briones Regional Park offers endless hiking options through rolling hills, secluded, shady canyons, and peaks with panoramic views that are well worth the climb. On a clear day you’ll see Mt. Diablo and the Diablo Valley to the east, the Sacramento River and Delta to the
north, the East Bay hills and Mt. Tamalpais to the west, and Las Trampas Regional Wilderness to the south. Visit www. ebparks.org/parks/briones for trail maps and park information. John Muir Land Trust has been preserving and protecting properties in Central Contra Costa since 1989. With 13 properties and 3,100 acres under management, East Bay residents can explore trails from JMLT’s most recently acquired property, Carr Ranch in Moraga, to Fernandez Ranch, just east of Martinez off Highway 4, and over 1,000 acres under stewardship on properties in between. Visit www.jmlt.org for complete descriptions of the properties and maps of lovingly maintained trails just waiting to be discovered. Mt. Diablo State Park is one of the ecological treasures of the San Francisco Bay Area. Every season has its special qualities. Discover the mountain’s beauti-
Shady creek crossing at Fernandez Ranch. Photo by Adam Weidenbach.
ful wildflowers, extensive trail system, fascinating wildlife, and distinctive rock formations. View the stars from its lofty heights, bike ride to its 3,849-foot sum-
mit, or explore the more remote trails by horseback. The park offers hiking, biking, horseback riding and camping. For more information, visit www.parks.ca.gov.
SMALL TALK WITH TERI independent & locally owned by Teri Norbye PUBLISHERS: Becky Coburn Jennifer Neys Elena Hutslar info@ourcommunityfocus.com ADVERTISING: Community Focus Central County Homes info@ourcommunityfocus.com COPY EDITOR: Alison Clary GRAPHIC DESIGN: Trish Heaney
SPORTS: Sport Story Submissions info@ourcommunityfocus.com CONTACT INFORMATION: Community Calendar calendar@ourcommunityfocus.com Content & General Inquiries: info@ourcommunityfocus.com SUBMISSION DEADLINES: All articles must be sumbmitted by the 15th of each month. ONLINE: www.ourcommunityfocus.com
INSIDE
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Get Out Now!
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Winter Whites MISSION STATEMENT The Community Focus is a free, independent, monthly publication dedicated to highlighting the vibrancy of the local businesses and residents while strengthening and building connections within our community.
COVER:
The serene view from one of the many hikes in Fernandez Ranch. PHOTO BY: Adam Weidenbach. View more of Adam’s John Muir Land Trust photos at www.jmlt.org.
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City News
15 Local School News
25 Read My Mind©
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6680 Alhambra Ave. Box #132 Martinez, CA 94553
925-335-6397
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Meet Erik Brown, who lives in Pleasant Hill with his wife, Kara Kimber Brown, and their children, Angelo and Bella. Erik works at The Employment and Human Services Department of Contra Costa County as a Departmental Fiscal Officer. He’s partially responsible for the development of the yearly budget, among other things. “The best part of the job is knowing that we’re providing services that help needy families.” Passion in life? I’ve always been heavily influenced by music. I’ve been a Grateful Dead fan since I saw my first show back in 1982. Anytime I see live music, I’m a happier person. Favorite personality trait? My better trait is that I’m pretty organized. Personality trait you’d like to work on? The one trait I’d like to change, if I could, is to try not to become overwhelmed with what’s going on around me. One word that describes your life? Hectic, with teenage kids involved in different activities and going to different schools and running a household with a dog, a cat, and everyone going in different directions. New Year’s Resolutions? Eat better, exercise more, and concentrate on our health. Having a dog helps because I’m forced to take her for walks.
Real Estate 2018 Predicting the Future BY NORMA FLASKERUD I love the idea of a magical crystal ball! We wish we could perform some hocus-pocus, look at a crystal ball, and know what the future holds. We can’t. But, we can educate ourselves and follow market trends. We read articles by economists and pay close attention to those who specialize in our micromarkets in the San Francisco Bay Area. We are unique and seek those who follow our markets rather than national news. We have our finger on the pulse of our local market. We work it, we live it, we analyze it, and we experience it daily. We see 2018 much as we did 2017. With low inventory of homes for sale, low interest rates continuing, high employment, and no national or international disasters changing the face of things, the 2018 real
estate market looks much the same as last year’s. If you are a seller, when is the best time to sell? It depends. If you want to sell when inventory is still very low and your price is likely to be bid up, sell early in the year: January, February, March, even into April. If you want to wait and possibly benefit from higher sales prices from the over-bidding early in the year, then late spring is best. Summer sees a slower real estate market; between major life events such as weddings, graduations, and extended family vacations, sales tend to slow down, and the number of offers generated on a house are less. But homes still sell and buyers are still looking then. Thinking people want to move before school starts in late summer is true, but keep in mind, the number of buyers with school-age children are about 45% of total buyers, so the school calendar is not the driving force behind when to sell a home. Believe it or not, we sell loads of
property in the fall. After summer vacations, the market picks up and percolates along nicely until Thanksgiving. Are you a buyer? Get your pre-approval letter in hand and be ready to shop come January 2. Inventory will be very low, but you might as well start paying attention. Check out the new listings at www.PleasantHillRealEstate.com, search all the areas we cover (not just Pleasant Hill) and sign up to
receive daily emails of new listings. Or, call us at 925-338-2980 to set up auto-emails of listings that meet your criteria. Moving out of the area? Contact us for a referral to an agent who handles that area. The Flaskerud Team is here to meet your real estate needs. Call Don and Norma of RE/MAX Today at 925-338-2980 or email DonandNorma@ gmail.com. SPONSORED CONTENT
Happy New Year Over 650 homes sold in Pleasant Hill Choose the Flaskerud Team—Don, Norma and Erik—as YOUR Realtor!
Call The Flaskerud Team for ALL your Real Estate needs
Watch this space for AWESOME listings coming soon! Don & Norma Flaskerud Erik Flaskerud
RE/MAX Today 367 Civic Drive #7 Pleasant Hill, CA 94523 Visit them at www.PleasantHillRealEstate.com or email DonaldFlaskerud@Remax.net NormaFlaskerud@Remax.net or EFlaskerud@Remax.net
925-338-2980 CalBRE #s — Don: 00971602, Norma: 00867031, Erik: 01891688 OURCOMMUNITYFOCUS.COM | JANUARY 2018 | 3
Estate Planning
Four Steps to Take Immediately After an Alzheimer’s Diagnosis BY JEFFREY HALL, Elder Law Attorney If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease or other form of dementia, it is important to start planning immediately. There are several essential legal documents to help you once you become incapacitated, but if you don’t already have them in place, you need to act quickly after a diagnosis. Having dementia does not mean an individual is not mentally competent to make planning decisions. The person signing documents must have “testamentary capacity,” which means he or she must understand the implications of what is being signed. Simply having a form of mental illness or disease does not mean you automatically lack the required mental capacity. All forms of dementia are progressive; however, a person who has periods of lucidity may still be competent to sign planning documents. The following are some essential documents for someone diagnosed with dementia: • Power of Attorney A power of attorney is the most important estate-planning document for someone who has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease or some other form of dementia. A power of attorney allows you to appoint someone to make
decisions on your behalf once you become incapacitated. Without a power of attorney, your family would be unable to pay your bills or manage your household without going to court and getting a guardianship, which can be a time-consuming and expensive process. Furthermore, have an elder law attorney draft Medi-Cal planning and gifting language that authorizes your agent to legally shift assets to qualify for long-term care without impoverishing a surviving spouse. • Health Care Proxy A health care proxy, like a power of attorney, allows you to appoint someone else to act as your agent for medical decisions. It will ensure that your medical treatment instructions are carried out. In general, a health care proxy takes effect only when you require medical treatment and a physician determines you are unable to communicate your wishes concerning treatment. • Medical Directive or Living Will Medical directives and living wills explain what type of care you would like if you are unable to direct your own care. A medical directive can include a health care proxy or can be a separate document. It may contain directions to refuse or remove life support in the event you are in a coma or a vegetative state, or it may provide instructions to use all efforts to keep you alive, no matter what the circumstances. • Will and Other Estate Planning
Experienced Estate Planning Attorney
JEFFREY HALL, MBA, CPA, Esq.
The Law Office of Jeffrey Hall, Inc., is an estate planning law office serving Contra Costa county in a wide range of estate planning matters, including:
Medi-Cal Planning Trusts and Wills Trust Administration Trust Litigation Probate
www.HallLawGroup.com 925-230-9002 4 | JANUARY 2018 | OURCOMMUNITYFOCUS.COM
Documents In addition to making sure you have people to act for you and your wishes are clear, you should make sure your estate plan is up to date. If you don’t have an estate plan, you should draw one up. Your estate plan directs who will receive your property when you die. Once you are deemed incapacitated, you will no longer be able to create an estate plan. An estate plan usually consists of a will and often a trust as well. Your will is your legally binding statement on who will receive your property when you die, while a trust is a mechanism for passing on your property outside of probate. In addition to executing these documents, it is also important to create a plan for long-term
care. Long-term care is expensive and draining for family members. Be sure to have a trust if you believe that a family member with dementia may be entering long-term care. Developing a plan now for what type of care you would like and how to pay for it will help your family later on. If you haven’t prepared these important documents, make an appointment with the Law Offices of Jeffrey Hall, Inc. at (925) 230-9002, or go to www.HallLawGroup.com to schedule an appointment online. I offer a free 30-minute telephone consultation or personal appointment at my Pleasant Hill office. SPONSORED CONTENT
Early Warning Extra Time Can Save Lives BY JIM BONATO, PLEASANT HILL CERT PROGRAM MANAGER Get out now! These were ominous words heard by many Santa Rosa residents -- urgent words for many that came too late to gather important papers, photos, or family heirlooms as wildfires began sweeping through neighborhoods. What do you mean it can’t happen here? A wildfire on the eastern edge of Briones Regional Park, coupled with the correct temperature, humidity, winds, and dryness of fuel, can create “the perfect storm” that could sweep through this urban landscape. Can’t happen here? Just ask the residents of the Oakland Hills, Napa, Santa Rosa, and Lake County. Advance warning could have saved some of the lives lost and given residents time to gather items they deemed to be important before evacuating. EVERYONE should take the time to register for two warning systems that can give them an earlier alert rather than wait for that knock on the front door. Community Warning System The Contra Costa County Community Warning System is recognized as one of the nation’s most modern and effective all-hazard warning systems. This system alerts people in the county by telephone, text, email, and/
or social media to imminent threats to their lives or safety. The Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Department manages this service and initiates warnings. To receive these warnings, you must register online at www.cwsalerts. com. Nixle is another local and very effective warning system. Nixle is a Community Information Service dedicated to helping you stay connected to the information that matters most to you, depending on your physical location. These include emergency warnings, major street closures, gas leaks, water main breaks, etc. Warnings on this service are initiated by local police departments. To receive these warnings, you must register online at www.nixle.com. You can tailor each system for how you prefer to be notified. Wildfire Preparation Plan Returning to that wildfire scenario, even though we are entering the wet months, knowledge about how to prepare your home and family for the possibility of a wildfire is important. A great website is www.readywildfire.org, where you can access the publication “Ready, Set, Go! – Your Wildfire Preparation Plan.” For more information on disaster preparedness, check out the Pleasant Hill Community Emergency Response (CERT) website at www.pleasanthillcert.org.
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relax. escape. thrive. Kristy and Booker Lucas are excited to announce the long-anticipated opening of spavia® day spa at the Clock Tower in downtown Pleasant Hill! Offering a whole new experience in spa concepts, this affordable luxury day spa offers guests unique, personalized, results-driven spa treatments in a relaxing, resort-like setting, complete with premium amenities. It’s designed to change the perception of day spas and give guests a retreat style experience at affordable prices. spavia® is the passionate vision of Kristy and Booker Lucas, who dreamed of opening a spa that would be a cut above the rest. The spavia™ franchise (est. 2005) was an opportunity that stood out because of its clear vision for how they wish to be perceived. “It’s a spa that makes a positive difference in the world, one guest at a time, and delivers an exceptional experience our guests cannot live without. It’s all about delivering the best to our guests. The spa experience should no longer be a
costly luxury; it should be for anyone who wants to frequently relax, escape and thrive. We have only the best massage therapists and estheticians, and they are focused on results. We offer highly rated skincare, facials, and massages, customized to your specific needs. Our most popular spa treatments include: hydraderm facials; hot stone, sports, couples and maternity massages; and luxurious body treatments.” spavia® offers flexible wellness programs, with three different levels of experience to satisfy even the most selective spa-goer. Also available are spalebrations™, where you can schedule a group experience for special moments as a couple or with friends, and Corporate Wellness Programs, which offer employees an unforgettable experience at the spa or in the office! Kristy and Booker have been working side by side for months getting ready for the big day. Truly hands-on owners, Kristy is a licensed esthetician and Booker has a long corporate
spavia owners, Kristy and Booker Lucas.
career in nutrition and wellness. Their pride and excitement really show when talking about spavia®, and they look forward to their grand opening in February. For your first visit, they are offering a special gift: a 60-minute signature massage or signature facial for $79.00, a $30 savings! Reserve your relaxation online or by phone. Appointments are
filling up fast! Use promo code firstvisit. Kristy and Booker say, “We can’t wait to meet you! So, come on in, clear your mind and escape with us at spavia®.”
CONNECT WITH US ON @ spaviaph @ spaviapleasanthill
OURCOMMUNITYFOCUS.COM | JANUARY 2018 | 5
DO IT YOURSELF
A Spin on DIY
Unique Ideas for Your Baby Shower
BY REBECCA SEIDENSPINNER I was ten years old when my brother was born. I was sent off in the middle of the night to my grandparents’ house and remember the phone ringing early in the morning with the news of a baby brother. I cried because I wanted a sister. And then, 16 months later, a sister was born. I love both my siblings with all my heart. This past year my brother called me with the wonderful news that he and his wife were expecting a baby. I cried this time because I knew he would be an amazing father, and a new baby in our family would bring so much joy and love. It was time for my sister and me to plan the perfect baby shower. When planning a baby shower, it’s
6 | JANUARY 2018 | OURCOMMUNITYFOCUS.COM
fun to go with a theme that reflects the couple’s lifestyle. My brother and his wife love the outdoors, hiking and exploring together, so I thought an adventure themed shower would be perfect. We added woodland creatures as decorations because who doesn’t love cute little animals? After the invitations were mailed out, we went to work on the crafts and party decor. Displaying the baby’s name, if it’s known, is a great decoration, and exciting for guests to see. If the name is still a secret, you can use the word “Baby” with the last name. Display a few baby photos of mom and dad-to-be so that guests can talk about what the new little bundle of joy will look like upon arrival. Another adorable shower decoration is a clothesline hung up in the party area with cute little baby clothes. Guests love to ooh and ahh at all the little details of everything baby.
My sister created an extra special photo spot to capture all of the perfect snapshots of family and friends. She bought one yard of plaid material from Joanne’s and cut it into small strips, which she tied evenly onto a piece of twine and hung in front of a painter’s tarp backdrop. We decorated it with greens, pinecones, and baby’s breath. Being the bossy older sister, I insisted both of my siblings (including the new Papa Bear) wear plaid to the baby shower to continue with the outdoor theme (and just because I’m mad for plaid). My mom was in charge of the floral crown. She used floral tape and wire from the Dollar Store, baby’s breath, and a few carnations to make the mother-to-be a beautiful bohemian crown. This made her feel extra special, and she stood out as the guest of honor with the cutest baby bump. The one request from the
Mama Bear-to-be was to have cupcakes. We couldn’t deny our sweet future nephew and his mama a sweet treat, so we ordered cupcakes, and boy oh boy were they fancy. A friend of mine from work has a cricut (a die-cutting machine) and printed out all these cute woodland creature cupcake liners. There wasn’t one cupcake left. After all the baby gifts were opened and the party was over, we sent guests home with a small bag of trail mix with a hand stamped tag that said, “Happy Trails.” Having a new baby is going to be such an adventure for my brother and his wife. They live out of state, so we won’t be able to be there when the baby arrives. A special day spent with family celebrating the upcoming arrival of my nephew was small and perfect. Each detail was crafted with love. Welcome to the world, little one. We can’t wait to meet you.
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CITY NEWS
Mayor’s Message Santa Claus made a surprise visit. I only wish adults could feel that same sense of joy and wonder that these youngsters did. During my first term as mayor, I established mock city council meetings with third graders from Pleasant Hill schools. In preparation, I go to the schools and discuss why we need rules and how government works. I’m constantly astonished by the insightful questions that these third graders ask. I am further amazed by the fantastic job they do at the meetings, where they discuss issues that are important to third graders. They select their own mayor, councilmembers, and city staff. Members of the class then present their arguments for or against the issues on the agenda. For example, Gregory Gardens’ third graders discussed whether or not they should be allowed to wear Halloween costumes to school on Halloween. After hearing compelling arguments on both sides, their council voted 4 to 1 not to allow costumes. Their main reason: the costumes might get ripped or dirty at school so the students couldn’t wear them trick-or-treating that night. Valhalla third graders discussed whether their school should require school uniforms. The most compelling reason for uniforms was that they would help reduce bullying and making fun of kids whose clothes weren’t of the latest style.
Our Children Are the Future We May Never See In previous columns, I’ve written about “a month in the life of the mayor” and the city’s highlights and accomplishments in 2017. In this, my last column as mayor of Pleasant Hill, I’d like to reflect back on what’s inspired me the most during my fourth term as mayor and what the future holds for our city. When I look back, I am inspired and impressed by the young people I’ve met who show so much promise and potential. Let’s face it, “Our children are the future we may never see.” After working with children from kindergarten through high school, I know the future is bright. Let me give you some examples. The enthusiasm and joy I see in young children is contagious. Every time I look into the face of a child, I see hope for the future. Kids are innately kind to others, regardless of race, religion, or nationality. It just seems natural that they don’t judge or hate. Our job as parents and grandparents is to make sure they stay that way. Recently, first and second graders came to City Hall to decorate the city’s Christmas tree and sing Christmas carols. Their excitement and energy was palpable. They could hardly wait to put their handmade ornaments on the tree and sing the songs they had been practicing at school. Their excitement increased when
Michael G. Harris, OD, Mayor of Pleasant Hill
The arguments against were twofold: 1) students might not be able to recognize each other on the playground because everybody’s wearing the same clothes, and 2) if you don’t have time to wash your uniform for the next day, nobody’s going to want to sit next to you because you’re “stinky.” Their council voted 4 to 1 against school uniforms. The logic of their arguments and the poise and confidence they showed in speaking before a large audience was inspirational. These kids know how to think
and know how to make good decisions. I am constantly impressed with the maturity shown by the younger generation. My interaction with all these youngsters gives me great hope for the future. Our city and country will be in good hands if these kids apply the lessons they’ve learned in school to their adult lives. After all, in the words of FDR, “We may not be able to prepare the future for our children, but we can at least prepare our children for the future.”
Chamber Calendar
1/5 - PH Chamber Ambassador Meeting 8:30-9:30am, City Hall Community Room, 100 Gregory Ln., PH 1/10 - Chamber Business Mixer, 5-7pm, Magoo’s Grill of Pleasant Hill, 1250 Contra Costa Blvd., PH 1/17 – Performing Academy Ribbon Cutting, 5-6pm, 1948 Oak Park Blvd., PH 1/18 – PH Chamber Board Meeting, 8-10am, location TBD 1/24 – State of the City Mayor’s Luncheon, 11:30-1:30pm, Contra Costa Country Club, 801 Golf Club Road, PH 1/29 – Government Affairs Committee, 4:30-5:30pm, Back Forty Texas BBQ, 100 Coggins Drive, PH 1/30 – Business Runway: Sexual Harassment Prevention Training, 11:30am-1pm, JFK University, 100 Ellinwoood Way, PH 1/31 – Chamber 101: Get to know your Chamber, 11:30am- 1pm, JFK University, 100 Ellinwoood Way, PH 680 Business Networking – 2nd & 4th Wednesdays & Thursdays, 8:30am-10am, JFK University, 100 Ellinwoood Way, PH
Public Meetings City Council Jan. 8, 22 City Hall, 100 Gregory Lane, Council Chambers, 7:30pm. Contact: 671-5229 Civic Action Commission Jan. 3 City Hall, 100 Gregory Lane, Small Community Room, 6:30pm. Contact: 671-5229
JENNIFER L. MARTIN, D.D.S. Specialist in Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics
401 GREGORY LANE, SUITE 126 PLEASANT HILL, CA 94523 925.676.8485 FAX 925.676.0288 www.drjennifermartin.com 8 | JANUARY 2018 | OURCOMMUNITYFOCUS.COM
Architectural Review Commission Jan. 4, 18 City Hall, 100 Gregory Lane, Large Community Room, 5pm. Contact: 671-5229 Planning Commission Jan. 9, 23 City Hall, 100 Gregory Lane, Council Chambers, 6:30pm. Contact: 671-5209 Commission on Aging Jan. 9 City Hall, 100 Gregory Lane, Small Community Room, 5pm. Contact: 671-5229 Education Commission Jan. 24 City Hall, 100 Gregory Lane, Large Community Room, 7pm. Contact: 671-5229 For Confirmation Visit: www.ci.pleasant-hill.ca.us
CITY NEWS
Pleasant Hill City News Community Awards Night Recognizes Leaders and Volunteers The 47th Annual Community Awards Night will be on Tuesday, March 27, 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, Education Supporter of the Year, Mayor’s Award, several Green Awards, and others. If you would like to nominate a teacher, volunteer, 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 Monday, February 5. The nomination criteria for each award are available on the city’s website at www.pleasanthillca.org/awards. 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 online at www.pleasanthillca.org/tickets.
City Council Adopts Cannabis Moratorium At the December 4th meeting, the city council adopted a 45-day moratorium on creating or establishing adult use commercial and/or medical cannabis uses in the City of Pleasant Hill. This interim ordinance shall become effective immediately and shall remain in force and effect from and including December 4, 2017, through and including January, 18, 2018, unless extended prior to its expiration by further action of council. The council will revisit the issue in January when it will consider a one-year moratorium similar to the one now adopted. The adopted cannabis moratorium ordinance can be viewed at the city’s website: https://www.ci.pleasant-hill.ca.us.
Bobby Glover Steps In
Recreation & Park District (PHRPD) is pleased to announce that Bobby Glover will serve as new chair of the board of directors in 2018, succeeding Zac Shess, district board chair for 2016 and 2017. “Zac has exceeded my expectations in every way,” Glover said. “During his term, Shess spearheaded hiring a new district general manager, led the district through negotiations with Contra Costa County to secure the right to buy five acres of land on Oak Park, and steered the development and approval of a ten-year capital improvement plan. He has been an excellent leader, a great representative of the district, and has set the table for exciting things for the upcoming year. He will be a tough act to follow.” The PHRPD District Board selects a board chair each year. This will be the second time Bobby Glover has served in this leadership position. As chair, Bobby will lead the district through the master plan process that will create a roadmap for the future of the organization. “As a long-time Pleasant Hill resident, Bobby has a vested interest in the community,” said Michelle Lacy. “He wants to ensure his town continues to be one of the best places to live in the Bay Area and is dedicated to making life even better for district residents. Bobby’s passion for his community, strong leadership abilities, and outstanding, downto-earth communication skills will serve him well as he takes on the board chair position, once again.” The annual board chair rotation occurred during the board of directors meeting on Thursday, December 7, 2017. A special presentation was given to honor Board Chair Zac Shess for his contributions in 2017. District board meetings are open to the public.
New Pleasant Hill Library Design Underway With the passage of Measure K in November 2016, the city has been active in laying the groundwork for the construction of the new library as well as planning for funding public infrastructure projects around Pleasant Hill. In November and December, the city’s architect, Bohlin Cywinski Jackson (BCJ), held a series of focus groups and a large town hall meeting with community members and stakeholders. These meetings focused on programming and space usage for the new library. A second town hall meeting is scheduled to take place at the PH Community Center on Tuesday, January 23, at 7pm. For more information about the new library project, go to www.newphlibrary.org. If you wish to submit comments, ideas or suggestions you can do so at www.pleasanthillca.org/library_comments.
Zac Shess and Bobby Glover
A recent town hall meeting held in December. OURCOMMUNITYFOCUS.COM | JANUARY 2018 | 9
CITY NEWS
Mayor’s Message Martinez was established in 1849 and has been the county seat of Contra Costa County since California became a state. The city was incorporated in 1876, making it one of the oldest established incorporated cities in the county. In the 142 years since the first city council election, city council members (or trustees as they were initially called) were elected at large by the entire voting population. For a century, the position of mayor was chosen by the five sitting council members and was generally rotated between the council members every year. In 1976, an initiative was placed before the voters, asking them if they would like to choose their mayor or if the council should continue with the
rotational process. Overwhelmingly, 78% of the voters said they wanted to choose their mayor, and from that time on Martinez has had a directly elected mayor. Over the years, other cities have placed the question of an elected or rotating mayor before their voters, and they have always chosen to elect their mayor and discard the rotational method. The question of moving toward district-based elections has now been forced upon Martinez and several other cities, schools, and special districts throughout California, primarily by a Malibu attorney that has been very successful in making a handsome living by exploiting the California Voting Rights Act (CVRA). This out-of-town attorney
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Rob Schroder, Mayor of Martinez
has made millions of dollars at the expense of cities and schools. The CVRA was enacted in 2002 and took effect on January 1, 2003, to help minority candidates for local governmental offices secure elected offices and, therefore, provide better representation to those minority communities. The remedy in the CVRA to alleviate the impairment of the ability of a protected class to elect candidates of its choice or influence the outcome of elections is to move to district-wide elections. There is no requirement to show actual discrimination or vote dilution against a protected class, just that there could be discrimination or vote dilution. Martinez has a Hispanic population of around 13%, with Asian Pacific Islander at 9%, African American at 3%, and white at 74%, with no specific neighborhoods having a high concentration of protected classes. The neighborhoods in Martinez are very homogeneous, with all races living together throughout the city. With these demographics, it is hard to see how district elections will benefit any protected class. No city or school district in California has successfully won a lawsuit fighting district-wide elections. Palmdale is the poster child, unsuccessfully defending its at-large elections and paying out $4.5 million. The city of Modesto paid $1.7 million to its attorneys and an addi-
tional $3 million to plaintiffs’ attorneys. Anaheim paid out $1.2 million in settlement long before the trial was to begin. In any event, under the threat of bankrupting the city, the city council agreed to start the process to move toward district elections. This will allow the city to take advantage of the “Safe Harbor” legislation (AB350) that took effect on January 1, 2017. This reform to the CVRA caps the plaintiffs’ attorneys’ fees and expenses to $30,000 as long as we complete the process of establishing district-wide elections within 135 days of receiving a demand letter to do so. In the case of Martinez, we expect to spend upwards of an additional $150,000 on attorney and consultant fees to set up those districts. It is hard for me to see how moving to district elections is going to benefit Martinez’ protected classes and the overall city of Martinez at a cost of almost $200,000, which could be used to hire another police officer or pave streets. It is unfortunate that the citizens of Martinez have no say if this is the direction they wish proceed and that the city council is being forced to adopt district elections with a fiduciary gun to its collective head by a Malibu attorney. Without some reform of this law, every city, school, and special district will be forced to do the same over the next months and years.
Public Meetings City Council Meeting Jan. 3, 17 City Hall, 525 Henrietta Street, 6-9pm. Contact: 372-3500 Zoning Administrator Meeting Jan. 3, 17 City Hall, 525 Henrietta Street, 4-6pm. Contact: 372-3500 Design Review Meeting Jan. 10, 24 City Hall, 525 Henrietta Street, 4-6pm. Contact: 372-3500 Planning Commission Meeting Jan. 9, 23 City Hall, 525 Henrietta Street, 7-11pm. Contact: 372-3500 For Confirmation Visit: www.cityofmartinez.org
CITY NEWS
Martinez City News Public Hearings On December 20, the City of Martinez City Council conducted the first of five public hearings with regard to establishing single-member council districts in which to conduct by-district elections for city council members and the potential sequence of elections in such districts. At the second hearing on January 10, the public will again be invited to provide input regarding the composition of the districts. At the next two public hearings, the public can provide input regarding the content of the draft map or maps and the proposed sequence of elections. At the final public hearing, the city council will vote to approve or defeat an ordinance establishing district-based elections. Comments can also be submitted via email to acardwell@cityofmartinez.org or the city clerk’s office at mwoodin@cityofmartinez.org. More information will be included on the city’s website at www.cityofmartinez.org.
New City Survey The City of Martinez announced it has launched the “Your Voice Your City” Energizing Martinez Economic Health Survey. Residents and business owners are being asked to take the survey as part of the city’s Economic Development Action Plan, which is currently underway and will be used to guide future economic development strategies and decisions of the city. Goals of the plan include educating the community about the economic assets and needs of the commercial corridors and economic centers throughout the city; enhancing the city’s quality of life by keeping and recruiting businesses that Martinez residents and employers desire; and bolstering revenue for city services such as public safety and park maintenance by supporting existing businesses and creating an economic climate that will attract new businesses. “The city council has made economic development one of its top priorities,” said Mayor Rob Schroder. “Encouraging businesses to locate and expand in Martinez is important to maintaining and enhancing our city’s exceptional quality of life. This survey will assist us in focusing our resources and actions in a manner that fosters a positive business climate that generates job growth and encourages investment in the community. It is essential that we hear from our business owners and residents in this effort.” To access the 5-10 minute survey, go to the city’s website at www.cityofmartinez.org and click on the green icon that says, “Energizing Martinez Economic Health Survey.” Responses are anonymous and confidential.
front Park, with completion of the ball fields scheduled for June 1, 2018. Projects under design are the renovation of Golden Hills Park, Highland Park, and pathway improvements at John Muir Park and Alhambra Avenue Park. The Parks Recreation Marina and Cultural Commission’s (PRMCC) Park Subcommittee has already helped scope the projects to be designed. It is anticipated that neighborhood workshops will be held for the two parks being renovated. These workshops will likely be held in March 2018. “Things are proceeding on schedule and we have been able to save a considerable amount of money by doing the refinancing,” said City Treasurer Robinson. The City Treasurer stated that once all the projects are concluded, there would be funds left over from the bond measure. Fiscal Year 2016-17 ended with a restricted fund balance of $3,413,726.52. Also discussed at the Measure H meeting was the issue of the roads and money currently being collected for resurfacing and repaving. City Engineer Tim Tucker will provide information to the public on workshops that will collect input and discuss what streets and roads will be taken care of first and what the schedule might look like in the coming weeks.
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2013 • 2014 • 2015 2016 / 2017
Measure H Update At the December 6 city council meeting, City Treasurer Carolyn Robinson gave the Measure H annual presentation. She spoke about the Measure H Park Projects Bond Oversight Update and the recent Measure H meeting. On October 4, 2017, the city council authorized the refinancing of the 2012 General Obligation Bond issue to take advantage of current lower interest rates, as well as issuance of the final $5 million of the total $30 million authorized by the voters with Measure H in 2009. On November 6, the city received a credit rating from Standard & Poor’s of AA+. On November 14, bids were received for the sale of the bonds, and the scheduled bond closing was December 6, 2017. The city treasurer’s PowerPoint presentation included past Measure H successes, current projects, future projects, and a financial report. Past successes include the Martinez Library renovation, Rankin Aquatic Park, and city parks such as Hidden Lakes Park. Recent projects include Susana Street Park and Mountain View Park, and current projects under construction include Water-
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CITY NEWS
Mayor’s Message As I enter my year as mayor, the long shadows of numerous individuals who came before me in Walnut Creek’s 100-plus year history is truly amazing. Each mayor’s unique contribution has guided us to today’s success. As a relatively young mayor in Walnut Creek history, I aim to set an example for the younger generations of our community, namely, that working parents can succeed in fulfilling the necessary demands of serving one’s community without putting what we hold dearest in our hearts to the side. I recently re-read the book Running from Office, which details how younger
generations are far less willing to run for office – 89% say they will never run. We should make this undoubtedly concerning situation a focus in Walnut Creek. Similar to leadership in other areas, we need be the guiding light for our peers to close this generation gap issue; we need to set the example. It is clear to me that we need to “pass the torch to the next generation” of leaders in our community. We should be inspiring, not restraining individuals with good intentions, great ideas, and a willingness to get involved, independent of their family size or job status. We should be motivating them to lean in, actively participate, and
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maybe even run for office. We should honor the history that drove our founders over a 100 years ago as well as the dozens of mayors that have since served our community and planted the seeds of the fruits we now enjoy, not necessarily by blindly following their beliefs or conclusions. We are different people, in different times, shaped by different forces. We are obliged to honor them by their principles, the fundamental truths by which they lived their lives. These principles have proven that open, honest communication and compromise with each other can lead to results beyond our dreams. While challenging, our differences should be embraced not shunned, contemplated not rejected, understood not discarded, and then discussed and debated. We must realize that our differences are not insurmountable. They are a reflec-
tion of our diverse community. It is only through understanding each other’s perspectives, our beliefs, and our individuality that we will come to a compromise that is required to succeed as a community. Black or white, rich or poor, liberal or conservative, there is little that we, as a community, cannot achieve if we put in the time required, not necessarily to agree, but to ultimately understand. Listen, comprehend, reflect, and then act. Following these simple but necessary steps will allow each of us to come together and solve the challenges of today so that generations to come can look back upon us as we did to generations that came before us. Ready to make a difference? Consider applying for one of several commission vacancies opening in late January. Email City Clerk Suzie Martinez at smartinez@ walnut-creek.org for more information.
Public Meetings
City Council Meeting Jan. 9,16 Council Chambers, 1666 North Main Street, 6pm. Contact: 943-5819 Design Review Meeting Jan. 3, 17 Council Chambers, 1666 North Main Street, 7pm. Contact: 943-5819 Planning Commission Meeting Jan. 11 Council Chambers, 1666 North Main Street, 7pm. Contact: 943-5819 Arts Commission Meeting No Meeting in January Council Chambers, 1666 North Main Street, 6pm. Contact: 943-5819 For Confirmation Visit: www.walnut-creek.org
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CITY NEWS
Walnut Creek City News Council Reorganization
The mayor of the City of Walnut Creek has a one-year rotation, and on December 5, council elected Justin Wedel to act as mayor for 2018. Councilmember Cindy Silva will serve as mayor pro tem. Wedel replaces Rich Carlston, who served as mayor in 2017.
Start Up in Residence Program Walnut Creek was selected as one of eight cities across the country to participate in the Start Up in Residence Program. Under this program, selected cities collaborate with startups to give cities access to breaking technology and develop solutions to improve civic government. Through the partnership with startups, solutions are found that help not only the selected city but also potentially all cities in the country.
Free Tax Preparation As tax season approaches, qualifying residents can receive free tax preparation through AARP’s Tax-Aide and United Way’s Earn It, Keep It, Save It programs. Both programs serve people of all ages, with no requirement to be a member of AARP. Starting January 8, 2018, the programs can be accessed in Walnut Creek by calling 925-943-5851 (Walnut Creek Senior Center); 925-405-6278 (Walnut Creek Grace Presbyterian Church); or 925-979-5013 (Walnut Creek St. Paul’s Episcopal Church).
Civic Park Plaza Accessibility Improvements Project At the December 5 city council meeting, council awarded the contract for improvements to Civic Park Plaza to iTech Solutions. This project will reconstruct the plaza between the Civic Park Community Center and Assembly Hall in Civic Park. The new plaza will improve accessibility and provide additional amenities to both facilities, which are heavily used by the senior community. The bid alternate calls to provide and construct three wood trellises, three bike racks, and two green screens. The project is partially funded by a Federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG). A total of $147,880 in CDBG funds are available for this project, and additional funding is provided by the Civic Park Community Center Renovation Project. A total of five bids were received.
of housing in Walnut Creek. The deadline to complete the four-question survey was December 31. Responses will help shape future outreach efforts on this topic. With almost 1,000 responses (about 300 registered responses and 700 unregistered responses), the majority of respondents said there is not enough housing to meet the needs of the community nor is it affordable enough to meet the needs of the community. Many also said there were not enough housing options (homes, apartments, condos, senior housing). Most believed that affordable housing would benefit their community; however, traffic congestion is a major concern. Most respondents also supported a community where people can afford to live where they work and supported subsidized affordable housing units in their community.
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Communications and Outreach Manager Retires Gayle Vassar, the city’s communications and outreach manager, has retired after 17 years of extraordinary work for the City of Walnut Creek. During her time working with the city, Vassar created Walnut Creek’s Emergency Response Team (CERT), which has been used by other cities in creating their own response teams. She also launched the city’s social media and television platforms and led 19 Citizen Institute programs. She acted as the project manager for the city’s centennial, and was the editor of the Nutshell. The new communications and community relations manager, Betsy Burkhart, who joined the city on December 18, replaces Vassar. Burkhart has extensive experience in civic communications, most recently as Contra Costa County’s director of communications and media. During the recent North Bay fires, she was tapped to establish and train Sonoma County’s emergency public information team. Betsy may be reached at Burkhart@walnut-creek.org.
Affordable Housing Questionnaire
EXPIRES 1/31/18
Improving the affordability and availability of housing is a top priority for the Walnut Creek City Council. In December, the City of Walnut Creek had a link on their home page to a survey asking for community input about the affordability OURCOMMUNITYFOCUS.COM | JANUARY 2018 | 13
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PLEASANT HILL • WALNUT CREEK • MARTINEZ • LAFAYETTE • CONCORD • CLAYTON A monthly publication of Community Focus, the Concord Pioneer and Clayton Pioneer
Estate Planning
A Simple Will for a Small California Estate BY DANIEL DuREE One of the primary considerations in the estate planning process is deciding who will administer your affairs if you become incapacitated and, later, after you pass away. In a trust, this person is called the successor trustee. The successor trustee takes over management of a trust when the original trustee or co-trustees are no longer able to fulfill their duties. The successor trustee is called a fiduciary because they have a legal (“fiduciary”) duty to act in the best interest of the trust beneficiaries and/or the trust creator. When deciding who will be your successor trustee, you can appoint a layperson or a professional, licensed, third party fiduciary. Which type depends largely on your particular circumstances and goals. Layperson as Trustee: The vast majority of people have a family member(s) as successor trustee or co-trustees. These trustees are largely guided by the terms of the trust, and although conflict is possible, most trust administrations are a fairly straightforward and amicable process. People often choose one of their children, a sibling, or a trusted friend. You can appoint co-trustees to act together in the trust administration. In choosing a layperson as a successor trustee, it is probably best to choose from among the beneficiaries to ensure that their personal interest is aligned with the beneficiaries of the trust. In California, even a layperson trustee is entitled Lic.0506034
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to reasonable compensation unless the trust explicitly requires the trustee to waive compensation. Professional Third Party Fiduciary: The primary benefit of choosing a professional third party fiduciary is you know your wishes will be carried out without the potential conflict encountered among family trustees and family beneficiaries. The primary drawback of a professional trustee is the cost. A professional will usually have a minimum fee and also charge fees based on the size of the estate. These fees could run into the tens of thousands of dollars, depending on the size and complexity of the estate. The other potential problem with a professional fiduciary is the person you choose may no longer be working or even alive when you need him. One way to deal with this issue is to allow the beneficiaries to choose, by majority vote, which professional fiduciary to hire as trustee. The one major drawback to this scheme is that the beneficiaries will need to be aware of the trust and have access to a copy of it should something happen. A third option is to combine a layperson and a professional fiduciary as cotrustees. The main downside, however, is the expense of the professional fiduciary. Deciding who to designate as your successor trustee or co-trustees is an important choice. The successor trustee is the gatekeeper who ensures your wishes are carried out. It is not a difficult job to be a successor trustee, but you should take care to choose a successor that you and your beneficiaries can trust implicitly. Daniel L. DuRee is a third generation resident of Contra Costa County and a licensed attorney practicing in Walnut Creek. He can be reached at (925) 210-1400 or visit www.DuReeLaw.com.
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In Loving Memory
Ruth Bancroft Passes Away at 109 On behalf of The Ruth Bancroft Garden and the Bancroft family, we are saddened to announce the passing of our beloved founder, Ruth Bancroft. Ruth, who was 109 years of age, died at home surrounded by family and the extensive and amazing private and public gardens she created and tended over 76 years of her lifetime. Mrs. Bancroft gained international recognition for her pioneering work in horticulture, demonstrating that a dry garden in the heart of a busy urban, inland corridor could be lush, diverse, and striking in design. Her garden was the inspiration for the founding of The Garden Conservancy in 1989, a
GARDEN & NURSERY
nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving private gardens for public use. The Ruth Bancroft Garden was its first preservation project in 1992. Garden Curator Brian Kemble explains why Ruth was such a special and influential person. “When Ruth Bancroft began planting her succulent garden in Walnut Creek back in 1972, it was a radical departure from other gardens in the area. This lack of precedent meant that she was pushing the envelope quite a bit to find out if various plants would work in the local climate zone. We were all inspired by her experimentation and her flair for composition, and those of us at the garden see it as our mission to keep on pushing the envelope a little further, letting Ruth’s spirit motivate us as we continue to try out new plants and guide the garden’s evolution. It’s up to us to keep Ruth’s dream alive!” In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in honor of Mrs. Bancroft be directed to benefit the mission of The Ruth Bancroft Garden at 1552 Bancroft Road, Walnut Creek, 94598, or via the garden website (below). The garden will host a life celebration for Ruth on Saturday, Feb. 17, 2018. Open house is 11am – 4pm. All are welcome to this free event, however, RSVP is required. Visit www.ruthbancroftgarden.org to sign-up today. For more information, visit the garden at 1552 Bancroft Rd, Walnut Creek; call (925) 944-9352; or email anna@ruthbancroftgarden.org.
Come Home to Martinez! A Great Place to Live! Ruth Bancroft in her beloved garden. Photo by Karl Mondon.
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SCHOOL NEWS
AHS Principal
CPHS Principal
TOM DOPPE, PRINCIPAL, ALHAMBRA HIGH SCHOOL When we opened the school year, we were eager to show off the brand new K building! You’ve likely seen the building come together over the last couple of years, and perhaps you have even had a chance to walk the building during Back to School Night or other times. The students have been good stewards of the new building, and they have certainly enjoyed many of the features that enhance their learning. While the K building was the most obvious and significant construction we have had on campus, we are near completion on two other major renovation projects. Opening this week are our newly renovated classrooms in the H building. The first newly renovated room houses our photography program. This room is also an open design and allows for as much student collaboration as possible. One interesting feature is the folding wall that allows students to have a controlled lighting area to learn camera techniques in different conditions. Whether students
JOSEPH G. ALVAREZ PRINCIPAL, COLLEGE PARK HIGH SCHOOL Great things continue to happen here at College Park High School! Beginning with athletics, please join me in congratulating several of our student athletes for their outstanding performance in the following areas: • Boys Cross Country: 1st Team Dylan Cook • Girls Cross Country: 1st Team Emily Orellana; 2nd Team - Kylie Tseng • Girls Tennis: 1st Team - Sophie DeGroot; 2nd Team - Gabby Thomas; Honorable Mention - Mary Martin • Girls Water Polo: League Most Valuable Player, 1st Team - Jaime Pitcher; 1st Team - Sammi Monroe and Caragh Osbourne; 2nd Team - Molly Ostrowski, Kelsey Meyers and Kayla Schoekoph; Honorable Mention Kaelin Betschart • Boys Water Polo: Outstanding Goalie - Elijah Burnham; 1st Team - Devin Hutslar, Tyler Shaver and Enzo Ariana; 2nd Team - Tom Austin • Girls Volleyball: 1st Team - Adriana Vinogradov; Honorable Mention Courtney Turner • Girls Golf: League Most Valuable Player (Co-MVP) - Hailey Salomone; 1st Team - Chloe Campanis and Jessica Caswell; 2nd Team - Kelsey Emkjer; Honorable Mention – Camille Campbell • Football: 1st Team - Luis Navarro; 2nd Team - Alex Alfaro Please visit our new athletics website: www.collegeparkathletics.com. Thanks to Jeff Eide, athletics booster president, and Jim Keck, athletic director, for their leadership on this project. Our outstanding visual and performing arts department celebrated our 6th annual Candlelight Concert performances, which highlighted the
Alhambra’s Recent Upgrades
are learning portraiture, long exposure techniques, or experimenting with light in other ways, we are excited to see how the room and added feature compliments our program. The second room is an oversized classroom for digital media arts. This large, open space is going to be ideal in giving students the room they need to collaborate and create graphics and designs as part of this career pathway. There is ample space for them to work on the computers as well as various traditional art media. The digital media arts class is also articulated with DVC, which means that students can earn college credit at the end of the year! As always, our digital media class is looking to get real world experiences by collaborating with the community. If you have projects in mind, please contact our teacher Ms. Fuller at dfuller@ martinez.k12.ca.us. And we aren’t done yet! Hopefully, by the next issue, we can also celebrate the opening of our renovated D building and share how we will be putting this great space to use. As always, thank you for your support, and Go Dogs! You can reach Principal Doppe at tdoppe@martinez. k12.ca.us.
First Ever Hour of Code More than 50 students participated in the first ever Hour of Code event, hosted by the Pleasant Hill Education Commission at City Hall on December 8. The Hour of Code is a global movement that introduces students of all ages to computer science. Hackingtons Code School and the Pleasant Hill Library supported the event.
18 | JANUARY 2018 | OURCOMMUNITYFOCUS.COM
Great Things at College Park
exceptional work of our choir. Our band concert showcased an outstanding performance, followed by our Winter Guitar Concert and choir’s Holiday Spectacular. Our annual Winter Showcase and Craft Fair featured some truly beautiful and unique items for sale by our creative student artists and craftspeople. The City of Pleasant Hill, through the Education Commission, sponsored a citywide Hour of Code, which highlighted the importance of coding and its many applications. Several students participated and learned how fun coding can be. A special thank you to Pleasant Hill Education Commissioner Kelly St. Germain for her leadership in the organization and publicity of this fun event. Each year, the College Park Parent Teacher Student Association (PTSA) organizes a Holiday Outreach program for College Park families who need a little bit of support during the holidays. College Park teachers and staff identified about 50 students in need and our goal was to provide each of these families with a $50 gift card to Target to assist in making their holidays special. The community was generous in their support and we want to say thank you! If you have any questions, feel free to contact Sara Silver at saraandcalvin@hotmail. com or Nathalie Keating at Keatingn@ mdusd.org. We will have a Drug Awareness Parent Education Night Tuesday, January 9, at our PTSA general meeting. The meeting begins at 6pm, followed by the Drug Awareness Presentation at 7pm in the library. All are welcome! As I reflect on this 2017 calendar year, there are so many people and organizations I am thankful for. We have a tremendous Falcon community that truly wants to support us in so many ways. Our community, staff, and students are, without a doubt, second to none! I wish you all a wonderful winter break and holiday season.
Volunteer Awards Students Gave Over 1600 Hours
At a recent city council meeting, twelve Pleasant Hill students received the President’s Volunteer Service Award (PVSA) for volunteer work completed over the past year. The twelve recipients completed over 1,600 hours of community service during the 2016-17 school year. Two of the students, Brett Jones and Ethan Tuey, received the Gold Award for completing over 250 hours of service apiece. The Presidential Volunteer Service Award is an award given to recognize hours of service individuals provide to their communities. Hours are measured over a 12-month period and awards are designated based on cumulative hours. Awards are offered in bronze, silver, and gold levels and are designed to recognize each milestone of service achievement.
The Pleasant Hill Education Commission is the local sponsor of the award program. Students can learn more about the program and how to register at the www.pleasanthillca.org/ pvsa. Hours must be completed during the year, between September 1, 2017, and August 31, 2018. Award winners include: Bronze: Tina Kadavil, George Kadavil, Steven Kadavil, Patrick Jensen, John Fromm, Tomas Triana. Silver: Jackson Thomas, Matthew St. Germain, Craig Valdez, Ethan Gaigalas and Gold: Ethen Tuey and Brett Jones. Of the recipients, seven are Boy Scouts working on their Eagle Rank or have achieved it: Patrick Jensen, John Fromm, Tomas Triana, Jackson Thomas, Matthew St. Germain, Craig Valdez and Brett Jones.
SCHOOL NEWS
CP’s Animal Rescue Club
BY ALISON CLARY College Park seniors Fiona Javete and Emma Swanson co-founded the Animal Rescue Club during their junior year and are passionate about educating people to “adopt, don’t shop” when bringing a new pet into their homes. The girls have been animal lovers and advocates from day one, and Vice President Fiona says, “We provide opportunities for people to make a difference in the animal rescue community whether it’s volunteering at a shelter or making donations to our local neighborhood drives.” Club members leave paper bags and flyers on doorsteps and collect items a week later, usually pet food and supplies. The Animal Rescue Club is grateful for these donations and delivers them to Animal Rescue Foundation, Contra Costa Humane Society, and First Response Animal ResQ. The club participated in Earth Day at CPHS last year and collected old T-shirts to make dog toys, which they donated as well. The club has an email list of 150 addresses thus far, with about 70 students coming to meetings, and 25 students volunteering. So far they’ve done three drives and collected over $2,000 worth of donations. Fiona says the club’s goal is “to educate our club members and do projects around the school that detail how to help animals in need and how to adopt, not shop.” To see photos of the club on Instagram, go to @ animal.rescue.cp.
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Martinez TK Registration
Transitional Kindergarten (TK) is the first year of a two-year Kindergarten program that uses a modified Kindergarten curriculum that is age and developmentally appropriate. TK is designed to provide a bridge between preschool and Kindergarten for children turning five years old between September 2 and December 2, 2018. The TK program addresses the young child’s language, literacy, and pre-math skills and emphasizes social and emotional development. TK provides young learners with a readiness year that will prepare them for success in traditional Kindergarten and beyond. Any child who will be 5 years old on or before September 1, 2018, is eligible to enroll in kindergarten. TK and kindergarten registration dates are as follows: Feb. 6 for Las Juntas, Feb. 7 for John Swett, Feb. 8 for John Muir, and Feb. 9 for Morello Park. All registration is from 9-11am at the District Office, 921 Susana Street, Martinez. Packets will be available beginning January 8 at the District Office. Students who have their 5th birthday between September 2, 2018, and December 2, 2018, are eligible for TK. More information can be found at www.martinez.k12.ca.us.
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ATHLETE SPORTS
OF THE MONTH
Fall All-League 2017
CP= College Park, AHS= Alhambra NG= Northgate, BC= Berean Christian YV= Ygnacio Valley 1st Team All-League Cross Country - Boys Sammi Monroe CP, Caragh Osbourne CP 1st Team All-League 2nd Team All-League Dylan Cook CP, Michael Wheeler, NG Molly Ostrowski CP, Kelsey Myers CP, Cross Country - Girls Kayla Schoelkoph CP, Harmony Soffer 1st Team All-League AHS Marissa D’Atri AHS, Emily Orellana CP Honorable Mention All-League 2nd Team All-League Kaelin Betschart CP, Hayley Ward AHS Kylie Tseng CP, Sara Wheeler NG
Football
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ZYON PULLIN
RINN AGENCY
College Park’s boys varsity basketball team is off to a great start and so is junior Zyon Pullin. In December’s tournaments, he averaged 25 points a tournament and was selected All-Team in both tournaments for leading the team to a second place finish and a first place finish. The team and Pullin are off to hot starts for a highly anticipated season. Submitted by Ryan McMclure, CPHS Sports Leadership.
MVP- Offense - Jack Fulp NG MVP- Deffense - Isaac Hodgins BC 1st Team All-League Aaron Hern AHS, Daniel Boyd AHS, Justin Jackson BC, Jayden Jackson BC, Cristin Wonder, NG, Tyrik Daniels YV, Tyler Clemons AHS, Aidan LaHonta AHS, David Ma’ake NG, German Acosta NG, Jack Seely BC, Austin Sharp BC, Joey Marondola NG, Brandon Muraoka AHS, Mason Yaeger AHS, Saluni Semisi NG, De’Vaughn Brown YV, DiMarlo Ventura NG, Eddie Rankin YV, Luis Navarro CP, Tyler Warner BC 2nd Team All- League Quincy Rhone BC, Donovan Rubin AHS, Soren Peterson NG, Trent Green AHS, Preston Schreck NG, Eddie Taylor AHS, JT Griffin AHS, Nate Moore NG, Fernando Verduzco YV, Andy Palacios YV, Alex Alfaro CP, Waryum Azhar YV, Skyler Morford NG, Nick Stark NG, Jeremy Abraham AHS, Morgan Wilson AHS, Zach Schuler AHS, Joey Giannini NG, Niko Iosefa BC, Connor Russo BC, Alec Brennan BC, Scott Rodriguez BC
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CO - Most Valuable Player All-League Hailey Salomone, CP and Jordan Davis, AHS 1st Team All-League Chloe Campanis CP, Jessica Caswell CP, Makayla Clauson AHS, Claire Jensen AHS 2nd Team All-League Kelsey Emkjer CP, Ashley McClearnen AHS Honorable Mention Camille Campbell CP, Kalina Campos YV, Julia Lloren AHS
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Most Valuable Player All-League Jamie Pitcher CP
Water Polo - Boys
Most Valuable Player All-League Dylan Hammond AHS Outstanding Goalie All-League Elijah Burnham CP 1st Team All-League Devin Hutslar CP, Tyler Shaver CP, Nico Taliaferro AHS, Enzo Ariana CP 2nd Team All-League Caden Carpenter CP, Paul Bolduc AHS, Tony Moore AHS, Tom Austin CP, Honorable Mention All-League Donovan Ballot AHS
Volleyball - Girls CO - Most Valuable Player All-League Sterling Parker AHS and Zippy Dudizak BC 1st Team All-League Sophia Olson AHS, Gabby Chase AHS, Elizabeth Dutton BC 2nd Team All-League Becca Jones BC, Rachel Gray AHS, Erin Silva AHS, Gillian Seguerre BC Honorable Mention All-League Elisabeth Dudziak BC, Jordan Suisala AHS
Tennis - Girls Most Valuable Player All-League Aya Miller BC 1st Team All-League Aya Miller BC, Gianna Nobili BC, Sophia Hughes AHS, Nicole Nelson AHS, Dianna Lopez YV, Paige Nettles YV 2nd Team All-League Jordan Sapp BC, Grace Wyzykowski BC, Rachel George AHS, Julia Giannii AHS, Fatina Fajardo YV, Kristin Ly YV Honorable Mention All-League Juna Hwang BC, Sophia Larner BC, Phoebe Tang AHS, Katie Foerste AHS, Cecelia Seba YV, Ariann Norori YV
SPORTS
Battle Returns to the Nest
Soccer Season Starts
Head Coach Craig Battle is excited about returning to the College Park High School boys basketball program. Previously under Coach Battle’s tutelage, the Falcons nested four consecutive 20-win seasons, four league championships, and five trips to the North Coast Section Playoffs in six years -- winning the Northern California Division II Championship (2013) and a trip to the state finals. A native of West Palm Beach, Florida, Coach Battle attended Saint Augustine’s College, Raleigh, N.C., before serving in the U. S. Air Force. He accumulated over 25 years of semi pro (U.S. Air Force), college (Solano, Suisun City), and high school (Mt. Diablo, Concord; College Park, Pleasant Hill; Saint Mary’s College, Albany) basketball coaching experience. Coach Battle enjoys the game of basketball and strives to bring out the best in each player, both on and off the court, while fostering positive development of the young student athlete. He admires good leadership and encourages aspiring student athletes to focus on their goals and be prepared to go “all out” to be successful. Coach Battle teaches varying styles of basketball, from aggressive defenses to high-scoring, up-tempo offenses, which require great stamina and discipline. He ensures that his student athletes are prepared for the next level of competition.
Winter means soccer season for local high schools. The College Park girls varsity is off to a respectable start with 3 wins, 1 loss and 2 ties. Non-conference games make up the first part of the season with league play starting in January. When the local leagues merged in 2015, College Park qualified for the top bracket. After facing those schools for the first time last year, they are confident they can improve on last season. The Falcons varsity roster boasts five seniors, with two of the girls, Jasmine Safarians and Marianna Giovannetti, committing to play in college. The first league home game will be on January 12, against the Campolindo Cougers. The complete game schedule can be seen on College Park’s new athletic website at www. collegeparkathletics.com. Come out and root on the Falcons!
L to R: Addison Ali, Jasmine Safarians, Kally Cunningham, Mindy With, Marianna Giovannetti and Julia Parks.
College Park High School Athletic Booster Club College Park boys basketball coaches (LtoR): Varsity Asst. Coach Corey Battle, Freshman Coach Jay Hopkins, Freshmen Asst. Coach Malena Clegg, Varsity Head Coach Craig Battle, Varsity Asst. Coach Andy Myhr, JV Coach Troy Jones, and JV Coach Owen Daily.
Bocce Champions
February 3, 2018
28th Annual Crab Feed and Auction Fund-raiser SUPPORTING COLLEGE PARK HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS
Pleasant Hill Rec and Park’s popular fall bocce season came to a close with Breaking Bocce winning the championship game. Photo submitted by Sandy Jones.
Saturday, February 3, 2018 Pleasant Hill Community Center 320 Civic Drive, Pleasant Hill, CA
5:30pm – Midnight CRAB, TRI-TIP, SALAD, PASTA & BREAD SILENT & LIVE AUCTION Great Raffles, Prizes and Games!
Win an iPad or Instant Wine Cellar And MUCH MORE! Avoid the lines and buy your
DESSERT DASH LIVE MUSIC & DANCING!
21 or older Tickets must be purchased online at:
www.cpathleticboosterclub.com
Drink & Raffle Tickets online too!
This is our largest fund-raiser of the year to benefit CPHS Athletics. Please come have a great time and support our student athletes. CPHS Athletics rely heavily on your donations and support. Donations may be tax deductible. Visit our webstite for a donation form. OURCOMMUNITYFOCUS.COM | JANUARY 2018 | 21
All In Need
Helping Families with Children Who Have Special Needs
BY AUTUMN GREEN, Ain’s Executive Director And Founder Working with families at All In Need, Family Support (AiN) has taught me that parents and caregivers are strong. Each child that comes into AiN worms their way into the volunteers’ hearts as we hear the parents’ stories of their child’s successes and struggles. As the executive director of AiN, I often cry after hanging up with a parent whose child’s behavior is out of control or has taken a turn for the worse. I hear desperation in the parent’s voice as they struggle to support their child’s needs. Having a child on the spectrum, I can often understand their feelings and tell them it will get better, but sometimes all I can do is listen. I cannot imagine having a child with medical issues on top of autism.
I cannot imagine the fight of a wheelchair because your child is too tired to stay on her feet. I cannot imagine hearing the words, “Your child will not make it to adulthood.” But these parents are amazingly strong, and I see them advocate for their children, knowing they are exhausted. As a spectator of their lives, I learn what love, dedication, and strength are. It is humbling that these families allow AiN to be a part of such intimate details in their lives. At AiN, we help carry their burdens a little through respite care, when children have an opportunity to socialize with others and play games. We also offer three special events a year that give them opportunities to participate in mainstream events and networking. Lastly, once a year we offer the Angel Fund for a family that has attended at least
one Revive event and needs additional support due to unforeseen circumstances. We proudly provided $750 to the Hazlett family to help cover an FM system that hooks into their child’s cochlear implants
and allows her to hear what is being said. Teachers and parents have reported that it has helped. Since this device isn’t covered by insurance, it is our joy and pleasure to be able to support the Hazlett family!
Santa Claus, Mrs. Claus, Autumn Green, AiN’s executive director and founder, Kristin McGrath and AiN volunteer presenting a check to the Hazlett family.
Eagle Scout Awards College Park seniors Brett Jones, Jackson Thomas, Johnny Fromm, and Matt St. Germain earned the rank of Eagle Scout this fall. All four built and completed projects that improve their school and community. They are from scout troop 401, led by Dennis Kameya.
L to R: Brett Jones, Jackson Thomas, Johnny Fromm and Matt St. Germain.
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IN THE MIX
Start the Year off With Some Music
Finding Your Song for 2018 BY PAUL COTRUVO 2018? Really? Where did 2017 go? I guess that means it was a fabulous year. I know that to be true with regard to the music scene. Anyway, the beginning of a new year always inspires me to try and be a better human being. So, I thought I’d find a little inspiration through a song. But what song? I’d thought I’d ask around for some guidance, and what better people to ask than my bocce team, “Boccelism” -- the greatest bocce team in the history of mankind (and my mind). I mean, if you can’t find philopshy in bocce, where are you going to look? So, this is what they gave me: Seems that the song “Imagine” was the #1 choice for Team Boccelism’s Civic Action Commission Chair Allison Koerber and Dame Debra Margolis. “Imagine - no need for greed or hunger, a brotherhood of man.” Legendary soccer coach Larry Hall adds, “At the beginning of 2018, I want to imagine and hope that we can start putting our divided nation back together. I have heard it said that the Vietnam era was like this. I was there for that; it is worse now. Not worried so much about me; but I do worry for my kids and grandkids. They deserve better.” The fabulous Debbie Shess says,” My song choice for 2018 is one that has always been a favorite of mine: ‘Wake Up Everybody’ by Harold Melvin and The Blue Notes. It’s a call to action that includes all people-making changes, helping our fellow citizens, making the world a better place. Seems appropriate.” Nancy O’Grady
(our player of the year) says, “So many, but for today I will say ‘Raise em Up’ by Keith Urban. A song about being thankful for everything we have and celebrating that.” Pleasant Hill Public Information Officer Martin Nelis: “There are many Irish rebel songs I could suggest, but I think I will go with ‘The Rising’ by Bruce Springsteen. ‘The Rising’ is a beautiful song that speaks to emerging out of the darkness into the light of a new day. It’s a good metaphor for our transition out of 2017, an awful year with an imbecile in the White House, into the dawning of a new year, full of hope and promises of better things to come.” Pleasant Hill Rec and Park Board member Zac Shess goes deep with this thought: ”The Revolution Will Not Be Televised’ by Gil Scott-Heron. If you listen to the lyrics, chock-full of references to the tumultuous Nixon-era ‘70s, you can make many of those same comparisons to today’s world. Scott-Heron is saying that if you want to effect real change in your community or for the nation, the revolution will not take place on TV (or today’s social media). It will happen when citizens want to make the effort.” Pleasant Hill bon vivant Jeremy Carlson’s pick: “For an optimistic look, ‘Heal the World’ By Michael Jackson.” Rec and Park’s Sheila Cotruvo (love of my life) says, “’Your Love Keeps Lifting Me Higher and Higher’ by Jackie Wilson because love from my husband, family, and friends keeps me going even through the worst of times. Choose joy in 2018!” And finally, Pleasant Hill’s 2018 mayor, Tim Flaherty chooses “Feeling Good” by Nina Simone. “Birds flying high, you know
how I feel/ Sun in the sky/ you know how I feel/ Breeze driftin on by, you know how I feel/ It’s a new dawn/ It’s a new day/ It’s a new life for me, ooooooooh and I’m feeling good.” Tim adds, “The lyrics about the new dawn, the new day, the new life, resonate with me because I always enter the new year with optimism! Feeling good speaks to being on the other side (almost) of a lengthy recovery for that damn Achilles injury.” (Editor’s note: not bocce
related!) So, after hearing these picks, I decided my inspiration song for 2018 is “I Won’t Back Down” by Tom Petty. I have always found this song gets me through anything. “You can stand me up at the gates of hell, but I won’t back down.” Here’s wishing you find your song in 2018. Cheers! Quote of the Month: “Celebrate what you want to see more of” ~~ Tom Peters
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Paul’s Picks
January 5: The Cheeseballs, Dan’s Bar, 1524 Civic Drive, Walnut Creek, 10pm January 11: Ken Cooper, Rocco’s Pizzeria, 2909 Ygnacio Valley Road, Walnut Creek, 8pm January 13: Sin Silver, Rocco’s Pizzeria, 2909 Ygnacio Valley Road, Walnut Creek, 8pm January 25: Blackie Farrell, Armando’s, 707 Marina Vista, Martinez, 8pm January 26: Jeffrey Halford & The Healers, Armando’s, 707 Marina Vista, Martinez, 8pm January 27: Dan DeShara, Rocco’s Pizzeria, 909 Ygnacio Valley Road, Walnut Creek, 8pm January 28: The Hip Spanic All Stars, Armando’s, 707 Marina Vista, Martinez, 4pm OURCOMMUNITYFOCUS.COM | JANUARY 2018 | 23
IN THE GARDEN
Nourishing Food for New Beginnings Detox to Begin the New Year
BY LESLEY STILES New beginnings are hope -- hope for the future of our families, our world, and ourselves. Promises are made as we waddle, bleary-eyed, into January, still a bit hung over from our self-imposed annual December madness. We have hope as stress, sugar, and alcohol slowly retreat from our blood stream. Greening hillsides and little white blossoms emerge from the earth, embracing our hope with us, willing us to be happy now that the holidays are past and beckoning us to join them in bringing in the new year. We will abide, we will exercise, we will cut the sugar, and, best of all, we will feel privileged indeed to have several amazing farmers’ markets from which to procure our new health. A very dry December may leave us shaking in our shoes due to drought worries, but January is supposed to be wet and wild, so we will keep our fingers crossed for lots of rain. Meanwhile, that winter garden is probably pretty much dormant, other than a few stalks of bold baby cauliflower or broccoli curiously emerging to see what’s going on, but the greens should be lush and ready to eat. As soon as you pick chard and kales, it seems they bolt right back up for more green, luscious nutrition to detox veins and arteries. Most of the luscious citrus that deco-
rates farmers’ market tables are crosses between cousins. Gold Nugget tangerines have seductively married Wilking tangerines to Kincy mandarins. Owning deep orange, bumpy skin that peels easily while boasting seedless status, they are stunningly tasty. Nuggets are usually found with leaves and stems decoratively attached, which is known internationally for the power to promote happiness and good luck. Virtuously exciting, Golden Nuggets are best devoured out of hand, savored with eyes closed, and appreciated for their utter willingness to have their skins zipped off so easily while offering a whopping 50% weight in sweet juice. Complexly peppery, they blend marvelously well with arugula and fresh chevre, tossed lightly with olive oil and rice vinegar. Morning combinations of several spellbinding varieties of the vitamin C-rich family, coupled with kiwi and lavishly draped with creamy yogurt and chopped local almonds, is like being given Shakespeare for breakfast. Compote warm segments of Golden Nuggets with blood oranges, chopped fresh mint, and late harvest Riesling, and then luxuriously blanket with pound cake. Lightly caramelize sliced fennel and green garlic in olive oil, add Golden Nugget filets, hit with white wine and chicken stock, and reduce by half. Toss in several fat prawns or scallops and let braise for a minute or two. Feel the sun come out as your pan volume declines.
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Thrown into a spinach salad with crumbled feta and toasted walnuts, they raise a winter repast deliciously high. Create a tapenade by chopping Greek olives, garlic, oregano, olive oil, and orange peel, and swank up sautéed chicken breasts with wild rice pilaf. Smother cod filets with segments, grated peel, and thinly sliced scarlet carrots, lube up with olive oil, and roast to golden in a hot oven. Slide a segment or two into chilled vodka before sinking your pearly whites into voluptuous chocolate-dipped Satsuma mandarin slices. Life imitates art. Get out and walk, rain or shine -- and just for goodwill, throw some weight bearing moves in there too. Most importantly, appreciate life, and appreciate those you love as well as the person you are screaming at on the freeway. Everyone has something going on that you don’t know about. Don’t take it all so personally, and hug more. Happy New Year! Lesley Stiles is a graduate of the California Culinary Academy, sustainable caterer and school garden educator. Contact Lesley at lesleystiles@comcast.net, www. lesleystiles.blogspot.com and visit her new website: www.lesleystilesfoods.com.
Barley and Winter Vegetable Stew INGREDIENTS 2 tablespoons olive oil 1 red onion, chopped 2 cloves of garlic, chopped 2 carrots, sliced 1 whole small or ½ big butternut squash, peeled and cubed 2 ribs of celery, sliced 2 Japanese eggplants, if they are still at the market, halved and sliced 4 cups of stock 1½ cups of barley Chopped fresh oregano and parsley to your taste (mine would be 2 large tablespoons each) Sea salt and ground pepper to taste DIRECTIONS Heat oil in a large heavy pan and sauté the onions and garlic for 4 minutes on medium heat. Add the rest of the vegetables and the barley and sauté for 4 minutes. Add the stock and simmer until the barley is cooked and the stew is thick, about 30 minutes. Add the herbs and season to taste. Serves 6
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PAIR UP
Red Wine Season And a Few Winter Whites BY MARIA TERRY Winter is the season when red wines find their way to the table a bit more often than whites. It makes sense; winter foods tend to be richer and fattier, matching the full body and tannins of red wine. However, that doesn’t mean that white wines should be left out completely. There are certain white grapes which produce full-bodied, rich, white wines, and they are perfect partners to the comfort foods we love in the colder months. The three classic grapes of the Rhone Valley in France are Viognier, Marsanne, and Roussanne. Together they make up a wonderful blend fittingly called a White Rhone. You can find them from their home region in France, but this classic combination can be found in other areas of the world as well, most notably California and Australia. White Rhones are full in body (read: alcohol) and have a silky viscosity. The flavors are floral and herbal, with notes of stone fruit like white peach.
Seared Scallop with Pistachio appetizer is a light but warming dish that combines the velvety texture of scallops with crunchy pistachios. Scallops tend to make some white wines taste metallic, Viognier is not one of them. It’s presence in a White Rhone blend makes it essential for scallops. Another full-bodied white wine is a Montrachet from Burgundy, France. Made from Chardonnay grapes, it undergoes malo-lactic fermentation that converts tart, apple-tasting malic acid into buttery lactic acid. Pair a full-bodied Chardonnay with Chicken Madeira/ Marsala. Madeira is made in Portugal from Sercial, Verdelho, Bual, and Malmsey. Marsala is made in Italy with a whole host of Italian grapes, both white and red. You can use either of these fortified wines to make this dish. They are very similar in flavor and strength. Also, they have a nutty flavor that works with the richness of the Chardonnay. The final, full-bodied grape for this meal is Semillon. It is made into both dry and dessert wines. Semillon is one of the few grapes that flourishes in the presence of botrytis; the best way
to get delicious, sweet, dessert wines. Classically, it is blended with Sauvignon Blanc grapes in the Sauternes region of Bordeaux, France. However, you can find it from many other wine-growing regions as well. Try it with the Quesadilla Cake. This not-too-sweet cake is easy to make and reminds me of a dense cornbread. It does not have a strong cheese flavor, and you can even make it from the “green can” Parmesan! So, go on. Pair Up! Maria Terry is a Certified Sommelier and Wine Educator in the San Francisco Bay Area. www.LaSommelierre.com.
Quesadilla Cake INGREDIENTS 2 cups Bisquick 1 cup sugar ¼ cup Parmesan cheese 1 stick butter, melted 1 egg, beaten 1¼ cup milk DIRECTIONS Mix dry ingredients. Add milk, egg, and butter one at a time, mixing in between each addition. Put into greased 8X10 baking dish and bake at 325° for 45 minutes. Yield: 6-8 Servings
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Seared Scallops with Pistachios INGREDIENTS ½ cup pistachio nuts, peeled and unsalted 2 tablespoons chives, finely chopped 1 tablespoon olive oil 1 tablespoon lemon juice 2 tablespoons butter 12 sea scallops Salt & pepper, to taste ½ lemon, just the grated zest DIRECTIONS Finely chop the pistachios and place in a bowl with chives, oil, and lemon juice. Heat the butter in a pan, season the scallops, and fry them about 1–2 minutes on each side. Place on a tray and top each scallop with the pistachio mixture. Top each with a few strands of grated lemon zest. Yield: 4 Servings
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Chicken Madeira or Marsala INGREDIENTS 1 ¼ cups Madeira or Marsala wine ¾ cup chicken stock 1 packet unflavored gelatin (2 ½ teaspoons; 10g) 4 boneless, skinless chicken cutlets, each pounded about ½ to ¼ inch thick (1 ¾ pounds) Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper About 1 cup all-purpose flour ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil 10 ounces cremini mushrooms, sliced 4 medium shallots, minced 2 medium cloves garlic, minced ¼ teaspoon dried thyme 3 tablespoons cold unsalted butter 1 teaspoon soy sauce Fresh lemon juice, to taste Minced fresh parsley, for garnish DIRECTIONS Combine Marsala and stock in a mixing bowl or large measuring cup and sprinkle gelatin all over surface. Set aside. Season chicken cutlets all over with salt and pepper. Dredge each cutlet in flour. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat and cook chicken until browned on both sides, about 3 minutes per side. Remove from pan. Add mushrooms to the pan and cook, stirring frequently, until mushrooms have released their juices and browned well, about 10 minutes. Add shallots, garlic, and thyme and cook, stirring, until shallots are translucent, about 2 minutes. Deglaze the pan with Marsala mixture and cook until liquids are reduced by about three-quarters. Add butter and soy sauce and whisk constantly until emulsified and sauce takes on the consistency of heavy cream. Season with salt and pepper. Taste sauce and adjust with lemon juice as needed. If the sauce begins to break at any point, swirl in a splash of water to bring it back together. Spoon sauce over chicken. Garnish with parsley and serve. Yield: 4 Servings
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OURCOMMUNITYFOCUS.COM | JANUARY 2018 | 25
SENIORS
SI’s 75th Anniversary Soroptimist International of Martinez celebrated its 75th anniversary on November 13. The club was chartered on November 14, 1942, and has continuously contributed to the community through local service projects throughout the years. The members of Soroptimist are pleased to continue its tradition and mission to improve the lives of disadvantaged women and girls through programs that lead to social and economic empowerment. The 75th anniversary was highlighted with the appearance of Founder Region Governor Pam Parker, who inducted their newest member, Christina Ratcliffe. Proclamations were presented by Mayor Rob Schroder and a representative from Contra Costa County Supervisors. Members of the chartering club, SI Richmond, were present to help reminisce about events from 1942. On display were club scrapbooks from 1942 to present. The older three scrapbooks were on loan from the Martinez Historical Society, where they have been maintained since the early ‘90s. Former club presidents were in attendance, including Barbara Turcios, Harriett Burt, Dorothy Buffington, Beverly Gomer, Pat Eileen Fisher, and Judy Moon. Former Founder Region Governor Bobbi Enderlin of Benicia was also in attendance. For more information, go to www.soroptimistmartinez.org or contact Judy Moon at jdy_moon@yahoo.com
Martinez Senior Activities Jan. 8 - Make an appointment for AARP Tax Preparation. The service provided by volunteers and IRS certified tax counselors is available starting February 2018. Tax-Aide does not have an income limit but helps low and moderate income taxpayers of any age with special attention given to seniors 50 plus. Make your appointment by calling please call (925) 370-8770. Jan. 14 - Pancake Breakfast 8-11am. The Martinez Senior Center Club puts on a pancake breakfast the 2nd Sunday of every month. This breakfast is open to the community and includes eggs (made to order), sausage, pancakes, orange juice and coffee. The delicious breakfast is $4.00 for adults and $2.50 for children under 10. Jan. 19 - Semi-Annual Membership Meeting Potluck. Calling all members! Please plan on attending this very informative meeting. We must have a minimum of 35 members present to have a quorum. A signup sheet for the potluck is located in the lobby. Potluck starts at 12pm followed by meeting at 12:45pm. 818 Green Street, Martinez 925-370-8770
Pleasant Hill Senior Activities
Jan. 7 – Pancake Breakfast 8:30-10:30am. All ages welcome! Enjoy a stack of pancakes, eggs, sausage and orange juice and coffee. Adults (11+): $5, children (5-10): $3, 4 & under: free! Jan. 11 – Care Management Education Series Presents: “Aging in Place” 2-3:30pm. Learn how to help your loved one stay in their home successfully. CMP Series is sponsored by Carlton Senior Living, presented by Hillendale Home Care, Hospice of the East Bay & Senior Visionary Services. Passport to Aging in Today’s Healthcare Market 4pm in the Dining Room; FREE! Presented by Colleen Callahan Jan. 10th - Medicare & Travel: Love to travel? Be sure you are protected! This interactive presentation will cover Medicare and how to apply. Jan. 17th - Long Term Care: 70% of those over the age of 65 will require some type of long-term care. This presentation will address what long-term care is and reasons to consider it as well as what it takes to qualify for benefits. Jan. 24th - Life Insurance: Do you want to leave a legacy for your family? Cover final expenses? Determine what is the best fit for you and your family and learn the different types of insurance. RSVP at the front desk; (925) 798-8788 233 Gregory Lane, Pleasant Hill 925-798-8788
WANTED!
(LtoR): Back row: Christina Ratcliffe, Anne Stanley, Kendra McKeen, Lynn Enea, Beverly Gomer, Debbie Bradley, June Rogers, and Pat Eileen Fisher. Front row: Bert Vigil, Linda Shahade, Theresa Hoffman, Judy Moon, Sara Stout, Evonne Siguenza, and Char West
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Meals on Wheels and Senior Outreach Services Meals on Wheels and Senior Outreach Services is a non-profit 501(c) (3) organization (IRS #68-0044205).
OURCOMMUNITYFOCUS.COM | JANUARY 2018 | 27
Valentine’s Boutique Valentine’s Day comes early this year with the ultimate local shopping experience at the 2nd annual free Super Valentine’s Boutique on Sunday, January 28, in the elegant Hilton Concord Golden Gate Ballroom. Shoppers will be able to pamper themselves and buy gifts for their sweethearts. The boutique is open from 11am – 4pm, with free admission and free parking. The free indoor fair allows shoppers to get their special Valentine outfit and Valentine gifts for family and friends from over 60 arts and crafts vendors, home-based businesses, and commercial exhibitors. The boutique is indoors at the Hilton Concord Hotel, 1970 Diamond Blvd. just two blocks off Interstate 680 at Willow Pass Rd. Clothing for women, teens and kids, makeup, jewelry, purses, candles, soaps, candy, fashion accessories, candy, coffee and tea, home goods, bath and body, kitchenware and cooking products, baked goods, and so much more will be available. There will be free chair massages, a free Valentine selfie photo booth, and free demonstrations and workshops. This year, the Hilton Concord will have a wine and cocktail bar open at the boutique for shoppers to relax during and after they shop. The first 400 shoppers through the door will receive a Valentine gift bag. Each attendee will receive a free raffle ticket for numerous Valentine-themed prizes. Donation of food to the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano will earn the donor another raffle ticket for each can donated. Visit www.SuperValentinesBoutique.com for more information and to register for a free family ticket and free $2 sweetheart bucks for use at the boutique. Super Valentine Boutique is free to the public, and there’s free ample parking at Hilton Concord.
Free Admission & Parking ULTIMATE VALENTINE’S SHOPPING EXPERIENCE
Sunday, January 28 • 11 am - 4 pm Hilton Concord Ballroom 1970 Diamond Blvd.
Over 60 Vendors to pamper yourself and buy gifts for your Valentine. ❤ Free Raffle with great Valentine’s prizes ❤ Free Selfie Photo Booth ❤ Free Gift Bag to 1st 400 Adults ❤ Hilton wine & cocktail bar
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. 28, 2018. Cannot be redeemed for cash. Minimum $5 purchase. Cannot be combined with any other Sweetheart Buck to purchase item. No copies or facsimiles.
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Register for a free family ticket and a $2 Sweetheart Buck:
www.SuperValentinesBoutique.com 28 | JANUARY 2018 | OURCOMMUNITYFOCUS.COM
Read My Mind
©
The Presidential Election Revisited BY MICHAEL G. HARRIS, OD More books about the 2016 presidential election? Sorry, but as a political junkie, I just couldn’t resist. I hope you find them interesting and insightful if not entertaining. The “train wreck” that led to Trump’s nomination is recalled in Matt Taibbi’s Insane Clown President: Dispatches from the 2016 Circus. Taibbi captures the crux of Trump’s campaign: spectacle is more important than substance. There’s much to credit for Trump’s stunning victory, including the failure of the Democrats to connect with working Americans, the “lesser-oftwo-evils campaign strategy,” and the media that thought ratings were more important than covering the issues that enraged the working class. Taibbi’s book “unfolds as a comedy that slowly turns into a horror movie.” In Understanding Trump, former Congressman Newt Gingrich provides a sympathetic and supportive perspective of Trump and his unique background. Gingrich focuses on Trump’s decades as a successful businessman. “He knew from more than a dozen years of producing The Apprentice that the media needs content… by the minute.” Rather than meeting with consultants or paying for television advertising, Trump got more media attention with his constant tweets. They made their own headlines and kept his message constantly in the news. For more insight into the election, read Jonathan Allen and Amie Parnes’ Shattered: Inside Hillary Clinton’s Doomed Campaign, Katy Tur’s Unbelievable: My Front Row Seat to the Craziest Campaign in American History, and Richard North Patterson’s Fever Swamp: A Journey Through the Strange Netherland of the 2016 Presidential Race. Shattered reconstructs “the key decisions and unseized opportunities, the well-intentioned misfires and the hidden thorns that turned a winnable contest into a devastating loss.” Clinton’s campaign was
“being run by amateurs” and “looked like the gang that couldn’t shoot straight.” It seemed that Clinton was “measuring the drapes in the Oval Office while her team was mismeasuring the electorate.” Many longtime Democratic donors were pushing for Clinton to drop out and for Joe Biden to run in her place. Obviously, that didn’t happen in Clinton’s broken campaign that ultimately led to Trump’s victory. Tur’s Unbelievable is her “darkly comic, bizarre, and scary” story of how a former reality star becomes president. As an NBC correspondent, Tur captures the essence of the Trump campaign from the beginning to the end. She starts her story with a quote from Trump’s book The Art of the Deal: “I play to people’s fantasies… People want to believe that something is the biggest and the greatest and the most spectacular. I call it truthful hyperbole. It’s an innocent form of exaggeration – and a very effective form of promotion.” This quote provides the springboard for understanding the success of Trump’s campaign. Tur’s reporting is so detailed that she seems to cover every day of the 500-day campaign. She reaches two conclusions about the campaign: “First, no one can make sense of it. Second, I’m not smart enough to try.” Rather than explain it, Tur simply tells us what she witnessed in the “most unlikely, exciting, ugly, trying, and all-around bizarre campaign in American history.” She also provides a glimpse into “a no-rules world where reporters were spat on, demeaned, and discredited,” and fake news was more important than real news. Unbelievable is a must-read for those who wonder - did this really happen? Fever Swamp is a funny, clever, prophetic book that focuses on “the baldfaced lies, the painful truths, the pivotal issues, and the astonishing personalities that made the election of 2016 utterly unpredictable and uniquely consequential.” While these books are all fascinating, after reading any or all of them, you will still be left wondering: “What happened?” We may never know.
Protect Our Oceans Storm Preparedness Protect Homes and Property
BY DR. LOUISA ASSEO As I was growing up, my mother used to tell me if I didn’t get out of the pool or the ocean I might develop gills and fins. While on vacation a few months ago, I tried to test her theory. I spent over 24 hours underwater SCUBA diving. Not all at the same time, of course. (Alas, no gills, and my fins were still removable). What I did develop was a deeper love and appreciation for the delicate balance of our oceans. SCUBA diving is one of the places I find ultimate tranquility and relaxation. Swimming alongside schools of colorful reef fish, seeing the majestic trumpet fish glide gently through the water, and earning the trust of the shy garden eels to let me get close enough to see their tiny eyes before disappearing into their sandy holes, are just a few of the things that make the underwater environment a magical place for me. But the ocean is not just a place for recreation and rejuvenation. Sylvia Earle, a world-renowned ocean conservationist, stated, “Even if you never have the chance to see or touch the ocean, the ocean touches you with every breath you take, every drop of water you drink, every bite you consume. Everyone everywhere is inextricably connected to and utterly dependent upon the existence of the sea.” Just one example of this dependence is that over 70% of the world’s oxygen is produced by phytoplankton. These single-celled plant-like organisms live in the oceans, consuming carbon dioxide and using sunlight to convert it back into breathable oxygen. If we don’t help keep these tiny organisms healthy and thriving, what will happen to the health of the earth? And the existence of man? If we are to remember this, why not take active strides to help protect this precious resource? There are simple
BY SUPERVISOR KAREN MITCHOFF, CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, DISTRICT IV Late November, I participated in a press conference with Contra Costa County Public Works and Flood Control staff. This was an opportunity to inform the community about current projects the county is working on as well as share details on how people can protect their homes and property during the rainy season. Public Works crews are still managing repairs and the aftermath of torrential rains that caused so much damage throughout the East Bay earlier this year. Last winter, large storms led to a landslide on Morgan Territory Road that ultimately caused the county to close the roadway. A temporary access was developed, the slide was repaired, and the roadway was reopened in November. We encourage residents to prepare their property. Determine where you may have excess water on your property and obtain sandbags if needed. Clean your gutters and ditches now to ensure water can flow with no obstructions. Also, look at drainage inlets in the roadway in front of your property. We ask that residents take a proactive approach in keeping the inlets open and flowing if it is safe. County staff will clean these but
Photo by Trevor Donaghu.
NITY FO MU C M
US
things every person can do every day to make great strides in helping protect the oceans. Our daily habits and energy usage is causing the ocean’s acidity to rise. This harms and kills the plankton that creates our oxygen. By reducing our daily energy output, we can decrease our own “carbon footprint.” As we begin this fresh new year, let’s make active strides to help the oceans in 2018. To get started, how about trying three easy things: • Turn off lights when you are not in the room. Or go the extra mile and change light switches to motion sensor switches and change to energy efficient bulbs. • Unplug appliances when not in use. • Walk more and drive less – or carpool when possible. By making small changes today, we can keep our world healthier for tomorrow. Wishing you all a great 2018! 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.
CO
Let’s Make Active Strides to Help in 2018
COMMUNITY SPONSOR
cannot be at every inlet during a storm. Please assist by cleaning off leaves and trash that block the flow of storm water entering the inlets. The county has six sandbag filling stations that are accessible to residents 24 hours a day, seven days a week. All cities within the county also have sandbag locations. Locations for these sandbag stations can be found on our website at www.cccounty.us/sandbags. Please note that you will need to bring a shovel but bags and sand are available for free. You can find additional information at our Flood Control District’s website: http:// www.contracosta.ca.gov/5586/FloodControl. There is a video that demonstrates how to properly fill a sandbag. One big mistake we see is people filling bags completely, thinking more is better. It is best to fill sandbags 1/3 full, which is about three shovels worth of sand. Information regarding winter preparedness, rain and stream gauges, and flood forecasting is also available on Flood Control’s website. Rainfall and stream flow information can be found at www.cccounty.us/rainmap and the award-winning “Flood Forecasting Tool” and video at www.cccounty.us/1578. Our crews can respond to emergencies day and night. If you have flooding concerns, see a downed tree blocking a road or other emergency, please contact our maintenance division at (925) 3137000.
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now - january 6
january 3
january 8, 17 & 20
january 18
Plein Air
BFYEKO Comedy Show
CASA Informational Session
Fruit Tree workskhop
“The Big Fat Year End Kiss Off Comedy Show” returns to Downtown Martinez for one night, Wednesday, Jan. 3, 7pm, Campbell Theater, 636 Ward St. Tickets sold online only in advance. Tickets available at the door (cash only) if not sold out. www.eventbrite.com.
Impact the life of a foster child when you volunteer with Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA). Children with CASA volunteers have higher graduation rates and a lower rate of being homeless or committing a crime. 1/8 & 1/26: 12:30-2pm; 1/17: 6:30-8pm; 2151 Salvio St., Concord. www.cccocasa.org.
now - january 7
january 5
january 9
january 27
Holiday Ice Skating in Martinez
Oakland Art Murmur
Free Advance Health Care Directives
Stars to the Rescue
Martinez Arts Association presents “Plein Air: Local Artists Paint Martinez,” Martinez Library, 740 Grant St. For hours, visit ccclib. org/locations/martinez.
Main Street Martinez presents DC Solar Downtown Holiday Ice at Ferry St. and Marina Vista Ave. Brings friends or host a private event. Visit downtownholidayice.com for hours and rates.
The Oakland Art Murmur First Friday Art Walk and Saturday Stroll happens every month, rain or shine. Art galleries all over the city are open on Friday evening and Saturday afternoon to showcase the diverse artistic talent of the community. Visit oaklandartmurmur. org for venues and exhibitions.
now - january 15
Walnut Creek on Ice
Learn how to choose, prep, plant, prune, and maintain your fruit trees. Nurseries have the best selection of bare root plants in January and February.10am-12pm, $25. Rodgers Ranch, 315 Cortsen Rd., Pleasant Hill. sustainablecoco.ning.com/events.
Contra Costa Senior Legal Services teams up with members of CSAA Insurance Group’s Legal Division to provide free legal clinic for seniors 60 and older who reside in Contra Costa County. By appointment only, 1:30 – 4:30pm. Call (925) 798-8788. Pleasant Hill Senior Center.
Join host Tony La Russa and ARF at Stars to the Rescue, featuring Grammy-nominated country music phenomenon Cam, Broadway star Franc D’Ambrosio, and more! Proceeds allow ARF to save dogs and cats that have run out of time at public shelters. 7pm, Lesher Center for the Arts. www.leshercenterforthearts.com.
january 5
jan. 13 - march 13
january 27
Dr. John McCosker: Great White Sharks
Rummage Sale Drop Off
Oakland Jazz Choir & DVC A Capella Group
Lindsay Wildlife Experience presents the 1st of 9 Conservation Icons. Dr. John McCosker presents threats to sharks and what we all can do to help preserve the future of marine life and the oceans, 6 -7pm, Lesher Center for the Arts. www.leshercenterforthearts.com.
Furniture, instruments, home & sports goods, baby items, clothing, holiday decor, books, and collector items. Drop off Saturdays, 1/13-3/3, between 9am1pm, behind Las Lomas next to Whole Foods. Sale is March 17. Questions: llhs2020rummage@gmail. com.
Jazz ensemble dedicated to the preservation and growth of jazz. Arrangements of Earth, Wind & Fire, Crosby, Stills & Nash, Ole Sonny Rollins, Tower of Power, and many more, 8-10pm, Armando’s, 707 Marina Vista Ave., Martinez, (925) 228-6985.
now - february
jan 18 - feb 3
february 3
Blue Devils Special Needs Group
Neil Simon’s The Sunshine Boys
Big Bag of Books
Open to special needs participants of all abilities (ages 12+). No experience required. No fees to join or participate. Mondays, 7-9pm, thru Feb. 5. bluedevils.org/ programs/special-needs-guard.
Al and Willie as “Lewis and Clark” were top-billed vaudevillians for over forty years. A grudging reunion brings the two back together, resulting in miseries and laughs. Martinez Campbell Theater, Thursdays, Fridays & Saturdays at 8pm, Sundays at 2:30pm. www.campbelltheater.com.
Ice skating in Walnut Creek’s Civic Park returns for 13th season. Take lessons, bring friends, throw a party, or surprise your date. Visit Walnutcreekonice.com for hours and rates.
Friends of the Martinez Library invite the public to browse through thousands of gently used books & DVDs. For $5, fill a grocery bag with selections. Proceeds support library programs, 11am-4pm, Martinez Public Library (lower level), 740 Court Street. Free admission. 925-229-1959.
january 2
january 8
february 10
Pleasant Hill Garden Study Club
Folk Songs for Kids
Choice in Aging Crab Feed
Monthly meetings. Susan Morrison presents “Less is More Gardening” at 7pm. Guests are always welcome and free. PH Community Center, 320 Civic Dr., PH. (925) 323-9314 or www.phgsc.com.
Child educator/singer Dale Allen Boland visits Martinez Library and leads audience through refreshing sing-along for the whole family, 6:30pm. Free event in program room, first floor of 740 Court St. No registration required. (925) 646-9920.
Save the date. Choice in Aging presents a crackin’ evening of crab, music, live and silent auction, and no-host bar. Proceeds benefit Mt. Diablo Center for Adult Day Health Care. Doors open at 5:30pm, Pleasant Hill Senior Center, 233 Gregory Lane. Visit www.choicinaging.org for ticket info.
OURCOMMUNITYFOCUS.COM | JANUARY 2018 | 31
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