July' 19 Community Focus

COMMUNITY

FOCUS ourcommunityfocus.com

JULY 2019

IN THIS ISSUE: • 4TH OF JULY FESTIVITIES • SCHOLARSHIP AWARDEES • SUMMER RECIPES

PLEASANT HILL • CONCORD • MARTINEZ • LAFAYETTE • WALNUT CREEK

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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:

INSIDE

4 Homeless Help

14 Local Live Music

27

Rattlesnake Advisory

5 Relay for Life Activist

22 Make Some Plans

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Past Pleasant Hill 4th of July Parade.

Photo by: Trish Heaney

6680 Alhambra Ave. Box #132 Martinez, CA 94553

925-335-6397

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2013

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Best Insurance Agent

2013 • 2014 • 2015 • 2016/2017

2 | JULY 2019 | OURCOMMUNITYFOCUS.COM

Meet Ricardo Rodriguez who lives in Martinez and teaches at a private school in San Ramon. He is originally from Peru and has resided in the United States for 12 years.

What is your biggest challenge? I had a heart attack last October. I was a code blue and had flatlined when I arrived at the hospital. I was taken to John Muir Hospital in Concord. Two doctors told my sister my chances of surviving was very slim and to be prepared for the worst. Then a third doctor, Dr. McWhirter, came out and said he would do his best. He came back out 30 minutes later and said I had made it.

More about Ricardo: 1. After my heart attack, spending time with my family is more meaningful to me now.

2. Something I’ve discovered in the past year is that I love studying. What’s ironic is that when I was in high school in Peru, I didn’t have enough credits to pass and ended up being a freshman for three years. I went on to get a PhD degree in Education.

3. I’m a hiker, and what motivates me is my goal of hiking again by October.

Julie Says Rabbit, Rabbit

BY JULIE ROSS

A while back, I was walking my dogs and spied a penny on the sidewalk. Although I recognized its negligible monetary value, I found myself unable to leave it there. Really. I apparently have been brainwashed by the old adage, “See a penny, pick it up, and all-the-day you’ll have good luck.”

Anyway, into my pocket it went with expectations high. Sadly, my hopes for a lucky day were promptly dashed, first with a soap-in-the-eyes incident in the shower followed by a broken shoelace with no matching replacement and rounding out the afternoon with the ominous “check engine” light going on in my car. Certainly not even close to my worst day ever but also not what I would classify as “lucky.” Stupid penny.

Fast forward to a few days later when an ad in email from from the Etsy website alerted me to the availability of “the luckiest necklace in the world.” With the memory of the not-so-lucky penny still stinging, I decided to take a look. The necklace is a silver chain with a brass ring attached, holding not one but seven (a lucky number!) good luck charms.

Four are the usual suspects – a four-leaf clover/shamrock, a horseshoe (although the way it was hanging on the ring it appeared the luck could potentially spill out), a tiny rabbit’s foot replica, and an intact wishbone (even though we all know it’s only lucky if you come away with the larger half when snapped with a competitor.)

I had seen the other three charms before but actually had to look them up for enlightenment. One is an Italian horn, or cornicello. This is the one that looks like a chili pepper and is said to ward off

the evil eye. There is a Hamsa hand, a hand with an open eye in the middle of the palm, which is another (somewhat creepy) guard against the evil eye. The final charm on the necklace is a Manekineko cat – a Japanese figurine of a cat with one of its front paws held up, often seen in statue form at the entrance of Japanese and Chinese businesses. The cat is believed to bring good luck to the owners. Hmmm. After careful consideration, I concluded it would be better if I could commit to a single talisman or superstitious ritual rather than simply try to cover all the bases. Sorry, Etsy.

Fortunately, I came across an alternative plan from a newsletter forwarded to me by my husband that doesn’t involve fallible pennies or an overdose of charms. Maybe you are already familiar with the practice of saying “Rabbit, Rabbit,”“White Rabbits,” or “Rabbit, Rabbit, Rabbit,” as the first words out of

your mouth on the first morning of each month to ensure good luck for the rest of it.

I’m starting the “Rabbit, Rabbit” routine July 1 (or if I forget, which is highly likely, August 1). I hope you will do the same because we all deserve good luck this summer. Just warn your family members first. They will probably be expecting a “Good Morning.”

You can reach Julie at julieakross@ comcast.net

OURCOMMUNITYFOCUS.COM | JULY 2019 | 3

Rattlesnake Advisory Safety in the Regional Parks

BY JEN VANYA, EAST BAY REGIONAL PARK DISTRICT

As the weather heats up, rattlesnakes become more active in many of our parks, their natural habitat. They like to explore when the weather gets warm which can lead to more encounters with humans and dogs. The East Bay Regional Park District is advising that the public take snake safety precautions when visiting Regional Parks.

Safety Tips for Visiting Regional Parks • Always hike with a friend so you can help each other in case of emergency.

• Look at the ground ahead of you as you are walking.

• Look carefully around and under logs and rocks before sitting down.

• Avoid placing your hands or feet where you can’t see clearly.

• Check the area around picnic tables, campsites, and barbecues before using them. If you encounter a rattlesnake in

20th

ANNUAL

antiseptic and seek medical attention.

• If you are not sure what kind of snake bit you, check the bite for two puncture marks (in rare cases one puncture mark) associated with intense, burning pain.

This is typical of a rattle snake bite. Other snakebites may leave multiple teeth marks without associated burning pain.

Snakes are an important resource in the natural environment. They are prime controlling agents of rodent, insect, and

these areas, notify park staff.

• Keep pets on the designated trails and away from snakes if they see one.

Bring plenty of water for yourself and your pets as many parks do not have a direct water supply.

What to do if you see a rattlesnake • Leave it alone - do not try to capture or harm it. All park wildlife is protected by law. If you see a snake on a trail, wait for it to cross and do not approach. Then move carefully and slowly away.

What to do if bitten by a snake • If bitten by a rattlesnake, stay calm and send someone to call 911. Remain calm by lying down with the affected limb lower than the heart. Do not waste precious time on tourniquets, “sucking,” or snake bite kits. If you are by yourself, walk calmly to the nearest source of help to dial 911. Do not run.

• If bitten by any other kind of snake, wash the wound with soap and water or an

sunset by the lake

other reptile populations. They must be enjoyed from afar and left where they are found. It is illegal to collect, kill, or remove any plants or animals from the East Bay Regional Park District. Please help us to protect wildlife and their environment for present and future generations.

Additional information is available at www.ebparks.org/parks/ safety/#Snakes or download a PDF version of our Common Snakes.

Summer Concerts

Pleasant Hill City Hall Gregory Ln & Cleaveland Rd

On the lawn by the lake

6-8 PM

And catch the rest of the 2019 season!

Aug 4 The Big Jangle Aug 18...Sun Kings Sep 1...Top Shelf

ers Jul 7...Bell Broth Country

Sep 8...Forejour

GUZZLER BEER/WINE TRUCK

LIVEMUSIC & FAMILY FUN! Premium Stage Sponsor 4 | JULY 2019 | OURCOMMUNITYFOCUS.COM

Jul 21..SONA New Classic Rock

Season Sponsors

Oasis

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Club of Pleasant Hill

Veterinary Hospital

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Five Star Real Estate Team Proud Sponsors of this event

Homelessness New Prevention Services

BY SUPERVISOR KAREN MITCHOFF

My two previous two articles focused on Contra Costa County’s homeless system of care and the integration of our Health, Housing and Homeless services, known as H3. As I hope I have conveyed, H3 has an extensive array of programs and services, and their department has undergone an incredible transformation in the past year to best respond to the needs of our community. I have written about the Continuum of Care and how to access services at different entry points tailored to meet people where they are. I also want to share the latest homeless population numbers, the work we do around homeless prevention services, and additional services we connect our homeless population to.

While our services have continued to evolve and improve, due to the rapid popu-

lation growth and extraordinary high cost of housing, Contra Costa County has seen the number of homeless expand. Results of the 2019 Point in Time Count show that homelessness has grown 43% over the past two years. However, the data shows that 90% of this growth occurred over the first year between 2017 and 2018. Our system of care and services has expanded since then.

This has helped slow the rising number of people experiencing homelessness in our county to just 3% between 2018 and 2019.

It should be noted that counties across the Bay Area saw similar growth rates, with Alameda County also increasing 43% and Santa Clara County increasing 31%.

As we have streamlined our services, H3 has developed a program called Rapid Resolution, which has resulted in more than 30 people avoiding homelessness since March 2019. Rapid Resolution started out as a pilot program that will now be implemented systemwide. Rapid Resolution is an interven-

tion designed to prevent immediate entry into homelessness or immediately resolve a household’s homelessness once they enter shelter, transitional housing, or an unsheltered situation. People are now screened as soon as they touch the system of care, and H3 determines if their homelessness can be avoided by the use of the following services: • Coaching and problem solving on an individual basis • Conflict resolution and mediation with landlords, family, friends • Connection to mainstream services • Housing Search Assistance and Stabilization Planning • Aftercare and follow-up support • Limited financial assistance

When families and individuals can remain in their homes, this helps stabilize all the facets of their life that support self-sufficiency. Jobs are retained, families are fed, and children are safe. Another program that H3 uses is the Housing Security Trust Fund,

which is a county-wide community fund that covers costs which could otherwise prevent many people, including seniors, veterans, and families, from getting back into housing and protects participating property owners who offer these screened renters an opportunity.

H3 also works with Shelter Inc. to help house our veterans. Shelter Inc. provides case management and rental assistance to very low-income veterans and their families who are homeless or at-risk of becoming homeless through their Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) Program. They also work with our local County Veteran Service Officer to ensure the veterans are receiving their benefits.

I hope you have found this homeless services series informative of the many services we strive to provide. If you would like more information on H3 or would like to get more involved, please reach out to my office at (925) 521-7100.

look out of pride for the family. Proud of what it was and pride of what it can be!

We are happy to share our vendors with you; we trust and admire many who do inspections and repairs and are happy to sup-

ply their information with you. Just ask!

Call Norma Flaskerud at 925-338-2980, or email Norma at NormaJ49@gmail.com or call Erik at 925-381-7276 or email Erik at Erik.Flaskerud@Remax.net DRE# 00867031

Real Estate Trends The As-Is vs. Fixed-Up Question

BY NORMA FLASKERUD

We are often asked, “Should we fix up the house or should we/can we just sell it as-is??

There are so many variables that there is no simple cut and dry answer.

For instance, this past week we met with the heirs to a small Concord home. Their parents bought in the 60’s and the house is owned outright. It’s been well maintained but the interior is dated. The decor, paint, floor coverings and kitchen could all be enhanced. Should they do the usual, like paint the interior and add new floor coverings? The answer would be a simple “yes,” because those two improvements usually net the seller twice what they pay. But wait, the house has two bigger ticket items that may need attention! Popcorn ceilings that probably have asbestos in them, and a very old roof that looks like its on its last leg!

Those last two items are rather expensive to fix and may net dollar for dollar return on fixing them. They are not an easy profit fix. To muddy the waters of the “fix or sell as-is” question, is the fact there are 4 heirs. So IF they increase their value enough to create a profit of $20,000, it breaks down to $5000 each; so, is it worth it? By the time one of them (with our hands-on assistance) manages the fix-up over a timeline of 2-3 months, they might each gain $5000 more. You can see why an as-is sale might be best for this family. Each situation is unique and there is no hard rule.

Consult with us. Our years of selling well in excess of 650 homes and seeing every situation imaginable, will play into our answer of how we advise in this scenario. I want to add that there is one intangible I have run across many times. Sometimes it makes financial sense to sell as-is, but the seller fixes it up anyway! Why? Pride! Pure and simply he/she wants to show off their home or their parent’s home in its best dressed-up

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OURCOMMUNITYFOCUS.COM | JULY 2019 | 5

CITY NEWS

Mayor’s Message

Planning is an essential part of our everyday life. We plan our daily activities or maybe calendar our activities for the coming weeks or months. We plan for our household, the next big purchase, a vacation, retirement, and estate planning.

Planning and considering the future is an essential part of our life. As a city council, our decisions are often made based on the short and long-term impacts to the future of our city. Now is the time for all of us to have a voice in planning the future of Pleasant Hill. We have begun the city’s general plan process, “PLEASANT HILL 2040.”

While every city is required to have a general plan, it really is an opportunity to shape the future of our community, and your voice and ideas need to be a part of it.

“The general plan represents the community’s views and expresses the community development goals.” The city has initiated the general plan process and has hired Mintier Harnish to consult and facilitate the process.

There are nine required elements to a general plan: land use, circulation, housing, conservation, open space, noise, safety, environmental justice, and air quality. But to many of you, there may be issues of a

more local concern that can also be included in the general plan, issues like community character, economic development, and urban design. Overall, the general plan is not an easy task nor should it be when one considers it is the framework for our community for several years to come.

While the city has begun the initiation of the general plan process, it is the second phase that I believe is the key to the future of Pleasant Hill, the “Community Engagement.” The general plan website is up and running and is filled with critical information on the general plan process: www. pleasanthill2040.com. Visit the website and learn all about the process of developing the general plan. Sign up to receive emails and notifications on updates and events. There will be surveys, workshops, and several opportunities for community involvement and input. If you are not able to be at one of the workshops or events, the website is the way to leave comments and suggestions or ask questions. Also, look for “Pleasant Hill 2040” at community and city events.

Here are some things to ask yourself and consider as you participate in the general plan process: What do you see as the future of Pleasant Hill? What types of busi-

Ken Carlson, Mayor of Pleasant Hill

ness should we try and attract to Pleasant Hill? What should be our role in addressing the shortage of housing in our area? Thinking regionally, what is Pleasant Hill’s role or place in the region? What impact do new state laws or actions in Sacramento have on Pleasant Hill and what can we do in response? Finally, what about preserving

the character and feel of Pleasant Hill while meeting state mandates and our obligations as a community?

The general plan is your opportunity to have a hand and voice in our future. I am excited as we begin to move forward and hear new and innovative ideas and plans to shape the Pleasant Hill of 2040.

Chamber Calendar July 2 - Membership 101 10am-12pm, Chamber Office, 91 Gregory Lane Suite 11 July 4 - Pleasant Hill 4th of July Parade, the Chamber will be participating all day, Cleaveland & Gregory Lane July 7 - Summer Concerts by the Lake, Bell Brothers 6-8pm, by the lake at City Hall (100 Gregory Road) July 10 & July 24 - Wednesday 680 Club 8:30-10am, JFK University, 100 Ellinwood Way, Pleasant Hill July 16 - Membership 101 10am -12pm, Chamber Office, 91 Gregory Lane Suite 11 July 18 - Mega Mixer (Host Martinez) 5:30-7:30pm, The Cobra Experience, 777 Arnold Dr, Ste 200, Martinez July 19 - Blues & Brews Festival 6-9pm, Pleasant Hill Park, 147 Gregory Lane, Pleasant Hill July 20 - Blues & Brews Festival 3-9pm, Pleasant Hill Park, 147 Gregory Lane, Pleasant Hill July 21 - Summer Concerts by the Lake 6-8pm, SONA, by the lake at City Hall (100 Gregory Rd) July 29 - Government Affairs Committee Meeting 4:30-5:30pm, WiseGirl Ristorante Italiano & Cocktails, 1932 Oak Park Blvd, Pleasant Hill

Public Meetings

Civic Action July 10 City Hall, 100 Gregory Lane, Small Community Room, 6:30pm. Contact: 671-5229 City Council July 1, 15 City Hall, 100 Gregory Lane, Council Chambers, 7:00pm. Contact: 671-5229 Architectural Review July 18 City Hall, 100 Gregory Lane, Large Community Room, 5:00pm. Contact: 671-5209 Planning Commission July 9, 23 City Hall, 100 Gregory Lane, Council Chambers, 6:30pm. Contact: 671-5209 Commission on Aging July 11 City Hall, 100 Gregory Lane, Small Community Room, 5:00pm. Contact: 671-5229 Education Commission No meeting in July City Hall, 100 Gregory Lane, Large Community Room, 7pm. Contact: 671-5229 PH Rec & Park Board Meetings are typically held the 2nd & 4th Thursday each month at District Office, 147 Gregory Lane. Meeting dates and agendas are posted 72 hours prior to meeting. Refer to recent agenda for meeting dates.

District residents are encouraged to contact board members about current issues facing the district.

6 | JULY 2019 | OURCOMMUNITYFOCUS.COM

CITY NEWS

Pleasant Hill City News

Council Discusses Library Closure and Resolution

At the June 3 city council meeting, Councilmember Noack gave an update on the new library construction that included a projected timeline. She stated that the environmental impact report is expected to be released this summer.

She also said that groundbreaking for the new library is expected in spring of 2020 and the closing of the current library will be June 2020.

Due to the unforeseen early closure, Councilmember Harris considered a possible resolution as a show of solidarity to keep the current library open until the new library is built. “When we went to the voters to pass Measure K, we did not have a site for the library. We didn’t know the County was going to close the library at the time that we went forward with the measure. I am extremely sympathetic with all of you who want the old library to stay open until the new library is completed. I’m asking the mayor to put on the agenda for our next meeting discussion of the closure of the old library and a resolution to the County to ask them to keep the library open until the new library is available. We might be able to put some pressure on the County through a resolution and I hope that’s what we do.”

Public comment was full of frustration and disappointment over the planned early closure of the Pleasant Hill library. Mayor Carlson stated he would follow up with staff to have a resolution by the end of July. “We will continue to raise our voices and will continue to move forward,” he said.

511 Contra Costa Summer Bike Challenge

The Summer Bike Challenge is free and open to people of all ages. During the months of July and August, bike around town, cross off challenge squares as you go, and pick up free treats along the way. Challenge Cards available at the library, City Hall, Community Center, and online at 511contracosta.org/sbc/phsbc/. Activate your challenge card online at: 511cc.org/go.

July Activities and Prizes: On July 19 from 10am-12pm, bike the Pleasant Hill Library and receive a free Peet’s Coffee Gift Card. On July 27 from 9-11am bike to Soldiers Memorial Monument on Boyd Road for a free gift card. Free items available while supplies last.

Memorial Fund for Tara O’Sullivan

A memorial fund has been set up for Sacramento Police Officer Tara O’Sullivan, who was killed in the line of duty on June 19 while responding to a domestic violence call. O’Sullivan was a 2011 College Park graduate from Pleasant Hill, attended Diablo Valley College and Sacramento State. She had been working with the department since January 2018 and was a graduate of the Sacramento Police Academy. Donations to the fund, which was created by the California Association Highway Patrol Credit Union, can be made online: www. cahpcu.org/OfficerTaraOSullivanMemorialFund or through mail at the following address: Officer Tara O’Sullivan Memorial Fund, PO Box 276507, Sacramento, CA 95827.

Blues & Brews Festival

Get your tickets now for the 10th Annual Blues & Brews Festival on Friday, July 19 and Saturday, July 20. The event is brought to you by the Pleasant Hill Recreation & Park District and Pleasant Hill Chamber of Commerce. The event features free live music including Midnight Flyer and The Big Jangle and craft brew tasting. VIP tickets with early admission: $55 (+Eventbrite fees). VIP tent admission starts at 3pm. General Admin Tickets: $40 in advance (+Eventbrite fees) and $50 day of the festival. General admission tent entry time: 4-8pm. Only tasting ticket holders are allowed access to craft beer tasting tent. Must be 21+ years to purchase tickets. For more information, visit www.bluesandbrewsfestival.com.

t h n e i USA! n i k c o R o urth f July o F in

Family fun ALL DAY at Pleasant Hill’s 4th of July!

Pleasant Hill

Fun entertainment on the stage & lawn (10:30am-1:30pm)!

6:30am

Firecracker Fun Run registration by the Clock Tower

National Anthem— Emily Stone

7:50

100-yard dash for kids 7 & under

Crosstown 5 band

8:00am

Start of the 15th annual Firecracker 5K Fun Run

9:30am

Buttons Z Clown Candy Zone, Ball Crawl, Aquarium/Undersea Playspace, California Wave Slide, Dual Bay Slide, Rescue Hero’s Playspace

Start of Pleasant Hill’s famous hometown Parade

10:30am Party-in-the-Park Watermelon eating contest, sack races, bean bag toss, water balloon launch, face painting, crafts, slide, petting zoo and more. Refreshments and water available.

7:15pm

PLUS! Great food from:

Back 40 Texas BBQ (in the park) Steel Smokin BBQ (at CPHS) Cool Spoon Vending (in the park) At both venues: Izzy A’s Frozen Custard Gotta Love Kettle Corn

The Ripplers band and Fireworks over College Park High School to follow (food available)

THANK YOU...to all the businesses and individuals who made this possible!

Grand Sponsor / Crackling Finale

City of Pleasant Hill Norma & Erik, The Flaskerud Team, Re/MAX Accord

(Fireworks Sponsor)

Patrick & Shirley Campbell Foundation Pleasant Hill Coin & Jewelry

Pleasant Hill Rotary Foundation Republic Services

Sponsor / Starburst Vestar–Downtown Pleasant Hill, Pleasant Hill Crescent Drive Investors, LLC

Concord Feed & Fuel – Tony & Tina Akins Contra Costa Country Club Daily Digital Imaging Donaghu Graphic Designs Hillcrest Veterinary, Zach Anderson Irvin Deutscher Family YMCA

Advanced Eyecare, Robert Turcios Amy Wasser, Edward Jones Investments Bill's Ace Hardware/Bill Wygal Crown Construction

Pleasant Hill Lions Club The Pleasant Hill Community Foundation Patron / Kaboom Jim & Sandy Bonato Matt Rinn State Farm Agency Payless Painting Pleasant Hill Recreation & Park District Pleasant Hill Chamber Supporter / Oooooooh Deutscher Properties Corp, David Deutscher Diablo View Veterinary, James Busbee Harry Parsonage

Nicolo Manlapaz, CFP, MBA Ameriprise (Parade Prize Sponsor)

of Commerce Michael Harris The Olson Family, Pleasant Hill Grocery Outlet R.J. Gordon Construction Sisters Hillcrest Dry Cleaners

Jerry Proctor Payless Painting Sue & Charlier Noack Supervisor Karen Mitchoff Zachary's Chicago Pizza, Kevin Suto

Donor / Aaaaaaah

Darcy Ferrero Gudrun Pleasanton

John and Beverly Prosek Kathleen Lowe

Kevin Kennedy Pat Derickson

Robyn Rice

And a special THANK YOU to Pleasant Hill PD! OURCOMMUNITYFOCUS.COM | JULY 2019 | 7

Choice in Aging Nonprofit of the Year

Choice in Aging (CiA) is proud to announce it has been selected as a 2019 California Nonprofit of the Year

by Assemblymember Tim Grayson. CiA President & CEO Debbie Toth joined the California Association of Nonprofits (CalNonprofits), Assemblymembers and State Senators along with 100 other nonprofits on June 5th at a luncheon at the Capitol in Sacramento. “With so many incredible nonprofits serving our community, we are honored to have been selected for this recognition. Older adults are often overlooked in our society, and we so appreciate Assemblymember Tim Grayson honoring them through selecting Choice in Aging,” stated Toth.

Since 1949, CiA has been removing barriers to independence for the frail and people with disabilities, while supporting their heroic caregivers and families.

CiA has adult day health programs that provide complex case management, nursing, physical, speech, art, music and

horticulture therapies, social work and a healthy meal, and most importantly a sense of community all disguised as fun, while giving their caregivers and their families much needed respite. In 2017, CiA opened Choice in Learning Montessori Preschool, bringing intergenerational programming and education together for the first time to Pleasant Hill.

“Nonprofits are often hidden in plain sight,” explains Jan Masoaka, CEO of CalNonprofits. “California Nonprofits Day is an opportunity for our elected official to celebrate the good work they see nonprofits doing in their districts, and for everyone to appreciate the collective impact of nonprofits in our communities.” There are 72,000 nonprofits in California, providing one in every 14 jobs. California nonprofits generate over $200 billion in revenue and bring in $40 billion in revenue from outside California. The unpaid labor contributed by volunteers at nonprofits is equivalent

to 450,000 full-time jobs every year. CiA is proud to have provided 70 years of nonprofit community service and looks forward to 70 more.

To learn more about Choice in Aging

visit www.choiceinaging.org or call Peggy Dillon at (925)682-6330 to schedule a tour. Information about Choice in Learning Montessori Preschool can be found at www.cilmontessori.org

Debbie Toth, President and CEO, Assemblymember Grayson and Sarah Chaney (Choice in Aging Employee)

Martinez 4th of July Events

Parade Kids are invited to participate in the Downtown Martinez 4th of July Parade.

Decorate your bike, trike, wagon, stroller or scooter and be a part of the parade. Bring your pre-decorated bike to the parade staging area on Court St. between Ward St. and Main St. at 9:30 am. Parade begins at 10am from Court St. to Alhambra Ave. Movie at the Campbell after the Parade Free movie and free popcorn after the parade at the Campbell Theater. Watch everyone’s favorite family of superheroes in Incredibles 2 from 1:30-3:30pm. Campbell Theater, 636 Ward Street in Martinez.

Fireworks Fireworks Show at 9:30pm at the Radke Martinez Shoreline Park presented by the City of Martinez in cooperation with East Bay Regional Park District.

Summer on the Main

Shell Martinez Refinery and Downtown Martinez Present 2019 Summer Music and Movies on Main! Plan a night out with family and friends and enjoy dining, shopping, live music at the Plaza on Main and outdoor movie under the stars with kids’ activities, arts and crafts and beer and wine. Bring chairs and blankets.

Join us in Downtown Martinez at the Main Street Plaza for the 2019 Summer Music and Movies on Main on Thursdays from July 11 and running through August 8. Live music will take place from 6:30-8:30pm followed by a movie under the stars around 8:45pm.

July 11 - Music: The New Frantics. Movie: The Little Mermaid July 18 - Music: Mixed Nuts. Movie: Angels in the Outfield July 25 - Music: Wake the Neighbors. Movie: Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory 8 | JULY 2019 | OURCOMMUNITYFOCUS.COM

Intergenerational activities with Choice in Learning Montessori Preschoolers and participants at Choice in Aging.

CITY NEWS

Martinez City News Shell Sells Martinez Refinery

On June 11 Shell announced the sale of the Martinez Refinery. The media release on the Shell website states that, “Equilon Enterprises LLC d/b/a Shell Oil Products US (Shell), a subsidiary of Royal Dutch Shell plc announced it has reached an agreement for the sale of Shell’s Martinez Refinery in California to PBF Holding Company LLC, a subsidiary of PBF Energy, Inc., for $1.0 billion consideration plus the value of hydrocarbon inventory, crude oil supply and product offtake agreements, and other adjustments. This divestment aligns with Shell’s strategy to reshape refining efforts towards a smaller, smarter refining portfolio focused on further integration with Shell Trading hubs, Chemicals, and Marketing. The transaction is subject to closing conditions and regulatory approvals and is expected to close in 2019”. More information about this sale can be found on www.shell.com/media/news-and-media-releases.html.

Annual 4th of July Parade

Over 3,000 people have been gathering to watch the colorful, patriotic, parade.

Groups, businesses, individuals are encouraged to participate and prizes are awarded in several categories.

Kids are invited to participate in the Downtown Martinez 4th of July Parade.

Decorate your bike, trike, wagon, stroller or scooter and be a part of the parade. Bring your pre-decorated bike to the parade staging area on Court St. between Ward St. and Main St. at 9:30am. Parade begins at 10am from Court St. to Alhambra Ave.

Enjoy the fireworks show at Radke Martinez Shoreline Park. Fireworks begin at 9:30pm.

Measure H Park Improvement Projects

At the June 18 meeting, the Parks, Recreation, Marina, & Cultural Commission (PRMCC) made a motion recommending City Council consider and approve a proposed Award of Contracts for a new building and resurfacing of the tennis courts at Golden Hills Park, and installing a new play structure at Highlands Park as part of the 2018-19 Measure H Park Improvement Project.

Last April, the City Council authorized the allocation of Measure H funds to the 2018-19 Measure H Park Improvement Project to cover the costs. The project would include a multi-use masonry block building to provide for bathrooms, a community room, and a storage/mechanical room. In addition, resurfacing of two (2) tennis courts. Also, installing new play structures and equipment at Highland Park.

Staff intends to present the contracts with each vendor to the Council on July 2.

The project is scheduled to begin construction in July.

Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory and August 1 - Music: Sunny and The Blackpack, Movie: Sweet Home Alabama (PG13).

Summer Bike Challenge

It’s not too late to participate in the 511 Contra Costa summer bike challenge. This time around it’s open to both adults and children, so everyone can enjoy free stuff while exploring their town by bike. Participation is easy: ride your bike to a destination on the challenge card and check it off. Check off 12 squares by September 3 and you’re eligible to enter a drawing for an iPad Mini. Each city will have its own winner!

To participate, download a printable challenge card by visiting https://511contracosta.org/sbc/martinez-sbc/, hop on a bike, and start exploring Martinez. On July 17, bike to the Martinez Library between 1pm and 3pm and receive a free Peet’s Coffee gift card. On July 27, bike to Ferry Point at the marina and receive a free Jamba Juice gift card! Free stuff available while supplies last during the timeframes indicated.

John Muir National Historic Site Campfire Program

Join the National Park Service for a free campfire program on Saturday, July 20 starting a 7pm, at John Muir National Historic Site (NHS) in Martinez. Rangers will lead the group in songs, skits and stories to celebrate the legacy of John Muir, one of the greatest naturalists and conservationists the world has ever known.

No reservations are required for this two hour event. Meet at the front gate of John Muir National Historic Site, 4202 Alhambra Avenue (at the Alhambra Ave. exit off Highway 4). Bring the whole family! There will be something for everyone. Come with picnic blankets, lawn chairs, marshmallows and a desire to have a good time. Rangers will direct you from the gate to the fire ring.

Public Meetings City Council Meeting July 3, 17 City Hall, 525 Henrietta Street, 6-9pm. Contact: 372-3500 Zoning Administrator Meeting July 3, 17 City Hall, 525 Henrietta Street, 4-6pm. Contact: 372-3500 Design Review Meeting July 10, 24 City Hall, 525 Henrietta Street, 4-6pm. Contact: 372-3500 Planning Commission Meeting July 9, 23 City Hall, 525 Henrietta Street, 7-11pm. Contact: 372-3500 For Confirmation Visit: www.cityofmartinez.org

National Night Out

National Night Out is Tuesday, August 6. National Night Out is a partnership between Law Enforcement and Neighborhood Communities. Neighbors come together to build stronger and safer neighborhoods through promotion of crime, drug and violence prevention programs. Contact your Neighborhood Policing Area Officer (NPA) to host a National Night Out event or find out where events are occurring in your neighborhood. If you don’t know who the Neighborhood Policing Area Officer is for your neighborhood, call Martinez Police Records at (925) 372-3443.

Summer Music & Movies on Main

Shell Martinez Refinery and Downtown Martinez Present 2019 Summer Music and Movies on Main. The event is every Thursday beginning on July 11 and runs through August 8. Live music at the Plaza on Main is from 6:30-8:30pm followed by a movie under the stars around 8:45pm. You can find kids activities, arts and crafts and beer and wine. Bring chairs and blankets.

Schedule: July 11 - Music: The New Frantics, Movie: The Little Mermaid; July 18 -Music: Mixed Nuts, Movie: Angels in the Outfield; July 25 - Music: Wake the Neighbors, Movie:

615 ALHAMBRA AVENUE, MARTINEZ, CA 94553 THANKS TO OUR CUSTOMERS FOR VOTING US #1!

2013 • 2014 • 2015 2016 / 2017 OURCOMMUNITYFOCUS.COM | JULY 2019 | 9

CITY NEWS

Mayor’s Message Aging Community Facilities: What’s the Solution?

Like many central Contra Costa cities, Walnut Creek is a mature city that experienced its largest growth from 1950 to 1975. Much of the city’s infrastructure – from roads and storm drains to community centers and recreation facilities -- was built during this era.

In recent years and with a combination of tax dollars, dedicated park funds, and private contributions, the city rebuilt or renovated a few older facilities, including City Hall-Police Department, Larkey Pool, 10 playgrounds, and the downtown library. However, four other highly used, older community center/recreation facilities have capacity and structural issues and now need our attention. Last year, the city embarked on a comprehensive two-year program to shape the future of Arts + Recreation programs and plan for updates to these four facilities: Civic Park CommunitySenior Center, Heather Farm Community Center, Clarke Swim Center, and Shadelands Art Center. Called “Your Parks, Your Future,” the ambitious project has, thus far, involved extensive community input and a series of recommendations for facility and program improvements.

The city council and two city commissions (Arts and Parks, Recreation and Open Space) are now actively reviewing the recommendations and addressing a range of key strategic questions and issues.

Civic Park Community-Senior Center Civic Park has been home to Walnut Creek’s senior services as well as a number of community arts programs.

• As the population ages, how will the need for senior programs evolve?

• Walnut Creek’s new housing is focused downtown. What programs and community facilities will new residents – singles, young families, and empty nesters – need? How will these resi10 | JULY 2019 | OURCOMMUNITYFOCUS.COM

dents use park and open space areas?

• The existing community center buildings are 50-60 years old and many sit near the creek. Is renovation realistic, or does the age and location in the flood plain necessitate rebuilding?

• How can we consolidate uses and maintain optimum flexibility while preserving the natural creek?

Heather Farm Community Center/ Clarke Swim Center Built in the early 1970s, Heather Farm and Clarke have evolved from a neighborhood park to a regional recreation hub.

• How do we focus on serving the needs of local residents for recreation classes, room rentals, and swim programs while continuing to attract a regional audience?

• What future recreation opportunities should we consider?

• What economies of scale are possible?

• What is the value of consolidating uses?

• How can circulation within the park be improved?

• How can we enhance open space and natural areas?

Shadelands Arts Center The Shadelands facilities are the newest of the group of facilities.

• How does consolidation of arts programming at Shadelands improve Civic Park and Heather Farm?

• What should be the programming priorities for this facility? What facilities will be needed to support these priorities?

Of course, the overriding question is how to balance the community’s desires with the fiscal challenges of flattening tax revenues and rapidly rising costs.

We encourage the community to share your ideas on these issues at future workshops and public meetings.

For more information, visit WalnutCreek.org/Your Parks.

Cindy Silva, Mayor of Walnut Creek

Walnut Creek City News 4th of July Concert in Civic Park The best place to start off your Independence Day celebration is in Civic Park. The Walnut Creek Concert Band will provide the musical inspiration for your July 4 fun at the Civic Park Gazebo. Bring your family and friends for a picnic in the park for this free event. The band kicks off the fun at 6pm.

Your Parks, Your Future Update At the June 10 special city council meeting, Senior Planner Jeanine Cavalli presented an update on the Your Parks, Your Future project and provided a summary of the process and outcome of Phase 1 work performed by the Advisory Committee, including recommendations for future facilities at Heather Farm, Civic Park and Shadelands Art Center.

Civic Park: Rebuild and consolidate the Community Center and Park Place into a new building; demolish the Assembly Hall and Ceramics building; move Industrial Arts programming to Shadelands.

Heather Farm: Rebuild and consolidate the Clarke Swim Center and Community Center into a new building; demolish Studio H and move Arts programs to Shadelands.

Shadelands Art Center: Demolish Annex building and rebuild into a new, larger Industrial Arts building to house ceramics, weaving and other industrial arts programs; refurbish main building.

Heather Farm Pools: Overall, council members were supportive of the Phase 1 recommendations. Councilmembers Francois and Wilk acknowledged all the community support for the pools at Heather Farm and preferred to keep the 50-meter pool option. “I think we would regret the decision to downsize or make it smaller,” said councilmember Francois. He also asked to hear more about how Walnut Creek residents feel about this issue.

Councilmember Silva stated that, “The 50-meter pool only serves about 450 people and half those people do not live in this community. We don’t have enough money to put toward any of this and so we have to decide as a council what is going to be the right thing to do. I am still with the 25-meter pool because I think it best serves the greater good of the community.” She also asked staff to get a number between the difference of what it costs to add the 25 extra meters of lap pool plus additional decking and explore splitting the cost with the community.

In a June 9 letter to Mayor Silva and Council Members, Michael Heaney, President of the Walnut Creek Aquatic Foundation and Andrea Kelly Smethurst, Vice President wrote, “The community survey and needs assessment conducted by the City consultant demonstrated overwhelming community support for a pool that would accommodate current and upcoming programming needs for aquatics. Ours is a community with a proud and strong tradition of aquatics. As you move forward with the process, the Walnut Creek Aquatic Foundation encourages you to support the option that includes a 50-meter pool. It is the option that reflects what the community of Walnut Creek wants and accommodates the current and upcoming programming needs of our growing community.”

The City Council directed staff to work with the commissioners to develop a mission statement for each park facility and prioritize the arts and recreation programs based on the mission. Phase 2, which will encompass updates to the Heather Farm and Civic park master plans, will begin later this year.

Estate Planning What Makes a Will Valid

BY JEFFREY HALL, Elder Law Attorney

Movies, television, and books like to present wills in dramatic ways -handwritten notes, videos, deathbed utterances -- but what actually makes a will valid? The law varies depending on what state you live in, but there are some basic rules.Â

The legal requirements for a will are fairly simple. In order for your will to be valid, you must know what property you have and what it means to leave it to someone, and then you must sign and date the document and have it witnessed according to the laws of your state. Most states require two witnesses to watch you sign the will and then sign as witnesses. Usually one of the witnesses can be the lawyer who drafted the will. Most states do not allow beneficiaries under the will to be witnesses.Â

Some states allow you to make a handwritten will called a “holographic� will. This will does not need to be witnessed, but it is much more likely to be challenged after you die. Some states require that the entire will be in your handwriting; others call for just the important portions to be in your handwriting. The writing must indicate your intent to make a will and clearly describe the property being given away.

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Stronger Than You Know Ciao from Italy!

BY DENA BETTI

As we dine al fresco, I overlook the Vignaioli Contrà Soarda Winery in the San Michele Bassano del Grappa region of Italy.

I’m overtaken by the beauty of the rolling hills, the luscious vines and the vintage olive trees.

The beauty and landscape are perfection to me, but my shear visual bliss is quickly shaken back to reality by the human dynamics at our dining table. The kids are now complaining of being too hot, one of the adult’s knives isn’t sharp enough to cut her meat so she’s now complaining and I, once again, find myself trying to break through into conversation, only to find myself being ignored by the adults I am traveling with.

How can this be? How can I be surrounded by such beauty, truly the fruit of the earth, and yet the only connection I feel

in the moment is with the scenery that surrounds me. This isn’t the first time I’ve felt like this on this trip. It’s challenging to not take my surrounding circumstances personally but if I am going to enjoy this trip and make the best of my circumstances, I better quickly draw from the tools in my toolbox and that’s exactly what I did.

So if you have upcoming travel plans with someone other than yourself, I’d like to suggest you equip yourself with some coping skills for managing challenging circumstances and/or difficult traveling companions.

I have found, by plenty of practice, that the best way to get along with family and friends so that no one gets hurt and relationships don’t erupt while traveling with one another, is to stick to the following five tips to help cope with challenging circumstances and varying personalities.

Ideally, the number one way to travel with a difficult person is to leave them be-

hind. Travel with companions with similar interests and temperament as you. Travel can bring out the worst in people and friends can quickly become enemies on a trip if you don’t choose wisely. If you have the option of traveling without a difficult person, leave them behind. If not, read on.

1. Patience, patience, patience. Stock up on patience and keep your cool. It really is a virtue when dealing with challenging people and circumstances. Stay calm, take deep soothing breaths and remember to outwardly smile.

2. Limit the time you spend together. You don’t have to spend every waking moment with your traveling companions. Engage in separate activities and meet up once in a while. Limiting time to small doses may make the time together more enjoyable.

3. Avoid being alone with your difficult companions. It’s often easier to ignore friction when others are around to help distract you and fill in the gaps.

4. Keep yourself occupied so you’re not reliant on constant communication to stay busy. Go on tours, take walks or work on taking those perfect photos.

5. Spend time relaxing alone. Taking time for yourself will help rejuvenate you and refill your patience meter to continue to deal with those travel partners that are trying to zap your joy.

Travel can be stressful in itself and having a difficult traveling partner or dealing with difficult circumstances does not make things easier but stay calm and keep your cool. You can still have a good time despite challenging circumstances and remember to travel with your traveler’s coping toolbox.

Stay calm and travel on!

Dena Betti is a graduate from the University of San Francisco, Executive Director of #hersmile Nonprofit and Certified Life Coach.

Limited personal coaching slots available or sign-up for a Habits to Happiness workshop, visit http://strongerthanyouknow.com.

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12 | JULY 2019 | OURCOMMUNITYFOCUS.COM

SPORTS

For the Girls

For the Girls, the spirited team of survivors, walked laps together at the recent Relay for Life event held in Pleasant Hill.

NorCal State Cup Final

The Martinez Pleasant Hill FC Avalanche ’05 took silver at the recent NorCal State Cup U14-U19 in June.

Pictured (LtoR): Debbie Shess, Kim Stanton, Jen Knuckles, Sarah Tymo, Alix Ziegler and Katrine Heintz.

PHBA All-Stars U12 Nationals

Pictured are (LtoR) back row: Kevin Crossman (coach), Caroline Rardin, Katelyn Crossman, Jon Hoppe (coach), Molly Harrison, Ryan Hoppe, Kylie Long, Ella Fitch, Missy LeClaire, Abby Wood, Tony Rardin (coach). Front row: Noelle Silvera, Grace Tymo, Ava Salazar, Mia Brinker and Sophie Hall and Allie Watkins (not pictured).

Senz Wins

Pleasant Hill resident John Scott Senz battled inclement weather that included gale force winds on both days of the competition and came up with a 269-yard drive to win his division of the 2019 ParaLong Drive Cup at the Sports and Event Complex in Mesquite, Nevada on Thursday, May 16 and Friday, May 17. Senz is pictured with Dean Jarvis, the event’s organizer.

Pictured (LtoR): Andy Dumlao. Malachi Huetra, Matthew Tymo, Trevor Rosario, Izaac Jinks, Ryan Ranganian (back) , John Zielinsky (front), Nick Mispagel (back) , Damian Kochaphum and Judah Wenslawski.

PHBA All-Stars 13-18 Western

OURCOMMUNITYFOCUS.COM | JULY 2019 | 13

SPORTS

Fighting Cancer at the Relay for Life

Local Resident has Completed Almost 800 Laps

BY DOMINIKE TAMBAZIDIS

When it comes to fighting the battles of cancer, citizens of Contra Costa gather together to bring awareness and fundraise for those affected by the disease.

By participating in Relay for Life, put on by the American Cancer Society (ACS), one can benefit individuals country-wide with resources that would not otherwise be available to them.

Because of these fundraisers, $410 million raised went to lifesaving cancer research grants, 1.34 million patients and caregivers used support calls provided by the ACS, and nearly 452 thousand patients were provided free lodging at Hope Lodge communities.

A notable local hero to this cause is the incredible Andrew Ramirez, who has vigorously participated in Relay for Life since

2013.

Ramirez has walked almost 800 laps and counting, and has participated in seven relays. He has been recognized by Relay for Life as a committed participant, received medals for his numerous laps, and won a certificate by the American Cancer Society in recognition of his devotion to help end cancer.

“Ever since I discovered Relay for Life, my goal has been helping end this terrible disease,” Ramirez said, “I want to help the best way possible to eliminate cancer from the planet once and for all.”

Ramirez is a Concord local and discovered Relay for Life at a local farmers’ market booth. As a runner for a big part of his life, he realized his endurance could be put to great use and was inspired to join the fight.

“How much would it mean to get rid of this disaster of a disease?” Ramirez questioned.

“This requires more than just walking; you have to work hard, give it all you got, and keep going until you can’t go any longer.”

Ramirez stated that what drives him to walk non-stop is that he looks at these events like a sport. He believes one needs to train and develop stamina, as well as eat healthy.

Consistent exercise and knowledgeable consumption not only helps with training for the many laps of fundraising, it keeps the human body healthy as well.

Those who were at the recent Relay for Life in Pleasant Hill were fascinated with his continuous laps. “He kept saying ‘one more’ every time he walked by,” said Meghan White, a local volunteer, “His enthusiasm and drive was very inspirational.”

In devotion to his grandmother and grandfather who he lost to cancer, Ramirez has sworn to participate in relays until he can’t walk any more. He also swore to do more than 100 laps at each event and hopes that it will influence more people to

Andrew Ramirez takes the stage at the Pleasant Hill Relay for Life event.

do the same

Ramirez encourages that more people come out and invite friends and family to the relay events. The next Relay for Life event is at Martinez Junior High School on July 27 starting 9am.

DIABLO FC SOCCER

RECREATIONAL FREE RECREATIONAL PROGRAM WHEN: Fall 2019 - Mid-August to mid-October WHO: Boys & Girls born between 2009 and 2015 WHERE: Newhall Park, Concord WHAT: Diablo FC has teamed with its sponsors to offer a completely free Rec Soccer Program for local youth. Our professional coaches will work with the kids and parent volunteers to provide one weekday afternoon training and Saturday morning games for 8 weeks in the fall.

REGISTRATION Spots limited, register today at www.diablofc.org/rec @dfcsoccer

14 | JULY 2019 | OURCOMMUNITYFOCUS.COM

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Local AAUW Awardees

Pleasant Hill and Martinez Scholarship and Tech Trek Recipients

At the Pleasant Hill-Martinez AAUW (American Association of University Women) June Brunch, scholarship awards were presented to local High School seniors and middle school girls.

College scholarships were awarded to five students from local high schools, and six girls from local middle schools who will attend the AAUW Tech Trek camp. Each recipient was honored by members, family, and friends.

Five very deserving high school seniors were recognized for excelling in their high school years, not only with excellent grades, but also in community service and leadership ability. They were each awarded a $1,000 AAUW scholarship in recognition of their achievements. This year’s recipients of Pleasant Hill-Martinez AAUW scholarships are Tayler Hall and Carly Steele from College Park High School, and Jessica McCauley, Brianna Griffin and Rachel Snyder from Alhambra High School.

In the Fall, Tayler is going to Boston University with a major in biology, and Carly is headed to San Diego State majoring in sustainability. Jessica will attend Oregon State University and will be studying chemical engineering. Brianna is off to UC Santa Barbara, majoring in mathematical sciences, and Rachel will attend UCLA with a major in

biochemistry/chemistry.

Pleasant Hill-Martinez AAUW strongly supports the Local Scholarship Fund in many ways with several fundraisers including their Silent Coffee Klatch, AAUW/Macy’s Fashion Show, proceeds from attending a DVC musical performance, and their grand Slammer Bridge group as well as individual member donations.

Tech Trek STEM Science and Math camp for girls, a program of AAUW California, was established 21 years ago and aims to encourage girls who will be entering eighth grade in the fall to consider careers in science, math, engineering, or technology. It features hands-on activities in math, science, and related fields. All sleeping, eating, instructional, and recreational facilities are located on a university campus where camps are held. Campers will be exposed to evening programs in fields such as astronomy, engineering, chemistry, marine biology, and environmental studies to enhance their learning experience and introduce the students to a variety of potential career areas.

They have chosen the following girls from the local Pleasant Hill and Martinez schools: Bianca Lewis from Martinez Junior High, Emilia Costa from Pleasant Hill Middle School, Jade Watson from Valley View

Pleasant Hill-Martinez AAUW Local Scholarship recipients from left to right: Brianna Griffin (Alhambra High) and Rachel Snyder (Alhambra High), Tayler Hall and Carly Steele, (College Park). Not pictured: Jessica McCauley (Alhambra High).

Middle School, and three girls from Sequoia Middle School, Avery Greenwood, Lilian Schrempf, and Alison Stewart.

Congratulations to these girls.

The Tech Trek program is supported and funded by members and local organizations which include grants

from Shell Oil, the Martinez Kiwanis Club, and the Martinez Rotary, as well as fundraising events such as Bowling Blast, AAUW/Macy’s Fashion Show and proceeds from attending a DVC play performance and individual member donations.

Pleasant Hill-Martinez AAUW Tech Trek girls from left to right: Jade Watson (Valley View Middle School), Bianca Lewis (Martinez Junior High), and Alison Stewart and Lilian Schrempf (Sequoia Middle School), Emilia Costa (Pleasant Hill Middle School) Avery Greenwood (Sequoia Middle School), and Diane Coventry (AAUW Tech Trek chairperson and Co-Director of Tech Trek Camp Sonoma, the camp our girls will attend).

Alhambra Scholarships

At a recent dessert reception at Alhambra High School in Martinez, the GFWC Martinez Women’s Club, a community service organization and member of the California Federation of Women’s Clubs, presented their 2019 high school scholarships to Mikela Patrick, Penelope Wells, Chakeira Cox, Ashriti Kumar, Lily Skinner, Kim Misenheimer, and Faith Alcaraz Lakey.

Club members hold their annual baby shower benefitting the Contra Costa Regional Medical Center layette program in June and their table setting luncheon in October, all for the benefit of their scholarship program. Members meet the first Tuesday of every month. For more information, please call 925 372-6047.

(L to R): Mikela Patrick, Penelope Wells, Chakeira Cox, Ashriti Kumar, Lily Skinner, Kim Misenheimer, and Faith Alcaraz Lakey.

OURCOMMUNITYFOCUS.COM | JULY 2019 | 15

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Scholarships from Rotary

Pleasant Hill Rotary Donates over $10,000 to College Park Students

In 1988, The Rotary Club of Pleasant Hill started giving four $500 scholarships to seniors at College Park High School. Three were given on a scholastic basis and one was given as a vocational scholarship. Today, the Club still gives out four scholarships but each is now worth $2,500, making the total Pleasant Hill Rotary Club Scholarships worth $10,000 annually.Â

Two awards are general scholarships based not just on grades but also on leadership and community involvement. A third award is named the Will Fulton Memorial Scholarship in memory of the first president of the College Park Interact Club who tragically died in a car accident caused by a drunk driver when he was 20. This scholarship is given to a member of the CPHS Interact Club who demonstrates outstanding leadership.

The fourth scholarship is called the Jim Nunes Fine Art Scholarship. This is given to a College Park senior who wants to continue to pursue the arts in college. The four 2019 Scholars are: 1. Jano Parades - Will Fulton Memorial Scholar. Jano will be attending San Diego State and majoring in marketing. He plans to join Rotaract.

2. Olivia Bielskis - General Scholarship. Olivia will be attending UCLA to study political science. She hopes to 11:30 am ~ 2:30 pm; 4:00 pm ~ 6:00 pm Exclude Holidays 11:30 am ~ 2:30 pm; 4:00 pm ~ 6:00 pm Exclude Holidays join Rotaract.

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DVC Scholars

Estate Lessons

BY BERNADINE YEGHOIAN

At the June 5, CalRTA (California Retired Teachers Association) Division 52 luncheon, nine graduates of Diablo Valley Community College were recognized with $5000 scholarships from the Diablo Vista Retired Teachers Scholarship Foundation (associated with CalRTA Division 52). These students received scholarships towards their final two years at a four-year university. Due to the generosity of one individual, we were able to add a scholarship in addition to the two funded by the Barbara Riggins endowment and the six paid for by donations from the CalRTA Division 52 membership.

The scholarship donated by Joan Thisius, honored her late husband Orville Thisius, a longtime teacher and coach. Our scholars (pictured left to right:) Christian Rodriguez will be going to UC Berkeley to study electrical engineering and computer science; Whitney Hutapea, a Barbara Riggins Scholarship winner, will attend UC Berkeley, majoring in sociology and education towards becoming a professor at DVC; Cindy Mireya Lopez Ceja, will enroll at Samuel Merritt University to earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, planning to become a nurse practitioner; Briana Llanos, recipient of the scholarship honoring Orville Thisius, was accepted by Sacramento State University to study psychology and will continue on to train as an occupational therapist; Kelly Goenadibrata wants to find a way to help society through entrepreneurship and will be majoring in business administration at UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business; Jacquelyn Elder, will study criminal justice at CAL, pursuing her law degree to become a criminal prosecutor; Connor Cassin, the second Barbara Riggins scholarship awardee, will be a sociology major at UC Berkeley, with a future career as a social worker; Joseph Carter, has been accepted to the Jacobs School of Engineering at UC San Diego, where he will study electrical engineering; and Jacob King will be attending Cal State University East Bay, earning a degree in criminal justice towards a career in law enforcement.

We are proud to say all ten scholars have expressed the desire and passion to give back to society through their future careers. For more information about joining CalRTA or donating to our scholarship foundation, go to www.Div52.CalRTA.org.

BY DANIEL DuREE

“Life is just a party and parties weren’t meant to last.” Prince, 1999

Unless you have been living in a cave with bad cell phone reception or in one of those extended stay hotels without free Wi-Fi, you have undoubtedly heard about the sad and untimely death of music and entertainment luminary Prince. Unfortunately, media focus shifted within 48 hours from Prince’s incredible artistic accomplishments to the epic battle over his assets and control over his legacy.

He sold one hundred million records worldwide, won seven Grammys and an Academy Award, and had a reputation for being fastidious about his art as well as the business of entertainment that led to a fortune estimated at roughly three hundred million dollars, the fate of which will eventually be decided by a probate judge. In spite of all his accomplishments, Prince did not seem to leave even a simple will or engage in any sort of estate planning. The following avoidable issues were caused by his team’s failure to plan properly.

Prince’s family lacked access to funds for day-to-day expenses

Entertainer George Lopez lent Prince’s family a reported twenty thousand dollars (although it may have been more) to pay bills because they didn’t

Diablo Vista Retired Teachers Foundation

The Prince Probate

have access to funds. If Prince had a living trust, the successor trustee would have immediate access to funds to pay his ongoing and final expenses.

No named person in charge

Prince’s longtime bank Bremer Trust has been named special administrator and may become permanent executor of the estate. We do not know Prince’s wishes, but multiple parties will surely contest such a lucrative appointment.

Disposition of assets and control of the Prince legacy is unclear

Prince currently has multiple siblings, and one incarcerated man in Colorado claims to be his child, vying for his assets. By spelling out his wishes in a living trust, Prince could have decided who gets what and who controls his art without a public probate proceeding.

None of us has the artistic legacy or assets of Prince, but with basic estate planning we can avoid the issues that will face his family for years if not decades to come. If you have any questions about California probate law or how you can properly document your wishes, please don’t hesitate to call for a free consultation.

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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TRUSTS • WILLS • PROBATE OURCOMMUNITYFOCUS.COM | JULY 2019 | 19

By Jen Thoits Communications Manager

Meet Nida Paclebar.

General Manager’s Message For the past 17 years, Nida, a Pleasant Hill resident, has helped make life better for Waffles Anyone? seniors in our community. She generously carbon dioxide produced by driving a car

By Michelle Lacy General Manager, Pleasant Hill Recreation & Park District

July is national Parks and Recreation Month. In honor of this occasion, I thought I’d share one of my favorite quotes from the TV comedy, “Parks and Recreation.”

“We have to remember what’s important in life: friends, waffles, and work. Or waffles, friends, work. But work has to come third.”

— Leslie Knope (General Manager) Not only do Leslie and I share a love of waffles but we also share a passion for making life better through parks and recreation. This month, Pleasant Hill Rec & Park, along with the National Recreation and Parks Association (NRPA), the California Park & Recreation Society (CPRS), and cities all across California are celebrating the importance of parks and recreation programs in a community.

“Parks and playgrounds are the soul of a city.” – Marty Rubin Our park system is an integral part of what makes our city a better place to live.

Parks are a place where people of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds can gather together to socialize, relax, exercise, learn, celebrate, and most importantly, play in the great outdoors.Parks and recreation activities provide an opportunity for people to share a common experience, creating lasting ties with each other and the community. We host a lot of fun, fantastic community events in our parks that do just

that. Our 10th annual Blues & Brews festival on July 19-20, for example, is an opportunity for families from all over Northern California (and beyond) to come together in Pleasant Hill Park and enjoy a day of free live music, dancing, eating, and playing in the park. Parks help us connect with friends and make new ones.

Another special thing about parks is that all people have equal and open access to our public park system. This open access leads to a healthier community by increasing the number of people who will exercise 3 or more days a week.

This regular exercise helps control obesity, boosts the immune system, reduces risk s of disease and extends life expectancy.

And parks help me burn off those waffles too!

Parks not only serve as free gyms and friendship facilitators, they also help generate new revenue for local businesses by providing a venue for large-scale recreation events. Pleasant Oaks Park, our renovated sports complex, for example, brings hundreds of visiting baseball and soccer teams into Pleasant Hill for competitive tournaments. These visitors stay in hotels, eat out in restaurants, and shop in local stores, all of which translates into a healthier local economy. We hope to expand this opportunity in the future with a new park at the Oak Park Property site.

Parks protect and conserve biodiversity in a city while helping to keep our air and water clean. Consider all the trees in our parks. Just one acre of trees absorbs the

11,000 miles! With over 265 acres of parkland lled with trees, that’s a lot of natural ltering action! Our parks give us space to breathe both literally and guratively. Ahhhhh….deep breath.

So you see, parks do make life better.

They also help keep our life priorities straight by allowing us to eat more waffles, make new friends, and maintain a healthier life li balance outside of work.

Parks and recreation programs offer so many beneets that ultimately improve the quality of our lives. And that’s deenitively something to celebrate.

J

oin the national celebration of parks and recreation this month by getting out and enjoying our local parks and/or participating in our recreation activities.

When you do, take a picture and tag us with #pleasanthillrec on Facebook, Instagram and/or Twitter. On August 1, we will randomly draw 10 winners from the social media posts. Winners get a super cool, special-edition T-shirt and…wait for it… a box of waffles.

I also encourage you to take a few moments while you are at a District park and provide us with some feedback on the recommended upgrades proposed for that park. Park site plans with improvement concepts are posted online imp at pleasanthillrec.com. Tell us what you think by August 1, 2019.

Happy Rec & Park Month!

Follow us @pleasanthillrec

volunteers 4-5 times at month at the Pleasant Hill Senior Center where she serves as a customer service representative for the Travel Services Desk, helps organize Bingo every Wednesday and helps coordinate Taste of the Vine wine tasting events each season. While she enjoys each of her “jobs”, her favorite by far is working at the travel desk. Nida loves to travel both locally and abroad. She said that traveling is such a wonderful learning experience for her, giving her the opportunity to explore new places, gain new perspectives from different cultures and most importantly, meet all kinds of interesting people. For Nida, traveling is the perfect way to keep active, stay energized and socialize with friends, old and new.

Be warned…Nida’s enthusiasm for travel is contagious. Any patron that approaches the travel desk when Nida is working will most likely be joining her on the next trip. She not only helps book the trip but Nida also serves as a trip escort, ensuring every outing is a smooth, safe and an extraordinary one. Nida said that Rec & Park travel services and our other recreational opportunities are especially important and valuable for seniors who may not have a companion or other social outlets.

Traveling is a great way for adults to play, to connect with others and build life-long friendships in a fun and casual way.

Thank you for sharing the love, Nita.

And thank you to you and all the other 200 Senior Center volunteers who help make life better in our community.

pleasanthillrec.com

PAIR UP

Summer Season

Time to Take Advantage of the Plethora of Produce

BY MARIA TERRY

When summer rolls around, I immediately think about creating a menu that focuses on the fantastic produce available in our area. Here is a delicious vegetarian meal that does just that. The recipes have relatively few ingredients, and the whole meal comes together very fast.

I love fresh corn and tomatoes together. There is a beautiful contrast between the red and yellow as well as a juxtaposition of sweet and tart. This Arugula, Potato, Corn, and Tomato Salad is improved by adding creamy white rose potatoes and slightly bitter arugula to further balance the dish. Corn and potatoes both

Grilled Eggplant with Tomatoes, Feta & Basil

INGREDIENTS 1 eggplant (large, ends trimmed, cut lengthwise into 1-inch-thick slices) Coarse salt 1 Tablespoon extra virgin olive oil (plus more for grilling) 1½ cups cherry tomatoes (halved) ¼ cup feta cheese (crumbled) ½ Tablespoon garlic powder or fresh garlic, chopped ¼ cup fresh basil leaves (packed) Salt Pepper DIRECTIONS

Generously season eggplant slices with coarse salt. Place vertically in a colander or on a cutting board lined with paper towels, overlapping. Let stand 30-45 minutes. Rinse and pat dry.

Mix tomatoes, feta, garlic powder, and oil; season with salt and pepper, if desired. Set aside.

Grill over preheated stovetop grill pan or outdoor grill at medium-high heat.

Liberally brush cut sides of eggplant with oil. Grill, turning once, until tender, about 4-5 minutes a side. Place on a serving dish, spoon tomatoes over the top, and garnish with basil.

Yield: 4 Servings

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go well with wine, so when you add them to a salad, they make it more wine friendly.

That said, you still need a wine with good acidity to stand up to the vinegar and the tomatoes. Sauvignon Blanc is my go-to salad wine. Just about any will do, however, if you haven’t tried a Sauvignon Blanc from the Loire Valley of France called Pouilly-Fumé (pronounced poo-ee foomay), I highly recommend it. Pouilly-Fumé has the classic acid backbone of Sauvignon Blanc along with excellent minerality from the high flint content in the soil where it is grown. In fact, this is one of the reasons it is called Fumé, the French word for “smoke.”

To keep the meal vegetarian, why not consider throwing some eggplant on the grill instead of meat? It is a great vegetable that maintains its structure on both indoor and outdoor grills. Provincial Rosé is

Fast Peach Cobbler INGREDIENTS 1 can crescent rolls, 8 count 2 large fresh peaches, peeled, seeded, cut into quarters 1 fresh peach, washed, seeded, and diced 2/3 cup simple syrup ½ cup butter, melted 2 Tablespoons cinnamon sugar DIRECTIONS

Preheat oven to 350º. Butter or PAM spray an 8 × 8 baking dish or casserole dish.

Unroll crescent rolls and roll each quarter peach in a crescent roll. Place in baking dish.

Mash chopped, peeled peaches with 2/3 cup of simple syrup. Let stand for 30 minutes, strain, and discard solids.

Combine melted butter with 2/3 cup of peach syrup. Pour over rolls. Sprinkle with cinnamon sugar. Bake 30-35 minutes or until lightly browned. Serve warm with ice cream.

Note: If you can’t find fresh peaches, this recipe works with canned peaches.

You can even use their syrup in place of homemade peach syrup.

Yield: 4 Servings

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the perfect wine with Grilled Eggplant with Tomatoes, Feta, and Basil. Rosé from the Provence region of France is generally dry and has herbal, less fruity flavors than many other regional rosés. It also has a good dose of acidity. These qualities match the herbaceousness of the basil while managing the acidity of the tomato.

Corn, Potato and Tomato Salad INGREDIENTS 3 Tablespoons red wine vinegar 3 Tablespoons minced shallots 6 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil ¼ teaspoon salt Freshly ground pepper, to taste 6 cups loosely packed spring greens (about 6 ounces) 1½ pints cherry tomatoes, halved 1 white rose potato or any waxy potato (about 6 ounces) 2 cups corn kernels (about 4 ears) DIRECTIONS

Combine vinegar and shallots in a large bowl and let stand at room temperature for 10 minutes. Whisk oil into the vinegar mixture until blended. Season with salt and pepper. Add arugula and toss to coat.

Arrange arugula on serving plates.

Add corn, potatoes, and tomatoes to the bowl. Toss to coat with the dressing that remains, and then spoon mixture over arugula and serve.

Yield: 6 Servings

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Of course, if you want some protein, you can easily add some chicken or other protein to the plate. The rosé works with it all!

Some of my favorite summer desserts star our fabulous California peaches. Here is a fun twist on peach cobbler, paired with a refreshing Peach Bellini. Super sweet Prosecco from Italy is bright and bubbly, and it is even better when poured over peach purée. The bubbles work to cleanse your palate from the richness of the biscuits and the vanilla ice cream on top.

So, go on. Pair Up!

Maria Terry is a certified sommelier and wine educator in the San Francisco Bay Area. www.LaSommelierre.com.

Peach Bellini INGREDIENTS 2 ripe peaches, washed, seeded and diced 1 Tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice 1 teaspoon sugar 1 bottle chilled Prosecco sparkling wine DIRECTIONS

Place the peaches, lemon juice, and sugar in the bowl of a food processor fitted with a steel blade and process until smooth. Press the mixture through a sieve and discard the peach solids in the sieve.

Place two tablespoons of the peach puree into each Champagne glass and fill with cold Prosecco. Serve immediately.

Yield: About 4 Servings

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OURCOMMUNITYFOCUS.COM | JULY 2019 | 21

IN THE MIX

In the Mix

Blues and Brews Festival

BY PAUL COTRUVO

Summer is in full swing, the kids are out of school, temperatures are rising, and this can mean only one thing, Music and beer festivals are upon us. One of my favorite events of the summer is the Blues and Brews Festival in Pleasant Hill Park.

This year is its 10th anniversary, and it will take place on the weekend of July 19 and 20. Who knew that an event created over a few cocktails at Magoo’s in Pleasant Hill with details written on a cocktail napkin would turn into one of the area’s most anticipated event? Thanks to the Pleasant Hill Rec and Park District and the Pleasant Hill Chamber of Commerce for combining forces and making this a truly unique event. Where else are you going to find an event that has something for everybody?

You can participate in the beer tasting or

just bring a lawn chair and listen to the music for free!

Over the last few years, this event has featured some of the best blues music in the country: Tommy Castro Band, Chris Cain, Greg Wright, Frankie G. & The Conviction, Cold Blood, Zydeco Flames, Jeff Tamalier All-Stars and the legendary Candye Kayne, to name a few. To celebrate the 10-year anniversary, the blues theme was expanded to include other genres of music. After all, if the New Orleans Jazz Fest can have headliners like Bruce Springsteen, Willie Nelson, and Santana, so can Pleasant Hill.

Festivities kick-off on Friday, July 19, at 6pm. There will be two bands performing. The popular Eagles Tribute Band, Midnight Flyer, kicks things off, with the Tom Petty Tribute Band The Big Jangle finishing the night. This event has turned into a very fun, family atmosphere. Parents and kids dancing to American Girl? Priceless.

The festivities continue Saturday, July 20, beginning at 3pm and music starting at 4pm. Opening the show will be local Martinez Band Garageland Rodeo.

Celebrating 15 years, they will bring their unique rock, blues and soul sound to get the party started. You will be on your feet!

Following the Rodeo at 5:30pm will be the incomparable blues and soul singer Terrie Odabi. Her dynamic presence and powerful vocals are not to be missed. She owns the stage! The Blues Music Society nominated her in 2017 for Best Soul Blues Female Artist and Best Emerging Artist Album for My Blue Soul. If you are in the area, this will be a rare opportunity to hear an amazing artist for free!

Concluding the evening will be The Purple Ones, one of the premier Prince tribute bands in the country. Dancing anybody? They will bring their serious dose of unadulterated funk and have the park rockin’! They are legit! The band’s musical

Paul’s Picks

July 5: Marigold, Retro Junkie, 2112 N. Main Street, Walnut Creek, 9pm July 7: The Bell Brothers, Pleasant Hill Summer by the Lake, Pleasant Hill City Hall, 6pm July 13:Tender Mercies, 707 Marina Vista, Martinez, 8pm July 13: Beer Drinkers & Hell Raisers, Retro Junkie, 2112 N. Main Street, Walnut Creek, 9pm July 18: Front Country, Armando’s, 707 Marina Vista, Martinez, 8pm July 19: Midnight Flyer/Big Jangle, Pleasant Hill Park, Pleasant Hill, 6pm July 19: Little Roger & The Goosebumps, Armando’s, 707 Marina Vista, Martinez, 8pm July 20: Garageland Rodeo/Terri Odabi/The Purple Ones, Pleasant Hill Park, PH, 4pm July 21: Sona, Pleasant Hill Summer by the Lake, Pleasant Hill City Hall, 6pm July 28: Sunday Paper, Armando’s, 707 Marina Vista, Martinez, 4pm

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director is Prince’s former musical director, bassist/guitarist and co-founder of Prince’s band New Power Generation, Levi Seacer Jr.

If you read this article with any consistency, you know my motto is to get out there and support local live music. Events like this make it so easy. Hope to see you out there!

Quote of the Month: “Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to get through this thing called life.” ~~ Prince

IN THE GARDEN

Reflection

Food, Such a Strong Reminder of the Ones we Love

BY LESLEY STILES

July is a month of reflection for me.

We lost my dad three years ago on July 3 very suddenly to a weird thing called Guillain-Barré Syndrome. He was planning on and very much looking forward to coming to our 4th of July party, a Mexican potluck. He knew there would

Spice Mixture

INGREDIENTS ½ teaspoon cardamom pods 2 teaspoons fenugreek ½ teaspoon coriander seeds 4 cinnamon sticks, crushed 2 star anise 1 teaspoon black mustard seeds 3 Tablespoons of cumin seed DIRECTIONS

Place all spices in a dry, non-stick sauté pan. Turn temperature to medium-high heat and toast the spices until the seeds begin to pop and the pan is lightly smoking. It should be extremely fragrant at this point. Do not burn the spices. Remove from heat and let cool. Grind all together in a coffee grinder.

Store in a tightly covered jar in a dark place.

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Corn Fritters

INGREDIENTS 1½ cups flour 2 teaspoons baking powder 2 teaspoons soda 1 teaspoon kosher salt 2 large eggs ¾ cup milk 3 Tablespoons olive oil 2 cups fresh corn kernels 2 Tablespoons each chopped parsley and chopped basil DIRECTIONS

Mix flour, baking powder, and salt in a bowl. Make a well in the center and put eggs, oil, and milk in it. Whisk together and add corn and herbs. Put enough oil in a frying pan to grease well. Fry the fritters a few at a time until golden on each side. Serve with Sweet and Sour Tomatoes.

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be good food and plenty of it. He talked about the enchiladas and the taco bar with flowing guacamole, sour cream and cheese. We had rented a margarita machine, and he was licking his lips over that impending icy drink. He passed a few hours before the party.

Big Bill Stiles was aka Daddio Patio due to his penchant for barbequing as well as his love of hanging out with my mom on their squirrel circus wonderland of a patio. He loved to eat. He loved food. He hummed while he ate -- various unrecognizable tunes under his breath while chewing but totally audible. Listening to his culinarily inspired tunes and seeing how happy he was at any given meal brought a smile to even the saddest of faces. I sometimes think he was my inspiration for becoming a chef -- and I know for sure my obsession with food in general. Combinations of weird ingredients absolutely descended from my dad’s blood to mine.

He loved peanut butter, mayonnaise, and romaine lettuce sandwiches. He

Sweet and Sour Tomatoes

INGREDIENTS 1 pound of assorted heirloom tomatoes, seeded and cut into chunks 1 bunch green onions, sliced thin 2 Tablespoons of chopped, fresh cilantro 2 Tablespoons of honey ¼ cup of seasoned rice vinegar 1 Tablespoon of olive oil 1 teaspoon of kosher salt 1 ½ teaspoon spice mixture (recipe follows) or 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon and 1 teaspoon ground cumin DIRECTIONS

Put tomatoes, green onions, and cilantro in a bowl and set aside.

Heat olive oil in a saucepan. Add spice mixture and heat until bubbly, about 2 minutes.

Slowly add honey and rice vinegar. Cook for 10 more minutes or until a little thick and gooey. Pour mixture over tomatoes, cilantro, and green onions. Season with salt and let sit for about 5 minutes before using.

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fried bologna and Spam and ate butter and black olive sandwiches with relish.

His romance with condiments, lavishly spread, dolloped, or drizzled on his food, was legendary, as is mine. Nothing goes ungarnished on my plates due to his tutelage over the years.

Never a summer solstice slipped by that lemon cucumbers were not prominently climbing and winding their way through our garden. They were my dad’s favorite, so they are mine. Quick pickle salads are a must with lemon cukes simply anointed with pure olive oil, salt, and lemon juice. Or, as my dad religiously prepared them, slice thin, layer with a lavish swipe of Best Foods (mayo) on liberally salted wheat bread, and let that slide down your gullet with pure, humming ecstasy playing on grinning lips.

Dreaming of homemade pickles happens to us all at one time or another. Probably the simplest pickling is the overnight concoction of vinegar, sugar and pickling spice marinade for housing sliced cucumbers and onions or possibly carrots, green beans, or asparagus. A bit more complex are fermented pickles, usually just water and salt, a combination that takes months to cure. In between are processed dills or bread and

butter pickles, an easy favorite. Look in any cookbook or online for your favorite recipe type, and then wax ecstatic about just the right amounts of sweet, sour and spicy while drawing in the other parts of umami, homemade for you and the ones you love.

Hands-down the most asked for dish at any party I cater or cook for is Corn Fritters with Sweet and Sour Tomatoes, which is so good and worth any effort it takes to get it done. The tomato relish will be a go-to for the rest of your cooking life and is awesome on anything you can think of.

Update number 9546 for Roxx on Main. We hope to be open by mid-July.

Everything is taking bit longer thn expected, but it is going to be great when it gets there! Go to Facebook Roxx on Main VIP Club!! See you for a cold one and some chow soon!

Lesley Stiles is a graduate of the California Culinary Academy and Chef/ Owner of Roxx on Main, offering delicious, sustainable foods to the community.

She can be reached at lesley@roxxonmain.com • www.roxxonmain.com • www.lesleystilesfoods.com 925 370 ROXX OURCOMMUNITYFOCUS.COM | JULY 2019 | 23

From the Contra Costa County Historical Society

A History Note

In the Good Old Summertime

BY MARJORIE NEWTON

In the days before air conditioning became standard equipment in residences and the thermometer started climbing to triple digits, the ways of beating the heat included going to the movies, shopping at Kahn’s or Capwell’s, going through the tunnel to the Oak-

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land Zoo, or going swimming.

• If you lived in Richmond, you could take “The Plunge” in the two-story Natatorium, constructed in 1926, which contained a double, Olympic-sized pool. Severely damaged in the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, the edifice was restored with money raised by the community and re-opened in the 1990s.

• In Martinez In 1967, Rankin Park not only had a swimming pool but a Humpty Dumpty sitting on a wall.

Humpty is currently MIA. • In Crockett, prior to 1966, when the Crockett Community Pool was constructed, there was a pool in the Men’s Club that opened in 1920.

• The Ambrose Park Pool in Pittsburg has changed from the one built in the mid-century and was replaced by one half its size in 2017.

• Those living in Walnut Creek could not only swim but picnic, dance, and play pinball machines while cooling off in Castle Rock Park.

• The Marsh Creek Springs, which opened in 1937, was fondly remembered in a newspaper clipping found in the history center’s files dated 5/7/02. The author of the article recalled how she and her friend would bicycle five miles from Antioch to Marsh Creek Springs to spend the day swimming. She remembered that her elementary school had their end-of-

center contains many pictures of the way it was in earlier days, but we can certainly use more. If you have photos to share, the center is happy to scan the photos for our files and return the originals to you, or you can certainly donate them to become part of our permanent collection, in which case your family photos would become part of the county’s historical record. We encourage those who have contributions for our files to call us. Any further information on swimming pools or swimming holes would be welcomed as well.

A History Note is presented by the Contra Costa County History Center, 724 Escobar St., Martinez. Open hours: Tuesdays, Wednesdays, & Thursdays, from 9-4, and third Saturdays, from 102. Check out www.cocohistory.org.

the-year party there. Floods in 1957 and 1962 destroyed the facility according to this article.

• Curry Creek Park was located on Morgan Territory Road. It was also a chosen locale for end of the year school events. A Clayton Valley High School graduate, now in his seventies, remembers this as the place of his first kiss. The names of the innocents will remain undisclosed • Russelman Park was also on the side of Mt. Diablo. It was privately owned and provided families with a great escape from the sizzling temperatures on the other side of Clayton. Swimming wasn’t the only offering. There was also dancing, horseshoe pits, and barbecuing.

The photo collection of the history

• • • • • •

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Read My Mind

©

The Tattooist of Auschwitz

BY MICHAEL G. HARRIS, OD

What’s the first thing you notice when you see a Holocaust survivor in person or on television?

That’s right, the numbers permanently tattooed on the left arm. It’s an everlasting sign of man’s inhumanity to fellow humans. In most cases, a concentration camp prisoner put it there on orders from the Nazis. Heather Morris’ The Tattooist of Auschwitz is the story of one such Tätowierer, “tattoo artist” in German.

I’ve read dozens of books, fiction and nonfiction, about the Holocaust and the concentration camps of World War II. A few are uplifting, while most are downright depressing. But I’ve never read a book quite like this one. I must admit I found it difficult to read and extremely challenging to review. Is it a novel or a memoir? Morris is somewhat ambiguous when she calls it “a novel,” yet says it’s “based on the powerful true story of love and survival.”

How much is true and how much came from Morris’ imagination? I didn’t know when I started the book and I didn’t want to find out until I finished it. So I decided to read it as a novel, and only after I finished it, find out how much of it was actually true. I think it makes the book a more engaging and powerful read. I recommend you to do the same thing.

Why not find out what actually happened before reading the book? I think this would diminish the impact of both the cruelty and brutality of the Nazis and the humanity and survival instincts of their prisoners. After all, what happened to these prisoners couldn’t have actually happened? No human beings could ever do what the Nazis did to other human beings. That degree of barbarism was too monstrous to have actually happened! Or was it?

The story begins in 1942 after the Nazis have taken control of Slovakia.

Pleasant Hill Senior Activities July 7 – Pancake Breakfast 8:30-10:30am. Enjoy a stack of pancakes or French toast, scrambled eggs and sausage with bottomless orange juice and coffee. Special addition, biscuits and sausage gravy! BEST DEAL IN TOWN! Adults (11+): $5, Children (5-10): $3, Ages 4 & under are free!

July 11 - Care Management Series Presents “Self-Care & Preventing Caregiver Burnout” 2pm. The stress and strife caregivers and families experience as their loved ones with dementia decline can be staggering. This session will contain info about stress management and the importance of obtaining support and utilizing resources as well as valuable info about anticipatory grief and coping with emotions.Presented by Hope Hospice. * Free, but please RSVP to 798-8788.

July 19 and August 16 - Smart Phone Workshop. Don’t know what a smart phone is? Think your smart phone is smarter than you? This workshop will help!

The first hour will go over the basic components of the phone and the second hour will teach about the accessibility features. iPhones workshop, July 19, $12/$10 (Dist. Res.), 9:30-11:30am. Androids workshop, August 16, $12/$10 (Dist.

Res.), 9:30-11:30am.

August 2 - Golden Follies 1:30pm. Catch this fast paced Las Vegas style revue featuring performers ages 55+, strutting their stuff to musical sounds from nostalgia to today’s hottest sounds while wearing gorgeous, colorful costumes. Purchase tickets online or at the Senior Center. $12 presale, $16 after 7/24.

233 Gregory Lane, Pleasant Hill 925-798-8788

They order that one male member of every Jewish family must be sent to a Nazi work camp or the rest of the family would be subject to the same fate or worse. Ludwig “Lale” Sokolov volunteers to go for his family. He ends up in the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp. There, every day is a struggle for survival. Horrible conditions, little or no food, constant beatings, guards killing prisoners for no reason whatsoever.

But Lale becomes an expert at the vital skill of survival. Through a combination of guile, “chutzpah”, and just plain good luck, he manages to survive day by day. As fate would have it, Lale speaks numerous languages. When the Nazis learn of this talent, they take him off hard labor. They have another job for him. He becomes the concentration camp’s Tätowierer or “tattoo artist.” Since he speaks so many languages, his new job is to meet arriving trainloads of prisoners from the countries the Nazis have captured and brand each new arrival with the dreaded concentration camp identification numbers, the tattoo that would last a lifetime.

One day Lale is tattooing a young woman named Gita. He looks up and notices her wondrous eyes. It’s love at first sight. She is extremely ill and malnourished. Lale manages to bribe guards and other workers to get the food and medicine she needs to recover. The rest of the book chronicles

the struggles they go through to remain alive. Whether they survive or not, the lessons from this book will be heart wrenching and thought provoking.

Morris keeps you guessing until the very end of this marvelously told story to find out if they survived those dire years in Auschwitz. And so will I.

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Hair Conservation New Technology

An Unwelcome Reminder

A New Device for Leaky Bladder

BY TIFFANY SVAHN, MD

One of the most common questions patients ask during our discussion of breast cancer treatment is, “Will I lose my hair?” For many women who go through chemotherapy, losing their hair is an unwelcome reminder of their diagnosis. It can cause stress and anxiety, and often negatively affecting their self-image and sense of well-being.

However, there is a new treatment option giving hope to many patients. The FDA recently issued a clearance for “scalpcooling systems” that help prevent chemotherapy-induced alopecia (hair loss) for patients with solid tumor cancers. These scalp-cooling systems provide automated cooling to the patient’s scalp during chemotherapy treatments. Cooling the cells on the scalp reduces blood flow and cell metabolism to this area, which helps to protect the hair follicles from chemotherapy.

Scalp cooling can significantly minimize hair loss from certain chemotherapy treatments for men and women with solid tumor cancers such as those associated with breast, prostate, ovarian and uterine.

Diablo Valley Oncology is the first freestanding cancer center in the Bay Area to become certified and trained to offer the Paxman Scalp Cooling System to patients.

We have incorporated this new technology into the services we offer at our

BY MY-LINH (MIMI) NGUYEN, MD

It is estimated that one in 12 adults in the United States struggles with symptoms of urinary incontinence, yet it remains low on the list of health concerns for which people seek treatment.

Among women with incontinence, for example, it takes an average of 6.5 years from the onset of symptoms until the patient receives a diagnosis. Incontinence arises due to common factors that are often beyond one’s control, the greatest of which are genetic factors, childbirth and chronic cough, and lifting.

One of the most common types of incontinence is stress urinary incontinence.

Stress urinary incontinence differs from urge incontinence, which is the unintentional loss of urine caused by the bladder muscle contracting, usually associated with a sense of urgency. Stress urinary incontinence is the involuntary leakage of urine during activities such as coughing, laughing, sneezing, lifting, or exercising.

Stress urinary incontinence occurs when the urethral sphincter, the pelvic floor muscles, or both of these structures have been weakened. Stress incontinence is common and affects one in every five females of all ages.

Fortunately, a variety of therapies exist that can help patients gain better control over their urinary function and reduce the symptoms of stress urinary incontinence.

Women’s Cancer Center of the East Bay’s Multidisciplinary Breast Cancer Clinic. Patterned after academic centers, our Multidisciplinary Breast Cancer Clinic evaluates patients with diagnosed breast cancer in a comprehensive, single-day setting to minimize the time between diagnosis and treatment. In the initial appointment, women meet with a breast surgeon, medical oncologist and a radiation oncologist.

After a tumor board discussion, each physician consults with the patient and presents the most appropriate course of treatment based on the consensus opinions from the panel of physicians. This one-day team approach spares patients and their family the anxiety and uncertainty of waiting days or weeks between individual appointments.

One of the main goals of our program is to reduce the anxiety experienced by patients diagnosed with cancer. Because the Paxman Scalp Cooling System addresses the stress of hair loss, it is a natural addition to our practice. Reducing the patient’s anxiety and stress allows them to focus their energy on what’s most important: getting well and putting cancer behind them.

Dr. Svahn is a Medical Oncologist and Breast Cancer Specialist with Diablo Valley Oncology and Hematology Medical Group in Pleasant Hill. She is the Medical Director of the Women’s Cancer Center of the East Bay. Contact information: 925-6775041or www.wcceastbay.com SPONSORED CONTENT

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Treatments can include behavioral modifications, pelvic floor strengthening, pelvic floor physical therapy or biofeedback, and surgery.

A novel and non-invasive option for women with stress urinary incontinence:

The Emsella Chair is a new technology offering a painless, non-invasive alternative for treating stress urinary incontinence. The Emsella therapy helps strengthen weakened pelvic-floor muscles that cause urinary leakage due to coughing, sneezing, laughing, lifting, or exercising. The device uses cutting-edge technology called high-intensity focused electromagnetic energy that triggers rapid muscle contractions in the pelvic floor.

These contractions are similar to Kegel exercises but are faster and more intense.

Patients remain fully dressed during the 30-minute treatment sessions. EMSELLA is the first and only FDA-cleared device that can help treat symptoms of stress urinary incontinence in a non-invasive fashion.

Pacific Urology’s Women’s Center is the first practice in the San Francisco East Bay to offer the Emsella Chair therapy for patients with stress urinary incontinence.

Dr. Nguyen, MD is a urogynecologist with Pacific Urology with a clinical focus in female pelvic medicine and reconstruction.

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july 11, 18, and 25

july 20

july 23

25th Annual Sculpture Show

Summer Music & Movies on Main

Document Shredding Fundraiser

Prostate Health Seminar

View stunning sculptural art with the natural sculptural beauty of the Garden. Event features works from a large variety of west coast artists. Open during Garden hours: Tues.-Thurs.

10am-4pm / Fri.-Sun. 10am-5pm / closed Mondays. ruthbancroftgarden.org/events

Downtown Martinez at the Main Street Plaza on Thursdays from July 11 through August 8.

Live music will take place from 6:30-8:30pm followed by a movie under the stars around 8:45pm. Visit www.mainstreetmartinez.org for schedule.

For a charitable donation to the Cancer Support Community have your old tax returns, bills, business records, etc. shredded on site by Diablo Paper Shredding Company at 400 Taylor Blvd. (Back Parking Lot), 10am-12pm. Sponsored by Diablo Valley Oncology. 925-677-5041 x272

Presentation will include a discussion about in-office therapies for treating incontinence and newer approaches to treating enlarged prostate without meds or major surgery. Q & A session to follow. Hosted by Pacific Urology. 6:30-8:30pm at Walnut Creek Library, 1644 N. Broadway, WC. RSVP by calling 925-677-5041 x272.

july 3

july 17

july 20

july 27-28

First Wednesday

Magic Club

TreasureFest

A street festival full of live music, dancing, food trucks, wine and beer, Kids Fun Zone, interactive games and free prizes. Music by Mustache Harbor. Free event, 5:30-8:30pm, Cypress Street, Walnut Creek.

Assembly #112 Magic Club meets the third Wednesday of each month at the Veterans of Foreign Wars, 1919 Wendell Lane, Pleasant Hill.

6:30 to 7:00 pm – Greet and Meet Time. 7-8:30pm – Workshop Time (learning new effects or Lecture time), 8:30-10pm – Performance Time (bring a trick to perform). https://sam112.com

Chevron Family Theater Festival

july 4

Movie after the Parade Free movie and free popcorn after the parade at the Campbell Theater. Watch everyone’s favorite family of superheroes in Incredibles 2 from 1:30-3:30pm. Campbell Theater, 636 Ward Street in Martinez.

Performances and activities for family members of all ages both inside the Lesher Center, and outside on the Plaza. Many of the performances are free, and ticketed performances are $5. 10am-4pm. View event schedule and purchase tickets at lesherartscenter.org.

One part shopping, one part feasting, and one part music and entertainment.

A unique monthly festival that showcases the best of the bay area. 10am-4pm. Located at 500 Ave N, Treasure Island SF. $7 general entry, kids under 12 are free. Free parking. Pet friendly. www.treasurefest.com

july 19-20

july 22-26

ongoing

Blues and Brews Festival

Music Art and Drama

Volunteer with Seniors

This multi-disciplinary camp features fun instruction and workshops and service to the community led by professional musicians, artists and actors. Saint Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in Pleasant Hill. 9am- 3:30pm. Camp tuition: $150, standrews-pcusa.org/madssummer-camp-2019

Spectrum Community Services is looking for individuals who would like to volunteer in senior centers all around the East Bay. Please call Spectrum Community Services at 510-8810300 ext. 242 or fill out an application at www.

Spectrumcs.org.

Friday night featuring live music by Midnight Flyer and Big Jangle 6-9pm. Food, beer and wine available. Saturday, 3-9pm, free live music, craft beer tasting, food and activities.

PH Park, 147 Gregory Lane, PH. www.bluesandbrewsfestival.com

july 11, 18, and 25

ongoing

Lesher Outside Summer Concert Series

Volunteers for Senior Van Service

Thursdays from 5:30-7pm, at the outdoor plaza of the Lesher Center. Beverages and snacks are available for purchase. July 11 features Tumbledown House, July 25: Tom Rigney and Flambeau, and August 1: The Big Jangle.

Pleasant Hill Senior Center Van Service is looking for a volunteer ride schedule dispatcher. Only one morning shift each week (9-11am). For more information, visit pleasanthillca.org/seniorvan or call 925-671-5288.

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HAPPY 4TH FROM ALL OF US

AT THE PLEASANT HILL Y Come and visit our booth at the Pleasant Hill July 4th Celebration!

Check out the free Y gear! $0 JOIN FEE with sign-up from July 4–7 IRVIN DEUTSCHER FAMILY YMCA 350 Civic Dr, Pleasant Hill, CA · (925) 687-8900 · ymcaeastbay.org