July 2016 Community Focus by Community Focus

COMMUNITY

FOCUS ourcommunityfocus.com

JULY 2016 Reaching Over 50,000 Homes & Businesses

IN THIS ISSUE: • 4TH OF JULY FESTIVITIES • CCCSD OPEN HOUSE • WHITE PONY EXPRESS

PLEASANT HILL • CONCORD • MARTINEZ • LAFAYETTE • WALNUT CREEK

As Russ Sees It I Got This!

NITY FO MU C M

BY RUSSELL CARROLL It’s been a monumental week for me. That is, if you consider all your “senior moments” to be monumental. I recently celebrated the 37th anniversary of my 21st birthday. Which means, A) I’m old, and B) My mind says I’m 25, but my body says, “Nope, you’re old, dude.” I recently spent the morning searching for my glasses. I knew I had them on when I got home because I woke up in the right house. First clue: check! Let’s move on. I scrambled through the bed sheets. I looked under the bed. I investigated every inch of the house. No go. Accepting that I had lost them, I turned to the bathroom mirror to see what I would look like going to work with no glasses. Boom! There they are, right on top of my head. I check my back, like a soldier on recon, to see if any roommates had witnessed this comical yet futile search. No one around. I evaded that embarrassing interaction. But wait, it gets better (or worse, depending on your perspective). I shower (no glasses), shave, and prepare to seize the day at my night job when I can’t find my keys. First place I look is on my head. Strike one. So, fully dressed for work and challenging the clock for an on-time arrival, I look everywhere. When I finally rub my head with desperation, I find my keys. Looped around my finger. Ok, big breath. I have glasses and keys. Ready to go.

COMMUNITY SPONSOR

One of the things I like most about my night job is that we get to dress casual. Shorts, t-shirts, and tennis shoes are all good. So, I head off on my bad motor scooter (which is a bike and certainly has no motor), and arrive at work right on time. I strut my way through the store like the stud that I am so that I can don my “Bevmologist” apron. Of course, being an over achiever in my $10 hourly executive position, I stop to talk with a few customers along the way to the team locker room. While chatting with one regular customer, she looks down at my feet and casually states, “Nice shoes.” I look down and can only find two words: “Oh, my.”You see, I’m wearing my house slippers! That’s right: first, lost glasses, then, lost keys, and to complete the hat trick, I’m sporting my fluffy slip- ons. It’s my habit to dress for work and then stay in my slippers while I relax for a few more minutes before heading out of the house for whatever mission lies in front of me. I knew it would happen one day, and I can now scratch that off of my “Things I’m Scared I Might Do” list. You see, it doesn’t matter how old you are or the stupid positions you put yourself in; it only matters how you handle them. So, I say we screw all of these things up: lose your glasses on your head, lose your keys in your hand, go to work in slippers, hell…go ahead and wear your gym shorts backwards. But I caution you on the latter; as my experience shows, it is very hard to use your pockets with your pants on backwards. After all, it’s not what you look like, it’s how you feel. But….that’s just how I see it.

PROUDLY SUPPORTED BY THESE COMMUNITY SPONSORS Businesses Invested in the Community

SMALL TALK WITH TERI by Teri Norbye

Meet Bruce Rockwell, a choir director and guitar teacher at College Park who resides in Benicia with his wife and son. What’s most rewarding about your job? “My relationships with students, seeing how music changes their lives and how being in a supportive group like this can really make a difference in their high school years.” What’s the hardest thing about your job? “Staying on top of the mountain of details and minutiae. It’s pretty daunting, and I need a lot of help.” What is one thing about you most people don’t know? “I used to play in rock bands. I was an extra in a Pointer Sisters video, ‘Neutron Dance’. About 2/3 of the way in, I am dancing in a blue jumpsuit.” What has been your greatest challenge so far? “Building a good choir program in a school that had none. I did it gradually. I study Kaizen, a Japanese philosophy. It’s a way of improving every aspect of what we do so that every year we’re able to make noticeable improvements.” What do you like to do when you’re not working? “I’m a winemaker. I have a vineyard and lots of fruit trees. I graft different varieties onto the same tree, so I have rare types of fruit and heirloom fruit varieties. During summer I play guitar in my rock band, Big Medicine Head. We were pretty big in the early ‘90s in Santa Cruz. We’ll do 3-4 shows a week in Santa Cruz, Benicia, Sacramento, or Portland. We kind of play all over.”

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july 2016 • ourcommunityfocus.com

COVER:

Central San’s Plant Operations Superintendent Doug Little, Deputy General Manager Ann Sasaki, and General Manager Roger Bailey are joined by several employees. Page 4. PHOTO BY: Joseph Zumbo, Central CoCo Sanitary District

INSIDE

Aging Parents & Baby Boomers

Wings of Freedom Tour

20 35 28 Dog Days of Summer

High School Scholars

In the Mix with Kiki Stack

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6680 Alhambra Ave. Box #132 Martinez, CA 94553

925-335-6397

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Fourth of July

Festive Fun at Local Celebrations

Martinez Pancake Breakfast, 8-10am, sponsored by Roxx on Main, 627 Main Street. Flag Raising Ceremony, 9-9:15am, Veterans Memorial Building, 930 Ward Street. 8th Annual Downtown Parade begins at 10am at Court and Main Streets, ending at Alhambra Ave. and Main. Over 40 entries march, including many community groups, with the Kids Decorated Bike Parade leading the way. Kids should come with decorated bikes and meet at the parade staging area at Court & Main St. Fireworks light up the night at Martinez Shoreline Park on Monday, July 4. Join the crowd at the waterfront or head over to your special viewing spot before 9:15pm. Pyrotechnics begin around 9:30pm and last approximately twenty-five minutes. Waterfront Park closed to cars at 6pm. Limited handicapped parking is available, so arrive earlier in the day. Remember, personal

fireworks are illegal in Contra Costa County and dangerous! Fireworks are provided by the City of Martinez, with assistance from East Bay Regional Park District. Pleasant Hill Firecracker 5K Fun Run, 6:30am registration/8am 5K Run. Runners make three laps around the course. Check-in station is at 45 Crescent Drive, in front of the clock tower. Each participant can register for either the 5K run/walk or the 100-yard dash (for youngsters 7 years and under). All registration net proceeds are donated to Pleasant Hill schools. Registrants are asked to designate a Pleasant Hill school to receive the net proceeds of registration fees. Check www.phjuly4.com for registration details. Pre-Parade Pancake Breakfast, 8-10am at the Senior Center. Enjoy a stack of flapjacks with eggs, sausage and orange juice, and shop in the bou-

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tique for a wide selection of handmade items. Adults (11 & Up) $5; children (510) $3; and children (4 & under) free. Parade, 9:30am, in Downtown Pleasant Hill. Party in the Park at Pleasant Hill Park on Gregory Lane takes place after the parade (10:30am). Live music, games, including sack races and beanbag toss, as well as crafts, petting zoo and refreshments are available to the public. Fireworks at College Park High School.

Food provided by Slow Hand Barbeque and IzzyA’s frozen custard ice cream starting at 6:30pm, with music by Sugar Daddy beginning at 7:15pm. Fireworks begin at approximately 9:15pm. Walnut Creek Fourth of July Concert Celebrate our country’s independence with a musical tribute by the Walnut Creek Concert Band. The free concert in Civic Park begins at 6pm. Bring a picnic and a blanket and enjoy!

n t ra o C l tra n e C

Costa Sanitary

Distr ict

OPEN HOUSE!

SATURDAY, JULY 16, 10AM TO 2PM 70TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION 5019 Imhoff Place, Martinez (near the junction of I-680 and Highway 4)

n a l Di s p atio lay c du s

. FREE FOOD . TOURS . MUSIC . GAMES . DISPLAYS . GIVEAWAYS!

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With live music from PUSH, featuring our emcee Dan Ashley of ABC7 News

Equipm en t

EE FOOD!

let Racing! Toi

centralsan.org/70 ourcommunityfocus.com â&#x20AC;¢ july 2016

Estate Planning Making Changes to Your Plan BY DANIEL DuREE Regardless of how well drafted your estate planning documents are, life changes inevitably require changes to your estate plan. The type of change and the document it affects determines how these alterations are made. Below are methods for making changes to the following estate plan documents. Living Trust Life changes which alter how you wish to distribute your assets or

who you want to be in charge of that distribution involve the living trust. A living trust is changed by doing an amendment to the trust. An amendment is a separate document that will be attached to the trust and describes the changes that will be made. The downside to a simple amendment is that when you are gone, people will see the original trust as well as the change. So if you are making a change that may hurt feelings of a loved one (such as removing one child as successor trustee in favor of another), you can always do a restatement, which is basically a com-

2015

plete new version of the trust with the new terms. With a restatement, there is no evidence of what the original terms of the trust were. Will With a trust based estate plan, a pour-over will is generally used which leaves everything to the trust. Because of this feature, if you are making a change in asset distributions, you do it through an amendment to the trust rather than changing the will. However, if you are changing who you wish to be in charge of your estate when you pass away, you should also change the executor of your will. A will is changed by creating what is called a codicil. It is similar to an amendment to a trust and is a separate document that is then kept with the will. Durable Power of Attorney or Advance Healthcare Directive If you wish to change who will be

in charge of your financial, personal, or healthcare management should you become incapacitated, you will need to appoint a new agent under your durable power of attorney and/or advance healthcare directive. There is no amendment method to these documents, and new documents will be drafted. Remember, when making any changes to a will or a trust in which the same execution requirements apply, a trust amendment must be notarized and two independent witnesses must witness a will. If you have any questions about changes to your estate planning documents, please feel free to call my office. 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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july 2016 • ourcommunityfocus.com

70th Anniversary Central San Open House

To commemorate 70 years of service and show appreciation for its customers, the Central Contra Costa Sanitary District (Central San) will hold an open house on Saturday, July 16. This free, family-friendly event takes place from 10am to 2pm in a park-like setting at their headquarters and treatment plant location, 5019 Imhoff Place, Martinez. Attendees will enjoy a variety of fun activities (have you ever raced a toilet?), giveaways, free lunch, educational exhibits, big truck displays (always popular with the kids), tours of the wastewater treatment plant and other facilities, live entertainment by local band PUSH, and much more. “This is the first time Central San has hosted a public open house like this, and we’re very excited,” said General Manager Roger Bailey. “In addition to commemorating our 70 years of service and showing people what we do, the open house is a way for us to thank our customers for their support. Whenever they prevent grease from going down the kitchen sink, put disposable wipes in the trash instead of the toilet, or bring chemicals and other hazardous wastes to our collection facility rather than pouring them down the drain, they are helping us to protect

public health and the environment. We couldn’t accomplish our mission without their assistance, and we want to show our appreciation by inviting them to our ‘house’ to have a great time and learn more about the services we provide.” Central San provides wastewater services for more than 476,000 people in central Contra Costa County. They manage 1,500 miles of sewer pipelines, and their treatment plant cleans and disinfects more than 32 million gallons of wastewater every day. Central San also boasts a Recycled Water Fill Station that provides free recycled water to residential customers for hand-watering lawns, gardens, and landscaping. They also have a Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Facility that collects, recycles, or safely disposes more than 2 million pounds of hazardous waste each year. While neither facility will be open for business on July 16, due to the open house, attendees can get a rare behind-the-scenes look of the HHW Facility to discover what really happens to all the materials people bring in for disposal! It’s sure to be an enjoyable event for the whole family. For more information, please go to CentralSan.org/70.

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ourcommunityfocus.com • july 2016

Designing Water-Wise Landscaping Removing or Downsizing Your Lawn

Are you thinking about removing or downsizing your lawn but are not sure where to start? You are not alone. This is one of the most common questions we’re asked by customers at the Ruth Bancroft Garden and Nursery. The first step is to contact your local water agency and ask about rebates. EBMUD offers generous rebates to replace a lawn, and the Contra Costa Water Dis-

trict (CCWD) will pay you $1 per square foot to replace your existing front lawn with water-wise landscaping. The Ruth Bancroft Garden is a preferred designer with CCWD Landscape Design Assistance Program. Good design is about more than just plants. Think about how you want to use the new space. Will this be a new gathering place for you and the

neighbors, a wildlife habitat, or maybe a cutting garden? If you don’t have a good sense of design (be honest), then it’s time to hire a professional. A two-hour consultation with us can save time from searching the web, flipping through countless magazines, and— most importantly—wasting money due to poor plant and material selection. We’re fortunate in the East Bay as we’re able to grow a vast range of plants that are not only suited to our Mediterranean climate but are low maintenance. Don’t be put off by clay soil either, as that is easily mitigated with berms, with some exceptions. Berms are essentially mounds of welldrained soil. All plants thrive in berms, especially succulents, CA natives, and members of the Protea family. We’ve worked with Contra Costa Topsoil in Martinez to develop the Bancroft Bedding Blend that is a ready-to-berm soil. We have received glowing feedback on

how well the plants do in the blend in addition to how easy it was to plant in. For inspiration, plants, and design assistance, visit the Ruth Bancroft Garden and Nursery. We’ll be happy to help you succeed. For more information, call (925) 944-9352 or visit: www.ruthbancroftgarden.org.

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City of Pleasant Hill

Mayor’s Message What are YOUR Priorities for Pleasant Hill? Join the Conversation! Our goal as city councilmembers is to make policy decisions that are in the best interests of the city. This includes adoption of new ordinances, funding of city-sponsored events, long-term capital and financial planning, and effective use of city resources. As members of the city council, we constantly seek to engage with Pleasant Hill residents and businesses for input on issues and concerns through public meetings, e-mail, and direct contact. Another way we get feedback is through surveys. In April this year, the city conducted a survey to determine residents’ priorities on a variety of issues.

Survey Results It was rewarding to see that nearly 85% of survey respondents stated they were satisfied with the job Pleasant Hill is doing. Additionally, residents are interested in maintaining and enhancing local investment in local services. The top concerns were:

• Fixing potholes and repairing neighborhood streets • Maintaining neighborhood police patrols • Maintaining storm drains • Repairing and maintaining sidewalks • Providing a library that meets current health, safety, fire, and seismic standards As many of you have heard over the last two years, we have a backlog of more than $14 million in street maintenance and over $9 million in needed storm drain upgrades. These figures will continue to grow if they aren’t addressed. While recent budgets are increasing investment of road maintenance, unfortunately, funding does not exist to adequately address previously deferred maintenance. Public safety is always a top concern for the city. Our police force continues to do an excellent job, and we want to continue to provide them the resources they need to do their job.

need of work. The 55-year old building is the most heavily used library in the county (especially at Storytime), but it has multiple deferred maintenance issues. The roof is leaky, the parking lot is full of potholes, there is no sprinkler system, and it has an HVAC system that struggles to keep up. With more than 1,200 daily visitors, Pleasant Hill residents deserve a modern and seismically safe library that meets the changing needs of our city for the next 50 years. While the city found the April

survey to be extremely helpful, the most important feedback comes from you! Pleasant Hill is seeking robust community engagement on the many issues mentioned above. Please add your voice to the conversation by completing an online survey at www. pleasanthillca.org/survey. Express your thoughts on our funding challenges and city priorities or request a presentation from the city at your next community meeting. I look forward to reading all your suggestions.

Public Meetings Civic Action Commission July 6 City Hall, 100 Gregory Lane, Small Community Room, 6:30pm. Contact: 671-5229 Architectural Review Commission July 7, 21 City Hall, 100 Gregory Lane, Small Community Room, 5pm. Contact: 671-5209 City Council July 18 City Hall, 100 Gregory Lane, Council Chambers, 7:30pm. Contact: 671-5229 Library Task Force July 11 City Hall, 100 Gregory Lane, Large Community Room, 11am. Contact: 671-5229

A new library for Pleasant Hill

Planning Commission July 12, 26 City Hall, 100 Gregory Lane, Council Chambers, 7:30pm. Contact: 671-5209

Education Commission July 27 City Hall, 100 Gregory Lane, Community Room, 7pm

The Pleasant Hill Library is also in

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july 2016 • ourcommunityfocus.com

For Confirmation Visit: www.ci.pleasant-hill.ca.us

Chamber Calendar July 1 – Ambassador Meeting 8:30-9:30am, City Hall Community Room, 100 Gregory Lane, Pleasant Hill July 7 – “Wine at the Plaza” Summer Concert Series 6-8:30pm, Downtown Plaza, Pleasant Hill July 15 & 16 – Blues & Brews Festival Friday, 6-9pm & Saturday, 12-6pm, Pleasant Hill Park, 147 Gregory Lane, Pleasant Hill July 21 – PH Chamber Board Meeting 8-9am, City Hall Community Room, 100 Gregory Lane, Pleasant Hill July 25 – Government Affairs Committee 5:30-6:30pm, Back Forty Texas BBQ, 100 Coggins Dr., Pleasant Hill July 28 – MEGA MIXER 5-7pm, Pleasant Hill Community Center, 320 Civic Drive, Pleasant Hill OFF THE GRID Food Trucks Wednesdays, 5-9pm, Trelany Road, Pleasant Hill Pleasant Hill Farmer’s Market Saturday’s, 10am-2pm, Trelany Road, Pleasant Hill

City of Pleasant Hill

Pleasant Hill City News Still Time to Take the Summer Bike Challenge 511 Contra Costa’s second annual Summer Bike Challenge is in full swing this month and continues through the end August. Free and open to everyone. Simply cross off squares by biking to parks, schools, Downtown, City Hall, library, farmers’ market, and a neighboring city to complete the challenge. Bike for FREE STUFF in Pleasant Hill: July 7, 1:15-4pm: Free Rec Swim at the Pleasant Hill Park Pool July 13, 9-11am: Free Jamba Juice at Crescent Plaza Plus, complete at least 12 Challenge Squares to enter the iPad Mini Grand Prize drawing by September 3. Print your Challenge Card, and get more information at www.511ContraCosta.org/SBC.

City’s Biennial Budget At the June 6 city council meeting, Finance Manager Mary McCarthy presented the proposed biennial budget for fiscal years (FY) 2016/2017 and 2017/2018. Every two years, the city council adopts a budget that matches the services desired by the community with the financial resources required to provide those services. The city council also adopts a CIP (Capital Improvement Project) that appropriates funds to priority capital projects. The proposed budget for FY 16/17 is 13.8 million dollars and 11.8 million dollars for FY 17/18. The reduction is due to more funding going towards street resurfacing. The city is assuming revenue growth will come from new hotel development (Hilton Homewood Suites) and additional sales tax revenue from economic growth and new businesses, including those coming to DVC Plaza. Revenue projection for FY 16/17 is 23.1 million dollars and 17/18 is 24.5 million dollars. A survey was recently conducted to gather further input from Pleasant Hill citizens and the city received over 150 responses. The survey asked about opportunities and challenges residents saw and whether or not they had any suggestions regarding the budget. Top priorities included fixing potholes and repairing sidewalks, streets and roads; maintaining neighborhood police patrols and maintaining storm drains. The city budget can be viewed on the city website at www.ci.pleasant-hill.ca.us/ by searching “Draft Budget.” The budget was unanimously approved by city council.

dence Day Indepen easant Hill way l P e h t urth of July o F in

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

What is Your Street’s PCI? The city engineer spoke to city council on the condition of the city’s streets and the need to maintain a high PCI (Pavement Condition Index). Street resurfacing is completed in zones, and there are 24 residential zones in Pleasant Hill. Normally, one residential zone is completed every budget cycle, but with the additional funding the idea is to complete more. Each zone has an average PCI. “We try to address specific zones we believe are in the worst condition, which means we are trying to capture it before it becomes too expensive,” said Moreno. Currently some of the worst zones are in the Poet’s Corner neighborhood and neighborhoods west of Paso Nogal. To see where your neighborhood falls within the PCI, visit: www.ci.pleasant-hill.ca.us and click on “Engineering Division” under Departments and then click on “Street Pavement Condition Map.”

Fun entertainment ALL DAY on the stage & lawn!

6:30am

Registration for Firecracker Fun Run

National Anthem— Makenzie Wernholm, CPHS

8:00am

Start of the 11th annual Firecracker 5K Fun Run

Fast Times—Dance hits from the 60s up to today

9:30am

Start of Pleasant Hill’s famous hometown Parade

Buttons Z Clown

10:30am Party-in-the-Park Sack races, bean bag toss, water balloon launch, face painting, crafts, watermelon-eating contest, slide, a bounce train, the zip line and Zorbs, Petting Zoo, and more. Refreshments and water available. 7:15pm

Giant Inflatables— 200-foot zip line, Zorbs, Kids gym, and slide

Sugadady (every song is a rock song) and Fireworks over College Park High School to follow (food available)

PLUS! Great food from:

Back 40 Texas BBQ (in the park) Slow Hand BBQ (6:30 at CPHS) Gotta Love Kettle Corn (in the park) At both venues: Mustache Mike’s Izzy A’s Frozen Custard

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

More Street Resurfacing Funding City Engineer Mario Moreno made a presentation to council on the Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) and spoke of the $15.6 million dollars in needed expenditures. Funding sources currently come from grant funds ($7.4 mil), and local funds ($5.0 mil), and an additional $3 million is needed from the city’s general fund in order to balance the budget. Most pressing needs consist of maintenance projects (infrastructure, storm drains, creek and street maintenance), improvement projects (upgrade sidewalks, citywide bridge maintenance and upgrades) and grant projects (Boyd Road and Elinora Drive sidewalk improvement and the Contra Costa Blvd. improvement project). The city council approved the $3 million in general funds to go toward the CIP and street resurfacing in order to balance the budget.

Pleasant Hill

Grand Sponsor / Crackling Finale

Patrick & Shirley Campbell Foundation City of Pleasant Hill CSAA Insurance Group

Downtown Pleasant Hill, Pleasant Hill Crescent Drive Investors, LLC Pleasant Hill Coin & Jewelry Exchange

Pleasant Hill Rotary Foundation Republic Services Norma & Don Flaskerud/ RE/MAX Today

Sponsor / Starburst

JFK University Orchard Supply Hardware

Pleasant Hill Recreation & Park District

Pleasant Hill Lions Club

Patron / Kaboom

Alissa Gutierres/ Allstate Insurance

Olson Family/ Pleasant Hill Grocery Outlet

Pleasant Hill Orthodontics/ Greg Miller

Big O Tires Pleasant Hill

Magoo’s Grill of Pleasant Hill

Contra Costa Country Club

Michael Huguet, DDS & Associates Family and Cosmetic Dentistry

R. J. Gordon Construction, Inc./ John G. Johnson

Donaghu Graphic Designs Irvin Deutscher Family YMCA Oasis Veterinary Hospital

Paul Mitchell The School/ East Bay

Sister’s Hillcrest Dry Cleaners William Patterson of Wright Way Mgmt Web Services Zachary’s Chicago Pizza, Inc.

Supporter / Oooooooh Bill’s Ace Hardware/ Bill Wygal Deutscher Properties Corporation

Diablo View Veterinary Hospital/ James Beebee, DMV Jo’s Sushi Bar

Kenneth W. Tittle, DDS, MS Martin Family Orthodontics/ Jennifer L. Martin, DDS Linda Mayo, MDUSD Putman, Berggren, Tonti Michael Harris Consulting

Donor / Aaaaaaah

Angie Bailie – Grief & Bereavement Counselor

Kensington Place

Night Owl Pediatrics

ourcommunityfocus.com • july 2016

City of Martinez

Mayor’s Message The final phase of the of the Martinez Intermodal project broke ground two weeks ago, with four members of the Martinez City Council donning hard hats and digging a ceremonial shovel of dirt to start construction on the Alhambra Creek Bridge. The bridge, which will span Alhambra Creek from Berrilessa Street, immediately north of the Union Pacific RR tracks, to the new parking lot adjacent to the indoor

sports facilities, creates a second access to those facilities and to the Martinez waterfront and marina. This phase will also include the construction of a pedestrian overcrossing, from the Amtrak station over the railroad tracks to the north parking lot, making the parking lot more accessible to those traveling by train. The access road to the sports facilities and the parking lot will also be

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THE CARS CAN'T TALK BUT WE CAN!

UPCOMING EVENTS

JULY 1 4

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july 2016 • ourcommunityfocus.com

Rob Schroder, Mayor of Martinez

realigned. The bridge should be completed by the end of this year, and the pedestrian overcrossing and access road realignment should be done by the middle of 2017. Private ferry service is expected to commence from the Martinez Marina to the San Francisco Ferry Building this fall, with the recent approval by the city council to allow Prop SF to utilize the guest dock and 50 parking spaces at the marina. I have heard some criticism of the approval due to the city not charging a fee, and the service is not open to the public yet. But the large majority of comments I have heard is that people are excited about the possibility of this service expanding to include commuter subscription and, eventually, public service. Martinez has been working for over a decade with the publicly operated Water Emergency Transit Authority (WETA) to bring water transit to Martinez. We are still on the map for future expansion, but with the dismal results of the recent ridership study, traditional ferry service to Martinez is many years off into the future. The arrival of Prop SF in Martinez and other cities where WETA is not ready to expand service brings the reality of water transit at no cost. This is a free “beta” test that could cost hundreds of thousands of dollars if funded by a public entity. If you have been downtown in the last few months, you have probably seen several buildings under construction and

several vacant structures. At first glance, it may look like we are experiencing an economic downturn, but just the opposite is happening. The Unreinforced Masonry (URM) retrofit ordinance is in its final phases of implementation, with all but one building fully retrofitted, in process, or about to begin construction. Several long time property owners have improved their buildings, while others have sold to new owners that are going far beyond just an earthquake retrofit of their buildings. They are investing in the buildings with completely new wiring, HVAC, plumbing, and ADA improvements. Some are adding residential spaces on the second floor, which is exactly what downtown needs: a critical mass of people living downtown to support existing business and attract new businesses. Martinez is getting the attention of a new type of resident that is having coffee on the dining platforms in the morning, catching the train to get to work, and riding their bikes and hiking the trails on the weekends. Take a look at the recently retrofitted building on Castro Street. Two years ago, that building was empty and an eyesore. Today it is full of new businesses and people. I see this trend continuing as each building is completed and becomes available. I am excited about these new projects and improvements finally coming to fruition. We are becoming the community of “we can” instead of “we can’t.”

Public Meetings City Council Meeting July 6, 20 City Hall, 525 Henrietta Street, 7-11pm. Contact: 372-3500 Design Review Meeting July 13, 27 City Hall, 525 Henrietta Street, 4-5pm. Contact: 372-3500 Planning Commission Meeting July 12, 26 City Hall, 525 Henrietta Street, 7-11pm. Contact: 372-3500 Zoning Administrator Meeting July 6, 20 City Hall, 525 Henrietta Street, 4-5pm. Contact: 372-3500 For Confirmation Visit: www.cityofmartinez.org

City of Martinez

Martinez City News Council Approves Access Agreement At the June 1 city council meeting, council formally approved an access agreement with Prop SF and Almar Marina Management Inc. to allow use of the Martinez Marina public dock and a portion of the parking area for private charter ferry service from the Martinez Marina by Prop SF. In addition to use of the public dock, Prop SF has requested a non-exclusive right to use up to 50 parking spaces in the public parking areas on weekdays between the hours of 5am and 5pm. Prop SF would not provide compensation to the city or Almar for use of the public dock during this initial charter phase of operations, as this charter use of the city marina facilities is intended as a private service and is expected to reduce traffic impacts on the I-680 and Highway 4 corridors. More importantly, this ferry service provides a test project for the potential of future expanded public service at the Martinez Marina. Prior to the start of chartered service, Prop SF will provide the city and Almar a written notice of the schedule of the pick up and drop off times and will be responsible for construction of an upgrade of the handrail to the dock, subject to the review and approval of the city engineer and Almar. Conceivably, ferry service could expand into a more comprehensive public ferry service model.

Still Time to Take the Summer Bike Challenge! 511 Contra Costa’s second annual Summer Bike Challenge is in full swing this month and continues through the end of August. It’s free and open to everyone. Simply cross off squares by biking to parks, schools, downtown, city hall, library, farmers’ market, and a neighboring city to complete the challenge. Bike for Free Stuff: July 5, 10am-noon: Free Starbucks cards at the Martinez Library July 14, Noon - 4pm: Free rec swim at Rankin Pool August 4, 1 - 3pm: Free ice cream at Main Street Sweets August 8, 9 - 11am: Free Jamba Juice at Martinez City Hall Plus, complete at least 12 challenge squares to enter the iPad Mini grand prize drawing by September 3, 2016. Print your Challenge Card, and get more information at www.511ContraCosta.org/SBC.

Tesoro Grant Assists Homeless Outreach In early June, the City of Martinez received a grant from Tesoro for $90,000 to assist with homeless outreach. The grant is timely since the city is losing their contract with Contra Costa Homeless Outreach on June 30. Doug Stewart founded the Contra Costa Homeless Outreach in 2004 and has helped thousands of homeless people in his 12 years heading the organization. He is retiring and moving to Arizona. The grant will give the city the ability to hire an additional staff member. The city has funded homeless advocacy programs designed to provide essential resources to our community’s most vulnerable population since 2011. Tesoro stepped in and informed the city that its foundation had approved a three‐year $90,000 grant to support the city’s Homeless Outreach Initiative. The investment will help the city continue this important work by contracting with a local homeless advocate experienced with assisting the homeless in Martinez. “This grant will give us the ability to hire one of the former staff from Contra Costa Homeless Outreach to continue those efforts we have been working on so we won’t lose ground. We are most grateful to Tesoro for this substantial grant,” said Martinez Police Chief Sappal.

City News Continued

Community Group Funding Grants At the June 13 city council meeting, council approved the budget subcommittee’s recommendations for grants to local non-profit organizations as part of the city’s Community Group Funding Program for fiscal year 2016-17. The biennial budget allocated $7,500 in community group funding from the general fund and $2,500 from the recycle fund for fiscal year 2016-17. The budget subcommittee reviewed all grant applications and recommended the council award the following grants to these non-profit organizations: Worth a Dam - $1,000; Martinez Historical Society - $1,000; Contra Costa Historical Society - $1,000; Sea Scout Ship Albatross - $1,000; Loaves & Fishes of Contra Costa - $1,000; Martinez Arts Association - $900; Juvenile Hall Auxiliary - $776; Hospice Foundation of East Bay - $500; College Park High School Grad Night - $500; John Muir Association - $2,500; and New Leaf Collaborative - $1,000. The total for all funding is $11,176. Allocations were made in the revised FY 2016-17 budget to provide an additional $176 for grants from the general fund and $1,000 from the recycle fund.

Mandatory Water Conservation Rescinded At the June 15 city council meeting, council adopted a resolution rescinding mandatory water conservation resolution 091-15, established on July 15, 2015 (25% drought management plan). The city will transition to encouraging conservation and establish permanent prohibitions, however, its proposed fines for water waste remain in effect. The Temporary Pricing Adjustment of $.50 per hundred cubic feet (748 gallons) of water used will terminate starting with the first monthly billing cycle on June 30, 2016, and the first bi-monthly billing cycle, starting July 12, 2016. Martinez residents have done a great job conserving water this past year. There was over a 30% overall reduction in water use. Many residents took advantage of incentives and rebates. CCWD and city staffs are confident that by implementing longterm water conservation there will be adequate water supplies to meet customer needs over the next three years.

Martinez Library Serving Lunch CC County Libraries Combat Hunger and the Summer Nutrition Gap The Contra Costa County Library is serving lunch this summer at eight locations in the county in an effort to prevent a summer nutrition gap. Many low-income children face nutrient deficiencies when school closes for the summer. The effort is part of a statewide collaboration between the California Library Association (CLA) and the California Summer Meal Coalition to unite libraries and summer meal providers and keep kids healthy and engaged when school is out. The Martinez Library will serve lunch on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays, 12-1pm, through August 10. In addition to lunch, the libraries will offer a variety of free programs, including board games, arts and crafts, musical performances, Legos, movies, and more. To learn more about the Lunch at the Library program, visit www. ccclib.org/summer, or call (915) 646-9900.

Annual Fishing Derby Kids ages 5-12 are invited to participate on Saturday, July 9, 10am-noon for a morning of free fishing at the Martinez Marina. Bring your fishing rod and we will supply the bait! Everyone who participates receives a prize. A parent or guardian must accompany children to sign a photo/liability release. Pre-registration is required by Thursday, July 7 to participate. To register, go to www.cityofmartinez.org or contact Martinez Recreation at (925) 372-3510. Space is limited to 40 children and no fishing license is required.

ourcommunityfocus.com • july 2016

City of Walnut Creek

Mayor’s Message Arts and Recreation When I think about the quality of life in Walnut Creek, a few things come to mind: opportunities for outdoor recreation, a thriving arts scene and a multitude of ways to explore life-long learning. The city’s arts and recreation department offers programs that are integral to the Walnut Creek experience and truly enhance the quality of life for all ages. To better tell this story, the department has recently undergone a re-branding process to develop a new logo and visual style. The new brand captures the vibrant, playful, and diverse intersection of programming offered through Walnut Creek Arts and Recreation. Look for the Fall Guide to Arts + Rec in

early August to see the new brand come to life. The guide can be accessed at www.ci.walnut-creek.ca.us/departments/ arts-recreation-and-community-services/ civic-arts-education/arts-rec-catalog. The arts and recreation department is another example of how “Walnut Creek Works” by building community connections, inspiring new ideas, and helping people of all ages develop new skills and talents. I invite residents throughout the region to join in the high quality offerings of classes, workshops, special events, and camps. Thank you for making our community more connected as you explore, discover, and create this summer. The following are just a few of the ways you and your family can get in on

Loella Haskew, Mayor of Walnut Creek

the action: Movies Under the Stars Bring your picnic and watch the stars come out over Walnut Creek while enjoying family-friendly movies. Movies begin at sunset. Please do not bring pets. Movies Under the Stars are brought to you by the City of Walnut Creek, Walnut Creek Recreation, and Walnut Creek Downtown. On July 29, enjoy Inside Out at Heather Farm Ballfield #2. For further information: (925) 943-5858 or WalnutCreekRec.org. 10th Annual Chevron Family Theatre Festival July 16, beginning at 10am, Lesher Center for the Arts Enjoy more than two dozen professional performances in the Lesher Center’s three theaters, lobbies, and right outside. Events outside are free; performances inside the theatres are just $5 per person, run 45-60 minutes long, and are appropriate for all ages. Tickets and full schedule are available at

lesherartscenter.org. Community Build for Ruth Bancroft Garden Ceramic Mural August 20 – 21, 9am – 4pm, Civic Arts Education’s Ceramics Studio (1365 Civic Drive) Community members from toddlers to seniors are invited to drop in to team up on ceramic tiles for two 20’ x 4’ wall murals that will be installed in spring or summer of 2017 at the Ruth Bancroft Garden. This event is free for everyone, and all skill levels are welcome. Registration is still open for popular summer camps and weekly classes for adults and children. Visit walnutcreekrec.org or arts-ed.org for more information. Safety Tip: Now that summer is here, many people will be riding their bicycles. When on city streets, bicyclists should watch for parked cars that might pull out of the space without looking. Also, be wary of street-side car doors suddenly opening right in front of bicyclists.

Public Meetings City Council Meeting July 5, 19 Council Chambers, 1666 North Main Street, 6-11pm. Contact: 943-5819 Design Review Meeting Nothing Scheduled for July Council Chambers, 1666 North Main Street, 7pm. Contact: 943-5819 Planning Commission Meeting Nothing Scheduled for July Council Chambers, 1666 North Main Street, 7-11pm. Contact: 943-5819 Arts Commission Meeting July 25 Council Chambers, 1666 North Main Street, 6pm. Contact: 943-5819 For Confirmation Visit: www.walnut-creek.org

EXPIRES 7/31/16

WEEKLY UPDATES www.ourcommunityfocus.com

july 2016 • ourcommunityfocus.com

City of Walnut Creek

Walnut Creek City News Summer “Pops” Concert The Walnut Creek Concert Band, under the direction of Harvey Benstein, will present their annual summer pops concert at 7:30pm on Tuesday, July 19, in the Lesher Center for the Arts. This year’s program highlights the depth and talent of the members of the Walnut Creek Band and showcases individual members and sections as soloists. The program presents “player favorites,” including light classics, traditional marches, patriotic selections, and a few surprises. Tickets are available through the Lesher Center ticket office by calling 925-943-7469 or by ordering online at lesherartscenter.com. Tickets are $17 for adults, $14 for seniors. Free for students!

Intersection Reconstruction Major construction to reconfigure the intersection of Oak Grove and Ygnacio Valley roads began on June 12. Drivers should continue to anticipate multiple lane closures and shifts in traffic. The work is part of The Orchards project, which is turning 25 acres at the corner of Ygnacio Valley Road and Oak Grove into a town center, with a Super Safeway, health club, restaurants, stores, and recreational amenities. According to Gayle Vassar, communications and outreach manager for the City of Walnut Creek, “Reconstruction of the intersection was delayed until summer to avoid heavy school traffic. Signs will be posted within the Concord city limits in the mornings to give drivers heading toward the construction a heads up. In addition, the city will coordinate construction work with the summer concert schedule at the Concord Pavilion.” Construction work is expected to take two to three months to complete. The 25-acre site will also include Viamonté (a continuing care retirement community), more than four acres of open space, a children’s park and splash area, an amphitheater, and walking trails. Some stores are expected to open in late summer.

Camp Out at Camp Lindsay! Lindsay is offering a first ever sleepover for members on Saturday, July 16, from 6:30pm to 8:30am. Members will have a fun-filled family evening of camping activities, making s’mores, and crawling into sleeping bags and falling asleep to the sound of owls and Lindsay’s other nocturnal animal ambassadors. “Night owls” can enjoy a late night movie. Nighttime snack and breakfast the next morning are provided. Cost is $65 for children ages 5 and up. Children who are 18 and under must be accompanied by an adult. For more information, visit lindsaywildlife.org.

Three City Council Seats Up Three city council seats are up for election this fall: Loella Haskew, Justin Wedel, and Bob Simmons. The candidate nomination period begins July 18 and ends at 5pm on Friday, August 12. If one or more incumbents do not run for re-election, the deadline to file for candidacy will be extended until 5pm on Wednesday, August 17. Nomination papers can be obtained from the city clerk’s office. Candidates must be registered voters in the City of Walnut Creek. Those interested in running for office should contact City Clerk Suzie Martinez at 925-943-5819 to schedule an appointment to pull nomination papers. The city clerk will walk potential candidates through the election process and provide materials at this meeting. Appointments last approximately one hour.

First Meeting of North Downtown Specific Plan Committee The North Downtown Specific Plan Advisory Committee will meet for the first time at 6:30pm on Monday, June 27, in the 3rd floor conference room at city hall. The goal of the committee is to provide advice in development of a long-range vi-

City News Continued sion for the 180-acre area extending from Civic Drive to Parkside Drive, and from Highway 680 to the Iron Horse Trail. The 13-member advisory committee includes a representative from each of the city’s five commissions (arts; design review; parks, recreation, and open space; planning; and, transportation), two city council members, and six “at large” members. North Downtown Advisory Committee meetings will be open to the public and are expected to start later this summer. To sign up for agenda notifications and other updates, go to walnut-creek.org/ northdowntown.

Outside @ Lesher Center Summer Sounds Outside, a series of free concerts on the Lesher Center for the Arts plaza, takes place on select Thursday evenings, 5:30-7pm, through July and focus on bringing high quality, eclectic new artists to the Lesher Center for the Arts in Walnut Creek. Lineup includes Chris Cain, Thursday, July 7; Anderson & Roe, Thursday, July 21; and Blue Jupiter A Capella, Thursday, July 28. Beverages, including wine and beer, are available for purchase. For the complete lineup, visit the Diablo Regional Arts Association webpage: www.draa.org.

Movies Under the Stars Bring your picnic and watch the stars come out over Walnut Creek. Stay for the movie and you’ll see some pretty impressive stars on our screen, too! On Friday, July 29, at Heather Farm Park ballfield #2, watch Inside Out. $2 suggested donation per person.

Live! From the Library Live! From the Library presents the National Park Service Centennial. The NPS is celebrating its 100th birthday on August 25. To mark the occasion, National Park Service Superintendent Tom Leatherman will present an overview of the National Park system, including California’s National Parks and Historical Sites, 7-8:30pm, at the Walnut Creek Library. He will also share tips for planning visits and highlights from centennial celebrations across the country. Leatherman is the superintendent at four National Park Service historic sites in the East Bay: Eugene O’Neill National Historic Site, John Muir National Historic Site, Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial, and Rosie the Riveter/ WWII Home Front National Historical Park. He started his NPS career in 1989 as an intern at Pinnacles National Monument and went on to work in several parks, monuments, and historic sites before ending up back in the Bay Area. He was selected as the superintendent of these sites in January of 2011. Registration is open for this free event in the Oak View Room at the Walnut Creek Library, 1644 N. Broadway Ave. 925-935-5395.

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PURE MUIR Gala a celebration of Contra Costa open space

Thank you to all who attended and supported the Pure Muir Gala on April 30.

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july 2016 â&#x20AC;¢ ourcommunityfocus.com

1st Team All Locals

While the College Park boys golf team swept the 2015-16 DVAL regular season and the league tournament titles, the DVAL 1st Team All League was comprised of seven young golfers from five local high schools. College Park (9-1) was led by Dominic Salomone, the four-time league MVP and Brooks Williams. The two were co-medalists in the DVAL tournament, which the Falcons won with a team total of 427. Daniel Schaefer and his Clayton Valley Charter teammates finished second in the league (8-2) and in the tournament (453). Northgate finished third (7-3 and 471). Their key players were Jacob Ricafrente and Steve Harvey. Berean Christian (4-6), behind Woojin Gallo, another co-medalist in the DVAL Tournament, defeated a very young Concord squad (2-8) twice during the regular season. John Scott Senz, a freshman, was Concord’s number one golfer this season. He and his Minutemen teammates turned the tables on Berean at the DVAL Tournament and outshot them, 486-549, to finish fourth.

SUPPORTING

Dwayne Glemser Manager Proudly Sponsored by Les Schwab Martinez

LOCAL YOUTH

Three-Peat Champions!

Alhambra’s Softball Team took home the NCS Division II Championship trophy for the third consecutive year. The Bulldogs (24-2) won with a 12-6 victory June 4, over Newark Memorial (22-5) at Saint Mary’s College in Moraga. The Lady Bulldogs are pictured congratulating home run hitter, Miranda Nilson. Photo by Greg Jungferman. www.lesschwabmartinez.com • 3800 Alhambra, Martinez • 925-370-6382

Hurley Takes 3rd at State College Park Junior Noah Hurley finished his incredible track season with a third place finish at the CIF State Track meet held on June 3 in Clovis California. During the season Noah set and reset the school pole vault record four times with a final record setting height of 16’0”. He finished his season with a four-way tie for 3rd at the CIF State Meet. Noah’s goal next season is to break his record again, a feat he is sure to accomplish.

DVAL Golf First Team All League pictured (LtoR): Woojin Gallo (Berean Christian), Daniel Schaefer (Clayton Valley Charter), Brooks Williams (College Park), MVP Dominic Salomone (College Park), Jacob Ricafrente (Northgate), Steve Harvey (Northgate), John Scott Senz (Concord).

Reckless Wins Tourney With several new faces, the latest version of PHMSA Reckless stepped on the field against silver and gold club competition at the Davis Legacy Spring Super Classico and took home the gold medal. The girls capped off the weekend by dominating in penalty kicks, 4 -1, after finishing extra time, 0-0, in the championship match.

Noah with pole vault coach Dave Holland.

Best Mechanic

Left to Right: Casey Briethaupt, Coach Bob Puljiz, Sierra Barker, Carly Shuken, Leta Baldwin, Jessica Cortez, Mallory McCarthy, Bella Lopez, Kaitlyn Chang, Joselyn Hom, Kaeli Griffin, Mia Puljiz, Emma Johansson, Chloe Dunbar, Coach Denis McCarthy, and Sophia Wehrlie. (Not pictured: Laura Howard.) Submitted by Christina McCarthy. ourcommunityfocus.com • july 2016

Tips for Aging Parents

Calling All Baby Boomers

BY COLLEEN CALLAHAN Meeting with clients and learning about them is one of the most fun and delightful aspects of my job. In order to advise clients on the most suitable products, it is important to get to know them. In many situations, products are often being purchased for the first time, whether the client is a nervous firsttime parent selecting the amount of life insurance, a young adult buying health insurance, a 65 year-old transitioning to Medicare and a supplement, or an empty nester buying long-term care insurance. Normally, when insurance is purchased the buyer is healthy. What happens when health changes? More people need to be involved. I would like to give a few tips to those approaching the “aging parents” category. Remember, this is new ground for you and your family. Give your kids a break. Share details with them. Don’t make them guess and don’t discount their experience and viewpoints. If you are buying a long-term care policy, tell your children why. If you are buying life insurance, tell them why. Remember, your children could be requesting forms for a long-term care claim or accessing money from a life

BY TUYA LUTBAYAR If you are a baby boomer whose investments have lost value or you’ve delayed retirement (or think you’ll never retire), please read this. You’ve worked hard, 160 hours a month for the last 40 years. What happened? Perhaps you made a wrong investment and/or you paid someone to lose your money. How can your money still work for you? There are some basic concepts to consider regarding investments. First, have you heard of the Rule of 72 and compounding interest? By dividing 72 by the annual rate of return, you can get an estimate of how many years it will take for your initial investment to double. For example: • 72/1% = 72. Your investment doubles every 72 years. • 72/6% = 12. Your investment doubles every 12 years. • 72/10% = 7.2. Your investment doubles every 7.2 years. Second, there are only three rates at which your money can grow: fixed, variable, and indexed. A fixed rate is secure, but there is usually minimal growth. Variable returns usually involve stocks and bonds that are found in most retirement plans, including 401(k), 403(b), SEP IRAs, Roth and traditional

insurance policy to pay for care. I often consult with adult children regarding frail parents. The adult children want to do the best they can. During the claim process, it is clear when parents have done a superb job of communicating with children or relatives, and it is painfully clear when parents have done a poor job. For some of you with older longterm care policies, one insurance company has announced rate increases. You should have already received a letter. Make sure to review all of your available choices. Please don’t blindly cancel the policy because of a premium increase. There are options.. Colleen Callahan Insurance Services is located in Pleasant Hill. Contact her at 925-363-5433 or ccallahan@callahaninsurance.com.

IRAs. There is also an index strategy in which you can participate when stocks and bonds are up, but be protected from potential loss when they are down. Third, know when to pay your taxes. For example, if you were a farmer, would you rather pay taxes on a bag of seeds now or on the entire harvest next year? Likewise, would you rather be taxed on $100 now or on the growth from $100,000 later? With an understanding of these concepts, think of how your finances could be better off. You could save yourself 10-15 years of working. You could retire earlier or with more money. Let me help you protect what you have now and reach your goal. Tuya Lutbayar is a licensed independent contractor who works with over 75A+ rated financial companies, such as Transamerica, Nationwide, Voya, Everest, and Pacific Life. Please call (925) 357-0525 for a complimentary consultation. 3478 Buskirk Ave. Suite 1000, Pleasant Hill. Appointment only.

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White Pony Express Call for Help Volunteers Needed to Deliver Free Food and Clothing White Pony Express (WPE) is a nonprofit group that delivers fresh, top-quality food and clothing, toys, and children’s books for free to those in need in the county. WPE has an urgent need for more volunteers. WPE Rescues Food Seven days a week, WPE food rescue volunteers take trucks to supermarkets,

restaurants, and farmers’ markets to pick up high quality, nourishing, surplus food that would otherwise be thrown away. It’s then delivered to Contra Costa nonprofit groups that feed the hungry. In two and a half years, WPE has delivered more than 3,000,000 pounds of meat, dairy, eggs, produce, deli, and baked goods, the equivalent of 2,500,000

meals the hungry would have gone without. WPE Stages “Mobile Boutiques” WPE’s Free General Store has staged 35 “mobile boutiques” and taken 245,000 items to underserved parts of the county. Residents in need can “shop” for new or like-new clothing, shoes, toys, games, and books and then take them home. Founded to Serve Others Carol Weyland Conner, PhD, spiritual director of Sufism Reoriented, founded WPE in 2013 when she realized that in a county of such abundance, thousands were going hungry while food retailers were throwing out huge quantities of healthy, fresh food. Dr. Conner developed WPE’s Food Rescue and Free General Store to enable those who have more than they need to easily give to those with less, allowing all to share in the abundance of life. She wanted service for WPE to spring from the heart, so

today WPE’s food and goods are free and the work is done entirely by volunteers who want to help, purely in the spirit of service. Volunteers Needed In less than three years, White Pony Express has gone from serving zero to 60,000 county residents in need. “This has only been possible because of the selfless service of 400 volunteers who find great satisfaction and joy in being helpful to others,” says Executive Coordinator Gary Conner. “Going forward, our ability to help our neighbors is limited only by the number of people who join us. We welcome more volunteers! We have many roles available with flexible schedules. Just give us a call!” Interested volunteers should contact Mandy Nakaya at 925-818-6361 or email her at mandy@whiteponyexpress.org. For more on WPE, visit www.whiteponyexpress.org.

A delighted guest shows the games she received free from a Mobile Boutique.

For the 13th year Don and Norma Flaskerud, Broker/Owners of Re/Max Today Real Estate, have donated $2,000—$26,000 total— to the Pleasant Hill 4th of July Commission to be used for the fireworks. Chris Tipton of the Commission accepted their donation.

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Visit them at www.PleasantHillRealEstate.com or email DonaldFlaskerud@Remax.net NormaFlaskerud@Remax.net or EFlaskerud@Remax.net Volunteer Brenda Barnhart works with a recipient unloading food for the Bay Area Rescue Mission.

CalBRE #s — Don: 00971602, Norma: 00867031, Erik: 01891688

ourcommunityfocus.com • july 2016

Dog Days of Summer Keep Your Pets Happy and Healthy This Summer BY DR. LOUISA ASSEO Summer is here! After being cooped up all winter, we look forward to fun outdoor activities that come with the season. Here are a few things to watch for during the summer months to keep your pets happy and healthy. 1. Foxtails These pesky weeds are ubiquitous in our area. They can lodge themselves in your dog’s eyes, nose, and ears, between their toes, and in other unmentionable places. If your pet is outdoors around foxtails, be sure to check them thoroughly and remove any foxtails before they cause problems. If your pet is squinting his eye, shaking his head, or sneezing acutely after being outside, seek veterinary help immediately. If possible, remove the foxtail before it can cause

more pain and injury. 2. Hot pavement Sidewalks and pavements heat up during the day and can remain hot into the evening. These hot surfaces can burn the pads of our faithful companions. Feel the pavement before heading out for a walk. Remember, if it’s too hot for you, it’s too hot for them! 3. Fireworks As we celebrate our country’s independence, bear in mind that loud fireworks can easily scare even the mellowest of our companions. Ensure that your pets are kept in a secure place where they cannot injure themselves or escape in fear of loud noises. It may be helpful to leave on a radio or TV as “white noise” to help mask outside noises. Consider fitting them with a “Thunder Jacket” to give them a feeling of security. Sometimes it may be necessary to use medication to lessen their anxiety. Talk with your vet if you feel that your pet might need extra help during these times.

4. BBQ Long summer days encourage us to make use of our outdoor grills, however, tasty meals can pose some threats to out canine companions. Bones can cause obstructions and irritation to their gastrointestinal tracts. In addition, most of the foods we enjoy are too rich for their bodies and can result in vomiting and diarrhea – or, more seriously, diseases such as pancreatitis. Remember to dispose of all bones where our furry friends cannot access them. 5. Pesky bugs Summer days and nights bring out a host of parasites that can be dangerous to dogs, cats, and small mammals. Mosquitos can transmit heartworm disease. Ticks can transmit a host of diseases. Fleas can cause itching, allergy, and skin diseases. Talk to your vet about which parasite preventatives are right for your pet. Once again, I hope you all enjoy the great outdoors this month, but remember to

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help keep your beloved companions safe. Dr. Louisa Asseo, owner of Oasis Veterinary Hospital, can be reached at (925) 954 – 8087, 6635 Alhambra Ave, Suite 100, Martinez, or visit oasisveterinaryhospital. com.

Oasis Veterinary Hospital proudly sponsors the

PET ADOPTION CONNECTION www.ourcommunityfocus.com

sunset by the lake

summer concerts On the lawn by the lake at

Pleasant Hill City Hall

Gregory Ln & Cleaveland Rd

LIVE MUSIC & FUN! FOOD & BEVERAGE sales!

Jul 10...The Bell Brothers Hot country rock & roll Ice cream sales by BSA Troop 221 Sponsored by Pleasant Hill Civic Action Commission Visit www.pleasanthillconcerts.com for all concert information.

Restaurants tentatively scheduled to sell food: Jul 10 Jul 24 Aug 7 Aug 21 Sep 4

Slice of ItaLeigh Steel Smokin BBQ Steel Smokin BBQ Meson Azteco Steel Smokin BBQ

Jul 24...James Clark Elvis impersonator

Club of Pleasant Hill

july 2016 • ourcommunityfocus.com

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Scholarship Recipients Local AAUW Awards Nine Students At the Pleasant Hill-Martinez AAUW June brunch, college scholarships and Tech Trek camp awards were presented to nine students from local schools. It is the mission of AAUW (American Association of University Women) to break down barriers for women and girls by promoting education and supporting their personal and professional growth. Four deserving high school seniors

were recognized, not only for excellent grades but also for community service and leadership ability. Each was awarded a $1,000 AAUW scholarship in recognition of their achievements. This year’s recipients are Laura Maule and Taravat Lakzian from College Park High School, and Amy Moran and Joyce Figueroa from Alhambra High School. Laura is interested in neuroscience

ROAD TRIPS presented by Les Schwab in Martinez Road Trip to the Home of our State Capital There is no shortage of things to do in Sacramento. You may want to stay the night to experience all that the city has to offer. Visit the capital, 1315 10th Street, and take a free tour to learn about the 1869 building’s architecture and history. Free public tours are conducted 7 days a week. Details: capitolmuseum.ca.gov. Nearby, is the Crocker Art Museum, the first public art museum founded in the Western United States, established in 1885. It’s open Tues.- Sun and located at 216 O Street. Visit www.crockerartmuseum.org for more details. Explore Old Town where you can visit the Railroad Museum and enjoy a variety of dining and shopping options. Catch a Sacramento River Cats game, the San Francisco Giants Triple A affiliate, located at Raley Field, 400 Ballpark Drive, West Sacramento. Review their schedule at sacramento.rivercats.milb.com. If visiting in July, attend the State Fair held July 8-24 at 600 Exposition Blvd. Visit www.castatefair.org for schedule. Sacramento has an array of places to visit and experience. Hit the road and explore.

and will attend UC Berkeley. Amy is headed to Cal Poly with a liberal studies major in elementary education. Joyce will attend San Diego State University to study speech-language pathology. Taravat is off to UCLA and would like to go into physiological sciences. Tech Trek, a program of AAUW California started in1998, is a science and math camp that encourages girls entering eighth grade to consider careers in science, math, engineering, or technology. The camp features hands-on activities in math, science, and related fields. All sleeping, eating, instructional, and recreational facilities are located on a variety of university campuses throughout California. Campers are exposed to programs in fields such as astronomy, engineering, chemistry, marine biology, and environmental studies to enhance

their learning and introduce them to a variety of potential careers. June 19-25, five girls from Martinez and Pleasant Hill attended the Tech Trek camp at Sonoma State University campus. The following outstanding seventh graders were chosen because of their passion for math and science: Julia Beaty and Lexi Alford (Martinez Junior High School), Isabella Martinez and Isabella Triana (Sequoia Middle School), and Jazmine Cano (Valley View Middle School). The Pleasant Hill-Martinez branch of AAUW has raised money for these scholarships by holding several events, including the Italian Festa at Viano Winery, a fundraiser at a local Tahoe Joe’s restaurant, and a Silent Coffee Klatch. The Martinez Kiwanis Club also granted money to the Tech Trek Program. Congratulations to all of these exceptional young women!

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Scholarship recipients (LtoR): Laura Maule (CP), Amy Moran and Joyce Figueroa (Alhambra). Not pictured: Taravat Lakzian (CP).

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july 2016 • ourcommunityfocus.com

Tech Trek campers (LtoR): Isabella Martinez (Sequoia), Julia Beaty (Mtz Junior High), Isabella Triana (Sequoia), Jazmine Cano (Valley View). Not pictured: Lexi Alford (Mtz Junior High).

Read My Mind

Why I Love Baseball But Hate the Dodgers! BY MICHAEL G. HARRIS, OD With baseball season in full swing, I thought it would be fun to feature books about this beloved game. No other sport is called “the great American pastime.” What makes baseball so special? It’s the great sports “equalizer.” Anyone, boys and girls alike, can play baseball. And you don’t have to be particularly big, strong, or fast to be a great baseball player. You’ll never hear of a football player nicknamed “Wee Willie” (Keeler) or a basketball player called “Pee Wee” (Reese), but both became Baseball Hall of Famers. That’s why I love baseball. Now, why do I hate the Dodgers? As a kid, my favorite teams were the New York Yankees and the Brooklyn Dodgers. But in 1958, my baseball world was turned upside down. The Dodgers moved to Los Angeles and their

enemy, the New York Giants, moved to my hometown, San Francisco. From that point on, I became a diehard Giants fan and a committed Dodger hater. My dislike (no, hatred!) for the Dodgers was recently rekindled when I saw a new book by Molly Knight entitled The Best Team Money Can Buy: How The Los Angeles Dodgers Are Fighting To Become Baseball’s New Superpower. Being a Dodger hater, I was expecting to hate this book as well. But I was pleasantly surprised at this well-written and thoroughly detailed description of the Los Angeles Dodgers’ 2012 transition to new ownership and management. The rich new owners spent millions of dollars to field “the best team money could buy,” but they still couldn’t manage to make it to the World Series for the 25th year in a row. The inside scoop into the Dodger organization will remind baseball lovers of Michael Lewis’ Moneyball, the story of Oakland Athletics general manager, Billy Beane, and his underpaid team. Both are good

Rotary Scholarships Three deserving CPHS graduates were rewarded with Pleasant Hill Rotary’s 2016 scholarships, each valued at $2,000. Jim Nunes, far right in photo, helped present the awards along with Club President Jen Grossi. Christy Lopez, far left, will be majoring in Public Health at John Hopkins University. Anthony Medvedev, center, will be a pre-med student at Penn State University and Natalie Gonzalez is looking at attending Berklee College of Music. Congratulations!

reads, even for Giants fans. For a nostalgic look back to baseball in the ‘50s, read historian Doris Kearns Goodwin’s wonderful memoir, Wait Till Next Year. A diehard Brooklyn Dodgers fan, Goodwin learned how to score baseball games by recording every pitch. After school, she would listen to the games on radio and then “replay them,” pitch by pitch, for her father at dinner. This is a rich and sweet remembrance of a bygone era and one family’s devotion to each other and their favorite team. Why I Love Baseball is Larry King’s tribute to this great game and my inspiration for this column’s title. King painstakingly remembers his “lifelong love affair” with this “timeless” game. King does a better job than I could ever do of explaining why baseball is the best of all team sports. This book is a true delight. David Halberstam’s The Teammates: I’m not in trouble anymore!

I called Hire My Husband to take care of our “Honey Do List”!

A Portrait of a Friendship is the story of Dominic DiMaggio and Johnny Pesky’s 1300-mile road trip to visit their dying Boston Red Sox teammate Ted Williams. It’s a heartwarming and poignant story of what friendship really means. (Also, read Halberstam’s powerful book October 1964, which weaves the story of the changing of the guard in baseball with the 1964 civil rights struggle.) Other great baseball books, including Eliot Asnnof’s Eight Men Out, the story of the Chicago White Sox throwing the 1919 World Series, Bernard Malamud’s The Natural, where a fictional baseball player comes back from scandal to lead his team into the World Series, and W.P. Kinsella’s Shoeless Joe, the story of “Black Sox” player Joe Jackson and the basis for the movie Field of Dreams. When they yell “Play ball,” I hope you’ll find time to enjoy these great books about the sport I love.

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San Francisco Bay Area photographer, Susan Wood chases light from land, sea & sky, delivering high quality images to corporate and non-profit clients, families, and individuals. Shooting with passion and high energy, her ability to “capture the moment” shines through in the wide variety of photographs she delivers.

2015

(925) 939-7060 | SusanWoodPhotography.com | susanwoodphoto@hotmail.com ourcommunityfocus.com • july 2016

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The Chamber Welcomes Jaunita Lopez as our new Office and Membership Coordinator!

Welcome New Members

I am very pleased to announce that Juanita Lopez has joined the Chamber team effective June 16 as our new Office and Membership Coordinator. Juanita has been working with us since April as an intern from the Mount Diablo Adult Education program. She has done such a good job for us, that we decided to hire her! With Juanita’s support, Tina Traum and I will have more time to visit with our existing members, not yet members and Steve Van Dorn work on planning our upcoming summer events. I know you will enjoy President & CEO working with Juanita as much as we do. photo by Susan Wood

july 2016 • ourcommunityfocus.com

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David Joslin Kim Falahati Dennis Murray Pam Kessler Jennifer Figueroa Kelly Magoon Louisa Asseo Trevor Donahu

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NETWORKING

Gain a say in what happens in government through the Chamber advocacy efforts.

Colonial Life Family Matters Meadowbrook Design Walnut Creek Magazine Envisage Companies Mary Kay Cosmetics Oasis Veterinary Hospital Dynamic Audio Concepts

VISIBILITY It’s not just who you know, it’s who others know. Networking is powerful.

The Pleasant Hill Chamber of Commerce is stronger than ever. By joining, you get member only perks, exclusive advertising and networking opportunities, a lot of exposure for yourself and your organization, and most importantly, the support of a Chamber that advocates for pro-business governmental policy.

(925) 876-5236 (925) 708-6635 (925) 200-3661 (925) 212-5146 (925) 284-1504 (925) 360-8670 (925) 954-8087 (925) 391-0392

Look forward to seeing you at Wine at The Plaza on July 7, the Blues & Brews Festival on July 15-16 and at our Mega Mixer on July 28. Please check out our website for more details on all of these events.

91 Gregory Lane, Suite 11 • Pleasant Hill, CA 94523 • 925.687.0700

www.pleasanthillchamber.com

Pair Up

Red, White and Blue BY MARIA TERRY The Fourth of July is a day to celebrate being American. A great way to do this is to get together with family and friends and enjoy a “red, white and blue” meal. Of course, the colors won’t be perfect, but after enough glasses of sangria, who cares? You will be proud to serve these four fun and tasty recipes for your Fourth of July BBQ. Sangria is one of my favorite summer beverages. This Red, Blue and White Wine Sangria is a simple recipe, with only three ingredients: Moscato, a sweet, sparkling white wine; Triple Sec, an orange liquor with a touch of bitterness to keep your drink from becoming cloyingly sweet; and, of course, fresh fruit to float on top. Do be sure to include a red fruit and the requisite blueberries to stay true to your theme, and pair with a Red, White and Blue Sum-

Red, White and Blue Summer Salad INGREDIENTS Salad 6-8 cups of fresh romaine lettuce, cleaned and torn 1 cup fresh blueberries 1 cup fresh strawberries cut in small chunks 4 oz. crumbled feta cheese Dressing ½ cup sugar 1 tsp. salt 1 tsp. prepared mustard 1 tsp. celery salt 1 tsp. paprika 1 tsp. grated onion ¼ cup vinegar ¼ cup olive oil DIRECTIONS Mix all dressing ingredients and toss a small amount with greens and fruit. Add cheese last and toss one more time. Left over dressing will keep in refrigerator indefinitely. Yield: 4 Servings

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mer Salad of blueberries and strawberries tossed with crunchy romaine and salty (white) feta cheese. Its dressing is versatile and works with other salads too, especially anything with fruit or avocado. Whip-up another pitcher of sangria for your main course as you grill your favorite “white” meat (chicken, fish, or even pork) to serve with fresh Red and Blue(berry) Salsa. This salsa is flavorful and colorful. Choose whether you want to add a little extra heat with jalapeño and/or bitter complexity with mint. With any variation, its sweet and savory combination will be delicious. Add some freshly baked bread or some crunchy tortilla chips to make sure you get every bite. I like the idea of saving dessert for the fireworks display. A perfect finger-food dessert is All American Stuffed Strawberries. They can be made in advance and brought out when the first fireworks explode in the sky. They are a delightful blend of sweet and tangy fruit with rich, cream cheese. To cleanse your palate, choose a beverage with bubbles and one that is not too sour in order to prevent

it from fighting with the sweet fruit. A sweet, dessert sparkler or even neutral sparkling water would both be up to the task.

So, go on. Pair Up! Maria Terry is a Certified Sommelier and Wine Educator in the San Francisco Bay Area. www.LaSommelierre.com

Red & Blue(berry) Salsa

Red, Blue & White Wine Sangria

INGREDIENTS 1/2 cup fresh blueberries, chopped 1/2 cup fresh whole blueberries 1/2 red bell pepper, seed and diced 1/4 red onion, diced 1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and minced (optional) 3 tbsp. fresh minced cilantro 2 tbsp. fresh minced mint (optional) 1 tbsp. lemon juice Salt to taste DIRECTIONS In a bowl, stir together all ingredients for the salsa and refrigerate until ready to use. Yield: 4 Servings

INGREDIENTS 1 bottle Moscato or sweet sparkling wine 1/2 cup Triple Sec Red and blue fruits, such as cherries, blackberries, blueberries, red apples, and/or strawberries

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2015

All American Stuffed Strawberries INGREDIENTS 24 fresh, large strawberries 8 oz. cream cheese (room temperature or softened slightly) ½ cup powdered sugar 1 tsp. vanilla extract ½ cup fresh blueberries DIRECTIONS Cut the bottom from the strawberries so they can sit cut-side down. Then, starting at the pointy part of the strawberry, cut a deep “X” about 2/3 of the way through. Beat the cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla in a bowl with an electric mixer until fluffy. Gently open up each strawberry and pipe the filling inside using a pastry bag or ziptop bag. Top each filled strawberry with a blueberry. Chill for at least an hour or up to 3 days in an airtight container. Yield: 6-8 servings

DIRECTIONS Combine wine and Triple Sec in a large pitcher. Remove stems and other non-edible portions from fruit. Add fruit to the pitcher. Allow the sangria to sit up to a day in advance or serve immediately. Yield: 4 Servings

Mark Ellinwood, Owner

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

JENNIFER L. MARTIN, D.D.S. Specialist in Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics

2015

401 GREGORY LANE, SUITE 126 PLEASANT HILL, CA 94523 925.676.8485 FAX 925.676.0288 www.drjennifermartin.com ourcommunityfocus.com • july 2016

In the Garden

Melons Pair with Sweet or Savory BY LESLEY STILES Wow, summer is here, and the living is hot! And easy! Cucumbers and tomatoes are coming on faster than I can get them in jars, while peaches, nectarines, and plums beg to be jammed. Eggplant in all sizes, shapes, and hues captivate eyes with imagination, while ideas of baba ganoush and dainty rolls of grilled eggplant and thin slices of fresh mozz, showered with basil chiffonade, aren’t far behind. Peppers are nearing peak, dazzling with endless shades of red, purple, green, and yellow. Relentless midsummer sun in California’s Central Valley blazes down on summer loving produce in the fields, forcing intense sugars to run like lava through the veins of all fruits and vegetables caught in life-giving rays, especially seasonal melons. Seemingly available year round worldwide, the real, true melons in the house are only around for a few special months.

Dating back centuries from the Middle East, with flavors crossing cantaloupe and honeydew, and trailing nuances of mangos, pink fleshed melons, as well as white, orange or yellow varieties are majestic indeed. An image of cubes of melons, hand-fed to lolling, scantily clad ancient Egyptian rulers, as they decided the fates of civilizations, could indeed detour one from eating them. Don’t let it though, as the rewards of this culinary gem are worth every bite. Deep summer is peak season for melons, and tables bow under their weight at farmers’ markets. Varieties of melon marry well with ginger, citrus, vanilla, and salt, making it a virtual foil for dang near any sweet and savory combination. Classically prepared melon fingers wrapped with pristine slices of prosciutto and drizzled with lemon and cracked sea salt, regardless of reconcilability, must not be overlooked in quests for modern preparations. Frozen cubes of melons blended with tequila and lime produce a sublime margarita. Tossed with feta cheese, rice vinegar, and

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chiffonade basil and tossed with tender arugula creates a perfect salad for summer al fresco fetes. Macerate chunks with crystallized ginger and vanilla bean, then lavishly drape over ice cream to take sundaes to a new level. Chilled, pureed melon and cucumber soup, garnished with mint and crème fraiche, has a total personality break down between antipasti and dessert. Corn is whacking out currently as well, and corn fritters are probably the most requested dish I have in my catering repertoire. Easy and lusciously decadent, they use the best produce summer has to offer. Hike early and often so you can eat many. A California Culinary Academy graduate, sustainable caterer and school

Corn Fritters INGREDIENTS 1½ cups flour 2 teaspoons baking powder 2 teaspoons baking 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, baking soda, and salt in a bowl. Make a well in the center and put eggs, oil and milk in center. 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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GREGORY DR at TRELANY RD

garden educator, Lesley may be reached at lesleystiles@comcast.net, www.lesleystiles.blogspot.com or her new website, www.lesleystiles- foods.com.

Sweet and Sour Tomatoes INGREDIENTS 2 pounds 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 1½ generous teaspoon each of cinnamon and cumin DIRECTIONS Put tomatoes, green onions and cilantro in a bowl and set aside. Heat olive oil in a sauce pan. Add spices and heat until bubbly, about 2 minutes. Slowly add honey and rice vinegar. Cook for 3 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 15 minutes before using.

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Every 2nd Saturday: Tai Chi demos & classes, by the Taoist Tai Chi Society. Every 4th Saturday: “Story Time”, by Pleasant Hill Library with special guest appearances!

Increase Iron Intake

BY ESTHER CATALYA, MD Iron is one of the main components our body uses to keep active. It’s necessary to produce proper hemoglobin molecules, which deliver oxygen throughout our bodies. When your body is lacking iron, it is easy to become fatigued, even with very little activity. Iron comes in two dietary forms, heme and nonheme. Heme is primarily absorbed from lean meats and seafood. An individual can absorb up to 30 percent of iron from these foods, whereas nonheme is absorbed from plant-based foods, such as vegetables, fruits, and nuts. Nonheme foods only allow the body to absorb between two and ten percent of the iron because it is more difficult for the body to process compared to heme iron. When you aren’t getting enough iron, a common disease occurs called irondeficiency anemia. This disease is more prevalent amongst vegetarians since they don’t consume the easier to absorb heme from meat and seafood. However, vegetarians are not the only individuals with this disease. There are many simple ways to increase your iron intake, starting with your diet. As previously mentioned, lean meat and poultry are important foods that help increase and maintain iron levels. Some examples of foods with heme iron are turkey,

lamb, beef, pork, and liver. Seafood contains heme iron and is equivalently beneficial. For those who don’t eat meat, there are other options to increase your iron as well. Dark leafy greens such as broccoli, spinach, kale, collards and beet greens, as well as nuts and beans, contain significant amounts of iron. When eating only nonheme iron, it is advisable to eat more of these foods in order to meet the daily needs for your body. When eating foods that contain nonheme iron, pair them with vitamin C rich foods or drinks (citrus, strawberries, and tomatoes) to enhance the amount of iron you can absorb from the meal. In addition, cooking in a cast-iron skillet increases the amount of iron in your food, which can raise your iron levels. When lean meats, poultry, or seafood are paired with nuts or dark leafy greens, iron absorption can be improved up to three times. Furthermore, avoid mixing your iron rich foods with calcium, soy proteins, and fibers because these nutrients inhibit the absorption of iron. If changing your diet doesn’t make a significant difference in maintaining your iron levels, it may be time to speak with your doctor about further testing and medication options. Dr. Catalya is a medical oncologist & hematologist with Diablo Valley Oncology & Hematology Medical Group. She sees patients in Pleasant Hill and Rossmoor. For more information, please call 925-6775041.

2015

SENIOR CALENDARS SPONSORED BY: MICHAEL BRIONEZ

Your Neighborhood Realtor Looking for a single level home? Call Michael!

925-288-0477

michael@michaelbrionez.com

Martinez Senior Activities

818 Green Street, Martinez 925-370-8770 July 14 – Trains and More Trains of Colorado Trip Presentation 10am. Ride on the Leadville and Southern Railroad along Arkansas River Valley; visit Mesa Verde; ride the Durango to Silverton Railroad; ride the Cumbers & Toltec Scenic Railroad to Antonito Colorado; Pikes Cog Railroad through Colorado’s wildlife and 2,000 year old trees; final destination is the Colorado Springs Air Force Academy. $2,999/person. August 21-28. MWF - Jazzercise Senior Body Sculpting 8:30-9:30am. A 40-50 minute muscle-toning workout that features a creative combination of strength training and stretching. All routines are fun and easy-to-follow. $42. MWF – Walk & Talk Club 9:15am. Walk parks, city streets, and Canal Trail. Walks last one to two hours. This activity is tailored to those walking. Mondays meet at Hidden Valley Park; Wednesday and Fridays meet at Martinez Senior Center. Free.

SENIOR CALENDARS SPONSORED BY:

Linda J. Weihofen

Reverse Mortgage Specialist 925.348.4267 • TALK2LW@yahoo.com Helping you to understand the NEW Reverse Mortgage

Pleasant Hill Senior Activities 233 Gregory Lane, Pleasant Hill 925-798-8788 July 2 - Retirement Doesn’t Mean You Stop Planning for Your Future 1pm. Discuss directive documents and resources available for independent living. Presented by Kristen Southworth of Southworth Chavez & Day-Sieter LLP. FREE, but RSVP at front desk or call (925) 798-8788. July 14 - How to Get the Most Out of Your Garbage 2-3:30pm. Presented by Ann Baker, Republic Services. Save money on garbage bills and learn everything about recycling. FREE, but call (925) 798-8788 to reserve your spot. Sponsored by Carlton Senior Living. July 26 - Preserve Your Independence-Protect Your Assets 2pm. Stop elder financial abuse. Learn how to recognize financial scams and what you can do about it. Presented by Kristen Howe of the Law Office of Kristen Howe. FREE, but RSVP at (925) 798-8788. July 29 - Taste of the Vine: Thirsty Friday 4-6pm. (Non-alcoholic available) Appetizers served. Sponsored by the Chateaus of Pleasant Hill. $10 pre-sale/$15 day of.

Please go to our website www.KobeJapanRestaurant.com, and click Sign-Up for Our Birthday Club/Special Offers

1918 Oak Park Blvd, Pleasant Hill 925-705-7065/7066 (PHONE) • 925-705-7067 (FAX) www.kobejapanrestaurant.com ourcommunityfocus.com • july 2016

In the Mix

Interview with Kiki Stack BY PAUL COTRUVO As I have said many times before, I am one of the luckiest musicians around. I get to perform with some of the best singers in the Bay Area, and the talented Kiki Stack is one of them. Hailing from Lafayette, Kiki embodies the true sense of an artist, not only as an amazing singer, but as an accomplished songwriter as well. Her passion for writing and performing original music created the band Dream Posse. Kiki’s love of music, along with her husband and local legend Tom Stack, helps keep music alive in Contra Costa County. Every year, they put on the Lafayette Community Music Festival at the Town Hall Theatre in Lafayette, featuring many local artists performing original material. You may have seen Kiki sing-

ing in her duo, Hard Rain, or rocking her best Stevie Nicks in The Big Jangle, or pouring her heart out in Dream Posse, but whatever the case, here’s a little Kiki, up close and personal: PC: How old were you when you first decided you wanted to be a singer? KS: Well, about as far back as I can remember, probably 4 or 5 years old, I loved to mimic and lip sync. My dad played all his favorite records and he was a big fan of female pop singers in the sixties: Barbra Streisand, Sarah Vaughan, Shirley Bassey, Eydie Gorme. He loved Aretha, too. I would practice my performances using an upside down nail polish bottle as my microphone. “R-E-S-P-E-C-T, spells out what it means to me!” I loved hamming it up! PC: What was the name of your first band? KS: After performing solo and with lots of different choral groups, playing

july 2016 • ourcommunityfocus.com

guitar, and writing songs of my own, my boyfriend at the time, Rick Lilley, asked me if I wanted to be the plus one in a 4+1 that included Kelly Pine, Mick Mestek, and this great rock/soul player from Richmond named Michael Griggs. I was only seventeen and didn’t have the chops, but he liked my attitude and decided to give me a chance. The name of that band was Vertigo. We played Top 40 and went out on the road throughout the Northwest, Midwest, and Canada, back when you could play five or six nights a week in places like The Red Lion Inn in Missoula, Montana, or anyplace that had a lounge or disco room. It was a real crash course in night club performing. PC: Tell us a little about the local bands you’ve been a part of over the years. KS: After returning from a few years on the road and surviving several different renditions of that band, including the funk band Diamondback and the disco band Person To Person, I joined up with a group of seasoned Bay Area songwriters and started writing and working primarily in the studio. It was a 5-year endeavor called 1000 Lights Project. Other bands that followed were Visitor, which was made up of some of those players, and The 45’s, which played at good old Abernathy’s in Walnut Creek, as well as Mountain Jack’s in Lafayette. After a long break, I formed Dream Posse and began to focus on original material again. And, most recently, I’ve enjoyed performing with the tribute band The Big Jangle. PC: Who are some of your influences? KS: I think most everybody is influenced by the music of their formative years, and I think my era was particularly good. The late sixties and early seventies provided a plethora of great songwriters and styles. The quintessential rock band of that era for me was Led Zeppelin, with Bad Company soon to follow. Soul, rhythm and blues, and funk in mainstream Top 40 were just awesome at that time. I idolized Lydia Pense of Cold Blood. She was the epitome of

white soul. But, I also loved the great singer/songwriters of that time like Joni Mitchell and Carole King, and, of course, Stevie Wonder. I have always loved big vocals. Yes was another great band from that era -- really complex classical rock music, and then Chrissie Hynde of The Pretenders. I was definitely a rock n’ roll child! As you play music through the years, you take a little bit of all your favorites with you in your performances. PC: What is your process for writing your own songs? KS: My approach to songwriting is a collaborative one, stemming probably from my limited ability to play instruments. Brainstorming ideas with others enables me to work with talented musicians that provide different styles and perspectives. The main thing is to stay away from critiquing one’s self during the process because we can tend to over think things. It does take some confidence and a little bit of courage to put ideas out there like that, but it can be very rewarding. PC: What have been some of the highlights of your career so far? KS: When I got the call from guitar player/songwriter George Tickner, one of the forming members of Journey. We had met casually a few years before and become friends after meeting in Primo Music in Walnut Creek. He invited me to join him and other talented songwriters, among whom had formidable professional backgrounds, such as Jack King and Steve Roseman. Ross Valory helped out on bass and provided a space for us to rehearse. Neal Schon joined us for a few hot guitar solos too. It was a thrill and a little scary at first. I mean, they were all quite a bit older than me, other than Neal, and very seasoned, but I had that attitude I mentioned earlier, and I ended up fitting in quite well. We wrote our own music, did a lot of recording, and had a lot of fun. But, unfortunately, we had a lot of disagreements too, and ultimately our project, 1000 Lights, with all of its promise and possibilities, became what

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I call “a great learning experience.” Then, in 1987, I received a call on the payphone in the salon I worked in at the time. A friend was working on Eddie Money’s new album and apparently someone didn’t show up for a studio session and they needed a vocalist, pronto. At this point in my life, I was winding down my music career because I had become tired of working the late nights, and I was in the salon full time. Studio work, however, and working with L.A. producer Richie Zito was a job I couldn’t turn down. I ended up singing on quite a few songs, two of which made it onto the album. Now, this was pre-production work, so my credits were in fairly small print, but Mr. Zito really appreciated my hard work and I was rewarded with a gold record. It’s a great feeling, I have to admit. And, like all gold records, it hangs proudly in our hall bathroom. Honestly, the period I’m in right now, writing and recording with Dream Posse, is about as rewarding as it gets. When we release our CD later this year, I’ll be checking a big one off my bucket list. We’re very proud of our own music and style. PC: If you were a song, what song would you be and why?

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KS: That’s an interesting question and kind of a tough one because I have a moody, complex personality. I guess I’d have to say “As” by Stevie Wonder. It’s a strong and powerful song about true love. The lyrics inspire me to see love in such a deep and enduring way, and there are many voices singing with the lead. That’s my choice right now, I think. Pure love expressed in many different ways with many voices. Quote of the month: “Let there be songs to fill the air.”--Robert Hunter

Paul’s Picks July 7: Queens & Thieves, Downtown Pleasant Hill Concert Series (next to Jack’s and Sweet Tomatoes), 6:30pm July 8: The Killbillies, Fridays on the Main, Downtown Martinez, 6 - 8pm July 10: The Bell Brothers, Summer by the Lake, Pleasant Hill City Hall, Gregory Ln. and Cleaveland Rd., 6pm July 15: The Big Jangle, Home Brew Fest, Pleasant Hill Park, 7 - 9pm July 15: The Used Blues Band, WiseGirl, 1932 Oak Park Blvd., Pleasant Hill, 9:30pm July 16: Blues and Brews Festival, Pleasant Hill Park, 2 - 6pm July 16: Ken Cooper, Rocco’s, 2909 Ygnacio Valley Road, Walnut Creek, 8:30pm July 16: The Von Trapps, Wisegirl, 1932 Oak Park Blvd., Pleasant Hill, 9:30pm July 23: Lavay Smith & the Red Hot Skillet Lickers, Armando’s, 707 Marina Vista, Martinez, 8pm July 24: James Clark, Elvis Impersonator, Summer by the Lake, Pleasant Hill City Hall, Gregory Ln. and Cleaveland Rd., 6pm July 31: The Sunday Paper, Armando’s, 707 Marina Vista, Martinez, 4pm

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july 4

july 11

july 16

Summer Camp Registration

Fourth of July

Movie Night

See page 4 for Fourth of July festivities in Martinez, Pleasant Hill and Walnut Creek.

Everyone is invited! Join the Martinez Library for Monday Movie Night showing of The Lego Movie. Show starts at 6pm. All ages are welcome, but children must be supervised by a parent or guardian.

Document Shredding Fundraiser

Summer fun guaranteed! Pleasant Hill Rec & Park summer camps; trips & adventures; sports & aquatics; nature & science; Legos; art, music, dance & more. Register at www. pleasanthillrec.com. 925.682.0896.

1-3pm, 400 Taylor Blvd. Pleasant Hill. Bring tax returns, bills, business records, bank statements and other documents containing personal information for shredding onsite. (No x-rays.) Donation benefits Cancer Support Community. More info call: 925.677.5041.

now - july 29

july 6

july 19

ABOUTFACE

First Wednesday Street Fest

Concord Antique Faire

An exhibit of recent self-portraits created by veterans, currently at Clayton Community Library, 6125 Clayton Rd. Admission is free. Each portrait gives a glimpse of the lifechanging experience veterans have when serving our country. Visit www.claytonlibrary. org for more information.

Will be held on the 3rd Sunday of each month through October, 9-4pm at Todos Santos Plaza (Music in the Park). Antiques toys, Pyrex, Shabby Chic furnishings, jewelry and much more.

Walnut Creek First Wednesday Festivities include live music & entertainment, arts & crafts, shopping, treats & more! Enjoy FREE parking on Wednesday nights after 5pm! Cypress Street, between Main & Locust.

now - september 16

july 14

july 25 - 29

Fridays on the Main

Movie Night

Featuring the Farmers’ Market on the 800 block of Main St., 4-8pm, and Cool Cars & Music on the 500, 600 & 700 blocks of Main St., 6-8pm. Free to attend! Restaurants are open! Sponsored by www.mainstreetmartinez.org.

The Cobra Experience presents the hilarious and poignant coming of age classic American Grafitti, at 6pm. Cobra Experience is a nonprofit museum committed to the promotion, conservation, education and preservation of the cars produced by Shelby American. 777 Arnold Dr., Ste. D, Martinez.

Hillcrest Church Kidz Camp “All God’s Creation” 9am-12pm. Activities will be centered on the creation. $50 through July 11; $75 after July 11. Multi-camper discounts and camperships are available. hillcrestucc. org or call 925.689.8260 to register. 404 Gregory Ln, PH.

ongoing

july 9

july 26

Buchanan Fields Golf Club

Local Works East Bay

Free Skin Cancer Screening

This gregarious NCGA member club is looking for men and women at all playing levels to join their group. The club has three standing tee times each week. Visit www.buchananfieldsgolfclub.com or contact 2016 president Fred Arras, 559.709.8256.

Arts and Crafts Show at the Winslow Center parking lot at 2590 Pleasant Hill Rd., Pleasant Hill from 10am-2pm. Free. For information: LocalWorksEB@gmail.com.

10am-1pm, California Cancer and Research Institute, 400 Taylor Blvd, Suite 101, Pleasant Hill. If you have moles that are asymmetrical, lacking a border, changing in color, bigger than a pencil’s eraser, this screening is for you. Advance registration required. 925.677.5041x272.

july 1

july 9

july 16

august 3

Fun in the Sun!

Summer Sounds

Clarinet Fusion, the Bay Area’s premiere clarinet choir, returns to the PH Senior Center on Friday, July 1, at 7pm. Doors open at 6:15pm; concert is 7-8:15pm. Presale admission $5, or $8 at the door. For more info and to purchase tickets, call 925.798.8788, www.clarinetfusion.org.

Outside the Lesher Center. Free. Thursdays 7/9, 7/23, & 7/30, from 5:30-7pm. Presented by Diablo Regional Arts Association and Lesher Center for the Arts. www.lesherartscenter. org/summersounds.

Ice Cream Social and Open House

ED & Male Incontinence Seminar

The CoCo County Historical Society will celebrate National Ice Cream Day and summertime in CoCo County, 10am–3pm. Stop by for a scoop and a tour of the county archives! Parking is free. $5 suggested donation. 724 Escobar St., Martinez. Visit www.cocohistory.com.

Join Dr. Stephen Taylor and Dr. Richard Long as they discuss the sensitive issue of erectile dysfunction and male incontinence. Q & A session to follow. Space is limited, RSVP to 925677-5041 x272. 6:30-8:30pm, Walnut Creek Library - Oak View Room, 1644 N. Broadway. ourcommunityfocus.com • july 2016

Live music + Craft Beer Tasting - Pleasant Hill Park Music with

The Big Jangle

New home brew tasting & contest $20 in advance/$30 at the door

For more info and tickets visit: www.Bluesandbrewsfestival.com

july 2016 â&#x20AC;˘ ourcommunityfocus.com