• JUNE 2012
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• Live Music Listings.........................................page 6 • Zachary’s Pizza................................................page 8 • Local Festivals.............................................. page 10 • Grad Announcements............................page 12-13
• Senior Activities............................................... page 15 • Local Sports.................................................page 16-18 • Letter to the Editor........................................... page 26 • Teen Scene......................................................... page 30
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June 2012
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JULIE SAYS
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June 2012
Bittersweet June
By Julie Ross with him memories of going to Los On March 25, I watched as three Angeles with the band, earning the College Park High School seniors were rank of Eagle Scout and acting as the recognized at a National Eagle Scout accompanying pianist for the school Court of Honor ceremony in Pleasant musical. But he is looking forward to Hill. college, too. What was really moving about the In his words, “Senior year has been presentation was the fact that these amazing! I have connected with my three – Matthew Farnitano, Alex Mcfriends much more than before. I am Donald and Nick Kennen – had been excited to meet new people next year, friends through elementary, middle but I really will miss my high school and high school, and were now sharing friends.” another special day, earning the rank Nick’s mother Elizabeth Kennen expressed the of Eagle Scout. feelings of many parents when she said, “June 2012 Their parents had prepared a slide show for the seemed so far way for so long, but now it’s here. occasion with photos of the boys growing up toDidn’t they just start high school? We are happy and gether. There were the three of them mugging for the excited for Nicholas – looking toward the future with camera with smiles at every age. hope, and as always, lots of love and support.” And now, with June upon us, these three young men are facing yet another milestone as they graduate From Nick’s perspective, “Graduation is definitely going to be bittersweet. On one hand, I am very excithigh school and go on to college. ed to be attending Saint Mary’s College in the fall, but Having a graduating senior is a milestone for parents as well. As Matthew’s mother Lisa put it, “It is on the other, I will miss the time I’ve had at College Park and I’ll miss my friends.” so hard to put 18 years of experience into words. I’m If you have seniors going off to college or anothrealizing I will miss so many things about Matthew, but then it is hard to be sad when he is about to go do er post-high school adventure, then you really know what Nick means by “bittersweet.” Sad to see them go, all the things that I hoped, prayed and tried to prebut happy because they are ready. pare him for.” Lisa and Chris Farnitano met at Duke University, Congratulations to the Kennens, Farnitanos, and that is where their son Matthew is headed as well. McDonalds and all of our graduating seniors, their Lisa and Chris are excited that Matthew will be carry- families, teachers and mentors. Hats off to you and we wish the class of 2012 all the best! ing on the family tradition at Duke. You can reach Julie at julieakross@comcast.net. Matthew had a great senior year, and will take
Independent & Locally Owned
PUBLISHERS Becky Coburn, Jennifer Neys, Elena Hutslar info@ourcommunityfocus.com A Monthly Publication delivered to over 40,000 Homes and Businesses in Pleasant Hill, Martinez, Pacheco, Lafayette and Walnut Creek
ADVERTISING advertising@ourcommunityfocus.com SPORTS EDITOR Chuck Nan martinezsportsed@aol.com GRAPHIC DESIGN Trish Heaney, Debra Wilson COPY EDITOR Alison Clary
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6680 Alhambra Ave. Box #132 Martinez, CA 94553 Phone: (925) 335 - NEWS (6397) MISSION STATEMENT The Community Focus is a free, independent, monthly publication dedicated to highlighting the vibrancy of the local businesses and residents while strengthening and building connections within our community. L-R are Matthew Farnitano, Nicholas Kennen and Alex McDonald. (photo by Lisa Farnitano)
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June 2012
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Real Estate Update “How’s the market doing?” This question is posed so frequently, I practically hear it in my sleep. Fortunately, it’s an easy and enjoyable one for me to answer. To put it simply: it’s crazy out there. In Contra Costa and Alameda Counties, pending sales are at their highest level in seven years, just slightly below record highs set in 2004 and 2005. Intrinsically linked, active inventory is at its lowest level in six years. Our Months Supply of Inventory index sits at an amazingly low 1.45, meaning that if no new homes came to market, we would have none left to sell in less than a month and a half. To put that in perspective: in mid-2008, our local index peaked at over 7 months, while in early 2005 it briefly dipped below 0.5 months. These conditions have created an extremely strong seller’s market in which prices are rising briskly. But while sellers are all smiles nowadays, many buyers are starting to lose their composure.
By Nathan Hitchcock
Buyers are purchasing homes every bit as aggressively, if not more so, than they were in the height of the housing boom in 2005. There doesn’t appear to be any indication that this trend is going to reverse course anytime soon. The welldocumented supply of pre-foreclosure “shadow inventory” simply isn’t making its way to market. It may eventually, but there is no sign that it will happen in the near term, or at the large volume that was previously predicted. So, barring a miraculous boost in inventory, expect conditions to remain
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tight and prices to continue rising. How much they will rise and for how long is hard to say. Appraisal contingencies will likely start to put a damper on the rate at which prices rise, especially if things really start to get out of hand. However, there is a healthy percentage of buyers out there with plenty of cash on tap to meet the gap between the appraised value and contract price, so don’t expect it to have too great an impact. In the mean time, my advice to buyers is to keep a close eye on the market numbers and avoid taking any outlandish actions. Bidding wars can severely affect one’s judgment, resulting in an irrational and unsound purchase decision. Sometimes, keeping your cool and walking away empty handed is not such a bad route. Your home is out there – it just may take some extra time to find it. Nathan Hitchcock is the managing broker of Hitchcock Realty, he can be reached at nathan@hitchcockrealty.com or (925) 825-1100.
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June 2012
In the Mix By Paul Cotruvo er) running through September 7 (closing through August 23. Concerts begin at with The Fundamentals.) Concerts are at 6:30pm. This series opens with Moonalice, 6:30pm and are held in the plaza between a great San Francisco sound rock band – Jack’s Restaurant and Sweet Tomatoes – www.moragaparks.org. www.shopdowntownpleasanthill.com. Music and Market Thursday’s Other events to check out: Concert Series in Todos Santos Plaza in Walnut Creek Art & Wine Festival – June 2 Concord. Beginning May 31 and running and 3, Heather Farms Park, Walnut Creek; through September 13, this series will King of the County BBQ – June 16 and 17, feature everything from rock to classical. Waterfront Park Marina, Martinez; 3rd AnHats off to the City of Concord for saving nual Blues & Brews – July 21, Pleasant Hill this event, as it was in danger of being eliminated! Be sure to check out Frankie G Park, Pleasant Hill. (blues) on June 14 and Carlos Reyes on July Get out there and support local music! Cover2Cover’s Toni Bryant. Photo by Doug Trost Quote of the month: 12. www.communityconcerts.com. Martinez. All music is folk music. I ain’t never heard a Plaza Concerts in Downtown Pleas And, here we go again; the beginning horse sing a song. ant Hill. The first Friday of each month, of another season of great community conLouis Armstrong starting June 1 (opening with Cover2Covcerts! Even in these tough times, our local cities have planned some lively events that will feature some of the best local musicians June 1 - Cover2Cover, Downtown Pleasant Hill, 6:30-8-30pm in the Bay Area. A wide variety of music June 7 - Chris Cain Band, Armando’s, 707 Marina Vista, Martinez, 8pm June 9 - Sin Silver, Back Forty Texas BBQ, 100 Coggins Drive, Pleasant Hill, 6pm ranges from rock, blues, jazz, folk and soul. June 16 - Caroompas Room, Dallimonti’s, 1932 Oak Park Blvd, Pleasant Hill, 9pm The best part? Most of the events are free! June 21 - Garageland Rodeo, The Round Up, 3553 Mt. Diablo Blvd, Lafayette, 9pm Here are some of the highlights planned: June 23 - Dallimonti’s 30-Year Anniversary Bash featuring Cover2Cover & Friends (many of the musicians who have played there over the years,) 1932 Oak Park Blvd, P.H., 9pm Summer by the Lake in Pleasant Hill June 24 - Dan Hicks & Bayside Jazz, Armando’s, 707 Marina Vista, Martinez, 4pm at City Hall. Beginning May 27, this series runs every other Sunday through September 2. The last concert for this series will feature two bands, The Bell Brothers and Lumberyard – www.pleasanthillconcerts. Pleasant Hill City Hall And on Sep com. 2... Gregory Ln & Cleaveland Rd ic a DOUBLE s u M E V Fridays on the Main in downtown LI on the lawn HEADER! 3:30-8:00pm 6:00-8:00pm! by the lake Martinez. Beginning June 1 and running every Friday night through August 31, this features some of the best bands out of Martinez and coincides with a classic car cruise-in! Concerts begin at 6:00pm – www.mainstreetmartinez.org. Moraga Park Foundation Summer Concert Series begins June 21 and runs
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While folk music throughout the 1950’s and 60’s was often a mainstay of American popular culture, it seemed to have faded away, until the last few years. With the release of the movie, “Oh Brother, Where Art Thou,” in 2000, the resurgence of folk music, also known as Americana, exploded back into the main stream with a vengeance. The local Martinez band, The Hopeful Romantics (the ‘Tics), is keeping this traditional form of music alive. With the release of their second CD, Callin’ Your Name, the ‘Tics have put together thirteen clever and tuneful songs. The album opens with a heart-wrenching ballad on the demise of a teenage drug addicted girl named “Angelina.” The haunting pedal steel guitar in the background only adds to this extremely sad song. Then there is the interstellar man “Jesus of Roswell,” a cheery tune about an alien encounter and taking us to the Promised Land. These two songs represent some of the ‘Tics most effective songwriting, from bleak to laugh-out-loud funny! My favorite song of the album is “Invite the Last Tear.” The sincerity of Hope Savage’s vocals on this song, about the end of a relationship, is raw and passionate. What a combination of great vocals, superb musicianship and wonderful songwriting! I highly recommend this collection of songs of social consciousness, humor and heartbreak. Please check them out at www. reverbnation.com/thehopefulromantics, and go see them July 8, at Armando’s in
Aug 19
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June 2012
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Annual Blues & Brews
Fans of blues music and cold brews won’t want to miss this 3rd annual event! On Saturday, July 21, from noon to 6pm, Pleasant Hill Park will be the site of the Blues & Brews Festival, where tasty brews accompany a talented lineup of local blues artists that include Lydia Pense and Coldblood. Attendees have the opportunity to sample beers from over twenty breweries, enjoy food from local restaurants, browse goods for local craft vendors and listen to great music in a relaxing park setting. Tasting Tickets to Blues & Brews are $30 pre-sale or $40 at the door and include a commemorative mug and unlimited tasting from1pm to 5pm. Music can be enjoyed Noon to 6pm for FREE. Proceeds will support the Pleasant Hill Recreation and Park District’s Teen Center. For directions, a complete list of bands and breweries or to purchase tickets, visit www.bluesandbrewsfestival.com. Tickets may also be purchased at the Pleasant Hill Recreation and Park District office at 147 Gregory Lane in Pleasant Hill.
King of the County BBQ
Join us for the 6th Annual King of the County BBQ Challenge & Music Festival on June 16 & 17 at the Martinez Marina Waterfront Park from 11am-6pm daily. A perfect way for the entire family to spend Father’s Day! Enjoy lip-smacking BBQ from the professionals at Back Forty BBQ, Kinder’s Meats & Smokey D’s, as well as an amateur BBQ competition sponsored by Les Schwab Tires. BBQ competition spaces are filling fast; rules and application can be found on the event website at www.CountyBBQ.com. Live on the Xtreme Scaffolding stage; enjoy the music of a variety of California’s top bands: The RevTones, Brave Ulysses, The Smokin’ J’s, The Billy Martini Show, Whiskey Dawn, Alma Desnuda, Garageland Rodeo, Caroompas Room, and Big Cat Tolefree. There will be kids activities, rides & a petting zoo, as well as over 100 arts and craft vendors, microbreweries & wineries. FREE parking and admission. Presented by US Shell Oil Products and hosted by California Pacific Federal Credit Union. Be sure stop by the Home Depot booth for a chance to win the ultimate BBQ set-up! For full event details, amateur BBQ application and vendor display information please visit www.CountyBBQ.com or call the Martinez Chamber at 925.228.2345.
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June 2012
PLEASANT HILL CITY BUZZ
PHPD Information on Solicitors
The PHPD wants to let our community know that there has been an increase in calls about solicitors walking neighborhoods and selling items door-to-door. Please remember that solicitors must have a seller’s permit from the city. In addition, some people may pose as a door-to-door salesperson in order to “case” a home for a burglary. Here are a few points to remember when someone comes to your door step to solicit: 1) If you do not feel comfortable answering the door, tell the person to go away and that you are not interested. Watch from a window to make sure they leave and report any suspicious activity. 2) If you choose to answer the door, be sure to ask if they have a permit from Pleasant Hill. 3) Never allow an unknown individual
By Jaki Jones to the garage is kicked in. The bur- dowels in all the sliders and windows. to come inside your house! She has also padlocked her gates and glars then enter the home 4) If you feel the person is actadded motion lights. through the garage. In our ing suspicious in any man Before leaving on vacation this case, they entered the side ner, get a good description summer, sign up for the “Vacation gate, lifted a screen to the of the person and a direcmiddle bedroom, slid open House Watch Service” using the PHPD tion of travel and call Pleasthe window and entered the website, www.pleasanthillpd.com. Simant Hill Police as soon as ply complete the online form and a pohome.” To prevent intrudpossible at (925) 288-4600. lice officer will drive by your property ers, Holstad now leaves a radio Upon hearing about the while you are on vacation. on during the day and she has placed increase in burglaries in the Gregory Gardens neighborhood--three since November--resident Julianne Holstad took action: “I went door to door On May 21, a reception honoring Councilwoman Terri Williamson for her handing out a flier on Mother’s Day, 27 years of service on the City Council was held after the council meeting in alerting my neighbors and was shocked the City Hall lobby. Williamson was first elected to the council in 1985. Williamto find out that 90% of them did not son served as mayor in 1988-89, 1993-94 and 2005-06. She was recently apknow that this was happening.” The pointed by the City Council to serve out the remaining two years of the term of proactive Holstad did some research former Councilwoman Karen Mitchoff. Her retirement leaves a vacancy and a and learned that, “Burglaries are hapdilemma for the four councilmembers. The council will have 60 days to call a pening between the hours of 10am and special election or appoint someone to fill the vacant seat until the term ends 3pm. Access is often gained through in December. the home’s side gate and the side door
New Downtown Tenants By Jaki Jones Two new restaurants and a well-known children’s retailer are headed to downtown in the fall. Zachary’s Pizza, the 100-percent employee-owned company is taking a serious look at the former locations of Red Brick Pizza and Royal Image Day Spa. On May 17, a Zachary’s architect gave a presentation on proposed tenant improvements and exterior modifications to the city’s Architectural Review Commission. Modifications to the 3200 square foot space would include new signage, a new outdoor seating area and landscape modifications. Also suggested was placing the restaurant’s orientation towards the north, facing more of the Downtown area. Because Zachary’s would be the “end of the line” with no other retailer next to them, visibility is essential. The concept is for Zachary’s to form the anchor at the south end of Crescent Drive. Zachary’s would also like to create an outdoor seating area with table service in the walkway area next to Starlet. Tables with umbrellas, additional landscaping and planter boxes towards the parking lot were considered to provide shade, warmth and to de-emphasize the smaller parking area to the east. Zachary’s currently has three locations in Berkeley, Oakland and San Ramon and offers two styles of pizza: a Chicago-style stuffed pizza and a traditional thin crust pizza. It also boasts a huge take-out business with a large volume of patrons going in and out. Issues about parking were not discussed at length but will no doubt be addressed in future meetings. For you sushi lovers, look for Nama Sushi, also coming to Downtown in the months ahead. They will occupy the space of the former Monsoon Masala restaurant. In addition, Carter’s retailer will begin construction in June in the space across from Hallmark. Carter’s sells apparel for babies and young children.
Williamson Retires
City Calendar of Events Architectural Review Commission June 7, 21 City Hall, 100 Gregory Lane Large Community Room, 5:00pm Contact: 671-5209
Education Commission June 27 City Hall, 100 Gregory Lane Large Community Room, 7:00pm Contact: 671-5229
City Council June 4, 18 City Hall, 100 Gregory Lane Council Chambers, 7:30pm Contact: 671-5229
Planning Commission June 12, 26 City Hall, 100 Gregory Lane Council Chambers, 7:30pm Contact: 671-5209
Civic Action Commission June 6 City Hall, 100 Gregory Lane Small Community Room, 6:30pm Contact: 671-5229
Zoning Administrator June 14, 28 City Hall, 100 Gregory Lane Public Works Conference Room, 5:00pm Contact: 671-5209
For Confirmation Visit: www.ci.pleasant-hill.ca.us
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
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June 2012
Mayor’s Message About twelve years ago, a group of downtown Main Street merchants, located in the block furthest away from the county offices, were concerned about their struggling businesses. It seemed that jurors, county employees and other visitors to Martinez were not venturing to their block. They might make it to Starbucks at Main Street Plaza, but not beyond. With the help of one of the founders of Main Street, Dick Duncan, a plan was developed to lure shoppers and diners beyond Main Street Plaza, all the way to the beginning of the commercial area of Main Street at Alhambra Avenue. Providing outdoor spaces for diners would bring people to the 500 block of Main Street and also give ex-
Rob Schroder, Mayor of Martinez posure to other businesses that they passed ed a field trip to the city of Livermore. At along the way. And, thus, the “pockets” that field trip, we were introduced to a conwere born. cept of outdoor dining called “Flex-Space.” The “pockets” changed the 500 block This is a type of outdoor dining when, in to a one-way street going west, with outtimes of good weather, parking spaces on door dining spaces in front of restaurants their main downtown street become temin what used to be parking spaces and the porary dining areas, protected by wrought east bound lane of Main Street. With the iron fencing, with planter boxes, chairs, tablessing of city staff and council, this group bles, umbrellas and outdoor heaters. When of energized business owners and citizens I saw how easily the parking spaces could constructed the “pockets” with donated be transformed into safe and attractive outfunds, bricks and lumber over a weekdoor dining spaces, I was convinced that we end. Since this time, the 500 block of Main could do the same throughout the downStreet has flourished and is probably one of town. Since then, I visited San Francisco the most popular areas of the downtown. to see their “parklettes.” These are public Everyone loves to dine “al fresco” in our spaces that are also built into the parking beautiful Martinez weather. spaces, but are more permanent than those Last year, the city hosted a series of in Livermore. The main difference is that workshops open to the public called “Mak“parklettes” are public spaces, open for anying it Real; Making it Happen.” These work- one to enjoy and not dedicated for use by a shops, facilitated by Susan Moeller, includparticular business. For the last several months, city staff has been researching different types of “flex
Spring Wine Stroll
A relaxing afternoon was spent at the spring wine stroll in Downtown Martinez on May 5. The stroll began at the Martinez Gallery on Court Street, where, for $20 ($15 in advance), wine tasters received a wine glass, charm, wine tasting passport and map of the participating businesses. The stroll continued along Main Street, with a few side trips along Ferry and Escobar Streets. Twenty-one businesses participated, revealing the amiable charm of Downtown Martinez to visitors and locals alike.
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MARTINEZ CITY BUZZ space” concepts, and a subcommittee of the city council has held two public meetings to hammer out details that include costs, construction materials and use policies. In order to move on this issue sooner rather than later and take advantage of as much as the good weather as possible, I scheduled the outdoor dining issue to be considered by the entire city council on May 16. At that meeting, the council unanimously approved the outdoor dining program and its policies. The program will be rolled out on Main Street starting at Court Street and extending all the way to Alhambra Avenue. The program will be available to restaurants in other parts of the downtown core when the Main Street project is completed. It is my belief that the extension of outdoor dining throughout the downtown will increase the safety, ambiance, vibrancy and walkability of downtown Martinez. Come downtown this summer and see if you feel the same way.
Family Receives Donation
Joe and Sharon Brock, whose well-known “Christmas House,” burned down last January, receive a fundraiser check from Rene Redfern, Branch Manager, Wells Fargo-Martinez, Mary Peinado, Martinez Chamber CEO, Reba Bower, Martinez Chamber Membership Sales Director, Joyce Deaver, Martinez Chamber Administrative Assistant, and Denice & Kevin Wendt, Wendt Heat & Air. Wells Fargo matched fundraising contributions, and Chamber member Wendt Heat & Air is providing the Brock Family free installation and new equipment for their home at cost. Photo Credit: Richard Cash
City Calendar of Events
City Council Meeting June 6, 20 7:00pm-11:00pm Contact: 925-372-3500
Design Review Meeting June 13, 27 3:00pm-5:00pm Contact: 925-372-3500 Park, Recreation, Marina & Cultural Commission June 19 7:00pm-11:00pm Contact: 925-372-3500
Planning Commission Meeting June 12, 26 7:00pm-11:00pm Contact: 925-372-3500 Zoning Administrator Meeting June 6, 20 3:00pm-5:00pm Contact: 925-372-3500 All City Meetings at City Hall, 525 Henrietta Street, Unless Otherwise Indicated For Confirmation Visit: www.cityofmartinez.org
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MARTINEZ CHAMBER OF COMMERCE Ambassador Meeting – If interested, contact Reba at (925) 228-2345 or email Reba@martinezchamber.com. 6/5 – Grand Opening & Ribbon Cutting 4pm, Bail Hotline Bail Bonds, 729 Ferry Street. 6/16 & 6/17 – 6th Annual King of the County BBQ Challenge & Music Festival 11am-6pm. Family Fun, Lip Smackin’ BBQ, Amateur BBQ Competition, Rockin’ Music, Arts & Crafts Booths, Kid’s Rides & Activities, Microbreweries & Wineries. Martinez Waterfront Park. Free Admission and Parking. Call the Chamber for more details.
Save the Date! 7/6 to 7/8 – Carnival Butler Amusement Rides, Games, Food & Fun. Located at Hwy 680 & Hwy 4 (Pacheco Exit off Hwy 4). All day wristbands: $20, advance sale tickets (at the Chamber office); $25 at the Carnival. Call the Chamber for more information!
PLEASANT HILL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE Please verify schedule at www.pleasanthillchamber.com • 925-687-0700
6/1 - Ambassador Meeting Pleasant Hill City Hall, 8am - 9am 6/1 – Ribbon Cutting Senior Helpers/ C.A.R.E.S. Affiliate 1170 Burnett Ave. Suite J, Concord. 11:30am -1:30pm.
Please verify schedule at www.martinezchamber.com • 925-228-2345
6/1 – Wine Walk/Plaza Concerts – Downtown Pleasant Hill. $20 (includes wine, glass and passport) Purchase at the plaza next to Jacks. 5:30pm-8pm
CALENDAR SPONSORED BY
6/5 – Leadership Lunch – Sweet Tomatoes 40 Crescent Dr., Pleasant Hill 11:45pm - 1pm
6/18 – Chamber Office Closed 6/21 – Educational Series – #1 LinkedIn for Business (part 1 of 2) 12pm -1pm, doors open at 11:30. Presented by Robin Fox, Social Media Coach. Best Western PLUS John Muir Inn, 445 Muir Station Rd. Chamber Members $10, Non-Members $20. Bag lunch Included. RSVP to the Chamber or email Reba@martinezchamber.com. Space is limited.
June 2012
6/25– Green Committee Back Forty Texas BBQ, 100 Coggins Dr., Pleasant Hill, 4pm - 5pm 6/25 – Government Affairs Committee Back Forty Texas BBQ, 100 Coggins Dr., Pleasant Hill, 4:30pm - 6:00pm CALENDAR SPONSORED BY
6/20 –Chamber Mixer – Computer Sales and Service w/Fast Signs, 1936 Linda Dr., Pleasant Hill, 5pm - 7pm 6/21 – Board of Directors Meeting PH City Hall, 7:45am
Ribbon Cutting
Pleasant Hill YMCA Grand Remodel
Ethics Day 2012 Presented by Martinez Chamber of Commerce, and MUSD • Discover parallels between workplace On May 22, Ethics Day brought together high school students, commu- and school issues • Discuss ethical issues arising from nity leaders and educators for an incurrent events teractive exploration of various ethical • Recognize the potential of long-term challenges facing all of us today. effects of certain decisions Using an ethical decision-mak• Develop a greater understanding of ing framework, participants spent the individual actions and ensuing consemorning discussing and making deciquences sions in various scenarios that have • Learn from listening to the perspecethical implications and consequences. tives of others The goal is to introduce students to ethics as a science that explains the role Ethics Day was made possible of values, assumptions and fact-finding through donations from these generous sponsors: for decision-making as it relates to deThe UPS Store Arnold Dr., Martinez termining conduct as “good” or “bad”. H2 Solutions Through in-depth, facilitated discusHeald College sion, participants attempt to answer Connolly & Taylor questions such as, “Is it fair?” or “Will Bill’s Chairs for Affairs anyone be hurt by this decision?” Allied Waste Services The program was organized for Starbucks Coffee students and adults to:
Fourth of July 2012 Do you want to be part of the 4th of July Events? To participate in the parade, contribute towards the firework campaign or for general 4th of July information visit: www.mainstreetmartinez.org for Martinez and www.phjuly4.com for Pleasant Hill.
Pleasant Hill’s Irvin Deutscher Family YMCA celebrated Healthy Kids Day on April 28. Dozens of kids participated in special healthy kids classes, including Kid Olympics, Yoga for Kids, and Zumbatomic. The event started with a family fun walk for the kids and their parents led by Vice Mayor and ID YMCA Board Chair Michael Harris. The following week, The YMCA celebrated its remodel featuring their new mind-body studio and expanded fitness area. Come by to see the new features, 350 Civic Drive, Pleasant Hill.
Save These Dates
Plaza Concerts and Wine Walk First Fridays of the Month starting June 1. Listen to Cover2Cover while walking downtown visiting shops and sipping wine. $20 ticket includes wine glass, passport and wine tastings at various stores in Downtown Pleasant Hill. Summer Concerts By The Lake, PH City Hall. Free live music two Sundays a month beginning on June 10- En Vivo and June 24- Stompy Jones. 6th Annual King of the County BBQ Challenge and Music Festival on June 16 & 17 at the Martinez Marina Waterfront Park 11am-6pm. Lip-smacking BBQ from Smokey D’s, Kinders and Back Forty. Live music, kids activities, petting zoo and 100 arts and craft vendors along with various microbreweries and wineries. Carnival by Martinez Chamber of Commerce July 6-8. Fri: 4-11pm, Sat: 11am-11pm & Sun: noon-10pm. Rides, games food and fun. Located at Hwy 680 & Hwy 4. Free Admission. For advance sale tickets call the Chamber: 925-228-2345. Pleasant Hill 3rd Annual Blues & Brews July 21 noon-6pm at Pleasant Hill Park. Enjoy tasty brews from over twenty breweries, live music by Lydia Pense, Coldblood, arts, crafts and food from local restaurants. Tasting tickets are $30 pre-sale, or $40 at the door; includes mug and unlimited tasting from 1pm-5pm. Pleasant Hill Chamber’s Art Jazz and Wine Festival Oct. 6 and 7. Live music, wine, beer, arts and crafts, kids activities and much more!
www.ourcommunityfocus.com
June 2012
Fridays on the Main
Page 11
Over 465*reasons to choose Don & Norma Flaskerud as YOUR Realtor! *The number of homes
Downtown Martinez
Every Friday June-Aug • 6pm to 8pm Cars, Trucks, Bikes and Live Music! FREE! Restaurants Are Open for Dinner!
Music schedule subject to change. No Entry Fee All vehicle types welcome
MainStreetMartinez.org 925.228.3577
Downtown Martinez
ghost walk Take the 1-1/2 hour guided walking tour through Historic Downtown Martinez to discover the hidden past, little known facts and tales of days-gone-by. Tours conducted by Central Valley Paranormal www.cvparanormal.com Spirits
4th & 5th Fridays each month beginning June 22 at 8:00pm. $25 per person. Tour starts at Main Street Martinez, 649 Main St. Suite 106. For more information visit www.MainStreetMartinez.org or call (925) 228-3577
Main Street Martinez, Inc.
Space is limited, advanced ticket purchase recommended. No children under 12 years allowed. Teens 12-17 years must be accompanied by an adult. Bring a flashlight, wear comfortable shoes.
Shell Oil Products US Martinez Refinery
Presents
Downtown Martinez
4th of July Parade
Hometown
“It’s a Grand Old Flag” For more information and parade applications visit
www.MainStreetMartinez.org
sold in PLEASANT HILL by Don, Norma, & Erik!!
Call Pleasant Hill’s
1 Realtor
#
for ALL your Real Estate needs
Don & Norma Flaskerud
Pleasant Hill Citizens of the Year
Erik Flaskerud
Re/Max CC Connection 925-676-5859 Visit them at www.PleasantHillRealEstate.com or email DonandNorma@gmail.com
#1 since 1994
Don and Norma’s listings... 7 Holmsund Ct, PH – $579,000 7 Limewood Place, PH – $699,000 107 McKissick Street, PH – $459,900 1150 Maywood Lane, Mtz – $169,000 Call now to have your home featured here! DRE #s — Don: 00971602, Norma: 00867031, Erik: 01891688
Mail a donation to: 4th of July Com mission PO Box 23272 Pleasant Hill, CA 94523
Page 12
www.ourcommunityfocus.com
June 2012
Grad Announcements
Andrew Crosno, AHS It’s been a privi-
James Spellman-Hess, College
Jimmy Torres, College Park Mijo, you
Lucas Velzy, College Park Lucas is
lege to watch you grow into the man
Park Congratulations James! We are
have made us very proud, and we
attending Los Medanos to pursue his
you are today. We couldn’t be more
looking forward to watching you play
thank you for being who you are. We
goal of becoming a firefighter follow-
proud of your hard work, dedica-
soccer for SFSU next year. Go Gators!
want to wish you luck at Chico State,
ing in his late Grandpa’s footsteps. He
tion, and decision to join the USMC.
We are so proud of you and love you
and wish you nothing but the best
is enrolled in the Emergency Medi-
OORAH! Love, Mom, Dad, Kevin
very much! ~Your Family
always and forever. You have been
cal Technician and Fire Technology
such a wonderful son, and brother. We
Courses. Congratulations Luke! Love,
love you very much and will miss you!!!
Mom & Dad.
Love, Dad and Mom
A dream daughter, Demi Tzanis, Col-
Janette Danielson, College Park
lege Park Dearest Demi, Words cannot
You’ve worked incredibly hard for 4
express the pride we feel in having
years, endeared yourself to multitudes
been blessed with you as a daughter.
of friends and made your whole family
Kameron DuQuette, AHS Kameron
We are so proud of you! You are an
Wishing that all your dreams come
very proud of your accomplishments.
graduates with honors while lettering
extraordinary young woman filled
true in the adventure of your life! Love
We know you’ll have great success at
in football and lacrosse. This fall, he will
with grace, determination and kind-
Mama & Tony
LMU. Love, Mom, Dad and Christina
attend the University of Oregon be-
ness. We are excited to watch your
cause he had a vision; worked hard,
incredible journey unfold at UCLA and
had faith and believed in himself. “It is
beyond! We love you, Mom and Dad
Samantha St.Germain, College Park
not important WHAT you believe, only THAT you believe.”
Jessica Gardner, College Park Jessica will pursue her dream of a career
Dominic Bilotti, College Park we are
in medicine at the University of Ari-
so very proud of your accomplish-
zona, majoring in neuroscience. She
ments! Beyond 2012 awaits you. “If you
volunteers at John Muir Hospital and
can imagine it, you can achieve it. If
Sam Randall, Alhambra High Con-
success as you embark on your amaz-
attended a ten-day series of medical
you can dream it, you can become it.”
gratulations! So proud of you and all
ing journey at Hilbert College in NY, as
seminars in Boston last summer for
We love you- Mom, Dad and Patrick
you’ve accomplished these past 4
you study Criminology and continue
aspiring physicians, an experience she
years. Good luck at Cal Poly. The best
your passion of playing baseball. We
wrote about in the Focus last October.
is yet to come. With much love, Mom,
are so proud of you! Love, Mom and
Good luck, Jessica!
Dad, Ellen & Jake.
Dad
Tyler Shaw, Bentley School Congratulations Tyler! We wish you
www.ourcommunityfocus.com
June 2012
Page 13
Daily Twins Will Play for Cal Maritime
Grad Announcements
Evan Dowey, College Park We so very
Will Dundon, De la Salle Congratu-
proud of the wonderful young man
lations, Will! We are so proud of the
you have become and your many
young man you have become. You
accomplishments. Enjoy your next
have been gifted with brains, a sharp
adventure at Cal Poly. Love, Mom, Dad
wit and strong character. May you
and Emily.
continue to thrive in Cal Poly SLO as you did at De La Salle. Love, Mom, Dad & Zane
Eagle Scout Loren Clark Loren Clark, a College Park graduate and Martinez resident will achieve the rank of Eagle on June 23rd. He earned 23 merit badges and held several positions of leadership in his troop. His community service project was to design, construct, and supervise the installation of three walk-in compost bins for the Church of the Resurrection, sponsor of Troop 405. Loren plans to attend DVC and transfer to UC Berkeley with a major in Environmental Engineering. He lettered in both Swimming and Soccer where he was awarded Most Improved Player on his varsity squad. He enjoyed four years of ceramics with his Art teacher, Lesley Jensen, worked as a docent at Lindsay Wildlife Museum and provided support services to Emminger Corporation in Martinez He teaches gymnastics and trains competitive gymnasts at Liberty Gymnastic Training Center in Concord. He is planning a three-week high Sierra trek along the John Muir Trail between Yosemite and Mt. Whitney in July with Crew 405, led by his father/Crew Adviser Bill Clark.
California Maritime Academy men’s basketball head coach Bryan Rooney has announced the signing of John and Michael Daily from College Park High School for the 2012-2013 season. John and Michael enjoyed outstanding senior seasons as they led the Falcons to a 20-11 season and a league championship under head coach Craig Battle. Michael was named Co-Most Valuable Player as he led the team with 72 three pointers. John was a key part of the Falcons’ defensive attack as he averaged nearly 2 steals per game in both his junior and senior seasons. “One of the priorities in this year’s recruiting class was recruiting winners. John and Michael absolutely fit that criteria. College Park had an outstanding season and it was due in large part to the leadership shown by John and Michael. I am excited to see their development over the course of their four-year careers because they possess the ability and drive to reach their potential in the classroom and on the basketball floor,” commented Rooney.
Michael Daily commented on his commitment, “The two reasons I chose to come to Cal Maritime are the great education that I could benefit from here and the wonderful basketball program. Coach Rooney seems to be a really passionate coach who motivates his players to work hard. He creates the type of atmosphere I would like to be in as a player.” John was equally excited as he stated, “The reason I chose Cal Maritime is because it is a great school and it will help get me where I want to be in my profession. Also, the school allows me the opportunity to see other parts of the world through its international connection and focus.” John and Michael join Cal Maritime as the program comes off the best season in school history. The Keelhaulers set the school record for wins, won the Cal Pac Conference with an undefeated record, and advanced to the NAIA National Tournament for the first time in school history. The 2012-2013 season begins as the Keelhaulers host Cal Maritime Invitational starting November 2nd.
HATS OFF TO THE GRADS! Show them how proud you are by putting your grad in the Community Focus!
www.ourcommunityfocus.com
June 2011
Page 15
Grad Announcements
Caitlin A. Diggs, College Park
Congratulations to Forest McMillin!
Lauren Cefali, College Park
Molly Gaoiran We are proud of the
Congratulations Caitlin! We are proud
College Park 2011 As you gradu-
Congratulations on your graduation
young lady you have become! Can’t
of YOU, your accomplishments and
ate from CPHS and head off to UCSB,
and being accepted to the Coast
wait to see you playing Water Polo at
hard work. Off to Davis to make your
I want to tell you how proud of you I
Guard Academy. You are an amazing
DVC! Your beauty comes from your
dreams a reality! There couldn’t be a
am. Your accomplishments continu-
person; we are so proud of you and
heart and we love you!
prouder family. Love You, Dad, Mom,
ally amaze me. You have my love and
love you so much! Love Mom, Dad,
Mom & Dad
support on any journey you take. May
and WIll.
Jack and Molly
your dreams come true! Love, Mom.
Steven St. Germain proudly graduDane Hutslar, College Park 2011
Announcements: $15 for up to 35 words, $30 with a photo. Email photo and text to info@ourcommunityfocus.com. Deadline: 2nd Friday of each month. Photo must be in jpeg format.
We are beyond proud of the young
Jason Eitelgeorge, Alhambra High 2011 “All your dreams can come
forward to watching your bright future
true... if you have the courage to pur-
Madeline Jane Weiss, Bentley
ates with honors from College Park on
School Congratulations, Maddie! We
June 6th. Active in the classroom, on
could not be more proud of you and
athletic teams and in our community,
we share your excitement about your
Steven will continue his pursuits at
unfold. The world is waiting for YOU!
sue them.” - Walt Disney. Congratula-
next adventure at Southern Oregon.
UCLA this fall. Congratulations!
With much love, Mom, Dad, Brandon,
tions! We are very proud of you.
All our love, Mom, Gibby, Jack and
Cole and Devin.
Love, Dad, Mom, Eric and Jeffrey
Benjamin
man you have become and look
Katherine Duran Congratulations on your graduation from College Park. The success you’ve achieved is a great foundation for your future. We are very proud of you and confident that you will do great at Saint Mary’s. Love, Mom, Dad, Elizabeth and Grandma Diane Ethan Marsh, College Park Congratulations on your many accomplishments over the years. We are
We’re proud of you, Erik Naccara!
Kelsey Ertola, Alhambra High School
Maggie Schoemann, College Park
College Park, 2011
We are so proud of you and excited
We are so proud of you as you gradu-
You’ve worked so hard and now
for you as you go forth on your journey
ate from high school. Your energy,
you’re off for a great adventure at the
to Sonoma State and beyond. Con-
enthusiasm, and passion will carry you
Prep school for the US Coast Guard
gratulations!
a long way in life. Follow your dreams
so happy and very proud of you. We wish you nothing but the best always. Love, Mom, Dad and Kendall
Academy. Oh, the places you’ll see!
We love you, Mom, Dad, Anthony and
and never give up. Love, Mom and
If you would like to announce your graduate
Next stop, New London!! Love, Mom,
Nick
Dad.
please contact us for more information. info@ourcommunityfocus.com
Dad and Allie
Photo by TodGomes.com
www.ourcommunityfocus.com
Page 14
June 2012
CORKS AND FORKS
Pair Up Spanish Brunch My father loves getting together for brunch. Brunch is held early in the day when everyone is fresh and hasn’t had a full day of work to get tired out. The foods are simpler and usually served buffet style. Everyone can take what they want and in the amount they want. Here is a Spanish brunch that would meet Dad’s requirements perfectly. I love omelets for brunch, but omelets usually involve complicated stations and need to be cooked to order. Spain has come up with the perfect solution, Torta Española (Spanish omelet). Cooked as one large piece and cut into
With La Sommelierre Maria Terry was officially adopted in 1970 to distinsquares or triangles, it can be served hot guish it from French champagne. Proor at room temperature. Add some sauduced primarily in Catalonia, Cava can téed Herbed Goat Cheese and Prosciutto be white or rosé and is primarily made Shrimp as well as crispy Chicken and from a classic blend of grapes: MacaAndouille Strudel (recipe at www.Labeu (providing fruit, aroma and acid), Sommelierre.com), and you have a comParellada (adding delicacy) and Xarelplete brunch menu. lo (boosting alcohol and acid). To make What is the best wine to pair with rosé Cava, small quantities of still red all of these delicious recipes? Sparkling wines from Cabernet Sauvignon, Garnawine, of course, and this menu is a percha or Monastrell are added. fect opportunity to pair geographically. Each of the recipes with Cava are Choose a sparkling wine from Spain perfectly accompanied by a large bowl of called Cava. The word cava means “cave, fresh fruits; you can pick your favorites cellar” in both Catalan and Spanish. Historically, caves were used for the preservation or aging of wine and the name
Herbed Goat Cheese and Prosciutto Shrimp
Torta Española INGREDIENTS 3/4 cup olive oil 2 pounds potatoes, peeled and thinly sliced 2 onions, finely diced 6 eggs, lightly beaten in a large bowl Salt and freshly ground black pepper DIRECTIONS Heat the oil in a large skillet; cook the onions until soft. Add potatoes and cook over medium-heat until almost done with no color, about ten minutes. Break the potatoes up a bit with a spatula and then transfer the potatoes and onions to the bowl with the
eggs. Stir the potatoes around to cover well with the egg, and season with salt and pepper. Remove most of the oil from the skillet, leaving about one tablespoon. Add the egg mixture; reduce the heat to low and cook omelet slowly until golden and firm enough to flip. To flip omelet, carefully slip it onto a plate, cover with a second plate, invert and slide it back into the hot pan. Cook until done. It should still be soft inside, and about 1-inch thick. Cut into squares and serve hot, or let cool to room temperature. Yield: 4-6 Servings
Crescent Dr. at Downtown Plaza
Saturdays, SSa aatturddaays, 9 aam-1 m--11 ppm m • RRain aiinn oorr SShine hine UUpcoming Up pcoming EEvents Events: vents:
June 2 & 9 - Enter to win a Fathers’ Day gift including movie tix and a grill set. June 30 - Enter to win 4 tix to Pleasant Hill’s annual Family Camp-Out. CITY OF PLEASANT HILL
Your Food, Your Community, Your Farmers’ Market
from what is local and in season. As a bonus, the fruit will satisfy sweet cravings at the end of the meal, and there is no need for a heavy dessert. Finally, consider offering sparkling water with slices of lemon and oranges for those who choose not to drink alcohol or as a respite throughout the meal. So, go on. Pair Up! Maria Terry is a Certified Sommelier and Wine Educator in the San Francisco Bay Area. For more great wines and information please visit Maria’s website at www.LaSommelierre.com.
INGREDIENTS 12 tablespoons goat cheese 1 teaspoon chopped fresh parsley 1 teaspoon chopped fresh tarragon 1 teaspoon chopped fresh chervil 1 teaspoon chopped fresh oregano 2 teaspoons minced garlic Salt and pepper 12 large shrimp, peeled, tail-on and butterflied 12 thin slices of prosciutto 2 tablespoons olive oil Drizzle of white truffle oil DIRECTIONS In a mixing bowl, blend the cheese, herbs and garlic together. Season the
mixture with salt and pepper. Season the shrimp with salt and pepper. Press one tablespoon of the filling in the cavity of each shrimp. Wrap each shrimp tightly with one piece of prosciutto. In a sauté pan heat the olive oil. When the oil is hot, add the stuffed shrimp and sear for two to three minutes on each side, or until the shrimp turn pink and their tails curl in towards their body. Remove from the pan and place on a large plate. Drizzle with truffle oil. Garnish with parsley. Yield: 12 Stuffed Shrimp
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June 2012
Martinez Senior Activities 818 Green St. (925) 370-8770
Page 15
Star Quest Anniversary
June 10 - Pancake Breakfast 8am – 11am. Pancakes or toast, sausage, eggs, orange juice and coffee. Everyone is welcome. $3.50 Adults/$2 10yrs.& younger. Handmade crafts, perfect for gifts, will be on sale during the breakfast. June 15 - Guide to Supporting Family Members with Dementia 1pm Senior Helpers will be providing a free 2-hour workshop. This will include an instructional video, recently released by Teepa Snow, a dementia expert, along with a hands-on demonstration of specific skills and techniques to help you provide effective care. Topics of discussion include: When to seek help from a physician; the difference between Alzheimer’s and dementia; how different parts of the brain are affected by dementia; and their unique and positive approaches to dementia care, including: The Senior Gems, along with ways to change resistance and refusals into participation and successful interactions. Call the office at (925) 370-8770 to sign-up for this very informative seminar. June 29 – July 20 - Catch Yourself – Maintain Your Independence – Fridays, 1:30pm – 2:30pm. A four-part class series is offered by John Muir Health Senior Services. $12 for the series. Limited to 20. June 29: Risk Factors for Falling, Individual Health Concerns and Strengthening Exercises; July 6: The Activity Pyramid, Creating an Exercise Agenda and Balance Exercises; July 13: Home Assessment, Medication Management and Stretching Guidelines; July 20: Osteoporosis – Maintaining Strong Bones, How to Fall (and get up) and Strength Training.
Pleasant Hill Senior Activities 249 Gregory Lane (925) 798-8788 June 7, 14, 21 & 28 - Catch Yourself: Maintain Your Independence 12:30-1:30pm. Join us for a 4-part class series and learn how to stay strong to stay on your feet! Topics include: Risk factors for falling, exercises for balance and strength, home assessment, medication management, maintaining strong bones and how to fall safely. Presented by John Muir. At Aegis of Pleasant Hill, 1660 Oak Park Blvd. Fee: $10 Pre-Registration is required: Call 798-8788 or visit the Senior Center to sign up! Class is limited to 20 people.
Dominic Hanecak and Emily Stone perform “You Have a Friend in Me”
Star Quest showcased over thirty young entertainers in its 20th anniversary talent show at the Diablo Valley College Performing Arts Theatre on April 21 and 22. The show’s director, Lori Tassano, wrote an entertaining script that covered two decades of Star Quest including Disney, Broadway, Hollywood and patriotic medleys that interspersed fourteen individual acts. In addition, five former “vet-
June 12 - Backyard BBQ 12pm. Enjoy a classic backyard BBQ on a wonderful June afternoon munching on a hot dog with all the fixings and playing baggo with friends. $5 member/ $6 general. Purchase your tickets at the Little House before the event. Pleasant Hill Senior Center Little House. June 24 - Bunco Potluck at 2pm; Bunco at 3pm. Fun and friendly atmosphere where no prior knowledge of the game is necessary! Buy your ticket at the Senior Center! Tickets: $4 plus bring potluck item to feed 4 people. VFW Bldg.: 1919 Wendell Ln., Pleasant Hill. June 29 - Thirsty Friday 3-5pm Kick off the weekend early! Enjoy a spin-off of Taste of the Vine with a Margarita twist! Wine, Margaritas, and light hour d’oeuvres will be served. Non-alcoholic beverages available. Fee: $7 presale/$10 at the door. Sponsored by the Chateaus of Pleasant Hill, Chateau III: 175 Cleaveland Road. Purchase tickets at the Senior Center.
Showrooms also in Santa Clara & Milbrae
erans” returned to the Star Quest stage to participate in this “homecoming” show. Star Quest veterans Gianna (Lamanna) Summers (1993), Megan (Botts) Hamzawi (1995), Kari Flaskerud (1995), Carol Acuna (1997) and Nicole Palmeri (2002) gave spectacular performances to a packed house. According to the show’s founder and producer, Jim Nunes, the intent of Star Quest is to provide a positive program where young individuals of the community, in grades K through 12, can showcase their artistic and theatrical talents and strengthen their confidence, self esteem and ability to interact with an audience. Star Quest’s non-competitive environment provides an opportunity for young people to gain experience and nurture their talent. Besides stressing the positive, an important element of Star Quest is keeping it fun. This year’s shows were a huge success, thanks to the many sponsors and donors that help support the Star Quest productions. Nunes is particulary thankful to the Rotary Club of Pleasant Hill for their sponsorship and support since 1993. The Rotary’s President, Bob Turcios, announced that a $1,000 scholarship called “The Jim Nunes Performing Arts Scholarship” will be presented every year to a graduating College Park High School senior who pursues studies in the performing arts. President Turcios stated that the scholarship was to honor Jim for his many years of service to Rotary and the community and for his twenty years of producing Star Quest.
www.ourcommunityfocus.com
Page 16
HOME TEAM
Xtreme Takes First
In April, PHMSA Xtreme U10 girl’s soccer team took first place at the Comstock Shootout in Carson City, Nevada. During the tournament, they had three shutouts, including a 5-0 win over MDSA Velocity in the Championship Game. Xtreme also traveled to Visalia in March and earned a 3rd place medal in the Cuties Soccer Slam tournament.
June 2012
League Champions On May 15, College Park (18-6, 11-1 DVAL) celebrated the DVAL Baseball Championship in a 2-0 win over Northgate (20-4, 9-3 DVAL). This is College Park’s first league championship since 1994. One key College Park varsity player had a hand in his team’s three wins in one week. Anthony Baleto combined to go 4-for-8 with three runs scored, two doubles, three RBIs, two stolen bases
and a walk. He also pitched two innings, striking out four and retiring all six batters he faced. On May 1, in a showdown with rival Concord, Baleto pitched a complete game and fanned six in a 2-1 win to preserve the Falcons’ perfect DVAL slate (8-0). Freshman Joe DeMers earned wins against Northgate and Clayton Valley. He struck-out six in a complete-game effort versus the Broncos and knocked a home run against the Eagles.
Back row: Armin Safarians, Alyssa Walker, Julia Betti, Tom Monroe, Samantha Monroe, Katie Foerste, Rylee McCormick, Paul Betti Front row: Kelly Hunyada, Chloe Taylor, Arianna Safarians, Bella Puljiz
Rush Wins Comstock
Congratulations to PHMSA Rush U12 Girl’s for taking 1st place at the Comstock Shootout in Carson City, NV on April 21-22. 1st row L to R: Iona McCabe, Jenna Coffman, mascot Rushkie, Jessica Miller & Natalie Hannah; 2nd row L to R: Coach Chris Renner, Kelly Ruff, Lauren Renner, Jenna Stefanski, Sophie Riker, Kendall Capolungo, Megan Bristow, Jordan Davis & Asst. Coach Kirsten Riker. Not pictured: Hannah Eales. Submitted by Jodi Robinson.
Tired of missing that perfect shot? PHBA Official Photographer at the June 9th & 10th tournament. Sign up beforehand.
Saturday, June 9
Sign up for only $25 and he will focus only on your child athlete during their game. Don’t miss this once in a lifetime opportunity.
925-787-1063
www.todgomes.com Sports Action Photographer
Elena Hutslar
elenahut6@gmail.com
June 2012
www.ourcommunityfocus.com
Season Ticket By Chuck Nan that was quite fierce and bloody for both Sacramento on April 19-21. Ward led the Rutley a Raider fighters. The packed house at Soboda Camen’s team by winning the 200-yard IM and Brandon Rutley, an Alhambra alum 200-yard free and swam on five winning and Martinez resident, has signed a contract sino in Southern California was decidedly in Sandez’ s favor, but Reger took control of relays. Henry led the women’s side, winning with the Oakland Raiders. Rutley, a running the bout midway through the second round the 50 & 100-yard back, 50-yard fly and back, will attend the team’s upcoming mini and finished strong to take the decision. four relays. camps as an undrafted free agent. Most Reger trains at FightKore Gym on Main The women’s squad took second place recently, he was a key contributor for the Street. at the CCCAA state championships on San Jose State Spartans football team. April 26-28 in Los Angeles. Lisa Boozer CP Alum on Olympic Team While at Alhambra, Rutley gained (100-yard breast), Shaila Yoder (50-yard Melissa Seidemann, CP 2008 graduseveral thousand yards rushing while he breast) and the 400-yard medley relay ate was named to the 2012 US Olympic starred on Dave Silveira’s varsity team for team of Courtney Leonard, Yoder, Hannah Women’ s Water Polo Team. three seasons. He earned numerous athletic Voegtly and Henry all won first place in the awards and honors on the gridiron for the College Park 10 DVAL Champs event for a state title. Orange Coast College Bulldogs. College Park earned 10 DVAL titles won the team crown with 431.5 points, Reger Captures World Title this year: Girls Cross Country, Football, while the Vikings finished a very close Sean Sharkey, manager for Martinez’s Girls Soccer, Boys Basketball, Boys Golf, second with 428.5 points. own MMA fighter Rick “Boomer” Reger, Boys Volleyball, Baseball, Boys Swimming/ Local Track and Field News tells us that the big guy is now a champion. Diving, Boys Track and Wrestling. Praise Adesida, a member of the Reger captured the Gladiator Challenge DVC Swimming Alhambra track and field team was selected Light Heavyweight World Championship The Diablo Valley College swimming as the Contra Costa Times’ Athlete of the in a split decision over highly-regarded duo of Lee Ward and Taylor Henry starred Week in early May. The senior participated Michael Sandez of Los Angeles. for a Vikings swimming squad that did well in the prestigious Sacramento Meet of Reger came out victorious in a bout at the Big 8 Conference Championships in Champions Invitational in both the discus throw and shot put, her specialties. Later in the month, Adesida won the DFAL crown in both events, breaking her own school records with marks of 43’3” in the shot and 139’6” in the discus. The talented senior has announced that she will accept a scholarship to UC Davis. Zach Coniglio, an Alhambra alum and sophomore at Sacramento State, won the Big Sky Conference Shot Put championship at the league meet in Bozeman, Montana. Coniglio was best with his toss of 17.72 meters, which outdistanced the second-place finisher by 0.28 meters. College Park JV Baseball Team Wins Concord Classic Baseball Tournament 17-4 against Heritage High The College Park track and field team School April 28. Submitted by Wendy Sarrasin
Tourney Champs
Page 17
HOME TEAM
participated in the NCS Tri Valley Meet May 19. Two athletes from CP qualified to move on to the NCS Meet Of Champions in Berkeley. Senior Hiroki Butterfield qualified in the 300 hurdles race and junior Kendall Stuscavage qualified in all of her individual races, the 1600m, 400m and the 800m. Stuscavage took first in the 1600m at the Sacramento Meet of Champions Invitational with the time of 5:15.50. DVC Diamond Stars Many of coach Steve Ward’s Diablo Valley College baseball players earned Big 8 Conference honors for their efforts during the 2012 season. They include: Most Valuable Player Aaron Hernandez, FirstTeam starting pitcher Nick Pasquale, first baseman Devin Alexander, infielder Eddie Aguayo, Second-Team DH Ryan Kochan, and Honorable Mention outfielder Matt Burks. Both Alexander and Pasquale were unanimous selections. Random Hits Bentley School freshman Sydney Babiak earned Second-Team All-Bay Counties League honors for golf. Babiak helped her team win the league crown in early-May. After that, Babiak went on to the U.S. Women’s Open qualifier played at Half Moon Bay Golf Links. Tyler Sylvia, a defender from the Alhambra boys soccer team has announced that he has accepted a scholarship offer to play next season at the University of San Francisco. Sylvia was a three-time all-DFAL selection for the Bulldogs.
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6/30/12
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Page 18
HOME TEAM
DFAL Champs
The Alhambra High School Lady Bulldogs have defeated their league opponents allowing only three runs with a final league record of 12-0 and 20-4 overall. Kylee Perez, the sensational Alhambra sophomore softball player had a double in a 6-2 win over visiting Dublin on April 17, a triple in an 8-0 victory over host Dougherty Valley on April 19, and finished the week with a solo home run in a 6-5 win over highly-ranked visiting Petaluma on April 21. Erin Enke pitched a one-hit complete game shutout at Las Lo-
mas to keep the Lady Bulldogs perfect in league play (8-0). She attached ten strikeouts to her performance. Enke also won at Dublin, registering sixteen of the eighteen outs via strikeouts. Kylee Perez had six home runs in a five-game span and earned Times’ Athlete of the Week honors. In two DFAL wins, she was 5-for-6 with four runs and four RBIs. That put Perez’s season batting average at .549 with 11 home runs, which is second best in the NCS and among the state leaders.
Swimming & Diving
College Park boys varsity won the DVAL title and the girls placed second. Monty Randall, Drew Pitcher, Nate Burkhart and Kyle Leung took first in the 200-yd medley relay, and set a pool record with the time of 1:38.13. Senior Monty Randall placed first in the 100-yard fly with the time of 50.61 and set the DVAL and school record. Sophomore Nate Burkhart placed first in the 200-yard free with the time of 1:43.95. Senior Drew Pitcher placed first in two events, the 50-yard free: 21.70 and the 100-yard breaststroke: 1:01.07. Senior Hope Curran placed first in the 100-yard breaststroke with the time of 1:08.15. Senior Will Griffiths competed at the DFAL diving meet as a DVAL representative and took first with the score or 408.75 points. Will Griffiths qualified in his fourth consecutive NCS Diving Championship and placed 5th.
LtoR: Nate Burkhart, Drew Pitcher, Kyle Leung and Monty Randall. Photo by Denise Burkhart.
NCS Quarter Finals
College Park, ranked 4th in NCS, celebrates a 3-2 victory over 5th ranked San Ramon Valley. CP moves to the semi finals vs #1 seed De La Salle. Photo by TodGomes.com.
June 2012
A Wrestling Legacy By Chuck Nan at all levels came prepared to work. We had College Park High School has enjoyed many talented kids this season, all sharing a successful wrestling program since its one thing in common: Commitment. inception in 1960. What’s their secret? Head CF: Brian Sergi went on to win a state coach, Jim Keck sheds some light on CP’s CIF wrestling title. Very prestigious! wrestling legacy. Brian was a three-time NCS champion. Community Focus (CF): The wrestling Tell me more about him, his work ethic, team at CP has quite a tradition of sucetc. cess. Tell me more about that legacy and JK: A state title in California is a huge deal. how it continues today. Jim Keck (JK): The College Park wrestling There are 1522 high schools in the state. California is one of only two states to host program has been blessed with long-term a unified state meet with only one division dedicated coaches/teachers who are on crowning one “true” state champion per campus. Teacher/coach John Owings weight each year. Brian did that this year started the winning tradition with a Noragainst some very talented competition. Cal Championship in ‘66. Then CP Alum Brian was also recently named Honorable and teacher, Tim Rhyan, a football and Mention HS All-American by Wrestling wrestling star during CP’s early years, led USA. the team to three consecutive undefeated Brian worked year-round since 6th seasons in ‘74, ’75 and ‘76. Clyde Forrest grade to make himself a better wrestler. He was next, followed by Cory Salmon who wrestled with the Pleasant Hill Club and ushered in the modern era of success for others. On weekends, Brian traveled as far Falcon wrestling. During the following away as Stanford and San Jose for extra thirteen years as a teacher/coach, Salmon practice and technique time. He trained led the team to five league championships and two top-ten finishes at State. I wrestled in Mixed Martial Arts including Judo, Ju-Jitsu, and Stick Fighting, all of which for Salmon from ’84-‘89 and took over in ‘96. The team has captured ten more league helped hone and round out his wrestling. CF: What does the complexion of next championships, four NCS championships, and finished in the top five in NCS on eight year’s team look like? JK: We will have a young team next year, other occasions. Between Salmon (who is still assisting with the program) and myself, and no returning NCS place winners. Our last young team was in 2004. Just two there has been continuity in the program years later, that young team won NCS and since ‘84. Additionally, we have had the had nine NCS placers. Can this group of bonus of long-time assistants Leroy Rivers underclassmen repeat history? That is yet since 1990 and David Smith since 2001. to be seen…there are definitely some dark Another prong to our success is our club/ horses in the mix. feeder program. Pleasant Hill Wrestling, CF: Wrestling is just one way a young pioneered by Coach Salmon in ’94, nurathlete can complete an education. Are tures the College Park wrestlers as well as there any wrestlers going on to compete student/athletes from other area schools. at the next level? Lastly, we’ve had the advantage of fantastic JK: Yes, Brian Sergi will be attending Appaparent support in the community year in lachian State, Alex Encarnacion will attend and year out. UC Bakersfield, and JJ Chou will attend SF CF: This season’s team dominated the First-Team All DVAL selections. How did State. This was Coach Jim Keck’s 17th year as you assemble such a successful squad? wrestling coach (15 years at Head Coach). JK: We had a great group of young men Keck is a 1989 CP Alum and was 4th in with a senior dominated squad. Many NCS in ’88 and 1st in ‘89. He wrestled at started their careers as youngsters in the both Chico State and UC Davis. Coach Keck Pleasant Hill Club. All of them took great was named NCS Honor Coach of the Year pride in the program and worked together 2004 and CC Times Coach of the Year in to lead the entire team to a stellar finish. 2006 and 2007. Hard work is infectious, and the wrestlers
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June 2012
Page 19
Pleasant Hill Middle School Track Meet
The annual Pleasant Hill Middle School all-school track meet was held on May 9-11. Throughout the 3-day meet 11 records were broken. Below is a list of the top winners in all 10 events. Congratulations to all the competitors!
6th Grade 50-Yard Dash, Boys: Arthur Peetoom, 6.65 sec., Girls: Sophia Cervantes, 6.89 sec. 100-Yard Dash, Boys: Arthur Peetoom, 12.56 sec., Girls: Francesca Monti, 13.45sec. 220-Yard Dash, Boys: Jackson Thomas, 30.16 sec., Girls: Jayna Jordan, 32.29 sec. 440-Yard Dash, Boys: Arthur Peetoom, 1:07.13, Girls: Sophia Cervantes, 1:10.73 - NEW RECORD. 440 Relay, Boys: Jonathan Chacon, Brenden Monahan, Jackson Thomas and Kristian Markov, 1:01. 61, Girls: Jayna Jordan, Sydney King, Annie Klopstock and Sophia Cervantes, 1:01.11. Mile, Boys: Jacob Eide, 6:00.33, Girls: Anne Klopstock, 6.28:05. Shot Put, Boys: Tony Alcorn, 30’7”, Girls: Sophie Rousset, 26’. High Jump, Boys: Josh Arroyo, 4’2”, Girls: Jayna Jordan, 4’3”- NEW RECORD. Long Jump, Boys: Arthur Peetoom, 12’1”, Girls: Francesca Monti, 12’6.5”. Softball Throw, Boys: Dean Jones, 161’1”, Girls: Bridgette Faulk, 104’7”. 7th Grade 50-Yard Dash, Boys: Nick Lombardi, 6.47 sec., Girls: Lucy Murov, 6.88 sec. 100Yard Dash, Boys: Nick Lombardi, 12.27 sec., Girls: Lucy Murov, 12.46 sec.- NEW RECORD. 220-Yard Dash, Boys: Nick Lombardi, 29.50 sec., Girls: Lucy Murov, 29.20
sec.- NEW RECORD. 440-Yard Dash, Boys: Nick Lombardi, 1:04.85, Girls: Summer Throne, 1:12.61. 440 Relay, Boys: Sean Rigley, Joshua Manko, Nick Lombardi and Moises Pagan, 58.97 sec. Girls: Summer Throne, Gabby Bain, Lucy Murov and Prescilla Renteria, 1:02.39. Mile, Boys: Nathan Vahey, 5:43.11, Girls: Gabriela Tambazidis, 6:37.69. Shot Put, Boys: Colton Uribe, 33’5.5”, Girls: Sarah Wehrer, 29’6”. High Jump, Boys: Joey Searle, 4’8”, Girls: Cassie Silva, 4’0”. Long Jump, Boys: Joseph Carmichael, 14’6.5”, Girls: Gabriela Tambazidis, 12’10”. Softball Throw, Boys: Thomas Seibel, 190’1”, Girls: Molly Seibel, 148’9”. 8th Grade 50-Yard Dash, Boys: Ray Jackson, 5.86 sec., Girls: Caleigh Silva, 6.75 sec. 100-Yard Dash, Boys: Ray Jackson, 10.76 sec.- NEW RECORD, Girls: Caleigh Silva, 12.82 sec. 220-Yard Dash, Boys: Ray Jackson, 25.06 sec. -NEW RECORD. Girls: Nicole Lindenauer, 30.86 sec. 440-Yard Dash, Nick Lopez, 57.11NEW RECORD, Girls: Erika Kemp, 1:11.5. 440 Relay, Boys: Nick Lopez, Edgar Carranza, Cole Hutslar and James Doty, 50.42 sec.NEW RECORD, Girls: Nicole Lindenauer, Kayla Dempsey, Logan Silva and Danielle Romero, 1:00.67. Mile, Boys: David Phair,
5:08.93- NEW RECORD, Girls: Erika Kemp, 6:54.24. Shot Put, Boys: Tyler Kelso, 40’8.5”, Girls: Beverly Kurk, 33’11”. High Jump, Boys: Ray Jackson, 5’5”- NEW RECORD, Girls:
Kayla Dempsey, 5’2”. Long Jump, Boys: Ray Jackson, 18’4”- NEW RECORD, Girls: Caleigh Silva, 13’4.5”. Softball Throw, Boys: Robert Towne, 230’6”, Girls: Jamie Olsen, 168’6”.
8th grade 440 relay record holders, James Doty, Cole Hutslar with PE teacher Mrs Quimet, Nick Lopez and Edgar Carranza.
Sixth graders Olivia Schmidt, Stephanie Neys, Francesca Monti and Ollie Kurk competing in the 100-yard dash.
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Vincente Martinez High School $10,087 Morello Park Elementary $17,370 Las Juntas Elementary$24,595 John Swett Elementary $9,681 John Muir Elementary $5,850 Adult Education $378 MEF thanks and appreciates all of its donors and volunteers for their great support throughout the year that allows MEF the opportunity to make our schools better! Additional information about the grants can be found at MEF’s website at www.martinezedfoundation.com.
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Page 20
June 2012
PAST TO PLEASANT
Rodgers Ranch Gets Kitchen Renovation
In April 2012, we did a piece on Rodgers Ranch, the historic farmhouse that still stands on Cortsen Road. The original two-story house was built in 1867, and countless changes have occurred since then. Through financial donations and hardworking volunteers, the old kitchen has been restored to a good, old-fashioned (and working!) kitchen from the early 1900s. Grabbing ice cream from the freezer or microwaving a bag of popcorn is something we take for granted, but the early residents of Rodgers Ranch faced many a challenge before modern kitchens became the norm. When the house was first built, a wood-burning stove would have been used for cooking (and keeping the house warm), and in the early 1900s, electrical ovens were a vast improvement. Recently, The President of Friends of Rodgers Ranch, Denise Koroslev, was excited to find a beautiful white and black enamel gas stove (circa 1930) at a garage sale for $50 (“Antiques Roadshow” anyone?), and it looks right at home at the ranch. The PH Rec & Park will have a gas line installed so it can be used to bake apple crisps once again! We can’t imagine being without running water today, but homesteaders from the late 1800s like the Rodgers would have had to dig a well and install a windmill to pump the water, even before building a house. Denise speculates that since indoor plumbing and septic tanks were already in use by the late 1800s, a sink with running water could have been installed by Patrick
By Alison Clary
Rodgers’ grown children around the time he died, in 1891. While meats were smoked or cured to last, most foods on the ranch would have been eaten fresh daily. In the early 1900s, homes had blocks of ice delivered by ice men to keep items insulated in (the aptly named) ice boxes. A cold creek out back might have even been called into service to keep food containers chilled. The ranch’s current refrigerator was made around 1940 and is put into regular active use. You may even find freshly churned butter in there, courtesy of the ranch’s heritage programs. The Diablo Valley Woodworkers volunteered their skills to create drawers and make various improvements to the existing Hoosier-style, built-in cabinet (circa 1920). They also made a new cabinet to go underneath the kitchen sink. A board
member of FORR as well as general contractor, Steve Wallace, and his crew removed the old sheet rock and linoleum from the kitchen floor, repaired the underlying wood floor and painted it an earthy brown to match the rest of the first floor. They also restored the cabinet, repaired the walls, replaced the kitchen door, and
painted the room and cabinets a cheery buttermilk shade, all done at a substantial discount. Simple, sheer, cream curtains now adorn the two large sunny windows. The board has contributed to the décor by adding authentic appliances and utensils such as a toaster, ice cream and butter makers, and meat grinders, from the time frame between 1915 and 1940. These improvements were made possible through generous contributions. Last year, Kathy Watson, the local regent of the Anne Loucks Chapter of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution, presented Friends of Rodgers Ranch with a donation of $1250, and David and Adrianne Roe of Leading Edge Pest Management donated $1240. Visitors are invited to come see the restored kitchen, and kids participating in the upcoming summer Round Up camps can look forward to activities like churning ice cream or making lemonade in the “new” old kitchen! For more information on Rodgers Ranch, visit www.rodgersranch.org.
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June 2012
Page 21
Recreation Summer School Gets a New Look
Summer is here, which means one thing…. kids are out of school. If you’re a parent, this means finding ways to keep your child active and engaged during long summer days that can quickly turn into a monotonous cycle of TV watching and video games. Pleasant Hill Recreation and Park District’s Recreation Summer School is the solution to this age-old problem, and it’s coming this summer with a NEW look and EXTREME experience for kids!
In its 34th year, Recreation Summer School (RSS) is gearing up to provide kids with a summer they’ll never forget. Imagine a day structured similar to school, but instead of going from math to science to history class, your child is taking classes like Act it Out, Culinary Arts, Mixed Media Medley and Duct Tape 101. Instead of holding the remote control, they’ll be dribbling a basketball or learning creative ways to work with beads in a macramé
Outdoor Family Fun
On July 14 and 15, Pleasant Oaks Park will be transformed into Camp Pleasant Hill filled with activities for all ages; music, crafts, a campfire, an outdoor movie, and even s’mores. Fun for the whole family! This is a great opportunity for parents to introduce their children to the joys of camping – without traveling far from home. It’s also an opportunity to enjoy the beauty of Pleasant Oaks Park and the warm weather. Campers are encouraged to bring their tents, sleeping bags, flashlights,
chairs, a change of clothes and personal items and settle in for the night. No pets please. The Pleasant Hill Baseball Association’s Snack Shack will be open with snacks, dinner, and breakfast available for purchase. Check in for Camp Pleasant Hill on Saturday July 14 at 3pm; activities begin at 4:30pm. Check out on Sunday July 15 at 10 am. Register in advance for $10 per person. Call Pleasant Hill Recreation & Park District or register online at www.pleasanthillrec.com.
and jewelry class. “RSS is an enrichment program more than just a summer camp. Students will be learning something new and exciting in classes they choose ranging from drama to sports classes,” says Lance Hurtado, Recreation Supervisor for PHRPD. “I think RSS stands out from other programs because is it has a curriculum rather than a traditional camp setting, which generally doesn’t have a structured learning time.” New to the curriculum this year will be Flag Football, Cheerleading, Wrestling, Softball Training and Sports Medley, a unique mix of sports challenge activities. Long time program favorites like CPR/ First Aid, Musical Theater and Soccer Training will still be offered along with the popular Ultimate Challenges class, which has kids compete in relay games including egg runs, water balloon tosses and a challenge course. One of the biggest challenges parents face during the summer is finding a program compatible with their work schedules. For this reason, RSS is providing a new “Xtra Weekdays Program” along with the Extended Morning Care option. These low-cost extended care programs are designed to help the working parent, giving supervised fun from 9:30am to 5:30pm, five days a week and starting as early as 7am, Tuesdays through Thursdays. Recreation Summer School is offered for kids in grades 1 through 8 and runs
from June 25 through August 2. If you’re looking for additional weeks of fun for your child, sign them up for EXTREME RECESS. A new addition to the summer schedule, Extreme Recess is eighty hours of planned activities including field trips, adventure hikes and swim days at the Pleasant Hill Aquatic Park. “These two weeks will be all about fun with a slight twist on learning,” says Hurtado. For more detailed information on how to register for Recreation Summer School, Extreme Recess and the Extended Care Programs, visit the Pleasant Hill Recreation and Park District website at www.pleasanthillrec.com or call (925) 682-0896. Registrations will be accepted until June 22 or when classes fill (whichever comes first).
PHBA Gives Back
PH Baseball Assoc. President, Mark Rolandelli, presents a check to Dennis Donaghu, Chair, PH Rec & Park as part of their organization’s ongoing partnership to operate and maintain PHBA fields
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Page 22
June 2012
Water Wise Tips Summer is definitely on its way, which makes this a great time to get reacquainted with your watering system. In general, lawns will thrive on a schedule of watering three to four days a week, while trees, shrubs and groundcover require two. Water early in the day when winds are calm and temperatures are cool - you’ll lose less water to evaporation. And water deeply. This leads to deeper roots and a larger soil reservoir from which to draw moisture. Wise Tip: Inspect your landscape and sprinklers Microclimates: Plants on the north and east side of your house will generally be
By Chris Dundon, Water Conservation Supervisor, CCWD problem. The easy fix is to use clippers in more shade than plants on the south and trim the grass lower around each and west side. Plants in these shadier head. You can do this each week you areas require less water than those in mow. The permanent fix is to replace full sun. Adjust your watering schedule short pop-up sprinklers with four-inch to account for these different “microclipop-up sprinklers. Lawns should be mates” in your yard. This can save you mowed to two and a half to three inches water and improve the health of your high, so the four-inch pop-up is ideal. plants. Lawn Sprinklers: Tall grass around For more water conservation informasprinkler heads can block the spray pattion, visit the CCWD website: www.ccwatern. As a result, some areas of the lawn ter.com/conserve or call 925-688-8320. won’t get the water they need. Inspect your sprinklers the day before you plan to mow your lawn. If the spray does not All kinds of Interior and Exterior handyman projects. clear the grass when the sprinkler heads • Interior Painting pop-up, you have two choices to fix the
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June 2012
Page 23
Twin Brothers Corner the Market on Fresh Produce As I arrive at Pleasant Hill Market, on the corner of Pleasant Hill and Grayson Roads, to interview store co-owner Nate Mora, a woman urgently asks, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Do you have any more â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Bob Marley Tea?â&#x20AC;&#x2122; â&#x20AC;? Before gently letting the customer down and encouraging her to return tomorrow, Nate guesses correctly that the tea is for her teenage son. As he leads me through the produce aisles to the back storeroom, he explains: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Marleyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Mellow Mood drinks are all the rage with teens. They keep buying me out! This tea is like the opposite of energy drinks. The marketing says it reduces stress, eases the mind and calms the soul. Somewhere in Pleasant Hill, the coolest kid in town has got half a case of Marley under his bed!â&#x20AC;? Nate offers me his only chair, turns a case of California Gold Yams on end for himself, and the interview begins. CF: Howâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d you get into this business? NM: My twin brother, Matt, and I were looking for a business to own. An agent
By Randy Wanser
Matt and Nate Mora, owners of Pleasant Hill Market
showed us this market, which used to be Produce King. We liked that it had thirty yearsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; history. The original owners, the Martinez family, actually came in and helped us. They are produce experts. They taught us where to get the best fruits and vegetables and how to clean and sell them. They got us off the ground. This May, we celebrated our fifth anniversary as owners. CF: Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re local boys out of Concord.
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Why this location, on a rural stretch of Pleasant Hill? NM: Before we knew the store was for sale, I had been out driving in the area and thought it was a neat spot. Kids were flying kites in the park. People were out for a stroll. It was like, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Leave it to Beaverâ&#x20AC;? land. I felt we could have great relationships in this community. CF: How has that turned out? NM: The local folks have been very generous. Our first week in business, a neighbor welcomed us with freshly baked muffins. People have been coming here for two generations, so they want us to succeed. We reciprocate by providing great produce at fair prices and by participating in many of the school and community fundraisers. CF: Where does all this fresh produce come from? NM: We are right in the middle of major produce growing regions. Family farms supply us six-days-a-week with truly ripe
and ready to eat produce. We get the best global produce by being first in line at the Oakland and San Francisco terminals every morning at three am. CF: How many people work at your store? NM: We have ten employees. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a family business, so our Mom, Lupe, and Dad, Gerardo, and Aunt Connie are also here all the time helping out. CF: You and Matt are identical twins. How do customers tell you apart? NM: We may look alike, but weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re complete opposites! Mattâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the quiet one, and Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m always chatting it up. Sometimes, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll overhear a customer say, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Oh, thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Nate, because heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s talking.â&#x20AC;? CF: What do you enjoy most about your business? NM: I enjoy the interaction with people. Before this, I worked for Walmart in an office. Now, the store is my corner office. Whether weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re supplying teens with the hottest new nutritional beverages, or helping people fulfill a healthy lifestyle with organic produce, our goal is to please our customers. CF: Tell us about the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Coming Soonâ&#x20AC;? sign in the window next door? NM: Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re targeting this summer to open a meat market and deli. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re going to offer top-quality meats and sandwiches in the same friendly, small-town atmosphere as the produce market. Pleasant Hill Market is located at 2397 Pleasant Hill Road. They are open Monday to Saturday 8am to 8pm, and on Sunday 9am to 6pm. You can visit their website at pleasanthillmarket.com.
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Page 24
Dance to the Music!
2835 Contra Costa Blvd., Suite E | Pleasant Hill, CA
Have you ever wondered why there aren’t more local opportunities in the East Bay for people of all ages to experience the wonderful world of music and dance? Don’t miss the 4th annual Fallen Heroes, Rising Stars: A Juneteenth Celebration Through Dance. The event is presented by Grown Women Dance Collective and sponsored by Aspire Pilates Center, Dancers Group, AKA Events, The Willows Theatre and Hilton Concord, Fallen Heroes, Rising Stars is an uplifting, swayin-your-seat and sing-to-the-music dance concert that celebrates music, dance, Juneteenth and American history. Juneteenth is the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of African American liberation from slavery. The tradition dates back to June 19, 1865, when enslaved people in Texas were informed by Union soldiers that slavery had “ended.” This jubilant news, at last supported by the Union Army’s enforcement of the law, came two and a half years after President Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation. Today on Juneteenth, we celebrate African American freedom while encouraging self-development and respect for all cultures. Inspired by the music of incredible artists such as James Brown, Ray Charles, Michael Jackson, Nina Simone, and Luther Vandross, the choreography and multimedia of Fallen Heroes, Rising Stars speak to us of the struggles and achievements of African Americans, and the common experiences that we all share as Americans. These unforgettable artists created timeless music that has greatly impacted the fabric of American culture.
The last three years of performances found audience members spontaneously singing and swaying along to the familiar songs that they listened to while growing up or falling in love. Inspired by seeing mature women of all shapes and sizes expressing themselves on stage, the culturally diverse audiences expressed that they felt “uplifted” and “proud to be American” after seeing the performances. “I had no idea what Juneteenth was before tonight,” said one audience member, “Thank you so much for teaching me and my family about it. I have never experienced anything like this before.” With so many people of different backgrounds brought together to celebrate history, music and dance, Fallen Heroes, Rising Stars speaks loud and clear to the power of art influencing who we are as human beings. Grown Women Dance Collective is excited to present Fallen Heroes, Rising Stars: A Juneteenth Celebration Through Dance on June 30, 8:00pm at The Willows Theatre in Concord. Reception to follow show. To purchase tickets please call: (925) 798-1300. For more information or sponsorships, please visit www. GrownWomenDance.org. Grown Women Dance Collective, fiscally sponsored by 501c3 Dancers Group, was founded in 2009 to create a positive and nurturing environment for mature, female dancers to create beautiful work that is relevant and accessible to diverse audiences. GWDC seeks to use the arts to bridge generations and cultures, to bridge the older generation with the younger generation, and to introduce concert dance to new audiences. DID YOU KNOW...WE DO MORE THAN BUSINESS CARDS?
Minuteman
Press
PLEASANT HILL
925-256-6444 www.minutemanpressph.com
WE CAN HANDLE ALL OF YOUR NEEDS... NEED FLYERS FOR YOUR SCHOOL EVENT? NEED POSTERS FOR YOUR UPCOMING EVENT? OR DO YOU NEED.... COLOR COPIES OR EVERYDAY OFFICE FORMS ANNOUNCEMENTS... BABY, GRADUATION INVITATIONS OR HOLIDAY CARDS PROMOTIONAL ITEMS ... TSHIRTS, STICKERS POSTERS, TICKETS FLYERS, PRINTED OR COPIED EVENT PROGRAMS, SWIM MEET EVENT BOOKS WHAT DO YOU NEED? WE CAN HANDLE IT FOR YOU Pleasant Hill City Hall Photo by Susan Wood Photography
June 2012
Dallimonti’s
Restaurant www.dallimontis.com
Celebrate 30 Years! Come help us
We want to thank our family, friends, customers and community for supporting us these past 30 years. It’s been a great time with wonderful memories. - Ron & Christy -
Enjoy these specials all week long! MONDAY JUNE 18
TUESDAY JUNE 19
Backdoor BBQ (every Monday) Special Celebration tri-tip plate $ 5.00
TACO TUESDAY! Happy Hour 5-7
WEDNESDAY JUNE 20 Wines half off glass or bottle!
FRIDAY JUNE 22 Roll back the price night (limited menu) Karaoke with our great DJ, TJ! 9pm
THURSDAY JUNE 21
Come hear the sounds of Scott & Mike 7-10 pm. Two local talented singers and song writers
SATURDAY JUNE 23
Limited menu, reservations suggested! Cover 2Cover Band 8:00PM plus special musical guests $ 5.00 cover charge
• A Family Tradition Since 1982 • Open for Lunch & Dinner • Reservations & Take Out Available • Small Banquets Welcome • Full Bar & Wine List • A Touch of North Beach in your Neighborhood
1932 Oak Park Boulevard, Pleasant Hill. 925-944-5224
www.ourcommunityfocus.com
June 2012
Hours: Mon-Thur 11-8PM Fri & Sat 11-9PM Open Sundays During Main Street Events Only
GREAT
Slow Cooked, Smoked Meats and More Come See Us At The
KING OF THE COUNTY BBQ With Dad On Father’s Day Weekend JUNE 16-17 - MARTINEZ MARINA
WHO WANTS RIBS?
You can’t find a better deal than our Tuesday Ribs at Smokey D's. Enjoy our pork rib for only $1.50 each after 4pm. Dine in only please.
Page 25
Get your RESTAURANT FEATURED in Community Focus Call 925-335-NEWS (6397) or email info@ourcommunityfocus.com FLAVORS
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601 Main Street, Martinez www.smokeyds.com
Voted Best Japanese Restaurant by Best of the Bay TV Viewers in 2010
$30 Birthday Certificate Join our new Birthday Club and receive a $30 Birthday Certificate to spend at Kobe Japan Restaurant during the month of your birthday. You will also receive special offers and information about the latest happenings in our monthly newsletter. Please go to our website
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then click Sign-Up for Our Birthday Club/Special Offers
1918 Oak Park Blvd., Pleasant Hill, California 94523 Phone: (925) 705-7065/7066
TION MEHNIS AD T GET F TO 0 OF $1.0
Fax: (925)705-7067
MOLINO’S RAVIOLI
homemade ravioli since 1925
• Call Ahead to Order or Just Walk In • In Business for Over 60 Years Serving Famous Beef, Chicken, Cheese, Butternut Squash, Vegetarian and Seafood Ravioli. Also Serving Homemade Gnocchi, Lasagna, Cannelloni and Soups and a Variety of Sauces
Regular Store Hours Mon- Sat 9am - 5:30pm • Sunday 10 - 5 2150 Pleasant Hill Road., 925.934.7075
Molino’s Hot Food & Catering
For complete menu visit, www. molinosravioli.net
Blue Rasp Cherr Lime Grap
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Page 26
Letter to the Editor
Update on MDUSDâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Charter Waiver Request On May 9, the State Board of Education took up Mt. Diablo Unified School Districtâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s charter waiver request. As the law currently stands, Clayton Valley Charter High School, as a conversion charter high school, is now entitled to an additional $1.74 million in revenue limit funding annually, and this money must come directly from the districtâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s general fund. Spread across the districtâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s five remaining, regular high schools,that amounts to an average funding reduction of about $340,000 per year for each school, including College Park High School. The waiver, if approved, would shift the burden of paying these funds from the district to the state. Superintendent Steven Lawrence, along with his associate general counsel and several parents and staff representing various high schools in MDUSD (including myself and fellow College Park parent Mary Gray), traveled to Sacramento to speak at the hearing. After a wait of over seven hours for the item to come up, the superintendent and counsel presented the districtâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s case while the rest of us testified as to the financial impact this will have on the remainder of the district, the inherent inequality it creates, and how this outcome was never the intent when the funding formula for conversion charters in unified districts was changed in 2010. The board members were, on the whole, both sympathetic and understanding of our position. However, it was the opinion of the State Board of Education staff that the board probably did not have the legal authority to grant the waiver because making such changes to funding allocations was
not in the scope of their mandate as a board. Of course, this is painfully ironic since the district argued precisely that to the County Board of Education at last fallâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s charter appeal hearing in response to the charter advocatesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; (and the boardâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s own counselâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s) suggestion to obtain a waiver as a solution to the problem. The state board also expressed concern that granting the waiver would set a precedent and â&#x20AC;&#x153;open the floodgatesâ&#x20AC;? to such waiver requests in the future. In the end, the board voted 4-2 to deny the waiver; however, in order to deny a waiver, there must be enough votes as a percentage of their quorum, and they needed five to deny it outright (they did not have all eleven board members present as there are three current openings on their board). This means that the waiver request is being held over until their next meeting in July. To be honest, the result was better than expected; I anticipated an outright denial. The fact that two members were open to granting the waiver is somewhat encouraging. By holding the request over, it allows the district time to marshal arguments as to why the board does, in fact, have the authority to grant the waiver and why, because MDUSDâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s situation is unique, it would not create much of a precedent (very few, if any, other under-funded unified districts created a conversion charter high school since 2010). Whether the districtâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s effort in July will be successful or not, I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know. I do know that the districtâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s legal team has put in many hours and hard work on this, and that the superintendent and his staff deserve thanks from the community for pursuing this on behalf of our kids. -Matt Lovett, Pleasant Hill
June 2012
Pints for Prostates By Sachin Kamath MD On June 13, Diablo June is the month we Valley Oncology and Pacific celebrate the DADS in our Urology will sponsor their lives; perhaps that is why annual â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Pints for Prostatesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; June is also Menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Health event at Pyramid Alehouse Month. The purpose of Menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s in Walnut Creek. The Health Month is to heighten guest of honor and keynote the awareness of preventable speaker will be Rick Lyke! health problems and encourA $20 donation Pints Package includes age early detection and the treatment of beer, beer glass, hors dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ouevres, and a disease among men and boys. raffle ticket. Space is limited. Reserve by Pints for Prostates is a program calling 925-677-5041 aimed at creating awareness for menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s About 1 man in 6 will be diagnosed health. It was founded by Rick Lyke, with prostate cancer during his lifetime. a prostate cancer survivor diagnosed This can be a serious disease, but most at a young age. He felt a deep desire to men diagnosed do not die from it. In get the conversation going with friends fact, more than 2.5 million men in the about the importance of prostate cancer United States who have been diagnosed screening. He started with one-on-one with prostate cancer at some point are conversations, usually while sharing a still alive today. pint of beer. Rickâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s passion led him to Dr. Kamath is a Radiation Onestablish the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Pints for Prostatesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; noncologist with Diablo Valley Oncology profit organization with the goal of raisin Pleasant Hill. He can be reached at ing awareness and preventing prostate 925-825-8878. cancer. PAID ADVERTORIAL
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Letters to the Editor The Community Focus invites your comments and opinions. Letters should be no longer than 400 words and submitted with first and last name. Address and daytime telephone number required. All letters will be published at the editorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s discretion. The Focus reserves the right to edit submissions for length, clarity, possible libel and propriety or to refuse letters we feel contradict our mission. E-mail letters for our community forum to: editorial@ourcommunityfocus.com
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SPACE IS LIMITED - RSVP at 925.677.5041
www.ourcommunityfocus.com
June 2012
Page 27
College Park Garden’s Abundance As another school year draws near completion, our garden workers at College Park High School are busy getting the summer/fall garden in, while cleaning up weeds and picking abundant, gloriously scented sweet peas that have laid claim to the garden with a vengeance. Tiny pepper, eggplant and tomato plants that the students started from seeds in the greenhouse are tenderly placed in holes with plant food and love in the hopes of bounty and a huge harvest for students returning in the fall. Our organic garden at College Park is truly glorious. Sunflowers are blooming and taking up space wherever they can push through the soil, while strawberry plants bloom and thrive, holding the promise of sweet treats. We have picked so many harvests of lettuce and arugula that we lost count months ago. For students returning in the fall, we will have a large crop of apples as well as a million grapes to munch on. Why is this garden such a thriver?
By Lesley Stiles Our location in proximity to loads of sun little babies to sleep with wet hair. Timed throughout the day is one reason, but over automatic watering also conserves greatly the years, Stephanie Jacob and I, the garden on water use. Don’t get me wrong here, I stewards and educators, have learned about know it is therapeutic to stand there with the importance of soil. Strong foundations the hose and ponder the day, but it ain’t are essential for successful building, and helping your garden or the environment. compost is probably one of the most im For first timers or people like me who portant parts of the foundation structure in are not real handy, battery operated tima garden. Healthy soil, sun and regular waers are a revelation. Hook up some ½ inch tering produce luscious crops. tubing to your hose, and all you need to do In your home gardens, a timed wais poke in the emitters and you’re done. Big tering system can make the difference begarden – carefree summer – what’s not to tween an okay garden and an awesome like? crop-producing garden. Thinking that you If you are on campus or in the vicinare a fabulous waterer and can do it yourity of CP, stopping by our garden will make self is admirable, but even you take off for you smile and lower your shoulders a little weekends or weeks in the summer and that bit. We are entering peak season for amazneighbor kid, as wonderful as he is, will not do the job you do, and your garden will suffer for it. Even the time that you waIngredients: 1 head of romaine lettuce, washed and torn ter matters to your little family of veggies. 2 medium sized cucumbers, peeled, seeded Regular times are important, and this year’s and diced philosophy, from those in the know, is early 1 basket of cherry tomatoes cut in half morning watering is best. One reason is to 1 small red onion, sliced into small half prevent mold on tomatoes and other plants moons caused by watering too late and sending the
THE GARDEN
ing produce in our valley, and the farmers’ markets are loaded with the goods. Currently, bowing farmer tables find cherries, asparagus, apricots, early peaches, early field tomatoes, fresh, astoundingly sweet onions with stalks attached and so much more. Get in tune with alfresco dining, moving into a more relaxing time of year and enjoying our wonderful communities while slowly devouring our gardens’ bounties. Don’t forget to breathe. Lesley Stiles is a graduate of the California Culinary Academy, sustainable caterer and school garden educator. Contact Lesley at lesleystiles@comcast.net, www. lesleystiles.blogspot.com and visit her new website: www.lesleystilesfoods.com.
Fatoush Salad
½ bunch of fresh mint, chopped fine ½ bunch fresh cilantro, chopped fine ½ cup feta cheese, crumbled 1 cup of pita chips ½ cup pitted Kalamata olives chopped.
Directions:
Toss all together in a large salad bowl with Lemon – Cumin Vinaigrette, recipe below
Education & Healing Group Services Assisting People From All Walks of Life ©
We offer many programs including:
Alcohol & Drug Treatment Recovery Programs Children Affected by Addiction Teen Insight Groups for those using alcohol and/or drugs
Lemon – Cumin Vinaigrette Ingredients:
¼ cup of fresh lemon juice 2 tablespoons of seasoned rice vinegar ¾ cup of extra virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons of freshly toasted and ground cumin seed 1 tablespoon of chopped fresh garlic
Directions:
Whisk all together in a bowl and season with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper.
Marilee King, Executive Director An experienced group facilitator with nearly 20 years of experience working in groups with children, adults, teens and families.
(925) 231-5556 • 380 Civic Dr. Suite 200~H, Pleasant Hill, CA
shop for
bargains,
shop for
foster children
Youth Homes Auxiliary Thrift Shop raises money in support of the needs of young people in the care of Youth Homes, Inc. SENIOR 5% DISCOUNT EVERYDAY 15C Vivian Dr Pleasant Hill, CA (Behind Jack in The Box)
925-798-5561 Hours: Mon-Sat 10 AM – 4 PM
www.ourcommunityfocus.com
Page 28
Helping Our Wildlife By Susan Heckly, Lindsay Wildlife Museum look carefully for nests in trees and bushes When we think before pruning. June is still prime nestof how we can help ing season for many birds (and squirrels, wildlife, it can be too) and some will still have nests as late as daunting. There are September. species going extinct • Reduce or eliminate pesticide use. Let the and many populabirds have the aphids and other bugs that tions in peril; how do visit your plants. we address the prob• Don’t use sticky traps, especially outdoors. lems facing wildlife around the world? One little voice seems hardly big enough to make Sticky mouse and rat traps are inhumane and they can trap innocent and beneficial a dent. But, we can make a big dent right animals such as snakes, lizards and birds. here in our backyards and neighborhoods. • If you have bird feeders, keep them clean The little things we do on a daily basis can to prevent the spread of disease. At least have a big impact on the wild animals that once a week, wash with soap and water, share our space. Here are some simple rinse well, soak in a 1:32 bleach solution for things you can do today and tomorrow to ten minutes, rinse and let dry before refillhelp wildlife. ing with food. • Keep your cat indoors, especially now • If birds fly into a certain window frequentwhen baby birds are learning to fly. If you ly, cover it with netting, hang yarn in front find a fledgling bird (has feathers but can’t fly well) on the ground, leave it alone so the of it or let it get really dirty to take away the parents can continue to take care of it. Keep reflection. pets and people away from the baby. It usu- By taking simple steps, we can provide good, safe habitats for our wild neighbors. ally takes only a day or two before the baby For more information about Lindsay bird is flying. Wildlife Museum and ways you can help • Don’t prune trees or bushes until fall. If wildlife, visit www.wildlife-museum.org. you absolutely need to prune in summer,
MOVING & STORAGE
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401 GREGORY LANE, SUITE 126 PLEASANT HILL, CA 94523 925.676.8485 FAX 925.676.0288 www.drjennifermartin.com
June 2012
LOOK. TOUCH.
DISCOVER. At Wild Times Summer Science Camp, your young naturalist will marvel, laugh and learn with new adventures every day—live animal encounters, fun science experiments, games, stories and crafts. Weekly half-day sessions for ages 4–12. Learn more and register today at
www.wildlife-museum.org
1 9 3 1 F I R S T AV E N U E | WA L N U T C R E E K | 9 2 5 - 9 3 5 - 1 9 7 8 /LQGVD\ 6FLHQFH&DPS [ &RP)RFXV 5(9 LQGG
30
www.ourcommunityfocus.com
June 2012
events Martinez Farmers’ Market Now through Oct. 25 - Thursdays, 10am-2pm Court St., between Main & Escobar St. Year Round - Sundays, 10am-2pm Main St. between Castro & Ferry St. Buy local produce and visit local shops and restaurants too! Pleasant Hill Farmers’ Market Saturdays through November 17. 9am to 1pm. Downtown Pleasant Hill http://www.pcfma.com/ 6/1 – Plaza Concert and Wine Walk 5:308:30pm Dowtown Pleasant Hill. 6/5 - Pleasant Hill Garden Study Club 7pm Interim Location: Camellia Room - Heather Farms, 1540 Marchbanks Dr., Walnut Creek. Speaker: Debi Tidd, “Pest Management without Pesticides.” Guests are welcome & free. Contact: 925-944-4898, Website: www. phgsc.com 6/13 Lindsay Wildlife Museum Summer Hours Begin - 10am until 5pm Wednesday through Friday, with Members-only hours from noon until 5pm on Tuesdays. Admission is $7 adults; $6 seniors and students; $5 for children 2-17; free to members and children under 2. Along with Wild Times Summer Science Camp, there are many classes, workshops and mini-camps available at the Lindsay Wildlife Museum this summer. For a complete listing of all the children’s programs see kids classes and camps on our website. www.wildlife-museum.org. 6/20 - The Society of American Magicians Assembly #112 meets the 3rd Wednesday of each month. We perform great magic and have loads of fun! Open to all! Round Table Pizza, 7pm, 2960 Treat Blvd., Concord, CA. Join us this month and learn magic! Information: Call Fred (925) 451-1292 6/23 - “Bark for Life” Special Event – 8am to 1pm. 100 Gregory Lane, Pleasant Hill City Hall. The event will be sponsored by the American Cancer Society. Approximately 20 to 30 dogs, and their owners, will conduct a non-competitive walk event to raise funds and awareness for cancer research and the fight against cancer. 6/24 - Contra Costa Humane Society Family Trail Hike Fundraiser. 9:30am to 12:30pm. Castle Rock Regional Park, Walnut Creek. First 50 registered adults (by
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Calendar mail or on-line) will receive a special goodie bag compliments of Big Dogs Sportswear, Whole Foods Lafayette, Rubio’s Pleasant Hill and more. Registration is $25 per adult 13 and up, $10 for 5 to 12 years old. Dogs are free and not required. Create a fundraising team, enter a pet contest, sample food from Rubio’s, win a raffle prize and bring a picnic for after. For more information and registration go to www.cchumane.org or firstgiving. com. Rodgers Ranch Round Up - Heritage Days 9am - 2pm, $35 per day. Ages 7 - 12 Session 1: June 26– Feeding the Family Session 2: June 28 – Garden and Nature Session 3: July 24 – Sing and Play Session 4: July 26 – Job Day for the Kids 315 Cortsen Rd. Pleasant Hill. Email RodgersRanch@yahoo.co, or call Denise Koroslev at (925) 387-0158. Space is limited. 6/28-7/21 - Willows Cabaret Theatre “Vaudeville” The Campbell Theatre is located at 636 Ward Street in Downtown Martinez. www. willowstheatre.org. 925-798-1300. Fridays on the Main June-August 6-8pm. Cars, Trucks, Bikes and Live Music! Free! Downtown Martinez.
At the library Pleasant Hill Tuesdays - Doorstep Farmers Pick Up. 5-7pm. Sign up with Doorstep Farmers, a local CSA, at www.doorstepfarmers.com. All subscribers will receive a 5% discount for choosing Pleasant Hill Library as their pick-up location. Wednesdays - English Conversation Practice for Adults. 1:30-2:30pm. This ESL group meets weekly. Ages 18+. Thursdays - Preschool Storytime. 11:1511:45am. Ages 3-5. Fridays - Mother Goose Storytime - 11:1511:45pm & 1:15-1:45pm. Ages 0-3. Fridays - Contra Costa Teen Chess Club. 3-5pm. Instruction, friendly matches, and tournaments. Interested in learning, improving your game, and meeting local teens? All levels are welcome. Saturdays - Saturday Story Time, Babies, Preschoolers, Kids. 11:15-11:45am. 6/7 - One-On-One Computer Tutor. 11am
&12pm. Tutors help new computer users with all the basics including email accounts, Microsoft Word and Internet searches. Call for appt. For adults. 925-646-6434.
Calling all tribute 10 and up to participate. Win prizes and help fight hunger in the real world. Bring one canned food item. Register: 925-646-9900. Grades 6th-12th.
6/7 - Wii for Teens 3pm-4:30pm. Play some board games too! Room A.
6/11 – Peanuts: On the Go! 6:30 – 7:30pm. The library will turn into a hands-on art and science museum with fun, nature-related interactive exhibits. For K-8th.
6/12 - PH Book Club 6:30pm-7:45pm, Let the Great World Spin, by Colum McCann. 6/13 - The PHUN Team, Pleasant Hill United Nerds Team. 3:30-5:00pm. Meet other teens and the young adult librarian to share and plan what you want to see happen at the library. Ages 13-18. 6/19 - Musical Performance, Celtic Sands 6:30-7:15pm. Martinez: 6/4 – Hunger Game Capitol Show 3:30pm.
6/12 - Book Discussion Group 6:45pm. Join us as we discuss The Unthinkable Thoughts of Jacob Green, by Joshua Braff, Adults. 6/19 – Shabang! Steel Drum Band 6:307:15pm 6/26 – Personal Finance Seminar. 6:307:30pm. “How Money Works” by Jeannie Schwass. Register: 925-646-9900.
Martinez Community Chorus Concert The Martinez Community Chorus will present their spring concert, “Dance Party,” on Tuesday, June 12 at 7:30pm in the Adult Education Campus Auditorium at Alhambra and F Street. Admission is a requested $5 donation at the door. The concert includes many all-time favorite dance-able tunes from the 20’s to the 60’s. To further entertain the audience, several dance couples will be on hand to dance to the swing, two-step, tango, cha-cha, waltz, and polka. Audience members will have an opportunity to participate in some of the dances. Accompaniment for the chorus and dancers will include piano, string bass, guitar and percussion. The concert will also include a special musical presentation by the Devil Mountain Barbershop Chorus. Refreshments will be provided during intermission. Director Dee Wood has been with the chorus for the past ten years, but will be retiring from the position after this final concert.
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TEEN SCENE
June 2012
Summer Fun at the Public Library
Kids have some amazing ideas and the “Idea Box” is now up and running in the children’s area of the Pleasant Hill Library. Thanks to a grant from the state library, the innovative Idea Box is ready to collect kids’ ideas on what activities, events or programs they would like to see at the library. According to Patrick Remer, Children’s Librarian, “Kids can submit their ideas and place them into a crazy collection contraption and once the ideas are collected, they will go online where people can vote or rank each idea. Staff will work on which ideas we can actually fulfill. Taking big ideas and turning them into something real and tangible is what the idea box is all
about!” Go to ccclib.org/ideabox to pick your favorites! An educational summer option is the Discover and Go program. This county-wide program enables a library card holder to log on and print out free museum passes from over 30 destinations throughout the Bay Area. Library patrons can make reservations online by date or by venue and print out a pass. Patrons without Internet access can reserve a pass by telephone or in person and print out a pass at the library. You can have two active reservations at a time. This year’s Summer Reading Program for kids is “Dream Big”. Begin-
Blue Devils Family Night By Gail Schultz pion Blue Devils “A” Drum & Bugle The Blue Devils will present their Corps; 3-time Open Class Champions annual Family Day Performance on Blue Devils “B” Drum & Bugle Corps; Saturday, June 16, at Diablo Valley Blue Devils “C” Drum & Bugle Corps; College’s Viking Field. The program a combined Horn Line presentation; will start at 6:30pm, gates will open at 5pm, and tickets will be sold starting at a combined Drum Line presentation; 4pm at the stadium. Tickets are $10.00 Renegades Drum & Bugle Corps; guest appearance by the Santa Clara Vanand can also be purchased at www. guard Drum & Bugle Corps and Santa bluedevils.org or by calling (925) 689Clara Cadet Corps. Come and enjoy an 2918 X-0. Children 8 years and under evening of music and dance featuring are FREE. Appearing at the event are the units of the Blue Devils Family! the following: 14-time World Cham-
Teen Council On Wednesday, May 9, the Pleasant Hill Recreation & Park District Board of Directors recognized the members of the 2011-2012 Pleasant Hill Teen Council. The Pleasant Hill Teen Council was established in February of 1991 and had 6 members. This year’s council was comprised of 20 middle school and high school students from various schools in Pleasant Hill. Members volunteered at many Pleasant Hill events throughout the year and focused their attention this year on the program ideas for the new Teen Center, scheduled to open in the fall at Pleasant Hill Park.
Back Row: Helena Strand, Matthew Cary, Jimmy Torres (Chair), Brandon Hutslar, Kevin Neys, Brad Thompson, Kara Lowry, and Sarah Chaney. Front Row: PHRPD Teen Supervisor Katrina Hunn, Kayla Brooks, Melissa Torres, Monica Rodriguez, Rebecca Monroe, Breanna Singleton, Marissa St. Marseille, Jaime Pitcher, Breanna Klippel, and Genesis Cassidy. Not pictured: Hiroki Butterfield & TJ Tamura. Photo by Jennifer Neys.
ning on June 9, reading records will be available in community libraries or online. You can earn prizes for reading and several downtown Pleasant Hill businesses will be participating in the give-aways. The program is for kids
age 2 through 5th grade and continues through August 18. Finally, look for the “Hunger Games” theme party for teens this July. Check out the library website at www. ccclib.org for more information.
PTA Reflections Winner College Park senior Hope Curran entered the photo below in this year’s PTA Reflections Program. Her photo went all the way to the state level and received an “Award of Merit.” The 2011-2012 theme was “Diversity Means...” and Curran took the perfect photo to match the theme. “The man was a very animated street performer and caught my attention. Crowds gathered around and I happened to take the photo when the family was in the background,” explained Curran.” Her photo is entitled: “Diversity is standing in awe of each other’s differences.” Curran’s interest in photography began at an early age: “Ever
since I could hold a disposable camera I have loved documenting time as it passes right in front of me.” Each year, the PTA Reflections Program challenges students to create art inspired by a specific theme, and students submit entries to a local PTA or PTSA. Nationally, the program has six arts areas and four grade divisions. Next year’s Reflections theme is “The Magic of a Moment.....” After graduation Curran will be attending UCSB as a Fine Arts major and swimming Division 1. More of her photos can be found on her Facebook page: facebook.com/hopecurranphoto. For more on the Reflections program, visit: www. ptareflections.org.
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