March 2017 Community Focus by Community Focus

COMMUNITY

FOCUS

MARCH 2017 Reaching Over 50,000 Homes & Businesses

ourcommunityfocus.com

IN THIS ISSUE: • OPENING DAY • PAINTING WITH A TWIST • CENTRAL COUNTY HOMES

PLEASANT HILL • CONCORD • MARTINEZ • LAFAYETTE • WALNUT CREEK

Julie Says

Spring Equinox and You BY JULIE ROSS It has been a long, wet winter and most of us are thankful the first day of spring is right around the corner. Spring is officially brought to us courtesy of the vernal equinox, when the sun is directly over the equatorial plane as the Earth’s tilt begins to point our hemisphere toward the nice, warm sun. This year, that welcome event will occur in our part of the world on Monday, March 20, at 3:28am (not that anyone is counting the minutes in over-eager anticipation). The word equinox comes to us from the Latin aequus, meaning equal, plus nox, meaning night. The term refers to the date when night and day are of equal length, or twelve hours each. However, a quick check of the local astronomical chart for March 20 indicates

the sun will rise at 7:11am and set at 7:20pm, a discrepancy of nine minutes. If you think that throws the whole equal day and night thing out the window, please relax. Daytime begins the moment any part of the sun is over the horizon and doesn’t end until the last part of the sun has set. The minutes of sunrise and sunset both just get thrown into the “daytime” portion. For this year’s vernal equinox, if you’re not up for a trek to Stonehenge or Chichen Itzla or attending an over-the-top spring festival, there is a tradition believed to be Chinese in origin you can try at home. In fact, you can try it over and over, as I have done, without success. It has been said that it is possible only on the equinox to balance a raw egg on its end – as evidence of nature in harmony and the balanced gravitational pull of the moon, or some such.

Of course, spoilsports have discovered that the equinox doesn’t actually have anything to do with it, and that a raw egg can be balanced on end any old day of the year. It takes the right egg, the right surface, and some practice. I have found none of these magic combinations and have yet to balance an egg. I am, therefore, going to wait until the equinox on March 20 to try again and see if that brings me luck. I encourage you to do the same for tradition’s sake and to honor the coming of spring. Please email me at the address below to let me know if you or anyone in your family has been able to balance an egg on end; I would appreciate any tips you can provide. Here’s to plenty of sunshine and cooperative eggs!

You can reach Julie at julieakross@ comcast.net

Illustration by Amanda Clark

SMALL TALK WITH TERI by Teri Norbye

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PUBLISHERS: Becky Coburn Jennifer Neys Elena Hutslar info@ourcommunityfocus.com ADVERTISING: Community Focus Central County Homes info@ourcommunityfocus.com COPY EDITOR: Alison Clary GRAPHIC DESIGN: Trish Heaney

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MISSION STATEMENT The Community Focus is a free, independent, monthly publication dedicated to highlighting the vibrancy of the local businesses and residents while strengthening and building connections within our community.

COVER:

Opening Day Parade at Pleasant Oaks Park. PHOTO BY: Tod Gomes Photography

INSIDE

Keeping Pitchers Healthy

Now is the Time to Sell

7 So Cute Succulants

National Letters of Intent

Honoring Steve Sage

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6680 Alhambra Ave. Box #132 Martinez, CA 94553

925-335-6397

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march 2017 • ourcommunityfocus.com

Meet Yau Man Chan. He lives in Martinez with Jennifer, his wife of 30 some years, and they have two daughters. He worked at UC Berkeley for 30 years and retired in 2013. He now works part-time at Seawood Photo, a camera store in San Rafael. Yau Man is well known for being on two seasons of the reality television series Survivor. What was filming on Survivor like? There were cameramen filming 24/7, but they were not allowed to interact with us. In the beginning, I was self-conscious of the cameras. By the end of the week, if someone dissed one of us, we’d yell back at them, forgetting the cameras were there. When the field producers interviewed all of us, each was taped for 40 minutes or more. When I watched it on TV, there was only five seconds of my interview. One thing most people don’t know about you. I like to eat and drink a lot of sugar. I put four packets of sugar in my coffee today. What do you like to do for fun? I like photography and play table tennis, and my wife and I like to garden.

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ourcommunityfocus.com • march 2017

WELCOME TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD

Painting with a Twist

548 Contra Costa Blvd., Ste. E & F (925)349-9360 www.paintingwithatwist. com/pleasant-hill

Looks Like Art - Feels Like Fun

Welcome to Painting with a Twist – a little bit of paint, a little bit of wine, and a whole lot of fun! My name is Dawn O’Connell, and my husband, Scott, and I are so excited to bring this wonderful new business to the Bay Area! It has been our dream for years to bring fun, relaxing, and accessible art to our community. Since we became part of the PWAT franchise family in December 2015, we have been riding the rollercoaster of first time business owners and DIYers and having a blast bringing our growing family along with us (a 10-month old little girl and another on the way)! Painting with a Twist is so much more than art classes; it can be the go-to spot for a girls’ night out, a perfect date night for mom and dad, and even a fun family outing, kids included! We are happy to offer classes for our 21-andover crowd in our Bar Room studio space, as well as classes for all ages in our Family Room studio space. In addition to our standard 2-hour classes, you will also find large canvas classes, kid-friendly paintings, and morning and early afternoon Coffee and Canvas classes, as well as a few unique paintings that are very special to us. Once a month we host a Painting with a Purpose event, where we partner

Manager Ashley Cherep with owners, Dawn and Scott O’Connell. Photo by Susan Wood Photography

with a local non-profit group to fill up a studio (or more!) and donate 50% of the proceeds to the non-profit at the end of class! Our first Kids Camp will run for a week, beginning April 3 (spring break). Kids will create a new painting every day, play games, do crafts, and eat snacks! We provide all the supplies you

need for an exciting, FUN night of painting, including a local artist who will host the session and guide you as you create your painting. We sell beer, wine, coffee, and other beverages for your enjoyment! Come alone or bring a friend or two and leave with unforgettable memories and a great piece of art!

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march 2017 • ourcommunityfocus.com

Official Disney Moana Party March 4, 1 – 3pm Paint Your Pet: March 19, 3 – 6pm Painting With A Purpose – All In Need March 25, 3 – 5pm Kids Camp: April 3 – 7 9:30am – 12:30pm every day

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How to Pass Your Home to Your Children Tax-Free

BY JEFFREY S. HALL, MBA, CPA, ESQ. Giving your house to your children can have tax consequences, but there are ways to accomplish it tax-free. The best method to use depends on your individual circumstances and needs. Leave the house in your will The simplest way to give your house to your children is to leave it to them in your will. If the total amount of your estate is under $5.49 million (in 2017), your estate will not pay estate taxes. In addition, when your children inherit the property, it reduces the amount of capital gains taxes they must pay if they sell the property. Capital gains taxes are taxes paid on the difference between the “basis” in property and its selling price. If children inherit property, the property’s tax basis is “stepped up,” which means the basis would be the value of the property at the time of death, not the original cost of the property. Gift the house When you give anyone other than your spouse property valued at more than $14,000 ($28,000 per couple) in any one year, you must file a gift tax form (IRS form 709). But you can gift a total of $5.49 million (in 2017) over your lifetime without incurring a gift tax. If your residence is worth less than $5.49 million and you give it to your children, you probably won’t have to pay any gift taxes, but you will still have to file a gift

tax form. Sell the house You can also sell your house to your children. If you sell the house for less than fair market value, the difference in price between the full market value and the sale price will be considered a gift. As discussed above, you can use the $14,000 annual gift tax exclusion as well as the $5.49 million lifetime gift tax exemption on this gift. The same issues with gifts discussed above will apply to this gift. Put the house in a trust Another method of transferring property is to put it into a trust. If you put it in an irrevocable trust that names your children as beneficiaries, it will no longer be a part of your estate when you die, so your estate will not pay any estate taxes on the transfer. The house will also not be subject to Medicaid estate recovery. Figuring out the best way to pass property to your children will depend on your individual circumstances. Talk to estate-planning attorney JEFFREY HALL to decide which method will work best for your family. Call now for a free 30-minute consultation at 925-2309002, or go online to schedule an appointment at www.HallLawGroup.com. To find out if your estate plan contains an unnecessary bypass trust or, perhaps, if you need one, consult with Jeffrey Hall, Esq. Call today to schedule a free 30-minute consultation with the Law Offices of Jeffrey Hall, Inc. at (925) 230-9002 or go to www.HallLawGroup. com. Offices in Pleasant Hill and Benicia.

WEEKLY UPDATES www.ourcommunityfocus.com

Now is the Time to Sell BY NORMA FLASKERUD In a prior article, we reported that Realtor.com found Pleasant Hill to be the 2nd hottest zip code in the USA for home sales. Their determination was based on counting the number of online hits each listed property received and the speed with which properties sold. Scoring 2nd in the US has most likely caused the market to get hotter. The word is out! Our home sale inventory is lower than we have ever experienced in 30 years of selling real estate; as this article is written, there are six single-family homes for sale in Pleasant Hill. Yes, houses have come on the market this year, but they’ve sold very fast (typically in 1-10 days market time), so the turnover keeps the inventory at record low levels while the demand remains very high! Traditional thinking has been that the best time to sell a house is in late spring and early summer so families can get situated before school starts. However, research shows only 40% of homebuyers have school-age children, so the school calendar is not the driving force behind the best time to sell your house. More importantly, selling in winter or early spring turns out to be highly advantageous due to low inventory, which equates to less

competition. Buyers look at each house that comes on the market, and multiple offers put upward pressure on sales prices -- all good for a seller. The opportunity to sell a home that needs work or is in less than an ideal location is better in a low inventory market. Two things will cool this sizzling hot seller’s market: increasing inventory and increasing interest rates, both of which are sure to happen as the year goes on. In conclusion, now is the ideal time to sell! In addition to Realtor.com rating Pleasant Hill’s 94523 zip code as the second hottest real estate market in the country, SmartAsset.com has created a “Healthiest Housing Markets” survey and has rated towns in each state and across the country. They rate towns based on stability, risk, ease of sale and affordability. Affordability accounts for 40% of the index, while the other three factors count for 20% each. In 2017, Pleasant Hill ranks #5 in the State of California, making buying here a smart and safe thing to do. Keep in mind we are here to serve you, our clients. Please call us for your real estate needs, to sell or to buy, at 925338-2980. The list of services we offer is extensive, and we’d love to go to work for you! Call The Flaskerud Team for all your real estate needs. Don and Norma: 925338-2980 or DonaldFlaskerud@Remax. net or NormaFlaskerud@Remax.net.

Experienced Estate Planning Attorney

JEFFREY HALL, MBA, CPA, Esq.

The Law Office of Jeffrey Hall, Inc., is an estate planning law office serving Alameda and Contra Costa counties in a wide range of estate planning matters, including:

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www.HallLawGroup.com 925-230-9002 ourcommunityfocus.com • march 2017

As Russ Sees It Play Ball!

BY RUSSELL CARROLL Well, it’s that time of year again. Spring is in the air, and you can smell fresh cut grass and hear the “clink” of metal bats hitting baseballs. Yep, it’s time for youth baseball. Soon, parents will be dropping little Tommy or little Susie off at practice. Moms tend to drop off the little tykes and use the free time to run errands or maybe put their feet up for a well-deserved break. Dads, on the other hand, tend to hover around the practice field, making sure their future big leaguer is getting the proper coaching and playing opportunity. After all, little Tommy is a shortstop and a pitcher, and although he is only nine years old, he needs the appropriate amount of attention to maximize his potential. I coached youth baseball at a couple of levels for about nine seasons. I think I have seen and heard it all. Once, while coaching batting practice, I gave little Tommy some instruction that he ignored as if he were my own kid. After practice, I commented to Tommy that he needed to try and apply the instruction he received. He looked me right in the eye and said, “My dad says I don’t have to listen to you. That I should only listen to him.” I asked little Tommy, “What do you think about that”? Little Tommy replied,

“Have you ever seen my dad throw a baseball? He’s awful, but I don’t want to get in trouble.” I assured little Tommy that I would talk with his dad. I thought maybe I would ask the dad to have a chat while playing catch, just so I could see him throw. I opted for the high road and just had the chat. Another enjoyable volunteer moment was during a practice, when I had the kids hitting the ball off of a tee and a dad suggested that perhaps a better hitting drill would be to have the kids hit a ball that was “moving.” Great -- another Connie Mack on my hands. Parents always seem to have an opinion on where their little phenom should play. “Why is my kid in right field? He needs a shot at shortstop.” Now, what this parent apparently doesn’t know is that little Tommy cannot field a groundball, catch a thrown ball, or throw the ball across the diamond. I always assumed that these three activities were somewhat important in the game of baseball. “Bleacher coaches” are the worst. Little Tommy stepped into the batter’s box, where he had not made contact in his last 14 visits, and bleacher coach started in: “Keep your hands up! Keep your eye on the ball! Get your elbow up! Widen your stance! Bend your knees!” By the second pitch, little Tommy was so confused and filled with anxiety that he simply froze up and became a hands up, eyes straight ahead, elbow up, wide

SERVING

stance, bent knee statue! When the pitcher threw the ball three feet over the umpire’s head, the bleacher coach yelled out, “Good eye, Tommy!” Little Tommy’s at bat ended on a called third strike and bleacher coach mumbled loud enough for all to hear, “That wasn’t a strike!” Finally, one day little Tommy reached first base after being hit by a pitch. Coaching from third, I gave him the steal sign. Next pitch…nothing. I gave it to him again. Next pitch...nothing. Again, the steal sign. Next pitch...nothing. So I yelled across the diamond at little Tommy to steal. Next pitch…he went and then got thrown out by five feet. Bleacher coach shouted, “Well of course he’s going to get thrown out. They all

Opening Day Parades Pleasant Hill On March 4, the Pleasant Hill Baseball/Softball Parade starts promptly at 8am. The parade route begins at Sequoia Middle School, travels down Patterson Blvd., goes up Hawthorne Dr., and ends at PHBA Sports Complex (Pleasant Oaks Fields). The parade starts with the older divisions, with younger divisions walking at the end. The umpires “close” the parade. Opening day ceremonies take place at Pleasant Oaks Park immediately after the parade. The snack shack opens at 7:30am. Plan to enjoy jumpy houses, games and a silent auction! Martinez The annual Youth Baseball & Softball Parade will be held on Saturday, March 4, and begins at 10am at the City Hall Plaza, 525 Henrietta Street. Athletes and coaches from Martinez Baseball Club and Martinez Youth Baseball and Softball Association will march down Alhambra Avenue, turn right on Main Street and continue to Las Juntas Street. Teams and coaches will be introduced by local celebrity Al Boyce. Alhambra Avenue will be closed to traffic between Jones and Main Street for approximately 25 minutes. Main Street will be closed to parking from 9am-12pm and traffic from 10am-12pm. Following the parade, the Martinez Youth Baseball and Softball league will hold team pictures and a barbecue lunch at Waterfront Park. For more information, call Martinez Recreation at 372-3510.

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knew he was going to steal!” Youth sport parents are for the most part understanding and patient with their players and coaches. Most understand that these volunteer coaches and umpires have jobs, their own families, and that they spend countless hours during the season to try and help little Tommy have fun and learn about the beautiful game of baseball. And then there are a few that make it very difficult for anyone to have fun. To those I say, “Please watch the game from your car.” A couple of years ago I was asked if I would be interested in coaching again. I replied, “Yes! If you have a team made up of orphans”. But…that’s just how I see it.

Photo by: Tod Gomes

Keeping Pitchers Healthy

A System for Staying on Track and Committed to Excellence BY ANGEL BORRELLI, M.A., CSCS, USAW, It’s not just the big-leaguers who are back in action. Baseball and softball players of all ages are taking the field. Community Focus asked Angel Borrelli, an analytical sport kinesiologist in Pleasant Hill, to share some safeguards for pitchers as they prepare to take the mound. Because I have been lucky to work with pitchers from an early age to their college years, I can share with you the seven habits that were instilled in them, which they follow to this day. It’s been

said that success has its own formula, so why not follow the habits of already successful pitchers? 1) Always warm-up the arm for throwing or pitching with an extensive, complete, and scientifically sound resistance band program before you pick-up a ball. 2) Always recover your arm from throwing or pitching with a complete and scientifically sound resistance band program that is designed to enhance recovery of musculature in a way that reflects an understanding of the demands

Hitting it Big

New Owners of Payless Batting Cages they defeated Arroyo 2-1, winning the 2008 NCS Championships at the Oakland Coliseum. Together, Travis and Tyler coached College Park’s JV baseball team the following year and eventually ended up at Payless Batting Cages with the hopes of owning it one day. They took ownership January 1, 2017. As new owners, they share their enthusiasm and love for the sport, offering year-round batting cages for baseball and softball, seven days a week, along with camps and professional instruction. All ages are welcome. Visit Payless Batting Cages at 2840 E. Olivera Road, Concord. For more information, contact them at (925) 825-SLAM or visit www.paylessbattingcages.com.

and never being lazy about that commitment. Following these suggestions can give you what every pitcher needs: a system that you repeat consistently to keep you organized and on point. You will be more available for the job at hand when you are on the mound knowing that you have handled the smaller details that contribute to your greatness. Keeping pitchers safe…one pitcher at a time. Angel Borrelli, M.A., CSCS, USAW, Analytical Sport Kinesiologist and owner of GymScience Sport Performance, located in Pleasant Hill. 925-687-1977, angel@gymscience.com. Angel has extensive knowledge and experience working with youth of all ages as well as professional pitchers. To learn more, visit www.gymscience.com.

Photo by Vincent Jurgens NITY FO MU C M

Tyler Derr and Travis Smith met on the field when they were twelve years old, playing for the Junior Optimist Baseball League in Concord, and they have been friends ever since. Travis is from Pleasant Hill, and Tyler is from Martinez. Travis was a first baseman for College Park, and in his senior year he won Cal-Hi Sports Play of the Week during the league’s semifinals. He kept Clayton Valley from scoring, resulting in a win, which moved College Park to the championships. Tyler joined Travis at College Park his senior year, where he too contributed to the team’s success with his bat playing a crucial role in winning the series of playoff games. Together, they enjoyed an historic season. Seeded only 15th in NCS,

of the pitching motion. 3) Never pitch with a fatigued arm. 4) Always follow recovery guidelines for the pitch count in your previous appearance before pitching again. 5) Always do at least one bullpen between starts on the day your recovery is completed, and throw only the number of pitches allowed for the recovery days available before your next start. 6) Train throughout the year with workouts designed for pitchers. Cycle your training to accommodate the season, and make sure your upper back/ rear shoulders and triceps are a priority throughout the year. Respect your body, and get on top of soreness or pain immediately when it occurs. 7) Respect the skill of pitching; be grateful for the gift you have been given, and commit right now to developing it

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Payless Batting Cage owners back in the day at College Park High School. Tyler Derr center with Travis Smith to his right.

Rinn a Community Sponsor. Learn about the benefits ofMatt becoming Contact us at info@ourcommunityfocus.com ourcommunityfocus.com • march 2017

City of Pleasant Hill

Mayor’s Message Pleasant Hill Hosts International Jewish Film Festival An international film festival in Pleasant Hill? We may not be Cannes or Sundance, but this March Pleasant Hill will roll out the red carpet for The East Bay International Jewish Film Festival. With the help of our wonderful city staff and the support of many local organizations and individuals, the magic of film will come to Downtown Pleasant Hill during the March 2 through March 12 run of this prestigious film festival, now in its 22nd year. According to festival director Riva Gambert, The East Bay International Jewish Film Festival line-up spans the globe, with films from Argentina, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Israel, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, and the USA. More than 35 movies will be screened at the Century 16 Theatres in Pleasant Hill, including dramas, comedies, documentaries, and short features. “Although we don’t select our films with a theme in mind,” says festival chair Margaret Winter, “one over-arching theme appears in several films: the transformative power of music to build cultural bridges and change lives.” The Wonderful Kingdom of Papa Alaev showcases the growing rebellion within a multi-generational musical family from Tajikistan, while Leonard Cohen, The Man I Am is an intimate celebration of the legendary singer/songwriter’s life. Other music-oriented films include Alive Inside, about the relationship between music and memory in those with Alzheimer’s disease; Body and Soul, about the musical collaboration between African American and Jewish musicians; and the Argentinean drama Glories of Tango. On a more serious note, Hans Knoop, the real-life hero of the Dutch super-hit The Menten Affair, will be at the Century 16 to introduce the film and answer questions. He was only in his 20s when, despite threats, he persisted in his investigation of 8

the mega-millionaire Pieter Menten, who some suspected of being a war criminal during World War II. Part historical drama and part thriller, this powerfully moving film will screen on Sunday, March 5, at 6:15pm. The festival is bringing students from local community colleges to the screening of The Wedding Doll on Sunday, March 12. This drama opens a window into the challenges faced by a 20-something girl with cognitive challenges who fights for more independence against her mother’s well-meaning but heavy-handed supervision. This drama will touch your heart with stellar performances and its message about human dignity. A number of light-hearted films will be screened this year. On Saturday, March 4, at 3:30pm, the festival will present a free screening of the comedy classic The Frisco Kid (first come, first served, no tickets needed). This warm-hearted film was chosen as a cinematic tribute to the late actor Gene Wilder, who encounters many challenges as he travels across America to San Francisco during the Gold Rush days. Harrison Ford plays a train robber who befriends Wilder. Another family friendly film is the warm-hearted Abulele, about invisible creatures who befriend children facing life challenges. Both films are suitable for children as young as 5th graders. One Facebook posting tells the whole story about the festival. “I loved this film festival, which I discovered by happenstance last year. I went to more than half of the films, an expertly curated collection that made me laugh, cry, and think. I’ve been looking forward to its return all year!” The festival sponsors include the City of Pleasant Hill, Pleasant Hill Chamber of Commerce, and Downtown merchants. For a complete schedule and advance tickets, go to eastbayjewishfilm.org or call 925.240.3053. See you at the movies!

march 2017 • ourcommunityfocus.com

Michael G. Harris, OD, Mayor of Pleasant Hill

One of the featured films, The Menten Affair.

Public Meetings Civic Action Commission Mar. 1 City Hall, 100 Gregory Lane, Small Community Room, 6:30pm. Contact: 671-5229 City Council Mar. 6, 20 City Hall, 100 Gregory Lane, Council Chambers, 7:30pm. Contact: 671-5229 Planning Commission Mar. 14, 28 City Hall, 100 Gregory Lane, Council Chambers, 6:30pm. Contact: 671-5209 Commission on Aging Mar. 9 City Hall, 100 Gregory Lane, Small Community Room, 5pm. Contact: 671-5229 Education Commission Mar. 22 City Hall, 100 Gregory Lane, Community Room, 7pm For Confirmation Visit: www.ci.pleasant-hill.ca.us

Chamber Calendar Mar. 2 - Art, Jazz & Wine Committee Kick-Off Meeting 5-7pm, Pleasant Hill Courtyard by Marriott, 2250 Contra Costa Blvd, Pleasant Hill Mar. 3 - PH Chamber Ambassador Meeting 8:30-9:30am, City Hall Community Room, 100 Greg ory Lane, Pleasant Hill Mar. 9 - Chamber Business Mixer 5-7pm, Diablo Valley College (DVC), Pleasant Hill Mar. 16 - PH Chamber Board Meeting 8-9am, The Terrence Conference Room, 2300 Contra Costa Blvd., Suite 210, Pleasant Hill Mar. 16 - Ribbon Cutting 5-6pm, Painting with a Twist, 548 Contra Costa Blvd, Suite E & F, Pleasant Hill Mar. 27 - Government Affairs Committee 5:30-6:30pm, Back Forty Texas BBQ, 100 Coggins Dr., Pleasant Hill 680 Business Networking 8-9am, 2nd & 4th Wednesdays or Thursdays, JFK University, 100 Ellinwood Way, Pleasant Hill OFF THE GRID Food Trucks 5-9pm, Wednesdays, Trelany Road, Pleasant Hill

City of Pleasant Hill

Pleasant Hill City News Former Molino Property Study Session On February 28, a study session will be held by the planning commission to discuss the Reliez Terraces subdivision at 2150 and 2198 Pleasant Hill Road (formerly known as the Molino property). The study session will provide preliminary input and feedback on a proposed residential subdivision at that property, which includes 19 lots ranging in size from 4,707 square feet to 13,071 square feet, including a new private street that would serve the project and street frontage improvements. The application is preliminary and does not include architectural plans for the residences.

Get Set for Fat Maddie’s Fat Maddie’s Barrelhouse & Bistro is coming to Downtown Pleasant Hill and will occupy the spot at the clock tower where former clothing store Atlas & Athena and restaurant Pasta Pomodoro used to be. This is the sister restaurant to Fat Maddie’s Grille in San Ramon that opened in 2010 and offers artisan, farmhouse inspired sandwiches, burgers, salads, and entrees made with local ingredients in a casual setting.

Golf Galaxy Replaces Golfsmith When Golfsmith filed for bankruptcy last year they were acquired by Dick’s Sporting Goods. The Downtown Pleasant Hill Golfsmith closed in December, and in early February, Dick’s moved Golf Galaxy (part of the Dick’s Sporting Goods family of businesses) into the space, and the retail store is now open.

A Celebration of Life for Terri Williamson Former Mayor of Pleasant Hill Terri Williamson passed away of a heart attack on Saturday, February 11. A celebration of Terri’s life will take place at the Pleasant Hill Senior Center on Sunday, March 12 at 3pm. Terri was an outspoken individualist who served a record 27 years on the Pleasant Hill City Council, beginning in 1985. After 35 years in Pleasant Hill, Terri moved to the Grass Valley area in 2012 to be closer to family. She was 74 years old.

Oversight Committee City Now Accepting Applications for Measure K Oversight Committee Pleasant Hill voters approved Measure K at the November 8, 2016, election, allowing for a half-cent sales tax rate increase to begin on April 1, 2017. The measure requires an oversight committee to review the expenditure of the funds collected from the new transactions and use tax. The composition of the oversight committee was established by the city council on February 6, 2017, and applications are now being accepted. Composition and Qualifications The committee shall include seven voting members, at least 18 years of age, who reside or have a business in Pleasant Hill. The committee must be composed of the following: one member of the Pleasant Hill Chamber of Commerce with a business in Pleasant Hill; one member of the Pleasant Hill Traffic Safety Commission; one member of the Friends of the Pleasant Hill Library; one person who is a professional in a financial field; and three people who are residents of Pleasant Hill and active in the community. Appointment Process The interview and nominating committee, a sub-committee of the city council, will review applications and interview qualified persons. This committee will then forward a recommendation to the city council for final appointments. The deadline for submitting an application is Wednesday, April 19, 2017. For an application or more information, visit the City of Pleasant Hill website at www.pleasanthillca.org/commission or contact Juanita Davalos by phone at (925) 671-5283 or e-mail at jdavalos@pleasanthillca.org.

Homeless Outreach Program The city will soon partner with the City of Martinez and Contra Costa County Health Services (CCHS) to create a new homeless outreach program in Pleasant Hill. The program, known as Coordinated Outreach, Referral, and Engagement, or CORE, involves teams of outreach specialists who will engage with homeless persons in Pleasant Hill and Martinez.

City News Continued CORE teams will work to establish relationships through regular visits to camps and shelters, and serve as a point of contact for many social services. CORE teams will strive to connect clients to shelter, medical and mental health care, case managers, substance abuse treatment and services, benefit counselors, housing, and other services. Last month, both the Pleasant Hill and Martinez City Councils approved a plan to split the annual cost of a full-time CORE team through the end of the 2017-18 fiscal year. Pleasant Hill’s annual cost to implement the program is approximately $55,000, which will be paid from grant funds.

Community Award Winners Fourteen awards bestowed on Pleasant Hill organizations, residents and businesses Local businessman and community volunteer Joe Stokley won the Citizen of the Year award at the 46th Annual Community Awards Night held on February 21. He was honored for his active participation in many local organizations, including the Chamber of Commerce, College Park Athletic Boosters and other school PTAs and foundations, and as a volunteer on the 2016 Measure K Campaign Committee. Joe and his wife, Sheila, have been long-time residents of Pleasant Hill, and Joe’s family has lived here since 1974. Rodgers Ranch Heritage Center received the Green Community Award for its many activities and programs that promote sustainable living techniques. The Rodgers Ranch Urban Farm, co-founded by Marian Woodard and John Matthesen, practices organic farming and serves as a demonstration and teaching garden. In 2015, the center started the Sustainable Living Workshop Series, covering a wide range of topics to educate local residents about sustainable lifestyles. Jeff Clark of Steven’s Printing was awarded the Business Person of the Year. Jeff and his brother, Steve, have done business in Pleasant Hill for over 20 years and supported many regional and local non-profit organizations such as the Cancer Support Community, Animal Rescue Foundation, Contra Costa Crisis Center, and numerous others. Educator of the Year award was given to Jen Larson-Guerra, a 5th grade teacher at Strandwood Elementary. Jen was recognized for her compassion and dedication to the teaching profession, her energy and enthusiasm in the classroom, and her commitment to each and every student. Crestwood Healing Center, a residential facility for adults with disabilities, received the Green Business Award. The Center formed its own “Green Machine” team, implementing many practices and changes to save 1.7 million gallons of water and thousands of dollars by reducing usage of throwaway items such as plastic cups and paper towels. Staff and residents also participate in community cleanup activities. Teen of the Year went to Maggie McCoy, a senior at College Park High School. Maggie has been an active volunteer at numerous events in Pleasant Hill, including Relay for Life and the Art, Jazz & Wine Festival. She organized the first Earth Day Community Service Day at College Park in April 2016. Talli Pitcher won the Community Plus Award, which is awarded to an employee of the City, Rec and Park District, or the Chamber of Commerce. Talli has been a District employee since 2003 as a coach for the Dolfins Swim Team. She typically works seven days per week, putting in countless hours as an aquatics supervisor and coach to hundreds of swimmers. Other awards presented included: • Mayor’s Award – Measure K Campaign Committee. • PH Rec & Park District Board Appreciation Award – Senior Center Club Board of Directors • PH Rec & Park District Community Service Award – Generations Church • Pleasant Hill Chamber Board Appreciation Award – Mike Robertson • Chamber Ambassador of the Year – Rod Harris • Chamber Hall of Fame Award – Rodgers Ranch Heritage Center • PH Community Foundation Cornerstone Award – Jim Utz ourcommunityfocus.com • march 2017

City of Martinez

Mayor’s Message For the last several years, California, the Bay Area, and Contra Costa County have been in the midst of a housing crisis. Rents have skyrocketed, home prices have steadily increased, and the stock of affordable housing has dwindled. Our children cannot afford to live where they grew up. There is no easy answer to this escalating problem, but stopping all future development is not a solution. I am a commissioner on the Contra Costa Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO). It is the mission of all LAFCOs in California to guide the orderly growth of cities and guide future development away from prime agricultural and open space lands. After almost two years of public testimony, study, and communityfocus-ecomulch-ad-2014-8.pdf deliberations, the commission adopted a

prime agricultural and open space policy. Through this process, we were able to identify prime agricultural lands based on the type and quality of soils. Identifying prime open space is not as easy but can be determined. Is prime open space merely a vacant piece of property? What about ridgelines, views, natural terrain, and native plant and animal species? Is a former golf course that has been graded, fertilized, sprayed with pesticides and herbicides, and planted with non-native plants and tree species considered prime open space? My answer is absolutely not. Infill development and reuse of brownfields are valuable ways to reduce urban sprawl,12:46 protect prime agricultural 1 8/29/14 PM and open space lands, and provide much

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needed housing. The development of the former Pine Meadow golf course property is infill development. It is completely surrounded by single-family homes, and its development will offset destruction of cornfields and cherry orchards in Brentwood and prime open space in other areas of Martinez and Contra Costa County. In the mid 2000s, the Martinez Parks and Open Space Masterplan was updated after careful review by the parks & recreation commission and city council. During that process, the Pine Meadow Golf Course site was identified as the only large piece of vacant land that could be purchased and developed into a new park. Both the parks & recreation commission and the city council unanimously decided not to purchase any more land for parks and to dedicate available funding for the improvement of existing parks. Based on that masterplan, the voters of Martinez approved a $30 million parks and library bond measure known as Measure H. The library improvement project was completed several years ago, and all but the improvements at Waterfront Park and a few smaller sites have been completed. It is time to move on from Pine Meadow and for each and every one of us to put our energy and resources into saving some real prime open space, Alhambra Highlands. This property is situated on the

Alhambra Highlands. Photo by Alhambra Hills Open Space Committee

ridgelines adjacent to Mt. Wanda and runs south to the higher portions of Virginia Hills. This property has majestic views of Mt. Diablo and the Carquinez Straits and is heavily forested with native oaks and wildlife. It is zoned for housing; however, the city is currently in negotiations with the owners to purchase the property to be held in perpetuity as open space. Let’s stop the arguing and accusations and work together to find solutions through communication and compromise.

Public Meetings

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City Council Meeting Mar. 1, 15 City Hall, 525 Henrietta Street, 6-9pm. Contact: 372-3500 Zoning Administrator Meeting Mar. 1, 15 City Hall, 525 Henrietta Street, 4-6pm. Contact: 372-3500 Design Review Meeting Mar. 8, 22 City Hall, 525 Henrietta Street, 4-6pm. Contact: 372-3500 Planning Commission Meeting Mar. 14, 28 City Hall, 525 Henrietta Street, 7-11pm. Contact: 372-3500 For Confirmation Visit: www.cityofmartinez.org

City of Martinez

Martinez City News

City News Continued

St. Baldrick’s Shave-a-thon

At the February 15 city council meeting, an informational presentation was given by Chief Assistant County Administrator Eric Angstadt on the proposed new Contra Costa County Administration Building. The presentation included an overview of preliminary plans for the new building, including its location, conceptual design, site plan, and parking. The current 12-story County Administration Building at 651 Pine Street is considered functionally obsolete and suffers from physical deterioration and high maintenance costs. The new building, with fewer stories (across the street from the existing 12-story administration building) will accommodate most of the functions currently located at 651 Pine, including the board of supervisors’ chambers and offices. The County Sheriff’s Department, which currently occupies three floors, will be relocated to a new County Emergency Operations Center complex, to be located on Glacier Drive about four miles south of downtown. The site for the new building is comprised of two separate parcels between Escobar Street and Marina Vista. The building itself would be 82,000 square feet. The conceptual design includes a curved façade along Escobar, creating a public plaza at the southwest corner of the site. The overall form of the building is modern but with design elements that complement the historic courthouse and other older buildings nearby. The conceptual site plan presumes demolition of the jail annex for staging, with this space replaced by a civic plaza or park. “For now we can build around the old jail, so there is no reason to take the old jail down now,” said Angstadt. The county intends to move forward with design development and landscape plans in the coming months and will return to the city council with more detailed designs in a few months. Traffic studies will begin sometime in March. The county’s timeline calls for construction in 2018 and 2019 and occupancy by early 2020. Demolition of 651 Pine would follow occupancy of the new building. Mayor Schroder commented, “I’m really excited that there is potential for more public spaces that I would love to work on with the county in the future. I love where we are going with this, and I think it’s a real win for Martinez.” Mayor Schroder added he would like to see Sharkey Square, on Court Street between Main and Escobar, turned into a town square.

On March 19 from 11am-2pm, join the community when Martinez hosts their St. Baldrick’s signature head-shaving event at Citrus Salon, 631 Main St, in downtown Martinez. Whether you decide to shave your head, volunteer, or donate, we hope you’ll be a part of the excitement! The St. Baldrick’s Foundation is a volunteerpowered charity that funds more in childhood cancer research grants than any organization other than the U.S. government.

Arbor Day Celebration at Susana Park At 10am on Wednesday, March 8, Park and Recreation staff will provide free crafts and flower planting for Arbor Day participants. The general public is invited to participate in this celebration of trees and wildlife at Susana Park, located at Estudillo, Henrietta, and Susana Streets. Since 2003, the National Arbor Day Foundation has recognized Martinez as a “Tree City USA.” This distinction demonstrates the community’s commitment to urban forestry and promoting the benefits of trees. Residents are encouraged to support the principles of Arbor Day yearround by reducing, reusing, and recycling all paper products. For information, go to www.arborday.org.

Martinez CERT Classes Martinez CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) is sponsoring two free training class sessions on Saturday mornings, beginning March 18, and Tuesday evenings, beginning March 14. The Martinez CERT Program educates people about disaster preparedness for hazards that may impact their area and trains them in basic disaster response skills such as fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization, and disaster medical operations. Using the training learned in the classroom and during exercises, CERT members assist others in their neighborhood or workplace following an event when professional responders are not immediately available to help. To become a CERT member, you must complete a FREE 20-hour CERT Basic Training course and participate in at least one exercise per year. Continuing education opportunities are available for free to all CERT members. For more information or to register, visit www.martinezcert.org.

City Accepting Measure D Applications On November 8, 2016, seventy-two percent of Martinez voters approved Measure D to increase the sales and transaction tax by an additional one-half (0.50%) percent for 15 years to fund roadway projects. The City of Martinez is now accepting interest applications for the Measure D Citizen’s Oversight Committee as follows: 1) To appoint four members of the public who will, along with the city treasurer, be charged with reviewing the city’s expenditures of Measure D proceeds to ensure the funds are spent in compliance with the requirements of the measure adopted by Martinez voters. 2) Ideal candidates include individuals with business and/or community service experience; financial experience is also preferred. 3) An Interest Form application for this committee will be accepted until March 3, 2017, (or later if necessary). The mayor will review the applications and make appointment recommendations to the city council at the March 15, 2017, council meeting. For additional information or to obtain a hardcopy of the Interest Form for the Measure D Citizen’s Oversight Committee, please contact the City Clerk Office at 525 Henrietta Street, Martinez, CA 94553, or call (925) 372-3512. Interest Forms may also be downloaded from the city website: www.cityofmartinez.org.

Proposed County Administration Building

2015

THANKS TO OUR CUSTOMERS FOR VOTING US #1!

2013 • 2014 • 2015 ourcommunityfocus.com • march 2017

City of Walnut Creek

Mayor’s Message The Walnut Creek Chamber of Commerce (the “Chamber”) hosts a State of the City luncheon program each year. Both the chairman of the board for the Chamber and the mayor speak at the meeting. This year it was hosted at the Walnut Creek Marriott. The meeting was recorded by the City of Walnut Creek and is available on the city’s website. Linda Rimac Colberg, the chairman of the board for the Chamber, shared a short video about Walnut Creek (prepared by her talented husband who, incidentally, did a fabulous job) and then provided an excellent presentation discussing the status of business in Walnut Creek. It was then my turn to discuss the State of the City from the mayor’s perspective.

I began my remarks by simply stating what everyone generally knows – that the City of Walnut Creek is doing fine. While we have clouds on the horizon, as does every city, we are preparing to deal with those clouds when they come. The most important aspect of this is that the city has made, and continues to make, fiscally wise decisions. I followed this up with statistics that most people do not know about Walnut Creek. For example, we continue to grow in population to presently just over 70,000 residents. Annually, our population growth rate is about 1.5% per year. This growth derives primarily from an increased number of members in families within the city. In fact, 2/3rds of the

Public Meetings

Design Review Meeting Mar. 1, 15 Council Chambers, 1666 North Main Street, 7pm. Contact: 943-5819 City Council Meeting Mar. 7, 21 Council Chambers, 1666 North Main Street, 6pm. Contact: 943-5819 Planning Commission Meeting Mar. 9, 23 Council Chambers, 1666 North Main Street, 7pm. Contact: 943-5819

Rich Carlston, Mayor of Walnut Creek

growth derives from our increased family sizes, and only 1/3 comes from new moveins. While the state unemployment rate is 5% and the unemployment rate of Contra Costa County is 4%, the unemployment rate in Walnut Creek is only 2.7%. Our housing market remains strong, but the mix of housing type continues to evolve. Presently, only 51% of our housing stock is single-family residential. Multifamily residential represents the remaining 49%. In the past ten years, 91% of our residential construction was multi-family residential and only 9% was single family residential. Also of critical importance due to the housing shortage is the fact that the city has invested over $25M for affordable housing in Walnut Creek. Indeed, of the projects in the approval process and/ or under construction, 10% of the units are required to be affordable housing. Through this heavy emphasis on affordable housing, we hope to enable more of

the work force working in Walnut Creek to be able to live in Walnut Creek. Well, so much for facts, let’s examine some of those clouds on the horizon. Not surprisingly, housing issues dominate. Several bills are proceeding through the state relative to housing. Of concern is how those bills will affect local regulations, ordinances and codes. Another cloud is the increase in homelessness. This is a regional issue, and we expect to explore the situation and potential solutions both locally and regionally. And, we have our long-term concerns about traffic and parking. But, as important as those issues are, we have a need to engage more people in our quality of life programs and projects. We will be focusing on educating our residents of those needs and encouraging and facilitating their becoming involved. It is only through service that we can maintain what we have, and it is only through service that our life takes on its most rewarding meaning.

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Carondelet High School broke ground February 2 and is moving forward with its plans to construct a state-of-the-art athletics complex at the site of the former ClubSport Valley Vista Tennis and Swim Club in Walnut Creek. The complex will be home to seven sports, including tennis, soccer, lacrosse, softball, swimming, diving, and water polo, and is expected to open in time for the 2017-18 school year. Members of the Walnut Creek City Council joined in the celebration.

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Pictured (LtoR): Walnut Creek City Council Member Cindy Silva; Walnut Creek City Council Member (and former mayor) Loella Haskew; Tony Mirenda; Carondelet President Bonnie Cotter; Walnut Creek Mayor Rich Carlston; Craig Boman; Joe Young; Krissy Schreiber; and David Lynch.

City of Walnut Creek

Walnut Creek City News Newell Development

Mixed-Use Considered for Newell Development On February 7, Associate Planner Greg Kapovich presented a report on the Newell Promenade Development project, currently in the pre-application stage, to city council to solicit feedback on whether or not the council would consider a general plan amendment allowing increased height and floor area ratio (FAR) on the project. The applicant (Paceline Investors) has approached the city and expressed an interest in redeveloping the 1.77-acre commercial site, consisting of two separate parcels located at 1536-1560 Newell Avenue, between Trader Joe’s and Agora at South Main. The project would include demolition of the existing Newell Shopping Center allowing construction of a five-story (54 feet), 120,574 square-foot building containing 102 residential apartment units and 4,200 square feet of retail space. The site currently contains a one story, approximately 23,000 square-foot retail shopping center. Site improvements include a 15-foot wide promenade and linear greenbelt along Las Trampas Creek, to be shared by both pedestrians and bicyclists. The development as proposed would require a general plan amendment to modestly increase the allowed overall building height from 50 to 54 feet high and a slight increase in Floor Area Ratio (FAR). “Housing is a need in Walnut Creek, which is why this is designated mixed use commercial to stay consistent with the general plan. In terms of height, I think this needs to be appropriately configured, not squished. Retaining it at 50 feet when there is another 10 feet available allowing this project to look good for the community and work right for the residents is important to me, so I encourage us to go forward, and I would be amenable to the general plan amendment if it wasn’t flat across the top and used the additional height for visual appeal,” said Councilmember Cyndi Silva. Councilmember Loella Haskew added, “I think trading good design for four feet is a good choice. What we’re selling is a chance to be by the creek. I would suggest some kind of art walk, something interesting that will pull people into the area.” The project plans, currently in the preliminary stage in the process, will go to design review and the planning commission before heading back to city council. The public comment was supportive of the project overall.

City News Continued weeks. A significant portion of the Boundary Oak main parking lot (between the driving range and clubhouse) will be fenced off during construction for the safety of the users and efficiency of the construction. At Heather Farm Park, the parking lot between Sports Field #2 and Ballfield #3 and the center section of the large parking lot adjacent to the Community Center will be fenced off during construction. The contractor has changed portions of the design to minimize disruptions and will work to open the parking as soon as it is safe.

Solar Powered Trash Bins In early February, the city installed 35 new solar-powered trashrecycling bins downtown. The compacting trashcans are designed to keep things cleaner and neater on the sidewalks. Because they hold and retain more trash, this will reduce overflow as well as the number of times the trash needs to be picked up, which is more cost effective. “The bins were funded through our recycling dollars earned by selling recyclables on behalf of Walnut Creek residents,” said Councilmember Cindy Silva.

Walnut Creek Shadelands Museum Is Looking for Docents Shadelands Ranch Museum is located at 2660 Ygnacio Valley Road and is a Walnut Creek treasure. If you love history and would like to help preserve and pass on the fascinating story of the Penniman family and Shadelands Museum, we want you on our team of house docents. Leading tours is both fun and rewarding; training is provided. Construction on this colonial revival house was started in 1902 and completed in 1903 for Hiram Penniman, one of Walnut Creek’s early settlers, his wife, Carrie, and daughter, Mary. Much of the furniture and household items on display belonged to the Penniman family. The house is administered by the Walnut Creek Historical Society and is open for tours Wednesdays and Sundays, from 1-4pm. Admission fee is $3 for adults, $1 for children. Come for a tour, learn about the origins of the ranch, enjoy the architecture and antiques, and see what life was like in Walnut Creek 115 years ago. Check out our website at walnutcreekhistory.info. To volunteer, call 925 935-7871.

Solar projects at Boundary Oak, Heather Farm Park Solar-covered parking spaces are coming to Boundary Oak Golf Course and Heather Farm Park. Construction began in February and will take about six ourcommunityfocus.com • march 2017

A Spin on DIY Suc”CUTE”lents

BY REBECCA SEIDENSPINNER The weather has been rainy and cold, and this puts a damper on my motivation to make crafts. I can’t spray paint inside, and it’s too muddy to work in the garden. I’m ready for cut off jeans and sunshine. I do my best to help the earth and conserve water, and during the most recent drought I fell in love with succulents and cacti. Succulents are low maintenance plants that have recently started to bloom in popularity. They are used in bridal bouquets and home décor, and they make great hostess gifts. The best part is that succulents are drought resistant and require barely any work. They come in so many varieties and colors and are the most self-sufficient plants. I might forget to water my succulents on occasion or neglect them with my other priori-

ties, and they are so forgiving. Succulents look great in a vase, on a windowsill, or gently planted in one of your grandmother’s old teacups. A pot of overflowing succulents on your porch is easy to maintain and looks amazing. This is a plant that will last a long time, and you can continue to propagate from the main part of the plant. Yes, I did have to Google propagate. In DIY language, propagate means to pluck off a piece of the plant and put the clipping into the dirt, where it will grow into a new plant! Easy peasy. A cactus is also a prickly but bright and beautiful plant. It reminds us of warmer weather, sunshine and the desert. If you never remember to water your cacti all summer, it will still bask in the sun and burst with prickly goodness. It will continue to look sharp. My favorite places to find succulents are in my neighbor’s garden and at Home Depot. Pictured are a few of my favorite succulents and cacti that decorate my home and garden.

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ANNUAL

CAMPAIGN Be a Part of Progress – Donate Today for the Future of Our Community’s Schools

2017 CAMPAIGN

HOW YOU CAN HELP

Foundation for Pleasant Hill Education (FPHE) suggests a donation of $75 or more. Donations of all amounts are appreciated. FPHE’s ability to issue school grants is solely dependent on the support of the community.

WHY GIVE? STRONG SCHOOLS BENEFIT YOU!

Strong schools greatly beneﬁt students. They also help increase property values as more homebuyers understand our community’s dedication to supporting local education. Businesses thrive and grow. Most importantly, strong schools enhance the future of our community.

HOW TO DONATE

Donate online at www.fphe.org or mail to FPHE, P.O. Box 23851, Pleasant Hill, CA 94523.

Since 2009, thanks to community support, FPHE has awarded over A QUARTER OF A MILLION DOLLARS in grants to our community’s 11 public schools.

HOW ARE DONATIONS USED?

FPHE HAS FUNDED:

Funds raised go to school grants issued in May 2017.

• Books for entire grade levels: reference, biographies, literature pieces, early readers. • Classroom equipment: maps, graphing calculators, DNA research tools, lab equipment, LCD projectors, interactive whiteboards. • Curriculum support items: math/science programs, “living history” programs, literature programs. • Items to support the arts: musical instruments/supplies, stage lighting and audio equipment.

LEARN MORE

To become a FPHE member or learn more about 2017 campaign events, email contact@fphe.org.

Be a Part of Progress - Donate Today at www.fphe.org or mail the coupon below. Questions? Email contact@fphe.org. Thank you for your commitment to education and our community.

HELP SCHOOLS THRIVE - GIVE $75!

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Please mail this coupon to: FPHE, P.O. Box 23851• Pleasant Hill, CA 94523 (Tax ID#: 26-2326345) • Please make check payable to FPHE Donations to FPHE’s 2017 Annual Campaign reduce the impact budget cuts have on the 11 Pleasant Hill public schools. Your donation directly beneﬁts language arts, math, science and enrichment programs. ourcommunityfocus.com • march 2017

The Buddy Bench

Fostering Belonging on the Playground

BY JAKI JONES The buddy bench was inspired by an elementary school aged student in York, Pennsylvania, in 2013 to help eliminate students having to experience a lonely recess. Principal Marji Calbeck had wanted a buddy bench at Valhalla Elementary School, and when one was donated last November by her dentists,

Christopher Petrush and Monica Elek, she asked her staff if anyone wished to take it on as a project to paint and promote its meaning of friendship and inclusion. Dena Heavyside accepted the project, and for the next several months, she and her 5th grade class got involved with painting, decorating, and discussing

Principal’s Corner Appreciating the Falcon Family JOSEPH G. ALVAREZ PRINCIPAL, COLLEGE PARK HIGH SCHOOL As many of you may already know, there is extensive, clear, consistent, and convincing research that says parent, family and community involvement in education has a huge and positive impact on the success of students in school and in life. We are very grateful here at College Park High School to have a tradition of great family involvement at all levels – volunteering, school governance, and athletics and performing arts boosters among them. Our annual Crab Fest – an athletics fundraiser now in its 27th year - is a classic example of how students, families, and school staff come together for something that benefits students and is also vital to building community. This isn’t just a buzzword. When schools come together for events that draw students, families, school and district staff, neighbors, and alumni, it brings us together as a unique family and benefits us all. I am so grateful to all the students, staff, and volunteers who put in hours to set up, coordinate, enjoy, and help break down this treasured event. Thank you. Something else we consider important to our students’ high school experience is being a part of diverse Career Technical Education (CTE) programs and “pathways” that combine core academics with real-world applications in several in16

demand workforce sectors. Recently, our teachers and I attended a pathway “mapping” session, where we collaborated with other high schools from surrounding districts on CTE programs of study. We are continuing to expand CTE coursework that meets UC/CSU “a-g requirements” – giving students even more reason to take these exciting courses. We are also looking at CTE-type coursework at our feeder middle schools, drawing upon the success they already have, and capitalizing and leveraging those successes at the high school level and in collaboration with our community college and business partners. In speaking of success, I’d like to extend congratulations to two CPHS teachers, Kate Thomas and Raj Virk, who were both nominated for Pleasant Hill’s venerable Educator of the Year award. This award recognizes the finest teachers in the field, and we are honored and fortunate to have many CPHS teachers recognized as Pleasant Hill’s finest educators. As a staff, we continue to prepare for our WASC (Western Accreditation for School and Colleges) committee visit at the end of March. Our community will play a vital role in demonstrating the caliber of the CPHS experience for this accreditation. Please stay tuned for additional information that will be made available via our website: http://cphs. mdusd.org/ and Twitter: @CPHSfalcons. Thank you all for serving as partners in making CPHS the best high school!

march 2017 • ourcommunityfocus.com

how the bench would be introduced to the rest of the school. The class decided it would be best to paint the bench in the Valhalla spirit colors of blue and yellow, and each student in the class signed their name to the bench. Next, the 5th grade students went in teams of two into every classroom and spoke about the purpose of the bench. Kaleo said, “A really important part was explaining the rules for the bench and what it’s about and what you are supposed to do, because if you don’t explain the rules, it’s not going to last very long.” Josalyn further explained, “If you feel lonely at recess, then the buddy bench will help you. We explained that you don’t climb or stand or eat on it, and if someone is sitting there, you should pitch in.” The main idea is that if a student has no one to play with at recess, they can sit on the bench, signaling to others they are looking for a friend, someone to hang out with on the playground. “You

can’t just sit there to hang out for no reason,” said Sophia, “but if you want more friends, then you can sit there and wait until someone comes over and make friends with them.” “As 5th graders representing the buddy bench, we aren’t there just to look and wait for someone else to go over; we are going to go to the bench if we see someone there and set an example for younger kids,” added Kaleo. The bench was officially unveiled on the playground during Kindness Week, last January, and the students said the bench was used right away. “Some kids who may not have friends to play with will continue to walk on over, that’s what we hope,” said Zachary. The students also hope that next school year Mrs. Calbeck can explain the rules and purpose of the bench to the kids, and that the 5th grade teachers will encourage their students to continue to set the example and honor this legacy.

Students in Mrs. Heavyside’s 5th grade class display The Buddy Bench. Pictured are (LtoR): Sofia, Zachary, Isabele, Josalyn and Kaleo.

MDUSD School Board Resolution

Safe, Welcoming and Inclusive Schools - A Safe Haven Resolution At the February 13 MDUSD school board meeting, the board adopted a resolution stating, “We believe in and stand for the values of equity, inclusion, compassion and respect. The resolution also states that we aim to advance the

work of racial equity in our schools as it is critical to the success of our community and our nation.” The resolution further states, “The Board declares its unequivocal commitment that every School District site, TK-Adult, shall be a safe

CP Choir to Sing Anthem Fresh off their exciting performance in front of the Golden State Warriors crowd, the CPHS choirs have been invited to sing the national anthem for the Oakland A’s game against the Texas Rangers on Monday, April 17. Choir Director Bruce Rockwell said about the Warrior performance, “We were recommended to the Warrior organization by a choir director colleague of mine, and we had to send in a recording demo in order to be invited to sing the national anthem for them. The students really get a charge out of performing for the Warriors. This is our second year, and it has already become an important tradition for our program. We have an excellent choral arrangement of the national anthem that the students really enjoy singing. And there is just nothing that can compare to singing for 20,000 enthusiastic fans!” Rockwell said he and his students had a private meeting with Steph Curry and were able to hang out with him for about ten minutes in their pressroom. Their April performance at the Coliseum will be a few days before they leave for their annual Disneyland performance tour.

and welcoming place for all students to be able to receive a Quality Education and their families, thereby directing the Superintendent with ensuring that families facing deportation or possible deportation receive resources of community based organizations, legal service organization and other related information.” The following guidelines from the District will be in place at all schools: • Staff will not request information or make a record of information on the immigration status of a student or family member. Furthermore, students and families will not be required to provide a social security number for school forms.

• If the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency asks for access to a school or for access to student information, they will be referred directly to the Superintendent or Assistant Superintendent who will refer the matter to the District’s legal counsel. • The core values of our district continue to guide us through these times: Our students are our priority. We take pride in our diversity. We hold high expectations for ourselves and our students. We treat each other with respect and act with integrity. Questions or concerns can be directed to the district community liaison at 925-682-8000, ext. 4035.

Bella Notte! March 17 The College Park High School Choirs are proud to present their sixth annual Bella Notte! Italian Dinner Show on Friday, March 17, in the Pleasant Hill Senior Center’s Chateau Room, beginning at 6:30pm. This marks the first year that this event will be held off campus. According to the CPHS Choir Director Bruce Rockwell, “Italian culture is centered around great food, music, family, and community. And in a way, that is also the vision of our choir program. Our choir families work hard to create a cozy trattoria atmosphere for this night, which is our celebration of the lyricism and passion of Italian music and culture - from Italian opera by Mozart and Puccini, to Frank Sinatra and Andrea Bocelli. Bella Notte! has become a beloved tradition that the students and local audiences look forward to. And this year, we are able to offer premium wine and beer for our guests’ enjoyment.” Bella Notte! is a fundraiser to benefit the CPHS Choir Boosters. Antipasti is served at 6:30pm, Primi Piatti at 7:30pm. Adults - $50 and Students/Staff - $30. Premium tables are $400 and include two bottles of premium wine - one red and one white, commemorative wine glasses, seating for 7 (comfortably) or 8 (molto stretto). All reservations must be purchased by March 10. For more information or to purchase tickets, see the CPHS choir website: www.collegeparkchoirs.com.

Thank you for voting us your local favorite, 2 years in a row! College Park Choir performing the National Anthem for the Golden State Warriors.

Alhambra Places at Skills On Saturday, February 11, Alhambra students participated in the Regional Leadership and Skills Competition in San Jose. Kevin Christensen took 4th in Diesel Equipment Technology; Billy Carmichael took 3rd in Auto Technology; and Julia Coyne took the Gold in Early Childhood Education. These students advance to the state competition in San Diego at the end of April. SkillsUSA is a partnership of students, teachers, and industry representatives, working together to ensure America has a skilled work force. SkillsUSA is a national organization that serves high school and college students.

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ourcommunityfocus.com • march 2017

Dogs Fired Up in NCS The Division 2 Alhambra Bulldogs (12-6-1,) seeded 7th in NCS, won their first round of NCS playoffs vs. Novato, 2-0, moving on to play Las Lomas, seeded 2nd, on February 18. The Lady Bulldogs showed their tenacity, pulling out a win over Las Lomas after double overtime and then penalty kicks, with a final score of 4-2. Alhambra Goalie Nicki Rucki was selected Max Preps player of the game. Alhambra faces Northgate (19-2-3) on February 22. Final score not available at press time.

Senior Falcons

The College Park mens soccer team celebrated their seniors at their last home game on February 8. Pictured are the Falcon seniors who have played four years for College Park.

Alhambra Girls celebrate their win while teammates sign their National Letter of Intent. Sophomore Sarah Emigh, signs for California State University of Chico and senior Nicki Rucki will be playing for California State University of San Francisco. Photo by Kaitlyn Emigh.

Ultimate Battle of the Creek Northgate wrestlers outmatched Las Lomas and brought home the NCS Dual Championship trophy. The ultimate battle of the creek was held on February 11 at Berkeley High School.

Pictured (LtoR) top row: Aiden Mastroigorgio, CJ Caryl, Uran Berisha, Justin Bedig, Sean Roarty, Nick Vahey, Casey Bassler. Bottom: Reece Burkhart, Joey Carmichael, Joseph Flores, Daniel Elerding and Patrick Bilotti.

The Lady Falcons honored their seniors and hosted Alhambra at their last home game February 10. College Park came out on top with a 1-0 score. The Falcons moved on to NCS, seeded 16th, to play Carondelet, seeded 1st, on February 15. College Park led the Cougars 1-0 at half but came up short with a final 3-2 score.

Pictured (LtoR): Brooke Bechter, Madison Dunlap, Madeline Gorham, Gabriela Tambazidis, Jena Moran, Kelly Seto and Angelica Usi. Photo by Dennis Lee. 18

march 2017 â&#x20AC;˘ ourcommunityfocus.com

Bedig Signs

National Pole Vault Summit

Sacramento State mens soccer program announced five National Letter of Intent signees for the 2017 season. All five come from California, with four from the Sacramento region and one from Pleasant Hill, College Park senior Justin Bedig. Sacramento Hornets’ Head Coach Michael Linenberger, said, “Justin is a true goal scorer; the guy just has a knack. He’s a good soccer player; he is fast, strong and clever. He’s got good feet, he’s a good attacking player in all areas, and most importantly, he scores goals.” Photo by Conrad Rowling.

College Park High School pole vaulters joined over 3,500 others in learning vault drills, safety tips and attending lectures at the nationwide event held in Reno, Nevada. They had an opportunity to jump with stars including 2016 Olympic gold medalist and decathlon world record holder, Ashton Eaton and the 2016 silver medalist, Sandi Morris. Senior Noah Hurley earned the opportunity to jump in the prestigious Pit 1 and cleared an impressive 15’8” while being cheered on by a roaring crowd of spectators.

(L to R) First Row: Nico Ceresa, Frank Oiwa; Second Row: Noah Hurley, Natalie Christensen, Parker Grube; Third Row: Amber Lanza, David Oiwa, Andrew Orellana; Back Row: Annie Vasquez, Mari Florine, Jake Spellman-Hess.

Polo at Pepperdine The proud Carpenter family surrounds son and brother Coleman Carpenter, a College Park senior, as he signs the National Letter of Intent to play water polo for Pepperdine University in the fall of 2017. Coleman played 4 years with College Park, was a team captain, and elected the 2016 DAL All League MVP. John Deluca, Carpenter’s varsity water polo coach, remarked, “I think it’s great that Coleman will be representing College Park at the collegiate level. And with his leadership skills, Pepperdine will be a team to look out for in the years to come.”

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Questions: Sandra Muller (925) 216-3137 membership@fhst.org Forest Hills Aquatic Park, 375 Lindsey Drive, Martinez ourcommunityfocus.com • march 2017

Kids Take Flight

Young Eagles Return to Buchanan If you’ve ever wondered what your neighborhood looks like from the sky, are curious how airplanes work, or even dreamed about being a pilot, why not take a free Young Eagles flight and see what real pilots do on the ground and in the air? Since 1992, more than 2 million Young Eagles between the ages of 8 and 17 have enjoyed a free flight from Experimental Aircraft Association’s (EAA) network of volunteer pilots. EAA is an international aviation membership association founded in 1953. For many kids it is the start of their journey to a variety of career possibilities in aviation. For 14 years, Local Chapter 393 in Concord has flown over 3,000 kids and is offering the next Young Eagles program beginning on Saturday, April 15. The program continues on the third Saturday of every month through September (except July, when as many as 10,000 planes fly into Oshkosh for the annual air show). The events are often fully booked, with 80 to 90 flights per day. Most aircrafts carry one to three passengers, and flights take place in a wide variety of aircraft types and sizes. So what will a Young Eagle experience? Each flight lasts 20 to 45 minutes,

and kids will see the earth and sky in a new and exciting way. On the ground, the pilot will explain what will happen during the flight. Kids may talk about the airplane, review an aeronautical chart (or map), and complete a careful “walk-around” pre-flight inspection of the airplane. Before takeoff, the pilot will explain the interior of the airplane, including the operation of the aircraft door, safety belts, and instrument panel. In the air, the pilot may even let a Young Eagle take the controls! Parents are given the chance to meet with their child’s pilot before the flight and to accompany their child onto the ramp while boarding the airplane. The pilots participating in the Young Eagles program are local members of the EAA who volunteer their time and aircraft to make these flights possible. The FAA licenses each pilot and the government licenses all aircraft. Registration begins at 8:30am on a first come, first served basis, with the last flights at 12pm. Young Eagles is located at 200 Sally Ride Drive, off of Buchanan Field Road, in Concord. Visit www. youngeagles. eaa393.org and www.eaa.org for more information.

march 2017 • ourcommunityfocus.com

Read My Mind

Mr. Wizard

BY MICHAEL G. HARRIS, OD I’ve always loved math and science. As a kid, I remember watching the TV series Watch Mr. Wizard, starring Don Herbert. Every week, he would do mesmerizing experiments that fascinated this would-be scientist. As a vision researcher, I am still inspired by what I saw on that show. So, it should come as no surprise that I cherish books about math and science. Here are some of the best I’ve read recently. All life starts with the gene in Siddhartha Mukherjee’s The Gene: An Intimate History. Understanding the scientific discoveries of an obscure 18th-century monk working with peas or the unraveling of the DNA double helix may be technically difficult, but Mukherjee unfurls the mysteries of life with such clarity that even a nonscientist will enjoy what has been called “the greatest detective story ever told.” Margot Lee Shetterly’s Hidden Figures is the true story of the black female mathematicians who helped America win the Space Race. These “human computers” were so gifted that they could calculate the trajectory of rockets with nothing more than “pencils, slide rules, and adding machines.” They were so accurate that NASA depended on them even after the advent of computers. In fact, John Glenn would not blast off into orbit until this all-black computing group verified the computers’ calculations. Set against the background of the civil rights movement, Hidden Figures is a powerful story of unlikely heroes. Two terrific books detail the battle between Thomas Edison and George Westinghouse over the invention of the light bulb and the 19th century war to electrify America. Jill Jonnes’ Empires of Light: Edison, Tesla, Westinghouse, and the Race to Electrify the World is a non-fiction version of the story, and Graham Moore’s The Last Days of Night

is a fictional version. Both tell the basic story of the rivalry between these geniuses. Jonnes’ book is more accuracy, but I found Moore’s account much more captivating. Here we see the rivalry through the eyes of untried attorney Paul Cravath, hired by Westinghouse to sue Edison over the patent for the electric light bulb. A minor character in the real battle, Cravath comes to life in Moore’s novel as both a hero and a victim. A great read for everyone who likes a good story well told. Carlo Rovelli’s Seven Brief Lessons on Physics discusses another challenging subject with such skill that even laymen will understand and appreciate the science of physics. These short lessons start with Einstein’s theory of relativity and end with black holes. They were “written for those who know little or nothing about modern science” but want to get a quick overview of the modern physics revolution. And that’s exactly what they do. The book also shows us the extent of what is still unknown. Which brings me to Chuck Klosterman’s But What If We’re Wrong? Thinking About the Present As If It Was The Past. The premise of this book is simple: “Most of what we believe is likely to be wrong.” In the 15th century, everyone thought the world was flat. We now know that’s wrong. Klosterman cleverly questions our so-called modern beliefs in the same way we question those of our ancestors. George Orwell once said: “Every generation imagines itself to be more intelligent than the one that went before it, and wiser than the one that comes after it.” Klosterman asks us not to take today’s scientific truths for granted. What we think is true could be proven entirely wrong by future generations. We must “think about the present as if it were the distant past.” Scientist or not, you will find this book fascinating and enlightening.

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Protecting Your Canine

Full Ponds Pose Health Risks to Furry Companions

BY DR. LOUISA ASSEO As much of a sun-worshiper as I am, all the rain has been a much needed change. The hills are so alive again! I am enjoying my drive to work in the mornings and seeing the beautiful rolling hills covered in green. We are so fortunate to live in this community, where the open space backs up to our houses. Getting out onto the trails and enjoying nature is some-

times literally a step outside your front door. Once spring weather arrives, I look forward to many hikes with my two dogs. This will be the first time in many years when the streams will be full, small waterfalls be flowing, and ponds should be brimming with local flora and fauna. As a naturalist, I welcome and admire these sites. As a veterinarian, I also look at all this water with mild trepidation. Water in open spaces can pose a few health concerns for our canine companions, including one called leptospirosis.

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There are treatment options available for this disease, but some animals will succumb to their illness. Fortunately, focused vaccination can be a very effective means to prevent your dog from developing this infection. Before you join me on the trails this season, make sure you discuss your dog’s risks factors with your veterinarian and make sure he or she is properly protected to romp through the hills with you. Wishing you all a happy and healthy spring! Dr. Louisa Asseo, owner of Oasis Veterinary Hospital, can be reached at (925) 954 – 8087, 6635 Alhambra Ave, Suite 100, Martinez, or visit oasisveterinaryhospital. com.

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Leptospirosis is an infection caused by bacteria. Leptospire bacteria are shed through the urine of infected animals. A lot of our wildlife serves as reservoirs for this disease: squirrels, raccoons, rats, skunks, and pigs, to name a few, as well as cattle. When these animals urinate around ponds or streams, they shed leptospire bacteria. These bacteria can stay alive and infectious in standing pools of water for up to six months. When a dog bounces through the water, they can be exposed to leptospirosis through breaks in the skin, mucous membranes, or ingestion. Signs of this nasty disease include fever, decrease in appetite, generalized pain, icterus (yellowing of the eyes, skin, and mouth), vomiting, and frequent urination. The bacteria attack the kidneys and the liver, sometimes both, depending on the serovar (or strain) of leptospirosis. Aside from causing disease in dogs, leptospirosis is a zoonotic disease, which means that this disease can spread from animals to people.

BY COLLEEN CALLAHAN Each February, the National Association of Health Underwriters holds a Capitol Conference. It is a time to learn about hopes for federal legislation. Additionally, it is a time for health insurance agents to talk with representatives about our industry. This year, nearly 1000 agents attended the conference and delivered one message to all congressional offices. We need to stabilize the marketplace. The Affordable Care Act must be fixed. We had several specific points: keep the individual market strong, allow people to use tax credits in and out of the exchange, eliminate taxes that add about 5% to our premiums, take measures to lower rates so we can get more healthy young people to purchase insurance, keep the employer market strong, and eliminate the Cadillac tax. Sorry for the insurance jargon, but

we must pay attention. Changes are coming, and it is crucial to be part of the conversation. I wish that voters would call representatives and demand both sides work together to implement well thought-out, incremental changes that will improve our system. Both parties say telephone calls really get their attention. It is shameful that the two parties refuse to cooperate. They are not being proactive and are not reaching across the aisle offering to help. This is such a divisive partisan issue, and it is those of us with insurance that are paying the price. It is disgraceful the way the parties view and treat one another, and it is really at our expense. We do not want to be doing this again four years from now. Let’s take the time to work on this together and get it right. Colleen Callahan, CLU, CASL, LUTCF. Colleen Callahan Insurance Services is located in Pleasant Hill. Contact her 925.363.5433 or ccallahan@callahaninsurance.com.

ourcommunityfocus.com â&#x20AC;˘ march 2017

Pair Up

Sparkling Brunch BY MARIA TERRY Sparkling wine does not get enough credit for what it delivers. First, it is versatile because it goes with almost every type of food. Second, there are many well-priced and delicious sparkling wines that are easy to find. Finally, sparkling wine can turn the most ordinary of occasions into a celebration. Here is a menu that will allow you to try three different styles of sparkling wine

and make your next Sunday special. In Italy, you can find sparkling wines that are spumante (fully sparkling) and frizzante (semi-sparkling). Prosecco, from Northern Italy, is made in both styles. Prior to 2009, I could always remember the grape from which Prosecco was made because it had the same name as the wine. Since then, the Italians have returned to using the grape’s original name, Glera, to protect the name of their special region. Prosecco is delicate and has aromas of yellow apple, pear, and white peach. It

also has a light palate due to its comparatively low alcohol content (about 11-12%). Be sure to check the label carefully for sweetness designations. Proseccos range from brut (low sugar) to dry (higher sugar). Whichever you choose, Prosecco will be perfect for Tomato-Curry Deviled Eggs. The bubbles will cleanse the palate of the rich yolk filling, and the fruit will balance the spice from the curry powder. Less expensive Proseccos have the standard designation, or you can look for Prosecco Conegliano Valdobbiadene Superiore on the label if you want to splurge. Next, Crab, Avocado and Blood Orange Salad is terrific with just about any sparkling wine. I like the idea of brut Champagne with its tart citrus or stone fruit flavors and background of toasted brioche. The bright acidity in the wine will counter the richness of the crab and avocado. The blood orange and ruby red grapefruit both have sweet undertones and mild acidity that will echo, not overpower, the wine’s acidity. Moscato d’Asti is another one of Italy’s fantastic sparkling wines. It is even lower in alcohol (closer to 5-6%) and is made from the Muscat Blanc grape in a sweet,

Tomato-Curry Deviled Eggs

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INGREDIENTS 6 eggs 2 tbsp. mayonnaise 1 small, Campari tomato, peeled, seeded and chopped 1 tsp. tomato paste ¼ tsp. curry powder (or to taste) Salt and pepper DIRECTIONS Place eggs in cold water and bring to boil. Cover pot and remove from heat. Let stand 15 minutes, drain, refill with cold water. Peel and slice eggs in half. Remove yolks and combine with remaining ingredients to a smooth paste. Season to taste with salt and pepper and fill egg-white halves with mixture. Yield: 12 Halves

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frizzante style. It has lovely peach, orange blossom and nectarine aromas that come from a compound called linalool. Moscato’s fine balance of sugar and acid will match the sweet-tart flavor profile of Low Fat Lemon Muffins (recipe on my website). These muffins are so flavorful you won’t miss any of the fat. The challenge will be in not eating up the entire batch. So, go on. Pair Up! Maria Terry is a Certified Sommelier and Wine Educator in the San Francisco Bay Area. www.LaSommelierre.com

Crab, Avocado & Blood Orange Salad INGREDIENTS Vinaigrette 1/4 cup blood orange juice (about 1 orange) 1/2 teaspoon minced shallot 1/4 cup olive oil 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil Kosher salt and pepper to taste Rice vinegar as needed Salad 2 large cooked crabs (about 2 pounds each), or 1 1/4 pound crabmeat, picked clean 6 blood oranges, segmented 2 ruby red grapefruit, segmented 1 to 2 large heads butter lettuce (16-20 leaves), torn 2 large firm-ripe avocados (optional garnish) DIRECTIONS For the vinaigrette: Mix together the blood orange juice and shallots in a bowl. Slowly drizzle in the oils while vigorously whisking to form an emulsion. Season to taste with salt, pepper and some vinegar if needed. Cut the avocados into small dice, and sprinkle with grapefruit juice to avoid darkening. Season to taste with salt. Dress the lettuce with vinaigrette and arrange remaining ingredients on top. Serve with a crisp crostini or some good crackers on the side for textural contrast. Yield: 4 servings

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In the Mix

Honoring Steve Sage BY PAUL COTRUVO The best part of writing this article is being able to feature local musicians who not only possess amazing musical skills but also give back to the community. Steve Sage was one of those rare people who did both. It is with deep regret and profound sadness that I inform you that Steve passed away after a courageous battle with cancer. I first met Steve back in the ‘80s. He was tearing it up back then in the local music scene. One of my favorite guitarists for sure. Over the years, Steve had performed as a Coaster, a Drifter, and an Imperial with Little Anthony. You may have also seen him playing in the area with the likes of Carlos Reyes and the Tongue and Chic Orchestra. But I think my favorite thing about Steve is that he championed the idea of grooming aspiring performers and bands. For the

last 26 years, Steve created the “Rock, Rhythm & Blues” programs at Diablo Valley College. He not only taught his students the tricks of the trade but also booked them in local clubs to get their feet wet and let them share the stage with some professional musicians. He touched the lives of 8,000 students and helped form 2,500 bands. He walked the walk and talked the talk, making sure that live music continued in our community. On top of all that, Steve was just a great human being. A few years back, he was gracious enough to answer some questions despite his busy schedule. I thought I’d run this interview in his honor, knowing that his legacy lives on through his students and friends. He will be missed. PC: How old were you when you first played guitar? SS: I started playing the guitar when I was 13 years old. PC: Do you remember the name of your first guitar?

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march 2017 • ourcommunityfocus.com

SS: Yes, it was a 1969 Epiphone Caballero with a DeArmond pickup mounted in the sound hole. It’s one of the last of the American made Epiphone guitars. Oh, and a big Standel amp too. PC: Do you play any other instruments? SS: Yes, trumpet and piano. PC: Who are some of your influences? SS: I try to stay very open-minded, with no stylistic boundaries. As for electric guitar, Jeff Beck and Jimi Hendrix opened up my ears. George Barnes was a wonderful jazz guitarist who gave us lessons in Concord. Jimmy Bryant just floored me with his playing. Joe Pass & Les Paul were both so melodic and any of the Miles Davis family tree, like Tony Williams, Weather Report, Chick Corea, Herbie Hancock, and Mahavisnu Orchestra. PC: Do you have a favorite moment in your career so far? SS: Every show is my new favorite moment! PC: What inspired you to start teaching the music class at DVC? SS: When I wrote those electric guitar courses in 1989, there was nothing like them in the whole state. So there was an opening, and the timing was right for the times. Those classes have since turned into a full performance program. We’ve had over 8,000 musicians and 2500 bands in those “Rock, Rhythm & Blues” classes. That’s a network that just keeps connecting more players than

ever. We just celebrated a 25-year reunion at Yoshi’s with alumni, friends, and guests playing all day. PC: What is your assessment of the music scene here in Contra Costa County? SS: I try my best to support all of the working players here in Contra Costa for today. I also produce, stage manage, perform and volunteer a lot of my time in order to insure that there will be a tomorrow for our future performers too. PC: If you were a song, what song would you be and why? SS: You know, when I was younger, so much younger than today, I never needed anybody’s help in any way. But now those days are gone… just kidding! For me, it’s “Here Comes the Sun,” by The Beatles. It just puts me in the best mood every time! Quote of the Month: “Here comes the sun, here comes the sun, And I say it’s all right” -- George Harrison

Add a Little Spice to Your Life BY JEWEL JOHL, MD Curcumin is an active ingredient of turmeric, a spice widely used in curries. In many Southeast Asian countries, it has been consumed on a daily basis for centuries. This speaks to both its safety as well as the low incidence of colorectal cancer in these countries. Ancient Chinese and Indian Ayurvedic medicine literature describes turmeric in the treatment of a variety of ailments such as joint pain, liver and biliary disorders, anorexia, and sore throat. There is a growing interest in curcumin’s ability to fight cancer, although it is not fully understood how. From laboratory experiments, it has been deduced that substances in turmeric (called curcuminoids) inhibit molecules involved in inflammatory reactions. Curcuminoids may protect the body by enhancing the activity of an impor-

tant detoxifying enzyme and acting as antioxidants by neutralizing free radicals (which can cause DNA damage). Research studies show that turmeric prevents the development of kidney damage from toxins and also stimulates the flow of bile in the gastrointestinal tract. In lab experiments, rats treated with turmeric were protected from colon, stomach, and skin cancers. Turmeric prevents replication of tumor cells when applied directly to them in the laboratory, but it is unknown if this effect occurs in the human body. Curcumin, a curcuminoid, has shown biological activity in pancreatic cancer patients, and there are ongoing studies to test its effect as an addition to current cancer treatment. However, recent experiments have suggested that turmeric might interfere with the activity of some chemotherapy drugs in breast cancer, so the question remains whether this spice is helpful or harmful during chemotherapy.

Curcumin is known to interfere with cytochrome P450 enzymes, which are important for metabolism of various medications, and they may interact with chemotherapy drugs like cyclophosphamide and doxorubicin, commonly used to treat various cancers. Turmeric for clinical use needs further investigation due to its inherent poor absorption, rapid metabolism, complex mechanistic profile, and largely preclinical data. Preliminary data suggest effectiveness of a topical turmeric-based cream for reduction of radiotherapy-induced skin reaction in patients with head and neck cancer. A number of clinical trials are currently under way to further explore both the chemopreventive and/ or therapeutic role of curcumin in various cancers, especially colorectal cancer. Curcumin can potentially increase the risk of bleeding, especially in patients taking blood thinners, so caution and consultation with your doctor is advised before you consider taking it. Even

though there are ongoing clinical trials to explore the effectiveness of curcumin in prevention and treatment of cancer, it may not hurt to add a little spice to your life. Dr. Johl is a Board Certified Medical Oncologist and Hematologist with Diablo Valley Oncology & Hematology Medical Group. He has expertise in treating all forms of cancer and blood disorders and has a particular interest in the treatment of gastrointestinal cancers, colorectal cancers, and benign and malignant hematologic diseases. Dr. Johl sees patients in Pleasant Hill and Brentwood. For more information call 925-677-5041

SUBMIT A STORY Have something to share? Deadline for submissions is the second Friday of each month. info@ourcommunityfocus.com

THE 22nd ANNUAL

SEE A FILM. SEE THE WORLD. Award-winning films from Argentina, Canada, England, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Israel, Italy, the Netherlands and Poland

MARCH 2–12, 2017 CENTURY 16 THEATRES, PLEASANT HILL

For complete schedule & tickets:

eastbayjewishfilm.org ourcommunityfocus.com • march 2017

In the Garden

Spring Cleaning and Seedstarting

BY LESLEY STILES In past years I have questioned “spring cleaning.” This is the time of the year when the weather warms up and outside beckons, tantalizing us with strong promises of a better life through flower power and sweet smells. So why do we clean in

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the spring instead of the fall, when we are looking at serious inside time? Personally, I cannot bring fresh-cut spring flowers into a cluttered atmosphere, so one thing leads to another and pretty soon there is a very loud van in front of my house sucking dirt out of my carpets. Satisfied, I roll around on the floor and gaze lovingly out clean windows. Kids need to help with running the house all year. Teach them to make beds daily (“yeah, right” you say), pick up toys, clear bowls and dishes growing out of caves-- I mean bedrooms--load and unload the dishwasher, take out the recycling…you get the drift. Helping with food shopping has always been a clear winner for me. Getting young mouths interested in food early on and “hiring” budding sous chefs pretty much guarantees a healthy diet as well as a helping hand. March is a great time to start thinking about your vegetable garden cooperatively with kids and family. My grandpa was a big organic gardener living in Oakland, and he was at our house in Pleasant Hill a lot in my mom’s big garden. He taught her, she taught us, and now we are all huge gardeners. If you go online to peruse this year’s new and special seed catalogs, it’ll not only save paper but control any impulse buying as well. Shopping with a friend may reveal surprises about a close one’s favorites. If you are blessed with a greenhouse, now is the time to start those seeds, otherwise you can get them going indoors. For more information on seed starting, I recommend

exploring the countless self-help websites.* After your house payment has been spent on mail-order seeds and plants and you are waiting for them to arrive, get that dirt ready to receive the bounty. Turn the dirt over while it is still soft and pluck those cute little weeds out. Add lots of compost and manure and let sit for awhile until danger of frost is past. Keep turning it over every once in awhile and feel free to amend some more. Meanwhile, you can now plant lettuces, radishes, carrots, arugula, rappini, Swiss chard, chives, garlic and bok choy to name a few. All will start sprouting within the week and you will be eating your lettuce, despite any frost, within a month. Nothing like instant gratification for small and large folk alike while pondering the eternal question: whether to pay your little cleaners and gardeners or not? Happy Spring! Hike our hills and be thrilled and enchanted by local wildflowers! *Here are a few fun seed starting websites to try: www.sherrysgreenhouse. com; www.johnnyseeds.com; www.suc-

march 2017 • ourcommunityfocus.com

INGREDIENTS 1 head of Napa cabbage, thinly sliced 2 cups baby spinach, washed 3 tangerines, peeled and sectioned 4 new onions, thinly sliced ¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro ¼ cup crumbled feta Juice and zest of 2 lemons ¼ cup olive oil 2 tablespoon of seasoned rice vinegar or white balsamic Sea salt and pepper DIRECTIONS Toss everything together in a bowl. Serves 4

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(925) 939-7060 | SusanWoodPhotography.com | susanwoodphoto@hotmail.com 28

Napa Cabbage Salad w/Tangerines Feta & Lemon Vinaigrette

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Special Event, Aviation & Adventure Photographer in Pleasant Hill, CA

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

cesswithseed.org 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.

2015

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Martinez Senior Activities 818 Green Street, Martinez 925-370-8770

Thursdays - Coloring Club 10:30am-12pm. Coloring consists of many benefits. It is relaxing, lowers stress levels, and unleashes your creativity. It is free and everyone is welcome. Colored pencils, pens, and coloring sheets will be provided, but feel free to bring in your own materials. Thursdays – Bingo. Sales at 12pm and play at 1pm. $5 per pack, $30 guaranteed minimum prize for 10 games. Mar. 12 - Pancake Breakfast 8-11am. This delicious breakfast includes pancakes or toast, sausage, eggs, orange juice and coffee. Everyone is welcome. $4.00 for adults/$2.50 for children 10 and under. Volunteers needed! If you’re interested in helping set up, serving breakfast or cleaning up, please contact the front desk at (925) 370-8770. Upcoming 2017 Extended Trips Gardens & Mansions (New Orleans & the Cajun Country) May 15, 2017 - May 21, 2017, $2,450 (Double Occupancy), $3,190 (Single.) Visit the French Quarter, St. Louis Cathedral, Bourbon Street, Pirates Alley and the French Marketplace. Visit New Orleans Garden District, Longue Gardens and House, Baton Rouge and the New State Capitol building. The Sunshine State (Miami, Orlando, Florida Keys, Everglades) November 9, 2017 - November 16, 2017, $3,195 (Double Occupancy), $4,095 (Single.) Visit Disney’s Epcot and Kennedy Space Center then make your way to Fort Myers and explore the Everglades National Park with a fun adventure on the Everglades Airboat. Enjoy Key West with a trolley tour and visit other famous landmarks. End trip in Miami.

Pleasant Hill Senior Activities 233 Gregory Lane, Pleasant Hill 925-798-8788 Mar. 5 - Pancake Breakfast, 8:30-10:30am, PH Senior Center, 233 Gregory Lane. Bring family and friends to enjoy pancakes or French toast, eggs, sausage, orange juice and coffee. Tickets: Adults 11+ $5; children 5–10 yrs. $3; and 4 & under free! Mar. 6 - Cellphone/Tablet Tutoring, 12:30-3:30pm, Arts & Crafts Room. The College Park High School Rotary Club will offer 30-minute one on one tutoring for whatever device has you scratching your head (iPhone, iPad, Kindle, etc.). Appointments are limited. Drop-ins will be seen based on availability. FREE, call or stop by to make your appointment, (925) 798-8788.

Senior Home Spring Clean Volunteers Needed for May 7 Event Are you a senior Pleasant Hill resident age 65 or older that needs some light yard work done around the front of your home? The first annual Senior Home Clean Up Day is Sunday, May 7. The Civic Action Commission is partnering with the Commission on Aging and the Pleasant Hill Senior Center to reach out to seniors in the Pleasant Hill community who may need some help with clearing weeds, trimming shrubs, and other light landscaping needs. To make this inter-generational event a success, the Civic Action Commission is in need of volunteers residing in Pleasant Hill to participate. Volunteers who pre-register are also invited to a free pancake breakfast, hosted by the Pleasant Hill Senior Center at 8:30am on the morning of the cleanup. Work on the projects is expected to begin at 10am and be completed by 1pm. For volunteers who do not pre-register, a $5 donation will be charged for the breakfast at the door. If you are good with a rake and want to help some folks in need, then we need you! Seniors who are interested and individuals who want to volunteer can contact Martin Nelis at (925) 671-5229 or mnelis@pleasanthillca.org. For more information or to pre-register for the event online, go to www.pleasanthillca.org/cleanup.

St. Andrews Blood Drive St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church is responding to the Red Cross’ call for blood donations. In the United States, the Red Cross is responsible for about 40 percent of the blood supply, however, roughly 37,000 fewer donors gave during November and December. Along with the hectic holiday season, severe weather hampered donations and forced blood drives to be cancelled. About 14,000 blood and platelet donations a day are now needed to meet the needs of about 2,600 hospitals and transfusion centers. St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church wants to help and is inviting other community organizations to join in on Saturday, March 25, 9am-3pm, at St. Andrew’s on 1601 Mary Dr. in Pleasant Hill. In less than an hour, you can save someone’s life, possibly someone in Northern California, as our local blood banks mostly meet and fill local demand for blood. Almost anyone can donate, starting from age 16 (with parent’s permission). To register visit http://standrews-pcusa.org, or call 925-685-4720.

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COMMUNITY FOCUS ONLINE

Click on our online calendar to see local events happening in our community, and you can add your own event for free! BE • Local event listings from our calendar • Special offers from local businesses SCRI • Insights from our community and much more … SUB OW! N

www.ourcommunityfocus.com

Mar. 9 - Case Management Series presents Veterans Benefits Programs. FREE, presented by Hamilton Relay, 2-3pm, PH Senior Center. Space is limited, so please reserve your spot by calling (925) 798-8788. Sponsored by Shelter Inc.

PLAN INCLUDES:

BUY TICKETS EARLY! Laugh, Love & Learn: Senior Live Well Forum. May 5, 9:30am-1pm, Chateau Room. A day full of educational and uplifting speakers, including lunch. All funds raised benefit the Senior Center Care Management Program. For registration and more information, call the Senior Center at (925) 798-8788. Tickets available starting March 20. Event is a sell-out! Tickets: $25 if registered by April 21 and $35 thereafter. Come early for the free Ultimate Senior Resource Fair from 8:30am-1pm. There will be over 50 vendors from the local area and free giveaways. Call Senior Center for more information.

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march 2017 • ourcommunityfocus.com

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Make Some Plans march

march 5 - april 9

march 15

march 17 & 19

Aboutface Painting Workshops

Let Justice Roll

Like Magic?

Diablo Choral Artists

The Gospel of Luke, Jesus, and Us, a special Lenten series, 9:30-10:15am in the Fellowship Hall, followed by worship in the sanctuary at 10:30am, Hillcrest Church UCC, 404 Gregory Lane, Pleasant Hill.

The Society of American Magicians Assembly #112 meets the 3rd Wednesday of each month, 7pm, at Veterans of Foreign Wars, 1919 Wendell Lane, Pleasant Hill. Open to all! Contact Mark at 510-701-7207.

A Choral Concert of Music by Dvořák, Schubert and Bruckner. 8am, Friday, March 17, at Walnut Creek United Methodist Church, 1543 Sunnyvale Ave., and Sunday, March 19, 3pm, at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, 1601 Mary Dr., Pleasant Hill. Details www. dcachorus.org

march

march 7

march 18

march 22

It’s Gardening Time

Pleasant Hill Garden Study Club

Scan-a-thon!

Understanding Weight Loss Through Surgery

The Arts and Culture Commission of Contra Costa County is excited to work with veterans to build self-understanding through selfexpression at no-cost painting workshops around the county. For times, dates & registration, visit www.AC5.org.

Monthly meeting with Donna Mollenhauer presenting The Gardens at Filoli. Guests are always welcome and free. PH Community Center, 6:30pm. 925-323-9314 or www. phgsc.com.

CC County History Center. Scan documents, photos, and negatives into digital copies. Large newspaper-size scanner will be available. 724 Escobar St., Martinez, 10am – 3pm. Visit www.cocohistory.com for full details. $10 suggested donation to the History Center.

march 4

march 7

march 19

march 23

St. Patrick’s Day Dinner

Free Legal Clinic

St. Patrick’s Day Fun

Contra Costa Senior Legal Services will prepare/notarize Advance Health Care Directives for any senior 60 or older residing in Contra Costa County. Please call the Concord Senior Center at (925) 671-3320 for appointment.

Martinez Recreation hosts crafts and face painting on Main Street, 10am-2pm. Bring the kids by for a little green fun.

Cancer Survivors Free Tea

Saturday workshops on permaculture at Rodgers Ranch in partnership with Sustainable Contra Costa, 10am-12pm. Individual classes are $35. Class schedule at www. rodgersranch.org.

Henry A McNamara Post 29, American Legion hosts the annual dinner at the Veterans Memorial Building, 930 Ward Street, Martinez. No-host pub 5pm, dinner at 6pm. $15 per person.

Surgeons from 680 Bariatrics give a comprehensive presentation on the risks and rewards of surgical options followed by Q & A, 6:308:30pm. Reservations: 925-677-5041 x272. Walnut Creek Library.

Honor cancer survivors and their caregivers from 1:30-3pm at the Pleasant Hill Senior Center. Sponsored by Relay For Life of Pleasant Hill. 925-957-9991 or www.RelayForLife. org/PleasantHillCA.

march 4

march 9

march 25

Fermentation for Health: Dairy

Full Moon Cemetery Tours

Dan Chan the Magic Man

Chef Negrin leads students in preparing and preserving dairy items. March 18, 10am12:30pm. $90, Diablo Valley College www. dvc.edu/communityed.

Alhambra Cemetery Tours: Sunday, 6:30pm, daylight tour March 22 at10am. Free, donations appreciated. Adults only, please. Register: 372-3510 or www.cityofmartinez.org.

The magic show is free, but you must preregister to attend,10am, Campbell Theater. Seating is limited. Call 372-3510 to register or more information.

march 5

march 13

march 19

march 25

Chicken Workshops!

Spring Tea at Martinez Library

St. Baldrick’s Shave-a-thon

ARF Conference

Celebrate spring with a cup of tea and a special dessert, 6:30pm. Dress in your best dress or favorite tie, drink from good China teacups, and enjoy a craft. $2, register at 372-3510 or www.cityofmartinez.org.

Annual signature head-shaving event raises funds for childhood cancer research, 11am2pm, at Citrus Salon, 631 Main St, Martinez. Shave your head or be part of the excitement.

Papa John Kiefer offers workshops in Lafayette on “How to Raise Your Own Chickens.” Topics include raising young chicks, laying hen maintenance, and sustainable coop construction. Free! Reservations required. Email jhkiefer@comcast.net.

ARF presents the Business of Saving Lives conference for animal welfare professionals and volunteers. Practical information and valuable tools at an affordable price. 8:30am to 5pm, 2890 Mitchell Drive, Walnut Creek, (925) 256-1ARF. www.arflife.org.

ourcommunityfocus.com • march 2017

PURE MUIR Gala a celebration of East Bay open space

Saturday, May 6th • 5-9 pm

Campana Farm, Moraga

Join us for a celebration of East Bay open space! Enjoy music, gourmet dinner, wine and live auction. Learn more about Carr Ranch and what’s on the horizon. Purchase tickets at jmlt.org or 925.228.5040 Sponsored by

NOW! WORKOUT AT ALL YMCAs IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

PLEASANT HILL YMCA

Memberships Just Got Better!

IRVIN DEUTSCHER FAMILY YMCA 32

march 2017 • ourcommunityfocus.com

350 Civic Drive Pleasant Hill CA

T: 925-687-8900 www.IDFYMCA.org