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COMMUNITY

FOCUS ourcommunityfocus.com

MAY 2018 Reaching Over 50,000 Homes & Businesses

IN THIS ISSUE: • HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY • MOM, THE “SOAPMAKER” • FIRST FEMALE SHERIFF

PLEASANT HILL • CONCORD • MARTINEZ • LAFAYETTE • WALNUT CREEK

White Pony Challenge

Please Join us in Feeding the Hungry of Contra Costa As White Pony Express (WPE) meets its mission, support is needed more than ever. Its budget in 2018 is triple what it was in 2016—with more and more lives uplifted. Through our new School Pantry Program, we are doubling food distribution to 10,000 pounds a day over the next two years, reaching 12,000 to 15,000 of those suffering from hunger.

Luis Gerardo del Valle Torres and Heart’s Path Foundation have pledged $250,000 in matching funds for all financial donations, grants, and pledges received between April 1 and May 31, meaning WPE has the opportunity to raise $500,000 in the next two months.

To help, please send contributions to White Pony Express at 1966 Tice Valley Blvd., #101, Walnut Creek, CA 94595, or online at www.whiteponyexpress.org/ donate/ ABOUT WHITE PONY EXPRESS:

Carol Weyland Conner founded WPE in September 2013. Thousands go hungry while retailers throw out huge quantities of healthy, fresh food.

Her idea was to create a food rescue program where this good surplus food could be picked up directly from food retailers and delivered to local service organizations.

Each day, WPE’s trucks go to supermarkets, restaurants, and farmers’ markets to pick up an average of 5,000 lb. of fresh produce, milk, and deli meats that would otherwise go to landfill. The food is taken to WPE’s distribution facility in Pleasant Hill, where it is sorted and distributed the same day, free of charge, to nonprofits that feed the hungry in Contra Costa County. WPE now has 50 regular food donors, 70+ nonprofit recipient partners, and 400+ volunteers.

WPE also has a free general store that distributes clothing, primarily through

Mobile Boutique events. FGS has given away over 300,000 new and like new items of clothing and more than 100,000 children’s books, games, and toys in underserved parts of the county.

For more information on WPE, visit www.whiteponyexpress.org WPE’s AWARDS AND HONORS: WPE has received many prestigious awards: The San Francisco Foundation’s John R. May Innovation Award; the East Bay Leadership Council’s Outstanding Collaborative Project Award; the Sustainable Contra Costa’s Innovation in Food Systems Award; the Silver Spoon Award, by Diablo Valley Dietetic Association in honor of its work in supporting the health of those in need; and four awards from faith communities. The Contra Costa Times named founder Dr. Conner a local hero, Diablo Magazine called her a visionary, and she received

the Jefferson Award from KPIX TV. She was also asked to make a presentation at the Annual Conference for Ending Poverty in Washington, D.C.

SMALL TALK WITH TERI independent & locally owned

PUBLISHERS: Becky Coburn Jennifer Neys Elena Hutslar info@ourcommunityfocus.com ADVERTISING: Community Focus 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:

Four generations gathered at a recent birthday celebration for baby Emma. Pictured (LtoR) front row: Jessi Rubbicco (Mama) holding Emma Jean Rubbicoo, with Susan Wood (Grandma). Back row: Laura Wood (Auntie) and Peggy Moll (Great Grandma).

PHOTO BY: Susan Wood Photography with special thanks to Caralee Spafford for pushing the shutter button.

2 | MAY 2018 | OURCOMMUNITYFOCUS.COM

INSIDE

7

The Proverbial Missing Piece

Athlete of the Month

15

18 School News

29

Peter Pan Foundation

20 Pet Anxiety

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6680 Alhambra Ave. Box #132 Martinez, CA 94553

925-335-6397

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by Teri Norbye

Meet Martha Alexander, who lives in Pleasant Hill with her husband, Greg, and their three children, Kristofer, Armando, and Mikayla. Martha is an independent beauty consultant with Mary Kay. “One of my kids is home sick, so I moved the law office home. I’m scaling that back and just doing something fun, which for me is Mary Kay.” Biggest fear? That something I’ve said will negatively impact my children. I don’t want my kids to have a negative voice in their head that’s mine.

Fun facts about Martha: 1. I’m spontaneous and I like to do things spur of the moment.

2. I’m a rescuer. In the 25 years my husband and I have been married, we have rescued 8 dogs and 8 cats.

3. I grew up in Iowa riding horses, so I love to ride horses.

4. I love learning new things. My latest craze is learning about Buddhism.

5. I’m very optimistic. I choose to be happy and put on a smile, even if I’m in a bad mood.

6. A big part of who I am is that I like to give hugs. Even if I’ve just met you, chances are you’re going to get a hug.

DIY with Mom, the “Soapmaker”

DO IT YOURSELF

Sharing Soaps with Deserving Mothers

BY REBECCA SEIDENSPINNER

My mom and I have a lot in common.

We both love to read and work in the garden.

We are the first to pull over to the side of the road to pick up anything with a “free” sign. (And we like to share our grand ideas about how it will look after we fix it up.) We are both creative and enjoy the simple things in life. If its painting, crafting or repurposing something, we always have some project we are crafting together.

My mom recently fell in love with making homemade soap. She gets so excited about each new batch that her eyes light up when she talks about it. She has a notebook filled with recipes and details about soap.

There are so many different varieties. Shea butter and goat’s milk soap are a two of our favorites. When making soap at home, it kind of looks like a science experiment. You can add essential oils for

scent or oatmeal, coffee or sea salt for a nice scrubbing texture. My mom recently made a charcoal soap that I love.

The use of activated charcoal is big right now on the DIY beauty scene, so I thought I would give you a few all-natural recipes to freshen your beauty routine.

Charcoal is effective at drawing out impurities and toxins from your skin and provides a gentle exfoliation. It’s also safe enough to use on the skin. Here is a recipe for a simple melt and pour charcoal soap. This recipe is so easy that you can even make it in the microwave.

Recipe for Charcoal Soap Bars: • Half a pound of melt & pour soap base of shea butter (found in the candlemaking section at Michael’s).

• Five capsules of activated charcoal opened and poured into the shea butter. Activated charcoal capsules are found in the vitamin section (or use some charcoal from your BBQ. Just kidding! These are two totally different types of charcoal).

You can add any essential oils that you like.

Lavender is good for sensitive skin and tea tree oil adds natural antifungal and antiseptic properties.

• Cut the shea butter into small chunks and heat all the ingredients in the microwave at one minute intervals, stirring often until a liquid is formed.

• When the liquid is formed, add the essential oils. Pour into a silicone mold, which is found in the baking section at Michael’s.

• If you put a little rubbing alcohol in a spray bottle and spray the mold first, the soap is easy to pop out of the mold when it is done.

• We like to let the mold set in the refridgerator so it cools faster.

That’s it. You’re done. It’s time to lather yourself up and wash away all of the toxins.

Now that you are finished making the charcoal soap, what are you going to do with your leftover charcoal capsules? How about a homemade charcoal toothpaste?

Activated charcoal works as a powerful ab-

sorber and can remove stains on teeth and help get rid of bacteria that can cause bad breath. I recommend only using this a few times a week for a brighter smile. To make charcoal toothpaste, mix together two activated charcoal tablets, one tablespoon coconut oil, and ¼ teaspoon baking soda.

This messy black toothpaste will make your teeth look like an old cowboy during brushing, but the results are shiny and white!

My mom loves to share her homemade soaps with others; it brings her joy.

She has a heart for her children and her creative spirit inspires me everyday. In honor of Mother’s Day and my mother, the “soapmaker,” we would like to send our homemade soaps to some of our deserving mothers. Please email me at mamaspinner@hotmail.com with the address of your mother and we will send her a soap sample from my mom’s soap collection. Happy Mother’s Day to all the special moms.

OURCOMMUNITYFOCUS.COM | MAY 2018 | 3

Estate Planning

Choosing Retirement Account Beneficiaries Requires Some Thought

BY JEFFREY HALL, Elder Law Attorney

While the execution of wills requires formalities like witnesses and a notary, the reality is that most property passes to heirs through other, less formal means.

Many bank and investments accounts, as well as real estate, have joint owners who take ownership automatically at the death of the primary owner. Other banks and investment companies offer “pay on death” accounts that permit owners to name the person or people who will receive them when the owners die.

All of these types of ownership and beneficiary designations permit these accounts and types of property to avoid

probate, meaning that they will not be governed by the terms of a will. It’s not unusual for a will to direct that an estate be equally divided among the decedent’s children and find that because of joint accounts or beneficiary designations the estate is distributed totally unequally or even to nonfamily members such as new boyfriends and girlfriends.

It’s also important to review beneficiary designations every few years to make sure that they are still correct.

These concerns are heightened when dealing with retirement plans, whether IRAs, SEPs or 401(k) plans, because the choice of beneficiary can have significant tax implications. These types of retirement plans benefit from deferred taxation in that the income deposited into them as well as the earnings on the investments are not taxed

until the funds are withdrawn.

Following are some of the rules and concerns when designating retirement account beneficiaries: • Name your spouse, usually. Surviving husbands and wives may roll over retirement plans inherited from their spouses into their own plans.

• But not always. There are a few reasons you might not want to name your spouse, including the following: • He or she is incapacitated and can’t manage the account, • You are in a second marriage and want the investments to benefit your first family, or • Your children need the money more than your spouse.

• Consider a trust. In a number of the above circumstances, a trust can solve the problem, providing for management in the case of an incapacitated spouse, permitting assets to benefit a surviving spouse while being preserved for the next generation.

• Keep copies of your beneficiary designation forms. Don’t count on your retirement plan administrator to maintain records of your beneficiary designations.

• But name beneficiaries! The biggest mistake many people make is not to name beneficiaries at all, or they end up in this position by not updating their plan after the originally-named beneficiary passes away.

This means that the plan will have to go through probate at some expense and delay and that the funds will have to be withdrawn and taxes paid within five years of the owner’s death.

In short, a comprehensive estate plan needs to include consideration of beneficiary designations, especially those for retirement plans. For further information on beneficiary designations, visit Elder Law Attorney Jeffrey Hall’s website at www.

HallLawGroup.com or call 925-230-9002 for a free 15-minute consultation.

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Real Estate Trends

Should I Fix Up My Home or Sell As Is?

BY NORMA FLASKERUD

We did it once and we can do it again! Bigger and better! Boom! Hurrah!

We enjoyed the best fireworks Pleasant Hill has ever had last year due to generous contributions from local residents and businesses. Don and Norma proudly matched donations up to $5,000 for a $10,000 increase in fireworks purchased.

They were enjoyed by all and there were many compliments! Viewers come not just from Pleasant Hill but far and wide, so we hope our readers, wherever you live, will want to donate and then come and enjoy the fireworks on the 4th!

“Spectacular” was often stated to describe the fireworks display last year -- let’s do it again this year!! The 4th of July fireworks has become the pride of

Pleasant Hill and people watch on the College Park High School fields and from hills around town! Accompanying music and food enhance the experience for people of all ages.

• Make checks out to “4th of July Commission” and note “Fireworks” in the memo!

• Mail to: Pleasant Hill 4th of July Commission, PO Box 23272, Pleasant Hill, CA 94523 • We welcome any and all donations! It all adds up!

• We thank you in advance!

Real Estate Update:

We continue to see low inventory and multiple offers on houses priced appropriately. Of course, the lower the price point, the greater the number of buyers who can afford a house and make offers on it. We agents are observing who comes to our open houses, and it’s no surprise they come from Fremont,

the Peninsula, San Francisco -- places where prices are much higher. We offer great communities with comparatively affordable prices, and we are seeing an influx of new residents we should all welcome!

Who are the sellers? Frankly, we see many who are cashing out and moving to less pricey states, using their equity to pay cash on their next home and help fund their retirement years.

Home ownership in the SF Bay Area

has been a moneymaker for those who were able to buy in previous years and decades. We wish all the buyers well and are here to assist if asked!

We have a few listings not yet on the market that we are truly excited about, from low to mid-point prices.

Contact us for a sneak peek!

Call the Flaskerud Team at 925-3382980 for all your real estate needs or email DonandNorma@gmail.com.

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COMPETITIVE TRYOUTS BEGIN MAY 14 May 14, Ygnacio Valley HS 2011-2008 Boys, 2007-2006 Girls ............................5:30-6:30 p.m.

2011-2008 Girls, 2007-2006 Boys ............................6:30-7:30 p.m.

2005 Boys .................................................................7:30-8:30 p.m.

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May 15, Hidden Lakes

day

2011-2008 Boys ........................................................6-7 p.m.

2005 Girls..................................................................7-8:15 p.m.

May 16, Ygnacio Valley HS 2011-2008 Girls, 2007 Girls ......................................5:30-6:30 p.m.

2006 Girls..................................................................6:30-7:30 p.m.

2005 Girls..................................................................7:30-8:30 p.m.

May 17, Hidden Lakes 2007 Boys, 2006 Boys..............................................6-7 p.m.

2005 Boys .................................................................7-8:15 p.m.

2004-2000 TRYOUTS BEGIN MAY 21 DATES & TIMES TBA

Paul Cotruvo The Big Jangle For this week's #TinaTuesday I had the opportunity to sit down with the amazing and talented musician, Paul Cotruvo. Paul Cotruvo has been a pillar of our community for a long time, working to "keep music a part of the culture in this area," and I wanted to share his musical passion with all of you. As a young boy, Paul used to watch the Ed Sullivan show. This is where he first saw the Beatles perform, and that's when he said to himself "that's what I want to do," and boy has he ever. The Beatles were a big...

Dan Frengs, Jack Frengs, Maureen Bullotta Slow Hand BBQ For today's #TinaTuesday I had the pleasure of sitting down with the amazing family behind Slow Hand BBQ, Jack, Dan and Maureen. Their slogan "Love you can Taste" describes exactly the love and respect this family has for each other, which carries over to their staff, customers and the food they serve. Dan and Maureen credit their closeness to their dad (Jack), and their mom (Patricia) who passed away 19 years ago.now. Slow Hand BBQ started out of Dan's desire to bring the real BBQ...

Todd Craig Hyatt House In honor of Autism Awareness Month, and for this week's #TinaTuesday I decided to sit down with Todd Craig, General Manager of the Pleasant Hill Hyatt House, because of what they are doing to raise funds for Autism Research through the "Light it up Blue" campaign. On top of that, I am going to share with you some interesting facts about the PH Hyatt House conveniently located right near downtown Pleasant Hill. On April 2, the world turned blue in honor of World Autism Awareness Day. It's all part of a campaign...

To read the the full #TinaTuesday blog posts visit https://www.pleasanthillchamber.com/blog/tinatuesday-3580

The Proverbial Missing Piece

JMLT Announces Campaign to Save Almond Ranch in Martinez

BY JAY DEAN

John Muir Land Trust (JMLT, jmlt. org) has announced the Campaign To Save Almond Ranch, an effort to protect a stunning 281-acre property south of downtown Martinez that has been a top priority of land conservationists for decades. JMLT must raise $4 million by the end of 2019. Saving Almond Ranch from development, the alternative outcome, would preserve an intact habitat corridor for wildlife, connect important major trails for the very first time, link large conserved landscapes, and open the property’s beautiful hills along the Franklin Ridge to hikers, dog walkers, cyclists, bird watchers, equestrians, and nature lovers of all ages.

“Almond Ranch is the proverbial ‘missing piece,’” says JMLT Executive Director Linus Eukel. “All of the benefits of conservation literally intersect here. The ranch protects habitat and clean water, offers close-to-home outdoor recreation, and makes trail connections that have been on everyone’s wish list for decades.”

The campaign is launched with a first commitment of $1 million from the East Bay Regional Park District (EBRPD) using funds made available by voters’ approval of Measure WW in 2008 for high priority community park projects. “EBRPD’s contribution is extraordinarily generous and demonstrates the importance of this unique place to filling the gaps in the mosaic of the East Bay’s preserved landscapes,” says Eukel. “Few places have been discussed over the years as being so necessary for conservation,” says General Manager of EBRPD Robert Doyle. “Adding Almond Ranch to the places already acquired on Franklin Ridge by JMLT is the perfect outcome,” confirms EBRPD Board Member Colin Coffey. “We’re excited to make the lead contribution.”

Key Connections

Almond Ranch adds a key missing segment to the visionary 550-mile Bay Area Ridge Trail that encircles the entire Bay Area. The ranch is one of only two remaining acquisitions needed to complete

the 50-mile Carquinez Strait Scenic Loop Trail, a beautiful trek around the waters atop the rolling hills of two counties.

Almond Ranch connects for the first time three large landscapes in Contra Costa County that comprise fully 18,000 acres of protected open space: the combined Carquinez Strait Regional Shoreline and Radke Martinez Regional Shoreline, Briones Regional Park, and the area to the west known as the Franklin Ridge Wildlife and Trail Corridor.

JMLT has been acquiring properties along Franklin Ridge for three decades. Almond Ranch is described as the “missing heart” at the intersection of six of these: Dutra, Gustin, Sky, Stonehurst, Mount Wanda, and West Hills Farm. Almond would create a 1,380-acre integrated landscape. “The benefits to the public will be far-reaching,” adds Tom Leatherman, general superintendent of the adjacent John Muir National Historic Site and three other parks. “It allows trail users on Mount Wanda to explore nearby open lands and experience them in new ways. That’s what people tell us they want —new kinds of trails, and new connections.”

Stunning Views & Habitat

Easily accessed from urban neighborhoods, the ranch’s highest peak rises some 300 feet above Mt. Wanda. Here are sweeping panoramic views of the Carquinez Strait and Bay Delta region, Mount Diablo and the distant Sierra Nevada, the rolling hills of Briones Regional Park, and San Francisco Bay. The varied terrain includes hilly grasslands, forested valleys, scrub plant communities, and riparian areas. This is rich habitat for native, rare, and special-status species such as the Alameda whipsnake, a federally threatened species. An intact corridor is better for predators such as mountain lions, American badgers, and gray foxes.

Magnificent raptors patrol overhead.

Strentzel Creek meanders on and off the ranch. Named after John Muir’s father-in-law, the waterway — along with stock ponds, seeps and springs —

Martinez almond ranch. Photo by Adam Weidenbach

nourishes plants, trees and animals. Muir himself owned nearby lands, and there is no doubt that he enjoyed a few of his famous 40-mile saunters here.

Next Steps

“A year ago we completed the successful Campaign to Save Carr Ranch with the support of thousands of families across the Bay Area,” says Eukel. “Almond Ranch will be just as important to people across the region. We’re optimistic about reaching the $4 million goal but obviously need every single donation, small

and large!”

John Muir Land Trust protects and cares for open space, ranches, farms, parkland and shoreline in Contra Costa and Alameda Counties. In a generation, John Muir Land Trust has become one of the leading forces for conservation in northern California. With 3,100 acres protected, many beautiful places in the East Bay are permanently preserved for recreation, wildlife habitat and spectacular scenic views. Visit jmlt.org for more information.

THANKS TO OUR CUSTOMERS FOR VOTING US #1!

2013 • 2014 • 2015 2016 / 2017 OURCOMMUNITYFOCUS.COM | MAY 2018 | 7

CITY NEWS

Mayor’s Message Measure K Update

In April 2017, one year ago, Measure K took effect and we began receiving additional sales tax revenue to invest in city infrastructure and build a new library.

I chair the City Council Budget Committee and we are deep in discussions on how to allocate the Measure K funds. At our last meeting, we received a preliminary report from our city engineer, Mario Moreno, outlining the many unfunded capital improvement projects that could potentially be funded through Measure K. Chief among the projects for me is investing in our streets and storm drains. We will be receiving more input from our top notch engineering staff in the weeks ahead and making recommendations to the full city council on infrastructure projects.

Streets and Roads

Our engineering staff has also successfully secured over $6.71 million in four new grant funds from state and federal funding sources this year. The grants allow the city to fund projects that are now under design. These include: • $4.8 million for an improvement project on Contra Costa Blvd. from Viking to Harriet Drive • $1.02 million for improvements on Pleasant Hill Road from Gregory to Taylor Blvd.

• $544,000 for a new traffic signal at the intersection of Gregory Lane and Elinora Drive

One additional grant of $354,000 will also subsidize our current street resurfacing program.

The New Library

The library project is also already underway on several fronts. The city is hashing out the final details of the land split between the county and the Rec & Park District while we begin working on a construction budget. The design team has concluded the initial public outreach and is now moving into the actual design phase.

8 |MAY 2018 | OURCOMMUNITYFOCUS.COM

I hope you were one of the hundreds of people who attended one of the two town hall meetings in November 2017 and January 2018 at the Pleasant Hill Community Center conducted by the design team led by architect Bohlin Cywinski Jackson (BCJ) and library programming specialist Margaret Sullivan Studio (MSS).

Many excellent comments and suggestions regarding the spaces and features desired in the new library were presented to BCJ and MSS. The design team also held thirteen focus group meetings to gain additional input.

At our city council meeting on April 16, BCJ presented the distillation of the town hall meetings and focus groups and previewed a program for design of the space and usage for the new library.

They gave us some details on a proposed 25,000 square foot library that will house more than 70,000 volumes, including areas for all age groups and interests now frequenting the library, with the flexibility to meet future needs not yet known. Our library will also include outdoor features to take advantage of its pastoral and creekside setting. The library will be designed to insure flexibility in its public use spaces to meet changing demands in the decades ahead. The PowerPoint presented to city council is available on the city’s website at www.pleasanthillca.org/library.

The design team will now begin the schematic design phase of the project, which is expected to take four months.

During this period, the city will host another town hall meeting to receive input and comments from the public on the design features for the library. This town hall has been scheduled for 6:30pm on Tuesday, June 12, at the Pleasant Hill Community Center.

At the end of schematic design, the city will have a proposed building design that includes interior and exterior elements, as well as exterior landscaping features. We expect the design phase of the

Tim Flaherty, Mayor of Pleasant Hill

library to take approximately 18 months to complete. Shovels in the dirt won’t occur until sometime in late 2019 or early 2020, with expected completion in 2021.

Make www.pleasanthillca.org/library a favorite in your browser so you can stay on top of this once in a generation project.

Mayor Sightings in May

As the weather warms and my elite athletic injury (feel free to e-mail me for gory details) fully heals, you will have no trouble finding me on Tuesday evenings, between 6pm and 8pm, at our new evening farmers’ market, on Trelany Drive by City Hall!

On Wednesday evenings, look for the tall guy in a suit and tie by the beer truck at Off the Grid, also on Trelany by City Hall.

On May 19, from 5 - 9pm at the Com-

munity Center, you will find your mayor in the role of “Shoe Guy,” assisting the Rec & Park District with their annual Wine Women & Shoes fundraising event! If you want to know what a Shoe Guy does, buy a ticket!

On Sunday, May 27, 6 - 8pm, you will find me on the City Hall lawn near the rose arbor enjoying the kick off concert of a fantastic summer concert series put together by our Civic Action Commission.

Stop by and say hello.

And finally, a shout out to all the moms out there. Happy Mother’s Day! I am lucky my mom, at age 92, is still around and living on her own in the family home in San Francisco. Love you, Mom! You can reach me at tflaherty@pleasanthillca.org.

Chamber Calendar

May 4 - PH Chamber Ambassador Meeting, 8:30-9:30am, City Hall Community Room, 100 Gregory Lane, PH May 8 - PH Farmers’ Market Grand Opening, 4:30-8pm & Ribbon Cutting at 6:30pm. Trelany Road between City Hall and Downtown PH. May 9 – 2018 Diablo Valley Mayor’s Summit 11:30am-1pm., Back Forty Texas BBQ, 100 Coggins Dr., PH. May 10 – Back Forty Texas BBQ - Chamber Business Mixer, 5-7pm, 2611 Contra Costa Blvd, PH May 17 - PH Chamber Board Meeting, 8-10am, Location TBD 680 Business Networking - 2nd & 4th Wednesdays & Thursdays, 8-9am, JFK University, 100 Ellinwoood Way, PH OFF THE GRID Food Trucks - Wednesdays, 5-9pm, Trelany Road, PH

Public Meetings

City Council May 7, 21 City Hall, 100 Gregory Lane, Council Chambers, 7:00pm. Contact: 671-5229 Civic Action Commission May 2 City Hall, 100 Gregory Lane, Small Community Room, 6:30pm. Contact: 671-5229 Architectural Review May 3, 17 City Hall, 100 Gregory Lane, Large Community Room, 5:00pm. Contact: 671-5209 Planning Commission May 8, 22 City Hall, 100 Gregory Lane, Council Chambers, 6:30pm. Contact: 671-5209 mmunity Room, 5pm. Contact: 671-5229 Education Commission May 23 City Hall, 100 Gregory Lane, Large Community Room, 7pm. Contact: 671-5229

CITY NEWS

Pleasant Hill City News Farmers’ Market Moves to Tuesday

Beginning May 8, Pleasant Hill will now have two great evening events on Trelany Road (next to City Hall), with farmers’ markets on Tuesdays, from 4:30-8:00pm, and Off the Grid Food Trucks on Wednesdays.

The grand opening of the farmers’ market on May 8 features live music with popular local band LUMBERYARD and the chance to win $100 to spend at the market, as well as other prizes. Some features of the new market on Tuesday night include: a community lounge area on the lawn at City Hall (similar to Off the Grid), with games and activities for kids and families and space to hang out; a beer and wine booth featuring local brews; hot food booths, including kettle corn; and new farmers and producers. There will be live music each week, with the first Tuesday of each month through October featuring larger bands or a “Silent Disco” (June 5).

The market welcomes back heirloom produce from Rose Lane Farm, B Family Farms’ rainbow of vegetables, and iced coffee from Rooted Coffee. Cheers to the beer and wine tent, brought to you by the Pleasant Hill Chamber of Commerce.

Hotel Could Replace Black Angus

On April 10, the Planning Commission listened to a presentation from Stratus Development Partners regarding preliminary conceptual plans for a 150-room, four-story boutique Cambria Hotel development at 3131 and 3195 North Main Street and 1531 Oak Park Boulevard. The Black Angus Restaurant that currently sits at 3195 North Main was closed back in July 2017 due to an electrical fire and has remained closed.

On April 4, a letter of introduction of the ownership team was sent to the city’s Planning Department stating, “Stratus Development Partners, LLC is a full-service real estate firm based in Newport Beach. Choice Hotels International, Inc. currently franchises more than 6,800 hotels, in more than 40 countries and territories. Stratus is a preferred development partner with Choice for the lifestyle boutique Cambria Hotels.”

Improvements would include demolition of the existing structure on the site, 150 guest parking spaces, landscaping, and other associated hotel amenities. The project site is approximately 2.5 acres and zoned RB-Retail. The letter went on to say, “The senior management team at Choice, together with Stratus, has approved the site plan and building layout for the property.” No action was taken at the planning commission meeting as this was a presentation only.

Citywide Garage Sale

Organized by Allied Waste Services and the Civic Action Commission, the Citywide Garage Sale on Saturday, June 9, gives Pleasant Hill residents the opportunity to hold their own garage sales on the same weekend and get free promotion from the city and Allied Waste.

If You’re a Seller

You can register the address of your garage sale using an online form. Visit pleasanthillgaragesale.com and complete the form. You can also add images to your ad.

You may also register your sale by calling (925) 671-5806. A lawn sign will be brought to you by the sponsoring businesses. You can donate leftover items to local thrift stores or Republic Services will pick up remaining items on your garbage service day the week following as part of the citywide cleanup.

Crestwood Healing Center in Pleasant Hill has open spaces available for those wanting to participate in Pleasant Hill’s Garage Sale Day on June 9 but don’t have the space to do so at home. There will be refreshments and music as well. E-mail Darby Witherspoon at dwitherspoon@cbhi.net for additional details and to reserve your space. Deadline to register is Monday, June 4.

If You’re a Buyer

Go to www.pleasanthillgaragesale.com and browse the ads to find households

taking part in the citywide garage sale. Bring a reusable bag that will allow you to carry heavier items more easily and protect fragile objects.

Friends of the Pleasant Hill Library Book Sales

The next flash book sale is on May 20 – rain or shine! The book sales are held on the patio in front of the library doors at 9:30am at 1750 Oak Park Blvd. The sale expands into the library when the doors open to the public at 10am.

Plants Make Great Mother’s Day Gifts

You can find plants galore and garden décor for mom, with many items priced for children to buy as a Mother’s Day gift at the May 12 plant sale, sponsored by the Pleasant Hill Garden Study Club. The sale runs from 9am to 2pm at the Winslow Center, on the corner of Pleasant Hill Road and Taylor Boulevard. Folks seeking unusual perennials, “summer dry” ornamentals, heirloom edibles, gorgeous succulent and color bowl arrangements, nifty yard accessories, and much more eagerly anticipate this annual event. The ever-popular “GardenShed” display will appeal to anyone seeking large and small garden-related items, including vintage pieces, gently used tools, and delightful doodads. A portion of the sale’s proceeds are donated back to the community in the form of grants for garden-related projects undertaken by local non-profits.

The club is co-sponsored by the Pleasant Hill Recreation and Park District. For more information about the sale or the club, visit website at www.phgsc.com.

Fourth of July Firecracker Run

Registration for the 14th annual July 4 Firecracker 5K Fun Run and Walk and Kids 100-Yard Dash is open! The kids 100-yard dash is for 7 years of age and under, beginning on Crescent Drive and ending near the Clock Tower. The 5K course starts by the corner of Gregory Lane and Trelany Road, in front of City Hall, and ends at 45 Crescent Drive, in front of the clock tower. The route winds through the downtown area and follows the same route as the parade. Runners make three laps around the course. A registration table will be set up before the race on Crescent Drive, and volunteers will be on hand to answer any questions. Race begins promptly at 8am.

Online registration is $30 if you register by June 3 and $35 if you register between June 4 and July 3. Register a family of three or more for $65. If you choose to register a 4th, 5th, or 6th person, each participant will be charged $25. Registration for the kids’ 100-yard dash is free. The 5K Fun Run benefits Pleasant Hill schools, has raised over $130,000 so far, and continues to grow each year. Visit http://phjuly4.com/5k-run/ to register and find additional information about the Fourth of July schedule and events in Pleasant Hill.

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CITY NEWS

Mayor’s Message

In the primary election on June 7, Martinez voters will be asked to vote for or against two local ballot measures know as Measure F and Measure I. Both measures deal with the protection of open space and parkland. The Martinez City Council placed Measure F on the ballot, and Measure I has been on the ballot through a signature gathering effort. Because two somewhat similar measures are on the same ballot, I will attempt to clear any confusion and point out the major differences by responding to the questions that were posed at a recent taping of a round table forum at which I was the spokesperson for Measure F.

To the average voter, Measure F and Measure I appear to be similar. What are the fundamental differences between the two measures?

The main critical difference between the two measures are that Measure F does not affect privately owned properties, whereas Measure I affects over 500 parcels of private property in a variety of ways.

The Martinez City Council placed Measure F on the ballot in order to preserve and protect PUBLIC open space and park and recreation lands and to prevent those lands from more intense development, except by vote of the people.

Measure F is extremely simple and exceedingly clear. NO Publically Owned Open Space or Parkland may be converted to any other use without a vote of the Martinez voters. Measure F does not change the use of these public assets; it strengthens the protections they have.

The lands covered by Measure F comprise approximately 1,706 acres of public open space and parklands. These lands are all owned by public entities such as the City of Martinez and the East Bay Regional Park District. The map attached to Measure F shows the affected parcels very clearly. On the other hand, Measure I is confusing; it applies to more than one land use rule to hundreds of properties in the city. The rules in Measure I contradict one another.

10 |MAY 2018 | OURCOMMUNITYFOCUS.COM

Many experts who have reviewed Measure I believe it is inconsistent with the city’s existing general plan, state housing law, and the city’s new general plan that the city has spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on developing and studying because it applies new restrictive rules to over 500 privately owned residential and commercial properties in the city. A judge has yet to rule on the legality of Measure I in this regard.

You can review the report commissioned by the city on the effects of Measure I on the city’s website.

Because Measure I affects private property rights and requires a judge to rule on the developability of private property, it will expose the city to numerous lawsuits paid for by the taxpayers and will likely increase the cost of housing in Martinez.

Growth in Martinez is inevitable. How do you believe that it should be managed to maintain a quality of life desired by residents? These measures seem directed to one project in particular, the former Pine Meadows Golf Course. Why shouldn’t the property owners be allowed to use the property as they wish and what are the implications for this property should either ballot measure pass?

Growth should be managed based upon a balancing of the needs of the community. Public open space and parkland should never be converted to other uses to accommodate growth. Maintaining our public open space and parkland is important to maintaining a quality of life desired by residents. However, maintaining roads and infrastructure, police services, park and recreation programs, and other municipal services are also important to quality of life. Therefore, as a community we cannot remain stagnant; we must look at all reasonable and measured efforts to achieve fiscal sustainability in order to maintain city services and our quality of life.

The city has never sold or converted public open space to private development uses. However, we also cannot force private

Rob Schroder, Mayor of Martinez

property owners to give up all economically viable use of their privately owned lands. Just because a private property owner voluntarily devotes private property to private recreational uses, such as a private golf course, it does not convert that land to public property.

The city’s job is to review projects proposed for private property and consider the environmental and other impacts of those proposals, community input, community character, the needs of the community, and the rights of the private property owners, and to balance all of those interests before making a decision. Property owners should be able to use property in a manner that is economically viable but also that follows the rules established by the city and balances all of the interests.

Why did the city move so quickly to put this counter measure on the ballot rather than simply address Measure I?

The City Council did actually address Measure I first. City Council commissioned a report on the effect of Measure I to try to understand how Measure I would affect the city and its residents.

That report identified several problems with Measure I, including the effects of Measure I on private property in the city and the consistency of the measure with other sections of the general plan.

The report noted that Measure I places significant restrictions on the development of private property in Martinez. Over 500 privately owned properties located in the

city and the city’s sphere of influence are impacted by the restrictions of Measure I. Some of these parcels are located in residential subdivisions in areas such as Sunnyside Terrace, Muir Oaks, Alhambra Valley, Tavan Estates, Reliez Valley, Franklin Canyon, Vine Hill, and other areas of the city. A copy of the report is available on the city’s website, and a full list of the affected private property is included in the Report.

Measure F was proposed to support public open space and park protection very clearly by offering voters an alternative measure that protects a tremendous amount of true public open space and parkland in the city without affecting the rights of private property owners and avoiding years of costly litigation.

Picture Martinez 20 years in the future.

How does the city look and what role would your measures play in that vision?

Looking into the future, I hope Martinez will remain a community with some of the largest areas of protected open space and parkland in California and that the city will continue to maintain its roads, infrastructure, police services, park and recreation programs, and maintain a superior quality of life for its citizens. I hope that the downtown and waterfront will continue on the current path toward revitalization and that other areas of the city, such as the Pacheco corridor and south of Highway 4, will experience public and private investment to improve the quality of life for the citizens in those areas.

Public Meetings

City Council Meeting May 2, 16 City Hall, 525 Henrietta Street, 6-9pm. Contact: 372-3500 Zoning Administrator Meeting May 2, 16 City Hall, 525 Henrietta Street, 4-6pm. Contact: 372-3500 Design Review Meeting May 9, 23 City Hall, 525 Henrietta Street, 4-6pm. Contact: 372-3500 Planning Commission Meeting May 8, 22 City Hall, 525 Henrietta Street, 7-11pm. Contact: 372-3500 For Confirmation Visit: www.cityofmartinez.org

CITY NEWS

Martinez City News Racial Justice Task Force Community Forums

The Racial Justice Task Force (RJTF) is hosting three community forums in each of the county’s three major geographic regions during the month of May. These forums will provide the public with an opportunity to receive updates on the task force’s work, review a working set of recommendations, and provide feedback directly to task force members prior to the body’s upcoming final report to the board of supervisors. RJTF has developed draft recommendations for the county to reduce racial disparities in the justice system and seek community input and feedback.

The first meeting is in Walnut Creek on Monday, May 7, at the Mt. Diablo Unitarian Universalist Church at 55 Eckley Lane, from 6 - 8pm. Two other meeting will be held in Antioch on May 8 and Richmond on May 9. Vice Mayor Lara DeLaney said, “The task force has been working over the past year to come up with recommendations to make changes in the criminal justice system to address the disparities and impacts on people of color in the criminal justice systems, so we welcome people to attend these community forums and hear the draft recommendations that are, hopefully, going to the board of supervisors in June.” For more information, visit: www.co.contracosta.ca.us/6680/Racial-Justice-Task-Force.

In April 2016, the creation of the 17-member Racial Justice Task Force was unanimously approved by the board of supervisors.

New Exhibit at John Muir National Historic Site

On April 21, the John Muir National Historic Site unveiled a new exhibit, “In Her Words: A Glimpse into the Lives of the Muir-Strentzel Women.” The event coincided with this year’s birthday/Earth Day celebration. The exhibit is free of charge and included in guided and self-guided tours of the Muir-Strentzel House during regular operating hours.

The letters, diaries, and artifacts of John Muir and his family help us to better understand what life was like in the Muir-Strentzel House. “In Her Words” employs fascinating items from the park museum collection to explore the important role Muir’s female family members played in his success as a rancher, author, and conservationist, and highlight the talents, education, and independent spirit of the women correspondents. The exhibit runs through April 2019.

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Waterfront Park

Progress in the Waterfront Park renovations continues, with field lighting and fencing installed in March. This project also includes renovating the group picnic area and park lighting as well as a new “tot” restroom near the play equipment. Paving projects for streets and parking lots began and the arbors for the plaza were erected. Completion of the ball fields is scheduled for June this year.

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Martinez Clippers First Game

The opening game of the Martinez Clippers is scheduled for May 31. The team will be hosting the Sonoma Stompers. The league tryout camp and draft was held on April 21. In addition, league history will be made on June 7 in Martinez, when the two expansion teams play each other for the first time. For a full schedule and additional information, visit https:// www.pacprobaseball.com/.

The Pacific Association of Professional Baseball Clubs will feature six teams this season: Vallejo Admirals, Sonoma Stompers, San Rafael Pacifics, Pittsburg Diamonds, Napa Silverados, and Martinez Clippers. The league is increasing the league season from 78 games to 80.

In March, the city council adopted a resolution authorizing the city manager to execute a license agreement with the Martinez Clippers Baseball Corporation (“Clippers”) for the use of Field 3 and associated facilities at the Joe DiMaggio Ballfields at Waterfront Park for professional independent league baseball.

NITY FO MU C M

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The Downtown Clean Up has been rescheduled to Saturday, May 5. Each spring, over 100 volunteers come together to clean up the downtown area. Volunteers power wash the sidewalks, pick up trash, rake leaves, and pull weeds. All volunteers are treated to coffee, juice, and donuts in the morning, and we have a BBQ lunch at 11:30am. Children are welcome with a guardian. Shifts start at 6am, but most are a 9am start time.

Make it fun and sign up together in a group! To signn up go to www.signupgenius.com/ go/10c0b4fafaf2da7fd0-downtown1.

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Summer Wine Stroll

The Downtown Summer Wine Stroll is Saturday, June 9, from 2:30 to 5:30pm. Spend a relaxing afternoon strolling from business to business in downtown Martinez and stop in participating stores and restaurants to sample delicious treats! Advanced tickets available online for only $20 + tax and service fee or $30 each at the door, if not sold out. Redeem your advance purchase ticket for wine glass, tasting tickets & passport at Main Street Plaza, 600 Block, next to Starbucks. Get tickets here http://bit.ly/2oYck7c.

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CITY NEWS

Mayor’s Message

One of the most beautiful things about our country is the ability to elect our own leadership - “By the people, for the people.” This is why elections are so important. At least every two years we, the people, have the right set our community’s path by electing representatives that reflect the collective will.

Yet, we cannot forget that the role of the community should not, in fact it cannot, stop at the ballot box. A well informed and committed electorate is necessary for a flourishing community that reflects our values and ensures those in power implement policies on which they were elected.

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With so many important issues in Walnut Creek - homelessness, affordability and availability of housing, economic development, possible tax increases, and the implementation of Prop 64 - a simple vote every two years is not enough.

While I always appreciate the meaningful feedback and insight from those who regularly attend city meetings, I am always encouraged when we see new faces.

Outside of being mayor, I am the father of two young girls and have a full time job, so I understand the time constraints we all have. Work, kids, homework, one extra curricular activity after another, a significant other, and hopefully

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some sleep thrown in somewhere...we are busy. Yet, while all of these are important, the decisions made today by your elected officials will have drastic effects on your lives for years to come, for better or worse.

Independent of your views - left, right, or center - your voice needs to be heard. In a time where some in our society are attempting to shut down necessary conversation and debate on almost every topic, we, the people of Walnut Creek, need to set the right tone, get engaged, and set the example - just like our community does on so many other topics.

Each month, the City of Walnut Creek has multiple opportunities for you to participate and ensure your voice is heard. Whether it is at a commission

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City Council Meeting May 1, 15 Council Chambers, 1666 North Main Street, 6pm. Contact: 943-5819 Design Review Meeting May 2, 16 Council Chambers, 1666 North Main Street, 7pm. Contact: 943-5819 Planning Commission Meeting May 10, 24 Council Chambers, 1666 North Main Street, 7pm. Contact: 943-5819 For Confirmation Visit: www.walnut-creek.org

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meeting (arts, design review, transportation, parks, recreation, or an open space) or at the city council meeting (every 1st and 3rd Tuesday at 6pm), we want to hear from you. You can find out more and sign up for our mailing list to hear about every upcoming meeting and event by visiting walnut-creek.org.

Independent, Republican, or Democrat, we must be willing to work together towards the greater good of the community. Individuals should be willing to respectfully debate ideas and even disagree without being disagreeable in an open forum, without hesitation or internalization, as democracy will only die in silence.

Diversity of opinion may not be easy -- it was never meant to be; yet, in the end, Walnut Creek is all stronger because of it.

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CITY NEWS

Walnut Creek City News First Wednesdays is Back

Mustache Harbor Band kicks off the first Walnut Creek First Wednesdays on May 2, from 5:30-8:30pm, on Cypress Street between Locust and North Main. Enjoy this street festival full of live entertainment, dancing, food trucks, wine, beer, shopping, and kids games. You can find free parking in all city garages after 5pm on Wednesdays: N. Locust Garage - 1625 Locust Street; S. Locust Garage - 1350 Locust Street; and N. Broadway Garage - 1390 N. Broadway.

Downtown Parking Update Public Outreach to Continue, Late Fees Reduced

Last December, city staff presented pricing models for parking demand management and recommended amendments to the city’s parking ordinance to the city council. Council directed staff to conduct outreach to parking stakeholders and return with an update in April 2018.

At the April 17 council meeting, Carla Hansen, assistant to the city manager, provided an update to the Downtown Parking Experience outreach and provided recommended parking changes. Because the demand for parking in the downtown is high, city staff met with three key parking stakeholder groups: Walnut Creek Downtown (WCD), Chamber of Commerce Civic Affairs Committee, and the Transportation Commission. Of all the feedback and ideas from each group, the two main concerns were two-hour limits are too short and the parking meters are difficult to read. “We have roughly 10,000 parking spaces in the downtown of which the city manages 30%. The other 70% are managed privately and are privately owned,” said Assistant City Manager Hansen.

City staff will work on a number of ideas for solutions that could include: develop a marketing strategy to tell people about parking options; add signage to better inform the public about parking options; utilize Uber/Lyft rides as a way to get people downtown; extend time limits to three hours; and install readable parking meters. “Moving the core downtown meters from two the three hours doesn’t cost anybody any more money and seems like a pretty easy fix in that instance, especially since people could do a little more shopping, throw a lunch or a dinner in there, and not have to worry about getting a ticket,” said Councilmember Wilk.

One common theme among stakeholder groups was the lack of communication and understanding about availability of parking options in downtown, so staff will continue the Downtown Parking Experience with more public outreach. “Parking will always be a problem as long as we’re a successful city. I’m going to ask that we continue to direct staff to do the outreach, and I think we’ll get other good ideas as well. I agree with the change from the $100 to $50 on the late fee. I think we should be in line with our fellow neighbors,” said Councilwoman Haskew.

Council directed staff to continue Downtown Parking Experience outreach and to report back with recommended parking changes in January 2019. Council also approved staff to decrease the parking citation late fee from $100 to $50 in the master fee schedule as part of the FY 2018-2020 budget process.

district with higher density housing, additional office, retail, service, hotel and community serving space. The city has prepared a specific plan for the area, which has already undergone significant changes based upon input from the public, various commissions, and the city council. Another public hearing is currently scheduled at the city council’s May 1 meeting.

Memorial Day

The City of Walnut Creek will honor the memories of those who gave their lives in service to our country at a Memorial Day Observance on Monday, May 28. The ceremony will begin at 10am at Civic Park.

Art Wine Festival

The Walnut Creek Community Arts Jazz Band will be performing at the Walnut Creek Art and Wine Festival on Sunday, June 3, from 11am-12pm. Come and enjoy the music, art and wine.

Youth Leadership Commission Register to Attend Now

The City of Walnut Creek’s Youth Leadership Commission is holding its first Youth Conference at Civic Park on Wednesday, June 27, from 10am-3pm. The goal is to energize, engage, and empower the next leaders in Walnut Creek. You can learn how to become more active in the community, engage with an inspiring keynote speaker and youth panel, learn about job and volunteer opportunities, register to vote, watch performances by local bands and dance groups, experience an art show, and win raffle prizes.

The event is free and there will be food available for purchase. Look for more details in the June issue of Community Focus. You can RSVP to attend now by going to www.walnut-creek.org/youthconference. Deadline to register online is May 19.

The Youth Leadership Commission is an official commission of the City of Walnut Creek. It is comprised of 15 Walnut Creek residents who go to high schools in and around Walnut Creek.

Love Pizza, Pets, and Running?

On May 12, come to the Pizza Fun Run 5k at Heather Farm Park to walk, jog, run, and eat with family and friends for a great cause. A portion of the proceeds will go to Roscoe’s Fund, a local non-profit organization that helps with animal rescue and adoption.

Enjoy Round Table pizza stops along the route and get a slice of cheese or pepperoni pizza before continuing on (no gluten-free options). DJ Tucci will be there to pump up the crowd before the race begins and at the finish line. The MC will get everyone stretchin’, movin’ and groovin’ before embarking on an epic pizza journey. There will also be music at each pizza stop, and good doggies are welcome. Everyone who signs up gets one exclusive raffle ticket for a chance to win over 20 prizes! Start time is 11am, end time is 2pm, and there is a $40 race fee. Although April 25 was the cutoff to guarantee a T-shirt on race day, you can still sign up for the run at www.runsignup.com/pizzarun or on the day of the event.

Family Art Day!

Family Art Day is one of Center for Community Arts’ favorite events. Bring the whole family to Shadelands Art Center between 10am and 2pm to enjoy a day of making art and dancing along with giveaways and more. This event is free and fun for all ages!

Lunch is available for purchase from Guacamole Authentic Mexican Grill, so grab a bite and support the scholarship programs. You can check their Facebook page for more details on Family Art Day.

Updates to the West Downtown Area

The western part of Walnut Creek’s downtown area is on the verge of a transformation over the next 20-25 years as city planners envision a transit-oriented development

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SPORTS

Walk-Off Home Run

The College Park High Baseball team tied up the April 19 game vs Acalanes, 2-2 in the bottom of the 7th to go into extra innings. CP had a runner on 3rd in the bottom of the 8th but the Falcons failed to score the winning run. In the bottom of the 9th, still 2-2, with 2 outs and nobody on base, Christian Encarnacion Strand comes up to bat. With the count 0-1, Christian hits the game winning home run deep over the left center field wall. The Falcons JV team was hanging over the fence in left cheering on Encarnacion Strand as he trotted the bases. Submitted by Robert Sullivan

Seniors Celebrate

College Park seniors played their last league home game April 21 and celebrated their accomplishment in front of their peers and families. Each senior played lacrosse at College Park for 4 years and will be attending college in the fall.

Viktor Mallory, Connor Beasley, Brett Jones, Jake Eide, Connor Baldwin, Matt St. Germain, Jackson Thomas and Russell Buckley

Dodge Ball Champs

College Park held its 8th annual Dodge Ball Tournament in April with 32 teams competing over a two-week period. The annual competitive lunch time activity has become a highlight for the students.

Christian Encarnacion Strand rounds the bases while JV cheers. Photo by Robert Sullivan

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Pacific Rim

Club Earns First Junior National Bid

BY PETER CROWLEY

Renowned for their dynamic, scrappy, get-to-the-ball-at-any-cost, on-the-court attitude adopted from beach play, Pacific Rim Volleyball in Pleasant Hill has sent at least one of its Boys Volleyball Teams to USA Volleyball’s Boys Indoor Junior National Championships for each of the last eight years since 2010, winning back-to-back Open Division Junior National Titles in 2014 and 2015. Now, for the first time in club history, a Pacific Rim Volleyball Girls Team has broken through and qualified for this summer’s Girls Indoor Junior National Championships in Detroit, Michigan. The Pacific Rim Volleyball Monsoon Under 16 Team, trained by Club Director Roger Worsley and led by Head Coach James Scrivano and Assistant Coach Bryson Patterson, placed third with a record of 7-2 at the Pacific Northwest National Qualifier Volleyball Tournament the weekend of March 31 - April 1 in Cheney, Washington, just outside of Spokane.

The composition of the Pacific Rim Volleyball Monsoon 16s Team reads like a “Who’s Who” of our local high school girls volleyball players. College Park High School is represented by Defensive Specialist Mia Vahey and Outside/Middle Hitter Maddie Maile. Northgate High School sent Outside Hitter Olivia Patterson, Middle Blocker Julia O’Mahoney, and Defensive Specialist Katy Farrell. Miramonte High School contributed Middle/Opposite Hitter Mikayla Smith.

Benicia High School produced Opposite/Outside Hitter Sara McBride, Libero Sophia Hull, and Setter Sydney Lee. Carondelet High School, Albany High School, and St. Mary’s College High School each lent, respectively, Libero Emma Burke, Outside Hitter Isabela Fraga, and Middle Blocker Sinclaire Hicks.

With newfound confidence, the Pacific Rim Monsoon now prepares to compete at the Far Westerns National Bid Tournament and NCVA Power Regional Championship, both in Reno, Nevada, before turning their attention to Girls Junior National Championships at the end of June in Detroit, Michigan. Follow the team’s progress this spring and summer on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Go Rim!

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This month’s athlete of the month is College Park swimmer, Matt Wilcox. Matt has gone undefeated in every individual and relay race thus far. He trains at Heather Farm Pool in Walnut Creek with his club team, The Walnut Creek Aquabears. Matt has the potential to win NCS in the 100 breaststroke, become an All American, and qualify for the California State Championship meet. Submitted by College Park Sports Leadership.

Back row (LtoR): Head Coach James Scrivano, Julia O’Mahoney, Sara McBride, Sinclair Hicks, Bryson Patterson. Front row: Olivia Patterson, Isabela Fraga, Mia Vahey, Katy Farrell, Sydney Lee, Emma Burke, Olivia Patterson (Sophia Hull and Mikayla Smith not pictured). Photo courtesy of Lifetouch.com.

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Senior Amber Lanza of College Park dominates the 100 Meter hurdles against Alhambra. Photo by David Grube

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New Monument

Dedicated to Local Fallen Heroes

On April 29, the Lafayette War Veterans hosted a special ceremony to unveil a new monument in front of the Veterans Memorial Center on Mt. Diablo Boulevard in Lafayette. At this monument dedication, our community honored 23 members of the Armed Forces from Contra Costa County who have died in the line of duty since September 11, 2001. I was honored to participate in this very moving dedication to military personnel along with their families and members of our community.

The idea for this monument was first envisioned by Gold Star Mom Yolanda Vega. Ms. Vega’s son, Senior Airman Jonathan Vega Yelner, was tragically killed in Afghanistan ten years ago on April 29 when his vehicle struck a roadside bomb.

Ms. Vega understands the importance of supporting other military families, especially Gold Star families. This memorial is a beautiful way to honor the sacrifice of those in our community like her son. I am thankful to all that were part of this effort.

Having a dedicated memorial site where our community can go to honor fallen heroes from Contra Costa County is an important way we can show our support on Memorial Day and every day.

An anonymous $25,000 donation was given towards this project, estimated to cost $50,000. The Lafayette War Veterans have been fundraising as well. This is the

only monument of its kind to recognize service members post 9/11. If you are interested in contributing towards this memorial, please contact Mike Gilson at 925-766-6114 or info@lafayetteveterans. org.

The Contra Costa Blue Star Moms have been working on the High School Memorials Project as a way to also honor our fallen soldiers. The High School Memorials Project will create a granite memorial at each of the 12 high schools in Contra Costa where a former student died in combat during Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. They have successfully created memorials at Concord High School, Berean Christian High, Mt. Diablo High, Ygnacio Valley High, and De La Salle High School. They are fundraising to install memorials at the remaining high schools: Clayton Valley Charter, Antioch High, College Park High, Las Lomas High, Liberty High, Olympic High, and Benicia High School.

This is another way we can honor Gold Star families in our community and remember the sacrifices that were made, not just by the soldiers themselves but also by their families. For more information on how you can help with the High School Memorial Project, please visit: http://www. ccbluestarmoms.org/HighSchoolMemorials.php.

The high school memorial placed at Berean High School in honor of Pfc Benjamin B. Tollefson, a 2005 graduate. Photo by Karol Rodrigues.

Read My Mind

©

Catching Up

BY MICHAEL G. HARRIS, OD

It’s time to catch up on some books I’ve read lately that I haven’t had time to review. Definitely worth your time is Dan Brown’s latest novel, Origin. This is his first book since The Da Vinci Code that I think is a truly worthy successor to that blockbuster.

Once again, the hero is Robert Langdon, the Harvard professor of “symbology” and code-breaker. This time, the story centers around one of Langdon’s former students, the brilliant computer scientist and futurist Edmond Kirsch.

He has a startling announcement that will change “the face of science forever.”

Kirsch has made a scientific discovery that answers two fundamental questions that have baffled humans since the beginning of time: Where do we come from? Where are we going?

His answers will stun both the scientific and religious communities. Has he discovered how life could have begun on earth without divine intervention and what happens to us after we die?

Will modern-day religions be discredited like ancient religions such as idol worship and Greek mythology have been?

Brown tells an intriguing tale with lots of twists and turns. His cast of characters is captivating. This thriller is a real page-turner. Origin is one of those novels that is both spellbinding and thought provoking at the same time.

Enjoy!

Robert Harris’ Munich is a fictionalized version of the 1938 Munich Conference between Great Britain’s prime minister, Neville Chamberlain, and Germany’s leader, Adolf Hitler. The so-called Munich Agreement reached at the real conference was supposed to prevent World War II and bring “peace for our time.” Unfortunately, it did neither.

Harris’s novel brings an interesting twist to what might’ve happened in Munich. A German diplomat and his

British counterpart plot to murder Hitler at the conference. They know if they get caught they will be killed. The suspense is palpable and the outcome uncertain until the very end. This is a fascinating work of historical fiction.

For real history, read David Grann’s Killers of the Flower Moon, the true story of “the Osage murders and the birth of the FBI.” In the 1920s, the Osage Indians were among the world’s wealthiest people. Whites had forced them onto a barren Oklahoma reservation that turned out to have millions of dollars of oil reserves under it. When several Osage are mysteriously murdered and local authorities can’t solve the crimes, they call in the fledgling FBI and its legendary leader J. Edgar Hoover. The story of the killings and the hunt for the murderers highlights a troubling period in our country’s past.

Amy Bloom’s White Houses is a fictionalized version of the real-life friendship of Eleanor Roosevelt and Lorena Hickok. A member of FDR’s administration, “Hick” is the narrator of this intimate fantasy of a secret liaison and “scandalous love affair.” While this book may not appeal to everyone, it’s an interesting perspective on our country’s most celebrated first lady.

Isabel Allende is back with another beautiful novel, In the Midst of Winter. It’s the story of three people from different backgrounds brought together during a fierce winter snowstorm. A minor traffic accident links an undocumented Guatemalan immigrant, an American professor, and his tenant, a visiting professor from Chile, in a wonderful tale of mystery and romance. The title comes from Albert Camus’s quote: “In the midst of winter I finally found there was within me an invisible summer.”

In spite of the tragedy that led to their encounter, all three seek hope for the future. In the same vivid style that made The Japanese Lover a bestseller, Allende’s characters come to life in this brilliantly told story.

OURCOMMUNITYFOCUS.COM | MAY 2018 | 17

Peter Pan Foundation

PHOTOS BY: THE PETER PAN FOUNDATION

Making a Difference Through, Music, Magic and Service

BY GINA CAMPO

Ten princesses knocked on the door of a little girl with cancer to host a tea party and brighten her day. It’s all in a day’s work for the Peter Pan Foundation, which has had a busy few months: • Throwing a super hero Christmas party for foster kids.

• Being “knighted” by the St. Baldrick’s Foundation for seven years of performances at the annual Children’s Hospital shave event.

• Helping the San Francisco chapter of Make-A-Wish fulfill wishes.

• Giving special performances for kids with sensory issues and the deaf community.

• Casting a Cinderella in a wheelchair in our upcoming spring benefit musical.

• Donating hundreds of thousands of dollars to worthy causes over the past ten years.

These are just a few examples of the amazing work the Peter Pan Foundation (PPF) provides to the Bay Area community at a dizzying pace. The mission of this non-profit group in Lafayette is to spread light, love and joy every day. Founder Leslie Noel says, “We inspire children of all ages to reach their full potential by building confidence, character, and creativity through music and theatre while instilling the value of community outreach and philanthropy.”

While the goal is to bring music and magic to all audiences, the performers benefit as well. Teen Garrett Hannigan of Walnut Creek exclaimed, “Performing as Spiderman in the Easter Seals Bay Area event was my favorite event I’ve ever done. The kids were so amazing and kind and loving, as were the rest of our super squad. I’m always so humbled by these events, and I hope that we never stop because they are truly amazing.”

This year the Peter Pan Foundation has partnered with the local Make-A-Wish chapter to present and fulfill wishes. John Jatoft of Concord, a father of a PPF member, stepped up recently to help present Jacob with his wish: “As Batman, I was able to present our honorary hero with a 18 | MAY 2018 | OURCOMMUNITYFOCUS.COM

special trip to Disney World Florida and Universal Studios. Jacob was surrounded by family and friends, and we enjoyed a magical moment where wishes come true.

I felt like I was the one granted a wish by this special young man and his family.”

Come be a part of the magic and support this fabulous organization while seeing an amazing musical performance.

The Peter Pan Foundation presents its annual original musical, Wish Upon a Star, over Memorial Day weekend at Diablo Valley College, 321 Golf Club Road, in Pleasant Hill. The magical musical adventure includes princesses, villains, heroes, and many other beloved characters sure to delight audiences of all ages. Proceeds benefit UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital Oakland. The show features more than 200 performers in several alternating casts. Showtimes are May 26, 27, and 28 at 2pm and 7pm, and the younger cast performs at 10am on May 27 & 28. Tickets are $25 for adults and $15 for students, seniors, and military and can be purchased at www.peterpanfoundation.org.

Helping out the Food Bank

Boy Scouts Troop 810 of Walnut Creek and the Concord-Diablo Rotary Club picked fruit from homes in the Walnut Creek area. The total weight of all the lemons, grapefruits, oranges, tangerines, and kumquats picked was 3,135 pounds! All the fruit was delivered to the Contra Costa Solano Food Bank, where it was given out to families and other organizations that help families in need. This was a win-win situation for everyone; homeowners got their fruit picked instead of having it rot on their trees or on the ground, and families got fresh produce. If you have fruit trees in your backyard that you would like the Concord-Diablo Rotary Club to pick and donate for you, please go to their website at http:// cdrotary.org/ and send them an email request. Submitted by Dorene Louie.

Ten New Eagle Scouts

Ten boys were recently awarded the rank of Eagle Scout after completing hours of community service organizing and building something for their community. Troop 401 has produced 113 Eagle Scouts thus far. The scouts and their families would like to thank Dennis Kameya and Steve Miller for helping these young men reach their goals. Congratulations.Â

Troop Commissioner Steve Lack, Tomas Triana, Aleksi Hieta, Jackson Thomas, Connor Baldwin, Nick Bassett, Matt St. Germain, Patrick Jensen, Johnny Fromm, Zach Ballard, and Brett Jones

Thank you for voting us your local favorite, 3 years in a row!

Boy Scouts and Rotarians pick fruit for delivery to Contra Costa Solano Food Bank. Concord Mayor Edi Birsan was on hand to kick off the event.

HATS OFF TO THE GRADS! Show them how proud you are!

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4TH ANNUAL CELEBRATE YOUR COMMUNITY Thursday, May 3 5:00 to 7:00 pm Pleasant Hill Community Center

We Invite You and a Guest

to Help Us Celebrate Our Donors, Our Friends and Our 2018 Community Grant Awards

Announce your grad. Submit up to 35 words and a photo to info@ourcommunityfocus.com by May 18. Cost is $40.

Hosted wine and hors d’oeuvres Hope to see you at the party!

RSVP to info@phcommunityfoundation.org

Local dollars meeting local needs OURCOMMUNITYFOCUS.COM | MAY 2018 | 19

SCHOOL NEWS

CPHS Principal

Grateful for the Community Support JOSEPH G. ALVAREZ PRINCIPAL, COLLEGE PARK HIGH SCHOOL

To use a baseball analogy, I’m excited to head into the top of the 8th inning with regard to completing the 2017-18 school year! There is so much to reflect on. Student pride and spirit is high, and I’m excited to tell you that the overall number of students who have applied to four-year institutions is up this year. I salute the outstanding staff here at College Park High School; they truly believe our moral imperative is for our students to have the best experiences inside and outside of our classrooms. This is important in helping students become well-rounded and ready for the next steps beyond high school.

Our annual junior prom was a success and lots of fun. A caricaturist was there to draw portraits of the students, and there was a wonderfully eclectic range of music to dance the night away to. We have one rockin’ student body. I’d like to give special recognition to our Associated Student Body (ASB) advisor, Ms. Kate Thomas, and our hard-working student leaders for putting together and pulling off a fantastic event plan, showing true leadership and College Park pride.

Our annual Math Field Day took place on April 13 and was another huge success.

This is a popular event organized by our fantastic math department and a slew of volunteers that features a variety of stations where students are challenged to solve a variety of mathematical challenges such as estimating volume, calculating geometric probability, and determining area, circumference, and slope, among other tasks. Our students have been working hard at mastering difficult math principles and formulas, and this was a great way to showcase their achievements. Thanks to our AP Calculus students for being on hand to assist and support students as they made their way through the stations.

Our drama department recently wrapped up their production of Legally Blonde, and it was, as expected, a tremendous hit! I never cease to be amazed at the talent and creativity of our performing arts students – both as actors and as those who work their magic behind the scenes.

The lighting, props, and acting were truly second to none. Thanks to our wonderful cast and crew and our drama teacher, Mr. Tony Gardner.

As we wrap up this school year, I ask you to join me in thanking and acknowledging the countless College Park volunteers. They show their support and Falcon pride in so many ways. Their help does

Amazing Race May 6

The Foundation for Pleasant Hill Education (FPHE) invites you to join the 5th Annual Amazing Race of Pleasant Hill on Sunday, May 6, from noon to 3pm, beginning at Magoo’s Grill of Pleasant Hill, 1250 Contra Costa Blvd. Stop by for brunch before the start of the race!

Based on the popular TV show, this fun event challenges participants of all ages with interesting clues and activities at various locations throughout Pleasant Hill (activities resemble those on the TV show Minute to Win It). Test your skills with activities suitable for all ages.

Registration is $50 per team. Teams can consist of a family or a group of four or less.

Learn more and preregister at www.fphe.org. At 4pm all teams meet at Pleasant Hill City Hall, 100 Gregory Lane, to determine the winner. Teams and observers are welcome to sign up for brunch at Magoo’s Grill, 1250 Contra Costa Blvd., Pleasant Hill, 10am - noon.

Purchase tickets at www.fphe.org.

The Amazing Race is co-sponsored by Magoo’s Grill of Pleasant Hill and the City of Pleasant Hill. Proceeds benefit this spring’s FPHE school grant program. To support FPHE, visit www.fphe.org or mail a check to FPHE, P.O. Box 23851, Pleasant Hill, CA 94523.

20 | MAY 2018 | OURCOMMUNITYFOCUS.COM

not go on unnoticed, and I am extremely grateful to them for being part of the proverbial “village” that supports our staff and students. Thank you.

The Pleasant Hill Chamber of Commerce recently recognized some of our shining stars at their annual Community Awards event. Congratulations to the

Chamber’s honorees: Educator of the Year: Teacher Laima Haider • Teen of the Year: Ethan Tuey • Education Supporter of the Year: Jeff Eide

You can read more about these deserving recipients at http://www. ci.pleasant-hill.ca.us/836/CommunityAwards

Stressed Out Kids How Parents Can Help

BY SOPHIE CORBETT, Junior at Carondelet High School

If you walk onto any high school campus and describe how the students are feeling, the general consensus could be summed up in one word: stressed. Being a high schooler is a full-time job. We go to school for eight hours, spend our afternoons participating in sports, clubs, or other extracurricular activities, and stay up late trying to finish our homework, only to repeat this cycle again the next day. As a high school junior, this is the world I live in.

Students have so much going on all the time. One student at my high school said, “The stress that students experience is unbelievable. It is a regular occurrence for a student to have anywhere from three to five tests on Fridays, and that’s just for schoolwork. There is another layer of being a perfect college applicant - having high test scores, good grades, and a variety of extracurriculars - and that only increases student stress levels. As students, our load is heavy but somehow we manage.”

A lot of high school stress can be attributed to an epidemic that is quickly spreading among students: overachiever culture.

As college acceptance rates become slimmer, students become more competitive.

Straight As are not outstanding anymore; for the most selective colleges they are the bare minimum. Many students feel that

in order to be a stand out college applicant they need to be the president of three clubs, take several AP (Advanced Placement) and honors classes, be the captain of a varsity sports team, have volunteer hours, feed the starving children in Africa, and solve global warming. Most students simply want to be admitted into a top tier college so they can be successful in their chosen career choice, make a comfortable living, and live happily ever after. Of course, ultimately all degrees are valuable, but when students have ingrained into their minds that the choice of college is critical, it is hard to let go of that mindset.

On top of all this, academics are not the only stressor in a teen’s life. There’s so much pressure to fit in, have the perfect friend group, have a perfect body, have a perfect Instagram feed, and the list goes on and on.

Obviously, I’m not a parent nor do I know anything about parenting. What I do know is that I have two parents who are completely understanding of the stress that I endure. Teenagers have so much on their plates. There is already so much pressure to please our teachers, friends, and coaches.

A lot of my peers struggle to live up to their parents’ expectations, and that just adds to the ever-growing list. I know parents just want the best for their kids, but I think the best thing a parent can do to help their child navigate the stressful high school years is to just be understanding and supportive rather than pressuring their child to be a perfect student all the time. This can go a long way in easing some of the stress that high school students experience.

CENTRAL COUNTY HOMES

Estate Planning

Incapacity Planning for an Elderly Family Member

BY DANIEL DuREE

You may be familiar with using a durable power of attorney for incapacity planning as part of your estate plan, however, what if you have a family member who has an estate plan in place but is starting to lose capacity due to dementia, Alzheimer’s, or simply old age? With some basic steps, you can smoothly transfer management of financial, personal, and healthcare decisions without going through the painful process of declaring someone incapacitated.

Transitioning Management of a Trust

Generally, a person will serve as trustee of a trust until passing away or being declared incompetent by two separate doctors. Only at that time will the successor trustee take control and start managing the trust property.

However, management can be more easily transferred by amending the trust and making the first successor trustee a co-trustee. This way, the original trust creator can still help manage the property alongside the cotrustee and eventually leave the co-trustee to do most of the management.

Another benefit to this is that the original trust creator need not be declared incompetent and will remain a co-trustee until death. This simplifies tax preparation as well because a separate tax return must be filed when the creator of the trust is no longer a trustee or co-trustee.

Transitioning Management of Financial, Personal, and Healthcare Decisions

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Similar to the trust management succession above, most Durable Powers of Attorney and Advance Healthcare directives do not take effect until a person is deemed incapacitated by two doctors. However, if a family member is slowly losing capacity but is presently still competent, an immediate durable power of attorney and/or advance healthcare directive may be created to transition decision making to another person. With an immediate durable power of attorney, for example, the creator can still write checks, file taxes, etc., but their agent can also do these things on their behalf. So, instead of management going from only the principal having authority to only the agent having authority, there is a smooth transition where both parties have legal authority to manage the principal’s finances.

If the deteriorating capacity of a loved one is addressed early enough, you can transition management smoothly without having to resort to declaring the person incapacitated or going through the painful conservatorship process.

As always, please consult with a licensed attorney before you make any decisions regarding incapacity planning. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to give my office a call. I am happy to assist you in any way possible.

Daniel L. DuRee is a third generation resident of Contra Costa County and a licensed attorney practicing in Walnut Creek. He can be reached at (925) 2101400 or visit www.DuReeLaw.com.

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Annual Art & Wine Festival

Memorial Day Weekend Fun

Gather with family, friends and neighbors on June 2 and 3 at the 37th annual Walnut Creek Art & Wine Festival!

Included are two full days of free family entertainment and over 200 arts and crafts booths, live music on two stages, a wide variety of food and drink concessions, craft brew garden, premium wine tent, interactive kids zone, and festival train throughout beautiful Heather Farm Park. Sponsored by the Walnut Creek Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau, the Walnut Creek Art & Wine Festival is a summer kickoff tradition not to be missed.

Back by popular demand is a big screen TV that features a variety of programming, including A’s and Warriors games, shown in their entirety, depending on game schedule. Festivalgoers can enjoy the vibe of an outdoor sports bar in the craft brew garden, which serves bites and local craft beer and remains open through Warriors playoff games. The new Indie Craft Marketplace returns with an even wider variety of talented local artists and craftsmen selling jewelry, handmade leather goods, photography, handcrafted furniture, and much more.

Groove to the beats of nonstop live music and entertainment on two stages with Bay Area favorites Petty Theft, Illegals, Cisco Kid War Tribute, Viva La Reve, and The Soul Section, to name a few. Catch a wide array of local entertainment from The Rising Stars Stage spotlights up-and-coming talented performers, from jazz bands to kung fu, and from gymnastics to choral performances, with plenty of fun for all ages.

The festival is open Saturday, June 2, 11am to 7pm, and Sunday, June 3, 11am to 6pm. It’s BART-able with free shuttle rides to the festival from the Walnut Creek Station. Paid parking is available on site at Heather Farm Park, 301 N. San Carlos Drive, Walnut Creek.

For more information, follow the festival at http://www.walnut-creek.com/artwinefestivalwc and on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

The 29th annual Bay Area KidFest is one of the Bay Area’s longest-running family events which includes three days of jam-packed entertainment, activities, food and fun in downtown Concord.

In a spacious outdoor setting at Mt. Diablo High School, KidFest features free, non-stop entertainment including the popular All-Alaskan Racing Pigs, 1880’s Pioneer Experience and Variety Show, Kidz Science Safari, and the chance to meet and have your photo taken with Spiderman, Olivia & Olaf.

There are dozens of free kids’ activities including face painting, balloon hats, spin art, keepsake handprints, slides, crawls, kiddie golf, soccer, and much more included in the low admission price. There’s also an eclectic food court, arts and crafts, and exhibitor booths.

Admission is just $6 with a donation of canned food to the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano or $7 without donation to the Food Bank. Babies under 24 months and seniors 65+ are free. On Saturday, attendees can double the discount deal by bringing two canned goods to get $2 off one admission.

KidFest is open 10am – 6pm on Saturday and Sunday and 10am – 5pm on Memorial Day Monday. KidFest is held at Mt. Diablo High School, 2450 Grant St. in downtown Concord, just off Highway 242.

Skates, bikes and pets (except service dogs) are not allowed inside KidFest grounds. No alcohol or smoking is allowed inside the KidFest gates. KidFest is held rain or shine. All programs, attractions and schedules subject to change.

For more information, visit www.KidFestConcord.com.

24 | MAY 2018 | OURCOMMUNITYFOCUS.COM

PAIR UP

Stone Fruit

Late Spring and Summer Fruits Coming into Season

BY MARIA TERRY

“Stone fruit” is an important descriptor for many white wines.

Classically, Riesling, Viognier, and Semillon are all white wines that exhibit classic stone fruit aromas and flavors. Stone fruits are basically tree fruits that have a center stone inside: peach, apricot, and nectarine, to name a few. These wines are usually intensely aromatic and have a pretty floral quality.

This menu takes advantage of late

spring and summer fruits that are just coming into season. The appetizer uses fresh nectarines in a bruschetta with floral basil, creamy ricotta, and sweet honey. As its partner, try a Viognier. It is one of the great white grapes from the Rhone Valley in France. It is quite floral with stone fruit and melon aromas.

Grown successfully in many areas of the world, it often undergoes malo-lactic fermentation and is fermented or aged in a bit of oak. This results in a wine that is luscious and rich. It is the perfect accompaniment to the complementary

Daube de Boeuf Provençale INGREDIENTS 2 lbs. stewing beef, cubed 750ml bottle red wine 2 onions, cut into large pieces 1-2 carrots, peeled and cut into large pieces 2-3 garlic, crushed Orange peel with no pith from one orange 2 sprigs parsley

2 sprigs thyme 1 sprig rosemary 1 or 2 bay leaves ½ cup flour 3 tablespoons olive oil ½ lb. salt pork, cubed 2 cups tomatoes, crushed or chopped ¾ cup black Nicoise olives, pitted Salt and pepper

DIRECTIONS

Tie the orange peel, parsley, thyme, rosemary, and bay leaves together with a string to make an herb bouquet. Place the beef, wine, onions, carrots, garlic, and herb bouquet in a large, non-reactive bowl. Refrigerate at least overnight or for up to two days.

Preheat oven to 300°F. Remove the beef from the marinade and set the marinade aside. Pat the beef dry and toss with the flour to coat, shaking off any excess.

Set the beef aside.

Heat the oil in a large pot over medium-high flame. Add the salt pork and sauté until the pork renders its fat and starts to brown. Remove the browned salt pork pieces and stir into the marinade. Working in batches, brown the beef on all sides, removing to a plate as you brown each batch.

Remove the pot from the heat. Strain the vegetables from the marinade. Layer half the vegetables in the bottom of the pot. Layer the beef over the vegetables.

Put the herb bouquet on top of the beef and top with a final layer of the remaining vegetables. Pour the marinade liquid into the pot.

Bring to a boil on top of the stove and season with salt and pepper. Cover tightly with a lid and place in the oven. Cook slowly for anywhere from 3 to 5 hours, stirring once or twice.

Skim any excess fat from the top. Stir in the tomatoes and olives and return to the oven to cook another 30 minutes.

Remove from oven and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper. Serve with boiled potatoes. Garnish with fresh parsley.

Yield: 4-6 Servings

..........................................................................................................................

flavors in the bruschetta.

Staying in the Rhone Valley, seek out a Northern Rhone Red wine for your main course. Northern Rhones are primarily made from Syrah grapes but are often co-fermented with a small amount of Viognier grapes. This addition gives the wine an intriguing peach top note in the aroma. The primary flavors of the wine are plum and cherry with undercurrents of tobacco and herbs.

Pair regionally with this beef stew called Daube de Boeuf Provençale. It has a bounty of fresh spring flavors like fresh herbs, onions, garlic, and even a touch of orange peel. Tangy, sweet tomatoes and salty olives round out its complexity. This pairing will transport you to the French countryside like nothing else.

Finish your meal with more Viognier wine, but look for a late harvest version to serve with this super sweet Peach Pie (find recipe at www.LaSommelierre.

com.). We are fortunate that many local producers make a late harvest wine from the bountiful crop of Viognier that is grown in California. If you can’t find one, just about any other white dessert wine will do in a pinch.

So, go on. Pair Up!

Maria Terry is a Certified Sommelier and Wine Educator in the San Francisco Bay Area. www.LaSommelierre.com.

Nectarine Bruschetta INGREDIENTS 3 nectarines, peeled and diced small 1/2 cup pomegranate arils 1 teaspoon rice wine vinegar 1 tablespoon honey 1 1/2 teaspoon chopped mint 1 cup ricotta 2 tablespoons finely chopped basil 2 tablespoons apricot jam mixed with 2 tablespoons water (heated in the microwave for 30 seconds and then brought to room temp.)

Sliced baguette bread Salt DIRECTIONS In a large bowl, combine the nectarines, pomegranate arils, rice wine vinegar, honey, mint, and pinch of salt.

Set aside.

In a separate bowl, mix together the ricotta, basil, and apricot jam.

Assemble by spreading a generous smear of ricotta on the bread, top with nectarine and pomegranate mixture, and drizzle with honey all over.

Yield: 6 servings

..........................................................

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OURCOMMUNITYFOCUS.COM | MAY 2018 | 25

IN THE MIX

In the Mix

The Season of Live Music

BY PAUL COTRUVO

Over the years, many of our local cities have stepped up to the plate and brought fantastic entertainment for our listening or dancing pleasure, usually in local parks or downtown venues. These have become great meeting places to catch up with friends and neighbors or just hang out with the family and expose the youngsters to “live” music. For me, there is contentment and joy in going to a concert in the park. I just love the casual atmosphere, the fresh air, the picnic dinner, and, of course, the entertainment. So check out some of my recommendations and mark your calendars.

Summer by the Lake Summer Concert Series always has great bands, and this year is no exception. The series is held on the lawn in front of City Hall (corner of Gregory and Cleaveland) every other Sunday, 6pm to 8pm. Some highlights this year: Eagles tribute band Midnight Flyer on May 27; The Fundamentals on June 10; Top Shelf brings a little Motown on July 22; get your hick on with The Bell Brothers on August 19; and, closing out the series on September 2, an amazing Beatles tribute band, The Sun Kings.

The annual Pleasant Hill Blues and Brews Festival is on July 20 and 21. Held in Pleasant Hill Park, this event is always a great time. The party starts on Friday

night at 6:30pm with Midnight Flyer and The Big Jangle. On Saturday, to try and beat the heat, the show begins at the new time of 4pm. This year’s lineup will be The Spencer James Band, Delta Wires, Frankie G. & The Conviction, and, to close out the evening, Zydeco Flames.

The City of Clayton is presenting Concerts in the Grove Series on Saturdays, from 6:30 to 8:30pm. Some of the highlights of this annual event are Big Bang Beat on May 26, Pride and Joy on July 7, and East Bay Mudd on September 16.

If you can’t wait until the weekend, Thursday Nights have been thrown into the mix as well. The 27th Annual Music and Market Series, in Todos Santos Plaza in downtown Concord, always offers a wide range of music. Highlights are the great Prince tribute band The Purple One, always fun Lumberyard on June 21; the all-girl tribute to Led Zeppelin, Zepparella, on July 26; and a great Police tribute band, Stung, on August 9.

These shows start at 6:30pm.

Over in Moraga, they have music on Thursday evenings as well, 6:30 to 8:30pm, at the Moraga Commons Park, off Moraga Blvd. Some of this year’s highlights will be the always fun David Martin’s Houseparty on July 4 and the great Michael Jackson tribute band Foreverland on July 19.

Other great concert series to check out is downtown Lafayette’s Rock the Plaza, every Friday night in June. The

Thursday Night Music and Movie series comes back this year in downtown Martinez. This event is highly recommended as it is truly family-friendly.

Are you still with me? Let’s just say there are many diverse and fun shows to see. I’m positive I’ve left out some great events -- so much to see and so little time. Make sure you check out each city’s local website for more information, and I will see you out there! Go out and support local music!

Other events this month that I recommend:

The 39th Annual MECC Wine Tasting event on May 11, held at the Pleasant Hill Community Center, starting at 5pm. This benefit benefits the children’s programs at Martinez Early Childhood Center. This event not only goes for a good cause but also features some great musicians. Some of the highlights are Garageland Rodeo, Carol Caroompas

and Keith Roberson, and The Three New Frantics. Get your tickets soon. Go to Martinezecc.org/events or call (925) 2292000 for more information.

On May 24 Bob Dylan turns 77 years old. This calls for a celebration! So, on May 24 at Armando’s in downtown Martinez, we will do just that. I’ve assembled some of the best musicians in the area to help wish Bob another successful trip around the sun. This year’s lineup will be myself, Kevin Scott Kroner, Charles Waltmire and Rob Mccloskey.

We will also have some amazing guests, including Mark Stanley, Elizabeth Lewis, and Frankie G. This will be a very special night, especially for all you Dylan heads.

Last year’s show sold out, so get there early. Show starts at 8pm with $10 cover.

Quote of the Month: “Yesterday is just a memory. Tomorrow is never what it’s supposed to be” ~~Bob Dylan

Paul’s Picks

May 5: David & Linda LaFlamme, Armando’s, 707 Marina Vista, Martinez, 8pm May 10: Michelle Lambert, Rocco’s Pizzeria, 2909 Ygnacio Valley Rd., Walnut Creek, 8pm May 12: Soulful Security, Armando’s, 707 Marina Vista, Martinez, 8pm May 19: Native Elements, Armando’s, 707 Marina Vista, Martinez, 8pm May 19: Stung, Dan’s Bar, 1524 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek, 10pm May 24: Bob Dylan Birthday Tribute, Armando’s, 707 Marina Vista, Martinez, 8pm May 25: Lumberyard, WiseGirl, 1932 Oak Park Blvd., Pleasant Hill, 9pm May 27: The Sunday Paper, Armando’s, 707 Marina Vista, Martinez, 4pm May 27: Midnight Flyer, Summer by the Lake, Pleasant Hill City Hall, Gregory Ln. & Cleaveland Rd., 6pm OURCOMMUNITYFOCUS.COM | MAY 2018 | 27

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Moving You On To Better Things- Since 1975

Pleasant Hill Citywide Garage Sale Don't trash it — Sell it!

Saturday, June 9, 2018

If you’re a buyer...

• Register the address of your sale by going online and entering your information at the webite www.pleasanthillgaragesale.com.

• Go to www.pleasanthillgaragesale.com to find households taking part in the citywide garage sale.

• You may also register your garage sale by calling (925) 671-5806.

• Start early but not before the listed times.

Experienced shoppers come early to find the best buys.

• Bring a reusable bag, which will allow you to carry heavier items more easily and to protect fragile objects.

If you’re a seller...

• Deadline to register is Monday, June 4, 2018.

Questions?

Online:

www.pleasanthillgaragesale.com

Phone: (925) 671-5806 Email: abaker@RepublicServices.com

• To direct traffic to your sale, post street signs (not in public rights of way) and advertise online or in newspapers. Please take all signs down after your sale.

A joint effort by the City of Pleasant Hill & Republic Services to protect the environment and conserve resources through reuse.

Sponsoring Businesses:

Pet Anxiety

White Coat Syndrome in Pets

BY DR. LOUISA ASSEO

We all know about “white coat syndrome” in people – a feeling of anxiety in a medical environment -- but did you ever think your pets could experience the same anxiety? We recognize that this is a real problem our patients face. Because of this, we have always tried to make veterinary visits as stress-free as possible for our furry and scaly friends.

We have always advocated “happy visits” for dogs, which entail your dog coming through our doors for a “tour,”

treats, and a scratch behind the ears. We love when one of our patients cannot wait to see our team. A wagging tail and a big dog smile just make our day! For our more nervous friends, we strive to meet them on their own terms – doing our best to decrease their anxiety and make the experience as pleasant as possible.

In a constant effort to improve ourselves, the entire team has embarked on a journey together. Every team member and veterinarian here are now Fear Free Certified Professionals! This eight-course program taught us how to recognize stress and fear in our patients and how we can work towards minimizing stress be-

First Female Deputy Sheriff

BY MARJORIE NEWTON

The first female deputy sheriff in California was Contra Costa County Deputy Sheriff Leila Veale. Immediately after the election in which women in California won the right to vote in 1911, Sheriff Richard Veale, who served the county as sheriff for 40 years, asked Governor Hiram Johnson for permission to appoint his daughter Leila, a 1909 graduate of Martinez’s Alhambra High, as deputy sheriff.

Among Deputy Veale’s duties was cooking meals for the jailers and the prisoners. Occasionally, she accompanied fugitives on their return to the Martinez jail. Deputy Leila received no pay. She continued to serve as a deputy after her 1913 marriage to A. Francis Bray, later a judge and then a justice of the District Court of Appeals.

Until 1965, women in law enforcement in Contra Costa County were hired as “deputy sheriff matrons” and paid $2.78 an hour, with an additional 5% for night work. Applicants needed to be between 21 and 35, possess a California driver’s license, be a U.S. citizen and a resident of the county for a year, and be of good moral character. In addition, they needed to be able to type 25 words per minute.

Then, a new position was created: deputy sheriff - female. In addition to the requirements for matron, one needed a

fore, during, and after the veterinary visit.

While this training has given us more tools and ideas to improve our care, we understand this will be an ongoing journey and are excited to see the positive impact we can make for our pet patients!

Here are some tips you can use to try to make a veterinary visit less stressful for your pet.

1. Leave cat carriers open and visible in your house so your pet can see this as a safe place to curl up for a nap instead of the dreaded vet box. (We routinely find our cats curled up and asleep inside their carriers.)

2. Bring your pet’s favorite treats and toys to your veterinary visit.

3. If your pet needs to spend a longer time in our care, bring a T-shirt from home for familiar smells.

4. Allow extra time for the veterinary visit

if your pet is scared so the veterinary team can work with him or her on their level.

5. Spray travel blankets and towels with calming pheromones such as Feliway for cats and Adaptil for dogs.

As always, we constantly strive to help your pets live healthier, happier lives.

Reducing the stress of a trip to the vet is a big step towards realizing that goal.

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

Oasis Veterinary Hospital proudly sponsors the

PET ADOPTION CONNECTION www.ourcommunityfocus.com

Opportunities for Education

Photo: Leila Veale

high school diploma and had to pass an agility test that included jumping jacks and women’s pushups. In 1979, Sheriff Rainey assigned the first female deputy to the Crime Prevention Unit.

Initially, women were hired only in clerical jobs. The typist clerk position was paid $196 a month in 1945 and became a data entry operator who now makes $1,411 a month. Telephone operators became communication clerks who were then replaced by dispatch. Many positions are still clerical but many are also technical, financial, and instructional.

From Deputy Sheriff Leila Veale Bray to today’s deputy sheriffs, the women of the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office can be proud of their contribution to law enforcement for the past 100 years. Today, male and female deputies are held to the same standards and pay.

BY COLLEEN CALLAHAN

In April, CVS hosted a large, multi-faceted conference in Washington, DC. The content included discussions about the pending merger with Aetna, improving clinical outcomes, formulary structure and strategy, a pilot program targeting early detection of kidney disease, and an expansion of home dialysis.

Licensed agents representing the Silver Script Medicare Prescription Drug Plans attended a special agent council. One session addressed those currently part of the Medicare system and methods employed to determine if they stay with an existing plan or if they change during the Annual Open Enrollment period. Baby boomers are viewed as researchers seeking education, conducting research online, and attending seminars. Roughly 10% of enrollees were labeled “switchers.” Most of them met with an agent and discussed their list of medications, utilization, and changing needs. It was gratifying to see the continued acknowledgement of the value of an agent. For those of

you who might be “switchers,” the next open enrollment period starts in October, with all new plans effective in January.

If you are preparing to transition to Medicare or retirement, I would like to suggest a couple upcoming educational opportunities. Dayna Wilson of Keller Williams Real Estate has invited me to join a panel for one of her Savvy Seniors Living Seminars on Wednesday, June 6, from 10 - 11:30am, at the Lafayette Library. The topic will be “How to Pay for Senior Living.”

Additionally, on Monday, June 18, from 10 - 11:30am at the Pleasant Hill Community Center, I will be presenting with Yvonne Ceresa of Edward Jones, a local financial planning expert. Our topics will include “Medicare 101” and “The Basics of Social Security.”

Research and knowledge will help smooth the transition to Medicare. For those in their 60s, it is rarely too early to plan, but it can be too late, and the mistakes can be costly.

Colleen Callahan, CLU, CASL, LUTCF. Colleen Callahan Insurance Services is located in Pleasant Hill. Contact her 925.363.5433 or ccallahan@callahaninsurance.com.

SPONSORED CONTENT OURCOMMUNITYFOCUS.COM | MAY 2018 | 29

SENIORS

Myth and Facts about CalFresh

Join the Food Bank in Support of Building a Hunger-Free Community

BY STEVEN COURTNEY, CalFresh Outreach Manager at Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano

Did you know that California has one of the most effective solutions to hunger? It’s called CalFresh, a nutrition assistance program for low income individuals and families.

However, many folks in Contra Costa County who are eligible for CalFresh do not use the program. Why? The primary reason is the myth that CalFresh is welfare. CalFresh is not welfare and is not cash aid. It is a nutrition benefit the USDA provides so low-income families can afford healthy food. What are some other common myths about CalFresh?

Myth: CalFresh is for lazy people who don’t want to work Fact: More than 80% of households receiving CalFresh have at least one

member working some or all of the year. Nationwide, over 60% of household recipients have a child, an elderly member, or a member with a disability.

In Contra Costa County alone half of CalFresh participants are children.

Myth: People on CalFresh just want to take money Fact: CalFresh has an economic multiplier of $1.70. In other words, every $5 in new benefits generates as much as $9 of economic activity because it supports wages for local producers, processors, distributors, and retailers alike. In 2015, the program moved roughly 800,000 Californians out of poverty and no longer needing the benefits.

Myth: CalFresh is full of waste, fraud, and abuse Fact: CalFresh has one of the most

rigorous quality control systems of any public benefit program. States must conduct regular “quality control” reviews of case files to ensure that benefits are accurately distributed. And ongoing improvements to regulate the program have kept fraud and abuse to a historic low of less than 2%.

Myth: People on benefits eat steak and lobster Fact: CalFresh is a supplement to the average grocery budget, and people who use the benefits eat similarly to low-income families not using CalFresh.

For sources to these facts or information about CalFresh, please contact

Steven Courtney, scourtney@foodbankccs.org.

Sources: • www.ppic.org/publication/the-calfresh-food-assistance-program/ • www.cbpp.org/sites/default/files/atoms/files/CA.pdf • www.cbpp.org/research/policy-basicsthe-supplemental-nutrition-assistanceprogram-snapmazon.org/the-reality-ofhunger/hunger-myths

Pleasant Hill Senior Activities Fridays, May 18 – August 10 - Active Living Every Day - NEW CLASS! 1:15-2:15pm.

A behavior based nationwide program addressing the root cause of inactivity rather than simply prescribing exercise. Participants learn skills they need to become and STAY physically active. 12 classes: $22/$18 (Dist. Res.) 1:15pm-2:15pm Tuesdays, May 1- May 22 - iPhone Basics 2:30-3:30pm. Learn iPhone basic usage such as voice calls, texting, email and photos. There is also an overview of basic Apple and 3rd party apps. $22/$18 (Dist. Res.) May 12 - Mosaics Workshop 10am-4pm. Learn to incorporate beautiful glass, stunning colored mirrors and multiple ceramic tiles into a burst of beautiful art! Learn cutting techniques, applications, adhesives, substrates, grouting & more! Great for beginners or seasoned mosaic artists. $65 materials fee payable to instructor at class. 1 workshop: $100/$85 (Dist. Res.) May 25 - Memorial Day Social 1:30pm. Don’t miss our annual Memorial Day Social program, followed by an ice cream treat! Free.

233 Gregory Lane, Pleasant Hill 925-798-8788

Martinez Senior Activities Thursdays – Bingo 1pm. Open for sales at 12pm. $5 per pack. $30 guaranteed minimum prize for 10 regular games. Plus 3 warm up and half time. Special games (prize dependent upon sales).

May 8 & 22 - Health Insurance Counseling (H.I.C.A.P) 9am. Make an appointment if you have any questions concerning your Medicare Coverage. Counselors can help evaluate your current health insurance. Call (925) 602-4168 to make an appointment.

Free May 10 - Consult-an-Attorney 1-3pm. General free legal advice, sponsored by Contra Costa Senior Legal Services, for seniors ages 60 and older who reside in CC County. Topics covered are: housing, consumer issues/debt, elder abuse, small claims, and more.

No wills/trusts. Free. Appointments are the 2nd Thursday of every month.

May 13 - Pancake Breakfast 8 -11am. This breakfast is open to the community and includes eggs, sausage, pancakes, orange juice and coffee. The delicious breakfast is $5.00 for adults and $3.00 for children under 10.

818 Green Street, Martinez 925-370-8770 30 | MAY 2018 | OURCOMMUNITYFOCUS.COM

As Russ Sees It Hodge Podge

BY RUSSELL CARROLL

• Men have clothes. Just stuff we like. We can wear this stuff pretty much in any combination we wish.

Nothing is too old or out of style. I still own a square crochet tie. I have a “Hootie and the Blowfish” T-shirt that is literally coming apart at the seams. Most men don’t really care about what matches, what is flattering, or what is stylish. Women on the other hand have “outfits.” These are clothing items that must be worn as an ensemble. These items cannot simply be moved around willy-nilly from one outfit to another. If a man should happen to find himself in that rare moment of courage and stupidity, he may suggest “Tonight, why don’t you wear those black pants you like so much”? Without looking at him she’ll reply, “Those go with a different outfit silly.” By the way, at this moment “silly” means “dummy.”

• I recently underwent shoulder surgery and was required to have my arm in a sling for several weeks. During this time, I was asked on a regular basis what had happened to my arm. I would get about as far as saying, “I had shoulder surgery” when the other person would interrupt me with, “When I had surgery on my (fill in the blank with any body part of your choice).” Almost every person would go on about his or her own surgery experience. Some had more than one, so that was extra interesting to me. I now know how horses can fall asleep while standing up. One person must have been short on his own surgery story, so he shared a family member’s. Again, I found this riveting. Meanwhile, I was still stuck at “I had shoulder surgery.” I rarely got to share my story. At some point, I started inviting their stories. They would ask, “What happened to your shoulder?” and I would respond, “First, why don’t you go ahead and tell me about all of your or a family members’ surgeries, close calls, and operations that failed.” It helped speed things along to a conclusion.

• So why are food servers the only

people qualified or permitted to handle a pepper grinder? If I answer “yes” when servers ask if I would like some ground pepper, I think they should hand the darn thing over to me. I am pretty confident I could handle this device successfully. Now, I may turn the top part the wrong way the first time, but I would quickly catch on. I know I could do this. Is this resistance to surrender the pepper grinder based on the fear that I may use too much pepper if l were to be driving this device without supervision? I am pretty sure I would tell myself “when” at the same point of pepper grinding as if my server were handling it. Maybe I will go out and buy myself a pepper grinder and bring it to restaurants with me. Inevitably after a while I bet they would start charging me a “grindage fee.”

So it might be time for me to go crawl into my favorite outfit, grab a hanky for my allergies, prepare to hear your surgery story, and buy a pepper grinder. But…that’s just how I see it.

Letter to the Editor

The Martinez Open Space and Park Protection Initiative is now on the ballot for the June 5 primary election. It is now MEASURE I - “I” for Citizen Initiative.

Measure I is simple: It gives Martinez voters final approval of any city council vote for intensive development on any Martinez open space or parks.

Civic leaders, environmentalists and concerned citizens created this initiative and collected more than 4000 voter signatures to help protect our parks and open space from big developer projects.

Our parks and open space bring real value to our neighborhoods as well as health, beauty and recreation. They provide adults and children a place to play, walk, picnic, and just enjoy a natural setting.

But these lands can be gone with just four votes from the council. The threat is real.

The city council has repeatedly voted to develop these lands — three times in recent years. To see more of them disappear would be a permanent loss, one that would forever impact our neighborhoods.

Measure I is the answer. The city council can still continue to convert open space and parks to more intensive development (as they have done repeatedly in the past), but now the citizens of Martinez will have a true voice in the future of these lands.

Martinez open space and parks affect everyone’s quality of life and are under continued pressure for development. Measure I just makes sense.

Vote YES on MEASURE I—“I” for Citizen Initiative

For more information, or to donate or volunteer, contact us: Martinez Open Space and Park Protection Committee Website: www.martinezopenspace.ORG Facebook: Martinez Open Space E-mail: martinezopenspace@outlook.com

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OURCOMMUNITYFOCUS.COM | MAY 2018 | 31

IN THE GARDEN

Helping Mom Came Naturally Always Been Hooked on Cooking

BY LESLEY STILES

By the time I was able to stand at the sink on a chair, I was already hooked on cooking. We had a new house that my parents purchased on a little court that was once an almond orchard in Pleasant Hill. They had bought a couple other homes in the area by that time. One in Gregory Gardens flooded so badly we had to be evacuated by the National Guard. Other winters we would float up and down streets in blow-up rafts when it rained hard enough.

Our new house had a modern kitchen that included a garbage disposal.

It was house rules for girls to do all the inside chores and the boys to do all the outside chores, so while I was old enough to scrape and rinse plates for the dishwasher, I was not yet trusted with flipping the switch for the garbage disposal. As the sink filled up with food scraps and water, I’d stir it around and pretend it was my amazing, beautiful soup concoction.

After sink scrap soup there was nothing I wouldn’t try. Not a huge fan of cooking, our mom had three meals a day for nine people to think about, so helping her was easy and taking over culinary tasks eventually was perfectly natural.

With so many mouths to feed, meals were regimentally well planned. Every night of the week had its assigned enticing entrée like tuna noodle casserole, hamburgers

on Wonder buns, liver and onions, Swiss steak, spaghetti, and on Sundays a roast of some kind. Raised Catholic, we followed the fish Friday thing pretty closely. If my parents ever went out on a Friday, we got fish sticks instead of tuna or pan-fried cod. If they went out on Saturday, we got frozen pizza. Special occasions brought lasagna into the house.

I was fascinated with lasagna. Making it was a labor of love and took all day in the beginning. Searing and browning the hamburger with onions and garlic was spiritual, and I would stand on my chair and just stir it with the savory steam bathing my face, my nirvana smell center. Pouring in the tomato sauce at the right time was ritualistic. Rinsing the can with water and pouring that in along with red wine was reverential. Heating the water for the noodles became a lifelong lesson to teach others to always have more than enough salted water for any kind of pasta. My noodles did not stick to the bottom of the pot or each other. Layering lovingly with cheese and frozen spinach consumed me spiritually, leaving the finished product much less of a pleasure than actually assembling my hypnotic masterpiece.

These days I make lasagna with fresh seasonal vegetables, surprise, and I love layering it with mozzarella fresca instead of ricotta mixed with cottage cheese as we did back in the day. I will definitely be crafting my beloved casserole with fresh asparagus, green garlic, and chopped, crunchy, life-giving kale and mushrooms

right now -- peak season love.

Carrying on in the spring vein, rhubarb, lost artisan joy of a treat, sliced, and shortly stewed with enough sugar to barely take the edge off your teeth, tops out as an all-time favorite. Equally amazing is a nice, ridiculously simple delicious puff pastry strawberry rhubarb tart. Both are dollop kissed with honey-vanilla sweetened crème fraiche.

As the Month of Mothers winds down, cherries will be joining asparagus, green garlic, stunning greens, and Pixarlike globe artichokes on market tables, followed by apricots and plums. Early variety peaches and nectarines harking from our hotter than us Central Valley push their way in as well in the very near future.

As my hikes get more adventurous, I remind myself by the minute to watch for snakes. They are exercising their real estate rights in our hills and must be respected

Pasta with Velvety Ragout INGREDIENTS 1 pound pasta, cooked 2 pounds cremini mushrooms, sliced 1 pound spring onions or scallions, sliced 1 pound shelled and prepped fava beans 1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme 3 cloves garlic, chopped 1 cup chicken or veggie stock ½ cup cream 2 tablespoons butter 2 tablespoons olive oil 1 cup grated Manchego cheese Salt and pepper to taste DIRECTIONS Heat a large sauté pan with butter and olive oil to hot and melted. Add garlic and onions and sauté on medium heat until opaque and soft, about 7 minutes. Add mushrooms and sauté on same heat, about 5 minutes. Add fava beans, stock, cream, thyme, and pasta and simmer on medium high for about 5 minutes more. Season with salt and pepper. Serve with grated Manchego cheese.

Serves 4 to 6.

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32 | MAY 2018 | OURCOMMUNITYFOCUS.COM

or painful, nasty consequences may ensue. BUT do not let that prevent you from hitting the trails. I spotted the elusive Yellow Globe Lily on last night’s gallivant.

Grab joyous beauty while you can.

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.

Strawberry and Rhubarb Gallette INGREDIENTS 1 basket of strawberries, washed, hulled and cut in half 1 pound fresh rhubarb, washed, leaves removed and sliced in ¼ inch pieces ¼ cup Grand Marnier 2 tablespoons lemon juice ½ cup turbinado sugar ½ cup almond paste 1 sheet puff pastry 1 egg, beaten 1 tablespoon sugar Vanilla Crème Fraiche 1 cup crème fraiche 1 teaspoon pure vanilla 1 teaspoon honey Mix all together in a bowl and serve on warm galettes DIRECTIONS FOR GALLETTE Preheat oven to 425*. Cover a sheet pan with parchment paper.

Place berries and rhubarb in a saucepan with the Grand Marnier, juice, and sugar.

Bring to a boil and simmer until rhubarb is cooked and liquid had pretty much reduced to thick syrup, about 15 minutes. Let cool a bit.

Place puff sheet on sheet pan. Brush almond paste in the middle of the dough, fanning out to about 4 inches from the edge in a circle. Spoon fruit filling in center on the paste. Roll edges of puff up around the fruit in a circle, leaving a hole in the center.

Brush pastry with beaten egg and dust with 1 tablespoon of sugar. Bake for about 15 to 20 minutes until pastry browns and filling bubbles.

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A New Breast Cancer Clinic

BY TIFFANY SVAHN, MD

When a woman is diagnosed with breast cancer, her life is turned upside down. Suddenly, she is consumed with the process of making appointments, getting more testing, making decisions, consulting with a variety of specialists on different days – all at different locations. She may even seek second and third opinions. This process is overwhelming and exhausting and can take weeks to months. For these reasons, our team developed a program to make the process easier for breast cancer patients.

I am excited to announce that Diablo Valley Oncology and West Coast Surgical Associates have opened the Women’s Cancer Center of the East Bay, located in our NEW multidisciplinary cancer clinic in Pleasant Hill. This new program focuses on breast cancer patients and brings together physician expertise from breast surgery, medical oncology, and radiation oncology.

Similar to multidisciplinary tumor boards at academic centers, our board certified, highly trained and experienced physicians offer a multidisciplinary team approach to diagnosis and treatment planning. The benefit of multidisciplinary care is that patients receive multiple medical opinions from a group of specialists, helping them feel confident they have explored all of their options.

Research shows that a multidisciplinary approach leads to better outcomes, with improved quality of life and improved

survival rates.

This is how our program works. In a single appointment at our breast cancer clinic, patients meet with a breast surgeon, medical oncologist, radiation oncologist, nurse navigator, and patient care coordinator. After the physicians have examined each patient, they come together to discuss the best treatment options. By the end of the appointment, each patient receives a comprehensive treatment plan and a list of the next steps.

Our program will minimize the anxiety and uncertainty that patients experience while waiting days and weeks between individual appointments by reducing the time between diagnosis and treatment, resulting in the best possible outcomes for each patient.

We believe that the Women’s Cancer Center of the East Bay integrates all of the essential components necessary for a comprehensive, world-class breast cancer program. All in one day – all in one place!

We invite the public to an open house and ribbon cutting ceremony on May 8 at 6pm at 400 Taylor Boulevard in Pleasant Hill.

Dr. Svahn is a medical oncologist and breast cancers specialist with Diablo Valley Oncology and Hematology Medical Group in Pleasant Hill and San Ramon. She can be reached at 925-6775041 SPONSORED CONTENT

You’re Invited to a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

Please join us for an Open House of the

Women’s Cancer Center of the East Bay Our new Multidisciplinary Cancer Clinic focuses on breast cancer patients and brings together physician expertise from Breast Surgery, Medical Oncology and Radiation Oncology.

Tuesday, May 8, 2018 5:30 - 7:30 400 Taylor Blvd., Suite 103 Pleasant Hill, CA 94523 RSVP to Shayna

925-677-5041 x272

(LtoR): Monica Eigelberger, MD, Christine Chung, MD and Tiffany Svahn, MD OURCOMMUNITYFOCUS.COM | MAY 2018 | 33

BUSINESS DIRECTORY

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Pleasant Hill

COLLISION

Collision Repair & Painting • Frame Straightening Insurance Claims • Glass • Customs

www.PleasantHillCollision.com • email phcollision@aol.com 925-939-1160 • 1581 Oak Park Boulevard • Pleasant Hill SODUKO

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handyman service

Specialized in Home & Commercial Repair RELIABLE & AFFORDABLE • Contractors License #777628 • EPA Certified Renovator www.budgethandymanservices.com Phone: 925.689.1339 • Mobile: 925.577.3025 Robert Angelsberg

ADVERTISERS

Agent 2000, Derek Knapp

Law Offices of Lauren Smykowski

City of Pleasant Hill

Martinez Auto Body

Diablo Futbal Club

Martinez Beavers Association

Diablo Valley Oncology

Martinez Early Childhood Center

Dudum Real Estate Group

Matt Rinn – State Farm Insurance

Ecomulch

Maureen Ingalls - RE/MAX Accord

Ellinwood Exterminators

Oasis Veterinary Hospital

Flaskerud - RE/MAX Today

Pacific Coast Carpet

Food Bank of Contra Costa & Solano

Parkway Smiles Dental

Gregory Ln. Family & Implant Dental Practice

Pleasant Hill Rec & Park

Hillcrest Veterinary Hospital

Samuels Construction

Hire My Husband

Senior Helpers

Irvin Deutscher Family YMCA

Special Olympics Northern CA & Nevada

Jennifer L. Martin D.D.S.

Susan Wood Photography

John the Painter

The Moulding Company

Kidest

Walnut Creek Chamber of Commerce

Lamorinda Flooring

Waters Moving and Storage

Law Offices of Daniel L. DuRee

Wence’s Restaurant

Home Detailers Housekeeping Let the work speak for itself!

Deep Cleaning - Everytime • Dust Door Frames / Baseboards • Clean Fireplace • Complete Dusting Rotate Couch & Chair Cushions • Move Furniture • Hardwood Floors • Vacuum Furniture (Spot) Wash Walls • Oil Wood (Kitchen Cabinets, Baseboards, etc.)

CALL TODAY FOR YOUR FREE ESTIMATE - 925-689-9823 34 | MAY 2018 | OURCOMMUNITYFOCUS.COM

CLEANING SPECIAL

$50 OFF On First Detailed Cleaning For New Clients Only SATISFACTION GUARANTEED! BONDED

EXPIRES 4/30/18

MAKE SOME PLANS

now

may 5 & 12

may 12

may 19

Musicians Wanted

About Face

Meals on Wheels Gala

Diablo Regional Concert Band is seeking musicians for upcoming concerts, especially those who play percussion, trombone, and bass instruments. Practice on Thursdays at 7pm, Martinez Junior High School, 1600 Court St, Mtz. Sign up at the Martinez Adult Education office, (925) 451-6222

The Arts & Culture Commission of Contra Costa County is again offering two-day painting workshops at no cost to all Contra Costa Veterans. Families are invited. No art experience required. 2-5pm, Concord Vet Center, 1333 Willow Pass Rd. Concord. AC5.org

Support the life-saving funds provided by the Meals on Wheels and Senior Outreach Services by attending the 50th Anniversary Gala at the Blackhawk Museums, 6-10pm, at 3700 Blackhawk Plaza Circle, Danville. Purchase tickets at www.mowsos.org.

ARF’s Animals on Broadway

may 1

may 6

may 12

may 26, 27 & 28

Pleasant Hill Garden Study Club

Fiesta Nueva

Walnut Creek History Tour

Kidfest

Monthly meetings. Rosalind Creasy presents “Edible Landscape -- The New American Garden.” Guests are always welcome and free. PH Community Center, 320 Civic Dr., PH. (925) 323-9314 or www.phgsc.com.

Enjoy a variety of Latin American inspired appetizers, beverages, and live salsa music while raising funds for The Gardens at The Heather Farm nonprofit programs, 2-5pm. For tickets and more details, visit gardenshf.org or call (925) 947-1678. 21 and over only.

The guided walking tour of downtown Walnut Creek is an easy 90-minute tour on city sidewalks that brings to life the early times of Walnut Creek. Meet at 9:30am at Liberty Bell Plaza, 1430 Mt Diablo Blvd, Walnut Creek.

Join the one-mile fundraising pet walk at 9:30am followed by a festival at 10am at the Broadway Plaza Walnut Creek. Family activities include pet adoptions, pet product booths, demonstrations, games, pet contest, raffle prizes, and more. www.arflife.org

Festival with racing pics, rides, Science Safari, Spiderman, food, nonstop entertainment and more. Saturday and Sunday, 10am-6pm and Memorial Day, 10am-5pm at Mt. Diablo High School. www.kidfestconcord.com

may 3

may 26

Candidate Forum

St. Paul’s Concert Series

The Concord Library will host the forum for the three candidates for Superintendent of Schools. Hear about their experience and positions on relevant issues. 6:30-8pm at 2900 Salvio Street, Concord.

Monthly world-class performances at a donation-based, family-friendly admission price.

May performance: Richard Cionco – Pianist “Denmark Program” at 7pm, 1924 Trinity Ave., WC. stpaulswc.org.

may 5

may 11 - 27

may 19

may 30

Community Paper Shredding

Funny Little Thing Called Love

Family Art Day

Many Faces of Skin Cancer

Bring your papers to Alhambra HS parking lot, Alhambra and E St., from 9am-12pm.

No need to remove paper clips etc. $5 per legal size box. A Martinez Rotary supported event, with proceeds donated to the community.

Martinez Campbell Theater, 636 Wart St., Martinez. For information and showtimes, visit www.campbelltheater.com.

may 5

may 12

may 19

june 6

Bag of Books Sale

PH Garden Study Plant Sale

CarFit

Retired Teachers Scholarship Lunch

Friends of the Martinez Library offer thousands of gently-used books and DVDs. Fill a grocery sack with your selections for $5. Money raised supports library programs,11am4pm, Martinez Public Library, 740 Court St.

Super Mother’s Day Gifts- succulents, herbs and vegetables, annuals, color bowls, garden décor and more. 9am-2pm, Winslow Center, corner of 2590 PH Road and Taylor Blvd.

Bring the whole family to enjoy a day of artmaking stations, drumming, dancing, face painting and more and support Community Arts scholarship programs. Lunch available for purchase. Free and fun for all ages! 10am2pm, Shadelands Art Center, 111 N. Wiget Lane, WC.

A free, interactive and educational program for mature drivers developed by AAA and AARP. Hosted by the Commission on Aging.

10am-1pm, Church of Jesus Christ of LatterDay Saints 555 Boyd Road PH, RSVP: (925) 671-5221 to make a 20-minute appointment.

Join an engaging panel of medical experts as they offer insights in the latest information on prevention, risk factors, new treatment options including immunotherapy. 6:308:30pm. To reserve, call 925-677-5041 x272.

Join the California Retired Teachers for lunch at Boundary Oak, 3800 Valley Vista Rd, Walnut Creek, from 11-2pm, where $50,000 worth of scholarships to DVC and LMC students will be presented. $28. Call Betty Hodge (925) 6865637 by May 26 to reserve.

OURCOMMUNITYFOCUS.COM | MAY 2018 | 35

B ay Area

2018

Downtown Concord

Saturday & Sunday 10am - 6pm Memorial Day 10am - 5pm

29th Annual

M AY 26, 27 & 28

Memorial Day Weekend l by rea de rs of Cl ay co rd .co m va sti Fe st Be Vo ted 5 ti m es

RII FAR SAFA CEE SA NC IEN K SCIE Z SC IDZ KID

N AN SKA A LASK -ALA LL-A ALL GSS PIG RA G PI NG CIN RACI

Open

4

ALL Day

Shows Daily

’

1880 1880 S PIONEER EXPERIENCE EXPERIENCE

ALL-DAY ALL-DAY RIDE RIDE WRISTBANDS WRISTBANDS 20 Fun Kids Rides

MEET MEET & & GREET GREET

and OLIVIA SPIDERMAN SPIDERMANand OLIVIA

FREE WITH ADMISSION * 1880’s VARIETY SHOW & Pioneer Experience • All- Alaskan Pedal TRACTOR Pulls • Kid’s Town America Meet Spiderman, Olivia & Olaf • All- Alaskan Racing Pigs • Kidz Science Safari Non-stop Entertainment Stage • Inflatable Crawls & Slide • Balloon Art & Handprints Face Painting & Spin Art • Da Island Way Dancers • Memorial Day Ceremony featuring Concord Blue Devils PLUS Eclectic Food Court • Arts & Crafts, Exhibitor Booths • Pony Rides, Petting Zoo & Zipline BayAreaFestivals @BayAreaKidFest

#KidFest

SATURDAY SPECIAL: Bring 2 Cans for $2 off admission* *Admission: $6 per person with canned food donation; $7

without donation.

FREE! Babies under 24 months and seniors 65+

FREE GOODY BAG 1st 500 FAMILIES EACH DAY!

PROUDLY SPONSORED by

KidFest at Mt. Diablo High School 2450 Grant St., Concord Attractions, programs and schedule subject to change.

Produced by

www.kidfestconcord.com KidFest proceeds benefit local education, youth sports & health non-profits

(925) 671 - 3287