May 2016 Community Focus by Community Focus

Pleasant Hill • Concord • Martinez • Lafayette • Walnut Creek

COMMUNITY

FOCUS IN THIS ISSUE:

• BUCHANAN JET SERVICE • THREE MOTHERS’ STORIES • ALHAMBRA GRAD IN MLB

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MAY 2016 Reaching Over 50,000 Homes & Businesses

Julie Says

May Day or Mayday? ful ribbons attached to the top for the BY JULIE ROSS dance. The idea was for dancers to circle As I turned the the pole, winding the ribbons around it to page on my kitchen create a decorative pattern. calendar to jot down The concept seems pretty simple an appointment, I until you actually watch a video of the noticed “Early May process and read about how the dance is Bank Holiday – United performed. Here is how it works: DancKingdom” listed at the bottom of the little ers are divided into two groups. Each square for the first Monday in May. Bank member of one group grabs a couple of Holiday? What ever happened to May Day ribbons and skips clockwise around the in Europe, where revelers frolic joyously pole. The other group holds ribbons and around a Maypole to welcome spring? skips in a counter clockwise direction. As Evidently, in most of the United they approach each other, the dancers Kingdom, the first Monday in May is now develop a pattern where they not only observed as a holiday to “celebrate and alternate skipping right and left of those demand” rights for workers, which seems going the opposite direction, they also to be something of a contradiction in pass the ribbons first over and then under terms. Are they hosting a party or a proeach oncoming dancer. Sounds like a test? recipe for disaster, no? I much prefer the dancing-around According to my online source, the a-Maypole-version of an early May dance can be done walking, but “skipping celebration rather than a humdrum “bank Cake Ad February 2015.pdf 2:50 PM is preferable. ” Advice to potential Maypole holiday.” InCS olden times, villagers used a1 1/26/15 dancers: Let’s not try to take this on right tree or put up a tall pole with long color-

away. We will probably need all year, until next May, to put on a decent show. Although the dance can be done with or without music, I recommend we plan to select something to accompany us as we execute these advanced moves. My source suggests something in a 6/8 time signature. Advice to potential Maypole musicians: For your May Day audition, make sure you have a nice jig or reel in your repertoire. Now doesn’t that make you wonder what May Day has to do with the origin of the distress call “Mayday?” Perhaps extreme dancer ribbon entanglement caused the May Day audience to take a break from their rhythmic clapping to cry “Mayday” as a warning of impending multiple strangulations. Maybe this could have given rise to the alert now used primarily by mariners and aviators in instances of life threatening emergencies. It turns out however, that is not the case. The international distress signal

“Mayday, Mayday, Mayday” (always said three times in a row for clarity) originated with London radio officer Frederick Stanley Mockford in 1923. In the course of his duties, Mockford was in frequent contact with Le Bourget airport in Paris. He came up with the alert “Mayday” because of its similarity to the French “m’aider,” or “help me.” So, in summary, there appears to be absolutely no connection between “May Day” and “Mayday.” I know, kind of disappointing, but aren’t you glad we’ve cleared that up? Happy May -- Stay tuned for Maypole dance auditions next spring! (Please note that making a false distress call is a federal crime, punishable by six years of imprisonment and/or a fine of up to $250,000. Maybe that’s why they call it the “Early May Bank Holiday” instead of “Mayday.”) You can reach Julie at julieakross@ comcast.net

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Dena Betti with daughter Jenna, Debbie Smith, MM, with son Matt, and Jackie Hopkins with her daughter Kate. (Story on pg. 16) PHOTO BY: Susan Wood Photography

may 2016 • ourcommunityfocus.com

INSIDE

Welcome Dr. Asseo

Memorial Day Observances

7 P.H. Rec & Park News

Strawberry and Basil Jam

Wish Upon A Star

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Boys & Girls Clubs An Affair to Remember

The Boys & Girls Clubs of the Diablo Valley presents their 31st annual gala dinner and auction Saturday, June 6. Sponsored by Shell Oil Company, this event is at the Concord Hilton at 1970 Diamond Blvd., Concord. Black tie is optional. Registration and silent auction begins at 5:30pm, dinner is served at 7pm, and live auction begins at 8pm. This year’s honorary chair is Harriett Burt. Tickets for the event are $100 prior to May 20 and $125 thereafter. The gala dinner and auction is one of four major fundraisers throughout the year that raises much needed funds to help sustain the programs offered to the community’s youth. Research shows that Boys & Girls Clubs play a key role in reducing delinquency, increasing academic achievement, providing access to technology, developing career goals, and improving attitudes toward school. Clubs achieve this by providing a safe and supportive environment, fun activities, supportive relationships with peers and adults, increased opportunities to learn and develop, and recognition of achievement. Boys & Girls Clubs of the Diablo Valley has been an integral part of the Martinez community and surrounding

area for more than 60 years, providing services to thousands of young people. Director of Operations, Tina Busker explains, “Our mission is to enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens. Our club works collaboratively to fulfill our mission through ongoing partnerships with families, volunteers, educators, businesses and community leaders that offer quality after-school and summer programs at little or no cost to families, which sets us apart from other after-school programs.” The club is open after school Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, 2-6pm, and Wednesday 1-6pm. Programs include Character & Leadership Development, Education & Career Development, Health & Life Skills, The Arts, and Sports Fitness & Recreation. For more information, please call 925 228.3896 ext.302 or visit www.bgcdv.org.

may 2016 • ourcommunityfocus.com

Memorial Day Observances Local Memorial Day observances will take place on Monday, May 30, to honor and preserve the memory of those who made the ultimate sacrifice in all wars and conflicts in service of our nation. Martinez: A two-part ceremony will begin at the Alhambra Cemetery on Carquinez Scenic Drive at 9am, with a benediction, placing of the wreath by the Sea Cadets, and the pledge of allegiance. Services will resume at the All Veterans Monument at Berrellesa Street and Alhambra Avenue at 10am, with public officials, a keynote speaker, patriotic music, a 21-gun salute, and playing of Taps. American Legionnaires and VFW comrades will provide firing detail, with backup from the Sea Cadets carrying the organizational and service flags. Following the ceremony, meet at the Martinez Veterans Memorial Building, where American Legion Post 29 will provide refreshments while the 30-piece Diablo Regional Concert Band provides entertainment. Pleasant Hill: Congressman Mark DeSaulnier and other elected representatives from state, county and local communities are invited to speak at the Contra Costa

County Veterans Monument at the corner of Contra Costa Boulevard and Boyd Road at 1pm. The program includes a procession of massed colors of veterans’ organizations in attendance from around the county, a Sea Cadets Color Guard, and the Military History Preservation Group Firing Party for the traditional 21 gun salute, followed by a playing of Taps. Recorded patriotic music will play throughout the program. A tent and chairs will be in place for your comfort, and refreshments will be served following the observance. The Veterans Remembrance Committee, established in 1924, participates in hospitalized veterans’ causes. They will assist in presenting the program and welcome your attendance. Walnut Creek: The City of Walnut Creek’s Memorial Day observance will pay tribute to American GIs from the Civil War to present day with a unique program featuring live music and dramatic readings. The free event begins at 10am Monday, May 30, at Civic Park, and concludes with the laying of wreaths at the Veterans Memorial Plaza. The Walnut Creek Concert Band, under the direction of Harvey Benstein, will perform.

May 3, a 24-Hour Giving Day On Tuesday, May 3, you are invited to support your favorite charities and causes with East Bay Gives (EBG). EBG is a 24-hour giving day. Now, in its third year, this popular event promises to be bigger and better. East Bay Gives 2016 is presented by East Bay Community Foundation. EBG is an opportunity to mobilize everyone in the East Bay on the same day for 24 hours. Last year, from midnight to midnight, East Bay Gives raised more than $649,000 for 360 nonprofit organizations, and they are excited about the community response indicating an even more successful day this year. The goal for East Bay Gives 2016 is to raise $1 million for 500 East Bay nonprofit organizations from 5,000 unique donors. East Bay Community Foundation will also distribute $150,000 in prizes and incentives to participating nonprofit organizations.

Contra Costa Humane Society (CCHS) in collaboration with East Bay Community Foundation will be holding an East Bay Gives event at their office in Pleasant Hill. CCHS is celebrating its 25th anniversary and will also hold a cat adoption event on May 3 in “Kitty Corner” from 10am-5pm. “Kitty Corner” is CCHS’ popular on-site, free roam cat shelter where adopters can spend time with the cats in a relaxed, living room like environment and find the cat that best suits their lifestyle. Kitty Corner and CCHS are located at 171 Mayhew Way, Pleasant Hill. Adoptable cats and dogs are also viewable at www.cchumane. org. Join us! Spread the word about East Bay Gives, and be sure your favorite nonprofits are registered so that you can give locally. Donate online at www.eastbaygives.org, or go to www.cchumane. org, to donate online or see adoptable cats and dogs.

New Jet Service Soars into Buchanan Catch a Direct Flight to Burbank or Vegas from Concord

who want to make the jaunt home from Southern California schools. “My daughter Rose will love this,” said Walnut Creek’s Ruth Seabrook, whose daughter attends school in the Los Angeles area. It makes sense, says Kish Rajan of Walnut Creek, the former director for Governor Office of Business and Economic Development (GO Biz) who currently works with the Southern California Leadership Council. Not only did he see the economic advantages for both Contra Costa and Burbank, but also he will be a frequent traveler himself on flights several times a week. “Flying into Burbank is so much easier,” he said. “LAX is a monster. Plus, Buchanan is right near my home, so I don’t have to fight traffic coming from Oakland or San Francisco.” He said these types of scheduled charters are the wave of the future. “It’s almost like the ‘Uber-ization’ of air travel. We’re repositioning our assets in a new way.” Effects on Concord’s Economy Perhaps the biggest impact will be

downplayed the noise level the jets would create. “We already have charter jets taking off from Buchanan, so it will only be about four more flights per day,” Freitas said. And Edmondson-Jones said that the JetSuiteX planes were “some of the quietest” out there. With the new service, JetSuiteX has plans to refurbish the old PSA terminal at the airport, which was, in essence, a double-wide modular building, Freitas said. The decision to begin service from Buchanan was a “no-brainer,” Edmondson-Jones said. “There’s a sizeable amount of people who fly for business between Southern California and the Bay Area each day, and many come from Contra Costa County.” Underused Airports Get a New Life He says the idea came from an old Jet Blue model that looked at underused airports in urban areas — specifically Long Beach and JFK in New York — and saw how there were “millions of people who lived near these airports and didn’t take advantage of them because there weren’t services they needed.” Jet Blue went in and started offering flights, and in the case of Long Beach, they saw a huge revitalization. “Jet Blue made a go of Long Beach, and JetSuiteX wants to do the same thing here.” Clientele The weekend trip to Las Vegas — which leaves Friday and returns Sunday — is sure to be popular, EdmondsonJones said, as it will attract those who want to get away for a little fun. The Pioneer Newspaper found another demographic that JetSuiteX did not take into account: college-age kids

NITY FO MU C M

BY PEGGY SPEAR Contra Costa County is taking off, quite literally, as a new charter jet service roars to life at Concord’s Buchanan Field. JetSuiteX, a new venture from private jet company JetSuite, launched their first flights from Concord to Burbank earlier this week, offering round-trips, up to three times daily, as well as a weekend jaunt to Las Vegas. “This is a long overdue service to the community,” said Supervisor Karen Mitchoff, who helped broker the deal when JetSuiteX first approached the county in February. “They said they wanted to launch in April, and I was skeptical that it could happen,” she says. “But it did.” Scheduled Charters The value of the service is easy to see, she said. The “scheduled charters” are a great option for business travelers in the county who would normally have relied on quick trips from Oakland, San Francisco, or even San Jose airports, while fighting rush-hour travel. The planes themselves are refurbished American Eagle jets, according to Keith Freitas, director of airports at Buchanan Field and the Byron Airport. They will serve up to 30 passengers at a time. The inaugural price will be $109 oneway and upwards of $300, depending on the day of the week and as demand increases, said Gareth Edmondson-Jones, a spokesperson for JetSuiteX. Security Issues The other advantage of the flights is that passengers won’t have to endure long TSA screening lines. “But that doesn’t mean the travel is unsafe,” EdmondsonJones said. Passengers will still be screened to make sure they are not on the “No-fly” list and checked for any explosive devices. He said there would be other security measures in place but was not at liberty to go into detail as to what they were. “Rest assured, there will be visible and invisible security all around,” Edmondson-Jones said. Refurbishing the Airport Both Freitas and Edmondson-Jones

COMMUNITY SPONSOR

on the economy of Concord and surrounding cities, Mitchoff said. “We are much closer to wine country and other attractions here at Buchanan,” she said. “It makes sense for tourists who want to come and not pay top-dollar San Francisco prices and can enjoy what Contra Costa and the surrounding areas offer.” Concord’s Manager of Economic Development John Montagh agrees. “This will be a boon for Concord’s own tourist efforts, as we have the hotels, restaurants and other amenities that people can enjoy.” It is also a boon for Buchanan Field itself, Freitas said. “We do a lot to educate the community about what we offer here,” he said. “This will allow us more visibility and show what a gem we have.” Buchanan Field is one of two airports operated by the county; the other is in Byron. The Airports Division is self-funded and actually generates revenue for the county, schools, and other communityrelated agencies. The Airports Division works with tenants at both airports to provide the community with a wide range of services, from flight schools, to skydiving, to private hangar rental, Freitas said. It remains to be seen how consumers greet the new service, but EdmondsonJones is positive about the response. “We’re in it for the long haul,” he said. For more information, contact Contra Costa Airports, call 844-Fly-ToUs, or visit online at www.ContraCostaAirports.org.

PROUDLY SUPPORTED BY THESE COMMUNITY SPONSORS Businesses Invested in the Community

Don and Norma Flaskerud Broker/Owners Flaskerud Team

Rinn a Community Sponsor. Learn about the benefits ofMatt becoming Contact us at info@ourcommunityfocus.com ourcommunityfocus.com • may 2016

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118 Hardy Cir, Pleasant Hill — $775,000 1985 Maybelle Dr, Pleasant Hill — $650,000 1943 Jeannette Dr, Pleasant Hill — $535,000 36 Mazie Dr, Pleasant Hill — $619,000 626 Maureen Ln — $950,000 1201 Monument Blvd, Sp 75, Conc — $199,000

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

may 2016 • ourcommunityfocus.com

WELCOME TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD

Oasis Veterinary Hospital

6635 Alhambra Ave, Suite 100, Martinez 925.954.8087

A Familiar Face Provides Compassionate Care Dr. Louisa Asseo is excited to open a new animal hospital that provides care for all pets, from furry to scaly! Oasis Veterinary Hospital is located in Alhambra Plaza in Martinez, across the street from the Virginia Hills Shopping Center. Dr. Asseo has served the veterinary community of Pleasant Hill and surrounding areas since she graduated from UC Davis veterinary school in 2002. She believes staying current with advances in veterinary medicine helps her do a better job for all of your companions. She recently achieved advanced certification through the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners, which awarded her a title as a specialist in dog and cat medicine and surgery. Dr. Asseo also looks forward to continuing care to reptiles and small mammals. Oasis Veterinary Hospital understands these family members are special to you and deserve the same care as your dogs and cats. She and her team have spent countless hours advancing their knowledge of these unique pets to ensure that they, too, can live happier and healthier lives. Oasis Veterinary Hospital is built on compassionate care for all animals. Collaborative care with local specialists ensures that your pets receive innovative and individualized care. Helping pet owners understand their pet’s health is

oasisveterinaryhospital.com

Lower left going clockwise: Heather Konefal, Dr. Louisa Asseo, Kara Keeble, Stephanie McClure, Nikki Palmer, and Dan Howland, with furry client, Nelly, at the newly constructed Oasis Veterinary Hospital. Photo Credit: Susan Wood Photography

crucial, and Oasis works hard to explain medicine and treatment options to pet guardians so they can make the best choices. Dr. Asseo and staff understand that visiting the vet’s office can be stressful for both you and your animal companions, and Oasis Veterinary Hospital does their best to make each visit as friendly as possible, encouraging “happy visits” for dogs, greeting them with treats and

love to help them understand they care about their happiness and comfort. Oasis Veterinary Open House, Saturday, May 28, 12 – 5pm: Come meet Dr. Asseo and her talented and compassionate team at their open house. Oasis Veterinary looks forward to seeing you for refreshments and giving you a tour of the new hospital! Bark! for Life, Saturday, August 13: Come out and join the team of Oasis

Veterinary hospital as they sponsor a dog walk and party in support of the American Cancer Society.

Oasis Veterinary Hospital proudly sponsors the

PET ADOPTION CONNECTION www.ourcommunityfocus.com MEET & GREET OPEN HOUSE! MAY 19 6-7:30pm MAY 21 10am-noon

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It Takes a Village BY PATSY BARICH In the small-town world of yesteryear, people lived in villages, looked out for their friends and neighbors, and would rally a team of volunteers to assist someone who was hurt, ill, or otherwise in need (think barn-raising). As we age, we often find ourselves more isolated today than in the old-time village scenario. We live in sprawling suburbs and, more often than not, without extended family upstairs or down the street to help us with yard work, shopping or changing light bulbs. If we lose the ability to drive our own cars, we must rely on limited public transportation and the kindness of our friends (who are also aging) to take us places. While we are living longer than the previous generation, our dependent state makes us vulnerable to frustration and loneliness, and it puts us at risk for accidents and illness. The village concept addresses these issues as a grassroots, member-based, concierge service that links seniors with needed resources such as temporary transportation

and pet care while also providing social connection. In Walnut Creek we’re organizing such a village and plan to launch in May 2017. Membership will be open to residents of Walnut Creek, Alamo, and adjacent sections of communities that do not currently have a village (including Pleasant Hill and Concord). Other villages are up and running in Lamorinda, Berkeley, North Oakland, and San Francisco. Like these other communities, Walnut Creek Village is also a part of a nationwide Village-to-Village Network. This is a movement of 300+ communities, some in development and others up and running, in which seniors help each other and themselves to maintain their independence in the homes and neighborhoods they love. If you’d like to find out more about membership or volunteering for Walnut Creek Village, please visit the website at WalnutCreekVillage.org, contact us at WalnutCreekVillage@gmail.com, or phone us at 925-956-1990.

WEEKLY UPDATES www.ourcommunityfocus.com

Estate Planning The Role of a Trustee

BY DANIEL DuREE This month I am going to talk a little more about the office of trustee. While some people are familiar with the concept of a trust, many do not understand the role of a trustee or the duties that accompany the position. Becoming a trustee First, here is some background about becoming a trustee. A person named as a trustee or co-trustee does not automatically become one by law. A person may either accept or reject the position. A named trustee or successor trustee accepts the position by either signing the trust document, signing a separate written acceptance, or by knowingly exercising powers or performing duties under the trust instrument. Once a person accepts the position of trustee, they owe certain duties to the current beneficiaries of the trust. Duties of a trustee The trustee of a trust can be analogized to the CEO of a corporation. The trustee is the manager of the trust and is legally bound to carry out the purpose of the trust on behalf of the beneficiaries. This is similar to how a CEO carries out the purpose of a corporation on behalf of the shareholders. Like a CEO, a trustee has certain legal duties they owe to the trust beneficiaries. When a revocable trust is created, the creators of the trust are both the trustees and the beneficiaries as long as they are both alive and competent. Upon the death

2015

of the original trust creator(s) there are new beneficiaries as well as a successor trustee or co-trustees. It is the successor trustee which owes certain legal duties to the new trust beneficiaries. This list is not comprehensive and some of these duties may be altered by the actual trust instrument. Duty to administer the trust On acceptance of the trust, the trustee has a duty to administer the trust according to the trust instrument. For a revocable trust this generally means the successor trustee must get the assets together, settle any outstanding liabilities and make the listed distributions to the beneficiaries. Duty of loyalty to trust beneficiaries The trustee has a duty to administer the trust solely in the interest of the beneficiaries and never for his or her own personal profit. Duty to inform beneficiaries The trustee has a duty to keep beneficiaries of the trust reasonably informed of the trust and its administration. This includes a duty to provide the terms of the trust to a beneficiary. Although acting as a trustee may sound daunting, it is fairly straightforward when approached methodically. If you have any questions about being a trustee or choosing a successor trustee, please do not hesitate to call; I will be happy to talk with you about it. Daniel L. DuRee is a third generation resident of Contra Costa County and a licensed attorney practicing in Walnut Creek. He can be reached at (925) 210-1400 or visit www.DuReeLaw.com.

THE LAW OFFICE OF

DANIEL L. DUREE Estate Planning Attorney

THANKS TO OUR CUSTOMERS FOR VOTING US #1!

925.210.1400

2013 • 2014 • 2015 8

may 2016 • ourcommunityfocus.com

1535 North Main Street, Suite 240 • Walnut Creek

Please call today for a complimentary consultation at my office or in your home.

www.DuReeLaw.com

TRUSTS • WILLS • PROBATE

Flowers for Mom

IN FOCUS

Ecomulch Celebrates its 10th Year

Great Gift Ideas for Mother’s Day Colorful flowers, succulents galore, water-wise perennials, herbs, heirloom vegetables, and more are featured at the annual plant sale, May 7, hosted by the Pleasant Hill Garden Study Club (PHGSC). The sale runs 9am to 2pm at the Winslow Center, on the corner of Pleasant Hill Road and Taylor Boulevard. The sale is family-friendly and occurs the Saturday before Mother’s Day, offering plants and garden-related accessories that make great gifts for Mom. Many are priced for children’s pocketbooks. Representatives from Contra Costa Water District, East Bay Municipal Utility District, Sustainable Contra Costa, Herb Society of Northern California, and Contra Costa Master Gardeners are available to answer questions. Plants at this sale are propagated locally, thrive in our climate, and are competitively priced. Some proceeds communityfocus-ecomulch-ad-2014-8.pdf are donated to local, garden-related

Ecomulch, a family owned business in Martinez, was founded to re-purpose the woody materials that our parent company, Hamilton Tree Service Inc., was generating and sending to the landfill. We have designed a product that is free from contaminates, making it environmentally preferable and ecologically friendly. Since 2006, Ecomulch has diverted approximately 18,000 tons of wood material with the help of local cities and landscapers in the Contra Costa County. We take what would otherwise be a waste product from Hamilton Tree Services and other local professional tree companies and process it to create a usable, high quality product that is valuable to our local communities. The product we create is absolutely the best mulch available due to the high organic content created by using the entire tree and not just the bark. We also pride ourselves on our zero contamination feedstock, unlike mass produced mulch found from most refuse companies. We do not use pallets, construction debris, or green waste that may have contaminates, such as herbicide, petroleum or metal products. In addition, we produce a small carbon footprint due to our location. Ecomulch has turned local urban tree trimmings -- an otherwise typical landfill waste product -- into a sustainable business of recycling and reusing some of nature’s most nutrient-dense material. From mulch, wood chips and bark, to topsoil, compost, and even recycled, urban, log planter beds, Ecomulch has laid the groundwork and ground cover for landscaping that is as sustainable as it is beautiful. Shop Ecomulch for all your landscape needs, including a large variety of organic mulch, compost and soil. We are located at 5010 Pacheco Blvd., in Martinez. For more information, call 925-228-1673 or visit MyEcomulch.com.

10 CELEBRATING

YEARS

APRIL 16TH

s n o o n t o f o u r p. m. c o me jo i n u

Open house saturday may 21 Buena Vista Swim Club

Memberships Still Available For Summer 2016

8/29/14

12:46 PM

Local Organic Mulch, Soil and Compost

• Colored Mulch • Natural Mulch • Organic Soil • Compost products

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• Quiet, relaxed, shaded lawn setting • Lifeguards on duty - Gated kiddy pool • Holiday Parties, BBQ and Picnic area • No swim team to interfere with pool access

• New members receive (4) 30-minute private swim lessons • Private swim lessons open to non-members. Call Swim Lesson Director Wendy Helms (925) 639-6723

We design landscape products that are environmentally preferable and ecologically friendly.

OPENING DAY

non-profits. The PHGSC is co-sponsored by the Pleasant Hill Recreation and Park District. For more information about the sale or the club, call 925-323-9314, e-mail phgardenstudyclub@yahoo.com, or go to www.phgsc.com.

5010 Pacheco Blvd., Martinez (925) 228-1673 MyEcoMulch.com Like us on Facebook!

Call Events Director Ramona MacIntyre 925.798.5354 197 Cortsen Road, Pleasant Hill • www.buenavistaswimclub.org ourcommunityfocus.com • may 2016

City of Pleasant Hill

Mayor’s Message The Role our City Plays in Economic Development One of the most frequent questions I get asked as mayor of Pleasant Hill relates to the various retail operations in the city: “Why can’t we have a (fill in the blank with your favorite establishment)?” or “How can you let that (fill in the blank) exist in our city?” I thought it might be worth explaining the city’s role in determining which businesses operate in Pleasant Hill, as well as the city’s limitations. First, all retail and commercial operations and locations in town are privately owned. Final decisions as to whom to lease, for how much, and under what terms rest with the owner(s) of the properties. The city, through our economic development efforts, may assist in identifying potential businesses that have expressed an interest in Pleasant Hill or may be a good fit for a particular location. Historically, the city played an even greater role in attracting specific businesses when there was access to financing through the redevelopment agency. However, that powerful economic development tool was eliminated in 2011, when the state abolished redevelopment agencies. The city continues to assist businesses through the Façade Improvement Program and Retail Marketing Incentive Program. Both programs provide assistance to eligible businesses that operate in the commercial areas of the city. Additionally, our Chamber of Commerce may also play a role in economic development efforts by identifying interested parties and bringing the two together. Ultimately, however, the decision to locate or open a specific business rests with the owner(s) of the building and their ability to reach an agreement with a prospective tenant. 10

City ordinances can also impact this process. For example, an ordinance passed last year requires massage establishments to obtain a license through the police department. It also sets out the terms under which such licenses can be denied or later revoked. Most of these ordinances can be found in the Municipal Code under Chapter 18.25 – Commercial, Retail Business, Neighborhood Business, Office and Light Industrial Districts. The code lays out which types of establishments are permitted or require a use permit. It also outlines land use regulations, hours of operations, parking and other requirements for operation of a business. The purpose of this section of the municipal code is to: Provide appropriately located areas consistent with the general plan for a full range of office, retail, commercial, industrial and service commercial uses needed by Pleasant Hill’s residents, businesses and workers. Strengthen the city’s economic base, and provide employment opportunities close to home for residents of the city and surrounding communities. Create suitable environments for various types of commercial, office and industrial uses, and to protect them from the adverse effects of inharmonious uses. Minimize the impact of commercial, office and industrial development on adjacent residential districts. Ensure that the appearance and effects of commercial, office and industrial business and uses are consistent with city-wide design guidelines and are harmonious with the character of the area in which they are located. Ensure the provision of adequate off-street parking and loading facilities. There are additional goals with respect to the various business type dis-

may 2016 • ourcommunityfocus.com

Sue Noack, Mayor of Pleasant Hill

tricts, which can be found in the code under Chapter 18.25 (www.pleasanthillca.org/municipalcode). The city is always open to suggestions for new businesses or to help answer questions about economic development activities. If you hear of businesses that are interested in locating in our great community, or if you are an existing business and are interested in the city’s economic development programs or efforts, please contact Kelly Calhoun at kcalhoun@pleasanthillca.

org or call (925) 671-5213. Finally, I’d like to give a shout out to “National Small Business Week,” which is May 2-7 this year. Small business continues to be the backbone of America’s economy, employing half of our country’s private sector workforce and creating many jobs. During this week, and whenever you can, help small businesses thrive in Pleasant Hill by shopping locally and supporting your neighborhood business.

Public Meetings Architectural Review Commission May 5, 19 City Hall, 100 Gregory Lane, Small Community Room, 5pm. Contact: 671-5209 Civic Action Commission May 4 City Hall, 100 Gregory Lane, Small Community Room, 6:30pm. Contact: 671-5229 City Council Feb. May 2, 16 City Hall, 100 Gregory Lane, Council Chambers, 7:30pm. Contact: 671-5229 Library Task Force May 9 City Hall, 100 Gregory Lane, Large Community Room, 11am. Contact: 671-5229 Planning Commission May 10, 24 City Hall, 100 Gregory Lane, Council Chambers, 7:30pm. Contact: 671-5209 Education Commission May 25 City Hall, 100 Gregory Lane, Community Room, 7pm For Confirmation Visit: www.ci.pleasant-hill.ca.us

Chamber Calendar May 5 – Ambassador Meeting 8:30 – 9:30am May 11 – Business Mixer 5-7pm, hosted by Contra Costa Country Club, 801 Golf Club Rd, Pleasant Hill May 19 - Chamber Board Meeting 8-9 am, City Hall Community Room, 100 Gregory Lane, Pleasant Hill May 23 – Government Affairs Committee 5:30-7pm, Back Forty Texas BBQ, 100 Coggins Dr., Pleasant Hill. May 24 – Ribbon Cutting 5:30pm, The Irvin Deutscher Family YMCA, 350 Civic Drive, Pleasant Hill. Grand opening of a new cycling, mind/body, functional fitness and CrossFit rooms May 30 – Chamber Office Closed Memorial Day 680 Business Networking - 2nd & 4th Wednesdays or Thursdays, 8-9am, JFK University, 100 Ellinwood Way, Pleasant Hill Every Wednesday Evening – OFF THE GRID Food Trucks, 5-9pm, Trelany Road,PH.

City of Pleasant Hill

Pleasant Hill City News City LED Street Lighting Complete Last year the city began working with PG&E on a no-cost program to upgrade the lights that PG&E owns in the city. The program included upgrading 1,505 light fixtures with LED (light-emitting diode) within the city limits, and the upgrades were completed late last year. A report provided by PG&E at the April 4 city council meeting indicated that the city will realize a cost savings of approximately $18,000 annually, along with 440,000kWt estimated annual energy savings. Some residents are still waiting to have their city owned lights switched over to LED. There are approximately 316 city owned lights, and councilmembers will discuss how to pay for and replace those lights at a future council meeting.

Formation of a Tourism Business Improvement District At the March 21 city council meeting, councilmember Carlson reported that the Economic Development Committee met on March 14 and received a presentation on the possible formation of a Tourism Business Improvement District (TBID). Councilmember Carlson explained, “The districts are a business improvement, marketing plan where there is a small fee attached to each hotel room and that money is then used to market our local hotels. The hope is to move forward with this.” In 2015, city staff and the Chamber of Commerce met with Civitas Advisors and the general managers of Pleasant Hill hotels and determined there was unanimous support for a TBID from the local general managers. About $40,000 is expected to come out of the economic development budget to move forward as well as retain consultation services from Civitas Consulting Company to help establish the district.

Citywide Garage Sale The 4th Annual Pleasant Hill Citywide Garage Sale takes place on Saturday, June 11. If you are interested in hosting a garage sale on this date, you can now sign up online at www.pleasanthillgaragesale.com. You can post details about your sale at any time once you register. This event is co-sponsored by Republic Services, Berkshire Hathaway, and the PH Civic Action Commission. Questions? Contact mnelis@pleasanthillca.org.

New Adult and Teen Librarian Last month, the Pleasant Hill Library welcomed Adriana Niño as the new adult and teen services librarian. While finishing her masters program at San Jose State, she was offered a position with the Contra Costa County Library System. “I liked working in public libraries much more than I thought I would. So, in the last few semesters of my masters program, I took courses focusing in public library work and started a completely new career goal. One course in particular, which focused in young adult collections and reader’s advisory, was one of my defining courses and really motivated me into becoming a teen services librarian,” she said. After working as an adult and teen services librarian for the Hercules and Pinole libraries, she was offered a role at the Pleasant Hill branch. “Like most librarians, I have a deep personal love of reading and tend to gravitate towards adult science fiction and young adult novels of all genres,” she added.

City News Continued was a mixture of both specific questions about a revenue measure for a library and more general questions about the types of services and programs the city provides. There were also ranking questions for a library in comparison to other items, such as infrastructure improvements. Results of Survey: At the April 18 city council meeting, a presentation of the Revenue Measure Feasibility Survey Results was provided by Bryan Godbe. The survey reached over 15,000 likely November 2016 voters in Pleasant Hill. The fielding dates were March 24 through April 3, and the sample size was 427 (226 online and 201 phone), with a 4% margin of error. The poll showed that 84% of the residents polled are satisfied with city services, with strong support for a local funding measure. Top priorities were: fixing potholes and repairing neighborhood and city streets and roads; repairing and maintaining sidewalks; maintaining neighborhood police patrols; and providing a library building that meets current health, safety, fire and seismic standards. “There is solid support we feel for a general purpose funding measure at that ½ cent level for 20 years, and we think that you should consider that measure,” said Bryan Godbe. Patrick Remer, Pleasant Hill community library manager, spoke during public comment and reminded the council that there is a $10 million deferred maintenance expense on the current library, including a leaky roof, a gravel parking lot, a poor HVAC system, and other serious needs. “We are doing a lot every year to spend on the building we already have to make sure it is safe for our families to come to. Every year that we wait, I think is a year that we waste. I want to see all of these dollars go towards an extraordinary facility for future generations and not just be money that’s spent plugging holes and keeping the dam intact,” he said.

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Library Update: Revenue Measure Possibility Last year, the Pleasant Hill Library Task Force recommended that the City of Pleasant Hill conduct a survey to determine community support for a possible revenue measure to finance the construction of a new library. The City Council Budget Committee approved the recommendation at its meeting last January. Staff asked the polling firm Godbe Research to conduct the poll. The survey was designed around an 18-20 minute interview with each Pleasant Hill voter, using a hybrid module involving phone and Internet surveys. The survey

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City of Martinez

Mayor’s Message In the April issue of Community Focus, I discussed the deteriorating condition of our residential streets and the increasing challenge of obtaining funds to improve and maintain them. I reported that the city had done a good job with the major arterial roads, with $2.1 million of approved paving projects about to start and some already completed. I received several email responses to last month’s column that clearly show the concern Martinez residents have about the city’s infrastructure, careful use of taxpayer dollars, and concerns about an additional tax burden. I would like to share one of those emails that encapsulates the concerns of many, along with my response: Dear Mr. Mayor, We read your message in the Community Focus, and you must think we’ve just come down the river in a banana boat. Low oil prices and gas taxes? Where is the revenue from all the years of high oil prices and gas taxes? The condition of the Martinez roads is only a part of a poorly managed township. For over 20 years we’ve been hearing about various projects and fixing the waterfront. 20 years and still nothing? In that time Benicia addressed their waterfront issues with a beautiful marina, and Pleasant Hill built a thriving downtown and demonstrated they know how to maintain their streets. We watched as the county repaved Reliez Valley Rd., stopped at the

Martinez City sign, then started again at the Pleasant Hill border. That section of the Martinez Reliez Valley road was like a third world road. We know; we drove it every day. The county manpower, materials, and machinery were all there for the taking, and Martinez could have negotiated with them and taken advantage of those assets and gone in with the county to fix a bad section of road. It was another opportunity missed. The Martinez downtown has tumbleweeds blowing through it in the evenings and is full of vagrants that scare most folks away. Having an Amtrak station is no excuse for these people being there. I lived in SLO for many years, and they, too, have an Amtrak station, but their police force and town management discourage the vagrants from loitering around the downtown. In doing so, they thrive with tourists and businesses. Don’t get us wrong. We love living in this area, but we are disappointed at seeing so little progress made in Martinez and lack of vision compared to other surrounding cities. Martinez has the advantage of a waterfront as a huge asset, but it’s wasted. If the waterfront thrives, the town thrives. Why can’t the management folks see this? My response: Thanks for reading my most recent contribution in Community Focus. I wasn’t quite sure if anyone read it, but I can see by your response you did. The City of Martinez is actually a very

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may 2016 • ourcommunityfocus.com

Rob Schroder, Mayor of Martinez

well-managed community, solvent with a healthy reserve and high bond rating. We have limited sales tax income, but a very stable property tax, as long as property values do not decline as they did in 2008-2012. The waterfront continues to have issues that date back to five loans from the state, taken between 1960 through 1985, to build and improve the marina. We have been negotiating with the state on that outstanding debt of $4.1 million. One success was that the state legislature has granted lands at the waterfront to the city under the public trust doctrine. This means that we no longer have a lease with a finite expiration date, which will allow us to master plan the waterfront (both water side and land side) and attract private partners with capitol. The waterfront master plan will start soon after we secure a new city manager. Benicia has done a nice job with their waterfront with housing and a marina. Unfortunately, East Bay Regional Park will never allow us to build housing on our waterfront. Roads continue to be an issue, but believe it or not, the main arterials are in pretty good shape. It is the neighborhoods that need work. Every year since I have been on the city council, over $1 million per year has been dedicated to roads and paving. This is in addition to any other funds we get from the State of California, federal grants, and Measure J funds. We have not been draining money away from gas tax and other sources for non-road issues. You mention Reliez Valley Road and

the county project. We had intended on joining the county on that project, but we felt they were unfairly overcharging us for our participation and decided not to join the project. As you probably know, the city section of that road was repaved at least 3 or 4 years ago. In October, we authorized $2.1 million of paving projects, some of which have been completed, with the remainder to commence after the rainy season. We are set to approve additional projects in Virginia Hills and Rolling Hills neighborhoods at a low bid of $759,000. If you go downtown, you will see several buildings undergoing construction as a result of the mandatory earthquake retrofit ordinance. Property owners have either re-invested in their buildings or made upgrades, but many have sold and the new owners are upgrading and bringing in new businesses. Pleasant Hill was fortunate enough to institute a redevelopment agency that created their downtown. Martinez never had redevelopment. In fact, the only Contra Costa cities that did not have it were Orinda, Moraga, and Martinez. We do have a homeless problem, just as every other city does. Being the county seat with all the county services, such as welfare, county hospital, jail, etc., exacerbate the problem. It is a social issue that the chief of police, Contra Costa County Mental Health, and the CC Homeless Program are always working on. Thanks for sharing your views with me. Rob Schroder, Mayor of Martinez

Public Meetings City Council Meeting May 4, 18 City Hall, 525 Henrietta Street, 7-11pm. Contact: 372-3500 Design Review Meeting May 11, 25 City Hall, 525 Henrietta Street, 4-5pm. Contact: 372-3500 Planning Commission Meeting May 10, 24 City Hall, 525 Henrietta Street, 7-11pm. Contact: 372-3500 Zoning Administrator Meeting May 4,18 City Hall, 525 Henrietta Street, 4-5pm. Contact: 372-3500 For Confirmation Visit: www.cityofmartinez.org

City of Martinez

Martinez City News County Working on Master Plan for Downtown Martinez Contra Costa County Public Works Director Julie Bueren spoke to city council on April 6 regarding plans to demolish the properties at 1127 and 1139 Escobar Street. The houses have been vacant since 2011. The two parcels will be converted into parking lots that will serve both the city and county. She said, “In the long-term, they would be part of our land portfolio that would help us do some master planning down here that would look at perhaps a new county administration building with new board chambers serving the needs of county employees and Downtown Martinez. Potentially, also a parking ramp or parking garage that would help with some of the parking pressures in downtown for county employees, city as well as the courts.” Bueren also said the county is looking at the possibility of either renovating 651 Pine Street, the current county administration building, or looking at something completely different since it has a $22 million deferred maintenance bill. “We question whether it makes sense to invest money into rehabilitating that building or whether it makes more sense to do something completely different,” continued Bueren. In addition, the county is looking into demolishing the old county jails (651 Pine), built in 1902 and in 1940 and located behind the finance building (currently in the process of rehabilitation). Demolishing the jails could make room for a future administration complex. Mayor Schroder questioned whether there will still be a county seat presence in the county’s planning in the future and what the new center would house. “I have not heard the county administrator or the board members talk about an interest in moving out of Martinez completely. The desire will be to work with the city in partnership to develop a plan,” stated Bueren. Both Mayor Schroder and Councilmember Farias expressed concern over the old jail and mentioned the potential preservation of the building. “We really need to have some dialogue around alternatives to the demolition of a historic building in our downtown,” said Farias. Bueren explained it was in the way of building a new center and would be difficult to renovate, although the county does recognize it’s historical significance. “We would take the steps to document its history and we would take the steps to salvage some of the important structural elements, particularly the granite blocks, and incorporate those into the new center, but that’s to be determined,” she added. Councilmember Mark Ross expressed that he would like the council to be on friendly terms with the partnership and be included on any decision-making going forward.

Martinez Ranked 6th Twenty-two cities participated in the statewide 2015-2016 CoolCalifornia Challenge. The competition challenged cities and their residents to reduce household energy consumption. Martinez ranked 6th while the City of Claremont earned first and earned the title, “California’s Coolest,” when it comes to sustainably-minded residents. The city will be awarded $51,000 to support local sustainability programs. The challenge ended on March 30, 2016.

City News Continued

Council Approves Rankin Fee Increase At the April 20 city council meeting, a presentation was made by Michael Chandler, assistant to the city manager, on the Rankin Aquatic Center’s new program changes and fee increases. The last time pool fees were adjusted was in 2014, correlating with program enhancements. The presentation showed that, over the course of two years, expenses have risen with maintenance and repairs, staff costs, and increases to utilities, insurance and permits. The City of Martinez is currently subsidizing costs for the pool at a rate of over 27% as compared to fewer than 20% during the previous two years. In order to return the overall subsidy level closer to 20%, staff recommended adopting a series of fee increases, which are anticipated to increase revenues by approximately $22K (or 10%). “These are nominal raises. The last pool got into distress because there was a policy for decades of over subsidizing it to the point where it got neglected, and we have a fantastic facility and we don’t want to see it run down,” said Councilmember Mark Ross. City council adopted the amended user fees for the Rankin Aquatic Center, which is set to open on May 2.

Final Dog Park Workshop Currently, the City of Martinez Park Master Plan mentions the development of a “Dog Park” as an amenity, however, a location has yet to be determined. Parks Recreation Marina and Cultural Commission’s (PRMCC) Dog Park Subcommittee has held two workshops with the public: The first in December 2015 and the second in January 2016, which included a location evaluation. During this current process, six locations have been reviewed and discussed at various times, with the following potential sites: 1) Alhambra Ave. – Detention Basin, 2) Alhambra Ave. Park, 3) Launchers Parking Lot, 4) Silt Pond Trail, 5) Waterfront Rd. Open Space, and 6) Yacht Club Parking Area. In addition, site visits were also made to area dog parks. Goals for the third and final workshop will include developing a list of top three recommended dog park locations and then doing some preliminary cost estimates. “We don’t want to do a detailed cost analysis until we know what the top three contenders are. I don’t think there is any debate about the need and the desire - both the public’s and the council’s - to have a dog park. The question is where, how much it’s going to cost, how quickly we can deliver it, and where the money is going to come from,” said Jim Jakel, interim city manager. Jakel stated the third workshop would happen in the next 45 days. Council voted unanimously to hold a third dog park workshop to further evaluate locations, develop a detailed options matrix, and direct staff to begin to develop preliminary cost estimates and feature options.

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More Martinez Gold Ribbon Schools On April 13, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson announced that 772 California elementary schools are being honored under the Gold Ribbon Schools Awards Program. Three schools within the Martinez Unified School District made the Gold Ribbon list: John Muir Elementary, Las Juntas Elementary, and John Muir Elementary. Nearly 6,000 elementary schools were eligible to apply this year. Schools applied for the award based on a model program or practice that their school adopted which includes standards-based activities, projects, strategies, and practices that can be replicated by other local educational agencies. The award recognized middle and high schools last year.

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ourcommunityfocus.com • may 2016

City of Walnut Creek

Mayor’s Message All Abilities Playground Having fun in Walnut Creek owes a lot to the three Ps: parks, playing, and partnerships. Let’s start with the first P - parks. We have sixteen parks throughout Walnut Creek, with amenities ranging from playfields to pickleball. Most offer playgrounds and picnic tables, although a few are without facilities. All offer a chance to relax and enjoy the respite of nature. The largest of our parks, Heather Farm, is home to our amazing All Abilities Playground. And that’s where the second P – partnerships – comes in. When the city first started planning the All Abilities Playground, there was

just enough money from regional park bonds to cover the basics of getting the site prepared and adding one play structure. Then, Contra Costa County offered to contribute park fees paid by developers who had built in unincorporated Walnut Creek. Still, it was not enough to pay for all the components needed, such as sunshades and benches. That’s when the Civic Pride Foundation got involved. The 501(c)3 raised more than $350,000, nearly a third of the final project cost. The All Abilities Playground opened in October 2014, and it’s been packed with laughter ever since. That could not have happened without the power of partnership.

Public Meetings City Council Meeting May 3, 17 Council Chambers, 1666 North Main Street, 6-11pm. Contact: 943-5819 Design Review Meeting May 4, 18 Council Chambers, 1666 North Main Street, 7pm. Contact: 943-5819 Planning Commission Meeting May 12, 26 Council Chambers, 1666 North Main Street, 7-11pm. Contact: 943-5819 For Confirmation Visit: www.walnut-creek.org

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may 2016 • ourcommunityfocus.com

Loella Haskew, Mayor of Walnut Creek

Partnerships also play a role in the rebuilding of Larkey Swim Center, taking place right now. When complete, in fall of 2017, the pool will have an area of “deeper water,” where the worldrenowned Aquanauts Synchronized Swimming Club can practice. There will also be a splash playground, where children of all abilities can enjoy the fun of water play. The Aquanauts and Walnut Creek Civic Pride Foundation are raising funds to help make the deeper water and splash playground possible. Again,

the power of partnerships. Information about all of our parks is available on our website, walnut-creek. org. Just click on the Parks & Recreation button on the homepage, and find the park that has the amenities you’re looking for. There are dog parks, skate parks, disc golf and more! It’s time for that third P -- get out there and play! Safety Tip: Bicyclists, please wear a helmet when you ride. This is the most effective way to protect your head in a mishap.

Walnut Creek City News Cinco de Mayo on Cypress Caliente! It’s a Cinco de Mayo Fiesta in downtown Walnut Creek, as Cypress Street becomes a colorful festival full of music, food, fashion, dancing, and fun! Live music from Salsa Caliente and special Mexican dance performances from Ballet Folkloric Costa de Oro are sure to spice up the night! The Red Carpet Runway returns with a vibrant display of spring fashions for men and women. Spin the Wheel of Walnut Creek Fortune for a chance at winning a prize. Dine from Food Truck Mafia and other sources for delectable treats. Event is Wednesday, May 4, 5-8pm, on Cypress Street between Locust and Main Streets.

Work on a North Downtown Specific Plan Begins The City of Walnut Creek is currently accepting applications from interested individuals to be a part of an advisory committee that will counsel the city council, planning commission, city staff, and the lead consultant responsible for the preparation of a specific plan for the north downtown area (180 acres of land extending generally from Highway 680 to Civic Drive and the Iron Horse Trail, and Parkside Drive to Civic Drive.) The advisory committee will be comprised of two members of the city council chosen by the full city council; one member of each of the city’s five commissions, including the planning, transportation, arts, design review, and parks, recreation and open space; and up to six members appointed “at large” to represent the north downtown community. To become a member of the advisory committee, you must own property or a business, or reside within the north downtown area, and the city council must take formal action to confirm your membership on the advisory committee. Meetings are expected to be scheduled for the fourth Monday of the month at 6:30pm in the Walnut Creek City Hall, Third Floor Conference Room, 1666 N. Main Street. Advisory committee members are appointed to serve for the duration of the planning process (expected to conclude in November 2017) without compensation. To view the advisory committee project objectives and committee structure, a map of the north downtown specific plan area, or to download the

City of Walnut Creek City News Continued Word file for this application, go to www.walnut‐creek/northdowntown. For further information regarding planning and development projects and programs in Walnut Creek, please visit the city’s website at www.walnut‐creek.org. The deadline for applications is 5pm May 6, 2016, and the council will appoint committee members at the May 17 council meeting. You may also take your completed membership application to the city clerk’s office on the 3rd floor of City Hall, 1666 N. Main Street, or email it to smartinez@ walnut‐creek.org.

Rossmoor Shopping Center Upgrade The Rossmoor Shopping Center is heading for a complete upgrade. Plans approved by the city council on April 5 include five new buildings, totaling about 29,000 square feet, that provide on-site public spaces and amenities, a courtyard with bocce ball courts and outdoor dining, and a drive-up Starbucks. The council unanimously confirmed the zoning amendment needed to pave the way to the project. The 15.23-acre shopping center is located in the southwest corner of the city and serves the greater Tice Valley, Saranap, and Rossmoor communities.

Play Ball! Baseball Art at the Bedford The arrival of spring means one thing to many: the beginning of baseball season. Safe at Home: A Short Survey of Baseball Art celebrates America’s beloved pastime by bringing the excitement of the stadium into the gallery through art. Baseball remains strongly anchored to the identity and spirit of the American people, and the artworks in Safe at Home capture the soul and essence of the game. The exhibition also features memorabilia from the Joe DiMaggio estate and vintage photographs from the series Linedrives and Lipstick: The Untold Story of Women’s Baseball. The exhibit runs through June 12 at the Bedford Gallery.

Larkey Pool Construction Begins Major work on the Larkey Pool project is ready to start. Construction fencing is up and large trucks will be on site for at least a month during excavation. The entire project will take about one year; when complete, the Larkey Swim Center will include a water-efficient splash playground for kids of all abilities and deeper water in the pool, allowing for a variety of new activities.

Take a Walk Back in Time The Walnut Creek Historical Society offers a free 90-minute guided tour of the downtown area the second Saturday of the month through October. This easy walk on city sidewalks brings to life the early times of downtown Walnut Creek. The next tour will be May 14. The tour departs at 9:30am from the fountain at Liberty Bell Plaza, corner of Broadway and Mt. Diablo Boulevard. Advanced registration is not required. For more details, call 925-935-7871 or visit www.wchistory. com.

Family Art Festival Celebrate spring at the Family Arts Festival! Civic Arts Education will be hosting youth and adults on Saturday, May 7 from 10:00am to 2:00pm at two locations. The outdoor event features activities for all ages, including live demos, artmaking stations, vendors and music. The Festival takes place at Shadelands Arts Center, 111 N. Wiget, and Civic Park Studios, 1365 Civic Drive. This event is free and open to the public.

2016

June Wine Walk Save the date! The 2016 Wine Walk is June 15 and online ticket sales begin May 2. Ticket prices are $30 in advance and $40 at the door. Guests will receive a map identifying participating locations. Look for additional details in the June Community Focus. ourcommunityfocus.com • may 2016

By Alison Clary

Turning Tragedy Into Inspiration Three Mothers Persevere Graciously and with Gratitude

n this Mother’s Day issue we honor Dena Betti, Jackie Hopkins, and Debbie Smith, MM, women who have gone through insurmountable tragedy after losing children in the prime of their lives. Despite ongoing grief, they have emerged with newfound wisdom, productivity, a strength they never knew they had, and yes, even optimism and joy in life. All three women have had to grieve fairly publicly, but by turning the spotlight onto worthwhile causes, they inform the public while finding greater peace in their lives. No one can forget hearing about Jenna Betti, the 14-year old girl from Martinez who was tragically struck by a train near her home two years ago. Or Kathryn (Kate) Hopkins, the young Martinez woman, just 20 years old, who died after a longboard accident in Yosemite while on spring break from college, also two years ago. Or Matthew Carrington, the 21-year old man from Pleasant Hill who died after a horrific night of initiation during “Hell Week” at a college fraternity in 2005. You wonder how the mothers and families of these shining young citizens of our community move forward when their precious children left us far too soon. They had so much to accomplish, so much life to live, so much more love to give and receive. These three mothers loved their children fiercely, with unwavering devotion, and they continue to honor them tirelessly through their dedication to various organizations.

Dena and Jenna Betti #HERSMILE The moment Jenna passed away, her mother, Dena, said she knew she had to do something purposeful, and 2 ½ months after, her vision became crystal clear. After the outpouring of love and support from the community, even strangers, she wanted to pay it forward. With the help of friends 16

Suzy Hammond and Amber Cole, Dena started #HERSMILE, a non-profit organization that supports families who have lost a dependent child or a parent with dependent children to unexpected tragedy. #HERSMILE was named in reference to Jenna’s brilliant smile when Dena began corresponding on social media after the accident. Dena describes Jenna as “the kind of girl who commanded the attention of a room. She was fun and very funny. She had amazing energy and was the spark plug of our household.”

and darkness drive the direction of our lives.” Dena and her husband, Paul, have two other daughters, Jenna’s younger sisters, Julia, age 14, and Gigi, age 11.

Jackie and Kate Hopkins Donor Network West After her daughter Kate’s death, Jackie Hopkins said the pain was so raw and numbing, she felt helpless. For a long time her motto was “Fake it ‘til you make it,” but she eventually realized that was not true or productive and that happiness would have to come from

Despite ongoing grief, they have emerged with newfound wisdom, productivity, a strength they never knew they had. The mission of #HERSMILE is “to bring hope, strength and inspiration to those who have experienced a tragedy by designing and presenting learning opportunities in a way that helps individuals develop and improve the power of their mindset and/or by extending monetary gifts.” In some instances, proceeds from the sale of branded apparel might help families who cannot bear the brunt of funeral expenses. The 2nd Annual Jenna Betti Memorial Golf Tournament this past March raised over $34,000, which will help fuel Dena’s drive to help more families in the greater Bay Area. A current goal is to reach more people through school assemblies. She wants to make “hersmile” a household name. In 2015, #HERSMILE helped thirty families, and so far this year they’ve helped eight. Dena says it breaks her heart that by the time people read this article there will be more. One of Dena’s favorite things about her daughter is “how deeply she loved. Love is powerful and there are no guarantees in life, but the true power of life is derived from what you create with the hand you’ve been dealt. We choose to live in a space of gratitude and refuse to let anger, disenchantment

may 2016 • ourcommunityfocus.com

within. Jackie says, “I was lucky to have a daughter who was always joyful…she would not want anyone to be paralyzed by sadness.” Jackie realized helping others would help her. Jackie describes Kate as hugely generous with her love, affection, and friendship to the end, and she gave the ultimate gift of life to people she never met through organ donation; one man received her heart and one kidney, a woman received her other kidney and her pancreas, and yet a third person received her liver. The Hopkins family has met the man who received Kate’s healthy young heart and kidney, and he continues to correspond with them regularly. Inspired to spread the word about organ donation, Jackie became an ambassador for Donor Network West, located in San Ramon. A natural introvert, Jackie has been thrust into the world of public speaking, making presentations to middle schools, high schools, colleges, and various groups and organizations. She wants people to know that more than 120,000 people are on the waiting list for organs in the United States, and the simple act of registering can change lives. Amazingly, one person’s organs can save eight

lives. Additionally, bone, skin, and various tissues can be used. One of Jackie’s goals is to dispel misconceptions about organ donation. She doesn’t shy away from addressing concerns people may have about being in the hospital in critical condition, explaining that two different medical doctors must evaluate a patient 6 to 8 hours apart before deciding brain death has occurred and he or she can be a potential organ donor. She says all of her family and most of her friends are now organ donors too, and you can register once you turn 18 years old. Jackie and her husband, Jim, also have a son, Kate’s younger brother, Clint, age 20. Jackie also happens to be on the #HERSMILE outreach committee.

Debbie Smith, MM, and Matthew Carrington AHA! Movement Debbie Smith, MM, founded the AHA! Movement (Anti-Hazing Awareness), a non-profit organization created in memory of her son Matt Carrington. Debbie and her team present programs to young people, teaching them what hazing is, educating them on alternatives, and striving to change the culture of organizations that participate. As defined by Wikipedia: “Hazing is the practice of rituals and other activities involving harassment, abuse or humiliation used as a way of initiating a person into a group.” Long associated with the Greek system (college fraternities and sororities), hazing occurs as early as elementary school and can be found in gangs, sports teams, military units, and other social groups, “even the workplace,” adds Debbie. She makes it a point to distinguish bullying from hazing, saying ruefully: “You bully the people you don’t like and haze the people you do.” She is adamant in reminding people: “Friends don’t disrespect you. You can say no and walk away.” After Matt died, seven fraternity members from Chico State University

were convicted of charges ranging from misdemeanor hazing to felony involuntary manslaughter, the first felony charges associated with hazing in the United States. Wishing to prevent others from suffering what she has had to endure, Debbie spearheaded efforts that resulted in the passage of Matt’s Law, which allows for felony prosecution when hazing results in serious injury or death and permits prosecutors to charge individuals with hazing, even if they are not students. Debbie is especially proud of attaining non-profit status for her organization this year. Remembering her precious son, she says, “Matt was a kind and generous person with a great sense of humor and infectious smile. He never turned down a challenge or the opportunity to help anyone in need, whether he knew them or not.” Debbie always signs her name “Debbie, MM”; the moniker stands for Matt’s Mom. She and her husband, Greg Smith, live in Pleasant Hill, and Matt’s younger brother, Travis, is now 25 years old and lives in Antioch.

Moving Forward After meeting all three women together, I thought about the common thread they shared. Over and over, I heard them say they chose gratitude for the good in life, and they are all very spiritual in their beliefs. Dena says coping without the physical presence of her daughter Jenna has been the ultimate test for the Betti family, but consciously choosing to live in a space of love instead of darkness and anger is what guides them. Dena says, “There’s a difference between loss and suffering.” Jackie agrees and adds, “It does pull you in sometimes; you just can’t stay there. It’s easier if you remember what you do have to be thankful for.” They concede that they will never see their children graduate from college or get married or have children, yet Dena asks rhetorically, “Would we have not wanted to have had our children? Isn’t that the alternative? It’s about gratitude. Jenna was a 14-year gift.” Dena says she continues to learn how differently people mourn and there is no right or wrong

way. “This life altering experience has emotionally and spiritually broken me open. I have done things now I never knew I would be doing, but they are all beautiful and fill my soul.” She says she used to be more focused on striving to excel in business and pushed herself in that area, but she looks more inwardly now for guidance and does journaling and meditation. Despite the devastating loss of her firstborn son, Debbie says she “brings a message of hope, even if you are in the deepest darkest depths of depression, believing there is no way out because your pain is so great. One day you will be okay, because I am. It’s not going to happen overnight, it could take years, but knowing is half the battle.” As Jackie says, “Grief becomes a part of who you are. I am not the same person I was two years ago. I am softer, yet stronger, and more forgiving. There is a new lightheartedness in me because of the deep sadness I have felt. I welcome all of life’s lessons because they all lead to growth. Each day, I make a conscious decision to find positive things to be thankful for instead of remembering what is missing. Through it all, I hear Kate’s voice in my head saying, ‘You can do it Mom!’” Jackie recalls one of Kate’s favorite quotes from Dr. Seuss: “Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened.” For more information on the above organizations visit:

Jenna Betti

Kate Hopkins

www.hersmile.org

www.donornetworkwest.org

www.ahamovement.org

Matthew Carrington ourcommunityfocus.com • may 2016

may 2016 â&#x20AC;˘ ourcommunityfocus.com

Read My Mind

Rules For a Knight BY MICHAEL G. HARRIS, OD The actor Ethan Hawke has written a delightful little gem entitled Rules For A Knight. If you’re like me, the first question that comes to mind is: What does an American actor know about British knighthood and how knights should behave? Well, as it turns out, he knows quite a bit. Hawke’s ancestors were knights in jolly old England. His family “lays claim to a direct lineage to the noble Hawkes of Cornwell.” They were experts in falconry; hence, the family name Hawke. The book is a missive supposedly written by one of Hawke’s ancestors, the 15th century knight Sir Thomas Lemuel Hawke. As he is about to go into battle and fears he might never return, he writes a farewell to his children in the form of a “parable for the ages.”

In this letter, Sir Thomas provides rules for his children (and their children) on how to lead a good and decent life, lessons he would not be able to provide if he dies in battle. “His intent: to give his children a compass for a journey they will have to make alone, a short guide to what gives life meaning and beauty.” These rules were actually formulated by Ethan to teach his own children how they should live. He now shares them with us so our children and grandchildren can learn from them. And what powerful lessons they are! Drawing on the teachings of ancient philosophies and “the great spiritual and political writings of our time,” Hawke includes lessons on forgiveness, humility, courage, honesty, pride, grace, and patience. Ethan also credits the writings “to other knights to articulate what I could not.” These other “knights” include Mohammed Ali, Emily Dickinson, Woody

Guthrie, Martin Luther King Jr., Vince Lombardi, Nelson Mandela, Eleanor Roosevelt, Mother Teresa, Tennessee Williams, and King Arthur. A noble group of knights indeed! Adding to the book’s beauty are exquisite bird illustrations by Ethan’s wife, Ryan. At only 172 pages, this book is small by many standards. It should take less than two hours to read. But don’t be fooled by the size of the book, for the lessons taught are epic, impressive, thought provoking, and long lasting. Among them are: “The quality of your life will be decided by with whom you elect to spend your time; be frugal and you can be generous; do not speak ill of others; and, love is the end goal.” While the book was “meant to teach knights” how to live a meaningful, worthwhile, and happy life, the rules are as valuable today for us commoners as they were for the knights of old. Share this wonderful gem with those you love

Free!

and care about. You’ll be glad you did! And while we are on the subject of our neighbor “across the pond,” how about another visit to that charming island with Bill Bryson? His latest effort to delight and enlighten us is The Road to Little Dribbling, a most worthy followup to his much acclaimed Notes From a Small Island. As he prepares to become a British citizen, he shares one more “adventure of an American in Britain.” It’s a travelogue of sorts, but it’s really Bryson’s reflections on England, its sights and sounds, and its people. Calling it unbelievably entertaining and informative is an understatement. As with all of his books, it is filled with his good-natured humor and more interesting and unusual facts than you ever thought you needed to know. I’ll bet you never thought you needed to know how to get to “Little Dribbling.” Well, with Bill Bryson in the lead, it’s a wondrous journey!

sunset by the lake

summer concerts On the lawn by the lake at

Pleasant Hill City Hall

Gregory Ln & Cleaveland Rd

LIVE MUSIC & FUN! FOOD & BEVERAGE sales!

pers City Swam g o .F .. 9 2 y Ma k cover Classic roc

Jun 12...Groov e Doctors Variety dance party band

6-8 pm

Jun 26...Stung A tribute to the Police

Jul 10...T he B Hot count ell Brothers ry rock & roll

s Clark Jul 24...Jame ator Elvis imperson Sponsored by Pleasant Hill Civic Action Commission Visit www.pleasanthillconcerts.com for all concert information.

Aug 7...Sugadady A cover dance band

Aug 21...East Bay Mudd Classic fun & soul

Oasis Veterinary Hospital

Club of Pleasant Hill

Sep 4...Q ue High ener ens & Thieves gy dance band ourcommunityfocus.com • may 2016

Alhambra Rising

The Most Successful Men’s Volleyball Team in School History The Alhambra Men’s Volleyball team placed at three tournaments recently: Dougherty Valley (2nd), St. Patrick St. Vincent (2nd), and Foothill (3rd), and have risen to become the winningest boys volleyball team in Alhambra High School history, achieving for the first time a national ranking for the squad in the top 50 boys volleyball teams in the country. At time of this printing, their current season record stands at 21-4, and they are 5-1 in Diablo Foothill Athletic League competition. Martinez has been waiting a long time for a boys volleyball team as good as this one. “Alhambra has not been this good since the glory days of the ‘Iron Man 7’ back in 2009,” according to John Gaines, website manager for Fans Of The Game, a mens prep volleyball blog that Gaines administrates. Led by their three captains, outside hitter Jerald Jianoran, setter Savion Prieto,

and libero Allin Torio, the Alhambra squad also feature middles 6’10” Will Jochum and 6’ 4” Christian Cota, with outside hitter Kyle Magtibay and opposite hitter Nick Lucido rounding out the starting seven. In his second year as both JV and varsity men’s coach at Alhambra, Coach Peter Crowley sees the emergence of his team as a sign of the growth in the popularity of boys club volleyball in the East Bay and its impact on the high school volleyball programs in the area. “There are two ways to build champion volleyball teams. One is to take freshmen and develop your own talent; the second is to have your players play club volleyball. The more you play, the better you get. I teach my boys to play with passion and focus, and when they choose to follow these instructions, they are hard to beat. Many of the teams we are facing this season have players that I know from the club world. One

of my greatest pleasures in coming to a match is where I get to see my Alhambra team play against boys I have helped coach. There is a satisfaction in knowing that, whatever the outcome, there will be some great volleyball played at the highest level.” Alhambra has the opportunity to win the Diablo Valley Athletic League for the first time this year and move on to

Division II North Coast Section, perhaps even to NorCal Championships. Alhambra is running a one-day volleyball camp for boys and girls, ages 8 to 14, on Saturday, May 21, to benefit their cash strapped program. No previous experience necessary. Register through the online Alhambra school store at https:// ahsbulldogstore.myschoolcentral.com.

CP Dodgeball Champions The sports leadership class at College Park High organized their annual dodgeball tournament in April. Thirty-two teams participated in the two week tournament that included three teams of teachers. The finals were held April 23. Champions pictured (LtoR): P.E. and sports leadership teacher James Keck and seniors Ryan Jones, James Doty, Colter House, Cole Hutslar, Kyle House and Josh Nelson (sitting).

Top (LtoR): Will Jochum, Nick Lucido, Jake Fahy, Peter Crowley (head coach), Becca Jochum (asst. manager and team statistician), Dylan Hammond, Christian Cota. Middle (LtoR): Kyle Magtibay, Jerald Jianoran, Allin Torio, Luqman Aburrohman, Bailey Abbott, Savion Prieto. Bottom (LtoR): Corey Drevno, Andrew Olvera, Suraj Kumar, Sajal Shrestha, Danny Cabrera. Photo by HomeTeam Sports Photography.

Earthquakes Take Gold The Earthquakes, a PHMSA U-14 girls team, are the undefeated champions of 2016 Soccerfest. During a stormy weekend, the Earthquakes finished the preliminary round with two wins and a tie. Next, the Earthquakes defeated San Mateo Shadows in the semi-final game, followed by a win against the Mountain View Legends with a 1-0 score in the championship game.

Front row (LtoR): Tessa (sitting), Valerie, Madison, Isabel, Vienna, Emily. Back row: Coach Rob, Jane, Megan, Isabelle, Carly, Zoe, Maria (Bee), Coach Dave, Jessica, Jenna and Coach Ali. 20

may 2016 • ourcommunityfocus.com

Alhambra Grad Wins for Reds Stephenson Makes Major League Debut BY CHUCK NAN Robert Stephenson, a Martinez native and 2011 graduate of Alhambra HS, finally received the call he was waiting for on Monday, April 4, 2016. Because the Cincinnati Reds pitching staff was decimated by injury at the start of the season, Stephenson was promoted from Triple-A and officially on the opening day roster. Three days later, the 23-year-old was given the ball to start the final game of the season-opening series with the Philadelphia Phillies at Cincinnati’s Great American Ball Park on April 7. Philadelphia is not expected to contend in 2016 and is in a massive rebuilding phase, as are the Reds. Nonetheless, facing major league batters for the first time is a challenge for even the best of pitchers. Upon learning of his opportunity, Stephenson sent this message out on Twitter: “This is the day you dream of as a little kid. Could not be more excited to be joining the Reds on Opening Day.” After arriving at the ballpark, he told reporters that Reds officials had spoken to him before being sent down. “They told me to be prepared in case anything crazy happened,” Stephenson said, “but I was definitely surprised and I’m excited to be here.” By the time Stephenson strolled to the mound, the game time temperature was officially 44 degrees and moist, nothing like conditions in his native California. Over the first two innings, the young hurler looked strong, as his fastball was consistent at 92-93 miles-per-hour. In those two frames, he allowed just a walk and a double. Stephenson would, however, run into trouble in the third through fifth innings, surrendering single runs in the third and fourth and two in the fifth, his last on the mound. Three of the Phillies runs came as a result of home runs. Thanks to some thunderous hitting by his mates, Stephenson was able to survive the day well enough to notch a win. The Reds rallied to break the game open in the top-half of the fourth as they scored eight runs, seven courtesy

of home runs by Jay Bruce and Eugenio Suarez. Bruce smashed two on the day, finishing with five RBIs. Stephenson had a sacrifice bunt in the inning, which lasted more than 35 minutes. The Reds swept the three-game series as they rolled the Phillies 10-6. In the victory, Stephenson finished the day with five innings pitched, six hits allowed, four runs (three earned) with two walks, a strikeout, a hit batter and two home runs. He threw a total of 87 pitches, 57 for strikes. Stephenson became the first Reds starting pitcher to win his Major League debut since Sam LeCure in 2010 versus Houston. Along the way, Stephenson celebrated his first big league strikeout in the top of the third inning as he fanned Odubel Herrera with a fastball on the ninth pitch of the at-bat. “It was very exciting,” Stephenson told ESPN. “It’s good to get the jitters out of the way. I know what to expect when I come back now.” After the game, Stephenson was optioned back to Triple-A Louisville. Twelve days later, another Reds’ starter was ailing and Stephenson was summoned again to the major leagues. With the luxury of pitching at home, Stephenson tamed the Colorado Rockies in a masterful effort. He allowed just one run, three hits and two walks over seven strong innings to earn his second victory in as many outings. Stephenson also registered three strikeouts. Once again after the game Stephenson was back

Alhambra alum Robert Stephenson takes the mound.

to Louisville, hoping the next time he is called up, it will be for good. One item of note -- at press time, Stephenson is the only starter on the Reds staff to pitch seven-or-more innings this season. Stephenson was Cincinnati’s firstround draft selection, 27th overall in 2011, and since then, he has been consistently ranked as an elite-level prospect by Baseball America, ESPN and many other respected media organizations. Stephenson was 8-11 with a 3.83 ERA in the minor leagues last season, splitting time between Double and Triple-A. He struck-out an impressive 140 batters in 134 innings. Going into spring training this past March, Stephenson looked to have a chance to break into the Reds’ starting staff, but struggled, posting a 9.58 ERA in four Cactus League

starts. Now part of the nucleus of a very young team, Stephenson is the seventh Reds pitcher to make his major league debut since the start of 2015. The hardthrowing right-hander has climbed the minor league ladder through Billings, Dayton, Bakersfield, Pensacola, and Louisville. Stephenson graduated from Alhambra HS with honors as he sported a 4.2 grade point average. His senior season was memorable indeed, as it began with two consecutive no-hitters. He went on to finish with an 8-2 record and 1.19 ERA in 76 2/3 innings. With his blazing fastball, he recorded 142 strikeouts, while walking just 23 and allowing only 29 hits. For his efforts, Gatorade named Stephenson the “California Prep Baseball Player of the Year.”

ourcommunityfocus.com • may 2016

Live Life on Your Terms

Be Present and Experience What Life has to Offer

BY KEVIN ARNDT, FORMA TRAINER Originally, this article was going to be about when the right time is for kids to start lifting weights. But, as soon as I sat down, my mind started taking me in a different direction. I had an urge to write about something important to me, a different side of health. It’s what I learned from one of the harder times of my life. April 10th was the one-year anniversary of my shoulder surgery, which made me reflect on the past two years. Nineteen months ago, my dad was diagnosed with lung cancer; three months later he was gone. Three months after that, I had a terrible snowboarding accident, dislocating my shoulder, as well as breaking it, tearing the labrum and causing some nerve damage. Needless to say, it was a very serious injury that I am still fixing. Losing my dad and suffering the injuries was devastating to me.

As hard as it was, I knew I was going to be stronger in the end. I didn’t realize how long it was going to take to feel better, though. It was almost a year before I was “myself” again, although I don’t know if that will ever fully be the case. But that’s not necessarily negative. I had a lot of time to reflect, and I still do on a daily basis. What I’m finding is that you just have to live your life on your terms. We know anything can happen at anytime. When our time is up, it’s up. We don’t get a say. I always knew that, but never fully understood. When I got the news about my dad, everything changed. When I broke my shoulder, it happened instantly, without warning. It’s scary to think we don’t have control over everything. But what we do have control over is how we live. Too often we get caught up in work and the routine and we don’t make time for much else. I was no different, very focused and goal-oriented. I still am, but now I have a different approach to life.

may 2016 • ourcommunityfocus.com

I work hard, but take vacations often. Responsible with money, but spend it too. Eat healthy, but enjoy all food when I’m with family and friends. I get good sleep, but not if I am having a good time. Get stuff done, but will be lazy and watch a movie with my wife and son. Focus on developing my career, but open to moving to somewhere new in an instant. Go on random day trips. Buy gifts for people. Be present for my wife and son. Have fun at work. Genuinely try to change people’s lives for the better, including mine. Take life very seriously, but not seriously at all. Just live. I do what I want on my terms.

Too often we get stressed about the negative outcomes from the most miniscule decisions. Yeah, sometimes it won’t work out, but you will find out more often than not, it will work and you may be even happier from the experience. If you aren’t content with something, fix it, but love yourself regardless. If you do nothing else, just be present with your family and friends and watch how much better life will become for you. At the end of the day, we are all going to pass. Most important in life are people and experiences. Go out and start creating the experiences with people that matter the most to you.

Your 2016 Farmers' Markets Savings Book BUY FRESH BUY LOCAL

GREAT SAVINGS AT FARMERS’ MARKETS IN THE DIABLO AREA Bring this coupon to the Concord Thursday Farmers’ Market info booth on April 21 through May 12 to receive:

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CONCORD • Tuesdays • 10am - 2pm

YEAR-ROUND • TODOS SANTOS PLAZA, GRANT ST. and WILLOW PASS RD.

CONCORD • Thursdays • 4pm - 8pm

APR 21 thru OCT 27 • TODOS SANTOS PLAZA, GRANT ST. and WILLOW PASS RD.

CLAYTON • Saturdays • 8am - 12pm

MAY 7 thru SEPT 24 • DIABLO ST. BETWEEN CENTER ST. and MAIN ST.

PLEASANT HILL • Saturdays • 10am - 2pm MAY 7 thru NOV 12 • GREGORY LN. and TRELANY RD.

MARTINEZ • Sundays • 10am - 2pm

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RECEIVE UP TO $10 FREE WHEN YOU USE YOUR CALFRESH/EBT (SEE (SEE MARKET MARKET MANAGER MANAGER FOR FOR DETAILS) DETAILS)

ourcommunityfocus.com • may 2016

CLAYTON Farmers’ Market MAY 7

thru

SEPT 24 Bring family and friends to Downtown Clayton on Diablo Street on Saturday morning. It’s the perfect location for your community farmers’ market. A sense of the past permeates the old historic buildings of Old Town. Local Clayton farmers like Buttercup Farms, MarElla Honeybees, and others tempt you with their wares. And both the local businesses and the market pull together to make your shopping experience fun and worthwhile. Come support your local farmers’ market and your community. Don’t forget your coupons!

Saturdays • 8am - 12pm

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Bring this coupon to the farmers’ market info booth during May to receive:

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FB.com/CLAYTONMARKET 24

may 2016 • ourcommunityfocus.com

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New Hours!

SATURDAYS • 10AM - 2PM GREGORY LANE & TRELANY ROAD • MAY 7 - NOV 12

Located in the gorgeous park that surrounds Pleasant Hill City Hall, the Pleasant Hill Farmers’ Market is a choice location to bring family and friends on a Saturday morning. Enjoy strolling through booths filled with locally-grown fruits and vegetables, hot foods, flowers and more, while listening to an eclectic array of musicians each week. Grab a bite to eat from one of the vendors and enjoy it in this pristine setting. The local community comes together on farmers’ market day, so join us! And get some nice discounts with these coupons. Bring this coupon to the farmers’ market info booth on May 7th to receive:

Bring this coupon to the farmers’ market info booth during May to receive:

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Bring this coupon to the farmers’ market info booth during August to receive:

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Bring this coupon to the farmers’ market info booth during September to receive:

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Bring this coupon to the farmers’ market info booth during June to receive:

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Bring this coupon to the farmers’ market info booth during July to receive:

worth of FREE Carrot Cash to spend at the Farmers’ Market!

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ourcommunityfocus.com • may 2016

Bring this coupon to the farmers’ market info booth during May receive:

Bring this coupon to the farmers’ market info booth during June to receive:

Free $1

Farmers’ market lunch cooler

Limit 1 per customer • First 50 customers Only valid from 5/1/2016 to 5/29/2016 Only valid at the Martinez Farmers’ Market

Bring this coupon to the farmers’ market info booth during September to receive:

worth of FREE Carrot Cash to spend at the Farmers’ Market!

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worth of FREE Carrot Cash to spend at the Farmers’ Market!

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Bring this coupon to the farmers’ market info booth to during October to receive:

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Bring this coupon to the farmers’ market info booth during July to receive:

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FB.com/MARTINEZFARMERSMARKET 26

may 2016 • ourcommunityfocus.com

worth of FREE Carrot Cash to spend at the Farmers’ Market!

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Main Street Martinez is filled with wonderful shops and restaurants, and is home to fun seasonal events. On Sunday mornings the Martinez Farmers’ Market takes center stage. Fresh fruits and vegetables, hot foods homemade goods, and more fill the tables as you stroll among the booths. Watch for great musicians each week, community events, and other social happenings throughout the year. Bring a coupon or two and say hello to the farmers who bring you the best they have to offer.

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worth of FREE Carrot Cash to spend at the Farmers’ Market!

Bring this coupon to the farmers’ market info booth during August to receive:

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Bring this coupon to the farmers’ market info booth during December to receive:

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Financial Industry’s #1 Secret This and That We insure nearly every aspect of our life: our health, our home, our vehicle, even our cell phones. But how many of us protect our safe, comfortable retirement against risks we can’t predict (when the market collapses) and can’t afford to recover on our own? The life insurance industry has the best IRS approved tax-free retirement savings plan today, and most people know nothing about it. It is the financial industry’s number one secret: Indexed Universal Life (IUL), aka Life Insurance Retirement Plan. IUL’s basic principles: • Cash value withdrawals and death benefits are tax-free, principle is guaranteed, locks in the gains, index strategy (never lose money) • Compounded interest, unlimited contributions, no minimum contributions • Diversified in global markets and averages over 8-10% rates of return • No market risk, no impact on social security income, no impact on scholarship, no hidden fees, no broker fees, no 59½ and 70½ age rule • Not considered an asset favorable to the client. Protection from lawsuits,

creditors, judgments, tax liens, bankruptcies, and divorce (in most states) Even though an IUL’s primary benefit is for you to keep all the gains tax-free without suffering market losses, additional benefits include: family protection, emergency fund, college fund and savings. This may sound too good to be true, but just because you haven’t heard about it, doesn’t mean it’s not true. It just means “you haven’t heard about it.” This legal, tax-free retirement plan is no longer a secret. Most people think they will begin to save for retirement when they reach a more comfortable income level, but the longer you put it off, the harder it will be to accumulate the amount you need. It’s extremely important to start saving now. Even small amounts each month can help you greatly in the future. Now you know the number one secret to safeguard your retirement. Retire tax-free and have peace of mind. Tuya Lutbayar is a licensed independent contractor working with over 75 A+ rated financial companies, such as Transamerica, Nationwide, Voya, Everest and Pacific Life. Please call (925)357-0525 for a complimentary consultation and financial workshops. Office: 3478 Buskirk Ave. Suite 1000, Pleasant Hill.

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BY COLLEEN CALLAHAN Phew! Tax time is over. I’d feel sorry for my CPA if his email account were to be hacked on tax day! In the last few weeks, I have made a mental list of things I wanted to put in this article. Here are a few tidbits. Small Group Medical Insurance: For decision makers of the company health plan, it is a good time to review rates. Some insurance companies offer very competitive options with small improvements in benefits. The key is getting companies to move the anniversary date to any month but December. It is definitely worth the time to conduct the review. Employees can receive credit for any deductibles they have met. There is a method for transferring to the new insurance company. Many of you on the Bronze plan feel like you don’t have any coverage, but there have been improvements to 2016 Bronze options.

Retiring at age 65 or older: Be certain you apply for Part B of Medicare right away. COBRA is not really your best option. Make an appointment to discuss your Medicare options before you retire. It will help make the transition smoother. You must have Parts A and B of Medicare to obtain a Medicare Supplement. Between jobs: If you have lost coverage with your employer and the COBRA cost seems sky-high, make sure to look into an individual plan right away. Once you accept COBRA, you are stuck until the next open enrollment period. Vacation Plans: Make sure to check with your insurance company to see what coverage you will have in another state or in a foreign country. Travel plans are easy to obtain (from us!) and the mobile apps are very helpful. Colleen Callahan Insurance Services is located in Pleasant Hill. Contact her at 925-363-5433 or ccallahan@ callahaninsurance.com.

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Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Wild?

As Russ Sees It

Living with wildlife sometimes means letting wildlife be exactly that, wild. And that is the push behind Lindsay Wildlife Experienceâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s newest exhibit, Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Wildâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Not. Last summer, a baby opossum and her sibling were brought to Lindsay Wildlife Rehabilitation Hospital. Mildly dehydrated but old enough to live on their own, the rescuer was given the opossums back so she could release them where they were found. A few months later, Lindsay hospital officials discovered the rescuer had not released the opossums and was keeping them as pets, which is illegal. After much convincing, the female opossum was brought to Lindsay in September to live and become a Lindsay animal ambassador. Because humans had raised her, she showed no fear of people and is dependent on them for food. While her story is unfortunate because this opossum could no longer survive in the wild, stories like hers is what inspired Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Wildâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Not, which opened in April. Each year, Lindsay Wildlife Rehabilitation Hospital treats hundreds of wild animals that people kept as pets. The new exhibit has a dual message: wild animals do not make good pets, and pets do not belong in the wild. It has a backyard theme and il-

BY RUSS CARROLL There is a difference between girls and boys. I know, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a worn out topic that probably does not need to be revisited, but itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s all Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve got. We all know about the fact that guys wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t read instructions or take directions. Personally, I think both are overrated. I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t need to read the instructions because they wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t make sense to me anyway. And I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t need directions because I already know exactly where I am going. Well, maybe I know exactly where I intend on going. Either wayâ&#x20AC;Ś. I was in an airport one time, dragging my suitcase around and feeling like a rikshaw driver, when I stepped into the menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s room. My experience there is a clear indicator of the difference between boys and girls. Here goes (no pun intended)â&#x20AC;Ś Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m standing at the urinal when I hear something in a stall that could have been interpreted as a â&#x20AC;&#x153;stop, drop and rollâ&#x20AC;? situation, but it eventually caused all the guys to laugh, so I knew we were safe. Now, had this happened in a womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s room, there would have been no laughter. The girl in the stall would have remained silent, mortified, and not left until all the shoes she could see under the divider had left. This could have been a five or fifteen minute process, depending on how many girls needed to redo their hair and makeup and straighten their attire. Then, she would have hastily run from the bathroom, hoping no girls in the terminal recognized her shoes. Back in the menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s room, the guy in the stall simply yelled out â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m good.â&#x20AC;? Boys 1, Girls 0.

Wild Animals Do Not Make Good Pets

lustrates the detrimental effect domesticated animals can have on wildlife. The hospital treats well over 1,000 cat-caught wild animals each year, including birds, squirrels, and lizards, but the exhibit delivers these messages in a bright and engaging way. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the newest exhibit at the premier wildlife education center in more than three years. You will meet wild animals, such as an alligator lizard, as well as pets that call the exhibit home. Gaze at rats running overhead in clear tubes or a domestic rabbit in his hutch. Some of these animals also come out for daily Petting Time, so visitors actually get to feel these furry or scaly friends. Also in the exhibit is one of Lindsayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s newest animal ambassadors, Petunia the opossum, who had been a pet and now has a purpose at Lindsay. Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Wildâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Not was made possible by The Wayne and Gladys Valley Foundation, the Estate of Stephen S. Ball, and the William A. Kerr Foundation. Lic.0506034

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Boys Will Be Boys

Yes, a boy can tell if an article of clothing is clean enough to wear by simply smelling it. Socks, underwear, shirts, pants, and even a tie can quickly be determined clean enough to wear with just a sniff. On the other hand, if it does not come fresh out of a drawer and properly folded, girls wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t wear it. Boys 2, Girls 0. A girl with straight hair spends half the morning curling it and leaves the house frustrated. Her last words as she leaves the house are, â&#x20AC;&#x153;I hate my hair.â&#x20AC;? A girl with curly hair spends half the morning straightening it and leaves the house frustrated. Her last words as she leaves the house are, â&#x20AC;&#x153;I hate my hair.â&#x20AC;? Boys? We are just happy to have hair, and it dries pretty much how it lies. And when we leave the house, our last words are, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Honey, your hair looks great.â&#x20AC;? Boys 3, Girls 0. However, there is one area that girls simply win, hands down. I do not intend to be sexist here, but man, can girls fold clothes or what? Boys are inherently incapable of this task. Our idea of folding is, if we can get all of our shorts in the appropriate drawer, they are folded. Boys 3, Girls 1. Boys can spit. Girls cannot. Boys canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t hit the toilet bowl from 6 inches away, but we can spit and hit a tetherball pole from 6 feet. To us, spitting should be an Olympic sport. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a gift handed down from generation to generation. Boys 4, Girls 1. Now, all this said, girls, we canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t live without you. We need you to tell us that potty humor is not funny. That we stink at folding clothes. That spitting is not a sport. We need you to shake your head and laugh at us. Oh, and regardless of what you think about your hair, you have more than we do. Final score? Girls 5, Boys 4. Butâ&#x20AC;Ś.thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s just how I see it.

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Kiwanis Celebrates 90th Birthday Kiwanis Club of Martinez members shared cake and champagne in celebration of receiving its Kiwanis International Charter on April 15, 1926, making the local chapter 90 years old. Our speaker for the occasion was Justin Gomez of States Coffee & Mercantile, which roasts its own coffee beans and offers a selection of American made goods. Presenting an informative program, Gomez displayed his expertise in answering the many additional questions from our members. Gomez stated that States is one of three local coffee houses, noting that with Barrelista and Mountain Grounds, Martinez is a coffee aficionado’s destination.

ORGANIZATIONS

Kiwanis President Lorena Castillo holding the April 15, 1926, Charter

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may 2016 • ourcommunityfocus.com

Everyday Feng Shui

Support4Recovery Support4Recovery, Inc. is a grassroots non-profit organization made up of individuals and families in recovery from alcohol and drug abuse. Their mission is to assess the needs of the recovering community and develop action plans to support, educate and empower the community, promoting successful, long-term recovery. With no paid employees or directors, 97% of every dollar raised by Support4Recovery goes to the people they serve. The Healthy Smiles, Healthy Bodies Dental Program, and Support a Counselor, Support 4 Education, and Support 4 Housing programs are all identified as crucial components to continuing success in recovery. The 12th annual Recovery Walk is September 17 at the Martinez waterfront. To sponsor, walk, or learn more about Support4Recovery programs, fundraisers and events, visit www.support4recovery.org.

Feng Shui Gardens - Calming Spaces FENG SHUI BY MARIA Oscar de la Renta said, “Gardening is how I relax. It’s another form of creating and playing with colors.” In this hectic world, I have learned the importance of having a space that is calm and healing. Your garden can be just that space. The recent rains followed by sunshine have blessed my garden with lush, shiny leaves and a multitude of buds. Shortly, I will be swept away into a land of beautiful flowers, intoxicating fragrance, and an explosion of color. It’s important to have an outlet where the brain can breathe, and your garden can be this natural outlet. After a long day at work or just taking a break from your home routines, a walk through your garden can relax you and help you defuse any stress. In a garden, all the 5 Feng Shui elements are usually represented, allowing you to feel calm and energized at the same time. This is because gardens are living, breathing entities that offer us the balance of nature. As part of your home, gardens reflect your personal energy; they can either serve to deplete your energy, or they can enhance and energize you. What aspects of your life would you like to see blossom? What dreams do you need to plant in fertile soil? Do you need to weed or dig out anything that’s stifling your growth? If your home is considered the “heart” of your property, your garden is considered the “aura.” Your garden is your personal passport into nature. It keeps you connected to the rhythms of life while replenishing and sustaining the Ch’i that meanders through your home. Whether it’s a flower or vegetable garden, vibrant nature in your yard attracts vibrant Ch’i into your home. When applicable, use gardens and landscaping to complete the shape of your home. If your home is not a complete square or rectangle, anchor the missing areas with a pleasing combination of trees, flowerbeds, garden sculptures, large rocks, decks, patios, fencing, lighting, specialty gardens and/or water features. There is no

end to what you can do, and the missing area becomes an enhanced outdoor area. Make sure you have an attractive view from every window and door. Be nourished by a lovely view each time you look out; camouflage or screen unsightly views with trees, trellises with climbing vines, and hanging gardens. An inspirational place to rest the eye is a gift you give yourself every day. Basic Feng Shui principles can help you nurture and strengthen your energy and yourself in all aspects of your life. Feng Shui basics for nurturing gardens: • Make the entry beautiful and clutter free • Place water features in the Career and Wealth areas • Remove dead plants quickly • Balance the Yin/Yang of your garden with opposites (short/tall plants, hot/soft colors, etc.) • Keep all systems working (i.e. watering, lighting – nothing should be broken) Remember that gardens reflect your personal energy. Look to your garden to see what’s shifting in your life, and create a peaceful space to help calm your world. Maria McCullough, owner/founder of Feng Shui by Maria (www.fengshuibymaria.com) is a speaker and educator with over 20 years of experience. She specializes in residential, landscape and business consultations. She is a graduate of the Western School of Feng Shui and has personally trained with Terah Kathryn Collins, founder of the Western School of Feng Shui, specializing in Essential Feng Shui®

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In the Mix

Top 10 Songs Honoring Mom

BY PAUL COTRUVO Welcome May! Truly one of my favorite months of the year. Spring is in full bloom, baseball has started, basketball playoffs are happening (go Warriors), and it’s the month we honor our mothers (although, I feel we should honor them year ‘round). Being a mother is virtually an endless job. They are our protectors, teachers, friends, counselors, and disciplinarians. Being a mother is most likely the hardest job there is, period. I know my mother supported me in my musical pursuit, even though deep down she would have rather had me stay in school and become a doctor. But she was always there in all the good times and bad. Unconditional love and sacrifice can only describe motherhood. Honoring them in song is, perhaps, the ultimate tribute. So many artists have honored their moms; it’s hard to put in one article, but here are a few to check out. In the song, “Let it Be” by the Beatles, Paul McCartney wrote this song that was inspired by his mom, Mary, who passed away when he was 14. McCartney had a dream one night when he was feeling anxious. He saw a vision of his mom, who had been dead for ten years or so, “speaking words of wisdom.” It was this sweet dream that inspired him to begin writing the song. Fellow Beatle John Lennon also was inspired to write a couple of songs for his mum: “Julia” and “Mother.” The latter song may not be the happiest song but

Paul’s Picks

deals with the pain of losing his mother when he was just 17. “Mother, you had me / But I never had you / I wanted you / You didn’t want me / So I, I just gotta tell you goodbye.” Of course, country music is filled with songs about mothers. The late, great Merle Haggard’s “Mama Tried” is a country classic, written about the pain he caused his mother by robbing a bar. “No one could steer me right but Mama tried, Mama tried / Mama tried to raise me better, but her pleading I denied / That leaves only me to blame ‘cause Mama tried.” The list of country songs can go on and on, but there are some worth listening to, such as “Coat of Many Colors,” by Dolly Parton, “Mama He’s Crazy” by the Judds, “Mama’s Song” by Carrie Underwood, and “The Sweetest Gift” by Linda Ronstadt and Emmylou Harris. So many genres of music honor mothers. There is 2Pac’s “Dear Mama,” Justin Bieber’s “Turn to You,” Boys II Men’s “A Song for Mama,” and Metallica’s “Mama Said.” Even Snoop Dog has a song about his mom, “I Love my Momma.” Obviously, we’ve all been touched by our mothers. So I’ve decided to compile a list (not an easy task) of my favorite top ten mother songs. 1) Mother- John Lennon 2) Julia- The Beatles 3) Let it Be- The Beatles 4) Oh Mother- Christina Aguilera 5) Mama Tried- Merle Haggard 6) I’ll Always Love Mama- The Intruders 7) A Song for Mama- Boys II Men 8) Mama’s Song- Carrie Underwood 9) Mama’s Don’t Let Your Babies Grow

May 13: Kathy Tejcka, WiseGirl, 1932 Oak Park Blvd. Pleasant Hill, 9pm May 13: Mean Genies/Stung, Dan’s Bar, 1524 Civic Drive, Walnut Creek, 10pm May 14: The 9th Ward Millionaires, Armando’s, 707 Marina Vista, Martinez, 8pm May 14: Billy Schaub, Rocco’s Pizzeria, 2909 Ygnacio Valley Road, Walnut Creek, 8pm May 21: Jinx Jones & The Kingtones, WiseGirl, 1932 Oak Park Blvd., Pleasant Hill, 9pm May 27: Garageland Rodeo, WiseGirl, 1932 Oak Park Blvd., Pleasant Hill, 9pm May 29: The Sunday Paper, Armando’s, 707 Marina Vista, Martinez, 4pm

Up to be Cowboys – Waylon Jennings 10) Tell Mama- Etta James So let’s honor our mothers, get that playlist together, and blast out all this music this Mother’s Day!

Quote of the Month: “Mama was my greatest teacher, a teacher of compassion, love and fearlessness. If love is sweet as a flower, then my mother is that sweet flower of love” - Stevie Wonder

Wine Tasting Benefit The Martinez Early Childhood Center (MECC) is a private, non-profit 501(c)(3) charitable organization, dedicated to providing high quality care and education to approximately 120 children each year, ages 0 to 5 years old. Contracted with the California Department of Education, MECC is a Nationally Accredited Education program. Every year, the Parent Advisory Committee and MECC board members, along with the dedicated MECC staff, host a wine tasting event to raise funds to benefit the children and families of MECC. This year’s event is Friday, May 20, 5-9pm, at the Pleasant Hill Community Center. Local artists, merchants, and citizens are very generous with donations for our silent auction and raffle. The enjoyable evening includes fine wines donated by local wineries and wine makers, live music from local musicians, and an abundance of delicious appetizers and on-site barbecue by Danny Pellegrini and Keith Fergusson. Proceeds directly benefit the children’s program. This year’s special sponsor is the “Express Your Selfie” photo booth, donated by Akeson Design. Come and taste some wine, sample delicious small plates, enjoy live music, bid on valuable prizes, and get your “selfie” photos taken with friends, old and new!

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Pair Up She’s a Peach

BY MARIA TERRY My mom is a peach. She prefers to give more than to receive, and one of the things she loves to give is food. She makes wonderful dinners, throws great parties, and more often than not, if you go to her house, you will leave with homemade jam. I wrote this menu with her in mind. She loves Champagne, Chardonnay, and dessert wines. Each is delicate yet has a certain inner strength. Pancetta-Wrapped Peaches hits all five flavors. Fragrant peaches and slightly bitter basil are wrapped-up in salty, savory pancetta, which is fried crisp. Add a sour note by drizzling with a little aged balsamic vinegar, and you have all five flavors. An off-dry sparkling wine is the go-to beverage with this appetizer; bubbles cut the fat, and sugar offsets the bitterness. If you want

to save on the cost of the wine, why not try a champagne cocktail? Made with cognac, sugar, and Angostura Bitters, champagne cocktails will make the most of a less-expensive sparkler. Pouilly-Fuissé is a white wine appellation in the Burgundy region of France. These wines are always made from Chardonnay grapes. Pouilly-Fuissé has classic flavors of peach, apple, and melon and tends to be higher in acid and lower in sugar compared to California Chardonnays. Also, it typically undergoes malolactic fermentation, so it has a buttery flavor that’s excellent for the richness of roasted sea bass. Additionally, Pouilly-Fuissés are usually not aged in new oak. For this reason, oak won’t overpower the floral flavors of the lemon and basil featured in the recipe below. If you can’t find a Pouilly-Fuissé, look for a lighter style Chardonnay made with little or no oak. Bring this special meal to an end

Pancetta-Wrapped Peaches with Basil and Aged Balsamic

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INGREDIENTS 16 thin slices of pancetta 2 medium freestone peaches—halved, pitted and cut into 8 wedges each Salt and freshly ground pepper 16 basil leaves 1 tablespoon olive oil Aged balsamic vinegar, for drizzling DIRECTIONS Lay the pancetta slices out on a work surface. Set a peach wedge at the edge of each slice, season with salt and pepper, and top with a basil leaf. Roll up the pancetta to enclose the peaches. In a medium skillet, heat the olive oil. Add half of the wrapped peaches and cook over moderate heat, turning occasionally, until the pancetta is browned and crisp, about 4 minutes. Transfer to a platter and repeat with the remaining peaches. Lightly drizzle the peaches with aged balsamic vinegar and serve. Yield: 4 servings

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may 2016 • ourcommunityfocus.com

with a German Eiswein made from the Riesling grape. Ice wines are classically made from grapes that have been left on the vine until winter comes and freezes them. When quickly pressed, the solid water stays behind. The super sweet syrup is made into a dense and perfumed wine with flavors of peaches and honey. It is the perfect partner for Peach Melba Buckle, made with fresh peaches and raspberries that are baked

Peach Melba Buckle INGREDIENTS 4 tablespoons butter 3/4 cup all-purpose flour 3/4 cup sugar 1 teaspoon baking powder 1/4 teaspoon salt 3/4 cup milk 1 cup of sliced fresh peaches or 6oz. frozen 1 cup of fresh raspberries, or 6oz. frozen 1 tablespoon sugar DIRECTIONS Adjust oven rack to upper-middle position, and heat oven to 350 degrees. Put butter in an 8-inch square or 9-inch round pan; set in oven to melt. When butter has melted, remove pan from oven. Whisk flour, 3/4 cup of sugar, baking powder and salt in small bowl. Add milk; whisk to form a smooth batter. Pour batter into pan, then scatter fruit over batter. Sprinkle with 1 tablespoon of sugar. Bake until batter browns and fruit bubbles, 50 to 60 minutes. Serve warm or at room temperature with a dollop of whipped cream or a small scoop of vanilla ice cream, if desired. Yield: 4-6 servings

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

Lemon and Basil Roasted Sea Bass INGREDIENTS Olive oil (4) sea bass fillets 8 oz. cherry tomatoes 1 red pepper, sliced 1 yellow pepper, sliced 1 lemon, zest and juice One handful of fresh basil, coarsely chopped Salt and Pepper to taste DIRECTIONS Heat the oven to 400º. Mix the lemon juice, zest, basil and 2-3 tablespoons of olive oil. Season the fish and pour marinade over the sea bass fillets (save some basil to sprinkle over when serving). Marinate as you prepare the vegetables. Place the tomatoes and peppers in a baking dish in one dense layer, drizzle with one tablespoon of olive oil, and season to taste. Roast for 5 minutes or until just starting to soften. Remove the vegetables from the oven and lay the marinated sea bass on the roasted vegetables and return to the oven for 15 minutes. The bass will be white and flaky when cooked and the vegetables soft. Sprinkle with basil and serve immediately with slices of lemon on the side. Yield: 4 servings

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In the Garden

May Offers Cherries and Berries BY LESLEY STILES May Day lies flush with fond memories in my mind: new dresses, gloves, and hats for the girls and suits for the boys in my family at Easter. Maypole dances, queens, and flower crowns figured large in the celebrations at Christ the King, where we attended grade school. Ceremony around May Day goes back to druids and the Lady of the Lake, which I identify with every time I go into the magic of my back-

Strawberry and Basil Jam INGREDIENTS 2 cups sugar 1 large lemon, zested and juiced 2 large or 4 small basil leaves 2 pints fresh strawberries, hulled and halved DIRECTIONS Combine the sugar, lemon zest, and lemon juice in a small saucepan and cook over very low heat for 10 minutes, until the sugar is dissolved. Add the strawberries and continue to cook over very low heat for 35 minutes, until the strawberries release some of their juices and the mixture boils slowly. Cook until a small amount of the juice gels on a very cold plate, about 30 minutes more. (I keep one in the freezer.) Pour carefully into two, sterile pint canning jars and place either one big or two small basil leaves in each jar. Either process in a water bath for 10 minutes or keep refrigerated. Refrigerated jam will keep for a couple of weeks.

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yard or a beautiful garden around water. Earliest May Day celebrations appeared in pre-Christian times with the Floralia, a festival in honor of the Roman goddess of flowers, and they are also associated with the Gaelic Beltane, a traditional summer holiday in many pagan cultures. In the 1500s, King Charles IX of France received a lily of the valley as a good luck charm. He generously offered a lily of the valley each year to the ladies of the court. At the beginning of the 20th century, it was customary to give a sprig of lily of the valley on May first. To this day, we still give lilies to each other at spring celebrations in my family. Cherries hit farmers’ markets with a

Cherry Balsamic Drizzle INGREDIENTS 1 cup pureed cherries 2 cups balsamic vinegar 2 cups red wine ½ cup honey DIRECTIONS Pour wine and balsamic vinegar into a non-reactive saucepan. Bring to a boil and reduce by half. Add cherries and reduce by one third. Add honey and simmer for 5 minutes. To this base you can add rosemary, tarragon, orange peel or crushed cranberries as variations. Use for a dressing on salad with olive oil or as a sauce to grilled chicken, roasted duck or vegetables. Store covered in refrigerator for up to 2 months. Makes 2 cups.

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slow burn come May Day and continue along through the end of June, joined by cousins blueberries and bosom buddies strawberries and raspberries. Organics are readily available at most of the local markets. May also offers up prime salad days, with greens going crazy before scorching summer high noon temperatures move in, gracing tomatoes, corn, beans, and peppers with rapid growth while challenging lettuce and greens. May is a great time to burrow pumpkin seeds into friable dirt corners and climbing areas for spirited Halloween carving and holiday pies. Japanese cucumbers are incredibly sweet and easy to grow, rewarding gardeners with a tenderly crunchy treat. Eggplants dazzle with brilliant colors, and their flavors are mesmerizing when grilled with olive oil and garlic. If you can find them, get Padron Peppers planted in your garden. You will be blessed with a long, voluptuous crop of small, emerald peppers; one in ten will scorch your mouth and the other nine are so good it’s worth chancing the tenth. Sauté the little gems in hot olive oil and sprinkle with sea salt, then devour them hot like popcorn -- seeds, stems, and all. Growing your own food takes on a different sort of importance when you actually read labels on some of the foods you buy. Did you really want everything in your life to be genetically modified foods? When you are growing your own, you can be sure of what you are actually eating and serving your family while you save money at the store – not to mention how much better it all tastes. Growing food is also ad-

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dictive. Once you have a good season you are hooked. What about continuing on into the winter? Who says you can’t grow year round. You certainly can in our area. Hike early and often!! 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.

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ourcommunityfocus.com • may 2016

A Northgate Senior Project

Northgate High School senior Maddie Waletzko is organizing a self-defense class for her high school senior project. The class is created for girls between the ages of 14 -18 and will take place on May 14,12:30-3:30pm, at “The Loft” at Sports Basement on Ygnacio Valley Road. Impact Bay Area, a nonprofit organization that teaches effective boundary setting, personal safety, and physical self-defense skills, will assist Maddie with her project. The three-hour class covers street safety and awareness, physical and verbal boundary setting, and some basic, full force self-defense tactics proven effective at keeping you safer in the world. The annual Senior Project is an opportunity for seniors to investigate something of interest to them. The students write a paper and give an oral presentation to a panel of judges from the school and community. Maddie is writing her research paper on overcoming women’s oppression in developing countries. “The idea that self defense can help a woman protect herself when necessary really stood out to me,” she said. “I took an intro self-defense class in January that was organized by the Kiran Anjali Project and put on by Impact Bay Area. I really enjoyed the safe and welcoming environment the instructors provided, and I want to give that feeling of confidence to other young women too.” Maddie has been a volunteer for the Kiran Anjali Project, a nonprofit with the mission of advancing educational opportunities for girls in India, since she was a freshman. “It has enriched my perspective on the lives of girls around the world today. The goal behind KAP is to help support and provide the education to girls and young women in India.” Maddie will attend San Diego State University in the fall as a business/marketing major. Aware of the incidences of sexual assaults on college campuses, she believes selfdefense classes add a layer of preparation and self-empowerment. “I look forward to making a positive impact with women’s outreach programs, on and off campus!” she added. The cost to take the self-defense class is $75, and $15 of that will be donated to the Kiran Anjali Project. The class holds up to 16 participants and the deadline to sign up is May 7.

Northgate Three-Peats

On April 9, Northgate High School’s Jazz Band I performed under the direction of Greg Brown at the Monterey Next Generation Jazz Festival, and for an unprecedented third year in a row, they walked away with first place in the High School Big Band Division. They were one of only three high school big bands to advance to the finalist competition. The win will bring Northgate back to the Monterey Jazz Festival this September.

Teacher of the Year Valley View Teacher is Finalist

On April 15, the Contra Costa County Office of Education named four teachers as the 2016-2017 Contra Costa County Teacher of the Year finalists. Valley View Middle School’s Shauna Hawes, representing the Mt. Diablo Unified School District, is one of the four teachers who will move on to the next two phases as finalists. Hawes, a computer applications/technology teacher, is certainly passionate about inspiring students through technology. Most recently, the 18-year teacher has worked with Tesoro and MDUSD to fund three different programs: GIRL Camp, a tech Symposium, and the after school robotics clubs in MDUSD. GIRL Camp is based on a program developed at UC Davis. GIRL stands for Girls in Robotics Leadership and is a one-week long day camp held at Valley View. The Patrick & Shirley Campbell Foundation provided financial support last year. “The girls worked on robotics, programming, problem-solving, leadership, collaboration, research, video production... there is a TON shoved into one amazing week!” said Hawes. “Last summer, Tesoro offered to get on board, and we are creating the summer experience now for 60 girls this June.” The camp, created for middle school girls, will be held at Valley View. Several DVC students will serve as coaches and some high school students will be on hand as assistant coaches as well. Hawes also hosted a tech conference at the middle school last February. “A dream of mine for a few years has been to show off the terrific work we’ve been doing at Valley View around tech integration. This year, with

Tesoro’s financial support, we were able to offer a free STEM & Ed Tech Symposium, with almost 300 speakers and attendees from all over northern California. We had amazingly positive feedback and already have next year’s event scheduled for February 25.” Last year, Hawes earned the Industrial & Technology Education credential. “This is exciting because the credential really supports work in project design, problem-solving, engineering, etc., all of which seem to be the direction classes like mine are going,” she added. In the coming months, Hawes will be observed interacting with her students during class and the four finalists will each give a short speech to another panel on August 15. Then, on September 22, the finalists will attend the annual County Teacher of the Year Dinner Celebration, held at the Concord Hilton. The evening will close with the announcement of the two 2016-2017 CC County Teachers of the Year. The two winners will represent the county in the state program this coming fall.

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may 2016 • ourcommunityfocus.com

Ecopoetry Festival Features Students and Notable Poets On Saturday, May 21, the Muir Poetry Project will proudly present the third annual Ecopoetry Festival in Martinez. This is a joint effort of Alhambra High School’s Creative Writing Program, under the direction of teacher Eliot Schain, and the John Muir National Historic Site. Celebrated poets Robert Hass, Brenda Hillman, and Matthew Zapruder will read from their work, as well as discuss how poetic language can improve our relationship with the natural world. Hass is former Poet Laureate of the United States and teaches at U.C. Berkeley. Hillman is current chancellor for the Academy of American Poets and teaches at St. Mary’s College. Zapruder serves as poetry editor for the New York Times magazine and also teaches at St. Mary’s. They each have received many prestigious awards and been published widely. In addition to the distinguished poets, several Alhambra students will have an opportunity to read their own Ecopoetry to an audience as well. The creative writing program has been especially transformative to senior Meghan McCauley, who describes her experience in Schain’s class as “a free environment; there’s nowhere else on campus where you can express yourself this freely. It’s a trusting room and very

down to earth. It’s a good place for kids to have an outlet and be able to express themselves through the vehicle of poetry.” Schain, a published poet himself, has been teaching at Alhambra High School for over 20 years and has left an impression on his students. “He’s changed everybody’s life in that class. You can literally see everybody developing. It’s one of the best experiences I’ve had in high school,” remarked Meghan. The event is part of an ongoing celebration of the National Park System’s 100th Anniversary. Meghan and her creative writing classmates will be at the festival, and she expressed that the community should not overlook this opportunity because “there could be a lot gained from listening to the poets and their thoughts on how we can improve the environment and the world as a whole, and how we can directly help.” Admission is free, but reservations are required, as seating is limited. Call the Muir House at (925) 228-8860, to reserve your spot. The event will take place from 5-7:30pm in the parlor of the John Muir House in Martinez. For more details, contact James MacDonald of the John Muir National Historical Site at (925)228-8860 (ext. 6431) or Eliot Schain at eschain@martinez.k12.ca.us.

Beach Party Pops Concert The College Park High School Choirs are proud to present Beach Party!, the annual spring pops concert in the College Park High School Multi-Use Room at 7pm, Friday and Saturday evenings, May 20 and 21. According to the CPHS Choir Director Bruce Rockwell, “Every spring we end the year with a bang. We turn up the amps and celebrate some aspect of pop music culture. Our pops concerts have become a huge tradition that the entire school community really gets into. Recently we’ve done concerts of Motown music, British Invasion rock music, and Broadway. This year we’re decorating the M.U. like a tiki club, and our guests can sip tropical drinks with cocktail umbrellas while they enjoy music of the Beach Boys, Bob Marley, Israel Kamakawiwo’ole, traditional Hawaiian and Samoan music, and more. Hawaiian shirts and huarache sandals are optional.” Tickets are $10 general, $5 student/senior. There will be a public reception after the Friday night concert. The public is advised to purchase tickets in advance, as the CPHS choir pops concerts are always popular and will probably sell out. For tickets: www.collegeparkchoirs.com.

Northgate Jazz at Yoshi’s

The venues for Northgate’s two spring evening performances are Yoshi’s Jazz Club at Jack London Square in Oakland and the Lesher Center for the Arts, Hofmann Theater. Northgate’s Jazz Bands will raise the roof at the legendary jazz club on Monday, May 9, at 7pm and 9pm. The evening will feature Jazz Band I, Jazz Band II, Combo I. Tickets are $15 and $20. Northgate’s concert band, symphonic band, orchestra, and wind ensemble present a fun and sophisticated evening of classical music for the entire family on Wednesday, May 18, at 7pm at the Lesher Center for the Arts. Tickets are $5 to $14.75. Tickets can be purchased online at yoshis.com and lesherARTScenter.org. Service charges apply.

College Connection Fair The 2016 East Bay College Connection fair is on Saturday, May 7, at Saint Mary’s College of California. The fair is 1- 4pm, with sessions beginning at 12:15pm. Students and families are invited to come and visit, with over 150 representatives from colleges across the country and abroad. The program will not only consist of a college fair but also workshops led by experts in college admissions and financial aid. Students are encouraged to register in order to receive a scannable barcode for the college fair. The fair is free for all students. This will give you more time to have meaningful conversations with college representatives rather than filling out inquiry cards at each table. I’m not in trouble anymore!

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ourcommunityfocus.com • may 2016

Girl Scout Award

Soroptimist Awards

BY SANDRA MULLER Congratulations to Troop 32132 of Hidden Valley Elementary School in Martinez for earning their Bronze Award. In 2015, the troop’s four girls started planning the project for their Bronze Award, the highest honor a Junior Girl Scout can achieve, and they decided on one that would foster friendship and encourage social interaction in their school’s community: a “Buddy Bench.” The girls collected donations and sold cookies to earn the funds needed for their project, a beautifully-decorated bench for children to sit on if they are feeling lonely and in need of a friend. After purchasing and assembling their bench and designing a sign, the girls installed the Buddy Bench on April 9 and dedicated it to Hidden Valley Elementary School on Monday, April 11, after leading the school in a formal flag ceremony. “The girls’ enthusiasm and hard work was truly amazing throughout this process. I am very proud

Soroptimist International of Martinez held its 13th Annual Awards Tea on Sunday, April 17, at Haute Stuff Restaurant in Martinez. Awards were given to young women in recognition of their accomplishments and their career goals. The Violet Richardson Award was given to Amy Moran, an Alhambra High School senior. Amy has spent summers volunteering in Mexico with her youth group to build a home for an impoverished family. She enjoys being part of something bigger than herself to help others. The Rose Camarata Gaffney Scholarship Award was given to Lenore Delfino, also an Alhambra High School senior. Lenore has achieved success in her volunteer work with 4H and Grange groups. Lenore learned of a need for a K9 dog for the Martinez Police Department and organized a fundraiser that brought in $13,000 to acquire the dog. She plans to further her training as a veterinary technician. The Live Your Dream award was given to Sarah Bacon. Sarah found herself in the situation of being a single mother raising two children and recognized the need for education in order to provide a good home for her family. The

Making Friends the Hidden Valley Way of them for reaching their goal,” said Troop Leader Lonnie Wickham. “The Hidden Valley Community is so grateful to Troop 32132 and their families for the work they did to provide a Buddy Bench for our school,” said Principal Rich Gorton. “It helps to further beautify Hidden Valley Elementary, but even more importantly, it provides a place where students can go and know they will be surrounded by friends. There are times when we all need a Buddy Bench!” Special thanks to Hidden Valley Elementary Principal Rich Gorton and to the school’s Parent Faculty Club for their support of Troop 32132’s Bronze Award Project. Additional thanks to GLT Sign Solutions in Martinez for printing a vibrant and welcoming Buddy Bench sign and to Mike Warriner of Pleasant Hill for donating his time and expertise to the installation of the bench. Congratulations Girl Scout Troop 32132. We are so proud of you.

Four Martinez Women Awarded

Live Your Dream runner up award was given to Natalie Lopez-Schiefer, also a single mother, who plans to further her education in the accounting field. The Ruby Award, named in memory of the first Soroptimist president, was awarded to Marianne Griffin, teacher at Alhambra High School, for her exemplary work through multiple contacts with students. Ms. Griffin is a mentor to many students each year and teaches the Leadership Class. Each awardee was presented with a special proclamation certificate from Supervisor Federal Glover’s office. In addition to financial awards, club members presented 31 fleece blankets to Yvonne Chevalier, a supervisor for Contra Costa County Children and Family Services Department. The blankets will be given to children entering or transitioning in foster care. Soroptimist International of Martinez is a non-profit service organization whose goal is to improve the lives of women and girls through programs leading to social and economic empowerment. The club meets the second Monday of each month. For more information, go to www.soroptimistmartinez.org or call Judy Moon, 925-229-1413.

Girl Scout Troop 32132 dedicating their Bronze Award project, a Buddy Bench, to Hidden Valley Elementary. (LtoR): Cassie Wickham, Principal Rich Gorton, Logan Muller, Kate Johnson, Troop Leader Lonnie Wickham, and Lorelei Arnold. [Photo credit: Allison Johnson]

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Award Recipients (LtoR): Amy Moran, Violet Richardson Award; Marianne Griffin, Ruby Award; Lenore Delfino, Rose Camarata Gaffney Memorial Scholarship; and Sara Bacon, Live Your Dream Award.

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Jen Lucas Massage: 60-minute massage ($80) It Works! Green Wrap: $50 gift basket Lavender Moon Interiors: $55 Chalk Furniture painting class Community Focus: $50 Bollinger Nail Salon gift card Braverman Mediation & Consulting: $50 Peet’s Coffee card California Table Pad: $50 towards purchase Winners will be contacted by email on Friday May 6 and will be announced in the June issue of Community Focus.