November 2020 Community Focus

COMMUNITY

FOCUS ourcommunityfocus.com

NOVEMBER 2020

IN THIS ISSUE: • COMMUNITY FOOD DRIVE • ACADEMIC SUPERSTARS • POP-UP STORE

PLEASANT HILL • CONCORD • MARTINEZ • LAFAYETTE • WALNUT CREEK

SMALL TALK WITH TERI independent & locally owned

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

COVER:

INSIDE &4

6

Mayors’ Message

17

Real Estate

8& 10 Book Review

Local History

20

21

Butternut Squash with Lentils

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Members of the Civic Action Commission and community volunteers at the Teen Center at the Community Food Drive’s donation site.

Photo by: SusanWoodPhotography.com

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Meet Margaret Miner who lives in Pleasant Hill with her husband, their two kids, and two dogs. She’s been the chief travel officer of VinoDestinations (a full-service luxury travel agency focused on wine themed travel) since 2013. “Travel is on hold for awhile, so I’ve taken this opportunity to redo our website and connect with clients personally.”

How have you been affected by Covid-19? Two family members have had Covid-19, and it hasn’t been pretty. One is an immediate family member who we haven’t been able to visit. It’s been extraordinarily challenging! Also, I’ve been forced to slow WAY down, and that’s been a blessing.

More about Margaret: 1. Losing my mom, dad, and brother within two years of each other has been my biggest challenge. There were only six weeks between my dad and brother’s death, and I planned a double funeral for them. It was nine years ago, but the loss shaped me and made me who I am today.

2. I once walked into the middle of a bank robbery in Montreal.

3. For fun, I crochet and knit for charity, and I love to travel.

4. My husband is a metalhead. We have a music studio under the house, and he’s recorded two albums. I’m super proud of him! We are complete opposites!

Julie Says

What Has Thin Skin, Tiny Pink Eyes, and Yellow Flesh?

BY JULIE ROSS Here’s a hint: You might see them on your Thanksgiving table this year. They were favored in the Obama White House.

Wolfgang Puck supervised the preparation of more than 1,300 pounds of them paired with crème fraiche and Caspian caviar at the 2016 Oscar Awards show. Give up?

Forty years ago, Canadian plant scientist hero (at least in my opinion) Garnet

“Gary” Johnston registered the Yukon Gold potato with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. This elevated the status of the humble tuber from sustenance to gourmet, and the crop made its way from supermarkets to professional kitchens and top-flight celebrity chefs.

After serving in the Royal Canadian Air Force in World War II, Johnston enrolled at the Ontario Agriculture College and entered a field husbandry program specializing in winter wheat. But in 1953, when the school’s resident potato breeder left

Jackpot Catch!

Robert G. Mitchell of Pleasant Hill, California, wins jackpot with 100 lb. bluefin tuna while on a Penn Reels fishing charter. Mr. Mitchell was fishing from Point Loma in San Diego at San Clemente Island using live bait. He was on an American Angler vessel, also based in Point Loma. Photo by Bradley Morgan

for another job, Johnston took on the role and began turning out new varieties. In the course of his work, Johnston spoke with Belgian, German, and Dutch farmers in the province who wanted to grow yellowfleshed potatoes like those in Europe. This idea gained life when a graduate student from Peru introduced Johnston to a small, rough-skinned, yellow-fleshed wild variety from South America known as the Yema de huevo (yes, “egg yolk”). Johnston crossed a female Yema de huevo potato with a male Norgleam, a larger, small-eyed, whitefleshed potato from North Dakota.

You might be wondering (as was I) how to tell a male potato from a female potato. Quite simply, the male potato plant spreads pollen. And now, here is my favorite part. A master at crossing varieties, Johnston had an interesting method of pollination. He would tap the pollen from a male flower onto his thumbnail and place it in a female flower with a tiny paintbrush. In

1966, Johnston crossed the two varieties 66 times. In the years that followed, he carefully selected the best potatoes to cultivate for the next crop. Fourteen years later, in 1980, his beloved Yukon Gold was ready to be licensed.

The Yukon Gold potato has good flavor and a waxy texture. It’s higher in vitamin C and lower in starch than the russet. Whether mashed with cream, Gordon Ramsey style, served as potatoes dauphinoise, as they were in the Obama White House, roasted, using Ina Garten’s garlic-lemon-rosemary recipe, or just plain oven-baked to crispy perfection, Johnston’s potato masterpiece is ready to grace your table. Thanksgiving will be different for most of us this year. Wishing good health and good times to all.

Thanks to husband Murray for passing along the Yukon Gold article from the Globe & Mail.

You can reach Julie at julieakross@ comcast.net

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Real Estate

Aging in Place

BY NORMA FLASKERUD The California Association of Realtors reported the following in late October: While many economic indicators are clearly showing signs of improvement, it will take time to get back to the pre-pandemic level, as many uncertainties remain unanswered. The housing market, on the other hand, remains a rare bright spot even as it transitions into the traditional slow time of the year. While the market is showing signs of leveling off in recent weeks, it is still stronger than normal as low rates and renewed interest in home buying continue to fuel housing demand.

We continue to see that strength in the market of homes for sale even though we passed what is usually the peak of the market. Yes, sales are slowing a bit. Yes, we are seeing price drops on some listings.

This could be a sign of the market having peaked. But we tend to think it is a seasonal decline -- normal but later than normal this year.

Prices are stable, at least, if not continuing to go up. I say “if” because we find the supply and demand varies from town to town. Some towns are still seeing multiple offers and prices being bid up.

Some towns are seeing homes languish a bit longer on the market, as well as price adjustments – the lowering of a home’s asking price to attract an offer. After all, prices can’t just keep going up and up and

Accessory Dwelling Units are a potential boon for people who wish to remain in their homes as they age, says Dana Cuff, a professor of architecture and director of the think tank cityLAB at UCLA. Cuff is also one of the writers of the 2017 California ADU legislation and says ADUs allow people to stay in their communities rather than face the stress and dislocation of moving to a new neighborhood.

ADUs allow people to age in place by providing an array of options such as an easy downsize to a separate, more accessible home on a property. A grown child can live in the main house (with his or her family) or it can be rented out. Other options are using the ADU as living quarters for a caregiver or relative who requires care. The homeowner may even rent the ADU for retirement income.

“An ADU allows people to keep their connections to the community,” says Alan DeLaTorre, manager of the Age-Friendly Program in Portland, Oregon’s Bureau of Planning and Sustainability, which promotes aging in place.

In addition, older Americans often live in homes that were designed without mobility considerations. Many have multiple levels, and most are built up from street level. “Those barriers can push older people out of their homes before they are ready to move,” DeLaTorre says. But ADUs, which can be built with mobility in mind, allow them to stay. Modern construction is also more efficient, which keeps heating and cooling costs lower. A 2018 AARP survey found that 67 percent of adults would consider living in an ADU to be close to someone while still having a separate space. One-third of the respondents said that they would consider an ADU. “People love their communities and neighborhoods,” says Shannon Guzman, senior strategic policy adviser at AARP. “Moving to a more affordable location can take them away from the people and places that enrich their

Autumn Real Estate Updates up! They have gone up, but over the past three decades of selling real estate, I have seen peaks and valleys, stability, dips, and even a valley that follows most peaks. We have an election coming up, and no one knows who will win and what impact that may have on the economy or our real estate market, so some are holding off to see the outcome.

If you are a buyer, my recommendation is to keep looking. If you find a home in your price range that checks all the boxes of your needs and desires, you should go for it! Assuming you plan to live in it for many years, any short-term price change should not concern you. What matters is you have a place to call home; you can settle in and get on with the lifestyle you want to enjoy.

If you are a seller, we believe the market will stay strong through the holidays on into 2021! So get the house ready. Fix up your curb appeal. Declutter and stage the interior. Pay close attention to paint, floor coverings, light fixtures, and cleanliness. The houses that sell for the most are the ones dialed in to perfection. If you choose to sell as-is, that’s fine too! We can guide you through that process; it’s all about getting inspections done in advance and pricing it appropriately. It’s all do-able!

Call the Flaskerud Team. 925-3382980. We will guide you through the process! Norma Flaskerud, 925-766-6679; Erik Flaskerud, 925-381-7276; Remax Accord DRE#’s 00867031 - Norma; 01891688 - Erik SPONSORED CONTENT

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Choosing Where you Age

lives. We have to rethink housing and find better solutions, like ADUs.” ADU Cost Comparison to Assisted Living A typical 800 square foot ADU: $900 / month.

California assisted living costs: $4,500 / month* Assisted living is part of a continuum of long-term care services that provides a combination of housing, personal care services, and healthcare designed to respond to individuals who need assistance with normal daily activities in a way that promotes maximum independence.

Utilizing an ADU for the healthcare provider or for the individual requiring care can provide the same services.

In addition to the benefits of keeping a loved one in a familiar surrounding and offering an affordable solution, the property increases in value with the addition of the ADU. According to Genworth’s Cost of Care Survey 2019, there are various costs associated with levels of care (see chart).

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BY PETE SABINE Conventional wisdom says people should wait until spring to get the most from a home sale.

Inventory usually increases to meet buyer demand when the weather gets warm and daylight savings begins. This often leads to multiple offers breaking out in coveted neighborhoods.

A home in a great area with high buyer demand can sell in a few weeks or even a few days.

If you cannot wait until the spring to get your house on the market, consider offering your home for sale during the holidays. It may not seem like the most ideal time, but it does have its benefits provided you position your home in just the right way.

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do not buy homes at other times of the year. In fact, there are homes listed during the holidays that could command more money when the inventory is limited. If you play your cards right, you may even be able to sell your home quicker than in the spring. One reason for this is the lack of competing homes for sale during the holidays.

The limited range of homes available to buy means you might be able to command a higher asking price for your property. Do your research about the supply and demand, stage your home properly, price it competitively, and you could receive an attractive purchase offer and be on your way to your next home.

Buyers Are More Serious If your house is for sale in the winter and someone is looking at it, chances are that person is serious and is ready to buy.

Anyone shopping for a new home around Thanksgiving, Christmas, or New Year’s is undoubtedly going to be a serious buyer; they are not going to spend their precious time around the holidays seeing how the other half lives. Putting your home on the market at this time of year and attracting a serious buyer can often result in a quicker sales process.

Warm and Cozy Feeling The holidays are a time when people gather around the fireplace with hot chocolate and enjoy entertaining friends and

family. Homeowners who put their houses up for sale during the winter months can stage their house to give off a cheerful and cozy vibe that appeals to many buyers. Buyers tend to be more emotional during the holidays, and many will make a buying decision based on how they feel about the vibe of the home for sale.

Appealing Neighborhood One of the traditions of the holiday season, particularly around Christmas, is that many homes are adorned with festive lights and decorations that can pull on the heartstrings of a buyer.

Duty Calls The end of the year is typically when people are notified they will be moving because of a job transfer. Those people are going to need a home as soon as possible and will be searching for a new home during the holidays. These buyers cannot wait for the spring, which is why listing your home during the holidays can get the home sold quickly.

Hire an experienced Realtor who will attract serious buyers during the holidays.

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Pop-Up Shop

Just in Time for the Holidays Looking for a place to go this holiday shopping season for those hard to find gifts? A new store is now open that showcases an unusual variety of goods normally seen at outdoor events such as arts and crafts festivals. Selections include art glass, pottery, dragon, fairy and animal figurines, scarves and gloves, scented wax, trinket and puzzle boxes, sun-catchers, wall signs, tabletop Christmas trees, and many other handcrafted items. According to storeowner Judie Dalton, however, “Our specialty has always been sterling silver jewelry. We feature the largest selection of quality sterling silver jewelry that you will find on display anywhere in the area, and it’s all nickel-free, which is so important for people with allergic reactions to metal.”

The amazing collection includes necklaces, earrings, pendants set with semiprecious stones, lockets, lab opal, and over 1,000 rings.

Judie and Bruce Dalton are veterans of the festival circuit and have been selling at outdoor events in Northern California and western Nevada for over 25 years. In the off-season, they always open a “pop-up” gift shop for a few months in a Bay Area mall. In fact, for the last three years, locals may have seen their holiday shop, Dalton’s, at Sun Valley Mall. This year they have opted for a location by the Pleasant Hill Post Office and have named the store Uncommon Gifts. Besides their unique gift selection, Dalton’s has a reputation for helpful, friendly customer service. “My wife and I have been in retail together since 1986 and really enjoy working with our customers.” says Bruce Dalton. “Our entire festival schedule was cancelled this year because of COVID, so we are excited to be back in business. And I know Santa appreciates the help!”

Saying thank you can be one of the simplest acknowledgments of the good deeds done for us on our behalf.

Virtual Hometown Heroes Recognition Awards Event Tuesday, December 1, 2020-6:30pm www.pleasanthillca.org/heroes

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CITY NEWS

Mayor’s Message November is the month we give thanks. While 2020 has been full of challenges, there have been bright spots as well, for which I am grateful. Here are a few: A caring community Pleasant Hill residents have a tradition of helping others, and the outpouring of support for the Community Service Day Citywide Food Drive was no exception. Together, we donated 11,309 pounds of food and close to $10,000 – enough to provide 33,570 meals. Special thanks to the Civic Action Commission for coordinating the food drive, the 60 volunteers who helped at

the food drive donation stations, and the College Park High School and Pleasant Hill Middle School communities for hosting food drive donation stations on their campuses.

Honoring our veterans We have much to be grateful for when it comes to the brave men and women who put country before personal needs to keep us safe and free.

This year, the Pleasant Hill Rotary Club will be sponsoring a drive-by Salute to Veterans on Saturday, November 14, between 9 and 11am. Veterans who would like to be included should email veteransday2020@gmail.com.

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Return of the Senior Van I’m happy to announce that the Senior Van service resumed on Monday, October 26. This popular service provides friendly, capable volunteers who drive Pleasant Hill seniors to medical, dental, and other important appointments. We had to discontinue the service earlier this year due to COVID-19 but have since put safety procedures in place to protect both passenger and driver. Rides will initially be limited to Mondays and Wednesdays, from 10am to 2pm, with extended periods between passengers for cleaning and sanitizing the van. The fare remains $1.50 per ride.

Riders must pre-register. Call 925-6715272 or go to bit.ly/SeniorVan for more information.

Reopening of Restaurants Pleasant Hill is home to a wide variety of restaurants. This year was tough on them due to the initial shelter-inplace orders that at first limited restaurants to take-out only. Over the summer, a number of our restaurants found creative ways to expand their outdoor dining options. (Many took advantage of the city’s grant program that helped fund purchase of outdoor tables and chairs.) As the county’s COVID-19 cases decline, restaurants are able to reopen in phases. As of this writing, restaurants

may open inside with 25 percent capacity, and it’s possible that that percentage will increase some time in November.

Thanks to everyone for doing your part in making our COVID numbers decrease.

Celebrate by having a meal at one of our great restaurants!

Recreation and Park opportunities I am always thankful for the wonderful parks and recreation facilities in Pleasant Hill. This year, I am especially thankful for the creative people at the Recreation and Park District who came up with new ways to offer programs despite public health restrictions. From the online “Gigs and Grub” concert series to Parking Lot Bingo at the Senior Center, Pleasant Hill residents of all ages had a veritable cornucopia of opportunities to play. Check out their website, pleasanthillrec.com, to see what they have in store for this winter.

Family first Last but not least, I am thankful for my family. Being mayor is an honor, but it is also time-consuming and stressful at times. My wife, Ashley, and our two daughters (Madison and Emily) have been constant sources of support and encouragement. I may have listed them last in this column, but they are definitely first among all that I am grateful for.

I wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving.

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CITY NEWS

Pleasant Hill City News The Season of Giving Begins Amy’s Hallmark store in Downtown Pleasant Hill is teaming up with HOPE EXTENDED and HOPE (Homeless Outreach Program for Education) through the Mt. Diablo Unified School District to help students experiencing housing and food insecurities.

HOPE EXTENDED’S goal is to help the physical needs of students that attend MDUSD by providing clothing, snacks, school supplies, and even toiletry needs. They also help supply families with bi-monthly meals and holiday meals. If you bring in canned and dry goods or donate a grocery store gift certificate now through November 17, you will receive a raffle ticket (one ticket per visit) to be entered to win a Hallmark gift basket. Names will be pulled on November 17. All donations will go directly to HOPE EXTENDED and HOPE. In addition, Amy’s Hallmark is collecting new warm socks for patients at Hospice East Bay and items for Toys for Tots.

New Interim County Librarian Contra Costa County Librarian Melinda Cervantes announced her retirement on September 2. On October 2, she shared in a newsletter that County Administrator David Twa appointed Alison McKee as interim county librarian, starting on October 19. McKee has been with Contra Costa County Library since 2002 and has worked there as a library assistant, librarian, and senior community library manager. Cervantes also served as a county librarian for four years, and for the last six years, she worked as the deputy county librarian. Recruitment for the permanent appointment will take place in the coming months, and a new county librarian is expected to be announced in early 2021.

Friends of the Pleasant Hill Library Since opening in August, the Friends of the Pleasant Hill Library’s Bookstore has had strong sales. Between the brick and mortar store and the new online platform, the all-volunteer organization made $14,500 in August and $15,700 in September, which will go toward the new Pleasant Hill Library. Lately, the bookstore has been offering discounts in select sections. The store offered 30% off discounts in the cooking area in early October and in the history section later in the month. From November 1- 15, the bookstore will offer a 30% discount on all adult fiction books!

The physical store is located at 35 Crescent Drive in downtown Pleasant Hill and is open daily from 11am-5pm. With 2,500 square feet of space, there is plenty of room to browse and be socially distant. The store boasts a large and varied inventory of over 12,000 items, all in great condition and priced to sell, with hundreds of new arrivals every day. The new virtual store is at phlibraryfriends.org and has everything the bookstore offers and more.

one driver and up to four single person rides per day, beginning Monday, October 26.

Rides will initially be limited to Mondays and Wednesdays, from 10am to 2pm, with extended periods between passengers for cleaning and sanitizing the van. The fare remains $1.50 per ride. Registered passengers may call (925) 671-5272 one business day in advance of the ride to schedule a pick-up. For two weeks, the staff will evaluate the needs and safety of the service and then determine if the schedule can be expanded.

Community Service Day Recap Every year since 2005, Pleasant Hill community members have joined together on one special day to make Pleasant Hill a better place by volunteering for a wide array of projects. This year, the community could not assemble in person due to COVID-19, but the city and community made a difference by being part of a citywide drive to support the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano. Since the pandemic started, requests for food have gone up by 50%.

This year, Community Service Day was held on Saturday, October 10, and was a resounding success. Together, the community donated almost 11,500 pounds of food and $9,000, which, combined, will provide 27,816 meals. At the October 19 city council meeting, City Manager June Catalano said, “Thank you to the Civic Action Commission and their 60 volunteers who made this possible, and special thanks to Gayle Vassar, who has guided this all the way through.” The Virtual Food Drive will remain open through Thanksgiving 2020 for those who would like to continue to give. Please visit: https://give.foodbankccs.org/PHCSD2020.

City Council Denies 401 Taylor Project At the October 19 city council meeting, council denied, without prejudice, the proposed 401 Taylor Blvd. Residential Subdivision Project on a three to two vote. The 4.96acre property (consisting of two legal parcels) is located on the southwest corner of the intersection at Lucille Lane and Taylor Boulevard.

The site was proposed to be rezoned from the existing PAO (Professional and Administrative Office) zoning district to a PUD (Planned Unit District), and an accompanying General Plan Amendment was proposed to change the existing General Plan land use designation of the project site from Office to Multi-Family Very Low Density. Although the developer modified the project to 44 single-family dwelling units (from 46), nine accessory dwelling units (from 16), provision of 34 guest parking spaces (from 24) and provision of additional common open space area per residential unit, the city council determined that the submitted project application did not comply with applicable, objective General Plan standards and was not in the best interest of the public.

Veterans Day Parade 2020 On Saturday, November 14, from 9am-11am, The Rotary Club of Pleasant Hill will be honoring all of our veterans by driving by as many homes of our local veterans as possible. There will be representatives from our local police and fire departments and various branches of the armed services. All participating veterans will receive a commemorative flag along with a gift card as a show of gratitude for their service to our country. Join us as we recognize our veterans with a drive-by! If you are a veteran or know a veteran who would be interested in having us drive by and honor them on the 14th, please reach out to our club at veteransday2020@gmail.com (Contact: Michael Moore)

Senior Van Service At the October 20 city council meeting, City Manager June Catalano announced the return of the Senior Van Service. The service will reopen on a limited schedule with

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OURCOMMUNITYFOCUS.COM | NOVEMBER 2020 | 9

CITY NEWS

Mayor’s Message We are now approaching eight months of Covid-19, with strict guidelines on social distancing and wearing masks in public. The combination of the pandemic, shutdown of many small businesses, many people working from home, unemployment, the November general election, and the social justice conversation has many of us exhausted. But somehow we are all moving forward, and I am hopeful that the world will be a better place once we struggle through these difficult times.

The Martinez City Council recently appointed an 11 member Anti-Racist & Discrimination and Pro Inclusion & Equity (ARDPIE) Task Force. The goal was to select members of the community who represent a diverse cross-section of protected characteristics to: • assist with selecting a facilitator and

recommending a facilitated work plan that can be accomplished within allocated resources.

• evaluate city programs, policies, and procedures related to implicit bias, diversity, and inclusion.

• conduct one or two community listening meetings related to race, LGBTQ, and other personal circumstances or characteristics that impact a sense of inclusion for all community members.

The first step in setting up this task force was having the city manager select a panel of six community members to assist with evaluating ARDPIE applications for the city council to consider.

The panel represented a diverse range of interest and racial backgrounds, including Black, Japanese, Armenian, Hispanic, Jewish, and LGBTQ.

Rob Schroder, Mayor of Martinez

The city received 25 applications, including 13 identified by the community panel through aggregated scoring and interviews via Zoom. Of those, 11 were interviewed, one withdrew, and one did not log in for the interview. The ARDPIE Task Force will start work immediately, and all meetings will be public and subject to the Brown Act. Last month, city staff drafted a survey for downtown businesses that was disseminated by Main Street Martinez to identify ways the city could support those businesses in the fall and winter months.

The survey showed 13 downtown businesses were in support and two were opposed to placing K-Rails around parking spaces to allow merchants to set up outdoor dining and outdoor retail displays in front of their storefronts.

Based on this survey and feedback from business owners during a downtown merchants meeting, city staff worked with Main Street Martinez to submit a grant proposal to the Martinez Community Foundation. If approved, the $9,600 grant would fund the purchase of 30-35 plastic K-Rails. K-Rails are barriers that can be used to enclose parking spaces and protect tables, chairs, tents, and patrons from traffic without having to close the street.

They can be installed relatively easily by two public works staff when empty and then filled with water from a city water truck to secure.

The colder weather and rain (hopefully) will be here soon, and the city is working proactively on solutions to support outdoor options for business in the downtown and throughout the city.

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CITY NEWS

Martinez City News Martinez Fishing Pier Renovation and Ferry Point Improvements The fishing pier at the northwest corner of the Martinez Marina has been a popular amenity for over eighty years. It was first built in 1934, with various sections rebuilt in 1976. Over the years the pier has experienced natural degradation to both its topside and substructure.

Martinez city staff are responsible for performing routine maintenance and inspections of the pier and addressing items that would compromise public safety. There have been growing concerns about the slowly deteriorating condition of the substructure of the fishing pier. The city used engineering firm COWI Marine to conduct an infrastructure assessment study. The initial inspection showed several structural system areas rated as “serious,” and some structural elements were noted to be in “severe” condition. Further inspections below the waterline were conducted in October. Although the pier remains open, as a precautionary measure, the city has installed warning signage to notify the public of the potential risks associated with using the pier.

The city has pursued a Proposition 68 Competitive Grant to fund renovation of the fishing pier, improved pathway access, and additional improvements and/ or amenities to the surrounding area. Community participation is essential to the grant process. Staff released a community survey on Saturday, October 10, regarding the grant project. The survey closed on Sunday, October 18, and the results are being tabulated. The initial survey was the first step of several Community Outreach efforts that will help finalize the scope of the city’s grant application.

Staff plans to hold several workshops (in person or remotely via Zoom) to garner community input and refine/finalize the project scope in order to complete the grant application in advance of the December 14 due date. Check the City of Martinez website for dates and times of upcoming workshops.

ditional teams continue to inquire about obtaining field space when available.

Groups are now extending their field use time into the first two weeks of November before the fields close for the winter season.

Veterans Day The Martinez Veterans Commission is currently making efforts to put together a virtual tribute video for Veterans Day. The program will mirror that of the Memorial Day “Tribute to the Fallen” and will include elected officials on local, county, state, and federal levels. The Martinez Veterans Commission will be recording some program items in-person at both the Veterans Memorial at Alhambra and Berrellesa Street and the Alhambra Cemetery. The goal is to have the video broadcasted live on Veterans Day, November 11.

Expansion of the John Muir National Historic Site On October 17, Master of Ceremonies Doug McConnell and John Muir Land Trust (JMLT) Executive Director Linus Eukel held a one-hour live broadcast from the John Muir National Historic Site to celebrate the donation of the 44-acre West Hills Farm property to the John Muir National Historic Site and the opening of Almond Ranch for the first time.

Almond Ranch is a 281-acre property of trails and rolling hills that connects the John Muir National Historic Site to a vast trail system and 18,000 acres of permanently protected open space. Almond Ranch preserves an important wildlife habitat corridor, connects major trails for the first time, and opens the property along the Franklin Ridge for recreation. This keystone property unites six previous JMLT acquisitions into a 1,285-acre landscape in the sky.

JMLT purchased the ranch in 2019. The acquisition of West Hills Farm property was made possible with the bill (H.R. 1719 - John Muir National Historic Site Expansion Act) to authorize the acquisition by U.S. Congressman Mark DeSaulnier, and it passed in the U.S. House of Representatives. The companion bill (S. 729), authored by U.S. Senator Kamala Harris, unanimously passed in the Senate.

“We can’t do it without partners, whether it’s state, local or regional; nonprofit partners and agencies, they all make a difference to get these projects across the finish line,” said Eukel.

Featured speakers include California Governor Gavin Newsom, U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein, U.S. Congressman Mark DeSaulnier, U.S. Congressman Mike Thompson, and National Park Service Superintendent Tom Leatherman. You can watch the ceremony by going to: https://jmlt.org.

Martinez Field Rentals City recreation staff continues to monitor field use to ensure user groups are following State and County COVID protocols and guidelines. The installation of locks on all lockable ballfields have been a challenge since these security measures are frequently removed by the public. Despite the shorter evenings, adOURCOMMUNITYFOCUS.COM | NOVEMBER 2020 | 11

Estate Planning

Do Your Parents Have an Estate Plan?

BY JEFFREY HALL, CPA, JD Probate / Trust Attorney If you find yourself in the “sandwich generation” (someone who is caring for both your children as well as your parents simultaneously), you need to know whether or not your parents have put together an estate plan. While it is still your parent’s choice to make estate planning decisions, having a plan -- no matter how late in life it is created -- is an absolute must.

The thought of speaking with your parents about their finances and estate planning probably makes you want to run as fast as you can in the opposite direction. Nonetheless, having this conversation is the key to helping make sure your parents are able to live their golden years without financial worries and have their wishes carried out after their death.

Estate Planning for Your Parents Talking about the future with your parents -- including their estate matters, finances, and memorial wishes -- is one of the most important conversations

you can have with them. The earlier you address this, the better off all of you will be. Below are some key topics you need to discuss with your parents to make sure their estate planning is in proper order: A team effort: If your parents have legal and financial professionals that help with their matters, make sure to get a full list of these individuals’ contact information. You should also have the contact information of your parents’ doctors in the event end-of-life decisions need to be made for them.

Last will and testament and a trust: If your parents do not have a will written up, they likely do not have any other estate planning documents. If they do have wills in place, make sure to confirm how long ago they were drafted, who the executor will be, and where the original documents are located. A trust may also be appropriate depending on your parent’s circumstances and wishes. Stress to them that you do not need to read the terms but that you should know where they are so you can help ensure their wishes are carried out.

Advanced directives: Make sure your parents have living wills and pow-

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ers of attorney so that someone will be able to make decisions on their behalf if they are unable to do so. Also, ensure you understand their respective feelings about end-of-life decisions, such as life support, and how their financial and medical affairs should be handled should they become incapacitated.

Insurance policies: Find out what insurance policies your parents have and where the policies are located in the event one or both become incapacitated. This includes knowing about health insurance (private or Medicare), life insurance, homeowners, auto insurance, disability insurance, and longterm care policies.

Financial and investment accounts: Your parents should also consider compiling a list of their brokerage, bank, and mutual fund accounts as well as the account numbers. This will make things easier if someone needs to step in and assist with financial matters due to their death or incapacity.

Why Estate Planning Matters Failing to put together an estate plan often leads to chaos, unnecessary costs and taxes, potential hurt feelings, delays in distribution of assets, and

even unexpected outcomes after death. For example, if your parents hold some assets in joint tenancy with a child who lives nearby but does not include other children, the distribution of the asset becomes distorted. When joint tenancy is used instead of an estate planning tool like a trust, adult children left behind will be offended as a result of the parents’ asset distribution.

Do not let fear or discomfort keep you from sitting down and having this important estate planning conversation with your parents. As estate planning attorneys, we can give you and your parents advice on what options are available to them so that their wishes are followed upon their death. Call your neighborhood estate planning attorney, Jeffrey Hall, at (925) 230-9002 to schedule an appointment, or you may visit his website at www.HallLawGroup. com. We are a veteran owned, veteran friendly law firm.

Disclaimer: This article is not intended to be relied upon as legal advice nor the establishment of an attorneyclient relationship.

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COMMUNITY SERVICE DAY PHOTOS BY SUSAN WOOD Thank you to everyone who made the Community Service Day Citywide Food Drive a resounding success.

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Estate Planning

Stop Gap Estate Planning Measures

BY DANIEL DuREE Even as shelterin-place directives are gradually loosened, the more “experienced” and medically vulnerable cohorts are still advised to limit in-person contact. So what can you do if you need to get your affairs in

order but do not want to risk an in-person meeting? Here are a couple of steps you can take as a stopgap measure until you feel comfortable with in-person meetings.

Handwritten Will In California, as long as you handwrite the key provisions in your will and sign it, the will is valid. You do not need two witnesses, as the court can analyze your hand-

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TRUSTS • WILLS • PROBATE

writing in order to “prove” you wrote it. You still may be stuck with probate, however.

Beneficiary Forms These days, many financial institutions allow you to use a “pay on death” or beneficiary form to designate who receives the account proceeds upon your death.

Contact your financial institution for their particular rules and forms.

(Temporarily) Un-notarized Trust and Transfer Deed Although best practice dictates we notarize trusts, notarization is not legally required. The legal requirements are “written” and “signed.” For this reason, you can sign a trust and wait until later to have it notarized. Notarization does not have to be done on the same day the document is signed. Rather, you need to prove that you’re the person referenced in the document and that you signed in that same capacity. You can also sign the deed transferring your home in this same way. Al-

Join us as we recognize our veterans with a drive-by!

!!! HAPPY !!!

VETERANS DAY REMEMBER AND HONOR !!!!!!!!!

2020 version!

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though the deed must be notarized before it is recorded, just the unrecorded deed can avoid probate through what is called a Heggstad petition. That is a bit far afield for this discussion, but it is a legitimate path for someone who cannot or does not want to meet with a notary.

Remote Zoom or Phone Estate Planning We are offering both Zoom and phone based estate planning services. We can work with you to figure out the best path so you can protect your family and your assets while also acting safely and responsibly. Please give us a call. We are happy to answer any questions you may have. Stay safe out there.

Daniel L. DuRee is a third generation resident of Contra Costa County and a licensed attorney practicing in Walnut Creek.

He can be reached at (925) 210-1400 or visit www.DuReeLaw.com.

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Read My Mind

©

Guilty Until Proven Innocent

BY MICHAEL G. HARRIS, OD Last year I reviewed John Grisham’s novel The Guardians, which at first glance seemed like many of his previous legal whodunits.

In it, former criminal prosecutor Cullen Post works as a clergyman for Guardians Ministries, a small group that tries to exonerate wrongly convicted murderers on death row. The book follows Post’s efforts to prove the innocence of mistakenly convicted individuals.

Grisham’s novel and the Guardian Ministries are based on the true story of Jim McCluskey and his Centurion Ministries, which try to exonerate innocent convicted prisoners. McCluskey tells his story with dignity and poignancy in his non-fiction book When the Truth is Not Told: A Memoir of Faith, Justice, and Freedom for the Wrongly Convicted. The horrors of Grisham’s novel are magnified in real life cases of people presumed “guilty until proven innocent” and rogue law enforcement agencies that falsified evidence to convict innocent people and keep them in prison long after exculpatory evidence was presented.

McCluskey’s book is eye-opening, gut wrenching, and shows the sorry state of police and district attorneys when they refuse to acknowledge the convicted may actually be innocent. These real-life stories are so outrageous they made my

blood boil!

Grisham provides a powerful forward to McCluskey’s book, calling him “the dean of all innocence advocates, the exonerator.”

Grisham discusses “how McCluskey’s faith in the justice system was shaken by police who lied on the witness stand, prosecutors who knew, and judges who turned a blind eye to the whole thing.”

McCluskey was a seminary student in 1980 when he was assigned to be a chaplain ministering to violent offenders sentenced to death or life imprisonment at New Jersey’s maximum-security Trenton State Prison. It was here that he met Jorge De Los Santos, a heroin addict convicted of murder years earlier. After repeated visits, McCluskey was convinced that De Los Santos was innocent and wrongly convicted. With no legal training, McCluskey discovered evidence that the “testimony from a jailhouse witness that convicted De Los Santos reeked of perjury and that the prosecutor knew it.” He also found new evidence that confirmed De Los Santos’ innocence and helped set him free after nine years in prison. McCluskey had found a “higher calling” than preaching, exonerating those wrongly convicted and sent to death row. To help his effort, in 1983 he

founded Centurion Ministries, the first American organization “devoted to overturning wrongful convictions.” McCloskey’s book includes 12 stories of wins and losses, including two men McCloskey believes were innocent but executed anyway. As of the book’s publication, with the help of volunteers, lawyers, and forensic experts, Centurion has freed 63 innocent convicts. And most of these happened before DNA evidence could exonerate the innocent.

Perhaps the best-known innocence organization is The Innocence Project, based at the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law at New York’s Yeshiva University. Founded in 1992 by Peter Neufeld and Barry Scheck, it exonerates the wrongly convicted through DNA testing and tries to reform the criminal

justice system to prevent future injustice.

Just Mercy author Bryan Stevenson says, “Jim McCloskey and Centurion are pioneers in the struggle to expose the tragedy of innocent people wrongly convicted and sent to prison in America...No one has illuminated this problem more thoughtfully and persistently.” Unfortunately, the bad apples in law-enforcement continue to coerce witnesses to testify falsely against the accused and withhold and fabricate evidence to uphold their convictions in spite of overwhelming evidence to the contrary. McCloskey’s “riveting story of devotion, sacrifice, and vindication” concludes “Sometimes, the truth won’t set you free. Then again, sometimes it will.”

Our criminal justice system can certainly do better.

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PAIR UP

Take Out, Take Off!

Support your Local Restaurants by Grabbing Takeout

BY MARIA TERRY Americans have found multiple ways to keep the economy going amid a global pandemic. From ventilators made by car manufacturers to fast-tracked medical treatments, Zoom meetings, and curbside delivery, Americans have found ways to make and spend money. Support your local restaurants by grabbing some take-out or, if you’d prefer to make your own, here are a few of my favorite Asian recipes. Just about any sparkling wine is delicious with Chinese food. Remember: spicier food wants sweeter wine.

The Maria Gomes grape, also known as Fernão Pires, is widely planted in the center and south of Portugal. It is often blended with local grapes like Bical or international grapes like Chardonnay and made into still, sparkling, and dessert wine styles. Sparkling

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Maria Gomes sports aromas of citrus and floral complemented by spice and white pepper. The light fresh flavor of the wine cools a classic Hot & Sour Soup, while the white pepper reverberates in both.

I found this Celery and Ginger Chicken recipe when trying to use up some celery in my fridge. It is remarkably simple and really tasty. You can tailor the spice level to your liking and compliment your wine’s sugar level. Serve it over plain white rice as a simple backdrop to the intense flavors of the chicken.

Desserts need sweeter wines. The for-

Baked Chinese New Year Cake INGREDIENTS 2 Tablespoons shredded, sweetened coconut 4 large eggs 1 pound rice flour (about 3 cups) 3 cups whole milk 2½ cups granulated sugar 3 Tablespoon unsalted butter, melted, plus extra for coating the baking dish 1 teaspoon coconut extract ¼ teaspoon fine salt DIRECTIONS Heat the oven to 350°F and arrange a rack in the middle. Coat a 13-by-9-inch baking dish with butter; set aside.

Place the coconut in a single layer on a small baking sheet and bake until toasted and golden brown, about 5 minutes; set aside.

Place the eggs in a large bowl and lightly beat to break up the yolks. Add the remaining ingredients and whisk until smooth, about 2 minutes.

Pour the mixture into the prepared dish and bake for 25 minutes. Sprinkle with the toasted coconut, rotate the dish, and bake until the edges are just starting to brown and the top is just set (a bubble may form, but it will flatten as the cake cools), about 20 to 25 minutes more.

Remove from the oven and let cool for 30 minutes before serving. Wrap leftovers tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate.

Yield: 16 Servings

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18 | NOVEMBER 2020 | OURCOMMUNITYFOCUS.COM

tune cookies that come with take-out are perfect with sweet bubbles. If you are at home and feel like baking, this Chinese New Year’s Cake looks delish. So, go on. Pair Up! Maria Terry is a certified sommelier and wine educator in the San Francisco Bay Area. www.LaSommelierre.com.

Ginger and Celery Chicken INGREDIENTS 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breast halves 1 egg 1 Tablespoon cornstarch Coarse salt and ground pepper 2 to 3 tablespoons vegetable oil 1 pound celery (8 to 10 large stalks), thinly sliced on the diagonal (about 5 cups) 3-inch piece of fresh ginger, peeled and thinly slivered lengthwise 1 jalapeno chile, red or green, slivered lengthwise (ribs and seeds removed, for less heat, if desired) 3 Tablespoons rice vinegar 1 Tablespoon toasted sesame oil 1 Tablespoon sugar DIRECTIONS Cut chicken into thin strips, 2½ to 3 inches long. In a medium bowl, whisk together egg white, cornstarch, 1 teaspoon coarse salt, and 1/4 teaspoon ground pepper until smooth. Add chicken strips and toss to coat.

Heat 1 tablespoon vegetable oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add half of the coated chicken strips to skillet; cook, turning once, until golden, about 5 minutes. Transfer to a plate. Add another tablespoon vegetable oil to skillet, and brown remaining chicken in the same manner.

Add celery, ginger, and jalapeno to remaining oil in a skillet (add additional oil, if necessary). Cook, tossing, until celery is crisp-tender, 4 to 5 minutes.

Stir vinegar, sesame oil, and sugar in with vegetables. Add scallions and cooked chicken; toss, until combined and heated through, 1 to 2 minutes. Serve immediately.

Yield: 4 Servings

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

Hot and Sour Soup INGREDIENTS 8 cups chicken broth or vegetable broth 8 ounces shiitake or cremini mushrooms, thinly sliced with stems discarded 1 (8-ounce) can bamboo shoots, drained (optional) ¼ cup rice vinegar, or more to taste ¼ cup low-sodium soy sauce 2 teaspoons ground ginger 1 teaspoon chili garlic sauce ¼ cup cornstarch 2 large eggs, whisked 8 ounces firm tofu, cut into 1/2-inch cubes (optional) 4 green onions, thinly sliced 1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil Kosher salt and white pepper (or black pepper), to taste DIRECTIONS Set aside ¼ cup of the chicken or vegetable broth for later use.

Add the remaining 7 ¾ cups chicken or vegetable broth, mushrooms, bamboo shoots (if using), rice wine vinegar, soy sauce, ginger, and chili garlic sauce to a large stockpot and stir to combine. Heat over medium-high heat until the soup reaches a simmer.

While the soup is heating, whisk together the ¼ cup of broth (that you had set aside) and cornstarch in a small bowl until completely smooth. Once the soup has reached a simmer, stir in the cornstarch mixture and stir for one minute or so until the soup has thickened.

Continue stirring the soup in a circular motion, then drizzle in the eggs in a thin stream (while still stirring the soup) to create egg ribbons. Stir in the tofu, half of the green onions, and sesame oil. Then season the soup with salt and a pinch of white or black pepper to taste. If you’d like a more “sour” soup, feel free to add in another tablespoon or two of rice wine vinegar as well. If you’d like a spicier soup, add in more chili garlic sauce. Serve immediately and garnish with the extra green onions.

Yield: 6-8 Servings

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

Academic Excellence at College Park National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists

BY CYNDY GIFFORD-PALERMO Nate Holden and Sam Benabou, both College Park High School seniors, were named semi-finalists for the National Merit Scholarship in recognition of their excellent academic performance. Last fall, both scored in the top 1% of the approximately 1.5 billion juniors taking the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. Both Holden and Benabou have advanced in the competition and are in the running to be named National Merit finalists. They will find out in early 2021 if they have a chance to win $2,500 or one of the many corporate or college sponsored merit scholarships. Both seniors are academic superstars who have taken the most challenging AP and honors courses and are in the top of their graduating class. However, what is truly remarkable about them is what they have been able to accomplish outside of academics.

Nate has just been cast as Orlando in College Park’s production of As You Like It. He has also held roles in College Park’s renditions of Legally Blonde and Crazy For You. Nate is a student choir director and has auditioned and participated in both Regional Honor Choir and All-State Honor Choir. Additionally, Nate is an integral part of College Park’s sailing team, Encinal Yacht Club’s Laser sailboat team, and Richmond Yacht Club’s Junior Program. He regularly competes at regattas throughout the state. This summer, Nate taught kids of all ages to sail at one of the only camps in the Bay Area that was allowed to operate under COVID restrictions. As a

part of CourAGE, Contra Costa County’s Youth Health Initiative, Nate creates public service announcements and works to combat vaping and alcohol use amongst teens.

Sam Benabou runs on the varsity cross-country team and is on the executive council of Interact at College Park, where he helps connect students to volunteer opportunities. As a member of the Hamsa Fund, a regional Jewish philanthropy board, Sam collaborates with other teens to fundraise for non-profits that tackle issues ranging from educational inequality to health care accessibility. In the last three years, his group has raised and contributed over $60,000. He has played the saxophone in the CP music program as a member of the wind ensemble, jazz ensemble, symphony orchestra, and sax quartet. He has also worked as a research assistant for a UCSF public health scientist and collaborated on two articles accepted for publication in the Journal of Adolescent Health and Journal of Youth and Adolescence. Additionally, Sam works part-time at In-and-Out. He is the friendly employee working the drive-thru, smiling behind his mask, and never questioning people who order a “cheeseburger - no cheese.”

Both Nate Holden and Sam Benabou are committed to excellence in their academic achievements and their community. Whatever colleges these young men choose to attend next fall will be lucky to include these outstanding young scholars among their ranks.

Sam Benabou and his dog, Lyla, share similar smiles. Photo by Max Benabou

Running to a Million

The 18th Annual MRC-MEF Run for Education, held virtually on September 27 – October 3, raised $55,000 for the Martinez Education Foundation (MEF). Since the Run’s inception in 2003, the annual event has raised $981,000 for K-12 supplies, books, technology, and educational experiences. This year, 349 runners and walkers participated, with people signing up from as far away as Louisville, Kentucky, and Katy, Texas. In addition to the Martinez Refining Company, corporate sponsors included Benicia Fabrication and Machine.

Executive Vice President Carmelo Santiago stated, “In these challenging times, it is vital that we all realize the importance of supporting our youth through programs that support our community. That is why contributing to the MRC-MEF Run for Education is essential to our company.” The Run was supported by corporate sponsors, including Kevcomp, Cooperative Center Federal Credit Union, Cat-Spec, LTD, Van De Pol, United Rentals, Delta Tech Service, Shell Western States Federal Credit Union, ARB Industrial, Battalion One Fire Protection, W.R. Grace, Aegion Energy Services, Reliable Liquid Transport, Argos Scientific, Air Products, Norbourn Co., Allstate - Alissa Guitierrez, Martinez Sheet Metal, Brewster Procurement Group, Next List Company, Diamond Refractory, Benicia Fabrication and Machine, 1st Northern California Credit Union, E.E. Gilbert Construction, Greysam Industrial Services, Lippow Development Co., Contra Costa Electric, Kleen Industrial Services, Envirogreen, PMI, and Quadra Chemicals. Thank you to everyone who participated, contributed, and supported the Run this year!!

Nate Holden and his dog, Casey, get familiar with distance learning. Photo by Dr. Jennifer Holden OURCOMMUNITYFOCUS.COM | NOVEMBER 2020 | 19

From the Contra Costa County Historical Society

Works Progress Administration The WPA and Hard Times in Contra Costa County

BY MARJORIE NEWTON The coronavirus pandemic has resulted in at least 10 million people in the U.S. being out of work and applying for unemployment benefits. By August 2020, 9.8% of the workers in Contra Costa County were without a job. This situation is not unprecedented. During the Great Depression, starting in 1929, it was estimated that 25% of people were out of work. It was not unusual to see people on street corners selling apples, pencils, or matches.

When a freight train came through towns, men jumped out of boxcars or jumped into them looking for an opportunity. Often, there was a knock on the door and a stranger would ask if there was some job he could do for a meal.

In her column, “Days Gone By,” published in the Concord Transcript, Nilda Rego wrote an article dated 2/16/ 1997 recounting how in January 1933, 400 people sought clothing from the County Red Cross, and the Walnut Creek Lions Club distributed food boxes to 80 families. The total population of the county at the time was about 80,000.

When Franklin Delano Roosevelt was elected president, one of his first actions was to create the National Recovery Act. It shortened work hours and raised wages, but most importantly it provided 1.3 billion dollars in funds for public works. The Works Progress Administration (WPA) was established in 1935.

One project of the WPA was to re-

place dilapidated outhouses in the rural United States. With three workers and $5, the Administration could construct a new outhouse in 20 hours. These new and improved outhouses included proper ventilation, privacy, and flooring. The WPA successfully completed two million outhouses during its run. The first lady rigorously supported the effort, and her commitment to the cause led to outhouses earning the nickname “The Eleanor.” The moon indicated a woman’s outhouse and a sun indicated a man’s.

In another article in the Concord Transcript, it was reported that 900 unemployed men’s names had been drawn from Contra Costa’s welfare rolls to begin work on projects. In Concord, 50 men were hired to build a pergola in Todos Santos Plaza to work on the sewer system and repair streets. They worked six hours a day, five days a week, for 60 cents an hour.

By the beginning of 1935, the county was receiving over $15 thousand a week for 1,192 people to work on projects. Maynard Dixon was hired to paint a mural on the wall of the WPA-built Martinez Post Office. A stone wall was constructed around Antioch Park. A memorial honoring World War I was built at the Antioch bridgehead and subsequently moved to the county fairgrounds. The WPA constructed the 70-foot-high stone tower on the top of Mount Diablo, which housed the beacon that aided airplane pilots in determining their positions.

The Works Progress Administration shut down in June of 1942, when 2% unemployment no longer constituted a problem. It is estimated that 8.5 million people had been put to work, including actors, writers, singers, and artists as well as construction workers. If you know of a WPA project that is in our county, we would like to memorialize it. Please let us know.

A History Note is presented by the

Contra Costa County History Center, 724 Escobar St., Martinez, using materials from the society’s collections. Normal open hours: Tuesdays, Wednesdays, &Thursdays, from 9-4, and the first and third Saturdays, from 10-2. The History Center is currently closed due to the coronavirus. Updates can be found and queries and orders made on the CCCHS website: www.cocohistory.org.er hair growing on your chest!

P.H. Senior Center

Classes and Virtual Programs

Nov. 2 - 30 Weight & Strength (IN PERSON CLASS) 2 sessions.

Enjoy the best combination of low impact training and strengthening all in one fun session. Improve your flexibility, strength, balance and well-being. Appropriate for all fitness levels! Students should bring their own weights and floor mats and a chair if they will need it. Location: Community Center, Dance Studio, 320 Civic Drive. Pre-registration required. Call or register online. Mondays (5 weeks) 9-10am, $50; and Thursdays (3 weeks) 9-10am, $30.

Nov. 9 - From Independent Living to Assisted Living, 11am. Learn when the right time will be to make the transition from independent living to assisted living. What are the different levels of care (congregate living, assisted living, etc.)? Who pays for it (private pay, Medicare, etc.)? What are some online resources and government regulations?

Presented by Chris Quan. No registration necessary. Zoom Meeting ID: 815 0102 2664, Password: 100100.

Nov. 10 – Parking Lot Bingo, 10am. $5 for Bingo Pack (10 game play pack, dauber and pattern sheet). No cash prizes but winners will get choice of fun prize options. All participants will remain in their vehicles and play along through their FM radio. Radio station will be provided. Snack and drink cart will be available so bring your dollars! HONK when you get a Bingo! Registration required. Register by calling or going online: www. pleasanthillrec.com.

Nov. 17 - Fall Asleep, Stay Asleep ,11am. Practicing good sleep hygiene may be your ticket to better rest. Join us as we look at various steps you can do to better your sleep!

Presented by Jessica Mosquera from Humana. No registration necessary. Zoom Meeting ID: 844 1989 0047, Password:100100.

Nov. 18 - How to Get Ready to Sell Your Home, 10am. Join long time Real Estate agent Don Wilson, Remax Accord (DRE#01065107) as he discusses preparing yourself to move, planning the actual move and how to prepare your home to move. Zoom Meeting ID: 813 3837 6769, Password: 100100 Nov. 19 – Thanksgiving Senior Meal Deal. Thanksgiving is coming and what’s better than having someone else cook for you! Famous Creations will provide a traditional Thanksgiving meal complete with Roast Turkey Breast, Stuffing, Mashed Potatoes, Gravy, Corn & Green Bean Blend, Roll, Side Salad with Italian Dressing Cranberry Sauce and a slice of Pumpkin Pie! $20 (price includes meal, tax and tip). Pick up at 4pm at the Senior Center on Thursday, Nov. 19. Orders must be received by 11/16 at 2pm (or when we sell out). Call 798-8788 to reserve meal or visit website.

233 Gregory Lane, Pleasant Hill 925-798-8788 Register for classes and events at www.pleasanthillrec.com

20 | NOVEMBER 2020 | OURCOMMUNITYFOCUS.COM

IN THE GARDEN

Best Peppers For Fall

Hatch Chile Peppers: Sweet Earthy and Herbal

BY LESLEY STILES, OWNER OF ROXX ON MAIN Crossover month comes upon us as the world turns toward winter, even during COVID. It’s an old normal that disease cannot change or obliterate. Late season tomatoes beg to be lovingly layered with fresh mozzarella and just picked basil at the same moment your mind is calling on butternut squash to turn itself miraculously into a creamy soup for your dinner. Air is getting lighter as trees begin a long-fought decision to shed leaves while making luminous silhouettes in the waning sun. Summer gardens reawaken from a month of treacherous heat and may even produce a few more gems of summer.

Winter gardens planted this month or last perform mysterious underground maneuvers and ready their upper growth for chilly days ahead. Some crops awaken from the heat by surging last minute production of their sweetest, most in-season trinkets of gourmet love. Peppers come to mind, being at their absolute best ripeness in fall seasons. Yummy as green, suddenly scarlet, blackish purple, and deep green gashes of color, they display lush, prodigious growth.

Mystique and curiosity enshroud New Mexican chili peppers. Originating in 1894 at New Mexico State University, when Fabian Garcia started crossing peppers with each other, amazing chiles from these parts carry on with unconscious duration. New Mexico became so well known for their chile varieties that the Chile Pepper Institute was developed for more extensive studies of the versatile capsicum.

Hatch Chile peppers are named for the Hatch Valley where they are grown.

Much like a Napa Valley appellation for grapes, New Mexico treats their chiles similarly; authentically Hatches may only be from the valley of Hatch to be

called Hatch. Say that 10 times. Located in the heart of the Rio Grande agricultural region, Hatch, New Mexico, is referred to with unwavering loyalty as the chile capital of the world.

Hatches are mild on the Scoville scale. A touch of interesting heat allows usage of any kind with this sweet, earthy, herbal, and obliviously alluring pepper. Amazingly easy to grow and prolific to a fault, chargrilling and freezing batches works extremely well to utilize your bounty all winter.

Scrumptiously composed of alluringly smooth, firm skin and elongated but not too big, Hatch work well as additions to any sweet or savory concoction you can imagine. Hatch ice cream, bizarre as it may sound, is stunning in its color and mild taste scooped atop a chocolate tart. Charred with onions and fresh tomatoes and blended with olive oil and lemon juice, it’s art on a chip.

Looking to another, under-used chile, identity crisis pervades every essence of our sweet yellow wax pepper.

Mistaken frequently for the incendiary capsicum Hungarian wax pepper, the yellow pepper, aka banana pepper due to its yellow color and shape on the vine, is exceptionally low on the Scoville Chart of hotness and falls more in line with pepperoncini, pimento, or even bells. Extremely easy to grow, these peppers perform prodigiously, allowing for a quick pickle every week or so to brighten up sandwiches or pizza dishes. For fancy hors d’oeuvres, quaintly diminutive wax peppers lend themselves well to stuffing with a little goat cheese and tossing on an oiled grill to blister. Drizzle with balsamic reduction and lemon oil to finish wowing guests.

Perfectly ripe in the cooler autumn months, the yellow wax turns scarlet with a few low mercury evenings and even sweeter, plushily compelling one to squat garden side before your lovely plant, chomping away on one, channeling that little squirrel you chased away.

Hiking in our valley right now is beyond amazing. Changing seasons and light and temperature all come together to create a magical atmosphere to relax or play in. We joined a herd of over 60 people riding the amazingly popular E Bikes. OMG. It got me back on a bike and I love it.

Roxx on Main continues to be ever ready along. We are not going anywhere and greatly appreciate all the love and support we are receiving from our community and beyond. Thank you, and hope to see you soon!!

Roxx on Main is located at 627 Main Street in Historic Downtown Martinez.

Open Tuesday through Friday from 11am to 8pm and Saturday 2pm to 8pm. It is closed Sundays and Mondays. www.roxxonmain.com Lesley Stiles is a graduate of the California Culinary Academy and Chef/ Owner of Roxx on Main, offering delicious, sustainable foods to the community.

She can be reached at lesley@roxxonmain.com • www.roxxonmain.com • www.lesleystilesfoods.com 925 370 ROXX

Butternut Squash and Lentils with Greens INGREDIENTS 1 butternut squash, peeled, seeded and cut into 1/2 inch squares 2 Tablespoons olive oil 2 cups lentils, cooked 1 pound mixed greens 3 Tablespoons seasoned rice vinegar 3 Tablespoons olive oil 1 teaspoon ground cumin 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon ½ cup stock Kosher salt and pepper DIRECTIONS Toss squash in a bowl with olive oil and salt. Roast in a 400* oven for 20 minutes until soft and caramelized.

Toss cooked squash, lentils, greens, vinegar, stock, and olive oil in a pot along with spice mixture and heat up to wilt greens. Season with salt and pepper.

Options: Garnish with crumbled feta cheese, Greek olives, and torn cilantro leaves.

Yield: 4 Servings

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OURCOMMUNITYFOCUS.COM | NOVEMBER 2020 | 21

Stronger Than You Know

How to Deal with Overwhelm

BY DENA BETTI Overwhelm. We both know that feeling all too well right now, right? Well, to say overwhelm is considered a villain in today’s world would be an understatement. From political discord, to a shaky job market, to a worldwide pandemic, I think you can agree that you have a lot to deal with right now.

What if I told you no matter what is going on around you, it starts with telling your story. It starts with ripping off the mask. It starts by looking in the mirror and being honest about your history and the circumstances that have shaped you. And to get to the end, you must begin with the start. Yet to get there, you must stop. You must stop believing you have to be perfect or things around you have to be perfect. You must stop running from your insecurities. You must stop believing you are not enough.

Because you are enough. You are also imperfect. Life is imperfect. And that is okay.

And, if you are like the vast majority of us, you have been conditioned by your life’s circumstances and upbringing to be the person you are today. That is neither good nor bad, it just is, and it’s time for you to realize you have had little control over who you have been shaped to be.

This month’s lesson is to inspire you to gain clarity and confidence so you can become your own superhero no matter what life throws your way. To do this, you first must realize that while you are trying to prove others wrong you are sabotaging yourself.

Until you realize the single most important thing to do instead of trying to prove yourself right is to get rid of your excuses and see that everything going wrong in your life is your fault. Now, I know that sounds harsh but hear me out.

What if I told you that the lifestyle friendly success you see others experience

YOU'RE INVITED TO LISTEN AND SUBSCRIBE! Our Podcast Mission is to lift up inspirational woman and magnify their voices!

Join us for a light hearted hour of personal stories that inspire!

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in wealth, health, and relationships really comes down to them creating that in their life? Would you be interested in knowing how they do it? You know, so many people I know believe it all boils down to “Lady Luck.”

Wes Chapman, founder of WakeTheHero.com, has a three-step code to unlock the hero inside you so that you can be the person you’ve always wanted to be.

What are the three steps he teaches?

Step #1 is to redefine your words. Even if you didn’t live a life of trauma, there will always be things in your past you need to take control of. There are stories you tell yourself that need to be emotionally shifted, and once the shift is made, it will ripple positively throughout your entire life.

Step #2 is to stop pretending. Learn to be genuinely honest with yourself. This allows

you to escape the mental game you play.

What’s the best part? Doing so will help you achieve your greatest potential.

Step #3 is to take control of your life. Being a victim gets you nowhere, and Wes shows you how to seize back that control so that you can heal. People did what they did and said what they said, but now it’s your turn to take your power back!

When you consider the benefits of taking charge of your life in this way, you’ll bag overwhelm and live a life of happiness despite the circumstances that surround you.

Dena Betti is a graduate of the University of San Francisco, executive director of #hersmile Nonprofit, and a certified advisor and iSoulify Podcast co-host. For more information, email dena@strongerthanyouknow.com.

Keeping the Music Alive!

The Peter Pan Foundation (PPF), a Lafayette non-profit since 2007, has been finding creative solutions to continue sharing their hearts and talents with the communities who need them most! While their regular in-person visits to UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital Oakland, in-home wish reveals for Make-A-Wish kids, and numerous other philanthropic and community service activities have been halted, they continue spreading their love and light through virtual visits, performance videos, and online activities.

Sadly, the organization has been hit especially hard by the pandemic. They have not been able to generate any revenue that funds their service endeavors and covers fixed operating expenses. The organization relies on two big stage musical theatre productions and donations throughout the year for income and was required to cancel all 2020 scheduled productions. They are at risk of losing their home building on Mt. Diablo Blvd and have kicked off a Save Our Home campaign in the hopes of raising the funds needed to keep the foundation going. Their goal is to raise $75,000 by the end of the year.

“The PPF home is a place where I feel safe, accepted, and truly happy,” said Zac Faber, 15, of Lafayette. “It’s a place where I can make a difference in my community and the world.” Donations can be made at www.peterpanfoundation.org.

Martinez Community Awards 2019 Young Man and Woman of the Year Carson Edwards 2019 Young Man of the Year Carson Edwards graduated Alhambra High School with a grade point average of 4.6. He volunteered countless hours with a wide range of organizations from extracurricular activities on and off campus. He demonstrated his leadership and organizational abilities through the co-founding and growing of the UNICEF and Model UN clubs at Alhambra, both with a mission of fundraising for aid relief in third world countries. Carson has been an active member of the Alhambra Key Club since his freshman year and has served as the Key Club’s Secretary for two years.

Since joining the Alhambra Cross Country team, Carson was determined to be the best that he could be. Despite his challenges with asthma, Carson’s determination, character, and strength of spirit carried him through, run after run, race after race, fiercely compet-

ing in one of the most difficult distance running leagues in the Bay Area. Carson has not only excelled on the cross country and track course but also in the classroom and in the community. Carson challenged himself with the most rigorous coursework offered at Alhambra. His ability to successfully juggle challenging coursework, varsity sports, extracurricular activities, and work is admirable. His focus, determination, and character are a model for his peers and teammates. Carson is attending UCLA and studying business economics.

The Young Man of the Year Award is sponsored by Kiwanis Club of Martinez.

Katherine (Katie) Foerste 2019 Young Woman of the Year Katherine (Katie) Foerste graduated from Alhambra High School and has maintained a 4.0 grade point average since her freshman year. She played varsity tennis all four years played on the varsity soccer team. Each semester, she

was listed on the Honor Roll and was a member of the California Scholarship Federation.

A most notable quality has been Katie’s service to the community through Interact Club. She was responsible for managing both the officers’ meetings and the monthly general membership meetings. She was an active recruiter and a mentor for the other Interact students.

Katie’s volunteer work with Interact included the Martinez Education Fun Run Pasta Feed, Boys and Girls Clubs Crab Feed, stuffing Christmas stockings for Boys and Girls Club members, and gathering personal hygiene kits to disperse to over 100 homeless at Loaves and Fishes in Martinez as well as

40 homeless Martinez Unified School District children.

In addition, she organized the annual food drive in October and November for the Contra Costa/Solano Counties Food Coalition. Alhambra High School has a competition among the English classes to see who can gather the most food for the coalition.

Katie participated in the competition for four years and collected over 157 lbs. of food.

Katie is now attending the University of Nevada Reno and majoring in criminal justice. Katie describes herself as hardworking, determined, and goaloriented.

The Young Woman of the Year Award is sponsored by Rotary Club of Martinez.

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