October 2018 Community Focus

COMMUNITY

FOCUS

OCTOBER 2018 Reaching Over 50,000 Homes & Businesses

ourcommunityfocus.com

IN THIS ISSUE: • OTTERS IN OUR BACKYARD • THREE LOCALS DRAFTED • HALLOWEEN TREATS

PLEASANT HILL • CONCORD • MARTINEZ • LAFAYETTE • WALNUT CREEK

SMALL TALK WITH TERI independent & locally owned

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

SPORTS: Sport Story Submissions info@ourcommunityfocus.com CONTACT INFORMATION: Community Calendar calendar@ourcommunityfocus.com Content & General Inquiries: info@ourcommunityfocus.com SUBMISSION DEADLINES: All articles must be sumbmitted by the 15th of each month.

ONLINE: www.ourcommunityfocus.com

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

6 11

to

City News

Local Sports

17

26 Read My Mind

30

Cat Scratching

29 Skin Cancer Options

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

Otters playing in the Contra Costa Canal Trail.

6680 Alhambra Ave. Box #132 Martinez, CA 94553

PHOTO BY: Article and photos by Karen James, page 13.

925-335-6397

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

2013

2014

2015

Best Insurance Agent

2013 • 2014 • 2015 • 2016/2017

2 | OCTOBER 2018 | OURCOMMUNITYFOCUS.COM

Meet Sue Noack, who lives in Pleasant Hill with her husband, Charlie, and her son, Will. She is a councilmember of Pleasant Hill and is currently running for re-election. Sue was the mayor of Pleasant Hill in 2016.

What is the biggest challenge in your life? I’ve been a Type 1 diabetic for 30 years. I wear an insulin pump that is attached to my body 24 hours a day and gives me insulin. The hardest part of being a diabetic is that it never goes away; you always have to think about it. The silver lining is that I feel that I’m healthier because I have to pay attention to my health more.

Fun facts about Sue: 1. My mother’s Dutch. She came over here at 25 to be an au pair and met my dad. Her side of the family lives in Holland, so I go back there frequently.

2. My family nickname is “dude.” When I hear someone say, “Hey dude,” I always turn around.

3. I was a serious gymnast for six years. I had to stop in 9th grade because I got too tall.

4. Anytime I’m stressed, I go to the water. I draw my strength from it.

Julie Says

Halloween Horrors, Courtesy of Mother Nature

BY JULIE ROSS It’s that time of year – people are hauling out their supposedly fearsome décor featuring owls and bats. Ho-hum.

Not scary! Local bats help control the insect population and our neighborhood owls dispose of many unwanted rodents -- not particularly terrifying behaviors.

That is not to say there are not truly creepy, Halloween-worthy living things among us. Please note before you read further – what I am about to share with you is not for the squeamish. Consider yourself warned.

This fall I am enrolled in the University of California Naturalist Certification Program for the Diablo Region. A recent class featured a guest speaker on the topic of mycology – mushrooms and other fungi. Sounds innocuous, right?

Well, think again.

I would like to invite you to watch a chilling video starring parasitic jungle fungi, Cordyceps: Attack of the Killer Fungi, masterfully narrated by David Attenborough. You can find it on YouTube.

The video begins with an ant whose body and mind have been infected with spores from a cordyceps fungus. The disoriented ant climbs up a tree limb and grabs onto it with its jaws. Over time, the fruiting body of the fungus erupts from the ant’s head (!) and snakes its way upward. After a few weeks, the fungus bursts and spews enough spores to infect a whole colony. Clearly a mustwatch for Halloween -- a real-life version of the thriller film Alien.

So, after I viewed the killer fungus video, I was naturally glued to my computer screen and watched another video in the YouTube line-up, eager to see what further creepiness would ensue.

Kung Fu Mantis vs. Jumping Spider did not disappoint. Another must-watch. (As an aside, if you could pull it off, a Kung Fu mantis outfit would be a shoo-in for first place in any Halloween costume contest.) Really, you have to take a look.

Watch until the end for a surprise visit from Kung Fu’s nemesis, the beautiful but cannibalistic orchid mantis.

My final entry in the “Horrors of Mother Nature” category for this Halloween season is the botfly. This small tropical insect attaches its eggs to a mosquito. When the mosquito lands on a human to feed, the botfly eggs become warm enough to hatch. The newly hatched tiny larvae burrow into the person’s skin via the mosquito bite or hair follicles, where they dine on the inflamed tissue surrounding them and grow up to an inch in length. If left unchecked, these spiny parasitic maggots eventually wiggle their way out of the

I’m not in trouble anymore!

I called Hire My Husband to take care of our “Honey Do List”!

wound they have created.

For reasons that are perhaps obvious after reading the above, I am not going to recommend a video of a botfly larval extraction from human flesh. I watched a couple and wish I hadn’t.

(Can’t un-see those images, unfortunately.)

I will, however, recommend a visit to Lindsay Wildlife Experience, October 23-31, for Not So Scary Animals. There will be special programs featuring bats, owls, and spiders during normal exhibit hall hours. On the evening of Thursday, October 25, from 5:30 until 8pm, the annual “Howl-ooo-een” event will take place at Lindsay. The food truck arrives at 5pm.

For more information and to purchase Howl-ooo-ween tickets, visit the website at www.lindsaywildife.org.

Have a happy and safe Halloween!

You can reach Julie at julieakross@ comcast.net

Hire My Husband

Angie’s List Super Service Award Winner 5 Years in a Row! Community Focus Readers’ Local Favorite 2014 & 2015

• Interior Painting • Quality Home Repair Projects • Handyman Services Contractor Lic. # 943231

www.HireMyHusband.com

925-969-0133

OURCOMMUNITYFOCUS.COM | OCTOBER 2018 | 3

Elder Abuse

Fear of Losing Home to Medi-Cal Contributed to Elder Abuse

BY JEFFREY HALL, Elder Law Attorney A California daughter and granddaughter’s fear of losing their home to Medi-Cal may have contributed to a severe case of elder abuse.

If the pair had consulted with an elder law attorney, they might have figured out a way to get their mother the care she needed and also protect their house.

Amanda Havens was sentenced to 17 years in prison for elder abuse after her grandmother, Dorothy Havens, was found neglected, with bedsores and open wounds, in the home they shared. The grandmother died the day after being discovered by authorities. Amanda’s mother, Kathryn Havens, who also lived with Dorothy, is awaiting trial for second-degree murder. According to an article in the Record Searchlight, a local publication, Amanda and Kathryn knew Dorothy needed fulltime care but did not apply for Medi-Cal on her behalf due to a fear that Medi-Cal would “take” the house by claim or lien.

It’s a common misconception that California will immediately take a Medi-Cal recipient’s home. Nursing home residents do not automatically have to sell their homes in order to qualify for Medi-Cal. In California, the home is an “exempt” asset

for eligibility purposes, and so there’s no need to sell (or spend-down) the house.

However, even though the house is not subject to “eligibility” considerations, there is “back-end” work that requires an experienced Medi-Cal/elder law attorney who can reposition the title of the assets so that upon the death of the “institutional spouse,” the house can be saved from “recovery” by California. This work cannot be performed DIY or by Legal-Doom; you must engage in a real professional in this field. An elder law attorney will retitle and gift (as the case may be) to protect assets. This can only be accomplished if there are sufficient gifting authorities in both the trust and durable power of attorney, which is why you need to work closely with an elder law attorney as a family member begins the institutional process.

After a Medi-Cal recipient dies, the state may attempt to recover Medi-Cal payments from the recipient’s estate, which means the house would likely need to be sold. But there are things Medi-Cal recipients and their families can do now to protect the home. A Medi-Cal applicant can transfer the house to the following individuals and still be eligible for Medi-Cal: • The applicant’s spouse • A child who is under age 21 or who is blind or disabled • Into a revocable trust

Experienced Estate Planning Attorney

JEFFREY HALL, MBA, CPA, Esq.

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

Medi-Cal Planning Trusts and Wills Trust Administration Trust Litigation Probate

www.HallLawGroup.com 925-230-9002 4 | OCTOBER 2018 | OURCOMMUNITYFOCUS.COM

Please note that title to the “institutional spouse” must be transferred “prior” to death; if not, California can and will make a claim against the assets held in the name of the decedent. So, with a little advance planning, there are other ways to protect a house. A life estate can let a Medi-Cal applicant continue to live in the home but allows the property to pass outside of probate to the applicant’s beneficiaries.

The moral is: Don’t let a fear of Medi-Cal prevent you from getting your loved one the care they need. While the thought of

losing a home is scary, there are things you can do to protect the house. To find out the best solution for you, speak with your neighborhood elder law attorney, Jeffrey Hall, about preparing an estate plan with Medi-Cal gifting language to protect your family. You may visit his website at www.

HallLawGroup.com or call (925) 230-9002.

Disclaimer: This information is not intended to be legal advice and nor should it be relied upon without first speaking with an attorney.

SPONSORED CONTENT

Real Estate Trends The Business of Real Estate

BY NORMA FLASKERUD We are in the business of real estate.

In that business we represent home sellers as they prepare and stage their homes for market and help them price their homes to sell for top dollar in the market! We help buyers find the best homes money can buy to meet their needs.

We follow the sale from implementation to closing and see that timelines are followed, disclosures are written and shared, and inspections are done in a timely fashion.

We oversee repairs and recommend tradesmen. We counsel and advise on what is money well spent in fixing up a house (or not).

We recommend paint colors, countertops, appliances, floor coverings, and light fixtures. We bring a team together as needed: stager, painting contractor, termite inspector/repair, home inspector, roof inspector, HVAC inspector, drainage/ foundation engineers, flooring contractor -- whatever is needed to make the home sale smooth and professional for both the seller and the buyer. And we do all of that with enthusiasm and calmness, guiding our clients with a steady hand.

But one thing we can’t do is use a crystal ball! Last month I predicted I would know

the current state of the market by mid-September: would it still be going up, leveling off, or would prices be dropping? I still can’t say! Sure, it’s not the super crazy seller’s market of last March, but inventory is still somewhat tight, and buyers will often bid against each other for a really great house, yet many sellers are facing price adjustments to get their home sold. Let’s let this unfold, give it more time.

Thanks to my friends who invited me to a wedding in Des Moines, Iowa, I just want to mention Des Moines/West Des Moines is booming, with new growth, new shopping centers, and big time “newness” everywhere I looked!

Last but not least, Re/Max Today (the Flaskerud owned franchise) has merged into Re/Max Accord, a large regional company.

The Flaskerud Team (Erik and I) are excited to continue offering the great service and professionalism of the Re/Max brand with a strong brokerage behind us! Our Pleasant Hill office remains open; drop by 367 Civic Drive, Suite 7, Pleasant Hill. Call us at 925338-2980 or Email me at NormaJ49@gmail. com.

Please reach out to the Flaskerud Team for all your real estate questions and needs!

We are here for you! 925-338-2980 DonandNorma@gmail.com or NormaFlaskerud@ Remax.net Re/Max Today 367 Civic Drive St., Pleasant Hill SPONSORED CONTENT

DO IT YOURSELF

Spin on DIY

Fun With Halloween Festivities

BY REBECCA SEIDENSPINNER

October is here and my porch is stacked with pumpkins of all shapes and sizes. My favorite part of fall is the pumpkins. I love to plant pumpkins in my garden, and some years I have been successful and other years I have failed miserably. This year, my friends Ava and Nathan Cooper had great success with their backyard pumpkin patch, and I wanted to share this spectacular accomplishment with you. I asked Ava and Nathan a few questions, and here are

the details. The Cooper Pumpkin Patch and Garden was established at the end of May. The gardener in charge of this project was Mr. Cooper (Ava and Nathan’s Dad). The pumpkin seeds were purchased at Home Depot, and they even had a bunch of volunteer flowers that sprouted up in the middle of the pumpkin vines.

I asked the kids what their favorite part of having a backyard pumpkin patch was and Nathan said, “I like watering the pumpkins everyday,” while Ava said it was checking on them as they grew and got bigger. Total pumpkin count for the Cooper Pumpkin Patch was ten, big, round orange pumpkins. They will carve

the big pumpkins and use the rest for decorations. Decorating pumpkins is by far my favorite DIY project for the month of October.

A few years ago, I was invited over to a friend’s house for a girls’ night out pumpkin party. Each guest arrived with a pumpkin to decorate and a spooky snack to share. The ghostess, I mean the hostess, provided all of the paints and different decorative crafts to bling out the pumpkins. Ghostly cocktails were also included.

It was spooktacular. This is a great way to get out of the house and spend time with friends while working on your DIY Halloween decorations.

Halloween day is always SO crazy and hectic. We usually end up ordering pizza for dinner and then count down the minutes until it’s dark to go trick or treating. Last year, I made these frighteningly delicious stuffed pepper jack-o’-lanterns for dinner. They were quick and easy and

the kids gobbled them up. I even added a green bell pepper Frankenstein topped with black beans. Here is the recipe: Stuffed Pepper Jack-O’-Lanterns: • 6 orange bell peppers • 2 cups cooked rice • 1 lb. ground turkey, cooked with 1 taco seasoning packet • One small onion, chopped and sauteed with 3 cloves of garlic • One can of corn • Shredded cheese

Using a small knife, carve a jack-o’lantern face in the orange bell peppers.

Mix all remaining ingredients together and stuff inside bell peppers.

Top with shredded cheese and bake in oven at 350 degrees until peppers are soft and cheese is melted. Makes six stuffed peppers.

Wishing you all a creepy Halloween that is filled with more treats than tricks.

Happy Halloween!

Over 650 homes sold in Pleasant Hill BUYERS: lots of wonderful homes; call us now to get pre-approved for a loan so you too can buy one!

HOMEOWNERS: sell while the market is hot!

Call now! 925-338-2980.

Stuffed Pepper Jack-O’-Lanterns

Choose The Flaskerud Team as YOUR Realtor and for ALL your Real Estate needs 94 Banbridge Pl, PH – $975,000 PENDING 163 Kathryn Dr, PH – $775,000 4117 Irene Dr, Mtz – $450,000 Norma and 205 Roberta Ave, PH – TBD Erik’s listings... 1990 Patricia Dr, PH – Coming soon

The Flaskerud Team RE/MAX Accord 367 Civic Drive #7 Pleasant Hill, CA 94523 Visit them at www.PleasantHillRealEstate.com or email NormaFlaskerud@Remax.net or EFlaskerud@Remax.net Selfies, halloween style.

Norma Flaskerud

925-338-2980

Erik Flaskerud

CalBRE #s —Norma: 00867031, Erik: 01891688 OURCOMMUNITYFOCUS.COM | OCTOBER 2018 | 5

CITY NEWS

Mayor’s Message

Summer is in the rear view mirror, but I still feel the pain of our community from the untimely passing of two stalwarts of public service --Don Flaskerud, on May 22, and Martin Nelis, on August 2. Our loss remains tangible but perhaps not quite as raw as each passing day pushes us forward. We recognized Don and Martin’s indelible mark on our community at the 14th Annual Community Service day on September 22. Don and his wife, Norma, have been part of our service day from the very beginning. For all 14 years, they donated the ingredients for the kick-off pancake breakfast, so ably cooked by the Pleasant Hill Lions Club. Martin ably mentored the Civic Action Commission in producing this successful event since 2007. Although the absence of Don and Martin was palpable, the memory of their dedication to service to others motivated our large crew of volunteers to spread throughout the city and work on many different clean-up projects. It was another successful day of community building constructed on the foundation laid by these two remarkable men.

Back to School

The end of summer also gives way to Back to School nights, and by the time you read this, the new school year will be well under way. You will undoubtedly have noticed the increased traffic around our schools during morning drop off and afternoon pick up times. Making sure kids get to and from school safely is everyone’s business. When it comes to safe routes to school, think of the 3 E’s – education, enforcement and engineering.

Education Street Smarts Diablo provides a wealth of programs and information for parents, students, and schools.

This fall, students at Sequoia, Gregory Gardens, and Pleasant Hill elementary schools will be treated to special, gradeappropriate assemblies. Grades K-2 will learn how to be safe around traffic from Beeps, an animated robot, while students 6 | OCTOBER 2018 | OURCOMMUNITYFOCUS.COM

in grades 3-5 will learn the rules of the road for bicycling and the importance of wearing a helmet while riding bikes, scooters and skateboards. Middle schools have their own educational outlet with “Walk and Roll to School Day.” Sequoia Middle School’s “Walk and Roll” day takes place Oct. 11, while Valley View Middle School is set to do the same in late April.

(Note: other schools may be scheduling similar programs in the future.)

Street Smarts Diablo is provided through 511 Contra Costa, which is sponsored by all Contra Costa cities, including Pleasant Hill. To learn about these programs and for other safety tips, go to streetsmartsdiablo.org.

Enforcement The Pleasant Hill Police Department monitors traffic safety around schools during school commute hours, with a focus on increasing awareness of “distracted driving” and pedestrian safety.

They look for drivers who are using mobile devices, speeding in school zones, illegally passing school buses, failing to yield at crosswalks, and any other violations that may put bicyclists and pedestrians at risk.

Engineering There are three roadway enhancement projects in the design phase that will improve access and safety for neighborhood traffic -- cars, bikes and pedestrians. All three projects are funded primarily with federal/state/county transportation grant funding secured by the city.

• Pleasant Hill Road Improvement Project (Taylor Boulevard to Gregory Lane) -- Project highlights include new bike lanes, repairs to existing sidewalks, traffic signal improvements (at Taylor Boulevard, Westover Drive, and Gregory Lane intersections), new street lighting, pavement rehabilitation, striping, and landscaping. The project is expected to break ground in summer 2019 • Gregory Lane/Elinora Drive Traffic Signal Installation Project --This project consists of installing a new traffic sig-

Tim Flaherty, Mayor of Pleasant Hill

nal and crosswalk at the intersection of Gregory Lane and Elinora Drive, which will greatly improve safety for vehicles and pedestrians crossing Gregory Lane. The new signal will connect to the sidewalk recently constructed along the east side of Elinora Drive (between Gregory Lane and Gladys Drive) in 2017. The new traffic signal is expected to be installed in summer 2019.

• Contra Costa Boulevard Improvement Project (Viking Drive to Harriet Drive) -- This project includes new curb/gutter/ sidewalk, bike lanes, traffic signal replacement (at Taylor Boulevard), pavement rehabilitation, striping, LED street lights, and landscaping. The project construction is tentatively scheduled for summer 2020.

Introducing our new School Resource Officer

I’m pleased to say that we have

brought back the school resource officer, thanks to a partnership between Pleasant Hill Police and the Mt. Diablo School District. Officer Brett Botelho has been assigned to the role. As the school resource officer, Officer Botelho will be based at the College Park High School campus and will also spend time at the middle schools, building relationships with students and faculty. Officer Botelho will provide educational assistance through programs like Every 15 Minutes, serve as a resource for information related to law enforcement, and act a liaison between the police department, school district, and neighboring police departments.

The school resource officer position has been vacant since 2012. I am proud that we have collaborated with the Mt. Diablo School District to equally share the cost of this important position.

Public Meetings Civic Action Oct. 3 City Hall, 100 Gregory Lane, Small Community Room, 6:30pm. Contact: 671-5229 City Council Oct. 1, 15 City Hall, 100 Gregory Lane, Council Chambers, 7:00pm. Contact: 671-5229 Architectural Review Oct. 4, 18 City Hall, 100 Gregory Lane, Large Community Room, 5:00pm. Contact: 671-5209 Planning Commission Oct. 9, 23 City Hall, 100 Gregory Lane, Council Chambers, 6:30pm. Contact: 671-5209 Education Commission Oct. 24 City Hall, 100 Gregory Lane, Large Community Room, 7pm. Contact: 671-5229

Chamber Calendar

Oct. 2 - Chamber Wine & Beer Booth at the Market, 4:30-8pm. Trelany Rd, PH Oct. 6 & 7 - Art, Wine & Music Festival, Saturday 10am-6pm (Saturday evening concert featuring East Bay Mudd at 6:30pm) & Sunday 11am5pm, Downtown PH Oct. 11 - WiseGirl Restaurant—Chamber Business Mixer, 5-7pm, 1932 Oak Park Blvd, PH Oct. 18 - Fat Baguette Lounge Ribbon Cutting, 5-7pm, 548 Contra Costa Blvd, Suite M, PH 680 Business Networking - 2nd & 4th Wednesdays & Thursdays, 8:30-10am, JFKU, 100 Ellinwood Way, PH Wednesdays - OFF THE GRID Food Trucks, 5-9:00pm, Trelany Road, PH

CITY NEWS

Pleasant Hill City News Pleasant Hill Reads!

A “One City One Author” Event

The annual citywide program Pleasant Hill Reads invites local families to share great stories together every October. After six successful years of engaging an estimated 12,000 readers with over 5,000 giveaway books, we’re breaking the mold of “one city one book” to reach a broader audience than ever before.

Leading up to Halloween, we’re inviting everyone in town to share something eerie for all ages by master storyteller Neil Gaiman.

It’s a one city, one author event, with four books to choose from: • The Wolves in the Walls - Lucy is sure there are wolves living in the walls of her house, although others in her family disagree, and when the wolves come out, the adventure begins. (Recommended for grades 2-4) • The Graveyard Book - An orphaned boy is raised by ghosts and other denizens of the graveyard in this Newbery Award-winning reimagining of The Jungle Book. (Recommended for grades 4-8) • Coraline - Looking for excitement, Coraline ventures through a mysterious door into a world that is similar yet disturbingly different from her own, where she must challenge a gruesome entity in order to save herself and her family.

(Recommended for grades 5 and up) • Neverwhere - A darkly whimsical tale named one of NPR’s best fantasy books.

A man stops to help a girl bleeding on a London sidewalk and finds himself pulled into a bizarre subterranean city beneath the city. (Recommended for adults and teens)

To get a free book (and possibly win a ticket to see Neil Gaiman live in November!), folks are invited to come down to the Pleasant Hill library in October or visit ccclib.org/phreads for more info or to reserve a library copy to check out.

Previous Pleasant Hill Reads selections have included: James and the Giant Peach, The Hobbit, The Invention of Hugo Cabret, Mr. Lemocello’s Library, Wonder, and The First Rule of Punk.

Successful Relay for Life

The first Relay For Life of Diablo Valley is in the books. “Our goal for 2018 was $80,000. We raised $119,920,” said Ken Housfeld, volunteer Relay leader.

For the first time this year, several communities banded together to hold a combined Relay, the signature worldwide fundraiser for the American Cancer Society. The Diablo Valley Relay For Life represents the cities of Concord, Walnut Creek, Pleasant Hill, Clayton, Lafayette, Moraga, and Orinda.

“Thank you to all those who participated and donated to this great cause. A cure for cancer will be found. There is hope,” said Housfeld.

He added that individuals and teams may now sign up for the 2019 Relay by going to Relayforlife.org/diablovalleyca and following the prompts. Next year’s Relay will be held on June 8-9, 2019, at the Pleasant Hill Middle School.

Ken Housfeld (Photo by Susan Wood)

When it comes to your to-do list, put your future first.

Library Premium Book Sale

The Friends of the Pleasant Hill Library’s mini-used book sale will be held on October 13 from 10am to 2pm on the patio in front of the library. This will be a smaller selection of books than the giant parking lot sales, but look for interesting treasures at low prices.

Please stop by the front of the library, weather permitting.

To find out how to get your financial goals on track, contact your Edward Jones financial advisor today.

Farmers’ Market Closes

Fall is here, and that means the close of the farmers’ market on Tuesday, October 9. You can still enjoy some end of summer season fruits and veggies along with new fall goodies. Summer peaches, tomatoes, and peppers sit side by side with apples and fall greens. Get the best of both at the market, which will be open from 4:30pm-8:00pm on Trelany Road next to City Hall.

Art, Wine & Music Festival

Yvonne I Ceresa, CFA Financial Advisor .

FAP-1966D-A

This year’s Art, Wine & Music Festival is October 6-7 in Downtown Pleasant Hill on Crescent Drive. Saturday, October 6, it’s from 10 am - 6pm. Stay for the Saturday evening concert with East Bay Mudd from 6:30pm - 8:45pm. Sunday, October 7, the festival is from 11am - 5pm. Join many thousands of residents and visitors strolling along Crescent Drive, enjoying free live music, arts & crafts, family entertainment, premium wine in the pavilion, a beer garden, and introducing the NEW Pet Zone. The event is sponsored by the Pleasant Hill Chamber of Commerce and presented in partnership with the City of Pleasant Hill and Downtown Pleasant Hill.

1350 Arnold Dr Suite 100 Martinez, CA 94553 925-335-9102

www.edwardjones.com Member SIPC

OURCOMMUNITYFOCUS.COM | OCTOBER 2018 | 7

CITY NEWS

Mayor’s Message It is now October and autumn is here. The days are shorter, it is dark when we get up for work, and it is getting darker every night when we come home.

The air is still warm during the day, but the nights are getting crisper with each passing day.

We are also in the midst of the mid-term election season, when voters will be considering several issues and candidates at the federal, state and local levels. In Martinez, voters will be asked to weigh in on a general revenue measure known as Measure X, the Martinez Quality of Life and Essential Services Measure.

Measure X is a proposed ½ sales tax that will generate $3.2 million. This will be used to maintain 911 police emergency response times, prevent violent crime, enhance school safety, retain and recruit experienced police officers, protect and maintain parks and open space, address homelessness, and provide for youth, recreation and senior programs.

If approved, Measure X will sunset in 15 years. People are now talking and asking about Measure X, and I thought it might be helpful and informative to answer some of those questions here: Q: Isn’t this a blank check for city

government?

A: No. Community based spending priorities are included as part of the package considered by the city council in placing the measure on the ballot. If enacted, the measure includes strict accountability provisions such as an independent citizens’ oversight of spending, public spending reports, and annual independent financial audits. All funds must be used only in Martinez.

Q: But you are saying just to trust you.

Why not do a Special Tax (or a Special Purpose Measure), where the uses for the funds are “locked down”?

A: As we have with previous voterapproved funding, we asked the public what they preferred. A community survey conducted earlier this summer showed that voters prefer a general purpose funding mechanism that addresses a variety of holistic quality of life issues, including public safety, youth programs, and support for the homeless, among other issues.

Q: Why do we need this when we already have two other measures in place, including Measure D? A: Martinez residents pride themselves on their self-reliance and are passion-

Rob Schroder, Mayor of Martinez

ate about keeping their taxpayer dollars local. That’s why they enacted Measure D to address street and road repair. A recent community survey conducted this summer showed that residents highly value their quality of life services and next want to turn their attention to maintaining 911 services and addressing pressing issues such as homelessness and maintaining programs for seniors and youth.

Q: Isn’t sales tax regressive?

A: This is the only mechanism available to the city where visitors to Martinez share in the cost. There are levies on prescription medication or food purchased as groceries. It is also not a tax on one’s home or property.

Q: Isn’t the real problem your pension liability?

A: Years of historic state takeaways, new and unfunded state requirements, and the increasing cost of services are all contributing factors. Our city has been a leader in reforming our pension structure and spending our voter approved funding as promised to voters. We must continue to be self-reliant while maximizing the use of our taxpayer dollars for LOCAL services. This is funding that can’t be seized by the state and is a safeguard against uncertain external challenges.

You can read more about Measure X by going to the city’s website at www. cityofmartinez.org. You can also email me at rschroder@cityofmartinez.org.

Public Meetings City Council Meeting Oct. 3, 17 City Hall, 525 Henrietta Street, 6-9pm. Contact: 372-3500 Zoning Administrator Meeting Oct. 3, 17 City Hall, 525 Henrietta Street, 4-6pm. Contact: 372-3500 Design Review Meeting Oct. 10, 24 City Hall, 525 Henrietta Street, 4-6pm. Contact: 372-3500 Planning Commission Meeting Oct. 9, 23 City Hall, 525 Henrietta Street, 7-11pm. Contact: 372-3500 For Confirmation Visit: www.cityofmartinez.org Lic.0506034

Derek Knapp Ext. 210 Commercial & Personal Lines

VISIT US FOR ALL OF YOUR INSURANCE NEEDS! HOME • AUTO • BUSINESS WORKERS’S COMPENSATION • BUSINESS AUTO

THANKS TO OUR CUSTOMERS FOR VOTING US #1!

2013 201 3 • 2014 • 2015 2016 / 2017 8 | OCTOBER 2018 | OURCOMMUNITYFOCUS.COM

Lori Knapp Ext.211 Personal Lines

PHONE 925-827-0510 • FAX 925-827-0643 www.insuranceagent2000.com 3585 Clayton Rd. Concord, CA 94519

Laurie Limrite Ext. 213 Commercial Lines

CITY NEWS

Martinez City News District Elections

In February, after a total of six public hearings, the city council adopted an ordinance to establish four council districts in the City of Martinez. The City of Martinez is governed by a five-member city council. While the mayor is elected at large, the four remaining members of the city council are now elected by district: District 1: Lara DeLaney District 2: Mark Ross District 3: Noralea Gipner District 4: Debbie McKillop For more information on the city’s recent adoption of district-based elections and to view the interactive council districts map where you can enter your address to find which council district you reside in, please visit: www.cityofmartinez.org/gov/ district_elections/default.asp.

Park Renaming

At the September 19 city council meeting, council adopted the resolution approving the naming of the park at the corner of Alhambra Avenue and Marina Vista as “John Sparacino Park.” At a recent city council meeting, Councilmember McKillop suggested that this park should be named after former City of Martinez Mayor John Sparacino, who recently passed away on April 3, 2018. The park was created as part of the Martinez Intermodal Facility Project in 1998 and is commonly referred to as Alhambra Park. It has never been officially named. Mr. Sparacino dedicated his life to the service of the Martinez community and was actively involved with numerous civic and community groups.

Wine Tasting Fundraiser

The Friends of the Martinez Library is having a wine tasting fundraiser at Conrad Viano Winery on Sunday, October 14. The event is from 1pm-3pm and tickets are $40 per person and must be purchased in advance. Price includes a souvenir wine glass, five wine tastes, and assorted appetizers. In addition to a raffle, Sin Sliver will provide music. To purchase tickets or for additional information, contact friendsofmartinezlibrary@gmail.com. The Friends of the Martinez Library is an organization dedicated to improving library services in Martinez. Through membership donations and book sale earnings, the Friends provide the library with books, tapes, magazines, and compact discs, as well as children’s and cultural programs for the community.

Martinez Restaurant Tour

On Saturday, October 6, from 1:30pm-4pm, you can participate in a walking tour to explore the delicious restaurants of Downtown Martinez. Tickets are $18 pre-sale/$20 at the door. Purchase tickets online at www.cityofmartinez.org and click on “Register for Classes” on the home page or call (925) 372-3510. Be sure to bring comfortable shoes and an expandable belt. All funds from this event benefit the “Oohs, Ahs and Giggles” program, a free performing art series for children.

Participating restaurants: Bar Cava Wine Bar & Eatery, Barrel Aged Cocktail Bar & Lounge, Barrelista, La Tapatia Mexican Cuisine, Luigi’s Deli and Market, Main Street Sweets, Pacifica Pizza, Taco Daddy’s, Two Jays Pizza, and Whiskey Lane.

Main Street Arts Gallery October Show “These Are a Few of Our Favorite Things”

Each of the eleven artists of Main Street Arts will pick one of their favorite art pieces to feature in the October show, which runs from October 3 to October 26.

In addition, Main Street Arts will have a wine and appetizer reception on October 13, from 5pm to 7pm, where you can see some of their favorite pieces of art. Main Street Arts is located at 613 Main Street and was founded in 2016 by several of the

Martinez Gallery Co-op members in partnership with other local artists. The gallery offers a wide range of collectible fine art, from fused glass, to photography, to paintings.

Measure X

Last July, the Martinez City Council unanimously placed Measure X – a local half-cent sales tax measure – on the November 6 ballot. If approved by voters, Measure X provides local funds for Martinez’s quality of life and essential services, including 911 response times and public safety, maintaining open space and recreational programs, and addressing homelessness. See Mayor Schroder’s article on adjacent page.

Halloween Events Downtown Martinez Zombie Brew Crawl

The Main Street Martinez 5th annual Zombie Brew Crawl is happening October 20, from 2:30-5:30pm, on the streets of Martinez, and everyone is encouraged to join the crowd. Zombies will be walking around the downtown corridor of Martinez, sampling beers from great craft breweries stationed at various small businesses along Main Street.

Zombie costumes are optional; however, there will be cash prizes awarded for the best individual costumes as well as the best group costume. After the beer crawl, visit one of the downtown restaurants for dinner. Free shuttles to and from the North Concord BART station will be available. First shuttle leaves BART at 12:00 noon; last shuttle leaves Martinez at 8pm. Shuttle stop is at Creek Monkey Tap House, 611 Escobar St. All tickets are available to purchase online only in advance at www.zombiebrewcrawl.com. Ticket prices: $30 now through midnight on 10/15; $35 through midnight until 10/19 midnight; and $40 at the door if not sold out.

Trunk or Treat Spooktacular

Visit many local businesses that provide a safe place for you to enjoy Halloween festivities. Instead of walking house-to-house, visit creatively themed and decorated car trunks and shops along Main St. to collect candy and treats. Trunkor-Treat happens in conjunction with the farmers’ market from the 500-900 blocks of Main St. Treat bags and maps will be available in the plaza. Free face painting by Parks & Rec., too.

Barbara and Marty’s Halloween Hunt

On Thursday, October 25, from 3:30 – 5pm, head to Holiday Highlands at Figtree Lane and Eastwoodbury Lane for an old fashioned Halloween affair. There will be crafts, face painting, and a candy hunt. The candy hunt will be at 4pm sharp.

The event is free for 3 -12 year-olds, and space is limited to the first 100 children.

Register online at www.cityofmartinez.

Pumpkin Dunkin’

The Pumpkin Dunkin’, a floating pumpkin patch, returns to the Rankin Aquatic Center, Sunday, October 14, from 1- 3 pm. Both the lap and splash pools are heated. The fee for a pumpkin and swimming are $8. Please register by Wednesday, October 12, by calling Martinez Recreation or going online to www.cityofmartinez.org take a class. Just want to swim? You don’t need to preregister, but the fee is 0-2 free; 3-17 years $2; adults $3; and seniors $2.

Frankie Friday

On Friday, October 26, from 4:00-5:30pm, Rankin Aquatic Center is providing face painting, Frankenstein/ Halloween themed crafts, snacks, a costume contest, games, and a “Frankie Hunt.” It will be a haunting good time! Come dressed as your best Frankenstein or whichever goblin or creature you desire. The fee is $5 per child and adults are admitted free. Pre-registration is online at www. cityofmartinez.org.

OURCOMMUNITYFOCUS.COM | OCTOBER 2018 | 9

Come Get Your Skate On

Ice Skating Once Again in Downtown Walnut Creek Opening November 9 for free!

Public Skating Monday through Thursday: Noon -8pm.

Friday and Saturday: 11am-11pm. Sunday: 11am-9pm.

Children’s Winter Festival November 10, 11am-1pm Children, families, and the young-atheart can kick off the ice skating season with the Children’s Winter Festival. This popular event includes live skate performances, Rocco’s pizza, hot chocolate, face painting, free giveaways, and more.

Free admission and skates for the first 250 guests; $5 admission until 5pm, and then regular price of $15 per person. Includes skate rentals.

Veterans Day November 12, 11am-8pm Walnut Creek On Ice at Civic Park

Walnut Creek Downtown and the Walnut Creek Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Bureau kick off the winter season on Friday, November 9, when ice skating starts at the 14th Annual Walnut Creek on Ice in the heart of downtown at Civic Park. The partially enclosed ice rink welcomes skaters of all ages and abilities to tie on a pair of ice skates and skate daily through January 21, 2019. Families can also start the ice skating season with the Children’s Winter Festival.

Walnut Creek on Ice is open from November 9, 2018 – January 21, 2019 Pricing includes skate rental. Weekdays: Monday through Friday - $12/ person. Fridays after 5pm - $15/person. Weekends: Friday 5pm through Sunday 8pm - $15/person. Holiday rate: $15/person. Children under three skate

thanks all veterans throughout the Bay Area by encouraging them to skate with a loved one on Veterans Day. $15 per veteran plus guest, military ID required.

Guarantees two hours of skating.

Frosty & Friends - January 12, 11am-1pm Walnut Creek On Ice invites you to skate with Frosty & his friends! A variety of fantasy characters including princesses and furry friends will be at the ice

rink to take pictures, skate, and visit with throughout the morning.

Where: Civic Park, Walnut Creek. For parking information, visit walnutcreekonice.com/parking.

For more information, please contact: Walnut Creek on Ice 925.935.SNOW (7669) | walnutcreekonice.com.

Marketing: Shawn Filardi, Walnut Creek Chamber of Commerce, 925-934-2007 or sfilardi@walnut-creek.com.

Martini Festival Winners

Martinez’ most acclaimed social event, Martinis on the Plaza Gala, was held around the fountain at Ignacio Plaza on September 15. The annual event is a remembrance of all that is good in America, a revitalization of swing dancing, the advent of the Rat Pack, and music that makes everyone want to dance. Fabulous food from regional restaurants was served and martinis were flowing in celebration of the martini birthplace – Martinez and were voted on by guests. The People’s Choice Award was given to Mona’s Burgers and Shakes of Concord and Walnut Creek, and Best Martini Award was given to Barrel Aged of Martinez.

Summer Slino and Dennis Hoaglash, bartenders at Barrel Aged, receive the first place award for the best martini. Owner Arash Pakzad not pictured. Photo by Richard Cash.

Girls getting their skate on! Photo by SusanWoodPhotography.com

• • • • • •

ncludes: nt ren ce c e tive

!

Located in the Treat Towers 1255 Treat Blvd., Ste. 300 Walnut Creek, CA 94597

Law off

lauren l auren

of

mykowski m ykowski

10 | OCTOBER 2018 | OURCOMMUNITYFOCUS.COM

((925)) 257 257-4277 4277

www.smykowskilaw.com laurensmy@gmail.com

People’s Choice Award winners: Mona’s Burgers & Shakes’ Dennis Aragon (center) with bartenders Cameron Giafala (left) and Patricia Vega. Photo by Richard Cash

CITY NEWS

Walnut Creek City News WCPD Informs with YouTube WCPD Uses Monthly YouTube to Inform Community The Walnut Creek Police Department is utilizing YouTube to inform the community of Walnut Creek on the latest in crime, traffic, community concerns, and quality of life. In the coming months, the community will be introduced to several additional members of the police department, including the police chief, sector commanders, supervisors, and police officers, who will share crime information specific to each neighborhood. The WCPD is excited about the ability to interact with our community in this way and always welcome your feedback. You can use the link to view video crime updates: https://youtu.be/o3_HX0urVVc. For additional information and services that are referenced in the video, please visit http:// www.walnut-creek.org.

CERT Basic Training Begins this Month Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Basic training starts October 12th Have the big fires reminded you to prepare for emergencies? Sign up with Walnut Creek CERT to learn about disaster preparedness and basic disaster response skills for hazards that may impact our area. Trainees will learn about disaster preparedness, fire safety, disaster medical operations and triage, light search and recue, team organization, disaster psychology, terrorism and the Incident Command System. Registration is open for Walnut Creek CERT basic training classes. Sign up at walnut-creek.org/cert. Classes are Friday evening, October 12, and Saturdays, October 13 and 20, plus graduation drill on October 27. Contact cert@walnutcreek.org for more information. Class location is Walnut Creek City Hall, 3rd floor conference room, and ad drill location is the Mormon church at 100 Northgate Road.

thinkingmobilitywc.com.

Howl-ooo-ween! Trick or Treat with the Animals Bring the family to Lindsay Wildlife Experience on Thursday, October 25, for a howling good time! This is Wildlife Experience’s most popular event for miniature ghosts and goblins and their families. Come in costume and play games at the Arachnid Arcade, be frightened by some taxidermy in the “creepidermy” room, and meet a mad scientist! Every child will receive their very own Lindsay Wildlife Howlooo-ween trick-or-treat bag. From meeting some not-so-scary animals, spooky story time and face painting to making crafts, there are plenty of activities for the whole family. Come hungry, because a food truck will be at Lindsay starting at 5pm.

Your Parks, Your Future: Interactive Workshop Walnut Creek community members are invited by the City of Walnut Creek’s Arts and Recreation Department to a pizza party and an opportunity to learn about the “Your Parks, Your Future” planning process. What classes and activities are you and your family interested in? What sports do you want to play? What parks and buildings do you use often or need? What barriers to access exist for your family, if any? The city will be asking all these questions at the workshop on October 3, from 6pm-8pm, at Civic Park Assembly Hall (1375 Civic Drive). Share your ideas for new possibilities for Civic Park, Heather Farm Park, and Shadelands Art Center.

There will be interactive stations to engage with staff and share inspirations and ideas. All comments will be collected and considered as the city develops the parks master plan for the next 15 years. This family friendly event hosts a pizza party, kid craft activities, and input opportunities for teen. To RSVP, go to http://www.walnutcreek.org and click on the “Recreation & Parks” link at the top of the home page.

East Bay “Walk to End Alzheimer’s” On Saturday, October 20, put on your walking shoes and invite friends and family to take part in the annual “Walk to End Alzheimer’s,” at Heather Farm Park.

This is the nation’s largest event to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer care, support, and research. Last year, more than 2,300 people participated in Walnut Creek and raised more than half a million dollars, and this year, the goal is to raise $650,000 locally. To register, go to https://act.alz.org/ and click on “Find a walk near you.”

Oktoberfest at Civic Park The 4th Annual Walnut Creek Oktoberfest at Civic Park is on Saturday, October 20, from 11am-6pm. Head to the bier garten or the dance floor for another epic Oktoberfest in Walnut Creek. It’s a great place to show off your dirndl dress or don the lederhosen (not mandatory!). This free, day-long, family-friendly event recreates the beloved German fall celebration. Oktoberfest includes live entertainment, music, dancing, arts and crafts, bier garten with dozens of craft beers, international music, Kinder Platz Kids Zone, gourmet food booths, and over 40 vendors.

Rethinking Mobility A Transportation Strategic Plan for the City of Walnut Creek The city is working on a strategic plan to reduce automobile trips and manage parking demand while enhancing access for those walking, biking, and using public transit. You’re invited to a series of meetings where the city will present and discuss information about the city’s existing transportation network and how and why people travel in order to identify the needs, opportunities, and challenges they should consider as part of developing the plan. You can let them know how you move around Walnut Creek by completing the short survey at http://www.reOURCOMMUNITYFOCUS.COM | OCTOBER 2018 | 11

Is That Blood in Your Smile?

Proper Care for Your Gums

BY HAZEL C. PANALIGAN, RDH It’s that time of the year when folks put on costumes and wear zombie make-up and vampire teeth. While a bloody smile and swollen gums might be the perfect frightening look for Halloween, it is hardly fashionable all year-round.

Do your gums bleed? Bleeding gums can be one of the signs of starting or pro-

gressing gum disease. All of us have bacteria residing in our mouths, both the good and the bad kind. There are different kinds of bad bacteria; some cause gum disease and some cause tooth decay, but they all feed on what we leave on our teeth, and when they excrete, it all happens in our mouths.

Plaque is what we call the by-product of bacteria. If we don’t brush and floss regu-

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

Creating confident, healthy smiles.

General and Family Dentistry JANET CONCEPCION-MANALO, D.D.S. We welcome new patients!

In-Network with most PPO plans . Specials available for non-insured patients

1029 Arnold Drive, Ste. 9 Martinez, CA 94553

(between Walmart & Home Depot)

www.parkwaysmilesdental.com

(925) 229 - 8890

12 | OCTOBER 2018 | OURCOMMUNITYFOCUS.COM

larly, these pathogenic bacteria increase in number and plaque builds up rapidly along the gums or in between the teeth. When oral hygiene is poor, the irritants cause the gums to bleed, get swollen, and emit bad odor. In addition, these bacteria can be transferred from one person to another.

Make sure your loved ones maintain good oral health!

Regular dental exams and professional cleanings, together with optimal personal oral hygiene, are essential in minimizing the risk of progression of gum disease. What

goes on in our mouths affects our general health. The better our oral health, the less bacteria load our body has to fight off.

We hope that reading this article has motivated you to think about your oral wellness. We at Parkway Smiles Dental encourage everyone to aim for a healthier life through a healthier smile!

Parkway Smiles Dental is currently accepting new patients. You may visit our website for more information at www.parkwaysmilesdental.com or by calling at (925) 2298890.

Otters in Our Backyard New Neighbors in the Gardens STORY AND PHOTOS

BY KAREN JAMES

North American river otters are popping up all around Contra Costa County to the delight of many. They have been seen in Hidden Lakes Park in Martinez, Turtle Creek in Concord, Heather Farm Park in Walnut Creek, and many other areas. Otters have been seen in the Contra Costa Canal and most recently in the canal near Boyd Road. Many routine walkers have enjoyed frequent sightings and update passersby of the otters’ whereabouts. Sightings of a mom and her two pups have created quite a buzz.

On August 19, Jeff Torqeuemada and Wendy Sparks came to the otter family’s rescue. The pair set out on their usual walk and was looking forward to an otter sighting, but within a quarter mile of their house, they heard the distinct cry of a baby otter in trouble. This was much further north than the otters had been recently, so they were surprised to find all three otters at the bottom of a small water fall that leads to an underground section of the canal (a place that does not have a gap, so there is no air). They quickly realized they were stuck.

Jeff and Wendy described the pups as being distraught and witnessed the mom attempting to carry the pups on her back and over the rushing water with no success. They contacted the water district and animal control for help. CCWD contacted the canal patrol, and within an hour, Jill and Shane from canal patrol and

an animal control officer arrived. Together they worked tirelessly to safely rescue both pups.

Jeff and Wendy witnessed the rescue and explained that one of the pups was caught (gently, with a snare) and the mom retrieved the exhausted pup and took it to a safe place, further up the canal. She then returned but was unable to coax the second pup up and over the falls. Wendy explained, “Animal control lent us a ramp with a textured surface, but the pup just could not make it over to the ramp. A multitude of techniques was tried to save the other pup and we knew time was running out. It kept swimming under the grate where it was unreachable and its plaintiff calls were getting weaker. After almost five hours and one last creative attempt to entice the mom to use the ramp to guide her pup up the falls -- success!”

It is interesting that not much is known about this elusive member of the weasel family. Their exact numbers are not known, and very little is known of their behaviors and health status. The River Otter Ecology Project, based out of Marin, is gathering information on populations throughout the S.F. Bay Area to help shed light on an animal that not much is known about and their link to healthy watersheds.

What To Do If You See An Otter: • Don’t approach it. Observe from a distance.

• Please don’t try to feed it.

• If you have a dog, do not encourage them to investigate or bark at the otter.

Otters will bite if threatened or attacked.

• If otters feel comfortable around you, they will ignore you and continue about their activities. If they are uncomfortable, they will simply leave.

• And last but not least, if you happen to see an otter, please go to the River Ecol-

ogy Project’s website and click on the Otter Spotter Link. From there you can fill out an Otter Spotter Data Submission form.

• We are so lucky to have these animals in our urban areas. This definitely means we are doing some amazing work at protecting our environment. Enjoy watching these fun and charismatic animals.

Proudly endorsed by the Pleasant Hill Police Officers Association and local firefighters Independent, informed, fair A voice of reason A proven leader Re-elect Michael Harris for City Council 2018, 2300 Heritage Hills Dr., Pleasant Hill, CA 94523

www.mharris4PH.com

Jim Bonato, Treasurer

Campaign D #1408083

OURCOMMUNITYFOCUS.COM | OCTOBER 2018 | 13

Re-Elect

Sue Noack for Pleasant Hill City Council

Why we support Sue Noack for City Council “Sue cares deeply about Pleasant Hill and especially about families in our community. From her work on city council to PTSAs and the Foundation for PH Education to the new library project, Sue leads with the passion of a parent and the professionalism of a successful businesswoman.” Patrick Remer, Library Manager “Over the past four years, we have had the opportunity to observe, evaluate, and discuss issues with City Council member Sue Noack.

Sue is a leader and an advocate for the Pleasant Hill community. She asks questions. She listens. She gives honest, thoughtful responses.

We whole-heartedly endorse Sue Noack for re-election.” -Allen and Sandy Vinson, Pleasant Hill 2017 Citizens of the Year “As a business owner, it is always important to be able to have a working relationship with our elected officials. Sue, is approachable, professional, and always friendly. She strives to work hard for the people who live in Pleasant Hill, but also those who have chosen to operate their businesses within the city as well. I am proud to endorse Sue for City Council!”-Angela Warren, Restaurant Owner, Wisegirl Ristorante “Sue is the best choice for Pleasant Hill City Council. Her many years of volunteer work in our city and her first term on City Council show her dedication and commitment to making our city such a special place to live” -John Hanecak, Educator and former City Council Member

ll i H t n a s Working a e l together for P Paid for By: Sue Noack for Pleasant Hill City Council 2018 • FPPC# 1366987 307 Meadowood Ct., Pleasant Hill, CA 95423 925.947.1350 • Sue@SueNoack.com Find us on Facebook and Instagram

14 | OCTOBER 2018 | OURCOMMUNITYFOCUS.COM

New Rehab Retreat

Keeping Daughter’s Spirit Alive Anthony LoForte Sr., owner of Zio Fraedo’s Restaurant in Pleasant Hill, has opened a rehabilitation center in Martinez in honor of his late daughter, Katherine LoForte, who lost her battle to drug addiction. Before she passed, Katherine talked with her 80 year-old father about opening a rehab retreat to help people just like her. This would entail transforming her Martinez home into a drug rehabilitation center. After she died, Anthony moved forward to construct the center, and the Alhambra Valley Retreat opened on September 4.

Katherine had a few years of sobriety and had studied addiction at John F. Kennedy University in Pleasant Hill when she decided she wanted to give back to addicts seeking treatment. Unfortunately, Katherine didn’t get to see the results of her generosity after relapsing and suffering a heart attack on June 30, 2017.

She was 41 and leaves behind two young children.

Before Katherine died, she and her father approached Timothy Fitzgerald, her former assessment counselor at MPI Treatment Services in Oakland, and pitched the idea of turning her 5,250 square foot home into a rehab center. After Katherine died and Fitzgerald learned that her father was planning on proceeding with construction despite his grief, Fitzgerald decided he was all in, too.

Anthony LoForte Sr., says, “Addiction is a horrible disease, and you need places to help you because it’s very, very difficult

to do on your own. You need help, and we’re here to help people who ask for it.

Alhambra Valley Retreat keeps her alive.

Her spirit is alive. And as long as her spirit is alive, she lives.”

Addiction is non-discriminatory and doesn’t care if you’re rich, poor, educated, or employed. “Katherine absolutely understood addiction intellectually, but she could not do it physically,” said Kevin Robertson, executive director of Alhambra Valley Retreat. “Anthony took a tragedy in life that wiped him out and turned it into a beautiful gift to help people with addiction. It’s incredible.”

Every day in the United States addicts die. Last year, more than 72,000 people suffered fatal overdoses. Katherine’s ideas were preserved in her father’s pursuit to extend his daughter’s name, and the result is a beautiful facility that will help save lives. The logo reads, “Alhambra Valley Retreat: Katherine’s House.”

To learn more about the retreat center, visit https://alhambravalleyretreat.com/.

communityfocus-ecomulch-ad-2014-8.pdf

1

8/29/14

10 CELEBRATING

Family Owned and Operated Since 1975

1 Month FREE storage

800-232-9977

Local Organic Mulch, Soil and Compost

YEARS

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

Our Priorities are clear…

We are dedicated to quality service and customer satisfaction.

Residential & Office experts Family owned and operated

12:46 PM

C

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

M

Y

CM

MY

CY

CMY

K

Call for free estimate “No job to large or small”

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

Moving You On To Better Things- Since 1975

What is Your Home Worth?

ARCHITECTURAL MOULDINGS

Our Concord Location has Moved sit i v e m Co r new ou room! show

925.798.7525 themouldingcompany.com 5117 COMMERCIAL CIRCLE, CONCORD, CA 94520

When it‛s time to move, give me a call for an “in-depth” market analysis

Come Home to Martinez!

A Great Place to Live!

Maureen Ingalls BROKER ASSOCIATE

(925) 370-1680 DRE: Maureen #00894262

RE/Max #01491373

VISIT: WWW.MartinezHomes.com

SPORTS

Play Ball!

Three Local Boys Drafted into the Major Leagues

BY RUSSELL CARROLL

We all know the old saying, “Lighting doesn’t strike twice in the same place.” I would bet most of us would not argue this. What if I tell you lighting has struck three times in the same place? Recently, three young men, Joe DeMers, Willie MacIver, and Trevor Larnach, all originating from the same area, were drafted by Major League Baseball teams in the same draft year. DeMers is from Martinez, and MacIver and Larnach are from Pleasant Hill. But the similarities do not stop there.

Joe and Willie began playing baseball together at the age of 8 and have played on the same teams all the way through college at the University of Washington. Trevor joined them at age 10 and shared several teams with them, including high school. All three went to college on baseball scholarships. I recently caught up with them and asked a few questions. I was amazed their answers to the same questions were often identical.

When Joe and Willie were 8 and playing together on the PHBA Giants, Joe threw a “perfect season.” That’s right, “season.” As their starting pitcher, no opposing batter ever reached base. No hits, no walks, no hit batters. The other teams simply never reached base. DeMers hit 30 home runs in 25 games. In one game down 2-1, Willie hit the tying home run and Joe hit the winning homer. They went on to the championship game, where they played the PHBA Devil Rays and their star player, Trevor Larnach. Willie and Joe got the best of Trevor that year.

At age 10, Trevor joined Joe and Willie on the Condors, the PHBA travel team.

After much success, Joe and Willie joined a club team in LaMorinda and Trevor at Tabu. They often ran into each other at tournaments in AZ, FL, GA, and all over the country. Trevor joined Joe and Willie again at 14 in LaMorinda. DeMers also 16 | OCTOBER 2018 | OURCOMMUNITYFOCUS.COM

played for the USA team as a 16 & 17 year-old on USA’s 18 year-old team.

The three again played together in high school at College Park, where they won 3 division titles and two Norcal Championships, one in division 1 and one in division 2. These 3 players, along with another close friend, Jeff Mitchell, anchored what has to be one of the best high school baseball teams the state has ever seen. Their talents were rewarded with college scholarships. During their college careers, they always stayed in contact. When home on breaks, they were always together, including Mitchell, who was playing at Cal.

They all have had stellar college careers. DeMers threw the only perfect game in Washington’s history. Joe talks about losing Willie to injury their last year, and the team seemed to struggle without him. When Willie returned, he energized the whole team. They were faced with the daunting task of having to win their last 10 series of the season to make it to the first round of the College World Series (CWS). They won all 10 series. DeMers credits a lot of that success to MacIver’s return. Larnach was quietly battling for home run and RBI leader at OSU.

Both UW and OSU made it to the CWS where, of course, they met for an elimination game, a rematch of that game when they were 8. This time, Larnach’s squad got the best of DeMers and MacIver. Trevor’s Beavers went on to win it all in Omaha. In the CWS championship game, Trevor hit a 3-run homer to put the game out of reach. That home run bounced off a large picture of Joe DeMers on the right field bullpen wall.

Can lightning strike three times in the same place? You bet. Joe was drafted by his hometown Oakland Athletics, Willie by the Colorado Rockies, and Trevor by the Minnesota Twins. They all were in agreement when I asked about their favorite memories: “Getting the news about a college scholarship and the news about being drafted.” When I asked

Trevor, Willie and Joe enjoying a MLB game together.

Willie, Trevor and Joe pose on the field after their College World Series match up.

about what they loved most about the game, again, they were in agreement: “The competition. Always wanting and needing to improve. Always wanting to be the best.” When asked about their relationship with one another, they again were on the same page: “These guys are my brothers. I love these guys.”

What impressed me the most about all of these guys was their humility and gratitude. They each spoke about their appreciation for baseball organizations such as PHBA, LaMorinda, and Tabu. They spoke about coaches who have guided

and pushed them along the way. They recognize the effort and toll their journey required from their families. A recurring topic was their love and appreciation for their families. These guys truly understand their talent as well as how fortunate they are.

My last question for Joe and Willie was “Ok, with Trevor going number 20 in the first round, the next time you are all home, is he buying dinner”? Willie and Joe simply replied “Oh, yeah.” When I told Trevor about their response, he said, “I’d be happy to.”

SPORTS

Amit is One to Watch

High school freshman Amit Elor brought home the gold medal at the 15U Pan American Championships in Mexico. She won by technical superiority 10-0 in the finals over her opponent from Mexico.

Amit Elor became interested in wrestling when her older siblings, Ronny and Orry, started wrestling at College Park High School. At the time, she was only four years old.

“Seeing how they moved on the mat like superheroes inspired me to join them. I liked to watch their practices and pretended to do wrestling moves. Eventually, I begged my mom to let me start wrestling too,” explained Elor.

When Amit first started wrestling, she was the only girl on the mat. Many wrestlers didn’t want to partner with her, and some coaches didn’t want her there. She tells Bill X. Barron of RNM Events, “It was awkward and made me feel like an outsider. Refusing to give up, however, I learned to deal with rejection by developing a thick skin and standing up for myself.” She credits her Pleasant Hill coaches, Casey Strand from Bay Area Titans Club and Coach Cesar Gracie from Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, with making her a better wrestler, matching her with good partners, and introducing her to Jui-Jitsu.

Amit has trained internationally with the goal of becoming an Olympic gold medalist and world champion along with helping grow the sport of women’s and girls’ wrestling.

Rivals Meet

College Park hosted rival Alhambra on August 31 in a packed stadium. Alhambra varsity came out on top with a score of 35-13 over College Park. The junior varsity teams had a closer game, 21-19, with the Falcons finishing on top. CP JV has continued their streak, beating Las Lomas 41-8 on September 21, tallying their six consecutive win. Photo by Todgomes.com.

Frank Payne of College Park with the interception to end the game against Alhambra.

Senz Wins Golf Tournament

John Scott Senz of Pleasant Hill successfully defended his Special Olympics of Northern California Regional Golf Tournament title. He won the 18-hole individual competition at the Empire Ranch Golf Club in Folsom on September 16. Senz is a member of the Contra Costa Aces.

Polo Champs

College Park’s varsity water polo program is off to a great start, taking 1st place at the Sierra Shoot Out Tournament at Sierra College in Rocklin and winning their first league game against rival Alhambra High School.

Senz (left) is pictured with Contra Costa Aces Coach Tim Gleeson.

OURCOMMUNITYFOCUS.COM | OCTOBER 2018 | 17

Tinkers & Thinkers

Photos by SusanWoodPhotography.com

STEM to the Extreme Over 30 exhibitors and thousands of kids and families came out to Pleasant Hill Park for the annual Tinkers & Thinkers.

Although it’s only in its second year, one happy mom proclaimed: “We look forward to Tinkers and Thinkers every year. This is our favorite event.”

With a generous grant from the PH Community Foundation, families made hundreds of dancing brushbots from fingernail brushes, hobby motors, and 9-volt batteries. As children fastened the wires to close the circuit, eyes popped wide as the robot sputtered to life. “I made this!” exclaimed one boy. A third grade girl, curious if she could make her motor spin in the opposite direction, consulted her mother before declaring, “Nevermind! I’m going to experiment!”

Outdoors, drones took off over the giant pavilion tent, where visitors engineered

bridges, catapults, and tinfoil boats. The Rotary Club featured classic technologies like rope making while running sewing machines and tie-dye baths for decorating canvas bags. Youth sported blinking bowties and binary code bracelets they created with the County Office of Education.

Indoors at the Teen Center, a colorful timeline of computer scientists was on display. Preschool and elementary aged youth learned the fundamentals of programming with Beebots, Cubelets, a Code-a-pillar, and Lego robotics at the library booth. At the same time, Valley View Middle School students and College Park’s FalconX Robotics Club showed off their competition-ready droids.

It was wall-to-wall STEM, with tornado machines, smoke ring cannons, laser cut cardboard toys, masking tape sculptures, elephant toothpaste, and virtual reality

demos. “We call Tinkers & Thinkers an innovation faire, but it’s also an an inspiration faire, an education and exploration faire! It’s like a fireworks display, with all these lights going off over people’s heads. Everyone’s learning something new, making something for the fun of it,” said Patrick Remer, community library manager.

In a new attraction for the faire, the

San Francisco-based maker collective Cyclecide brought in carnival rides made from recycled bikes. Kids fearlessly climbed up a pirate ladder to buckle into a pedalpowered Ferris wheel. Meanwhile, another line formed for the “dizzy toy,” a two-person centrifuge. Further details about this event can be found at: https://www.phtinkersandthinkers.com.

AHS Shoe Drive

Raising Money One Step at a Time

Proudly Endorsed by Martinez Police Officers & Deputy Sheriffs C

M

Y

CM

MY

CY

CMY

K

PAID FOR BY ROB SCHRODER FOR MAYOR 2014, 100 GREEN STREET, MARTINEZ, CA 94553 - ID NO. 9617454 - (925) 708-1469

Paid for by Rob Schroder for Martinez Mayor 2018 - ID No. 961754 - 906 Harbor View Drive, Martinez, CA 94553

18 | OCTOBER 2018 | OURCOMMUNITYFOCUS.COM

Alhambra High School PTSA is conducting a shoe drive fundraiser, September 11 through November 10, to raise funds for PTSA Programs. Alhambra PTSA will earn funds based on the total weight of gently worn, used, and new shoes collected, and Funds2Orgs will issue a check for the collected shoes. Those dollars will benefit students and teachers at Alhambra High School. Anyone can help by donating gently worn, used, and new shoes at Alhambra High School, local farmers’ markets on Sundays, MEF Run on September 30, and home football games.

All donated shoes will then be redistributed throughout the Funds2Orgs network of micro-enterprise (small business) partners. Funds2Orgs works with micro-entrepreneurs in helping them create, maintain, and grow small businesses in developing countries where economic opportunities and jobs are limited. Proceeds from the sale of the shoes collected in shoe drive fundraisers are used to feed, clothe, and house their families. One budding entrepreneur in Haiti even earned enough to send her son to law school.

“We are excited about our shoe drive,” said PTSA President Laura Patrick. We know that most people have extra shoes in their closets they would like to donate to us. By doing so, we raise money for our school and have the chance to help families in developing nations who need economic opportunities. It’s a win-win for everyone.”

Donations of gently worn, used and new shoes to the Alhambra High School PTSA give shoes a second chance and make a difference in people’s lives around the world.

About Alhambra High School PTSA Our PTSA is committed to generating support for our school in the best way we can. We are supportive of our AHS staff and students. We are striving to make Alhambra High School a better environment for everyone. All seniors who are members of PTSA are invited and encouraged to apply for scholarships to further their education. All staff are encouraged and invited to apply for mini grants to help them guide our students.

Contact Laura Patrick, president, Alhambra High School PTSA, at (925) 890-4982 or alhambraptsa@yahoo.com.

SCHOOL NEWS

Falcon Pride

Another Year Filled with Amazing Kids JOSEPH G. ALVAREZ PRINCIPAL, COLLEGE PARK HIGH SCHOOL

As we enter our new school year, I continue to honor and be in awe of our student body. We have 2,200 students and a positive and safe outlook for another great school year. Back to School Night was a success, and the campus was packed with committed parents and community members who were able to meet and interact with our fantastic teachers. As I addressed our community, I reminded them of our strong commitment to excellence and Falcon pride and how each and every individual at College Park High School has the same goal: ensuring all of our students have great learning and career prep experiences inside and outside the classroom

In order to ensure all our students are learning at a high level, we continue to advance goals from last year through our Single Plan for Student Achievement,

Western Accreditation for Schools and Colleges, and MDUSD Graduate Profile.

Simply put, I ask all students to: 1) Stay engaged in their education, 2) Get involved at CP, and 3) Have a plan of action.

As part of what’s new for this school year, we continue to add advanced placement courses as well as define career technical pathways that will help ensure students are receiving the skills they need to be successful and college and careerready.

CPHS maintains academic results that far exceed state averages. The student body enjoys being challenged and uses their high school experiences not as a final destination but a springboard to being their best. And our students are consistently accepted into colleges of their choice, leaving them feeling wellprepared for the choices they make in life.

As we strive to be a campus that is transparent with our goals and clear in our communication, I would like to invite you to subscribe to our REMIND text service.

Please text @f84e9 to 81010. We will utilize

Berean Hosts Fair

Berean Christian High School is hosting the 1st East Bay Christian Education Fair on Saturday, October 13, 9am-11am. This is a FREE event, open to the community hosting K-12 schools from all over the East Bay and San Francisco. A Parent Panel will share their experiences of navigating public, private and homeschool types of education.

The fair will be hosted at Berean Christian’s gym, located at 245 El Divisadero Ave., Walnut Creek.

The Parent Panel will run from 9:30am-10:15am. This offers an opportunity to hear about parent experiences and ask questions to help you decide what education path is the best fit for your family.

If you have any questions about the event, please contact Karol Sereda at ksereda@ berean-eagles.org.

Lace Up for Lions

A Don Flaskerud Memorial Run October 27

On October 27, join the Pleasant Hill Lions Club for their first annual Lace Up For Lions Don Flaskerud Memorial Run. The run is a super spooky Halloween costume run and will set the pace for one of the best community events of the season. So come out in your best pillaging costume for the first year’s theme - Pirates! The events will include a 5k kids fun run and a diaper derby (crawlers only). Super spooky awards will be given and fun will be had by all.

Race starts at 9am. Registration opens October 1. Less than 100 spots available, so first come first served! Watch for updates and links using the Facebook event page: www.facebook. com/PleasantHillLions5k/. Proceeds will go towards the youth of Pleasant Hill. Email Devon at Devoshark13@hotmail.com for more information.

this text service to remind our Falcon community of important upcoming information.

Lastly, I’d like to congratulate all our fall athletic teams as they have shown

extraordinary success this year. This is not by chance but through planning and hard work. Please come by and enjoy our Friday Night Lights events as my personal guest and experience the Falcon spirit!

Principal Shuffle

Several Schools with New Leadership

BY JAKI JONES Christ the King School

Christ the King School welcomes new principal, Joe Silveira, who came from Carondelet High School in Concord. Mr. Silveira has extensive experience in all levels of education, ranging from classroom teacher, mathematics department chair, elementary school principal and, most recently, as high school vice principal of Carondelet High School. Mr. Silveira believes in inspiring children to reach their highest academic potential and personal best as they strive to make the world a better place.

Sequoia Elementary

Sequoia Elementary School’s new principal, Patricia Kawahara, took over the position on September 4. She has been in education for 20 years, from classroom teacher to administrator, both in the Walnut Creek School District and the Mt. Diablo School District. “I have a great love for serving children and families and am enjoying getting to know the Sequoia community. I am excited about the opportunity to continue the great work happening at Sequoia and to dive into the international baccalaureate application process with the school community,” she said. Kawahara replaces Glendaly Gascot, who moved over to Oak Grove Middle School in Concord.

Valhalla Elementary

Marji Calbeck, principal at Valhalla Elementary, has taken on a new title and position with the Mt. Diablo School District as director of elementary support.

This newly created position will provide support to all 30 of the elementary principals in the school district. She will

be working under the general direction of the assistant superintendent of student achievement and school support. Calbeck has over 16 years of experience and expertise as a school administrator and will be responsible for directing the district’s elementary instructional program and overseeing a system of school support, including principal coaching, staff supervision, and professional development, as well as providing leadership in the ongoing development and improvement of curriculum and instruction in the district.

Over the last few years, she has had the opportunity to mentor several new principals while meeting her responsibilities as the school principal at Valhalla. “It has been a very rewarding experience but also very challenging to adequately provide the needed time with the constraints of being a site principal myself. When this new position was announced, it seemed to be tailor made for me,” she said. With the influx of many new principals in the school district, Calbeck will now be able to support and mentor them full-time. “It is bittersweet to leave the Valhalla community at the start of my 17th year; they are like family to me. I will miss seeing the children every day and hearing about all the adventures of the staff and parents.

I would like to extend my appreciation to the entire Pleasant Hill community for their support and friendship through the past 16 years. I look forward to this next chapter and will continue to be involved with Pleasant Hill and all the schools in my new role.” In the coming weeks there will be interviews conducted for a new principal and a candidate will be selected for district board approval.

OURCOMMUNITYFOCUS.COM | OCTOBER 2018 | 19

Estate Planning

Estate Planning for Blended Families

BY DANIEL DuREE

The issues involved in estate planning are both complicated and emotionally charged for any family. Things become even more difficult when a husband or wife has children from a previous relationship. The decisions become more important because of the possibility that children from a previous relationship may not end up with anything if the surviving spouse spends all of the assets or changes the estate plan. If the children are strictly provided for, there is also a possibility that the surviving spouse may not have enough money to support him or herself.

This is a very common issue and can be dealt with in a couple of ways. With proper legal planning and communication, many potential problems can be mitigated. I will discuss the three most common ways of dealing with estate planning for a blended

family. We will assume the family is using a revocable trust for probate avoidance.

Leave all assets in control of the surviving spouse

A married couple can create a jointly settled revocable trust with agreed upon beneficiaries and spouses acting as cotrustees. In its most simple form, when one spouse dies, the other spouse is sole trustee and the trust is still fully amendable and revocable by the surviving spouse. What this means is that even if the children of the deceased spouse were initial beneficiaries, the surviving spouse has the power to amend the trust and remove them as beneficiaries.

It is not uncommon for a surviving spouse to amend a trust years after the death of the first spouse because their relationship with some of the initial beneficiaries (e.g., the deceased spouse’s children) has changed over time. The other potential issue arises when a surviving spouse enters a new relationship and amends the trust in favor of their new significant other.

THE LAW OFFICE OF

DANIEL L. DUREE Estate Planning Attorney

925.210.1400 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

20 | OCTOBER 2018 | OURCOMMUNITYFOCUS.COM

Split the Trust at the Death of the First Spouse

Another option is to split the trust in half at the death of the first spouse with half of the trust being irrevocable and earmarked for the deceased spouse’s children. The trust can be drafted so that the surviving spouse has access to all of the income but none of the principal, or all of the income and a certain percentage of the principal per year.

It can also be written so that the surviving spouse only has access to the deceased spouse’s half after they have spent their own half. Of course the danger with this scheme is that the surviving spouse needs the assets to care for him or herself and is unable to access them.

Give the Children Their Share at the Death of Their Parent

The easiest way to deal with estate planning for a mixed family, if practical, is to simply leave a certain amount of assets

to the children when their parent dies.

That way, the children are provided for and the surviving spouse has control over the remainder of the assets to support him or herself. Although the children may not end up with as much as under the split trust scenario, they will receive the money earlier and the surviving spouse will be better protected.

There are numerous other permutations of a trust that can combine different aspects of these three approaches. If you have any further questions, don’t hesitate to call and I will be happy to discuss this and any other estate planning issues in further depth.

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.

SPONSORED CONTENT

Final Seminar of the Year

BY COLLEEN CALLAHAN

From a website dedicated to seniors and trivia, I learned Little Golden Books published its first set of children’s books in 1942, Disney World opened in Florida on October 1, 1971, and Julie Andrews was born on October 1, 1935.

October is one of our busiest months, and the beautiful weather makes it difficult to focus on work. If you are 65 or older, you are probably receiving heaps of mail. Those eligible for Medicare and prescription drug plans become very popular this time of year. The material can be confusing and the lingo is challenging to decipher. Should I change my prescription plan? What should I do about Medicare? What plan should I choose?

It is important to be clear about what you want and need. On too many occasions we have received calls requesting help after mistakes have happened. It is not always possible to fix the errors. People select plans because of low premiums and

do not realize they have potential high out of pocket expenses or limited access to physicians they want to use. Enrolling on a website for an inexpensive plan can cost you dearly in the future.

I am offering an educational presentation addressing the basics of Medicare. The presentation is at the Pleasant Hill Community Center, 320 Civic Drive, Pleasant Hill, on Thursday, October 11, from 10:00-11:30am.

For this Medicare 101 presentation, I am teaming up with a certified aging in place specialist who also happens to be my husband, Cary Kennerley, of Safe Home.

He will address aging in place, safety in the home, tips for hiring a contractor, and ways to avoid falling. Prevention and preparation are crucial.

It would be great to see you at the seminar. You can call our office to reserve a space: 925-363-5433.

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

SPONSORED CONTENT

SHARE THE MAGIC

General Manager’s Message Fall Into Fun

By Michelle Lacy General Manager, Pleasant Hill Recreation & Park District

passing out candy and seeing all the smiling kids in costumes. Last year I dressed my car up as a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle and I’m trying to top that this year.

I’m currently on the hunt for new theme ideas so if you have suggestions, email me at mlacy@pleasanthillrec.com. Not into trick-or-treating? I encourage you, your family or even your co-workers to join me and enter your festooned vehicle. All cars must pre-register (online) but there is no fee for car entry.

Not only do I have to come up with a costume for my car but I also have to help come up with group Halloween costume ideas for our in-house annual Department Costume Contest. Our staff is already whispering their secret ideas about what their group costume will be this year. The Teen Center staff costume has won three years Ce in a row and is the one to beat. It’s quite the competition and great team building for my staff. This is just one extra way our staff likes to have fun this month. What are some of your Halloween traditions that make you smile? Share with us! (#phrecandpark) Master Plan Update: The last three months of 2018 will be an exciting time as we continue to work on “The Big Picture: Our Study, Vision, & Plan for Play.” November and December will include meetings on our research ndings and planning for future recreation elements. Join the conversation! Sign-up to receive email notiications at www.pleasanthillrecbigpic.com.

pleasanthillrec.com

Friday, October 12 | 6:00-8:00 pm NEW loction: PH Senior Center 233 Gregory Ln, Pleasant Hill Prepare to be amazed by local magicians from Society of American Magicians. Win prize for best costume!

PUMPKIN SPLASH Sunday, October 14, 1:00-3:00 pm PH Aquatic Park, 147 Gregory Ln Dive into our oating pumpkin patch to nd your perfect Halloween pumpkin!

TRUNK OR TREAT! Friday, October 26, 6:00-8:00 pm PH Park Parking Lot, 147 Gregory Ln A frightfully fun and safe alternative to trick-R-treating!

FREE! to the public!

SAVE THE DATE! Explore our Fall 2018 SPOTLIGHT

POP UP PLAY DATE! Recreation Guide5,to nd new Friday, October 3:00-4:30 pmways for you and your family to stay active, learn Pleasant Hill Park new skills and play in the months FAIRYTALE PRINCESS ahead.BREAKFAST Saturday, November 3, 8:30-9:30 am PH Senior Center PRESCHOOL REGISTRATION REGIST Opens March 30, 2019, 9:00 am PH Community Center

DUDUM REAL ESTATE GROUP 3921 BEECHWOOD DRIVE, CONCORD

ANGELA LOTMAN

CALL FOR PRICE

3245 HERMOSA STREET, PINOLE

CALL AGENT FOR PRICE

ANGIE CLAY

925.301.6336 925.207.9366 DRE# 01802242

DRE# 01361143

ANGIE CULUM

CATHY BAIGENT

3 BED, 1.5 BATH, 1,272 SQ. SF., 6,500 SF LOT SIZE PETER PAREDERO 925.787.8746

3+ BED, 3 BATH, 1,942 SQ. FT., 9,000 SF LOT SIZE MARY PISCITELLI 925.765.9095

1060 GILMAN DRIVE, DALY CITY

5770 LEWIS WAY, CONCORD

$1,049,000

$915,000

3 BED, 2.5 BATH, 1,350 SQ. FT., 9,450 SF LOT SIZE LAURIE HIGGINS 925.876.7968

4 BEDS, 2.5 BATHS, 2,707 SF , 13,000 SF LOT ANGIE CULUM 925.209.5999

1762 LANDANA DRIVE, CONCORD

985 MAJESTIC DRIVE, CONCORD

$510,000

$639,000

925.209.5999 925.383.2734 DRE# 00851239

DRE# 00820617

CHRISTINA LINEZO

JANE SMITH

3 BED, 1 BATH, 1,176 SQ. FT., 6,500 SF LOT SIZE CHRISTINA LINEZO 415.425.3085

ANGIE CLAY

1280 BERMUDA COURT, CONCORD

5507 LANGFORD COURT, CONCORD

$850,000

3 BED, 2 BATH, 1,359 SQ. FT., 7,631 SF LOT SIZE 925.207.9366 $695,000

415.425.3085 925.998.1914 DRE# 01964989

DRE# 01476506

4 BED, 2.5 BATH, 2,225 SQ. FT., 7,200 SF LOT PETER PAREDERO 925.787.8746

Distinctive Properties DRE #01882902

WWW.DUDUM.COM

3 BED, 2 BATH, 2,052 SQ. FT., 8,001 SF LOT SIZE ANGELA LOTMAN 925.301.6336

ELEVATING THE ART OF REAL ESTATE...

TWO AVAILABLE! CARQUINEZ SCENIC DR., MARTINEZ $750,000 EACH

5297 PINE HOLLOW ROAD, CONCORD

$1,175,000

LAURIE HIGGINS

3 BED, 3.5 BATH, 1,800 SQ. FT., 5,000 SF LOT SIZE MARY PISCITELLI 925.765.9095

4 BED, 2 BATH, 2,378 SQ. FT., 32,670 SF LOT SIZE TISH KANAT 925.286.4401

3678 COWELL ROAD, CONCORD

2030 WEAVER COURT, CONCORD

$659,000

$749,888

3 BED, 2 BATH, 1,727 SQ. FT., 10,484 SF LOT SIZE CATHY BAIGENT 925.383.2734

4 BED, 2 BATH, 1,854 SQ. FT., 8,008 SF LOT SIZE ZOCCHI & ASSOCIATES / TERESA ZOCCHI 925.360.8662

3130 BARRYMORE PLACE, CONCORD

202 MILLER AVENUE, MARTINEZ

$845,000

MARIA AMINI

925.876.7968 925.464.0457 DRE# 01322819

DRE# 01920042

MARY PISCITELLI

PETER PAREDERO

$440,000

925.765.9095 925.787.8746

4 BED, 2.5 BATH, 2,057 SQ. FT., 10,000 SF LOT SIZE TISH KANAT 925.286.4401

2 BED, 2 BATH, 826 SQ. FT., 2,000 SF LOT SIZE ANGELA LOTMAN 925.301.6336

246 ASHLEY CIRCLE, DANVILLE

2218 CHANNING COURT, CONCORD

$640,000

DRE# 01426129

DRE# 01351308

TERESA ZOCCHI

TISH KANAT

$537,500

925.360.8862 925.286.4401 DRE# 01907345

3 BED, 2 BATH, 1,292 SF MARIA AMINI

925.464.0457

3 BED, 2 BATH, 1,161 SQ. FT., 8,050 SF LOT CHRISTINA LINEZO 415.425.3085

DRE# 00668240

PAIR UP

Happy Halloween Best Treats are the Ones You Make

BY MARIA TERRY

October is one of my favorite months in Northern California. I call it “open-window” weather -- neither air-conditioning nor heating required. It is also ideal weather for cracking open a cold beer, trick-ortreating without heavy coats, and enjoying a warm pot of soup with neighbors, friends, and family.

Halloween day can be fraught with last-minute costume decisions and a rush to have everything ready for trickor-treaters. With so much to do, this is the perfect meal to make ahead. Pub cheese is a delicious blend of cheddar and cream cheese spiked with beer, horseradish, and cayenne. It can be made with, and goes with, just about any beer. I recommend a dry Irish stout like Guinness Extra Stout. The original

CARPET • HARDWOOD CUSTOM RUGS LINOLEUM • TILE Family Owned Business Since 1989 3344 Mt. Diablo Blvd.

Lafayette, CA

925.284.4440

www.LamorindaFloors.com License# 708486

24 | OCTOBER 2018 | OURCOMMUNITYFOCUS.COM

Guinness Extra Stout is made from roasted barley. This gives it a dark color and caramelized flavor. Its thick, creamy head mimics the creamy dip, and the bubbles cleanse your palate after each bite.

Another great beer recipe is Potato Beer Soup. If you start the soup ahead of time, set aside the reduced beer, potato, carrots, celery, and leeks portion from the other liquids. Then put them all together and warm the soup before serving. A Pilsner beers like Beck’s, Amstel, and Stella Artois is dry and crisp and would be delightful with this soup.

The bitter hops offset the sweet carrots and echo the bitter leeks. And, again, the bubbles in the beer refresh the palate after the fatty bacon and creamy

Pub Cheese INGREDIENTS 8 ounces of good Cheddar, shredded 1/2 cup cream cheese, softened About 1/2 cup beer (hold out about two tablespoons and then add if it needs to be creamier, or add even more if you’d like it to be more a dip than a spread) 1 tablespoon roughly chopped parsley 1 1/2 teaspoons white Worcestershire 1 1/2 teaspoons horseradish 1/2 to 3/4 teaspoon cayenne 1/2 teaspoon dry mustard powder 1/2 teaspoon salt (add to taste after everything is mixed) DIRECTIONS

Process all ingredients in a food processor, stopping once or twice to scrape the bottom and sides. Process for two or three minutes until dip is very smooth and creamy.

Rest for about 20 minutes in the fridge to blend flavors before serving. Dip will firm up with refrigeration, so if you refrigerate longer, take it out ahead of time so it’s spreadable.

Garnish with chives and serve with soft pretzels, pumpernickel bread, apples, crackers, or fresh vegetables. It will keep for about a week and freezes well.

Yield: 3-4 Cups

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

potato base.

There is always a lot of candy around on Halloween night, but consider leaving it for the kids and picking up some kettle corn to enjoy with a Belgian Dubbel Ale at the end of the meal. The sweet caramel flavor of the corn com-

plements the yeasty flavors in the beer, and the sugar balances the bitterness of the hops. The salt brings it all together.

So, go on. Pair Up!

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

Potato and Beer Soup INGREDIENTS 4 cups chicken stock 3 large russet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch cubes (about 4 cups) 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard 2 bay leaves 8 ounces sliced smoked bacon 2 carrots, 1/2-inch dice (about 1 cup)

Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper 3 stalks celery, 1/2-inch dice (about 1 cup) 1 small bundle fresh thyme, tied together with kitchen twine 1 leek, white parts only, 1/2-inch dice (about 1 cup) 1 cup light German beer such as Pilsner 1/4 cup sliced fresh chives

DIRECTIONS

Combine 2 cups of the chicken stock and one-third of the potatoes in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil, and then reduce to a simmer until fork-tender, 15 to 18 minutes. Stir in the mustard to combine, and then blend to a smooth puree using an immersion or regular blender.

Meanwhile, cook the bacon in a large Dutch oven or stockpot over medium heat until crispy and most of the fat has been rendered, 12 to 15 minutes, and then transfer to a paper-towel-lined plate to drain. Pour out the bacon fat, reserving 3 tablespoons in the pot.

Turn the heat up to medium-high and add the carrots. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and cook for 3 minutes, and then add the remaining potatoes, celery, bay leaves, leeks and thyme and season with salt and pepper. Cook until the leeks are soft, 4 minutes, and then pour in the beer and bring to a boil until the beer has cooked down to about 2 tablespoons, 2 to 4 minutes. Stop here if making ahead.

Pour in the remaining chicken stock and the reserved potato puree. Stir to combine and bring the mixture to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and cook uncovered until the vegetables are just tender, 6 to 8 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.

To serve, ladle the soup into bowls. Crumble the reserved bacon on top and garnish with the chives.

Yield: 4-6 servings

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

IN THE MIX

In the Mix

What Makes a Great Halloween Song?

BY PAUL COTRUVO

I cannot believe how fast this year is flying by. Is it really fall?

Although, if I judged the seasons by Target or Walmart, I would be buying Halloween candy in July and putting my Christmas tree up in August. But it is a great time of the year. Football season has started, baseball playoffs are in full swing, and the Warriors are about to start making another run at a championship. And yes, it is also time for a little thing called Halloween. That’s right, time to DVR “It’s The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown.”Yep, nothing says Halloween like spending the entire night freezing to death in a pumpkin patch! But, I digress. Anyway, not only will you be deciding on what costume to wear, but I think you need to start thinking about some great Halloween music to put on your favorite device. I started to make my playlist and pondered what would make the ultimate final list? What makes a great Halloween song? Does it have to always have to be about zombies and ghosts? Serial killers and politicians? Absolutely! And if it has a good beat, then even better!

Here are my top 10 selections for Halloween: 1) “Monster Mash” by Bobby “Boris” Pickett.

So yes, I am old and know this song is somewhat lame, but it brings me back to my childhood, and I do think it still holds its charm today.

2) “Psycho Killer” by Talking Heads. “Qu’est-

Paul’s Picks

ce que c’est fa fa fa fa fa…” Just a nice, upbeat “creepy” tune. The title says everything you want to know.

3) “I Put a Spell on You” by Screamin Jay Hawkins. Hold on to your seats because Jay’s about to take you on a ride. Timeless!

4) “Dead Man’s Party” by Oingo Boingo.

“Waiting for an invitation to arrive/ Goin’ to a party where no one’s still alive.” This would be great tune for your Halloween dance party.

5) “Thriller” by Michael Jackson. What can you say about this classic? This video changed everything!

6) “Ghostbusters” by Ray Parker, Jr. Say what you will, but I know you know every word of this one. “I ain’t afraid of no ghosts.”

7) “Don’t Fear the Reaper” by Blue Oyster Cult. Isn’t spooky at all until you consider the lyrics are told from the point of view of some death-friendly dude trying to induce his gal to join him and not “fear the reaper.”

8) “Highway to Hell” by ACDC. Pure, straight ahead in your face rock and roll! (Add “Hells Bells” for a nice 1-2 punch as well) 9) “Werewolves of London” by Warren Zevon. Personally, I find the lyrics to this song brilliant! My favorite line? “I saw a werewolf drinking a pina colada at Trader Vic’s. His hair was perfect.”

10) “Tubular Bells Part 1” by Mike Oldfield.

This is the theme song from the movie The Exorcist. Perfect creep vibe to this tune. Just do not serve split pea soup when listening.

You’ve been warned!

And to add just one more in the “creepy” vein, “Somebody’s Watching Me”

October 6: Wendy DeWitt, Armando’s, 707 Marina Vista, Martinez, 8pm October 6: Stung, Dan’s Bar, 1524 Civic Drive, Walnut Creek, 10pm October 6 and 7: Pleasant Hill Art, Wine and Music Festival, Saturday, 10am to 9pm, and Sunday, 10am to 5pm.

October 19: Nancy Wright, Armando’s, 707 Marina Vista, Martinez, 8pm October 27: Billy Schaub, Rocco’s Pizzeria, 2909 Ygnacio Valley Road, Walnut Creek, 8pm October 27: The Reluctant Heroes, Back Forty, 100 Coggins Drive, Pleasant Hill, 7pm October 27: The Big Jangle, WiseGirl, 1932 Oak Park Blvd.,Pleasant Hill, 9pm October 27: Mad Karma, Dan’s Bar, 1524 Civic Drive, Walnut Creek, 10pm October 28: Armando’s, 707 Marina Vista, Martinez, 4pm

by Rockwell. The word paranoia comes to mind.

I’m sure you have your favorites, but these would be a great addition to your playlist, whether you’re having a party or just handing out candy to the ghosts and goblins that evening.

On another note, Pleasant Hill Chamber of Commerce will be throwing the 16th annual Art, Wine and Music Festival on the

weekend of October 6 and 7. It’s always a fun event that features two days of free music. Some of the artists appearing will be Frankie G., The Big Jangle, East Bay Mudd, Lumberyard, and Dave Martin’s Houseparty.

Go to www.pleasanthillchamber.com/artwine-music-festival for further information.

Quote of the Month: “I’ll bet living in a nudist colony takes all the fun out of Halloween.” ~~Anonymous

Dia De Los Muertos

Through art, music, food and community altars, this event is a celebration of life that honors those who have passed away.

It takes place on Saturday, November 3, from 12-5pm, at the Main Street Plaza. Artists create personal altars to be displayed during the festival. For the third year in a row, we are presenting Martha Gutierrez’s Baile Folklorico, a cultural dance representing the various regions of Mexico.

Visitors attending the festival are encouraged to dress in Dia de los Muertos motifs and bring photographs of loved ones who have passed away to place on community altars.

Workshop

In honor of Dia de los Muertos, there will be a Mexican Folk Art Workshop on Saturday, October 13, 1-4pm, at the Martinez Library, 40 Court Street. Learn

to make small altars or “nichos” to honor your ancestors. Create papel picado or cut paper decorations and more. This is a free workshop.

Call for Altar Artists - Proposals due October 25

Artcelerator invites traditional, contemporary and experimental altar proposals that address grief and loss on a social, spiritual and personal level.

Your altar should evoke the community to come together, celebrate and express emotions associated with those who have passed away. Visit www.MartinezArts.org for guidelines and submission procedures.

Dia De Los Muertos is sponsored by Arcelerator and Martinez Arts Association.

Face painting sponsored by Citrus Salon.

For more information, please visit DiaDeLosMuertosMartinez on Facebook.com.

For the Home You’ve Always Wanted...Call Us Today

SAMUELS

CONSTRUCTION • Kitchens • Bath Remodeling • Tile • Cultured Marble • Granite • Additions • Windows • Doors • Concrete • Foundations • Driveways • Patios • Fences

samcon60@gmail.com • 925.260.4448 MEMBER

313 Gloria Drive, Pleasant Hill

General Contractor Lic#652185

OURCOMMUNITYFOCUS.COM | OCTOBER 2018 | 25

Cat Scratching

New Studies about Declawing

BY DR. LOUISA ASSEO

A few months ago, we discussed the impact that cats can have on outdoor wildlife. Ideally, cats should be housed indoors for both their safety and the safety of songbirds in particular. But what happens when an indoor cat starts scratching the furniture?

Scratching is a normal and natural behavior for cats. In addition to allowing them to shed the cuticles from their nails and sharpen their nails, it allows them to stretch and leave scent marks detectable to cats but not people. For indoor cats, we must provide appropriate scratching surfaces for them.

Vertical scratching posts and cat trees are ideal. Cat trees are also ideal, as they provide high places for the cat to perch on. What if your cat will not use appropriate scratching posts? Try a variety of surfaces. Most cats prefer a carpeted surface, but if this is not successful, try cardboard, sisal rope, or natural wood. Place these cat posts near where your cat tends to scratch and cover the inappropriate item until he or she learns to use the appropriate surface.

Trim your cats’ nails regularly to avoid damage to your furniture should they choose to stretch in other places of your house. Plastic caps called Soft Paws can be glued onto the surface of the nail also.

These have to be inspected regularly and

replaced as the cuticle sheds normally and removes the plastic cap.

Another method that deserves attention is declawing. Most of us are familiar with this procedure in theory. But have you thought about the actual procedure? This is akin to removing the tips of your digits past your nail beds. And once we do this to our cats, we then ask then to walk and jump on these painful digits. Even with proactive and comprehensive pain control, these cats can suffer from chronic pain.

Declawing is outlawed in many countries, including Australia, United Kingdom, Brazil, Austria, and most European countries. Some countries, such as Sweden, Finland, Germany, and Switzerland, even consider this procedure an act of animal cruelty. In the United States, we are slower to change this practice. In 2017, the American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP) amended their position statement towards declawing to state that they strongly oppose declawing in all cases where a medical necessity cannot be proven. Many studies have been done in recent years proving the association between declawing and chronic pain in cats. A recent study in the Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery documented an increase in back pain associated with declawing. It also documented that unwanted behaviors, liking biting without provocation and inappropriate urination and defecation, were significantly higher in declawed cats than

2015

Mark Ellinwood, Owner

ANTS • SPIDERS • MICE • RATS • FLEAS • 1 TIME SPRAY OK 26 | OCTOBER 2018 | OURCOMMUNITYFOCUS.COM

in cats with claws intact.

For resources on helping indoor cats thrive, please refer to www.catvets. com and www.indoorpet.osu.edu. Let’s help our feline friends live healthy and happy lives.

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

Martinez, or visit oasisveterinaryhospital. com.

Oasis Veterinary Hospital proudly sponsors the

PET ADOPTION CONNECTION www.ourcommunityfocus.com

A History Note

Trick or Treat

BY MARGIE NEWTON

In years past, pranks played by celebrants of Halloween were looked upon with amusement. In 1907, the Martinez Daily Gazette reported that a constable came upon about 20 youths pulling a water cart up the street with the intent of depositing it in the schoolyard. Upon spotting the constable, they dispersed in all directions, leaving the constable to find bystanders to return the cart to its origin.

As soon as the constable had departed, however, the water cart was pulled by pranksters to the school yard.

In another incident, a teacher was working in his classroom on Halloween Eve. When he attempted to leave, he found the door inoperable. Thinking quickly, he opened the window and yelled out, “I’ll treat.” He was released and joined by his captors. As they made their way to the ice cream store, others joined in. The teacher was gracious and treated all 25 to ice cream.

The Walnut Creek Courier Record in 1925 featured an article about the eight parties held on Halloween as a reward for a successful paper drive. The PTA furnished the ice cream, teachers provided punch, and mothers baked the cakes. Proceeds from the drive went to purchase school athletic equipment.

Things had changed greatly by 1955.

The Contra Costa Gazette reported that carloads of teenagers from Martinez and Danville were stopped, their cars filled with crates of tomatoes, dozens of raw eggs, and water-filled balloons. The fate of the

Martinez youths was not reported. Eight Danville youths ended their festivities in juvenile hall. In 1976, the West County Times reported that a San Pablo child had been given a treat of candy containing a needle.

And four juveniles were arrested for robbing a Southern Pacific box car loaded with beer.

In 1985, the police issued a warning prior to Halloween in the Contra Costa Times: “Shaving cream and eggs can do considerable damage. Parents are responsible for both criminal and civil liability restitution up to $5,000. Youths will spend time in the Juvenile Detention Facility.”

Halloween has changed greatly over the years and pranks may have become less amusing to adults, but kids still have fun dressing up and going to Trick or Treat!

A History Note is presented by the Contra Costa County Historical Society’s History Center, 724 Escobar St., Martinez. Open hours: Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays from 9-4 and third Saturdays from 10-2.

Check out the website at www.cocohistory. com.

IN THE GARDEN

The Ubiquitous Quince Unknown and Underused Fall Fruit

BY LESLEY STILES Honey soft, sweet, and yielding, autumn slips into out fair burg almost unnoticed at times. Small armies of squirrels race in circles from roof to tree, fulfilling their true métier of knocking acorns off trees for nourishment as well as maintaining forests of sprouting oaks to be tirelessly pulled by serious gardeners. Our DNA knows as much as the rattlers going underground and the squirrels storing nuts do that winter is coming. Duties out of doors accumulate with excitement for changing routines and quickened expectations. Cats get more exercise than usual.

Indeed, we have seasonal changes around here; you just have to pay attention to see them.

As autumn claims ownership of our October, a pressure, much as the pressure of summer’s searing heat, is released, creating a delectable environment, banishing the relentlessly thirsty fingers of a dry, hot season past. Skin perks up and energies expand into quasi-inspired levels of get ‘er done. Cleaning up gardens, sheds, houses and lives ensues. This cross into fall season is not very dissimilar to dawning of spring from winter.

Fall produce in our area is anything but barren on the taste buds. Of course the ever popular and extremely juicy summer peaches and nectarines are fading from the scene, but enter the pears, apples and Fuyu persimmons, the pomegranates, the grapes…these fruits hold their own on that flavor scale and more.

Underused as well as much less unknown is the ubiquitous quince. Appearing as an otherworldly cross between apples and pears, quince is a lesson in contradictions. Bearing brilliant ruby blossoms on long gangly stalks in spring, quince morphs into lumpy, bumpy, misshapen, grey fuzz covered, extremely bitter fruits as the flowers fall. Autumn quince, however, after months of ripening on the tree, emerge much as a beautiful butterfly or a shoeless princess as smooth, creamy yellow, slightly misshapen crosses between pear and apple.

Ancient in lineage, hailing from Turkey and across Southeast Asia, at some point quince ended up in a Roman pot leading to migration to the Americas around the 15th century.

Quince possesses an amazingly sweet fragrance but tastes sour and tannic, virtually inedible, when raw. Once cooked, however, pale quince magically become deep, ruby red and transform into rich, honey and rose flavored treats that bear a heavenly scent of vanilla, citrus and apple, generously perfuming wherever you are storing or preparing it.

What to do in the garden In the vegetable garden it is time to get cracking and clean up the old summer crops and get in the winter foods, if you have not already done so. Lettuce, arugula, spinach, carrots, and radish are sown by seed into heavily composted and mulched rows.

Bok choy, tat soi, mustard greens, chards, and kales feel the need to be buried in rich, velvety soil and released from seed packets as well. Broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower and Brussels sprouts will be better off put in from nursery bought plants at this point to take advantage of a full crop come January.

Sweet peas and most bulbs do best planted now, as do poppies, lupines, snap dragons, and pansies, paying off the effort in full with amazing and glorious spring blooms.

Patience is the word of the day for the winter gardener. Hope and relax echo nicely as well.

Peppers turn scarlet on the vines, fully mature, beckoning to be pulled and grilled with lusciously unctuous olive oil and cracked salt. Butternut squash and pumpkins turn orange next to still flirty tomatoes playing off each other like courting couples waiting to dine together. It’s an amazing crossover time in the garden as well as at the farmers’ markets. Changing seasons translate into changing menus as meals start to move indoors and go from cold or room temperature salads and antipasti to hot and hearty rich stews and warming soups.

Last dash canners and preservers kick into high gear, mimicking the squirrels’ efforts to get the winter stocks in before summer has completely disappeared.

Lesley Stiles is a graduate of the California Culinary Academy, sustainable caterer and school garden educator. Contact Lesley at lesleystiles@comcast.net, www. lesleystiles.blogspot.com and visit her new website: www.lesleystilesfoods.com.

Strawberry and 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 minute more. (I keep one in the freezer.)

Pour carefully into two sterile pint canning jars and place either 1 big or 2 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. ..........................................................

A fine relish accompanying meats or fish, it is also really good with cheese and crackers like a pepper jelly. I usually find myself making it with beautiful old tomatoes straggling into the market or hanging lonely on the vine at the end of the season

Tomato Jam INGREDIENTS 2 pounds any kind of ripe tomatoes, roughly chopped 2 jalapeño peppers, seeded and chopped 1 1/2 cups turbinado sugar Peel and juice of 2 to 3 lemons, no seeds!

1 teaspoon ground cumin 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 2 teaspoons salt DIRECTIONS Place all together in a heavy bottomed saucepan and simmer until thick and gooey!

Makes 2 Cups

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

SERVING

Brunch, Lunch and Dinner Winner Seafood Restaurant Finalist Best Restaurant

Join us for our Early Bird Specials

HAPPY HOUR

Monday - Thursday – 3-6pm & Friday – 3-5pm 1922 Oak Park Blvd, Pleasant Hill • 925-566-8971

Wencesrestaurant.com

OURCOMMUNITYFOCUS.COM | OCTOBER 2018 | 27

SENIORS

Family Caregiver Retreat The fourth annual Family Caregiver Retreat will be held on Monday, October 8, from 8:30am-12:30pm at the Pleasant Hill Senior Center.

To Register: Please call (925) 671-5221 or email dhabr@pleasanthillca.org by October 3rd.

All speakers are specialists in their fields who have generously donated their time for this wonderful event. This workshop is sponsored by the City of Pleasant Hill Commission on Aging and the Pleasant Hill Senior Center, with lunches donated by John Muir Health.

This FREE retreat is for anyone providing care to a family member and will include: • Morning refreshments and lunch • Options for care management • Speakers to guide you to community resources, advice, and support to help you manage conversations and make the critical decisions (including an expert on palliative and hospice care) Due to limited space, this workshop is not open to health care workers.

CANDY BUY BACK FOR TROOPS

Friday Nov. 2 , 3-5pm - $1 for every 5 lbs of candy

Proceeds go to Blue Star Moms

Embracing the Past and Building the Future In 1987, Parking Lot Five (on the corner of Las Juntas Street) was purchased by the City of Martinez and became the selected site for a new senior activities center.

The community came together to fund the new Senior Center. Seniors raised money by fundraising, the city allocated some of the general fund, and donations from Shell and the Martinez Park and Recreation Commission helped fund the project. And in 1988 the doors opened!

On Sunday, September 9, the Martinez Senior Center celebrated 30 years. The morning consisted of a pancake breakfast, a showcase of all of their classes and activities, and a ceremony at the end.

Pleasant Hill Senior Activities

JENNIFER L. MARTIN, D.D.S.

Oct. 4 - Caregivers Support Group NEW SERVICE! Partnership with Jewish Family Services of the East Bay. Please RSVP to JFCSEB at 510-558-7800x254. 1st Thursdays of the month.

1-2:30pm, Game Room.

Specialist in Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics

Oct. 5 - Transportation Forum 1pm in the Chateau Room. Curious about your options when it comes to transportation? Listen to a panel of experts in the field and ask questions.

RSVP to save your spot by calling 798-8788 or going online. FREE!

401 GREGORY LANE, SUITE 126 PLEASANT HILL, CA 94523 925.676.8485 FAX 925.676.0288 www.drjennifermartin.com

NITY FO MU C M

US

CO

Celebrating 30 Years!

COMMUNITY SPONSOR

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 28 | OCTOBER 2018 | OURCOMMUNITYFOCUS.COM

Oct. 7 – Pancake Breakfast. All ages welcome. Best deal in town! 8:30-10:30am in the Chateau Room. : Enjoy a stack of pancakes or French toast, scrambled eggs and sausage, and bottomless orange juice and coffee. Special addition: biscuits and sausage gravy! Adults (11+): $5, children (5-10): $3. Free for ages 4 & under.

Oct. 11 - Care Management Educational Series presents Home-Match Program, 2-3:30pm in the Dining Room. Are you living alone? On a fixed income? Have a spare room?

Need help around the house? Looking for an affordable place to share? If you answered yes to any of these, you won’t want to miss this! Covia’s Home-Match Program matches homeowners with people seeking affordable housing in the area. RSVP to secure your spot (925) 798-8788! Presented by: Max Moy-Bergen, Covia. CMP Series is sponsored by Carlton Senior Living.

Oct. 12 - Care Management Program presents Legal Planning for Alzheimer’s & Dementia, 1pm in the Chateau Room. The diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease or dementia makes planning for the future more important than ever. Learn about important legal and financial issues to consider and how to put plans in place. Topics include: Making legal plans that fit your needs, Legal documents you’ll need, Practical strategies for making a long-term plan of care, Government programs that can help pay for care. Presented by the Alzheimer’s Association. Free but please RSVP by calling the front desk at 798-8788.

Oct. 16 - Fall Taste of the Vine 4pm in the Chateau Room. Wine, food and laughter with a chance to win some prizes! Live music provided by the Classical Strings Project. Sponsored

by Carlton Senior Living. Non-alcoholic beverages available. Tickets: $10 presale, $15 day of.

233 Gregory Lane, Pleasant Hill 925-798-8788

Read My Mind

©

70 Years of Unity

A Higher Loyalty

BY MICHAEL G. HARRIS, OD

For some time now, I’ve wanted to read James Comey’s memoir, A Higher Loyalty: Truth, Lies, and Leadership. It’s the story of his early life and his many years in public service as an attorney, prosecutor, US attorney for the Southern District of New York, US deputy attorney general, and the 7th director of the FBI. Sounds like it would be a wonderful story about a man dedicated to public service. My challenge was overcoming my misgivings about the man who some claim was singlehandedly responsible for Hillary Clinton’s 2016 presidential election defeat. I’d seen so much on the news and read so many articles about Comey and the email scandal that, frankly, I was worn out by all of it. Finally, after having the book on my desk for several months, I decided to read it.

Comey’s early years were spent as a middle child in a large Catholic family in New Jersey. As a kid, other kids constantly bullied him. Through this experience, he became a champion of the underdog.

At 16, Comey worked as a store clerk at a local grocery store where he learned many lessons that shaped his life. His boss, Harry Howell, was tough but fair.

“He made us feel important. He so obviously cared about what he was doing and about us, we desperately wanted to please him.”

The most powerful lesson he learned from Howell about leadership happened when Comey lost control of a hand truck over-staked with six crates of gallon milk cartons. The cartons went flying everywhere and Comey found himself staring at “a 24-gallon lake of milk.” Howell simply asked: “Have you learned something?”

Comey’s reply was “Yes. Sir.” Howell’s response: “Good. Clean it all.” That response wasn’t one of anger. Rather, it was one of caring, compassion, and responsibility.

There are many fascinating stories

about his work as US attorney and assistant attorney general. But Comey’s role as FBI director during and after the 2016 presidential campaign is probably the reason most people want to read his book.

I must say, I was disappointed with the book’s coverage of the Clinton email scandal. If you’ve paid attention to the news, you will learn very little new about Comey’s role in the scandal or his letter to Congress and the effects of his reopening the scandal investigation just days before the election. He was just doing his duty, nothing more, nothing less. He certainly does not take responsibility for Clinton’s loss.

His chapters about Trump show his utter contempt for this president. Trump’s demand for loyalty was “surreal.” Comey felt it was like being asked to be a “made man” by a mob boss. While I enjoyed learning about Comey, I was frustrated in not learning much new about the email investigation or its effect on the 2016 presidential election.

In contrast to Comey’s book is Lanny J. Davis’ The Unmaking of the President 2016. It is a detailed account of “how FBI director James Comey cost Hillary Clinton the presidency.” Prior to Comey’s letter to Congress on October 28, 2016, stating that the FBI was “investigating additional emails potentially relevant to the Clinton email case,” Clinton had a clear lead over Trump, even in battleground states.

Davis, a former special counsel to President Bill Clinton, is no fan of Trump and even calls for his impeachment.

Regardless, his state-by-state analysis of how voters switched from Clinton to Trump because of Comey’s letter is compelling and in contrast to Comey’s own assessment of his letter’s impact. Was it the single thing that led to Clinton’s defeat? We will never know.

FIRST photo After celebrating Unity of Walnut Creek’s 70th anniversary on September 9, some congregants stayed to pose for a group picture. (Photo by Jann Nichols)

BY EILEEN HOUSFELD

Back in 1948, a small group of people started a spiritual study group that grew to become the vibrant spiritual center now known as Unity of Walnut Creek, located in the white building with a lighted cupola on Geary Road, just east of Buena Vista Ave.

Unity congregants along with former members and ministers gathered on September 9 to celebrate Unity’s 70th anniversary and commemorate its mission of “transforming lives and radiating love since 1948.”

Coincidentally, this year is also the 50th anniversary of Unity having a permanent place at 1871 Geary Road. Following 20 years of meeting in homes and then various other locations, Unity purchased its current site in 1968. It had been a goat farm!

The property’s small cottage served as the meeting place until a sanctuary building was constructed in 1972. An education building went up in 1974. Both were renovated extensively in 2010.

Unity is one of the East Bay’s earliest “new thought” spiritual centers. Now it is developing a reputation as the “go to” place in the East Bay for adult and youth education as well as music, speakers, and other programs that emphasize higher consciousness, metaphysics, and other self-awareness ideas and practices.

“It was so touching to honor the amazing history here at Unity of Walnut Creek, which has stood as a beacon of light and love for all,” said Rev. Kristin Powell, Unity’s current lead minister. “I encour-

age our Diablo Valley neighbors to come and introduce themselves at an event, concert, class or Sunday service. I would love to meet you, and I know you would receive a warm welcome here.”

More information about Unity and its offerings can be found by calling the office at 925-937-2191 or going to the website www.unityofwalnutcreek.org.

LOOKING FOR NEW HARDWOOD? IN CONCORD

40 YEARS! 50,000 HOMES WITH NEW FLOORS

1081 Detroit Ave., Concord, CA 94518 (Next to Costco)

925-609-2150 www.PacificCoastCarpet.com License#708486

OURCOMMUNITYFOCUS.COM | OCTOBER 2018 | 29

Canyon Road at the Campbell Variety of Options The musical writers, Linda Gregg and Gretchen Givens team up once again for the world premiere of Canyon Road, directed by Mark Hinds in the Onstage Theatre production at the Martinez Campbell Theatre.

Beneath a starlit sky in colorful Santa Fe, anything is possible on “Canyon Road” where a well-kept secret forces a long-standing estrangement between Chloe an artist (played by Ella Wolfe) and her daughter June (Jené Bombadier). There’s one last chance for redemption for the mother and daughter when Chloe’s long lost-lover William (Bill Deitz) appears. With his help and that of her spunky 10-year-old granddaughter, Grace (played by Lilia Gowdy), Chloe sets out to paint a different picture to define her legacy. But can reality be altered with a brushstroke of imagination and a bit of magic?

Canyon Road runs through Oct. 13, at 636 Ward St, Martinez. For tickets call 925- 3509770 or visit campbelltheater.com.

BY CHRISTINE CHUNG, MD Mrs. E is a 75 year-old woman who had been treated with Mohs microsurgery for a skin cancer on her nose many years ago. More recently, she developed a new pink bump on her foot. A biopsy showed basal cell carcinoma (BCC) on the skin of her foot. She said to me, “I hated going under the knife for my other skin cancer. Is there another option?”

BCC of the skin is one of the most common malignancies diagnosed in the US each year. It occurs most frequently on sun-exposed skin in fair-skinned individuals, although it may also develop in people with darker skin. BCC of the skin is associated with exposure to ultraviolet light from the sun (UVA and UVB) and use of tanning beds. Patients who have undergone organ transplantation and require chronic immunosuppression are also at greater risk of developing skin cancer. This type of cancer can take many forms, including flat red spots, painless bumps, or scaly patches on the skin. A doctor may biopsy the skin to confirm the diagnosis of cancer.

Over 90% of skin BCC are cured with local therapy alone, such as surgical excision with Mohs microsurgery. An advantage of Mohs microsurgery is that the surgeon can look at the cells as they are being removed, to ensure that all of the cancer has been fully excised. Low-risk BCC may also be treated with electrodessication and curettage or a topical cream such as Aldara. Some patients may need radiation after surgical excision if the cancer cells have aggressive features such as invasion into the local nerves or if

Home Detailers Housekeeping Let the work speak for itself!

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

CALL TODAY FOR YOUR FREE ESTIMATE - 925-689-9823 30 | OCTOBER 2018 | OURCOMMUNITYFOCUS.COM

the cancer could not be fully excised.

Radiation therapy alone is another non-invasive way to treat skin cancers.

High-energy X-rays are directed at the tumor to kill the cancer cells. Using radiation to treat skin cancer is a reasonable option for patients who cannot tolerate surgery or those who have problems with woundhealing after surgery. It is also used for skin cancers in sensitive regions where surgery could be potentially disfiguring, such as at the tip of the nose or the ears. The cure rate for early stage skin cancer is over 95% with radiation therapy alone.

Radiation therapy can be delivered in several different ways, including superficial electron radiation or electronic brachytherapy. Electronic brachytherapy using the XOFT system uses a miniaturized X-ray source to deliver radiation to the skin cancer. The treatment is given twice a week for four weeks, and each treatment lasts about five minutes. A recent study published in the Journal of Contemporary Brachytherapy in 2017 showed equivalent outcomes between electronic brachytherapy and Mohs microsurgery for patients with nonmelanoma skin cancer. The side effects can include skin irritation and redness, hair loss in the treatment area, and possible blistering and peeling of the skin. The treatment is not ideal for all skin cancers but may be a convenient option for some patients.

Dr. Chung is a board certified radiation oncologist with Diablo Valley Oncology & Hematology Medical Group in Pleasant Hill.

She has a special interest in treating skin and breast cancer. Dr. Chung sees patients in Pleasant Hill and Berkeley. For more information call: 925-825-8878.

SPONSORED CONTENT

CLEANING SPECIAL

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

EXPIRES 10/31/18

MAKE SOME PLANS

october 2

october 8

october 20

november 3

Pleasant Hill Garden Study Club

Family Caregiver Retreat

East Bay Walk

Dia de los Muertos

Monthly meetings. Rebecca Sweet presents “ Refresh Your Garden Design.” Guests are always welcome. Meeting is free. 7pm at PH Community Center, 320 Civic Dr., PH. (925) 323-9314 or www.phgsc.com

FREE retreat is for anyone providing care to a family member. Speakers provide info on community resources, advice, and support to help you manage conversations and make the critical decisions. 8:30-12:30 at PH Senior Center. Register: (925) 671-5221

Walk to end Alzeheimer’s. Ceremony begins at 7:30am, walk begins at 9:30am. 3 mile or 1 mile options. Heather Farm Park, Walnut Creek. http://act.alz.org/eastbay2018

Martinez is celebrating the 5th Annual Dia de los Muertos Festival of Altars. Honoring those who have passed away through art, music, food and rituals. 12pm-5pm at Main Street, between Estudillo and Castro, Martinez.

october 3

october 13

october 20

America’s Boating Club

Walnut Creek History Tour

Walnut Creek Oktoberfest

Diablo Squadron teaches boat handling and seamanship. Learn anchoring, docking and line handling, close quarter maneuvering and radio communication.

Class runs 7- 9pm at Sea Scout Building 225 N Court St., Martinez, 8 weeks. www.usps.org

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

Admission is free. Includes a Biergarten, microbrews, gourmet food, live music, Autobahn, kids zone, and over 40 vendors. 11am-6pm, at Civic Park in Dr., WC.

october 4

october 13

october 27-28

november 14

House of Floyd

Harvest Festival

Treasure Fest

PH Historical Meeting

Pink Floyd tribute band, House of Floyd, doing all of Dark Side of the Moon with their spectacular laser light show. “Singing for Science” performance interspersed with a fun and educational audience participation science quiz. 6-8:30pm at Todos Santos Plaza, Willow Pass & Grant St, Concord. http://www.communityconcerts.com

4-H Club, RR Urban Farm, PH Park and Rec, PH Storytime with Patrick Remer, pumpkin painting, live music, and more from 10am3pm at Rodgers Ranch Heritage Center, Cortsen Road, Pleasant Hill.

One part shopping, one part feasting, and one part music and entertainment. Treasure Fest (formerly Treasure Island Flea) is a unique monthly festival that showcases the best of the Bay Area. Pier 1, 10am - 4pm, Treasure Island, SF. www.treasurefest.com.

Pleasant Hill Historical Society will be meeting at 6pm at Rodgers Ranch Heritage Center at 315 Cortsen Road. Refreshments served.

october 6 & 13

october 14

november 3

ongoing

Tutor English Workshop

Sunday Streets

Book Sale

Sunday Streets transforms one to four miles of normally congested streets into car-free spaces where kids can play and adults can stroll and mingle. Fillmore and sections of Fulton and Baker Streets, San Francisco. 11am – 4pm www.sundaystreetssf.com

Fill a grocery sack) with gently-used books at the Friends of the Martinez Library Book Sale.

All proceeds go to library programs. Free admission. Lower level, Martinez Public Library, 740 Court Street. 11am-4pm.

Volunteer with Seniors

No teaching experience required. English need not be your first language. We will teach you. Please commit to two hours per week.

9am-1pm, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 4000 Clayton Rd., Concord. Register at www. dvlc4esl.org

Spectrum Community Services is looking for individuals who would like to work as volunteers in senior centers all around the East Bay. Please call Spectrum Community Services at 510-881-0300 ext. 242 or fill out an application at www.Spectrumcs.org.

BUSINESS DIRECTORY

Local Qualit y You Can Trust!

Pleasant Hill

COLLISION

ALMOND FIREWOOD David & Lisa Pontes

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

• Cord $320 • Half Cord $180 • Seasoned 2yr Split • Cut 15-16 inch

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

209-883-0750 OURCOMMUNITYFOCUS.COM | OCTOBER 2018 | 31

Pleasant Hill YMCA 350 Civic Drive Pleasant Hill, 94523 (P) 925 687 8900

Pleasant Hill YMCA

(E)CA jmarquez@ymca-cba.org 350 Civic Drive, Pleasant Hill, 94523 (P) 925 687 8900 (W) www.ymcaeastbay.org (E) jmarquez@ymca-cba.org (W) www.idfymca.org

Buses every 10 - 15 minutes.

Tour guides on buses. Allow 2 or more hours for the Tour.

Martinez Historical Society

HISTORIC HOME TOUR

See interiors of 6 - 8 homes. Live music. Demonstrations. Vintage cars. Complimentary beverages.

Saturday October 13th 2018 10 am -- 4 pm

Tours begin at the Shell Clubhouse in Martinez. Visit the website for more Tour information: www.MartinezHomeTour.com Advance purchase of discounted tickets is available. Please support the Tour sponsors which include these local businesses:

Shell Martinez Refinery

Shell Chemical