Pleasant Hill • Concord • Martinez • Lafayette • Walnut Creek • Pacheco
OCTOBER 2014 Reaching Over 40,000 Homes & Businesses
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IN THIS ISSUE: • HALLOWEEN & FALL FESTIVITIES • PH & MARTINEZ ELECTION SECTION • CP MUSICIANS SHOWCASE
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Halloween Festivities
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Pumpkin Dunkin at Rankin On Sunday, October 19, jump in the Rankin Aquatic Center pool to pick the perfect pumpkin. Crafts supplies provided. Cost for per person pumpkin and swim $6, or Measure H $4.50. Fees for swim only with no pumpkin: 0-2 years free; Children $1.50; Adults $2.50; Seniors $2.00. Must pre-register for a pumpkin at www.cityofmartinez.org or call 372-3510. Event is 1-3pm. Marty and Barbara’s Halloween Hunt An old-fashioned Halloween affair is on Thursday, October 23, 3:30-5pm, at Holiday Highlands, Figtree and Eastwoodbury Lane. There will be crafts, candy, face painting, and a candy hunt! Everything is FREE. Decorate a candy bag and have your face painted. The candy hunt will be at 4pm sharp. Space is limited to the first 100 children. Registration closes on October 23. Register on line at www. cityofmartinez.org. Event is for ages 3 - 12 years old. Halloween Spooktacular The 5th annual Trunk or Treat Main is a
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october 2014 • ourcommunityfocus.com
Vote for Best Scarecrow Join the Downtown businesses at Todos Santos Plaza on Halloween, October 31, 3 - 5pm, to Trick or Treat with the kids and vote for the best Scarecrow in town. Look for the orange and black balloons in front of participating businesses.
Pleasant Hill Hillcrest Family Fall Festival October 24-26. Join us for a weekend of Family Fun! Friday, October 24: Family Movie Night with Pizza at 6 pm in Fellowship Hall Monsters, Inc. will be shown. Free will offering. Saturday, October 25: Family Spaghetti Dinner at 5:30 pm in Fellowship Hall. The cost for dinner is $15 per adult with anyone under 18 FREE if accompanied by an adult. Sunday, October 26: Join us for church at 10:30 am with a Family Harvest Festival to follow in the upper campus. We will have a haunted house, trick or
treating, fun, games and prizes! Hillcrest Church is located at 404 Gregory Lane, Pleasant Hill. Call 925-689-8260 or visit the website at hillcrestucc.org for more information. Trunk or Treat On Friday, October 24, bring the whole family in costume and enjoy the evening going from trunk to trunk, collecting candy from community members who have decorated their vehicles for this fun, spooktacular event. Crafts, activities and a goodie bag for each child. Don’t want to trick or treat? Register your decorated vehicle for a chance to win a great prize. Purchase hot dogs and drinks for $1 each & support the Pleasant Hill Teen Center. Free for trick-or-treaters. Donations appreciated. Sponsored by Generations Church. This free event is in the Pleasant Hill Park parking Lot, 147 Gregory Lane. Trunk Entry Fee: $5. Pleasant Hill Elementary’s 60th Annual Carnoween October 25, 11-3 pm, 2097 Oak Park Blvd. Food, games, prizes and more. Fun for the whole family!
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free Halloween Spooktacular! Sunday, October 26, 10am-2pm, in Downtown Martinez. Visit creatively themed and decorated car trunks and shops lining downtown Martinez to collect candy and treats. Treat bags and maps will be handed out in the Main Street Plaza, adjacent to Starbucks on Main St. Face painting in the plaza will be provided by the City of Martinez Park & Rec. For more information call (925) 228-3577. Alhambra Cemetery Tours Full Moon Tour Thursday October 9; Halloween Tour Friday, October 31, 6:30 -7:45pm, at the Alhambra Pioneer Cemetery. The cemetery, established in 1851, has a rich history and stunning views of the Carquinez Strait. Wear sturdy, comfortable shoes and dress for the weather. Sorry, no children please! To reserve a tour space, please call Martinez Recreation at (925) 372-3510 or register on line at www.cityofmartinez.org. Oktoberfest Celebration Grace Episcopal Church, 130 Muir Station Rd., Martinez, 5:30pm Social Hour, 6:30pm Dinner. Music by The Polkadots
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Ask about our Full Service Property Management. ourcommunityfocus.com • october 2014
3
Julie Says
Record Skewb Cube The Royal Court
BY JULIE ROSS Perhaps you were not aware that if you covered the state of Oregon with a layer of popcorn kernels and then popped them, it would cover the entire United States. I have not heard of any plans in the works to perform an actual trial to prove this, however, it seems plausible based on the finding that, on average, popped popcorn takes up 37 times more room than unpopped popcorn. Welcome to October, the official “Popcorn Poppin’ Month,” when all Americans, including Californians (who have been known to scoff at Midwestern antics), are invited to celebrate the popcorn harvest. According to the Popcorn Board (www.popcorn.org), a popcorn kernel is tough enough to withstand the
BY TRACEY GREENWOOD College Park High School senior Mitchell Lane won first place at the Berkeley Summer 2014 Rubik’s Cube Competition when he solved the Skewb* cube in 4.64 seconds, setting a national record. His record fell only a few minutes later at a competition in Wisconsin. Mitchell currently ranks 9th in the world, with an average Skewb solve time of 4.64 seconds. He also ranks 9th in the world in the Rubik’s Cube 3X3 category, with a solve time of 6.25 seconds. Mitchell is one of the founding members of Bay Area Speed Cubin’ (BASC), a group of high school cubing friends from around the Bay Area who organize and run competitions in the South Bay. Competitions are held about three times a year at the Family Moose
Speed Cube Solving Club at CP
Get Poppin’
precise amount of pressure needed for the water inside to heat, expand and gelatinize the starch. When the hull bursts open, the gelatinized starch spills out and promptly cools into the familiar popped shape. Americans evidently love gelatinized starch, consuming around 16 billion quarts of this whole grain annually. Yes, popcorn is a whole grain, consisting of germ, endosperm and pericarp, the part we call the hull. Air-popped popcorn has only 31 calories a cup; oil-popped about 55 calories per cup. Popcorn is not only a low-calorie, whole grain snack, but it is also fun; it can pop up to three feet in the air. (Not that I recommend trying this. Really.) When I was growing up, popcorn balls were a Halloween staple. Neighbors passed out homemade treats to trick-or-treaters back then, and popcorn balls were the hands-down favorite. The ones we ate were about the
size of a tennis ball. The fine people of Sac City, Iowa, were evidently not satisfied with such modestly proportioned treats. In 2009, Sac City residents put together the world’s largest popcorn ball. It weighed 5,000 pounds, stood
Family, Pets, and Hillcrest Veterinary Hospital– always a treat, never a trick! Joseph A. Thibedeau, DVM Louisa M. Asseo, DVM 925-676-1909 www.hillcrestvet.com
over eight feet tall, and was almost 29 feet around. Now that’s some impressive poppin’! You can find several excellent popcorn recipes with photos on the www. cooksrecipes.com website, courtesy of the Popcorn Board, including a recipe for Happy Halloween Mini-Popcorn Balls. You can add orange food coloring to make them extra Halloween-y if you like. If popcorn balls aren’t your thing, try the Spicy Cajun Popcorn & Nuts for a savory snack, or Popcorn S’mores to satisfy a sweet tooth. I personally don’t think the popcorn-based Green Halloween Zombies confection (with gumball eyes and candy corn teeth) look particularly appetizing, but they probably would be a Halloween party hit. Get poppin’ and have a happy and safe Halloween! You can reach Julie at julieakross@comcast.net.
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INSIDE Concord’s Bright Future
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Skewb Cube
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Lodge in Sunnyvale with the hope of attracting younger and first time competitors. These competitions have attracted more than 100 participants at every event. For more information, see www. worldcubeassociation.org. This fall, Mitchell organized a club at College Park for students interested in learning more about speed cube solving and the mathematics and engineering behind it. He has participated in over 30 Rubik’s Cube competitions, most recently attending the Rubik’s Cube US National Championship at the Liberty Science Center in Liberty, New Jersey, where he placed in the top ten in six categories. * The Skewb is a combination puzzle and a mechanical puzzle in the style of Rubik’s Cube.
AHS Homecoming
Leaf to be Grand Marshal Alhambra High School announces their 2014 homecoming court and the Grand Marshal for the homecoming parade, Jared Leaf. Jared, the 2010 homecoming king and a 2011 Alhambra graduate, is currently a student at San Jose State University. Last May, he survived an intense apartment fire, with third degree burns on his back and hands. He is an inspiration and source of pride to his family, friends, school, and community. The grand marshal will lead the parade on October 10, with 24 members of the Class of 2015 behind him in the traditional parade format.
HOME SERVICES Offering expert advice and plenty of options. Pictured: Jared Leaf, Alhambra High School 2010 homecoming king and 2014 Grand Marshal with AHS mascot and Aaron Hern, Alhambra class of 2019. Story by Grace Perkins, Alhambra ASB president. Photo by Kerry Cusack, yearbook adviser.
PLAN INCLUDES:
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TRUST AGREEMENT POUR OVER WILL GUARDIANSHIP TRANSFER OF REAL PROPERTY HEALTH CARE DIRECTIVE
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COVER: .............................................. Skittle Breathing Dragon PHOTO BY: KATIE HALL
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LAW OFFICES OF
LAUREN SMYKOWSKI
Girls: Paris Arditti: senior class president, marching/concert band, president of Green Team, Interact Club, varsity lacrosse, Alhambra Way Club, Powderpuff; Tiera Beverly: lead in Cabaret, spring 2014; Cheyenne Davis: varsity cheer captain, rally squad, competition cheer team; Maria Filice: varsity water polo; Hannah Hatch: junior class president, Journal Club VP, Interact Club, drama production; Hailee Herndon: varsity basketball, varsity volleyball; Sierra Morales Hallmark: president of Baking Club, choir; Grace Perkins: ASB president, varsity basketball, varsity water polo, varsity track & field; Carly Spencer: varsity tennis captain, vice president of Yoga Club, AP artist; Mariah Strykers: leadership, varsity basketball, Key Club, CSF, site council; Tess Taylor: varsity water polo; Lindsey Wells: varsity soccer. Boys: Salman Abdurrohman: senior class vice president, varsity volleyball, varsity soccer, Interact Club, CERT member; Harrison Brown: varsity water polo/captain, varsity swimming/captain, varsity soccer, co-president Interact Club, CSF; Josh Evans: varsity football, varsity track & field; Christian Giannini: drama, choir, varsity cross country, president of Drama Club, president of Key Club, Film Club, CSF; Grant Hill: varsity football, varsity baseball; Dustin Langner: varsity basketball, Interact Club, Safe School ambassador, Boy’s State delegate; Drake McCord: MCST, Much Ado (performer), Cabaret (tech), Sharp-Dressed Ninjas (improv) troupe captain; Spencer Olson: varsity volleyball, varsity water polo; Connor Sullivan: marching/concert band, varsity water polo, varsity swimming, Key Club, vice president of UNICEF, CSF; Davey Towers: vice president Improv Club/ troupe, Drama Club/ productions, mascot, co-founder of Cloud Appreciation Club, varsity tennis, Table Tennis Club, leadership; Harrison Wygal: varsity water polo/captain, varsity swimming, Interact Club; Luke Zaro: yearbook, rally squad. Photo by: Kerry Cusack
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Local Sports
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Alhambra’s Homecoming 2014
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Leisa Christensen 925.699.6918 ourcommunityfocus.com • october 2014
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27 Tips to Drive Up the Sale of Your Home East Bay - Because your home may well be your largest asset, selling it is probably one of the most important decisions you will make in your life. And, once you have made that decision, you’ll want to sell your home for the highest price in the shortest time possible without compromising your sanity. Before you place your home on the market, here’s a way to help you to be as prepared as possible. To assist home sellers, a new industry report has just been released called, “27 Valuable Tips You Should Know to Get Your Home Sold Fast and for Top Dollar.” It tackles the important issues you need to know to make your home competitive in today’s tough, aggressive marketplace. With these 27 tips, discover how to protect and capitalize on your
most important investment, reduce stress, be in control of your situation, and make the most profit possible. Discover how to avoid financial disappointment or, worse, a financial disaster when selling your home. Using a common-sense approach, get the straight facts about what can make or break the sale of your home. You owe it to yourself to learn how these important tips will give you the competitive edge to get your home sold fast and for the most amount of money. To hear a brief recorded message about how to order your FREE copy of this report, call 1-800-597-9215 and enter ID 1237. You can call any time, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This report is courtesy of East Bay Residential Realty, BRE 01245396. Not intended to solicit buyers or sellers currently under contract. Copyright © 2013
PAID ADVERTORIAL
The Amazing Race of Pleasant Hill
Oct. 12, 2014 Team up with family and friends for the 3rd Annual Amazing Race. The race begins at Magoo’s Grill. Join us there at 12:00 or join us for brunch first. The race will continue until 4:00 when we will gather at City Hall to announce the winners!
Market Update
Tips to Sell Your Home BY NATHAN HITCHCOCK As our local real estate market starts to wind down from the boisterous spring and summer months, interesting “microclimates” star to taking form. For example, in the City of Concord, the inventory of single-family homes for sale is up a whopping 21.6% from last month, while the neighboring cities of Pleasant Hill and Walnut Creek saw their inventory levels drop by 18.4% and 1.6%, respectively, over the same period. Overall, inventory levels are down 1.7% in Contra Costa County. With this fluctuating market, settling on a listing price becomes challenging for home sellers. If you market too high, you’ll likely be hearing nothing but crickets chirping as you wait for prospective buyers. But if your home is not selling, it’s important not to put the blame on the asking price too quickly. There are three other important factors to consider first: 1.Is the home properly prepared? Your home doesn’t need to be fully remodeled, but it’s vital to cover the basics: a deep cleaning inside and out, including windows; fresh and clean paint inside and out; clean flooring with no excessive wear; tidy yards; and pared down personal belongings. And if your home’s decor would make the perfect set for a period movie, you’ll greatly benefit from the services of a skilled staging consultant. 2. Is the home properly marketed? Historically, just having your home listed
on the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) is 95% of the marketing needed to ensure success. But buyers now directly access home listings online, so how your home is listed on the MLS is vitally important. My secret weapon: professional photography. As buyers sift through hundreds of listings online, the process quickly degrades to rapidly flipping through pictures, shortlisting whatever catches their eye. After all your hard work in step 1, washed out and shadowy photos taken with the average point-and-shoot camera are not going to cut it. 3. Has the home been on the market long enough? Typically, in our current market, a prepared, priced, and marketed home should sell in 2-3 weeks or less, however, each area will have its own timing. Determine the average days on market for homes currently pending sale in your neighborhood, and compare it to how long your home has been listed for sale. If you have not hit that number yet, you may just need to give it a little more time. If you’ve properly prepared and marketed your home, and you’ve given it enough time to be exposed to prospective buyers, there is only one piece of the puzzle left: price. If it’s not selling, you have two options: 1) lower your asking price, or 2) patiently wait for market values to catch up with Nathan Hitchcock is a Broker Associate with Alain Pinel Realtors and can be reached by phone at 925.397.4000, via email at nathan@hitchteam.com or online at www.hitchteam.com. CA BRE Lic # 01414254.
fphe.org The Foundation for Pleasant Hill Education shall work in partnership with our local community to enhance the quality of education and provide enrichment opportunities for students in Pleasant Hill public schools.
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october 2014 • ourcommunityfocus.com
dance
theater
Cal Performances U
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12th al u Ann
- Run for Education -
Britten: Curlew River
A Parable for Church Performance
Suppor t our Schools !
Day Race ation r t s i g Re 7-8am
Music: Benjamin Britten Director and Design: Netia Jones Featuring Ian Bostridge With Britten Sinfonia and Britten Sinfonia Voices
“An involving, direct, unforgettable performance”—The Guardian, UK
Nov 14 & 15 Z E L L E R B AC H H AL L
Sun., October 5, 2014 • Run begins at 8:30am on Main St.
Register online at www.martinezedfoundation.com
Annual pre-run/walk Carbo Load!
Pasta Feed
Sat., Oct. 4, 2014 • 6-8pm Sponsored by Martinez Kiwanis & Rotary Clubs Shell Clubhouse - 1635 Pacheco Blvd., Martinez $15 per person (kids under 6 FREE)
Special Thanks toALL OurPROCEEDS Sponsors:BENEFIT THE MUSD SCHOOLS
A co-production of the Barbican Centre, London; Cal Performances; Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts; and Carolina Performing Arts
Robert Wilson, Mikhail Baryshnikov, Willem Dafoe The Old Woman By: Daniil Kharms Direction, set design, lighting concept: Robert Wilson Adapted by: Daryl Pinckney
“Mikhail Baryshnikov and Willem Dafoe make a high-octane pair of razzle-dazzlers.” —The Village Voice
Nov 21–23
Cost per team is $50. See our website For details. Teams can consist of up to four friends or a family of any size. Proceeds benefit FPHE’s 2015 School Grant Program. Register your team at fphe.org. Send questions to amazingrace@fphe.org
music
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A Baryshnikov Productions, Change Performing Arts, and the Watermill Center project. Commissioned and co-produced by Manchester International Festival, Spoleto Festival dei 2Mondi, Théâtre de la Ville-Paris/Festival d’Automne à Paris, DeSingel Antwerp.
calperformances.org 510.642.9988
Season Sponsor:
ALL PROCEEDS BENEFIT THE MUSD SCHOOLS ourcommunityfocus.com • october 2014
7
City of Pleasant Hill
City of Pleasant Hill City News Continued
Mayor’s Message City Clerk Redux In the wake of the experience we had with the non-performance of our prior city clerk, and to address the inability of the city council to compel performance by an elected city clerk, the city council has put the question to voters in the November 4 election whether the position of Pleasant Hill’s city clerk is to be an appointed rather than elected position. The city clerk is an appointed position in the vast majority of Contra Costa County cities and throughout the state, and it is time for Pleasant Hill to fall in line with this modern practice. An appointed city clerk would be selected by the city manager based on professional qualifications. Once hired, the city clerk will be held accountable for capably performing the required duties of this vital function. I and three of my fellow councilmembers (Ken Carlson, David Durant and Michael Harris) believe that an appointed city clerk is in the best interest of the city, and they signed a ballot argument in favor of the measure. Although Councilmember Jack Weir voted to put the measure on the ballot, he declined to sign the ballot argument in favor. No opposition to this measure was filed and none will appear in your election materials.
What Does A City Clerk Actually Do? The city clerk traditionally prepared the official minutes of city council meetings and was the caretaker for the city seal and official city records and administered oaths of office. In addition to these basic, historic duties, over the years the legislature has assigned ever greater and more impactful responsibilities to the city clerk. The city clerk is the election official for the city and interacts with the County Elections Department during all local elections to assure compliance with all election laws and regulations. The city clerk is now also responsible for ensuring compliance with the Brown Act (Open Meeting Law) regarding the conduct of 8
city business and responses to public inquiries. Finally, the city clerk is designated as the official responsible for coordinating, recording and retaining the Statements of Economic Interests of all elected and appointed officials and staff, and for collecting and maintaining all candidate campaign finance forms.
The City Clerk Should Be An Appointed Position Today in Pleasant Hill, city staff already performs many of the increased obligations that have been imposed on the position of city clerk over time. The office of the city attorney is responsible for Brown Act compliance; and the office of the city manager is responsible for elections and campaign finance law compliance, public records requests, agenda preparation, public information, and overall records management. Adding the city clerk’s note-taking and ceremonial duties to the city employee job duties is sensible. If the position of city clerk becomes appointive, the employee assigned those duties would work under the direction of the city manager, with those duties comprising only part of a larger scope of responsibilities. A city clerk function in which all of the work is performed by city staff is clearly preferable to the current arrangement, and the citizens of Pleasant Hill will be better served. So, when you are studying your ballot and are considering how to answer the following question: “Shall the office of city clerk be appointive? Yes ___ No ___”, I urge you to vote YES!
PG&E Tree Removal Update Earlier this year I wrote of my concern about PG&E’s Pipeline Pathways Project and the utility’s expressed intent to denude Pleasant Hill of some of its prized trees and landscape along our city streets and adjoining our residences. After much public outcry and many meetings with City Manager June Catalano and others,
october 2014 • ourcommunityfocus.com
Tim Flaherty, Mayor of Pleasant Hill
PG&E relented and has agreed to not remove any trees without the city’s agreement. I am pleased to report that PG&E and the city have reached an agreement in principal, whereby PG&E has agreed to comply with all local ordinances regarding any tree removal in the city and to
re-evaluate what trees actually impact public safety. The city council approved a Memorandum of Understanding, and this memorandum will be the framework under which a future agreement will be negotiated. You can read it for yourself at www.pleasant-hill.net/pge.
City News Exterior Improvements to Downtown The owners of Downtown Pleasant Hill are looking to make some exterior site improvements to the west plaza area of Downtown. Visitors to the area could see the following improvements in the coming months: a new fountain; colored stencil-patterns on the existing concrete walkway; a new raised-planter bed and new in-ground planting areas; three new trees; removal of an existing concrete seat wall; new patio chairs; and even a solar powered cell phone charging station. According to the September 4 ARC staff report, “The proposed improvements, in conjunction with improvements currently underway to the “clock tower” building, and expected future improvements to the adjacent Atlas and Athena outdoor display area, would refresh and add vitality to this major focal point of downtown Pleasant Hill.” The ARC will determine whether the proposed project takes into consideration the city’s Downtown tenant design guidelines.
City Council Election Four candidates are contesting two city council seats at the November 4th election. The nominees are listed in the order in which they will appear on the ballot as determined by the random alphabetical drawing conducted by the Secretary of State’s Office. City councilmember (2 seats, full terms of 4 years): Michael G. Harris; Sue Noack; Dorothy Englund; and Jack Weir. Each candidate has subscribed to the City of Pleasant Hill’s Fair Campaign Pledge. Copies are available at the city clerk’s office located at 100 Gregory Lane. You can read their candidate statements on pages 21&22.
City Council Candidates Forum On October 9, the Pleasant Hill Chamber of Commerce is hosting a forum for city council candidates who are vying for two seats on the city council in the November 4th election. Local business owner Jennifer Grossi will moderate the panel discussion and debate. The forum will be streamed live on the city website (www.pleasant-hill. net/media) and will be broadcast after the event on Comcast Channel 28, ATT UVerse Channel 99 and Astound Channel 29. The forum is 7 - 8:30pm in the city council chambers.
Measure T Voters in Pleasant Hill will decide in the November election whether the city clerk position should be elected or appointed. The city council voted to place Measure T on the ballot in March 2014.
MDUSD Candidates Forum On October 2, the Pleasant Hill Education Commission is hosting a forum for candidates vying for three seats on the board of trustees of Mt. Diablo Unified School District at the November 4th election. There are six candidates: Linda Mayo, Cheryl
Hansen, Mike Langley, Herbert Lee, Debra Mason, and James Ryan. The forum will be streamed live on the city website (www.pleasant-hill.net/media) and will be broadcast after the event on Comcast Channel 28, ATT U-Verse Channel 99, and Astound Channel 29. Forum is from 7pm-8:30pm in the city council chambers.
Art, Jazz and Wine Festival Join the many thousands of residents and visitors in strolling along Crescent Drive in Downtown Pleasant Hill. New this year is a beer garden to compliment the wine pavilion with premium wines from Livermore to Napa! In addition, arts and craft booths will line both sides of Crescent Drive. The newly expanded KIDSZONE will feature a water ball activity that allows you to walk, crawl, and run in water. Try your hand at the carnival games, bounce in the beach-themed jump house, or line up to get your face painted. Festivities also include an appearance by SpongeBob on the KIDZONE stage at 11am, Jack Alexander Magic, Studio 925 performances, and the Diablo Taiko Japanese drumming group. The Pleasant Hill Chamber of Commerce sponsors the two-day event. The festival runs Saturday, 10am – 6pm; a Saturday evening concert, 6:30 - 8:45pm; and Sunday, 11am - 5pm.
Public Meetings
Architectural Review Commission Oct. 2, 16 City Hall, 100 Gregory Lane, Small Community Room, 5pm. Contact: 671-5209 City Council Oct. 6, 20 City Hall, 100 Gregory Lane, Council Chambers, 7:30pm. Contact: 671-5229 Civic Action Commission Oct. 1 City Hall, 100 Gregory Lane, Small Community Room, 6:30pm. Contact: 671-5229
In Focus
Noni’s Pet Boutique & Grooming Noni’s Pet Boutique & Grooming is a family owned business and we love our animals! My sister-in-law Noni has the gift of flair, and I, Melanie, the gift of gab. The two of us have many years of retail under our belts and we are looking forward to including you and the pets in your life as part of our family. Our full-service grooming salon for cats and dogs offers massage baths and full body grooming, including teeth brushing, nail trimming and ear cleaning. We offer a la carte services as well. Our groomers are very talented and have a range of six to twenty-five years of experience, personable service and tender loving care. Noni’s Pet Boutique offers all natural treats for your pets with an array of wheat free, grain free, and even gluten free cookies and goodies. We also carry a variety of unique gifts for the dog and cat lovers in your lives as well as gifts for your pets.
The Holidays are Coming! • We have an autumn photo shoot for dogs, cats and their owners on October 10! Call 925.687.1156 or email noni@ nonispetboutiqueandgrooming.com for an appointment. • Visit our website: nonispetboutiqueandgrooming.com and our Facebook page for special holiday events, and visit Yelp for our reviews. Come and visit us! 1945 Contra Costa Blvd., Ste B, Pleasant Hill (right next to the PH Post Office.) First time customers will receive $5.00 off on any grooming.
Planning Commission Oct. 14, 28 City Hall, 100 Gregory Lane, Council Chambers, 7:30pm. Contact: 671-5209 Education Commission Oct. 22 City Hall, 100 Gregory Lane, Community Room, 7pm For Confirmation Visit: www.ci.pleasant-hill.ca.us
Chamber Calendar
680 Business Clubs, Business Building Networking, meet twice monthly. Please call the Chamber office for more information. Wednesdays - Off the Grid Food Trucks 5-9pm. Trelany Road, PH. Saturdays - Farmers’ Market 9am-1pm. Trelany Road, PH. 10/4 – Art, Jazz & Wine 10am-6pm. Crescent Drive, Downtown PH. 10/4 – Saturday Evening Concert featuring East Bay Mudd 6:30-8:45pm. Crescent Drive, Downtown PH. 10/5 – Art, Jazz & Wine 11-5pm. Crescent Drive, Downtown PH. 10/9 - City Council Candidates Forum 7-8:30pm. PH City Council Chambers, City Hall, PH. 10/9 - Business Mixer 5-6:30pm. Play It Again Sports, 1150 Contra Costa Blvd., PH. 10/23 - Ribbon Cutting & Open House 5:30pm. Farmers Insurance, 2255 Morello Ave. Suite 150, PH. 10/27 - Green Business Committee meeting 4-5pm. Wence’s Restaurant, 1922 Oak Park Blvd.,PH. 10/27 - Government Affairs Committee meeting 5:30-7pm. Back Forty BBQ, 100 Coggins Drive, PH. 10/29 – Ribbon Cutting & Grand Opening 5pm. Mountain Mike’s Pizza, 962 Contra Costa Blvd. PH (Safeway is next door!)
NONI’S Pet Boutique & Grooming Indulge your pet to a great bath or grooming experience while you enjoy our Summer Sale in the boutique. 15% OFF All Summer Items and Treats while they last!
925-687-1156 Call today to make an appointment. Monday - Saturday 8am-6pm • Sunday 8am-5pm 1945 Contra Costa Blvd. Ste. B • Pleasant Hill, CA 94523
noni@nonispetboutiqueandgrooming.com ourcommunityfocus.com • october 2014
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City of Martinez
City of Martinez PHOTO BY STAHLBERG
Mayor’s Message Just over a month ago, Mother Nature reminded us we live in earthquake country. The 6.0 quake woke me up out of a sound sleep, but did very little damage to my family’s home, other than a few broken wine glasses, open drawers and crooked pictures on the wall. Our neighbors to the north were not so lucky. Napa, American Canyon and Vallejo suffered major damage to many buildings and homes. Many sustained injuries, but fortunately no one perished from the tremblor. In Martinez, merchants lost glassware, bottled drinks and a few broken windows. A few homes lost their chimneys, and a few older homes were knocked off their foundations. There were no reported injuries. One unreinforced masonry building looked
to have sustained some cracking in its brick façade and another lost some decorative tile. Overall, we dodged a catastrophy that could have caused injuries or changed the look of our quaint and historic downtown forever. In 2009, the Martinez City Council passed an Un-Reinforced Masonry (URM) Retrofit ordinance. It required building owners of URM buildings to brace their buildings to current building codes to save lives in the event of an earthquake. The bracing would not necessarily save the URM buildings from damage, but it would save precious lives. The ordinance was modeled after the ordinance instituted in Walnut Creek after the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake. The ordinance provided for a stepped process, starting with identi-
Martinez Historic Home Tour
City News Costume Donation to MUSD
Rob Schroder, Mayor of Martinez
fied URM building owners advising the city as to the current condition of their buildings with respect to earthquake bracing. In 2009, 60 buildings were identified as being URM. Of those, only a handlful had been braced to the level required by the ordinance. The ordinance, as originally written, required those buildings not yet retrofitted to submit engineering and construction drawings to the city by August 15, 2012, with construction to be completed by August 15, 2015. Because of the recession and hardship it would cause businesses and property owners, the city did not agressively enforce that date. In October of 2013, the city council extended the deadline by an additional two years to August 15, 2014. A major earthquake struck on August 24, nine days after the amended deadline to submit bracing plans to the city. As of the date of the quake, 36 of the 60 identified buildngs had completed the retrofitting, with one additional building 90% complete.. Five buildings had been issued permits to start work, two had already submitted plans, and seven more had engaged
engineers to develop those plans. A total of nine had not responded at all to the many phone and mail inquiries from the city. Within two weeks of the quake, all but one of the property owners has contacted the city and advised they have engaged engineers to work up plans to be submitted to the city for approval. We are optimistic that bracing work on all buildings will be complete by the deadline of August 15, 2015. The quake was a reminder that another big one could be devastating for all of us. It caused me to stop procrastinating about being ready for a disaster and start preparing my family for what to do immediately after a quake and how to sustain ourselves for what could be several days or weeks following a major one. The Central Unites States Earthquake Consortium has a great website that outlines plans for how to prepare for an earthquake and what to do after it has hit. Rather than listing all of those tips here, view them at www.cusec.org. We are preparing the city for the next big one, but each and every resident needs to be prepared as well.
7 Fascinating Vintage Homes – The 1930 Masonic Temple – 4 Museums Saturday, October 11, 2014 – 10 am to 4 pm – www.MartinezHomeTour.com Tickets are $25 in advance and $30 at the door. Tickets are available at the Martinez Museum, participating Martinez merchants and Eventbrite.
PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS: Shell Martinez Refinery Cole Real Estate
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october 2014 • ourcommunityfocus.com
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The City of Martinez recently completed a transaction with the Martinez Unified School District to donate a significant number of costume items formerly owned by the Willows Theater Company to local schools. In September 2013, the city council approved a bill of sale for the purchase of various assets of personal property formerly owned by the Willows Theater Company. Site visits with several teachers and staff gave them the opportunity to evaluate these costumes and identify items they would like to acquire for school use. Approximately 109 dresses, 60 wigs, and a large selection of hats were among the donated items.
Waterfront Park Project Update Three public workshops were conducted, beginning last November, to seek community feedback and help with the planning and design process for the improvement of Waterfront Park. The workshops developed a project scope that includes renovated ball and soccer fields, turf, ball field lighting, group and individual picnic areas, play field, paths, landscaping, irrigation, play equipment area and expanded parking lots. Construction drawings were approved by city council last July in the hope of having one or two new ball fields playable in early summer 2015. However, the preliminary engineers’ cost estimate of the preferred park layout, between 9-10 million dollars, proved cost prohibitive. Although Hidden Valley Park is a much smaller park, its recent redevelopment was 4 million dollars. At the September 3 city council meeting, City Engineer Tim Tucker said, “The cost came to light that it was really more than what we could afford for that site and still have an adequate reserve of funds to accomplish some of the goals we have for other parks. We are now trying to prioritize the improvements that we need at Waterfront Park.” Priorities include meeting ADA standards, safety and park lighting, field lighting and layout, and a championship sized ball field that could also be used for the high school. Staff will continue to work on the redesign and set Waterfront Park goals that can be accomplished at an affordable price with available funding, including Measure H, Measure WW, and developer funding. “As much as I think most of us, if not all of us, wanted Waterfront Park to go into hyper drive to bring back the semi-professional baseball team and build that signature field, as we get further into fall, it’s not going to happen in 2015. We have to do it right and be methodical about it and look at the available funds because we don’t have 10 million dollars to finish all of our projects plus do the full wish list out at the Waterfront. What I would like to see at some point is all the projects that have been planned, what has been completed, and what remains to be completed and the monies involved. I think it would be helpful for me, the other member of the council, and also the public to know where we are,” said Mayor Rob Schroder. Waterfront Park is the city’s largest park and one of three parks scheduled for construction over the next year. The project excludes work on the bocce courts.
Barn Owl Nest Boxes Parks Maintenance Lead Worker Art Pagnini recently installed three barn owl nest boxes in Hidden Valley Park. A local Girl Scout group constructed the nest boxes with donated materials from Industrial Lumber Supply. With the right nest box, it is possible to encourage barn owls to become permanent residents. The benefit would be to reduce or eliminate the use of chemicals to control rodent populations.
Shell Oil Maintenance Work Shell Oil continues to perform routine insulation maintenance on three (3) pipelines crossing overhead of Marina Vista Avenue. The work is planned through October 8. They will be removing insulation, inspecting pipe, and then reinstalling insulation. The work will require that Marina Vista be restricted to one lane of travel. A temporary traffic signal will alternate single lane traffic during the duration of the work.
Public Meetings
City Council Meeting Oct. 3, 17 City Hall, 525 Henrietta Street, 7-11pm. Contact: 372-3500 Design Review Meeting Oct. 8, 22 City Hall, 525 Henrietta Street, 3-5pm. Contact: 372-3500 Planning Commission Meeting Oct. 14, 28 City Hall, 525 Henrietta Street, 7-11pm. Contact: 372-3500 Zoning Administrator Meeting Oct. 1, 15 City Hall, 525 Henrietta Street, 3-5pm. Contact: 372-3500 For Confirmation Visit: www.cityofmartinez.org
Chamber Calendar 10/5 – 12th Annual Shell Run for Education 7-8am Registration, 5K/10K Run/ Walk at 8:30am, For more information and to register visit www.martinezedfoundation.com or call the race hotline at (925) 313-5562. 10/9 - Educational Series 11:30-1:30pm. “Target Marketing and Marketing Strategies.” Presented by: Mitch Hardin, Contra Costa SBDC. Creekside Church multi-purpose room, 444 Fig Tree Lane (Morello to Midhill), $10 for Chamber members, non-members $20. Lunch will be provided. All no-shows that have not paid will be charged $10. Space is limited. RSVP required at least 2 days prior to the Chamber. 10/9 – Chamber Mixer 5:30-7:30pm. Waters Moving & Storage and Astound Broadband at Waters Moving & Storage, 37 Bridgehead Road, Martinez. Great networking, food, fun and raffle prizes. Bring a raffle prize and have your business announced! 10/13 – Office closed in observance of Columbus Day 10/15 – Martinez Manufacturing Day 8-10am, Martinez Event Center, 524 Main Street, Martinez. Hosted by the Martinez Chamber with the support of Shell. Free to the public. RSVP to the Chamber. 10/25 – 29th Annual Martinez Mayor’s Cup Golf Classic Registration begins at 1:30pm. Shotgun Start for the 9-hole Day Golf: four person scramble is at 2:30pm with on-course food and beverages. Break at 5pm for dinner and silent auction. Then it’s back on the course at 6:15pm for Shotgun start for the 9-hole Night Golf: two person alternate shot. We wrap up the evening at 8:30pm with dessert, awards, and a raffle.Co-hosted with Main Street Martinez at Pine Meadows Golf Course, 451 Vine Hill Way, Martinez. For reservations and information call the Chamber or visit www.martinezmayorscup.com. Save the Date! Coming up November 6th, Chamber Business Expo, Thursday, 4-7pm at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, 45 John Glenn Drive, Concord. Call for more information and to reserve your booth.
VOTE!
Support your local businesses and,
2014
www.ourcommunityfocus.com ourcommunityfocus.com • october 2014
11
City of Concord
City of Concord City News Continued
Mayor’s Message Concord’s Bright Future There are times I like to visualize how Concord will look to the next generation. I can see the pictures in my mind, and I get excited about where we are going. We are
blessed with a unique opportunity given to very few cities, and we need to get it right. With the annexation of over 5,000 acres of the former Concord Naval Weapon’s Station, we have added twenty
Public Meetings
City Council Oct. 7, 14, 28 Civic Center, 1950 Parkside Drive, Council Chambers, 6:30pm. Contact: 671-3495 Housing and Economic Development Oct. 26 Civic Center, 1950 Parkside Drive, Garden Conference Room, 5:30pm. Contact: 671-3495. Design Review Oct. 9, 23 Civic Center, 1950 Parkside Drive, Council Chambers, 5:30pm. Contact: 671-3495. Planning Commission Oct. 1, 15 Civic Center, 1950 Parkside Drive, Council Chambers, 7pm. Contact: 671-3495. Zoning Administrator Oct. 8, 22 Civic Center, 1950 Parkside Drive, Council Chambers, 9am. Contact 671-3495. For Confirmation Visit: www.ci.concord.ca.us
Chamber Calendar
Every Thursday – Music and Market 6-8pm. Todos Santos Park.
10/3 – First Friday Coffee Connect 7:30-9am. New networking event. Concord Chamber office. 10/7 – Ribbon Cutting 7-8pm. Kick Up Martial Arts, 1200 Contra Costa Blvd., Ste. H, Concord. 10/9 – Rebuilding Lives Luncheon 11:30-1:30pm. Join STAND! For Families Free of Violence for the 22nd Annual Rebuilding Lives Luncheon at Concord Hilton. For more information and to purchase tickets visit support.standffov.org/rbl. 10/11 & 12 – Dalis Garden Fall Fest 9am-3pm. Annual craft fair at 3161 Terraza Del Sol, Concord. 10/14 – Real World Business Law Breakfast Workshops C-Corp, S-Corp, LLC with Mark Olson of The Olson Law Firm, 8-9am. 2280 Diamond Blvd., Ste.200, Concord. Members free, non-members $10. 10/16 – Business After Hours Mixer 5:30-7:30pm. Ravioli’s Italian Market Place, 2151 Salvio Street, Concord. Free for Chamber members, $20 for non-members. 10/21 – Young Professional Meet Up With Mayor Grayson 6-8pm. Concord Chamber Office. Free to members. REGISTRATION REQUIRED. 10/23 – Leads at Lunch 11:45-1pm. Concord Chamber Office. $10, limited to 20 people. Call to register. 10/28 – Real World Business Law Breakfast Workshops Shhh! Can I Keep a Competitors From Learning My Secrets? with Mark Olson of The Olson Law Firm, 8-9am. 2280 Diamond Blvd., Ste.200, Concord. Members free, non-members $10. 10/30 – Safe Credit Union – Networking and Business Opportunities Mixer 4-7pm. 508 Contra Costa Blvd., Pleasant Hill. 10/31 - Chamber Day and the Races 11:15-3pm. Golden Gate Fields, 1100 Eastshore Highway, Berkeley. Races and Buffet, $40. REGISTRATION REQUIRED. 12
october 2014 • ourcommunityfocus.com
Q means locally controlled funds for local projects and services that cannot be taken from the state.
Tim Grayson, Mayor of Concord
percent to our size, but the meaning for the future is far greater. The opportunity is not without problems, but the overriding feeling is one of being challenged to use the knowledge, experience, expertise, and technological advances of the past to create something far better than we enjoy today. The process of developing this huge parcel has been, and will continue to be, transparent. Our citizens met many times on Saturday mornings and contributed serious input to what was being planned. Fourteen development plans were created and presented to the Citizen’s Committee, comprised of many talented people, including non-residents, because we appreciate the regional nature of our opportunity. Over a two-year period, the plans were studied, whittled down, modified, and finally, with a significant majority consensus, condensed to two plans, which were provided to the city council. One was selected and that became our beginning point. Late this year or early next year, we will select the master builder who will
oversee the ultimate development of the parcel. For openers, we already know that over sixty percent of the land will remain as open space. This is huge. It dwarfs the percentage of open space and parkland now existing in Concord. The message has been sent: this land shall remain people-friendly, with parks and promenades and development-free hillsides. I visualize soccer fields, softball fields, creek-side development for weekend outings, and beautiful recreational areas for families to spend their leisure time. We are going to have a variety of housing, office buildings, and commercial space. There has to be a way of paying for all the family amenities we are planning. Infrastructure will be a challenge. With the demise of the redevelopment agencies in California, we lost the advantage of tax-increment financing, but the need for roads and sewers and other services still exist. We will find answers in the development process. In future reports, I plan to provide information of a specific nature on our progress as we pursue the realization of our dream.
Scarecrow contest, trick or treat downtown for Halloween Visitors to downtown Concord are invited to vote for their favorite entry in the 9th annual downtown Concord scarecrow contest. The competition runs October 17 – 31. This year’s theme is Superhero! Fanciful scarecrows will be displayed at the following locations around Todos Santos Plaza: Peet’s Coffee and Tea, Starbucks, Bank of America, D’Ann’s Academy of Dance, Ravioli’s Italian Marketplace, Old Spaghetti Factory, U.S. Bank, Yoga Sol, First Presbyterian Church, Tower Grille, The Parlor Barbershop, Skipolini’s Pizza, Vinnie’s Bar and Grill, Half Price Books, E.J. Phair, Argent Bank (Sonoma) and TransformFX Fitness. Costumed parents and children are invited to trick-or-treat around the plaza on Halloween from 3 to 5pm. Participating businesses will fly orange and black balloons. The Todos Santos Business Association is sponsoring this year’s Halloween celebration.
Medal of Valor Presentation
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On September 5, Walnut Creek Lodge 1811 hosted the presentation of the CHP officer Kenyon Youngstrom Memorial Interchange for Interstate 680 and Highway 24, where officer Youngstrom was slain protecting his CHP partner and the public. This is one of the highest honors the State of California can offer one of its public servants. In attendance were State Senator Mark DeSaulnier, CHP commissioner’s office Captian Todd Garr and CHP District Director Kyle Pacheco. There were over 500 state and local officals, CHP officers, and local police departments of Walnut Creek and Martinez in attendance. In addition to the event the Walnut Creek Elks Lodge 1811 gave the highest award the Elks can give to any individual serving our country. The Benevolent and Protective Order of the Elks Medal of Valor, Certificate of Valor, and an American flag in a custom walnut shadow box with the inscription: “Kenyon Youngstrom; In grateful recognition and appreciation for his supreme sacrifice and service to our community, in the State of California and our Nation.” The award was presented by Walntut Creek Elks Exalted Ruler Nicholas Fleming to the Youngstrom family.
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Taste of Monument
Save the Life of a Cat or Dog; a donation at your favorite Pet Rescue is made in Your Name with every transaction closed!
Monument Impact helps coordinate this community event to promote local restaurants on Sunday, October 12. The food festival allows local residents to sample food from five food trucks and 10 to 20 different restaurants. Food representing many different cultures and cuisines offers something everyone will enjoy. The festival takes place at a lot adjacent to Monument Boulevard and Erickson Road between 11am and 4pm. Parking and admission are free.
Measure Q on November Ballot Measure Q is Concord’s Continuation of Essential Services Measure. It is a continuation measure originally adopted by Concord voters in 2010 to protect and maintain essential services. Funding from Measure Q has helped the city stay solvent and keeps local services in a slowly recovering economy amid $78 million in takeaways from Sacramento. Measure Q extends, without raising taxes, the existing voter approved half-cent sales tax to maintain city services that residents have identified as important, including 9-1-1 emergency response, neighborhood police patrols, gang prevention programs, street and pothole repair efforts, and youth and senior programs. Continuing Measure
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ourcommunityfocus.com • october 2014
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october 2014 • ourcommunityfocus.com
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BY MARGARET MINER Wherever your travels lead you, you want to create memories that will last a lifetime- preferably without breaking the bank. Vacation is a recess from your nine-to-five routine; it’s a chance to “reboot” and decompress. It should be everything you want it to be! When it’s all over, you want to be able to say to yourself, “Wow! That was an amazing vacation. I can’t wait for my next adventure/cruise/resort stay!” Here are my Top 3 Tips for making your vacation dreams come true: 1. Book early. Of course there are always going to be spectacular last minute deals, but they may involve compromise on location, dates, or room type. By planning ahead, you can take advantage of early booking promotions such as resort/onboard credits, additional perks, and discounted rates. Booking early, sometimes more than a year out, ensures you get exactly what you want. 2. Follow your interests. We all have activities we love to do outside of office hours, and the truth is that few folks are lucky enough to work their passions into their business life. What do you love to do when you are off the clock? Work it in to your vacation! Land or sea vacations can incorporate things like rock climbing, health and wellness, photography, wine, knitting (yes, knitting!)…the list is endless! Yoga in Cancun? Check! Craft beer in the Pacific Northwest? Check! Fine wines on
the Danube? Double check! Pick your passion and follow it; a vacation doing what you love is priceless, and by booking early, you’ll be able to snag the best rates with the optimal amount of choice. 3. Call your Travel Agent. In this age of online booking engines and deals delivered directly to your inbox, why on earth would you want to call a travel agent? Because we act as your personal travel concierge, crafting your dream vacation based on your interests, style and budget. Have you ever been unhappy with an online purchase? Using the Internet for research is a must, but booking through a professional eliminates the risk of the unknown; you can’t return a disappointing experience. Ask your agent if they charge a fee, and what it is; you may be surprised by the answer. I can’t tell you how many times I hear the same chorus each week: “I’d like to go to (insert dream destination here) someday…” The phrase is usually accompanied by a heavy sigh and a far off look as the would-be traveler imagines himself doing something he’s wanted to do for ages. Fortunately, there’s a quick fix for the “someday” blues, and it starts with your dream destination! What’s first on your list? Margaret Miner is the owner of VinoCruising, a full-service travel agency. She can be reached at mminer@cruiseone.com.
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College Park X-Country College Park freshmen and sophomores brought home medals from the De LaSalle/ Carondelet Nike Invitational held at Newhall Park on September 20. The frosh/soph girls’ took first place out of 28 teams, a stellar follow up to their third place finish at the Ed Sias Invitational the prior weekend. The frosh/soph boys also ran well at Nike finishing third out of 23 teams, improving on their fifth place finish at Ed Sias. JV and Varsity runners also put on strong performances as they prepare for their upcoming season.
DVC Volleyball
The DVC women’s volleyball team has gone 9-0 (as of 9/23) and will start the Big 8 Conference play Wednesday, October 1, hosting Modesto College at 6:30pm. Come out and support our local college athletes! Visit www.ourcommunityfocus.com for more photos and a link to the DVC volleyball schedule.
Girls Frosh/Soph Runners: Candace Nguyen, Kristin Joo, Coach Gil Llacuna, Chloe Beardsley, Julia Parks and Gabby Ceresa. Not pictured: Kelly Seto, Emma Swanson, Booklyn Aquilar, Jenna Moran, Alyssa Gaigalas, Isabelle Ariana. DVC Viking Classic Champions. Photo by Mark Babb
Three in a Row
The Heritage U13 Girls Soccer Team “Bolt” took first place, yet again, in the Vacaville United Shootout Soccer Tournament. This is the third consecutive tournament Bolt has won. Bolt has gone 11 – 1 in the last twelve games of tournament play. Go Bolt!
Boy Frosh/Soph Runners: Nicholas Chuman, Spenser Grinbergs, Noah Hurley, Logan Heaney, Coach Gil Llacuna, Karl Forster, Jake Eide and Jackson Thomas.
Alhambra Dominates
College Park hosted the Alhambra Bulldogs for the season opener, non-league football game under the lights at Diablo Valley College August 29. The Bulldogs came out strong, scoring three touchdowns in the 1st quarter, while College Park scored their only touchdown. Alhambra continued to dominate scoring another 27 points in the second quarter to end the half at 48-7. There was only one more touchdown in the 2nd half, bringing the final score to 55-7. At press time, Alhambra continues their winning streak, going 4-0 in non-league play.
Front Row: Tatiana Elsea, Rylee McCormick, Maia Pecher, Carlee Palmer. Middle Row: Katie Foreste, Julia Giannini. Back Row: Coach Jon Giannini, Kiera Walker, Christina Abudayeh, Laura Bocek, Vanessa Kaminska, Maya Drewicke, Jordan Goularte Coach Julio Borge. Absent from photo, Karina Umali and Megan Jensen.
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october 2014 • ourcommunityfocus.com
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In the Spotlight
Joe DeMers
From his early days with PHBA, Joe DeMers has stood out on the baseball field. After his fourth year playing on the USA National Team, Joe gives us a glimpse of what it’s like to play at the elite competitive level. What is the USA National Baseball Team? The USA National Team plays in one international tournament each year. It alternates between the World Cup, which is held every other year, and the Pan American Championship, which is a qualifier for the World Cup. The 18U team selection process starts in June with the Tournament of Stars at the USA Baseball Training facility in Cary, NC. There were 108 of the top players in the country invited to compete. From there, the coaching staff narrowed the field down to the 40-man Trials Team roster. The Trials team gets together 2 weeks before the tournament for a week-long tryout. At the end, the 20-man roster is announced. This year, Trials were in Houston. After the team was selected, we practiced and held exhibition games for a week before heading to La Paz, Mexico for the Pan American Championship. How did you manage school with the traveling? I got assignments from my teachers before I left, or they emailed them to me. We have a 2-hour study hall every day. My teachers have been really cool about it. Of the countries you have played against, which was the most competitive? ` Cuba is the most competitive. It always feels great to beat Cuba! Japan is also really good. What was your favorite country to play in? Taiwan was a great experience because it’s so different and it’s the only time I’ve been to Asia. Best memory of this recent trip? Surviving the hurricane, but winning gold never gets old! How is playing for College Park High School different than Team USA? With Team USA, you are playing with the best players in the country against the
Not even a hurricane could stop Joe DeMers and the USA National Baseball team from bringing home the gold. DeMers, a member of the 18U Team USA for the 2nd year in a row, competed in the COPABE Pan American Championship in Cabo San Lucas and La Paz, Mexico. The right handed pitcher, a senior at College Park High School, closed out the pool play game against Canada and earned the win against Cuba. Undefeated leading up to the gold medal game on September 14, Team USA would face Cuba once again in their quest for gold. Joe was slated to close that game. Unfortunately, he never made it to the mound, as the impending arrival of Hurricane Odile caused the game to be called after just 3 innings. Team USA was declared the gold medal winner because of their 8-0 record in pool play and because they were up 1-0 when the game ended. Cuba was awarded the silver medal, and Canada had beaten Mexico earlier in the day to win the bronze.
Local Boy Makes National Splash
best players in the world. With CP, I get to play baseball with friends I’ve played with since I was 8 years old. Plans for future? Right now my plan is to play baseball at the University of Washington. I have received calls from a lot of professional teams. We asked Joe’s parents, Tom and Lisa DeMers, about their experiences traveling with their son. Tom told us, “We’ve been to every international tournament Joe has played in. We’ve been to places we never would have gotten to otherwise, such as Nicaragua and Taiwan. Lisa’s most memorable team to watch play against Team USA was Cuba. She remarked, “They are always fun to watch because they are beasts and always very competitive. They always put on a good show as well - very dramatic. Playing in Taiwan was a phenomenal experience. The people were so gracious and welcoming! The Asian teams are always very disciplined and very strong.” When asked about a lasting memory from their baseball travels, Tom replied, “The near plane crash en route to Nicaragua with the 14U team in 2010. Lisa commented, “All the great friends we’ve made from all across the country. Seeing your son take the field with USA across his chest is unforgettable.” We look forward to witnessing Joe’s continued success and to see where it takes him next!
Bringing Home Gold
That was not the end of the adventure though. Hurricane Odile hit that night, stranding Team USA and their families in Mexico. All airports were closed and plans to return home that day were canceled. Rescue efforts began on Tuesday, September 16, but no cellular service made communication impossible. After spending the night in an abandoned school and a day in a hurricane ravaged airplane hanger on the Mexican Air Force base, the first group was finally airlifted out of the no-fly zone on a Mexican military cargo plane to Tijuana on Thursday afternoon. The second group, containing the remaining players, coaches and some family members, followed a few hours later. The third group of staff and family remained stranded for another day, but USA Baseball chartered a plane and received clearance for it to land on the military base to pick up the last group of twenty. All are now back in the USA, safe and sound. The players are sporting gold, and everyone will have endless stories to tell.
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COMMUNITY FOCUS CANDIDATE PLATFORM 2014
www.MainStreetMartinez.org
CONTRA COSTA COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT GOVERNING BOARD
Main Street Martinez - Creek Monkeyy Tapp House and the Bay Area Craft Beer Festival present....
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I have built my reputation by creating opportunities for others and helping them succeed. My priorities as your College Board Trustee are to: • modernize our facilities and classrooms • provide the best learning experience • keep tuition affordable • provide the best faculty My experience as a small business owner and a leader in our community provide me the skills to be an effective trustee for you and our colleges.
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october 2014 • ourcommunityfocus.com
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LARA DeLANEY
MATT RINN
R TI NE
As a member of the City Council, I have worked successfully to achieve: The renovation of all parks in the city, as well as our library, Outdoor dining platforms Downtown and two indoor sports complexes, and An award-winning pool with extended service hours.
Under my leadership, the city has devoted additional tax dollars to street repairs and beautification projects such as the “Martinez” arch. I have also promoted cultural enrichment such as the Blues Festival, King of the County BBQ, and soon, a professional baseball team at Waterfront Park. I have voted for strong and effective code enforcement, more paved streets and sidewalks, and housing at the right scale and location. I have also voted against housing that I did not believe was appropriate; I can make tough choices. Furthermore, with a Master’s degree in Public Policy and a career in County Administration, I am the budget watchdog on the Council, ensuring your tax dollars are well spent. However, my work is not yet done. • Revitalization of our Downtown must be continued to raise property values. • The Marina must be rebuilt, with improvements like restaurants and a hotel. • And public safety, always a top priority, must be supported and enhanced. I am proud of the contributions I have made to Martinez. I am approachable, willing to listen to ideas and different points of view, and take action. Please call me anytime at (925) 787-5023 if I can be of service. Thank you! Paid for by Lara DeLaney for Martinez Council 2014, #1245981.
A Trustee of the Contra Costa Community College District Governing Board
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It has been an honor to represent you on the Martinez City Council, and I have always served with the interests of the community at heart, as my record will show. I respectfully ask for your support so I may continue this service, upholding the highest standards of ethics, integrity, independence, and transparency in public office.
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Sheriff’s Forensic Manager
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for City Council
Solving Problems for Martinez
Paid for by Debbie McKillop for Martinez City Council 2014, 5462 Degnan Drive, Martinez CA 94553, 925-812-6160, ID No. 1367954 / Photography by Robert Perry of Martinez
Re-elect Michael Harris for City Council 2014 2300 Heritage Hills Dr., Pleasant Hill, CA 94523 mharris4PH@gmail.com Jim Bonato, Treasurer Campaign D #1285902 ourcommunityfocus.com • october 2014
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DEBBIE BILLECCI McKILLOP
MIKE MENESINI
MARTINEZ CITY COUNCIL
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MARTINEZ MAYOR
I am the Forensic Crime Lab Manager for the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office, experienced in crime scene examination and reconstruction, DNA analysis, toxicology, bloodstain pattern and gunshot residue analysis. I am a member of the California Association of Crime Laboratory Directors. I graduated from Alhambra High School; later earning bachelor’s degrees in chemistry and environmental studies and a master’s degree in public administration. As a fourth-generation resident and descendant of the early Martinez families who made their living fishing the Bay and working in the old cannery (cousin to baseball legend Joe DiMaggio), I believe Martinez is a unique, beautiful place to live. We have our marina – a diamond in the rough; beautiful hills, parks, open spaces, small farms and wineries; and a quaint, nostalgic downtown. I’m a mom, raising twin 15-year-old daughters. I care about Martinez and want to use my problem-solving skills to investigate ways we can preserve and improve Martinez for future generations to come. If elected, I will use my management experience to balance Martinez’s budget and study ways to: • Fund more police officers to patrol Martinez neighborhoods and improve 9-1-1 dispatch communications • Repave our dilapidated roads and repair potholes • Develop an economically feasible “Master Plan” to improve our marina • Identify a location and funding for a dog park in Martinez • Create a strategic plan to address our city-wide homeless population I am honored to have earned the endorsement of the Martinez Police Officers’ Association, our Martinez Firefighters, the working men and women of Central Labor, and the Contra Costa County Democratic Party, as well as Martinez Mayor Rob Schroder. My work as the Sheriff’s Forensic Manager has taught me to be a good listener – to analyze and solve complex problems. I would enjoy using these skills to give back to my community in a meaningful way. Thank you, in advance, for your consideration. I would be honored to earn your vote. Debbie@ DebbieMcKillop.com
Public Safety First: I am an Assistant District Attorney and criminal prosecutor, a former police officer, and a father of two daughters in Martinez schools. I am also a U.S. Army veteran and Martinez’s Public Safety Committee Chair, focusing on cost effective ways to reduce crime. Selecting a permanent Police Chief to lead our crime-prevention efforts is a priority for me.
My experience and proven track record has earned me the endorsement of District Attorney Mark Peterson, Sheriff David Livingston, Martinez Supervisor Federal Glover, the Central Labor Council and the Democratic Party, among others. I would be honored to earn your vote and will work hard to continue to merit your support. Home – 372-9195 and Cell – 519-6908.
Proven leadership is the ability to work with people, visualize objectives, and achieve results. Martinez needs a workable plan to repair and maintain our streets, develop shoreline amenities at our Marina, promote all businesses in Martinez, and make our Downtown a vibrant successful location for business owners and visitors. If you have any questions call me: (925)228-6717. I would sincerely appreciate your vote!
Paid for by Debbie McKillop for Martinez City Council 2014, 5462 Degnan Drive, Martinez CA 94553, 925-812-6160, ID No. 1367954
Paid for by Mke Menesini for Martinez City Council, 1320 Thomas Drive, Martinez, CA 94553 – ID No. 1288444 – (925) 519-6908
Paid for by Gay Gerlack for Mayor 2014 FPPC# 1367974.
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MARTINEZ CITY COUNCIL
GAY GERLACK
Mike
Strong Fiscal Management: As your Councilmember and former Mayor, I’ve pushed for a balanced budget, with strong reserves for emergencies. Because of our strict money management, we have: • Modernized our water treatment plant • Built our Senior Center and new train station • Funded a new flood control project, replaced water mains and repaved streets Protecting Our Beautiful Open Spaces: Representing you, I fought to establish and preserve: • Franklin Hills Ridge and the hills above Forest Hills and Mt. Wanda • John Muir Memorial and Veterans Memorial Parks • I initiated the agreement protecting the Briones Agricultural Preserve Improving Recreational Opportunities for Families: I am proud of our work to upgrade Martinez parks, picnic areas and lighting, repaving our tennis courts and refreshing Rankin Pool. I am an animal-lover and would like to see a dog park in Martinez. Retaining and Attracting Businesses: When businesses leave Martinez, they take with them valuable jobs and tax dollars we need to improve city services. I am currently working on a business retention plan to keep local businesses from relocating outside our city.
I have a lifetime of dedication to community, most recently working with many of the service and non-profit groups in Martinez. Being a former small business owner, Encore Gymnastics and Sewabration, has prepared me with the experience and knowledge for successful leadership skills. Martinez Service Groups: • Kiwanis Club of Martinez • Soroptimist International of Martinez • Lioness • Pacheco-Martinez Homeless Outreach • American Legion Married to Ken for over 50 years, we have two grown daughters and five grandchildren. As owners of Contra Costa Landscaping, Inc. and current partners of Organic Solutions, LLC, Ken and I share a lifetime commitment to the environment. As a founding member of the Alhambra Hills Open Space Committee, I am fighting the proposed housing development of the Alhambra Hills. Research found that portions of this property were owned by John Muir. If developed with home sites, 500+ majestic oak trees will be destroyed. I was a member of the Citizens for Measure H, which was successful in securing a $30,000,000 bond to rebuild the Rankin swimming pool, renovate our library, and bring Martinez Parks up to ADA standards. My current challenge is to insure that sufficient funds are placed in the budget to guarantee that these improvements will be properly maintained. Other Community Participation: • Commissioner on the Park, Recreation, Marina, and Cultural Commission • Board Member of the John Muir Association • Board Member of the Martinez Art Association • Board Member of the Friends of the Library • Board Member of the Martinez Early Childhood Center
ROB SCHRODER MARTINEZ MAYOR
I am greatly honored to serve as your Mayor and will continue to work hard to merit your trust. There is no room in city government for petty squabbling or personal agendas. As your mayor, I remain level-headed and focused on GETTING THINGS DONE for Martinez. These are some of the things we have accomplished together: • Balanced the City budget with a 24% reserve for emergencies • Repaved roads using $1 million in Measure J funds • Upgraded our parks, picnic areas and lighting; resurfaced our tennis courts and remodeled Rankin Pool • Preserved hundreds of acres of open space and future hiking trails • Brought outdoor dining platforms to our Downtown • Developed a preliminary strategy to payoff and rebuild the Marina • Together we stopped PG&E from unilaterally cutting down 506 trees in Martinez But, we need to stay focused and work together to continue to GET THINGS DONE. Here is my “TO DO” list should you re-elect me mayor: 1. Hire a permanent Police Chief and develop a funding plan to hire additional police officers to patrol Martinez neighborhoods 2. Create a plan to address the homeless Downtown 3. Build new “world-class” ball fields at Waterfront Park (attract a semi-pro team?) 4. Repave more streets and fix potholes 5. Create a strong policy to keep local businesses in Martinez to preserve funding for city services I am honored to have earned the endorsement of Congressmen George Miller and Mike Thompson, District Attorney Mark Peterson, Sheriff David Livingston, Senator Mark DeSaulnier, Assemblywoman Susan Bonilla, Supervisor Federal Glover, Martinez police officers and firefighters. Our area’s leaders support me because I have a reputation for GETTING THINGS DONE for Martinez. Please call me anytime at (925) 708-1469 or visit www.MayorRobSchroder.com. I would be honored to earn your vote for my re-election. Thank you. Paid for Rob Schroder for Martinez Mayor 2014, FPPC #9617454.
Criminal Prosecutor & Councilmember
Menesini for City Council
Experience Matters
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Paid for by Mke Menesini for Martinez City Council, 1320 Thomas Drive, Martinez, CA 94553 – ID No. 1288444 – (925) 519-6908
PAID FOR BY ROB SCHRODER FOR MAYOR 2014, 100 GREEN STREET, MARTINEZ, CA 94553 - ID NO. 9617454 - (925) 708-1469
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october 2014 • ourcommunityfocus.com
FOR MARTINEZ ourcommunityfocus.com • october 2014
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DOROTHY ENGLUND PLEASANT HILL CITY COUNCIL
Dear Neighbors, Pleasant Hill is a wonderful place to call home and raise a family. As residents we enjoy: • Safe, peaceful neighborhoods and small-town charm • Excellent schools, libraries, parks • Terrific community spirit As a 32-year resident, I have volunteered countless hours benefitting our community, including: • Founding Board Member for Pleasant Hill Elementary Education Foundation (PHEEF). From 1998 to 2005, I served as PHEEF’s Treasurer and Assistant Treasurer. PHEEF is where the vision for a community-wide foundation began. I am proud to be a PHEEF founder and long-term contributor to the Foundation for Pleasant Hill Education. • President, Safe Neighborhoods Alliance Program • Vice-President, Pleasant Hill Citizens for Responsible Growth For the past six years, I have represented residents on several real estate development, traffic and safety issues. As councilmember, I will continue to work to preserve health, safety and welfare, and our smalltown charm. • UC Berkeley MBA and retired CPA/Senior Audit Manager/Consultant Professionally, I have extensive experience auditing corporations and public agencies (including University of California and Contra Costa County). I have applied my knowledge and experience to volunteer work in our city and our community. As councilmember, I will continue to apply my knowledge of accounting, finance, budgets, payroll and pensions to Pleasant Hill’s financial and operational challenges.
SUE NOACK for Pleasant Hill City Council
Working Together for Pleasant Hill
I hope you agree, and I will be honored to have your vote. Best Regards, Dorothy Englund • Englund4ph@aol.com • www.rightteam4ph.com
MICHAEL HARRIS
PLEASANT HILL CITY COUNCIL I’m Michael Harris. Pleasant Hill is more than just a city. We’re a community where people care about each other. Integrity and goodwill are forces that drive me. As your councilmember and three-term mayor, I’m proud of the positive impact we’ve made on issues that are important to our community. FOUNDED COMMUNITY SERVICE DAY • Thousands of Pleasant Hill residents come together annually to spend the day working on projects that make our city better. ESTABLISHED THE PLEASANT HILL EDUCATION INITIATIVE • As an educator, I believe well-educated students are essential to our future. I started this community-wide volunteer effort to better prepare Pleasant Hill students for college, careers and life by providing in-school tutoring, after-school programs, and enrichment programs for our children. FOSTERED A BETTER COMMUNITY • Championed stricter non-smoking laws, co-authored a firearms ordinance to make our community safer, increased library hours, funded upgrades for city streets, improved public safety, and maintained outstanding public services, all while being fiscally responsible. INVIGORATED OUR BUSINESS COMMUNITY • Supported grants to help small local businesses succeed and helped bring new businesses to our community. SUPPORTED NEW COMMUNITY CENTER, SENIOR CENTER, AND TEEN CENTER • Co-chaired the committee that made these facilities a reality and sponsored programs to help our seniors and our teens. PROTECTED COMMUNITY NEIGHBORHOODS • Fought inappropriate development and helped preserve our neighborhoods and small-town atmosphere. COMMUNITY ENDORSEMENTS Supervisor Karen Mitchoff; Mayor Tim Flaherty; Vice-Mayor Ken Carlson; Rec & Park Board: Sandy Bonato, Dennis Donoghu, Bobby Glover, Zac Shess; Former Mayors John Hanecak and Sue Angeli; Planning Commissioners: Robert Abbott, Bill Bankert, Jim Bonato, David Mascaro, Diana Vavrek; Civic Action Commissioners: Sheila Cotruvo, Faye Donaghu, Jenelle Kelly, Allison Koerber, Steve Oldenburg, Andrew Pierce; Education Commissioners: Kelly St. Germain, Mary Gray; School Superintendent Joe Ovick; School Principals: Marji Calbek, Liz Kim; United Professional Firefighters; PH Police Officers’ Association and Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence. I would be honored to have your vote. Michael Harris for City Council. mharris4ph.com. Paid for by Re-Elect Michael Harris 2014 ID#1285902
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october 2014 • ourcommunityfocus.com
PLEASANT HILL CITY COUNCIL Pleasant Hill is more than just a city to my family. It is our home, and I would be honored to have your vote to serve on our city council. My husband Charlie and I wanted to settle in a community that could become a longtime home for our family. Pleasant Hill stole our hearts. We moved here in 1998 and have lived here ever since. After the birth of our son Will, I became even more impressed with just how involved our community is. After a 26-year career in finance, I was inspired to commit my time and energy to helping Pleasant Hill. Since then I’ve worked hard for Pleasant Hill: • Co-founder of the Foundation for Pleasant Hill Education (where I’ve been the treasurer, grant chair, and organizer of the Amazing Race) • President of Strandwood Elementary PTA and Pleasant Hill Middle School PTSA • Member of the Pleasant Hill Library Task Force, Funding Subcommittee • Chair of the 2010 Measure C Bond Oversight Committee • Member of Pleasant Hill Rotary • Youth soccer and baseball coach During my financial career I worked with small businesses, start-ups, non-profit organizations, and Fortune 500 companies. I learned how to work collectively and compromise, skills that are needed on our city council. I want to combine my business experience and community ties to help build a strong Pleasant Hill. My priorities are: • Long-term financial viability • Bringing more jobs to Pleasant Hill, while not hurting our existing businesses • Strengthening the city’s relationships with other agencies and community groups • Building a strong city council that communicates well with each other and the public
As councilmember, I will listen and welcome community involvement in every decision. Working together, we can improve city government by making it open, accessible and responsive to all. I am honored to receive former Councilmember Terri Williamson’s endorsement. Last year, she wrote: “I wish you would run for council…The City needs you, dammit. But, if you won’t, keep doing what you do so well”.
Paid for by Englund for Pleasant Hill Council 2014. FPPC #1368279, 150 Wyatt Circle, Pleasant Hill, CA 94523
SUE NOACK
JACK WEIR
PLEASANT HILL CITY COUNCIL We love Pleasant Hill, our family’s home for over 60 years. During my first term I learned that today’s challenges require sharp focus on fundamentals. There isn’t enough money to fund every good idea, so we must concentrate on residents’ top priorities: • Public safety • Financial stability • Preserving our “small town” quality of life We experience low crime rates thanks to our dedicated police, but we need stronger support for PHPD. We must fill department vacancies and add School Resource Officers for better school security and anti-drug programs. Our most pressing financial challenge is residential street condition. Over the years, deferred upkeep has caused a $15 million backlog. Timely maintenance is economical, while reconstructing neglected roads is extremely costly. By streamlining administrative functions at City Hall, we can redirect savings to upgrade our infrastructure and avoid tax increases. My strong business management experience will help steer this effort. As a service organization, 75% of city spending goes for employee compensation. Rising benefits costs are alarming, with pension premiums and health care costs expected to jump dramatically. During past labor negotiations, I worked to reduce the city’s projected benefits deficit; thankfully, employees agreed to contribute more for their benefits. Even so, we’re projecting serious budget deficits in the next two years. We need strategies that improve our fiscal status and strengthen employee financial security. It’s essential we balance growth with the preservation of residential neighborhoods and our small town character. Building on the “Pleasant Hill; the Center of Everything” marketing theme I helped initiate, we can grow a vibrant economy through collaboration with our businesses. Finally, I pledge to continue to promote open government with all city business conducted in public, prompt access to public records, and meaningful public participation.
I would be honored to have your vote. Please don’t hesitate to contact me with any questions at Sue@SueNoack.com, or (925) 278-4525. You can also visit my website at www.SueNoack.com.
Please join me in these efforts. Visit www.rightteam4ph.com
Paid for by Sue Noack for Pleasant Hill City Council 2014, FPPC# 1366987.
Paid for by Weir for Pleasant Hill Council 2014. FPPC #1367938, 31 Banbridge Place, Pleasant Hill, CA 94523
PROUDLY ENDORSED BY ELECTED OFFICIALS Karen Mitchoff – Contra Costa County Supervisor Tim Flaherty – Mayor, Pleasant Hill Ken Carlson – Vice Mayor, Pleasant Hill David Durant – City Council Member, former Mayor, Pleasant Hill Dr. Joseph A. Ovick – County Superintendent of Schools Matt Rinn – Board Member, Contra Costa Community College District, former chair of the Pleasant Hill Chamber of Commerce Bobby Glover – Board Member, Pleasant Hill Recreation & Park District Zac Shess – Board Member, Pleasant Hill Recreation & Park District ORGANIZATIONS Pleasant Hill Police Officers’ Association Central Labor Council of Contra Costa County, AFL-CIO City of Pleasant Hill Public Works, Public Employees Local 1 Contra Costa Building and Construction Trades Council International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local 302 COMMUNITY MEMBERS John Hanecak, Past Council Member/Mayor, Pleasant Hill Diana Vavrek, Pleasant Hill Planning Commission Steve Wallace, former Pleasant Hill Planning Commissioner Kelly St. Germain, Pleasant Hill Education Commission Chair
Jennelle Towle Kelly, Civic Action Commission Robert W. Abbott, PLS, Pleasant Hill Planning Commission Liz Kim, Principal, Strandwood Elementary Howard and Vangie Jordan, Jordan Consulting & Investigations Jason Olson, Pleasant Hill Grocery Outlet Paul Bonnar, Attorney Jeff Eide, Volunteering Specialist Jill & Jordan Olivier Allen R. Vinson, Legal Counsel for School Districts / Chairman, Pleasant Hill 4th of July Commission Sandra W. Vinson, University of California, Office of the President Heidi Taylor, Attorney Leanne Hamaji, Co-Founder Foundation for Pleasant Hill Education (FPHE) William Patterson, Webmaster for Pleasant Hill July 4th website Sue Fine and Paul Vierbickas Patricia Eidson, Pleasant Hill Resident and PHMS mom Dr. Keith & Becky Keck, Doctor Faye Donaghu Allison Koerber Kathleen Srange, Teacher, College Park High School Diana Bartlett, Board Member, z Foundation for Pleasant Hill Education Telzey Gourley, Board Member, Foundation for Pleasant Hill Education, Sequoia Elementary parent
SUE NOACK 925.278.4525 Sue@SueNoack.com www.SueNoack.com
Find us on Facebook. 307 Meadowood Ct. Pleasant Hill, CA 94523 Paid for by Sue Noack for Pleasant Hill City Council 2014. FPPC# 1366987. ourcommunityfocus.com • october 2014
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In the Garden
Pair Up
The Trek of a Lifetime Part Two BY LESLEY STILES We navigated our way across northwestern Spain by scallop shells and yellow arrows placed by international Camino freaks that volunteer throughout the year. When getting lost becomes a real possibility, you will be saved by a rock, ancient stone, or even a tree trunk on the far side of the road with a yellow arrow painted on it. We spent a good deal of time looking for markers by sunlight and moonlight, and the Camino provides. Castles and monastic ruins appear around many a turn, each village boasting churches beyond plentiful, with astounding amounts of riches displayed on enormous alter pieces embellished with gold, carvings, jewels, gem stones, statues, and paintings depicting various scenes of religious deities over the millennium, precious even in decay. Initially, it caused uneasy
ghoulish visions of labor from poor slaves and serfs, but chains of history along the Way provide a deeper understanding. The relationship between religion and people over centuries along the Camino de Santiago is fascinating. A seven-day segment of the Camino is described as the Meseta, a high plain requiring a several thousand-foot climb. Once ascended, it unfolds into unrelenting flat, wide, gravel paths, brutal underfoot for miles, with little to no shade or villages, only endless fields of dry barley that disoriented us. Until now, we had been climbing mountains and traversing valleys, lush and green - filled with water, flowers, and many a village for resting and enjoying chocolate and diet Coke before moving on again. These long incendiary stretches are referred to as the “soulless senda” in map books. One of the flat paths unexpectedly escorted a wide canal that was used a thousand years ago to move grain and agricultural products
Create with us this fall! Discover all that Walnut Creek Civic Arts Education has to offer — like arts classes, workshops, events and more for the whole family
throughout the region, with old locks beautifully still in place. Churches and villages on the Camino are centered on the pilgrimage and have pilgrim masses daily, with personal, hands-on blessings from the priest. We gratefully received any help we could get. Food on the Camino is a pilgrim’s menu that someone sold on the albergue (hostel) circuit as a commercial venture, driven by locals who derive their annual income from pilgrims. The typical menu is three-courses for eight to ten euro. Choices are relentlessly similar and consist of what someone decided international pilgrims would want: spaghetti from Italy; weird mayo salad Russe from Russia; way overcooked mash of peas and other canned products from UK; French fries from France; and the one we ate every day -- salad mixta with lettuce, canned tuna, white asparagus and tomatoes, we think from the US. Sometimes there were olives or hard-boiled eggs, possibly carrots, but usually with valuably high protein. Second courses were just
as bizarre, with even vegetarian dishes containing some sort of pork product. We found luscious fruits and nuts from pleasant shopkeepers from the Mercado. One particularly difficult walk stretched the performance of my three liters of water with an hour of blazing sun before the next village. I had been preventing insanity from boredom by looking for a shot of the perfect heart cloud to send to my friend Jackie Hopkins, as I had been thinking about her and Kate all day and how Kate loved heart clouds. I was growing more agitated and parched by the second, when out of nowhere, this dude in a minivan with loud music and a huge smile rolls up and hands us all bottles of ice-cold water. Those bottles were painted with big pink hearts. Goose bumps covered me into the village as I felt her looking over us pilgrims trudging to our next destination. We spent a wonderful night in his albergue amidst rabbits and chickens, well fed and thoroughly quenched.
Camino De Santiago Pilgrims Salad Mixta 1 pound mixed market greens on a large beautiful platter. Add a couple quartered hard-boiled eggs. Toss on some grated carrots and a good handful of Greek olives. Slice on generous cucumbers and lots of halved cherry tomatoes. Flake on a can of tuna. Drizzle with good olive oil and balsamic vinegar; add a crack of sea salt and share with bread, loved ones and icy cold Albarino!
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November 15: Civic Arts Fall Open House Discover what Walnut Creek Civic Arts is all about! Come down to the Shadelands Art Center for an exciting day of arts exploration from 11 am-3 pm on Saturday, Nov. 15. Explore free, hands-on arts activities for all ages, yummy refreshments and more. Stay for the 2nd annual Kathy Nelson Arts Excellence Awards Reception, hosted by the Friends of Civic Arts Education Foundation from 3-5 pm. Enjoy short musical performances, wine and appetizers. RSVP to the foundation at 939-2787. NEW! Heather Farm Preschool is expanding Beginning in January, our arts- and nature-based preschool is expanding to add afternoon sessions for ages 3-5. To learn more call Doug Rowe at 943-5899, ext. 2471. Explore your creativity There’s still time to register for fall classes, including one of our unique Makers Series Workshops. These are short, hands-on sessions where you create projects like pottery, jewelry, or holiday ornaments in just one day.
Connect with us Online catalog: bit.ly/CAE-Fall2014 facebook.com/CivicArtsEducation @CivicArtsEd (925) 943-5846
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october 2014 • ourcommunityfocus.com
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Orange Wine and Bacon Wrapped Apricots BY MARIA TERRY I like crazy wines. I like them because they are different and don’t taste like every other wine on the shelf. It’s not that “regular” wines are bad or inferior, but it can be an exciting experience to taste a wine with brand new flavors. Just in time for the spookiest holiday, here are three wines from the Mediterranean that are made with unusual grapes in unusual ways. To start, what could be more perfect for Halloween than an orange wine? Made from a variety of white grapes, like Ribolla, Vitovska, and Carso, orange wines are produced in northeastern Italy and its neighbors Slovenia and Croatia. Often, these white wines are buried in clay pots and allowed to oxidize for weeks. As a result of this aging, the yellow color we are accustomed to seeing in white wines darkens into a beautiful amber color. The oxidation process also creates unique flavors like dried apricot, camphor, cinnamon, and nuts. Like most Mediterranean wines, they have substantial acidity but little or no sugar. Because of this, they taste good with recipes that have a little sweetness to balance the high acid. I like the Bacon-Wrapped Stuffed Apricots as their pairing partner. The apricots echo the stone fruit flavors of the wine and, along with the maple glaze, offers just the right amount of sweetness. These wines are not easy to find, but Solano Cellars in Berkeley has them on occasion. While they are truly unlike any other wine, if you can’t find one, a late-harvest white dessert wine will work in a pinch. Plavic Mali is a red grape from Croatia that is actually a cross of Zinfandel and Dobričić. Much like California Zinfandel, it is intensely flavored and high in alcohol and tannin. It has classic aromas of blackberries, black cherries, and black pepper, but is slightly less ripe and fruity than its California cousin. I love the idea of pairing it with a rich
Hungarian meat stew called Pörkölt. Pörkölt is always made from poultry, pork, beef, mutton, or venison, with beef being the preferred choice. A big red wine like Plavic Mali or Zinfandel stands up to the pungent fall flavors of paprika and caraway along with the hearty beef. Passito di Moscato, one of the famous Italian dessert wines, is made using the passito method. The result is a moderately sweet, amber-colored wine with floral, spice and nut aromas. Passito di Moscato, like Recioto and Vin Santo, is “appassire,” or wilted/dried, on cane mats. Pumpkin Spice Bread Pudding with Brown Sugar Caramel Sauce (recipe at ourcommunityfocus.com) will play off the spice and nut flavors in the
Bacon-Wrapped Stuffed Apricots INGREDIENTS 1/2 lb. (8 strips) quality smoked bacon 3 tablespoons pure maple syrup Pinch of ground cayenne (to taste) 8 large dried apricots, stemmed 8 pecan halves, toasted 1/4 lb. your favorite blue cheese DIRECTIONS Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Place bacon on parchment paper-lined sided cookie sheet. Bake 20 to 25 minutes until partially cooked (so you can wrap the apricots later, while bacon is still soft and won’t crack). While bacon is cooking, combine maple syrup and cayenne and set aside for glaze. Open hole of each apricot; stuff each with a pecan half and some cheese to fill generously. Wrap one strip of bacon around each piece of fruit (enclosing the filling) and skewer with a toothpick. Place on a parchment paper-lined sided cookie sheet; brush with some maple syrup glaze and bake 10 minutes. Turn each piece over, brush with more maple syrup glaze and cook another 10 minutes until bacon is crisp. Serve with any remaining maple glaze or make additional for dipping. Yield: 4 servings
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wine as well as maintain the Halloween theme at the end of the evening. So, go on. Pair Up! Maria Terry is a Certified Sommelier and Wine Educator in the San Francisco Bay Area, www.LaSommelierre.com.
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Pörkölt INGREDIENTS 1/2 cup flour 1/2 tsp. paprika 1/4 tsp. salt 1 lb. pork or beef, cut into 1” cubes 2 tbsp. vegetable oil 1 large onion, minced 1 large garlic clove, minced 1/2 medium green bell pepper, 1” dice 1 tbsp. paprika 1 tsp. caraway seeds 1 large tomato, cored, 1” dice 1 cup red wine 4 cups (or more) water Salt and pepper to taste 1 tbsp. chopped fresh parsley for garnish (optional) DIRECTIONS Mix flour, 1/2 tsp. paprika, and 1/4 tsp. salt together and place in 1-pound zip top bag. Add meat and shake until coated. In a large, straight-sided sauté pan with a tight fitting lid, heat canola oil over medium. Add the seasoned, floured meat to the pan. Cook for 5-6 minutes, stirring twice, until meat is browned. Add minced onion and sauté for about 8 more minutes until softened. Add the garlic and green bell pepper. Continue to sauté for another 5 minutes until garlic is fragrant and bell pepper is tender-crisp. Sprinkle 1 tbsp. paprika and caraway seeds evenly over all. Add diced tomatoes, wine, and 4 cups of hot water until the meat is almost covered. Stir and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer and cover with lid. Let the mixture simmer slowly for about 90-100 minutes, replenishing the water as needed to keep it from getting dry. Serve over spaetzle, potatoes, rice, or noodles. Yield: 4 servings
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Water Wise
In the Mix
What Song Are You? BY PAUL COTRUVO Over the last few years, I have done many interviews with local musicians, and I always ask the question, “If you were a song, what song would you be and why?” I do not ask this question lightly, nor am I trying to channel my inner Barbara Walters. I truly believe music can shape our lives and inspire all of us to be better human beings. The answers are always interesting and revealing. I was asked this question in an interview a few years back and I still stand by my answer. The song I chose was, “With A Little Help From My Friends.” Remember the lyrics, “What would you think if I sang out of tune, would you stand up and walk out on me? Lend me your ears and I’ll sing you a song, and I’ll try not to sing out of key. Oh I get by with a little help from my friends.”
Saving Water Without Sacrifice
I think this little song by the Beatles really inspires me to be a better person. We should all be helping each other every day! So I thought it would be fun to ask a few local dignitaries this question, “What song inspires you, or if you were a song, what song would you be and why?” Here’s what they had to say: Zac Shess, board member of the Pleasant Hill Rec & Park District, said, “There are so many songs, but I’m taking your question literally. I’m not picking my favorite song to listen to or my favorite song to work out to, but the song that inspires me. Mine is from a rather obscure ‘80s project band called The Style Council. The song is called ‘Headstart to Happiness.’ Headed by one of the more underrated musicians of that era, Paul Weller, the song itself is a nod to several genres, including big band, ‘80s synth-pop and even a little dub-step. Anyway, the song is very upbeat and speaks to a hope of a new relationship and looking forward
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to the future. I guess that’s what we’re all trying to do is get that headstart to happiness.” Ann Luke, executive director of the Pleasant Hill Chamber of Commerce, said, “If I were a song, I would be my favorite one, James Taylor’s ‘The Secret of Life,’ and I would be very smart! Every time I hear it, I’m reminded that life is ticking away and I should be enjoying the passage of time! (The lyrics are) ‘It would be easy... after all, any fool can do it, there ain’t nothing to it, nobody knows how we got to the top of the hill, but since we’re on our way down, we might as well enjoy the ride!’” Here is what Jay Lifson, executive director at Lafayette Chamber of Commerce had to say, “Tough question. I don’t have an anthem or a theme or a ‘my song.’ When I was young and the battle was raging in Vietnam, I think Barry McGuire’s ‘Eve of Destruction’ was what was on my mind. Dylan’s ‘Positively 4th Street’ was a particularly bitter song, but it struck a chord with me. Funny, the first two songs I thought of are pretty negative. I belong to the church of ‘Don’t be an ***hole.’ These songs identified what I did not like in this world. So I am thinking what song speaks to the hope and wonder in my life. How about ‘The Attics of My Life’ by Robert Hunter and Jerry Garcia of the Grateful Dead? For me, it is not religious or deeply spiritual, just what is possible.” Pleasant Hill Mayor Tim Flaherty chimed in with, “This is a difficult question for me to answer. Songs evoke
memories of a certain time and place in my life, but none that I can immediately identify as the tune of my life. As a (very) young boy I recall gathering around the portable phonograph and singing with my dad to Mitch Miller and ‘Mairzy Dotes.’ Later on it was crushing on the girl across the street to the Beatles’‘I Want to Hold Your Hand,’ and later still (after fast forwarding through what is now called classic rock, disco and Cher), smitten with the charms of the woman across the street, it was Hootie and the Blowfish’s ‘Hold My Hand.’ Bon Jovi’s ‘It’s My Life’ comes as close as any song to being my personal anthem. Work hard, make thoughtful choices, and live them out loud. Stand up for the downtrodden. Be confident, but not arrogant. And most importantly, have a good time.” And finally, Sheila Cotruvo, chair of the Pleasant hill Civic Action Commission (my beautiful wife), says, “The song that inspire me is the Beatles’‘Here Comes the Sun.’ It has seen me through some very sad times and always brings me joy each time I hear it. It reminds me that each day is a gift, and yes, the ‘Smiles (do return) to their faces’ even after the darkest of times.” What song are you? Share your thoughts on www.ourcommunityfocus. com. Quote of the Month: “You know what music is? God’s little reminder that there’s something else besides us in this universe; harmonic connection between all living beings, everywhere, even the stars.” -From the 2007 movie, August Rush
Paul’s Picks October 10: Ken Cooper, Back Forty, 100 Coggins Drive, Pleasant Hill, 6pm October 11: The Spazmatic’s, Dan’s Bar, 1524 Civic Drive, Walnut Creek, 10pm October 12: Storm Large w/ Swoon, Armando’s, 707 Marina Vista, Martinez, 8pm October 16: Duo Gadjo, Armando’s, 707 Marina Vista, Martinez, 8pm October 17: Lumberyard, Vinnie’s Bar & Grill, 2045 Mt. Diablo Street, Concord, 9pm October 18: Mutha Cover, Dallimonti’s, 1932 Oak Park Blvd., Pleasant Hill, 9:30pm
Open 7 Days: Mon - Sat 11AM - 9 PM • Sundays 10AM - 8PM
October 25: Matt Owens & Friends, Roxx on Main, 627 Main St., Martinez, 7pm
40 Golf Club RD., Pleasant Hill 925.676.2420 • WWW.ELTAPS.COM
October 30: Sin Silver, Rocco’s Pizzeria, Ygnacio Valley Road, Walnut Creek, 8:30pm
october 2014 • ourcommunityfocus.com
When we talk about water conservation, different people have different ideas of what that means. For some, this means taking shorter showers, letting their landscape die, or not growing a vegetable garden. All of these have one thing in common- they are sacrificing quality for saving water. During a drought, this can be exactly what is needed. But water conservation has another meaning. It can mean getting the same quality for less water. Simply put, it is improving the efficiency of our water use. There are many ways to improve water use efficiency, which results in conserving water without sacrificing quality. Contra Costa Water District has a number of water conservation tips and programs aimed at helping customers improve their water use efficiency. Below are three water-saving actions you can take to improve your water use efficiency, without sacrificing quality.
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PH Rec & Park Update
What Exactly is a Living Trust?
Avoid the Process of Probate
Upcoming Recreation and Park Classes and Events Get Creative this Fall with Art Classes For The Whole Family Tap into your inner artist! Pleasant Hill Recreation & Park District offers a wide variety of drawing and painting art classes this October and November for preschool, youth, teens and adults. Enroll now at pleasanthillrec.com. Beginning Spanish for Adults Now Available Hola! Learn basic Spanish to communicate with clients and coworkers in your workplace; converse with friends and family. Students will have fun learning basic, conversational reading and writing skills and gain knowledge about Spanish speaking countries, their history, and culture. No previous knowledge is necessary. Classes held in the Pleasant Hill Senior Center classrooms over eight weeks: Wednesdays, Oct. 22-Dec. 17, 6-7:30pm. $120/$105(District residents). Enroll at pleasanthillrec.com. Share the Magic Friday, October 10, 6pm, at the PH Community Center’s Perera Pavilion. Join us for an evening filled with fun, mystery, and excitement. See illusions, card experts, and close-up performances by the Society
of American Magicians. Come in costume for a chance to win a prize. Preregistration required. Please call 6820896 for more details. Sign up early, space is limited. Doors open at 6pm. Admission is $10. Register at pleasanthillrec.com. Trunk or Treat Friday, October 24, 5:30-7:30pm, PH Teen Center Parking lot, 147 Gregory Ln. Bring the whole family in costume and enjoy the evening going from trunk to trunk, collecting candy from community members who have decorated their vehicles for this fun, spooktacular event. Crafts, activities and goodie bag provided for each child. Don’t want to trick or treat? Register your decorated vehicle for a chance to win a great prize. Hot dogs and drinks available for $1 each to support the Pleasant Hill Teen Center. Free for trick-or-treaters. Donations are appreciated. Sponsored by Generations Church. FREE to public. Car trunk entry fee: $5. Family Fun Triathlon (8 yrs & up) November 2, 9am (check in @ 8am), at PH Education Center, 1 Santa Barbara Rd. Pre-register by October 16 for T-shirt.
Mark Your Calendars Pleasant Hill Recreation & Park District Holiday Festival is back on Wednesday, December 10, 5 - 8:30pm, at the NEW COMMUNITY CENTER, 320 Civic Drive. Get into the holiday spirit at the 27th Annual Holiday Festival, featuring a magical variety of activities and entertainment sure to delight the whole family. Visit pleasanthillrec.com for updates. Sponsored by Republic Services.
BREAKFAST & LUNCH
Country Cookin’ at its Old Fashioned Best PLEASANT HILL 2390 Monument Blvd. 687-4100 Kohls Shopping Center
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october 2014 • ourcommunityfocus.com
2 Eggs with your choice of 1/2 waffle or 2 flapjacks, and 2 strips of bacon or 2 sausage links or 1/2 ham
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& over: 500-yard swim, 10-mile bike, 4-mile run. Holiday Event Rentals Pleasant Hill Recreation & Park District has the perfect venue for your family or business holiday parties and events. Contact Ryan Herriman at (925) 676-5200.
Speaker Series
Steps to Protect Our Property
BY JIM BONATO Pleasant Hill CERT is pleased to announce a monthly speaker series beginning in October that coincides with the 25th anniversary of the Loma Prieta Earthquake. Co-sponsored by the Pleasant Hill Recreation & Park District, the speaker series will be held on the third Thursday of every month at the Pleasant Hill Community Center, 320 Civic Drive, at 7pm. Kicking off the series on October 16 will be a presentation on the devastation caused by the Loma Prieta earthquake, the history of Hayward Fault quakes, and the expected effects of a major earthquake on the Hayward Fault. The speaker for this topic will be Dr. David P. Schwartz, senior geologist with the USGS and co-chair of the Bay Area Earthquake Alliance. Dr. Schwartz has developed an excellent presentation that uses scientifically generated visuals to explain ways the earth moves from various epicenters along the fault line. The series continues on November 20 with a presentation by Mike Boucher, senior hydrologist with the Contra Costa County Flood Control & Water Conservation District. If you’ve lived in Pleasant Hill in the past decade, you’ll recall that late December
rainfall can be vastly heavier than expected. Those living in the lower elevations of Pleasant Hill can vividly recall the floodwaters caused from creek runoff, clogged storm drains, and heavy rains threatening to enter their homes. What does history tell us about flooding in Pleasant Hill? What conditions do the experts look at to predict flooding in Contra Costa County? What steps can we as homeowners take to protect our property? These questions and more will be answered in this presentation. On December 18, Maria Duazo, hazardous materials specialist with the Contra Costa Health Services Department, will speak on common, but hazardous chemicals and materials found in the home. How should they be stored? What is their shelf life and how should they be disposed? Why can mixing them lead to toxic results? Additional future topics currently being scheduled for the first of the year include: a FEMA presentation on the three basic steps families can take to prepare for a major earthquake and the protocol and steps our city has in place to respond to a major emergency. Seating is free but limited for each presentation. It is recommended that you reserve your seat for CERT’s speakers’ series by contacting me at 9385433 or jbonato@aol.com.
BY DANIEL DuREE In California, the core of most estate plans is what is colloquially referred to as a “Living Trust.” In attorney speak, this estate planning device is known as a “Revocable Inter Vivos (during life) Trust.” But what is a living trust, and why is it important to have a living trust in California? The Basics A living trust is, at its core, a contract. But it is a contract that creates a sort of quasi-entity that becomes a legal entity when the creator of the trust passes away. It is called a “living” trust because it is created by someone while s/he is alive, and it is called “revocable” because the creator (also known as the “settlor”) retains the right to revoke it at any time as long as s/
he is alive and mentally competent. Because of this revocability feature, it is not a legal entity distinct from the creator until s/he dies (rendering the trust now “irrevocable”). When the settlor dies, the trust now has its own tax identification number, and a named successor trustee takes over management of the trust to carry out the purpose described in the trust (usually to gather and distribute the assets in a timely fashion to named beneficiaries). Why Have A Living Trust? So why do we need to put our property into a living trust in California? One word: probate. By setting up a living trust to hold our assets, our heirs do not have to go through the mind-bending judicial process of California probate. Probate is the court administration of a person’s estate after s/he passes away. It is a very costly and lengthy process, not to men-
Time to Change?
tion confusing and on the public record. Probate is triggered if a person dies with more than one hundred and fifty thousand dollars outside of a trust, regardless of if s/he has a will or not. By setting up a living trust and naming a successor trustee, we can choose an individual to administer our estate in lieu of the California probate court. By doing this, we save vast amounts
of time, money, and frustration for our heirs while keeping our affairs private. If you have any questions about estate planning or setting up a living trust, please don’t hesitate to give me a call. Daniel L. DuRee is a third generation resident of Contra Costa County and a licensed attorney practicing in Walnut Creek. He can be reached at (925) 2101400 or visit www.DuReeLaw.com.
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TRUSTS • WILLS • PROBATE
Open Enrollment Season
BY COLLEEN CALLAHAN It is open enrollment season. This year, it’s for people who want to change their Medicare prescription drug plans and for those who purchased individual health insurance. It’s time to review current coverage and see if it meets your needs. There are still challenges for those with new individual health insurance. Issues relate to billing, income and citizenship verification, and finding doctors that are contracted. The insurance companies are struggling to meet the service needs of their policyholders. As an agent, I see issues related to claims and pre-authorization of services. The doctors make coding errors and the insurance companies deny claims. You get stuck in the middle. In the past, I was able to help clients; I could make telephone calls to insurance companies, ask the right questions and talk to a person that understood the issue. That kind
claims person (not an oxymoron) would efficiently and compassionately approve a procedure that was medically necessary. It is now very hard to find one of those people. It is not clear to me if the claims people are overworked or understaffed. I wonder if insurance companies have reduced administrative staff to meet the demands of the Medical Loss Ratio for ACA. The rule says insurance companies must spend 80%- 85% of the premium on health expenses. On the surface that sounds great, but have you called a company lately? How was the hold music? More people are in the system and there are fewer on the other end of the line to help. I don’t like it. Keep an eye out for commercials about Proposition 45. There is an agent website http://www.agentsofaction.org/ that gives an explanation. Please take a look and consider carefully how you vote. You might be able to guess my view! Colleen Callahan Insurance Services is located in Pleasant Hill. Contact her at 925-363-5433 or ccallahan@callahaninsurance.com.
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Brunch • Lunch • Dinner
OCTOBER SPECIAL
Join Pleasant Hill Recreation for a noncompetitive, family-fun fitness triathlon event that incorporates swimming, bicycling, and running! Everyone must wear a helmet during the bike portion of the race. Age 14 & under: 250-yard swim, 5-mile bike, 2-mile run. Age 15
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Sell Out Expected SUPPORTING OUR LOCAL
Proudly Sponsored by Les Schwab Martinez
Martinez Historic Home Tour
ORGANIZATIONS
This year’s Historic Home Tour in Martinez will include a 1923 Craftsman bungalow that underwent such a successful restoration that it was one of four homes featured in the winter issue of American Bungalow. The magazine’s photorich article gave its readers a fine description of the home and the restoration process. Now the Home Tour will allow Community Focus readers to visit the home and gardens in person. Restoration of the dilapidated house began when it was purchased in 2002. A generator was initially used because PG&E had turned off the power and gas three days after the house was purchased, deeming it unfit for habitation. During the ensuing restoration process, every piece of trim in the house was removed, refinished, and reinstalled. Missing Craftsman details, such as the built-in glassfaced bookcases which would have originally flanked the fireplace, were replaced. The oak floors were refinished. The kitchen was enlarged, and the impressive O’Keefe & Merritt stove was cleaned, re-chromed and re-enameled. The homeowner did almost all the work himself on evenings and weekends. The effort to complete the project took over 12 years, but the feature in American Bungalow is a first for a Martinez residence. The Craftsman home style originated here in California around 1900. The more austere style was a reaction to the overuse of ornamentation and “gingerbread” in Victorian homes. The Craftsman home was in vogue from 1905 to 1925, and the style virtually disappeared after the 1929 stock market crash and the onset of the Great Depression. The Home Tour in Martinez will include six other vintage homes, none of which have previously been opened to the public. Five of the homes are in the Craftsman style, one is an English Cottage, and one is a Spanish Revival. One of the Craftsman homes includes a hidden sleeping nook – a much cheerier one than the gloomy “closet under the stairs” where the young wizard Harry Potter was forced to sleep. The Spanish Revival home on the tour is the mayor’s residence in Martinez. The tour will also include the 1930 Masonic Temple, an Art Deco structure. This style was often used for public buildings, but rarely for private residences. The tours start at the 1937 Shell Clubhouse and include the town’s four museums. The Historic Home Tour in Martinez will be held on Saturday, October 11, from 10am to 4pm. The public is invited. More photographs and tour information can be found on the website: www.MartinezHomeTour.com.
Dia del los Muertos
Martinez is celebrating the first ever Dia de los Muertos Festival of the Altars on Saturday, Nov. 1, 3-9pm, at the Main Street Plaza. Through art, music, food, and community altars, this event is a celebration of life, honoring those who have passed away. Artists will be creating personal altars to be displayed during the festival. Visitors attending the festival are encouraged to dress in Dia de los Muertos motif and celebrate the lives of loved ones who have passed away. In partnership with the Martinez Arts Association and Main Street Martinez, a variety of Dia de los Muertos events and workshops will be offered in Downtown Martinez throughout the month of October, all leading up to the main event on November 1. • Wednesday, Oct. 1: Art Exhibition, Martinez Library, 740 Court St. Exhibition runs through Nov. 3. Free event. • Friday, Oct. 3: Artists’ Reception, 6-9pm mARTinez Gallery, 630 Court St. Exhibition runs through Nov. 1. Free event. • Saturday, Oct. 11: Nicho Workshop, 1-3pm Martinez Library, 740 Court St. Led by Lorena Castillo. Learn to make small altars or Nichos for your ancestors. Free! • Saturday, Oct. 18: Pan Dulce Workshop, Martinez Adult School, 600 F St. Led by Sandra Mercado. Learn to make Mexican sweet bread (pan dulce). Class fee. • Saturday, Nov. 1: Alhambra Pioneer Cemetery Tour, 10-11:30am, Martinez Cemetery, headstone hunt and crafts. Pre-registration required (925) 372-3510. Hosted by Martinez Parks and Recreation. Free event. • Saturday, Nov. 1: Festival of Altars 3-9pm, Main Street Plaza in Downtown Martinez. Altars created by local artists, traditional food, music, family activities, costumes encouraged. Free event. The Cooperative Center Federal Credit Union sponsors this event. For more information, please visit www.Mainstreetmartinez.org
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College Park’s Musicians Showcase
College Park High School music students, family members, staff and community members are expected to gather 600 strong at the Concord Hilton on Saturday, October 18, for the 14th Annual Musicians Showcase to raise funds for CPHS Instrumental Music. More than 200 students in six ensembles will perform music centered on this year’s theme, “All That Jazz!” The Musician’s Showcase is a dinner and auction event organized by the College Park Instrumental Music Boosters (CPIMB) to raise funds to pay for music, festival fees and transportation, uniforms, instrument repairs and purchases, and to support travel. “Last year we had record attendance of 360 guests, and
over 200 musicians performed. We sold out a week before showcase,” says 2014 Showcase Chairperson and CPIMB President Kathy Kaminek. “It is very encouraging to see such enthusiastic support from parents and our community. It’s an exciting and inspiring event and you can’t beat the entertainment.” The evening will be filled with toe-tapping jazz performances by award-winning College Park ensembles. Beginning at 7pm, Instrumental Music Director Jorge Jiménez will conduct College Park ensembles, including the Concert Band, Symphonic Band, Wind Ensemble, String Orchestra, Symphony Orchestra, and Jazz Ensemble as they play a rich line-up of jazz favorites from Count Basie, Gershwin,
On Campus
Performing Arts & College Fair Appointment with Death at College Park COLLEGE PARK PERFORMING ARTS PRESENTS Agatha Christie’s mystery Appointment Appointment with with Death runs for five performances. The show opens on November 1 at 7pm in College Park’s newly improved multi-use room, now offering better seating and sound! A matinee is on November 5 at 4pm, with the remaining by agatha christie performances on November 6, 7 and 8 at 7pm. Tickets are $5/students and staff, $8/seniors, and $10/general admission. Group discounts are available. Appointment with Death involves detective Hercule Poirot and Mrs. Boynton, a tyranSHOWTIMES: november 1,6,7,8 @ 7PM nical stepmother who rules her adult children november 5 @ 4pm TICKETS: with an iron hand. When she turns up dead, all $5 Students/Staff $10 Seniors the characters in and around this family fall un$12 General Admission der suspicion. Set in Jerusalem and its environs in 1945, this mystery offers up an ensemble of quirky, international characters and issues of mental illness, colonialism and the dysfunctional family. Support the performing arts and enjoy the show! For more information, call Joan Lopate at 925-682-7670 x 3245, or email lopatej@mdusd.org. Mt. Diablo Unified 2nd Annual College Fair! MDUSD’s 2nd Annual College Fair is on Tuesday, October 28, 6:30-8:30pm, at Ygnacio Valley High School in Concord. Meet more than 80 representatives from colleges and universities across the country, as well as hear from local educational resources. The event is ideal for students in their junior and senior years. You can get answers to your questions and make an informed decision on the right fit for you after high school. Open to students and parents/guardians at all MDUSD high schools. Students must show their school ID in order to attend the fair. Questions? Email mdusdcollegefair@ gmail.com.
DEATH
Dizzy Gillespie and more. The Musician’s Showcase will feature silent and live auctions, a dessert auction, a musician’s auction highlighting student creativity and skills, and the greatly anticipated raffle. “Our students will be in the community performing in small ensembles and selling raffle tickets at local stores and at the Pleasant Hill Art, Jazz and Wine Festival,” says Raffle Coordinator Beth Macy, “We do this every year and find that the community is so incredibly supportive of our program.” This year’s prizes are: first prize - a $2500 vacation package to New Orleans; second prize - a $1500 value of Monterey Jazz tickets and accommodations for two; and third prize - a $500 value of dinner and jazz at Yoshi’s for four. In 2011, Mr. Jorge Jiménez became the instrumental music director at Col-
MEF Run
lege Park. Under his leadership, the program has grown and regained vitality in the aftermath of music director turnover and financial challenges due to 2009 state budget cuts to education. “Our program has not only grown in numbers, it has grown in the way we interact with our school and community. The strongest communities are those that foster an attitude of service and mutual helpfulness for the greater good,” says Mr. Jiménez. “I want to help students learn and understand that they have gifts and talents to share with their community.” The event is from 5pm-10pm. For tickets, visit https://sites.google.com/site/cphsband2/showcase2012.
Don’t Miss the Run for Education The Shell/MEF Run For Education will be held on Sunday, October 5, at 8:30am. You can run or walk in the 5K or run in the 10K. There is a kids’ run (under age 8) starting at approximately 9:30am, beginning at the START line, for about a block. The Pasta Feed, sponsored by Martinez Rotary and Kiwanis will be Saturday, October 4, 6-8pm, at the Shell Clubhouse on Pacheco Blvd. Registration ends October 4 at 8:59pm. For more information, visit www.martinezedfoundation.com. The Run For Education is the largest annual fundraiser for the Martinez Education Foundation, with Shell the primary sponsor. Over the years, the Run for Education has become a much anticipated community event that demonstrates tremendous local support for all schools in the Martinez Unified School District.
Buy tickets on line at https://intouch.mdusd.org or at the door.
COLLEGE PARK HIGH SCHOOL MULTI-USE ROOM • 201 VIKING DRIVE, PLEASANT HILL
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Secret to Results
Foot Care
The Un-Sexy Magic Pill
Oh, My Aching Feet!
BY KEVIN ARNDT Normally I base articles around athletic development or teens and exercise, but the information applies to everyone when it comes to fitness, and in some instances, life. I started my career training the general population, but over time I shifted to training athletes. Although the goals of athletes are different, successful clientele in every population have one thing in common when working out, the so-called “magic pill” that everyone searches for: consistency. I know this isn’t the sexy little secret you were hoping for, but it is the key to long-term success. I have helped clients lose 60-plus pounds or come back from injuries, and I’ve helped athletes compete at some of the highest levels. Among every client who successfully met their goal, consistency was the common thread. It is impossible to think you will be able to workout at your absolute best every day. Too many stresses occur day in and day out. The most common problem I find with clientele is that if they eat badly, have a bad workout (or even miss a workout), they’ll throw the rest of the week away and say, “I’ll start again on Monday when I can start fresh.” To combat this I help my clients understand they will have bad days and sometimes they will eat poorly, but if
BY TONYA AMOS If you wear fabulous footwear, then you are already paying attention to your feet. Whether your style is hightech running shoes, fashionable stilettos, or laid back thongs, every shoe tells a story about the joints of our feet, ankles, knees, hips, back, shoulders, neck, and every muscle in between. Our feet are part of an endless “Catch 22” for the comfort and function of the rest of the body. If our feet (our foundation) are well positioned and well balanced, then their good alignment is reflected all the way up to the top of our heads. And conversely, if there is weakness and imbalance further up in the body (often in “the core,” pelvis or legs), this will be represented all the way down to how we place our feet on the ground. With so many moving parts in the feet, we have plenty of opportunities for our days to be blissful or wish that we didn’t have feet at all. Year after year, these moving parts get shoved into rigid shoes without enough support or with strange angles suited to a stilt-walker. All of these scenarios create muscular imbalances and deny our feet healthy alignment and much
they approach exercise as a regular part of life going forward, they will be successful. Usually you are going to know ahead of time if you are going to miss a workout, so schedule around that. You might have to work out on one of your scheduled off days. If you are sick, try to foam roll at home, nothing more. Just stay consistent. A workout doesn’t always have to be an all-out, chestthumping session. Sometimes it is just foam rolling and mobility. It might just be barely enough to break a sweat. Understand you are going to have bad meals -- on vacation, with friends and family in town, or you just want to. That’s alright. Just don’t make it a habit; that is when you get into trouble. When you start becoming consistent with bad habits or you slip up on a meal, pick yourself up and get right back on track. You would be surprised how well it works. In closing, I want to challenge anyone out there who has been trying to lose weight, add more muscle, or go to the next level in sports to not miss one workout for a full four months. Move things around in your schedule to accommodate your workout. And if you can’t get your full workout in, do some foam rolling, mobility, a walk, something, anything. It doesn’t have to be crazy, but it has to be consistent. Let me know if you try this, then let me know your results. Kevin Arndt is an athletic trainer at Forma Gym in Walnut Creek.
needed daily exercise. Sooner or later, this causes us to scream “Oh, my aching feet!” The right exercises that not only work the strength, flexibility and balance of the feet, but the muscles in the leg, hips, and pelvis can do wonders for keeping our feet feeling great, as well as improving our overall balance. Get the right support externally by wearing well-made, supportive footwear and internally by muscular strength and flexibility. Soon your exuberant feet will be singing you praises, as they are off to new and fantastic feeling adventures. Tonya Marie Amos is a fully certified Pilates instructor. For more information, please call (925) 680-4400 or go to www. AspirePilatesCenter.com.
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Martinez Senior Activities
818 Green Street, Martinez 925-370-8770 Oct. 12 - Pancake Breakfast 8-11am. Breakfast includes pancakes or toast, sausage, eggs, orange juice and coffee. Everyone is welcome. Cost is $4.00 for adults/$2.00 for children 10 and under. Oct. 24 - AARP Smart Driver Course 10am – 2:30pm. Program helps seniors recognize their limitations and learn how to reduce accidents and regain driving privileges. Students receive a Certificate of Completion, which may offer insurance discounts. Check with your car insurance for details. Checks payable to AARP; no cash. $15 for AARP members with card, $20 for non-members. Oct. 27 - CERT Pet Emergency Preparedness Class 1:30-3:30pm. “Not if…but when an emergency or disaster strikes.” This FREE informative 2-hour preparedness class will teach how to prepare for your pet(s) in an emergency or when a major disaster strikes.
Bond Committee
Recognized for Outstanding Service
On September 11, 2014, the Pleasant Hill Recreation & Park District Board of Directors recognized Bond Oversight Committee (BOC) members for their outstanding service in financial governance. The BOC ensured compliance of the Capital Improvement Budget Expenditure Plan for the Measure E projects beginning in the 2009/2010 fiscal years through the end of construction of all the projects in 2014. The committee efforts included monitoring all plans and expenditures to ascertain whether these were consistent with the budget. They also reviewed any major changes in costs previously approved by the District and reported Measure E revenues and expenditures. BOC members included Lisa Hagopian, Harold Jeffrey, Leo Vardas, Marie Simons, Norman VanHole, Frank Gorham and Erin Hirst.
Nov. 7 - Annual Holiday Bazaar 9am-2pm. Handmade crafts, baked goods, jewelry, white elephant, plants, holiday decorations and more. Lunch, between 11:20am-1pm, includes pasta, salad and garlic bread. Coffee, ice tea and water will be available. Tickets: $4 or $4.50 day of the sale. Nov. 14 - Vagabond Players Present “Cemetery Club:” Doors open at 1:30pm and play begins at 2pm. A comedy about three long-time friends who have become widows within the past year and once a week, they gather to visit their husband’s graves. Cost: $10 members/ $12 non-members. Light buffet to follow performance. Tickets must be pre-purchased, deadline is Friday, Nov. 10. Dec. 7 - Clarinet Fusion Holiday Performance. Doors open 1:30pm, buffet begins at 1:45pm. Performance begins 2:30pm. A holiday party buffet: appetizers, wine, non- alcoholic punch followed by the performance. Pre-purchase necessary. Tickets on sale October 27. Deadline to purchase is November 24, unless capacity reached prior. Cost: $11 members/ $13 non-members.
Pleasant Hill Senior Activities 233 Gregory Lane, Pleasant Hill 925-798-8788 Oct. 1 & Oct. 8 - NEW Class! Back Care: At the Office & At Home 6:30pm7:30pm in the dining room. Take care of your back! Dr. Kaplan will share tips that you can do yourself to keep your spine healthy. These tips include ergonomics, exercises, lifting techniques, lifestyle and nutritional support. $20/$15 district resident. Oct. 5 - Pancake Breakfast 8:30am-10:30am. Senior Center Chateau Room. All ages welcome! Tickets: Adults (11+) $5; Children (5-10yrs) $3; 4 & under Free! Oct. 9 - Care Management Series: The Facts on Alzheimer’s Disease presented by the Alzheimer’s Association 2-3:30pm. PH Senior Center. The Care Management Series brings a variety of topics from experts in our community. This series is sponsored by the Chateau’s of Pleasant Hill. Space is limited. RSVP required. Call (925) 798-8788. Oct. 14 – Beyond Betrayal: The Art of Forgiveness 1pm. Learn how to move beyond betrayal that may have happened in your life. This special presentation will define 5 steps necessary to let go of the resentment and hurt and live in the present with a forgiving heart. At the Chateau Room, free. Please RSVP. Oct. 24 – Age of Champions Movie Screening 1pm. An inspiring story that captures the triumphant spirit of National Senior Olympic competitors as they tackle the challenges of old age with grace, humor and optimism. Free, sponsored by Day Real Estate. Please RSVP.
Best Mechanic
Oct. 24 - Taste of the Vine 3pm in the dining room. Cozy up with friends for the perfect fall happy hour. Wine, food and laughter with a chance to win some prizes! Sponsored by the Chateau’s of Pleasant Hill. Tickets: $10 presale or $15 day of (based on availability).
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Urology News
Dream Foundation
Read My Mind©
BY STEPHEN TAYLOR, MD For patients with elevated PSA’s and enlarged prostates, urologists often recommend a prostate biopsy. The urologist typically uses the standard 12-core ultrasound biopsy technique – a technology that has had relatively no change since the 1980s. This procedure obtained samples from the lower portion of the prostate and often resulted in normal or negative biopsies. The dilemma we face is that approximately 30% of prostate cancers are discovered outside of this biopsied zone. A new procedure has come along that is practice changing! The medical community has great hope for a new technique that uses MRI with ultrasound imaging to more accurately reach and biopsy suspicious lesions. In a recent Phase 3 study, researchers showed that using a specialized MRI technique along with transrectal ultra-
BY MICHELLE FRANKLAND, NP Imagine being 58 years old and never experiencing “The Happiest Place on Earth.” When the Dream Foundation learned about a pancreatic cancer patient’s long time dream of going to Disneyland, it made his dream come true. Thanks to this organization, he and his family spent several fun-filled days in the theme park making special memories together. Then there was the 93-year old army veteran who was battling terminal lung cancer. One of his favorite sports was sailing, and his dream was to be on a boat feeling the salt air on his skin. The Dream Foundation made it possible for this wheelchair bound sailor to set sail again by taking him on a delightful day cruise on the bay. Dreams like these come true every day and are made possible by the Dream Foundation. It is the first and largest national wish-granting foundation for adults with terminal illnesses. “The mission of the Dream Foundation is to enhance the quality of life for individuals and their families facing a life-threatening illness by fulfilling a heart’s final wish.” Headquartered in Santa Barbara, California, the Dream Foundation has
BY MICHAEL G. HARRIS, OD This month’s column features two books about young men, although the authors refer to them as “boys” in the titles. The 1936 Olympics in Berlin were designed to be a showcase for the supremacy of Nazi Germany. Most of us are familiar with the heroics of American Jesse Owens, who shattered Hitler’s dream of showing the superiority of the Arian people. However, the story of another group of American heroes at those Olympic games came to light recently in Daniel James Brown’s bestseller, The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics. These “boys” are nine ordinary working class young men from the Pacific Northwest who grew up during the Depression. They were members of the University of Washington crew team in the 1930’s. The “boat” is a rowing shell used for racing. For those not familiar with this sport, eight oarsmen row the boat while looking backward as the coxswain steers the boat and shouts instructions while looking forward. The coxswain determines the speed and pace at which the oarsmen row. As you can imagine, it’s extremely important that all the oarsmen stroke in synchrony. To do so, the coach in the book, Al Ulbrickson, must perfectly match the oarsmen to the correct position in the boat. The book centers on one member of the crew, teenager Joe Rantz, who finds in rowing the family he never had. We learn about all the boys and the hardships they faced. We also meet George Yeomans Pocock, the man who handcrafted every rowing shell. He’s quoted at the beginning of each chapter. While his quotes are about rowing, they also apply to life in general. One of my favorites is: “Once the race starts, there are no timeouts, no substitutions. It calls upon the limits of human endurance… that come from the mind, heart,
New Procedure to Detect Cancer sound (TRUS) in men with an elevated PSA resulted in a prostate cancer detection rate that was twice as high compared to men undergoing the standard 12-core biopsy. After evaluating 105 men using the MR/ultrasound biopsy approach, prostate cancer was detected in 62 percent of men compared to approximately 30 percent using ultrasound alone for the biopsy method. At Pacific Urology, providing the highest level of medical care to our patients has always been our goal. My colleagues and I believe the benefits of this new MRI guided biopsy procedure are significant for patients, which is why we are implementing this cutting-edge technology into our practice. We will be the first practice in Contra Costa County to have this procedure available. Dr. Stephen Taylor is a urologist with Pacific Urology. He specializes in robotic urologic surgeries and prostate, kidney, and bladder cancers. To reach Dr. Taylor, call 925-937-7740 or visit www.pacific-urology. com.
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hundreds of volunteers who partner with over 600 hospice and healthcare organizations nationwide to fulfill thousands of dreams each year. There are three simple requirements in order to be considered: patients need to be 18 years or older, have a life expectancy diagnosis of one year or less, and lack the resources to achieve dreams on their own. Learn more about the Dream Foundation on October 15 at the Lafayette Park Hotel as a group of Genentech employees create awareness by hosting an “Evening of Dreams.” Enjoy tasty bites, wine, and philanthropy. Donations suggested at the door. To register, call Laura at 201-248-6455, or visit www.dreamfoundation.org to learn more about how you can volunteer, donate time, money, airline miles, or hotel points. Michelle Frankland is an oncologytrained nurse practitioner with Diablo Valley Oncology & Hematology Medical Group. Located at the California Cancer and Research Institute in Pleasant Hill, the group provides comprehensive cancer care to patients by bringing together medical oncology, hematology, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, diagnostic imaging, clinical trials, oncology rehabilitation and supportive care, all in one convenient location. For more information, call 925-677-5041.
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Boys Will Be Boys
and body.” We follow the boys’ progress as they work their way up from the freshman team to the varsity and their friendly rivalry with Cal Berkeley and the “elite” universities. But all this is just a prelude to their historic race for Olympic gold. Not only must they battle teams from other countries through preliminary races, but they must also battle the bias German racing community which uses every trick of the trade to put the Americans at a disadvantage against the German home team. Without giving away the ending, this book exemplifies the triumph of the American spirit. It’s a wonderful companion to Laura Hildenbrand’s bestseller, Unbroken, which I reviewed last year. The other book about “boys” is Joshua Zeitz’ Lincoln’s Boys: John Hay, John Nicolay, and the War for Lincoln’s Image. Hay and Nicolay were friends of Abraham Lincoln and became his secretaries when he was elected president in 1860. But their jobs entailed far more than taking notes for the president. They acted more like today’s chief of staff and “were his close confidants in the darkest and loneliest days of the (Civil) war.” They were there when he signed the Emancipation Proclamation and gave his famous Gettysburg Address. (And, no, Lincoln did not write the Gettysburg Address on the back of an envelope while traveling by train to Gettysburg.) Hay and Nicolay were the caretakers of Lincoln’s memoirs after his death and worked tirelessly to preserve his legacy. They were also responsible in part for the Lincoln Memorial. If you’re interested in Lincoln or the Civil War and want to get a unique perspective on our greatest president, Lincoln’s Boys will surely do the trick.
PHEI Events
Pleasant Hill Reads BY MICHAEL G. HARRIS, OD AND PATRICK REMER The Pleasant Hill Education Initiative continues to bring outstanding educational programs to our students. The Initiative was started by former Mayor Michael Harris in 2013 to bring our community together to improve the educational opportunities for Pleasant Hill children. A variety of new programs have been developed, including in-school reading support for students. Spear-headed by the Pleasant Hill Library and Patrick Remer, the Initiative is launching two exciting programs this month, Pleasant Hill Reads and the Night of 1000 Inventions. As part of Pleasant Hill Reads, everyone in town will be encouraged to read one wonderful story on the theme of invention and innovation. The aim is to bring the community together to read and explore one great book that can be enjoyed by children, teens, and adults. With input from kids, families, educators, and Initiative partners, this year’s selection is The Invention of Hugo Cabret, written and illustrated by Brian Selznick. The book follows Hugo, an orphan boy living in the walls of a Paris train station in 1931. He keeps the station clocks running and survives by stealing from various station shops. His quest is to fix a mystical mechanical man and learn the secret message of this invention from his father. He teams up with a bookish girl to unravel the mystery and its connection to the station’s elderly toy storeowner. The story is told in words and
hand-drawn pictures, with entire scenes playing out in delightfully illustrated pages by the author and illustrator. In 2008, Selznick won the prestigious Caldecott Medal as “the artist of the most distinguished American picture book for children.” It was brought to the screen in 2011 as the five-time Academy Awardwinning movie Hugo. The Initiative will provide copies of this book to 5th graders in Pleasant Hill schools. Print or e-book copies will also be available to check out at the library. Friends of the Pleasant Hill Library, Pleasant Hill Education Commission, Pleasant Hill’s Rotary and Lions Club, Strandwood PTA, Sequoia Parent Assc., and individual donors provide broad support for this program. If you would like to get involved and extend the reach to more Pleasant Hill students, contact the library. JFK University will also support the event with volunteers at our programs throughout the month. Pleasant Hill Reads will be launched at the annual Night of 1,000 Inventions at the library on Tuesday, October 7, at 6:30pm, when parents and their kids can build their own prototypes in an “inventor’s lab” and get hands-on with robots, 3-D printers, and other mechanical and digital technology. On the following three Mondays at 6:30pm, kids will have the opportunity to make their own robots, catapults, electric circuits, and more. Bring family, friends and neighbors to the Night of 1,000 Inventions and join in the reading of The Invention of Hugo Cabret.
JENNIFER L. MARTIN, D.D.S. Specialist in Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics
401 GREGORY LANE, SUITE 126 PLEASANT HILL, CA 94523 925.676.8485 FAX 925.676.0288 www.drjennifermartin.com ourcommunityfocus.com • october 2014
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Make Some Plans
Business Directory
october
october 7
october 13-19
october 15
CC County AARP Tax-Aide
Garden Study Club
Read Your Fines Away
Writers Club
Looking for volunteer Tax Counselors or Client Facilitators. IRS training and certification provided. Call LaVerne Gordon at 925.726.3199 for information and to apply.
Speaker: Yulan Tong; “Wildflowers of Mt. Diablo, Calif. & South Africa.” Guests welcome and free. 7pm at Pleasant Hill Community Center, 320 Civic Drive, PH. 925.944.4898 or www.phgsc. com.
october
In celebration of Teen Read Week, CCC Library invites teens in grades 6-12 to clear late charges from their library card accounts. Visit ccclib.org for more detailsinformation email: FOPHLsale@ gmail.com.
Donate Blood
Mt. Diablo Branch of California Writers Club (CWC) luncheon, Zio Fraedo’s, 611 Gregory Ln., PH. Check in 8:30am, breakfast at 9. $35/members, $45/guests. Reservations required: Robin Gigoux at ragig@aol.com, or 925.933.9670. cwcmtdiablowriters.wordpress.com.
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COLLISION
Collision Repair & Painting • Frame Straightening Insurance Claims • Glass • Customs
CONTACT: Buck Cheshire
www.PleasantHillCollision.com • email phcollision@aol.com 925-939-1160 • 1581 Oak Park Boulevard • Pleasant Hill
www.buckshotozoneband.com
october 18
925-787-6149
NEW NAME SAME GREAT SERVICE YOU EXPECT!
925-827-1200
Lesher Center for the Arts 10am -12pm. Advanced registration recommended. Admission, parking and refreshments are free. Call 925.677.5041 or visit www.dvohmg.com.
october 8
october 15
What Do I Do With All My Stuff?
Society of American Magicians
Pleasant Hill Lions Club
Mary Lynne Murray, Certified Professional Organizer, will offer practical advice for those making a move from a long-time home. 7pm, Hillcrest Congregational Church, 404 Gregory Ln, PH
Assembly #112 meets the 3rd Wednesday of each month at 7pm, Veterans of Foreign Wars, 1919 Wendell Lane, PH. Open to all! 925.451.1292.
5th Annual Poker Tournament, Back Forty Texas BBQ, 5pm. 1st prize $400. Tickets are $50 and include food. For tickets call Don Flaskerud 925.676.5859.
october 15
MDUSD Candidates Forum
Rock-n-Re-Election Party
Bring Back the Natives
Attend a lively discussion among six candidates vying for three seats on the MDUSD Board of Directors, 7 to 8:30pm, council chambers, PH City Hall. To submit questions, go to pleasant-hill.net/register.
Hosted by Martinez Councilmember Lara Delaney. Armando’s, 5:30 to 7:30pm, 707 Marina Vista, Martinez. Additional Info: democracy.com/lara4MartinezCouncil
Garden Tour’s Fall Native Plant Sale 10am-4pm! Shop locally at Markham Nature Park and Arboreteum, 1202 La Vista Ave., Concord, or visit www.bringingbackthenatives.net for a full list of participating nurseries.
october 4
october 11
october 15
october 25
Gardening for Native Bees
Restaurant Tour
Digging for Your Roots
Learn about and purchase beautiful, native, bee-attracting plants. Workshop will be held at East Bay Wilds Native Plant Nursery, 28th Ave. at Foothill Blvd. in the Fruitvale district of Oakland.
Sample tasty treats from 18 restaurants in downtown Martinez from 1:30-4pm. Fundraiser for Oohs, Ahs, & Giggles. Registration closes October 10. Call 372-3510 with questions. $15 per person.
Genealogy seminar 8am-4:30pm, 43 classes to choose from. 3700 Concord Blvd. Attendance is $10; with syllabus $25. For questions or to receive a flyer, call Jackie 925.827.4729.
Italian Catholic Federation
october 4 & 5
october 11 & 26
october 25
Season Opens for Symphony
Lattes with Lara
Oktoberfest Celebration
october 2014 • ourcommunityfocus.com
1936 Linda Drive Pleasant Hill CA 94523
Mention this ad and receive 10% OFF.
www.martinezfurniture.com
Grace Episcopal Church, 130 Muir Station Rd., Mtz, 5:30pm Social Hour, 6:30pm Dinner. Tickets $25/ Adult, under 12 free. For tickets/information call Jennifer Sabroe at (925) 383-8386 or email jennifer. sabroe@sbcglobal.net.
• Call for Same Day Appointments • Mon, Tue, Fri, Sat and Sun • 9am - 6pm and Some Evenings
• Drop in nail trimming Sunday & Monday's • Located in and Backed by Central Bark, Downtown Martinez
melonie jackson • 925-822-7858 821 Escobar St, Martinez
LEADING EDGE
PEST MANAGEMENT, INC. TERMITE SPECIALISTS Inspections, Eco-Friendly Treatments & Professional Repairs
800-471-5555
WWW.LEADINGEDGEPM.COM
Lic.#PR6202
20% OFF ALL TREE WORK WITH THIS AD
925-370-7636
742 Arnold Drive #B Martinez
Advertisers
Branch #13 Annual Polenta, Chicken & Sausage Fundraising Dinner 5:30pm no-host Cocktails, 6pm Dinner; St. Catherine of Siena Parish Hall, 604 Mellus St., Mtz. For tickets call 925.229.2665.
One Dog At A Time
Bedroom • Dining • Sofa’s Sectionals • Mattresses
Outlet Prices! Free Delivery!
october 8
Discuss Martinez issues with City Councilmember Lara DeLaney. Saturday, Oct. 11: Saucie’s, 712 Main St., 9:30am & Sunday, Oct. 26: Starbucks, Virginia Hills, 6688 Alhambra, Mtz, 9:30am.
sales@crsfbay.com • www.crsfbay.com
october 25
october 2
38
Pleasant Hill
Many Faces of Breast Cancer
The American Red Cross in support of organ transplant and other patients during Liver Awareness Month. Download the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) to make an appointment.
The Diablo Symphony Orchestra’s 2014-2015 season begins. Tickets & information: 925.943. SHOW (7469), online at www.LesherArts.org, or at the Lesher Center Box Office.
Happy Fun "Live" Music From the 50’s thru 80’s
Local Qualit y You Can Trust!
Aspire Pilates Center Bay View Yacht Charters Big Air Heating and Air Conditioning Bill’s Ace Hardware Blinks & Brows Beauty Boutique Cal Performances Carlton Senior Living Cold Stone Creamery Colleen Callahan Insurance Services Concord Chamber of Commerce Country Waffles Dallimonti’s Dasbiotics 3D Printing Debbie Billecci McKillop for Martinez City Council Diablo Valley Oncology
Dorothy Englund for PH City Council EcoMulch East Bay Residential Realty Ellinwood Exterminators El Tapatio Flaskerud - RE/MAX Today Forma Gym FPHE Gay Gerlack for Martinez Mayor Gil’s Carpets Hagin’s Automotive Hammer’s Heating and A/C Hillcrest Veterinary Hospital Hire My Husband Home Detailers Housekeeping Jack Weir for PH City Council Jack’s Restaurant & Bar Jennifer L. Martin D.D.S.
cwtreeservice.com
ES FRE TIM E AT E
S • TRIMMING EXPERTS • STUMP REMOVAL • TREE REMOVAL SPECIALIST • FREE WOODCHIP MULCH • FIREWOOD SEASONED & SPLIT
925.939.8733
Lic. #724531 • Insured PL & PD worker’s comp.
Kobe Japan Lafayette Chamber of Commerce Lara Delaney for Martinez City Council Law Office of Daniel L. DuRee Law Offices of Lauren Smykowski Les Schwab Tires Main Street Martinez Martinez Auto Body Martinez Chamber of Commerce Matt Rinn for CC Community College District 2014 Maureen Ingalls - RE/MAX Accord Michael Harris for PH City Council Mike Menesini for Martinez City Council Molino’s Ravioli Factory Moulding Company Mt. Diablo Solano Oncology Group Navlet’s Noni’s Pet Boutique & Grooming
Pacific Urology Pleasant Hill Chamber of Commerce Pleasant Hill Rec & Park Rob Schroder for Martinez Mayor Safe Mortgage Lending Samuels Construction Senior Helpers Sears Home Services – Leisa Christensen Shell Western States Credit Union Shell/MEF Run for Education Sue Noack for PH City Council Suzanne Looker, Pacific Union International Total Property Management Via Property Management Walnut Creek Civic Arts Assoc. Waters Moving and Storage Wence’s Restaurant
Fall Cleaning Special
10/31/14
ourcommunityfocus.com • october 2014
39
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