September Community Focus by Community Focus

COMMUNITY

SEPTEMBER 2019

FOCUS ourcommunityfocus.com

IN THIS ISSUE: • COMMUNITY SERVICE DAY • TINKERS AND THINKERS • AHA GALA

PLEASANT HILL • CONCORD • MARTINEZ • LAFAYETTE • WALNUT CREEK

SMALL TALK WITH TERI independent & locally owned by Teri Norbye PUBLISHERS: Becky Coburn Jennifer Neys Elena Hutslar info@ourcommunityfocus.com ADVERTISING: Community Focus info@ourcommunityfocus.com COPY EDITOR: Alison Clary GRAPHIC DESIGN: Trish Heaney

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

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

COVER:

INSIDE

6 10 to

Shell MEF Run

19 Read My Mind

City News

13 Share the Love

25 Make Some Plans

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

Tinkers and Thinkers Innovation Faire 2018. Details for the upcoming September 14 event can be found on pages 7 and 20.

6680 Alhambra Ave. Box #132 Martinez, CA 94553

925-335-6397

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

2013

2014

2015

Best Insurance Agent

2013 • 2014 • 2015 • 2016/2017

2 | SEPTEMBER 2019 | OURCOMMUNITYFOCUS.COM

Meet Kristine Duque who lives in Pleasant Hill with her boyfriend, Maks, and her son, Barrett. She is a fitness instructor who teaches Zumba, Strong by Zumba, and Piloxing at the UFC gym in Concord. She also teaches classes in Benicia. Kristine also works at the Red Door Escape Room in Concord. What was your biggest challenge? Ever since high school, I’ve struggled with anxiety and depression. Everyone thinks I’m always so happy. I’m happy when I’m around other people, but it’s kind of hard to be alone. I struggle with that. Some days it’s really bad and I have to force myself to do things. I like teaching fitness classes because I get energy from other people. What really helps me is a combination of exercise, therapy, and medication. More about Kristine: 1. I met my boyfriend, Maks, in a group fitness instructor meeting at UFC gym, where we both work. One day he messaged me on Facebook and it started from there. 2. I love to go out to eat. My favorite foods are cheesecake and mimosas. 3. One of my favorite things to do is sit in a busy cafe. I like to be around people and feel their presence.

AHA! Movement Monte Carlo Gala

CEO Debbie Smith of the AHA! Movement and the board of directors are excited to announce the 3rd Annual Monte Carlo Gala on Friday, September 13, at the Pleasant Hill Community Center. This year’s theme is The Great Gatsby, so all who attend are encouraged to dress in the style of the Roaring Twenties. This event is held in honor of the memory of Debbie Smith’s son Matthew Carrington, who was killed in a water torture hazing ritual while pledging a fraternity at Chico State in 2005. “I am excited to be able to announce that for the third year in a row and in the month of September, which is Anti-Hazing Awareness Month in Pleasant Hill, we are able to come together as a community to raise the needed funds to help educate younger people on what hazing is, what it looks like, how to prevent it, and how to say no to it,” said Debbie Smith. “This year we are privileged to have in attendance at the gala families that have been effected by hazing through the loss of a child, as well as survivors of hazing.” Debbie Smith founded the AHA! Movement after the death of her son, and she has successfully developed a speaking series for colleges, high schools, the military, and service organizations to teach the dangers of hazing. The AHA! Movements Middle School Program is the newest series, developed in 2019, in part from a grant from Macy’s. The middle school program was created to educate pre-teen youth in an age appropriate way how hazing is introduced during

the formative years. “By the time our children go off to college, they have already been indoctrinated into the ritual of hazing -- they just don’t always know it. Hazing starts subtly as early as pre-school, unbeknownst to our children and their parents, so early on it is accepted as normal. Our goal with the new program is to give middle school children the tools to identify hazing at its basic level, make them aware of where it can lead, and empower them to use their voice, because they ALWAYS have a choice to say no to it.” Debbie has worked tirelessly for 14 years to spread the message of the dangers of hazing in all its forms, starting with working with California State Senator Tom Torlakson to create Matt’s law, which was signed in to California law in 2006 by then Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, making it a felony to cause the death of someone resulting from hazing. In 2015, Debbie created the AHA! Movement, a non-profit established to educate our young people on the dangers of hazing. “Our children are our greatest gift. No parent, sibling, grandparent, or friend should have to experience the loss of a loved one for such a senseless reason as hazing. The more exposure we give to the dangers of hazing, the more our ability to save another child can increase.” Tickets for “AHA’s Great Gatsby Gala” can be obtained by visiting http://ahamovement.org. Contact Debbie to book her for speaking engagements at 209.470.7116 or at lovesfmlb@aol.com.

ARCHITECTURAL MOULDINGS

925.798.7525 themouldingcompany.com

Come vi our newsit showroo m!

5117 COMMERCIAL CIRCLE, CONCORD, CA 94520

Concord High students with AHA! founder, Debbie Smith, MM and Chairman, Michael O’Brien. Photo SusanWoodPhotography.com OURCOMMUNITYFOCUS.COM | SEPTEMBER 2019 | 3

Julie Says

A Roaring Success BY JULIE ROSS It was a relief to escape the heat this summer in downtown Pleasant Hill at the movies. Big recliner seats, popcorn, and refrigerated air proved to be a winning combination. I went to go see the new version of The Lion King a couple of weeks after it came out and was amazed at the talented wildlife! The tireless animal trainers who taught the cast of lions, hyenas, and other assorted African animals to speak are really deserving of our admiration. It’s a wonder what can be accomplished with operant conditioning – it seems anything is possible with patience and a pocketful of tasty treats. I assume there were English tutors and voice coaches behind the scenes

20th

ANNUAL

as well. I was surprised by how much the lion playing Mufasa sounded like James Earl Jones. Uncanny. And Nala’s singing was truly a delight. There must have been quite a rigorous auditioning process to pull the whole thing off. It evidently takes a village to put together this kind of epic film. In short, most of the movie was incredibly realistic. The one “suspension of disbelief” hurdle I had difficulty crossing was seeing the one lone meerkat depicted in the film living with a warthog when everyone knows meerkats live in social colonies with members of their own species. Really, Hollywood, do your research. Wait. Oh no, just did some research of my own. Spoiler alert – Disney’s live action remake of The Lion King does not actually feature any real live wild animals. The characters were all created

sunset by the lake

with computer generated imagery (CGI), as were those fantastic Africa-inspired settings. The voices were provided by humans. Guess that explains the James Earl Jones thing. (And how Nala managed such a remarkable impression of Beyoncé.) For better or worse, visual effects have sure come a long way. So

Summer Concerts

Pleasant Hill City Hall Gregory Ln & Cleaveland Rd

On the lawn by the lake

6-8 PM

stamante Sep 1...Dav id Bu ormance (5:30) Solo ukulele perf

Sep 8...Forejour: Tribute to Foreig ner & Jo

urney

Enjoy Live Music & Family Fun!

Sep 1...Top Shelf Motown, 70s-80s, Funk & Soul

Guzzler Beer/Wine Truck! Premium

confusing. Next movie I suppose I better stick around when they roll the credits. Hope everyone is starting to settle into the new school year. If it makes you feel any better, remember, it’s all part of the circle of life. You can reach Julie at julieakross@ comcast.net

Season Sponsors

Stage Sponsor 4 | SEPTEMBER 2019 | OURCOMMUNITYFOCUS.COM

Oasis

And a HUGE thank you to all of our series sponsors!

.602

.645

Club of Pleasant Hill

Veterinary Hospital

.595 Pete Sabine & Leslie Whitney .634

Five Star Real Estate Team Proud Sponsors of this event

Real Estate Trends Summer Transitions to Fall BY NORMA FLASKERUD As summer comes to a close and we transition into fall, here are some observations about the local real estate market. We have seen articles headlined the “Bay Area Real Estate Market is Cooling,” however, at the very end of one article it said Contra Costa prices had, in fact, gone up, unlike the super-hot real estate markets in San Jose and the Peninsula, where prices got so high they were not sustainable. We caution you to read articles and not just headlines to see if they apply. By and large, ignore articles about nationwide trends, as they rarely apply to the SF Bay Area. Also, keep in mind that we have micromarkets in real estate! For instance, compared to nearby communities, Pleasant Hill is more affordable and close enough to attract those who commute to the city, with access to Pleasant Hill BART or over the hill to Lafayette. In addition, it is close to Highways 680, 24 and 4, with commuting solutions for many! The Market Report: Martinez The market has been cooling over time

and prices have recently flattened. It is still a seller’s market (where significant demand leaves little inventory available). The Market Report: Pleasant Hill Home sales continue to outstrip supply and may put an upward pressure on prices. Summer Slump: What that means is sellers with high expectations were most likely disappointed this summer, but how? Either they did not get multiple offers (we saw that repeatedly) like they had hoped, or they had to lower their price to generate interest and an offer. Most sellers, aware of how hot the market has been, expected tons of interest and lots of offers when they came on the market, but timing is everything, and the SS (summer slump!) affected them big time! Will fall bring a flurry of offers and escalating prices, or will the SS continue? At press-time we cannot say… Call The Flaskerud Team for advice and representation on your real estate sale or purchase. We will advise you how best to proceed. There is still time to sell in 2019. Norma H Flaskerud 925-338-2980 NormaJ49@gmail.com DRE#: 00867031 Erik Flaskerud 925-381-7276 EFlaskserud@ Remax.net DRE# 01881688

THE Y WELCOMES COLLEGE PARK STUDENTS & FAMILIES • Teen & Adult Memberships Available • Located adjacent to CPHS

GO FALCONS! Irvin Deutscher Family YMCA · 350 Civic Dr, Pleasant Hill (925) 687-8900 · ymcaeastbay.org

OURCOMMUNITYFOCUS.COM | SEPTEMBER 2019 | 5

CITY NEWS

Mayor’s Message On August 6, the Pleasant Hill Police Department again hosted our National Night Out celebration, bringing community partners and citizens together to share in our community spirit. While at that event, I met a family who recently moved to Pleasant Hill and was excited to

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

925.284.4440

www.LamorindaFloors.com License# 708486

I’m not in trouble anymore!

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

be here and be a part of this great community. They shared that in the few short months they have been here they have been accepted, built friendships, and enjoyed the many events and activities throughout the city. Now September is here and the event I think brings us together and truly reflects the spirit of Pleasant Hill is just a few weeks away. This year is our 15th annual Community Service Day. Since 2005, our Civic Action Commission and city staffs have organized this event, and each year it grows. The Civic Action Commission has been working all year to organize this event, which supports a variety of community partners, non-profits, community groups, public agencies, and schools. This year’s Community Service Day is on September 28 and starts at 7:30am, with the Pleasant Hill Lions Club cooking all the volunteers a pancake breakfast. Then we spread out across the city and work on a variety of service projects, from cleaning our creeks to beautifying our neighborhood schools. Bring in that bicycle from your garage for a little work and free up some space. A team of volunteers will repair the bicycles and donate them to children throughout the area. So far, over 1,000 bicycles have been reconditioned and donated through Community Service Day.

Hire My Husband

Angie’s List Super Service Award Winner 7 years! Community Focus Readers’ Local Favorite 4 years!

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

www.HireMyHusband.com

925-969-0133

6 | SEPTEMBER 2019 | OURCOMMUNITYFOCUS.COM

Ken Carlson, Mayor of Pleasant Hill

Bring some canned or dry goods for the Food Bank. A team of volunteers will spread out through our neighborhoods to collect food and take it back to the park to sort and box the food for distribution to those in need. Community Service Day has led to the collection of over 19 tons of food for the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano. For more information on volunteering and this year’s projects, go to pleasanthillca.org/volunteer. Community Service

Day draws as many as 750 volunteers, so be sure to get there early. There will be free T-shirts for the first 450 registered volunteers. In the previous 14 Community Service Days, community members have come together and given over 42,000 hours to beautify PH and strengthen our sense of community. Join us at Pleasant Hill Park at 7:30am on Saturday, September 28, for this year’s Community Service Day!

Chamber Calendar

Sept 6 - Ambassador Meeting, 8:30-9:30am, Pleasant Hill City Hall Community Room Sept. 10 - Morning Chamber Mixer, 8-9am, hosted by Darlene Baxters Farmers Insurance, 2216 Morello Ave, Pleasant Hill Sept. 11 - 680 Networking Group, 8:30-10am, JFK University 100 Ellinwood Way, Pleasant Hill Sept. 12 - Chamber Business Mixer, 5-7pm, hosted by WiseGirl Risotrante Italiano & Cocktails, 1932 Oak Park Blvd, Pleasant Hill Sept. 13 - AHA! Monte Carlo Night Gala Fundraiser, 6pm- 11:30pm, 320 Civic Drive, Pleasant Hill Sept. 17 - Membership 101, 10am-12pm, 91 Gregory Lane, Suite 11, Pleasant Hill Sept. 19 - Pleasant Hill Chamber of Commerce Board Meeting, 8-10am, Location TBD Sept. 19 - Young Professionals Mixer, 5:30-7pm, Courtyard Marriot 2250 Contra Costa Blvd Sept. 25 - 680 Networking Group, 8:30-10am, JFK University 100 Ellinwood Way, Pleasant Hill Sept. 30 - GAC, 4:30-6pm, WiseGirl Ristorante Italiano & Cocktails, 1932 Oak Park Blvd, Pleasant Hill

Public Meetings Civic Action Sept. 4 City Hall, 100 Gregory Lane, Small Community Room, 6:30pm. Contact: 671-5229 City Council Sept. 9, 16 City Hall, 100 Gregory Lane, Council Chambers, 7:00pm. Contact: 671-5229 Architectural Review Sept. 5, 19 City Hall, 100 Gregory Lane, Large Community Room, 5:00pm. Contact: 671-5209 Planning Commission Sept. 10, 24 City Hall, 100 Gregory Lane, Council Chambers, 6:30pm. Contact: 671-5209 Commission on Aging Sept. 12 City Hall, 100 Gregory Lane, Small Community Room, 5:00pm. Contact: 671-5229 Education Commission No Meeting Scheduled City Hall, 100 Gregory Lane, Large Community Room, 7pm. Contact: 671-5229

CITY NEWS

Pleasant Hill City News

Cannabis Ordinances

At the August 19 city council meeting, council approved ordinances to allow up to two “delivery only” medical retail marijuana businesses in the city and banned all other commercial cannabis enterprises. Medical Cannabis Retailers are restricted to the Light Industrial (LI), General Commercial (C), Professional and Administrative Offices (PAO), and Retail Business (RB) (Second Floor and Above) Zoning Districts. The businesses are also restricted to being on the second floor or above in the RB (Retail/Business) district. A state buffer requires they be 600 feet from schools, day care centers, and youth centers. All other types of commercial cannabis uses are prohibited.

Tinkers & Thinkers Innovation Faire This year, the Tinkers & Thinkers Innovation Faire will be held in Pleasant Hill Park and the Senior Center (it outgrew the Teen Center!) on Saturday, September 14, from 11am-3pm. This is a not-to-miss experience for those inquisitive minds with curiosity about all things Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (S.T.E.M.). Modeled after other Bay Area Makers Fairs and a series of “Innovation Nights” at the Pleasant Hill Library, Tinkers and Thinkers is a free family event that showcases robots, rockets, drones, DIY, and other tech! All ages are invited to engage with a variety of “hands-on” make-and-take activities and marvel at the innovations and displays presented by local organizations, educators, and entrepreneurs. Tinkers & Thinkers is an event to bring inspiration, creativity, and innovation to our community and beyond! See you and R2D2 there! 233 Gregory Lane, Pleasant Hill.

Friends Parking Lot Sale The next Friends of the Pleasant Hill Library’s Parking Lot Sale is scheduled for Saturday, September 7, next door to the Pleasant Hill Library at 1770 Oak Park Blvd. and under the solar panels of the Department of Education, weather permitting. Gates open to the members of the Friends of the Pleasant Hill Library at 9:30am. The general public is welcome to enter at 10am. At the Bag Sale, featured from 1pm to 2pm, patrons can fill a grocery bag full of regularly priced books and pay only $4 for the whole bag. Premium books are discounted at 50 percent off marked price during the same period. The next Premium Book Sale is scheduled for Saturday, October 12, from 10am to 2pm. This sale is held at the Pleasant Hill Library.

the maximum 2.5-story allowance. In addition to the design review by the Architectural Review Commission, the Planning Commission will also review the proposed project, including the design review permits. Additional study sessions are likely to further refine the project request. Final Summer Concert By the Lake The final concert by the lake is Sunday, September 8, with the band Forejour! The original concert date in May was rained out, so this is a reschedule. The band covers music by Foreigner and Journey (hence, Forejour!). Bring your family, lawn chairs/ blankets, and dancing shoes to the City Hall lawn at 100 Gregory Lane. Concert starts at 6pm and goes until 8pm.

Projects Needed for Community Service Day The 2019 Community Service Day is set for September 28, and organizers are looking for projects to engage and inspire volunteers. Hosting a project is a great way for schools, nonprofits, community groups, and public agencies to introduce their organizations to the community. Many Community Service Day volunteers continue to stay involved with their project’s host organization long after Community Service Day is over. For registration and additional details, go to pleasanthillca.org/volunteer. Call Community Relations Manager Gayle Vassar at 925-671-5229 with any questions. Projects must be located in Pleasant Hill and able to begin at 9am on Saturday, September 28. Most projects take no more than three hours to complete, although there are some exceptions. Project hosts need to provide supplies and have an array of necessary tools on hand, although many volunteers will bring their own. Community Service Day is organized by the Civic Action Commission and draws more than 750 volunteers each year. Visit pleasanthillca.org/volunteer for more information.

ARC Looks 81 Gregory Lane Proposed Remodel At the August 15 Architectural Review Commission meeting, the ARC held a study session to provide design review feedback on preliminary architecture and site improvements for 81 Gregory Lane, at the northwest corner of the intersection at Gregory Lane and Contra Costa Boulevard. The remodel also includes buildings at 2051 and 2059 Contra Costa Boulevard. The application for a commercial remodel at the 1.4-acre project site includes: 1) An existing three-story office building on Gregory Lane to remain unchanged. 2) The replacement of two existing single-story commercial buildings (each most recently occupied by the Original Pancake House and Pacific Service Credit Union), with two new, three-story commercial buildings. The second and third floors of the two new buildings would be connected, while the area below would serve as the site’s entrance area off of Contra Costa Boulevard. 3) Construction of a new two-level parking structure. Proposed site improvements include new landscape, an outdoor dining area, and 143 parking spaces. Plans are for the exterior walls to consist of stucco and masonry veneer with metal/glass storefront systems. The ground-level outdoor seating would be located at the corner of Gregory Lane and Contra Costa Boulevard and would be delineated with a concrete patio wall. Project issues to be resolved include proposed sub-standard setbacks and building height. The proposed 48-foot building height exceeds the maximum 35-foot building height allowance by 13-feet. In addition, the proposed three story buildings exceed OURCOMMUNITYFOCUS.COM | SEPTEMBER 2019 | 7

Mayor’s Message Summer, my favorite season of the year, is quickly coming to an end. The days are still hot, but the air is drier and the nights are cooler. Most schools are back in session and families have returned from summer vacations. Traditionally, city council does not hold meetings in August, but the business of the city does not stop. After years of heated public meetings, letters to the editor, two elections, a referendum, and multiple lawsuits, an out of court settlement was reached among the Friends of Pine Meadow, the City of Martinez, DeNova Homes, and the property owners. The terms of the settlement carve out nine acres of the former 9-hole golf course to be developed as a public park. On the remaining 12 acres, 65 homes will be built. The developer will make $1,000,000 of improvements to the new park and donate an additional $500,000 to the City of Martinez toward the acquisition or improvement of open space or parkland in Martinez. The first public meeting seeking input from Martinez residents on the new park was held last month. We heard ideas ranging from a dog park to a disc golf course. The settlement also lay to

rest disagreements between the city and the proponents of Measure II. It was the city’s position that Measure I was confusing and contradictory. Language was crafted to clarify changes to Measure I’s language that was acceptable to all parties. In a joint press release on this settlement, I was quoted as saying, “Issues relating to the balance between open space preservation and housing development have led to litigation and disagreement between advocates for open space and housing proponents. With this settlement, we hope to put those disagreements behind us and move forward for the betterment of the city and all its citizens.” Another issue that the city has been working on this summer is developing the Trust Lands Use Plan as required by the California State Lands Commission. When the lands at the Martinez Waterfront were granted to the city through SB1424 a few years back, the bill required that we hold public meetings and report to the state how we want to develop and use those lands. Public meetings were held in late July and were well attended. Ideas for future development included: ferry service, restaurant, dry

615 ALHAMBRA AVENUE, MARTINEZ, CA 94553 THANKS TO OUR CUSTOMERS FOR VOTING US #1!

2013 • 2014 • 2015 2016 / 2017 8 | SEPTEMBER 2019 | OURCOMMUNITYFOCUS.COM

Rob Schroder, Mayor of Martinez

boat storage, fuel service, water sport rentals, small hotel, and convenience store. This Trust Land Use Plan report will be submitted to the state by the end of this year and will be followed by a more comprehensive planning process identifying specific uses, their locations, and financing mechanisms. The planning and development of the Martinez Waterfront & Marina is a high priority of the city council. Lastly, city staff and a consultant are in the middle of reviewing applications

for the licensing of commercial cannabis facilities. This includes up to two retail locations, delivery, one manufacturing facility, one distribution facility, one testing facility, and one non-storefront retail. Applicants that score 80 points or greater will be placed on a list to be considered for licenses. City staff will make recommendations to the city council, which will accept or reject those recommendations. It is expected that the first licenses will be issued on a conditional, one-year basis early next year.

Chamber Calendar Sept. 5 - Giving Back to Our Community Mixer, 5:30-7pm, featuring non-profit organizations, Shell Club House. Sept. 21 - Martinez Martini Shake Off - 10th Anniversary! 6:30-10pm, The Cobra Experience, 777Arnold Dr. Ste. 200, Martinez. Tickets on sale now. Call for more information: 925-228-2345 Sept. 25 - Board of Directors Meeting

Public Meetings City Council Meeting Sept. 4, 18 City Hall, 525 Henrietta Street, 6-9pm. Contact: 372-3500 Zoning Administrator Meeting Sept. 4, 18 City Hall, 525 Henrietta Street, 4-6pm. Contact: 372-3500 Design Review Meeting Sept. 11, 25 City Hall, 525 Henrietta Street, 4-6pm. Contact: 372-3500 Planning Commission Meeting Sept. 10, 24 City Hall, 525 Henrietta Street, 7-11pm. Contact: 372-3500 For Confirmation Visit: www.cityofmartinez.org

CITY NEWS

Martinez City News “Under Pressure 2” Exhibit The Lamorinda Arts Alliance is presenting a juried art exhibition, “Under Pressure 2”, at the Main Street Arts Gallery in Martinez from September 6 to October 6. All printmaking mediums were considered for exhibition with an emphasis on varied techniques. All work represented at the gallery is handmade by the participating artist and was completed within the last two years. For more information, visit www.mainstreetarts.net. A reception will be held on Saturday, September 7 from 3– 5pm. Main Street Arts is located at 613 Main Street in Martinez.

Restaurant Tour Tickets on Sale Tickets are now on sale for the Martinez Restaurant Tour on Saturday, October 5 from 1:30 – 4pm. This event showcases the city’s talented chefs and international cuisine. Participating chefs and business owners will feature some of their best dishes, providing visitors with a unique opportunity to sample favorites from all over Martinez’s thriving food scene. All of the proceeds benefit the Recreation Division’s free performing arts series for children known as Oohs, Ahs and Giggles. Tickets are $18 if purchased in advance, or $20 on the day of the event. For more information about the event, call the Martinez Recreation office at (925) 372-3510 or purchase tickets by visiting www.cityofmartinez.org, and click on “Register for Classes/Events.

Proposed Improvements An approximately 9-acre portion of the former Pine Meadow golf course will be set-aside as a public park and will be deeded to the City of Martinez. The city accepted the offer of dedication subject to improvements by the developer that will ultimately be approved by the city council. DeNova Homes will provide and pay for $1,000,000 of improvements on the park area and associated open space and pedestrian paths. The first step in the park design process began with a design charrette held before the Parks, Recreation, Marina & Cultural Commission (PRMCC) and the Martinez community on August 10. The charrette helped to inform the proposed park improvement design. DeNova Homes provided a basic site plan with contours, which was essentially a blank canvas. The first part of the charrette focused on an informal, hands-on charrette working with the community and the site plan to get an idea of what the community wanted. Community feedback included: Children’s playground with ADA elements and a splash pad; shade trees; a walking path; a native and/or botanical garden; open space; low path lighting; picnic tables and restrooms. The commission then had a discussion and gave input to staff and DeNova on the proposed improvements and breakdown of costs. The city council is anticipated to consider the park design at their regular meeting on September 18.

Onstage Repertory Theater Company Onstage Repertory Theater Company presents Camping with Henry and Tom by special permission from Samuel French. The play is set 1921, when Henry Ford, Thomas Edison and President Warren G. Harding took a camping trip together into the Maryland woods to escape civilization; what they couldn’t escape was each other. Inspired by an actual event, Camping with Henry and Tom is an exploration of friendship, politics and leadership; a comedic and dramatic clash of two great minds and one great heart of the twentieth century. Show dates at the Campbell Theater on Ward Street are September 13 to 29, Thursdays 7:30pm, Fridays and Saturdays 8:00pm, Sunday Matinee’s at 2:30pm. The cast includes Wayne McRice, Mark Hinds, Gary Mutz, and Joseph Hirsch and directed by Randy Anger. Ticket Price(s): $22.00 for adults; $19.00 for seniors, students and active military; $15.00 discount Thursdays. To purchase tickets online: henryandtom@brownpapertickets.com or call 925-350-9770.

Shell/MEF Family Fun Night The Family Fun Night (formerly the Pasta Feed) is sponsored by Martinez Rotary and Kiwanis and will be on Saturday, September 28 from 6-8pm at the Shell Clubhouse at 1635 Pacheco Blvd. There will be kids games, activities, music and ice cream treats. Cost is $15 per person. Current MUSD students are free with a paying adult. Contact martinezmef@sbcglobal.net for tickets. There will be kids games, activities, music and ice cream treats.

Final Map as approved by Council on July 17, 2019. Parcels A, B, C and F on the map totaling approximately 9 acres are dedicated for open space and/or park purposes. Parcel B of the former golf course is dedicated as a public park. The city council has authorized the acceptance of an open space easement over the other three parcels.

SERVING

Brunch, Lunch and Dinner Winner Seafood Restaurant Finalist Best Restaurant

• • • • • •

plan includes: Trust agreement Pour over will Guardianship of minor children power of attorney for finance transfer of real property advanced HEALTH CARE directive

notary services included! Located in the Treat Towers 1255 Treat Blvd., Ste. 300 Walnut Creek, CA 94597

Law offices of

lauren smykowski

(925) 257-4277

www.smykowskilaw.com laurensmy@gmail.com

Join us for our Early Bird Specials

HAPPY HOUR

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

Wencesrestaurant.com

OURCOMMUNITYFOCUS.COM | SEPTEMBER 2019 | 9

CITY NEWS

Mayor’s Message Are You Prepared for a Disaster? September is National Emergency Preparedness Month and the start of California’s most dangerous wildfire season. Are you and your family prepared? Prepare an Emergency Plan When a disaster happens, you may not have time to think about what to do; you may only have time to act. So, it’s important to have a clear plan for how you and your family or household will respond after a disaster. Step 1: To prepare an emergency plan, discuss four questions with your household, family, and friends. How will we receive emergency alerts and warnings? Register with the community warning system such as Nixel. How will we evacuate our home? The

area? Be sure you have multiple escape routes from your home and practice using these routes. What is our shelter plan? Remember to plan a place and supplies (see Steps 2 and 3). What is the communications plan for the family/household? Plan to text an out-of-area contact to check in with others. Step 2: In the event of a disaster, you may need to shelter in place at home or away from home for a few days and, possibly, a week. Your Family Emergency Plan should consider your household’s specific daily needs, including the following: Your ages, dietary requirements, medical needs (prescriptions, equipment), disabilities, languages spoken, cultural or religious needs, pets or service animals, responsibilities (business,

Walnut Creek City News City Welcomes New Assistant City Manager East Bay resident Teri Killgore has been selected to serve as the city’s assistant city manager. She will provide leadership to key city functions, including innovation and economic development, administration, emergency services, risk management, and organizational development. Killgore brings twenty years of high-level administrative and managerial skills to the position, having served in a variety of public and private sector organizations. She joined the city in 2018 as a project manager, overseeing updates to city policies and the implementation of a new financial forecast model. “Walnut Creek has already established itself as an example of what can be accomplished when residents, businesses and government work together effectively. I’m honored to be selected to serve this amazing community in this role and help build upon its many strengths,” Killgore said.

Cindy Silva, Mayor of Walnut Creek

other individuals). Once you have prepared the plan, be sure to discuss the details with your family, friends, and neighbors. Step 3: To be able to shelter in place for an extended period, you will need a Home Shelter-in-Place Kit that is designed to meet your and your family’s unique daily needs for one week. It’s also wise to have a “gobag” (portable) version of your kit in your vehicle. The kit should include the following: Fresh water (one gallon/person/day); nonperishable food, a means of cooking without power, a manual can opener; medicines, first aid supplies, and medical equipment; whistle to signal for help; pet supplies; extra clothing with closed-toe, sturdy-soled shoes; blankets; dust or filter masks; sanitary supplies (hand sanitizer, moist wipes, toilet

paper, garbage bags); flashlight and extra batteries; cell phone with back-up power pack; battery-powered or hand-crank radio; cash (in case ATMS and credit cards cannot be used); gloves and tools (wrench, pliers). The kit also should have copies of important documents (IDs, bank account numbers, insurance policies, key contacts), and you should store copies in a second off-site location as well. Tips: • Store your supplies to withstand temperature extremes. • Keep your go-bag out of view in your vehicle so it won’t be a temptation to thieves. • Coordinate with neighbors to share resources. You cannot predict a disaster, but you can outsmart it by being prepared!

leave them for the public to enjoy. The pianos will be strategically placed for the public to play from September 9 through October 18. Live performances by professional and/ or special guests will take place every Tuesday (September 10, 17, 24 and October 1, 8, 15) from 12-1pm at three locations:1655 N. Main St., 1501 Locust St., and 1328 N. Main St. The project goal is to bring community members together to create musical memories in downtown Walnut Creek. This is a collaborative effort presented by Walnut Creek Downtown, the City of Walnut Creek, and Steinway Piano Gallery.

Library Scavenger Hunt From September 3 through September 30, kids can participate in a library scavenger hunt at both the downtown Walnut Creek and Ygnacio Valley libraries. Grab a scavenger hunt form from an information desk and find a few favorite characters hiding around the library. When you’re all done, drop the form off with library staff and pick up a prize (while supplies last!). The event is in honor of the One City, One Book pick, The Library Book by Susan Orlean. Sponsored by the Walnut Creek Library Foundation.

Second Saturday

Community Service Day is Saturday, October 12, and this year’s CSD line-up features more than 50 half-day projects, including projects at nearly all public schools, libraries, our parks, gardens and creeks, and in the downtown area. In addition, many non-profits are sponsoring projects, from Animal Rescue Foundation to the Historical Society. You can check out project options by category. There will also be two food drives; one is in Rossmoor and the other is community-wide. There is something for every age, interest and ability. To sign up, visit and click on https://wcserviceday.volunteerhub.com. For a list of projects and online registration, visit http://www.walnut-creek.org.

Registration is open for the next “Second Saturday,” on September 14 at 9am, when the focus is on CERT and emergency preparedness. Each second Saturday, the mayor leads a group of citizens to a non-profit agency and then adds on an optional walking tour of the community in which the agency is located. See how community connections are made throughout Walnut Creek, and get to know parts of the city you might not have yet explored. For questions or assistance with registration, contact community@walnut-creek. org.

Painted Pianos Project

On August 18, after 22 years in business, the Fuddruckers on Main Street across from Target closed. The space is slated to be developed into a six and seven-story, mixed-use building, consisting of 135 residential units and approximately 10,000 square feet of commercial space on the ground floor (135 net new units). The Fuddruckers in Concord and other locations will remain open.

A new musical art project called “Painted Pianos” is coming to Downtown Walnut Creek and Shadelands. Eight pianos will be donated by Steinway Piano Gallery and hand-painted by local artists on site, in downtown Walnut Creek, and the Center for Community Arts’ Shadelands campus courtyard. Artists will paint their assigned pianos September 3-8 and 10 | SEPTEMBER 2019 | OURCOMMUNITYFOCUS.COM

Fuddruckers on Main Closes

Estate Planning

Redo Your Estate Plan When You Remarry BY JEFFREY HALL, Elder Law Attorney If you are getting remarried, you obviously want to celebrate, but it is also important to focus on less exciting matters like redoing your estate plan. You may have created an estate plan during your first marriage, but this time it will probably be more complicated, especially if you have children from your first marriage or more assets. The following are some pointers for ensuring your interests are taken care of when you remarry: Take an inventory. The first thing you and your partner should do is take inventories of your assets and debts and share them with each other. Don’t forget to include life insurance policies and retirement plans. It is important to be open and honest about money if you want to prevent bad feelings in the future. Decide how you want to handle finances. Once you know what you are dealing with, decide if you want to combine (or not combine) assets when you are married. For example, if one partner is selling a house and moving in with the other partner, will he or she contribute to the cost of the house? If one partner has significant debt, you may not want to combine finances or make any joint purchases. These decisions need to be

made up front so everyone is clear on what to expect. Decide what you want to happen when you die. You and your future spouse need to figure out where each of you wants your assets to go when you die. If you have children from a previous marriage, this can be a complicated discussion. There is no guarantee that if you leave your assets to your new spouse, he or she will provide for your children after you are gone. There are a number of options to ensure your children are provided for, including creating a trust for your children, making your children beneficiaries of life insurance policies, or giving your children joint ownership of property. Even if you don’t have children, there may be family heirlooms or mementos you want to keep in your family. Again, open discussions can prevent problems in the future. Consult an elder law or estate-planning attorney. Even if you don’t have a lot of assets, you should consult an attorney, especially if you have children. You will definitely need to update your will. You may also need to update or create other estate planning documents such as a durable power of attorney and a health care proxy. If you have significant assets, a prenuptial agreement may be appropriate. In addition, the attorney can help you decide if a trust is necessary to protect your children’s interests. Change your beneficiaries. You may

Experienced Estate Planning Attorney

JEFFREY HALL, MBA, CPA, Esq.

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

want to change the beneficiaries on your life insurance policy, annuity, and/or retirement plan. If you are divorced, however, you may not be able to change some of the beneficiaries. Bring your divorce decree with you to the attorney so he or she can make sure you do not violate the decree. If you can’t change your beneficiaries, you may want to buy additional life insurance or retirement plans that will include your new spouse. Consider a prenuptial agreement. Although you are intending to stay married, things happen. Unlike a first marriage, you may be bringing property to this marriage that you spent decades accumulating, and you may be merging two families. You need to decide together what your intentions are for the use of funds while you are living together, if you get divorced, and when one of you dies before the other. Failure to think and plan ahead can mean severe heartache and financial costs for you and your family. Consider purchasing long-term care insurance. The physical, emotional, and

financial cost of long-term care can deplete the savings of all but the wealthiest. While you may be willing to spend your lifetime of savings on the care of a spouse with whom you raised a family and accumulated the funds, you may not want to lose this to the care of a relatively new spouse. Long-term care insurance, while expensive, can permit you and your new spouse to get the care you need without impoverishing the other. The most important thing to remember is to be open and honest with your future spouse and your family members about your wishes. To help determine the best way to prepare a will, consult with your neighborhood estate planning attorney, Jeffrey Hall. You may visit his website at www.HallLawGroup. com or call (925) 230-9002. We are a veteran owned -- veteran friendly law firm. Disclaimer: this article is not intended to be relied upon as legal advice nor the establishment of an attorney-client relationship. SPONSORED CONTENT

SEPTEMBER 21

Martinez

Martini Shake Off This regional signature event will be celebrating its 10th year and to mark this Diamond Anniversary it will be held at a very special location, The Cobra Experience in Martinez! This stunning venue features a 25,000-sf. museum showcasing original Cobras, Shelby Mustangs and much more, that will serve as a backdrop to an enchanting evening!

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

www.HallLawGroup.com 925-230-9002

Local Mixologists representing their establishments will compete for the designation “Best Martini in the Martinez Area” as well as the “People’s Choice Award.”

September 21st 6:30pm – 10pm The Cobra Experience 777 Arnold Dr. Ste. 200, Martinez Tickets on sale now! ~ Martinezmartini.com OURCOMMUNITYFOCUS.COM | SEPTEMBER 2019 | 11

Stronger Than You Know Mindfulness Revolution BY DENA BETTI My dad was born in 1933. He was raised during the Great Depression and World War II. When it came time for him to have children of his own, he saw to it that they did not suffer or miss out on their youth as he did. Parents of my father’s generation wanted their children to avoid life’s hardships and prosper. This is how future generations have been raised. We have been conditioned to believe that life should be easy and convenient. But the period of destructive abundance in which we are currently living is due in large part to the good intentions of our parents and their parents before them. Given the size of the generations that followed my dad’s and the abundance of resources that surrounded them, parental hopes and dreams have become distorted. Growing up in my generation, the

1980s, was a good life. Growing up in the 1990s and the millennium saw even more boom years. When you consider the comparable rising technology and wealth during those generations, it’s easy to see where the short circuits may have started. We are now in a time where access to resources continues to become easier, technology is used to manage relationships, and our collective sense of entitlement is steeped in our culture’s impatience for convenience. But technology, convenience, and abundance have come at a cost. We know that sometimes humans can get their wires crossed and inadvertently incentivize the wrong behaviors. This, I believe, is exactly what has happened. People who find that the dopamine and serotonin releasing effects of social technology are negatively impacting their lives are becoming conditioned to look to these distractions to suppress emotional connection instead of looking to people as building blocks to their

12 | SEPTEMBER 2019 | OURCOMMUNITYFOCUS.COM

happiness. This resulting short circuit to our internal reward systems is statistically producing less happy people than more. If steps are not taken to overcome the quantity of abstraction in our lives, we may be the biggest losers of our parents’ intentions to give us better lives. One way to combat the impact social technology has over us (text messages, email, social media, video chat, etc.) is to take time for real human connection. A significant amount of research supports the benefit of human connections, particularly deeper, stronger human connections, which can improve happiness levels and overall mental health functioning. “The upshot of 50 years of happiness research is that the quantity and quality of a person’s social connections—friendships, relationships with family members, closeness to neighbors, etc.—is so closely related to well-being and personal happiness that the two can practically be equated. People

with many friendships are less likely to experience sadness, loneliness, low self-esteem, and problems with eating and sleeping.” (Christine Carter, Greater Good Magazine.) Through our parents’ desire to make our lives easier than theirs, we somehow lost what really matters. I’m confident our parents never intended direct face-to-face human connection to slowly die; yet somehow we have lost sight of its real value. We have an opportunity to rethink the way we connect and influence our own happiness. We have an opportunity to now educate our children about what we have learned about the true role of our social nature in our happiness and success in life. This is one way we may honor the high hopes of the generations before us. Dena Betti is a graduate of the University of San Francisco, on the board of #hersmile Nonprofit and a certified life coach. For more information, email dena@ strongerthanyouknow.com.

Principal’s Corner Back to School

JOSEPH G. ALVAREZ PRINCIPAL, COLLEGE PARK HIGH SCHOOL I am proud to call Pleasant Hill home. I thoroughly enjoy engaging with our community on a daily basis through organized meetings and also at local stores and restaurants. The amount of support for our local high school is truly second to none. As I enter my 4th year at College Park, this will be the first graduating class I have worked with for four years. I may never know how I have inspired them, but I do know I have given my best to ensure their experiences inside and outside of the classroom have made them better students and people. I come to work each and every day with a smile on my face, not because my job is easy but because I am

able to work with our fantastic student body. The beauty of our school is that our students represent all backgrounds and ethnicities, and we stood ready to welcome them on August 15, our first day of school. I am consistent with the three things I ask of every student: 1) Stay engaged daily in your education. 2) Get involved on campus. 3) Have a plan of action for when the going gets tough. For me, the “Back to School” season is one of hope and renewal. Our resilient staff rises to the occasion every year. Custodians have worked hard all summer to ensure our staff and students have the best-prepared offices and classrooms possible. Our kitchen staff prepares nourishing meals and snacks to support our students. And, of course, our fantastic teachers have put in countless hours to help ensure strong lessons are ready to go. It truly takes a village to have such a high quality educational system.

Support Martinez Schools Join us for the 17th Annual Shell/MEF Run for Education on Sunday, September 29. The walk/run includes a 5K and 10K course and the opportunity to have an enjoyable time while raising money for the Martinez Education Foundation (MEF) and Martinez schools. The walk/run is the major fundraiser for the MEF each year. All proceeds from entry fees, sponsorships, and the September 28th Martinez Family Fun Night at the Shell Clubhouse go to Martinez teachers in the form of grants that enhance their classroom teaching, particularly in the area of technology. Ann Notarangelo, external relations manager for the Shell Martinez Refinery, says, “The refinery is proud to be a supporter of our local community by helping to raise more than $825,000 over the past several years for our schools alongside MEF and dedicated community partners. We love the opportunity to collaborate on strengthening the local community. The refinery looks forward to its continued support of the MEF Run for Education and breaking the one million dollar fundraising mark in the coming years.” The Run for Education committee is still accepting sponsorships, volunteers, and more runners and walkers. All ages are welcome, and prizes are awarded for overall winners as well as winners in various age groups. To sign up, go to the MEF website: http://martinezedfoundation.com/run-for-ed The Run for Education is the signature community project of the Shell Martinez Refinery. The refinery provides financial and logistical support, staffing, and volunteers for the event. In addition to playing the lead role in underwriting the run, Shell will match the first $30,000 in registration and sponsorships.

DIABLO FC SOCCER

RECREATIONAL FREE RECREATIONAL PROGRAM WHEN: Fall 2019 - Mid-August to mid-October WHO: Boys & Girls born between 2009 and 2015 WHERE: Newhall Park, Concord WHAT: Diablo FC has teamed with its sponsors to offer a completely free Rec Soccer Program for local youth. Our professional coaches will work with the kids and parent volunteers to provide one weekday afternoon training and Saturday morning games for 8 weeks in the fall.

REGISTRATION Spots limited, register today at www.diablofc.org/rec @dfcsoccer

@DiabloFCsoccer

@dfcsoccer

OURCOMMUNITYFOCUS.COM | SEPTEMBER 2019 | 13

SPORTS

Amit Elor at Worlds 2019 Cadet Beach World Champs

College Park sophmore, Ami Elor, became the first U.S. athlete to win an age-group World title, with an impressive victory in the Cadet Over 50 kg weight class at the Beach World Championships held in Odessa, Ukraine. Elor won all four of her matches in the sand, including a victory over Anna Fomitska of Ukraine in the finals. It was her second win over Formitska for the day. She also had wins over Liubov Shvets of Ukraine and Phoebe Grabowski of the United States. She won her Beach World Cadet gold medal a week after claiming a World bronze medal in women’s freestyle at the Cadet World Championships in Sofia, Bulgaria. Information from TeamUSA.org. Photo by Molly Grabowski.

CP Boys Polo College Park’s varsity water polo team started the season with a strong showing at the Arroyo Grande Tournament held in August. They finished 3-1 in the two-day tournament.

H.S. Football Home Games

College Park (Game Times 7pm) Sept, 6, CP vs Bethel Sept, 20, CP vs Concord Oct. 4, CP vs Ygnacio Oct. 25, CP vs Mt. Diablo

Alhambra High (Game Times 7pm) Sept. 13, AHS vs Pinole Sept. 20, AHS vs Oakland Tech Oct. 25, AHS vs Concord High

14 | SEPTEMBER 2019 | OURCOMMUNITYFOCUS.COM

DVC Womens Soccer

The women’s Viking soccer team tied their home opener against Solano JC on August 27. With many young ladies from local schools competing on the team this year, we encourage you to watch a match and show your support. The game schedule can be found on the Diablo Valley College website at dvcvikings.com.

Making our community shine!

Pleasant Hill 15 Community Service Day YEARS

Turn old bicycles into new

Saturday

September 28

Come to Pleasant Hill Park, 147 Gregory Lane, for breakfast, courtesy of the Lions Club, then head on over to your project work site

Plant and clean up gardens

Beautify our schools

7:30 a.m.

Volunteers receive... FREE! Pancake breakfast at

Pleasant Hill Park (7:30 a.m.) FREE! T-shirts (while supplies last)

Special Special

Try fun jobs at the library

11:30 am ~ 2:30 pm; 4:00 pm ~ 6:00 pm Exclude Holidays 11:30 am ~ 2:30 pm; 4:00 pm ~ 6:00 pm Exclude Holidays

or 3 Rolls: $13.95 Choice of any 2 Rolls: $8.95 or 3 Rolls: $13.95

Sake Maki salmon Spicy Yellowtail California Roll For more information contact,Spicy Gayle Vassar SakeTekka Maki Maki salmon Yellowtail tuna Spicy Salmon NYCalifornia Roll cookedRoll prawn & Avocado Tekka Maki tuna SpicySpicy Salmon NY RollRoll cooked prawn & Avocado Negihama Maki Yellowtail Tuna671-5229. Alaska Salmon, Cucumber & Avocado at gvassar@pleasanthillca.org or phone (925) Negihama Maki Yellowtail Spicy Tuna Alaska Roll Salmon, Cucumber & Avocado

Enjoy great breakfast by Lions Club

Organized by Pleasant Hill Civic Action Commission and supported by local businesses

Signature Rolls$7.95 $7.95 Each Signature Rolls Each

City of Dynamite Pleasant Hill Dynamite

California Crunch California Crunch

Mango Avocado Roll Mango Avocado Roll Kappa Maki Kappa Maki Roll Avocado Avocado Roll

Signature Rolls$8.95 $8.95 Each Signature Rolls Each

Pleasanton Pleasanton

RedRed LionLion

Jungle Sunset CollectJungle food for the Food Bank Sunset BlvdBlvd

Crispy roll w/ snow crab tempura, mix, tempura, Tempura Tempura shrimp, red onion, Cucumber, tempura shrimp. roll, bacon & Crispy fried spicy salmon, yellowtail Crispy roll w/ snow crab crabSnowSnow crab mix, shrimp, red onion, Cucumber, tempura shrimp. CrispyCrispy PhillyPhilly roll, bacon & Crispy fried spicy salmon, yellowtail mix, avocado, crunch shrimp, avocado, crunch, cilantro, cilantro, cucumber, scallion, Topped w/ spicy avocado. Topped w/ spicy tuna, & crunch w/ spicy mix, avocado, crunch & &shrimp, avocado, crunch, cucumber, scallion, Topped w/ spicy tuna, tuna, avocado. Topped w/ spicy tuna, & crunch w/ spicy saucessauces sauces scallion & sauces crunch & sauces jalapeĂąo & hot sauce kani mix w/ Jalapeno, spicy sauces scallion & sauces crunch & sauces jalapeĂąo & hot sauce kani mix w/ Jalapeno, spicy & unagi mayomayo & unagi saucesauce

Â&#x160;Â&#x201A;Â&#x2021;ÂÂ&#x192;Â&#x2C6;

Â&#x2030;Â&#x2021; Â&#x2022;Â&#x20AC; Â&#x2030; Â&#x2013; Â&#x2014; Â&#x2021;Â&#x2021; Â&#x2022; Â&#x2021;Â&#x2021; Â? Â&#x160;Â?Â? Â

Â? Â? Â?Â? Â Â Â&#x20AC; Â?Â?

Â Â? Â? Â? Â? Â Â? Â Â?Â&#x20AC; Â&#x201A;Â&#x192; Â Â?Â? Â Â? Â&#x20AC; Â&#x201E; Â&#x2026;Â&#x2020; Â&#x2021;Â? Â? Â Â&#x2C6; Â Â? Â&#x2021;Â?

Â Â?

Â Â? Â? Â? Â? Â Â?Â&#x20AC; Â&#x2020; Â&#x192; Â Â? Â Â? Â Â?Â? Â Â? Â&#x20AC; Â&#x201E; Â&#x2026;Â&#x2020; Â&#x2021;Â? Â? Â Â&#x2C6; Â Â? Â&#x2021;Â?

Special

11:30 am ~ 2:30 pm; 4:00 pm ~ 6:00 pm Exclude Holidays

Choice of any 22Rolls: $8.95 $13.95 5 Pcs Sushi Platter with Rolls $16.95 Sashimi Platter with 2 Rolls $16.95 5 Pcs Sushi Platter with 2 Rolls $16.95or53Pcs 5Rolls: Pcs Sashimi Platter with 2 Rolls $16.95

Sake Maki salmon Spicy Yellowtail Roll Salmon, Yellowtail, Albacore, Mango Roll With Two Including: Salmon, Tuna, Yellowtail, Ebi, & Tamago Comes WithCalifornia Two Including: TunaAvocado & Tamago Comes Including: Salmon, Tuna, Yellowtail, Ebi, & Tamago Comes With Two Including: Salmon, Yellowtail, Albacore, Tuna & Tamago Comes With Two Spicy Tuna Roll Sushi& Rolls Ca Roll & Spicy Tuna Roll Tekka Maki Sushi tuna Rolls Ca Roll & Spicy Salmon NY Roll cooked prawn Avocado Sushi Rolls Ca Roll & Spicy Tuna Roll Sushi Rolls Ca Roll & Spicy Tuna RollKappa Maki Negihama Maki Yellowtail Spicy Tuna Alaska Roll Salmon, Cucumber & Avocado Avocado Roll

Signature Rolls $7.95 Each

Signature Rolls $8.95 Each

Â Â? Â Â

Dynamite Crispy roll w/ snow crab mix, avocado, crunch & sauces

California Crunch Snow crab mix, tempura, shrimp, avocado, crunch, scallion & sauces

Â? Â? Â?Â Â

Pleasanton

Red Lion

Jungle

Sunset Blvd

Tempura shrimp, red onion, cilantro, cucumber, scallion, crunch & sauces

Cucumber, tempura shrimp. Topped w/ spicy tuna, jalapeĂąo & hot sauce

Crispy Philly roll, bacon & avocado. Topped w/ spicy kani mix w/ Jalapeno, spicy mayo & unagi sauce

Crispy fried spicy salmon, yellowtail tuna, & crunch w/ spicy sauces

ÂÂ&#x20AC; Â&#x201A;Â&#x192; Â Â&#x201E;Â&#x201A;Â&#x201A; ÂÂ&#x201E; Â&#x2026;Â&#x20AC;Â&#x192;Â&#x2020; Â&#x2021;Â&#x2C6;Â&#x2030; Â&#x152; Â? Â&#x17D; Â&#x2018; Â&#x2019;

Â&#x201A; Â&#x2019;Â? Â&#x20AC;Â&#x201C; Â&#x2C6; Â? Â&#x201E; Â?Â&#x201D; Â&#x2039; Â&#x20AC; Â&#x201E; Â Â?Â? Â? Â? Â?Â? Â? Â? Â&#x2C6;

Â&#x2039; Â Â&#x2DC; Â Â Â&#x2122; Â? Â Â&#x2DC; Â&#x161; Â&#x203A; Â Â Â&#x201E; Â? Â&#x2122; Â? Â&#x2020; Â Â Â&#x153;Â Â? Â

Â&#x160;Â?Â? Â Â&#x2039; Â? Â?Â?Â Â?Â? Â? Â? Â? Â&#x2020; Â Â?

Â Â Â&#x152; Â Â? Â Â Â&#x17D; Â Â&#x2018; Â Â&#x160;Â?Â? Â Â&#x2039; Â? Â&#x2019; Â&#x192; Â? Â&#x201C;Â&#x2C6; Â Â&#x201D;Â

Â&#x192;Â&#x201E;Â&#x2026; Â&#x2020; Â&#x2026;Â&#x2026; Â&#x2021;Â Â&#x2C6;Â&#x2030;Â&#x2021;Â&#x2C6;Â&#x20AC;Â&#x2021; Â

5 Pcs Sushi Platter with 2 Rolls $16.95 Including: Salmon, Tuna, Yellowtail, Ebi, & Tamago Comes With Two Sushi Rolls Ca Roll & Spicy Tuna Roll

Â&#x2021; Â Â&#x2030; Â&#x192; Â&#x201E; Â&#x2C6; Â Â&#x160; Â Â? Â? Â Â&#x2C6; Â&#x2039; Â&#x152; Â? Â&#x2C6; Â? Â&#x17D;Â? Â Â&#x201E;Â? Â?Â&#x201E; Â? Â? Â&#x201E; Â? Â&#x201E; Â?Â&#x160; Â&#x2C6;Â?Â? Â&#x192; Â&#x201E; Â&#x2C6;Â&#x2018;

Â&#x2039;

5 Pcs Sashimi Platter with 2 Rolls $16.95 OURCOMMUNITYFOCUS.COM | SEPTEMBER 2019 | 15 Including: Salmon, Yellowtail, Albacore, Tuna & Tamago Comes With Two Sushi Rolls Ca Roll & Spicy Tuna Roll

DUDUM REAL ESTATE GROUP 7 LEEDS COURT EAST, DANVILLE

ADAM HAMALIAN

ANGIE CULUM

1152 FAIRLAWN COURT #4, ROSSMOOR

CALL FOR PRICE

ALISON J. PETERSEN

925.708.5630 925.984.7214 DRE# 01917597

CALL FOR PRICE

DRE# 01177737

4 BED, 2.5 BATH, 2723 SF, .26 ACRE LOT SIZE ALISON J. PETERSEN 925.984.7214

2 BED, 1 BATH, 1330 SF HUTCHENS HAMALIAN PROPERTIES GROUP

319 THISTLE CIRCLE, MARTINEZ

1791 SHIRLEY DRIVE, PLEASANT HILL

$555,000

E IV T AC

925.212.7617 $615,000

IV CT

CATHY BAIGENT 3 BED, 2.5 BATH, 1430 SF, 2080 SF LOT SIZE PETER PAREDERO 925.787.8746

JEN COGEN

2721 OAK ROAD #1, WALNUT CREEK

3235 CAMINO COLORADOS, LAFAYETTE

$529,000

3* BED, 1 BATH, 1367 SF, 8050 SF LOT SIZE 925.322.1194 $1,350,000

925.209.5999 925.383.2734 DRE# 00851239

DRE# 00820617

CHRISTINA LINEZO

JEN COGEN

2 BED, 2 BATH, 1216 SF TERESA ZOCCHI

925.360.8662

5289 AMBLESIDE DRIVE, CONCORD

$975,000

4 BED, 2 BATH, 1582 SF, 10,030 SF LOT SIZE HUTCHENS HAMALIAN PROPERTIES GROUP 925.212.7617 319 LA PAZ COURT, SAN RAMON

$775,000

415.425.3085 925.322.1194 DRE# 01964989

DRE# 02001964

4 BED, 3 BATH, 3168 SF, .21 ACRE LOT SIZE JEN COGEN

Distinctive Properties DRE #01882902

WWW.DUDUM.COM

925.322.1194

3 BED, 2.5 BATH, 1461 SF, 7500 SF LOT SIZE PETER PAREDERO 925.787.8746

FOUR LOCATIONS TO SERVE YOU...

ELEVATING THE ART OF REAL ESTATE 405 SCOTTSDALE ROAD, PLEASANT HILL

CALL FOR PRICE

135 SHADOWOOD DRIVE, PLEASANT HILL

$650,000

LAURIE HIGGINS

IV CT

2 BED, 2 BATH, 1365 SF HUTCHENS HAMALIAN PROPERTIES GROUP 1201 MONUMENT BLVD. #46, CONCORD

925.212.7617 $235,000

MARIA AMINI

3 BED, 2 BATH, 1612 SF, .12 ACRE LOT SIZE LAURIE HIGGINS 925.876.7968 2873 LYON CIRCLE, CONCORD

$629,000

925.876.7968 925.464.0457 DRE# 01322819

DRE# 01920042

PETER PAREDERO

TERESA ZOCCHI

IV CT

3 BED, 2 BATH, 1148 SF, 8550 SF LOT SIZE

2 BED, 2 BATH, 1485 SF TERESA ZOCCHI 3720 BOXWOOD COURT, CONCORD

925.360.8662 $660,000

TISH KANAT 1301 WALDEN ROAD, WALNUT CREEK

925.286.4401 $1,185,000

925.787.8746 925.360.8862

3 BED, 2 BATH, 1482 SF, .28 ACRE LOT SIZE CATHY BAIGENT 925.383.2734

4 BED, 2 BATH, 1781 SF, 10,798 SF LOT SIZE CHRISTINA LINEZO 415.425.3085

1159 TEMPLE DRIVE, PACHECO

1820 WILDBROOK COURT #B, CONCORD

$555,000

DRE# 01351308

DRE# 01907345

TERRYLYNN FISHER

TISH KANAT

$446,000

925.876.0966 925.286.4401 3 BED, 2 BATH, 1224 SF, 7500 SF LOT SIZE TERRYLYNN FISHER 925.876.0966

WALNUT CREEK

3 BED, 2.5 BATH, 1468 SF, 1564 SF LOT SIZE LAURIE HIGGINS 925.876.7968

LAMORINDA

DANVILLE

DRE# 00615420

DRE# 00668240

BRENTWOOD

Retirement Plan?

Estate Planning

BY JON CARLSON Worried about your retirement plan? You’re not alone. In fact, most baby boomers have not saved enough for a potential 25-year retirement. Is Social Security, IRA/401k, and/ or a pension going to be enough to last that long? The good news is that you have options to maintain your current lifestyle and improve your retirement outlook. A reverse mortgage gives retirees access to the equity they’ve built up to extend retirement plans, pay monthly bills, or pay off an existing mortgage or home equity line of credit. If downsizing or relocating is something you’re considering, a reverse mortgage can get you into your retirement home with a one-time down payment and no monthly mortgage payment. Many financial planners consider reverse mortgages a safe and flexible retire-

BY DANIEL DuREE The first question most people in California have regarding estate planning is, “Do I need a living trust?” The short answer is probably yes, but I will discuss some factors that determine if a will or a trust works best for you as the core of your estate plan. The two primary drivers regarding the choice of a will or a trust are the amount of assets you have and whether you would benefit from the probate process. If you have concerns about the person who would administer your estate or about potential creditors, probate could still be advantageous to you. Amount of Assets The first step in the inquiry is the amount of assets in your estate. Any estate in California with gross assets outside of a trust in excess of one hundred and fifty thousand dollars must go through probate even if there is a will. If you have one hundred and fifty thousand dollars in gross assets, the next step is to determine if the probate process is beneficial to you and your family. Most people prefer to avoid probate, but there are certain situations where you may benefit from the courtsupervised administration of your estate. Drawbacks of Probate The primary drawbacks of probate are the time, expense, and public nature of the probate process. It can take years and easily cost tens of thousands of dollars

You can Improve your Outlook

ment planning tool they can factor into an effective retirement strategy. Tax-free funds can be received as a lump sum or monthly disbursements, taken from a line of credit, or a combination of all three. Homeowners must be 62 or older and are still responsible for property taxes, insurance, and any applicable HOA dues. If you would like to chat, let’s get together and see whether a reverse mortgage could improve your retirement years. I am happy to meet with you and your trusted advisors, family, or friends to help you understand the program before making a decision in the comfort of your home. I also hold regular seminars at the Concord Senior Center if you prefer a classroom format. Jon Carlson is a reverse mortgage advisor with Retirement Funding Solutions, a Mutual of Omaha Bank, and has been helping seniors improve their retirements for 15 years with reverse mortgages. He was born and raised locally, graduated from UC Davis, and lives locally with his family.

SEPTEMBER

NOVEMBER

THURSDAY

19 7

Do I Need a Living Trust?

for even a straightforward probate. The probate process is all on public record and can expose beneficiaries to unwanted attention. Positives of Probate In light of the above drawbacks of probate, why would anyone benefit from the probate process? The first reason is that a judge will oversee the process if you are concerned about excessive conflict or fraud. Some people may not have a person they trust to administer their estate through a trust. In probate you know that nothing will be distributed without a court order from a judge. The second benefit of the probate process is that there is a foreclosing of creditor claims before the distribution. So, a person with many potential outstanding creditors may benefit from probate. In general, if you have a person or people that you can reasonably trust to administer your estate and you aren’t concerned about potential outstanding creditors, probate should likely be avoided. Of course, if either of these two standards is not met, probate may be advantageous. Regardless, you should consult with an estate planning professional if you have any doubts. Please call my office for a free consultation regarding these issues. Daniel L. DuRee is a third generation resident of Contra Costa County and a licensed attorney practicing in Walnut Creek. He can be reached at (925) 210-1400 or visit www.DuReeLaw.com. SPONSORED CONTENT

THE LAW OFFICE OF

DANIEL L. DUREE Estate Planning Attorney

925.210.1400 1535 North Main Street, Suite 240 • Walnut Creek

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

www.DuReeLaw.com

TRUSTS • WILLS • PROBATE 18 | SEPTEMBER 2019 | OURCOMMUNITYFOCUS.COM

Share the Love

Building Awareness and Inspiring Stories of the Rec and Park “Fans”

BY JEN THOITS When I embarked on Rec & Park’s Share The Love special project, I didn’t realize just how special it would be. I set out to interview Rec & Park “fans”-- people, young and old, who are actively making their own lives better through our activities, programs, parks, and community events. By sharing their personal experiences and “sharing the love,” my objective was to build awareness and inspire others to take advantage of what we offer. However, this project somehow became more than that. With each interview, I began to see a common thread woven throughout the stories, and it came down to this: People value making face-to-face connections with other people through shared experiences. There is a tremendously uplifting and positive power that happens while connecting; friendships are formed and trust is built, resulting in inclusion and mutual respect. Kindness and love prevail and lives change for the better. This project reminded me of just how incredible people are and how powerful positive connection can be. In my most recent interview, I met an incredible and passionate mom who has a child with special needs. Her story really touched me because it exemplifies just how dramatically lives can change due to

positive connections and caring people. Meet Fatima and Hamdine Fatima’s son, Hamdine, is an extraordinary child. Early on, he was diagnosed with high-functioning autism and has faced many challenges in his young life. Fatima has been a tireless advocate to ensure the needs of her son are met and, more importantly, that he is given an equal opportunity to thrive. That has not been an easy process. Finding the best possible environment for her son was paramount, and this is where Rec & Park comes in. Hamdine has been going to Rec & Park’s KIDSTOP after-school program at Gregory Gardens Elementary and our Adventure Kids Summer Camp for the past two years. When he started at KIDSTOP, he had difficulty talking, eating, and socializing with other children. With kindness and patience, however, the KIDSTOP staff worked with Hamdine to conquer his initial challenges and never made him feel “less” while doing so. He is simply treated as a person. “Today, Hamdine is a brand new kid,” his mother gushed. His doctors and therapists agree and were amazed by the rapid changes over the past 24 months. Fatima could not say enough about KIDSTOP Director Danny Martinez and his staff. “KIDSTOP has been a miracle for my

child,” Fatima said. She explained that Danny and his staff have created a welcoming, all-inclusive environment where children are treated equally and respectfully, regardless of skills, abilities, or background. All children are expected to treat each other the same. No bullying is tolerated, and they have created a “safe” learning and social environment for the children to connect in positive ways. In doing so, they have given Hamdine a gift: a place where he can just be himself. “They lead with compassion and heart,” Fatima said, “KIDSTOP is the only place I wholeheartedly trust with my child. They have changed his life and mine.” At this point in the interview, I had goose bumps. I wanted to weep with joy for Fatima and her son. And I wanted to shout from the rooftops about how incredible my co-workers at KIDSTOP are to make such a huge and positive impact on this child and so many others. So, consider this my rooftop. I don’t have

Hamdine is all smiles at KIDSTOP

the words to do you all justice, Danny and staff, so I will just say, “Thank you,” and I am so proud to work with you. Thank you for sharing the love, Fatima. For more Share the Love stories, visit pleasanthillrec.com/541/

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 | SEPTEMBER 2019 | 19

General Manager’s Message We Asked and You Answered By Michelle Lacy General Manager, Pleasant Hill Recreation & Park District

Over the past year, we have asked for your input on what our park system should look like in the future and you answered quite enthusiastically. We received tremendous feedback via surveys, online forms, meetings and at pop-up events. We showed you the initial conceptual improvement plans for each site and you have provided lots of valuable input on a wide range of topics from a potential new gymnasium to new playground equipment. You strongly supported improving restrooms, outdated playgrounds, and addressing safety and security issues. There were mixed reviews on a potential skate park (teens deenitely in favor) and many of you weighed in on a potential shift from natural grass playing elds to artiicial turf in Pleasant Hill Park. An overwhelmingly number of residents responded that you would prefer natural grass elds to play on for youth and adults sports. We heard you. Thank you for taking the time to share your opinions with us and to actively participate in our “Big Picture” master plan process up to this point. It is clear that you care about our community and that you value recreation opportunities where you live. We feel the same. Our work on our Master Plan is not quite done, however, and your participation is still needed. I would like to invite you to a meeting on Thursday, October 3 at 7:00 pm where our consultants will present the initial draft of the full comprehensive Master Plan report to our Board of Directors. The meeting will be held at the Pleasant Hill Community Center, 320 Civic Drive. The presentation will include updated recommendations to improving the park system over the next 10-15 years based

on your feedback and include a timeline for implementation. You will again have an opportunity to provide feedback on the priorities identiied in the draft “Big Picture” document. At this meeting, the Board will actively discuss the potential projects in the draft and provide direction to Rec & Park staﬀ regarding nal projects to include in the plan. This will be the rst time the Board will initiate their prioritization and planning process for future implementation. If you have some projects you would like to be considered in the nal adopted “Big Picture” plan or have additional feedback, I recommend attending the meeting and again, sharing your opinion. While I don’t know what the nal recommendations will be, I do know that your input is vital to the outcome and our future vision and plan for play. As we enter the last phase of this project, I ask that you stay engaged in the conversation, provide your feedback, and help us build out a robust park system that will continue to make life better for future generations. Visit pleasanthillrec.com and join our mailing list or email me directly at mlacy@pleasanthillrec.com.

Upcoming Activities Sept 4 | Youth after-school & homeschool programs kick oﬀ. Call for availability at (925) 682-0896 Sept 14 | Tinkers & Thinkers Innovation Faire in PH Park and Senior Center Sept 20 | FREE! Open Mic Night at Teen Center. Show oﬀ your talent! Sept 30 | FREE! Pop-Up Play Date 3:00-4:30 pm, Brookwood Park, 3250 Withers Ave, Lafayette For details, visit pleasanthillrec.com

pleasanthillrec.com

PAIR UP

Fruits of Labor Day

Take Advantage of Summer and Fall Fruits

BY MARIA TERRY September is a great month in Northern California. The summer fog on the coast lifts, it is warm and sunny, and summer stone fruits as well as fall tree fruits are both available. The menu below takes advantage of some of my go-to flavor combinations as well as the fruits of the season. Viognier is often described as a pretty wine. I think this is because it has a perfumed aroma and flavor. It is similar to Chardonnay in its weight and is sometimes aged in neutral oak barrels, giving it a roundness that many enjoy. Any stone fruit flavors of peach and nectarine will echo the nectarine in the Arugula Nectarine Salad. Normally, plain fruit is too sour for wine, but the pine nuts and blue cheese add fat and salt to offset the acid. Additionally, the vinaigrette of this salad uses mild raspberry vinegar so as not to make matters worse. The combination of bacon with scallops is a tried and true favorite; however, I am not a fan of wrapping bacon around the outside of scallops because neither ends up properly cooked. Invariably, the bacon is soft and the scallop is overcooked. When I found this recipe, I felt it offered the best of both worlds: crispy bacon and medium-rare, succulent scallops. The wine shallot pan sauce is a fantastic addition. Pinot Noir would be an excellent pairing partner with this dish as it has moderately high acidity to provides a

palate cleanser for the fat from the bacon and stands up to the wine sauce. If you don’t want to open a new wine, continue on with the Viognier from the first course. Viognier is one of the few wines that won’t make scallops taste metallic. You can use the Viognier or the Pinot Noir when making the pan sauce to further tie the dish to the wine. Keep the rest of the plate simple with steamed white rice and a sautéed green vegetable of your choice. To take advantage of the first apples of the season, go all-out with this recipe for homemade Apple Brandy by pairing it with the Apple Pear Crisp. If you want to make a smaller portion of the brandy, the recipe can easily be reduced. So, go on. Pair Up!

Seared Scallops with Bacon INGREDIENTS 6 slices bacon, cut into 3/4-inch pieces 1 pound large sea scallops (about 16) Salt and freshly ground pepper 2 Tablespoons minced shallot (about 2 shallots) 1 cup light red or white wine 2 Tablespoons unsalted butter DIRECTIONS Heat a large sauté pan over mediumlow heat and add bacon. Cook slowly, stirring frequently, until brown and crisp, about 8 minutes. Remove bacon with a slotted spoon, and transfer to a papertowel lined plate. Drain excess fat, leaving a thin coat on the bottom of the pan. Increase heat to medium, add scallops to the pan, and sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste. Cook until golden brown and opaque, about two minutes per side. Transfer scallops to the serving dish and adds shallots to the pan. When shallots are translucent, add white wine; scrape browned bits from the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon. Cook until liquid is reduced by half, 3 to 4 minutes. Stir in butter. Pour sauce over scallops and top with reserved bacon. Yield: 4 Servings

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

Maria Terry is a certified sommelier and wine educator in the San Francisco Bay Area. www.LaSommelierre.com.

Apple-Pear Walnut Crisp

Arugula Nectarine Salad

INGREDIENTS 4 cups fresh arugula or baby spinach 4 cups torn Bibb or Boston lettuce 3 medium nectarines, sliced 2 Tablespoons pine nuts, toasted 2 Tablespoons crumbled blue cheese Dressing: 2 Tablespoons raspberry vinegar 2 teaspoons sugar 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard 1/8 teaspoon salt Dash pepper 3 Tablespoons olive oil DIRECTIONS In a large bowl, combine the first five ingredients. In a small bowl, whisk vinegar, sugar, mustard, salt, and pepper. Gradually whisk in oil until blended. Drizzle over salad; toss to coat. Yield: 8 Servings

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

Apple Brandy INGREDIENTS 2 cups sugar 1 cups water 2 pounds apples, sliced ½ liter brandy 2 whole cloves 1 cinnamon stick (3 inches) Additional whole cloves and cinnamon sticks DIRECTIONS Combine sugar and water in a large saucepan. Bring to a boil; cook and stir until sugar is dissolved. Remove from the heat. Place apples in a large glass or plastic container; add the sugar mixture, brandy, cloves, and cinnamon stick. Cover and let stand at room temperature for at least two weeks, stirring once a week. Strain brandy mixture; discard apples and spices. Pour into glass bottles. Place an additional three cloves and one cinnamon stick in each bottle. Yield: About 16 oz.

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

INGREDIENTS Topping: 1½ cup California walnuts, divided ¼ cup all-purpose flour 1/3 cup brown sugar ½ cup quick-cooking oats ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon ½ cup butter, chilled and sliced into one tablespoon pieces Filling: 3 Granny Smith apples, peeled and sliced into ¼-inch slices 2 Anjou pears, peeled and sliced into ¼-inch slices ½ cup granulated sugar 2 Tablespoons cornstarch 1 teaspoon cinnamon 1/8 teaspoon salt 1 Tablespoon lemon juice Ice cream (optional) Caramel sauce (optional) DIRECTIONS TOPPING Add one cup of walnut pieces to a food processor and pulse until finely ground. In a small bowl, combine ground walnuts, flour, brown sugar, oats, and cinnamon. Cut butter into mixture until a coarse crumb forms. Coarsely chop the remaining 1/2 cup of walnut pieces and stir into crumb mixture until incorporated. Set aside while preparing the fruit filling. FILLING Preheat oven to 350°F. In a bowl, toss together apples, pears, sugar, cornstarch, cinnamon, salt, and lemon juice. Place fruit mixture in the bottom of a 10-inch cast-iron pan or baking dish. Sprinkle walnut crisp topping mixture over the top of the fruit. Bake for 45 minutes or until fruit mixture is hot and bubbly and topping is golden brown. Serve immediately. Top with ice cream and a drizzle of caramel sauce for extra decadence. Yield: 4 Servings

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

OURCOMMUNITYFOCUS.COM | SEPTEMBER 2019 | 21

IN THE MIX

In the Mix Bring on the Fall

BY PAUL COTRUVO With summer ending, I have been reflecting on the past season and looking forward to fall beginning, on September 23. Live music was strong this summer; it seemed like you could find live music seven days a week somewhere in our area, whether it was at a festival, patio, or pizza parlor. Take it from a “seasoned”

musician; this was not the case just 10 years ago. Now that summer is over, the opportunity for outside shows starts to diminish as the colder weather sets in. Do not fear, though, because with venues such as Armando’s in Martinez, Retro Junkie in Walnut Creek, Vinnies in Concord, WiseGirl in Pleasant Hill, Roxx on Main, which re-opens in Martinez, and so many more, live music is alive and well for all seasons. So, get out there and support any venue that still has live

Led Zep on the Bay

Set sail under the full Harvest Moon for a concert cruise on the Bay, paying tribute to the greatest rock band in history, Led Zeppelin. Featuring a live 10-piece tribute band led by Stu Allen and featuring Reed Mathis, Angeline Saris, James Nash, and may more of the Bay’s best rockers. Enjoy incomparable views of the Bay, bridges and Harvest Moon from three decks aboard the Hornblower Empress as you wine and dine and dance on the waves. This is the third in a series of concert cruises produced by Mr. Hat Presents, a small local promoter who is the sole producer of live music events on the SF Bay. Learn more at www.mrhatpresents.com Sailing from the Berkeley Marina Sat. 9/14 7-11 pm, 21+, tickets start at $100.

music. Autumn has always been my favorite season. The nights are cool, the days are warm, and baseball, football, and basketball are in full swing. As I sit here reflecting, I wonder about songs that capture the fall season. Sure, summer usually gets all the glory with songs of sun, beach, vacationing and relaxing. I mean, from “Surfin’ USA” to “Old Town Road,” what can you say except, “Hand me the sunscreen.” Winter has holiday music, and as days get warmer and longer, spring boasts “Here Comes the Sun.” But what about fall? Sure, it has a few Halloween tunes, but that does not define the season. Here’s my list of some great songs to add to your playlist as we enter the fall season. 1: “Autumn in New York” by Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong. Classic song for all you romantics. 2: “Harvest Moon” by Neil Young. Perfect song celebrating the autumnal full moon. 3: “When the Leaves Come Falling Down” by Van Morrison. Beautiful, hypnotic song that will make you fall in love. 4: “Autumn Leaves,” a classic done by many artists but my favorite version is by Eva Cassidy. 5: “September” by Earth, Wind & Fire. Just because the weather is cold doesn’t mean you can’t dance. 6: “November Rain” by Guns & Roses.

Paul’s Picks

“We still can find a way, ‘Cause nothin’ lasts forever, even cold November rain.” 7: “In my Life” by The Beatles. Perfect song for reflecting, and you know I just must have a Beatles song on any playlist. 8: “Leaves” by Miguel. A break up song on how a relationship can take over the seasons and the leaves don’t change color in California to remind you about the passage of time. 9: “Autumn Almanac” by The Kinks. A great pop song from one of the best bands out of England. Who else would have a line about “Oh, my poor rheumatic back”? 10: “’Tis Autumn” by Nat King Cole. All I can say is, “Timeless.” So, download these songs, put your feet up, drink some pumpkin spice, and relax. You know what’s right around the corner: holiday mayhem!!! And if you still want to experience a few more outdoor festivals, I highly recommend the 24th Annual Lafayette Art & Wine Festival in downtown Lafayette on the weekend of September 21-22. It’s four stages of entertainment and great food and wine. October 5 and 6 is the Pleasant Hill Art, Wine, and Music Festival in downtown Pleasant Hill. Always great entertainment and just a fun event. Quote of the Month: “I guess it’s something about the air. Fall air always smells like possibility.” ~~ Becky Albertalli & Adam Silvera

September 1: Top Shelf, Pleasant Hill Summer by the Lake, Pleasant Hill City Hall, 6pm September 7: Syria, Back Forty, 100 Coggins Drive, Pleasant Hill, 6pm September 7: Hot for Teacher, Retro Junkie, 2112 N. Main Street, Walnut Creek, 9pm September 8: Forejour, Pleasant Hill Summer by the Lake, Pleasant Hill City Hall, 6pm September 12: Mark Karan, Armando’s, 707 Marina Vista, Martinez, 8pm September 19: Garageland Rodeo & The Swampers, Todos Santos Plaza, Concord, 6:30pm September 21 & 22: 24th Annual Lafayette Art & Wine Festival. Check website for bands and location, www.lafayettefestival.com. September 21: Crying Time, Armando’s, 707 Marina Vista, Martinez, 8pm September 29: Sunday Paper, Armando’s, 707 Marina Vista, Martinez, 4pm

22 | SEPTEMBER 2019 | OURCOMMUNITYFOCUS.COM

Summer Crop Tomatoes

IN THE GARDEN

Home Gardens Tangle up with Vines Rambling out of Control BY LESLEY STILES September is synonymous with Labor Day weekend, back to school, sneaky late, hot summer days, and copious amounts of fresh tomatoes. Home gardens tangle up with This recipe is from my dear friend Jackie Hopkins -- always a reminder of a particularly fun afternoon in her kitchen. It is insanely easy and can be done tout suite!

Bread and Butter Pickles INGREDIENTS 15 cups sliced pickling cucumbers 3 onions, sliced thin 3 red bell peppers, sliced thin 1/4 cup coarse salt 5 cups cracked ice 3 cups cider vinegar 3 cups sugar 1 teaspoon turmeric 1 tablespoon mustard seeds 2 tablespoons celery seed 1 tablespoon dill seed 1 tablespoon cumin seed 12 small 6 ounce jars with rings and lids DIRECTIONS Wash jars thoroughly. Place on a sheet pan. Bring a large canner of water to a boil. Place a small sauce pan full of water on low heat. Place lids in to sanitize. Combine cucumbers, onions, peppers, salt and ice in a large bowl. Mix well. Put a weight on and allow to sit 1 to 3 hours. (For a weight, I use a plate with a gallon bottle of vinegar or water on top of it). Rinse and drain thoroughly. Toast spices dry in a small saucepan. Combine vinegar, sugar and spices in a large pot. Add drained cucumbers. Place pot on medium low heat. Bring almost to a boil but DO NOT ALLOW TO BOIL. Remove from heat. Fill into sterilized jars, process 10 minutes in a hot water bath / canner. Makes 12 small jars

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

snaky vines rambling out of control, seeking more and more sun along with ever needed water and escaping cages while comingling with pumpkins and squashes. Originating, it is said, in South America, the Aztec word “tomatl” was probably adapted to “tomate” when marauding Spaniards introduced them to their homeland post pillage during the 16th century. Jump to USA and “tomato.” Fun fact for the gardener in you: tomatoes are a perennial in their native habitat while we just get the annual type in these parts of the Americas. Salad Caprese is Italy’s gift to the U.S., and we thank them for it daily all summer long. Luscious chunks of still sun warm heirlooms sliced and tossed with fresh made mozzarella and torn basil should be illegal. Drizzle lemon oil and honey sweetened balsamic on with copious cracks of sea salt. Surprisingly, our tomatl marries excitingly well with the sexiest of all summer fruits, figs.

Panzanella (Italian Bread Salad INGREDIENTS 1 loaf sturdy, day old bread such as ciabatta or sour dough 3 large heirloom tomatoes, cubed ½ cup water ½ bunch fresh basil, chiffonade ½ bunch fresh parsley, chopped 2 cloves of garlic, chopped 1 small sweet red onion, sliced in half moons ½ cup nice red wine or balsamic vinegar ½ cup good olive oil Kosher salt and pepper Parmesan (optional) DIRECTIONS Tear the bread into bite sized pieces and place into a large salad bowl. Pour water over the bread and squeeze it together until the bread is soft. Squeeze the water out of the bread and discard the water. Toss the tomatoes, onion, herbs and garlic into the bread and mix it up. Add the vinegar and oil and stir to mix it all up. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Garnish w/ freshly grated Parmesana Reggiano cheese. Serves 4.

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

Panzanella salad is another Italian idea for using up old bread. See recipe below, and consider adding Brown Turkey Figs. Next to your tomatoes in the garden or on the table at the farmers’ markets lie the sainted cucurbit, cucumber. Freshly peeled and seeded, if necessary, sliced thin or chunked, mixed with red, old school tomatoes, rice vinegar, olive oil, basil and the ever present shake of good salt, this is yet another dish that will score you points anywhere while brightening flavor on anything culinary it touches. Pickles of all kinds figure large in our cuisine as sour, one of the six components of umami -- total flavor bliss. Personal to a point, everyone that makes pickles has the best pickle recipe and wants to generously share with all that will taste. For salad and raw eating you will want an English, Japanese or Persian cucumber, to name a few. Pickling cukes are a different breed altogether. Typically nameless at farmers’ markets, the variety is usually Kirby, but all kinds are presented. Variety and complexity abound, but most kinds are bumpy to the point of a little rough with a slight sticker feel on the fingers. They have a pretty tough skin and bigger seeds in the center as well as being somewhat bitter on tongues. Size is where they differ and choices are a bit personal, but small ones will have smaller seeds in the center and be firmer fleshed because of it. Varieties of pickles could easily denote size of cuke at purchase. Dill spears are going to be on the torpedo scale, all the better to spear my

love, while cornichons or baby dills along with sliced bread and butter pickles are going to be smaller in size. Dreaming of homemade pickles happens to us all at one time or another. Fortunate are those whose grandmothers and mothers actually made pickles and canned goods and passed down techniques for preserving summer bounty. Divinely inspired by sheer mass of product dictated “putting up” in days of yore, but now we do canning cause we are addicted, as if in a narcotic haze of vinegar and boiling herbs and spices to fill those jars and pass them along. Probably simplest to concoct are overnight vinegar, sugar, and pickling spice marinade to house sliced cucumbers and onions or possibly carrots, green beans or asparagus. A bit more complex are fermented pickles, which usually just use water and salt, a combination that takes months to cure. In between are processed dills or bread and butter pickles, an easy favorite reward for instant pickle gratification. So, once again, summer waxes and wanes in our part of the world, making way for the next season of amazing fruits and vegetables we are beyond fortunate to eat and grow in our precious Diablo Valley. Lesley Stiles is a graduate of the California Culinary Academy and Chef/ Owner of Roxx on Main, offering delicious, sustainable foods to the community. She can be reached at lesley@roxxonmain.com • www.roxxonmain.com • www. lesleystilesfoods.com 925 370 ROXX OURCOMMUNITYFOCUS.COM | SEPTEMBER 2019 | 23

From the Contra Costa County Historical Society

A History Note Camp Stoneman

BY MARJORIE NEWTON Over 2.5 million pairs of combat boots passed through the gates of Camp Stoneman in Pittsburg on the way to war in the years between 1941 and 1954. The camp was named after George Stoneman, a Civil War Union cavalry commander and, later, Governor of California. The camp began sending troops to the Pacific Theater in May 1942 and was decommissioned following the Korean War in 1954. Camp Stoneman was bordered by Railroad Avenue on the west, the Contra Costa Canal on the south, what is now California Avenue on the north, and Arlington Circle to the east, an area of 2,841.54 acres. Camp Stoneman’s Gate 1 was located at what is now 2527 Railroad Avenue. More than 800 buildings served the 20,000 troops on the base at any one time in the 1940s in the process of readying troops for “shipping out” to combat. The average length of stay before going overseas was one to two weeks. The largest telephone center in the world operated in the camp, with 45 phones available for the troops to call home. There were three motion picture theat-

ers, a ten thousand seat outdoor facility, and a 1000-bed hospital. There were 45 dentists. Seven barracks areas each contained nine blocks of barracks surrounding a mess hall. In July 1945, a Prisoner of War Camp was established within Camp Stoneman. Paul Burgarino in The Times newspaper dated 9/19/09 described how Italian prisoners visited homes of local countrymen on the weekends to enjoy a home cooked meal. The practice resulted in several marriages. When the base was declared to be surplus in 1960, the US General Services Administration (GSA) sold 750 buildings at Camp Stoneman to the highest bidder. Land was acquired by the Pittsburg Unified School District and various individuals and governmental agencies. The former Rifle Range became an 18-hole golf course. The main containment area of Camp Stoneman is now covered primarily by Los Medanos College as well as parks, office buildings, some light industry, and residences. Of the many original buildings only the chapel remains, located at Harbor Street and East Leland Road,

along with a few warehouses and the sanitation system. A second chapel is located on Crestview Drive. Many newcomers to the area have never heard of Camp Stoneman nor that it was located in Pittsburg. But for those who passed through its stone gates, it will always be remembered.

A History Note is presented by the Contra Costa County History Center, 724 Escobar St., Martinez, and uses materials from the society’s collections. Open hours: Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, from 9-4, and the first and third Saturdays, from 10-2. Check out the website: www.cocohistory.org

Pleasant Hill Senior Activities September 12 - Care Management Series Presents “Be Safe & Sound In Your Home” 2pm. A presentation of safety precautions and maintenance issues surrounding your home. Expect funny stories and embarrassing situations to bring humor to your heart and tears to your eyes! Presented by Carol Tracy-Handy Ma’am * Free, but please RSVP to 798-8788 or www.pleasanthillrec.com. September 27 – Anniversary Party 12pm. The Senior Center is celebrating 64 years! Travel across the seas in our cruise ship. We aren’t sure where the boat is taking us and hopefully we return home, but we know we will have a delicious meal featuring chicken cordon bleu and a comedy show from the hilarious Ms. Sandra Risser. Tickets: $15 before Sept. 13, $20 after. Non-members pay $5 more. Mondays - NEW Wellness Classes: Nutrition Workshops Instructor: Janet Franklin, RD, 10-11:30am. 9/16 - The MIND Diet: Can it Prevent Cognitive Decline? 9/23 - Healthy Eating with Minimal Cooking; 9/30 - Consumer Beware: Smart Supermarket Strategies. Fee: $31/$25(Dist. residents) Advance registration required. Call 798-8788, or go online at www.pleasanthillrec.com or visit the Senior Center. Thursdays in October – NEW Dance Choreography - Dianna Rowley 1:302:15pm. A fun new way to get moving! In these classes you will learn simple yet famous choreography. Impress your family and friends. No experience required. 5 classes. $77/$62 (Dist. residents). 233 Gregory Lane, Pleasant Hill 925-798-8788 24 | SEPTEMBER 2019 | OURCOMMUNITYFOCUS.COM

Camp Stoneman Chapel, 1978. History Center files of Contra Costa Times photographs.

Read My Mind

ÂŠ

Lessons From Lucy BY MICHAEL G. HARRIS, OD I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t care what book youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re currently reading or listening to. Put it down and run, donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t walk, to your nearest bookstore, library, or website and get Dave Barryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s latest book, Lessons from Lucy. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s billed as â&#x20AC;&#x153;the simple joys of an old, happy dog.â&#x20AC;? But it is so much more than that. Let me explain. Lucy is Daveâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s motley mutt, a rescue hound of dubious distinction. As Dave turns 70, he looks to Lucy for lessons on how to enjoy a meaningful and happy life. Now, I must admit, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m not much of a dog person. Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t get me wrong; itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not that I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t like dogs, but Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m highly allergic. When my oldest child, Matt, was four years old, he asked his mother if he could get a dog. His motherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s response was, â&#x20AC;?Sorry, Matt, we canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t. Dad is allergic.â&#x20AC;? After some careful thought, my son and heir responded: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Can we get a dog after Dad dies?â&#x20AC;? Fortunately for our family, Matt got a dog when he moved out on his own. (Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m still allergic but very much alive to tell this story!) Even if youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re currently reading a highly acclaimed bestseller like Educated or The Tattooist of Auschwitz, put it aside for now and start reading Lucy. That other

book will still be there when you finish. Lucyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a quick but memorable read, and youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll return to your other book with new insights and perspectives that will make it an even more meaningful read. Once in a while, an author writes a book that is a must read for everyone, young and old alike. Lessons from Lucy is such a book. It joins the ranks of some of the best â&#x20AC;?adviceâ&#x20AC;? books Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve ever read. Its lessons are wise and witty, as youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d expect from humorous Barry. But this book struck me in the same powerful way as Mitch Albomâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Tuesdays with Morrie, Ethan Hawkeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Rules for a Knight, and Randy Paulschâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s The Last Lecture. (If you havenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t read those books, I urge you to do so as soon as possible.) I recognize the special relationship between owner and pet. And I know both can learn a lot from each other. Here is some of what Dave learned from Lucy and why these lessons are so important for all of us: Make new friends, and keep the ones you have. Dogs have no problems with this one but people do. Contact an old friend you havenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t been in touch with for some time. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be good for both of you. Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t stop having fun, and if you do, start again. Just look at a dog or your 3-year-old grandson. Everythingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fun for

book after he had sent it to his publisher. I guarantee it will bring tears to your eyes and a smile to your face. It will make you grateful for all you have.

LOOKING FOR NEW HARDWOOD? IN CONCORD

40 YEARS! 50,000 HOMES WITH NEW FLOORS

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

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

For the Home Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve Always Wanted...Call Us Today

SAMUELS

( ) .=61@ :&&:&A&

CONSTRUCTION

! # !

' ( ) * !+ ,) - ."/01 &"/"2.! $% &

$% ( ) * !+ ,) - 34 342 &"/"2.!

For all of your promotional needs.

h2goÂŽ houston

viper

h2goÂŽ concord

20.9 oz double wall 18/8 stainless steel thermal bottle with copper vacuum insulation, threaded onetouch push-button lid with locking mechanism, and carrying handle Âˇ patent D821,819 - gift box included

16 oz double wall 18/8 stainless steel thermal tumbler with copper vacuum insulation, glossy white exterior, threaded one-touch push-button lid, locking mechanism, and color accents - gift box included

25 oz double wall 18/8 stainless steel thermal bottle with copper vacuum insulation, threaded lid, stainless steel accent and lid retaining loop - gift box included

ELENA HUTSLAR

1 $ 5 8 0 & &34. 9 &

/ &

1 $ 5 8 : &; <";4 3 , &

them. Why shouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t it be for you? Just pay attention, especially to the people you love. They are the most important people in your life, as Barry discovers in his last lesson. Let go of your anger, unless itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s about something really important, which it almost never is. Your anger only hurts you, so â&#x20AC;&#x153;get over it!â&#x20AC;? Try not to judge people by their looks, and donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t obsess over your own. Dogs donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t care what other dogs looks like. And certainly, dogs donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t care about their own appearance. Stop judging yourself and others by whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s on the outside. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s what on the inside that really counts. Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t let your happiness depend on things; they donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t make you truly happy, and youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll never have enough anyway. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s people (and pets) that make you happy. They canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be replaced, but things can. Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t lie unless you have a really good reason, which you probably donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t. Please donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t think you can skip reading this book simply by reading this review. I canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t do justice to the wonders of the book in this column. The bookâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most compelling message and what truly makes it a must read for all of us, didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t actually come from Lucy, although it could have. It came from Barryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 18â&#x20AC;&#x201C;year-old daughter, Sophie. This last â&#x20AC;&#x153;lessonâ&#x20AC;? was an addition to the

?( " #$

+($ "# #

($$ "! %&

elena@intentionadvertising.com 925.408.6142

â&#x20AC;˘ Kitchens â&#x20AC;˘ Bath Remodeling â&#x20AC;˘ Tile â&#x20AC;˘ Cultured Marble â&#x20AC;˘ Granite â&#x20AC;˘ Additions â&#x20AC;˘ Windows â&#x20AC;˘ Doors â&#x20AC;˘ Concrete â&#x20AC;˘ Foundations â&#x20AC;˘ Driveways â&#x20AC;˘ Patios â&#x20AC;˘ Fences

samcon60@gmail.com â&#x20AC;˘ 925.260.4448 MEMBER

313 Gloria Drive, Pleasant Hill

General Contractor Lic#652185

OURCOMMUNITYFOCUS.COM | SEPTEMBER 2019 | 25 ($ "$ '

! !

: *AA(-

B $ C 2 2 # &6 ! &6

! . #

# ' D # !

Fire Season

County’s Wildfire Preparedness

Come and experience an event focusing on the unique issues of prostate cancer patients. Join an engaging panel of medical experts who will discuss the latest information regarding ongoing screening, risk factors, and advances in treatment. Q & A session to follow presentation.

3491 Mt Diablo Blvd Lafayette, CA 94549

To RSVP: Call at 925.677.5041 ext 272 or email sjung@dvohmg.com

BY SUPERVISOR KAREN MITCHOFF At the Board of Supervisors’ meeting on Tuesday, July 23, we received an excellent report from Fire Chief Lewis Broschard and Sheriff’s Captain Tory Kornblum that shared each agency’s emergency preparedness and evacuation plans in the event of wildfires in Contra Costa County. It was a very informative presentation and I wanted to share some key takeaways, especially in light of the Marsh Complex fire, which threatened homes in the hills surrounding Clayton. There are many ways to be prepared, and below I detail some important strategies from the report that you can employ to keep your household safe in the event of a wildfire. Prepare your home Create defensible space around your house by clearing dead and dying vegetation from your roof, gutters, and decks, and ensure that tree limbs are at least 10 feet away from structures. Regularly cut grasses and clear brush within 30-100 feet of your home and keep any woodpiles or combustibles in this zone. Pack a go-bag Include emergency essentials and ensure that it is ready in an accessible location. Back your car in the driveway, and regularly check your smoke detectors’ batteries as well.

Home Detailers Housekeeping Let the work speak for itself!

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

CALL TODAY FOR YOUR FREE ESTIMATE - 925-689-9823 26 | SEPTEMBER 2019 | OURCOMMUNITYFOCUS.COM

Create a plan with loved ones Some questions to consider: where will you go in the event of a fire, and what are some routes that you can take to get there? Make sure to designate an out-of-town relative to be your point of contact should there be disruptions in cell networks. Register with the Community Warning System. Stay apprised of fire dangers and all other emergencies in your community. All you have to do is call 925-313-9622 or visit https://cwsalerts.com/ and they will register you for emergency warnings. Emergency information is always available as well at KCBS 740AM. Know your neighbors. Discuss how you will plan to keep each other safe in the event of a wildfire. Check in with your mobility-restricted neighbors to see if they have a plan of action should a wildfire occur in your community. With wetter winters and hotter summers each year, a heightened wildfire risk is likely to be the new normal in our county. However, by following these steps, we can all be ready should a wildfire strike. To access the Contra Costa Fire Protection District Resident Wildfire Guide and learn more about how to prepare for wildfires, go to https://www.cccfpd. org/ResidentsWildlandFireGuide

CLEANING SPECIAL

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

EXPIRES 9/30/19

MAKE SOME PLANS

september 3

september 11

september 26

ongoing

Pleasant Hill Garden Study Club

Magic Club

Using and Preserving Medicinal Herbs Workshop

Volunteer with Seniors

Club meets Tuesday, 7pm. “Gardening for Butterflies” will be presented by Prof Arthur Shapiro of UC Davis. Free, all are welcome. Pleasant Hill Community Center, 320 Civic Dr., Pleasant Hill. www.phgsc.com

The Society of American Magicians Assembly #112 Magic Club meets the second Wednesday of each month at Denny’s Restaurant, 1313 Willow Pass Rd., Pleasant Hill, 6 -7pm – Eat, Greet and Meet; 7pm – Workshop (learning new effects), lectures and performance time. Guests welcome. 925-6854577. https://sam112.com

september 6

september 20

september 28

october 5 & 12

Back to School Game Night & Bake Sale

Music & Movies Under the Stars

Great Gatsby Garden Gala

Become a ESL Tutor

Bring your parents and friends, young and old, and play Cranium, Pictionary, card games, and more. Free, 6-9pm, First Baptist Church Fellowship Hall, 1802 Alhambra Ave, Mtz. Refreshments provided. All bake sale proceeds for shipping Operation Christmas Child Shoeboxes.

Jumanji is brought to you by the City of Walnut Creek, Walnut Creek Recreation and Walnut Creek Downtown. Movies begin at sunset, with live music beforehand. Please do not bring pets. Civic Park, 1375 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek.

Grab your boas and beads, shine those wing tips and get your tickets before they sell out! Speakeasy $100 per person / Gala dinner $250 per person includes Speakeasy. 4:30pm, Ruth Bancroft Garden,1552 Bancroft Rd. Walnut Creek. www.ruthbancroftgarden.org

september 7-8

september 24

september 28-29

ongoing

Annual Fall Plant Sale

Prostate Cancer Seminar

TreasureFest

Stock up on your favorite water wise plants at our annual fall plant sale! Find CA natives, cacti, succulents, Australian natives, waterwise shrubs and trees ideal for landscapes, South African Natives + more! 10am – 5pm. 1552 Bancroft Rd., Walnut Creek. www.ruthbancroftgarden.org/events.

Medical experts will review the unique issues of prostate cancer patients plus discuss latest information regarding ongoing screening, risk factors, advances in treatment and nutritional dietary guidance. Q & A session to follow. Reserve by emailing sjung@dvohmg. com. 6:30-8:30pm, Lafayette Library Community Room, 3491 Mt Diablo Blvd., Lafayette.

One part shopping, one part feasting, and one part music and entertainment. A unique monthly festival that showcases the best of the Bay Area. 10am-4pm. Located at 500 Ave N, Treasure Island SF. $7 general entry, kids under 12 are free. Free parking. Pet friendly. www.treasurefest.com

Volunteers for Senior Van Service

Clinical herbalist teaches us about herbal medicine, how to plant a pollinator-friendly garden, and preserving herbs. $25. 6 - 8pm, Rodgers Ranch Heritage Center, 315 Cortsen Rd., Pleasant Hill. Register at www.sustainablecoco.org

Spectrum Community Services is looking for individuals who would like to volunteer in senior centers all around the East Bay. Please call Spectrum Community Services at 510-8810300 ext. 242 or fill out an application at www. Spectrumcs.org.

We will teach you to be a tutor! $20 covers materials and training. You must attend both sessions and commit 1-2 hours per week after you’re matched with your student. Training: 9am-1pm, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Concord. For details, visit dvlc4esl.org

Pleasant Hill Senior Center Van Service is looking for a volunteer ride schedule dispatcher. Only one morning shift each week (9-11am). For more information, visit pleasanthillca.org/seniorvan or call 925-671-5288.

BUSINESS DIRECTORY

Local Qualit y You Can Trust!

Pleasant Hill

COLLISION

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

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

REDWOOD FENCES KEVIN ALGAR 925-586-0940/algarkevin@yahoo.com

FREE ESTIMATES•ALL WORKMANSHIP GUARANTEED OURCOMMUNITYFOCUS.COM | SEPTEMBER 2019 | 27

DOWNTOWN LAFAYETTE

FREE

Admission Parking at BART Shuttle to Event Bike Valet

Take BART to the Festival!

Saturday, September 21, 10am-7pm Sunday, September 22, 10am-6pm Young Maker’s Expo & Xfinity Pigskin Party Benefits Local Education

4 Stages Live Music 3day Weekend • Acoustic S&M • Aja Vu Bay Bridge Beat • Bob Athayde & Friends East Bay Mudd • Extra Large Juke Joint • Mixed Nuts • Neon Velvet Other People’s Money • Strawberry Souls Sunny and the Black Pack The Big Jangle • The Delivery Men The Houserockers • The Ripplers The Spazmatics • The Sun Kings The Tuneriders • ZEBOP!

3 Kid Zones • Dining • Shopping • Activities • Entertainment Presenting Sponsors

Festival Sponsors

Mercedes-Benz of Walnut Creek

ALL BUSINESS CLASS International Business & First Class Travel

#LafayetteFestival AW19-CommunityFocus-BackCover.indd 1

www.LafayetteFestival.com

@lafayettefestival 8/8/2019 10:07:04 AM