The Clayton Gazette - November 2014 by Publisher

The Clayton Gazette • NOVEMBER 2014 • www.ClaytonGazette.com • (925) 303-4779

The Clayton Corner

by Tiffany Gensburger

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Holidays Abound

I can’t thank our readers enough for such an amazing reception to our first issue. Our Facebook page at www.FB.com/ClaytonGazette jumped to over 2350 followers in under a month, and keeping up with your comments has been challenging and fun. With this issue, our second, I hope to really show you what we’re made of; local people sharing local stories and local events, man on the street interviews and photographs, videos online, and an occasional hot topic. In addition, we have added features we believe you will enjoy and soon we will be tying it all together with our media site. In this issue, we have LOTS of GIVEAWAYS. If you follow us on Facebook, you’ll already know that we have given away TWO FREE tickets to see the Clayton Theatre’s last show, “A Trip Down Broadway,” won by Geri Wilkinson Phillips and Sharon Petersen, also a very cute “red hat” ceramic Christmas ornament won by Christy Ottobani, and TWO FREE TICKETS to see CenterRep’s DEATHTRAP, won by Priscilla Mercado. Congratulations to all of you. Team Clayton Gazette has grown. This month we were joined by Jill Banks, a Clayton native

and social maven. Many of you already know her and I have enjoyed watching her posts on our Facebook page and her interactions with you. In addition, my stepson, Nick Gensburger (now an adult) joins us as Client Services Manager. You will most likely speak with him on the phone, and he is the go-to person for advertising as well. Our man on the street, Mikah Nunez offers us impromptu images and videos that catch YOU at your best. As our media site develops you will find lots of videos included. And finally, our friends at CSK Photography who have given us two wonderful front covers, in additional to other imagery. I cannot recommend them enough! Through this 20-page issue you will find MORE items of interest and FREE TICKET GIVEAWAYS including two tickets to see the Contra Costa Ballet’s “Nutcracker” at the Lesher. There is more... you’ll just have to read it to find them. And finally, we are developing CLAYTON NOW, a website that offers all our contests, event calendars and things you will want to do NOW! It will be live in the next few weeks and you will be able to reach it at www.ClaytonNow.com. Happy Halloween, Happy Thanksgiving. We have a lot to be thankful for. I’ll see you Online! Warmly,

Tiffany G.

Tiffany Gensburger Publisher tiffany@claytongazette.com PS: Tell your friends to LIKE and Follow us on Facebook www.FB.com/ ClaytonGazette

IN THIS ISSUE: A Walk Through Time

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A Littel Bit Off

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Luke Bryan Closes the Season ...........................4 Dan Ashley’s “What Really Matters” ............

Calendar starts

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Fighting the Good Fight

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Teacher Extraordinaire

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Swansong: Edward Stegge

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Mind Games.................................................

Holiday Recipes

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Movie & Book Reviews ................................ 17

The Clayton Gazette • NOVEMBER 2014 • www.ClaytonGazette.com • (925) 303-4779

A Walk Through Time

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with Misty Bruns, Docent at Clayton Museum

DeMartini Winery

Information from the research/resource center at the Clayton museum

Paul De Martini was born in Genoa, Italy, in 1844. He came to the U.S. in 1861 and moved to Concord, California in 1865. Later he moved to the coal mining community of Nortonville, where he operated a boarding house for two years. He then moved to Clayton, where he bought approximately 44 acres from Joel Clayton, and planted his vineyard. The De Martini winery produced prize-winning wines, winning first place for port and sherry at the St. Louis

Exposition in 1904. The winery’s production ranked second in the county, at 200,000 gallons, surpassed only by Martinelli’s Mt. Diablo Winery. On August 30, 1984 the De Martini Winery was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. The stone building is now the town’s civic center, with a community meeting room, city offices and the Clayton Police Department http://www.claytonhistory.org/

a little bit Off!

the humor of Cathy Turney

Talking To India

It’s time to think about Christmas and how the gifts we choose can affect the recipient’s self esteem. This year, you or someone you care deeply about will undoubtedly receive a piece of technology—an apparatus with a mind of its own, a mind more devious than Tony Soprano, more Machiavellian than Machiavelli. For instance, a computer. And, guaranteed, you will be talking to India. I was invited to participate in a Google Hangout (high tech talk for interview) about real estate. Well, it was really about promoting my new book, Laugh Your Way to Real Estate Sales Success. The book that will be available on Amazon for 927 rupees a nominal price on or around when the planets align November 15. But I shamelessly digress. So, I had to get the camera on my computer to work. Funny how everyone else worries about bad guys spying on them through that little red dot that is the camera lens on their monitor, and I can’t get mine to open its eye. MyHusbandTheEngineer, who can fix anything, tried his hand at it. MHTE: “What did you do?”

Me: “Nothing. I just Googled ‘Google Hangout,’ and there isn’t a single bit of information about how to make the camera work.” MHTE: “You must have done something

to the camera.” Me: “Let’s just call Dell. That name rings a bell. Which rhymes with hell, which…” MHTE: “No. I’ll fix it.” It’s hard for a grown man to admit defeat, so while he was “fixing,” I got on the phone to Dell because I have a file folder that says “Dell,” which must mean that the computer is a Dell. Dell, aka India, answers: “Thank you for calling Technical Support. How may I help you?” Me: “I can’t get the camera on my computer to work.” India: “Thank you for calling. Is the problem that your camera does not work?” Me: “Yes.” India: “Allow me to understand your problem, please. The camera on your computer does not work.” Me: “That’s right. And my husband, who is an engineer, cannot fix it,” I whisper, stepping out of the room. India: “I understand. You are having difficulty with your computer camera.... Continued on page 18...

The Clayton Gazette • NOVEMBER 2014 • www.ClaytonGazette.com • (925) 303-4779

Luke Bryan

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Lee Brice

& Cole Swindell

Luke Bryan- Photo courtesy of Bennett Shots - Brad & Sara

Close Out the Concord Pavilion Season The final concert of the season at The Concord Pavilion drew a huge crowd to hear Luke Bryan, Lee Brice and Cole Swindell close out the season in style. Luke Bryan spent most of his childhood on a farm in Leesburg, Georgia, helping his father with his peanut business and learning to hunt and fish as any good country western singer must. At age 14 he got his first guitar and, emulating the likes of George Strait, was already entertaining groups by age fifteen. He was quickly signed up by local talent scouts, only to be siderailed with the death of his brother in an automobile accident. He chose to stay in Leesburg with his family. Luke is now the ACM Entertainer of the Year, on a tour that includes larger venues, and topped by an appearance at the Hollywood Bowl.

Clayton Theatre Company The Clayton Theatre Company closed out “A Trip Down Broadway” which was a resounding success with four of the eight shows a sell out including a very successful fundraiser for Rett Syndrome. “Everyone who saw the show absolutely raved about it,” said Beth Neudell, show publicist. “They Photo credit: Meghan Pardi thought it was very The cast and crew of “A Trip Down Broadway” in front of Endeavor Hall after a successful run. professional, the voices were wonderful, they were wowed by the sheer number of talented singers and actors.” This was the third production for the Clayton Theatre. The Robber Bridegroom was the first, Night of January 16th was the second. The next show will be Arsenic and Old Lace in April, 2015, in Endeavor Hall. The exact dates will be determined.

Cole Swindell - Photo courtesy of Bennett Shots - Brad & Sara Bennett

Send Us Your Selfies!!!

Send us YOUR PHOTOS and SELFIES. We want to know where you go to have fun. Simply email them to info@claytongazette. com and you’ll automatically be entered into drawings for our contests and the opportunity to be in print.

The Clayton Gazette • NOVEMBER 2014 • www.ClaytonGazette.com • (925) 303-4779

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WhatReallyMatters by Dan Ashley,

ABC-7 News Anchor

Watch Dan’s live newscasts at http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/live

Holidays are for the Home You may still have that carved pumpkin on the front stoop and you certainly have at least a couple of “fun size” candy bars left over from Halloween, but ghosts and goblins are a facing memory. We’re on to the main events. Quick bird walk; I’ve never thought of those tiny candy bars we hand out to trick-ortreaters as the “fun” size, who are they kidding? Anyway, I digress, regular commentary service is now resuming. The next couple of months are a magical time of year, but, in our busy work-a-day lives, it is easy to miss the magic. The winter holidays, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Hanukkah are truly a time of gratitude, good will, and joy. So often, however, we seem to whiz by these important mile-markers with only a passing glance as we notice them fading away in our rear view mirrors. We are too busy today, too distracted to steep ourselves in some of the most precious moments we are meant to enjoy with our families. How many years have you entered the holidays excited and looking forward to making the most of them only to look back in February and wondered how and why they passed by so quickly?

Our working lives are demanding and can be unforgiving. While we may not be able to change the reality of earning a living, we cannot allow ourselves to make that an excuse for not being engaged in our home life when we’re not on the job. Admittedly, this is a classic case of the pot calling the kettle black, as I am often far too busy, too distracted, too pulled in too many directions to unplug and enjoy down time. And it has only gotten worse thanks to the insidious influence of my smart-phone. What began as a device to keep us connected has, in so many ways, disconnected us from our loved ones. I should probably sue the thing for all of the time it’s stolen! With Halloween over, we’re off to the races—the mad dash to Thanksgiving followed by that panicked sprint to Christmas. We can come up for air by Valentine’s Day. Here’s an idea—make your New Year’s resolution now. Resolve not to let another holiday season pass without embracing What Really Matters.

Dan Ashley is an anchor at ABC-7 News and can be seen weeknights at 5, 6 and 11 p.m. on ABC-7 and at 9 p.m. on KOFY TV20. Contact him at dan@myconcordian.com. Visit http://www.rockwithpush.com for more on the band.

FREE FOR THE TAKING Free Firewood - Pine, cut 2x2 rounds, not split. You load & haul.

Call 925-207-0449.

Jeff Holmes’

A Heart for

Christmas

Clayton resident, Jeff Holmes, is in the midst of setting up one of the largest Christmas displays and light shows in Contra Costa County. Called “A Heart for Christmas,” the end result is a FREE Christmas tour and musical light show, orchestrated and directed by the award-winning lighting designer. Jeff was also creator of the largest musical Christmas tree in the world. The entire property is designed to be an interactive experience. “As you cross the bridge,” Holmes explained to the Gazette, “you leave that traditional Christmas world and you enter our land. Everything here is white.” The initial section behind the house is made up of white Christmas lights. The design is complex, using a base of mulch, with quilt batting, and lights to give a believable snowscape. “Last year we had a forest of fairies and lasers. The music is still here, but it is a different song.A different emotion. You have to be immersed in this experience.” The display boasts 60,000 lights

on 2-acres of land. The walk-through display, located at 1185 Pine Lane in Clayton, was created to raise financial support and awareness for the Katie-Grace Groebner fund of the Children’s Organ Transplant Association. Katie Grace, now twelve years old, was a former sufferer of pulmonary hypertension. She received a heart and bi-lateral lung transplant earlier this year and despite obstacles, is doing well. The display features nearly 60,000 lights, snow machines, lasers, and a 20-minute musical light show featuring our two adorable snow children, Blizzard and Flurry! It is a 20 minute light show repeated every half hour. The show opens November 28. You can follow Jeff’s progress at www.aheartforchristmas.com and at www.fb.com/heartforchristmas.

The Clayton Gazette • NOVEMBER 2014 • www.ClaytonGazette.com • (925) 303-4779

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FAIRS/SHOWS 11/8, Concord Con Toy & Collectibles Show, 9 am, Center Concord, 5298 Clayton Rd. www.concordcon.com 11/15 – 11/16, Contra Costa County Fair, 1201 West 10th St. Antioch. www. ContraCostaFair.com SEE OUR AD PAGE 19 11/19, 5:30 pm, 14th Annual Amateur Boxing Show, Community Youth Center presents the 14th Annual Amateur Boxing Show at Scott’s Seafood Restaurant, Jack London Square, Oakland, http://www. communityyouthcenter.org 12/7, 3:34pm, Pearl Harbor Day Beacon Lighting Ceremony: Lighting the Eye of Diablo, Every year since 1964, the Pearl Harbor survivors and their families have memorialized Pearl Harbor Day by relighting the historic Beacon atop Mount Diablo’s summit. This year will be the first official Beacon lighting since it underwent an extensive restoration process earlier this year to ensure it continues to shine for many more years.., Mount Diablo State Park, Concord.

Outdoors 10/31 Trick or Treat, 3:00pm – 5:00pm. Come and Trick or Treat around the downtown plaza and see which of your favorite scarecrows won this years Scarecrow competition. www.Cityofconcord.org 11/2 Save Mount Diablo Trail Adventure- Half Marathon/10K/5K A portion of all registration fees will go to Save Mount Diablo to fund land preservation and trails. Castle Rock Park, Walnut Creek http://www.brazenracing.com/ DTAmain.html 11/8 - 1/11/15 Walnut Creek on Ice, Children’s Winter Festival $5/2 hour skating sessions offered all day! http://www.iceskatewalnutcreek. com 11/16, 3/815, 4/12/15, 5/10/15, Family Day at Sienna Ranch, Each Fall and Spring, Sienna Ranch opens its doors for special family and community open house days. Come enjoy our lovable animals, fun activities, good company, and wholesome environment. Bring your own picnic lunch or pre-order a healthy lunch to eat on the day. Family Day Passes are $85, Admission to Sienna Ranch Family Day for up to 5 people, 3 pony or horse ride tickets 3 archery tickets, 5 tractor-pulled hayride tickets, Participation in the handson activity,Opportunity to go on a guided nature hike to our Tree Fort Unlimited animal visits to goats, sheep and chickens during open pen times. http://bit.ly/1FOtrdc to register Sienna Ranch, 3232 Deer Hill Rd. Lafayette 11/2 Pleasan Hill Family Fun Triathlon. This Swimming event will be located at Pool - Pleasant Hill Education Center, 1 Santa Barbara Rd, Pleasant Hill

CLUB EVENTS 11/13, 7PM, Clayton Valley Garden Club, Club member’s will share and discuss their best flower, plant, garden and/or wildlife related digital images on our Club’s HD video projector. Diamond Terrace, 6401 Center Street, Clayton. http://www.claytonvalleygardenclub.org Nov 15, all day - Online Registration Clayton Valley Little League. www. cvll.org

Home & Garden/Farmers’ Markets •Pacific Coast Farmers Market Association: •Concord Tuesdays, 10am to 2pm, year-round, rain or shine, Todos Santos Plaza. •Concord Thursdays, 4pm to 8pm, Todos Santos Plaza. •Clayton, Saturdays 10am - 2pm •Martinez, Sundays, 10am to 2pm, year-round, Main St. and Estudillo. •Pleasant Hill Saturday, May 3rd through November 15th, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Downtown Plaza (in front of Jack’s Restaurant) http://www.pcfma.com http://www.pcfma.org •Contra Costa Certified Farmers Market Sundays 9 am - 1 pm, Year Round, WalnutCreek, North Locust St between Giamona and Lacassie St. (925) 431-8361 http://www.cccfm.org

Senior Events

11/9, 11:45 am Bingo and Spaghetti Lunch

Enter to win TWO FREE Tickets to “The Nutcracker,” show on November 29, 7:30 pm. Email: info@claytongazette.com and tell us why you read The Clayton Gazette. Deadline: Friday, Nov. 14, 5pm

Come join us every second Sunday of the month to have lunch and/or play bingo. Lunch $3, Bingo packs $5 (6 cards/10 games. Special games cost extra. Questions call 925/687-2585. Concord Senior Center, 2727 Parkside Cir, Concord November 16 – 9:00 to 10:45 a.m. Family Breakfast at the Concord Senior Center. Join us for Pancakes or Biscuits & Gravy with eggs, ham, fruit, coffee, juice and service with a smile. Adults $4.00, Children 3-11 years $2.00, Children 2 & younger free. Questions call 925/687-2585. 2727 Parkside Cir, Concord

Visual Arts Thru 4/2015 Artist Deborah Ashley -Twenty of Deborah’s paintings will be on exhibit until April 2015 at Kanishka’s Restaurant, 1518 Bonanza St. (near Locust Avenue), Walnut Creek

Theatre/Film 11/ 1-2, 6,7,8,9, times vary. Wunderworld, Sara Moore, the brilliant San Francisco-based clown, and her Thrillride Mechanics troupe star in Wunderworld, a stunning new re-imagining of the Alice in Wonderland story. www.centerrep.org 1601 Civic Dr. Walnut Creek Continues on Page 9

The Clayton Gazette • NOVEMBER 2014 • www.ClaytonGazette.com • (925) 303-4779

residenttales

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Sponsored by the Diamond Terrace 55+ Retirement Community

Peeping Moms

My 15 year old niece is overthe-top happy at being invited to her first prom. I couldn’t help but think back to my first

prom. It didn’t matter that my date was arranged by my mother and her best friend.

by Ruth Dywer

My date was a classmate and also the son of mom’s best friend. I had known him since childhood and we barely

tolerated each other. But we wanted to go to the prom, so we prepared to go and have a good time. My mother took me to a fancy store in San Francisco to get the perfect dress. I remember it was lavender taffeta and had yards and yards of skirt. A wonderful ball gown! The dress cost $14.95 which was more than my folks had ever spent on an article of clothing. The prom was being held in the Colonial Ballroom at the St. Francis Hotel in downtown San Francisco. Since neither I nor my date drove, we took a taxi to the affair. What could be more grown-up! To see all my classmates dressed in suits and gorgeous dresses was a sight to behold. Of course, my dress was the most beautiful and I felt like a fairy princess. There was a big-band orchestra playing all the current hits of the 40’s. I was dancing to every song and actually having a marvelous time when a classmate stopped me and asked if that was my mother hiding behind a potted plant in one of the balconies above the dance floor. Not only was my mother there, but so was my date’s mother. Soon, all my friends were commentating on our parents viewing us. One smartmouthed boy referred to me as “Baby Ruth”, needing her mom to be near. I’d like to say I confronted both moms and chewed them out, but I was too upset. So, I kept quiet, stayed until the affair was over. We taxied to my home, and my angry date stormed off to have a few words with his mom. When my mom came home I let loose on her, citing all the embarrassment she caused me. www.diamondterrace.net Editor’s Note: Sadly, Lora Ingalls, a longtime resident of Diamond Terrace, and a contributor to this paper, passed away on Sept. 28. Please see a memorial and Lora’s final story on page 8

The Clayton Gazette • NOVEMBER 2014 • www.ClaytonGazette.com • (925) 303-4779

In-Memoriam

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Lora Ingalls Lora Ingalls, an original resident of Diamond Terrace, passed away peacefully Sunday, September 28th, 2014. Lora first moved to the Retirement Community in January 2003. She was born on a ranch in North Central Nebraska and was a twin. She often shared her years growing up with wonderful stories about her youth many printed in The Concordian. She came from a very caring and generous family which helped her become the person she was - genuine, loving and smart. In her early years she was a teacher in a one-room country schoolhouse 100 miles from her home. Lora continued teaching until she married Mitch and together they had 2 children, Lenita and Chuck. Playing scrabble was one of her favorite past times and you could always spot her on Wednesday mornings in the lobby at Diamond Terrace engulfed in a game. She was also a very accomplished seamstress and enjoyed crafts and needlework. Among items she collected, her pencil collection was near and dear to her heart and proudly shared her extensive pencil assortment to the amazement of all who got to see it. Lora Ingalls had a deep and meaningful faith and was responsible for leading fellow residents in a weekly time of study in the Bible, Lora’s Devotions for many years. Always up for fun whenever the opportunity arose, Lora loved to dance and was sure to make all the parties. The Halloween Party was one she never failed to get excited about and always came in costume, of course! Little Red Riding Hood was a favorite over the years. She will surely be thought of this coming Halloween. Lora will be deeply missed by her many friends who knew her, loved her and enjoyed her for so eleven years at her beloved Diamond Terrace.

Mama and Her Car by Lora Ingalls On June 27, 1927, my twin brother and I were not only excited about our 8th birthday, but were excited about our very first car that would be delivered by the dealer that day. We were all eagerly waiting for its arrival. When the dealer finally drove that shiny black Model T Ford up to the house, we all ran out to see it. Of course, we all wanted to check it out, investigating every nook and cranny. We could hardly wait to ride it. At the time there were very few cars in our area of Nebraska. When the dealer talked to my folks about the car, he asked them who was going to drive it. My dad said, “I’m not! I’m sticking to the horses.” Then, Mama explained that she was going to be the driver. “Do you know how to drive?” Mama answered, “I will know when you teach me.” The dealer took Mama out on our country roads and taught her how to drive. And of course, she had to learn how to crank the car because that’s how the engine started. For years Mama did all the driving, but eventually Dad learned to drive by Mama teaching him. She was the very first woman among all our neighbors to drive an automobile. Mama had several small car accidents during those years. But they did not deter her from driving. Many humorous stories were told about the incidents of her driving years. Here’s one story that always came up at family gatherings, and never failed to bring much laughter

among us all, even Mama. Mama sometimes drove the car to our gardens about a mile from our house to gather produce. One day she and Nyle, my youngest brother, drove to the gardens to get fresh vegetables. When they got ready to leave, Nyle got in the front seat and Mama stepped in front to start the car. She had to crank it over and over. Apparently, she either failed to set the parking brake or the gear leaped out of neutral, because when the engine finally started, the car began to roll. It knocked her down and rolled right over her and kept going down the hill until it stopped in the middle of the creek. Mama was not hurt and all she could think of was getting her car out of the creek. She immediately ran to the house to get Dad’s help. After she told him what had happened, Dad asked, “Where’s Nyle?” “Oh! My goodness!” She exclaimed. “I do hope our little boy is okay. He’ll be so scared.” Dad went to the barn and hitched up a team of horses to recover the car. Mom couldn’t wait to get to Nyle. When my parents got to the car, my little brother was just sitting very patiently watching the water in the creek. All’s well that ends well. Mama wasn’t hurt, Nyle wasn’t hurt, and the car was no worse for wear—and best of all, we all got a laugh out of it.

Fighting the Good Fight with

Good Friends

Twelve year old Clayton resident, Katie Grace Groebner has made huge strides back home, following her heart and bilateral lung transplant a few months earlier. With the support of many in the community and across the country, she has become an inspiring story of resilience. During the ordeal which began at her birth, her family has endured much financial hardship. With Online funding sites and local fundraisers, such as Jeff Holmes’ “A Heart for Christmas” light show (see this issue), Katie Grace has become Clayton’s favorite girl. CVCHS student and Clayton native, Chandler Wakefield decided to do something of his own. And so

he had a CVCHS football jersey made using his number and adding Katie Grace’s name to the back. “Football has become a huge part of my life it takes up a lot of my time, “Chandler said. “On my football pads I wear an extra pad that covers my lower back and a lot of the time this is the only visible pad on a football player. Since you can see it, many people cover it in tape and write or draw something on it, this is one way a player can add their own unique touch to their uniform. At

an inspiration to me and has changed the way I look at a lot of things in life.” “She was so excited to see Chandler out on the field,” Kathy Groebner said. All the new things that Katie Grace can now do is still overwhelming to her mother. “Breathing is something everybody takes for granted,” Chandler said. “Considering I’m an athlete, I realize that I use fatigue as an excuse sometimes and that is really selfish since I know a little girl who’s lungs were failing her and she has lived 11 years basically breathing as though through a straw.” November is PH Awareness Month. You can learn more about helping to fund the Groebner family expenses at http://www.gofundme.

the beginning of the summer when Katie first got her surgery I took the Katie’s dream logo and put it on my back pad. This was my own personal way of showing my support to Katie. “As time went on almost every single player on my team ask me what it meant and I gave them a brief run down of Katie’s story and they would always ask is she gonna be okay? I would tell them now she will be and they would always say that’s really cool.” Katie Grace wore the jersey to the Oct. 18 game. “I never expected to get attention from this,” Chandler said. “It was just my own little piece of support. So then I realized I don’t want her to be supporting me I wanted to make her a jersey of her own and then it will be like I’m the one wearing the compliment jersey to her. She is such

com/katies-dream and about Pulmonary Hypertension at http:// www.phassociation.org Photo credit (in order): courtesy of Kathy Groebner, Chandler Wakefield, and Brent Wakefield.

11/1,8, 15, 22, 29 1pm - 3:20pm BERKELEY PLAYHOUSE MAINSTAGE PRESENTS MARY POPPINS Based on the books by P.L. Travers and the 1964 Disney film, MARY POPPINS is simply sweet, like a spoonful of sugar. Set in 1910 England, young troublemakers Jane and Michael Banks have duped their way through so many nannies! However, when Mary Poppins suddenly arrives at their door, the Banks family learns — through magic and wonder — how to value each other again., Berkeley Playhouse 2640 College Ave, Berkeley, http://berkeleyplayhouse.org boxoffice@ berkeleyplayhouse.org 11/ 6 – 1/4/15 , times vary, James and the Giant Peach performed by Bay Area Children’s Theatre – Mill Valley, Berkeley, San Ramon & San Francisco, An exciting new musical, inspired by Roald Dahl’s classic tale about the orphaned boy who escapes from his wicked aunts aboard an enormous enchanted peach inhabited by a bevy of very big bugs. http://www. bactheatre.org/shows/ Bay Area Children’s Theatre | 6114 La Salle Ave Ste 431, Oakland, info@bactheatre.org Thru 11/8 RedWolf Fridays at 8 pm, Saturdays at 2 pm and 8 pm, Sundays at 7 pm A girl is ripening on the edge of town, uncontrolled, chaotic, voracious. This is an orderly place. Everything is on the map: the last scrap of woods, the old house on the outskirts. You can see the line where the big new road will go. Right through Red’s room. Thru 11/9 - DVC Drama presents THE WEDDING SINGER Music by Matthew Sklar Book by Chad Beguelin and Tim Herlihy Lyrics by Chad Beguelin October 24-November 9 Directed by Lisa Drummond Musical Direction by Enrico Banson Choreography by Amanda Boyan It’s 1985 and rock-star wannabe Robbie Hart is New Jersey’s favorite wedding singer. https://www.facebook.com/dvcdramaonline 11/ 10 Theatre Bay Area (TBA), the nonprofit service organization for theatre and dance in the Bay Area, has announced the finalists (http://www.bit. ly/1wJKIkY) for the inaugural year of the TBA Awards. 11-11-14 Veterans Day Celebration At Lesher Center for the Arts. www. lesherartscenter.org/ 11/14 & 15 A Swingin’ Holiday and More-21st Season Opening, November 14, 2014, at 8:00 pm and November 15, at 2:00 pm and 8:00 pm. Del Valle Theatre, 1963 Tice Valley Boulevard, Walnut Creek. Purchase tickets online at www.LesherArtsCenter.org or by calling (925) 943-7469. Following each performance, ticket holders are invited to meet and mingle with the costumed dancers and celebrate Diablo Ballet’s 21st Season.- see article PAGE 11 Thru 11/15 Bye Bye Birdie, A musical theatre classic - Satire done with the fondest affection. Lesher Center, 1600 Civic Drive, Walnut Creek, www.ccmt. org 11/15-16, Piedmont East Bay Children’s Choir, Ensemble premieres a new oratorio by Stacy Garrop with the San Francisco Choral Society http:// www.sfchoral.org/site/works-vaughan-wiliams-garrop/ Calvary Presbyterian Church, 2515 Fillmore Street, San Francisco. 11/15 Headliner Ryan Stout is a regular guest on Chelsea Lately and has also appeared on Conan, HBO’s Funny as Hell, Comedy Central’s Live at Gotham and his own special Comedy Central Presents Ryan Stout. Ryan Stout, featuring Dhaya Lakshminarayanan & Hosted by Brendan Lynch, pittsburgcaliforniatheatre.com SEE ARTICLE ON PAGE 13

Thru Nov 22 Deathtrap (CenterRep) a mystery writer willing to do anything it takes to achieve success. Lesher Center for the Arts, Walnut Creek, centerrep.org Dec 12-14, Cinderella, Diablo Youth Theatre, The timeless enchantment of a magical fairy tale is reborn with the Rodgers & Hammerstein hallmarks of originality, charm and elegance. Originally presented on television in 1957 starring Julie Andrews, Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella was the most widely viewed program in the history of the medium. Four performances only! Friday, December 12 at 7 p.m., Saturday, December 13 at 1 p.m., Saturday, December 13 at 7 p.m., Sunday, December 14 at 1 p.m., The Village Theatre, 233 Front Street, Danville,Tickets (925) 314-3466 California Theatre listings - see PAGE 13 Continues on Page 20

Pumpkin Muffins 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour 3/4 cup brown sugar 1 teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon baking powder 2 teaspoon cinnamon 1/4 teaspoon ginger 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg 1/2 teaspoon salt 2 eggs 1 cup canned pumpkin puree 3/4 cup vegetable oil

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and place paper liners into each well of your standard size muffin baking pan. In a large bowl combine flour, sugar, baking soda and all spices. Combine eggs, pumpkin and oil in a separate bowl. Pour wet ingredients into dry ingredients and gently stir together until all is incorporated. Do not over mix. Gently fill paper-cup lined muffin tins 2/3 full. Bake your muffins for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of a muffin comes out clean. Recipe courtesy of Alpine Pastry & Cakes

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We want to be the feature paper you know that you can count on. We are not the daily! There is a newspaper for that, or Claycord.com for even faster news. We are not covering politics, unless someone has done something that needs to be celebrated. We celebrate the people of Clayton and the many fun and wonderful things that happen. Support The Clayton Gazette by telling your friends and businesses to LIKE & FOLLOW us on Facebook, and even to advertise with us. Our rates cannot be beaten! www.ClaytonGazette.com Email: info@claytongazette.com

The Clayton Gazette • NOVEMBER 2014 • www.ClaytonGazette.com • (925) 303-4779

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Assemblywoman Bonilla Holds Select Committee Hearing on STEM Education

Assemblywoman Susan A. Bonilla (D-Concord) will be holding a Select Committee on Increasing the Integration of STEM Education hearing on Thursday, October 23rd at Mills College in Oakland from 9:00am to 12:30pm. The hearing, titled the Bay Area Regional STEM Education Summit: Advancing STEM through Public-Private Partnerships, will serve as the kickoff to the 4th Annual Bay Area Science Festival which is a10-day event filled with a wide range of science and technology activities. “This hearing will produce actionable initiatives to advance STEM education throughout the Bay Area and beyond,” said Assemblywoman Susan A. Bonilla (D-Concord). “Our extensive list of confirmed panelists will produce a wide variety of perspectives on the best strategies and practices to improve STEM education and increase investments for its expansion.” The Bay Area Regional STEM Education Summit will bring a diverse group of education, industry and government leaders to strategize policies, partnerships and investments that will strengthen STEM education throughout the Bay Area. The hearing will explore state policies that promote

STEM, provide insightful dialogue from the perspective of educators, and encourage effective public-private partnerships. In addition, the hearing features presentations on the Broadband Infrastructure Improvement Grant and the Career Pathways Trust, two state funded grant programs that support STEM learning. “In a constantly shifting economy, it is important that public education reflects the necessary skills students will need in the workforce,” said Assemblywoman Bonilla. “STEM education does just that – it prepares students for the 21st century economy. It is essential that we continue to develop and expand these programs, with publicprivate partnerships being an integral part of the process.” Among those participating in the panels are executives from the Bay Area Council, Bayer, Hewlett-Packard, Wareham Development, various leaders from K-12, higher education and STEM organizations, as well as current and former legislative officials. For the full hearing agenda and to RSVP to this free event please visit: http://asmdc.org/ stemsummit

Making the Right Choice for Your Pet

We all love our pets, but we all also love our vacations and unfortunately it’s not always in the cards to take our pets with us when we travel. In fact, I think this decision about what to do with our pets when we are away prevents a lot of us from committing to those travel plans in the first place. Sometimes we can count on neighbors or friends or family to pop in and refill the food and water bowls. But is that really enough care to make us feel comfortable with leaving our furry companions for extended periods of time? Might be okay for a night away but not for those longer trips. So, what are our options for going away without the worry? Nowadays, lucky for us, there are lots of options when it comes to care for our pets and options that suit all types of budgets. I think it really depends on what works best for your pet. For example, a rescue dog who has been in and out of shelters, may not do well in another kennel type environment. He may be more comfortable in his own home having a professional pet sitter look in on him maintaining the consistency of his own routine. I think this is also true for geriatric dogs and cats or animals that have special needs. The home environment and home routine

is very important to maintaining their health. Then there are dogs who do great in a boarding facility away from their own home. This is usually the most cost effective care. There are even professional pet sitters who board dogs in their homes, which is another great option if you aren’t comfortable with kennels or with having a pet sitter come into your house. Like anything it is just a matter of finding the right fit for your pet and I think that depends on the animal’s history, the condition of her health, and the environment that is the most comfortable for her. All of these factors can change with age, so your dog may love going to the kennel as a pup or as an adult canine, but as he gets older, his needs may change where he will be happier in his home environment when you travel. We are fortunate to have so many options to choose from and to live during a time when people treat pets as family members. So visit some kennels, interview some professional pet sitters and see what is the right fit for you and your animal companions and then book that vacation!! Aimee O’Brien, RVT Vet Tech Pet Care, owner www.VetTechPetCare.com

The Clayton Gazette • NOVEMBER 2014 • www.ClaytonGazette.com • (925) 303-4779

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Teacher Extraordinaire: Karen Krieder

Karen Kreider is a first-grade teacher at Saint Francis of Assisi School in Concord, and one who recently returned to teaching after a two year battle with colon cancer. On October 8, she received a special surprise; she had been named a winner of the Warren Eukel Teacher Trust award for excellence in education, a prestigious honor that also comes with a $10,000 cash prize. “I was humbled when I learned that the parents had nominated me for this special honor,” Kreider said. “Then I was shocked to learn that I was one of the three winners. All of the students were very happy for me. I received buckets of hugs, smiles beyond measure, and some congratulatory notes.” The school held a special assembly to honor her. The award was only the second time that a Catholic school teacher has won the award. “Learning that I had colon cancer was quite devastating,” Krieder explained. “But, what really helped me through the dark days, was to stop and take stock of my many blessings. I had chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery at Stanford Hospital. I was fortunate to be a patient at this wonderful facility. Sister James Marien, the Principal and Father Ismael, the Pastor made it a point to say special prayers on my behalf. The staff, parents, and children all prayed for my good health. My friends stayed close to offer any assistance I needed. So, how could I not be thankful for all of the wonderful prayers, good thoughts, and help? When I regained my strength and health, there was no

question about my wanting to return to my “slice of heaven,” Saint Francis of Assisi School.” As far as the cash award, Kreider did not now how it was to be spent. “I assumed that I would write a proposal or grant,” she said. “Upon receiving the special call, telling me I was a winner, I asked, ‘Do I write a proposal for how to spend the money?’ The gentleman who called me answered, ‘This money is for you! Go to France!’ WOW!!!!! Of course, I will give Saint Francis of Assisi some of the money. My heart is full of appreciation to Angie Elgazzar and the parents who “plotted my happiness.” Their children are currently in Second Grade. I will give their wonderful teacher, Mrs. Burke, money to buy something special for the class. I will also donate money towards their party fund, which is organized/ supported by parents. I love animals, so I will give some money to support animal welfare. I might buy a really nice digital camera, since I have wanted one for a while. Or, I might buy a new door with glass paneling. I embrace a simple life so I will not be jetting off to far away places.” Kreider was also honored at an awards dinner November 20 at the Diablo Country Club. “I am very happy to teach First Grade at this wonderful school. I hope that I am able to find and celebrate the special qualities or “light” that every child possesses,” She said. You can watch the video of her award presentation at http://on.fb.me/1zq7K2v

Photo courtesy St. Francis of Assisi

“I embrace a simple life...”

Karen Kreider

Swansong: Edward Stegg’s

Final Performance

Edward Stegge, who joined Diablo Ballet in February 2002, will retire from the stage after the Company’s 21st Season Opening performances November 14-15. Stegge has been an audience favorite and adored by his fellow company members. His engaging presence both on and off the stage has made him a mainstay in the Company’s roster. Stegge has also served as Diablo Ballet’s PEEK Outreach Assistant, a role he loves and will continue. “I am so honored to have been a part of Diablo Ballet for over twelve seasons. I look forward to my continued work in the schools with the Company. Diablo Ballet is my family”, says Stegge. Artistic Director Lauren Jonas stated, “Edward has made an incredible impact and he is a gift to all who know him and watch him dance. His work with under-served school children has been insurmountable and I am delighted he will continue in this vital role.” In an interview with The Clayton Gazette, Stegge shared his

involvment teaching second grade classes, twice a week at underserved schools. He admitted that he used to get teased while in high school. “I was willing to endure that,” he said, “because I had a passion for being in front of an audience, and ballet in particular.” The teasing did not follow him for long. “After high school everything changes,” he added. “A lot of the people who used to tease me are my friends on Facebook. People grow up.” Edweard Stegge received his training on full scholarship at the San Francisco Ballet, and also received training at the School of American Ballet and Pacific Northwest Ballet. He danced with the Colorado Ballet for ten seasons, performing the Cavalier in “The Nutcracker”, Franz in “Coppelia”, Bluebird in “Sleeping Beauty”, and the leading role in Alvin Ailey’s “The River”. Stegge was a guest artist with Minnesota Continues on Page 12

Photo Credit: Mikah Nunez/Clayton Gazette

The Clayton Gazette • NOVEMBER 2014 • www.ClaytonGazette.com • (925) 303-4779

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Answers on page 20

Diablo Ballet’s “Swingin’ Holiday” Launches 21st Season

A Swingin’ Holiday and More-21st Season Opening November 14 & 15, 2014 Diablo Ballet’s 21st Season begins November 14th at the newly renovated Del Valle Theatre in Walnut Creek with the Diablo Ballet premiere of Tolstoy’s Waltz by former principal dancer of San Francisco Ballet and Artistic Director of Oregon Ballet Theatre, Christopher Stowell. This romantic work premiered at Oregon Ballet Theatre on June 6, 2008 at Portland’s Keller Auditorium and is set to the music of such composers as author Leo Tolstoy, and choreographer George Balanchine and Julian Scriabin. Oregon press noted, “It stands out as an instant hit.” Diablo Ballet’s performances will feature beloved Bay Area concert pianist, Roy Bogas. Also on the program is the 2014 Edition of A Swingin’ Holiday, created in 2012 by Sean Kelly, former resident choreographer for the national tour of the musical Billy Elliot and former principal of Houston Ballet. In 2012, the SF Chronicle raved, “The Company has a hit on its hands!” Diablo Ballet’s 2014 Edition features favorite holiday tunes and songs from the 30’s and 40’s by such legends as Duke Ellington, Nat “King” Cole, Wynton Photo credit: Tiffany Bertolami-Fong and Michael Malerba Marsalis, and Tchaikovsky’s The Edward Stegge and Hiromi Yamazaki in “A Swingin’ Holiday” Nutcracker Suite performed live by the Diablo Ballet Swing Orchestra, under the direction of Greg Sudmeier. The show plays at the Del Valle Theatre, 1963 Tice Valley Boulevard, Walnut Creek on Friday, November 14, 2014, at 8:00 pm and Saturday, November 15, at 2:00 pm and 8:00 pm. Following each performance, ticket holders are invited to meet and mingle with the costumed dancers and celebrate Diablo Ballet’s 21st Season. Purchase tickets at www.LesherArtsCenter.org or by calling (925) 943-7469.

STEGGE Continued Dance Theater, under the direction of the late Loyce Houlton, and has performed extensively throughout Japan. He returned to California in 2000 and performed with Peninsula Ballet Theatre, Oakland Ballet, and the San Francisco Opera Ballet. Since joining Diablo Ballet in 2002, Stegge has performed the title role in Julia Adam’s “The Little Prince”, George Balanchine’s “Tarantella Pas de Deux” and “Who Cares”, KT Nelson’s “Walk before Talk” and Val Caniparoli’s “Aquilarco” Pas de Deux. “Every dancer has an expiration date,” Stegge reflected. “I’ve more than fulfilled that.”

Enter to win TWO FREE Tickets to “A Swingin’ Holiday” show on Nov. 15, 8:00 pm. Email: info@claytongazette.com and tell us why you read The Clayton Gazette. Deadline: Friday, Nov. 7, 5pm

The Clayton Gazette • NOVEMBER 2014 • www.ClaytonGazette.com • (925) 303-4779

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Comedy with Ryan Stout and more Getting Ready for a Sweet Christmas Headline at The California Theatre

Headliner Ryan Stout was only 22-years-old when he won the prestigious Boston International Comedy Festival’s competition. He is now a seasoned comedian with well crafted material who has performed all over the world. He is a regular guest on Chelsea Lately and has also appeared on Conan, HBO’s Funny as Hell, Comedy Central’s Live at Gotham and his own special Comedy Central Presents Ryan Stout. Featured comic Dhaya Lakshminarayanan was named Best Comedian 2013 in the SF Bay Guardian’s Best of the Bay Readers Poll. She’s also appeared as a storyteller on NPR’s Snap Judgment. Host Brendan Lynch’s astute observational comedy will surprise you with its bold sarcasm, absurd twists, and hilarious punch lines. The show features Ryan Stout, andg Dhaya Lakshminarayanan & Hosted by Brendan Lynch, Saturday, November 15, 2014 at 8:00 PM.

Popovich Comedy Pet Variety Show International circus legend award winner Gregory Popovich brings his European-style physical comedy, acrobats, jugglers but most important his furry cast of animals, the real stars of the show! All animals have been rescued from shelters all over the country, and has been transformed into Las Vegas stars. The show features an amazing cast of house-cats, dogs, parrots, geese, mice, even a miniature horse named Diamond and a German goat duo named Kurt & Helga! Tuesday, November 11, 2014 at 7:00 PM.

The Diablo Women’s Chorale presents its December concert “Holiday Sweet”. A luscious confection of seasonal and vintage pop music, Friday, Dec. 12th, at 7:30pm and Saturday, Dec 13th at 2pm, at Mt. Diablo Universalist Unitarian Church, 55 Eckley Lane, Walnut Creek. Advance tickets are $10 students, $16 general admission, and $20 premium seating at www.diablowomenschorale.org or call 800-8383006. Tickets purchased at the door will be $20 general admission and $10 students. Indulge in sweet hits by Fred Waring and the Pennsylvanians, the Chordettes, the Chiffons, the Maguire Sisters, Broadway favorites, vintage pop, contemporary, American and seasonal delights! DWC is directed by Mary Sorenson and accompanied by Stephen Evans, featuring the Sugar Daddies, the Bon-Bons and the CAE Cello Choir. For more information visit www.diablowomenschorale.org

ENTER TO WIN TWO FREE Tickets to Diablo Women’s Chorale “Holiday Sweet” show on Dec 12 or 13. Email: info@claytongazette.com and tell us why you read The Clayton Gazette. Deadline: Friday, Nov. 28, 5pm

ENTER TO WIN TWO FREE Tickets to see Ryan Stout show on Nov. 15, 8 pm. Email: info@ claytongazette.com and tell us why you read The Clayton Gazette. Specify Ryan Stout Deadline: Friday, Nov. 28, 5pm

Other shows at The California Theatre •VETJAM 2014 with HOT FOR TEACHER & Alan Iglesias and Crossfire – A Loving Tribute to Stevie Ray Vaughn, Saturday, November 8, 2014 at 5pm •RENT - Los Medanos College Department of Dramatic Arts in conjunction with LMCAS, Pittsburg Arts & Community Foundation, and Keller Canyon present the award winning Broadway musical. December 3-6. •Disney’s Mulan Jr. - Travel back to the legendary, storytelling days of ancient China with Disney’s MULAN JR with this actionpacked stage adaptation of Disney’s film. December 11-14 California Theatre 351 Railroad Ave. Pittsburg http://www.pittsburgcaliforniatheatre.com

Stop by our office today and pick up a copy of The Clayton Gazette

The Clayton Gazette • NOVEMBER 2014 • www.ClaytonGazette.com • (925) 303-4779

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Clayton Cooks - Holiday Recipes Warm Brussels Sprouts Salad with Pancetta

Savory Pumpkin Soup

From Karen MacPherson

From Jill Banks

1/2 oz. pancetta, small diced, blanched 4 oz. Brussels sprouts- shredded 1 oz. red wine vinaigrette (see below) 1 T Chopped toasted pecans Spanish Manchego cheese Poached egg Salt and pepper In a hot sauté pan, render pancetta. Add in Brussels sprouts and coat with rendered fat. Season with salt and pepper. Add in vinaigrette and toss sprouts. Sauté for 45 seconds until al dente. Do not overcook. Plate and garnish with toasted pecans and shredded Manchego cheese. Top with poached egg and fresh cracked pepper. Serve. Vinaigrette recipe 1/2 cup red wine vinegar 2 T lemon juice 1 T Dijon mustard 1 T chopped parsley 1/2 T chopped thyme 1 small clove garlic chopped 1 T minced shallot 1 1/2 cups blended olive oil S&P Combine all ingredient except oil. Slowly whisk in oil to emulsify. Season salt and pepper to taste.

1/4 c butter 1 med sweet onion - chopped 1 large garlic clove - crushed 2 tsp curry powder 1 tsp salt 1 tsp ground coriander 1 tsp crushed red pepper 2 1/2 c chicken stock 1/2 c white wine 2 c pumpkin - pureed 1 c chestnuts - pureed (no sugar) Sour cream, chives, pepitas for garnish In a large saucepan, melt butter. Saute onion and garlic until soft. Add curry powder, salt, coriander, and red pepper. Cook 5 min. Add chicken stock and wine. Boil gently for 20 min. Stir in pumpkin and chestnuts. Cook 5 min. Use a hand blender, or pour into blender and blend until smooth.

Maple Pumpkin Cheesecake Squares From Lori Smith

10 oz. gingersnap cookies / 2 tbsp. granulated sugar 5-6 tbsp. unsalted butter, melted For the filling: 8 oz. of cream cheese, softened 2 large eggs/ 1 (15 oz.) can pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie filling) /1 cup dark brown sugar 1 (12 oz) can of evaporated milk /2 tbsp. pure maple syrup /1 tsp. vanilla extract 1 heaping tsp. of pumpkin pie spice /¼ tsp. salt Powdered sugar or fresh whipped cream for garnish (optional)

Instructions: Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a 9x13-inch baking pan with foil with an overhang about 3-inches on either side. Lightly spray the foil with baking spray. Set aside. In the bowl of a food processor, pulse cookies and sugar together until you have fine crumbs. Through the feed tube, while the food processor is on low, drizzle 5 tbsp. of melted butter in and mix until the mixture comes together like sand when you pinch it together. If it’s too dry, add in a tsp. of butter at a time until the mixture becomes wetter and comes together. Pour the crumbs into the prepared baking pan and press it into the bottom of the pan and bake for 10 minutes. Wash and dry the bowl of the food processor. While crust is baking, make the filling. Combine all filling ingredients (EXCEPT powdered sugar/whipped cream) in the food processor. Process until smooth. Pour mixture onto the pre-baked crust and tap pan against the counter to get rid of any air bubbles. Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until filling is set in the center. Remove from oven and set pan on top of a wire rack to cool. Once completely cool, carefully lift the bars out of the pan and place on a cutting surface. Peel the foil from the edges and using a sharp knife, cut the cheesecake into square bars. If your knife gets too gummy, wipe it down. Serve chilled or at room temperature with powdered sugar sprinkled on top or whipped cream.

Whiskey & Chai 3 cinnamon sticks, broken into pieces 20 black peppercorns 16 whole cloves 8 cardamom pods, seeds removed from the pod 1 teaspoon ground ginger Pinch of freshly grated nutmeg 1 1/2 quart whole milk 1/2 cup light brown sugar 1 tablespoon loose black tea 4 ounces bourbon or rye whiskey In spice grinder, bring all of the spices to a powder. In a saucepan, simmer the milk. Remove from the heat. Add spices, sugar and tea and allow to stand for 15 minutes. Strain the chai into a bowl. Rinse the saucepan. Return the strained chai to the saucepan and rewarm over moderate heat. Stir in the whiskey and serve hot.

The Clayton Gazette • NOVEMBER 2014 • www.ClaytonGazette.com • (925) 303-4779

Where In Clayton

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Halloween Fun

Do you know where in Clayton this plaque can be found? We’ve left you a clue. Post your answers on our Facebook page at www. FB.com/ClaytonGazette

Veteran’s Day Dinner Diamond Terrace Retirement Community is hosting their 2nd Annual Veterans’ Dinner. This is a wonderful multigenerational event where we will celebrate those who served in our United States military. Participating will be Diamond Terrace veterans, VFW members in Contra Costa County, along with children and adult members of the local community. Boy Scouts from Troops 262 and 484 will be performing the Flag Ceremony and Bugle Call. The public is invited to join us in this very special and touching tribute. The dinner served will be TexasStyle Chili, as much as you can eat, for a $5 donation. All proceeds from this dinner will go to the local VFW chapter. Don’t miss this rare opportunity to honor and recognize our military veterans at this exceptional event on Friday, November 7th at 6PM. Please RSVP with Elizabeth Sanches, Activity Director, at (925) 524-5100 by Wednesday, November 5th. Don’t miss this special opportunity to say “Thank You” and honor veterans in our community.

Photo Credit: A.M.J

Young Elijah playing hide and seek in the pumpkins being delivered.

farmerfresh

by Debra Morris, Pacific Coast Farmers Market http://www.pcfma.com/concord

Fall Root Vegetables for Thanksgiving

Most people are familiar with common root vegetables like potatoes, onions, garlic, and carrots, but don’t know too much about the other root vegetables, such as beets, turnips, rutabagas, and parsnips. These underappreciated varieties of root vegetables are very nutritious additions to meals, loaded with good carbohydrates and dietary fiber, rich in flavor, and easy on the wallet. They can make a wonderful addition to any Thanksgiving feast. The root part of a plant is the nutritional powerhouse. We can tap into these “storage containers,” if you will, for the starches and sugars that the plant produces and this is where they hold many nutrients. The humble root vegetable has an undeserved reputation for being dull and bland. While they may look unassuming, root vegetables may surprise you with tastes that range from slightly bitter to pleasantly sweet. Plus, they have a heartiness that’s great for cool days.

Roasted Root Vegetables 2 carrots 1 turnip 2 parsnips 1 large white potato (do not have to peel if you like skin) 2 tablespoons olive oil Salt and pepper 2 cloves minced garlic 1 tablespoon dried mixed herbs of your choice

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Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with foil. Spray with nonstick cooking spray. Clean and peel vegetables. Cut into uniform sizes so they all cook equally. Toss them in a large bowl with olive oil, salt, pepper, dried herbs, and garlic. Spread them out evenly on the baking sheet. Cover with another piece of foil. Bake for 45 minutes or until browned and slightly soft. Recipe courtesy of Pacific Coast Farmers Market

The Clayton Gazette • NOVEMBER 2014 • www.ClaytonGazette.com • (925) 303-4779

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Good Stuff Clayton

1,970 Pounds of Food Collected for the Food Bank Windermere Real Estate Clayton, Steps Up to the Challenge

“Each year, all 300 Windermere Real Estate offices across the Western United States gather together and devote their workday to making a positive change in the neighborhoods they serve through local service projects. This year our Clayton office chose to support the Food Bank of Contra Costa & Solano Counties. We were able to donate and sort 1,970 lbs of food collected during our food drive for local families in need.” ~ Angelique Booth, Managing Broker, Windermere Real Estate, Clayton.

Why Do I Need A Travel Agent?

by Maureen O’Regan

Perhaps continuing to call ourselves “Agents” feeds into the belief that anyone with a computer or the latest app can click on a few sites and easily replace us. Not a week passes without at least one “I didn’t know you all were still around.” Yes, we are still around and we are thriving! To help dispel the numerous myths, I have compiled a list of reasons why finding a good travel consultant will be the best thing you do for your vacation plans and ultimately your wallet. It’s not only what we know but who we know. We have long-standing relationships with individuals and travel partners that give us clout, exclusive privileges and perks to pass along to our clients as well as insider tips not yet accessible by the public consumer. Consultants belonging to a consortium have buying power. My agency, for example, has 5 billion dollars in Signature Travel Network behind us to ensure the best value for clients. One never plans for things to go awry before or during a vacation but sometimes they do. You will be quite relieved to have a “fixer” act on your behalf should this happen. A travel consultant is well educated

and experienced in the ways of travel. The list of destinations visited and specialized in, the designations earned and the knowledge base for the many nuances of travel is extensive. We have much more to offer than just competitive prices. A good travel consultant creates an experience. There is no replacing a person that answers your questions before you leave town and calls to hear about your trip when you return. The tour guide in Rome that is a favorite and now will be yours, a complimentary upgrade or the “Welcome Aboard” gift that awaits your arrival to your dream cruise are just a few things a consultant can do to make your travel plans special. In our profession we take great responsibility for the investment that is our clients’ time, money and travel memories. Why forfeit peace of mind with something so important? Place your vacation dreams and plans in the very capable hands of one who specializes in and is passionate about travel. You will be glad you did! Maureen O’Regan, CTA Cruise Adventures Unlimited SEE OUR AD ON PAGE 3

Alice Anderson’s Proclamation

Alice Anderson was delighted that Clayton Mayor Hank Stratford made October 2014, Rett Syndrom Awareness Month. Alice, seen here on the preview night of the Clayton Theatre’s “A Trip Down Broadway” with the proclamation, has a daughter of suffers from Rett Syndrome. The Clayton Theatre donated 50% of its preview night proceeds to Rett Syndrome research. You can read more on this only in the October issue of The Clayton Gazette.

If you have stories you would like to submit, send them to info@claytongazette.com

Red Hat Ornament Winner

Congratulations to Christy Ottobani of Clayton, who sent the winning selfie of her sons, Landon and Logan (5). An interesting sidenote about the twins is their acting and modeling work. The Clayton Gazette will have an exclusive article with the family for our next issue. The twins are in a new FitBit commercial and about to start shooting a movie “Spotlight” starring Rachel McCadams to be filmed in Boston. You may know them from their Facebook commercial http://youtu.be/ C5H7WDZX7oQ

The Clayton Gazette • NOVEMBER 2014 • www.ClaytonGazette.com • (925) 303-4779

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themoviemaverick Gone Girl by Jason Rugaard, www.moviemavericks.com

A Tale to Tell

2-Star An astute master craftsman’s befuddled love letter to the two directors he loves most: Alfred Hitchcock and David Fincher. The resulting movie, taken from the book by Gillian Flynn and interwoven with the director’s almost trademark nihilism, is watchable for the first 45 minutes or so, until ludicrous plot turns and genuinely unlikable characters cave the story in on itself. It’s tempting to dismiss Gone Girl as topical sensationalism. But Fincher’s film is too meticulously crafted to write off as mere exploitation. Unfortunately, it’s also incredibly boring. Nick Dunne (Ben Affleck) and his wife Amy (Rosamund Pike) are an upper-middle class couple living in the suburbs. On the day of their fifth wedding anniversary Nick returns home to find Amy missing. The crime scene has the appearance of a struggle, but something doesn’t sit right with the investigating officers, Nick’s anxious demeanor and somewhat aloof behavior is troubling. Soon, the story of the missing housewife

Time for the Arts

by Deborah Ashley

What Color Says About You!

Shorter and colder months are almost a serene color associated with nature and here; and for some people, the winter can indicate stability and approachability. season with less daylight can The brown tones reflect get you down. It can be hard a down-to-earth attitude, to feel upbeat and energetic relaxed and reliable. Black when it’s gloomy outside, but shows strength, seriousness the colors you decide to wear and sophistication and an air can help change your mood. of mystery. People who wear What we wear can also tell white tend to be orderly and the people who see you meticulous and grey projects a something about your traits cool and composed disposition. and characteristics. It may Once you decide what colors even make you rethink some you like and want to wear, you of your choices. might want to consider what Photo credit: http:// You may be used to colors look best on you. Your news.instyle. wearing the same color choices get more complicated com/2012/04/05/ palette and you may not when you are determining even be aware of what your what colors are most flattering favorite color choices say about your to your skin tone. Whether your skin personality. There have been numerous has cool, warm or neutral undertones studies on the science of color and will play a key role in what colors look what it says about us. Of course these best against your skin. So we may love observations are not iron clad, but it the color yellow, but it may not be the might be interesting to reflect on your best choice if we want to enhance our preferences and see if they match the appearance. But wear it if you want to characteristics that are attributed to that come across as cheerful and energetic! color. There really is a science to color and If red is your favorite hue, you might there are graduate courses devoted to be assertive or extraverted. Pink has color theory. There is so much more to calming effects and those that like pink color than most people realize, from how are thought to be sweet and romantic. we use it in art to why we choose certain The color yellow shows a cheerful and colors to wear, decorate our homes and energetic personality and people may paint our cars. Advertisers use it very find you charismatic. If you wear a lot of deliberately to get us to buy certain orange, it is associated with warmth and products. Years of research has been done enthusiasm. If you are more a fan of the on the effects of color and the role it plays cool colors, blues are the world’s most in our psyche. Next time you really love preferred color and it is associated with a piece of art, clothing, a car or anything trust and dependability. Purple lovers are else, you might want to notice the thought to be unconventional, creative emotion that is associated with its color. and elegant. If green is your choice, it is

has gone national-wide and the ensuing media frenzy revels embarrassing truths about the disintegrating state of their marriage, and Nick’s infidelity. All of which condemn the man in many people’s minds and leads to the Public opinion that Nick murdered Amy. To discuss the story in detail requires a viewing or familiarity with the source material. It would be unfair to have the events told and not experienced, whether you enjoy the experience is debatable after the fact. The typical cold detachment that is present in every Fincher film is pushed to it’s blistering extremes, the movie is so lumbering that I was expecting the “it was all a dream” ending, that mercifully never came Gone Girl has moments of acute awareness, wether it be social media speculations, cable news talking heads, or even the way our neighbors perceive us. All is undone by the need for Fincher to set his lead character as a walking Hitchcockian vamp. The obvious inspiration is oddly pretty good when the director copies Hitchcock, and pretty awful when he apes himself. The least of the esteemed filmmaker’s work to date. Director: David Fincher

bookends by Chadwick H Saxelid

Read more of Chad’’s book reviews at http://bit.ly/McHguP

Dr. Mütter’s Marvels: A True Tale of Intrigue and Innovation at the Dawn of Modern Medicine by Cristin O’Keefe Aptowicz Before I picked up Cristin O’Keefe Aptowicz’s Dr. Mütter’s Marvels: A True Tale of Intrigue and Innovation at the Dawn of Modern Medicine, I had never heard of Dr. Thomas Dent Mütter, or the famous museum that displays his private collection of medical oddities. When I started the book, I expected it would be nothing more than a quirky recounting of how Dr. Mütter gathered the items in his collection. The story of what they were and where they had come from, an entertaining tour of one man’s unique, disturbing freak show. I was wrong, and never happier to have been. The marvels that the title alludes to are not the specimens in Mütter’s collection. No, Mütter ‘s marvels are in fact the radical plastic surgery techniques he pioneered (the most famous being the Mütter flap) and the students he taught and influenced during his tenure as Professor of Surgery at Philadelphia’s Jefferson Medical College. Flamboyant and outgoing, Thomas Dent Mütter was a truly revolutionary figure in the medical community of the first half of the 19th century. He championed compassion-based treatment, where the patient was not seen as a challenge or an obstacle, but

as a suffering human being. He believed in cleanliness at a time when germs, microbes, and transmissible illnesses were dismissed as mere quackery. He stridently argued for the use of anesthesia when it was thought better, and safer, to have the patient awake and aware during surgery. He even pioneered pre and post-operative care, at time when surgeries were not only unexplained to the patients, they were also pushed out of the building as soon as the operation was over. Mütter fought, and fought hard, for these changes to happen. He felt that it was every bit as important for a doctor to end suffering as it was to treat illness or injury. That so many of his contemporaries would strenuously, even contemptuously, dismiss Mütter’s humane efforts is horrifying and difficult to believe. Obstetrician Charles Meigs, a fellow professor at Jefferson Medical College, and vocal opponent of everything Mütter argued for, gives a human face to, and saddening example of, those that did not know, understand, or respect the advances and improvements in patient care they were fighting so hard to keep from happening. If, like me, all you knew of doctoring came from episodes of Grey’s Anatomy or Scrubs, I cannot recommend enough that you read Dr. Mütter’s Marvels.

The Clayton Gazette • NOVEMBER 2014 • www.ClaytonGazette.com • (925) 303-4779

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“Talking to India” continued from page 3 “What is that difficulty?”

How Apple Here’s the Good, The Bad and the Ugly on Apple’s new Apple Pay. First of all, nothing is ever really safe. Nothing. Sorry. We have a false sense of trust when it comes to things like this. Everyone is going to be different in what they feel comfortable with. Some will never use a credit card online. Others don’t even want to use them in person at a grocery store – and with the recent news of skimmers or accounts being hacked (Target, Home Depot, etc) that card they hold in their hand isn’t even safe. THE GOOD For that reason, we’re all getting new cards soon, ones with EMV chips embedded in them. Square does a great job explaining why a smart card is better… It’s nothing new. I’ve been carrying around a Google Wallet card with a chip in it for a while. When it comes to Apple Pay, your account information isn’t stored on your phone at all. To top that, Visa has also rolled out a token system. The technology generates a specific digital account number that’s associated with your card. That means Apple Pay would never actually passes your 16-digit credit card number through to a merchant when you’re making a purchase

Pay Works with a Visa card. Rather, the digital account number is passed through to the merchant and then to Visa to charge your credit card. Read more: http://www. businessinsider.com/ That system works by using a complicated algorithm to generate a unique number each time. THE BAD PINs are always safer than no PIN but the truth is that I could stand behind you at the store and learn your PIN pretty easily. As for that thumbprint – it can be hacked. No really. It can be faked with a little effort. THE UGLY There’s something else you should know before you jump headlong into the world of NFC payments. As new and safe as this new technology is, hackers will still go after this. If it’s popular – they’ll seek to infiltrate it. Anything is only as safe as the weakest link and that’s exactly what a hacker looks for. That weakest link might just be the NFC reader at the register. In the end, you’ll still need your wallet with all it’s cards, but if you choose to do so you’ll be able to pay with your phone. Just be careful out there.

Me: “The little red spy light does not go on, and I don’t get a picture on the screen.” India: “Aha. Your computer camera is not working. Will you please tell me your computer’s serial number?” My computer is actually a laptop which is the good news because it can easily be flipped over on its belly to reveal the tattoo. The bad news is that my husband is nesting on it and will notice when I flip it over. So I must break it to him that I’ve gone over his head. India: “May I ask your patience as I check our records to determine if your computer is under warranty?” Which he does and finds that the warranty expired two months earlier, but for $397.50 he will talk to us. MyHusbandTheEngineer: “I can fix this.” Me: “But I need it tomorrow—in fourteen hours. And you’ve already been fixing it for two hours, and by the sound of things, it’s going to take Tech Support two more hours to understand that the camera doesn’t work, and then heaven knows how long it will take them to fix it.”

Me: “Look, I’ll give it to you: my credit card numbers, passwords, account numbers, anything—you don’t even have to steal them. Just fix my camera. Please.” Tech Support: “Thank you madam. Oh! Ma’am. I am sorry to inform you that your computer has a wirus.” A wirus? I hope that’s less serious than a virus. “I must cleanse your computer,” he concludes. At the end of the purge, he informs us that he fixed everything so we should now hang up and go for it. Which we did, which we will never again do before hanging up because it did not work. We redial and get another province of India. Cut ahead a half-hour, during which India has seized control of my computer again, tried to assess me another $397.50 because “we have no record of your warranty,” and reported that we have a wirus. Me: “I do not have a wirus…virus! We were cleansed an hour ago. Your compatriot told me so.” India: “Oh, no, ma’am. He was mistaken.” And then a miracle happens: I see India on the screen and India sees me. India smiles at me:

So my husband begins to explain to Tech Support that the camera doesn’t work. For ten minutes. I hear pages flipping in India and wonder if it’s a user’s manual or the English to Hindi dictionary.

India: “Ma’am, you have a very youthful voice.”

Me: “HELLLLLO Tech Support—can we just fix this?!”

The point here is, think about the consequences when you give those Christmas gifts. ____________________

Tech Support: “Yes, ma’am. May I take control of your computer remotely?” Me: “The sooner the better.” Tech Support: “I will not look at any of your personal information.”

Me: “Oh, thank you.” India: “But I can see that you are not.”

Contact Cathy at www. CathyTurneyWrites.com Cathy’s new book, “Laugh Your Way to Real Estate Sales Success,” is coming soon to Amazon.

The Clayton Gazette • NOVEMBER 2014 • www.ClaytonGazette.com • (925) 303-4779

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ENTER TO WIN TWO FREE Tickets to see The Holiday Music Showcase December 12, 13 & 14. We have SIX (6) tickets to giveaway (we like giving them two at a time, a set for each of the shows.) Email: info@claytongazette.com and tell us why you read The Clayton Gazette and what the holidays mean to you. Specify Holiday Music Showcase.

Clayton Now is our site focused on contests, giveaways, events and things that are happening... well NOW! Looking for a restaurant and want to know what deals they have? Want a gift certificate to a local shop? Feel the need to get pampered and want to know who is offering a freebie or a discount? We are working for YOU, wheeling an dealing with companies, theatres, stores, to bring you offers that you will enjoy. Clayton Now will be fully functional within the next few weeks, so stay tuned for more. And remember that its brought to you by Clayton’s feature publication, The Clayton Gazette. We are “the people’s paper.” www.claytongazette.com

The Clayton Gazette • NOVEMBER 2014 • www.ClaytonGazette.com • (925) 303-4779

~ Page 20 ~

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HOLIDAY FUN

HOSPICE OF THE EAST BAY - TREE OF LIGHTS SCHEDULE Martinez Tree of Lights , Saturday, November 1, 5:00 pm. Morello Avenue, north of Arnold Drive. Walnut Creek Tree of Lights, Sunday, November 16, 5:00 pm 1511 Mt Diablo Blvd. behind Va de Vi Pleasant Hill Tree of Lights, Thursday, November 20, 5:30 pm Gregory Lane, near Cleaveland. Reception to follow at Teen Center. Concord & Clayton Tree of Lights, Monday, December 8, 5:30 pm, John Muir Medical Center Parking Lot, East Street & Almond Avenue, Concord 11/27, 6:30 AM - 11:30 AM, Walnut Creek Turkey Trot Sponsored by Forma Gym, more than 7,000 runners and walkers from across the country are expected at Walnut Creek’s largest running/walking event to raise funds for both the Contra Costa County Food Banks and local public schools. Please visit www.formaturkeytrot.com. 11/29- 12/14 Annual Holiday Faire, Shadelands Ranch & Museum. http:// walnutcreekhistory.info/ 11/21 , 22 & 23 – Annual Clayton Valley Woman’s Club Holiday Boutique Sale ; 11am to 4pm, Clayton Community Meeting Room, 6125 Clayton Road. Information call Peggy Arundell at 672-2043 or Priscilla Manlove at 672-3039.

MISCELLANEOUS

11/ 15 from 9 a.m. to 12 noon, Mt. Diablo Recycling’s free e-Waste event. Old computers, printers, televisions, cell phones and other electronic equipment can be recycled for free at Mt. Diablo Recycling. Drop off location is at 1300 Loveridge Road in Pittsburg, Calif. Free bagels and doughnuts will be provided. Anyone who drops off their e-Waste items will also receive up to four bags of compost for free. www.Garaventaent.com Answers to puzzles from page 12