Clayton Gazette | DIABLO VALLEY EDITION | Dec 30, 2014

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The Clayton Gazette DIABLO VALLEY EDITION • DECEMBER 30, 2014 • Page 2 • www.ClaytonGazette.com | www.fb.com/claytongazette • (925) 303-4779

A Word from the Publisher

by Tiffany Gensburger

A Brand New Year

I hope you enjoyed your holidays.

It’s a brand new year and with it comes new hope!

The Diablo Valley Edition

This is the second monthly edition and because it is different, I wanted to explain how it works.

We mailing both issues to every home and business in Clayton. The first issue of the month - The Clayton Valley Edition, stays close to home; we direct mail to Clayton and deliver 2,000 more copies to 94521 business locations.

The second issue of the month - this one - is called The Diablo Valley Edition and in addition to direct mailing to every home and business in Clayton, we print an additional 15,000 copies and have them delivered to Concord, Martinez, Walnut Creek, Pleasant Hill, Lafayette and Danville.

That means our total monthly circulation is 27,000 copies. You will see content from these other cities, things we think you will find interesting and useful. Readers in those communities will learn more of Clayton as well.

We are advertiser supported and I hope you will recognize these fine advertisers, many of whom supported my husband’s paper, The Concordian, while it was printed.

They know the value of what he did, and what we at The Clayton Gazette are doing.

include a roundup of the conflict that has been happening at Clayton Valley Charter High School. It was my intention to include a response by Administrator Dave Linzey, however, with time limited due to the holidays, I have deferred that story until such time as Mr. Linzey can respond. You see, as much as issues do affect us, the conflict generated within the community is not positive. We cannot avoid issues that arise, but we can, at least, offer a fair reporting of them.

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Let’s Have Some Fun

I really love getting feedback from our readers. Our Facebook page has over two thousand followers and growing. There, we can discuss things that do not make the print edition.

And yes, I include my opinion at times, however, even where I have a stance, I do try to provide a balanced offering.

Case in point: I had planned to

Thank You

We had a fundraiser for DawnBennett-fix in the last issue, where we sold printed ornaments on our back page, with 100 percent of the funds going to Dawn. I wanted to thank the many people who got involved, including those who responded privately.

Testimonial

“After spending what seemed like hours today googling for seasonal events in the east bay area, I discovered at the end of my search that I should have begun with The Clayton Gazette! Thank you for such a comprehensive list of events and activities!” ~ Christine Ondersma

Thank you Christine. You can also download the calendar by itself from our website www.claytongazette.com Happy New Year. May 2015 bring us all peace and good health.

Warmly,

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

FB.com/ClaytonGazette

WHERE TO FIND YOUR NEWS! • If you want current news, fresh, timely and relevant... then forget print... you need Claycord.com Claycord often beats out on-air news and is cited as their news source!

• If you want feature stories without crime and violence, read...

The Clayton Gazette’s

Clayton Valley Edition - for local Clayton features The Diablo Valley Edition - for feature stories from Clayton, Concord, Martinez, Pleasant Hill, Walnut Creek, Lafayette and Danville. Both editions are direct mailed to every home

Index of Stories

Clayton Views.............

Reader Submissions........

Senior Residents Stories...

Concord Views..................

Fallen Officers..............

Dan Ashley...............

Martinez Views...............

A Walk Through Time.....

HeadGames....................

Calendar of Events...

Supplement Warning..

Walnut Creek..........

Lafayette/Danville....

Diablo Ballet/Contest...

Book Review..................

A Little Bit Off.....

Film Reviews............

In Tune With the Arts.

Service Directory......

Food...................

Book Excerpt.............

HeadGames Answers...

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Clayton Valley Edition or the Diablo Valley Edition

“Excellent Coverage, Interesting Content, Low Ad Rates with Strong Exposure”

2015 Production Calendar Jan - May issues

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It’s like getting THE BEST OF MANY newspapers all in one FULL COLOR publication.

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Clayton Viewpoints Submit YOUR Viewpoints to info@claytongazette.com.

Subject:Viewpoints

Good Fortune and Generosity Makes a Good Year End for

Katie Grace Groebner and Her Family

It was a difficult year for the Groebner’s. The year began with much stress as Katie Grace’s heart began to fail and she was placed on a transplant waiting list.

Born with Pulmonary Hypertension, an incurable and progressive disease, the family had, for eleven years, hoped to avoid the traumatic heart, bilateral lung transplant that would, they knew,

Photo courtesy of The Family Project

Katie Grace Groebner and Katy Doak, both transplant recipients.

offer their daughter the only chance technicians and staff, Mike’s Auto 2010 Toyota Rav 4. Mike Rose, owner for life.

Body made a huge difference for the of Mike’s Auto Body is a Clayton In addition, the financial stresses Groebners who received a made new, resident. of being at her side left the family struggling. And topping it off, the family car needed major repairs.

Then in August, as her heart failure increased, organs became available from another family who had just lost their child, and the gruelling transplant took place.

Community members held fundraisers for the family. Clayton’s Jeffrey Holmes (22) choreographed a light and music show to helped raise over $3,000. He repeated that this last Christmas with a successful showing of “A Heart for Christmas” featuring an even bigger production, this time with over 60,000 lights.

Mike’s Auto Body celebrated it’s 14th Annual Benevolence Program in Antioch the week beofre Christmas by donating five cars to needy families. Thanks to the generosity of Photo courtesy of CSAA Insurance their business partners, vendors and Roger Hancock of CSAA Insurance presents a 2010 Toyota Rav 4 to Kathy Groebner and the hard work on the part of their her family. The car was refurbished by Mike’s Auto Body.

The Clayton Gazette DIABLO VALLEY EDITION • DECEMBER 30, 2014 • Page 4 • www.ClaytonGazette.com | www.fb.com/claytongazette • (925) 303-4779

Clayton

Reader Submissions

Submit YOUR stories to info@claytongazette.com

Clayton Theatre Company

Auditions for “Arsenic and Old Lace” General auditions for the Clayton Theatre Company are Sunday, January 25th 1:00 - 5:00 p .m., and Monday, January 26th 7:00-10:00 p.m. at Endeavor Hall, 6008 Center Street, Clayton.

No appointment is necessary.

Actors 16 years and up. Please prepare a 2 minute monologue. If you want to be considered for the fall musical please prepare 32 bars of a musical theatre song that demonstrates your vocal strength and range. Bring sheet music in your key, an accompanist will be provided. No recorded music or a cappella. Please provide a head shot and resume. Rehearsals for “Arsenic and Old Lace” begin in late February 2015.

Rehearsals are Monday, Wednesday, and Friday evenings and Saturday days. All roles are open. A stipend for expenses is available. Clayton Theatre Company is committed to non-traditional casting. All are encouraged to audition. Audition in January for our fall 2015 show, “Urinetown.”

Rehearsals will begin the last week in August and the show will run in mid October.

All auditioning actors – please bring your resume and a headshot, if you have one. We are looking forward to meeting you.

Download the audition form on the audition page at claytontheatrecompany.com.

A Fun Nutcracker for

Contest Winner

Christyna Reyes, the winner of our two Nutcracker tickets sent us the following: We had a great time at the Nutcracker and are looking forward to making it a holiday tradition. The kids loved the music and the dancing and were especially tickled that after the show they got to meet one of the dancers in the garage elevator and tell her what an awesome job she did.

When asked what their favorite parts were Ethan, age 3, responded,“The ballerinas who were spinning so fast they forgot their pants and sleeves. I also liked the smoke that was not fire (dry ice special effect).

Connor age 6 had more commentary. “Mom they must eat all their vegetables to be that strong but how do they not get pukey after their fast twirling?”

Both boys have been practicing their dance moves and are excited to return next year.

[Editor: Christyna, we are delighted your family had such a grand time. Thank you for sharing. Check out our drawing for two free tickets to the Diablo Ballet in this issue.]

If you have something to submit email info@claytongazette.com. Submisssion in the subject line.

JANUARY 2015 CALENDAR OF EVENTS Organized by Category

Testimonial

After spending what seemed like hours today googling for seasonal events in the east bay area, I discovered at the end of my search that I should have begun with The Clayton Gazette! Thank you for such a comprehensive list of events and activities! ~Christine Ondersma

Scenic Clayton Photos by Scott Rocheleau

FAIRS/SHOWS Now through January 10, 2015, “Peace”, Martinez Gallery, 630 Court St., Martinez, (925) 370-6270, http://gallery.martinezarts.org 1/29, Pleasant Hill Community Awards, The 44th Annual Community Awards will be held on January 29, 2015 at the Pleasant Hill Community Center on Civic Drive. The event includes awards for Citizen of the Year, Business of the Year, Teen of the Year, Educator of the Year, and Green Awards. If you would like to nominate a Pleasant Hill resident, business, or organization for one of these awards, please select the form from the links below. All nominations are due no later than Monday, January 12th., http:// www.ci.pleasant-hill.ca.us/index.aspx?NID=836

FUNDRAISERS 1/9, 1/24, Tony LaRussa and ARF’s annual fundraisers -- Comedy Night on Jan 9 at 7:30 p.m. and the 24th annual ARF “Stars to the Rescue” on Jan. 10 at 7 p.m. Lesher Center for the Arts in Walnut Creek. For tickets, call 925-943SHOW or go to www.lesherartscenter.org.

1/31, 5 - 9 pm, St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church 11th Annual Crab Feed, 1601 Mary Dr. Pleasant Hill, http://www.sonc.org/events/our-fundraisers/11th-annual-crabfeed

Outdoors First Sunday of every Month: Cars ‘n Coffee, On the First Sunday of every month, automotive enthusiasts gather in the parking lots of the Blackhawk Automotive Museum to share their vehicles and admire the other fabulous classics, exotics, rods and anything else with wheels and a motor. There is no Continued on Page 8...

If you have a scenic or fun photograph you’d like to see in this paper or on our Facebook page, submit it by email to : info@claytongazette.com. And be sure to read our online edition at www.claytongazette.com, now TWICE monthly!

Follow us on Facebook http://www.fb.com/ClaytonGazette

The Clayton Gazette DIABLO VALLEY EDITION • DECEMBER 30, 2014 • Page 5 • www.ClaytonGazette.com | www.fb.com/claytongazette • (925) 303-4779

resident tales

Sponsored by the Diamond Terrace 55+ Retirement Community, Clayton

Singin’ in the. . .SNOW By Marge Crawford

A

t Quaker Hill School, a music teacher came once a week.

She introduced to us all kinds of vocal music’s folk songs, classical pieces, national and regional music from all over the world. She singled me out as a soloist to my surprise.

I sure enjoyed that! She taught me many things about diction, expression, volume, dynamics, and especially, breathing. Joan Hart, my best friend, still mentions how Miss Barcley got me up in front of the class and demonstrated the use of one’s

diaphragm in controlling breathing and the importance of good posture to produce good breathing control during singing. With those basics ingrained in me and the leadership of many a choir director. I participated in many performances of choirs all

over the country and soloed many times with many of those groups.

When all else failed in happy or sad or scary situations, if I hummed or sang some little tune I’d be able to relax and cope.

For instance, one April, when I had just driven my youngest daughter back to Iowa State U after spring break, I headed away from the campus to drive the couple of hundred miles back home to Bettendorf.

A late spring snowstorm had begun just as I left the campus. By the time I reached the interstate highway the snow was falling fast!

Soon the multilane highway, the median and the roadsides were covered with inches of wet, slippery snow. I passed more and more areas where cars had slid off the road into the middle of the median. Then the snow began to fall so fast and was so thick that I felt smothered in a white blanket. I couldn’t see anything but white cotton falling before, beside and behind me!

There was no way that I could pull off to the side of the road for fear of running into another car similarly stopped. I had no idea whether any cars were in front of me or beside me.

So I just proceeded slowly at a steady pace, peering ahead, trying my best to see something through the snow!

As often happens when I am in a tight situation, the muscles in my neck and shoulders began to tighten up. No amount of wiggling my shoulders or head-turning or should shrugging would loosen those muscles!

Spontaneously, I began to sing at the top of my lungs any song that popped into my head. After a few hymns and pop songs, I found that awful muscle tension had eased to a tolerable level and I drove on through the storm safe and sound all the way home!

Long ago, I decided that my voice was one of God’s gifts to me and the use of it needed to be mainly to praise Him and tell others about His awesome love.

Although I did go through a time in my early teens when I thought it would be really neat to be a gal singer with one of the Big Bands and go traveling around all over the world, performing. Luckily, I didn’t get into that field of endeavor!

But I do love many camp songs, country western songs, old time songs, show tunes and musical movie tunes. They speak to me about many aspects of life and other peoples’ cultures, and I love to share them all and enjoy them all with campers, friends, family and now grandkids.

Music, vocal and instrumental, is a treasured part of my existence! www.diamondterrace.net

Concord

The Clayton Gazette DIABLO VALLEY EDITION • DECEMBER 30, 2014 • Page 6 • www.ClaytonGazette.com | www.fb.com/claytongazette • (925) 303-4779

Submit YOUR stories to info@claytongazette.com

Concord Police Sends Two Honor Guard Members to Stand at Funeral for Two Fallen NYPD Officers

Photo credit: Concord Police Officers Association

S

tanding in solidarity with their fellow officers, two of Concord Police’s Honor Guard members, joined the thousands of police officers from around the country for the funeral of slain NYPD officers Wenjian Liu and Rafael Ramos. Both men were gunned down in their patrol vehicle the weekend before Christmas.

The funeral, held Dec. 27, had mourners inside the church applauding politely as Mayor Bill de Blasio spoke. Outside, hundreds of officers turned their backs to the broadcast monitors of him speaking, in a show of disrespect against their view of his support for anti-police

protesters.

JetBlue Airlines offered two free flights from each police department to those wishing to attend.

A spokesperson for the Concord Police Officers Association expressed his gratitude to JetBlue and reported one of their officers saying, “I must give thanks to the NYPD for the grace they showed us; gratefully accepting us, thanking us for our presence and many asking us for pictures which was strange. I think many were amazed that strangers would travel so far to show their respect for someone they didn’t know. We were the ones revering them, at least so I thought.”

Photo credit: Concord Police Officers Association

Concord Citizen Police Academy Applications Accepted

The Concord Police Department is currently accepting applications for the spring session of the Citizen Police Academy. The academy provides community members with an inside look at local law enforcement, giving an overview of the police department’s function and operations.

The ten-week academy curriculum and teaching methodology embrace real examples of police work. However, the weekly sessions are not designed to train participants as police officers. While attending the academy, students will be introduced to a variety of topics and training taught by police executives and veteran police officers. Participants will have the opportunity to meet with the Chief of Police and staff members.

This year’s session is scheduled to begin the first week of March, 2015.

Classes will meet Tuesday evenings from 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. at the Concord Police Headquarters.

Candidate minimum requirements: • Minimum age of 16 years.

• Live or work in the Concord area.

• No felony convictions.

• No misdemeanor convictions within one year of application.

Interested candidates can visit the City of Concord website at www.cityofconcord. org/police/joinin/academy.htm to obtain more information and to download an application. Applications can also be obtained in person at the Concord Police Headquarters in the front lobby.

Completed applications should be returned to the address listed below.

Applicants who are accepted to the program will be notified of their selection at least two weeks prior to the first meeting.

Send completed applications to: Margaret Romiti, Manager, Office of the Chief, Concord Police Department, 1350 Galindo St., Concord CA 94520. Contact Romiti at (925) 671-3184

The Clayton Gazette DIABLO VALLEY EDITION • DECEMBER 30, 2014 • Page 7 • www.ClaytonGazette.com | www.fb.com/claytongazette • (925) 303-4779

WhatReallyMatters

by Dan Ashley,

I

Money Matters

by Kristin Peterson,

Pacific Service Credit Union

Keep Your Financial New Year’s Resolution It’s a new year! There is always something exciting about having a fresh start. Typically the New Year is a time to reflect on the changes we want or need to make, and to work on acts of self-improvement. If saving or spending less money tops your 2015 resolution list, we can help.

It may be time to review the costs associated with your financial services and do cost comparison shopping. Here are a few ideas to get you started: Checking accounts Are you paying a monthly fee for your checking account? If so, be sure you are getting a benefit or value in return. If your financial institution simply charges a fee to have the account, I recommend searching for a free checking account. Although many big banks have eliminated free checking, many local banks and credit unions still offer the service.

Making the switch could save you hundreds of dollars annually.

Consolidating credits cards Do you have one or more high-rate credit cards? If so, it may be time to transfer the balances on those cards onto one, low-rate credit card. Doing so, you will most likely be able to pay off your credit card debt faster with less interest charges. Also, having

one credit card payment rather than several may be more manageable for you when paying your monthly expenses.

Refinancing your loans If interest rates have dropped since you first purchased your home, refinancing your primary residence, second home or investment property may allow you to lower your rate or monthly payments. You also have the opportunity to convert an adjustable rate to a fixed rate.

You can also refinance your vehicle loan. If interest rates have dropped since you first purchased your vehicle or your credit score has improved, you may consider an auto loan refinance. Refinancing your auto loan may reduce your monthly payment through lowering your rate, extending your loan term or both.

Start the New Year on the path to financial fitness. Simply visit one of our local branches at 3000 Clayton Road in Concord or 2051 Contra Costa Boulevard in Pleasant Hill. One of our member service representatives will be happy to provide you with a free analysis to see if we can save you money on your monthly expenses. For more information, visit www.pacificservice. org or call (888) 858-6868.

ABC-7 News Anchor

Step Away From Your Smartphone

have a problem.

From what I understand, the first step in dealing with an addiction is admitting that you have one. So here there you go.

My name is Dan and I’m Appleaddict. Yes, I’m exaggerating, but barely.

I got a new iPhone for Christmasthat bigger new 6, not the ginormous 6X which seems a bit much, and I just love it.

Keep in mind, this smartphone romance I’m having is from a guy who, until two or three years ago, never tried to keep up with technology. I was a late adopter when it came to using email outside of work, surfing the web, and posting on social media, but I’m making up for lost time.

The technology offered on this new phone, and on all smartphones of any make, is truly mind-boggling. There is many times the computing power in my new iPhone 6 than there was in the NASA computer that sent Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin to the moon aboard the Apollo 11 mission in 1969. In fact, it’s not even close.

The Apollo guidance computer that took them to our moon weighed about seventy points, the iPhone less than four ounces. My new little pocket miracle has 128 gigabytes of memory compared to 4 kilobytes on the primitive NASA contraption. The processing speed isn’t even in the same universe and all at a fraction of the cost, $400 compared to $150,000.

And it is accelerating at an incredible pace. Moore’s law, so named for Intel co-founder Gordon

Moore, holds that computing power doubles nearly every year. Just imagine what that means for the devices we will carry five years from now or that our grandchildren will have in their pockets five decades from now. Absolutely mind-boggling.

We truly are so fortunate to live in an age of such technological and medical advances which make our lives so much easier, safer, and more entertaining.

But there is a downside too.

Back to my little problem.

I have become increasingly dependent on my mobile device, so much so that it is hard to go more than a few minutes without checking for a text, and email, or a media alert. Heaven forbid that I leave the thing in the other room as the separation anxiety can be overwhelming.

Yes, I’m being dramatic, but there is a lot of truth in what I say. And, of course, I’m not alone. How much time is spent on mobile phones by people in your home?

We’ve all seen families out to dinner and no one is talking, all at the table looking down and typing or browsing away with the gadget that has taken over our lives.

Ironically, the more connected we are to the larger world, the less in touch we seem to be with those in our immediate proximity.

Yes, this is a wonderful time to be alive and technology is a big part of that. But, What Really Matters, is that we not lose sight of our common humanity in the mad rush to embrace all of the electronic wonder at our fingertips.

I would write more on this subject, but this column is seriously cutting into my texting time. LOL !

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 info@claytongazette.com.

Visit http://www.rockwithpush.com for more on the band.

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

The Clayton Gazette DIABLO VALLEY EDITION • DECEMBER 30, 2014 • Page 8 • www.ClaytonGazette.com | www.fb.com/claytongazette • (925) 303-4779

A Walk Through Time

Martinez Submit YOUR stories to info@claytongazette.com

with Misty Bruns, Docent at the Clayton Museum

The Cowell Cement Plant—106 years ago

Continued...

Information and photo from the Cowell Historical Society

In 1908 the Cowell Cement plant was founded by Henry Cowell on a 2,000 acre site Production started in the limestone rock quarry, which is the large cut that you see on the west side of Mt Diablo facing Walnut Creek. Here dynamite blasting and steam shovels worked to load rock onto a narrow gauge railway, pulled by Dinkey engines, which moved it to the Crusher. The noise from the blasting did cause complaints from valley residents at the time.

In the early years the cement was shipped by the company Bay Point & Clayton Railroad to Bay Point (Port Chicago) where it was switched to Southern Pacific and other railroads. In the later years it was shipped by truck.

Cement dust blowing downwind from the plant caused a lawsuit by 14 fruit and vegetable growers of Clayton Valley. This was known as “A. D. Carr et al” and was filed in September 1932.

It was in and out of Superior Court until December 1939. Dust arrestors were ordered installed by Judge Donald Geary in April 1935 and this resulted in the eight stacks being replaced by one 235-foot stack. It is 16 feet in diameter at the base and 11 feet at the top. It was designed to withstand an earthquake intensity of 10 and a 90 mph wind and was built of steel reinforced concrete. It was first used on May 1, 1936.

The plant survived World War II but

its closure was announced in March 1946.

On May 15, 1969 the Arons Wrecking Company started destruction of the cement plant and commented that “it was built like a Fort”. The town of Cowell was scheduled next and all renters were told to be out by July 1st. The sad end of Cowell came in June.

One of the plants many accomplishments was in 1930. The Cowell Cement Plant had three years and seven months with no accidents. This was the longest record at the time in the industry.

In June 2009 the tower, the last remnant of the plant, was torn down and a monument erected in its place.

fee for Cars & Coffee. Come when you want, leave when you want, but know that early arrivals do get the parking space they prefer. Also, the Museum opens at 9am on Cars & Coffee Sundays. 8am-10am , Blackhawk Museum • 3700 Blackhawk Plaza Circle • Danville, CA 94506 p:925.736.2280 • f:925.736.4818 • museum@blackhawkmuseum.org, http:// www.blackhawkmuseum.org/carsncoffee.html Now - 1/11/15 Walnut Creek on Ice, Children’s Winter Festival, Civic Park1375 Civic Drive, Walnut Creek $5/2 hour skating sessions offered all day! http://www.iceskatewalnutcreek. com 3/8/15, 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

CLUB EVENTS

1/10, 8:30 - 12:30 pm, The Bay Area Woodturners Association (BAWA), Demo

by Roger Turner. Local chapter of the American Association of Woodturners.

Our purpose is to provide a meeting place for local turners to share ideas, techniques and to educate the general public regarding the art of turning.

Monthly meetings: Mt Diablo Adult Education Center, Room 108, 1 Santa Barbara Rd, Pleasant Hill. http://www.bayareawoodturners.org Photo by Mike Dunn/The Concordian

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

Visual Arts/Book Signings 1/30, 5:00 pm, Brandon Mull, Author, Sky Raiders (Five Kingdoms Series #1), Barnes & Noble, 1149 S. Main St. Walnut Creek Thru 2/1, The Jealous Curator, from Blog to Book, to Gallery, The Bedford brings the blogosphere into the gallery with a show by the internationally renowned art blogger, The Jealous Curator. The exhibition is designed to enlighten, inspire, and chase away creative blocks that inhibit the artist in all of us. using The Jealous Curator’s newly released book, Creative Block: Advice and Projects from 50 Successful Artist, as a launch pad, the exhibition features art in a variety of media and “unblocking” art-making stations designed by artists. Check out The Jealous Curator blog at www.thejealouscurator.com The Bedford Gallery, 1601 Civic Drive, Walnut Creek, http://www.bedfordgallery.org 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 Continues on page 10...

The Clayton Gazette DIABLO VALLEY EDITION • DECEMBER 30, 2014 • Page 9 • www.ClaytonGazette.com | www.fb.com/claytongazette • (925) 303-4779

I

Downtown Martinez

Tickets: $20 ea in advance $25 at the event Includes a tasting glass, wine glass charm, wine tasting passport Your and mapGet NOW!

s Ticket For more information and to purchase tickets visit www.MainStreetMartinez.org Redeem advanced purchase tickets or buy tickets at the event beginning at 2:00 pm at either these locations: Martinez Gallery 630 Court St. or Main Street Martinez 649 Main St., Ste 106

Must be 21 years or older to participate. No refunds.

Saturday Feb 7th 2:00pm-5:30pm

Spend a relaxing afternoon strolling the tree-lined streets in downtown Martinez, sipping wine and sampling chocolate at local businesses.

For more information (925) 228-3577 MainStreetMartinez.org

ANSWERS: For the answers to this puzzle see page 16 of this issue. You can also find two ads and QR codes for James’ games in this issue.

The Clayton Gazette DIABLO VALLEY EDITION • DECEMBER 30, 2014 • Page 10 • www.ClaytonGazette.com | www.fb.com/claytongazette • (925) 303-4779

Pleasant Hill Submit YOUR stories to info@claytongazette.com

California Writers Club, Mt. Diablo Branch Jim Azevedo, Marketing Director of Smashwords, will reveal the best practices of the most commercially successful self-published Ebook authors at the next meeting of the Mt. Diablo Branch of the California Writers Club (CWC).

Smashwords, one of several popular digital publishing platforms, allows writers to submit heir completed e-books to multiple platforms, from Apple’s iBooks, to Sony, Kobo, and others in an .epub format.

While Smashwords can list to Amazon’s popular Kindle format, it is easier to do so directly.

While the process of text to e-book conversion appears easy, it is not. Each format requires different formatting and each vendor requires different processes.

Since 2008, Smashwords has helped authors globally to publish and distribute more than 320,000 titles to retailers such as Apple iBooks, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, and Flipkart, as well as to subscription services Oyster and Scribd, and to libraries via its partnerships with OverDrive and Baker & Taylor.

By night, Jim is the drummer for Rivals, a popular San Francisco Bay Area indie rock band. Jim is also the author of the forthcoming book, How To Get Your Band out of the Garage.

The meeting is on Saturday, January 10, 2015, at Zio Fraedo’s Restaurant, 611 Gregory Lane, Pleasant Hill. To register visit https://cwcmtdiablowriters. wordpress.com/next-program/

Continued...

Theatre/Film 1/7, Auditions for Peter Pan, Danville Children’s Musical Theatre, Rehearsals begin: Monday, January 12, School shows: Thursday, March 26, Open: March 27, 2015 Closing: April 4, http://www.danvillechildrensmusicaltheater.com Now – 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 1/17, 36th Annual Shellie Awards, Throughout the years, the Lesher Center for the Arts has been the proud recipient of a number of awards including:Diablo magazine’s Best of the East Bay:Best Place for Family Fun: Fantasy Forum Actors Ensemble (2010)Best Theatre Troupe: Center REPertory Company (2010)Best Kids’ Theatre Extravaganza: Chevron Family Theatre Festival (2008)­­Best Live Theatre Venue(1998, 1999, 2000, 2001)Best of Lam­ orinda: Best Live Theater (2009)­­Contra Costa Green Business Program (November 2006), Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Drive, Walnut Creek, http://www.lesherartscenter.org 1/18, 4:00 pm, California Symphony, WHIMSY & VIRTUOSITY, Lesher Center for the Arts - Hofmann Theatre, 1601 Civic Drive, Walnut Creek, http://www.lesherartscenter.org 1/20, 6:30 pm, Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson, Astrophysicist, author , host and Director of the Hayden Planetarium, Hoffman Theatre, 1601 Civic Drive, Walnut Creek, http://www.lesherartscenter.org [Note: LESHER SPEAKER SERIES is sold by subscription and currently SOLD OUT. Contact theatre for available seats.]

1/23, 8:00 pm, Winds Across the Bay, Youth Performers Musical. 1601 Civic Drive, Walnut Creek, http://www.lesherartscenter.org 1/23 - 1/24, Teen Cinderella, Rogers and Hammerstein’s musical, performed by the Youth Theatre Company, times vary, Del Valle Theatre, 1963 Tice Valley Boulevard, Walnut Creek. http://www.lesherartscenter.org 1/23 at 7:30 p.m. and Jan. 25 at 3 p.m.- Diablo Unitarian Church presents J.B. Priestley’s Tony Award-winning play “A Police Inspector Will Call”, Mt. Diablo Unitarian Church, 55 Eckley Lane, in Walnut Creek 1/24 - 1/25, times vary, Annie Jr., Poison Apple Productions presents this beloved musical about a sunny orphan and her adventures. Knight Stage 3 Theatre, Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Drive, Walnut Creek, http:// www.lesherartscenter.org 1/25 3:00 pm, Dolci Concerts, Chamber Music at St. Andrew’s Church, Pleasant Hill, Sonata by Peter Hope, http://dolciduo.us/dolciconcerts.htm 1/30- 2/15, The Taming of the Shrew, Sweet-tempered daddy’s girl Bianca can have her pick of suitors, but not until her sister, the fiery-tongued Kate, is married off. Rising to the challenge is fortune-seeking Petruchio , http:// dvcdrama.net 1/30 -2/28 - The Book Club Play, What if your book club was being filmed for a documentary by a famous Danish filmmaker? How would you behave? That’s the scintillating set up of The Book Club Play. CenterRep, Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Drive, Walnut Creek, http://www. lesherartscenter.org 2/6 - 2/7, C.S. Lewis’s The Great Divorce, In this dantesque celestial journey, lost souls take a bus ride to Heaven. Will they choose to stay? Or will they return to a life divorced from it? This is C. S. Lewis at his imaginative best!

Fellowship for the Performing Arts, Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Drive, Walnut Creek, http://www.lesherartscenter.org 2/6 - 2/7, Diablo Ballet’s “Enticing Beauty”, Del Valle Theatre, 1963 Tice Valley Boulevard, Walnut Creek, http://www.lesherartscenter.org SEE PAGE 12 this issue.

Sports

Danville Submit YOUR stories to info@claytongazette.com

Adult Open Basketball The town of Danville offers year-round adult, drop in basketball, a fun activity that offers convenience and affordability.

Held at Los Cerros Middle School, the courts are open 7:30 9:00 am on Saturdays. The cost is $3 for residents and $5 for non-residents. Call (925) 313-3400 for more information.

Concord American Little League, 2015 SPRING REGISTRATION NOW OPEN! Baseball and Softball for boys and girls ages 4-14, Online Registration: www. callbaseball.or In Person: Thursday, January 8, 5:00pm—8:00pm, Westwood Elementary, 1748 West Street

­Government

•Concord City Council, 1st, 2nd and 4th Tuesdays, 6:30 pm, Council Chambers, 1950 Parkside Dr, Concord. Or watch online at http://www. ci.concord.ca.us/citygov/agendas/council/ •Clayton City Council, 1st and 3rd Tuesdays, 7pm. Hoyer Hall, Clayton Library, 6125 Clayton Rd, Clayton. http://ci.clayton.ca.us •Martinez City Council, 1st and 3rd Wednesdays. City Hall, 7 pm, 525 Henrietta Street, Martinez. Or Listen online at http://www.granicus.com/ streamingMediaHelp/minimumSystem.htm, http://www.cityofmartinez.org •Walnut Creek City Council, 1st and 3rd Tuesdays, 7 pm. Or watch online at http://www.walnut-creek.org/services/citizen/granicus.asp •Pleasant Hill City Council, 1st and 3rd Wednesdays, 7:30 pm, Council Chambers of the Pleasant Hill City Hall, 100 Gregory Lane, Pleasant Hill. Or follow online at http://www.ci.pleasant-hill.ca.us/media/

The Clayton Gazette DIABLO VALLEY EDITION • DECEMBER 30, 2014 • Page 11 • www.ClaytonGazette.com | www.fb.com/claytongazette • (925) 303-4779

Walnut Creek Submit YOUR stories to info@claytongazette.com

The

Fun of Group Cycling

Photo courtesy of Nancy Morrow

Kirsten Cherry, James Davis (RCS), Deb Osborne, Jim Rowland, Martha Porritt, Kelly MarisWeissburg, Martin Aitken, Glenda Smith, Chris Curtis, Peggy Bloisa, Elizabeth Enea, Bridget Vranes Moar, Jim Tennant and Kristin Francisco Penick. Not pictured: Nancy Morrow

Nancy Morrow of Walnut Creek enjoys her biking time with friends.

“I love riding in a group,” she said. “ I feel it is so much safer because you’re more visible to motorists.”

On Dec. 27, Nancy and fifteen others took a ride from Walnut Creek to Sunol and back.

“Chilly 60-mile ride today,” she

noted. “Temps in the low 30’s to start. Five layers plus toe and hand warmers.” She only took one layer off during the whole ride. “My energy bar was so hard I thought I was going to break a tooth on it,” she added.

“Beautiful clear day though. Every day is better with a bike ride in it.”

Local Cinephile Attracts Large Following for the Finest in Foreign and Independent Filmmaking in Walnut Creek Now into his second season, cinema buff, John Bennison, dismayed at the destruction of the Pleasant Hill Cine-Arts Theatre, decided to create his own film society -The Mountain Shadow Film Society - at the start of 2014. Now boasting a robust number of subscription members, Bennison screens monthly showings of foreign and independent films, and the society has had to add a second monthly screening to accomodate the demand.

Mountain Shadow is a memberdeveloped and member-led California 501.c.3 non-profit organization. Film screenings are held each month in the Oak View Room of the downtown Walnut Creek Library.

Best of all, the $120 annual membership dues costs no more than a regular trip to the movies each month! Member benefits include reserved tickets priced lower than tickets sold at the door, postscreening discussions, member discounts at local restaurants, and “Encore Evenings” where members can view again and discuss some of our favorite films from the mainstream media in the last year.

For Membership Information or additional questions, just contact Mountain Shadow’s Volunteer Director: John Bennison: (925) 787.6965, or email jb@ mountainshadow.org

The Clayton Gazette DIABLO VALLEY EDITION • DECEMBER 30, 2014 • Page 12 • www.ClaytonGazette.com | www.fb.com/claytongazette • (925) 303-4779

Diablo Ballet Launches 21st Season

“Enticing Beauty”

Diablo Ballet’s 21st Season continues with Enticing Beauty February 6-7, 2015 at the Del Valle Theatre in Walnut Creek.

The performances, which place the audience within close proximity of the stage, feature live music and a lively, interactive Q&A with the dancers hosted by local celebrity moderators. A reception with tasty dessert delicacies and Peet’s Coffee are served with the opportunity for the audience members to get up close and personal with the artists. A wide range of both classical and contemporary works will be presented as part of the series including a world premiere by the dynamic, award winning Canadian choreographer Sonya Delwaide, set to the music of Hungarian composer Ernő Dohnányi ‘s Serenade for String Trio, the playful and exciting Harlequinade Pas de Deux by George Balanchine, and a Diablo Ballet Premiere excerpt from Sea Pictures by one of the most sought after choreographers, Christopher Wheeldon, which

was commissioned for the San Francisco Ballet in 2000. Staged

by Diablo Ballet Regisseur Joanna Berman, this work is set to the music of Edward Elgar, and nostalgically evokes the last moments of a sailor and his loved one before he leaves for sea. The program also features a contemporary work by Robert Dekkers, cares you know not, which premiered on March 6, 2014 as part of Diablo Ballet’s 20th Anniversary Celebration and is set to an original score by Samuel Carl Adams.

Performances: Friday, February 6, 2015 at 8:00 pm and Saturday, February 7, 2015 at 2:00 pm.

Location: Del Valle Theatre, 1963 Tice Valley Boulevard, Walnut Creek, CA 94596.

Purchase tickets online at www.

LesherArtsCenter.org or by calling (925) 943-7469 or visit www.DiabloBallet.org

ENTER TO WIN TWO FREE Tickets to see Diablo

Ballet’s ENTICING BEAUTY, playing February 6 & 7, 2015.

We have TWO (2) tickets to giveaway.

TO ENTER: Email: info@claytongazette.com and tell us why you’d like to attend the ballet. Specify DIABLO BALLET in the subject line.. Check www.fb.com/ClaytonGazette for info and winners. Deadline: January 15, 5pm.

Read This Issue Online as a Flip-Page Magazine or PDF www.ClaytonGazette.com “The People’s Paper”

ONE READER’S TESTIMONIAL:

“I just wanted to let you know how much I

enjoy the Clayton Gazette! I’m fairly new to Clayton, but my family has lived here for 20 years. I moved here from Martinez where I had a home for 40 years.

The Gazette is full of great ads and interesting columns. I have clipped some of both from the issues I have received. Keep up the great work and I hope to be getting the Clayton Gazette for many years!! Happy New Year! ~Ruth Olson, Clayton

”

A Tale to Tell

The Clayton Gazette DIABLO VALLEY EDITION • DECEMBER 30, 2014 • Page 13 • www.ClaytonGazette.com | www.fb.com/claytongazette • (925) 303-4779

bookends

by Chadwick H Saxelid

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

The Making of George A. Romero’s ‘Day of the Dead’

by Lee Karr

Now here is a book that I never expected would be written, much less published. Who in the world would be interested enough in The Making of George A. Romero’s Day of the Dead to write a detailed book about it?

Author Lee Karr, obviously.

When Day of the Dead was first released, back in 1985, it bombed at the box office.

Critics and fans alike savaged the film without mercy.

Even today, thirty years after its release, despite its having gained a larger, more appreciative audience, Day of the Dead still has a low approval rating amongst genre fans in general, and Romero fans in particular. Very few people seem to care for the film.

I am a proud member of those few, though. George A. Romero’s Day of the Dead is one of my all time favorite movies. For me, like author Lee Karr, it was love at first sight.

Like most Romero fans, I knew the version of Day of the Dead he was able to make was not the sprawling action-horror epic he envisioned. That this was the

project where the relationship between Romero and his long time producer and business partner, Richard Rubenstein, reached its breaking point. That Day of the Dead marked the end of a unique and beloved era in genre filmmaking.

And the whole story is told here, warts and all. From pre-production, through filming, and on up to Day’s release and eventual re-evaluation, Karr leaves no detail out. Unless the person interviewed requested that certain comments be kept off the record. Even then Karr gives the reader an idea of just how negative those comments were. The amount of detail and information is shocking, stunning, and just a little scary.

Filled with hundreds of production photos and stills, most never seen before, and featuring an almost momentby-moment recap of each and every single day of filming (Karr was able to find the production’s call sheets), The Making of George A. Romero’s Day of the Dead is truly the final word on the film. By the time I had finished reading this unique and one of a kind book, I felt as if I had worked on the film myself.

I doubt I can get across just how awesome of a feeling that was, or how much I appreciated having been made to feel that way. It’s a Movie Geek thing.

Just A Little Bit the humor of Cathy Turney

Take the Parent Pledge

Waxing serious, as a real estate broker, I’d like to share with you some advice that may save your family, your retirement, and your sanity. I’m talking about giving your kids the down payment on a house.

Prescience is a perk we Realtors acquire after years of watching others make lifealtering decisions—the omniscient perspective we get from our rearview mirrors. We just know how some things will turn out—like giving kids the down payment for a house.

One day while walking my neighborhood, I ran into a rather feeble-looking octogenarian trying to cut his lawn with a push mower.

“I’d sure love to move to a retirement place and give up all this yard work,” he said.

“Well, I bet you can,” I answered.

“You’re an original owner; your mortgage was probably paid off years ago. What’s stopping you?” He laughed.

“I refi’d to give each of the kids a down payment on their homes.” The kids who couldn’t help Dad with the

yard work.

Why do otherwise intelligent and caring human beings, who make their children brush their teeth so they don’t fall out, look both ways before crossing the street, and send them to college, lovingly set them up for failure by effectively saying, “Here, take the fruits of my labor which I (not you) toiled years to earn, with no (enforceable) strings attached, given willingly with the implicit message that the best things in life can be had for free? Go forth into the real estate market secure in the belief that someone will always rescue you?” Are we teaching them well?

Sylvia Browne, a renowned psychic, said, “You have to take care of Number One before you can help anyone else.” A psychic said that. Is the gratification of giving the kids all that money worth the risk to your own security later in life? Are you playing Russian roulette with the roof over your head? Maybe it’s a drop in your bucket, but think of the message you send. When you live within your means and don’t

A LifeTIME of Smiles

by Robert H. Waldman, D.D.S.

It Really Is Okay to Get a

Second Opinion

I have been practicing dentistry for over 25 years, and I have been told many times that I talk a lot and that my patients appointments have taken longer than anticipated....I used to think....hmmmm is that a good thing or a bad thing....I have come to realize and my patients agree it is the best thing. I pride myself in being very thorough and making sure my patients fully understand all their options, risks and have a total picture of their dental health and a good timeline of their dental needs.

Although every dentist should give you multiple choices when a change in your dental health occurs I hear from people all the time that the dentist told them they have only one option. The reaction many people have is to do nothing, especially if they are not in any immediate pain.

They fail to ask and the dentist fails to give alternative options which include the risks and benefits.

One reason for this breakdown in communication may be that it takes a lot of time to have a complete discussion of the risks, benefits and alternatives involved no matter if it’s an apparent simple cavity or a complex multiple problem area. I feel its imperative to give people as much time as they need to understand, comprehend and decide what they feel is in their best interests. Many people feel the dentist is just trying to find the most expensive way to fix their problem. People feel prejudged and feel left out of the decision making process. As one new patient of mine stated “ I don’t know if I would have made a different decision but I left my previous dentist because he didn’t give me all my options and I felt it demeaning”.

We are all creatures of habit and

frankly many people walk in the door stating they only want what their insurance company will cover or without insurance limit themselves so some dentists can tend to leave out options that aren’t covered but may be better and longer lasting. It is very important that You, the patient, be an advocate for yourself or bring someone with you who will advocate for you. It is very important that if you don’t completely understand what the dentist is explaining to you that you ask for further clarification.

A second opinion may be time consuming but not expensive. In requesting copies of X-rays to be emailed or sent to another dentist you may even get your dentist to ask you if you need clarification and other options to the treatment plan they presented to you.

When I joke with patients that I talk too much I always say my job is to tell you what’s going on in your mouth and give you all the options, only then if you can not decide what’s in your best interest then I will help you decide. In my practice you are a member of the family!

As always please remember to see your dentist regularly and Swish, Floss, Brush and Swish again Wishing you all a very happy and healthy new year.

Please visit my website, www.roberthwaldmandds.com, and you will find many helpful videos which will explain many dental treatments.

overextend yourself, when you’re that rock the family can come to in times of emergency (buying a house is not an emergency), you teach them to do the same. Show, don’t tell.

Some parents know the right answers when asked to pluck feathers from their nest egg. They just need a little reinforcement: Smart Dad: “I don’t know what to do. I mean, I loaned my daughter and her husband the down payment, he quit his job, and now they’re in foreclosure and want me to bail them out.”

Me: “OK. Let me see if I understand this correctly. You gave them $50,000, and they don’t seem to be trying too hard to preserve and protect it.”

“No, I loaned it to them.”

As Len Tillem, the “People’s Lawya” in Sonoma, California, tells his radio audience: “If you make a loan to a family member, consider it a gift.” They did.

“Well, Smart Dad, I know you love your daughter dearly, but in your heart of hearts, how do you feel

about her husband abusing your trust and generosity?” I knew what he was thinking, so I just verbalized it for him. He needed a few booster calls afterward, but he did the right thing, the hard thing: He said no.

-Dr. RobAsk Robert H. Waldman, D.D.S. your questions at 925-682-6940, DrRob@RobertHWaldmanDDS.com or www.roberthwaldmandds.com.

SEE OUR AD ON FRONT COVER

To give the kids the down payment or not, that is the question. Like daylight saving time rolling around every year, I could count on an annual phone call from another dad, whose daughter wanted to buy a house at least once a year. Dad was a self-made multimillionaire and could easily have bought her silence. But he wanted her to earn the satisfaction of owning a home the traditional way— by working for it. So every year he’d call me up and the three of us would drive over to this year’s pick, and I would explain to her why it would not be a good investment. I won’t admit to collusion because that’s illegal, but Dad and I thought alike. Eventually she saved enough money to buy a condo.

CONTINUES NEXT PAGE..

The Clayton Gazette DIABLO VALLEY EDITION • DECEMBER 30, 2014 • Page 14 • www.ClaytonGazette.com | www.fb.com/claytongazette • (925) 303-4779

Time for the Arts

by Deborah Ashley

Pursing Your Artist Passion If you are one of many who has a regular full time job that you either enjoy somewhat, merely tolerate or dislike intensely but still feel frustrated that you aren’t doing what you truly love, you are not alone.

It can be extremely difficult to make time to pursue your artistic dreams or other hobbies when your life is filled with work, family responsibilies and everything else that life throws your way. But here it is, 2015, and it’s a good time to reassess what you want to accomplish this year and find the time to do it.

I am one of the lucky ones who make my living doing all the artistic things that I love. Teaching piano, violin and art and painting and selling my work.

But there are many people who aren’t in that position. How do you find a balance in life so that you can keep your day job and still have time to pursue your passion?

Bay Area resident Gregg Solomon, plays drums in a rock band and also has a full time day job. He likes his job, but his real passion is music. When Gregg was a child, he said his “earliest memories were about music.” He was lucky that he grew up in a house where his mother played all kinds of music all the time. He said that music “became a part of him.” Gregg bought his first drum set at 14 and started teaching himself how to play. But despite his love of music, he went on to study business administration in college. After getting married and having children, Gregg didn’t have time to play the drums anymore and didn’t play for 17 years. But the desire never went away, and the need

Just A Little Bit

to come back to the drums was nagging at him. He finally realized that music was his true passion, and now that he is playing in a band and performing, he says that it has “fulfilled my dream.”

It’s important to realize that you don’t need to maintain a sustained daily routine to incorporate music or art into your life. With a little research, you will find that there are weekend workshops in practically any subject. Take one a few times a year or whatever you can fit into your schedule. There are also lots of adult continuing education classes offered at many different venues around the area. Or go on an art vacation.

Paint in Italy or France for two weeks, or stay closer to home and go to the artsy towns of Benicia or Montecito.

If those seem like too much of a time commitment, YouTube has hundreds of videos including TED talks, studio visits, art, music and dance ‘how to’ lessons, and much, much more. You could spend just ten minutes a day or 10 minutes a week immersed in what you want to learn. Here is a link to a TED talk on creativity: https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=sY0Pf_pfqCI. Spend some time at a museum or gallery. San Francisco, Oakland and a number of other Bay Area cities have a gallery crawl once a month.

If you put a little thought into it, there are all kinds of ways to sneak your art or music passion into your life.

Don’t give up on your dreams. Make 2015 the year you pursue your passion.

themoviemaverick

by Jason Rugaard, www.moviemavericks.com

St. Vincent

3 1/2 Stars St. Vincent is the first truly good film I’ve seen this winter.

This time of year OSCAR hopefuls are unveiled every weekend leading up to the new year.

A number of those socalled important films have been disappointments, now we have the crotchety screen veteran Bill Murray to save the season. St. Vincent is predictable to be sure, but there are many comedic delights and dramatic events unfolding to keep the film on-track.

Murray is Vincent a self-involved drunk with little regard for his own health or the feelings of those around him. His behavior has run off anyone who once cared for him, and the drinking has gotten so bad that nightly falls are expected. Awaking on the kitchen floor, blooded and hung over, Vin witnesses a moving truck cause damage to his dilapidated station wagon. This minor incident turns explosive as the cankerous Vincent berates his new neighbors, a single mom (McCarthy) and her young son,Oliver. Melissa McCarthy plays the mother and her subdued turn is one of the film’s biggest delights. I’ve never been a fan of her comedic stylings, but she is positively radiant in this role. Equally fine is the work from newcomer Jaeden Lieberher, this extremely likable kid is a natural foil to Murray’s verbal antics.

Nearly broke, Vincent heads to the track in order to make quick money.

His usual unlucky streak continues and things get even worse when he runs into a bookie (Terrence Howard) with an outstanding marker. Looking for some cash and seeing an opportunity, Vincent agrees to babysit Oliver everyday after school. Maggie is weary but her long hours working at the hospital leave her little choice. Thus begins the relationship between the boy and the over-grown man-child. Their pinocchio-like adventures take them into the dark den of bars Vincent frequents and into the company of a pregnant hooker (Naomi Watts).

St. Vincent is definitely a paint-bythe-numbers affair when considering the clichés in writer/director Theodore Melfi’s screenplay. The story has a number of distracting subplots that are left with more than a few loose ends.

However, by casting talented actors down the line, he has insured himself against the material. The entire cast is uniformly strong, yet it is Murray who once again delivers a mischievous, beguiling and heartfelt performance as the title character.

Director: Theodore Melfi Stars: Bill Murray, Jaeden Lieberher, Naomi Watts

THE CLAYTON GAZETTE

DIABLO VALLEY EDITION

Your Voice. Your Stories About Your Community. Because We Care!

www.ClaytonGazette.com

continued

Raising kids is a science project; the laws of nature prevail.

If you are a parent, you may be squirming in your seat right now, about to stop reading this, thinking, “Cathy, you are cruel! You advocate child abuse. My child would never renege on a promise.” And you could be right; there are always exceptions to the rules…anomalies in nature. But here are some alternatives to save you and your offspring from possible financial and moral ruin: First assumption: you are the parent, not a friend or other relation.

Second: you have the financial means to help your kids buy a home. If not, well, think of it as a blessing in disguise that they have to work for it.

Speaking from my rear view mirror, I would not take this risk for anyone but direct, blood line (or legally adopted), offspring—the ones who can guilt you out of sleep at night.

Scenario Number One: Friends with Benefits Forget the usual innuendo: This is all about the parent-child

relationship. Thinking of each other as friends (whom you can’t push as far as you can parents) puts a little distance between you. The benefits are the money you inject:

•You lend the kids the down payment (mortgage companies typically want a letter saying this is a gift, not a loan, and will either require a gift letter signed by you, or the money seasoned in the kids’ bank account for two months).

•They qualify for the loan on their own and purchase the home.

•After close of escrow, you go on title—perfectly legal.

The beauty of this approach is that the kids have to qualify for the loan—prove that they can afford to live there (thanks to your help).

This minimizes your exposure; they can’t refinance (further encumber) or even sell the house without your permission because you are on title. You can hover over your down payment.

The downsides are:

•The kids could stop making

payments to the bank (and/or you), and if they default, you’re on title—it will appear on your credit report, too.

But you won’t be liable for repayment of the loan.

•Litigiously speaking, if anything bad happens at the property, you could be pursued. And you don’t have to be guilty to need a lawyer.

Scenario Number Two: Lease Option The preferred choice. In simple terms, rent-to-buy. You, most benevolent parent, buy the house in your name, lease it to the kids, and let them buy it from you at a later date. Lease options have their downsides, too:

•The purchase price is agreed upon and must be honored months or years from the date, regardless of whether the market goes up or down.

Good for the buyer, bad for the seller, but it’s all in the family.

•The buyer pays option consideration, usually several thousand dollars, which can be

collected up front or monthly. If the option is not exercised, the buyer forfeits his down payment.

Effectively, the lease option creates a landlord/tenant relationship with all the inherent issues that go with rental property.

I don’t recommend lease options except in the parent to son or daughter situation. There are some things you do for love. It’s an expedient that can work well for families.

Why do I prefer Scenario Number Two? Think of it as having the kids audition to own property. Over a period of time they’ll prove they’re worthy of your cash infusion by making timely rent payments.

They’ll establish a track record with a landlord (you), which lenders insist on. They’ll prove they’re responsible and serious by fixing whatever credit issue stopped them from qualifying before. Or not. But if they don’t become models of tenant virtue, CONTINUES NEXT PAGE...

The Clayton Gazette DIABLO VALLEY EDITION • DECEMBER 30, 2014 • Page 15 • www.ClaytonGazette.com | www.fb.com/claytongazette • (925) 303-4779

Classifieds &

Farmer’s Market Fresh

Service

by Debra Morris, Pacific Coast Farmers Market

directory

http://www.pcfma.com/concord

Winter Vegetables for Health

NEED A TUTOR?

Educational Therapy postgraduate student/ lifelong Clayton resident offering in-home tutoring for Claycord K-6 graders! •Many local clients/ references•5 years teaching & tutoring experience•Sessions are enriching,

engaging, fun, & positive Natalie at claytoncatutor@gmail.com

APM 1yr Anniversary/ Networking Event on 4/2/15.

We’re looking for a local business to host. If you are interested, please email admin@ayalapm.com. In exchange, our marketing materials will include information about your business and you may address the audience.

Classified and Service Directory rates are $25 per 50 words, per issue. Submit yours to info@claytongazette.com. You will be emailed a link for payment prior to the issue.

What Really Matters

Read my column “What Really Matters” exclusively in every issue of The Clayton Gazette.

And follow my on-air edition of “What Really Matters” on ABC-7 News and Facebook at www.fb.com/ DanAshleyABC7 ~ Dan Ashley, ABC-7

Just A Little Bit

Healthy winter vegetables and fruits are now at the farmers’ market to get you off to a healthy start for 2010.

Beets, broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, leeks, potatoes, citrus, kiwi fruit, apples and pears are all full of vitamins and minerals your body needs to stay healthy.

Eating the right foods in the right amounts can help you live a longer, healthier life. Many illnesses and conditions—such as heart disease, obesity, high blood pressure, and Type 2 diabetes—can be prevented or controlled by eating healthier. A healthy diet also provides the vitamins and minerals you need. It’s never too late to start eating right.

Healthy eating doesn’t have to be boring or tasteless.

Here are some great recipes that you are sure to love, using winter produce.

Arugula and Roasted Cauliflower Salad

2 medium heads cauliflower, cut in bite-sized florets 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil 3/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper 2 tablespoons white wine vinegar and 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil 1 tablespoon Dijon-style mustard 8 cups arugula, lightly packed, or baby spinach 1 large red onion, thinly sliced 4 ounces shaved Parmesan cheese Preheat oven to 425°F. In shallow roasting pan combine cauliflower, 3 tablespoons olive oil, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and pepper; toss. Roast, uncovered, for 30 to 35 minutes, stirring twice. Remove from oven; cool. In a small bowl combine vinegar, mustard, and remaining salt.

Whisk in the 1/3 cup olive oil until combined. In a large bowl combine cauliflower, arugula, and onion. Add the vinegar mixture; toss gently.

Top with shaved Parmesan. Makes 12 servings.

Recipe courtesy of Pacific Coast Farmers Market

continued

you’ve lost little or nothing. You can sell the house to someone else, and that person can become the kids’ landlord.

If (Scenario Number One) the kids can qualify for a mortgage on their own but you’re not convinced your down payment money is safe with them, insist on a lease option until which time you feel comfortable with less control over your money or until they give you a grandchild.

Here’s how to do a lease option:

•Talk to a lender and determine what the kids would qualify for if they had a down payment or when they overcome the credit issue or whatever it is that’s preventing them from buying. Don’t fluff on this.

You’ll want them to be able to buy the home from you eventually. Lease optioning is just a stopgap measure.

•Add the loan amount to the down payment which is typically 20 percent of the sale price for owneroccupied loans; that should be what you’re willing to pay for the home. Do not exceed that, no matter how much the kids beg. It’s “get real” time.

•Hire a Realtor and let the kids choose their new

home.

•Visit the real estate attorney and have him or her explain structuring and all the technicalities of lease options.

If you decide to proceed, go back to the attorney to draw the lease option documents.

Realtors can do this, but I think it’s better to have an attorney do it.

•Buy the home. Have the attorney prepare the lease option concurrently so that everything is in place when you close escrow.

You may get some negative feedback from the kids on these suggestions. They whine, “Why can’t we buy a bigger house?” “We want the tax write-off now,” etc.

Remind them that home ownership is not a right—it’s the American Dream. Then silently say to yourself, I’ve minimized my risk. Because no matter how wonderful the kids are, nothing is without risk—especially real estate.

Parents, think of yourselves as fiduciaries not ATMs.

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The Clayton Gazette DIABLO VALLEY EDITION • DECEMBER 30, 2014 • Page 16 • www.ClaytonGazette.com | www.fb.com/claytongazette • (925) 303-4779

Book Excerpt :

“Mumza” by Catherine Spitale, a true story of her search for identity and her life as the niece of a well known Mafia figure.

Uncle Salvy had a reputation of being liked by everyone and also for being a bon vivant. He was overly generous with his family and friends. He was never given bad press; in fact even the press once said of him, “If Salvy made a statement, you could take it to the bank.”

When my father, Joseph was not able to get work as an electrician, Uncle Salvy got him a job at the Daily News as a driver. He kept that job his entire life, until he retired at the age of sixty-two.

In return for the favor of the job, we had to put the name of Frank Costello on our mailbox for years and I guess he got some mail at our house for whatever reason.

While Uncle Salvy was in Clinton Prison in Danemorra, in New York State, my sisters and I went with Daddy to visit him. World War II was still going on. We stayed at a boarding house while Daddy went to the prison and brought Salvy some goodies. The house had a lot of rooms and wooden floors, we had our meals there in a big dining room. There was a living room with a radio where we stayed while we waited for Daddy to return from his visits. I remember going to breakfast in our chenille robes (my mom was great for chenille robes and bedspreads) I still like chenille.

One time, after visiting Uncle Salvy my dad brought back a large oil portrait

of Sonny. Sonny was Uncle Salvy’s son, who was in the army. Sonny sent Uncle Salvy a small snapshot of himself in a letter from Italy where he was stationed.

The oil painting had been made by another inmate and was so real it looked more like Sonny than the snapshot. My father said to his brother that it was a shame a man so talented in art had to be in a place like jail. Uncle Salvy, being the whimsical fella he was, replied, “Joe, why do you think he’s here? He was reproducing oil paintings by Van Gogh, Renoir, and other famous artists and selling them for real ones.”

Uncle Salvy wrote letters from prison all the time. His letters always ended with “Love to Ruth, Dolores and last but far from least, baby Catherine.”

I read these letters again and again.

Uncle Salvy always made me feel special.

The Uncle Salvy I knew and visited in Manhattan on Sutton Place, always wore a maroon silk smoking jacket with a white silk scarf, I never saw shoes shine like Uncle Salvy’s unless they were patent leather.

Uncle Salvy had always wanted me to write his memoirs about his bootlegging days and all his endeavors. He always told me many interesting stories. He once told me a story about being on a barge with liquor from Canada. Because of fog, he missed his destination, the Coney Island Pier and, instead,

landed at a naval station which is now Kingsborough Community College near Sheepshead Bay. Uncle Salvy was so clean cut and handsome, nothing about him made him look like a “hood.” He was always dressed to the nines and some young naval recruits with white leggings and rifles came to greet him. He thought fast and said he was the F.B.I. with a shipment of confiscated liquor in tow and demanded trucks to transport the goods. He got everyone moving in a hurry. He took some papers from his pocket and got them to sign what they thought were orders. He was given trucks, which were loaded by the navy recruits from the barge and then he and his men rode away laughing.

Uncle Salvy came home one afternoon and found his mother crying while clutching a paper in her apron pocket with her hand. He asked her in Sicilian, the only language she spoke all her life - “Mama, perché piangí?” which meant “Mama, why are you crying?” He took the paper, which had a Black Hand print on it from the mob demanding weekly protection money from her business; Grandma was very successful for her day.

Uncle Salvy was fifteen and a half years old, still wearing knickers, and had reached his adult height. He told his mother not to cry, he would take care of it, and he meant it. Uncle Salvy got a gun, not afraid of anything, burst into the back room of the shoeshine parlor and demanded to see the guy in charge.

He said, “If any of you [expletive] guys come near my mother again, I’ll come back and blow your [expletive] heads off.” Lucky Luciano, the guy in charge, wasn’t there then and Salvy went on to add that if they bothered his mom again, Lucky wouldn’t be so lucky anymore.

These men just looked at him and let him leave. About an hour later, Uncle Salvy said a car pulled up and a few large men got out and picked him up by his armpits with his feet dangling, put him in the car and took him back to the shoeshine parlor where he had been earlier. Lucky Luciano was there this time.

Lucky Luciano was very amused at Uncle Salvy’s courage. He asked Uncle Salvy where he was from. In those days, if you were from Palermo, it was the ticket to get “in.” Lucky asked him if he wanted a job. “We need guys like you,” he said. And that’s how Uncle Salvy got into the Mafia. Lucky and Uncle Salvy were connected for years to come.

Mumza, by Catherine Spitale, a true story of the search for her identity, her life as a family member of a larger than life mafia figure, and a journey through a period of time now lost, is both an inspiring and compelling read.

The book is published by BYCTPublishing.com and will be available January 15 in both paperback and digital ebook format from your favorite bookseller. ISBN: 978-09903725-0-9 info@byctpublishing.com

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