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March 2016 A New Game in Town By Fran Miller
If the omnipresent local soccer leagues have failed to entice your youthful charges into participation, there’s a new game in town that might pique some interest: field hockey. This traditionally East Coast sport is gaining in local popularity, thanks to the establishment last spring of the Lamorinda Field Hockey (LFH) league.
LFH, along with sister club San Ramon Field Hockey, is part of the East Bay Field Hockey Association, founded by longtime field hockey players Elzeth Hetzler and Jennifer Gray. Hetzler, from South Africa, is a level 2 coach and currently the head coach for two of four Futures sites, the Olympic pipeline training program offered by the US’s governing body for the sport, USA Field Hockey. Gray played field hockey through high school and college back East. Her sister is currently playing on the Women’s National Team. Additional LFH coaches are international players from around the globe. Field Hockey is a dynamic, fast paced, skillful game requiring finesse rather than brute strength. Techniques are easy to learn, but they are also difficult to master. Situational awareness and keen decision making skills are keys to success. LFH coaches are aware that many people haven’t experienced the game, and thus, they offer a free introductory lesson for beginners and newcomers. LFH caters to both boys and girls, ages 5-19. The league hosts players from Berkeley, Orinda, Lafayette, Walnut Creek, and Moraga. Twice per week, practices take place on the Wilder fields in Orinda and also at the Lafayette Community Center. Tournaments take place on the weekends throughout the greater Bay Area – from Gilroy to Davis, including at Stanford, San Ramon, and University of the Pacific. “Our goal is to promote the game of Field Hockey in the East Bay,” says Hetzler. “Clubs are thriving in the South Bay, Peninsula, Sacramento, and across California. We want to bridge the gap for teams here in the East Bay by organizing club level play, and scheduling practices, games, and tournaments. We want to help players grow by focusing on skills, sportsmanship, and friendly competitive play.”
See Hockey continued on page 20 Local Postal Customer
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Serving the Lafayette Community The Remarkable Markham: Contra Costa’s Only Arboretum By Jody Morgan
Visitors to the remarkable Markham rarely fail to return repeatedly, whether they initially arrive to stroll the trail, attend workshops, admire the gardens, or purchase plants. Celebrating its 35th year of partnership with the City of Concord as steward of the Markham Nature Park and Arboretum, Markham Regional Arboretum Society (MRAS) continually presents timely programs, installs purposeful plantings, and propagates for sale unusual plants appropriate to the local climate. Winner of Sustainable Contra Costa’s 2015
Patrice Hanlon, pictured with her RES SUCCESS crew, finds visitors of all ages and abilities delight in stopping to observe details of the diverse life forms found at Markham.
Award for Sustainable Resource Management, MRAS preserves the natural environment of Galindo Creek and the 17 acres comprising the park. Recognizing the educational potential of their property, Ira and Bee Markham sold 12 acres including their house to the City of Concord in 1966 with the stipulation that they retain the right to remain in residence as long as they wished. They continued to plant trees supporting their vision for the nature preserve, but after Bee’s death in 1979, Ira worried about future maintenance of their legacy.
See MRAS continued on page 18
Tom Steuber Selected as Lafayette’s Citizen of the Year
Each year the Lafayette Chamber of Commerce solicits nominations, and a small committee has the difficult task of picking a Lafayette “Citizen of the Year.” Sometimes campaigns are launched and the Chamber is flooded with letters recommending Volume X - Number 3 their choices. 3000F Danville Blvd #117 For a number of Alamo, CA 94507 years, a group of Telephone (925) 405-6397 families have been telling the Chamber Fax (925) 406-0547 about one extraordinary member of editor@yourmonthlypaper.com the community, Tom Steuber. Tom has Alisa Corstorphine ~ Publisher presided as Scoutmaster for Lafayette’s The opinions expressed herein belong to the Boy Scout Troop 204 for 12 years. He writers, and do not necessarily reflect that of Lafayette Today. Lafayette Today is not responsible has guided hundreds of boys through for the content of any of the advertising herein,
See Citizen continued on page 22
nor does publication imply endorsement.