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April 11, 2014
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Clayton fire station to re-open in August TAMARA STEINER Clayton Pioneer
Clayton’s Station 11 will reopen in August, thanks to a $9.5 million federal grant
designed to help local fire districts maintain adequate emergency response levels. Station 11 was one of four stations forced to close in 2013 after a $75 parcel tax failed at the polls and the district had to slash costs.
Of the four closed, Station 11 is the only one to reopen. The Clayton station averages two calls a day with 65 percent of them being for emergency medical services (EMS). Station 11’s location on the far eastern edge of the district makes it
difficult to provide fast response and back-up resources. “Clayton’s an outlier, isolated,” says Supervisor Karen Mitchoff. “Reopening the station is an operational decision, determined solely by the
number of calls.” It costs about $1 million a year to operate a fire station, Mitchoff says. The rest of the grant will be used to add emergency medical squads at Station 6 in downtown Concord and Station 1 in Walnut Creek and
to hire and train the 12 vacancies that have been filled by overtime since the shutdowns. The grant will run for two years, giving the district time to attack the structural budget
See Station 11, page 3
Drama and drought watchwords of this year’s Garden Tour JOHN JACKSON Clayton Pioneer
HANK STRATFORD
MAYOR’S CORNER
Focus on Integrity this month During the months of March and April the focus of the Do the Right Thing program is on Integrity. In thinking about this universal character trait, I was reminded of a story I once heard about a high school football player named Joseph It was the championship game. The play called for Joseph to run the ball up the middle for the go-ahead touchdown. He
See Mayor, page 2 Photo courtesy of the Griffiths
More than 500 sign up for bocce league Construction of the eagerly anticipated Ipsen Family bocce courts will begin this month and already the league is full with more than 500 signing up on April 5. The current league slate has 50 teams playing Sunday-Thursday evenings and league leadership is considering adding two more divisions. If interest is high enough. the league will ad one division on Friday evening and one on Sunday afternoon. Those interested and available for these divisions are asked to send an email to claytonbocceleague@gmail.com. There are no more signup dates scheduled. League play will begin in June and run through September. Team fees are $350 per team Individual sign-ups are available at $40 per person. The Ipsen family, founders of Skipolini’s Pizza, are building the park which will be operated by the Clayton Business and Community Association.
THIS DRAMATIC SOLARIUM AT THE CLAYTON HOME OF BOB AND ROBIN GRIFFITHS houses a large collection of succulents and unusual potted plants. The Griffiths recently reduced the thirsty landscaping in the front with a drought tolerant cactus garden. The home is one of six on the Clayton Historical Society’s annual Garden Tour on April 26 & 27.
Concord: Diversity fuels history, spurs economic growth in county’s largest city PEGGY SPEAR Clayton Pioneer
[Editor’s Note: This is the first in a series on the growth and development of Concord. In this issue we look at its history and economics; next issue we examine the Concord lifestyle.] If Don Salvio Pacheco stood in the middle of Todos Santos Plaza today, he would not believe what has risen from his 1834 land grant. Residents bustle through the restaurants and shops around the plaza, the hum of BART trains echo in the distance, and silver high-rise buildings glisten in the warm spring sun. Concord in 2014 is a far cry from the Pacheco 17,921-acre “rancho.” With a population of more than 122,000, it is the largest city in Contra Costa County — and perhaps the most unique.
See Diversity, page 7
What’s Inside Around Town . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Behind the Badge . . . . . . . . .5 Book Review . . . . . . . . . . . .13
Rochellez Photography
MODERN-DAY CONCORD BOASTS A UNIQUE ARRAY OF LOCAL COMMERCE, from thriving retail and office plazas to smaller businesses that reflect the diversity of the city. That diversity has allowed Concord to withstand recent economic upheavals and establish itself as a city poised for 21st Century success.
Classified . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 Club News . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 Community Calendar . . . . .14 Concord City Beat . . . . . . . . .7 Design and Décor . . . . . . . .15 Directory of Advertisers . . . . .5
Estate Planning . . . . . . . . . . .8 Garden Girl . . . . . . . . . . . . .18 MDES Reporter (NEW) . . . .9 Obituaries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 Performing Arts . . . . . . . . . .16 Pets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13
Pine Hollow Reporter . . . . . .9 Police Activity Report . . . . .12 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10 Sports Shorts . . . . . . . . . . . .12 Sports Talk . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11 Teen Speak . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
When the six homeowners around the Clayton area open their gardens on the weekend of April 26-27 to show off their hard work at the 22nd annual Clayton Historical Society Garden Tour, don’t be surprised if some of the bounty is edible. Interest is always high for the popular tour, but this year could draw many eager onlookers looking for ideas in water conservation. Plus, this year’s tour includes a look at a permaculture design at a local farm. “Bumblebee Farm,” owned by Rob Kingsbury and Nadine Findley, is a four-year- old food garden that rests on one acre of land. This type of garden has never been included on the tour before. Its permaculture practice takes advantage of 12 raised beds and several different types of soil to minimize water use and “take advantage of what nature can give us,” says Kingsbury. His goal is to make the growth of his plants a fully sustainable and natural experience. “When you look at nature, it does so much better through the whole season, whether it rains or not,” he says. He wants to
See Garden Tour, page 3
Clayton honors Earth Day with Clean Up Event Rain or shine, hundreds of Claytonians flock to City Hall every year on a Saturday morning in April to pick up garbage bags and gloves before spreading out to city parks, trails and neighborhoods for Clayton Cleans Up. This event, to honor Earth T-shirt design by Day, is the per- Janet White. fect opportunity for kids, adults, Scout Troops, service clubs, families and neighbors to spruce up the town for the Art and Wine Festival. The free volunteer T-shirt is a special designer edition created by Creekside Artists Guild member, Janet White. “I have been very fortunate to live in the Clayton community for twenty years. It was a great privilege for me to
See Clean up, page 2
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