APR 24 Concord Pioneer 2015

IT’S YOUR PAPER www.concordpioneer.com

April 24, 2015

925.672.0500

Governor declares drought emergency PEGGY SPEAR Concord Pioneer

There are no more “ifs.” California is in the middle of a historic drought, and water districts across the state are taking harsh steps to conserve the precious commodity.

From the desk of...

Governor Jerry Brown announced recently that he would cut deliveries to water agencies by 25 percent — and that reduction is trickling down to Contra Costa Water District users.

The CCWD voted last week to ask its customers to conserve

water by 25 percent over their 2013 usage, and imposed some harsh prohibitions, like only allowing yard watering twice a week.

That is just one of the new conservation efforts that targets the 25 percent reduction in water consumption for some 250,000

customers in Concord, Clayton and surrounding communities, as well as an additional 250,000 customers to whom it sells water.

For the past year, CCWD has asked customers to voluntarily reduce their water usage by 15 percent. They responded with more than a 20 percent cut.

Still, the CCWD is hoping customers will cut more, and users will pay for it with a temporary rate hike if they don’t.

The average water use for a household of four is 350 gallons per day (gpd), says CCWD’s Jennifer Allen. If that household continues to use 350 gpd, they

S.S. Concord ports at Baldwin Park

will see their monthly bill go up about $7. But, if they cut their usage by 25 percent, their bill will go down about $7, even with the emergency rate increase.

If a family using 400 gpd cuts use by 25 percent to 300 gpd,

See

Water, page 5

GoMentum Station to be largest test site in nation PEGGY SPEAR AND TAMARA STEINER

Concord Pioneer

The Concord Naval Weapons Station will be a regionally renowned transit oriented development in the next 20 years. But right now, it is speeding to the top of the nation in vehicular technology as a testing center for selfdriving cars and Connected Vehicles.

The Contra Costa Transportation Authority (CCTA) and the City of Concord announced recently that the currently undeveloped land will be the location of a GoMentum test site for Autonomous Vehicles (AVs) and Connected Vehicles (CVs).

TIM GRAYSON

MAYOR

Flushing out city’s sewer issues “An artificial, usually subterranean, conduit to carry off sewage and sometimes surface water.”

Sometimes it’s good to start with a definition. Our sewer system is probably not the most delightful subject I discuss with my constituents, but in terms of actual dollars it is most serious and important.

Why? It is very expensive, and the rates are going up. We are literally at the mercy of the Central Contra Costa Sanitary District (CCCSD) when it comes to rate increases. We are subject to oversight requirements by the State Water Resources Control Board which operates under the California Water Code, and we have an aging sewer system that must be maintained in addition to the aforementioned mandated sewer service increases.

Jay Bedecarre

A revamped play area, highlighted by the S.S. Concord playground ship, was christened this week at Baldwin Park. The ribboncutting Wednesday included about 80 preschool children decked out in pirate wear enjoying playing on the shiny new equipment.

The project replaced a play structure that had reached the end of its useful life. It was made possible by a 100 percent matching grant from GameTime, the playground’s design and manufacturing firm, and $126,775 from Measure Q, the half-cent sales tax extension passed by voters last November.

The new structure, shaped like a ship with sails, ladders and bridges, was installed in a month and was pre-tested by youngsters from preschools housed in the park. The children pronounced the project a success. Two new swing sets were also added.

The 18-acre Baldwin Park on Parkside Circle off Port Chicago Highway also includes a softball diamond, four bocce courts, popular Baldwin Dog Park, preschool classrooms, childcare facility, dance studio, basketball court and the Concord Senior Center.

Director of Community and Recreation Services Joan Carrico mentioned that other approved Measure Q projects include Willow Pass Park restroom and concession replacement, repair and maintain existing pour-in-place rubber playground surfaces at city-wide parks, and removal of the former bocce area and old storage building at Concord Community Park.

City spokesperson Leslye Asera says, “extensive Measure Q road repair projects will be moving forward in the next year thanks to a $22 million infusion of leveraged funds that will start to address the City’s backlog of street and road projects.”

See Mayor, page 15

See GoMentum, page 15

Heald College likely to close under state, federal pressures TAMARA STEINER

Concord Pioneer

MDHS dishes out nutrition advice in D.C. PEGGY SPEAR Concord Pioneer

MDH STUDENTS FROM THE INTERNATIONAL HOSPITALITY AND TOURISM ACADEMY met with officials from the US Department of Agriculture during their recent trip to Washington DC.

Mt. Diablo High School students and leaders in Contra Costa County are audacious enough to believe that food and nutrition is primary to education, not peripheral. Cindy Gershen, Culinary Arts instructor at Mt. Diablo High School, believes that so much that she and 13 students traveled to Washington D.C. to spread the word.

The group visited with members of Congress, representatives at the USDA, and shared their innovative curriculum “Pathways to Healthy Living” with Ballou High School,

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one of the high schools in the District of Columbia with the highest enrollment. Concord’s Vice Mayor, Laura Hoffmeister, accompanied the group along with other community leaders.

“Mt. Diablo High School students believe in sustainable approaches to solving problems such as fixing our food system,” MDHS student and President of the Environmental Club Karina Alvarado said.

“We think truly sustainable change only occurs when there is a triple bottom line that serves the interests of business, people and the planet.”

In what is likely to be the closing chapter for San Francisco-based Heald Colleges, the U.S. Department of Education (USDE) last week slapped its parent company, Corinthian Colleges, with a $30 million fine for misrepresenting job placement claims and ordered the school to stop accepting new students. The department said that Heald consistently provided inaccurate information to

See Heald page 5

See MDHS in DC page 5

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Page 2

Concord Pioneer • www.concordpioneer.com

COMMUNITY

In Brief...

Concord Pavilion Community Outreach Committee appointed The Concord City Council completed its five-member Concord Pavilion Community Outreach Committee with the appointment of four Concord residents this month.

Appointed to serve two-year terms are LaMar Anderson, Orin Cross III, Elizabeth De La Campa and Mark Weinmann.

The committee will provide guidance to Concord Pavilion general manager Aaron Hawkins on efforts to attract applications from local schools, cultural organizations and the community to bring additional community events to the Pavilion, expanding the use of the venue beyond the concert season.

This new committee was specified in the most recent contract between the City of Concord and Live Nation as a way to re-connect the Pavilion with the community. The committee will assist the Pavilion GM in identifying potential community events, but will not have authority to approve event applications.

Anderson is a financial advisor with Transamerica Life Insurance Co., Cross is a retired teacher, De La Campa is a retired city employee and Weinmann is a senior project manager with Chevron USA. Concord Director of Community and Recreation Services Joan Carrico will coordinate with the committee and report to the Council’s Recreation, Cultural Affairs and Community Services Committee of Mayor Tim Grayson and Edi Birsan.

Carrico hopes to hold the first of the committee’s quarterly meetings late this month or in early May.

Continued next page

April 24, 2015

Soroptimists celebrate ‘Women of Distinction’ The Soroptimists of Diablo Vista honored six local “Women of Distinction” at their annual awards luncheon on March 25.

The women were all recognized for “Making a Difference in Our Community,” each in her own way.

First recognized and also named “Woman of the Year,” was Louise Bourassa, Executive Director of Contra Costa Interfaith Housing. A nurse by education, Bourassa manages the non-profit which serves the county’s chronically homeless.

It was difficult to know where to start with Concord’s Kathy Gleason. A dedicated community servant, Gleason is Corporate and Foundation Relations Manager at the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano Counties and co-founder of the CNWS Neighborhood Alliance dedicated to creating a regional park as part of the development of the Naval Weapons Station.

Behind the scenes, she devotes

time and resources to children in the low-income Marclair neighborhood in Concord.

Nyna Pais Caputi, a Concord resident, is producer and director of the documentary “Petals in the Dust, the Endangered India Girls,” which explores gender discrimination and violence against women and girls in India.

The “Live Your Dream” award went to Justine Rawlings.

The award honors women who are the primary earners for their family. Rawlings is a young, single mother who made a lifechanging decision to continue her education beyond high school to provide a “better life than I had” for her son. She has completed community college with a 4.0 GPA, and is set to transfer to CSU East Bay in the Fall.

Sue Manning has been a Soroptimist since 1989 and has coordinated and managed a long list of fundraising projects.

From left: Honorees Nyna Pais Caputi, Justine Rawlings and Louise Bourassa; Soroptimist president Carlyn Obringer; honorees Hayley Miller, Kathy Gleason and Sue Manning.

Bourassa, Gleason, Caputi Rawlings and Manning were further honored by Assemblywoman Susan Bonilla as “2014 Women if the Year” at a reception on April 17, in Concord.

Carondelet senior Haley Miller received the The Violet Richardson Award, which honors young women between the

CC Youth Soccer kicks off season

MDUSD Superintendent Dr. Nellie Meyer (dark top) was front and center at the Opening Ceremonies of the Contra Costa Youth Soccer League on March 29 at Glenbrook School.

CCYSL is a non-profit community based sports club that works with Boy Scouts of America and Monument Impact.

Others in the photo (from

Helping friends, neighbors and newcomers buy and sell since 1979

For information or to join a team, go to www.contracostaysl.org

and visiting.

The word “Soroptimist” means “best for women.” The Soroptimists are a service organization that aims to improve the lives of women and girls in our local community and throughout the world For membership information, go to www.sidiablovista.org

Carondelet students honored with Jefferson Awards

Photo by Isabella Costa courtesy of Carondelet High School

Five Carondelet High School students last month received Jefferson Awards for outstanding community service. The recipients and CHS staff are (L to R) Cindy Lawrence, Maria Buitrago Cohoon, Katherine Hawkyard of Concord, Nicole Fakhimi, Lauren Harrison, Nubia Wilson, Freda Statom and Jodie Russi.

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Sweeping Unobstructed Views of City to Delta & Beyond abound in this Meticulous Single Story at the top of Falcon Ridge! 4 bedrooms, 2 baths, approx. 2237sf & 3 car garage! Gourmet kitchen features granite counters complimented by tumbled marble backsplash & maple cabinets adjoining family room is anchored by a travertine gas fireplace. Spacious master with slider to patio. Private lot features aggregate patios & walkways, lush lawn, mature trees and magnificent views! $775,000

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Jennifer Stojanovich Broker-Associate,

left) are Sergio Macedo, Club Vice President; Edi Birsan, Concord City Councilmember; Fabiola Cardenas, Club Secretary; Elba Velasquez, Monument Impact; Dr. Meyer; Gerardo Martinez, Club President; Claudia De Leon, Club Treasurer; Ronald Berliner, Scoutreach District Executive for Boy Scouts of America, Mt. Diablo Silverado Council.

ages of 14 and 17 for volunteer action such as fighting drugs, crime and violence, cleaning up the environment and working to end discrimination and poverty.

Miller organized a special “Soup for Seniors” project at her school. She makes weekly visits to seniors in her area, taking them homemade soup

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Oak Hollow at Oakhurst Country Club!

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Expanded Single Story Rancher in an established Concord neighborhood! 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, approx. 1,746 sf on a huge lot with workshop and possible RV parking. Easy commute location, walking distance to John Muir Concord Campus, schools & downtown! $435,000

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Concord Market Update provided by Better Homes Realty

ADDRESS

PRICE

SF

BED/BATH SALE DATE

ADDRESS

PRICE

SF

BED/BATH SALE DATE

3813 Chestnut Ave . . . . . . . . . $485,500 . . . . .1584 . . . . . .4/2 . . . . . . . . .4/15/15

1111 Victory Lane . . . . . . . . . . $395,000 . . . . .1243 . . . . . .3/2 . . . . . . . . .3/31/15

3722 Hobby Court . . . . . . . . . . $710,000 . . . . .1721 . . . . . .4/2 . . . . . . . . .4/11/15

730 Daffodil Way . . . . . . . . . . . $595,000 . . . . .2305 . . . . . .4/3 . . . . . . . . .3/27/15

3725 Northwood Dr #E . . . . . . $260,000 . . . . .1240 . . . . . .3/2 . . . . . . . . .4/10/15

4499 Juneberry Court . . . . . . $595,000 . . . . .1365 . . . . . .3/2 . . . . . . . . .3/26/15

1737 Oakmead Dr. . . . . . . . . . $380,000 . . . . .1176 . . . . . .3/2 . . . . . . . . . .4/8/15

3676 Vancouver Way . . . . . . . $393,500 . . . . .1244 . . . . . .4/2 . . . . . . . . .3/20/15

3340 Santa Paula Dr. . . . . . . . $660,000 . . . . .1985 . . . . . .4/2.5 . . . . . . . . .4/415

3832 Larkspur Drive . . . . . . . . $380,000 . . . . .1223 . . . . . .3/2 . . . . . . . . .3/20/15

869 Deer Spring Cir. . . . . . . . . $852,000 . . . . .2416 . . . . . .4/2 . . . . . . . . . .4/1/15

1561 Glazier Drive . . . . . . . . . $492,700 . . . . .1482 . . . . . .4/2 . . . . . . . . .3/17/15

April 24, 2015

Concord Pioneer • www.concordpioneer.com

Injured eagle recovers at Lindsay Wildlife Museum

Community Diablo Toastmasters celebrates 67th Birthday More than 20 members of the Diablo Toastmasters and guests joined in on April 2 at El Tapatio restaurant in Pleasant Hill with banners, hats and a fun selection of birthday-oriented Table Topics to mark the club’s 67th birthday.

Diablo Toastmasters is a community Toastmasters club serving the Concord/Pleasant Hill /Walnut Creek area, and is a member of the Concord Chamber of Commerce. Membership is open to all who wish to improve their communication and leadership skills, important for both career advancement and social purposes.

ASSOCIATE VETERINARIAN LANA KROLL examines the wing of the Golden Eagle found injured and brought to Lindsay Wildlife Rehabilitation Hospital Friday March 27. Part of an East Bay Regional Park District Study the bird had a satellite telemetry backpack when it was found because it was being monitored for its flight path near the Altamont Wind Turbines.

A Golden Eagle, tracked as part of a study by East Bay Regional Park District, was brought in to Lindsay Wildlife Rehabilitation Hospital earlier this month after fire fighters in San Ramon discovered the injured bird.

The eagle, believed to be a young female, has head trauma and possible rodenticide toxicity – this occurs when eagles eat

Celebrating the Toastmasters 67th Birthday are Dan Randleman, John Peterson, Bill Woolfolk, Ron Jue, Laura Sanders, Cindy Johnson, Jerry Hurd, Ann Hartwig, Russ Rice, Aaron Thompson, and Destinee Cooper.

Registration is now open for the popular Spring 2015 Junior Ranger Program, run through Mount Diablo State Park.

This annual program includes topics on prehistoric times, California Indians, wildlife, geology and other areas. Hosted by a park docent, each session includes presentations, hands-on activities and a hike.

Children, ages 7 to 12, are eligible to participate. Sessions will be held at various locations in the park. The five weekend

The club meets every Thursday evening from 7 to 9 p.m. at El Tapatio restaurant, 40 Golf Club Road in Pleasant Hill. More club details can be found on its website, www.diablotoastmasters.org.

JUST LISTED

PG&E work causes detour in north Concord

small mammals that have ingested rodent poison and then will suffer secondarily from the anticoagulant properties of those toxins, said Associate Veterinarian Lana Krol, who originally treated and examined the bird. This Golden Eagle, a species the hospital maybe sees eight a year, may be a good example of the dangers of rodenticide, Krol said.

“The eagle was noticeably perkier after three days of intensive care,” Krol said. “Our goal now is to rehabilitate the bird back to her usual feisty self, and then prepare her for release.”

But this is no regular eagle — it came in with a story; namely an EBRPD tracking device on her back. Known as satellite telemetry, the bird is part of a study by EBRPD Wildlife Manager Doug Bell.

The eagle was found by San Ramon Valley Fire Protection District Firefighter Team 34 at Station 30, after residents knocked on the fire station door alerting them to an injured eagle outside. Firefighter Chris Connley, along with Firefighter Eric Sabye went out and found the bird sitting on the sidewalk.

Soon Contra Costa County Animal Control came and together they helped to catch the sick raptor, Connley said.

“It’s pretty rare to see this beautiful Golden Eagle sitting on the sidewalk,” Connley said.

The bird weighs about 11 pounds, and upon follow-up examination, Lindsay Wildlife Director of Veterinary Services Doctor Guthrum Purdin, could see blood in the eye, indicating head trauma as well as a loss of sight in the left eye. While there do not seem to be any other major injuries and the eagle has improved, Purdin is optimistic but on guard about the bird’s chances for release.

“My main concern is that the bird regains neurologic function,” he said.

If the eagle improves, then there will be flight and live prey tests before hopefully she is released back into the wild, but that is at least 30-days away, Purdin said.

sessions begin Saturday, May 9, and conclude Saturday, June 13.

Each session runs from 1 to 4 p.m. Registration is limited to 15 children, plus one parent per child. While there is no charge for the program, payment of the park’s entrance fee is required.

For more information or to register, contact Steve Elliott at (925) 362-8697 or at SAE612@msn.com. Advance registration is required.

This program is sponsored by Mount Diablo State Park in cooperation with the Mount Diablo Interpretive Association.

JUST LISTED

$489,800

Canterbury Gardens – Amazing Cape Cod 4BD/2BA 1689 Sq.Ft. home with Detached Cottage that has in-law potential. This fantastic home has been updated to include newer Kitchen, New neutral paint throughout, New Laminate flooring. Owned Solar Heat.

Great large rear yard for entertaining or gardening.

Clayton

In Brief...

Junior Rangers ready for take-off

Another important event is scheduled for Thursday, May 14 — the club’s Spring Open House.

This will be a festive occasion featuring a variety of speakers, and will be a great opportunity to visit and see how a Toastmasters meeting works. All are welcome.

Concord

Page 3

$1,100,000

Peacock Creek – Luminous 4BD/2.5BA 3,307 Sq.ft. boasts charm and elegance on a picturesque setting.

Gourmet Garden view kitchen with Family Room.

Back yard is Entertainers delight with outdoor kitchen/BBQ grill, Built-in Spa and breath taking panoramic views.

Martinez

JUST LISTED

$639,980

Martinez

$629,950

The Meadows – Updated home with 5BD/3BA 2,316 sq.ft. 1Bd/1BA on main level. Remodeled gourmet kitchen with granite counters, tile floors, stainless appliances. Brazilian Cherry Hand Scraped floors in Living & Dining Room. Large Backyard with built-in Kitchen, Hot Tub, Outdoor Fan and Great Views.

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$679,000

Windmill Canyon – 3BD/2.5 BA 1,877 Sq.Ft. on Premium Golf Coarse location. Stunning Kitchen with Granite counters, hardwood flooring. Vaulted ceilings, Granite countertop wet bar. Huge Master Suite with Vaulted ceilings. Panoramic Golf Course and Mt Diablo Views

Brentwood

Crime Prevention Class offered by CPD The Concord Police Department Code Enforcement Unit will host crime prevention classes for homeowners, property owners, and business owners on Wednesday, April 29 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Centre Concord, 5298 Clayton Road.

The classes will teach participants how to make sure that their properties are not an easy target for criminals.

Using a strategy called Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED), participants will learn how to maintain their property to improve quality of life, and reduce crime and the fear of crime in their neighborhoods.

The two-hour class is limited to 80 people per session, and attendance is free. If there is enough interest, more classes will be scheduled in the future. To register go to http://whoozin.com/GER-79DYTPR. For more information, contact Sgt. Russ Norris, Concord PD, (925) 671-3075.

COMING SOON

Shannon Hills – Stunning Tri-level 5BD/3BA home with 2,153 sqft. 1 BD/1BA on lower level. Neutral paint throughout. Vaulted ceilings. Sliders off Dining & Family room leads to private rear yard which backs to open space.

Clayton

PG&E will be working to replace 3,548 feet of a 4” gas main in north Concord on Laura Alice Way between Arnold Industrial Way and Mark Court. Laura Alice Way turns into Nelson Avenue along this stretch of roadway.

The work will take place beginning Tuesday, April 21 and will last approximately one month.

Detour signage will be posted to guide drivers around the work area. For more information, contact PG&E at 1800-743-5000 or City Inspector Jess Hernandez, (925) 671-3271.

$639,000

Portofino Estates – Stunning 4BD/2.5BA 2,745 sqft single story home on 14,100 sqft lot. Gourmet Chef Kitchen with granite counters, Tile floors, built in appliances and a pantry. Master Bathroom has tile floors, Granite Counters, Granite tile shower stall, sunken tub. Too much to list.

Concord Holbrook Heights – 3BD/2BA 1,557 sq.ft ranch style home on 6,300 sq.ft lot. Great home with fresh interior paint and new carpeting. Brick two way fireplace with working Fire pit in Family Room. Large rear private yard. Located near Willow Pass Community Park.

Clayton

$1,225,000

Morgan Territory – 4BD/3.5BA 3,689 sq.ft.

Custom Showcase Home. This spectacular home has a Chef's Dream Gourmet kitchen with cherrywood cabinets, granite/quartz counters, wolfe range.

Porcelain floors throughout main level. Panoramic Views of Mt Diablo and surrounding hills 5 Car Garage, Wine Cellar.

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Page 4

Concord Pioneer • www.concordpioneer.com

April 24, 2015

Rep. DeSaulnier talks education, drought at first Concord Town Hall GEORGE FULMORE Correspondent

An overflow crowd greeted newly elected U.S. Congressman Mark DeSaulnier on April 6, as he marked his first 100 days in office with a Town Hall meeting in the Concord City Council Chambers.

As a freshman Congressman, he has been assigned to two House Committees. One is the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, which he noted would be requested very seldom by a

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freshman. The other is the House Education and the Workforce Committee, which was formerly chaired by his predecessor, George Miller.

In his presentation, he gave information on the federal budget, the growing federal debt, and many other issues that face the current Congress, including the Keystone XL Pipeline, the Trans-Pacific Trade Partnership Agreement, and the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. He was frank about the likelihood of him, personally, accomplishing much right away. “At my job in the State Senate,” he said, “I was one of 40, and I was in the majority.

Now, in Washington, I am one of 435, and I am in the minority.”

But he said he approaches his new job the same way he has done in other elected positions: His primary focus is on helping constituents.

“People need help,” he said.

“So we help them in every way we can. And we are proud of what we can do for those that we can help.”

As for the public’s approval of Congress, he said that he had heard that it was up to 10 percent, joking that it was stuck at 8 percent before he got there.

Following the presentation, he spent about an hour answering questions.

One was whether he thought that Congress would be willing to help California solve its problems around its lack of water, for example, to fund building pipelines for water transfer or for new desalinization plants.

“One thing you learn quickly in Washington,” he said, “is that most of the people from the other states are not like the people from California.” In other words, he saw little chance of the rest of the country wanting to come to the rescue of California

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Congressman Mark DeSaulnier talks with a constituent at the Congressman’s first Town Hall meeting in Concord on April 6.

anytime soon.

Other questions were on a wide variety of subjects: human trafficking, affordable housing, the chained CPI index for Social Security, student loans, and the agreement to end sanctions against Iran.

“Education,” was his answer to a question about the best way to reduce wage and wealth inequality in our nation.

“We need to educate kids to be successful in a knowledgebased economy,” he said. “We need to spend more money.

We need to encourage and retain the best and the brightest to be teachers, the way they do in many European countries.”

At the conclusion of the event, DeSaulnier promised to conduct more Town Hall meetings during his tenure in Congress.

April 24, 2015

Concord Pioneer • www.concordpioneer.com

Water, from page 1 New Water Use Prohibitions • Watering of outdoor landscapes more than two days per week • Outdoor watering between 9 a.m. & 5 p.m.

• Hosing down sidewalks and driveways • Watering outdoor landscapes in a manner that causes excess runoff • Irrigating turf or ornamental landscapes within 48 hours of rainfall • Washing a motor vehicle with a hose, unless fitted with a shut-off nozzle • Operating a fountain or decorative water feature, unless using a recirculation system. The district strongly suggests turning off all fountains.

• Restaurants and food service establishments can only serve water to customers upon request • Hotels and motels must provide guests with the option of choosing not to have towels and linens laundered daily • Watering of ornamental turf on public street medians • Watering of landscapes at newly constructed homes and buildings that are not delivered by drip or microspray systems

they would not see an increase even with the temporary rate adjustment.

The frugal family of four who has managed to keep its use to 200 gpd or less would be exempt from the rate adjustment. They are, however, still subject to the prohibitions.

Keeping to 200 gpd might seem like a Herculean task for families with children or more than four people living in a house. However, those residents with special circumstances can appeal to the district.

Additionally, customers must cut down yard watering to twice a week. Those who exceed that will be given one warning, then fined $250. A third offense will cost them $500 and could mean water service cutoff.

Allen says that enforcement of the prohibitions will be done either by staff observations or reports coming in to the district from the community. “The district staff has been following up directly on all calls of water waste,” she says. This year, we will have additional staff to monitor water use in the community and enforce the prohibitions.”

The restrictions were voted on unanimously by the water district at its April 15 meeting, responding to the Governor’s order announced on April 1 mandating a 25 percent reduction in water use statewide; this statewide mandate on water conservation is a first in California.

The new adjustments will go into effect in June. The district will hold a public hearing on June 3 to consider the price adjustments and fines for violations, but are emphasizing that the rates are temporary. However, the adjustments may be delayed if a majority of the district’s residents file protests against the increase.

As proposed, the temporary pricing adjustment would only apply to households using more than 200 gallons per day and would end once the emergency order is lifted.

RECYCLED WATER There are some opportunities for residents who need to water landscapes more than twice a week. The Central Contra Costa Sanitary District is offering free recycled water to its residential customers.

Eligible communities include Alamo, Blackhawk, Clayton, Concord, Clyde, Danville, Lafayette, Martinez, Moraga, Orinda, Pacheco, Pleasant Hill, San Ramon, Walnut Creek, and other unincorporated areas in the county within the CCCSD service area.

The recycled water can be used to hand-water lawns, gardens and landscaping to help save drinking water supplies.

However, it is not safe for drinking, and should not be allowed to run off into stormdrains.

The fill station is located at the Household Hazardous Waste Collection Facility, 4797 Imhoff Place, in Martinez. It is open Monday through Saturday,

Page 5

CONTRA COSTA WATER DISTRICT Single Family Residential Treated Water Monthly Impacts by Daily Consumption Levels Current Consumption Level Gallons per Day

Current Cost

Proposed Cost

$ Increase

a

$46.39

$46.39

$0.00

150

200 350

1200

c

MDHS in DC, from page 1 The MDHS students believe better nutrition, education and exercise are the keys to living healthier lives and want their curriculum and methodology to become a model program that supports the best of health and nutrition policies in the United States. According to student Celeste Rios, “We are advocating for modernizing home economics with curriculum based on sound nutritional science and disease prevention.”

Hoffmeister said that the Mt. Diablo High School students demonstrate how to change the food system through learning and teaching others—both children and adults. “We can all learn from the MDHS students and how they are overcoming the challenges of unhealthy eating. I was proud to accompany these students that I represent to the nation’s capitol, and support them while they presented practical solutions to their

elected leaders and government representatives.”

The students presented “Pathways to Healthy Living” to their peers at Ballou High School, which will now serve as a “sister” high school. The student-designed curriculum was offered to help jump-start Ballou’s new culinary program, with the intent of changing lives through better diet, health and educational outcomes.

The MDHS students have developed interactive activities for their peers, including a theatrical production called “Eat and Learn” that includes Sugar Smart Training: The 6 Essential Nutrients, Safety and Sanitation and Sugar Smart & Label Reading. Their creative teaching methods have been applied successfully with 200 elementary school-age students and 300 high school freshmen.

The MDHS students also presented their curriculum to the USDA and lobbied for a

Heald, from page 1 students at each of its 12 California campuses, 947 misrepresentations in total.

The fine is the latest blow in the 152-year-old school’s steep descent which began in 2013 when California State Attorney General Kamala Harris sued Corinthian Colleges claiming “false and predatory advertising, intentional misrepresentations to students, securities fraud and unlawful use of military seals in advertisements.”

The complaint says the forprofit chain intentionally targeted the low-income and vulnerable—many of them foreign students and single mothers—saddling them with burdensome high-interest student loans for expensive degrees that are worthless if they can’t get a job after graduation.

Last June, the USDE suspended Corinthian’s access to federal student aid and the company began selling off its Heald, Everest and Wyotech campuses outside California.

A sale of the California Heald campuses is unlikely unless Harris releases any buyer from liability for Corinthian’s past actions.

Last week, Heald College went on the offensive. In a statement issued to the press, college spokesman Joe Hixon, called Harris’ actions “unreasonable” and accused the Attorney General of “thwarting a possible sale that would enable the college to continue operating…”

Kristin Ford, a spokeswoman for the attorney general’s office, said in a statement, “Our litigation with Corinthian is ongoing but our approval is not required for the sale of the college. We will continue to act aggressively to pursue relief and restitution for students at Heald and other Corinthian Colleges Inc. campuses.”

The clock is ticking for the 10 California campuses, including Concord. If Heald fails to find a buyer in the next few weeks, the campuses will be

forced to close, leaving some 9,000 students in limbo. Hixon declined to release enrollment numbers for the Concord campus. “Unfortunately we don't disclose student numbers by campus…,” said the Heald spokesman. “I can tell you that we have 8,750 students total split roughly 60 percent in the Sacramento region, 40 percent in the Bay area…The Concord campus employs 115.”

Pressure is mounting for some form of debt relief for Heald students to have their federal student loans cancelled if the schools close. But, there has not yet been a decision on the matter.

“The end of Heald College is a tragedy for the Bay Area,” former Heald president Larry Barton wrote in SF Gate last June. “It is a tale of how forprofit, sales-driven leaders allegedly sold degrees that had empty promises behind them. It is a story littered with student complaints that went unanswered. Accountability was required, but too many people ignored the warning signs.”

Gallons per Day

Proposed Cost

a

$67.61

$74.63

$7.02

262

$215.56

$239.62

$24.06

900

d

$39.31

b

$ Change ($7.07)

$60.41

($7.20)

$163.48

($52.08) Source: Contra Costa Water District

a) Customers using 200 gpd or less are not subject to the temporary pricing adjustment b) Represents cost change if consumption reduced by 25% c) Cost includes excess use charge over 1,000 gpd d) Greater reduction as 900 gpd would not be subject to excess use charge

9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Prior to using the fill station for the first time, residents must complete a Residential Recycled Water Use Application/Agreement, which is located on the district’s website (www.centralsan.org), bring it to the HHWCF, and receive training on the proper use of recycled water. Blank agreements are also available at the HHWCF, but

residents are encouraged to complete the form before their visit, if possible.

Residents must bring their own containers, which must have water-tight lids and be secured for safe transport. The minimum container size is one gallon. The maximum fill per trip is 300 gallons. There is no limit on the number of trips.

District officials warn that

The time is NOW

the water is heavy —10 gallons weigh more than 80 pounds; 100 gallons weigh more than 800 pounds. When driving vehicles with such heavy loads, be sure to allow for additional stopping distance.

For more information about the residential recycled water fill station, email residential@centralsan.org or call 1-800-646-1431.

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Pete Laurence new type of “21st Century Home Economics” that will enable young people to benefit from current nutrition science and research, learn the facts of healthy eating, and incorporate preventative health into their lives.

The high point of the trip, according to Alvarado— besides the presentations to dignitaries—was a visit to the Capitol and the Lincoln memorial.

“The energy in that building is amazing,” she said.

Regarding the goal of the trip, Alvarado was very philosophical. “Our movement is just beginning, but it’s a start…We didn’t realize how powerful our voices are until this trip.”

She said that was true either working with Ballou students or U.S. dignitaries. “As far as Ballou is concerned, they know they can do anything they want,” she says. “Their school is low-income like ours. And yet there we were in Washington D.C. We met with the assistant to a senator, we went to the Capitol, people paid attention to what we said.”

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Concord Pioneer • www.concordpioneer.com

April 24, 2015

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The embattled Clayton Valley Charter High School governing board is once again recruiting applicants for a vacant trustee’s seat after community memberat-large Jim Killoran tendered his resignation the same day Contra Costa District Attorney’s office published a letter that put to rest the office’s investigation of the school.

The DA’s office stated that after its investigation into a number of charges brought against CVCHS executive director Dave Linzey and the school’s governing board by individuals and the Stakeholders for Transparency group, the DA “found insufficient evidence of criminal wrongdoing to warrant criminal prosecution or additional investigation” and considered the matter closed.

The DA investigation stemmed from information and materials supplied to the county by former school administrator Pat Middendorf, school parent Shannon Brandt and former CVCHS teacher Jennifer Ferrari, along with the stakeholders

group. They claimed the information demonstrated the school board and administration had violated the Brown Act and conflict of interest laws, mismanaged funds, failed to follow policies and mishandled a sexual harassment complaint made against a campus supervisor.

Senior deputy district attorney Steven Moawad sent a ruling letter to them that stated many of the complaints don’t fall under the purview of the DA’s office. He referred to the Contra Costa County Office of Education’s ongoing investigation of similar complaints about the charter school as the appropriate agency to look into such matters.

No timetable has been set for the conclusion of the CCCOE investigation into CVCHS that began in February, spokesman Terry Koehne told the Pioneer.

Not surprisingly, Linzey and board president Ted Meriam were pleased with the ruling.

“We’re relieved but not surprised by [the] findings,” Linzey said.

“Our governing board and school administration never took these allegations lightly.”

“The process of converting

our school to a charter was long and hard,” Meriam said. “It was an investment made by many stakeholders. However, as we have seen over the past several months, a handful of people who were part of that conversion have forgotten who the charter is there to serve. The primary focus of our school is the success of the students.”

On their Facebook page, Stakeholders for Transparency said, “SFT appreciates the District Attorney’s office review of our ongoing concerns regarding CVCHS. We know that finding evidence which results in criminal charges for Brown Act … and sexual harassment claims have a very high standard (‘beyond a reasonable doubt’).

As well, the DA specifically notes it is not their role to opine on ‘best practices, fraud audits, issues of transparency, good governance or the propriety of internal controls.’”

BOARD SEEKS NEW MEMBER Killoran was elected to the board in December and took office in January. He said his resignation “is due to philosophical disagreement with board mem-

bers regarding our fiduciary duty.”

Echoing public comments he made at the February board meeting, Killoran recommends “the governing board structure be changed so it’s only comprised of non-employee directors — this will help reduce tension at our school and significantly reduce financial and legal risk.”

Currently, four of nine members of the board are school employees (administrator, two teachers and classified staff). This means all personnel and staff matters are decided by the five remaining board members not employed by the school and who report to the executive director. “At all cost, we need to avoid cronyism and conflicts of interest, both of which have plagued our school from the beginning.”

At its recent April meeting the board voted to open applications (available until April 30 at the school or its website, www.claytonvalley.org) for the second community-at-large slot.

The next CVCHS governing board meeting will be held on Wednesday, May 13.

Residents weigh in on bicycle and pedestrian issues at April 8 workshop

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More than 50 Concord residents gave input on what would make the city’s streets safer for bicycles and pedestrians at an April 8 workshop.

Residents asked questions and shared ideas with representatives from the city, BART, the county Health Department and Bike Concord. In addition, those in attendance could use a map to highlight pedestrian and cyclist routes that they would like to see made safer or more accessible.

Alta Planning & Design, the firm the city hired to create a master plan, gave a short presentation of the process for developing the citywide plan. The first step is to gather community input from this meeting as well as from hundreds of surveys residents filled out on paper or online.

Alta will compile the residents’ input, along with data on pedestrian- and cyclist-involved collisions, to develop a plan to improve access and safety for walkers and cyclists throughout the city. The plan may then also be used to apply for grant money needed to pay for the

improvements.

Residents will have an opportunity to give feedback on this plan at another open house in July. A 2013 Safe Routes to Transit grant funds this study.

BART senior planner Sarah Graham offered a brief overview of plans for the Concord BART station. Construction begins in 2015 on a pedestrian plaza and improved walkways. The plaza connects to the central business district and Todos Santos Park, as well as a bike station with parking for 126 bikes. The project has been funded and the city has approved the plans.

BART is also working on a Modernization Plan for the Concord Station and is seeking input from Concord residents on improvements for the station.

Residents who wish to comment can fill out an online survey at www.surveymonkey.com/s/Y2X 5PKL. “We need a comprehensive plan for the city and a list of priorities,” said City Councilman Edi Birsan. “Some things we may be able to improve easily by adding paint or signage, fixing sidewalks. In other areas, we may find it’s best to add bike paths or a bridge. We need to connect our

current bike paths.

“With the Naval Weapons Station Development, we will be able to start from scratch with a good design for pedestrians and bicycles,” Birsan added. “But with the rest of the city, we have to go back and make improvements to make access better.”

Concord resident Dave Kamlin highlighted many routes on the bicycle map. “It may be years before we see safe bike lanes on some of the major thoroughfares, so in the short term, I’d like to see a system of bike boulevards like they have in Berkeley,” Kamlin said. “These are alternate routes near the main thoroughfares with special signage and indicators of miles to the major destinations within the city.”

Many Bike Concord members attended the meeting, asking questions of Alta and city representatives. Kenji Yamada with Bike Concord was encouraged that the city and BART are asking for community input. “Our goal is for anyone in Concord to be able to go by bicycle safely and conveniently to anywhere in Concord.”

Corie Reilly from the Health Department was available to answer questions about another

pending project, the Detroit Avenue Complete Streets Project. Funded by One Bay Area Grant funds (federal highway money) and Measure J, the project will include bike lanes, curbing and connecting all the sidewalks to make Detroit Avenue a safer route for pedestrians and bicyclists. The original study for that project was a joint effort between Contra Costa Health Services, First 5 Contra Costa, Monument Impact, and Healthy and Active Before 5 - all partners funded through the Kaiser Permanente HEAL Zone Grant.

Meanwhile, the Concord Planning Division is overseeing the Master Plan for Concord’s Safe Routes to Transit. “We had a very well-attended planning workshop with a number of enthusiastic residents,” principal planner Andrew Mogensen said of the April 8 meeting. “We garnered valuable feedback and consider the event to be a success. It has been great to be able to coordinate our efforts with planning staff from BART on the Concord Station Modernization Project as well.”

For information about the July workshop and other details, visit www.cityofconcord.org/bikeandped.

April 24, 2015

Concord Pioneer • www.concordpioneer.com

Council whittles down CNWS developers

Page 7

Directory of Advertisers Beauty and Pampering

PEGGY SPEAR Concord Pioneer

When the dust cleared with hundreds — if not thousands— of documents reviewed, the Concord City Council, acting as the Local Reuse Authority, last week gave a unanimous thumbsup to two Master Developer candidates for the Concord Naval Weapons Station.

Catellus Development Corp. and Lennar Urban will go on in the massive land development sweepstakes, beating out SunCal Corp. for the chance to develop the property.

“The top two candidates had a broader level of experience and scope, specifically in the

depth of their design teams and a sense of a transit-oriented, mixed use development,” Reuse Director Michael Wright told the council.

His recommendation was based on a review by a team of city officials and consultants to the project. The team consisted of City Attorney Mark Coon, Deputy City Manager Jovan Grogan, Community Economic Development Director Victoria Walker, Finance Director Karen Reid, Economic Development Manager John Montagh and Parks Manager Steve Voorheis, all representing the City of Concord. In addition, the reviewers included Val Menotti, the chief planning and development

Letters to the Editor More BART parking A March Concord Pioneer article describing plans for Concord BART redesign caught my attention. Most noteworthy were the comments made by a very active bicycle lobbyist, Adam Foster, who suggested the BART parking structure should be torn down and replaced with shops. Mr. Foster went on to say “We are reserving some of the most valuable land in the city for parked cars.”

With all due respect, I disagree. Concord is not San Francisco. In a suburban city like ours, with a large number of single family homes, over 80

percent of the population is not within walking or even easy biking distance of the BART stations. Reducing public parking at BART or in the downtown area would be a huge disservice to the majority of the population, especially young families with children who need their cars to safely get around town.

Concord has the motto: “Where families come first.”

This wonderful motto differentiates Concord from other cities where public parks are few, parking meters are many, and young families feel unwelcomed.

Mike McDermott Concord

officer for BART, Special Council to the Local Reuse Authority Craig Labadie, and Paul Silvern of HR&A Advisors Inc, the real estate advisor to the LRA. The team’s review followed hours of presentations by the three Master Developer candidates, including two special council sessions in February and a day-long session on Saturday, March 14.

Wright said that there were three main areas that stood out when the team vetted the candidates: The Project Development Team each had in place, the concept for the development of the first phase, and the financial reports from each of the developer candidates.

In a summary report presented to the council, the review team gave Catellus and Lennar similar scores for their project development teams in that they have worked on projects “of a comparable scope, scale and quality.” Catellus has worked on the Mission Bay Development in San Francisco as well as Alameda Landing in Alameda.

Lennar has worked on the redevelopment of the Hunters Point Shipyard in San Francisco, a Marine Corps Air Station in El Toro, CA, as well as a 653-acre mixed-use redevelopment project on Mare Island in Vallejo.

“In contrast, although SunCal is a very capable master plan developer, its experience with military bases reuse was less strong and not all of its projects highlighted in its proposal were of a comparable scale or caliber,” the evaluation team’s report stated.

The evaluation team also found that in the area of a concept for Phase One development, of the three proposals, “The Catellus concept is strongly transit-oriented, including the most transit-supported density around the BART station and nearby development and open space…”

The SunCal concept received lower scores in this area because it appeared to focus less on transit-oriented development around the BART station, “with development patterns and open space that do not take advantage of the proximity to BART.” The financial reports of the three candidates also played an important role in the selection of Lennar and Catellus over Sun Cal, as the latter relied more heavily on equity partners than the other two. Catellus’ proposal included all equity to come from its own internal resources, and Lennar will be the only, or a majority, investor.

Vice Mayor Laura Hoffmeister said this was a plus because the city would like to know who they are working with, rather than some unnamed-as-yet investors.

Councilman Ron Leone went as far as to mention that in talking with other city leaders where SunCal had done projects, including Alameda and Dublin, they were unhappy with the quality of work of the developer.

Now the final two candidates will be vetted further by the city, with hopes for a final selection to be made sometime this summer.

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On the cusp of Cyber Slavery Sitting in the conference on the Autonomous and Connected Vehicle testing facility coming to Concord, my dad’s words came flooding back to me.

Coming from a very mixed (some would say mixed-up) family of different religions and somewhat different degrees of irreverence, I would often be lectured during popular religious holidays on various aspects that Dear Ole’ Dad wanted to expound upon. One Passover when he was explaining the Seder meal and its story of going from slavery to freedom for the Jews he shied off on a tangent and said that one of the important things to remember is that while being forced into slavery was no sin, that wanting to be a slave was.

In American history we started with slavery and abolished it for good in 1865. We also made it illegal to willingly become a slave,

EDI BIRSAN GUEST EDITORIAL though that is often overlooked.

Your inalienable rights were also apparently not self-alienable, or at least some may have thought that.

Dear Ole’ Dad stressed that the study of people in economic distress showed that they would succumb to the equivalent of slavery and for that reason he was a strong believer in protecting workers, minimum wage, union rights and building a social/eco-

nomic network so that the horrors he felt and saw during the Great Depression would not be repeated.

We are on the crest of a cultural sea change that has his words echoing in my memory.

We are being lulled into cyber slavery by the lure of “free” apps and “free” services bought at the expense of surrendering our data souls. Google and Facebook track our clicks there, while the NSA seems to be able to track everything. Our smart phones have been co-opted by cyber overseers and soon so shall our cars.

As was explained in the conference we might be soon able to use automated cars, with and without advertisement, that would do everything for us — including tracking our weight and vital health signs. All we have to do is to surrender our data of where we go, how often and with

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whom, etc., to get some economic or vaguely appeasing benefit.

Talking to the grandkids and asking if they are bothered by someone having all our records gets a shrug, like it’s no big deal.

Since when did the words from the Constitution about “unreasonable search” suddenly mean that it was okay to be virtually cyber-enslaved, devoid of inalienable self-generated data?

We as a society have to take a look at how, not only to protect privacy, but also how to make sure that we do not surrender into the cyber-slavery trap. Just as we cannot sell ourselves into real slavery we must be on guard to make sure that we are not lured into sinful disregard of our virtual profiled selves. Now to figure out how.

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Send comments to EdiBirsan@astound.net, or visit www.PulseOfConcord.com.

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First challenger emerges for ’16 council

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PEGGY SPEAR Concord Pioneer

It may seem like residents have just thrown away the last of the 2014 Concord City Council election flyers, but already one resident is gearing up for the 2016 race.

Casilda “Cassie” Gonzales is the first to throw her hat into the ring in an election that will have two seats up for grabs — those held by Councilmen Dan Helix and Edi Birsan.

Gonzales, who describes herself as a “community activist, cancer survivor, mom/grandma,” says she wants to serve the community, especially its Latino residents.

“I remember having a passion for community service as far back as when I was 9-years old,” she says. “I’m now close

to retirement. I have more time to devote to my community. I want to be a voice for Latinos and others who want my help in Concord. That is why I want to run for the Concord City Council. I have a passion to serve.”

Born in Albuquerque, New Mexico, with parents of Mexican descent, Gonzales has lived in Concord most of her life.

She has raised her three kids in Concord, and along the way, became a registered nurse. She now works at John Muir Hospital in Concord, as a Home Health/Public Health Nurse.

The political newcomer admits that although she knows the city of Concord well, her experience with civic government is limited. She was formerly active in the PTA at Wren Avenue School and at Queen of All Saints

Church. She volunteered for years for Child Assault Prevention and the Rape Crisis Center in Concord, and she has volunteered at the annual Carnival of Health at Meadow Homes Park. She has recently applied to serve on the Measure Q Oversight Committee.

“If and when serious inci-

dents occur that involve Latinos in Concord, I want to be there,” she says. “I feel that I have a calling for this purpose. I feel that the Latino community needs a spokesperson who will be there, and who can represent its needs.”

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Concord Pioneer • www.concordpioneer.com

April 24, 2015

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SUPERVISOR This week, I had the pleasure of visiting the George Miller Head Start Center in Concord to celebrate with them in the Week of the Young Child activities.

This year, tens of thousands of children participated in the National Association for the Education of Young Children’s

(NAEYC) Week of the Young Child™ (April 12-18, 2015) events across the country.

NAEYC, the world’s largest early childhood education association, sponsors this annual celebration to raise awareness about the importance of quality

early education. New for 2015, NAEYC has created a theme for each day of the week allowing children and adults to celebrate, create unique events and share the importance of early learning. Here in Contra Costa’s Community Services Head Start

and Early Head Start program, those events include visits from local legislators, a free Reading is Fundamental Book Giveaway for all children and various cultural events celebrating families together.

Contra Costa County Head Start has been serving children and families in Contra Costa County for 50 years. Community Services provides federal and state funded early care and education and comprehensive services to 2200 children and families county-wide through 15 directly operated centers, a home visiting program and several childcare partnerships.

Visiting with these very attentive teachers and happy and engaged early learners is proof of what an exceptional program they

See Mitchoff, page 9

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With the implementation of common core, many schools are focused on the new tests and rigorous standards, and instruction

artists, visual art forms and create using a range of different media and techniques. This year Meadow Homes Elementary is one of just 10 Turnaround Arts Schools in the state. Turnaround Arts is a public/private partnership that works to improve student achievement, increase student engagement and enhance the culture of a school. This grant has allowed Meadow Homes students to receive visual arts, music, dance and drama instruction at school and to experience the arts integrated into their regular classroom curriculum.

See Meyer, page 9

GUY SWANGER

POLICE CHIEF on Clayton Road at Detroit Avenue, where a middle school boy was killed. You only have to look into the eyes of surviving family members of the traffic accident victim to see the pain and horror.

I sit on the State Highway Safety Planning Steering Committee as a representative for the California Chiefs of Police Association. In the past four years on this committee, I have

started to see more clearly the patterns and causes of the fatal and serious injury collisions: Driving under the influence, leaving the roadway, speeding and violating red lights/stop signs. But the one cause still eluding us is distracted driving.

It is difficult for collision investigators to pinpoint distracted driving as the main cause of the collision.

I was at an intersection this morning, stopped at a red light.

I looked around me and saw no less than three people holding their phones, either talking or texting or reading an email. I know they felt they were being safe by looking at it while they are at a stop. The problem is, the phone does not generally go down on the seat when the cars begin moving. And by the way, you can still receive a ticket for being stopped at a light and using your phone in your hand.

The next time you feel you have to answer a text or email while you are driving, think about the split second something changes in front of you that causes you to suddenly stop. There was an incredible YouTube video of a movie theater where a car is speeding on the screen. Somehow, all of the cell phones in the theater received a text. As everybody was looking at the text, the car crashed into a tree. The message was, divert your eyes even so slightly and this happens.

I hope all of you noticed that I did not use the term accident.

One of my collision investigators reminded me the other day that there are no accidents when a car collides with another object. Be safe.

Guy Swanger is Concord’s Chief of Police. Send questions or comments to ContactCPD@cityofconcord.org.

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ticipate in vocal music each week with a credentialed music teacher. The children learn how to sing, dance and perform with music. Fifth graders have the opportunity to participate in the instrumental music program.

This voluntary program provides instrumental lessons twice a week where the children acquire the skills to read and play notes and rhythms.

Through this program, many of our fifth graders are learning how to play musical instruments and perform in a band or orchestra setting.

Many of our elementary schools have visual arts programs. The children learn about

There are no ‘accidents’ in car collisions There was recently an article in one of the local newspapers about the amount of distracted driving tickets issued in California. The numbers are apparently much lower than in the past.

Experts are attempting to figure out the reason.

I was never a big ticket writer. It was not that I did not consider it important. I guess the reason was the area I was originally assigned was a lower income neighborhood that had much deeper crime and disorder problems.

But my perspective changed when I arrived in Concord.

Traffic collisions are a serious priority here. Fatal and serious injury collisions have stayed constant here. I was at the scene of a horrific two car collision on Concord Avenue and Ayers Road recently. An elderly man lost his life in that one. This followed a fatal pedestrian collision

It could be a virus, or it could just need a tune-up.

in the visual and performing arts can easily take a back seat. I do not want that to be the case in Mt. Diablo Unified School District. The Arts should be an integral part of our district’s academic program. We want our students to be highly skilled and literate. We want them to be strong in mathematics, science and the social sciences. We want them to be physically fit and healthy. We also appreciate the ability of the arts to enhance their lives.

All of our students must have the opportunity to experience the beauty of color, sound, movement and creativity. At the elementary level, students par-

CARLYN OBRINGER

PLANNING COMMISSION Concord residents are invited to come stroll around Todos Santos Plaza, Salvio Pacheco Square, and downtown Concord

while enjoying fine wines, craft beers, and appetizers, viewing beautiful art for sale and meeting local artists at the Concord Art and Wine (and Beer!) Walk.

This event is organized by the Concord Branch of the American Association of University Women (AAUW) and will be held from 1 to 4 p.m. on Saturday, May 9. Family-friendly music will be provided by Mt. Diablo Unified School District student music groups on the Todos Santos Stage, by live bands performing on the patio of Vinnie’s Bar and Grill, and by acoustic musicians strolling throughout the participating

Walk businesses and restaurants.

According to President Michelle Koski, the idea for the AAUW-Concord Art and Wine (and Beer!) Walk crystallized in 2013 when AAUW-Concord Branch was seeking a signature fundraising event to host to raise money for the Branch’s scholarship fund.

“We realized that Concord was one of the few cities in Contra Costa County that did not host an annual Art and Wine Walk, and thought it would be great to showcase all that downtown Concord has to offer, our city’s vibrant craft beer and arts scenes, and region-

al wineries, while raising money for a good cause,” she said.

When asked who will benefit from this event, Koski mentioned the local women and girls whose scholarships are funded by the Walk proceeds, as well as downtown Concord businesses, and the Concord arts community.

“In addition to raising money to send local seventh grade girls to a summer camp called ‘Tech Trek’ to keep their interest in science, technology, engineering, and math, the Walk helps to provide scholarships to

See Obringer, page 9

April 24, 2015

Concord Pioneer • www.concordpioneer.com

Earthy, beautiful poems mark ‘In This Hour’ CYNTHIA GREGORY

FOR

THE

BOOKS

April is National Poetry Month, so it seems only right and just that we feature a freshly minted poetry collection for our book review.

“In This Hour” (Green Tara Press; January 2, 2015) is a collection by Southern California poet and author Sandra Giedeman. As a long time fan of Giedeman’s prose, I am thrilled by this beautiful book and enchanted to adventure where this writer’s startling language takes me. There is an earthy narrative here that escorts the reader through passages in the Ozarks, Mississippi, San Clemente and Zaca Lake.

Allen Ginsberg said, “Poetry is the one place where people can speak their original human mind. It is the outlet

for people to say in public what is known in private.”

“In This Hour” does this and more. There is power in naming things, and Giedeman’s lush prose reads like roadmap of every midnight run between Barstow and Wabash. There are late nights in this collection, and regrets, and also the quality of light.

There are dark horses, desert angels, and blackbirds. Giedeman’s language is tender and unpretentious as she dances the reader across the page, sketching out what summer means in Southern Illinois, examining the shimmer and dust of Furnace Creek or listening for the sound of night in the Hollywood Hills.

This isn’t sentimental poetry; this isn’t about pretty on the page. These are poems with grit and rough edges. I think what I like best about Giedeman’s poetry is her voice. It’s as if I hear her speaking to me, reminding me of time without time, invoking truth, vowel by vowel

Mitchoff, from page 8 have. Though they are able to serve so many children, we still have 6000 children on the wait list county-wide, which shows that the need for subsidized care still outweighs the supply.

Having previously served on the First 5 Contra Costa Children and Families Commission, I am very familiar with the research that shows us that children who attend high quality early care and education programs are better prepared for Kindergarten, have stronger language skills, and are less likely to repeat a grade or drop out of school. High quality care and education offers one of the highest returns of any

public investment- more than $7 for every dollar spent- by reducing future expenditures on special education, public assistance, and the criminal justice system.

Brain development research states that the most formative years are from birth to five years of age.

This year also happens to be the 50th Anniversary of the Head Start Program. Head Start is one of the most rigorously measured social programs in the history of the country, and it continues to yield outstanding outcomes for children, families and the community at large.

Head Start is not just about child

Meyer, from page 8 At the secondary level, students have the opportunity to expand and enhance their artistic skills acquired earlier in their school careers or find new forms of expression. At the middle school level, students may choose courses in visual art, vocal or instrumental music or drama.

Our high schools offer an array of courses that vary from

school to school but that may include everything from AP Studio Art to Film Study, Photography, Jazz Band or Stagecraft. Our students have the opportunity to find a new artistic outlet and learn the intricacies of that craft.

We are very proud of our students and their talents. However, it is through the diligent support of parent and community groups that our art programs

Obringer, from page 8 local women who have completed their AA degree and who have been accepted to a fouryear university. At the same time, by organizing the Walk, we aim to promote downtown Concord as a destination,” she said. “We hope that Walk attendees will come back and patronize participating Walk restaurants and businesses again in the future.”

In fact, local Concord businesses like La Sen Bistro are looking forward to the Walk since past participation has generated new business. “We received a lot of repeat customers after they discovered us when we participated in the 2014 Walk,” said chef and coowner, Hai Tat Nguyen.

The Walk will feature seven wineries and four breweries, and include 15 businesses/restaurants where appetizers, artwork for sale, beer and/or wine will be available. A complete list of participating breweries, businesses, and wineries is available

at http://concord-ca.aauw.net.

Sponsors include the Clayton/Concord Pioneer, Diablo Valley — Defying Expectations, Dolan’s Lumber and Windows, PG&E, Sunvalley Mall, Supervisor Karen Mitchoff, Susan Bonilla for State Senate, and Wave.

The Walk starting point will be located at the corner of Salvio Street and Grant Street, outside of E.J. Phair Brewing Company-Concord Alehouse.

For more information, contact carlyno@yahoo.com or 925324-9595. Tickets are $22 through noon on May 8 at h t t p : / / c o n c o r d ca.aauw.net/activities/programs/purchase-here, $25 at the door.

Carlyn Obringer chairs the City of Concord Planning Commission.

Professionally, she focuses on California education issues as an Education Policy Analyst. Carlyn resides in Concord with her husband, Justin, and dog Crystal. Contact her at carlyno@yahoo.com.

Santa Barbara A carp breaks the lake’s surface the sound of crickets his chorus.

A great horned owl glides above an old man who fills mason jars with what he calls scared mud of the healing lake.

In the lobby of faded sun, I pass row after row of pinned butterflies under glass Anise Swallowtail Mournful Duskywing Cabbage White Memento Mori of this old hotel, long-gone guests days of green and summer’s Sulphurous heat bursting cocoons.

Fragile speckled wings that someone felt the need to pin down.

You’re awake as a child until they teach you the names of things.

–Sandra Giedeman “In This Hour” is an homage to the last hour of the light before sunset, a time of magic and secrets. It contains honest prose, the sound of truth; these are poems you will want to hold in your mouth like hard candy. But don’t take my

word for it. Dive into this book and let it transport you.

Cynthia Gregory is a North Bay nonprofit leader, writer of short fiction, and author of a blog. Email comments and questions to Editor@ConcordPioneer.com

care and early education either.

It provides early, continuous, intensive and comprehensive child development and family support services on a year-round basis. The purpose of the program is to enhance children’s physical, social, emotional, and intellectual development; to support parents’ efforts to fulfill their parental roles; and to help parents move toward self-sufficiency. Community Services Bureau provides a broad range of additional services to low income children and families through their partnerships with other agencies. They assist in connecting families to resources that include health services, dental care, nutrition programs, mental health services, developmental interventions, employment and

Karen Mitchoff is Contra Costa County District IV supervisor.

Email questions or comments to karen.mitchoff@bos.cccounty.us

thrive. The Mt. Diablo Music Education Foundation has provided grants to purchase new and refurbish old musical instruments. The Booster Clubs provide grants for new music and materials, and assist in securing transportation to festivals, concerts and performances. Additionally, parents work tirelessly to make such performances enjoyable for the participants and audiences. Many of our middle and elementary Parent Faculty Clubs provide funding to purchase equipment and supplies for class projects and also contribute to fund after-school arts enrichment programs.

Another great partnership we have is with the Bedford Gallery. They are providing a new docent-led visual arts pilot program at five of our elementary schools. Next year, the Assistance League of the Diablo Valley will also support a new visual arts program at two additional elementary schools.

Everyone should be grateful to the parent and community groups that share our district’s commitment to educating the

whole child by supporting the arts programs in our schools.

The visual and performing arts programs for our kids would not exist without dedicated teachers and staff. These educators model their passion for the arts and guide them as they discover the excitement and beauty inherent in timeless works of art. MDUSD is fortunate as we have accomplished artists who share their talents and enthusiasm with our students while teaching them to follow their artistic inspiration.

I urge you to attend some of the many performances by our students and view an exhibition of their work. I think you will be impressed with what you will see and hear. If you follow our district or specific schools on social media or school websites, you will see postings about upcoming performances. Creative, imaginative, and wonderful things happen at our schools every day.

Dr. Nellie Meyer is Superintendent of Schools for MDUSD. Email questions or comments to meyern@mdusd.org

training, housing referral, child support services, special education services, public school transition services, parent intern/mentor program, male involvement, and many others.

We have an exemplary program in Contra Costa that provides high quality early learning and care for young children in our community that may not have access to an early learning environment otherwise. I’m confident that our expectations of high quality will ensure that these critical services will continue on for another 50 years and more.

Page 9

P.O. Box 1246 6200 Center Street, Suite H, Clayton, CA 94517 TAMARA AND R OBERT S TEINER , Publishers TAMARA S TEINER , Editor P ETE C RUZ , Graphic Design P EGGY S PEAR , Copy Editor J AY B EDECARRÉ, Sports Editor PAMELA W IESENDANGER , Administration, Calendar Editor S TAFF W RITERS : Peggy Spear, Pamela Wiesendanger, Jay Bedecarré

C ORRESPONDENTS : Cynthia Gregory, Patricia Romero, John Jackson, John T. Miller

PIONEER INFO CONTACT US

Tel: (925) 672-0500 Fax: (925) 672-6580 Tamara Steiner editor@concordpioneer.com Send Ads to ads@concordpioneer.com Send Sports News to sports@concordpioneer.com Send School, Club and Calendar Items to newsandcalendar@concordpioneer.com

The Clayton Pioneer and the Concord Pioneer are monthly publications delivered free to homes and businesses in 94517, 94518, 94519 and 94521. ZIP code 94520 is currently served by drop site distribution. The papers are published by Clayton Pioneer, Inc., Tamara and Robert Steiner, PO 1246, Clayton, CA 94517. The offices are located at 6200 Center St. Suite H, Clayton, CA 94517 LET US KNOW Weddings, anniversaries, births and deaths all weave together as part of the fabric of our community.

Please let us know of these important events. We ask only that the announcement be for a resident in our home delivery area. Submit on our website and be sure to attach a JPG photo that is at least 3 MB. Also on the website are forms for calendar items, events & press releases.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Both Pioneer newspapers welcome letters from our readers. As a general rule, letters should be 175

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Letters concerning current issues will have priority. We may edit letters for length and clarity. All letters will be published at the editor’s discretion.

Please include name, address and daytime telephone number. We will not print anonymous letters. E-mail your letter to editor@concordpioneer.com.

Letters must be submitted via Email.

CIRCULATION as of Sept. 2014 The Concord Pioneer is delivered monthly to 30,000 homes and businesses Papers are delivered by carriers for ABC Direct around the last Friday of the month. To stop delivery for any reason, call the office at (925) 672-0500 .

If you are NOT receiving the Pioneer, please check the distribution map on the website. If you live in the shaded area and are not receiving the paper, please let us know. If you are not in the shaded area, please be patient. We will come to your neighborhood soon.

The Clayton Pioneer is delivered

by US Mail to 5,500 homes and businesses in 94517 around the second Friday of the month.

SUBSCRIPTIONS To subscribe to either the Clayton Pioneer or the Concord Pioneer, call the office at (925) 672-0500.

Subscriptions are $35/year for each paper, $60/year for both.

Where to go for LOCAL news For fast, on-the-spot coverage of the latest police action, traffic jams, emergency information and chat, social media and local blogs are often good sources of breaking news.

For more complete, in-depth coverage of local news, readers turn to their independently owned community newspapers.

With news that people care about – local politics, schools, sports, events and stories about their friends and neighbors, the community newspaper is social media the old fashioned way.

To find out what is happening in neighboring cities, check out these Contra Costa Community News Group newspapers Clayton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Clayton Pioneer claytonpioneer.com Concord . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Concord Pioneer concordpioneer.com Pleasant Hill, Martinez, Walnut Creek .Community Focus ourcommunityfocus.com Lafayette, Orinda and Moraga . . . . .Lamorinda Weekly lamorindaweekly.com San Ramon, Danville, and Alamo . . . . . .Valley Sentinel valleysentinel.com The Contra Costa Community Newspaper Group is a consortium of independent, locally owned newspapers with a combined circulation of more than 142,000.

To advertise in all five papers with just one phone call, go to cccommunitynewsgroup.com or call 844.457.7665

Ad Rep Needed The Concord Pioneer is seeking an ADVERTISING SALES REP. This is a great opportunity with a growing newspaper serving the largest city in Contra Costa County. Our ad rep will excel at business to business, relationship sales and be passionate about helping businesses grow. Requires previous sales experience, preferably in media sales. Generous commissions.

Email brief of your qualifications to editor@concordpioneer.com.

Be a COMMUNITY AD REP for the Concord Pioneer.

Help our paper grow. Refer a business that advertises with us and we’ll pay you 10% commission on the sale. No restrictions. Refer your own business and get the commission. Call the office, (925) 672-0500 or email editor@concordpioneer.com

Page 10

Concord Pioneer • www.concordpioneer.com

April 24, 2015

SCHOOLS School Resource Officers are vital to local schools PEGGY SPEAR Concord Pioneer

Concord Police Lieutenant Ivan Menchaca is adamant that the new School Resource Officer program in Concord high schools isn’t just one program — it’s three, reflecting the diverse relationships each officer is forging with the school communities at Ygnacio Valley High, Concord High and Mt. Diablo High.

Menchaca enthusiastically reported on the new SRO program to a joint meeting of the

Concord City Council and the Mount Diablo Unified School District board on April 13, a meeting that had both entities giving updates on the many overlapping issues of the largest city in the school district, and the one that has the most schools.

“We didn’t want to just ‘partner’ with schools,” Menchaca told both boards. “We wanted our officers to be a real part of the school community. Each school has its own identity, it’s own culture, and we wanted to respect that.”

Menchaca said that in its first year, he has been pleasantly surprised by the response of the schools — especially the students — to the idea of having a Concord police officer integrated into the school staff. “It allows the officer to go deeper into issues with students,” he said, adding that in certain cases, the officer has even gotten to know students’ families and neighborhoods, especially if there are issues such as truancy.

One of the other unique aspects of the program Men-

chaca said was that of the 65 students caught violating the Daytime Curfew Ordinance, most will have their cases resolved through Concord’s Community Court, pointing the students toward other resolutions — like community service — to keep them out of the criminal justice system.

Both council members and MDUSD board members hailed the new, revamped SRO program, which was put back in place after a two-year hiatus.

“As a former school admin-

Mt. Diablo High

Liane Cismowski

Diablo Community Center supports students socially, academically

istrator, I know the value of SROs,” said Councilman Ron Leone. “It’s not a reactive program, but a proactive program in the community, not only helping schools but helping families.”

MDUSD Board Member Linda Mayo agreed. “It’s critical that our students understand and value law enforcement in our community. It’s not just about punishment, but looking at the root causes of problems some of our students face.”

The SRO program was just one of the many issues shared by the City and the school board.

MDUSD Superintendent Dr. Nellie Meyer gave an overview of the Local Control Accountability Plan (LCAP) new to state schools this year, as well as the

Concord High

MDHS PRINCIPAL

The Mount Diablo High School academies have been the focus of the past five Concord Pioneer articles. Our wall-to-wall academy structure provides rigorous and relevant curriculum and offers positive and meaningful relationships between our teachers and students.

Another unique feature of MDHS is our Diablo Community Center, which was established in 2005 by James Wogan.

The Diablo Community Center (DCC) is a safe space that supports the academic, emotional and social well-being of the MDHS students and their families. The DCC strives to achieve this through providing counsel-

ing services, community linkages, youth employment support, student and family advocacy, and peer mediation services.

Foster Youth Services and the HOPE (Homeless Outreach Program for Education) Program are also partners with the DCC. The support services at the DCC are successful due to the collaboration and coordination of multidisciplinary stakeholders at MDHS – the DCC Staff, administrators, teachers, families, community members, and, of course, our students. Students go to the DCC for a variety of reasons. They may seek individual counseling or tutor-

Congratulate your grad With a special message in the Concord Pioneer May 22 and Your Grad’s June 26 Name Graduations and Promotions from • Pre-school • Elementary • Middle School, • High School College

Congratulations on an outstanding four years.

You’ve been a joy and an inspiration to all who know you. We love you and can’t wait to see the next chapter.

Love, Mom and Dad

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65 . . . . .$45

We will call you for payment information after you submit your order.

Send text and photo with your contact information to editor@concordpioneer.com by May 11 and June 15.

new Common Core state standards.

Michael Wright, director of the Concord Naval Weapons Station, talked about plans for the development of the base, including the eventual building of more than 12,000 residences with 28,000 new residents by the year 2035, which will directly impact the school district.

Guy Moore, president of the Mt. Diablo Education Association, urged the city council to have the Master Developer pay for construction of the four new schools envisioned in the plan.

This was the second joint meeting of the city council and the school board in two years, and each board agreed that deeper communication is necessary as each moves forward.

Lynnea Hughes’ social work background makes her uniquely qualified to head MDH’s community center.

Azeema Yahya

ing; they might need a cool down from a stressful day. They may need confidential health services or a friendly adult with a comforting word. Many students choose to spend their brunch and lunch breaks in the DCC. It’s a friendly space where students can find a welcoming face.

The DCC’s Director, Lynnea Hughes, is a Social Work Specialist. She was formerly a wellness coordinator for San Francisco Unified School District.

She has also been the director of a non-profit called Family Promise that worked with

homeless families with children in Los Angeles. She received her degree from the University of Southern California. She hopes that the DCC will be a true school-based health center that will provide comprehensive health and mental health services to the school community at large. She also hopes to increase the amount of outreach and staff wellness support on our campus. For more information about the DCC, please call Lynnea Hughes at 925-682-4030 extension 3477.

Send comments and questions to editor@concordpioneer.com

CONCORD HIGH CORRESPONDENT

‘Big Hero,’ talent show, open house on Concord High calendar

In the next few weeks, Concord High School will be hosting lots of free, family-friendly events.

“Big Hero 6” will screen at 7 p.m. April 29 at the school. The movie is free, plus popcorn and water will be provided. This event is for people of all ages, from any school.

On 7 p.m. May 1, the school hosts the spring Talent Show in the multi-use room. While young performers show their unique talents, they also learn how to perform in front of a live audience. The event includes food and free entertainment.

The Minutemen’s annual Open House will be 6:30-8 p.m.

May 14. Concord High’s newly formatted Open House will include a variety of food for sale, such as pizza and Panda Express. Show choir, jazz band and auxiliaries will perform.

Everyone is welcome, especially incoming students.

Save these dates and come to enjoy great entertainment and company put on by the leadership class.

Azeema Yahya is a senior and Codrum Major. She loves music and plans to attend UC Davis in the fall. Send comments to editor@concordpioneer.com.

Northgate

Emily Wright NORTHGATE CORRESPONDENT

Northgate pool ready for action

More than a year ago, the Northgate community decided to fund construction of an on-campus swimming pool.

Now the pool is finished and full of water, just in time for the swim season.

The swim teams and coaches have been looking forward to its completion.

Besides providing a steady practice spot, the pool adds a possible location for swim meets with other schools.

In the past, Northgate’s swim teams traveled to places such as Heather Farm to practice for meets. However, the off-campus location made transportation difficult.

Not just swim teams plan on utilizing the pool. Some PE teaches have talked about adding swim sessions to their classes. A few things will need to be addressed first,

such as how students could swim in the middle of the day.

Other new structures also have been built at the school, including a sports medicinae building. In past years, the sports medicine class met in the back portion of the cafeteria. The new building should provide a more structured place for learning.

With the pool’s water shining and ready for action, Northgate can feel the warm days of summer rapidly approaching and, with it, an excitement to dive in.

Emily Wright is a senior at Northgate High School. She is currently the news editor for the Northgate Sentinel newspaper and is in her second year of ROP Journalism II. Email comments or questions to editor@concordpioneer.com

Rianne Pfaltzgraff CONCORD HIGH PRINCIPAL

CHS applies for ‘Gold Ribbon School’ award

The California Gold Ribbon Schools Award was developed in place of the California Distinguished Schools Program to honor schools during the transition to the new assessment and accountability systems.

This year, middle and high schools will be recognized for model programs that have made tremendous gains in implementing academic content and performance standards as set forth by the state Board of Education.

Concord High qualified to apply for this distinction and is looking to become the first Gold Ribbon High School in the Mt. Diablo Unified School District for the dedicated work of the English department around the adoption and implementation of the Expository Reading and Writing Course (ERWC) for seniors.

The ERWC was developed by the Cal State University (CSU) system to help high

school juniors and seniors become better prepared for college. The course is organized into 14 modules and is based mainly on non-fiction texts, emphasizing the in-depth study of expository, analytical and argumentative reading and writing. The course is approved by the CSU and UC systems as an “a-g” course for English.

Concord High has taken a firm stance on the value of this course, designating it the senior level English course. Also, the teachers in the English department have committed to embedding the concept into the lower grades. This helps students prepare for their senior year and increases writing and analytical skills earlier in their high school careers.

The state Department of Education will reveal the results in late April. Go Gold Minutemen!

Send comments and questions to editor@concordpioneer.com

April 24, 2015

Concord Pioneer • www.concordpioneer.com

Clayton Vally Charter

Robbie Parker

Teen Speak

Body image issues can weigh heavily on kids

Somewhere on a teenager’s list of priorities, you’ll likely find sleeping, socializing and maintaining an appealing personal appearance.

For many adolescents, normal, healthy activities take a backseat in order to maintain a clear complexion, a fresh hairstyle or an “ideal” number on the scale.

Critical self-analysis is a natural human impulse nonspecific to a particular age group.

However, it is statistically proven that adolescents are more likely to subject themselves to painful scrutiny based on the state of one’s exterior qualities.

Acne, body odor, braces and other external imperfections may be a drag, but weight and muscularity appear to be an especially serious concern among teens of both sexes.

Who can blame America’s youth for having low selfesteem, with the media depicting men with glossy, bulging biceps and women that resemble sundried broomsticks liberally coated in cosmetics. The constant barrage of imagery

portraying the “ideal body” for boys and girls creates opportunities for young people to develop dangerous and lifelong eating disorders.

For teens who feel embarrassed about their body image, weight testing in curricular physical education classes may also incite self-degradation and harassment. It is common for PE classes to incorporate the measure of weight and height into final semester fitness tests, and it is perfectly acceptable to suggest that calculating Body Mass Index, or BMI, is a beneficial and appropriate measure in ensuring overall student health. However, many parents in the city of Belton, Miss., were outraged about student weigh-ins for 6- to 8-year-olds during school hours.

At Hillcrest Elementary School, young students whose BMI fell above the average category were given specialized handouts from the county Health Department. The students were told to give the letters to parents or guardians.

The letters said the children were at risk for health issues

Arts Expo showcases CV talent

David Linzey CVCHS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

The annual Clayton Arts Expo is a showcase of student artists at Clayton Valley Charter High School. This event showcased the work of CVCHS student artists, and also included Pine Hollow and Diablo View Middle School students. There were over three hundred entries of truly amazing work, which included drawing, painting, sculpture, mixed media, photog-

raphy, video, and digital/computer art. The students, parents and the community had the opportunity to attend the Arts Expo during our Open House.

We are fortunate to have professional artists serve as judges and prizes are awarded in each category.

We are proud of our talented art students who were invited to participate with the Concord

and needed to lose weight.

They suggested the kids cut back on caloric intake and “subtract at least 1 BMI point per semester.”

Because the papers were given openly to the children, the warnings incited concern and embarrassment in the students. Introducing concepts such as BMI and weight loss directly to first and second graders — rather than through parents or, better yet, a pediatrician — can be psychologically damaging.

Speaking from personal experience, I know that managing a positive body image amid a sea of inherently immature preteens is much more important to teens than the actual benefits or consequences toward health. I struggled with obesity in elementary and middle school, and I endured plenty of ridicule from my peers.

I have not developed an eating disorder, but I know far too many individuals who struggle with serious illnesses stemming from self-esteem and body image. The constant overexposure to weight ideality in the media is detrimental enough, and directly informing young students of their abnormalities is dangerous and irresponsible.

I hope that, one day, my children are permitted to experience their early schooldays in blissful ignorance, rather than experience the burden of calorie counting and weight watching.

Send comments and questions to editor@concordpioneer.com

Community of Artists visual art show Concord Arts Alive!

Emerge. They were delighted with the artwork of our wonderful CVCHS students. Including these budding and talented young artists was a way to exemplify the range of artists living in our community. It forges a new relationship with local arts and local education, and helps create a beautiful bridge of generations among all the artists involved. Throughout the month of March our student work was greatly admired by the visitors to the gallery. Some of you were in attendance at the opening reception and it was wonderful having you there.

Send comments and questions to editor@concordpioneer.com

Ygnacio Valley High

Stephen Brady YGNACIO VALLEY PRINCIPAL

Performing Arts spring into action next month

We are extremely proud of our music, dance and choir programs at Ygnacio Valley High School. I am indebted to our music teacher, Zach Pattison, and Kelly Cooper, our dance instructor, for the following descriptions of these amazing programs.

Our instrumental music program offers many opportunities for students to hone their skills through group rehearsal and performance. Students in Wind Ensemble, String Orchestra and Jazz Band give public performances at our school, at adjudicated festivals,

and in our community throughout the year. Band and orchestra will perform at a CMEA festival in San Ramon on May 2, Jazz Band is preparing for their annual ‘40s-style swing dance on May 8, and all three groups will play at our spring concert at YVHS on June 4.

During the fall season, our Marching Band competes and performs in band reviews and parades from San Francisco to Santa Cruz and the Central Valley, in addition to serving as a pep band at our home football games. Many instrumental music students are also

Page 11

BUSINESS

Chamber of Commerce is everyone’s busines MELISSA REA

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE From ribbon cuttings to workshops to monthly mixers, the Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce is a busy group.

And between all that fun, the voluntary organization helps develop relationships between businesses to increase economic vitality, give back and become a part of the community.

Here are some of the Chamber’s activities: Ribbon Cuttings: Concord city staff and Chamber members are invited to a ribbon cutting at a new establishment to welcome them to the Chamber and community. GameTime Sports Bar & Pizzeria opened their doors in March and celebrated their new business with a ribbon cutting to introduce them to Concord.

Business Seminars/Workshops: The Chamber invites businesses and agencies to present information regarding new programs, trends, laws, etc., to members to stay up-todate on local topics. Recently, PG&E informed local businesses on energy conservation, peak hours and programs affecting businesses.

“Business After Hours” Mixers: Monthly Mixers are held at various Chamber member locations to showcase members and afford time to network with other businesses.

US Bank on Clayton Road hosted the March Mixer.

Concord Young Professionals: Often called the “Yo Pros,” this is an up-and-com-

Send comments and questions to editor@concordpioneer.com

ing Chamber program of young businessmen and businesswomen who value business and personal relationships. Mayor Tim Grayson sought out the Yo Pros to create a “Think Tank” to incorporate their views to make Concord a destination where people want to “live, play and work.”

Annual East Bay Senior Resource Expo: This is a trade show where businesses and organizations who cater to the senior demographic share information such as avoiding scams and understanding assisted living. This March, 40

booths provided valuable information to more than 250 community members to help enrich their lives.

The Chamber not only encourages business development, but also community support and awareness.

If you would like more information regarding the Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce, call 925685-1181, visit www.concordchamber.com, or stop by the office at 2280 Diamond Blvd., Suite 200, in Concord.

For more information on becoming a member of the Concord Chamber of Commerce, please visit www.concordchamber.com or call (925) 685-1181.

City welcomes new Starbucks plans, while two other businesses close Longtime Coco’s, Fresh and Easy calling it quits JOHN T. MILLER Correspondent

involved in sports and school leadership activities, and are committed and successful students on campus.

Dance at Ygnacio Valley has a long-standing tradition of excellence, with three levels being offered to students: Dance I, II and the Performance Class Dance III. Students are taught and exposed to various genres, from ballet to ballroom, and have opportunities to perform in groups and for an audience. The performance class focuses on themes and choreographic composition, where students are guided into finding their own artistic voices through movement. The performance class puts on three shows a year, with the culmination of their work on display at the annual dance show at 7:30 p.m. May 20 and 21 at 7:30pm. In addition, the group performs at every rally for the students and staff.

A CEREMONIAL RIBBON CUTTING with Micah Hogue, Mayor Tim Grayson, Mike Guy, Brienne Guy, Carlyn Obringer, and Dan Cunningham, welcomes new business GameTime Sports Bar and Pizzaria to the community.

A pair of prominent businesses closed in Concord earlier this month, while the Planning Commission approved a new location for a Starbucks outlet and drive-through.

On April 3, Fresh and Easy grocery closed two stores on Ygnacio Valley Road. On the same day, Coco’s quit business at its Treat Boulevard location.

Meanwhile, DVD Developers presented the Starbucks venture at the March 18 city planning meeting. The coffee shop will be at the corner of Treat and Clayton Road.

The two closures were parts of larger corporate reorganizations, but the stores took different paths on their ways to going out of business.

Fresh & Easy announced last spring that the parent company, Tesco PLC of Great Britain, planned to leave the United States. In October, the company released plans to sell 50 stores in California, Nevada and Arizona and redesign the rest.

An Oct. 10 Los Angeles

Times article revealed that Fresh & Easy filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy after negotiating a deal with billionaire Ron Burkle’s Yucaipa Companies.

“The final closure of the stores was a corporate decision,” said John Montagh, C o n c o r d ’s economic development director.

“The parent company decided that (after six years), entry into the U.S. was not profitable enough.”

At Coco’s Bakery Restaurant, on the other hand, the shuttered doors surprised employees and customers alike. NBC San Diego reported that Texas-based Food Management Partners (FMP) took over Carlsbad’s Catalina Restaurant Group on April 1 and quickly closed 73 restaurants. Employees were notified to collect their final paychecks.

When FMP announced plans to acquire Catalina Restaurant Group from Zensho America Corp., a branch of Zensho Holdings Co. Ltd. of Japan, there were 149 Coco’s and Carrow’s in California, Arizona and Nevada,

NBC said. Most of the 38 Coco’s and 35 Carrow’s that closed were in California.

According to NBC, San Antonio officials said the market climate “forced us to make difficult decisions about many of the restaurants” that were not perfor ming at a competitive financial level.

One unhappy patron posted a review online, saying: “They sold the company and closed and fired all their staff with no notice. Now tons of people all over the West Coast are out of a job.”

The 2,000 sq. ft. Starbucks will be constructed on a 0.29acre site at 4290 Clayton Road.

The vacant lot used to house a gas station. It will be the third drive-through in Concord and the 11th Starbucks franchise in the city.

The Planning Commission approved the project unanimously. “It’s positive to have something going in that lot,” said Frank Abejo, a city project planner. “It’s been vacant for at least 10 ten years.”

Page 12

Concord Pioneer • www.concordpioneer.com

April 24, 2015

Keep your realtor in negotiations, emotions out LYNNE FRENCH

REAL ANSWERS Q. It seems that some people are born negotiators.

I am definitively not one of them. I am uncomfortable pushing and haggling during a real estate or any other transaction. What are some guidelines to follow so I don’t come out losing the most in the negotiation?

A. The most important thing is to let your realtor do the negotiating for you. They can have more of a neutral feeling about the outcome. One thing that can give you the edge is to be prepared. Have your finances in order. Know what you are pre-approved for and most important know what you are comfortable spending on your monthly payment. This can give you the self confidence you need to stand your ground.

The next thing to find out is as much as you can about the seller's situation. Have they already purchased another property? Has the property

been on the market for a long time or is it new on the market?

Knowing these things will help you tailor your approach.

For example if the sellers are in contract on another house and this seems like a well priced home, new on the market, you might want to find out if you are competing with other buyers. If you are than you should put your best foot forward. Perhaps offer the full price or even higher.

Whichever the case please keep your emotions out of this.

Negotiation usually involves give and take on the part of both parties. Allow your realtor to explain the current market

WWII Exhibit opens at the Clayton Museum May 8 is an important day in the memory of many of our local residents and families many of whom had parents, grandparents, or spouses who served during World War II. To honor this fast-ageing group also known as the “Greatest Generation,” an exhibit marking the 70th Anniversary of the end of the war, V-E Day, May 8, will open at the Clayton Museum.

The public is invited to the Grand Opening of this special exhibit May 8 from 7 until 9 p.m. with refreshments provided by the Clayton Historical Society.

The event is free, but donations are gratefully accepted.

The Clayton Museum is at 6101 Main Street, Clayton. Museum hours are Sundays and Wednesdays from 24 p.m. For more information, call (925) 672-0240 or go to www.claytonhistory.org

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conditions in your area. That way you can accommodate the seller without compromising your own goals.

Good negotiators keep their eye on the goal and don’t let a deal to fall apart over petty issues. But, you also shouldn’t spend more than you can afford.

Q. During the inspection period on the sale of my house some foundation problems were uncovered.

The buyer got bids for about $15,000 to repair them. They asked me to give them a credit of $15,000 toward their closing costs. I didn’t want

to pay their closing costs. I am not getting a credit for closing costs on the property that I am going to buy. My realtor says this is a common way to deal with these things. What do you think?

A. Lenders have requirements regarding how credits are handled in a transaction. It is usually only a percentage of the total cost the buyer is paying for the property. Asking for a credit toward a repair can be a red flag for the lender. They might ask to see more reports and even to have the repair fixed before the close of escrow. It is easier if the funds to fix the foundation problem

comes out of the proceeds as a credit. One credit that is almost always acceptable is a credit for non-recurring closing costs.

The only restriction is the amount allowed. Usually 3 percent is acceptable. That way the buyer can use the money they were going to use for closing costs to fix the foundation.

Often this is a better solution than lowering the price by $15,000 because it is actual cash to fix the problem.

Send your question and look for your answer in a future column. Email Lynne@LynneFrench.com. French is the broker/owner of Windermere Lynne French & Associates. Contact her at 672-878 7or stop in at 6200 Center St., Clayton.

Don Fernando Adobe central to city’s early years CAROL LONGSHORE

YESTERYEAR As the mother of sons, I find Fernando Pacheco’s story interesting as I imagine what our pioneers experienced.

His father, Don Salvio Pacheco, was one of the original pioneers of Concord. Don Salvio acquired land grants offered after the Mexican-American War. He had 17,000 acres around Mt. Diablo, but mainly in the heart of Concord.

Fernando was born in May l8l8.

When he was 17, his father sent him to take possession and mark the boundaries for the land grants, called Monte del Diablo.

They lived in San Jose at the time, in the first pueblo around.

His father gave him 1,500

acres when he was 21, and later 2,000 more acres of land by what is now the Solano DriveInn, Matteo’s Playground and the George Miller Center at Olivera and Grant.

Fernando married a widow and together they had six children. During that time, he built the Don Fernando Adobe. It was the third adobe in town, along with the Galindo Home and the Salvio Pacheco Adobe.

His adobe at 3119 Grant St. quickly became most famous for its fiestas. He had barbecues, horse-racing and dances with as many as 30 guests.

In his later years, he weighed a good 400 pounds and carried his belly around in a wheelbarrow, it has been told. Yet he was an accomplished caballero, big but agile.

Upon his death in l884, the community paid him tribute as a founding father of the town.

His unmarried daughter,

Society restored the building again. If you visit the adobe, you will see a quaint building with big pictures of its history inside.

Carol Longshore has been a Concord resident since 1950. She is a community leader and current president of the Concord Historical Society. Send comments and suggestions for future topics to editor@concordpioneer.com.

FERNANDO PACHECO came to the Concord area at age 17.

Bersabe, inherited his adobe and lived there until 1918. The California Water Service Co. bought it and abandoned it until 1940.

The county got the title and registered it as a historical landmark. They leased it to the Horseman’s Association with the agreement that the club would refurbish the building and land.

In l979, the county transferred ownership to the city of Concord. In l980, the city, the horsemen and the Historical

Tea for Two… or more The Concord Historical Society presents its Annual Spring Tea May 1-3 with two sittings each day at 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m.

Students from the Culinary Academy and Serendipity at Mt. Diablo High School will bake and serve scones, tea sandwiches and desserts in the quaint and beautifully decorated Galindo Home Dining room, Rose Parlor and Green Parlor, 1721 Amador Ave., Concord. For reservations, call 925.686.0430.

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Bike Concord has kicked off its second season providing free bike repair at the Thursday evening farmers market in downtown Concord.

The community bike tent, sponsored by John Muir Health, is the cornerstone of Bike Concord’s work. It’s what helped drive our efforts and build up the organization. The group’s efforts at the tent are focused on three main purposes: encouraging activity, skill-building and providing a venue for the community.

Active transportation is a big part of encouraging healthy lifestyles. That’s why Bike Concord has partnered with John Muir Health, a community based non-profit committed to improving the health of local residents.

The average person loses 13 pounds in the first year of bike commuting. In addition, a fourmile bike commute keeps 15 pounds of pollution out of the air we breathe. Biking to work or biking for fun is an easy way to stay active.

At the bike tent, most of the services are basic: repairing flats, fixing brakes, adjusting gears, etc. Although we do not have the time or equipment to do major repairs on bikes, we make sure everybody rides away safely.

Not only do we show people how to fix flats, thanks to REI Concord we will be providing patch kits as well.

Bike Concord also spreads the word about free education classes provided by Bike East Bay to teach people how to ride on urban streets.

The community bike tent provides a space for people to talk about bicycling issues in Concord, brainstorm ideas for commute routes, meet fellow riders and ask bike-related questions. There are many largescale infrastructure plans taking shape in Concord and the county, and Bike Concord is seeking input from as many people as possible to ensure the future of

the community is bike-friendly.

The bike tent will be at the corner of Grant Street and Willow Pass on Todos Santos Plaza 5-8 p.m. Thursdays until October. Stop by to see a grassroots and friendly group of people getting together to talk about the future of the city. A professional bike mechanic can take a look at your bike, make sure it’s safe to ride and do any quick fixes to help get you riding again.

Cynthia Armour is a project manager with Bike East Bay, working to make Concord and Contra Costa a better place for bicyclists through education, community events and advocacy.

April 24, 2015

Concord Pioneer • www.concordpioneer.com

Page 13

Spring break robbery lands four local teens in jail JAY BEDECARRÉ Concord Pioneer

Four students from Clayton Valley Charter High School, including all-state football player Miles Harrison, were to be arraigned this week for an armed robbery in Concord that took place during the school’s spring break.

MILES HARRISON

All four suspects are 17years-old and will be tried as adults, according to Contra Costa prosecutor Mary Knox.

Arrested in Concord minutes after the robbery were Harrison, Drew Crabbe, Lucas Ostolaza and James Dempsey.

Dempsey is a junior who transferred to CVCHS this school year from Mt. Diablo High and was on the varsity basketball team. The other three are seniors who have been at the school for four years and were part of the State championship finalist football team coached by Tim Murphy, who said he was “absolutely blown away” by the incident.

Concord Police report that Dempsey made contact by text with an 18-year-old drug dealer to buy marijuana. At about 2 p.m. on April 9 the four teens went to a home in the 1000

block of Rolling Hills Way in Crystyl Ranch where the drug dealer — reportedly a Northgate senior — was visiting friends. They bought pot and departed, Knox stated.

Crabbe, who allegedly had a gun that turned out to be unloaded, and another defendant, then returned to the backyard of the house and robbed the dealer and his friends of the remaining drugs and their phones.

Concord police responded to a robbery call and spotted a car with four youth in it. An officer pulled over the car and found the four defendants along with the stolen phones, gun, hoodies, marijuana and a ski mask.

All four defendants were charged with two counts of robbery while Crabbe has also been charged with the use of a firearm during a robbery. Had

the robbery taken place inside the house rather than in the backyard the charges would have included a more serious home-invasion count. None of the teens have a criminal record and were being held in juvenile hall.

Bail was set at $150,000 for three of the youth who could face up to eight years in prison while Crabbe, who has a $300,000 bail amount, could face up to 17 years in prison if convicted.

His attorney, Thomas McKenna, says, “I’m very disappointed this was filed in adult court. The gun used was not loaded.”

All four of the CVCHS athletes had earned all-Diablo Valley Athletic League honors either this year or last. Harrison was the record-setting running back star of an Eagles team that won the DVAL, North Coast Section and Northern California

Squash blossoms are a little known treat blossoms, you are in for a treat.

DEBRA MORRIS Pacific Coast Farmer’s Market

Have you ever tried edible squash blossoms? You’ll often see them attached to tiny underdeveloped squash. Bright yellow and white with papery petals and from a wide variety of summer or winter squash, they can be eaten raw or incorporated into several dishes. Stuffed, tossed in salads, and used for garnish, they’re arriving early this season because of the drought and the heat, but are still very tasty.

Mostly seen at specialty stores and farmers’ markets, they are extremely perishable and once purchased, should be

SQUASH BLOSSOMS

eaten as soon as possible. The flowers can be stored for a few hours or up to one or two days.

If you’ve never eaten squash

SQUASH BLOSSOM QUESADILLAS 1 medium onion, diced 1 clove garlic, minced 1 poblano pepper, roasted, peeled, seeded and diced 10 squash blossoms 1/2 cup chicken stock Salt and freshly ground black pepper 4 flour tortillas 1/4 pound grated Mexican white cheese Olive oil, butter or margarine, for cooking Heat a large sauté pan with a little oil and sauté the onion, garlic, and the roasted poblano pepper for 5 minutes, until the

onions have become translucent. Then, add the squash blossoms and deglaze with chicken stock. Cook for another 5 minutes until squash blossoms have wilted. Season with salt and pepper, and set aside to cool.

To compose the quesadilla, lay two of the tortillas on a flat surface. Distribute the cheese equally on both tortillas. Then, spread 1/2 of the squash blossom filling over the cheese.

Cover with the other tortillas, place on heated griddle or nonstick sauté pan with a little olive oil, butter or margarine, and cook for about 3 minutes on each side. When golden brown on each side, remove and cut into quarters.

Bowl game titles before falling just short of a state championship last December in Southern California. Crabbe and Ostolaza were defensive allleague honorees.

North Coast Section com-

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JOHN WENZEL, CFP FINANCIAL SENSE As a financial advisor, when initially meeting with a client, often our discussion shifts to the importance of the standard we are legally upheld by. Simply stated, this standard, the fiduciary standard, requires advisors to put their client’s interest

above their own. But not all advisors or financial planners are upheld to a similar standard.

In this month’s article I’ll review the difference between these standards.

WHAT’S SUITABLE FOR YOU A common standard found within the industry is known as the suitability standard. This is a standard held by broker-dealers who work as financial advisors at leading brokerage firms or banking institutions. As a financial advisor held by the suitabili-

ty standard, recommendations made to a client still need to be consistent with the best interests of the client seeking advice.

However, instead of having to place his or her interests below that of the client, the suitability standard only states that the broker-dealer has to reasonably believe any recommendations provided are suitable for the client. In addition, a key distinction in terms of loyalty is also important, in that a advisor’s duty is to the brokerage firm he or she works for, not

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missioner Gil Lemmon said, “The situation with the CVC players has no bearing on the school’s [two-year] NCS probation. Very disappointing but not the business of the section.”

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INDEPENDENT OR NOT INDEPENDENT Some advisors may hold themselves as independent representatives of a brokerage firm, however he or she may still only be subject to the suitability standard. So how is one to find an objective advisor that works for a firm with no strings attached?

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Guilt is part of caring for aging loved one “I shouldn’t lose my patience. I shouldn’t get so angry. I wish I didn’t feel so resentful. I should keep them at home. I should pay for more care. I should, I should, I should…” Many family caregivers are experts in “shoulds” when it comes for caring for an elderly loved one.

There can be much guilt associated with caring for an elderly person, whether it is a spouse, a parent or any relative.

The probability of guilt is intensified if the person you are caring for has dementia. You are not a “bad” person for having these feelings. It is normal and very common.

One of the reasons for the guilt is because there is no perfect solution. There is no pre-

SUE CAPSON

SENIOR MOMENTS scribed right way. You are in a difficult situation that no one is prepared for. It is normal but that doesn’t mean it’s comfortable.

How can you minimize those feelings? Here are some suggestions:

• A support system is crucial. If you have other family members or church friends or neighbors, turn to them. Don’t be afraid to accept their help, especially if the help is an understanding, listening ear.

There are also organized support groups, often led by professionals in the field, that can be a great help. Being with and talking to others who are going through what you are is invaluable. Local hospitals and the Alzheimer’s association can connect you with groups.

• Take time for yourself. It is not being selfish to take time away from caregiving to do something you love. It is like getting gas in your car. You have to do it to keep going.

• Get as much information as you can, not only on the condition or the disease but also on resources to help. If you need help with physical care there is help for that, both paid and non-paid. You may qualify for services through Medicare if their doctor orders it, for example physical therapy or occupational therapy. Don’t be afraid to research Hospice programs.

Most people think of hospice only for the last few days of a person’s life but they can help much sooner than that.

• Community day programs are available, some are incomebased.

See Senior, page 15

2 for the price of 1

Beer only. Good anytime with original coupon. Exp. 5/21/15

Page 14

Concord Pioneer • www.concordpioneer.com

April 24, 2015

CALENDAR PLEASE SUBMIT YOUR COMMUNITY CALENDAR EVENTS BY 5 P.M. MAY 13 FOR THE MAY 22

IN CONCORD Pavilion Concert Schedule The Concord Pavilion is located at 2000 Kirker Pass Road, Concord. theconcordpavilion.com. Shows start at 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted.

May 24 — May 28 — June 14 — July 7 — July 9 — July 15 — July 18 — July 21 — Aug. 4 — Aug. 7 — Aug. 14 — Aug. 26 — Sep. 20 —

KBLX Stone Soul Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga Spirit West Coast Festival Smashing Pumpkins and Marilyn Manson Van Halen and Kenny Wayne Shepherd Chicago and Earth, Wind and Fire Sublime, 6 p.m.

5 Seconds of Summer The Boys of Zummer Idina Menzel The Pink Print Tour Slipknot Counting Crows

Tuesdays Farmers’ Market Tuesdays year round. 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Todos Santos Plaza, downtown Concord. cityofconcord.org.

Thursdays Music and Market Thursday night live music and farmers’ market. Music: May 21, Zydeco Flames. Market 4 – 8 p.m.; music 6:30 – 8 p.m.

Todos Santos Plaza, downtown Concord. cityofconcord.org.

3rd Sundays Antique Faire Antiques, collectibles, handmade arts and crafts. 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Todos Santos Plaza, downtown Concord. Free admission. concordantiquefaire.com.

May 1 - 3 Spring Tea Spring tea at the Galindo Home sponsored by the Concord Historical Society. Sittings at 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. 1721 Amador Ave., Concord. $30. Call Kathie for reservations: 686-0430.

May 9 Mom’s Day and Music Celebration of Mother’s Day combined with All Area Music Festival. 12 – 5 p.m. Todos Santos Plaza, downtown Concord.

Free. cityofconcord.org.

May 12 Budget Workshop The public can address city council at 2015-2016 budget workshop with city management and city council. Public hearings for budget are in June. 6:30 p.m. City Council Chambers, 1950 Parkside Drive, Concord. cityofconcord.org May 23 – 25 KidFest Nonstop activities for kids, tweens and parents; arts and crafts, food court and rides. 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. 2450 Grant St., downtown Concord. $6 with canned food donation for Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano; $7 without. kidfestconcord.com.

IN CLAYTON Thru Apr. 25 “Arsenic and Old Lace” Classic comedy about two lovable ladies who poison lonely old men and bury them in their basement. Endeavor Hall, 6008 Center St., Clayton. $16-$22. brownpapertickets.com. claytontheatrecompany.org. 222-9106.

Apr. 24 – 25 “Death and Disloyalty” Murder mystery with local celebrity cast members. Revolves around the California 100 who fought during the Civil War. 7 – 9 p.m. Clayton Library, 6125 Clayton Road. $15. Tickets available at library. For more information, contact Arlene at akiksen@aol.com or 673-9777.

Apr. 25 Clayton Cleans Up Honor Earth Day with a town spring cleaning. Help pick up trash, pull weeds and share in community spirit. Rain or shine.

T-shirt, gloves and garbage bags provided; barbecue after. 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. Clayton City Hall, 6000 Heritage Trail.

Register at ci.clayton.ca.us. Call Clayton Pioneer with questions at 672-0500.

ISSUE. ITEMS MUST BE SUBMITTED BY EMAIL TO

May 9 Saturday Concerts in the Grove The Department of Rock. 6 – 8:30 p.m. Grove Park, downtown Clayton. Free. ci.clayton.ca.us.

ON THE MOUNTAIN Mount Diablo Interpretive Association programs listed are free with the exception of park entrance fee. Go to mdia.org and click on Events Calendar for more information.

Apr. 26 Pine Canyon Hike Hike in and out of Pine Canyon and see Little Yosemite, Castle Rock and Wall Point. 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Meet at Macedo Ranch Trailhead.

May 3 Flower Hike Twin Peaks area. 1 – 5 p.m. Meet at Mitchell Canyon Trailhead.

May 10 Mt. Olympia Hike Mt. Olympia to Bald Ridge Trail. 10 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. Meet at Mitchell Canyon Trailhead.

May 16 Butterfly Walk Walk to find butterflies and wildflowers. 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Meet at Mitchell Canyon Trailhead.

May 17 Oak Knoll Hike Hike to the Summit and visit interpretive center before returning. 11 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Meet at Juniper Camp Trailhead.

Snake presentation at Summit Audio Visual Room from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

EVENTS & ENTERTAINMENT Thru Apr. 26 “Barefoot in the Park” Neil Simon’s romantic comedy. California Theatre, 351 Railroad Ave., Pittsburg. $10-$25. pittsburgcaliforniatheatre.com. 427-1611.

Thru May 2 “Mirandolina! Mistress of a Tuscan Inn” A rapturous and hilarious 18th century battle of the sexes comedic caper. Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek. $39-$60. centerrep.org.

Thru May 3 “Forbidden Broadway” Hit musical revue performed by OMG, I Love that Show!

Productions. Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek. $30-$39. lesherartscenter.org. 943-7469.

Apr. 24 “An Evening of Pink Floyd” Starring House of Floyd and presented by West Coast Performing Arts Presenters. 8 p.m. Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek. $40-$45. lesherartscenter.org.

943-7469.

Apr. 25 “Come Together: The Beatles Concert Experience” Presented by West Coast Performing Arts Presenters. 8 p.m.

Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek. $40$45. lesherartscenter.org. 943-7469.

Apr. 26 “Ol’ Blue Eyes is Back” A salute to Sinatra presented by West Coast Performing Arts Presenters. 3 p.m. Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek. $40-$45. lesherartscenter.org. 943-7469.

May 1, 3 “Robin Hood” Performed by El Campanil’s Children’s Theatre. El Campanil Theatre, 602 W. Second St., Antioch. $8-$12. elcampaniltheatre.com.

May 2 Chamber Music SF Nikolay Khozyainov, pianist, performs. 2:30 p.m. Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek. $47-$51. lesherartscenter.org. 943-7469.

newsandcalendar@concordpioneer.com

May 8 Comedy Auggie Smith entertains. 8 p.m. California Theatre, 351 Railroad Ave., Pittsburg. $17 in advance; $20 at the door. pittsburgcaliforniatheatre.com. 427-1611.

May 8 – 9 “Celebrated Masters” Performed by Diablo Ballet. Del Valle Theatre, 1963 Tice Valley Blvd., Walnut Creek. $22-$44. lesherartscenter.org.

943-7469.

May 8 – 9 “Spring Rep 2015” Performed by Contra Costa Ballet. 7:30 p.m. Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek. $20-$35. lesherartscenter.org. 943-7469.

May 9 “The Motown Era” Sargent Tucker’s salute to Motown. 8 p.m. California Theatre, 351 Railroad Ave., Pittsburg. $17 in advance; $20 at the door. pittsburgcaliforniatheatre.com. 427-1611.

May 9 - 10 “Some Assembly Required” Performed by Contra Costa Chamber Orchestra. 2 p.m. May 9, El Campanil Theatre, $7-$15, elcampaniltheatre.com. May 10, Lesher Center for the Arts, $10-$30, lesherartscenter.org.

May 10 Make Memories with Mom Start a new Mother’s Day tradition at the Ruth Bancroft Garden. 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. 1552 Bancroft Road, Walnut Creek. $8-$10; free for Moms. ruthbancroftgarden.org.

944-9352.

May 14 – 17 “Greater Tuna” Hilarious two-man show. California Theatre, 351 Railroad Ave., Pittsburg. $10-$25. pittsburgcaliforniatheatre.com.

427-1611.

May 15 - 16 “Get Happy” Concert by Diablo Women’s Chorale. Mount Diablo Unitarian Universalist Church 55, Eckley Lane, Walnut Creek. $10-$20. diablowomenschorale.org.

May 15 – 16 “Mulan Jr.” Presented by Arts Education, Teen Theatre. Del Valle Theatre, 1963 Tice Valley Blvd., Walnut Creek. $16.75. lesherartscenter.org. 943-7469.

May 16 “America Sings” Featuring the Blackhawk Chorus. 8 p.m. Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek. $20-$28. lesherartscenter.org. 943-7469.

May 16 Spring Concert Performed by Winds Across the Bay, Youth Wind Ensemble.

7:30 p.m. Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek. $12. lesherartscenter.org. 943-7469.

May 17 “Life, Death, Dance” Performed by Diablo Symphony Orchestra. 2 p.m. Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek. $12-$28. lesherartscenter.org. 943-7469.

May 17 “Sentinels of Freedom” An Armed Forces celebration by Contra Costa Wind Symphony. 7 p.m. Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek. $18-$25. lesherartscenter.org. 943-7469.

May 20 – June 14 “A Little Night Music” Rapturous and seductive musical. American Conservatory Theater, 415 Geary St., San Francisco. $20-$140. act-sf.org.

(415) 749-2228.

SCHOOLS

May 2 “The Grand Duke” Topsy turvy musical farce presented by Lamplighters Music Theatre. 8 p.m. Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek. $25-$49. lesherartscenter.org. 943-7469.

Apr. 24 Open House Hosted by Diablo Nippongo Gakuen, a local Japanese language school. 9 – 11 a.m. Diablo Japanese American Club, 3165 Treat Blvd., Concord. Free. For more information, contact julidiablogakuen@gmail.com.

May 2 “Ukulele Uprising” Performed by The Delta Strummers. 2 p.m. El Campanil Theatre, 602 W. Second St., Antioch. $15. elcampaniltheatre.com.

Apr. 24 – 25 “25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” Performed by Ygnacio Valley High School Performing Arts. 755 Oak Grove Road, Concord. $5-$12. 685-8414.

May 3 California Symphony Golka and Grieg perform. 4 p.m. Lesher Center, 1601 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek. $70. lesherartscenter.org. 943-7469.

Apr. 24 – May 10 “Oedipus El Ray” The timeless Greek tragedy meets the vicious reality of today’s L.A. barrios. Diablo Valley College, 321 Golf Club Road, Pleasant Hill. $16-$21. dvcdrama.net.

Saturdays May 9 – Sep. 19 Farmers’ Market 8 a.m. – 12 p.m. Diablo Street between Main and Center streets, downtown Clayton. pcfma.com/clayton.

May 7 Mariachi Sol De Mexico Expression of Mexico’s authentic musical heritage. 7 p.m.

California Theatre, 351 Railroad Ave., Pittsburg. $39. pittsburgcaliforniatheatre.com. 427-1611.

May 16 Athletic Hall of Fame Dinner For Clayton Valley Charter High. 5 p.m. Centre Concord, 5298 Clayton Road, Concord. $50. claytonvalley.org.

May 9 Plant Sale Annual plant sale by Clayton Valley Garden Club. 8 a.m. – 2 p.m. Endeavor Hall parking lot, 6008 Center St., Clayton. claytonvalleygardenclub.org.

May 7 – 10 “The Crimson Pirate” A treasure of an adventure story performed by Fantasy Forum Actors Ensemble. Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek. $14. lesherartscenter.org. 943-7469.

Apr. 25 - 26 Clayton Gardens Tour Five beautiful gardens on self-guided tour in Clayton and Concord. Benefits Clayton Historical Society. 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Rain or shine. Starts at Clayton Museum, 6101 Main St. $30. Tickets at R & M or contact museum@claytonhistory.org. 672-0240.

May 2 - 3 Art and Wine Festival Arts, crafts, food, music, wine. Sat. 10 a.m. – 7 p.m. Sun. 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Main Street, Clayton. claytoncbca.org. 6722272.

May 20 Spring Instrumental Concert Presented by Northgate High School. 7 p.m. Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek. $5-$14.75. lesherartscenter.org. 943-7469.

April 24, 2015

Concord Pioneer • www.concordpioneer.com

Page 15

CALENDAR FUNDRAISERS 2nd and 4th Sundays Pancake Breakfast Veterans of Foreign Wars serve breakfast to the public: Eggs, pancakes, sausage, beverage. 8 – 11 a.m. VFW Post 1525, 2290 Willow Pass Road, Concord. $5, $3 children under 12. vfwpost1525.org.

Apr. 24 Bake Sale Fundraiser for Clayton Relay For Life. 8 a.m. – 12 p.m.

Starbucks, Clayton Station. relayforlife.org/claytonca.

Apr. 25 Poker Tournament Fundraiser by Soroptimist of Diablo Vista. 6:30 p.m. Concord Moose Family Center Lodge #567, 1805 Broadway St., Concord. $60. Call Sue Manning 672-2727.

May 2 Run/Walk One mile, 5K and 10K event to raise funds for Kops for Kids.

Volunteers needed also. Medals, food, drink, music. 8 a.m.

Willows Shopping Center, Iron Horse Trail, 1975 Diamond Blvd., Concord. $25-$35. contracostakopsforkids.org.

May 2 - 3 Plant Sale Benefits Markham Regional Arboretum Society. 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. 1202 La Vista Ave., Concord. 681-2968.

May 9 Art and Wine Walk Fine wine, beer, appetizers and art. Concord Branch American Association of University Women donates all proceeds to edu-

GoMentum, from page 1 AVs are self-driving cars while CVs are guided by GPS and also self-driving.

Programmed with crash avoidance systems, AVs are safer than human driven cars, said Keith Leonard, director the U.S. Department of Transportation Intelligent Transportation Systems. “In the past, we have focused on crash causes,” said Leonard. “Now we are looking at crash prevention.”

The GoMentum announcement was made at a presentation attended by national, state, regional and local leaders in March. That same day, Honda announced that they will begin testing its AV and CV technology at the CNWS. Mercedes Benz has also agreed to test their vehicles there.

The one-day “summit” was the work of CCTA Executive

Director Randy Iwasaki.

Not only will the development of the site put Concord on the map in technological way, it has the potential to bring high-paying manufacturing and tech jobs to the city.

The 1,200-acre GoMentum Station will be a research and testing hub not only for selfdriving cars, but “smart” traffic signals and other technologies.

Local and state leaders were giddy with excitement about the GoMentum site.

“This is a whole other level of innovation, and of course it’s happening in California,” says Kish Rajan, Director of the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development and a former Walnut Creek City Council member. “In the Concord Naval Weapons station we see a swath of property that is a

Mayor, from page 1 Specifically, our system dates back to the early 1900s and 132 miles of the 389 miles of sewer lines in both Concord and Clayton are 55 years old Sewer services have been provided in Concord since our incorporation in 1905. Initially we had our own sanitary sewer system and treatment plant, but the growth of the city outdistanced our capabilities and in 1974, we had to execute a service agreement with CCCSD. We

provide our own preventative maintenance, hydro cleaning approximately 100 miles per year, televising another 25 miles per year for “hotspot” cleaning and spot repairs. We also schedule capital improvement projects. Our trained staff works at performance maintenance 24/ 7.

The revenues you pay and we collect come from our property tax rolls. New connection fees are collected through the

cational scholarships for local girls and women. 1 – 4 p.m.

Todos Santos Plaza, downtown Concord. $20. concordca.aauw.net.

May 9 Festival of Tables and Fashion Proceeds from the luncheon and fashion show go to charities and scholarships selected by the Clayton Valley Woman’s Club. 11 a.m. Concord United Methodist Church, 1645 West St., Concord. $40. Call Rosemary Harwood at 672-3490.

May 9 Music-A-Thon Musical celebration marching 3.5 miles through Clayton.

Benefits CVCHS Music Program. 9 a.m. Clayton Farmers’ Market, Diablo Street, Clayton. claytonbands.org.

May 9 Rummage Sale Benefits Concord Boy Scout Troop 370. 8 a.m. – 3 p.m. The Salvation Army, 3950 Clayton Road, Concord. The troop is also accepting donations; contact Marina at 234-3470 or marinaware@msn.com or Kimm at 818-2651.

May 15 – 17 Onstage Theatre Five lovely Onstage ladies perform to raise funds for a trip to New York City where they have been invited to perform “The Ladies Quintet.” Campbell Theatre, 636 Ward St., Martinez.

Donate what you can. Call Helen for reservations: 518-3277.

AT THE LIBRARY The Concord Library is at 2900 Salvio St. Programs are free unless otherwise noted. See full schedule of events at ccclib.org or 646-5455.

GOVERNMENT 1st, 2nd and 4th Tuesdays Concord City Council 6:30 p.m., Council Chamber, Concord Civic Center, 1950 Parkside Dr. cityofconcord.org.

1st and 3rd Wednesdays Concord Planning Commission 7 p.m., Council Chamber, Concord Civic Center, 1950 Parkside Dr. cityofconcord.org.

Meeting dates and times for local clubs and organizations are listed at concordpioneer.com. Click on ‘Links’

of municipal costs. Our staff and your city council, through its Infrastructure and Franchise Committee, monitor and analyze all cost projections, meet regularly with CCCSD personnel to review and discuss their projections, and prioritize all of our capital improvement projects.

To bring you up to date on what is going on with our sewer system we recently began the Cowell/BART area spot repairs; completed the Willow Pass trunk sewer upgrade; completed Phase I of the Downtown

Sewer Project, and are conducting an on-going sewer lateral repairs and a sewer condition assessment.

Our planned capital improvement projects are to complete the sewer lateral repairs and the sewer condition assessment. We also are beginning the Downtown Sewer Phase IIb, and the Downtown Sewer Phase III, and will continue with the Cowell/BART sewer upgrades.

Believe it or not I have just scratched the surface of the sewer system issue. The com-

plexities involved in the myriad tasks being performed on a daily and regular basis would take 20 times more space than I have been allocated for this brief report.

We are facing an increase in our residential sewer service rates. You will shortly be receiving a public notice in the mail as required by State Proposition 218. I simply want to assure you I take this matter most seriously and can promise the increase will be as low as possible and still maintain the level of service you want and deserve.

permit process. Actually, our current residential annual service rate is $402. The total revenue is $24.53 million. The breakdown of this amount per household is as follows: CCCSD receives $306. (77 percent). The City of Concord receives $66 in operating costs. Debt service gets $21, and $9 is set aside for capital improvements. This may seem like little consolation, but our rate is one of the lowest in entire Bay Area.

The reason for all these numbers is to give you a more detailed picture of this one facet

As an advisor in an RIA, there is true independence in that he or she does not work as an advisor of a brokerage firm but as an advisor for the client directly.

Another important note is that instead of being regulated by the brokerage firm the brokerdealer is affiliated with, an RIA is regulated either by the state in which the firm is registered in or the Federal government agency known as the Securities Exchange Commission.

• You may be eligible for financial help that you aren’t aware of. Did you know that spouses of veterans as well as veterans are entitled to financial assistance? Kaiser offers different programs for lowincome seniors to help with medical expenses, but you have to ask for them.

John Wenzel is an investment advisor with Archvest Wealth Advisers. Send questions and comments to john@archvestwa.com

29: Family Farming, 6:30 p.m.

2: Permaculture with Bumblebee Farms, 10:30 a.m.

4: Celebrate Children’s Book Week, 4 p.m.

9: Gaming Club discussion, 10:30 a.m.

11: Clayton Knits, 1:30 p.m.

18: College Financial Planning, 7 p.m.

PERFECT SITE The CNWS is the perfect site

Senior, from page 13

OBJECTIVE ADVICE In order to provide an objective recommendation all financial advisors, whether a broker-dealer or RIA, need to consider the

Apr. May May May May May

Privacy and security are also big concerns. Are they secure from a cyber perspective — in other words, are automated vehicles vulnerable to hackers?

Another problem may come from the efficiency of automated vehicles themselves. As drivers reduce their gas costs, they are reducing gas tax revenue. How can cities and counties recoup that? Many feel that a “road user fee” may be the only way to replace that revenue.

Many leaders at the March meeting stressed the need for public and private collaboration.

“A connected future is bigger than government and bigger than private industry,” said Global Automakers President and CEO John Bozzella.

Other local leaders attending the event included Assemblywoman Susan Bonilla, County Supervisor Karen Mitchoff, and the four other Concord City Council members, among others.

good jobs for our kids and grandkids. Making this site available to the big auto makers and the ancillary manufacturers and services encourages them to locate plants in Concord and could make the Hwy 4 corridor the ‘Silicon Valley’ of the AV/CV industry.”

“I think it’s a wonderful opportunity for us,” Concord Mayor Tim Grayson said.

Honda agreed. “The Concord Naval Weapons Station is an ideal proving ground to augment Honda’s research and development efforts because it is a controlled environment that can be continuously modified to represent a wide array of settings that an automated vehicle must navigate, especially for urban operation,” said Paul Cummings, a research director for Honda.

• Sometimes the solution is placing a loved one in an Assisted Living Community.

When this is the right solution there still may be reluctance because the patient has always said they don’t want to be “put away” or they don’t want to leave their home. Try

The Clayton Library is at 6125 Clayton Road. Programs are free unless otherwise noted. See full schedule of events at claytonlibrary.org or call 673-0659.

for GoMentum testing because there is a straight “spine” of level paved road seven miles long. It is already set up for speed testing, and the grid has intersections.

There are also plenty of obstacles to navigate, such as 1,400 feet of tunnels, a freeway overpass, four-way intersections and variable road conditions with hills, slopes and even a rail road crossing. There are also plenty of parking lots to test self-parking.

There are still some roadblocks leaders must navigate, including the amount of bandwidth available. The current spectrum is not big enough to handle all the data coming from AVs and CVs, since the cars will be connected by wifi, smartphones, and cable.

“Right now, our capacity isn’t enough,” said Telecommunications Industry Association CEO Scott Belcher. “Without expansion, we will lose spectrum in two to five years,”

canvas for a whole new era of research and development capabilities.”

He says that the unique location of the CNWS, with the amount of land available and its distance from urban centers, lends itself to a rigorous testing site like GoMentum.

“How awesome to look at this piece of land, which seems unusable for now, and to see its value? That’s what having the GoMentum site means.”

He says he’s always believed that central Contra Costa County, with its proximity to Silicon Valley, San Francisco and Sacramento, where major land use policy is made, makes it a perfect hub for new transportation and other emerging technology.

CCTA Chairwoman and Clayton City Council member Julie Pierce agreed that adding the GoMentum site was a winwin for the region. “All of this technology will create jobs —

Financial, from page 13 client’s financial needs, objectives and unique circumstances. An advisor should always disclose any conflicts of interest he or she might have including any fee arrangements had with the brokerage firm or outside referral source. Most importantly, this is a business built on trust and relationships. You should always feel confident and comfortable with your advisor. If your senses are telling you otherwise it’s time to shop for a new advisor.

Apr. 25: Rosie the Riveters, 1 p.m.

Apr. 25 at 10 a.m. and Apr. 30 at 5 p.m.: Covered California Special Enrollment Apr. 30: ID Theft, 6 p.m. English; 7:30 p.m. Spanish.

Registration required.

a respite period. Once they have adjusted they may really enjoy the association and activity.

There is probably always going to be some guilt when caring for a loved one, but it can be minimized by knowledge and acceptance of the situation.

Remember there is help available by others who understand what you are going through.

Sue Capson is Executive Director of The Courtyards at Pine Creek Assisted Living and Memory Care in Concord. Email scapson@courtyardsatpinecreek.com.

Glasbergen Chuckles

Page 16

Concord Pioneer • www.concordpioneer.com

April 24, 2015

SPORTS Spring sports seasons move towards playoffs JAY BEDECARRÉ Concord Pioneer

April and May are jampacked with league, section and state championships at stake in the eight spring sports for the local high schools. Athletes and teams are geared up for the climax of their seasons and school year as they test their skills at the highest possible levels.

SWIMMING & DIVING This is a special year for high school swimming with the firstever CIS State Swimming Championships slated for the Clovis West Aquatic Complex May 22-23. The nation’s largest state has also led the way in swimming performances for decades and having a CIF cham-

pionship is expected to product a pool full of records.

No one is looking more forward to this than Northgate’s boys who won the North Coast Section title last spring and return five of the six major scorers for the Broncos. Junior Max Bottene and four seniors who have already committed to college for next year—Mason Tittle (UC Santa Barbara), Calvin Kirkpatrick (UC Santa Barbara), Stanley Wu (Florida) and Eric VanBrocklin (UC Santa Barbara)—have led the team through an undefeated schedule so far.

Carondelet was third at NCS last year and the Cougars hope to improve on that placing and move a number of swimmers onto State meet.

The final DVAL dual meets were this Wednesday with the league championships at College Park May 1-2. NCS finals are at Concord Community Pool May 14-16 with not only section titles at stake but berths in the state meet in the offing for the top three swimmers in each event.

There will be a maximum of 24 swimmers in each state event coming from the 10 section championships.

TRACK & FIELD De La Salle was third at NCS and at the State meet last year and the Spartans have a number of top NCS performers this spring currently ranked in the top 10 of NCS—Isaiah De Leon (800), Roc Johnson (1600), Jonathan Harvey (300 hurdles)

Concord CYO teams take home season-ending championships ST. AGNES 8TH

GRADE GIRLS

DIOCESE

CHAMPS

Photo courtesy St. Agnes CYO

St. Agnes eighth grade girls capped their season with the Oakland Diocese CYO East Division championship by beating rivals St. John Vianney of Walnut Creek 34-24 in the finals. The Saints earlier defeated Santa Maria of Orinda and St. Catherine of Martinez in the semis. The champs include, kneeling from left, Gabby Duran, Taryn Cunningham; standing, coach Chris Duran, Sheridan Todd, Stephanie Keeler, Ryan Park, Carissa Capinpin, Gabby Riva, Skylar Aldridge, Dariana Mihalache, Kylie Chen and coach Charlie Cunningham.

TOC crown comes to St. Bonaventure 7th grade boys The St. Bonaventure boys A-2 seventh grade squad had a fantastic season that concluded with winning the Tournament of Champions. Their TOC run entailed beating three league champs including a revenge win over defending champion St. Perpetua, who ousted the Bulldogs last year. The team includes front row from left, Lucas Lauricella, J.T. Wheeler, Yama Asalati; back row, assistant coach Lawrence Hamilton Sr., Kalani U’U, Joe Laxa, Jack Gwynn, Lawrence Hamilton Jr. and head coach Dave Gwynn.

Not pictured, Andrew Saxton and Lucas Calica.

Photo courtesy St. Bonaventure CYO

Local Aquanut swimmers shine at US National Synchronized Swimming Championships Over 350 athletes from all over the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico traveled to the Soda Aquatic Center in Moraga for the U.S. National Synchronized Swimming Championships earlier this month. The week-long Nationals were held in California for the first time in 20 years.

The U.S. Senior National Squad wowed the audience and won the team free event. Lindenwood University was second and Santa Clara Aquamaids third. Concord’s Mariya Koroleva, a 2012 Olympian and current WCA coach, was part of the winning team as she continues her drive to qualify for the

American Olympic team in Rio next year.

The Aquanuts earned gold in the senior combo free followed by the Aquamaids and the New Canaan Y Aquianas. The team includes Natalie Fletcher of Concord and New Yorker Rachel Jager, who stays with a Concord family while training with the Aquanuts.

Mira Miller of Concord was part of the 13/15 age group Aquanuts A team that brought home the silver medal. The Walnut Creek B team with Concord’s Eva Eleftheriadis took eighth.

The USA Synchro event was co-hosted by the Aquanuts and

Aquamaids. The event covered three championships: U.S. Senior Nationals, Junior Nationals and 13/15 Nationals.

WCA President Jeff Langner commented that having the opportunity to co-host the event was an opportunity for the local club to shine in the eyes of USA Synchro, not only as competitors but as collaborative event partners. “Our boosters logged over 550 volunteer hours preparing for this event,” said Langner, “ I am very proud of our club, from the award-winning athletes to the coaches who work tirelessly training the girls, to the parents who always come through in a big way! We nailed it!”

Jay Bedecarre photos

JEFF WILLIAMS (LEFT) AND KAHLIL MCKENZIE have posted top five marks in North Coast Section weight events while helping Clayton Valley Charter High School to the DVAL track and field championship. The league meet is at Ygnacio Valley High May 7-9.

and both relays.

Clayton Valley Charter is leading the way in DVAL track and field. Kahlil McKenzie (2nd in shot put, 8th in discus) and Jeff Williams (4th discus) have posted the top performances on the section level. Christian Brandt-Sims of Ygnacio Valley is currently second in the 110 hurdles, four spots ahead of Northgate’s Ryan Mandich.

Carondelet was sixth at NCS last spring and led by junior Julianna Ruotolo (200, 400 and high jump) and senior Christina Chenault (triple jump, long jump and relays) the Cougars figure to be competitive again.

Makayla Scott and Katie Kern also have NCS rankings.

League tri-meets wrap up next Wednesday, April 29, with the DVAL Championships at Ygnacio Valley are May 7-9 starting the grind towards the CIS State Meet at Clovis Veterans Memorial Stadium June 5-6.

Following the league meet are the Tri Valley Area Meet May 23 at Amador Valley in Pleasanton and the NCS Meet of Championships May 29-30 at Cal Berkeley.

BASEBALL DVAL baseball and perhaps NCS as well is graced with a once-in a generation player in College Park’s Joe DeMers. The senior is a lock to win his fourth starting league MVP award. He’s

been called by one long-time local baseball observer “a combination of Clayton Valley pitching legend Ron Olson and Ygnacio Valley High’s Kiko Garcia [who went on to star in the World Series for the Baltimore Orioles].”

DeMers and his College Park teammates are ranked in the top 20 in the nation. DeMers was batting a cool .405 through last weekend and had a 7-0 pitching mark including two no-hitters and a microscopic earned run average of 0.30.

The Falcons won the Division II NCS championship last

See Playoffs, page 19

Clayton Valley Athletic Hall of Fame class features wide range of honorees JAY BEDECARRÉ Concord Pioneer

Ten athletes including two Olympic bronze medalists, a coach, two teams and a community supporter comprise the fourth class to be inducted into the Clayton Valley High School Athletic Hall of Fame on May 16.

Inductees are volleyball coach Gary Gardner, community supporter Matt Mazzei, 1967 wrestling and 1977 girls volleyball teams and athletes Derrell Hoschouer (Class of 1967 wrestling), Tom McCarty (1972 football and baseball), Paul Belluomini (1974 football, wrestling and track), John Mahloch (1986 basketball), Mike Wojciehowski (1996 cross country and track), Tiffany Edwards (1990 soccer, tennis, softball and track), Lori Hokerson (1991 volleyball, soccer and track), Lindsay Kiyama (2005 water polo, basketball and swimming), Erin Dobratz McGregor (2000 swimming) and Kara Kohler (2009 swimming).

Dobratz and Kohler were excellent swimmers while at CV but went on to international glory in other sports. Dobratz was a long-time member of the Walnut Creek Aquanuts and then went to Stanford on a synchronized swimming scholarship. She took bronze for the United States at the 2004 Athens Olympics.

Kohler was introduced to rowing when visiting Cal during her 2009 senior year at Clayton Valley. She took to the sport immediately and rowed for USA national senior and junior teams and then took part in the London Olympics in 2012, finishing third in the quad sculls. She is currently training for a berth at the Rio Olympics next year.

Dobratz and Kohler were

Photo courtesy Clayton Valley High School archives

THE 1977 NORTH COAST SECTION CHAMPIONSHIP CVHS GIRLS VOLLEYBALL TEAM will be inducted into the school’s Athletic Hall of Fame May 16. Head coach Gary Gardner coached the Eagles to three North Coast Section championships and four consecutive league titles from 1976-79. The 1976 girls were inducted as part of the inaugural CVHS Hall of Fame in 2008.

The team included, front row from left, Karey Sheehan, Anne Lopez, Kelly Ruiz, Starry Suttich; back row, Gardner, Sharon York, Barbara Busick, Teresa Austin and Sandy Satre. Sheehan and Suttich have been inductees as individual athletes.

all-America in their sports at Stanford and Cal respectively.

They also both swam for the Dana Hills Swim Team in Clayton and were high-point winners at the county swim meet.

The 1977 girls volleyball team and its coach are both being inducted. Gardner led the Eagles to North Coast Section titles in 1976, 1977 and 1979 and four straight league titles from 1976-79. The ’76 team won the inaugural Section girls volleyball championship and are members of the first CVHS Hall of Fame class from 2008.

The 1967 wrestling team was coached by Hall of Famer Roger Zino and was part of a streak that included over 30 consecutive dual meet wins plus the Del Valle Invitational Tour-

nament, DVAL and North Coast Section titles. They capped the year as North State runners-up.

The community/leadership honoree Mazzei is a CVHS alum who has been a major supporter of the baseball program as well as the rest of the school’s athletic teams. His two children also were student athletes at the school.

The Hall of Fame began in 2008 during the school’s silver anniversary year. Additional classes were added in 2010 and 2013.

The induction dinner is on Saturday, May 16, at Centre Concord. The dinner begins at 6:30 p.m. after a social hour starting at 5 o’clock. Tickets are now on sale through the school’s website claytonvalley.org.

April 24, 2015

Concord Pioneer • www.concordpioneer.com

youth baseball in JOBL and NorCal Grizzlies before high school.

Sophomore Alyssa Pluth earned allDVAL recognition both years. Her Minutemen basketball squad made NCS for the first time since 2010. She led her team in steals and assists and was the third leading scorer. The 5-6 point guard also plays AAU basketball for the Cal Stars and in an Asian league for Rising Suns. This spring she joined the CHS track team competing in the sprints, 4x100 relay and long jump.

She has been hitting the books too with a 3.6 overall GPA.

Athlete Spotlight Jonathan Pluth Class: Senior

MDSA Strikers FC take Soccerfest crown and look ahead to Concord Cup XXII

The Concord Pioneer congratulates Alyssa and Jonathan and thanks Athlete Spotlight sponsors Dr. Laura Lacey & Dr. Christopher Ruzicka who have been serving the Clayton and Concord area for 25 years at Family Vision Care Optometry. www.laceyandruzicka.com

Alyssa Pluth Class: Sophomore School: Concord High School Sports: Baseball, Basketball, Track & Field Concord natives brother and sister Jonathan and Alyssa Pluth have put their mark on Concord High School sports, assisting their teams to section playoffs while excelling in the classroom as well.

Senior Jonathan Pluth has been first-team

Page 17

all-Diablo Valley Athletic League shortstop the past two seasons as the Minutemen made it to the North Coast Section tournament. This season his excellent batting average of .325 can’t match his overall grade point average of 3.75. He played

Do you know a young athlete who should be recognized? Perhaps he or she has shown exceptional sportsmanship, remarkable improvement or great heart for the sport. Send your nomination for the Pioneer Athlete Spotlight today to sports@concordpioneer.com.

Local football, cheer squads change name to CVAA Jr. Eagles

Photo courtesy MDSA

MDSA STRIKERS FC WILL BE PLAYING IN CONCORD CUP XXII May 16-17 after taking first place in the PHMSA Soccerfest for under 12 boys last month at Diablo Valley College. The Strikers won two of three games to gain a semi-final berth and then defeated Concord United to earn a spot in championship finale against Manteca Earthquakes. The Strikers had lost to Manteca 3-1 the prior Sunday in the semi-finals of the AYSO Select tournament in Davis. This time the Strikers rebounded from going behind 1-0 to score three unanswered goals for a 3-1 final win. MDSA Strikers FC include, front row from left, Daniel Calles, Riley Claunch, Anthony Montoya, Bakari Johnson, Giovani Moreno and Riley Mendonca; back row, coach Jorge Cordova, Mateo Cordova, Justin Gould, Alex Hockenbery, Ryan Chand, Nicolas Campos and coach Anthony Campos. Not pictured, Joey Hawk.

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cheer squad (13 years and younger) was first in show cheer and third in performance cheer. The Falcons’ level 3 squad was a double national champion in 2014.

Both teams qualified for Nationals at competitions during the regular fall football season.

The level 2 cheer squad was Brook Arcanin, Rhyan Ayala, Madison Caldwell, Alie Cicconi, Halle Cohen, Kayla Concepcion, Brianna DeLuna, Kaitlyn Dunn, Marisa Mancini, Rachael Miller, Frieda Nemon, Haley Rose, Autumn Wells and Morgan Wigton.

The level 3 team included Caitlin Biles, Riley Bluth, Maddelyn Brigance, Sydney Caulder, Reagan Clemons, Hailey Con-

ger, Ashley Davidson, Jordyn Jennings, Leilonei Johnson, Kennedy Lee, Kylee Rinaldi, Miranda Romo, Ashlyn Scott, Savannah Sprague, Chloe Wigton, Isabelle Wilson and Alissa Zavala.

Online registration for the 2015 football and cheer season is now open at cvaajreagles.com.

The Jr. Eagles will hold in-person registration May 15 at the Clayton Valley Little League Hit-a-thon at Clayton Community Park and on June 7 and July 12 at Mountain Mike’s Pizza by Clayton Valley Bowl from 12 noon – 3 p.m.

The age range for Jr. Eagles football is 7-14 and cheerleading is 5-14. First day of practice is Aug. 3.

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is running the same formations and base plays as the high school,” Cooney adds.

“We were due for new jerseys, so the timing was perfect.

Our youth kids look up to the high school football players and cheerleaders. You can find a large number of our participants cheering for the Eagles on Friday nights. Now they will be cheering them on wearing their new red, white and blue uniforms.”

The Falcons had four football teams reach playoffs in 2014.

The cheer squads went them one better earlier this year in Las Vegas. At the JAMZ Youth National Championships the national level 2 squad (12 years and younger) took first place in their division for performance cheer and third in show cheer out of 12 teams at The Orleans Arena.

The older national level 3

Voted

Thornwood

Photo courtesy CVAA Falcons cheer

CVAA FALCONS CHEER TEAMS WILL BE CHANGING THEIR TEAM NAME TO CVAA JR. EAGLES and taking new colors (red, white and blue) for the fall season. Before then, two Falcons cheer teams went out with a bang. At the JAMZ Nationals competition in Las Vegas the national level 2 squad took first in their division for performance cheer and third in show cheer. The older national level 3 team (above) was first in show cheer and third in performance cheer. They were also 2014 National Champions.

Treat

The Clayton Valley area has had a youth football program for over 40 years and during that time the teams have been known as the Condors, Golden Eagles, Chaparrals and, since 1988, Falcons. This fall when the youth football and cheer squads come out for their first game they will be in new red, white and blue uniforms emblazoned with Jr. Eagles, the Clayton Valley Athletic Association’s new name.

CVAA Board president Dave Cooney says, “We have been talking about it [name change] for a few years. The last couple of years, Clayton Valley Charter High School has really gone out of their way to accommodate us and make us feel welcome. A large majority of our players and cheerleaders go on to become student athletes at CVCHS. We felt now was a great time to embrace them by switching our colors and mascot.”

The Clayton Valley Charter varsity that went to the CIF State football championship game in December had 38 former Falcons on its roster.

Among the former Falcons was all-state standout Miles Harrison, who was actually a lineman when he played for the Falcons.

CVAA programs are open to all boys and girls in the area.

Last fall the starting quarterbacks for De La Salle (Anthony Sweeney) and Concord (allDVAL Mitch Daniels) were Falcons alumnus, as were Mason Knight and Jed Gwynn, Daniels’ favorite receivers.

Cooney explains that all Jr. Eagles teams run a variation of the wing offense which CVCHS head coach Tim Murphy has used to bring the local high school three straight league titles. “Our oldest level [midget]

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Page 18

Concord Pioneer • www.concordpioneer.com

April 24, 2015

Kristian Ipsen qualifies for Worlds by finishing first and second JAY BEDECARRÉ Concord Pioneer

De La Salle grad Kristian Ipsen kept up a hectic schedule when he barely finished his final NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships for Stanford in Iowa and he was headed to Greensboro, NC less than two weeks later for the USA Diving Synchronized National Championships.

The stakes were high in Carolina as berths for the American synchro teams in the World Championships were in the offing for the winners.

Ipsen ended up doing something unique as he finished first and second in the threemeter synchro event earning the Clayton man a trip to Kazan, Russia for the World Championships beginning July 24.

Sam Dorman teamed with Ipsen to score 853.38 points over two lists of 3M synchro dives to earn the national title

and a trip to the World Championships. The pair sat in third place after the preliminaries.

The duo came back with 438.45 points in the finals to secure the national title. Dorman and Ipsen took the lead after their fifth round front 3 ½ pike scored 80.91 points, while the two teams ahead of them — coincidentally teams they also were a part of — missed their dives in that same round.

Ipsen also finished second for his team with Troy Dumais as divers could compete on more than one team. Ipsen and Dumais, the 2012 Olympic bronze medalists in 3M synchro, finished second with 834.81 points.

“I’m super tired now. It wasn’t too difficult (diving with more than one partner) because we all do similar hurdles and similar back presses.

It was a little confusing having to think before we went what dive we were doing next. Our

[his two teams] orders were completely different and I had to keep looking at the sheet to make sure we were doing the right dive. Other than that, it wasn’t too bad. It was pretty fun, actually,” Ipsen said.

“I’m excited. Sam and I are both finishing up college, so we’re going to be able to get in a little more training time together, which will be nice.

Before this, the last time Sam and I trained together was U.S. nationals in Ohio in December. I feel like we’ll be able to perfect some of the little things before Worlds.”

The Stanford senior went into the NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships at the end of March in Iowa on a red hot streak but came away from his final collegiate meet with two third-place finishes, the first time in four years he didn’t claim a first- or secondplace national championship medal.

Ipsen was third in both the

Band serenades Clayton Valley Little League on opening day

Photo by Juan Mariaca

20TH RED DEVIL CLASSIC GOLF TOURNAMENT JUNE 26 Registration is open for the 20th annual Red Devil Classic golf tournament scheduled for Friday, June 26, at Diablo Creek Golf Course in Concord. Contact Lou Adamo louadamo@gmail.com or Ralph Vallis rv76667@aol.com to become a sponsor, play golf or attend the dinner. The event benefits Mt. Diablo High School student athletes and promotes academic success.

NORTH COAST SECTION ALIGNMENT DECISION COMING TUESDAY The North Coast Section Board of Managers meets next Tuesday in El Cerrito and on the agenda is the finalization of the 20162020 alignment of NCS schools and leagues. Five of the conferences are on the consent calendar after proposed alignments received unanimous approval from their respective alignment committees. The Valley Conference, which includes all local high schools, has been through a more contentious process primarily focused on the placement of Clayton Valley Charter High School.

It is expected that the proposed alignment which will create two new super leagues and place CVCHS with the rest of the current Diablo Valley Athletic League schools and six Diablo Foothill Athletic League schools for a 12-team league will be approved. Previously Clayton Valley Charter was recommended to be moved to the East County-based Bay Valley Athletic League before Heritage High appealed that proposal earlier this year.

CONCORD COBRAS YOUTH FOOTBALL SIGNUPS OPEN ONLINE

freshman in 2012 was the first by a Stanford male diver in 82 years. He was shut out of firstplace national championship finishes last year too.

USA Diving also announced that Ipsen is one of 32 divers selected to the AT&T High Performance Squad for 2015. The AT&T High Performance Squad includes the divers who most exhibit the potential, skill and

determination to become 2016 Olympic Team members.

Pending U.S. qualification, a maximum of 16 divers will compete for Team USA at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio. The squad has been proven to be a pipeline to the Olympics as all 11 members of the 2012 U.S. Olympic Team for diving were members of the group in the years leading up to London.

Warriors world championship aspirations are within reach

TYLER LEHMAN SPORTS TALK

Softball mini minor Mustangs softball team marched during the recent Clayton Valley Little League opening ceremonies at Clayton Community Park serenaded by the Clayton Valley Charter High School marching band. League board members welcomed the crowd representing 50 baseball and softball teams totaling about 600 players. The league will hold its annual fund-raising Hit-A-Thon and picture day on Saturday, May 16, at the park. The regular season is underway and concludes in early June.

Sports Shorts

one- and three-meter events at NCAA. He wasn’t the only former champ to fail to win a title this year. Sophomore Michael Hixon, who transferred from Texas to Indiana this year, failed to defend either of his 2014 springboard championships.

The Clayton diver won three NCAA championships and three runner-up finishes.

His 3M championship as a

The Golden State Warriors regular season was tremendous.

The team clinched its first Pacific Division title in 39 years and finished as the No. 1 team overall with 67 victories, the most in franchise history.

As a Warriors fan, it’s almost like walking through a dream.

The fact that the Warriors have been so good this year, in an extremely competitive Western Conference, is amazing. They begin their journey towards an NBA title against the No. 8 seed New Orleans Pelicans.

All the success of the team leads one to believe that this season could possibly end with a world championship, their first since Rick Barry led Al Attles’ team to the 1975 title.

The Warriors have not had this type of success in quite a while. Mark Jackson took the team to back-to-back playoff appearances in 2013 and 2014,

yet those Warriors were nowhere near as good as they are now.

This year’s team isn’t just beating their opponents, they are embarrassing them. The Warriors boasted the highest point per game differential in the league at 10.1 and their starters didn’t have to play lengthy minutes.

Steph Curry only averages 33 minutes per game, the second fewest in his career. Klay Thompson averages 32 minutes and Andrew Bogut is averaging a career low 23.6.

The brand of basketball the Warriors play is built to win in the playoffs. Forget the outdated saying that “jump shooting teams can’t win a title” and think about the saying “defense wins championships.”

The Warriors lead the league in defensive efficiency. Their defense is aggressive and stifling. The anchor of the defense, Draymond Green, is a mauler on the court. The power forward may only be 6 feet 7 inches tall, but he can guard almost anybody.

The team has other great defenders as well. Bogut is one of the best rim-protectors in the league; Andre Iguodala is still an outstanding defender at 31 and Thompson is one of the best perimeter defenders.

Come playoff time, the shots

might not fall some nights, but that may be irrelevant. The Warriors defense is good enough to translate into offense off steals and fastbreak opportunities.

Curry is going to absolutely dominate playoff games.

Whether it be a wicked crossover on Chris Paul or dribbling through four Clippers defenders for a fadeaway three, MVP candidate Curry finds ways to make jaw-dropping plays on a nightly basis. He has the potential to take a game over with his ball-handling and wicked-quick release from downtown.

The Warriors also have in Steve Kerr a coach who won five NBA championships as a player and this season set the alltime rookie head coach wins record. Their offense moves the ball incredibly well and their defense is suffocating.

There really aren’t too many holes in the Warriors game, so what else is there to do but bring home an NBA championship to the Bay Area for the first time since ’75?

Tyler Lehman is a junior at San Francisco State University and a 2012 CVHS graduate. He is majoring in print/online journalism and wants to be a sports writer. Email your comments or questions to tyler@concordpioneer.com.

CLAYTON VALLEY LITTLE LEAGUE SEEKING UMPIRES

WALNUT COUNTRY PREPS FOR SUMMER SEASON

Clayton Valley Little League season is in full swing and the league is reaching out to recruit more volunteer umpires. The greatest need is umpiring games for minor divisions in baseball and softball (ages 8 -11). Anybody 12 years or older is eligible to be an umpire. CVLL provides full protection equipment and training. Those having an interest in umpiring should contact the league by email info@cvll.org.

Walnut Country Swim Team training is now underway with registration open at walnutcountryeaglerays.com. Questions on WCST can be directed to Julie Sandy at julsands@gmail.com.

DIABLO FC U15-U18 TEAMS HOLDING OPEN TRAINING SESSIONS

Diablo FC is holding open training sessions for boys and girls U15-U18 players for 2015-16 season. The club’s U15-U18 premier teams all compete in the highest level of Nor Cal Premier in the National Premier League. Open training sessions are an opportunity for players to train with teams and be evaluated for initial player placement. For more information and schedule visit diablofc.org.

DANA HILLS SWIM TEAM TAKING ONLINE REGISTRATIONS Dana Hills Swim Team, which has won 22 of the past 23 Concord City Championships, is still accepting online registration. Practice for the summer season has started with the team time trails on May 17. Visit danahillsotters.com to sign up.

SUMMER PROGRAMS REGISTRATION OPEN AT ALL OUT SPORTS LEAGUES Registration for summer programs for youth basketball, youth volleyball and tee ball plus adult volleyball and softball are open in Clayton offered by All Out Sports Leagues. For complete information on All Out Sports programs, visit alloutsportsleague.com.

CONCORD AYSO FALL LEAGUE REGISTRATION NIGHTS UPCOMING

Concord Cobras are members of the DYSA NorCal Youth Football and Cheer League. The Cobras football and cheer squads are in a league with Suisun City Titans, Oakland Jr. Raiders, Antioch Spartans, San Francisco Warriors and Pittsburg Jr. Pirates. Registration for fall league is now open to boys and girls 5-14 years for cheer and football at concordyouthfootball.com.

Registration for Concord AYSO fall league is being held at Concord High School this Thursday, April 23, 7-8:30 p.m. and Thursday, May 21, 6-8 p.m. at Bambino’s Restaurant on Farm Bureau Rd. in Concord. Girls and boys 4-18 can register. Visit concordayso.org or email rec@concordayso.org.

OAKHURST ORCAS SET MEET AND GREET NIGHT THURS.

NEW NAME, NEW SEASON FOR YOUTH FOOTBALL,

Oakhurst Orcas are accepting mail or drop off registrations for the summer rec swim team season at Oakhurst Country Club. Meet and greet registration at the pool is this Thursday, April 23, from 6:30-8 p.m. Visit oakhurstorcas.com for more information or e-mail head coach Jasmine Millan at swimcoach@oakhurstcc.com.

CHEER ORGANIZATION

Clayton Valley youth football and cheer teams are now known as CVAA Jr. Eagles. Online registration for the upcoming fall football and cheer teams is open with the first in-person registration day Saturday, May 16, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. at Clayton Community Park. Visit their new website cvaajreagles.com for more information.

CV ATHLETIC HALL OF FAME DINNER MAY 16 Clayton Valley High School Athletic Hall of Fame will induct its fourth class on Saturday, May 16, at Centre Concord. The dinner begins at 6:30 p.m. after a social hour starting at 5 o’clock. Tickets are now on sale through the school’s website claytonvalley.org.

SPRINGWOOD SWIM TEAM SIGN-UPS ONLINE For more info on Springwood Swim Team email team director Dori Freitas at dorifreitas@att.net. Practice for the summer rec season began this week.

CONCORD CUP XXII SOCCER COMING MAY 16-17 The area’s largest annual youth soccer tournament, Concord Cup, returns for its 22nd season at a variety of local parks May 16-17.

Boys and girls club and recreation teams from under 10 through U19 are eligible to participate. Visit concordcup.com for complete information and to register a team or referee to participate.

YGNACIO WOOD SWIMMING SIGNUPS ONLINE For online Ygnacio Valley Swim Team registration and details about YWST team, club and activities visit ywst.org. Pre-season training is underway.

CONCORD ADULT SOFTBALL, KICKBALL AND PICKLEBALL REGISTRATION OPEN

Adults looking for exercise in a fun environment can sign up for one of Concord’s adult sports leagues – softball, coed kickball or pickleball. The city offers one of the largest adult softball leagues in the Bay Area for all skill levels. The summer season started last week and runs through July. New this year is a Tuesday night Wooden Bat League. For more information on all Concord Rec adult sports programs contact Kathryn Monroy at 671-3074.

For all Concord Parks & Recreation classes now taking registration, visit concordreg.org.

FOREST PARK FLYERS PREPPING FOR 2015 SWIM SEASON The Forest Park Swim Team is inviting swimmers 4-18 years to spend their summer learning stroke technique and sportsmanship.

Contact Eve Crow for more info at membership@forestparkswimteam.com or visit forestparkswimteam.com.

April 24, 2015

Concord Pioneer • www.concordpioneer.com

Page 19

PETS

Keeping cats healthy in senior years

DEBBIE DEMELLO

PET PALS Just as people are living longer than in the past, cats are living longer too. In fact, the percentage of cats living over the age of 10 has nearly doubled in the last decade.

Cats are individuals and like people age in their own different ways. Many cats begin to encounter age related physical changes between seven and 10 years and most do so by the

time they are 12.

Aging is a natural process and although many complex physical changes come with it, age in and of itself is not a disease. Even though many conditions that affect older cats aren't correctable, often they are controllable.

The key to making sure your senior cat has the healthiest and highest quality of life is to recognize and reduce factors that may be health risks and detect disease as early as possible. The aging process is accompanied by many physical and behavioral changes. Compared to younger cats, the immune system of older cats is less able to fend off foreign invaders. Older cats tend to groom themselves less effectively than younger cats, which can lead to hair matting, skin odor and inflammation. The claws of an older cat are often

overgrown and brittle.

Aging is often accompanied by changes in eyesight. Dental disease is very common in aging cats and can hinder eating and cause significant pain. Feline kidneys undergo a number of age-related changes that may ultimately lead to impaired function. Kidney failure is a common disease in older cats and the symptoms are varied.

Owners of older cats often notice changes in their old friend's behavior but consider these changes inevitable and untreatable results of aging and fail to report them to their veterinarian. Failure to use a litter box, change in activity levels and changes in eating and sleeping habits are common. Before assuming these changes are behavioral rule out any medical issues. For example, a cat with painful arthritis may have diffi-

culty gaining access to a litter box and urinating or defecating in an inappropriate place is a natural result.

Cats are expert at hiding illness and elderly cats are no exception. It is common for an older cat to have a serious medical condition yet not show any signs of it until the condition is quite advanced. Since most diseases can be managed more successfully when detected and treated early in their course it's important to carefully monitor your senior cat's behavior and health.

At least once a year examinations will go a long way in keeping your old friend in the best possible health for the longest possible time.

Debbie DeMello is a dog trainer and owner of Who’s Training Who in Walnut Creek. Contact her at debdemello@aol.com

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Playoffs, from page 16 year after being eliminated in the semi-finals in 2012 and 2013.

De La Salle has been even a little better winning two of the past three Division I titles (2012 and 2014) plus finishing second in 2011 and 2013 when they weren’t champs. The Spartans have seven section titles since 1996.

The last league games are May 14. The four-team league playoffs are May 19 and 21.

NCS starts May 26 and runs through finals June 5 and 6.

BOYS GOLF The DVAL tournament hosted by Ygnacio Valley is Monday with the final league matches this Thursday.

The qualifying meets are May 4. Division I is at Lone Tree Golf Course in Antioch and DII is at Blue Rock Springs GC in Vallejo. The NCS Tournament of Champions is May 11 at Monarch Bay GC in San Leandro, the NorCals May 18 at Corral De Tierra Country Club in Salinas leading to the state finals at Poppy Hills GC in Pebble Beach June 3.

BOYS TENNIS College Park and Northgate are topping the DVAL standings.

DVAL dual matches finish up this Thursday with the league meet next week on April 28 and 30. The NCS singles and dou-

Three-year-old Jet is a lovely girl who enjoys playing with toys and is very affectionate. She can be on the shy side at first, preferring a gentle approach, but get her playing and you’ll be best friends. She is suitable for a first time cat guardian.

bles meet is May 8-9 while the team NCS finals are May 12, 14 and 16.

LACROSSE Carondelet had its three-year reign as NCS champions stopped in the 2014 finals by league rival Amador Valley. De La Salle won its fourth NCS crown since 2008 last year.

DVAL league play concludes May 5. The league playoffs will feature No. 1 seed vs. No. 4 and 2 vs. 3 on May 6 and 8. NCS play runs May 13-23 for boys and May 13-21 for girls.

SOFTBALL Concord teams have been a major factor in NCS Division II softball this decade. Concord High has won three NCS titles since 2010 while Carondelet was

Meet your forever friend at Tony La Russa’s Animal Rescue Foundation, 2890 Mitchell Drive, Walnut Creek, during adoption hours: Noon to 6 pm Wednesday & Thursday, Noon to 7 pm Friday, and Noon to 6 pm Saturday & Sunday. The primary caretaker must be present to adopt. ARF also encourages kids 16 and younger and canine family members (dog adoptions only) to be present during the adoption process.

Would you like to be part of the heroic team that saves the lives of rescued dogs and cats? Can you share your talents to connect people and animals? ARF volunteers are making a difference! For more information see our website, www.arflife.org, or call (925) 256-1ARF.

second in 2011 and 2014 and CVCHS was runner-up to its cross-town rival Concord in 2013. The Minutemen recently won the HASA tournament over College Park in the finals and the teams split their DVAL games the next week.

Final DVAL games are May 14 with the league tournament for the top four teams May 19 and 21. NCS begins May 26 and concludes June 6.

BOY’S VOLLEYBALL Northgate (DII) and De La Salle (DI) were section runnersup last year.

DVAL league matches conclude May 7 and there’s no league tournament. The NCS playoffs run May 12-23 with NorCals May 26-30.

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April 24, 2015

Beetle attacks drought-stressed trees SUSAN SAPPINGTON

CLOTHES-UP

Short Torso

Long Torso

Long Legs

Short Legs

and the southern Sierras due to the state’s drought conditions, says William Miller, Environmental Scientist with California State Parks. Drought and other types of stress can reduce the ability of trees to produce pitch, which then allow the Ips to invade. Cycles of drought-related outbreaks of Ips

The policy of Mount Diablo State Park is to allow natural processes to run their course, intervening only for conservation reasons or to mitigate for hazards. Coulter pines on Mount Diablo are important because they are among the most northern stands in their range. Miller says they are monitoring the situation and consulting with experts to ensure new trees will sprout when the rains return.

It’s unlikely park officials will remove dead trees, since they can be an important habitat type. Miller says that the Park is consulting with Cal Fire on any fire danger the dead trees might pose “We may remove some of the dead trees at a later date to reduce the impact of potential future fires on the remaining Coulter pines.”

Balanced

A small beetle is the culprit behind the swath of dead and dying tress visible from the Mitchell Canyon side of Mount Diablo.

Called the Ips paraconfusus or the California Fivespines Ips, outbreaks of these little bugs are occurring throughout California

are well-documented. Trees have been living with bark beetles probably since for as long as both have been around, he says.

The band of dead and dying of trees seen from Mitchell Canyon are predominantly Coulter pines, with a few gray pines in the mix. Most of them were probably regenerated from the 1977 fire that started from a lightning strike on Twin Peaks.

Ips beetles primarily infest newly downed pine trees and fresh windthrow. While dangerous to the foliage, they are important in beginning the process of woody decomposition and set the stage for many other organisms to make their homes in decaying logs, Miller says.

“Healthy trees can fend off attacks by these beetles, by flooding entrance holes with pitch and releasing chemicals to ward off beetles.”

Proportion plays pivotal role in fashion

This illustration can help you determine how your body proportions stack up.

New Windows OS is a perfect 10

WILL CLANEY

TECH TALK Satya Nadella is quite possibly a scientific genius after discovering there is a free lunch.

Satya, the new CEO of Microsoft, has discovered the formula for that “free lunch” and it is called Windows 10. He has announced that the Windows 10 upgrade will be free, but only for a period of time, so hurry.

Mr. Nadella has been instrumental in creating a Windows eco-system that will power the next generating of computing devices, including tablets, desktops, Xbox, and smartphones.

His vision is to unify all device operating systems under one umbrella. The idea is to unify

the way people learn operating systems. Instead of one system for your smartphone, another for your tablet and yet another for your home computer, you learn Windows 10 once and it applies to all your devices.

The really good news: Windows 10 is available now from a few enterprising companies, and will be available everywhere in a few weeks. The excellent news is it is free.

If you have an existing Windows 7, 8, or 8.1 operating system installed on your computer desktop, tablet or smartphone you will qualify for a free Windows 10 upgrade, although labor rates may apply if you have the upgrade done for you.

The New York Daily News reported, “Microsoft’s operating system chief Terry Myerson told Reuters that anyone using the Windows 7 or later will be able to upgrade to Windows 10 for free. ‘We are upgrading all qualified PCs, genuine and nongenuine, to Windows 10,’ Myerson said.”

Even more good news, even if you have an unlicensed version of Windows now and want to get the free upgrade, you can.

“The upgrade is an attempt by Microsoft to get legitimate version of Windows 10 onto machines of the millions of Windows users…” says the Daily News.

SATYA NADELLA CEO OF MICROSOFT

In even better news, local computer manufacturers started pre-installing Windows 10 in all new computers beginning April 1, with very few restrictions. No, it wasn’t an April Fool’s prank.

All your Windows 8.x apps purchased from the Microsoft Marketplace will automatically load into Windows 10. Very

nearly all of your legacy apps will install on Windows 10. I have found they actually work better in this new environment.

Microsoft is serious about making computer users happier and safer with zillions of upgrades, new software and systems all designed to make computing better. Oh, did I tell you, this is way better than Windows 8.1 and as easy to use as Windows XP or Windows 7? If you are still using Windows XP you need to see your computer professional for your upgrade — that one is not a do-it-yourself endeavor.

I have been testing Windows 10 for months now under the technical preview and see it as the best operating system ever and give it my full endorsement.

Oh, the catch? Well, you have only one year to get upgraded for free before the price goes up. So get off your duff and join the fun.

William Claney is an independent tech writer and former owner of Computers USA in the Clayton Station. Email questions or comments to will@claytonpioneer.com.

In my first article, I discussed the illusion of balance. I hope I was able to help you figure out your body shape. Now it is time to move on to proportion.

Think of your shape (inverted, triangle, rectangle, hourglass, or oval) as your horizontal body shape. Did you know you also have a vertical body shape as well?

This is the proportion of your top half compared to your bottom half.

Basically, there are three Vertical Body Shapes to consider: Balanced, short torso/long legs and long torso/short legs. A woman with a short torso/long legs can look taller than she really is and the woman with the long torso/short legs can look shorter.

The balanced woman simply needs to make sure she does not allow her proportions to get “out of whack” when getting dressed.

How to determine your proportion: (See illustration) Find your natural waist, which is the narrowest point (where you bend).

Wearing a bra that helps get “the girls” up where they need to be, see if you can fit two hands under your bust to your waist.

More than two hands width? You have a long torso/short legs. Less than two hands width? You have a short torso/long legs. Right at the natural waist? You are balanced. If you have a long torso, you will have short legs. If you have a short torso, you will have

long legs.

How does knowing proportion help us when we are trying to create the illusion of a more balanced body? Understanding proportion will help answer the age-old questions: To tuck or not to tuck? Or, where should my jacket/top end?

Women with the long torso/short legs will appear to be more balanced and in proportion by simply tucking in her top.

When we leave the top out or do not hem it at the appropriate point, her legs all but disappear.

But tuck in or hem that top, and it is MAGIC. What about women with a short torso/long legs? Tucking in a top will make her lower body appear out of proportion. She will look like she is wearing “Mom jeans.” Leaving her top out elongates her torso and brings her more into proportion.

Another tip to help with proportion is wearing shoes with slim high heels that visually lengthen legs. Chunky heels and round toes can make you look just that, round and chunky.

Next time we will finish this three part series with “Scale: The size of prints.”

Susan Sappington is a wardrobe consultant and the area development manager for EtCetera Styles. Send comments, questions and suggested topics to susan@etcstyles.com.

Hunting down the area’s best fried chicken

If featuring fried chicken on the menu of fine dining establishments were a living thing, it would likely be placed on the “endangered species” list. It was quite the undertaking to find this dish in restaurants that are not called Popeye’s, Church’s, or named after a long departed Kentucky Colonel.

After scouring the local culinary scene, we were only able to find a few places where Fried Chicken is a featured menu item. Our first restaurant was

Casa Orinda which is one of the oldest eating establishments in the county going back to 1932.

Casa Orinda’s famous fried chicken dinners, for which 23,000 orders are served each year, have their roots going back to the late 1950s when Harlan Sanders sold them the flour and spices that made up this dish. When he retired and started an enterprise that would later be called KFC, Sanders passed on his famous recipe to

Casa Orinda, whose owners have kept it a secret ever since.

Executive Chef Kenneth Jensen starts with marinating plump pieces of Fulton Valley Farm’s finest in a combination of melted butter, water, and egg for 24 hours to allow these ingredients to soak in and ensure the end product is moist inside. At this juncture the chicken is dredged in their proprietary mixture of flour and spices. It is then cooked for 12-15 minutes at 375 degrees in their specially built pressure cookers If you’re looking for some delicious fried chicken closer to home, look no further than Moresi’s Chophouse in Clayton. Their fried chicken is tender and juicy with a delicate crunch that bursts with flavor.

Similar to Casa Orinda’s method, Executive Chef Kenny Byrne starts the process by first allowing fresh chicken to soak for 24 hours in a buttermilk brine. When an order is placed, the chicken is removed from the brine and coated in

RICHARD EBER & WHITNEY FLORES TASTE AND TELL flour that has been mixed with their homemade blend of seasonings. A trip to the deep fryer is all that’s needed to give this chicken a new life form.

Our recipe for home consumption goes back to when Richard was living in 1970s San Francisco. His landlord worked as a chef at Joe Jung’s Chinese Restaurant. Rich was often given a bag of Asian Fried Chicken. As fate would have it, Mr. Jung ended up taking his heralded concoction to his grave.

Trying our best to recreate the legendary dish from yesteryear, we began by taking fresh chicken legs and thighs (dark meat) and cutting them diagonally with a meat cleaver into smaller pieces. Creating bite sized chicken allows it to cook faster and allows the flavors of the marinade coating to impart a moist final product.

The chicken should marinate for at least two hours (preferably longer). A dash of sesame oil can be added if desired. The garlic and ginger can be substituted with an equivalent paste or powder if that is what you have on hand.

As for the coating, we found that using a dry panko tempura batter mix worked best. Once the chicken is done marinating, coat in the dry panko mixture and fry.

We fried the chicken in peanut oil (as Jung did) rather than vegetable or canola oil because it has a higher heat tolerance and imparts a unique flavor that lends itself to this dish. Each batch cooks at 375

degrees (medium-high) for 4-5 minutes or until golden brown and cooked through.

ASIAN FRIED CHICKEN 3-4 lbs. assorted chicken pieces Peanut oil for frying (you will need a layer about 1-inch deep) 1 box panko tempura mix (follow box directions) for coating the chicken MARINADE: 1/3 cup soy sauce 1/4 cup sweet wine or Marsala 1 Tbsp. crushed garlic 1 Tbsp. crushed ginger 1 scallion cut in small pieces 1 tsp. sugar 1 tsp. salt Directions: See above.

Rich Eber is a local columnist for the blog Halfway to Concord and a selfdescribed “foodie.” He teams up with daughter, Whitney, a Concord native, student, and avid cook and taster.

Email comments to editor@concordpioneer.com

April 24, 2015

Concord Pioneer • www.concordpioneer.com

Let there be decorative light

Page 21

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Lighting. It’s functional and decorative. It’s necessary and sometimes just for fun.

Whether it’s one, or a grouping of two, three or more, light fixtures can create something unique and special, a statement, a focal point. Lighting is the icing on a finished living space in the form of a modern silk or linen drum shade or a chandelier with a million crystal dew drop sparkles.

With so many sparkles and yards of silk and linen, and everything in between, how do you decide what fixture goes where? But more importantly, how do you create a look that is unique to your aesthetic?

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FABULOUSLY FANCY Big and bold, simple and clean, traditional, transitional and modern, a chandelier requires a certain amount of space. Not all chandeliers are 36- to 48-inches in diameter and height; there are many much smaller, but still require breathing room. The size of the room and height of the ceiling dictate the overall size.

And your aesthetic, or the new aesthetic you’re hoping to create, will dictate the style. For example, for a dining room that can accommodate a table that seats 12 and a ceiling height of nine feet or more, you may consider a chandelier, or two, to balance the space. Or, if you

have a two-story entry, you may consider a somewhat large chandelier with multiple tiers and glass or silk shades, or an extra large wine barrel or Sputnik fixture if you’re going for a more modern feel.

PETITE AND PRETTY PENDANTS

A pendant is the “not so serious” version of the chandelier. A pendant can be just as grand as a dining room or entry chandelier depending on its styling and size, but typically, pendants are somewhat petite and like to hang out in pairs or more. Consider a pair of pendants above a breakfast bar or kitchen island. Maybe try a pair of pendants on either side of a powder room vanity. Or a collection of pendants, three to five, hanging at different heights in a foyer or over a breakfast nook table. Pendants can be just as decorative as chandeliers, fabricated in all sorts of materials from hand-blown glass, forged iron, a fabric shade or a combination of several materials.

CEILING HUGGERS Flush mount fixtures and recessed lights may not be as glamorous as their hanging peers, but they serve an important purpose. Flush mount fixtures are perfect for eight-foot ceilings where a hanging fixture would not be feasible due to ceiling height. Flush mount fixtures also have a hybrid called a semi-flush mount where the fixture hangs about four-to-six inches from the ceiling. And recessed lights can be used to flank a more decorative fixture to provide more functional task lighting in a dining room, a home office, or a family room where light would typically come from floor and table lamps. They can also be used on their own as the main light source in hallways, or major task lighting in a kitchen or bathroom.

Jennifer Leischer is the owner of J. Designs Interior Design based in Clayton. Contact her with questions, comments and suggestions at jenna@j-designs.com.

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April 24, 2015

THE ARTS

Last chance for a little dose of ‘Arsenic’

SALLY HOGARTY

STAGE STRUCK You can still make the last three performances of Clayton Theatre Company’s production of “Arsenic and Old Lace”

at Endeavor Hall, 6008 Center Street, in Clayton. Set designer Adam Puglielli and Rooster Productions show an eye for detail as they recreate the Brewster’s historic Brooklyn home on the venue’s small stage while lighting designer Jon Gourdine does a fine job setting the various mood lighting necessary.

Director LaTonya Watts and assistant director Roxanne Pardi have found an enthusiastic group of performers to portray the rather eccentric characters in Joseph Kesselring’s comedy about two well-meaning elderly sisters who help lonely old men

L SPECIA

f f O % 0 1 eer for Pion only readers

find peace – with the help of poisoned homemade wine.

Nathalie Archangel is especially effective as Dr. Einstein, a part traditionally played by a man, with Ben Botello a thoroughly menacing Jonathan, Jarusha Ariel a picture-perfect Elaine, and Tevin Whack adding some wonderful mannerisms as Mr. Gibbs.

While the show had some pacing problems during the preview performance on April 15, I’m sure that has been corrected during the run. “Arsenic and Old Lace” continues at 7:30 p.m. April 24 and at 2 and 7:30 p.m. April 25. Call 925-922-9106 or go to claytontheatrecompany.com for tickets.

Up next for the company is a musical about – what else – a severe water shortage. “Urinetown” takes water rationing to the extreme in this satirical musical where residents have to

“pay to pee.” Full of a wide assortment of colorful characters, the show runs Oct. 7 – 24 at Endeavor Hall. Auditions will be held April 27 from 7 to 10 p.m. with callbacks on April 28.

Those auditioning should prepare 32 bars of a musical theater song and bring sheet music in your key along with a headshot and resume. Audition forms are available at claytontheatrecompany.com. Call 925-922-9106 for further information.

Pittsburg Community Theatre will also be very busy this coming weekend as it presents Neil Simon’s outrageous comedy “Barefoot in the Park.”

The romantic story of newlyweds Paul and Corie, their eccentric neighbor and her uptight mother takes place at 8 p.m. April 24-25 and at 2 p.m.

April 26 at the California Theatre, 351 Railroad Ave., in Pittsburg. Tickets are $10-25 and can

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Courtney Shaffer and Sam Logan play newlyweds in “Barefoot in the Park” now at the California Theatre in Pittsburg.

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Teresa Grosserode and Debra Huaco bring ‘poisonous’ relief to suffering old men in the classic ‘Arsenic and Old Lace’ at Clayton’s Endeavor Hall through April 25.

be purchased by calling 925427-1611 or going to www.pittsburgcaliforniatheatre.com.

Calling all little pirates: Fantasy Forum Actors Ensemble has a show you’ll love and some lucky young audience members will even get to sit on the stage and maybe hand a pirate a sword! It all happens May 7 through 10 at Walnut Creek’s Lesher Center for the Arts as this award-winning children’s theater presents “The Crimson Pirate.” Scott Denison directs with his oh-so-talented mom writing the original music.

According to the director, only the brave and romantic landlubber will be permitted to learn the secret of the Crimson Pirate. “This is an original family friendly musical that encourages audience participation from all ages and provides an exciting live theatre experience you and your children will never forget,” says Scott Denison.

If you’ve never been to a Fantasy Forum Actors Ensemble show, you are in for a treat. I took my kids there more than 30

FFAE’s family-friendly ‘Crimson Pirate’ plays at the Lesher May 7-10.

years ago, my granddaughter when she was in pre-school, and (don’t tell anyone) I went by myself last year and had a ball.

For tickets, you can call 925943-SHOW or go to www.lesherartscenter.org.

Sally Hogarty is well known around the Bay Area as a newspaper columnist, theatre critic and working actress. She is also the editor of the Orinda News. Send comments to sallyhogarty@gmail.com

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Concord Pioneer • www.concordpioneer.com

Page 23

Center REP’s ‘Mirandolina’ bawdy and a little audacious Center REPertory Company is presenting a sharply hilarious 18th Century battle-of-the-sexes comedic caper about a woman trying to run a business in a man’s world, in a fresh new World Premiere adaptation by the director of the REP hits “Noises Off,” “Sweet Charity” and ‘Rumors.”

“Mirandolina! Mistress of a Tuscan Inn” runs through May 2 at the Lesher Center for the Arts in Walnut Creek.

Tough, sexy and audacious Mirandolina is the mistress of a Tuscan inn whose guests include a Count who bought his title, a Marchese who has nothing but his title, and a Cavaliere who is determined to scorn all women. Armed with wit and wiles, Mirandolina sets out to teach her guests some lessons in love and finance, while hanging

LISA FULMER

SPOTLIGHT

‘Mirandolina, Mistress of a Tuscan Inn,’ a classic commedia dell'arte farce, plays at the Lesher Center through May 2.

onto the handsome Fabrizio as both her fiancé and employee.

Will true love prevail? Will Mirandolina “lean in” and get it all?

All performances are in the

Where are the clowns?

At ACT’s Geary theater “A Little Night Music” presents a beguiling and bittersweet tale of lost love, scandalous liaisons and youthful passions that intertwine over a midsummer’s eve at a country home in 1900s Sweden.

The show is filled with Stephen Sondheim’s signature wit and some of his most gorgeous melodies, including the beloved and haunting “Send in the Clowns.” According to the Wall Street Journal, “No score of Sondheim’s is as buoyant and

Finding a healing presence in art

thoroughgoing an example of musical comedy.”

The music will waltz onto American Conservatory Theater’s stage May 20-June 14. The sumptuous, all-new production will sweep audiences away with theatrical storytelling that ignites the senses.

Directed by two-time Tony Award nominee Mark Lamos, “A Little Night Music” features set design by Riccardo Hernandez, lighting by Robert Wiertzel, costumes by Candice Donnelly,

Margaret Lesher Theatre at the Lesher Center, 1601 Civic Drive, Walnut Creek. For more information or to purchase tickets, call 925-943-SHOW or visit www.centerrep.org

Theater preview What: “A Little Night Music” When: May 20-June 14 Where: ACT, 415 Geary St., San Francisco Tickets: act-sf.org or 415-749-2228 sound design by Kevin Kennedy, choreography by Val Caniparoli and music direction

by Wayne Barker.

The cast includes Patrick Cassidy as Fredrik Egerman, Emily Skinner as Charlotte Malcolm, Karen Ziemba as Desiree Armfeldt, Dana Ivey as Madame Armfeldt and Paolo Montalban as Count Carl-Magnus Malcolm.

ON

ART

Laurie Mansur did not set out to be a professional artist, but she has always loved art. As a child she enjoyed drawing, then as she got a bit older, she turned her focus to creative writing.

“I wrote poetry and journaled constantly,” Mansur says. “Then I found that I was drawn to how other poets used visual imagery in their work, so I started college as a studio art major, then I switched my studies to art history as a way to combine my art and writing.”

But shortly after Mansur graduated from college, she landed a good job and eventually started a family. She did not paint or draw again for 20 years.

“After suffering from postpartum depression, I realized through therapy that I needed to get back to making art. Art is a big part of who I am as a person, which I had ignored in favor of pursuing the corporate life. I enrolled in a class with Walnut Creek Civic Arts and it changed my life.”

Mansur has been studying studio art, taking workshops and painting ever since. Her favorite medium is oils. “The colors are so vibrant – they react with each other in a magical way. I love their texture and buttery feel. And I think I’m one of the few who actually likes the smell of terpenoid.” During the past year, she has also been experimenting with soft pastels after inheriting a large set of colors from her mother.

See Healing, page 24

‘Oranges and Egg’ by Laurie Mansur will be on exhibit during the AAUW Art and Wine Walk, Sat. May 9.

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Page 24

Concord Pioneer • www.concordpioneer.com

Healing Art, from page 23 Mansur loves to paint whimsical things like shoes and food, along with more traditional images like flowers and landscapes. “I tend to paint in a small format because I like to be able to complete a painting fairly quickly.

A small canvas lends itself to still life, but I also love to paint tiny, intimate landscapes such as a reflection in a stream or an interesting group of rocks.”

Mansur co-owns a project management consulting firm; when she’s not painting, she’s keeping her left brain active. “I wish I could paint every day, but I do constantly take photos and look for inspiration. The days I can devote to art are very energizing and renewing. Finding the right thing to paint is at the heart of my creative process and motivation. When I get an idea, look

out and get out of my way, I have to paint!”

She says that “Looking at art is such a personal experience,” when asked what she hopes people will enjoy about her paintings.

“Ideally I’d like the viewer to be drawn to the drama of color or light that I try to convey. But if someone reacts to my work at all, I am grateful.” In addition to painting, she also enjoys crafting and garden art.

Mansur will be exhibiting at the Concord Art and Wine (and Beer!) Walk on Saturday, May 9.

Visit her website,www.LaurieMansurArt.com, to see more of her work.

Lisa Fulmer is an artist, crafter, blogger and author of two craft project books. See her creative pursuits on her website - LisaLizaLou.com

April 24, 2015

Grill me some cheese, please

LINDA WYNER

FOOD

FOR

THOUGHT

It’s National Grilled Cheese Sandwich month. You might think that the idea of combining cheese and bread goes back millennia, and you’d be right if you were to look at ancient Roman cookbooks.

However, it appears the idea

of grilling cheese and bread together is a 20th century phenomenon. The availability of inexpensive loaves of bread and processed cheese helped make grilled cheese a staple in 1920s America.

First prepared open face, it soon gained the second slice of bread to make it more filling. This sandwich provided critical nutrition during the Depression and it was a favorite of the Allied armed forces in World War II. School cafeterias and home cooks were soon making grilled cheese (with tomato soup, of course) part of regular meal plans.

Almost 100 years later, you’ll still find grilled cheese in diners and fine dining establishments alike. Kids love it and adults find

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it a comfort food. For a gourmet spin, substitute focaccia or ciabatta for white bread or use goat cheese or Gruyère. Other fancy ideas include adding tomato marmalade, jalapeno, blue cheese and maybe some thin-sliced roast beef. Or try a fried egg or even potato chips in the filling.

You don’t have to be a fivestar cook to come up with your own unique version of the classic grilled cheese sandwich. Start by sneaking in international flavors.

Make a version of a Cuban sandwich by melting Swiss cheese with dill pickles and thinly sliced ham on a soft roll, pressed flat during grilling. Grill a Caprese mix of sliced tomatoes, fresh mozzarella and basil on some crusty French bread. Caramelize some onions and combine with slices of Comte cheese on a soft baguette for a Parisian spin.

Or make a grilled cheese dessert. Try blueberries, mascarpone cheese and Brie between thin bagel slices. Or Norwegian gjetost (a cow-goat cheese with distinctive sweet caramel notes) with sliced apples coated in cinnamon and sugar.

My mama’s version of grilled cheese used a homemade version of a Southern staple: pimento cheese spread. Just like most treasured recipes, it has evolved over the years.

For the current iteration, I recommend Tillamook cheese for its

great melting properties. I usually use a dense, cracked wheat bread. I also tend to overfill the sandwich so some of the filling spills onto the griddle and toasts on its own. Oh my, those little bits are tasty.

PIMENTO CHEESE SPREAD (Serves 4) 2 c. shredded extra-sharp Cheddar cheese 1/3 c. mayonnaise 1 tsp. onion powder 1 (2 oz.) jar diced pimentos, drained 2 T. sweet pickle relish 1/8 tsp. cayenne pepper 8 slices of bread Stir together cheese, mayonnaise, onion powder, pimentos, pickle relish and cayenne pepper. Spread on four slices of bread and cover each with another slice. Melt butter on warm griddle and grill sandwiches until golden brown on each side.

As a final note, if you’re going to a Giants game this year, stop at the American Grilled Cheese Kitchen and indulge in one of their glorious sandwiches. There is another location on Harrison in the Mission.

Linda Wyner owns Pans on Fire, a gourmet cookware store and cooking school in Pleasanton. Send suggestions or questions to lwyner@pansonfire.com

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